Heavy footsteps thundered across the floor.
Several small carrier droids stopped, pivoted, and scattered in various directions, as fast as their tiny wheels could carry them.
He was on the move - and not in the mood to be trifled with. Even by a droid.
Vader swept into his communications room, black cloak billowing behind him. He was shaking with pure rage, his gloved hands fisted, fingers flexing, and as the call connected to his so called 'Master,' he didn't even bother to bow or kneel. No. He wasn't going to bow to the man who had broken his trust-again.
He'd used him. To transport slaves.
The one thing Vader would never do, no matter how deep in the Dark Side he was...and he'd unwittingly done it. He'd been played for a fool, and he was too angry to care that, when the Emperor's image appeared before him, the first words snarled out of his mouth through gritted teeth were, "How many times have you used me to transport slaves?!"
If the Emperor was surprised, he didn't show it. He'd probably already heard that the slaves, unlike the kyber crystal, had never reached their destination, and that most of Vader's crew was dead. Vader didn't give a damn. "Lord Vader." On the surface, the Emperor's voice was calm, at ease, but Vader knew the traitor well enough by now that he could hear the edge in his voice. "I take it the missing slaves are your doing?"
"Of course not!" Vader snapped, though he mentally checked his shielding to make sure his master wouldn't sense the lie. Nope. Impenetrable. Stronger than durasteel. "But I found out when I interrogated the captain as to why the rebels were after the ship-not for the kyber crystal, but to rescue slaves!"
"And fools they are, putting so much at risk for such pathetic, insignificant beings, when there was a much greater prize to have been won." The Emperor replied, and Vader bristled. Insignificant beings?!...Those people...those beings...they weren't insignificant, they were…"I'm a person!" A small, youthful voice echoed in his head. He paused, gasping in air to lungs that suddenly seemed to close and cease functioning, as a long ago memory washed over him.
In his mind, he saw a much younger Padme staring at him in Watto's shop, looking embarrassed for the way she'd phrased the question of his slavery. Vader pushed the thought vigorously out of his mind, should the Emperor sense it...but the point he'd made to Padme all those years ago still stuck with him. Those so called 'insignificant beings' were people, people who had thoughts and feelings, who had loved ones…
And he'd stood by while so many, many more innocent sentients had been enslaved across the galaxy.
"Be that as it may, you used me!" Vader replied heatedly, "How many times has this happened?! How many times have you done this? Used me this way? You swore you'd never…"
Vader only had a hint of fury flash through the Emperor's gaze before a wave of Sith lightning seemingly appeared out of nowhere, striking him in the chest so hard it threw him off of his feet and sent him spiraling into the back wall. He slammed into the wall hard, the breath literally knocked out of him, and he had barely a second to recover before another wave hit him, sucking the air right out of him.
Force lightning. And, a heavy dose of it at that.
Even light years away across the galaxy, being able to see the victim through a holoscreen...it was possible to use the Dark Side of the Force in such a way. He'd done so numerous times himself whenever he'd contacted an agent he was displeased with...except he didn't torture his victims. He just straight up choked them to death, snapping necks with a simple twist of his wrist. He wasn't sure which was worse...but he felt like his body was disconnected from his soul, and when the pain finally stopped, he saw smoke literally rising from his body.
"Let me be clear, Lord Vader." The Emperor's voice was full of disdain and displeasure. "This is my Empire, and you are but a servant of that Empire. Nothing more. My word is law, and if I decide not to tell you something because I knew you'd act childishly, then I won't tell you. That is at my discretion. I don't have to explain myself to the likes of you. You do as I say, and you will do it without question." There was a pregnant, threatening pause. "Am I understood, Lord Vader?!"
Vader took a few moments to force air back into his lungs, his mind struggling to hold back the scathing response lingering on his tongue. He was wrong. The Emperor was wrong about this. And, if he was wrong about this…Then what else was he wrong about?
"Yes, my Master." Vader finally ground out.
"Good. Now get up. I've reviewed the footage taken from the ship." Vader struggled to his feet, again checking his mental shields. He'd, of course, doctored the footage himself so that his master wouldn't be able to pick up on who the rebels in the footage were-especially his own involvement. "You have viewed the footage, I trust." It wasn't a question. Vader had made a deliberate show of acting as though he and Sandstorm were two completely separate people, and he was trying to find out who he was.
"Yes, my master." Vader's voice rumbled through the mask, still bitter but respectful enough for Sidious' taste. Just barely.
"There are two of them now." There was an edge to Sidious' voice. "What do you make of the male?"
Vader considered his words carefully. He couldn't just make up whatever he wanted to attempt to throw Sidious off of his trail. The lie would be seen through far too easily. Unfortunately. Sidious was a wily bastard after all. No. He'd need to give just enough truth to satisfy his master. "Unlike the known assassin, this one is an actual Force wielder." He paused, wondering if that would be enough, but Sidious stared coldly at him, waiting for more. "He does not behave like a Jedi. He murdered too many after being separated from the assassin."
"Yes," Sidious mused, and Vader internally breathed a sigh of relief. "That does not mean that he wasn't at some point, Vader. Desperate times call for desperate measures. What is clear, however, is that the assassin has now partnered up with a substantial threat. Now, more than ever, your mission is to find them, and end them."
Vader was careful not to let his turbulent emotions show as he bowed his head. "Yes, my master."
There was a pause, and Vader thought that perhaps the conversation was over. But then, "But…Before you seek them out, I have another matter which requires your specific talents and attention. I grow tired of the rebellious activity on Ryloth. I am ordering you to bring your fleet there and bombard the planet. The entire planet."
Before, Vader would have accepted this mission unfailingly, without complaint. However, now, he paused. Ryloth had been quite a struggle during the Clone Wars. Their populace had never entirely settled down since. It's people were quite...displeased with the way the Empire treated them. Before, he wouldn't have cared two dweezil sticks whether they were displeased or not. What the Empire said, went. Period. Now, though, he remembered the Twi'lek slave girl he'd rescued from the ship, and he couldn't help but see the Rylothians' point. "The entire planet, master?"
"Yes, Lord Vader. As I said...The entire planet. I want an example to be made of them. When done, send troops in to take control of the remaining survivors and set up a puppet government. I will handle matters from there." Vader could sense the Emperor gauging his reaction to this, as though Sidious sensed the turbulent emotions running through him…Which, truthfully, Vader wouldn't be surprised if he could. Dammit.
Another head bow. "Yes, my master. It will be done."
There was another long pause. "Good. See that it is, or I will be most displeased." There was a warning edge laced in his voice, and the holocall cut off, leaving Vader alone.
It took a long time, too long actually, for Vader to struggle to get his feet moving and limp back into his quarters on legs that labored to work properly, using the wall for support. Thank the Force none of his crew had witnessed such a weak moment. As he entered his private apartment suite, he slowly began stripping off pieces of the kriffing armor, dropping them, piece by piece, to the floor.
By the time he had reached the fresher, he stood in just his black pants and boots, staring at his own reflection in the newly repaired mirror. He expected...Hell, he didn't know what he expected. But it certainly wasn't what he saw. Defeat. Disgust. Not because he had lost any battles recently, but because...this person staring back at him wasn't who he thought he'd become.
Silently, his gaze swept over his own features, critically assessing as it went.
This person was empty, only filled by anger and hate...and for what? What did it give him? What had been his reward for the choices he had made? It certainly wasn't what he'd originally sought, no. Not the beloved wife and loving family he'd sacrificed everything for.
Instead, he'd lost those most precious to him only to gain...
A master who had never actually been his friend at all, a man who had only sought to use and exploit him for his powers. Just as the Jedi had-maybe worse than the Jedi had.
Staring at his countenance, Vader silently reflected on his actions 'in the name of the Empire.' Each and every one of them flashed through his mind like a holovid in hyperdrive.
Countless beings dead at his hands. Innocent people. People who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, or who happened to make a mistake while he was in a bad mood. People who didn't deserve to die. Children who didn't deserve to die. Jedi younglings who had looked to him for help when he'd entered the council room that awful night…
He had legions of soldiers, spies, and agents under his command. A ship of loyal crew...yet he was alone. They gave him their loyalty - not because he deserved it or had earned it- as General Skywalker had with the 501st, no. But again, because they saw his power in the Force and assumed it was greater than the Emperor's. He was alone, truly alone.
He'd destroyed the very best thing he'd ever had, and now was left with nothing. Less than nothing.
He'd imagined that joining the Sith would somehow make his dreams come true. He'd stop being bullied. He'd have power to change the galaxy for the better, to bring peace to it. He imagined that he could save his wife, could let the truth of their relationship finally be known, and that he could raise his children without fear of them being taken from him by some misguided Order. But, as he looked into the golden-eyed reflection in the mirror, he saw none of that.
He only saw a monster.
A man twisted by evil, just as Padme had said.
Monster. The word echoed in his brain, screamed at him. The truth slamming into him like a charging rancor...Yes, he was a monster. A monster who, for some unfathomable reason, was still trying to turn a bad situation around and dig himself out of a hole he'd made himself. But, it wasn't hole was getting deeper, and it was suddenly hard to breathe.
Why? Why the hell was he still taking orders from Sidious? Why was he trying to gain power? He'd once told Padme he wasn't the Jedi he should be. Why? Because he'd felt constrained, held back by antiquated ideals in a galaxy they no longer fit. Because he'd wanted more. Mustafar flashed in his mind. Padme, heavily pregnant, begging him to run away with her, pleading with him in desperation. "I only want your love," she'd told him fervently, desperately, earnestly. He'd been so kriffing convinced she was going to die, that what he was doing...selling his soul, selling his freedom...was for her. But instead, he'd hurt her, choked her unconscious, endangering both her life and the lives of his unborn children.
And in the process, he'd lost them, had thrown himself deeper into this mess because...Well, if he'd sold his soul to the Dark Side for her, why the kriff would he turn back? Her death would have been for nothing.
But, she didn't die. She and his children were hiding on some backwater world, isolated, protected by two Jedi Masters - not him. They were alive, true...but by his own actions, he'd destroyed the very life they should have been living. Together. As a family.
So, why was he still there?
Because you're a monster, and you don't deserve to go back. There is no life there for you. The only one left is the way forward...stick to your plan. And maybe...just maybe you'll be with them again. He turned away from the mirror, no longer wishing to see himself, and entered back into his bed chamber where he approached the floor to ceiling viewport, staring out into the star speckled void of space. For once, the sight didn't bring him any peace. For once...the thought of bringing Padme to his side, of ruling the galaxy together as Emperor and Empress...for once, that made him uneasy.
He didn't know how long he was staring out of the viewport before the comm in his pants pocket began to chime. He blinked as though coming out of a daze and pulled the device out. Seeing that it wasn't his military issued one, or even his normal private comm, but the one he'd set up specifically for Sandstorm, made him snap out of his haze of grief and despair. Something must be up. Maybe it was that small band of rebels Padme had introduced him to.
Using the Force, he called the voice modulator from on top of his bedside table to his hand, quickly bringing the device up to his lips as he answered the comm-voice only. He wasn't exactly himself at the moment, but he wasn't about to give away who he was. "Sandstorm." He greeted, and even with the modulator, his voice sounded...dead. As if all the life had been sucked out of him.
"Thank the Force," Padme's own modulated voice came through clearly. She too hadn't turned on her comm cam. "I thought...I was concerned that you'd been captured, or worse, killed."
Vader closed his eyes as he remembered similar words from her after he'd returned from the Outer Rim Sieges...right before she revealed she was pregnant. "No. I'm alive, and uncaptured." He paused, feeling the painful ache of the Force lightning still lingering in his muscles. "Injured. But, I'll live."
Padme let out a sigh of apparent relief. "Not too injured, I hope?"
His pride. His dignity. But his body? "I'll be fine. I promise." He paused, glancing over at the screens at his desk, and deciding he'd rather find out from her rather than looking at a screen. "Are you alright? Are...are those people we rescued safe?"
"I'm fine. Completely uninjured, in part thanks to you. The Alliance has sent everyone we rescued to safe planets with new identities, far away from the action." Vader breathed out a sigh of relief. At least something good came from all this. "I also wanted to thank you. For your help."
Vader paused. Now would be a good time to win her trust, potentially twist the situation to his own liking but… "Of course. It's...been too long since I've been able to help with a mission like that." He realized once again the truth of Sandstorm's words. It had been too long since he'd helped people instead of hurting them. A mission that didn't end in people being enslaved or murdered, he thought bitterly with a grimace.
"Well, I hope that you'll get more opportunities. The galaxy needs the assistance of one such as you."
"Yeah, I know, but…" How could he express, as Sandstorm, just how badly he'd messed up? How he had actually almost been the reason for those people's enslavement? "I just...want to do more."
"Don't we all." Padme replied dryly. "There are plenty of smaller opportunities. It may not be rescuing slaves every day, but sometimes I think the smaller things have the longer lasting effect and do the most good for the galaxy."
Maybe. But he still wanted...no, needed….he needed to somehow strike a blow against Sidious personally. Even if he couldn't yet destroy the man himself, he would need to somehow undermine…Wait! Maybe. Possibly...
The idea hit him so hard and so fast, his back straightened painfully with a snap of his muscles, and he gasped. "P-Nightblade, I have exactly what we need to strike a hard blow against the Empire."
A shocked silence followed "You do?"
"Yeah, I…" he thought up a story off the top of his head. "I managed to at least get some data before I managed to escape. Not about Jedha," He wasn't about to completely commit the worst possible treasonable offence against his master. Not yet at least. "But about something else, and...I need your help."
"Uh, sure. What is it?" She sounded wary, but...not entirely mistrusting. Good. Progress...and a step in the right direction.
He leaned forward, bracing his shoulder against the side of the viewport, a feral grin spreading over his lips. Just one act of rebellion. That would clear his head, and he could again focus on his plan to get his wife back. Hell, it would probably help in that endeavor. Suddenly, eager anticipation flooded his veins, completely overshadowing his previous despair.
He had an idea...A tactical move that would both strike back at Sidious and win him points of favor with both The Alliance and, most importantly, his wife.
"Have you ever been to Ryloth?"
Always concerned, always worried.
Not that she could blame him. The Clone Wars had left an indelible mark on him...No, on them all. Not a good one either, she thought wryly.
The war had bred caution, a necessary trait to have in these dangerous times. It kept them alive.
Not that she didn't long for the day peace, true peace, returned to the galaxy. She did.
And, it couldn't get here soon enough.
Still, today wasn't that day. Not considering what they knew was coming.
"I told you, I'm safe." Padme, dressed as Nightblade, said to the mini figure of a robbed Obi-Wan staring up at her from her comm unit. "I've already discussed the situation with the local leaders here. They're spreading the evacuation word, and I'm waiting for Sandstorm to show up. It's you I'm more concerned about." Obi-Wan was, after all, evacuating Twi-lek's from the remote regions of the planet with the help of Rex and his men, where the Empire was going to begin the bombardment. She frowned behind her mask, again wondering for the millionth time since Sandstorm had relayed the information, why the kriff the Empire was starting their bombardment where there were few citizens living in scattered tiny villages. It was a move that made no kriffing sense, tactically. Usually, if they wanted to make a statement like this, they preferred to start in the chosen planet's capitol city...where she currently was.
But, according to the information Sandstorm had procured, they were saving the capitol for last. Such an odd move. One so unlike him to make. She couldn't help the scowl that spread across her already grim features- though no one could see it because of her mask. She couldn't pretend to have any understanding of how his twisted mind worked any longer.
Nor could she help the shudder of longing that raced through her hot on the heels of an ache for who he'd once been and never could be again. I will not think of that right now. We've got a job to do, she thought, gritting her teeth in determination, ruthlessly shoving her own pain aside and regaining her focus.
At least they could evacuate and save lives today. It wouldn't have been possible at all, though, if not for Sandstorm...She just wished she could somehow save their homes, their planetary infrastructure, too. But, the Rebellion wasn't big enough or strong enough yet to take on an entire planetary bombardment force on its own. Imperial might still ruled most of the galaxy with a durasteel thumb through their weaponry, not to mention their sheer numbers. No. They would have to rely on an evacuation today to save the masses and reduce casualties. Evacuating the remote villages to uninhabited prairie lands and city dwellers into underground tunnels and bunkers left over from the Clone Wars was the most they could do. For now.
Obi-Wan's image shook as a bomb went off somewhere in the vicinity, shaking the ground and resulting in a muted rumble rippling outward from the impact. Padme imagined she could feel it from there, but she knew she couldn't. "I know, but I don't like the idea of you being alone with a strange Jedi." Obi-Wan said. She could tell he was walking now, peering up from under his hood at something above him.
So it had begun. Vicious bastards.
Padme imagined the white hull of the Star Destroyer descending into the lower atmosphere, raining down pulses of laser fire indiscriminately. The Emperor's goal wouldn't be to kill all of the Twi'leks. Just...a lot of them.
And probably enslave the rest. Especially the females.
"We've already discussed this. He has yet to do anything except help us, and…" she began with a roll of her eyes, but Obi-Wan suddenly gasped, cutting her off.
"Kriff, Nightblade, the ship-It's a Super Star Destroyer!" Padme paled at those words, her body going stiff - and she mentally cursed long and loud in Huttese. Super Star Destroyers were new. To their knowledge, the only one in the Imperial fleet was commanded by none other than the very last person she wanted to be anywhere near right now.
Darth kriffing Vader.
"By the Force, I should be with you, dammit!" Obi-Wan growled.
"It's too late." Her voice was wavering, thinking about Vader being so close. Could he sense her down there? Of course he could! That was a stupid question. Obi-Wan couldn't protect her presence from this far away anyhow. What would Vader do when he sensed she was down here, in danger? "Look. Just do your job...I'll do mine. There are...bigger things than what happens between he and I today. Lives are at stake, Obi-Wan. Innocent lives that are depending on us to succeed." Besides, she added to herself weakly, he hasn't taken me the last few times we've run into each other. No kriffing way he would do so today.
She'd make sure of it.
Unlike Anakin, who tended to hyper focus on her safety whenever she was in danger, Obi-Wan saw the truth in her words...and relented. "You'd better make it to the rendezvous point. Am I clear?"
"As crystal. And don't worry, I will." She said, more to convince herself than to convince him. "May the Force be with you."
"And with you."
She cut off the comm, stuffing it onto her belt, and pulled out her lightsaber. She gripped it tightly. Despite her assurances to Obi-Wan to the contrary, she was literally shaking. Why did the Force seem hell-bent on bringing them back together?! Hadn't the Force taken him from her in the first place, shattering her heart and her entire world?! Why mock her like this?! Had she known he would be here, she wouldn't have, dammit! Sandstorm didn't say anything about Vader's flagship being there! But then again, Sandstorm probably didn't know...or he wasn't particularly concerned that a Sith Lord was bearing down on the planet in a Super Star Destroyer.
Shit! Just her being there was a risk. She was putting these people's lives at risk by just...being there. But...again, the question begged...Why start with remote villages? It made much more tactical sense to start with the capitol and spread out the carnage from there. Once the capital was decimated, the Twi'leks would be all the easier to find and round up. Vader wasn't known for foolish decisions in battle, being the brilliant tactician he was nearly legendary for…
"Are you ready to get these people out of here?"
The sudden sound of Sandstorm's modulated voice had her gasping as she whirled around, igniting her lightsaber, pointing it at his throat. When she was sure it was just him, she let out a sigh of relief and switched off the purple blade. Sandstorm hadn't even flinched, as if he were expecting her to jump like that.
"Don't sneak up on me like that if you don't want to lose a limb." she warned half-heartedly, her voice mildly breathless.
His head tilted, and she could just barely see those blue eyes filled with amusement. "You could try."
She opened her mouth to retort...but she didn't have time. Especially with Vader there. "We have a problem," she said, and she was already stalking forward, heading in the direction the Twi-leks would be leaving in. Sandstorm followed. "Vader is here."
"So, I noticed." Sandstorm replied coolly, and she wondered if he really was that calm about being so close to a Sith Lord. Obi-Wan certainly wasn't calm… Welll, not as much as usual anyway. "He still began where my intel said he would. I don't see why that would change."
"I wouldn't exactly call Vader…predictable." Padme mumbled under her breath. The streets were already nearly empty as they picked their way along the debris blocking their way. Doorways stood open, and possessions hastily shoved out were still lying scattered about in the street, abandoned, all the occupants having fled swiftly in a panic.
Normally, Ryloth would be swarming with Stormtroopers, but today there were none. Cleared out before the bombardment could begin. How nice of the Empire to look out for their own at least. Normally, from what they'd heard from their spies and through underground channels of intel, even killing their own soldiers didn't phase either Sidious or Vader. The immoral malevolent cretins."He's likely going to change his plans soon enough anyway."
"Oh? And, why would that be?" Sandstorm asked. She glanced at him, frowning, but under the hood and behind the mask, she couldn't discern anything. Yet...was that a trace of amusement she detected?
A pregnant pause ensued before...
"Let's just say he and I have a long history of not getting along. Let's leave it at that, shall we," She said, though inwardly she added, Because I'm technically still his wife, legally, and he sees me as his possession and will stop at nothing to bring me and our children back to him. Plus, he'll be pissed as hell that I'm willingly putting myself in a warzone instead of staying at home caring for Luke and Leia - and keeping my nose out of Imperial business. She wasn't about to tell him any of that, though. The less he knew about her, the better. There was the potential for too many questions, and given that Sandstorm was a Jedi, he probably would view her as a potential threat to the mission and to himself. "Let's just get these people out of here as soon as possible."
Easier said than done.
When they caught up with the Twi'leks, she let out a shaky breath, as she took in the sheer number of them. It was a large city, set into a lone mountain surrounded by a wide, deep canyon on all sides. Certainly not as large as Coruscant or even Theed, but...there were people of all ages, trying to carry as much treasured possessions out of the city as possible. Children were running around, babies were crying, adults looked frantic…
"It could be worse." Sandstorm said with a shrug, as they pushed their way through, "Many Twi'leks have left Ryloth and have scattered across the galaxy."
"Yes, because the Empire has ravaged their homeworld." Padme pointed out bitterly through gritted teeth. "Though, I suppose they never really recovered after the Clone Wars."
Sandstorm didn't reply for a long time. By the time he did, they were at the massive gate to the city-the only way out, including a long, computer generated bridge that could be turned off with the flick of a switch from the control tower above them. Precarious, to be sure, given the laser cannons firing at will at the planet's surface - and drawing ever nearer. But, the only choice they had to get to safety.
"They were one of the hardest hit planets, too." Sandstorm finally murmured, his voice sounding distant, as though he were remembering. Padme frowned-the last she'd heard, the Jedi who had helped free this planet had been Anakin, Obi-Wan and Master Windu. But...she supposed other Jedi would have heard about it. Perhaps even seen holos of it. But, Sandstorm didn't give more details, and instead began taking a few steps before the glowing bridge, where a familiar Twi-lek was issuing commands to those under his command to organize the citizens. "Syndulla." Sandstorm greeted.
The male Twi'lek whirled, fastening a penetrating gaze on the two of them. Padme had spoken to him when she'd landed-he wasn't an easy man to get along with, but he had his reasons. Valid ones. "And you are?" Syndulla demanded, distrust in his gaze. Padme didn't blame him. The man loved his people, and to see them continually suffer so…
Again, Padme felt a rush of fury, sparing a moment to glance in the general direction that Obi-Wan was-and therefore, Vader. It was all his fault, she silently seethed. Partly, at any rate, she knew, but...she wanted, needed to blame someone. At the moment, her arch nemesis seemed the best option. If she could have wrenched that blasted mask off, she would have spit in his face.
"I am Sandstorm. I'm the one who discovered this plot against your planet by the Empire." Sandstorm replied smoothly, evidently not offended by the man's tone.
It seemed to cause Syndulla to relax, if only a little bit. "Then I suppose thanks are in order." He turned and pointed towards the hills beyond the chasm. "There are caverns there that will serve to protect our people in those hills. The trouble is getting everyone safely across." He motioned toward the bridge.
"We're here to help." Padme said, stepping forward. "How can we be of service?"
Syndulla nodded, and despite everything, she saw gratitude flash in his eyes. "My men will help move those who need assistance. I need you to to stay along the bridge to guide everyone and make sure there are no stragglers...and if we get attacked…"
"There should be no danger of that." Sandstorm interrupted, and at the glare he received from the other man, fell silent. Wisely.
"I do not trust the Empire. If we are attacked, I will need both of your help defending the citizens." Syndulla finished. Already, his men were leading people and their belongings across the bridge.
"We'll do what we can." Padme replied firmly, straightening, her hand going to her lightsaber at her side. She noticed Sandstorm's hand was on his leather-wrapped hilt as well.
They moved out across the bridge, both of them automatically taking opposite sides without a word. It was as though they instinctively knew what either of them would do, and moved automatically to where each of them needed to be. Padme glanced down at her feet, gulping as she realized that the bridge was see through, practically invisible. It was strange to be standing on a bridge that was nothing more than a solid holo screen that could be turned off at any time. No, kriffing freaky was what it was. She suppressed a groan. She wasn't normally afraid of heights, and there wasn't any reason to turn off the bridge at the moment, but...she still shuddered. Better to focus on helping these people, she thought, turning her full attention to calling out orders, helping those along who were struggling get caught up.
On the other side of the bridge, Sandstorm was doing the same, his modulated voice carrying strong and clear above the crowd.
As they continued on, it became obvious that Sandstorm was no stranger to taking command. When he spoke, he spoke with an undercurrent of authority, and people listened. Then again, people listened to her as well, but her voice was more from a politician's perspective. Being Nightblade had never changed her into a magnetic war general...just a magnetic politician who could murder people at will. Sandstorm, on the other hand, had an almost general vibe happening. It wasn't surprising, given that being a Jedi during the Clone Wars, he had likely been given a troop of Clone Troopers to command. This likely wasn't anything different than what he'd done back in the day-maybe it was easier.
Except for the children. They were the hardest to guide. They often got distracted, having a tendency to leave their parents' sides. They couldn't fully grasp the danger they were in, and children were more likely to want to play than to listen to orders. It was these younglings she mainly focused on, for she knew just how difficult it was to keep children in line. Frankly, none of these little ones were a match for her own twins, likely because none of these children were Force Sensitive. Probably. And, if they were, they weren't as strong in the Force as her Luke and Leia were. After dealing with Luke and Leia's antics, she felt ready to take on a horde of Twi'lek children. And so she did.
Even if it did cause a pang of longing to be back home to hit her.
They spent hours out under the hot sun-or at least, it felt like hours. But soon enough, the last group began their trek across the bridge. Padme turned a glance up to the sky. She could just see the Super Star Destroyer now, but it was still so far away. Plenty of time to get these people across the bridge if they hurried...though why Vader hadn't sped up to find her yet...she wasn't sure. She didn't think she wanted to know. If she could get through this without spending any time with the blasted man, it would be a blessing…
But, as she stared up at the sky once again, wondering what was going through the man's twisted mind, something else appeared suddenly in the sky, dropping out of Hyperspace. Something totally unexpected. Something that made her blood run cold as ice. "Sandstorm!" She shouted, and once she had his attention, she pointed up to the sky.
"Another Star Destroyer!"As she yelled and pointed up, three more appeared out of hyperspace, high above them, descending towards the planet to get in range to begin firing.
On the capital city.
"No," Sandstorm breathed, and though she couldn't see his eyes from where she stood, she imagined them widened in disbelief. "No... that's not...Those aren't...What the hell are they doing here?!"
"Syndulla was right." Padme growled bitterly, thinking again of Vader. What did he gain by suddenly bringing in more reinforcements? And, why three star ships to destroy one city? "Don't trust the Empire." Especially Vader, she added furiously in her head. She should have killed him, dammit! She'd had her chance and…Kriff! Sandstorm was still standing there, staring up, frozen in shock, but Padme was already moving, waving her arms frantically towards the approaching star destroyers. "Run!" she shouted to the last of the stragglers, "Move, fast, or…!"
The first blast that hit the city behind them caused stone rubble to explode and fly, big and little chunks of rocks pelting down towards them. The bridge shuddered, and the Twi'lek's on the bridge skidded to a halt and screamed. "RUN!" She was practically bellowing, frantically running towards them, running towards the city now under siege by the Star Destroyers above them. Rocks and rubble were now raining down in a hazy cloud of suffocating air, but her mask would filter that. She was more concerned about falling debris hurting one of the Twi'leks…
"NIGHTBLADE!" Sandstorm roared behind her, "THERE'S NO TIME!"
She ignored him, running towards a mother struggling to grab her frantic small child while she held a squalling baby in the other arm. She made it as another large blast shook the city, not far from the gate...and the control tower that kept the gate up, and she scooped the struggling child in her arms. She glanced around frantically at the other Twi'lek's in the group. Elderly, all of them. The slowest of those living in the city. She wanted to do something but...she was only one person…and she didn't have the Force.
"Hurry!" She implored them desperately, but they were already hurrying as fast as they could hobble towards the other side of the bridge. She turned, holding the hysterically crying child close to her body, keeping pace with the now running mother. Sandstorm was there, already running towards them, but he skidded to a stop in the middle of the bridge when he saw that they were heading towards him. "GO!" Nightblade shouted, imploring him with all of her desire to turn and run. "HELP SYNDULLA!"
But, typically, Sandstorm ignored her, and she gritted her teeth. Stubborn Jedi. It was like the whole damn Order had it in kriffing spades. Y'know, he wasn't that much different than her Anakin-ignoring her plea to look to the bigger picture, to duty, to help save the last few people. Instead, he positioned himself in the center of the bridge, holding out his hands towards them, his ice blue eyes intense and focused on them.
"When I say go," Sandstorm yelled, as more fire rocketed down behind them. Padme was certain she saw the bridge flicker, and her heart leapt into her throat. It was a very long way down. "Jump!"
Padme didn't even want to know what he had planned. It was probably some damn fool plan that was closer to suicide than success, but she nodded affirmatively and kept running towards him. "Do as he says!" She yelled out to the others around her. In her arms, the little child began to cry anew, clinging to her in sheer terror.
A few more steps, that felt like they lasted an eternity, before finally Sandstorm nodded and boomed out, "GO!"
"JUMP!" Padme shouted right behind him, as she leapt as high as she could...and found herself and all the others around her lifting impossibly high, high, higher, flying towards the other side…The Force, Padme realized with a jolt, as she risked a glance back at Sandstorm. Sure enough, his hands were out, and he was guiding them towards the other side...and dropped them all at the very edge of the bridge. Padme lost her footing as she landed, as did many of the others, obviously not being used to being Force-handled like that, but she was back on her feet, setting the little one on solid ground. Syndulla was there a moment later, helping the others around her to their feet and onto solid ground.
Padme turned, her eyes searching for Sandstorm, and found him running full tilt at them with Force-induced speed. "MOVE!" he shouted. On instinct, Padme stepped onto the solid ground, the last one to do so...though she didn't move away from the bridge. Not until Sandstorm was safe, she decided, watching him run towards her, her heart hammering hard in her chest. He had to make it, he had to…
But, at that very moment, a blast hit the control tower, and it shattered into smithereens, sending a barrage of debris hurtling toward them. "SANDSTORM, THE TOWER!" She screamed as the bridge began to flicker. He was almost there...almost…
She reached out a hand toward him, pleading, imploring. She couldn't watch another Jedi die. There were already too many gone, and he'd only just joined the Alliance and…
With a jolt, an unexpected rush of fervent exuberance, she realized...She needed him.
A realization that was totally unexpected.
The bridge disappeared, just as Sandstorm used the Force to make one last desperate jump for safety. For one, horrible moment, he was suspended in mid-air, and she thought he might make it...but just before he reached the other side, he began to fall…
No!
With a mighty yell, she reached further out, stretching her body as far as she could reach, and their hands grasped…
She was almost yanked down with him. But, instead of tumbling forward, she collapsed to her knees, yelling out in pain as the full force of his weight hit her shoulder, almost pulling it out of its socket, definitely tearing some tendons and possibly muscles, but...she held on, gritting her teeth, tears falling from the corners of her eyes. Ow, that's gonna need a bacta tank, she thought, but she would NOT let go! Sandstorm would not die.
Not today.
Under his superior weight, she slid forward towards the gap a few inches...until Syndulla was there, reaching over the side, grabbing Sandstorm's other gloved hand and between the two of them they pulled Sandstorm up and over onto the safe side. Sandstorm was drawing in deep gulps of air, shaking, on hands and knees. Padme settled down next to him, her arm throbbing painfully, gasping for breath as well.
"That...could have...gotten you killed." Sandstorm said, and she thought he might have been upset with her...but he was too winded to sound that angry.
It took her a few tries to get the words out, but she finally managed it. "What...are friends for…?" She smiled at him...and realized he couldn't see it behind her mask. Still, Sandstorm's blue eyes softened momentarily...before hardening again into ice, as he turned back to the city that was still being bombarded.
Padme too, looked towards the city...most of it had already collapsed. The rest was on fire. Above them, two of the other Star Destroyers had begun to fan out, likely going to more cities on the other side of the planet where there was an expected large population. She sincerely hoped that Obi-Wan, Rex and their team had gotten everyone out safely….but there likely wouldn't be enough time to save them all. Many lives would be lost this day.
What a tragic loss for the Rebellion...No, for the galaxy.
Sandstorm suddenly stood, his eyes fixated on the Star Destroyers above them. "Why do you think they came so late?" Padme pondered, frowning up at the Star Destroyers. "It's not like Vader to bring in reinforcements when none are needed."
Sandstorm didn't reply. He just stared up. She noticed, at his sides, his hands were clenched tightly. Finally, when she thought he would never respond, he suddenly said, "Help Syndulla. I'll...I've got something I need to take care of."
Padme blinked, surprised. "Wait...you're leaving?"
"Yes." Sandstorm said, and in his voice was a note of finality. He was already walking away. "I...I need to figure out what's going on." She thought that that would have been obvious...even if she too had many questions about the motive behind it. It seemed even now, she still couldn't fully predict Vader's mindset. Especially now, now that he was no longer...she pushed the thought from her mind.
"But...but what if…?" She began, but….now that the people were on the safe side, many had already begun filing into the safety of the caverns. There was no real reason for Sandstorm to stay. She could handle it on her own from here. But...still. Some part of her wanted him to stay with her...if only to know he was safe. Perhaps she'd even be able to introduce him to Obi-Wan this time…
"There's nothing more that can be done. Wait planetside until the bombardment has ceased and the Star Destroyers are away." He paused, turning back to look at her. For a brief moment, under the dim lighting, she thought she saw a flash of gold in those blue eyes...but when she peered closer, it was gone. Those eyes still a brilliant blue. I must have imagined it, she thought. Still, an unsettled feeling began to rise within her. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I'll make contact with you. Very soon. I swear." He cocked his head, looking at her intently. "And, when I do…everything will change."
She had no idea what the kriff that was supposed to mean. But, before she could ask, he had turned and was already sprinting away with Force-induced speed, his body a blur of movement, leaving her to stare after him, astounded.
"What the hell are you up to, Sandstorm?"
Woohoo! An update! The next few chapters are big ones so...get ready!
The Battle of Hoth from Empire Strikes back is the song for this chapter.
Review!
Love,
Sarah
