A Drinking Problem….chapter 9

Mos Eisley Cantina…

Obi-Wan sat at the bar sipping on a glass of non-alcoholic Ruby Bliel, waiting for a pilot that would take him to Naboo. He could see Qui-Gon smiling at him from a short distance. The ghost of Qui-Gon proud because Obi-Wan was three days sober.

"The transport is ready, sir," came the young pilot who made a living transporting everybody throughout the galaxy.

"Thank you, young man…what is your name?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Darklighter, sir. Biggs Darklighter."

"How long does it take to reach Naboo?"

"We are 50 parsecs away…I have to pick up some supplies in a few Star Systems, so I believe we will be in Naboo in two days."

Obi-Wan sighed…to him each passing day young Skywalker would be losing strength while in the presence of his dark father…

"Let's go, then."

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"Is there more of this recording?" Luke asked Threepio.

R2D2 Beeped…

"What recording? The one you are carrying on your bastioned head!"

"Who is she? She is beautiful."

"She is someone of great importance.

"Obi-Wan! Why would she be asking for him help?" Luke wondered.

"Oh, gods, what time is it?" Luke asked.

"18:30 sir."

"Echuta! I'm freakin' late! See if you can fix the message. I got to go!"

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"You are late!" Vader spat at his boy when he opened the hyperbaric chamber. "You are to have a sample taken every day at 17:30 at the Med Center and I got a report that you didn't go!"

"Take a sample…a….the p… thing…" Luke replied.

"Are you mocking me?" Vader frowned.

"No, father…sorry. I was working on the droids…That place is worse than Uncle Owen's garage…"

"Stop! I didn't call you to hear your squabbling tales."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"I don't know, are you capable of asking a question?" Lord Vader responded sarcastically.

"May I ask a question, please father?" Luke pleaded, why did his father always have to mock him, anyway?

Vader pondered…Luke had a way in getting things from him which was beyond himself…he actually liked to be called "father…" each moment was unique for him…

"Ask."

"How long it will be for me to prove myself worthy of training?"

"As long as it takes; I made a decision and you will not ask me again."

"Yes, father." Luke replied feeling defeated.

The comlink buzzed.

"Lord Vader…the results are negative."

"Good work."

"Go to your room. I left some datapads for you to study. You can't be here without studying."

"Child Galactic Services called you because I am not going to school?"

Vader sighed. "No…you must finish your high school education."

Luke bowed and left. He found it amusing the Dark Lord talking to him about his schooling. He entered the room and looked at the subject matters…language, Galactic Arts, music, sports…he grabbed another datapad and smiled. "Yes! I really want to study this!" Luke exclaimed as he saw one of the datapads titles, "Shipbuilding and Maintenance."

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Vader was pleased with Luke's apparent progress. He was prompt to bring his "daily sample" of proof that he had not been drinking. He made a few friends and while working cleaning the droids he started to get spare parts to test his home study guide…

His friend Stanley was a great helper. Specially because he works as a mechanic where Luke was ablet to get parts and help. Luke was finishing his project but he had to finish an important part and he didn't want to leave the ship yet.

"Stanley, can you do me a favor?"

"Anything for the son of Vader, sir."

"Oh come on, stop that! I wonder if you are my friend because you are afraid of me or something."

"No, Luke. You are a cool guy…but your father…he gives me the creeps…no offense."

"He gives me the creeps too…well, can you go to the Med Center and pee for me."

"Do what?"

"All you have to do is go to this compartment; they call it take a sample…to make sure I have not been drinking."

"Oh that…no problem."

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Obi-Wan arrived in Naboo and settled in a small hotel downtown. He started to meditate when Qui-Gon arrived.

"Greetings, my old padawan!"

"Hello there." Obi-Wan replied, still with his eyes closed.

"I am glad you came here. You must gather your strength to save him."

"I am afraid Luke is already lost, master." Obi-Wan opened his eyes and stared at Qui-Gon Jinn.

"I didn't mean Luke, Obi-Wan…I meant Anakin."

"You mean Vader." Obi-Wan contradicted.

"No, stubborn one…Anakin. Vader is only a shell, a surface…there still good in him or he wouldn't claim his son."

"He wants to turn Luke to the Dark Side, master!"

"If he does that, that will be a problem…there can be only two Sith, a Master and an apprentice…if Luke turns to the dark side, one of them must go."

"So…he wants do destroy his master…and become one himself! He always wanted to be a master…so he became a master of evil." Obi-Wan spoke with sadness.

"You are here to recover, Obi-Wan. Save your strength and keep your thoughts calm…don't give into despair."

"Yes, master."

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Luke's ship was almost finished. He was so proud of it. Although he was disobeying his father about staying away from any ship this one was actually sort of a homework…he was studying and he had to practice. Besides it took him a very long time to assemble the parts, to build the one-man fighter from the ground up, it was an old ETA-s Actis Class Light Interceptor an antique from the Clone Wars.

He entered the small cockpit and started the ship..

"It is working! It is working!" he excitedly yelled.

R2D2 beeped and Threepio cheering.

"Great work Master Luke!" Threepio said as Luke turned off the engine.

"Did you fix the recording on R2?" Luke asked.

"No, Master Luke," Threepio answered sounding disappointed.

"I think that girl is in trouble and I got somehow find the message and take it to Obi-Wan," Luke said and became slightly worried when Stanley came running the fear rolling off his friend and slapping Luke through the Force.

"Luke! Luke! I am sorry!"

"Sorry for what?"

"I went to the Med Center to take that…oh you know…and I forgot something."

Luke felt a slight tremor in the Force

"What did you forget?" Luke sounded worried.

"I…forgot I went to my cousin's party yesterday. He works for the Star Destroyer Avenger…we had a few drinks…and I drank…Corellian Whiskey."

Threepio shouted. "Oh no!"

Tbc….