driftfleet | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Luke Skywalker
Action: Planetside;
When: December 27th

[He's spent three days lurking on the Marsiva, acquainting himself with the network, with the chatter and the confusion, learning all he can, hiding himself away from anyone else on there. Foolish, perhaps, when the others on here are likely fellow captives-- but better to be too cautious right now than too reckless. Better to assume he has no allies than bank on the wrong people.

There's been no word on the network on Leia or Han, but it would be too much to expect a neon sign pointing towards his friends. It might be too much to expect they're here at all, but he won't give up hope til the Fleet outright leaves this system.

But so: it's long past time to end this charade. The Marsiva has given him all it can, and now it's time to begin making himself known. Luke walks openly along the streets of the planet, unassuming and barely noticeable. With all the training he's had, he has little to fear-- but still, his face is drawn. Occasionally he'll speak to this person or that, asking a few questions-- but moving, always moving, quite clearly intent on finding something.

Someone. There are Force-sensitive people here, probing gently at the edges of his mind; he doesn't know who or why, but he's intent on finding them.

Even beyond them, though, he's asking questions-- mostly of people who look like they don't belong, who might be fellow Fleeters. Questions about their world, their homes, their experiences here.]

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[ han has been sitting to himself for a bit, just watching people go by. he honestly has no idea what to do -- the situation in the fleet is completely outside of his control and while he has a ship now, it's not his ship. it's not his. and from what han has gathered, he can't exactly up and leave.

it's in this brooding contemplation that he notices someone slip through the crowd -- not just someone, but a very specific someone, and he immediately bolts up to his feet.

luke.

it takes about two minutes for han to catch up, and he doesn't bother announcing himself as he grabs luke by the upper arm, pulling him neatly off of the path. there's no point in being polite, given luke "jedi master" skywalker and his weird ass ability to feel people or whatever -- ]

We need to have a conversation, right now.

[ it's under his breath.

has anakin found luke yet? probably not. maybe. who knows. ]

Starting with where in the hell have you been?

[It's quite lucky, actually, that he has his weird-ass ability, because he'd been about two seconds from attacking when he'd felt someone grab him. That'd be just his luck, getting pick-pocketed the second he comes down.

But then it's Han-- a worried Han, unusually grim, too serious, even given their current situation, and Luke's surprised smile fades almost instantly.]

The initial ship, the Marsiva-- how long have you been here? What's wrong? Is Leia here as well?

[Ah, and there's some of that Jedi gravitas gone.]

You've been on the --

[ oooh there is a brief moment of contemplating punching luke skywalker, the hero of the galaxy, in the arm for being such an idiot, but he resists the urge and draws in a breath, about to ask the same question as luke did (is leia here) when -- ]

No, she's not. I haven't found her -- I've been here for a week -- it doesn't matter, shut up and listen to me for two seconds.

[ which he had been frustrated over, but given the current population, han almost is glad she hasn't crash landed on this damn hellhole yet. luke will keep a level head. luke can figure out what to do. leia, with who's here -- ]

Anakin Skywalker is here.

[And suddenly, everything else stops mattering.

He's here. He's here, Anakin-- not Vader, not the twisted creature he'd become, but Anakin. Han wouldn't have said the name unless he meant the man, not the villain-- and how? How is he alive? Does this place restore a broken body? Yes, or perhaps he has his suit back-- it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, he's here, he's alive, he's here and he's alive--]

Where?

[No wonder he'd felt such a familiar presence.]

So he hasn't found you yet?

{ as han deliberately ignores luke's question, because 1) han doesn't know and 2) han doesn't particularly care. his hand is still on luke's arm, almost pre-emptive, to keep luke from running off to find anakin immediately. ]

'cause if he hasn't, I'm keeping it that way.

[ over his goddamn dead body are the skywalkers having a family reunion. ]

[He doesn't actually pull away, but it's a close thing. The urge to run through the streets, to reach out with the Force and find his father (his father) is growing within him, a sickish urgency that's growing more and more desperate by the moment. If he doesn't find him now, there's a chance he won't ever find him-- that this opportunity will be snatched away just as quickly as it was given.]

Han-- Han, he's my father.

[As if that will work. Luke turns fully towards him, his eyes darting around his face.]

I have to find him-- I have to, Han, we're going to have to face each other at some point.

[That makes it sound more confrontational and far less affectionate than Luke's true intent-- but it doesn't matter.]

Don't give me that.

[ warningly, though han lets go of luke's arm. trusting that luke will stay around for at least a conversation. and if he does run off, then han will just have to follow. ]

He has no idea who you are, and if you were smart -- [keyword] -- you'd keep it that way. I'm only telling you because you'd figure it out for yourself anyway.

[ pause ]

Do I need to explain why it'd be smart?

[ luke :( why this ]

What do you mean, he doesn't know who I am? How does he not know?

[This isn't assuring, Luke-- but he's not running off. No, far from it; he leans in, pressing closer, as if anyone is bothering to listen in to this conversation.]

I haven't exactly explained the full Skywalker legacy in a nice sit-down chit-chat with the guy.

[ -- alright, so his tone is a little icy, maybe a little frustrated. han has always deferred to luke when it comes to darth vader. it's luke's business, not his. and so long as luke and leia are safe, han doesn't particularly care how luke wants to deal with his family nightmare. but han can't forgive and forget as easily as luke can, and he can't just get rid of what happened as water under the bridge.

they didn't even ask me any questions. ]

There's a Jedi wandering around here, name's Ahsoka. She's just a kid, but she thinks the Jedi Temple and the Order are still wandering around. There's no Empire to her, and no Emperor. No Darth Vader. Anakin is still a Jedi, and her... old master, I guess.

[ poor kid, in his professional opinion. ]

The Clone Wars are still happening, for them. We're not even born yet.

[If he thinks about it-- calmly, rationally-- he knows why Han can't possibly forgive Anakin. He understands. Vader killed millions, he tortured Han, he froze Han, sold him to Jabba-- god, how could he expect Han to forgive that? Well, that's obvious: you don't.

But Luke isn't rational right now. He's struggling to keep calm, but it's hard, so hard, because somewhere on this planet is his father--

Han is worth the effort, though. More than worth it. Luke sucks in a sharp breath, trying to calm himself. Quell his emotions, just as his Master taught him. When he looks up at Han once more, there's less of a frantic desperation in his expression-- clearly, he's not about to run off.]

Do they know you're from the future?

[ han's shoulders relax slightly, at luke's questions. that means luke is thinking, and he's analyzing, which is what han needs him to do. but before he answers luke's question, han lets out a long sigh. ]

I'm not gonna go shoot the guy.

[ han sounds positively irritated over that, but luke needs to hear it. ]

-- They both know. They don't know specific details, or anything about Leia, or you. Ahsoka knows your name, and bits and pieces of the future. Anakin'll probably know it soon.

[Ahsoka senses him too. A Force presence as strong as Luke's? There's no way she could have missed it. The curious part is why she doesn't recognise it.

She senses it, the moment he touches down on the planet, and walks towards his location. She won't approach him, not just yet-- she wants to see who it is, first. Furry hood pulled up over her horns and half-obscuring her face, she tries to mingle with the crowd and observe this newcomer first.

If he's a Council-type of Jedi, she might do well to steer clear of him. But if he's not...]

[A slight smile, grateful and amused both at that assurance. Thank you, that's what it means, because Luke knows how much Han really does want to.

But the rest . . . Luke nods, considering.]

Then we ought to keep things that way.

[He says it decisively, easily, as though it's the most natural thing in the world. As though his heart isn't pounding too hard as he says it, doubt flashing across his mind again and again.]

He'll feel my presence, he'll know I'm related to him. But the rest . . . what he becomes, what happens, the Empire, all of it-- we keep to ourselves.

[Alter the future in such a drastic way-- force Anakin off the path to the Dark Side-- and who knows how the galaxy will change? For better, perhaps, but also for worse. A hundred thousand things could go wrong, even with the best of intentions-- so best not to change things at all.]

[First: the conversation with Han. Difficult, but enlightening. Full of decisions he still mulls over, repeating them in his mind again and again. Were they wise? Foolish? Will he look back at that conversation months later and bemoan his idiocy? This is an impossible chance, a chance to steer Anakin away from Vader's lure, and yet, and yet--

He walks blindly, eyes cast down, and only notices the other presence when they're a few physical feet away from each other. Here, she's like a beacon, impossible to ignore no matter how distracted he is. Luke inhales sharply and looks directly over, meeting her gaze.

Not Anakin. The other one. Ahsoka.]

Hello.

[He offers a slight smile as he slips past the crowds, coming to meet her.]

Ahsoka, right? I think you've met my friend Han already.

[Ahsoka blinks, taken off guard-- but of course Luke is able to spot her instantly. She'd been able to spot him, hadn't she?

Only three months away from the Temple and already she's gotten lazy.

Her surprise quickly changes to recognition as the man mentions Han by name. This must be the person he was talking about, then.]

--Oh. Yes, that's me.

You must be Captain Solo's friend, then. He mentioned you. Luke, right?

[ and here walks one of those people who most certainly does not belong. although she's at home in the snow and cold, her eyes are wide for all else -- on the lookout for strangers, or for bizarre sights. or, perhaps, for some at-long-last glimpse of her brother should he at-long-last join the rest of the fleet down planetside.

when luke approaches her with one of his questions -- one about her home, perhaps -- she shows an initial fear. wide blue eyes and stillness like a statue. sansa speaks: ] B-beg pardon, ser?

[ he can't actually have been asking her, can he? why would anyone want to speak with her? ]

Luke, yes.

[Anakin's padawan. He desperately wants to ask her things-- stupid things, little things. What is he like? Joking? Serious? Withdrawn, extroverted? Does he like tea, coffee? What are his opinions, his hobbies-- what is he like as a Master?

But he quells that, just as he's quelled every other emotion regarded Anakin.]

I have to say, I didn't expect them to bring so many other Jedi.

[ there's a long silence as han digests that, and he lets out a long breath. he has a headache, and there's an odd pressure in his chest. this isn't going to work. it's a fool's errand, to hide the future from anakin. eventually, something is going to break, and anakin is going to figure it out. the more vindictive part of han wants to be the one to shatter his reality, but mostly, he just feels tired.

this is going to end poorly for everybody involved, not just anakin.

still, han sighs and runs a hand through his hair, speaking dryly: ]

You gonna break that plan to Leia if she shows up here?

[ because han's not going to be the one to do that. ]

[Fear-- he senses it immediately, overwhelming any other emotion. Fear of him-- but then, he's a strange man, asking strange questions.]

If you don't mind my asking.

[A gentle smile, and he doesn't step closer.]

I'd like to know more about different planets.

Yeah.

[It's the best plan for everyone involved. It might not last-- certainly it won't last forever-- but perhaps it'll last just long enough. Luke sighs as well and leans back, resting against the wall.]

In the meantime, I'll find out more about all of this. We can't be the only ones coming from different times.

[A long pause, then, and he glances out at the passing crowds. Eventually, quietly:]

What was he like?

I don't live on a planet. [ her answer is quick, and from the heart. but as it sits upon the chilly air she begins to realize how stupid it sounds.

frowning, she tries again. ] My home is part of Seven Kingdoms, ser. Westeros.

Ah...

I should probably clear something up right away. I'm not sure if you're aware, but I'm not technically a Jedi anymore.

But you're right-- it is unusual. Hopefully it'll be their downfall, too.

No?

[That is unusual. He doesn't sense any malevolence about her, though, and Han would have told him if she were trouble.]

What happened, if I might ask?

... I'm surprised you never heard about it. The whole incident sparked a lot of publicity...

Then again, if you're from Captain Solo's time, I guess it was before you were born. And I suppose the Council isn't known for admitting when they've made a mistake, either.

... Let's just say the Jedi Council and I disagreed on how things should be done and leave it at that. The rest is rather complicated.

Luke, I already said don't.

[ in a quiet groan, warningly, and han keeps his eyes trained on the crowd before sighing, resting his back against the wall too.

but after a few moments, resigned (and somewhat annoyed) -- ]

He's a lot like Leia.

[ he's just SO MAD ABOUT THAT ]

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