Chapter XXXI - Nova-Con
As usual, Mr. Cage was late in starting Nova-Con. As usual, the crowd hissed and booed as he droned on and on in a windy opening speech about how marvelous it was that their beloved movies had turned out to be mostly factual. As usual, he received a standing ovation when he finished -- actually, because he finished.
Unusually, Stargeeks weren't the only ones in attendance. Rebel leaders and soldiers, Imperials who had pledged their loyalty to the Alliance, world leaders, and Star Wars celebrities were in attendance too. And instead of singing the United States national anthem, Liberty and her old band Cloning Luke performed "The Saga Begins" to everyone's intense amusement.
It was an amusing sight, Luke thought, to see so many odd personalities mixing. The British Prime Minister was requesting James Earl Jones' autograph. Two female scouttroopers were giggling as Fett used the U.S. President's back as a desk to sign a poster for Steve Sansweet. While Liberty's band played a vast variety of songs, fans danced and generally carried on. Some of the dancing couples were oddly paired -- John Williams and Mon Mothma, Ewan McGregor and Darcy, a Darth Vader impersonator and Trigger, an Aurra Sing wannabe and Luke Skywalker.
Brigham leaned over to whisper in Luke's ear. "Man, look at your dad! I'm sooooo envious!"
He looked to see him engaged in a slow dance with a woman who closely resembled his mother. "What do you mean?"
"That's Natalie Portman! You know how many men would bend over backwards to dance with her?"
"Oh, don't be so jealous, Brig," Emily told him. "She's not your type anyway. Heck, she isn't even Mormon."
"Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?" Brigham protested.
"Lusting in your heart, Brigham?" a familiar-looking Rebel pilot asked.
"Shut up, Ezekial!"
"Make me!"
Before the two could come to blows, Chewbacca happened on the scene. He took one look at Ezekial, grunted calmly, and picked him up. He shrieked in fear as the Wookie carried him away.
"Man, Chewie, I love you!" Brigham shouted after him.
Luke laughed.
Anakin approached at that moment, thanking Natalie profusely for the dance. She told him no problem, then went off to talk to Hayden Christiansen.
"There you are, Luke," he said, coming to stand beside him. "Mark Hamill told me he wanted a word with you."
"Well, where is he?"
He chuckled. "Playing Stratego with Trapper."
"Setting himself up for a fall, is he?"
Anakin's shoulders shook with his amused laughter. "Oh Luke, look at all these people. Who would have thought that we would affect a planet in such a way? Who would have thought that we had such a following? It still amazes me."
"The will of the Force is a funny thing," Luke replied.
His father nodded slowly. "Do you really think I'll make a good Jedi Master, Luke?"
"Of course. Why, are you having self-doubts?"
"Well, what apprentice is going to want to learn from a former Sith?"
"Maybe an Earth native," Luke quipped. "Seriously, Father, I don't think it's much of a problem. Because you've seen firsthand what harm the dark side can do, you have that much more power in deterring your students from it. And besides, now that news of your past has leaked to the galaxy at large, you're legendary as the last Jedi of the old Order. I've had over a dozen families contact me already, asking if their children are Jedi hopefuls and wanting you to train them. And only two of those families were from Area 51."
There was a crash as Mike, trying to execute a break dance maneuver, went flying into an action figure display.
"I remember what you said at the beginning of this ordeal," Luke said. "About how, as we grow up, we learn that what we saw as black and white is actually gray. Now I realize that the universe is as black and white as I first thought."
"Yes," Anakin replied. "I've seen that too. There are only two powers -- black and white. Only people and things are gray."
He reached out and took Luke's hand. "I'm very proud of you, my son, for becoming the young man I once wanted to be. Thank you for recognizing the conflict in this tired old man, even though he denied it. And thank you for giving me another chance."
"What else could I do? I loved you too much to let you fall deeper into darkness." He winked. "And as you say, Jedi are encouraged to love."
Anakin laughed. "From a certain point of view."
"And many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our point of view."
Their laughter drowned out Amethyst's shrieks and curses as she chased Cody past. The sandtrooper wannabe was laughing his head off as he continued to sing numbers from "The Sound of Music."
Break…
By the time the Millennium Falcon touched back down in its meadow, next to the Slave and the two starfighters, the Elite was pretty partied out. Nevertheless, they had no desire to go back to their homeworld. For that meant leaving their newfound friends, and with the current chaotic state of the galaxy, there was no guarantee that they would see any of them again -- except Anakin, of course.
"I'll tell you one thing, I'm glad I won't have to sign any more autographs," Han grumbled. "I had writer's cramp by morning of the second day."
"And I'll have to put up with autograph-seekers for the next four years three-hundred- sixty-two days," Anakin replied as he hefted a suitcase. "Perhaps the Jedi's sentence isn't as lenient as I first thought."
"Eh, it could have been worse," Jason pointed out. "At least you'll only have to deal with rabid Stargeeks and not rabid gundarks."
Anakin laughed.
"Want me to help you with that?" Conrad asked, grabbing one end of the suitcase.
"I'll manage it," he replied. "I need to preserve what dignity I have left."
"Dignity has no place with the Elite!" exclaimed Cody. "Boy, I'll tell ya, I thought the Sons of the Sith were gonna commit mass suicide when they realized it was the Alliance that came to Earth and not the Empire."
"They're either hoping the other shoe will drop soon or they're too buzzed to give a rip," Steve said as he helped Liberty wrestle her guitar case out of its compartment.
The Elite disembarked and congregated at the base of the loading ramp to say their goodbyes. Fett was the first to go, thanking Jason and Patrick and embracing Liz tenderly before heading for the Slave.
"Was that a kiss I saw you blow him?" teased Emily.
"Bite me," she snapped.
Anakin embraced first Leia, then Luke. "I'm so proud of you both. I'll miss you dearly. Your mother would have been very pleased with you both."
"We'll visit often," Leia promised.
Austin shook hands with Luke. "Been a real pleasure having you stay with us, Luke. You take care."
Trapper hugged Luke. "I'll miss you!"
"I'll miss you too, Mini-V," Luke replied.
Trapper pressed something into his hand. "I want you to keep this."
"Your Battle Action Reek? I can't take this..."
"Please? To remember me by?"
He smiled and ran a hand over the plastic creature's back. "Thanks. I don't need it to remember you, but I'll give it a place of honor."
"Many thanks, Mr. Solo," Sparky told Han. "I enjoyed the ride in your ship's cockpit immensely. Thank you for helping me live my dream."
"Look into a career in the freighting service sometime," Han suggested. "You don't need your feet to drive a starship."
"I'll think about it," Sparky replied.
"We'll miss you!" Jason exclaimed, slapping Han and Chewie on the shoulders.
"Very much," added Patrick. "Chewie, take care of this yahoo for us."
Artoo crooned sadly as Steve patted his dome.
"Yeah, I'll miss you too," Steve replied. "Watch over Threepio, okay? He's gonna need all the help he can get."
Artoo gave his version of a laugh. Threepio, who had been left behind during the assault on the Executor, had been discovered by hikers in the White Deer National Forest just the day before. He was now sporting several new dents courtesy of a mountain lion and more paranoid than ever, if such were possible.
"I don't want you to go!" screamed Rachel, throwing her arms around Leia's legs. "You guys are the best thing that's ever happened to me!"
"Hey, honey," Leia said gently, pulling the girl's arms apart. "We'll be back. I promise. Goodbyes aren't forever."
"We want to thank you for saving her," Conrad said gratefully. "It means much more than you can know."
"And Luke," Diana added, "if you want her to be your apprentice, we wouldn't object so long as she could visit."
"I had hoped to make it so Padawans could maintain regular contact with their family," Luke replied. "Give me a few months to prepare a training center, then we'll see to her training."
Zack blew his nose on a corner of his Count Dooku robes. "This has been a Stargeek's paradise, man!" he sobbed. "Come back next year, won't ya?"
"Wouldn't miss it," replied Han, rolling his eyes.
Liberty stepped forward and placed a silver medallion around Luke's neck.
"Remember at the beginning of the summer, when you inquired about your Zodiac sign? Well, I figured it out. You and your sister, by some twist of fate, were born under the star sign of Gemini, the Twins." She chuckled. "Your father is Leo, the Lion, in case you were wondering, and your mother Capricorn, the Sea-Goat."
Austin noisily suppressed a sarcastic laugh, and Emily socked him.
"May the Force be with you," Liberty said, bowing.
"Bye all," murmured Liz before turning up her "Santana" CD and zoning out.
"Typical," grunted Amethyst. "Well, Leia, its been a real treat playing hostess to you. Hope to see you again soon."
"Come back soon, y'all hear?" Emily ordered.
"Thanks for everything, man!" Cody cried, nearly knocking Han over with an enthusiastic hug.
"Be sure to write," Darcy said. "Or call, or whatever it is you do out there. I guess you could use the Holonet, but we don't have that, so maybe you could e-mail us, but then, you don't have that do you? Droid-courier works, it worked with Kenobi, but whatever you think is best..."
"Darcy, shut up!" Brigham ordered.
Mike made his way up the ramp to say goodbye, but he slipped and fell off the side. Han jumped down to make sure he was okay, and once it was certain he'd taken no hurt everyone shared a laugh.
"Bye," Mike said sheepishly, waving before rejoining the crowd.
Luke nodded to the Elite. "I promise you we'll be back. And I also promise you that, from this day forward, Earth will not be ignored by the rest of the galaxy. The Republic will be enriched by Earth's many cultures, and Earth will benefit greatly from our technology. Perhaps those benefits won't be felt by you yet, but they will greatly influence future generations. Your children will reap tomorrow what you sow today."
"Beautiful," murmured Austin. "You're already a Jedi philosopher, Luke."
Brigham's voice, a clear sweet baritone, floated through the air, bidding their friends farewell through song.
"'God be with you 'til we meet again, by his counsel's guide uphold you, with his sheep securely fold you, God be with you 'til we meet again...'"
Luke blinked back tears and swallowed the lump in his throat, then turned and boarded the Falcon before he could get too weepy. With a hiss of hydraulics the ramp lifted. Finally, the freighter rose and began to arc skyward, drawing the X-wing up with its tractor beam and carrying it beneath its belly as it departed.
On the ground, Rachel wriggled out of her mother's grasp and ran after the ship, Trapper close behind.
As Han brought the ship around to make the ascent out of the atmosphere, those aboard could see the two children standing atop a small hill, arms waving and mouths open as they hollered goodbye. Anakin climbed up to stand with them, and he, too, raised a hand in farewell.
/Your children will reap tomorrow what you sow today./
That was so true -- in more ways than one.
"Thanks, Father," Luke murmured. "For everything."