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| The Dreamer |
The Dreamer
Luke Skywalker walked into the darkened room of the only pseudo-entertainment
center
available in the bleak corner of the equally bleak world of Tatooine. Toschi
Station wasn't exactly what anyone would call an oasis,
but it was all the youth of Anchorhead's surrounding farm community had. Most
of the time it afforded small comfort to the young,
blond boy. Being the 'weird' kid might not have been so bad in a bigger city,
but in this dismal excuse for a town Luke
all too often stuck out like a bantha at a banquet.
The worst of it was, he didn't know why. He'd spent many nearly sleepless
nights pondering the question;
but the answers continued to elude him. He didn't consider himself 'funny
looking', and he liked a joke as much as the
next guy, didn't her? Sadly though, all the jokes seemed to be at his expense;but he was good natured about it.wasn't he?
He never held a grudge. If he had he would've really been alone ,and he knew it
Except for Biggs, of course.
Biggs Darklighter was Luke's only true friend. There were a couple of other boys his age that he hung around with now and then, but Biggs was the only one Luke felt close to. Biggs was older than young Skywalker by a year or so and, at first, Luke had been sure the older youth had only befriended him out of pity. As time passed though, the lonely boy found that Darklighter was always ready to listen, always there to lend a hand. That didn't seem like pity.
Tosche Station was occupied this day by the same pale faces that Luke had known
all his life. There
was Fixer, the mechanic-older than Biggs by little over a year and by far the
biggest blowhard and bully on Tatooine, in Skywalker's opinion.
Not that he would ever tell the sandslug so to his face.
Wherever Fixer was, you could be sure Camie wouldn't be far away. Sure enough,
Luke spotted her, carrying
a bottled drink to the mechanic, from across the room. As usual, she wore
clothing that Skywalker was certain she knew was too small for her.
Nonetheless, it hugged her feminine curves to maximum effect.
Windy, Turl and Jork were visible in the back room, playing one of the computer
games that served
as the Station's chief source of diversion-second only to Fixer's tormenting of
Luke. With nothing else to do, the blond
boy tried to make his way to the game room as unobtrusively as possible. This
wasn't easy in a building as sparsely inhabited
as Tosche Station; but he tried all the same.
" Well, if it isn't little Wormie." Fixer's rude voice announced at unnecessary
volume. " Who let you off the farm, boy? We ain't seen you 'round here
since-when was it? Oh, I remember! Since
you came charging in here a coupla weeks ago with that tall tale 'bout seeing
that sarlacc swallow a whole sandcrawler."
" Yeah." Camie chimed in, laughingly. " Turned out to be just a broken-old junk
pile stuck in a
new dune, didn't it?"
" Rode all that way out there for nothin'!" Fixer grumbled. " You still owe me for that one, Wormie."
Luke's cheeks colored angrily, but he bit his tongue. It had looked like a sarlacc. Was it his fault
he'd forgotten to take his dehydro pill that day? The reflection he'd mistaken
had certinly been large enough to be a
real sarlacc pit. Not that Luke had ever actually seen one of the deadliest
creatured Tatooine had to offer; but
everyone knew what they were supposed to look like, right?
Slinking into the game roommmmmmmm, the youth slumped into the nearest chair.
Jork was snickering openly
while Turl grinned at him without a hint of friendliness. Only Windy lifted his
eyes from the computer's image long enough
to shoot Luke a sympathetic glance. Activating the game in front of him, the
forlorn young man concentrated
on the game; doing his best to ignore everyone else in the galaxy.
A few days later, Luke again found himself entereing the darkened interior of Tosche Station. After the initial embarassment of his last visit, things had settled back to normal and he'd actually been able to enjoy his game. His Uncle Owen had kept him busy since then, so this was the first chance he'd had to return. Surely, the sarlacc story would be old news by now.
Young Skywalker squared his slender shoulders as he pushed open the secondary
door that had been designed to keep
as much of the Tatooine surface out of the station as possible. This time, he
vowed, Fixer wasn't going to get him-no matter
what he said. Yet, as he entered, the bully mechanic was nowhere to be seen.
Turl was kicking the soft drink dispenser in the back corner and swearing
loudly. Deak had managed
to slip away and was leafing through one of the well-worn girlie magazines
laying around. Jork was still at the same seat in
the game room, looking as though he'd never left. Camie was painting her
toenails, her low-cut blouse revealing more than Luke
could bear to look at for long as she bent forward to finish her tasks
" Hey, Wormie." The buxom young creature called, looking up from her handiwork.
" What do you
think of this new color?"
Skywalker obediently stared at her feet
" Uh, it's nice." He finally stammered.
" Where you been, Luke?" Deak asked, tossing aside the battered magazine. "
Wanna go racing? I got my brother's
skyhopper out back.
" Great!" Enthused the blond boy. Then his face fell. " But I only got a
half-hour. Uncle Owen's over at the
supply yard and I promised I'd be right back. You know how it is."
" Yeah." The other youth sympathized, dissapointed. " Maybe another time. You
got your 'hopper fixed yet?"
" Maybe Fixer could get one for you, Wormie." Turl gave up abusing the
dispenser and turned to face his peers.
" He's got all those junk machines he works on all the time anyway."
" I don't think so. " Luke mumbled, lowering his head and shifting his feet. "
He doesn't like me."
" Don't mind the Fixer." Camie said, her voice uncharacteristically kind. "
He's like that with everybody, Wormie.
"Cept maybe Biggs. He don't mean nothin'."
Jork emerged from the next room, his face triumphant.
" I just beat the all-time record on Gorkon!" He announced proudly.
" Oh, yeah?" Deak cocked his head. " How high?"
" Five hundred thousand." Replied the pudgy boy happily.
" Did you find the master ship and defeat it?" Deak persisted smugly.
" What master ship?"
" That's what I thought." Deak replied, gloating. " Luke, you tell him. It was
your game."
" It's no big deal." The blond boy replied, but his face was split by a large
grin. " After you blow up the last
Gorlinean there's a black hole in the upper left of the screen. Go through it,
and you'll find the master Gorkon ship. It took me twelve
times before I figured out how to beat it."
" You're a liar!" Jork screamed angrily. " There ain't no hole or I'd have seen
it!"
" There is." Countered Luke. "It don't stay on screen long, that's all."
Turl joined the confrontation, turning on Deak in defense of his friend.
" Did you see Wormie beat five hundred thou and find this master ship?"
" Well, no." Admitted Deak reluctantly. " But he told me about it."
Camie, Jork and Turl began to laugh with cruel derision; the mocking sound cut
through Luke like
shards of glass, but the questioning look on Deak's face hurt almost as much.
'Just like he told us his father was really a spy for the Emperor?" Choked Jork.
" No, you got it wrong." Giggled Camie wildly. " He's a famous smuggler, wanted
in six star systems!"
" I thought he was a stunt man for the holos, who died trying a trick no one
ever dared before." Turl held
his arms over his stomach with exaggerated glee.
Luke could stand their teasing no longer.
" Who says he wasn't all those things? How would you slugs know?"
" Cause he had a kid like you, that's how!" Roared Turl.
" There IS a master ship at the end of Gorkon, and I DID defeat it!" Shouted
young Skywalker,
completely out of control.
" Sure." Camie laughed." And your mother was really an exiled queen." Her face
was unbecomingly red from merriment.
" No way." Jeered Jork. His mother probably never even knew his father."
Before he could think, Luke charged the taller youth; knocking him off his feet
and into a wall.
Within seconds, all four boys were in a tangle, rolling around the floor and
throwing poorly aimed punched at one another. Camie
climbed onto the torn sofa, cheering them on enthusiastically.
" What in all the hells is going on in here?" Demanded a deep, male,adult
voice. " Break this up. Right now!"
Wading into the fracas, Owen Lars pulled the combatants apart physically; his
stern expression
halting any further nonsense. " Who started this?"
Jork and Turl immediately pointed at Luke. Deak looked at his shoes, and Camie
slid to sit on the sofa; her
eyes staring innocently at the ceiling.
" Apologize." The older man ordered.
" But, Uncle Owen.." Protested the blond boy.
" Did you, or did you not, throu the first punch?"
" Well, yeah. I guess I did, but he said..." He pointed accusingly at Jork
before having his arm
rudely grabbed by his Uncle.
" I don't care what he said. How many times have I told you? Never start
a fight. Fighting will never get you anywere in this life. Now, apologize!"
Yanking free of the grip on his arm, young Skywalker spun on his heel and ran
from the station.
It was a full month before Luke dared to return to Tosche Station; and then it wasn't his idea. He'd endured nightly lectured on the futility of fighting, listening until his ears buzzed to how he had to go back and make amends. It was boring never leaving the farm, but he could have stood that- at least for a little while longer. What the youth couldn't bear was even one more night of patient, disappointed monologues from his Uncle, or sad, understanding glances from his Aunt.
As a gesture of atonement for embarassing Luke in front of the others, Owen had
gotten him the part he needed
to repair his skyhopper just yesterday. That almost made up for the price Luke
had paid. Of course, he'd had to promise not to abuse the
little vehicle by racing it; and that was one promise he knew he was going to
break the first chance he got.
He'd also had to swear that he'd go back to Tosche Station and make up with his
'friends'.
I know a boy your age needs to be with his peers." Owen had said. " So long as
it doesn't interfere with your chores
around here , I don't mind. I know you get lonely, Luke; so forget your pride.
It can be a mighty poor companion after awhile."
"If only his Uncle had been able to understand that Luke usually felt his
loneliest when around others. Alone, he
cold daydream to his heart's content:live the most excitig adventures, have the
prettiest girlfriends. Reality was a much less pleasant
experience for the fifteen-year-old youth.
Yet, having his skyhopper operational again was worth a little embarassment.
Hells, he should be used to it by now.
Besides, if Biggs or Deak were around he'd have someone to race against him and
that was more fun than flying along by himself any day.
Parking the 'hopper beside the long, low building; Skywalker was disappointed to see neither Darklighter's larger, fancier craft, nor Deak's vehicle, in sight. Well, it was early yet. Either of his friends could still arrive in time for a fast run. Besides, his Uncle was right about one thing. In a community the size of Anchorhead Luke coulsn't hide forever-unless he wanted to spend his life as a hermit in the Dune Sea. Better to get his reappearance over.
Gritting his teeth and pushing the hair out of his eyes, the boy walked
unsteadily into Tosche Station.
He was vastly relieved not to hear Fixer's voice filtering through the inner
door; but he didn't trust his good fortune until he'd
scanned every corner inside without seeing the rugged mechanic.
Camie was talking to someone in the game room, but Luke could tell by the tone
of her voice that it wasn't the
older bully. Getting himself a dring from the newly repaired dispenser,
Skywalker plopped onto the uncomfortable sofa to wait for one of
his friends to arrive. The drive into town had eased some of his pent-up
energy, but he was still itching for some kind of action.
" Wormie. I didn't hear you come in." Camie said, emerging from the game room.
She was wearing one of her tighter outfits;
which was saying a lot considering that none of her wardrobe could be called
loose.
 : The blond youth squirmed with ill-ease as the nubile
young womsn sat down beside him on the sofa. Pulling her
legs beneath her, she smiled at him sweetly, and Luke felt instantly too warm.
Slowly, she reached out to stroke his upper arm.
" Wormie?" She practically purred. " Do you like me?"
He could feel his nerves stretching taut; his mouth as dry as Tatooine soil.
Gulping a hasty drink of his soda, he
wiped the residue from his lips.
" Yeah, sure. Everybody likes youCamie."
" I don't care about everybody else." She pouted. " Do you like me?"
" Yeah." He frowned. " Why?"
" Enough to do a really big favor for me?" He mouth curved upward. Skywalker
was immediately suspicious.
" What?" He drawled.
" My cousin is in town." Camie whispered, leaning close to him so that his
nostrils were filled with her cheap perfume. " She
don't know nobody, and I ain't been able to be alone with Fixer since she got
here. Would you keep her company for a few hours? Please?"
" Where is she" Scowled Luke. " What's wrong with her?"
" Nothing!" Camie snapped. Then, lowering her voice deliberately, she sighed. "
I wouldn't want her to get mixed
up with those animals Turl or Jork, that's all. You're really a nice guy,
Wormie."
" What about Deak or Windy?"
" Do you see them here?" She pointed out sarcastically. " Come on, Wormie,
please. If you'll do this for us, Fixer will
quit riding you about the fuel you owe him over that sarlacc story. I promise."
" Well," The boy hedged reluctantly." I guess it'd be alright."
' " Great!" Camie cheered, her eyes sparkling. Turning to call over her
shoulder, she shouted. " Syna, come in here a sec.
There's someone I want you to meet."
A girl stepped in from the game room; but not just any girl. She was the
loveliest creature Skywalker had ever laid
eyes on, even in his wildest fantasies. Her hair reached to her shoulderblades,
soft and yellow as a Tatooine sunrise. Her eyes were large and a
deep, dark blue with long lashes that accented her tanned skin. She wore a pair
of the shortest shorts, a tight tubular garment ancircling her well-developed
breasts.
Her midriff and shoulders were bare.
" Syna, this is Wor...I mean, Luke Skywalker. Luke, this is my cousin, Syna."
" It's nice to meet you." Breathed the young goddess in a voice as sultry as
the desert heat.
" Er..yeah, me too." He stuttered helplessly.
" Well, I'll just go run those errands and leave you two to get acquainted. "
Camie offered. " I'll try not to be more than a few
hours. Ask Wor..Luke to tell you about his father." She suggested playfully,
rising from the sofa and leaving as fast as she gracefully could."
Syna poured her agile body onto the seat, stretching her arms over her head
until her cleavage nearly reached her neck. " Gods, this
is a boring town. " She half-yawned.
" Uh-huh." Managed Luke, trying unsucessfully not to stare at her chest. "
Er..um..where are you from?"
" Mos Eisley. Ever been there?" She smiled.
" Yeah." Never had he seen teeth so straight or white." Once."
" It's a wonderful place." Syna sighed. " Never a dull moment there. Not like
here. Tell me, Luke, how do you keep
from going crazy around here?"
The way she said his name made his thighs ache. Crossing his legs, he swallowed
before replying.
" I don't know. I pretend I'm somewhere else, I guess."
" Oooh, I love a man with a good imagination." Cooed the temptress. " Where do
you pretend you are?"
" Aw, it's silly." Skywalker replied, suddenly feeling childish and inept
beside this city girl.
" No, it's not." She told him, placing her cool hand on his knee. " I think an
imagination is terribly important. I don't have
much of one myself, but without it where would we be? It's the dreamers who
invent things, who explore new places and stretch our boundaries." She leaned
closer, her breast lightly brushing his arm. " Besides, men with imaginations
make the very best lovers. But you know that, don't you?"
" Um, sure." He felt decidedly light headed. " I knew that..uh, know that.""
" I was sure you did." Looking around the empty room, she sighed again. " Is
this place always so dead?"
" Not usually." He replied stiffly. " Some of the guys could come by any time
now."
" That's too bad." Syna winked. " I'm really bored,Luke. Isn't there someplace
you and I coud go so we could have some fun?"
" What..what kind of fun?" He gulped.
" You know, silly! Hey, you're the cutest guy I've seen since I got here. A
girl gets lonely, you know. Don't you
ever get lonely?"
He nodded, not trusting his voice.
" Well, then? Where can we go? I've got some jana wed. We could get buzzed and
you could tell me one of your
stories. Maybe you could even pretend I was the girl who needed you to save me
from a fate too terrible to mention. Would you like that as
much as I would?" She scooted her hips closer to him, pressing her breast
tighter against his arm.
He turned to speak to her and found her lips on his. His body ignited. Her
tongue probed at his mouth until it opened,
flicking inside and fanning the flames engulfing him. In the short span of the
kiss, Luke thought he would suffocate; and be happy to do so. Syna
leaned back, dragging moist lips across his cheed to whisper in his ear.
" Didn't Camie tell me there's an old abandoned farmhouse not far out of town?
Won't you take me there, Luke? Please?
Take me there and..take me." She stood, pulling him by his hand until he was on
his feet beside her. " Don't you want me, Luke?" She
asked, wide-eyed.
" Yes, I do." He gasped. " It's just that..."
" What? Are you afraid of hurting me? Don't be. I've had dozens of lovers; but
I prefer boys with a good
imagination. You aren't a tease, are you, Luke? You're not going to back out on
me now?"
" No,'course not." He said, reaching his decision quickly. " Let's go. My
'hopper's outside."
It was a good thing the ride to the old Starfire place wasn't longer, Luke thought impatiently. His nerves could never have taken the strain. Though he hadn't exactly gone all the way with a girl before, he'd certainly dreamed about it often enough. Syna was prettier than anyone he could imagine, and she certainly wasn't shy. If he thought about it, he knew he'd be to worried to perform with an experienced girl, so he blocked the idea from his mind and concentrated on reaching the farmstead in record time.
Concentrating wasn't easy either with Syna nibbling at his ear and stroking the inside of his thigh. Her scent wasn't so cloying as Camie's, tickling his nose with it's musky fragrance. His body ached, his heart pounded, his vision blurred. Luke had never felt so excited, so terrified, so thrilled as he did during that drive. It was more exhilirating than all the races he'd ever run in Beggars Canyon. He could scarcely wait for what was to come.
At last the ruins of the Starfire farm came into view. It wasn't much to see,
but it was isolated and that was
all that mattered at the moment. Braking to a stop, Skywalker killed the motor
and leapt from his vehicle. Helping Syna clear, he
impulsively pulled her to him and kissed her as hard as he could.
" Ouch," She complained. Softening her voice, she smiled at him. " Not so
rough,lover. It's better when it's
slow and easy. Come on." She took his hand and began descending the curved
staird that led down into the courtyard of the house.
" Better let me see how bad it is inside." Offered Luke gallantly, pushing open
the door and stepping through. Layers of
wind-driven sand stood in the corners, and broken, discarded bits of furniture
littered the floor; but no nasty creatured were lurking about.
"Come on in." He said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. " It's
safe."
Syna walked in, surveying the room distastefully.
:" Not much to look at, is it? That's alright, though." She came to him,
pushing her leg between his
and running her hands across his shoulders. " I'll just look at you." She
pulled his head down and kissed him, again thrusting her
tongue deep into his mouth.
He groped, fumblingly, to cup her breast through the fabric of her top; using
his other hand to squeeze her buttocks
awkwardly. It seemed like the right way to do things, but he wondered if it was
always so uncomortable. He staggered to keep his balance.
Syna giggled and pulled free of his embrace. Glancing over his shoulder, she
suddenly exclaimed.
" I'll bet that was a bedroom. I'm gonna see."
" Wait, I haven't...checked it for bugs." He finished lamely when she vanished
from sight through the doorway.
Taking a faltering step after her, he paused abruptly when she popped back into
the room.
" I was right, and guess what? There's an old pallet in there." Her eyes were
wide with excitement over her discovery.
Moving back to press her body against his once more, she whispered. " It'll be
so much nicer than on this hard old floor."
Syna's fingers plucked at his shirt, pulling it up his back and over his head.
Tossing it on the dirty floor, she
tickled his bare chest. " I love a guy who isn't all covered in hair." She
giggled, squeezing her left nipple. Her fingers then moved to the
waistband of his pants, but only circled the inside, raised nervous bumps on
his skin.
Skywalker grabbed her top from the back and eased it downward, but her ample
breasts impeded his efforts to remove the
stubborn garment, and he was fearful of tearing the fabric.
" Here, lover, let me." She volunteered, smiling. Stepping away from him, she
grasped the sides of the blouse and
shoved it down to her waist. Her breasts leaped forward, full and round and
inviting. " Do you like them?" She laughed heartily. " Personally,
I think they're my best asset."
" They're...you're beautiful." He panted, reaching for her hungrily.
" Wait." She warned, holding up a hand to keep him at bay.
He frowned at her in confusion. His groin throbbed.
" I gotta do something." She told him softly. " You know, so I don't get
pregnant. It'll only take me a minute or two.
You get undressed out here, and by the time you're done, I'll be ready in
there. " She tipped her head toward the bedroom. " I'll call you when I'm set.
Don't keep me waiting, lover. I'll be naked and hot and ready for you to take
me." She ran her tongue over her lips suggestively, then turned and slid
behind the bedroom door.
Luke flopped childishly onto the floor, yanking at his boots with frantic
urgency. Next, he pulled off his socks,flinging them
over his shoulder as he grinned to himself. Standing, he slid his pants to his
ankles and kicked them across the room. His body felt feverish, but he knew he
was ready for this moment.
Every second that he stood there, waiting for her call, felt like an eternity
to Skywalker. Time had never passed so slowly. It was
an exquisite torture; his mind already leaping ahead to what would happen next.
He felt like he was teetering on an abyss. After today, he was certain,
he would never be the same, never again feel the sting of ridicule with the
same sharpness. He would no longer be a bumbling dreamer, but a man; with
real memories to fill his night visions.
Luke shook himself back to the present. Surely enough time had gone by for her
to do whatever it was
that women did at times like this. He began to sweat. What if she'd changed her
mind? NO, he didn't believe that. What if she'd gotten
burt or something?
" Syna?" He called timidly.
There was no response. Moving nearer the closed door, he cleared his throat and
called louder.
" Syna? Are you alright?"
Still no answer.
Now he was worried. Grabbing the edge of the door, the boy pushed against it
with his shoulder. It seemed to be
stuck. Rearing back, he banged hard against it with his side; falling to the
floor when it suddenly swung free. Shaking the sand and dust from his
eyes, he rose to his knees to peer around the dark room.
There was little to see. A gaping hole filled the back wall. There was no sign
of the girl, a pallet, or
anything elase. A terrible, sinking feeling descended over Luke like the
desert's cold night wind. Before it could
coalesce into tangible thought, however,he heard the sickening sound of the
bedroom door closing.
Rising to his bare feet, he ran toward it; but it was too late. It was closed, and no amount of tugging would open it. The boy knew better than to call out. Pressing his lips together in a stern grimace, tears burned his eyes and he was acutely aware of his nakedness.
He cursed himself for a pathetic fool; running his hands along the gritty walls until he reached the caved-in hole. He could hear the sounds of voices filtering down from above; but they were mercifully indistinct. The harsh laughter that sounded a moment later wasn't so easily ignored. It was a sound he knew too well.
Crouching in the dark, his knees drawn up beneath his chin, the boy wated until
everything was silent-including
his own quiet sobs. Rubbing the heels of his hands angrily across his wet eyes,
Luke stood and felt his way up the opening. The loose
rock and soil slipped from beneath his bare feet often, but eventually he
reached the top.
Some boards were placed across the external hole and weighted with something
heavy.
Luke was swept by a sudden burst of anger. Enough was enough. With a furious
shove of his palm, the
obstacle moved; permitting him sufficient space to reach up and push the rest
of it aside.
Poking his head from the hole, Skywalker twisted this way and that, looking
for any signs of his tormentors.
There was only Tatooine's desolation in all directions. Cautiously, he crawled
free- stooping low to hide himself-and ran
swiftly to the stairs around front. Sprinting down them, he re-entered the main
room.
His clothes were still there, at least. They were knotted into a large, complex mass, but they were otherwise unharmed. It was small comfort to the heartsick boy. Slowly, he sat down and began unraveling his garments. After an hour, Luke was finally able to dress. It helped him feel a little less vulnerable, but only for a few moments.
After spending another fifteen minutes hunting his boots, Skywalker climbed back up the deserted farm's stairs. When he reached his skyhopper, his already low spirits sank even further. The engine cover was open, revealing a cut fuel hose. The sand beneath the vehicle was stained a dark brown. The twin suns were edging toward the horizon. Night would fall before the boy could reach safety and, though he felt humiliated enough to die, he wasn't suicidal.
Retrieving the emergency kit from the T-12's side compartment, Luke returned to the relative protectiveness of the farm's main house. For once he was glad he'd heeded his Uncle's advice and equipped his 'hopper with the e-kit. Inside was water, sal tabs, a couple of protein bars and a battery operated lantern. It could protect him from the sand people if they chose to attack; but since the farmstead had been deserted for over three seasons, an attack didn't seem likely
Chewing tastelessly on a dry protein stick, Skywaslker ran the gamut of emotions. He was livid with Camie and Syna; realizing Fixer had probably been behind the setup. He was afraid of the endless night, alone and unarmed. He was ashamed of the worry he knew his Aunt would suffer. He was fearful of the recriminations and disciplines his Uncle would mete out with a heavy hand. He was also angry, mostly with himself, for being such a gullible idiot. He was even disappointed that the promise of manhood which had bearly been his was gone.
Sometime well after the middle of the night, Luke finally fell asleep. He was exhausted, spent by all the raw emotions that coursed through his young mind. His last conscious thought was that ,if he lived to be a thousand, he'd never know more pain or sorrow than he knew at that moment.
The next morning the blonde youth awoke to find his face caked with dirt and
sand from the floor.
His mouth felt gritty, his body stiff and sore. It took him all of thirty
seconds to remember where he was-and why. The shame and
horror crashed down on his slender shoulders like a crushing stone.
There was no sense of regret, however. What was done was done and there could
be no undoing it. He stretched
his legs and climbed back to his skyhopper. The damage was still the same, as
logic said it must be; but Luke could only
stare accusingly at the little vehicle, as though it had been the one to betray
him.
A muted roar rose from Skywalker's right.
Shading his eyes against the glare, the boy stared into the shimmering heat of
the
distance. As he watched, another vehicle began to take shape; forming like a
mirage before his eyes.
'Please', he silently begged of all the deities, 'don't let it be Fixer.'
Trying to appear nonchalant, he stored the remains of the e-kit back in their
compartment. All the
while, his eyes kept darting toward the approaching stranger nervously. He felt
sick to his stomach.
"Luke? You alright, kid?" A familiar voice called across the sand,
" Biggs?" Skywalker gaped.
The older boy brought his ship to a halt, jumping out of the open top almost
before the vehicle had
fully stopped. He ran the few steps toward his young friend, grabbing his
shoulders and looking him over for injuries. There was
a small scrape on one cheek where Luke had slid against the cave-in while
trying to escape, but otherwise he
appeared unharmed.
" How did you find me?" Whispered the blonde boy, his head bowed, his voice low.
" I was going into Tosche Station and I overheard Fixer and his cronies
bragging." Explained Darklighter.
honestly. " It didn't take much persuasion to convince him to tell me where you
were."
Luke knew that if Fixer could be said to be afraid of anyone, that someone was
Biggs. He could almost
see the confrontation that had taken place. Normally, the boy would have
savored the idea of the two older youths squaring off;
but under the circumstances all he experienced was additional shame.
" That was a lousy trick they pulled on you, kid." Biggs commented, patting his
youthful friend's arm. "But
at least you aren't hurt. Maybe you'll be more careful in the future about
listening to loose women. Fixer may have
actually done you a favor, in the long run."
Luke could only gawk at Darklighter, lost for words at the blunt remark.
" Don't get me wrong, Fixer's an asshole, but; Luke, you gotta grow up some
too. Look, you
know I like you, but you have to quit making up all those wild stories of yours. Why do you do it?
You oughta know by now that no one believes them anymore."
" I don't know, Biggs; honest I don't. I just hate this place so much. I can't
wait to
get older, so I can go to the Academy and get off this rock."
" Yesh, I hear that; but listen, you're stuck here until then." The older boy
didn't voice his
doubts that Luke's Uncle would ever let him go, but he thought them
nonetheless. " Like it or not, you gotta try to get
along with the kids at Tosche; unless you want to spend all your time on the
farm. We're all stuck with one another for now.
You gotta learn to lay low, play it slow. No more crazy tales. No more trying
to be the hotshot. That's what makes
Fixer go after you all the time."
" You're right, Biggs." Skywalker nodded slowly. " I'll try. I'll keep my mouth
shut from now on
and stay out of Fixers way. You'll see. I've learned my lesson."
" Sure, I know you can do it." Smiled Darklighter, knowing Luke would repeat
his mistakes again
within the season, despite the painful ordeal he'd just endured. If ever
there'd been a boy born with his head in the stars,
Luke Skywalker was that kid.
"Come on. I can tow your 'hopper back and Fixer'll repair it. I've already
seen to that." Winked the
darker, older male. " Don't worry about you'r Uncle either. We'll come up with
something to tell him. It won't keep you
completely our of trouble, but maybe we can keep your punishment within reason."
" Thanks, Biggs." Skywalker grinned. " You're a real friend and I won't forget
it. Someday,
I am going to get away from here, and I'll be somebody important. I know you don't
believe me, but just watch!
The others will be sorry for the way they treated me then; but I'll remember
you, I promise I will. You just wait.
I will be somebody, somebody everyone will know about, somebody famous!"
" Sure you will, Luke." Sighed Biggs patiently. " Sure you will."
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