Okay guys, I really don't like the Prologue the way it is. Too distracting, and it doesn't have anything to do with the plot… as far as I can tell. Besides, more people were reading that, then not reading Chapter 1. So, for anyone who's made it this far, I'd like to have your opinion. Should it stay or should it go? hums a tune Isn't that a song?
NuclearXsquid: Congratulations! You are my first (and only) reviewer. Be proud, though I'm not sure why.
Disclaimer: My name is George Lucas and I own everything related to Star Wars. Not.
Luke spun her around, where she came face to face with a very angry, red-faced, glaring Anakin Skywalker.
"I'm sorry?" Lara offered as the former Sith glared at her. She sighed. "Okay, okay. I humbly beg your forgiveness for meddling in your affairs, sabotaging all attempts to take over the galaxy, sending the plans to Princess Leia, and all that stuff. O great and mighty Vade, darkest of them all, will you find it in your black heart to forgive me?" Lara fluttered her eyelashes as Luke and Ashley tried hard not to laugh.
Anakin continued staring at her, his eyes boring into her as his fingers flexed. Suddenly, he burst into a fit of laughter, his eyes watering and chest heaving. "Should have – seen – your face! You actually thought I was mad at you." He continued laughing, while the other men now openly laughed with him.
Lara drew herself up indignantly. "Well," she said huffily, "considering the fact that you were trying to take over the galaxy, were prone to unwarranted fits of anger, and once Force choked a guy because he talked back to you, I'd say you had me pretty convinced there."
At this point, Luke decided to intervene. "Guys," Lara shot him a look, "and girl, let's calm down. We're all together safe and unharmed, my dad's not dead, the galaxy is free, and we should have a party. So, Lara, get the food, and Ashley, set up the tables." ("Not more dragging furniture around," Ashley groaned.) "Dad, how about you find us some good music after you get rid of the Stormtroopers by ejecting them into space or something, and I'll invite the rest of the Rebel forces here."
Anakin looked at the independent, brave young man his son had become and – was that a piercing? "Luke Skywalker, whatever Force possessed you to get anearring of all things?"
Luke was definitely not expecting a question from that direction at all, and dropped the Malawakataka nuts: They'll make any party relaxing and fun! "What, this little thing?" He pointed at the stud in his ear as Lara drooled over the fire the small gem sparkled with.
"Yes, that 'little thing', as you so aptly put it, son." Anakin emphasized the son part to remind Luke who he was talking to.
Luke did remember that screwing around with an ex-Sith was a bad idea. He also remembered that screwing around with your father was also a bad idea. It didn't take a genius to figure out two plus two equaled four. So Luke decided to choose his words carefully. "You see, it's a…device… that can be used for many purposes like… getting into locked rooms… and making pretty lights and loud sounds, and it…"
Anakin wasn't fooled at all. "Luke, stop babbling and sounding like a child who doesn't want to admit they did something stupid. Why don't you just come out and say that you can use it to break into places and cause explosions. At least then you would sound like you know what you're talking about and not some Gungan toddler with a speech impediment." Ashley guffawed loudly and stopped only when Lara elbowed him sharply and glared. Anakin just rolled his eyes at the typical behavior of his assistants and continued, "I'm not going to hold it against you. You hated me and I hated you. We start with a clean slate." By this time, Ashley was fighting tears as he tried not to laugh. Anakin sighed and said, "Just what's so damn funny that you can't shut up?"
As Luke looked on in shock, Lara nudged him and said, "Shocking, isn't it? Who would have ever thought that the great and terrible Lord Vader would have had a potty mouth? These are terrible days, I tell you, just terrible."
Ashley ignored them and addressed Anakin. "It's absolutely hilarious! You standing there looking serious, and Luke shrinking, and you just glaring and… That has got to be the funniest father-son talk I've ever seen, and believe you me, I've had to endure all sorts." Ashley adopted a different tone now, a deeper and fuller one. "Big V and all that, ya gotta talk like they talk, walk like they walk, do a little gangsta rap and slouch in the chair, twirl around and around wi' your hands in the air, and wave em' like nobody care!" Ashley stopped dancing and took a tiny bow before flinging himself into the nearest seat and stealing Lara's caf.
The others were frozen in place for a minute as Ashley's rather… exotic performance traveled from their sensory receptors to their brains. Then all hell broke lose. Okay, not really. But still, it was pretty chaotic.
"You really think that's how you talk to the 'younger generation'? Where have you been living, on Choi or something?"
"You're worse than Dwayne. Remember when he did the same thing, only he ended up tripping over a chair? At least his rhymes and dancing were better."
"Good Force, Ashley! What were you trying to do, permanently blind us for life? I'd have to say you're doing a pretty good job of that right now." Anakin grimaced and blinked to make sure that he could see before continuing, "Never mind. Just sit down. Luke, I'm not sure your friends would appreciate being invited to Darth Vader's personal ship for a party; they'd probably think that it was a trap. How about you go back, take us with you, announce Darth Vader is dead, and then voila! we pop out. But I think I will dump the Stormtroopers into space. Very fine suggestion. I like the way you think, m'boy."
Luke sheepishly grinned, proud that he had made his father proud. The two stood there, internally glowing, until an impatient Lara cleared her throat. "Just hate to break up the precious father-son bonding time, but could we get a move on, people? I really want to meet Luke's sister."
"I bet you two will love each other. I mean, both of you are crazy and hyperactive, and… Hey! How do you know about my sister?" Luke exclaimed. He was puzzled as to how Lara could how found out when she was cooped up all the time.
"Duh. Vade tells me everything. When I say everything, I mean everything. The color of his socks, how many minutes he brushed, and anything else you could possibly want to know. He's quite the blabbermouth. Did you know, Vade likes to,"
Lara was cut off by the great Vade himself. "Yes, well, we get the picture. Thanks though. Now, about those Stormtroopers…"
A few hours later, Lara, Luke, Ashley, and Anakin were partying with the Rebels. They'd decided to keep the name, seeing as how it fit with their "rough and tough" image. Lara was anxiously looking for Leia, as she wanted to get a chance to finally meet the famous ambassador. Instead, she ran into the infamous flirt, Han Solo.
"Well, hello, cutie, just who might you be?"
Lara groaned inwardly before putting on her innocent face and turning around to face the cocky smuggler. "Oh, I'm sorry, do I know you? Because the last time I checked, I didn't know anyone in the army as Major Flirt." She turned to leaved, but Han stopped her.
"Oh, you think you're very funny, don't you? Stop playing hard to get, sweetie, it just makes the boys chase after you more. Say, I know this…" Han stopped talking as he caught sight of his sweetheart glaring at him. "Ah, hey, Princess. Just, er, showing this young lady around, darling."
"Oh, you think you're in the clear don't you? Stop playing innocent, dearie, it just makes Leia glare at you more," Lara quipped, turning Han's words back upon him. She walked up to Leia and introduced herself. "Lara Numin, at your service Your Majesty." Lara then gave an exaggerated curtsey to Leia.
All the while, the corners of Leia's mouth had been trying not to turn upwards as she listened to the conversation, but now she let out a very unladylike snort. Lara glanced up, quite startled. "Your Majesty, was that asnort? Oh, please do that again, I rather like it!"
This time, Leia didn't even bother trying to smother her laughter. Peals of laughter, mixed with a few snorts, rolled from the princess as she clutched her sides. Dumbfounded, Han just looked at Leia, while Lara joined in the side-heaving laughter. When Leia finally stopped laughing, she took Lara's arm and said, "Actually Lara, I've never met a Major Flirt, but I am currently seeing a General Flirt." The two women burst out laughing again.
"Your Majesty, I do declare that was definitely an accurate assessment of Mr. Han here," Lara choked out from around her laughs.
Leia sobered up immediately. "What did you just call me?"
In his head, Han cackled and thought, Oh boy, is she ever gonna get it! That's teach her to smartass me. He stood there with a look of anticipation on his face.
Lara decided to stop laughing because the princess looked very angry. "Your Majesty, if I said anything at all to offend you…"
Leia held her glare on Lara for a moment longer, then reprimanded, "Never, ever, call me Your Majesty. It drives me absolutely bonkers. Just call me Leia. But, come, I have so much to show you!" Lara allowed herself to be dragged away by the exuberant Leia, leaving a very disappointed Han Solo behind.
Wow. I just looked at when I first started this chapter and wow. I have taken so long on this. It's not my fault! cowers behind her laptop. I can't help it if I've got a crazy-ass project due that I've been working on for the entire school year! Besides, this is pretty long for me. Four pages! But, a word of warning (not really): The only things I've inserted that belong to me are Lara, Ashley, and the Flantigur plant. Choi actually is a planet in the Star Wars universe. There's a whole list of planets on the web.
Quick question: What letter should the name of Lara's home planet start with? Weird question, but I found so many great names and had to narrow it down somehow. So, let me know. Thanks for reading and review please!