Returning Home

Chapter 5: The Millennium Falcon

"Chewie here, tells me you're looking for a passage to Alderaan." Said Han, before anyone could ask either him or Ezra how they knew each other.

"Yes, indeed, if it's a fast ship." Said Obi-Wan, looking at Han.

"A fast ship?" Said Han, looking at Obi-Wan, incredulously, "You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?"

"Should I have?" Asked Obi-Wan, shaking his head.

"It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than Twelve parsecs." Said Han, making Ezra whistle.

"That's dangerous." Said Ezra, looking at Han.

"I've outrun Imperial star ships, not the local bulk cruisers, I'm talking the big Corellian ships." Said Han, as Obi-Wan didn't respond, "Is this fast enough for you old man?"

Obi-Wan didn't respond.

"What's the Cargo?" Asked Han, looking at them.

"Only Passengers, Myself, the two boys and three droids and no questions asked." Said Obi-Wan, looking into Han's eyes.

"What are you in some kind of local trouble?" Asked Han, laughing.

"Let's say that we'd like to avoid Imperial entanglements." Said Ezra, leaning forwards.

"Well, that's the real trick, isn't it?" Said Han, looking at them, "It's gonna cost you something extra."

Ezra rolled his eyes.

"Ten Thousand, all in advance." Said Han, looking at them.

"Ten Thousand?" Said Luke, in disbelief, "We could almost buy our own ship for that."

Ezra and Obi-Wan looked at Luke.

"But who's gonna fly it kid, you?" Asked Han, leaning forwards.

"You bet I could, I'm not such a bad pilot myself." Said Luke, "Come on, Ben, Ezra, we don't need to sit here and listen-" Luke was cut off buy Ezra's hand on his shoulder.

"We can give you two thousand now." Said Ezra, looking at Obi-Wan.

"And pay you fifteen thousand when we reach Alderaan." Said Obi-Wan, looking at Han.

"Seventeen Thousand?" Asked Han, making Obi-Wan nod, "Okay, you got yourselves a ship, we'll leave as soon as you're ready. Docking bay 94."

"94." Repeated Obi-Wan.

"Looks like somebody's gaining an interest in your handiwork." Said Han, looking behind them.

Obi-Wan and Ezra looked back at the bar and saw the bartender talking to a couple of Stormtroopers.

The three quickly left before the Troopers got to them, Ezra blinked at the harsh light in his eyes.

"You know I really hate this world." Said Ezra, as the three left.

Obi-Wan gave Ezra a look.

"You'll have to sell your speeder." Said Obi-Wan, looking at Luke.

"That's alright, I'm never coming back to this planet again." Said Luke, looking at Obi-Wan.

Luke and Obi-Wan went off to sell the Speeder. Ezra went with Chopper to find the other two droids.

"Hey, Chop." Said Ezra, looking down at the orange headed Astromech.

"Bwap, Bwap." Said Chopper, looking up at Ezra.

"You'll be seeing Hera again soon, maybe even Sabine or Zeb." Said Ezra, smiling sadly.

"Bwap, Bwoop." Said Chopper.

"No, it'll just be you, I can't bring myself to face them yet." Said Ezra, "I left them without an explanation or saying goodbye."

"Bwap, wap, woo." Said Chopper, hitting Ezra on the leg.

"Ow!" exclaimed Ezra, looking down at the droid, "Okay, let's just find R2 and 3PO and get to the ship."

Ezra walked off, Chopper following behind him.

The two eventually found the other two, hiding in a door way, the droids and Ezra then met up with Obi-Wan and Luke.

"If the ship is as fast as he's boasting, we ought to do well." Said Obi-Wan, casting glances behind himself. Ezra followed his gaze and saw that they were being followed. The group found Chewbacca, who lead them to Han's ship.

"What a piece of Junk." Said Luke, looking at the Falcon.

"She'll make point five past light-speed, may not look like much but she's got it where it counts kid." Said Han, looking at Luke, "I made a lot of special modifications myself."

"Trust him, this is the ship that brought me here, he even offered me a Job." Said Ezra, looking at Luke.

"Well, we're a little rush, so if you'll just get on board and we'll get outta here." Said Han, gesturing them aboard the Falcon.

"Stop that ship!" Yelled a voice, "Blast 'em!"

Blaster fire quickly followed, as Han rushed aboard the Falcon, yelling to Chewbacca to get them out of there.

"Oh, my I forgot how much I hate space travel." Groaned 3PO.

Obi-Wan and Luke headed to the cock pit as soon as they entered space. Ezra leaned back and meditated.

Obi-Wan and Luke rushed back in and strapped in ready for Light speed.

As soon as they were in light speed, Obi-Wan began teaching Luke how to block blaster bolts with a lightsaber. Ezra didn't pay much attention until Obi-Wan called him up.

"Ezra, why don't you give Luke a demonstration." Said Obi-Wan, as Ezra unclipped his traditional Saber from his belt.

Without a word, Ezra ignited the Saber, a purple hue covering his face and the rest of the room. Ezra closed his eyes and waited for the Force to call out to him. Ezra blocked all of the rapid firing bolts coming from the floating ball. Ezra opened his eyes and saw Luke staring at him in awe.

"Can I do that?" Asked Luke, looking at him.

"With enough training, yes." Said Ezra, going back over to side of the room, extinguishing his saber.

Ezra watched Luke train, until he felt a sharp pain. As if thousand were crying out in pain and terror. Ezra looked at Obi-Wan and saw that he felt the same thing.

"Are you alright?" Asked Luke, looking at Obi-Wan, "What's wrong?"

"I felt a great disturbance in the Force," Said Obi-Wan, "As if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced."

"Something terrible has happened." Said Ezra, looking at Obi-Wan, "You don't think it's what happened in my Vision?"

"I hope not." Said Obi-Wan, before looking back at Luke, "We better get on with your exercises."

Han walked in and said something about out running the Imperials.

"Don't all thank me at once, we should be there in 0200 hours." Said Han.

"Thank you, Han, for everything." Said Ezra, looking at the smuggler.

Artoo and Chewbacca were playing holo-chess and Artoo defeated one of Chewbacca's pieces.

"He made a fair move, screaming about it won't help." Said Threepio, while Chopper let out noises of amusement.

"It's not wise to upset a Wookie, Threepio." Said Ezra, looking at the gold plated droid.

"Sir, no one worries about upsetting a droid." Said Threepio.

"That's because a droid can't pull peoples arms out of their sockets when they lose." Said Han, looking at Threepio.

Threepio looked at Chewbacca and then back at Han, "I see your point sir, Artoo, I suggest a new strategy, Let the Wookie Win."

Ezra went back to watching Luke train.

"Remember, a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through them." Said Obi-Wan.

"Feel your surroundings, the floor, the Wookie, the Nerf herder." Said Ezra, prompting Han to turn and glare at him.

"It's true." Said Ezra.

"You mean it controls your actions?" Asked Luke, watching the ball.

"Partially, but it also obeys your command." Said Obi-Wan, looking at Luke.

The ball then Shot Luke in the leg, Han laughed and Ezra shook his head.

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are not match for a blaster by your side." Said Han, looking at Luke.

"You don't believe in the Force, do you?" Asked Luke, extinguishing the Lightsaber.

"Kid, I've flown from one side of the Galaxy to the other and seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything that makes me believe there is one all powerful force controlling everything." Said Han, "There's no mystical energy field that controls my destiny. It's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense."

"I suggest you try it again, Luke." Said Obi-Wan, getting up and picking up a helmet with a blast shield attached, "but, this time, let go of your conscious self and act on instinct." Obi-Wan placed the Helmet on Luke's head.

"With the Blast shield down I can't even see, how am I supposed to fight?" Asked Luke.

"Your eyes can deceive you, don't trust them." Said Obi-Wan, looking at Luke.

Luke ignited the Lightsaber and tried again, the first bolt flew past him and hit his arm.

"Stretch out with your feelings." Said Ezra, walking to stand beside Obi-Wan.

Luke then blocked the next three shots.

"See?" Asked Obi-Wan, smiling, "You can do it."

"No, he's got the blast shield covering his face." Said Ezra, grinning.

"I call it luck." Said Han, looking at them.

"In my experience, there is no such thing as luck." Said Obi-Wan, looking at the smuggler.

"Look, good against remotes is one thing, good against the Living, that's something else." Said Han, narrowing his eyes.

"I'll take that as a compliment." Said Ezra, looking at Han.

The ship started beeping and Han got up and told them they were approaching Alderaan.

"You know I did feel something," Said Luke, "I could almost see the remote."

"That's good." Said Obi-Wan, "You've taken your first step into a much larger world."

A/N: End here for the moment, hopefully have the next chapter up on Monday or Wednesday, either way I'm now on summer break so I can get updates done quicker now.