Recovery Read Online Free PDF

studied him from top to bottom, contemplating his ashen complexion, threadbare clothes, and listing features.
    â€œWell, you look like a pilot,” Han said. “What’s the sequence for an emergency ion drive engagement?”
    â€œWarm circuits, actuate, power up,” the Arcona answered.
    Han raised his brow. “Emergency shutdown?”
    â€œPower down,
then
disengage.”
    â€œAnd where’s the vortex stabilizer found?”
    The Arcona’s flat head folded slightly inward at the center, then he raised his three-fingered hand and said, “You already know where the vortex stabilizer—”
    Han slapped the hand down. “Don’t try that stuff with me. Who do you think you’re dealing with?”
    The Arcona shrugged, then complained, “How should I know where the vortex stabilizer is? That’s not a crew-serviceable part.”
    Han actually smiled, then slapped the Arcona on the shoulder. “You’ll do.”
    â€œThanks, Captain.” The Arcona did not seem all that relieved. He pushed between the CorSec agents toward the portable bacta tank. “I’ll take it from here, fellas.”
    The officer stepped aside, but the subordinate stood fast. “Our orders are to load the patient ourselves.”
    â€œThat was before we had help,” Leia said. “And your orders were to see us off. No one said anything about snooping around on the
Falcon
.”
    She cast a pointed glare at the pocket containing her datapad. The subordinate’s face turned bright red, and he stepped aside so quickly he nearly fell.
    â€œHmmm.” The Arcona smiled and, out of the corner of his tilted mouth, whispered, “Interesting technique.”
    He retrieved the repulsor gurney, then the agents returned Han’s blaster, and the group boarded together. C-3PO was waiting for them atop the ramp.
    â€œOh, thank the maker you’re back!” he said, arms pumping madly. “I can’t tell you how many times I was forced to lower the retractable blaster—”
    â€œNot now, Threepio,” Han said, brushing past and starting for the cockpit. “Secure yourself for launch.”
    â€œBut Captain Solo, you and Princess Leia have been all over the newsvids. They’re saying you killed three people, and quite a few of the commentators seem to think there should be some sort of legal inquiry—”
    â€œSee-Threepio, we know,” Leia said, guiding her chair into the access ring. “This is . . .”
    She turned to the Arcona.
    â€œA friend of your doctor’s.” He plucked an eavesdropping device off the portable bacta tank and crushed it under his boot, then added, “There are more.”
    Leia nodded and turned back to C-3PO. “Help our guest secure the gurney for launch.”
    Seeing that her chair would prevent the bulky bacta tank from entering the access ring, Leia moved ahead. She was feeling terribly tired and weak, and her first instinct was to turn toward the main deck and stay out of the way. But she had been alone too much over the last year, and the thought of sitting by herself while Han and his new copilot solved their problems was more than she could bear. She needed to be with her husband—even if she was no longer quite sure he wanted her.
    The repulsor chair was fairly compact, and once she had lowered the telescoping pole on which the IV bags hung, there was no trouble guiding it up the outrigger corridor. But the cockpit itself already had four seats, so she had to settle for magnoclamping her chair in place just outside the door. To his credit, Han did not ask what she was doing there. He was so busy toggling switches and checking dials that Leia was not even sure he knew.
    The Arcona squeezed past and, taking the copilot’s seat, slipped into the start-up routine so smoothly that it was obvious he had been telling the truth about flying his own YT-1300. There were a few