Pilot Dreams (Star Wars)

Part 9 - Getting Somewhere

Biggs halted his skyhopper at the corner and got off, carrying his newly-assembled model of the Imperial shuttle he'd always adored. Slowly, he walked off to join his gang.

He had been collecting scaps of junk from the heap, building this beloved model just the way he wanted it. It had started off with a small engine he'd almost trodden on. He had added extensions to it and modifications, watching as th little contraption moved along, hovering inches above the sand.

He'd been working on it for a year now, and had become one of his most prized possesions—his, just his, built up by metal pieces and discarded screws, and most of all the little engine inside that made a beautiful whirring sound.

Now that it was complete he was ready to show it to his friends. Pity Luke wasn't here, though. He wondered if he would ever see him without having to hide and everything.

He stumbled around a bend and then he saw them—Deak, Windy, Fixer... He smiled and lifted up the model shuttle. "Hey guys, look at what I made."

"You made this?" Deak exclaimed.

"Hey, let me look." Janek snatched it over and looked at it closely. "Huh. Smells like it's from the junk heap."

"That's because it is from the junk heap." Biggs frowned. "Well, at least it was made from pieces from the junk heap."

"Wait, let me look at it." Fixer grabbed it.

"Be careful with that." Biggs said, a little worried for his model.

"Is that an engine?" Fixer peered at the little wonder in amazement. "Where'd you get it?"

"In the power station. On the floor."

Fixer laughed and unplucked the engine. "Hey old buddy—wouldn't mind me taking your little engine, would ya? I need it for my model."

Biggs made a grab for the engine. "You're not having it."

Fixer dodged, and mocked sarcastically, "Oh no, mighty Biggs is coming after me. I'm so scared."

"You want a fight?" Biggs gritted his teeth.

~~~~~~~~~

Luke crept out into the main room and listened to his guardians' conversation once more. Uncle and Aunt held the datapad, discussing about his future...landspeeder.

Luke eyed the catalog of sleek, cool-looking landspeeders on the screen, flashy, bold words displaying the model number and the slightly smaller prints below reading the prices.

"He's too young." Aunt protested. "He can't drive."

"I promised him, Beru." Uncle sighed. "Come on...his birthday is in a month. We have to decide."

"Can I choose it myself?" From somewhere or another Luke found the courage to speak up. Uncle and Aunt bothe jumped in surprise.

"Luke." Aunt said with a hint of disapproval in her voice. "How many times have I told you not to eavesdrop?"

"Sorry." Luke quickly changed the subject. "It's my birthday present. I should get to choose."

"Fine." said Aunt, passing him the datapad, then muttered. "I can't decide anyway."

Luke looked fascinatedly at all the images, landspeeders of all kinds of landspeeders. But...he wasn't satisfied.

"Can I go there to see for myself?"

Uncle looked at Aunt, then he nodded slowly. "Just for a while. As long as you do your chores when we get back."

~~~~~~~