The Lost Ones Part 12

Tatooine.

Luke had expected to find the homestead in disarray. The last time he had seen it, the farm had been in smoldering ruins from the stormtrooper attack. He was shocked to see everything cleaned and repaired as he and Anakin slowly flew towards the place. It was almost as if the attack had never happened. There was even a landspeeder similar to his old one parked by the garage.

But upon second glance he could see that this landspeeder was new and its gleaming red color indicated that it spent more time parked in a garage than driving around a dusty moisture farm. There was only one family around Anchorhead who could afford to purchase the newest line of speeders for pleasure driving.

"Looks like someone else is here," Anakin remarked unnecessarily.

"The Darklighters," Luke agreed.

"Your friend's family?"

"Yes."

Anakin brought the Angel to a stop, wondering for the hundredth time if this visit were a good idea. It seemed to him that Luke was only going to be hurt further by seeing his childhood home. Anakin knew from his own experience that without the people one loved, a home was just a shell, and Luke's aunt and uncle were gone forever. Still, Luke had wanted to come and he certainly had that right. Anakin could only hope it wouldn't be too painful, or that Luke would at least accept comfort if it were.

They landed and Luke hurried down the ramp, calling, "Hello, is anyone here?"

Anakin followed more slowly. He saw a tall, slender man with iron-gray hair, tanned skin, and dark eyes come around the garage to greet them. From the way his eyes lit up and his broad grin, he obviously recognized Luke and was glad to see him.

"Luke! Is that really you?" he exclaimed, pulling Luke close in a rough embrace, then standing back to beam at him. "We wondered if you'd come back. It's so good to see you."

"You, too, Mr. Darklighter," Luke looked genuinely happy for the first time in days. He turned to Anakin. "I'd like to introduce my father, Anakin Skywalker. Father, this is Mr. Huff Darklighter. His son Biggs was my best friend when we were growing up."

He watched carefully as two older men shook hands. The fact that Anakin had once been Darth Vader, second-in-command of the Empire, was not a secret. Most people knew of it, and seeing as how Anakin had been so instrumental in bringing about peace for the galaxy, were willing to accept him. But the Darklighters' son had died fighting against the Empire Anakin had once represented, and Luke wasn't sure how his friend's father would react.

He underestimated them. Huff said quietly, "Welcome back to Tatooine, Master Skywalker."

"Thank you," Anakin hesitated. He wasn't sure if he should say anything about Biggs' death. He didn't know much. Luke had only said that Biggs had died in the Battle of Yavin. But he felt he had to say something. "I'm sorry your son isn't here with us."

Huff Darklighter's face grew sad. "Yes, Biggs was a wonderful boy. We miss him very much. But it was his dream for everyone in the galaxy to be able to live in peace. You are helping to make his dream a reality." He cleared his throat and said more cheerfully, "So what brings you back, Luke? Most people who leave don't choose to return."

"Father and I are on a mission, trying to locate some missing people. They may have been slaves for Jabba at one time," Luke answered.

"Any luck?"

"Maybe. It looks like Jabba sold them to a dealer. We're hoping some friends on Coruscant can give us more information," Luke looked around at the homestead. "I didn't expect to find this place all fixed up. What happened?"

Huff looked a little embarrassed. "Well, we heard about the raid, and a group of us from Anchorhead came out to see if we could help. Of course, we didn't find any trace of anyone, but we figured you must still be alive when we saw-" his eyes flicked over to the graveyard. Luke had buried his aunt and uncle next to his grandmother before heading back to join Ben that fateful day. Luke nodded his understanding, and Huff Darklighter went on, "So I sent some of my droids and workers out here to keep things going. I didn't think it was likely you'd come back, but I wanted you to have the farm if you did."

For a moment, Luke couldn't speak. He was moved beyond words by this kind gesture. Finally he was able to say, "Thank you." It was all he could manage, but Huff seemed to understand.

He nodded and said quickly, "I was just about to head back to Anchorhead. If you don't have any plans for dinner, I know the rest of the family would like to see you again, Luke, and to meet your father." He inclined his head at Anakin.

The two Jedi exchanged glances and then smiled at him. "We'd be happy to accept," Anakin told him.

"See you around six then," and Huff Darklighter climbed in his speeder and took off, leaving Luke and Anakin alone with their memories of the homestead.

Almost against their will, father and son both walked over to the tombstones. Luke went straight to Owen's and Beru's, while Anakin lingered at Shmi's. He had not been to this place in over twenty years, but as he knelt by her grave, he was sharply reminded of his last , and only , visit. The years faded away and he felt as bereft and heartbroken as he had right after Shmi's death.

//Hi, Mom. I still miss you.// Anakin reached out to run his fingers over the rough headstone. // What would you think of me now, if you were here? I know you would be disappointed, horrified, at some of the things I did. I hope you would still be able to love me. You have two beautiful grandchildren, did you know? Luke and Leia, they're everything I could never be. They're like Padme. And you. You'd love them so much. Everyone does. I hope, wherever you are, you can see them.//

A muffled sob brought him back to the present. He rose and quickly crossed the few steps to Luke. Wrapping his arms around his son, Anakin held him close. Luke leaned against him, and took a deep breath.

He had noticed the elaborate silk flowers on his aunt and uncle's graves as he had approached, and had known that the Darklighter family must have placed them there. Again he felt a wash of gratitude for these people who had proven themselves to be true friends. He wished he had thought to go to town and buy something of his own to leave Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, but perhaps he still could before they left.

While Anakin remained at Shmi's headstone, Luke knelt beside the Lars' .

//Uncle Owen, Aunt Beru. I'm sorry it took me so long to come back. If it weren't for the Darklighters, this place would be ruined and you worked too hard for me to just let it go. But it was so hard to think about this place. It was so hard to think about you. I wish I had been a better nephew. I know I was always complaining and wanting to leave. I really did love you, both of you , so much. I hope you know that. I miss you.//

A sob wrung its way past the lump in his throat, and then his father was kneeling beside him, hugging him close in comfort. Luke fought back tears. He didn't want to break down now. It would be too overwhelming for both of them. He knew his father had his own share of grief-stricken memories of this place, too. Owen and Beru had told him of Shmi's death, though they had omitted some of the details, probably considering it too grim for a child to know. He'd learned the full story from his father. Anakin would be finding it difficult to remember the past also. Luke patted his father's shoulder as he rose.

"I'm okay, Father. How about you?"

"I can handle it," Anakin replied quietly. He stood beside Luke and scanned the horizon. "So what do you want to do?"

"Just look around, I suppose."

They walked to the garage. As they entered, Luke thought about the countless hours he and Uncle Owen had spent working here on some piece of machinery or the other. His uncle had always seemed so gruff and cross, Luke had rarely felt certain of his affection, but now, he could see his uncle from a new perspective.

//He bought me the skyhopper for my birthday that time. He had to save the money for a full year. And he usually gave me first choice of chores, knowing that I'd pick the easier ones, like patrolling the fence line in the speeder.//

Luke wandered over to a counter and ran his hand over a toolbox there. //When I was little, I always tagged along after him, wanting to help, and he really spent time with me and showed me how to do things. It would have been easier on him, probably, to just send me off to play, but he never did.//

Absent-mindedly, Luke flipped the toolbox lid open and examined the tools. Clean and bright, they looked newer than the ones he and his uncle had used. As he flipped the lid down again, another memory suddenly surfaced. Once, when he'd been very young, Uncle Owen had accidently shut another toolbox lid on his fingers. Luke didn't remember the pain, but he did remember crying, and being fussed over. Aunt Beru had put some salve on his hand and bandaged it, and Uncle Owen-stern, undemonstrative Uncle Owen-had almost been in tears himself. He'd held Luke on his lap the rest of the afternoon. Perhaps because it was so unusual for him to show affection, that memory was very plain in Luke's mind.

He turned to see his father standing on the step, looking at the workbench as if fascinated by it. Luke's heart twisted in bitter sorrow. //My uncle never said he loved me, hardly ever showed any affection, yet he felt so bad about accidently hurting me a little bit that he cried. My father cut off my hand without even hesitating. Yes, he was on the dark side then, but he still knew what he was doing. How could he?//

Looking away, he quickly hurried to the door. "Father, are you ready to leave?"

Anakin took a deep breath and looked up, seemingly rather shaken himself. "What, son? Oh, yes, if you are."

They went back to the Angel and went to Anchorhead. They purchased some silk flowers for the graves, but neither wanted to return to the farm. Anakin suggested that they ask the Darklighters to take the arrangements out for them and Luke agreed. Then he told his father he was going to rest and retired to his room for the rest of the day.

Anakin started to go to him several times that afternoon. He didn't want Luke to be alone if he were unhappy and grieving for his lost family. But Luke was quiet and if he were resting, that was probably the best thing for him right now. Luke really needed some sleep so Anakin decided not to disturb him.

Seeing the Darklighter family that evening did help to raise their spirits. Luke enjoyed seeing Biggs' parents and hearing the latest news from around Anchorhead. Anakin enjoyed hearing about some of Luke's exploits as a child. Just as they were preparing to leave, Biggs' mother handed Luke a scrapbook.

"Here, honey, I want you to have this. I'm sure most of your old holos are gone."

Luke reached for the book and opening it, he caught his breath in amazement. Inside were some old pictures. They showed him and Biggs growing up. Sometimes their other friends were shown as well. Some were old formal school pictures, others were casual-showing them with Biggs' speeder bike, Luke's old pet eopie, just playing and having fun. Luke looked at her, speechless once again at the Darklighters' generosity.

She smiled at him, "When Huff told me you were here, I gathered up all the old pictures I could find with you in them and rushed out to have copies made. I knew you would like it."

Anakin held the scrapbook like a treasure. "Thank you, Mrs. Darklighter. I have longed to see Luke as a child. I can never thank you enough."

Back at the Angel, they looked at the scrapbook together. Anakin was enthralled, thrilled at the chance to see his son growing up. He couldn't judge Luke's mood. At times, the boy seemed happy and talkative, eager to share his memories, and then he would abruptly withdraw and grow silent. After this happened a couple of times, Anakin forced himself to set the scrapbook aside.

"Luke, do you really want to look at this now?" he asked softly. "You've been through a lot already today, what with going back to the farm and all."

Luke didn't respond for a moment, then he said, "I'm all right. Just a little tired. But I think I will go on to bed now. Good night, Father."

"Good night," Anakin reached over to hug him, but Luke had already jumped up from the sofa and hurried off to his room, almost as if he were avoiding contact. Anakin stared after him with a worried frown. He opened the book and looked down at the holograph of a smiling, little-boy Luke, no more than five years old.

"I know I've made so many mistakes, son," he whispered. "But please, don't shut me out. Let me help."

He wished he could somehow take away all of Luke's pain, have him be as happy and innocent as he'd been in that holograph, but he was afraid that was impossible. Luke had seen too much, learned too much, suffered too much to regain that childhood joy. And most of it, Anakin knew, was his own fault. He blinked back tears and shut the book. It had been a hard day for him, too. Seeing the homestead, remembering his mother and her death. He hadn't thought much about Owen and Beru, he realized guiltily. He had never known them well, scarcely at all, really, but they had raised his son, and he owed them a great debt of gratitude for that.

He swallowed hard and passed his hand over his eyes. He'd caused so much suffering and death. He could feel his guilt and anguish threatening to overcome him, and he tried to push it away. He couldn't change the past. It was better to concentrate on the present.

That reminded him that he had forgotten to check for messages when he and Luke had come in that evening. Sure enough, they'd missed a call from Coruscant. He looked at his chrono. It wouldn't be late on Coruscant. He called back.

Han answered. "Hey, Anakin. Leia's not here right now. We tried to reach you earlier."

"Yes, I was just returning your call. Have you been able to learn anything about Allyn Yewly?"

Han looked distinctly uncomfortable. "Well, yeah, as a matter of fact, Lando has heard of him before. He did some business with Yewly in the past."

When Han didn't continue, Anakin said, "Well?"

Han sighed. "Well, the last time Lando saw him was about a year ago. Yewly owned some gas mines. At Bespin."

Anakin's jaw dropped. "What did you say?" he whispered.

TBC