Chapter 7
Luke was careful to leave in plenty of time, knowing how the traffic in Imperial City could never be predicted. The last thing he wanted was to be late for this.
Threepio sat in the passenger side, while Artoo rested happily in the back. Luke had copied the navigation data to Artoo's memory, so as they approached the senate office complex, he started beeping out directions, and Threepio provided a translation. They eventually ended up in a secured landing bay, and Luke pulled up beside a collection of utility vehicles.
"You know, I'm glad you two are here," Luke said, switching off the engine. "I don't think I could do this by myself."
"We are more than happy to assist in any way we can, Master Luke," Threepio said.
Artoo whistled in agreement.
"Thanks," Luke said. "Come on, I guess we better get going."
He stepped out and started walking towards the double entrance doors. Two senate guards immediately stepped into his path, causing him to step back in surprise.
"Young man, do you have security clearance to enter this building?"
Luke snapped his fingers. "I left my pass in the speeder. Wait right there."
When he ran back, he found Artoo was having trouble getting out of the seat, and Threepio was providing some well-meaning assistance that was making the situation worse. He crawled in from the other side, gave Artoo the needed shove from behind, and then proceeded to rummage around in the glove compartment for the security pass. There were dozens of passes for various places in here, not to mention a wide range of discount coupons for fast food providers all over Imperial City. The correct pass had been mashed up against something that had once been a biscuit, so he wiped it off as he walked back to the guards.
"Here," he said, glancing back to make sure the droids were behind him this time. Artoo gave a short, reassuring beep.
The guards passed the card between them.
"What is your business here?" the left one asked.
He sounded suspicious.
"I have a meeting at fourteen hundred with Senator Naberrie," Luke said, trying to sound confident.
The guard on the right took out his comlink. Luke stared at the floor, having a fair idea of who they would be calling. Sometimes it was a real pain to be a teenager. There were some adults who just refused to take him seriously, purely because of his age. Luke continued to stare at his boots throughout the brief conversation between the guard and someone who was obviously a representative of the senator. Once the meeting was confirmed, Luke glanced up, expecting the guards to step aside.
Instead, the left one pulled out a scanner wand and started running it down the length of his body. Luke rolled his eyes and then turned slightly so they had access to the other side. Once they had finished with him, they moved on to the droids. They spent a longer amount of time on Artoo, for some reason Luke couldn't understand. Perhaps they thought he looked like he was hiding something.
He sighed with relief when they finally stepped aside and gestured for him to walk through. They entered a wide corridor, lined with Imperial flags and pictures of the Emperor. There were delicate indoor plants at various intervals, clearly designed to have a calming effect, but Luke felt increasingly nervous the further he walked.
When they reached the correct office, Luke paused outside the door, gathering his courage. He could do this.
"Master Luke, is everything all right?" Threepio asked. "Artoo says he registered an increase in your heart rate."
"Artoo, do you mind not spying on my biological functions?" Luke said. "I'm fine!"
Artoo whistled.
"He says he is scanning for listening devices, and you just happened to step in the way," Threepio said. "A likely story, Artoo."
"I'm just a little nervous, that's all," Luke said. "I have to go in here and tell a complete stranger that she's my cousin. She probably won't even believe me. No one takes teenagers seriously."
"Artoo and I know how you feel, Master Luke," Threepio said, while Artoo bleeped an agreement in the background. "No one takes droids seriously either."
Luke grinned. "I always take you guys seriously. You make more sense than a lot of people I know."
Unexpectedly, the doors to the office slid open before the droids could reply. An alien guard stood on the other side, staring down at Luke like he was a piece of litter cluttering up the hallway. He had long floppy ears and a rounded snout. Luke believed the species were called Gungans.
"Can mesa help yousa?"
He didn't sound very helpful.
"I … ah … um, I'm here to see Senator Naberrie," Luke said, in a rush.
"What bein' yousa name?"
"Luke Skywalker," Luke said, trying to regain control of his nervousness. "I have an appointment for fourteen hundred."
The Gungan stepped back and gestured for Luke to enter the room. It was a reception area. There was a desk with a protocol droid and beyond that, the doors to the main office. Artoo and Threepio followed behind him. Once the doors slid closed, the Gungan began circling him. Luke noticed he was carrying a holstered blaster.
"Yousa are a sub-adult," he said.
"Yes," Luke said, turning to face him.
"What bein' dissen meetin' about?"
"That's between her and me," Luke said, feeling his temper start to rise. "Who are you, anyway?"
The Gungan didn't react to his tone. "Captain Jassa, head of security," he said. "Da senator has been delayin', but shesa hopin' to be here in da next few minutin'."
"Oh, okay," Luke said. "I'll just wait here, then."
He sat down on a nearby couch and looked around at the room. There were several sculptures dotted around, of similar design to the works of art he'd seen at the Imperial Palace.
His gaze wandered back to the door, and he found Captain Jassa was still staring at him.
"Look, I'm not a security threat," Luke said. "I'm here for a meeting. That's all. Will you please relax?"
"Mesa did a check on yousa when mesa knew yousa were meetin' wid da senator," Captain Jassa said. "Mesa couldn't find anydin'."
"I'm not exactly famous," Luke said.
"Mesa was no aware Lord Vader has people as young as yousa workin' for hesa."
Luke was a loss to know how to reply. He didn't want to be drawn into a conversation about his relationship with his father with someone who had clearly already made up his mind about him.
Fortunately, the doors slid open at that point, and a woman entered, dressed in the elaborate mode of high fashion. She had brown wavy hair that was cut to a length just above her shoulders. There was a certain style and sophistication about her that made her intimidating in a way that even eclipsed his father. How could he possibly be related to this person? Luke glanced longingly at the door, wishing she wasn't between him and it. This had been a bad idea.
She stopped and stared at Luke, and anything he might of thought of saying died in his mouth. Fortunately, Artoo gave a cheerful beep, making up a little for the silence. Finally, Captain Jassa came to his rescue.
"My lady, dissen da representative dat Lord Vader sent over. Hissen name bein' Luke Skywalker. Mesa have clearin' hesa and da droids of any risk."
Luke knew he should have said hello and offered to shake her hand. Anything, really, rather than staring blankly. It was all he could do to stand up.
"Welcome, Mr Skywalker," she said, in a tone as if she was speaking to someone much older than he was. It gave him a sudden boost of confidence. "Won't you please join me in my office?"
He started to walk forward.
"Da droids stay here," Captain Jassa said, suddenly.
"Why?" Luke said. "They won't be any problem."
"Why do yousa need dose droids wid yousa?" the captain asked. He gestured at Artoo. "What possible use could yousa have for an astromech."
"They're my friends!" Luke blurted out, before he'd had a chance to think.
The captain gave him a look that made Luke want to run and hide with embarrassment. He clearly thought he was more than a few hairs short of a bantha.
Threepio then spoke up. "Artoo and I are Master Luke's personal advisers. Lord Vader assigned us to assist him in this matter, and we cannot disobey his orders."
Luke sighed, silently thanking whoever created Threepio for making such a lifesaving droid.
"It's all right, Captain Jassa," Pooja said, with a small smile. "The droids are welcome."
She entered the office, and Luke followed behind. He was careful not to look at Captain Jassa, lest the Gungan find something else to complain about. Fortunately, they made it safely into the office, and the doors slid closed behind him.
Luke's eye immediately fell on a giant painting along one wall. He recognized the Naboo landscape from his father's memory. The painting made it look every bit as wonderful as it had in the dream.
"Naboo's lake country," she said, noticing Luke was staring. "My sister painted it for me."
"It's beautiful," Luke said.
Pooja took a seat on one of the couches.
"I have to admit, Mr Skywalker, you are not quite what I expected an employee of Lord Vader to look like."
"Oh, just call me Luke," Luke said, glancing at the droids. They'd taken up positions along the side of the room. Artoo gave an encouraging beep, which prompted Luke to take a seat on the couch opposite. He briefly stared at a hologram sitting on the low table between the two of them. It showed a group of people who were very likely Pooja's family. His family, just a family he'd never met.
"I'm not an employee of Lord Vader. I just live with him," Luke said. "I've come to talk about something personal." Pooja didn't reply, but her eyes narrowed in a curious way. Luke fidgeted for a moment and then glanced back at the painting. He was starting to see why his father always got straight to the point. It saved all the wondering how someone was going to react. "It's about your aunt. Padmé."
He risked a glance at Pooja and found her calm, controlled demeanor had been disturbed. She sat forward slightly.
"Please. Carry on," she said, after Luke had been silent for a moment.
"I don't know exactly how to say this," Luke said, deciding to go ahead and put all hesitation aside. "So I'll just say it. She's my mother."
"I'm sorry?" Pooja's eyes had grown wide.
"I know, I know, it sounds crazy," Luke said. "But I was born right before she died. I was then taken to Tatooine to stay with my father's family. When I was eleven, they were murdered." His voice broke on the word, and he paused, trying to gain control of his emotions.
Pooja filled the silence. "Your father was the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker?'
Luke felt a wave of relief that she hadn't burst out laughing or called Captain Jassa to have him forcibly removed.
"Yes."
"And the Emperor knows of this?" she said, in a tone of sheer surprise. "Lord Vader knows of this?"
Luke nodded.
"I'm amazed they haven't killed you," Pooja said.
"Why?" Luke said, confused.
"Surely you must know that the Jedi are considered enemies of the Empire. Being the son of such a famous and powerful Jedi would guarantee you a death sentence. Yet you say you're living over there at the Imperial Palace? What does Lord Vader want with you?"
"Nothing. I just live there," Luke said, simply, while trying to hide his discomfort. For all he knew, the Emperor did want him dead. His father had made vague remarks about the Emperor considering him a threat, but perhaps he was hiding the full extent of the Emperor's feelings in order to protect him. It wasn't something he liked to think about. "After the death of my aunt and uncle, I was transferred to Coruscant by Imperial Family Services. The Jedi who killed my family came looking for me here. Lord Vader fought and killed him, and then he took me in to live under his protection."
"Lord Vader adopted you?"
Luke hesitated briefly and then nodded. It wasn't a complete lie. Not really.
"I only found out that my mother had family today," Luke added. "This morning, actually."
"Does he treat you well?" Pooja said. Her voice was full of sympathy.
"Sure," Luke said, wishing they could get away from the subject of his father and on to what he'd really come here for. "He's not even there most of the time."
"He must want you for something," Pooja said. "Are they training you to be another Sith Lord?"
"No." He smiled. "I don't think I'd be very good at it, even if they did."
Pooja had stood up and wandered over to the window while he'd been speaking. Luke could see she was fidgeting with her hands behind her back.
"Your story is unbelievable, Luke." She glanced back. "Too unbelievable for anyone to have made up. Do you know who took you to your father's family?"
"I think it was a Jedi called Obi-Wan," Luke said, sitting back against the couch. "But my aunt and uncle never told me, so I have no way of knowing for sure." His father seemed to think it had been Obi-Wan, but that was no proof.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi was said to have been killed at the Jedi Temple," Pooja said, still staring out the window, "along with Anakin. They also claimed my aunt had been murdered by a Jedi during the uprising."
There was mostly sadness in Pooja's voice, but Luke could detect a trace of skepticism as well. She turned back to him.
"Luke, I don't want you to think I doubt you, because I don't. But there has been so much mystery surrounding my aunt's death, and it has brought much pain to my family. I don't want to inform them of this without having a DNA test performed. One of the senate medical analysis droids could do one now."
"Okay," Luke said, nodding his consent.
Pooja crossed the room to her desk. As she spoke with one of her secretary droids, Luke glanced back at Artoo and Threepio. He gave them a small smile, and Artoo replied with a quiet whistle.
"You okay, Threepio?" Luke said. "Close down if you get bored."
"I'm quite all right, Master Luke," Threepio said. "Take as long as you need."
"They really are your friends, aren't they?"
Luke glanced back to find Pooja had finished the call. Most people would have said that in a derisive tone, but Pooja sounded curious.
"Yes, they are," Luke said. "They're special droids."
"It's funny, because now that I think about it, I remember my aunt had droids like that." She rested her arms on her desk and looked distantly at the wall with the painting. "I was only a child when she died. My memories are of wonderful moments filled with love. My mother always said Aunt Padmé had a special place in her heart for me and my sister. But, like the rest of our family, we had to share her with Naboo. And the entire galaxy, for that matter."
"Is she why you became a senator?" Luke asked, finally feeling comfortable enough to ask.
She nodded. "Her life has always been an inspiration to me." She glanced down. "My family have never approved of my involvement in politics. They are worried I'm going to end up like she did. Understandably, I suppose, but I wanted to make a difference." She glanced up. "So how about you? Have you made any plans for your career?"
"I want to be a pilot," Luke said.
"Anakin was famous for his flying," Pooja said. "but I suppose you've been told all this."
Luke gave a half smile. "My aunt and uncle never wanted to talk about him. I think, a bit like your family, they didn't want me to go the same way."
"I met him once, though I barely remember it," she said. "He and Aunt Padmé came by my grandparents' house for lunch. During the Clone Wars, he and Obi-Wan were always on the HoloNet. I remember he looked a lot like you."
The idea of looking like his father was always odd. It was hard for Luke to reconcile the pictures he had seen of his father before the mask with the man he knew today. As strange as it was, sometimes it was easier to imagine he had been born in the black armor and cape.
The door to Pooja's office slid open then, and a medical analysis droid rolled in. It was covered in so many slots and tools, there wasn't room for any recognizable features. A blue light glowed on the front, and it spoke in an even voice.
"Medical analysis unit YP-6534 at your service, Senator Naberrie."
"I would like to have a DNA test performed," she said, standing up and walking around to the front of the desk. "Between myself and this young man." She gestured towards Luke.
The droid whirred away for a while, and then it said, "My analysis shows the lifeform is a minor. A DNA test cannot be done without approval from his legal guardian. I can provide you with the appropriate form."
"I see," Pooja said, glancing at Luke. "That would be helpful. Thank you."
"I can get it signed by the end of today," Luke said, getting the impression that Pooja was disappointed. "If you're free tomorrow, I can come back."
The droid produced a datachip, and Luke stood up to retrieve it.
"That will be all, YP, thank you," Pooja said. The droid rolled away immediately. Once the door had closed behind it, she turned back to Luke.
"Who will sign it for you?"
Luke had to catch himself before using the word father. "Lord Vader."
"He acts as your legal guardian personally?"
Luke nodded.
Pooja had an expression like she was wanting to ask more.
"I'll leave you with my contact details," Luke said, quickly. He walked over to pick up a datapad and lightpen from Pooja's desk.
"Thank you. One other thing, Luke. Your mother is a very famous person on my planet. If word were to reach the Naboo media that you were her son, they would besiege you."
That's nothing new, Luke thought. Out loud, he said, "I will not tell anyone."
"My staff will be curious. To prevent speculation, I will tell them you are a distant relative of my father. Now, about this test. How does tomorrow morning sound? 0900?"
Luke paused for a moment. On a weekend, that was normally the time he was starting to consider waking up. But this was important, and Pooja was probably busy the rest of the day.
"Okay."
"Give me a call if there is any problem," she said, writing something down on another datapad. "Here's my personal comlink frequency. I am the only one who is authorized to answer this comlink."
Luke accepted the datapad and left his own details on Pooja's desk.
"I better get going," he said. "Thanks for meeting with me."
"It was my pleasure, I assure you."
"Artoo. Threepio."
His droids instantly joined him as he left the office, and Luke continued walking past the secretary droid and Captain Jassa without a glance. It was a relief to make it to the relative privacy of the corridor.
"I think that went rather well, Master Luke," Threepio said. Artoo whistled and beeped in a positive way.
"I guess," Luke said. "But she seems a little skeptical. I guess I would feel the same way if it was me."
Perhaps, in some way, it was good they had to wait to perform the DNA test. It gave him a day to put some more thought into how he was going to answer any further questions about his relationship with his father. It would also give him time to think up more questions he could ask Pooja.
"I have been programmed with extensive knowledge about reading human emotion," Threepio said. "My analysis concludes that the senator believed you were telling the truth."
"She thought I believed what I was saying," Luke agreed. "But that doesn't mean she thinks it's the truth. I suppose she thinks someone lied to me about my mother. Or they didn't know, so they made a guess. Who knows." Luke thought about the idea for a moment. "What if she's right? What if we had this DNA test done and it said we weren't related?"
Artoo made a low pitched beep that sounded derisive.
"Against my better judgment, I find myself agreeing with Artoo," Threepio said. "Why would your father lie to you, Master Luke?"
"I hope you're right," Luke mumbled.
Vader was not in the best mood when he returned from the Imperial Military Headquarters. He had gone there anticipating a routine meeting about the progress of their preparations for the Bal invasion, along with a status update on a number of other troublespots around the galaxy. Instead, General Okku had presented him with some bad news. It seemed one of his assistants had been discovered passing information to the senate.
The man was currently in one of the secure detention facilities, undergoing interrogation. But the damage had already been done. If the senate had the information about their plans, it would only be a matter of hours before the media obtained it. Troops had been dispatched to the senate to have all the information destroyed, but there was no way to measure the extent of this information leak. The only solution was to assume the entire plan had been compromised and revert back to their original idea. An idea that would result in a far greater loss of life and cause unrest in the senate.
His thoughts turned to Luke as he entered the elevator hub. Hopefully his meeting with Pooja Naberrie had gone well or, at the very least, not been a complete disaster. Given his current mood, he doubted he could offer much reassurance to his son if the latter turned out to be the case.
Luke's presence in the Force led him to the library. His son was lying on his stomach across one of the couches, browsing through a databook with an abundance of pictures. When Luke became aware of his approach, he hastily switched it off and pushed it down between the couch cushions.
Vader stretched out a hand to retrieve the book, instantly suspecting his son had again obtained a copy of the book he'd confiscated yesterday. Instead he found himself looking at a reference book, entitled 'A Visual Guide To Naboo'. He met his son's gaze, which appeared decidedly nervous.
"I have no issue with you reading this," he said, wondering when Luke had decided he was enforcing some ruthless censorship regime.
Luke held out a hand to retrieve it.
"How was your meeting with Senator Naberrie?" Vader asked, passing it back.
"Okay," Luke said, placing the databook on the couch beside him.
Vader waited in silence. When nothing else was forthcoming, he said, "Are you going to tell me more, or do you expect me to interrogate you?"
It came out sounding more testy than he'd intended. Luke gave him a wary look and quickly stood up beside him.
"She … uh … I think she believed me, but she wanted to get a DNA test done. I need your permission for that. I have the form in my room."
"I suppose that is acceptable," Vader said. "Ensure your DNA sample is destroyed once the test is finished."
Luke nodded. He was meshing his fingers together, in a slightly nervous way. It seemed he had something else to say, but it would now take some coaxing before it could be drawn out of him. Vader released a slow breath, feeling annoyed at both his own hastily-spoken words and Luke's overly-sensitive reaction.
"I had to order troops to the senate today," Vader said, careful to sound calm and conversational. "I trust you did not encounter them?"
Luke shook his head. "I was only there for about twenty minutes. We started talking, but then I had a feeling she was going to start asking some tricky questions, so I decided to leave it for the moment. I'm going back tomorrow morning to get this test done by one of the senate medical analysis droids."
"What was your impression of your cousin?"
Luke glanced up, with a small smile. "She was a little intimidating."
A memory filled Vader's mind, entirely against his will. Staring up at the Queen of Naboo, feeling every inch a young slave boy, and hastily trying to explain that he only wanted to say goodbye to Padmé. The only time he'd ever been more intimidated was when he stared down at her, ten years later, and let slip in an entirely inappropriate way that she'd grown more beautiful. A pain surged through him as a result of the memory, and he turned away in frustration.
"Are you all right?" Luke asked, sounding truly concerned.
Luke's pity was almost worse than the painful memories. Almost.
"I could do without you asking that," Vader snapped.
"Sorry," Luke said, shrinking back.
"It has been a difficult day," Vader explained, attempting to release his frustration into the Force, before he ran this conversation further into the ground. "Now, I can sense there is something you want to ask me."
Luke rolled his eyes in a long-suffering way. "Why must you spy on my thoughts?"
"I am not using the Force, if that is what you are suggesting." He gestured at Luke's hands. "You always fidget in that way when you want to ask me something."
"Because you make it so difficult," Luke said. "Just don't overreact. Please."
"I never overreact."
"I'm concerned about this DNA test," Luke said, staring at him with earnest blue eyes. "What if it shows that she wasn't really my mother?"
"What?" Vader took a moment to comprehend what Luke was asking. "What are you suggesting? You think I had several relationships going on at the same time like some sort of Corellian smuggler? I barely had time to spend with your mother. It was a miracle of the Force that you were conceived at -"
"Okay, okay!" Luke said, raising a hand in shock. "That wasn't what I meant. I was thinking that someone could have stolen your DNA and I was born in a lab with a random egg donor for a mother."
"You have been watching too many HoloNet dramas," Vader said.
"It could have happened. How do you know it didn't?"
"Any number of reasons."
"Name one."
"They have yet to replicate Force sensitivity in a laboratory," Vader said. "To the galaxy's greater good. Now, instead of idling away your time, shouldn't you be catching up on the days of schoolwork you have missed?"
Luke responded with an incoherent mumble.
When Luke woke in the morning, he found the DNA test permission form on the table beside his bed, along with a flashing light on his comlink.
He stretched out a hand to retrieve it and rubbed his eyes sleepily. The blue image of his father came into focus.
Luke, I am attending several meetings today, but do not hesitate to call me if you experience any problems with your cousin. I am pleased to see your sleeping habits have improved immeasurably. You did not wake up even when I accidentally knocked half the objects off your desk. Why do you insist on leaving clothes in the middle of the floor?
Luke glanced over at his desk and saw his father hadn't bothered to clean up the mess he'd made. It would have probably only taken him a minute if he'd used the Force, too. The idea of having to pick up all those objects himself caused Luke to feel a sudden wave of laziness. He rolled over and buried his face in his pillow.
A moment later, he suddenly leapt out of bed and grabbed his bedside chronometer. Ten minutes past nine! Stars, why hadn't he bothered to set his alarm? Stupid!
It took another five minutes to locate Pooja's comlink frequency and calm down enough to enter it. She answered immediately.
"Hi!" Luke said. He sounded out of breath. "I'm sorry I'm late … uh, something happened and … I'll be there as soon as possible!"
"Very well, Luke," Pooja said. "I look forward to seeing you."
Luke cut the call and dived on a nearby pile of clothes. Within ten minutes he was running for the ship hangar and combing his hair on the way. There was no time to find Artoo and Threepio, so he'd just have to hope no one had decided to bug the room today.
He jumped into the SoroSuub Quiescence and was taking off even before the engine had fully warmed up. Although he normally wasn't allowed to fly this speeder, his father had offered it to him the other day. Its twin turbine engines gave him the necessary boost to speed past the crammed airway leading out to the senate.
At the landing pad, the same guards were standing ready to start interrogating him, even as he landed. Luke grabbed his comlink, DNA test permission form, and the security pass out of the glove compartment, and he started waving the pass in the air as he ran up to them.
"I'm late!"
"Halt!"
Luke stood still, but he hovered from one foot to the other. "Come on!"
The one on the left inspected the security pass. When he finally handed it back and waved him on, Luke ran into the building and down the corridor. In his haste, he overshot Pooja's office, and had to double back. Upon entering the door, he was relieved to see Captain Jassa was nowhere in sight. There was only the secretary droid, who gestured towards the doors.
"Senator Naberrie said you should come through immediately."
"Thanks."
Luke entered the office and found himself tripping against the medical analysis droid. Pooja was sitting at her desk, working on her computer. She looked up in surprise at his clumsy entrance.
"Hi!" Luke said. "I'm so sorry I'm late!"
"It's all right," she said, standing up. "Did you have a problem with the permission form?"
"No, no problem, here it is," Luke said, between breaths. He passed it to the droid, who extended an arm and slotted it into one of the many terminals.
"Would you like something to drink?" Pooja asked. She glanced at his clothes in an odd way. Luke was scared to look down. When he did, he wished he hadn't. His tunic was on inside out. "Um, a drink would be nice, thanks," he said, quickly.
When Pooja turned to open a compartment behind her, Luke quickly pulled off the tunic and reversed it.
"Is juice okay?" Pooja said, glancing back.
"Great, thanks." Luke flopped down on the couch. He looked at the droid. "Was that form all right?"
"The form has been processed. I am now ready to collect your DNA sample."
"What does that involve?" Luke asked, suddenly feeling nervous. Was this droid going to stick some big needle into him?
A small panel slid out from the side of the droid, and a red light lit up.
"Please run your fingers along the sample collector. The light will change to green when an adequate sample has been obtained."
Luke sighed with relief. The collection panel felt rough against his fingertips, but the light turned green almost immediately. The droid retracted the panel and a processing light began flashing on the front.
"How about your sample?" Luke said, as Pooja came to give him his glass. "Thank you."
"I provided it earlier," she said, sitting down on the opposite couch. She was drinking something pink and frothy.
Luke studied her as he sipped his drink, idly thinking that Pooja had probably never been late a day in her life. For relatives, they didn't really have anything in common. He noticed her eyes wandering to the droid, and he knew exactly what she was thinking. It was awkward having to wait like this.
"This juice is nice," Luke said, finally.
"It's from Naboo."
"I guess you miss it when you come here," Luke said.
"Yes, very much. I do not leave it often. The shopping on Coruscant is fantastic, though."
"Have you been to the Orbit Mall?" Luke asked.
Before Pooja could reply, the droid beeped.
"The test is complete." A tray slid out, holding a datachip. "The results are contained on the datachip. The samples have been destroyed."
"What were the results?" Pooja asked.
"No data has been retained," the droid said.
"I think we have to put that datachip in a reader," Luke said. "We could use your computer."
"Droids," Pooja said, with a slight note of weariness. She stood up and retrieved the datachip, and the medical analysis droid rolled out the door, leaving them in privacy. Luke eagerly followed her around to the computer. Within a moment of the chip being inserted, it brought up a graphical results display.
"Here we go," Luke said, pointing to an explanation printed at the bottom of several technical readouts. He read aloud. "The two individuals tested show a 94.7 percent chance of being first cousins. There is a 99.8 percent chance of the individuals sharing a recent female ancestor. The match is positive."
Luke felt a rush of relief. This would have been very confusing if it had come out negative.
Pooja looked up and smiled at him, and Luke grinned in return.
"So, we're cousins," she said, sounding far more relaxed that she had before.
"Yes," Luke said, simply.
"Do you mind if I hang on to these results?" she said, gesturing at the screen. "My parents will want to see them."
"Sure," Luke said. "When are you going to tell them?"
"Today," she said. "This is big news. I can't hold on to it."
Luke walked around to the front of the desk and picked up his glass.
"How do you think they'll react?"
"Overjoyed, I imagine," Pooja said. "But it will stir up a lot of memories of my aunt's murder." She met Luke's gaze squarely. "I'm not sure how they will react when they learn you have been adopted by someone outside the family. The fact that it is Lord Vader will only make that news harder."
"I'm happy here," Luke said, quickly. The last thing he wanted was these new found relatives making some sort of legal custody bid. His father would not react well to that.
"Really? You're sure he treats you well?"
"Yes," Luke said. "My school is here. My friends are here. I'm happy."
"Have you ever thought about being emancipated?"
"Huh?" Luke glanced at his body. "I eat all the time."
Pooja smiled. "No, not emaciated. Emancipated. You're about sixteen, correct?"
"Fifteen."
"You can make an application to a court to be emancipated, which means you no longer require someone to be your legal guardian. In the eyes of the law, you will be an adult."
"So I'd have to get a job and pay rent to live someplace?" Luke said, surprised. "Why would anyone want that?"
"I suppose it doesn't sound so good when you put it like that," Pooja said, still smiling. "So have you met the Emperor?"
Luke had to stop himself before he shuddered at the question. "Yes. Unfortunately."
The thought then occurred that perhaps Pooja was his number one fan. She was a senator, after all. But the sight of her ever growing smile soon put an end to that.
"You don't like him?"
"He makes me feel … uncomfortable," Luke said.
"I know the feeling," Pooja said, quietly. "Luke, my family are going to want to meet you as soon as possible. I would like to take you to Naboo. How would you feel about that?"
It was exactly as his father had said. "That would be wonderful," Luke said. "I've seen many holos of it. It's one of the the most beautiful places I've ever seen."
"We could go on a weekend or when you have a holiday from school if that suits."
"Anytime is fine," Luke said. "I think my ... uh ... Lord Vader was hoping I would go next week, as he's going away."
"I'm sure next week would be fine," Pooja said, surprised. "There is an important session of congress tomorrow afternoon to vote on the proposed military action against Bal. I must remain on Coruscant for that, but afterwards I am free to return to Naboo."
"That's where he's going," Luke said, recognizing the name. "Bal."
"Ah," Pooja said, looking aside.
Luke realized he may have said more than he should, and he made a mental note to not mention anything to do with Bal again. The last thing he wanted was to cause a political incident. His father would kill him.
"Well, I'll talk with my family now," Pooja said, glancing back. "I'll call you and tell you how it goes."
"Thanks," Luke said. He paused to down the last of his juice and left the glass on Pooja's desk. "Hopefully they take it well. I'm still getting used to the idea of having other relatives, and I've known about it for two days now."
"I know what you mean," Pooja said, with a knowing smile.