I've put each different person speaking into its own paragraph, so it should be easier to read now.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, they all belong to that wonderful man George Lucas.
Authors Note: This is an AU, hope you like it!
Master and Padawan
"Luke!" Obi-Wan Kenobi, known as 'Crazy Old Ben' to the various inhabitants of Tatooine, General of the Clone Wars and one of the last remaining Jedi Masters called out in exasperation. A giggle was the only answer he received. Obi-Wan groaned softly and closed his eyes. He should, he thought despairingly, have an edge not normally available to the parents/guardians/keepers across the galaxy and time whose charges had played this age-old game-'Hide from your parents/guardians/keepers until they go mad.' Namely, the Force. But his charge, son of the Chosen One with a midichlorian count nearly as high as his Father's, had mastered shielding your presence in the force very early on in life. A talent which would, he was sure, be very useful when the time came for Luke to confront Vader and the Emperor, but right now was preventing Obi-Wan from 'finding' him.
"Luke, if you don't come out right this minute, you won't get any Kalla fruit with dinner," he called. Resorting, as so many handlers had, to blackmail. And the key to any four year-olds obedience- his stomach.
There was silence for a moment as Luke considered his masters ultimatum, then he came crawling out from under the speeder, covered in engine oil and grinning. Obi-Wan stared down at him in shock for a moment, then shook his head and sighed.
"Padawan, what in the Force am I going to do with you?" Luke grinned up at him,
"Don't know Ben," he said. Then instantly his face transformed from grinning devil to angelic angel, "Did you say something about Kalla fruits?" He inquired innocently. Ben smiled down at him, heart melting once again.
"They're on the table, Luke," he told him. "When you have cleaned yourself up we'll eat."
"Thanks Master!" Luke called and scampered inside the hut they had made their home.
Obi-Wan looked after him, a soft smile gracing his timeworn features. Luke's speech patterns were more adult then were normal for a human four year-old, a side affect of his high midichlorian count, perhaps. But inside he was still a young boy. I should have spent more time with the initiates at the temple, Obi-Wan thought. But who would have guessed I'd be taking a Padawan before he was one year-old? His mood darkened as his train of thought inevitably returned to the circumstances that had required that he did. To the Empire that was spreading its dark grip across the stars. To the deaths of his fellow Jedi Knights, hunted down and killed in the purge. And to Anakin. Anakin his Padawan, his friend, who he failed.
A burst of impatience along the Master-Padawan bond alerted Obi-Wan to the fact that he had a hungry Padawan waiting in the kitchen, and affectively pulling him out of his dark thoughts. He smiled wryly and made his way into the kitchen where Luke was waiting impatiently at the table to begin. Obi-Wan paused for a moment and studied the boy attentively.
"Luke," he began
"Yes Ben?" Luke asked, staring up at him, angelically innocent. The corner of Ben's mouth twitched in spite of himself.
"I believe, Luke," he said, trying to sound stern, "That I said we would eat 'after' you had cleaned yourself up." Luke looked down at his filthy tunic, arms and legs. He looked back up, grinning.
"Oops," he said. Obi-Wan pointed sternly in the direction of the bathroom, trying hard not to grin himself.
"Bathroom, now Luke," he said.
"Just one Kalla fruit?" Luke asked, voice going pitiful. Obi-Wan looked down at his filthy, unrepentant Padawan.
"Bathroom," he repeated firmly. Muttering, Luke slid off his chair and made his way to the bathroom.
Obi-Wan looked after Luke almost dazedly. He remembered when he had first brought him to Tatooine as little more than a baby. He had planned on giving him to his half-brother, Owen, and his wife Beru. Then, he had not wanted to even consider taking another Padawan, as he was still hurting after Anakin. And he was too afraid that he would fail that Padawan, as he did before. Then, a sandstorm had blown up, effectively trapping them inside the hut. During that time, Qui-Gon had appeared and proceeded to turn all of Obi-Wan's arguments to him about Xanatos against him. Qui-Gon had then left before a flustered Obi-Wan could come up with a good comeback. If he even could, he admitted now. The sandstorm had lasted a few days, as they were sometimes known to do on Tatooine. As he cared for Luke during that time he had felt, against his will, a bond forming between them. The Master-Padawan bond. But by the time the storm had ended, Obi-Wan had not wanted to give Luke up.
Chance. Ben thought now. Chance, and an incredibly persistent Master, who refused to give up harassing his Padawan even after death, was al that had conspired to give him his Padawan now, and to begin the healing of the wounds in his heart and soul.
A thump broke into the Jedi Master's reflections and he looked up to find said Padawan regarding him and the fruit expectantly. Obi-Wan looked him over carefully. For a wonder he was clean- except for a few oily streaks in his sun-bleached hair. Ben decided not to press the issue. If he did, he would probably have a case of Padawan rebellion on his hands. He smiled at Luke and nodded at the fruit.
"Go on, then," he said. Luke brightened up and lunged at the fruit. Obi-Wan smiled tolerantly and leaned back, taking his own Kalla fruit with him as he did so. He bit into the tight skin of the fruit, the juicy sweetness of its centre falling into his mouth. He had to admit, he thought, they weren't half- he froze as he felt a fleeting disturbance in the Force as one Life fled this existence to become one with it. One life he had known well. Padme
A well of pain and confusion along their bond pulled Obi-Wan out of his stupor to look at Luke. His Padawan was staring at him wide-eyed; his eyes filled with unshed tears.
"Oh, Luke," Obi-Wan murmured, getting up from his chair and making his way around to Luke, forgetting his own pain in the face of his Padawan's. He gathered him up in his arms as Luke buried his face in the coarse material of his Tatooine tunic and sobbed. Obi-Wan sent waves of reassurance and love through their bond, holding his Padawan tightly as Luke's young heart cried out in pain for the death of his mother he could barely remember, but had always been connected to.
"There is no Death, There is the Force," Obi-Wan repeated the Jedi Code softly in an attempt to comfort them both as he mourned his dear friend, and Padawan's mother, with him.
********
Obi-Wan wearily stumbled towards the com-centre, sank into the chair, and buried his face in his hands. Luke had finally fallen asleep and was lying on his sleeping couch, face tearstained. Ben stared at the high-tech com-centre, complete with high level encoding equipment. Odd, in a hermits hut on Tatooine. He hesitated a second, then punched in a direct line to Alderaan.
After a few minutes the weary face of Bail Organa, Viceroy of Alderaan, appeared.
"Obi-Wan." Neither his voice nor his face held any surprise at the contact.
"Bail," Obi-Wan greeted his friend and comrade-in-arms. "How?" Bail didn't need to ask how what. He replied wearily.
"The medics have spewed out a long stream of medical jargon, but we both know that's not really what she died of."
"A broken heart," Obi-Wan said softly. Bail sighed.
"Honestly, Obi-Wan, I think she just hung on this long for the twins. For Luke and Leia. As soon as she knew they were safe, happy and loved... she just didn't have any reason to hang onto life and all its pains." Obi-Wan nodded quietly.
"How is Leia taking it?"
"She only knew Padme as her nursemaid but... I think on some level she always knew who she was. She burst into tears the moment Amidala passed away, she's only just now cried herself to sleep."
"Luke, too," Obi-Wan said sadly. "We felt her passing." Bail's face betrayed his astonishment
"Luke felt it? At that distance?"
"Size matters not," Obi-Wan said, speaking Master Yoda's oft repeated chide.
"And distance matters not, too. Especially for these two, I think."
"They are Anakin's children," Bail whispered. "It is to be expected."
"Everything is alright with Leia?" Obi-Wan asked. "No flukes that might raise questions?" Bail shook his head.
"Nothing," he said. "I think you were right when you said Leia has more passive abilities." Obi-Wan smiled fondly, glad to be moving on to more pleasant topics.
"Well, Luke's abilities are defiantly more active," he smiled. "I keep finding certain essential items in the strangest places, places that no four year old should be able to access." Bail chuckled.
"I don't envy you that," he said. "Leia gets into enough trouble without Force assistance, and drags Winter into it, too."
"Winter?" Ben asked
"Her friend," Bail said. "Visitors are always mistaking Winter for the Princess, Leia is such a little tomboy, always coming in covered in mud and foliage." Obi-Wan grinned.
"That's quite common with Force-sensitive children," he said. "It's showing a connection to the Living Force. Luckily, I don't have to worry about that."
"I envy you," Bail smiled.
"Don't," Obi-Wan said, dismally. "I get sand instead. You'd be amazed at the places sand can get!" Bail's mouth twitched.
"Sand?" he asked,
"Sand." Obi-Wan confirmed. "Lots and lots of sand." Sadness crept back into Bail's eyes.
"Amidala said that she used to get filthy as a child," he said quietly. Obi-Wan nodded sympathetically, his own sadness returning.
"She lives on in her children," he said softly. Bail nodded.
"We'd better end this transmission he said, reaching for the off-switch on his side. He hesitated. "Good luck."
"We'll need it," Obi-wan said. "We're raising Skywalkers after all," Bail's laughter was cut off as the screen went blank.
Obi-Wan stood and stretched. Talking with Bail had helped him find some peace. He walked softly over to his Padawan's room and peered inside. Luke was sleeping more peacefully now. Ben knelt by his head and gently pushed the fair hair he had inherited from Anakin out of his face. Luke looked so much like him, he thought. And he acted so much like him, too. Obi-Wan smiled down at his sleeping Padawan.
"They 'both' live on in their children," he said aloud. "There is no Death, There is the Force."
********
Obi-Wan pulled the speeder up in front of the Lars's moisture farm, and glanced sideways at Luke who was sitting in the passenger seat next to him. The six-year-old was pouting because Obi-Wan had refused to allow him to pilot the speeder over to the farm. And, Obi-Wan mused, probably because of the purpose behind this visit.
Obi-Wan stretched and swung himself out of the speeder. He glanced back at Luke who was still sulking and sighed.
"Luke, come on," he said. "Beru is waiting for us." He considered his Padawan more carefully. "If you don't get out of that speeder right this minute, you'll have to do an extra two hours meditation when we get back home." Luke stayed silent and didn't move for a minute. Then, with a weary, put upon sigh he got up and clambered out of the speeder and made his way around to stand next to Ben. Obi-Wan looked down at his Padawan and inwardly shook his head. Threatening a six-year-old with extra meditation he thought wryly. Since when did I sink so low?
In spite of his sulk, however, Obi-Wan could sense that Luke was actually extremely curious, and eager to meat the Lars. He hadn't met many people in his short life, living out in the Dune Sea with a hermit who the locals considered crazy.
Sighing, Ben placed a hand between Luke's shoulder blades and gently guided him to the entrance to the courtyard, and then towards the door to the house proper. Over the years on Tatooine, Beru had gained a reputation as a teacher for young children of all species. She loved children, but was barren and tried to substitute the children she could never have by playing a small part in many of the young of Anchorhead lives.
Sometimes Obi-Wan felt terribly guilty by depriving Beru of the foster son she could have had in Luke, by being selfish and not carrying through with his original plan of giving Luke into her and her husband's care. But then he would look at his Padawan, and though it might not dispel the guilt, he would find himself unable to summon any regrets.
Pulling his mind free from his ponderings on the past, Obi-Wan pressed the buzzer by the door and focused his mind, as his master had so often told him to do, on the present. Beru would have her chance to be involved in Luke's life, in teaching him, now.
********
Obi-Wan heard footsteps on the other side of the door, and straightened and smiled as the door opened and Beru looked out.
Beru's eyes widened in surprise, then she smiled widely.
"Obi-Wan!" She exclaimed. "This is a pleasant surprise." Obi-Wan smiled back, genuinely glad to see her, he had always been fond of his half-brothers wife.
"Beru," he said, inclining his head slightly, "You look well." Beru laughed.
"You're too kind, Ben. Please, come in. It's hot out." She moved backwards, opening the door wider. Obi-Wan stepped inside, stamping his feet to shake the sand of his boots. He pushed Luke gently ahead of him, out of the shadow of his robes, resisting the urge to shake his head over the shyness he now felt coming over their bond.
Beru glanced down, just noticing Luke. She smiled at him.
"And who's this?" she asked kindly. Obi-Wan answered when it became apparent his Padawan wasn't about to answer.
"This is Luke Skywalker," he said. "My Padawan," he added. Luke looked up at him, clearly surprised. Ben had stressed again and again that he was not to mention anything to do with the Jedi, or Obi-Wan's real name, to anyone. Ben smiled down at him, reassuring.
Shock had crossed Beru's face momentarily at Luke's name, but she had her expression back under control as she smiled at him.
"Welcome, young Luke," she said. "Why don't you come in," she added, turning back into the interior of the house. "I've got some Kalla fruits out, if you want some." Luke brightened up and followed Beru eagerly. *Maybe Beru won't be so bad after all* Ben caught his thought. Chuckling to himself, he closed the door and followed them.
Entering the dining room, he found Luke sitting down and already biting into a Kalla fruit. Obi-Wan slipped into a chair and nodded his thanks to Beru as she poured some water into a glass for him.
"Beru," he began, uncomfortable with the question, "is Owen around?" He couldn't sense his half-brother anywhere, but Owen had always had strong natural shields. And as much as he was reluctant to admit it, Ben was extremely eager to avoid a confrontation with him. Beru looked at him, understanding in her eyes.
"He went into Anchorhead to get some parts he needed for the vaparators," she said. Obi-Wan nodded, slightly ashamed of the relief that flooded him. Luke glanced at him, curious about the emotion he sensed, his mouth stained with Kalla fruit juice.
"Now," Beru began, moving into a slightly more professional tone. "I understand you want me to tutor him?"
"Yes," Ben nodded. "I can teach him reading and writing and other basic skills but the rest?" he shrugged. "I feel it would be best for someone else to take over at least part of his tutoring." Beru nodded her head and sipped at her water. Obi-Wan could sense Luke's annoyance about being talked over by the 'grown-ups.'
"I teach quite a few of the young ones from Anchorhead," she began, setting her glass down. "In fact, on of them is her now." She turned towards the opening through to the living room, "Biggs!" she called, "Biggs could you come in here a minute?" A dark haired boy, about a year or so older than Luke, poked his head around the doorframe.
"You called, Ms Beru?" he asked.
"Yes," Beru smiled. "Biggs this is Luke, Luke this is Biggs," She looked at Biggs. "Luke will be taking classes with us from now on," she smiled at the two boys. "Why don't you two go and play while us adults finish talking?" Luke glance over at Obi-Wan for reassurance, and when he nodded his head he climbed down from his chair and made his way over to Biggs
"Come on!" Biggs said enthusiastically. "I brought a couple of models from my starship collection with me, do you want to see them?"
"You have a starship collection?" Luke's answering enthusiasm died away around the corner.
Obi-Wan turned back to Beru, a sad smile on his face in response to Luke's enthusiasm he could still feel echoing in the back of his head. He was so much like Anakin in his attitude towards ships and the stars.
"That's another reason I want him to learn here," he said. "He needs some friends his own age." Beru chuckled softly.
"You are rather isolated out there," she agreed. "Now, what does Luke know already, and what does he need to learn?"
******
Luke followed Biggs through to the garage, annoyed with himself for needing to look to Obi-Wan for reassurance. He perched on the edge of a crate and looked around while Biggs fished his models out of his pack.
The garage was big, at least to Luke's young eyes used to a tiny hut, and filled with clutter. Droids, droid parts, a lubricating bath, tools... Luke's fingers itched to fix what was so glaringly obviously, at least to him, with one of the druids. He looked back around eagerly as Biggs settled down next to him, putting his starship models down.
"See!" He said proudly. "I've got a TIE fighter and a Head Hunter and a Lambda Class shuttle here with me..." Luke looked down at them, relaxing now that things were on his favourite ground. He had been shy... and his Master had noticed it!
Luke shook his thoughts off and noticed a ship he didn't recognise.
"What's that one?" he asked, pointing at it.
"Which one?" Biggs looked down at it. "Oh! That one. That's a Pod, it's not really a ship."
"What is it, then?" Luke asked, interested. Biggs grinned.
"It's a racer," he said. "It's a bit like swoop racing or something, what it's raced in. There's an arena and they have huge races at Mos Espa, especially on Boonta Eve. They go so fast! The track comes down near here, through Beggars Canyon."
"Have you ever seen a race?" Luke asked excitedly. Biggs shook his head, disappointed.
"No. My mom doesn't like them, and my dad's always too busy to take me."
"Well, can't you watch when they come through Beggars canyon?" Biggs shook his head again.
"No. Tusken Raiders camp out on the trail a lot, and shoot at the Pods as they come by.
"Oh."
"But they transmit the Boonta Eve race at least over the holos. They go really fast around the turns. Humans can't do it, though."
"Why not?" Luke demanded indignantly. Biggs grinned at him.
"There's nothing xenophobic about it, Luke," he said. "Humans just don't have fast enough reflexes." I bet Jedi reflexes could handle it, Luke thought, experiencing a thrill at the idea.
"Anyway," Biggs said, changing the subject. "Where do you live? I've never seen you before." Luke pulled his mind away from dreams of Podracing to answer.
"We live out by the Dune Sea," he told him, pointing vaguely in the direction of the hut.
"The Dune Sea?" Biggs asked, puzzled. "But no-one lives out there except Old Ben."
"I know," Luke said calmly, examining the turbines on the model Podracer. "I live with him."
"Old Ben?" Biggs gaped at him. "But, he's crazy!" Luke whirled on him, suddenly furious.
"He is not crazy!" He snarled, forgetting, for the moment, that he was still mad at his Master for not letting him pilot the speeder over. He glared at Biggs who was now looking a bit nervous.
*Padawan* Obi-Wan's thought suddenly rang in his head, along with concern and a demand to know what had happened.
*He called you crazy!* Luke sent back, still glaring at Biggs. Obi-Wan's next thought was like a sigh through his mind.
*Padawan, everyone thinks that I am crazy; it's part of what keeps us safe.* The 'tone' changed to one of amusement. *Besides, you've called me crazy any number of times*
*That's different* Luke thought sulkily.
*Oh?* Ben thought and there was definitely amusement coming through the bond now, though the concern was still there. *So you mean, the Padawan can insult the Master, but anyone else who does so must die a horrible death?*
*Exactly!* Luke sent back promptly, some of his anger beginning to drain away. Obi-Wan's mental laughter was a warm tingle in the back of his mind. Suddenly, however, the sense of his master became more serious.
*While I am grateful to you for defending my honour, Padawan,* he thought trying to keep the conversation fairly light. *I sensed that you felt great anger at Biggs,* The concern in his Master's sense had grown stronger, and Luke immediately felt ashamed, and then guilty. 'Peace over Anger' he told himself sharply.
*I'm sorry, Master,* he sent humbly.
*It's OK, Padawan,* Obi-Wan thought, soothingly. *Just try to keep control over your anger, alright?* He sent a wave of reassurance and love, then withdrew from his mind, leaving Luke blinking, still staring at Biggs and suddenly a lot calmer. The whole mental exchange had only taken a few seconds.
Luke sighed and smiled sheepishly at Biggs, trying to apologise.
"I'm sorry," he said. "It's just..." he shrugged. Biggs smiled slightly and came over to sit next to him, albeit a bit warily.
"It's okay," he offered. "I shouldn't have said that." Luke shook his head.
"If he's crazy I don't know what I am." He smiled at his friend. "I don't even know what I'm doing defending him," he said. "He wouldn't let me pilot the speeder on our way over, and I'm the one that services that thing!" Biggs laughed, then looked at his new friend thoughtfully.
"Are you really good at mechanical stuff?" he asked, deliberately casual.
"Yeah, I am," Luke nodded.
"Great!" Biggs exclaimed, jumping up and hauling Luke to his feet. "Come on!"
"Wait!" Luke planted his feet firmly and eyed the older boy with suspicion.
"Where and why?"
"Well," Biggs mumbled, looking down at his feet. "Ms Beru teaches me for free in exchange for me helping Owen out with the druids but I can never get that one," he pointed disgustedly at the droid that had caught Luke's eye earlier, "To work."
"Really?" Luke looked at his friend in amazement. "It's simple, really, look..." And in a few moments the two boys were getting delightfully oily.
*******
Lanal Darklighter pulled her speeder up in front of the Lars' farm. She noted that there was another speeder parked outside, rather more battered then her own. The Darklighter Business was still growing, but not fast enough to suit Huff, or to prevent him from saving credits where he could, like imposing on Beru Lars' kindness, and asking her to teach Biggs.
Lanal smiled slightly, stepping out of the speeder and making her way into the garage. Although Biggs wasn't her own son, she did love him and- the sound of two young voices, raised not so much in anger but more bantering, stood toe-to-toe, yelling.
"You had to go and pull on that socket, didn't you?" A young boy, just recognisable as fair-haired, was yelling.
"It wasn't my fault!" Biggs, his face just recognisable under a covering of oil, defended himself. "I told you I was no good with Droids!"
"Yeah? Well, I don't know about your mother, but Ben will-" He stopped suddenly turning to face her though she was sure she had made no noise. Biggs turned with him, glancing around, confused- until his eyes fell on his mother.
Guiltiness and panic, then an angelic expression she was sure young boys must practice in the mirror, crossed both their faces.
"Mum!" Biggs said, nervously. "We were just, umm..." He glanced at his new friend for help, but he just looked at him with sympathy but helplessly... until horror crossed his face and he turned to look at the entrance of the garage through to the rest of the house. A man burst through, then stopped short, staring at the two boys.
"Hi, Ben." The fair-haired boy offered weakly. He glanced between himself and Biggs, obviously looking for something to lessen whatever fate was about to fall on their heads. "We, umm... We fixed the droids?" 'Ben' closed his eyes briefly, then sent her a look, which she returned, the look of one besieged parent to another. Beru came through the door then. She stopped and just looked at the boys, who were beginning to squirm under the three-way scrutiny.
"Look at the pair of you!" Beru exclaimed. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up. Don't touch any of the walls or furniture." With looks of relief at their temporary reprieve the two followed her, leaving Lanal and Ben alone.
Lanal shook her head as she stared after them.
"I've never known Biggs to get so filthy." She said, dazedly.
"I think Luke has a talent for it," Ben offered. She turned to face him and looked at him, puzzled.
"I don't think I've seen you before," she said, slowly.
"Probably not," Ben agreed, smiling easily. "Though you've probably heard of me."
"How so?" He looked at her a bit sheepishly.
"I'm 'Crazy Old Ben'" Lana stepped back slightly, eyeing him narrowly. She wasn't one to judge people on what other people said normally, but still...
"I assure you, Lanal." He said quietly, his smile gone. "But I am quite sane."
"Forgive me," she said, still watching him. "But I find it hard to believe that some one who would willingly become a hermit out here is in full possession of his senses." Her eyes widened as understanding dawned. "Especially one that would drag a young boy into it!" She glared at him indignantly, daring him to deny it. Ben's face had hardened during her tirade, but now, as she watched, it drained away.
"Perhaps I am not in 'full possession of my senses,'" he admitted. But few are, who are veterans of the Clone Wars."
"What?" she asked, some of her anger draining away.
"I was a pilot." He told her. I was in a lot of battles, and lost," he paused and swallowed then continued. "I lost a lot of friends. One was as dear to me as my own brother. Luke is his son. He has no living family, and as a last gift to my friend I promised to raise and care for him. But after all the carnage and destruction... I just wanted peace."
"I'm sorry," Lanal whispered, ashamed.
"It's alright," he told her, smiling painfully.
"I'm going to see how Beru's getting along with Biggs." She told him. She turned and hurried into the interior of the house, blinking back sympathetic tears.
Obi-Wan breathed a sigh as he looked after the departing figure of Lanal Darklighter, relieved that she had believed his 'lie' the voice broke into his train of thoughts. 'Lie, that's all you do now. Lie to people who could be your friend, lie to yourself, teach Luke to lie. And you lie to Luke about his fath-'
"It is necessary!" Obi-Wan snapped aloud. 'It is necessary,' he repeated wearily in the silence of his mind. Necessary was the only answer he had for the voices
that might laughingly be called his consciousness any more.
"Necessary," he repeated softly aloud, starting off after Lanal. He could only hope, that when the time came for Luke to learn the truth, that he would forgive him.
*******
Owen Lars piloted his speeder deftly and with the ease of long practice into its accustomed place in front of the farmstead. He switched off the ignition and climbed out, glancing at the speeder parked next to it as he did so. Probably it belonged to one of the parents of the children Beru was always tutoring.
Owen's gaze swept the front of the farm, coming to rest on a small, sopping wet boy though the water had begun to evaporate, sitting just out of the worst heat of the sun. Owen grunted, the moisture farmer in him rebelling at the idea of wasting even a minimal amount of water. The boy glanced up then, and Owen froze as a cold chill swept over him as icy blue eyes met his own. For a moment, the years fell away and he was seeing another boy with blue eyes and fair-hair as Obi-Wan introduced him.
"Owen, Beru, this is my Padawan, Anakin Skywalker."
Owen blinked as time reasserted itself, and then glared at the boy who looked away, more than a little spooked by his vision. Just then he heard voices from inside the house, dazedly he wondered if the vision was still continuing... Then a man stepped out of the house, and for a moment Owen wished it were still just a vision.
"Obi-Wan," his voice was cold, non-committal. The Jedi looked around, startled, and Owen felt a flash of petty satisfaction that he could still surprise the great Jedi Master.
"Owen," his voice matched his half-brothers, though it was not so cold. The boy, no longer dripping so much, glanced uncertainly at Owen, then moved up to
Obi-Wan's side. Luke pressed into his master's robes, unsure why this man was affecting him so much, he just knew that he radiated hostility, directed against his master.
The boy was glaring at him, Owen noted... suddenly a flash of realisation hit him and he glanced up at Obi-Wan.
"This you're Padawan, then?" He asked. "I'm surprised you took another, after what happened to the last one." The flash of pain across Obi-Wan's face made Owen felt slightly ashamed of his remark. It had been a low blow, he admitted, even though he felt that Obi-Wan deserved all that, and more.
"It has been a pleasure talking to you, Owen, as always." Obi-Wan's voice had settled into 'Jedi Diplomat' tone, not allowing any hint of feelings to come through. The Padawan was glancing back and forth between them, obviously confused.
Footsteps on the stone floor broke the staring match between them as Beru hurried out, obviously having sensed the rising tension level. She glanced quickly Owen's way, then smiled determinedly at Obi-Wan.
"It was good to see you, Ben," she said. Owen snorted at the comment, which she ignored. "So, we'll be seeing you most days, then? And Luke can help Biggs out with the droids in exchange for lessons."
"What?" Owen broke in, looking back and forth between them, "What's this?"
"Beru has kindly agreed to tutor Luke," Obi-Wan broke in, voice still Jedi calm.
"And now I believe we have imposed on you far too long," He bowed slightly to Beru the boy, Luke, was it? Copying his movement and steered them both in the direction of the speeder.
"Wait!" Owen called out, a premonition hitting him suddenly. "You, boy, what's your name?" Luke glanced back uncertainly from climbing into the speeder, surprised at the question.
"Luke Skywalker," he replied. Owen's mouth dropped open.
"Sky-skywalker!" he stuttered, staring alternately at his half-brother and the young boy who was looking at him, puzzled.
"We're leaving." Ben said firmly, and the speeder shot forward before Owen could find his voice again. He turned slowly to look at his wife. Beru looked at him, warily. Owen's mouth opened and shut a couple of times before he could speak.
"You-you agreed to 'tutor' him! You know what he 'is?'"
"He is a innocent little boy," Beru said firmly, "In desperate need of a mothers love. And if you, Owen Lars, suggest that he is anything otherwise, or that I shouldn't give him that love, you will be sleeping in the garage!" Beru turned and marched firmly back into the house.
Owen stared after her, fuming, but he knew that there was no changing her mind once it was set on something. He glared darkly out into the desert where the sunlight glinted off metal, a speeder heading home.
"He's Vader's spawn," he muttered, then turned and made his way back into the house.
********
Obi-Wan was boiling mad. Owen! Owen, who had reacted to Luke like he was poison after learning his name. It had made Obi-Wan want strike of his head, darkside be damned! Obi-Wan took a deep breath, trying, with some small success, to release his anger into the Force. He glanced sideways at his Padawan. Luke was staring up at him, his eyes wide. He could feel the fear coming off his Padawan, and the fact that he was on the brink of tears. The rest of his anger vanishing, momentarily, Obi-Wan pulled the speeder to a halt, then reached over and drew his suddenly shaking Padawan into his arms. Luke burst into tears, burying his face into his tunic, his body shaking uncontrollably.
*Shhh, it's alright Luke, it's alright.* Obi-wan sent lovingly along the bond, along with reassurance and a deep sense of safety.
*Why-why...* Even in mind speech Luke's voice was choked. The helpless question came with a sudden clear memory of the revulsion that had come from Owen. Obi-Wan barely managed to suppress the resurgence of anger the memory brought. Anger would not help his Padawan he scolded himself harshly. But the impact of such a strong, negative emotion on Luke's Force-sensitive, but essentially untrained mind... Obi-Wan drew his Padawan's body closer against him, attempting to soothe the waves of pain and confusion coming off him.
*Hush Padawan,* he murmured, *It's OK, it's OK*
*Why?* The question came again, but Obi-Wan had no answer, or at least none that he could give, so he just held his Padawan, letting him feel his deep love for him, until Luke fell asleep. Obi-Wan looked down at him. He wanted to just hold him, to keep him safe; to not let any of the horror's of the Galaxy touch him. But, he knew that he could not shield Luke against them, and though he railed at his helplessness, he knew that he could only watch as sufferings he needed no Force-Vision to tell him the future held, were inflicted on his Padawan. And though he wished he could deny it to himself, he knew that many of them would be of his making.
*******
The wind of his passing whipped his hair back, tugged at his clothes. The adrenaline raced through his system, urging him on to even grater heights. The roar of the turbines pounded at his ears, sensitised to the slightest change in the engines pitch. The walls of Beggars Canyon whipped past, excitement shot through his veins as bullets of Tusken Raiders 'pinged' off his pod. He narrowed his eyes behind the protective goggles and jammed the controls forwards, his pod leapt, shooting past one of the stragglers. He twisted, turning the pod this way and that, avoiding rocky outcroppings, tightly focused on the task at hand. As he turned his pod sideways, the force of the acceleration pressing him into his seat, he wanted to scream for the pure joy of being in his element. Of flying. Breath caught in his throat and he forced himself to breath as the lead pod came into view. The cheating scumbag that was the pilot was a mere speck. His eyes narrowed, his thoughts focusing down to a point - 'Not "this" time'
Then abruptly the scene changed.
A battle raged. Three figures turned and twisted in a deadly dance to the music of clashing lightasbers. One fell, turning in the air to land gracefully on a lower walkway to that one where the other two fought. A leap no human could manage, then a flash of light and red-lit walls slide into place, separating the opponents, the partners. A moment, silent, when it seems that time has frozen still, and everything that is, ever was, and ever will be holds it's breath. A snap-hiss of noise and time restarts with an explosion of action as one lunges upwards and blades meet with a clash and the dance resumes, even as one player in this drama is caught as a helpless spectator. Blades meet and part, and it seems now less a dance, except maybe a dance of power as of old, to strike down enemies and to plea for aid. One moment, one simple second so that a blink of an eye might miss it but all the cosmos zooms in on- the warrior falls and a cry of grief splits the air. The second warrior, released moments too late rushes upon the third- and now the dance is one of vengeance, and its powering force is grief. Lightsabers clash, the dark warrior pressed back, the other holds him down, sneer of victory upon his face- an invisible force pushes him backwards, and he his falling, hands reaching out desperately, pointlessly... to grab a protruding piece of metal, and with a jar as that jolt shakes his body, the universe swings back into place for him. Even as the lightsaber tumbles end over end down the pit, sent by the dark warrior. A premonition of one of the many futures this moment may dictate. He cranes his neck back, to stare upwards into the face of the enemy. The face of a demon looks back, face patterned red and black, horns protruding from the skull. Mouth curled upwards in a sneer as hate-filled yellow eyes stare back and the blood-red lightsaber swings down and-
Luke Skywalker bolted upright, shaking. He struggled out of the twisted bed sheets; sweat all ready chilling him in the Tatooine night air. Trembling still, he pressed his hands against his forehead as if to force the memories of the nightmare from his brain. Abruptly he turned and almost ran in the direction of his master's bedroom.
Luke hesitated when he reached the door. He didn't want his master to think he was a baby, coming and waking him up because of a nightmare. His internal dilemma was solved as the hump under the bed-clothes moved and a sleepy voice asked,
"Padawan?" Luke didn't hesitate any more, hurrying to the bed and burrowing under the covers. Obi-Wan looked down at his Padawan, a bit bemused, trying to clear the fogs of sleep from his brain. Voice gentle, he asked "You had a nightmare?" Luke nodded his head. "Do you want to talk about it?" He hesitated, then nodded, slowly. "OK, then. What happened?"
"I was flying," he began, his voice hesitant. "It was wonderful, I was winning! But then, it was different, and, and there were three people fighting, but then one of them was k-killed, and the other couldn't get to him in time then the dark one knocked him down the pit and he swung the lightsaber and-" Luke's voice was coming faster and faster, Obi-Wan continued to stroke his back soothingly, offering reassurances through the bond- then he froze as a picture of the 'dark one' appeared in his mind. 'Darth Maul' he thought, stunned.
"Padawan," he began slowly, "It wasn't a nightmare." Luke twisted to look up at him, eyes frankly disbelieving. Obi-Wan smiled reassuringly down at him. "It was a force vision." Except six-year olds don't get force visions... This wasn't the first time Luke, son of the Chosen One, had thrown him a curve like this. Luke stared up at him, eyes wide.
"Then what I saw... it happened?" Obi-Wan nodded, and Luke shivered. "That's worse," he half-whispered.
"It's OK, Luke," Obi-Wan murmured to him. Luke looked at him, accusatory.
"You're saying that to make me feel better." He looked down at his hands again, still shaken even if he was trying to hide it. "Who 'was' the Dark One?" he murmured. Ben thought he wasn't meant to hear that, but he answered.
"That was Darth Maul, a Sith," Luke looked up interested. He recognised the name 'Sith' from his lessons on the history of the Jedi, and the little his Master had told him on Darth Vader.
"How do you know?" he asked. Obi-Wan smiled down at him.
"I was one of the other two warriors in your vision," he told Luke. Luke's eyes widened.
"So the one who died-" He began.
"Was my Master, Qui-Gon Jinn." Ben confirmed. Luke nodded, slowly.
"What about my other dream?" he asked. "The one where I was flying?"
"I think that was probably just a dream," he said. "Unless..." a thought struck him. "What were you doing in that dream?" Luke looked at him, a bit confused, then his face cleared as he picked up Obi-Wan's meaning over the bond.
"I think I was flying a pod," he said. "I was in a pod race." Obi-Wan chuckled.
"Then you were dreaming of your Father," he said. Luke stared up at him in disbelief.
"My Father was a Pod-Racer?" he asked. "But Biggs said that no human could do it!" He stopped suddenly as he remembered a thought he'd had a few days ago at the Lars' farm. "Then I was right!" He said excitedly "Jedi-Reflexes 'could' handle a pod-race!" Obi-Wan looked at his young Padawan in alarm, for more reasons then one.
"Padawan, you are 'not' going to become a pod-racer." Luke scrunched up his nose.
"Maasteer," he whined.
"No," Obi-Wan said firmly. "Those races are deadly," And Vader would be sure to hear about the human boy who could race pods... He looked down at his pouting Padawan. "Tell you what," he compromised. "If you behave yourself, then when I can I'll take you to see one of the big races in Mos Espa, how about that?" Luke's face lit up.
"Thank you, Master!" He threw his arms around Obi-Wan's middle and hugged him tight.
"Ooof," Obi-Wan gasped, laughing. "Easy there, Luke, I have to breath!" Luke released him, still beaming. "Now, why don't you go on back to bed? On second thoughts," he added, seeing the flash of fear that crossed Luke's face, "Why don't you stay here?"
"Thank you Master," Luke said quietly, snuggling under the covers. Obi-Wan smiled tenderly at his Padawan, settling himself down next to him.
"Ben?" the voice was quiet.
"Hmm?" Ben replied.
"Tell me about Father?" Obi-Wan smiled a bitter-sweet smile in the darkness and let the memories drift up, using the good ones of the early years to chase away the darkness that would come later.
"Your Father," he began, "Was a good friend. When I first knew him, he was already a great pilot, but I was amazed..."
Well? Shall I continue?