Upcoming Novels, Novellas, Fairy Tales, and Short Stories

This is a list of stories I'm working on, hope to work on soon, and am developing ideas for. Keep in mind that this list can and will change depending on what I'm interested in at any given time and what else is going on in my life.

Currently Working On:

Star Wars Sequel Trilogy

Fairy and Folk Tales

Beauty and the Frogs - Leia Organa and her brother Luke were driven from their fine mansion in Alderaan by a wicked magician and her own son. Believing her husband dead, Leia and Luke raise three orphan girls - Rose, Rey, and Kaydel - in a cottage in the country.

On his way home from buying gifts for his womenfolk, Luke stops by a misty old mansion surrounded by an overgrown garden and a deep well. Luke is inspecting the golden ball he bought Rey, his favorite of the girls, when he drops the ball down the well. An old frog agrees to retrieve the ball, if his sister will come to the castle and eat and sleep with him and his three frog sons.

Her brother refuses at first, but Leia is determined to go...and the girls won't let her go alone. All four women are eventually detained at the mansion. Turns out there's four frogs here, for the wrinkly old toad is accompanied by three younger amphibians, all of whom are far more positive that one day things will get better. The youths are the toad's apprentices, changed spitefully by the wicked magician Snoke and Leia's own son Ben.

Leia and the girls have mysterious dreams their first night there. They imagine themselves in stunning gowns in the garden, accompanied by four handsome men. The eldest, rugged and silver-haired, is familiar to Leia...but he can't tell her the truth, for in the dream world, he's mute. His three wards speak for him. They're all taken away by a shadowy figure who seems to hold a terrible power over them all. Leia and her three adopted daughters become determined to solve the mystery of the decaying mansion and find out who's the real monster...and who's the prince.

Coming Up Next:

Star Wars Sequel Trilogy

Novels/Novellas

Babes In Toyland (Alternative Universe - 1980's/Fantasy) - 8-year-old Barbara Beatrix "BB" Dameron (never call her Babs!) loves visiting her brother Poe where he works at Skywalker's Department Store. He's worried that the store may shut down if Leia Walker-Solo, it's owner, is pressured by nasty Alexander Snoke, who owns the First Order Mall. After meeting her brother's friends Rose, Finn, and Rey, Henry the security officer and his big dog Chewbacca, and the kindly old man who manages the toy department, she falls asleep and dreams that she's in Toyland, where nursery rhyme characters come to life. Leia Hubbard may be thrown out of her shoe by mean old Barnaby Snoke unless BB and all her new fairy tale friends can bring the tin soldiers to life to stop him!

Star Wars Original Trilogy

Novels/Novellas

Tales of the Gold Wookie (Alternative Universe 1930's Adventure) - It's 1939. Layla and Luke Skylark are fresh out of the University of Arizona and ready to change the world. She's an archaeologist; he's a reporter. While Luke is content to be an intern for world-weary veteran crime reporter Benton Kennally, Layla is far more ambitious. She wants to find lost treasures for her idol, museum owner Marta Mothma. Her current obsession is rescuing the (reportedly magical) lost royal jewels of the Kingdom of Alderaan from nasty General Tarkin and the Empire.

Luke convinces her to hire Harry Solomon, a pilot with a dilapidated plane who runs his own charter service, to take them to where the treasures were last seen. Layla's not happy with the idea at first. Harry is rude, arrogant, and only cares about getting his share of the treasure. Not to mention, some of his former bosses make Tarkin look like a kitten. Tarkin has his own formidable underling, the corrupt industrialist Derek Vader. After Kennally gets into trouble with Vader, Luke insists on bringing along venerable old Asian archaeology professor Takamashi Yoda as their guide.

Dark Medieval Fantasy (Han/Leia based fantasy) - Inspired by this Tumblr post. Leia is in search of her missing brother Luke, who was in training to be a wizard before their parents were killed and he was kidnapped. He's not the only one who has disappeared. The queen is dying. Her greedy, power-hungry adviser Palapatine is taking over the throne. The queen once had a son, Prince Hannel, but he vanished and is presumed dead. It's rumored that Palapatine is really a dark sorcerer who worked some terrible enchantment on the missing prince.

Leia finds a man imprisoned in a dungeon in a remote corner of the kingdom. The bedraggled man with the auburn hair had once worn fine robes, but now has no idea who he is. All Leia knows is he's insufferably stubborn, an excellent shot with a bow and arrow, and is always accompanied by an enormous Wookie wolf. The two are eventually joined by an eccentric old wizard and a mysterious unicorn with sad blue eyes as they try to find out who the silent man is and avenge Leia's family. 

Fairy and Folk Tales

Thumbelina
Robin Hood

Remember WENN

Novels/Novellas

Once Upon a Time In the Land of WENN (Alternative Universe Fantasy/Fairy Tale) - Even when Elizabeth and the others leave Port Harbor, looking for the Emerald Talisman, trouble follows. Lady Gloria Redmond has no desire to even discuss the magic that caused her so much grief. There's also the evil candy witch Pavla Nemcova, who has both Jeff Singer and Sir Victor Comstock in her grasp, to contend with.

In Development: 

Star Wars Original Trilogy

Novels/Novellas

Original Snow Queen-Inspired Action/Fantasy - Set in the three years between New Hope and Empire Strikes Back, and my first story set within the regular Star Wars universe. Han, Chewie, Leia, and Luke are on a diplomatic mission to buy supplies from a snow planet that's remained neutral in the battle between the Empire and Rebellion. Leia's hoping to sway them to the Alliance's side. Unlike Hoth, this planet is inhabited, mainly by criminals and nasty goblins. It's queen is a shrewd magician with her own ice-based powers. The goblins, determined to make mischief, get slivers of a Force-sensitive crystal in Luke's eyes and heart. It turns him into the opposite of his usual self...making him cold and distant to his two best friends. Leia, Han, and Chewie have to dodge the planet's shadier citizens and a summer witch with her own plans in order to free Luke from the goblins' spell and find out just what the Snow Queen is up to.

Superhero Story (Alternative Universe 1970's Superhero/Action Fantasy) - Leah O'Malley is an intern in corrupt Coruscant City by day in 1977. By night, she's Force Girl, a superheroine who is a member of the Rebel League, a society of superheroes and vigilantes who fight the regime of the evil Mayor Palapatine and the devious Chief of Police/super villain Derek Veder. Lucas Weston is a geeky college kid and major comics fan who discovers that the owner of a local book store/comics shop was once The Negotiator, a great World War II/Golden Era superhero...and that Lucas is the inheritor of a superheroic dynasty. Lucas seeks help from Harris Arietta, a carpenter and handyman whose dog Chewbacca always rides with him and acts as a Team Pet.

Fairy and Folk Tales

The Miller's Son and the Cat

Star Wars Sequel Trilogy

Novels/Novellas

Resistance Kids: The Last Good Cop (Alternative Universe - 1950's) - Rey is the first student at Luke's new police school, but he's wondering if he should give up teaching after the destruction of his previous school. Meanwhile, the First Order Gang is back on the street, including Ben Solo, and they're gunning for blood...and for Finn to rejoin them. Then Poe's beloved sports car blows to bits in front of his eyes, and Hank vanishes and his business is ransacked.

Hello Leia! (Alternative Universe - Musical-Inspired) - Leia Solo-Levi is the best-known matchmaker in New York City in 1907.  She's hired by her ex-husband Harold Solo to find a match for their son Benjamin, who can't make up his mind between the severe police chief's daughter and anarchic son of one of New York's richest men. What she wants is to re-marry her husband, but he has his eyes on a woman in town. Meanwhile, she engineers a meeting between Harold's clerks Poe and Finn and two cute girls in Manhattan, Rey and Rose. They all come together at Harmonia Gardens, the restaurant owned by Leia's brother Luke, for a most memorable evening. 

Fairy and Folk Tales

The Water of Life - Queen Leia, in mourning for her lost brother and her husband, who was kidnapped by a wicked wizard, is dying. She tells her son Prince Ben and her adopted children Hux and Poe that whichever of them finds Luke, who alone has the water that can restore her, will rule her lands when she passes on. Hux and Ben are determined to find the water first...but it's kind Poe who proves that a gentle heart and good nature can triumph over the strongest evil.

Molly Whuppie (Brave Molly)
Rumplestiltskin

Remember WENN 

Novels/Novellas

Captain Victor, Man of Power (Alternative Universe Superhero/Action) - Set directly after the first season episode "There But Before Grace." Tired of dealing with (and being run all over by) sponsors and confused about his feelings for Betty and Grace Cavendish, Victor Comstock imagines himself as one of those new superheroes that have become popular with the kids, Jeff as his sidekick, Betty as the new girl reporter on the block, C.J as a scientist, Ceila as the daughter of a missing scientist and Victor's other sidekick, Hilary as a snooty actress-turned-society-reporter, Mackie as their boss, and Grace as a Dragon Lady-type villaness.

The Best Radio Christmas Pageant Ever - A kind of "missing scene" story set during the early first season. Victor wants to present the story of the Nativity on the airwaves, but the kids starring in the show are unruly, Hilary wants a bigger role, the sponsor is turning the show into a commercial, and Ceila will have nothing to do with it. And there's reports of a major snowstorm heading for Pittsburgh...

On the Edge of the Precipice Series

The Fox and the Falcon - Betty finds herself head over heels involved in espionage when the true leader of the spy ring becomes known...and Victor Comstock returns with startling news...

Remember WENN Fairy Tale Series

Hilary's Story: Beauty and the Beast - Wrap-around segments set day after fourth-season episode "You've Met Your Match." Story based around third and fourth season. Angry at Scott and Jeff for their behavior the night before and in the past few months in general, Betty and Hilary concoct the story of two sisters who discover that the beastly owner and manager of a dilapidated theater may not be what they appear on the outside...or even inside...

Mr. Eldridge and Gertie's Story: The Man Who Minded the House - Set after and based around the fourth season episode "Work Shift." Mr. Eldridge recalls the story of how a man and a woman (him and Gertie) learn that the grass isn't always greener in someone else's work area when he takes over her household duties and she works in the fields.

Story Ideas: 

Star Wars Prequel Trilogy

Novels/Novellas

The Road to Coruscant (Mid 20th Century Alternative Universe) - Ben Kenobi and Anakin Walker are singers taking their vaudeville act on the road. Anakin is forever coming up with moneymaking schemes that get them into a few little problems with the law, to the annoyance of Martin Windu, their long-suffering manager. They have no problems romancing the ladies, either...until they encounter beautiful, elegant dancer Patricia Amidala. Patricia, a genuine noblewoman, is in a heap of trouble with the nasty Count Dooku and Lord Palpatine. Anakin says it's up to them to get her out of it. Ben...wishes they could just go home to Los Angeles, but Anakin is his best friend, so he does it anyway.

Fairy and Folk Tales

Swan Lake

Star Wars Original Trilogy

Han Solo, Galactic Private Eye (Alternative Universe) - Han is a laid-back private eye in his dilapidated ship, with his wookie partner Chewbacca by his side. Old Ben Kenobi, who sometimes gives him work, finds him a doozy - help his friend Luke Skywalker find Leia Organa, the daughter of a prince, who was carrying some very vital information to Alderaan when she was kidnapped by a nasty war lord. (Haven't decided if this one is going to stay in the Star Wars universe, or be moved elsewhere.)

Western (Alternative Universe Western Adventure) - It's 1867 in the untamed plains of Coruscant, Kansas. Former homesteader Luke Walters longs to be a sheriff, like his late daddy Anthony was before him. He may get his chance at an apprenticeship when the current sheriff, Ol' Ben MacKenner, deputizes him to help rescue rancher's daughter Leia Ortez from the bandits who have raided and burned her home. They also get more dubious assistance from Harry Solo, a shady gunrunner, and his partner, Native American warrior Chewbacca.

The Music Han

Star Wars Sequel Trilogy

Novels/Novellas

The Wizard of Oz (Alternative Universe Fantasy-Wizard of Oz-inspired) - Rachel "Rey" Gale lives with her Aunt Leah and Uncle Harry and their two farmhands on a farm outside of Jakkuson, Kansas in 1939. She feels like her life is as gray as the world around her, especially after the nasty man who runs the First Order Manor near-by threatens to take her beloved Westie Terrier BeeBee to the pound and her grouchy cousin demands his share of the farm. A tornado whisks Rey and BeeBee over the rainbow and into the land of Oz. Oz is under the tyrannical rule of the Warlock of the West and his apprentice. Queen Leia was imprisoned in her own magic bubble and banished to the lands of the South, where she amasses an army to stop him. She once ruled with her husband and her wizard brother, but her husband vanished after he was attacked by her son, and her brother is hiding in the Emerald City. Rey has to go to the Emerald City to find the Wizard Skywalker, with the help of a cowardly lion-soldier, a scarecrow who had once worked for the queen, and the Tin Smuggler, who seems to know a lot more about the queen and the Warlock of the West and his apprentice than he'll let on...

Remember WENN

Maltese Falcon Film Noir Spoof II (Alternative Universe Film Noir/Mystery) - Wrap-around set during the late third or early fourth seasons. Hilary and Scott give two different sides of the tale of a dame who may or may not have gotten a private eye involved with smuggling and murder.

Ceila Short Story - Missing scene set during the first season episode "A Capitol Idea." Ceila says good-bye to the station after she's hired by the guy who wanted her to promote Blondie cartoons.

Fairy Tale Series

Jeff's Story - Aladdin and His Magic Lamp
C.J's Story - Jack and the Beanstalk
Victor's Story - King Arthur
Ceila's Story - Goldielocks and the Three Bears
Mackie's Story
Eugenia and Mr. Foley's Story

Original Children's Short Stories

Stories based after childhood memories, including:

Painting someone else's fence.
Little kids running through other people's yards when Mom and Dad aren't looking.
Beach frolics - walking home from the beach.

Introduction - The Summer Strikes Back

I began this Star Wars fanfic last year, but stopped it after Part 6 due to other concerns and the end of the real-life summer. After The Adventures of the Crimson Hawk came out so well, I thought I'd dust this one off and give it another chance as my second novel. I think I did pretty well on it, considering part of it is older material.

The Summer Strikes Back was originally inspired by this series of fan art by Italian comic artist Denis Medri I found on DeviantArt  back in December 2015. I loved the idea of writing Star Wars as a 1980's action-comedy, but had a hard time working with the high school setting. I was four years old in 1983. I knew nothing about high school in the 80's besides what I'd seen in John Hughes movies.

I did, however, know about the Jersey Shore. I grew up in Cape May, a small town on the very tip of New Jersey, in the 1980's and early 90's. Switching the setting from a small fictional Philadelphia high school in 1983 to a small fictional Jersey Shore town in the summer of 1983 made everything click. I was able to make ample use of not only my memories, but my family's memories of the Shore during that time period. This is now a tribute to all the comedies of the late 70's, 80's, and early 90's that had a small band of misfits gathering together to rescue some place close to them from evil snobs, developers, or corporate types.

Major warning that this is intended to be my first full-fledged adult novel. There's violence, adult themes, a brief reference to nudity and sex in Part 15, drinking, references to drug use, and quite a bit of swearing. If this were a movie, it would be an R. Despite the child characters in the later parts, this is for ages 15 and over.

The Summer Strikes Back, Part 1

“Come on, Leia!” Luke Walker flashed one of his sunny grins over his shoulder at his twin sister. “Let's get everything inside. I want to find the guys. Biggs told me the waves are awesome this summer! The 1983 season is going to be the best!”

He'd been looking forward to this all year. The Cottages stood across from the quiet end of the boardwalk, buffering the small town of Ocean View, New Jersey. They'd once been painted white with pale blue or sea-green shutters. Now most of them were faded, the paint on the shutters chipped. They huddled together behind the protective dunes and narrow boards, hiding their flaws from passers-by.

Leia Walker sighed, shaking her head at her goofy twin brother. The Cottages may have been eyesores now, but they were Uncle Ken's babies. They were originally built in the 20's as an alternative to the big, fancy hotels that littered the southern side of town. Uncle Ben and her parents bought them in 1952, then sunk all their money into renovating them. Leia and Luke used to spend every summer at #2, the cottage on the end, next to Uncle Ben's. She was actually glad he'd said that one was currently occupied. She didn't know how she'd deal with the memories, especially with their parents and Adam gone.

She carried her suitcase and a bag of groceries up the porch steps. Luke was already barreling around the one-floor building, exclaiming over everything. “It's so...so...old! It's great!” His straight, sandy hair was flying in the breeze. He probably thought he looked like a blond, mustache-less Tom Sellek in the Hawaiian-print shirt and white shorts he'd so carefully selected for this trip. In truth, the shirt was a cast-off from Biggs and was about two sizes too large for his skinny frame, with the most god-awful combination of neon pink flamingos and lime-green palm trees she'd ever seen.

The cottage consisted of a living room, a kitchen, a closet-sized bathroom, and two bedrooms. Although Uncle Ben had recently repainted the rooms a cheery nautical blue, white, and shell pink, he otherwise hadn't had the money to update in years. Most of the furnishings were still the same walnut wood tables and whitewashed wicker frame beds she remembered from her childhood.

Perhaps to save money, genuine sea-side items were used wherever possible. A net festooned with real seashells hung over the slightly threadbare couch. The coffee table was a sturdy crab trap with a heavy wooden slab on top. The thick wooden TV console looked about a decade old. She bet they didn't even get HBO.

Luke didn't care. “Hey Leia, where's the suitcase with my bathing suit?” She had to jump aside as he ran back out to the driveway.

“Luke, the beach will wait!” She groaned. “We haven't unpacked or loaded up the fridge yet!”

“We can do that later.” He came back in with two suitcases and his old L.L Bean backpack. “Did you see those waves coming in? They were huge! Biggs told me he's going to teach me how to catch the big one this year.”

“And you'll fall on your head, like you do every year.” Leia went back in for a cooler and her electronic typewriter. She wanted to get a head-start on her recommendation letter for Senator Martha Mothma, whom she was hoping to intern with in the fall. She greatly admired her dedication to environmental issues and creating new jobs.

The typewriter was her high school graduation gift from her aunt and uncle. Luke's was a surfboard, one of the glossy new X-Wing models. He'd had to talk their uncle into it. Uncle Owen thought Luke's surfing obsession was ridiculous. Leia suspected Uncle Owen would have preferred Luke staying in Philly and taking over the Lars Hardware Store, but Luke's heart was never really in selling nuts and bolts.

Her twin came out in his bathing suit, carrying a brown plastic bottle with a gold tropical-print label. “Hey Leia, would you put the sunscreen on my back? I can't reach the middle!” He already wore his white and tan OP bathing suit. She didn't want to imagine what his room looked like, even after five minutes of occupancy. She hadn't seen the floor of his room at home in years.

He sighed as his sister rubbed the white lotion on his back. “Luke, you know Uncle Ben wanted to meet us as soon as we came in. We're here to help him with the cottages, not go running off with your surfer buddies all day.”

“Aw sis,” Luke whined, “you're no fun. I don't need a mother. We came here to get away from Aunt Bertha and Uncle Owen, remember?” He turned around and let her do his front. “Besides, I want to spent time with you, too. This is going to be our last summer together.”

“I know.” She kissed his cheek. “Luke, I love you. You're my twin brother. I just have to do this. You know how important getting into Drexel was to me.”

Luke's sunshine smile fell. “Can't you join the Coast Guard with me?”

“I wouldn't be any good at it, just like political science bores you silly.” She put her arm around him. “The beach isn't going anywhere. Let's get the food put away, then go find Uncle Ben.”

Leia did manage to get Luke back into his flamingo shirt and ancient green-and-red flip-flops. She was grateful she'd opted for the pink Laura Ashley skirt and lacy white blouse and tan sandals. At least she looked professional.

Luke followed Leia down the road in front of the beach. The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing, and it was hot, but not humid, something that didn't often happen at the Jersey Shore in the summer. The beach was already dotted with long rows of brilliantly-colored umbrellas and tents. You could barely move around the towels and blankets.

She could see a bunch of Luke's buddies, including Brian “Biggs” Darklighter and Walter “Wedge” Antilles, riding waves closer to the old Cape Holly Lighthouse. Skinny Chip Thompson and his best friend, short and stout Arturro Detonski, were just running out of the ocean. Both had navy blue rental rafts under their arms.

Luke waved to them. “Hi, fellas!”

Wedge waved back. “Hey, man! You're finally here!” He almost leaped over to the porch for a hug. “When did you get in?” Luke started to answer, but was cut off by Wes Jansen and Derek “Hobbie” Kilivan, Wedge's best friends.

“Yo, Luke!” Hobbie had one arm around a neon pink and green surfboard. The other was around a cute girl in a green and yellow striped string bikini. “You gonna join us on the beach? You too, Leia. We could use some back-up here. Darklighter thinks he's gonna show us how it's done.”

Biggs smirked under his thick black mustache. “I know I am. I'm better than most of you idiots. I've been down here since May. Some of us college boys get sprung earlier.”

“We'll be down in a few minutes.” Leia was already tugging Luke down the sidewalk. “We have to talk to Uncle Ben first.”

“Bring him along!” Wes emerged with a can of Diet Coke. “He's a great old guy. He tells radical stories, man.”

Chip and Arturro waved as they marched up to the sand. “Hullo there!” Chip's clipped British accent chirped. “I'm so glad to see you!” Arturro grinned and let loose with a greeting in his native language. He was from some Eastern European country. Only Chip was sure which one, since he was really the only one in their group who could understand him.

“When you do come on the beach, please take care. There's all kinds of awful things here!” Chip shuddered. “We were out in the water when a crab nipped my toes! How rude can you be? I'd say he was a very crabby crab, but that does seem rather redundant. And I know I saw jellyfish! Do you know what their sting can do to you?” Arturro rolled his eyes; the tone of his voice was annoyed and scolding. “You say the water is too cold for jellyfish? Arturro, I know what I saw!”

Leia shook her head. Those two may have argued constantly, but they were the best of friends and were never seen without one another. They'd been sharing Cottage 3 together for the last couple of summers. “We'll down in a minute. We just need to talk to Uncle Ben.”

Arturro nodded, his voice enthusiastic. Chip nodded, too. “Do give Mr. Kenobi our regards,” the tall British boy insisted. “We haven't really had a chance to talk to him since we got here. We've been busy working at the boardwalk. Miss Maz pays fairly well, even if she can be a very peculiar woman.” Arturro's voice was defensive. “I like her too, but face it. She's a bit odd. Perhaps it's her age.”

Uncle Ben's cottage was the largest one on the very end of the street, across from the beach. He wasn't really their uncle. He'd been a good friend of their father and their brother Adam, before their parents died in a car accident and Adam after he came home from Vietnam. He liked to talk about how he'd come over from Scotland after World War II with barely a penny to his name, but his father helped him on his feet.

“Luke! Leia!” The old man waved from his porch. He'd been sweeping the steps with an ancient cornstalk broom that looked like it should have had a witch perched on the handle. Luke and Leia swept him into a hug as soon as they got on the porch. He looked the same as he ever did, a dear, skinny old man with a thin silver beard, short flyaway hair, and an elegantly craggy face. “I'm sorry I couldn't greet you. Cottage 5 had a problem with a backed-up toilet. Kes Dameron's son was dropping his Hot Wheels airplanes down the toilet again. Poe is a good boy, but his curiosity does get the best of him at times.”

Luke chuckled. “Sounds like what Leia and I used to do when we were kids. Remember when Uncle Owen caught us trying to flush our Matchbox cars down the toilet in the back room of the hardware store because we were bored?”

“It was your idea.” She winced at the memory. “Uncle Owen sure gave us a walloping for that one.”

Whatever Uncle Ben was going to say was drowned out by the sound of motorcycles. Screams came from the beach as bikes ripped umbrellas out of the sand, overturned coolers, flattened sandcastles, and crunched through plastic buckets and inflatable life rafts. Helmeted figures in white and black leather jackets, dirty white jeans, and old white muscle t-shirts threw soda bottles at the crowd, jeering at them when they threw soda bottles or clam shells back.

The old Scot's eyes were narrowed. “The Imperial Gang. They're a local motorcycle group. They've been involved in crimes ranging from civil disobedience to arson in this area for years.”

“Isn't someone going to do something?” Leia waved her hand at the chaos on the beach. “Shouldn't we be calling the cops?”

“I'm way ahead of you.” Ben was already stepping inside. “I'm not going to let them get away this time.”

The last motorcycle on the beach came to a stop directly across from Uncle Ben's cottage. It was by far the largest, a massive black and silver Honda that looked more like a space ship than a bike. Despite the warm day, the rider was dressed all in black, from his Members Only jacket to the black boots with the silver tips. The voice that hissed through the helmet sounded deep, but surprisingly raspy, like he'd been smoking eight packs a day for the last decade.

“So this is what they're letting hang around our beach these days.” He kicked at the twisted remains of a once-colorful beach chair. “Buncha morons. Everybody outta here. This beach belongs to the Imperial Gang. You've got ten seconds to get off our turf.”

The lifeguards, having recovered from their high whitewashed bench being tipped over, stormed over to the gang. The female guard put her hands on hips, barely clad in a pair of very tight red shorts. Her “Ocean View Lifeguard” tank top was so huge on her small frame, she'd knotted at her waist to keep it in place. “Look, buddy,” she snapped, “you're already in violation of about ten different beach rules, starting with the one about no vehicles on the beach and ending with the fact that I don't see any beach tags on your person. You might want to get out of here, before I have to send you and the Loser's Club up to the lifeguard station for some up close and personal time with my boss.”

“Oooh, little girl thinks she's a tough chick!” The guy in the black mask gave her a shove. “Go back to playing with your widdle pink bears, kid.”

“Watch it, buddy.” Her friend, a small, slender man with short, dark hair and a thin mustache, came up behind her. “I'd suggest you listen to her, unless you'd like to write about how you spent your summer vacation in jail.”

The Imperial shoved the smaller man. “Watch it, punk. Why don't you take your little girlfriend and shove off?”

“We ought to do something, Leia!” Luke's pink lips narrowed. “Where did they get the idea that the beach belongs to them, anyway? This is a public beach, at least the last time I checked.”

They came on the sand just in time to see the male lifeguard point towards the steps. “Look, I don't want this to get ugly. This is a public beach. There's the exit. Use it, before someone calls the cops.”

The tallest Imperial Gang member in the black Members Only jacket lifted him into the air by the collar of his tank top. “You think you can tell me what to do, little man? No one tells Vader what to do! Nobody!”

Biggs took his arm. “Hey man, why don't you take a couple dozen chill pills, then get back to him? You're being a real ass. This guy and the chick are in charge.”

“I'll show you a nuisance, Darklighter.” Vader hit him square in the gut, then followed it with a right to his chin that left him flat on his back. “This is what happens to those who mess with the Vader.”

Arturro ran into the man, pounding at his stomach. He barely made a dent. “Arturro, are you mad?” Chip called. “That man is three times larger than you are! Let him have his beach. We were just leaving, anyway.”

“Yeah, shorty. Listen to your friend.” Arturro spat a stream of the nastiest curses he could think of at the taller man. Vader just laughed. “Too bad I don't speak that shit. I might be offended.” He finally threw Arturro into Chip, knocking both against a family's sandcastle.

It was turning into a free-for-all. Families scattered as fathers and mothers dragged their little ones away. Young adults, teenagers, and local kids jumped on Vader's group. Leia didn't like how many people she saw bloody and bruised under the fist of a white-and-black-clad Imperial Gang member. Wedge was attending to Biggs' bruised lip, while Hobbie and Wes flung the volleyball net over two of the gang members.

Luke jumped in front of Vader. “You leave my friends alone, you big bully!”

Vader nearly fell over laughing. “And who's gonna make me, Stick Boy? You?”

“Yeah!” Luke put up his fists. “You're not so tough! I'll bet I could...”

He never got the chance to find out. Vader laid him out on the beach with one punch to the face. “Sure, Stick Boy. You couldn't hit a sick snail.”

“Don't you dare touch my brother!” Leia had enough. She never tolerated anyone picking on Luke. Not at school. Not in their neighborhood in Philly. Not here. She rammed her knee as hard as she could into Vader's crotch, allowing the woman lifeguard to trip him into the sand next to Luke and Biggs.

The girl lifeguard grinned at Leia. “Hey, you're damn good!”

“Thanks.” Leia lifted her chin. “No one hits my brother and gets away with it.”

The lifeguard put out her hand. “Jennifer Erso. Most people around here call me Jyn.”

“Leia Walker.” She shook her hand, then nodded at Vader. “What are we going to do with the trash?”

Even as Leia spoke, sirens could be heard in the distance. Jyn grinned. “Let's get this guy to the lifeguard station. Our boss and the cops can pick them up there.”

Vader had been just leaning back on his shoulder, his helmet aimed at her. She couldn't be sure if he was staring at her, or making faces, or what. “You...chick...” his voice sounded...shocked? Awed? “You were just...amazing.”

“And you,” snarled Leia, “are a creep.”

“I'm a creep who doesn't wanna get arrested.” He rubbed Leia's arm. “You know, I like girls who can give me a real challenge. Wanna go up to the old sunken concrete ship at the Point, so I can show you where else to put your knees?”

Leia shoved his hand away as Jyn and her male friend helped Luke. “After what you did here? I wouldn't go out with you if you were Indiana Jones!”

He chucked her chin. “Too bad, babe. I could be a real adventure.”

Leia's glare would have been more effective if it hadn't been directed at his helmet. “Get. Out. Now. Or else.”

“I'd say 'Or else what,' but the look in your eyes pretty much answers the question.” Vader almost literally leaped on his bike. “Later, babe.” He roared off, just as Ben hurried on the beach, the cops behind him.

Ben looked concerned when Luke showed up with a black eye and a bloody lip. “Luke, are you all right? What happened?”

“Uncle Ben,” Luke insisted, “the leader attacked Biggs! He really wailed him. He might have broken something. I had to help.”

Leia crossed her arms. “And I wasn't going to let my brother get hurt.”

The older man sighed. “I want you both to come to my cottage. We need to have a long talk.”

The Summer Strikes Back, Part 2

Luke had always loved Ben's cottage. Though the furnishings and appliances were similar to the ones in their cottage, every crack and crevice held mementos of Uncle Ben's many adventures. Beautiful Asian bamboo umbrellas and ivory elephants vied for space with Hawaiian animal carvings and shell leis.

Leia was more interested in the photos on Uncle Ben's crab-trap side table. “Is this Mother and Dad?” she asked, holding up a faded color picture in a chipped gold frame. Luke joined her, looking over her shoulder. “It looks like them. And look, there's Adam.”

Luke frowned. “He's pretty young here, barely a toddler. This must be at least the mid-50's.”

His sister nodded. “It's so empty. I see the old Ocean View Hotel, and the cottages and a couple of houses, but nothing else. What's that little Victorian house in the background, across from Cottage 8?”

“The original lifeguard station.” They both looked up as Ben shuffled in from the bathroom with a battered first aid kit. “It was built in the late 1880's. Locals did try to save it, but the city of Ocean View finally decided it wasn't up to code and replaced it with the current lifeguard station about five years ago.”

Luke smiled. “You know everything about this town, Uncle Ben. How long have you lived here?”

“Since after World War II.” He dropped on the battered brown and tan-striped couch and flipped open the rusted snaps on the first aid kit. “I was stationed at the Philadelphia Naval Yard late in 1944. One summer weekend, my unit had shore leave. Some of the boys were from the Philadelphia area and had often spoken of the charms and bikini-clad women of Ocean View.” He gave them a small grin. “I came for the attractive females, but I fell in love with the ocean. It reminded me of the fishing village I grew up at in Scotland, but more...colorful, perhaps.”

“I wish I remembered this,” Luke said softly as Ben rubbed alcohol on his wounds, then slapped Band Aids on them. “We weren't born until years later.”

“You two will need to be cautious.” The slender, calloused fingers snapped the heavy yellow case shut. “Vader and his gang are not to be taken lightly. They will damage anything that gets in their way. You saw them today.”

Luke rubbed his bruised cheek. “We'll be careful, Uncle.”

They all looked up at once at a knock on the door. “I'll be right back.” Luke and Leia's blue and brown eyes followed the older man as he headed for the front porch. Luke could only see a little of the man on the other side. The man had a stiff British accent with the crispest dictation he ever heard.

Leia tried to see over her brother's shoulder as their voices got louder. “What's going on?”

They both went to the front window. The other man was small and very thin, with a skeletal face straight out of the Night of the Living Dead movies. His sharply cut gray suit and smooth brown leather briefcase had more in common with John Forsythe on Dynasty, but he somehow made them even more intimidating.

“I think some guy is selling something to Uncle Ben.” Luke winced as the voices got louder. “I wouldn't want to buy anything off him. He reminds me of Dr. Frankenstein from those old Hammer Horror movies Channel 11 runs during October.”

Uncle Ben was not an easy man to intimidate. “I've told you before, Tarkin, no. I'm not interested in selling the Cottages. This is my life, and not only my home, but the home of many others.”

“Surely you can't keep them up much longer.” The gray-haired man gave Ben a thin, knowing smile that chilled Luke to his bones. “These buildings are over fifty years old. They require a great deal of money to upgrade. And with all the horrible gangs driving tourists away, like those on the very beach before you, how will you survive?”

“We'll manage.” Ben looked at his watch. “I'm sorry, but I do have renters to attend to. Perhaps you can come back another time? Say, never?”

Tarkin only chuckled. “My employers are making you a very generous offer. You could even retire in style.”

“I'm not interested.” The taller Scotsman started to close the door. “This is the last time. If I see you here again, I'll sue you for harassment. Got that?”

The man smirked. “And I could call a building inspector. None of these rat-traps look like they're even remotely up to code.”'

“You do that. Good bye.” He finally shut the door in the skeleton man's face.

Luke shuddered as the man strode back to a sleek silver-gray Mercedes parked on the side of the road. “Who was that, Uncle?”

“Peter Tarkin. He's a lawyer, mainly based in Philadelphia and Allentown.” He watched as the Mercedes took off down Ocean Drive with a mighty screech.

Leia sat on the couch, her hands demurely on her lap. “Uncle Ben, would you please explain what is going on?”

Ben rubbed alcohol into Luke's wound, making the young man wince. “Have either of you ever heard of Empire Industries?”

She nodded. “I have. They're technically an oil and fuel company. They began in the 1930's as Naboo Oil and Power, but they branched out in the 1950's and 60's into chemicals and bio-engineering. In the 1970's, they branched further into the totally different field of hotels and entertainment, probably to compete with Gulf and Western buying Paramount Pictures. In addition to oil fields and chemical plants, they own six theme parks, two luxury hotel chains, and a cruise ship line.”

Luke raised his eyebrows. “How do you know all that?”

“Senator Mothma has an ongoing feud with them.” Leia picked at a natty brown thread in the couch cushion. “They've broken at least three or four environmental laws and six minor safety regulations on their theme parks and hotels, but nothing anyone has ever been able to convict them for. Their owner, Simon Palapatine, is said to be a real grade-A sleazebucket.”

Ben slapped a Band-Aid on Luke's cheek. “Most of the newer hotels and condos on the south side of town were built by Empire Industries. They tore down the Old Republic and Royal Naboo Hotel, among others, to build the Coruscant City condo complex. It just opened last month.”

“Oh no!” Luke's face fell. “The Royal Naboo had a great pool! It was almost the size of a lake, with lots of flowers and landscaping. It was so beautiful. I used to go pool-hopping with Wedge and Biggs there.”

“And the Old Republic had a great tea shop.” Leia's eyes were far away. “Mother used to take me there as a special treat when I was little, just her and me. I wore my Sunday best dress and everything.”

Ben nodded. “Tarkin works for Empire Industries. He's been after me to sell the Cottages for months. Every time, it's right after the Imperial Gang have played pranks or done damage. He thinks he can get me to sell out by driving away my customers.” He gave them a thin smile of his own. “That shark doesn't know the first thing about loyalty or devotion. I'll never sell this property. It's my home, and a lot of other people's homes, too.”

The older man nodded at the beach. “Why don't you two take the rest of the day off? It's only your first day. Tomorrow morning, you can start painting the fences between Cottage 2 and 3. They aren't very wide or very long. You'll be out on the beach in no time.”

“Thanks, Uncle Ben!” Luke let out a whoop and went to grab his surfboard from the back porch at their cottage. “Aren't you coming too, sis?”

Leia shook her head and gathered her purse. “I think I'll go for a walk. I'll join you later.”

“Suit yourself.” Luke turned to Ben. “How about you? Want to try surfing again? I'll bet you haven't done it in years.”

Ben smiled. “These old bones aren't up to surfing, but a swim does sound nice after wrestling with plumbing all morning.”

Leia waved. “Save me a spot by the water!”

“I will!” The younger man sighed as his sister strolled out the screened door.

Luke couldn't help watching his sister as she strolled down the street, past the boardwalk and the beach. The boardwalk was narrow here, really more of a wooden sidewalk than the great plank road where the amusement parks were further south on Ocean Drive. He wasn't the only one watching her. Wedge and Deak's eyes followed her the whole way down to the edge of the street, where the ancient brick Hotel Ocean View malevolently guarded three city blocks. She turned the corner, heading down Sea Gull Road to the docks.

Wedge whistled. “Is it me, Walker, or does your sister get cuter every time I see her?”

Wes smirked from where he was perched on the back of his surfboard. “Is she still going steady with that Isolder guy in Philly?”

“Nahh, they broke up right after New Year's. Leia said she wanted to concentrate on school.” Luke hefted his board. “How's Biggs? Is he ok?”

The other two gathered their boards. “Split lip, cracked ribs, lotta bruises. Hobbie has him back at our cottage.” Wedge got his board under his arm. “Vader got him pretty good in the chest. His ribs are really sore. He may not be able to ride for a while.”

“God, what a bummer.” Luke looked towards the cottage across from the stairs to the beach with the bright-colored towels and bathing suits flapping on the peeling wooden porch railings. “I was really hoping he'd teach me how to catch the big one this year.”

Uncle Ben had already waded into the water. “You know, Luke, I might be able to help you with that.”

“With what?” Luke was paddling out besides him. It felt great to be back out in the waves. The bottle green Atlantic Ocean was just cool enough to be bracing.

“With surfing.” He ducked under the waves, then emerged as the ripples parted, sea weed caught in his short white hair. “I'm an old hand at this. I know a few things even some modern experts aren't familiar with.” Sapphire-blue orbs gazed into the horizon, seeming a million miles away. “I was once a member of the Jedi Knights, like your brother Adam.”

Luke nearly fell off his surfboard. “The Jedi Knights? The surfer group? They were the best of the best in the 50's and 60's! I've heard stories about them. They won every competition they ever entered. They were legendary!” He looked over from his board. “I didn't know Adam was a member. My aunt and uncle don't really like to talk about him. He got into some kind of trouble after Vietnam.”

“He was the best surfer to ever ride the waves in Ocean View.” Ben turned his weathered face back to Luke. “And he was a good friend.”

“Awesome, man.” Wedge floated up besides Luke. “Teach us everything you know.”

“That would be radical!” Wes grinned. “We could learn from the master!”

“Please, Uncle Ben?” Luke's round eyes matched the wide, baby-blue sky over their heads. “I want to learn the moves of the Jedi and be a great surfer, like my brother.”

“Tomorrow.” Ben started towards the shore. “As soon as Luke gets finished painting that fence.

The waves aren't high enough, and it's really getting late. The lifeguards will be leaving soon.”

Luke laid down on his surfboard. If he and the guys could learn those moves, man, nobody would stop them. Not even the Imperial Gang. And definitely not some lame sister who didn't know how to have fun anymore. Maybe they could even be as great as the Jedi.

Wedge nudged him from on top his surfboard. “Hey, we're having a late 4^th of July bash tonight at Cottage 4. We'd love it if you could come.” He splashed Uncle Ben. “You too, Mr. Kenobi. We could tell people we have a chaperon.”

“Yeah, man.” Wes' eyes sparkled. “It would be an honor to have one of the legendary Jedi at our place.”

Ben chuckled and splashed Wedge back. “I think I'd like that. If only to keep an eye on you young whippersnappers. I might even tell a few stories about the Jedi.”

Luke managed to hug Ben from on top of his surfboard, ignoring the laughter from the other guys. Someday, man. Someday. We're going to be that good.