I've been running all my life.
Every second of every day for eighteen years. I've fought against the Imperials and the fingers that pointed and laughed at me, and watched on in the shadows as others were afraid my existence.
The only thing I'm afraid of now is the haunting laugh. I know what he does in the dark.
The time has come though, for me to unite with a team and prepare for the war that is to come. And I have to live. It is time to wear the scars on my sleeve and live on in the names of those who died for me.
Time to carry on.
Kat hated it on Tatooine.
The heat was unbearable to her. She remembered living in Mos Espa way back when she was a girl. She got sunburnt all the time and always found sand in her shoes. Uncle V'kala thankfully hadn't let them stay there too long.
But today she was in Mos Eisly for old Ben Kenobi.
She took a gulp from her glass of Sarlacc kicker. She lowered her head so her white hair covered her face and sighed. She wondered how she'd get out with all the Imperials lurking about.
"Ah, I see the young Kat actually decided to show up."
Kat turned around from the bar and looked up at the old man's face. "You're lucky I'm here. Those stormtroopers are everywhere."
"I had considered that."
Ben had sent Kat a hologram that morning asking her to meet him at this very particular cantina. Luckily she was in the outer rim and managed to get her and Seefor there, but not for cheap.
The two stared at each other.
"I haven't seen you in two years, little bird."
"I know. I would've come to visit, but the Hutt's….."
"I know. And Imperials."
They both smiled.
"The day they both stop chasing me is the day the galaxy will implode." Kat joked. Ben laughed lightly.
"I have my reasons for my sudden calling." He stated seriously.
"What do you want?"
Kat managed to get Chewie over and talking to Ben. He was discussing if it were possible for Han Solo, the man Kat had hitched a ride with, about a possible ride to the Alderaan system. Ben thought that Kat would still have her small ship…
"…. appear to have a problem," Ben turned around and looked out into the crowd of aliens. He walked over to where a hideous man and some other creature appeared to be harassing a young boy. Blonde. She couldn't see much else. Perhaps around her age?
"This little one isn't worth the effort," she heard Ben from where she took stance. "come let me buy you something-"
Even Kat had not seen that the hideous man would push the boy across the room.
She didn't know what happened next, as she ran across the room to help blondie to his feet. She got her leather, fingerless gloved hands and hauled him up on to his feet from behind.
"You ok?" she asked the stunned boy, who appeared to be entranced at Ben's lightsaber skills. Up close she could identify his blue eyes.
"Yeah…" he turned to face Kat. He looked at her as if he had seen an angel for the first time.
Whatever an angel was… thought Kat.
"Just fine." He continued. "I'm Luke Skywalker." He held out his hand.
Kat smiled. "Katalandtemynarilazatirae Dravvaadas." The handshake had finished by the time she had finished pronouncing her name.
"Wha-?"
"Ben called me here this morning. I think I'm on the Alderaan trip."
"I'm-… what?"
"Just call her Kat. She likes to show off like that." Ben approached them.
"Oh, Ben, I didn't know you wrote poetry." Kat turned to face the old Jedi, with a smug smirk on her lips.
Luke could notice the little glint in her bright green eyes.
Ben sighed. "This is Chewbacca," he looked at Luke. "he's first-mate on a ship that might suit our needs."
Kat, Luke and Ben followed Chewie into a small booth where a man of around thirty was sitting.
"Han Solo. I'm captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewie here tells me you're looking for a passage to the Alderaan system."
"Yes, indeed. If it's a fast ship." Ben spoke.
"Fast ship?" Han looked almost insulted. "You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?"
"Should I have?"
"It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs!"
Kat knew what a load of balderdash that was. She rolled her eyes in response to Han's ridiculous claim.
"I've outrun imperial starships," Han continued. "not the local bulk-cruisers, mind you. I'm talking about the big Corellian ships now. She's fast enough for you, old man. What's the cargo?"
"Only myself," Ben answered. "the boy, the girl, two droids-
"Three droids," Kat corrected. "Seefor goes where I go."
Ben sighed. "Three droids, and no questions asked."
"What is it? Some kind of local trouble?" Han suddenly got interested.
"Let's just say we'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements." Was all Ben replied.
Han sat back in his seat. "Well, that's the trick, isn't it? And it's gonna cost you something extra, and seeing as also Snowball there got a trip before with me. Ten thousand all in advance."
Kat had expected that high price from the beginning.
"Ten thousand?" Luke was astounded by the large number. "We could almost buy our own ship for that!"
"But whose gonna fly it kid?" Han sat forward. "You?"
"You bet I could. I'm not such a bad pilot myself. We don't have to sit here and listen…" Luke started to stand up and walk away when Ben pulled him back down again.
"We haven't that much with us," Kat saw that Ben was making a new offer. "but we could pay you two thousand now, plus fifteen when we get to Aldreaan."
Kat got slightly worried as she hadn't a credit on her anymore. I knew that Sarlacc kicker would backstab me sooner or later.
"Seventeen, huh?" Han considered Ben's offer for a few moments. "Alright, you guys got yourself a ship. We'll leave as you're ready. Docking bay ninety-four."
"Ninety-four." Ben repeated, making sure he was correct.
Han took interest in something behind the trio. "Looks like somebody's beginning to take an interest in your handiwork."
The trio turned around to see a couple of stortroopers investigating the dead bodies that Ben took care of earlier. One was asking about them to the barkeeper who then pointed in their direction.
The made a hasty exit.
No idea how this is gonna work out. First fic; first try for everything. I swear, if I continue it gets more interesting towards the end. Even more interesting if I get up to the Empire Strikes Back. And sorry if the starter is short. So, do your little reveiwy thingys if you want me to continue writing this fic. So long, far well, auf wiedersehn, goodnight.