4

"The threat of the First Order is growing daily," Leia said to the rebellion leaders on Mirrin Prime. "It's been quiet for a while, but the attacks across the galaxy are growing, and Starkiller base is getting closer to completion. The rebellion disbanded years ago, but I say we need to take action now."

"Are you saying we should prepare for war?" Admiral Ackbar asked.

"The First Order clearly is," Leia said. "The Guavian Death Gang and Kanjiklub were spotted on Twon Ketee."

"The Guavian Death Gang? Kanjiklub?" Han said. "I've had run-ins with both of them before- they're nasty bunches. They both work for the First Order, and they're rivals. But why would they be on Twon Ketee? It's in Wild Space!"

"They were hunting rathtars." Leia replied.

"Rathtars?" Han said. "Those things are worth a lot. It's said their blood can heal wounds. They've been hunted nearly to extinction."

"Exactly. They're competing to catch them. I suspect that they may be using the rathtar's for something big. It's all part of the bigger picture, Han. You need to put a stop to this. You're a smuggler, you're great at these dilemmas."

Han thought for a moment. "I know someone who might want to buy those rathtars from me- if I can get my hands on them," he said. "King Prana- he's the king of Nantoon and a collector of exotic creatures. There's just one problem: King Prana doesn't speak basic."

"C-3PO can help" Leia suggested.

"That's right!" C-3PO, Leia's protocol droid piped in. "I am fluent in-"

Leia put her hand over C-3PO's mouth. "Over seven billion forms of communication. So you and Threepio will negotiate with King Prana. I fear Starkiller Base is nearing completion, and Hosnian Prime may be its first target. We need a spy to report on the progress of its construction."

"I'll go," Thane said. After his heroic efforts in the Battle of Jakku, Thane had been promoted to Lieutenant.

"You'll need a pilot," a voice said. X-wing pilot and leader of the Black Squadron, a specialized Squadron made for dangerous missions after the Battle of Jakku, Poe Dameron, stepped out from the shadows. At only 14, he was the youngest you could be to join the remains of the rebellion. Being the leader of the Black Squadron, he also commanded the Red and Blue Squadrons, the only remaining Squadrons after the Galactic Concordance had been signed, limiting the rebellion's power to only three squadrons and a few leaders.

"Poe's right," Thane said. "I can't fly a ship, and nobody can like Poe."

"Then it's settled," Leia said. "Lieutenant Kyrell and Poe will go to Starkiller Base and report on the construction, and Han and C-3PO will go to Nantoon to negotiate with King Prana. May the force be with us all."

...

Luke sat in his private quarters, meditating in front of his father's mask. Burnt, melted and charred, Luke had kept it after his funeral pyre. He sat with his eyes closed, clearing his mind, mentally preparing himself for the day that was to come.

Images started to float into his head. A group of warriors stood on the edge of a cliff. They wore ancient masks and helmets, holding spears and axes. The head of the warriors wore a mask closely resembling Darth Vader's and a long cloak. He held a red lightsaber with two shorter blades coming out from the end of the handle, like the hilt of a sword. He raised his lightsaber, and the image went black, followed by a scream of pain. The image shifted to show a lightsaber falling to the ground, smoke billowing out the end.

"Master Skywalker?"

Luke came back to reality to see Kris at the entrance to the his quarters. "Master Skywalker? Are we going to start training?"

"Uh...Yes, just let me get ready."

"Okay," Kris left.

"Come on, Artoo" Luke said as he left his quarters

...

"Padawans, today you will be learning to use the force, the energy field that flows through all living things. It surrounds us and connects the galaxy as one. Learn to harness it, and you can do amazing things."

Luke held a box of stones and handed one to each of the padawans.

"Concentrate. Clear your head of any thoughts and just breathe. Focus on one thing and one thing only: lifting that rock. Breathe. Now hold out your hand."

One by one, the padawans held out their hands, and the stones started to shake. Kris and Krae's stones slowly began to rise. Then Sera, Karrus and Stasia had lifted their stones high in the air, floating like magic. Kyrsta, Rik and Alana held out their hands, and their stones rose, too. Onara, Tal and Ilbis's stones rose and soon every stone was floating. They were suspended in mid-air, above the heads of the padawans, hanging by the will of the force.

Except for Ben's. He tried to concentrate and clear his mind, but too many thoughts clouded his mind. He held his hand out, but nothing happened.

The padawan's stones dropped.

Luke walked up to Ben and closed his eyes, concentrating. "I sense great fear in you, Ben. Fear that you will never get ahead of the other padawans. Fear that you will never achieve greatness. A great man I once knew used to say this: 'Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering'. Let go, Ben. Become one with the force. For the force is one with everything and the force is one with you. Concentrate."

Luke knelt down on the ground. He closed his eyes, and every single stone, one-by-one, was raised off the ground, floating up all at the same time, all by Luke. They hung in the air for a spectacular moment, and all came clattering to the ground. "Now you try. Suppress the fear that is clouding your mind and just do it. Become one with the force."

Ben held his hand out. For a while, nothing happened, until the stone started to shake. It rose, at first, only a few inches above the ground, but it slowly gained speed, moving upward with Ben's hand. After it was above his head, he let go, dropping the stone.

Luke pat Ben on the back. "You've taken your first steps into a larger world."

...

Han, Chewbacca, and C-3PO approached Nantoon, its rocky and mountainous landscape coming into view.

"Nantoon" Han said to the others. "It's the galaxy's capital of crime, illegal trade, and the black market. Smugglers, pirates and bounty hunters alike all flock here to avoid their rivals. It's considered neutral territory, but fights break out very often. It's dangerous to walk the streets without a good blaster at your side."

"That does not sound very pleasant, " C-3PO said.

"Well, then you're definitely in for a rude awakening," Han said. "'Not pleasant' would be putting it lightly."

The Millennium Falcon landed in a public spaceport by a small town, several landing pads arranged in a grid, behind a main building. Han, Chewbacca, and C-3PO walked down the ramp and joined the other criminals gathering in the hangar. There were scum and villainy from all corners of the galaxy, all different species, disheveled and filthy.

The group went to the main building. The room was huge and cavernous. It was dirty and unkempt, filled with jagged rock formations and vendors selling their goods under tents in the crevices of the rocks. The exit was like the entrance of the cave, a large arch leading out to more shops outside.

"Sir, the odds of not being attacked here are approximately 1,938 to one!" C-3PO informed Han. As they stepped outside, a blaster bolt was shot right above Han, just barely above his head. "Well, there's an attack" he mumbled.

The smoke cleared to reveal Bala-Tik, the leader of the Guavian Death Gang, Bala-Tik, came into view, flanked by the faceless cybernetic soldiers that were the rest of the gang. Each soldier wearing the exact same red armor and helmet, they had sworn loyalty to the Guavian Death Gang in exchange for their bodies to be cybernetically enhanced for combat.

Bala-Tik and two other warriors pushed Han, Chewbacca and C-3PO against the wall with their blasters. "You're a dead man, Solo," Bala-Tik said as he hit both Han and Chewbacca, knocking them unconscious.

...

Han and Chewbacca woke up in a cell underground with binders strapped around their wrists. C-3PO's lifeless body laid next to them. He had been shut down.

Han could see Bala-Tik talking with a Clawdite through the bars. He wore a leather coat, metal shoulder pads, and a sash down his front with a variety of blasters attached to it.

Chewbacca growled.

"That's Gannis Ducain." Han said. "He's a bounty hunter who works for the First Order."

"Do you have the credits I was promised?" Bala-Tik asked.

"Not until you get those rathtars" the Clawdite replied.

"But sir-" "Snoke's orders. You will be paid 5,000 credits for getting the rathtars and 10,000 for any former rebellion members IF you also get the rathars."

"But-" "You'd best be going on that mission if you're to beat Kanjiklub to the job. You better be quick- the other members of the Chimera aren't as forgiving as I am."

Bala-Tik sighed. "Yes, Gannis."

Chewbacca growled again. "I don't know who the Chimera is, but whoever they are, they're trying to kill us like everyone else."

Bala-Tik unlocked the door to the cell, turned C-3PO on again, and brought the three of them to Gannis at blaster point with two Guavian soldiers.

"Han Solo," the Gannis said. "You've always been a swindler. You've made enemies, you've broken deals, and you're one of the most hated smugglers in the galaxy. You're a wanted criminal, and now you're captured. There's no escape. No one can help you now."

"Not this time." Han kneed Gannis in the abdomen, causing him to fall to the ground. He ducked when Bala-Tik attempted to fire his blaster and grabbed his wrists, wrestling Bala-Tik's blaster out of his hand.

Chewbacca roared in fury as he knocked a soldier upside the head with his forearm unconscious, and kicking the rest of them into submission, dropping their blasters.

Bala-Tik had Han pinned against the wall. His fingers inched towards his blaster, up the shaft and over the trigger, the blaster pointer right at Han's head, who couldn't move. He pushed.

Chewbacca pushed Han out of the way, freeing him from Bala-Tik's grasp the blaster bolt hitting the wall and leaving a black and charred mark on the wall. The two of them with C-3PO sprinted up the staircase at the end of the long hallway of empty cells, Gannis, soldiers, and Bala-Tik followed.

The floor above them appeared to be an empty cave. Han, Chewbacca, and C-3PO ducked into a crevice as C-3PO pressed the button on Han and Chewie's binders to free them.

Han looked around. "It seems to be the Chimera's hidden base- whoever they are."

Han ducked as another blaster bolt was fired above his head, and he, Chewbacca and C-3PO started running again, out the cave, swerving and ducking to avoid the blaster bolts.

They ran out of the cave, pursued by Gannis and the Guavian Death Gang. Han tripped and stumbled as he went down the hill overlooking a village below.

The sign outside the small town read "Trilla". Han, Chewbacca and C-3PO rushed through it, overturning shops and stands too much displeasure of the vendors, their pursuers causing chaos among the crowd, fleeing at the image of the Guavian Death Gang, feared all across the galaxy.

Han, Chewbacca, and C-3PO turned a corner to a small group of settlements made out of clay. Onlookers gawked at the scene, watching from their small houses. Han's heart pounded and his legs felt like metal as he sprinted forward.

"Get in," he said to the others, hurriedly gesturing to a ladder leading up to a walkway above the houses. Chewbacca climbed, followed by C-3PO, followed by Han, and they stepped onto the roofs of the houses.

They hurried down the roof, shooting their blasters at the Guavian Death Gang and Gannis who were running by, approaching the ladder. The blaster bolts followed them, barely missing them, creating miniature dust explosions behind them.

Bala-Tik started to climb the ladder, followed by Gannis and the soldiers. They approached Han, backing him, Chewbacca, and C-3PO into the end of the roof.

"You meet your end here, Solo," Bala-Tik said. He raised his blaster.

Han stared at the ground below. "Go!" Thinking quickly, he pushed Chewbacca and C-3PO off the roof with him, and they all crumpled to the ground. Han rose, followed by the others, and they continued through the maze of the town.

The path between the shops and houses twisted and turned and bent so much, you could lose yourself just walking around.

Gannis and the Guavians weren't far behind, as they were across a line of shops, looking around for Han, Chewbacca, and C-3PO, who continued to make their way through the maze of shops.

They arrived in a clearing to find a clearing with a huge palace placed on top of a mountain. There was a gate at the base of the mountain guarding a path up it. The gate was guarded by two guards in armor that appeared to be scavenged from different sources. Han kept running, straight into one of the guards, and he slammed into the ground.

"Do you wish to speak with King Prana?" the guard asked.

Han got up. "Yeah whatever I'm kind of escaping the clutches of a crime gang who wants to kill me."

The guards opened the gate like being chased by a crime gang who want to kill you is a normal occurrence on Nantoon and Han, Chewbacca and C-3PO went through and started trudging up the path to the palace.