Chapter 33 Return to the Heart, Return of the Heart


(Fanfir Note: Hah! I'm back….. obviously…. Sorry you had to wait so long. Next update will be in 2 weeks, I think, then back to 1 week, maybe, depends. Although you do have my permission to stop reading this fanfic if you get bored so none of you have to feel guilty because there are times when I read a fanfic, they take too long to update, like months at a time, and I get bored and stop reading it altogether. Then I feel guilty. But you don't have to! But it's not like you need my permission anyways, you do you, I guess… ^ _ ^ )

(Hydra Note: Also if you haven't guessed it already, in the last chapter, that liquid that the shadow took off the ground and placed into 2 separate vials was in fact the spilled blood of Padme and Luke, since they both got injured. Now why would the shadow need this blood? Is it to determine if there was somehow some sort of connection between Padme and Luke because it's not like they're related or anything (sarcasm). What would happen if someone found out Padme was in fact Luke's mother. Then again, as to how the shadow had these suspicions that they were related, that will be revealed in the far future, but not anytime soon though. And the shadow's plan for Padme is more as in a confirmation of something, that goes along with Luke and is actually more about Luke overall.)


LUKE POV

It's foreign strange feeling still new to him. Like he could ever become comfortable with such an object, but he already had.

He swung down, swung up, clicked the button.

Deny it. Deny it again. Deny it more.

He swung down, swung up, clicked the button.

The stark black lightsaber, seeming to absorb all white light, never giving it back ever again, fit nicely in the palm of its hand. It was quite the exquisite thing, yet simple in its simplicity.

He swung down, swung up, clicked the button.

Danger!

He swung down, swung up, clicked the button.

But it didn't feel natural. Not naturally held in his one only left hand, weighed too heavy in his small palm. Its owner had a distinct place in his mind.

He sighed, stopping mid stance he was currently practicing.

Stupid thing, not working. Better yet never work again! This thing's such a troll. It hadn't been working ever since it touched that cortosis armor and extinguished. Oh how he wished at times he could just fling it over the edge of skyscraper. But he wasn't about to take that chance and have the black object fall into Sidious's hands ever again. Never again. Not as long as I am around carrying it!

This lightsaber...

It had been a few days since returning his mother to her 'rightful' place, but he still felt kinda like shit. He couldn't do anything physically taxing a day ago: like moving around too much, without rustling his sore muscles. But today, with the sun shining bright, today was a hopeful new day in everyone's book, and with this new day he felt much better than yesterday, and so long and so forth the days before that.

She was in his mind, as she had been, for the past few minutes. For the past few days.

Mother.

I wonder what she's doing?

She was there. Somewhere. Somewhere out there. He paused in his motions, his blue eyes looked out onto the horizon daylight from atop the skyscraper he stood on. Talon was sunbathing, again, red apple eyes closed in contentment. In the distance, sun's rays reflected blaringly off a dome like grey surface. It was the senate building. He smiled. Where mother works. Then he snarled. Where that snake resided.

Resuming, he swung down, swung up, clicked the button. Nothing happening. No red blade igniting.

He sighed.

"I have to go see her. I have to make sure she is okay. I have to be sure of it," he mumbled to himself.

Mother.

He swung down, swung up, clicked the button. Not a thing.

I'll be seeing you soon.

He swung down, swung up, clicked the button, mid- swinging to the side, and in a pure red flash the blade erupted in sparks from the hilt, awakening. Gleaming like a red rose. Crackling, pure, bloody red crimsontine blade lusting to dig into flesh. But now it dug into the air and sky. Stark scary against that bright light ocean dipped blue above them all. How convenient.

I've decided.

A cautious grim smile came upon his face.

"Hey Talon?"

"Hmmm?" The terror bird grumbled, lifting its head in one motion, red eyes peeking opening.

Luke looked to Talon who then in turn looked to Luke, the tanned Tatooine skin shone healthy in the yellow light, practically glowing, under the black clothes that draped his legs and covered his upper torso. Talon looked to Luke who in turn looked to him, he held the majestic red blade up. It's red hued light bleeding into the contrasting clear ocean blue sky. Those determined sharp blue eyes glanced far off into the distance. Far off into the distance where a round circular building stood placed: the Senate Building. From the look in those eyes, he knew, Talon knew, suspected, that there would be no persuasion capable to withdraw Luke from this endeavor.

Talon looked to Luke, when Luke gazed to him in turn, stating, "I am going to go see her. I'd really appreciate it if you helped me in getting there."

There was no need for elaboration. Talon already knew who 'her' was.

"And are you assuming that I cannot deter you from doing this," Talon softly responded.

"Yep."

Talon rolled his eyes. "It's practically midday Luke. Why not venture to the senate grounds in the evening. It would be much safer for us both."

"We are never truly safe with that snake hideous Sidious around, the Sith, Dooku. I've accepted that there are real dangers but I am going to follow my heart on this action."

My mind is set.

"I am going to go see my mother."

"If that is what you wish," fluffy white bird voiced.

"Hah, it's what I've wished for my whole life ya know." I know the consequences. But to finally speak to my mother. It excited him! Maybe I will indulge in this type of selfishness, just this once. I know the risks.

He stared off into the distance. He stared off into the distance at a rounded building. Blinding light reflected off the cool metal top of it.

"Are you sure she is there right now. How are you certain your mother is even in the senate building?"

He inhaled sharply, the cool crisp air. The wind whipping up his clothes in a storm. Clear blue eyes never faltering in their stare.

"Because I can feel her."

I know it.

Call it an intuition.

Once I concentrate, it's like a sixth sense, a notion, a feeling.

"You could drop me off in a nearby alleyway or something that's not too far from the senate grounds. Afterwards, I believe I can make my own way from there. When I'm done we could meet back up close to the same spot wherever you dropped me off."

"Sounds reasonable, although this idea seems rather ludicrous altogether to be acted upon so soon and if I could, I would rather dissuade you from such rash actions but it appears that's not quite possible, is it? Have you yet even considered that I'm not the only one of us two who sticks out like a sore thumb? It would be strikingly obvious to those around you when you venture there, even if you use the force to repel/negate their attention more than usual from you, that as in your condition, of your current appearance and state, it will only bode for trouble going out in public looking that blatantly informal, if not immodest for such a lavish proper setting such as the senate."

"Ummm…"

The terror bird sighed, then voiced out, "Your attire is rather conspicuous, if you know what I mean."

"Oh…"

Conspicuous? hmmm, he's right, he thought looking down at his clothes. Loose black baggy pants, much too big for him, only kept up by the tie around his waist holding it up and secure, a black shirt much too small, exposing his midriff, no shoes, a stub wrapped in white bandages where his right hand should have been, and frazzled sandy golden hair. "I'll think of something," he butted back, poutfully, deactivation the red saber and stuffing it away.

"Okay. But if you are in danger it is not guaranteed that I can readily reach you," spoke Talon meaningfully, red apple eyes flashing strikingly in the light.

"I know." I guess that's a risk I'm willing to take he pondered, swaying gently, impatiently, from foot to foot and balancing on the balls of his feet.

OOO

Talon soared steadily, above some buildings and all traffic.

The stark creamy white creature swooped down, navigating its way through the city's skyscape. And on its back rode a figure, small compared to the terror bird.

Luke clung hold of the downy light plumage with one hand, legs wrapped tight around the massive soft body beneath him as to not fall off to certain death below.

Wind whistled past in the midday light of the happy sun, whispering.

He unconsciously giggled a bit. Talon's pale feather's ticking his face and nose. Geez, why am I so ticklish.

Around ten minutes later the terror bird dove straight down.

Blue eyes widened.

Then he laughed in joy.

Being so high up, the drunken dizziness from the lack of oxygen, the sudden swift beating movements by those large wings that could drive even the ugliest of enemies and foes away.

Falling, finally falling, he grasped hold.

Together they shot straight down.

Talon's wings retracting with a snap, tucked in close to that white fuzzy body.

They both shot like a bullet at neither speeds he could never have imagined nor felt, speeding through a crevice between buildings, past others, over another, swiveling around a bit of traffic. Then they were floating. Those white massive wings snapping to attention and spanning outward in all their glory, slowing the fall to a harmless float down to the ground, as if there was zero gravity. Quick light flaps, quick light flutters, and they settled in a nearly secluded alleyway, those who were in it before them fled in fear. He couldn't care less. The alleyway was not that close to the senate grounds, but it would do. He couldn't have asked more even then.

This is good enough.

Sliding down off the ruffled feathered spot he had sat on between Talon's neck and shoulders, upon immediately feeling his feet touch upon the ground, he swooped in, both arms spread wide, encompassing as much of Talon's fuzzy fluffy chest as he could in a hug.

"Thanks a lot."

Beneath his fingers the creature rumbled, the form of action resonating throughout his body from a certain fluffy creature. Very poofy and fluffy indeed.

"Thanks. And I really do mean that. Without you I don't know what I would be doing now, or how I would even be doing it exactly, or where I would even be. Maybe I would've found a way, but with you here-. It's just-. Thanks a lot for your help. You don't know how much this means to me."

"No Luke, I don't know. But I do understand."

He gave the terror bird a small smile.

"Sure ya do. Hehe. I ought to be off now. We won't be separated long ya know." Luke set off, and with one last wave he disappeared around the corner, looking back to shoot another last smile. As he ran forward, away, he could feel the after effects of Talon's renewed takeoff as the terror bird took flight once more in a huge gust of wind that stirred up the sky.

OOO

The sable brown hooded cloak that now adorned his figure from head to toe flapped lightly around him in a sudden gust.

Ahead loomed the senate building, the one that reminded him of a mushroom, and the Republic Executive Building in the foreground in front of the Senate. Close by to that were the Senatorial apartments/flats in the distant skyline. That place brought memories back of some nights before.

Individuals passed around him but he didn't give them any mind.

Suddenly a strong gust of wind whipped the dark brown cloak about around his feet as if it were impatient to go. He firmly tugged it closer around himself with one hand but the rather thin material did nothing to shield from the cool weather, not that he minded. He regrettably had to steal the sable brown cloak from a random stranger a while back. A seed of guilt sprouted within him at the thought but he pushed it away.

He ran off in the direction of the rounded dome shaped Republic Executive Building where his intuition told him that she was.

I can feel it.

OOO

How did this happen! he shrieked internally.

Oh Shite! He clutched his dislocated shoulder from whence he had gotten slammed into a wall by the Senate guard security team.

It throbbed repeatedly with each step as he scurried down the halls, ducking, diving, and jumping over furniture.

Off course they know what my face looks like! A while back when I infiltrated the Senate Building there were certainly cameras around that caught me! Of course they would recognize me! Who's to say they wouldn't in the first place?

Maybe I should've waited a few days- Maybe Talon was right-! He frantically shook his head to dispel such thoughts. No, that won't do. Eyes pressed shut, to rid himself off those thoughts. NO! A fierce blue gaze awakened inside of him. No. What's done is done. I'm going to finish what I came here for and make sure mother is alright. I won't feel assured till I check personally if she is okay. He vaulted over a table, pulling up the hooded cloak that had fallen against his back.

There it was: a close reprieve!

He rushed at a nearby lift.

Pairs of wide confused eyes noticed him.

Swiping out his only hand, he force shoved any occupants to the side and out of the lift, cringing as they all landed on top of one another.

He winced. Oooh. That's gotta hurt.

He leapt over them, tumbling to the ground. Scrambling up he barged into the lift.

They golden lift doors began to close.

The blue featherheads, as he'd chosen to dub them, aka the Senate Commando security team, who wore those ridiculous blue outfits and that laughable helmets in which sprouted from the top of it were black feathers, rounded the corner, raising their weapons to open fire at his exposed figure. He jabbed the button for the lift to go up, any button! Stupid thing was moving too slow. Tauntingly slow. Was it trying to kill him!

"This-! This is SABOTAGE!" he declared aghast.

"Trying to get me killed on purpose huh?! Is that it!" he frantically yelled at the inanimate elevator even as the blue armored fingers prepared to squeeze their triggers. Hurry up! He mentally pleaded.

The golden elevator doors creeped together, but it wasn't enough! Not fast enough!

His head swiveled left, then right, then left again, looking for anything that could help. He let out a cry of frustration, then, he let out a roundhouse kick to the elevator control panel.

Definitely not one of his brightest moments. Not one of his best ideas.

Crash!

He howled.

Sharp metal and glass stuck into the soft flesh of his foot.

Much to his surprise, and possibly to the surprise of others, his foot actually smashed through the panel, blasting a hole, getting stuck in the elevator wall! Imbalanced he fell back, shoulders and neck colliding hard to the floor, foot still stuck in the panel.

He accidentally had used the force when kicking. Of all things!

Due to the absurdity of the situation it caused the guards and commandoes to hesitate one second. That was enough. The elevator doors crept shut. The lights flickered. What buttons were left on the panel illuminated blue. Shocks coursed throughout his body in white hot flows and rivets as he got thoroughly electrocuted.

The lift suddenly flew up as shots rang out below, missing their target.

As his body shot up in the elevator his stomach seemed to plummet down and away into the abyss without it. If he had any lunch, he would have thrown it up.

Nausea took hold of his insides and squeezed them.

He shivered with each continued pulse of electricity to transverse though his body, small body jerking limply, helplessly, around.

On top of that a string of gibberish words ran from his mouth as he was feeling like he was getting fried from the inside out. Yanking on his foot made it worse.

Suddenly the elevator stopped in its ascent. His body flew forward, head smacking against the wall, bending his body forward unnaturally, almost sickeningly. Electricity coursing through him halted with the elevator.

Golden elevator doors opened with a resounding playful ding, as if the lift itself was happy it gave him the ride of his life. A merely empty hall was revealed.

With one final yank he shook his foot free, blood dripping from where the deep gnarly cuts ran, metal and glass shredding into the appendage. There was so much blood. And the pain. He pulled the pieces out, biting his lip to keep from yelping like a wounded dog. So much pain. So much blood, running, dripping, covering it all. Clenching his jaw shut he urged himself. Get up. I need to get up! Calling upon the force he attempted to numb his nerves in that area as best as he could. It took a couple moments to concentrate but he did his best.

Then he fought the urge not to hurl right then and there again at the sight of the blood; it made the gashes seem worse and iller than what they were. As he quickly hobbled down the aisle, refusing to look, refusing to feel that slick red substance coating and staining his skin which seemed so pale in comparison to that deep redness.

Blood.

Who else ate and drank blood in the night?

He figured right then and there that he could hardly stand the sight of it in such large quantities. He had never had this problem before. When had it happened? When had this incessant fear of blood originated? Maybe it had something to do with the incident with the Scav-. It made him gag. The smell, the stench, clogging up his nose.

He remembered.

It made him feel fuzzy, causing his breath to quicken dangerously, his heart to race horribly. He ignored it, squeezing his eyes shut.

In a pause in which he leaned against a nearby wall, taking deep breaths in, and letting it all out; he called upon the force to clear his mind, to help him in this moment. To help him move on. It pulsed within, around him, that white comforting light, his anchor, like a distraction, a savior of sorts. The smell in actuality wasn't that bad, blood, it just seemed that way to his oversensitive nose and nerves. But now, he couldn't let alone handle it, but he could partly ignore it.

I can now continue.

I can do it.

Down there!

Just around the next bend, down another row of doors and walls of those that lived near. Here. Rooms for those who were avaricious, offices for the manipulators, the predators preying on innocents for their own personal gain.

But she's not like that!

I don't expect mother to be perfect. No one is. But I know one thing, she is a kind person.

Then there were others who resided to work in this building. Ones who fought life and limb for the Republic. Putting their necks out for unnamed faces that none would ever be able to become familiar with. Ones who were selfless. Good people who wanted to do good deeds, and they weren't lying, they weren't digging their own grave. There were some here who were determined not to leave with nothing unaccomplished. Progress was the only option. These were the true leaders.

Not some old senile Sith!

His heart came to a stop for a moment. Then it beat rapidly once again. His body came to a stop a moment later, just as it passed a single door. He backtracked two steps until the plum purplish door stood right in front of him.

Mother?

He tested his bad leg.

Then grimaced, tears pricking at his eyes.

I can do this.

Then in the distance his ears caught the sound of the guard's boots running up and down, travelling nearer, in the past halls, each footfall in multitudes echoing ominously as if through the action of drawing closer; those masked creatures wished to rip this moment away. How cruel.

Without second thought, which was rather uncouth of him, he ventured in, handling the brown cloak till it pulled tight against his figure and face, casting a shadow on his feature.

He shut the door behind him.

Upon entering his eyes were greeted with a darkened room, the only light seeping through the closed blinds hiding the outside world beyond the window. This light in turn shed white strips horizontally across the floor, and upon the only figure in the room besides himself.

She whipped around from whence she had had her back to him, startled, placing aside what she was doing. Brown eyes looked to him fleetingly wide.

Silence descended.

She stood still, rigid, shocked, like a deer. No, not a deer, like a doe.

"Are you-?" she gasped.

"Do you remember me?" he interrupted, it was unintentional.

Soft brown eyes turned downcast, then distant, staring far off. "I believe I do. You were there. That night."

"Yeah, I was."

She approached closer, cautiously, but it wasn't as if she feared for herself. Maybe it was as if she feared that he would run away. To vanish into the night, vanish into the sun's morning light; vanish into the crowds and hordes of midday beyond all sight.

He resisted the urge to step back.

"You saved me."

Of course. Why wouldn't I?

A thought striked him odd as she approached. Unafraid. He kept his hood down though, features hidden under shadow.

"I did," he answered cautiously, slight curving of the lip into a barely noticeable smile.

"But why-How? I don't believe I know you." Then she paused midstep. "But I believe I should know you," she stated softly, brown eyes trying to discern his face. "Have we met before. Before a few days ago? I feel we have- or should have before?"

He understood her confusion, but a bitter laugh bubbled up inside of him at how ironic all this was. "Maybe there was a time when we would have met. I bet there was a time when our lives were once somehow intertwined."

"I agree. I feel that somewhere, deep within me, your words ring true."

She stepped closer. "But are our lives not intertwined now?" They were only about four feet apart now.

"I guess." Maybe it is not for the best.

He purposely took a step back.

"But why are you here? If our lives were not somehow discreetly intertwined before it would surely mostly be as of now. So, I ask again-" her eyes searching "- why are you here?" Do you care for me? It almost seemed so...

He nervously licked his dry lips. "Would it be right if I said I was here to make sure you were okay?"

"Yes." She smiled. He would never forget how it lit up her face no matter how dim the room was. "That would be the kind thing to do."

To be a kind person.

How nice.

She began to approach closer to him. Maybe it's time to go. He was alert for anything. The footfalls of boots could be heard in the distant halls, traffic from deep outside in midday could be discerned faintly. The room grew darker as clouds obscured the sun for brief moments, before running, lighting it up to how it dimly was before. But in that moment she came much too close for his liking.

He backed up, almost to the door, about to flee. It wouldn't do to grow too attached at the moment. If I do, it pulled at his heart, I may just end up pouring my heart out to her and I just can't do that.

"I-I should go."

"Wait!" she yelled, stopping him in his tracks. She moved fast, closing the distance. His eyes widened, a pair of arms wrapped around him, pulling him close. Pulling him into an embrace. His heart nearly stopped. "You can't leave. Not yet." He heard her whisper over his shoulder. "Excuse me for my behavior, it's not very professional, but I can tell when someone is needing of comfort." She hugged him tighter.

"I-t's okay." His stillness dissipated. Shock replaced with something else. Something seeping deep into his bones.

Warmness.

Carefully his own arms wrapped lightly around her back in turn. Her stature, figure, and height quite too similar to his own. That was their similar liking.

"Whoever you are, stranger, I would like to say thank you. But I would appreciate it even more if there was a name I could put to that hidden face of yours."

"Uhh, I'm Lu-" He stopped himself short, but not fast enough, "-uuuluuu?"

"Luuluu?" she repeated.

"Uhhhh…?" Shit! Why the frick did I say that! Stars, am I sure stupid, I let my guard down!

His thoughts shattered to the sound of his mother's voice.

"Luuluu," she sounded much surer. Clouds outside obscured the sun. The room grew darker for a moment before to be lighten up again with renewed light. "What a peculiar name."

He let out a little sigh. "Yep." This sucks, I don't even like the name Luuluu. It sounds like a girl's name anyways. He put himself up to ignore his own stupidity and block those thoughts out for right now. His hand gripped her back gently.

Dammit. His eyes began to tear up. This is too nice. The feeling of being held tightly in ones arms. Being held close to another living breathing soul out of something that could only be described as affection.Even if she barely knows me.

Wouldn't it be nice if this could last longer? Preferably into a distant forever.

Slowly, reluctantly, he gently pulled away.

Her brown questioning eyes grew with a curious glow, flickering, squinting slightly, and trying to make out his features under the brown hooded cloak.

Then she glanced down.

"You're hurt!" she gasped, moving to come closer.

He ducked back, out of reach, closer to the door, giving the impression that he was about to bolt.

"No, wait! Don't go! Not yet. I could help you!"

"No!" he stated, "I hav-." Tingles ran up and down his arms. The force rang with warning and he swung around, threw the door open, and kicked a senate guard that was about to burst into the room. It tumbled back into its other companions, all of them landing in an unruly pile.

Then he ran.


(Fanfir Note: And this is to a fellow author, I guess. I'm sorry if I annoyed you. Looking back I think I was a bit insensitive and maybe more than a little invasive… : ( … that was never my intention. I was just lonely, but that's no excuse to bug you, fellow human… )

(Hydra Note: Oh yeah, in this chapter, Luke originally wasn't going to even get the chance to meet Padme, but I decided to give him a break…. : P )