A/N: And so, one more chapter. Sorry it took me so long to get this out, but hey, you kinda should expect this from me.
Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan waited alone in her cell as she calculated how she would escape. She would know more once she had an opportunity to know what Vader had in store for her. She was alive only because she knew both where the Death Star's plans were and the location of the Alliance's base. She would never give those answers, at all costs, she will not betray the Alliance.
Leia was alerted from her thoughts when she heard a small commotion and loud footsteps outside her cell and sat up in time for the door to open and for Darth Vader to enter her cell, closely followed by an interrogation droid with a large hypodermic needle.
"And, now Your Highness, we will discuss the location of your hidden Rebel base," Vader said ominously.
Leia watched the droid come closer in undisguised fear, having known all about the device, and mentally braced herself against giving up any information even as she was struck by the needle. Even through the horrifying sounds of her own screams, she remained strong, refusing to give into the monstrous methods.
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Anakin kept glancing over at Luke every so often as he drove back to where they had left Obi-Wan and the droids. Luke hadn't said anything since leaving the Lars homestead.
"Will you stop looking at me like I'm about to throw myself into the pit of a sarlacc?" Luke asked, shifting in his seat.
"Well, are you?" Anakin asked only half seriously. When Luke narrowed his eyes at him, he gave a smile. "Kidding," he said.
"I'm secretly amused," Luke told him, a tad bit sarcastically.
Anakin just shrugged it off. "Ever seen a pod race?" he asked, going for a light subject.
Luke looked at him like he was insane. "No, they're outlawed by the Empire," he told him like he was supposed to know that.
Anakin glanced at him. "I'm sure that doesn't phase the Hutts, they abide by their own laws rather than any governmental laws," he dismissed. "I used to race in them," he disclosed.
Luke looked at him at that. "Really?" he sounded skeptical.
Anakin shrugged. "I've done it since I was four," he said off-handedly.
"You've gotta be some pilot to be able to race in one, let alone be four and do it," Luke said, sounding doubtful.
"Where I come from, I'm the best star pilot around," Anakin told him, pride lacing his voice.
"Something we have in common then," Luke said, shrugging, as they pulled up to the sand crawler. He lingered for a moment as Anakin got out to greet Obi-Wan, taking a Jawa body and placing it in the pile of bodies being burned.
"They're dead, aren't they?" Obi-Wan asked in a low voice as he and Anakin stuck close to each other.
Anakin nodded. "The farm had been torn apart, Master. We found Owen and Beru's bodies burning. I'm not even certain if they were alive or dead when they were burned, but they were bound by rope," he reported.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes momentarily as he digested this. "The work of Vader. I have no doubt that they died protecting Luke," he said.
"What now, Master?" Anakin asked as he and Obi-Wan burned yet another body.
"You wanted to do something, now we join the Alliance against the Empire," Obi-Wan told him. "You'll need an alias," he hastily added.
"I've already thought of it," Anakin told him.
Obi-Wan looked at him. "What?" he asked.
"Ani Skye, simple enough to remember. Though your alias wasn't much thought out," Anakin told him.
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "How so?" he asked.
"Ben Kenobi?" Anakin clarified. "Not very creative," he tisked.
"And what would you have chosen?" Obi-Wan asked.
Anakin only grinned in response as Luke approached them.
Obi-Wan turned to Luke in sympathy. "There's nothing you could have done, Luke, had you been there. You'd have been killed, too, and the droids would be in the hands of the Empire," he told him.
"I want to come with you to Alderaan. There's nothing here for me now. I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father," Luke told him decisively.
Obi-Wan nodded while Anakin picked up yet another body. "We'll have to find a transport," he said.
Anakin looked at him. "We could always barter for a ship and I'll fly," he suggested.
Obi-Wan palled at the suggestion of Anakin flying the ship they'll be travailing in. "I think we can find someone to take up to Alderaan in Mos Eisley. With our luck, we'll get something that needs to be fixed and even with your skills, ...Ani, we don't have time," he said, catching himself at the name just in time.
Anakin frowned but didn't argue with him for he spoke the truth. "Well, what do we have to sell?" he asked.
"We could sell the farm, I know that the Darklighters are looking to expand their farm and they have the money," Luke suggested.
"How much will that run us?" Anakin asked.
"Oh, with the farm, my T-16 Skyhopper, two speeders and a swoop bike, we're looking at about seventeen-thousand," Luke answered.
"Well, lets get started in packing what we'll need then," Obi-Wan said.
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"Is this all that you salvaged from the temple, Master?" Anakin asked, as he packed the last of the things from Obi-Wan's hut into the speeder that Luke let them borrow.
"I just took what I would need to train Luke, if Owen would had allowed it. Whatever surviving Jedi that Master Yoda and I found just after the purge took the rest to the enclave on Tython," Obi-Wan told him.
"I've never heard of it," Anakin admitted. "Is it new?"
"It's ancient, Anakin. Not many knew about it," Obi-Wan told him. "It was once the base of the Jedi Order," he finished.
"Could Vader know about it?" Anakin asked after a moments thought.
"No. The information was master level access, Vader was never a master," Obi-Wan told him.
"Is that the last of it?" Anakin asked, stuffing the last bag into the speeder.
Obi-Wan nodded. "That's it," he confirmed.
"Then lets go," Anakin said, sliding into the pilots seat.
Obi-Wan, resigned to enduring Anakin's piloting skills, slid in beside him. "Take it easy, will you?" he requested.
"I always take it easy," Anakin told him dismissively.
Obi-Wan looked at him sharply but before he could say anything, he had to hold on because Anakin took off at top speed, only slowing down when they pulled up to the Lars homestead to see Luke striking a deal with two dark haired humans.
"Take care of yourself, Luke," Mrs. Darklighter said as her husband shook Luke's hand.
"I will, thank you," Luke told them.
"Where do you plan on going, Son?" Mr. Darklighter asked.
"I'm joining the Rebellion like Biggs did," Luke told them.
"Oh, Luke, I told Biggs not to do this but he didn't listen, please don't do something that'll get you killed," Mrs. Darklighter pleaded.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine," Luke assured them. "You never know, I could become an asset, they might need a pilot like me," he said, giving her a lopsided smile.
Mrs. Darklighter sighed. "That you will. I'll never forget how you threaded the needle at the age of five with your uncle's swoopbike," she said.
Luke laughed. "I remember that," he said and returned the embrace that Mrs. Darklighter gave him.
"Stay safe, Luke," she said, releasing him.
Luke nodded. "I will," he told her, taking the money that Mr. Darklighter gave him and walked over to the loaded speeder next to the one that Obi-Wan and Anakin were pulled up next to. He checked the tether that had a hold of the T-16 Skyhopper from the back of the speeder before getting in with Threepio and Artoo.
"All set?" Anakin asked.
Luke nodded. "I got nine-thousand for the farm," he said.
"That'll have to do then," Obi-Wan said. After a moments decision, he got out of the speeder, looking at Anakin. "I'm going to ride with Luke this time around," he said, making Anakin frown.
"Meet me at..." Anakin trailed off.
"Chalmun's Cantina," Luke filled in for him.
Anakin nodded before taking off.
"So...why did you opt to ride with me?" Luke asked as Obi-Wan got in the speeder.
"I'm too old for his reckless and crazy stunts," Obi-Wan told him as Luke took off.
"So how did you meet him?" Luke asked.
Obi-Wan looked at him. "I've known Ani since he was nine," Obi-Wan told him, not going into detail and remaining in silence as they made their way into Mos Eisley.
When they arrived at Mos Eisley, they found Anakin being held up by a couple storm troopers and looking cross. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes heavenward in exasperation as two more stormtroopers stopped them.
"How long have you had these droids?" one trooper asked.
"About three or four seasons," Luke lied.
"They're for sale if you want them," Obi-Wan put in.
"Let me see your identification," the trooper commanded.
Luke became very nervous as he fumbled to find his ID while Obi-Wan spoke to the Trooper in a very controlled voice. "You don't need to see his identification," he said, with a slight hand movement.
"We don't need to see his identification," the trooper said in some sort of daze.
"These are not the droids your looking for," Obi-Wan continued.
"These are not the droids we're looking for," the trooper repeated.
"He can go about his business," Obi-Wan continued.
"You can go about your business," the trooper repeated.
"Move along," Obi-Wan said to Luke.
"Move along. Move along," the trooper said.
"Go ahead to the cantina," Obi-Wan instructed to Luke as he got out of the speeder.
"You're going to help him?" Luke asked, nodding to where Anakin was being held up at blaster point.
Obi-Wan sighed. "I resigned myself to that fate a long time ago," he answered long sufferingly, before he began to approach where Anakin was. "Can I be of any service?" he asked, approaching the group of stormtroopers holding Anakin up to see Anakin's cross expression change momentarily with relief as he held his hands up.
"Official business, move along," one trooper told him.
Obi-Wan carefully walked over to Anakin, in the trooper's rage. "This young man isn't worth your trouble," he said, using a slight hand gestures, putting enough force behind his statement.
The troopers stood down their weapons. "He's not worth our troubles," they repeated.
"He can go about his business," Obi-Wan continued.
"He can go about his business," the troopers repeated.
Anakin glanced over at Obi-Wan who looked at him out of the corner of his eye. He gave a small inconspicuous smile before he lowered his hands and made a slight hand gesture. "You will take the rest of your legion and report back to Vader that the droids you are looking for left for the planet..." he started, glancing at Obi-Wan who smiled in thought.
"Mustafar," Obi-Wan filled in for him.
Anakin looked at him dubiously at that but didn't say anything.
"We will report back to Lord Vader that the droid we have been searching for had departed for Mustafar," the troopers repeated before walking away.
Once they were a safe distance away, Obi-Wan crossed his arms and looked at Anakin pointedly. "You just can't stay out of trouble, can you?" he demanded.
"Don't blame me, those clones are insane!" Anakin snapped. "They demanded my identification and before I remembered that I wasn't supposed to use mine, I went to pull it out and I think they saw my lightsaber because they called me a Jedi and ordered me to get out of the speeder," he explained.
Obi-Wan sighed. "I should have known something like this would happen," he said. "We're going to have to get you something to make you look more inconspicuous," he said. "You'll have to ask Luke for some money," he added as they got into the speeder and drove to Chalmun's Cantina where Luke was waiting for them, sitting in his speeder, with a small vibroblade in one hand and a piece of japor in another, carving something out.
"So what had you being threated to die by firing squad?" Luke asked, putting both the vibroblade away and the piece of japor.
"Don't ask," Anakin told him. "How much does a ship usually run about here nowadays?" he asked.
"We don't have enough money, Ani, they're like thirty-thousand if you want one that works," Obi-Wan told him.
As they got out of the speeders a Jawa ran up and began to fondle the speeders.
"I can't abide these Jawas. Disgusting creatures," Threepio said.
As Luke got out of the speeder he tried to shoo the Jawa away. "Go on, go on. I can't understand how we got by those troopers. I thought we were dead," he said.
"The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded. You will find it a powerful ally," Obi-Wan told him.
"Do you really think we're going to find a pilot here that'll take us to Alderaan?" Luke asked.
"Well, most of the best freighter pilots can be found here. Only watch your step. This place can be a little rough," Obi-Wan answered.
"I'm ready for anything," Luke told him.
"Are you certain about that?" Anakin questioned.
Luke looked at him. "I am," he said as they entered the cantina and was greeted by the sight of smoke and drunkenness of various aliens, pilots and lowlife.
Anakin turned to where the droids were following them. "Keep an eye on the speeders," he commanded.
Threepio turned to Luke in askance.
"I think they'll be alright," Luke said, just before the bartender spoke up.
"We don't serve their kind here!" the bartender called.
"What?" Luke asked, taken aback.
"Your droids. They'll have to wait outside. We don't want them here," he clarified.
"See, I knew that they would be better served by the speeders," Anakin pointed out.
Luke nodded. "Go on, keep an eye on the speeders," he instructed the droids.
"Certainly, Master Luke," Threepio agreed. "Come along, Artoo," he said, shuffling back out to the waiting speeders.
Luke sighed. "I wish he'd drop the master part," he muttered.
Anakin suppressed a smile. "Makes you feel like a slave owner, doesn't it?" he asked knowingly.
Luke looked at him. "Kinda," he said, scratching his neck and looked for Obi-Wan who had found himself in discussion with a Wookiee.
"He's in negotiations, he'll come get us when he's ready," Anakin told him, walking over to the bar. "Tatooni Junko," he ordered.
"Jawa juice," Luke ordered, sitting down beside him. "So, are you and Ben close?" he asked.
"You can say that," Anakin answered, taking a sip from the cup the bartender placed in front of him as he kept his eyes on Obi-Wan.
"So how come I hadn't seen you around much? I'm just asking because I'm always in Anchorhead and here on occasion," Luke asked.
"I like to travel," Anakin told him.
"But you don't have a ship," Luke pointed out.
Anakin looked at him, his mind coming up with a cover story. "I was out running the Empire when I crash landed in the Jundland Wasts. My ship was damaged beyond repair," he lied.
Luke nodded but before he could say anything, a large, multiple-eyed alien gave him a rough shove.
"Negola dewaghi wooldugger?!?" the alien said, obviously drunk.
Luke tried to ignore him, seeing that Anakin wasn't about to help since he continued to drink what he ordered. A short, grubby Human and an even smaller rodent-like alien joined the belligerent alien.
"He doesn't like you," the human said.
"I'm sorry," Luke told him, turning back to his drink.
"I don't like you either," the human told him as the big alien started getting agitated and yelled out some unintelligible gibberish at Luke who was beginning to get nervous and looked over to Obi-Wan who looked too busy to notice and to Anakin who didn't seem to care about what was going on.
"Don't insult us. You just watch yourself. We're wanted men. I have the death sentence in twelve systems," the human continued.
"I'll be careful than," Luke told him.
The human grabbed him. "You'll be dead!" he snapped.
The aliens let out a loud grunt and everyone at the bar moved away. Luke tried to remain cool but it wasn't easy. His three adversaries readied their weapons. Quick as a flash, Anakin moved, grabbing a blaster by the barrel, pulled it towards him, added pressure to the top, and shoved back while the butt of the blaster lifted, knocking it in the underside of the alien's jaw rather hard, and yanked his companions blaster out of their hands with the force, sending them across the bar before training the blaster in his hands on them.
"Death sentence in twelve systems, eh? Try having every bounty hunter in the galaxy ready to serve your head to the Emperor on a platter," he said threateningly. "If you were smart, you'd leave while you're still in once piece," he threatened.
While the offending group were drunk, they didn't need to be told twice before they backed away and left the cantina.
"For a minute there I thought you would be no help," Luke said, dusting himself off.
"You need to wait for the right opening before you do anything," Anakin told him, setting the blaster down, before looking at it. "I guess this is mine now," he said. "Not bad, A little pricey though," he appraised the weapon.
"Are you going to keep it then?" Luke asked.
"No...blasters are too uncivilized and bulky. I think I might sell it. My guess is that this one runs about, oh, three thousand," he answered.
"How do you know?" Luke asked.
"I know a lot about weapons," Anakin told him and caught Obi-Wan gesturing for them to join them. "Come on, we're being summoned," he said and got up, being followed by Luke who threw down a few credits for their drinks.
"This is Chewbacca. He's first-mate on a ship that might suit our needs," Obi-Wan introduced when Anakin and Luke reached them.
The wookiee gestured for them to follow him and lead them to a secluded table where a man in his early thirties with scruffy brown hair, a days growth beard on his face, and nursing some whiskey sat. "Han Solo. I'm captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewie here tells me you're looking for passage to the Alderaan system," the man introduced himself.
"Yes, indeed. If it's a fast ship," Obi-Wan confirmed.
Han seemed to take offense at this. "Fast ship? You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?" he asked incredulously.
"Should I have?" Obi-Wan asked.
"It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs!" Han told him.
Anakin snorted. "If I can't do that, then no one can," he said.
Han frowned. "I've outrun Imperial starships, not the local bulk-cruisers, mind you. I'm talking about the big Corellian ships now. She's fast enough for you, old man. What's the cargo?" he continued.
"Only passengers. Myself, the boy, two droids, and no questions asked," Obi-Wan answered.
"What is it? Some kind of local trouble?" Han asked.
"Let's just say we'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements," Obi-Wan explained.
Han reacted to that, seemingly interested. "Well, that's the trick, isn't it? And it's going to cost you something extra. Ten thousand in advance," he said.
Luke seemed incredulous."Ten thousand? We could almost buy our own ship for that!" he exclaimed.
"But who's going to fly it, kid! You?" Han challenged.
"You bet I could. I'm not such a bad pilot myself! We don't have to sit here and listen..." Luke told him, rising to the challenged and began to stand up when Anakin stopped him.
"Obi-Wan knows what he's doing," he whispered. "Watch, we'll get a ride out of him for a cheaper price," he added.
"We haven't that much with us. But we could pay you two thousand now, plus fifteen when we reach Alderaan," Obi-Wan negotiated.
Han leaned back, mulling it over. "Seventeen, huh!" he replied, liking that idea. He pondered it for a moment before deciding. "Okay. You guys got yourself a ship. We'll leave as soon as you're ready. Docking bay Ninety-four," he decided.
"Ninety-four," Obi-Wan repeated as he stood up to leave with Luke and Anakin.
"Seventeen thousand! Those guys must really be desperate. This could really save my neck. Get back to the ship and get her ready," Han said to Chewbacca who growled in response before leaving too.
As Han was about to leave, Greedo, a rodian, poked a blaster in his side. "Going somewhere, Solo?" he asked.
"Yes, Greedo. As a matter of fact, I was just going to see your boss. Tell Jabba that I've got his money," Han told him as he sat down and Greedo sat across from him holding the blaster on him.
"It's too late. You should have paid him when you had the chance. Jabba's put a price on your head, so large that every bounty hunter in the galaxy will be looking for you. I'm lucky I found you first," Greedo told him.
"Yeah, but this time I got the money," Han told him.
"If you give it to me, I might forget I found you," Greedo told him.
"I don't have it with me. Tell Jabba..." Han started.
"Jabba's through with you. He has no time for smugglers who drop their shipments at the first sign of an Imperial cruiser," Greedo told him.
"Even I get boarded sometimes. Do you think I had a choice?" Han replied as he slowly reached for his blaster under the table.
"You can tell that to Jabba. He may only take your ship," Greedo told him.
"Over my dead body," Han told him.
"That's the idea. I've been looking forward to killing you for a long time," Greedo said, liking the idea.
"Yes, I'll bet you have," Han said aggressively, firing his blaster, killing Greedo, who's body slumped over the table limply.
Han reholstered his blaster before standing and threw down some credits and leaving, saying, "Sorry about the mess," to the bartender before leaving.