FLYING SOLO ➳ luke skywalker

PROLOGUE!

THERE was truly no better way to spend your evening than to race across the Dune Sea on the forsaken planet of Tatooine, running on too little fuel to risk leaving the planet but desperately trying to escape a Corellian light freighter that had been pursuing you for weeks.

Han knew that it was stupid—really goddamn stupid—to hideout on a pitifully bleak and relatively open planet such as Tatooine, but truth be told, he panicked. That's right, the great Han Solo—smooth-talking, nonchalant Han Solo had panicked. He lost his edge when he was almost shot down by the enemy light freighter and bolted towards the nearest planet, which just so happened to be Tatooine.

He had been lounging comfortably in a seat in the Mos Eisley Cantina, sipping on some peculiar red beverage when Chewbacca, who had been set the task of fuelling up the Millennium Falcon, came bursting through the door, roaring like a maniac.

That was when Chewie informed Han that the Corellian light freighter—that damned freighter—had just landed and docked in Docking Bay 91. And that was when, with a shout of horror leaping to his throat like bile, Han saw them.

Han recognised Trix as soon as they entered the Mos Eisely Cantina and, apparently, so did everyone else. Strolling in, clad in their usual wrappings of black and brown and a sleek black helmet, merely Trix's silent presence was enough to plunge the cantina into total silence. The music came to a snappy halt, and all ongoing conversation ceased almost immediately as tens upon tens of pairs of eyes all turned to stare fixedly at the dreaded Trix.

And so there Han was, sat in the cockpit of his trusty ship, the Millennium Falcon, a screaming Wookiee at his side as he flew across the Dune Sea in a desperate attempt to escape the light freighter that was chasing him, the pilot of which most definitely wanted him dead.

It was a VCX-100 model, Han thought. Slightly dated but extremely fast, and it was embellished with royal blue detailing. This ship was, quite unmistakably, the Revenant—the infamous ship of the feared Donian pirate and assassin, known as Trix.

"Alright," Han yelled over the daunting sound of lasers flying by and missing the Falcon by fractions of inches. "Chewie, get ready to punch it."

Chewie let out a pained wail.

Han dared to tear his gaze away from the horizon, staring at the panicked Wookiee with something that could only be described as burning rage.

"What do you mean we don't have enough fuel?" Han cried exasperatedly.

Chewbacca groaned quietly.

Biting his tongue as an effort to force back bellows of fury and soothe his growing anger (which was coming on very rapidly), Han swerved out of the way of a laser that was fired in his direction by the Revenant.

Over the horizon, a great shadow seemed to be blooming, growing larger but somewhat brighter the farther the Falcon flew. It soon became apparent that this shadow was the Jundland Wastes—the rockiest region of Tatooine, accessorised with great rocky cliffs and mountains. Chewie threw an apprehensive glance at Han.

"I know what you're thinking," Han said before Chewbacca had the chance to even open his mouth. "But don't. We're going in there whether you like it or not. We might be able to shake the Revenant."

Chewie grumbled lowly, so lowly, in fact, that Han wasn't able to pick up on what he had said. As Han had instructed before, Chewie punched it, and the Millennium Falcon sped as fast as she dared towards the Jundland Wastes. Behind Han and Chewbacca, Trix and the Revenant were not giving up their pursuit, following the Falcon into the Jundland Wastes with earnest and winding around sharp and dangerous turns.