I own Star Wars and George Lucas and its all mine, so I waste my time writing for something that pays no money or offers no rewards. Sarcasm, folks!
Helpful criticism is appreciated.
I do not know what age Galen was when Vader discovered him, so he is seven in this story.
"Stay here, Galen," the man gasped out in fear as he forcefully pushed a young boy into hiding while the sounds of battle could be heard in the distance. "And do not come out for anything. If I don't come back, go to the nearest Wookie village after the soldiers are gone."
Galen grabbed his father's arm as the man turned to walk away, his young face locked in fear. In the distance the distinctive whining sound of TIE fighters could be heard and the blasts seemed to shake the planet to its very core. Wookies and Stormtroopers were calling out as both annihilated each other with their respective weapons.
"Father, no!" Galen cried out as tears traced their way down his cheeks and he shook in fear. "Please, let me help you!"
The man shook his head as he gave young Galen a stern look and he cast a worried look over his shoulder. He grabbed the boy forcefully by the shoulders and bent down to look him in the eye.
"Galen, no! You will stay here and you will not come out for anything! Do you understand?"
Galen nodded as his tears landed on the wooden floor. He knew not to argue when his father used that tone with him and he knew better than to disobey. The man softened his look before giving the young boy a hard hug, his tears soaking Galen's soft hair.
"I'm…sorry, son," he cried out as Galen cried also as he clung to his father for the last time. The man forced himself to stand as Galen hid himself in his family's hut. He heard the sound of someone breathing horribly and his father shouting out. Galen hugged his knees to his chest and cried silently as he heard the sounds of lightsabers striking each other. He considered sneaking to the door of the hut and seeing what was happening but his father's stern words were still fresh in his mind.
The sounds of a horrifying battle reached a crescendo and Galen screamed out as a form crashed into the hut. He recognized the once proud form of his father lying crumpled on the ground. Just as he was about to come out of his hiding place to aid him, he heard automated breathing that sent chills down his spine stopped him dead in his tracks. A frightening figure dressed in black with a horrid mask stepped through the door.
Galen was strong in the Force and he could feel a red hot rage coursing from deep within the man and he shivered in fear. The man walked forward and he raised his hand in a Force choke hold. Galen's father cried out in fear as he clawed uselessly at his throat and the boy shook in fear.
"I sense someone far more powerful nearby," Vader said as he hung the Jedi by the throat before raising his lightsaber above his head. The Jedi cried out in pain as he continued to claw uselessly at his throat but Vader continued on unfazed. "Where is your Master?"
The Jedi gasped out and Galen cried out in fear as his young body shook once more in fear but neither the Jedi or Sith took notice. "The dark side has clouded your mind. You killed my master years ago."
Vader growled in anger as his hand twitched menacingly. Galen was watching with attentive eyes, wondering in his young mind why this man was hurting his father. "And now you will share his fate."
Vader swung his lightsaber forward to end the life of the Jedi but before anyone of them could react, it flew backwards and into the hands of Galen, who had defied his father and ran out to save his father's life. Galen looked fearfully into the mask of Vader as the dark lord turned curiously and the Jedi gasped out in fear as his struggles intensified.
"Ah, a son," Vader concluded and the Jedi cried out one last time. "Run!"
Vader calmly clenched his fist and the Jedi fell to the ground dead, his neck breaking instantly. The boy gasped in fear as Vader started towards him, holding the dark lord's sword out in front of him. Vader hesitated for the first time as he slowly reached out his hand. A sound made both turn towards the door as several Stormtroopers broke through the destroyed door. A captain caught sight of Galen holding Vader's lightsaber, who backed up in fear.
He motioned to the two Stormtroopers behind him and they pointed their weapons at Galen, who backed up in fear as he held out Vader's weapon uselessly in front of him.
Just as they were about to pull the triggers to their weapons, the lightsaber flew out of Galen's small hands and into the hands of Vader. Galen shook with fear as Vader slaughtered his own troops and he backed up fearfully. Vader turned to Galen, who let out an involuntary squeak of fear. Galen stilled, certain that the Dark Lord of the Sith would make him his next victim as he walked up to the young boy. Thankfully, Galen was spared.
"Come with me. More will be here soon," Vader said, walking up to Galen and pushing him by the shoulders out of the door. Galen tried to take one last look at his dead father lying on the beams of the destroyed hut but Vader pushed him all the more forcefully. Tears leaked out of the corners of the boy's eyes as he was taken away from the one person that had held his world together.
