Vignette # 2
A/N: Much has been speculated as to whether Owen and Beru Lars knew that Darth Vader was once Anakin Skywalker. After doing a little research it seems it runs about 50/50 both ways. My personal belief and the one that I based this story on is that they did not know and that they gave Luke the last name of Skywalker to honor his father who was killed in the Jedi purge.
JP
hr
"Beru take Luke inside." Owen Lars kept his eyes carefully focused on the hooded figure as it approached the Lars' windswept homestead. His wife Beru sat a few meters away with their charge while he dug happily in the sand with the new toys Owen had picked up in Anchorhead.
"But why Owen?" asked Beru, smiling as she watched her charge giggle with delight. "Luke is having so much fun—"
"NOW Beru!" said Owen sharply. His wife looked up quickly and met his eyes. "Please, dear…take Luke inside. I'll see to the toys." His features softened as he glanced at the two of them.
Scooping up the three year old boy, Beru turned and headed to the entrance of their home giving her husband an inquisitive look. Owen simply nodded and watched as they disappeared inside.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Owen took a deep breath and prepared to battle over the safety of his family; for fast approaching was the strongest and most powerful threat that remained on Tatooine.
Obi-Wan Kenobi trudged the sands that covered the threshold of the small moisture farm and stopped directly in front of Owen, extending his hand. "Hello, Owen. How is our boy?"
Owen scowled. "He's not your boy, Kenobi. I thought I made that plain."
"You made it plain that you thought Luke was too young to start his training at two years old. I disagreed, but acquiesced to your wishes. Now the boy is three, as of yesterday and well past the age when a Jedi should begin his training," said Obi-Wan calmly, his hands resting in the sleeves of his robe.
"There will be no Jedi training for Luke," said Owen his face impassive.
Obi-Wan paused as if trying to sense what Owen was thinking. "I see….and what do you think his father would make of that?"
"We'll never know, now will we? His father is dead all because he joined the Jedi and the likes of you." Owen turned and stomped toward the courtyard.
"Owen!" Obi-Wan called following behind. "Anakin was a slave before he joined the Order. Surely you can see that by extraditing his freedom and giving him an education he was better off?"
The moisture farmer wheeled around. "And what of his safety? What of a mother's broken heart?"
"Shmi? We had her full support in establishing her son's freedom."
Owen sighed and shook his head. "There are many kinds of freedom, Kenobi. Did you every think of that? If you had left him on Tatooine with his mother, he would have come to live here…with us. Not off on some fool's crusade against the galaxy. And not end up dead trying to fight against a power that could not be defeated."
"You don't know that. Anakin had a destiny to fulfill—"
"—and look where it got him." Owen drew near to the Jedi's face and whispered. "I'll not have Luke sacrificed the way Anakin was."
Obi-Wan seemed speechless for a moment, swallowing convulsively. "You don't understand."
Owen bent down and collected the sand toys, stuffing them into a mesh bag. "I understand more than you know." He stood and faced his opponent. "I saw the look in Anakin's eyes when he returned with his mother's body. He was changed somehow, different…haunted. He should have stayed here and not gone back to the Jedi. We could've helped him heal, not stuff his emotions down where they would eat away at him."
"I tried…" said Obi-Wan softly. "He just wouldn't open up to me. And you're right about him keeping so much inside. It did eat away at him." He bowed his head a moment, as if remembering. "Anakin was like a brother to me and I loved him."
Both men stood listening to the desert winds in silence.
Owen's head came up abruptly. "Then for the love of his father, leave Luke alone. He's healthy and happy with us. He'll be safe here, away from the horrors that plagued his father."
The Jedi Master shook his head. "But he is our only hope in defeating the Emperor. His Force abilities are as great as Anakin's and he can be taught to use this power to defend the galaxy and re-establish the Order."
"No. I will not allow it!" shouted Owen. "There is nothing more to be said." He opened the door to his dwelling.
"I could take him, you know."
Owen froze. For this was his greatest fear, knowing that the Jedi Master was powerful enough to snatch Luke from their very hands and depart to some world where they'd never be able to find him. Turning slowly, he faced Obi-Wan with a malice gleaming from his eyes. "It would be the last thing you ever did."
"And you would be the one to stop me?" said Obi-Wan softly. "My powers are far greater than any moisture farmer's, Owen."
"But how would they be against the likes of Darth Vader? Any information leading to the arrest of exiled Jedi still pays quite a bit, Kenobi."
Owen watched with satisfaction as Obi-Wan's mouth dropped open.
"You would do that?"
"To protect my family, I would do just about anything," said Owen.
"I see," said Obi-Wan shaking his head sadly.
"Good. Now get off my property and leave my family alone." Owen went into his home and slammed the door behind him.
end