Prologue
It was but a few years after the Empire
had been abolished, and before the great Jedi academy had been created. Luke
wandered the galaxy, searching for something else to do with his life. He was
Hero of the Rebellion, or at least that was how his sister, Chief of State Leia
Organa Solo, praised him. Luke knew he was simply doing his duty as a Jedi to
uphold the peace and honor of the galaxy and Light Side of the Force.
The
bar was noisy and crowded, not the typical place a Jedi liked to be. Aliens
argued and gambled in the dark corners of the shadowy place. The bartender,
bright blue and insect-like with his many arms and antennae, sloshed a mug of
foreign liquor to Luke, saying he looked like he needed a drink. Thanking him,
he took a swig of the drink as he heard angry voices.
"Stop! Please! Stop!" It was a woman's voice,
troubled and pleading with two large aliens who had a hold of what appeared to
be a black knapsack.
"Hey."
Luke said, getting to his feet and approaching the struggle.
"What
do you want, human?" The one closest to Luke sneered. He was black and hairy,
with long, spindly legs and a muzzle, which looked like a trunk. It had four
eyes; two in normal positions on the head, two on moveable stalks on top.
"Let
her go." Luke ordered simply.
The
one holding both the woman and the knapsack looked at the Jedi Master and
laughed. It was tall and muscular, with an acrid stench emanating from it. Its
skin was thick and leathery; pale green mottled with a vicious snout sporting
rows of glistening fangs.
"What
are you going to do, human?" It laughed some more, looking between the woman
and Luke. The woman was young, Luke noticed, he was probably only a few years
older than she. Her hair was blonde, but unlike Luke's gold, it was pale and
silvery, reaching below her waist. Her eyes were a bright ocean-blue, but at
the moment their beauty was blurred by the look of terror they expressed.
"I
warn you," Luke said, "I am a Jedi. Let the girl go."
This caused the offending creatures to laugh
even harder.
"A
Jedi, huh?" The green one said to its companion,
who snickered.
"Yes,"
responded Luke patiently, "And I suggest you let the woman be."
"No
can do, Mr. Jedi," the black one growled, "This here lady belongs to us. She is
the bounty of a very rich king in a separate galaxy. Our instructions were
simple; find her, and bring her to him."
Luke
concentrated, feeling the power of the Force running throughout his body,
infusing him with its strength. His entire body tingled with the energy, and he
saw the aliens, felt them, and using the Force, let his thoughts move
them. Far. As he turned his attention to the girl, the two aliens were forced
backward, tumbling, falling on one another.
The woman was
shaking, understandably afraid. She eyed him warily, throwing her glance
between both him and the aliens that had been thrown against the opposite wall.
They lay there, unconscious, in a heap.
"I'm not going to hurt you." Luke said
gently, "I'm here to help. My name is Luke," he added, as he helped her to her
feet.
"I
am Selene," she responded. "Those men, they have been following me throughout
the galaxy. Thank you," she said, a small smile stretching across her face.
"Please,
come with me. Perhaps I can help." He offered her his hand, which she accepted.
Dodging angry looks from the bartender, they walked outside into the night.
Luke had a ship outside, and they boarded. He powered up the computers, and the
craft flew off into space.
"I
have a small place on Coruscant, if you would like to stay there a couple days.
It would be an honor," he added, taking notice of the disturbed look upon her
porcelain features.
"Yes,
thank you, sir."
"Please,
call me Luke. Now, why are those two after you?" he asked.
She
sighed heavily, twisting her hands in her lap and avoided his eyes.
"It
is my father," she said at last, finally bringing her ocean-blue eyes to Luke's
ice blue ones. He nodded sympathetically, motioning for her to continue. Selene
paused, as if finding the words was a difficult task.
"He
is the King those two creatures mentioned. He wishes for me to marry, and I have
no desire to," she paused, watching him closely. "I am a princess, and his only
daughter. To him, it is a princess's duty to marry and bear heirs, no matter
what she thinks." She spat bitterly, her expressive eyes glittering with
malice.
"I
took matters into my own hands and ran away. And I'm not going back," she said
firmly to Luke, who suppressed silent laughter. This woman had the same fiery
disposition and headstrong will of his sister, Leia. Perhaps it had to do with
being a princess.
"I
won't make you go back, Selene, but you seem out of touch with reality. Just
how many times have you been on your own?" asked Luke.
"Counting
this time? Once." She said sheepishly. Luke groaned inwardly. Just how many
times would he be responsible for a clueless princess?
From
there things moved on. Selene went to live for a few months with Luke on
Coruscant, where she met Leia and her husband, Han Solo. Leia understood her
situation perfectly, as only another princess could. They became quite good
friends. And as for her and Luke...
"Selene,"
he said one day, after months of living together, "I think I'm falling in love
with you." He watched the silver haired princess warmly, as she stared back, a
mixture of sadness and affection in her eyes. She bit her lip.
"I
love you too, Luke, but nothing can ever come of this." She said, sadness too
deep for Luke to bear in her voice.
"Why,
Selene?" disbelief marred his face. What was she saying?
"I
received a letter today, Luke. My father is going to war with Apollo's kingdom,
and it's over me." Tears coursed slowly down her face as she faced him.
"I can't be
responsible for a war, Luke. I must go back. Father was right, it is my duty."
Her tone was so sad it wrenched his heart as he watched her, the only woman he
had ever loved, slip away.
"I've
arranged for a ship to pick me up. It will be here in a few minutes. My things
are already packed. Good bye, Luke. I'm sorry," she said softly, as the tears
poured from her eyes. Luke realized that he, too, had tears in his eyes when
she reached up and gently brushed them away with soft fingertips. He clasped
her hand in his, kissed it, and watched her leave. Moments later the ship had
come, and she had left. Gone.
