Fame and Fortune

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

"I want an explanation," Mara demanded, rolling over on her side to glare at Luke. "Now."

They were lying on the spacious bed in their large bedroom, which had a private, enormous refresher with a shower large enough for three Wookiees and a closet larger than Luke's bedroom had been back on Tatooine. In fact, each of the eight bedrooms were essentially the same, except for the color schemes. When Luke had commented on Han's good taste in interior design, the Corellian had smiled and told him the house had been sold to him fully furnished, and he'd left everything pretty much as when he'd moved in. This admission hadn't really surprised Luke since he couldn't envision his old friend picking out paint colors or furniture. But then, he had never envisioned Han as an entertainer, either. So there was that...

Luke shrugged, his hand behind his head, staring up. "We just located that nut case and scared the living Sith-spit out of him. He won't be bothering Evin again."

"That's not what I'm talking about and you know it," Mara said shortly. "Who is this Evin Daysun that he seems to mean so much to you? You act like he's your best friend, someone you've known for years, not just two days." When Luke remained stubbornly silent, Mara threatened, "You had better tell me, or I'm getting on the Fire and leaving. Tonight."

"I..." Luke stopped, projecting through the Force instead, Sorry, Han. You can get mad at me if you want to, but I have to tell Mara the truth.

He wasn't too surprised when he got an annoyed mental response, Kriff. Since nothing further was forthcoming from Han after that single curse word, he decided to give Mara her explanation. "Evin was.. I mean he is... I mean was, until I met you, he was my best friend."

"You knew him before he became famous?"

"Yes. You could say that." Luke smiled ruefully. "I suppose he was famous before, but not quite at this level, and not the same type of fame." Mara waited silently, so Luke continued, "He used to be Han Solo."

Mara gave a click of her tongue. "Han Solo is dead. At least that's what you told me. And every news outlet in the entire galaxy reported. Was everyone lying for some reason, even you?"

Luke turned his gaze toward Mara. "I believed he was dead, and that's what everyone thought."

"So he lied and was just pretending to be dead?" Mara questioned. "I've seen holos of Solo. This guy doesn't look anything like him, other than the fact Solo was a tall, attractive human male and so is this guy."

"And I'm not attractive?" Luke asked, clutching his chest in mock dismay.

"I didn't say that, did I?" She gave a snort. "What's with men and their need for constant affirmation about their good looks?"

"I don't need affirmation about my looks. But you could tell me how tall I am."

"Now, that'd be a lie, Luke. And you're getting off the subject."

"Did you know anything about the Ssi-ruuk technology?"

"I read the Emperor's reports about them."

"And did you know the Emperor had ordered his best scientists to create a new body for him to take over because he knew that his wasn't going to last forever?"

It suddenly dawned on Mara where Luke was going with this story, and the rest of the story didn't surprise her as much as it had surprised Luke.

____________

The next morning,

"I don't know why you had to tell Mara," Han groused as Luke watched him pack up a large satchel. "She was glaring at me all through breakfast."