Luke moves his hand away from his blaster, though he does so reluctantly. He knows better than to trust Imperials. Back on Tatooine, stormtroopers raided the moisture farm of his adoptive parents. Although Luke had long entertained dreams of fighting for the Alliance, his Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen were simple people with no Rebel sympathies. That did not stop the stormtroopers from burning their home and murdering them.
After the raid, Luke turned his dreams into reality. Vowing to topple the Empire’s might, Luke joined the Rebellion and dedicated his life to opposing tyranny.
This particular moment, however, is not a wise one to exercise that opposition. The stormtroopers outnumber him six-to-one, and Luke is prudent enough to realize that he can count on no help from strangers. In addition, it appears the Imperials find the charismatic human more interesting than him. Even given the bad odds, Luke would aid the stranger, but it appears he does not wish to resist his arrest.
After Luke places both his hands on the table, the man stands and turns to face the Imperial general. “Take me, Sebastian,” he says. “You know I will not resist.”
“My title is Governor-General, traitor,” the Imperial says. “And before I am finished, you will beg the favor of death.”
“Perhaps so, Sebastian. But for every drop of blood you spill, a million sentients will rise in rebellion.”
“Then I will spill a million buckets of blood.”
After a brief hesitation, the charismatic human faces the prospectors. “Spread the news of my arrest to your fellows, and resist the evil Empire! They cannot rule without your cooperation -“
A stormtrooper calmly steps forward and smashes his rifle butt against the orator’s head. Two other troopers catch the man as he slumps, and they drag him toward the door.
The Governor-General studies the room with a sinister glare. After a long pause, he says, “If the Empire cannot rule without your cooperation, then it will crush you. Spread the news to your fellows.”
The general turns on his heel and leaves, followed by his stormtroopers. The patrons ignore each other, anxious not to discuss what they have seen.
To his side, the miner Luke remembers edging away when the Imperials first appeared shakes his head sadly.
“Wha -” Outrage and confusion loosen Luke’s tongue, and he has to stop himself from protesting out loud. Will he ever learn to think before he speaks?
But the sound has caught the prospector’s ear. He has the red complexion and bulbous nose of a man who enjoys liquid intoxicants perhaps more often than he should, but he also has a steady, honest gaze.
If Luke asks the man about what he has just seen, Click Here
If Luke simply finishes his meal and leaves, Click Here