Cover Artist: Drew Struzan

Han Solo is sick of living in fear of Garris Shrike and decides to sneak away to become a pilot for the priests on Ylesia. As he is saying his goodbyes to Dewlanna, a Wookiee female who cared for him as if he was her own child, they are confronted by Shrike. Shrike threatens to beat Han badly and Dewlanna interferes, accidentally killing Shrike's brother. When Shrike moves to shoot Han, Dewlanna sacrifices herself so he can escape, and he runs to board the robotic ship that will take him to Ylesia before he can be caught. While on board, he dreams and reminisces of his past with Shrike while conserving air and food. He soon learns that the ship won't arrive at Ylesia before his air runs out and he convinces the astromech droid to help save his life. He drops out of hyperspace and rigs the ship for a quicker trip, even though that means he will have to land the ship himself, without the benefit of viewscreens. He crash lands with only minor damage and presents himself to Teroenza, the high priest at Ylesia. Introducing himself as Vykk Draygo, and after a little negotiating, he is hired and is shortly introduced to his Togorian "bodyguard" Muuurgh. He tours the facilities and has a first hand experience of the Exultation that the Pilgrims live for, and comes to the conclusion that Ylesia is nothing more than a processing plant for different varieties of spice and the Pilgrims are basically slave labor, working for their next fix. During his tour, he meets a young woman from Corellia who goes by the name Pilgrim 921. Against Muuurgh's wishes and hers, he tries to make friends with her, and has some minor success. After he begins piloting cargo, on one trip off planet, his ship is attacked as soon as it drops out of hyperspace. He fights them off but Muuurgh is hurt and he goes to the nearest system, Alderaan, to get help. While Muuurgh is with the doctor, Han tries to sell his cargo of glitterstim spice with no success. After a "friendly" reminder from the local enforcement, he gives up and returns to check on Muuurgh, to Muuurgh's great surprise. After they return to Ylesia, Han meets with Teroenza and requests his weapon back, which the priest agrees to, and then goes to visit Jalus Nebl, the other pilot who is currently on medical leave. He learns from Jalus that the Hutt clans are always fighting over profits and that the attack was likely sponsored by the Desilijic clan led by Jiliac and Jabba. He also learns that the Pilgrims are sold off as slaves after they've been there for a year. Fearing for Pilgrim 921, he goes to find her since he has grown to care for her. He confesses his feelings to her and before running off she tells him her name is Bria Tharen and that she returns his feelings. Later, he goes to find Teroenza and suggests that Bria, who was studying to be a museum curator before, may be suitable to care for his collection. He then asks how the Exultation works and is told that it is merely a biological function that the t'landa Til have that just happens to have an effect on other species minds. He then meets the Hutt overseer, Zavval, and makes a good impression. As he cleans up, he checks and is comforted that his recorder captures the conversation.