A/N: And chapter 2 is up to make up for the delay in getting this started. Some bonding, treaty progress and planning… and more on poor Wes. I promise I really don't hate Wes… but I need someone to beat up. Wes was the unlucky one to get cast into that part :p Thank you to all who are following and reviewing this! It means a lot :) I'll try get chapter 3 up asap since I know I kinda ended with a cliff hanger again. :P Sorry this chapter is a little short. It's almost 3am and I really wanted to get a chapter up tonight XD
As the Home One landed on Jandur, all the Alliance leaders retreated within it's walls along with the Rogues to discuss the treaty and cast their votes as to if they would work with the former Imperial servants or not. Watching them leave, Mara sat on a log and sighed. "Do you think they can actually agree? I'm with you on the Empire Vader.. democracy is all good and well in theory… but we could of had a treaty and been done already without the need for meetings and votes if they had just a single leader." she grumbled.
"True, and perhaps some of them think as much now… but it is what makes the Alliance, the Rebellion. It was founded on the idea of democracy so they will defend it til stars end." Vader said as he sat to one side of her.
"If they agree our first target should be the Death Star. If we want to free the galaxy from tyranny, best to start with the biggest guns right?" Mara said. Vader nodded.
"I agree. Regardless of a treaty I think we should go there… before too much of an alert can go out… not that many would dare oppose me." Vader said, a trace of amusement in his voice.
"You are as subtle as a reek Vader." Mara said laughing.
"Which is why we have a nexu like you." Luke said, joining them on the log. Mara raised an eyebrow at him.
"Oh and what does that make you?" she asked.
"He kinda reminds me of a lost nerf most of the time." LaRone said, stepping off the shuttle. Vader and Mara hooted with laugher and Luke frowned.
"Oh come on, I'm half way to being a Sith and you compare me to a nerf?" he asked. "Why not… oh I don't know… a Kyrat dragon or something?" he asked.
"Because when you aren't being forced to be evil by Palpatine, you are an utter… farm boy." Mara said. "Anyways, you don't want to be a Sith."
"Who says?" Luke asked. Mara and Vader looked at each other. Both had had far too much experience with the Dark Side. Vader was the one who spoke in the end.
"You have far too much good and kindness in you to be replaced with the hate and anger required of a Sith." he said.
"But you don't seem so bad… I mean not now anyways." Luke protested and Vader smiled behind his mask.
"I was once a Jedi, and I believe a part of me is becoming one again." he explained.
"How can you be part Jedi if you are a Sith?" Luke asked confused.
"Obi-wan explained to me the Force is not so black and white as we once thought… that to bring balance requires an understanding of both sides, and when they are best used. Not Jedi or Sith. Each takes philosophies and doctrines to the extreme… that is not the way the Force is mean to be used or followed." Vader explained. "I suppose many will sway more to one side or the other… but there is a balance."
"You never did explain why a dead Jedi Master who you killed was visiting you Vader." Mara prompted.
"I suppose I didn't." Vader sighed. "Obi-wan Kenobi was the Master who trained me when I was still a Jedi. He was the last who tried to save me when I fell to darkness, not letting me go without a fight… that fight alas was how I ended up in this suit." he said, motioning his hand over his armoured body.
"What do you mean Father?" Luke asked.
"We were in a fight to the death. He beat me, but he still loved me as a brother… he did not have it in his heart to take the final blow and kill me… and so he left me on the ground of Mustafar, my limbs cut off. I was badly burned. Mustafar is a volcanic planet you must understand. Palpatine found me there near death… I was taken back to Imperial Center where this suit was constructed to save my life… though it has been my prison as well." A silence fell over the group as everyone thought about that. Finally LaRone broke it.
"By the way Lord Vader, I've been meaning to thank you." he said.
"For?" Vader asked, slightly puzzled.
"For the way you, uh dealt with our former CO." he explained. With that Vader put the pieces together.
"You can actually thank Mara for that too. Ozzel was stupid enough to try kill her, so she asked if I might keep track of him. The simplest method of doing so was to promote him to my ship… and when he failed… he met the same end anyone else would of in his shoes." he responded casually. Vader was happy to see that while most still feared him, Mara's storm troopers were relaxing around him at least. Eventually he hoped his crew would too, serving out of loyalty not fear.
Inside the walls of the Home One, a debate raged on. Many were doubtful of the Sith Lord… or Lords possibly considering what they had seen of Skywalker lately… not to mention the Emperor's most loyal servant wishing to assist them in exchange only for letting worlds choose how they wished to be led. Most could understand Mara, though they did not trust her… but trusting a Sith Lord and his son? That was a whole other issue. Wedge's voice broke through the din "Look, I know it sounds crazy, but I really believe we can trust them. I mean, they could of just left me and Hobbie… found another way. They took a gamble and slowed their own escape to free us."
"Luke and Mara perhaps… but how can you possibly trust Vader?" Mon Mothma retorted.
"I spent a good bit of time talking with him while I was in the med bay- where he had his crew treating me I will remind everyone- and he isn't so bad." Wedge defended.
"No he just helped torture Leia and destroy a planet." Mon responded sarcastically. Emotions were definitely running high. Leia sighed.
"He did. That is my battle to face Mon. I was the one tortured… and I agree with Wedge he should be given a chance." she said.
"And what of other Alderaanians?" Mon asked sharply.
"Alderaan was a peace loving planet. I am sure they would agree with anything which could speed the end of this war and bring peace to the galaxy again." Leia said. "Besides… they rescued our men, and have not made any hostile move. They have the firepower to shoot us down and crush us once and for all… but instead they are waiting patiently for us to decide to sign a treaty or not." she pointed out.
"And what happens if we say no?" Madine asked. "Will we still go free? Or will they act then?"
"I truly believe they will let us go if that is our choice… but if that is the decision… I can't promise I will stay with the Rebellion." Leia said. Making a choice, knowing there was no coming back from it she continued "More then believe… I know they will let us go. I could sense Vader spoke the truth when he stepped forward away from the ysalamiri." she said. As she expected a roar of questions came flooding at her.
"What do you mean leave the Rebellion?"
"You can use the Force?"
"How long have you known you had Jedi powers?"
"I've never seen you move objects- are you sure it's the Force?"
Han wrapped a protective arm around her. Leia curled into his side trying to shut out the din of shouting voices. Han spoke on her behalf after a quick glance to confirm that was what she wanted. Leia gave him a slight nod and he started tackling the questions. "Yes, she can use the Force. She's been having visions for a while now… all of them accurate. She can't do much more then that and some light mind reading because no one has trained her- there is no one to train her. I could be wrong, and sweetheart correct me if I am… but the only remaining people trained in the Force are on the Executor. If the Force kept talking to you but you couldn't control it, you'd want to talk to others who understood too, wouldn't you?" he asked. Leia gave him a nod to confirm. That quieted everyone down for the moment. Finally Mon spoke.
"Leia, I do trust in the Force… but without training… can you be sure?" she asked.
"I believe so… I just know some things. I can't explain how it works. I do hope to spend some time with Luke and learn more." Leia responded.
"As a Sith?" Mon asked, her voice sharp. Wedge cleared his throat.
"If I might interrupt… Luke was not originally trained as a Sith, but a Jedi… as was Vader for that matter." he said.
"What do you mean Vader was a Jedi?" Dodonna asked. Wedge hesitated and hoped Vader didn't hate him too much for revealing his secret to everyone.
"Vader was once Anakin Skywalker… the hero of the Clone Wars." he said, and a collective gasp went around the room.
"How do you know this?" Dodonna questioned.
"He told me when we were talking in the med bay… anyways… his son is Luke Skywalker… when he told me he'd once been a Jedi… well it didn't take much to piece it together. I asked him and he confirmed my suspicions." Wedge explained. "I think he is becoming more and more Anakin again and less of Vader the longer he is away from Palpatine." Mon nodded.
"I believe at this point we have heard all sides. If there is nothing further to add, I move we bring this to a vote." she said. "All in favour?" she asked, and tallied the hands raised. "And those opposed?" she asked, again tallying the hands. Sighing she spoke "While I have sincere doubts myself… majority has spoken and we will proceed with a treaty." Leia breathed a sigh of relief, as did Wedge and Hobbie.
"Before we do, we should probably clarify any points we wish to include." Madine said, and Leia suppressed a groan. She loved democracy, but these enteral debates would be the end of her.
Wes tried to not defend himself, but every time he slowed the collar kicked in and shocked him. He realized the nexu in addition to being starved also wore a collar. Whenever it slowed it's attacks it too was shocked. He felt a wave of pity for the creature, trapped and beaten as he was. As he looked into it's multiple eyes he saw it wished the same thing as him- death. Some relief from the pain… or to eat him. The animal was badly starved to encourage it to attack more. As they grappled he suddenly lost his footing. This is it, Wes thought, bracing for the impact of the massive claws into his chest. Instead he heard the creature scream in pain, then collapse on top of him. It was still alive. Wes could feel it's hot noxious breath in his face. Just unconscious then… the same as he would be if he made the wrong move. Pinned beneath the nexu, his ankle throbbing where he had gone over on it, Wes could do nothing but wait. After a few minutes, breathing was getting hard with the bulk of the feline predator on top of him. Finally he heard cursedly familiar footsteps as Isard stepped into the pen and pulled him free of the nexu. "Get up" she ordered him.
"Why?" Wes sighed. As soon as the words left his mouth he felt a painful jolt.
"That's why." Isard said. Wes struggled to right himself, his whole body protesting as he did. He managed to stand, but when he tried to walk he lurched to the side, crashing into Isard. "You kriffing moron." she growled, shoving him hard away from herself.
"Not my fault.. think… it's broken." Wes said hoarsely, gesturing to his ankle from where he sat sprawled on the floor he had landed on, as the pain radiated up his leg. He felt woozy and sick from it. As he wretched over Isard's boots she kicked him in the head causing him to black out. It was an escape for a few minutes anyways.
He came to immersed in bacta. Wes had no idea how long he'd been out, but he was sure it had not been long enough. He was equally sure he would not soak in bacta near long enough to heal him fully either. Still, at least it was some relief from the pain… even if it was just to keep him going so Isard could inflict more pain on him. He'd not forgot there was several more cages of vicious animals, and he had no doubt Palpatine intended for him to fight all of them. Still gladiator style fights beat the chemicals Isard pumped him full of that made his body hurt for days… not to mention the nauseating affection he'd seen between Isard and Palpatine. He was glad thus far he'd only had to listen to the worst of it. So far they had had enough decency to retreat to a private room… but he'd still seen and heard far more then he had ever wanted to in that regard. Still, beyond it's illness inducing factor he had noticed an interesting dichotomy between the pair. Isard seemed to genuinely love Palpatine as she had stated… but Palpatine seemed to toy with her more then love her. Isard was blind to it of course, but Wes could see how Palpatine was as amused by her affections as he was at the pain inflicted on him. It was less of love and more of a game to him. There was lust between the pair… that much was mutual… but Wes was sure the old bastard wasn't even capable of love anymore. Lust was probably the last human emotion he had left. Even Vader, who was more machine than man had more humanity left in him than the Emperor did he thought to himself, not caring if he heard his thoughts. Kriff, bastard would probably be happy at them Wes thought.
Luke, Mara and Vader stood as the Rebel leaders exited the Home One. LaRone, Macross, Grave, Brightwater and Quiller stood at attention behind them. The 501st had moved back into the shuttle on Vader's orders. Stepping to meet them Vader spoke first. "Well? Have you reached a decision?" he queried. Mon Mothma nodded.
"We have indeed. Our ranks are divided, but the majority voted in favour of a treaty to unite our forces." she said.
"I am pleased to hear this. I understand the Rebellion's reluctance as well." Vader said.
"We have one request of our own to make." Mon said.
"Which is?" Vader asked.
"Luke stays with us." Mon answered. There was a pause.
"I regret that is not possible. I doubt Mara will agree to be separated from Luke… and I must move her to a location she will be safe from the Emperor's reach." Vader explained.
"I see…" Mon said. "Leia?" she asked, giving a questioning glance to the other woman. Hesitantly Leia spoke.
"I understand… the request for Luke to stay was mine. We will sign the treaty without that." she said. Mara gave her a knowing look.
"You hoped Luke would be able to train you?" she asked. Leia nodded.
"I can not leave Mara… or use the Force at all for now… for Mara's safety. It would risk the Emperor tracking us through Force bonds." Luke explained. As he did he glanced at Vader as did Mara. Though Leia knew they could not use the Force to speak, she felt sure they were communicating something between themselves. Finally Vader gave a sigh.
"Once we have dealt with the treaty, I would like to speak with you privately in regards to this manner." he said. Leia was confused.
"Are you implying you would train me? As a Jedi or Sith?" she asked.
"I would teach you about both.. it would be for you to find your own path." Vader said "There is more.. but I think the discussion is best held privately." Leia eyed Vader curiously. Her mind was tingling with almost words… she knew whatever he wished to speak about would change her life forever somehow. Still… she needed to know.
"Very well, lets take care of the treaty… then we may speak." she said