Onboard the Millennium Falcon, Han Solo waited patiently for the man he knew as Starkiller to arrive. Suddenly there was a loud thump on the hull above.
"For a brick, the guy fly's pretty good." Han said as he and his Wookie co-pilot Chewbacca headed for the back door.
They reached the lift tube that led to the top as Galen emerged and removed the rebreather.
"Han, Chewy, good to see you guys again." Galen said as Chewbacca pulled him into a hug.
"Han who is this guy?" a blond haired boy in Tatooine Moisture farmer garb asked as he spotted Galen.
Galen then felt the mysterious presence in the Force only stronger this time as he looked around. He could tell the boy was force sensitive only not as strong as the other.
"The name's Starkiller…don't judge by the name, many people do…but my past does have enough to give that name some degree of merit." Galen said to the boy.
"I'm Luke Skywalker, this is Obi-Wan Kenobi." The boy said pointing to a semi-elderly man with gray hair and a short pointed beard.
"Kenobi? As in General Obi-Wan Kenobi? The Negotiator?" Galen asked in marvel of the name.
"The Negotiator…now that is a title I've not heard in many years." Kenobi replied with a smile in an English accent.
"Forgive me for saying this but, you're a lot older than my droid's old training programs depict you as." Galen said as Kenobi arched an interested eyebrow.
"I sensed the force is strong with you…I wonder, why the name Starkiller?" Kenobi asked as Han and Chewbacca shrugged and headed for the cockpit.
"Quite simple Master Kenobi, it was the codename my former master gave me during my training." Galen replied.
"Oh? Who was your master?" Kenobi asked.
"I'd rather not say." Galen replied as he heard the familiar humming of an astromech droid and the creaking of a protocol droid approaching.
Galen turned around and spotted a familiar looking R2 unit and a gold plated 3PO series Protocol droid.
"Oh my goodness, where did you come from?" the protocol droid asked as the R2 unit started beeping excitedly.
"R2-D2, it has certainly been too long…wait a minute weren't you Princess Leia's droid?" Galen asked as R2 said something in his usual droid beeping.
"How long have you known him?" the gold droid asked surprised.
"Since he was Vader's servant oh my!" the droid exclaimed as Galen spun just in time to deflect Kenobi's lightsaber.
"You're a spy?" Kenobi asked.
"Was a spy! I was fooled by Vader into murdering Jedi in the name of the Emperor…He turned on me and proved that the sith always betray one another! I've been working two years to help the Rebel Alliance to win this war!" Galen said as his noticeable youth gained him the upper hand. Kenobi sensed sincerity in Galen's words fortunately and the elder Jedi deactivated his lightsaber.
"Master Kenobi I made a vow that I would never harm another Jedi…I'm not in this for vengeance if that's what you're worried about." Galen added.
"It's not you that I'm worried about…you're very strong in the force…probably more strong than Vader was in his prime." Kenobi said as he sat down.
"I've battled both him and the Emperor before…I came very close to dying that time…if it were straight one on one I could easily defeat Vader or the Emperor…but it's not the Jedi way to do things like that." Galen said as Kenobi nodded.
"I wonder…who has guided you in the ways of the Jedi?" Kenobi asked.
"Master and General Rahm Kota sir." Galen replied.
"Rahm?! That old gundark is still alive?" Kenobi asked with a laugh.
"Yes, he's on Yavin IV with his padawan Maris Brood and the rest of the rebellion." Galen said with a smile.
"So you're with the rebellion?" Luke asked.
"With? I started the Rebellion boy…the symbol of the Rebellion is my family crest." Galen replied.
"Impossible." Luke said as R2 started beeping again.
"He says that he has a recording of the day the Rebellion was founded." The protocol droid said as it displayed a hologram of the Corellian conference as the late-Bail Organa announced the formalizing of the Rebellion. The hologram clearly depicted Galen along with Princess Leia, Senator Mon Mothma and Senator Garm Bel Iblis.
"It is settled then. My wealth will fund The Rebellion, while Garm provides our fleet and Mon Mothma our soldiers. And with you leading us, we have the power of The Force on our side…We agree that the time for diplomacy and politics has passed. It is now time for action... Therefore let this be an official declaration of rebellion! Today, we all vow to change the galaxy, and one day the galaxy will indeed be free!" Bail's hologram said as they all watched.
"R2 was there when the treaty was signed…though he was in the background and well hidden when the Imperials attacked the summit…fortunately my…partner managed to find him and bring him aboard my ship." Galen explained.
"So you are a Jedi." Luke said as Galen nodded.
"My true name is Galen Marek…my father was Kento Marek." Galen said as Kenobi recognized the name Marek.
"Ah yes, I remember Marek…he was a good man…and a good Jedi…it's a shame that he was just one of many Jedi who fell at Vader's hands." Kenobi said with a sigh.
"I'm not completely guiltless…I've killed Jedi, one of whom you undoubtedly knew…Master Shaak Ti." Galen said as Kenobi looked at him.
"Why did you kill Jedi?" Luke asked confused.
"Because Darth Vader was my master and because I didn't know any better at the time." Galen replied as Han burst into the back.
"Get into the smuggler's hold and hurry!" He ordered as Galen ran to the bridge and paled as he saw the Death Star approaching them fast.
"Can't you shake us loose?!" Galen asked Chewbacca as the Wookie roared his reply and carried Galen to the back.
On the Death Star…
"Lord Vader, the ship is empty all the escape pods have been jettisoned." An officer reported to the dark lord.
"Did you find any droids?" Darth Vader asked.
"No sir, if there were any onboard they too must have jettisoned." The officer asked as Vader looked around as if looking off into space.
"Send a scanning crew on board I want every part of this ship checked." Vader ordered as the officer saluted and walked away.
"I sense something…a presence I've not felt since…Impossible." Vader said as he turned and stormed away.
After a while two Stormtroopers, a Wookie, two droids, and two men in robes entered a nearby control room.
"Solo I swear you're reckless nature is going to get us all killed!" Galen said to the smuggler.
"You're welcome Starkiller." Han replied insulted as he removed the Stormtrooper helmet.
"Now would someone tell me why we're here?" Galen asked.
"We're looking for the princess from the hologram." Luke said as Galen did a double take at the boy.
"What Princess?" Han asked confused as R2 patched into the system.
"Princess Leia Organa…her father Bail Organa is one of the founding members of the Rebellion." Galen replied as Han gave him an exasperated look.
"She could be the kriffing queen of Corellia for all I care; I'm in it for the money!" Han replied as Galen saw his reaction coming.
But before Galen could react R2 started beeping excitedly.
"He says he's found the princess!" C-3PO translated.
"Where?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Detention block, AA-23…oh dear, it seems as if she's scheduled to be terminated." 3PO replied.
"Ok, now look for the tractor beam controls." Galen said as R2 started sorting through the data before the display showed the location of the Tractor beam controls.
"I'll deal with the tractor beam…you try to rescue her." Kenobi instructed as Galen nodded. Kenobi then pulled up his hood as he ran out the door.
"Crazy old coot." Han muttered.
"You don't know the man Solo…neither do I but General Kenobi was a hero of the Clone wars but now isn't the time to rehash known history." Galen replied as he glanced at the display.
"Starkiller are we going to rescue the princess?" Luke asked as Galen nodded.
"That we are boy…what about you two? You want to sit around here all day or possibly become rich and famous for rescuing a princess?" Galen asked as Solo looked at him curiously. He had caught the smuggler's attention.
"Rich?" he asked.
"Rich, powerful, if you help her escape then perhaps you can just see that debt you owe to Jabba the Hutt disappear." Galen said as Han and Chewbacca looked at him surprised.
"How did you know about that?" Han asked.
"I'm a Jedi Han…I could sense your thoughts when I mentioned she was rich and your first thoughts were of settling your debt." Galen replied as he called a pair of binders to his hand with the force.
"Ok…count me in then." Han said as Galen turned to Chewbacca.
"Ok then big guy…trust me on this." Galen said as he slowly put the binders around Chewbacca's "wrists."
Later…
In the detention block, a turbo lift opened revealing a pair of Stormtrooper, an officer, and a Wookie.
"Where are you taking this…thing?" the officer behind the desk asked.
"Detention block AA-38." The officer replied as the desk officer arched an eyebrow.
"I wasn't notified, I'll have to clear it." He said as he motioned to a pair of guards who moved around towards the Wookie as the officer leapt into the air as a strange blue aura appeared around him. The Wookie and the Stormtrooper ducked as Galen unleashed a powerful blast of the force that ripped apart all the security cameras and sent the officers to the floor.
"How did you do that?!" Luke asked in surprise through the helmet as Galen tapped into the security console.
"The power of the force my friend…here she is, let's go get her. Han you're on the mikes!" Galen ordered as he and Luke started running down the hall.
After a moment they heard Han shoot the console and shout down the hall…
"Guy's we're going to have company!!" Han shouted as the two looked at each other knowingly before finally finding the princess's cell.
Luke opened the door to see the young princess laying asleep on the bunk in the back.
"A little short to be a Stormtrooper?" she asked as she sat up.
"Aren't you a little young to be in prison your eminence?" Galen asked with a smirk as Leia recognized the Jedi.
"Galen Marek! You've come to rescue me!" She said as she hugged the Jedi.
"Don't thank me…I never knew you were here until a few minutes ago…this is the man you want to thank…Leia Organa of Alderaan meet Luke Skywalker of Tatooine." Galen said as Luke removed his helmet and shook her hand.
"I'm here with Ben Kenobi, he's shutting down the tractor beam so we can escape." Luke said as Galen activated his lightsaber mere seconds before door to the door to the turbo lift exploded as Han and Chewbacca started shooting at the Stormtrooper inside.
"Is there any other way out?" Leia asked as Han and Chewbacca fell back towards the other two as Galen deflected the blaster fire.
"Trust me there's not!" Galen replied as he used the force to rip up the floor tiles and create a barrier between them and the Stormtroopers.
"Ok any ideas?" Han asked as Leia grabbed Luke's blaster and shot the grating near the floor.
"Are you kidding that's the garbage chute?" Han said as Chewbacca grunted his agreement.
"So? No one ever said being a hero was glamorous…same's true about Jedi for that matter too." Galen said as he dove down the chute with the others close behind.
Galen landed feet first in the garage compactor but quickly leapt back onto a nearby ledge as the others landed one by one into the room.
"Oh nice…what a wonderful smell you've discovered!" Han groaned.
"Quit your whining it could be worse." Leia said as Galen face palmed just as machinery behind the walls screeched.
"It's worse." Han said.
"There's something alive in here." Luke said as Galen turned towards the door.
"Stand back folks." He said as he focused all his energy on the door. Finally after a lot of strain the door flew off the hinges and put a massive dent in the hall behind it.
"Augh…that was unpleasant." Galen said exhausted as they piled out of the room shortly before the walls started closing in.
"Good thing you managed to take out that door otherwise we would probably be a lot thinner." Han said with a sigh as Leia helped the Jedi to the ground.
"Are you ok sir?" she asked concerned.
"I'm just a bit winded from that force push…I'll be ok…and please call me Galen." Galen said as he breathed heavily.
"Galen?" Han asked.
"Galen Marek…it's my real name." Galen replied as Chewbacca looked at him surprised and grunted something.
"You knew my father?" Galen asked interested as Chewbacca grunted something else.
"Yes…he was killed by Vader…before my very eyes." Galen said as he recalled the horrid memories of Vader killing his father.
Chewbacca then offered his arm to the weary Jedi.
"You sure you don't mind?" Galen asked as Chewbacca hoisted him onto his back as if providing a piggy back ride.
"I'll take that as a no." Galen muttered as he entered a meditative trance as Chewbacca and the others headed off towards the hanger bay.
Galen sensed Kenobi within the ship, he could feel him deactivating the tractor beam but he could also feel Vader's presence and he could also sense that Vader knew of both his and Kenobi being on the Death Star.
"There she is." Han said as they reached a view port looking down on the Falcon's hanger. Galen emerged from his trance and dropped off Chewbacca's shoulders.
"That old thing? You're braver than I thought." Leia scoffed as Galen shrugged.
"It's no Rogue Shadow but she gets the job done." Galen said as they proceeded down the hall.
Suddenly…
"It's them! Blast em!" a Stormtrooper ordered as Galen instinctively hurled his lightsaber and decapitated the entire row of Stormtroopers in one swoop.
"Nice throw." Han said stunned as Galen grimaced.
"I hate it when that happens…that is one old habit I want to break so bad." Galen said with a sigh.
"Hey I'm not complaining." Han said.
"You may not but I am…it's not the Jedi way to take another life unless in self defense." Galen replied as they continued on.
Finally they reached the hanger bay but mysteriously the Stormtroopers guarding the Falcon suddenly turned and ran off towards something.
"Where are they going?" Leia asked as Galen felt something in the force.
"Oh no…Kenobi." He said breathlessly as he and the others ran towards the Falcon's boarding ramp. But he and Luke paused as they saw Kenobi battling none other than Galen's former master…Darth Vader.
"No." Galen said quietly as he realized Kenobi's plan. Kenobi raised his lightsaber as Vader swung around and sliced through the Jedi's cloak.
"NO!!" Luke shouted as Galen used the force to pull Kenobi's robe and lightsaber to him, ensuring that he caught Vader's attention.
The Stormtroopers started shooting at them and Vader stared in surprise as Galen deflected the shots with both his and Kenobi's lightsabers as he moved for the boarding ramp.
"Run Luke Run!" Kenobi's voice echoed through the force as Luke and Galen ran onto the Falcon as she roared out of the Death Star.
After a moment Galen cradled Kenobi's robes and lightsaber in his hand. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a comlink.
"Juno meet us at Yavin IV and don't stop until you get there." Galen ordered into the comlink.
"Affirmative Starkiller…we'll see you there." Juno replied solemnly as she heard the sadness in Galen's voice as he pocketed the comlink.
"I can't believe he's gone." Luke said sadly.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi was a great Jedi and he will be remembered as such…mark my words Luke…Vader will pay for this." Galen said as Luke nodded silently.
End Chapter 2