fandomhigh | Flight & Flying [Tuesday, June 16, 4th period]

Anakin was nodding off as he leaned against the door leading into the flight shed.

Not that he would admit that. If asked, he was meditating. While standing up. And kind of snoring.

His eyes cracked open when most of the students arrived. "Today you're going to avoid flying into black holes," he said. "You're going to make the Kessel Run, though if I hear of any of you becoming drug runners--which was what this particular route was used for--you will be very, very sorry."

He flicked his hand towards the wall, where a two dimensional map of the 18-parsec run was illuminated. "The route takes you around The Maw--which is a series of black holes--and leads you through an uninhabitable—but far easier to navigate—area of space called The Pit." He smiled a little at Ben, who he was sure knew this entire area by heart. "The Pit is an asteroid cluster encased in a nebula arm, which makes sensors and pilots go virtually blind. There's a high chance that pilots, weary from the long flight through real space, will crash into an asteroid."

He arched up an eyebrow. "And yes, I know that parsec is a unit of time. If you swing closer to the Maw, you can cut the distance, and thus the time of the flight. But more likely, you'll get sucked into a black hole and be crushed."

Anakin waved his hand, and the map was replaced by a picture of the ship they'd be flying. "This ship and its," he swallowed back an "irritating" "pilot made the run in under 12 parsecs, which I think stands as the fastest time through..." he shot Ben a questioning look.

"Dad and Uncle Han shaved some time off of that a few years later," Ben corrected.

Anakin looked annoyed. He hadn't shaved much off of the original twelve.

"Very well. Climb into the Falcon, try not to hit asteroids, black holes or the ships that are chasing you."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"You were worried," he said, looking at her.

"A little," she admitted.

"I'm sorry," Ben said quietly.

Tahiri shook her head. "Not your fault, Ben, and you'd better not be blaming yourself."

Yeah, she kind of knew him.

"I'm not," he lied quickly.

Tahiri just raised an eyebrow at him. "Uh huh."

"I'm not blaming myself entirely," he amended.

"Well, that's a little better," she conceded.

He smiled sheepishly. "I'm working on it."

"You know I'm going to make you keep working on it, right?" she said lightly.

"Or deny me ice cream?" he teased back.

Tahiri's eyes flashed. "I'd never do that."

Someone was a little insistent.

Ben blinked. "You're sure you're okay?"

"Yeah," she said after a moment. "Sorry. It just . . . that'd be awful, and no."

Way to overreact, Tahiri.

Ben gave her a look.

"I'm overdoing it, aren't I?" she finally mumbled, blushing. "Just trying to make sure you know, um . . . who you're dealing with."

His fingers squeezed hers. "I knew who I'm dealing with," he said. "Something in your eyes change when she decides to be a pain."

"Really?" Tahiri's fingers tightened around his, and she went a little pale. "I didn't realize . . . oh."

She ducked her head and let out a tiny, embarrassed chuckle. "Sorry, Ben."

"It could be just for me," he murmured. "I watch you pretty closely."

"You do?" Tahiri shuffled her feet in a sudden self-conscious gesture. "Why?"

Ben's face went red. "Because you're pretty," he mumbled.

Tahiri gaped at him. "That's all?" Yes, that was a laugh of relief. Here she'd been thinking he was worried about her switching out on him or something.

"So are you," she continued when she stopped laughing. "Um, I mean . . ."

Ben was still red. "Yeah."

She almost, almost pulled him into a hug right there, but settled for moving a step or two closer. "That's kind of nice to hear. Why are you the one embarrassed about it?"

"Because I'm not supposed to admit that I watch you," he said. "It's part of the guy code or something."

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