Hello, Goodbye
Chapter 13
"What do you mean 'we get caught'? Are you insane? No! Forget it, I know you're insane. Only a lunatic would think up such a cockeyed plan," said Han.
Leia replied, "No, Ben's right. If we take down the Empire we have a better shot with the combined forces of the Rebels and the Bringers together. We can't risk exposing our plan too soon or we'll give away the element of surprise."
Luke asked, "Ok, but what about the Society? They're still going to conquer Naboo."
Ben sighed and rubbed his beard in thought, "Yes, that is a problem, but I don't think we have enough manpower to pull off two attacks."
In response, Captain Solo said, "If you ask me, the Empire is the bigger fish we need to fry. In the big scheme of things what's one planet compared to a whole universe?"
"Han! How could you even say such a thing!" cried Leia.
"I'm just telling it like it is, Princess."
The ex-con's remark made everyone grow silent. They didn't know what to say, but a moment later the ruby-eyed beauty said, "Han is right. You must do what you must, but I must do what I must."
Everyone in the room was confused by her remark and Ben didn't like the sound of them at all. It sounded too much like something he'd say. It sounded like she was going to do something reckless. To everyone's shock, the Jedi Master approached her and kneeled down on one knee in order to gather her hands as she sat.
"What do you mean?"
However, the answer didn't come from Thrice, instead it came from Adame. "She means she's going to try and save Naboo. She's going to stop the Society alone."
Ben locked his blue eyes with his beloved and spoke sternly, "No, Thrice. I forbid it."
"It is my duty. It is my responsibility to set right the misdeeds of my Makers, Ben. I must unite my sisters-in-arms. With their help I'll be able to break the chains of command."
"NO! I don't want you to go," said Ben as he held her tighter to him. "You promised me, Thrice. You promised to always be mine."
"It is my decision to make," she roared—"I am yours, Ben, but I am a warrior too. Please, don't ask me to do something I don't want to do. Please, have faith."
The crimson-eyed beauty then rose from her chair. "The battle on Naboo should take some time to organize, hopefully you will have made contacted with the Bringers and eliminated the Emperor. You can join my sisters and I once your task is completed."
Thrice then moved to exit the galley, but Ben followed her out into the hall and caught her by the arm. He used his free hand to close the door and gain some privacy.
In a low voice he said, "I still don't want you to leave."
"But, Ben—"
"Yes, I know. It is your duty and I won't stop you, but I don't want to be parted from you neither. I have this terrible feeling that something will happen to you on Naboo."
Thrice narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "What sort of feeling?"
"A Jedi feeling."
The ruby-eyed woman paused, then swiftly took Ben's hand and led him to the ship's lab. Ben had never been inside the lab-room before and glanced about at the strange equipment.
"What are we doing here?"
Thrice then sat herself down on a medical chair and programmed her commands into the computer screen at her side. She ignored Ben's frustration and didn't even look up as him as she worked. "I'm making a complete scan of my present psychological status."
"Why?"
"In case of an emergency."
After a few moments a large machine began to scan an eerie blue light over her entire head as she held herself completely still. When the scan was complete, Thrice quickly slide off the medical chair and pulled a data storage device out from one of the machine's slots. The storage unit looked like a green vile.
The crimson-eyed beauty then reverently placed the green vile in her knight's hand and she slowly curled his fingers around it for safekeeping. She then gave him a sad smile and said, "This way…I'll always remember you, my love."
Ben looked at the vile and then back into the jeweled eyes of his beloved. "I pray that I won't ever have to use this, Milady."
"I know, but it helps to be safe rather than sorry."
***
Location: Death Star
Lord Sidious was not pleased with his new apprentice at all. For months now Darth Malice had been traveling to every which direction in the Empire in hopes of finding that accursed Society woman. And what was once an excellent tool for manipulation had become an irritating obsession. The man was worse than Vader!
How could he ever expect to run an evil Empire when his apprentices kept daydreaming about their women? Though, it was true that this dark version of Obi-Wan was quite excellent, he was also becoming unruly—and getting away with it too. Darth Malice was sometimes too tactful for his own good. And just like the original Obi-Wan, he was a brilliant strategist and negotiator. In some ways Sidious envied his student because he seemed too perfect to be true.
Unexpectedly, the thrown room doors opened and in walked Vader. The Emperor could tell he was seething with fury. The Force pulsed with his wrath. Sidious also noticed that he was missing an arm, though such a wound was nothing to Vader since he was part machine. Though, the Dark Lord had to wonder who was skilled enough to injure his apprentice.
"Lord Vader, what has happened to your arm?"
"It was that Society witch, Lady Nina! She betrayed our deal, Master. She did not give me my Padme."
"Padme? But she's dead, my apprentice. What sort of deal did you make with Lady Nina?"
"Forgive me, Master, but I had Lady Nina promise me to make me a clone of my beloved angel, but the witch broke our arrangement because that damn clone of Obi-Wan got in my way!"
Lord Sidious was surprised to hear that Vader was trying to arrange a clone of Padme to be made. He thought he had brainwashed him enough that it was only the Dark Side that could bring her back. He could loose his apprentice to doubts created by these cloners. Also, Sidious didn't really think that Malice would interfere with Vader's plans. There really was no reason for him to have a vendetta. Malice simply had no prior memories of Vader.
"Your Padme cannot be restored to you through a clone, Lord Vader. She would have no memories of you as your sweet angel. She would only be a poor imitation. I told you Vader, you must be patient and then I will teach you the means to truly bring back the dead through the Dark Side of the Force. And as for the clone of Obi-Wan, I will punish him accordingly."
Vader bowed his head and answered, "Thank you, my Master."
"Now, you must go to the medical ward and tend to that wound. After which, I want you to retrieve the Obi-Wan clone, Darth Malice and bring him before me."
"As you wish, my Master."
***
TBC
Again, thanks XxRandom NemesisxX for your reviews. I haven't been making my own comments for a while because I still felt kind of iffy about the whole M rated context back in chapter 11. I'm new to that sort of writing. I'm not sure if I'd do something like that again. Though, I do like this chapter. I kind of missed writing Lord Sidious's evil ramblings. Plus, I think this chapter is the turning point and that the conculsion will be headed this way pretty soon.
And so, I hope that my story has stirred your imagination and that its complexity has captured your focus. And that my SW characters have stayed character true and that my OCs haven't run too much of a muck. Thus far, the moon has been shining and the muses have been singing--and I have been able to write this many damn chapters is totally beyond me.
Please write a review! --Thanks