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STAR WARSShooting StarsBy Brendon J.WahlbergThe whole galaxy is about to learn about the young hero, Luke Skywalker. But a champion rests on the shoulders of other unsung warriors.Biggs Darklighter and Tank Boma share Luke�s destiny, their lives intertwined with his. The fates of all three have come together at the planet Yavin, for an encounter with the Empire�s most fearsome weapon.And if they survive the assault on the Death Star, there is another challenge to face�thee lurking evil of the ancient Sith�The soft rose and gold light of the giant planet Yavin touched the melancholy face of Luke Skywalker. The young Rebel's eyes restlessly searched the four broad stone stairways that gave access to the flat summit of the Massassi temple on which he stood. He had been there since the days-end rain showers had soaked the lush jungle, leaving behind the sound of leaves dripping all around while alien wildlife emerged into the night. Deep within the towering trees, Luke could hear grunts, sighs, squeals and high-pitched jabbering. Occasionally, there was a brief shriek as some hidden prey met an unseen end.Luke paced the stone platform, his feet avoiding the cracks and holes that were scattered across the partly ruined surface. Across the lazy jungle river, he could see the imposing bulk of the Great Temple that concealed the Rebel base. Also visible was another palace-like ruin, currently infested with Woolamanders, whose chattering carried from across the river in the misty air. Luke sat down on what might have been a low stone altar, reflecting for a moment on the vanished race that had left behind such enigmatic monuments. The temple on which he was perched was the smallest of the three. The main decorative motif on its faded, crumbling stones was the blueleaf cluster, a carving of the cobalt-blue plants that formed a dense ground cover all around the temple. A spicy fragrance rose up from the blueleaf, making Luke feel stifled. He gazed at the over-arching sky, now free of clouds and glittering with stars. The translucent, softly glowing gas giant Yavin filled half the sky. Somewhere up there, in an orbiting graveyard, were the remains of countless Imperials, as well as those of Luke's closest friend. "Biggs..." Luke breathed.The sound of hesitant feet on broken stones made Luke turn to the farthest set of stairs. A younger man stepped up onto the platform and slowly walked over to Luke. Luke could see the emotions chasing each other across the other's face--shame, grief, and the remains of a recently deceased hatred. The other had a short, thin frame, on which hung a spare flight suit, a size too large. His eyes and unkempt hair were both very dark. His skin was tough like Luke's, having been baked in the same desert oven. He sat down on the platform cross-legged, near enough to talk, but no closer."Tank," said Luke, trying to sound welcoming, "I was afraid you wouldn't come." There was a long silence between them. Tank met Luke's eyes, finally, and spoke with a little catch in his voice."I was too ashamed. I needed to be alone, to think it over...I didn't tell you before, but I'm sorry for what I did to you. I wanted you to know that. That I was sorry.""Tank," said Luke, putting up a hand, "I didn't ask you here so you could apologize, or so I could apologize. I'm not angry any more. The things I've been through lately...It kind of puts kidnapping into perspective." Tank looked chagrined, but didn't reply. "I asked you here because we've both lost someone. I've lost a lot of people. My Aunt and Uncle, murdered by stormtroopers, Ben Kenobi, killed by Vader...and Biggs. You might not feel the loss of the loss of the others, but we both share the loss of Biggs. He meant a lot to both of us. I've always thought it helps to share the loss with somebody. I know it helps me. And despite our problems, I hoped we could remember Biggs together, the way he was. So he can never really be gone."Luke gave Tank a little time to digest this. He hadn't been sure what the younger man would do. Turn around and leave, maybe. But now, watching him, Luke could see a maturity in Tank's face that hadn't been there when he had known him on Tatooine. It was with a sense of gratification that he heard Tank say, "Yeah--I want to remember him. I really need to remember him." Tank looked steadily at Luke.Luke decided to begin, to give Tank time to get settled, and because it was his idea. There were a lot of stories to tell, and the memorial in the sky Luke had planned would be visible before the night's end."I met Biggs in Anchorhead when I was fourteen," said Luke, settling back. Images of Tatooine came easily to him, seeming more real than this dark jungle with its wet stones. "I was in Anchorhead with Uncle Owen, tagging along while he did some business or other for the farm. He thought I might pick something up, learn to be more like a farmer. He really wanted that...I guess I disappointed him. Anyway, I didn't want to hang around while he discussed selling crops, so I whined and complained until he got mad and told me to get out of his sight and let him work..."* * *Luke wasted no time in scampering away from his gruff Uncle, and dashed out into the sun. Anchorhead lay at the center of a farming community of some seven hundred people. It was just a cluster of buildings--a trade center, a single restaurant, a transport station to Mos Eisley (Luke had never been there), and little else. Luke set his sights on a grimy mechanic's lot, full of spare parts and half-assembled vaporators. It wasn't the farming equipment that made him catch his breath and run forward as fast as he could, desert shawl flapping around his arms--it was what sat in the burning sun at the edge of the lot. A Skyhopper.He reached it, panting, and immediately began to study its every detail. It was just like the model he had built, but so much more exciting. He caressed the Incom T-16 identification plate and gazed up at the high central fin. Luke knew that this airspeeder could attain a speed of well over a thousand kilometers per hour and still nearly turn right angles. He tried to get high enough to see into the triangular window, to check out the tactical holodisplay panels. Just peering over the edge, Luke was startled to see another face looking into the window on the other side of the Skyhopper. He ducked down and backed away, as an older boy with thick black hair and a long straight nose came around the front of the craft and walked confidently towards him. He was wearing clothes of a finer cut than Luke's, and looked to be about seventeen. He smiled beneath the scruffy beginning of a mustache and laughed good-naturedly."Did I scare you? Sorry. My name's Biggs, Biggs Darklighter. What's yours?""Luke Skywalker," said Luke guardedly. "So...you like Skyhoppers too, huh?""Yeah! My father's going to buy me a new one this season, and I wanted to check this old one out, see what kind of modifications it has.""Your Dad is buying you a Skyhopper?" asked Luke, trying to keep the jealousy and disbelief out of his voice."Oh, yeah. My Dad's Huff Darklighter, the food magnate. He can certainly afford it. He owns dozens of farms. So, you're getting one, too?""Actually, my old one just got too beat up, tearing around Beggar's Canyon," Luke lied. "It's cheaper just to get another used one than to fix mine. I was just checking this one out for damage.""Oh," said Biggs, with a hint of skepticism. "So, you're one of those gully jumping hotshots I heard about.""What else is a Skyhopper for?" Luke asked, once again going over to caress the wings."Well, my Dad's getting it for me so I can get used to piloting--he thinks I'd be good Academy material in a few years.""What, you're going to the Academy?" Luke exclaimed, this time unable to hide his envy."I don't know. It's what the old man wants. His son in uniform. Out of his hair is more like it. Way out of his hair.""I'd give anything to leave like that, someday," Luke said quietly. "My Uncle will never let me go, though. Whenever I talk about it, it always puts him in a bad mood.""Well at least he wants you around, right?" Biggs gestured towards the trade center. "My father's in there, making deals. I just strolled away from his side, and he never even noticed." Biggs took a good look at Luke, sizing him up frankly, then grinned suddenly. "Hey, what am I telling you this for? Listen, when you get your new 'Hopper, why don't we go flying together? I could use some pointers on getting started from a real Hotshot."Luke was taken by surprise. This near-adult wanted to go flying with him? Yet, he was finding Biggs very hard to resist. Something in the older boy strongly attracted him. Forgetting for the moment that he didn't really have a Skyhopper, Luke smiled eagerly. "I'd like that. I'd like that a lot. Do you think-" Suddenly, Luke was interrupted by the bellow of Owen Lars, who had emerged from the trade center and was standing impatiently by the family landspeeder."Luke! Get over here! We haven't got all day for wasting time. There's work to be done back home."Embarrassed, Luke gave Biggs a look of apology. "I have to go, but I do want to see you again.""That Uncle of yours doesn't seem like the most easy going person," observed Biggs, as Luke turned to leave."No," said Luke simply, "he's not." Luke hurried over to the big landspeeder and climbed into the passenger seat, closing the door. "Sorry, Uncle Owen," he said dutifully. Then, the image of Biggs' confident grin still fresh in his mind, Luke spoke up over the whine of the engine. "Uncle Owen, there's something I want to talk to you about buying..."* *... [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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