The joint was packed, even in the dim to near dark lighting, that was obvious. Smoke filled the air, making him what to cough, and the floor literally vibrated beneath his feet from the noise level.
Music pounded through Luke's senses, making his eardrums throb, as he pushed his way through writhing, sweaty bodies towards the bar. The dim lighting of the club made his black eye not so noticeable, and close beside him trailed Mara, a frown still marring her beautiful glossed lips. The moment she had picked him up in her ship, she had been frantic with worry over what had happened at school. He'd assured her he was fine, wanting to stay focused on the task ahead of them, just like old times. The last thing he wanted was to think about what had happened with Jabba-and what his parents had told him afterwards. He especially didn't want to think about that. Because it's delusional. No way, no how any of that was true, he thought grimly. Forcing the thoughts from his mind, he refocused back to the matter at hand.
They had a job to do.
"There's seriously an apartment over this place?" Luke shouted disbelievingly over the pulsing music to Mara. The flashes of lighting made her hair almost glow an unearthly flame red, and he couldn't help the unbidden pulse of desire he felt sweep through him as he gazed at her.
"That's what our source said." Mara shouted back, nodding her head. "I gotta say, it leaves much to be desired."
No kidding. If he didn't hate Ventress with an almost all-consuming passion, he'd probably feel sorry for her having to put up with her apartment sounding like it was a constant party. However, he had to admit it was as good a place as any to hide. Not many people would want an apartment over a nightclub, and since there were always throngs of drunk people going in and out of the club, it would probably be easy for Ventress to stay unnoticed.
They slid onto the bar stools. The bartender looked over at both of them with a look of clear disbelief. Neither of them looked like they were twenty one (which, truthfully, they weren't). The only reason they were in here was because Luke managed to mind-trick the muscle outside into thinking their ID's said they were legal. Force, Luke hated American drinking age laws. He didn't drink that often, but sometimes, he and Han would sit out on the roof of their old hideout back in London, talking and chugging down a few drinks as the sun set over the city. But tonight, even if the bartender could hear him over the pounding music, Luke wouldn't mind trick him. No, he needed his mind as clear as possible if he was going to fight Ventress.
So, instead he flashed his best 'farm boy look,' as Mara called it, at the bartender. Innocent. "Do you know the girl who lives upstairs?" He shouted at the man.
Something...flickered in his eyes-recognition, and Luke felt a pull from the Force sweep through him, raising the hair on his arms. Yeah, the bartender knew her. But, he casually shrugged his shoulders, poured a drink for another customer, and lied through his teeth. "Sorry, can't say that I do. Are you buying a drink or what?"
One glance at Mara, and Luke could tell that she had noticed the look in his eyes, too. "Are you sure you don't know her?" Mara purred with a half hooded expression, leaning over the bar, her form fitting top accentuating her curves. Luke's jaw tightened, as a surge of jealousy flared within him, his fists clenching as he watched the man smirk, giving Mara a once-over that was clearly appreciative. Asshole. If he wasn't trying to make nice to get information, he'd take him out back and give this creep a black eye to match his own.
But, the man snapped out of it, shaking his head. "Like I said, ain't never heard of her. If you ain't buying, go hang out somewhere else. I've got other customers to-"
"I'll have a scotch on the rocks." A familiar voice said to Luke's left, and he nearly jumped out of his skin, as he whirled on the barstool to find Han at his side, Chewy and…
"What the hell?!" Luke hissed, glaring at Han. "Why did you bring my sister here, of all places?!"
Han gave Luke an exasperated look, as the bartender handed him his drink. "Calm down, kid. Over protective, much? She's proven her own in a fight. She can take care of herself. Besides, she's the same age as you and has as much business being in this dive as you do." He shrugged and took a gulp of his scotch.
Luke opened his mouth to give him a scathing retort, but Leia was pushing her way in-between them, giving Han a disapproving look. "Really? Drinking? Now?"
"Relax, princess, I'm not going to be affected by one drink. You don't approach a bar and not ask for one if you want to blend in. Not like these two over here." Han thumbed over at Luke and Mara. Chewie garbled something, and Han added to him and Mara, "Yeah, what are you doing over here? All of you don't exactly look legal. Do you want to stand out?"
Mara narrowed her eyes and hissed. "We were trying to find out about our 'friend' upstairs before we went barging in up there. Now, the guy's gone off!" She waved her hand toward the far end of the bar, and sure enough, the bartender was now on the other end of the bar, mixing drinks for other partiers.
"Relax, there's bound to be other people who've seen her, or at least the door to the apartments. Look, if it makes you feel better, Chewie and I will go ask around." Han rolled his eyes, setting his barely touched drink down on the counter. "I'd sure do a hell of a better job than you two would." And, with a hesitant look at Leia, Han and Chewie pushed their way into the crowd.
Luke whirled on Leia immediately. "Go home. Now." His voice was hard and demanding.
But, Leia was just as stubborn as she used to be back when they were kids. She simply rolled her eyes. "You didn't even sense me coming in here. You're the one who shouldn't be here-"
Aware of Mara listening in, Luke snapped his mouth shut and grabbed his sister's upper arm. Ignoring her exclamation of irritation, Luke said over his shoulder, "I'll be right back," before he pulled Leia off into a dark corner of the club.
"Let go of me!" Leia ripped away from him the moment they reached the corner, her eyes swimming with fury. "I swear, Luke, if you ever grab me like that again, I'll throw you into a Sith-infested…"
Luke held up a warning hand, glancing over at the drunk patrons sitting nearby. They looked pretty out of it, either because they were too drunk or too stoned, or too absorbed in their phones to notice. Still, he wasn't going to take the chance of them being overheard. He reached out in the Force, feeling for how open his sister was at the moment, and to his surprise, though she was firmly closed to others around them, she immediately sensed him and opened up just enough to let him through. Fine, I won't do that again. He sent the thought to her through the Force. Why are you even here?!
Is Dad listening in on this conversation? Leia fired right back.
He better not be. Luke fumed, but just in case, as he'd done since he'd decided to leave with Mara, he checked his bond with his father. Though it was still more open than he wanted, he could feel that his father was holding back from reading his thoughts and feelings, probably assuming, and rightfully so, that he wanted to be left alone-or at least, be away from him.
No. He's not.
Well, that's too damn bad. You should have brought him on this little misadventure, at least, if not Uncle Ben and…
We can handle this! We don't need his help! He snarled back, and even he was surprised at the intensity of his anger. Now, I have to worry about you getting yourself killed, on top of taking down Ventress!
Despite his anger, Leia was not the least bit intimidated. Oh really?! Me? Get killed? Says the guy who went running off to go face one of Palpatine's top killers without a lightsaber! Luke's face flushed. Yeah. Forgot about that, didn't you, Big Bro?
No. He reached around, fumbling under his jacket, and pulled out the hidden lightsaber he'd stolen from the armory before he'd gone off to meet Mara. Force, Leia, I'm not that much of an idiot.
Except that this is still a clearly stupid plan that's going to get us all killed if we don't call for backup. She sighed, and took a step closer to him, looking imploringly up into his face. I'm not saying we go home, just that we call for backup and scout the area out while we wait for help to...
Hell, no! Luke snapped, Do you know what kind of batshit craziness Mom and Dad tried to sell me back there?! I'm not asking them for any help when they're the ones who need the help...in the nearest psych ward!
A pained expression passed over Leia's face and simmered in her dark eyes. Luke, she began, I know it's hard to believe, but….
Sorry to interrupt your lovely little tête-à-tête, a new voice floated into his head. Mara. Luke glanced her way, and Leia did as well. Apparently, Mara sent the communication to both of them. Han found the door to the apartment. You're both here anyway. Let's just get this over with, shall we? Mara cocked an eyebrow and simply stared at them both.
Luke looked back into Leia's pleading eyes. "Please, Luke." She said verbally, her voice full of desperation. "Let them help."
But, Luke could feel his expression harden. No way. He had all the help he needed. Let's do this. He said back to both of them. End of discussion. He shot directly at Leia with a pointed look, and though he could see the worry in her eyes, there was also a resigned resolve. Don't die, Leia.
Back at you, Brother.
Creepy just didn't cover it.
His first warning that this was a trap was how easy it was to break the lock open. Too easy.
Han barely had to apply any pressure, and the door clicked and swung open to reveal a darkened staircase. Chewie rumbled something nervously. "Yeah," Han frowned in apparent agreement. "That shouldn't have been that easy. I've got a bad feeling about this..." Han and Chewie's hands slipped to where their guns would be hidden under their jackets, while Luke, Leia, and Mara did the same for their lightsabers.
They pulled their weapons out when they'd entered the stairwell, and they'd eased the door closed behind them, the sounds of the club becoming more of a loud, muffled thundering behind the wall, which still vibrated nonetheless. They ignited their lightsabers for light. "Han, Chewie," Luke ordered softly, "Ventress won't be a normal Force-wielder. Stay behind us, and just give us cover."
Though Han was not usually one for taking orders, he muttered, "Yeah, Kid...I think you're right."
The fact that Han actually listened to his order was the second warning he had that this would be a trap. If Han thought it would be wise to take instructions from others, it couldn't be good.
His third warning was when they reached the top of the stairs and opened the door to find an empty, darkened hallway. Creepier still. On either side of it, there were two other doors, likely two more apartments. At the end, the door to the apartment in question stood, light peeking out from beneath the door. The floor rumbled under their feet. "Do we know if the other rooms are occupied?" Leia asked softly from his left.
"Nope." Mara was tense beside him on his right, her jade green eyes focused intently on the hallway straight ahead of them.
"Greeeeat. And, if there just happens to be Inquisitors hiding in them, we're going to get trapped real fast with no cover. I love it when we go into things without a plan or backup," Leia quipped sarcastically.
"Hey, what are we supposed to be? Chopped liver?!" Han grumbled behind them, with an agreeing garble from Chewie.
"Our backup." Luke answered before Leia could. "Han, Chewie, stay here and watch our backs. If we get to the end of the hallway without anyone flanking us in, then follow. If we're attacked…" He glanced at Leia. "I assume you do know how to block bullets should Han and Chewie join in the fray."
Leia rolled her eyes and gave him an exasperated look. "Of course I know how. I'm Dad's padawan. He taught me how to do that a long time ago."
"Good." Luke flashed her a grin, which was wiped away the moment he turned back to the hallway. "Ok. It's now or never."
Yep. Sure enough, it was a trap.
The moment they reached level with the first door, the side doors flew open. Luke, Leia, and Mara were ready for them, all of them fully immersed in the Force. Luke could see the swings of the lightsabers as four Inquisitors, their presence firmly cloaked within the Force, attacked. He could feel Han and Chewie's presence as they ducked behind the covering of the stairwell wall, could feel their bullets speed through the air towards the Inquisitors. Like Luke knew they would, the bullets were precise, and though three ducked away, the fourth Inquisitor was hit, and in a splatter of blood across the grimy wall, he fell to the floor.
The playing field now in their favor, the three Force-Wielders pressed their advantage, blades clashing and sparking against one another, making rips and gashes in the wall as they went. Luke could feel Mara's grim determination, and Leia's hesitancy to harm the Inquisitors. They're trying to kill us, Leia! Don't play nice! He shot to her through the Force, keeping his eyes focused on the Inquisitor he was battling.
They're just as brainwashed as you were! They don't know any better. Show some sympathy!
Luke ducked a blow, and in response to her sympathy, he rammed the blade of his lightsaber up into the chest of the Inquisitor, killing him instantly.
Dammit! It's us or them, Leia! He said simply when he felt Leia's outraged disapproval. I'm not sorry for doing what I have to do!
Who are you, Luke?!
And, though Luke was turning to help her with her Inquisitor, the words stopped him short. Neither Mara or Leia looked at him, being preoccupied with their own enemies in their faces, but...something about Leia asking him that question, her voice filled with disbelief and anguish...something deep within him cried out against it.
He shook it off.
He didn't have a chance to think about it right now. There were bigger concerns at the moment. In the corner of his eye, he noticed the door at the end of the hallway opened, light pouring into the hallway. Silhouetted against the light, smirking slyly at him, with her cropped short dark hair, high cheekbones, bright, silver eyes gleaming at him, was Ventress.
Unconsciously, his jaw clenched.
Though he did not remember anything before when he'd met her during his time with Palpatine, he remembered now. It came in flashes-not painful, like the other visions. But clear, matter of fact memories. He remembered shoving Leia into the secret hiding place upstairs, her arms full with baby Hayden, as she fearfully hissed at him to get in with her. He remembered shoving the door closed, going to his mother's room and finding the gun in the closet. He could clearly remember Leia screaming in his head to come back. He remembered going down those stairs to find Ventress in their living room, their dog Jedi lying in a pool of blood, barely alive. His mom kneeling on the floor, what he now knew to be a lightsaber wound on her left shoulder. Ventress had her hands twisted in his mother's hair, and though she was in pain, she firmly told him to run, to save himself.
And, for once, he'd disobeyed his mother.
He hadn't run. He hadn't listened. He'd wanted to protect her. And, this woman….he remembered….It all came flooding back to him, washing over him in a haze of remembered terror and pain.
"Go on. Shoot. Protect your mommy...if you think you can." Though he'd been shaking, he'd turned off the safety, pointing it desperately at Ventress, and pulled the trigger.
It all flooded his inner vision...the spray of his mother's blood. His mom grunting in pain and shouting his name, as she collapsed unconscious to the floor in a pool of blood. "Guess you're not very good with a gun, are you, boy?" Ventress had taunted him with a smirk, as he'd begged for his mother to wake up. There was so much blood…
She'd done this. His mother almost died that night. She'd destroyed his family, and if he was honest with himself, really, truly honest, she'd destroyed him. If not for her, his parents wouldn't tread carefully around him. His brother wouldn't act like he was a curious stranger to befriend. His sister wouldn't think he was a monster…
Pure, white-hot rage exploded within him.
Ventress smiled wickedly, as if reading his thoughts, before she turned and ran. Luke lurched forward a step to go after her, but remembered there were still two inquisitors to get rid of. He needed to stay with his friends and help-but if Ventress got away…
Luke, go! Mara's voice echoed in his head, and he hesitated a split second. We've got this. We'll be right behind you. Don't you dare let that bitch get away!
Right. He broke into a flat out run, bursting into the apartment and hurtling across the room and out the open window that Ventress had left open, landing on the fire escape. He heard her footsteps clanging on the metal above him, and he threw himself up the stairs, using the Force, skipping three at a time.
Within no time, he reached the roof. Ventress was there, jumping into one of two speeders. "Ventress!" He bellowed, igniting his lightsaber. He ignored how unfamiliar the blade was. He as a Skywalker. Using a Saber...any saber...was in his blood. It would do. "Don't be a coward! Let's settle this! Now!"
Ventress laughed, taunting him, the glass ceiling on the speeder beginning to close. "Come catch me if you can, little Skywalker." Her voice was as gravelly as he remembered, and he resisted the urge to shudder. Instead, he rushed forward, trying to make it before she took off. Too late. She took off into the sky, and Luke snarled a string of curses. Hell, no. He had NOT come this close to lose!
Whirling, he laid eyes on the second speeder, an idea immediately forming in his head. Before he could talk himself out of it, he found himself jumping into the vehicle driver's seat. It was a small, 2 person speeder. Perfect for speed...but he wouldn't be able to fit his whole group. No matter, he thought, as he leaned under the controls and ripped open the door to the wiring and began hotwiring the speeder. He'd send a tracking signal to the Falcon. He quickly sent Mara the message through the Force, as the speeder whirled to life. By the time he'd straightened, he'd felt Mara's answering affirmative, and…
Another body climbed into the second passenger seat. "How many times do I have to tell you to not go alone, you idiot!" Leia snapped, glaring at him, as she snapped on her seat belt.
He gaped at her, speechless, words forming and unforming in his head. "What...Leia…..no! Get out!"
Leia rolled her eyes. "Not the time to argue, brother. Punch it!" She pointed to where Ventress' ship was about to enter the skyway and get lost among the other ships.
Grinding his teeth and reluctantly deciding to drop the subject (for now), Luke punched in a tracking signal and lifted off, immediately jerking the gears into full throttle. "When this is over," He seethed as G-forces slammed into them suddenly, "I'm going to kill you, little sister."
Leia didn't have a chance to answer, because as suddenly as he'd sped up, he'd caught up to Ventress. He felt Ventress in the Force sense them on her tail, and she dove into the Skyway, sideswiping other speeders.
"Luke-" Leia gasped, as Luke unflinchingly flew after her, causing many more ships to veer sharply left and right to get out of the way.
Luke didn't care. He felt alive, every nerve in his body seemingly bursting to attention, as if everything in his life were leading to this-being in the sky, chasing down a bad guy (or girl, as it were), navigating the impossible. He easily kept up with Ventress, dodging lanes and other ships as easily as if he were walking down a street. Behind him, wails from sirens suddenly pierced the air. Leia groaned, leaning her head back against the headrest. "Am I right in assuming that you're not going to pull over?" Her voice was resigned and shaking.
"Duh."
Ventress whipped into the other opposite lane of traffic, moving against the flow, causing other ships to swerve erratically. Luke followed without hesitation, and from the corner of his eye, he saw Leia press herself against the seat, eyes wide, breathing becoming quick and sharp.
"Are you insane?!" Leia shouted. "Ventress isn't worth getting us killed! Pull over!"
Luke gritted his teeth to keep from yelling at her. "She almost killed our mother," He reminded her sharply, "And, she took me from-" he broke off as Ventress took a sudden dive towards the streets below. "Besides, I'd totally get arrested. I don't have a license."
"You don't WHAT?!" Leia whirled her terrified eyes on him in disbelief. "Lu-UUUUUUKEEEEE!" She screamed, her voice rising in pitch, as he dove after her, pushing the throttle at full speed after her, the ground rapidly growing closer and closer. Leia reached out and grasped his upper arm in a vise grip, nearly cutting off his circulation.
"If you want me to keep us alive, you're going to need to let go, Leia." he growled, every nerve on fire. Just as he predicted, as the ground became close to the point of being able to see screaming pedestrian's horrified faces as they ran for cover, Ventress pulled up sharply. He quickly followed suit, wishing he'd had a speeder equipped with guns. Big guns. This time, they kept low, zipping between skyscrapers, as though Houston was just one giant maze.
"Well," Leia said hoarsely, " At least we lost the cops."
"Of course, we did." Luke replied, as if it were a normal thing. He didn't bother to mention that he was quite skilled at escaping law enforcement. It was, however, the first time he'd done it while flying. In fact, for someone who had only flown once in his life, this shouldn't have been possible. He...they...should have died a million times over already. Perhaps it was the Force that was guiding him, or perhaps..Maybe your parents were right, his own small voice said in his head, as though some part of him believed them, or wanted to.
No. He shoved that thought away, and as Ventress suddenly rocketed back up into the air, he followed just as fast. "I'm think I'm going to be sick," Leia groaned.
"No you don't. Not in here. Lean out the window and puke out there."
"Are you-?!"
Suddenly, out of nowhere, another ship swerved in front of Ventress, blocking her path. Ventress swerved left, narrowly missing it, and Luke didn't bother to pay attention to the ship as he sharply turned and zoomed after her. The other ship, he was surprised to find, also followed. Luke frowned. They weren't cops. It wasn't the Falcon. So, who the hell was also looking for Ventress? Or, was it some random person who had decided to just join in the fun?
"Oh, Force," Leia muttered, leaning lower in her seat. "This day couldn't get any worse."
Wrong on all counts. It could and did.
Apparently not enjoying being chased by two fast ships, the bottom of Ventress' ship opened, a massive artillery gun lowering from it. With a whir, it swiveled to face them, and before Luke could move out of the way, it opened fire.
Luke had enough time to maneuver the ship so that none of the bullets struck the windshield and killed them outright, but in doing so, the bullets instead hit the engine, which immediately burst into flame. " Ah, Shit! FUCK!" Luke snarled, "Prepare for a rough landing."
"I told you this was a stupid idea!" Leia shrieked. "If we die, I'm haunting you for the rest of eternity!"
Luke didn't bother to point out how illogical that was. Instead, he concentrated on keeping the ship level, as he guided it towards the top of a building not too far away. He didn't question how he knew what to do. He simply did. He eased back on the throttle, managing to slow the ship, and as the speeder hit the cement rooftop, he swerved it so that the ship turned sideways as they skidded. He gritted his teeth, heart hammering in his throat as the edge of the building came closer and closer...and they came to a stop just barely on the edge.
For a moment, they sat there in tense silence, each gasping for air. Finally, the twins let out a shaky breath. "Well," Luke scowled, looking up into the night sky. No sign of Ventress' ship. "We lost her."
Leia whirled in her seat, eyes blazing with fury. "THAT'S what you care about?! How about the fact that we almost died, you dumbass!" And, she hauled off and punched his arm. Hard.
"Ouch!" Luke leaned away from her, "Wha…?"
"Do you WANT to die?! Is that it?! Do you seriously not care about your own life?!"
"Leia, we're fine. Chill, ok? I got us out…."
"BY SHEER DUMB LUCK!" Leia punched his arm again. "Do you not care about getting me killed too?! You should have at least let me drive! You don't even have a license!"
Luke opened his mouth to protest and point out that she was the one who had jumped into the speeder in the first place. She was the one who showed up uninvited by him. He didn't ask her to put herself at risk. But, he never got the chance to, for something behind him caught Leia's attention, and she went still, almost frozen on the spot, staring wide-eyed, mouth agape at something over his shoulder. Slowly, Luke turned to see what she was looking at, and froze, too.
The ship that had suddenly appeared in the midst of the fray had also just landed. In the droid socket was an extremely familiar droid-Artoo. Stepping out of the passenger door, looking grim and worried, was Obi-Wan.
And, stepping out (more like stomping out) of the driver's seat, was his father, whose nearly midnight blue eyes immediately found his. And Luke gulped, leaning in his seat towards Leia; for in those darkened blue eyes so like his own was pure, barely contained rage. Directed at him. It was a stark contrast to the utterly calm expression on his face...and through the bond they shared. He'd been so caught up in the adrenaline of the fight, of the chase through the skies of the city, that he hadn't paid attention to that bond. He'd figured the rage he felt was solely his own hatred of Ventress….and while that may have been true to some degree, he realized now it wasn't just his own emotions he was feeling. Nope. He'd felt his father's surge of wrath as well.
Not good...sooo not good.
His father was a towering nimbus of the Force, menacing as he strode over to them, Obi-Wan, equal parts angry and concerned himself, following closely behind him. For the first time since being in his dad's office earlier, he could see the fury and anger simmering underneath the surface of his father, and Luke suddenly believed that he might just be capable of doing all those terrible things he claimed he'd once done.
And this time, that anger was directed squarely at him.
Oh, Shit!
The door to the driver's side of the speeder was ripped open and off and flung away across the rooftop with the Force, the shearing sound of the metal almost ominous. Other than Leia gulping, neither of them moved as they stared at their father. After a tense silence, Anakin pointed to his own ship. "Move."
The clipped tersely spoken word was an order, a command, and Luke didn't want to find out what would happen if he disobeyed. So, he moved. And Leia, evidently coming to the same conclusion, followed suit, exiting out the passenger side, when Obi-Wan opened the door for her.
Dammit. They were in so much trouble.
I know it's been a while since the last update. Thank you for those who continue to stick with me, and for those who over the last month and a half have found the story and left reviews as you've read through it. Those are always so fun to read. I've been insanely busy at work, and I've recently moved, and I've gotten a new car. So the last while has been insane. However, I've already written the next chapter, and my Beta is working on that soon. I'm working on the chapter after that today as well. My goal is to finish this story and move back to The Assassins Blade before Ep 8 comes out. Speaking of Ep 8...WHY DON'T WE HAVE ANOTHER TRAILER?! DX I'm dying. I just want the trailer. It's the only thing I look at before seeing the movie. No interviews, or fan theories. I don't want anything spoiled other than what they show in the trailer.
I'm also totally down with J.J coming back to Ep 9. I loved Force Awakens, and while some criticism is legit, I also think J.J did what needed to be done to launch the franchise back to relevancy with the new generation. As someone who taught in school prior to Ep 7, I can tell you many of those kids hadn't seen Star Wars. The moment Ep 7 came out, everyone had seen it and they loved it...which made me so happy as a Star Wars nerd. So, I have faith in him, and he's taken his criticism to heart in the past (can you say crazy laser lights in your face every 2 seconds, Star Trek fans?) so I'm hopeful.
Random ramblings. Back on topic.
So, I'm sorry for the wait, and you'll be getting a bunch of chapters to make up for it. I adore all of you and your reviews, and hope all has been well with everyone. May the Force be with you and I'll see you soon!
The songs for this chapter are: Black Skinhead by Kanye West and Cut to the Chase from Uncharted 4.
Review!
Love,
Sarah
