Pilot Dreams (Star Wars)

Part 11 - Feeling the Wind

"I need to get power converters."

"What?"

Five days after the Kyaal Classic Luke was getting bored again, and after finishing his chores he tried out that lie Biggs had told him.

"You're getting me a landspeeder, right?" Luke bit his lip nervously. "And...you need power converters for that kind of thing..."

"Okay." said Uncle. "I'll help you get them tomorrow."

"Uhh." said Luke, his mind racing. "I can help you get them, I'm old enough..."

Uncle furrowed her brow. "Where are you going, then?"

"Anchorhead." Luke said, making sure he didn't say "Tosche station" directly. Tosche Station was part of the region Anchorhead, after all. "My friend can fetch me there..."

"Your friend, as in..."

"No, no...it's..." Luke hurriedly thought of the first name he could remember. "It's...Windy. He's...very gentle and...drives very safely..."

In reality Windy was a nickname for Windom, and he was nothing like gentle at all. But to make Uncle convinced...

"Okay." Uncle looked slightly reluctant, but agreed anyway.

~~~~

Luke got a sense déjà vu when he leaped out the window again when Biggs' skyhopper passed the window.

"Luke!" Biggs eyes lit up. "They let you!"

"Told them about power converters." Luke grinned. "Awesome trick."

Just as Biggs started to jolt the controls forward, Luke reminded him, "Drive slowly. Like, very very very very very slowly."

"What for?" Biggs asked in confusion, then he appeared to remember something and slumped his shoulders. "Fine."

The skyhopper moved at five miles per hour, and as they passed the farm after an eternity, Luke could see Uncle and Aunt's satisfied smiles.

Biggs was about falling asleep already when the vehicle crawled out of sight. "Hey, wake up, we can go faster now."

Biggs jolted upright and slapped down the yoke. The skyhopper let out a mighty roar and took off. Luke had pretty much already forgotten the speed at which Biggs could drive, and he slammed back into the seat so hard he yelped.

"Sorry." Biggs said, not sounding sorry at all.

"It's okay." Luke grinned as the desert blurred past.

~~~~~~

When they reached the others insisted they race in their skyhoppers. One of the dudes— he forgot his name, again— challenged him to a race.

"Wait. Uh." Luke said quickly. "What's your name?..."

"It's Laze Loneozner, but everyone calls me Fixer." Fixer said.

Yeah. I bet he lazes around all day. Luke thought to himself. "So, you want to race. You know I don't have a vehicle. Yet."

"You can just run. I'm sure you'll win." Another tough-looking guy laughed. Luke had forgotten his name, too. Did it start with J?...

"I'll lend you mine." Biggs said quickly, saving him from having to think of a retort.

"You sure? He'll probably crash it." Fixer remarked.

"I'll try not to." Luke promised. "So, where's the race gonna be?"

"Not Beggar's Canyon." Windy cut in. "I don't want people dying..."

"Okay, we'll go easy on you....until that rock!" He pointed to a stone at his feet, then stepped on it. "I win!"

"Stop it." Luke's face flushed red.

"Okay, fine." Fixer rolled his eyes. "To that bush." He turned to the tough dude. "Tank, you count down."

"Sure." Tank said. Now that he thought about it, Tank was Jarnek's nickname. Soon, Luke thought, he'd probably be having a nickname too.

They climbed into the skyhoppers. Luke glanced at the bush in the distance they were supposed to reach. Or what was considered a bush on Tatooine — more like a pile of wilting yellow leaves drooping down sadly.

He readied Biggs' skyhopper to the best of his memory, and he saw Fixer sneering at him already. How the kriff could he beat him? He was obviously better, older, and more experienced.

"Three! Two!" Tank yelled. "One!"

Luke slammed down on the controls, and both skyhoppers sped across the sand. He suddenly got the feeling of podracing, but of course this was different.

No flashing warning lights...yet. His hands were clammy as the vehicle surged forward, and Fixer was already in the lead. Obviously. He pressed harder and the vibrating of the engines increased. He wasn't sure how much more it could take, he didn't want to bust Biggs' skyhopper. But....he wanted to win.

A feeling of confidence suddenly swept over him, and he felt as if he could....feel everything. Fixer in front of him. The bush further in front. The rushing air moving around and below the skyhopper.

The skyhopper pulled ahead of Fixer's.

Now this is what I call podracing, Luke thought with a smile as they raced for the bush.

The skyhopper tore past the bush, and following right behid was Fixer's. Luke was almost afraid to get out. Who knew how Fixer would throttle him the moment he caught sight of him.

"Luke!" Biggs shouted with relief from outside. "You did great! You didn't crash!"

He finally gathered the guts to clamber out. "Yep, I'm still alive. I still have two arms and two legs."

Luke saw Fixer scowling at him and gulped.

"You haven't tried the Beggar's Canyon yet." Fixer managed. "Wait till I smash you then."

"Are you so sure?" Luke smirked.

"Don't be so full of yourself, kid." Fixer snapped. "One race doesn't make you better than all of us."

Luke deflated slightly. "Whatever."

~~~~~~~~

Biggs helped him choose the power converters at the power station, and they chatted all the way back to the farm on the skyhopper. Luke did have to tell him to slow down when they neared, though, and as the skyhopper inched towards the farm and halted, Luke grabbed the power converters and waved goodbye to Biggs.

"See you soon." He grinned. "When I have my landspeeder."

So....NEW CHAPTER! WOOWEEEE 

The book will probably be ending. soon, :( I may write a sequel too, if I have enough ideas on what to write. For now, bye!! And of course please do vote and comment if you liked this chapter!