Day 20: Enigmatic

Summary: Piett has been tasked with going to Tatooine to get in contact with the Lars family when he gets a ride by a young man named Luke.

Captain Firmus Piett stepped out of the Anchorhead Imperial Outpost. When he had arrived at the planet, the suns were just rising. Now that they were fully up, the heat was much stronger and he already felt himself starting to sweat. He sighed and started walking down the street if one could even call it that. It was merely a straight line of sand between buildings. There was no pavement or any other markers.

He made his way to the only transport store in the small town and asked about renting a speeder. The man at the shop took a long look at him, gave him a toothy smile, and threw out an outrageous price one would expect of a luxury speeder on Coruscant. Piett nodded and walked out. The man laughed and hollered that there weren't any other speeders to rent in town.

That may be so, but perhaps he could borrow a speeder from a local. He had been given a large budget and could afford the price, but it was the principle of the thing. He was sure the store owner had taken one good look at him, saw the Imperial officer uniform, and raised the price.

Piett stopped in the shade of a building and looked up and down the street. There wasn't much here. Perhaps he should try the catina? Hopefully, there would be someone there willing to give him a ride for a few rounds of drinks.

He sighed and glanced in the direction he had parked his rented shuttle on the outskirts of town. He was uneasy about this mission, but he wasn't one to turn down such a request from his superior. Especially one that seemed so personal.

"I do not know if I can trust anyone else with this task, Captain."

This mission did not fall into his normal expectations of being a captain of a star destroyer. In fact, it was very far removed from that. He had never done anything like this. It felt more like detective work or reconnaissance. Veers would have been a better choice for such a role than him.

As he walked down the dusty street, he eyed a mechanic shop where a sign outside read Fixer's Garage. He would rather not have to depend on a local driver if he could. He wondered if he could just buy a speeder and then sell it back when he was finished. He walked into the store and was soon met by a young man with dark hair and a dark leather jacket on top of a sand-stained white tunic. The man paused as he noted Piett's uniform and a small frown pulled on his lips.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

"I'm looking to buy a speeder. Got any?"

"Not any at the outpost?"

The Imperial Outpost did have speeders Piett could have used, but again he was ordered to avoid leaving any recordable trace of his visit, especially through the Imperial records. The official reason Piett was off his ship was that he was visiting his home planet, which was where he had gone first. Then he rented a small ship to fly to Tatooine.

"All taken," Piett replied. "Honestly, I'm just looking to rent one for the day and return it. But I wouldn't mind buying one if it's reasonably priced."

"Don't got any," the shopkeep said with a shrug of the shoulders.

"Ah. I see. Know anyone I could hire to take me out?"

"Depends. Where you headed?"

"Out to the Salt Flats. There's a homestead out there belonging to a family called the Lars."

"Lars, huh?" The shopkeep looked over his shoulder and shouted, "Hey, Luke! Come out here!"

Piett heard parts falling on the floor and some cursing shortly followed by the sounds of someone approaching.

A youth entered the room wearing a similar sand-stained white tunic as the shopkeep wore.

"Yeah, what's up?" the boy asked.

"This Imp is looking for a ride out to your uncle's place," the shopkeep said.

Luke looked over at Piett. "My uncle's? Why?"

"He's not in any trouble. Pardon the uniform, I only wore it to get access to the outpost records here. But I just have a few questions to ask him."

Luke looked unsure.

"I can pay for the ride," Piett continued. "How about three hundred peggats?"

Both Luke and the shopkeep's eyes went wide. Piett knew it was a very generous offer, but it was still cheaper than renting one. The shopkeep gave young Luke a look that clearly said 'You better take it.' Luke looked down at his feet shyly, but then those blue eyes were focused on Piett.

"Sure," he said. "Let me go grab my speeder."

The land outside of Anchorhead was a featureless blur of sands and occasional rocks. Piett wondered how his young pilot navigated as his speeder's navigational display was broken. But just as Piett could navigate by the stars in the sea of space, this boy could navigate his homeworld.

"My uncle isn't in any trouble?" Luke asked. His voice was raised to be heard over the whipping wind.

"No," Piett responded. "My . . . acquaintance is looking for a lost relative of theirs. They believe the Lars may know something."

"Why didn't they come themselves?"

"Unable to." Luke gave him a questionable glance. "It's a rather complicated situation I'm afraid."

"I don't know if my uncle will know much," Luke said. "He's lived here all of his life. He rarely goes out to the cities. He may not be of much help."

"Even so, I would like to ask."

Luke nodded.

Piett was tempted to ask how much longer the ride would last. He was on a schedule and would need to fly back to Axxila to get his Imperial shuttle before returning to his star destroyer before his leave ended. It would be very unlike him to return late. But he still had time.

Suddenly there was a loud sound and the speeder jerked. His hands snapped out and grabbed on to whatever he could as the vehicle bumped, swerved, and came to a sudden stop. Steam hissed out of the turbo engine on the left side.

"Kriff!" Luke shouted as he jumped over the side.

Piett took a slow steady breath and released the tension in his body.

"I knew I should have flushed out the repulsor and rebalanced it out!"

Piett looked over to see Luke had already popped open the access hatch of the damaged engine. The Lars boy ran a hand through his hair. Piett looked around. They were in the middle of nowhere. No settlements to be seen.

Luke jumped back into the speeder, opened a storage hatch, and pulled out a few tools. Then he was back on the sand tinkering with the engine.

"Sorry," Luke muttered. "Hopefully I'll get this up and running soon."

Piett had taken off his uniform's jacket. It was placed as neatly as it could on the back of the speeder seat. He stood next to Luke as the youth continued to work on the engine. There had been a few hopeful tries at getting the speeder running again, but each time the left engine sputtered out and start spewing fresh steam.

Piett had asked if there was anyone to call that could come aid them. Luke explained this was his family's only speeder. What about someone back at the town? The shopkeep? Luke avoided answering that question saying he could get the speeder going quickly.

It had not been quick.

In fact, by the time the speeder was up and running, the suns were starting to set. Instead of going forward, Luke turned the speeder around.

"Wait? Where are we going?" Piett asked.

"Back to town," Luke said with a sad note in his voice. "Sorry. But by the time we reach the farm, it will be sunset. You won't be able to leave until morning. You don't want to be out here after dark."

Piett silently agreed. He didn't want to impose on the Lars family, plus his allotted time on Tatooine was running slim. He may not make it back to his ship on time if he stayed the night. There was a sinking feeling in his heart as he realized he had failed. His mind started going over how he was going to word his report. The only thing he could report was that the Lars family was still living on Tatooine, though he had only made contact with a nephew.

"I don't know if I'll be of any help," Luke said, "but maybe I know something about this relative?"

"Ever heard of Anakin Skywalker?"

Luke's face fell. There was a slight swerve in the speeder, but the boy quickly corrected the course. He looked straight ahead at the sand for a long quiet moment. Perhaps Piett wouldn't be going back completely empty-handed.

"Anakin Skywalker is the missing relative?" Luke finally asked. "I didn't know he had any other family."

"Well, he does."

There was another long stretch of silence.

"Sorry to tell you this, but Anakin Skywalker is dead. He's been dead for nineteen years now."

Piett nodded. He wasn't sure what to say; he already knew that. He wasn't here looking for Anakin, but for blood relations of Anakin. The Lars family were related to Anakin through the marriage of his mother, but there was a possibility . . .

"I'm Luke Skywalker," Luke said. "Anakin was my father, though I never met him. There's . . . family . . . looking for me?"

It was Piett's turn to be speechless. He was foolish for assuming this boy was a Lars.

"Can I have your comm frequency?" Piett asked. "To put you into contact with my acquaintance?"

"Yes," Luke said eagerly. "Tell me about this acquaintance."

"Yes, uh . . ."

What was he going to say? What could he say?

"I think it may be your mother's side of the family," Piett said. His voice was calm and even, a skill he had mastered working under Darth Vader.

"My mother? I . . . I . . . know nothing of my mother . . ."

Luke looked over so hopeful and eager. It was the look of a little lost boy that yearned to know more of himself. Of his family. Piett's mouth opened. He wanted to say 'I'm so sorry,' but the words never came out.

"I- I'll try to get you in contact with them," he said instead with a tight throat.

Luke smiled. A big genuine smile.

Piett watched the speeder disappear into the darkening horizon. Then he made his way back to his shuttle. He took his time to wash his face, smooth out his hair, and dust off his jacket. Then he sat down in the pilot's chair and brought out his commlink.

He tried to keep calm as the com chimed to confirm the connection. He waited only a few seconds, but it felt far longer as he heard his heart hammering in his ears, as the call connected.

"Captain Piett?"

He bowed his head. "Your highness, I am calling to report. My mission was a success." He raised his head and looked at the blue hologram face.

"You . . . you found them?"

"I found a boy named Luke Skywalker, who claimed to be the son of Anakin Skywalker."

"Was . . . that all?"

"I . . . I'm afraid I was unable to make it to the Lars homestead. There were some difficulties as my speeder broke down. I can postpone my return to Axxila if that is your wish."

"No. Return to the ship. Thank you, captain."

"You're welcome, your highness."

The blue of the hologram blinked off and the call ended. Piett sighed as he leaned back into his seat. That had gone far better than he expected. He sat up to ready the ship for takeoff but his com chimed again.

Odd.

He accepted the call and his heart fell as he was greeted by an all-too-familiar black mask.

"Captain Piett," boomed the voice of Darth Vader.

"Your- your majesty," Piett stuttered.

"It seems you were just in contact with my wife."

"Yes, your majesty."

"She has sent you on an unauthorized mission. Your location has been tracked to . . . Tatooine?"

Piett did not like how Vader had said that name.

"Yes, sir."

"Why are you on Tatooine, captain? Why did my wife send you there?"

What was he going to do? What he was going to say? The Empress hadn't wanted her husband involved.

"It was of a personal nature," Piett said knowing he wasn't going to be able to throw off Vader.

"Personal?" Vader growled.

Despite the heat of the planet still lingering inside the shuttle, it was suddenly quite cold.

"Forgive me, sir, she wanted it kept privately."

He didn't dare add 'from you.'

"There is nothing private between my wife and me," Vader said. "My wife has no private personal matters on that planet. Now tell me, Captain Piett, why are you there?"

Forgive me, your highness, Piett whispered to himself.

"Empress Amidala sent me to Tatooine to find any blood relatives of Anakin Skywalker."

The words had barely left his mouth when Vader spoke. "There are no blood relatives of Anakin Skywalker."

Clearly, there were private matters the Empress kept to herself.

"Forgive me, your majesty, but it appears the Empress' suspicions were true."

Vader was silent for two breaths of his loud respirator. "What? If you are referring to those farmers-"

"No," Piett said, dangerously interrupting the Emperor. "There was a boy. Luke Skywalker." The slight jerk of Vader's helmet did not go unnoticed. "Who said he was the son of Anakin Skywalker."

"Where . . . where is this boy now?"

"He returned back home. To his uncle's farm."

There was another short pause. "Captain Piett, you will stay there and monitor the boy until I arrive."

"Yes, your majesty," Piett said.

The call ended.

Again, Piett fell back into his seat. He closed his eyes and all he could see was the newly crowned Empress Amidala pulling him into a small private sitting room.

"I do not know if I can trust anyone else with this task, Captain," she had said. "You were loyal to my husband during the coup. You also helped free me. What I am about to tell you, you must never tell a single soul, especially my husband."

He had to tell the Empress but decided to send her a text message instead of another call. She may be busy talking with her husband.

The message was short and simple: I have failed. Vader knows.

He was surprised she responded rather quickly.

I know. Take the twins and run before he gets there.

Piett looked at the message and reread it again.

Twins?