Star Wars: The Price of Redemption
Author's Note: Enjoying the story so far? :)
Disclaimer: "Star Wars" is owned by Lucasfilm and the Walt Disney Company
Chapter 10 - Secrets
A few days later...
"Chewie!" yelled Han, as he stood above the Millennium Falcon. "I asked for three quarters, not five-eights!"
His Wookie companion growled a response, and Han replied, "Well, do things the right way, and then we'll get something to eat!"
Woosh!
All of a sudden, the Rebel leader turned around, and saw Luke's ship entering the dock, preparing to land.
"Huh, no wonder I haven't seen that kid in a while..."
Han began climbing down the ladder, and started to walk over to his friend's ship, but he stopped when he saw Luke helping his passenger get down safely.
Who is she? thought Han.
"Well, I'd say that trip was a total waste of time," sighed Luke, who was a little disappointed that he didn't find what he had hoped for.
Jyn gave him a warm smile, and said, "Oh, I don't think it was that much of a waste... I rather enjoyed it."
"Really?" said Luke, surprised. "How did-"
"I was wondering where the heck you've been, kid!"
As Han approached them, the young Jedi Knight chuckled, and said, "Sorry, Han, it was just something important I had to do."
Han ruffled his friend's hair a little bit before saying, "Ah, well, I'm just glad you're still okay, kid..."
He then looked over at Jyn, and said, "Well, I'll be damned... Luke Skywalker finally has a girlfriend."
Jyn began to blush, as well as Luke, who replied, "She is not my girlfriend, Han... just one of my new friends."
"Oh, sure," nodded the former smuggler. "Whatever makes you happy, kid."
Luke rolled his eyes, and said, "Anyway, Han, this is Jyn... she was a part of the Rebel Spies mission that allowed Leia to obtain the Death Star plans."
Han let out a whistle. "Wow, no kidding? That must've been one hell of a mission for you, then, Jyn."
"Oh, you have no idea," replied Jyn.
Han smirked, and said, "Eh, I think I sort of do, actually... ever been frozen in carbonite by this guy's dad?"
When Han said that, Luke found himself doing a small gulp, while Jyn frowned in confusion. "Why would Master Skywalker do something like that?"
"Oh, he's not talking about him," said Luke, letting out a nervous chuckle as he began to lead Jyn away.
But Han started to follow them. "Oh, right, my mistake... it was when Anakin was still Darth Vader that-"
"He what?" said Jyn, stopping in her tracks while Luke closed his eyes, groaned, and hung his head down.
"Yeah, hasn't Luke told you about his-"
"No, Han, I have not, and I would appreciate if you let me be the one to say it." Luke exclaimed, a frown on his face.
Noticing that Luke was upset, Han stepped back a little, saying, "Okay, sorry... I just thought you already told her."
"Tell me what exactly?" Jyn asked, now glaring at Luke.
The Jedi Knight sighed, and thought, Well, this didn't turn out the way I had hoped.
"Luke?"
"Okay, there's a... well, tiny bit of information that I haven't told you yet about my family," replied Luke.
Jyn replied, "All right, and what would that be?"
"It's that my father, Anakin Skywalker... was also Darth Vader."
For a moment, there was nothing but silence as Jyn took in what Luke had told her.
As for Han, he began to slowly walk away, saying, "Okay, well, it was nice to meet you, Jyn... and, um, I guess I'll see you later, kid."
He walked back to the Falcon, while Jyn was still remaining silent, and Luke started to feel nervous.
"Your father... was Darth Vader? How is that even possible?"
Luke nodded his head. "It's kind of a long story, actually..."
"He worked for the Empire?" continued Jyn. "He worked with Director Krennic? The man responsible for the death of my parents?"
Uh-oh, thought Luke. "It's not what you think, Jyn... he's not that person anymore. It wasn't even him in the first place. My father is a good person who-"
"What kind of a person would work alongside such monstrous people like Krennic, or Tarkin?"
Luke replied, "It wasn't entirely his fault, Jyn! The Dark Side of the Force-"
"Oh, do not bring the Force into this, Skywalker," exclaimed Jyn. "Your father was... my own mother..."
Unable to find the right words, at the moment, Jyn decided to walk away.
"Jyn, wait a second," said Luke, as he started to follow her. "I was going to tell you-"
"Well, guess what, Skywalker?" Jyn replied. "You did... now, then, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to be alone."
"But I-"
Smack!
"Alone, Skywalker," growled the young woman, and she continued to walk away while Luke sighed, in sadness, as well as trying to not think about the stinging pain his cheek had received from her slap.
[Are you all right, Master?] asked Artoo, as he stood by the young Jedi.
"I don't know, Artoo," replied Luke, as he watched Jyn become smaller and smaller the further she walked. "I think I just screwed up something that could've been very special for me."
The blue-and-white droid beeped a sad-like response, and Luke said, "Who was I kidding anyway, Artoo? She probably didn't even feel the same way I did."
As the two of them began heading back home, Artoo tried to be optimistic, saying that he could probably have better luck tomorrow.
"I sure hope so, Artoo..."
Unfortunately, that was not to be the case.
"She's gone?" Luke exclaimed. "Where did she go?"
"I'm afraid I cannot give you that information, Master Skywalker," replied Mon Mothma. "All I can say is that she went to retrieve an important artifact that can help us continue knocking down the Empire."
The young Jedi frowned as he said, "At least tell me what sector or region she could possibly be at, milady."
"I would, Master Skywalker, but I made her a promise... just as I made a promise to your father."
"My father?" said Luke, now becoming more confused. "What did he tell you?"
"You'll have to ask him yourself," Mothma replied, and she walked away before Luke could say anything else.
As Anakin approached his ship, the middle-aged Jedi Knight thought, I think I have a pretty good idea where she might be.
"Father!"
He stopped, and turned around, seeing Luke run as fast as he could over to him. "Where are you going?"
"Another important errand that I have to take care of, son," replied Anakin. "You don't-"
"What kind of promise did you and Mon Mothma make?"
The Chosen One sighed, and said, "I cannot tell you just yet, Luke... I promise to, though, when I get back."
"Father, please, what is-"
"Luke... please..." said Anakin, giving his son a serious look. "This is something that I have to do... you will thank me for it when I return."
With that, Luke remained silent as he watched his father enter his ship, then fly off into outer space, and entering light-speed.
"What am I missing here?" thought Luke.
"Luke?"
He turned around to find his sister, who looked concerned. "You okay?"
The young Jedi shook his head. "Not... entirely... I am so... lost... and confused..."
Leia sighed, and walked over to her brother, asking, "Want to talk about it?"
As she wrapped her arm around him, Luke let out a small chuckle. "Sure, Leia... that would be great... thanks..."
The two of them started to walk away, with Leia saying, "Well, you think you could start by saying where you've been these past few days, and why I haven't seen you since I met our mother?"
"Well..." Luke began to laugh. "I hate to say this again, but it's kind of a long story."
Leia laughed, as well, saying, "When is it never a long story with us, Luke?"
"I wish I knew," replied the young Jedi, feeling a little bit better as they continued their conversation.