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The Force was eluding me. Each time I stretched out to touch its wispy depths, it slid just out of my mental reach. Reflexively, I moved to bite my lower lip, but my teeth clicked against my articulators. I clenched my jaw and fought against growling to myself.

I was barely aware that I was walking, and of what doors I was passing through, until I found myself striding into the vast, dark, main control room of the Death Star. Grand Moff Tarkin turned to face me, outlined against the spectacular viewscreen of stars, his hands clasped coolly behind his back.

"Well?" he inquired, raising his skeletal eyebrows. "What have you learned?"

"Her resistance to the mind probe is considerable. It will be some time before we can extract any information from her."

The words simply fell out of my mouth. I had not anticipated lying---not to someone as straightforward, efficient, and trustworthy as Tarkin. But I could not possibly disclose what had happened. It would dangerously expose my moment of mortifying weakness.

And, I realized, my gut was still repulsed by the thought of any of the other interrogators coming near her, injecting her with that serum.

But why?

I fought the impulse to jerk slightly when Admiral Motti marched in front of me and spoke crisply to Tarkin.

"The final check-out is complete. All systems are operational. What course shall we set?"

Thoughtfully, Tarkin folded his arms across his chest and placed a pensive finger against his lips. His eyes narrowed.

"Perhaps she would respond to...an alternative form of persuasion."

I turned my head sharply, my eyes flashing.

"What do you mean?" I demanded.

"I think it is time we demonstrate the full power of this station." Tarkin turned to the admiral. "Set your course for Alderaan."

VVVVVVVVVVVVV

This was not a good idea. As soon as I had heard Tarkin's plan, I argued against it. I told him that the loss-to-gain ratio was much too skewed---it would mean the loss of an entire planet's resources in exchange for information that may or may not lead us somewhere close to the Rebels. Tarkin had assured me that the information gained would be worth the price. I assured him that he would not gain any information; the princess would never betray the Rebellion knowingly. She was far too strong for that. Tarkin had cocked an eyebrow and asked me what real proof I had that inclined me to think that way. At such a question, I fell silent. Of course I could not tell him.

And there was yet another reason, one that had no chance of being voiced out loud: I was not entirely certain how it would feel---yes, feel---to be in such proximity to the sudden deaths of millions of people.

But I was going to find out. I had been given the distinction of bringing Princess Leia to the bridge myself, and keeping her from interfering as her homeworld was destroyed.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

She knew something was wrong. Though outwardly she appeared supremely calm and defiant as she walked in front of me, flanked and led by storm-troopers, I could sense her underlying tension, her uncertainty. The fearful minds of the storm-trooper guard faded from my awareness. They were always afraid of me---shook in their armor to be near me---and justly so. But for once, I found no satisfaction in that knowledge. I concentrated on her as we paced on, studying the strong poise in her slender shoulders, and pushing subtly against the edges of her mind.

However, my efforts mysteriously began having an adverse effect. Instead of strengthening my knowledge or power over her, her tension and uncertainty increased my own. Soon, though I was much taller, our strides just happened to match; our feet struck the metal floor in sync. A few moments later, it was as if I could feel her breathing. With every step, it was as if we were being drawn closer together by a power neither of us could control. And then, when she hesitated before passing through the door of the bridge, she bumped back against my breastplate.

It was as if an electric shock jolted through me. My breath caught as a keen awareness of her entire being blared through my mind: her stubborn determination, her girlish, hidden vulnerability; her early-acquired wisdom, her simple inexperience; her blooming youth, her teeth-gritting struggles; her laughter, her tears---and a great, untamed, raw power that flowed through her very blood.

She was Force-sensitive.

At this, every thought instantly shook from my brain except one:

Who is this girl?

I could not speak. I was barely aware of where we were when we entered the bridge, and saw Tarkin standing poised, waiting for her. But beyond him, out in the black abyss, hung a brilliant jewel of a planet---a planet that the princess could not fail to recognize. Her mind twitched. I twitched. We kept walking. Strangely, the princess did not stray far from me. Either that, or I was not able to stray far from her.

"Governor Tarkin," the princess quipped, and to any outside listener would have sounded absolutely confident. "I should have expected to find you holding Vader's leash." She cocked her head saucily, narrowing her eyes. "I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board."

Tarkin sneered and drew closer.

"Charming to the last." He reached out and took her chin in his hand. Something in my gut twisted, but still I could not speak.

"You don't know how hard I found it signing the order to terminate your life," Tarkin confessed.

Leia jerked her head out of his reach.

"I'm surprised you had the courage to take the responsibility yourself," she snapped. Tarkin chuckled, just minutely.

"Princess Leia, before your execution," he said pointedly. "I would like you to be my guest at a ceremony that will make this battle station operational. No star system will dare oppose the Emperor now." He gestured grandly, indicating the impressive room. Leia looked at him with cool confidence. A confidence she did not feel. I could almost hear her heart pounding. Why, she was wondering, was he speaking this way as the station orbited Alderaan?

"The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers," she murmured, still trying. Tarkin shook his head.

"Not after we demonstrate the power of this station." He held up a finger frankly, as if giving a lecture. "In a way, you have determined the choice of the planet that'll be destroyed first. Since you are reluctant to provide us with the location of the Rebel base, I have chosen to test this station's destructive power on your home planet of Alderaan." He faced away from her, and leveled his penetrating gaze upon the planet before us.

Leia's heart lurched. My breathing suddenly strained.

"No!" she cried, stricken. "Alderaan is peaceful! We have no weapons---you can't possibly---"

Tarkin whirled on her.

"You would prefer another target? A military target? Then name the system!" All taunting levity vanished from Tarkin's face, and his tone lowered to a deadly pitch. "I grow tired of asking this, so it'll be the last time." He advanced on her, looming over her, forcing her to back up---to press against my chest.

I sucked in a breath. Tarkin did not budge. His eyes bored down into her.

"Where is the Rebel base?"

In that moment, time suspended in the air. I could not move. I could not talk. I could not think. Every sense heightened to its greatest awareness. I could hear everything, every little breath, each click of armor and buttons, the soft movement of air through the vents---but most of all, I could feel every turbulent, terrified emotion that coursed through this girl that stood against me. I was not able to pay any attention to Tarkin's proximity. Leia's touch was burning straight through my breastplate and into my---into my heart.

The storm within her built, and now, I was utterly powerless to escape it. Her resolution yanked one way and another as her fears wrestled mightily with her logic. Her eyes locked on Alderaan, as if nothing else existed. Then, her decision flashed across my mind. I blinked.

"Dantooine," she let out in a rush, as if tension had been cut loose. She lowered her auburn head in resignation. "They're on Dantooine."

Tarkin looked up at me in smug triumph.

"There. You see Lord Vader? She can be reasonable."

I stared at him. She was lying. It was a simple fact. I knew it. But my mouth would not work. Tarkin withdrew turned to Admiral Motti.

"Continue with the operation. You may fire when ready."

"What?" Leia's yelp of horror sliced through me. I started slightly. Was he truly going to do this?

"You're far too trusting," Tarkin mocked. "Dantooine is too remote to make an effective demonstration. But don't worry." He held up his finger again. "We will deal with your Rebel friends soon enough."

Suddenly, I felt Leia's desperation launch to its breaking point.

"No!" She lunged rashly toward Tarkin. Time slowed. An over-arching awareness of the entire room flooded my senses, and I abruptly "saw" every single storm-trooper and guard twitch toward his weapon. But they did not get the chance to lift them. Before Leia could take one step, I lashed out and grabbed her shoulder, pulling her tightly back to me.

If I had let her go, they would have shot her.

A helmeted technician spoke.

"Commence primary ignition."

The levers worked. The lights blinked. Power surged and swelled throughout the entire station. Even the non-Force-sensitives could feel it rumbling all around them.

Horror and mind-numbing dread mounted within Leia's being, filling her whole body and radiating from her head in such a way that all of my joints locked completely. I stood frozen as a deactivated droid---until she started to tremble.

The Death Star coiled, ready to pounce. Then, too soon---it struck.

Blaring green light lanced out from the heart of the station, knifing through space. Like a spear hurled by a god, it drove through the heart of the planet, and with a raging, chaotic flash, instantly blasted its perfect sphere into tumbling shreds.

And in the next millisecond, I thought I was dying.

Screaming, roaring, gnashing, wailing, shrieking, clawing, howling, sobbing, yelping cacophony bombarded my whole being, erasing every semblance of thought and slamming my entire system into a petrified shock.

Then, like a slap to the face...came the silence.

I was like a winded man sucking in a lungful of deep water.

My entire chest seemed as if it was about to collapse. I could not inhale.

But that was not yet the worst.

Leia did not make a sound. But what swelled up from the depths of her heart was the most eloquent expression of purest agony that I had felt since---

Like a rising scream, it rushed over my soul as if a mighty dam had burst. I was knocked back on my heels, instantly certain I would drown in her anguish. It surrounded me, pressed against me, penetrated me: vivid images of her home, her garden, the sun-kissed mountain that had greeted her sight every morning; her schoolmates...her teachers...her father...her mother...

And then all of those pictures filled with blackest poison, and were ripped to shards with the sharp pain of breaking bones. The ache dug deeper.

Before I could do anything to bar it, scenes from my own past were being ripped out of the dregs of my soul like a hurricane dredging wrecked ships up from the depths. They mingled in and out of Leia's visions like blood and water.

Basking in the warmth of Qui-Gon Jinn's understanding smile---staring at the pyre as his dead body was burned to nothing. My mother bidding me farewell outside our home. Holding her frail frame in my arms, scarred and beaten---watching the life leave her eyes. Slashing and hacking at the flailing bodies of the Sand People until all of them lay vanquished. Watching dozens of close friends being mowed down by blaster fire in the arena on Geonosis. Slicing off Mace Windu's arm and seeing him tumble out the window. Slaughtering children at the Jedi Temple.

Obi-Wan Kenobi's soft comment of approval, his sparkling glance of admiration---him standing there at the top of the ramp of the ship after betraying me. Fighting him. Wanting to kill him. Lying prone on the rocks, limb-less---feeling myself burning half to death.

Learning that Padme was dead.

And that I had killed her.

The visions suddenly faded. Their potency left my frame in a rush. I almost staggered. I opened my eyes. I had not realized they were closed.

Leia fell heavily against me. Without thinking, I caught her. Her pale head lolled back onto my arm.

"She has swooned, poor thing," Tarkin commented, his sarcasm as poisonous as the blackness in my vision. He gestured dismissively with his head and addressed two troopers. "Take her back to her cell."

The troops moved toward her.

"Leave her." I had finally found my voice. It sounded like a monster's. "Do not touch her. I will see to her myself."

Tarkin glanced at me strangely, but I ignored him. Who did he think he was, anyway? The fool. The blasted fool.

Bending slightly, I effortlessly picked the princess up and cradled her against me. I lifted my chin, daring any unlucky vermin to challenge me as I strode back to the detention block with her in my arms, my cloak billowing behind me.

TO BE CONTINUED