Damn. I'm not saying anything except I got back from Mallorca yesterday (got sunburned but not as heavily as Anakin with a hint of sarcasm) and that there's about thirteen chapters left.
Twist of Fate (Part 2)
Chapter 21 - A shared Force vision
It was dark, the stars could barely be seen hovering in the night sky over the city through several huge windows. Before it was a marble cream-colored stair leading up to a throne, which was completely empty. A sinister chill had clung to Luke and he couldn't help but start walking around, looking for answers. Looking down, he saw that the soft floor covering beneath his boots were a deep red wine carpet.
"Anyone here?" He called out. "What is this place?"
Scanning the rest of the immense auditorium he saw a number of empty stations at each side of the room with curved walls spreading its way until it reached the surface. He started walking towards the turbolift access of the hall in hope of getting out of here. Wherever here was.
"Luke!"
A familiar but distressing sound cried out to him, echoing again and again. Luke tensed and turned around. That voice sounded a lot like... "Mara?" He blurted out. However, the whispers reduced to dead air and from out of the shadows, the appearance of his sister emerged.
"Leia..." Luke mumbled, still confused. "What is going on? Or am I having a force vision."
"Luke." His sister arched an eyebrow, clearly stricken by surprise. "The most conventional situation would indeed be a force vision, however, I've never encountered something like this before... your subconsciousness is not supposed to be part of my vision."
Luke shoved his hands in his pockets. "I'm pretty sure I'm the real thing, so if you are too, it would mean we share a vision."
He watched Leia fold her arms and approach him, keeping her eyes locked with the pair of blue ones belonging to Luke. "That would appear to be the case." She said finally.
"That's kind of exciting, at least I'm not sharing the burden alone this time." Luke quipped with a light chuckle. "Do you know where we are?"
Leia smiled slightly before her face turned serious again. "Yes, we are inside the Imperial Throne Room of the Imperial Palace on Coruscant." She stated, her eyes now glaring hard at the empty throne. "That is the seat of Darth Sidious, or the Emperor as you know him, although he doesn't appear to be around."
"I see." Luke mumbled softly as he leaned towards turbolift access. "I wonder why we're here."
"I'm not sure myself. The atmosphere feels stiff around here, it's as if the force itself is questioning our presence." Leia said as she too scanned her surroundings. "We both are definitely not wanted here."
Luke could feel a very malicious presence lurking about, there was a silent chill in the air, one that crept into your body and rested deep inside your bones. The power inside was felt with such intensity Luke tried to dampen his emotion in order to stay calm as Master Yoda had taught him.
"Maybe..." Luke began thoughtful. "Maybe it's the future we are seeing, or maybe it's just a sign of what's to come. After all, you're planning to take on the emperor."
Leia eyed him suspiciously. "If that is true then so are you, remember we share the same vision. It must be because our paths intertwine."
"I won't." Luke replied almost instantly. "I guess it has to be something else."
Luke's eyes caught sight of stormtroopers appearing out of nowhere occupying the stations above, breathing in bewilderment, he wondered how they managed to get there so quickly.
"That's Darth Sidious right there." Leia said, emotions visible in the way her voice trembled.
Turning his head back to the throne all the way back of the immense auditorium, he noticed the dark silhouette of the Emperor, his back turned and overlooking the bustling city of Coruscant. However, four Royal Guards wearing matching scarlet robes, battle armor, and helmets stood on both ends of the Imperial throne, protecting him.
Luke stepped back in shock, unexplainable anxiety creeping into his system as he turned to Leia. "How did they get here so quickly?" He tried to grab his lightsaber only for him to realize he didn't carry it with him.
Leia, realizing he was already starting to lose control stepped in. "Focus brother. Remember everything is possible within a force vision, they aren't real and you have to simply accept it." She continued urgently, forcing Luke to nod. "Whatever you do, do not panic. Remember who you are and give in to the will of the Force, only then will you understand and control it."
"Right, thanks."
Refusing to dwell on his errant concern, Luke focused his attention back to the seat of the Emperor, who began to stir and, from out of the looming shadows, another dark figure stepped in, surprising both him and Leia. The dark silhouette's shadow danced among the flashing lights of Coruscant's night sky. The figure bowed deeply before appearing to discuss something with the almighty ruler.
"Who's that figure standing next to him? Is it Vader?" Luke asked.
"I don't know. Whoever it is doesn't appear as tall and sturdy as father." Leia's eyes widened momentarily, possibilities attacking her mind. "It could be Jade. She might've gotten out of the carbonite."
It made Luke's heart leap into his throat, but before he even had the slightest chance to react, he watched his sister rush away from him and head towards the Imperial throne. The stormtroopers watched on, not reacting to her aggressive movements at all.
"What are you doing?" He cried as he rushed after her.
"Finding out what's going on. I must tell father anyhow. Having to face Jade and the Emperor is a very dangerous prospect I would like to avoid at any cost."
"What?" Luke gasped, speeding up even faster. "But you can't just–"
Suddenly, Luke was cut off by himself and words faltered beneath his breath. Pain shot up straight to his head, and his knees buckled, causing him to fall and collapse. Smacking his face against the red wine carpet where he trembled in pain. It was as if his brain were stunned through thousands of Imperial blasters. It was cold, cruel, devastating and he clenched his fists tightly against the floor.
"Luke?" Leia flinched, feeling a terror within the force. She turned around and gasped as she watched him, broken and crumpled on the floor. "Luke, what's wrong!"
She rushed back to Luke, realizing the intense pain he was experiencing for it began to infiltrate her own mind as well. It was as if both of them were sharing the same pain, however, Leia managed to break away from the throbbing agony and decided to keep herself distanced within their bond.
"I-I'm alright... Just a headache..." Luke tried to lift himself up, but the pain was just too intense. He groaned and grabbed his head. In a void of agony of which time held no meaning, he felt the hand of Leia gently touch his shoulder. "I...I can't control my force visions Leia. There's no question it's got something to do with that..." Luke mumbled through gritted teeth.
"That's strange, as a child I've never felt pain before." She sounded doubtful, but Luke could barely hear her.
"No, this...this is my first time, I-I think."
Dead air filled the space between them until Leia's touch left his shoulder. "Wait here." She said and stepped away from him. However, Luke couldn't hear her, the pain was starting to take over his entire body. His eyesight blurred quickly until he eventually fainted.
Luke's eyes flew open and violently sat upright. He struggled to draw a breath, but he was racked with an agonizing coughing fit. Sweat dripped into his eyes and ran into his mouth. After the side effects left him, Luke immediately turned to the sleeping figure of Leia on the other side of the room. His right hand grabbed onto his head, rubbing slightly as he was struck by confusion.
"Leia...?"
Luke stepped out of his bed slowly and stared at Leia's peaceful, sleeping face. She had not woken up yet and was probably still stuck in that vision from earlier. He felt bad for having to leave her behind there, partly because it could have showed him arguably very important information on the Emperor and his most trusted men. He bit his lip, feeling hopeless at his own inexperience as he stepped out of their shared room and into Vader's office where he sat down on the black tiles near the front window.
Luke closed his eyes and took a deep breath, deciding that perhaps now was the time to reach out for his old mentor, no matter the consequences.
"Ben... Ben can you hear me?" Luke whispered slowly. "I don't know what to do and I know I shouldn't stay here. I have a bad feeling."
He waited patiently, although his hands started trembling. "Please..."
"Luke." The very familiar voice caused Luke to snap his eyes open, instantly spotting the Force ghost of the Jedi floating in front of him.
"Ben!" Luke gasped before realizing he spoke too hard. He quickly lowered his voice. "You're really here."
"Luke, listen to me you are in grave danger." The ghost of Ben approached him, staring down at Luke while a somewhat pleading expression crossed his face.
"I know." He stressed. "Ben, why didn't you tell me? It's true isn't it? Vader really is my father, and Leia... I even have a twin sister."
"Had you known you would've wanted to seek them out Luke. You were, and still are, too young to know the truth."
"I get your point, but it still... hurts to know I've been lied to this entire time." His eyes scrunched shut. "Do my uncle Owen and aunt Beru know?" Luke already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear his old mentor say it himself.
"They did."
He quickly opened his eyes, and stared questioningly. "They did?"
Obi-Wan shook his head, getting back to the point. "I would suggest you try everything in your power to leave for I fear something terrible will happen if you do not get out of here soon."
Luke sighed and slumped his shoulders. "I really should have escaped back on Naboo. I still had a chance back then," he drew in a long breath. "but here on the Executor... there's no way Ben, I have no ide– "
Luke pursed his lips in shock as he watched the ghost of his old mentor distort, Ben's narrowing eyes glanced from Luke to the closed doors behind him until he completely faded from his sight.
"Ben," Luke gulped disappointedly. "no..."
A dark presence suddenly trickled through Luke's consciousness, and he looked behind him sharply to stare at the fast approaching Sith Lord.
"Vader." Luke said coldly, raising from the ground.
"So Obi-Wan has found a way to keep in contact with you, however, reaching him is pointless now, son." Vader growled, cold fury in his voice.
"Why did you cut him off?" Luke began, trying to make a point. "He's a good person!"
"That man is a liar, betrayer and the kidnapper of my two children." His blood boiled even more at Luke's constant praise of the Jedi Master. "Do not forget he lied to you."
"I know that."
"Then you should understand!" Vader fumed roughly, making him tense.
There was no point this man would ever understand Luke's feelings. He closed his eyes wistfully. "When are you letting me get out of this place, you can't possibly expect me to stay in this room for the rest of my life." He demanded.
"You will be free to move as you please once you have embraced your destiny like your sister."
"I will never join the Dark Side." Luke responded naturally.
"There are more ways to make you join us, son." Vader taunted. "I am willing to give you enough time to adjust, until you have accepted your fate you will remain here with me."
Luke narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. "You will fail. I will not turn."
"Stubborn and ignorant as I once was. Those are great characteristics to further fuel your anger." Vader replied pleasantly.
Luke bit his tongue in an attempt to hold back his protesting. Shaking his head, he rushed past the Sith Lord. "I'm going back to my room." He stated until a firm hand grabbed his arm.
"Luke," Vader tightened his grip, and he glanced back at the Sith. "you need to be more accepting of your family, or, not quite... I can see you and Leia are starting to get along rather well. I want you to be more accepting of me." He corrected himself.
There was a momentarily pause. "Maybe you should re-think your own allegiances before saying such things." Luke replied urgently. "I don't want to be on your side of the war. I am a Jedi like my father before me."
"No." Vader obsessively tugged at Luke's arm. "You are my son. Luke, just what would it take for you to call me your father!" he voiced impatiently.
Luke widened his eyes at that, never had he considered the most feared man in the galaxy to actually care about him and wanting to be recognized as his father. Had someone told him a few weeks ago, he would have been laughing and shake it off as a stupid joke, but now it nearly horrified him.
He drew a long breath. "Turning back to Anakin would be a good start." He held back his own frustration, instead, his voice reduced to a soft whisper. "He was the man I adored as a child. I imagined him to be this great father and pilot who would watch me fly through Beggar's Canyon as I raced against my friends, and be proud of my piloting skills. I always wanted to be like him, to be like Anakin Skywalker."
"That is no option and you know it." Vader maintained his previous statement, though he sounded somewhat hurt, if that was even possible.
Luke sighed, shaking free from Vader's softened grip. "Then there's no hope." He finished before continuing his way back to his room, leaving the Sith Lord once again to brood on his thoughts.
Hours passed and Luke was tossing and turning in bed, eyes shut but he wasn't sleeping. He couldn't after everything that's happened.
He truly missed the old days on Tatooine. Sometimes, he wondered what would've happened had he not encountered Ben that faithful day on his way back home. He would probably still be on that backwater planet with his aunt, uncle and friends, still ignorant of nearly everything. If he were given a choice to be that Luke again, would he accept it? Probably not, but perhaps it would have been for the best.
No, Luke reminded himself. It didn't go wrong there. He should've stayed with master Yoda. It was he who kept persuading the old Jedi Master to leave for Tatooine so he could build a lightsaber and train with that, instead of wooden sticks. If only he hadn't left Dagobah, he would've never get captured in the first place. He would still be training with master Yoda now.
Sighing to himself, Luke sat back on the edge of his bed, staring intently at the sleeping figure of his sister for what seemed like hours, but in reality were just minutes, until she began to stir.
Luke rubbed his neck as he watched her move into a sitting position. "You're awake." He mumbled.
"Luke." Leia observed quietly, however, something in her sleepy eyes troubled him.
He stood and approached her gently, taking a seat next to her. "I think I already know the answer, but I wanted to be sure. I had a vision, and you were in it."
"Yes," Leia nodded slowly. "We shared the same one."
"Alright," Luke returned the nod. "I'm sorry I passed out, I don't know what happened out there but I still got to work on my abilities." Luke paused. "So what happened after I woke up?"
"No," Leia shook her head. "I don't think it's got anything to do with your lack of training. As for your question, I've seen the person who was with Darth Sidious."
"Was it Mara?"
"No it wasn't her."
"If it wasn't her... then," Luke began slowly. "was it you?"
"No Luke," She whispered, keeping her gaze fixed dead ahead, wide open, and he stared at her, confused. When her big brown eyes darted back to Luke, however, the world he was in became much colder.
"Luke." She repeated painfully. "It was you."