0.1 | video.

[t65]

Who: Luke Skywalker
Broadcast: Fleetwide (Accidental)
Action: Marsiva
When: 2/16

[Luke Skywalker is sitting pensively in front of one of the wide windows on the Marsiva's Hospitality Deck. Rather than staring out into the darkness of space, he's bent over a tiny silver disk in his hands. It's open, revealing a series of wires, something mechanical and complex. Lacking any proper tools of his own, Luke is replying it with careful fingers and, occasionally, teeth.]

[Lacking any proper supplies, he's forced to improvise. At one point, he removes the glove on his right hand. There's a burn over the back, but the flesh cracks open to reveal more wires and mechanistry. Luke pulls some wires out, breaks them and inserts them into the disk. It seems to cause some of the fingers on his hand to twitch irregularly, but the disk is repaired. He presses a button, and a little blue holograph of a smiling couple appears.]

[He stares at it for a little while.]

[Finally, Luke notices that he's being recorded.] Hello, there. How long have you been on, hm? [He reaches over and turns off the feed.]

[Actually wait. A second later, Luke turns the feed back on.] I suppose if all of this is being recorded, I ought to introduce myself. I'm Luke Skywalker. It's a pleasure to meet you. [His smile kind of... twitches.] All of you.

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[ video ]

[beardstrokes]

[ It's the hand that gives him pause. How had Luke lost his hand? Surely not the same way Anakin lost -- He abruptly cuts off that train of thought. He'll mire himself in doubt if he continues on that path.

He lets it go as he fixes a smile on his face. ]

Welcome back, Luke.

[t65]

[Luke's been doing a pretty good job staying keeping calm through all of this, but he'd genuinely never expected to get a second (third?) chance to speak with this man. His expression is completely open and utterly overjoyed.] Ben! How are you? How long have you-? Is this where-?

[He's moving anxiously around the camera, trying to see where Ben is, understand all of this better.]

[Hm.]

[He seems faintly embarrassed to have to ask,] Ben, what's going on?

[beardstrokes]

[ Eventually, he's going to ask why they keep calling him Ben but now was probably not the time. He folds his arms under his cloak. ]

Well, we seem to be appropriated by a species known only as the Atroma to star in some holovid. How they managed it, no one knows for sure.

[t65]

[Because it's your name.]

I don't think I'd be a very good holovid star. Too short. [He wrinkles his nose.] How- how long have you been... appropriated?

[beardstrokes]

About a month and a half.

[ He pauses, softening his words. Luke was concerned on his behalf. ] I'm fine. Though I'm afraid I'm not the . . . Ben who trained you.

I am Obi-Wan Kenobi. I was still fighting the Clone Wars before I came here. Though I'm fairly aware of the events of the future by now.

[t65]

[I'm not the Ben who trained you.]

[Luke blinks slowly, sits back. His shoulders sag a little.] Of course, Ben, I... [He runs his hand through his hair, thinking.] Well, I suppose I should ask what you know, so I don't sound even more out of touch, hm?

[He speaks slowly, carefully, accidentally revealing a quiet worry. He's missed this man so much, but all he ever has for him is ignorance and confusion.]

[ private ]

[beardstrokes]

[ It's time to lock this conversation from prying eyes. Talking about Vader was . . . painful. Still painful, even with Katie's reassurance that things will work out.

He's been to Mortis. He knows how often things "work out" for them. ]

I'm aware of the fate your father met.

[ Though he still doesn't know why. ]

I know about the Empire, how . . . the Republic ended and that you and your friends saved the galaxy.

private forever.

[t65]

[When Luke looks saddened, it always stands peculiarly on his face; he has very few frown-lines.]

I'm sorry to hear that. [Sorry to hear that he knows. It seems like it would be a terrible burden.] How did you find out?

Re: private forever.

[beardstrokes]

[ His lips twitch lightly. ]

None of you are particularly good liars, I'm afraid. Though I have the gift of noticing these things. The information pieced itself together over time.

[t65]

I'm getting better! [Squeak!]

[Honestly, thanks to someone, Luke's just under the impression lying is a part of the Jedi repertoire.] Were we trying to hide it?

[beardstrokes]

Considering Anakin is here and the events that followed . . . Yes. And I certainly do not blame you or anyone else for it. I would have done the same.

Though I suggest not making lying a habit. It's an important skill, but it should never become second nature. So I am gratified that you're all rather hopeless at it.

[ So much has happened since Luke left. Obi-Wan feels like a different person altogether. ]

I don't think he knows the full extent of . . . his fall. All he knows is that Palpatine has used him.

[t65]

[Luke opens his mouth, closes it. No, that tears it. He won't tell Ben about what happened between Endor and... this.]

[His smile is a bit strained, but it's there.] I know. It's not really lying, anyway. But that's besides the point.

[The point is always his father, especially, it seems, between Luke and Ben.] I don't think it would be good for him to know. It's... a terrible thing.

[beardstrokes]

[ What could have possibly happened?? ]

Whether it'll be good or not . . . [ He sighs. ] It's a little late for that, I find. Anakin always did take these things to heart.

[t65]

[Angst happened.]

Did he? [He's a half a breath short of a wistful sigh, here.] You suspect he, well, suspects? Knows?

[beardstrokes]

I think he knows he was used. I don't think he knows that he is Darth Vader - a Sith Lord.

[ Saying those words makes him grimace. Obi-Wan had built his life around trying to push down the dark. And now this. ]

[t65]

I think it might be for the best, then. I don't like the idea of keeping something from him, but... [But Obi-Wan Kenobi is Luke's personal goal for perfect Jediness. It's those instincts he trusts.] Thank you, Ben.

[beardstrokes]

[ He hesitates, then switching the topic. ]

Why do you call me that?

[t65]

It's- [Your name.]

[No, obviously Ben-- Obi-Wan?-- doesn't think that.]

[It's hard to keep people safely ignorant when you don't know how much they know.] It's... the name you go by, when I was growing up.

[beardstrokes]

[ An alias. It made sense, considering the tumultuous times of the Empire. And he was a figure of notoriety. ]

I suppose Obi-wan would not do. It is still strange to hear. Only one other person has ever called me that.

[t65]

I can call you something else, if you'd prefer. Well, I'll try. [Old habits and whatnot.]

Who first called you Ben?

[beardstrokes]

If you like. I don't have a strong preference, it's simply . . . odd to hear that name coming from someone else.

[ Someone he loved. Satine seems like a heavy topic and one Obi-Wan still has trouble articulating. . . . Which isn't fair to her at all. ]

A Duchess of Mandalore. We often had to pretend to be other people and she chose that moniker for me.

[t65]

You never told me you knew a duchess! [His eyes, at least, are bright.] You'll have to tell me of her. And the Clone Wars. I'm beginning to suspect I'm going to need a stronger education in history while I'm here.

[beardstrokes]

I'm sure there are a great many things I have not spoken about. The tales themselves would be quite long and not always exciting.

[ Perhaps he can muster up the power to talk about her. If it helps her live on in the hearts of others. ]

[t65]

Somehow, I doubt that. [How could your life be anything but fascinating, Ben?] But I won't press you for details.

[beardstrokes]

[ He wouldn't trade it for anything, but he does feel a pause button is necessary. ]

You can, if that is your choice. Just like it will be mine to share what I know. I had promised you that I would help continue your training.