Luke and R2, and Lando and Chewie, though setting out separately, arrive at Stenos in their hunts for Bossk and IG-88. Lando is leery of the coincidence, and Luke tells of his first visit to Stenos: Soon after the first film, the Falcon visits Stenos to learn why Colonel Kindar lost contact five days before. Among ruins and hostile natives, they see Governor Quorl Matrin, with whom Leia served in the Senate. Leaving town, they climb a tall pinnacle to a temple in which Kindar was based. They see no signs of a fight, but as 3PO translates hieroglyphs on the walls, three of Han's old rivals appear: Rik Duel, a Corellian, Chihdo, a Rodian, and Dani, a Zeltron. Rik says they joined Kindar's Rebels but were left behind to find a statue vital to the cause, and that he needs 3PO to translate the wall. Agreeing to stay in the Falcon since the temples are old and Rik's ship, Moonshadow , needs repairs, Han goes for his ship, leaving Chewie to guard Leia. Embarrassed by Dani's open lust, Luke joins him. Stowing the ship in the temple, they clear out rubble. In the sand, Rik draws a statue of Vol, the Stenax god. When it was buried in a quake, the Stenaxes felt disgraced and stopped flying. 3PO's translations and R2's calculations locate Vol's altar, so Han and Chihdo go to town to buy shovels. A Stenax merchant hears Chihdo explain that Kindar hoped the Stenaxes would be grateful for Vol's return and join them. En route back, Han drops a shovel and Matrin yells to pick it up, not recognizing him. Luke finds the statue, but Rik's gang steal it to sell to Matrin, who collects esoteric artifacts. Before leaving, Chihdo betrays them to Stormtroopers, who open fire. Suddenly, Stenaxes fly in to kill the troops. Having lifted the flying taboo, they demand Vol. Han refers them to Rik, who is caught by Matrin while trying to escape aboard Moonshadow . As Matrin tries to take Vol, the Stenaxes attack. The Falcon departs, and Rik vows revenge. Luke finishes his tale, says the Stenaxes presumably killed the troops and Rik's gang, and advises Lando to land the Falcon outside the city, unsure if they'll be welcome here.

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