I have no more chapters written from here on. So I'm officially on a hiatus! I don't know when I'll be back, but I hope to get the story done by the end of next year. (Although I'd hope to be able to finish it much earlier than that considering I've been writing since 2013)
Please review!
Twist of Fate (Part 2)
Chapter 25 - The Conflict
"This is going to hurt a little bit."
A choked gasp left Luke's mouth and he coughed, his blue eyes clouded and his body more frail than usual. New pain filled his arm, as the skin around the red patch of flesh ached from the antidote.
"A little bit?" Luke groaned silently, grabbing his shoulder to keep himself still.
The female physician gave him a half-smile. "Don't worry, you're going to be alright. I've disinfected your wounds and with time you will fully recover. Though I fear certain parts of your right arms will remain scarred."
Luke's eyelids lowered, if only for a second, before sharpening again. "I've figured as much."
The physician nodded, grabbing the first aid kit and closing it. "I recommend you take some rest, so don't move too much or it might get worse."
Luke simply nodded in response. He didn't exactly care considering how bad his luck seemed to have run so far. Luke glanced over to the physician, who had left his side to inform the guards of his progress. Though the place was much better than his cell, he could still barely believe Sidious let him out of the Imperial Palace, and with that out of his sights. Surely he couldn't be that stupid?
But Luke couldn't deny Coruscant's beauty. He'd seen Dagobah, Tatooine, Yavin IV and Naboo. All of them were unique in their own ways, but this planet... Something about the place made him feel awfully familiar. Maybe it was the old Jedi Order, or maybe they were traces of his parents who had lived here for the majority of their lives, or so he heard. Skyscrapers rooted on the surface and insane streaming lines of traffic awakened a certain excitement in him he hadn't felt in a long time. If there'd been no war, he could certainly see himself explore and go on some reckless adventure like he'd started two years ago.
Sometime later, when Luke had just been starting to doze off in the chair he'd heard a stern voice call out to him, causing him to tense and stare up at the red-clad guard.
"What is it?"
"You have been taken care of. Now you will follow us."
Luke's frown deepened as he stared at the Imperial, but he was quick to see no other options for now. "Fine." He acknowledged and walked in between two royal guards.
Coruscant's skyline came into view and Luke once again felt an unquestionable desire to fight his way back to freedom. He stepped calmly onto the landing platform on the top floor and studied the two guards with him. One was equipped with vibroswords, but they didn't appear to be force sensitive.
Luke took a deep breath.
In a desperate attempt at escape, he Force pushed the equipped guard to the ground but another strong arm wrapped around his middle and effortlessly hoisted him into the air. Without a lightsaber to defend himself, Luke could only call upon the force to push the two guards away from him, and once he collided with the ground and groaned while reaching for his arm, he was shocked to see about fifteen other troops appear from behind the building and run towards him, lightsaber in hand.
Luke cursed under his breath, these were definitely Force sensitive.
He instantly stood back on his two feet and ran towards the edge of the skyscraper building. Without looking back, Luke took the jump and fell down into an endless pit of traffic. He felt the wind rush through his hair, as he settled his sights on speeders cruising their way through the air. Coruscant's surface came closer and closer, the lights shining into his eyes as he made the fall. He extended his hand and instinctively caught the side of a speeder, using his feet to get into the craft.
The driver turned to him and gasped. "What do you think you're doing to my speeder?!"
"I'm sorry!" Luke yelled through the endless screams of air traffic, he paled once he stared up to see other force users making the jump as well, and he forcefully shoved the driver into the passenger seat while grabbing the steering wheel and cruising his way out of the line of traffic.
"A-Are you going to kill us?!" The man shivered beside him and Luke turned him in stupefaction.
"No, I just need to get out of here myself!" He shouted while tossing and turning the speeder, as others followed him from behind. To Luke's surprise and relieve, they'd slowed down.
A sudden ripple in the force called to him, calling for him to stop, to move no further but he had to keep going. He couldn't let himself be caught again. Another ripple sent messages through his head, and then he knew why. He saw the lights first, the spikes the explosions that rippled through the speedway. Then the sound. The explosions shattered into his eardrums, deafening him as he continued to drive into the explosion now unable to stop. Then he fell again, a piece of debris striking at the fuel tank making Luke grab the man next to him and jump from it in time to see it explode into flames. The wind rushed through his hair, the fire burning once again at his skin as the darkness engulfed him and plunged him into an unknown abyss.
[✩]
"Lord Vader, I understand your need to hasten the process but you do not seem to understand the impossibility of this absurd task! You cannot expect our troops to conquer the Imperial Palace on Coruscant, it is unimaginable we are in a significant minority!" Admiral Piett bellowed urgently.
Vader remained calm. "Hire bounty-hunters and pay them double in their search for those willing to bow to our cause. We have no other options admiral, the emperor has foreseen our disloyalty and will do anything to have us destroyed. We must act now."
"Not even the bounty-hunters can help us with that!" Another man, a commander claimed fearfully. "You must reconsider this Lord Vader, we are with several thousands of troops, the emperor has millions!"
"Then we must distract them and lure them anywhere but Coruscant."
"How?!"
"There must be something," Admiral Piett tapped his fingers on the conference room's table in frustration, "If what you say is true and the emperor knows of this, we are all condemned. This was a thirteen-year project, not a five-year one!"
"There is a way." Leia's silent voice echoed throughout the conference room.
Leia sat across from her father who fearlessly paced around the room. On her right and left sat Admiral Piett and Commander Yennick who were one of her father's most trusted men. Five other military and political hierarchy of their resistance sat on the other seats, listening closely.
"Lady Vader?" Piett gave her a look.
Leia rose from her seat and pressed her hands on the pitch-black table. "I suggest we get in contact with the Rebel Alliance."
There were a few murmurs around the room from some of the other members. "The Rebel Alliance?"
Vader turned to her, crossing his arms. "What is the meaning of this?"
"I do not expect immediate approval," Leia began, "but we and the Rebel Alliance share a similar belief. Both of us want the emperor destroyed, if we can come to an agreement with them, I can conclude it might be proven successful."
Commander Yennick shook his head, "No, no I refuse to rely on those Rebel scums!" he snapped.
Leia narrowed her eyes at that, "And why is that commander? All of you have been more occupied crushing the Galactic Empire from within rather than thwarting the Rebel Alliance. So in a way, we're all rebels," she clasped her hands behind her back, "And why is that you ask? The answer is quite simple: we all want the same thing and that is the end of Emperor Palpatine. I am sure we'll stand a chance if we join forces."
"No, you cannot convince me with such foolish suggestion. This is not up for debate, and neither will it be with the Rebel Alliance. They would outright reject it." The commander decided.
Leia shook her head. "I don't think so, I believe one of the Rebel Leaders would be willing to negotiate with me."
"How come?"
The expected question kept Leia quiet for a second, creating an unpleasant tension in the conference room that her father surely felt as well. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Vader turn to her, his eyes examining her with cautious intent. Determined not to lose on the opportunity, Leia straightened and went on, "Because I have a certain relationship with the man." she said simply.
"Who?" Darth Vader suddenly ordered from the sidelines.
Leia's eyes calmly left the commander and she glanced back at Vader. "At this time I cannot say, father. I want your approval."
Leia could feel his growing frustration through their connection but decided to dismiss it nonetheless. She knew how much concerned him when the subject was about either her or Luke... but she couldn't tell him yet. Not here at least.
After a moment of silence, Piett began, "I suggest we reevaluate our options before we come to an agreement on the matter. This is a huge decision." He concluded and everyone in the conference room nodded.
"Everyone is dismissed."
[✩]
Leia walked the necessary paces before arriving in a secluded area onboard the Executor, and went wandering over to the middle of the chamber, sitting down to meditate. Her eyes closed and she took a deep breath while reaching out through the Force.
"Luke..." She called out to him.
Her thoughts went into a never-ending spiral as she hesitantly tried reaching out to him through the darkness, only to find more darkness.
Her conversation with Obi-Wan Kenobi.
A life of what could have been.
Anakin Skywalker.
Her visions.
Happiness.
Luke.
Confusion flickered through her, running down her spine, crackling through her limbs. In frustration, Leia cried out and lowered her head. Her shoulders sagged as her hands covered her eyes. Then, quietly, she felt tears stream down her face, causing her to bite her bottom lip. She did not move nor make any sounds, and simply let them fall onto the concrete.
"Leia."
"Luke?" Leia mumbled absently, looking over her shoulder.
Her eyes widened as Darth Vader inched forward, and she corrected herself, "Father, I'm sorry."
"Why are you crying?" Vader breathed heavily.
"I-It is nothing father," Leia rose from the ground and forced her tears away, "I'm just frustrated at everything that's been happening to me lately."
For a moment all she could hear was father's breathing through the respirator before he nodded and spoke again, "What do you think you can achieve by suggesting a proposal like that?"
"Bringing my brother back, that is what I'm trying to achieve," she snapped, still clouded with frustration and confusion. "I had hoped you'd stick with me and let us come to an agreement with the Rebels, but I guess everyone on this ship is just too stubborn to not see the similarities we share with them." Leia finished darkly.
She began to swallow in anticipation, but all she heard was Vader's breathing. Leia began to worry as another long unnerving silence passed between them.
"Father...? Are you alright?" she whispered from where she stood to stare at him.
Vader's absent demeanor wavered, but his voice was weak, "No... I have not been able to sleep since Luke's been taken by the Emperor. I... fear for what might happen in the near future, Leia. I do not want to lose you, and neither do I want to lose a son I barely knew."
"Nothing will happen to us father," Leia promised quietly. "I will make sure of that."
Vader's hesitation was quickly cut off by a pair of arms wrapping themselves around his waist, and she pulled him into a warm embrace. Burying her face closer to the warmth of his chest. Vader stared down at her in utter shock. Then finally, after a moment of considering on what to do– he returned the hug.
The happiness that filled her was all encompassing. Leia's mouth curved into a smile as she realized it being one of the few hugs she had given her father. Though the Sith Lord could be cruel, she knew they shared a bond stronger than others and Leia decided she didn't want this kind of happiness to end.
When she pulled away, her brunette eyes became resolute, "I will leave the Executor for now and find recruits as your men suggested," Leia stated firmly.
Vader nodded. "You said you knew a Rebel Leader within the Alliance."
"I did." Leia muttured.
"Who is it?"
Leia sucked in a breath, hesitating as several long seconds of silence dragged on. She stepped away from Vader and turned her back to him. After tucking a lock of hair behind her hair she stared down and sighed. "Viceroy Bail Organa from the planet of Alderaan."
She ran out of the chamber, leaving Vader no space to respond.
Her heart raced as she went on and took her personal TIE fighter, cruising through the stars and setting course for the Dagobah system, where this supposed Jedi Master Yoda was located; and where her brother had been for the past two years of his life.
Leia wanted answers, and whether she could get them from a Jedi Master or a Sith Lord didn't matter.
[✩]
Luke's mind was a jumbled mess. Every nerve in his body had exploded in pain, a crawling, sharp, burning pain that had enough continuous variation that his mind could never become desensitized to it. It ran through his body like a plague and destroyed all resistance, tearing down all barriers like tissue.
He thought he was going to die, and for real this time.
Somehow he thought it was best for him to leave this awful world with his rotten luck. What successful things had he even done the past two years? He couldn't remember any, he could only remember his failure.
His failure to save Ben.
His failure to get to the Death Star plans.
His failure to save his aunt and uncle.
His failure to escape Vader's grasps.
And his failure to escape Sidious'.
His body began to stir with a warning of the Force coursing through his veins. His back arched up as if it were trying to escape from the agony that was all he knew.
"Rest boy, do not speak nor move for it will only worsen your situation." Came the drawling voice of Darth Sidious, as the voice drew nearer.
Luke's bright-blue eyes snapped open. His head lolled to the side and he looked, almost unseeing towards the Sith Lord, his eyes not quite able to focus.
"I must say I am very disappointed in you, my young apprentice," Sidious halted at his bedside. "but we will deal with that attitude of yours in time."
"I...I... d-don't c-care a-anymore..." Luke muttered weakly, "j-just k-kill m-me."
For a moment, there was only silence beside the sound of airspeeders coursing through the air, far from where he was. Luke struggled to focus on what was happening, or where he was. Dimly, he heard the Sith Lord speak.
"My young hands saved you during your fall. You were instantly taken to the infirmary once again, where it was confirmed you had fractured your bones in more than five different places." Sidious clasped his hands behind his back and stared down at him, "Even after this, I still have faith in you, my young apprentice. You will not die at my hands."
"...I-I...w-will n-never j-j-oin y-you." Luke groaned.
A malicious smile covered Sidious's face. "We'll see about that."