Delusions of Grandeur

I knew we were being followed. I could feel them behind us, far enough not to be seen, but keeping up with us. Little Ani was guiding me through the market, pointing out things, and I was trying to pay attention but I was too concern by the presences I felt.

Ani waved his hand in my face. “What’s up with you?”

I gave him a pensive look. “We are being followed.” He starts looking around me, making it obvious I know and I had to stop him. “Don’t look!”

“Why not? I might know them!” he said.

“Ok, then look, but don’t look like you’re looking,” I told him.

“How do I do that?”

“Look casually.”

He frowned “What?”

I sighed. “Just look, Ani.”

He peered around me. “I don’t see- Oh, you mean those two guys with blasters getting closer?”

I didn’t say anything about blasters. “Start walking,” I turned him around and gave him a soft push forward.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Ani muttered.

“That’s my line,” I said.

“What? How is that ‘your’ line?”

“It just is. I say that.”

He shoots me a look. “Did you write it? Do you own it? I can say it if I wanta.”

“Who’s the Jedi here?”

“Fine!”

We moved through the market quickly. The pair behind us was lost in the crowd, but they were still there. I found a nice place to pull Anakin into, a tent of some sort, empty at the moment, and peered out the flap.

“You see’um?” Ani whispered.

“Not yet. Shhh.”

“I hate it when people shhh me!”

I slapped my hand over his mouth. He mumbled and wiggled, then froze as the two men walked in front of the tent. Bounty hunters! Anakin muttered again.

“What?” I hissed.

“Thhhhyy wowoff foroo jjajaba theh ummp!” he mumbled under my hand.

I move my hand. “Say that again.”

“They work for Jaba the Hutt,” he said. “You know, the beer drinking, overall wearing Hutt I pointed out a few days ago.”

“Why would they be following me- us?”

“Jaba likes pretty girls. They go missing around here. Maybe he likes you,” Ani said.

“Wonderful. Like I need that attention. Vader is bad enough- Wait. Did you just say I was pretty?” I asked.

“No! Ewww!” he nearly shouts. “Well, you’re ok for Jedi, I guess.”

I rolled my eyes and went back to looking out the tent.