“The number is three, gamblers. There are three sticks left in the quiver!” the Droid announces.
“That’s it,” Han says, not turning to face Chewbacca. “We’re getting down to the last of it.” Something again pinches Han, but he ignores it. He is in no mood to play flirting games – especially with a rancid Khoan.
Chewbacca bellows his frustration. A circle four meters in diameter clears around Chewie as humans and aliens scramble for cover. Apparently, the patrons of this establishment do not often see Wookiees lose.
Finally facing his co-pilot, Han promises, “I’ll make it up to you. But don’t get us thrown out of here.”
Chewbacca growls a question.
“Yeah, I’m staying,” Han answers, He begins counting what little remains of their reward. “How many credits do you have?”
“Ooorrr uggh!”
“If that’s what you thinkm why don’t you find another ship?” the pilot demands. Chewie’s last comment has hurt – perhaps too much. “Who has a gambling problem, anyway?”
Something pinches Han again. This time he turns immediately to accuse the Khoan. “Look, that’s my leg. Leave it -“
“Down here, chump,” interrupts a coarse voice. It comes from a narrow, cylindrical Droid less than a meter tall. From the twenty-five centimeter diameter polished durasteel body, it has extended a single arm with a plier-like appendage at the end. “Listen up. Alfreda Goot wants to race, see? The first one to the Dockside Cafe in Mos Eisley wins.”
Han looks at the Droid with an expression of bewilderment. “Are you some kind of ashtray?” he asks.
The Droid backs up half a meter, it’s stubby locomotors squeaking on the polished floor. “The Dockside Cafe in Mos Eisley, understand?” It bumps into Chewbacca’s leg. Spinning around, the Droid tilts until it looks like a drydock crane, and appraises the Wookiee with its photoreceptors. Chewie looks as though he will smash the little machine.
“No, I don’t understand,” Han says, squatting down to talk to the Droid. “And I’m not doing it.”
The Droid returns its attention to Han. “She said you’d want to know the stakes.” It extends an arm and drops an object to the floor. By the time Han picks it up, the Droid has sped away into the crowded casino.
“Ooouugh?” Chewbacca asks.
“Leia’s signet!” Han answers. He does not know whether to be angered or concerned. That the Princess is in trouble he has no doubt, for she would never part with her signet willingly. But how much trouble? And what kind? Han briefly considers leaving Leia to rescue herself. After all, he reasons, if she had stuck with themm this Alfreda Goot, whoever she is, would not have abducted her. But for some sentimental reason even Han cannot understand, he will not abandon Leia to her mysterious kidnapper. “We’ll never get even now,” he complains, eyeing the small stack of their last wagering tokens. “This had better be serious.”
Han and Chewbacca have only 800 credits remaining from their reward money. In order to conserve his funds, Han will not spend more than 400 credits at once for the rest of the adventure, do not pursue any choice requiring an expenditure of more than 400 credits.
If Han tries to follow the Droid, Click Here
If Han immediately returns to the Millennium Falcon, Click Here