Rise of the Warrior
Chapter 21
Vader slept in his room in a restless sleep. It was because for countless nights he kept dreaming about his time under the keeping of the Clan. The warrior woman, Lady Nina had been his guardian and for many years she held him under her spell. She drugged him and manipulated the Force and made him see things he did not wish to see and feel the elusive peace and love that he had long ago relinquished in order to become a Sith.
Patiently, the pale woman with jeweled ruby eyes would place his head into her lap and caress his head like a child and speak to him about the past. And against his will he succumbed to her powers until every inkling of his soul lay bare to her scrutiny. Every thought of jealous, abandonment and doubt became hers to command till in his tortured sleep he felt her absolved each of his sins like a priestess.
However, he didn't want her forgiveness. He didn't want to make amends. For years he rebelled against her absolution because he knew she was only trying to break him. She was trying to make him weak.
"There is no Darkness or Light—there is only the Force—there is only the ki, the energy of the cosmos. You mustn't fight it, for men make their own destinies with their desires. What does you're heart desire?"
"NO! Stop, stop! I don't want to list to you."
"You can't cheat death. Everything dies. We ourselves have the will to live. What do you live for?"
Then, with a hand over his heart he felt the pale war-maiden brush her lips against his ear and ask, "What do you love?"
Vader jumped up from his bed with a start. Panting, he tried to catch his breath and clutched the fabric of his shirt over his heart in fear. He didn't like how well the Clan-woman knew him. He didn't like her caress. She was a menace. She was trying to poison his mind with her abilities. He had long hoped that since he escaped he would be rid of her at last, but her presence still lingered in his dreams.
Irritated, he decided to get up and talk to Jinn. He quickly put on his robe and didn't bother dressing fully since it was still technically night on board the ship. He crossed the corridors and ignored the guards and opened the door seal.
He was surprised to see that Jinn was no longer strapped down to the metal table. Instead, the warrior was seated on the floor in the corner with his head bowed to his knees. Vader had heard from his Master that Jinn was making progress, but was still defiant. He was curious to know what his Master had meant.
"Tell me, warrior" he spat out the word like it was an insult and said, "where you brainwashed to be obedient to your Maker or were you programmed since birth like a machine?"
Jinn lifted his head and Vader saw that after many months in confinement that he had grown a beard. Jinn now looked like the splitting image of his former-Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The only difference was that he had eerie amber-eyes that shimmered in the shade. Vader also saw that he had burns across his chest and his wrists were sore and blistered from the shackles on the table.
"Well, if it isn't the little Sith. What's the matter Ani? Do you need somebody to tuck you in?"
"Shut! You are in no position to be so smug."
"I couldn't care less about what you think. Unlike you I know how to be patient. It's all of you who seem to think you are in a position of authority when in fact you are all mayflies compared to me."
Vader narrowed his brow and staked closer to him and said, "What the hell are you talking about? You're a prisoner here just the same as I was at your precious Colony."
Jinn stumbled and staggered over to the metal table for support as he inched closer to the Sith. Cunningly, he smiled at him and said, "Ah, I think I know what this is about. You've come here after all this time because you can't shake what's been done to you. You can't forget the pale general, can you?"
Seething, Vader retorted, "What did they do to me?"
"You're thoughts betray you, Vader. I can read you thoughts like an open book. It's ironic that I learned the skill from Sidious. He can be so chatty."
Then, in a flash Jinn seized him by the throat and squeezed his windpipe like a viper's grip and glared at him dangerous. In a wave of Darkness, he laughed at Vader and spun him around until he was pinned face down onto the table and his arms were pressed tightly behind him aggressively.
Jinn then sneered into his ear and uttered, "However, I've long since learned to hide my thoughts, Sith. And if I am to die in this place than you are coming with me. You see I am not so forgiving like my father. I believe in revenge. I was taught by my mother that war is an ugly place and you my friend are about to find out just how ugly it can be."
The warrior then raised his hand and was about to send a bolt of Force-lightening through Vader's skull to kill him instantly, but fortunately for the Sith, Darth Sidious appeared and used the Force to knock the warrior away. The disfigured hooded man frowned at what he had seen. He was displeased with Vader for intruding on his experiment, but on the other hand he was glad to finally see Jinn respond violently.
Sidious had begun to lose patience with the Jedi Master's son. Jinn appeared to be a very formable soul. He was stubborn, willful and well trained. He wasn't hotheaded like Vader or prideful like his old ally, the Count. No—he was entirely a different animal all together. Jinn was a man who was born with a will of fire. He had a conviction that overshadowed his fears. He did not respond like a Jedi and accept his fate—no, instead he was determined to struggle against oppression and the odds until he's last breath. The only hope Sidious had in turning him was in his hatred for Vader. Though, the warrior had no reservation about killing the young Sith. Surprised, the Dark Lord discovered that he relished it without any hint of guilt.
"There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
There is no chaos, there is harmony
There is no death, there is the Force."
Recited the warrior in the solitude of the back wall of the prison cell. In reaction, Vader felt his heart seize. He had not heard someone say the Jedi Code in years. It sent a chill up his spine and a swell of emotion that threatened to escape. It also didn't help that the blasted warrior had Obi-Wan's exact tone. It was like listening to a long forgotten memory.
"Shut! Shut! I don't want to hear you speak! You are not a Jedi! Do you hear me! You are not—"
"Silence, my apprentice," order Sidious.
The hooded-man then strode up to Jinn and smiled wickedly. "I had no idea you so well versed in mental torture, Jinn Kenobi."
"The body is nothing, battles are first won in the mind. And though I am not a Jedi, I am still the closest thing to one besides my father that will ever be."
Sidious laughed and said, "You're stubbornness never ceases to amaze me. It appears I've underestimated you, Jinn. Though, fortunately for you I haven't the time to deal with you yet." He then turned to his apprentice who had recovered and said, "Come, Vader. Let us take our leave. I think our warrior needs more time alone."
Although, before the door closed shut behind them Vader heard Jinn shout, "No, don't! Not again!" before the chamber sealed like a tomb and once again the warrior was left by himself in the dark.
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15 years later…
Location: Alderann ship
Leia could not believe that gall Darth Vader had in intercepting her ship. She was the leading ambassador to Alderaan. She was on a vital mission and needed to get the Rebels the information they needed to take down the Empire's new weapon. Though, guilt ridden Leia thought about her family. She played with the holo-vid she had received from her contact and reached over to R2D2 so he could replay the message.
In a transparent blue flicker the droid displayed the image of her friend, Kiya Kenobi. The 16-year-old teen had clear gray-blue eyes and long black hair pinned in two braids by her ears. She was dressed in a plain white gown and said, "Leia, I know you feel that you must go and help the Rebels fight the enemy, but I wish you wouldn't leave. Aunt Paddy misses you and so do mother and father. If you don't come back then I know that Luke will follow your footsteps and join the Resistance himself. He doesn't want to see you do this alone and either do I. Please, please wait until I'm ready. Please wait until I can come too…I love you, Leia. Please be safe."
Suddenly, the image disappeared and Leia tiredly rubbed her face. The message was 3 years old. It was back when she first decided to leave Dagobah and stowed away on a smuggler's ship headed for the Core. She knew that she hadn't finished her training, but she didn't care. Leia could no longer wait in exhale for the Resistance to find their golden opportunity. She had to do something. She had to fight. And under her mother's contact with Senator Organa she was able to forfill her dream to help the people against the Empire's regime.
"R2, I want you to take the information to Rebel Command. Remember, you are only to give the message to Obi-Wan Kenobi."
The little droid beeped and began to wheel away. The ship started to shake and the sounds of blaster fire could be heard in the hall. Leia pulled out her blaster and aimed it at the door. She wasn't sure what they would do to her, but she wasn't going to go easy. However, a second later the door was forced open and in walked Darth Vader.
The middle aged man smirked at his captive and had his men secure the room quickly. "Ah, so we meet at last Ambassador. I have heard many things about you. However, none of the rumors interests me more than your connection to the Resistance."
Sternly, Leia said, "Vader, you have no right to attack an Alderann ship. We are on a diplomatic mission. I'll report you for this!"
However, just as Leia was about to pull out her blaster to shoot him, he quickly used the Force to take it from her grip. Calmly, he eyed the gun and tossed on the ground unceremoniously.
"You are a very foolish woman, Ambassador. Did you really think you could kill me?"
Leia lunged forward and tried to claw at him with her bare hands and shouted, "I'd die trying you monster! I'll rip you in two!"
Vader easily caught her arms and reached up to grab her throat in his strong hands. "My, such hysterics. I didn't realize you were such a spirited young woman, Ambassador. I think I'll take great pleasure in ending your life, slowly."
Fearful, Leia tried to break free, but to her surprise someone from behind knocked Vader away. The Sith had lost his grip and stumbling she landed on the floor hard on her knees. She cried out in pain and looked up to see that standing in the doorway was a man who looked to be in his mid-twenties. He had red-brown hair and bright golden eyes and wore black from head to toe. The only color on his suit was a bright white sash across his chest and at his hip were attached a lightsaber and a sword.
"Don't over steps yourself, Vader. The Emperor wants the girl alive."
Fuming, the elder man said, "You—Darth Soldarius. This is last time I'll allow you to interfere."
"Save it, Vader. It's business before pleasure and we don't have the time to settle our score now."
Soldarius then reached down and picked Leia up by the arm and dragged her out of the room and down the hall. Aggressively, he held her from behind her neck and maneuvered her towards the transport back to the Imperial ship. Leia uncomfortably found herself seated beside the younger Sith were he shackled her wrists in cuffs and then reclined back into his seat and stared absently out the window.
Meanwhile, Leia stared at him with disdain. She detested Soldarius as much as she did Vader. The younger Sith may not be as cruel, but he was just as obedient to the Emperor. Her contacts had informed her of his indifference and diplomatic skills. He was ironically dubbed the "friendly" face of the Empire because of his youthful appearance and restraint. Though, Leia trusted him the least because even though Vader was ruthless he was always up front with his emotions while Soldarius was hard to read.
"You won't get away with this. The Alderann government wouldn't stand for this breach in diplomacy."
Soldarius glanced at her casually and tilted his head to examine her like a curiosity. He leaned forward and said, "You don't see it do you?"
Confused, Leia frowned and replied, "See what? The fact that you're a brute working for a tyrant?"
The Sith smiled handsomely and back away. "How charming, but hardly what I meant, Milady. And you can forget your diplomacy. It is worthless here."
"We'll see once the government hears about this."
Leia fumed. She didn't like the amused look on the Sith's face. He didn't take anything she had said seriously at all. He was so smug and confident and really she couldn't blame him. He had her captive and there really wasn't anything she could do, but hope that her message to Obi-Wan would get through.
-0-0-0-
Location: Imperial ship
Leia tried to shake her nerves as both Darth Vader and Darth Soldarius escorted her down the corridor. The two Siths marched her to a large command room where a large holo-screen showed the hooded image of Emperor Sidious. Wickedly, the Dark Lord laughed and with a firm Vader shoved her forward as both he and Soldarius kneed before him in a formal bow.
"Master, we have captured the Ambassador."
"Yes, Lord Vader I am pleased"—he then looked over to Leia and said—"I dislike the pretense of formality, my dear. Why don't you tell us where you hide the information your friends stole and I shall consider showing you leniency."
Confidently, the brown-eyed beauty shouted, "Never! I'm not afraid of your threats, Emperor Sidious. The people will no longer stand for your tyranny."
The Emperor laughed and retorted, "How bold, but your brash ways will not spare you from interrogation. Soldarius, take the Ambassador away. I think she needs to be persuaded."
"Yes, my Lord."
Then, with a swift tug at her chains he pulled Leia towards the exit and to another chamber. She saw that it looked like some sort of cell where there was a sterile metal table with shackles in the center of the room with a small tray with several sharp instruments.
Panicked, she began to struggle to break free, but Soldarius hold was strong. He forcefully pinned her against the wall and held her head firmly in place. However, Leia seized her opportunity and grabbed hold of his sword from his belt and used her foot to kick him away. She firmly leveled the weapon between her shackled hands and made ready to defend herself against the enemy.
Cautiously, Soldarius circled her like a predator and smirked at her pleased. "Do you think you can handle that sword, Leia?"
She nervously drew the weapon higher and lifted her chin defiantly. "Of course, I'm not just a pretty face. I know how to use a sword."
"Then you must recognized where it was made."
Puzzled, Leia glanced at the blade and was shocked to see that she did recognize where it was made. Only one place in the entire world could forge a midnight sword made of iron and steel and resonated the Force like a beacon. This was sword from the Blackswan Clan, made from star-core metal and fired in the belly of the volt pits.
"Where did you get this?"
"From my Master."
"You mean Darth Sidious?"
"No, my first Master, the one you know well."
Leia was confused. "I don't understand. If not Sidious than who?"
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TBC
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