Padmé brushes her hair out of her face as she looks for her communicator. She presses the button, the beeping signaling that her request has been sent. She quickly tidies her room, waiting for them to arrive at her quarters. She is so excited to share her good news.

A knock comes from the door and she calls for them to enter. Luke enters first and closes the door behind him. "Hey, Mom. You called?" He asks as he shoves his hands into his pockets. He was working on one of the ships when his communicator went off. For once, he was thankful that she wanted to see him.

"Yes, I've got some exciting news." She cheers. Overwhelmed with glee, she gives him a quick hug. "We just have to wait for our other party member to join us." She teases as she squeezes his forearms.

He chuckles, happy to see her in such a good mood. She hasn't been this way in a long time. The weight of the rebellion and the news of their father has dragged their spirits down. Seeing her looking so bubbly makes him feel giddy. Whatever she has to tell him must be exciting.

There's a knock at the door and Padmé looks around Luke. "Come in!" She calls. She gives Luke a squeal and goes to the door. "Hi, Obi-Wan." She says as she practically pulls him into the room.

"It's good to see you, Padmé. You look chipper." He smiles as she stands before him and Luke. He was expecting this to be a much more important meeting. It is not often that he is requested to be in her presence. He's not one for politics so he doesn't get involved much with the rebellion. He figured this would be about the twins, but now he has no idea what could make her this happy.

"So Luke told me a while ago that he wanted to get off of this base for a little bit. I was having some trouble finding a spot to send the two of you, but I think I found the perfect place." She begins.

"Oh, Mom, you don't have to anymore. I'm fine with staying here and training with Obi-Wan. Plus, the ships need a lot of maintenance after that last battle." Luke says as he runs his hands through his hair. It's not that he doesn't want to leave, but he doesn't really trust himself. Now doesn't seem like a good time to be leaving the base and going to new planets.

"Oh, nonsense, Luke. There are plenty of people on base who can do that. Besides, you need a break. I think that this trip will be a good thing for both of you. You two can go out there and train on new planets and do whatever guys do. You know, go and blow things up. Dodge bullets." She rambles. She imitates the sound of a lightsaber and pretends to have bullets bounce off it. She then makes an explosion and uses her hands to show the imaginary clouds forming.

"Mom, we don't do that." Luke laughs as a blush comes to his cheeks. His mother can be embarrassing sometimes.

"Come on. It'll be fun." She says, playfully pushing him.

"I think it sounds like a good idea, Padmé." Obi-Wan chuckles. He thinks that Luke needs a break as well. He has been working nonstop and needs some time to be his age. He needs to be reckless and screw around sometimes to blow off steam. Everything doesn't have to be serious all of the time. Though Obi-Wan was never that way, it's one thing that he has learned to allow from his years of teaching.

Skywalkers need time to blow things up.

Luke lets out a sigh. He doesn't want to go, but his mother plasters on a pout. "Please? For me?" She begs.

Luke playfully groans and rolls his eyes. "Fine. Where are we going?" He laughs. Maybe things won't be so bad. He is more skilled with his lightsaber now and Obi-Wan has lightened up on him over the years. There's a chance that they will get into more dangerous situations that will involve explosions and bullet dodging. It could be exciting.

"That's the spirit!" Padmé cheers. "So, I found a mission to Tatooine."

"Ugh, Tatooine?"

"Why? What's wrong with Tatooine?"

Obi-Wan shrugs his shoulder. "It's hot, in the middle of nowhere, and it's run by the Hutts."

"So? That doesn't mean it won't be fun."

"Fun is the last word I would use to describe that planet." Luke counters.

Obi-Wan chuckles, a smirk on his face as he side-eyes Luke. "Well, it does have some of the galaxy's worst scum on it. People trying to hide from the Empire. Bounty hunters searching for people to turn in for credits. It could be fun."

Luke awes, liking the idea.

"Though I don't agree with the idea of that being fun, it's true. It is a planet full of outlaws." Padmé says. Luke and Obi-Wan share a smile, both silently agreeing that it sounds like a great idea of fun. "Anyway, the reason I am sending you here is to find Vega Hinchcliff. They were the last person Tarkin had under his command. They could prove to be valuable for us."

"They managed to escape the Empire?" Luke asks, taking the datapad from her hands.

"From what we've been told. And if our source is correct, then we won't have much time to find her before the Empire does. It's already pretty well known that she's managed to make it to Tatooine. Stormtroopers have probably been ordered to search for her." Padmé explains.

"Then we better get a move on," Obi-Wan says. He gives Padmé a gentle bow as a goodbye then makes his way to the door.

"Bye! Have fun. Stay safe. Listen to Obi-Wan." Padmé rambles as she brings Luke in for another hug.

"I know, I know." He laughs as she tussles his sandy hair.

"And Obi-Wan," She calls out. He turns around, the door already open. "Bring my kid back in one piece. If he even has a scratch on him, don't bother returning."

"Don't worry, I'll just hide in the Tatooine desert until you've forgotten all about me. I'll become a crazy old hermit." He jokes, making her smile. Though their tones sound playful, there's a seriousness to her command. She is placing her child's life into his hands. He better not screw it up. "Luke will just have to fly himself home."

Her eyes widen. "I hope not. He doesn't have enough hours to fly yet."

Obi-Wan smiles. "I won't let him anywhere near the controls."

And on that note, the two of them head off to the hangar bay. Luke is pretty excited but is also nervous about this. The last time they went to Tatooine it ended with Luke getting scolded. Sure, he messed up and has learned his lesson, but he can't help worrying that he'll mess up again. He doesn't want to put himself or Obi-Wan in danger again.

"You're nervous," Obi-Wan notes with a smirk.

Luke feels his cheeks heat. "Kind of."

"Relax. Don't center on your anxieties, Luke. Keep your concentration here and now, where it belongs." Obi-Wan says. He thinks of the time when he was told that very same advice by his master. How different times are now than when he was a padawan.

Luke nods his head. Obi-Wan is right. He can't let himself worry about what might happen. He should focus on the present. If he thinks about how he might mess up, then he might mess up a different way. Bad thoughts can lead to bad results.

Just before they enter the ship, R2 comes rolling over to their sides. They happily invite him to join them on their trip. When they get to the cockpit, Obi-Wan sits in the passenger seat. Luke arches his eyebrow. What is he doing? "Uncle Ben," He begins, knowing that there are people nearby who could overhear them. "What are you doing? I thought you were going to pilot."

"Oh no. I hate flying." He says, shaking his head. "Flying is for droids. You take over."

Luke is taken back. "But I don't have enough hours."

Obi-Wan waves the thought away. "I've seen you fly before. You do a great job. I think we can let it slide this time."

Luke grins, taking the pilot's seat. This trip is just getting better and better. Not only is he getting away from the base, but he gets to fly the ship too. Though they have a mission to focus on, he's eager to spend more time with Obi-Wan without the worry of others interrupting them or the pressure of improving his skills.

xxx

Soon the planet comes into view. Luke relaxes, happy that he flew all the way there without any problems. Obi-Wan had fallen asleep about halfway through the trip. Rather than wake him, Luke let him sleep and spent the rest of the trip talking with R2.

Obi-Wan stirs, waking up as they enter the planet's atmosphere. "Here already?" He asks with a groan.

"Yupp. Enjoy your nap?"

"You shouldn't laugh at your elders." Obi-Wan plays along with a smirk. "Besides, you should take my nap as a compliment. It shows that I trust you to fly me without having to watch you the entire time."

The three of them exit the ship, parking just outside of Mos Eisley. They thought it was best not to attract attention to them right from the start. Luke and Obi-Wan have their hoods pulled over their heads to protect them from the blowing sand and burning suns in the sky. "Just like I remember it. Hot and sandy." Luke says.

"I think it's gotten hotter since the first time I landed here." Obi-Wan replies.

"When was that?" Luke asks, tilting his head. He loves hearing stories from Obi-Wan's past. He has always been a great teller and Luke is always fascinated with the perils his master went through. It's also enjoyable to imagine him much younger and more agile, fighting alongside his father and other Jedi.

"The first time I was here was when we found your father."

"But I thought that your master found him? Master. . . Quinn?" Luke stutters, furrowing his eyebrows in thought. He knows that name isn't right, but there's just so many names to remember. There are so many masters that he's learned that it's hard to keep them straight.

"Master Qui-Gon Jinn was the one to find your father, correct." Obi-Wan nods with a soft laugh. "I was left with the ship and a few of your mother's handmaidens and guards. Qui-Gon left to go and find parts to fix our damaged ship. I'm sure Artoo remembers, right?" He smiles at the blue droid.

R2 buzzes back, making Luke laugh. "He says he remembers. Your hair was long."

"I was a padawan. I had a braid, but the rest of my hair was short. Besides, I seem to remember he had some carbon scoring on him so he wasn't in his best shape either."

R2 blows a raspberry, making them chuckle. Soon, they enter the bustling spaceport. There are people from so many different species and planets that Luke is constantly looking around at them rather than where they are headed.

"Keep focused, Luke." Obi-Wan reminds as he guides them into the cantina.

R2 tries to follow them inside but is immediately shouted at. No droids are allowed inside. Their kind is not welcome. He beeps a protest, promising to be respectful for once. Though Luke knows that R2 would cause no trouble, he turns and looks at the little astromech. "It's alright, Artoo. Just wait outside and contact us if you spot her."

With a defeated chirp, he rolls back onto the busy streets.

Luke quickly walks to Obi-Wan's side at the bar. He removes his hood from his head, watching him order a drink from the bar. How can he drink when they're supposed to be looking for someone?

"Look around the rest of the cantina," Obi-Wan says, noticing Luke's confusion. "Subtly listen in on people's conversations. You never know how you might catch wind of her. I'll do the same here."

Luke gives a nod, leaving his master's side. He feels a bit awkward as he stumbles around the dark cantina. He can feel everyone's eyes on him. He knows that he sticks out like a sore thumb. He's probably the youngest one here. And though he doesn't want to admit it, he knows that Leia and Valora are right about him looking innocent. It makes him an easy target to be picked on. It's happened on multiple occasions, but he's always had Obi-Wan within arm's reach to protect him.

Yes, he's just across the bar, but Luke feels like he is on his own right now.

He must defend himself if someone approaches him.

So he forces down his fear of failure and being attacked and uses his senses to find information about Vega Hinchcliff. He takes a seat in a booth just behind a group of what he assumes are bounty hunters. He believes that they'll be his best bet at receiving any clues.

He closes his eyes, listening to them. They're speaking in hushed voices about him. Normally, his insecurities would make him block them out. He's only starting to accept that not everyone will like him even if they've never met him. His mother says that he's, unfortunately, someone who feels hurt at the thought of anyone saying anything negative about him. And she's right. Leia can take it like it's nothing. She doesn't care what anyone thinks or says about her.

But is it such a bad thing to want everyone to like him? Is it wrong to want to show everyone that he is a good person?

He shakes his head. Now is not the time to debate about it. That can wait until he's on his way back to base in the safety of Obi-Wan and R2.

"I'm surprised they let the kid in." A woman says. "This isn't a babysitting service."

"I'm sure he won't cause any harm." A robotic voice replies. Whoever they are, they want to keep even their voice disguised. "He probably doesn't even know how to shoot a blaster."

Luke scrunches his nose. Of course, he knows how to shoot a blaster. He was trained at a young age, long before he even got his own lightsaber. A blaster is an uncivilized weapon, but he can go slinging that around without many consequences. A lightsaber, on the other hand, can lead to many unwanted events.

"He's probably trying to earn a way into the bounty hunting businesses. If he gets this Vega chick, he'll have lots of eyes on him. She's high on the wanted list. The Empire is offering a lot of credits for her to be brought in alive." A man says. Luke can sense him placing his blaster onto the table. "She's worth a lot dead too. He probably thinks this is his chance."

"He doesn't stand much of a chance. Everyone and their eopie are out looking for her." The woman scoffs. "Which we should be too, by the way."

"We don't even have much to go off of." The man argues. "She was seen in Mos Eisley two days ago. She could be dead in the Jundland wastes for all we know."

"She's not dead." The robotic voice says. "She's close by. I've heard sources that she's in Mos Espa."

"Then why aren't we there right now?" The woman asks. Luke can feel her anger and confusion. It takes a good part of his training to not feel it himself. She must really want Vega for whatever reason. Money or possibly revenge.

"We will." The robotic voice says. Luke hears their chairs scrap out from under the table. "I wanted to let the others find her then scoop in and catch her off guard. Let's go."

The three of them exit the cantina. Luke watches to make sure that they're gone before he goes back to Obi-Wan. He stands beside him, his elbows on the bar as Obi-Wan sips his drink. "I'm guessing you've discovered something."

"I overheard that she's in Mos Espa," Luke replies. He scrunches his face, tossing the idea around in his head. Something doesn't feel quite right though.

Obi-Wan smiles, looking over at him. "But?"

Luke sighs as he shakes his head. "I don't think she's there. I think the bounty hunters knew I was listening in and were trying to throw me off. I think she's still in Mos Eisley."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because why would they still be here? They gave some lame excuse, but I don't believe it. She must still be here." He insists. Something inside of him is telling him she's here. He's not sure what it is, possibly the Force or just intuition.

"So, not much more to go off of then." Obi-Wan sighs as he tugs on his beard.

"No. But maybe Artoo overheard or saw something. After all, people underestimate droids a lot." Luke says. He's hopeful that someone in their mission group has picked up something. If not, then they'll just have to cover all of Mos Eisley looking for Vega.

"Very well. Let's go see how our little friend is doing." Obi-Wan nods before finishing his drink. He leaves some credits on the counter then exits with Luke.

The bright suns blind them for a moment. As they adjust to the light, R2 blips happily. He nudges Luke's leg, trying to get his attention. He bends to the ground, patting the astromech's dome. "What is it, Artoo?"

The droid eagerly chirps and beeps. Obi-Wan has forgotten a lot of binary of the years, but he knows that what R2 has to say must be helpful or at least exciting.

"Way to go!" Luke cheers, rubbing R2's dome. He stands and turns to Obi-Wan. "He says that he saw a woman in dark robes rushing off that way. He added that stormtroopers were on her trail. It must be Vega."

"Then we better get there before the troopers," Obi-Wan says. He looks down at the blue astromech. "Led the way, Artoo."

With their hoods pulled over their heads, the two of them follow behind R2. He leads them through the crowds, weaving between people to help keep them undercover. By getting lost in the crowd, it'll be hard to follow them or keep a close eye. If anyone is asked about them, it'll be hard to describe where they went.

Eventually, they see the crowd of stormtroopers. They are checking each and every stall, searching for Vega. Luke wants to join in to look for a ship that she might stow away in. But as he makes his way to the first stall, he feels a pull.

He turns, making eye contact with Obi-Wan. "She's not in any of these stalls."

"Where is the Force telling you to go?"

Luke narrows his eyes, trying to figure it out. "I think she's in one of the apartments above the shops." He says. He begins to walk back out into the busy street. "She's nearby, that's for sure."

Obi-Wan nods. He looks around, trying to decide where to look first. He gestures to a little mechanic shop tucked in the corner. "I suggest there first."

Luke agrees and follows him to the shop. The shop is not very big. There is an area in the back filled numerous parts and equipment. Though it might not look like much, it's the perfect place for people who want to lay low. He remains quiet, letting Obi-Wan take the lead as he scans the area. "Hello there." He says. R2 beeps beside him, trying to blend in.

The shop owner looks up from his work and lets out a sigh. "What do you want?" He asks as he wipes his hands on a dirty cloth. 

"Our droid is in need of cleaning. Is there any way that you could help us?" Obi-Wan asks. R2 lets out a protest, offended. He thinks he looks just fine. He doesn't need any cleaning. If anyone is in need of cleaning, it's Luke.

"Look, mister. I don't clean droids. I just fix them." He scoffs. He shakes his head, going back to work.

Obi-Wan nudges Luke. Clearly polite conversation isn't going to get them anywhere. Luke steps forward, bringing up his hand. "You will clean our droid." He says, waving his hand like he was taught.

"Excuse me?" The owner asks.

"Try again. You're almost there." Obi-Wan quietly encourages.

"You will clean our droid," Luke repeats. Luke could almost see a twinkle pass over the man's eyes. 

"I will clean your droid." He says. Luke has to hold back a cheer. He's been trying to perfect his mind trick for a while now so he's excited that it worked on the second try today. He calms himself and brings up his hand again.

"And you want us to go upstairs to wait," Luke adds, knowing that they'll need a good look inside of the place before they can rule it out. Vega could be anywhere in the messy shop.

"And I want you to go upstairs to wait." He says. He makes his way to R2, who gives a sigh. As much as he doesn't want to go with this stranger, he knows that he has to if they want to complete their mission. 

"Have fun, Artoo." Obi-Wan smirks as he and Luke head to the stairs at the back of the shop. They decide to check upstairs first, then work their way down. They walk up the spiral steps, preparing themselves for what they might find.

When they enter, they see a small apartment. There's a little kitchen, a small bed in the corner, and a few pieces of furniture scattered around the room. Again, it isn't much. The owner of the shop must not make a lot of money.

"Hello?" Luke softly calls out. The two of them remove their hoods and close the door behind them. Now if someone leaves, they'll hear the door open and close.

"Turn around and leave now." Someone commands. Luke and Obi-Wan raise their hands to show that they mean no harm. They step farther into the room and look for the stranger. They need to be careful.

Obi-Wan feels a blaster pressed to the side of his head. He freezes, holding his breath. "Move one more step and I'll blast you right here." She says, her voice cold and hard.

Luke's eyes widen. He's about to grab his lightsaber to scare her, but Obi-Wan raises his hand, signally for Luke to stop. Now is not the time. His lightsaber should be a last resort, especially when dealing with someone like Vega.

"You must be Vega Hinchcliff," Obi-Wan says, side-eyeing her. 

"And you're about to be dead." She spits.

"No. We're not here to hurt you. We're here to help you." Luke says, reaching out to her. He's afraid that she will carry out her wish of killing them. After all, she was working with Tarkin in the Empire. What's stopping her from killing them?

"Help me?" She scoffs. Her blaster drops slightly, no longer against Obi-Wan's head. "I don't know you. For all I know, the Empire hired you to kill me."

"We're with the rebellion," Luke says.

"The rebellion?" She asks her dark eyebrows furrowing in thought. She seems to think it through for a second before asking, "What do they want with me? Do they want to torture me for being with Tarkin?"

"No. We just want information." Obi-Wan answers. She puts her blaster in its holster and laughs.

"Oh, that's a good one. I've heard what the rebellion does to former Empire leaders. There's no way I'm going to believe anything you say." She says as she crosses her arms over her chest. Now that she's let her guard down, Luke finally gets a good look at her.

She's not that old. She can't be older than 40. She has long, dark straight hair. Her eyes are a deep brown and her skin is olive. She has a few wrinkles present between her eyebrows, probably from stress.

Before Luke and Obi-Wan can try to prove their case, blaster fire shakes the room. All three of them dive to the floor for safety. They crawl to the one window and peek outside. Surprisingly, it's not who they expected.

"Stormtroopers? How do they know that we're here?" Luke asks. It makes no sense to him. He and Obi-Wan were both careful to cover their tracks. Plus, stormtroopers are known for being a little slow. They're always one step behind, missing most of the action.

"Thanks for bringing the party to me. Now I have to deal with you two and bad shot troopers." Vega groans as she tosses her head back.

More shots are fired at them. When they die down, Luke peeks around Obi-Wan to look at her. "Look, you can either come with us or with them."

"Neither one is an option for me, kid." She replies back. She grabs a few belongings from the ground, tucking them on her body. 

"You can't seriously think you're going to survive those stormtroopers out there?" Obi-Wan asks. There's so many down there that he almost thought he was going cross-eyed. There's no way she'll survive.

"Well, I'm not just going to sit up here and wait for them. I have to take what I can get." She answers. She knows that her chances of surviving this are slim, but she has no other choice. She has to take what she can get and make it work.

"We can all make it out of here together if you just stay with us," Luke says, hoping to knock some sense into her. He knows that it must seem crazy to trust strangers, but they only want to help. They want to keep her safe from the Empire and use her knowledge to save the galaxy.

"And join some other hopeless cause? Don't you see that the rebellion and the Empire are basically the same thing? They both just want to control the galaxy." 

"The rebellion is a democracy where people are allowed to voice their opinions. The Empire is catered to one person and his ideas. They aren't the same." Luke argues, feeling his cheeks heat up. How could she think that about the rebellion? They are nothing alike. The Empire is evil and what they are doing is good.

"News flash, kid. The last democracy was filled with corrupt leaders who only cared about themselves. Eventually, the same thing will happen with the rebellion when it takes control." She snaps. She stands up and loads her blaster. "And I want no part of that."

Before Luke or Obi-Wan can say anything to change her mind, she hops out the window and climbs to the roof. They listen to her footsteps pounding above them, blaster fire aimed her way relentlessly. Just when Luke thinks that she might actually make it, a loud thump echoes.

Chatter from the stormtroopers below confirms that she's been hit. Luke feels his heart sink. If only he could have done more to save her. She would have been taken care of in the rebellion. They would have let her voice her concerns and opinions.

Obi-Wan touches Luke's shoulder, getting his attention. "It's time to go. Let's grab Artoo and head back to the ship before those stormtroopers question us."

Luke nods his head and the two of them sneak back downstairs. Stormtroopers are in the shop, questioning the owner about his connection with Vega. As they're distracted with him, R2 rolls away quietly and into the streets.

The three of them meet up a block away from the shooting and head back to the ship. Luke takes the pilot seat and Obi-Wan takes his seat as a passenger. R2 makes sure everything is good on the ship and they take off.

It's relatively quiet on the ride back. Luke feels upset about how things turned out today. He is questioning if he could have prevented what happened. Obi-Wan can feel his disappointment through the Force. Before, he would have let Anakin dwell on it and only bring it up if he felt like it. Now, he knows that he has to say something. He turns and looks at Luke. "We may not have gotten Vega, but you did a very good job today."

"How?" Luke asks, sinking in his seat. "I didn't get Vega to come back with us. She got killed and taken by stormtroopers."

"There was no guarantee that she would come with us." Obi-Wan replies. Luke's eyes drop to the floor. Obi-Wan is right, but it doesn't make him feel better. "But you did a good job finding her. You listened to the Force. You used your resources. I'm very proud of how you did today."

Thinking about it, a smile makes its way onto Luke's face. "It was pretty cool how I knew she wasn't in those stalls." He admits. He perks up, his eyes meeting Obi-Wan's. "And my mind trick worked on the second try."

"Your mother will be very proud of how you handled yourself today. I know she'll want to hear all about it." He smiles. "You may not have successfully completed the mission, but you did impress me with your skills today. And that is a very big accomplishment."

"Thank you, Uncle Obi," Luke grins. The rest of the trip is filled with laughter and excitement. Luke can't wait to retell his missions to his friends back home. He also can't wait to tell Leia and his mother about all of the things he did today without Obi-Wan's help.

Today wasn't a success, that's for sure. But he did find something in himself he had been lacking for a while. Confidence in himself to carry out missions.

~~~~~~~~~~~