His meditation session went longer than expected, and Obi-Wan came to to a landed, and empty, ship.

Obi-Wan used the Force to let go of his growing panic and anger at Azelynn. He should've known that she wouldn't listen to him. It feels like he is dealing with his last padawan all over again.

Obi-Wan checked their whereabouts on the ships navigation. They are exactly where he set the ship to take them. Daenswell City, on the planet Daenmor.

The city is much like Tattooine, but without the double suns. It's a dry and sandy desert, and slave oriented. Many of the outer rim planets are desert planets, or swamp planets. The desert planets are the more favorable considering the swamp planets contain the Svit which are murderous creatures that eat anything with a heart beat.

Obi-Wan exited the ship trying very hard not to worry that Azelynn got captured. And then he tried very hard to believe that is not her actual plan to find who she is looking for.

It is in this moment he realizes she never told him who she is looking for. She got mad when he assumed it was a boyfriend, which means it could be a lost family member. He wishes he had found out before she ditched him. It might be easier to find her in the city if he knew what type of tracks to follow.

Outside, Obi-Wan finds it is not as hot on this planet, and the city is rather big in the near distance. Azelynn did well landing outside of the city at a location no one will bother to look twice at.

He doesn't know the first place to start looking for her, all he has is the Force to guide him. Hopefully it won't be too difficult, her signature is loud after all. 

—

Azelynn doesn't mind this planet so much. It is much cooler than back home, and the city is rather updated with brick buildings and stone pathways. She wonders if the planet has any oceans or rivers that the locals use for water.

The people are of many different species, some she has never seen before. The shops along the streets are alive with them. It's a shame that she doesn't have any form of currency to shop around while she is here.

The truth is, she doesn't have the slightest clue what she is doing. She doesn't even know the first place to look when searching for an encaptured slave. Would asking the locals make her look suspicious? Azelynn wishes she had a picture of her to show around.

But even then, how does she know she wouldn't be alerting the owners of her? They could easily disappear and Azelynn will be back to square one, except now her owners will be prepared.

If she doesn't do anything, then why is she here? Getting off Tatooine is wonderful, but not to end up on a planet just as similar. Perhaps she'll find another planet to settle down on, and hopefully her mother will be with her.

Azelynn knows she is limited on how she can handle this. Her best bet is to simply ask, despite the possible consequences.

She decides to start in a local bar. That's where all sorts of people end up, everyone always wants a drink.

Inside, it's no different from the bars back home. However, it is far more intimidating.

Azelynn is not familiar with the species she is spotting all over this city, and she finds herself in a similar situation looking around the bar. As she entered, each of them turned to stare at her and some conversations went quiet. A moment later, they all went back to their business.

Azelynn got the sudden sinking feeling that her mother is not on this planet.

Her attention was pulled from her thoughts by a tug of her tunic at the waist. Looking down, there stands a boy with long brown hair and curious blue eyes.

"Hi there, miss." He said, craning his neck to look at her.

"Hello," she greeted him with a friendly smile.

"You're pretty." He bluntly stated to her, and she laughed down at him.

"That's very sweet of you to say."

"It's very true."

The boy couldn't be more than ten years old and, much to Azelynns concern, he seemed to be alone. She glanced around at the civilians but none of them paid either of them any attention. 

"Where are your parents?" She questioned, still scouting for anyone that appeared to have lost a child.

"Dead." The boy said, with his ever honest response. Azelynn looked down at him sharply and with a frown. His answer didn't seem to phase him, and there is no sign indicating that this boy is lonely or sad about it. 

She wasn't sure how to respond to that, but luckily she didn't need to. "Where are yours?" He asks. 

Azelynn smiled sadly down at him. "I don't know. I never knew my father, and my mother is missing." She sighed. She doesn't know how the boy can simply brush off that his parents are dead, unless it happened when he was very very young. Azelynn can't stop thinking about her parents... rather, one parent in particular.

"Missing?" The boy questioned, his voice raising an octave in surprise.

"Yes," and a thought suddenly occurred to her. "Maybe you have seen her?"

The boy perked up at that, eyes glowing. He jumped a little bit in his place before her. "Yes maybe! What does she look like?"

Azelynn dropped to a crouch in front of him, making herself eye level. From here she could see the true youthfulness to the boy. His skin is light and soft, his jaw a smooth curve, no wrinkles or even a trace of smile or frown lines on his face. There are no circles under his eyes from lack of sleep, but looking into his light eyes, she could tell his mentality is far beyond his years. There is still that innocence to him, but there is a level of maturity that is not found in younglings.

Azelynn cleared her throat to speak, "Well, similar to me-"

"Pretty?" He questioned, he took a strand of Azelynns hair and begun to twirl it. His eyes followed the movements like he is amazed by long hair.

"Yes," Azelynn giggled. "Except she has dark hair, tan skin, dark eyes-"

The boy looked up, "Freckles?" He asked.

"What?" Azelynn questioned with a frown.

"You have freckles on your nose." He pointed out, and made it clear by tapping the bridge of her nose with a finger on his unoccupied hand.

Azelynn smiled in understanding. "Yes, she may have freckles. It has been a long time since I've seen her last." Azelynn is starting to see how much of a long shot it is to find her mother strictly by describing her. Especially on massive planets. There could be thousands of women with that description, even if she threw in her age and what planet she is from. This could be entirely hopeless, a lost cause mission. She suddenly wondered why Ben even bothered to give her the time of day. There are hundreds of cities on each planet, and thousands of slaves with just as many owners.

"Does she smile like you? Yours can light up the whole room. The whole galaxy!" The boy exclaimed, gushing over her. He flung his arms out cheerfully at the mention of the Galaxy. This pulled Azelynn from her dreary thoughts and back to the boy standing in front of her. She couldn't help but feel a bit giddy over his compliment.

"You're quite the charmer, aren't you?" Azelynn mumbled more to herself than to him. She's utterly amused with this boy, it didn't take long for her to decide she likes him.

"Only with the pretty ladies." He spoke smoothly.

"Alright," Azelynn said and rolled her eyes playfully. "So, have you seen her?" She asked, getting down to business. Although she already knows the answer.

"No ma'am." He said with a shake of his head. "Only seen you."

Azelynn tried not to appear disappointed. She knew he hadn't, and it's not like she was expecting to find her mother immediately anyway. Should she even find a trail leading to her at all.

She nodded to the boy and stood up. "Thank you for your help." She said, brushing a hand through his thick hair. She turned and walked outside but the boy followed her. She was too lost in her thoughts to notice, until he called out to her.

"Wait, miss?" He said.

Azelynn turned around just outside the door, she pulled him aside to avoid the flow of pedestrian traffic.

"Are you from space?" He asks her, head straining to look up at her once more. He was squinting a little from the sudden brightness of the outdoors.

She had to laugh at that. "Space? No, but I am from another planet."

"That's amazing! I've always wanted to fly away from here and see the galaxy." He stated excitedly.

"Maybe one day you will." She said to him with a smile, his enthusiasm is contagious.

"Can I come with you?" He asked with hopeful eyes.

Azelynn sighed, and smiled sadly at him. She should've guessed this question was coming.  "No sweetie, I'm sorry. You should get back to whoever has been keeping an eye on you."

"No one has been. I'm on my own." He said to her, a pout forming on his bottom lip.

Azelynn sighed. She can't take a strange child with her on a ship that's not even hers. A ship she should be getting back to as to not worry Ben.

She shook her head. "I'm sorry. I can't."

The boys head fell to his chest in disappointment. Azelynn dropped to her knees. "Hey," She said to him and pulled his face up with a finger under his chin. He is still pouting. "One day, you will travel the entire galaxy. You will meet all kinds of different people and creatures. You might even become best friends with an alien like me." She smiled at him and moved her hand to his shoulder, his vest felt rough beneath her hand.

"You think so?" His voice is small and frail, and the pout is still on his lip.

"Absolutely," She stated confidently. "You can do anything you want."

"Anything?" The boy sniffled, the pout falling away and his eyes starting to light up a little bit more.

"Yes." Azelynn nodded confidently.

The boy jumped into her arms and hugged her neck. "Thanks, miss."

"You can call me Azelynn." She said to him, he pulled away.

"Azmillen?" He tried to pronounce, but had some trouble. Azelynn laughed.

"How about Azel?" She suggested.

"Aaazel, Azzzzell, Azel." He tried to pronounce, testing it out a few times. He finally got it down correctly. He nodded happily to himself. "I'm Han Solo."

"It's lovely to meet you, Han." Azelynn smiled at the boy. "I have to get going now."

"Goodbye, Azel." He said bye to her with a wave of his hand, and ran back into the bar.

Azelynn stared after him, worry evident in her stomach. The boy may not even be double-digits and he is socializing in a bar. Surely he isn't really on his own. He must have some kind of support, and a place to call home.

Azelynn stood up from her crouched position and started her walk back to the ship. She felt guilty. Maybe she should have taken the boy with her. It is very well possible he is completely on his own in this world. That could be very dangerous for a boy his age.

Azelynn ran into someone just then, too lost in her thoughts to focus on what's in front of her. The stranger caught her around the waist in their stumble, and she became aware of the hands on her arms as the stranger guided her back to face him. Looking up, she sees Ben. Azelynn released a heavy sigh, relieved she doesn't have to fight someone off.

"What the Kriff did you think you were doing?" He said to her, eyes blazing. He shook his head with another thought. "Why are you wandering around aimlessly?"

Azelynn glared at him, maybe I do have to fight him off, she thought to herself.  "Looking for my mother. It's what we're here for." She broke free of his grasp by swinging her hands over his forearms and forcing his hands down. His hands broke free from her but he ignored the movement. "I'm also not wandering, I was heading back to the ship."

Ben spoke in exasperation, "Azelynn, I told you before it's not-"

"Safe," she finished his sentence. "Yes I know, and she is not here so let's go." She said to him and started walking in the direction of the ship.  This time more aware of her surroundings.

Azelynn had a sudden realization that before this, she never told Ben who they are looking for. She brushed the thought aside, at least he knows now.

"Just like that?" Ben calls to her, confusion evident. She doesn't stop walking, and thinks to herself just like that.

"Someone help!" Azelynn hears someone scream from behind her. She stops suddenly, frozen in place. That's a voice she recently became all too familiar with. She shot her head around, and Ben looked at her funny. Could he not have heard that?

"Please anybody!" Azelynn looked around and saw no one else heard it, perhaps they are all ignoring it. When another broken help rang through her ears, Azelynn ran in the direction of the voice, ignoring the way Ben is yelling after her. She ran and ran, pushing people out of the way, running past the bar and down an alley a block away from it. Why is no one else hearing this?

In the alley, Azelynn found little Han and two older men of an odd species. Their eyes bugged out from their head, have arms longer than their legs, three fingers, and snake like strands falling from the top of their heads. They're on either side of Han, each with one slimy hand wrapped around each of his arms. He is trying to pry holes in the dirt with his feet to hold himself back, but is failing.

Azelynn has never seen these creatures before, but she is all too familiar with the language they're speaking. Well enough to know that they want Han for their own, and they are not very kind about it.

There is another creature waiting next to a speeder at the end of the alley, with chains in it's hands, waiting to take Han to their ungodly home.

"Hey!" Azelynn shouted, and ran at the creatures holding him hostage. She took the one on the right, grabbed the long arm holding Han, and punched him in the slimy jaw. The grip let up on Han and she was able to pry his arm free, but the creature didn't waver that easily. He came back at her and tackled her to the ground. The creature had its hands on her neck and attempted to strangle her but she was easily able to meanuver her hips and swing the creature over to the ground. Its head smacked down harshly, and its hands fell lifelessly on either side of its body. It's chest still rose and fell. Azelynn expected it to be down long enough for her to take on its companion.

Azelynn got up quickly to attack the second creature but when she looked over, the second was running away from Ben. The creature with the speeder sped off with the runner just barely jumping inside.

Han looked over to Azelynn and ran at her into a hug.

"Thank you, Azel." He mumbled into her stomach.

She smiled down at him, and sighed in relief. "No need to thank me." She ran her hand through his hair, and looked up to find Ben staring at her curiously.

She heard the creature on the ground begin to groan. "We should go." She said, and took Hans hand. She glanced behind her to make sure Ben followed. He did.

It was Han that led the two into a Café just at the edge of town.

"I'm hungry," He muttered to no one in particular.

"Me too," Azelynn agreed with him as they entered the café.

Han plopped down into a booth and pulled Azel with him. Ben sat across from them, looking on edge.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Han blurted out to Azelynn and gestured to Ben. Azelynn laughed nervously, a blush rising to her cheeks. Bens mouth went agape, fully pulled from whatever thoughts he was having, and gazing in shock at the boy.

"N-no he is not my boyfriend. His name is Ben." She introduced them, while also deviating the conversation. "Ben this is Han Solo. I met him earlier today."

Ben smiled down at the boy, gaining back his composure. He cleared his throat. "Pleased to meet you."

The boy smiled and looked through the digital menu sitting at the table.

"We need to get going." Ben said to her in a hushed tone, his eyes glancing around the room.

She frowned at him. "Why?"

Han spoke up before Ben could answer. "Because you two beat the Kriff out of two slave dealers."

Azels eyes were wide. "We can get in trouble for that?"

Ben laughed humorlessly at her. "Of course we can. It's against the law to interfere with Slave dealings."

"We just ordered sandwiches though." Han complained. Azelynn glanced over at the digital menu in front of Han, and found he did order sandwiches.

"Get it to go." Ben mumbled, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back in his seat. He still kept looking around them, particularly at the door.

"No," she stated. "We will be fine to have dinner here." She made an executive decision, not really caring about Bens concerns. He's overreacting, no one even followed them.

"It's actually lunch." Han chimed in.

"Where we just came from, it's dinner." Azelynn informed him.

Ben was shaking his head. "We shouldn't risk-" He started.

"We're staying." Azelynn said with finality, giving him a harsh look.

Ben slumped in his seat. He closed his eyes and moved his hand to his forehead.

"Are you sure you're not her boyfriend?" Han asked Ben. Ben opened his eyes and didn't hold back the glare he felt he needed to express to the boy, who only laughed in response.

"I'm going to keep a look out." Ben said and left to the front of the Café to stand just outside the door.

"He's grumpy." Han stated when Ben was out of earshot.

Azelynn smirked. "I think he is just lonely." She commented gently.

"But he has you." Han stated.

Azelynn smiled down at him. "He hasn't had me for long."

"But when he does, he will not be grumpy anymore." Han concluded with a smile. Before Azelynn could respond, their food showed up. The waiter set it down in front of them and walked off. Han dug into his food, practically inhaling it.

"Slow down, the food isn't going anywhere." She giggled down at him. He tried to slow down his eating but it only worked by a fraction.

"You remind me of a friend of mine." She commented absently before biting into her own food.

"Grumpy man?" He asked between a mouthful of food.

"No, silly. A friend of mine from my home planet. He always ate his food like he hasn't eaten in months." She thought fondly of Arrin. She wondered what he was up to, and if he is upset with her for leaving. Azelynn worries everyday that she destroyed their friendship, and then she wonders if it even matters when she would never return to Tatooine. She tried not to think about how badly she must have hurt him, or the pain she felt knowing she won't ever see him again despite her promise.

"Food is good though." Han stated.

"That it is." Azelynn said to him, and they were quiet. Azelynn thought about the last time she ate, and couldn't remember. She continued eating the food before her.

She took small bites and chewed slowly. As she ate, she looked around the room observing her surroundings. People and creatures went about their business with eating and socializing. It's a well-lit Café with large open windows looking out to both the expanse of the desert, and the pathway into town. She looked further up to see the shades strapped to the low ceiling, for when the cafe is closed, and when a dust storm rolls through. There is a place similar to this on Tatooine, and they always had the shades for those purposes.

Looking by the door, she could see Ben, a concerned look is on his face as he stared out into town. His stance is tense, but to a normal person passing by, he appeared to be looking for someone. No one paid him any attention. She watched his features go from concerned, to urgent. Azelynn frowned as Ben turned back inside and approached their table. Before he reached them, she knew something was wrong.

"We have to leave." He said and tried pulling her by the arm, she resisted and freed her arm.

"What are you talking about? What's going on?" Before Ben could respond, two creatures came into the Café and looked around the room. Ben turned his back to them, and blocked her view of them.

"Very slowly get up, and act like normal." Ben said to her. As they did so, he slid his card through the table tablet, paying for the food. Azelynn kept an eye over her shoulder as she helped Han out of the booth, and took his hand.

They were walking out the back when the men spotted them, and they ran towards them.

"Go!" Ben shouted and the three of them ran out the back door.

They ran into an alley, Ben nearly took a trashcan with him in his haste to get outside. Han ran after him and Azelynn slammed the door behind her.

"To the ship." Azelynn decided. Ben nodded once, and the three of them made for the ship. Just as they broke out of the alley, the door of the Café opened and the creatures that Azelynn determined as police came rushing at them.

She ran like never before, keeping up with Ben easily. However, as fast as Han is for his age, his short legs are failing him.

"Azel!" He yelled to her, she stopped instantly to look back and see that the boy couldn't keep up any longer, and the police are gaining.

She turned her head to call for Ben but he was already running past her and to the boy. He scooped him up in his arms and shouted go to her.

They continued running further into the desert. The police followed suit, with more of their friends. Friends that were smart enough to bring speeders with them. Luckily, Azelynn could see they are approaching their ship quickly.

Obi-Wan did his best to maneuver Han onto his back, he was successful. Now he had access to his wrist watch and could power up the ship, and open the under hatch.

The speeders were gaining on them.

"We won't make it," Han panicked in his ear.

Obi-Wan took one look at Azelynn running in front of him, felt her determination in the Force, and it gave him all the faith in the universe. It even put a smile on his face.

"We will." He stated confidently.

"We can't out run a speeder!" Han exclaimed. Just as he spoke, the speeders were head-to-head with him and Han. 

Azelynn made it to the ship, running up the ramp and disappearing inside.

Obi-Wan picked up his pace, and made it to the ramp. "Take off!" He yelled to Azelynn, and the ship began to lift off the ground, ramp still open. But not before some creatures hoped on board with them.

Obi-Wan pushed down Han, and he ran towards the cockpit with Azelynn.

Obi-Wan turned around to find he is outnumbered by three. He only has one weapon on him, and he doesn't have a lot of options.

He summoned the Force to help keep his balance on the elevated ramp door, and pulled out his lightsaber. The creatures looked at him in utter shock, and before they could even say the name he knows they are thinking, Obi-Wan sliced them all in three easy strokes. His saber humming in his hand, as he watched the creatures limp bodies fall from the ships ramp.

He put away his lightsaber, and ignored his feelings of pleasure for having it alive in his hand once more. He felt like himself again, himself from seven years ago. The Jedi warrior he once knew when he looked in the mirror.

He walked inside and shut the ramp door, a faint smile on his lips. As the ramp shut, there stood Han staring at him with wide eyes. Immediately, Obi-Wans face fell and he knew this boy saw what he did.

"You're a-"

Obi-Wan jumped to cover his mouth and looked to the closed door of the cockpit.

"Do not say a word to her. Do you understand?" He said to him severely.

He stared with wide eyes at him, still clearly in shock.

"Don't make me erase it from your mind." He threatened.

Han struggled at that, and Obi-Wan released him. "But why not?" He nearly pouted.

Obi-Wan sighed. "It's not safe."

"Because of the war?" He questioned.

"Yes."

"Are there more of you?" He asked him with curiosity, and even a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"I dont know." He said sadly, and gazed at the cockpit door.

"I didn't think any of you existed anymore." Han said in wonder.

Obi-Wans stare turned gravely on Han. "We don't, as far as anyone is concerned. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." Han nodded to him and smiled.

Obi-Wan was satisfied with this. "Good." He said and led Han to the cockpit.

Inside, Obi-Wan buckled Han into the co-pilot seat and stood behind Azelynn, holding onto her headrest. They are still on the planet, skimming over the desert grounds.

"I wasn't sure you were ready for me to take off entirely." She said to him, guiding the ship through the dunes.

"I wasn't. Good thinking. Go ahead and bring us upwards now."

Azelynn didn't hesitate, and pulled the handles towards her to lift them higher and higher until they are vertical and facing the sky. Obi-Wan held onto the headrest to keep from falling. Luckily the cockpit is small, so all it took was him placing his footing correctly on the wall behind him. At this position, he is standing normally and Azel is laying back. It put him at eye-level with Azelynn, and at a very close proximity. He could feel the body heat radiating from her, and smell her warm scent. She looked over at him, her eyes glistening with excitement.

"That was fun." She said, eyes glowing.

Obi-Wan gave her a pointed stare, despite how nervous he is being so close to her. He can see each little freckle on her face, see each crescent of blue in her eyes. Her energy is contagious, and not just with the Force.

"You and I may have different definitions of fun, Azel." He said to her, remembering back to when he first said this to her. They had just outrun the sand people. Obi-Wan briefly wondered if Azel is an adrenaline junkie.

He also caught that he nicknamed her, and ignored it as nothing more than an easier way to pronounce her name, like Han has. It's certainly not because he's grown fond of her. Jedi do not have attachments.

"Oh lighten up," She said to him and turned back to her controls. Outside, the sky is darker, and Obi-Wan watches as they leave the last bit of atmosphere.

"Do not level out yet." He instructed her. "We need to escape the planets gravity first."

Azel nodded next to him. Obi-Wan looked at the radar, in search of the other planet. He found it easily.

"Drift to the right."

Azel did as instructed, the ship easily drifted to the right.

"Good. Keep doing that until you see the planet." Obi-Wan looked back at the screen. "You can level out now." He said to her and she slowly did so, while still drifting to the right.

Obi-Wan adjusted himself with the ship as they leveled out. He is back with his two feet on the floor instead of the wall, and no longer holding onto the headrest.

"There stop." Obi-Wan instructed. The planet is in the distance, looking smaller than it actually is. He put in the coordinates for the autopilot.

"We should be there in about an hour." He commented.

Azel released the handles, and let out a breath of air she didn't realize she was holding.

"Come with me." He said to Azel. She looked at him oddly, but followed him out. Han tried to come too but Obi-Wan stopped him. "No, I need someone here to watch our radar." He said to Han with a kind smile on his face. Han lit up at the big job he has and unbuckled himself so he could jump to the pilots chair. He sat there and stared at all the controls, Obi-Wan trusted he wouldn't touch anything but, just to be safe, he would have to make this quick. He shut the door behind he and Azel.

"What is it?" Azel asked him when the door closed. She crossed her arms over her chest with sincere confusion on her face.

He decided not to dance around the topic. "We just stole a child from a planet." He muttered.

In any other situation, that sentence could have been comical. However, it's far from funny. "No, he chose to come with us," she corrected him.

"What about-"

"He doesn't have any parents or guardians," She explained. "He's not a slave either, obviously." Azel couldn't help but think that if it weren't for them, Han would be a slave right now. Who knows what sorts either? They didn't steal a child, if anything they saved one.

Obi-Wan sighed. "How do you know no one is looking for him?"

"I don't." She said flatly. Obi-Wan stared at her.

"He can't stay." Obi-Wan said to her. She was about to argue but he cut her off. "I am not a babysitter, and we don't have the space for another. Besides, it is too dangerous for him."

"It was already dangerous for him." Azel argued, stunned. Has he forgotten that the boy was nearly taken for slavery? She couldn't believe what she is hearing from him, and she doesn't want to hear anymore about it. So, Azel turned sharply on her heels and went back into the cockpit.

Obi-Wan sighed and rubbed his eyes. That is not how he expected the conversation to go. He should've thought it through more.

He has an hour, maybe he can try to contact Qui-Gon or Yoda for some guidance.