Star Wars: the Spy That Loved Me

[Veroe]

((CLOSED FOR MYSELF AND ZYDRATE))


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IC: Luke Skywalker

Luke stood on the grand audience chamber's raised dais overlooking the assembled might of the courageous rebel alliance dedicated to overthrowing the oppressive Galactic Empire. He saw soldiers, pilots, officers, support staff all looking up at him like he was their chosen savior, their hero. The medal Princess Leia had hung around him for blowing the death star up like a kiloton weight. All of their hopes and dreams of galaxy free of the stranglehold the Emperor had it in laid heavily on his shoulders.

They thought he knew what he was doing, but really it was all luck and Ben's voice in his head.

He missed Ben. Sure he had only known the old man for a short while, but in that time Luke had been able to talk to him, and Ben would listen and give some pretty good advice. Somehow he always knew what Luke was thinking and would say something wise to help him. He missed him.

Finally, the ceremony was over and people were filing out of the audience chamber. General Dodonna and some of the other officers shook his hand patted him on the back telling him how wonderful a hero he was.

A hero, him? Luke, had stood watching the twins suns of Tatooine setting dreaming of becoming a hero. The reality was vastly different than his daydreams.

Han put a hand on his shoulder when he was finally able to leave for his quarters. "Hey kid," He said biting the edge of the metal between his teeth, "How much do you think these medals are worth?"

"Han," He said stunned, "You wouldn't."

"Why not," Han asked, "It's nothing more than a paperweight. I mean come on sure you blew up a giant battlestation, but big deal, so what. Does this merry little band of idealists have anything that can stand up to one Star Destroyer much less a fleet full of them. How can those guys stand up to one legion of storm troopers much less a hundred of them." The hand on his arm tightened. "Sure you got lucky and pulled off a miracle on them, but will that work the next time? Her worshipfullness isn't willing to see it, but you and me are smarter than that aren't you, kid? These people, the rebels, can't win."

Angry Luke shook his shoulder free of his 'friend's' grasp. "Then why don't you just leave us to our doom, Han?"

"Hey," Han said leveling a finger into his chest, "I only came back and saved your tail, because I liked you, kid. You owe me one."

"Is that all you care about," Luke shook his head, "Fine, you got your reward, and I owe you one now. It's been nice knowing you, Han."

Chewie who had been standing behind Han emitted a series of growls, Luke who didn't know the Wookie's language could only wonder what the tall creature was saying.

"Hey, who asked for your oppinion, furball," Han said defensively. "And if anything your experience during the Clone Wars should make you agree with me..."

Exasperated Luke left Han and Chewie to see Leia approaching.

"Luke," She said, "What's wrong?"

"Huh, oh, it's nothing," He shrugged, "Just something Han said."

She glanced over to the smuggler and scoundrel then her lips set firmly and eyes stern. "Well, he's entitled to his oppinion, of course." Then she aristocratically and gracefully shifted conversations. "Come with me, Luke, there's someone I want to introduce you to."

Luke blinked as she herded him towards a gathering of people.

 

[zydrate]

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With a discreet eye, Talera Lann watched the two new heros having a 'talk'. From their expressions which they didn't even try to hide, she could easily tell they were having an argument. Nothing too serious but an argument nonetheless. Yet all the time she was watching them, she managed to pay attention to what the small group she was a part of.

Just as she turned back to the group, she felt a hand on her arm and the group she was with all stopped talking and turned to look at who was interrupting. It was Princess Leia.

"Excuse me ladies and gentlemen," Leia said in a soft, yet diplomatic voice, "I need to borrow Ms. Lann for a bit. Please, go on with your talks."

"Pardon me...." Talera said with a small smile and broke off with the group and followed the Princess.

"I'm sorry to tear you away Talera..." Leia stopped with Talera, "How is everything? Your training more specifically."

"Well, thus far, Maku says he's most pleased with everything thus far. But there is still a lot to learn. He's confident my first assignment is going to be soon."

"He's no doubt right. Your assignment starts now Talera, please rejoin the diplomats and I will be right back."

As cryptic as it all sounded, it was still no doubt exciting that the Princess knew who Talera was. Those who only knew so much knew exactly who Talera was. She was a spy in training. A spy ready to go deep into cover, a spy ready to die for the cause of the rebellion.

Of course she contained her excitement and kept her game face on as she easily slid back into the conversation before her.

She didn't have to wait long as Leia brought over the young rogue, Luke Skywalker, over to Talera. The small group broke up as Leia did the introductions.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Luke Skywalker

"Come with me, Luke, there's someone I want to introduce you to," Leia said ushering over to a gathering of people. The only one he knew was General Dodonna, the leader of the rebel base here on Yavin IV. The others looked important and at home in such high class gatherings, which was vastly different than Luke. He was just a Tatooine moisture farmer and bush pilot. He didn't know what to say to important people.

"Luke, of course you know General Dodonna."

He shook the general's hand, nodding.

Leia pointed to an alien with tawny fur and pointed ears. "This Dresk Tre'lya, of the Bothan intelligence network. It was because of them we discovered the death star's existence."

Luke shook his hand too nodding then representatives of the correllian rebel cell, the cell from Raltiir, Agamar, Eriadu.

And finally he was down to the last a girl, with brown hair and the most striking eyes Luke had ever seen. "Luke, this is Telera Lann, an associate of mine."

"I...uh...hi," Luke stumbled hoping that his words didn't sound as clumsy to any of the others as they did to his own ears.

 

[zydrate]

Talera smiled warmly when Luke took her hand and shook it gently, holding it almost like he was afraid he was going to break it. As she pulled away politely, Talera grouped with Luke and Leia as the other deligates found their way around to others visitors in the grand room.

"So, Luke, what you did for the Rebellion out there is so much. You know now that you won't be able to go anywhere without being recognized." Talera said in a hushed tone as she leaned toward him.

Leia was about to interject but one of the waiter's whispered something to her and she smiled, "Of course," she regarded both Luke and Talera, "If you'll both excuse me, please carry on."

"Yes your Highness," Talera gave her a small nod of acknowledgement.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Luke Skwalker

Talera was so pretty, with peircing eyes and hair Luke could picture running his hands through. The only two girls he'd ever met as pretty as her was Cammie from Anchorhead who dated Tank and made fun of him all the time, and Leia of course. Oh and Aunt Beru, she was pretty in the old holos back in the farmstead back on Tatooine with a younger but still gruff looking uncle Owen holding her.

"So, Luke, what you did for the Rebellion out there is so much. You know now that you won't be able to go anywhere without being recognized."

Luke blushed at the praise. "Well...I..uh..." He was what? Just lucky? That wasn't entirely true he had felt the very instant he needed to fire that proton torpedo for it to dive into the thermal exhaust port of the death star trench with a certainty he couldn't explain, even to himself. Was that the force like the voice of Ben he had heard but couldn't have heard suggested? Did that mean he was a Jedi now?

All he had was questions, no answers for Talera or himself. His hand strayed to his father's lightsaber the only certainty he had now that Ben was gone, or the voice of a ghost that remained silent now that Luke needed guidance.

"I'm just glad I was able to stop the Death Star before it could fire," He told her exactly what he had told General Dodonna and everyone else that asked a similar question she just did, "The galaxy needs the Alliance. The Empire needs to be opposed."

Flashes of memory: Darth Vader's lightsaber sweeping through Ben, The two charred skeletons of his Aunt and Uncle, the sick feeling even he had felt when the Death Star had blown up Alderaan. Han had been wrong. No matter how large and powerful the empire appeared they could be defeated. The medals hanging around their necks were proof of that. And Luke would spend his life doing whatever he could to make that happen.

Leia had been whisked away on important business for the rebellion. He looked sideways at Talera. "I think she may be playing match maker on us."

"Well I'm getting out of here before I have to shake another person's hand," Luke smiled to her, "So, Talera, do you want to escape with me?"

 

[zydrate]

"Perhaps she is, one can never be certain with royalty," Talera said with a smile. She returned her glass to a passing waiter. "Well, if you don't mind me being so bold, we could go back to my state quarters. It's a lot more quiet there I assure you and I guarantee you won't have to shake anyone else's hand." She finished with a twinkle in her soft brown eyes.

Talera ushered them both out of the scene of dignitaries quickly and quietly. Almost like sneaking out of her parents house when they had important people over, that she remembered from a long time ago.

Not much was spoken between the two as they arrived at Talera's quarters. She grabbed Luke by the hand and brought him in, "Well, it's not much, but like I said, it's quiet." she said with a smile, "If you'll excuse, get comfortable while I change and we'll talk some more?"

 

[Veroe]

IC: Luke Skywalker

He looked sideways at Talera. "I think she may be playing match maker on us."

"Perhaps she is, one can never be certain with royalty," Talera said with a smile that dazzled Luke. She had a smile that lit up a room, and warmed his soul.

"Well I'm getting out of here before I have to shake another person's hand," Luke smiled to her, "So, Talera, do you want to escape with me?"

"Well, if you don't mind me being so bold, we could go back to my state quarters. It's a lot more quiet there I assure you and I guarantee you won't have to shake anyone else's hand."

"Your quarters," He asked a little dumbfounded. Did she...Was she...Her quarters?!? Talera wanted him in her quarters, after they had just met? He had heard women from other systems were fast, but...wait, was this because he was the hero, Luke Skywalker?

He looked away. If that was the case then he'd be disapointed. From the few moments he had known Talera he had liked her, but if she just wanted something from the Luke Skywalker he was not... Still, he wanted to give her a chance to get to know the real him.

He looked back into those marvelous eyes of hers. "Uh sure. Lead the way."

She took him by the hand and she led him out of the audience chamber and down several hallways. Finally they stopped in front of a door she keyed open and she lead him inside a room larger than his pilot's quarters and it was just one room in hers. "And I thought she was here she was the one trying to latch on to the important hero of the rebellion," He thought with a little twinge of shame, "She's probably like Leia way more important to the Alliance than I could ever be really."

"Well, it's not much, but like I said, it's quiet." She told him.

"With the last couple days I've had," Luke laughed, "Quiet is an improvement."

"If you'll excuse, get comfortable while I change and we'll talk some more?"

"Sure," Luke agreed. He was alone in her stateroom for a few minutes. When she returned she found him bent over the stateroom's aquarium fingers tapping on the glass watching with childlike interest as the Mon Calamari Shimmerfin reacted to the motion.

He looked back at her a little guiltily, "Sorry, but it's a fish. I grew up on Tatooine, a desert planet, Talera. That was the first fish I've ever seen, and so much water is in here. If the vaporators on my uncle's moisture farm made this much he'd make enough selling it in Anchorhead to feed him, my aunt Beru, and me for a couple days, and you have so much of it here just for a fish."

 

[zydrate]

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Talera returned back to her guest in no time. She had changed from her formal gown into something a lot less restricting and more comfortable. She smiled when she saw Luke gazing at the small aquarium of fish. She walked next to him and peered at them with him.

"Sorry, but it's a fish. I grew up on Tatooine, a desert planet, Talera. That was the first fish I've ever seen, and so much water is in here. If the vaporators on my uncle's moisture farm made this much he'd make enough selling it in Anchorhead to feed him, my aunt Beru, and me for a couple days, and you have so much of it here just for a fish."

"Really?" Talera started and they both looked at each other, her expression was serious as she took Luke's arm into hers and lead him to the couch, "Tell me more about where you're from Luke. I've never been to a desert, let alone, stepped foot on one." The more she got him to feel comfortable with her, the more he was going to tell her and perhaps, he would then be more....flexible?

"I've yet to further my studies as an ambassador and hopefully, as crazy as it may sound, I want to visit as many planets and cultures as I can in my lifetime. Would you like something to drink?" She asked him with an innocent gesture toward the drinks that sat on the bar.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Luke Skywalker

"Really?" Talera started and they both looked at each other, her expression was serious as she took Luke's arm into hers and lead him to the couch, "Tell me more about where you're from Luke. I've never been to a desert, let alone, stepped foot on one." The more she got him to feel comfortable with her, the more he was going to tell her and perhaps, he would then be more....flexible.

"Well, there's not much to say about it," Luke shrugged, "It's the planet where if there's a bright center to the galaxy Tatooine is the one farthest from it. Practically everyone I knew wanted to get off Tatooine. Tank, Tag, Bink, Biggs..." With a reminder of his best friend from home came a sad note to his voice. Biggs had died trying to buy Luke invaluable seconds in the deathstar trench. He hadn't even thought much about Biggs compared to how much he missed Ben since he died...that felt like he had betrayed his old friend. He shook himself continuing where he left off, "...We all used to look up at the stars and dream of traveling to just one, I guess I accomplished that dream."

"Let's see what else is there about Tatooine? I can talk about the endless chores, maintaining the moisture vaporators on my uncle's farmstead-they were old back before the clone wars and they weren't designed to last in such a dusty environment as Tatooine. Me and my uncle had to perform minor technical miracles constantly to keep them even functional. It's constant hard work. It was like that everyday just to survive, and not even because of Krayt Dragons or Sand People-which are dangerous enough-but the real killer is the desert itself. My uncle always told me if you drop your gaurd on it even for a moment it will take everything from you."

He sat down and crossed his arms, "It's not like here, with trees, actual trees, and flowers, flowing rivers, and so much water you can feel it in the air itself. Tatooine is all sand only sand, its coarse, hot, abrasive and gets in every where-I couldn't stand it."

He looks up at Talera and smiled, "What about you? Where are you from?"