AN: My apologies for taking so long with this next Chapter. Many thanks to Kazlynh for beta reading and for making me realise it wasn't as badly written as I thought. I have struggling with writer's block and have been worried that "Rhovan" wasn't going in the direction that I wanted. I was also concerned that the chapter was boring as it is a scene setter for the future.

The character of "Yizzi," who makes a cameo appearance, does not belong to me, and is used as a nod to Louise T, who is Yizzi's fabulous creator.

All previous disclaimers apply.

Dark Times: Chapter Three

Rhovan

Part One

Major Erwin Rhovan dropped his bag and slumped against the bulk head of the battered Alliance freighter and passed a weary hand over his face. He heaved in a steadying breath amazed that he had survived the flight to the landing zone through the Imperial barrage. Amazed to have got on board the ship, but even more amazed that the damaged ship had managed not only to get into the air and out of the atmosphere but past the waiting Imperial Capital ship and TIE fighters and into hyperspace.

It was as though Imperial attention had been directed elsewhere.

Skywalker...

What was it about the boy that kept his thoughts coming back to him? What had happened in that cell on Escaal? Why had the Dark Lord of the Sith's presence given Luke renewed strength when he had been at breaking point? And he had been, there was no doubt that the pilot had been cracking; injured, beaten, drugged, electrocuted, deprived of sleep, food and given little water the boy's resolve had been failing. Then there was Vader's arrival and the boy had somehow managed to turn it around, fought harder against them all.

His father.

Something about his father.

It kept coming back to that. It all kept coming back to Anakin Skywalker. The Jedi Knight from the Clone Wars who was touted as being the Rebel pilot's father.

"I won't betray the Alliance as you betrayed my father." Skywalker's declaration to Vader as he hung in chains, his speech slurred by drugs and a swollen mouth.

"It was not I who betrayed your father." The Dark Lord's retort.

Something had passed between the two. Something unsaid, but understood only by them, for it had been at that moment that Skywalker had spat at the Dark Lord and Vader had viciously retaliated, almost knocking the boy senseless before agreeing with Rhovan to continue his interrogation.

It was intriguing and yet frustrating.

As intriguing and frustrating as the mystery surrounding why was his own Alliance debriefing halted, and by whom? Rieekan's surprise and anger had been palpable as the two Intelligence officers invaded the room and demanded an end to the interrogation.

Irritated by the lack of answers to his questions, he rubbed grit from his eyes and looked around, bringing his thoughts to the here and now. The passenger lounge and corridors beyond, were packed with personnel, many of whom were injured. The air in the ship was thick with the smell of sweat and cordite, of rain soaked fabrics and blood. But, despite the hundreds packed aboard, it was surprisingly quiet. There were occasional cries of pain, muted assurances of safety and of aid arriving soon but there were few conversations. Most beings on board were just thankful to have survived and sorrowful to have lost friends.

"Sir," a voice whispered in his ear. "I think we should move from here."

Rhovan glanced into the face of his surviving minder, noticing for the first time how young the man actually was. The Intelligence officer's eyes flicked nervously to the side and Rhovan followed the direction, seeing a group of fighter technicians looking angrily in his direction. His heart sank. He was still wearing his Imperial uniform adorned with the insignia of an interrogator.

"I think you might be right," he agreed, now was not the time for an ugly scene. He threw his bag over his shoulder and gripped his blaster pistol tighter.

"We'll find the Captain and secure some safer accommodation," the man suggested a little nervously.

Keeping his eyes on the soldiers, Rhovan lifted the back pack he had carried from Escaal and pushed himself away from the wall. "Lead the way."

They had only taken a few steps before their way was blocked by a cordon of damp, dirty and bloodied rebels, heavy blasters cradled in their arms. "Didn't know we'd taken a prisoner," one of them drawled drawing his eyes up and down Rhovan.

The intel officer stepped between them, held up a placating hand. "Step aside and..."

"...and what?" The man squared up to the young officer. Anger, loss and frustration fuelling him. "Just because you're a spook doesn't scare me, kid."

There was silence in the lounge, all attention on them. The only noise the continued moans and cries of the injured.

Rhovan stepped forward, gently moving his escort to the side and faced the angry rebel. "Do you want a piece of me, mechanic?" he asked quietly.

The man laughed, looked to his companions, amazed by the reaction he had achieved. "I can take you," he affirmed, bolstered by his audience. "You only pick on people when they're unable to fight back, you..."

"And you are making the same assumptions as the Empire," Rhovan told him, voice still low and calm. "You are attacking something that you don't understand, not taking the time to figure out the truth of the matter before acting." He paused, sizing up his opponent. "This is a fight that you don't want, my friend."

"I ain't your friend," the man lunged with fist high.

Rhovan caught the hand, twisted it around and rammed the mechanics arm up his back. He pushed the man away from him and let him go. The mechanic stumbled, turned around and charged again, this time enraged.

"Greland!"

The shout from the doorway halted the man. He skidded, turned around but he lost none of the anger. "This is the bastard that got Luke!"

Rhovan watched the Chief technician make her way toward them. Her eyes scrutinised him as she approached. "Then we owe the Imp for bringing him back to us." She told the angry mechanic.

"But Wedge said..."

"I know what Wedge said," She cut him off sharply, glancing in his direction. "I know what happened to Luke, Greland. But I also know he's alive and back with us because of the Major here. Now get the hell outta here. Report to the Captain! There's repairs needing done to this bucket!"

The group of mechanics moved away toward the doorway, Greland drawing Rhovan a final look of disgust.

"Thank you, Chief," Rhovan was grateful for her intervention.

She held Rhovan's gaze as she pushed an unruly lock of dirty, greasy hair behind her ear. There was a deep burn on the back of her hand that must be hurting like hell, she smelled of oil and smoke. "I just need my men in one piece," she told him sourly, before turning on her heel and following the mechanics. But she faltered, turned to look at him, and added. "I meant what I said. We owe you for bringing Luke back." She gestured to the room and the people in it. "I don't think you'll have any more trouble."

Rhovan merely nodded in acceptance and watched her leave the room his thoughts once more back with Luke Skywalker.

ooOOoo

The stars beyond the cockpit window streaked into infinity as the X-Wing accelerated to lightspeed. Behind him Artoo Detoo twittered his relief and Luke closed his eyes drawing in a calming breath, his own relief muted and tired after the events of the last few hours and yet another close escape.

If the sergeant and the trooper hadn't come back for him, if Han hadn't suddenly appeared with guns blazing he would now be Imperial hands once more. He would be in Vader's custody.

All those troops. All that hardware. For me...

It was a terrifying thought.

The people on Escaal, all the personnel on Rai'mar who had been unable to escape, dead. The sergeant, Thecla, wounded by Vader's saber.

Because of him.

What made him so special? That he had destroyed the Death Star and an example needed to made of him? That he was Skywalker's son and Vader had to destroy him, too?

Perhaps both.

Eyes still closed he took another deep breath, feeling the adrenalin that had kept him moving on the planet seep from his muscles, feeling his heart slow as he calmed.

"We will talk at length, young one."

Vader's threat haunted him and he couldn't shake the image of the Dark Lord standing among his army holding out his arm toward him; the X-Wing rocking, straining to take off, but held down as though by a tractor beam; the canopy opening against its will threatening to expose him to the troopers running his way. For a few, terrifying seconds he had thought the Dark Lord had him.

So much power.

Could the Force really gift someone such abilities? It seemed impossible, but he had heard the stories of the Jedi Knights from fellow rebels who had lived through the Clone Wars; had heard a few stories about his own father's exploits and those of Ob-Wan Kenobi.

"You must learn the ways of the Force..."

Old Ben's assertion seemed so far away now, so long ago, and he had learned little of the Force since that first journey on the Falcon. The Force was almost as unknown to him now as it had been when he was nothing more than a farm-hand on his uncle's land. He could sense things, feel things, that others explained away as instinct and gut feelings. He could, if he concentrated really hard, lift a small object a few centimetres off the ground mostly for the amusement of his squadron and he had the nagging suspicion, strengthened by seeing Vader wield his power, that party-tricks weren't how the gift was supposed to be used.

"Vader was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force."

Dark Side…

The term implied evil.

How could a power, an energy field, as Ben described it, have sides?

And how many times in the past had he pondered these same questions and wondered if he would ever learn more to fulfil his desire to be a Jedi Knight like his father? How could he ever become a Jedi Knight when he didn't even know what it meant to be a Jedi Knight.

"We will talk at length, young one."

"Dammit!"

He opened his eyes, angry at himself for allowing his thoughts to wander and linger on the lack of answers. He squinted, blinked and tentatively touched his cheek below his right eye, suddenly realising that his eye was swollen and sore, his nose tender.

"Shit…" He recalled Haslam's fist colliding with his face, remembered the kicks he'd received from the angry soldier when he'd fallen to the ground and, now that he was calming from the fight and flight, the pain was growing from uncomfortable stiffness to unbearable levels. He shifted in the cramped cockpit, reaching for the med-pack in the pocket of his flight suit and the ampoules of analgesic stored there. His still-healing back injury grated with the movement and he gritted his teeth as he ripped open the package with tingling fingers and stabbed his leg with the needle. His rib cage ached, his feet felt numb. "Shit!"

Behind him Artoo burbled a question and Luke glanced at the translation. The little droid was asking what was wrong, and if there was anything he could do to help.

Luke smiled at the concern, feeling the exhaustion drag him down, feeling the strong drug kicking into his system. "I just need some shut eye, Artoo. Wake me when we reach Rai'mar."

The droid tooted his ascent and took over the controls. Luke closed his eyes again, trying to focus beyond the fading pain, and allowed restless sleep to claim him.

ooOOoo

The landing zone on Adralii appeared chaotic but it was clearly very carefully organised. The evacuation ships were all in low orbit, waiting their call to land. The captain had broadcast the procedures, warning that due to the overcrowding of the base many personnel would be assigned temporary accommodation until more permanent postings could be organised. He had also warned that disembarkation would take a while and that once off the ships there would be more waiting while identifications were checked and quarters assigned. The injured would be disembarked first.

Rhovan found his escort bypassing procedure, hurrying the Major forward and down the gangplank along with the wounded. The younger man's insistence was becoming annoying. Rhovan couldn't help but wonder again about who had not only given the orders to have his debriefing with Rieekan stopped, and who had had the minders set on him.

"This way, Major, please."

Rhovan sighed and stepped down onto Adralii soil. He drew in a breath of warm, humid air. The dense atmosphere was heavy with the stench of fuel and full of the noise of ships' engines and of personnel shouting orders and directions to the arriving refugees from Ra'imar. The base was situated on the forested side of an ancient volcano, its buildings spread throughout the small clearings, connected by pathways and roads. The cone of the volcano rose high over them, its crater spewing plumes of dark smoke into the cloudless sky.

Rhovan considered, with a smile, that the Alliance could have, perhaps, picked a safer spot to set up camp.

"Major, please! This way."

Shouldering his bag, he followed his escort, taking a path off the main road way and walking several metres down through the trees that rose either side. He hoped that wherever he was heading would be somewhere where he would be allowed to wash and change. He had not seen a shower since Escaal, had not had a chance to wash the grime and dirt from his face and he felt conspicuous in his filthy Imperial uniform.

"How long has the Alliance been here?" he asked, blinking as the sun broke through the tree cover.

The intel officer turned to regard him. "I'm sorry, sir, I'm not at liberty to discuss that with you."

"Ah-huh," Rhovan remarked, not really surprised. "So, can you tell me where we're headed?"

"Sorry, sir. I'm not...."

"...at liberty to tell me that. I'm impressed with your attention to duty, but may I at least ask if I am a guest or a prisoner?"

At last a smile. "You're not in binders, are you, sir?"

The sound of speeder engines caught their attention and they stepped to the side as two vehicles approached and passed them, heading for the landing zone. Rhovan noted the personnel inside were an assortment of armed intel and medical staff.

Interesting mix...

There were more rumblings of engines, this time from above them. The noise thundered off the side of the mountain as an X-Wing and a saucer shaped ship came down low over the forest. He heard a distant cry of "It's Skywalker!" as the ships came in for a final descent.

Several people broke away and started to run back up the incline as the speeders gunned their engines and increased their speed.

"Damn," he muttered, knowing what was about to happen. He turned on his heels and headed after the speeders. He had to see this.

"Sir!"

Rhovan ignored the plaintive cry from his escort, leaving the young man unable to do anything but follow him back up the mountain path.

As Rhovan breached the curve of the incline he could see the fighter and the freighter jammed together on the landing zone only a few metres apart. He was impressed. Only skilled pilots could have put down their ships in such a cramped area.

The X-Wing canopy cracked open and several technicians ran forward with ladders for the pilot to exit. More ran for the gangway of the freighter as it lowered toward the ground.

"We need a medic!" a deep, male voice urgently called from the hatch.

The medical staff were already climbing from the parked speeders with their equipment, most running to the freighter, a couple moving toward the fighter.

The intel officers held back for now, watching.

"Major, please? I need you come with me!" His own intel watchdog had caught up with him.

Rhovan's attention was fixed on the X-Wing pilot. It had only been a few days since he had seen Skywalker. The boy had been in poor condition then, battered, bruised and flat on his back on a medical stretcher. Now he was sitting in the cockpit of a fighter that he'd piloted across several light years.

Rhovan was reminded again of the strength the boy had shown during his captivity on Escaal, strength Rhovan would have previously thought impossible from one so young and slightly built. Rhovan had been impressed at the boy's ability to withstand a stress position despite a back injury and blaster wound. His strength of will to fight against the drugs and electric charges from the interrogation droid, and his ability to claw back from the brink of collapse to face the Dark Lord himself, had stunned Rhovan.

Now, however, the pilot wasn't moving. He remained still, head fallen foward, as the canopy opened and the ladder set against his ship. Rhovan walked forward watching as a technician climbed up to the cockpit and crouched down to touch the boy's shoulder.

ooOOoo

He couldn't move.

He had been wakened by Artoo as they approached the base and he had taken over the controls of the X-Wing once they had been given the landing coordinates. He hadn't felt so bad, the last vestiges of the drug still working. He was a little refreshed, still sore, but able to focus on the landing.

Now they were down, though, now he was safe, he couldn't move. His back had frozen: any movement sending sharp, lancing pain through his buttocks, down his legs. He dragged in a breath, closed his eyes as a ladder was set against the fuselage and a ground technician climbed up beside him.

"Sir? Lieutenant-Commander?"

Luke felt a hand on his shoulder and he raised his own hand and undid the strap of his helmet. The technician helped him draw it off.

"Sir, are you injured?"

Luke heaved his head up to look at the stranger, knowing what he must look like. Bruised and bloodied, soot and dirt-streaked flight suit and the smell of fire and death. "I could use some help," he told the man. "My back."

"There are medics waiting for you, sir."

Luke glanced down, saw the waiting personnel for the first time and stifled a groan. He didn't want an audience, he...

He chilled, recognising a face in the growing crowd.

Dade.

A quiet, resolved anger grew within him. He didn't want the interrogator to see him weakened, didn't want Dade, or Rhovan, or whatever his real name was, to see him needing help. Tearing his eyes away from his tormentor he placed his hands on either side of the cockpit and pushed himself up. Pain flared and he bit back a cry. He chewed on the inside of cheek as he climbed, stiffly, from the fighter and gingerly made his way down the ladder, hoping that his legs would hold his weight when he reached the ground.

His feet had hardly touched the soil before a voice spoke to his side.

"Lieutenant-Commander Skywalker?"

Luke glanced up, saw soldiers wearing the insignia of the intelligence corps approaching him. Still holding onto the ladders for support, he tried to straighten up, wondering what they wanted and why the medics were hanging back. The tech jumped down to join him on the tarmac.

One of the soldiers continued speaking. "You are under arrest on suspicion of conducting yourself in a manner prejudicial to good order and discipline."

Luke's hand tightened on the ladder. "What?" he managed, confused.

The man speaking produced a pair of binders. "I'm sorry, sir, I need you to turn around."

Luke stared at the binders. He opened his mouth to warn the man that he could barely stand, let alone turn round, but his legs finally gave out and he would have fallen had the tech beside him not caught him. Pain flared again.

"Like hell, you're arresting him!"

Luke was relieved to hear a familiar voice and he smiled as the arm of Red Squad's chief technician encircled his waist, helping to hold him upright. "Thanks, Yizzi," he murmured.

"Any time, Luke," she assured him. She turned her wrath on the arresting officer. "You can't slap a pair of cuffs on him. Do you know what he's been through? He needs a med bed, not a holding cell."

"Chief," the officer warned, looking uneasy. "I don't want to arrest you, too."

The gathering around them was growing, more personnel arriving from Ra'imar, more of Adralii's own staff taking an interest on what was unfolding on the tarmac.

Another orange flight suit broke through and Luke grinned despite the circumstances, relieved that Wedge Antilles had survived the evacuation. "Hey, Wedge."

"Hey, Luke," Antilles greeted easily. "Causing more trouble?"

"Follows me," Luke joked, feeling a little better for the support, both moral and physical.

"Like a bad smell, Skywalker," Wedge retorted, his arm also encircling Luke to hold him upright. He turned to regard the waiting soldiers, allowing his anger some reign. "The Lieutenant-Commander needs medical attention. We'll let the medics through, but you stay where you are!"

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice, Antilles. This is on General Rieekan's orders." The man gestured to the soldiers behind him and they stepped forward lifting their blasters. He addressed himself to Luke, ignoring the chief and Wedge. "Lieutenant-Commander Skywalker, I insist that you step forward before this gets out of hand."

ooOOoo

Rhovan had a feeling that Luke couldn't step forward at this point even if he had wanted, too. His face was white, his hair plastered with sweat and he was leaning heavily on those around him. The pilot to his side, Wedge, the one whose name Luke gave during his interrogation, asked something Rhovan couldn't hear and Luke nodded loosely and heaved in a breath. The boy glanced up and, once more, they made eye contact.

Rhovan recognised the look. He had seen it many times during Skywalker's interrogation; that mix of desperation and hatred. He held the gaze until the boy faltered and turned away and Rhovan knew that Luke was recalling past events: just as he was.

"Let me through!" a sharp female voice demanded. "Where's Luke?"

The crowd parted as a petite, dark haired woman stepped into the no-mans land between the opposing factions. She was clad in a plain khaki shirt and pants that were streaked with blood. Her hair was braided, but had loosened in places, freeing trailing strands to fall over her tired eyes.

Rhovan straightened, recognising the Princess Leia Organa.

"Your Highness," the intel officer bowed his head and gestured to the group around the x-wing. "We have orders from General Rieekan for the Lieutenant-Commander's arrest."

"On what charge," she demanded, her back immediately straightening with authority. She glanced at the agitated and angry group by the X-Wing.

"Conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline," the man quoted. "He disobeyed a direct order and..."

"Wait here," she scanned his uniform, "Captain."

She turned around, stepping toward the gathered pilots and technicians. "Step aside, Chief. Please."

The woman shot the intel officer a foul look but bowed slightly to Leia and let her through. The princess immediately embraced Skywalker, closed her eyes and laid her head against his chest. The pilot folded his arms around her, held her tight.

ooOOoo

"Leia…" Luke murmured the Princess' name as he rested his head against hers. He drew in a breath, smelling her shampoo beneath the odours of battle. "Leia..."

"What did you do, Luke?" she whispered, thrilled to see him again, to hold him close. Her friend, her confidant, was safe once more.

What to say? What to answer? So much had happened since he had last seen Leia weeks ago.

I survived....

Leia could feel him tremble, could sense the effort it took for him to remain on his feet, recalled that Luke had injured his back somehow on Escaal, that Han had reported him captured. She drew back slightly, took his hands and looked into his face and saw the full truth of what happened on Escaal and Ra'imar. Her hand went to his cheek, touched the fresh bruising that darkened the old. "I was told the Network got you out."

Luke swallowed. "They did," he answered, hoarsely.

"But not before you were taken..."

"Leia, I..." He drew her close once more, ignoring the screaming pain from his spine.

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't be," Luke told her, still aware of Dade watching. "It was me who crashed on Escaal, me who got caught and it was me who disobeyed Rieekan."

Leia smiled against his flight suit. "You disobeyed Rieekan?"

"Yeah," Luke breathed, feeling lighter, feeling better. "Bad move, huh?" He glanced over at the Falcon looking for Han. "Thecla?" he asked. "The sergeant?"

"She's alive, but in a bad way. They were trying to stabilise her before moving her," Leia explained, softly. Then warned, " Luke, the soldier with her is not your biggest fan. Han had Chewie sit on him during the journey back."

"He has his reasons," Luke confessed, the image of Chewbacca sitting on Haslam bringing a tight smile to his face. "I can't blame him."

Leia looked at him quizzically, wondering what he meant, what had happened not just on Escaal, but on Ra'imar. She glanced at the waiting soldiers. "So what do we do here, Luke?"

He closed his eyes, feeling exhausted, feeling the pain closing in, feeling resigned to everything. "Just... no cuffs. I'll go, but no cuffs..."

The embrace ended when Luke's legs gave out and he almost pulled the Princess down with him. Antilles caught him again and Organa turned, shouting, "Get the medics over here!"

She turned to the arresting officer, informing him, "You may place the Lieutenant-Commander under arrest, Captain, but he will be taken and confined to the medical facility until such times as I speak with the General." She looked at the cuffs in the man's hands with disgust. "You don't need those," she told him angrily and he quickly tucked them away.

The crowd around Luke moved back as the medics ran in with a gurney.

"Sir," Rhovan felt a hand on his arm. "You really do have to come with me." As he was lead away, the network operative caught sight of a Wookiee followed by a tall man pushing their way from the freighter towards the young pilot being helped onto the stretcher. Behind them an emergency medical capsule was rushed out of the ship, followed by a dirty and dishevelled infantryman.

ooOOoo

Rhovan felt like a pupil waiting to see the Head Teacher as he sat in a hallway outside an office door. He had been denied the wash and change he so badly needed and he was becoming worried about his body odour. He smiled: not that he had worried about that as a school boy. He sat forward, ran filthy hands over his face, knowing it was streaked with dirt and grime, too. He was exhausted not having slept much since Escaal and his escape from Vader.

He'd had little time to get his bearings since arriving before finding himself sitting in this chair in this hallway outside of this door and being told that he needed to wait until she was free. He hadn't even asked "until who was free?"

His eyes closed.

"She'll see you now, Major."

Rhovan jerked as the voice surprised him. He hadn't heard anyone approach. "What?" he asked, dumbly, annoyed at himself for drifting off.

The young woman before him smiled. "She's ready for you." She gestured to the open door.

"Ready, right." He stood, lifted his pack and walked through the door, intrigued.

"Major Rhovan, welcome to Ardalii." The soft voice belonged to a woman who stood behind a desk in a sparsely furnished room. There was the desk and a couple of softer sofas, both of which had seen better days. The woman was dressed in a cream gown that rustled quietly as she moved out to greet him with an open palm.

Rhovan swallowed, found his voice and tried to hide his astonishment. "Senator Mothma, it's a pleasure."

"It is my pleasure, Major, to meet someone else from Chandrila," she smiled gestured to one of the sofas. "I wish it was under different circumstances."

Rovan sat despite being concerned at leaving a dirty mark on the soft cushion. "I'm not sure I understand, milady."

"I have, of course, been made abreast of your background, Major. You have risked much in the name of freedom from inside the Empire itself. The Alliance came to rely on the information you provided and it is misfortunate that your cover on Escaal was blown." She sat opposite him. "However, we are grateful that you managed to return Lieutenant-Commander Skywalker to us."

She let the name hang between them.

Rhovan sat back, settling into the softness, suddenly understanding the topic of conversation and now knowing who had stopped his debrief on Ra'imar even if he didn't know why. "You want to know about Skywalker," he stated.

Mothma smiled. "No, I want you to know about Luke."

She paused as though measuring him, as though she was still gathering information before making a decision. "You have shown great diligence in your fight against the Empire. I need that same attentiveness for your next assignment." The decision seemed made.

"I'm not sure I understand, senator."

"What I am going to tell you does not go beyond this room. I alone have this information, but I lack the skills required to act on it. I need someone with your skills to do what I cannot."

He sat forward, intrigued. "And that is?"

"Watch Luke Skywalker."

Rhovan's eyes narrowed at the blunt statement. "You suspect him of something? I can assure you, Senator, that contrary to what he may have said himself, Luke did not..."

Mothma shook her head. "I do not doubt the boy's courage, or his loyalty to the Alliance. However, I understand that he had an... encounter with Darth Vader on Escaal."

"Yes, but..."

The ex-senator sat forward. She seemed concerned, afraid. "Did anything pass between them? Did you notice anything bizarre, anything at all that struck you as odd?"

How did she know? The Major hesitated, recalling the renewed strength that Luke called upon during his interrogation, the leniency that Vader showed toward the boy. The mention of Skywalker's father.

"There was something, wasn't there?" Mothma briefly closed her eyes, looking pained. "I was afraid of this. What was said?"

"It wasn't so much what was said," Rhovan began, recalling events. "Luke was struggling. He had been shot during his arrest, had injured his back when he crashed on Escaal. He was beaten. I ordered electro..." He stopped, glanced at her looking for condemnation of his actions.

"I know what you are, Major. I know the things that you have had to do." Her voice was calm, cool. "I need to know about Luke and Vader."

He nodded, surprised at her acceptance of his actions when others, like Rieekan, struggled with them. "He was struggling, breaking and utterly desperate. Until Vader arrived. Then he seemed to regain some strength. Vader seemed to hold back. It… seemed odd."

"Was anything said?" she pressed, anxious.

Rhovan shrugged. "Luke accused Vader of betraying his father…" He was thinking aloud, remembering, "Vader made a comment, something along the lines of someone else betraying his father." That was when Luke had spat at the dark Lord and Vader had retaliated violently. "Then he ordered the questioning to continue. Luke continued to fight, refused to answer questions until Vader cut him down and ordered his transfer to his ship. It was during the transfer that we both managed to escape."

Mothma smiled, seemed to relax a little, seemed relieved. "It would appear then that Luke does not yet know."

Rhovan frowned. "Know what, senator?"

She hesitated, appeared to re-consider her previous decision and she looked at him, eyes narrowing. "I'm taking a risk with you, Rhovan."

His interest was piqued. He was impatient now for her to tell him whatever it was she had to say. "I won't fail you, mi'lady."

She smiled at this, and spoke. "After Alderaan, after the Death Star, Luke Skywalker's Artoo unit delivered a message. It seems the little droid had belonged to Bail Organa and served on the Princess Leia's consular ship. It was the droid that had carried the Death Star plans."

She paused, took a breath. "The message was from the Viceroy himself, to be delivered to me upon his death. He told me that the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker had married in secret and that the Senator from Naboo, Padme Amidala, was his wife."

"I remember her. Small and pretty."

"Yes," Mothma confirmed, sadness tingeing her words. "Padme was my friend and a strong voice in the senate against Palpatine's increasing decrees for more executive powers. I knew she was taken by the young Knight. I remember her eyes lighting up whenever he walked in a room, but I never suspected a marriage, let alone a pregnancy. She hid it well. "

"Her death was a tragedy," Rhovan observed. "Was it not rumoured that the Jedi had killed her."

"Yes," Mothma confirmed, her voice sounding harsh for the first time. "In a way the Jedi did killed her. One Jedi. Her husband, Anakin Skywalker."

"Her... I thought Jedi were..."

"Above such acts?" Mothma asked, sadly. "If only that were true, then we might not be fighting this war. After the purges, Bail rescued two Jedi Knights, Masters Kenobi and Yoda. They broke into the Jedi Temple and discovered a massacre, discovered that one of their own had committed grievous acts."

"Skywalker?" Rhovan didn't really have to ask.

"Yes," she confirmed. "Anakin was no longer a Jedi Knight. He was now a Sith Lord and..." again there was hesitation. "…calling himself, Darth Vader."

Rhovan felt thin fingertips of horror caress the back of his neck as he realised what Mon Mothma was telling him. "Darth Vader is Luke's father!" It wasn't a question. It was merely a verbal acknowledgement. "And Luke doesn't know," he concluded.

But Vader did, Rhovan was sure of it. That was why Skywalker was to be taken alive. That was why Vader wanted him transferred to his own ship. What kind of father would order that his son's torture be continued?

"Thankfully it seems that Luke remains ignorant of his background apart from the fact that Anakin was his father… But, let me continue..." Mothma requested. "As I said, Padme was pregnant. Kenobi brought her to Polus Massa after she was injured by Vader. She died giving birth to Vader's children."

The last word caught his attention. "Children?"

"Twins," Mothma explained. "A boy and a girl. The Jedi thought it best the children be split up. They said both were strong with the Force and would be endangered if the Emperor and Vader discovered them. The Galaxy itself would be in even more peril if they joined their father and the Emperor. So, the boy was taken to Skywalker's step-brother on Tatooine and Kenobi stayed to watch over him. The girl was adopted by Bail and his wife and raised as a member of the Royal household. She..."

"Leia Organa!" Rhovan was stunned, recalled the reunion he had witnessed at the landing zone.

Mothma nodded in acknowledgement. "Leia."

"Neither of them know this?"

"No, although they have a close friendship, they do not know that they are brother and sister. We we must keep it that way until the Jedi make contact with us."

"What Jedi?" Rhovan's mind was buzzing. Vader had children who were unaware of each other and of their parentage, and heritage. Force strong twins hidden among the Empire's enemies. There were still Jedi in the Galaxy, possibly hiding and biding their time. It seemed incredible.

"Bail explained that Master Kenobi or Master Yoda would someday make contact with the twins and that they would be trained as Jedi Knights. They must be protected until that time, lest Vader and the Emperor discover them and claim them."

Rhovan tore himself away from his own thoughts, caught up with Mothma's statement. "And that almost happened on Escaal with Luke."

"Vader must know who Luke is," The ex-senator explained. "After killing Kenobi on the Death Star and tracing the name of the pilot who destroyed the battlestation, Vader couldn't fail to realise the truth. He has never hidden his obsession with capturing the pilot who destroyed the Empire's expensive toy. But with Kenobi gone and no word of Master Yoda I fear that Luke and Leia –Luke in particular – are vulnerable… Should Luke ever fall into his father's hands..."

She fell silent.

"You think he might join Vader?" Rhovan filled the space, saying the words she seemed reluctant to utter.

She straightened, stood and crossed to the window that look out over the compound. The volcano beyond rumbled and a mild tremor rippled through the building. "I have been told the Dark Side of the Force can be very seductive even to those fully trained by the Jedi. Look at Dooku, look at Anakin Skywalker, and the harm they have reaped on the Galaxy."

"What do you want me to do?" Rhovan also stood sensing that his time with Mon Mothma was ending.

"As I said, watch Luke. Watch Leia, too, but I believe the Princess is safe. I do not think Vader was aware that Padme was carrying twins. But watch Luke, watch his movements, his actions on missions and report only to myself."

"And if his actions are suspicious?"

She turned around to face him. She looked pained, grieved. "Then you may have to kill him."

ooOOoo

To be continued....