After three successive weeks of meditation, Ben had finally reached a conclusion. Several conclusions, really.

First, he was doing a rotten job of watching over Luke. He had been forbidden to enter the Lars homestead barely a month after his arrival on Tatooine. Certainly he had not anticipated the events leading to that unfortunate state of affairs, but he could see now that he should have. His reports to Padmé concerning Luke's well-being were sporadic precisely because they depended on chance sightings of the child in town. More to the point, even these few transmissions must leave Luke open to discovery. They could not, must not continue.

Second, his own attempts to avoid discovery were woefully inadequate -- laughable, really, if he'd had the spirit to laugh. It was not enough to change his name and live apart from others. Every demonstration of his Jedi abilities was an opportunity for someone who did not trust him to spread the word. Even those who found his skills useful (though he'd met no one here fitting that description) might be careless and tell someone less friendly. He must refrain from using the Force in any tangible manner. He must make it forgotten that he was or ever had been a Jedi.

Third, it struck him that this must be what the Force had been telling him all along. Such fear, such animosity, such continual rum luck as he had met with could not be natural. It must be a warning from the Force not to use his abilities. What a fool he had been not to see it sooner!

Early in the morning, as faint red light crept through his east windows, Ben composed a transmission to Padmé detailing his intentions. He spoke of his regret at ending their correspondence. He acknowledged the pain she must suffer at not receiving periodic updates of her son's welfare. He emphasized that it was in the best interest of his and Luke's safety, as well as her own and Leia's, that he no longer contact her.

Satisfied with the recording, Ben pressed the button that would scramble and transmit it to Dantooine. From there it would be rerouted to Bail Organa's palace on Alderaan and unscrambled by the twin of his own holo unit. The two units were designed to transmit only along this specified path to one another. Four years ago it seemed a safe system. Now Ben feared it was a foolish risk.

His task complete, he threw a blanket over the holo equipment and stepped outside for his morning exercise. It was still cool in the shadow of the hut's west wall. Ben reveled in the roughness of solid stone as he eased his way to the ground. He began with a series of stretches. His limbs protested loudly, creaking as though their joints were full of sand. Ben ignored them and spread his legs as far as they would go, an arm on each, his nose to the ground. He forced himself to disregard his environment.

When he looked up again, a tiny bright figure in white with a head of golden hair lit by the morning suns was looking at him uncertainly.

"Hello there," said Ben, concealing his surprise. There was no one else, not even a droid or a speeder, in sight. The boy must have walked here by himself. Amazing.

Guided by the Force, said a voice. Ben chose not to answer it.

Luke did not return the greeting.

"Will you come fix my Aunt Beru?" he asked.

"Fix her? Is she broken?" asked Ben.

Luke's lower lip began to tremble, and he broke into tears.

Ben rose from his stretched position and dusted himself off.

"You'd better come inside."

Ben ushered Luke indoors and into a chair. He refused refreshments but did accept Ben's proffered handkerchief. By and by the tears abated enough for Ben to gather that Beru was very ill, that Owen had taken the speeder on a four-day trip to the Darklighters, that Luke had walked by himself all the way to Ben's hut, and that he expected Ben to come home with him and make Beru well again.

When he was sure he had all the details, Ben pressed a mug of warm milk into Luke's hands and set about packing a pouch with what medical supplies he had on hand.

"What do you need those for?" Luke asked sleepily. "Can't you fix her without medicine?"

Ben said nothing, only spoke a silent prayer that the medicine would be enough.

His preparations complete, he scooped up an unprotesting Luke, whose head nodded against Ben's shoulder, and stepped out toward the Lars homestead.