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Return To Tatooine
Luke Skywalker guided the rented landspeeder through the crowded streets
of Mos Eisley. As he slowed behind the traffic, his mind drifted back across the years...
How he had changed from the naive young farmboy who'd last entered this city with
Ben Kenobi1 Yet,as different as he felt, Mos Eisley had hardly changed at all.
With the New Republic now a little over a year old, he saw no sign of the Imperial
presence so prevalent then; but the same motley assortment of people still flilled the city. The same
air of frenetic and shady activities astir still crackled through the atmosphere.
Though Luke had returned once to Tatooine since leaving that first time, it could scarcely have been considered a homecoming. Rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt had been a personal mission; driving all else from the Jedi's mind. He had not permitted himself the indulgence then that he was affording this return. Then, he'd come back because a very special friend had needed him. This time, he'd come back because of needs of his own.
At last, the traffic cleared and Skywalker was able to maneuver the familiar-style, open-air vehicle beyond the city's limits and out into the sandy expanses he knew so well. He had a long drive ahead of him, but the newer model 'speeder at his control boasted more speed than the one he'd sold those many years ago. Tapping the accelerator switch, Luke watched the desert ocean landscape drift past.
It was funny, he thought as the vehicle practically drove itself, how peculiar being
back here made him feel. The ghosts of his youth took on more solid form as the miles floated by. In fact, it was
those very spectres that had brought him back. When he'd left, it had been without goodbyes, even for
those dearest to him. The hastily dug graves he'd built for his aunt and uncle had been made by a boy in
shock; an innocent dreamer, rudely awakened by cruel,cold reality.
Lately, the unresolved manner of his departure from Tatooine-from his home- had
bothered Luke. He'd felt a sense of unfinished business calling to him, nagging at the edges of his thoughts.
It was there even during his most relaxed ,pleasant moments. Maybe it was because he was about to begin training
a young Force talent he'd discovered. Maybe it had begun with the bonding ceremony for Han and Leia. Or maybe
it had more to do with just himself.
For the first time since he'd left Tatooine, he'd found time- time to himself, time
to reflect on where he'd come from and where he'd ended up; time to remember without the constant stress and
demands of war.
The year following the fall of the Empire had been filled with getting to know his
newfound sister, and of serving the fledgling government and using his Jedi stats to help in every way he could.
There'd been time to savor friendships, to nurture and cherish the freedom so dearly won, to relax. But there
had been no time to grieve; to recognize and mourn the sacrifices and losses every one of them had suffered.
Until recently. "
Leia had finally been able to cry for her lost world, to grieve for the only parents she'd
ever known. Afterward, it had given her new strength, and made her union with Han all the fuller and sweeter. It had been
Leia who had sensed the same denial's in Luke; who had encouraged-even urged-him to confront his past so that
he could finally bury it. Reluctantl, he'd realized the wisdom of her advice..
So he had come back; back to his home, back to his beginnings, back to
say goodbye.
Luke braked the 'speeder to a halt in front of Ben Kenobi's old, deserted home. It
had been here that he, Leia and Lando Calrissian - along with the Wookiee Chewbacca - had plotted their plan to
rescue Han. Yet it was not the memory of that day that filled his mind as he climbed from the vehicle. Instead, he
remembered a young, sun-bleached blond youth crossing the threshold behind an old, brown-robed man;
unknowingly entering a future beyond his wildest imaginings.
Skywalker pushed open the door and went inside the darkened interior.
True to the superstitious natures of the farming community's inhabitants, the small
residence had remained undisturbed since his last visit. Walking across the main room, Luke ignored the drifted
sand piles, the dirt snd decay of disuse that covered the few pieced of furniture, the floors and windows. His
eyes say only shadows, after-images of what had been.
It was in this room, on this very spot, that he'd first heard of the Force; the power that now guided his life like a great and shining beacon, that filled him with peace. Here, he had heard the deceptive truth about his father; a truth colored by an old man's guilty shame. Here, he had first held a lightsaber in his hand, admiring the ancient weapon carelessly, as only a boy could. In this room he had heard the plea of a Princess, felt her voice strike a chord deep in his soul; not knowing why she touched him so strongly until long afterward.
Luke smiled as he looked around. For a brief time, Skywaker had felt betrayed; hurt
and angry at the man who had occupied this tiny dwelling. He had felt used and manipulated, confused. Yet, after he'd had
time, after the events that had led him to fully becoming a Jedi Knight had passed, he'd spent long
hours in quiet meditation. In the soothing light of the Force, he had found understanding and forgiveness
for the mentor who'd watched him through all his years. He'd come to appreciate and be grateful for the
sacrifices made by-and the motivating causes behind- Ben's tutelage.
Kenobi's death had, for a short span, left Luke feeling lost and alone; adrift in
a rushing tide of war for which he'd felt ill-prepared.
But he had not been abandoned. Obi-Wan had not left him. Standing in the desert waste that had been
Ben's existence as Luke had grown, the Jedi could feel the older man's love as strongly alive as ever, and his
smile broadened.
Little swirls of sand danced beneath the landspeeder as Skywalker eased it toward the charred remains of the Lars homestead. This was the leg of his journey Luke had the most mixed feelings about. THe pain he'd experienced the last time he'd pulled up to this yard had been about the worst of his young life; leaving him empty, stunned beyond emotion. Would he feel the same after all these years? Were the ghosts still waiting for him; their silent accusations echoing on the hot wind?
The raised entrance that led to the subterranean levels came into view on the hazy horizon.
A wave of unexpected nostalgia washed over Luke at the sight, and suddenly he was eager to see what
was left of his boyhood home.
Hopping from the vehicle, his memory flshed back to the countless times he'd pulled his
old 'speeder up at this yard; late for dinner and in trouble again. What a disappointment he had been to Owen.
Involuntarily, his eyes strayed to the two graves covered with stone and metal from the
destroyed structures. He could almost feel anew the soreness of his muscles, the scrapings along his palms that
had accompanied the building of those two, desolate resting places.
But were they really so desolate? Owen and Beru had loved this farm. It had been their
life's work, and their greatest joy. In his heart, Luke knew, suddenly, that they would want to be buried
nowhere else. Silently, he nodded to the two monuments.
Turning his feet toward the entrance, the Jedi worked his way past the debris and smoke-blackened damage; coming at last to the circular courtyard of the lower level. Here he had played as a child , under the watchful eye of his Aunt Beru. In this small confine, he had learned to run, arms out, flying the heavens in his boy's mind. There was the stone he had fallen against, receiving the first badly-scratched injury of many to come. He remembered,clearly, how gently Beru had bandaged it; drying his childish tears with the promise of cookies for dessert.
From the courtyard, Skywalker wandered aimlessly; finding himself in the kitchen.
He could almost hear the pleasant sound of his Aunt humming to herself as she prepared the meals
she loved to cook. Despite the condition of the once immaculate room, Luke was able to block the damage from his mind
and remember, with the clarity of the homesick, how it had been. The faint odor of Imperial smoke became the aromas
that had filled his young nostrils. On his tongue, he could almost taste the flavors of a thousand meals.
Turning, he spotted the tilted table at which he'd sat with the only family he'd known..
Though Owen had never been a man given to casual conversation or easy banter, Skywalker
could recall many meals spent in verbal lessons from him when he was young. Later, there had been the shared discussions on how
best to manage the farm once Luke had grown old eough to help the burly, bearded man. Those had been the times
of quiet camraderie,w hen the boy had felt useful and needed.
Then had come the later years; the years of growing up and wanting more, of needing
to expand his world. Ther had been arguments around the table then.
Skywalker sighed. Owen, in his own way, had loved him. He'd sought to protect the wild-wyed youth in his custody to the best of his ability; but he'd found it impossible to express the concerns and fears of his heart. To a young man, hungry for adventure, full of the passions and blindness of youth, Owen had appeared a hard,cold man. Yet, in this matter too, Luke had gained understanding with the passage of time.
.Owen Lars may not have been the most openly affectionate of men, but his commitments ran deep.
He'd taken into his home a stranger's child, and raised him with all the valued he held dear.
From Beru, Luke had learned compassion, tenderness and love; but from Owen, the blond and orphaned child
had learned patience,perseverance, the value of hard work, and the quiet strength that helps a man survive beyond
failure. In moisture farming a desert world, there were many failuredd, few successes and little money; but there
was also pride, courage and a sense of accomplishment when you did succeed. Much of the Jedi's character had been
forged by the twin suns' heat, and Owen Lars' example. For that, Luke was grateful.
He left the kitchen and sought out his former bedroom.
Opening the sprung portal, he was mildly surprised to see so much intact. The bed on which he'd
slept and dreamed was largely undamaged. The shelves that had held his boy's treasures, still level and straight.
The closet that had held his few clothed, the small chest of old toys he'd never been able to part with, the scribbled
drawings along one wall- all was as he'd left it. An eerie sense of stepping back in time raised the hairs along his arms.
Cocking his head at just the right angle and squinting his eyes ever so slightly, Skywalker
could see the boy he'd been lying on the bed. He lay on his back, hands beneath his head, knees bent. A heavy sigh of despair
whispered past the boy's lips as he daydreamed.
Somewhere beyond this farm, this city, this planet, there was life- exciting, adventurous,
thrilling life- and it was passing him by.
Luke smiled sadly as he remembered the utter desperation of that former self.
He had been sure that he would live and die right here; never knowing anything
but drudgery and loneliness. And he had been lonely. It was that, as much as the blood in his veins or the calling of his
destiny, that had filled the boy with even crazier flights of fancy. Only with the certainty of the young could
Luke have been so convinced of his uselessness to the galaxy, and his hopeless future.
The Jedi shook his head. How true that old saying about being careful what
you wished for!
He wouldn't trade his life as a Knight, finding in the Force the greatest joy
he had ever known; but everything had a price, and his present life was no exception.
Youth had never looked at the expense tags, though; and he had been no different. The hours
he'd spent in this room; dreaming of the day he'd get away, of becoming a dashing hero, of saving the galaxy
single-handedly!
Skywalker laughed aloud as he remembered.
Leaving the bedroom behind, Luke walked out to the garage.
Here he'd also spent countless hours, equally comprised of work and fanciful dreaming. It was
to this building that he'd brought the two droids purchased that fateful day so long ago. There,on the floor,
he'd seen the first projected image of the beautiful Princess. He smiled to himself once more.
Artoo-Detoo and See-Threepio had long since ceased to be just droids to Skywalker. They
were friends, as surely as Han or Lando or Chewie. How little he'd seen in them that first day. How blind he'd been to so
many obvious things. He sighed without realizing it.
An article in the near corner caught his eye, and he stooped to examine it; mindless of
the sweat rolling down the back of his black, Jedi uniform. It was a pneumospanner, weathered and worn, and suddenly
Luke forgot the mild feeling of sorrow that had threatened to descend on him.
In his hand he held a hundred happy memories, disguised as an ordinary tool.
How many times had he used this to work on his T-16 Skyhopper? How many ways had he tried
to boost just a little more power from his small vehicle, so he could win in Beggar's Canyon? Had he ever been really
that young?
Thoughts of those heart-stopping races gave birth to other memories; of friends and neighbors not thought about for far too long. Luke walked out of the garage, pausing to gaze at the horizon,wistfully, as he had so often done a lifetime before. Steeling his resolve, he returned to his rented 'speeder, and headed for the most difficult phase of his journey.
" Luke? Luke Skywalker?" The grey-haired woman stood blinking at the silhouetted figure in her
doorway.
" Yes, Ma'am Darklighter, it's me." The blond man replied, hiding his reaction to the
aging of his dead friend's mother.
" Who is it, Nomi?" Asked a male voice from the interior of the house.
" Please come in , Luke." The woman invited, stepping back to allow him entry. Over her
shoulder she called," We have a visitor, dear."
Together they walked down the darkened hallway to the inner, and coolest, room of the residence.
Stepping through the arched opeining, Skywakler saw the older man rise to his feet slowly.
" Please, don't get up , sir." Luke said, coming forward to clasp the man's arm.
Tranis Darklighter was no longer the robust farmer Skywalker remembered, but there was still hard muscle beneath
the thinner skin of old age.
" Skywalker?" Tranis looked closely at the grown youth before him, searching the face
for the boy he'd known nearly as well as his own son. " Damn! It's good to see you! Sit down, sit down"
He waved to the sofa beside his chair, easing back to sit himself.
" You'll have to forgive me, boy. Ever since I busted this leg o'mine a coupla years ago, I don't
do much more than sit on my ass."
Luke smiled. The one thing that had always appealed to him about this man was
his outspoken ways.
" How's your leg doing? Does it bother you much?"
" Not so much anymore." Tranis shook his head. " We do alrigh, mother and me." He looked
up at his bondmate. " How 'bout something cool to drink,Nomi?"
" Of course." The abruptly flustered woman gushed. " Where are my manners? I'll only be a
minute." She hastened from the room.
As soon as she was out of earshot, the older man laid his hand on Skywalker's are; leaning
closer in conspiratorial fashion.
" Thanks for coming by, boy. Nomi's not well. It'll mean a lot to here to have one of Biggs' friends
to visit with."
" What's wrong?" Asked Luke concerned.
" Nothing anybody can help with." Sighed the senior Darklighter. " She's just never
been the same since we found your aunt and uncle's graves. Then, when we learned about our boy...well, she just sort
of quit caring. If I hadn't messed up my leg and needed her so much, I honestly think she'd have passed
on by now."
The sound of footsteps approaching stayed any remark the blond man might have been
about to make. As Nobi handed Luke his drink, he observed her with seeming casualness. What Travis said was true.
She was much to thin, her movements jerky and uneasy. There was no spark of life left in her eyes, and the Jedi
knew he was looking at a woman ready-even eager- to die.
" I can't get over it, Luke." The older woman sighed; sitting beside him on the sofa
after handing her bondmate his glass. " You really are a Jedi Knight. I want you to know how proud of you we are."
" Thank you, Ma'am Darklighter." Luke said sincerely, squeezing her fragile hand gently. " That
means a lot to me."
" Did you really do all the things we've heard?" Asked Tranis, chuckling quietly. ' Not that
you couldn't, I guess; but you always loved to tell such wild stories."
" I did, didn't I?" Skywalker smiled.
" You did." Nomi agreed. " But we understood. Not knowing your folks and all, you felt
left out. Owen and Beru were good people, don't get me wrong; but they weren't your mother and
father. We always worried about you, Luke. More than we ever worried about Biggs. He was always older than
you; and not just in age. I wasn't all that surprised, to be honest, when we heard he'd joined the Rebellion."
" Sure shocked us when you did, though." Nodded Tranis. " You know, when we first found Owen
and Beru's graves, we though that you might have been killed too; but when we realized your 'speeder was gone,
and we heard Imperial stormtroopers were the ones who'd been to your farm, we didn't know what to think. Then, about a
year or so later, we started hearing rumors that you were in the Rebellion. Not just in it, but one of
the leaders, in fact."
" Was that true,Luke?" The older woman asked, her voice suddenly shaky. Were you one of the leaders,
even then?"
' Not really." Skywalker denied. " I was ranked in the military, but I wasn't involved with the
decision-making, or anything like that, until later."
Nomi's watery eyes locked on Luke's clear,blue ones.
" Will you answer a question for me, please? Will you tell me how my son died?"
Her pain was so naked that it cut at Luke's Force senses sharply; but the Jedi only
nodded and squeezed her hand once more. Clearing his throat, he stood and paced across the room, turning to face the
two grief-stricken parents together.
' Biggs died saving my life." He began. He went on to describe the terrible Death Star weapon
created by the Empire. He contradicted the official story of the time as to Alderaan's destruction; describing for the
elderly couple the seemingly impossible price the Rebel's had paid. He spoke of the desperate plan to eliminate the terrorist
weapon, explaining for them the reason for his guardian's murders.
" Everyone was afraid we couldn't hit the target necessary to blow up the Death Star; but you know
how Biggs and I, and some of the others, used to hunt womprats from our T-16's? Well, the two of us, we knew it could be
done." He paused, remembering. " Biggs was covering me on my run at the target. He got hit by TIE fire. I don't
think he even had time to realize what was happening before his ship exploded."
" He was protecting you?" Whispered Nomi softly.
" Biggs always did feel like he had to be your guard, your shield." Said Tranis sadly. " I guess
that's how we raised him though. Look out for the little guy, I said. Help those who can't help themselves. I never
realized I'd be sending him into the arms of the Rebellion and death." He wiped red-rimmed eyes with one unsteady hand.
Luke felt his own chest tighten.
" Biggs was the best, the only real friend I had growing up. He meant a lot to me. I'm so sorry
he died because of me." He moved to stand beside the bowed head of his friend's weeping mother.
" No." Choked Nomi, lifting her tear-stained face to look up at Skywalker. " It's not your
fault my son is dead. You know that. Tranis is right. We raised Biggs to do what was right. He died for that. I
miss him every day. He was my only child; but it wasn't your fault, Luke."
" We'll always miss our boy, Luke." Tranis admitted with a sorrowful glance at his bondmate." But what he did was more than just right." Staring at Skywalker he added, " Look at you, Luke. Look at what you've become. You're a true Jedi Knight now, and I'm not so old and feeble that I don't know what that means. The Jedi's aren't always remembered as they should be; but I haven't forgotten who they were, what they stood for. My son is dead. Nothing will bring him home to us ever again; but he died defending what he believed in, and he died defending you. For that, I can always be proud."
Luke climbed into the landspeeder and waved a final farewell to the Darklighters. For the last few howrs they'd talked and talked, remembering old times and carefree memories. Through Luke's words, the saddened couple relived those happier days. They felt their son's impact on the young Skywalker, taking comfort in the knowledge that Biggs would not be forgotten when they were gone. Luke had even managed to make them laugh with tales from his and Biggs' shared boyhood. It was something they hadn't been able to do for many years.
As the Jedi steered the vehicle toward a safe cave where he would pass the night, he did so with
a lighter heart himself. He hadn't known what he might find at the Darklighters- anger, resentment, bitterness,
accusation- but what he had found had given him great satisfaction.
In the Darklighters he found, not only old friends reclaimed but forgiveness for that for
which he had always felt partially responsible- the death of a good friend. Though the burden he felt regarding Biggs'
death was not something he'd ever consciously acknowledged, Luke nonetheless recognized it when it was lovingly lifted from him.
That night Luke sat, inside the wind-eroded cave ,listening to the sounds of the nocturnal desert; gazing out at the endless array of stars so clearly visible. For perhaps the first time in his life, he saw Tatooine not as a vast wasteland of hardship and emptiness, but as a timeless haven of serene nature where life was reduced to it's simplest, purest elements. It was strange, he thought, that he had never been able to see it before.
The Jedi sat as still as the rocks surrounding him, reflecting on his life. He was glad he'd returned. He'd come back, not really knowing what he would find or feel. The child he'd been when he had lived on this sandy,stony land, had become a man and, often, that man had difficulty remembering the boy he'd once been. Being here again brought the memories into focus.They weren't all good memories, of course. There had been a lot of loneliness in that child, that eager youth. With a sense of detachment, Luke found he could look back on his former self and see the truth of who he'd been without sorrow or shame or false distortions. He'd been a boy hungry for adventure, self-absorbed and naive beneath the number of his years. He smiled as he remembered Yoda's observations about him. How right his dear old master had been. And yet, he'd accepted that foolish, shallowly self-assured youth as his pupil. Once more, the Jedi marveled at his good fortune.
Yes, he mused, he had been reckless; always looking ahead, his mind too preoccupied with fanciful,
unrealistic fantasies. But that past, his history, was also part of what made him who he was; and he was no longer ashamed of the man
named Luke Skywalker, as he often had been ashamed of the boy.
He has seen and done many things since leaving Tatooine- not all of them pleasant or easy.
He had discovered his heritage, his father and the twin sister he'd never known existed. He had learned valuable, soul-altering
lessons ; and he had found a life filled with friendship,purpose and satisfaction. For all the pain and sorrow he'd suffered, there
had been equal moments of pride and joy.
Luke settled down to sleep. His last conscious thought was that he was very glad he'd come home again. There was one last stop to make tomorrow, and then he would leave Tatooine once more. Yet this time, he knew, he would leave without regret, without that innocent excitement of his youth, with no loose ends untied. This dual-sunned, desert world would always be a part of him and, in some small way, he a part of it.
Anchorhead had grown in the time Skywalker had been away.
The supply station was twice the size it had been and, judging by the name on the
front, was under new ownership. The little family-run eatery was still there, as was the fueling business
and the mechanic's shed. There was a new clothing dealer, a small grocery and even a holocinema there now.
As Luke parked his landspeeder beside the familiar building that housed Tosche Station,
he felt the years slide away. More than anywhere else on Tatooine, here was where he'd spend his best, and worst,youthful
days. This had been the only place available to the young inhabitants of, and around, Anchorhead. There had been
computer games to play and compete on, hours of boastful conversation in the shabby main room, and the
quiet, lustful longing roused by awakening hormones and a girl named Camie.
Luke knew he had never been popular among his peers. His only, true friend had been
Biggs Darklighter; and that had begun because the older youth had felt it his duty to protect young Skywalker.
The Jedi smiled to himself, remembering how impossible that task had been. A boy given to wilder
and crazier stories, he had been the target of ridicule more often than not. He'd had only himself to blame, of course,
he saw that easily now.
In Tosche Station he'd learned humility, but hed also found comradeship too. The acquaintances
he'd made here couldn't truthfully be called friends, yet they had been a large part of his early life.
Camie, the buxom flirt who'd delighted in teasing the other boys while being firmly
attached to the older mechanic,Fixer. Windy, the boy who'd matched wits and skill with Luke on all the computer games;
but who was also so eager to please that he pandered to all, earning respect from none. Deak, the youth who'd shared Luke's
love of flying in mock battles, taking chances with his life as only the young and ignorant will dare. Fixer, the bullying
mechanic who was Biggs' age and who revelled in his image of tough guy and pseudo-leader to the younger boys. They
had all been influences on Skywalker in ways none of them, not even he, had forseen.
Luke pushed open the first of the double set of doors that led inside.
Designed to try to keep as much of Tatooine's surface from the interior as possible, the doors
had often offered young Skywalker a place from which to eavesdrop. He'd stood in the short space between being
inside and out, listening to the voices come muffled through the portal, deciding whether to enter or leave depending
on the inhabitants and whatever foolish stunt or story he'd pulled last.
On this day, Luke didn't pause long in the space, but walked straight through the
second door. He was no longer the same person he'd been, and he was curioius to see if the others had charged as well.
His Force senses had already told him that the building was occupied, so he pulled the cowl of his cape further over his
head to conceal his face ans stepped into the main room of his own teenage haunt,
The interior had changed dramatically. Gone was the torn, discarded sofa; replaced
by two tables, a new lounger and several metal chairs. A music player had been installed on the far wall, and was even
now filling the large room with the raucous strains of the most currently popular group. The snack bar had been
extended, replacing the all-too-often broken vendor dispensers. Behind the bar stood a young boy, about the age Luke had been
when Tosche Station had served as his own place of refuge.
The computer gaming room was still visible in the next room, but a cursory glance told Skywalker that the
games being played there now had been upgraded to more sophisticated models than he had known. There was still the noise
of players rooting one another to higher scores, however; and he smiled to hear the sounds of his boyhood echo back at him.
" Can I help you, mister?" Asked the boy at the snack counter,
Keeping his face hidden, the Jedi stepped closer.
" I've just returned to town and am looking for some people I once knew here."
" Who'd wanna come back here?" The boy shook his head, mumbling under his breath. Then, remembering himself,
he asked. " Who is it you're lookin' for? Maybe I know'em."
The conversation caught the attention of those in the gaming room; bringing two
familiar, but older, figures into view.
" Windy? Camie?" Questioned Skywalker uncertainly.
" Yeah, my name's Windy.' Answered the slightly overweight man suspiciously. " Do I know you?"
Lowering the hood, Luke smiled broadly at the man he'd once known.
" You used to." He replied.
" Wormie?" Gasped Camie. " Wormie Skywalker?"
" Hi, Camie." The Jedi cringed at the old, uncomplimentary nickncame he'd nearly forgotten.
She ran to embrace him like a long-lost lover; throwing her arms around his neck in a stranglehold of
enthusiasm. " I can't belive it." She giggled.
The woman holding him was not the girl he'd had so many youthful dreams about; yet she had
become an attractive woman. The years had added some weight to her hips, and she no longer wore the skin-tight clothes she'd preferred
as a girl, but she was still Camie. Her voice still held that hint of teasing. She was still the same bubbly, empty-headed creature.
When Camie finally released him, Windy stepped forward. Hesitantly, he offered his hand to
the man who was a stranger to him now.
" Welcome home, Luke."
" Thanks." Shaking the man's hand, Skywalker smiled easily. " It's been good to be back."
" Come, sit down and tell us what you've been doing." Urged Camie, pulling his arm and leading him
to one of the tables across the room. " Berk, can you kill the power to the aud-system, please?" She asked the boy at the counter. ' And
bring us a round of beers. That alright with you, wormie, er, Luke?"
" Hey, are you really the same guy we' been hearin' about on the news?" Asked Windy skeptically.
" That depends." Laughed the Jedi. " What have ou heard?"
" Come on," Pouted Camie. " Are you or aren't you the Luke Skywalker who's a hero? Did you
really kill the Emperor?" She gaped, eyes wide.
" Still telling tall tales, I see." Said a new voice behind Luke's back.
The three, seated companions turned to see the mechanic, clad in the same stained coveralls
Luke remembered always seeing him wear. His hair had become streaked with grey, and there were more lines on his face, but
the same crued twist was on his lips; the same mocking gleam in his eyes.
" Hello, Fixer." Greeted Skywalker amiably. " You haven't changed much."
" From what I just heard, neither have you...Wormie." He emphasized the epithet he'd given the
boy with contempt. " Don't tell me you really expect us to believe you're the same Skywalker of the Rebellion." Looking
to Camie, the older man sneered. " Skywalker isn't all that uncommon a name, I keep tellin' you morons."
" Just shut up, Fixer." Ordered the woman, in a tone of voice Luke had never heard her use
before. Gone was the fawning adoration she'd always held for the mechanic. He wondered what else had changed, and why.
" So, tell us, Luke." Urged Windy.
Fixer retrieved a beer from behind the counter, crossing the room to join the others, heedless of the lack
of an invitation. Pulling a chair from the table, he flipped it around and sat down, resting his arms on the back of it and
staring at Skywalker defiantly.
" I did join the Rebellion." Luke said. " So did Biggs."
" We heard he was killed in the fighting." Sighed Camie sadly.
" Yes, he was." Luke acknowledged. " But he died to protect us all. It happened when we attacked
the first Death Star."
" The first? You mean there was another one of those things?" Gasped Windy in shock.
" Yes. That was where the Emperor died. " Luke told them.
' And Vader too. Yeah, yeah, we get the news even way out here." Sneered Fixer. Glaring at Windy, he added.
" If you'd ever get your nose outta those damned games you'd know the same things." With a glance at Luke, he continued. " Anyone
can hear a news broadcast or read a bulleting disc."
" Camie, you about ready to go?" Another, new voice called as a man entered from outside.
"Deak, come over here, hon. Wait'll you see who's here." She called back, holding out her hand.
The well-dressed man came to here, staring at the black-clad Jedi thoughtfully for a moment before
recognizing a face from the past.
" Luke? What brings you back here, buddy?" He pumped Skywalker's hand enthusiastically.
" Just seeing old friends." Luke replied.
" Friends." Snorted Fixer, not quite beneath his breath.
Ignoring the mechanic, Deak grabbed a chair from another table and slid it beside Camie,draping his
arm around her shoulder casually.
" Well, it's great to see you again. You're looking good."
" Doesn't he?" Smiled the woman.
" Did Camie tell you we're bonded now?" Asked Deak possessively.
" I haven't had the chance, silly." She giggled. " Excuse me a minute. Don't talk about
anything good while I'm gone." She rose from her seat gracefully and returned to the game room.
" What are you doing these days?" Aske Luke politely. " You look prosperous, whatever it is."
" Yeah, I'm doing alright." Deak grinned with the same devilish charm of the boy he had been." I sell
droids in Mos Eisley. In fact, your timing couldn't have been better. Camie and I've been in town about a week to
visit her folks; but we'll be leaving tomorrow. I've made a couple of saled while I've been here, though. Gotta stay
in practice, you know."
Camie came back to the table, carrying a large basket carefully. Setting it on the flat
surface, she pulled the covering aside.
" Luke, meet Sanelle, our daughter." She tittered happily.
Skywalker looked into the basket to see a plump, pink baby sleeping peacefully, her thumb in her
mouth.
" She's beautiful." He complimented. " How old is she?"
" She'll be six months day after tomorrow." The proud mother replied, removing the basket and
placing it on the floor by her side. She leaned into Deak's side affectionately.
" Congratulations." Luke told them. " So, what else has changed since I've been away?"
" Not much." Windy shrugged. " I repair and install gaming computers now. You know how I always loved
to play them anyway. You remember Josh and Turl? They've left Tatooine. We heard Jork got into some trouble on Corell
and ended up in prison. Nobody's heard from Turl since he left, about a year ago."
What's Laro up to these days?" Inquired Skywalker.
" He's dead. He was working in Mos Eisley at a big parts manufacturing firm. There was an equipment
malfunction of some kind. Killed Laro and three other guys, and put half a dozen people in the medcenter." Informed Deak.
" You still ain't told us about you." Reminded Fixer challengingly. " Come on. I ain't heard a good
tall story since you left. I could use the entertainment. Go onn, tell us how you saved the galaxy, Wormie."
" Knock it off, Fix." Deak bristled visibly. " At least Luke's done something with his life-unlike
some people I know."
" And what do you mean by that?" Growled the greasy mechanic. ' You sayin' what I do ain't worth nothin'?"
" I'm sure that's not what Deak meant." Intervened Luke. " Without your mechanical skills,most of
these farmers around here would have to give up. You never knew it, Fixer, but I always admired your talent with machines."
The mechanic was so startled that he forgot, momentarily, his anger at Deak. Turning questioning eyes to
Skywalker, he slowly regained his former cockiness. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
" That's real generous of you to say, Wormie. So, go ahead. Tell us what you've been doin'"
" Well," Luke hesitated. " As I said, I did join the Rebellion. Lately, I've been working with President
Mon Mothma and the Council, but I'm taking some time away from that now. I've got something of my own to do. I plan to build a
solid foundation for the re-establishment of the Jedi Knighthood."
" Then you are the Luke Skywalker in the news!" Enthused Camie. " I knew it. Didn't I tell
you so, Deak?"
" Yes, she did." Her bondmate admitted to his former racing partner.
" You're really a Jedi?" Asked Windy, doubtfully. " I always thought they were
more a legend than truth."
" They were real enough." Luke nodded. " I'm the last, but I'm constantly looking for Force talent
to train. I have a duty to rebuild the Jedi as best I can."
Fixer laughed aloud sarcastically.
" Sure you do. Last of the Knights, hero of the Rebellion. I gotta hand it to you, Wormie. You can still
spin a yarn as good as the next guy." He roared with derision. " If you're such a big and great Jedi," he challenged, sobering." prove
it. Do something. Use those great powers they were supposed to have. Show us a trick, Sir Knight."
" That's enough." Warned Deak, half-rising to his feet. " Stop it."
" It's alright." Luke said, motioning for his friend to stay seated. To you or
anyone else. I've grown up,Fixer. Too bad I can't say the same for you."
" That's what I thought." Accused the scowling man. " Still long on stories and short
on action." He drained the last of his beer and went for another.
" Do you really know the Princess of Alderaan and Han Solo?" Camie asked, changing the subject
quickly. " I've seen her picture on the news. She's beautiful."
" Yes, she is beautiful." Smiled Luke fondly. " Inside and out. She's a wonderful person,
very brave and noble."
" And Solo? What's he like?" Inquired Windy wonderingly.
" Han? Han's not easy to describe. He's strong and loyal and a good friend. He saved my life
more than once. I owe him a lot."
' Does he really travel with a Wookiee?" Asked Deak incredulously. ' They're
supposed to be real brutes."
" Chewie?" Skywalker laughed. " He's a gentle giant. Wookiees are strong, alright, and I 'wouldn't want
Chewbacca as my enemy, but he's a softie. He and Han don't travel like they used to , now that Han and Leia are
bonded; but Chewie's still around a lot."
" Leia?" Scorned Fixer, returning with a fresh beer." Leia? You know Her HIghness so
well you're on a first name basis,huh?" He chuckled as he swigged from the bottle,
" Better than you can imagine." Nodded Luke with a slight, secretive grin.
" And I suppose she adores you and you knew Vader too, and
the Emperor and you're far too valuable to the New Republic to be gone for long; but they're gonna let you
start a whole new order of Jedi all by yourself." Fixer's face was flushed as he spoke sneeringly.
" I've just about had enough of this." Snapped Deak. " You've always been a loud-mouthed
blowout,Fixer; but Luke has obviously changed. Why can't you stop acting like we were all still fifteen?"
" Obviously changed, has he? Has he really? I see you three are still sitting around,
all ga-ga and wide-eyed at his tall stories. I never did belive a word he said, and I don't see any reason to
start now So, he's been away and he's come back with a fancy uniform, and you three act like that makes him different
from what he was. Well," Fixer snorted. " I say Wormie Skywalker was always a liar and he ain't changed. Maybe he
figures he can impress one of you. Maybe he needs a job, or a handout. How 'bout it, Wormie? That's what this
little trip home is really all about, ain't it? The war's over and you're out on your ear."
" No, I don't need a job, Fixer. I have one. I'm sorry you can't see that
I've changed; but I won't be baited by you ever again. Think what you like." Luke sighed, seeing the shades of doubt
begin to darken the other's faces.Some things would never change after all, despite the passing of the years.
" That's right, I remember now. You never did like to fight, did ya? Guffawed the mechanic,
draining the rest of his alcohol from the bottle.
Skywalker knew that Fixer had been close to drunk before he'd entered the station, and now the
man was fully under the influence of the artificial stimulant. Things could only go from bad to worse from here on.
It was time to leave.
Smiling sadly at the questioning faces he saw around him, he stood to make his
departure. Fixer's hand closed over his arm, stopping him momentarily.
" Planning to run off again so soon? Figures! I call you a liar and a
coward. Maybe as a kid I let you get away with it, but you're grown now. I still owe you a good whipping for...well,
for just being who and what you are." The drunken mechanic rose to his feet, standing a full head taller than
Skywalker. " You've always made me sick with your fancy tales and oh-so-superior attitude. If you think, for
one second, that you can breeze in here, drop a lot of lies on us to try and make us feel inferior and then
turn tail and vanish, you're wrong. You're gonna get yours, finally, and I'm just the guy to give it to you."
Luke's relaxed posture never altered; but there was suddenly a commanding note in his
voice, totally alien to his childhood acquaintances.
" I'm not going to fight you, Fixer. And I didn't come here to put any of your
down. You're just drunk. Go somewhere and sleep it off." Deliberately turning away from the man, he addressed the others
" Windy, good luck with your games business. You were always good at them. Deak, Camie, you have a beautiful
baby. I wish you both a long and happy life together." Prying the mechanic's still-clasped fingers from his
arm, he turned to leave."
Luke had taken only five steps when his Force senses alerted him to trouble. Before
Cammie could do more than gasp, ' Lu..." the Jedi spun, ignited his lightsaber and neatly bisected the chair Fixer had
swund at his back.
His sentence remained unfinished as Skywaker easily sidestepped him, pushing him toward the door
with both hands, his saber clipped back at his side.
" I said, go sleep it off, Fixer. I won't fight you."
" Hey, Fixer, cut it out." Windy was on his feet. " Didn't you see how Luke moved, and
that weapon he had? Maybe he really
a Jedi, after all."
" Shut up, stupid." Spat the man, whirling around. He staggered slightly to keep from
falling. Pointing one blackened fingernail at Luke, he sneered. " You may have convinced these idiots, but not me.
You're still a liar and a coward!"
" Friends of yours, kid?" Asked a tall shadow in the newly opened doorway behind the
mechanic. " Are we spoiling an old tradition between you two?" Han Solo stepped into view, grinning impishly.
" Han!" Frowned the Jedi. " What are you doing here?"
" In a minute." Waved off the Corellian. " Hey, buddy." He said, tapping Fixer's
shoulder. " I don't know what your gripe is with Luke, but I feel it's only fair to tell you, I've seen Luke fight.
You're outmatched."
" Who are you? Demanded Fixer, squinting in puzzled anger at the interloper.
" Han Solo, and you are?"
Camie gasped aloud, and Windy suddenly needed to sit down. Only Deak remained on his, uncertain
of what he should do. He had been ready to defend Skywalker, but it had fast become apparent that wasn't necessary
anymore. The appearance of the notorious Captain Solo only added to his confusion.
" You really him?" Frowned Fixer stubbornly.
" None other, Why, do I need proof?" Han's smile never faded.
" Maybe you do, at that." Growled the mechanic suddenly. " You could be anybody and say you're
Han Solo. How could we know?"
" Trusting guy." Laughed the Corellian, jerking his thumb toward the inebriated man,
" He's drunk." Skywalker explained needlessly.
" So I smell." Sniffed Han. " You have to be Fixer. Luke's told me a lot
about you. He said you were a pretty decent mechanic; but I gotta tell you, so far you don't impress me as much
more than a fool. Any man, drunk or sober, who'd attack a Jedi is just plain dumb."
" Luke is a Jedi, isn't he?" Pleaded Camie from across the room. " He really did
do all those things on the news, didn't he?"
" Well, he had some help, you know." Sulked the pilot. " Wait a minute!" He exclaimed, his
eyebrows raising. " You mean," he asked, turning to Luke. ' They don't even believe you're you?" Solo began to
laugh with genuine delight. " Some welcome you people throw for the hometown hero."
" Han? Luke?" A feminine voice called. A moment later, Leia Organa-Solo entered the
gathering. Seeing Skywalker, she brushed past her mate to embrace her brother warmly.
" What's wrong,Leia?" Luke asked worriedly, the other's forgotten. " Why are you and Han here?"
" It wasn't my idea." Objected Solo. " This planet doesn't exactly hold fond memories for
me you know."
Leia smiled, squeezed Luke's arm, and went to her bondmate's side.
" Don't you forget, Han Solo; if you hadn't met Luke on this planet, you never would
have met me either."
The Corellian put his arm around the petite and regal woman.
" I guess that's true, but I still don't have to like this place.
Losing all his former bravado and attempting an awkward bow, Fixer slurred.
" Your Majesty."
Leia looked quizzically at the man, but said," Please, call me Leia. Any friends of
Luke's are friends of mine."
Han chuckled. " I'm not sure I'd call this guyor these people his friends." He told
his mate. " They don't even believe he is who he is." He couldn't help grinning at the absurdity.
The Princess, however, turned her infamous gaze of disapproval on the mechanic; turning
slowly to encompass the others, finding no amusement in their disbelief.
" It's alright, Leia." Assured Luke quickly, frowning at Solo, who was having
entirely too much fun. " I've changed a lot since they knew me."
" I don't care." Huffed the proud Princess. Addressing those present in the same
tone of voice she used when addressing the Republican Council, she said. " Do you truly doubt the word
of a Jedi Knight? This man is Luke Skywalker, the man responsible for the death of the Emperor, and who
helped free this galaxy from the tyranny of his rule. He should be treated with respect and honor for the
magnificent things he'd done. On top of all that, he is also my dearest friend."
" F..f..forgive us, Your Highness." Stammered Camie uncomfortable. ' It's not that we didn't
want us to believe him." Before she cuold say anthing further, her daughter awoke in the basket at her feet,
crying loudly.
" Is that your baby?" Asked Leia as the woman stooped to retrieve the weeping infant." May I see?"
The Princess cooed eagerly,crossing the room hurriedly and abandoning her indignation.
Solo glanced at Luke uneasily, but Luke only smiled and shrugged; moving
to join his sister. Han, leaving the still shaken mechanic wobbling uncertainly, followed after them.
'Camie,Deak,Windy, may I introduce Captain Han Solo and his bondmate, the Princess Leia
Organa-Solo of Alderaan." Skywalker said formally. Nevertheless, he found an un-Jedi-like enjoyment in the reactions
of his childhood companions.
When hands were shaken and bows made to Leia, Luke again turned his attention to his friends.
" You haven't told me why you're here."
" I'm sorry, Luke." Answered the Princess, handing the quieted baby back to Camie
carefully." It's my fault we've interrupted your homecoming. I know you want to begin training the student
you've found, but we really need your help."
" Yeah, kid, duty calls." Solo added. " We'll explain it all on the way back to your ship.The
three of us should be able to handle this little problem in a week or less." He winked at the Jedi confidently.
Luke nodded, knowing they wouldn't have come lookin for him if the mission wasn't important.
" It looks like I have to go." He said to the others. " I meant what I said earlier. I do wish
you all long and happy lives. May the Force be with you."
The three friends headed for the door, leaving three stunned and speechless individuals behind them.
At the last second, Fixer stepped forward, his hand outstretched to the Jedi.
" No hard feeling,huh, Wormie? Hells, how was I supposed to know you'd actually amount to
something one day?"
Luke shook the man's dirty hand reluctantly.
" Because I always told you I would." He answered with a self-deprecating grin. " Take it easy,Fixer.
You really are a good mechanic. Be proud of that."
Luke arranged to leave his rented landspeeder behind so he could make the return trip
to Mos Eisley, with Han and Leia in theirs. Climbing into the backseat, he settled in and took one last look at the streets
of Anchorhead. From the doorway of Tosche Station, he could see Windy, Deak, Camie and Fixer watching him.
As Solo accelerated past them, the Jedi waved a final goodbye; amused at the still-stunned looks
on their faces, knowing he would be the topic of conversation for weeks to come.
" I am sorry, Luke." Repeated Leia, pivoting in her seat to face him. " Did we ruin your
trip home?"
" Not at all." He assured her. " I've said my farewells to Tatooine. I don't think
I'll be coming back; but I know now that I'll always he a part of this world, and it a part of me. It isn't all bad, you know.
I've learned a lot in the past two days. I've remembered who I was, and it makes me even happier to be who I am."
They rode in silence for several more minutes, Luke reflecting on the time he'd
spent back home; his friends content to allow him the extra moments of peace. Finally, the Jedi shook off his reverie,
bringing his mind from the past to the present.
" So, where are we going?" He asked.
"Koreel." Replied Solo. " Seems there's a little trouble brewing there, and
the governor wants our help. Don't worry. It's no big deal, We'll get it under control in no time. We've cleaned
up lots worse than this, right...Wormie?"
" Wormie? " Giggled Leia, glancing over her shoulder at Luke. " Wormie?" She said mischievously.
Han nodded and laughed.
In the backseat, Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight and hero of the great Rebellion,
sighed with resigned surrender.
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