Naboo: One year later:
Luke awoke to the feeling of the sun shining down on his face. He quietly got up and slipped his trousers and his boots on before slipping on a simple sleeveless shirt. He then walked down the stairs and out the front door to begin his morning run.
Most of the neighbors were used to him doing his run around the block. He knew that none of them had told anyone about his unexplained presence in his Grandfather's home, most Nabuian citizens were good at keeping their mouths shut when it came to such incidents and they rarely asked questions.
Aside from a few family friends, no one knew just who Luke was besides the Naberrie family.
For the next twenty minutes, Luke ran around the nearby block, before stopping in the front yard of the Naberrie residence and preparing to do a round of push ups.
Once he had finished his round of push ups, he headed into the backyard after picking up his lightsaber and started an intense session of practice with the red lightsaber blade.
Luke instantly knew that his grandparents were watching him as they sipped their morning cups of tea. They both watched him almost every morning, he was fairly used to it. What he found odd was the fact that he could sense his Aunt and Uncle watching him with his cousins. While they had watched him train a few times, he still found it odd because of the fact that they rarely came over in the morning.
After an hour of training with his lightsaber, he approached the picnic table on the porch and noticed a plate of food waiting for him.
"Thank you Grandma."
Jobal merely smiled as her grandson sat down. Luke at the same time, noticed grim looks on the faces of his Grandparents and on his Cousins as well as his Aunt and Uncle.
Luke frowned, "What's wrong?"
"It's our regional Governor, Moff Panaka," Sola replied.
"What is he doing now?" Luke asked.
"There is a Gungan city underwater that is not far from here that he wants to destroy because of the fact that the Gungans use land above water for hunting and gathering. He wants to build something over that land," Ruwee replied.
"What of the Gungans in the city?" Luke asked uneasily.
"They would be destroyed with the city of course," Jobal replied.
"And weren't the Gungans friends of my Mother?" Luke asked.
"And your Father, at least back when he was human," Sola commented.
"Sola, leave Anakin out of this," Jobal stated.
"His name is Vader," Sola replied.
Luke at the same time spoke, "So what is the plan for the Gungans?"
"We can't do much, I am going to join the protest by the swamps in a couple of days and so will your Grandma," Ruwee replied.
"You can't do that, the last time that there were protests on Naboo, Panaka just had the Garrison kill everyone."
"The Gungans may be a different species, but they are still fellow Nabuians," Pooja countered.
"I agree, the fact that my Mother was the Queen of Naboo means one thing to me as well," Luke paused before he spoke, "The Nabuians are my people, Human or Gungan they are my people. I also owe it to them to protect them just as my Mother would have done."
"What do you mean?" Ryoo asked.
"This only means one thing, I have to kill Panaka."
Sola at that moment started to choke on the tea that she was sipping as she was filled with horror upon hearing Luke's declaration.
She looked at Luke and spoke, "You can't do that."
"I am more than capable Aunt Sola, I have taken plenty of lives already, one more life won't make much of a difference."
"But those were Jedi and Alliance troops that you cut down with the Dark Side, you are talking about an assassination Luke."
"Remember that Newsman that we used to hate so much Sola?" Ruwee asked.
"Why yes, I'm not going to lie, I was very happy when I heard that he was dead, especially after hearing what he said about Padme."
"You're looking at the man who took his life," Ruwee stated as he pointed towards Luke.
"So you're just going to set up an accident and stab Panaka in the back? That just doesn't seem right to me. That is the coward's way," Sola stated as she looked back at Luke.
"Of course it is, that's why I won't be stabbing him in the back. I have done plenty of assassinations. The one thing that didn't bother me was the fact that the people that my Dad had me kill in this manner were those that deserved it. Panaka is no different and my face will be the last thing that he sees. Believe me, I won't just make it a cheap attack."
Sola frowned, "It just seems wrong to me."
"Luke is right though, it will save the Gungans and the protestors," Pooja stated.
Sola threw her hands up in the air, "You're right, I just don't like the idea of you doing something so violent, I mean you're Padme's son and she would have never allowed you to preform such evils."
Luke nodded, "I know, but it has to be done just this once."
Ruwee sighed, "I don't like it either, but it is hard to find any other way to save people from being killed in the protests."
"What will you need for this horrible deed?" Jobal asked.
"I have just about everything needed, I just am going to need a few things from my travel bag. I'll be right back," Luke stated as he headed into the house and towards his bedroom.
He silently picked the black travel bag up and returned to his family as he spoke, "I have plenty of tools in here."
As the table was cleared, Luke pulled a smaller bag out of his travel bag which he opened on the table. He heard gasps of horror as he looked into the bag at the sets of toxic darts and Thermal Detonators that were inside of the bag along with two blasters, and even a few things that he knew that his Grandparents were unable to identify. He also had grappling hooks, a gas mask, several gas bombs and even a few anti security devices that were built especially for disabling cameras.
Sola looked at her nephew in horror, "What is this? An armory?"
"I've used these a lot. I almost forgot that I had them, it has been so long since I have looked at all of these weapons."
Luke glanced at his Aunt as he spoke, "What I do, I do carefully and perfectly, this job will be to set an example, so that no one that comes after Panaka will try what he is trying."
"You mean that you're going to make it obvious that he was assassinated?" Jobal asked in disbelief.
"Of course, then the man that comes after him will know that if he values his life that he has to leave the Gungans alone. Granddad, I need your spray paint from the Garage. Aunt Sola, I need directions to his residence. I will fly over it and get a layout done today when I go out for groceries."
"How are you doing that?" Sola asked.
Luke reached into the bag and revealed a simple looking Camera. "Unless there are shields or Ray shields protecting the buildings, this camera is capable of scanning any structure and giving me a visual map of the inside no matter what."
"So you're going to take pictures?" Ruwee asked.
"Of course, I am also going to need a valid plan for him. Don't worry, I am going to teach him some respect tonight," Luke stated with a smile.
An hour later, Luke found himself flying above Panaka's mansion as he took his Holoimages with his camera. He then flew off and into the streets of Naboo as he went about his business before returning home.
Once he had returned home, he headed into the dining room and set up a Holoprojector as he started to study his images.
As he studied the images, he noticed Ruwee walking into the room behind him, "I can see that you're already studying the images."
Luke nodded, "There are two cameras on the side of the house where Panaka's room is. I can disable those long range with my special Anti security device. I can then climb up the walls with my grappling hook and easily make it inside. Once I am inside, I will talk to him before I take his life. I will leave my warning behind and then make my way out of the place."
"What about guards?" Sola asked as she entered the room.
"You're still here Aunt Sola?"
"Of course, if you're going to do this, I want to make sure that you know what you're doing."
"I have gotten into places that have way better security than this place. It won't be hard," Luke stated.
"What about getting out?"
"I can slaughter the entire Mansion if I have to. It's no big deal, Panaka has no chance, and his security Forces are a joke. I can take them all on."
"Are you planning to allow them to see you?" Ruwee asked.
"If they do, it won't be for long."
"What about the Cameras inside?" Sola asked.
"Once Panaka is dead, I am going to use this one device of mine that will cause a complete electronic blackout throughout the entire house and anywhere within a thousand feet. He will have no cameras left and the blackout will last long enough for me to escape," Luke stated with a smile.
Ruwee at the same time spoke, "There is nothing that we can do to talk you out of this is there?"
"These are my people just as they are yours. I think that I owe it to them to protect them, don't you?"
"Yes, but to me this is just pure brutality," Ruwee stated.
"What would my Mother have done?"
"While she would have condemned your methods, she certainly would have done her best to protect the Gungans," Ruwee replied.
"We are different people, I have my ways and she had hers," Luke replied.
"And you're only doing what you think is right," Ruwee replied.
"But you don't agree?" Luke asked.
"I don't believe in using violence to get my point across the board. I never worked that way in my time."
Luke nodded, "I respectfully understand your point. That really is how it is supposed to be. Unfortunately, the Empire makes it to the point that you have to use violence, I have seen what they have done to protestors that protested in peace on countless worlds. I have even seen what my Father has done to peaceful protestors. I can't have those people's blood on my hands because I didn't act when I should have."
Ruwee nodded in silence as Sola spoke, "I am firmly saying this one time Luke, I do not approve of your methods!"
Luke nodded as he looked at his Aunt and spoke, "You do not know the Empire like I do."
Sola was silent in response as Ruwee spoke, "He does have a point Sola."
"It doesn't justify killing a man in cold blood like he is about to do."
Ruwee sighed as Jobal entered the room, "Have you found a way to do this?"
Luke nodded, "Yes, but no one is in favor of my plan."
"You just need to understand our culture Luke, we are a peace loving people. We don't believe in using violence to get our way. It is very rare that you see a Nabuian taking up arms to get their point into people's minds."
"I know, but I can't let thousands of people die by saying nothing."
Jobal frowned, "I can't stop you and I know that you also were raised differently than we were. While you did see the Empire for what it was, you still do have a lot to learn."
"Don't worry, I won't let anyone die that doesn't need to die," Luke stated.
"I will hold you to that," Ruwee replied.
"I know you will," Luke replied with a smile.
Star Destroyer Exactor:
Two lightsaber blades crossed within Vader's training room onboard the Exactor as Darth Vader sparred with fourteen year old Mara Jade. In the year since he had found Mara, she had advanced various levels in multiple forms of combat. She had built her own lightsaber and she had trained with him everyday. Although she wasn't near as skilled as Luke in terms of combat, she was an exceptional fighter that would rival many hardened warriors throughout the Galaxy if faced with an actual battle.
Vader still had chosen not to send her on any missions, preferring to make sure that she was skilled enough to survive before using her. He could tell that Mara was anxious to serve him on a mission, but she knew better than to press the issue.
Mara Jade indeed was a very intelligent girl, Vader had made sure that she received a proper education alongside her training, and so far she was excelling in anything that she did.
Vader found himself pleased with the skills that she was picking up as well as the sharpness of her young brain. He hadn't once regretted rescuing Mara from slavery from that cursed bar on Nar Shaddaa. Mara was not only a great use to him, but she was also someone who deserved to be free from slavery and to have a life and a future.
Vader smiled as Mara attempted to defeat him with an overhead strike that he easily countered while bringing his foot against her calf in a kick that caused her to fall to the ground as Vader stood over her, "Always know the possible consequences of the wrong strike at the wrong time."
"Yes Master," Mara replied as Vader allowed her to stand up.
Mara looked at her Master in shame, "I'm sorry for failing you."
"Don't say you're sorry, you didn't fail, you have only been training for one year and you are already excelling way faster than the average trainee. All you are doing is learning each time that you are defeated by me. It doesn't anger me by any means. However, I won't allow you to go on a mission until I know that you can survive."
"How old was Luke when he fought in actual combat for the first time?"
"Ten, but he had been training since he was old enough to walk."
"Oh," Mara replied.
"Do you think that I will be tasked with bringing him in?"
"Quite possibly actually," Vader replied with a smile as an idea came into his mind.
Vader at the same time spoke, "How about we go ahead and exercise our Force abilities? We have been dueling for almost an hour now."
"Of course Master," Mara humbly replied.
Vader smiled as he pointed to the three large crates that were sitting at the edge of the room.
"Yesterday, you picked up two of them. Try three of them today."
"Yes Master," Mara replied as she reached out with the Force.
Vader found himself smiling with pride as he saw all three crates hit the ceiling.
"Now set them down nice and slowly Mara."
Mara nodded as she lowered the crates to the floor and set them down nice and slowly.
Mara smiled, when she noticed her Master's smile of approval. She was so pleased to see that her Master was happy with her skills. All she ever did was work to please him with her training. Although many would say that Vader was a harsh trainer, Mara failed to notice, all she could think of was the hell that she had lived in as a child slave and the life that she now had onboard the Exactor in return for learning the ways of the Force.
She was grateful that Vader was willing to train her and give her the chance to be something. All of her life, she had felt like she was nothing more than a tool or an object and now, she was actually a person. She was treated almost like family by Vader, something that she had never known in her life of drudgery.
She never could even think of disobeying Vader, at least he cared about her. He had trained her and given her everything. She had two sets of boots, she had at least ten outfits, she had makeup and combs and even a few books and a computer. As a slave, she didn't even have a pair of sandals to her name and the rags that Vader had found her in had been all that she had in terms of clothing. Now, thanks to Vader she had everything that she needed.
Twenty minutes later, Mara and Vader had finished their exercises as Vader spoke, "Let's get some dinner, it is getting rather late."
Mara nodded, normally they trained in the morning, but Vader had had meetings and some tasks on the Bridge to preform that had prevented them from training.
She eagerly followed her Master into the kitchen as he spoke, "You're getting better everyday Mara."
"You mean it?" Mara asked.
"Yes," Vader replied.
"Think of yourself back when you came here. You barely lasted a second against me. Now, you are lasting almost ten minutes or longer."
"But, you're still being easy on me."
"That may be but not near as easy as I was back then. The bottom line is that you're improving."
Vader then entered the kitchen and with the help of Mara, the two of them immediately produced a simple yet enjoyable dinner.
As they sat down Mara spoke, "Master?"
"Yes?" Vader asked.
"Why haven't you trained me in the exact manner that Sith are trained? I mean, you have encouraged me to use both the Dark and the Light Side, but you use only the Dark. Why is it that you use the Dark but encourage me to use both Dark and Light?"
"Because I don't want you to end up like me. In some ways, I see the error in my ways, and what I did wrong sixteen years ago, but in truth it is to late for me to change everything back to the way it was. I don't want you to end up in the same predicament by the time that you're my age," Vader replied as he took a bite of his dinner.
"If you could go back, would you change things?" Mara asked.
"If I could go back sixteen years, I would have stopped everything on Mustafar and disappeared with Padme if I had known that I would lose her in the long run. Nothing matters now that she is dead though except insuring my Son's survival," Vader replied.
Alright, that is it for now, Thank you for reading and reviewing. I will try to have another update up this week if possible.
-Fallen Jedi 79
