Luke Skywalker. A man of grandeur. He was on the HoloNet often enough for me to recognize him when he waltzed into Zorba's meeting chambers. He was tall, muscular, blonde, and wore a grim expression. Han Solo strode in after Luke. He, too was tall and muscular, only he wore an, "I dare you," grin on his face. The third man (later I found out to be Wedge Antilles) was thin, lanky, and had his hand ready on his blaster.
Zorba ordered me to bring the guests water, a typical thing for him to demand in front of guests, but he still prodded me forward.
As requested, I prepared water for the honored guests- just not fast enough. I received a sharp wacko nth head from the gimer cane. I winced and gave Zorba a frightened glance. I turned with the tray back to our guests. I bowed low with the tray raised above my head, just as I had been trained.
After they had selected their glasses, I backed away. Zorba hit me on the shoulder. I looked and he pointed to the doors that led outside. I was surprised, but I did as I was told. Outside, I could play with what my father had shown me. I would lift sand and pebbles and make them go in circles and such while conducting energy.
I was being watched. Luke came up to me, and I immediately stopped the activity. My jaw must have dropped several feet.
Luke came closer. He lifted the pebbles just as I had done, and he put his left hand on my forehead. I could hear his voice inside.
Zorba said that your name is Asenath. He also said that you are a fast learner and quite strange. Where did you learn to do things like what you were just doing a few minutes ago?
My father taught me, I thought back.
Where did he learn?
He was one of the Lost Twenty.
One of the twenty that left the Jedi Order?
Yes. He disagreed with some of their rules.
How did he meet Gardulla? Zorba said that your father and Gardulla had been friends.
He told me he was captured by pirates and turned in to her to be a slave. She was going to implant him, but he talked her out of pure enslavement. He was fired because- I stopped. Could I trust Luke Skywalker? Why did he need this information? Why was he asking a six-year-old child? Had he no adults to ask?
Go on, Asenath.
He told Gardulla to bet on Sebulba in the Boonta Eve podrace a long time ago, and Anakin Skywalker won. She was angry; he was fired. He never told me if he told her wrong on purpose though.
Do you like it here with Zorba?
No. He beats me. He's mean and slimy.
Would you want to leave here with me? Today?
Yes! You can take me from here?!
Yes. Go inside, gather anything you have that is yours, and then hang onto Wedge. Don't let go of him no matter what…just in case Zorba puts up a fight.
You're going to kill him?
No, but I may have to get persuasive in an aggressive way.
Okay.
I ran inside, eager to grab my other dress and comb.
As I had been instructed, I ran to Wedge and grabbed onto his leg. He untangled me and put me on his hip, instead. I laid my head on his shoulder.
My father had held me the same way once upon a time.
Luke came back inside and approached Zorba's throne.
Zorba was an elderly Hutt. He was getting weaker, and his mind was slightly going (where it counted for this, anyway), and Luke could sense that.
Luke said something to Zorba with a slight flick of his wrist.
Zorba nodded.
Luke said something new with the same gesture and Zorba once again nodded his consent.
Luke approached Wedge and said something, because he put me down.
Luke took my hand, and led me to the Millennium Falcon.
I couldn't fit well in the seat, so Han and Wedge piloted, and I sat on Luke's lap.
It was evening, I was tired, I was snug in Luke's lap, and I fell asleep just after the jump to light speed.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
I awoke to sunshine streaming through the window. I was lying in a real bed, warm, and I felt no dread. I sat up to see a woman sitting off to the side, reading a book. She was beautiful! Her skin was flawless, her eyes were large and brown with thick and long eyelashes, and her hair was full and came down in brown waves over her silhouette.
She looked up from her book and I suddenly was afraid. She smiled, stood, and put a hand on my forehead.
Would you like some breakfast?
What? I was puzzled.
The morning meal.
Oh.
Would you?
Please!
I hadn't eaten since midday the day before. I was famished. I was led to a table in the corner of the room to a plate of eggs, fruit, and a roll. I tried to not eat too fast, but I was hungry and accustomed to eating quickly to return to my duties at Zorba's.
Two older children and a little (like me) came into the room just as I was finishing up. The beautiful lady put her hand on my forehead again.
You can play with the boy your age. His name is Ben. The other two are my twins, Jaina and Jacen.
What was I going to say? I nodded and walked up to Ben. I only watched him. I was shy and didn't know what to do exactly.
Jacen came and bumped me on purpose.
I went to another corner, cautiously. I just started playing with dust clumps, lifting them and swaying them in patterns, just as I had done the day before with the dusts and pebbles and sand.
Luke, Han, the pretty lady with brown hair, and a pretty lady with red hair all came in and started talking. I ignored them until Luke approached me and put his hand on my forehead.
We think it would be best to get your ears evaluated. If it is possible, would you like to hear again?
I don't know. Would that help? Would you have me do it?
We think it's best if you have the surgery if you are eligible. Not all forms of deafness can be helped with this type of procedure. The New Republic Senate will pay for it. We can train you better as a Jedi if you can hear.
I can be a Jedi?!
Yes. You are strong enough in the Force to handle the training.
What does this surgery do and how does it work?
The emdee droids and a surgeon will install wires with electrodes along the cochlea and then put plates in your head to attach a magnet to. On your ear, you will wear a receiver and magnet, which will transmit sound to the install in the cochlea. You will hear sound.
Will it make you and the other adults happy?
Yes, because it will help us train you. We want to take care of this soon. Leia and Mara, my wife, will take you to the doctor today for some preliminary testing and a physical. Okay?
I nodded and he smiled at me.
The adults returned to their pow-wow, and my mind raced. Luke said the senate would pay, but what if they changed their minds? I had no money to pay. I was scared, but if Luke said that it would be best, I had to believe him.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
The red-haired lady, Mara Jade Skywalker (she finally introduced herself and Leia using the forehead method), helped me wash my face, comb my hair, and had me put on an old uniform and boots that had been Ben's until they could take me to get some uniforms, robes, and boots of my own.
When Mara and Leia were ready to go, Mara offered me her hand. I willingly took it. Leia was jabbering away on her comlink. The conversation was serious. Her brow was furrowed, and she wasn't smiling.
As we walked, I made more observations. Mara and Leia had lightsabers, both had long hair, and were beautiful. I looked around as we walked on. I could see the streets were labeled, but I couldn't read them. My father had taught me how to spell my name, and for some reason, I never forgot it. I sometimes would print it in kitchen flour or dust at the Palace, but that was all, just to make sure I didn't forget.
Zorba assumed that I was dumb. With books, at the time, I sure was. But I observed and survived.
On this street alone, I saw a Muja fruit lifted from a vendor, I saw a case of Death Sticks handed off, and a man in full body armor- with a gun pointed at us!