Chapter 5

Cairn

The Hawkeye flew out of hyperspace. They were on the brim of an asteroid belt. Oom looked around. "Did this place explode or something?" he asked.

Mark flew the Hawkeye very carefully around the asteroids. Some began to fly together and crash. "Damn!" He suddenly exclaimed. A group of asteroids crunched together right in his way. He jerked up on the controls just in time. "That, was close." He said. "We're almost at cairn."

All of a sudden, as like perfect timing s huge space station built into an asteroid appeared. The station was the size of a planet. The massive structure amazed Oom. It was either the size or the ominous feeling of the place that surrounded it. The station was covered in twin pulse laser turrets. Each turret was able to move in nearly all directions, and that's just the base. The actual guns had rails all over them allowing precise tracking and shooting.

Mark pulled up to one of the dock bay entrances. A large neon sign told him that the bay was full. He continued to fly around until he found one. Dock bay 244. All three docks were empty. He pulled into the area. A shield in front of him stopped him from going any further. Suddenly his comminunications computer, which was covered in garbage, began to blink. Oom pushed the button. A human female voice asked "State your reason for coming here"

Mark replied "I have two. First, my ship needs to be repaired and second, I know somebody here. She's an administrator. One of the leaders."

The voice sounded slightly exited. "How many people do you have with you and what are their names, and we'll need your name too."

"I am Mark Temis. I have one traveling companion and his name is Oom, I don't know his last name."

Oom corrected Mark "My name is Oom Thu."

The voice sounded really exited now. "One last question Mark: Do you have any weapons other than lightsabers?"

"No, I don't Jen."

The shield in front of them disappeared and the huge door slid open. Mark flew the Hawkeye into the dock. He landed it carefully. He walked towards the door in the upper right corner. Just as he did so, a woman opened the door and held a wookie bowcaster in her hand. When Oom saw this he drew his Lightsaber and lunged at the woman. Mark pushed him down. He said "Oom, this is a friend."

The woman lowered her weapon and kissed Mark. "Welcome home." She said. Mark picked her up and kissed her back. Oom looked away.

Mark asked her "So how are you?"

She answered "Well same old, same old. I had to stop another bar fight."

"Don't you hate having to do that Jen?"

"Yes, but it helps keep the peace."

Mark and Oom followed her down the ever lasting halls of the ship until they reached an elevator bay. Jen took out her card key and slid it down the slider on the elevator. The door opened. As soon as they got in it began whirring to one of the higher floors.

When it opened Jen walked down the hall a little and approached a door. She took out one of her card keys and slid that down the slider. The door slid to the side and they walked in. "Oom, you can sleep in the guest room."

Oom looked at her : "Where is Mark sleeping?"

"With me! Didn't that cross your mind earlier?"

"No."

Jen rolled her eyes. Oom asked "Hey where's Mark?"

"He went to a bar to get a drink. He has a card key. He'll make it back."

"Do you have anything to eat?"

"Yes. I have a salad, two slices of pizza, a bantha loaf and some chips."

"I'll take the chips."

Oom sat down with the chips and turned on the TV. There was some kind of sport on. Oom was mesmerized by it. He had never seen a T.V. before. He sat there for three hours until the lights began to grow dim. Jen said "Okay its time for bed."

"Why?"

"The dim lights. DUH!!!"

"Oh, okay."

Oom walked into the guest room and took off his clothes. He turned out the light and went to sleep.

Jen was pacing around the main room looking anxious. She was in her bathrobe because she just got out of the shower. Just then the door opened. Jen rushed up and kissed mark. He returned it. He smelled of smoke "Sorry I was late. I got caught in a brawl and took it a little too seriously. That's when ol' Lightsaber came out. After that everything went silent. Nobody bothers me anymore. They sent me out of the bar. Before that though, I heard a rumor regar-" Jen silenced him by putting her finger on his lips.

Jen then said "Just get into bed."

Mark and Jen walked down the hall to the bedroom. Jen said that she had to use the bathroom. Mark took off his clothes and got into bed. Jen walked into the room. She took off her robe and Mark turned out the light.

Authors note:

Just so you know Jen's name is pronounced SHEN not its more common pronouciaton.