The Summer Strikes Back, Part 2

Luke had always loved Ben's cottage. Though the furnishings and appliances were similar to the ones in their cottage, every crack and crevice held mementos of Uncle Ben's many adventures. Beautiful Asian bamboo umbrellas and ivory elephants vied for space with Hawaiian animal carvings and shell leis.

Leia was more interested in the photos on Uncle Ben's crab-trap side table. “Is this Mother and Dad?” she asked, holding up a faded color picture in a chipped gold frame. Luke joined her, looking over her shoulder. “It looks like them. And look, there's Adam.”

Luke frowned. “He's pretty young here, barely a toddler. This must be at least the mid-50's.”

His sister nodded. “It's so empty. I see the old Ocean View Hotel, and the cottages and a couple of houses, but nothing else. What's that little Victorian house in the background, across from Cottage 8?”

“The original lifeguard station.” They both looked up as Ben shuffled in from the bathroom with a battered first aid kit. “It was built in the late 1880's. Locals did try to save it, but the city of Ocean View finally decided it wasn't up to code and replaced it with the current lifeguard station about five years ago.”

Luke smiled. “You know everything about this town, Uncle Ben. How long have you lived here?”

“Since after World War II.” He dropped on the battered brown and tan-striped couch and flipped open the rusted snaps on the first aid kit. “I was stationed at the Philadelphia Naval Yard late in 1944. One summer weekend, my unit had shore leave. Some of the boys were from the Philadelphia area and had often spoken of the charms and bikini-clad women of Ocean View.” He gave them a small grin. “I came for the attractive females, but I fell in love with the ocean. It reminded me of the fishing village I grew up at in Scotland, but more...colorful, perhaps.”

“I wish I remembered this,” Luke said softly as Ben rubbed alcohol on his wounds, then slapped Band Aids on them. “We weren't born until years later.”

“You two will need to be cautious.” The slender, calloused fingers snapped the heavy yellow case shut. “Vader and his gang are not to be taken lightly. They will damage anything that gets in their way. You saw them today.”

Luke rubbed his bruised cheek. “We'll be careful, Uncle.”

They all looked up at once at a knock on the door. “I'll be right back.” Luke and Leia's blue and brown eyes followed the older man as he headed for the front porch. Luke could only see a little of the man on the other side. The man had a stiff British accent with the crispest dictation he ever heard.

Leia tried to see over her brother's shoulder as their voices got louder. “What's going on?”

They both went to the front window. The other man was small and very thin, with a skeletal face straight out of the Night of the Living Dead movies. His sharply cut gray suit and smooth brown leather briefcase had more in common with John Forsythe on Dynasty, but he somehow made them even more intimidating.

“I think some guy is selling something to Uncle Ben.” Luke winced as the voices got louder. “I wouldn't want to buy anything off him. He reminds me of Dr. Frankenstein from those old Hammer Horror movies Channel 11 runs during October.”

Uncle Ben was not an easy man to intimidate. “I've told you before, Tarkin, no. I'm not interested in selling the Cottages. This is my life, and not only my home, but the home of many others.”

“Surely you can't keep them up much longer.” The gray-haired man gave Ben a thin, knowing smile that chilled Luke to his bones. “These buildings are over fifty years old. They require a great deal of money to upgrade. And with all the horrible gangs driving tourists away, like those on the very beach before you, how will you survive?”

“We'll manage.” Ben looked at his watch. “I'm sorry, but I do have renters to attend to. Perhaps you can come back another time? Say, never?”

Tarkin only chuckled. “My employers are making you a very generous offer. You could even retire in style.”

“I'm not interested.” The taller Scotsman started to close the door. “This is the last time. If I see you here again, I'll sue you for harassment. Got that?”

The man smirked. “And I could call a building inspector. None of these rat-traps look like they're even remotely up to code.”'

“You do that. Good bye.” He finally shut the door in the skeleton man's face.

Luke shuddered as the man strode back to a sleek silver-gray Mercedes parked on the side of the road. “Who was that, Uncle?”

“Peter Tarkin. He's a lawyer, mainly based in Philadelphia and Allentown.” He watched as the Mercedes took off down Ocean Drive with a mighty screech.

Leia sat on the couch, her hands demurely on her lap. “Uncle Ben, would you please explain what is going on?”

Ben rubbed alcohol into Luke's wound, making the young man wince. “Have either of you ever heard of Empire Industries?”

She nodded. “I have. They're technically an oil and fuel company. They began in the 1930's as Naboo Oil and Power, but they branched out in the 1950's and 60's into chemicals and bio-engineering. In the 1970's, they branched further into the totally different field of hotels and entertainment, probably to compete with Gulf and Western buying Paramount Pictures. In addition to oil fields and chemical plants, they own six theme parks, two luxury hotel chains, and a cruise ship line.”

Luke raised his eyebrows. “How do you know all that?”

“Senator Mothma has an ongoing feud with them.” Leia picked at a natty brown thread in the couch cushion. “They've broken at least three or four environmental laws and six minor safety regulations on their theme parks and hotels, but nothing anyone has ever been able to convict them for. Their owner, Simon Palapatine, is said to be a real grade-A sleazebucket.”

Ben slapped a Band-Aid on Luke's cheek. “Most of the newer hotels and condos on the south side of town were built by Empire Industries. They tore down the Old Republic and Royal Naboo Hotel, among others, to build the Coruscant City condo complex. It just opened last month.”

“Oh no!” Luke's face fell. “The Royal Naboo had a great pool! It was almost the size of a lake, with lots of flowers and landscaping. It was so beautiful. I used to go pool-hopping with Wedge and Biggs there.”

“And the Old Republic had a great tea shop.” Leia's eyes were far away. “Mother used to take me there as a special treat when I was little, just her and me. I wore my Sunday best dress and everything.”

Ben nodded. “Tarkin works for Empire Industries. He's been after me to sell the Cottages for months. Every time, it's right after the Imperial Gang have played pranks or done damage. He thinks he can get me to sell out by driving away my customers.” He gave them a thin smile of his own. “That shark doesn't know the first thing about loyalty or devotion. I'll never sell this property. It's my home, and a lot of other people's homes, too.”

The older man nodded at the beach. “Why don't you two take the rest of the day off? It's only your first day. Tomorrow morning, you can start painting the fences between Cottage 2 and 3. They aren't very wide or very long. You'll be out on the beach in no time.”

“Thanks, Uncle Ben!” Luke let out a whoop and went to grab his surfboard from the back porch at their cottage. “Aren't you coming too, sis?”

Leia shook her head and gathered her purse. “I think I'll go for a walk. I'll join you later.”

“Suit yourself.” Luke turned to Ben. “How about you? Want to try surfing again? I'll bet you haven't done it in years.”

Ben smiled. “These old bones aren't up to surfing, but a swim does sound nice after wrestling with plumbing all morning.”

Leia waved. “Save me a spot by the water!”

“I will!” The younger man sighed as his sister strolled out the screened door.

Luke couldn't help watching his sister as she strolled down the street, past the boardwalk and the beach. The boardwalk was narrow here, really more of a wooden sidewalk than the great plank road where the amusement parks were further south on Ocean Drive. He wasn't the only one watching her. Wedge and Deak's eyes followed her the whole way down to the edge of the street, where the ancient brick Hotel Ocean View malevolently guarded three city blocks. She turned the corner, heading down Sea Gull Road to the docks.

Wedge whistled. “Is it me, Walker, or does your sister get cuter every time I see her?”

Wes smirked from where he was perched on the back of his surfboard. “Is she still going steady with that Isolder guy in Philly?”

“Nahh, they broke up right after New Year's. Leia said she wanted to concentrate on school.” Luke hefted his board. “How's Biggs? Is he ok?”

The other two gathered their boards. “Split lip, cracked ribs, lotta bruises. Hobbie has him back at our cottage.” Wedge got his board under his arm. “Vader got him pretty good in the chest. His ribs are really sore. He may not be able to ride for a while.”

“God, what a bummer.” Luke looked towards the cottage across from the stairs to the beach with the bright-colored towels and bathing suits flapping on the peeling wooden porch railings. “I was really hoping he'd teach me how to catch the big one this year.”

Uncle Ben had already waded into the water. “You know, Luke, I might be able to help you with that.”

“With what?” Luke was paddling out besides him. It felt great to be back out in the waves. The bottle green Atlantic Ocean was just cool enough to be bracing.

“With surfing.” He ducked under the waves, then emerged as the ripples parted, sea weed caught in his short white hair. “I'm an old hand at this. I know a few things even some modern experts aren't familiar with.” Sapphire-blue orbs gazed into the horizon, seeming a million miles away. “I was once a member of the Jedi Knights, like your brother Adam.”

Luke nearly fell off his surfboard. “The Jedi Knights? The surfer group? They were the best of the best in the 50's and 60's! I've heard stories about them. They won every competition they ever entered. They were legendary!” He looked over from his board. “I didn't know Adam was a member. My aunt and uncle don't really like to talk about him. He got into some kind of trouble after Vietnam.”

“He was the best surfer to ever ride the waves in Ocean View.” Ben turned his weathered face back to Luke. “And he was a good friend.”

“Awesome, man.” Wedge floated up besides Luke. “Teach us everything you know.”

“That would be radical!” Wes grinned. “We could learn from the master!”

“Please, Uncle Ben?” Luke's round eyes matched the wide, baby-blue sky over their heads. “I want to learn the moves of the Jedi and be a great surfer, like my brother.”

“Tomorrow.” Ben started towards the shore. “As soon as Luke gets finished painting that fence.

The waves aren't high enough, and it's really getting late. The lifeguards will be leaving soon.”

Luke laid down on his surfboard. If he and the guys could learn those moves, man, nobody would stop them. Not even the Imperial Gang. And definitely not some lame sister who didn't know how to have fun anymore. Maybe they could even be as great as the Jedi.

Wedge nudged him from on top his surfboard. “Hey, we're having a late 4^th of July bash tonight at Cottage 4. We'd love it if you could come.” He splashed Uncle Ben. “You too, Mr. Kenobi. We could tell people we have a chaperon.”

“Yeah, man.” Wes' eyes sparkled. “It would be an honor to have one of the legendary Jedi at our place.”

Ben chuckled and splashed Wedge back. “I think I'd like that. If only to keep an eye on you young whippersnappers. I might even tell a few stories about the Jedi.”

Luke managed to hug Ben from on top of his surfboard, ignoring the laughter from the other guys. Someday, man. Someday. We're going to be that good.