Aislinn Kenobi stopped suddenly just as her father did. She wondered why he'd stopped.
"There are Sand People," was all Obi-Wan Kenobi said. And Aislinn understood.
Obi-Wan set off in the opposite direction he and his daughter had been going, towards a mangled speeder. Two Sand People were admiring it. But Aislinn knew that it wasn't being done innocently. She could now see a young boy, perhaps Aislinn's age, which was sixteen, but probably older, unconscious on the ground.
Obi-Wan stopped again. "It's Luke Skywalker," he said. Aislinn had no idea what he was talking about, and couldn't ask him. Aislinn couldn't talk, never could. She didn't know why, when, or how it had happened; it just had.
Obi-Wan knew of her condition, of course. After all, he was her father. So he said, "That boy over there. Luke Skywalker's his name. Come on, let's go help him."
Aislinn followed her father to the boy. She had no clue how they were going to get the Sand People away from the dingy speeder. But just then, Obi-Wan let out a howl--a howl that sent shivers up and down Aislinn's spine. She wrapped her cloak tighter around her.
The Sand People were scared too, it seemed, because they dashed away like a frightened--well, a frightened something. Obi-Wan smiled, and continued on his way to the speeder. The green-heart pendant around his neck glimmered.
Aislinn knew the pendant was extremely important. Her father wore it night and day, and she'd heard him refer to it as a "medi" jewel. She hadn't the slightest idea what that meant, either.
Aislinn and Obi-Wan finally reached the fallen boy, and Obi-Wan stooped down by him.
Suddenly, Aislinn heard a strange sound--a little squeak. Obi-Wan had heard it too, it seemed, because he looked towards the source of the sound--a little blue R2 unit, burrowed deep in the crevices of the mountainous rocks on the planet of Tatooine, where Aislinn and her father lived.
Obi-Wan smiled at the droid. "Hello there!" he called to it. Aislinn stared at him, baffled. Did he know this little being?
"Come here, my little friend," Obi-Wan continued. "Don't be afraid."
The droid beeped and whistled.
"Oh, don't worry, he'll be all right," Obi-Wan said, looking at the boy. He stirred.
"Rest easy, son," Obi-Wan said. "You've had a busy day. You're fortunate to be all in one piece." Aislinn stared at her father again. Did he know this boy?
"Ben? Ben Kenobi? Boy, am I glad to see you!" the boy--Luke Skywalker-- exclaimed. Aislinn stared at him, too. How does he know my father? she wondered. And why is he calling him Ben? Then Aislinn remembered--Obi-Wan had two identities. But she shook her head. She realized she didn't know as much about her father that she thought she did.
"This is my daughter Aislinn," Obi-Wan smiled. "I don't believe you've met her." Luke's eyes focused on Aislinn, and she gave a tentative wave.
"Aislinn can't talk. Vader put a spell on her," Obi-Wan explained.
Who's Vader? wondered Aislinn. What spell?
Luke looked just as confused as Aislinn.
There was a roar in the distance. "The Judland Wastes are not to be traveled lightly," Obi-Wan said, looking out in the distance. He helped Luke settle on a log. Aislinn sat next to him. "Tell me, young Luke, what brings you out this far?"
"Oh, this little droid!" Luke sighed, motioning towards the little blue droid who had now come out of hiding. "I think he's searching for his former master, but I've never seen such devotion in a droid before." Luke paused. He seemed to be thinking. "Ahhh...he claims to be the property of an Obi-Wan Kenobi. Is he a relative of yours? Do you know who he's talking about?"
Aislinn was confused once again. Didn't Luke know that he was talking to Obi-Wan Kenobi? Then she remembered-- he must only know him by the name of Ben, she thought.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi..." Obi-Wan himself muttered. "Obi-Wan. Now that's a name I've not heard in a long time...a long time..."
This was a day of confusions for Aislinn. What did her father mean? She'd always thought of him as Obi-Wan. Then she realized she'd never spoken the name aloud--she never could--and everyone around here only seemed to know him as Ben. Hmmm. This was getting interesting.
"I think my uncle knows him." Luke was speaking again. "He said he was dead."
"Oh, he's not dead, or...not yet." The way Obi-Wan said that made Aislinn start to shiver all over again.
"You know him?" Luke asked.
"Well, of course I know him." Obi-Wan smiled. "He's me. I haven't gone by the name Obi-Wan since, oh, a bit after Aislinn was born."
Luke sighed. "Well, then, the droid--he goes by Artoo Detoo-- does belong to you."
"Don't seem to remember ever owning a droid," Obi-Wan mused. "Very interesting..." Just then he looked into the cliffs, as if he heard some sound unable to reach Aislinn's ears.
"I think we'd better get indoors," Obi-Wan stated. "The Sand People are easily startled, but they will soon be back. And in greater numbers."
Luke slowly rose, but then the droid--Artoo--let out a small beep. It made Luke look around. "Threepio!" he cried, running towards the mountains. Aislinn and Obi-Wan followed.
"Threepio's the other droid," Luke explained as the scampered up the mountain. "There he is...oh, no."
In the sand lay a human-like droid, golden in color. One of his arms was broken off. It lay in the sand a few feet away. The three knelt over the droid.
"Where am I?" muttered the droid named See-Threepio. "I must have taken a bad step."
"Well, can you stand?" asked Luke. "We've got to get out of here before the Sand People return."
"I don't think I can make it," groaned the droid. "You go on, Master Luke. There's no sense in you risking yourself on my account. I'm done for."
Aislinn had to stifle a giggle-a soundless giggle, but a giggle nonetheless. She already liked this tall droid who was so pessimistic. But Aislinn stopped when the R2 unit gave a plaintive beep.
"No, you're not," Luke protested. "What kind of talk is that?"
"Quickly," spoke up Aislinn's father. "They're on the move."
The three quickly helped Threepio up and guided him towards Luke's speeder.
Aislinn settled herself on her chair in her home. Obi-Wan was sitting in his own chair, staring off into space, as Luke concentrated on fixing poor Threepio's arm.
"No, my father didn't fight in the wars," Luke was saying. "He was a navigator on a spice freighter."
"That's what your uncle told you," sighed old Obi-Wan. "He didn't hold with your father's ideals. Thought he should have stayed her and not gotten involved." Obi-Wan said that as if he were almost mocking Luke's uncle, whoever he was.
"You fought in the Clone Wars?" asked Luke.
No, he didn't, thought Aislinn. My father isn't a warrior.
"Yes," answered Obi-Wan. Aislinn looked at him strangely. Was he lying ... no. He looked at her, then Luke, then Aislinn again, then Luke again. He seemed to be looking at them together. Aislinn suddenly felt uneasy.
Finally, Obi-Wan spoke. "I was once a Jedi Knight, the same as your father."
Aislinn was extremely confused. She knew her father wasn't lying; she could tell when he was. And that was rare. But...what was a Jedi Knight? And why hadn't he told Aislinn about any of this?
"I wish I'd known him." Aislinn was so lost in her own thoughts it took her a moment to realize Luke was speaking of his father.
"He was the best starpilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior." Obi-Wan smiled. "I understand you've become quite a good pilot yourself." Luke blushed at this, and Aislinn smiled. He seemed like a nice boy.
"And he was a good friend." Obi-Wan's face became clouded over for the briefest moment, then he stood up. "Which reminds me..." he said, moving over to his big chest--the chest Aislinn was never allowed to go through--and began rummaging through it. Luke finished with Threepio's arm while he was doing this.
"I have something here for you," Obi-Wan said as he rummaged. "Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it. He feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some foolish idealistic crusade like your father did."
Threepio spoke up. "Sir, if you'll not be needing me, I'll close down for a while," he said, speaking to Luke.
"Sure, go ahead," Luke said, and Threepio became silent.
Obi-Wan finally got up from his chest. He was carrying a short handle with several electronic gadgets down one side. Aislinn had never seen the likes of it before in her life.
Luke looked curious. "What is it?" he asked.
"Your father's lightsaber," Obi-Wan replied. "This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster."
Luke pressed a button on the thing--the lightsaber's--handle. A long beam shot out of it at about the length of four feet.
"An elegant weapon for a more civilized day," Obi-Wan continued. "For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times. Before the Empire."
Luke, during this speech of Obi-Wan's--a speech that was making Aislinn's head spin in wonder--had been looking out in the distance. Aislinn could tell he hadn't really been listening to what her father had to say. But Aislinn had been listening. And she was astounded.
"How did my father die?" Luke asked finally.
"A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights," Obi-Wan replied after a pause. Aislinn looked at him. This must be the Vader who had put a curse on her, the one her father had spoken of before.
Obi-Wan looked at Luke. "He betrayed and murdered your father."
That's a lie! Aislinn thought suddenly. She always knew when her father was lying, and this was one of those times. She looked quickly at Luke, but he didn't seem to notice.
Obi-Wan continued, " Now the Jedi are all but extinct. Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force."
Aislinn was really confused now. What was a force? And why had her father lied? Aislinn supposed she would find out one day...or would she? She shook her head in frustration.
"The Force?" asked Luke, who seemed just as confused as Aislinn.
"The Force is what gives the Jedi his power," Obi-Wan explained. "It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together."
Aislinn had almost forgotten about Artoo Detoo, the little blue droid, but quickly remembered him as he gave a few tiny beeps.
Obi-Wan walked over to Artoo. "Now, let's see if we can figure out what you are, my little friend. And where you come from," he said as he fiddled with some buttons on the front of the droid.
"I saw part of a message he was..." Luke began, but was cut short by a small holographic image of two beautiful young girls, perhaps about Aislinn's age, but probably older-the same as Luke seemed.
"I seem to have found it," remarked Aislinn's father.
The image flickered, then the girl in front spoke. "General Kenobi, I am Leia Organa. This is my friend Alberta Bowai. She can't talk, but that is not why I am talking to you. Years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack, and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-wan Kenobi. You're my only hope." Then the image of the girl--Leia Organa--faded. Obi-Wan leaned back in his chair and scratched his beard. Luke looked as though he were in a trance.
Aislinn was very, very confused. This Leia person wanted her father to go somewhere else--someplace called Alderaan? What would happen to Aislinn? Would she stay here all alone? Or would she actually leave Tatooine? Aislinn waited for her father to speak.
Obi-Wan looked at Luke. "You must learn the ways of the Force if you're to come with me and Aislinn to Alderaan."
Aislinn heart soared. She was leaving Tatooine! And Luke was coming, too! She had always wanted someone her own age to be friends with, and now she would have one. She already liked Luke a lot.
"Alderaan?" Luke laughed scornfully. "I'm not going to Alderaan." Aislinn's joy was cut short. "I've got to get home," Luke added. "It's late; I'm in for it as it is."
"I need your help, Luke," Obi-Wan said. "Those two girls need your help. I'm getting too old for this sort of thing."
"I can't get involved!" Luke cried. "I've got work to do! It's not that I like the Empire; I hate it; but there's nothing I can do about it right now. It's such a long way from here."
"That's your uncle talking," Obi-Wan said. Aislinn didn't like Luke's uncle if he talked like that!
Luke sighed. "Oh, boy, my uncle. How am I ever going to explain this?" He motioned to the two droids.
"Learn about the Force, Luke," Obi-Wan persisted. Yes, Luke, Aislinn agreed. Learn about the Force--whatever that is!
"Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead," Luke relented. "You can get a transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you're going." Mos Eisley was a large, bustling city, Aislinn knew. Her father had spoke of it a few times.
"You must do what you feel is right, of course," nodded Obi-Wan.
Soon, Aislinn, Obi-Wan, Luke, See-Threepio, and Artoo were in Luke's speeder, going towards Anchorhead. Suddenly, Luke looked up. "Smoke," he said. Aislinn looked and saw black smoke billowing towards the sky.
"We'd better go see if anything's wrong," Obi-Wan said. Luke turned the speeder towards the smoke. Soon, they came upon a charred sandcrawler, which was the home of desert people called Jawas, Aislinn knew. Dead Jawas were all around it.
The group climbed out of the speeder and began walking through the Jawa graveyard. "It looks like the Sand People did this, all right," Luke commented. " Look, there's gaffi sticks, bantha tracks. It's just...I never heard of them hitting anything this big before."
"They didn't," Obi-Wan answered. "But we are meant to think they did. These tracks are side by side. Sand People always ride single file to hide their numbers."
"These are the same Jawas that sold us Artoo and Threepio," said Luke.
"And these blast points," Aislinn's father went on, "too accurate for Sand People. Only Imperial stormtroopers are so precise." Aislinn suddenly felt cold again at the word stormtroopers-the Galactic Empire's first line of defense.
"But why would Imperial troops want to slaughter Jawas?" Luke wondered aloud.
Aislinn had an idea. She looked over at Artoo and Threepio, who were inspecting dead Jawas near the speeder. Maybe the Empire wanted the droids because of the message! she thought frantically.
Luke had obviously put two and two together as well. "If they traced the robots here, they may have learned who they sold them to, and that would lead them back... home!" he cried, dashing for the speeder.
"Wait, Luke! It's too dangerous!" Obi-Wan called, but Luke jumped into the speeder and drove away.
Aislinn felt worried about Luke, although she didn't know why. She barely knew the boy! But she still felt concerned and wished with all her heart that he would be all right.
Soon, Aislinn heard the whir of the speeder come up to the wrecked sandcrawler. Luke jumped out, his face ashen. Aislinn, who, along with her father and the droids, were burning dead Jawas, knew immediately something terrible had happened.
Obi-Wan walked over to Luke. "There's nothing you could have done, Luke," he said sadly. "You'd have been killed, too, and the droids would now be in the hands of the Empire."
Luke looked up at Obi-Wan. "I want to come with you to Alderaan," he said. Aislinn's heart lifted. Luke was coming after all!
"There's nothing for me here now," continued Luke. "I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father."
Obi-Wan nodded and patted Luke on the back. Then, the five got into the speeder and drove, as Aislinn's father instructed, to a large craggy bluff. They all got out and looked out to see a town--a rather large town, Aislinn noted. It was bigger than the only town she was familiar with, Anchorhead, anyway.
"Mos Eisley spaceport," Obi-Wan told them. "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious." Then he directed them back to the speeder to drive to the city.
The landspeeder zoomed into Mos Eisley. Aislinn was amazed. She had never seen so many beasts of burden!
Just then, several Imperial stormtroopers waved the speeder to a halt. Just the sight of them made Aislinn's blood turn cold.
The trooper who seemed to be the leader spoke. "How long have you had these droids?" he inquired.
"About three or four seasons," answered Luke quickly.
"They're up for sale if you want them," added Obi-wan.
Aislinn stared at her father. What-now he wanted to sell the droids? What was the galaxy coming to?
"Let me see your identification," commanded the trooper. Aislinn's heart stopped. Oh, no, now they were done for! Once the trooper saw Luke was Luke...Aislinn didn't let herself think any longer.
"You don't need to see his identification," said Obi-Wan in a controlled voice.
Aislinn thought her father was going crazy. Did he seriously think that the stormtroopers were going to listen to him?
"We don't need to see his identification," the trooper told his group.
"These aren't the droids you're looking for," informed Obi-Wan--or was he informing them? To Aislinn it sounded more like he was commanding them--but that wasn't possible-or was it?
"These aren't the droids we're looking for," repeated the trooper.
"He can go about his business," commanded Obi-Wan.
"You can go about your business," the trooper "informed" them.
Obi-Wan addressed Luke. "Move along," he said.
The trooper, still under the spell or whatever Aislinn's father had done to him, said, "Move along. Move along." And Luke did.
The run-down speeder stopped in front of a cantina. Aislinn had a bad feeling about this place. She wasn't looking forward to going in. But she had to.
A Jawa ran up to the speeder and began to inspect it with greedy eyes. "I can't abide those Jawas," declared Threepio. "Disgusting creatures."
"Go on, go on." Luke shooed the Jawa away. Then he turned to Obi-Wan, who had just helped Aislinn from the speeder. "I can't understand how we got by those troops. I thought we were dead," he said.
Yeah, agreed Aislinn in her mind--but that wasn't the only way she could agree. So she nodded briskly.
"The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded," Obi-Wan said. Oh, thought Aislinn, suddenly understanding. He used that Force thing!
Luke looked at the cantina. "Do you really think we're going to find a pilot here that'll take us to Alderaan?" he asked Obi-Wan.
"Well, most of the best freighter pilots can be found here. Only watch your step," Obi-Wan cautioned. "This place can be a little rough."
"I'm ready for anything," vowed Luke. And they all headed into the dark cantina.
Once inside, Aislinn almost gasped at all the different creatures inside the cantina. Oblivious to her surprise, Obi-Wan took her aside quietly. "Stay with Luke and the droids," he whispered. "I'm going to find a ship." He then headed to a vacant space at the bar.
Aislinn walked back to Luke, who looked as stunned as Aislinn had been about the mass of strange, exotic aliens. There were beings with one eye, and some with one thousand eyes. Some were slimy, some were furry. All were huddled over drinks.
"Hey, we don't serve their kind here!"
Aislinn jumped at the sound of the large, burly bartender's voice. He stuck a menacing finger in their direction.
Luke was surprised, too. "What?" he asked.
"Your droids," explained the bartender gruffly. "They'll have to wait outside. We don't want them here.'
Luke turned to Threepio. "Listen, why don't you wait out by the speeder. We don't want any trouble," he said and patted the droid on the shoulder.
"I heartily agree with you, sir," Threepio quickly agreed. Then he and his small companion headed outside.
Aislinn and Luke headed to the bar. They glanced at each other, then Luke ordered a drink. Aislinn looked through the crowd for her father. She spotted him talking to a great hairy mass of an alien.
Suddenly, a large-eyed creature came up to them and gave Luke rough shove. "Negola dewaghi wooldugger?!" he cried.
Aislinn was a little frightened of this creature, but tried to follow Luke's example and politely ignored him. But then a human tapped Luke on the shoulder. "He doesn't like you," explained the human.
"I'm sorry," said Luke. He looked at Aislinn. She looked back helplessly.
"I don't like you either," continued the human. "You just watch yourself. We're wanted men. I have the death sentence on twelve systems."
"I'll be careful," promised a nervous Luke.
"You'll be dead!" cried the human.
Obi-Wan suddenly appeared behind Luke. Aislinn relaxed just by seeing him there. "This little one's not worth the effort," he said to the human. "Come, let me get you something."
With a yell, the human threw Luke out of the way, sending him crashing through tables. He would have thrown Aislinn, too, had she not dashed to Luke's side. Then the human pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Aislinn's father. The bartender and Aislinn both began to panic. "No blasters! No blasters!" yelled the bartender as Aislinn leaped to her feet.
Suddenly, the unknown-until-today lightsaber sparked to life, and then the human found himself with only one arm. Aislinn was astounded. This was a side of her father she'd never seen before!
Obi-Wan turned off the lightsaber and walked over to Aislinn and Luke. "I'm all right," said Luke as Aislinn and her father helped him to his feet.
Obi-Wan nodded to the hairy creature Aislinn had seen him talking to. "Chewbacca here is first mate on a ship that might suit us." Then the group walked over to a table and sat down.
Soon, a man and a girl about Aislinn's age sat down. "Han Solo," said the man. He nodded to the girl. "This is Alana. She's the navigator and can't talk, for your information."
Aislinn looked at this girl, who didn't seem insulted by the pilot's comment, the way Aislinn would have. She just stared at the group, a confident look on her face. Then what the man had said sunk in--this girl couldn't talk either! Maybe--
The man--Han--was talking again. "I'm captain of the Millennium Falcon . Chewie here"--he motioned to the creature-"tells me your looking for passage to the Alderaan system."
"Yes, indeed," replied Obi-Wan. "If it's a fast ship."
"Fast ship?" asked Han unbelievingly. "You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon ?
"Should I have?" asked Obi-Wan with a little smile.
"It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs," gloated Han. Aislinn didn't know what the Kessel run was, and decided it wasn't important.
"I've outrun Imperial starships," continued Han, "not the local bulk cruisers, mind you. I'm talking about the big Correlian ships now." He looked at the group. "She's fast enough for you, old man. What's the cargo?"
"Only passengers," replied Obi-Wan. "Myself, the boy, two droids...and no questions asked.".
"What is it?" asked Han. "Some kind of local trouble?"
Aislinn really didn't think it was any of his business, but Obi-Wan said, "Let's just say we'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements."
"Well, that's the real trick, isn't it? And it's going to cost you something extra." Han looked closely at Aislinn's father. "Ten thousand, all in advance."
"Ten thousand?" gasped Luke. "We could almost buy our own ship for that!"
"But who's gonna fly it, kid?" grinned Han. "You?" The Alana girl next to him seemed to think that remark was very funny, Aislinn noted. She curled her hands into tight fists.
"You bet I could!" Luke shot back. He looked at Obi-Wan. "Ben, we don't have to sit here and listen..."
Obi-Wan laid a hand on Luke's arm. "Luke," he said. He looked at Aislinn, ready to attack, and said, "Aislinn." They both calmed down. Then Obi-Wan looked at the pilot.
"We can pay you two thousand now, plus fifteen when we reach Alderaan," Obi-Wan offered.
Aislinn thought her father had gone crazy-again. Where were they going to find seventeen thousand dollars? Did that Force thing make money appear on command or something?
Han, though, seemed to like this idea. "Seventeen, huh?" he asked them. Obi-Wan nodded.
Han appeared to ponder this for a few moments. Finally, he spoke. "Okay, you guys got yourself a ship. We'll leave as soon as you're ready. Docking Bay Ninety-four."
"Ninety-four," Obi-Wan repeated.
Han looked over the group's shoulders. "Looks like somebody's beginning to take an interest in your...handiwork."
Aislinn looked behind her to see four stormtroopers talking to the bartender. The bartender pointed to the table.
Obi-Wan looked at them, and in a flash they were out the back door and in the dusty streets of Mos Eisley once again.
..... "You'll have to sell your speeder," Obi-Wan informed Luke as they hurried down the street.
"That's okay," said Luke scornfully. "I'm never coming back to this planet again." Aislinn agreed with him. She was already eager to get to Alderaan.
The group walked by Threepio and Artoo to a used speeder lot, where Luke immediately began haggling with the speeder dealer. After a bit, Luke and the dealer finally came to an agreement.
"All right, give it to me, I'll take it," sighed Luke as the dealer put coins into his hand.
The group started to walk towards Docking Bay Ninety-four. "Look at this," sighed Luke, showing them the coins. "Ever since the XP-Thirty-eight came out, they just aren't in demand."
"It will be enough," Obi-Wan promised as Docking Bay Ninety-four came into view. Chewbacca was waiting at the front, pacing restlessly.
Obi-Wan changed the subject. "If the ship's as fast as he's boasting, we ought to do well," he said. Aislinn wondered how fast the ship really was.
The group reached Chewbacca, who led them into the dirt pit that was Docking Bay Ninety-four. Aislinn stared at the ship that resided there. It was a piece of junk! This was what her owner had been boasting about?
"What a piece of junk!" Aislinn was surprised to hear Luke echo her thoughts. She nodded to show she agreed. Luke grinned.
Han Solo and that Alana girl came down the boarding ramp. "She'll make point five past lightspeed," he told them. "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. I've made a lot of special modifications myself. But we're a little rushed, so if you'll just get on board, we'll get out of here."
The group walked past Han up to the boarding ramp. The ever cordial Threepio said, "Hello, sir," to the pilot. Han just gave him a look. Alana rolled her eyes.
Suddenly, Aislinn felt the ship start to rock with laserblasts! She gasped, and then heard Han Solo's voice yell, "Chewie, get us out of here!"
The group sat down and strapped themselves in. Threepio started to complain. "Oh, my, I'd forgotten how much I hate space travel."
Aislinn felt the ship lift into the sky, and soon felt them flying high. "Come on Luke, Aislinn," Obi-Wan said, moving towards the cockpit. Aislinn and Luke followed.
Aislinn gasped. They were in space, and Aislinn had never seen space before! She gave a little smile--then saw the two Imperial cruisers.
"Stay sharp!" ordered Han to Chewie. "There are two more coming in; they're going to try to cut us off."
"Why don't you outrun them?" asked Luke. "I thought you said this thing was fast!"
Yeah, thought Aislinn.
"Watch your mouth, kid, or you're going to find yourself floating home," Han shot back. "We'll be safe enough once we make the jump to hyperspace. Besides, I know a few maneuvers. We'll lose them."
Han sounded confident, but Aislinn saw the look on the navigator-Alana's--face. She looked worried. Aislinn decided she should be worried, too.
The ship shuddered suddenly as an explosion flashed out the window. Aislinn grimaced. Han smiled. "Here's where the fun begins."
Aislinn decided Han was the real crazy one here.
"How long before you can make the jump to lightspeed?" asked Obi-Wan.
"It'll take a few moments to get the coordinates from the nav computer," Han explained.
A few moments? thought Aislinn as more laserblasts hit the ship. We'll all be space dust by then!
"Are you kidding?" cried Luke, once again echoing Aislinn's thoughts. It was like they had a psychic link or something. "At the rate they're gaining..."
"Travelling through hyperspace isn't like dusting crops, boy," said Han. Alana gave a laugh with no sound--something Aislinn was familiar with.
"Without precise calculations," Han continued, "we could fly right through a star or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"
A red warning light began to flash as the ship continued to rock. "What's that flashing?" Luke asked in alarm.
"We're losing our deflector shield," Han replied tersely. "Go strap yourselves in. I'm going to make the jump to lightspeed."
The three raced back and strapped themselves in just as Aislinn felt the ship begin to zoom into infinity--away from the Imperial ships.