I also realized that I haven't made Zeb say Karabast yet. So he finally does in this chapter.
Enjoy.
The ship touched down softly on a grassy plain, surrounded all around by stone mounds. As soon as the ramp opened, the spectres and their hostages departed from the Ghost, heading towards a seemingly unknown destination.
Luke looked around with wonder as they walked, taking in the new sights around him.
This is so different than the city I was in earlier. Huh! I never thought that this much green could be found in one place!
"Look at me, Luke," Ben had said to him once, on the rare occasion they found a desert flower among Tatooine's plains of sand, "Remember, we must take care of this flower for as long as we can. After all, here on Tatooine, we don't have the luxury of taking them for granted like those on other planets."
"Wow, Ben!" Luke said in wonder, "There's really that many flowers on other planets?"
"Why yes, young one" Ben responded, calm and composed as ever, "There are whole fields full of them on some other planets, sometimes. You will see them, one day." Ben then looked up at the sky, melancholy once again about one regret or another.
Luke perked up at the thought.
"That's awesome, Ben! Will I really ever be able to see that? It almost seems as if it can't be possible, it's too good to be true."
Oh how naive he was. Anything was possible, especially the things he was sure could never happen. Especially the things that one doesn't even think could be possible, in their innocence.
How else could Luke have figured out who his father truly was?
Ben smiled enigmatically as usual, but Luke could tell he was amused by his antics.
"As I said, you will one day, young Padawan. After all, we both know you're destined for greater things than life here."
Luke looked at the stars along with his teacher, wondering just what was up there.
Luke smiled at the bittersweet memory.
What can I say? He's been right about most everything off of Tatooine so far.
Luke still wasn't sure Ben was right about keeping certain other things a secret from him.
But there's no use being mad about it, he thought, since it's over and done. That's what he would want, even if it's hard not to be upset about everything…
Luke took a deep breath, and then looked back at the grassy plain around him.
He wasn't sure if he would ever see so much of it in one place ever again.
Orange Jumpsuit guy fell into step next to him, herding C3PO and R2D2 in front of him. The two droids were oddly silent. If Luke had known them better, he would've thought they were up to something.
He wondered why the two droids hadn't talked to him ever since their conversation in the Ghost's docking bay. Was it something he did, or did the two droids get into even more trouble after he left?
He was a little disappointed. He would have loved to talk to them again.
I wonder, do they know what truly happened to my father? Or am I alone with that burden?
But why did that matter to him right now? He was walking in a field of grass more green than anything he had ever seen in his life!
He stopped reached down and picked off a piece, putting it in his bag.
Orange Jumpsuit paused with him, looking at him quizzically.
"What are you doing?"
Luke looked up at him.
"Oh! I'm just taking a piece of grass, as a keepsake."
"Huh? But I thought you hated it here!"
"I do," He replied, "but I've never seen so much grass in my life! It's amazing!"
"Wait, wait. What?"
Orange Jumpsuit turned towards his comrades.
"Hey, guys! Did you know that this is the most grass blondie here's ever seen?"
Zeb answered him immediately.
"Karabast kid, can you shut up for one second? We're on an important mission here!"
"Gee, somebody's just a little too cranky today," Orange Jumpsuit mock whispered into Luke's ear. Luke silently agreed. He could've sworn he sensed an unusual amount of anger emanating off of the large being in front of him.
Zeb snarled at them, and then turned back towards the grass in front of him, his aggression easily tangible even to people who couldn't use the force.
The twi'lek pilot, who had introduced herself as Hera during the meeting in the cockpit, gave Orange Jumpsuit a significant look. While Luke didn't understand what the gesture conveyed, his companion obviously did.
Orange Jumpsuit guy paled.
"Sorry, Zeb," he muttered, suddenly somber.
Zeb huffed, as angry as he was a minute ago, but choosing not to comment on Orange Jumpsuit guy's behavior.
The crew walked on towards their destination, in silence.
What's going on with them?
A horned Devaronian with Green skin was waiting for them at a clearing, armed with two tall droids. Luke recalled seeing similar droids at cantinas sometimes, accompanying bounty hunters to one job or another.
Is he trying to be intimidating?
"Ah, Mr. Jarrus!" the Devaronian greeted Kanan, "You've finally arrived with my shipment. Or is it just with another few stray new members?"
Everyone looked towards Orange Jumpsuit and Luke, and the two droids hanging near them. R2D2 seemed to be beeping angrily at C3PO for another infraction of some sort, once again.
Luke smiled. Those two droids were sure growing on him.
Kanan glared at Vizago, and shoved his crates forward.
"Here's your shipment, Vizago." Kanan said sternly, "All set to go and untampered with."
Vizago opened a crate, and took out a long, cylindrical object that almost looked like a blaster rifle.
But it's obviously not a blaster, so what is it?
"Oh," Vizago purred, "what beautiful music I can make with these!"
"They're not that kind of instrument!"
Everyone turned towards Zeb, who was sitting at the edge of the clearing with a snarl on his face. He stood up and crossed his arms, as to accentuate his sudden statement.
"Ah, well, you see, you really just have to know how to play them. And how to play those who want to buy them."
Vizago had the audacity to wink at Kanan after this, who glared back at him in return.
"Well, you'll have to buy them from us first," Orange Jumpsuit guy said, glaring at Vizago in a rather threatening manner, yet still somehow seeming to lean relaxedly onto a crate.
He was good at hiding his emotions, Luke gave him that.
"Finally!" Vizago said, smirking. "Someone on your crew who understands business. So how much are you going for here?"
"We'll negotiate that later," Kanan said, "Let's just get this over with."
After all of the crates were loaded on Vizago's speeders, the Ghost crew and their hostages prepared to leave Lothal.
And hopefully for good, too. Luke thought. Even if the grass was pretty wizard… I wonder if I'll see something like that ever again.
"So," Orange Jumpsuit Guy said, "What do you think?"
"Hm," Luke said looking up at the cloudy sky, "I didn't think that Vizago fellow gave us too bad of a bargain. I mean, I've met with worse guys before…"
"Worse? Yeah, honestly, me too. But dang, blondie, you don't seem like the type who'd meet with those sorts of guys!"
Luke shrugged nonchalantly.
Well then, just wait I tell you what planet I'm from!
Orange Jumpsuit smirked at him, and Luke smiled back.
Their reverie was interrupted by the sound of a nearby engine.
"What was that?" The mandalorian girl said, looking towards the source of the noise.
Then they heard another engine on top of the steady drone of the first.
A yellow speeder loaded with crates whizzed out of Vizago's clearing and stopped right by the waiting crew.
Vizago hopped out, a murderous expression on his face.
"You scoundrels!" Vizago yelled. "You led them right to me!"
He pointed at the smoggy sky.
The clouds parted to reveal an Imperial Cruiser, with its guns out and with two walkers fastened securely to it.
And it was flying right toward them.
So I realized while writing this chapter that I had veered way off course from the episode during most of this fic, but bear with me here! I promise not to do that for important episodes.
Sorry guys.
