As little as it matters in the scheme of things, we did have the ideas for this chapter prior to
seeing AOTC, however, seeing as George thought they were pretty good, we decided to
leave them in! :-p. Thank you all for the continued reviews and support. You're the best!
DESTINY
Chapter 5
The unrelenting heat was just as Vader had remembered. The barren and sandy land, good for nothing. The
population still consisting of Ganglords, theives, mercenaries and the lowliest slaves. The last time he left this
hell he vowed never to return, not for any reason. Still, here he stood renewing himself with the scourge of his
childhood. He settled on a swift resolution to make this re-occurrence brief and final with the speedy capture
of the Princess.
Everything about his homeland unsettled him. The smell of it, the endless emptiness, the memories. He was
beginning to question the wisdom of his decision to return here. Drawing strength from his feelings of anger
and frustration was the only way to combat the overbearing rush of sadness and despair, both frivilous
emotions which he had believed were long dead and burried alongside any other connection he once had to
this place.
****
Yoda slept. His years were many and sleep forced itself on him these days. Even he was unable to combat the
symptoms of old age. The Jedi Master was aware of the dangers which lurked just over the horizon if he were
to lower his guard, however prevailing situtations made some things unavoidable.
Leia sat outside the hut leaning against the warm stone wall as the suns began to set. The chill darkness of
night was preparing to replace the heat of the day and she was enjoying the medium and tranquility of dusk.
She closed her eyes allowing her mind to relax and settled herself into the peace of meditation.
Darth Vader stood in the shadows of the night watching the girl Padawan and allowed reign for his amusement.
"It had always been so easy to deceive and defeat the Jedi." he thought "It is obvious her training is incomplete
or she would be aware of my presence." But his arrogance did hold room to make him wary of Yoda's absence.
He could feel the proximity of the Jedi Master but sensed no threat. He brushed the thoughts away, for
whatever the reason Yoda had made himself scarce, the fact remained that Vader was disappointed at the lack of
a challenge, but at least the ease of the Princess's capture would hasten his departure from this loathsome planet.
Then quite unexpectedly , Leia opened her eyes! The anxiety in her expression encouraged Vader to remain
secluded within in the umbra. Perhaps she was aware of him? He was interested to learn the extent of her powers
and welcomed what he hoped would be a confrontation of skills. He watched as she stood, uncertain, and torn
between a decision of some kind. Her struggle was difficult, even at this distance he could see the anguish on
her face. He watched as she checked behind her and hesitated for a brief moment before she simply stepped out
of the light and headed into the night. It was apparent she was completely unaware of him, but Vader was
intrigued by her actions as well as her destination. He followed at a distance.
Leia ran through the blackness of the night aided only by a small torch she had snatched from the hut before
her abrupt departure. She made a silent apology to Yoda for an action which she was certain he would label as
reckless or selfish...or both. As well, she offered a promise to return by first light, but right now she just had to
see him, only for a few short moments, to ease her concern. Han was free at last! She had seen this in a vision, but
he was ill and being carried to safety by Lando and Chewie. If she could just touch him, reassure him that all was
well and that she'd be with him soon. Only then, with her mind at rest, could she return to Yoda and complete the
final stages of her training. But she simply could not miss this opportunity to see him!
****
Yoda stirred and opened his eyes. He listened for a moment and concentrated on the silence. He groaned with
disenchantment and hung his head.
As Luke was, so too was Leia. Headstrong and courageous, yet naive to the dangers which would present
themselves at such a cruicial point in their training. Nevertheless, the master knew that even had she been aware
of this peril, she still would not have lost this chance to meet up with Captain Solo...and herein had always been
the trouble. Their inheritence was their father's temerity rather than their mother's rationale.
****
Leia quickened her stride, sensing Solo to be just beyond the next hill. She thought about calling out to the group
but reasoned she was still too far away to be heard. They were so close now and she almost leapt with each step! To
her absolute shock and surprise she was waylaid with a blow to the back of her shoulder and she fell hard onto the
ground. She lay there stunned and hurt, listening to the sound of feet shuffling around her and struggled to
comprehend what had just happened. She soon realised she was surrounded by her attackers and petulantly scolded
herself for her own stupidity. "What was I thinking?" the thought ran through her mind while she tried to ease the
pain in her shoulder by holding tightly to the sore spot "What type of fool rushes out into the pitch black of night in
the hope of a brief meeting with a man! A sick and blind one at that!" Any time she had for regret was quickly stolen.
She gasped when the solid impact from a boot made contact with her stomach. She doubled over, groaning in pain.
Her attackers began crowding around her. Tuskan Raiders! If Leia had spent any time in one of the Tattooine
settlements, she would have been made aware of the dangers of travelling about alone. As it stood, she had no idea
who these creatures were and any attempt she made to communicate with them was met with another savage blow.
She listened as the bandits entered a heated discussion over what she assumed could only be the merit in keeping her
alive for later uses or simply robbing what little wealth she had then leaving her body as a tidbit for the wasteland
scavengers. She didn't need an interpreter to understand the latter had been decided.
She was unarmed, another foolish action to rue, and fear robbed her of the confidence to be able to defeat the rabble
with just the force. Alone and injured, she closed her eyes as one of them raised a gaffi stick high above his head
and brought it down heavily upon her back. She cried out in pain as one after another, the Sand People laid blows to
her head, chest and legs. There was a morbid cheering amongst the bandits as she succumbed to the beatings and
her senses were dulled. However, before long she vaguely became aware of a panic which overtook the group and
their chanting abruptly stopped. She opened her eyes to see one of them being hurled violently into the darkness
then heard him land heavily several meters away. The remainder of the startled pack turned to flee, but none made it
more that a few feet before they too were cut down.
With the immediate danger passed, Leia frownded at the thought of Yoda standing behind her ready to berate her
for the dangerous situation he found her in. She slowly and painfully began to lift herself off the ground getting no
further than her knees before she raised her hand to her throat, gasping for air. She desperately fumbled about in
the night, her free hand reaching for some sort of security, or saviour. From behind she heard the chilling sound of
mechanical breathing which mingled with her own futile efforts to inhale. The knowledge of whom her rescuer was
filled her with dread and she tried desperately to inch herself away from him.
Eerily reflected in the moonlight, the black mask appeared more ominous than usual. Lord Vader approached slowly,
marking out his steps meticulously, offering no pity as the Princess pathetically struggled to call for help, her voice
broken and no more than a whisper. The unseen pressure was forcing her to rise to her feet to avoid her neck being
broken as it continued to strangle her. When she at last blacked out, Vader released his hold and she fell limply to
the ground.
The Sith Lord leaned down and studied the girl's battered and bleeding face, "I too, was once so young." he
remembered Shmi and the similiar injuries inflicted by the very same savages. "I've seen this before." His mind
travelled back over the years to his mother's death and of how this one devastating event in his life proved to be
the catalyst to drive him onto greatness. He believed this one moment in his life as the beginning of his rise to all
conquering power and control over the fractions which were set to ruin the galaxy. Vader studied the girls face for
a moment longer, then scooped her up and headed towards his rendezvous with Luke on board The Executor.
****
Vader's shuttled lifted from the sands of Tattooine for the last time and blasted towards the heavens. Leia was
huddled in the cramped space behind him, unconscious and unaware of her fate.
****
"The three of them, together they are! All of them lonely!" Yoda stared into the darkness, speaking dourly to an
unseen Obi-Wan Kenobi "Always volatile the family Skywalker. Always a risk." He leaned on his cane and
walked into the hut, his age weary body slow and hunched. He climbed into his bunk and peered out the window
one last time before resting and spoke in a tone which echoed his long held annoyance of the situation, "Action, a
Prophecy does not always require! Disapproval was mine from the beginning...CLEAR it was...but unheeded it went!"
****
Leia sat in her cell aboard The Executor awaiting her fate. It seemed her father and her brother were in no hurry to
dispense with her hastily. Obviously waiting was part of the fun! She smiled sadly at the ironic memory of Luke
rushing through her cell door on the Death Star announcing himself as her hero then leading her to Han and the
blocked escape route.
She knew there would be no rescue this time.
She wondered if she would be sorely missed by the Alliance or too easily replaced. In any case, it mattered
little. The struggle would continue without her. Han would manage to go on, at last free of his ties in every sense.
She thought it sad how it had all come to this, but she was not afraid. So many great losses throughout her life had
made it almost impossible for her to fear her impending fate. It was a determination to carry on which drove her
during her darkest hours, not fear. She knew she could withstand anything they threw at her. Heartache, pain and
loss...she had endured it all! She was not afraid.
Her cell door opened without warning and she was presented with two guards preceeding Vader. The dark
Lord wasted no time with pleasantries and simply announced that she was to follow him. The Princess hesitated
to obey him and for a moment she wondered incredulously how this dark monstrosity of a creature could really
be her father! Darth Vader caught her thoughts and immediatly interupted his exit, spinning around to stare at
her. He looked more carefully at her. The bruises and wounds to her face so reminiscient of the last minutes he
shared with his mother. He studied the young Senator's colouring and her eyes. He wondered only briefly before
shrugging off his sense of curiosity. "Follow me, your Highness. I have someone who is quite eager to meet with
you."
"You mean Commander Skywalker." Leia answered
Again, Vader stopped and turned to look at her "I see your feelings serve you well. But you still lack the
strength to withstand the power of the Darkside. Your force skills are feeble....and your time is short."
Still not bothering to stand, Leia spoke bravely "I'm not afraid of you Lord Vader. And I'm not afraid to die!"
Darth Vader stood frozen to the spot as Anakin Skywalker screamed from deep within him. In the blink of an
eye he had been transported back twenty years to the Geonosian arena where he and Padme were to have been
executed. He remembered her face, her bravery and her words. The very words uttered by the Princess which
now echoed through his mind. He lowered his eyes to look more closely at her. He studied her features and the
wounds to her face. She was undoubtably a strange mix of the two greatest loves of Anakin's life.
Vader was completely unprepared for such a chain of events and found himself completely unable to respond to the
young girl's courage or her familiarity. He motioned for the two guards to leave the cell, then stood staring at her for
several agonizing moments before he too left the cell. The door closed behind him and once again, Leia was left to
her thoughts.
Darth Vader stood outside the Princess's cell with his mind and emotions in turmoil. This flood of memories was
unwelcomed and he was confused as to how this girl was able to create such a disturbance within him. He argued
with himself that it was only the similiarites of her attack to his mother's which had prompted this fiasco and nothing
more. Still, there was stirring deep within him and at this point Vader was finding himself reluctant to hand the fate
of the Princess over to his son. For now, at least.
end Chapter 5
seeing AOTC, however, seeing as George thought they were pretty good, we decided to
leave them in! :-p. Thank you all for the continued reviews and support. You're the best!
DESTINY
Chapter 5
The unrelenting heat was just as Vader had remembered. The barren and sandy land, good for nothing. The
population still consisting of Ganglords, theives, mercenaries and the lowliest slaves. The last time he left this
hell he vowed never to return, not for any reason. Still, here he stood renewing himself with the scourge of his
childhood. He settled on a swift resolution to make this re-occurrence brief and final with the speedy capture
of the Princess.
Everything about his homeland unsettled him. The smell of it, the endless emptiness, the memories. He was
beginning to question the wisdom of his decision to return here. Drawing strength from his feelings of anger
and frustration was the only way to combat the overbearing rush of sadness and despair, both frivilous
emotions which he had believed were long dead and burried alongside any other connection he once had to
this place.
****
Yoda slept. His years were many and sleep forced itself on him these days. Even he was unable to combat the
symptoms of old age. The Jedi Master was aware of the dangers which lurked just over the horizon if he were
to lower his guard, however prevailing situtations made some things unavoidable.
Leia sat outside the hut leaning against the warm stone wall as the suns began to set. The chill darkness of
night was preparing to replace the heat of the day and she was enjoying the medium and tranquility of dusk.
She closed her eyes allowing her mind to relax and settled herself into the peace of meditation.
Darth Vader stood in the shadows of the night watching the girl Padawan and allowed reign for his amusement.
"It had always been so easy to deceive and defeat the Jedi." he thought "It is obvious her training is incomplete
or she would be aware of my presence." But his arrogance did hold room to make him wary of Yoda's absence.
He could feel the proximity of the Jedi Master but sensed no threat. He brushed the thoughts away, for
whatever the reason Yoda had made himself scarce, the fact remained that Vader was disappointed at the lack of
a challenge, but at least the ease of the Princess's capture would hasten his departure from this loathsome planet.
Then quite unexpectedly , Leia opened her eyes! The anxiety in her expression encouraged Vader to remain
secluded within in the umbra. Perhaps she was aware of him? He was interested to learn the extent of her powers
and welcomed what he hoped would be a confrontation of skills. He watched as she stood, uncertain, and torn
between a decision of some kind. Her struggle was difficult, even at this distance he could see the anguish on
her face. He watched as she checked behind her and hesitated for a brief moment before she simply stepped out
of the light and headed into the night. It was apparent she was completely unaware of him, but Vader was
intrigued by her actions as well as her destination. He followed at a distance.
Leia ran through the blackness of the night aided only by a small torch she had snatched from the hut before
her abrupt departure. She made a silent apology to Yoda for an action which she was certain he would label as
reckless or selfish...or both. As well, she offered a promise to return by first light, but right now she just had to
see him, only for a few short moments, to ease her concern. Han was free at last! She had seen this in a vision, but
he was ill and being carried to safety by Lando and Chewie. If she could just touch him, reassure him that all was
well and that she'd be with him soon. Only then, with her mind at rest, could she return to Yoda and complete the
final stages of her training. But she simply could not miss this opportunity to see him!
****
Yoda stirred and opened his eyes. He listened for a moment and concentrated on the silence. He groaned with
disenchantment and hung his head.
As Luke was, so too was Leia. Headstrong and courageous, yet naive to the dangers which would present
themselves at such a cruicial point in their training. Nevertheless, the master knew that even had she been aware
of this peril, she still would not have lost this chance to meet up with Captain Solo...and herein had always been
the trouble. Their inheritence was their father's temerity rather than their mother's rationale.
****
Leia quickened her stride, sensing Solo to be just beyond the next hill. She thought about calling out to the group
but reasoned she was still too far away to be heard. They were so close now and she almost leapt with each step! To
her absolute shock and surprise she was waylaid with a blow to the back of her shoulder and she fell hard onto the
ground. She lay there stunned and hurt, listening to the sound of feet shuffling around her and struggled to
comprehend what had just happened. She soon realised she was surrounded by her attackers and petulantly scolded
herself for her own stupidity. "What was I thinking?" the thought ran through her mind while she tried to ease the
pain in her shoulder by holding tightly to the sore spot "What type of fool rushes out into the pitch black of night in
the hope of a brief meeting with a man! A sick and blind one at that!" Any time she had for regret was quickly stolen.
She gasped when the solid impact from a boot made contact with her stomach. She doubled over, groaning in pain.
Her attackers began crowding around her. Tuskan Raiders! If Leia had spent any time in one of the Tattooine
settlements, she would have been made aware of the dangers of travelling about alone. As it stood, she had no idea
who these creatures were and any attempt she made to communicate with them was met with another savage blow.
She listened as the bandits entered a heated discussion over what she assumed could only be the merit in keeping her
alive for later uses or simply robbing what little wealth she had then leaving her body as a tidbit for the wasteland
scavengers. She didn't need an interpreter to understand the latter had been decided.
She was unarmed, another foolish action to rue, and fear robbed her of the confidence to be able to defeat the rabble
with just the force. Alone and injured, she closed her eyes as one of them raised a gaffi stick high above his head
and brought it down heavily upon her back. She cried out in pain as one after another, the Sand People laid blows to
her head, chest and legs. There was a morbid cheering amongst the bandits as she succumbed to the beatings and
her senses were dulled. However, before long she vaguely became aware of a panic which overtook the group and
their chanting abruptly stopped. She opened her eyes to see one of them being hurled violently into the darkness
then heard him land heavily several meters away. The remainder of the startled pack turned to flee, but none made it
more that a few feet before they too were cut down.
With the immediate danger passed, Leia frownded at the thought of Yoda standing behind her ready to berate her
for the dangerous situation he found her in. She slowly and painfully began to lift herself off the ground getting no
further than her knees before she raised her hand to her throat, gasping for air. She desperately fumbled about in
the night, her free hand reaching for some sort of security, or saviour. From behind she heard the chilling sound of
mechanical breathing which mingled with her own futile efforts to inhale. The knowledge of whom her rescuer was
filled her with dread and she tried desperately to inch herself away from him.
Eerily reflected in the moonlight, the black mask appeared more ominous than usual. Lord Vader approached slowly,
marking out his steps meticulously, offering no pity as the Princess pathetically struggled to call for help, her voice
broken and no more than a whisper. The unseen pressure was forcing her to rise to her feet to avoid her neck being
broken as it continued to strangle her. When she at last blacked out, Vader released his hold and she fell limply to
the ground.
The Sith Lord leaned down and studied the girl's battered and bleeding face, "I too, was once so young." he
remembered Shmi and the similiar injuries inflicted by the very same savages. "I've seen this before." His mind
travelled back over the years to his mother's death and of how this one devastating event in his life proved to be
the catalyst to drive him onto greatness. He believed this one moment in his life as the beginning of his rise to all
conquering power and control over the fractions which were set to ruin the galaxy. Vader studied the girls face for
a moment longer, then scooped her up and headed towards his rendezvous with Luke on board The Executor.
****
Vader's shuttled lifted from the sands of Tattooine for the last time and blasted towards the heavens. Leia was
huddled in the cramped space behind him, unconscious and unaware of her fate.
****
"The three of them, together they are! All of them lonely!" Yoda stared into the darkness, speaking dourly to an
unseen Obi-Wan Kenobi "Always volatile the family Skywalker. Always a risk." He leaned on his cane and
walked into the hut, his age weary body slow and hunched. He climbed into his bunk and peered out the window
one last time before resting and spoke in a tone which echoed his long held annoyance of the situation, "Action, a
Prophecy does not always require! Disapproval was mine from the beginning...CLEAR it was...but unheeded it went!"
****
Leia sat in her cell aboard The Executor awaiting her fate. It seemed her father and her brother were in no hurry to
dispense with her hastily. Obviously waiting was part of the fun! She smiled sadly at the ironic memory of Luke
rushing through her cell door on the Death Star announcing himself as her hero then leading her to Han and the
blocked escape route.
She knew there would be no rescue this time.
She wondered if she would be sorely missed by the Alliance or too easily replaced. In any case, it mattered
little. The struggle would continue without her. Han would manage to go on, at last free of his ties in every sense.
She thought it sad how it had all come to this, but she was not afraid. So many great losses throughout her life had
made it almost impossible for her to fear her impending fate. It was a determination to carry on which drove her
during her darkest hours, not fear. She knew she could withstand anything they threw at her. Heartache, pain and
loss...she had endured it all! She was not afraid.
Her cell door opened without warning and she was presented with two guards preceeding Vader. The dark
Lord wasted no time with pleasantries and simply announced that she was to follow him. The Princess hesitated
to obey him and for a moment she wondered incredulously how this dark monstrosity of a creature could really
be her father! Darth Vader caught her thoughts and immediatly interupted his exit, spinning around to stare at
her. He looked more carefully at her. The bruises and wounds to her face so reminiscient of the last minutes he
shared with his mother. He studied the young Senator's colouring and her eyes. He wondered only briefly before
shrugging off his sense of curiosity. "Follow me, your Highness. I have someone who is quite eager to meet with
you."
"You mean Commander Skywalker." Leia answered
Again, Vader stopped and turned to look at her "I see your feelings serve you well. But you still lack the
strength to withstand the power of the Darkside. Your force skills are feeble....and your time is short."
Still not bothering to stand, Leia spoke bravely "I'm not afraid of you Lord Vader. And I'm not afraid to die!"
Darth Vader stood frozen to the spot as Anakin Skywalker screamed from deep within him. In the blink of an
eye he had been transported back twenty years to the Geonosian arena where he and Padme were to have been
executed. He remembered her face, her bravery and her words. The very words uttered by the Princess which
now echoed through his mind. He lowered his eyes to look more closely at her. He studied her features and the
wounds to her face. She was undoubtably a strange mix of the two greatest loves of Anakin's life.
Vader was completely unprepared for such a chain of events and found himself completely unable to respond to the
young girl's courage or her familiarity. He motioned for the two guards to leave the cell, then stood staring at her for
several agonizing moments before he too left the cell. The door closed behind him and once again, Leia was left to
her thoughts.
Darth Vader stood outside the Princess's cell with his mind and emotions in turmoil. This flood of memories was
unwelcomed and he was confused as to how this girl was able to create such a disturbance within him. He argued
with himself that it was only the similiarites of her attack to his mother's which had prompted this fiasco and nothing
more. Still, there was stirring deep within him and at this point Vader was finding himself reluctant to hand the fate
of the Princess over to his son. For now, at least.
end Chapter 5