Fame and Fortune

Chapter Twenty-two

Chapter Twenty-two

Wearing much more conservative clothing than was usual for Evin Daysun - just a plain white shirt, black slacks, boots and his gun-rig - Han paced the hallway outside of Ambassador Chewbacca's fancy office, trying to work up the courage to go inside the lobby. He knew once he opened the door, there would be no going back, and that made his mouth dry and his heart beat noticeably harder in his chest. So far in his new existence he had not revealed his former identity to anyone. Luke and Leia had both discovered him through the Force, and Luke had told Mara his secret. Starting from scratch was going to be a new experience entirely.

He glanced at the chrono on his wrist, noting that he was a bit tardy and he was only delaying the inevitable, especially if Chewie decided the human entertainer wasn't worth his time if he didn't appreciate his busy schedule. Steeling himself, he entered the office lobby where a smallish female - smallish for a Wookiee, anyway - sat behind a desk, tilting her head slightly to acknowledge him as he stepped forward.

"Hello," Han managed to say in a fairly normal tone. "My name is Evin Daysun?"

*Are you certain?* the Wookiee secretary responded.

"Huh?"

*You asked if your name was Evin Daysun. It sounded like there was some question to this matter.*

Well, yeah, Han thought grimly. There sorta is, considering. "I have an appointment to meet with Ambassador Chewie... err, Chewbacca."

*If indeed you are Evin Daysun, then yes, you do have an appointment,* the Wookiee replied shaking her head, indicating how obviously dense she thought Evin Daysun was. She pressed a small button, and woofed into the comm, informing Chewie that his appointment had decided to finally show up. Han heard Chewie respond in the affirmative, and the secretary looked up at Han. *You must have caught him on a good day. He will still see you.* She pointed at a wide wooden door. *Enter through there.*

Obeying her directions, Han pressed another button which granted him access to Chewie's office. Stepping inside was like stepping into the forests of Kashyyyk, with dark paneling, deep greens and muted lighting. The Corellian was impressed and let out a low whistle of appreciation. His eyes adjusted to the dim light and he saw Chewie sitting in a large chair, behind a desk made from wroshyr trees. Han felt his throat close up, blinked back the tears that unexpectedly threatened. It felt so incredibly good to see his friend again, and a surge of guilt swept over him. Chewie never deserved for Han to willingly, knowingly, cut him out of his life.

*Have a seat,* Chewie said, waving his large paw toward a chair in front of his desk and watching with keen eyes as Han sat down. *I am very interested in knowing why a human would seek to get my permission to conduct a concert on Kashyyyk. I am even more curious as to why the human believes Wookiees would pay to hear any human sing a concert, as most Wookiees have no interest in human music whatsoever.*

"Well, see," Han said nervously. "That's not why I'm really here."

The Wookiee leaned forward, resting his massive arms on top of the desk as Chewie's eyes took on a predatory gaze. *Then, please, enlighten me, Mr. Daysun. I have never heard of you until you made your appointment. I took the time to research who you are, watch vid-snips of your songs and concerts, and I did not like what I read, heard or saw. You do not seem like the sort that would commit to a single female and you have hurt someone I care very deeply about. I do not take kindly to a human male that takes advantage of a human female that I care about - and that someone I once loved cared very, very deeply about.*

For even though Chewie had been upset and disappointed in Leia for leaving Han, he also understood that his human cub never stopped loving his Little Princess. The Wookiee recalled how, in the throes of fever, Han called out for Leia, whispering through his cracked lips how much he missed her. Watching Han slowly die, knowing his cub felt abandoned and unloved, had ripped Chewie's heart in pieces. After Han had passed away, Chewie held a grudge against Leia for several years, only releasing his own bitterness in the past year. And now, watching the holo-news about her crumbling marriage and having her child kept away from her by the vengeful husband, Chewie had thawed even further. Han would not have desired Leia's unhappiness, and neither did Ambassador Chewbacca.