I'm so happy. I love getting responses to my stories! Yeah! Well, the
last chapter you got a hint of Vader, but when will you see him next?
*sings* I'll never tell! *g*
~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~
Luke sat silently, hidden in the dark and foreboding shadows of the house, his knees pulled up to his chin. His thoughts were like a top spinning on a table. Thoughts flew around his head, all revolving around the *incident.* Why had he kill that creature? He really didn't mean to, but he just couldn't control his anger! He didn't even now *how* he did it. Luke leaned up against the building and fished the money pouch out of his pocket. Without thought, he threw it up and caught it deftly. Over and over he did this, never faltering or slowing down. Finally, the bag slipped and landed with a thump in the sand.
"Thump," that was the sound that the creature had made when he had slid down to the ground after his life had been ended "Thump," was the sound of the creature's last heartbeat...but, "thump" was also the sound of a fist punching him in the stomach! "Thump" was the sound his heart had made when the creature grabbed him.
Anger flooded through him once more.
Taking a deep, calming breath, Luke reached down and picked up the bag of money. He hadn't even looked in it yet. What would he do with the money? He couldn't give it to Aunt Beru, she would ask where it came from. Uncle Owen would do the same. Luke held the bag close to his face for a moment, analyzing it.
The fabric was a Tatooine fabric, commonly found in expensive clothing. There was a metal clip at the top that could be easily snapped open. The bag wasn't very heavy, but that didn't mean anything. Finally, Luke pried the bag open.
Inside was money, but how much, he couldn't tell. Luke was about to dump the contents onto his lap, but Aunt Beru called to him. "Luke, come on in. Dinner is ready!"
"Be right there!" he called back. He quickly ran down the stairs and to his room. He looked for a good hiding spot for the money. The only place he could find was under his pillow, at least for the moment. Luke slipped the bag under the pillow and walked to the kitchen.
The meal was uneventful, making Luke increasingly anxious to count the money. He was finally excused and nearly ran to his room. He had told his aunt that he was tired from the day's journey. She accepted the answer and let him go.
~ * ~ * ~
5,143 credits...all that money was in a little bag. But it was blood money, wasn't it? Blood money... he had *killed* for money! Well, the creature had died before he had even noticed the money. So it wasn't blood money. But he had killed the creature! That would never change. But how did he kill him?
All Luke remembered was the anger, the overwhelming anger. It had pounded through him like a sand storm, destroying all coherent thought. The anger had pushed through him and pushed the creature away. Pushed the creature away? Luke snorted at the ludicrous idea. How could an emotion do anything? Emotions aren't tangible; they have no physical properties. So, how did he do it?
Luke lay on his bed for a long time, trying to figure it out, but kept on in circles over and over again. He tossed the moneybag up and down, catching and tossing in an endless cycle. Luke was about to toss it up again, when a thought entered his mind. Once more, he questioned what he would do with the money. He couldn't give the money to his aunt and uncle, they would ask where it was from. He had a small account of his own that he kept his allowance in. He could just put it in there! The money could go towards the speeder! That was about two years worth of money right there! Two years!
Tomorrow, tomorrow he would go to Anchorhead to deposit the money. He would tell his aunt and uncle that he was looking for a job....a job...he wouldn't be a bounty or steal or anything bad like that, but there was more than one way to get money wasn't there?
Luke fell asleep on his bed with the moneybag still in his hand.
~ * ~ * ~
Luke sat in the old speeder, watching the commotion on the street. He had deposited the money and now had several hours before he had to go home. He watched Jawas walk around, droids repair things, humans buy and sell, aliens of all kinds walk in and out of bars and stores. But how was he going to get money? A small feeling had guided him over here, but what was he waiting for?
Luke was still staring out across the street when a hand tapped him on his left shoulder. "Hey, kid," a tinny voice said. Luke swung around in his seat. He was looking into the black eyes of an Imperial Stormtrooper helmet. Luke tried pushing the fear out of his voice before he replied.
"Yeah?" he responded in what he hoped was his most confident and mature voice.
"You are required by BL-224, subsection 63, to assist any Imperial officer," came the tinny speaker voice.
"And?"
"You are to guide us around the city, as we command," came the monotone reply. Luke hoped that BL-224 was the legislation he remembered from school, if not he probably was going to go to jail with what he was going to do.
"According to subsection 64 of the same bi-law, I'm to be compensated," said Luke, holding out his hand.
"You will be compensated fairly," came the reply. Luke let out a sigh of relief. His teacher would be proud that he had remembered his bi-laws. But, maybe he could get some more money out of this.
"What is considered 'fair?'" asked Luke smoothly.
"100 credits an hour." Luke was stunned by the amount, but tried to push it up just a little.
"125 an hour."
The Stormtrooper paused, as if analyzing the price, then curtly nodded. "Accepted. Now you shall lead us to any place we command." The Stormtrooper waved his battalion forward. Luke grinned inwardly at the money he was going to make.
~ * ~ * ~
Four months had passed since Luke had started leading Stormtroopers around Anchorhead. At first it was just the odd job, but soon he started getting a reputation as a reputable guide (he had doubled his price already). Luke discovered parts of Anchorhead he had never known existed. Sometimes he didn't know where a certain building was, but he let his feelings guide him. He had started to trust his feelings and was better off because of it. But his life wasn't perfect.
Luke mainly guided the 'Stormtroopers to business locations and left it at that, but sometimes...sometimes he would lead them somewhere and they would attack. They said it was a rebel location or a spice dealer, or something equally horrible. But the first time he saw someone die when a blaster shot hit him, he was nearly became sick. It reminded him of the *creature.* But he kept on working.
He made a little more money on the side. Luke took the money off of the dead when the 'Stormtroopers went on a "clean-up." At first, he felt horribly guilty, but then he remembered that they were the scum of the universe and better off dead, and the money was crooked anyway. That lessened the guilt. Sometimes he would get up to 5,000 credits, but that was rare. He had made about 125,000 credits already. A couple more months, then he could go and buy the SYG-2088.
But that wasn't all that had changed. His reputation as an Imperial helper had caused him trouble at school. A lot of people resented Imperial control, and anyone who was seen as working with them was treated as if they massacred families on a regular basis. Luke found it unnerving at first, but he soon learned to handle threats and attacks. At school he became more aggressive, often inciting fights, usually over money.
But today, today was a big day. Today he was supposed to lead a commander from a *Star Destroyer* through Anchorhead. He wasn't sure exactly what he was going to do, but he knew it would give him a lot of money.
~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~
Luke has become more money centered! What a bad omen! And a commander for a star destroyer will meet with him! Who will it be?
Thanks to all my reviewers! Hope I can fulfill any wishes dealing with the story!
~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~
Luke sat silently, hidden in the dark and foreboding shadows of the house, his knees pulled up to his chin. His thoughts were like a top spinning on a table. Thoughts flew around his head, all revolving around the *incident.* Why had he kill that creature? He really didn't mean to, but he just couldn't control his anger! He didn't even now *how* he did it. Luke leaned up against the building and fished the money pouch out of his pocket. Without thought, he threw it up and caught it deftly. Over and over he did this, never faltering or slowing down. Finally, the bag slipped and landed with a thump in the sand.
"Thump," that was the sound that the creature had made when he had slid down to the ground after his life had been ended "Thump," was the sound of the creature's last heartbeat...but, "thump" was also the sound of a fist punching him in the stomach! "Thump" was the sound his heart had made when the creature grabbed him.
Anger flooded through him once more.
Taking a deep, calming breath, Luke reached down and picked up the bag of money. He hadn't even looked in it yet. What would he do with the money? He couldn't give it to Aunt Beru, she would ask where it came from. Uncle Owen would do the same. Luke held the bag close to his face for a moment, analyzing it.
The fabric was a Tatooine fabric, commonly found in expensive clothing. There was a metal clip at the top that could be easily snapped open. The bag wasn't very heavy, but that didn't mean anything. Finally, Luke pried the bag open.
Inside was money, but how much, he couldn't tell. Luke was about to dump the contents onto his lap, but Aunt Beru called to him. "Luke, come on in. Dinner is ready!"
"Be right there!" he called back. He quickly ran down the stairs and to his room. He looked for a good hiding spot for the money. The only place he could find was under his pillow, at least for the moment. Luke slipped the bag under the pillow and walked to the kitchen.
The meal was uneventful, making Luke increasingly anxious to count the money. He was finally excused and nearly ran to his room. He had told his aunt that he was tired from the day's journey. She accepted the answer and let him go.
~ * ~ * ~
5,143 credits...all that money was in a little bag. But it was blood money, wasn't it? Blood money... he had *killed* for money! Well, the creature had died before he had even noticed the money. So it wasn't blood money. But he had killed the creature! That would never change. But how did he kill him?
All Luke remembered was the anger, the overwhelming anger. It had pounded through him like a sand storm, destroying all coherent thought. The anger had pushed through him and pushed the creature away. Pushed the creature away? Luke snorted at the ludicrous idea. How could an emotion do anything? Emotions aren't tangible; they have no physical properties. So, how did he do it?
Luke lay on his bed for a long time, trying to figure it out, but kept on in circles over and over again. He tossed the moneybag up and down, catching and tossing in an endless cycle. Luke was about to toss it up again, when a thought entered his mind. Once more, he questioned what he would do with the money. He couldn't give the money to his aunt and uncle, they would ask where it was from. He had a small account of his own that he kept his allowance in. He could just put it in there! The money could go towards the speeder! That was about two years worth of money right there! Two years!
Tomorrow, tomorrow he would go to Anchorhead to deposit the money. He would tell his aunt and uncle that he was looking for a job....a job...he wouldn't be a bounty or steal or anything bad like that, but there was more than one way to get money wasn't there?
Luke fell asleep on his bed with the moneybag still in his hand.
~ * ~ * ~
Luke sat in the old speeder, watching the commotion on the street. He had deposited the money and now had several hours before he had to go home. He watched Jawas walk around, droids repair things, humans buy and sell, aliens of all kinds walk in and out of bars and stores. But how was he going to get money? A small feeling had guided him over here, but what was he waiting for?
Luke was still staring out across the street when a hand tapped him on his left shoulder. "Hey, kid," a tinny voice said. Luke swung around in his seat. He was looking into the black eyes of an Imperial Stormtrooper helmet. Luke tried pushing the fear out of his voice before he replied.
"Yeah?" he responded in what he hoped was his most confident and mature voice.
"You are required by BL-224, subsection 63, to assist any Imperial officer," came the tinny speaker voice.
"And?"
"You are to guide us around the city, as we command," came the monotone reply. Luke hoped that BL-224 was the legislation he remembered from school, if not he probably was going to go to jail with what he was going to do.
"According to subsection 64 of the same bi-law, I'm to be compensated," said Luke, holding out his hand.
"You will be compensated fairly," came the reply. Luke let out a sigh of relief. His teacher would be proud that he had remembered his bi-laws. But, maybe he could get some more money out of this.
"What is considered 'fair?'" asked Luke smoothly.
"100 credits an hour." Luke was stunned by the amount, but tried to push it up just a little.
"125 an hour."
The Stormtrooper paused, as if analyzing the price, then curtly nodded. "Accepted. Now you shall lead us to any place we command." The Stormtrooper waved his battalion forward. Luke grinned inwardly at the money he was going to make.
~ * ~ * ~
Four months had passed since Luke had started leading Stormtroopers around Anchorhead. At first it was just the odd job, but soon he started getting a reputation as a reputable guide (he had doubled his price already). Luke discovered parts of Anchorhead he had never known existed. Sometimes he didn't know where a certain building was, but he let his feelings guide him. He had started to trust his feelings and was better off because of it. But his life wasn't perfect.
Luke mainly guided the 'Stormtroopers to business locations and left it at that, but sometimes...sometimes he would lead them somewhere and they would attack. They said it was a rebel location or a spice dealer, or something equally horrible. But the first time he saw someone die when a blaster shot hit him, he was nearly became sick. It reminded him of the *creature.* But he kept on working.
He made a little more money on the side. Luke took the money off of the dead when the 'Stormtroopers went on a "clean-up." At first, he felt horribly guilty, but then he remembered that they were the scum of the universe and better off dead, and the money was crooked anyway. That lessened the guilt. Sometimes he would get up to 5,000 credits, but that was rare. He had made about 125,000 credits already. A couple more months, then he could go and buy the SYG-2088.
But that wasn't all that had changed. His reputation as an Imperial helper had caused him trouble at school. A lot of people resented Imperial control, and anyone who was seen as working with them was treated as if they massacred families on a regular basis. Luke found it unnerving at first, but he soon learned to handle threats and attacks. At school he became more aggressive, often inciting fights, usually over money.
But today, today was a big day. Today he was supposed to lead a commander from a *Star Destroyer* through Anchorhead. He wasn't sure exactly what he was going to do, but he knew it would give him a lot of money.
~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~
Luke has become more money centered! What a bad omen! And a commander for a star destroyer will meet with him! Who will it be?
Thanks to all my reviewers! Hope I can fulfill any wishes dealing with the story!