The Resistance Kids and the Haunted House, Part 3

The next day, while the other Resistance Kids were working at Hank's or filing patient records at Dr. Kalonia's office, Poe was meeting with his boss, Mrs. Leia Organa-Solo herself. Leia was a small woman, barely five-one in her stocking feet, but she was known for tenacity. Her gray-brown hair was wound around her head in a thick braid. She wore a fashionable purple wool jacket with a nipped waist and a black pleated skirt that was just long enough to show off her still-trim legs.

“I'm going to talk to Lor San Tekka again today.” Poe leaned over in her chair. “I think I'm onto something really, really big. San Tekka told me he had some kind of map or clue to Mr. Waller's location. If I can just get this piece. I think it'll make a big difference in this case.”

“I hope so.” Even Poe noticed how haggard Mrs. Solo had been looking lately. He knew she'd been through hell and back in the past decade. Her son Ben, once a promising young member of the police academy, was arrested for burning down several major police departments and correctional facilities...including taking part in the destruction of Luke Waller's school. Luke took off shortly after. Hank moved out after Ben was sent to reform school. Ben had since gotten out, but Leia hadn't heard from him in months.

With all that, Leia kept pushing on. She was one of the officials who insisted on the removal of Professor Roland Snoke for unethical practices after reports of police officers killing people and themselves after taking part in his “experiments” filtered back to her. She was instrumental in ending the gang wars that had rocked the area in the early 1900's, too. After she quit the police force, she opened her own detective agency. Poe could only hope to be half as strong as she was.

“San Tekka claimed he actually saw Luke in the Bowery.” Poe leaned over her desk. “He said he was willing to tell me or give me some kind of a clue to where. Some old house, I think.”

She handed him a photo. “This was the last picture we took of him, before he vanished.” Luke Waller was a handsome man, smaller than typical, with fine features for a man who was likely in his fifties. He had short gold hair streaked with gray and a big, sunny smile. He wore suit trousers with the jacket of a World War I fighter pilot.

“What happened to his hand?” Poe tapped the gloved appendage.

Leia frowned, her face looking far older. “My father cut it off around 1917. He arrested Hank and me in what was then known as the Cloud City Club on false charges. Luke came looking for us. He sliced off his hand as a warning to anyone who would dare to defy him.” The older woman shrugged. “Losing limbs seems to run in my family. Father lost an arm in the Battle of San Juan Hill. He had to have it reconstructed.”

Poe rubbed his own wrist. “Ouch. Now I'm glad I got out of the last war with all my limbs intact.”

“I wish I knew what Luke was doing.” Leia shook her head fondly. “It isn't like him to be so quiet. Usually, the problem is getting him to stop talking. When we were younger, he was such a chatterbox. He used to drive Hank crazy. You should have heard him imitate half the residents of the Bowery. He was an amazing mimic. I always thought he could have gone into radio, if he hadn't been so dead-set on following in Father's footsteps.”

Poe chuckled. “I think he'd get along well with Finn. Finn can be a talker, when you get him going.” He coughed. “Mrs. Solo, I saw your husband at his garage yesterday. Finn and two of the girls in our group work for him. I think he wouldn't mind seeing you again.”

Leia sighed. “I do miss Hank. Him and Ben. I miss him coming home and seeing him every day, grimy from being in the garage. I miss bouncing around in the Falcon. Charles still comes in to say 'hi' every now and then, but Hank is never with him.” She shook her head. “We always argued. We've been arguing ever since we met. But that last one, after Ben was sentenced to reform school...it ended with Hank walking out. He thought we were being too easy on him. Ben should have been in jail, he said. I said there's still good in him.”

“You know,” Poe started slowly, “Mr. Solo is going to be at our Halloween party on Canal Street, at Skywalker Manor. I'm going to invite you, too. Maybe it'll give you a chance to talk to him.”

“Skywalker Manor?” Leia's eyebrows went up in surprise. “I thought they tore that eye sore down years ago.”

He shook his head. “Apparently not. In fact, I heard Starkiller Industries bought it.”

“Hmm.” Leia leaned back in her chair, her face furrowed in concentration. “I wonder why they would buy the old family homestead? Surely there are houses in better shape in far nicer parts of the city if they want to set up offices in New York.”

The young man grinned. “Do you want me to look into it, Mrs. Solo?”

“No, you concentrate on finding my brother.” Leia reached for a small, leather-bound black book. “I still have connections in this town. I can find out more about this myself.”

“All right.” He stood, taking his hat from the rack near the door. “The party starts at 6 tomorrow, Mrs. Solo, as soon as the little guys are done trick-or-treating. The Resistance Kids are going as Wizard of Oz characters. I'll be the handsomest scarecrow there.”

There was a twinkle in Leia's brown eyes. “I'm sure you will be.” She waved her hand. “Now, you run along. Tell Lor I say 'hi,' and if he knows where my brother is, to make sure to smack him over the head for me for running out.” But she was grinning.

Poe couldn't help grinning back. “I will.”

~*~*~*~*~*~

Detective Lor San Tekka met Poe by the docks near the Manhattan Bridge. The warehouses were grimy and probably not the safest, but the elderly detective said what he had to tell him was important. He didn't want anyone on his regular beat to hear it.

“Did you bring it?” Poe looked around furtively.

San Tekka pulled a wrinkled piece of paper out of his pocket. “I have part of it. If you want the rest, you'll need to talk to ol' Artie Baker. He and Chief Waller were best friends, back in the day. Artie always knows where Waller is.” He quickly scribbled something on a slip of paper. “This is his address. He's a mechanic and an inventor, of sorts. Lives on Hester Street. Doesn't get out much.”

“Thanks.” Baby let out a bark. He wished the silly dog hadn't followed him here, but she wouldn't leave him. He was afraid someone would try to steal her, or she'd get run over. “I've got to get this to Leia fast.” The smaller man swept the puppy into his arms.

They both stopped as they heard footsteps and gunfire. “Go!” San Tekka shoved him onto a fire escape. “I can handle these hoods.”

“But...” Baby growled as a knife embedded itself into the warehouse wall between them. It was a familiar knife, one he'd seen several times before. One that had a garnet-studded handle and a long, sharp black blade. “You be careful, Detective.”

“Don't worry about me, son.” Gunfire rocketed over their heads. “Get going! Now!”

He didn't need to tell Poe twice. The younger man raced down the street, Baby whimpering and yipping over his shoulder. Poor thing didn't like that noisy gunfight! Her owner wasn't a fan of it, either. Leia Organa had to get that message!

He had just made it to Canal when he saw the three youths in white and black zoot suits on his tail. Poe dove into an alley, letting the trio run past them. “Baby,” he insisted, pulling the papers out of his pocket, “I want you to get this to the Kids. Or at least Rey. They'll bring it to Leia or Hank.” He wound the paper around her orange and white collar. “Don't lose it, ok?”

Baby yipped and rubbed him. “I'm sorry, girl, but you have to go. Go get Rey!” She barked happily at the mention of her second-favorite human in the entire world. He pushed her into a hole in the wooden fence at the end of the alley she just fit under. “Get going! Rey! You have to find Rey!”

He got her just in time. The boys in white and black streamed into the alley, all holding guns on him. He put up his hands, grinning. “Hi, fellas. I have no idea what's going on here. I was just talking to a nice old man. How about we discuss this over a root beer float at Ackbar's Soda Shoppe?”

The largest responded by slamming him hard in the gut. “Maybe not,” he gasped as he dropped to his knees.

He saw the heavy black boots walking up the alley before he felt the gloved hands yank his hair forward. Kylo Ren breathed heavily in his face for a few minutes before he got sick of looking at a black visor. “Ok, so who talks first? Do I talk first? Probably better me than you. You usually sound like you smoke ten packs a day.”

A gloved hand smacked hard across his cheek. “The First Order Gang wants something from you, Dameron.”

Poe glared at him. “Nice try, but the Organa Detective Agency won't be intimidated by the likes of you.”

Ren nearly dropped him. “Organa?” There was what he believed was a snort under the visor. “Mother. I had heard she had some foolish idea of becoming a detective.”

“She's a damn good one.” Poe struggled in the two goons' ham-sized arms. “Don't you even think of touching her. She's got enough problems without you showing your ugly puss around her office.”

“I wouldn't touch her. None of my gang would ever touch her. As long as she keeps to her business and stays out of mine.” He backhanded Poe again, this time across the lips. “Take him to the Starkiller Manor. Snoke was asking for some...experiments. His mouth might actually be useful for something.”

“Experiments?” Poe struggled. “There's no way I'm gonna cut open by some mad scientist!”

“Oh, this works a little...differently. Snoke's more interested in that sharp little mind of yours.” He gave Poe's curls one more good yank. “Take him away. And find that dog. He must have sent the map with it.”

Poe could only hope as they lead him away that Baby was on her way to the other kids...and that he hadn't put them in as much danger as he was.

The Resistance Kids and the Haunted House, Part 4

Finn was worried. Poe hadn't come home last night. No one had seen him at all since he went to Mrs. Solo's office yesterday afternoon. Snap called Mrs. Solo, and she hadn't seen him, either. Even worse than that, Lor San Tekka, the guy Poe was supposed to be interviewing, had been killed the night before in a shootout by the docks.

Hank brought the New York World-Telegram over with the news as they were working on the Falcon the next morning. “Didn't your buddy say he was interviewing this guy?”

Finn grabbed the paper first. “Oh man.” The others all leaned over his shoulder. “What if he's a wet spot on the pavement right now?”

“We should go out looking for him.” Jess pointed to a slightly blurry photo of two men, one of whom was obviously about to run away. “I think that's him. He might be lost, or hurt somewhere.”

“Aw, come on, guys.” Snap shook his head. “Poe's lived here for most of his life. He knows this town like the back of his hand. He's probably hiding from the bad guys and will show up when the heat's died down.”

Rey nodded. “I don't think we should worry just yet. If he's hasn't arrived by the time of the party tonight, then we'll worry.”

“I guess so.” Finn returned to the Falcon's engine. “I still don't like it. Something doesn't feel right. What if the cops want to talk to him? After all, one of their own died last night.”

“And who would have killed Lor San Tekka?” Jess poked a finger at the front page. “The newspaper only says it was a local gang. San Tekka was one of the nicest cops in the area. He never hurt anything worse than a jelly donut.”

“I only hope Poe's ok.” Finn banged on the radiator. “He's my best friend. He got me out of the First Order Gang and offered me the room with him and Snap. I sorta owe my life to him.”

The bell on the back door rang. The group looked up as big Charles strode in. He was a huge old Russian with a grizzled gray-brown beard and long graying hair. You could barely see his blue eyes under all that hair. He carried a shivering Baby. “Hello, children,” he said in his thick, booming accent. “I think this mite belongs to one of you. I found her huddled in the alley behind the garage.”

“Baby! Oh, you poor girl!” Rey jumped up and gently took the frightened puppy out of Charles' hairy arms. “Let me check you over.” She gently rubbed her fingers around the dog for bumps, cuts, or bruises. Baby seemed to be ok, just scared. She was pressing her fingers around her collar when she found the scraps of paper.

Her eyes widened as she read it. “Ohhh...ohh!” She turned on her heel to Hank. “We have to get to Mrs. Solo's office!”

“Leia?” Hank looked over her shoulder. “What's so important?”

The others crowded around her. “Only someone who might know where Chief Luke Waller is.”

“I know Artie Baker.” Hank turned the sign on the front door to 'closed.' “Charles and I can take you there. He's an old buddy of ours.”

Jess washed her hands. “I think we should go to Mrs. Solo first. She ought to know that Poe's probably in trouble.”

“Don't forget the party.” Rey tucked Baby under her jacket. “We have to set up for that around 4.”

“Maybe one of us ought to call Mrs. Solo.” Finn grabbed his jacket. “It might be kind of shocking to have all of us in there at once.”

“Nahh.” Hank pulled on his own brown leather jacket. “She's been subjected to worse things. Did I ever tell you about the time we drove from here to Buffalo in a snow storm, trying to out-run her dad? The Falcon must have broken down twenty times on that trip.” He sighed, his eyes far away. “She kissed me under the hood, when we were working on the engine together. It was our first kiss.”

“I remember that.” Charles laughed, his booming guffaws rattling the shelves. “It took you long enough, Solovich. I thought you were never going to do it.”

Finn grinned as the kids climbed into the back of the truck. “Could you tell us about it on the way to Mrs. Solo's place?”

“Why not?” Hank plucked the keys off the back table. “It all started when Darren Veder invaded Echo Base, what we were calling the 39^th Precinct at the time. He was the most corrupt Chief of Police ever in New York City. He didn't like how we were taking out his rackets...”

~*~*~*~*~*~

Leia wasn't surprised to see her soon-to-be-ex husband, his massive best friend, four young adults, and a puppy crowd into her office. The Kids happily noted that Leia couldn't take her eyes off Hank...and he couldn't do anything besides stare wistfully at her. “Mrs. Solo,” Rey began, “we have news about Poe.”

The older woman's still lovely mouth turned down. “I heard. I've made calls all morning, trying to locate him.”

“We haven't been able to find him.” Rey handed her the paper. “But we did find this. Baby had it on her when she showed up at the Garage this morning.” The puppy barked at her name. The girl scratched her between the ears.

Leia unfolded it and read it, then dropped it into her purse. “Artie Baker was a close friend of Luke's, going back to the late teens. He knew my father before that. He knows everything that goes on in the Bowery. I could call him and see if he would mind us appearing on his doorstep. I thought he died years ago.”

It only took one tense phone call for Leia to convince this Artie to let them come. All she needed to do was mention Luke's name, and the next words out of her lips were “we'll be right over.” She looked up at six hopeful faces. “He's open. He said we can come, but not for long. He's working on something big, and it's very hush-hush.”

“Oh, wow!” Snap opened the door to let the kids out first. “I wonder if it's something for the government?”

“Maybe he's creating a secret ray gun or a laser,” Finn added, “like in the movies?”

Rey rolled her eyes. “You boys have seen way too many Saturday afternoon serials.”

“Shhh!” Jess put a finger up to her lips. They all poked their heads in the office – even Baby. “I think Hank and Leia are going to make love!”

They stood at opposite ends of the office. Hank got a little closer first. “You changed your hair.”

Leia had a little smile on her face. “Same jacket.” She ran her perfectly manicured nails down the battered leather.

“No, new jacket.” Hank's loving smile changed to concern. “Leia, I saw him. In the newspapers. I saw our son.” He took her hand. “He went back to that gang of his. He was one of the ones who killed Lor San Tekka last night. I didn't want to tell the other kids. They're upset enough about Dameron.”

“I don't want to lose Poe the way I lost you, Luke, and Ben. Poe's a good boy. He doesn't deserve that.” She gathered her purse. “I'll meet all of you on Hester Street. I have to stop somewhere first.”

“All right.” Hank went to open the door for his wife...and had to jump aside as four bodies and one dog toppled in. He gave them his famous little smirk. “Hear anything interesting, kids?”

Finn rubbed his knee. “Man, warn us the next time you want to leave!”

Hank rolled his eyes. “Warn me the next time you decide Leia and I are a peep show!”

Rey cuddled the warm, furry body in her arms. “Are you ok, Baby?” The little corgi barked and nodded, almost as if she understood. Rey looked up at Hank and Leia. “Your son is a killer? Is that why he was in reform school?”

“We'll explain some other time.” Leia looked at her watch. “I have to get going.” She ducked out the door before anyone else could ask questions.

Snap made a face. “It was just getting good! Aren't you going to kiss her?”

“Maybe later.” He shooed the group downstairs. “Come on. Let's catch Artie before he gets cold feet.”

“You should kiss her.” Charles brought up the rear. “I've said that for years. One good kiss, and she'll be back in your arms. You're just damn afraid, Solovich. Ever since you walked out, you been afraid. Maybe it's time you stop running away.”

Hank glared at him as they made for the stairs to the garage. “Shut up, Charles.”

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Yeah, mate, I know Luke.” Artie Baker was the smallest and oldest man any of the Kids had ever seen. He barely came up to Rey's knee, and Rey was pretty short. “Known him for years. Ever since he came here from Omaha, seeking his fortune. Don't think he was expectin' to find it as a cop, but he was a good one.”

Artie's place was filled with junk in every possible size and shape...and every last bit of it looked like it was being made into a robot. “Luke wanted me to make a bunch of these for the force, before he left. He said they'd help with smaller tasks, like giving out parking tickets.”

“You haven't changed a bit.” Leia pushed a pile of nuts and bolts aside and settled gingerly on the torn plaid couch. “You're still the biggest pack rat in New York City.”

“I like this one.” Jess leaned over a robot that looked like a little black box and squeaked like a mouse. “It's cute.”

Finn looked up – and up – at a tall turquoise robot with a medical symbol on its chest. “I think Kay would like this one. He could give injections to really tall people.”

Rey inspected a small, squat blue and white device that had a million tools on small arms. “This one looks like a Swiss Army Knife on wheels!”

“This is my favorite.” Artie patted the dome-shaped Swiss Army Knife. “I call him R2-D2. He only looks like a Swiss Army Knife.” He pressed a button. A red light flashed on his dome, and a small drawer popped out. “He can also carry secret information and signal to other robots about approaching danger.”

Rey had her arms around him, her eyes shiny and hopeful. “Can we keep him, Hank? Please? He'd be great around the Garage! Think of what all those tools could do for cars!”

Hank tugged the girl off the robot. “Sorry, kiddo, but he's not a pet.”

Artie was inspecting R2. “He's blinking.” He ran his hands over the shiny white and silver dome. “He only does that if there's another robot in the area. None of my robots are activated.”

Leia was inspecting the small paper that came out of the drawer. “Skywalker Manor.” She shook her head. “Do you really think he's there, Art?”

“He's there, miss, if he's anywhere.” Artie opened a panel in the back of the robot and pushed a few wires aside.

Rey stuck her head in. “This is fascinating!”

Artie took a wrench and twisted a bolt inside. “You like robots, miss?”

“Well, I like building things.” Finn peered over her shoulder. He liked messing around with cars, but not to the degree that Rey did. He couldn't understand a word Rey and Mr. Baker said for the next ten minutes.

Jess looked at a clock on a coffee table. “I think it's time we got going. We have to get ready for the party.”

Leia looked up from the paper. “Isn't that party of yours at Skywalker Manor?”

“Yeah.” Finn finally tugged Rey reluctantly away from R2. “Maybe we'll see Mr. Waller there tonight!”

“I get first crack at him.” Leia gathered her purse. “And by 'crack,' I mean I'm going to crack him in his jaw so hard, that idiot will be eating his dinner through a straw for a week! He could have told me where he was. I've been worried sick about him for three years.”

Hank grinned and put his arm around Leia's shoulders. “If you get first crack, I call second. I love the guy like a brother, but he shouldn't have taken off. We needed him here.”

Leia shook Artie's hand. “Thanks again. I'll get Luke to call if or when we find him.”

“Please do that, Leia.” Artie patted his head. “You know where R2 and I will be.”

The kids watched the two as they headed for the stairs. “Hey, do you have a date for this shindig the kids are cooking up yet?”

“Uh, no.” Leia grinned up at him. “I was just invited yesterday morning. I don't even know what I'm going to dress as yet.”

“Mind going with me?” He gave her that lopsided grin. “Charles will be there, too. I could get him to bring his wife Malla, and we'll double-date.”

She finally gave him a grin of her own. “Why not? I'll be doing business and pleasure. Maybe by the end of the night, Luke will be joining us.”

“The three musketeers, together again.” Hank took her arm. “Some things never change.”

His wife kissed his cheek. “Thank goodness for that!”

They were too busy looking into each others' eyes to notice that they had an audience. “Would you look at that?” Jess nudged Snap's arm. “They'll be living together again before you know it!”

“I knew it.” Charles might have been beaming somewhere under that woolly beard. He hugged Leia and Hank. “That is more like it, you two.”

“We should do something special for them at the party.” Finn leaned over Rey. “Maybe we could do a slow dance just for them, or set up a fancy Halloween dinner in a separate room.”

Rey nodded. “I wish Poe was here. He's such a romantic. He'd probably be great at coming up with ideas.”

Finn frowned at the mention of their friend. “I hope he's ok.”

Rey squeezed Finn's shoulder. “If he's not home by the time of the party, we'll call the police as soon as it's over, ok?”

“All right.” Finn rubbed his stomach as they climbed into the back of the Falcon. “I can't help it. I have this feeling in my gut like something's wrong. I don't know what it is. Some kind of...force, I guess.”

Rey put her hand on her slender middle. “So do I. It's probably just nerves about the party tonight.”

“Yeah. That's all it is.” Finn groaned as the Falcon started. “I hope.”

As they bumped down Hester Street, Finn swore he saw a golden figure, one that glowed metallic against the afternoon sunlight.. He was tall, with one red arm, and moved stiffly. His eyes even flashed red. Must be some kid practicing for Halloween tonight, he told himself. That's a great costume. He really looks like one of Artie's robots!

The Resistance Kids and the Haunted House, Part 5

All of them except for Poe met at the front of their apartment building a few hours later. Rey was glad Kaydel got off early. She'd been able to help her apply the green makeup she was using as the Wicked Witch of the West. She wore an old black dress she found at a thrift shop and a tall hat made from cardboard. The long broom with the cornstalk bristles belonged to Maz, who wanted it back intact by the end of the night.

Jess tugged at her braids. “Where's Hank? I thought you guys said he was coming with the Falcon.” She had Baby in her slightly dented wicker basket.

Finn zipped up the jacket with the thick fur collar and hood he borrowed from Poe. With the hood up, it really did make him look something like a lion. Jess had drawn whiskers and a cat's nose with makeup. “Did anyone call the cops? Poe still hasn't appeared.”

“We will after we get home.” Snap shrugged into his silver jacket and tipped his silver-painted funnel hat at the right angle. “He might already be at the party.”

“Could someone help me with this?” The sequin-covered tiara and old pink prom gown Kay borrowed from a friend of hers was barely visible behind the boxes of orange crepe paper and construction paper pumpkins and ghosts. “You'd think we were decorating the Majestic Theater on Broadway, instead of the living room of some old house!”

“Here, let me take a few.” Finn pulled two boxes off the top.

Kaydel's blue eyes peered over the remaining boxes. “Thanks, Finn. I needed that.”

The sound of the Falcon backfiring could be heard throughout the Bowery. Most people usually thought there was an explosion, or a Russian invasion, or something. “Here she comes!” Rey pushed Kaydel and Finn out of the way. “She's getting here someday!”

The Falcon finally just sort of rolled to a stop. A familiar head with thick silver hair and a big lopsided grin poked out. “You kids need a lift?”

“Funny, Hank.” Rey raised her eyebrows at Hank's battered brown fedora and the old khaki bush shirt under his usual leather jacket. “Who are you supposed to be?”

Hank pulled out what looked like an authentic bullwhip. “I'm Indiana Jones, the archaeologist who finds all those lost treasures.”

“Oh wow, I've heard about him.” Snap helped Finn and Rey load boxes and containers of food and Kaydel's portable record player into the back. “Wasn't he the guy who went looking for the Ark of the Covenant, years ago?”

Kay dropped her boxes next to Snap's, dusting her hands off on her pearl-pink bodice. “I heard he went looking for the Holy Grail, like something out of an ancient history book.”

Leia poked her head out the passenger side door. Her thick gray braids were topped by a wreath of fake pink and white flowers . Rey could glimpse a soft white nightgown with a high waist and a floaty skirt under a leaf-trimmed wrap. “Are you kids ready to go? We're going to meet Charles there. He had to get his costume from some friend of his.”

Jess pulled a blanket over Baby, who shivered in the chilly October wind. “What are you supposed to be, Mrs. Solo?”

The older woman smiled. “I'm Thumbelina, from the Hans Christian Anderson story. That was always one of my favorite fairy tales.”

Kaydel sighed dreamily. “Oh, I love that one! I like the end, where she marries the fairy prince.”

Hank shoved the last crate in the back. “Are you kids coming, or what?”

Rey pulled her black knitted shawl tighter around her. Dark clouds gathered around Canal Street. She could hear pipes banging together in the distance. “We're coming, Hank.”

The older man sniffed at the wind. “There's a storm brewin'. It's a good thing you kids are too old for trick-or-treating. This ain't gonna be a good night for getting' candy outside.”

Finn was the last one in. He was checking the sidewalk to make sure they hadn't forgotten anything. As he looked around, he swore he saw a tall, thin man made all of gold – with one red arm – shuffling stiffly down Canal Street. He was fussing over Master wanting his clown costume cleaned for tonight.

“Rey,” Finn started as she put out her hand, “I think I just saw a robot!”

“A what?” Rey stuck her head out. “I don't see anything.”

The man was gone. The sidewalk was empty.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The skeletal old man stared sharply at Kylo. “Did you lock the door, Ren?”

“Yeah. No one's gonna come in here without our say-so.”

Phasma stood at attention in her armor. “And if they do, we'll be ready for them.”

Hux tugged his tan wool jacket around his shoulders. “We should get upstairs. I hear voices.”

“Yeah.” Mitiaka pulled up his fancy black skirt. “I think there's people at the door.”

That was when they heard the laughter. The strange, cackling laughter. It was what they'd heard the other day. Kylo wasn't going to let it scare him this time, though.

“What is that?” Thiasson rubbed at the fake wrinkled skin. “We've heard it a couple of times since we got here.”

“Don't say it's the wind.” Umaro tugged at her black and blue velvet skirts. “The wind doesn't sound like that.”

“It's this old house.” Rubber gloves snapped as the old man tugged them over his bony fingers. “Old houses make noise.”

Mitaka shuddered. “Not like that! That's like...like...like a call of a killer clown or something.”

Phasma lifted her metal visor, rolling her eyes. “You boys read too many horror comics.”

Kylo was reaching for a black velvet cape when a familiar voice reached his ears. “Dad...” He whispered. “What's he doing here?”

“Most of the Resistance Kids work for him.” Mitaka played with a ribbon on his old-fashioned, high-necked yellow blouse. His boyish face was covered in pale makeup. “He's sort of like a mentor to them.” He straightened the wavy brown wig.

Hux could have sworn he saw Kylo turn even whiter than usual as he reached for the old breathing mask on the table. A woman's deep, throaty voice reached them. “Mother?” He groaned. “Not her, too! Why can't she just stay out of my way?”

“Do what you want with the children.” A long, dead white arm covered in deep purple veins reached for a strip of metal on wires. “I'll tolerate their merriment as long as they don't disrupt my experiments. Bring the adults to me. They may be useful.”

“I'll deal with Hank Solo.” Kylo turned to the rest of the First Order Gang. “You guys handle the others. Don't hurt anybody, unless they're really asking for it. What happened with Lor San Tekka the other day was bad enough.” For the first time since Hux had known him, he actually sounded scared. “Besides, if I let anything else happen to those kids or Hank Solo, Mother will kill ME.”

“Good.” The bony fingers waved in their faces. “You're dismissed.”

He turned to the operating table as the First Order Gang trooped upstairs. The young man laying on the table was bruised, battered, and disheveled, but to his surprise, more angry than frightened. His brown eyes glared daggers. The arms and legs flailed wildly, despite being tightly strapped down to the cold steel table. He tried to yell under the thick towel being used as a gag.

“Oh, don't worry, Mr. Dameron.” The bony man placed the wired metal band around Poe's forehead. “I won't harm you. I'm just going to re-adjust your mind.”

~*~*~*~*~*~

Rey groaned as she dropped the crates of paper chains on the splintered remains of the porch. “Why is the door locked?”

Kaydel looked up from trying to heft her portable record player and not stumble over her pale pink Glinda gown. “Maybe someone forgot to unlock it.”

“It wasn't locked when we were here the other day.” Finn put the box of cookies and cake on the crate of paper chains and crepe paper. “Maybe it's just stuck.”

Rey tugged at it, then Leia. The older woman shook her head. “I'm afraid it really is locked. We'll have to find another way in.”

Charles shook his head. He looked more imposing than ever in the uniform of a pre-Soviet Russian officer. “I've tried. The back door is stuck. I think it's warped. And the door to the basement is locked as well.”

“I have this.” Hank came back from the Falcon with a bent wire. “Watch and learn, kids. This is your first lesson in how to pick locks.”

“I don't know if this is a good idea.” Kaydel looked around nervously, expecting to see cops around every corner. “Isn't this breaking and entering?”

“It's only illegal if you're not supposed to be there.” Leia gave the girl a reassuring grin. “Who do you think taught me how to do it? Hank is the master at this.”

“We'll be fine.” Jess held Baby's leash, trying to keep her from sniffing at every single crack and crevice on the porch. “It's not like we're trespassing.”

Most of the kids leaned over Hank as he jimmied the lock. “Ok, so you need to keep pushing it up and down. Not too hard. It'll break.” He nearly bonked into Rey as he turned around. “Want to give it a shot, kid?”

Rey's face lit up. “Sure!” She pushed the wire around a bit, then Snap. Finn was the one who finally got the wire to make that tell-tale 'click.'

Hank slapped him on the shoulder as the other kids filed in with the boxes and record player. “And you get an 'A' for the course, kid. Where did you learn to jimmy locks?”

“Kind of a requirement with the Force Order Gang.” Finn's face fell. “We used to break into warehouses and empty buildings all the time. Broke into a few stores sometimes, too, but I never stole anything. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I felt sorry for the shopkeepers who were just trying to make a living. I was stealing because I thought I had nothing else. I wasn't like the others.”

“No, you're not.” Hank put an arm around the young man. “You're a good kid. You should be proud of yourself for gettin' out of there.”

“Yeah.” Finn's big, dark eyes followed Rey as she and Leia hauled pitchers of punch and apple cider into the living room. “I just wish Rey would notice me. I mean, she notices me. She's a great friend.”

“But you want her to be more.” Hank smirked at the youth's surprise. “You think I haven't seen you mooning over her whenever you work on engines together? Trust me, I went through this with Leia. At least you two aren't arguing over every single little thing.”

“I'd take that.” Finn shrugged. “I don't think Rey notices anything that isn't a car part.”

Hank put an arm around his employee as they headed inside. “Let me tell you all about how I got Leia. It all started when Luke, Charles, and I rescued her from her dad's old office downtown. It was really more like a fortress of death...”

The Resistance Kids and the Haunted House, Part 6

Rey was glad everything was going so well. They'd managed to get most of the decorations up with a minimum of fuss. Finn did insist he saw something gold walking around on the upstairs landing, but that might have been the late-afternoon sun flashing on the chandelier as they dusted it. Any spooky sounds the house made were drowned out by Kaydel's record player spinning Russ Morgan's version of “Cruising Down the River.”

It was just starting to get a little stormy as the guests arrived. Rey didn't have a chance to do much of anything other than hand out drinks and snacks for a while, then hold onto Baby's leash so Jess could dance. She'd never seen such an array of costumes. Kay's friend Pamich had somehow managed to get a WAC uniform off her older sister. Pamich and Kay brought in most of the kids from the neighborhood, who were dressed as everything from Frankenstein to Bugs Bunny to the Bowery Boys from the goofy “B” movies.

Officer Statura, the older Asian cop who worked their beat, dropped by. Leia gave him a hug and introduced him to the kids. “I've known him for a long time.” She smiled. “I gave him one of his first jobs in the police commissioner's office when he came to America.”

“Just making sure everything is all right.” His smile was tight-lipped. “It's Halloween. I know they've discouraged kids from pulling too many pranks in the neighborhood in the last decade or so, but damage can and does happen.”

“It'll be fine.” Leia sipped her punch. “The kids all seem to be having a good time. Even Hank's behaving himself.” She gave him a small smile. “As least, as well as he ever did.”

Hank popped over, finishing off a cat-shaped sugar cookie. “Hey there, Officer. Did someone steal the pumpkin off a porch?”

Leia smacked his arm. “That's not even funny tonight, Hank. You know how hard these kids work on their jack-o-lanterns. Remember how Ben used to throw himself into making his?”

Hank chuckled. “And somehow, the smile always came out crooked. And I'd have to help him with the nose. He couldn't get the triangle straight.”

“And he'd insist on putting the candle in himself, even when I told him he was too young.” Leia laughed. “He was always stubborn.”

“Look where he got it from.” Hank gave her a sugary kiss on her cheek.

“If anything goes wrong, I'll be outside, keeping an eye on all the ghouls and goblins out tonight, at least until the rain starts.” The officer tipped his hat at Leia. “You have a good night, Mrs. Solo.” He nodded at Hank. “Mr. Solo.”

Finn nudged Rey as Hank pulled Leia gently into his arms. Rey had been paging through the scrapbook they were looking at a few days before. “We've gotta put on something more romantic than 'Riders In the Sky.' I like Vaughn Monroe as much as the next guy, but we don't need spooky right now. We need declarations of love.”

“Right.” Rey picked out Jess' cast album from South Pacific, the hottest show on Broadway. They'd listened to it so much, she knew just where to put the needle. After a few tense minutes, Enzio Pinza's warm baritone finally boomed “Some Enchanted Evening.” She tucked the scrapbook into her pocket, to finish reading later.

Leia sighed as she leaned into her husband's warm, safe arms. “You know, no matter how much we fought, I always hated watching you leave.”

“That's why I did it.” Hank kissed her on top of her head. “So you'd miss me.”

“I did miss you.” The small woman sighed as the music swelled. “You don't know how many times I wanted to go down to the garage, just to say 'hi,' but...”

“What's past is past. You're here now.” He pulled her head into his chest. “You know, the scariest thing about tonight was the thought you might have turned me down. I thought I'd never see you again. I love you, Leia.”

She gave him a tiny smile. “I know.” For a moment, it was as if the rest of the world didn't exist. It was just them, Enzio Pinza, and their feelings for each other.

Finn pulled Rey onto the scuffed dance floor as they watched the elder couple dance. “See?” He grinned. “Easy as pumpkin pie. I'll bet they'll be making out in the nearest closet before the end of the night!”

Rey grinned. “Five dollars says they'll be making out in a closet before the end of the song.”

“You're on.” Finn wasn't a great dancer, but he could move well enough. It wasn't easy. The dance floor was pretty full. He could see Snap with Kaydel and Jess with a boy dressed as a vampire and Pamich with some friend of Poe's. “I wish we could find Poe. I'm really nervous about him. Something bad happened to him. I know it.”

“We'll tell Officer Statura about him being missing as soon as we're done with this dance.” She somehow managed to blush under her green makeup. “You know, you're...not bad, really. At dancing. At a lot of things.”

Now Finn was blushing. “I'm not? Really?”

Once Rey finally said it, it was like the dam burst. “You're amazing with cars. You picked that lock earlier like it was nothing. You're...you're the sweetest, nicest boy I ever met. I don't care who you used to be with. You were never meant to be with the First Order Gang. You were meant to be here, with us, on the Bowery.”

“Wow, Rey.” Finn's grin lit up the whole living room. “You...you really...do you really...I mean...” Snap had to smack Finn on the back as he passed with Kaydel to get him talking straight. “Do you really think that?”

Rey nodded, feeling almost shy. “Yeah.”

Finn could see Hank and Leia out of the corner of his eye. Leia was leaning on Hank's shoulder. He grinned and gave Finn a thumbs up. Finn nodded at Rey and gave Hank the same.

“I'm glad he finally told that girl he's crazy about her.” Hank smirked. “He's been mooning over her ever since I hired him. Can't say I blame him. She's a cute kid, and a real genius with mechanics. I haven't had anyone this good with carburetors in years.”

“I think most of these kids will be all right. Even Poe, when we find him. Shara and Kes would be so proud of how he turned out.” She let Hank stroke her thick braid. “I just wish Ben was here, too.”

“We'll find him, Leia. He'll turn up when he's ready.” He'd barely noticed that the record had already moved onto the boisterous chorus number “Bloody Mary.” He looked down into his wife's eyes. “Leia...I didn't think you wanted me home...I thought you blamed me for what happened with Ben and Luke, and everything...”

Leia's velvet brown eyes twinkled merrily. “All I want right now is for you to kiss me.”

Finn couldn't help stopping to nudge Rey. “Look!” He could see Hank and Leia smooching out of the corner of his eye. “They'll be in the closet before you know it.”

“I think they're adorable.” She smiled mischievously at him. “Speaking of the closet...”

She had just reached up to give him a kiss when the a loud thunder crack shook the house. The lights flickered twice, then died. Some kids screamed as a second peal of thunder roared overhead.

“Don't anybody move!” Hank moved over to where he'd last seen Rey and Finn. “Did you kids bring any flashlights?”

“No.” Rey shrugged. “We didn't think we'd need them.”

“I have a flashlight in my truck.” Hank turned to his wife. “We're going to run out really fast to the Falcon.”

“In that mess?” Leia indicated the sheets of rain splashing on the window. “Oh no. No one's going out in that! There's got to be candles or flashlights around here somewhere.”

Baby had been sniffing around by the fireplace. She'd never seen anything like it before. A part of the room that had fire in it...and no one got hurt! Besides, it smelled funny. She felt wind coming out from behind it. A draft, her humans would have called it. It made the fire flicker and dance. She'd just nosed into a crack in the wall when the flames seemingly rose half-way up the chimney!

She did not like this at all! She smelled humans who weren't her humans. She smelled dust, and old, dead things. She scurried over to Rey, her second-favorite human in all the world besides Poe, and barked at her as loudly as she could.

Rey leaned over and scratched her ears. “What is it, girl? You smell something?”

Finn saw the ghosts first. “N...no...” His eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open in horror. “Rey, look! It's them! From the scrapbook!”

There were screams from the room as two figures seemingly emerged from the flames. The taller one had wavy gold hair and a scar over his right eye. His left side sported a suit and cravat from the last century. The left side, however, was a nightmare. His face was bright red and covered in puckers and blisters, as if he'd shoved his head into the fireplace. The suit was in rags, burned off completely over some parts. The “woman” with him was a tiny thing, with long brown curls, a ruffly yellow high-necked blouse, and a tan skirt.

“Yoouuu,” moaned the man, “are trespassing on my prooopperrty! You must go awayyy!”

“Or we'll make you like usss.” The “woman” lifted her skinny arm. “This home belongs to Andrew Waller and his family!”

“I'm a member of his family!” Leia rolled her eyes and stepped up to them. “And I don't believe in ghosts.”

Hank nodded. “Something screwy's going on here.”

Baby continued to bark. She tugged at the “woman's” skirt. It finally tore, revealing a young man's boxers and oxfords underneath.

“That's what I thought.” Rey grabbed the wig off the smaller one. “Dopey Mitaka.”

Snap grabbed “Andrew's” arm. “Tommy Thanisson,” he growled. “Members of the First Order Gang.”

Another figure emerged from behind the fireplace. “I am going to burrrnnn youuuu, just like I burrned my beeeeest friend,” the man in the brown wool suit moaned.

Jess saw the red hair under the moth-eaten bowler hat right away. “Knock it off, Hux. We know it's you. We'd know that carrot top of yours anywhere.” She knocked the hat off, revealing the familiar shiny, gingery locks and annoyed brown eyes.

“I can't believe the lot of you!” Leia glared at them. “I know about half your parents. Rest assured, they'll all be hearing about this.” She turned to Hux. “Especially yours. What would Mayor Bristol Hux say if he knew his only son was running around with gangs?”

“He wouldn't care.” Hux turned up his nose. “He never cares about what I do. He's only interested in running his city.”

Charles grabbed the red-haired boy's collar. “I think it's time you all went home.”

“In this weather?” Mitaka jumped as a smaller purr of thunder broke over the house. “We'd get soaked!”

Baby barked again as the thunder roared and lightning lit up the room. A figure emerged onto the landing. Finn had never seen anything like it. It appeared to be a cheap imitation of the same outfit Darren Veder wore in the painting on the wall. He even had a black breathing mask like his, his scalp ragged and wrinkled.

“Leave this place,” it rasped. One long, black finger pointed at the group. “You have dared defy Daren Veder, the greatest leader ever seen in this city. I am the man who brought down the Imperial Mob and the Black Sun Syndicate. I am the terror that drove the Rebel Gang out of town. Fear me! You must all fear me! I will kill you all...”

“Benjamin Bail Solo, knock it the hell off!” Hank was already stomping upstairs. Charles, Rey, and Finn followed. “I know it's you. I helped you make that damn Veder costume when you were twelve!”

“Dadddd!” whined a much less intimidating voice under the mask. “You ruined my entrance!”

Rey put her hands on her hips. “You're ruining our bloody party!”

“No, I'm not.” They could almost hear the smirk under the mask. “I'm making it a lot more interesting. Besides, I told you. You shouldn't be here.”

“These kids have every right to be here.” Hank and the kids reached the landing. Leia and the others watched from below, too surprised to move. The storm continued outside, the wind shrieking against the roof, the rain coming down in buckets. “You, on the other hand, should be going home. Your mother and I have been worried sick about you.”

“Oh yeah?” “Kylo Ren” snorted. “It's not like you ever noticed me. You were always busy with the garage and racing and Charles. Mother was always busy with work. You don't care about anyone but yourselves!”

“How could you say that?” Rey started towards him. “Hank's been nothing but good to us!”

“Yeah, to you. To you, and to every kid in the Bowery.” His dark brown eyes, much colder than his mother's, bored into his father's. “Every kid but his own.” The think lips managed a smirk at Rey. “You're not bad-looking, for a British doll. You ought to join our gang. I could teach you things you'd never dreamed possible. It would be a lot more interesting than hanging around with a dried up old man and a traitor.”

Finn had to hold Rey back, while Hank took Finn's shoulder. “I don't need you for a teacher!” Rey put up a fist. “I wouldn't send a black cat to be taught by you!”

“Ben, take that damn mask off.” The older man took a step closer. “Unless you were knocked into a fire lately, you don't need it.”

Rey had no idea what she'd see when Kylo...when Ben pulled off the mask. She was not expecting a fairly decent-looking fellow with a long jaw, soft, pale skin, and the thickest, waviest black hair. She couldn't help feeling a little jealous when she noticed he had no hint of helmet-hair.

“Come home, son.” Hank put out his hand. “Come home. I want it. Your mother wants it. We'll figure something out, find you a better school. You can work with me in the garage again.”

“What, and just spend the whole afternoon arguing with you?” Ben rolled his eyes. “Dad, I hate cars! I hate fixing things! I'm not interested in that. Professor Snoke has these amazing theories about mind control that could revolutionize the science community...”

“Professor Snoke is a quack and a fraud. The entire NYPD knows it, son.” He took Ben's hand. Rey, Finn, and Charles all held their breath. “Just come home. Come back to us.”

“No, Dad. Not this time.” Rey let out a screech when Ben slammed his fist into his father's jaw. Hank crashed into the railing. No one expected the splintered railing to give way. Hank barreled right through it, crashing onto the couch below.

Finn lunged for Ben, his own fists flying. Ben got him with a gloved hand straight in the gut. The younger man collapsed to his knees, his breath gone in one big whoosh.

Rey let out a growl that many of the party guests mistook for thunder. The tiny young woman tackled the taller boy as hard as she possibly could. They went tumbling to the remains of the oriental rug. “You ass!” She pummeled Ben, her sharp fists raining down like the storm outside. Ben put up his hands to shield the worst of her blows. “How could you? How could you hit your own father? How could you hit Finn?”

“He deserved it!” Ben whined. “He was never there! All I wanted was his and Mother's attention!”

Rey grabbed him by his shoulders, shaking him like a rag doll. “Hitting him in the face is not the way to get anyone's attention! This is an old house. You'll be lucky if he didn't break his neck. You're a bloody fool is what you are!”

Charles and Kaydel were tending to Hank, after Leia and Snap helped him off the remains of the couch. “I'll take care of him, Leia.” Charles waved her away when she ran over. “You and the kids separate those two young ones upstairs. Rey has every intention of turning your son into a bloody pulp. Finn could probably use some medical attention, too.”

“Ben!” Leia hurried up the stairs. Most of the party followed her, including Jess, Kaydel, and the remaining First Order Gang.

Hank was starting to come to. “What happened?” He rubbed his bruised eye, wincing at the pain.

“You got a good sock in the face from that whelp of yours, then went over the railing.” Charles gently ran a cigar-like finger over Hank's eye. He let out a whimper that matched his son's upstairs. “I think you and Ben are both going to need ice. I will see if there's any in icebox in kitchen.”

“Thanks, buddy.” Hank leaned against the fireplace, putting his hat down on the mantel. The storm continued outside, the thunder still roaring. “Damn,” he muttered. “Is that the thunder, or is my head?” He wished he had a good, frozen steak. His head was throbbing, and his back was sore as hell. “Charles, where is that...”

A bony hand popped out from behind the fireplace and grabbed hold of his mouth, cutting off his shocked cries. Another reached for his arm. Skeletal fingers clutched what looked like a thick needle between its fingers.

“Don't worry, Mr. Solo,” it whispered. The fingers pushed up the sleeve on his jacket and shirt, ignoring his dazed struggles. “This is just a light sedative. You'll barely feel it. Your son told me you'd be just right for my mental experiments.” The raspy voice sounded like an echo of death. “When you awaken, that strong mind of yours will be under my control.”

Those words were the last thing Hank remembered before the needle jabbed into his bare arm and he blacked out.