A/N: Whoa, 1,874 readers to date. Dang! I'm sooo stoked; all I can say is: THANKS! Also, due to nearly suffocating under my homework, yes I had wanted to update long before now; so, sorry, but thx for being patient. Only had a 'guest' ask if Ghost is going to be Mara; answer: nope. Like I said before, she will have a part in this storyline I'm working on. I already have the full storyboard done for episode IV, and episode V, which will come out right after this fic, is done. So, plz bear with me, Mara fans. She's gonna be in this and she's gonna be awesome…but she won't be Ghost. K? Cool; so here we go! Onward!
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SW Ep. IV: Dark Assassin Ch. 7—Maneuvers
Han had to shut out Luke's shouting demands of "what's going on?" as he yelled at everyone to get strapped in so he could perform the fastest lift-off in history.
"No time for pre-flight check Chewie," he said loudly over the Falcon's engines roaring to life.
Chewie harned back he'd assumed as much and yanked on the controls.
The Falcon practically leapt from its open-ceilinged docking bay and into Tatooine's cloudless skies.
Han was so busy basking in relief that they'd evaded Imperial forces—again—that he didn't immediately realize that the old man was still in the cockpit—and talking to Spek.
"How…how did you know my name?" he realized he heard Luke asking the Jedi.
"Your father was my closest friend," the Jedi amiably replied, "Luke…you have no idea how wonderful it is for me to hear your voice. Thank the Force you're alive."
There was silence on Spek's end for a moment. Then: "You were my father's friend?"
"Yes; his wife…well, it's far too much to explain to you now," Ben said, putting his head down, and Han thought something…burdened overshadowed the old man, "we must meet; we're traveling to Alderaan—"
"Alderaan!?"
Obi-wan blinked. "Yes…were you heading there as well?"
Luke snickered. "Eventually; we have to make a stop…at the Empire's new battle-station. You see, Bail's daughter's been taken prisoner by the Empire—"
"And they have her there?"
"Yes; but only for now." Silence for a moment. "That, Han…is actually why I called you."
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Obi-Wan watched the captain lift his hands and pull back in his pilot's seat. "Whoa," he said, cutting Luke off, "what does this have to do with me?"
"You need money—"
"Not anymore kid; and I'm not getting blasted by the Empire over some princess."
"Han…"
"No way," Solo objected, ignoring a look from Chewbacca, "infiltrate a battle station to break out a rebel princess? Not worth it; I like keeping my body—and ship—in one piece, thank you. Insane-type breakouts are your exclusive sector, kid."
Chewie harned that they should help; that Spector was their friend. Han unwillingly thought of how Spek had offered to kill Jabba so Han would be free from the inevitable price on his head…yeah, assassin or no, he was a loyal friend.
Han pushed away the onslaught of guilt feelings.
"I could persuade Bail to add more to your fee?" Obi-wan offered enticingly.
"There's not enough credits in this galaxy," the captain flatly proclaimed. "You can't spend credits if you're dead."
Something suddenly jarred the ship. Solos checked his scanners.
"Great," he mumbled and his hands were suddenly all over the controls. "Imperial destroyers…two of them-coming up fast."
"Well," Luke put in, "you know some maneuvers, lose them."
"Quiet kid; you're lucky you're not here…or you'd be floating home."
Luke only laughed. "If you need some suggestions Han," he snarked—
The ship jarred again as one of the pursuing ships scored a hit.
"Chewie, check the deflector shield."
"How long until you can make the jump to hyperspace?" Kenobi asked.
"I'll need a few moments to get the coordinates from the navi-computer," Solo distractedly replied.
Obi-wan sighed. This was hardly how he imagined finding Anakin's son again…but at least Luke was alive.
"Luke, we have a great deal to discuss when we meet on Alderaan."
"I agree," was the deadpan response, "Han, I'm almost to the battle-station; just drop the Jedi off on Alderaan; I'll meet up with you with the princess later on."
"Luke," Obi-Wan urged, "please be careful—"
"I always am—"
Han sputtered sarcastically. "Really? When?"
Ben ignored him. "And may the Force be with you."
Luke cut the connection.
Ben let the full impact of what just transpired soak into him. It felt like absorbing a deluge, a hurricane even…but at long last, there was closure.
Luke was alive; and he was apparently all right.
Some part of Ben's mind registered the fact that Solo threw the ship into hyperspace. Ergo, they were safe…for the time being.
"So…." He heard the captain say after they were in the clear, "you were friends with Spek's father?"
Ben nodded. "He was like my brother; he was my apprentice when he was a child. He…he never got to see his son though."
He stared at the swirling lights of hyperspace as he heard the captain sigh—he thought in sympathy. "Yeah; war does that," he emotionlessly said.
Ben looked soberly over at the captain. If Luke was close friends with this rogue smuggler, then it was safe to assume that Anakin's child didn't grow up…respectable. He had admitted casually about being en route to infiltrate and liberate Princess Leia from the new secret station…and had offered Solo a chance to join in—no doubt for profit.
That meant Luke had become some sort of mercenary? A spy, perhaps?
Something about that didn't feel exactly right. Thankfully; answers were now sitting beside him, telling his co-pilot they should kick back for a while and leave the ship on auto.
"Captain," Obi-Wan said as he heard the conversation die down, "may I ask a favor of you?"
"You wanna know what happened to your Jedi friend's kid, what he became in life?"
Well; the captain, cynical and jaded or not, was sharp.
"If you would be so kind."
The captain laughed at that. "Of all the things I am, 'kind' I doubt is at the top of the list." He lazily got up, stretched and put an arm around Kenobi. "But…Chewie likes you, so I'm with him. I say, we head to the lounge, I'll beat Chewie at Sabbacc while I tell you about your buddy's kid; sound fair?"
Ben could only smile at his laid-back arrogance. Behind him, the Wookie rose to his imposing height and wuffed at the captain, 'I might let you win, but only if you cook this time.'
Solo laughed again. Obi-Wan shook his head; their back and forth banter was so reminiscent of him and Anakin.
His stomach twisted at the memories. Why did it always feel like only yesterday that he and Anakin were debating whether or not that business on Cato Nemoidia counted?
But no; he accepted the pain and let the emotions run their course. He had made his choices, chosen his path; he and Anakin both. He had to accept, trust the Force and move on.
Especially now that Luke had been brought back into his life; even if Luke only possessed a fraction of Anakin's power, he would need guidance and tutelage.
He let Solo guide him to said lounge, where the droids no doubt were; his Wookie friend trailing close behind, offering hints to Solo about what he'd like for dinner.
"I'll tell you what, gentlemen," Kenobi put in as Solo told Chewie he could just open a couple packets of beans if he was hungry, "I'll cook; do you like Bruallki stew?"
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A/N: Well, kiddos, that's it for now; I work tomorrow and go to the doc; so gotta get some shut-eye. Anyways, I hope you enjoy; plz review…and more will come soon! Promise Have a good one!
