What Could Have Been Part 2: Anakin's Trials

A New Friend

Leia

   After the long and confusing meeting with Obi-wan Kenobi, the Skywalker family prepared for a the trip to the Outer Rim. There, they would rondevu at an Alliance base on some place called Felucia.

   Sounds like it could be interesting... Leia thought hopefully. Luke sat beside her on a box of cargo. He was fiddling with his lightsaber like always. "So what do you think Master Kenobi was talking about with Dad?" Luke looked up, "I don't know. But did you hear Obi-wan mention something about Dad leaving the Order?"

   Leia nodded, "Yeah, and Dad also seemed to act like he wasn't a Jedi anymore. Remeber how he said he used to work here?"

   Something very suspicious was going on. "What do you think happened?" Luke asked. Leia thought for a minute, "I'm not sure... but I bet Mom knows!" She exclaimed. Her brother grinned, "You're right! We should try to find out if she knows anything!" Leia smiled mischievously, "Yes, but we have to ask the right questions. She won't just tell us everything." Her brother nodded and held out his pinky finger, "Good idea. Now whatever we find out, we have to tell each other. Got it?"

   Leia locked her pinky around his, "Got it!" Growing up all by themselves, she and Luke had become accustomed to sharing all their secrets. But on Naboo, there weren't many secrets to keep. Now, they had their own secret mission.

   The thought made Leia's mind crank into full gear until a figure out of the corner of her eye shut her brain down completely.

   Unlike all the other people she had seen on the dull planet of Coruscant, this being wasn't dressed in Jedi robes and wasn't quietly walking by. This one wore a grey vest over a light shirt a couple sizes too big. His bottoms were a crisp, navy blue and his leather boots were speeding away into the shadows of an alley.

   As Luke returned to his saber, Leia slipped away from the ship to investigate the mysterious runner. When she was close to the alley, whoever was around the corner pointed a blaster right at her face! Shocked, Leia jumped back. She held back a scream when a face appeared from out of the darkness, "What are you doing over here?" A boy hissed. Leia didn't answer him, she stared at the boy for a long minute as his stern expression did the same to her.

   The boy seemed about a few years older than herself and Luke. He was taller and had broad shoulders. His light brown hair was shaggy like Luke's, yet it had a wave to it that framed his face. His eyes stared back at her, curiously studying her own features. Leia couldn't help but smile at the boy. She had never seen a boy other than her brother. And although she compared every bit of him to Luke's features, this boy was something very new to her. This boy was... cute.

   "Um, I was... Hi, I'm Leia." She sputtered. Her cheeks turned red as the boy lowered his gun and stepped out of the darkness. "Leia... " the boy repeated as if testing out her name, "So what are you doing following me, Leia?"

   Leia didn't know why, but she liked the way his voice sounded when he spoke. It was strong, and clear, like rushing water. "I was just waiting with my brother. I saw you running." The boy snorted as he leaned against the wall, "Well, I do that a lot. But you'd be the first to ever notice." Leia smiled a little and the boy did the same. "I'm Han by the way," he added, holding out his hand to shake. Leia smiled even wider as she shook Han's hand.

   "So why were you running, Han?" Leia asked. Han shrugged, "Because it's faster than walking. And when you're someone like me, you have to be fast." Leia cocked an eyebrow, "And who are you?"

   Han smirked, "Let's just say, I'm not exactly the respected one around here..." Leia didn't know what he meant but despite the fact that common sense told her to head back to the ship, her knees felt too weak to move. "So what brings you to the dull and boring planet of Coruscant?" Han asked. Leia was about to answer but caught herself. Don't tell him you're here with your parents! That sounds lame! She quickly chose her words, "My brother and I are on assignment." She answered proudly. Han nodded, "Ahh, I see... you're a Jedi Knight." Leia placed a hand on her hip, "That I am."

   Han's brown eyes twinkled a little, " I thought Jedi were old wizards with beards. No one ever told me they could be so cute..." he remarked. The sentence gave Leia a dizzying feeling. It reminded her how she felt when her mom told her bedtime stories of romance and love.

   Before she could come up with something to say, she snapped back to reality when her father called for her, "Leia! Leia, come on Princess, we've gotta get going!"

   Leia groaned at the word Princess. Han laughed a little, "Well Princess, I'll see you around!" Leia blushed in embarrassment as she ran back to the ship.

   Her father was standing at the foot of the ramp. "What where you doing over there?" He asked. Leia looked back toward the shadows where she had met Han, but the mysterious boy was nowhere to be seen. "Oh nothing..."

       Hey Star Warriors! Hope you liked this chapter! I know I did! Remeber to check in next Sunday for my next update. However, if you don't want to wait that long for something new to read, I recently started a new story titled I am NOT and Never Will Be A Jedi. Check it out!

    Until next time, and may the Force be you! ;)