Without further adieu-an update! Yeah:)
Sorry it's taken so long-but I tried to make it worth the month long wait! Seriously though, thank you for your patience!
For the next severaldays Luke was confined to the boundaries of the moisture farm, a slave of the bi-annual harvest. His uncle worked him sun up to sun down and by the last day of the harvest Luke was ready to pass out in his bunk and sleep for days on end. Not even the prospect of seeing True could have kept Luke's eyes from falling shut at every opportunity. Luke's aunt even sent him to bed because he kept dozing off at the dinner table.
Biggs showed up early the morning after the harvest was completed. Luke was in the garage, tinkering with his skyhopper when Biggs bolted into the workshop, bursting with excitement.
"This is it, Luke," Biggs circled Luke and the T-16. "In a few days I'm off to the Academy. I sure do wish your uncle would let you apply for early admission too."
Luke nodded. He had been over this with his uncle so many times. And though it wasn't Biggs fault he had a proud and willing father, Luke couldn't help but feel the littlest bit jealous. Luke raised his eyes to his friend. He still was feeling some residual annoyance by his friend's behavior the last time they had seen each other. Biggs met his look and before Luke could help himself he broke into a grin, reciprocated by Biggs. Luke raised himself to his full height, tossing his servowrench to the work bench. It was too much work to hold a grudge against his friend.
"Next year, Biggs. I'll be there. Uncle Owen promised, and I'll be 18 by then," Luke replied.
Biggs nodded, his eyes traveling over the contours of the Lars' garage. Luke watched him, waiting.
"One more race?" Biggs asked finally, crossing his arms and cocking his head in question.
"One more race," Luke nodded, glad Biggs had finally asked.
At the mouth of Beggar's Canyon the air was eerily silent and still. The sky was clear, not a wisp of clouds visible in the pale blue sky. The group of onlookers gathered at the canyon was smaller than usual. Most of the other kids were probably still stuck working the harvest, Luke thought, happy his uncle's farm was so small. Luke looked around, recognizing Tank, Fixer, and Winn among the small group of ten or so. Camie was not there, and Luke wondered absently if he'd ever see her again after what had happened those days ago.
The two young men, friends for as long as either could remember, didn't speak as they prepped their vehicles for what might be their last ride together through Beggar's Canyon.
The stillness in the air pressed on Luke like a weight. He felt his senses inhibited, the sounds of the kids hanging around muffled to his ears. A sense of unease began building in his young and inexperienced mind. The day wasn't right. The time wasn't right. But Luke didn't know how to voice his concerns without sounding like he was afraid of losing to Biggs, who he grudgingly acknowledged was a slightly better pilot and might beat him anyway.
The longer he thought about it, the more the dense air closed in on Luke. He pressed his hands to his eyes, trying to clear the fog that he felt was enveloping him. Luke lowered his hands, and as he did he noticed something on the horizon; a shadow of movement that seemed to make the air thicker still. It was a moment before Luke realized what it was.
"Sandstorm!" Luke yelled, his hand pointing an accusing finger towards the approaching clouds of swirling, course sand.
Some in the crowd turned in a panic to where Luke was pointing, while others sprinted for their speeders and began to head away from the storm, trying to outrun it.
Luke vaguely heard Biggs yelling after them. Luke didn't need to hear what Biggs was saying. He knew. It was suicide to try and outrun a sandstorm, no matter how fast your ship was. They were hours from any substantial shelter and Luke felt a pang of sadness for the few who would certainly lose their lives to the unforgiving forces of Tatooine.
As the remaining kids stared in stupid horror at the approaching storm, a glint of reflected sunlight caught Luke's eye. Luke turned and was slightly shocked to see his old landspeeder speeding towards him. He was even more shocked to see the bright blond hair of True Knightley behind the controls.
The landspeeder approached at incredible speed, the whine of the repulsors and engines preceding the speeder by several minutes. Luke cringed, imagining the strain on the engines and the inevitable repairs that he would need to perform.
True stopped the Lar's family speeder short of crashing into Tank's older model speeder, eliciting a "Hey, watch out!" from Tank.
"I got here as fast as I could," True yelled over the steadily increasing wind, ignoring everyone and speaking straight to Luke. The first vestiges of the storm were within moments of hitting. Small grains of sand began pelting the faces of all still standing there.
"Your uncle let me borrow this to come warn you. I think he thought we could make it back in time, but-," True glanced back at the storm which had now clouded out most of the sky, the columns of blowing sand increasing around them, causing them all to cover their faces with their arms.
Luke felt the seeds of panic start growing in his mind and he wondered why he didn't take off when the others did. Surely his skyhopper could have outrun the sandstorm.
"We've got to get out of here or we'll be buried alive!" Luke heard Winn yell, her voice betraying her fear. The few others still there, Tank, Fixer, Biggs and another girl Luke didn't recognize, all nodded their agreement, looking to Luke and True to tell them what to do.
Luke had no idea. It was getting harder to see, his visibility reduced to only a few meters in front of him.
"We've got to find shelter," True yelled, giving Luke an idea.
"Follow me," he responded, grabbing True's hand. "Grab on to someone and keep hold!"
Luke started leading the human chain down the narrow trail that descended into the bottom of Beggar's Canyon. Luke thought he remembered a hollowed out cave in the side of the Canyon, not far into it. He only hoped his memory was correct.
As the group descended below the lip of the canyon, Luke felt the intensity of the storm abate. He could see further ahead, and much to his joy he saw the cave he was looking for just ahead. Luke squeezed True's hand in reassurance, and felt her squeeze back. Luke hoped the rest of them had held on.
Minutes later Luke was leading the five other people into the cave. It was larger than he'd imagined, and receded at least ten meters into the side of the canyon. The silence of the cave after the assaulting noise of the wind outside was almost painful, and Luke could hear everything. The gasping breaths of his companions as they hacked and cleared their lungs and throats of the miniscule grains of sand; he heard slow dripping coming from somewhere near the back of the cave; he heard his own heart pounding, betraying his own fear.
"We can wait out the sandstorm in here," Luke said after a few moments. His eyes had slowly adjusted to the darkness of the cave, and he could barely make out the five forms of his companions against the mouth of the cave. The wind was whipping and Luke could see sand swirling outside as the storm intensified moments later.
True was still gripping Luke's hand, and Luke continued to hold on to her as well. The group stood in awkward silence, than slowly they segregated. Fixer and the strange girl sat together against on side of the cave, while Biggs and Winn chose to sit near Luke and True. No one spoke.
Outside the storm was raged. Drifts of sand were starting to form near the cave entrance. Luke wondered if he had led them all to their death, the threat of the sand entombing them very real.
Luke and True sat with their backs against the cold, hard wall of the cave. True had her head resting on Luke's shoulder, her arms wrapped around his arm as if she were afraid to let go. Luke listened to her breathing; steady and strong. Luke wanted to talk to True. He wanted to know that her father hadn't hurt her for staying out the night she took refuge at the Lars' Homestead.
Across the cave, Fixer and the girl were talking in hushed voices. Next to Luke Biggs and Winn sat silently. To Luke it felt like it had been hours since they'd taken shelter, but he had a feeling it hadn't even been one hour yet.
"This is ridiculous, Skywalker! Why'd you lead us to a cave with only one entrance that's slowly filling up with sand!"
Luke started at the sound of Fixer's angry voice.
"Close it, Fixer," Luke heard Biggs growl next to him.
"Yeah, would you rather be outside, suffocating in the sand?" True piped up, raising her head from Luke's shoulder. "I sure wouldn't."
Fixer didn't answer and Luke, appreciative of True's defense, smiled. Luke breathed in the silence, than decided to simply ask True the question.
"Were you okay after the other night?" Luke asked in a low voice, plunging ahead while his stomach tied itself in knots.
"Yeah. It was fine. My parents didn't even miss me," True answered, also in a low tone.
"I was actually coming out to see you today for a specific reason. I found out something I wanted to tell you-,"
"What, are you two sharing secrets over there? Luke, when did you get involved with her?" Fixer, obviously still bent on giving Luke grief, called across the cave.
"Fixer. Shut your mouth," Biggs challenged.
Fixer snorted in response and laughed, but he didn't say another word to Luke. Instead he focused on ranting quietly with the girl he was with.
"I guess we'll talk later," True whispered into Luke's ear, causing the young, sandy haired boy to jump. Her warm breath in his ear stirred the feelings he'd been trying to suppress for True, and he found himself turning his head to her. His rational self screamed at him, No! Stop! But the brave, macho voice egged him on.
This close, even in the waning light, Luke could see the brightness of True's eyes. Their faces were so close Luke could even count the freckles that danced on her nose. Luke hesitated; fully aware that Biggs and Winn were just beside him, and that Fixer and the other girl were the several meters across the cave.
As Luke stared at True trying to make up his mind, True made it up for him. She moved her own head towards him and as the two shared their first kiss Luke envisioned a bright explosion of light, followed by feelings of pure joy. The shock of the sudden vision caused Luke to pull back. He searched True's face for signs that she experienced the same thing, but she only smiled and leaned her head back on Luke's shoulder.
Confused about more than just the strange vision he'd had, Luke quickly turned to look at Biggs. His friend was grinning, offering Luke two thumbs up. Luke flushed and was grateful for the lack of light. His eyes traveled across the cave where Fixer sat cuddling with the nameless girl. Both had their eyes closed. Luke breathed a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn't have to sustain more grief from Fixer.
As the time crawled by the little light in the cave faded even more. Soon Luke had to strain to see True sitting right next to him. Luke considered their situation. The mouth of the cave was almost completely drifted closed by sand. What little space that remained showed the storm was still passing them. He had no idea how long it had been, or if anyone would be able to come after them-let alone know where they were. They may have to try and dig themselves out, and Luke didn't particularly like that idea.
Everyone but Luke was fast asleep. Turning to the sleeping form of True, Luke considered what had happened earlier. He couldn't figure her out. One minute she was tough as nails, the next she was confiding her deepest secrets to me, and then she was kissing me! Of course I'd wanted to kiss her too…women.
Luke sighed and wondered how long they'd be stuck in this cave before they could dig out. He leaned his head back against the wall of the cave. Closing his eyes he was suddenly confronted with a horrible vision of his skyhopper buried by huge mounds of drifted sand. Gritting his teeth Luke lifted his head and stared into the darkness.
Some time later, Luke awoke with a start. He didn't remember dozing off, and as he lifted his head (wincing at the sharp pain shooting through his neck and back) and tried to look around he realized the cave was in complete darkness. Fighting immediate panic, he relaxed when he felt that True was still next to him, holding his hand in hers.
"It's been dark for awhile," True said, the sound of her voice loud to Luke's ears even though she was speaking barely over a whisper.
"Is anyone else awake?" Luke whispered, turning his head in her general direction.
"No," she replied softly.
Luke felt her shift sitting position and when she spoke again her voice was much closer.
"Luke, I need to tell you something I found out."
Luke, for the first time since meeting True, was glad he couldn't see her face. The seriousness in her voice had him worried, and he could only imagine that her expression was as grim as her tone.
"Okay," he answered, slowly, leaning forward from the wall and folding his legs in front of him. True kept his hand, grasping it with both her hands.
"Well, you know my father was a person of some importance back on Balmorra," True paused at the sound of movement across the cave. They sat silent and still. Apparently satisfied everyone was still asleep, she continued.
"After our discussion the other night, I did some research. My father still has all his access codes for the Imperial database so one night I logged in," True stopped and took a deep breath.
"I searched for information about you. Your family, I mean."
Luke was speechless. He suddenly found he had hundreds of questions he wanted answered, but he also found himself feeling a little angry that True didn't ask him first before accessing such private information.
"Don't be mad, please," True pleaded softly, and Luke was unable to ignore the real pain he heard in her voice. "I think you'll be glad to know what I found."
Luke didn't trust himself to speak, so he simply squeezed True's hand, hoping she understood that was his way of expressing permission for her to continue.
"Okay," she exhaled and Luke smiled at her apparent relief. "Well, there wasn't much associated with your name. There's no record of any Skywalkers other than your grandmother, your father and you."
Luke furrowed his brow, considering this new information. So where did my family come from? he thought.
"I thought that was strange. But what I could find indicates your grandmother and your father lived as slaves for the Hutts, later your mother was freed and married Cleig Lars and became mother to Owen," Luke nodded to himself, finally satisfied to understand his relationship to his uncle.
"The trail runs cold there for many years, than suddenly I found an old Holonet report about an entire village of Sandpeople that were slaughtered. Apparently they had kidnapped your grandmother, and had murdered several other people. The news didn't elaborate, but they suspected it was someone close to Shmi who did it-namely a son who had been away for ten years."
True stopped talking and Luke sat for a moment digesting what he'd been told. Why had his father been gone for ten years? Why did it matter if a whole village of Sandpeople were slaughtered? They were vicious and ruthless beings. Almost immediately Luke realized this was part of what people had been whispering about behind his back for so long. Luke felt resentment towards the other farmers and people in town who knew more about his own family than he did.
"What else," Luke prompted, louder and more forcefully then he meant to be.
When he was met with silence, Luke dreaded what else she might have discovered.
"Well-," True started with obvious reluctance.
Suddenly a blinding light filled the cave. Luke and True covered their faces with their hands, trying to ease the pain of the sudden light assaulting their eyes. Biggs, Winn, Fixer and the nameless girl all stirred with the sudden light, complaining about the brightness.
As his eyes adjusted, Luke blinked, looking to the mouth of the cave. He was supremely relieved to see a silhouetted figure quickly shoveling huge amounts of sand from the entrance. The day outside was still bright, so the suns must not have set, Luke thought happily. He and True rose and started towards the cave mouth.
"Thanks a lot!" Luke exclaimed as they approached the hooded figure. But as Luke spoke, the figure stopped digging and laying the shovel on the top of the lowered mound of sand, the figure turned and disappeared.
"Hey!" Luke yelled, jogging the remaining distance to where the sand drift started. But the figure was gone leaving behind only footprints and the shovel.
Luke sighed and began enlarging the hole at the top so they could climb out and set about getting home.