Stealing the Falcon
"Are you sure about this, Ben?" The older boy turned to look at his younger cousin, who still stood in the entry to the cockpit, her brow creased with a frown. He threw her a smile that looked an awful lot like one of his Dad's cocky grins. He sighed dramatically when that didn't work, jumping up from the pilot's seat to grab her arm and tug her further into the cockpit.
"It was your idea!" he said with exasperation, pressing on her shoulder until she nearly tipped into the copilot's seat. It felt so big, especially with a wookiee-sized depression worn into the cushioning. Behind them, the trundling sound of Artoo following them fell silent as the astrodroid wedged himself into the cockpit as best he could, managing to plug himself into the Falcon with a cheeky brill of excitement. When he'd first caught on to what Ana and Ben were up to, the squat blue and white droid had tailed them anxiously, burbling and whistling in a decidedly scolding and cautioning sort of way. Sometimes, when Ana concentrated, she could make out most of what her father's droid said, but she'd been too caught up in following her cousin to pay that much attention. But Artoo had quickly warmed to the idea, especially at Ana's pleading. He'd always had a soft spot for her.
"Come on, Ana. It's not like we're going off-planet or anything." Full of the confidence only a twelve year-old could possess, Ben had already settled himself back into the pilot's seat after switching and flicking controls around the cockpit, turning his attention to yet more switches and knobs like he knew what he was doing. Ana wasn't completely sure he did, but he certainly looked like he knew. But then, he was four, nearly five years older than she was, and his father had already let him fly the Falcon a couple times. Her Uncle Han had even shown Ana the basics, sitting her on his lap during his last visit as Chewie looked over Ben's shoulder in the seat the wookiee usually occupied. Not that Ana was a complete amateur pilot either; her own father taking her up in his X-wing had been one of her earliest memories.
With all the familiar clanking and groaning, the Falcon woke up as reluctantly as ever. But, as usual, once she got going, she purred happily as Ana and Ben went through Ben's version of a preflight checklist, with the older boy instructing his cousin in what to do in the co-pilot's seat.
She was a little skeptical of it. Her Uncle and Chewie never went through any such thing. Though, she had to admit to herself that they'd been flying the Falcon together for a long time. Maybe they didn't need to talk about it anymore, and just did it. She didn't know. So she went along with what Ben said to do.
Satisfied that they were ready to go, Ben took a firm hold on the controls, his lip caught between his teeth in concentration as he eased the ship off the ground. He looked nervous, Ana couldn't help but notice with a feeling of trepidation.
But then they were up. Ana quickly lost all reservation as the Falcon rose above the trees, a little shaky at first, but she soon steadied. Maybe Ben did know what he was doing. Behind them, Artoo chattered happily, sounding rather proud of his young charges.
"We're doing it, Ben," Ana burst out breathlessly, unconsciously standing from her seat to peer out over the console. It was amazing. They were flying.
All by themselves.
Pride and excitement bubbled up happily in her chest and she shot her cousin a thrilled look. Ben sat in the pilot's seat, looking smug. Yet again, the expression looked uncannily like one his father would wear. Ana giggled.
"Of course we are, silly," he chided, his tone nevertheless laughing as hers was. "I told you it was easy! Now keep an eye on the vertical stabilizer." Ana plunked herself back down into the co-pilot's seat, looking eagerly over to her cousin before taking hold of the controls in front of her.
"My turn now, Ben," she declared, her eyes roving over the console in search of the switch that would transfer piloting controls over to the co-pilot. Her cousin shot her a look.
"Not yet, Ana. We should get a little higher, first. I don't want you hitting any trees." Ana made a sound of outrage, glaring at her cousin.
"And you think I can't do that? I'm just as good at this as you are!" Ben made a patronizing little sound that had Ana fuming.
"Are not. I'm older! I've had more experience at this than you. Anyway, it's my father's ship." Ana's arms crossed over her chest and she fixed her cousin with a glare that she hoped was reminiscent of her mom's. Given the way Ben was trying not to smirk instead of flinching the way he should have, it hadn't quite worked.
"And how would you know that," she countered. "We've only ever flown anything with one of our parents along." But then she smirked. "And at least I didn't actually hit a tree last time." Ben's expression darkened, turning a glare of his own to Ana.
"I did not," he argued back, outraged at the very suggestion.
"Did too," Ana crowed, triumphant, knowing she had an edge. "Besides, you said it yourself: this was my idea! That means I deserve a turn. And I am a better pilot than you. Dad even lets me fly his X-Wing without any help."
"He doesn't let you fly alone yet, though," Ben snapped back, knowingly. Ana bit back a scowl.
"Sure, but I don't actually need a co-pilot," she countered instead. Ben spluttered.
"Freighters and fighters are two different kinds of ships, smartypants. Even Dad has Chewie. The Falcon needs a co-pilot. So of course I need one flying the Falcon. That's why you're here."
"It's nice to have a co-pilot," Ana countered happily, "it makes it easier. But Uncle Han told me you don't exactly need one. Not all the time." Ben grumbled, shooting her another glare. He couldn't argue with that and they both knew it. Ana beamed. "Now. My turn." Behind them, Artoo snickered, though his tone held a faint trace of caution. Ben rolled his eyes even as Ana giggled.
"Hey! I am being careful, Artoo," he said indignantly. He received a raspberry in return that had Ana laughing harder. Hard enough that she didn't notice the blinking comm light on the console next to her.
"I should hope so," a wry, unimpressed voice commented. Ana nearly choked, her laughter stopped so abruptly. Ben jerked before turning to glare at Artoo, who was snickering softly behind them.
"Artoo," he hissed, "you told?"
"Yes, he did," Athara's voice said through the comm, "because, unlike the two of you, he knew this was a bad idea…not that he tried very hard to stop you," she added dryly. Were droids able to swallow guiltily, Ana was sure Artoo would've in that moment. As it was, he made a nervous, tittering little sound. A sound suspiciously like an exasperated sigh came over the comm, and for a split-second, Ana was almost certain she heard the faint, distant sound of laughter in the background.
"Now, how about the two of you bring the Falcon back. You're late for a talk with me and your Uncle Han," Athara instructed firmly. This time it was Ana swallowing nervously. Uncle Han was going to be there, so it wasn't bound to be too bad, right?
"But Aunt Athara," Ben whined. Ana shot him a stricken look. He knew that wasn't about to work.
"Ben," came Han's voice, joining Athara over the comm. "Do what your Aunt said. Bring her back."
"But Dad, you always said—"
"Nice try, Ben," Han interrupted before Ben could make his argument. "You know you did it this time." But Ana was sure she heard barely concealed laughter in her Uncle's voice. She shot Ben a faint grin. He looked uneasily back at her, but an equally small grin tugged at the corner of his lip.
"Yes, Dad," he muttered unhappily, just as Ana added in a 'yes, Mom," to appease Athara. Behind them, Artoo had let loose a low, sympathetic whistle before gently urging the two of them to do as they'd been told. Grudgingly, the two youngsters complied.
Thankfully, between the two of them, their similarly heightened instincts when it came to flying, Artoo's guidance and the Falcon's own landing assistance systems, the Falcon was soon settling safely back onto the tarmac of the landing pad with a groan and shudder.
And out beyond the cockpit?
Two rather impassive and formidable looking parents. Ana and Ben exchanged a wary glance at the sight of Han standing with his hands resting on his hips and Athara standing next to him, her own arms crossed over her chest.
"We're in for it, aren't we," Ana asked her cousin as they both stood and slipped from the cockpit, her voice decidedly small and nervous. Pale and equally nervous, Ben nodded. Only for a small, impish grin to tug at his lips as he paused just shy of the boarding ramp.
"Yeah, but you're in for it more. It was your idea, after all." A shriek of outrage escaped Ana and she shoved at her suddenly laughing cousin, pushing him toward the boarding ramp.
Behind them, Artoo let out an exasperated whine.
Children…
A/N: I wasn't planning on posting today, but I just couldn't resist! Especially not since this was the one I managed to finish up! It's actually one of the first ones I started, that's how long it's been in the works! I just love it, and I'm hope you all did too!
So Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoyed! :D
Don't forget to leave me a lovely little review! It's the best present you can give! ;)
See you all next time!
Thank you for reading!
Guest Reviews:
Guest:Thanks! I'm so glad you enjoyed. It's fun exploring other perspectives in the Lady Adye Story-verse. So I'm glad you enjoyed.
As for Battlefront II, I have not. I'm not a gamer, myself and when it comes to my stories, I tend to stick just with the films and the odd bit of additional canon that catches my interest. I'll have to read up on it, though. Who knows what it'll inspire. :)
And it's coming! Athara meets Leia is about halfway done, I think. And I might have one from the opposite perspective too! That's how fun I thought the idea was when it first came to me! lol! It's just a matter of my muse cooperating and letting my fill in the few little holes that are left. And who knows when that'll happen, sadly. It might be this afternoon, it might be next month. But it will happen! Eventually!