Binary Skies

Chapter 16: It's Complicated

Nakari returned to the cockpit after a time, still grinning softly. She settled behind Anakin and gazed out the viewport.

"You know, I really like your droid," she said to both Skywalkers. "He is definitely a keeper."

Luke pulled himself from his daze, leaving the rest of his jumbled emotions for later evaluation as he gave her a slight smile and a nod. "Yes, he's definitely the best droid in the galaxy."

"If you ever need a new home for him, I'm open to having him," Nakari said.

Anakin shook his head adamantly. "Never. Sorry, but Artoo is family, and you don't sell family."

Nakari felt a twinge of unease, but she understood. "I can agree with that."

Luke chuckled. "I think us Skywalkers are the only ones who can handle Artoo in a mood anyhow. The little droid can be a handful when he wants to be."

Nakari chuckled. "He fits right in with you two then," she teased.

Luke's smile grew. "Oh, we're not that bad." He unstrapped from the pilot's seat, standing up. "I could really use a caf while we're still in hyperspace. I'll be right back," he told them, navigating his way out of the cockpit towards the small kitchenette.

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Anakin glanced towards Luke as his son left the cockpit. He spied Nakari eyeing him too, but Anakin chose not to comment.

"So you worked with Artoo in your time, then?" Nakari asked curiously, turning back around.

"Yes," Anakin replied, smiling. "He is the most reliable friend I've ever had aside from Obi-Wan, I..."

Anakin broke off as something tickled his awareness.

"Are you..." Nakari began, but Anakin spun back to the controls in the co-pilot's seat as his danger sense flared.

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Meanwhile, Luke—who'd been in the process of masking his caf failure with a plethora of creame and sugar—suddenly heard a shrill alarm from the cockpit and an explosion of dismay from Artoo. The ship lurched, and Luke spilled piping hot caf all over himself the same time Nakari shouted. "Luke, get back here! We're in trouble!"

Luke slapped at his tunic and paints in an attempt to get rid of some of his mess as he dashed back to the cockpit, only to see a variety of red lights and the darkness of realspace.

Anakin was already flipping switches. "We've been pulled out of hyperspace."

"How?" Nakari demanded.

Anakin pointed to the readout. "By an Imperial Interdictor."

As soon as the words passed Anakin's lips, Luke was in the pilot's seat. "Shields up and arm everything we have—and strap in. Artoo, where are we?"

Daalang system, the droid said promptly.

"Okay, I need a way out of here. We can't go back because of the pirates. If we keep going on the route we already chose, we'll probably run into more Imperial resistance. Is there another lane out of this system?"

Yes, trade route to Kupoh.

Perfect—they still had the list of Kupohans who would help them should they ask with them, and the Kupohans were superficially cooperative with the Empire, so there wouldn't be an Imperial fleet parked in the system.