Disclaimer: Not mine.

As The Stars Fade Away

Chapter 9

-

The person Dana had referred to was an old, grey haired man whose face was covered with thousands of small wrinkles. He laid in a deep slumber, head pressed against a crude table in a dimly lit room. Fade rumbling sound escaped from his lips, and it took some time to understand the man was snoring. Luke glanced at the room and furrowed his brown. Based on the clothes that lay on the floor someone else shared the room with the man.

The apartment was crude, ingenious even. It was impossible to call it cozy, even with a good will. The room was dusty, dirty and smelled of sweat and dirt; and it was worse than even some of the temporal space stations Luke had seen. The whole area where Dana led him was like Mos Eisley, or even Ord Mantel. Luke glanced at her briefly. How odd her kind of girl lived in a place like this.

Luke tried to step over the garbage in front of the front door – the metal doses, cables and loose sensors. The door behind him closed and locked him in the dry room with Dana and her acquaintance.

"Dad," Dana whispered, tiptoed closer and gently touched the man.

The breathing halted for a while. He smacked his lips and turned his face, squeezing tighter the treasure in his hands. In the dim light it was hard to perceive clear, but it appeared suspiciously like some sort of remote control. The table was full of different tools, screwdrivers and screws.

"Dad!" Dana repeated louder, and this time was rewarded.

The man grumbled and raised his head. "Dana…?" He said sleepy, smacked his mouth once more and looked at the girl bent over him. "The turn is over already?" He asked and fluttered his eyes. Smiling weakly he patted her hand. "How was your day at work, dear?" The man glanced at the dark screen on the opposite wall and its red digits. "Evening already! How queer, I thought I rested only a while or two…"

"Dad!" Dana said desperately and straightened her back. "Please, don't say you've worked all this time." It was evident this was familiar to her.

"If it makes you feel bad," The man said, sounding little more awaken. An amused expression flashed on his face and he stood up on his chair. Only then did he notice Luke standing near to the door. His eyebrows bent up. He looked at Dana and wiped his face. "Oh, I see you've brought a guest with you this time...?"

Dana shook her head while stepping back. "Dad," She gestured toward the boy. "This is Luke."

"Really?"

"Dad, be serious!" She pulled a small chair underneath the table and sat on it. "Like I said," She nodded at Luke, inviting him to step further. "Please sit down; if you find any free space, that is." Her cheeks blushed and she lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry for the mess..."

"That's alright," Luke succeeded in answering. "I don't mind about standing." He crossed his arms on his chest and did his best in finding an empty spot where to lean to.

"Don't be afraid. I don't bite -- at least too much," Dana's father flashed him a dry smile. "My teeth are not just as sharp as they used to be. Maybe, should Dana have brought you here some years prior to now, things might be differently…" He laughed at his own words, and Luke blushed.

"No! Dad, nothing like that!" Dana cried, ashamed. "We've only met! Luke helped me in a small…trouble."

"Even better!" Dana's father said. "Man with honor, and chivalrous too!" He bent toward Dana, and pinched her cheeks. "A decent man, it appears. You have my blessings. When is the wedding?"

Luke could not say which one of them was more embarrassed, him or Dana. He dared not to even glance at her direction, but could hear her taking a deep calming breaths.

"Dad," She said as evenly as possible. "You do not understand. Luke helped me, but it was nothing of...the sort. I brought him here so you could help him."

The old man's forehead furrowed; he glanced once more at the boy on the doorstep. "Oh, really?" He said, rubbed his eyes and shook his head. "What a pity...he appears to be such a decent boy..." Luke winced and hoped he had misheard the words. "Well, in that case, tell me what kind of help you need from me?" He then asked.

Dana straightened. "Dad." She smiled and looked at Luke. "Luke intends to break into Selene's office. And I want you to help him."

The old man looked only slightly confused. He scratched his head and said, "Oh, I see."

-

The Eight was a disgusting and smelly place. Han Solo did not like it. To be precise, it appeared he didn't like any of the places he'd spent the last of his previous months, but still, Tsen'bar's Eight Ring was definitely one of the worst pits of the whole Galaxy.

"Besides the Lower City of Coruscant," He muttered and pulled Chewie closer to him. "Keep your eyes open, buddy." He said. "This stinks."

The Wookie sniffed at the oily, recycled air and grumbled in agreement. Chewie was nervous and told it to Han the minute they left Selene's office; he did not trust the woman. Chewie remembered her well enough to be certain she planned something that she had not shared with them.

"Like I wouldn't know," Han said. "The most important thing is to find the kiddo." He frowned. "To hell with Selene and her technician, Luke first. We can think about it later on…"

His confidence made the Wookie to feel somewhat more at ease. Chewie shrugged his shoulders and followed the Corellian into the depths of the Eight. He hoped Han would be right and they would find young Skywalker as soon as possible. He desperately wanted out of Tsen'bar. Something was not right here, and it was not only because Selen or the Imperial troops.

-

"So, you're saying I can go anywhere in Tsen'bar with this?" Luke asked disbelieving as he fidgeted the small remote control in his hands.

"Like I told," Peter said. "It'll open all the codes, locks and doors…" He leaned closed and winked his eyes, "like magic.2

Luke looked the man hesitantly.

"You don't believe me?" Peter sounded offended.

The boy shook his head and tried to give the item back at him. "No. I mean, I believe." He said. "But I can not afford this. Supercoders cost more credits I could ever earn. I should be a royal should I be able in buying one of these…" He confessed.

Peter started to laugh dryly. "Who said anything about buying?" He asked Luke amused. "You helped my daughter, I help you. Besides, you want to save your friends, right?"

"But still…" Luke tried to resist.

"No but's." The old man said. "I can always make myself a new one…" He furrowed his browns. "I think…I have already two of those…"

Luke could not suppress the amazement, but he didn't enquire more. He sighed and placed the item on his belt. "The less I know, the better…" He sighed and glanced at Dana. She was sitting on the bed, twisting something in her hands and not paying attention to them. Luke could feel she pretended she was not interested. He smiled sadly. "Also for you…" He said silently and Dana looked abruptly up.

He stood up and almost hit his head on the lamp. "Thanks," He looked at Dana, "For both of you."

Peter swung his hand. "Don't mention it," He said. "You'll find Selene's private elevator on the North wall." He fell in silence and gave him a lingering look. "Be careful," He unexpectedly said. "Selene can be a dangerous opponent."

His chin quivered. He stood still and returned his gaze, remembering Han and Chewie; the sense of danger growing suddenly stronger. Luke took a deep breath, droving the premonition at bay. "So can I."

He could feel clearly two set of eyes in his back as he turned around and left the room.