There was only a brief, brilliant flare of light, then nothing. The shattered remains of the two TIE fighters drifted away into the darkness and the tremendous asteroid—undeflected in its course—continued on its way. . H0 V! C% I$ I0 q, V: k1 A" q9 |
Han felt an inner glow as bright as the spectacle that had just lighted up the view.
! p4 E; [/ U# L2 j, M s3 z He smiled to himself in quiet triumph. q o0 K% f0 n6 L( M- w" F* C
Then he noticed an image on the main scope of his control console and nudged his hairy copilot. "There." Han pointed to the image. "Chewie, get a reading on that. Looks pretty good." "What is it?" Leia asked.
: T0 S& `* e7 {2 c The Falcon's pilot ignored her question. "That should do nicely," he said.: ?! n0 p; E# W! T( A0 I% t
As they flew near the asteroid's surface, Han looked down at the craggy terrain, his eye caught by a shadowy area that looked like a crater of mammoth proportions.2 z9 x: O V- c- P( J& T
He lowered the Falcon to surface level and flew it directly into the crater, its bowllike walls suddenly rising up around his ship.) ^, v5 Q$ [/ |" q
And still two TIE fighters chased after him, firing their laser cannons and attempting to mimic his every maneuver.5 a8 P* t3 c R0 V2 C& C$ v
Han Solo knew he had to be trickier and more daring if he was to lose the deadly pursuit ships. Spotting a narrow chasm through his windscreen, he banked the Millennium Falcon to one side. The ship soared sideways through the high-walled rocky trench.7 Y1 b1 p, R6 n% Y0 k' o
Unexpectedly the two TIE fighters followed. One of them even sparked as it grazed the walls with its metal hull.
9 g# V& L+ x* h* r; P: l Twisting, banking, and turning his ship, Han pressed through the narrow gorge.
. |% y$ T$ H& [0 v% y From behind the black sky flared as the two TIE fighters crashed against one another, then exploded against the rocky ground. |