The Summer Strikes Back, Part 5

“He's not coming,” Leia said for the tenth time as they waited for Han and Charlie to arrive. Their group stood next to Larry's Fries, just outside of Marine Adventure Pier. The name ran the entire length of a turquoise and yellow archway that greeted customers as they entered. Luke, Leia, Ben, and Wedge noshed on a bucket of Larry's famous Old Bay-seasoned fries. No one did fries like Larry's. Their fingers were covered with reddish spices. Luke's lips were nearly as orange-red as Leia's lipstick.

“Give Hank a chance, sis.” Luke stuffed three fries in his mouth at once. “He probably had stuff to do.”

“Yeah.” Wedge licked his fingers. “After all, the other Rogues couldn't get here, either. Biggs and Wes are working with Kes, Deak took his girlfriend to the drive in movie theater on the mainland, Tycho's working at the Chirrut's Chinese Palace, and Hobbie got recruited to babysit Poe.”

The buildings for the Marine Arcade, Larry's Fries, Mickel's Famous Pizza and Wings, and 99 Cent Land guarded either side of the pier. Beyond it was, in Luke's humble opinion, the greatest assortment of rides anywhere. Not many piers could boast Dracula's Dungeon, a spooky haunted castle where teens dressed as horror icons and jumped out at people, or the Giant Slides, or the biggest, brightest Ferris Wheel on the whole boardwalk. The intercom blared “Keep the Fire Burnin'.”

Just as Ben was about to say they needed to get moving, Hank and Charlie strolled up to them. Charlie's current t-shirt promoted Twisted Sister. Hank wore his black vest over a white button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves. The sunglasses were still perched on his nose, even though the sun was on its way beyond the ocean. “Nice of you two to put in an appearance.” Ben sighed. “What took so long?”

“We had to haggle with Ackbar over the price of that fluke.” Hank tossed a stick from a corn dog into a trash barrel. “Well, are we going on rides, or what?”

“I can't wait to hit the Kamikaze Star meself.” Charlie waved at the cage-like white and yellow roller coaster that dominated the back of the pier. “I heard it goes backwards. That's crazy. They ain't got nothin' like that in England.”

Ben shook his head. “I'm afraid I'm not that brave. I remember when Adam and Asha used to try to get me on the Comet, the wooden coaster at Seaside Pier. They only did it once. I could barely walk straight for the next half-hour.”

Luke looked up as they strolled to the ticket booth. “Asha?”

“Ahsoka Tano. She was a good friend of your brother's.” Ben smiled at the memory. “Nice girl. One of the few female Jedi Knights. She left the group after having some trouble with the Big Kahunas, our leaders.”

Maz herself sold tickets from the bright yellow cylindrical booth that was the first thing you saw on entry. She was one of Ocean View's true characters. She'd taken over running the Marine Adventure Pier in the late 60's, after her husband Sammy died, and had been a fixture ever since. Nothing escaped her. She knew all, saw all.

Ben grinned as the others trailed him to her window. “Hello there, Maz. You're looking younger than ever.”

Maz smirked. She was a dark-skinned older woman with a shock of frizzy gray hair. Keen brown eyes judged through thick, round spectacles. “Save it, Kenobi.” She nodded at the teens and young adults behind him. “What's this, the cast of Porky's?”

The older surfer chuckled. “Thankfully, no. I don't know if I could deal with that level of hormones.”

Hank winked at Leia. “Not a bad idea for later, though.”

Leia wrinkled her nose. “In your dreams, dickwad.” She went right to Maz. “I'll have the book of 30 tickets, please.”

Maz laughed. “I like your spirit.” The tiny eyes behind the round glasses squinted as she handed her the bright red and yellow ride tickets. “I've been around. I've seen the same eyes in different people. Yours are familiar.”

Leia smiled. “I'm Leia Walker.” She nodded behind her, where Luke and Wedge were sharing some lewd joke. “That's my brother.”

“Walker...” She patted her hand. “Of course. George Walker's little girl, and his younger boy. I remember your parents well. Good people. And Adam, that brother of yours.”

Leia gathered the book of perforated ride tickets. “Maz, has anyone been asking you about selling this place? We saw a lawyer a couple of weeks ago pestering my uncle, and other people in town have said they've been harassed.”

Maz nodded. “Hell yeah. Looked like a skeleton in an expensive suit. I told him we didn't have any openings at the Haunted House. He tried just about everything short of lightin' a flame under my fanny to get me to sell to that pissant Palapatine. Finally said he'd better lay off, or I'd sue his boss' ass off for harassin' an old lady.”

“Empire Industries is after something.” Leia shoved the tickets in her purse. “I just wish I knew what.”

“They're after the whole damn town.” Maz took Luke's order for 30 tickets next. “They just don't make good folks like your parents anymore. Nice folks. Sure, they were shoobies, but they were decent. Respected the community, didn't pick on nobody. They were relaxed, you know?”

Luke sighed. “I miss them.”

“I do, too.” Maz nodded at the pier. “They were good customers. Took you to your first roller coaster right over there, the little Mighty Mouse.” She indicated a red and yellow steel coaster near the Whacky Shack.

“I heard you talking to Leia.” Luke's blue eyes shined brighter than the lights on the Ferris Wheel. “Did you know Adam? What was he like?”

“I knew your brother.” She handed the book to Luke. “He was a spitfire, that boy. Had a real temper. He was a maverick. No one could tell him anything, including Ben back there.”

Luke tucked the tickets in his back pocket. “Do you know what happened to him?”

But Maz was already dealing with Wedge, her back turned to him.

Leia was debating whether to ride the Flyer wooden coaster or go easy on her stomach and take in the Ferris Wheel when Hank strolled up to her. “Charlie abandoned me for the Kamakazi Star. He's nuttier than a bird that's crazy about chocolate cereal. I like my stomach on the ground.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “I'm more of a Flyer man myself. No loops, just hills.” The music on the intercom changed to the Manhattan Transfer's version of “Boy From New York City” as he bounced along with the song.

“Are you just going to follow me around all night?” Leia started towards the kiddie rides. Maybe she just needed something simple, like the Carousel.

“Why not? I don't have anything better to do.” They got into line with the parents and their children in strollers behind the bright red metal fence.

“Hullo, Leia!” Chip waved to her. He somehow managed to look even skinnier in the ill-fitting blue and yellow t-shirt and shorts. “I'm glad to see you!” He nodded. “And you too, Mr. Solokowski. I've heard a great deal about you and Mr. Bachman around the Cottages.”

Hank grinned. “All good stuff, I hope.”

Chip took their tickets, tearing the perforated paper and dropping it into a red wooden box. “Do be careful on the ride. There are children up there. Don't run when the ride is in motion, don't stand on the ride vehicles, don't...”

“Yeah, yeah, Goldenrod.” Hank patted his shoulder. “We're big kids. We'll be fine.”

“You'll like Maz's merry-go-round, Hank. It's different.” She wound her way past proud black stallions and magnificent white mares laden with painted roses to a set of metal stairs, leading him to a second, narrower level. The horses here didn't go up and down, but the benches were relatively comfortable, and the view was spectacular.

Leia climbed on one of the flowery white horses. “This is my favorite merry-go-round on the whole boardwalk. There's another one at Sporty's Mid-Town Pier, but it's pretty normal, just one story and horses. This one let's you see everything around you.”

Hank got on a black charger painted with a green and red saddle and blanket. “I haven't been on rides since I was a kid at Coney Island. I should come back here before I leave.”

The young woman frowned as the carousel lurched to life, the cheery organ version of “In the Good Old Summertime” nearly drowning out her question. “Why are you so determined to run out now?”

“I was running a shipment, and I...kind of had to throw it overboard.” His eyes roamed over the purple and orange twilight behind the Giant Ferris Wheel. “Dunno if you've heard of Jasper Hutt. I think he's kind of a big deal down here.”

Her brown eyes widened in shock. “Jasper Hutt? He's a mob boss! He controls half the drug traffic in South Jersey. You lost his shipment? Why were you working for him, anyway?”

“I had to ditch it. The cops were on my tail.” Hank shook the reins on his fiberglass steed. “You don't need to know, sweetheart. Let's just say some of us don't have uncles who own hardware stores.”

Leia finally looked away from him, turning her attention to the boardwalk. There was no place on Earth like Ocean View's boardwalk. People chattered noisily. Rides squeaked, rumbled, sputtered, whirred. In the distance, she could faintly hear the waves crashing and the seagulls squawking on the beach. Fried potatoes and seafood vats sizzled. People screamed and laughed in six or seven different languages. “Lost In Love” by Air Supply mingled with the carousel's organ music.

She was almost a little disappointed when, all to soon, the whirling slowed. This always was one of Maz's best rides. It was hard to beat the classics.

She was about to ask Hank if he was up to the Flyer next when she heard yelling over the din. A blur of shiny black and white vinyl near the entrance to the pier caught her eye. As they went slower and slower, the blur came more into focus. Leia gritted her teeth and tapped Han on the shoulder.

“What?” He was beaming ear to ear. “I'm winning the Kentucky Derby!”

Leia rolled her eyes. “I'm sorry to break up your race, but I think we have a problem.” She got off her horse as the carousel came to a complete stop, indicating the increasingly noisy fracas down at the entrance.

Hank saw them after he reluctantly removed the belt and climbed off. “The Imperial Gang. What the fuck are they doing here? I doubt they suddenly decided they wanted to ride the Flyer. Dracula's Dungeon is more their speed.”

“Maz.” Leia stomped down the metal stairs so hard, Hank could feel them vibrating. “Maz told me she got a visit from Tarkin. He tried to harass her into selling this place, but she threw him out.” More fearful screams came from the direction of the arcade and Larry's Fries. “Tarkin and the Imperial Gang are connected. I think they're both working for Empire Industries.”

Leia could have sworn she saw the same guy from the docks again, the one in green and red, with the motorcycle helmet, leaning against the railing for the outdoor dining area. She started in closer, but by the time she made it there, he was gone. She shrugged and went after Han.

“Oh! Oh dear!” Leia thought people didn't wring their hands in real life anymore. Chip didn't seem to have gotten that message. He was wringing his hands like crazy, his blue eyes wide behind his very round and thick glasses. “Those men at the entrance are causing a terrible fracas! I would go help, but I have my job here, and I don't want all these little children getting hurt...”

“Leia!” Luke and Wedge rushed over next, followed by Arturro in a grease-smeared blue and yellow t-shirt and khaki shorts. “What's going on? We heard the yelling all the way over at the Bumper Cars.”

Leia was already heading for the entrance. “It sounds like the Imperial Gang is trying to make trouble again.”

Luke groaned. “Like what they did to the beach a couple of weeks ago wasn't bad enough! What do they want now?”

“Maz to sell out.” His sister shoved a few people out of the way with her over-sized straw purse. “I'll tell you what Maz told me when we get there.”

Hank smirked. “Speaking of, looks like the old chick got here first.”

The Imperial Gang were tossing guests around in front of the entrance. Leia winced as one of the kids in the black and white jacket elbowed a family aside, grabbing their bucket of fries from Larry's counter. Two more were knocking down trash cans and shoving people away from the ticket booth. One was yanking out the intercom, distorting “On the Dark Side” from Eddie and the Cruisers.

“All right boys, break it up.” Maz ducked under Vader's legs and squeezed her way into the middle of the group. “This is still my property, and I'm not gonna let you jackaninnies trash it. Get out, before I call the cops.”

Vader blocked her. He was twice the size of the older woman, and yet she seemed to dominate him. “Oh yeah? You and what army, ya ol' bitch?”

An arm reached out and grabbed Vader's jacket. Leia was surprised to see Uncle Ben drag him out of the crowd. “I think this army should be sufficient enough.” He waved a hand at the four young adults behind him. “Why don't you go home and learn to respect your elders?”

“What, like you?” Vader sneered. “I never liked you, ya ancient fucker.”

Luke shoved in front of Ben. “Don't talk that way about my uncle!”

The Gang members around them all laughed. “Oooh, it's Stick Boy!” The towering man in the black helmet's voice managed to smirk. “What, you gonna pound me again? You did so well the last time.”

Ben put his hand on Luke's shoulder. “This little one isn't worth the trouble. Why don't I buy you all a soda, and we'll get away from this crowd?”

“I ain't takin' no pansy...” Vader's helmet locked on Leia. Several people went flying as he nudged his way through the crowd. He lifted the bottom part of his helmet long enough to kiss Leia's hand. She swore half of his right cheek looked burned and disfigured, like he was Michael Myers or something. “Well, hello again, beautiful. What brings you to this little place?”

Hank grabbed her other hand. “If you must know, pal, she's with me.”

“Actually,” Leia pulled her hands from both of them. “I'm here with my brother and my uncle.”

“Fun little family outing. How sweet.” Vader grabbed her arm. “Look, doll face, why don't we lose the fisherman and Stick Boy and go find some real excitement? Say, over at the Mos Eisley Cantina down on Rock Isle Avenue?”

“First of all, that's the worst part of town.” She struggled in his grasp. “Second, I wouldn't be caught dead with you.”

Vader yanked her arm harder. She gasped. “That can be arranged, doll face.”

Suddenly, a very wide and hairy arm in a Twisted Sister t-shirt snatched Vader by the back of his black jacket. “The lady said 'no,' lad,” a thick North England accent growled. “Don't be a bloody prick.”

“What the hell is this?” Vader tried to twist out of Charlie's ham-sized fists. “I didn't hear anythin' about an ape escapin' the county zoo.”

“Bright lad. Very bright.” He tossed Vader into his buddies. “Now bugger off. Before I start separatin' limbs from sockets.”

Hank grinned. “Just in time, Charlie. The dickheads thought they could make trouble.”

Vader smirked. “Can't fight your own battles, so you bring in the human ape. Nice, Fish Face.”

Hank glared at him. “Great thing to call someone when we can't see your face. What, are you that ugly?”

“I have skin problems.” Vader turned his fist to Maz. “We're here to bring a message to the old lady. Our boss wants this property. She can sell it the easy way...or we can play hard ball.”

Chip and Arturro came over next. Chip actually looked pretty angry for him. “You're a nasty man, threatening a nice lady like this! She's a good employer. She always pays us on time, and she gives us a discount on meals at Larry's Fries and Bigger's Restaurant.”

Vader grabbed Chip by his throat. “Butt out, nerd breath, before I break you in half.”

He never got the chance. Arturro let out a growl that sounded somewhere between Tarzan and the monster in “The Howling.” He launched himself at Vader, running head-first into his gut.

The moment they hit the ground, Hank smashed the nearest guy in white vinyl in the face. Luke and Wedge clotheslined another guy. Leia knocked a third flat on his back when he tried to touch her breasts. Maz and Ben let a fourth trip over a colorful plywood counter. He crashed into the bottles set up for the ring toss game. Chip stumbled into the pier, gasping and clutching his throat. Arturro shoved Vader aside and went after his friend.

Hank grinned at Charlie as they ended up back-to-back. “Just like old times, huh pal?”

Charlie thrust his foot into another guy's crotch, then grabbed two and smacked their heads together. “I haven't had this much fun since we started that one bar brawl in North Carolina.”

Luke was never in a brawl before...but he was having the time of his life. He dumped half of a bucket of fries over one guy's head, then kicked another in the rear. Some of the spectators were starting to join in. Fries and chicken legs and funnel cake flew everywhere

Ben and Leia came up to him as sirens were heard in the distance. “I think we can let the police handle the rest.”

Leia nearly doubled over laughing. “Look at the two of you!” She gently tugged them both over to one of the mirrors in front of the Whacky Shack. “Nice black eyes.”

Luke and Ben turned to each other and laughed. Ben touched the bruise on his right eye. “How did we manage to get the same ones on the same eye?”

“I have no idea. I've never had a black eye before. Uncle Owen would be so pissed.” Luke's smile turned down. “You wouldn't tell him we were in a brawl, would you? He'd ground us for life!”

Ben smiled...but he ended up wincing at a split lip. “What your uncle doesn't know won't hurt him.”

Wedge stumbled over, arm in arm with Hank, Charlie, and Arturro. Chip was behind them, still rubbing his throat. “Maz is talking to the cops,” Hank announced. “They got a couple of the guys. Most of them got away, including Vader.”

Charlie grinned, showing all of his sharp canine teeth. “Looks like Leia n' Luke ain't the only twins.”

Ben chuckled. “You have some rather nice bruises yourselves. I think we all got knocked around pretty good.”

Chip stopped next to Arturro. “Arturro Detonski, what made you do that? You could have been killed...or worse, lost your job.” He gasped as Arturro threw his arms around him. “Well, I understand you wanted to stand up for a friend. It was noble of you, but those men were twice your size!”

“Wait.” Luke stopped and sniffed. “What's that smell?”

Arturro sniffed next, nodding. Chip raised his long nose in the air. “Arturro says he smells smoke. Oddly enough, so do I.”

Hank and Charlie sniffed next. “It's not from the fryers at Larry's,” Charlie rumbled. “It's more like...”

“Like that!” Luke pointed to the flames licking at the side of the narrow storage building between the Whacky Shack and the Mighty Mouse mini roller coaster.

“Shit!” Charlie's long legs got there first. “Someone get water, quick!”

“Oh dear!” Chip threw a cup of warm lemonade that was sitting on the ground into the flames. “Call the fire department!”

The flames weren't big now, just on one corner of the storage building, but they were spreading fast. Wedge took off his shirt and tried smothering the flames with it. Hank, Leia, and Luke dashed over to the nearest beverage stand, tossing the largest cups of Pepsi Light, lemonade, and Teem they could find onto the fire. Charlie grabbed a bucket that held popcorn, filled it with water from the kiddie boat ride that wasn't in operation at the moment, and dumped it on the flames. Arturro had finally gotten most of it just as Maz and Chip hurried over with several fire fighters. Most of the other employees evacuated the Whacky Shack and shut down the Mighty Mouse.

Maz's wrinkled brow fell in relief. “Thank god there's a Fireman's convention in town this week.” Everyone ducked aside as the firemen turned on the hoses and did their jobs. “I never would have gotten anyone over here this fast.”

Ben put his arms around the older woman. Arturro, Chip, Charlie, and several employees were pushing back onlookers and telling them to “bugger off” (in Charlie's words.) “It could have been worse, Maz. We were lucky we were over here. You know how easily fire spreads in these flimsy buildings.”

“I know too well.” Maz watched as the men doused the flames. “I remember when the old Ocean Park Pier went that way about a decade ago. Bunch of kids were fooling around in the off season, smoking. One dropped a cigarette, and whoosh! Whole pier went up like it was made of matchsticks.”

One of the firefighters brought a slightly singed lined notebook sheet to Maz. “We found this tacked to the wall in the back, near the fire. I'm surprised it wasn't consumed with the rest of it.” The other men were already leaving, the fire now just down to smoke. “You were very lucky, ma'am. The worst you probably got was some smoke and water damage in your room and a little smoke on the side of the Whacky Shack. I hate to think of what would have happened if we hadn't gotten there when we did. It looks like some kid dropped a cigarette by the walls and it caught fire.”

Maz took the note. Half the group leaned over her shoulder as she read the blurred scrawl. “Don't let your business go up in smoke. Next time, we'll set fire to a ride.”

“They're threatening you.” Leia's fists were clenched. “Those Imperial Gang bastards are outright threatening you!”

“Can't you take this to court?” Her brother put a hand on Leia's shoulder and shook it a little. He could never stop his sister from punching someone in the face when she was really mad.

“With what evidence? This?” Hank waved at the smoking building. “This says nothing. We can't connect the Imperials with this, especially since most of them were busy brawling with us when this was probably set.”

Arturro shouted furiously in his native language. Chip nodded. “I agree.” He took off his glasses and wiped the water from the hoses off them, then turned to the others.“Arturro says that the fight in the entrance was likely a distraction, to keep people from witnessing the Imperials starting the fire.”

“Maz,” Leia insisted, her jaw set, “I will find out who did this, and they will pay. I swear it.”

“I don't know what you can do, hon.” Maz tucked the paper into her pocket. “I'll give this to the police when they arrive. Even if we don't know who did it, it's still pretty obviously arson.”

Ben sighed. “There's nothing we can do here now. I think we'd better go home. Maz, call me tomorrow and tell me if there's any developments.”

Maz nodded. “Right, you old codger. And don't you kids be strangers. You really saved my bean today.” She ran over to the ticket booth and came back with a book. “Here. Free passes for the whole summer to make up for your night being ruined.” She pulled green printed papers out of the book and handed one to everyone but Chip and Arturro.

“As for you two,” she grinned to her employees, “you just got promoted. Artie, I know you're a good repair man. Some of these new rides, like the Kamakazi Star, have really fancy mechanical systems I couldn't begin to figure out. I heard you could. And Chip, I could use a good assistant, and maybe a translator. I can't always understand every fool person who comes through here. I've seen folks from as far away as Japan and India.“

Arturro bowed with a flourish. Chip's bow was more like a bob. “Thank you, Miss Kantana,” Chip added. “We're truly in awe of your largess. Does this mean we'll receive an increase in salary as well?”

She grinned. “We'll talk about that tomorrow, boys. For now, Chip, get back over to the merry-go-round, before the kiddies start tearin' the horses off. Art, let's help the firefighters clean up the mess.”

Hank tucked the pass in the inside pocket of his vest. “Well, this has been an exciting night. How about we blow this joint and take my truck over to the dunes by the canal? It's quiet over there.” He directed his lazy grin to Leia. “We could look at the stars, talk, drink, do some bird watching, have some fun.”

“Not tonight.” Leia dropped the pass in her wallet. “I need to get a hold of Senator Mothma. This is huge. If we could link it to the Imperial Gang attacking the beach...”

“Spare me all the talk about the Cottages and your senator.” Hank glared at her. “Don't you ever think of anything else?”

Leia glared right back. “Unlike some people, I have a conscience. The Cottages and the Marine Adventure Pier are Uncle Ben and Maz's lives. I've been coming here for as long as I can remember. I don't want the Imperial Gang to cause more damage.”

Hank stuck his finger in her face. “But what about you?”

Leia ignored him and kept going, following Luke, Wedge, and Ben down the boardwalk. Charlie ambled after them. “What about me?” She rolled her eyes. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“It's nice that you're tryin' to help the old folks, but don't you wanna do anythin' else with your summer?” He indicated the boardwalk and the rapidly darkening beach behind it. “There's a whole world out there, sweetheart. It could be ours for the taking.”

“You could help, you know.” Leia walked fast, but Hank had longer legs and easily caught up with her. “You live at the cottages, too.”

“Not forever. Some of us have places to go and people we don't want to kill us.” His cocky grin became even wider. “You want me to stay because of the way you feel about me.”

“Yes!” Leia finally stopped, facing him. “You were a big help tonight. You and Charlie.”

“That's not it.” Hank crooked his finger at her. “Come on. Admit it. You want the dick.”

Leia would have rather told him where he could take his dick. “You're imagining things.”

“Am I?” His lazy grin became a bit feral. “'Fraid I'm gonna leave without givin' you a good-bye kiss?”

Leia's eyes blazed. “I'd just as soon kiss Charlie.”

Hank lifted his glasses, his hazel squint directed down at her. “I can arrange that, Princess!”

“I guess you don't know everything about women yet.” She had to get on a convenient crate by Ed's Funcade to do it, but Leia did kiss Charlie fully on the lips the moment he passed. It wasn't the smartest thing she ever did. His face was all hair and bristles. She still managed to hop off the crate with her head held high, glaring at Hank as she passed.

“Wow.” Charlie almost stumbled into his friend. “She's damn good.” His own cocky grin showed every very large white tooth. “If you don't want her, mind if I have a go at her?”

“Laugh it up, fuzzball!” Hank finally just pushed past Luke and made for the nearest ramp to the street.

Luke rubbed his shoulder. “Geez, what got into him?”

Charlie shrugged. “No bloody idea, mate.”

Neither Charlie nor Hank noticed the man in the green Members' Only jacket and the green and red helmet watching them from the red Formica booth at Mickey's Pizza. The moment they went down the stairs, he tossed his cigarette into the metal ash holder and went in the other direction.