A/N: Thanks to all for reading and posting. I really appreciate your encouragement!

JP

Chapter #11

Ben burst into Huff Darklighter's office, his secretary trailing behind him. "I'm sorry, Mr. Darklighter, he wouldn't listen to reason."

Huff nodded to the men seated around him. "Gentlemen, let's pick this up tomorrow, same time."

As one, the well-dressed men rose from the table and exited the room. Left alone, Huff indicated an empty chair. "Have a seat, Kenobi."

"I can't. It's imperative that I speak with you and leave as quickly as possible."

"Leave? You mean leave Tatooine?"

Ben placed both hands on Huff's desk, leaning toward the Tatooine native. "Yes, I've got to get off planet."

"Wait just a minute, okay? This isn't like you at all."

Ben began to pace the room, running a hand through his hair. "I need to acquire funds that will enable me and the children to depart immediately."

Huff froze. "What are you talking about? I thought we had an agreement…"

"The three of us are in danger." Ben stopped pacing and pounded his fist on Huff's desk. "I need you to purchase the moisture farm and give me the credits."

"Sit down, Ben."

"I don't have time—"

"Sit down!"

Ben fell into the chair in front of the massive wooden desk.

Huff folded his arms across his large belly, cocking his head as if taking Ben's mettle. Just as Ben was about to get up from the chair, he spoke, "You're a Jedi, aren't you?"

Ben's mouth fell open.

"Thought so. And Luke, he's got the makings of a Jedi, right?"

Ben nodded.

Huff swiveled in his chair. "Same goes for that little ginger-haired girl?"

Again he nodded letting out a deep breath.

"So why all of sudden do you need to leave?"

"Stormtroopers are in Mos Espa. They are looking for Mara which will, in turn, mean the capture of all three of us."

"I've wondered what happened to all the Jedi these last four years. Hoped that there were hiding out, like you. Waiting for when the time was right. I thought this far away in the outer rim, you'd be okay. Seems the Emperor's reach grows longer every day."

Ben leaned back in his chair, listening to a large timepiece ticking from the book case. "How long have you known?"

Huff laughed. "Almost from the beginning. You're not exactly the kind of guy who chooses to live on Tatooine, Ben. But you've done all right by Luke. More than all right actually." Huff stood and walked to a large safe behind a false wall.

"Does anyone else suspect?"

"Nah, I was pretty good at covering your tracks."

Ben shook his head and sighed. "I don't know what to say. Thank you."

Huff stared at Ben with a frown. "I can't buy the farm, Ben."

"But—"

Huff reached into the safe and pulled out a small bag and then shuffled through some flimsies. "The farm is in Luke's name, you're only acting as guardian with power of ownership on his behalf. Only Luke can sell the farm, but not until he's twenty-one."

"Oh, stars." Ben leaned forward, shaking his head. "What can I do?"

Huff took a packet of flimsies from the stack and placed it on his desk. "Sarha, get in here and bring your stamp!" He picked up a stylist and signed several areas, flipping the pages quickly.

The secretary flitted through the door.

"Notarize this."

Sarha began to initial and stamp where Huff pointed. "Now you, Kenobi, sign here… and here, also here."

Ben picked up the stylist. "What are we doing?"

"You're releasing the running of the farm to me. Luke will still be owner under your guardianship, but I will manage and collect profit for a small fee. In return, I'll provide you with some credits and three passageways off this rock. I will hold the profits in a ghost account until you contact me, although it may be a while before there is much to
send you." Huff folded up the documents and handed the jingling bag to Ben. "That should get you started. Now, where do you want to go?"

"I…have no idea."

"Where might you be safe?"

Ben shook his head. "We had thought that Luke would be best served with family, but then the Lars…"

Huff grunted. "So what about the mother's side? Any family there?"

Ben closed his eyes picturing the dying face of Padme Amidala. The idea of placing Luke with his maternal family had not even been an option at the time. There had to be no suspicion that Padme's children survived the birth. Keeping them both safe from the Emperor had been imperative and involving the Naberries would have only lead to Luke's discovery. But what about now? Had enough time passed that a relationship would no longer pose a threat?

"Time's wasting, Ben. I don't need a name, just a planet."

Naboo was near the outer rim and Padme's family was very well off financially. But how would they handle the idea that they had been lied to all this time. What if they wanted to take the boy from him?

"Ben?"

Ben rose. "Naboo. We'll head to Naboo."

"Which city?"

Padme's family had lived in the capital. He'd try there first. "Theed."

"Sarha! Purchase three public transport tickets for Naboo! They'll pick them up at the station." The secretary returned to her desk as Huff stood and walked Ben to the door. "Get the children and pack up. Your flight leaves in—Sarha, when does the flight leave?"

"Three standard hours."

"Got that?" Huff grabbed Ben's shoulder and squeezed. "Now hurry."

"Thank you—"

"Go!" He shoved Ben out the door and watched him jump into his speeder, heading for the inn.

Huff sighed. "Kark, I hope they make it."

*****

"I don't understand," wailed Luke from the back seat.

Ben pulled into the speeder bay and hurried the children into the residence. "There's little time to explain, son. You are in danger. Prepare your large pack and backpack. Take everything you can. Clothing, shoes, toiletries—you won't be coming back."

"But, I don't want to leave."

"Neither do I, but we must." Ben pulled out a large duffle and opened the safe in the living area, stuffing the contents into his bag. He then dragged the duffle to the medicine cabinet in the fresher and emptied the entire contents into the bag. Luke trailed behind him, pulling on his arm.

"But why?"

Ben pulled his arm from Luke's grasp and ran into his own bedroom. He stuffed his wardrobe into the bag along with shoes and undergarments. Not much time left.

Luke grabbed Ben around the waist, preventing him from continuing. "Don't, Uncle Ben— "

"Stop it, Luke—NOW!

Luke dropped to the floor screaming. Tears fell from his face as he began to twist his head back and forth repeatedly.

Ben flinched as the boy fall apart. He crouched down next to him and engulfed him in his arms. "I'm sorry, Luke. I'm so sorry. Shhhh….there's a good boy. Take a deep breath." Ben looked up to see Mara's wide green eyes watching them. "Are you okay, Mara?"

She stood motionless, staring at them. Her face paled as her lower lip began to quiver. "What about me?"

"What, child?"

"What's going to happen to me?"

Ben closed his eyes and extended his hand to the little girl. "You are coming with us, of course, dear heart." She fell into Ben's lap and laid her head on Luke's back. "We are a family, the three of us. Don't ever doubt that. Now, look at my face—both of you. That's good. I don't have time to explain, but we need to leave here as quickly as we can."

Luke hiccupped and let out a raged breath.

"I will explain more once we are safe, but for now we must hurry and get to the public transport center. Will you help me, younglings?"

"Yes," whispered Mara.

"Luke?"

He nodded and wiped his nose on his sleeve.

"Good, now let's go."

It took them longer than he had expected, but they were packed and in the landspeeder in about an hour and a half. Traveling to the Anchorhead, Ben sold the speeder and pocketed the measly credits, then raced to the ticket office and picked up their tickets.

"Do we get to fly in a big one?" asked Luke, dragging his pack behind him. He seemed to have settled after his brief melt down.

"Pretty big. It is public transport." Ben looked down at Mara noting the red-gold hair peeping out from under her hat.

"Mara, dear, let's see if we can render your locks a little less conspicuous." They detoured to a little stand selling head scarves and purchased a dark blue one. "Now, if I remember correctly…" He wrapped the scarf around the girl's head, tying it in the back. "Good, now place your hat on top and we'll be off."

Thirty minutes later, they were on board and seated in a small cabin. Ben smiled as he realized that Huff Darklighter had spent the extra credits on a private room for them. It was cramped, but more than what he had expected. The engines began to whine as the ship warmed up.

Luke barreled to the window and gazed out. "Look, we can see everything from up here."

Ben rose and glanced out the window, too. The transport station was higher than the pedway platform and allotted a panoramic-type view.

"Come on, Mara," said Luke, reaching a hand towards her. "Take a look."

Mara grasped Luke's hand and peered out the window, then gasped.

Ben spotted them at the same time. Stormtroopers. Just arriving and disembarking into Anchorhead.

"What's wrong?" Luke asked, looking between Ben and the girl. "Ouch, Mara, you're hurting my hand!"

Ben placed a hand on Mara's shoulder. "Deep breath, sweetling." He sensed such hatred emanating from the child that he found himself breathing deeply as well. "Let go of your anger."

"Like this." Luke took a huge breath, puffing out his cheeks and crossing his eyes. Mara began to smile as Luke blew out, moving Mara's bangs away from her forehead.

To Ben's surprise, she burst out laughing. Luke immediately joined in and had all three of them giggling.

Mara paused and then threw her arms around Luke. "Thank you."

Luke looked up at Ben and smiled. "No problem, we're family. Right, Uncle Ben?"

"Indeed, we are." He placed a hand on both youngling's head. "Now, let's get into our seats and restraints. It won't be much longer before we take off."

Both children sank into their seats and fumbled with the crash webbing, Luke rushing to be first. "Uncle Ben, I'll be able to look out the portal once we're in space, right?"

Ben smiled. "Of course, youngling."

Luke finished installing his harness and beamed up at Ben. "Actually, this is kinda exciting.

"Yes?" whispered Ben.

"Yeah, I've been waiting to travel on a space ship my whole life."

Ben's smile faded as he turned towards the portal. He only hoped it would be a long and happy.

...to be continued