Ominous presence gloomed over the small interior of the shuttle. The dark lord watched over the small crew inside. Being unable to see any resemblance of a human face through his black mask, made Clive Vanto feel uneasy. The only way to escape was small window showing a vast desert landscape, somehow familiar a yet so different… Lacking the long river and wild woods surrounding it. It was only sand and rocks now.
Clive wanted this journey to end as fast as it could, no matter the possible end.
The ship approached a high cliff with ragged top and a huge crack leading to grand caves inside.
'Here.' Lord Vader said with his unnatural voice, synced through the aperture on his face. The ship touched down and the ramp opened. 'With me.' He said. Vanto knew well who he meant, and wished it had not been like that. He stood up and followed the man the dark cape.
Clive knew those cliffs quite well, even without all the green surrounding it. The cavern they entered must have been normally hidden behind the grand water of Khalos. Now, it was but a dry crack leading to darkness. But still, Vader walked with confidence, as if he knew something was in there, or rather felt it. Each step of his huge body sent vibrations through the rocks, and each one of them, together with his terrifying breath, threateningly diminished Vanto's desire to run away.
The cavern was not deep and once the darkness grew bigger, it ended with an old, collapsed wall, full of ornaments. Lord Vader looked around, seemingly as if he was confused. He began looking around nervously, what seemed out of character for him and soon even Vanto began to feel something, mysterious, but also a comforting feeling. Suddenly a warm light and echoing voice spread around the cave:
'You should not be here.'
The two looked up to a pile of rocks. On top stood a teenage girl. Her hair was a wild bush of curls, her skin was brown, at the verge of golden. Her body was covered with mysterious orange tattoos, and almost seemed to be glowing with a mild, warm light. Clive recognized her, in fact she almost knew her well, and was happy to see her face.
'Sotira…' Vanto whispered.
'What are you?' Lord Vader asked.
'I am no more than what you are, the only difference being is the ability to see the truth.' Sotira said and walked down the pile towards him. She looked at Vanto and smiled to him, understanding the change he has come through. 'Hello Clive.'
Lord Vader looked at Vanto.
'You know her…' He asked. Clive, feeling empowered with Sotira on her side, replied with self confidence:
'Yes… And she is beyond your understanding. You are no match for her…'
Vader looked at him for a while and then furiously raised his hand. Vanto began to suffocate. There was nothing he could physically do to help it. He was powerless.
However quickly after, Sotira stopped it and with the power of her will, bent dark lord's hand.
'You are strong with the force.' He said. His voice was no longer threatening, for there was a small dose nervousness.
'Strong? No. Strength like many things is but an illusion.' She said as calmly as she could. Suddenly, Vader grabbed a lightsaber at his belt and ignited it. In the few seconds when the light around the cavern turned from gold to red, he took a fast and strong swing straight at Sotira. But the crimson blade of the lightsaber did not cut or pierce her, but stopped right before her face. Vader retracted and attacked once more, with the same result. 'Just as I said…'
'What are you?' the dark lord asked once again, this time even without the attempt to hide his helplessness.
He was suddenly raised in the air, the lightsaber ripped away from his hand and all the limbs mechanical limbs of his were disabled. As he was unable to move. To Sotira approached him even closer and with a move of her hands, took apart his mask, layer by layer, until it revealed a scarred and burnt face hidden underneath.
Vanto could not believe what he was seeing. The human side of merciless Lord Vader, a wounded face that showed the emotion of pain as the breathing apparatus began to malfunction. Sotira caressed his ruined skin with sadness and even shed a tear. Then she looked at Vanto and said:
'You are free now Clive. Go, run away, save yourself from them.'
Vanto bowed kindly and smiled with relief.
'Thank you… For everything. I hope we shall see each other again.' He said.
'Oh, we will.' She laughed while Clive turned around and ran away into the light at the end of the tunnel.
For the first time in many years, Vader was afraid. He was powerless, unable to move. Except the company of his master, he always had the upper hand, wielded the seat of power. He wanted to use that pain and anger he felt to power himself, use it to get out, but something restrained him… Her touch that calmed him down and eased the pain… It reached deep within to a place in his dark soul, that he has forgotten about…
'If you want to know who I am, then I will show you...' She said 'But do not be afraid, for I want all the best for you...'
The girl leaned towards him, blinding Vader with her light. She kissed him on his burnt cheek, and once again reached deep within him, to a memory, a part of him that was no longer ought to see the light of day…
Ani walked out the balcony of his home to the backyard, looking for his mother. The twin stars were rising on the horizon, so he stopped for a while to sink in the beauty of his home planet.
Finally he noticed someone other than himself. A girl walked into the backyard from behind a building. Her skin was light brown, on the verge of gold, covered in brown tattoos. Hair was a big and dense curly bush. The face was cute and honest, booming with compassion through her brown eyes. In overall, she was unlike anything Ani has ever seen, a truly beautiful being.
'Are you an angel?' He asked. The girl chuckled and asked.
'I do not know… Am I?'
'I heard deep space pilots talk about them. They're the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They live on the moons of Iego… I think.'
'Huh… That is not where I come from… In fact, I am from a place not far from here…' She said and looked closely at Ani. 'You seem troubled… What is wrong?'
'My mom… I can't find her.'
'Do not worry. I can help you find her. I had to look for people I have lost many times before. I am good at this… My name is Sotira, what is yours?
'Anakin Skywalker.'
'That is a very pretty surname, Sky-Walker.' Sotira said and chuckled.
