we all fall down

The small, dimly lit home in the Jundland Wastes was silent except for the faint hum of the old water pipe Ben Kenobi puffed on, the soft whirring of Artoo as he prepared to replay the message, and the restless pacing of Ivy. She had seen Leia's message once before—briefly, hurriedly—but it had been enough to stir something deep within her, something she had buried long ago. And now, as she stood in Ben Kenobi's modest dwelling, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, she felt that same overwhelming dread creeping back in. "Artoo," Ivy urged, her voice tight. "Play the message. Again." The small astromech let out a series of beeps and whistles before the blue flickering image of Leia emerged from the holoprojector. Ivy held her breath. The young woman, regal and resolute even in desperation, appeared in miniature before them. "General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack, and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed." Ivy clenched her jaw. "I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan." Leia's voice grew softer, more urgent. "This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope." The transmission flickered, static crackling before the image cut out. Silence filled the space. Ivy exhaled shakily, her heart pounding. Ben leaned back, rubbing his beard thoughtfully before taking another long drag from his water pipe. He didn't speak at first, simply studying the now-inactive droid with a look of knowing acceptance, as though a long-dreaded moment had finally arrived. Luke, on the other hand, looked utterly enthralled. The galaxy had just cracked open in front of him, and he had no idea how to process it. Ben finally spoke.

"You must learn the ways of the Force if you're to come with me to Alderaan."

Luke let out an incredulous laugh. "Alderaan? I'm not going to Alderaan. We've got to go home." Ivy turned sharply to her son, but before she could say anything, Ben leaned forward, fixing Luke with an intense gaze.

"I need your help, Luke. She needs your help. I'm getting too old for this sort of thing." Luke hesitated. His fingers twitched at his sides, but then he shook his head.

"I can't get involved! I've got work to do!" His voice wavered slightly, betraying his uncertainty. "It's not that I like the Empire. I hate it! But there's nothing I can do about it right now. It's such a long way from here."

Ben sighed. "That's your uncle talking." Luke exhaled sharply, frustration written all over his face.

Ivy placed a hand on Luke's arm, trying to steady him. "Luke—" But Ben cut in, his voice firm yet kind.

"Learn about the Force, Luke." Luke turned away, running a hand through his hair. He looked at his mother, then at Ben, and finally at the small droid that had brought them this message, the droid that had unknowingly carried his sister's plea across the stars. But he wasn't ready. Not yet.

"Look," he said, shaking his head. "I can take you as far as Anchorhead. You can get a transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you're going." Ben studied him, his expression unreadable, before finally nodding.

"You must do what you feel is right, of course." Ivy watched her son carefully. She could see it—the war raging inside him, the pull toward something greater, the resistance born of the life he had always known. And for the first time in years, she truly feared what was coming next.