Vader's POV
Aphra's pain ripped through the Force like a lightning bolt. She was alive, but maybe not for long. Commander Karbin stood above her, ready to deal the deathblow.
In the blink of an eye, Vader flew at him, blocking the purple blade mere inches from her neck.
"You're so easy to upset," Karbin laughed at him. "But do not fear: once I am done with you, she will die the slow and painful death that she deserves."
Sudden rage flooded him like a tidal wave. He used the Force to lift Karbin into the air and sent him crashing into a pile of crates.
The Mon Calamari was barely stunned by this attack and rushed back onto Vader, his sabers spinning like propellers. Vader deflected his onslaught and cut Karbin's arm off. Incensed at the loss of his limb, Karbin gave off a hoarse roar and kicked him to the ground. Vader rolled to the side, narrowly dodging a stab from his opponent before jumping back to his feet.
Their sabers clashed again in a buzzing din. They kept slashing and averting blows, both of them matching the other's fury.
Vader sent his adversary smashing into the walls, letting his own wrath loose until the very metal of Karbin's body was crumpled from the series of shocks. There would be no mercy for him. When he finally ceased his vicious assaults, Karbin fell to the ground and crawled his way to him. Surely he was aware that begging would not save him.
"There is… something… more to all this," he panted. "Isn't there?"
The only answer he got was Vader's blade through his neck.
Aphra's POV
Aphra had nearly passed out from the pain. Every move she made sent daggers through her chest, every attempt at getting up resulted in her dropping back to the ground. She couldn't feel her arm. All she could make out through her blurred vision was a massive black form hurtling her way and kneeling at her side. The figure – whose heavy breathing was now unmistakable – caught her bodily and slipped her good arm on top of its shoulder. She let out a pained groan as he hoisted her up and started carrying her to what she surmised to be the shuttle they had arrived in.
"Thanks, boss…" she breathed out. Hell, even talking hurt. She still mustered the strength to press the detonator's timer button. They still had a good five minutes before the ship would explode. What a day...
Vader's POV
There were no bunks in the shuttle so the co-pilot seat would have to do. Vader strapped her in and promptly started the engines, taking off right away and putting some distance between them and the cruiser, lest they got caught in the blast. He still felt the shuttle rattle from the explosion, but no damage seemed to have been caused. The same could not be said of the Imperial ship, which had been literally blown to dust, leaving no trace but a few metal plates scattered in the black void. He turned to Aphra and opened his mouth to speak, but despite her injuries, she still beat him to it:
"Hey, remember what I said about this being the best job of my life? I take it back." She paused to let out a cough. "That job sucks. I could do with a raise. Have you considered that?"
He didn't answer her question, examining instead the hole in her shoulder. The wound had been mostly cauterized by the lightsaber and she had lost very little blood, but it didn't escape him that her right arm – which now hung limply at her side – was no longer moving. It appeared Karbin had severed a nerve. Bruises had appeared all around her neck and her face was pale from exhaustion. He remembered all too well the last time he had worried about someone's soundness. This time was different. This time, he wasn't too late. But more importantly, this time, he would finally do it right.
"You will receive medical attention as soon as we reach the Executor." It was meant to sound comforting – which he hadn't tried in quite a few years – yet Aphra's reaction told him it wasn't.
"We're heading to your flagship?" she asked in surprise. "Aren't you afraid the kid and I will be a little conspicuous? I mean, we don't want the Emperor to find out anything shady, right?"
"I was instructed to patrol the Chommell sector for Rebel activity. Which is what I did. You were my informant and I took the boy prisoner for interrogation, which I will personally tend to." That was but a half-lie. He frequently left the fleet for unbidden solo missions – a behavior he would not tolerate from any of his subordinates – so the explanation was believable. He just had to make sure his son's identity remained unknown to the crew.
"Talking about the kid, he's been locked in there for a while… Perhaps we should check on him."
Vader left his seat and opened the smuggling compartment, only to find Luke catching flies. The child looked so harmless it was hard to believe he was the same pilot who had destroyed the Death Star. Luke stirred awake as light invaded the makeshift alcove.
"Oh, R2…" he yawned, his eyelids still closed. "I had such a crazy dream… Darth Vader just told me that he… Aaah!" Luke suddenly started as he opened his eyes and hit his head on the wall. Yes, Vader did have that effect on people. He usually didn't mind it, yet he did find himself mildly disturbed by the idea of eliciting such a reaction from his own child.
"It was no dream," the Sith Lord stated blankly.
"I... I don't know what to believe... My father was a good man. He wouldn't have killed Ben." Oh Force, what tales had he been fed?
"And what do you know of your father, young man?"
"I know he was a Jedi knight. He fought alongside Ben Kenobi. He was also Ben's friend."
It was Ben, Ben and always Ben! What did Luke know of the man, anyway? It seemed even in death, that old fossil Kenobi would not give up on tormenting him.
"Then it seems 'Ben' conveniently left out a few details."
Luke gave him a puzzled look.
"Do not assume you know anything about your 'friend', boy," Vader said icily.
"Even if you were my father, I'd want nothing to do with you." Ouch. It made sense, though. In the eyes of his son, he was, at best, a man who had abandoned him for the sake of power and his precious Empire. Which was not entirely false, if not for the fact that he had not and would not abandon him.
"You do not understand, Luke…"
"Do not understand what? That you want to lure me to the dark side? Turn me against my friends? Make me a faithful servant of the Empire?" A servant? Oh, no. He would make him his apprentice, that much was true, but he would serve no one. The Empire would be theirs to rule and shape.
"Luke, we can overthrow the emperor. Join me, and together, we can rule the Galaxy as father and son!"
"I will never join you! I will become a Jedi, like Ben wanted me to. Like you were before you gave up your principles!"
That boy was impossible. Vader turned away angrily and walked back to his seat, getting ready for the jump to lightspeed.
Aphra's POV
Aphra was trying to rest but the exchange she had just witnessed had left her mind boiling with questions. What would Vader do with his son? How did he plan to turn him? Who was this Ben Kenobi?
Her musings were cut short as they got out of Hyperspace and the ship was surrounded by a swarm of TIE-fighters. A hologram appeared on top of the console:
"Executor to Rebel spacecraft, surrender or we will open fire." Not again…
"It would advise against it, Captain Needa…" Vader answered ominously.
"F… Forgive me Lord Vader…" the poor captain stammered, immediately recognizing his distinctive voice. "We will escort you to the hangar."
They entered the belly of the monstrous ship and turned the engines off.
"Can you get up, Doctor?"
Aphra nodded.
Lowering the access ramp, Vader and Aphra left Luke in the care of the droids. They exited the shuttle to be greeted by a pale, solemn man in imperial uniform. Aphra took in her surroundings. Everything about this place was so cold and orderly it was disturbing.
"Lord Vader," the officer saluted. "And Mrs.?"
"Aphra."
The officer bowed his head and turned back to Vader, who had already started barking orders.
"Have your men take her to the medical bay, Captain. As for me, I will be taking care of our new 'guest', a certain Biggs Darklighter."
Two men in grey uniforms came at Aphra's side and escorted her out of the hangar, guiding her through the corridors to a spotless white room filled with bacta tanks and medidroids.
