STAR WARS DO NOT BELONG TO ME.

Well, here it comes the next chapter. It's been ready for quite a time now, and I'm so happy for having it updated, even if under another nickname. I hope you all enjoy it, I'll be anxious to read your oponion.

Chapter I

"People of the Empire… Give your strongest applause for our two young pilots winners: Luke and Leia Skyer!"

The thunderous roar of the crowd was like nothing that Luke had heard before. It was almost frightening: an echo that extended indefinitely, the sound always increasingly. The ground had started to tremble beneath his feet, and Luke began to wonder if such applause could shake the heart of the planet itself.

The feeling of to be there, of being the focus of such ebullience, wasn't especially pleasant. He felt airsick, hypersensitive, and extremely conscious of his own body. Every accidental touch against his skin scorched like hot iron. The adrenaline for the race was still burning strong in his veins, and incremented the feeling of dizziness. However, it also helped to mitigate the pain.

The cut in his leg and the few broken ribs that he had earned racing were barely a bother. The tiredness would reach him later, too.

Luke! Leia! Luke! Leia! Luke! Leia! Luke! Leia!

The crowd cried his name and her sister's like a prayer.

Like Luke, Leia had also gotten some injuries for herself. The broken wrist seemed the most serious one. Fortunately for both of them, there was nothing to be worry about. A few hours of bacta treatment were all they needed to heal.

And Gods knew they were used to!

It was unusual, to not say impossible, to compete in a speed race and to end with a good position without getting a souvenir in form of a wound. And this particular race was the most dangerous and violent of all ones that Luke had ever taken part in. No even in his craziest dreams had he imagined something similar. And he had fantasized quite a lot about the topic.

The incredible talent of every pilot, the ferocity of each curve, the foul play, the awareness that one second of hesitation could mean the difference between life and death; tension, speed, force. There hadn't been time to be afraid, to worry for their lives.

Their racing craft was the only important, the craft and the goal; everything else was only obstacles between them two. It was almost a miracle that the both had survived…

Nonetheless, they had done more than just survived. They had actually won!

And all Imperial Planet applauded them now.

Luke smiled; a bright, euphoric, incredulous smile.

In front of them, the man dressed with flamboyant clothes continued talking to the crowd. The teenager hadn't been paying attention to his words, too absent minded assimilating his own victory and his sister's. Until...

"… and now, our beloved Emperor will give the well-earned medals to them!"

Luke's mouth fell with surprise. Suddenly, his attention was entirely focused in the present.

The Emperor? Had that eccentric man said the Emperor himself?

He had not time enough to process the thinking, before he and Leia were driven by two imperial guards to an upper platform that hanged over their heads. Everything was strangely silent. The people had finally stopped cheering, Luke comprehended with surprise. Now, they seemed to wait in silent for the very expected meeting.

Luke wasn't well aware of which ones were his feelings about the matter: incredulity, fear, expectation, a mix of the three? He knew, however, that there wasn't going to be time enough to figure it out, and her sister's anxiety became a helpless cry inside his head as they were approaching to their destiny.

He grabbed her hand. It was instinct. To protect his sister. He tried to tell her with his mind every word that he wasn't in position to actually speak aloud.

I'm here with you, Leia. We've won the race. Everything is going to be okay. There is no reason to fear.

There wasn't time for her to nod. Everything was happening too quickly. A second of silent. An announcement. Then the Emperor's figure walked in front of them.

He was tall, several inches taller than Luke, and his body was wrapped with a black cloak and a hood. The crowd applauded again to welcome him. The din was ever louder than before, but for some reason Luke was barely aware of the noise this time.

Leia and he walked a step closer to the Emperor.

He was standing up, still, with his back upright and proud. His face was well concealed by the hood, which made impossible to glimpse his features. However, his figure was wrapped in a aura of unquestioned authority and power, and his pose was very threatening. It was, as a whole, a very dreadful image, and yet, somehow, Luke found himself unable to glance away.

I don't like him.

Luke heard her sister's thought as loud as if it would've been said in words. He couldn't disagree; not completely. Still, Luke stared at powerful figure, fascinated.

The man didn't show a sign of being conscious of the crowd beneath their platform, crying his name. He remained impassible, neither flattered nor boring, like if he couldn't care less for the spectacle. Like if every one of them — every single person around, the millions of billions reunited to celebrate his sixteen years as Emperor, the subjects who sustained his power— were nothing; less important than insects.

I wasn't exactly contempt, but Luke was unable to find the right word to describe it. It didn't stop him from trying.

Then, surprising both of them, the Emperor stepped forwards. He was suddenly so close than Luke was able to sense his body heat under his cloak. He raised his arms over their heads —Luke gasped—, and two golden medals were placed around their necks, one after the other.

"Congratulations, young ones." He said with a blank voice.

Luke bent his head in response and relaxed notably when, from the corner of his eye, he saw his sister to do the same. All the cameras were focused on them.

"You have won fairly."

It was the polite thing to say, exactly what was expected. The imperial troopers start to walk towards them, and it was only another proof that the short interview was over. But Luke couldn't help it. He remained still and, recklessly, ignored his sister's hand trying to drive him back. He raised his eyes and stared the Emperor once more.

He needed to understand... where the feeling came from that the man was only laughing of Luke with those last words? Because… there was something else in him…something that Luke couldn't put his finger on.

"Luke" Her sister whispered in his ear. "Come on. Now!"

He nodded. He acknowledged that was the wise option. And nevertheless, his feet were still stuck in the ground, unwilling to move.

"Luke!"

He blinked.

"Better listen to your sister, young one. Or you might not like the consequences."

It was just a whisper; so quietly spoken that the holo-cameras didn't catch it. It was enough to freeze Luke's stomach.

His feet finally reacted.

Leia dragged him through the platform faster than would been considered courteous. As he walked away from the Emperor presence, the applause of the crowd returned to his ears. The fear vanished along with the fascination —or whatever madness had seized him—, and suddenly Luke felt tired, very tired; just as if all emotions and wounds for the race were finally starting to overcome him.

He wanted only to rest, to heal his injuries and to sleep for very longs hours, maybe days. But the people were claiming their names again, absorbed in the spectacle. Luke sighed, resigned. It seemed like his wishes were going to have to wait for a while.

The euphoria for the race was still there, bright, booming, pressing against his veins… and yet, Luke thought, yet... a victory had never felt so heavy before.

Well, what do you think? I know it was a short chapter, the next will be longer, I promise. But Luke and Leia have had the first encounter with the Emperor, and that can never mean good news...

I hope you have liked, and I promise all your questions will be answered in time. Please, feel free to opine and give advice. This last one will always be especially welcome.

May the force be with you.

Kheyra Amidala Skywalker.