Day 3 of my final finale! So: They have escaped from Jabba. Now all that remains is to heal Han, get Leia back into respectable clothes, see Yoda before he dies, rejoin the Rebel Alliance, and deal with the Emperor and the Death Star. No big deal, right?
Chapter Forty
4 ABY
~ Kya Ranor ~
I let out a long breath as we speeded over the desert towards old Kenobi's hut, where we had first rendezvoused and prepared for freeing Captain Solo. I was still somewhat surprised that everything had worked out quite so neatly, with every element coming into play just as it was needed, and our efforts combining to produce the best possible outcome of all despite everything appearing to have been lost.
Ben seemed to sense my relief, for he slipped an arm around my waist. "It is done," he murmured softly.
"I know."
We weren't the only ones relaxing, though. Even as I watched, Luke was letting out a long sigh and leaning against the rail, smiling freely again. Anakin flashed him a quick smile and let him take the controls before going up to Leia and offering his cloak, which she accepted warily.
I frowned. "She still doesn't trust him?"
Ben shrugged, his gaze showing only compassion and, strangest of all, understanding. "She would be a fool if she threw down her defenses so quickly," he replied. "He has done great damage to her. And she is naturally suspicious of outsiders, anyways."
"Can she ever forgive him?"
"I don't know."
Consternation suddenly filled the Force, and my hand moved automatically to my lightsaber before I realized that it was just Ben and not something from my danger sense. I looked at him, and frowned.
"Ben?"
He nodded absently at Han. "What's wrong with him?" he asked quietly. "The Force feels . . . strange around him."
I looked at Han, and for the first time noticed the awkward way he moved. My frown deepened. I shouldn't have forgotten that bit. It was just effects of the carbonite freezing, and they would wear off in time, but I still shouldn't have forgotten that the Captain had spent a year frozen and would therefore need some help to heal.
"You or me?"
"Reading my mind again?"
"If you have the answer and don't tell me," he pointed out, "what other recourse is there? And I'm always reading your mind."
I know.
He nudged me with his shoulder, a clear dismissal. "Well, then, go on, help him before we have to stop this thing and find out he can't walk straight," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.
I sighed. But I did straighten and walk over to Han, who looked around wildly at my approach. He was better than he had been just after Leia sprang him from the carbonite, if the images from her mind were anything to go by – his eyes weren't as cloudy or dazed – but he was clearly still somewhat blind.
"Do you want some help?" I asked.
He raised an eyebrow. "How in the galaxy's name could you help me? Leia said I have no choice but to sit it out. . . See what happens. . ." His tone was unhappy but resigned; he thought he had no other choice but this.
"Perhaps. But healing trances can do wonders." I paused. "If you'll allow me."
His eyes narrowed. "What are you going to do?"
"I will simply put you in a healing trance, which allows your body to speed up the healing rate and therefore recover faster," I explained. Now for the more unpleasant side effects. "You'll be unconscious for a few hours, but you'll be able to see and move better. I can't promise perfection, because for that I'd have to remain linked with you and direct everything. But you will heal. It doesn't require Force-sensitivity for the body to heal itself, merely time and rest."
"Why can't I just wait it out?"
I shrugged, and then remembered that he couldn't see that. "You can, if you wish. I will not stop you."
"You could, though."
And then, quite suddenly, I got it, and everything Han had ever done made sense. He doesn't truly believe in the Jedi's abilities. I sighed. It makes sense. . . He is old enough that his parents, or whoever cared for him, would have heard Palpatine's lies about the Jedi Rebellion. . . And he served at Carida. . .
Now, of course, he had seen what Luke could do – what we all could.
But he still didn't quite trust us.
And Ben and I especially, as we were part of the old Order. He had served alongside Luke, and he trusted him not to stab him in the back. But Ben and I – we were Jedi from the old ages, with strange habits and perhaps questionable morals. He couldn't understand us, and therefore did not trust us.
"If you feel uncomfortable with me administering the trance to you," I said, "I can have Luke do it."
He was good, I had to admit. He had an excellent poker face, even blind.
But the Force whispered to me, and I could see how his exhale was just a tad bit bigger than normal and how his shoulders lowered just an inch.
"Thank you," he murmured.
"I'll have Luke do it when we get back to the hut. Then you can sleep in a real bed."
Ben?
Hmm? He lifted his head. Did he agree?
I retreated to Ben's side as he slipped an arm around me, and sighed. Yes and no. He doesn't really trust us, Ben. He only agreed with I said Luke could do it.
Outwardly, his face didn't chance, but I could sense Ben's sudden understanding – and his frown of unhappiness. I suppose that makes sense. He is old enough to be raised in the furor over the "Jedi Rebellion", isn't he? But, he continued, I suppose he needs more time. He's only known us for a few months, and in that time we failed to save him from the carbonite.
I know. I pressed my head against his shoulder. I'm just not used to all this . . . suspicion.
It is not your fault.
Hmm. . . Does Luke know how to do a healing trance?
I know Master Yoda taught him the theory, at least. Worst comes to worst, he suggested, I can link to him and make sure he does it right. He needs the practice anyways.
~ Anakin Skywalker ~
I knew that Kya and Ben were having their own private discussions without even looking at them. The Force pulsed around them, strong and focused and binding. They were formidable apart, between Kya's Force potential and Ben's lightsaber skill, but together they were nearly invincible – and all because of the life-bond that bound them together.
I avoided looking at them all the same though.
The love between them – it was clean and brilliant and pure. And the results of the bond were much better than the results of the bond I had held with . . . Her.
I wasn't really jealous. More like . . . I didn't know.
I just wish that their fate could have been mine as well, I thought.
They were so happy together, and so perfectly fitted to each other. And even though they were not without trouble, at least they could face it together and without any anger or regret towards the other.
I wished I could have that.
For now, my best substitute was my children.
Luke had accepted me. He had listened to my critique of his technique during the fight, and he had obeyed me without arguing. The bond between us was strong – partly because he was also a Jedi, and partly because Luke had always believed I could be saved and never given up or stopped loving me.
Leia . . . I was having more trouble with her.
She had inherited my stubbornness, and she had certainly seen more of the more questionable things I had done as Palpatine's apprentice. And I had even tortured her.
No, trust between us was going to be a long in coming.
If it came at all.
I slipped off my cloak and held it out to her. "Leia," I said. "Put this on before you get burnt."
She stared at me with wary eyes before finally taking it. That made me wince. I knew that had Ben or Kya done the same, she would have perhaps told them not to worry, but she would not have eyed them with such scrutiny before she accepted. She trusted them, perhaps even looked up to them.
"Thank you," she mumbled.
I sighed. "Leia . . . Princess Organa. I can't expect you to forgive me. But can we at least . . . work together?"
She stared at me with cool brown eyes. "Isn't that what we did back there?"
"I meant . . . now."
Leia's eyes narrowed, and for a long moment she studied me as though she hoped to dissect my very soul. Then she said, very carefully, "Listen to me, Darth Vader. You are not my father. You stood by while Tarkin destroyed my real father. I cannot accept you to take his place. I never will. I will work with you, but do not expect me to welcome you with open arms as Luke had."
"I never did."
"Indeed. And if you give me one indication that you are turning back – " a blaster glinted at her waist before the cloak hid it again " – I won't hesitate to shoot you."
"And Luke?"
"I'll deal with him when that comes to it."
I nodded. I could at least respect her confidence, even though it hurt me. "Then promise me something."
"What?"
I looked away, wondering how I could possibly explain this to her – I had failed to explain things to Her, after all. "The Emperor is very powerful. It took the power of two Jedi to break his control over me." Now I looked at her, and my gaze was just as steady and cool as hers was. "If Palpatine seems to get back in control of me, and Luke doesn't believe you, do what you must to protect him. Even if you have to kill me."
She stared at me for a long while. "Why me?"
"Because I think I've already done enough damage. And I think you would have the right if Darth Vader emerged once again, and Luke is too much like his mother to stop me, even though he probably can."
Leia inclined her head. "If you wish . . . Anakin."
