TATOOINE
When Luke got home, he expected Owen to be outside with his hands on his hips and a glare on his face but he wasn't. The farm boy hopped out of his speeder and walked toward the stairs and realized that his Beru was making quite a fuss at the table while Owen stood off to the side with the deepest glare on his face. Unsettled, he was worried that his aunt and uncle had somehow heard of his escape to Tosche Station. He pulled his hat from his head, messing with his unruly hair and blowing some air from his cheeks.
"Owen, Beru?" He called, gaining their attention.
Beru's eyes immediately brightened as she jumped from around the table, coming to greet the boy she considered a son with a peck on the cheek. "Oh, Luke!" She started, Luke's lips spilt into a big smile, cheeks dusting slightly into a blush. His aunt had always been overly kind to him with caring smiles and kisses on his cheek; it was a big contrast to how Owen acted. "Luke, someone special is here." She said it like it was some type of secret, Owen's eyes rolled and he let out a huff saying what she could not: "Your sister decided that she wanted to come home."
Luke's face paled considerably, ears ringing and hands sweating. Rene was home? He couldn't help but want to scream, his sister was coming home but so much had changed since the last time they saw each other five years ago. A little twist at his gut made him suddenly very uncomfortable as he took a seat at the table, his hands nervously clasped in front of him. He wondered what she would say, what she would do when she walked in and saw him. Luke had blocked out her existence for five years to avoid the pain of her leaving him yet everyone on Tatooine managed to get some type of say in, teasing him about how his parents didn't want him and neither did his sister.
"Don't let yourself get distracted boy. You'll be working the whole visit anyway." Owen said. Luke's shoulders slumped and he suddenly didn't feel all too much of anything, Owen was right - he was being a foolish kid getting excited over nothing at all. His life couldn't change all too much with a little visit from Rene, she'd come and go like a blink of an eye and Luke would still be stuck on Tatooine.
"Owen," Beru said, voice like silver, "it's okay to get excited. SHe's his sister."
"That girl is trouble," Owen said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest. "She's probably done something to get sent back here."
"It's amazing to hear you haven't changed, Owen." Luke almost jumped at the new voice but recognized the owner almost immediately. She looked...rougher, her eyes brows thick and dark, jawline strong, and arms crossed. She wore a dark grey rough material of Imperial clothing, but clutched an old tunic in her hand- yellowed by the old use; Rene's deep blue sea eyes seemed to soften once she met Luke's eyes; the two siblings both lit up. Years of separation turned this moment into something personal, elation took Rene as she realized that Luke was here and he was safe. She moved forward before Luke could get out of his seat and meet her half way, her arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders, closing her eyes.
Luke was shocked, a little unused to the hugs she gave. He was unused to any affection seeing as everyone avoided him like the Rakghoul Plague, he almost wanted to sink into the hug like it was a soft blanket. Memories of his late nights where he'd be up with nightmares and she'd hug him comfortingly, knowing that Owen wouldn't do what he needed to as an Uncle, those nights where Luke finally felt safe within her arms. Now, it was like a reassurance.
Rene pulled away with a small smile. "What have you been up to, kid?" She asked, eyebrows raised. She felt like she could easily fall back into place here on the farm.
Luke opened his mouth to happily tell her what he had accomplished when Owen spoke up for him, placing his cup of milk down: "Up to no good, that's what." Rene slowly turned her eyes to him, watching him as he continued, glaring at his nephew. "Getting into fights, a day ago he ruined your speeder in one of those childish little races in the canyon."
It was apparent that Owen hadn't changed his ways in five years, he was still incredibly ignorant. His plump face was just asking for a good smack but Rene refrained from doing those actions, her hands coming behind her back in a true General fashion. She raised her chin and stared at Owen from over her nose, a bitter smile taking her lips as she then turned to Luke with jubilant eyes.
"The canyon, huh? How'd you manage that?" Rene asked, softly.
Luke's shoulders slumped and he let out a nervous laugh as he worked his hands together nervously in his lap. He expected her to be annoyed, to hear that chiding tone of "Luke" and she would push his shoulder but she was eerily calm, almost like she had trained herself to remain impassive all the time. Luke looked down at his lap, picking at the material of his tunic as he explained slowly, not wanting to look Owen in the eyes and see his uncontrolled anger again.
"Well, Fixer said that he could beat you and Biggs any day so..I challenged him to go through Beggar's Canyon." Luke shifted, uncomfortable with the silence. If only he had looked up to see Rene had a grin forming on her lips and pride swelling in her eyes. "I went through the Stone Needle and, kinda maybe, messed up your speeder."
He expected the same outburst he had gotten from Owen that night, flaring eyes blinded by white hot anger, mouth pulled down in the most horrifying frown he's ever seen. But looking up, he saw that Rene only smiled at him, a hand placed on his shoulder as she winked. "Fixer always talked big, it's good to see you having fun." She ruffled his hair and was going to leave when Owen called to her: "I hope you know you're out of here as soon as your work is done."
Rene smirked, "Don't worry, Owen, I wouldn't want to stay too long in your company." She shot back and then disappeared where her and Luke's old bedroom was.
Owen let out a grumble, standing from his seat. Luke glanced at his uncle, pulling up the oversized belt around his waist.. "Come on, the Jawas should be here soon." He informed his nephew. He started toward the stairs and Luke was close behind with a distasteful expression on his face. "I know you didn't finish what you were doing out there."
"I-I'm sorry, sir." Luke's voice shook slightly, thumb pinched by his pointer finger. He couldn't let his panic show or Owen would get even more angry and Rene...well, Luke wasn't even sure what Rene would do anymore. She seemed nonchalant and the air around her was cool, eyes deep with a silent anger yet expression passive. It was a big difference from the girl he knew five years earlier.
Just like every month, the Jawas were outside and already lining up the droids they managed to snag somewhere on Tatooine. The Jawas didn't have the best reputation on Tatooine, they'd just about take anything off your property if it wasn't bolted down. Yet he'd never forget the one time they gave him parts for his Skyhopper, he thought they had been from Owen but shortly after them arriving at home Owen had let out a burst of rage, taking the tools from him and then speeding off into the distance while Rene tried to comfort the hysterical 9-year-old. For that moment Luke felt excited about something his uncle gave him, he felt like he had cared..until he got home.
"Luke!" Came Aunt Beru's call from inside. Luke rushed to the edge, looking down at her. "Tell Owen that if he gets a translator to be sure it speaks Bocce."
Luke glanced at the line of droids and shrugged lazily. "It looks like we don't have much of a choice but I'll remind him." He turned back to the group to see Owen was already questioning the protocol droid. "Owen, Aunt Beru wants a translator who speaks Bocce."
"Oh, Bocce is like a second language to me!" Exclaimed the protocol droid, hopping a little. Luke took this chance to assess this protocol droid with a soft smile, the droids hardly talked but this one seemed rather jubilant; he had gold plating with dents and dust on him, Luke even noticed that one of the plates on his leg was silver. The protocol droid hobbled to stand up a little straighter, hands coming up to cover his abdomen. "I'm fluent in over 6 million forms of communication."
"Okay, shut up." Owen waved a hand in front of the droid's face and turned to the Jawa next to him. "I'll take this one."
"Shutting up, sir." The protocol droid nodded.
"Luke, take these two over to the garage, will you?" Owen gestured to the protocol droid and then to the red R2 unit.
Luke frowned, Biggs would be leaving soon and he was stuck here taking care of some droids. Yet Luke knew that he should be grateful that Uncle Owen hadn't done anything else but wash up this protocol droid and the red R2 unit. Nevertheless, the blonde boy could help but let out a whine: "But I was going to Tosche Station to pick up some power converters!"
Owen shot a glare at his nephew. "You can waste time with your friends when your chores are done. Now come one, get to it!"
Luke's muscles in his jaw clenched and he nodded slowly, demanding the droids following him. The pompous protocol droid jumped a little in shock and shuffled over to Luke's side, the latter turned towards the home hoping to get through this fast enough and possibly visit Biggs at his family's farm. He stopped to turn around when he didn't hear the red R2 unit's trilling beeps behind him, seeing the droid sputter a few times in difficulty. He squinted just as the astromech burst into a cloud of black smoke, he sighed irritably and walked forward to take a quick look.
Luke clenched his hand on the dome of the astromech, his shoulders slumped and he called over: "Uncle Owen, this R2 unit has a bad motivator. Look!" He pointed toward the black smoke.
Owen's brows pulled down and he glared down at the Jawas. "Hey, what're you trying to push on us?" The Jawas and Owen proceeded to fight while another group of Jawas helped take the red R2 unit back over to the line.
C3PO was rather silent as he took in his surroundings, he wasn't exactly excited that he was now someone else's property but it would get him away from the dangers out there. His photoreceptors landed on his usual companion, his blue fading and white dity he looked nothing like the shining R2-D2 that was on the Tantive only hours ago. His mechanical heart was heavy and guilt somehow twisting his inner circuitry, a malfunction went through him as he tapped Luke's shoulder and took his chance to point toward R2 who waited in the line with the other droids. "Sir, that R2 unit is in prime condition. A real bargain." He affirmed.
"Uncle Owen," Luke called again.
Owen sighed, "Yeah?"
"What about that one?" Luke pointed toward R2.
Owen looked toward R2 who shook from one leg to the other. "What about that blue one? We'll take that one."
As R2 joined Luke and 3PO, the golden one decided to vouch for his counterpart. "I'm quite sure you'll be very pleased with that one, sir." Luke wasn't sure about what he was talking about but he didn't really care either, he just wanted all of this to be over quick. 3PO spoke again, "He really is in first-class condition. I've worked with him before. Here he comes."
Luke started to lead them to the garage. 3PO looked down at R2 who beeped sheepishly his thanks, 3PO slapped a hand on his dome. "Now, don't you forget this! Why I should stick my neck out for you is quite beyond my capacity!" He snapped.
R2 let out a quiet string of binary: I THINK YOU'RE FOND OF ME.
"Ha! In your sick machinery."
Luke fell back into his chair as soon as he got the two new droids situated. 3PO was going to have an oil bath so he'd be cleaner, any of his rusty and corroded parts would surely come loose in 15 or so minutes while R2 was plugged in to charge up. While the boy seemed present in his fiddling with the Skyhopper toy in his hands, Luke wasn't really there- his mind on the presence upstairs that seemed to be making itself known every moment. Rene thought she could just come home and act like everything was normal? She had left him when he needed her most and now she was skipping right back in seemingly back in her old place and not questioning for a moment if this was weird. Luke couldn't help but feel a stroke of annoyance at the dragon in his gut for her attempts of being his sister again...he loved her dearly but she had let him down.
He used to blindly follow her every word, she would say "jump" and he'd say "how high?" and he would do it with all the admiration in the galaxy. Yet that day that she ruffled his hair and turned her back from him was the day a part of himself died. Luke had wanted to chase after her but something in the back of his mind tingled and warned him to follow his own path for now so even he had turned his back to the life they once had. Both of them inevitably left the other behind.
"Thank the maker!" 3PO cried in relief, dragging Luke from his thoughts and to where the golden droid was sunk into the oil. "This oil bath is going to feel so good. I've got such a bad case of dust contamination, I can barely move!"
R2 responded with: YOU'RE BEING DRAMATIC. AGAIN.
Luke clenched his hand and jumped up from his seat. "It just isn't fair!" He placed the toy down and crossed his arm, "Oh, Biggs is right. I'm never gonna get out of here!"
"Is there anything I might do to help?" 3PO asked nicely, tilting his head.
Luke glanced at him with a little amusement. Usually droids hadn't asked him many questions but it seemed that this guy and his little friend had quite the personality; which was odd considering they were supposed to be neutral in situations. "Well, not unless you can alter time, speed up the harvest, or teleport me off this rock!" He whined.
3PO shook his head, seemingly considering his actual powers. "I don't think so, sir. I'm only a droid and not very knowledgeable about such things. Not on this planet, anyways. As a matter of fact, I'm not even sure which planet I'm on."
Luke was quick to snap a response, "Well, if there's a bright center to the universe, you're on the planet that it's farthest from."
"I see, sir." 3PO said awkwardly.
Luke stood to grab a part so he could clean up R2. "Uh, you can call me Luke."
"And I am C3PO, human-cyborg relations, and this is my counterpart, R2-D2." 3PO respectfully gestured toward his friend.
Luke nodded to the blue and white droid. "Hello." R2 let out a sheepish hello himself, Luke continued to clean the droid and then noticed something in a compartment that was sherp and stuck in there nicely. Luke let out a grunt. "You got a lot of carbon scoring here. It looks like you boys have seen a lot of action."
"With all we've been through, sometimes I'm amazed we're in as good condition as we are, what with the Rebellion and all."
Luke shot up with wide eyes, "You know of the Rebellion against the Empire?" If they knew the Rebellion then maybe they had connections...there was even a good possibility that the Rebellion could be looking for them! Luke could score a good word with the Rebellion then hop ship with them, with his luck he could even be with Biggs.
"That's how we came to be in your service, if you take my meaning, sir."
"Have you been in many battles?" He asked hopefully.
"Several, I think." 3PO tilted his head as if he was thinking. "Actually, there's not much to tell. I'm not much of an interpreter, and not very good at telling stories. Well, not at making them interesting, anyways."
Luke had since turned back to R2 and was picking at some thick coating on him. He grunted in an attempt to get it off. "Well, my little friend, you've got something jammed in here real good. Were you on a cruiser or-"
The fragment broke loose from R2 with a snap, Luke fell back on his bottom. Immediately a hologram shot from R2, one of Princess Leia that quickly distorted to Commander Flores giving R2 a reassuring look. Luke's mind was focused on the captain, her features soft but plagued of everything that she had seen. Yes, the princess before was beautiful but something about the other was just. . .she was different. Not in the type of different people usually thought when seeing something odd and they were trying to be polite but she was different from any woman he had seen on Tatooine...both of them quite beautiful.
"Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope." Princess Leia pleaded.
Imogen came into frame: "We've got company!"
The scene repeated many times before Luke's eyes and he longed for more information. "Who is she? Both of them...they're beautiful." He said it in a breath, if he were in some time of daze.
"That's our previous master's assistant, Commander Flores of the Rebel Alliance." 3PO said, sighing sadly. "I do not believe Master Flores survived."
Luke's heart felt heavy and he gestured toward the hologram. "Is there more to this recording?" he moved to mess with R2 but the droid rolled back, denying any such thing.
"Behave yourself, Artoo." 3PO warned. R2 let out a whistle and the protocol droid tilted his head. "He says he's the property of Obi-Wan Kenobi, a resident of these parts. And it's a private message for him. Quite frankly, sir, I don't know what he's talking about. Our last master was Captain Antillies, but with what we've been through, this little R2 unit has become a bit eccentric."
Luke leaned back on the step in thought. "Obi-Wan Kenobi? I wonder if he means old Ben Kenobi?" He pondered to himself. Ben Kenobi had been someone he had run into quite a few times, once when he was no more than three-years-old then another time when he and his friend Deak had gotten stuck in a sandstrom with a less than friendly Krayt Dragon. Every time he just managed to come moments before the boy himself could get hurt too bad, there had been once or twice where Rene herself had come home with the old hermit gripping her shoulder.
"I beg your pardon, sir, but do you know what he's talking about?"
"Well, I don't know anyone named Obi-Wan, but old Ben lives out beyond the dune sea. Rene used to bring him food and such until Uncle Owen found out. . .he's kind of a strange old hermit." Luke rubbed his chin in thought while he gazed at the princess and her commander. "I wonder who they are. It sounds like they're in trouble. I'd better play back the whole thing."
R2 let out some binary and 3PO translated: "He says the restraining bolt has short circuited his recording system. He suggests that if you remove the bolt, he might be able to play back the entire recording."
Luke stared at the princess and then at the Rebel Captain longingly, both of them amazingly beautiful in their own ways. He wondered what they were like. . ."Hm?" he came back to his senses, not hearing a word 3PO has said. "Oh, yeah, well, I guess you're too small to run away on me if I take this off! Okay!"
Luke took a wedge bar and the restraining bolt popped off with a little tink. The hologram flickered out and a quick preview of old recording from when R2 had first met the brunette woman. Then it was all gone. Luke's brows pulled down in annoyance.
"Where'd they go? Bring them back! Play back the entire message!" Luke demanded of the little R2 unit.
R2 was quick to sound a little sheepish: I DON'T UNDERSTAND, WHAT MESSAGE?
"What message?" 3PO snapped, smacking the top of his dome. "The one you're carrying inside your rusty innards!"
Before Luke could do much, his aunt's voice filled the air: "Luke? Luke! Come to dinner!"
"All right, I'll be right there, Aunt Beru!" He called. Luke turned and looked to R2 and 3PO. "See what you can do with him."
Luke turned and started to walk out when a little droid came speeding by, happily beeping and shrilling. His face immediately brightened at the sight of the QT-R9, the blue and green droid came to a stop once he realized that he passed the man he intended to see. QT whipped around and went to Luke, circling his feet while he told of the adventures him and Rene had partaken in. He knelt down and QT bumped into his knees, knocking him back with a laugh.
"It's good to see you, Q!" Luke exclaimed, lips pulled up to his ears. He gently pushed a fist against QT's round base. The therapy droid let out a satisfied string of shrills. "So, I'll assume dinner's ready?" He asked softly and with some weight on his shoulders.
QT dipped his head, answering: SHE'S PREPARED A GREAT MEAL.
"Thanks, Q." Luke stood and looked toward the awkward 3PO and innocent R2, he gestured to them. "Make yourselves acquainted. Oh and, 3PO? Work on getting that hologram."
"Of course, Master Luke." 3PO nodded and watched him go, he shuffled to QT who tilted his little dome head. "Hello, I am C-3PO and this is my counterpart, R2-D2. You are?"
Luke's footsteps were small and hesitant, with each shuffle he drew closer to facing his sister once more and his anxiety felt like it would burst through his chest. The pieces of some big puzzle in his life had finally fallen into place but it felt so wrong at this time, it wasn't right to fill this void and act like she had been absent for five years or she would stay after she was done with her trip. Whatever she came for would obviously be found or destroyed and she'd go back to whatever fleet she'd come from for the rest of her life. Luke stopped outside the kitchen entrance and his hand hid under the hand me down tunic sleeves, nervously fiddling with the fabric as he watched Rene place various foods into bowls/plates.
He stood there for a few minutes before she spoke up: "19 years and you still haven't lost that awkward shuffle." She had a smirk and wiped her hands on the dish rag, raising a brow.
She looked so..natural here, it was almost like she hadn't left at all. That's what frustrated Luke the most, that she could so elegantly enter and leave his life like it was nothing while he was left drowning in the repercussions. He could only let out an embarrassed laugh and look to the ground. "Well, I didn't have you around to boss me around."
"Boss you around," Rene rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I never ordered you around, I gave you direction."
Luke let out a snort, shrugging he'd rather not fight with her even if it was a quick little teasing argument. Her presence was enough to make him feel all sorts of things, the overwhelming calm or the shot of anger that would pulse through him every now and then but really it had been dread and excitement that drove him the most. Luke's thoughts darkened and he brought himself to realize that she wasn't here for him at all, she was here for some bigger Imperial problem and he was just a plus side to her work. Yet...
"I can't believe you're here, this is so surreal." He mumbled.
Rene chuckled softly, "I missed you so much, Luke." Her face pinched for a moment as if she were trying to flinch but quickly masked it with a smile as she gestured to him. "You've gotten taller, unfortunately."
'Not tall enough to stand up against Owen.' He let out a shaky breath, realizing that he shouldn't have those thoughts- that he should be grateful for his uncle. Rene's eyebrows frowned on her face and she took a step forward, he jumped back and held out his hands. "I really should set the table, Owen won't be happy." He left without Rene could possibly answer.
Rene stood in the middle of the kitchen with the metal spook in her hand being the only thing holding her in reality. Their conversation was so cold and stiff like they had been old neighbors more than siblings that had been separated; they both had changed more than she had hoped. Luke was less enthusiastic and quiet, something so different from the bright and hyper boy she had last seen- even his posture was different, hunched and broken. It was almost like he had broken after she left which made her gut swirl. Owen must've taken his shot with her absence to take out all his hardships out on him, no longer was Luke that hyperactive boy- at least not on the outside.
With a huff, she turned back to the food and shook her head. Possibly Owen would allow Luke to leave with her and they could both go away from the Empire, she could finally have him safe. Rene scoffed at herself, Owen would never allow this in a hundred years- he'd even proudly proclaimed to Luke "you'll never fly as long as I'm alive!" when he was just nine-years-old. Owen hated Rene and Rene wasn't too fond of him herself due to their constant bickering as a child yet he seemed to restrain himself today, probably for Beru the woman was incredibly happy for her return even if Owen and Luke seemed to hold their own worries.
"Rene," Beru called from the entrance and the niece turned towards her aunt. Beru held a small and careful smile, nodding her head back. "go sit down, the places have been set."
Rene nodded in her silent agreement, placing the spoon and rag down on the counter next to it. She walked out and sat down on the right side across from Luke who only regarded her with a glance, her eyes merely running over Owen at the head of the table with disdain. The older man was quick to catch her eyes and they hardened in anger as she placed a napkin in her lap.
"You've always been too smart for everyone, hm?" Owen asked, voice eerily cold.
While Luke glanced between them anxiously, Rene snorted: "Well that can't be too hard in your presence, Uncle Owen." She spat out the term like it was pure sin. It held all the anger and spite she had for the man and all the while, hiding the fact that she loved pressing his buttons.
Owen's eyes narrowed and his brows dipped, his fist coming down on the table making Luke want to scramble while Rene sat blank faced. "You will not disrespect me under my own roof!" He shouted.
"That's a ceiling," Rene pointed up, she tilted her head and made a cooing noise. "Don't worry, Owen, architecture is hard."
"Listen here, girl-!" Owen stood but Rene cut him off: "Owen, I think you should watch your temper around the company."
Owen was ready to blow his lid when Beru came back into the room, holding a tray full of bowls and various foods. Rene sent him a bitter smile then a genuine one directed to Luke expecting to see that giddy grin he'd given her so many times before but now his face was pale and he glanced nervously at Owen before quickly grabbing his servings. Another change in her brother seemed his lack of protest at anything Owen did, back then he would giggle and grin with her. She took a deep breath and grabbed her plate, the only sound in the room was the clanking of utensils against plates; Rene's mind suddenly consumed the contents on the plate, the food in the Empire was never really good but this was something else entirely. Dustcrepes and nausages were on the plate tonight, nausages being one of Luke's favorite foods...or the last she could remember; duscrepes were meat (of what animal Rene didn't really remember) encased by a rough bread, true Tatooine specialty. The nausages were indescribable for Rene in her opinion the dark meat was bitter and a reminder of how depressing Tatooine was. Just like a child, Rene pushed some of her food to the side and took small bites.
Thankfully, someone broke the silence: "So what have you come home for, dear?" Beru asked softly, sparing Owen who scoffed a glance.
Rene smiled softly, shrugging. She couldn't exactly come right out and say that Darth Vader himself had sent her here for two droids that were said to be somewhere in this area, it'd be foolish to reveal it all. "Just some small business for the Empire, that's all." She said with a small and thin smile, she saw Luke's fork stab a little hard into his dustcrepe in the corner of her eyes. Was he upset?
"Hopefully, that business ends soon." Owen said, making Rene's mind break from Luke back to the older man at the head of the table.
"With me around, it ought to." Rene said sharply, returning back to her food.
There was small chatter around the table the whole while they ate. Rene would tell stories when prompted from someone, although Owen never really said anything past the usual snark. Luke really took this time to assess his sister. She was slumped in her chair like an old man after a day's work, her hair free from its entanglement, and Imperial uniform loose. He wondered if she planned to stay for a little while.
Rene's mind however was how she would manage to escape her family in search of the droids. Yes, she loved her family- adored them. But the plans had to be put first. She simply couldn't think of a way that she could both spend time with her family and effectively find the droids before the Empire. One of her friends that she was recruited with promised to stick with the Death Star while she was sent to Tatooine. Of course, it took some convincing but, in the end, she was here and Ilyasah was on the Death Star.
She wondered what would happen after she delivered the plans to the Rebellion. If it was going to truly go to their favor or all of this would be the end. It would leave with their loss and they'd just have to accept it. The Empire seemed to grow stronger every day and the fact that Darth Vader knew of Beru and Owen unsettled her greatly. These plans better be close by.
"You know," Luke started, picking at his food. "I think that R2 unit we bought might have been stolen."
Rene raised a brow, "Oh, really? Another Jawa sale?" She asked but ultimately went ignored.
"What makes you think that?" Owen asked, looking to his nephew.
"Well, I stumbled across this recording while I was cleaning him. He says he belongs to someone called Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Immediately, Rene sat forward with interest suddenly not very interested in the food but these droids seemed much more interesting then the quickly cooling food. No one noticed her attention had shifted and gave their own reactions: Owen narrowed his eyes and Beru looked to her husband with silent acceptance. The last time she had seen Obi-Wan was the day that she was leaving...he was silent and calculated, stroking his beard and nodding as Rene explained herself and Owen's outburst: "Maybe if my father wasn't a Jedi then I wouldn't have any of these problems!" She had yelled, shaking her head.
Obi-Wan didn't look upset or annoyed but he looked like he was contemplating, finally he spoke and his voice seemed to reveal his emotions. "You are in control of your destiny, Rene." Something about that statement had made anger well up inside her, the rest of that night was a blur but the next thing she knew she was waking up aboard a transport. She thought that maybe Obi-Wan had died somewhere deep within the Jundland Wastes but now there were two droids trying to locate him...possibly droids that she was looking for.
Owen glared at Luke. "That old man's just a crazy old wizard. Tomorrow I want you to take that R2 unit to Anchorhead and have its memory flushed. That'll be the end of it. It belongs to us now."
"But what if this Obi-Wan comes looking for him?" Luke asked with naive eyes.
Rene laughed softly, "Oh, he won't." She muttered, now leaning back in her seat again and having long left her dinner.
"The only concern you have is to prepare the new droids for tomorrow. In the morning I want them on the south ride working out those condensers." Owen ordered.
"Yes, sir." Luke nodded. Everyone turned quite yet again and went back to their food. Luke bit his lip. "I think those new droids are going to work out just fine. In fact, I, uh, was also thinking about our agreement about my staying on another season. And if these new droids do work out, I want to transmit my application to the Academy this year." Luke announced.
Rene blinked and stared at her brother. The Imperial Academy? Luke, a stormtrooper? The day she saw him working for the Empire would be the day that she died. She looked to Owen whose face looked crestfallen.
"You mean the next semester before harvest?"
Luke shrugged, "Sure, there're more than enough droids."
"Harvest is when I need you the most. Only one more season. This year we'll make enough on the harvest so I'll be able to hire some more hands. And then you can go to the Academy next year." Owen told him. Luke's attention had suddenly been caught by the food on his plate, Rene stared at him sadly. Luke had dreams and aspirations and being on Tatooine wasn't exactly going to help. She felt bad for the kid. "You must understand I need you here, Luke."
"But it's a whole 'nother year."
"Look, it's only one more season."
Luke's anger flashed in his chest like a dragon. He pushed his plate across the table and stood to leave. "Yeah, that's what you said last year when Biggs and Rene left." He snapped at his uncle.
Aunt Beru said, "Where are you going?"
"It looks like I'm going nowhere. I have to finish cleaning those droids." Luke was quick to snap, he rushed out of the dining area and to the surface.
Rene stared after him, then looked to her uncle. "Do you ever think you overwork him?" She stood and placed her hands in her pockets as she stood.
Owen shot her a look and the muscles in his jaw obviously flexed with rage. "By the end of tomorrow, you'll be gone and not my problem." He seemingly reminded himself, ignoring the question that had an easy answer. All his life Luke had worked, it seemed the moment he could grab, walk, and talk Owen was interested in how he could contribute to the farm; Rene had held him off for as long as she could, taking on more of a workload and even dropping out of only school available in their area. It hadn't been enough because by five Luke was pulling apart vaporators and putting them back together by himself.
Rene let out a scoff and seemed to head off in the direction of the garage. Beru let out a soft sigh, wanting nothing more for the family to be together and act like her own family...she wanted nothing more than them to joke and talk about their days but she would never get that with Rene and Luke, would she?
"They're too much like their father." Beru said, knowing what was on Owen's mind.
Owen clenched his hands. "That's what I'm afraid of."
Luke paused at the surface, his eyes dragged over to binary sunset on the edge of the horizon. The purple, orange, and yellows of the sky seemed to blend together. Luke wondered what could be beyond that horizon but he couldn't leave Tatooine. It was the only thing he knew, the only home he'd ever have, the only place that could possibly make Luke feel trapped. He brought his head down in exasperation and then back up to look at the horizon with a new light in his eyes.
Luke couldn't give up yet, not while the galaxy remained unexplored for him. Some day, he thought, I will visit every star and every planet in the galaxy. He knew that it was very unlikely but the boy would dream and dream, he would always look toward the horizon. He would travel every star system like his father before him.
"Some things don't change." Rene called making Luke turn around. She seemed amused but her eyes held sympathies for him. She walked forward and joined his side, the sky slowly turning more purple. "I've never understood why you liked staring at the suns so much- In fact, I don't understand you at all, Luke. The Academy, really?"
Luke rolled his eyes, ready to walk into the garage where his chore waited. "Not you too." he grumbled. He had gotten enough of this from Owen, he didn't need Rene to join in on the 'keep Luke on Tatooine' party.
"Luke, the Empire isn't for you, trust me on this."
"Rene, why do you get to get off this planet and I don't? It's not fair!"
"If life was fair, there'd be no Empire." Rene said calmly, not raising her voice to Luke's volume. "But there is and there is no chance that I'm letting you get involved in that."
"I'm a big boy, I can make my own choices."
"The fact that you called yourself 'big boy' proves you can't," Rene crossed her arms and stared at him sadly. "You see the Academy as something that'll get you out of here but the moment you do, you belong to the Empire. You're not Luke Skywalker or Luke Larrs, you're just a number in their systems until you're killed. And I can't let you live like that, Luke."
Luke turned silent. A number, he would be just a number? In the back of his mind, he reconsidered his dreams but he knew. . .he knew that he didn't have any other chance of getting off Tatooine. And he could tell that Rene knew that too but desperately wanted his aspirations to change. Luke was stubborn and so was Rene, Beru said that they got it from their father, and every argument they had ended up dissipated because they couldn't reach common ground.
In the end, Luke would leave Tatooine a soldier.
Rene sighed, turning on her heel. "I'm gonna check on Q, where is he?" She inquired while heading for the garage.
"The garage." He muttered, following her. Luke just wanted to clean up R2 and 3PO then head in for the night, hopefully pull out one of his old encyclopedias and find out who that woman in white was from the recording.
The garage door slid open and the two Skywalker siblings walked in with caution at the silence and darkness. Rene walked in, looked around and then threw her arms in the air with a questioning glare at Luke. The farm boy snatched the controller off his belt and pressed the button, sending a buzz through the garage and causing 3PO to jump from behind the family speeder.
Luke furrowed his brows fondly, tilting his head while Rene looked ready to puke. "What are you doing hiding in there?" He asked softly.
"It wasn't my fault, sir! Please don't deactivate me! I told him not to go, but he's malfunctioning; kept babbling on about his mission then the little ball droid talked about his own mission!" 3PO was quick to explain himself while throwing his counterpart and new friend under the bus.
"Oh, no!" Luke breathed, rushing to the surface with Rene and 3PO close behind.
Luke searched the surface with his binoculars while Rene clutched her commlink, hopefully getting a moment to contact the Rebellion.
"These R2 units have always been a problem." 3PO muttered bitterly, waiting for Luke to make some type of find. "These astro-droids are getting quite out of hand. Even I can't understand their logic at times."
"Q!" Rene cupped his mouth and called.
"They're nowhere in sight!" Luke ran a hand through his hair and placed her binoculars back on his belt.
"Pardon me, sir, but couldn't we just go after them?" The golden protocol droid inquired.
"It's too dangerous with all the Tuskens. We'll have to wait until morning."
"You don't know Artoo, he may be hard to keep track of but he's loyal." Rene shrugged, glancing at 3PO who jumped a little and shuffled to face her.
Luke raised an eyebrow, "And how do you know that?"
"Why, General Skywalker, what a kind surprise!" 3PO exclaimed, sounding relieved and extremely confused at her presence.
Rene rounded on him, eyes dark and shoulders stiff. "Threepio!" The golden droid threw his hand over his face as if to block a blow.
"General?!" Luke repeated in shock. "Wait, I thought you said you were a pilot in the Empire? How do you know each other?"
"Well, I flipped the truth." Rene shrugged and Luke's chin dropped while his eyes narrowed. She glanced at 3PO who had since shuffled closer to her as if she would keep him safe. "I, uh, transported a convoy with him on it one time. He was trouble."
3PO scoffed while Luke's lips twitched up.
"You think Artoo is a handful? Wait until you send this guy to work." Rene pointed to 3PO.
"That reminds me, ma'am, did you ever find-"
Rene nodded before he could finish. "Of course I did, Threepio."
"Luke, Rene, I'm shutting the power down for the night!" Owen called from below.
"We'll be right down!" Luke bellowed then looked toward the sand at his feet. "Boy, am I going to get it."
"You are?" Rene repeated, her head tilted. "Oh, you bet you are. My droid is gone because your little Artoo has a mind of his own!"
Luke shot her a glare and looked to 3PO. "That little droid has caused me a lot of problems."
3PO was on the verge of chuckling, if he was programmed to. "Oh, he excels at that, sir."
"So, he's gone to find Obi-Wan Kenobi?" Rene questioned the two, trying to act oblivious as to the situation. They both nodded and she sighed. "Well, that's great."
"Do you know him?" Luke asked softly.
"Kenobi? I suppose you could call him an old friend." Rene said softly, she squinted at the horizon and bit at her lower lip, a usual tell that she was lying.
More than an old friend, Kenobi was like an uncle to her. Of course, when she found out that he was still on Tatooine, she would visit him. When Owen found out, he blew up in a sputtering rage. Not only did he yell at Rene, he made sure she didn't go out alone for years. If it was with Luke, Beru, or himself, she was never alone. She had to say, it was worth it all in the end.
She wanted those old days, surprisingly. It held a lot less secrets.
"Mistress Rene, may I ask you something?" 3PO asked sheepishly, tilting his head.
"Of course, Threepio." Rene stuffed her hands in her pockets and turned on her heel to go inside.
"Are you still working with the Rebellion?"
Rene whirled around yet again, "Threepio!"
"Rebellion?!" Luke exclaimed, shock and betrayal lacing his tone. Rene met his eyes and saw that not only was his hurt, Luke looked like he was beyond happy with this reveal. "You're working with the Rebellion?"
"Listen, Luke, this is a lot more complicated than it seems." Rene said quickly.
"How long have you been lying to us-to me?" He demanded.
"I never lied to you, I just-"
"-bended the truth," Luke finished for her sharply. "You seem to be doing that a lot."
"Oh, don't be dramatic." Rene snapped. She rubbed her hand over her face and shook her head, laughing softly. "I can't just go around telling people I'm part of the Rebel Alliance, Luke!"
"I'm not just people, I'm your brother!" Luke shot back.
They had a standoff and both held their own emotions.
Rene: confusion and acceptance that she might have done something wrong.
Luke: betrayal and annoyance. Yet again Rene proved that she could lie really good.
"Was it something I said?" 3PO asked sheepishly, picking up on the anger between siblings.
"You know they're carrying a message then?" Luke asked softly. His face fell into realization and even more hurt. "You only came home to take them to the Rebellion."
Rene hesitated, not looking away from him. "Yes." She mumbled.
Luke's eyes filled with angry tears and he threw a hand in the direction of the increasingly uncomfortable 3PO. "Then once you found them you were just going to leave me behind again! You get to have all the adventures while I'm stuck here, collecting water." He spat.
Rene saw his point of view but. . ."Luke, it's not my fault." She appealed.
"Right," Luke sneered. He clenched his jaw and shouldered past her. "Take your stupid droids and get out of here."
Rene stood on the surface watching Luke go with sad eyes. 3PO glanced from where Luke disappeared and then to Rene. Well, this was going to be a great team.