Chapter 2 Enigma
Not many things surprised the Dark Lord. But hearing that name did. Skywalker? How is that possible? Vader thought. The droid went to stick another needle in the pilot's head. But Vader stopped the torture process. The prisoner and the two imperial officers looked at him surprised. But no one questioned him. Questioning the Emperor's protégé was like signing your own death warrant.
For a few minutes the only sound in the secure unit was the mechanical breathing of Vader and the distressed breathing of the young pilot. Finally Vader spoke, "Tell me about this Skywalker? Where is he from?"
Shutting his eyes tightly, the tired man responded, "Tatooine, he's from Tatooine. He lived with his aunt and uncle. I think they were moisture farmers. I heard that they were both killed and their farm destroyed."
Tatooine? Aunt and Uncle? Moisture farmers? Memories that Vader had struggled to keep hidden and out of his mind assaulted him at once. But because of his life sustaining mask, no one noticed his astonishment.
Once again, Vader released those feelings. He was becoming angry and frustrated with himself for being unable to control the thoughts and recollections that flew into his mind, seemingly heedless of his attempts to stop them. It was the Force calling him. Not the Dark Side of the Force that had been part of him for almost twenty years. But the Force that was of another moment in time, a time that was pure and filled with heroes and valor. It was an era that he was a part of and that was a part of him, no matter how he tried to deny it.
"And how did this Young Skywalker come to be in the service of the Rebel Alliance," Vader demanded?
With eyes filled with dread, the man answered, "He…he was one of the ones who helped rescue the Princess."
The mystery seemed to be coming together like a perplexing enigma. A puzzle very much like the ones a young padawan used to try to solve many years ago in the Jedi Temple under the watchful eyes of brilliant masters. It was all starting to make sense.
Obi-Wan, Vader thought. He was trying to enter the Alderaan system. But why? Had Bail Organa asked for his assistance?
Vader knew that his Master remained alive after the form of his Empire. Strangely, a part of the Master/Padawan bond had always remained. But even though it remained, it was still elusive. He never knew where Obi-Wan went into hiding. That part of the bond had been shattered.
Suddenly Vader jerked, "How old is he?"
The two imperial officers looked at one another, confusion apparent in their expressions. The pilot looked up, "Huh?"
"How old is he?"
The detainee shrugged and winced in pain, "I don't know. Maybe eighteen or so?"
Vader let out an angry scream. The fury and rage that was radiating off him seemed to shake the room. The droid was flung against the wall by an unseen force and shattered. The two imperial officers shared the same terrified look as the pilot.
Vader then turned on his heel and left the room with his black cape streaming behind him.
