Torn Apart

Already Gone

Ben paced the small holding cell where he awaited his parents. After some serious convincing, the guards finally believed him and sent messages to have them found to pick him up.

As he paced the floor, he tried to guess which one would show up. If it was his father, he'd have a better chance because Han Solo subscribed to the whole "boys will be boys" theory. But his mother would give him that look...the one that let him know that he'd probably not see the light of day for an indeterminate amount of time. Of course the luckiest scenario would be Chewy intercepting the message and coming to get him, because then neither of the Solos would ever know.

He sat on the long bench and concentrated hard, trying to reach Chewbacca's thoughts.

"Come on old buddy," he mumbled "I need you."
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General Leia Organa Solo walked through the security bay door and everyone was in their feet to greet her. Once royalty ,then a ferocious leader of the rebellion and now a General, she could still bring a room of strangers to their feet.

"General," the main guard moved to greet her "I am so sorry to bring you down here under these circumstances."

Leia waved him off "Its not a problem. Where is my son?"

"We have him in the holding cell," the second guard chimed in. "Alone if course," he added when her glare became unbearable.

"Take me to him," she commanded.

"At once, your...High...I mean General," the first guard verbally  stumbled as he led her down the corridor. "We found him within the locked gates of the Sacred springs. He was wet and half dressed so we gather he swam in the small pond. We assume he wasn't alone but found no one else with him and he refuses to divulge any names."

Leia frowned as he observed her son sitting behind bars with his head in his hands. "Ben," she called sternly but her face softened when she saw his expression. He had been fretting her appearance but he also had angst about Lux. He gave off heartbreak in waves.

"I'm sorry mom," came his deep voice as he stood and walked over to the bars. "I didn't mean to.."

"Get caught," she replied and the smirked at her own joke. "You are so much like your father in that way." The thought of her husband made her heart ache. He was angry with her and she didn't know what to do to fix it. She had to do what was right for the Republic.

"Where did he go?" Ben asked.

Damn, Leia thought to herself as she shielded her thoughts. His mind reading had reached a new level since his 15th birthday and she had to be more careful. "He left for the Outer Rim for a job."

Ben's eyebrows crashed together. "He was angry about me leaving with Luke, right?"

"He's not exactly happy," she admitted and then after seeing her son's face, she wished she could take it back "Look Ben, it's just going to take some time..."

Ben could feel the anger rising. The older it got, the harder it was to control some times. "He always runs away when he doesn't like the way things work out."

"That's not true, Ben...he just worried about you."

"Worried about me becoming a Jedi?" Ben scoffed "what is there to worry about? Unless....he doesn't want me to go with Uncle Luke. Unless he doesn't trust me with the power."

Lei shook her head "That's not it Ben." She motioned to the guards who had been quietly observing the family discussion "Free him. Now."

"At once, your Highness," the guard reached for his keys and began to unlock the cell door.

Once free, Ben took three large strides toward the exit while his mother chased.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Away," the tall gangly boy stomped away.

"Ben!" she called loudly but he was already gone.

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"Are you sure you won't let me take her?" Luke asked his old friend Wedge Antilles, the new Minister of Defense for Naboo. "She has all the makings of a great Jedi. The Force flows strong in her but she doesn't know it. She hasn't even begun to realize her potential."

Wedge smiled sadly "And I don't want her too. There are too many sacrifices with the Jedi lifestyle. Too many deprivations. I want Lux to have everything she's ever wanted."

"But think of what she'll gain. Inner peace, unity with everything in the Galaxy,"Luke continued.

" I admire what you are trying to do and I support you. But she's my only daughter, old friend," Wedge cut him off "I can't....I just can't."

Luke nodded in understanding but was disappointed as he said his goodbyes to his friend. He wanted Lux because she was strong in the Force but he wanted her to train more because he knew that her affection for Ben would help contain the spark of darkness the young boy carried. That was his plan. Now he had to rethink what do to.

It was going to be a long night.