AN: Obi-Wan and the Skywalkers call Jim "Tiberius", but Han Solo doesn't because he met Jim after he left Tatooine and abandoned the Outer Rim for Federation Space. I've been thinking that the Republic/Empire/Alliance is located in approximately the Gamma Quadrant and perhaps a fraction of the Delta Quadrant and/or the Beta Quadrant. Just a thought, please don't jump down my throat, and please remember this IS a FAN-fiction. Thanks.

Chapter 12

By the time Jim Kirk reached Mos Eisley, the suns were at high-noon and he was beginning to feel the strain of his journey. No one stopped him, but he did see the checkpoint where Luke's speeder was stopped. Interested to see what happened, Jim watched from a nearby doorway as Obi-Wan influenced the Storm Troopers and got them through alright. Jim tracked the speeder to a block-cantina in the Spaceport District. He slipped into the cantina and ordered a drink. No one bothered him, desert drifters were usually left alone if they were ever encountered. One drunk patron got pushy, Jim didn't have to do anything. A big, menacing Wookie tapped the man on the shoulder and got him to turn around. The man's eyes widened and he backed away, hands upraised in a gesture of surrender.

"No trouble, don't want no trouble!"

"Then go on your way and stop bothering people. The Wookie's with me." Jim said firmly. Luke joined him shortly and ordered the same thing Jim was drinking.

We have missed you, Cub. Chewbacca rumbled.

"Sorry about that, Chewie. I've been busy."

So busy you could not call a friend?

"I would have, but I'm in the middle of Starfleet's Fourteen Days of Hell right now, I just finished Basic Training."

Ah, Han will be pleased!

"Pfft." Jim rolled his eyes and tossed back his drink. Another patron was bugging Luke, who shrugged him off politely. For that trouble, Luke got roughed up a bit. Jim caught the hobo by the wrist and warned him, "You don't want to fight him, or me. Back off."

"You don't scare me!"

"I said, back off, pal. Leave my brother alone." Jim snarled. The hobo shoved him backwards and waved a blaster. Jim reacted on instinct and the bartender ducked when he deflected one blast-bolt with his lightsaber to crash into a wall. A second slammed into the hobo's alien partner and a third took out the hobo. Jim secured his lightsaber and turned around to help Luke to his feet.

"Y'know, I thought it was my job to pick a barfight I couldn't win."

"I didn't pick any fights."

"I know, but you sure pissed him off." Jim tossed a few credits on the bar, "Sorry about the mess, Dolan."

"Crazy bastard." The barkeep muttered, palming the coins. Jim maneuvered his brother away from the bar and they followed Chewie to a back table.

"Well-done, Tiberius." Obi-Wan murmured, "Master Yoda would be proud."

"And Master Qui-Gon?"

"He would be beaming. Your foster-parents did well."

"You did give them some specific instructions." Jim shrugged and took a seat at the small round table Chewie ushered them to, spinning the chair around to sit on it backwards. It wasn't long before Han Solo arrived. Jim got up when he saw the smuggler, "Han!"

"Hey, Jimmy! I knew I hadn't seen the last of you on Riseven! How're you doin', kid?" the smuggler beamed and dragged Jim into a hug, "What are you up to these days?"

"Oh, just the usual."

"Uh-huh. Who're your buddies?"

"Han Solo, this is my brother Luke Skywalker and one of my teachers, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Ah, yeah." Han smiled as he shook hands with them, taking note of Obi-Wan's attire, "You're one of the Jedi Knights. Smart move hiding out on Tatooine."

"Most of us are on Federation worlds, Captain Solo."

"I bet I know why." Han rolled his eyes and sat down, "So, what can I do for you?"

"Jim?" Obi-Wan looked at Jim, who nodded.

"We need a fast ship to take us to Alderaan."

"Alderaan? Why?"

"To warn them about the Empire and rescue our sister."

"I don't fly cheap and as much as I love you, Jimmy, I ain't doin' this for free."

"I wasn't expecting you to do it pro bono, Han, I know you too well." Jim smirked, "Name your price."

"Seventeen thousand, all in advance."

"Seventeen thousand!" Luke croaked, "We could almost buy our own ship for that much!"

"And who's gonna fly it, kid?" Han sniped back, "You?"

"You bet I could! I'm not such a bad pilot myself!" Luke got to his feet in a huff, "This is ridiculous, we don't need to sit here and listen to…"

"Luke, stop it. We're a little short on time, the Millenium Falcon's our best bet." Jim turned to Han, who didn't seem too ruffled by Luke's outburst, "We can pay you fifteen now and another fifteen when we reach Alderaan."

"Twenty thousand? What kind of trouble are you in, kid?" the price named raised eyebrows.

"I know the Falcon's fast when she wants to be, the question is will she be fast enough."

"Fast enough for what, kid?"

"Outrunning Star Destroyers."

"Oh that's easy. The big Corellian cruisers? No problem!" Han beamed, "She might be a little fussy, but she won't disappoint." Han told them where the Falcon was docked and they left the cantina. Luke was on a high rage.

"How can you be so sure the Millenium Falcon's trustworthy? And what about him?"

"Han Solo's been a friend for a long time, the Falcon's gotten me out of some tight spots in the past. I trust both the ship and her captain." Jim looked at his brother and pulled up the hood of his jacket, "That ship's fast enough when she needs to be. She's not brand-new, but her age doesn't hurt her performance too badly." They focused on selling the speeder next and Luke complained when he got less for it than he thought it was worth, but Jim convinced him that it would be enough. Finding the Falcon's bay was easy, getting out was a little harder. Jim sprinted to the cockpit as a fire-fight raged outside, primed the front guns, and took careful aim. By the time Han got to the cockpit, they were ready to launch. Blasting out of the docking-bay, they headed for open space. That was just the beginning of Jim's misadventures and by no means the worst trouble he would get into between now and his return to Federation space.