The crowning ceremony of Darth Prinz was being broadcasted all across the galaxy that dawn. Imperial supporters swarmed the front of the imperial capital, desperate for a look at the new crowned Prince of the galaxy. Not much was known about the man: he was more mysterious than Vader himself. He just appeared one day, a few days after the destruction of the second death star.
Everyone was wondering who he was and were slightly disappointed when the man cloaked in black presented as 'The Prince of the Empire' wore a mandalorian helmet crowned with emerald jewels, shielding his face from anyone's view.
Unbenounced to the crowds of millions of people watching as the prince walking the steps of the jedi temple to receive his recognition, his heart was racing.
'What am I doing.' He thought to himself, 'This is crazy. I can't possibly...this is wrong.'
'Calm yourself.' The Prince heard Vader's booming voice echo in his mind. 'You know the agreement. It was your freedom for your life.'
'I never agreed to that. You chose for me.'
'And yet, here you are. This is your decision to accept your title. You can not hold me responsible for your choice. Now will you cower from your choice or stand tall?'
The Prince took a deep breath. And then another. He then straightened his back, revealing his new towering height and prestige.
'Honorable.' Vader once again spoke, 'The Emperor will be pleased.'
'I am not doing this for your master.' The prince responded as his reached the top of the steps coming face to face with The Emperor sitting in a large throne overlooking the crowd with Darth Vader standing beside him.
The Dark Prince humbly bowed before the two men, though no one could tell that he gritted his teeth while doing so.
"Darth Prinz," The emperor's frail voice boomed throughout the crowd through a series of speakers, making the crowd fall silent, "Rise."
Darth Prinz slowly and unsteadily rose from the ground and looked straight into the eyes of the emperor. Vader slowly walked forward. In his hands was a black, silver and gold medal with the imperial insignia with emeralds surrounding the top in the shape of a royal headpiece, much similar to those worn by royalty on the planet of Naboo. Though Prinz had no clue what it looked like.
"I hereby knight you, Darth Prinz," The emperor spoke as Vader pinned the medal onto the Prince's black jacket, right above his heart that was currently pounding rapidly. "The Prince of the Empire and defender of our glorious nation."
The crowd burst into thunderous applause.
Somewhere, far away from this spectacle, as the sun began to set on the planet, a large group of people, all wearing black, hung their heads in mourning on a deserted island of a deserted planet. The small island was crowded with thousands of people but they made no noise. The only indication that there was life was the orange glow from the candles they all carried. They could care less about the ceremony that had captured the attention of everyone else in the galaxy. There minds and eyes, welling up with tears, were focused on a small makeshift altar.
Han heard Chewbacca let out a low, painful cry, staring at the grey slab of rock with a name etched onto it and a pilot helmet on top of it. Han and Chewie were standing the closest to the stone and helmet, in the front row of the ranks, despite both of them being taller than all of the crowd. Leia stood in front of the crowd, dressed in a hauntingly beautiful black dress and an air of depression surrounding her.
When she began speaking, Han could tell that she was trying her best to keep her voice steady.
"As we all know, the rebellion had a great victory at the battle of endor." Leia said, her voice so close to cracking. "That victory came at a cost. The sacrifice made on that day is what we honor today. There is not a person here that is not gravely indebted to this man."
Han noticed that she couldn't bring herself to say his name, though she had every opportunity to. Han knew that she loved him and that his sudden death was taking its toll. And to think he had been so...so angry at him when he had left. Too full of himself to even say goodbye. Too concerned about his own life and his own wants that he didn't even bother to ask where he was going of what his intentions were.
"He was braver than I ever hope to be." Leia continued, "Sacrificing his freedom, his life, for our cause. For the slim chance that he would buy us time. After today, the imperial's and history will know nothing of him. They will call him a traitor. A murderer. A terrorist. But we know, and are the only ones who know the truth. If the galaxy forgets him. So be it. If the galaxy tarnishes his name and image to be a distorted monster of the truth. So be it. If the galaxy rejoices at his death. So be it. Let us not forget what he has done for us."
Han could feel a small, empty tear fall from his eye and down his cheek as he stared at the name carved into the stone like a scar carved into skin that would never heal.
"Let us not disgrace his memory." Leia said, her voice full of power and raw emotion, "Let us remember that he was a hero."
Leia held the candle in her hands up to her face and the crowd followed her example.
"This planet, by decree of the Galactic Alliance, is now protected as a place of highest honor," Leia said, standing straight up and facing the audience once more, "No one is permitted or ever will be permitted to tamper, alter, or destroy any part of this planet and this island. This planet will be the resting place of heros. The resting place of Luke Skywalker."
Leia placed the lit candle she had been holding and placed it on the altar, illuminating the stone in a serine orange glow.
"May the force be with you," Leia said to the altar, silent tears falling onto the grave, though only Han could see and hear her.
Leia stood up, regaining her dignity and strength. She was hiding her sorrow from the mourners the best that she could. She had to remain strong.
"We ask for everyone who wishes to to come up and pay their respects to him at this time." Leia said, her voice plagued with sorrow.
Being Luke's closest friends, Han and Chewbacca were given the honor of being the first to place their candles beside the altar.
"It was nice knowin' ya, kid." Was all Han could muster.
He wanted to say so much more but was just unable to.
Han was 100% sure that Chewie's mournful roar was more meaningful that what he had said.
Everyone else followed after that, each one placing their candles on the grave sight, saying a few words and paying respect to the fallen hero. It went on for what seemed like hours. It wasn't just members of the rebellion in attendance. There were normal citizens, ones that had known Luke personally or by his heroic actions of destroying the first Death Star. Thousands of faces Han didn't recognize and probably faces Luke wouldn't have recognized. Everyone of them mourned his loss and offered their condolences to Leia and Han and anyone else who ever met the man.
Leia and Han held hands for support as they watched the crowd thin, ships leave and the mound of candles and flowers stacking up to a point where they were spilling onto the cobblestone steps and farther. Eventually, after hours and well into the night, Han, Chewie and Leia were left alone to look at the hauntingly beautiful spectacle.
"I wish he were here." Leia said. "Part of me still thinks…"
"You've been looking for him for months." Han said. "He's gone. I wish it wasn't true...but he's gone."
"I wish he could see this." Leia said gazing at the sight of the hundreds of candles lighting the path to the altar, the light reflecting off of the dark water.
"I know." Han said, "I'd be lucky if you showed up to my funeral."
Chewie growled something.
"Then when would be the time to say it?" Han responded.
"I was so sure that he would make it off in time…" Leia said, ignoring his comment and leaning on Han's shoulder for support.
"I was too…" Han said, no longer even trying to make humor out of the situation, "My only question is...why was he on board? He knew we were trying to blow up that thing. How on earth would they be able to capture him. He could easily just chop off the arms of those bucket heads and move on."
Leia remained silent.
"I know you know something." Han questioned her. "But you haven't told anyone."
"His reasons for being on board were personal." Leia responded, rather formally.
"You've said that every time I ask, princess." Han said, "I understand that he was your 'long-lost-brother' but that doesn't explain how they got ahold of him or why he left that night."
"You heard his reasons himself." Leia retorted, "He said that he was endangering the mission."
"Load of Bathna sh-"
"Han!"
"I want answers, your highness." Han angrily mocked, as he always did. "The rest of the rebellion might buy your simple story of 'he died for us' but not me hon. My friend just got blown up by your little rebel group. You are going to give me a good reason on why he was on that ship. Now."
Leia stared at him. He had the right to know. There were risks involved. If anyone realized who Luke had been, he would die a traitor to everyone.
"Alright…" Leia gave in. "But not here. I will tell you on the way back to the base."
"Finally."
"And Han."
"Yes, Princess?" He said with a smug smile, thinking he had won.
"If you tell anyone," Leia said, deadly serious, "you will die."
…Darth Prinz quickly got the reputation of being the face of the Empire...metaphorically speaking. Like the rest of the highest class of the empire, he wore his face covered, or shielded, only revealing his beautiful and frightening grey eyes. Out of the three leaders of the empire, he was the one who would engage in conversation with the crew, talking with them and not down to them.
He was very odd.
And he was very aware of this.
Darth Prinz had been given direct orders from Darth Vader to not interact with the crew or senators or anyone else unless he needed to. He, not wanting to submit his soul to the Empire just yet, clearly and openly disobeyed this rule.
"Good morning, Commander Annroux." Darth Prinz greeted the man while walking through the halls of the Imperial Star Destroyer Tormentor that morning, heading towards the meeting room for the morning dispatching. "Sleep well?"
"Um...Good morning, Lord Prinz." Annroux said, nervous and confused at his boss' unexpected politeness. "I slept fine, thank you sir."
"Don't lie to me, Commander." Prinz said, casually, "I can clearly tell that you did not sleep well last night."
"How can you tell that, sir?"
"I am strong with the force." Was his simple reply, as if it needed no further explanation. "You must take better care of yourself, commander. Staying up late in an attempt to get the next day's work done only exhausts you."
"Of course sir."
"I was hoping, Commander, that you may be some assistance to me."
"Of course, sir." Annroux said, "The entire fleet is at your command."
"That is unfortunate." Prinz said, "because what I need requires that no one else aboard this vessel knows about it. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir." The commander said, wondering what confidential information he was about to learn and just how dangerous it was.
"Good. If someone else learns of it the Emperor will have both are heads." Prinz warned in a hushed voice, "I have a need for someone to read what ever printed information is given aloud to me. During this meeting and any other time that I receive printed information."
Annroux was a bit surprised by this request. His mind went wandering to all the possible explanations.
"I can sense that you are confused." Prinz said, casually. "I can assure you that I am not illiterate."
It was then Annroux noticed the man's eyes, the only visible part of his body. They were two unfocused, cloudy grey orbs surrounded by pale, charred flesh. As if someone had cut his several times across his eye lids with a hot knife.
"Your thoughts are correct." Prinz assured him.
"How do you...sorry but may I ask you, sir, how you are able to pilot a ship, as I have seen you do," the commander questioned in confusion, "in that...condition."
"Lord Vader has taught me how to feel objects around me." Prinz said, placing his hand on the ship wall, feeling the cool metal surface beneath his thick leather black gloves, "While his methods were extreme, they were necessary for me to function. In a way, my eyes are more powerful than yours. I can feel every human, every computer, every action, every thought, every breath taken on board. But my condition comes with...some setbacks."
"So you can read minds but not words on paper?"
"I can hardly say I do either." Prinz said. "I am simply able to sense someone's emotions. Someone's moral standpoint. Helps me pick allies I can trust. Can I trust you, Commander?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. If you will follow me, I appear to be late to our meeting." Prinz said, smiling beneath his mouth piece. "Don't worry, it is my fault and none of your own."
The meeting went well. By the end of it, all of the commanders, lieutenants and even the Captain found Prinz to be a most reasonable man, one who made simple requests and gave clear instruction and was not afraid to make a few jokes along the way. While no one questioned his power, his lightsaber mounted to his hip gave clear indication of that, they did not fear him.
As expected, at first, no one questioned Darth Prinz's orders. As was protocol, they did whatever the Fleet Admiral said. But they soon learned that if they asked the man questions regarding his decisions, they would receive more than adequate answers.
"This is a very expensive and unnecessary order." A commander complained loudly to a group of his peers late one night in the council room. "Who put in this demand?"
"That would be myself, commander." Darth Prinz said, entering the room, "Sorry gentlemen to disturb you."
"No...no you're not disturbing us." The commander stuttered in fear. "We were just...just discussing budget problems."
"Ah yes," Prinz said, "We all must bow to the almighty credit at some point. However I myself will be personally paying for the renovations."
"Why, may I ask sir, are you renovating the battle station?" A lieutenant questioned, "There is no details why or what they are for."
"Oh sorry." Prinz said, realizing his mistake and casually laughing. "I forgot to add that in my report. I need the doorways raised. I keep hitting my head on them and a bruise is starting to form on my forehead. I seem to always forget to duck."
A few lower lieutenants began to chuckle along with the fleet admiral.
What was particularly unique about their new leader is the fact that he tried his hardest to make himself feel normal.
"Good evening, Admiral Prinz." An officer greeted him in the meal room one day.
"Good evening, Officer Barak." Prinz responded politely before turning to the other men of the group. "Good evening. May I join you?"
"Of-of course, sir."
Prinz sat down at the edge of the metal bench of the lunch room table, lowered the black cloth covering his mouth, but keeping his helmet on, and proceeded to eat the standard meal that was served in the cafeteria that day.
"So I was lost in the forests of Naboo, separated from the school group." A man, who was clearly on the lower ranks as either a technician or engineer, continued his story, "I walk a few feet forwards and spring a rope trap."
"How did you get out of it?" Prinz asked.
"He didn't." Another man jokingly chimed in. "A farmer came by and rescued his pathetic skin."
"And she became my wife." The man said, "Of course not right at that moment. We hit it off instantly and kept contact when I left. Finally got back to Naboo and just popped the question. What about you, Urikun, how'd you meet yours?"
"I lost a bet to my friend." The man said, taking a drink, "If he won the street race, I would take his little sister out on a date. Turns out that she was actually really funny and didn't mind a military lifestyle. What about you, Prinz? Got a family somewhere?"
"I suppose I do." Prinz responded. "My family is...complicated. My relationship with my father is...problematic at best."
"What about a wife?"
"Hardly," Prinz responded.
"Really? The most powerful man in the galaxy doesn't have a girl?"
"The only girl in my life is my sister." Was Prinz's response as he took another bite. "As for being the most powerful man in the galaxy, I can assure you that I am not. If he wished to, Darth Vader could kill me just as easily and quickly as he could kill you."
"Why would he want to kill you?"
"He has his reasons for wanting to kill me," Prinz said this as if it was no big deal, "But he also has his reasons for keeping me alive. I'm an...investment so to speak. Think of me as a new military weapon."
"How?"
Prinz held out his right arm, removed his glove and then peeled off the flesh of his forearm to reveal a series of wires and gears.
"A robotic arm?" A man questioned. "Those have been around since forever."
"This is not just robotic arm." Prinz said, playing around with the gears inside of it, feeling a tickling sensation run up his arm. "It's the newest in military equipment. I am able to record conversations, unlock almost any electric door, hack into delicate data files and even produce small electric shocks from my palms to stun a human upon my touch."
"That's...frightening." A man said as he watched Prinz put the skin back on his arm.
"I've never seen anything like it…"
"And you probably never will again." Prinz assured. "You have to lose your real arm and be in a very tight circle of people to receive such a...honor. Of course that's not the only 'special feature' I have but if I told you anymore we would all be dead."
With the crew becoming more relaxed around the man, they found themselves asking for more information about his background. None of them expected answers, but they in fact did receive some information. He was born a mandalorian 34 standard years before and slowly gained in favor of the Emperor because of his incredible force power.
By the end of his first week, the crew of the Star Destroyer Tormenter completely trusted and admired their leader. They viewed him as compassionate yet firm. He was almost...human, despite being mostly machine. And for a few months, the fleet and Darth Prinz were at peace.
…Leia couldn't be sure how Han was going to take the information. Her mind ranged from screaming to crying to running away from it all. But she had not expected him to laugh.
"Yeah Darth Vader is Luke's father," Han said, laughing at her bold statement, "And Jabba the Hutt is my uncle."
"Han I'm not joking…" Leia said, trying to get him to take her seriously.
"How'd did you figure this out?" Han said, mockingly, "Did Luke invite you over for Life Day dinner and Vader was sitting at the head of the table?"
"Han, this isn't funny…"
"Was Luke's metal hand just a family tradition or something?" Han asked, "Like when you turn a certain age you get the body part of your choice cut off and replace with metal?"
"Han!"
"I guess that would make you his daughter as well." Han said, "I assume you opted out of the whole 'metal arm' thing. Or is that a lie too?"
"Han this isn't a joke…"
"Seriously Princess, I don't know how you come up with this stuff." Han said, "If you are going to lie to me at least make it believable, sweetheart."
Leia was fed up with Han's jokes so she slapped him hard across the face.
"Han." Leia said, putting her hands to the sides of his face and forcing him to look at her. "I'm serious. Darth Vader is Luke's father."
Something about the deathly serious look in Leia's eyes made Han realize that she wasn't joking.
"You're...you're not kidding, are you?" Han said, not really knowing how to comprehend the information. "How...how...why...uh...oh man…when?"
"He told me right before he left that night on Endor." Leia said, sitting down beside Han on her couch. "I...I didn't take it well."
"How is it even possible?" Han asked, the information sinking in him like a spacecraft sinking into the ocean, "I thought the kid was some nobody from some desert planet."
"I honestly don't know how…" Leia said, despairingly, "But I know it's true. You didn't see him those months after he learned…"
"Wait he didn't always know?"
"Not from what I understand…" Said Leia, "I am certain he learned in Cloud City, when Vader tried to capture him. He...he changed after that."
"He didn't seemed changed to me."
"You didn't see him those months." Leia said, a depressing frown on her auburn lips, "He would have nightmares. He would scream at night and barely talk during the day. I can't even imagine how it would feel. He was frightened. He was frightened of everything."
"The man with a lightsaber was afraid?" Han pointed out, his eyebrows raised.
"I thought he just wanted some time to himself, so I didn't pester him about why he was avoiding everyone." Leia said, realizing that she should have been there for him more, "But honestly...I think he was afraid of someone finding out. Imagine what would happen if they found out that Darth Vader was his father. Someone would turn on him. I can't even begin to think about how that would have felt: being afraid of the people you trust."
Han couldn't even begin to comprehend about what that must have felt like. While he was a smuggler, it was common practice to not trust anyone. But rebels were very different than smugglers. They cared for each other. Trusted one another. He didn't think they was a situation, besides being an Imperial, where you couldn't trust a rebel. But being the son of Darth Vader… Han hated to admit it but Luke wouldn't have lasted a week if that knowledge had become public. Someone would have wanted revenge.
It would be enough to make anyone turn.
"Would explain why he was acting as dark and moody at Jabba's palace. Never thought I would see the day when that kid would wear black. So was he plotting against us?…" Han said, "I don't believe. The kid would never do something like that."
"He wasn't plotting against us." Leia said, her voice rising in defense. "How could you even say that? He hated Vader"
"And I hate a lot of people but still would do favors for them for the right price."
"We aren't talking about your petty dealings with criminals and gangster!" Leia said boldly. "Luke wouldn't be turned for the entire galaxy...which I am sure Vader offered him."
"I thought Vader wanted him dead."
"He did...but Luke is a powerful force user." Leia said, wringing her hands together. "Vader might have wanted to turn him."
"Are you sure he didn't?"
"Han, you know Luke just as well as I do." Leia said, "I know he was good. I know he was on our side."
"So what happened?" Han said, finally taking her serious. "Why did he leave all of the sudden."
"He wanted to save Vader." Leia said, wrapping her arms around herself, thinking of their final conversation before his death. "He saw good in him and wanted to make him good."
"No wonder he didn't tell me what his plan was," Han said, shaking his head at Luke's foolishness. "I would have pinned him down to keep him from going. That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. That bucket head can't 'join the light' or whatever the kid's weird Jedi religion is."
"I should have tried harder to stop him…" Leia said, feeling the guilt of his death weighing on her shoulders, "I was just so focused on myself that I didn't think. I didn't think that...I never could have imagined…"
"So what killed him? Vader or the explosion?"
"Vader is still alive…" Leia said, growing angry at herself and that diabolical monster that was Luke's father, "That monstrous, murderer, blood hungry tyrant either killed him or left him to die."
"So much for fatherly love…" Han said, mourning his dead friend, now fully understanding how he had died and growing angry at the thought.. "Just when I thought the Empire couldn't get any worse. That poor kid. He just wanted to give him a second chance. I can't even imagine what sort of sick person would kill his own kid..."
Suddenly, Han's mind shifted thought.
"Leia, does Vader know about you?" Han asked, nervously, wringing his hands together. "About you and Luke...being siblings?"
"I'm not sure…" Leia said, wondering why that had never occurred to her before. "Luke said that-that I had the same power as he had."
"If that machine comes near you…" Han said gritting his teeth.
"If he wanted me, he would have found me already." Leia said, placing her head on his shoulder, taking his hand.
"Or he has something else planned…" Han said, bitterly, rubbing her hand, "Maybe it's time to…to just..."
"To just what?" Leia asked, knowing exactly what he was going to say.
"To just leave, Princess." Han said, letting out his frustration. "The harder we fight, the harder things get. Luke's gone, the Empire has a death sentence for all of us and Vader could be showing up at our doorstep any moment. With the money I got from the whole 'Jabba' incident, we could be set for a couple years. Think about it princess. You get me all to yourself for all the time you want."
Han gave her his signature smug smile and she rolled her eyes.
"I don't know where you get your delusions, laserbrain." Leia said, crossing her arms but Han still had his arm draped around her shoulder. "I'm not leaving the rebellion. I am a leader and I am not stopping till the Emperor and Darth Vader are taken down. I wouldn't leave even if my life depended on it. And I most definitely will not leave for you."
"Come on, hon," Han said, loving the feeling of Leia beside him. "You know you love me."
"Force knows why…"
…Senator Starkiller of Mustafar was an odd addition to the Galactic Senate. The mining planet had very few residents, namely pirates that didn't want to be found by the authorities. So why it needed representation confused the other members of the Senate. What confused them even more was that they initially assumed the man to be blind due to his strikingly bright and intimidating grey eyes. But that was quickly dismissed upon seeing how confidently he walked and the fact that he never tripped or ran into walls.
He also appeared to walk with a limp, as if each step was hurting him.
Not to mention his complete experience with politics was completely noticeable. He relied on a imperial commander to say something to him before he spoke, as if his words were forced and not of his own opinion. Of course that was not new in the senate. Most, if not all, of the senators were told what to say by some member of the empire's military. It was just odd to see him so open to it.
What confused them the most about the new senator was his uncanny selfless nature.
"It's a pointless waste of resources." Senator Starkiller said in the senate one rainy day. "Senators already have free healthcare, weekly wages that are double the amount that most families make in a year and are fully compensated for any money they spend if it related to their position which includes travel expenses and food. An increase in pay raise for senator wages would not benefit the people we serve."
"You are forgetting, Senator Starkiller," A rather fat senator in luxurious robes said, "that not all of us have factories on the planets we serve which give us our extra credits."
"No I do not forget that." Starkiller responded, "But I also understand that everyday, families in the outer rim go hungry because of lack of funds circulating in the lower levels of Corrusaunt and the rest of the galaxy. Increasing money in the higher class would only further the gap between rich and poor, not lessen it."
It surprised the older senators just how much the new senator reminded them of a long deceased senator from back in the days of the Clone Wars. The older generations of senators found themselves agreeing with the newer senator and helped him pass his bill regarding the freeing of trade routes to increase trade between systems.
They were even more pleasantly surprised to learn that Owenbi Starkiller of Mustafar had been in contact with Darth Prinz (who Starkiller had referred to as an old, close friend) to organize a relief effort for one of the recent battle torn planets in the outer rim, one who had gotten caught in between the rebels and imperials gunfire.
…Everyone aboard the Tormentor, the flag ship of Darth Prinz's fleet, was panicking and their hearts were beating a bit faster the morning that Darth Vader himself would be coming to inspect Darth Prinz's fleet. Everyone's uniform's were cleaner knowing that they could be buried in that outfit. Everyone stood a bit taller in hopes to go down with honor. Everyone breathed a little deeper as if they were taking their last breath. The fact that Darth Prinz was nowhere within the ranks sent fear rippling in there bodies.
They admired him and knew that he would stand on their side if Vader found something distasteful.
But in truth, though no one knew, he was cowering from Vader in his private quarters, waiting for death to come.
Despite appearing as strong as a warrior and as tall enough to be mistaken as a wookie, Darth Prinz felt like his old self: the small frightened farm boy he had been only...what would it be...only a few months ago.
Darth Vader hadn't made personal face-to-face contact with him since he was assigned to the fleet. He knew that it wasn't a good thing that he would be talking to him once more. Nothing but pain and torment came from talking to him.
When Vader came aboard the flagship, everyone was silent. They didn't question him as he instantly made his way to the Admiral's quarters and made it inside with Darth Prinz. Prayers began being sent in Prinz's name.
The door to Prinz's room closed and the two black clad men stared blankly at one another until Prinz had the courage to speak, his voice cold and crude, completely opposite of how he would talk to his men..
"Hello, father."