Chapter Twenty-Six - Exile
They spent a week on Alderaan. Viceroy Organa insisted on keeping Ben and the children in his Residence while Kenobi's body continued to heal. Obi-Wan supposed he was right, but he fretted the whole time, worried that Darth Vader would descend on them at any moment and finish the job before the children were secure in their new families.
Ben remembered the first discussion with Salae Organa from the week before, when she'd learned that there was a second child. To her credit, she had wanted to adopt Luke, too, but Obi-Wan wouldn't have it. "The Force is strong in him, Mistress Organa. If Luke lives with such a prominent family, Darth Vader will become aware of him and slay him before he turns five," he'd said again. Viceroy Organa had accepted Ben's resignation with obvious regret. He also accepted a copy of Padmé's recordings for Leia and promised to follow Ben's advice that the droids' memories be erased.
Laurae had surprised Obi-Wan when she volunteered to stay with Leia, giving up her military career to become the princess' nanny. One of the reasons he'd chosen the young woman when he'd first come to Alderaan was her persistence and ambition. The military was the life's work Laurae had desired, and she was abandoning it. But Obi-Wan sensed her determination to stay with Leia, to smooth the little girl's transition into her new life. When she'd accepted the assignment almost three years before, Laurae couldn't have known that she'd grow to love the children. Now that they were her priority, her tenacious nature kept her close to the child whom she could serve best. It was with many tears that she bade Luke goodbye.
Three days later, the Jedi brought the ship out of hyperspace. Tattooine loomed large in the cockpit window. Obi-Wan breathed a sigh of relief; keeping an eye on the ship while minding the active child was draining his energy. And Tattooine was a long jump from Alderaan. While he was witnessing Leia's adoption ceremony, Obi-Wan decided that he and Luke would settle on this Force-forsaken world. If there was any planet in the entire galaxy that Vader was unlikely ever to return to, this was it.
For the third time in an hour, Obi-Wan sensed Luke's curiosity swelling...somewhere else. He eyed the empty chair next to him and thought, That boy is a born escape artist. He put the ship into orbit and limped out of the cockpit, convinced that the child was getting into another service conduit or circuit board. It didn't help that Luke was as fussy and anxious as he was curious. Obi-Wan supposed that was natural, considering that the boy was separated from his mother and sister for the first time in his life.
After a few inquiries from the traffic controllers in Mos Eisley, he found the Lars homestead. Obi-Wan landed the small ship just outside of the security fences and opened the ramp. The air was scorching; Obi-Wan was perspiring before he set foot on the ground. Force, I hate this planet. I never wanted to come here again. The engine noise had brought a young woman up from the underground dwelling. "Beru Whitesun?" he called.
She nodded nervously. "Beru Lars."
Obi-Wan bowed slightly. "My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi. I was a friend of Anakin Skywalker. May we come in?"
"Yes, of course," she said nervously.
Obi-Wan did not speak again until Owen arrived in the courtyard, and he was introduced to Anakin's stepbrother. Owen took one look at the child holding Obi-Wan's hand and scowled as they seated themselves around the table. Luke walked into the yard, exploring.
The farmer didn't waste words. "You trained Anakin?" Obi-Wan nodded. Owen looked out at the child, who was tasting the local dirt. "Who is that?"
"Anakin's son." Both of his hosts looked bewildered. "If a situation like the one he faced presents itself, an honorable Jedi chooses marriage or the Order. Anakin deceived us. When the marriage was found out, he faced expulsion from the Jedi." It was a gross oversimplification, but still true. From a certain point of view.
"Was to be? What happened?" asked Owen.
"He disappeared. Padmé and I had good reason to believe Anakin was dead." He paused, then added, "Unfortunately, the truth is much worse."
Beru was indignant as she remembered Owen's kind, sad stepbrother. "You would prefer him dead to –"
"He is a Sith Lord, Madam Lars. A dark Jedi. Anakin has taken the title of Darth Vader and is the Emperor's lieutenant." He perceived a horrified recognition from both Owen and Beru. They've heard of him already.
"Padmé is Luke's mother, isn't she?" asked Beru.
Obi-Wan felt ill. You knew you would have to say it one more time, Kenobi, just say it, and then you'll never have to again. "Padmé has died."
Beru's eyes closed. Sensing Owen's hesitation, he said, "You are the nearest relatives that Luke has. Anakin doesn't know that he has a son, and if you will take him, he'll be safe." He paused, contemplating how much more he should tell. "The boy is strong in the Force like his father, there's nothing that can be done about that. I must go into hiding to survive, because Anakin is wiping the Jedi out. If I keep Luke with me, we'll both be discovered." He could tell that Owen was capitulating, but Obi-Wan saw a lot of friction ahead between the farmer and the toddler. Pulling a disk out of his pocket, he added, "Padmé made these recordings for Luke." He placed it in Owen's hand.
"Where will you go, Master Kenobi?" Beru inquired.
"The Dune Sea, I think. I will be here if you or he should ever need me, but still far away enough that I won't attract attention. And Luke will need to be trained to use his abilities."
"No, he won't," Owen snapped. "Your training led Anakin to become what he is today. If you want us to take him, we'll have nothing to do with Jedi." He'd heard enough, and he wanted this visitor gone as soon as possible.
Obi-Wan nodded; he could tell that arguing would be futile.
He rose from the table with a heavy heart and walked into the open air. While he searched for the boy, he heard Owen and Beru arguing, then the sound of Padmé's disk being broken. Stupid, Obi-Wan thought. Take Luke's mother away from him, and he'll idealize his father all the more. And I'll have a lot of explaining to do. But he was only able to focus on one thing at a time, and saying goodbye had to be his priority for now.
He found Luke in a workroom and picked him up, then sat on a step and set the boy on his lap. What a wonderful child. Luke's hair flopped into his eyes, so like his father that Obi-Wan's breath caught in his throat. The Knight brushed Luke's hair back, wishing again that the boy was his son. He remembered the vision of his no-longer-possible family, but Obi-Wan had no right to keep the boy with him.
Calling upon the Force, Obi-Wan held the boy's face in his hands and looked into his eyes, willing Luke to listen and remember. "Your mother loved you. I love you. Be good and brave. Be patient and respectful. Be satisfied." That last one is going to be a real stretch, Obi-Wan mused. "They will take good care of you, Luke." He embraced Luke for the last time, shedding tears again for the boy, his mother, his sister, and for himself.
The Jedi got to his feet, still holding Luke, and walked into the courtyard. He kissed the child on the forehead twice and handed him to Beru.
Obi-Wan reached to his waist and unhooked a pouch from it. "This was Padmé's pension from her two terms as Queen of Naboo, and some money I sent to her for their support over the last few years. Please accept it to help compensate for the burden." He held it out, trembling.
Beru and Owen just looked at the pouch. "Please, I can't keep it," Obi-Wan murmured desperately. It was too heavy an encumbrance for him to bear, he would collapse under the weight of this little pouch if they did not accept it.
Beru's eyes softened, sympathetic. She understood that she would be doing him as much of a kindness as he was offering to them. Madam Lars reached out a rough, brown hand. Kenobi dropped the pouch, the chunk of credit coins rustling softly.
Obi-Wan limped up the stairs.
If only I had...
If only she was...
If only I'd been...
If only we...
echoed in each footstep. He glanced down as he came to a turn in the staircase. The boy's little face was wrinkled with worry. As Obi-Wan climbed out of sight, Luke began to whimper.
