THE LOST FATHER
By: jeanosauryehet27
Disclaimer: I ran out… sorry
CHAPTER 13- ONBOARD THE DEATH STAR
Luke continued to practice his lightsaber training with the remote droid when he and Obi-Wan felt a tremor in the Force. Shocked, the old man stumbled as he sat down on a nearby chair.
"I felt a great disturbance in the Force," Obi-Wan stated. "As if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced."
"I feel it, too," Luke replied. Probably the Empire had something to do with the tremor in the Force… he thought grimly.
"I fear that something terrible has happened," Obi-Wan said, a hint of fear in his voice. He sighed and stared at Luke. "You'd better get on with your exercises," he told Luke, who nodded instantly and continued to practice.
"Well you can forget your troubles with those imperial slugs," Han's voice called as he approached them, a satisfied smug look at on his face. "I told you I'd outrun them," he added with a smirk. Han sat down on a chair beside Obi-wan as the Jedi Master watched Luke deflecting blaster bolts from the training droid.
"Don't everybody thank me at once," Han said, disappointed. "Anyway we should be at Alderaan about 0200 hours."
Meanwhile, See-Threepio, Artoo-Detoo and Chewbacca were sitting down on the Dejarik Table, playing the holo-game. Chewbacca made his first move and his holo-alien hopped to its new position.
"Now be careful, Artoo," Threepio warned carefully as Artoo began to made his move.
Another holo-alien approached Chewbacca's alien and carried the alien with both of its hands and slammed it down, knocking the alien unconscious as the other aliens cringed in fear.
Chewie growled in disappointed, unaccepted to be defeated by a droid.
"He made a fair move," Threepio retorted cruelly at the Wookiee. "Screaming about it can't help you."
"Let him have it," Han spoke. "It's not wise to upset a Wookiee."
"But sir," Threepio replied, "Nobody worries about upsetting a droid."
"That's 'cause a droid can't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose," Han shot back sarcastically. "Wookiees are known to do that."
Threepio was shocked as he looked at Chewie who placed both of his furry arms behind his neck with a smug look covered his face.
"I see your point, sir," Threepio said. "I suggest a new strategy, Artoo," he told Artoo as he leaned towards the droid. "Let the Wookiee win." Chewie growled in agreement.
However, Luke still continued to practice as he reached out to the Force to guide him as blaster bolts continued to shoot him. Luke moved into Shien position and deflected the shots easily and quickly.
Obi-Wan watched him in pride, as he remembered Anakin in his padawan years, deflecting blaster bolts in his Jedi training. If you ever saw this, Anakin, he thought sadly, you will be very proud of your boy.
"Good job, Luke," The Jedi Master praised him. "Remember, a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through him."
"You mean it controls your actions?" Luke asked incredulously.
"Partially, but it also obeys your commands. That's why you deflected those bolts easily," Obi-Wan replied.
Han laughed at the old man's statement. "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster on your side, kid," Han spoke up.
Luke frowned as he deactivated his saber. "You don't believe in the Force, do you?" Luke asked.
"Kid, I've flown from one side to this galaxy to the other," Han replied. "I've seen lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful force controlling everything," he continued. "There's no mystical energy field that controls my destiny. It's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense." Obi-Wan smirked at the young man's statement. He stood up and took the helmet the headed towards the young Jedi.
"I suggest you try it again, Luke. This time, let go of your conscious self… " He said as he placed a helmet on Luke," and act on instinct. Just remember your Jedi training." Luke only nodded.
"With the blast shield down, the kid won't even see," Han said, frowning at them. "How he even gonna fight with that?"
"Don't worry, Solo. He is just like father," Obi-Wan replied. "Your eyes can deceive you, don't trust them," He reminded Luke.
"Yes, Master," Luke answered as he moved himself into a battle stance. Luke reached out to the Force, alerting his senses. When the training droid shot one blaster bolt at him, Luke quickly swung his blue blade and deflected the bolt easily.
"Just stretch out with your feelings, Luke," Obi-Wan told him. Luke nodded in response.
Luke positioned himself again, feeling the Force through him, keeping his senses alert. Suddenly Luke quickly acted quickly, swinging his lightsaber as the blaster bolt shot him and he easily deflected the next bolts.
"You see? The boy can do it," Obi-Wan told Han. The Corellian only responded by rolling his eyes.
"I call it luck," Han stated.
"In my experience, there is no such thing as luck," Obi-Wan replied.
"Look, good against remotes is one thing," Han answered. "Good against the living, that's something else." Then suddenly the computer beeped at them.
"Looks like we're coming up on Alderaan," Han said as he stood up from his chair and headed towards the cockpit, Chewie following him.
"Come now, Luke, let's follow them," Obi-Wan said.
Tarkin was working on his datapad in the conference room with Darth Argus when an imperial officer entered inside the room, fear and horror filled his face.
"Our scout ships have reached Dantooine," the imperial officer reported. "They found the remains of the rebel base, but they estimate that it has been deserted for some time. They are now conducting an extensive search of the surrounding systems."
"She lied. She lied to us!" Tarkin stated in anger.
"I told you she would never consciously betray the rebellion," Argus replied coldly. Of course that brat would have a tongue to lie. She's damn stubborn as she was before, He thought.
"Terminate her immediately," Tarkin ordered angrily. Argus smirked behind the hood, time now to claim my girl…
"Stand by Chewie, here we go. Cut in sublight engines," Han said as he flicked the controls that will pull them out of hyperspace. Minutes later, the beam of light disappeared and a huge asteroid appeared in front of them.
"What the—" Han cursed his breath as the ship was hitted by several smaller asteroids. Chewie howled in shock. "We've come out of hyperspace into a meteor shower. Some kind of asteroid collision," He stated as he stared at the computer. "It's not any of the charts."
"What's going on?" Luke asked when they entered the cockpit. Sith hells, he cursed silently as he stared around the empty space that was only filled with asteroids.
"Our position's correct, except no Alderaan," Han answered. Luke's face paled at the answer, that Force-forsaken battle station was fully operational, he thought in his mind in horror.
"The planet ain't here. It's been totally blown away," Han said. "But how?" the Corellian wondered.
"Destroyed by the Empire," Obi-Wan replied.
"The entire Starfleet couldn't destroy the whole planet," Han answered in disbelief. "It would take more 1000 ships with more powerful than—"
"It's not the whole starfleet, Han," Luke cut him off. "But there was a secret that the Empire wouldn't let everyone know."
"What secret?" Han asked in confusion.
Luke couldn't answer about what was the secret that the Empire was keeping on. Not yet, but he proved himself trustworthy, he thought.
Then suddenly the computer beeped, telling them that there was a signal from the radar.
"There's another ship coming in," Han said.
"It's an imperial fighter," Luke answered.
Then several lights flashed from the deflector shield and an Imperial TIE Fighter appeared at the viewport, but it ignored them and continued flying away from them.
"It's a short range fighter. There aren't any bases around here. Where did it come from?" Han wondered.
"Follow it, Han."
"What?"
"Just follow it, Han. You will know," Luke replied calmly. Han was surprised that he followed a 14 year old teenager's orders. The ship quietly continued to follow the fighter. Luke sighed deeply, as he felt something from the Force.
Luke?
Leia? Is that you, baby sis?
Yes.
I'm coming for you…
Hurry up…
"Chewie, jam it's transmissions," Han ordered. Chewie obeyed and began to flick controls, jamming the fighter's transmissions.
"It would be as well to let it go," Obi-Wan said. "It's too far out of range."
"Not for long," Han replied, continuing to follow the fighter.
"A fighter that size couldn't get this deep into space in its own," Obi-Wan commented.
"He must have gotten lost, been part of a convoy or something," Han replied. "Well he ain't gonna be around long enough to tell anybody about us."
Suddenly a small circular object appeared in front of them, and the TIE fighter that they had been following was heading towards it.
"Look at him. He was heading for that small moon," Han stated. "I think I can get him before he gets there. He's almost in range."
"That's no moon," Obi-Wan said, his eyes slowly widening as they fly closer to the 'moon'. "It's a space station," the old Jedi added, dropping the balls.
"It's too big to be a space station," Han responded in disbelief, and his face turned into shock as the space station appeared closer on the view.
"It's not just a space station, Han. It's the Empire's biggest secret," Luke revealed. "I have a very bad feeling about this," he remarked as his face slowly drained its colors.
"Turn the ship around," Obi-Wan said. Luke suddenly looked at him with horror. No! he protested, We need to save Leia!
Not now, Luke. You can't just go in there alone.
But—
Luke, don't worry we'll save here. But not now.
"Yeah I think you're right. Full reverse!" Han ordered. "Chewie, lock in auxiliary power!" But Chewie failed to do so. The ship suddenly began to shake furiously, causing Han to frown.
"Chewie, lock in the auxiliary power!" Han repeated, but it failed as the ship continued to quiver and suddenly pulling them towards the station.
"Crap! We're caught in a tractor beam. It's pulling us in!" Han stated.
"You have to shut the ship down, Han," Luke answered. "You're in full power! They're gonna get you without a fight!"
"You're right, kid. I'm such a stupid," Han replied and flicked the power switch, fully shutting the ship down.
"You can't win," Obi-Wan began. "But there are alternatives to fighting." The group continued to stare at the space station as the view appeared closer and closer as the ship flew towards it.
"Clear bay 327," An imperial officer ordered as another officer switched on the controls and opened the bay door.
"We are opening the magnetic field," the officer stated as the ship continued to fly inside, entering the hangar bay.
"To your stations!" an officer commanded the stormtroopers to go. "Come with me," he said to another officer, gesturing to follow him. The stormtroopers marched towards the hangar bay, surrounding the Millennium Falcon's ramp door, each one of them began to fall in line.
"Close all outboard shields," a voice commanded.
"Yes?" Tarkin addressed through the comlink.
"We've captured a freighter entering the remains of the Alderaan system," the voice replied, "Its markings match those of a ship that blasted its way out of Mos Eisley."
"They must be trying to return the stolen plans to the princess," Argus guessed. "She may be yet some use to us."
Argus headed towards the hangar bay where the Millennium Falcon appeared on his sight. Piece of trash, he thought in disgust. He continued to walk towards the ship when an Imperial officer with a group of stormtrooprs exited the ship's ramp door, approaching him.
"There's no one on board, sir," the officer reported. "According to the log, the crew abandoned ship right after takeoff. It must be a decoy, sir, several of the escape pods have been jettisoned."
"Did you find any droids?" the Sith asked.
"No, sir, if they were on board, they must also have jettisoned," the officer replied.
"Send a scanning crew aboard," Argus ordered. "I want part of this ship checked."
"Yes, sir."
"I sense something," Argus muttered. He sensed two powerful Force presences here on board. Jedi! Argus realized. They must be going to rescue the princess! Without hesitation, Argus strode out of the hangar bay, he must let his Master learned that he had let were two Jedi here on the Death Star.
Han and Luke opened the secret compartment of the ship after they heard the footsteps and voices of stormtroopers leaving the ship.
"Boy, it's lucky you had these compartments," Luke remarked as the two men set the compartment door aside.
"I used them for smuggling," Han replied as Obi-Wan opened another secret compartment. "I never thought that I'd be smuggling myself in 'em," he added. "This is ridiculous. Even if I could take off, I'd never get past the tractor beam."
"Leave that to me," the old Jedi reassured the Corellian pilot.
"Damn fool, I knew that you were gonna say that," Han replied as he got out of his hiding place.
"Who's the more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows him?" Obi-Wan responded in calm yet sarcastic tone, making Han shut his mouth up.
"We need to start our plan now," Luke said. "Han you go to there and Chewie, go there to signal me and Han, if you find any troopers, we'll take care of 'em," he instructed. Chewie growled in understanding.
"Yeah, I hope this plan of yours works, kid," Han answered.
Then everyone began to work their plan. Suddenly, two imperial officers carrying a large crate entered the ship. When Chewie saw them, he raised his signal and the two men began to assault the imperial officers. Han stunned the officer with his blaster while Luke used Force-push to slam the other officer on the wall, knocking him unconscious. Han then peeped on the ramp door and saw two stormtroopers guarding outside.
"Hey down there!" Han called to the two troopers. "Could you give a hand with this?"
The stormtroopers instantly responded by entering the ship. Without knowing, Han quickly stunned them both and took off both of their armors, then he and Luke put them on, disguising themselves as stormtroopers. After that, they placed the two un-armored troopers in the secret compartment where the two imperial officers were hidden, stunned and both unconscious.
"TK-421, why aren't you at your post?" an imperial officer spoke at the comlink. "TK-421, do you copy?" Then the officer walked to the window and he saw a stormtrooper emerged from the ship which had turned around his head and looked at him, then addressed him with hitting his helmet lightly. The imperial officer nodded and saluted at him in response.
"Take over," he said to his fellow officer, "We've got a bad transmitter, let's see what I can do," he finished his statement as he opened the door of the room. To his surprise, a stormtrooper, along with a Wookiee, an old man and two droids appeared in front of him. Chewie roared and hit the man, sending him flying to the other side of the room. The other shocked officer suddenly pulled out his blaster to shoot them but the stormtrooper quickly shot him down. Then the others quickly entered the room, checking if there is someone still in the room. Then another stormtrooper entered the control room and shut the door down and quickly pulled his helmet, revealing Luke.
"Between his howling and your blasting everything in sight, it's a wonder that the whole station knows we're here," Luke said in annoyance.
"Bring them on! I'd prefer a straight fight to all this sneakin' around," Han retorted.
"We've found a computer outlet, sir," Threepio said.
"Plug in," Obi-Wan replied. "He should be able to interpret the entire imperial network."
Artoo beeped in response as he plugged himself to a computer plug. When he had found what they had been looking for, he began to let out several beeps and whistles as Threepio listened to translate his sentence.
"He says he's found the main controls to the power beam that's holding the ship here," Threepio translated. "He'll try to make the precise location appear on the monitor." Then the map of the tractor appeared on the screen. "A power loss at one of the terminals will allow the ship to leave," the map on the screen began to zoom, showing the map of the controls of the tractor beam.
"I don't think you boys can help," Obi-Wan said, "I must go alone."
"Whatever you say," Han replied as the Jedi Master walked past him. "I've done more than I bargained for on this trip already."
"I want to come with you," Luke said, approaching Obi-Wan.
"No, Luke," Obi-Wan replied sadly. "You came here to rescue her right? Be patient, stay and watch over the droids."
"But—"
"Luke, it's okay. Do it for Leia… She wants them to be delivered safely, or other star systems will suffer the same fate as Alderaan. Your destiny lies along a different path from mine," he said as he pressed the button and the door began to open.
"May the Force be with you, always," Then the Jedi Master left the room. As Obi-Wan disappeared from the young Jedi's sight, Luke closed the blast door. Chewie began to bark at Luke, saying something that Luke didn't understand.
"You said it, Chewie," Han said. "Where did you dig up that old fossil?"
Luke shot him a glare. "Master Kenobi is a great man," he spat.
"Yeah, great at getting us into trouble," Han replied sarcastically.
"I didn't hear you give any ideas," Luke answered.
"Well, anything's better than just hangin' around waiting for 'em to pick us up. "
"WHO DO YOU THINK—" But their argument was cut off when Artoo beeped something at them.
"What is it?" Luke asked.
"I'm not afraid I'm quite so sure, sir," Threepio replied. "He says 'I've found her' and keeps repeating 'she's here'."
"Leia…" Luke replied with a shock and relief. He was glad that his sister's Force presence is strong and connected to him. There was still hope that he can still save her. If he couldn't save Dad years ago, then he will save his sister.
"Who the hell is Leia?" Han asked in confusion.
"My sister," Luke replied, "Can you tell me where cell she is being held?" Artoo replied with a several beeps.
"Level 5, Detention Block AA-23," Threepio translated. Luke nodded, memorizing the words in his mind. Then suddenly, Artoo beeped at him again.
"I'm afraid she's scheduled to be terminated," Threepio answered. "Poor Mistress Leia."
"What!?" Luke asked in horror. Damn it! "We need to rescue her!"
"Well I'm sorry if your sister's too reckless to be captured by Imperials," Han retorted sarcastically.
"I don't give a damn if she was reckless but I'm going to rescue her!" Luke growled, his teeth chattering in anger.
"Then we will wait for the old man here so that we can rescue your sister," Han replied.
"But we don't have much time!" Luke shot angrily. "Find a way to the detention block," he ordered Artoo.
"I'm not going anywhere," Han responded, sitting on a chair and placed both of his arms behind his head.
"But my sister's going to die!" Luke snapped. "Look, a few minutes ago, you said you didn't want to wait here to be captured. Now all you want to do is stay?"
"Marching into the detention area is not what I have in mind," Han answered.
"Well that's what I had in mind," Luke replied. "And I need you to come with me to rescue her before she dies."
"Better her than me," Han responded.
Luke fumed in anger as he looked away from Han, fighting the urge to slice the man in half with his lightsaber. Then suddenly an idea struck him as he remembered his mother's words, "Smugglers will do anything for credits…"
"We're rich," Luke started. Han snapped his head towards the boy with a look of confusion plastered on his face. Now I got you… Luke thought to himself.
"Rich?" Han asked, "I thought you were a Jedi-wanna be farmboy." He added.
Luke merely shook his head at his companion's statement, "No, I'm actually a Rebel pilot. THE rebel pilot that the empire is talking about, the one who lead the attack on Despayre." He said with a smirk.
"You're only fourteen kid," he said.
"I am," he began as he showed Han his rebellion insigna. "My sister is one of the rebel leaders in the imperial senate, and my mother was a former senator and queen from the Old Republic." He explained to the dumb founded smuggler in front of him.
"Are you actually related to Anakin Skywalker?" Han asked out of the blue. As he said those words Luke felt like a thousand knives stabbed his heart as the memories of his dead father came back to him, he didn't realize that he was in a trance when Han's loud shouting brought him back to reality. "um… yeah, he's my father actually."
Han looked awestruck at the boy before him, this boy he's the kid of his hero! No wonder he looked like him well… except for the scar. Trying to contain his excitement he began his blubbering once again, "woah kid, you do realize that your old man is the most famous man in the galaxy, all the women back in the days had a holo poster of hi in their rooms."
"Yeah I know that," Luke replied sadly.
"Where is he anyway?" Han asked. No I can't tell him. At least for now…
"Nevermind, let's get back to the task of hand."
"Alright kid, you better be right about this." Han responded pointing a finger at Luke.
"Alright," Luke exclaimed as he clasped his hand together.
"What's your plan," he heard Han say.
"Umm…" Luke replied looking around the room. "threepio, hand me those binders there, will you." Luke ordered the droid pointing at the object's direction.
"Okay… Now I'm gonna put these on you," he said walking towards Chewie, he then tried putting the binders on him but Chewie roared in protest as Luke stepped backwards in surprise. "Okay Han you—you put these on," Luke said, handing the binders to Han. The smuggler took the binders from Luke and stood up, walking towards to Chewie.
"Don't worry, Chewie," Han reassured the Wookiee as he carefully placed the binders on the wrists. "I think I know what he has in mind."
"Master Luke, sir," Threepio addressed. "Pardon me for asking, but what should Artoo and I do if we're discovered here?"
"Lock the door," Luke answered, more than ordering the droid as he strode out of the room.
"And hope they don't have blasters," Han added and he and Chewie followed Luke out of the room.
"This isn't very reassuring," Threepio stated.
Anakin woke up in his cell in pain, the pain intensified as every second passed. He gritted his teeth as the cold floor hit his fresh wound on the back. He sat down groaning as he tried to ease the pain from his special treatment earlier. Using all what little strength he had, he crawled towards his cot and pulled the blanket towards him, he began to rip a part of the blanket carefully. After that, he gingerly wrapped the piece of fabric on his torso to at least slow the bleeding down. He laid himself down on his side careful not to put pressure on his wound, as he lay there he began thinking several ideas of escaping but a small part of his brain told him to let go, so that he escape his misery for ten years. But he didn't want that, if he let go he'll never find out that if his family was still alive, he'll never see his Angel, his Pilot, and his Princess. He was so confused, so shattered, so broken. They took everything from him, and now, he lay down here in his pits of hell, never knew if he still had the possibility of escaping, to be free, to find his family, if they were still alive. He even wondered if his Angel had remarried or if she still remained loyal to him and raise their children alone. What about his Pilot? Did he fulfill his dreams of becoming like him? Did he miss the memories they shared together? How about his Princess? Was she still waiting for him by greeting him "Daddy!" when he entered the door and kissed his cheeks? Did she still remember his bedtime stories about the Angel and the Knight? So many questions asked… so many…
A small tear ran down on his cheek. How many times he had cried for his family? How many times he wanted to tell them that he missed them so much… How many times he had been longing to see his wife's beautiful yet loving smile and to make love to her… How many times he'd been dying to see his children's joyful and energetic faces and the memories of them growing up… He wanted to see them growing up to be the people they wanted to be. Oh how wonderful for a father to see their children's whole childhood, reminding him how amazing a life of a father could be. Anakin's lips curled into a loving smile as he remembered witnessing his twins' birth, their first lifeday, their first steps, their first words calling him "Deedee!" and the 'terrible twos' stage where he and Padme had suffered so much from the children's hyper-active and destructive behavior. Those were the happiest days of his life, where he was not a Jedi Master, a war hero or what the Republic called him 'The Hero with No Fear' but he was only a normal father, doing his responsibility to raise his children. And now all was lost… and he was lost…
Anakin closed his eyes, wishing that he would dream a wonderful day with his family where all of the horrible and evil things never happened, where there was only peace, happiness and freedom to everyone. He would dream Padme and his children beside him, laughing and teasing each other at their picnic on the meadow at Naboo, sharing glorious and wonderful moments together. He wished that he would never wake up from that dream
And he was hoping that a miracle would happen on this day…
All right guys! That's chapter 13 for you. I followed the flow of original ANH but edited some of them. But I'm glad that you liked the previous chapter. Makes me Jeanosaur very, very happy so much ^_-
P.S. I apologized for a very long wait. Our WiFi was taken by our technician… forever… I was supposed to upload this on Friday but classes are suspended due to the storm here in our place. So… I apologized, I'm very very sorry…
Next Chapter: *ehem ehem* TWINS TO THE RESCUE! YEHET! Wait what does that mean? Do you mean Luke to the rescue? Don't worry, you'll learn what does that mean.
So anyways, I hoped you liked this chapter very much. Drop some reviews if you like. As what Obi-Wan said, May the Force be with you my Jedi Knights ;) (new trademark)
-jeanosauryehet27