Treasured (Book 2)

This is War

A hard knock at the door, and Padmé swore she almost jumped out of her skin. She walked over to the front door reluctantly and opened it to reveal a young man in his twenty's.

"Good morning, Chancellor Skywalker. I apologize for my sudden intrusion. I work at the Jedi Temple with the nano-weaponry department. Your son, Luke, was drafted, I assume?"

Padmé opened her mouth to say something, but Luke came behind her and clasped his hand on her shoulder.

"Yes, sir, I was drafted," Luke answered boldly. "So, when do we start?"

The nano-weaponry expert chuckled. "My, we have an eager soldier here. We start now. If you could just gather your things if you have any..." He tapped the screen of his holopad. "You know, several gentlemen we've had to drag out of their homes..." The expert smiled to himself. "It was a struggle, but we managed."

Padmé forced a smile. "I understand the struggle of all of the sudden being drafted and harshly pulled out if your home." She spat the words with little disguise.

"You were the one who issued the draft, correct, milady?" He spoke in a voice that was too innocent to be true.

Padmé stared at him. "Who's side are you on, young man?" she asked suspiciously.

"The...the Republic, of course!" he stammered.

"That's it, buddy boy!" Luke slammed the 'nano-weaponry expert' into the wall. "Who are you and who's side are you on, huh?"

The man eyed Luke. "What's it to you?"

Luke leaned in closer. "I can tell when someone is lying, or when they aren't. It's a special gift I have. Did you know that my midichlorian level is the second highest in the galaxy? Yeah. I could crush you like-"

"Luke, that's enough." Padmé walked forward. "You, young man-" she directed at the man who claimed he was on the Republic's side, "-don't even have to tell me who you stand for. I know by the way you speak."

"Fine. I am working for Count Dooku. And, what's even more special?" The man whipped out a pistol from his boot. "I'm specialized in blaster tactics. I can take out both of you faster than you can say-"

"-Traitor!" Luke kneed the man in the gut. "Let's. Go." He took the man by the collar and pulled him out the door. Luke dragged him up the ramp of the ship he came in. He sat in the pilot's chair and eased the handles forward, taking off towards the Temple. "Hey, Mom," he said without looking back.

"Hey, Luke..." Padmé stepped out of the shadows in the back of the ship.

"Mom, watch out!" Luke yelled, slamming his hand on the autopilot button and igniting his lightsaber. He twirled it around and shoved the man in the back with his green blade.

The man grunted and slumped to the floor, taking his hands off of Padmé's shoulders.

Padmé stood, jaw hanging open. "What was that for?! We could've gotten the information from him, the facts..."

"Whatever, Mom. It's over now." He twirled his lightsaber, turning it off and shoving it in it's holster. He smiled a little.

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

Padmé covered her face with her hands and sobbed while Luke embraced her.

"It's okay, Mom," Luke said, setting his chin on top of her head. "It's okay."

"My...my little boy is leaving and he's a soldier!" she cried into his shoulder.

"I'll be back soon. Don't worry."

A clone trooper standing by a cargo ship twenty feet away whistled. "Alright, men, let's move!"

"I love you, Mom. I'll be back." Luke kissed his mother and pulled away from her arms.

"No, Luke, wait!"

He turned around to look at her.

"I love you."

Luke nodded and smiled a little, walking up the ramp of one of the gunships.

Padmé fanned herself with her hand, tears dripping down her cheeks.

"Bye, Mom!" Luke yelled from the hovering gunship. "I love you!"

"I love you too, Luke! Be careful!"

"You too!" Luke blinked back hot tears as he saw his mother fade away. The gunship doors slid closed in front of his face, and he pressed his palm against it. "Goodbye."

"Luke?!" A voice yelled through the crowd of soldiers standing in the ship. Nico was pushing his way through everyone to get to Luke.

"Nico?" Luke beamed, and once Nico reached him, they embraced each other, slapping each other's backs in a brotherly way.

"Dude, where were you? I was looking for you everywhere!" Nico exclaimed.

"I was in the hangar with my mom."

"Is your Dad here?"

Luke shook his head. "He had to leave a while ago."

"Oh. Well, at least we're in the same squadron, eh?" Nico said.

Luke nodded in response.

"Soon enough, you'll be leading these troopers! Then I can call you, 'General Luke.'"

Luke and Nico both laughed together.

Luke sighed. "Well, this is war, Nico."

"Yup. This is war."