Chapter 7: Jedi Attack


"Hydrospanner."

The astromech droid rolled forward, whistling while it extended its claw.

Vader retrieved the tool without looking at it. He regretted that when he realized he was trying to loosen an engine bolt with a wire stripper.

"I said hydrospanner," Vader said, tossing it back so it bounced off the droid's metal dome.

The droid beeped in a whiny fashion something about it being 0400.

"One of the few times I do not have to suffer in the presence of incompetent humans," Vader said, pointing at the droid. "I could do without droids who seek to imitate their example."

The droid made a rude noise, but then sought to find the correct tool. Vader waited impatiently, until he was distracted by the sound of the elevator doors sliding open. A stormtrooper stepped into the ship hangar and marched forward until he stood beside the ship.

"A problem?" Vader asked.

The trooper produced a portable holoprojector. "Captain Harper, sir."

Harper was the captain of the Imperial City security guard. He wouldn't contact him at this time of night without a very good reason.

Vader flicked on the receiver, curiosity piqued. Funny, he hadn't sensed anything amiss.

"Lord Vader!" The captain saluted in greeting. "My apologies for interrupting you so early."

"What is the problem?" Vader asked, impatient for the point of this call.

"Forty minutes ago, there was a break-in at a government administration facility in the 12th precinct. It seems the attacker was a Jedi, sir. I thought I should inform you immediately."

"A Jedi?" Vader repeated. He stretched out with the Force, seeking confirmation. There was something out there, he could feel that much. "Did you take him into custody?"

"He was gone by the time backup arrived. I have ordered a search, and we have stationed extra troops on every landing pad."

"What was the nature of the facility?" Vader asked, starting to walk towards a nearby ship.

"A holding center for children who are wards of the state."

Vader came to a halt.

"I know how it sounds, sir," the captain continued. "But I viewed the security recording myself - if this was a hoax, it was expertly done. The attacker had a lightsaber, and he used it to deflect blaster bolts. Some of the facility's stormtrooper guards were injured during the confrontation."

"What motivation would a Jedi have to attack these children?"

"I cannot say, sir. Hostages, perhaps? The guards are in the process of determining whether any children are missing or injured."

"I'm on my way," Vader said, cutting the call.

Jedi or not, this situation was dripping with suspicion.


Obi-Wan was waiting for Bail Organa to contact him. His friend didn't disappoint. When the rusty, second-hand comlink he'd picked up on the Mos Eisley streets began to whistle, Obi-Wan shifted to a secluded alcove, ensuring he would not be overheard. Not that there were many passengers, besides himself. This freighter was hauling sulfur.

"Bail?"

"Obi-Wan - are you on your way to Coruscant?"

"Ten hours away, at my last estimate."

"I think you should consider turning around."

Obi-Wan frowned. "What happened? I sensed a disturbance."

"Someone broke into the Family Services holding facility last night. Someone with a lightsaber."

Obi-Wan breathed in quickly.

"It's all over the media - they're speculating wildly on this one. The Emperor has vowed the Jedi will be caught by nightfall."

"The Lars murderer," Obi-Wan said.

"But here's the catch, my friend. No child was injured or taken. Vader was seen at the facility himself within an hour of the attack, and he did not leave with any child in tow. I think we can conclude that Luke was not at the facility at the time."

"Unless his hunter was disturbed before he could reach him."

"What is your plan, then?"

Obi-Wan stroked his beard, considering. There was really only one thing for it.

"When I arrive, I will enter the facility and determine whether Luke is still there. You will have a ship standing by, in case I find him."

"They have enhanced security to ridiculous levels -"

Obi-Wan waved a hand dismissively. "Anakin and I once broke into the bothan treasury as part of a training exercise. I can handle a few stormtroopers."

"And if Luke is not at the facility?"

"I will go to ground. I still have a few hiding places on Coruscant."

"Good luck, my friend."


At first, Luke had not regretted his decision to leave IFS without Crix and Val. But now he was starting to. He hadn't been prepared for the loneliness he would feel, alone in the vast city without a friend. People pushed past him without giving him so much as a glance. He was hungry, too, and the shelter they used to visit for food appeared to have been closed down by the Empire. He didn't know where to look for another one. He was wary of straying too far into the lower levels, as they were filled with gangs and violence.

If it were up to him, he would find a spaceport and try and stow away on a ship. Any planet had to be more friendly than this place. He'd even prefer Tatooine. But he couldn't leave Crix and Val behind. Not after he'd promised he'd come back.

An idea for breaking them out had started to come to him, in an isolated spot atop one of the lower buildings where they had often slept during their first stint on the street. He'd only got as far as marking out a plan of the IFS facility in the dust, before he'd fallen asleep on top of a pile of old newsfaxes.

He found himself being shaken awake later that afternoon. His defensive instincts caused him to jump up and raise his arms to fight, but he paused when he found himself staring at a pair of shiny white boots. His only hope with a stormtrooper would be to stall until he let his guard down, and then run for his life.

"Luke!"

Luke looked up in surprise. There was only one stormtrooper who knew his name.

"LJ? What ... what are you doing here?"

LJ gestured around. "Seeing the sights. Experiencing the culture. Yourself?"

Luke frowned. "How did you know where to find me?"

"Your friends told me."

"I don't believe you!" Luke said, shaking his head in disbelief. They would never betray him like that!

LJ stepped closer. His blaster remained holstered, but the sentiment was clear enough. Unfortunately, Luke had pressed himself into a three-sided gap to shield himself from the wind, and now the fourth side was blocked by LJ.

"I'm not coming back with you!" Luke insisted.

"You want to live here?" LJ gestured around at the concrete wasteland. "This is no five-star hotel, kid."

"It's no prison, either," Luke countered.

"I'm not going to stand here and argue with you. If you won't come quietly, I'll stun you."

"You wouldn't."

"I would."

"Go ahead, then," Luke said, smirking and folding his arms.

LJ's hand moved to his belt, and for a second, Luke thought he was really going to do it. He raised his hands in protest and then found his left wrist locked in a pair of binders. LJ snapped the other side onto his own wrist, leaving no possibility for Luke's escape.

"You're brave," LJ said. "I'll give you that."

Luke pulled on the binders, but he was no match for LJ's strength.

"Not fair," Luke said, sulking.

"Are you going to bring your stuff?"

Luke bent down to pick up his sack and allowed LJ to pull him away. He dragged him across the vast expanse of the roof, until they reached a small utility speeder, parked along one edge. Luke was made to crawl in across the driver's seat, so both of them could get in without having to undo the binders.

"You missed some big excitement last night, buddy," LJ said, starting the engine.

Luke wasn't interested in friendly conversation. LJ hadn't bothered to undo the binders, which meant his hand was being uncomfortably pulled around while LJ operated the speeder controls.

"Who cares?"

"I do. I got to report to Lord Vader. The Lord Vader, himself. Me, LJ-151, reporting to the second in command of the Empire."

"Darth Vader was at Family Services?" Luke said, with a smirk. "I'm not that gullible."

LJ lifted the speeder into the air, and they joined one of the main traffic flows.

"That's what happens if you leave," he said. "You miss out on all the action. For your information, he was there - we had a break-in. I was stationed on corridor guard at the time and next thing I look up and there's a guy with a laser sword trying to get into one of the dorms. I tried to shoot him, but the bolt just bounced right off his sword."

"So Darth Vader was there, and a laser sword wielding person attacked Family Services?" Luke said, wondering if LJ had finally gone crazy, or whether this joke had a punchline.

"No, Lord Vader didn't arrive until afterwards. The Jedi - although, it may not have been a Jedi - took off. Then we called the city guard for backup and next thing Lord Vader is there, and I had to make a report about what I saw. I'm never going to complain about being assigned to light duty again."

Luke shook his head, still not knowing what to make of this.

"And speaking of Jedi ... did you hear the one about the Jedi who couldn't vacuum his sofa?"

"I don't want to," Luke said.

"He had no attachments, see."

"I don't get it."

"Jedi ... no attachments? And you need attachments on a vacuum to clean your sofa?"

"Is there a point to that, or is it just another of your stupid jokes?" Luke asked.

"Ah, your generation ... you know nothing about Jedi."

"I do so," Luke said. "They used to tell those old stories on Tatooine, too. About people who could move things with their mind, and know what was going to happen before it did and ... but my uncle said those were just old stories, and no one could really do all that. Why do you think this person was a Jedi, anyhow?"

"Because of his laser sword. Jedi have laser swords ... at least, they did. Some say the Jedi are all dead now, but maybe there's one or two still out there. Anyway, after he had left, I was going through the dorms making sure no one was hurt or missing. Guess what? Your bed was empty."

"So you told everyone I'd been kidnapped by a Jedi?"

"No. Because your friends explained that you'd left two hours earlier. I had a good rant at them over letting you out here on your own, and I guess they must have taken some of what I said to heart. They told me I might find you here."

"I was doing fine!" Luke insisted.

"Yeah. I guess you might have lasted for another three days."

LJ turned out of the traffic lane, causing Luke to be pulled towards him.

"Ouch!" Luke complained.

"Sorry. I'll let you out of those soon."

"I think I'd have preferred it if you'd stunned me," Luke complained.

"Yeah, but it might have looked a bit heartless, you know? A stormtrooper dragging a stunned kid around ... that's the kind of thing which ends up all over the HoloNet."

"Since when did you ever care about looking heartless?" Luke asked. "And can you let me out of them now?" They had touched down on the landing pad.

"Once we get inside," LJ said.

Luke was surprised at how many extra troops were stationed throughout the building. There were two on every corner and teams of them marching around in formation. It seemed LJ had told the truth, after all. But why would someone attack Family Services? Someone with a laser sword ...

The connection hit Luke just as he and LJ entered the wing where IFS was situated.

"LJ!" Luke said, coming to a halt. "I can't go back!"

"Yeah, yeah," LJ mumbled, not pausing.

"No, I mean it!" Luke said, struggling to resist. "I know why that person attacked last night!"

"Sure."

"I'm serious! Was he really thin, and dressed in black robes that covered his face? Was his laser sword red?"

"Yes, come to think of it."

"That's the person who murdered my aunt and uncle! He was looking for me!"

LJ stopped, finally giving Luke some attention.

"I can't go back!" Luke said. "He'll come back for me!"

"Luke, if anyone is trying to kill you, the safest place you could possibly be is in the facility. We've got the place staked out like a fortress right now. And besides, didn't you tell me this planet of yours is in the outer rim? How is anyone from there going to find you here?"

"But how many people in the galaxy wear black and carry a red laser sword?"

"Heaps. It's probably the newest look. I might look into it myself."

"This isn't funny, LJ. Name one other person."

"Lord Vader."

"He has a red laser sword?" Luke asked, curiously.

"Yes. Besides, the Emperor swore they'd catch this Jedi who attacked us before nightfall. Lord Vader has captured hundreds of Jedi - this one won't get past him."

"I hope you're right," Luke mumbled.

Once they passed through the main doors, Luke saw what LJ meant about turning the place into a fortress. There were droid guards as well as stormtroopers now, and every person entering was being screened for weapons.

LJ released him from the binders and then kept a hand on his shoulder as he guided him through the mass of security personnel and confused visitors. Eventually they came to a stop outside the main offices, and Luke looked up in confusion.

"I thought you were taking me to the decontamination showers."

"I am. I need to get some forms first. The supplies in our barracks have run out."

Luke looked down at his oil stained clothes. "I'll wait out here."

LJ didn't release him as he walked through the doors. "Nice try, buddy. Don't worry - they've seen worse."

They walked down the length of the cubicles, which were divided up into even squares, four on each side of the room. At the top was the closed door of the administrator's office. Beside it was a rack holding stacks of forms. There were at least a hundred different varieties.

LJ crouched down on one knee as he scanned the rows of forms, occasionally flicking through them.

"What is the name of it?" Luke asked, growing impatient.

"Regulation 45b, subsection 7, clause 89. They used to be pink, but I think she's changed the colors around again. She loves doing that."

"Ask her," Luke said, pointing at the office door.

"Are you kidding? I'm not disturbing the administrator over the color of a form. She'll make me get her coffee."

Luke grumbled under his breath and bent down to help LJ search. Within a minute, they had forms mixed up and scattered all over the floor, and LJ's normally unshakeable good temper was beginning to crack.

"Curse the administrator and all her hellbound forms!"

"Let's just forget it," Luke said, hastily.

"I can't forget it. If I don't file that form, she'll go crazy."

"She's already crazy. You won't notice the difference."

Approaching footsteps caused them both to look up in curiosity. It was BB-675, the protocol droid who manned the reception desk. He was followed by a man dressed in elaborate clothes and holding an official-looking black briefcase.

BB-675 turned his photo-receptors on them, looking about as distasteful as a protocol droid could look.

"You better clean up that mess and get that child out of here," the droid said. "The administrator will not be pleased."

"Shut your trap, droid," LJ said.

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

"I won't."

The man was watching this exchange with an expression of vague impatience, until he noticed Luke. Luke met his gaze for a moment, and then looked down, hastily stacking forms back into the rack. He didn't know what it was, but he didn't like the way the man was looking at him.

Suddenly, the office door opened, and the administrator stepped out, looking like she was suffering from form withdrawal.

"Is there a conference scheduled that I wasn't informed about?" she snapped. "If not, then go away from my office."

BB didn't let her tone affect him.

"Administrator, may I present the right honorable Senator Lerrod."

The senator stepped forward to shake hands, but the administrator didn't accept the offer.

"Did you have an appointment with me, Senator?"

"I do now."

"No, I'm afraid you don't. I have memorized my appointment schedule, and you are not on it."

"Now I am," the senator insisted. "I must speak with you. It's important."

"If it was important, you should have made an appointment three weeks in advance, as per regulation."

"Do you have any idea who I am?" the senator said, now appearing rattled. "I am the newly appointed representative of Coruscant in the Galactic Senate."

"And I am the administrator of the 507th branch of Imperial Family Services. Come back when you've made an appointment."

The administrator made to go back into her office, but the senator stepped forward.

"Wait. Perhaps you would be willing to speak with me if I offered you a little salary bonus. Would three hundred credits be sufficient?"

"Three hundred will get you ... oh, let me think ... three minutes of my time."

"Three minutes is all I need," the senator said, hastily writing out a credit tab.

Luke blinked in surprise, wondering whether he was supposed to be watching this. The administrator hadn't appeared to have noticed him and LJ.

"Very well. What do you want?" the administrator said, pocketing the credit tab.

"A child. Just temporarily."

"Uh huh." She leaned against the door frame, folding her arms. "You can collect the forms from the reception desk. First, there will be an evaluation to determine if you are suitable to care for a child ... that will take six months at minimum. Then, if all goes well, you can arrange a time to come in and inspect the children. After you have made a selection, the child will be released into your care after a two week stand down period, while we process the clearance forms."

"Perhaps I should rephrase," the senator said. "I need a child now. I want to take one home with me today."

"Do you think we are some kind of library that lends out children instead of books, Senator?"

"I'll give you six thousand."

"Six thousand might just convince me to allow you to have a look at the children -"

"I don't need to look," the senator said. He pointed a gloved finger at Luke. "That one there is fine."

Luke jumped behind LJ, suddenly frightened. He didn't want to go anywhere with this man.

The administrator glanced at them, finally noticing LJ.

"What are you doing here, Stormtrooper?" she demanded, annoyed.

"Excuse me, I just paid for three minutes of your time," the senator said, holding up a hand between the administrator and LJ. "Now do we have a deal? I'll make it ten thousand, in exchange for this child for three months."

Luke looked at the administrator's face, clinging to LJ's arm like it was a lifeline.

"That one is a trouble maker," she said. Her voice sounded slightly less disinterested, though.

"Then let me take him off your hands. This facility has attracted enough controversy without children causing you trouble. I'm sure you have much more important things to do than mind delinquent children."

She was cracking. Luke sensed with increasing horror that she was on the verge of saying yes.

"What do you want a child for, anyway?" she asked, finally. "If you are intending to place this child in danger, then -"

"Of course not. I simply require an orphaned child to participate in my political campaign. He'll live with my family and be cared for as if he were my own son."

The administrator took one last glance at Luke.

"Twenty thousand," she said, finally. "And he's yours. For three months."

"Done."

Luke watched the senator write another credit tab, feeling his head begin to spin. A political campaign? What did that mean? Where was he going to be taken?

"Stormtrooper, go and help this boy gather his belongings," she said. "I'll complete the paperwork for you, Senator."

LJ saluted and started to pull Luke towards the doors. Luke struggled against LJ's hold, looking around desperately for something solid he could latch himself to. Once in the corridor, Luke finally stopped resisting, as it wasn't doing much good.

"LJ, I don't want to go with him," Luke said, unable to keep the fear out of his voice.

"I know you don't, Luke, but you don't have a choice. Besides, it's only for three months."

"What's a political campaign?"

"I don't know. But he's a senator - that means he'll live in a big house in the middle of Imperial City. You'll like it there."

Luke felt like he was in a dream, as he entered the dorm and went over to his bed. He began to gather his things, while LJ waited nearby, watching him.

Crix and Val came rushing up as soon as they saw him.

"Luke, you're safe!"

"Did you hear about what happened?"

Luke didn't answer. He compulsively pushed his belongings into a sack, trying to gain control of his emotions.

"What's happening, Luke?" Crix asked, sounding worried.

"Are you going back into isolation?" Val asked.

Luke shook his head, unable to tell them, for fear of breaking down into tears.

"He's going to stay with a senator for three months," LJ explained.

"Adopted?"

"No. Just for three months."

"Wow, Luke, a senator!" Crix said. "You'll get to see Imperial City."

Luke zipped up his sack, which contained all his meager possessions. He looked at his bunk, suddenly wishing he could crawl into it.

"You don't want to go?" Val said, looking at Luke with concern.

"Come on," LJ said. "Say goodbye to your friends, Luke. You'll see them again."

"Yeah," Crix said, slapping him on the back. "We'll see you again. Until then, you can write to us."

"I'll miss you," Val said, hugging him.

Luke hugged her back, suddenly realizing how much these two had come to mean to him, over the few weeks they had been together. Now he might never see them again.

"I'll never forget you," Luke mumbled.

The saddest part came a short time later, when they reached the landing pad where Senator Lerrod had parked his speeder. The administrator was nowhere to be seen.

"Goodbye, Luke," LJ said, ruffling his hair. "See you in three months."

Luke looked up at his friend, his eyes wet with unshed tears, and then suddenly wrapped his arms around the stormtrooper, as far as they could reach. Then the tears began to fall, and LJ bent down to return the embrace as much as his armor could allow.

"I'll m-miss you," Luke sniffed.

"No you won't," LJ said. "You'll be having too much fun living among the rich and famous."

Luke hugged tighter, shaking his head in denial.

The goodbye was brought to an abrupt end when the senator's patience ran out. "Oh, for stars sake, it's just a stormtrooper, kid," he said, pulling Luke away by the back of his tunic. "There's one just like it who guards the street outside my home. You can make friends with him."

Luke didn't stop looking back until they'd left the landing pad far behind.