'A Wish Come True'

Chapter 12

The Motara Pulsar Nebula, a beautifully colorful and spectacular anomaly; the highly charged particles that made up the nebula also caused it to take on an pulsing aurora of types and the changing colors grabbed all who passed it. This was one of the many reasons that Saketth had preferred space rather than living on planet. There were no crowds, no problems with traffic, and if one had the sturdiest of ships, could avoid civilization altogether, except to get fuel, supplies.

This was the place Saketth felt most comfortable and in control. No prying eyes, no worries of breaking the laws of man. However, in the same respect, one had to respect the vastness of space for one false move or miscalculation and you paid the ultimate price…life.

Of all the times he'd dealt in the smuggling, business and the one time he'd run…packages he liked this meeting place the best. One could get lost in the ever-changing colors of the nebula and lose track of time, but now as was the first time he'd run slaves he found it hard to lose him self watching the changing colors. The bad feelings he had felt then were just as strong as they were now, but in the back of his mind he kept telling him self he was putting an end to all of this.

Taking them aboard he'd seen the looks on their faces and wondered how they would fare entering their new life of servitude. Sure maybe a few would be lucky and land in the hands of a caring master; but like most things, that hope was fleeting, most if not all would end up doing some type of hard labor and lose their lives due to that work or worse at the hands of their masters.

Still the looks on their faces were the same as the first time he'd run slaves. What did they think of- the families that abruptly taken; the memories of their last good time with their children; or in some cases their parents? There was no way in knowing; in order to keep things on a business level as he did back then, he didn't ask. However, the thought entered his mind, and to placate that thought he convinced himself; rather easily, that this time was different he was on a mission- he was working for the Empire and for Emperor Skywalker in particular, and that was the thought he kept repeating in the back of his mind.

Watching the changing colors of the Nebula he started to get bored, he did have I-Bee to talk to but the past two hours he'd been back in the crew area recharging so now it was just him and the Nebula. He'd just about given up thinking that with the new directive from Imperial city that the slavers were laying low and being very selective. However, his contact; Chaazon Thura knew him, trusted him or so Saketth thought, and he wondered if they had found him out. He'd met Chaazon on Jabiim, a planet near Mon Calamari; Chaazon had run into some ship trouble and Saketth who was just breaking into the trade helped him out. After getting Chaazon going, Chaazon threw him some small jobs from time to time no doubt testing Saketth to see if he was worthy of becoming a good and trusted smuggler.

Deciding that this was a waste of time, he started to lay in a course for Rakata Prime when his comm crackled with life.

"Saketth, you old space dog, never thought to see you running packages again, especially after the last time… didn't you feel all guilty and stuff?" Chaazon asked with a chuckle.

"Saketth shaking his head replied, "Well it's about time I thought you forgot about me, and as far as the packages go I needed the credits- getting bored running cargo from port to port I needed something with a little spice to it."

"No, I didn't forget about you old buddy, had a little Imperial trouble something about not having the right transponder signal, I'm flying a YT- 3000, and the signal said I was a Mon cal ship- go figure, it's always the technicalities."

"Yeah, I've had that problem myself a few times, how do you want to do this?" Saketth asked trying to speed up the transaction.

"Hold on there, bud, we've just got here. What's the rush besides I may have a proposition for you--if you're interested?" Chaazon replied.

"A proposition huh, what's it entail?" Saketth asked intrigued-a little.

"We'll talk when I come over-- that thing you're flying have a universal docking collar or do I need to get a rope?" Chaazon asked jokingly.

"It's got a collar but you better get the rope just in case," Saketth joked back.

"Roger that, Saketth- ready your collar I'll be in range in five minutes."

"Ooo the anticipation is killing me--Saketth out."

Turning off the comm Saketth extended the port side-docking collar, newly reconditioned by Wedge's techs; he was eager to see if the thing actually worked. With a few moans and groans it extended without a problem which left Saketth with some time to contemplate what this proposition was that Chaazon had mentioned.

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Luke's mind was going faster than a ship through hyperspace; with the death of his friends, and his revenge for those deaths taken from him, he was now finding out that after everything he'd been told about his family, he still had family alive. How could that be why would his aunt and uncle lie to him?

"You're wrong," Luke barked, "all my family is dead the only two I knew were killed in an attack, I'm the last."

Luke's anger flowed through him he tried to move, he didn't have a weapon to fight the figure clad in black; so he'd try to beat him to death with his bare hands. However, he couldn't move, no matter how hard he tried; his feet were seemingly frozen to the ground. Was it fear that locked him into place, no he wasn't scared he was furious. Then why couldn't he move, again, and again he tried but without success. Finally looking up he noticed that the man had moved closer.

"That is not true, young one, your aunt and uncle hid you from m… your remaining family to protect you." Emperor Skywalker replied, he'd almost slipped in telling him who he was but caught himself at the last second.

Luke wasn't ready to know who was the last remaining family member-not yet, he needed Luke to control his anger, he needed to prepare Luke, train him to govern the power that dwelled within him. Only then, would he reveal his identity to him and answer the onslaught of questions.

Luke still trying to move returned, "I don't believe you… you're the one that is lying, my aunt and uncle never lied to me they told me about my family. My mother, and my father, and how they were killed during the Clone Wars, even about my grandmother who died and is buried not far from this very spot."

"You try my patience, young one, you will cease this and come with me, your life of servitude is over. I have seen to that, a new and prospering life is about to begin." Emperor Skywalker said curtly losing his patience, then releasing his Force hold on Luke he gave him a slight nudge backwards sending Luke to the ground.

Luke now several feet from where he was and at a loss as how he got there replied, "No! I'm not going anywhere; I'm staying right here this is all I have…" Luke paused as tears welling in his eyes again, "My memories, my family are all here… this is my home," failing to hold back the tears that were now flowing freely.

Emperor Skywalker wanted nothing more than to scoop the boy up and leave this place, this dreaded, barren waste land of a planet, a planet of bad memories. His fondest memories were of his mother and of learning of the man that took her in, and freed her from Watto, loved her…treated her as an equal.

Tempering his tone he couldn't help but see himself in Luke, the stubbornness, the headstrong personality like him, taking a moment he continued.

"I understand, young one, take what time you need to say your goodbyes, but make no mistake we leave within the hour," Emperor Skywalker replied, looking towards the direction where his mother buried, even though he was inside he knew exactly where she was laid.

"I have something I need to do, you have until then, to ready yourself--and do not try to escape as I will know and I will stop you." Emperor Skywalker said as he turned, in a tone he hoped was not too overbearing but enough to ensure compliance.

Luke could have, and wanted nothing more than to run from the shack and not stop until his legs could carry him no more; but if he did that he'd still be alone and no better off than he was now. In that instant, he remembered Barriss's body in the T-16's cargo compartment he couldn't leave her there. She deserved better and she wouldn't want Luke to remain here. She wanted him free to explore the places he'd told her of that he'd seen in his dreams. Plus for some reason he knew the figure clad in black was telling the truth he didn't know how, but he had family and they were alive.

In a low tone and before Emperor Skywalker had left he said, "I do have something I need to do." Luke said softly wiping the tears from his cheeks and standing.

Emperor Skywalker stopped sensing the sudden change in Luke's emotions, he knew Luke was thinking of the friend he had brought back from the west ridge, and without turning around, he replied, "Ah yes… your friend, get her and we will put her in a place of honor next to you grandmother," Emperor Skywalker returned stammering a bit.

Waiting for Luke to join him he followed him to the T-16 never taking his eyes from the place his mother laid to rest, thinking, "Hello mom I'm sorry I've never visited but I'm here now and… I have a son."