Chapter 11

Whatever you do, I'll do it too. Show me everything and tell me how. It all means something
And yet nothing to me...

-"Strangers Like Me" written by Phil Collins

(Off of Disney's Tarzan)

Seeing the state of the tiny town that he came to, Luke rushed in to help. "Anyone in here?" he called out tentatively. He did not hear an answer. He paused, concentrating. Then, he sensed, rather than heard, a voice calling out. He was unsure if it was a new language that he had yet to hear and understand or if it was a name, but he knew that there were victims crying out for help. He felt drawn to one in particular, allowing his instincts to take over temporarily, and quietly slipped inside, under cover of the Force. Inside, he could almost hear what he had sensed. It was a voice, very weak, but he hoped whoever it was would survive if he was careful enough and hurried.

"Lonny!" came a weak voice.

"I cannot see you. Where are you?" he asked. "I am here to help. Tell me where you are, try to stay alert." 'Who would do such a thing, now that the Emperor is dead?' he asked himself.

"I am over here."

"I am coming, do not worry. I will get you out," he tried to reassure whoever it was.

.-break-.

Suddenly his senses went on full alert. They were not alone in this place. He could feel it. Reaching out with the Force, he tried to find out what had alerted him. Spinning around, he found himself face to face with a Storm Trooper who had a gas mask on. 'Figures. Things seem to have just gone from bad to worse.' The Storm Trooper seemed to have been expecting him. He ducked, just as the Storm Trooper leveled its weapon on him, and fumbled for his lightsaber. Dropping to one knee, he frantically searched the ground just below him for something to use to deflect the blow, since he could not seem to find it right away. 'I must have dropped it when I was on my way in here,' he thought. But then, he found it. Turning it on, he skillfully deflected the blow that had been intended to kill him. He realized that one of the victims of the evil he saw around him was lying nearby and decided to try to draw the Trooper's fire away from the person, in hopes that he or she could get out of this alive. The Trooper seemed slightly surprised at his obvious skill, as did the person he was trying to save, if the gasp he heard was any indication. 'Don't get too cocky,' he had to remind himself. He did not really feel like fighting the Trooper right now, but he knew that it was a matter of life and death: not only his and the Trooper's, but also the person he was attempting to protect and anyone else who had survived for this long.

Lonny looked around frantically. He could not see. He had been sure that he had heard someone. 'There! Over in that corner! If they still live, I will not make the same mistake and allow those who attacked us to get to them!' he determined.

He began to pull them closer to the entrance, closer to fresh air, giving them a better chance of survival. Once he had finished, he also would have a chance to determine which of them were more likely to survive this. Approaching the first figure, he realized, sadly, that Maria would not be found here, but at least he would be able to save some of this little family. He had known the little ones for their entire lives, but they were so small that there was little chance that they would have survived, especially without their parents.

His task completed, he looked at the remains of two of them. There had only been five in the family, the three children so close in age. The mother had been trying desperately to save the middle child, with her own body, and the child was now barely breathing, a combination of nearly being crushed by the mother's weight, smoke inhalation, and the child's small size. The other who had died was the oldest child, who had also been trying to protect the youngest. Shaking his head sadly, he tried to get the father and two youngest children to safety. By time he had them inside a small cave a safe distance away and looked back, he had no hope of finding any other survivors. Sighing, he did what little he knew to do in order to ensure the ultimate survival of what remained of this once happy family and decided to never look back…

AN: Time for reviews!

Solarstorm: Don't worry: you're not the only one who goes for long stretches without reviewing! As for their reunion... -zips up lips, ensuring that story secrets are kept- :)

REV042175: More! (Soon enough, I hope?)

"Friendly Banter", part 2...

Arami: JcPuzzler,
You don't know how evil -grins-. I will eventually make you see the light!
Monk is nothing compared to me. I will review till you go insane and then
and only then will my secret mission be complete. What is the purpose of my
mission my dear Puzzler? I cannot reveal for it will ruin my fun...-cough- did
I just say fun? I meant sinister plan, yah that's it sinister plan.
-laughing evilly in the background-

JCPuzzler: Oh no! Save me from my evil friends! (So I won't go
insane!) -evil laugh is heard in the background-

Arami: JCPuzzler,
Evil? How dare you accuse your friends of being evil? How do think we get
there in the first place, hmm? Yah, ye heard me, I accuse you of my evil
tendencies. Insanity has never felt so peaceful since I found
you... -chuckles evilly in the background-

(BTW: The following advertisement for a fanfic is from one of Arami's responses.)

Arami- fanfiction. net/s/1651993/1 -This is a very funny song I came
across called "Frodo Got Run Over By A Witch King" by Insane Pineapple from
Naboo. It's really funny and I recommend it to everyone.