Chapter Ten

Up on the Death Star, meanwhile, Luke had just lost Artoo and was starting to panic. Suddenly, there was an explosion behind him, and his ears rang with cheers from his wingmen. He twisted around, "What the…?" One of the TIE fighters was gone.

"Woohoo! It's all clear to go, kid! Let's blow this thing and go home!" an all-too-familiar voice overrode the cheering, and he looked up as an equally familiar Corellian freighter swooped past over head.

"Han Solo, you turncoat!" he laughed. Qui-Gon vanished with a chuckle and he pressed the firing switch, sensing that it was time. With a gasp, he watched the torpedos vanish down the vent and wrenched his battered X-wing out of the trench.

"Let's get out of here before this thing blows and takes us with it!" Wedge hollered as they shot away from the Death Star. They had just cleared the planet's curve when the Death Star erupted behind them.

"That was one shot in a million, kid!" Han crowed, though Luke just heard Obi-Wan's voice in his head, praising him.

Not bad for your first solo mission as a Padawan. My first outing sans Qui-Gon was not nearly this difficult. He heard the pride in his master's voice and smiled, sagging against the ejection seat.

The surviving pilots were greeted with a cheering mob when they returned to base and none of them touched the ground. Luke, Angi, Yomi, Disu, and Wedge were hoisted onto the shoulders of their friends and carried. When Luke finally got his feet under him, he was mobbed by Leia and Siria, and had his lungs crushed by Biggs Darklighter, who had some severe choice words for him. Worming his way out of Biggs' deathgrip, he staggered off-balance. Angi threw an arm around him to catch him, and he pulled her around for a kiss. It was spur-of-the-moment and messy, but he had to do something. His wingmen just roared.

Oh wow. You can do that again anytime, Skywalker. Angi sounded dazed as he let her up. He grinned.

That's for sticking with me up there, Jig.

Isn't that what friends are supposed to do?

Well, you know. He looked for his master, but didn't see him. He wanted to look for Obi-Wan, but his friends weren't about to let him get away that easily. As they got out of the hangar, he threw both arms around his sister and swung her off her feet just because he could. Tonight would be a night for celebration and remembrance.

After he managed to escape his friends, he retreated to his room, and found his master waiting. Master Taiel was with him, and the man looked just awful. Luke swallowed hard, wishing there was something he could say.

"Master Taiel?"

"It's alright, Luke. I shouldn't have forced her to go out, not knowing her fear of flight like I did."

"Master, it wasn't your fault. She did exactly what you told her to do."

"She never questioned me, Luke, not once. She just accepted it." Taiel choked up and Luke came to a horrible realization. The only reason Adrai had refused to acknowledge any of them during the battle was because she didn't want them to talk her out of what she had planned. He remembered her final sharp words and wished it could have been different.

Adrai, why? Why didn't you tell me? Or anybody? Why did you do this to yourself? I could have helped you! The enormity of what Adrai had done literally brought Luke to his knees.

"Padawan?" Obi-Wan was at his side in an instant and he fought to contain his emotions before they got the better of him. It made him sick to his stomach and he bolted into the bathroom, barely reaching the toilet in time.

Suicide…suicide…she committed suicide. Those damning words rang through his head and he tried to understand. When no more would come, he sank to the cool stone floor and closed his eyes. Oh, sweet Adrai. I loved you once, I truly did. Why didn't you let me help you? He covered his face with both hands and wept, not caring if his master could hear or what was done about it.

Obi-Wan listened at the door to the bathroom, wishing there was more he could do for his Padawan and knowing Luke had to have this outlet. Luke had lost a friend, the Jedi had lost a student, and Taiel no longer had a Padawan to train. The poor man was in absolute shock, but he pushed onward, refusing to let it bring him so low as to lapse into psychic shock.

"When you get the chance, Ben, she left this for Luke. She wanted him to have it." Taiel got his attention and he turned to see the man hold out Adrai's lightsaber.

"Oh, Taiel."

"There's something inside she wanted him to have, but the lightsaber is his too." Taiel gave it to him, closing his hand around the cool metal, "Can you make sure he gets it?"

"Of course I will. Go and rest, old friend, mourn as you wish."

"Thank you, Obi-Wan." Taiel left quietly, and Obi-Wan wished his friend the strength to move on past this tragedy. It was horrible for any Master to outlive a Padawan, and for a Padawan to outlive their Master. He summoned Leia to their quarters, and was not at all surprised the girl came in company with Wedge Antilles, Angi Dyril, Yomi Nadeb, and Disu Dan'cha.

"Luke is going to need you, just be there for him." He instructed the pilots before departing, "That lightsaber is his now, make sure he gets it?"

"Of course, Master Kenobi." Leia took the weapon and bowed. Obi-Wan left and went in search of Taiel, who needed him in this time of loss. Luke had his friends and his sister, so Obi-Wan would see to his friend. Maybe Qui-Gon had beaten him there to console Taiel until Obi-Wan could make time for him.

Luke heard the door of the bathroom open and close again behind someone, but he didn't bother to look and see who had invaded his private mourning.

"Luke?" it was Leia, Force bless her, "Are you alright?"

"She did it…on purpose." He croaked, "On purpose!"

"Oh, no! Oh, Luke!" Leia was at his side in an instant, pulling him into her arms. He fought to sit up and threw his arms around her.

"Leia, she knew! She let it happen!"

"I'm so sorry, Luke, but sorry can't bring Adrai back. Oh, how horrible!" Leia held him through a fresh bout of tears and he wept uncaring. Finally, exhausted and sore from spending so much time on the floor, he found he had no more tears to shed. Leia got him up and out of the bathroom, and he found his friends gathered in wait. Leia had something to give him from Obi-Wan who had received it first from Master Taiel, "Master Obi-Wan asked me to give this to you." It was a lightsaber, Adrai's lightsaber. Luke opened the casing and saw the object tucked inside. He worked it free and studied it.

"What is it?" Angi whispered.

"A data-chip. Jig, can you get my data-reader?"

"Sure." Angi found the reader and gave it to him. Inserting the chip, he got a text warning: Vid or holo interface only.

"What's it say?"

"'Vid or holo interface only'." He ejected the chip from the reader and inserted into his holoprojector, "She left me a message, I think." They watched as Adrai's figure took form and stabilized.

"Hello, Luke. If you're viewing this message, that means I didn't make it back from the Death Star. I wanted you to remember me the way I had been before, not the way I was. You didn't know me anymore, Luke, no one did. Even Jig didn't. I'm sorry I did this to you, but I couldn't live like that anymore." Adrai looked sad, he thought, "When the Empire broke my spirit, they broke my body. Master Taiel wasn't sure I'd survive the unfreezing process because of that. When I found out the Empire was coming here, I started making plans. I decided to finish what the Empire had started. One less Jedi for them to worry about. So that's what I'm going to do. Master Taiel has made it very clear to me that I have no choice, but that doesn't matter. I'm leaving you my lightsaber so you'll have something to remember me by. I wish I could make you understand, I wish I was brave enough to face you and tell you this in person. I'm so sorry, Luke, please forgive me. Goodbye, Luke Skywalker. I know you'll be a great Jedi Knight one day." When the message was finished, the projector shut itself off. Luke looked at the lightsaber and sighed.

"Luke?"

"Tonight is as much for Adrai as it is for the rest of us. Let's not forget those who gave their lives so the Rebellion could be safe a while longer." He put the lightsaber on the bedside table, knowing he would carry it for the rest of his life. One by one, his friends left until only Leia remained.

"We have some time before either of us needs to be ready for tonight, Luke. Get some sleep." She coaxed as he went to put the holoprojector and data-reader back in their places. He collapsed on the bed, throwing one arm across his eyes.

"Easier said than done."

"At least try. You're exhausted, and Adrai's death didn't come easily. Sleep for a while." Leia unfastened and pulled off his boots, moving on to the flight-suit and gloves. When he wore nothing but shorts and a tee-shirt, she let him crawl under the blankets.

"Will you stay, Leia?" he watched her move around, depositing his clothes in the laundry.

"Do you want me to?"

"Please?" he hated begging, it went against his training, but he needed someone to keep him company right now and he wanted to sister. She smiled and went into the bathroom, emerging five minutes later in shorts and a tee-shirt with her hair let down from the coiled style she wore as a Junior Senator. He held up the blanket for her and she slipped into bed with him. It was a matter of mere minutes to find a comfortable position, and he soon fell sound asleep. He did not dream of Adrai's death, or of anything really.

It was two hours before Luke woke up again, and he woke alone. Leia was gone, but it didn't bother him. He rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling, wondering at his good fortune of having the Princess of Alderaan for his sister. Getting up, he took a shower and got ready for the ceremony. His door opened and Leia entered followed by a member of the Organa household.

"Leia!" he had to blink several times, "You look beautiful!"

"I brought you something." Leia instructed the servant to put his burden down and dismissed him, "A gift from my foster-father."

"What is it?"

"Something from home. I don't know what it is." Leia sat on the bed as he unfolded the cloth wrapping. He gasped, picking up the silk-and-velvet doublet.

"Look!"

"Oh, you have to wear it! You must!" Leia was just as surprised. Luke had never seen clothes so fine or worn them and spent several minutes simply touching the rich fabrics. Leia helped him get dressed and when they were finally ready, he wore a blue-and-gold doublet over a white collared shirt, blue trousers, and high, polished brown boots. He looked at his reflection wistfully.

"I've never worn anything this fine, it feels almost wrong."

"You look very handsome." Leia stood next to him, beautiful in a white scoop-necked gown with cape sleeves. She turned him to face her and smoothed out a few wrinkles from his sleeves, straightened his collar, and smoothed his braid over his shoulder. He took her hand in his and left his room. They found Obi-Wan outside, poised to knock. His master looked him over, took stock of what he was wearing, and smiled.

"Appropriately befitting a Prince Consort of Alderaan. Bail chose well, I think." Obi-Wan mused, almost to himself, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Luke had spent enough time with the daughters of Royal House Organa to know what those two carefully chosen words meant for him, but not why he now carried a title and rank only reserved for a very few lucky boys. Obi-Wan sent them to Bail, who wished to see them before the ceremony.

When Bail heard the timid knock on his door, he looked up. Luke and Leia stood just outside, both fully prepared for the ceremony.

"Come in, both of you." He smiled, "You must have questions." He went back to what he had been working on before they came. It was the finalization documents that, once signed, would put Luke in the acendency for the throne of Royal House Organa. He had been working on making Luke his legal heir since their first meeting, speaking with the leaders of the Alliance, his own advisory council, and with Luke's uncle. Owen Lars was a stern, simple man who wanted only the best for his nephew and had been thorough in making sure Luke's new position wasn't an empty one. Alderaan was little more than a debris field now, so did it mean anything that his nephew was now going to be a Prince Consort of Alderaan and Royal House Organa? Luke did have a few questions of his own, hesitantly asked, but Bail reassured the boy that this was in his best interest and for his benefit. Luke set down his name on the documents to prove his understanding of proceedings and Bail submitted it for the legal finalization. Once he was absolutely certain Luke had no further questions, Bail dismissed them to the ceremony. He planned on announcing Luke's place in the ascendancy at the ceremony, and had told Luke of his intentions. The boy had agreed just a bit hesitantly, still dazed from learning the depth of what he was to become. Bail watched them leave and smiled. In a few short months, Luke had gone from bumbling farmboy to Jedi Padawan to hotshot pilot to his latest facet as Prince Consort.

"The pauper has quite become the prince." He mused to himself as he finished his own preparations for the ceremony.

When the heroes of the Battle of Yavin appeared at the far end of the ancient throne room, there was a muted gasp. They all knew it was Obi-Wan Kenobi's Padawan who had fired the damning shot that destroyed the Death Star, but the boy who strode purposefully down the open aisle to the dais was not the Luke Skywalker they had known before. Farmboy, Jedi, pilot, and…prince? Yes, he was a prince as well. Bail Organa presented him as such after Luke received a medal. The cheering doubled in volume, and friends were the loudest.

Before the after-parties, Luke slipped away from the crowded throne-room.

"Hey! Luke, where do you think you're going?" Wedge Antilles grabbed him and wheeled him around.

"Away."

"Not likely, my friend. Come on, old man, this is your party." Wedge wasn't going to let him escape, and if Jig even suspected he was thinking about escape, he'd be in so much trouble. His master's only words of caution were to drink in modesty.

"No rest for the weary, eh Luke?" Wedge teased as he put his head in his hands.

"You don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn tomorrow, Wedge, so you can just shut up."

"Ooh. Is somebody tired?"

"You noticed?"

"Hey, Wedge, lay off." Jig sat down next to Luke, "You're drunk. Go find a girlfriend."

"Kiss me first, Jig."

"Not on your Corellian lifespan."

"Just one?"

"If it makes you go away and leave Luke in peace." Jig humored the Corellian, and pushed him away, "Biggs, come and get your drunk friend!"

"Sorry, Jig. Alright, Wedge, you and me have our own party." The bigger man gently ushered Wedge away and Luke smirked.

"Very nice, Jig. And you didn't even have to use the Force."

"No, he was drunk enough. You alright?"

"Well, as long as nobody calls me Your Highness before the night's over, I should be okay." He stared into his bottle, "That is going to take a lot of getting used to."

"Knowing you, old man, you'll jump out of your skin every time you hear it." Suljia Falyma teased. Luke choked on his beer and coughed.

"Suli!" he croaked when his airway was clear.

"Well, it's true." The Zabrak Padawan sipped her beer. Luke just put his head in his hands. He was absolutely exhausted from the battle, from mourning Adrai, and wanted nothing more than to politely excuse himself and go to bed. Finally, three beers later, Leia fetched him away from the declining celebrations and took him to bed.

"Good night, Luke!" his friends called as he left with his sister.

"Where's Siria?"

"I last saw her with Wedge and Biggs."

"Oh. Wedge is drunk."

"I know. He won't remember a thing tomorrow, will he?"

"No, I don't think he will." Luke rubbed his face, "I am so tired."

"Of course you are! Get some rest, Luke." Leia hugged him tightly, saw him to his room, and bid him goodnight. He hung his clothes in the closet, showered, pulled on a pair of sleep=pants, and collapsed on his bed. He didn't even know if his master was in their quarters or not, and didn't particularly care. Cocooning himself in his blankets, he drifted off to sleep. A long and painful day had finally come to a close, and tomorrow would be a fresh start.