| Index | The Past Love That Future Brings >> |
| And Promises To Keep |
And Promises To Keep
"Father...this may be the last time I can come back home."
Rowan Timbes slid out from under the cockpit control panel he had been working on to look at his son.
Reece, thirty years old, tall, with dark hair and worried grey eyes, was rubbing his hands over the butt of the blaster at his side; staring out of the circular cockpit window.
"Wirecutters." Rowan replied, holding out his hand.
Reece took the reguested tool from the tray laying near his father's feet and placed it in Rowan's hand. Without another word the elder man disappeared under the console once again.
Before his son could say aything else, Rowan reappeared, stood, and wiped his hands on a rag he had Sticking half out of his pocket.
"Outside." was all he said as he walked past Reece and out of the cockpit. His son shook his head and followed.
Rowan stood at the bottom of the "Starfire's" boarding ramp studing the Black Hills that seperated the small valley, where the ship rested, from their home, and the purple grasslands beyond.
He had worked most of this sixty years to purchase what he had always considered a small piece of Paradise. Not even the Clone Wars had underminded his determination, slowly he shook himself from the memories and turned green eyes, tired but piercing, to his don, who sat down on the edge of the ramp.
"Things are that bad?" Rowan asked, lowering himself to sit beside the younger man.
"Why do you ask?" Reece pulled up a small weed from near his feet and glanced up at the orangepink sky that was slowly turning blue.
"The weapon, for one thing. Rowan motioned to his son's side. "It's never far from your side, even when you're in the house. Another thing is the look on your face. You act like you expect someone to jump on you at any minute." Rowen put a hand on Reece's shoulder. "What's worrying you; you in some kind of trouble? Tell me the truth, Reece."
The young man had never lied to his father; he couldn't see starting now. But where to begin? He rose, moved a few steps away, trying to find the right words.
"It's getting harder and harder ferrying Alliance supplies from one point to another." He started, then moved to his father's side. "I shouldn't be telling you any of this. It's too dangerous. But,I'm scared, Father. The Empire is checking registrations more carefully than ever before. I worry about being traced back here. I worry about you, and the rest of the family."
"Is it being traced that worries you, Reece; or is it being betrayed?" Rowen asked cautiously.
Reece studied his father intently for a moment.
"I resent the implication that I suspect my own family of betraying me." He said tightly.
"That's not what I meant, and you know it." Rowen replied,then what Reece had had said finally hit him. " Do you think someone has turned you in?"
"Has, anyone been asking questions, Father?" Reece asked carefully. "Or snooping around the homestead? Before I get here, or after I'm gone?"
"No. The only thing that has happened in weeks," Rowan replied thoughtfuly, "was a small troop increase at the Imperial base, on the other side of Matane township. "
"Oh, and nobody thought that was worth mentioning to me? Damn, Father!" Reece exclaimed. "I'm half dead from worry about someone finding out what I'm doing, and coming to drag all of you in for questioning, and NOW you tell me this!"
"Your mother made me promise not to say anything," Rowen cut him off. "so go yell at her, not me. " He wiped his face with the back of his hand. then looked apologetically at his son. "Besides, I didn't think it was that important at the time. What will you do now?"
"Well, I certainly can't stay here." Reece snapped, anxiety creeping into his voice. I'm going to have to disappear, Father. Never come back."
"Son," Rowan started slowly, choosing his words carefully. "When you cane to me and said you wanted to do anything you could to help the Alliance, I supported you. Even when your Mother threatened to have us both comitted." Both grinned at the memory. "But this... " Rowan ran his fingers through his greying hair. "To lose you; never knowing if you're safe, or hurt, alive Or dead. It will kill your Mother."
Reece didn't look at him; instead he kept his gaze on two Raimberge playing tag back and forth, in the sky.
"Don't you think I know that?" He asked huskily.
"Then there's Kara to think about,," Rowan rose, and came to stand by his son. "Your little sister adores you, what about her?"
"That's not fair." Reece objected."If anyone..."
"Yes, it is fair!" Rowan exploded. "And I don't care about "anyone", I DO care about MY family! Your Mother and I are getting on in years. If.something should happened to us, what would happen to Kara?"
Reece placed a hand over his eyes for a second, trying desperately to keep control, "First of all, Father. ..Kara isn't "little" anymore. She's almost twenty-three! Hell, she should be married with a family of her own by now. And secondly..."
"You know that's not possible!" Rowan interrupted sharply.
And secondly!" Reece persisted loudly. "She,would survive. just like any of us would in her place. Besides, I want to know why neither you, nor Mother, has told Kara the truth? Huh? Just how long do you think you can keep it from her?"
"She would be destroyed!" Rowen shouted. "People wouldn't understand! I won't have..." He stopped. The worlds he had been about to say, hateful and cold, trailed of. Father and son stood, silently staring at one another.
"Father, please." Reece begged. "I'm sorry. You know I would do anything I my power to protect Kara.' His voice gentle. "I always have. Let's not fight on what could be my last day."
Rowen had momentarily forgotten about that. His son, his only boy, leaving, and never coming back. He pulled Reece close, hugging him fiercely then stepped Back.
"If you leave tomorrow, like you told your Mother at dinner last night, we'd better finish up.
Rowen turned and headed back up the boarding ramp. He stopped, then turned back to his son.
Only, when you tell your Mother your not coming back - and you WILL tell her," Rowan pointed his finger threateningly at his son. "Don't look at me to help you.I'm staying out of the lie of fire. Maybe I'll go fishing..." He muttered as he disappeared from Reece's sight.
"I'll be there in a moment." Reece called over his shoulder, his gaze fixed on the hilltops. It hit him, suddenly, how selfish he'd been.
His father was right; both of his parents were getting on in years and he knew, in his heart, that they wanted him to stay. He knew he should, but that he couldn't. Then, as his father had stated , there was his "little sister". What would happen to her? If he were gone, and something should happen to either, or both of his parents..."Damn!" He whispered, and walked up the ships ramp.
'Why not take take them someplace safe?' A little voice whispered in the back of his mind. 'Would it be so hard to start over?'
Reece shook his head. It wasn't that simple. The small amount of work he did for the Alliance was not enough for his family to qualify for passage to an Alliance safe world.
"Bring me the wiring schematics for the command console link to the Navigation computer!" Rowan shouted up from the cockpit.
Reece glanced around him.
"Where is the memory board?" He shouted back.
"Now, how the hell should I know?!" Rewen yelled back.
"I'm laying here with my hands full of wires that I'm not sure go to what, and you're asking me?"
'Your father has fears that he will not speak.' The voice whispered in Reeces I mind, as he moved packing beads and discarded pieces of wiring on a small table.'Why not at least take the girl with you? Take her someplace safe?
Reece stopped, his head lowered almost to his chest. 'As if there were any
place in this galaxy that is safe.' He thought bitterly. '0ne mistake, just one. People like Kara- if there were any others like her - would be a threat to both factions of the Galactic Civil War. The Empire-. if they qot their
hands on Kara ... The Experiments ( torture would be a better word) would be endless as they sought her soul with science. Lingering death would result. The mental image sent a shiver down his spine.
Then, there was the Alliance. If he brought her to a base for saftey and it was discovered that Kara was a product of genetic engineering- a Clone- he would be branded a traitor, a spy for the Empire ( after careful investigation and interrogation, of course. The Alliance was very careful about that.) which could only mean death. And what would the Alliance do when faced with a Clone who was not a mindless, soul-less shell of humanity, like the Stormtroopers who terrorized the galaxy? Would they be willing ,or able, to see the difference between an innocent young woman and the enemy? Countless millions of lives were at stake, and with hatred of the Empire and fear of it's clones at the heart of the Rebellion, would Kara's humanity save or condemn her?
;
"Never that, dear Maker..." Reece whispered as he picked up the memory board from beneath the table where it had fallen, then moved toward the cockpit." I beg ... never let anyone find out."
The day passed uneventfully for the other half of the Timbes family. Now, as darkness approached, Mira Timbes watched her daughter anxiously, from the kitchen, as she finished preparing the evening meal. Kara was,once again, checking the hidden tunnel entrance for sounds of her father and brother returning home
"Kara?" Mira called as she added a pinch of asln to the lobscous, then placed a lid on the pot.
"Yes, Mother?" the young woman answered.
"Be a good girl and go tell your father and brother that dinner is almost ready." Mira smiled as she cut thick slices of the Emmer bread.
"I cannot." Kara said, after a moment's hesitation. She slipped past her Mother and began removing dishes from a large cabinet against the far wall.
"You have a reason, I assume?" Mira asked, taking the bowl her daughter offered. She began ladling the steming food into it carefully. "Is there something wrong, Kara?"
Mira paused to take a good look at her daughter.
At fifty-two, with more and more silver showing in her dark hair, the older woman could not remember looking as her duplicate daughter did now. Small, delicate, and beautiful... Despite what the geneticists had warned, Mira had steadfastly believed that the child created from her own cells Would be a physical copy only. Kara bad her own soul, her own feelings...but the tears that now shone in Kara's eyes were scmething Mira couldn't stand to see.
"Kara? Tell mother what's wrong." She said tenderly.
"Mother ,what have I done to make Reece hate me?" The girl asked tearfully as she grasped her mother's hand.
"Hate you?!" Mira exclaimed, pulling her daughter close to hug her. "Where in the name of the Force did you get such a silly idea?"
"Reece got angry last night, when I asked to see his ship." Kara began, almost shaking. "He said such mean things to me."
Mira placed a hand under Kara's chin and forced her to look up at her.
"You listen to me, Kara Timbes." She said gravely. "Your brother loves you as much as your father and I do." She wiped away the tears that slowly fell down Kara's cheeks. "Reece has a lot of things on his mind right now. If he seems short with you, try to remember that, alright?"
Kara nodded as her mother pushed her hair away from her face.
"You think I'm a baby don't you?" She asked, wiping her eyes.
"You'll always be my baby." gushed Mira smiled and pushed Kara out of the kitchen.
"But dinner is going to be ice cold if you do't go to get the rest of the family."
Kara smiled, hugged her mother, and quickly disappeared through the tunnel's Doorway.
Mira walked to the big window at the front of the house. She stood there motionless, looking over their land, rembering the day they had moved to Achenar 3. How frightened they had been!
A landspeeder, racing down the winding road toward the Garin Forest, interrupted her reverie. She turned away from the window to slowly walk back to the kitchen.
A series of beeps from the E.B.T. startled Mira only moments later. A man's voice - identified as the Senior Secretary to the Planetary Tahsildar - began to speak the obligatory introductions.
'Probably news of another sweeping Imperial victory over the forces of the Rebellion.' Mira thought bitterly. There had been many such announcements, in the past few weeks. She shut the system down.
Reeces' involvement (even though he swore his work took him nowhere near a "war zone"), with the Alliance was worry enough. She could not listen to any news of death and destruction.
Mira felt what every other mother, whether Rebel or Imperial, felt an ache in her heart, an all consuming fear that, one day, her son would never return. Right now, news that would mean exactly that for hundreds of mothers was being cheerfully broadcast. She didn't need to hear it; neither did her family.
Then, Rowan, Kara and Reece were walking through the door; laughing, at something silly, no doubt. She thought about asking to be let in on the joke, but reconsidered. It would probably not be about something she could understand anyway.
After dinner Reece and Kara volunteered to clear the kitchen, and Rowan and Mira enjoyed listening to the playful banter between their children.
"Like old times, my love." Rowan chuckled as he filled his pipe."Seems like only yesterday they were tearing around the house."
Mira joined her husband on the small couch and took his work-roughened hands in her own.
"How would you know?" She teased." You only saw them when you came home from work, and they were worn out by then."
He didn't get the chance to answer, for Reece and Kara entered the large living area.
"Father," Reece announced, retrieving a memory board from where he had placed it before dinner. "I think I've figured out why we can't get a link between the Tech Station and the Auxillary systems."
"Let me see that." Rowan said, kissing his wife gently as he rose to join his son.
Kara had started to lower the window screens, but stopped. She studied the main road for a moment then, puzzled, turned to her parents.
"There's an awlful lot of traffic for this time of night." She remarked.
Rowan and Reece instantly joined her at the window, followed by Mira.
Husband and wife exchanged worried glances as Reece moved to the E.B.T. unit.
"It's off!" He exclaimed, looking back at his parents in shock.
"I did it." Mira replied shakily, taking her husband's arm. "Reece is so seldom home,I didn't think..."
"It's alright." Rowan murmired, his arm encircling his wife's shoulders. "I know. "
Reece activated the unit and motioned for silence.as he adjusted the volume.
"All- citizens now have less than ten standard minutes to arrive at your nearest township." The automated voice droned. "A curfew for all citizens, and visitors, is in effect from twenty-hundred hours till dawn. All citizens and visitors will obey the instructions posted during this time of Martial Law. Beings who disregard these instructions will be arrested and held for questioning..."
Rowan reached past his silent, shocked, family to turn the unit off.
"Reece" he turned to his son. "The last repairs to your ship, under normal circumstances, would take how long?"
Reece thought furiously for a long moment.
"About an hour." He replied, tonelessly.
"We're the closest homestead to town" Rowan stated bluntly. "They'll start searching soon."
He moved to a small, recessed closet just behind the dining table. Opening it,he removed two blaster rifles.
"I don't know how long you'll have ,take Kara with you to help. I'll keep watch here; maybe buy you some"
"I won't leave you in this house alone!" Reece argued, grabbing his fathers arm, gesturing toward the tunnels. "You can't fight against Imperial Stormtroopers; not like this! Come into the tunnel's keep watch from there "
"I'm still your father, and this is still my home." Rowen growled. "And I say who enters it and who doesn't . " His expression softened slightly. "Now, you and Kara get going." He gently removed his son's hand from his arm. "Trust me to know what I'm doing."
Reece stared at him a moment, then, with a curt nod, moved toward the tunnel entrance.
Kara looked, fearfully, at her mother; confused by what was being said.
"Please, Father..." She started, but Rowan cut her off.
"Later, little one." He admonished." Just do as I say for now, alright?"
Kara turned back to her mother; but the look on Mira's face stopped her.
"Yes, Father." She whispered,quickly following her brother. Maybe Reece would explain...
"Are they going to come for us?" Mira asked softly, when their children had gone." Is it because...?"
"I don't know, Mira.- Rowan replied gravely, taking a small box from a closet. "I don't think so. Declaring Martial Law is too drastic a step for one Rebel."
Mira nodded silently. She wasn't amazed that he had known what she had been about to ask. he always did.
Rowan placed the box on the table, opened it and studied the inside for a moment.
"Do you know what this is?" He asked, securing the top.
Mira glanced at the device, then looked worriedly at her husband. "It's a Jovite detonator. You used these to make the tunnel through the mountain."
"That's right." He smiled gently, then sobered and placed his hands on her her shoulders. "I want you to listen carefully, Mira. I don't believe.the Empire is after Reece alone; but you and I both know what will happen if they find out about him. And what they will do to Kara if they learn about her...don't you?"
"Rowan you're scaring me." Mira replied, her voice shaky, tears clouding her vision.
"Imperial troops will check every homestead." Rowan continued, as if she hadn't spoken."The only way into the valley where the "Starfire* rests is through our land. "
"This button," He moved Mira in front of him and pointed to a small green switch," activates the system. The red is the primer. Once it is pushed, you will only have forty-five seconds to evacuate the area. "
"Understanding replaced confusion on Mira's face. Rowan was asking her to destroy the tunnel. He would be trapped...
"Are you mad?!" She exclaimed, turning to face him." I can't believe ... I won't allow it!!"
"When the Empire shows up- and they will- they won't want to talk, Mira!" Rowen responded bitterly." In the event they get past the house ... we...you have to save yourself and the children. Rowan pulled his wife close, hugging her fiercely. "I want you to promise to do what I tell you ... to go when I tell you. "
"No!" Mira almost shouted as tears fell down her cheeks. "I won't do it! I won't leave you! I won't let you!"
"My love." Rowan whispered tenderly as he gently kissed the top of her head." I don't know any other way."
I'm too old to start over without you." Mira replied softly, stepping back to look into his eyes. She picked up the box and walked to the tunnel entrance. After placing it on the floor, she returned to her husband and took one of the blaster rifles from beside him. "This is my home as well, Rowen Timbes. Reece will take care of Kara ... keep her safe. He promised that when we brought her home."
Rowan could see the running lights of a vehicle moving toward the homestead from the main road. He overturned the dining table and moved Mira behind it.
"He'll keep that promise." He whispered as he moved toward the door.
Reece, nearing the valley entrance to the tunnel, heard a strange, hollow echo coming from within; followed by a loud popping noise. In an instant, he was lifted off his feet and thrown backward as a large cloud of dust and debris burst from the tunnel mouth.
He rolled over onto his side, shaken but unhurt, and could see Kara racing down the ships ramp, screaming his name. She fell to the ground beside him.
"Reece!" She cried,"Reece? Are you alright?!"
He didn't answer. his gaze was locked on the smoking tunnel entrance.
Confused, as if what had happened had just registered, Kara's gaze followed her brother's.
Reece managed to get shakily to his feet as Kara began to scream. She tried to run past him toward the still collapsing tunnel, but he held her back; pulling her toward the ship.
"Let me go!" Kara shouted, finally managing to squirm free. "We have to help Mother and Father!"
Reece held on to his sister tightly. "It's no use." He replied, his voice hoarse.
Kara looked at him in stunned silence for a moment.
"But, they're still in therel" She screamed
Reece didn't reply. He pushed Kara up the boarding ramp and sealed his ship; his movements totally automatic.
Still in shock, Kara attempted to open the hatch, but the system was locked and the controls wouldn't budge.
"Open this ship, Reece! Are you crazy? Can't you hear me?" Kara screamed as she ran to the cockpit after him. He sat down and lowered his head into his hands. "You can't leave them!" She shrieked in his face, attempting to pull him from his chair.
"STOP IT!" Reece shouted, a murderous expression on his face, as he grabbed Kara by the arms and shoved her to her knees be fore him." There's nothing left, Kara! Think! If the explosion sealed the tunnel, think of what it did to the house!"
She didn't speak, didn't even breathe, just stared at him with terror-filled eyes.
Reece leaned back in his chair, ran his fingers, through his hair. Tears began to run down his cheeks.
"Why ... why ... why?" He muttered to himself as Kara left the cockpit, silently." I don't know what ... we have to get out.." He shook himself mentally as he realized he was almost babbling.
With unsteady hands, he activated the ships controls.
"I'll make whoever did this pay, Father,I swear!" He promised.His parents would be avenged. The Empire, and whoever had betrayed him, would pay dearly. "And I'll keep Kara safe." I won't forget." His knuckles whitened as he gripped the ships controls. "NO one will bother my little sister."
Vaguely, he remembered those were the same words he had spoken almost twenty-three years ago.
The "Starfire" became one with the night sky, and disappeared in a burst of light as she entered hyperspace.
Months later, on a little known planet called Watrous 12, Kara Timbes -along with several other Rebel dependents - waited for the boarding ramp of a Calamarian. freighter to lower. She waved, and rushed forward as her brother stepped out.
"Reece!" She shouted, smiling as he lifted her into the air, hugging her so hard she could barely breathe.
Once he lowered her to the ground she stood back, looking at him expectantly.
"How are you? I've missed you so very much." She took him by the arm to lead him away from the throng of people. "I only received word, just this morning, that you would be coming."
"I'm sorry about that, but the Alliance has to be careful; Security, you understand." Reece said, placing an arm about her shoulders. "How are you? Are you happy here? And the family they placed you with, are they good to you?"
"Oh, yes." Kara smiled.."They're a very nice family from a place called Alderaan..." She hesitated a moment. "Do you know what the Empire did to that beautiful place, Reece?" She asked fearfully.
Yes, I know." Her brother replied gently. "Did you have any problems with the medi-chip I sent?" Reece hoped that the primitive conditions on Watrous 12 had worked in their favor and that Kara had not been required to submit to a physical exam.
His grip tightened on her arm.
"No." Kara assured him. "Why? should I have?" She asked,confused.
"Of course not." Reece smiled, vaguely. After the price he'd paid for the chip, he would have killed the Tarkman with his bare hands if she had.
They were both quiet for a moment, then Kara reached up to touch the rank pin on his chest.
"I noticed the insignia when you came off the transport. " She said in response to his questioning look. "Does it mean you will be going to war?" her voice almost a whisper.
"You know that was the idea when we left home." Reece answered carefully. "I've been assigned to a base, as a fighter pilot."
"Where?" Kara asked, a tinge of excitment in her voice.
Reece considered answering, then shook his head.
"You don't need to know that."
Kara stopped, grasping his arm tightly.
"Yes, I do." She insisted, fear strong in her voice. "You said you would never lie to me, or keep anything from me, that we were all each other had. Please, Reece...I need to know where you'll be."
"Alright." He whispered. "A planet called Hoth. From what I've heard, it's about as cold as you can imagine.." He shook himself, then looked down at his sister. "But remember," He cautioned, glancing around."You're not to say a word to anyone, no matter what."
Satisfied, Kara nodded, and took her brother's hand as they continued on their way.
"When will the war be over?" She asked.
"Very soon ... I hope."
"Where will we go then?"
"Anywhere you want."
"Will we ever go home again?"
"No." Reece stated, flatly. "There isn't anything there for us anymore.
"Kara nodded in understanding.
"I love you, Reece. You won't die and leave me all alone, will you?" She asked as they walked down the path toward town.
"I love you too, Don't worry." Was his only reply.
They continued on in silence.
--- END---
| Index | The Past Love That Future Brings >> |