Free Star Wars: Tales from Mos Eisley Cantina by Kevin J. Anderson

he nodded back. “You ought to meet those two Rodies, Greedo. They’re good hunters. I’ll bet they can teach ya stuff even I don’t know. Want me to introduce you?”
    Greedo looked down at his drink.
Goa wouldn’t know about the dan wars. I never told him. He wouldn’t know about the time the ships came, hunting the Tetsus refugees. Tetsus just don’t talk to strange Rodians. He wouldn’t know that, because I never told him
.
    Yeah, but what’s the point? I’m a bounty hunter now, that’s the important thing. Bounty hunters hang together, drink together, trade war stories, help each other out of jams. So after I take my first bounty, after Solo pays me and I hand the money
over to Jabba, after the word starts to get around … then I’ll make friends with those guys. They’ll respect me and we’ll have a drink together and they’ll tell me some great stories and I’ll tell them about how I saved Dyyz and Goa by blasting Gorm right through his electronic guts
.
    “… so, like I say, Greedo, there’s two sides to every deal with Jabba. That’s my lesson for today. If you collect the debt, you’ll be in Jabba’s good graces. But if you let Jabba down, you’re as good as
dead.”
    Greedo tried to sound scornful. “Don’t worry, Warhog. Solo will pay. First we find out for sure if he’s got the money with him. Then, if he doesn’t hand it over, I’ll kill him and
take
it.… You still going to work backup—in case the Wookiee tries anything?”
    “Sure. That’s the plan, ain’t it?”
    “Wknuto, Goa.” Thanks, Goa.
    Han Solo’s ship, the
Millennium Falcon
, was still sitting in the docking hangar when Greedo walked in shortly after sunrise the next morning.
    Han Solo was nowhere to be seen. Greedo tried to open the
Falcon
’s hatch, but it was code-locked.
    Greedo and Goa finally found Solo and the Wookiee having breakfast at a little outdoor cafe behind the dewback stables.
    Greedo kept his hand on his holstered gun, but didn’t bother to turn off the safety because Goa had a rifle trained on the quarry from the alley across the street.
    “Rylun pa getpa gushu, Solo?” Enjoy your breakfast, Solo?
    Greedo tried to sound tough and relaxed, but in fact he was wound up tight. If Solo stiffed him today, he wouldn’t know what to do. Jabba wouldn’t be happy if he killed Solo without collecting the debt. The contract was for the money, not a corpse.
    “Greedo! I’ve been looking all over for you! Decide to sleep in today?” Han chortled to himself and took another bite of dewback steak. Chewbacca raised aneyebrow and cocked his head. He had his bowcaster leaning against his leg, loaded and ready.
    “Fna ho koru gep, Solo. Kras ka noota.” Don’t be funny, Solo. Give me the money.
    “Sure. The money. Happy to oblige. You want something to eat first? You look like you could use a good meal.”
    Greedo realized Solo was putting him on, and sudden anger flared in his veins. Impulsively he reached down and grabbed Solo’s shirt. “Ka noota! Grot pleno ka Jabba spulta?” The money! Or would you like to explain to Jabba personally?
    “NNRRARRG!”
Instantly Chewie was on his feet, one huge shaggy arm around Greedo’s neck, the other gripping the bounty hunter’s blaster hand.
    “Nfuto—!”
    “Thanks, Chewie.” Han stood up and casually wiped his mouth with a napkin. He reached over and took Greedo’s weapon, snapped open the chamber, and removed the power cell. He handed the useless blaster back to Greedo.
    “You know, kid, I was almost starting to
like you
. Now I’m not so sure. Let me give you some sage advice. Stay away from slugs like Jabba. Find an honest way to make a living … Let him go, Chewie.”
    “Hnnruaahn!” Chewie released his grip, and Greedo tumbled forward. Han stepped out of the way and Greedo fell against a table, sending dishware crashing.
    “Nice. Where does Jabba find these punks? What about the guy in the alley across the street,