Chapter Three:

"Keep on your toes!"

Luke ducked a swing from his sparring partner and came back up to deliver a right-hook to the other man's jaw. The guy blocked him and sent a jab into Luke's abdomen, but he spun away just in time.

Then Luke blocked a series of jabs, punches and hooks that would have left him beaten and bruised had he not. Tanner switched tactics and feinted right, his light brown hair swinging in its small ponytail.

Luke barely caught his actual strike from the left when the man suddenly shifted his weight with precise reflexes. He caught Tanner's arm and spun him until his back was to Luke. However, Luke paid for that when Tanner stomped on his foot and then thrust his elbow into Luke's ribs.

Luke grunted, falling back to catch his breath, but Tanner didn't give him the chance. Tanner charged him, and Luke defended himself with his own series of jabs and hooks, which Tanner in turn deflected.

When he sent Luke's arm wide left, he drove a fist in toward Luke's middle. The blond saw it coming and acted on instinct. Dropping down, Luke swept a leg through his opponent's ankles; gratified to see his foe end up on his backside.

Tanner Garr swore as he bit his lip, spitting out a small amount of blood before he dodged Luke's follow-up. He rolled backwards to come up on his knees, catching Luke's fist when his attempt to grab Tanner failed.

Luke lost all sense of direction for a split second as Tanner flipped him over his back. When Luke landed, all the air let him for a moment. But Tanner did not let up, and just as Luke got to his feet, he found himself in a head-lock.

"Get out of it Luke, come on!" his coach— a man named Rahn Calfan— urged him as he watched the sparring partners intently.

Luke turned his head to the side to prevent choking, and then he slammed an elbow into Tanner's abdomen. The man grunted, but did not let up. Switching tactics, Luke lifted his free hand and jabbed his fingers up toward Tanner's nose, forcing the man to either lift his head and loosen his hold, or suffer damage.

Tanner opted for the former, loosening his hold just enough for Luke to grab him and heave, flipping the man over onto his back this time. He landed atop him, holding Tanner down with his full weight as he delivered an ending blow.

He stopped just shy of knocking Tanner out, since this was only practice, and Tanner froze as he realized Luke had bested him.

"Good job Luke," Rahn praised. "You are improving each time we train."

Luke stood up and offered Tanner a helping hand up. "Good match."

"Yeah, it was." Tanner let Luke pull him to his feet, where they then shook hands.

"Sorry about the lip," Luke apologized.

"Nah, don't worry about it." Tanner waved off is apology, his grey eyes dancing mischievously. "Besides, maybe this'll help me with the ladies, you know?"

They shared a chuckle and Tanner waved as he walked out of the room. Rahn clapped Luke on the back.

"Well done," he said again. "You are a fast learner; it's very refreshing to have a diligent and quick student to teach."

"Thank you." Luke shook his coaches' hand as well, and followed Tanner from the room. Instead of returning to his quarters, however, he went outdoors for his usual run, only stopping for his water skin.

He took a good swig, slung the thing onto his back and took off at a brisk jog into the forest. He'd discovered a game trail some ways in that circumvented the base and then went up a few good slopes until it ended in a clearing in the nearby hills. Once there Luke would take a short break and then return to base via a second trail that led a winding route back to base.

As Luke jogged, he wondered not for the first time if he'd ever find someone to complete his Jedi training. His chances of finding a second Jedi Master in hiding were about as good as a rancor being invited to meet with the Emperor.

Shaking his head at the ridiculous picture that thought provoked, Luke continued to navigate the small pathway.

If he could not train formally to be a Jedi, then he would do what he could on his own. He knew that a Jedi needed to be fit and should able to handle many different situations.

That was part of the reason he'd sought out the various forms of training he had. He wanted to hold his own in a fight on the ground just as much as he could in his X-wing. Because he knew the time would come when his X-wing wouldn't be enough— or in use at all in a mission— and Luke refused to be a liability.

He wanted to help, not hinder.

The final reason for his efforts to remain fit and know how to fight and survive, of course, was Shmi. He wanted to be able to protect her in any way possible.

With a renewed sense of vigor, Luke focused on the first of many uphill portions of his run.

00000

"Uncle Han! Uncle Han!"

Han Solo looked up in time to catch Shmi Skywalker as she slammed in to him halfway up the boarding ramp of the Millennium Falcon.

"Hey, Squirt!" Han hugged her tightly for a moment and then set her down. "Did you come to help us unload?"

"Yes!" Shmi peered behind Han into the ship. "Where's Chewie?"

"He's in the cargo hold, why don't you go sneak up on him?" Han suggested conspiratorially.

Shmi giggled secretively and took off into the innards of the ship. Han shook his head as he watched her go, and then turned to spot Leia at the base of the ramp.

She nodded to him. "Hello Han."

"Princess," Han greeted in turn.

"Did you have any trouble?" Leia asked as Han joined her.

"None at all," Han assured.

"That's good," Leia murmured, taking the shipment manifest from him. "Thank you, by the way. We need those medical supplies."

"You're welcome," Han said simply.

He wondered if Leia was still sore that he hadn't officially signed up to join her rebellion. To his mind, it didn't matter if it was official. He was still helping wasn't he? Did he have to put his signature to paper to do that?

Han didn't want to be tied down to the Alliance. He wanted the freedom to come and go as he chose. Especially since he still had to go pay off Jabba… preferably before the Hutt's bounty hunters caught up to him.

So, in an effort not to begin fighting right off the bat, Han remained cordial.

For now.

"I'll get some men to help with the unloading." Leia nodded to him and walked off, but then Han realized that there was someone missing.

"Hey, where is Luke?"

Leia stopped and turned back to him for a moment. "He's probably on his run right now, the usual trail."

"Ah." Han nodded.

Leia eyed him oddly before once more turning to leave, and this time Han didn't stop her. He heard laughter and howling from the cargo hold, and knew that Shmi had found the Wookiee. With a wide grin, Han joined the pair.

"Chewie, when the men get here to unload will you keep an eye on Shmi?"

Chewie whuffed an affirmative, bouncing the girl in his arms playfully.

"Thanks."

Han left his ship, grateful to be able to stretch his legs. He exited the base and found the trail Luke used to come back to base, both because it was shorter, and Han figured that the Kid might be at the crest of the hill.

And if he was on his way down, then he'd run into him… literally.

Han snickered at that and began the climb.

As he moved, he allowed himself time to muse. He pondered over the Skywalkers, and how they had affected him… changed him. Once upon a time, Han Solo hadn't cared about a soul save for his and Chewie's

He had been free, and carefree. But he'd also been alone. He hadn't realized just how lonely he really was until Luke and his daughter had come into his life. They had shown him that it was okay to open up a little, to gain new friends.

To care for others.

He supposed it had started with the Kid. The way the young man seemed more mature than most of the guys his age. Han had seen the way he protected his daughter, despite ridicule and the harsh realities he'd been forced to face perhaps far too quickly.

He remembered the look of determination in those blue eyes, a resolve that had been overshadowed by fear. The dread of what he would do now that his guardians, and everything else he had ever known, were gone.

But most of all, Luke had been afraid for his daughter. Every step forward the Kid had taken had been with one constant thought in mind: what about Shmi?

Han recalled how Luke had met those fears head-on. And not only that, but had conquered them. He'd gone on to rescue a princess from a moon-sized battle station, to later blowing the monstrosity to hell. And now he led a starfighter squadron.

Luke was a rare kind of man in Han's experience.

Han thought back to when he'd discovered that Luke had sought out combat training of all sorts from the various Alliance members, from hand-to-hand to stealth and subterfuge. The Kid had even asked Han to help him improve his usage of a blaster.

Han had taken great pride in showing Luke the ropes on that, and the time sent together on the range had only deepened their friendship.

Han was amazed at how much Luke had grown over the last nine months. He was now faster on his feet, and he had a much larger arsenal at his disposal when it came to a fight. Han was certain that Luke would hold his own just fine in future assignments.

Because the Kid was strong. Not just physically— though he was constantly working on that— but also in heart, spirit and mind. When Luke set his mind to something, there was a rare few things that could knock him off-course.

Such as his desire to become a Jedi.

Luke was doing everything he could to make up for his lack of Jedi training by staying fit and learning new skills. He practiced often with his lightsaber, and while he was not a professional, even Han had to admit that the Kid was a natural with the blade.

Han smiled as he thought of the gift he'd brought back for Luke this trip.

Luke's lifeday was not for a few more months, but Han had the feeling this couldn't wait. Besides… he wanted Luke to have it.

His thoughts were brought up short when he crested the top of the trail to find Luke sitting on a tree stump. He was overlooking the lake that Han's chosen trial ran along, atop the cliffs they were now on.

Han paused upon seeing Luke's serene face, something that was a rare sight these days. He was reluctant to disturb him all of a sudden. But then Luke's head turned as though he'd heard something, and his face split into a wide grin.

"Han!" Luke sprang up and sped over to clap him into a brief, but fierce embrace. "When did you get back?"

"Just now, actually," Han replied.

Luke nodded as the men pulled away from each other. "It's good to have you back."

"It's good to see you too," Han returned.

Luke smiled, and they stood side by side for a long moment, their gazes returning to the scenery. Below them, the lake swelled and sloshed with the winds that were picking up, and far below could be heard the lap of small waves hitting stone.

"Oh, did you get those files I asked you for?" Luke broke the silence.

"I sure did." Han nodded. "I found the education programming used in most schools, and it should be compatible with your creation."

"Thank you Han."

During one of his first missions, Luke had discovered a broken down protocol droid and had returned with it to base. He had been repairing and retrofitting it ever since to become both a teacher and a form of protection for Shmi while he was away on missions.

"I just want to give Shmi something to do while I'm gone on missions or patrol… or whatever else calls me away from her." Luke continued a little sheepishly.

"Shmi will love it, Luke," Han assured him. "Personally, I think it's a smart move on your part to make sure she gets an education."

"Yeah," Luke agreed softly, and then he furrowed his brow as if just realizing something and looked to Han. "What brings you up here?"

"Just wanted to stretch my legs," Han replied, shrugging.

Luke gave him a look. "So, naturally, the best option is to climb a mountain?"

Han snorted. "Alright, you've got me. I wanted to see how you're doing."

Luke smirked wryly for a second, and then sobered. "I'm alright. Really. But thank you for the concern."

Han nodded, allowing the Kid another private moment. Luke had confided in him before Han left for this shipment that his aunt and uncle's wedding anniversary was coming up. Han had not missed the sorrow in the younger mans' gaze, and had known that this week would be a sad reminder of what Luke had lost nearly a year earlier.

"Has it really been nine months, Han?" Luke asked, as if reading his thoughts. "Some days it feels as though it was yesterday… others, years."

Han placed a comforting hand on Luke's shoulder. "They would be proud of the man you've become, Luke."

The younger man smiled gratefully. "Thank you Han."

Luke took another moment to say his silent goodbyes to Owen and Beru before he turned with Han to begin the long walk back to base.

Part way down the trail, Han turned his head to Luke.

"You know, I hear you've been giving Tanner a run for his money on the mat."

Luke grinned sheepishly. "Well, yeah."

"You should take Chewie on if you want a real challenge," Han teased.

Luke snorted, "Yeah, I'm sure he'd get a kick out of throwing me around the training room."

"He can promise to at least not tear your arms out," Han jested, shoving Luke in the shoulder good-naturedly.

"Yeah, because that wouldn't make the rest of my body hurt," Luke snarked, shoving back.

"I never said it wouldn't," Han remarked. "But you have to admit taking on Chewie would be a boost for you."

"Not if I end up in the med ward," Luke shot back mildly.

They continued to rough each other up, neither man noticing how close to the edge of the cliff-face they were getting.

"Well, maybe you just need to get roughed up some more before you challenge a Wookiee." Han grabbed Luke in a loose neck-hold.

"Or have my head examined for even considering it." Luke deftly removed himself from the headlock, and Han found himself being shoved back a step.

Han nodded, impressed, and swung an arm at Luke, still in a jousting mood.

Han attempted to grab Luke into a second headlock when he gained the advantage, but Luke spun away… and the next second he was falling.

"KID!" Han shouted in alarm as Luke's face disappeared beneath the level of the ground he had just been standing on.

Han jumped to the ledge, falling onto his stomach to extend a hand, but Luke was already too far down, and he fell like a block of deadweight.

"Luke!" Han screamed as he watched the young man look up to him with utter terror.

Han saw with relief that the lake met the edge of their cliff, so Luke's landing would not be certain death. But that brief flicker of hope became something much more sinister as Han saw the craggy spikes of rock that jutted out helter-skelter from the churning waters below.

In all his years, Han had never once turned to the mystical energy field he called the Force for help, but in that moment, it was all he could do.

Please don't let him die!

Then Luke hit the water, and Han held his breath, the pulse pounding in his ears drowning out all other noise.

"Come on Kid… come on!" Han whispered fiercely.

Then, to Han's utter joy, Luke broke the surface of the water far below… and promptly began to panic.

"Han!" Luke's voice was faint from this height, and Han did not need the Force to know that Luke was petrified. "Help!"

Belatedly, it occurred to Han that his friend was from a desert planet, and as such he more than likely had not thought to learn how to swim.

Sure enough, Luke's frantic, jerky movements confirmed this.

"Hang on Kid!"

Han leapt to his feet and shot down the trail at full speed, trying to find the nearest spit of land from which he could also enter the water.