Dealer

Chapter 2: It Could Never Work

It was the next evening, when I had myself soaked up to my wrists in the speeder's engine oil, that I recognized Luke. He had been the boy on the holotube, the boy responsible for the fall of the empire and fall of Vader and the Emporer. And he was wearing the attire of a Jedi.

Mention of the Jedi was banned during the times of the Empire, but I remember my father whispering stories of the times before Palpatine to Siira and me as younglings, curled up under the covers of our bunk beds. I smiled fondly, remembering back when we had been a family. It was only a spurt of oil growing up to hit my square in the face that jolted me back to reality. I curled my face unpleasantly, groping blindly inside the speeder, my eyes clamped shut as I tried to stop a flow. An unfamiliar, large, rough had bumped next to mine, and the flow stopped. I tried to wipe the oil from my eyes with my bare forearm.

"Here…" Luke's voice said, and I heard a loud clanging as he searched for a shop rag or something. I suppose he recognized then how lazy I am because all of my rags were soaked in oil or some kind of gross auto substance. A moment later a wad of soft cotton fabric was pressed into my face, and I pulled my other hand from the engine, blotting my eyes. A moment later I was able to blink them open, and I looked at the young man in front of me, still wiping the black substance from my face. Then I realized what I was wiping my face with.

"Oh!" I exclaimed. "I'm sorry!" I shook his outer tunic out as best I could, but it was still covered in grease and splotchy oil marks.

"Don't worry about it." He insisted, motioning off-handedly. "I have like a million of those things."

I smiled thankfully, smoothing my hair and trying to remove some of the oil from my hairline, to little success.

"So, is this ready to go now?" He asked, slapping the front of the speeder affectionately. I toweled off my right had as best I could, the black tone having penetrated the long scar particularly well, and reached back into the speeder, feeling for a little knob… there. I pulled my hand out, giving the front a solid whack. The engine rumbled to life, buzzing steadily as it hovered up a few inches from the floor.

"That it is." I said, dropping the keys into his palm. "Come on, I'll get you the title."

So we found ourselves in the little front of the store again, and I searched until I found a tiny datapad to arrange for the title transfer. It didn't take long, and soon I handed it over to him. In return, he handed me another 2600 credits.

"Oh, it's only another 2500." I said, peeling off a bill and handing it back to him. He shook his head. "Keep it. I know you pushed to get this done for me."

"No, really, it's OK. It's my job--"

He shook his head, pushing it towards me. I sighed dejectedly, shoving the bill into my pocket. We weren't poor, and mother and I lived a nice lifestyle off of the store and shop.

"Oh, dear, what did you do?" My mother chided, looking at me covered in speeder oil. I rolled my eyes.

"Speeder malfunction, Mother." I explained, waiving my hand as if to brush it off.

"Oh, and who is this charming young man?" She asked. Luke had stood politely when she entered the room. "What have you not been telling me?"

I flushed a bright shade.

"Mother, he's a customer. This is—"

"Luke Skywalker." He cut me off, shaking her hand politely.

"Pleased to meet you, Mister Skywalker."

"Luke bought the Tergaé II, Mother."

"Oh! Well, we're about to close for the night, but I'd love it if you'd join us for dinner, Luke. We're having a bantha roast."

"I would very much like that." He replied, smiling politely.

So we hung the signs and shut off the lights, going to our apartment above the store. It was a place with plenty of space for two of us, as it had once housed a four-person family. I immediately excused myself to clean up. Luke proved himself to be an exceptional guest, and he was entirely at ease around us. I was more comfortable scrubbed and changed, even my hair washed and pinned into a knot. And after we had eaten and my mother had excused herself to bed, I offered to bring Luke back down to the shop.

I sighed sadly, running my hand over the name on the speeder. I had my own bike, and had no use for it, but it was almost like saying a final good-bye to my father.

"Tergaé was your father, wasn't he?" Luke said softly, standing next to me. I nodded silently, biting back tears. "I'm sorry." He said, patting my shoulder. "The empire has caused us all more pain then they would ever care. They killed my aunt and uncle, who raised me, who were like my parents…" And his voice trailed off. "Hey, you want to come for a ride?"

"Oh, no, really, I couldn't, I really should be getting back to mother…" I insisted, starting to back off.

"Oh, come on. You did all the work on it. Let loose. I don't think you have enough fun in your life." There, I couldn't argue with him. Ever since Siira disappeared, and since Father was arrested, I had been forced to grow up much faster than I would have ever cared to. There were bags under my eyes most of the time, and I felt… old; weary. Luke must have known this too, because when all I did was open my mouth soundlessly he grabbed my hand and pulled me onto the bike behind him. He kicked it to life, slowly maneuvering out of the shop, and into the air of Coruscant.

He was a talented pilot, darting quickly through the traffic of the skys. I held myself close to him, afraid to look down but enjoying the freedom of flying. Not long after he pulled down in front of a bar. I shook my head, looking at him as he got off the bike, holding his helmet under his arm.

"No, Luke, I really need to be getting home –"

"Let me buy you a drink. Just one. Come on." He insisted. And as much as I said I didn't, I wanted to, and I did.

The bar was crowded and noisy, but Luke grabbed my hand and pushed his way up to the front. He found two empty seats, letting me sit before he did, raising his hand to the bartender.

"Two FireDancers." He said, sliding a 5-credit note across the counter. The bartender nodded, and soon I found myself sliding a burning, strong beverage down my throat and enjoying it. I enjoyed it so much, that I ordered another one, and it was with a bit of reluctance that I refrained from ordering a third. Luke had indulged in another drink also, but now we were in the air again, cruising around Coruscant.

"I should really get home." I muttered, my head leaning on his shoulder. He nodded, turning abrubtly in the air and heading towards the shop.

"Did you have a good time?" He asked, helping me off the bike just inside the garage. I smiled.

"Yeah. I don't get out much, not since my father…" My voice broke off again. "Not since he was taken by the Empire. He's dead now."

"How do you know?"

I shrugged.

"I don't, really. Just one day I got this… this feeling, and it was like he wasn't there anymore."

Luke sighed.

"Well, maybe we could do this again sometime." He said, pulling me into a hug.

"Maybe." I said, not really believing it. My mother needed me more than anybody else did. He pulled back a bit, looking at me. Our eyes met, blue and brown, like water and earth mixing together. And then he kissed me.

If I can tell you one thing about Luke Skywalker, it would be that he is the nicest, kindest person you will ever know. Secondly, his was the most fabulous kisser. Once, twice, our lips met, and I was honestly enjoying it when I pulled back.

"I'm sorry." I said, touching my hand to my forehead.

"Don't be." He said, looking at me. I avoided his gaze, shaking my head.

"It could never work."

"Why not?" He asked, stepping towards me. I stepped away, tears pooled in the corners of my eyes.

"It just couldn't." I shook my head. "No. Not here. Not now."

"Ok." He said softly, sadly. I gazed at him remorsefully, and he climbed onto his new bike. I retreated back towards the stairs.

"That's because you're Force-strong." He called out. "That's why you knew what happened to your father."

"I'm what?" I said, looking over my shoulder, not sure if I didn't understand what he was saying or if it was the alcohol impairing me. Those things were good.

"You're Force-strong. With training, you could become a Jedi."

"Not now." I said softly, turning around again.

"Someday?" He called out, and I knew what he was talking about. I turned around, smiling sadly, and shrugged my shoulders, backing up until I reached the stairs. He kicked the bike to life, leaving me alone in the dark garage as I retreated to my room.

It could never work.