Chapter 2

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this." whined Luke, eyeing the stormtroopers ahead warily, as they waited to be inspected

"Shut up Lars!" Biggs hissed under his breath, his eyes also fixed on the troopers.

"Is there a problem here?" a mechanical voice suddenly asked, as a trooper strode over to them, perhaps having sensed the tension in the air.

"Not at all," Biggs replied smoothly.

The trooper made a "hmmphh" noise, but it was too muffled by the helmet to reach the two boys' ears clearly, "What is your business in Mos Eisley?"

"We're seeing an interview about a job," Biggs answered, trying to play it cool with the inspector.

"Mos Eisley has enough scum looking for work. You farmboys should just give up an' head back to yer homes," the trooper informed them callously, with the tone in his voice that indicated he enjoyed pushing people around.

"We've…also come to buy droid parts in the city," Biggs told him, losing a bit of the calm in his voice, as he carefully considered how to deal with the new obstacle.

"Where?"

"Uhhh…Toshi's Power Store, on Seventh, "Biggs thought quickly, "There's a special sale on droid parts, buy one get one free."

The trooper cocked his head, and drummed his fingers along the side of their speeder in flawless precision for a moment, before turning back to Biggs, "I was just in that store today. I ain't saw no such sale. Let me see your identification."

Luke realized then that Biggs was losing all his so-called "charm" under the pressure of the moment, and the two were very likely not to be allowed in the city. Furthermore, if Biggs kept messing up, they might very well find themselves sleeping in a detention center over night, all because of one bored official with delusions of grandeur. Panic began to rise in him, but Luke forced it all down, and making up his mind to speak, willed with all his being to convince the trooper to let them in.

"You don't need to see his identification. Our business here is legitimate. Let us through."

"Yeah…" the trooper muttered, backing away, "I don't need to see your identification. Your business here is legitimate. I'll let you through." He waved to the troopers at the gate to let them pass, "You can go about your business. Move along."

Luke and Biggs drove on in complete silence for a few moments, until they were well passed the gate, and then Biggs turned towards Luke with his eyes as big as saucers, "I don't understand how we got by those troops. I thought we were dead! What did you do!"

"What do you mean, what did I do?" asked Luke, exasperated.

Biggs waved his hands wildly in the air demonstrating something or other Luke couldn't understand, and apparently, neither could Biggs, for he soon ceased and slouched back. "That. At the gate. There was no way he was going to let us through, and then you say a couple of words, and presto, here we are! What's that all about?"

Luke shook his head in confusion, "I don't know Biggs, but I didn't do anything!" Tiredly, Luke closed his eyes for a moment, suddenly feeling a little drained for some reason he didn't understand. "He's let us through. Let's just go find this interview and get out of this city."

Out of the corner of his eye, Biggs shot him a suspicious look, but finally he turned back to the road and gave it his full attention. Biggs had been in Mos Eisley several times before, as his family was better off than Luke's, and that made it less taxing for them to pay the costs unavoidably accumulated on any trip. However, it was still surprising for him every time they entered the city, and he was quickly caught up in the aura of the city. Bright lights flashed everywhere, some in parts of the spectrum that were invisible to the human eye, leaving an incomplete picture and a general feeling that something was there. The languages of the signs were just as countless as the various shades, some obnoxiously bright, and others washed out after years of use. The buildings were all of a rough texture, like everything on the planet. Sand could blast even in the city, and buildings had to be of tough construction. Besides, not many people had enough money for anything besides crude material, and if they did, they were smart enough to leave the water forsaken planet. Those who stayed were of such mixed backgrounds, that the city took on a flavour of its own, as exotic spices drifting through the air, all demanding the attention with exigent fervour that turned many newcomers' stomachs. Writing of a rather ribald nature covered the walls of alleys, and the turpitude of various crude images was immediately evident. Luke turned his eyes away immediately, only to be assaulted by more sights and smells from all directions. A huge selection of alien beings was represented merely on the one street they traveled, and Luke found himself spotting some species he's never even seen before. One in particular was a long necked creature, whose wide neck supported to eyes on either side of its flat head. He guessed that it was a creature from a water world, and wondered what had ever possessed the being to travel to Tatooine.

Yet his observations were cut short as the speeder came to a stop, and Biggs hopped out beside him, "Come on Luke."

Luke quickly glanced around him. "This doesn't look like the right place, Biggs."

"Oh didn't I mention it Luke? Oh silly me. I thought we'd use those credits from your Uncle to have a few drinks while we're in town."

"Biggs!" Luke nearly shouted, "We barely got past those stromtroopers at the gate. Under-aged drinking is against the law!"

Biggs shrugged his shoulders carelessly, his eyes already catching sight of a pretty female heading into the bar ahead of them, "Don't tell me you're one for decorum on your one day away from your uncle. Live a little Luke!"

Slowly, Luke shut his eyes, believing that if he opened them again, everything would disappear in a swirl, and he'd be back home, away from Biggs dangerous ideas. It didn't work, "No Biggs."

"Well then Luke," Biggs dawdled on, "you know, I'm not so sure I should give those droid parts to you. I was hoping for a fair trade. And then, well…you can explain to your Uncle why you wasted a day and came back home without the merchandise."

"Alright, alright!" Luke snapped angrily, "Take half the money and knock yourself out. I'll meet you back at the speeder in an hour."

Biggs gave a big, lazy grin, "That's the spirit, farm boy. Now go find some old ladies to help across the street while I have some fun."

Not caring to watch Biggs stride merrily into the bar, Luke turned his back immediately, and made his own tracks. He wasn't sure where he was headed, never having been in the city before, but for then, it didn't matter at all. He was too frustrated at Biggs, and even more, at himself. Biggs had been getting him into these situations since the wily boy came up with his first scheme on the playground at school. Yet, Luke continued to trust Biggs, and end up right back in trouble.

Eventually, the anger began to fade, and looking up sharply, Luke realized he was utterly, hopelessly lost. How long he'd been wandering, he wasn't sure, but already there was a noticeable difference in the position of the sun overhead. It wouldn't be too long before they began to set, and Luke still had a long drive home ahead of him. All at once he sighed, and leaned against the nearest wall to catch his breath. 'This isn't fair!'

"It can't be that bad," a voice answered him from somewhere close – a voice that lacked any degree of hostility. In fact it was rather…pretty.

Locating the source of the noise, Luke turned to a very slight hooded figure, also leaning against the wall, but in a far different posture. While Luke's body signs screamed frustration and fatigue, the figure who had addressed him was relaxed, and even perhaps, intrigued by him and everything around. With an almost chimerical air, she watched him with twinkling eyes.

He wanted to say something pleasant to her, or something impressive, but he was so unsure of himself that "How would you know?" popped out of his mouth before he could stop himself. Immediately, he regretted it.

She, on the other hand, didn't bat at eyelash at his words, nor the nearly hostile tone of voice with which they were spoken. Instead, the twinkle in her eye only increased, if that were possible, "Don't tell me. You have more trouble than any other person in the universe, and no one else can ever understand it." With that she laughed, and pushing off from the wall with one delicate foot, took a step towards him. Never before had Luke been intimidated by so small a figure.

"Well…no, no, it's not that bad," Luke answered, fumbling for words, as her vibrant personality swept over him.

"So we're done being lachrymose!" she declared, "Welcome back to the real world. Take a careful look while you're with us, you might just see how wonderful it can be."

He tried to hide his confusion, but it was no use, "What's lachrymose mean?"

She giggled then, and smiled apologetically at him, "Forgive me, I have a proclivity to verbosity. I've just adjourned from a rather banal meeting, and voluble though they might be, they're all garish epicures without the faintest capacity to appreciate the beauty around them. Ha, and they call me antediluvian! I certainly didn't belong with that coterie. I wanted to flee from those sycophants, but you've obviated that predilection! Might you consider continuing to fulfill that desideratum?"

Luke blinked hard several times, until he realized he was staring stupidly at her. He coughed, "Is that so?"

His comment brought out another surge of giggles in her, and several heads turned towards them. Luke was completely fascinated by the whimsical stranger, despite the fact he didn't comprehend more than a few words she said. He tried to think of something smooth, "Would you like some dinner?" Drat, not quite what he wanted.

She cocked her head to side for a second, and stared at him from that angle for a second, before nodding and smiling again, "You don't exactly look like a reprobate, and I'd like to believe I'm rather perspicacious." Luke began blinking furiously again, and she took him by the arm, "Dinner…would be lovely."

Luke found himself very thankful that he'd kept the other half of the money from his Uncle. It wasn't a great sum of money, but he managed to select a very nice restaurant for his budget. Throughout the entire meal, he couldn't take his eyes off of the girl before him. It wasn't as if he had fallen in love with her. He knew in his heart with full certainty that he did love her, but not in a romantic sense. She was simply so…loveable. Even though he'd known her for only a short time, already he felt connected to her, in a way he'd never felt before.

Startled out of his revere, he noticed her staring hard at the glass in her hand, which was filled with simple water. Quickly, he began scanning it for signs of defect. "What's wrong?" he asked at last, spotting none.

She let out one long sigh, "Isn't it gorgeous? Look at that water. Look at it! You can see through it."

Luke nodded, "Water's very precious. This is the first time I've had any real water in the past six months."

"Six months?" she asked, surprised, and then nodded slowly, "That must really teach you to appreciate it." She smiled slowly, lost in a dreamy state, "You know, I always wanted to enter politics, but my father would thwart any such plans. It was as if he was afraid something horrible would happen. Yet even though it's what I want more than anything else, I'm thankful for how many things I can appreciate away from that life." Then suddenly focusing back on him for the moment, she turned a lights hade of red, "I'm sorry, I know I'm a little bit crazy." She straightened her hair for a minute, which was now freed from the confines of her hooded cape. Though held up in tight buns on either side of her face, Luke could see it was a gorgeous shade of brown. She blushed deeper, "Well, more than a little."

"What's that?" Luke asked, as if started out of a daze.

"More than a little crazy, "she told him patiently, smiling again. Luke wondered just how long she could go without that gorgeous smile lighting up her face.

"No you're not," Luke replied, smiling himself. "You're…you're anything but crazy. In fact, I think you're more sane than anyone else I know." he added after a second, "Especially when you use words I understand."

For a moment neither of them spoke, and then after it was complete, she jumped easily to her feet, and reached for her cloak, "Luke, would you like to see something with me?"

"Of course," he answered without thinking, helping her with her cloak as they prepared to leave. She obviously knew the city far better than he, and she led him skillfully down streets and alleys, always staying away from the bad parts of the city without going out of her way to do so. At last they came to a high terrace, which was exceedingly rare for Tatooine. "It's so pretty here," Luke commented, staring at the architecture with awe.

"You haven't seen anything yet," she whispered, placing her arms on his shoulders and spinning him around. All at once, his eyes were confronted with the sky on fire as if it would burn up in seconds and throw everyone into darkness. The twin suns of the desert planet wrestled with one another in the sky, fighting for dominance as they both neared the swallowing jaw of the rising land.

"It's like… they're fighting." Luke breathed, his eyes still fixed on the sight.

"Or dancing. " she replied, her voice even more hushed than his, "Two cosmic beings locked in a perpetual ritual, ablaze with passion, following the same steps they have for centuries. Think how many people have stood here before us, and seen the same dance play out before their eyes, afraid that one will sway too close to the other and destroy them both, yet longing for them to remain side by side and step even closer."

His eyes remained fixed on the setting suns, more glorious than he had ever seen them before, as her pretty voice continued to describe the occurrence. Then at last, they both disappeared from view, leaving behind only a faint shimmer peeking over the horizon.

"That was so…gorgeous. Was…was something special happening tonight." Luke asked her, once he realized his mouth had been hanging open and recovered himself.

"Yes," she laughed, "Of course it was."

"I've heard of eclipses, but…what was that?" Luke asked her, waiting in expectation for the answer.

"The suns setting," she whispered back to him.

"That happens every night, but I've never seen it before like that, and I've lived here my entire life." Luke told her in disbelief.

"And how many times have you stopped to watch it?" she asked him, smiling at him as if he were a little child she was patiently instructing, "I've only been here for a week. Sometimes you just can't see the good things around you, because you won't believe they're there."

He nodded slowly, and returned his gaze to her, "Thank you for showing me that. It's been such a wonderful evening."

She laughed, "And we don't even know each other's names!"

That little fact brought complete surprise to Luke, "How about we rectify that problem." he winked quickly at her, "I'm Luke Lars."

Right there in the middle of Mos Eisley, she gave him a little curtsy, and he wondered where in the galaxy she had learned that. Yet when it came to his new friend, was anything surprising? "I'm Leia Organa."

"I'm pleased to meet you Leia," Luke told her, gaining new levels of confidence. He just barely missed being interrupted, as voices drifted into range a few seconds later.

"Ohhh, that's my father." Leia told him, straining her eyes to catch the approaching figures. The one on the left wore very rich robes, and obviously was a man of well standing. The cut of his clothes almost reminded Luke of royalty, but he was no expert in that field. The other man was a security official, with a blaster at his side.

"You were right Panaka." the first made stated, stopping to catch his breath as they made it up to the top of the hill upon which the terrace was set. He turned to Leia, "Young lady, you're going to turn all my hair grey. Do you know how worried I've been, since you gave Panaka the slip?"

Leia gave a winning smile, and took on the tone Luke had only heard when girls spoke to their fathers. Make that, girls who knew how to speak to their fathers. "I didn't mean to daddy, I just wanted a breath of fresh air, and here I am."

"And who's this young man you're with?" asked Panaka critically, eying Luke.

Luke decided it was then or never to speak up, "Luke Lars, sir." That blaster was looking awfully intimidating. He gulped nervously. Panaka, for his part, took a step closer to Luke.

"What's your business with the princess?"

Luke felt his heart skip a few beats at those words, as his blood soared in step with his confusion, "The…princess?"

Leia cast a quick look at him over her shoulder, the corners of her mouth turning down into a frown, "Panaka…."

Leia's father quickly stepped forward, "Let's not fight over this. We can talk more about this at home. Say goodbye to your friend Leia."

Still looking upset at Panaka's sudden revelation, she gave Luke an awkward little smile, "Bye Luke, thanks for a great evening."

"Bye…Leia" he stuttered, still confused. She was about to follow her father back down the hill, but spontaneously flew back around at Luke and gave him a quick hug, impishly noticing with glee how Panaka's hand strayed closer to his blaster, expecting trouble. Than as quickly as she had appeared to Luke, she was gone like a mirage, and he was left staring at an empty sky with a lonely heart. It felt as if part of him had left with her, and he wondered if he'd ever be complete again.

Eventually, his wonderings took full account of the night sky, and in one shocking moment, he realized he'd promised to meet Biggs ages ago. Goodness knew how long he'd been talking to Leia, nor how he was to get back to the bar!

Taking a big breath, Luke made the first step forward, hoping against hope that he could find his way back. He turned his memory into hyperdrive, and continued on his way. He had to find Biggs.

With a lot of determination and a very foggy memory, Luke was shocked to find himself a half hour later at the same bar where he'd left Biggs. There was no sign of Biggs by the speeder, but at least the speeder itself was still there. There was nothing left but to look for Biggs inside. Steeling himself for the unpleasant task, Luke found himself entering a bar for the first time in his life.

It was not nearly as intimidating as he had imagined, but perhaps that was because he'd just spent his evening with the most daunting and yet charming girl he'd ever met. Within a minute, Luke spotted Biggs at a booth, and Biggs spotted him. In seconds, the young man had leapt from his seat and was charging wildly at Luke. He swung straight at Luke's head, but Luke was too quick for him and ducked out of the way.

"Luuuuke!" Biggs shouted, with only a partial slur to his voice, despite his long exposure to the temptations of the bar, "I'm gonna kill you!"

Biggs swung again a few times, and every time Luke was too quick for him. The loud confrontation quickly caught the attention of the bar's security, and before long they found themselves both escorted outside to the cold night air. It calmed down Biggs, but only a little.

"I'm surprised you're not drunk," Luke ventured, as his friend silently got into the speeder, his face like stone.

"That's because some looser of a friend didn't leave me enough money to last more than two hours." Biggs shot grumpily.

"Well at least your looser of a friend left you enough money to last for two hours," Luke told him with a shrug.

"Don't play smart with me Lars!" Biggs snapped, "Where were you!"

Luke felt his face go hot red immediately, "I…met someone."

"Who?"

"This…girl." Luke said reluctantly, fearing Bigg's wrath.

"I should have known," Biggs moaned, "You have all the luck Luke!" He sighed, "Well, at least tell me she was pretty."

"She was." Luke replied eagerly.

"And…let me guess, you took her to dinner." Biggs told him, leading him on.

"I did," Luke nodded.

"Then you kissed her, right?" Biggs exclaimed, "Oh ho Lars, and they always said you didn't know how to talk to a girl!"

"It's not like that!" Luke stammered, "I like her, but…it's not like that!"

"Don't me so shy Luke," Biggs told him, slapping him on the back, "Tell me about it."

"We watched the sun set, that's all," Luke told him firmly. After spending the evening with Leia and her delicate manners, Biggs suddenly seemed a lot rougher around the edges.

Biggs groaned, "Alright, keep you secret; just get us to the interview."

They road on in silence, until their destination was reached. Luke was half afraid they'd be too late, but thankfully, there were still people mulling around the building, and they found the designated office open. The man who conducted the interview eyed them both very critically, and asked many in depth questions that made Luke shift uncomfortably. Finally though, the questions stopped, and the man sighed tiredly.

"I've been here for twelve hours, and every face that's made it to my desk has belonged to a con or gang member. You two are in. Just make sure you show up tomorrow for work on time."

"Thank you very much sir," Biggs spluttered, shaking the man's hand a little too energetically. He waited patiently until they had left the office, and then unable to hold it inside of himself anymore, he let out a great big "Whoop!" and danced around.

He pranced over to Luke, eyes shining, "We got the job Luke! You and I are going to be front and center at that podrace!"

Luke frowned at first, thinking of all the work that lay ahead of him, but then he realized he just might see Leia again. With that girl, anything was possible, and luck had always been on his side. "Come on Biggs, I'll drive you home." he said, not sharing his thoughts with his friend, who was still engaged in a very childish dance. Instead he threw all his passion into flying the speeder, accelerating more and more, until finally they were out in the desert, and he flipped the running lights off.

"Luuuke!" Biggs shouted, "Are you crazy?"

Luke grinned, "Oh didn't I mention it Biggs? Oh silly me. When I fly, it's my rules." The speeder sang out as he pushed her to the max.

"LUUUUKE!"