After a brief, and hushed, conversation with his aunt, Luke invited Kareem to stay at the farm in the spare room. Kareem was surprised that a complete stranger would be willing to invite him into his home, but accepted the invitation. And so the two of them were soon plodding along towards the Lars Homestead, talking to each other simply to make the trip faster.
"So, have you always lived here?" Kareem asked Luke, as he hefted the package of freeze-dried nerf steaks up more. He'd insisted on bringing something for dinner since they wouldn't let him pay them.
"Um, I think so. For as long as I can remember, at least. Uncle Owen says that I was born here, but Maia, she's my friend, she says I 'came from the stars', off world somewhere. Maia knows things, so I guess she might be right."
"She knows things?"
"Uh huh, she just knows." Luke nodded his head emphatically.
"And what about you, do you ever 'know things'?" Kareem asked, watching the little boy struggle slightly with the heavy coil. Luke hesitated before answering. He had never told anyone about his knowing things, only Aunt Beru and Maia knew, but for some reason he knew that telling this man the truth was a good thing.
"Sometimes. Like, I know how to recognize different troopers even though they've all got the same uniform. I've got a few friends who are storm troopers. Not many though, most of them don't have much of a personality by the time they finish Basic Training. Um, sometimes I know when something dangerous is near by, and a few other things like that. I knew it was okay to tell you that I 'knew things'. That's something, I guess." Luke shrugged, feeling as though he hadn't begun to really explain what he meant. Despite this though, the man understood, and nodded his head with a smile.
"I understand. Sometimes I know things to. For instance, I knew I was going to meet someone special today, and I did. I met you. Not many people will invite a complete stranger into their house. You're one of a kind Luke Lars."
"Skywalker."
"Hm?"
"My last name. It's Skywalker. I live with my father's stepbrother and his wife. Their name is Lars, mine is Skywalker. I'm Luke Skywalker." Luke looked up at the man.
"I'm sorry. I believed it to be Lars. I wasn't aware it was different." Kareem said, contritely. "What happened to your parents, if you don't mind my asking?"
"I don't really know. Uncle Owen said they both died. It's not a lie, but it's not the whole truth either. Like, maybe my dad's as good as dead, but not quite. I don't know. I know my mom's dead; she died shortly after I was born. Aunt Beru says that it's cause she couldn't live without dad."
"I'm very sorry Luke. That's a terrible thing to happen. Do you have any plans for the future?" Kareem asked, change to a safer subject.
"Yeah, though if Uncle Owen has his way I'll be stuck on this miserable dust ball for the rest of my life harvesting moisture from the vaporators and such. I'd like to get off planet, though. I want to heal people, make them better. Maia's a healer. She can use herbs to cure any disease." Luke said, eyes shining with hope.
"Any?"
"Well, almost any. But still, that's what I'd like." Luke decided to act upon his impulses, "Are you a healer too?"
"That I am, little one." Kareem answered, smiling broadly at the boy and his unconscious use of the Force, as yet untainted by false teachings of anger or emotionlessness. Kareem personally felt as though the Jedi brought their destruction upon themselves, restraining their emotions to the point of barely even having compassion. "Perhaps your guardians will permit you to come with me to my home planet to learn. It's not to far, and you'll be able to visit them every month or two. Though I'll have to get a new ship first."
"I'd like that! Could Cedric come to?"
"Cedric?" In answer to Kareem's question, the small hawk alighted on Luke's shoulder.
"This is Cedric. He broke his wing and was dehydrated, but Maia and I fixed him up. Now he's determined to stay with me." Luke explained, as he stroked the bird's feathers.
"I see no reason why he couldn't. But we must speak with your guardians. I can't take you if they want you to stay." Kareem warned the boy gently.
"Okay. But I think they'll say yes." Luke said with a grin, as the Lars Homestead came into view.
"Perhaps, little one, perhaps."
After Dinner…
Kareem watched as Luke worked on an astro-mech droid that he'd found in the junkyard of Mr. Huxley, so absorbed in his work that he was oblivious to the world around him.
"He's a very special child." Kareem observed to the boy's aunt, Beru Lars.
"Hm, that he is. Owen doesn't always see it, and when he does he thinks that the boy is turning into his father, but he's gifted."
"He knows thing, has sharper reflexes, and can sometimes make things happen when he's frightened or upset." Kareem carried on. "He told me that he wants to be a healer."
"Yes. There's nothing in this universe, short of having his parents back, that Luke would love more. It drives me nuts sometimes. He brought a baby Krayt dragon home one time, a Krayt dragon! Its mother had died and what does my little hero do? He brings it home and raises it! Honestly, sometimes I don't know what to do, he has such a big heart."
"I have a suggestion, if you and your husband are willing to hear it." Kareem offered, folding his arms over his chest in contemplation.
"We'd love to hear it, but Owen probably won't go for it." Beru informed him, shaking her head sadly.
"He might, you never know. And if he does oppose it, then at least we tried."
"Yes, I suppose you're right. I just hope it all goes well in the end."