The Truth

Chapter 59 - The Day Before

Sure, he can be amusing sometimes, but our Sithly Luke just keeps sliding. Thanks for the bond, Dad.

OooOoo

Much as he didn't want to speak to his father, he really did. Plus, he had to. He'd already kept Vader waiting for days, aware of the presence that poked at his shields a few times but respected his distance.

The squad was at dinner while he worked on a night shift X-wing. Some days his shifts were longer because Kodra would devote extended time to him, a few more lessons in hand-to-hand that were practiced in unnerving near-silence except for his grunts and gasps when he landed so hard that the breath was knocked out of him. No Force, just you. Luke longed to ask if the Zabrak could help him with lightsaber techniques because he could feel a moderate level of Force strength in the other and also because the staffs they used in class were nothing like using a lightsaber. But Kodra gave him no indication that questions would be welcome. Quite the opposite, in fact, so Luke bided his time.

Maybe he should eat before he spoke to Vader. Food might help to take the edge off his nerves, plus it would give him a little more time to figure out how to frame his confessions. He had a feeling that the Palpatine-is-Sidious thing would go over better than the was-my-mother-a-traitor question. The more he thought about it, the more he wondered if the second question was a really bad idea. Maybe this was a time for… circumspection.

No one was in sight, so he jumped from the cockpit to the floor, landing lightly and soundlessly, still marveling at the small miracles he could achieve.

His wrist com made a tiny noise, the reminder he'd programmed to tell him not to miss a meal time. Command finally trusted him with both his new blaster and a wrist communicator, at least while he searched for the Imperial agent. He was pretty sure they wouldn't demand either back, especially if he succeeded in his mission.

Another alarm went off, this one in his head. Something wasn't right. Cautiously, he prowled the hangar, focusing on the dark flare of danger. It was so quiet now. He'd tell Command that they needed more security during shift changes when Day was at dinner and Night was having breakfast. He was willing to bet that his father tolerated no such lapses anywhere in the Imperial fleet.

He heard a small clank of metal and slipped around a snub, coming up behind a dark-haired man dressed in mechanics overalls who stood next to an X.

"Hello," Luke said pleasantly. "You look lost. Can I help you?"

The man had whirled at his first word, and Luke felt his heart speed, heard his rapid pulse, saw his brown eyes dilate. "No…thanks. I… I'm looking for my brother. He usually works around here."

Around Wedge's X-wing? I don't think so— not since I'm back. But he kept smiling. "You must be Tadeo's brother. I'm Oz." He held out his hand.

After a barely noticeable hesitation, the other took it and they shook. "Yeah. I'm Staden. I heard about you from Tadeo. Thanks for coming back so he could work with me again."

It was surprisingly easy to maintain the smile on his face, but inside he was processing the information he'd gleaned from the simple meeting of their hands. Interesting, this was the first time he'd experienced the additional insight he could gain with a physical touch. "I think Tadeo is visiting Red barracks now. I'm on my way— come with me." He added a mild Force push with the suggestion, and it worked beautifully.

"Sure." There was still a hint of unease that Luke soothed delicately as they walked.

"Where are you and Tadeo from? I haven't had much chance to talk to him."

Staden talked— too much, nervously— but Luke allowed it to reach him only peripherally. All he cared about was getting the older man out of the hangar before he did any further damage. It was a pity that Staden loved his little brother, because neither of them would come out of this unscathed. But Staden should have thought of Tadeo before he took this assignment and dragged the kid with him.

He sensed that Boss was in Red— which was good because Luke needed him as a witness to whatever was about to happen. And he was very sure what he was going to do. This man couldn't be allowed back to the Empire with information he might have learned, and the Alliance couldn't keep him in the brig forever. There was only one alternative and there was no reason to leave his execution to Command. They would only hesitate and worry about the moral implications when actually it was quite straightforward.

Luke opened the door and ushered Staden in first, whispering against his ear. "Are you looking for something more? Another likely site for sabotage?" he asked, thereby sealing the man's fate.

There came a blank look of incomprehension, then dark eyes widened—

—and he turned back to the door.

It wouldn't open, no matter how he tugged and pulled.

"You're not leaving." Luke folded his arms and waited, not disarming the spy whose fingers were twitching at his sides.

Across the room, Boss stood. "What's going on?" he asked sharply.

Luke sighed. "He's the Imperial agent." He couldn't allow Staden to leave, but he couldn't kill him in front of Boss.

At least…. not directly.

"Are you certain?"

He nodded. "Yes," he said sadly. It was possible that the other man's presence meant that Palpatine suspected Luke was there… or maybe Staden was just meant to attack an Alliance base. Either way, his father would not be happy that his son was at risk. Abruptly he shattered the wall he'd built and shared that information. He felt Vader's responding anger. "He's attached a bomb that will blow out a stabilizer on Wedge's X. I sensed him before he could do damage to other ships."

Boss inhaled sharply but didn't question his assessment. "I'm detaining you subject to investigation." Boss took a step toward Staden, stopping when the man's blaster was raised.

Not quite regretfully, Luke implanted his suggestion. It's so pure, so ultimately fundamental… people are so easy to manipulate.

"I wonder if his brother is involved," he questioned sweetly. "We should detain Tadeo, too."

"No!" the spy shouted. "No!" But his shaking hand raised and the blaster muzzle pointed at his own temple. "NO!" he cried out once more, fighting against his own movement, before he pulled the trigger.

Boss flinched back in horror. Luke frowned. This was a worse mess than the snake. I don't like doing this, he sent. It's disgusting. He checked his jumpsuit for splatter, but fortunately it only had grease spots.

It was unavoidable. I will investigate further from here to ascertain what he discovered. You must search through his belongings, learn if he had communicated any suspicions.

I will.

Reluctantly, he moved to the back of the room, not reacting as Security swept in answering Boss's urgent com, their blasters drawn. He stood there silently for minutes as their rec area filled with Command officers and Red pilots pushed inside, heedless of Security trying to keep them back.

"What happened here?" General Dodonna demanded of Garven.

"He… shot himself after Oz identified him as the Imperial agent," Boss said, his voice steady but with shock underlying under his calm facade.

Dodonna and Willard looked at him while Narra remained crouched by the body along with Chief Nikran. "Did you recognize him? Do you know him?" Dodonna asked, eyes narrowed.

"No. Why would I know him? I'm not an Imperial." Luke shook his head. "He's the mech's brother. Tadeo's. I felt a disturbance in the Force— an Imperial presence— when I saw him in the hangar at Antilles's X-wing. I had to get him out of there without rousing his suspicion. I told him Tadeo was in the barracks, so here we are.…" He gestured at the bloody scene.

The pilots all nodded and a few mumbled agreements even though they hadn't been present. "Yes," Boss confirmed. "When I attempted to take him into custody, he drew his blaster and killed himself."

Commander Willard looked up at Luke. "You're back a few weeks and we already have a casualty."

Not fair. And at least I didn't blow him up. "Would you rather I didn't tell you about an Imperial mole?"

"No." Willard stood and shook his head. "No, I wouldn't. Thank you."

The medical team pushed through the crowd outside their door and began to load the body onto a gurney. A cleaning crew stood by waiting wordlessly.

"Sorry," Luke said to Boss. "I guess I could have handled that better."

"How?" The older man studied him. "It wasn't your fault," he said with the faintest hint of a question in his voice.

"I know." It was only a mild strain to nod an agreement. After all, it hadn't been his fault, it had been his intention.

Good work, Son.

He didn't respond, but basked in his father's praise.

"Get with Green Leader and go through his belongings," Dodonna ordered Chief Nikran.

"If I may view them first," Luke said quietly. "I'd like to get whatever impressions I can before too many people touch them in case he was more than a saboteur."

Dodonna and Willard exchanged looks. "Very well," Willard said. "What about the X-wing? Can you mitigate the damage he caused?"

I could, but that doesn't sound like a job for a… Sithly Force user. "You should get the bomb squad on it." He closed his eyes in obvious concentration, though he didn't need to. It was simply part of the show. "That was the only ship he got to before I stopped him. I'll check his belongings for more bomb-making materials, but he may have them hidden somewhere in the hangar."

He would make them ask for it.

Dodonna hesitated, then: "Could you… sense if there are any materials in the hangar?"

"Of course." Luke dipped his head in a show of false respect. "Seal off Green barracks so no one contaminates the scene, and I'll go to the hangar first."

He waited.

"Thank you," General Dodonna said with open reluctance, and Willard nodded at him.

As they began to follow the body out, Luke added, "His brother Tadeo had no knowledge of what was intended."

Willard's mouth thinned. "How do you know?"

"I can feel it."

Dodonna flashed him an odd look. "You won't mind if we look into him ourselves?"

"Why would I mind?" He shrugged as they left.

Boss was at his shoulder. "So Tadeo isn't in on the plot?"

Luke shook his head.

"Then why," Garven said slowly, "did you suggest to the spy that his brother was involved?"

"I didn't, I just asked him so I could receive a sense of the truth." He tilted his head to look at Boss and blinked innocently. "As I said, I could have handled it better."

The cleaning crew came in and began their distasteful job of cleaning blood and bits of brain matter and skin from the area.

"Sithspawn," Wedge muttered, and Luke turned to see if the pilot was addressing him. But no, he was staring at the mess. He looked over and met Luke's gaze. "Thanks for not letting me get blown to bits, Oz."

He smiled brightly, happy they appreciated him for more than his mechanical skills. "Thanks. I'm not just a pretty face."

"And yet you are!" Janson poked him in the ribs. "But the generals sure don't like dealing with a Jedi."

"I'm not a Jedi!"

"We know you're not," Zev said in his usual quiet voice. "We just don't know what else to call you when you're…."

"When I'm what?" The hesitance was interesting.

"You're a little scary sometimes," Porkins said flatly. "You know… when you… zone out."

"Oh." That's all? "It's called thinking, you should try it sometime." He grinned to take any unintended sting out of his words. "See you later."

They mumbled farewells, but when he glanced back he saw that Boss was standing with his arms folded, watching him.

OooOoo

He found explosive material hidden in the hangar but nothing in Green barracks to indicate the agent had reported to Palpatine.

Probably waiting for his contact, his father commented, who may or may not be there already. Have you sensed any other anomalies?

Anomalies? I don't think so…. But do you have time to get together? I want to talk to you about a few things. In person, not like this and not in our heads.

No. His father sounded annoyed. I told you I'm readying for Empire Day tomorrow. I do not have time for your endless questions.

Oh. His father did nothing to take the 'unintended sting' out of his words. Maybe they weren't unintended. Sorry, I just— Are you still thinking like me? Maybe that was the reason for his dad's curtness, he was suffering from Luke-Speak.

No. I eliminated those absurd, useless thoughts. Tomorrow you must block your emotions. Do not use the Force. The Emperor will be expecting some reaction from you, but do not react no matter what happens.

What do you mean, no matter what happens? he yelped. Is he going to hurt you?

Not in front of the galaxy. This is his day and he enjoys it. But he will want another sort of satisfaction for his day. If he can find you— Luke, I will say this as politely as I can: shut up, leave me alone, and raise every shield you have.

That's Oz-Speak! "Well, happy anniversary on the worst day of your life, never mind about my birthday," he muttered, not realizing he'd accidentally sent that thought until his father's door slammed closed. Sorry, but his apology went nowhere.

Great. He hoped he hadn't distracted his dad by his… endless questions. He supposed he should quit asking and find his answers elsewhere. But where would that be?

Palpatine, his treacherous brain whispered and he built another wall around that idea.

Then he eliminated his absurd, useless thought.

OooOoo

"So what do you do here for Empire Day?" Luke asked that night as he turned off a tape that described the excruciatingly boring early days before the Sith were Sith. So far, he didn't like them any better than Jedi. "Do we get a day off? Or some sort of party? On Tatooine we had races."

The abrupt silence was so startling that he looked at each of them in turn. The sabaac players put down their cards, Janson stopped twirling the blue feathered hat he held in hands, and Porkins chuckled.

"Oz," Zev drawled, "seriously… try to remember which side you're on. We don't celebrate Empire Day."

"Oh." He blushed. "But I overheard someone say there was a celebration."

"A private celebration for Princess Leia's birthday," Boss said as he sprawled sideways in a chair. "And before you ask, no, you're not invited."

"I didn't think I would be!" Well, that was weird that he and Leia had the same birthday. But probably millions of beings shared that day. Maybe billions. "How old is she?"

"Seventeen," Janson said when no one else spoke. "I follow the gossip channel. They say she had an affair with a Senate page last year."

"Huh." Same age as him too. And she felt Force emanations like his dad had noticed. It was disconcerting. And creepy. How did she get to be a princess and a senator, anyway? She was just a girl. "Alderaan has a king and queen, right?"

"Only a queen." Janson plopped the hat on his head. "But Leia is adopted. They got her when she was a newborn."

"How do you know that?" Hobbie asked grumpily. "You're making it up!"

"No I'm not! You're just jealous because I know everything!"

Luke tuned them out as their banter continued. He really didn't like where his thoughts were heading. Same age, orphans, and as babies she was adopted by royalty while he was just… dumped on a Sithforesaken, uncivilized planet with strangers. And they both felt the Force, though obviously she wasn't as strong in it as he was. And she was short too.

Well. It was another of his absurd, useless thoughts, there were billions of people with the same birthdate who… could touch the Force. At least hundreds, right? It didn't mean anything. Still, he shoved that thought to another spot in the hidden recesses of his mind and put up another wall. Because he definitely didn't want his father to feel it and get curious. It was just the two of them now and forever. Neither of them needed another complication.

He raised another wall in case one wasn't enough. It felt like his mind was getting full of walls and he wondered how much space was left.

"Oz?"

He blinked and saw Zev's mouth quirk in a half-smile. "Zoning out again," he warned. "Boss is talking to you."

"Sorry." He sent Red Leader a questioning look.

"I said, Command will be viewing the broadcast of the Emperor's speech in the morning and they've invited you."

"I wanna go too!" Janson exclaimed. "I want to see the Big Man in Black!"

"No," Boss said flatly. "Oz?"

"Of course. Thanks." He would be happy to see his dad, but after their little talk his feelings were mixed. His father had sounded annoyed with him. Or had he sounded afraid for him? What if Palpatine did something horrible to Vader while he was watching? What if his dad was hurt? What if he did something to attract Sidious's attention? What if he was hurt? He would have to be so cautious. Although evidently his shielding was pretty good, even from himself, because he'd almost forgotten that he'd murdered a man today. Huh.

Come to think of it, since he'd been with Yoda he no longer heard those billions of people who'd cried after the Death Star. His shields must be exceptionally excellent. He just had to be certain of their strength tomorrow when Palpatine was searching.

He would make his father proud. That thought should have made him happier than it did.

"I'll be really careful," he promised himself.

"What?" Zev asked.

"Maybe he means he'll be polite," Wedge suggested.

"Definitely." Luke grinned. "In fact, I'll be abjectly servile."

To the sound of their mild laughter, he turned on his tape again and resigned himself to boredom for another hour.

OooOoo