A/N: Don't own SW.
"Luraia, I want you to return to Iego." Two weeks had passed since Leia and Shaye had gone swimming. "And take Shaye with you. I must remain here." Jed ordered his wife, taking out a couple of bags. "It's not safe here anymore."
"What?" Luraia gasped. "Are you serious?"
Jed nodded grimly. "That way, you won't be at risk there. The mysterious mountains of the fourth moon of Iego will protect you with their magical power."
"But what about Leia!" Luraia cried. "She should come too. She can be protected there-"
"No!" Jed spun around to face her. "That is not her destiny. She must stay here. I will stay as long as I can, for it is not my destiny either to stay here forever. I will come to Iego when my task is done." He said firmly and held her as she cried. "Everything will be fine."
Luraia sobbed. "I love you. I love Shaye. But I love Leia too and I can't leave her knowing Vader could find her!"
"I know." Jed whispered, feeling depressed as well. "It's the only way."
Luraia sniffed. "There must be some other way! There has to be! Oh Jed, what if she finds out that Vader is her father!"
"Ssh!" Jed looked around, hoping Leia or Shaye had not heard. "She will find out eventually but she doesn't have to right now!" He sighed. "Go say your good-byes. I have escorts waiting in the hanger for you and Shaye. You are leaving today. Go, I'll pack your things." Luraia left their apartment and Jed shook his head. "May the Force be with us all."
Luke sat at the dinner table. He had finished his chores late and was eating a late supper. Beru had gone to bed and Owen was outside, working on some machines.
Luke looked at an empty cup sitting on the counter. 'The Force...' He thought and decided to try and use it again. He closed his eyes and cleared his mind of all things. He pictured the cup and pushed it with his mind. He heard a sound and opened his eyes. The cup looked like it was still in the same position. 'I'll keep my eyes open this time.' He thought and tried to clear his mind again and pushed at the cup with a single thought. It moved! His eyes widened. He did it again. After about ten tries, the cup was now by the wall. 'Whew! With a little practice I can maybe move and lift other things!' He thought, beaming.
"Luke!" Owen had seen the last push. He went right up to Luke and banged on the tabletop again. "Don't EVER try that again!" He glared daggers at Luke.
"Why not?" Luke shot back.
Owen just shook his head and stormed out of the room. He had almost revealed the true reason why he did not want Luke to become a Jedi.
2 years pass
"Leia, I feel that you are ready to..." Bail paused, smiling. He was so proud of her. "I feel you are ready to join politics for real."
"For real? You mean, I can join the senate?" Seventeen year old Leia grinned despite herself. "I'm not old enough though." Her grin faded.
"I don't see why not. Your mother became Queen of Naboo at age fourteen. You are only a few years older than that. You've proven that you can handle political matters." Bail declared. "You will be accompanying me to Coruscant next week."
She smiled and left for her room. She entered and walked over to a holophoto that was by her dresser. It was picture of her mother. She smiled at her mother. "My dream has finally come true."
"Aunt Beru? I'm going over to Bigg's 'stead." Luke called as headed outside.
"Okay but be back before supper. Your uncle will probably be needing you." Beru called back. She was cleaning the kitchen.
"I will!" Luke dashed over to his landspeeder. The last time they talked, Biggs had mentioned the Boonta Eve annual podrace.
The wind was strong today so Luke put on some goggles to protect his eyes from the sand that was pelting his face. The wind whipped at his clothing and the sun, as usual, shone brightly as ever. Finally, he could see the Darklighter Homestead in the distance. It was a little fancier than the Lars Homestead but that didn't matter to Luke...much. He was slightly jealous of Biggs because he was allowed to go to places further than home and he was allowed to leave for the Imperial Academy next year. Luke, however, could not go.
He half wished there were still Jedi around. Then he could study and train in the ways of a Jedi and fulfill his dream of becoming just his father. Of course, with his new life, that would never happen.
Biggs was outside when Luke arrived. Obviously he had been expecting Luke. He was dressed in more formal clothes, a goatee and moustache already on his smiling face. "Hey Luke! You're just in time! Remember the Boonta Eve race I told you about? Well, it's today and I wanted you to come! So...want to come?" He chuckled.
'Do I want to come? OF COURSE I WANT TO COME!' Luke screamed in his mind. "Gee, I don't know Biggs. My Uncle will probably yell at me for coming home so late."
"It's early morning. We'll be back before supper. You always have to be back before supper!" Biggs shook his head. "I bet you're just hollowing for freedom!"
Luke grinned. "I am but yeah, I guess I'll go."
"Great! Leave your speeder here and we'll go in mine. I'll pay for any food we just may eat over there. Think of it as our last outing before I leave." Biggs and Luke walked over to Bigg's landspeeder.
"Oh yeah, you're leaving in six months." Luke murmured grimly. He would miss his friend. He wondered if he would ever find another friend as good as Biggs.
"I wish you could come." Biggs said sadly as they flew over the sandy terrain. "It's gonna be lonely there without you."
Luke nodded. "Here too but don't you worry! Someday I am going to leave this planet for good. I've got my whole life ahead of me!"
They reached Mos Espa and Biggs guided his speeder towards the parking area. "Come on, let's go find a good seat." The two jumped out of the vehicle and jogged over to the stands. Over half the seats were filled and Luke and Biggs just managed to get two spaces in the middle section in the second row. "This is a lucky find!"
"It sure is!" Luke glanced at his surroundings. So many humans and so many species of aliens. It seemed like the whole galaxy was there!
A particularly overweight alien sat down right next to Biggs. Luke hid his grin as Biggs winced at the terrible stench coming from the alien.
The fat alien spoke to the two boys as if they were old friends. "You know, I don't know why I bother coming to these races. There hasn't been a good one since the days of the Old Republic! Back when a young human boy raced against Sebulba. Now that was a good one!" He laughed, a peculiar rumble coming from his stomach.
"I see." Biggs said, trying to stifle his laugh. Luke almost burst out laughing.
The alien spoke to someone else while Luke leaned over to whisper in Bigg's ear. "He was friendly. Don't judge a guy by his smell!" He chuckled while Biggs playfully hit him in the shoulder and shook his head, grinning.
Soon the race was underway. A Dug named Hekula had gained the lead in such a familiar way...
"Who is that?" Luke heard Biggs ask the alien guy.
"Why that's Hekula, the son of Sebulba. He's been winning these races ever since his old man quit. Guess the memory of losing to that Skywalker boy still hangs on his head." Luke's ears perked at the mention of a Skywalker.
'He must mean my dad.' Luke thought as he and Biggs watched the race through a view screen.
One of the racers in the middle of the group was very skilled. He was an alien too but he was in danger of being sabotaged by Hekula if he got any closer. The pods raced through Jag Crag Gorge. One of the pods crashed after misjudging a turn and another was hit by the blast. Luke flinched as the crash filled the screen. It was the third lap now.
The screen switched to another section of the group. The front section. The skilled alien, known as Sheran, was closing the distance between Hekula. From the introductions, Hekula was representing Tatooine. No humans were in the race.
Hekula noticed this and increased his speed but not before releasing spare parts to pester Sheran. It was his first racer to cheat on. The others had just crashed from bad piloting.
'I can't let this happen.' Luke thought and tried to reach out with the Force. He had practiced secretly over the years and was getting quite good. If he could just move those objects...
He felt the Force flowing through him once again and he willed the objects to move and be cast aside. He knew it was successful when he heard the crowd cheer. He opened his eyes and looked at the view screen. Sheran was still on Hekula's trail and soon passed him, gaining speed as he did.
"AND SHERAN WINS THE RACE!" The announcer cried and there was a deafening roar of cheers.
Biggs cheered as well, standing up with the crowd. Luke grinned and clapped his hands loudly. It had felt good preventing someone from being killed. True, it was basically helping the guy win but Luke didn't care at the moment.
Luke arrived back at the Lars Homestead. He had made it about an hour before the usual evening mealtime. He ate, did some last minute chores and headed for bed. The race was probably the only excitement he would ever have. 'Another dull day tomorrow.' Luke thought sleepily.
