Torn Apart

Distraught

Months went by and Lux missed her best friend more than she ever get thought imaginable. And for a while it seemed as though he missed her too. His letters came one or sometimes two times a week, chronicling everything from his training to the appearance of the planet. Tattoine was Luke's home planet and he had taken the younglings and padawans there to set up a Jedi temple. Ben hated the dust and could waste sheets of paper detailing how it managed to creep its way into every crevice. But the trade was the beauty of the two suns that set regularly. With the eloquence in which Ben described it, she almost longed to see it. Almost.

After a few months, the letters began to taper off. And when she did receive one, Ben was often angry to be so far from home. Angry that his parents had sent him away. He talked more about his grandfather and the study of the Empire. The romantic light that he painted the horrible things Vader had done frightened her but before she could say anything to Leia, her worst fears came true.

Lux remembered that day often. She was sitting in the Naboo Senate gardens waiting for her father after the day's lessons had ended. Luckily she had brought her charcoal and sketch book to keep her thoughts occupied. She was illustrating the Arcana solar system when she felt a cold rush through her body. Goosebumps rose on her flesh and her heart seemed to drop within her chest. She ached with pain as his name spilled from her lips. "Ben, no," she cried, standing and moving toward the Senate meeting room.

She immediately sensed the commotion surrounding Princess Leia who looked as distraught as she felt. She was surrounded by her trusted advisors but she wasn't looking or listening to any of them. Lux could feel her pain. It was palpable...almost as if she could reach out and touch it. Surely Ben was dead. That was the only explanation.

"Lux," she heard her father call to her.

"Dad," she cried "what's wrong? Did something happen to Ben? Is he okay?"

Her father looked sad and he turned away from her. "Lux, you shouldn't be here. This is a sensitive matter."

Lux began to panic. "Dad just tell me. Is he...dead?"

Wedge Antilles looked at his daughter with relief that he had not let Luke take her when he asked. "No Lux...he's alive. It's the others...the younglings...the children."

Lux was so confused "Were they attacked? Please tell me what's happening. If Ben is alive, why is the Princess so distraught? Is he hurt? Are we sending support to them?"

The commotion became louder as Han Solo entered the room despair engraved on his handsome face. Leia stood and staggered into his embrace before sobbing. Lux had never seen the Princess lose her sense of decorum. It was more frightening to see her display weakness.

"Father, what's happening?" She pleaded to know the truth. "Please tell me."

"He killed them, Lux. He killed them all," her father said in a rough voice.

A wave of nausea rolled over her as she asked "Who? Who killed them?"

She already knew the answer but she had to hear it aloud. The Force had already told her what had happened. Knowing didn't make it sting any less when her father muttered the words that would break her heart.

"Ben did, Ben killed them."