Important Note: DBGT Goku mentioned that Anakin should be a Jedi Knight by this point in Revenge of the Sith. Yes, in Episode III, Anakin is a Jedi Knight; however, for the purposes of this fanfiction, I will need to temporarily keep Anakin as a Padawan. Anakin's status in the Jedi Order is essential to this chapter and the next chapter. I am also going to attempt to coincide part of this chapter with Revenge of the Sith. I don't see much in way of spoilers, but if you wish to avoid any hints into the beginning of Revenge of the Sith, skim over the very last part of the chapter.
Time Frame: The prologue occurred right before Revenge of the Sith. Anakin escorting Padmé home was unrelated to the end of Attack of the Clones.
Kelly: I couldn't send you the old version of the story because fanfictionnet cut off your email provider. Please leave your carrier in a review for me to send you the original version.
Sati James: I have yet to read any Star Wars book other than limited parts of Revenge of the Sith. I always perceived Leia as being angry towards her father for watching her planet being decimated. She will comes to terms with the fact Anakin isn't Darth Vader, eventually. In this story he had only died three months ago, and the wounds he caused her and Luke are still fresh in her mind. She's very passionate like her father, but in learning the ways of the Jedi, she will let go of her anger.
Changing History: Battlements
Han Solo would never admit in a million lightyears that he was terrified of Princess Leia when she was having one of her moments. Her hair stood up on end, and she always looked taller when she stared Han down in her anger. Some would call it cowardly that be was running away from the Jedi Council chambers; however, Han Solo called it saving his own skin. He hoped Luke could hold his own.
"Arrg!" Chewbacca growled at his partner in crime. The smaller human always managed to back out of his problems without a scratch on him.
"Of course I don't know where I'm going! Sithspit, Chewie, I don't even know where we are," Han yelled exasperatedly as he threw up his hands. Two Jedi walked past with their heads bowed in conversation. Neither so much as gave them a second glance as the Jedi proceeded down the long corridor. Han considered asking for directions back to the meeting, but he still wasn't ready to face Leia.
"Sir, maybe if we ask directions, we could surely…" Threepio was cut off abruptly by Han.
"And where are we asking directions to, Tin Can? Empire Headquarters?" Han asked sarcastically as Threepio muttered an apology to the smuggler. Han wasn't unusually cruel to the protocol droid, but they were lost in a building on some unknown planet with two of their party members possibly having an all-out war. Chewie barked out a sharp retort to Han in backing Threepio. Calm yourself, young one. Maybe it was Han's imagination, but the droid looked for something that was supposed to show no emotion.
Han stopped in front of a large window overlooking the planet. The sun was high on the horizon and cruisers filled the sky. A thought scratched at his memory, and he frowned. The city looked exactly as it did in their time, but they couldn't be on the forbidden planet. It was well known to all Rebel Alliance members. To step foot on Coruscant meant certain death and ultimate suicide.
Coruscant was where the Republic fell and the Empire began. Palpatine had declared himself Emperor, and the Senate welcomed the change with cheering and applause. The Senate was corrupt, but the leader was a strategic mastermind. The lights twinkled innocently at him in the distant, but Han could see the building from the Temple. It might have been his imagination, but Han thought he could see a dark shadow looming over the Senate's reigns.
A small tug at his sleeve caught Han's attention. He looked down into the most innocent blue eyes he'd only seen on the naïve Luke Skywalker in Mos Eisley. This boy, however, had dark brown hair and chubby cheeks to accompany his smile. His eyes showed only complete trust in Han, and Han could feel his knees give out from under him. Where had this innocence gone in the world they lived in today? Is this boy what Luke and Leia were to protect? Han could feel himself giving in to the need for change as he gave the boy a rare, true smile.
"Are you lost?" The tiny boy asked, curiosity peeking through his calm Jedi demeanor. Han's heart nearly broke in two when he thought that this boy might not make it through the next decade without their help. Han placed his heavy hand on the boy's shoulder. "I know the way back to our lessons if you wish to watch," the boy said innocently as hope shown through his bright gaze.
"We will watch over you. What's your name?" Han replied softly as if any more than a whisper would break the child. He took the child's hand as he rose to his feet. Chewie watched the Jedi with interest as he told the droids to stay in the hallway. Artoo-Detoo whistled and Threepio replied in kind as Chewbacca fell in step to the left side of Han. The smuggler seemed mesmerized by the child, and he would not break their moment.
"Cinquaran," the boy mumbled as he turned to look away. Was he ashamed to be the fifth child? Han wondered as they were led down a marble staircase. "I stand for the number of people in my family who have died to protect my home world on Mygeeto," Cinquaran continued softly. He bowed his head in respect for a moment at the bottom of the stairs. "You may call me Quaran if you wish."
Han sighed wistfully as he they turned right into a dark room. He would shoulder the burden of loss for this boy in a heartbeat if he could. Such innocence should not be lost at such a young age, especially in a school full of children. Quaran entered the room, shutting the door softly behind him. Chewie let out a low moan and pointed to the next door. Han nodded as he followed Chewie up a narrow staircase.
A balcony loosed the view to the entire chamber, and Han smiled encouragingly at the nervous-looking Quaran. The youngling bowed slightly to him before putting on a familiar looking helmet. Ah, so maybe the old man wasn't so crazy after all. Han winced as one of the blaster bolts slipped through Quaran's practice saber. Chewie stood behind Han as a silent witness to Jedi training.
"Wonderful, a child's mind is. Hate, they know not. Anger, they know not. Unconditional love is all they know," Yoda stated impassively as he looked over the side of the balcony. Han startled at his voice and looked down at the little green creature. "Surprised, are you, to see me?" Yoda inquired as he looked up to the taller man. Han shook his head and let out a low chuckle.
"Luke told me about you, in our universe. He says that everything is a lesson, and that we are all students of the Force, even when we are masters of our own trades. I suppose he got his wisdom from you," Han replied, not quite answering the question. He didn't wish for a Jedi master to see a weakness in him as a first impression. He would use Luke's knowledge to the best of his extent.
"Believe, you do not in the Force. Why is this?" Yoda observed as the younglings finished their training. One of the younglings lingered behind, looking up at the balcony expectantly. "A question, have you?" Yoda stopped Han's answer before he had the chance.
The youngling bowed to Yoda before approaching the old balcony. "May I speak to the newcomers, Master Yoda?" Cinquaran asked softly as his gaze flicked to Han. Han smiled nervously in response as he wished to finish with the Jedi Master as quickly as possible. Yoda's fingers wrapper tightly around his gimmer stick as he tapped the floor. "Patience, you will have," Yoda reprimanded sharply.
"Youngling, wait outside you will. Be with you shortly, he shall," Yoda answered Quaran curtly as he turned his head to look at the smuggler.
"To say I completely believe in the Force would be a lie, but I traveled too far and too long with Luke be ignorant. I don't know everything the Force can do, and I know almost nothing about it, but I do know it's out there. I'll never believe in it fully because I don't have the abilities to access it. I'm sorry if this disappoints you," Han gave the gritty, mixed truth. He tried for Leia, but he would never be able to be like her.
"Doubt, you have. Anger, perhaps? The Skywalkers' fate is not yet decided. Worry, you should not," Yoda stated as he walked towards the door. The words felt unnatural in his mouth, but Han had to say them before Yoda left. "May the Force be with you!" he called after Yoda. Yoda stopped momentarily and nodded to the smuggler as he continued on his way down the corridor.
Han looked over the rails to the empty room. A dark shadow hung over this place, and he could taste a bittersweet aftermath on the air. The Jedi had been destroyed at some point, and they had dropped into the middle of the war. If Luke was right about the time, they stopped by for a visit right before all the fireworks happened for the Empire. Even if to only save the innocence of one youngling, he would fight to death to keep history from repeating itself.
"Master Solo?" Quaran asked as he peeked his head around the corner. Han looked into those deep forest green eyes with a wistful smile as he turned to Chewie. "The council must be through with their important Jedi business by now. Can you find Luke and the droids? I go find Her Highness and see if we have a place to spend the next decade or so…" Han trailed off as he took a few steps toward the youngling.
"Are we in trouble, Master Solo?" Quaran asked with an air of trepidation.
"Why do you ask, Kid?" Han used his nickname for Luke because it seemed to fit the child. Quaran wasn't as immature or as fearful as Luke was in the beginning, but the kid probably didn't grow up on a moisture farm either. Luke's talent for finding trouble was spawned from curiosity about all life. Quaran seemed to want to know everything before jumping headfirst into action, much like the Jedi Order he served.
"I've been having bad dreams lately, but Master Windu says they will pass in time. I don't think they're dreams anymore, Master Solo. I think my dreams are visions of the future, and bad things are coming. He is going to turn evil soon, and the one person who can stop it won't know until it's too late," Quaran whispered as they stopped at one of the meditation chambers. Han hesitated before entering.
"Look, kid, call me Han. I'm less of a Jedi master than you are." Quaran's face fell, and he scoffed his feet as he sulked about the room. Han added quickly, "Is who you're talking about one of the Jedi here now? Maybe he's the one with the last name Skywalker?" Han winced as he said the last words. Quaran brightened slightly, and Han sighed, as he knew what was coming next.
"You've been having these visions too? They must be real! But that means," Quaran whispered excitedly as a fearful expression crossed his eyes. Han gulped as he turned to look out the window. Coruscant was safer outside than the waging war within the Force, but Han's gaze flicked to the Senate, and he gave up in defeat. Darkness was everywhere, and he was constantly being reminded of how war looked back home. Sure, sometimes the Alliance glorified its heroes, but the end was hardly worth the means.
Han sighed and knelt down in front of Quaran. "I am here to make sure your vision and mine do not come true. Now, listen to me. If your visions start getting worse, come tell Chewie or me immediately. We can't fix a problem we don't know about. Can you do that for me?" Han needed a vow to this because he would not lose another person he loved to this war. He attempted to detach himself from other people after his parents were killed in a firefight, but Luke, Leia, and Chewie managed to worm their way back into his heart anyway. He even had a soft spot for R2-D2 and C-3PO.
"I promise," Quaran admonished as he gave Han a shaky smile. Han clasped Quaran on the shoulder as he stood up before all of Coruscant. The sun was starting to make its descent on Coruscant and night would soon cover the city with artificial lights. Han turned away from the youngling and strode out the door as he went to find Leia. He wished he could get her alone for an hour or so, but it probably wouldn't happen. Such was the life of a cynical realist.
Luke never had the proper training of a Jedi warrior. He was introduced to the Force ways by Obi-Wan Kenobi, trained his reflexes courtesy of Yoda on Dagobah, and learned what not to do from his father. Luke also liked to think the independent study he took upon himself to partake in raised him to the level of a Jedi Knight faster than any other Jedi before him. That's exactly why Mace Windu had disarmed him in exactly one minute, thirty-three seconds.
"You must feel the Force flow through you, Luke. You can't resist the Force's guidance in the midst of a battle. Do not be afraid of what it can do for you," Mace Windu urged as Luke called his lightsaber to him. Mace wiped the sweat from his brow as he studied the Jedi before him. The truth of the matter was that the Skywalker line was very powerful in Force-users. Luke was no exception, but he held back in his training sessions.
Luke wasn't afraid of the Force. Luke was afraid of what he would do with the Force in another life or death duel. Anakin had died to spare his son's life, and Luke would not repay him by falling to the Dark Side. Even though he renounced the ploy placed in his head by the Emperor, the thought of almost turning lurked in the recesses of his mind. Until he let the past go, he would never be able to move on in his training.
Luke bowed to Mace Windu and activated his lightsaber. A column of light burst out of hand in a shower of deadly beauty. Luke locked away his passion, for passion led to the Dark Side, and serenity filled his senses. The training room held nothing but the sparers and empty space, but Luke could feel the Force charged in the vary particles of the air. Tiny pinpricks of light submerged the room in energy as they always did for Luke.
Mace Windu responded in deep violet sprung from his lightsaber. Without giving Luke a chance to hesitate, Mace dug his feet in the floor and mentally pushed his entire weight forward. Luke sidestepped the attempt and brought his lightsaber into a downward arc. Mace parried the blow off-balance as he swung his left foot around behind him. Mace's arms shook with the effort to hold off the green lightsaber, but physical pain was beyond the Jedi.
Mace was in the process of looking for Luke's shatterpoint, but when he opened himself to Luke's essence, he was blinded by the sheer midichlorian count. Luke took struck at Mace's disadvantage, but the Vaapad Master leapt away from the attack at the last second. Windu enjoyed the fighting and so only he could master the Vaapad style. No one could defeat Master Windu in a lightsaber duel because Master Windu was the epitome of fighting.
Luke Skywalker could only find one way to counter the Jedi Master's form. Luke always denied the Dark Side, but he did occasionally give into the passion of the lightsaber duels. His parries and thrusts were driven by a love of the Force and a purpose for being someone else's pawn in the political battle. Luke was very much a chess piece in that Obi-Wan and Yoda tried to use him against his father. Palpatine wanted Luke to take Vader's place as a new apprentice, and Vader wanted Luke to rule the galaxy as Father and Son after dethroning the emperor.
Mace Windu was a different character in Luke's eyes. The Jedi Master had no interest in using Luke in some strategic political game anymore than he would use Threepio. Luke silently thanked the Vaapad for allowing such a passive master to fight him. Luke brought his lightsaber down to Windu's knees, and the dance began. Mace cut low at Luke's feet, but Luke toes around the sparks the lightsaber made as it scrape the floor.
Violet clashed with green as Luke raised his lightsaber above his head. Adrenaline raced through his veins, and he kept his anger at bay. All emotions were usually swept into the void, but Luke needed something to drive his passion, and he needed his passion to drive his actions. Necessity and love swirled inside him as he brushed Mace's lightsaber away from his right sleeve.
The midichlorians signaled to Luke a fraction too late, and Luke found Windu's lightsaber at his throat before he could blink. Luke sighed as he deactivated his own lightsaber and dangled the weapon on his belt. He breathed heavily as he wiped the sweat from his brow and checked the time to his right. He froze as he saw the time before him. The duel took eighteen minutes and nineteen seconds.
"Not bad, Luke. Tell me, who was your master?" Mace Windu asked as casually as possible. The fact the duel had lasted over eighteen minutes greatly disturbed him. Only Yoda had ever beaten him in a duel, and only Obi-Wan could dance with the lightsabers for more than fifteen minutes at a time. Luke showed more interest in the Vaapad way than any other duelers before him.
Luke smiled bitterly as he looked back at the Jedi Master. "Master Obi-Wan Kenobi was my teacher for a brief time. Soon afterwards though, Yoda became my Jedi Master," Luke answered as the dark shields on the windows began to rise. The afternoon soon poured into the room, and Luke picked up his heavy cloak from where he had discarded it early on in the duel. He smiled at the light touch his old teachers gave him for comfort.
"Impossible," Master Windu muttered as he looked to Luke in disbelief. "It takes years to forge a proper Padawan bond and even then, the Padawan could be incapacitated. Besides, why would Obi-Wan give up his Padawan? Did the Jedi Council in the future send Master Kenobi on a long-term mission?" Mace asked as he studied the young man in front of him. He didn't appear to by lying, but looks could be deceiving. However, he didn't sense any discrepancies in the Force.
"Old Ben didn't have much of a choice when he left me to fend for myself. He was killed by a Dark Lord of the Sith in front of me, so I would have a chance at life," he murmured as he bowed his head in respect. He could tell Obi-Wan wanted to shimmer into the room with them, but now was not the time to appear as ghostly figures. Mace Windu had already had enough surprises for one week.
"Old Ben?" Mace sighed as he rubbed his temple. Luke looked away from the Vaapad Master. "You have your secrets, and I will respect them for the moment. There is one thing I need to make clear before we begin again. I do not trust Anakin Skywalker, and because you bear an uncanny resemblance to him, I must withhold my trust to you. You are a stranger in the Temple, and these are dark times. We do not know who the Sith are, and you withhold their names. Maybe you have your reasoning, but I cannot give you my trust until you show me that I have something to trust."
"I know who the Sith Lord is, but I do not believe the Jedi Council is ready for him," Luke said with heaviness in his voice as he crossed the room. A bitter laugh echoed through his skull and he glared at the shimmering form Obi-Wan Kenobi off in the distance. Ready? I don't think we were ever ready for the Sith, Luke. If you do not tell them to act against Palpatine soon, history will repeat itself.
"I do not believe the Jedi Council is the problem here, Young Skywalker. What is really keeping you from telling us the mystery of the Sith?" Mace Windu asked as he placed his calloused hand on Luke's shoulder. No wonder the council never got anything done. They all thought alike. 'Unfortunate, but true, Young One. Blinded, we were by our own arrogance,' Yoda stated impassively as he also shimmered into view.
"I'm not ready to face him again. I need more time," Luke whispered resolutely as he bowed his head in defeat. Palpatine was probably more powerful now than he was in the future. 'I cannot do this alone, Masters. I don't even know who trusts me in this time. I don't even know if I can trust myself to do the right thing if I must. How can I face my father again? He's so full of anger…'Luke sent back in seeking for their guidance.
"Time is something we may not have, Luke. We are getting closer to the truth of the Sith every day. He will not stay in hiding for long," Master Windu urged as he searched the conflict within Luke. The boy didn't shield his emotions very well, but in this case, Luke wanted Mace to find the chaos within. Mace frowned as he found more than one Force signature inside the Young Jedi.
'Why doesn't he see you? Why doesn't anyone else see you when I do?' Luke asked curiously as Mace Windu poked and prodded his mental state. 'Luke, we anchored ourselves to you when we became one with the Force. We remain immortal to you because our conscious minds are ingrained in your memory. You are the one blocking other people from seeing us. Trust your feelings about who you let see us,' Obi-Wan answered as he crossed his arms.
"Are you looking for someone, Master Windu?" Luke asked without turning around to face Mace. Mace didn't respond as he studied the shatterpoints of Luke Skywalker. Luke was interconnected with several unidentifiable Jedi and one dark, overshadowing presence. Mace almost held his lightsaber at Luke's throat right there, but Luke himself only showed the purest of the midichlorians. Hints of darkness loomed over Luke, but he was not of the dark.
Luke wanted to shut out the Vaapad master, but he would need Mace Windu's help in coming to an accord with the Jedi Council. He was positive he could win Yoda's and Obi-Wan's trusts with ease, but he needed at least three Jedi to see his way of thinking to be able to persuade the Council. He heard a tsking sound from the manipulating Jedi, but he sent a half-grin to his former Masters.
Luke cleared the cobwebs from his mind and truly opened himself to Mace Windu. Mace Windu held his breath in awe at the tangled webs surrounded Luke. Anakin Skywalker's mind was complicated, but his was nothing compared to Luke's. Luke had lines interwoven closely with Yoda, Obi-Wan, and the tainted strands of Anakin Skywalker. Leia's web hovered on the outskirts, and the essence of the Dark Side crept into many of the strands.
Luke broke Mace Windu's concentration before the Jedi could look deeper into the darkness to discover the identity of the Sith. "Open your eyes, Master Windu," Luke commanded softly as he turned to face the two Jedi in the center of the room. Obi-Wan and Yoda shimmered closer to Luke as Mace Windu opened his eyes in wonderment. At first, all he saw was a magnitude of light. Then, he opened his real eyes.
"I'd like you to meet my former masters Obi-Wan and Yoda," Luke stated softly as he smiled the two Jedi. Mace Windu inclined his head to the masters in respect. Yoda held his gimmer stick out before as he twitched his ears slightly. Obi-Wan smiled at his old friend as he turned to face his apprentice. "Thank you, Luke," Obi-Wan stated in a proud manner as he watched the young man who had grown into a fine Jedi.
"Master Yoda, Master Obi-Wan, it is good to see you have both found peace in the Force. However, I am sorry to hear you are not among us in the future. Why do you come before us?" Master Windu asked. His heart was heavy by the fact the green creature had not survived much longer when he had been among the Jedi for hundreds of years. Yoda was the wisest among the Jedi, and no one compared to his vast amount of knowledge.
"A request I have of you, Mace. Send this youngling with Skywalker, you must. Both must go to rescue the Chancellor from General Grievous," Yoda spoke fiercely. Anakin would not be lost with hundreds of other Jedi this time if Yoda could help it. Mace showed a hint of concern before he replied, "I'm afraid Anakin and Obi-Wan left almost an hour ago to prepare for the attack on General Grievous' ship. Is Anakin Skywalker in danger?"
"This is where I chase after them, isn't it?" Luke asked Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at him, and Luke sighed. "I'm going; I'm going. Where's the hangar bay, Master Windu?" Mace replied with the fifth level, and Luke mumbled with his way out the door. "Where's Han's luck when you need it?" Luke tried his best not to whine, but old habits died hard from the moisture farm on Tatooine.
"Skywalker is traveling down a path we can't follow. None of the Jedi Masters can, not even me," Obi-Wan said with a sigh as he locked gazes with Mace Windu. Mace Windu looked puzzled for a moment before his eyes widened and the wheels started churning within him. He gathered his cloak and moved towards the door, but the mind of Yoda cut him off. 'But perhaps Luke can.'
Luke looked around in awe at the ships in the hangar. "Why don't we have ships like this?" he asked aloud as he raced over to one of the Nubian fighters. He couldn't stop himself from tracing his hands along the silver and yellow sheens as he looked over the engines. The X-Wing models the Rebel Alliance used were more practical than the TIE-fighters the Empire used, but these were just plain class.
"After awhile, the empire went for mass rather than quality. Fortunately for the empire, most of their pilots were humans instead of clones, so their fighters at least had some skill. The clones were renamed stormtroopers as the Emperor wanted soldiers he could easily replace. We had a Nubian fighter on Alderaan, but we were pacifists. The ship really is a beauty, isn't she?" Leia wondered wistfully as she watched her brother with a small smile.
"I bet she can maneuver through anything, even through beggars canyon back home," Luke stated with glee. Leia wondered where his innocence had disappeared too in the last year of battle. If he were this excited over a Nubian fighter, she would give him a hundred ships to make him happy. She laughed as he vaulted himself up into the pilot's seat. R2-D2 beeped beside her, and she looked at him in puzzlement.
"I don't think he's going anywhere Artoo. I think he's just checking over the ship," she answered with a frown to his beeps and whistles. Luke was muttering over something as he fired up the engines. "Where are you going?" Leia called to her brother as Artoo started rolling toward the ship. Luke looked gratefully at the droid as he had the ship put Artoo in the droid compartment.
"Oh my," Threepio panicked slightly as the engines. "I'm following father and Obi-Wan. Don't worry; I'll be back soon!" He shouted over the roaring engines. He grinned sheepishly at her as he sealed himself inside the cabin. "That's it! Am I the only sane person in this family?" she asked in exasperation as Luke took off for the stars. She ran toward the end of the hangar after him as he disappeared into the gunfire and exploding lights.
"Oh, I do hope they'll be alright," Threepio stated as his metal feet clanked on the floor behind her. The battle raged above the city planet with ships disappearing into the atmosphere in balls of fire. Luke could pilot through anything, but she worried whenever she couldn't be there to help him. "Me too, Threepio. Me too," she answered as she leaned against the side of the doors. It was dangerous for her to stand so close to the edge with the wind whipping so quickly, but she had to know if he came back unharmed.
Luke placed the headset over his head as Artoo sent a message to the screen. "No, Artoo, I don't know where I'm going. The Force will guide me," Luke replied as the comlink produced static. He bit his lip as he reached out through the Force. He spun the ship left as a missile barely clipped his wing. Atroo beeped shrilly at him, and he cursed as the missile followed him through the firefight.
"I see it, Artoo. Hold on, I'm going in for a dive," Luke stated quickly as he pushed the controls down to the max. He didn't know if the ship he was going toward was friend or foe, but he had to shake the missile off his tail. A loss of this one ship could help save many, many more in the future. "Reverse thrusters, Artoo," Luke commanded through his comlink. The ship went into a tailspin as he sped toward the ship below.
"I know what I'm doing. I picked it up from Han in a dogfight," Luke said through his gritted teeth. Artoo panicked more at the thought of anything from Han, but Luke was concentrating on the ship below. He would need just the right timing as he went in for the near-suicide run. The ship approached faster and faster, and Luke must have only been three feet from the ship went he pulled up.
The missile hit the ship with an exploding impact to cover the ship with small looking droids that immediately started doing damage. "I wonder what those are," Luke asked with a frown as he flew closer to the ship with the highest security. Buzz droids. Very annoying creatures. Artoo sent across the screen, and Luke chuckled as he changed frequencies on his comlink.
"Nubian T-18, identify yourself immediately, or we will open fire on you!" Crackled through his link as Luke centered his controls. He didn't have time to chitchat with friend, foe, or smuggler. Luke raced forward toward the command ship. Several ships opened fire upon him as he neared the large starship. Droids flew from the ship towards him, but he let the droids go as they were destroyed by the attempts to destroy him from behind.
The hatch was sealed off from this side as if someone had tried to blast their way in. "I'm going to a pass, Artoo. There's got to be another way in," Luke said as he took his fighter over the ship. He grinned as he noticed the shield was still up on the opposite side. The blue haze soon disappeared as Luke fired at the control panel. Luke had to turn the ship into a vertical position when the hatch began to close.
Luke winced as his Nubian fighter (he had already begun to call it his) scraped across the floor. He managed to knock out two droids and another ship in the process while sustaining various bots of damage. Luke jerked forward in the cockpit as his head hit the liquidated glass in front of him. Pain shot through his skull, and he cut feel the drizzle of blood course down the side of his hairline.
He winced as he unstrapped the restraints and slumped forward in his seat. He pushed the door to the cockpit open and forced himself out of the enclosed space. A tingling ran up Luke's left arm, but he tried to sooth it with the Force. The mechanics in his right hand still worked properly, so he could use his lightsaber if necessary. His left arm was numb and would be useless in a fight, but he hoped it wouldn't come to that.
Artoo beeped in concern as he vaulted away from the burned out Nubian fighter. Luke withheld a wince as he patted the droid with his right hand. "I need you to meet me in the control room, Artoo. I have a feeling we won't be flying out of here in the fighter," Luke said softly as he felt around for his lightsaber. The faithful was hooked onto his belt snuggly, and he vowed to never lose it again to his father.
Luke frowned as he felt for his father's presence in the Force. Anakin and Obi-Wan were rising higher each second, and Luke had to catch up to them in time. He had no idea what he was stopping his father from doing, but the Force was pressing a sense of urgency down upon him. He didn't notice the two Artoo units greeting each other in kind as he made his way to the highest floor possible.
The elevator shaft was a mass of charred wires and frayed metal. Luke took one look at the elevator, shook his head, muttered curses under his breath, and turned the other way. In his state, he wouldn't be able to climb anything in case the elevator was stuck on a level. He also couldn't reach his terminal to call for Artoo with one arm hanging limply at his side. The idea crosses his mind well before he realized it.
There were stairs. There were always stairs on a ship like this. However, the stairs Luke found were grungy and full of various sorts of grime. Luke gritted his teeth as he forced himself onto the first step. The step creaked under his weight with misuse, but it held. Luke took a deep breath and ran for all his life's worth. His chest burned with the effort getting to his father on time, and the numbness in his arm spread to his left side.
He didn't know how many sets of stairs he ran, but he took each at a time without recognition. Finally, no more stairs were to be had, and he burst through the door. Luke slid as he began a Force-induced run to the last door in the short corridor. A final set of stairs, and he was in. A door slamming caught Anakin Skywalker off balance as Luke used the Force to rip both lightsabers from his hands. Anakin looked momentarily dazed before he tried to recall the lightsaber. He was met by a Force wall as Luke pushed back.
After writing eleven pages (6,002 words), I think I'm entitled to a cliffhanger. Anyway, I need to know all the people who haven't seen Revenge of the Sith yet. Basically, I need to know how many people I could be spoiling (by accident) in later chapters. Happy reading! Ja ne, Insane Pineapple from Naboo