After a particularly hard day of working on moisture evaporators, Luke Skywalker went outside as the suns of Tatto I and Tatto II began to set. He didn't know why he felt the need to always argue with his Uncle Owen, he truly hated being here. He hated the sand, the chores, and the boring life. He felt that he was meant to do more, other than fixing things and flying his T-16 in Beggar's Canyon. He loved the speed and the freedom; he wanted so desperately to be a pilot like his father. That was another thing, why couldn't Uncle Owen talk about his father? Why did he sense such animosity pouring over him whenever Anakin was brought up in conversation? Uncle Owen had told him that he was navigator before he died. How many times did Luke wish he could have known him or wonder what he looked like? Aunt Beru was a little more forthcoming, she told him that he was tall, handsome, and had the darkest blue eyes she had ever seen. She even told him about his grandmother, Shmi, how she was kind and compassionate, but also had a bit of a temper, like her son. Beru also had told Luke about the female companion that Anakin had with him when he had come to Tatooine, she was very beautiful, outspoken, and had very delicate features, dark brown hair and chocolate brown eyes and petite. Beru said that Anakin was incredibly tall and would tower over most people.
Luke loved talking to his Aunt Beru about his grandmother and his father, and they would often do so but only if Owen was either in town or asleep.
"Luke! I'm treading the power down!"
"Okay, I'll be right there." Eighteen year old Luke ran to the homestead.
The next morning, Luke awoke from a horrible nightmare, he dreamt he was dying. He was lying on a bed of lava and some guy was yelling at him, telling him that he was chosen one and that he was supposed to bring the Force back into balance, not leave it to darkness. Luke had screamed, "I hate you!" as the flames licked his clothing and caught fire. The pain, the ash, and the inability to breathe were insurmountable. Luke fell out of bed attempting to roll out the fire; while knocking over his nightstand. He saw his bed it was covered in sweat.
Aunt Beru entered the room and found Luke sitting on the floor crying and sobbing uncontrollably.
"Luke? What's wrong?" Aunt Beru asked.
"I don't know why on this day every year I have to dream the same thing? Birthdays are supposed to be fun with friends and good food. I don't understand, Aunt Beru."
"Uncle Owen is going into town this morning, while he's gone, go find Ben Kenobi in the Jundland Wastes, your party won't be until later anyway."
"What about Uncle Owen won't he be angry?"
"You let me deal with your Uncle okay?"
Beru helped Luke up and gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you Aunt Beru, I love you."
"I love you, too. Luke. You are a good kid."
"I don't know; I'm always getting into trouble." Luke smiled.
"It reminds me of another young man I knew."
"My father?"
"Yes, he always seemed to have the ability to attract trouble anywhere he was, even Shmi told me."
Luke removed his sheets and after laying out some clothes, he took a sonic shower and quickly sneaked out to power up his T-16.
"Beru, where is that boy going he has chores to do."
"Owen give him a break, it's his birthday for crying out loud. Don't worry he'll be back before the suns set."
"He better or they'll be hell to pay." Uncle Owen grumpily ate his porridge.
Obi-Wan was meditating after having a cup of hot tea and some pallies he had purchased the day before at the market in Mos Eisley. He had the same nightmare about his former apprentice, Anakin Skywalker that previous evening. A ship landing brought Obi-Wan out of his reverie, it was Luke. Obi-Wan stepped out of his hut and saw Luke run towards the entrance.
"Happy birthday, Luke."
"Thanks, Ben."
"So that makes you nineteen? I can't believe that it has been so long. Come inside, Luke."
Most of Obi-Wan's hair had turned white with gentle laugh lines but also a deep sadness in his bright blue eyes.
After Luke sat with Obi-Wan and finished his glass of water, he told him about his yearly nightmare that always happened on his birthday. Obi-Wan remembered telling Anakin that dreams pass with time, what a mistake that was; Obi-Wan now realized that Anakin had the ability to see into the future and his dreams were in reality Force-induced visions. Obi-Wan listened intently has Luke recounted his dream in startling detail. After telling the dream Obi-Wan sighed deeply.
"What does it mean, Ben?" Luke cried.
Obi-Wan felt that he should tell him the truth, but what would it do to this boy, it would shatter the idyllic image the boy had of Anakin Skywalker, he wasn't sure he could handle knowing that his father had betrayed love, freedom, and even his health for the dark side, Obi-Wan wasn't sure the boy was ready to know that his father was responsible for the destruction of the Jedi order and that his father was truly Darth Vader. Obi-Wan sighed and Luke saw the troubled look on this elder man's face.
"Anakin was a good pilot, a cunning warrior, and a dear friend. When I first met him he was a nine-year-old boy, but the Force was very strong in him, it amazed me and my mentor, Qui-Gon. When Qui-Gon died, I took it upon myself to train him; I thought I could train him as well as Yoda. I was wrong, I failed him. He died on Mustafar, Luke, he fell into the lava and he died, I had destroyed him."
"But why did he choose the dark side?"
"Nobody really knows, he had grown more sullen and brooding, more so than usual. He was becoming angrier and it seemed he was even more possessive of a certain Senator. She had gone to Mustafar to confront him; while I hid away on her ship. When I saw them he was lifting her up and choking her, I demanded that he stop, he went on and on about bringing peace, justice to his empire, while I felt for a pulse, she was pregnant, and I was very worried. She had passed out and I prayed that she was going to be all right. Anakin and I had fought, unfortunately since he and I had trained together, he knew all my moves, I very nearly had died. When he jumped from lava platform to where I was, I cut off his legs and his arm. He fell on the lava beach, I left him."
"So you are the person in my dream that was yelling at him."
"Yes, Luke, it was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I loved Anakin like my brother, a part of me still remains on that awful planet, and I've been unable to completely forgive myself."
"Ben, it sounds like you had no choice, you were merely protecting yourself and the Senator."
Obi-Wan smiled through his tears and hugged Luke.
"I have something for you. I'm sure Anakin would want you to have it, but make sure you keep it hidden from your Uncle Owen."
"I will, what is it?"
"Close your eyes." Luke smiled and when he opened them to feel a heavy cylinder in his hands. It was silver with a black handle.
"What is it?"
"It's your father's lightsaber."
"Wow, these things are very expensive, I will have to keep it hidden, Owen will want me to sell it."
"Anakin loved working on it, he in fact, he liked working on anything mechanical. He once built a protocol droid for his mother and he gave it to the senator after his mother had passed away. He was constantly modifying his ship improving the design and the making it faster. I hated to fly and his stunts would scare me half to death. But the more death-defying it was the more he liked it."
"Uncle Owen doesn't let me drive the land speeder either. I once took a corner too sharply and he was so rattled and angry. He hasn't let me drive it again. Fortunately I have my T-16 though, I love going to Beggar's Canyon and shooting womprats."
Obi-Wan smiled and also handed Luke his father's black cloak.
"It might be a little long for you, but maybe Beru can hem it up for you."
"Wow, this is nice. The fabric is light but I can feel the strength in the fabric and it even smells like spicy cologne."
"You can still smell that? Let me." Obi-Wan inhaled the deep scent and had a flashback of Anakin preparing himself to meet Padmé; he was fidgeting in the elevator. He had taken a droid to a mechanic and sold it. He purchased a small bottle of cologne; he would only wear it when he was going to be meeting with Padmé.
Obi-Wan would laugh at his padawan's antics.
"Happy Birthday, Luke, thanks for coming to see me, it means more than you know."
"Thanks for the presents, Ben. Take care."
"You too, young one."
Luke raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
That same day, Darth Vader awoke and he had started to hyperventilate and it was that damn Mustafar dream again, how Obi-Wan had cut off his legs and his one human arm and was yelling at him. Every year on this same day, he had this nightmare. It had been nineteen years ago, most of his subordinates also remembered this day because for several years they would notice that Darth Vader would have very little patience (less than normal), and he even seemed a bit more irritable and demanding.
He left his chambers and a young ensign had the bad luck of choosing the shortest straw to deliver a message to Lord Vader. He wanted to go kill himself, he was absolutely terrified of a man that stood almost seven feet tall and wore all black, and it was the stuff of nightmares. Lord Vader sensed great fear and knew that the young man was on the verge of passing out.
"Yes, Ensign Rowe? What is it?"
"The captain from the Avenger would like to meet with you. He says it's important." Ensign Rowe stuttered.
"Thank you, you may go." Ensign Rowe gave out a big sigh of relief and than walk/ran away from the Dark Lord as fast as he could. Ensign Rowe was only eighteen and didn't really want to sign up for the Empire, his father forced him into it.
Lord Vader went to his ship and boarded the Avenger, he sensed great fear as he walked through the corridors and then a young man of about twenty-five ran smack into the Dark Lord; the young man had fallen hard on his backside.
"Damn watch where you are going, buster." Then he saw the dark shiny boots, the hem of the cape and continued to look up until he saw the hands on the hips and heard the regulated breathing. It was Lord Vader, "Oh, shit." The young man felt himself being lifted up by some invisible Force.
"The use of expletives on any of my ships of the fleet is prohibited, as is running in the halls and not watching where you are going."
"Sorry Lord Vader, it won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't, Solo, you will find that I'm most unforgiving with failure."
"Yes, Lord Vader."
"Good, now go."
Solo quickly left and went to his ship and was so happy to be getting the hell out of here. Captain Piett had gotten his six-month supply of Corellian Ale and Han Solo had his payment.
When Luke returned to the farm, his Uncle Owen was in a foul mood, even more so than usual.
"Luke! Where have you been?"
"I went to visit Ben."
"I told you to stay away from that crazy old wizard! He will fill your head of crazy dreams, you have chores to do."
"Uncle Owen, he's lonely and he knew my father, I'm not going to ignore him and kick him out of my life because you don't like him!"
"That's it you're grounded."
"Grounded for what?"
"For defying me and for talking back to me, I've had enough!" Uncle Owen yelled.
"I've had enough too, Uncle Owen! You can go to hell for all I care!"
Owen slapped Luke hard and Luke fell to the ground, he ran towards his T-16 and boarded the ship.
"Owen? What's all this yelling about and where is Luke?" Owen remained silent and returned to his speeder and left the farm. Beru confronted Owen later that evening.
Luke went to Beggar's Canyon and set his ship down and cried until his tears were all dried up and how he wished for millionth time that he was with his father. Surely his father would never strike him or give him a bunch of stupid ass chores. They would pilot all over the galaxy and have grand adventures.
Anakin Skywalker was flying his modified Jedi star fighter; he was on a mission to save Chancellor Palpatine from the vile clutches of General Grievous. Obi-Wan was flying next to him. "Buzz-Droids! I hate these!"
"Get to the ship, Anakin. Don't forget about the mission."
"What about you, Master?"
Just as Anakin was about to help Obi-Wan a worm-hole opened up right in front of him. He fought the controls of his ship, cursing. Anakin decided to allow the worm-hole to take him where it would. The next thing he knew was that he was coming up on Tatooine. "Why me, Artoo, I hate this stupid, desolate planet!"
Artoo didn't have anything to say. Anakin attempted to land and saw a ship nearby.
Anakin jumped out along with Artoo, "Stay with the ship, Artoo, see if you can start working on it." Luke heard the loud sonic boom and walked to see a figure off in the distance, he was wearing a dark heavy cloak and as Anakin came closer, Luke saw a lightsaber hanging off his belt. Luke was too curious to be frightened. Anakin saw the lone farm boy standing off in the distance, he quickly approached him. He seemed somehow vaguely familiar.