Chapter 54:
Vader reached out to his son in the Force. It had been five days since they had departed, and he was curious about their progress. Lord Atrox, what is the status of your mission?
Mara heard Vader's words in Atrox's head, and her eyes snapped open, annoyed. She sensed Atrox's irritation, also, as he began to reply. He looked up, a deadly look on his face. We are proceeding to make contact with the Rebel's contact, master. Atrox snarled through the Force, coldly.
Vader frowned. His son's behavior was… odd, given the simplicity of the question. He began probing deeper, seeking the cause of his rage.
Atrox sensed his father's probe and began to strengthen his mental barriers. Stay... out... of... my... head... he boomed, his pure rage clear.
Mara's eyes narrowed as she sensed Vader's attempt to infiltrate Atrox's mind. She shivered at the unrestrained rage she felt pouring off of him.
Vader ripped through the barriers Atrox tried to raise around his mind, determined to have the truth and know what his apprentice was concealing.
Atrox's rage intensified with each passing second as he continued to attempt to shove his father out of his mind, gritting his teeth as he did so. As his father's invasion continued, he drew the dark side into himself, causing his eyes to once again burn as red as fire. He began to use the dark side against his father, attempting to force him out even more.
Vader's own anger began to assert itself, and he coldly began breaking through Mara's own defenses, always less strong than her master's. She fought it, but was unable to stop him, and could only bite back a cry of pain as he invaded her mind. He immediately began exploiting her bond with Atrox, using it against him.
Atrox's mental shields began to falter as he saw his apprentice in pain. Reaching out to try to comfort her, Atrox unknowingly opened even more of his mind to his father.
Vader immediately seized the opening, forcing his way into his son's mind and establishing a foothold, starting to dig through his thoughts for answers.
Atrox submissively allowed Vader through his thoughts and memories, allowing him into the very core of his being.
Within moments, he had the information he was looking for, and withdrew slightly, surprised by what he found. His son certainly had… unique ways of training his apprentice. Finally, he told them, You… have done well in finding a link to the Rebellion. Be sure to keep me updated with your progress. However… see to it that you do not conceal information from me again, lest you wish it to constitute a betrayal.
Atrox sensed the threat and immediately replied through the Force, Yes, master. It will not happen again, forgive me.
You are forgiven, apprentice… but this is the last time I will overlook such disobedience, Vader informed him, coldly.
Thank you, master. I will contact you when we send the message... not to mention, capture the informant. Atrox replied just as coolly.
See that you do. Vader broke contact, leaving them alone once more.
After a moment, they both rose, and began dressing. Mara fastened the belt around her tunic, and cast a glance at her master, cautiously. "That was… amazing," she admitted, both of them knowing what she was referring to.
Atrox finished pulling his cloak over himself and glanced at his apprentice. "Indeed... it was. One body... one mind. There is no other way to... describe it." He said softly.
"No… there isn't," she agreed, quietly. She drew on her own cloak, and glanced at the chrono. A smirk crossed her face. "Master, do you know what I'm thinking?"
As Atrox pulled his hood over his head, he nodded. "It is time to send the message to the Rebel contact," he said coldly, excitedly, as he headed for the exit of his quarters.
She nodded, and followed him out, knowing how much he had been anticipating getting back into action. "If this works… we could have an opening into the Rebel base. If not… well, there must be someone he contacts with the information."
Atrox's eyes flashed as he turned towards her. "Either way, the informant will pay. More so if he does not have any opening to the Rebel base," he said coldly, his power in the dark side emanating from his voice.
"Of course, master," she said obediently, knowing all too well that any Rebel Atrox got his hands on would be lucky if he was merely killed. "Whenever you command, we can send the message. I think I can bounce its signal so that it still looks like it's from Imperial Center."
Atrox followed her over to a terminal on the bridge and looked over her shoulder. "Proceed, apprentice."
She sliced into the terminal without too much difficulty; her training as Emperor's Hand had given her the best espionage training in the galaxy, and her slices were nearly foolproof. She recalled the message she had composed, and entered it in, scrambling it with the code she'd extracted from the rebel spy's head. Finally, she looked up at her master. "Message away."
It started as an ordinary day for Melcus Beron. His assignment was fairly simple, anyway. Receive the message, transmit it on to headquarters. Meanwhile, he had to look inconspicuous and ordinary. Not hard at all. But today's message was different. The contact had something important, too important to be safely sent over Holonet. Information about Luke Skywalker—the Jedi who had betrayed them to the Empire. Now the assignment was more complicated. He would have to get permission from his job to take an off-planet trip, inform the Alliance, and then take the necessary precautions. The Alliance was still in the process of implementing the new equipment, so it wouldn't be available for him to use. It probably wasn't anything dangerous anyway. Nevertheless, caution was certainly warranted.
Later that night, he transmitted back through the scrambled channels. Nar Shaddaa. Three days from now. The Rimmer's Rest.
"Alright, we're in business," Mara announced as she entered their quarters, where Atrox was meditating. "He set up a meeting at Nar Shaddaa, three days from now."
Atrox opened his eyes, smiling darkly. "Goooooood, my apprentice. Inform the Admiral; set course so that we arrive on time." He sent through the Force, I will ensure that you are rewarded, apprentice.
She gave him a small smile. Thank you, master. She returned to the bridge, and told both Piett and Solo, "Set course for Nar Shaddaa. It is imperative that we arrive within the next two days."
"Of course, milady," Piett replied. He nodded to Solo, who immediately began calculating the shortest route. She watched them for a moment, then, satisfied, she returned to her master.
This time, Atrox did not look up from his meditations. Instead, he reached out through the Force, Come and meditate with me, apprentice, it is time to begin your next stage of training.
Yes, master. She knelt down by his side, and closed her eyes, opening herself to the Force.
Feel your anger, your hatred of those who oppose us, my apprentice. Allow it to fuel the dark side of the Force, allow it to fuel your power, he said once he felt her begin her meditations.
She began to follow his instructions, allowing her anger and hatred to flow through her, strengthening her connection to the dark side. She could feel the rush of power as she drew it into her.
Atrox smirked as he felt his apprentice's power grow instantly. Good, my apprentice, very good. Now, release it, feel the power flow through you.
She began to release the power building up inside her in a sudden wave. The bulkhead near them was crushed in, the pent-up energy slamming against it. Her eyes flew open, and she glanced at it. Oops, she said, softly.
Atrox's smile grew when he felt her release all the pent-up energy. Do not worry about it, apprentice. You have learned this lesson well. I could feel your enjoyment of the power you possess now. Nothing is beyond your reach, you can do anything, and your power will only grow.
Yes, master. Thank you. She returned his smile, feeling the warmth of his praise. Can we… practice? The rebel hasn't had much exercise lately.
Atrox's smile grew darker as he thought about his apprentice and the Rebel going at it again. "Yes, my apprentice, come with me, I will observe your next session with him. You have my permission to excuse your guards from the room during our... training." He hissed, turning towards her.
"Thank you, master," she said, pleased at the opportunity to avoid the guards who had been haunting her footsteps the past weeks. She led the way up to the brig and sealed the door behind her and her master. With a touch of the Force, she lowered the energy field around the spy, and began taunting him, a cruel smile dancing across her face. "We made contact with your friend. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that we're on our way to see him."
He merely glared at her, hatred pouring off of him. She smirked even more, and leaned in closer. "He fell for it… hook, line, and sinker. In three days, we'll have him. Perhaps my master will even let you watch… if you have not expended your usefulness."
At that, he snapped, his voice cracking from disuse. "Your master," he sneered. "The traitor, the coward, running off to hide after the defeat at Hoth, only to run straight into the arms of the Empire, and joining them—"
He found himself slammed against the back wall of the room by an unseen hand, Mara advancing slowly, trembling with rage. "You have no right to speak of him that way… especially when you yourself are responsible for the downfall of the Rebel Alliance."
Atrox chuckled and began to advance on the Rebel. "You are pathetic, Rebel. You are the prisoner of a Sith Lord, and will never be let go." He pointed one of his arms out at the Rebel, gathering the dark side of the Force to him.
Mara could feel the darkness welling up inside him, and moved to safety behind him, keeping the Rebel securely pinned to the wall.
Once his apprentice was behind him, Atrox smiled darkly, locking his cold, yellow eyes with the Rebel's, and released a blast of Force lightning at him, enjoying his suffering.
The Rebel couldn't tear his eyes away from the Sith Lord's burning gaze, even as his body cried out in agony. Atrox steadily increased the strength of the lightning, increasing his torment, until gradually the pain began to fade as his senses became dulled to it.
Atrox stopped the lightning, lowering his arm, and continued to smile darkly at his prisoner. Mara chuckled dryly. "If only all Rebels could experience the full power of the Sith."
"Soon they shall, my apprentice, by our hands." Atrox added coldly.
Mara released the Rebel, letting him crumple to the floor at their feet. Knowing he couldn't take much more physical pain, she went back to psychological torture, knowing full well how potent it could be. He'd been subjected to repeated torture and taunting for days; he was close to breaking, she could feel it. "It would spare so many lives if you helped us. Think of all your friends in the Alliance who will lose their lives in the upcoming assault on the Rebel base. Wouldn't you like to see them go home to their children? To have homes to go back to?" She paused, letting that sink in. "It would be so simple. Stop the warmongering leaders, and everyone could go home. There would be peace."
The Rebel shook his head, slowly. "N-no…" he muttered. "No, there wouldn't. I've heard the stories. I know what you did to Alderaan, Caamas, the Jedi. There would be no peace, only oppression."
Atrox's eyes flashed as he used the Force to slam the Rebel into the wall, locking his eyes with his own. "I AM NOT DARTH SIDIOUS!" He shouted, his voice almost inhuman.
"It's… his Empire… you're fighting for…" the Rebel whispered, his gaze sliding in and out of focus. "His Empire… built on blood… innocent blood." His head dropped to his chest, unconscious.
Atrox forced his way into the man's mind and implanted his thoughts into his head. It is my father's Empire I fight for, not Sidious'. When you awaken, you will choose to either serve us, or live a life of complete agony. Not to mention... I can control your pathetic mind with my power; how could you live with the memories of being helpless as I use you to infiltrate the Rebel Base Decide.
After an hour, Mara touched his mind, awakening him. The Rebel's whole body ached, covered with electrical burns; his muscles stiffened after the abuse he had suffered. Sensing that her master wished to be left alone with the Rebel, she went down to the bridge to check on the status of their arrival.
Atrox still sat with his back to the Rebel, his head bowed as if in sleep. The Rebel glared at him, weighing his options. He cursed himself, knowing he could never hope to defeat Atrox in his current condition, sleeping or no. Not without a weapon… a blaster or some such thing. But even so, he'd seen Skywalker's laser sword.
Skywalker's weapon. It hung at his side on a hook, he'd seen it earlier. If he could stop Atrox… if he could pay the traitor back for his betrayal… he knew there was no hope of escape for him, no matter what, and if he could perform this last service to the Alliance…
After a moment of consideration, he summoned all his remaining strength and inched forward. The moment he did so, the faintest smirk curved Atrox's mouth.
Mara paused outside the door on her way back from the bridge. She could feel Atrox's amusement, and it didn't take her long to determine the cause. She waited, listening, the smirk on her face matching her master's.
The Rebel continued to inch forward, every muscle in his body screaming out in protest, yet he kept going. Just a little further, and it would be in reach… he could see the activation switch…
Suddenly, the lightsaber on Atrox's belt flew to his own hand, igniting its crimson blade, all the while Atrox using the Force to jump into a standing position. He slowly turned towards the Rebel, who had fallen back onto the deck. "You should not play with things that do not belong to you." He hissed, pointing the blade towards the Rebel's throat. "Have you made your decision?" He added in a whisper.
"That decision was made long ago, traitor," the Rebel spat with as much fire as he could muster. "I will never serve you or your Force-cursed Empire."
Atrox smirk grew. "We are not so different from each other. You were willing to kill me in order to advance your cause, just as I am prepared to kill those who are in my way. I would allow your friends to live if you joined us," he said, heavily using the Force to influence the Rebel's mind, almost completely taking it over.
His expression shifted constantly as Atrox's influence warred with his own determined will. "NO!" he burst out suddenly, his expression clearing. "No. I would die rather than become a traitor like you, no matter how far I've fallen from the ideals of the Alliance. Your promises are worth nothing."
Atrox chuckled. "Perhaps... another form of persuasion will persuade you to see differently. I'm surprised that you would not claim to join us... even to try to get insider information... you truly are a fool... or smart knowing that I would know instantly." Atrox said coldly, using the Force to shove him into his force cage and activating it. He turned and left the room, heading down to the bridge.
Mara shot a glance inside, then followed him, silently. I can't believe he actually thought he would be able to get away with that, she remarked.
Atrox chuckled. He was a fool. A broken fool.
She nodded in agreement. I suppose you weren't able to get anything useful out of him?
Atrox exhaled deeply. Aside from threats, no. He will be more cooperative when he sees his comrades' suffering, or even in the brig, waiting to see the Emperor.
They reached the bridge, where Piett reported that they were making excellent time to Nar Shaddaa. Satisfied, Atrox returned to the brig with Mara, ready to put the next stage of his plan into action.
Atrox began to draw extreme amounts of the Force into himself, projecting a different appearance of himself into the Rebel's head as he entered, changing it to appear as if he were an Imperial Captain with completely different facial structure and skin tone than his own.
Mara refrained from smirking as she saw the look on the Rebel's face. His look was one of shock mixed with disbelief. "N-no… Father, no, you're dead," he muttered, hoarsely.
"No. That is only what your mother told you because she did not approve my fighting for the Empire. I saved you both, and how am I repaid? You fighting in the Alliance. You are lucky Lord Atrox recognized you as my son, if not, you would be dead. Not to mention that foolish stunt you attempted. Did you honestly think you could take a powerful Force user's weapon?" The Imperial Captain shot back.
The Rebel glared back at him, confusion and anger in his eyes. "My wife and little girl died on Alderaan. You think I could ever live peacefully under the Empire after that? They were murdered!"
"And the man who was in here earlier, destroyed the weapon which caused that disaster, not to mention the new Emperor does not believe in those kinds of weapons. You are being given a chance to live, my son. Do not pass that up; it is Lord Atrox himself who is giving me a chance to spare you from death. Do not... please, my son, do not give up a chance to live."The Imperial Captain replied.
"What do I have to live for?" he asked bitterly. "Everyone I loved burned with Alderaan. Destroying that weapon won't bring them back, nothing will. All I have left is to destroy the power that would condone the killing of civilians to prove a point. Your Emperor allowed it to happen, he was there. I don't want to hear about his beliefs. He's not above using them if it suits his purposes."
"That Emperor and his government were destroyed. Do you see Atrox and Vader attacking innocent worlds? BLOWING THEM TO PIECES!" He paused, recomposing himself. "Besides, if you get on Lord Atrox's good side, he can bring back your loved ones, I miss my wife as well, my son, I intend to ask him to bring her back to us."
The Rebel laughed, harshly. "It was your Vader I was talking about. I heard Princess Leia's report on it, all of us survivors did. He did nothing to stop Alderaan from being blown to pieces! Don't talk to me about your Vader or your 'new government'. They haven't changed anything, nor will they."
"Your princess... is living with her father now... Darth Vader, so is his son."
The Rebel paled just noticeably, but continued doggedly. "I'll believe that when I hear it from the Princess herself."
The Captain gave Mara a nod, and asked, "My lady, could you contact Princess Leia Skywalker for me?"
She raised an eyebrow, but said smoothly, "Of course, Captain." She walked over to the nearby terminal, and patched in a call to Imperial Center. After a few redirects, Leia's tired face appeared on the screen. "What is it?"
The Captain bowed, "Can you confirm your parentage for us, milady?"
Leia frowned, confused. She could see Atrox and Mara had some sort of a prisoner, and she quickly deduced that it must be a Rebel they were breaking. "I was born to Senator Padmé Amidala Skywalker and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. I was adopted and raised by Viceroy Bail Organa."
Atrox narrowed his eyes at her. "What of your father now, what happened to Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker?"
Leia bowed her head. "He was consumed by the dark side of the Force, and lives under the identity of Darth Vader."
"Thank you, milady. You have been most helpful in this manner." Atrox replied, bowing as he turned back to the rebel before him.
She gave him another suspicious look, before signing off. The Rebel stared at his father, dispassionately. "Do you think this changes anything? I won't join your Empire, not after what they've done to my family. And to hers, by the looks of it," he added, absently.
"Very well... if it takes your mother to show you... then that is what I will do." Atrox growled, turning on his heel and leaving the room.
"My mother would never have supported your band of murderers!" he shouted after him, angrily.
Mara remained in the room, looking over him coldly. "You talk up the loss of your family so much, yet given the chance to be reunited with your father, you cast your Alliance in his face."
He merely glared at her, sullenly, without replying.
She pressed further. "What would you do if the Alliance told you to kill your father because he was an Imperial? Would you do it? Would their ideals be more important than your family? Or would you put your family first? Your father feels badly about what he has done... he is offering you a chance to forgive him and start a new family... are you going to put your Alliance first?"
"The Alliance doesn't believe in killing people just because of their faction!" the Rebel snapped. "If my father was truly sorry for his actions, he would say so, and not try to force me into serving the Empire. As for a new family… when the galaxy is safe for me to raise a family in, only then would I even think about it. To do otherwise would be dishonoring my little girl's memory." His voice shook slightly with suppressed emotion.
She took a step towards him. "If you truly wish it... you could see her again... all you have to do is ask Lord Atrox…"
He glared at her. "You can take your Sithspawn lies! I don't even have my daughter's body. Even that was denied me. You should kill me now, rather than waste your time further trying to lure me to your cause."
Mara gave him one last look, then left the room. Atrox had already returned to his quarters, so she went there to make her report. "Master, he refuses even to listen to anything I say." She hesitated. "His hate blinds him to the truth. Perhaps… if given time, he will cool off enough to consider the options he's been given."
Atrox turned to look his apprentice in the eyes. "Very well. Ensure that our arrival is not delayed, apprentice. I will be meditating, and prefer not to be disturbed," he said with a cold calmness.
"Yes, master." She bowed once, and left him alone as he desired.
Atrox knelt down and began his meditation, meditating on recent events, and the upcoming meeting with the Rebel informant.
Mara went to the bridge to check on the status of the jump, and to give orders that Atrox was to be disturbed under no circumstances. After a few words with Admiral Piett, she wandered over to where Solo was working near the viewport, staring out into the swirl of hyperspace.
Han studied her out of the corner of his eye. She was an imposing woman, when she chose to be. At other times, like now, with her face in shadow, she seemed to simply be a beautiful girl, though not his type, he decided. Dark-haired women were more interesting to him.
It was almost as if she picked up on his train of thought, for she turned on him with a frosty look in her eye. "Are we on course, Admiral?" she asked, coldly.
He double-checked the readings, just to be sure. "Yes, milady. We're right on schedule."
She nodded, curtly, and moved on to another part of the bridge.
Vader had seldom remembered feeling so peaceful during his meditations in a long time. His wife sat close beside him, reading something, and her presence was as soothing as it had ever been. He gradually slipped deeper into his meditation as his calmness grew, almost to the point of actual sleep. As he succumbed to the Force, images began to flash across his vision.
His son glared at him, his apparent dispassion swiftly building to a towering rage fueled by the deadness of grief inside him. Vader knew well the feeling. It was like he himself had felt when he believed his precious angel and the baby were gone. Like, and yet, unlike. Vader had been responsible for the loss of his happiness, but the bond Atrox had shared with Mara had been more powerful than almost any other Vader had ever seen. Somehow, impossibly, he found himself beaten steadily back; Atrox was an unstoppable force, he fought like he cared nothing whether he lived or died. Perhaps that was true; but Vader found himself faced with the most perplexing dilemma he'd yet faced: to kill his son, whom he had grown to love, or to face death himself. He caught a glimpse of Padmé's still form on the ground where Atrox had thrown her, and knew with certainty that he could not go through this again, the death of his wife and child. Meeting his son's eyes once more, he found there merely empty pits of despair; not even a glimmer of life remained. The man who was his son was already dead; in his place stood a stranger, given over completely to darkness. With a hiss, Vader shut off his blade, and the last thing he saw before darkness took him were the dead eyes of the new Dark Lord of the Sith, who now held the galaxy at the mercy of his whim.
Vader awakened with a start, a cold sweat broken out on his brow, and Padmé shaking him, her pleading voice ringing in his ears.
"Anakin! Ani, wake up!" He looked up at her, her worried eyes meeting his haunted ones. "What was it?"
"Another dream." His voice was hoarse with emotion, and he was too shaken to elaborate. He held her to him, tightly, and she wrapped her arms around him, ready to wait as long as it took for him to tell her.
Finally, he said in a low voice, "Our son. If… if my dreams come to pass, he will kill all of us and go on to take up the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith." He buried his face in her hair, and whispered, "His eyes, Padmé! He wasn't our son anymore. It killed him."
"What are you going to do?" she asked in a small voice.
He shook his head. "I don't know."
Leia glanced into the room, cautiously. "Father? Is something wrong? I sensed…"
"I'll discuss it with you shortly, Leia. Until then…"
"Yes, of course, Father," she broke in, understandingly. She backed out of the room, wondering what had happened.
"Leia always seems so attuned to your feelings," Padmé observed, quietly.
Vader gave her a small smile. "She has your empathy."
"And you gave her the Force," she added, running a hand through his hair. "We'll get through this. You and Leia will find a way."
"Perhaps." He paused. "Atrox would be just as attuned, if Leia and I were not concealing our feelings from him. It… is possible that that could be contributing to these… dreams. He will not be pleased."
Padmé met his eyes, searchingly. "Do you want to tell him?"
"It would serve no purpose now. When he comes back from his mission… perhaps."
"That might be better," she admitted. She nestled her head on his shoulder, sensing his fear and trying to comfort him in ways words could not. "Don't let what happened in the past influence you, Ani. Things are different now."
Vader gently patted his wife's arm and sighed. "I am going to go see Leia in her quarters. I will return shortly, my love." He said softly.
Leia sat alone in her room. She could tell something terrible had happened to her father, another vision or something of the kind. She sighed, part of her wishing things could go back to being simpler, when there was just the Rebellion and the Empire. Just her, Luke, Han and the others… Han. She sighed. She hadn't seen him in so long. Where was he? Was he a prisoner?
She looked up as Vader entered the room. "Father. What's going on?"
Vader walked into his daughter's quarters and sat down on her bed. "I had another vision." He said softly, looking at the floor.
She hesitated a moment, then reached out and touched his arm, trying to provide some sort of support for the pain that she could feel in him. "What was it?" she asked gravely.
Vader reached out to touch her mind, sharing his memory of it with her. For a long while, she was silent. At last, she murmured, "He looked so… lost."
After a moment, Vader finally spoke again. "He truly was lost. Consumed by darkness and grief, no longer did he care about his family; he wanted to get rid of the pain."
She studied her father, thoughtfully. Deciding not to pursue the subject now, she instead asked, "Do you have any more thoughts on the assassin?"
Vader turned his head, looking away. "Would you like to spar with me, Leia?" he asked, trying to avoid the subject.
She hesitated, uncertainly. Could she trust her father not to try to turn her to the dark side again? She could sense his reluctance to discuss the topic further, so she agreed. "I could certainly use the practice, father."
Relieved, Vader led her to a training room nearby. He drew his lightsaber, allowing its crimson blade to spring to life. She drew her own saber, its blue contrasting sharply with his. She waited, warily, for him to make the first move, her senses alert for any shift in the Force. Suddenly, he lunged, his blade arcing towards her dangerously. She deflected it, but was unprepared for his change of direction, twisting the blade around to slice at her neck. She threw herself to the side, just managing to avoid it, and snaked her blade out towards his feet, trying to trip him. He flipped over her, easily, but when he had regained his battle stance she was on her feet again. "Your stance is weak," he noticed. "Here."
She imitated his steps, carefully, and immediately noticed a difference. She surprised him with a sudden stab towards his arm, and he deflected it, taking an involuntary step backwards. "Better," he said, approvingly. She smiled, but couldn't respond further, as he began pressing her again, blows falling on all sides. She didn't have time to attack, simply blocking his strikes. Up, left, right, up, down, back… The brief time she had spent under Yoda's tutelage had paid off, her footwork quick enough to keep up as they continued. She slowly slipped into a pattern of action and reaction, simply defending and giving ground. Suddenly she gasped as she hit the ground, the breath knocked out of her. She stared up at her father, confused, and he smirked. "Don't let your senses be dulled to possibilities," he cautioned. "There is always the chance that your opponent will use the Force against you, and if you're in a life-or-death battle, then I guarantee that he will."
She nodded, chagrined. "Sorry. I won't forget again."
He nodded, simply, and they continued. Shortly thereafter, Padmé was drawn by the sound of sabers clashing, and peeked through the door of the training room. After a brief flash of alarm, she smiled at the sight of her husband and daughter doing something together. In the time Atrox had been gone, they had already grown closer, despite the differences that still lay between them. She rested her head against the doorway, watching as they continued the deadly dance that was lightsaber combat.
Leia warded off his strikes, but was more cautious this time, not wanting to be caught off guard again. After a few minutes, Vader told her, "Try to use the Force against me while we fight. Don't warn me, just do it."
She frowned as she tried to gradually ease enough of her concentration away from stopping his attacks to summon the Force. He suddenly caught her blade in a saber lock, and almost instinctively, she shoved forwards with the Force, managing to knock him back a few steps.
"Good!" he smiled, and she reluctantly smiled back. He suddenly spotted Padmé over Leia's shoulder, and their eyes met.
She waved him back, a twinkle in her eye. "Keep going, don't mind me."
He nodded, and had his attention promptly returned to Leia, who took advantage of his distraction to use the Force to pull his lightsaber from his hands. He regained hold of it, however, and grinned. "Nice try." Their blades met with a crackle and sprang away again.
Leia was becoming more comfortable with her blade, getting used to the way it felt and moved. Her movements were growing quicker and more confident, and her blows surer. She was able to get an occasional attack in, instead of just defending. Vader pushed her back with the Force, though he wasn't able to knock her down this time. She came forward again, determined to show her father she wasn't going to give up, even if she wasn't as skilled as her brother.
Vader easily deflected her stab, and was mildly surprised when she used the Force in an attempt to knock him off balance. "Good try," he said approvingly, even as he twisted his blade around to slash her shoulder. She blocked it, and was forced to give ground as he pressed her harder. Suddenly she found herself backed into a wall, and met his gaze, determinedly. He could see that she was beginning to tire, and shut off his lightsaber. "You have improved a great deal," he told her. "But not yet sufficiently for what lies ahead."
She sighed. "I know. I'm doing the best I can."
He nodded. "At is a start."
She gave him a small smile, then left him to go meditate. She felt like she needed to clear her head, and allow what she had learned to sink in. As she opened herself up to the Force, she faintly sensed her brother through the bond they shared. He radiated the darkness that pervaded him, and his determination filled her with a sense of foreboding. She suspected that his mission involved the Alliance; since his fall, he had made it his personal task to eliminate the Rebellion. But there was nothing she could do for them now; the Force seemed to indicate that her place was with her family.
