A Noble Soul

The stained glass renders the moonlight into a green spotlight onto his beer. The Ebla beer comes in a frothy, yellow liquid, but the light tints it into a sickly green. Janek Sunber has seen enough gangrenous limbs to recognize the color. He thinks about pushing it away, but then a hand grasps at his shoulder. He tenses, figuring it's Gage here to cause a public scene over his promotion. As a newly minted commander, Captain Gage is his inferior now, and inferiors assaulting their commanding officer isn't tolerated, even those from notable families. Still, he readies himself for a punch when he turns his head back. Instead, he lets out a laugh.

"Luke! It's you!"

"Tank, it's been so long."

The last time he saw Luke was two years ago. His bright blue eyes were red from crying. His white clothes were rumpled from sleeping in them. He looked utterly miserable from doing what he thought was the best for them.

Now, Luke wears a black officer uniform that perfectly accents his sinuous body. His long, blond fringe has been shorn to the standard Imperial length, making him look a little older. He lacks code cylinders and a rank plaque, but he has a name badge in Aurebesh: Luke Whitsun.

"Whitsun? Luke, you didn't enlist with a false identichip," Tank whispers in a low tone. Luke snorts.

"No! I filled out the application honestly except when it came to my surname. I've read the manual cover to cover; there is no rule that states I can't use a different surname so long as it's a family one. And technically through marriage, I'm allowed to use it."

"Is this so Owen won't immediately haul your butt back to Tatooine?"

"Yes, but given my father's past, I thought it best to pick an ordinary surname."

"It's a good thing that the Inquisitors are gone," Tank mutters. "Aside from the name change, how is Prefsbelt?"

"I don't know. I applied to the naval program on Arkanis instead."

"Really?" Tank lifts his glass but then puts it back down when he sees the color. He pushes it aside.

"Is the beer that bad here? I would think Serenno could afford the real stuff."

"It's not the beer. It just reminds me of…bad things."

Luke's face softens. "Do you feel like talking about it?"

"No, but you can have the beer. Someone should enjoy it." Tank pushes it to him, and Luke accepts it wordlessly.

"They don't have Ebla on Arkanis." He drinks and lets out a sigh of relief. "Beer is as watery as the planet."

"You sound like you're sick of water! What happened to the boy that was so eager to get off Tatooine that he tried walking to the nearest spaceport."

"You didn't have to follow me."

"I couldn't just let you go alone."

They go quiet for a moment.

"How is the Arkanis Academy? I don't hear too much about it except that no one likes the Commandant there."

"I like the Commandant. He's quiet, never speaking unless necessary. Most of the instructors there are so noisy, always trying to sell me on the Empire rather than teach anything useful."

"I may have dodged a blaster bolt then."

"You never were one for lectures."

"Do you even get to pilot?"

"I have. Definitely not as much as I want since I'm just a cadet."

"How long 'till graduation?"

"Considering I'm at the top of my class, I'd say by Empire Day."

"Wow, you'll be a pilot at twenty."

"Then, I've got to worry about where I'm assigned too. Chances are it'll be within the sector." Luke has a wistful look on his face, the same look when he daydreamed of faraway worlds.

"Who knows maybe you'll get assigned to a Grand Admiral? Or maybe even Lord Vader!"

"Maybe if I came from a more illustrious school, but I get to pilot."

"And you'll get a salary. Enough for your own comlink."

"But who am I going to hail? I guess Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen, but I planned when I get my first leave to tell them everything in person."

"How about Biggs?"

"I haven't heard from him since he left. Have you?"

"Well, no. You'd think he'd at least comm his folks."

"He's probably living the high life or something."

"What about Fixer? Windy? Or even Deak?"

"Fixer and Camie were planning their nuptials when I left. I stopped hanging out with Windy and Deak when you left. There just wasn't a whole lot keeping us together anymore."

"I'm sorry. You must've been lonely."

"I definitely was, but you're here now." When Luke smiles, Tank feels those old stirrings rising within him. He reminds himself to take it slow since they're old friends catching up.

Luke doesn't want me like that. He wanted me to be free that's why he broke up with me.

"Tank, I don't have a comlink, but there are comm booths at school. They're monitored, but I doubt you'll lapse into dirty talk." Luke then laughs, clearly remembering their first attempt at roleplay. Tank smiles as he remembers it too.

"I can't promise I'll be that stimulating."

"Same here."

"What do you mean? This is the most entertaining conversation I had since leaving Tatooine. I can never get enough of you," he says tenderly.

"You only get me for another hour. The last ship to Arkanis will leave without me if I'm not there, and then I'd have to find my own way back."

"Speaking of which, how did you get your Commandant to let you come here? Serenno and Arkanis aren't exactly sister-planets."

"I won a little contest at school, and the prize was going anywhere within the Empire so long as you write a report after the trip. I chose Serenno."

"But why?"

"I heard about the Battle of Maridun and how you were getting a medal for your heroics. I simply asked to be at your ceremony. To be with you."

Tank feels hope for the first time in a long while. Ever since their break-up, he's had one-night stands but nothing substantial.

Maybe we can try again.

"I can't promise I'll be available all the time. I'm a commander now, so I probably have even less time."

"That's fine. I just want us to talk again."

"I can do that."

It's a promise that they'll both keep.

Author's Comments- Here are the links:

Here is an image of Janek Sunber on Tatooine before he joined the Imperial Army: a href=" . "Link/a

Here is an image of Castle Serenno or Dooku's palace: a href=" . "Link/a

In Legends/EU, Janek "Tank" Sunber was one of Luke's best friends on Tatooine. He applied at the Naval Academy on Prefsbelt IV to be an Imperial pilot, but he didn't score high enough, so he joined the Imperial Army instead. He became a lieutenant within a year and was going to become a commander after his work ethic and quick thinking saved the losing Imps at the Battle of Maridun, but the general who promoted him died and arrogant Captain Gage refused to verify his promotion. He and Luke would eventually reunite when Luke went undercover as an Imperial officer to save a Rebel agent and later Rebels-turned-slaves; it was a happy reunion until Luke's deception was revealed, but Tank let Luke and the Rebels go because he has a moral compass. He would be next seen infiltrating the Rebellion on Vader's orders. His cover would be blown, along with a Rebel base, but he would ultimately save Leia's life at the seeming cost of his own.

In my stories with Luke and Tank, they're only a few months apart in age (because every one of Luke's friends on Tatooine were two or more years older than him in Legends/EU) and got together when they were sixteen. They dated until Tank left for the Imperial Army, so they were boyfriends for almost two years at that point. Anyways, if this AU were to continue, they would start dating again after some time. Maybe they'll both be Imps or maybe defect to the Rebellion. Either way, they'll be together.