Nakari returned to the cockpit after a time, still grinning softly. She settled behind Anakin and gazed out the viewport.

"You know, I really like your droid," she said to both Skywalkers. "He is definitely a keeper."

Luke pulled himself from his daze, leaving the rest of his jumbled emotions for later evaluation as he gave her a slight smile and a nod. "Yes, he's definitely the best droid in the galaxy."

"If you ever need a new home for him, I'm open to having him," Nakari said.

Anakin shook his head adamantly. "Never. Sorry, but Artoo is family, and you don't sell family."

Nakari felt a twinge of unease, but she understood. "I can agree with that."

Luke chuckled. "I think us Skywalkers are the only ones who can handle Artoo in a mood anyhow. The little droid can be a handful when he wants to be."

Nakari chuckled. "He fits right in with you two then," she teased.

Luke's smile grew. "Oh, we're not that bad." He unstrapped from the pilot's seat, standing up. "I could really use a caf while we're still in hyperspace. I'll be right back," he told them, navigating his way out of the cockpit towards the small kitchenette.

******************************************************************************

Anakin glanced towards Luke as his son left the cockpit. He spied Nakari eyeing him too, but Anakin chose not to comment.

"So you worked with Artoo in your time, then?" Nakari asked curiously, turning back around.

"Yes," Anakin replied, smiling. "He is the most reliable friend I've ever had aside from Obi-Wan, I..."

Anakin broke off as something tickled his awareness.

"Are you..." Nakari began, but Anakin spun back to the controls in the co-pilot's seat as his danger sense flared.

******************************************************************************

Meanwhile, Luke—who'd been in the process of masking his caf failure with a plethora of creame and sugar—suddenly heard a shrill alarm from the cockpit and an explosion of dismay from Artoo. The ship lurched, and Luke spilled piping hot caf all over himself the same time Nakari shouted. "Luke, get back here! We're in trouble!"

Luke slapped at his tunic and paints in an attempt to get rid of some of his mess as he dashed back to the cockpit, only to see a variety of red lights and the darkness of realspace.

Anakin was already flipping switches. "We've been pulled out of hyperspace."

"How?" Nakari demanded.

Anakin pointed to the readout. "By an Imperial Interdictor."

As soon as the words passed Anakin's lips, Luke was in the pilot's seat. "Shields up and arm everything we have—and strap in. Artoo, where are we?"

Daalang system, the droid said promptly.

"Okay, I need a way out of here. We can't go back because of the pirates. If we keep going on the route we already chose, we'll probably run into more Imperial resistance. Is there another lane out of this system?"

Yes, trade route to Kupoh.

Perfect—they still had the list of Kupohans who would help them should they ask with them, and the Kupohans were superficially cooperative with the Empire, so there wouldn't be an Imperial fleet parked in the system.

"All right, I need you to prepare us to jump for Kupoh and tell me which gravity projector on that interdictor is blocking our path to it right now."

"Wait, are you suggesting we attack the Interdictor by ourselves?" Nakari asked, voice rising again.

"It's either that or let them catch us. I don't think they'll respond to a polite request to stand down. And this is one of the old models; we should go before they have time to get reinforcements here. Right now it's unescorted and only has twenty-four fighters."

"Only twenty-four? We're one ship with a couple of blasters and a few missiles!"

"That's all we need. And the TIE fighter pilots might be on lunch break or something, so we should be clear for a minute or two. We have speed and surprise on our side."

Before anyone could argue, Luke pointed the nose down toward the interdictor and accelerated to a breathtaking full attack speed that was much faster than Luke's X-Wing.

Anakin armed their weapons like Luke asked, then signaled readiness. "Give them hell, Son."

The Interdictor's batteries swung up and began to fire from quad laser canons. However, it was just for show as most of them were not in the proper field of fire. The first squad of TIEs flew out of the cockpit, and Nakari had a brief panic attack.

"Let's get out of here! This is insane!"

"It's only insane if you don't have a plan. I think of this as risky." he turned his attention elsewhere. "Artoo, which gravity projector should I target?"

Its port side, our starboard.

"Both of them?"

Yes.

"That complicates things."

Nakari shot Luke a look. "What, and they weren't complicated before? That cruiser has to be shielded."

Anakin pursed his lips. "It is, but it's also one of the older Immobilizer models. The Empire's been using them against the Alliance in raids. And while they have a varied collection of twelve shields, we can take out the particle shield generators for the port side. That's when we go after the gravity projectors with whatever we've got left."

Nakari gaped. "While dodging TIE fighters and quad lasers? Do you even hear yourself?"

Anakin felt Luke spin the ship away from what he assumed were the enemy fighters, and then shrugged. "I never said it would be easy, but we can do this."

Nakari shook her head. "No, let's just get to the edge of the Interdiction field and run for it!" She turned hopefully to Luke.

Luke, however, had already thought about that. If he hadn't been in the back making a caf, they might have had that opportunity, but since he hadn't been in the cockpit they had lost the precious seconds they would have needed to do that. He shook his head. "No, they sucked us in too close. The TIEs are already on us."

Nakari turned her head and saw the vast assortment of death headed their way, jerking in her seat with an exclamation of, "Gah!" once she saw Luke's point that it truly was too late for that.

Luke wove through the first six TIEs, successfully avoiding their fire and head on collisions. He winged another with their laser cannons, causing it to careen and take out a second one with it. Twenty-two fighters left. As he flew with the TIEs, Luke's mind further assessed their situation with the Interdictor. Their lone ship couldn't weaken the shields enough to punch through with their laser cannons, but if they timed it right with their special weapon from Rodia, they might just stand a chance. He'd theorized the possibility of taking out certain classes of Star Destroyers with Wedge after his one simulation right before he officially joined the Rebel Alliance, and it looked like he was about to be putting those theories to the test. Had they not been so desperate, he wouldn't have tried it, but he was not about to let the Interdictor take them now. Plunging into the Force, Luke slipped into his non-thinking state of awareness, anticipation, and reaction, sliding the Desert Jewel into an attack vector that minimized the ships profile to the Interdictor's gunners and led them straight to the portside shield generators.

To Luke's relief, they were slightly faster than standard TIEs, though the TIEs were also coming at them in a pincer formation with a volley of sloppy but thick shots. They didn't care about hitting the Interdictor, trusting the shields to ward off their stray bolts. Thankfully, the Jewel handled well, only taking a couple of hits that reduced the shields to seventy percent, as Anakin promptly informed him. Luke was rather glad that the shields had the chance to recharge fully before they'd been pulled out of hyperspace.

"Artoo, light up their particle shield generator for me on the targeting holo," Luke commanded, and the target popped up almost instantly as a small rectangle. He assigned two of the six concussion missiles to the shield, also locating his target in the Force. If that shield didn't come down with this hit, everything else he needed to do would be useless.

Spinning and juking with every maneuver that came to mind, Luke waited for that ideal moment, taking two more hits from the TIE fighters before launching the missiles. The heavy fire from the cruiser shifted to the missiles, which allowed him more breathing room to avoid the fire from the incoming TIEs. He pulled the nose of the Jewel starboard, diving past the shield generators shortly after the missiles hit and sending them right towards the hangar that the TIE fighters were coming out of underneath the ship. Not even thinking, and unable to physically see what was underneath the ship, Luke squeezed the blaster trigger and let the Jewel's blue death rain down on the TIEs that were coming out, catching two that had been emerging instantly and feeling a twinge of triumph when those two took out two more that had been chasing the Jewel since they'd arrived. Twenty left.

The concussion missiles hit one after another about that time, the first one weakening the shield and the second one penetrating and destroying it. Still, another hit took their shields down to fifty percent, and Luke briefly hid them from anyone's line of sight as he pulled the Jewel up to skate underneath the cruiser, just a meter above the shields to make it impossible for the TIEs above the cruiser to track them. He was planning to come up over the opposite side and take a shot at the newly vulnerable gravity projectors. He didn't hold the course though, knowing that the TIEs would expect him to come up in a direct line from where he'd dissipated. He drifted aft to reappear on the back starboard corner, keeping an eye on the three pursuing TIEs even though he knew they couldn't get a lock on the Jewel at the moment. They still took a few shots to make it look like they were trying, but the bolts dissipated against the Interdictor's shields. He couldn't help but notice that a few more TIEs launched out of the hangar, knowing that soon they would be all over the Jewel.

He cleared the starboard edge and climbed up with green bolts zipping past their position the TIEs topside had thought he would emerge. Some of the trailing fighters, however, saw where the Jewel had emerged and banked to intercept. To their astounding, once thought non-existent luck, one of the banking TIEs banked right into another TIE and they both erupted into flames. Eighteen left. Luke continued to hug the cruiser's structure to make the firing difficult for the cruiser's cannons, and as soon as he cleared the bridge he targeted the twin bulges of the port gravity projectors and sent two concussion missiles towards each of them; it wouldn't exactly see them free yet, as those that were left would still keep their hyperdrive from engaging with enough time to redirect the starboard projectors. They needed a kill shot, and he knew just what that kill shot was going to be. Luke's dilemma, however, was that it might just kill them as well; but he didn't have time to think it over again. He had to take the shot now. He couldn't expect to get another pass with only fifty percent of the shields remaining and TIEs coming up and forming now that the surprise of the attack had worn off. The remaining eighteen would significantly deplete the shields before he came around for a second pass at the shot.

So, praying that he wasn't making a mistake, Luke armed and released the Utheel Rockcrusher Compact Seismic Charge, letting it fall towards the rearmost gravity projector at the Jewel's trajectory upon release. It would detonate on the proximity trigger, which Luke's finger was already sitting and waiting on.

Nakari, who was sitting stiff as a board in her seat and holding the hand rests with enough of a grip to have dented durasteel, saw Luke let the specially designed detonator drop and she sucked in a breath.

"Uh-oh..." she muttered, and tightened her grip even more on the seat. Her left hand began to hurt again, and she hissed quietly, trying not to distract Luke. She didn't understand why it kept acting up if Luke was able to heal it, but that was the least of her concerns right now.

Luke was pushing for open space with all that the Jewel had, but they were still being pursued by the TIE fighters. Luke stole a quick glance Nakari's way, and he as certain face was a pale as it had ever been. But then he had to return to his piloting, and she was glad to let him, because in that moment the charge he'd dropped entered the open, unshielded wound of the gravity projector well, and detonated.

The Interdictor disintegrated from the inside out, and the resulting shockwave also demolished every TIE fighter in its path. Nakari heard Anakin say something about shields only being at twenty percent, and Nakari thought she was going to faint.

"Artoo, we're clear to jump now!" Luke called, voice strained as the final TIE that was destroyed by the massive shockwave also scored a hit on the starboard engine, taking it out completely.

Nakari shook in her seat, but managed to utter one word, her voice conveying true fear. "Luke..."

Luke felt his own spike of fear shoot through him, unable to distract himself from the rapidly approaching death behind them. Without the sublight engine, they would never outrun the shockwave. Luke heard Nakari cry out his name in terror, which triggered an instinctual response to turn and grasp her hand within his own, his attention turned to her as he started to apologize for getting them killed—

At the same time that Artoo bleeped in triumph and flipped on the hyperdrive, shooting them forward in a white blur to leave behind the puzzle of wreckage for Imperial latecomers and also leaving behind the deadly shockwave Luke had been sure was about to claim them.

Anakin sighed and sat back in relief, while Nakari took in one fact.

"We... we made it?" she stammered at first before pumping her free hand in the air with a 'Wooo!' and then socking Luke in the shoulder. "Three kinds of dragon dump, Luke; I don't ever want to do that again!" She shuddered. "I hate space battles, you hear? All I can do is sit here and clench and pucker and hope I don't die!"

Anakin laughed openly while Luke blushed slightly.

"I know," he said. "I'm sorry."

Nakari thumped him a second time, but not as hard. "Stars, Luke, charging that cruiser was insane! We should be dead!"

Luke shrugged, knowing she was right. Still, coming out of the battle still alive had him feeling something that was two parts relief, one part euphoria, and one part smug. "It worked."

Realizing she couldn't second guess him, she said, "Yeah, but...yeah." She grinned. "Okay, that was some pretty good piloting. Maybe even legendary."

"Don't tell your dad."

She laughed. "I won't."

Anakin laughed some more, shaking his head. "That was some impressive flying, Luke. I'm going to have to start flying to keep up with you."

Luke laughed as well, the euphoria starting to take precedence. "I don't know, I think I like being called the better pilot right now," he said with a wink, finally relaxing back into his seat.

Nakari patted Luke on the shoulder. "Hey, any flying that keeps us alive is excellent in my book."

Luke chuckled. "With this mission, you need a special kind of piloting it appears, so...Skywalker flying." He glanced back towards the lounge area of the ship where Drusil probably was. "Someone should go check on Drusil."

Anakin grinned. "I nominate you."

Luke sighed, shooting Anakin a look, as he unstrapped. "Fine, but if something happens again, no yelling at me because I wasn't in the pilot seat at the time," he warned them, already headed for the lounge area. He stopped just outside the door when Artoo wheeled up to them, crouching down and wrapping his arms around the little droid.

"You are the best droid in the galaxy, okay?" Luke told Artoo passionately. "But don't tell Threepio or I'll have to deal with his passive-aggressive complaints for the next ten years. Thanks for the save."

Artoo burbled happily, and Luke stood up, taking in the sight of Drusil sitting with her spine much more rigid than normal. "Are you all right?" Luke asked her.

"I am recovering from glandular excitement, thank you for asking," she told him. Luke blinked, completely thrown off and suddenly very uncomfortable.

"Well, I...I beg your pardon? Is this a bad time?" he managed to stutter out.

"I am told it is a biological phenomenon not unlike the aftereffects of adrenaline in humans."

"Oh, OH! That kind of excitement," Luke said in relief. "Good. No, I mean—I'm sorry I worried you. Er...we're safe for the moment, anyway...en-route to Kupoh," he finished awkwardly.

Nakari and Anakin, sitting in the cockpit, shared a look in the same moment Luke asked his awkward question.

Unable to reign in their amusement, they simultaneously threw their heads back and laughed. Nakari laughed so hard she had to grab at her sides, while Anakin was having trouble breathing.

Luke blushed when he heard Nakari and Anakin's laughter, but forced himself not to shout an indignant reply down the hall, focusing on Drusil instead as she spoke.

"We should have perished. Mathematically we had almost no chance of survival once we attacked. How did you accomplish this?"

Luke shrugged. "Artoo got us out of there."

"The droid did his job adequately," Drusil said, to which Artoo bleeped indignantly before she continued on, "but I speak of the piloting prior to that. Are you a Jedi in fact, Luke Skywalker?"

Luke snorted, an old insecurity he hadn't realized was still there rearing its head. "No, not even close. I've only just started to learn, I'm nowhere near earning that title yet."

"You refuse the title yet dress yourself in the trappings. You carry a lightsaber. And you used the Force to aid in the piloting of the ship, correct?"

"Yes," Luke responded evenly. "But dressing like a Jedi and waving around a lightsaber while using the Force on occasion doesn't make you one."

Drusil, apparently, didn't care so much about that anymore because she plunged back into her musings.

"Astounding. I have never thought of it before, having no occasion to do so, but the Force must be a fulcrum variable. Yes, I must give this more thought..."

Luke blinked, thrown off by the rapid change of topic. "Sorry—a fulcrum variable?"

"A variable around which improbabilities can be turned into probabilities, or vice versa. The impossible becomes the possible—at which point one might as well not even do the math. But of course I can't help myself in the regard."

Relieved that she had dropped her questioning of his connections to the Jedi, he shook his head and got right to his point. "Listen, since you appear to enjoy it, could you maybe think about the likelihood of us making it to the surface of Kupoh without running into any more Interdictors—or other Imperial contact? If you think its improbable, we should abort now and see if we can reach somewhere else, because we can't make another escape like that with an engine gone and nothing to shoot but laser cannons."

Drusil's strange mouth widened in what Luke suspected might be joy as she grabbed her datapad. "A task! Excellent! You have my thanks. I will report soon." With that, her face turned downwards, and Luke realized he'd just been dismissed. Artoo whistled and nudged Luke's leg, and he absentmindedly patted the droid's head.

"Yeah, I know Artoo, you go ahead and do that, it might be wise," he said, watching the droid warble and plug into the ship once more. "I'm going to try for that drink again...and hopefully not wear it this time."

Nakari spied Luke heading for the galley and followed a few moments later, leaning against the counter beside him with an unrepentant grin.

"Hey, I think after that battle, I'm still recovering from glandular excitement..."

Luke grimaced. "I'm sorry, that's just..." he waved a hand in the air, as if trying to shoo something away. "It caught me off guard, I wasn't expecting that of all things. And I'm sorry, but that's the first thing that pops to mind; no one says glandular excitement, what was I supposed to think?"

Nakari chuckled openly, shoving him playfully. "I love it when you get flustered; you're so cute like that."

Luke blushed at being called cute, casting his eyes down to the second cup of caf. "I hate it when you do that..." he said with a small smile.

Nakari continued chuckling. "I have to use my advantage while I can. You're an ace pilot, yet you get all shy whenever someone gives you a compliment."

Luke glanced back up at her briefly, his expression shy and a small smile on his face as he finished his caf. "Maybe you just have a knack for leaving me without any words to describe how you make me feel," he replied quietly, pressing the cup of caf into her hand before he grabbed a simple bottle of water for himself and ducked out of the room, leaving her with a caf complete with a heart pattern he'd cheated and used the Force to manipulate. Thank the Force he'd finally gotten past his first obstacle with manipulating objects with the Force, or he wouldn't have been able to do it.

Nakari stared in utter shock at the little design made of the little cloud of foam atop the caf. Her heart stopped for a full beat as she gazed with misting eyes at the tiny heart that was still, miraculously, visible.

Nakari managed a single, shaky, breathy chuckle before she released the mug with one hand and ran tender fingertips over the design.

She smiled warmly, having to take a seat at the table, where she simply stared at the now-fading heart.

****************************************************************************

Anakin looked up at Luke as he entered the cockpit once more and he waited until his son was comfortable before he spoke seriously, but softly.

"You were wrong, my boy."

Caught off guard for the thousandth time today, Luke stared at his father, shyness over the small moment from a few moments ago gone. Instead of immediately getting defensive as most children would when their parents told them they were wrong, Luke was rather curious—it would help if he even knew what Anakin was talking about. "Wrong about what?" he asked, confusion furrowing his brow.

Anakin lifted a brow at him. "You told Drusil you're not a Jedi. You were wrong."

Understanding flickered across his features, and he looked down, already knowing what was coming. Still, he tried to explain himself. "I just feel like I shouldn't call myself that yet. I've only been training for a few months. If I call myself a Jedi they'll expect me to do all these things I just can't do yet..."

Anakin reached over and gently rested a hand upon Luke's forearm to halt his explanation.

"And the galaxy doesn't expect that of me?" He questioned pointedly. Anakin shook his head. "People hear my name, or rather my title—which I never cared for by the way—and expect great things. I am assumed to be some invincible being when in reality I'm just a man still trying to find his place in then galaxy."

Anakin shifted self-consciously. "In many ways, I am still that frightened and lost nine-year-old Qui Gon found and dragged before the Council. Many in the Order see me as a ticking time bomb, and they're just waiting for me to go off."

He sighed, placing more pressure to Luke's arm. "Luke, it takes more than a title to be a Jedi. It's not just skills and training." The elder Skywalker tapped the younger's temple. "It's a mindset. You have that. True you're training isn't complete, and you've not been formally knighted, but it does not make you any less a Jedi."

Luke nodded, but though he did listen to his father's council, it was going to take a while to get into that kind of mindset.

Anakin wasn't quite finished. "Please stop doubting yourself Luke. It pains me every time you do," Anakin said earnestly. "You have so much potential to be the Jedi I could never be."

Luke ducked his head, chastised. "I'm sorry, I try not to I'm just..." he floundered for words for a moment. "I'm afraid to fail you...or someone else I care for..."

Anakin twisted one corner of his mouth down. "Luke, you won't fail."

He glanced back toward the rear of the ship. "You know, everyone can see it but you. You are surrounded right now by those who support you and believe in you. You are the only one who doesn't do that."

Anakin paused before he went on quietly. "Is there a deeper reason for your lack of confidence?"

"I don't know," Luke said honestly, searching for a batter answer. "Maybe it's the pressure to be all these things that everyone wants me to be, or just all the losses I've had making me afraid to lose someone else because I'm incapable of protecting them..." he struggled. He didn't know why the lack of self-confidence, and he wanted to know just as much as Anakin did. But when he looked, he had far more insecurities than he'd expected.

Anakin studied Luke, watching as his son fidgeted. He tried to think of what Obi-Wan would say at this point.

Finally he went with what felt right. "Luke, no one is perfect. And even with years of training, Jedi Masters make mistakes, too. I've seen it time and time again. I think..." Anakin faltered, feeling like a hypocrite. "I think it's your fear of loss holding you back. You get that from me, I'm afraid. Your mother had the strength of character to do what was necessary no matter what."

Anakin had a thought and went on. "You know, you're much more level-headed than I am. That's your mother's influence."

Luke processed his father's words, turning them over in his mind. "I try not to think about it, but just because I don't think about it doesn't mean it's not there. And there are so few people left that I keep close now...and during war it's hard not to wonder each time if it's going to be the last time I see someone alive..." he snorted, shaking his head. "Then again, with the state the galaxy is in, I wouldn't have to be directly involved in the war to worry about losing another loved one."

Anakin nodded, feeling suddenly inspired. "Do you remember me telling you about the battle of Geonosis? Where your mother was knocked out of the gunship transport?"

Luke nodded. "Yes, I remember."

"And I was panicking about it, but Obi-Wan urged me to keep a level head and think of what Padmé would do? That was the only time I confessed to my master that I loved Padmé. He told me only that I should come to my senses, and warned me that I'd be expelled from the Jedi Order." Anakin clenched his free hand into a fist. "I obeyed him; I came to my senses... But I also felt like I had just abandoned a huge part of who I was...all so I could be a Jedi in their eyes. I am an emotional person, and that is a fundamental part of me. When I had to ignore that part, I felt...dirty, and less than whole. I felt incomplete."

Anakin reached over with his free hand and turned Luke's face toward him. "Luke, I don't want you to become that kind of Jedi. Don't become the unfeeling, closed off Jedi I am expected to be by my time's Jedi Order. Be a new, better kind of Jedi. Don't let your fear of harm by your association stop you from chasing your dreams. Ever."

Anakin threw a look toward the galley, where they could both still sense Nakari who was lingering in the simple, yet profound moment she and Luke had just shared.

"For example, if you find love, grab it and don't ever let go," Anakin whispered so only Luke could hear, feeling a few fervent tears slip past his control. "Many of the Jedi in my day feel that attachments are dangerous and make one weak. I can promise," he returned his fiery gaze to Luke's, trying to drive his point home, "I promise it is a strength and a boon. My love for Padmé, and hers for me, are what have kept me going in the Clone Wars, and all other struggles. It's our love that gives me strength in my darkest moments. Without my marriage to Padmé...I really, truly don't believe I'd still be able to be a Jedi. Padmé gives me a special strength and will, she gives me courage that the single, cut- off Jedi will never know. She gives me insights to better handle situations that call for a more subtle, loving approach."

Anakin paused for a breath of air. "Even the greatest Jedi Masters I know are hollow, because while they have power, knowledge, and skills, they lack the essential connection all mortal beings need. Their insight can only go so far. Their own denial of their base needs limits them. They are so set in their ways that they are unable to adapt."

Anakin realized he was squeezing Luke's chin and he grimaced, releasing him with a soft caresses to make sure he'd not left a bruise.

"Don't be like them," Anakin murmured. "Be like you."

Here he tapped Luke's heart gently. "This timeframe doesn't need another cut off self-righteous Jedi. It needs Jedi like you. People who aren't afraid to feel, to actually live. The Jedi of my day always thought themselves as helpful. Well, how effective can we truly be if we can't empathize with others? We are incapable of matters of the heart because we deny ourselves to use the organ for more than pumping blood."

Anakin took a deep breath. "Luke, just be yourself. Who cares what they," he gestured broadly to the galaxy outside the viewport, "think? They aren't living your life, experiencing your feelings and such. And it's because you know how to feel and accept those feelings as necessary and utterly right that you will be the greatest Jedi this galaxy has ever known."

Anakin again glanced toward the rear of the ship. "Don't let the fear of Nakari getting hurt stop you from loving her, Son. I can see that you do, and I'm not trying to pressure you. It's wise and a very good thing that you are taking your time to really figure your heart out. But, if you find that the only reason you can't move forward with her is because of that fear, then that is wrong."

Anakin smiled weakly, his tears increasing as his loneliness finally broke free. "If you find that your day is dull and lonely without seeing the smile of the woman you love, or hearing her laugh, or if you feel cold and empty with just not being able to caress her soft face, to feel her hair slip through your fingers like the finest silks in the galaxy, when her voice is the only one you crave each day like the air you breath to live..." Anakin squeezed his eyes shut. "That's when you know you truly love her."

Luke's heart ached both from the sensed truth in Anakin's words and the emotional pain his father was obviously currently in as well. Wordlessly, Luke got out of his pilot's seat and wrapped Anakin into a bone-crushing embrace only a son could give. He cleared his throat so that he could speak over the emotion clogging his throat and warping his voice. "I'm sorry that you're apart from Mother..." Luke said, knowing the pain that was filling Anakin's heart from the separation.

Anakin accepted Luke's embrace readily, returning it, needful.

"It's...not your fault." He had been about to say it was okay, but in truth it wasn't; not really.

Anakin clung to Luke, and while he didn't sob, nor did he attempt to dry his eyes. Seeing Luke and Nakari together...

Anakin sighed softly. He was glad Luke had someone to love, but it was also a constant reminder of his separation from Padmé.

And it hurt, more than he had ever cared to admit before, because he didn't want Luke to feel guilty and hold back so his father felt better.

"Luke," Anakin pulled back enough to search his son's face, suddenly afraid his fear was a truth. "You're not holding back because of me are you?"

Luke shook his head adamantly. "No, no it has nothing to do with you. I'm just trying to figure out my own feelings before I do anything. And I don't know if I'm even ready for that committing step yet, either."

Anakin breathed easier, wiping at his face. "Okay. I'm sorry. It just...I had to ask."

A memory struck him then and Anakin abruptly smiled. He opened the door and poked his head out of the cockpit.

"Artoo come here!" he shouted

A whistle answered him and soon Artoo was there, and Anakin shut the door.

Luke was eyeing him oddly, and Anakin gestured for him to be seated. Turning to Artoo, Anakin patted his dome.

"It's time to show Luke what we talked about before."

Artoo chirruped excitedly, and began sifting through his memory banks. Anakin lifted his gaze to Luke.

"We have a gift for you. Two, actually," Anakin said softly, nodding at Artoo. The droid leaned forward some and projected Padmé's image again for Luke to see.

"Meet your mother, Padmé Naberrie Amidala Skywalker," Anakin said reverently, watching his son.

Shocked, Luke simply stared for a few moments, slowly getting down onto his knees so he could come up close to the image. A flood of indiscernible emotions washed through him, and Luke raised a shaking hand towards the holoprojection, fingers tracing the edges of the image like he was in a daze. His eyes drank in the soft, regal features, the natural beauty of the woman before him as his heart imprinted her image to his very being. Tears welled up in his eyes, which Luke found he could not tear away from the image of his mother. To him, it was a sacred sight, and he didn't want it to go away. Not for the first time, his heart ached to know the woman in front of him, the woman he would never know...his mother.

"She's beautiful..." Luke managed to say. Something tugged at the back of his mind as he reverently studied Padme, but he pushed it aside. All he cared about right now was imprinting Padme's image to his very heart and soul, never to be taken away.

Anakin smiled warmly at Luke's reaction.

"My first words to her were to ask if she was an angel," he reminisced. "She's the most beautiful woman I've ever known."

"I can see why," Luke murmured, unable to tear his gaze away. Everything outside of that cockpit momentarily melted away as he stared at the image. It was really, truly her. He sat back on his haunches, simply staring in silence, mind starting to imagine what his life would have been like had his mother survived beyond Luke's birth.

Anakin motioned to Artoo, and the little droid switched the image to a holo recording of Padmé and Anakin.

It was just a quiet moment between them, and while Anakin was surprised Artoo would record it, he was now glad the droid had done so.

"Ani?" Padme asked as she came onto the veranda. "Why don't you come inside and eat?"

Anakin turned around with a playful smirk on his face. "Did you cook it?"

Padmé huffed, but there was a smile on her face too, though she was fighting not to show it.

"Keep asking questions like that and I may stop feeding you," she returned coolly.

Anakin laughed softly. "I only ask to preserve my health."

Padmé swung about with an indignant gasp, and she flew up to him to punch him in the bicep. Anakin laughed, turning away from the blow, but the teasing light never left his gaze.

"I think that tickled Milady..." he told her with a wide grin.

Padmé thinned her lips and smacked him again, and when she began to pummel him with more demonstrations of her ability Anakin finally folded.

"All right, all right!" He laughed. "I surrender!"

Padmé smirked, moving to get him once more but Anakin caught her hand and tugged her close, wrapping his arms about her waist.

"You are so fun to get riled up," Anakin murmured, kissing her on the lips.

Anakin stopped Artoo, not knowing how much of that night the droid had caught on his recording. Either way, Luke didn't want to see his parents' activities the remainder of that evening after the meal.

He had almost forgotten just how wonderful her voice was, and as he closed his eyes he could remember that night with crystal clarity and a fond smile.

Luke didn't speak, partially so he wouldn't interrupt Anakin's reminiscence, and partially because he didn't quite have words. Her voice had been musical, just as angelic as his father had said she was. Her smile, her laugh...

Luke locked every memory away in his heart, never wanting to forget what he'd seen. It was all he had of his mother, and he would treasure it until his dying day.

Anakin sighed happily, and then placed a gentle hand on Artoo's dome.

"Thanks Artoo."

Dooep! Artoo replied, turning to leave again. Anakin watched him go and then gazed at his son, but instead of barging in on the other's moment, Anakin waited for Luke to come to him when he was ready.

Luke allowed the happiness to linger, avoiding the darker thoughts for quite some time. Finally, Luke found himself speaking, eyes trained on the floor below him. "I wish I'd known her."

Anakin felt a pang for Luke, for the sorrow and loneliness in his voice.

"She lives in your heart, you know. Just like Ben."

Luke slowly stood up, reverently putting everything he'd seen of his mother away in his heart. He gave his father a brief nod, slowly gathering himself back to his normal mood. "I know."

Anakin briefly touched Luke's hand.

"Don't forget what I said earlier, Luke," he said quietly, sincerely. "I meant every word of it."

He smiled. "And I said it all out of love. I love you, Son."

Luke managed to catch his father's hand, giving it a brief, tight squeeze in response. "I love you too, Father. No matter what happens," Luke said, not entirely sure why he'd tacked that last statement on.

********************************************************************************

Nakari still sat in her seat at the table, lost in thought. The little gift from Luke had touched her deeply, and she had spent the last several minutes dreaming of possibilities if they came to live a life together.

She was completely happy with the scenes her mind and heart had conjured up. Still...she didn't want to admit to Luke any of those things yet for fear of scaring him off.

She had lost all track of time—gladly—and she never noticed that she forgot to drink her caf.

*********************************************************************************

A few hours later, Luke was ready to revert to realspace, strapped into the pilot's seat and about ready to be back on solid ground, even with how much he loved flying. "We're coming up on Kupoh," he said over the intercom so everyone could hear him.

Nakari was also ready to stretch her legs, and she made it to the co-pilot's seat swiftly.

"Hey, look at that!" She beamed. "No Imperial ships to harass us this time!"

"Don't jinx us!" Luke warned the same time a flood of inquiries of who they were and what they were doing at Kupoh assaulted them. Luke sighed. "Great...they sure are inquisitive. Can you try to find someone on Sahket's list that could help us?" Luke asked, wearily taking up position to dispel the flood of nosy Kupohans.

Nakari had forgotten all about the list, and she nodded, delving into the resource eagerly.

"There is someone in..." Nakari paused to check the name, "Tonekh. His name is Azzur Nessin."

She plugged in more key commands on her datapad, bringing up more information. "Okay, it looks like he is the founder and head of Nessin Courier and Cargo. He's got facilities scattered about Kupoh but the headquarters matches the location Sakhet gave us."

Luke scowled and turned off the communications so that he could respond to Nakari. "It sounds like he'll have a shipyard, and a ship making repairs won't cause much suspicion. He might be our guy."

Nakari nodded. "If he's willing to cooperate." She typed in the comm codes and nodded to Luke. "He's all yours, Pilot!" She said in a perfect imitation of her father.

Luke groaned, but didn't argue, making the call without much fuss. He went through the exchange Sahket had told them to say, and soon had the large Kupohan's permission to land. Because of the nosiness of the Kupohans and their ultra-sensitive hearing, not a word was spoken about the Alliance, but they didn't need to speak of the Alliance to get help from the Kupohan, thankfully. Luke leaned back and eyed the atmosphere of Kupoh critically. he wasn't looking forward to navigating Kupoh's famously hard winds with only one sublight engine, but they had to if they wanted to make it to the surface for repairs.

Nakari smirked when, upon Luke asking Artoo to compute an arrival time with a single sublight engine, Drusil piped up before the droid could whistle a response.

"Three hours and forty-three minutes, twelve seconds give or take a few minutes depending on the point at which you take manual control of the ship."

Luke shared a look with his companions and managed a polite thank you.

Nakari grinned. "Well, you did ask."

Luke rubbed his eyes tiredly. Four hours struggling against the fierce winds...this was going to be a nightmare. Luke pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a long sigh.

"I'll tell you what I want," he finally commented, opening his eyes again to focus on the daunting task in front of him.

"You mean besides another engine?" Nakari asked in amusement.

"Yeah, besides that. Before the Empire interrupted, I was in the galley trying to make a caf...I could really use it now for these four hours..." he muttered.

Nakari and Anakin snickered together as Nakari pointedly looked to Luke's shirt.

"That first cup looks great on you, Luke!" She grinned unrepentantly as Anakin continued to chuckle. "That's some seriously forward-thinking fashion you're wearing."

"Oh, come on-"

She cut him off.

"Not everyone can make their spills look like art. Did you use the Force to get that pattern right there?"

Luke rolled his eyes and stood up, shaking his head. "Guess I'll go change while I'm at it..."

Nakari dropped the tease for a moment and got serious. "Luke? We used up most of the money upgrading the Jewel."

Luke nodded. "Good thing too, they came in handy."

Nakari lifted a brow. "I know, but how are we going to pay for the repairs on Kupoh?"

Anakin spoke up. "He'd probably trade in favors or we could do a job for him, something he needs that we can get for him kind of thing."

Nakari pursed her lips. "I suppose. At least we don't have to pan-handle. We've got enough credits left over to cover food and lodging, but that's about it."

Luke rubbed his jaw thoughtfully, staring at the spot Azzur had been a few moments ago on their communications panel. "If he won't take an alternative to money, we'll be in trouble. We don't have anything near what we need for that sublight engine. And we can't trust him not to sell us out to the Empire the moment he receives a better offer from them. It's not just him we can't trust, but this entire system. Information is like a currency here, and right now the Empire is offering plenty of credits for information on our whereabouts. You can bet people will be asking us questions, at least those who've already noted there are four life-forms onboard. That alone labels us as an interesting party. No matter what anyone says, we can't be one hundred percent sure whose side anyone is on. Still, we have no choice but to attempt to complete the mission. Can't go back to the fleet until we do."

Nakari pursed her lips. "We need to think of something of value we could trade."

Anakin glanced back toward the passenger cabin where Drusil was located. "We will need to keep her hidden, guys."

At their strange looks, he realized he only offered half a thought. "Sorry, I meant Drusil: she can't be seen in the open. I'll walk with her when we have a hotel, help her stay concealed. As for a trade, let's see what he wants, because the only two things of enough value to offset what this will cost are Alliance secrets and the Jewel itself. Option one is inexcusable, and option two leaves us stranded until we find a better ship, which we won't. That leaves us with the need to pull a trump card. So, what's our ace?"

Nakari pursed her lips. "I have one, but it's only if he won't give us any other options." She held up a hand. "Please don't ask yet. Trust me, if it comes to that, you will know."

Luke pursed his lips, brow furrowed. "Maybe we can see if Drusil has any information we can use to trade if we need to; information about the Imperials."

As if she'd heard them, the Givin spoke up. "I could avail myself of the information in this system. If our host wishes it, I could raid a data cache and rifle through its contents in exchange for an engine. I am confident I can slice my way to an accommodation."

Nakari looked doubtful. "You'd be willing to do that?"

"Of course. Anything to help me on my way to my family," Drusil said earnestly.

"I believe her," Anakin said softly. "And Luke, you said it yourself that information here is currency."

Luke nodded. "So it's settled then? Try for a favor, if he doesn't take that then Drusil will offer what she knows, and if all else fails Nakari has her trump card."

"Sounds good." Nakari agreed. "Fly us in, Pilot!"

Anakin glanced at Luke. "While we're on planet, we could work on more Jedi abilities. We can't spar, because that would draw unwanted attention, but there are other things we can do quietly."

Luke nodded. He was sure he was going to be exhausted by the time they landed, but he would always make time for some Jedi lessons. "I'm game for that." He glanced at the controls. "Anakin, can you fly us in until I finish getting changed?"

"Sure, try not to spill anymore caf on you this time; I hear there's lots of turbulence in the atmosphere." Anakin teased, eliciting another bout of laughter from Nakari.

Luke scowled. "Yeah, right, thanks," he said with a shake of his head as he turned to make his way to make himself a caf and then get changed, just so he wouldn't run the risk of spilling caf all over a clean shirt again.

***********************************************************************

Their arrival at the building Nessin had directed them to land in was blessedly uneventful. Anakin followed Luke and Nakari down the ramp after giving Drusil instructions to wait on the ship. Nessin was all polite business while they were out among the workers, but Anakin wasn't fooled in the slightest. This man wasn't happy to see them.

And indeed, as soon as they were in his office, the man's friendly mask vanished into a sneer.

"Alright, who are you and did you bring the Empire with you?" he demanded angrily. "Because I don't want any trouble."

Luke sighed. "Sahket sent us; she said if we were in trouble we could come here. You don't have to worry about the Empire for at least a few days."

Azzur made a rude noise. "She's got no faith in me. The only thing we have in common is a hatred of the Empire. Next time I see her I'll give her what she's got coming."

Nakari lifted an unimpressed brow. "Can you help us with an engine repair?"

"Depends. It takes money to do that." Nessin looked to them. "How will you pay?"

Nakari shifted. "Well we don't have enough credits to pay like that..."

Nessin looked between them incredulously. "Well then why in space are you wasting my time?"

Nakari planted her hands on her hips, ready to let him have it when Drusil stepped up.

"I can get you information."

Nessin eyed her suspiciously. "And how do you propose to do that? And what information?"

Drusil spread her hands. "How about something from a rival company?"

Nessin shook his head adamantly. "No. I am an honorable businessman. You need something else."

Everyone looked to each other, and Nakari sighed stepping forward. "I have information you would be most profited by. Have you heard of Kelen Biolabs on Pasher?"

Nessin looked respectful for a moment. "Of course. A profitable enterprise indeed."

Nakari closed her eyes, but continued. "I can give you information of a new discovery of my father's: the discovery of a new moon in the Deep Core that as of yet only he knows about."

Luke's head whipped around to face Nakari, shocked. When she'd said trump card, he hadn't been expecting this. "Nakari, what are you doing?"

Nakari forced herself not to look at him. "Getting us an engine."

Nessin leaned back. "How is it, exactly that you have this information?"

"I am Nakari Kelen, Fayet's daughter."

Nessin narrowed his two main eyes. "And you expect me to believe that the heir to the Kelen Biolabs would betray her father so?"

Kelen's eyes flashed. "It's not a betrayal, and I expect you to independently verify the information through that datapad strapped to your arm. My father authorized me to deal business in the event of an emergency. I believe this qualifies."

Nessin indeed verified her identity and then he nodded. "Very well. Provide me with the details and then you may choose an engine to order. I can have it shipped here in a few days at the minimum."

Nakari acquiesced and soon the business deal was concluded. Despite her protests that she was allowed to share this information, she still felt bad that it had come to that.

''Let's go guys," Nakari murmured.

Anakin stopped off to collect Drusil and he used both a hood and the Force to keep her identity and their collective weapons concealed until they reached a hotel, where they got three rooms.

When Luke entered his room, he yearned for his bed, but forced himself not to pass out on the mattress. He couldn't do that yet because he had a visitor.

And he'd already agreed to some more training.

In an attempt to keep himself awake, Luke remained standing. "So, what are you going to be teaching me this time?" Luke asked curiously.

Anakin smirked. "How about the ability to replenish yourself in situations like this." He indicated Luke, who was swaying in place.

Luke's cheeks flushed just slightly at being called out on his exhaustion, leaning against the wall with his arms folded over his chest so he could steady the swaying. "I would say I didn't know we could do that, though I guess if we can draw on the force for strength against pain I should have known we can delay sleep as well," Luke mused.

Anakin chuckled. "Yes. Sit on the floor," Anakin said, putting actions to his words and waiting for Luke to do the same.

Confident he wouldn't fall asleep sitting down, Luke took up position across from his father. He didn't say a word, choosing to leave to speaking to Anakin unless Luke was asked a question. He instinctively reached for the Force, ready for whatever would come next.

Anakin touched the Force as well, then began the lesson.

"Think of the Force in this instance as a shot of adrenaline, except that it's not addictive," Anakin began. "It has endless stores of energy just waiting to be used. All you have to do is open yourself up to it and allow it to fill you, replenish you."

He continued the lesson until Luke had successfully been able to receive energy.

Once they were done, Luke stretched, rising to his feet. "Great, now I'm too awake to sleep," he scolded Anakin teasingly. He did feel wide awake—so much so he doubted he'd be able to sleep if he laid down.

Anakin grinned unrepentantly. "There is an all-hours gym near the lobby. Let's go run some laps."

When Luke groaned a protest, Anakin laughed, not backing down.

"Come on, Son. A Jedi needs endurance."

He dragged Luke downstairs and put him through a few katas and laps, only letting him go when once again his eyes started to droop.

"All right, get out of here and get some sleep." Anakin pointed him back to the door and led him to his room. "Goodnight, Luke."

"Goodnight father," Luke replied tiredly before he entered the solitude of his room. He was out as soon as he connected with the bed, falling asleep instantly without pausing to even take off his boots.

******************************************************************************

Anakin sat on the floor in his room, taking deep, cleansing breaths as he worked to get himself into a meditative state. He didn't do it often, but he did want to be calm tonight without sleep. He wasn't as tired as Luke, and he was restless for some reason tonight.

Hence his attempt to meditate.

Anakin kept his eyes closed, since there wasn't much to see outside his window anyway. His preferred 'meditative' stance was parade-rest on an open-air balcony. But that wasn't really possible with Kupoh's windy disposition.

Anakin was jolted from his state of mind by a soft series of knocks to his room's door.

Anakin blinked to feel Nakari there, and opened the access with the Force. "Come in."

Nakari did so quietly, closing the door behind her and then approaching him almost nervously.

Anakin frowned up at her. "Are you all right? Is something bothering you?"

Nakari bit her lip, and then sighed. "I need to speak with you, please."

Anakin started to stand, but she held out a hand. "No, I'll join you."

And she did, assuming a cross-legged position on the floor before him, but a respectful distance away. She took a deep breath and looked at him, but as she opened her mouth, words seemed to fail her.

Anakin remained patient, open, and this seemed to encourage her.

Nakari smiled hesitantly. "Well, it's about Luke."

Anakin lifted a curious brow. "What about him?"

Nakari studied her hands a moment, working her mouth before she went on. "Remember our short conversation after picking up Drusil?"

Anakin nodded. "I do."

Nakari smiled shyly. "My feelings for your son have definitely grown."

He said nothing, sensing she wasn't through.

"I love him," Nakari whispered. "He is just...well, he's Luke."

She shrugged with a self-depreciating chuckle. "It's kind of strange talking to you about this, but I need to talk to someone, and my father's not always the best in heart-to-hearts, even if he were here."

Anakin smiled softly in return. "I'm sure Fayet loves you deeply, Nakari, even if he's not always the best at being there. He's got a busy life, and he's juggling a lot, as you know."

"I know," Nakari agreed. "Still..."

She met Anakin's blue gaze. "I really do love Luke."

Anakin eyed her intently, gauging her as she continued.

"He is such a sweetheart." Nakari smiled fondly. "He's also a walking enigma at times to me. He's such a confident person in the cockpit or a fight...but put him in the crosshairs of a compliment, or ask him to express his feeling for something or someone aloud, and he transforms into a Nabooian voorpak. He goes all soft and shy, struggling to show he cares without actually putting himself out there."

"And of course he's handsome." Nakari gave a short laugh. "He's so good looking it's a crime, what with his soft golden hair and his sweet baby blues." She blushed as she realized she was admitting these things to the elder Skywalker, but charged ahead.

"But his mannerisms are what really drew me to him. He is kind, gentle, and caring. He's not afraid to help others feel better, even at the expense of himself. He was there when I needed him when I broke down about my mother, he never once judged me harshly. I love his witty sense of humor, and that he can withstand my teasing."

Nakari's face shifted a little. "He is also a worker. He isn't afraid to do what needs to be done, and he's got a sense of honor and loyalty that's very hard to come across anymore. He's so strong, and yet...he's also so vulnerable."

Nakari sighed, her shoulders drooping. "I've worked to let him know that I accept him as he is, and that I don't and will never hold his past against him. He's also a great kisser."

It was Anakin's turn to blush, and Nakari grinned at him. "Sorry, but it's true. He's very soft and I love cuddling with him, even if it's just to be pressed to his side while he runs a finger up and down my arm absentmindedly. His gentle touch and caresses drive me insane, and I don't think I will ever get enough of him."

Nakari deflated into herself then. "And...I'm sure you remember our awkward moment in the cockpit before. Well, I...I sent him my love, let him know how I felt, and I'm pretty sure he got the message, because he responded in kind during the kiss, but after..." Nakari paused, trying to gather her scattering thoughts. "And while he gave me a tiny heart of foam in a cup—which was the sweetest thing ever, mind you—I don't truly know if he...if he feels the same for me." Nakari shivered, hugging her arms to herself. "Anakin...that scares me."

Anakin lifted his head, hearing the utter vulnerability in her tone, feeling how she was indeed putting her heart on the line and receiving very little in the way of a response from Luke.

"I just...I don't know where to go with that," Nakari finished, looking down.

Anakin felt his heart go out to her, and he reached over to take her hand. "I believe it when you say you love Luke."

Nakari gave him her full attention.

"And while I can't speak for Luke per-se, I can assure you that he likes you, a lot. But it isn't my place to profess his love for you."

Nakari nodded. "I didn't want you to, just..."

"I know," Anakin smiled gently. "I remember being in your place when I professed y love and desire to be with my wife before we married. She was afraid; didn't want us to ruin our lives. But eventually we came to an agreement and we figured it out." He pulled her closer and gage her a one-armed hug when she scooted to his side and rested her head on his shoulder as a daughter would a father. "Give Luke time. You're well aware that war can remove people's innate innocence and desire to openly love. Luke learned to be careful, and rightfully so."

Nakari nodded against his arm. "I know. I'm just afraid that my...well, that I put myself out there, and now I feel like I'm standing naked in front of a crowd, I guess. I feel exposed, alone, because he has yet to meet me halfway. I know he cares, but it's not the same as to hear it." she paused. "I guess I haven't told him out loud yet, either, so I can't talk." she sighed heavily, shifting her head against his shoulder.

"Why don't you tell him, actually tell him, and then give him time to come to his own decision," Anakin suggested kindly. "Don't expect an immediate declaration of love in return. Luke is also cautious, you know that by now."

Nakari nodded again. "I do."

"Just don't take his hesitation as him not loving you," Anakin urged. "Let him come to you when he is ready, and I promise it will be so much sweeter that way."

Nakari smiled. "Thank you Anakin."

He hugged her gently. "Any time you need someone to talk to, my door is open.'

Nakari sat back and kissed his cheek. "I know. Goodnight, Anakin."

"Goodnight."

Once she was gone, it took him a long time to realize he was no longer restless. Anakin smiled, finally getting himself to bed.