Aria's[1] POV
When I awoke Anakin had already left; he was getting close to finding a rebel base, or so he said. I pushed myself to my feet groaning as my body pulsed with a sharp ache; I felt like a giant bruise and it sucked. After Sidious left, Anakin returned to work and I just laid on the floor until I had the strength to move to my makeshift bed on the floor. Then I slept until this morning. I could still feel the effects of the blue lightning as it raced across my body. Another groan escaped my lips as I fought the urge to throw up and faint.
"This day is gonna suck," I muttered to myself as the R2-5Q droid approached me whistling in response. These droids were used by the empire to find spies but Anakin reconfigured it's synapses, or whatever droids had, so the droid would answer to Anakin and Anakin alone. We were safe with our secrets. If they were discovered we would both die and I wouldn't allow that to happen to Annie; I had a promise to keep.
"You have no idea," a familiar voice growled. Suddenly I felt the Force calling to me warning me of the intruders. I jumped to my feet and whirled around to find Boba Fett and at least ten other bounty hunters smiling at me, some of them I knew and others I didn't.
I froze as I stared at them, my pain temporarily, and I mean a second, forgotten as I stood tall ignoring my pulsing muscles and broken bones. I don't think they were here for the nutrient slop they considered food.
"You knew this was coming," a Nikto growled as he raised his blaster. I turned and looked at Boba. He and I had been on opposite sides for years.
"Yes," I confirmed as Boba's visor glinted in the artificial light. I just wished this came when I was at my full strength.
"Sorry, Stars," Pinch, an Nelvaanian, muttered with a sad look. He and I had worked together several years ago; he was an honourable creature and I wished him all the best. I just wished that didn't mean my death in that process.
"You gotta do what you gotta do," I answered flinching at how scratchy and weak my voice sounded.
"Enough," Boba growled stepping forward. "You're going to die here, Aria, and you are too weak to fight all of us."
"We'll see," I countered pushing back my growing fear and uncertainty: I was going to die. Then the fight was on; several of the hunters jumped forward with various knives and bladed weapons flashing malevolently. I stepped back and blocked or avoided the blades as Boba stepped back and shot the occasional blaster at me, but the crowd of bodies surrounding me preventing him from shooting too much. At first, I was actually doing pretty well but then someone got in a lucky shot and it went downhill from there. My old injuries from Sidious prevented me from maneuvering as quickly and my lack of lightsaber stopped me from ending the fight altogether. My body was soon covered in blood as more knives got lucky and cut my already ravaged skin. My limbs began to slow as I grew even more sore and fatigued.
Then things went from bad to worse. The Force tingled at my neck as I looked up to find Boba hitting a small button on his wrist. My eyes narrowed as my thoughts roamed. Then the room behind me exploded; bodies, both mine and bounty hunter alike, were thrown forward as my head hit the floor with a loud whack like that of a ripe fruit. I released a small groan as I fought to push myself upright. I could imagine Dooku shouting at me telling me to embrace the pain and allow the dark side to surround me, to experience true power, but I remembered Padme and pushed the temptation away. I slumped to the ground but rolled over.
"I thought this would have been a better fight," Kras, a Trandoshan, hissed as he straddled me. I could feel his eyes on my body as his long tongue licked my chest and stomach. I growled and pushed against his scaly fingers, which had secured my wrists to the ground. My vision was fuzzy and filled with dark spots as my head pounded; if I didn't have a concussion before, I certainly did now.
"And I thought you would have cleaned your teeth once in your life," I muttered back once again fighting back the urge to throw up. He growled as his grip around me tightened; his claws cutting into my skin.
"Kras, end her now!" Boba ordered as he stood over us. "She's a tricky one."
"And I wanna get paid," one I didn't know yelled as the hunters picked themselves up off the ground. I looked around searching for the droid, I hoped he didn't get crushed or blown up. I began thinking ludicrously.
"Clam down, Fett," Kras laughed licking the sweat off my skin again as I struggled feeling my anger grow and grow. "I want to enjoy this."
"There is no honour in this," Pinch said stepping forward.
"Can it; I need to get even with this one," Kras hissed as a hunter- I'm not sure which one; they were all just coloured blurs by now- pushed Pinch to the ground. I groaned as every inch of my body screamed in pain. Something in front of my eyes twinkled like a star as I stared at it; the stars were outside, not in here. Then my eyes widened in realization; it was a knife.
Oh, Sand Goddess, please, accept the cries of one of your slave children; help me. I cannot fail my mission. Grant me peace and strength no one else can.
Then Kras brought the knife down into my stomach as Fett raised his blaster and conducted a torture method known as The Burning; where one turned the blaster power to low and shot at the subject, in this case me. A scream escaped my lips as my entire body pulsed and cried in agony.
"Besides," Kras muttered slowly retracted his blade twisting it as his did so, "her blood tastes good." Then he stabbed me again. I could feel myself slip into the pain-free abyss of darkness. But I couldn't give up; I promised Padme. I. Promised...
In one futile attempt, I pushed my mental defenses down and screamed with what remained of my strength, ANAKIN!
Darth Vader's POV
I stood over Admiral Tarkin's shoulder listening as the Imperial officers droned on in their plain, monotone voices. According to Tarkin, our intelligence scouts were narrowing down the list of locations for the rebel base. It was either in Alderaan, Yavin 4, Chibias, or Hoth but they were still searching through the data. I glared down at them crossing my arms as I fought the urge to yawn and, simultaneously, shout.
"The Emperor wants the rebel base found now!" I growled as my voice rose to a yell. "Find that base or-" In that moment my mind exploded in sounds as everyone I had ever loved, anyone I ever knew began screaming through my mind. Qui-Gon, Yoda, Windu, Shaaki Ti, Aayla Secura, Obi-Wan, Jar-Jar, my mother, and Padme screamed my name. Then the voices clarified into one single voice.
ANAKIN!
It was Aria.
The sheer strength of the voices caused me to stumble as I collapsed to my knees grabbing the tables for support. My mind hurt as my visor flashed causing my vision to blur. I could feel her fear and pain. She was in danger.
"Lord Vader!" The officers jumped to my feet as the voices disappeared leaving nothing but a cold feeling. I took in a deep breath and pushed myself to my feet and left ignoring their calls and looks. I hurried to my chambers as my hand went to my lightsaber and to Aria's, which I had kept.
I soon reached my quarters and pushed the doors open to find my room filled with smoke as several bounty hunters stood with glinting weapons. They were all huddled around someone. Aria!
She was laying underneath a Trandoshan covered in more sweat, smoke, and blood. Her eyes were fighting to stay awake as I could feel her strength draining. The Trandoshan laughed as he lifted a bloodstained knife, Aria's blood.
My anger pulsed as I ignited my lightsaber and stared at them all. The hunters faced me as their joy and glee left their faces replaced by fear and, some, with a look of anticipation. Aria's eyes opened as she turned her head to look at me; her face was so pale and her eyes were too dark and tired, yet she smiled.
"You came," she whispered with a small smile. She had lost so much blood.
"Who is going to die first?" I asked already coming to the decision they were all going to die. The Trandoshan laughed and stood releasing Aria as she dragged herself closer to me.
"I would like to add a sith lord to my resume," he crackled raising his blade as he licked off some of the blood.
"As you wish; you shall die first. Aria!" I jumped forward whirling my saber around as I grabbed Aria's lightsaber and threw it towards her. At least now she would be able to defend herself, that is if she remained conscious. She used the Force to deliver the weapon in her hands; some of her strength returned as her eyes brightened as she pushed herself to her feet. She was shaky but she was fighting. Good for her.
The hunters raised their weapons and began their attack; some of them began shooting at me while others approached me. I deflected the blaster shots into the oncoming bounty hunters feeling a smile pull at my lips; this was too easy. They began dropping while those surviving stepped away and looked at each other trying to come up with a new plan.
Some of them moved around me and went after Aria. Her face had a little more colour and I could feel her drawing strength from the Force, but by doing so she was lowering her barriers. I raised my own barriers around her hoping Sidious had not felt her presence. Her saber was ignited and held in her hands; she would be able to hold her own. For now.
I leapt towards my own attackers and quickly dispatched them until only the Trandoshan was standing before me. His face was turned in a deep scowl while frustration and anger shone through his eyes. I had lied; he wasn't the first to die, but his would be the most painful.
"Who hired you?" I asked already knowing the answer. He laughed as his tongue licked his lips.
"What makes Starkiller so important to you?" He laughed again but sounded like an old man coughing. "She tastes good, doesn't she?"
"Last chance: answer my question," I warned. He jumped forward and raised his blaster shooting some quick blasts at me. I simply raised my hand and blocked the blasts away. The Trandoshan's face fell as he stared in horror as I walked forward. He shot some more but I lifted my crimson blade and easily deflected the blasts; one into his leg and the others into his arms. He cried in pain and fell to the ground.
"Answer me!" I snapped raising my hand and using the Force to choke him. His tongue hung out of his mouth as he fought for breath and my smile grew.
"You should be... helping us. Your... master... hired...us," he spat pulling at his neck. My heart fell as I stared forward; I expected this but still...
I reached forward and grabbed his knife staring at the dried blood. My anger flared as I tightened the Force around his neck remembering his insults and taunts towards Aria. His eyes flashed in fear as his strength fleeted. Then I pushed the knife into his heart slowly ensuring he felt everything. He let out a scream as his eyes began to glaze over. Then I snapped his neck with a wave of my hand letting the Force do the rest.
"Good riddance." I looked over to Aria and watched as she fought her attackers. Her pain seemed to be forgotten as she eradicated the surrounding hunters. I never got to see her fight on Kashyyyk; I was too busy deflecting lasers to watch and evaluate her skill, but I had to admit she was really good. Most Jedi or Sith had years to refine their skills under the constant supervision of their masters but Aria only had a few years before she left and learned on her own. In that case she was an amazing warrior. There were various styles for using the lightsaber dependent on the user's style but Aria did not use one specific style. Her style was aggressive using power and strength to overwhelm her opponents, yet it was also defensive as it used her opponent's strength against them. She had moves from other forms but it was entirely her own. I had heard people describe a lightsaber form to be dancing; I never understood how they came to that conclusion, but now I did. With a swipe, she ended her opponent as he fell joining those she had ended before. Now only one remained.
Boba Fett. He had stood aside watching Aria as I was. His mask prevented me from seeing his face but I could feel his emotions. He was calm and collected, thirsty for Aria's blood. Aria stood tall gripping her saber as she watched Boba as if seeing into his very soul, despite his mask. Her crimson blade reflected off her face making her appear wilder, fiercer, stronger, and deadlier. Yet, it brought out her blue eyes and made her look small and childish. There was no sound but my breathing, Aria's lightsaber which hummed, and the dripping of her crimson blood onto the floor.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"I will be honoured to deliver your corpse to my employer," he said before looking at the dead bounty hunters around him. "I was going to kill them so I didn't have to split the money but, because of you, I won't have to do that." I could imagine him grinning under his mask trying to get a rise out of her. She didn't take the bait but instead threw out her own.
"I know about your father, Boba," she said in a soft yet hard voice as her smile turned into a smirk. I could feel Boba's surprise and shock come off him in waves and I knew Aria felt it too. She continued, "I know how Jedi Master Windu decapitated him while you watched helplessly. I'm going to kill you in the same way; like father, like son." Her grin grew into a wide, cruel smile as I crossed my arms.
I could feel her pleasure at inflicting pain and could see her anger flare deep within her. I knew the dark side would be calling to her seductively. Promising her power and riches beyond her comprehension; the dark side used negative emotions to fuel a Sith's power and that power was immediate and strong, but it came with a devastating cost. Instead of embracing it and bowing to its power, Aria pushed that power away and focused on one thing.
Padme.
Her smile vanished as Boba raised his blaster chuckling darkly, "A Jedi lightsaber can be found at any underground market, but a red lightsaber?" He glanced at me before continuing, "The Rule of Two? My employer will be even more pleased, maybe he'll give me a raise."
"Hey, Fett, when you see your father in Hell- oh, wait," she paused. "Neither of you will have your heads; therefore, you won't be able to see each other!"
Boba growled and began shooting but Aria raised her saber and deflected the blasts easily. Then another hunter lifted his head weakly and shot at her from the group she had been fighting earlier. The Force warned her, but she missed it and the blast hit her thigh. A hiss escaped her lips as she fell onto her knees keeping her weapon up. Her strength was fading and she wouldn't accept the help of the dark side. I was about to step towards her when she glared at me telling me to stay back. I complied and watched.
"That was a dumb move," she glared at the hunter before using Force lightning killing him almost instantly. Then she returned her attention to Fett. He was standing tall before her with his blaster aimed at her head. Aria's face was once again that dull ashy grey colour as her eyes grew unfocused.
Think, Aria!
"Goodbye, Aria Naberrie Amidala or Kaeli Starkiller," Boba hissed. Aria looked up and pushed all her weight on her injured leg pushing away her pain. She stood to her full height and grinned back.
"See ya, Fett." Then she leapt into the air as Fett shot after her. Aria somersaulted before landing behind Boba. With a single swipe of her lightsaber, Boba's head fell off and landed beside him before rolling to my feet. Aria remained in her low stance as she deactivated her saber then stood tall. She looked back at me and used the Force to give me her weapon. I shook my head and returned it to her.
"You might need it again," I explained but she wasn't listening. Aria made her way where a Nelvaanian laid bleeding to death. Her eyes were emotionless as she leaned over him.
"I'm sorry, Stars," the creature uttered as more blood bubbled from his mouth.
"I understand, Pinch, it's business," she answered in a calm, neutral voice. The Nelvaanian nodded before taking his last breath and died.
"Friend of yours?" I asked stepping up behind her.
"No, we were both hired for the same job; we had to escort a group of refugees from the Outer Rim to Coruscant. We had to protect them from pirates and whatever else the galaxy had to offer. The job was more dangerous than anyone thought and the refugees didn't have enough to pay us in the end. Most bounty hunters would have turned around and sell them to pirates or slavers, so I expected Pinch to do the same but he didn't. He just made one of the females cook a meal for him and they were even." Her voice was hollow as she stepped away and turned her back to him.
Then her strength left. She collapsed but I caught her noting every injury she had, new and old. Her pulse was faint against my prosthetic limbs, and her breath was even more so. I carried her to my bed and called a medical droid over. Her blood was beginning to dry with the exception of her stomach wound, which continued to pump blood excessively. She got blood on my suit and bed.
The medical droid began to stop the bleeding while injecting her with various sedatives and healing accelerants. I could also feel the Force begin to heal her worst of injuries, and this time she allowed it. After several hours, the medical droid stepped away saying how she should rest and avoid strenuous activities. The Trandoshan's knife had damaged one of her organs, she was low on blood, had a massive concussion, several fractures, a lot more scars, and some sprains but she would survive.
I sat on the bed beside her as she opened her eyes. Some colour had returned to her face but she was still very weak, and would be for a while. She smiled and tried to sit but pain exploded in her face and fell back down.
"Well, that was fun; if you wanted to see me fight you could have just asked," she chuckled in her lame attempt at humour. "Most of your room got destroyed in the bomb, but I think your meditation chamber was undamaged." I looked at the room seeing the pile of bodies, smoke, fire, and blood. I shrugged; I was the second most powerful men in the galaxy I would have it fixed before tomorrow night.
"You came," she whispered as her eyes light up. "I didn't think you'd hear me or at least come."
I shrugged unsure; Vader did not receive gratitude. "I think the entire galaxy heard you, but I hope Sidious did not."
Aria shook her head, "I doubt it; Sidious doesn't know family. He would have felt something in the Force move but he won't be able to pinpoint it, at least for a few hours." She smiled and pushed herself upwards again. This time I offered her my hand and helped her sit. Then she leaned over and kissed my faceplate on the cheek. I froze before clearing my throat uncomfortably.
"Aria, I may have come to your aid, I may have saved your life but you are still my slave and nothing but a piece of property to me," I lied, "I will never- I cannot love anyone other than your sister. I love Padme, nothing will ever change that." My grief and guilt howled as I watched the young Naberrie. Aria's face turned to a look of horror as she jumped away, wincing and placing a hand on her stomach.
"That's what you think that meant? No, ew! Anakin, you are my sister's husband; that makes of family. You're my brother not that!" She laughed weakly as she laid down once again. "Besides, I don't believe in that poodoo; like, I know you and Padme had that. Anyone in the galaxy knew that but I don't believe in love for me."
"And why not?" I asked narrowing my eyes. Aria's face fell even more as she appeared to shrink before me while her eyes turned hard and angry.
"Do you know what Gatt was known for?" She asked stiffly. Gatt was known for his various cantinas, which he ran all throughout Tatooine. It was said he did a bunch of dealings with the Hutts and his female slaves were sold as... Nightly companions.
My face fell as I looked back to Aria reading her emotions; fear, rage, hate, pain, and embarrassment coursed through her veins as her face turned red. She rolled to her side revealing a scar on her lower back. It was a bite mark.
My rage rose as I formed a tight fist ignoring the objects that exploded around me. "Is that what happened to you?"
"Not at first," she began cutting off her emotions. "He tried but I fought back; bit a guy's ear off." She grinned proudly before her face fell. "Then someone approached him and asked if he could try and he'd pay no matter the result. While I was working, they spiked my drink; I didn't know what happened until... Afterwards those karking patrons just paid to try; they had 24 standard hours to do whatever they needed to do to beat me. It happened a few more times but..." Her eyes burned making the Tatooine heat feel like Hoth.
"I know love exists; I saw it when I saw you and my sister on the datapads and holocams, but I don't believe in it for me. How can that exist when all I've ever known..." Her voice faded as she held herself tightly. I reached over and noticed how she flinched whenever I reached for her, or when I approached her from behind.
"Aria," I began placing a hand on her bare shoulder. My hate for Gatt boiled; I was going to kill him, or let Aria do it. She was right; through marriage, she was my sister and I needed to protect what was mine. My family; it was all I had left.
"Aria, it's okay."
She looked back and smiled before her eyes fluttered shut and she fell asleep. I watched over her that night calling the medical droid whenever her breathing changed or she kicked. All her life she was running and fighting back; that stopped now. She was my family.
My sister, I thought with a smile. Aria released a small moan as she moved grabbing at her stomach. Poor kid, not even sleep was a haven for her. Awake she was haunted by her guilt and remorse over her mistakes and missed opportunities, and her sleep was haunted by memories of those who wronged her, her failures, and her fears.
I reached over and pulled the blankets to her shoulders as I waved my hand pleading with the Force to comfort her. Aria sighed and settled. I smiled at her and stroked her hair.
"I will protect you, sister." I left the room but paused as a series of whistles sounded from under the rubble. I used the Force to move a piece of metal to find the droid still functional. I almost laughed.
"Good; keep an eye on her, Quey. No one is to hurt her; use any force necessary, understand? And get someone to clean this up." The droid whistled and went to the foot of the bed before going into sleep mode. These droids were created with a blaster cannon to fight against any rebel spies it came across. Satisfied, I left and stalked towards my master's chambers as my anger grew and grew.
"Lord Vader? I can feel your anger; is something the matter?" Sidious asked as I kneeled before him.
"Someone hired bounty hunters to kill my slave." My voice grumbled in its low baritone.
"She is nothing to us but a demonstration, an example of what will happen if you commit treason," Sidious said with a dismissive wave. My anger flared.
"She is my slave, my property, Master. An attack against her is an attack against me," I growled looking up at him. Sidious nodded.
"I hope you are not getting attached, Lord Vader, she is a traitor to the Empire and to Padme." I thought of Aria lying on my bed, I thought of my sister and pushed those thoughts away. Vader had no one but Sidious; if we were to survive Anakin needed to hide and only be known to Aria while everyone else saw Vader. My heart grew hard and icy as I shook my head.
"No, Master, it is pride," I looked up slowly, "I want to know who would dare attack my property." Sidious' smile faded as he nodded.
"We have already tracked the bounty hunters' employer down; it appears the rebels hired them to ensure Aria did not reveal anything," Sidious explained, "this means she is certainly involved with them, despite her claims. Intelligence will continue to track this source until we have a base. Be wary, Lord Vader, she is a snake and will say anything to get what she wants."
"And what does she want?" I asked. Sidious glared down at me as his own anger flashed.u
"To destroy our Empire and take control of it herself. Now go and prepare yourself; we shall find the rebel scum soon." He waved me away with his hand and this time I complied. Aria was right; the Force was shaking.
"Master Yoda, I know we agreed not to contact one another but I have felt a disturbance in the Force," Obi-Wan crackled through a subspace transceiver. The transmission was bad as his image would fade and voice would cut in and out. Master Yoda nodded.
"Felt it too I have; something big going on there is."
"But who? The children are too young to do anything and we are the last Jedi, to my knowledge; who could cause the Force to shake like that?"
"Someone else at work there is; what else feel did you when shake the Force did?" Yoda asked with imploring, wise eyes. Obi-Wan froze, both due to the transmission and in thought.
"A name; Anakin's name but Anakin died!"
"No answers do we have, only questions. Meditate on this we must. Contact when I have discovered answers I will." Yoda ended the transmission and stared up at the Dagobah stars wondering what was occurring out there.
"Conflicted Skywalker is; two people he cannot be. Contend they will until only one remains. Vader or Anakin who will it be?"
