Four days later Han interrupted our lunch to inform us that we were about to drop out of hyperspace. "We'd better strap in," Luke suggested. Jaina and I followed him into the cockpit where we sat down behind the pilot and co-pilot's chairs. The Falcon lurched as we came out of hyper. I undid the straps that bound me to the chair and leaned forward. I watched Chewie's hairy paws fly over the controls with ease. Han was set on flying, his face twitching with nervousness. He chuckled. It sounded forced. "We came out of hyperspace into a field of asteroids in orbit of the planet," he explained as we all leaned in closer to see out the window. "Where's your mother Jaina? She would love to see this." He eased the controls down to avoid an especially large, rolling asteroid. "Just like the old days."
"Mom's asleep," Jaina said. She didn't seem concerned that we were in a small asteroid field. "Be glad the Imperials aren't chasing you this time, Dad."
Han expertly maneuvered us through and we found ourselves in orbit of a brown, green and blue planet. I had been quiet for a while and as we drew nearer I asked, "That's Straaton?"
"Yeah," Han began. His voice sounded funny, different. Like he was seeing something he had never seen before. But, maybe he was just trying to figure out why my father was sent here.
"What will we do once we're there?" I asked, but wasn't answered because Leia walked in saying, "We're here?"
"Yeah, sweetheart. You missed the fun. We came out of hyperspace into an asteroid field. Just like that one. Remember?"
I could see a shiver run down Leia's back. Fear? Or just remembering? "And I slept through it?"
"Leia," Luke said in a soft voice. "It wasn't more than ten asteroids, and they weren't all that big. Han's just playing. It was a smooth ride, nothing bumpy, that's why you didn't wake up."
Chewie rumbled something. Han answered him saying, "Why don't you set her down in that cleared area."
The Wookie arfed another question.
"Over there, that look like a good spot to land us, fur-ball."
Once we had landed, Hand had us all change into protective suits, which looked like flight suits only thicker. It would certainly keep out any thorns or poisons.
"Okay," Han said as he adjusted a strap on his blaster's holster. "Everyone ready?" He straightened up and his hand paused before the button to open the hatch. I snorted silently. I bet he sleeps with that gun. He's always wearing it, it seems.
We all nodded, eagerly. Luke and Jaina both had on their lightsabers and I noticed that Leia had her blaster. There must be something they're not telling me. It's not like the boogieman lives here. Or does he?
I dismissed that thought. They were probably just being safe. Whoever had my father was powerful enough to keep him here.
Han lowered the ramp and we all clambered out. The air was humid and it smelled of all kinds of trees. My clothing quickly dampened and clung to my sweating skin. It was a sticky hotness. I felt sorry for Chewie as he had on a big furry coat.
"Ugh," Jaina grunted. "Sure is hot here, isn't it."
The trees were familiar, I realized. They were like the ones I saw in my dream. The smell of the place was familiar too, also from my dream.
"Almost as hot as Tatooine," I heard Luke say.
"Hey," Han started. "Don't say that planet. I really hate it. Brings bad luck."
"Han," Luke said, he wore that boyish grin. "There is no such thing as luck. Only the Force."
I had a feeling they'd had this conversation before.
"Don't start Luke. I don't believe in that hocus-pocus. My kids may have that power, I may have seen it at work, but I don't believe in it. It doesn't exist for me."
"Don't want a mystical energy controlling your destiny, right?"
"That's right," Han replied confidently.
"Boys, boys," Leia chided, smiling. "Cut it out."
We all froze as we heard a twig snap to our left. It echoed through the now quiet forest. Han whirled, landing in a crouch with his blaster out and ready to fire. Luke's lightsaber appeared in his hand as if by magic. Leia and Jaina had their blasters out, also. Chewie had his crossbow thing.
All the weapons were trained on a blue colored humanoid. He had big ears, black eyes, and four fingers on each hand. He wore a green vest with brown pants. His hands were in the air and he was rigid in fear. Beside him was a fuzzy ball that had four stick like legs. Its hair was a bright orange with green tufts on top of his head. Green eyes stared out from under the green fur.
"Please, don't shoot," the blue creature said.
"Ah," Han groaned. "Put your hands down, you look ridiculous." He holstered his gun. Luke extinguished his lightsaber; Leia and Jaina's blasters went back to their holsters. I felt kind of weird being the only one without a gun, or something.
The creature put his hands down, but did not relax.
"Hey," Luke began in a quiet voice. "We need a guide. We've never been here before. Do you think you could help us?"
The creature relaxed, Luke's eyes were squinted in concentration. He must have used the Force to calm the guy.
"Yes," the creature said. "I can help you. Danger here, there is. Much danger. You need a guide." The creature spoke in a slightly accented tongue.
"What kind of danger," Han demanded.
"The warrior men. They march through these woods with whips and guns. Dangerous people," He whispered, as if afraid someone might hear him.
"Warrior men?" Han repeated. "Luke, could those be the men Brin mentioned that were in her dream?"
"Yes," Luke replied thoughtfully. "They could be. There's only one way to find out." He turned to the creature whose eyes were wandering from Han, to Leia, and then to me. "Could you take us to where these warrior men are?"
"Aarton be my name," The creature said. Pointing to the fuzz ball he said, "This is Lynk. To take you there would be very dangerous."
"You keep saying that," Han interrupted.
"They would kill me on sight," Aarton made slashing of the throat gestures and lolled his head to the side with his tongue sticking out.
"Could you give us directions?" Han asked. There was a hint of half controlled annoyance in his voice.
"That would be very hard," Aarton explained. Han was loosing his temper. His fists clenched and unclenched. The muscles in his cheek were twitching.
"Cool it, Han," Leia said, laying a soft hand on his upper arm. He relaxed a bit.
"Why would that be hard?" Luke asked.
"Well," Aarton's eyes rolled into his head. "You never know if they are here, or there. They appear everywhere."
"Hey," Han said, slipping his hand down to touch the cool metal of his blaster. "Why don't you help us so I don't have to use this." Han whipped the blaster out lightening fast and aimed it at the alien. He froze, black eyes going wide. Leia and Luke were frowning, Jaina was expressionless.
"Um," Aarton muttered. "I get point. Follow me, this way," He ushered us into the trees toward a heavily wooded area. His furry thing followed him faithfully. I cursed silently as I almost tripped over him.
I walked quickly to catch up with Han. I had to jog to keep pace with him. When he saw I was trying to walk next to him he slowed his pace. I was silent a moment, then I asked, "Do you think I could get a blaster?"
Han frowned. "I don't see why not. You better ask your teacher," He smiled.
"Okay," I sidestepped to walk next to Luke, who was talking with Leia. Jaina and Chewie were quietly walking in back.
"Do you think this guy really knows where he's going?" Leia was asking.
"Yes," Luke said without pause. "He knows."
Leia saw me and smiled. "Hello."
"Hi," I said. "Do you think I could have a blaster? I feel funny being the only one unarmed." At Luke's frown, I persuaded, "I know how to shoot, really I do."
He thought a moment. "Yeah, sure. Why not?" He pulled a small, low powered blaster out of his belt and tossed it to me. Catching it I flipped it to stun and put the safety on, slinging it in my belt I nodded my head. Much better.
Luke was watching me curiously. I smiled and turned to see Han watching me with wide eyes. "What do they teach you in those orphanages?"
"Uh," I muttered. "They didn't teach me that. My father did. I'd thought that I'd forgotten." I shrugged my shoulders.
We were silent for a while after that. We walked for several kilometers before coming to a clearing. It was marshy, water squished under my boots. Being late in the day, I could see a mist rising off the ground. The dream of my father came back to me, as real as real can be, I saw him stumbling through the swampy mess, a heavy sack slung over his back. He tripped and fell, the sack landing inches from his head. The guard standing nearby rushed forward and began yelling vulgarities at him, telling him to carry on. When my father didn't move, the man pulled out his long, wicked whip and slashed it across my father's back five times. My father didn't even grunt. It was as if he didn't feel it.
I shivered. Blinking my eyes rapidly, I cleared the memory from my mind.
Brin - ?
"What?" I asked.
Luke cocked his head.
"Did you say my name?" I asked him.
"No," Luke said, shaking his head.
"Must be hearing things," I mumbled.
Brin - is that you?
I jerked as if slapped. "There it is again."
"What?" Leia asked.
"Someone is calling me."
Jaina shook her head. "I don't hear anything. Dad?"
Han shook his head.
Don't -
The voice was vaguely familiar. I dug through my memory, squinting my eyes in concentration. The voice…whose was it? Jal? No, his is different. Dad?
Brin?
"Dad?" I opened my eyes. Where was he? I heard him as if he was right beside me. I spun in a circle, looking for his beat up, gaunt figure. There was no one, except Chewie, Luke, Leia, Han, Jaina and the native. They were all watching me curiously.
"You okay?" Han asked.
I didn't answer him. Where was he? He had to be close. "Dad?" I asked again, louder.
An overwhelming feeling of vertigo came over me. A black veil was dropping over my eyes. I tried to fight it back, but failed. I must have passed out, because next thing I knew I felt strangely detached, floating. Then, I popped back into awareness. Gasping, I opened my eyes to see Luke and Leia come into view.