Star Wars: The Unlikely Hero
--sparkvallen

Disclaimer: Star Wars is copyrighted by Lucasfilm and associated companies. I do not own any of the Star Wars characters, settings, etc.

Chapter Five

Yoda arranged for a shuttle to take Falco and him to Kashyyyk. Though Falco would one day grow up to be a decent pilot, for now he was only a seven-year-old boy. They met at the hangar bay within the Jedi Temple as the Master had requested. Falco sported a backpack containing a change of clothing, a few devices he was tinkering with and his coursework that Yoda had thoughtfully requested from his instructors when the boy had agreed to the trip.

"Come, come! To Kashyyyk we go, hm!" Yoda chortled as he hobbled along on his cane toward the readied shuttle.

Obediently and grinning wildly, Falco followed behind the tiny Jedi Master. He had never been off Coruscant that he could remember. Though he knew he hadn't been born there, Falco had no memory of life prior to the Jedi Temple. He was beaming with excitement that on his first trip out of the Temple was with - of all beings - Yoda.

"Buckle in, you must," Yoda instructed, indicating the crash webbing. He helped Falco into the restraint then strapped himself in beside the youngling.

"You're not flying us there?"

Yoda laughed. "Sit with you, I will! A pilot takes us, yes!"

With a nod to the pilot that worked for the Jedi Order, they earned their clearance to leave the Temple in their ion trails. Moments later, they had their clearance from Naboo as well and they were headed into space. Falco observed everything with wide eyes, absorbing it all and loving every moment. Yoda simply rested in his seat, eyes closed.

Kashyyyk wasn't so far removed from the Galactic Core. Therefore, it was a fairly quick hyperspace journey. Falco had expected that Master Yoda would teach him or ask him to meditate en route to the Wookiee homeworld and was surprised when he did neither. The youngling set to his reading assignments for Galactic Awareness and write his essay on Form VI for his lightsaber course while the Jedi Master either meditated or ambled up to the cockpit to speak with their pilot. When they did revert to real-space Yoda and Falco sat together in their seats. Falco quizzed the Jedi Master on every aspect of space flight he could think of as he knew that some day, he'd have a course in how to pilot everything from a speederbike to a landspeeder to a Jedi starfighter. He wanted to know everything he could in advance and ace his courses just as he always did. Amused, Yoda answered what he could and suggested that if there were time later, he could always "interrogate" their pilot for further information.

It took a moment for Falco's legs to adjust to land even though the journey had been only a few hours. He wobbled with his pack on his back as Master Yoda greeted and was greeted by the Wookiee welcome delegation. Falco looked around in awe at the size and width of the wrorshyr trees that stretched higher than he could see into the sky. The Wookiees themselves were incredibly tall compared to the seven-year-old boy and he did his best to not openly gawk at the fur-covered creatures. They snarled and barked in their native Shyriiwook and while Master Yoda responded in Basic, they seemed to communicate easily. Falco understood now the importance of his language courses and why they had to learn so many as he watched the Master speak to the Wookiees with ease - he decided in that moment that even if he could never bark and growl like a Wookiee could, he was going to take the language and master it just because Master Yoda had.

"Introduced you, I have," Yoda said to Falco, smiling at the wonder on the lad's face.

Falco bowed a bit awkwardly with his satchel on his back. The Wookiees nodded in greeting to the Jedi becoming and chuffed at his small stature. The joke was lost on Falco though, not speaking the language yet.

"Bruwarook and Chewbacca, this is," Yoda explained as the two Wookiees began to lead them into their tree village. "Good friends am I with the Wookiees. Find this place fascinating you do…"

"Yes, Master Yoda. I've never been away from the Temple let alone to another world!" he said, his voice full of wonder. "The trees! They're so big! And so are the Wookiees! Like… Master Yoda, can you speak in their language?"

"Shyriiwook? Look I like I would speak their words?" He chuckled. "No, Falco, speak Shyriiwook I do not. Understand it I do, though. Come."

The two Wookiees led them through a vast village built right into the trees. Falco strayed toward the tree-side of each walkway, not wanting to get too close to the edge. He had already realized that he didn't see anything below them, and he knew that if he somehow fell, he'd fall a very long way before he landed. That idea chilled him so he was especially careful.

They were led to the chieftain's home within the village, a massive wooden structure that was part-lodge and part-residence for the leader. The outer chamber of the meeting room was adorned with native art, mostly wooden sculptures and carvings. Falco looked at these with interest while Yoda again conversed with Chewbacca and Bruwarook. Yoda nodded as Bruwarook went inside the meeting room, then returned a few moments later and barked that the chieftain was ready to see him.

"Stay out here, you will, Falco," Yoda said. "For your ears the discussion is not."

"Okay, Master."

Falco pulled his backpack off his back and sat down on one of the benches that lined the walls. He rummaged through to the droid arm he'd been toying with; his idea was that if modified correctly, the arm could be a multi-faceted tool better than what came standard on most astromech droids. Using his mini-hydrospanner, Falco went back to the tweaking he'd been working on. So engrossed in his work he was, Falco nearly forget about the Wookiees who'd remained in the outer chamber with him.

Bruwarook chuffed to his counterpart that he was going to head back to his other duties within the village. Chewbacca agreed to stay and escort the Jedi. He came over and sat beside Falco and had to wave his furry paw right under the boy's nose to get his attention.

"Ahh! What'd you do that for!" Falco yelped, banging his head against the log wall behind him in surprise.

Chewbacca chuffed, amused. He growled and asked, What are you working on?

Wide-eyed, Falco remembered that he was their guest and that Wookiees were vegetarians, but seeing the fangs on Chewbacca startled him regardless. "I… um… like, Master Yoda is way better than me. I'm sorry! I don't speak your language."

Chewbacca, like many Wookiees though, understood Basic. Grasping that they had a communication deficit, Chewbacca gestured to the droid arm that Falco had been working on. He growled his query again, then shrugged to try and get the idea across physically.

"Oh! You want to know what I'm working on!" Falco said excitedly. He forgot all about his earlier fright of the Wookiee sitting beside him. "Look! It's just a droid arm, but… well, I think I could make it a lot better. See?"

Falco showed Chewbacca the accessories he was trying to build in the droid arm proudly. The Wookiee snorted and barked, indicating that Falco seemed to be doing good work for one so young. He, of course, didn't understand any of that but was warming up to Chewbacca's presence nevertheless.

Here. Use my hydrospanner, Chewbacca offered, pulling it from a small bag of tools that were slung over his shoulder and across his chest. He indicated what he'd spoken by holding the tool out to Falco and gesturing that he should take it.

"For… for me!" Falco gasped, thinking it was a gift and not a loan.

Chewbacca growled softly, handing it to Falco and then taking it back and pantomiming that he would put it in his bag again.

"Oh! Oh!" Falco blushed. "I get it now! I can borrow it to work with for now! Gee, thanks!"

Taking the hydrospanner back eagerly, Falco set to work on his droid accessory with a far better tool than he'd had to work with previously. Chewbacca sat there to oversee his work and gently make suggestions on how to fuse a few of the small parts more effectively. Falco completely lost track of time as he and the tall Wookiee worked together and Master Yoda did conducted whatever business it was that he had on Kashyyyk.

I wonder if you'd want to take a little trip. And I wonder if Master Yoda wouldn't mind, Chewbacca rumbled softly, speaking to himself. Catching Falco's attention again, he pointed to each of them, then toward the door.

"Um… okay, sure! You want to go somewhere… with me, right?" he asked, making sure he understood. "Okay, yeah! You can… um… lead me around or whatever!"

Chewbacca barked what Falco was beginning to hear was "Yes" even if the rest of the Shyriiwook language was lost on him. Packing up his supplies and handing the hydrospanner back Chewbacca, he stood and watched the tall Wookiee rise to his full height, almost two meters taller than him! He followed Chewbacca back out of the chieftain's residence and onto the wooden walkways that traversed the trees.

He stayed close to the Wookiee, knowing that if he got separated from him, he'd be hopelessly lost. Falco didn't want to embarrass himself or Master Yoda by getting turned around on Kashyyyk where he needed to be rescued; just the same, he had to practically run to keep up with the taller being. Chewbacca walked in silence at what was a slow pace for him even though Falco was having trouble keeping up. They crossed into an area of the village that was clearly their marketplace and Falco stood slack-jawed at the number of vendors who dealt in technology.

"Whoa! Like… this is all for sale?" he breathed, staring down at used droid parts, shells of astromech droids and a variety of other items.

Chewbacca howled with laughter at the boy's enthusiasm and nodded. He guided Falco past many vendors whose tent-like structures promised a myriad of other fascinating gadgets. The Wookiee stopped before a particular seller and said to the other being, This is a Jedi-to-be who is traveling with Master Yoda. I would like him to find something special. He likes to build and work with droids. Do you have anything?

Falco watched the discussion as he eyed the various upgrades for a datapad - he wondered if it might quicken his homework to have a few of these devices. Falco also wondered if he could sell them to his fellow students. The Wookiees conversed for several minutes before the vendor nodded and wandered back into his stall. Falco looked to Chewbacca.

The Wookiee produced a few credits from his pouch and dropped them into Falco's hand. Falco stared back at him. "Uh… I… what are you doing?" he asked.

Chewbacca gestured to the tables. Yes, the credits are for you. Find something you like, whatever will help in your experiments.

It was clear enough to Falco. He more avidly browsed the tables stocked with more than he could have ever dreamed was for sale! Meanwhile the vendor returned and passed off a particular item that Falco didn't see, handing it directly to Chewbacca. Falco found a few items that he thought would be perfect for his droid arm as well as components that he thought might work for one of his lightsabers when he was old enough to construct his own.

Beaming and giddy, he paid for the items with the credits from Chewbacca and hugged the Wookiee's leg, not knowing how else to properly give his thanks. Chewbacca again howled with laughter and patted Falco on the head. They made their way back to the chieftain's home with Falco animatedly telling Chewbacca all about the plans he had for his purchases. When they arrived, Yoda and the chieftain were apparently still in their meeting. Chewbacca brought Falco a vegetable to chew on while they waited and the boy passed the remainder of the time in the outer chamber by adding further components to the droid arm.

"Ah! Busy you have been, young Falco!"

He looked up, smiling widely at the Jedi Master. "Chewbacca is great! He helped me buy some parts for my work! And I'm starting to learn the language! I can understand when he says 'yes'!"

"Good, good. Wise as a youngling you are, Falco. Learn the language you should!" Yoda said, pleased.

"I'm working on it! So what now, Master? Is your meeting all finished?"

"Finished it is," he agreed. "Return to Coruscant we must. Ready are you?"

Falco looked up at Chewbacca who towered over him on the bench. "Thanks, Chewbacca," he said. "I have to go now, but I am really glad to meet you! You're my first friend outside the Jedi Temple!"

Chewbacca patted the youngling on the shoulder, happy to have met such an inspired little Jedi-to-be. He barked to Yoda that he had only one more thing to say and do before the Jedi would depart. Yoda nodded and waited patiently. From within his pouch, Chewbacca presented Falco with the one surprise he had procured from the vendor.

This is for you. A gift from one mechanic to another, the Wookiee said, handing Falco the new hydrospanner he had purchased for him.

Falco nearly fell off the bench, so surprised and excited by the gift. He gaped and bounced in his seat before jumping up to stand on the bench; Falco hugged Chewbacca tightly, whispering his thanks over and over until the Wookiee had to pry the lad off him.

Yoda also urged Falco that it was time to go. Bowing to Chewbacca, the two Jedi returned to the landing pad where their shuttle awaited. Falco never stopped smiling, this first adventure away from the Temple being more than he ever could have imagined. He clung to the hydrospanner as though it was priceless. And to Falco, it was.