The night air sent cold shivers down Han's back and he instantly wished he'd dressed warmer. A large leather rucksack hung over his shoulder. Inside it was filled with rations, clothes, his father's lightsaber and note, a small pocket knife, rope and the picture of Ben Solo he'd kept in his pillowcase. In his hand he clutched the Beacon so hard that his knuckles had turned white.
The time was exactly midnight, and none of the other Padawans were awake. Han opened and walked into his grandfather's ship, the Millennium Falcon. Without bothering to turn on the lights, Han placed his bag on the couch and making a list in his head, checking he hadn't forgotten anything. As he rummaged through his bag, his hand touched Ben's lightsaber. He picked it up and examined it as much as he could in the dark. Without looking up he turned on the lightsabers and almost jumped out of his skin.
"Cam!"
Cam was spread out across the couch. "Morning Ren Junior."
"What are you doing here?" Han said, almost stumbling over his own feet and hid the lightsaber out of sight.
"Honestly," Cam rolled his eyes. "I'm not stupid, Han. I knew that you wouldn't keep to your promise, guess you got that from your father." Cam's grey-blue eyes flickered down to the Binary Beacon in Han's fist. "I see you've got the Beacon. What's that?" He glanced at his other hand.
"Nothing, none of your business." Han immediately stormed to the cockpit.
"It's not nothing," Cam had followed him. "Come on, show me." He bent forward, attempting to take it out of Han's hand, but Han jerked away.
"Leave it!" But the lightsaber quickly left his grip as Cam summoned it to his own hand.
"Made a new lightsaber have we?" He turned it around. Han stiffened and tried to stand as tall and as close to Cam as he could. "Give. It. Back."
"Or what?" Cam shoved him sending him sprawling into the co-pilot seat. "What are you going to do little Ren?"
Han was silent, then he spoke. "Or I'm gonna throw your ass of my grandfather's ship." Han winced at how pathetic his tone of voice sounded. Cam chuckled taking a seat in the pilot seat. "That was good, but I'd like to see you try. Of course," he cut off Han's reply, "if you did toss me out I could just go and tell your mother everything."
"Give the lightsaber back!" Han growled, holding out his open hand. Cam tossed the saber into the air and caught it. "I'll hold on to it for now, don't worry I might give it back."
"Why would you keep it?"
"Reassurance. That you wont ditch me on some random planet, or throw me into space."
"I wouldn't ditch you... or throw you into space." Han, although he couldn't bring himself to do it, he couldn't help but smirk at thought of Cam flying off into space.
"Yeah, right." Cam grumbled. "Go on, connect the Beacon to the ship's map and let's go!" Han stared out the window. In the distance he saw the Fathier paddocks, along beside it was one of the smaller Jedi Temples, the one is which his mum was currently sleeping in, unaware that she would wake up the next day to find her son and one of her students gone. "Alright, let's go."
Cam turned on the ship's engine and flew off into the starry sky. As soon as they were away from the planet, that neither of them had left in around ten years, Han began to connect the Binary Beacon to the ship's map. "Can you please keep the ship still!" Han yelled as Cam flew the ship down in a spiral formation.
"Give me a break, I was banned from flying the whole year."
"Because last time Mum let you fly, you caused three Padawans to crash their X-wing's!"
Cam shrugged, flipping the ship so they were flying upside down. "I was ready for way harder stuff. Besides, those Padawans need to be ready for anything!"
"Just... turn the ship the right way up, I think I'm gonna lose my lunch!" Han's nails dug into the seat.
"Ew! I don't need to see that!" The ship was turned over and Han was able to finish connecting the Binary Beacon. "So, where are we going?" Han studied the coordinates. He suddenly sat straight up, a confused look on his face, he bent down once again, squinting his eyes as if making sure he was seeing correctly. "What?" Cam glanced his way, but Han didn't reply. "Look, little Ren, if you me to take you to your Dada, then I'm going to need so coordinates."
"That can't be right..." Han mumbled. "The coordinates... there incomplete."
"What do you mean incomplete?"
"I mean, there's only half of the coordinates here!"
"What happened to the other half?" Cam said, as if it was Han's fault.
"This isn't my fault! I don't know where it is, maybe my dad hid it or something?"
"Why would he hide it?"
Han leaned back in his seat. "I don't know." The cockpit went quiet until Cam groaned.
"Well, I've been dying to go to Canto Bight for over two years!" Han didn't object as Cam punched in the coordinates. He got up and walked towards his rucksack and pulled out his mother and father's cards. He looked at his father's, re-reading the message.
Dear Han 'Sky' Solo,
The last time I saw you was shortly after the Final Order was defeated,
and I was force to go into hiding.
Through my I have, had many regrets,
but my biggest regret, has been missing watching you grow.
I hope this lightsaber, which was mine when I was 16,
will help to light your way.
Remember that no matter how dark times may get...
You are not alone.
- Ben Solo
"I've never felt more alone." He sighed. "Why would you only give me half of the coordinates?" The Falcon shook as it entered lightspeed and stopped a few minutes later. Han stared down at the card the entire time.
"Alright!" Cam walked out of the cockpit once he had landed the ship. "I'm off, to gamble what little money I have saved, if you want to join me... don't." Han looked up.
"I'm seriously considering leaving you here."
"Good luck explaining that to you mum." Han watched him leave, shaking his head as he stuffed the card into his pocket and rummaged through his bag again, pulling out two long coats. "Hey Cam!" He ran after the blonde haired Padawan and threw him one of the coats.
"What's this for?" Cam held it out as if he'd infected it somehow.
"We're both wearing Jedi styled clothing. It'd be best if we try to blend in as much as we can."
"We?" Cam raised an eyebrow, putting on the cloak.
"Yes, we. I'm coming with you."
"Awww." Cam stuck out his lower lip mockingly. "Why? Because you'll miss me?" Han shoved past him. Creatures of all kinds walked in and out of the huge casino that towered above them. "Because I don't trust you, that's why." Music played loudly, drowning out Cam's reply. Han made sure to keep an eye on Cam who was looking around at the game tables, the different and exotic drinks the bar was offering and the shiny dressed women. "Look, just trying to avoid any unnecessary attention." Han pulled Cam's arm sharply, as he attempted to walk towards two slutty dressed women.
"Please, you already stand out like a sore thumb." Cam smirked. "You're always so tense."
"Well I think I have a reason to be. We shouldn't have left the Jedi Temples in the first place-"
"Are you kidding, I should've done this a long time ago!"
"We're under age, we shouldn't be here. This place is crawling with bad men and black market dealers." The two boys stood in the center of the crowd. Han looked around nervously while Cam gave him a frustrated stare. "We should go."
"You know, you're just like your father!"
"What did you say?" Han looked up at him.
"I'm saying, your a big coward!"
"Why? Because I'm not comfortable being surrounded by criminals?"
"Because you both run. If your father was 'so good' why didn't he turn himself in? Why go into hiding?"
"My father is a good man!" Han yelled, ignoring the glances he was getting.
"I'll tell you what he is not! An innocent man! The guy is responsible for the deaths of an entire planets worth of people."
"Shut up!" Han shoved Cam so hard that he smashed into one of the nearby gaming tables.
"I see you got your father's temper." He spat back, but Han had turned and was walking out the casino, towards the Falcon.
Cam refused to let Han's outburst ruin his night. Picking himself up, he straightened his cloak and walked towards the bar. "One glass of Mijura." He ordered and the bar tender looked him up and down.
"Sure you're old enough kid?"
Cam looked him straight in the eye, raising his hand slightly off the bar table. "Give me the drink." He ordered. The bar tender straightened as the force compelled him to fulfill Cam's orders. The young Padawan winced at the sour taste of the alcohol and soon left the unfinished glass on the table. He walked up to a gaming table. "I'd like to join in." He placed ten credits on the table.
"The lowest bid is ten thousand credits."
Cam stiffened. "On second thought, maybe not." He took back his credits and shuffled away. Looking around, he gave a sigh and cursed silently at Han for ruining his night. Shoving his hands in his pockets, Cam walked back to the landing pads and was surprised to see the Falcon was still there. Maybe Han had wandered off? No, the lights were on.
He climbed inside and saw Han sitting in the pilots seat. "You didn't leave." He threw away his surprised tone.
"Yeah well... I considered it." Han was facing forward and didn't even glance at Cam. "But I don't run." The engine came to life.
"Where are we going? Back to the temples?"
"No." In Han's hand was his father's card. His thumb underlining the words, 'which was mine when I was 16'.
