They had just arrived at Sola's home, Luke felt more than a little awkward. Ryoo obviously was skeptical of him, asking who Luke was and why Sola was bringing him to their home. Luke didn't blame her, though he wished she would stop eyeing him every now and then.
Luke hopped out of the speeder and looked at Sola's home, she was definitely living comfortably. She lived on a quiet street not too far from the main road in Theed, it only took about a couple minutes to get to Sola's place from the burial ground. The street was quiet and peaceful, Luke was still amazed by the amount of forestry this planet had, how clean the air smelled. It was then when Luke noticed how quiet this city was in comparison to Coruscant. Coruscant was loud all the time, no time was quieter than others, but on Naboo, it seemed people actually slept at night. Luke followed Sola and Ryoo into the house.
"Mom, please be reasonable." Ryoo said as they walked into the home, "You just brought a random kid to your home!" Sola sighed as she pressed a control panel to a closet door revealing a medical droid that was powered down.
"You don't understand, dear." Sola said as she powered the medical droid, "I don't think you remember much of Jedi Knight Skywalker."
"What if there is more then one person with the last name Skywalker in the galaxy!?" Sola shook her head, ignoring Ryoo. The droids eyes lit up, Sola cleared her voice.
"I would like to run a DNA test against my sample." She ordered, the droid didn't respond, it just followed Sola as she walked over to Luke.
"This is just going to sample a small amount of your blood, okay?" Luke swallowed hard and nodded. Luke looked down at the droid, it was... old . It made Luke slightly nervous , the droid stuck out a needle and pricked Luke, he jumped slightly at the pinch from the needle. The droid sampled his blood and a screen flashed a progress bar as it processed his DNA. The tension in the room rose as they waited for the droid to finish processing the information, everyone stared at it intently.
The droid's screen flashed and displayed the results, Luke looked at the screen confused, not too sure how to read medical jargon. Sola gasped at the results and stared at them for a few moments, she brought her hand gently to her mouth.
"What does it say!?" Ryoo asked as she took a step towards Luke and Sola. Sola sniffled softly and wiped a tear from her eyes then looked to Luke.
"It's a match," Her voice cracked, Luke heard Ryoo gasp softly behind him but he didn't stop staring into Sola's dark brown eyes. She looked down at him and then pulled him into a tight hug. Luke stood there awkwardly for a moment then hugged her back, his eyes beginning to tear up.
Sola pulled away, her hands on Luke's shoulders as she looked at him. Luke watched her eyes trace over his face. Luke heard Ryoo clear her throat, "Match? As in?"
"He is your cousin, Ryoo," Sola said softly as she looked up to look at his cousin, "And my nephew." She looked back down at Luke, "You really do look just like your father, you know?" Luke suppressed a small smile, he knew from the holo of his parents that he did look like his father but it was weird to hear it from someone else. Knowing someone who remembered what his father looked like, remembered who his father used to be, it was... weird .
"I think you said that earlier," Luke laughed softly, Sola smiled.
"Do you need something to eat? Are you hungry?" Sola asked, Luke gripped his growling stomach but shook his head.
"No, I am fine." Luke half-smiled, Luke couldn't stay much longer even if he wanted to. He had been feeling his father urgently poke him through the force, he has been ignoring it all this time just to meet his family. He knew if he told his father what he was doing his father would make him go back to the palace, he wasn't going to pass up this opportunity.
"Oh well, okay then," Sola smiled, "Oh! Would you like to see some holos of Padme?" Luke's eyes lit up.
"Yes please!"
"Alright, you just wait right here, I will be right back!" Sola smiled brightly and left the living room quickly. Luke sat down on the couch and looked to Ryoo and smiled.
"So, you're my aunt Padme's son?" Ryoo asked as she tilted her head, Luke nodded. Ryoo blinked quickly and raised one of her eyebrows. "Where have you been all this time?" His throat instantly dried up, his body tensed. He forgot he would have to lie about his father, that he would have to explain where he had been the past thirteen years, now he was put on the spot, expected to answer any second.
"I- uh-" Luke sputtered, before he could continue to embarrass himself his aunt walked in holding a box.
"I found them!" She smiled, she moved to sit next to Luke and pulled out the first holo. Luke looked at it excitedly, it was a picture of a young girl with an older man smiling to who took the holo. "That's your mother and your grandfather. Your mom did a lot of missionary work when she was younger."
"Wow.." Luke breathed in amazement, taking in the picture of his mom. Sola rummaged through the box some more and gasped at the holo she picked up.
"And here was when me and her were younger at Varykino," Sola smiled as she held up a holo of his mother and his aunt looking out over a stone balcony, the view was of a large mountain range and a lake.
"What's Varykino?" Luke asked.
"It's a place our family owns outside of Theed, its secluded and private." Sola smiled, "Your father took your mother there years ago, it was when I first met him." She kept mentioning both of them together, it was so strange. It was weird for Luke to think about his father that way, in a relationship. For all of Luke's life, his father had been alone, well, except for Luke. But even with Luke there, did his father feel...alone?
"Wow-" Luke breathed, "Thank you for showing me these holos," Luke smiled.
"Oh, well, of course Luke!" Sola smiled widely back at him, "I have so many more of these I want to show you!"
"I would love to see all of them," Luke paused as he thought of his father, "But-" He muttered, before he could continue Sola stood and placed a hand on her chest.
"Oh Luke, she would have loved you so much." Luke looked down to hide his eyes from tearing up, he sniffled softly. "I should- I should make you her favorite meal and bring you to Varykino, oh I have her jewelry box if your interested and-" Luke listened to her ramble about all the things she wanted to show him, making Luke want to stay more and more, he felt his chest tighten knowing that he had to leave Naboo tomorrow. None of this would be possible, who knew the next time he could come back to Naboo.
"-Then maybe I could bring you to Naboo's Royal Museum," Sola finished, "There is just so much to show you, Luke." Luke shifted uncomfortably on the couch, not sure what to say.
"That all sounds amazing," Luke smiled, "But, I actually can't stay much longer- I have to leave Naboo tomorrow." Sola's demeanor changed, she looked shocked and slightly disappointed.
"Leave?" She asked, "Where are you going?"
"Where have you been all this time?" Ryoo asked again, Sola nodded quickly.
"Yes, where have you been?"
Luke shrank into his seat, oh kriff, he was not good at thinking on the spot. Maybe he should have listened to his father's advice, maybe he shouldn't have jumped at the opportunity to meet his mother's family. That way, it would allow him and his father to think of a perfect lie so they did not reveal his dads identity. But presented with the opportunity to meet his family, he couldn't say no, it felt like fate.
"Uh-" Luke forced, "Well, you see, its really easy to understand actually-" Luke rambled with no real direction or viable explanation as to where he has been these past thirteen years. They looked at him expectantly, their eyebrows raised.
"Uhm… Well, I have been-" Luke's terrible explanation was interrupted by a loud knocking on the front doors of Sola's home. Luke felt his heart jump in his throat at the shock, everyone in the house was silent for a moment.
"Who could be here at this hour?..." Sola muttered as she walked towards the front doors, they swooshed open and a stormtrooper stood on the front steps holding a blaster. "Oh, hello officer, how may I help you?"
"The city is currently on lockdown under Lord Vader's orders, there is a search for Luke Skywalker," The trooper held out a holo with Luke's face projected. "Have you seen this boy?" Sola's eyes flew open, Luke was frozen in his chair but felt himself be pulled to stand up. Luke looked to who was pulling him and saw Ryoo, she began to lead him down the hall and into one of the rooms.
"Stay in here, we will tell the trooper you're not here, okay?" Ryoo whispered, Lukes eyes widened.
"No!" Luke said quickly, "You can't hide me here! You can't lie to stormtroopers!"
"Luke, Lord Vader is looking for you," Ryoo said firmly, "Do you know what happens when he gets his hands on people he is searching for? Did you get in trouble with the Empire or something!?" Luke felt incredibly tense.
"No, I don't want you guys to get in trouble for hiding me!" Luke whispered back.
"What if Lord Vader is looking for you because you are the son of a Jedi?" Ryoo said quickly, her face contorted in concern. Luke sighed and didn't answer her, he walked past her out of the room and into the living room towards his aunt. She was rambling on about a lie that Luke knew he would have to end quickly before she got in more trouble.
"So- we haven't uh- seen this boy or-"
"Hey," Luke walked up to the front door and faced the stormtrooper, "Its me, I am right here." Sola gasped and turned to look at Luke. The trooper stared at him for a moment before he lifted his com.
"Skywalker has been located at a citizens residence," The trooper said.
"Bring Skywalker into the palace along with the citizens, they will be questioned upon arrival." The reply on the com crackled, Luke could feel his aunt tensed beside him.
"T-They don't have to be questioned!" Luke said quickly, "Its not like the kidnapped me or anything!"
"Orders are nonnegotiable," The trooper barked, "All civilians in this home are required to come with me." Luke looked back into the home and saw Ryoo, her face looked scared and confused. Sola stepped out of her home and followed the trooper, Ryoo walked up to Luke who stood in the doorway.
"What's going on?" She whispered, "Why does Lord Vader want you so badly?"
"I-I can't say…" Luke said softly, he didn't look her in the eyes. He wanted to ease her fear, he could tell she was terrified at the idea of meeting his father. He didn't know what his father was going to do to Sola and Ryoo, or even why they needed to be questioned. Ryoo looked disappointed in his answer and followed his aunt, Luke followed slowly behind them. They all boarded into the troopers speeder.
Luke looked over out onto the street as they began to fly back towards the palace. He felt terrible, he was the reason they were scared, if he hadn't gone with them and went back to the palace like he was supposed to, none of them would be in this mess. His stomach kept sinking towards the bottom of his stomach, he didn't dare look at them, he felt like he ruined their first reunion. He let out a weary sigh as a small tear rolled down his cheek.
"Sir, there has been confirmation that Luke Skywalker has been located and is being brought back to the Palace at once." The voice over the com said, Lekauf let out a heavy breath. He was so worried, the whole time Luke was missing he had been slightly panicking and sent troopers out all over Theed, maybe more troopers then was necessary. This whole time Luke had been missing, he was attempting to keep himself calm and professional, to not let his emotions get in the way. But now Luke had been found, he felt relief roll off of him.
"I'll inform Lord Vader, thank you for the information," Lekauf spoke into the com, the call was cut and he clipped the com on his belt. He ran a hand through his hair and down his beard, slightly collecting himself.
He had been pacing the main entrance hall waiting for updates over com, but now he was heading down a hall towards the large dinner party where Lord Vader was. Lord Vader was going to be next to the Emperor, Lekauf was used to reporting to Vader but with the Emperor around, he felt slightly wary. The Emperor was a different type of terrifying.
He reached the party, there was a soft chatter through the large crowd, what they were talking about was as good as anyone's guess. Lekauf paid no mind to them, he had a job to do. His eyes landed on Vader and walked towards him with his back tall and straight. He then saw the Emperor's eyes land on him as he neared, damn those eyes, they were like poison.
He stood in front of them and bowed to both of them, the Emperor seemed to have little interest in Lekauf and continued his conversation with Grand Moff Traeda. Lekauf's eyes traveled back to Vader.
"Do you have anything to report?" Vader asked, Lekauf suppressed a smile as to seem more professional.
"Luke has been located and is being transferred to the palace with two civilians who are going to be questioned upon arrival," Lekauf said confidently.
"Excellent, inform me when Luke and the citizens arrive."
"Yes, my lord," Lekauf said as he began to write his next mission in his datapad.
"In addition, have Luke brought to his room and set guards in front of his door so he does not try to leave." Lekauf nodded and typed that in as well.
"Is there anything else, my Lord?" Lekauf asked.
"No, you are dismissed, Lieutenant." Lekauf nodded and let out a deep breath and turned to leave, his eyes glazed over the food on the table that everyone at the party was enjoying. With all this chaos, Lekauf had forgotten to eat anything, but with Luke missing he had lost any appetite he seemed to have. But now everything seemed to be falling back into place, he walked back up to the front entrance and stood outside in the cool night air. He kept his eyes on the road, waiting to see the speeder with Luke in it come down.
A/n Hopes you guys liked it!
