A bit of smuggler philosophy from a trigger-sure pirate.
Shoot first or be shot, I always say.
When it comes to my life, or Chewie's, I don't take any risks. Anybody messes with us - Chewie and I'll take care of 'em.
That's the way it is in this business. You never know what motives people have or what they're planning and thinking behind those shifty eyes. More than likely it's your untimely demise. And there're plenty of shifty eyes around here. Nobody trusts anybody in this circle, and there's reason why. The stories I've heard about cons and double crossers, people betraying their friends for a couple of credit chips...
Not to mention my own stories. Some guy named Kimoiw was ready to do me in. The worst part of it was that he was just bitter I beat him in sabacc a few times. And took a few contracts away from him - and his girlfriend. He didn't need to get that worked up about it. If it wasn't for Chewie, though I wouldn't be here today.
You need to know who your friends are and who you can't turn your back on for fear of getting a vibroknife wedged between your shoulder blades. That's why I'm glad I've got Chewie. I trust him more than I trust myself sometimes. It's good to have someone I can count on, even if it did take me a while to get used to the hairball. I don't trust anybody else.
I don't get involved in all this political stuff either - unless I'm breaking the law. But that's business. Otherwise, I'm completely neutral. You get tangled up in this galactic civil war, and then your priorities are split, and before you know it you're completely caught up in the politics. You can't leave because you have a cause to fight for. Or at least that's what I've heard. A couple of old timers come back to the Run every once in a while, spitting rebel slogans. I grin and then tell 'em I can't get involved right now. Right now and never - it's bad for business, and business is all that matters. You get working with either side and you aren't just working for money. Besides, your list of enemies quadruples once you pledge your allegiance.
It's like a game of dejarik. You make your moves and you protect your pieces. Otherwise it's check mate.
Now I'm not promoting violence. But if someone's aiming a blaster at my chest, I'm not going to hesitate to treat him to the favor first. Greedo got what was coming to him. Nobody even waves a blaster in the general direction of Han Solo without answering for it. I won't let someone take a first pot shot at me for the sake of my conscience.
I do what I do to save my hide. Those who shoot first live.
And Han Solo always shoots first.
Original cover by Bimo. HTML formatting copyright 2003 TheForce.Net LLC.