Star Wars_ Rebel Force 2_ Hostage - Alex Wheeler [17]
He became a mirror, reflecting back what people wanted to see and hear, keeping his true self hidden so deeply he'd almost forgotten where to find it. And now Luke Skywalker, of all people, had found it for him. Had somehow found him.
The Force was strong in Luke, but wild, like an untamed animal. And yet he had the lightsaber—Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber. Did he know the truth of its origin? Did he know about his father?
Did his father know about him?
No, Ferus thought. He'd already be dead.
Or worse.
Luke, Leia, and Han took him back to their quarters, treating him like a sick, weak old man. And maybe they're right, he thought, disgusted with himself. His Jedi training had made him adept at finding the calm center of any crisis. Yet here he was, allowing his emotions to overtake him, like an inexperienced Padawan.
Still, if his weakness gained him more time with Leia—with Luke—perhaps it was worth it. And so he smiled and nodded and allowed them to believe he needed their help.
"Luke Skywalker," he said, settling into a soft chair. "Unusual name." Luke and Leia hovered anxiously over him, while Han took a seat on the sofa. Across the room, another man leaned against the wall, casually scanning a datapad. At least, that's how the man wanted it to seem. But his dark eyes were fixed on Ferus, measuring his every move.
"You're not from these parts, I suspect?"
Luke shook his head, his familiar smile a faint, terrifying echo of the past.
Anakin had smiled rarely when Ferus was around, but occasionally even Ferus had caught glimpses of the boy's easy charm. It had been an excellent mask.
When they were boys together, Anakin had not yet taken his first steps down the path to the dark side. But there had always been something, hadn't there? Something only Ferus had sensed—something that called to the darkness.
Leia is his child, too, Ferus reminded himself. But it wasn't the same. There was no darkness inside of Leia, only light.
"Nowhere near these parts," Luke said, peering at Ferus like he was trying to solve a puzzle. "I'm from Tatooine."
That much, I knew, Ferus thought. But how did you come to be here? And why didn't Obi-Wan warn me?
That was Obi-Wan for you. The Jedi only dispersed information on a need-to-know basis. And he seemed to feel there was little Ferus needed to know.
He hadn't heard from Obi-Wan in more than a year. Ferus had contacted him after the destruction of Alderaan, but Obi-Wan had responded to none of his transmissions. "You're very far from home," Ferus said. "You must miss it."
Several emotions flashed across Luke's face. Grief. Regret. Guilt.
Luke chose determination. "I'm where I need to be. It's like Ben said—" He stopped abruptly, shaking his head.
"Ben?" Ferus prompted him, something clenching in his chest. Years before, he had visited Obi-Wan on Tatooine. The Jedi Master lived as a hermit in the desert wasteland, but he had occasionally traded with some of the local creatures. They had called him by a different name. Ben.
Luke glanced at Leia, as if reminding himself that Ferus was not to be trusted. Ferus felt something in the boy shut down. "It's nothing," he said quickly. "Just something an old friend of mine used to say."
"Is he with you on Delaya? Can I meet him?" Ferus realized he was sounding too eager. "To thank him for protecting Her Highness," he added with more restraint. "As I thank all of you."
Luke looked down. "He's dead."
A shock wave crashed over Ferus, drowning out all sound, sight, and thought. The thought was unbelievable, unacceptable.
This "Ben" could have been anyone, he thought. There was no evidence linking him to Obi-Wan. Ferus wanted to grab for the tiny sliver of hope—but the Jedi in him rebelled against denying the truth.
And the truth was, some part of him had already known. Hadn't