I remember the day well. I was five years old. I knew my parents were into something illegal. I knew that they ran unauthorized cargo. But I'd never dreamed that it would take them away from me for good.
They hid me into the dark cellar. The one I had feared since birth. I never knew why I feared it – maybe it was because of the dark. I don't know.
Dad's face was screwed into an expression of fear, so was Mom's. I didn't understand it, but I knew that something bad must have been happening.
Through the cracks of the dark shelter I had watched as they barged in. Ten men in uniforms and one man clad in armor. I couldn't see his face, for it was hidden behind a mask. They surrounded my parents. I couldn't see them. There was a muffled sound of grunting. Then the men left, with my Mom and Dad in their hands. I had wanted to do something. Stop them from taking them. But I didn't, instead I stayed crouched down in the space I had feared most and waited. I must have stayed down there for days. I was so hungry, and thirsty, but still, I stayed inside. That was when these strange men came and found me and took me to where I am now, the orphanage.
The first dream was unsettling. I saw my father ankle deep in swampy mud, mist drifting around his knees. A sack was thrown over his shoulder and he was straining under the weight. He had obviously been doing this work for a long time. He stumbled every once and a while; a guard would be waiting and whip him across the back with a long wicked looking whip. My father would fall to his knees, pain flashing across his features.
The smell and humidity of the sewer reminded me of the place my father had been in. I was sloshing through knee-deep rainwater that stunk of things I'd rather not think about. Sewer creatures chewed on things they'd found in the water and they were gathered in a wet mess wherever there was dry ground.
The orphanage security I had long since left behind. They were all people who did nothing but sit in front of the vids and watch the cameras as we slept, all the while eating. So they weren't hard to loose when I escaped earlier this morning. I was off to find my father. I was sure he was alive. Not dead, like I had thought for the last eight years.
I came upon a ladder that ended at the roof of the large cavern I had come across. At the top was a hatch that I was sure led to the road above. Climbing up it quickly and fluidly I braced myself pushing all my might against the hatch.
After almost a minute of straining, the hatch popped up and I almost lost my balance. I grasped the rung of the ladder firmly. I took a deep breath before pulling myself topside. The air was refreshing; I hadn't realized it was that stuffy down there.
With only my torso sticking out of the hole I paused abruptly. Two hairy legs the size of small trees were heading my way. I followed them up to an equally hairy body. The Wookie was waving his fur-covered arms at someone behind him; growling something under his breath.
"Oh boy," I said. He's not going to see me and fall right on top of me.
He stopped sharply and looked down at me questioningly. Oh, good, he looked heavy and his weight squishing me would not have been pleasant.
"Hey Chewie! What'cha got there?"
I startled at the sound of a new voice I turned my head slightly to see a bright-eyed man with a girl about my age. She had long brown hair, hazel eyes like the man, and she had on a brown flight suit. She regarded me curiously with an upraised eyebrow.
The Wookie rumbled something in which the man replied to, "Yeah, I see her." He turned to me. "Who are you – and what the hell are you doing down there?"
"I'm Brin," I said as I fluidly leapt out. "I was down there because I was running away from the orphanage." So preposterous, they'd never believe me.
"Uh, okay." The man's gaze was expressionless. The girl looked surprised. "I'm Han Solo, this is my daughter, Jaina," the girl smiled. Han gestured to the Wookie. "The fuzz ball there is Chewie."
I was antsy to go. Leaning down, I easily lifted the solid hatch and placed it back to cover the sewer entrance. "Nice to meet you, but I got a shuttle waiting for me."
"Where you headed? Maybe we could take you," The girl, Jaina asked. She seemed a little agitated. What was with her?
I shrugged my shoulders. "You know where I can find a forested, yet swampy, planet?"
Han and Jaina gave me a look that said I was crazy. "That could describe a thousand planets."
I frowned. He had a point. "My father is on a planet like that. He's in trouble, I've got to find him."
Chewie rumbled something.
"I know, we're always bringing in helpless strays," Han said in reply.
I frowned again in displeasure.
"Mom's gonna kill you. She wanted us to stay home for at least a week." Jaina threw her hair behind her shoulders.
Han grumbled something under his breath. "All right. You need help. I think we're pretty willing to give it." Chewie roared and Jaina shrugged her shoulders. "Right, Chewie. So," he began to me. "We'll take you to my ship."
He started to head for spaceport. I followed, shifting the pack on my shoulder nervously. They seemed like they might now what they're doing and be able to help me.
The Millennium Falcon wasn't much for looks, but Han Solo said that she could out maneuver any small ship. Solo seemed very proud of his freighter, so I kept my mouth shut about it being something that looked like it came from a shipyard.
We went up the ramp and it closed with a hum behind us. Then, Chewie led the way to what looked like the lounge.
"Have a seat Brin," Jaina offered as she herself sat down.
I dropped my bag at my feet and plopped into the chair closest to me. Han stood across from me, arms loose, hazel eyes watching me with expectancy. Chewie had left to go to what looked like the cockpit.
"So you have absolutely no idea where your father is?"
I shook my head solemnly.
"Well, you know that will be kind of hard to find one man when you have no idea where he is. There are a lot of planets in this system."
He pulled up a chair and sat next to me.
"I understand what you mean, but I have a feeling when I see the planet I'll know he's there. I
I have to find him. I saw him, in pain."
"You saw him?" Han repeated.
"What do you mean by that?" Jaina asked, obviously curious.
I scrunched my face up. "What do I mean? I saw him in a dream I had last night. He's sick and
Probably dying. I won't ignore what my instincts are telling me. They're telling me he's alive - now. I've got to find him before I loose him, again."
"Okay, don't get all riled," Han began waving my agitation down with his hand as if he were a wizard or something. "Let's go to Coruscant and I'll talk to Leia and Luke about it. Luke could be your best chance at finding your father."
Even though I wanted to go - right now, this moment, I held down my anxiety. They could help me. I knew it. "All right."