Sandstorm Part 3
Early the next morning, the family gathered at the end of a landing platform to say their good-byes. Artoo beeped sadly and Threepio fretted and predicted dire troubles as they all hugged and shook hands.
"Be careful," Leia said quietly as she embraced her twin.
Luke returned her hug. "Leia, you've said that at least three times already. We will be. Don't worry."
It's just that from what I've heard, the Tusken Raiders sound very dangerous," she stared at him intently. "I don't want anything to happen to my family."
"Well, me, either," Luke agreed. Then he sobered. "Leia, we know that there is some danger in the situation." He gestured towards his father and guardians a short distance away. "We all come from Tatooine, you know. But I do think that Father and I can handle it. At least, I think we can protect ourselves. I'm not sure that we can convince the sandpeople and the settlers to get along. There are a lot of strong feelings on both sides."
"And personal feelings," Leia added softly, glancing over at Anakin.
Luke followed her gaze. "It'll be hard for Father," he agreed, "But he can handle it."
"Just don't underestimate the danger, all right?" Leia turned back to her brother.
"All right," Luke paused and then asked, "You know, you seem especially anxious. Have you had any premonitions or anything about our mission? Like I did when our family crest was destroyed?"
Leia shook her head. "No, I guess I just know that it's a bad situation, and I'm turning into a worrywart in my old age."
"Hey," he gave her a mock indignant look. "You're not that old, little sister."
She lightly punched him in the arm. "You're the younger one, remember."
"We don't know that," Luke protested. "Ben didn't tell me which one of us was older."
"Well, next time you see him, why don't you ask?" Leia smiled, kissed his cheek, and went to bid Anakin farewell as Han came over to sling an arm around Luke's neck.
"Take care of yourself, kid. I don't want to have to go back to that dustball to rescue you this time."
"Last time we were on that dustball, I was rescuing you, if memory serves correctly," Luke pointed out. Then he clapped his brother-in-law on the back and said, "But I'll be careful. See you, Han. Tell Lando we said good-bye. And Chewie, too, when he gets back here."
Leia hugged Beru and Owen. "It was wonderful to have the chance to meet you. I'm so glad that you're part of the family now."
Beru hugged her back. "And I'm so glad that Luke found you and Han. It makes me feel a little better about the time we were apart to know that he had you. You're a special person, Leia, and I hope we'll see you again soon."
Owen looked a little surprised when Leia embraced him, but then he gave her a quick hug back and said gruffly, "Thank you. You've done a lot for Beru and me, to make us feel welcome, and well, I appreciate it."
They all stepped apart, gazed at one another for an instant, and then Luke, Anakin, Beru, and Owen headed up the Angel's ramp. As the Naboo ship lifted into the air, Leia sighed and said softly, "Well, I guess we won't see them again for a while."
Han kissed her. "You've always got me, sweetheart."
Leia squeezed his hand. "I know."
Space travel to and from Coruscant was always heavy, and it took almost an hour for the Naboo Angel to be cleared for hyperspace. Luke used the time to contact the padawans and let them know that their vacation had been extended. Anakin had to stay at the controls of the ship, and Owen and Beru couldn't resist sitting in the cockpit with him, in spite of their mixed emotions. Space travel was still new and amazing to them. They weren't exactly comfortable with it, but they wanted to see the stars and the other vessels while they had the chance.
"Look at that one, Owen," Beru murmured, pointing at a small patrol ship that slipped in and out among the traffic lanes as if it were dancing.
Owen looked, nodded, and then turned a rapt expression towards the stars. "They seem so much closer out here."
"Have you ever seen space before?" Anakin asked rather awkwardly after a few moments' silence. He wanted to be able to have a conversation, to continue to build their relationship, but so many times he just didn't know what to say to them.
"No," Beru replied. "The other times we traveled we were on large ships and we never had a view outside."
Realizing that the other times they would have traveled in space would have been when they were taken to the Imperial prison camp and then freed from it four years later, Anakin glanced down at his hands in shame. "I'm sorry. About the prison camp, and about your losing your home."
There was a long silence. When the Lars didn't respond, Anakin added, almost in a whisper. "I'm sorry for everything."
"Well, maybe that just isn't good enough," Owen said harshly. "Saying you're sorry won't give us those years back. It won't give Luke a new hand. It won't do a thing for any of the people who've been killed or had their lives ruined because of your mistakes. Sure you're sorry, but what use is that?"
He abruptly stood and left the cockpit, leaving Beru and Anakin alone with one another. Anakin bowed his head, and Beru regarded him quietly for a few minutes.
She had such conflicting emotions about this man. She wasn't a vengeful person, but when she looked at her nephew's right hand, when she thought about how their little family had been ripped apart, and when she remembered the other inmates at the prison (most of whom had been imprisoned unfairly), she couldn't help feeling great anger.
And yet, it was hard to reconcile the anger and the image of the imposing Darth Vader who had caused all that harm with this gentle and remorseful man beside her. She had heard the story of his redemption from Luke and she had carefully watched father and son when they were together. Granted, she hadn't seen them together all that much. Luke had stayed with her and Owen most of the time on Coruscant while Anakin had kept away.
That in itself spoke of a consideration for her and Owen's feelings-that Anakin had been willing to move out of his own apartment and not force his presence on them because he knew they were uncomfortable around him.
And when he and Luke were around each other, there was no denying the bond between them. They hugged, laughed, joked with, and comforted one another. Beru could see infinite love in Anakin's eyes whenever he looked at either of his children, and she could see the joy and contentment in Luke's. She wasn't sure she understood how her nephew could accept the father who had once hurt him so dreadfully and had nearly let him die before saving him, but she had to admit that they belonged together.
Now she cleared her throat and said gently, "It's hard for Owen. He's always wanted to protect me and Luke. To keep anything bad from ever happening to us, and he feels that he let us down. I know Owen has a tough exterior, but really he feels things very deeply. He's upset and angry now, but it's only because he cares for us so much. He's actually a wonderful person."
She stood and left the cockpit without waiting for a response.
The next three days passed rather uneventfully. Owen and Anakin avoided one another as much as possible, and didn't speak when they were forced to be together. Beru spent a lot of time with Owen, while Luke alternated between them and Anakin.
They watched the holonet, played card games, and the two Jedi discussed the mission and what their first actions should be once they reached Tatooine. They decided in land in Mos Eisley. Mos Espaa was the capital city, but there were also New Republic officials in Mos Eisley and it was closer to the worst fighting. They would try to arrange a cease-fire and get the settlers and the Tuskens to appoint represenatives, then meet and negotiate a peace treaty.
"I have my doubts about anyone agreeing to a peace treaty, though," Anakin remarked dourly.
Luke sighed. "What else can we do?"
"Oh, we have to try to get them to agree to live together," his father answered. "But just be ready for it all to explode at any second, too." It was on the third day, as they were approaching their home planet that the tension between Anakin and Owen erupted again as well. They had set a course for Mos Eisley when the moisture farmer asked if they could drop him and Beru off at the homestead first.
"Although if you're in a hurry to get started on your mission, I suppose Beru and I could hire a driver to take us out, or maybe buy our own speeder. That might be a better idea now that I think about it," he remarked.
Luke glanced at him and said slowly, "I'm not sure you should go to the farm right away, Uncle Owen."
"Why not? You said Huff Darklighter had it all fixed up again, didn't you? It's liveable again, right?" Owen asked.
"Well, yes, but..." Luke began.
"I think Luke's concerned about you and Beru being alone in an area where there's been a lot of fighting. If the sandpeople attacked the farm and the two of you were alone, well, it could get ugly," Anakin said.
"I've kept sandpeople off the farm plenty of times before," the other man snapped. "And I can do it again. I'm not a bad fighter. Not in your league, of course," his voice dripped sarcasm. "But I can take care of myself and Beru."
Anakin started to snap back, to point out that Owen hadn't always been able to defend himself and his family, but then he took a deep breath and said quietly. "This time may be different, Owen. I think the battles with the Tusken Raiders are more than just skirmishes. Feelings are running high on both sides, and if the Tuskens really want to attack the farm, they will."
He couldn't resist adding, "And they have come onto the farm before. My mother wouldn't have been kidnapped if they hadn't."
He hadn't really meant it as a personal affront. He was just trying to make Owen see that he wouldn't be a match for a determined group of Raiders. But Owen seemed to take the comment as an insult to his capabilities and completely lost his temper.
"And you, with your mighty Jedi skills, could have stopped it. Is that what you're saying? Well, you didn't save her either, and if you think you could have, why didn't you come in time to do some good? At least we went after her right away. You didn't show up for a month."
Anakin hadn't felt such an overwhelming rage since he'd been on the dark side. He would never know how he kept from striking Owen Lars in that instant. But then he saw his son's face, full of hurt and concern, and somehow he managed to restrain himself.
He spun on his heel and stalked out of the lounge to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. Luke found him standing just inside the doorway, shaking with fury and grief, a few minutes later.
Wordlessly, Luke placed his arms around his father and simply held him for a while until finally Anakin calmed down. Then he returned the embrace, holding his son close and taking deep breaths.
"Luke, I-, I nearly lost control out there," he whispered, half in shame, half in horror.
"But you didn't," Luke reassured him. "You knew you were losing control and you walked away. And I love my uncle, but he was wrong to say that. Anyone would have lost their temper then. I would have, too, if I were you."
They stepped apart and Anakin went to sit on a small sofa at the foot of the bed. He buried his face in his hands and said, "But he's right. I knew Mom was suffering, and I waited a month to go to her. If I'd gone right away, I could have saved her."
Luke went to sit beside him. "It's impossible to know what would have happened, Father. And you didn't know for sure that she was suffering. All you knew was that you were having nightmares. You know that Jedi sometimes have visions of possible futures, but it's hard to know when we should act, or when it's best to do nothing, or when it's not a real vision, but just a dream. Even Ben thought your nightmares were just dreams. It's not your fault."
Anakin looked up and gave him a weak smile. "You're too kind, son, but thank you."
"Actually, I wanted to thank you," Luke took his hand. "I know Uncle Owen was out of line, and I know how upset you were. Thank you for not fighting with him. I love all of you, and I just wish we could all get along."
His father sighed. "I know, Luke, and I wish we could, too, but I just don't know that we're ever going to be able to."
Luke placed an arm around him and gave him a quick one-armed hug. "Well, thanks for trying." He stood up, saying, "I better go back up front. The ship can't land herself."
Anakin nodded. "If you don't mind, I think I'll let you handle it yourself this time. I need a few minutes to collect myself."
Luke nodded and sent him a wave of love and gratitude through their link.
Anakin returned it wholeheartedly and added, "But call me when we land."
"I will."
Luke left and Anakin closed his eyes and tried to center himself. The mission was about to begin and he didn't need to be torn with unresolved feelings about the past. It was going to be hard enough without that.
Early the next morning, the family gathered at the end of a landing platform to say their good-byes. Artoo beeped sadly and Threepio fretted and predicted dire troubles as they all hugged and shook hands.
"Be careful," Leia said quietly as she embraced her twin.
Luke returned her hug. "Leia, you've said that at least three times already. We will be. Don't worry."
It's just that from what I've heard, the Tusken Raiders sound very dangerous," she stared at him intently. "I don't want anything to happen to my family."
"Well, me, either," Luke agreed. Then he sobered. "Leia, we know that there is some danger in the situation." He gestured towards his father and guardians a short distance away. "We all come from Tatooine, you know. But I do think that Father and I can handle it. At least, I think we can protect ourselves. I'm not sure that we can convince the sandpeople and the settlers to get along. There are a lot of strong feelings on both sides."
"And personal feelings," Leia added softly, glancing over at Anakin.
Luke followed her gaze. "It'll be hard for Father," he agreed, "But he can handle it."
"Just don't underestimate the danger, all right?" Leia turned back to her brother.
"All right," Luke paused and then asked, "You know, you seem especially anxious. Have you had any premonitions or anything about our mission? Like I did when our family crest was destroyed?"
Leia shook her head. "No, I guess I just know that it's a bad situation, and I'm turning into a worrywart in my old age."
"Hey," he gave her a mock indignant look. "You're not that old, little sister."
She lightly punched him in the arm. "You're the younger one, remember."
"We don't know that," Luke protested. "Ben didn't tell me which one of us was older."
"Well, next time you see him, why don't you ask?" Leia smiled, kissed his cheek, and went to bid Anakin farewell as Han came over to sling an arm around Luke's neck.
"Take care of yourself, kid. I don't want to have to go back to that dustball to rescue you this time."
"Last time we were on that dustball, I was rescuing you, if memory serves correctly," Luke pointed out. Then he clapped his brother-in-law on the back and said, "But I'll be careful. See you, Han. Tell Lando we said good-bye. And Chewie, too, when he gets back here."
Leia hugged Beru and Owen. "It was wonderful to have the chance to meet you. I'm so glad that you're part of the family now."
Beru hugged her back. "And I'm so glad that Luke found you and Han. It makes me feel a little better about the time we were apart to know that he had you. You're a special person, Leia, and I hope we'll see you again soon."
Owen looked a little surprised when Leia embraced him, but then he gave her a quick hug back and said gruffly, "Thank you. You've done a lot for Beru and me, to make us feel welcome, and well, I appreciate it."
They all stepped apart, gazed at one another for an instant, and then Luke, Anakin, Beru, and Owen headed up the Angel's ramp. As the Naboo ship lifted into the air, Leia sighed and said softly, "Well, I guess we won't see them again for a while."
Han kissed her. "You've always got me, sweetheart."
Leia squeezed his hand. "I know."
Space travel to and from Coruscant was always heavy, and it took almost an hour for the Naboo Angel to be cleared for hyperspace. Luke used the time to contact the padawans and let them know that their vacation had been extended. Anakin had to stay at the controls of the ship, and Owen and Beru couldn't resist sitting in the cockpit with him, in spite of their mixed emotions. Space travel was still new and amazing to them. They weren't exactly comfortable with it, but they wanted to see the stars and the other vessels while they had the chance.
"Look at that one, Owen," Beru murmured, pointing at a small patrol ship that slipped in and out among the traffic lanes as if it were dancing.
Owen looked, nodded, and then turned a rapt expression towards the stars. "They seem so much closer out here."
"Have you ever seen space before?" Anakin asked rather awkwardly after a few moments' silence. He wanted to be able to have a conversation, to continue to build their relationship, but so many times he just didn't know what to say to them.
"No," Beru replied. "The other times we traveled we were on large ships and we never had a view outside."
Realizing that the other times they would have traveled in space would have been when they were taken to the Imperial prison camp and then freed from it four years later, Anakin glanced down at his hands in shame. "I'm sorry. About the prison camp, and about your losing your home."
There was a long silence. When the Lars didn't respond, Anakin added, almost in a whisper. "I'm sorry for everything."
"Well, maybe that just isn't good enough," Owen said harshly. "Saying you're sorry won't give us those years back. It won't give Luke a new hand. It won't do a thing for any of the people who've been killed or had their lives ruined because of your mistakes. Sure you're sorry, but what use is that?"
He abruptly stood and left the cockpit, leaving Beru and Anakin alone with one another. Anakin bowed his head, and Beru regarded him quietly for a few minutes.
She had such conflicting emotions about this man. She wasn't a vengeful person, but when she looked at her nephew's right hand, when she thought about how their little family had been ripped apart, and when she remembered the other inmates at the prison (most of whom had been imprisoned unfairly), she couldn't help feeling great anger.
And yet, it was hard to reconcile the anger and the image of the imposing Darth Vader who had caused all that harm with this gentle and remorseful man beside her. She had heard the story of his redemption from Luke and she had carefully watched father and son when they were together. Granted, she hadn't seen them together all that much. Luke had stayed with her and Owen most of the time on Coruscant while Anakin had kept away.
That in itself spoke of a consideration for her and Owen's feelings-that Anakin had been willing to move out of his own apartment and not force his presence on them because he knew they were uncomfortable around him.
And when he and Luke were around each other, there was no denying the bond between them. They hugged, laughed, joked with, and comforted one another. Beru could see infinite love in Anakin's eyes whenever he looked at either of his children, and she could see the joy and contentment in Luke's. She wasn't sure she understood how her nephew could accept the father who had once hurt him so dreadfully and had nearly let him die before saving him, but she had to admit that they belonged together.
Now she cleared her throat and said gently, "It's hard for Owen. He's always wanted to protect me and Luke. To keep anything bad from ever happening to us, and he feels that he let us down. I know Owen has a tough exterior, but really he feels things very deeply. He's upset and angry now, but it's only because he cares for us so much. He's actually a wonderful person."
She stood and left the cockpit without waiting for a response.
The next three days passed rather uneventfully. Owen and Anakin avoided one another as much as possible, and didn't speak when they were forced to be together. Beru spent a lot of time with Owen, while Luke alternated between them and Anakin.
They watched the holonet, played card games, and the two Jedi discussed the mission and what their first actions should be once they reached Tatooine. They decided in land in Mos Eisley. Mos Espaa was the capital city, but there were also New Republic officials in Mos Eisley and it was closer to the worst fighting. They would try to arrange a cease-fire and get the settlers and the Tuskens to appoint represenatives, then meet and negotiate a peace treaty.
"I have my doubts about anyone agreeing to a peace treaty, though," Anakin remarked dourly.
Luke sighed. "What else can we do?"
"Oh, we have to try to get them to agree to live together," his father answered. "But just be ready for it all to explode at any second, too." It was on the third day, as they were approaching their home planet that the tension between Anakin and Owen erupted again as well. They had set a course for Mos Eisley when the moisture farmer asked if they could drop him and Beru off at the homestead first.
"Although if you're in a hurry to get started on your mission, I suppose Beru and I could hire a driver to take us out, or maybe buy our own speeder. That might be a better idea now that I think about it," he remarked.
Luke glanced at him and said slowly, "I'm not sure you should go to the farm right away, Uncle Owen."
"Why not? You said Huff Darklighter had it all fixed up again, didn't you? It's liveable again, right?" Owen asked.
"Well, yes, but..." Luke began.
"I think Luke's concerned about you and Beru being alone in an area where there's been a lot of fighting. If the sandpeople attacked the farm and the two of you were alone, well, it could get ugly," Anakin said.
"I've kept sandpeople off the farm plenty of times before," the other man snapped. "And I can do it again. I'm not a bad fighter. Not in your league, of course," his voice dripped sarcasm. "But I can take care of myself and Beru."
Anakin started to snap back, to point out that Owen hadn't always been able to defend himself and his family, but then he took a deep breath and said quietly. "This time may be different, Owen. I think the battles with the Tusken Raiders are more than just skirmishes. Feelings are running high on both sides, and if the Tuskens really want to attack the farm, they will."
He couldn't resist adding, "And they have come onto the farm before. My mother wouldn't have been kidnapped if they hadn't."
He hadn't really meant it as a personal affront. He was just trying to make Owen see that he wouldn't be a match for a determined group of Raiders. But Owen seemed to take the comment as an insult to his capabilities and completely lost his temper.
"And you, with your mighty Jedi skills, could have stopped it. Is that what you're saying? Well, you didn't save her either, and if you think you could have, why didn't you come in time to do some good? At least we went after her right away. You didn't show up for a month."
Anakin hadn't felt such an overwhelming rage since he'd been on the dark side. He would never know how he kept from striking Owen Lars in that instant. But then he saw his son's face, full of hurt and concern, and somehow he managed to restrain himself.
He spun on his heel and stalked out of the lounge to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. Luke found him standing just inside the doorway, shaking with fury and grief, a few minutes later.
Wordlessly, Luke placed his arms around his father and simply held him for a while until finally Anakin calmed down. Then he returned the embrace, holding his son close and taking deep breaths.
"Luke, I-, I nearly lost control out there," he whispered, half in shame, half in horror.
"But you didn't," Luke reassured him. "You knew you were losing control and you walked away. And I love my uncle, but he was wrong to say that. Anyone would have lost their temper then. I would have, too, if I were you."
They stepped apart and Anakin went to sit on a small sofa at the foot of the bed. He buried his face in his hands and said, "But he's right. I knew Mom was suffering, and I waited a month to go to her. If I'd gone right away, I could have saved her."
Luke went to sit beside him. "It's impossible to know what would have happened, Father. And you didn't know for sure that she was suffering. All you knew was that you were having nightmares. You know that Jedi sometimes have visions of possible futures, but it's hard to know when we should act, or when it's best to do nothing, or when it's not a real vision, but just a dream. Even Ben thought your nightmares were just dreams. It's not your fault."
Anakin looked up and gave him a weak smile. "You're too kind, son, but thank you."
"Actually, I wanted to thank you," Luke took his hand. "I know Uncle Owen was out of line, and I know how upset you were. Thank you for not fighting with him. I love all of you, and I just wish we could all get along."
His father sighed. "I know, Luke, and I wish we could, too, but I just don't know that we're ever going to be able to."
Luke placed an arm around him and gave him a quick one-armed hug. "Well, thanks for trying." He stood up, saying, "I better go back up front. The ship can't land herself."
Anakin nodded. "If you don't mind, I think I'll let you handle it yourself this time. I need a few minutes to collect myself."
Luke nodded and sent him a wave of love and gratitude through their link.
Anakin returned it wholeheartedly and added, "But call me when we land."
"I will."
Luke left and Anakin closed his eyes and tried to center himself. The mission was about to begin and he didn't need to be torn with unresolved feelings about the past. It was going to be hard enough without that.