Title: ~Lukes Ring~
* * * * * Racing passed Han's falling body, Nova dodged a blaster bolt and slid to the ground, bruising her thigh as she went. She hated to do it but she might have to bring out her saber to combat against their two assailants. Chewbacca roared and she watched his hairy frame shuttle passed her as she flipped back up. Behind her, Han had regained his footing and was cursing their bad luck. No one was suppose to know they were on Nar Shadda, especially not this gods-forsaken spot of it. It was a solid bit of desert here, far passed the metal and ferracrete city of the small moon where Hutts and smugglers, thieves and mercenaries rubbed elbows and made dirty deals. The sun was not bright, nor was it hot, but the powdery landscape was a stark one, filled with boulders of every shape and too many shadows to count. The Skywalker-Solo family was there to meet an informant, who was now hiding behind a particularly large rock, trying not to get shot. He was one of Han's old pals But, then again, so were the rough-looking man and rougher-looking Wookiee who was making them target practice. Nova fell back at Han's side where they could see Chewbacca edging around the scattered boulders leading to the spot were Damsy Jeen and the Wookiee Goturra had positioned themselves. "You know, I think this is all your fault." Han didn't even turn for her to see his snarl. "Will you shut up? Everything is completely under control." "Did you get shot?" "Of course not." He tossed his head of shaggy brown hair and tilted it to the side to see if he had a good opening to take aim. "I just fell so I wouldnt get shot." "Who's Chewie goin' after? The big one or the little one?" "Guess." Nova nodded. "Okay. Guess I'll take the Wookiee." Han's gloved hand shot out and made sure she didn't move. "Stay." The Corellian moved out and Nova went the other way, making sure both offending males saw her enough for them to keep their attention away from the approaching Wookiee. Stray bolts were absorbed by the odd powdery rock and Nova decided to play it safer than she had been. Using the Force, she gently pelted the human in the back with little pebbles. The bolts stopped. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she heard the sound of two Wookiees fighting. Only one more shot was sounded before Nova could rise and make her way to the fighting group. That last shot had taken out Jeen. He lay still with a smoking hole at his shoulder with Han standing over him, watching as Chewie and Goturra swiped at one another. Through her Force sense, she could almost feel the injured males chest rise and fall. He wasn't dead but he wasn't getting back up anytime soon. Wookiees were one of the most loyal, kind and honorable species in the galaxy but that didn't stop some from going against their upbringing and being none of those. Goturra was a rouge and it was Chewie's pleasure to whip the dishonor out of him. It was over much quicker than Nova would have guessed. Goturra went down like a falling tree and Chewie gave a voracious bellow. Han broke away and, looking to the side, Nova could see Zizel, the informant, trying to slink away. "Now, why would you wanna sneak away, friend?" Han asked, his jaw gritted against his anger. "We saved your hide. Even though no one was suppose to know about you." "Or us." Chewie, who had been watching to make sure Goturra did not rise, gurralled a question. Nova furrowed her blonde brow. "Yea, Chewie. They're okay." Luke and Leia were here as well, in the main capitol of Nar Shadda, pretending to shop while keeping their eyes, ears, and senses open for more information on certain goings-on in the city. Things that the human, Zizel, had called and squealed to Han about. It wasn't like Leia to jump into the fray anymore but this was a crucial time for the New Republic and the informant would speak to no one but Solo. And, despite endless arguing from Han, the whole family came with him. Zizel was little for a human and was probably due to malnutrition as a youth. "Sorry, Solo," he was saying. "I didnt mean for anyone to look for me but you know how Hutts can be." Han softened, rubbing his bruised arm. "Yea I guess I do." Nova smirked and, as Chewie moved closer to her, she raked her fingernails down the fur of his shoulders and back which had been mussed in the fight, careful not to hit any wounds he may have received. He stayed still, never minding someone whom he trusted to pat down his fur when it became too teased. She groomed one side, taming it to a reasonable look while Solo, Chewie and Zizel spoke. She listened with half an ear. There was plenty of time to--- "Oh, my God!" Han and Chewie whirled and the little man jumped. "What?!" Chewie snuffled and took a step back from the pale woman. "What is it, kid?" Nova started at her hand in stunned disbelief. "My ring. Luke's ring. Its gone. My ring fell off, Han!" She wrung her fingers in the palm of her other hand, looking around. "Kay. Okay. Calm down," he placated, floated his hands in the air. "We'll find it." All around them was the powdery sand of a Nar Shadda desert, its dust making their black boots gray and stuck to Chewie's leg fur in tiny clumps. The powder was inches deep and soft enough to swallow anything as small and heavy as a piece of precious metal. Nova looked across the field they were in.. the field that was now covered in mini, swirled dunes caused by the movements of their feet. "My ring..." ***** Hans eyes narrowed as he leaned down, his lips curling back in frustration. He sifted a heap of sand with his boots. "Please dont kick the sand, Han." "Babe, were not going to find it like this." Nova was hunkered down, combing her fingers through the delicate dust. Chewie snuffled and growled a suggestion. "Hey, good one, Chewie." Han glanced over to the female. We can come back after dropping off those two, preferably before they wake up, and bring the Falcon by and check for silver with the sensors." Two orbs of dark blue rotated over toward Hans direction. "Leave my ring here? Let Luke know I lost it?" "He wont care." Nova slapped the ground and stood to keep away from the soft smoke that rolled up to her. "That's not it... I gotta find it." She looked over to the two men laying unconscious near by. "Look, take those two to the authorities and get Zizel to the Falcon and pick up Leia and Luke. I'll stay and look. Maybe I'll have found it before you get back." "What will I tell Luke?" "Not a thing," she stated, with pointed finger. "Just tell him I had something to do if he asks." "He's gonna ask." Nova nodded absently and set about to keep looking. While she did that, Han and Chewie loaded the nearby speeder with criminals and one informant. They said good bye once more and speed away. It wasnt too long after they disappeared into the odd, brown sky hanging over the planetoid that Nova suddenly agreed with Han and Chewie. She wasn't going to find it like this. They had rushed over too much land and fought to vigorously for it to be anywhere she was looking. Lowering to one knee to keep balance, she lay her head in her hand. If only... Her head came up. Maybe the Force could be of use... Luke had given that ring to her when he proposed almost seven months ago. They'd been married for four and she hadnt taken it off for more than a couple of minutes at a time. She would often look at it and think of him, touch it and be comforted. Surely her energy was wrapped up in it enough for it to be recognizable, even at a distance. There was stillness here, a calm that permeated everything. The Force was there deep in the core of the moon and radiating out to touch everyone as it emanated from them in return. She touched her own energy and spread her thoughts outward to find anything that felt like her. At first, she thought it wasn't working then, far below her, she felt it. Nova's eyes popped open. Far below? Nova rose and walked toward were she felt the tiny echo and felt her eyes widen. So hidden from view among the shadow that dappled the land, she had no idea there was a crevice so close by. Any one of them could have tumbled off of it and fallen... and fallen. It was a deep one and below, she felt life. Several life forms, actually. She could imagine her ring flying off and skittering down the slop and disappearing into the landscape below. She sighed. "Fine." She stepped off the precipice and used the Force to descend her gently through the shadows and to the ground far below. It was a different world here. There was a little hill of powder but it disappeared to hard, flat land beyond. And into the distance were those people she felt. Children running about and adults of all ages walking around and going about their day, doing their chores. She didnt have to look to see who they were, if the smell that wafted her way was any indication, they could clearly be identified as Rodians. Good. She spoke a little Rodian if they had a lack of Basic. The echo of the ring was closer to them than to the land where she was cast in shadow. She looked up at the long drop then out at the area where the sun reached. It frightened her to know that the other half of the land they were trampling above was merely an over hang with another desert range below it. Nova shook her head. That'll teach her to bone up on geography the next time she visited a new world. She walked out of the shadows and into the light, wondering just who these people were. Why they were living in the desert of all places. They looked so out of place. Nova halted at the mad squeaking of the one who had spotted her. She raised her hands to show she meant no harm. "Hi! Dont mean to intrude. I seem to have lost something. I was wondering..." They were staring hard at her and she felt a little dumb to be chatting with people who might not understand. "Anybody here speak Basic?" A female stepped forward and spoke to Nova in strongly accented Basic, her strong voice squeaking and popping. "I do. Who are you? How did you find us?" "By accident. Keeping her hands up," she smiled. "Like I said. I lost something and-" "You're a Jedi." It wasnt a question. Nova cut her eyes to her hip were her saber showed itself proudly. "Yes. I am." Several little children edged forward, trying to get a good look. The woman crossed her arms over her belly and held herself straighter. Her cloths, at one time, had been high-quality but, now, were worn and dirty, yet the woman held herself proudly despite that. Nova did not know if they were wearing cast-offs or if there was a deeper story here. "What did you loose, Jedi?" "A ring. A silver ring. With a purple set." The woman nodded. There was hesitation and Nova thought she would not speak again, but the female turned and pointed to a winding road that lead over a hard packed dune of dirt. "He went that way. My nephew. You may be able to catch him. He was at the canyon wall and saw it fall." "Where did he take it?" Nova asked, feeling her forehead break into little sweat beads. She figured she already knew the answer. "Into Port Chyyack. To the Buyer." "Buyer... A pawn shop? He took my ring, MY RING to a pawn shop?!" The green skinned woman seem to tilt back on her heels. "I did not know Jedi were suppose to loose their tempers." She was apparently amused. Nova calmed right down and smiled despite the situation. "No, mam. But we can get a little testy sometimes." * * * * * Port Chyyack was actually a little town with wide berths for the big cruisers to set down and nothing like the bustling, seedy city like the one everyone thinks of when they hear the name 'Nar Shadda'. Nova was sweating and the fine dust that blew on the wind even out here was stuck to her bare skin, making her feel gritty. Her step was sturdy, eyes roving back and forth from alley way to yard square. The woman felt her comm vibrate against her neck and she pulled it out to speak. "Nova." "Hey, honey. Where are you?" She bit her lower lip. From the sound of Lukes voice, she could tell that he was sensing her mood even in his spot in far away Nar Shadda capitol. "Just walking around. Is Han with you?" "No. But he did to tell us he was dropping off some unexpected visitors to the local jail. Not that that jail is worth anything." "Yea. I know." "Why aren't you with him?" "Sight seeing?" "Nova." The blonde clicked her tongue. "Just girl stuff. You know the stuff that makes you blush." Luke groaned on the other end of the signal. "Just be careful. Right?" "Right. Love you." "I love you, too. Luke, out." "Out." Nova had been walking through the whole conversation and kept doing so as she put up her comm. She nearly screeched to a halt in the middle of the road and she whirled around. Was that what she thought she saw? She doubled back and jogged down the alley, grasping her saber out of habit. At the end of the boxed-in street was a short Rodian taking the back way. "Hey! You!" The male turned then raced off. Stamping her foot, she took off after him. Why did they always have to run? She caught him easy, over taking him and cutting him off, holding up a hand. "I'm not going to hurt you." His smooth voice made an exclamation. Nova pointed. "Don't you curse at me!" The male tensed. "Did you find my ring?" Silence. Nova grabbed his shoulders where they turned up to his neck and she gave him a little shake. "Where's my ring?" He murmured something. "What was that?" "I pawned it! Okay?" "To who?" "We needed the money." "To who?" "My family-group had to make an emergency landing and we couldn't afford to pay to get it fixed and pulled out of berth so they took our ship. We're stuck. I wanted to get us off planet so we could go home and your ring was enough to do that." "I don't want your money. Now, tell me to whom you sold it." "That guy." The teen Rodian was pointing up. Novas neck craned back to see a fat ship flying over head, its engines growling as it went. It was painted with the words of many different languages, including big, bold letters that read 'Crusaan's Credit and Wares'. "Oh! She virtually crushed the Rodian to her chest. My ring!" She heard a squeak under her shoulder. "Sorry... Wa- wheres he going? Do you...?" "He's just hopping. You can still catch him. You'll find him in Shangil next. Two towns that way." Nova sent her senses out. "Yes, the ring was defiantly headed away from her." "You gotta ride? Speeders for rent-" "Where!?" "Two lanes over." Nova rushed off, leaving the young Rodian behind to kick sand around as he walked away. She found the rental shop without fail. She had loose credits with her and it used almost all of them to take it out. Luckily she did not have to haggle over papers and restrictions. This was still Nar Shadda, after all. * * * * * The speeder bike she had selected howled beneath her and whirled up mini sand storms behind her. She felt her comm go off twice during the ride. She clicked it twice to let Luke know she was receiving his messages but did not answer them. It took well over an hour for her to reach Shangil and almost that long trying to find someone who would give her the time of day. This place was closer to the main city and people were less that enthusiastic to help a stranger and she didn't feel like waving her saber around while on a personal mission. But she hit pay dirt at a local bizarre, seeing several ships decked out in ribbons, flyers and music to draw in buyers for their wares. She spotted the ship, recognizing the many languages painted on its hull and the name 'Crusaan' painted proudly on the front. She strode towards it, her step determined. She staggered a little when her comm went off again, along with an annoyed burst from her husband. She pulled it out just a bit and spoke, "Yes?" "Nova. Where are you?" he demanded. "We have to go and I wanted to-" "I'm almost done, sweetheart. I'm in a little town called Shangil." "I know. Where-" "You met up with Han?" "Yes." "Okay. Come pick me up." "Where are you?" "At a bizarre. A big one. I'll see you soon." "But-" "Love you." Nova clicked off and practically ran inside the ship. Darker and warmer than the cooler outside, the ship was exactly what she expected it to be. It was a little musty inside but not overly unpleasant. There were tables that lined the walls, all packed with an assortment of everything. "May I help you?" Nova looked to the voice. "Yes, I'm looking for a piece of jewelry." "Yes! Come see!" He was a medium-sized human man with a nicely trimmed moustache and an easy smile. She smiled even though she didnt feel like it. "Anything in particular?" "A ring." She walked to where he was and watched as he pulled out two slim boxes of rings secured in red velvetiss. She looked them over and clenched her hands. "Are those all you have?" "Yes, madam." "Nothing new?" "No, this is it." "Nothing you just bought?" she pressed. "Actually, I did just buy a ring a few hours ago from a youngster. I do hope it wasn't stolen." Nova frowned. She was pretty sure he didn't care overly much. "No, but where is it? Did it have a lavender stone?" "Yes, it did. With six old-style diamonds. But I sold it already." "What?" "I sold it. I'm sorry." The man did look compassionate and he patted her hand. "It was my first sale of the day. But I really couldn't describe him. A human male. I can't seem to recall." Nova nodded, unable to speak. Tears of frustration begged to fall as she walked outside. She could try to locate the ring again and she'd finally tell Luke. He would help her get it back or get a new one... but she didn't want a 'new one'... that ring was already a part of her heart. Objects should never take be taken as deeply as that, she knew. But that didn't change the fact that she felt bereaved for its loss. Nova sat down on the side of the ship's ramp, feeling miserable. There was a part of her that felt as though she had let Luke down It was, after all, his ring. Leia had told her the story not too long after she had married the other woman's brother. Leia and the salesman had tried to get him to buy a bigger set, a golden band and a different style. But he had seen the little, shining ring and new that it was meant to be on her finger. He had bought it just for her. Just to ask her to be his wife even though he knew she wasn't much of a jewelry buff. A touch on the shoulder brought her out of her revelry. She looked over her shoulder and saw a silhouette against the sun that stood into the form of a man. His hair was a halo in the sunlight and his trim form was one she knew all too well. Nova stood and smiled a tight smile, putting her hand in his. Kind, blue eyes stared into hers and he smiled. "I've been trying to reach you." "How how did you get here so fast?" "You know the Falcon." Luke frowned, his thumb making lazy circles on the back of her hand. "What's wrong?" Nova shook her head looking down. "Luke..." The male wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, rubbing her arm. "I lost our ring." She swallowed and her words tumbled out. "It fell off in the fight. Someone picked it up and hocked it. I traced it here but... but he sold it already. And he can't remember to who." Luke turned her chin up, an odd look on his handsome face. "The Force works in amazing ways. We came into Shangil a couple of hours ago to refuel. Leia saw the bizarre and wanted to come see the wares. And look what I found?" He held out a tan hand and in the middle of his pinkie finger, glittered a silver ring with diamonds and a purple stone. He laughed at the astounded expression there on her face. "Look," he whispered, taking the ring off. "It's still yours," he reminded, taking her hand and aiming to put the circle around her finger. Nova's hand clawed up and her husband looked at her with surprise. "You sure you want to give it back to me?" "If it still means I love you and please, be mine then, yes. I do." Nova's fingers spread out and Luke slipped it on, squeezing her hand. "Right where it belongs." The woman laughed and embraced her man, letting him kiss her and sweep her back towards the Falcon. "I can't believe you've had to pay for it twice now." "It's worth it." Nova checked to make sure it was still there. She brought it to her lips and kissed it for good measure, making Luke chuckle. She halted their stride and Luke wrapped a lock of her hair around his gloved finger as they stood there. "What?" "If I hadnt lost it... The Rodian that sold it to the merchant His family can buy their way off planet now and go home." Lukes eyebrow rose and then, understanding what must have taken place, he grinned. "See, honey? The Force works in amazing ways." The End
~MHS 1755~
~JADE BLOOD~
~CATWILLOW~
~Let me know what you think! Send a comment of your own~
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