A/N: Hello everyone! Again, many thanks for the wonderful reviews and feedback; it truly does mean a great deal to me, as does the continued support that this fic series has gained since we began this journey together.
I've been playing with the idea of adding a video commentary to this fic that I'd upload onto YouTube. It'd feature more info on the story, probably on a chapter by chapter basis, or thematic, perhaps a mix and explain how, why and etc. on how this fic came about. This is a very new idea, something that came to me as partly a way to go deeper into the story with readers, and also I think authors should support each other, so this would be my food for thought for fellow writers; as I've learned a lot from the writing community myself—this is a way to give back. So I'm very upon to your thoughts on this. Would this be interesting to you? What would you like to have be featured? Please give me all your opinions; I'll be VERY eager to hear what you have to say.
**Psst, Star Wars still not mine; onward!
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SW Ep. V Jedi Assassin Ch. 36: Revelations
"Oh, thank heavens we're coming out of the asteroid field," Threepio said as the asteroids around the Falcon began to thin.
Han ignored him, briefly wondering who had turned the blasted droid back on: the old man or Leia. He pushed the thought away as another laser blast connected with the ship, rocking them fiercely. Leia grabbed her seat and shouted something about 'time to get back to the guns."
"Not yet, Your Worship," Han retorted, yanking on the controls, "it's time to get out of here."
Chewie harned in agreement.
Han pulled the levers to activate the hyperdrive.
They heard the engines roar to life…and then whine pitifully in defeat.
"It's not fair," Han breathed in disbelief. He could feel Leia's raised eyebrows.
"No light speed?" she knowingly quipped.
Chewie yelled a question.
"The pressure circuits are working, it's not my fault!"
Leia groaned and got up. "At least the guns on this ship always work."
The ship rocked from another hit.
"Sir, the shields are down to 15%," Threepio wailed, "one more direct hit on the back quadrant and we're done for!"
There was nothing like certain death to inspire Han's imagination. "Turn the ship around! Turn the ship around and we're gonna put all power on the bridge shield." His fingers flew across the controls.
Leia gaped. "You're gonna attack them!?" She searched around frantically, probably for the old man to work some Force mojo to save them.
"Sir!" Threepio put in wildly flailing his arms, "the chances of attacking an Imperial Star Destroyer are"—
"Shut up!" Han and Leia shouted together.
Chewie reached over and turned him off again; the droid slumped into the tall-back chair behind the co-pilot.
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Needa watched in disbelief as the beat-up freighter swung around and charged them.
"They're moving to attack position," he avowed in amazement. The captain turned to an officer. "Shields up."
A second later the decrepit ship shot dangerously close past and over the bridge. Reflexively, he and the other men ducked down.
Needa flushed at his foolish behavior. Quickly regaining his composure, he ordered to no one in particular. "Track them! They may come around for another pass."
One of the men in charge of scanning check the equipment. "Sir," he replied with wide eyes, "the ship no longer appears on our scope."
Needa restrained from gawking. "They can't have disappeared." He turned to the officer standing beside him. "No ship that small has a cloaking device."
"Perhaps not before sir," the other answered grimly, "but now they have the Specter…and his access to pretty much any deceitful hardware they desire."
Silence reigned for a moment as all present unwillingly considered what other 'deceitful hardware' might be lurking on the freighter courtesy of the dreadful assassin.
It was broken by a young aide rushing up to Needa. "Sir, Lord Vader demands an update on the pursuit."
Needa set his jaw. This was his failure. His. He ought to have considered that perhaps these rebels wielded some trickery thanks to that repulsive killer—and his murderous network.
He would not put any of his men at Vader's 'mercy.' Perhaps the dark lord would show clemency if—
"Get a shuttle ready," Needa told the aide, "I will assume full responsibility for losing them and apologize to Lord Vader. Meanwhile, continue to scan the area."
The other officers present tried to not look immeasurably relieved. They'd at least live another day.
"Yessir," the aide said, and Needa couldn't help but give the boy an encouraging smile when his face and tone clearly said he believed Needa was heading to certain death.
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Moray watched as the cleaning crew departed what was left of his lab. The saboteur had done a remarkably thorough job; but Moray was too old and too stubborn to overlook one vital fact.
If whoever destroyed his lab firstly- went to the effort, and second- had done this extent of damage; only one conclusion could be reached:
Moray was on to something; something far more important than what he'd discovered thus far.
Moray headed for the central island and began examining the control consoles and internals. As with a wounded patient, he first needed to ascertain a prognosis before any 'treatment' could begin.
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Luke grappled at the Force as he sank to his knees. Behind him, the cadence of boots drew closer.
"Your courage is commendable, boy," the dark lord declared ominously as he came to stand before Luke, who wrestled back enough hold on the Force to look up at the Sith, "however futile."
"The damage I did at Hoth didn't look very 'futile' to me," Luke hissed between clenched teeth.
The talons dug in deeper as Vader's temper was stirred. "You've tried my patience for far too long, assassin. It is past time you end this pointless chase and join me."
Luke sputtered out a humorless laugh. "Never."
Vader shook his head, sent more pain to Luke who gasped, doubling over and clutched his temples. "You refuse to accept that which is before your eyes, boy," was the low, ground out rebuttal, "your talents continue to grow; it may be many years yet before you come into the full of your power"—
Luke involuntarily jolted, not been told that before.
"Ah," Vader intuited, "so Kenobi and the other lying Jedi did not tell you this? How unsurprising." Luke felt the dark side withdraw from him some as Vader relented; Luke managed to at least sit fully up, and face the Sith anew. Vader caught him off guard by nodding in approval.
"They will use you boy," Vader declared dourly, "they will use you to fulfill their own ends and then cast you off as your slave masters did."
Luke bared his teeth before he could stop himself. Telile and the others; he had not forgotten them.
"Is that what you prefer?" Vader gestured around them. "I can offer you so much more."
Luke could not hold back another humorless laugh. "Really?" he drawled. Ignoring the agony, he forced himself to stand, and gave Vader a withering glare even though his appearance was once more washed out.
"You forget who you're talking to," Luke darkly warned, "I'm not some innocent, guileless farm boy. The slavers ended that for me early on—very early on." He waved dismissively. "I know how the Sith operate: one master, one apprentice. And your army of cronies. Except…the master owns the apprentice—which is just slavery by another name. Power isn't power unless you're free; it's just a pretense. So, no, I'm not interested in being a slave again—least of all by my own choice."
Luke prepared for the explosion of Vader's wrath, but didn't allow himself to betray any surprise when the Sith didn't react.
"So…your hacking friends did manage to break into the Jedi Temple after all," Vader mused aloud and Luke coerced his body to remain frozen. "Interesting you gleaned this information around the same time the Emperor allowed 'tourists' into my domain. Tell me, was your operative one of the 'elitists' I killed, or one that survived?"
Luke smiled thinly. "Hmm, you're taking the assumption that one of the Jedi simply didn't just tell me…they have been very…informative, after all—including about you."
Now Vader's temper rose like a black storm—but Luke reveled in it; he only needed to get Vader angry enough to make a rash move, one he could capitalize on.
Everything can be used to advantage….
Let your enemies supply your needs….
And Vader had made the mistake of being smug-not wise.
Luke had been hired by one too many smug contractors over the years.
It was time for Vader to sweat, to wonder just how much Luke truly knew about him—the mysterious Sith Lord.
Now, like a dormant volcano awakening from slumber, recalling its rage, the dark lord's anger came. The ground around them rumbled with Vader's fury. The lights flickered as Vader summoned up the dark side, wrapping it thickly around Luke.
But Luke had had time to reinforce his own shields—they held firm.
"I can easily remove your having a choice, boy," Vader growled, "the Emperor would not show you such leniency; he would simply torture you into submission."
Luke snickered. "If he can think of ways that I haven't already experienced, I might be curious enough to let him."
Vader actually started at his flippant tone. "Do not underestimate him, child; it is a mistake a Jedi only makes once." His tone had morphed to sudden gravity.
Luke straightened. "But I'm not a Jedi."
And he attacked.
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Moray directed the technicians as they attempted to rebuild the damaged equipment. He had had his own reasons, at first, for delaying finding any vital Intel on the child Vader hunted so fanatically.
But that was then.
Moray had realized after Vader's sudden departure that the unknown who had pulled him to safety had been the assassin himself. Moray assumed there had been some 'Force'-based means exercised to bring the child on board undetected, but at this point could only theorize what.
But, that part didn't matter. The assassin had managed to get on board without Lord Vader perceiving him.
And that was momentous.
Momentous enough to persuade Moray to change his plans; especially since the child had a bluntness of attitude and frankness of tone that reminded him of someone else.
"Doctor," a young tech rushed up to him, "one of the consoles has been restored."
Moray turned to him, rubbing his thumb and forefinger thoughtfully. "Good; begin the retrieval protocols at once."
"Yes, Doctor."
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Han and Leia watched from the viewport as Chewie went to over-view the engine systems again.
He'd told Han in very…pointed language that he'd try now to figure out why the hyperdrive kept failing.
Leia added that maybe the Force would tell Kenobi the reason…and so Chewie went in search of the Jedi.
Han mumbled something about 'that old man shoulda been here a few minutes ago,' and Leia cuffed him.
"I thought you didn't believe in 'that stuff'?" Leia prompted dryly.
"What I believe, Your Worship is that the old man might mean well, but that doesn't mean we can trust him."
Leia gave him a look. "Any your reason is-?"
Han recounted for her what he overheard when Kenobi had talked to his wall, aka the dead Jedi Master.
Leia turned away once he'd finished, clearly disturbed by what she'd been told.
"You think Kenobi is hiding something from us?"
"No, I think the old man has an agenda of his own. Believe me, Your Highness-ness, smugglers of all people can smell when they're being played. And the old man—yeah; he's got an agenda of his own, good intentions or not."
"But…he's a Jedi; they don't deceive anyone, it's against their creed."
"Yeah, so I guess then the old man didn't tell you that Vader used to be a Jedi."
Leia's eyes widened enough to fall from their sockets. "H…how…how do you—that can't be true," she whispered incredulously.
Han could understand Leia's disbelief; the man who'd tortured her? Stood there while her planet was nearly destroyed—once a Jedi?
He'd've found it hard to swallow too in her place—but no. Like the kid, he'd seen too much.
The harsh realities of this galaxy were easy to accept when you'd too often been given no other choice.
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Leia exhaled sharply, stared at the floor; trying to process it. "How do you know?"
"The old man told us—me and Luke; when we went out to find the kid. Junior knew too that Kenobi was hiding something from us, he cornered the old man and demanded answers. That's when Kenobi admitted that not only had Vader once been a Jedi…but he was Kenobi's own apprentice."
Leia felt the color drain from her face. How, how was it possible? Saintly old Kenobi, the mentor of that monster?!
Han nodded. "Yeah, and remember Your Worship, Kenobi told the wall: 'I should have told Vader the truth about Luke on Hoth.' It begs the question: what truth?"
"And what truth does Obi-Wan think would convince Vader to show Luke mercy?" Leia quietly put in, her thoughts swirling like a mad whirlwind.
"Exactly. And then he said something about someone else finding out would make him turn every weapon he had loose on the kid."
Leia bit her lip. "My guess would be the Emperor." Many would be that ruthless; scarce few had the resources to make the goal possible, much less plausible.
Luke was the Specter, after all.
Han waved in concession. "So, what secret is there, that is so big it would make Vader show Luke mercy and the Emperor stop at nothing to see the kid dead?"
A horrible sunken feeling filled Leia's stomach. "Vader and Luke share some sort of connection."
She wanted to vomit. No; she had to be wrong. Vader was a soulless predator, an abomination.
And Luke, Luke was—
Thoughts mockingly flung themselves at her:
An assassin.
A killer.
Made his fortune off murder.
A thief.
Allied by hackers, smugglers, criminals, pirates, saboteurs.
Feared even by Boba Fett.
Sent Imp bodies back to Coruscant gift-wrapped—one piece at a time.
Owns highly illegal weaponry.
Employs Underworld operatives.
An escaped science experiment.
Leia set her jaw. No; that was Luke then.
Before.
She forced herself to push the grisly thoughts back and focus on who he was now.
Luke Skywalker, a farm boy kidnapped as a child.
Sold into slavery.
Made into what he was against his will.
Killed to make credits to help the needy.
Befriended by a Force ethereal, a creature even unknown to legend.
Rescued her from the Empire.
Saved her planet and family from the Death Star.
Faced Vader to rescue the Jedi.
Stayed with the rebels when he could have left with his credits.
Destroyed the Death Star.
Found Hoth for the base.
Obliterated destroyers to give them time to flee.
Gives his money to widows and orphans.
Truly the list was endless—and she personally owed him for so much. Luke had begun as a killer, but now the rebellion looked to him as a leader and symbol of hope.
Even to the Jedi he was the symbol of hope-a hero to the heroes of old.
"If Vader and Luke do share a connection," Leia mused at last, once her thoughts had quieted, "we can't let Vader find out until Luke is ready to…until he's ready."
Han grimaced. "And how do you suggest we do that, Your Worship?"
Leia met his eyes. "We first have to find out how many people know—or could find out."
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Gales howled.
Metal was ripped from frames and flung about the cavernous chamber.
Electrical went crazy, flickering like mad.
Sensors and alarms blared as the monstrous reactor was mercilessly pelted by debris.
Neither Luke nor Vader relented in their psychic confrontation, each holding their ground as the reactor area was slowly torn asunder.
Vader was thrilled. This soon after Hoth the boy was undeterred in facing him in battle again; but even better Vader could sense that the Specter was tiring.
The child had not recovered from Hoth, physically speaking, and the energy he was expending now he could not use to heal later.
This meant he would be weakened longer; which would grant Vader more time to locate him before he'd be prepared for bodily combat again.
But, it was necessary then to keep the wily assassin angry, his temper must be roused enough that he would not think of his own well-being, but that of those he cared for.
So very, very easy…like with the Jedi.
"You made a grave mistake, boy," Vader coolly pointed out as they clashed and mayhem tore around them, "you broke your assassin's code, forming attachments."
The washed-out apparition's outline tensed; ah, so he was aware of his flaw then—good.
"If you will not submit freely," Vader went on, "I can easily change your mind."
The boy riled more, the Force energy being leveled Vader suddenly laced with a telling chill of the dark side.
Vader twisted his lips in satisfaction. Now, to fan the flame.
"Which of them do you care for the most, boy?" Vader taunted. "The smuggler? Your false mentor Kenobi?" And then the dark side insidiously whispered in his ear….
Oh, even better….
"Perhaps you would join after you listened to your friend's tortured screams for a time," Vader avowed over the battle raucous, "but come to your senses quickly boy…before your princess is at my mercy again."
Unseen forces launched the Sith across the chamber.
He connected violently against the metal far wall, impaling it with his massive form.
Vader rose and caught a glint of azure bearing down at him.
"Do not be foolish, child," he said forebodingly, "you will not always be there to protect them; you cannot. So submit and let this be over."
"The only thing that is about to be over," Luke hissed, "is you."
He waved over them, causing the crisscrossed beams to tear free and plunge at Vader.
He repelled them with the dark side, his frustration re-mounting. "You are no Jedi," he reminded chillingly.
The boy laughed that cold, emotionless laugh again. "And that's why you should be very worried."
In spite of himself, Vader grinned at his audacity. "Is this what you wish? For us to rip the galaxy asunder in this endless conflict? For your friends to always be in peril? Each day you resist me you put them in danger of paying the price."
He watched the apparition of Luke work his jaw, his temper incensed. More stray equipment and wreckage flew at Vader, the dark lord was actually pleased he had to exert real effort to deflect this bombardment.
It was too seldom now that he expended actual energy in battle.
"Search your feelings, young one," Vader entreated slyly, "what other options do you have? To resist destiny? To continue this defiance when you are meant to stand at my side?"
"That's not my destiny," Luke bit out, "and I'll never come to you!"
"You will, boy," Vader countered, his tone portentous, "you have no choice."
"There is always a choice," was the harsh rebuttal.
Vader smiled. "Then tell me this: when you walk the Force, why does it always bring you to me?"
He watched, filling with gratification as the shock of that question froze the Specter in place, the glacial impact of that fact driving the fight from him.
Vader relented his own attack as fragments and rubble of the reactor chamber fell like a cataclysmic rain around them. Vader ensured none stuck him; the boy in his intangible form was safe.
"Tell me," Vader urged, "for there is a reason."
The child was clearly overwhelmed by the thought; he didn't answer verbally, only shook his head and took a step back. Vader stepped forward.
"You have ignored this truth for too long," Vader revealed, "we are connected, you and I. That is why your destiny lies with me—despite Kenobi's lies."
Something in Vader's words snapped the boy back to himself. "Kenobi's lies?" he caustically asked, "did he lie when he said you were once his apprentice? That you were once a Jedi Knight?"
The words leapt from Vader's tongue before he could even ponder them. "A life which no longer has any meaning for me." No; he would not allow the past to rob him of the tenuous hold he'd gained over the child.
"Then it is true," the Specter observed, his tone strangely sad, but sarcastic as well, "and did he lie when he told me about your mother?"
Vader stilled. No, what had that cursed old man said-?
He could see the ghostly image smirk. "He didn't lie; he told me she died in your arms. But, I suppose that no longer has meaning for you either-"
That was it.
Vader summoned the full potency of the dark side and impaled the Specter with it, winding the impudent boy in tendrils of its nightmarish might. The child screamed as the clawed vines and cables of darkness dug into him mercilessly. Vader approached and stood over him.
"Kenobi was not wise to tell you so much…and you are far less wise to speak of it," Vader threatened, his tone quiet as death itself. "But…you will learn—when you've listened to your friends suffer without reprieve, when you've come to understand that their well-being will be solely in your hands…you will come to me—and submit."
And then the boy was gone.
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A/N: Yes, I am ending it here for now—homework calls me. I hope you enjoyed; please review and tell me your thoughts about the commentary and expose. It won't happen immediately—too much going on; but I'm curious on feedback as to whether or not I should bother at all. Your input counts! Thanks in advance!