OLD BEN'S HOME
Rene entered the homestead for the first time in years and stared around in a daze, remembering the days she would train in the small home. Memories of her getting frustrated and Obi-Wan's chasting, "Find your peace, you are one with the Force." It was almost refreshing to be back at the home, to get a breath of fresh air. She was quick to take her place on the couch and bring her feet to the table in front of her while Luke hesitated.
Obi-Wan entered just behind Luke, raising a brow at Rene. "Surely, you could take your feet off my table?" He asked while he moved forward, making more room for his guests. Blindly, he waved Luke toward the couch where Rene lounged at and moved a chair for R2 to fit. It wasn't really the biggest house but it was decent for only one man living there.
"Actually, yes, I could." Rene drew out, smirking. Obi-Wan shot her one of his looks and the Skywalker was quick to rest her feet on the ground, crossing her arms. She tilted her head and searched the small home, her gaze curious. The liveliness that had once been there was gone, the walls vacant and area around her as well, the Jedi had sunken himself into solitude.
Luke frowned, tilting his head in wonder. "It's not entirely..cozy here..." It wasn't a question, it was entirely an observation.
"Yeah," Rene answered simply, looking to her lap.
Obi-Wan sighed softly, glancing between the siblings and cautiously stroking his beard. Was this really a good time to lay everything bare? To tell them of their father's actions, what he had become? Silently, he made up his mind. He knew that he couldn't tell too much now, it wasn't in their destiny.
"I knew your father since he was a young boy," he started, catching their attention. His eyes were glazed as he recalled the past. Remembering a small boy, smiling up at him and asking if he was a Jedi like Qui-Gon. "He was a great boy, talented, I was hesitant to bring him along. My master grew interested, and took him to Coruscant where he became a Padawan. . .my Padawan, shortly after I was declared a Jedi Knight."
"Jedi Knight?" Luke repeated breathlessly, eyes wide and in awe. "My father didn't fight in the wars. He was a navigator on a spice freighter."
Obi-Wan eyed the boy with soft amusement. "That's what your uncle told you. He didn't hold with your father's ideals. Thought he should have stayed here and not gotten involved." He informed.
"You fought in the Clone Wars?" Luke leaned forward, ignoring Rene's small huff.
"Yes, I was once a Jedi Knight the same as your father."
Luke's expression had fallen and he fell back, eyes sadly regarding his father's old master. He glanced nervously at Rene who watched the interaction with the utmost curiosity. "I wish I'd known him." He murmured, eyebrows drawn.
Rene reached forward, placing her hand on his shoulder. "I'll tell you anything you want to know, Luke, you know that." she confided.
Luke knew this, of course he did. But he felt like a burden and. . .a little jealous. Rene would be sharing her stories and her memories of their father when Luke had none. She could recall running around meadows while he chased her but Luke recalled chasing womp rats that were trying to get Beru's food. She remembered him guiding her to sleep but he remembered clutching to Rene while Jabba's goons came in the night for their tax. Their childhoods were different, very different but seemed to lead them to the same place. Without their father.
"Yes, I do." Luke affirmed, nodding slowly at her.
Obi-Wan glanced at them again and then started hesitantly himself, "He was the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior. I understand you've become quite a good pilot yourself." He started, smiling toward Luke whose cheeks turned red and looked down. "And he was a good friend. Which reminds me. . ."
Obi-Wan got up and walked over to a wooden box, it was scratched up a bit and Rene's eyes brightened upon spotting it. She remembered what was confined within the box, the saber that she could remember trying to clip off her father's belt, to play with. Rene could remember him kneeling and staring at her with amusement, wagging a finger while saying in a fake scold: "Now, Rey Rey, this is no toy, okay? If you want to look at it, you just have to ask daddy." Of course, those days were rare seeing as he was hardly home. With the fact that her parentage was a secret to the Jedi ( as they were not supposed to have any attachments, especially children of their own ) and the Clone Wars, it was a wonder that she and her mother lasted so long. And the fact that the saber was still intact and useful was a wonder as well. Obi-Wan had told her how bad her father was at keeping sabers safe, so this was the last trace of her father in the galaxy. Maybe that was a good thing.
She watched Obi-Wan's wrinkled hand reach into the box, delicately taking out the ancient weapon. "Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it." He held out the hilt to Luke who glanced at Rene with confusion and took it, standing. "He feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some foolish idealistic crusade like your father did."
Luke frowned, "What is this?"
Rene smiled in a bittersweet way, "It's dad's lightsaber." She stood and held out a hesitant hand, Luke placed it in her hand and she ran her dainty fingers over it. She then reached from inside her jacket where she concealed her saber and pulled it out. Rene pinned the sabers up and activated them both. The orange and blue reflected off both their faces and realization painted Luke's features once again while Rene watched him. She smiled shyly, "Luke, those years ago that Owen kicked me out with the wind...he did that because I told him of my pursuit to learn the Force."
Luke's mouth opened and closed similar to a fish. His eyes wide. "A Jedi?" He repeated.
"No. Just...learning the Force." She couldn't bring herself to adore the very order that had taken her father, she hadn't wanted to be a Jedi. Just… a Force user. At a safe distance, Rene started to twirl her saber as she explained. "Lightsabers are delicate, ancient weapons, you have to treat them with care." She deactivated the sabers and then held out their father's and continued to explain. "I knew what our father was growing up, I couldn't remember everything but I remembered him being a Jedi. So I searched for Obi-Wan and wound up here and I would come here to train. . .until Owen found out." She shuttered. "But I know this is my path and, well, I think you should at least learn how to control the Force. . ."
Luke activated the saber while faintly listening to her little story, waving it around. His eyes glazed over and he couldn't seem to take his eyes off as he heard all types of things emitting from the saber. Like it was someone else holding it. It almost became deafening as Luke tried to not only concentrate on his sister's voice but also what was being said to him inside. Was he going crazy? Maybe being here wasn't good afterall. Just one day with his sister and the stress of keeping up was making him hear things!
"Who are you?" Asked the voice from earlier, much stronger and much more confused than before. That morning it had sounded tired, slightly off put. But now, now, they seemed to know that Luke was there. He pondered the possibility that this was real, that this wasn't some weird fantasy type dream.
Hesitantly, he tried to reach out, tried to say the words 'Luke Skywalker. Who are you?' but there was a barrier. He couldn't even say it to himself. Feeling foolish, Luke brought himself to the present to see that Rene had just finished speaking, clipping her own lightsaber to her hip. He blinked a little, calming himself down from the awe and deactivated the saber, looking to Obi-Wan.
Again, he asked, "How did my father die?"
Quite reluctantly, Obi-Wan started, "A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father. Now the Jedi are all but extinct. Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force." He took a moment to take in their reactions.
Rene's eyes brightened with shock but her face was void of emotion. "Darth Vader. . .killed our father?" She asked. That's how he knew, she thought, that's how he knew of Owen and Beru. He knew their father and if he knew their father then. . .he must've sensed the Force with her. Rene had interacted with the Sith barely but she had been in the same meetings with her many times. He was cold and calculating, sharp and hardly respectful, but he would kneel before the Emperor. She wondered if it was in fear or in respect to his title. Rene didn't know.
"The Force?" Luke asked.
"Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power." Obi-Wan started, barely able to take his eyes away from Rene. He saw the shock and suspicion in there too. "It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together."
Luke took all of this in while R2 interrupted with a beep: LET'S GET TO BUSINESS, SHALL WE?
Obi-Wan smiled fondly. "Now, let's see if we can figure out what you are, my little friend. And where you come from." He reached over and started to fiddle with R2 which made the droid respond softly, helping him.
"I saw part of the message he was-" Luke cut off as Princess Leia came back into the hologram form, catching his attention.
"I seem to have found it." Obi-Wan answered.
"General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I'm unable to present my father's request to you in person but my ship has fallen under attack and my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed." Leia took a moment to collect herself, glancing off to the side where Luke could only assume Commander Flores was. "I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. . .Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope."
Leia obviously needed a moment, looking so vulnerable and so defeated but it was that voice- Commander Flores' - that broke her from her trance-like state. "Leia, we've got company!" She peeked into frame and moments later, the hologram was gone.
Rene's eyes were blown up with excitement and victory, she had found it! She had found the plans! And Obi-Wan. Both were great strives toward the victory of the Rebellion. Sure, it might not end the war but, hey! They were getting plans on how to destroy the biggest weapon in the history of weapons.
"I don't believe it," Rene mumbled, blinking. She turned to Obi-Wan. "This is what I need to get back to Alderaan. You."
Obi-Wan nodded slowly, his eyes twinkled with determination. "You must learn the ways of the Force if you're to come with me to Alderaan." He spoke.
Luke's eyes bulged and he stood from his seat, laughing indignantly. "Alderaan?" He repeated through his teeth, shaking his head quickly, walking over to where Obi-Wan sat. "I'm not going to Alderaan. I've got to go home. It's late, I'm in for it as it is."
"I need your help, Luke. They need your help." Obi-Wan gestured toward the now empty space that once held the Princess of Alderaan. "I'm getting too old for this sort of thing."
"I can't get involved!" Luke exclaimed. "I've got work to do! It's not that I like the Empire. I hate it! But there's nothing I can do about it right now. It's such a long way from here."
Rene's expression fell flat and she stared at her brother with some irritation. "That's Owen talking."
Luke blanched. "Oh, gosh, Owen! How am I ever going to explain this?"
"Learn about the Force, Luke." Obi-Wan tried once again.
Luke glared at him for a moment, "You have Rene, she's part of the Empire and the Rebellion! She can get you there, it's her mission anyway!" The older man grew quiet and Rene sighed softly, picking at her white tunic. Luke had the spirit to appear sheepish, picking at the paint of the wall next to him. "Look, I can take you both as far as Anchorhead. You can get a transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you're going."
"You must do what you feel is right, of course."
Rene's brows dipped at that, she stood with a bitter frown. "'Do what you feel is right'? No, do what is right! They need us, not just me and Obi-Wan, but you too, Luke!" Luke didn't like the disappointment glittering in her eyes but he didn't falter for a moment as she crossed her arms and the muscles in her jaw worked. "Owen and Beru can wait a few days while you do something good. Because you won't get that here on Tatooine."
"Rene-" Obi-Wan tried.
"Right, 'find my peace.'" She repeated in a mocking of his own voice. Rene pinched her nose and walked toward the exit. "I'm going to get the speeder ready." She walked out of there as swiftly as she could. Leaving Luke to decide what he truly wanted to do and whether or not the Princess in the hologram was worth risking Owen's rage.
Rene made a swift walk to her speeder and hopped into the front seat, holding the steering in a vice-like grip. She was acting stupid, she shouldn't try to get Luke involved in any of this, it was ignorant and it was blind to the fact he had no experience outside of Tatooine brawls. Every time they did get in some type of fight, it always ended up with Luke showing off a few shiners and him whining about how they hurt. So to throw him into a full war? She was turning him into a soldier at 19 and that's nothing he needed. Luke just. . .he needed to stay sweet and nimble, he needed to be Luke; farm boy now Luke; the Rebellion soldier.
Rene's motivation to do any of this was so children, people could experience the love that she had felt during her short time in the Old Republic. There was peace, although not all the time. A New Republic could work! There could be peace in the galaxy, no Emperor and certainly no fear caused by Vader. They wouldn't have to worry about things like the Senate being corrupted, they could elect an official that was impartial and that had the people's best intentions in mind. Not their own.
Oh, who was she kidding? They didn't even have their big win yet and she was planning a world where they didn't have the Empire to be concerned about. Even after they defeated Vader and the Emperor she was sure there'd be some type of commanders and followers of the Empire that would continue to fight back, she was sure that would just become their new problem. What if this was some never ending loop? They were doomed to fail and doomed to continue fighting until the end of time itself?
'Don't lose hope. Losing that burning hope is what's going to let the Rebellion win.' Rene bitterly remembered the words so graciously spoken to her by Dash, his smirk of amusement and teasing eyes. He had been trying to make fun of her, to get on her last nerve but he actually used his brain and said something that was a little helpful to her. Rene wondered what that annoying little smuggler was now. . .
There was a string of binary scolding her from behind and she turned her attention toward QT that now occupied the back seat. She raised a brow as he bumped his head with her hand. "What, Q?" She asked softly, tilting her head in curiosity. He let out a little hum and sounded a little sympathetic. Then he scolded her again for her tone and words she had used with Luke. Of course, Rene knew that it wasn't exactly the nicest thing she's ever done but it wasn't exactly the worst either. She just couldn't believe Obi-Wan, he was telling Luke to-
Oh. He was telling Luke to trust the Force. Oh, wow, she was. . .she was really on a roll with the angry outbursts, huh? She couldn't wait to see where it got her next.
She felt foolish now. Sitting there in silence, angry over something that wasn't even worth being angry about. Rene pinched the bridge of her nose and took some deep and calming breaths.
"Rene?"
She snapped her head in the direction of the hesitant voice, finding Luke's innocent gaze recluse and very hesitant. He seemed to be unnerved by her gaze and turned his eyes upon the ground, shuffling a little big in the sand. He cupped his hands in front of him. Luke looked a lot like a young boy caught in the act of doing something he wasn't supposed to.
"I'm. . I can't go with you, I'm sorry." Luke blurted out, he shook his head.
Rene sighed softly, smiling at him. "Luke, it's okay. None of this is your fault and I shouldn't try and drag you into anything. It's too dangerous." Luke smiled at her hesitantly and she nodded to her side. "Hop in, I'll take you back home once Obi-Wan comes out."
The Imperial Conference room was filled with the different commanders within the Empire. They were discussing the blow in the morale and what they could possibly do about the Rebels that had defeated them on Scarif. Of course, none of those commanders had been there, it had been too dangerous but they had heard what they left of the planet. Or lack thereof. Scarif was no more but the Rebellion had gained so much from their loss. The plans to the very Death Star that they resided in at this very moment, discussing their plans. It unsettled some but others believed the Rebellion was too poorly funded to destroy something this big and powerful.
"Until this battle station is fully operational we are vulnerable." Commander Tagge gruffed, eyes pivoted around the table. "The Rebel Alliance is too well equipped. They're more dangerous than you realize."
Admiral Motti scoffed loudly, catching the attention of the others. "Dangerous to your starfleet, Commander, not to this battle station!" He snapped.
"The Rebellion will continue to gain support in the Imperial Senate as long as-" Tagge cut himself off as Grand Moff Tarkin entered, Darth Vader close behind him. Eyes followed as the feared men moved from the entrance of the conference room and to the seat at the head of the table. The anxiety at the presence of not just the man that controls this armored space station but the Sith Lord that could kill you with the wave of a hand. Obviously, it was very hard to carry on arguments with Darth Vader present, you surely didn't want to get on his bad side.
Once he sat down with Vader over his shoulder, he continued the room's previous argument. "The Imperial Senate will no longer be any concern to us." Confusion clouded the room and a devious smirk took the evil man's face. "I've just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away."
The room broke into murmurs of shock, Tagge was the only one that seemed to want to voice his doubt. "That's impossible! How will the Emperor maintain control without the bureaucracy?"
"The regional governors now have direct control over territories." Tarkin regarded lamley. "Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station."
"And what of the Rebellion?" Tagge shot back, there were still major faults in all of this. The Emperor hadn't thought any of this plan through and there'd be major outrage within the Empire and planets that they no longer had any type of say in the proceedings in the war or of their own government. He raised his chin slightly. "If the Rebels have obtained a complete technical readout of this station, it is possible, however unlikely, that they might find a weakness and exploit it."
"The plans you refer to will soon be back in our hands." When Darth Vader spoke, no one was sure if they had the guts to respond. He had a certain finality in his tone and he had received a short but simple update from the troopers on Tatooine; saying that the General Larrs had managed to locate the plans and she would contact him soon. Something that Vader hoped to receive soon so he. . .something deep inside him had flared upon hearing that the General was the child of Larrs. It confused him beyond belief due to the fact that she seemed like she was as old as. . .Rene would've been. Curiosity blinded the Sith and he pondered what fate Rene Skywaker faced when she found out of Padme's death. She had been a daddy's girl surely. . .Stop, he thought, this is no longer your concern. They're gone.
"Any attacks made by the Rebels against this station would be a useless gesture, no matter what technical data they've obtained. This station is now the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we use it!" Motti spoke like a true patriot of the Empire, ignorant and foolish.
The room basked in a stiff silent horror as Motti reached for his collar, a choking sound escaping his lips as he desperately tried to fill his body with its enriching oxygen. Vader held up his arm, directed towards the man, two fingers pinched slightly. His whole form was stiff and anger seemed to radiate from him. He took two deep breaths which vibrated in the room.
"I find your lack of faith disturbing."
Tarkin's eyes darkened. "Enough of this! Vader, release him!" He ordered.
Vader hesitated but he dropped his hand and Motti leant forward, panting. "As you wish." Behind his mask, Vader shot Motti one last glare and took his spot next to Tarkin.
Tarkin glared around the table. "This bickering is pointless. Lord Vader will provide us with the location of the Rebel fortress by the time this station is operational. We will then crush the Rebellion with one swift stroke."
Once everyone got into the speeder, Rene set off. They were making a steady journey when they ran into a Sandcrawler surrounded by Jawa bodies. Luke sat in a bitter shock while Obi-Wan and Rene warily seemed at some type of peace, like they were unaffected by the fact that a whole group of Jawas had been slaughtered. Yes, it wasn't uncommon but Luke just felt a little bit of sympathy. He watched Rene kneel down next to one of the Jawas and mutter something while Obi-Wan began to stroke his beard again.
Luke hopped out of the speeder and helped the droids get out to try and take in the area themselves. He placed his hands on his hips as he walked over to the Tusken spear sticking out of the ground. Luke took it in his hand as he took in the scene some more, speaking up: "It looks like Tuskens did this, all right. Look, here are Gaffi sticks, Bantha tracks. It's just. . .I never heard of them hitting anything this big before."
"Because they didn't," Rene spoke distantly, standing up and wiping her hands on her pant legs. "The tracks around here and the Gaffi sticks are meant to make us think that the Tuskens were involved in this. But they weren't. . .this is Imperial protocol."
Luke frowned, seemingly confused. "What do you mean?"
"It's standard protocol to cover up secret missions, things the public isn't supposed to know. The Empire doesn't want the galaxy to know that the Rebellion managed to break through their security and steal plans to their greatest weapon." She leaned a hip against the Sancrawler, a frown between her brow. "But that doesn't explain why they would kill a whole group of Jawas then blame it on the Tuskens, they must've known something."
Luke pondered this too until his face blanched and he felt like falling over. He swallowed thickly and he prayed, hoped that his conclusion would be wrong. Barely above a whisper, he spoke: "These are the same Jawas that sold us Artoo and Threepio," Rene stiffened while Obi-Wan himself shifted uncomfortably. Luke glanced between them wide and fearful eyes, begging for one of them to calm his racing mind. To tell him he was being insane. No one spoke up and the fear settled in. "If. . .If they tracked the Jawas who had them then they would lead back. . .back home."
Luke broke out into a full sprint to the speeder, leaping into it. Rene let out a shout of his name, following behind him and almost being left behind when the speeder lurched forward. She took a gasping breath, she knew that if she hadn't been holding on then she would've been sent from the speeder and onto the ground below while Luke rushed off to save their aunt and uncle. Rene sat up straight, staring at him blankly. Luke knew that she was staring at him, she could tell because of the way he tensed up. That was always his biggest tell.
"Are you sure about this?" She asked slowly.
"I have to know if they're okay, Rene. I have to." Luke's voice was quiet yet it spoke in many volumes to how determined he was.
Rene didn't respond. She knew that there wasn't anything that would convince Luke to do otherwise and she herself wanted to see her family safe. It didn't take very long for them to reach their home and when they did. . .smoke rose from one part and flames touched the auburn sky. Luke jumped out of speeder and rushed closer to the home while Rene slowly slipped out, eyes resting exactly on the one thing she never wished to see.
Horror and pure pain sparked in her body as she stumbled forward, she heard Luke's quiet gasp and could almost feel him stiffen. There was Beru and Owen, both lying next to each other, seemingly reaching out for one another one last time. Yet there was no skin on their bodies, no expressions to be read, just bones. Rene couldn't tell who was who, she wasn't a doctor and she'd rather not know. She didn't want to know who was clinging to the other, who had called out for help. Rene didn't want to know if Beru and Owen were scared.
She blinked back into focus, tears slapped against her cheek and she looked to Luke. He couldn't seem to look away, eyes glistening themselves. Rene reached forward, pushing his face away from the bodies of their last remaining family and made him look to her. "Don't look, Luke. Don't." It was too late, with that being the final image of Beru and Owen, Luke would never unsee that. Rene herself was sure that she wouldn't be able to think of Beru and Owen without this image being her own now.
Luke brought her into his arms, whether it was for his comfort or her own, Rene wasn't 100% sure. His face in her shoulder, Rene's shaky arms wrapped themselves around his waist. She never wanted this, she never fathomed this. Vader. Vader had to be behind this. He knew of Beru and Owen and made it clear when he asked her. Her hands clenched around the tunic on Luke's back, angry tears flowing with the sad ones. This was her fault. If she never came here, if she never was a general. . .
'Then you would be dead along with them, Luke too.' She thought bitterly to herself. Rene softly rubbed Luke's back as his shoulders shook. This was the way of things. She'd always be there for Luke, she'd have his back and, surely, he'd have hers. He was new to loss while Rene's life had revolved around it. . .they didn't deserve this. It felt like she was losing her parents again. Beru's death seemed like a twist in her gut, her eyes narrowing on the body that reached for the other, tears threatening to take her eyes for the first time in a while.
"What are we going to do?" Luke whispered, having calmed down enough to pull away. The tip of his nose was red and his eyes as well, he used his sleeve to wipe away anything left behind.
Rene's eyes danced over to the bodies and swallowed thickly. "I'll bury them next to grandma while you, erm, you could try to grab anything not affected by the fire." She suggested.
Luke hesitated, "Are you sure? I can-"
"No, I got it." Rene shook her head. "Just, try to grab anything you can. Small stuff."
Luke nodded and walked into the courtyard while Rene slowly crept over to Owen and Beru. She stood over them, breathing heavily. With tears falling again, Rene walked past them and rushed to the garage, surprisingly intact. She grabbed one of the stones at the back, taking one glance around the room with sad eyes then moving back up to the land. She spent her time digging and placing the stone down to mark where Beru and Owen would lie to rest.
Rene pondered on her grandmother next to them, Shmi. She had heard stories of the kind and compassionate person from her father. He would get that distant expression and his metal hand would clench, muttering something about Obi-Wan and then he would return to her, tucking some of her hair from her plump face. Rene missed the tenderness her father would display, how he didn't even act as the other Jedi. She remembered a certain Jedi that must've suspected something in connection to Rene and Anakin; she learned of him later from Obi-Wan. His name was Mace Windu, a Jedi that used both the dark and light side of the Force.
Rene tenderly placed Owen and Beru in the grave, sniffling all the while. She put the dirt over them and then knelt, grasping a handful of dirt. She clenched her jaw and whispered, mostly to them, "I'll make the Empire pay for what they did to you." She then smooth the dirt out and stood just when Luke joined her side.
He seemed uneasy and didn't carry anything on him except something clenched in his hand. Rene frowned. "What'd you get?" She asked.
"I found this in your bedroom." Luke held out his palm and Rene almost gasped. Almost.
There in his hand was the Japor snippet her father made her when she was born. It was common for the people of Tatooine to make these, they were made as good luck charms and served for that purpose. Rene pondered the trueness of the charm seeing the bad luck she's had in the past few years. She took it though, running her thumb over it and scoffing softly. Rene placed it around her wrist and cleared her throat, this was not a great time for any of this.
"Who gave you this?" Luke asked softly.
"Dad," She answered. Luke hummed softly, eyebrows dawn as he gazed at the makeshift grave before them. She placed her hands into her pockets and nodded, backing away. "I'll be in the speeder. Take your time, Luke." She trudged over to the speeder while Luke dropped down and started to speak softly to the graves, admitting to little troubles he had done in his life, and apologizing to Owen for not finishing his chores. That proved it all to Rene. Luke was just a boy, a boy who felt bad for not doing chores. That was his biggest sin. He didn't belong in war.
Rene had done many things for the Rebellion, she's killed. She'd probably confess to a long list of different things, crimes she had in order of peace while Luke would apologize for taking the last cookie in the cookie jar. That was their major difference. Yet again, she realized that Luke hadn't grown up in the time of war, he had grown up on Tatooine where it was basically isolated from the Empire, excluding right now.
Luke joined her in the speeder and she was quick to jolt the speeder away from the home and start off in the direction Obi-Wan would be waiting. She rested her head against her palm in a more calm manner. Luke worked his jaw back and forth, and finally decided to break the silence: "I want to go with you to Alderaan."
The speeder wiggled a bit as Rene jerked in surprised, blinking. She seemed to contemplate and cleared her throat. "Luke-"
"There's nothing left for me here now, I'm done waiting for you." Luke looked at her with determination and desperation. "I need to do this."
She sighed softly, "I know. . .Luke, I need you to understand that this war is a lot and you will lose people. Maybe even me." Luke shuddered and she worked her hands on the steering wheel. "I need you to promise me you won't lose yourself to this war."
"Lose myself?" Luke repeated in confusion.
"I've known people who have joined the Rebellion and Empire that have lost too much and just. . .lose it. They become shells of who they used to be and I don't want that for you. I don't want you to live like that. So promise me." Rene demanded. She could see the Sandcrawler approaching and smoke coming from near it, her heart beating a little faster.
Luke swallowed thickly. "I promise."
They reached the Sandcrawler not long after and in the middle of the area, 3PO and R2 were helping give the Jawas their own little funeral while QT rolled in circles around Obi-Wan, the man glared at him flatly. Rene was the first to join Obi-Wan while Luke trudged over somberly. He looked up at the man, "I want to come with you to Alderaan. There's nothing here for me now. I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father."
Obi-Wan nodded slowly, stroking his beard. "It will not be a easy task."
"That's for sure," Rene muttered, shaking her head. "Obi-Wan has always been too wise."
The corners of Luke's lips twitched up and he nodded, "All right, let's go."
Vader didn't feel much once he heard the Troopers on Tatooine had killed and destroyed the home of Owen and Beru Lars. Then the anger set in. His mother rested in that place, the twin suns set that reminded him that it hit her every dusk. Rage ramped up as he realized that the troopers had interfered with that peace and killed the only family he had left. He demanded that they report to the Death Star as soon as they could, they thought that they might get rewarded. No. Vader would kill them slowly and painfully.
The Sith wondered if the General had been home at the time, there was no updates from her outside that she may have possibly located the droids but hadn't heard anything since then. He wondered why Owen and Beru had decided to name their own daughter Rene, it was a bitter reminder to him that he was a failure, that he had lost his child along with Padme and his other child. It was just a constant reminder. Vader thought, possibly, that Rene Lars could be transferred to his squadron. Attachments were a set back but if she had half the brains that Owen or Beru had then she could be a great help.
"Lord Vader," Addressed the hologram in front of him. A woman, cloaked in dark robes, just her mouth was visible and was almost as unsettling as Vader himself. He straightened. "You requested my audience."
"Yes." Vader confirmed. "The troopers that burnt down the moisture farm on Tatooine, I want them executed. Make it painful."
"Lord Vader, the moisture farmers were reported to be handling the droids-"
"Do not question my reasons, Emperor's Hand." Vader almost barked at her, clenching his jaw behind the mask. He knew that this looked odd in his behaviour but their deaths will not be tolerated. He would never tolerate it. Vader took a breath and announced. "Do as I ordered. Good day." He shut off the holo and his shoulders slumped the tiniest inch, he knew that something more was yet to come.