#while Luke's over there like COOL? FATHER? COOL DAD? PLAY CATCH? PILOT?

[nevertheless-moving]

Lost Luke Part Two

Continued from here

Star Wars Time Travel AU #19

“Master Owen, may I present two most important visitors?“ C3PO said self-importantly (C3PO! His Mom kept him! His Mom finished Threepio!).

“I'm Anakin Skywalker.”

Anakin was practically vibrating with frustrated uncertainty. He could sense his mother inside- weak, but not so much as his visions had led him to fear. And something else... a powerful but diffuse presence of light somewhere nearby. The man in front of him didn’t feel like a threat but he could practically hear his mother’s screams...

“Oh. Oh! It’s good to meet you. I’m Owen Lars. This is my girlfriend, Beru.”

“Hello.” Beru smiled welcomingly at them both.

“I’m Padme.” This...wasn’t quite what she had expecting. Anakin had been so tense, but the couple in front of them seemed honestly glad to see them, and at the moment Anakin seemed to be more confused than angry or scared.

“Well... I guess I'm your stepbrother. We thought you might show up someday. Luke was convinced you would show up soon but the more time passed, the less sure-”

"My mother is here. I’d like to see her,” Anakin said, mostly managing to make it sound like a request, and not a threat. 

Owen nodded. “Of course, come inside. She’s still taking it easy after her ordeal.”

“What ordeal?” Anakin demanded. But before Owen could answer, they had reached the resting alcove and a woman was raising herself from the sofa, eyes lighting up.

“Mom,” Anakin choked out. “You’re- you’re really here. I thought- Are you ok?”

“Oh Ani. I knew I would see you again,” Shmi whispered, eyes brimming with tears.

In their rush to embrace each other, Anakin almost missed a young man slip away from the room, but something caught his eye; he tracked the blonde head as it disappeared around a corner.

“Now that your here, I’m more than ok.” She tried to pull him to take a seat but he stood rigidly, face growing hard.

“So I have a step brother now, huh?” he asked tightly, a million questions passing silently between them.

“Lars is a good man, and a good husband,” she said, cutting to the heart of the matter. He freed me because he loved me, but he did so without any expectations or promises from me. I moved in with him because I cared about him, and because I wanted to. I married him because I loved him. It would mean a lot to me if you would give him a chance. You have... more family here than you were expecting, but they are all your family, not just mine.”

Anakin nodded, swallowing something hard that had caught in his throat. 

He pulled back to nod at Padme, who had been quietly waiting in the corner. “You remember the...Queen’s handmaiden, of course.”

“Padme!” Shmi cried, delighted. “How wonderful to see you again. Oh, you look even more radiant than I remember. “They embraced, and Padme smiled, blinking back tears. 

“Shmi...it’s so good to see you again. I’ve never forgotten your kindness. I’m sorry, I should have returned earlier-”

“Nevermind that right now, I didn’t let you into my home because I expected something in return. And I’m sure you’ve been busy the last few years-"

She shepherded them both into a seat, and retrieved a pitcher of water to share. “I admit, I assumed when Anakin left to join the Jedi he would be forbidden from maintaining contact with anyone outside the order...” She threw Anakin a questioning look, and he blushed in reply.

“Padme’s a senator. As a Jedi, I was assigned to protect her against some recent threats.”

“I consider Obi-Wan and Anakin to be friends of mine. The Jedi might be forbidden attachment, but the people of Naboo owe both of them a great debt of gratitude.” She laid a hand a hand on Anakin’s arm and smiled.

“Obi-Wan?” Shmi asked.

Anakin and Padme exchanged a startled glance. “Oh right, you wouldn’t have met him...” Anakin trailed off, looking confused by the idea that his Mother didn’t know Obi-Wan. “He’s my Ma- my teacher. And my friend. He’s looked out for me ever since Qui-Gon passed.”

“Qui-Gon died!” Shmi cried, alarmed. “How? When?”

Anakin shuffled awkwardly. “Um...two days after we left Tatooine. I’ve been with Obi-Wan ever since.”

Shmi looked distraught and Anakin rushed to reassure her. “Obi-Wan’s great, I promise! He’s done a great job of taking care of me! He was Qui-Gon’s apprentice, you never met him because he was guarding the ship when they landed on Tatooine.”

“I- I see. So he’s someone you trust, then.”

“With my life. He’s- the Jedi aren’t supposed to admit to attachments, but he’s, well, he’s my family, just as much as your are,” He said, leaning forward earnestly. 

“I’m sure he feels the same way about you,” Shmi agreed faintly.

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” Anakin responded with a wry grin.

She shot him a knowing look. “I would.” Before Anakin could reply, she moved the conversation smoothly forward. 

“Love- I’m so glad to see you, but I must ask, what brings you to Tatooine now? Was it simply hiding the lady or...or did you see something that drew you here.”

Anakin bowed his head. “I saw you- crying out for help. You were in pain, in danger and- it kept getting worse. But now that I’m here” He hesitated, shrinking in on himself, ashamed, “I feel like- the danger’s passed. Owen mentioned you had an ordeal. Did- did someone else already rescue you?”

“Oh Ani- I’m so sorry you had to see that. I’m perfectly fine, now.”

“But you weren’t fine before- and I wasn’t here” he responded, upset.

“I was captured by Tusken raiders.” Shmi said bluntly, and Anakin let out a horrified moan. “Anakin Skywalker, listen to me, this is going to sound strange, but in a way you did rescue me. It’s- it’s going to hard to explain- but- I literally wouldn’t have survived if not for you.”

“What do you mean?” Anakin asked desperately.

She sighed, then called out. “Luke? Luke can you come in please?”

The blonde teen from earlier stumbled in to the room. “Sorry! I wasn’t eavesdropping! I mean- I could barely hear what you were saying anyway.”

Luke glanced around, torn between staring at the three seated at the table. Anakin couldn’t tear his eyes away. He was practically shining with light. Anakin didn’t know why but, for all that the boy before him couldn’t be much younger than Anakin himself, he felt like the force was telling him to protect the person standing before him.

“Hello,” Luke said, shyly ducking his head. “It’s...very nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Anakin said, smiling. “Are you...also my step-brother?” he guessed.

Luke rubbed a hand on the back of his neck nervously. “No- I’m not...I’m not your brother, exactly, though if its easier to think of me that way, I totally understand.”

“Luke rescued me from the Tuskens,” Shmi said with a fond smile.

“You rescued me,” he corrected. “You came up with the escape plan! If it been just been me at that tent- well, I definitely wouldn’t have made it on my own.”

“We rescued each other,” Shmi agreed, making it sound like an old argument.

Anakin rose from the table, bowing deeply. “Then I owe you a debt of gratitude I can never repay.”

“Oh! You don’t- you really don’t have to do that! Please. If anything its the other way around! But anyway, we’re family, there’s no debts with family.”

Anakin grinned. “I would be honored to consider you my family.”

Luke flushed. “That’s- that’s really nice to hear. But you don’t even know me yet.”

“I know enough.” Anakin declared. “I could sense it in the force before I even saw you, but I didn’t recognize it right away. We are family, I know it.”

“Oh,” Luke said, looking starry eyed.

Shmi laughed. “Come on, Luke, both of you sit down before you pass out. I told you he’d be crazy about you. You’re a Skywalker, it’s obvious to anyone with eyes.”

“Maybe I should give you some privacy...” Padme said, inclining her head diplomatically. “I can see this is a family affair...” 

“No, Padme stay,” Anakin said softly. ‘You came all this way with me- I’m glad to share something good with you.”

Padme smiled tentatively and they all squeezed together around the low table.

“A Skywalker!” Anakin said, sounding amazed. “You mean- you said I wasn’t your brother but...”

Luke shifted in his seat anxiously. “Ok, this is going to sound crazy-”

“I believe you,” Anakin interrupted. Luke’s joy was leaking out into the force, lighting up the road to an almost visible extent. Between that and the revelation that his mother was safe, Anakin felt practically giddy. 

Luke grinned and a flash of relief leaked off of him into the force. He took a deep breath before blurting out “I’m a time traveler!”

Padme froze and Anakin’s jaw dropped. “You’re- how?”

“I have no idea! I didn’t even realize at first, I was so confused why Owen and Beru looked young, I thought I was suffering from Sand Madness at first! But- it’s the only thing that makes sense” The explanation came tumbling out of Luke’s mouth. “I still kind-of think I’m sand mad sometimes, but I’ve been here for weeks now and...I um, know stuff that proved it to everyone. I’m from about 23 years in the future, I think. The calender’s kind-of changed...”

He trailed off, looking hopefully at Anakin.

“You are- not my brother” Anakin said, thinking out loud. “I- I am your Father” he gasped.

Padme startled, “That’s impossible.”

 It sounded insane, but when Anakin searched his feelings he knew it to be true.

“That’s what you meant when you said that I did rescue you!” he said, excitedly turning to his Mother. “My son time traveled to save you!”

“I-I really don’t know how it happened,” Luke stammered out. “I didn’t do it on-purpose, exactly.”

“It was the will of the force!” Anakin declared, actually meaning it.

“I was so worried you wouldn’t believe me!” Luke confessed. “But I- I really wanted to meet you.”

“Meet me?” Anakin asked, heart sinking. “I didn’t raise you?”

Luke looked down. “You died- when I was little. I don’t know all the details, but I’ll tell you what I do know.” He raised his head, looking fiercely determined. “We can stop it- I’m sure of it. I already helped save my Grandma, and I didn’t even know what was going on then!”

“You- you did, didn’t you?” Anakin said, choked up with pride. “I- Can I hug you? Son?”

They leaped up from their seats to embrace each other. Every Skywalkers’ eye grew damp while Padme watched dumbfounded at the extremely unlikely turn of events.

Time Travel. Well, if anyone could pull it off, it would be Anakin’s son.

Part One - - - Part Two - - - Part Three - - - Part Four

[wonderlandleighleigh]

98 Thoughts while watching A New Hope

1. Who was that silver protocol droid? What happened to them? Are they okay? where are they now?? I bet they’re cooler than 3P0.

2. Rebel helmets are just silly.

3. I love how dirty R2 and 3P0 are. 

4. Man, Rex is right. Empire-era Stormtrooper armor is total shit.

5. Shut up Anakin.

6. Oh Space Mom. I will miss Carrie Fisher forever. 

7. Anakin fucking - he asks a question just as he kills the dude. Like- why-? Shut up Anakin.

8. Something I really love about this first movie is that Leia doesn’t do anything overtly sexily. When she gets shot, she’s literally just laid out on the floor, on her belly. It’s not meant to be hot. And even later when she’s tortured, it’s not meant to be a male gaze thing.

9. For fuck’s sake Anakin. Your daughter is standing right fucking there, and you can’t even sense it. What a dumb. 

10. R2 is like “Fuck. This place again?”  But 3P0 was created on Tatooine and he doesn’t even remember. That’s kinda sad. 

11. As Dettiot says, you can really tell that 3P0 was created by a 9 year old Anakin. Yeesh.

12. I really love the Jawas. They’re so strange, and wonderful. 

13. I wonder what R2 was thinking about when he was walking all that time by himself on Tatooine. Was he thinking about Anakin? Was he thinking about the war? Or Padme? Or Ahsoka? 

14. Man, Tatooine at dusk is beautiful, isn’t it?

15. These Stormtroopers have sand on their butts. I never noticed. 

16. I remember thinking the Jawa going “bobit! bobit!” was very funny as a kid.

17. Beru Whitesun. Former slaver liberator. Secret bad-ass. She and Owen really deserved better. 

18. R2: I cannot believe my old master’s son is leaving me the fuck behind. What the fuck is this shit. Get back here. Do you know how much I suffered for your dumb dad? 

19. Luke playing with toy ships just like Anakin did. And didn’t Obi-Wan make some of those in one continuity or another? *sad* 

20. R2: ANOTHER SKYWALKER OH GOD. 

21. SHE IS YOUR SISTER. Do NOT falling in love with your SISTER.

22. R2′s memory has never been wiped. Aside from Leia’s message, gold only knows what other recordings are saved on his hard drive. 

23. Blue milk! 

24. And Owen lying his ass of to Luke. Ugh.

25. I remember as a kid thinking that Owen was too grumpy/mean. But he’s a really good person. He raised this kid, and wants nothing more than to do right by him. Done so dirty. 

26. But Luke’s pensive moment watching the suns set is so beautiful.

27. I desperately want to know how Beru’s cooker works. I want one. It looks so cool. 

28. I want a Bantha. 

29. R2 trying to wake Luke up is such a moment. 

30. Obi-Wan’s krate dragon impersonation is amazing. I wish he’d do it more often.

31. I have feelings about his old, dusty Jedi robes.  In fact, everytthing about old Ben gives me feelings. He lost everything, and has been hiding in the desert for twenty years. 

32. “He’s searching for his former master. I’ve never seen so much devotion in a droid before.” Obi-Wan’s face is so haunted in this moment. Fuck.

33. R2: WHY YOU PLAYING YOU KNOW ME! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU

34. Owen told Luke his father sold drugs. The. Fuck.

35. “He was the best star pilot. And a cunning warrior. And he was a good friend.” *sads* 

36. Obi-Wan sat in the desert with his brother’s lightsaber for twenty years, just mourning everything that had happened. Fuck. 

37. Obi-Wan stop LYING. 

38. Obi-Wan’s face clearly says, while Leia’s recording plays, “Oh shit. All this crap is catching up to me. Again. I’ll never ever be rid of Skywalkers.” 

39. Obi-Wan has such terrible ideas. Still.

40. I just love that Vader hates the Death Star. Anakin hates the Death Star the way Steve Rogers hates Stark Tower. 

41. Aaaand bye-bye senate. I wonder if that will happen here in the US at some point if Trump keeps Trumping along.

42. Tarken and Vader’s bromance is such a thing.

43. Ha! “accurate.” “precise.” Stormtroopers. Ha. 

44. Owen and Beru’s fate is so gruesome. I was always so shocked by how much we were shown. Damn. Grim. And again, done so dirty. More Skywalker adjacent family dead. 

45. Shut up, Anakin.

46. More grim shit. Burning the Jawa bodies. 

47. Poor Luke. He lost everything that day. He thought his father and mother were both dead, and now his uncle and aunt are truly dead. So yeah. Following a weird wizard on a quest. 

48. Mos Eisley doesn’t seem dangerous. Just goofy. 

49. Alec Guinness’  delivery of the Jedi mind trick is so casual. So sly. Love it.

50. CHEWBACCA! WHAT A WOOKIE! 

51. Why does everybody hate droids??? 

52. omg. Luke tugging on the bartender’s shirt. Wtf Luke. Just say “Excuse me.” That’s so rude.

53. Obi-Wan just slicing off that dude’s arm...a little reactionary maybe? AND NOBODY DOES OR SAYS ANYTHING. 

54. Obi-Wan is so unimpressed by Han. omg.

55. Obi-Wan is just gonna hit up Bail and Breja for cash when they get to Alderaan. Dang. 

56. “I’m never coming back to this planet again.” heh.

57. Han shot first. Fuck all of this.

58. You know why her resistance to the mind probe is considerable? BECAUSE SHE IS YOUR DAUGHTER YOU DUMB ROBOT MAN. 

59. CGI Jabba is weak sauce.

60. “Even I get boarded sometimes” is the name of Han Solo’s sex tape. 

61. Luke’s poncho is so cute.

62. Leia is the best. 

63. Tarken is wearing comfy slippers.

64. The reason why even if Vader made amends with Luke, Leia will never forgive him, is right here. Not only did he torture her, but he stood back and watched while they destroyed her home. She will never be able to forgive him. Ever. And that’s legit. She doesn’t have to. 

65. I believe Chewie actually does beat someone with their own arm.

66. Obi-Wan’s smile when Han says there’s no mystical Force controlling his destiny was so good.

67. Even when there’s nobody else in the room, Vader doesn’t get to sit down. What the fuck.

68. Obi-Wan knows he’s gonna die.

69. Mark Hamill talks so fast.

(I accidentally took a nap during Leia’s rescue and the trash compactor scene. I was tired, and I’ve seen this movie so many times)

70.  Han screaming after the Stormtroopers is such a fucking mood.

71. Vader vs. Obi-Wan here...I have a lot of feelings about these two disasters fighting agai- SHUT UP ANAKIN.

72. Not only does Obi-Wan sacrifice himself to give Luke an exit, but he does so because he’s giving Anakin a choice in terms of killing him or not. He’s giving him a moment of grace here, I think. To not be an evil fuck. But uh...Vader.

73. When Obi-Wan says “You can’t win.” He’s not talking about the duel. He’s talking about over-all. Being a Sith means that he can’t win. And his “If you strike me down, I’ll become more powerful than you can possibly imagine” refers to the amount of guilt and shame Anakin will feel in killing his brother. That that will eat at his soul. And it does.

74. Vader stepping on the robes to make sure Obi-Wan is dead is hilarious in such a weird morbid way.

74. In a weird flip, Vader now has Obi-Wan lightsaber, as Obi-Wan had Anakin’s. 

75. Poor Luke. Owen, Beru and Obi-Wan all in one day. 

76. 1st person shooter time! 

77. Oh Han and Leia. My first fucking ship. So fighty. So sexy. I love them.

78. Stop flirting badly with your sister Luke.

79. ...who is Luke jealous of here? 

80. I love the HC that Vader knew about the weakness in the Death Star, and hated that fucking thing so much he never mentioned it. 

81. R2 back in starfighter with a Skywalker.

82. I swear Red Leader looks like Don Knotts. 

83. I love X-Wings so much.

84. Vader’s reflexes behind the controls of a starfighter must be fucked compared to what they were pre-Mustafar. 

85. Luke watching all these people die like “Ooh. I guess this is what Han was talking about.” 

86. Oh Tarkin. You gonna regret everything in a couple minutes. 

87. Biggs’ mustache is majestic.

88. Luke saves Wedge’s life by telling him to get the fuck out. Later, Wedge will likely sing “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables.” 

89. The targeting system feels so old-timey. 

90. Obi-Wan you trained him for like 20 minutes. He doesn’t know what he’s doin- okay.

91. ANAKIN! HOw dare yOu ShoOT R2! 

92. Good job Han. <3 I actually really love Han a lot. He’s not a smart man, but he’s a pretty good man. 

93. The Death Star is destroyed, Tarkin dies, and Vader goes spinning off into space. Some fics have him traveling through time! 

94. The original trio is so pure in this movie. I love them so much. The sequels did all three of them so dirty. 

95. Leia’s necklace is so good.

96. And Luke’s Jacket is so bad. I’ve seen photos of it replaced by a brown jacket and it is so much better. 

97. Remember everybody. Rex is at the ceremony somewhere, watching a Skywalker get a medal. 

98. I love this fucking movie. 

[sw-losthope]

Star Wars Episode IV: Lost Hope

Act 1 | Chapter 4

Hello, lovelies! Here’s chapter 4, happy reading!

Enjoy!

Chapter 4

Luke hadn’t been expecting any visitors -- least of all the old hermit his uncle had told him to stay away from -- but as he settled the airspeeder to a rest and pulled the power converters from the seat next to him, he noticed Ben Kenobi and his aunt and uncle making their way out of the burrow.

“Uncle Owen! I swung by the Tosche Station and got those power converters like you wanted!” Luke hefted the cells into his arms and lugged the batteries over to the group. As he got closer, he noticed the grim expression on his uncle’s face, and his aunt wiping her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Luke asked, still cradling the converters.

“Nothing,” Lars answered gruffly, “we were just showing Ben here the way out.”

“But it’s almost nightfall, isn’t it dangerous for him to go out by himself?” Luke didn’t know the hermit well but he knew he wasn’t okay with someone getting ambushed by a pack of tuskens, “Shouldn’t he stay the night?”

Lars tried to say no, but Beru cut him off.

“Luke is right, dear,” She turned to the old man and gestured back down, “Please excuse us, it seems we lost track of time. Thank goodness for Luke.”

“Thank goodness indeed,” The hermit gave Luke a slight nod before turning away. Luke watched Ben walk back in, his aunt following after. Owen stood where he was, a look of frustration and worry angling his face.

“I’m going to set these down in the garage,” Luke told his uncle, moving past him as the weight of the converters began to strain his back. He stopped as Lars placed a hand on his shoulder and turned his nephew to face him.

Owen looked into Luke’s eyes for a long time. An unmistakable tone of desperation and irritation tinted his voice, Luke hadn’t seen his uncle this upset since the tusken raid that took out one of the vaporators a few months back. 

“You’re a farmer, Luke. Whatever that old kook downstairs tries to feed you, don’t buy into it. Your father wanted you to be safe with us, and I’m not about to let some balding wizard spit in the face of your father’s wishes.”

Lars held his nephew there for a moment longer before letting out a sigh. “Go set down those converters, we’ll deal with ‘em in the morning...together,” With a quick pat on Luke’s back, Owen headed down the stairs, leaving Skywalker to wonder just what was going on.

It took Luke about ten minutes to heave the power converters down to the garage, but he gave himself a good twenty to catch his breath and let all his sweat dry up. While he dried off, Luke took a seat on the red R5 unit he and his uncle had bought a day or so ago. A restraining bolt kept it from moving and making noise, so Luke filled the silence himself.

“What had all that been about up there, do you think?” Luke asked the nonresponsive droid, “I’m not as blind as a mynock, I can tell something’s happening.” He stood up and ran his hands through his blonde hair, shaking his head in frustration.

He let out a long groan, “And what had all that stuff been about my dad? Do you think Old Ben knows something about him?” He sat down cross-legged next to the droid, his hair ruffled and matted with sweat.

Resting his head against the red astromech, Luke cooled the left side of his face on the cold metal, “I saw Biggs earlier...Biggs Darklighter, do you know him?”

No response.

“Yeah, well,” Luke answered himself. “You will soon. Wanna know why?” His voice turned to a whisper as he peaked around the room as if someone would be listening in, “he’s leaving the Academy to go to Bestine and join the Rebellion.”

A huge grin crossed Luke’s face as he said the last word, “The Rebellion! It’s crazy, right?” Unable to stay still with his sudden surge of energy, Luke stood up, “I told him that it sounded crazy and that it’ll probably be a longshot if he ever comes across them, but I know he will…”

Luke’s voice grew soft.

“If anyone can find the Rebels...it’s Biggs. He can do anything; he’s almost as good a pilot as me,” His smile dropped as he sat in front of the restrained astromech. Thinking about his childhood friend going off to fight in a war seemed bigger than anything Luke had ever imagined on Tatooine. His best friend gone amongst the stars Luke could only dream of getting to. The thought of Biggs getting shot at, or captured, or worse...

“I know you can’t hear me, but,” His voice was barely audible as he pressed his forehead against the droid and closed his eyes, “I’m gonna be right behind you, Darklighter. Don’t get yourself killed before I find you. Uncle Owen won’t keep me past this season, and when I get to the Academy...I’m going to catch up to you in no time, I prom--”

“Luke!” Aunt Beru’s call broke the farmboy’s train of thought, and he stood alert as if he had been caught trying to steal a scavenger’s ration portions, “Luke, come up for dinner!”

Realizing he hadn’t been overheard, Luke let out a long sigh. Placing his hand on the droid’s circular head, Luke gazed at his reflection on the dusty metal, “I’ll get that bolt off, Red. Don’t worry, I won’t forget about you -- that’s a promise!”

With that, Luke made his way up the steps, turning off the lights in the garage. In the quiet darkness of the repair station, R5-D4 let out a low whirr of gratitude before powering down.

Dinner was uncomfortably silent. Luke was the only one really looking up from his food, so he was the only one who could see the furtive looks being traded between his aunt and uncle. The back and forth seemed to play like an argument, and as Aunt Beru let out a long breath, Luke could tell his uncle had won.

Aunt Beru rose, her plate almost completely untouched, “Let me clear the table,” she gathered her plate and Uncle Owen’s, making her way over to Luke’s. Just as she reached out to take Luke’s plate, Beru let out a panicked shout. She had tripped, and the two full plates of food she had been carrying fell out of her hands and towards Luke.

Skywalker flinched and closed his eyes, bracing for the impact.

It never came.

Opening his eyes, Luke saw the two plates and their contents a few inches from his face...floating in midair. His mouth dropped in utter amazement, and he turned his head to see if everyone else could see what was happening. It turns out they did, and Uncle Owen looked even more furious than ever.

“I said none of your magic in my house, Jedi!” Owen shouted, he stood up and slammed his hand on the table.

“Jedi?” Luke said dimly, looking at Old Ben who had his hand outstretched towards the floating plates. With a wave of his hand, the plates moved through the air and sat on the table, their contents following suit, only a little worse for wear.

“I want you out of my home this instant!” Owen hollered, “You’re not taking Luke, so get it through that rancor-thick head of yours. You hear me?”

Ben opened his eyes and stood, his voice calm, “Forgive me, Lars, but that decision is Luke’s.”

Owen took a step towards the old man, standing in his face.

“I said he ain’t going anywhere. I’m not gonna let you get my nephew caught up in some crazy space war, so you’d best be making your way home -- you’ll have about an hour before nightfall.”

Ben stood his ground, his expression not changing as his eyes went from Owen to Luke and then back to Owen, “As you wish.”

The old hermit put his hood on as he moved past Lars towards the door.

“Wait!” He turned at the sound of Luke’s voice, “You’re a Jedi?”

The old man smiled, a small one, “I am.”

“Did you fight in the Clone Wars?” Luke asked, his eyes lighting up.

“Luke --,” His uncle tried to growl, but Ben cut him off.

“I was a general in the war,” The old man said, lowering his hood again, “just like your father.”

A gasp came from Beru as she covered her mouth. Owen gave the old Jedi a dark glare.

“But,” Luke was the only one who wasn’t silent, “my father wasn’t a Jedi….He was a navigator on a spice freighter…,” He looked to his aunt and uncle, both of whom didn’t look him in the eye, “Right?”

“That’s right,” Owen snarled, “your father was a navigator and he died a navigator.”

“Your father,” Ben said plainly, seemingly ignoring the animosity in Lars’ voice, “was a Jedi Knight, Luke. One of the greatest, and my closest friend.”

“Is that true?” Luke asked incredulously. No one responded. “Is that true?” He demanded, standing up.

“Yes…,” Beru choked out from behind her hand.

“Beru!” Owen snapped.

“No, Owen….He deserves to know,” she wasn’t going to give this time. Beru put a hand on Luke’s shoulder and he turned to face her. His eyes were full of disbelief.

“Luke... Your father was a Jedi, but he died fighting in the war -- a war just like the one going on now. All the Jedi died because they were reckless. We tried to keep you from that life because only pain exists for people like that. Please, you have to believe us, Luke.”

Skywalker stepped back from her, looking back and forth between his aunt and uncle. “How could you all keep that from me?” tears formed as his voice got more and more upset, “You’ve been lying to me about my life since the beginning...and if it weren’t for Ben, you guys probably wouldn’t have even bothered telling me the truth, would you?”

Luke glared at his uncle, “And you probably would have kept me here as a farm hand for the rest of my life. No academy or piloting for me, just,” He gestured around himself, “vaporators and sand. Is that what you wanted?”

“We wanted to keep you safe, Luke,” Beru pleaded, “It was the only way, please--!”

“Just stop!” Luke yelled. Everyone was looking at him. His breathing was heavy and his face was hot, “Stop lying.”

A hush fell over the room, as the young Skywalker caught his breath. He looked up, his gaze going directly to Ben. “My father,” Luke asked quietly, “If he was a Jedi, could I be one too?”

Owen and Beru both looked at one another as the old hermit spoke.

“You could be an even greater Jedi than your father, Luke,” Ben took a step back into the room, “but it is not a choice to be made out of anger or betrayal.” Skywalker’s eyes dropped slightly.

“Being a Jedi, Luke, is about compassion,” A warmth seemed to permeate the room as the white-haired hermit spoke, “It’s about forgiveness. The first steps will be hard, but you must face them if you ever hope to become a Jedi.”

Ben turned and walked up the steps leaving Skywalker with his aunt and uncle. For a while, no one spoke. The calm the Jedi had brought when he spoke had faded and all that was left was the anger and tension.

Luke went first.

“I’m going to become a Jedi like my father,” He declared, Owen didn’t look at him.

“Uncle, I...I think I understand why you’d lie to me, but I need to follow my own path. Staying on the farm my whole life? I can’t do that….All of my friends are gone, Biggs is gone. Everyone’s growing up and making something of themselves and seeing the galaxy, and I --I just don’t want to be left behind.”

“Luke,” His uncle responded, his blue eyes finally meeting Luke’s, “not this way.” He shook his head slightly, “I promise, the end of this season, I’ll take you to the Academy -- you can sign up, you can be with your friends, just…,” His voice cracked, “don't go like this, not with him.”

They held one another at that moment for a long time, but after taking a shaky breath and wiping his eyes, Luke came to his decision.

“I’m sorry, Uncle. I love you,” He looked to his aunt, “Both of you. Thank you for everything. For taking care of me; raising me, keeping me safe, teaching me to pilot and cook and look out for myself. Thank you ...but if I don’t go now,” his voice trailed off and he looked back to his uncle who was silently pleading with him, “I don’t think I ever will.”

Walking to the door, Luke placed a hand on the frame and turned back to his family.

“I’ll come back,” He managed. “I promise.”

With that, Luke Skywalker made his way out of the dining room--out of the burrow he called home -- towards the old Jedi and the future that was now ahead of him.

End of chapter four

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