Okay guys...I was rereading this now that I'm no longer sick...
YYYYeeeeeaaaaaahhhhh...
What the heck was I thinking not checking it over...
I brushed up on a few things hahaha.
A lot more detailed...some things are much much different...
Yeeeaaahhhhh...
I like this one better!
Eius had decided that Tatooine was the last place he wanted to be.
As he crossed the burning sands of Anchorhead, making a straight advance on the cantina he was to meet Boba Fett in, he made a list of all the places he would much rather be. He had definitely heard of the famous bounty hunter; it was hard not to. Truthfully, Eius was much more curious about the nature of the assignment he was passing along. The entire trip to the depressing planet the holodisc had been burning a hole in his pocket, but he had ignored it. If his Master had wanted him to know what the mission was that he was giving Fett, then he would have told Eius. No matter how much the Force pushed him to peek at the target, Eius resisted. Why should the target be of any concern to him?
Eius pushed the petty thoughts to the back of his mind as he entered the cantina, his gaze from under his hood sweeping swiftly over the room before coming to a rest on the Mandalorian suited figure in one of the shadowy corners of the cantina. Easily, Eius slipped around the many different low-lifes that crowded the dump, sliding as silently as a shadow into the seat across from the infamous bounty hunter.
"I'm assuming you have the details on my target?" Boba Fett asked, leaning back in his seat.
Eius placed his hand on the table, flipping the holodisk between his fingers nonchalantly. "My Master wants assurance that you're taking this job; no backing out."
Eius could practically feel Fett's gaze attempting to burn a hole in him. "I don't back out on my jobs. I see them through," Fett growled.
Eius jabbed a finger at him. "I'd watch your tone with me Fett. I'm not against finding another assassin for the job, no matter if my Master has already picked you for this one."
"You're in no position to be ordering me around. I recognize your voice, and I know who you are underneath that hood…Skywalker."
Both of them reacted at the same time, anticipating each other's attacks just moments before they actually moved. Eius jolted to the side as Fett fired a blaster shot at him before he lunged daringly across the table. A second shot grazed his shoulder, causing Eius to hiss in pain. His target switched from Fett's blaster to the wrist that was currently taking aim at him, sensing that it was of greater danger at the moment. Sure enough, as Eius trapped that hand to the table a cable shot out; one that would have easily wrapped around and trapped Eius had he not acted fast enough. Fett snarled in frustration while Eius struggled with him for a few seconds over the blaster, doing his best to keep Fett from shooting him. Finally, Eius disarmed the gun, snatching it up from the table and pressing it to Fett's head.
"First of all, that was a stupid mistake. Second of all, I am not a Skywalker anymore; that name means nothing to me now and you'll do well to forget any connection I have to Luke Skywalker. And lastly, know I am not against killing you and finding a different assassin to carry out this job myself. Sure, my Master will punish me; but I will still live because he needs me and you will still be dead," Eius growled menacingly.
"What happened to you?" Fett asked scathingly.
"Questions are another thing you should keep to yourself," Eius said coldly, pressing the blaster a little harder into Fett's helmet and causing the bounty hunter to tip his head to the side. "Now, are we done talking about severed ties or are you going to take this job and forget that you ever knew who I once was?"
Eius' was pretty sure Fett was scowling under the helmet. "Consider it forgotten. Are you going to give me the job now?"
Eius had to admire the fact that the bounty hunter did not lose his calm despite the situation he was in. He released his grip on Fett's arm, handing the gun back over and waiting until it had been holstered before tossing the holodisk to the bounty hunter. "Just make sure that you kill him; my Master won't tolerate any failures."
"Him?" Fett asked, clearly surprised. "My, my, you don't know who this target is, do you?"
"Him, her, it doesn't matter to me. I couldn't care less about whoever my Master is going after now," Eius said with a scowl.
"I think this particular target would capture your attention. I'm surprised you haven't bothered to look; though if you had, I'm sure this holodisk would have never made it to an assassin."
For a moment Eius hesitated, his curiosity aroused. However, he pushed the feeling down. "I don't care bounty hunter. Just get the job done, or you'll wish I'd killed you sooner," Eius snarled, getting up and leaving before another word could be said.
Boba watched Skywalker leave, leaning back and activating the holodisk to reveal the holoprojection of and details on Leia Skywalker.
"Suit yourself."
(3 Days Later)
Leia rolled her eyes as Han continued to curse below her, trying and failing to fix one of many issues that the Millennium Falcon was having at the moment. She was pretty sure that if her father hadn't been out and about Christophsis that the repairs would be going much faster. However, Anakin was looking into the most recent Jedi murders in hopes that it would lead him closer to Luke. There was no word from Anakin yet, so Leia had to assume that yet again, he had found nothing.
"Blast it!" Han suddenly yelled as there was a sudden downpour of sparks onto his head and hands.
"Maybe you should just wait until Father gets back. At this rate, you're just going to end up frying yourself laser-brain," Leia said with a small smile.
"I can fix this without him, I've patched up the Falcon plenty of times without him; I don't need your mechanical genius of a father to fix something this small. Besides, if I asked for his help with this, I'd never hear the end of it."
"You and your pride…" Leia said with a shake of her head.
"Have you heard anything from him yet?"
"No…considering how long he's been gone, he should be back soon though."
Leia heard Han sigh, and the smuggler lifted himself out of the compartment he'd been in, putting a gentle, grease covered hand on her shoulder. "We'll find Luke soon Leia. I promise you we will."
Leia shook her head. "It's not whether or not we find him that's worrying me Han…it's what will happen after we do."
Han wrapped her up in his arms, giving her a tight hug. "It'll be all right Leia…the kid's gotten himself out of worse situations before…he'll be all right."
Leia sighed and gently pulled away. This wasn't a topic she felt like discussing again. "Here…I'll get that part you need. This bucket of bolts needs to be fixed by the time Father gets back."
Han smiled a little, already halfway lowered into the compartment. "That would be preferred. If I'm not almost finished when he gets back he'll fix the Falcon up himself and, like I said, I will never hear the end of it."
Leia smiled a little and shook her head, making her way down the corridor and back to the table she believed she had seen the part Han needed. Just as she'd thought, it was nestled in a pile of other scrap parts in a box Han had pulled out before he'd gotten started. She was just about to make her way back to Han when she heard the faint click of the safety on a blaster being shut off. Startled, Leia whipped around to find Boba Fett standing just meters away from her, blaster raised.
"It's been a long time, Princess," he said smoothly.
"Boba Fett," Leia said sharply, hand already twitching towards her lightsaber. He must have snuck aboard the ship when they weren't paying attention. She knew they should have closed the ramp until Anakin got back; she should have listened to that gut feeling. "What do you want?"
"I was just getting to that sweetheart. However, you'd be wise to do exactly as I say first."
"Leia?" came Han's voice from back down the hall. Leia bristled. Surely Fett wasn't after Han?
"Don't answer him. Forward; you're coming with me," Fett demanded.
"I don't know what you're hoping to gain from this Fett, but whatever it is, it won't work," Leia said coolly, setting the ship part back on the table and slowly moving towards Fett, who was started to back down the corridor and make his way towards the ramp. His blaster never left its target for her head. She could hear Han approaching from the hall and prayed that he wouldn't get himself hurt.
Once she was within arm's reach Fett grabbed her elbow, pulling her into him the same time Han came around the corner. "You!" Han hissed, reaching for his blaster.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you Solo," Fett growled, continuing to slowly back up as he pressed the glister into Leia's temple.
"What do you want Boba? If this has to do with Jabba, I've already paid him; a long time ago too," Han said sharply, his eyes flickering from Fett's mask to Leia's eyes several times
"Maybe it's a personal vendetta," Fett sneered, slowly descending the ramp and making his way across the landing pad.
"Look, if it's me you're after, than you can have me, just let her go," Han said slowly, still pursuing them them. One hand rested on his blaster, ready to draw the weapon and fire at the bounty hunter if he needed to.
"Sorry Solo, but I can't do that. See…it isn't you that I was sent after," Fett said smoothly. Leia felt the sharp warning that rang through the Force, but she couldn't do anything as Fett's hand moved to her neck. She felt a sharp prick and the world went black before she even hit the ground.
"Leia!"
Anakin had felt the Force scream in warning halfway back to his daughter and Han, and had broken into a full out run in that moment. Now, hearing Han's cry of distress followed by several blaster shots, Anakin found himself practically flying to the landing pad that the Falcon had been docked on.
The scene he came upon did nothing to reassure him.
Han was kneeling by his daughter's motionless form, gathering her up in his arms and favoring an injured arm as a familiar figure in Mandalorian armor was attempting to flee. Instinctively, Anakin reached out with the Force, grasping the man in a Force Grip and pulling him back down onto the landing pad.
Boba Fett scrambled to his feet, taking aim at Anakin and firing several blaster shots at him, just for the shots to be absorbed in Anakin's hands. Before Fett could take off again, Anakin crushed the bounty hunter's jet pack with the Force, throwing him to the ground again before pouncing on him, lightsaber ablaze and held at his throat.
"If you'd like to keep your head attached, start talking," Anakin snarled while Han inspected Leia.
"I wouldn't put it past you Vader," Fett growled. Anakin's grip on Fett's shoulder tightened.
"So you're one of the few who remember. Well then, at least you won't underestimate what I'm capable of," Anakin hissed, reaching out through the Force and applying a little pressure to Fett's throat.
"What did you do to her?" Han suddenly snapped from Anakin's right.
"Just a fast acting poison. You can keep interrogating me, or you can try and get her treated. It's your choice; you know you don't have much time," Fett said smoothly.
"Han, get Leia onboard the Falcon and see what you can do for her; I'll handle him," Anakin said darkly, pressing the lightsaber closer to Fett's throat and applying a little more pressure to Fett's airway. He could sense Han's unease, and knew it was probably because of how Vader-like he was acting at the moment. Anakin ignored him though; he was already mentally figuring out how much time his daughter had. He was still going to at least get a few answers out of Fett first. "Who hired you Fett?"
"You know who," Fett spat.
"Sidious," Anakin growled.
"Yes…but it was your son who passed the order along."
The first emotion that registered with Anakin was shock, and his grip slackened on Fett. The next emotion to hit him was betrayal; a deep, cutting betrayal he had never expected to experience in this life. After that, the familiar rage hit Anakin like a tidal wave and he put Fett into a full Force Choke, rising the bounty hunter high into the air.
"You're lying," Anakin hissed, refusing to believe that Luke would order Fett to assassinate Leia.
"No…I'm not…he…gave me the…holodisk...with my…target details, but…he didn't even…bother to look…to see who…my target was…" Fett gasped, clutching at his throat.
"Anakin," Han suddenly said weakly, standing on the ramp of the Falcon with Leia in his arms. "Leia…we don't have the time, and the Falcon's stuck here. I was in the middle of repairs when Fett showed up."
Anakin growled and tightened his grip on Fett's throat. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you," he snarled at Fett.
"Anakin, leave him, we need to go!" Han said a little louder.
Gritting his teeth, Anakin let Fett drop to the ground. "If you come anywhere near my daughter again, I won't hesitate to kill you Fett," Anakin warned him darkly before he turned and took Leia into his arms from Han. "I'll get her to the nearest hospital," he said stiffly, already turning to start his mad dash for help.
Han was right; Leia needed him more right now, and if he ever saw Fett again he would make sure that the bounty hunter didn't walk away from the encounter alive.
Eius was alone. All around him was a world of white with nothing to be seen for miles. Hoping to find something eventually, he began to wander aimlessly, constantly looking for…anything.
"Luke."
Eius froze at the sound of the all too familiar voice, turning around in a rapid circle to try and spot the source. He found nothing.
"Who's there?" he called out wearily.
"Luke…"
Eius whipped around again, his frustration growing. "Show yourself!"
A hand grasped his shoulder lightly. "Luke."
Eius yanked away from the contact, stumbling backwards as his eyes fell upon his father, standing mournfully before him with a haunted look in his eyes. Eius shook his head in denial. "No…you're not really here…this is just a dream…"
"You know this isn't just a dream. Just like you know that assignment you gave to Boba Fett was an order to assassinate someone from your own family," Anakin said softly.
"What are you talking about?" Eius hissed.
"You know what Luke. The Force whispered the warning to you, but you still didn't bother to check the nature of the mission that was given to you. Even now, you can sense the truth in my words. Sidious sent you to give the order to kill your own sister."
"I am not Luke anymore! It's Eius now, Darth Eius!"
Anakin looked at him somberly for a few moments before he spoke very softly. "It is the name of your true self…you've only forgotten."
For some reason Eius could not fathom, those words struck a chord deep within him, but he shoved the growing feelings aside.
"I'm not him no matter how badly you want me to be! You couldn't possibly understand," Eius said harshly.
Suddenly Anakin's countenance changed into a more intimidating, imposing stature instead of a fatherly figure. His eyes, a startling blue only a few seconds ago, were now a blazing gold that rivaled Eius' own. Eius actually found himself cowering under Anakin's sudden fury that gave his Master's fury a run for his money.
"Don't I? I understand more than you could possibly know Eius. And as much as you try to hide from the guilt of everything you've done, as hard as you try to ignore the truth in your actions, they will find you. The shame and suffering will not go away so long as you stay on this path, and you will have to live with the fact that you passed along the order to kill your sister, that you have betrayed your family, and that even now you stand by and watch yourself tortured every day. No matter how much you deny it you know that he is you." Anakin's voice was condemning, and Eius trembled, arms covering his head as if to ward off a deadly barrage. "You have no one to blame but yourself and I pray the Force has mercy on you as it did me and you find your way out of the dark side, but that won't even be possible until you realize your crimes. Open your eyes Luke; you are my son. This is not who you are, and should you move to come back to us, we would welcome you with open arms. However, it is entirely up to you. I only hope that you choose the right path."
"No! No, I am not your son! I know the truth; you never wanted me, you wanted him! Say what you want, Father, but I will no longer listen to you lies!" Eius suddenly snapped, the dark side re-strengthening in him as he reminded himself what caused him to fully embrace the dark side in the first place, drawing strength from the dark thoughts.
Anakin sighed, placing a hand on Eius' cheek, who flinched away from the contact, backing away quickly as Anakin's hand fell slowly to his side. "I can only pray the Force will lift the veil from your eyes and reveal Sidious' lies."
With a gasp, Eius bolted upright in his bed, chest heaving as his eyes scanned the room around him wildly. Once he came back to himself and realized that he was in his chambers back at the secret base his master had established, his breathing evened out and he ran a hand through his tousled hair in an attempt to tame it.
You passed along the order to kill your sister…
Eius shook his head, trying to dispel the thought and the guilt that threatened to latch onto him. It was all just a dream, nothing more. He had no way of knowing who the target had been, and he wasn't about to start snooping around to find out if what his father had said in a dream was true. Besides, even if it was true, why should he care? He'd severed all his ties to his past.
Well…not all of them…there's this one girl in particular…
By pure will alone, Eius pushed the dream to the back of his mind with a snarl. He hated being in the same building as Luke longer than necessary. It always affected him in a way he would prefer it didn't. The Force would occasionally pull at Eius, trying to draw him to Luke, to merge the two of them and heal the tear that had remained when Luke had been prevented from merging with Eius. He hated it; starting to share some of the same feelings…getting glimpses of Luke's memories…occasionally sensing the pain he was experiencing in the lower levels. Eius loathed being connected to Luke at any point, but he couldn't find a way to block him out whenever those brief moments of connections happened.
Hopefully, soon, he wouldn't have to worry about the small connections anymore.
With that cheery thought, Eius settled back into his bed with a soft grunt. Still, he couldn't get the image of his father's gold eyes out of his mind even as he drifted back to sleep.
Meanwhile, Anakin was waking up from the exact same dream.
He latched onto the anger in an instinctual effort to avoid the pain as he got out of bed, heading straight for the refresher connected to the bedroom he shared with Padme. Anything would be better than the pain that was trying to wrap itself around his heart for his failure. He had failed to protect his son, and now Luke was lost to Sidious. It couldn't be clearer to Anakin that Luke would not listen to him now…yet there was still that small part of him that cried out for hope despite how hopeless the situation seemed.
His fists clenched at the thought of all Sidious had done to his family, and Anakin heard the granite of the sink crack under the grip of his mechanical hand, causing him to slowly ease up on his grip as he came back to himself. Reluctantly, he slowly siphoned his anger away, staring at his reflection in the mirror. He hadn't even realized he's been crying.
Frustrated, Anakin wiped the tears away, staring down into the sink as he tried to get ahold of himself. His emotions were raging out of control, and he'd had too many close calls with reaching Vader status again to feel comfortable. Yet it seemed all of his centers that kept him from being Vader were being pulled out from under him.
With a sigh, Anakin left the refresher, feeling utterly drained as he shrugged on his tunic he'd left lying on the bed and left the bedroom. His feet led him instinctively towards Leia's room as he leaned in the doorway, watching his daughter sleep peacefully in her bed for a few moments. Han was still in the chair across from her, dead to the world around him in his current slumber.
They had gotten Leia the medical attention she needed just in time, not a moment too soon. The entire ordeal had reminded Anakin painfully of the time when The Hunter had attempted to assassinate Luke, and he'd worried that they might not be able to get her help in time. However, the doctors on Christophsis had been able to identify the poison and administer the antidote. As soon as Leia was well enough to travel and the Falcon was finished, they had come right back to Coruscant so she could get some well-deserved, much needed rest.
Once he had assured himself that his daughter was fine, Anakin quietly left her room, finding himself inside the room he had not entered since Luke had fallen to the dark side.
Sadly, Anakin ran his hand over the messy bed, unmade just as it had been the day they left for Korriban. His eyes wandered the collection of model ships and podracers that the two of them had built together over the years, causing many cherished memories to resurface in painful clarity. Over on his dresser, a holopic of a grinning ten year old Luke on Anakin's shoulders at a podrace caused Anakin's eyes to tear over as he sank onto the bed, burying his head in his hands.
I won't let anything bad happen to you Luke…not this time…not again…
I won't let anything happen to you…
"I'm so sorry Luke…I've failed you…" he whispered into the darkness.
