Chapter Ten:
The Trader's Luck had already moved location, of course; her captain being unwilling to chance anyone on Malastare connecting the dots on where their speeder thief had gone. It was now safely away and heading in a new direction after several shorter hyperspace jumps to throw off any possible traces.
As it glided through space, the inhabitants of the vessel not on shift were all asleep save one.
In the darkness of his cabin, being unable to sleep, a rectangle of light splashed his face. In his hands was a datapad, and it was replaying the day's events regarding Luke and Han.
Or rather, the previously unrealized piloting skills of one of his kids.
Garris couldn't take his eyes off the screen, and he'd already replayed the speeder chase more than once, memorizing the entire event and watching as Luke seemed to react even before the rest of the people there. Garris didn't know how the runt did it, only that he was doing it.
The way Luke handled the speeder, it was like it had been built specifically for him. He didn't just fly the machine, he became a part of it, and it was astonishing to watch. The speeder he flew moved so fluidly it was almost a crime, and Garris was starting to feel the beginnings of a plan forming in his mind.
Setting the datapad aside for a moment, he sat forward and stroked his chin thoughtfully, eyes distant as possibilities and details floated at random across his thoughts. After some time, Garris picked his 'pad back up and opened a new tab to explore the HoloNet.
With swift fingers, Garris keyed in his search parameters and scrolled the list of hits he got for his query. With practiced ease, his eyes skimmed the print as the first page he selected opened.
And as he read on, even closing that page and choosing another for a second opinion, Garris's lips slowly lifted into a grin. Yes... yes this could work well for him...
Racing was risky, but the winner usually brought home a hefty purse of money. Currency Garris could do so much with...
Luke could bring in the big numbers and it would all go to his boss.
But Garris would have to buy a few things first, and of course he had to win the kid over to be his pilot. But Garris was confident he could do just that, and on a whim he sent a note to the medical team regarding Luke's treatment and then returned to his datapad.
Garris read further until he was satisfied for the night and his plan was firmly in place. Then he shut down his device and settled in for the remainder of the night, sleeping well from then on.
00000
Secure inside his ship after an extensive search, Adriav looked to Lucky, ready to start his transmission to Lord Vader. Excitement coursed through his veins, and Adriav tried to imagine how Lord Vader would react to his having found video evidence of the boy.
Adriav had also picked up the kid's trail enough to follow him to the place he'd left the planet.
Coming back to the present, Adriav motioned to the droid to connect the secure channel and then waited patiently for an answer.
And wait he did.
Eventually the video feed Lord Vader preferred— he liked to meet with Adriav face-to-face as much as possible— came to life, though the respirator the Dark Lord was famous for preceded his voice.
"What do you have for me, Agent?" the man's deep voice rumbled.
Adriav bowed his head. "Greetings My Lord. I do have very good news for you, actually. R7 is sending a file to your personal datapad, My Lord." Adriav paused for a heartbeat, preparing himself. "It contains holo evidence of the boy."
Adriav didn't need to see the face behind the mask to know he'd indeed caught the Dark Lord by surprise.
"Video evidence?" Vader repeated, almost eagerly.
Adriav fought to keep a smirk off his face: Lord Vader wouldn't like that. "Yes, Lord Vader. It is from a food vendor in the marketplace where the senator's wallet was stolen. It turns out the boy was likely the thief."
Vader made a clearly disapproving noise at that, and Adriav couldn't suppress a slight shiver, but he pushed onward anyway. "I was able to piece together his trail with some difficulty and managed to get a name of the shuttle he used to get off-world."
Adriav glanced down to make sure he had the name correct, and then met the Dark Lord's gaze again. "The shuttle was called Myrtle. Unfortunately, that is where his trail ends. I couldn't find any other information on the ship except that it seems it was not meant for long flights. This tells me that it would have to have docked with some other vessel. But nothing of that sort was logged with the authorities."
Adriav sat back somewhat, an indication that his report was concluded, and then waited for the Sith's reaction.
When the Dark Lord didn't reply, but seemed to be looking off-screen, Adriav frowned a little, but then thought that the man must be watching the holo. He waited silently, letting Darth Vader process at his own pace, though he wondered not for the first time what the man's expression was.
He straightened again when the Dark Lord's helmet shifted to regard him once more. "I am most pleased with this, Pic. Your work has paid off indeed..."
At that moment Lucky bleeped sharply for attention, and Adriav glanced at him. "Not now, Lucky. You know that." But Lucky shook his domed head and beeped again, albeit more urgently.
Lord Vader, clearly unhappy to have been interrupted, spoke in a dark tone. "What is it, Agent?"
Adriav flushed slightly and glared at Lucky, who merely opened a file he'd just received and sent it to Adriav's datapad. The man watched, confused at first as to what he was seeing, and then his perplexity morphed into astonishment.
"Agent!" Vader snapped irately.
Adriav jumped, dropping his datapad. "Sorry Lord Vader. I am sending you a second file: this one a fresh news report you will want to see right away."
The Dark Lord said nothing, but Adriav was used to his volatile nature, so it didn't keep him from performing his task. He sent the news story and waited with baited breath.
Vader's helmet tilted as he watched the local report coming from the planet Malastare.
...witnesses claim that two young boys worked together to steal items from the high-end shop owned by Grando Calrissian. Among the items taken was his custom, one of a kind speeder.
The younger of the two piloted, and after shooting a window they soared into the streets, where they were pursued by the police.
After a grueling chase, in which some officers were hurt— with one being in critical condition— the boys managed to evade the authorities...
... anyone who has any information on the boys is asked to report it to...
"This is only a day old," Vader's voice cut into Adriav's second viewing of the report, bringing him back to fore. "This is the closest we have ever been to him. You will go to Malastare immediately and investigate this."
Adriav bowed his head succinctly. "As you wish, Lord Vader."
"Whatever you need to do, do it, just get me my boy." And with that, the Dark Lord signed off, leaving Adriav to his thoughts.
The boy had stolen a speederbike and managed to out-fly the local authorities. At some point in his contemplation something stirred in his gut and he didn't know what it was. But he had the hunch that the boy's life was about to change... though whether it was for the better or not remained to be seen.
00000
When Luke came-to he fully expected to still be in some form of pain. When that didn't happen, he frowned, wondering if he was dreaming.
Luke didn't immediately open his eyes, for fear of what he'd find, but he took that time to assess his body. He actually felt... truly and properly healed, not just the bare minimum meant to keep him alive.
Befuddled, Luke hesitated still to open his eyes, but he knew he couldn't put if off forever.
Gingerly Luke drew his eyelids up, and slowly his world came into focus. He was in a medical room of course, and he could hear the steady tones of his various monitors. The room was white and bland, but Luke didn't care. He shifted his head...
And jumped nearly a foot to find Garris there in the seat beside his bed.
Fearful of what the man wanted, Luke began to stammer out an explanation on a rough throat. "I-I... I'm s-sorry Sir, I didn't m-mean to cause trouble. I..."
Garris leaned forward, shaking his head. "Luke my boy, you gave me quite the scare."
Caught completely off-guard by the man's unusual demeanor, Luke fumbled to a halt. "Ah... I did?" He managed at some point.
Garris inclined his head. "Yes. You've been out of it for two days now."
Luke blinked. Two days? And why wasn't Garris mad at Luke?
Possibly seeing the expression on Luke's face, Garris moved to speak further. "Listen, I know Larrad went too far and for that I am sorry."
Luke opened his mouth... and shut it again when nothing legible formed on his tongue. He was completely thrown off by how Garris was acting.
"I had a serious talk with my brother, and he will be sure to use more control next time." Garris scooted forward, and Luke eyed him warily. "So how are you feeling then?"
Luke just stared at him, and Garris thinned his lips, but exuded patience.
"I... I feel fine," Luke murmured.
"Good to hear." Garris gave Luke a strange look. "You know, you've been holding out on me."
Luke's fear increased as his brain automatically searched for what Garris could possibly think Luke had been hiding, save the occasional lifted treat he shared with Han in the dead of night.
"Indeed." Garris lifted a datapad. "You never told me you could fly like this."
Luke was presented with a holo-feed of himself in the speeder chase, and he watched it for the first time from a spectator's point of view. Luke didn't want to seem haughty, but he was pretty impressed with himself, and he actually smiled a little bit.
Garris allowed it to play through and then shut it down. "You are quite the pilot, Luke. So I have a new proposition for you."
Luke tilted his head, unable to hide his curiosity. "What is it?"
Garris' lips twitched. "How would you like to become my star pilot and race all kinds of vehicles? Pod races, speederbikes, and other such vehicles, I mean."
Luke stared, wondering if Garris was playing him. That's it, I'm still dreaming, Luke determined.
Garris chuckled. "I'm telling the truth. You fly in races— and win a purse— and that becomes your quota. You can fly or you can return to pick-pocketing and dealing with my brother."
Luke wasn't so certain who he'd be dealing with if not Larrad. And if it was Garris, Luke wasn't sure he wanted to do this.
But deep within Luke knew this wasn't really a request from the man who all but owned him. When Garris 'asked' something of someone, that person said yes unless they wanted pain or to be forced to do his bidding anyway.
Or pain and then being forced.
Besides, the more adventurous part of the youth had to admit that he'd loved the high-speed chase, had enjoyed the thrill of danger even though they were running for their lives then. And the prospect of being able to do that again, but with Garris' permission... was too much for Luke to pass up.
"But what about Han?" Luke asked.
Garris lifted a brow. "You'll still get to see him, Lad. It's not like you're moving away or anything. He still has his job, but yours will change."
Luke considered; something in him afraid of how Han would react to Luke's new assignment. But maybe he could spin this to his own advantage too.
Luke gazed at Garris. "If I do this willingly, will you be nicer to Han and Dewlanna? Fewer punishments?"
Garris' brow scrunched a little, causing Luke to wonder if he'd out played his hand, but then the adult nodded. "Agreed. You do well, and they benefit also, I promise."
Luke was stunned when Garris held out his hand to Luke. Was this actually happening? It had to be, because Luke could feel the fervor coming from the man. Eventually Luke took the limb, and Garris pumped Luke's smaller arm almost painfully. But he let go before Luke could protest.
"You begin training as soon as you leave medical," Garris announced, and then was gone.
Luke stared after his boss, trying to decide exactly how he felt about this now that the initial meeting was over with.