And Vega Lights My Way
Chapter 6
I would make my job a work of
art. I would like whatever it is that I'm doing - everyone's
experience of me, everyone's interaction with me, everyone's
discussion, conversation, relationship with me - to be an event
within which they get to see who they are. I would make of my life a
work of art.
John Denver
Early the next morning as Luke arrived at the apartments, he was struck by the familiarity of the place. Not that he'd ever even been to the Imperial City – now renamed Coruscant, as it had been in the days of the Republic – but the Senatorial apartments seemed to whisper of memories and secrets kept. He suppressed a shudder as the elevator took him to the upper floors of the building and he made his way to the apartment.
Luke had barely removed his finger from the visitor's chime
when the door practically flew open, but instead of the protocol
droid he would have expected to see serving as a Representative's
assistant, it was Aubé who greeted him.
"Good morning
Lieutenant – I mean, Aubé…"
Gods, she's still beautiful.
Aubé blushed and looked down,
suddenly self conscious of her clothing. Although it was fairly loose
fitting, she wasn't wearing any foundation garments. Somehow, she
felt… exposed
"Come in Commander," she murmured, still
averting her eyes.
"My mother is in the sitting room. I was just working out. You'll excuse me while I go change…"
Wordlessly, Luke followed her into the sitting room, and
without another word Aubé vanished into a side bedroom.
He
could feel Kampher Canaille's presence before she actually
came into view and if her presence had sung in the Force last night,
it was nothing as compared to now.
"You – you're a Jedi," Luke whispered almost reverently.
Kampher rose, a hand extended. She was dressed far more simply this morning in more traditional Healer's robes as apposed to the elegant gown of the night before. Her hair fell loosely about her shoulders, dark but for a few patches of grey that she wore almost proudly, like badges of honor. Her eyes, however, danced with the light of youth.
Like her daughter's, Luke thought absently. Like Leia's used to…
"Master Skywalker," Kampher greeted him warmly. "And I'm afraid you're slightly mistaken. I used to be a Jedi, but that was many years ago."
"Still," pressed Luke, clasping her hand in his. "I was right, you do feel the Force, you… you understand…"
"Yes."
Luke took the offered seat, casting his eyes around the room. It was simply decorated, but what really caught his attention were the echoes in the Force. Imprints, as it were. He recognized Aubé; her presence left the impression of glitter dust. Her brother, whom Luke had met briefly the night before, left traces of a musky mixture of herbs and other implements of the Healer's trade.
Luke snapped his attention back to Lady Canaille, who was watching him patiently. "I'm sorry." He flushed uncharacteristically. "What about your husband, the Representative?" Luke inquired, barely able to contain himself. "Does he know that you were a Jedi?"
Kampher's laughter was bell-like in its purity. "Oh yes, Schurke was also a Jedi Knight…" She trailed off, considering. "I'm sorry he couldn't be here this morning." she said at last. "He said that he had to attend other business. And my son is off with another group of Healers. He wanted to help tend to some of the long term war wounded…"
Aubé, dressed in a simple tunic and leggings, crept into the sitting room and sat wordlessly next to her mother. Luke nearly fell over himself trying to stand up and greet her, and Aubé shot up again, nervous as a sand cat, and for the second time in as many days, Aubé found herself in his embrace. This time, however, it seemed an eternity before he let her go.
"I'll get us something to drink," Kampher said with a smile as Aubé extradited herself from Luke's arms, perhaps reluctantly. For all intents and purposes, Kampher's reaction was that of a woman who routinely saw her daughter fall into a Jedi Master's arms. "I'll only be a moment…"
Luke watched her slip into the kitchen, then suddenly turned his attention back to Aubé, embarrassed.
I don't have time for this, Luke thought to himself irritably. Here I am in the presence of the first Jedi I've seen since Master Yoda, I don't have time for such nonsense…
Aubé lowered her eyes, but still smiled.
When would you ever have time, Master Jedi? If not now?
To his relief, Kampher came back into the room carrying a small tray with a three glasses of Correllian tea, allowing Luke to put aside his train of thought. "I'm sorry Master Luke," she said with a smile. "My husband harbors a certain dislike of protocol droids. He finds them disquieting"
Thinking of Threepio, Luke suppressed a smile of his own. "I quite understand… but both you and your husband were Jedi knights?" He was incredulous.
"Yes," Kampher said simply. "We were."
"And could be again," Aubé blurted out. "I mean… after last night…"
"Last night, I passed your legacy on to you, my child," Kampher said softly. "Your father and I have… moved on."
"Perhaps you could teach us… help revitalize the Order?" Luke asked, hopeful. "I mean, that's why you asked me here is it not?"
Kampher sighed, "Master Skywalker – Luke – It's too soon for my husband and it's too soon for me to… to decide what the future holds for us, but my daughter is ready to begin the training, or I should say, to continue the training…" again she trailed off, and Luke knew that she was leaving a lot unsaid, but he prudently let her choose what to tell him. There would be another time, he hoped.
After a minute or two of silence, Kampher began to speak once again. She rose and approached a non-descript cabinet that rested discreetly in the corner of the room. "I have something for you," she laughed, but it was a sad, brittle sound. "I had it duplicated before we left home." Luke instantly recognized it as a holo, but it was Aubé who gasped at the sight.
"Mother… that's you!"
"Yes," Kampher said quietly. "And your father here… our friend Gris, whose name you bear…"
Luke stared at the fourth figure in the holo, mesmerized.
"Yes, Master Skywalker," Kampher said sadly. "That's your father, Anakin Skywalker…."
