Disclaimer: See Chapter One
Unfortunate events, though potentially a source for anger and despair, have equal potential to be a source of spiritual growth. Whether or not this is the outcome depends on our response."
-The Dalai Lama
United We Stand
Chapter Three
Luke wiped the sweat that had accumulated on his forehead away. Days spent like this under the sweltering heat of Tatoo I and II, the two stars that unleashed their fury upon the sand-covered planet, made Luke think longingly of escaping like the little boy in the stories Sabé, Leia's nurse, used to tell his sister and him on his visits to Alderaan. Of course, he was far from a little slave boy, and there were no Jedi in existence to carry him away. Naturally, he would be sad to leave his aunt and uncle, just as the boy had been sad to leave his mother. Owen and Beru were the closest things he had to parents. Sure, Owen could be gruff at times, but he did care. He had his reasons for doing the things that he did, and Luke respected that, even if he didn't like it at times.
Suddenly, he felt very alone. Disconcerted, he searched to find the source of this newfound loneliness. Then, he realized what it was. His link to Leia was being blocked. He tried to reach out to her, but it was clear that he could not breach whatever it was that had caused this blockage. He just prayed that everything was alright.
He looked back at the droid that was supposed to help him with the vaporators. It was spinning like crazy and smoke was billowing out of it. He shook his head in disgust, and left it there, confident it would be gone when he got back. He jumped into his speeder and took off toward the town of Anchorhead, trying desperately not to think of anything related to his sister and why their bond had been obstructed.
OoooOoooOoooO
Leia had felt the Darkness emanating from Darth Vader as soon as he boarded the ship. Being brought before him only proved that she was right in cutting Luke off from what was happening. She had no desire to have him feel her pain when she was tortured, or her terror at the thought that they might pry knowledge of the Alliance out of her. She only hoped that C-3PO and R2-D2 had managed to reach Tatooine. Those plans had to reach the Rebel Alliance or who knew what kind of destruction the Empire would inflict upon the galaxy.
OoooOoooOoooO
"You're what?" Luke asked, not believing his friend's words.
"I'm jumping ship at the next port, me and a few other crew members of the Ecliptic," Biggs replied calmly. "I just had to tell someone, Luke, and I trust you. I'm going to join the Alliance."
"And how are you going to do that? Their bases aren't exactly in plain sight," Luke commented.
"A friend of mine from the Academy has this friend on Beltine that's going to help us."
"A friend of a friend? I hope you know what you're doing, Biggs. This twice-removed friend could very well end up being an Imperial agent."
"Listen, Luke, I don't care. If you only knew the kind of terrible things the Empire is doing…"
"I do, and I know you want to help, I want to help as well. All I'm saying is be careful. These Imperials are tricky. You don't want to end up dead or worse," Luke stated. "You're my best friend, I don't want to lose you before I can join up with you and really kick some Imperial butt."
"Well, when you put it that way." Biggs smiled. "Take care of yourself, kid. Be a little more cautious with those crazy canyon races. I would hate to hear you ended up as a smear on the desert rock."
"I guess this is goodbye then. I'll be seeing you."
"You had better."
OoooOoooOoooO
"Luke!" he heard his aunt calling. "Your uncle needs your help with buying some new droids from the Jawas!"
"Alright!" he yelled back, going outside to meet his uncle.
As he surveyed the droids lined up for inspection, two caught his eye immediately, causing his alarm at the silence on the other end of his twin-bond to flare up.
"Uncle Owen," he whispered urgently. "Those two droids over there belong to Leia."
His uncle nodded, understanding the implications of that statement. He bartered and appeared disinterested with the Jawas, but finally agreed on a relatively reasonable price for the two droids, along with two others, certain that the two belonging to his niece would probably not be kept at the homestead for long.
OoooOoooOoooO
"Alright, you two, what happened?" Luke asked urgently as soon as they were safe inside.
"I'm afraid," C-3PO began, "that our spaceship was attacked and boarded by stormtroopers."
"And Leia?" Luke asked, afraid of what the answer would be.
"I do not know what happened to the princess," the protocol droid said before being interrupted by a series of beeps from his counterpart. "It appears that Artoo-Detoo has a message addressed from her to either a Luke Skywalker or an Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Well, what are you waiting for? Play the message!"
Suddenly a small blue figure was emitted from the astromech droid. Once in focus, it was clear that this figure was Leia. She spoke quickly, but precisely, "I don't know which one of you will receive this message, but I urge you not to worry about me. Artoo contains vital information for the Alliance. You must take him to my father on Alderaan. He will be know what to do. And Luke, don't come after me, like I know you want to. It is too dangerous. Please, don't risk yourself." The image then flickered out.
"NO!" Luke yelled in anguish.
"Luke…" Beru said, laying a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I've got to see Obi-Wan," he said hoarsely, trying desperately to hold back his tears.
Owen nodded. "You had better take those droids with you."
OoooOoooOoooO
Obi-Wan did not seem surprised to learn of Leia's fate. He only sighed wearily, like a great burden had somehow become heavier. He looked at Luke resignedly and said, "I think that it is time that you knew the truth."
Luke stared in wonder at the older man as he told him the truth about his father. All this time, he had been led to believe that his father was just an ordinary pilot. Now, out of nowhere, comes the truth of him being a Jedi Knight, a guardian of peace and justice. And yet, it did not surprise him. Somehow, it felt as if he had always known it, and it explained his and Leia's connection with the Force. And if Darth Vader really did kill his father, it accounted for why he and Leia had to be kept secret.
"Listen to me, Luke," Obi-Wan said after he had given him his father's lightsaber. "You and Leia must be trained, together. Force-sensitive twins are very rare, and together their power is magnified. Your father was strong with the Force, as are both of you. To utilize that strength, you must be trained as Jedi."
"And you will train us?" Luke asked.
"As long as I can. Now, let us go see your uncle and aunt before we leave for Alderaan."
OoooOoooOoooO
"They must have been attacked by Tusken Raiders," Luke said as they surveyed the destroyed Jawa caravan.
"Or someone who wants us to think that," Obi-Wan commented. "Look at these tracks, they are scattered all about. Tuskens walk in a straight line to hide their numbers. And these shots were too accurate to have come from a Raider. Only Imperial Stormtroopers have such precision. My guess is that they had tracked your sister's droids to these Jawas."
"But if they did that, then that would lead them…" Luke's eyes widened. "Home."
He raced toward the speeder and jumped in. Before Obi-Wan could stop him, he had zoomed off towards the homestead.
OoooOoooOoooO
The sight that met Luke was devastating. All that was left of his aunt and uncle was two smoking skeletons. The stormtroopers had apparently shown no mercy. All of his memories of Beru and Owen flashed before his eyes. They were good people. They did not deserve this. His sweet Aunt Beru, always caring, always loving; and his stern Uncle Owen, guiding him, instilling a firm sense of right and wrong, affectionate, if gruff, in his own way. The emotions welling up in him accumulated a finally sprang to the surface in an agony-filled cry.
Tbc…
