***Chapter 2***

Escape

As Meria was flying through hyperspace, her comlink started to beep. She unclipped it from her belt and looked at the screen. It was Ben. She really didn't feel like talking to him so she let it continue beeping until it stopped. For what seemed like hours, Meria watched the star-less space, until dropping off into a dreamless sleep.

The next thing Meria knew, her computer chimed, warning her that the Dream would be dropping out of hyperspace in one minute. She glanced at her chronometer and realized it was nearly 0800 hours back on Coruscant. As she came out of hyperspace stars and planets streaked back into existence, and Meria looked out of the view port and saw Tatooine and its two rising sun's as she was nearing the planet. She decided to land in the outskirts of the planet so she wouldn't be seen.

After she had carefully landed and had gotten out of her ship, she started walking toward the nearest sign of civilization. As she traveled, her stomach growled and she realized that she hadn't eaten anything since the day before. As soon as she arrived in a small, dusty town called Mos Espa, she went straight to a fruit stand on the side of the dirt road. With the few credits she had, she bought a ripe fruit, one she had never seen before, and ate it as she continued walking.

*I'll have to trade my possessions that I brought for some more credits* she thought to herself.

Meria heard loud cheering and as she got closer, she saw it was coming from some kind of arena. There were a lot of people were running to get into it.

"What's going on in there?" Meria asked one of the creatures passing her by.

"There's a podrace that's about to start," shouted back the alien creature as he continued to run to the arena.

*Hmmm… A podrace, huh? I guess I can wait to trade my things. After all, I'm in no hurry*

Meria followed the pressing crowd of people. She had never seen a live podrace before, but she had seen some recorded races on one of her holovids. She ran faster hoping she would get a good seat, but as she ran she bumped into a human boy and accidentally tumbled on top of him. She quickly got up and brushed herself off.

"Sorry," she apologized after he had stood up. Her cheeks were turning red with embarrassment as she got a good look at him. He was taller than her, and probably a few years older than her, not to mention really hot.

"It's okay," he replied. He smiled at her and tilted his head a bit to get his chin length dirty-blonde hair out of his eyes. "I'm Cy."

"I'm, uh, Meria," she replied shyly returning the smile.

"Glad to meet you. Are you going to see the podrace?" asked Cy.

"Uh, yeah." replied Meria cautiously.

"Do you wanna sit by me? I'm here by myself."

"Yea, sure. I'm by myself too. I've never seen a live podrace. I've only seen one's on holovids."

"Never? You poor deprived girl," he joked. "They're really exciting. I've seen so many I've lost count."

They entered the arena together and found some seats. The podrace was about to start. Meria saw a creature on a high balcony announcing the podracing entries in basic and another creature translating it to a language she didn't understand. Cy handed her a view screen that would show the different pods up close once the race had started. When the announcers had finished, all the podrace's started their engines and took off when the light flashed go. Meria found it was really exciting, just as Cy had told her. It was so loud and so fast it was unbelievable! Cy pointed out a Dug podracer named Rutice Beligue. He was in the lead. She thought for sure that he would win. He was way ahead of the others and was pushing speed to the limit.

Meria looked over at Cy. He seemed to be enjoying the race as much as she was. She smiled.

"Go, Rutice! Go!" she screamed, her adrenaline pumping.

*This is way more exciting than anything on Coruscant. *

Earlier

Luke woke up, sensing something was wrong. He glanced over at Mara, who was sleeping peacefully. He planted a light kiss on her cheek and crawled out of their bed to go check on the children. He silently crept into Ben's room. He was asleep. Walking down the hallway Luke stopped to think before entering Meria's room. He knew that the argument they had the day before had made Meria extremely angry with him. He also knew that because she was now old enough to care for herself, to some extent, she had to make some of her own choices. He still had to check on her though. He was her father. He quietly opened her bedroom door.

She wasn't in her bed.

Fear welled up in Luke's heart. What if something had happened to her? It would be all his fault.

Her window was opened. He looked over on her bureau. Her lightsaber and some of her belongings were missing. Now he realized what had happened. She had run away from home. Yes. Of that, he was now certain. He could feel it. He had to wake Mara.

*Mara* he sent through the Force.

Mara stirred. *What is it, Luke* she sent back. She could sense his fear. Then, jerking fully awake, she felt something was not right. She rushed in to Meria's room where she felt Luke's presence. He was starring out Meria's open window.

As Luke's torn voice her ears, she felt his deep, agonizing pain, "Meria has run away from home." His voice was shaky. He tried to control it.

Luke turned away from her. "We—had an argument last night."

"She ran away?" Mara asked, stunned. She sat down on Meria's bed. "I know she's been angry lately, but I never expected it to come to this. Are you sure?" Mara searched the Force for her daughter's usually strong presence, but found nothing near by.

"Yes, I'm sure. She took her lightsaber and some of her things." Luke faced Mara and their eyes met. "Should I wake Ben? We might be able to find out where she's gone."

"No, not yet. We should try to find her through the Force first. Ben might wake up by himself if he senses it. We should let him sleep. We don't want to worry him."

Luke knew his wife was right. He sat down on their daughter's bed next to his her. He took Mara's hand and searched the Force trying to find Meria, and trying to calm himself. Mara did the same.

Although they were worried, they didn't sense she was in any danger.

Not yet.