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.

Comments

[t65]

Leia! [His eyes light up with bright, shining enthusiasm. Oh, he'd missed her.] How are you? How is- [He narrows his eyes.] Well, I was about to ask you the same thing, but it seems you beat me to it.

[imahologram]

[She laughs, shaking her head.] You were the last one there! I've been here since the Battle of Endor. [UNLESS TIME TRAVEL JUST MADE THINGS MORE COMPLICATED--but if that's the case, it'll become clear enough.]

But I'm fine. [For a certain meaning of the word, anyway.] How are you?

[t65]

I'm fine. I've been better, I suppose. [He waves his malfunctioning hand.] A little bored, maybe. I'm more curious about how you are.

[video; private]

[imahologram]

[She hesitates, wanting to say ask me again sometime and leave it at that. But he'll be on the Marsiva for a few days, and she should make sure he knows what's going on in the meanwhile.]

A lot's happened. [Understatement of the year.] Where do you want to start--the part where General Kenobi knows what becomes of [a little hitch as she decides whether to call him Anakin, as she does with everyone else] our father, or the part where I have a teenage daughter?

video forever, private forever, etc etc.

[t65]

[Luke's suddenly blissful excitement says a lot about his priorities.]

You have a daughter? Oh, of course you do! I bet she's beautiful- is she the girl who called me uncle? Of course she is! Oh, I can't wait to meet her, Leia.

[imahologram]

[Leia returns the smile with a tentative sort of pride. Luke's pure enthusiasm is infectious, so different from Han's ambivalence and her own duty-laden uncertainty.]

That's her. She's... [How do you even begin to describe a child you hardly know?] ...So much like Han, but so much her own person. I know you'll love her.

[t65]

She's like Han? So you marry him, hm. [It's half teasing, half wonder. Give him some good news, he'll focus on it relentlessly.] I'm sorry to hear she's like Han, but it sounds like you're coping well. [Okay, that's pure teasing.]

[imahologram]

Oh, stop it. [Leia sees what you're doing, bro--and God help her, it's working, if her smile is anything to go on.] You'll see what I mean. Ask her about machines or ships sometime.

[t65]

Hey, she could be taking after me, then. I was crazy about flying at that age. [Unlike, you know, now.] How did you find out about her?

[imahologram]

I'm sure she's picked up plenty from you. [It's a moment when Leia wishes she could put an arm around him. Having Luke back makes the galaxy feel a little closer to right.] You're her teacher.

She posted to the network, the same as you. And then she called me "Mom." [Which was a bizarre moment, and Leia's expression says as much.]

[t65]

[He beams.] Then I can't be that poor a teacher... [Luckily, he's not worried about that at all.]

That must have been a shock. When did it happen?

[imahologram]

Since when are you a poor teacher? [She gives him one of his own teasing smiles back.]

About two weeks ago. It's been an adjustment, that's for sure. [A little pause.] You'll have to visit us on the Bishop when you're off the Marsiva.

[t65]

I think that's how everyone starts out, Leia.

[He sighs, slumping boyishly.] If I ever get out. There isn't really much to do here. [Whiiine.]

[imahologram]

Well, she's not happening for a few years, so you have time to get better.

[Luke, you whiny angel. Leia laughs.] We all started out there--you'll be out by the weekend. [And then she's struck with an idea.] Look for information, all right? Or passages out of the area you're in, or...look for anything suspicious.

[t65]

I suppose it's good that she wouldn't be my first test subject...

[Luke has spent the last handful of months with his every move watched, and this place is no different. He falls back easily into the rhythms of code, and hopes Leia can keep up. She's the one with all the experience in the Rebellion, anyway.] Oh, I don't know about that; I have terrible intuition for these things. [It's a flat lie, utterly false, especially in view of Luke's abilities with the Force. He hopes she'll pick up on the hidden message, that he intends to let the Force guide him to an advantage, if one is to be had.]

[imahologram]

That depends on how many other Force sensitives you find before her.

[She knows what he's getting at--call it twintuition, or the fact that they've been fighting a war against an enemy with the ability to track comlink frequencies.] I know. But it might give you something to do.

[t65]

Well, I already found one...

[He smiles wanly.] I guess I'll just have to. You should try as well.

[imahologram]

I've been meaning to talk to you about that.

Oh, believe me, I have. You showed up a little too late to try escaping with me.

[t65]

Have you?

A Jedi is never late. We show up exactly when we mean to. [He winks, clearly not believing this at all.]

[imahologram]

Yes, actually. You left before I could, last time. [She's smiling, but there's hesitation in her expression.] If you want the practice...

Exactly after the rest of us try the easy ways out.

[t65]

I always want to practice with you, Leia.

Well, if the easy ways worked, you wouldn't need a Jedi.

[imahologram]

When you're off the Marsiva, maybe.

And seeing as we have five or six of them here with us now... [This really isn't going to be a straightforward escape.]

[t65]

That's more than I've ever seen-- more than anyone in our generation has, I think. [His eyes are wide with wonder.] This place is one of the most mixed blessings I've ever received.

[imahologram]

That's putting it lightly. [But for all Leia's ambivalence about the presence of some of the Jedi from their world, she is genuinely happy that Luke has the opportunity to talk to them.] It's a good opportunity for you.

1/3.

[t65]

It's an excellent opportunity for you as well!