Padme gasped as they came closer to the Jawas' transport. There were clearly dead bodies and gun shots on the transport.
"Obi-Wan…" She pointed causing the Jedi Master to look up.
"Oh dear." He whispered. They got out of the speeder in front of the transport and began looking around. Padme just stared. Obi-Wan could see that she was visibly pale.
"It looks like the Sandpeople did it." Luke pointed out tracks and weapons. "But I've never heard of them attacking something so big before."
"That's because they didn't." Obi-Wan explained, "These tracks are side-by-side. Sandpeople walk single file to hide their numbers. And these blasts. Too accurate save for Imperial Stormtroopers." Imperial Stormtroopers? Padme thought, becoming more confused by the minute. I HAVE to figure out what happened soon. Otherwise I'll reveal myself. She shook her head as Luke looked at Artoo and Threepio, who waved at his new master.
"If they tracked the droids here then that would lead them…home!" Luke ran to his speeder, ignoring Obi-Wan crying,
"Wait Luke! It's too dangerous!" and Padme crying,
"Luke! Come back!" She was about to follow him when Obi-Wan grabbed her arm. "I have to follow him!" She protested. Obi-Wan shook his head.
"He'll come back." He said and then whispered, "From a tragedy." Padme gasped, turned to the direction Luke left and then started to make a fire to burn the Jawas' bodies.
Once the bodies were burning, Padme heard the sound of a speeder coming. She looked up and smiled sadly. It was Luke. She pulled her cloak tighter and walked up to Luke as Obi-Wan comforted,
"There was nothing you could do. Had you been there, you would have been killed and the droids would now be in the hands of the Empire." EMPIRE?! Padme thought and looked at Obi-Wan, who clearly read her queen face before Luke looked up at him.
"I want to come with you." He said, "There's nothing for me here now. I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father." Padme smiled. He had Ani's spirit. Obi-Wan nodded,
"If that's what you wish. Come along." Luke and Obi-Wan went back to collect the droids while Padme stayed back and loaded the speeder, all the while thinking questions. How could the Senate allow an Empire? What are Imperials? Do they work for the Empire? Probably but why are they on the side of evil? Where'd they come from? Her questions were interrupted by Luke holding his hand out to her, helping her in. She smiled,
"Thank you." She took his hand and hopped in as they headed on their way.
Padme stared at the town of Mos Eisley as Obi-Wan explained how you could never find a place filled with more scum and villainy and that they should be cautious. As they entered the town, Padme saw all sorts of creatures and, worrying they might recognize her, put up the hood of her cloak. Just then, a man in white armor, What did Luke and Obi-Wan call them? Imperials? Yeah that's it. walked up and asked,
"How long have you had these droids?"
"Three or four seasons." Luke lied.
"May I see your identification?" The Imperial continued.
"You don't need to see his identification." Obi-Wan said with a small move of his hand. Padme smiled. She'd seen Qui-Gon do the same thing when they first met Watto. It didn't work with him but worked well on the Imperial for in a daze repeated,
"We don't need to see your identification."
"He can go about his business." Obi-Wan continued.
"You can go about your business." The Imperial repeated.
"These aren't the droids you're looking for." Obi-Wan said.
"These aren't the droids we're looking for."
"Move along." The Jedi master finished with a smile.
"Move along. Move along." The Imperial waved. Luke gave Obi-Wan a look but continued driving. When they arrived at a cantina, Threepio complained about the Jawa inspecting the speeder until Luke waved him off.
"I still can't believe we got past those Stormtroopers." Luke said. Stormtroopers. Padme repeated in her mind. "I thought we were done for." Luke continued.
"The Force can have a strong influence on the weak minded." Obi-Wan explained and led the group into the cantina, Padme keeping her head down. While Obi-Wan tried to find a pilot, Padme sat at the bar and tuned everything out when she heard the hum of a lightsaber. She turned and saw an arm on the ground surrounded by blood. Obi-Wan deactivated his lightsaber and led the group to a table where a man sat with a Wookiee. He looked very cocky in Padme's opinion.
"Han Solo." The man introduced himself, "Chewie here tells me you're looking for passage to the Alderaan system."
"Yes indeed." Obi-Wan said, "If it's a fast ship."
"Fast ship?" Han asked, "You ever heard of the Millennium Falcon?" When nobody confirmed he continued, boasting, "It's the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parasecs. She's fast enough for you old man. What's the cargo?"
"Only the three of us, two droids and no questions asked." Obi-Wan said.
"What some kind of local trouble?" Han asked.
"Let's just say we'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements." Obi-Wan said.
"That's the trick, isn't it? It'll cost you extra." Han said, "Ten thousand, all in advance."
"Ten thousand?" Luke gasped, "We can almost buy our own ship for that."
"But who's gonna fly it, kid?" Han asked, "You?"
"You bet I could!" Luke said, "I'm not such a bad pilot myself. We don't have to sit here and-" Obi-Wan stopped Luke with his hand. Luke sat back down.
"We'll pay you two thousand now plus fifteen once we reach Alderaan." Obi-Wan said.
"Seventeen?" Han smiled, "You got yourselves a ship. Docking bay 94."
"94." Obi-Wan repeated. Han noticed some Stormtroopers and the bar tender pointing at them and said so. As Luke and Obi-Wan turned around, Han's eyes landed on Padme. He had no idea who she was and wondered if she was a wanted criminal, unable to show her face. The group left quickly and Han and Chewie covered their tracks.
Later, Chewie led them to the Millennium Falcon in Docking bay 94. Once inside, Padme put down her hood and stared at the Falcon.
"What a piece of junk!" Luke cried.
"My words exactly." Padme muttered. She's seen a lot of ships but she's never seen so many mismatched parts attached together as a ship in her life. Until now.
"She may not look like much but she's got it where it counts." Han said as he came out. "I even made a few special modifications for you. Now we're in a bit of a rush so if you'll hurry." The group got on the ship, Threepio introduced himself and Artoo, but Padme stopped on her way up. She walked down towards the Falcon's lift poles and held on to it as she leaned over the edge. "What?" Han asked, noticing her. He was slightly shocked but hid it well. The "runaway criminal" turned out to be a 14 year old girl following a farm boy and a strange old man. Padme said nothing, bent down and took her blaster out of her boot. She hid it in her cloak when Stormtroopers ran in.
"There they are!" one said, "Blast them!" Immediately, Padme revealed her blaster and fired at them. She took down a couple before Han started firing.
"Run!" Han cried as he got on the ramp to the Falcon. Padme went inside and hurried towards the back, hearing Han shout, "Chewie get us out of here!" She ran in and sat down next to Luke.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Stormtroopers." Padme explained and Luke took off for the cockpit, Obi-Wan following. Padme stayed back to catch her breathe when something blasted the ship and knocked her to the ground. "I thought you said you could fly!" Padme cried as she got up.
"It's not easy with the Empire on your back, princess!" Han called back, "Strap in!" Just then, Obi-Wan and Luke came running back. Luke helped Padme up and they strapped in as the ship made the jump to lightspeed.
Well, there's chapter 3! Now, before I apologize for the wait, let me just say this: OH MY GOODNESS! 486 readers, 16 reviews and 12 followers! You guys ROCK! Thanks to InsertAuthorNameHere, ccp, charmedjedi, PixieDustDiamond, (LOVE you and your reviews!) Lunarballet, JACarter, laures, Love Chocolate Writing and tate4eva (LOVE you as well! Thanks for reviewing every one of my stories!) I love you all it's just those two reviewed every story I have, which is four and three are Once Upon a Time please check them out if you like that show. Okay, my excuses include: typing a Once story, seeing how many reviews I can get, school work, being sick, finish thinking this story out and dancing. I know not very good but I've got this entire story figured out and I've started thinking about a sequel but that's another story entirely. But my biggest excuse is my brother constantly on the computer or I'm distracted but here's the long awaited chapter. LOVE YOU ALL! Remember more reviews, sooner update. Later!