This chapter was actually added at the last minute. I didn't think it was necessary to put this scene in at first, but when I wrote it and looked at it, I realized there was some great character development in it. The first part of it was actually tagged to the end of the last chapter, but I thought better of it and put it with the second part of this chapter. It kind of wrote itself. I just wanted to write how different meeting Han would have been with Anakin in it and before I knew it, I had written two thousand additional words. Oh yeah! Like I said. Luke has more of a feel for his force ability. More like instinct and it's in part because he knew his dad was a jedi much earlier than in canon.

There's a part in this that might make Anakin seem a little dark, but I was like, I can't write this and not have it so I'll explain it at the end. Read, enjoy, and review!

Chapter Four

Anakin slowly trudged through the dessert in hopes of getting to Obi-Wan's hovel. He didn't have to go far though, because he was on top of a hill looking at the homestead with Luke and two droids, two very familiar droids.

"Alex," Luke yelled seeing him from the distance. He ran to him.

"What are you doing here?" Luke asked. "What's going on?"

Anakin shook his head and urged Luke back to the speeder. Anakin got in the driver's seat and Luke stared at him.

"Hey! I'm driving," Luke shot.

"No time for this son," Anakin said. "We have to get off planet right now. The Ladies in Waiting know we're here."

"They know we're here?" Luke asked. "What's this got to do with you…? You're a jedi too aren't you?"

Anakin nodded and passed the boy his old light saber.

"Here."

Luke looked down at it and turned to his older friend in appreciation. "Thanks. It's the only thing my dad left me… Wait a minute. Where's my aunt and uncle?"

"They got away. Pemé took them off planet."

"Where are we going?" Luke asked.

"Has anyone ever told you that you ask a lot of questions?" Anakin snapped.

Luke sat back. "Well excuse me for wondering when I've been dragged on this wild space adventure."

"As if you didn't want to go on it in the first place," Anakin said pointedly. "And watch your tone young man."

Luke laughed. "Who do you think you are Alex? My father?"

Obi-Wan laughed in amusement behind them, and Anakin rolled his eyes. If only Luke knew.

"Glad you found us," Obi-Wan said to Anakin. "You can help us find ourselves a ship."

"A ship?" Anakin asked. "Something tells me it's not just to get off world. It's that message that was on that droid isn't it?"

Behind him Artoo beeped loudly, and Anakin chanced a glance from the open dessert.

"Artoo," Anakin said smiling. "I haven't seen you in a while. What are you doing here?"

"Princess Leia sent them here," Obi-Wan said.

"Them?" Anakin asked.

Luke nodded to the protocol droid behind him and Anakin grinned.

"Threepio."

"You know these droids?" Luke asked.

"Of course I do. I-." Anakin stopped. Now wasn't the time for a family reunion. "Your father built the protocol droid and the Artoo used to belong to him."

Luke stared at the droids with new fascination. Anakin was reminded of himself when he got his first chance to get off planet. Everything had fascinated him.

"What's this about Princess Leia?" he asked getting back on topic.

"We have to get these droids to Alderaan," Obi-Wan replied. "The princess has been captured."

Anakin suddenly felt an ache in his chest, and he wondered if it was from what Obi-Wan told him, or something else. It was definitely something else he decided, but he wasn't sure what. There was a very faint cry for help somewhere.

"Is she alright," Anakin asked trying to hide his concern. Obi-Wan looked at him and Anakin sighed.

"Okay. We'll go to Alderaan, but after that, we're going to find the princess," Anakin decided.

"But we still don't have a ship," Luke reminded and Anakin shrugged.

"Shouldn't be much of a problem."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Oh no," Luke said as they drove into Mos Eisley. "Storm troopers looking for the droids."

"Calm down son," Anakin said stopping behind the other speeder as it was checked. "We'll be fine."

Luke sat back in his seat and tried to relax as they pulled up to the troopers.

"How long have you had these droids?" one asked.

"About three or four season," Luke replied before either adult could say anything.

"They're for sale if you want them?" Obi-Wan added.

"Let me see you identification."

Luke nervously reached in his pocket to find his ID and Anakin watched in amusement. Obi-Wan scowled at Anakin and turned to the trooper.

"You don't need to see his identification," he said. "These aren't the droids you're looking for. He can go about his business."

The trooper repeated this in a trance like way and Luke looked between Ben and the trooper in amazement. Anakin drove off and it wasn't until they pulled up to a rundown cantina that Luke got his nerves back.

As Anakin shooed away the jawa, Luke said, "I can't understand how we got by those troopers. I thought we were dead."

"The Force can have a strong influence on the weak minded," Obi-Wan explained. "You will find it a powerful ally."

Luke began to speak, but Anakin cut him off.

"We should certainly find a ship here. Most of the pretty good freighter pilots can be found here. Just make sure to watch out."

"I know," Luke muttered. "This place is a little rough."

Anakin turned to him and smirked. "So I did see you here a few weeks ago with some of your friends. Do your guardians know about you night activities?"

Luke blushed. "Hey. All I was doing was playing a little sabbaac."

"You were gambling, and you were drinking," Anakin said pointedly.

"I was mad at my uncle. It was harmless," Luke insisted.

"And the spice dealers you pissed off when you swindled them out their money were harmless too," Anakin said in a serious tone though he was trying to hide his amusement.

Luke couldn't find an argument to that. It had only been luck that got him out of that jam. Anakin sensed his embarrassment and smiled. Then he turned to Threepio and Artoo.

"Stay out here. This bar isn't welcoming to droids," he said.

They went inside and since Luke had no experience in the area of negotiating he sat at the bar while Anakin and Obi-Wan looked around.

Luke looked at the drink he ordered. He shouldn't have ordered it. His nerves were a mess. His world was suddenly turning upside down on him and he had a feeling it would only get worse. It was all he could expect being the son of a jedi. He was always getting into some kind of trouble. But he had a feeling all of it was nothing compared to what he was getting into. He wondered if his father had been a trouble magnet like him. Speaking of trouble…

Luke looked to his side as an alien with many eyes came up to him and shoved him, obviously drunk. He could sense that the alien didn't like him for some unknown reason and the short human male that came up next to the alien proved him right.

"He doesn't like you," the human said.

Luke sighed and said annoyed, "I'm sorry."

"I don't like you either," the human said.

"Good. I'm glad the feeling's mutual," Luke replied tensely. This was not going to end well. For who? He wasn't sure.

"Don't insult us. You just watch yourself. We're wanted men. I had a death sentence in twelve systems!"

Luke would have asked if that were something to be proud of if his senses hadn't warned him not to. Instead he replied, "I'll be careful then."

"You'll be dead."

Luke braced himself for a scuffle. As much as he hated fighting, he was wasn't just going to let some scum push him around.

"Touch one hair on his head and you'll be the one that's dead," Anakin said in a deadly calm tone from behind Luke.

Luke had never been so relieved. Then his senses told him to duck. He slid out his stool, knocking over the drinks on the counter and barely missing being knocked across the room. He stood back up next to Anakin. The alien drew a blaster.

The bartender barely yelled out, "No blasters," before in the blink of an eye, Anakin took off the arm holding the blaster and cut the rodent like alien next to him in two. The human backed away and Anakin held it threateningly towards him. Everyone in the bar went back to what they were doing and Luke looked in awe.

"When do I learn to do that?" he asked.

Anakin muttered something in huttese. Luke, who was less fluent in it than the older man was caught the words slimy and sith hell before the man turned to him and smirked.

"In good time son," Anakin replied as Obi-Wan came up behind them with a wookie. Luke whistled. It was tall.

"Where ever there's trouble, I know I'll find you there. It hasn't failed me yet," Obi-Wan said sighing. "Really Alex. Are you trying to give me more gray hairs?"

"Why of course not master? I stopped trying to give them to you years ago. I can't help it if I do it without trying now," Anakin said smirking.

Obi-Wan glared and glanced at Luke briefly before looking back at Anakin.

"You'll get it all back tenfold," the old jedi assured before gesturing to the wookie. "This is Chewbacca. He's first-mate on a ship that might suit our needs."

Chewbacca led them to a table in the bad of the room where a scruffy looking man with brown hair sat.

Upon first lying eyes on the man, Anakin could tell he wouldn't like him. He was proven right when the man attempted to brag about his ship and how fast it was. Han, he had called himself. Luke on the other hand felt that there was something about Han. He couldn't put his hands on it though. Sure he seemed cocky, but Luke had a feeling he'd grow to like him.

"Only passengers. Us," Obi-Wan said gesturing to himself and Anakin. "The boy and two droids. No questions asked."

"What is it? Some kind of local trouble?"

"Let's just say we'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements."

Han leaned back smugly, and Anakin could tell he was going to use that to his advantage. Why did Obi-Wan have to mention that?

"Well that's the trick isn't it? And it's going to cost you something extra. Ten thousand in advance."

Anakin looked up from the table to stare at the smuggler in disbelief. Next to him, he could feel Luke's shock as well.

"Ten thousand? We could almost buy our own ship for that!" Anakin shot.

"But who's going to fly it old man? You?" Han asked.

Anakin almost laughed. Solo didn't know who he was talking to.

"Of course I could," he replied. "Let's go. I'm not going to sit here and listen to-."

"Alex," Obi-Wan said sternly. "We need a ship."

"And you sound desperate," Han quipped. "That's my price. Either that or no deal."

"I don't too much like that ultimatum," Anakin said darkly. "How about you lower your price, or…"

Han felt a sudden pressure on his neck and began to scratch his throat a little. That was odd. He looked at Anakin who was smiling a little and began to speak. Obi-Wan got there first.

"Stop it," he warned Anakin.

Anakin rolled his eyes and the pressure was lifted from Han's neck. Luke looked between them. He was positive he had missed something.

"We don't have that much with us. But we could pay you two thousand now, plus fifteen thousand when we reach Alderaan," Obi-Wan suggested.

Anakin scoffed. Now Obi-Wan was making them seem desperate like the pirate already thought they were.

"That's ridiculous," Luke muttered.

"Seventeen huh?" Han asked and appeared to think about it. Anakin resisted the urge to try to choke the man again. As if he had to think about that. It was practically a steal.

"Okay. You got yourself a ship. We'll leave as soon as you're ready. Docking bay ninety-four," Han said and then looked behind them. "Looks like somebody's taking an interest in you handiwork."

Luke, Anakin, and Obi-Wan ducked out of the cantina quickly. When they were outside, Obi-Wan began to scold Anakin.

"I've told you about doing that. That's a dark side trick."

"What's dark about choking someone with the force," Anakin shot. "Besides I wasn't really angry. I was just trying to scare him a little. He probably deserved it anyway. There's only one reason he would charge so much for a ride."

"And what's that?" Luke asked curiously.

"That pirate is in debt to a hutt. Anyone who does dealings with them deserves a little punishment. So my harmless little 'dark side' stunt was hardly a sin."

It then clicked in Luke's head what he had seen Alex do. He had apparently used the forced to try to choke Han. No wonder he had been so amused and Han started scratching at his neck. He started to laugh. Obi-Wan glared.

"There's nothing funny about dancing on the border of the dark side of the force Luke. Take heed. Once you resort to the dark side, forever will it dominate your destiny. Maybe you'll take it more seriously than Alex does," Obi-Wan snapped.

Anakin stopped. Luke sensed that his mood had suddenly gone solemn.

"You don't need to remind me to take it seriously. I know that all too well thank you if you remember correctly," he stormed ahead of them.

"What's his problem?" Luke asked in confusion.

"It's something personal. Not my story to tell. Alex may tell you one day," Obi-Wan said sighing. Anakin still hadn't gotten over Pesinoé.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After they had sold the speeder, Anakin, Luke, and Obi-wan along with the droids headed to docking bay ninety-four.

"If this ship is as fast as Capitan Solo claims," Anakin began, "we should make good time."

Chewbacca was waiting for them outside of it and led them to the ship. Luke's jaw dropped when he saw the ship, not in awe though. It was in disbelief.

"What a piece of junk," he said. "It looks like it'll fall apart if I blow on it!"

"Not a far cry from the truth. I salvage junk and turn it into something working and apparently that's what our captain was trying to do when he got this thing. The difference between me and him is that I actually know what I'm doing. Obviously he doesn't," Anakin said sighing, although inside he was just giddy about the ship. He hadn't seen a case this bad in a while. If he could get his hands on it, it would be one of the biggest challenges he ever had… Anakin shook the thought from his head.

They had a mission and the sooner he got to Alderaan and away from the pirate, the less inclined he would be toward some of his darker tendencies.

"Come on Luke," Anakin said starting up the ramp, but Luke didn't move.

"Luke," he said again and Luke suddenly shook his head.

"That's weird…"

"What is it?"

Luke shrugged. He really couldn't say. Something had just come over him. "I felt numb all of a sudden… well, not numb, but like needles were pricking me all over and I felt a little lightheaded. The strange part was that it just felt like a phantom pain or something. Like I was just feeling a little of a greater pain."

Anakin and Obi-Wan looked at each other. It wasn't the first time this had happened. Usually when Luke had a pain for some unknown reason, it was because of Leia even though he didn't know she existed. It had happened when Queen Breha died some years ago. Luke was sad and said he felt like he had lost something important for days. Come to find out, he was feeling Leia's grief over her adoptive mother. It was a rare thing though. Leia really had to be in pain for Luke to feel it.

"Are you alright now then?" asked Obi-Wan.

Luke nodded. "Yeah. Let's go."

"And please hurry," Han urged. "We're a little rushed here."

Anakin didn't know what it was about Han that bothered him, and he started to try to scare him again, until he felt a warning in the force urging him to press on.

Just as the ramp closed and Han was in the cockpit preparing to take off, storm troopers made their way into the docking bay.

Anakin frowned as he looked at the pirate out the corner of his eye. In a way, the man owed the storm troopers for his well being.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I just couldn't let go of the force choke thing and it's something Han is going to get well acquainted with throughout the series, especially after they meet Leia. I found it a way to kind of lighten up the story a bit from time to time. I think it could go either way with Han and Anakin's relationship. But when I thought about how he was a pirate, in debt to a Hutt, and only caring about money, I figured it would be fairly reasonable that Anakin wouldn't like him that much. Hope you enjoyed. Review please!