Author's Note: This chapter is under the process of being rewritten. READ AUTHOR'S NOTE ON CHAPTER 5 FOR MORE DETAILS.
Chapter 1 - Great Chott Salt Flat, Tatooine - 1BBY
Luke sighed, wiping sweat off his forehead with his sleeve. It was the third time he was out here fixing the moisture vaporators this week.
They were always breaking down, from the coarse, harsh sand getting inside them for years. Not surprisingly, as they had been on the farm since he was a baby. So in other words they were ancient, for vaporators at least. He'd been pestering his uncle for a while to get new ones but his response was always the same "We'll buy new vaporators when we can afford them." Until then, Luke was stuck fixing them, constantly.
He'd rather be out racing his T-16 down in Beggar's canyon with Biggs, maybe shoot a whomp rat or two. Or possibly freak Windy out as he threaded Stone's Needle, hell, he'd even challenge Fixer to sandsurf again. But no, he was wasting his time fixing these blasted vaporators.
But, Luke promised himself, he wouldn't be here forever. He especially didn't want to stay after Biggs left for the Academy. Biggs' father, Huff Darklighter, being one of the wealthiest moisture farmers around, was able to arrange Biggs' commission into the Imperial Academy. He would be leaving for the Imperial Naval Academy on Prefsbelt IV next season.
Luke sighed again, next season just seemed like it was coming too fast too soon. And he didn't want to lose him. Sure, there would be Windy, Fixer, Deak and Camie, but it just wouldn't be the same.
Where would he be without Biggs Darklighter? Biggs had always been there for him, had his back, always helping him out of tight situations. He was his closest friend, despite him being five years Luke's senior. They we inseparable, there was no stopping them, they were shooting stars!
Biggs wasn't the only one from their small group to be going off either, Tank got accepted to the Academy as well. How reckless, trouble maker, Tank got in he'll never know. But that was besides the point.
The point was he would be joining Biggs as they got see the galaxy, fly some of the best starfighters the Empire could offer, go on adventures, all without him. And Luke, he would be where he has been for all of his eighteen years, on this hellhole of a planet, forever surrounded by endless sand.
Lars Homestead
By the time he was done, Luke realized the suns were already setting and the stars were coming out. "Poodoo!" he cursed. "Uncle Owen is gonna kill me!" It was the fifth time this season that he had been late getting home from fixing the vaporators.
Luke quickly put his tools in the back of his landspeeder, and set off back to the homestead. When he arrived, he saw his aunt come out with an annoyed look on her face.
"Luke!" Beru Lars berated her nephew, "Dinner was ready hours ago! I kept yours in the warmer. I will set it out, so hurry up and eat before it gets cold!" She urged Luke.
"Coming, Aunt Beru!" He hollered back, taking his tools out of the landspeeder, heading towards the garage.
"Make sure you wash up before eating!" His aunt replied as she headed back in. "Especially since you've just been handling dirty tools!"
After putting the tools away, following his aunt's orders, Luke went to the fresher to clean up before dinner. Looking in the mirror, he realized there was black substance in his bangs, sticking out against the bright blonde hair, oil. "Great," he grumbled. "I hope they don't notice it." There was nothing he could do about it now. He would just have to wait till after dinner, then he would take a nice sonic shower. Which would hopefully take all the grime off him.
On his way to go eat, remembering what Biggs had given him the other day, Luke made a detour to his room. Biggs, knowing Luke's dreams of joining him at the Naval Academy, had given him a datapad with a pamphlet for the Academy on Prefsbelt IV as well as an application form for the academy.
Maybe at dinner he could show Uncle Owen the datapad and convince his uncle to eventually let him join up with Biggs, Luke wistfully thought to himself. But, Luke knew the chances of Uncle Owen letting him join the Academy were as high as Tatooine freezing over. His uncle insists that he needs help with the farm and that Luke's better off here, frustrating Luke to no end.
Luke just didn't understand why his uncle doesn't get that he has his own dreams and aspirations; he wants to fly, see the galaxy, and not suck moisture from sand his whole life.
On his way to the dining room, he made up his mind, he decided he was going ask his aunt and uncle to let him join the Academy, again. But this time hopefully with more conviction, so he sounded convincing...hopefully.