Chapter # 9

Ben was up before the rest of the family which gave him time to think about the previous day's events. Of course he was grateful for his daughter's rescue, but angry that his father had used the Force to do so. Just being near his parents again brought back so many strong emotions from his past: anger, frustration….and guilt? whispered that small internal voice.

Ben sighed. It was wonderful to see his children smiling as they played with his parents. Perhaps he had been wrong keeping his family isolated for so long. But how else would he have kept them safe from all the notoriety that came with the Skywalker name?

His thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of the children waking and demanding breakfast. "What's on the agenda for today?" asked Ben, pouring cereal into the children's bowls. He hoped today would be calmer and that he could keep a more watchful eye on Abby.

"Your parents are tied up with ceremony business this morning, but we planned to meet at their place for lunch," said Rachel, looking at her datapad. "There are quite a few activities scheduled by the hotel to keep the kids occupied for a while."

"Don't tell me," said Ben, grimacing. "Tatooine now has a water park."

"Dad," moaned Nirice, rolling her eyes as only a fourteen year old could. "You're not funny at all."

"Do you realize the amount of water Tatooine would have to import for that sort of thing?" asked Tiann, silently calculating.

"Sand Dune tour or the trip to see Beggar's Canyon?" Rachel asked the children.

"There's actually a tour to see sand?" asked Ben skeptically.

Rachel nodded holding up the data brochure. "And it includes Sand Skiing."

"SAND SKIING! SAND SKIING!!" the children cried in unison.

Ben laughed as he pictured his children covered from head to toe in sand. "Just be prepared to get sand in places you never thought was possible," warned Ben.

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At noon Luke heard a knock on the door and could sense his ravenous grandchildren on the other side.

"About time," said Luke, as he opened the door. "I thought I was going to have to eat all these cookies by myself."

"I'll help you, Grandpa," offered Caleb, wrapping his arms around Luke's knees.

"Me, too," added Abby, raising her arms to her grandfather to be picked up.

"Hello, Luke," said Rachel, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Hi Mara, what can I do to help?"

Mara entered the living room and picked up Caleb. "Not a thing, everyone just sit, we're ready to commence with lunch. And you, little rascal," said Mara looking sternly into Caleb's eyes. "No pouring of liquids this time, deal?"

"Deal, Grandma," said Caleb, reluctantly.

Conversation flowed as well as the laughter. The food was delicious, plentiful and absent of any mishaps. When everyone had their fill they adjourned to the living room once again. The younger children began to play with their newly acquired toys while everyone else gathered near the seating area.

"It's so nice to finally have a grandma and grandpa," said Emia hugging Mara and then joining her siblings on the floor.

"Your parents aren't on Naboo, Rachel?" asked Luke.

"Dad, I don't think Rachel wants to talk about--" began Ben.

"No, it's okay, Ben," interrupted Rachel. "I don't mind talking about it. Actually, I wasn't born on Naboo. I don't have a lot to go on, at least not many official records, but I have been able to put together bits and pieces to get a general idea of my background. You see, I'm a SELCORE baby."

"SELCORE?" gasped Mara, looking over at Luke.

"Well, that's what they used to call us at the orphanage," continued Rachel with a smile. "I'm originally from Garqi. When I was about two months old, the Vong invaded our planet so my parents and I fled to Duro. We lived in one of the domed cities with other refugees for a short time, until the Vong invaded there as well."

"Rachel, I had no idea," said Mara astonished.

"It gets a little sketchy from there. Somehow I was separated from my parents during the invasion, but was loaded onto a hauler with other babies and small children. We had nothing on us, but our identi-card bracelets. Mine only said 'Enjeris, Rachel. (Garqi.'"

Rachel stopped a moment as if contemplating something.

"We were one of the last transports out…"

"What happened after that?" asked Luke softly, his eyes locked onto hers anticipating what would come next.

"According to records we were farmed out to different systems. Naboo took in most of the babies, though. They even set up an orphanage for us so we wouldn't be shuttled about the galaxy." Rachel smiled fondly at Luke and Mara. "It wasn't until years later that I learned some of the Jedi were there battling the Vong ships to clear an escape route for us as we left orbit. I owe my life to them."

Luke smiled. "Well, we had some help from Ben's Uncle Han as well."

"And the Duro Defense Force when they finally realized that they'd been duped by the Vong," snorted Mara.

"You mean… you?" asked Rachel.

"Small galaxy, isn't it?" laughed Luke.

"We were there, Rachel, on Duro. Along with Ben's cousins Jacen, Jaina and Anakin," recalled Mara.

"That's right, Anakin was still with us then," said Luke softly, his eyes clouding momentarily.

"You and Mom were there, defending Duro during the invasion?" asked Ben, his face open with surprise.

"Yes, son," said Luke. "Your Aunt Leia was working for SELCORE at the time. The whole family was there at the end."

"Even you, kiddo." Mara smiled at Ben, amusement lighting her face. "We had just found out that I was carrying you."

Ben sat silently staring into space, as he seemed to take in everything.

"Ben?" asked Rachel, touching his knee. "Are you all right?"

"Yes," whispered Ben, reaching out and holding her hand.

"Wow, Grandpa. That is amazing to think that you and Grandma saved our mom!" said Nirice.

"Well, there were a lot of us doing the saving," replied Luke.

Rachel got up slowly and walked over to her in-laws. "Well, on behalf of all the SELCORE babies, thank you," she said, hugging them and receiving hugs back. "All this food and talk has worn me out, I say it's time for a nap. Let's go gang."

Ben and Rachel rounded up the kids and headed out the door, as Luke and Mara watched fondly.

"This is just amazing," said Mara. "How do you think Ben took the news?"

"I could feel several different emotions rolling off him," said Luke. "Astonishment, gratitude, even frustration. It will be interesting to see what he does after he has had time to digest it all."

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on their door. Luke crossed the room and opened it to find Nirice standing there with a determined look on her face.

"Honey, is everything OK?" he asked.

Nirice took a deep breath. "Grandma, Grandpa….I want to be a Jedi."