The Journey into the Unknown Begins

A/N:

Hey everyone, MiyazakiFan18 here. I've been playing Force Unleashed lately, and I've come to the conclusion that Luke is strong enough to go into the quests necessary that would be the conclusion for the Tatooine arc within the next few chapters, I won't be rushing things too quickly. 

But it will be happening soon. I'd say in about ten chapters, I'll be establishing and developing the next few plotlines, which in my opinion rank from the lower end quests Tatooine can spawn into the highest ones possible including:

Killing a Krayt dragon, handling Jabba the Hutt's loan to the Lars family, and of course, venturing into Tatooine's caves, are the first real dungeons for this story.

I'll be saying more at the end, but for now, I used music from The Midnight (amazing music) and the original soundtrack for the fantastic fan film TIE Fighter by Zak Rahman to write this. I also watched the original trilogy for inspiration. Thank you all for the reading and support, enjoy the chapter.

…

Every morning beneath the sunrise of binary suns, Luke Skywalker woke up, yawned, and stretched. 

His aunt Beru smiled, gave the farm boy his breakfast, and he went off to work using a small list his uncle Owen gave him.

But his life had changed so much in just a few weeks, that it was completely different to what he typically did. For two simple powers Luke had attained:

His connection to the Force, and the Gamer power.

[You have completed daily quest, Moisture Farm Work in 00:31:44!]

[You have gained +600 credits!]

[You have gained +1 LV!]

[You have reached Level 30! You now gained +1 Attribute point per level gained.]

Curious as to what it was as Luke wrapped up his regular vat maintenance, he opened the Gamer's Menu.

[Attribute Points can be applied to the following, unlocking a new technique or improving a prior one.

Saber Techniques: Increasing +Speed, +Damage, -SP usage

Force Techniques: Increasing +Speed, +Damage, -FP usage

Force Abilities: Increases HP, FP, and SP total amount, HP, FP, SP regeneration, and random stat boosts.]

Luke decided to choose Force Abilities, before driving over towards Ben's cave to catch up on his training.

With how many Credits and EXP Luke gained from just doing his daily chores with helping his aunt and uncle around the Lars farm, collecting moisture, maintaining moisture vaporators and the few droids they owned, and buying and selling farm materials, as well as training with Ben. Luke was gaining almost two entire levels in a single day.

Moreover, Luke was being taught the basics of Jedi training at alarming speeds.

Obi-Wan secretly knew Luke's true fatherhood, so the fact that he'd master Force and saber techniques quickly wasn't that surprising. But how fast the boy grew in his training was.

Shii-Cho, better known as Form I to the Jedi, was memorized by Obi-Wan like the back of his hand. Within a week of training of drills and giving Luke the step by step, he had Luke blindfolded while standing near The Pool.

Obi-Wan would strike, no longer using sparring sabers but their real blades to test Luke's patience and technique.

Luke met Obi-Wans swipes and thrusts with razor sharp precision.

It was in his blood, he was a naturally gifted student with a strong degree of trust in Ben for the tutelage he'd given him. And extremely driven with how much free time had now that he only spent doing simple pushups in his bedroom or practicing in secret against his Marksman H training remote Ben lent him in a small ledge after his aunt and uncle fell asleep.

Luke never went out after dark, it was a simple rule of Tatooine. If the Sand People didn't get you, then who knows what else would.

But Luke Skywalker wasn't afraid of the dark anymore. He was starting to wonder what he was truly afraid of at all as his training progressed. 

Ben tried to read his thoughts a few times, get a reason for why Luke had changed so much. From a scrappy farm boy trashing his T-16 and losing his best friend who went off to join the Empire, to a subtly more muscular, little taller, and far more calmer and confident student of the Force.

Obi-Wan saw Luke happier, completely focused on his training. As if learning with Ben gave him purpose, led him towards his destiny, which it very well did.

Around the fifth week since Luke and Biggs raced for the final time in Beggar's Canyon, Luke had gained more than enough money, EXP, and training with the Force to wake up, wave goodbye to his aunt and uncle, and drive straight to Obi-Wan's shelter within the caves.

Luke had gained over 15,000 credits, more money than he'd ever seen, all neatly organized in gold coins and such within his inventory after all the training and progress he did. He spent that on getting new droids to automate almost all of his farmwork.

In fact, the only real farmwork Luke did anymore was drive out in his landspeeder towards the storage unit where he kept his two protocol droids that kept track of the Treadwells, moisture vaporators, and comlinks to other moisture farmers in the event of an incoming dust storm or chemical shortage for hydroponics.

So that freed up his entire day for training, and now that he could train during the nighttime, sneaking out to train on his own, Luke pretty much trained with his lightsaber, night and day.

He learned that the Force allowed him to push and pull almost any object, even live objects like a stray womp rat that had wandered near the Lar's disposal units when he was taking out the garbage one night.

He had been able to gain Force Speed, letting him dash rapidly across short distances so fast he almost blurred.

Luke was also power leveling Force Jump, because Luke was more than happy to meet Obi-Wan's challenge.

…

Master and Padawan were sparring by the Pool like it was any other day, a week later.

Luke moved and fought Obi-Wan so much better than he had when he started learning Form I and his basics, that just starting to learn Form II Obi-Wan was more than kept on his toes.

The old general and Jedi Master was just using a sparring saber, but had to strike with his knees, legs, and fists.

He had to include Force techniques in his combination attacks, including random but well refined uses of Force push.

Luke blocked, parrying the strike off his saber as he rolled his body off angle.

He engaged Force Speed, his blonde hair blurring as he dashed forward and spun.

Obi-Wan had a split second to jump out of the way, slashing twice to meet Luke's saber strikes. 

Swiping at the air in flowing intervals, they moved forward together, and backward together, their swords meeting with each step. 

The noise the blades released with each tiny clash were split seconds apart, Luke strained against his Master, Obi-Wan pushing forward when they crossed swords.

Luke could feel the Force keeping his balance, like a push and pull.

The same way water fell in tiny drops from the stalactite hanging over the pool, and it rippled across the crystal clear water. Luke could feel the Force moving through Obi-Wan, enhancing the power of his next blow, and rippling away into the air around Luke when he blocked and timed a beautiful counter.

Obi-Wan rushed forward with his classically timed parry and double slash, but Luke used a Force Jump in a small arc directly over Obi-Wan's head as he was still rushing forward.

When he turned to face the boy now, Luke had better footing, and was able to catch Obi-Wan when he was still resetting his guard. 

Luke swept Obi-Wan's foot, slashed hard enough at Obi-Wan's wrist to disarm him.

And by the time Obi-Wan fell, before he could do anything else, Luke was pointing both swords at him, crossing the blades directly over his throat.

[You've leveled up Saber Combat! You've gained +2 STA!]

[You've gained +250 EXP for increased proficiency in fighting!]

Wiping the sweat off his brow, Luke offered a hand up. "Think it's time to stop going easy on me. Right?"

"Right." Obi-Wan chuckled, rubbing his wrist.

As Luke rested for a moment, Obi-Wan caught his breath and spoke. "I believe you're ready."

"Ready for what?"

Obi-Wan gestured with his eyes.

Luke turned, and saw the stalactite. 

Luke had spent weeks wondering just how exactly to make the jump. He had reached the conclusion that even as much as he leveled up Force Jump, he'd need months of experience channeling the Force to have enough control to not slam himself against the roof of The Pool.

However, Force Speed let him dash at random intervals, even out of the air.

He deduced that it would be ideal for him to jump at eye level about two or three feet below the tip of the stalactite, then dash forward out of the air. It would be the most difficult thing Luke ever pulled off, and Luke thought it would also be managing to beat Biggs in a race near Peasant's Pass almost a year ago.

Obi-Wan watched Luke without saying a word, doubting he'd be able to pull it off.

Luke got a running start, and used the Force so powerfully that there was a slight rumble in The Pool when Luke jumped.

He traveled through the air upwards as if he hit a massive springboard, and then, tucked upwards to double jump.

As Luke unrolled, he fulled outstretched his body and managed to activate Force Speed.

It had happened so fast, that neither Luke nor Obi-Wan was sure if he actually touched the tip of the stalactite.

"Did I-Did I?"

Luke sputtered, drying off near the edge of the basin.

"Did I do it?"

Obi-Wan looked over.

The water of The Pool was so clear that if even a few particles of sand from Luke's clothes fell, Obi-Wan could see it.

Luke's blood was in The Pool, just tiny bits of it.

Luke raised his hand, the tip of his right index finger was slashed a bit by the tip of stalactite.

There was no congratulations, Master did not hug Padawan. Luke almost thought Obi-Wan was upset for a moment.

Obi-Wan was genuinely curious as to how Luke was able to master Form I, Jedi Youngling and Initiate training, and get this much better in just a month or so.

The boy's mind gave no answers.

Luke saw a screen.

[Gamer's Mind activated! Gamer's Mind allows you to calmly and logically think things through. Allows peaceful state of mind. Immunity to being detected or sensed through the Force or affected at all by Jedi Mind tricks, mind reading, or confusion.]

Luke's mental interface with the Gamer allowed him to also find Gamer's Body as Obi-Wan continued to think.

[Gamer's Body (Max) - Grants you the ability to live the real world like a game. Receives no physical damage from attacks only pain for a few seconds and a loss of HP. A powerful enough strike with a lightsaber or blaster at very low HP may result in loss of limb or life.]

[You've gained +2 LVs from completing an acrobatics area |The Pool|!]

Now it began to make more sense to Luke why the Gamer made him so quick to learn beyond just being able to learn things faster in general. His body's metabolism, reflexes, and strength, were already greatly enhanced by his Force training, now even more so by these passive skills.

Finally, Obi-Wan spoke. Luke thought he was upset, even if he couldn't see the blue screens only Luke could.

"Come with me, we're going to speak to your aunt and uncle."

"For what?"

Obi-Wan smiled. "For dinner."

…

Luke had never had a dinner as awkward as this one.

Obi-Wan was eating dinner in silence.

Beru cleared her throat but said nothing.

Owen chewed, quietly sipping from his plastic cup.

Luke sighed, already finished with his dinner.

"So um," Ben smiled. "Shall I speak as to why I'm here?"

"I know why you're here." Owen put his cup down and crossed his arms. "The answer is no."

"Owen!" Beru said reproachfully to her husband.

Luke laughed in surprise. "He didn't even tell you why he wanted to come here."

"There's only one reason he's here, I always suspected this day might come." Owen said. "He wants Luke to leave with him."

"Not to leave but um." Obi-Wan scratched his beard. "For us to tell Luke the truth. For him to start to gain some freedom, while still." Obi-Wan raised his voice seeing the look on Owen's face. "Being a part of your family."

"Luke can't leave. Not until this whole farm is paid off."

"What if I told you there was a way to pay off the farm?"

All three adults looked over at Luke.

He shrugged. "What? I think I have an idea."

"That being?" asked Owen, raising an eyebrow as he spoke scornfully.

"We can go into the caves near the Jundland Wastes. I'm sure there's something valuable we can come up with." Luke shrugged.

Obi-Wan was going to say something but Owen scoffed. "Going treasure hunting with Ben here, is not exactly a safe way to make money."

"Well." Obi-Wan sighed. "Given where Luke has come along with his Jedi training, I'd say a treasure hunt isn't exactly out of the question."

"Jedi training?" Owen almost choked on the juice Beru made for him.

Luke looked sad. "I didn't want us to have to say anything but-"

"You have nothing to apologize for." said Beru as sweetly as she could, putting a hand over his wrist. "You are who you are. There's no running from that. All we can do is support you."

Luke was very touched by his aunt's words, but the moment was cut short.

"Running from that?" Owen asked. "As if the truth would do anything but hurt him."

"Excuse me?" asked Obi-Wan.

"Tell him the truth. Go on, tell him. Tell him everything, see how he'll feel." Owen shook his head, practically grinding his teeth in anger. "Tell him-"

"My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi. I'm not Ben. That was a lie, a ruse, to try to hide you."

"Hide me from what?"

Owen covered his face, looking like he wanted to throw something. "Your father and I served in the Clone Wars. He was the best star pilot in the galaxy, the finest warrior I'd ever met. To protect you from the Empire, we hid you out here."

"I knew my father was a Jedi but, the greatest?-"

"I can't stop you all said and done." Owen interrupted, Luke turned to him. "Truly, I can't. I never was going to be able to. But I want you to ask yourself. Do you want to live a life of adventure? One with so much potential pain, possibly even your death?"

Owen threw his head towards the farm outside the dining table where the Lars and Luke ate every day. "Or do you want to stay here where it's safe? Do you even know what's out there? Ben, er- Obi-Wan can help you. I think he can. But if there's one place in this deranged Galaxy where nothing can ever happen to you. It's here."

Luke needed a moment to respond.

"You still need me to help pay off the farm right?"

Owen nodded. "That too."

Luke was silent.

"Look Luke, you're fifteen. I know you've been out at night, doing who knows what. And know apparently you're about to go off and go who knows where with who knows. But this can be just a phase."

Luke was still silent, and Obi-Wan spoke. "How much do you owe?"

Owen spoke truthfully, the Force told Obi-Wan he wasn't lying at all. "Four hundred thousand, to Jabba the Hutt. My father and grandfather were only able to complete half the loan, slimy gangster made us keep the land for nearly eight tenths of a million credits."

"It will be an incredibly difficult journey, but if we pace it properly." Obi-Wan nodded to Luke and then turned to Owen. "We can find more than enough to cover your debt."

"How?" Beru was curious.

"I've long since suspected that Tatooine's deepest caves hold a great deal of secrets. Darkness, possibly even technology, lost to time. If it's true a once great people lived here, they buried their riches. If one day they'd ever need it."

"How long would this journey take?" Owen asked. "You're the expert on Tatooine caves right?"

"It could take a week or two if we're lucky." Obi-Wan said. "Or maybe a month."

"Or you might not even return at all." said Owen calmly.

"Obi-Wan has been more truthful to me about who I was and what I could do than you ever were my whole life. In just this short time I've known him." Luke said quietly, "Why don't you-"

"Luke." Beru said. "Your uncle and I just bought you a toy miniature of your old T-16. Why don't we go take a look at it?"

Luke didn't need the Force to know this was just an excuse for him to not eavesdrop on what Obi-Wan and Owen were about to discuss.

"Fine." grumbled Luke, all but storming off, as Beru followed him.

…

"I'm not just doing this for my sake. I could definitely use the help around here, but all said and done, I know he lied to me and had a bunch of droids replace him."

Ben, with his alias removed, now known fully as Obi-Wan, was a bit surprised. "He did? How did he find the money for it?"

"I still don't know. I'm sure he came up with something, point is, he's talented."

Obi-Wan nodded. "That much is beyond doubt." he tilted his head slightly.

"He hates Tatooine. Racing legend around these parts. Only child. Remind you of anyone from around this neck of Dune Sea?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "He's nothing like Anakin." Obi-Wan said with pride. "Luke never complains about my lessons, never finds something to complain about. As if what I can teach holds him back. He never seems to give into frustration, or envy, or impatience."

"Right, but how long until he finds out the truth? The further he walks down this path, the closer and closer he gets to his father."

"I can't shield him from it forever. What was the idea? For me to die at hundred and twenty? Watch Luke run this farm with some other girl he found around here as an apparition through the Force? So his children can eventually pay off the Lars debt to Jabba? Or their children?"

"He might've been better for it if he never found out."

"The galaxy wouldn't."

Owen squinted at Obi-Wan a little. "It might not be too. You ever consider that?"

Obi-Wan was silent.

"What if he finds his father? What if he learns the truth? What if they find out who each other are, and instead of being frightened. Or angry? Or defiant. They both accept it. And what if Luke joins him? Finds solace in Anakin's ideals?"

Obi-Wan smiled. "That much will never happen."

"Why not?"

"You truly don't know the person you raised then." said Obi-Wan. "As much as he hungers for knowledge in the Force. He never showed any comfort, from the first time he was tempted, Luke wasn't scared. But he wasn't embracing towards it. I saw it. You never could've."

"You're right, I did raise him. Luke's fifteen, and he never met his real father. If I was in his shoes, and I finally met my actual family. My real flesh and blood for the first time ever. I'd want to follow them, that's what I know, and that's how family works."

Obi-Wan stroked his beard. "The choice belongs to the boy, and to the boy alone if he wishes to stay with me. And everything I've sensed through the Force, seen in Luke, seen him do. Seen him appreciate and enjoy, tells me he will never fall to the Dark Side."

"Agreed. Luke should decide."

…

Luke turned to Beru. "I'm sorry about lying to you these past few weeks."

"It's alright." Beru smiled. "When I was your age, I would've loved to race skyhoppers and learn magic. Instead of spending the entire day out in the sun plowing the field, working with moisture vats."

The two laughed together.

Luke turned towards his bedroom door. "What do you think they're talking about?"

"You most likely."

Luke put his toy model of his T-16 skyhopper when Beru sat down on his bed next to him.

"You met my father too, didn't you?"

Beru was quiet.

"What was he like?" asked Luke.

"He was." Beru paused, not knowing at all what to say. "A very passionate person. He loved your mother very dearly. More than anything, I love your uncle, but never as much as I saw your father love your mother."

"And who was my mother? Where did she come from?"

"Luke," Beru passed Luke's hair aside. "You're the closest thing Owen and I have ever had to a son. You know, that Owen, Obi-Wan, and I, know the fullest extent of the truth. And we know that you know that we know that."

"Right."

Beru felt a tear well up in her eye. "You are destined, for great things. Maybe to free us from our debt to the Hutts. Maybe to become a better fighter and pilot than your father ever was."

Luke was sad too, holding his aunt's hand.

"As much as I know you want to know about your family. The truth. You can't rush that when you'll find out."

"But, why's that?"

"This is something that will help you for the rest of your life Luke. Family, is everything. Truth or not, you will find your family, or, your family will find you. When the time comes."

Beru sighed, and Luke continued to listen. "I'm sure your father might've often dreamed of a woman like your mother. And like you, would've begged to know where he might end up. Of where his true destiny lied, of the truth of who he was."

"I know you Luke, rushing the truth. Driving yourself mad over it, becoming frustrated, or denying the truth if and when it comes. That isn't you."

Luke nodded. "I don't think it is."

"You're not a rusher. You're not a dreamer. You're not a," Beru chuckled, still tearful. "You're not a farmer either. You have to do and go where your heart takes you. Trust in that, that's the ultimate truth Luke. No one will ever be able to teach you that."

Luke thanked his aunt for her kind words of wisdom.

He thanked her with a hug, a hug both of them felt was a goodbye.

…

As Obi-Wan began to pack Luke's things into his red landspeeder parked outside the Lars Homestead, Owen held Beru's shoulder as they said goodbye to Luke.

He had a pack over his shoulder, now that the truth was out, there was no need anymore to hide his lightsaber. It was worn proudly on his belt.

"We talked last night at length about what do with um." Owen gulped, sighing quietly. "Well, you."

"And?"

"The choice is yours. What do you want to do?"

"I'm going to learn whatever I can from Obi-Wan. No matter what it takes." Luke glanced at the two suns, that had just started to go back down. And he remembered the search for answers he saw within them, and he knew what to say.

"I want to become a Jedi, like my father."

Owen was about say something but stopped himself.

Beru hugged him.

Luke extended his hand, and Owen swallowed his pride and admitted something.

"You've gotten bigger, smarter, stronger. We need people like you to protect us from the Jabbas of the world."

"Thank you." Luke shook his uncle's hand.

"If you can help settle the debt to Jabba-"

Beru looked at him.

Owen cleared his throat. "When you can help settle the debt to Jabba, will you promise to return home?"

"Why's that? I'll want to see you both again, but." Luke fixed the pack over his shoulder. "What else is left for me here?"

"Fixer, Camie. Everyone you grew up with. We're not the only ones with the same problem on this whole planet." said Owen. "You can go anywhere in the galaxy and do whatever it takes. But Tatooine won't ever change unless you do something."

Luke paused, and then he nodded.

"Fine. I promise I'll come back here when I can. How much," Luke looked troubled at the very question. "How much time do I have?"

Owen opened his mouth, but Beru spoke. "Take as long as you need. There's no rush."

"I'll miss you both."

They began to wave to him, and he turned around and began to walk towards Ben.

One of the two silver protocol droids Luke bought, along with his old Treadwell, began to wave to him.

Luke sped up to speak to Ben as Owen asked Beru.

"Do you think he'll ever come back?"

"No." his wife said, smiling. "I know he will."

Beru and Luke made eye contact from afar, and they smiled, waving to each other again.

Obi-Wan was driving the landspeeder for once, it was clear to Luke he'd know where to go.

…

The entrance to the cave was carved with what was clearly a small warning in an ancient and forgotten language. It was deep within a mountainside, and part of a whole other cave Luke and Obi-Wan walked into.

Luke and Obi-Wan had gone to the deepest part of the Jundland Wastes.

"What is this?"

"The three crossings. These were the last caves I ever began to venture in before you were old enough to start racing your friend Biggs and I was too busy to go exploring."

Luke saw each of the carved stone doorways. "Each crossing leads to a different cave system?"

"Precisely," Obi-Wan muttered. "Each tunnel in this one was sealed off. The other one went in circles, complete dead ends. The third one is where the treasure, at the very last tunnel, should most likely be located."

Luke could see the last bits of sunlight begin to leave the cave.

He turned. "This cave, it's the same one I saw in my vision back at the Pool. It's connected to the Dark Side isn't it?"

"Yes, very much so. Do you still want to turn back? I'm sure we can return later if you sense it's too soon."

Even the Gamer warned Luke.

[Caution. High Level dungeon ahead. Level 60 recommended to proceed.]

Luke was barely LV 44, but he did have Obi-Wan with him. The levels the Gamer recommended were odd to him, because Obi-Wan clearly didn't finish his exploration in this cave, potentially due to needing to look over him as he grew up.

But Obi-Wan was over ten times Luke's current level, and even going slightly easy, Obi-Wan had trouble keeping Luke at bay. He wasn't surpassing him by an stretch if Obi-Wan was really trying, but still. 

Luke still ignored the screen, with Obi-Wan at his side. The Force told him one thing:

Levels or not, Gamer or not, there was nothing he was afraid of.

"Fear leads to the Dark Side. Right?"

Luke then ignited his father's lightsaber.

"In some ways, yes, but not entirely." Obi-Wan then unsheathed his own sword with a loud hiss.

And then, the two stepped into complete and utter darkness.

A timer began to run as if the Gamer was looking for completion for Luke, potentially to reward him based on time like always, but no dungeon rooms were counted. If he got lost, hurt, or separated from Obi-Wan-

Only the Force could guide him then.

…

…

…

Ending A/N:

I initially was going to include a very long A/N explaining a lot about the story, and my plans, but I've since posted it on my profile for those who are interested to not inflate the word count.

I was also asked if I was trying to follow Star Wars canon really closely. To which I'll say yes, I'm trying to follow Star Wars canon very closely, such as the characters, continuity, and world/lore, but I'll be tweaking a few things such as Anakin Skywalker's mentality and philosophy into the Dark Side instead of just being a ton of pure hatred. The hatred will be certainly still there just, you'll see.

The one everyone has given me so far have been incredible, I'm so grateful for them, and I'm determined to deliver as best I can. As an example, suggestions like Luke hiding his lightsaber in his inventory during last chapter and prior, have already been implemented. 

On that note, if anyone has any suggestions or comments on how exactly the fanfic could be better, or if it could follow Star Wars EU more faithfully, please. Let me know, as long with any other thoughts you may have.

For instance the events will be the same, such as Anakin's decision to betray the Jedi Order. But instead of it being mostly hatred, and a love for Padme, it is also based a lot more in the belief that something I'll be experimenting with, likely a Sith precept, that the Force and the galaxy exist for Force users, not the other way around.

All Force users, with the right skill, are also able to similarly shield themselves like Gamer's body, but not quite. Again, see combat in the Force Unleashed as per my author's note.

As potentially broken as the Gamer really is, if you have the Force, and you're great or even good with the Force, you're pretty dang strong.

You can move faster, you can fight better, you can see things happen just slightly before normal people do. You can potentially see into the future, you can even see into the past in some cases. Again, playing the Force Unleashed has taught me that someone intent on using the Force to its maximum capacity, just in pure combat ability, is practically unstoppable unless you also have and know how to use the Force or they make generally large mistakes.

Thank you all for reading folks, you've given me a lot to think about with the reviews with the previous chapter. And I'll be doing my research as soon as I wrap up this first mini-arc/prelude on Tatooine. Peace!