The Chronicles of Cordelia Solo

Chapter 4 - Solo

"This is a Corellian YT-1300." Han says as he stands in the doorway to the cockpit with Cordelia. She sticks by his side, not wanting to be separated again.

"Oh. You know your stuff." Lando replies from the pilot seat. Han nears the co-pilot's seat.

"I've been on one before. Our dad worked the line at the CEC plant before he got laid off. He built these. He wanted to be a pilot, but..." He explains.

"You, uh, close with your old man?" Lando asks.

"Not really. Do you remember him, Bug?" He says. She frowns and shakes her head. Han wraps his arm around her shoulders and pulls her into a side hug. 

"Yeah, me neither. My mom, on the other hand, most amazing woman I've ever known." He says as Han moves to the other seat. 

"I don't remember her, either." Cordelia tells Han quietly. He tugs on her braid, and she looks up at him. 

"We don't need them. Never did. We've got each other, Bug. As long as that's true, we'll be okay." Han says. She nods, hugging him before moving to sit in the seat on the wall and looks at the controls, trying to figure out what everything does. 

Han reaches for the controls, but a voice interrupts before he can grab them.

"Excuse me. Get your presumptuous ass out of my seat!" L3 says as she enters the cockpit. Han gets up, spotting Qi'ra standing outside the door. L3 speaks to Lando for a moment before taking over the controls. "All right, course to Kessel is set. Plugging coordinates in now. Just keep your pinky on the yoke and try not to mess anything up."

"Whatever you say, my lady. Just let me know when you're ready to jump." Lando says. 

"Ready in-" She begins before her head spins and beeps. She slams her hand into her head and it stops. "Ready." She tells Lando. 

"It's just a simple jump to hyperspace, and we're there. What's so tricky about that?" Han asks.

"Plenty. Can't plot a direct route to Kessel. You have to thread through the Si'Klaata Cluster and then pass through The Maelstrom." Lando explains.

"You done flirting?" L3 asks, making Cordelia laugh. "I'm still ready." 

"You might wanna buckle up, baby." He tells Han. He moves to Cordelia's seat behind Lando and buckles her in before moving to the seat behind L3. Lando and L3 jump into hyperspace and the siblings watch the stars pass for a minute.

Han and Cordelia leave the cockpit, approaching Chewie and Beckett.

"Hey, hey, hey! Chewie, relax! Hey, try to compose yourself." Beckett says as Chewie growls. "Look. All you gotta do is think a few moves ahead, anticipate your opponent. There's a lesson to be learned here."

"Uh, you guys seen Qi'ra?" Han asks as Cordelia takes a seat next to Chewie. 

"People are predictable." Beckett replies. Han grins and leaves them, knowing Cordelia will be safe with Chewie. 

"What game is this?" Cordelia asks, looking at the holograms in front of them.

"Dejarik." He answers, resetting the board.

"Can you teach me?" She asks hopefully. Beckett looks at her, then Chewie.

"Fine, but you're on his team." Beckett says, pointing at Chewie.

"Okay!" She says, scooting closer to see the board. They start the game, Beckett explaining the rules as the game goes on, quickly defeating the two. 

"Now play each other." He says, getting up and heading in the direction Han went.