Apologies once again for the delay in uploading chapters. We intend to see
this story through to it's end, but there
will always be times when writing needs to take a backseat. Our excuse
this time is that life has been very full,
writer's block reared it's ugly head and our keyboard departed this life
for PC Heaven. But all is well now, and I'm
in a mood for writing so following chapters should arrive quicker than this
one.
Our thanks to Angel Ruse, Pitdroid, MBooker, Eviefan, Ophuchi and not least of all, Ruth and all other reviewers.
DESTINY
Chapter 10
Luke watched the endless traffic which filled the sky of Coruscant, his hands grasped together behind his back, his brow furrowed. His new master was already expressing dissatisfaction with his failure in knowing Vader's whereabouts, and this angered the young Sith. Cloaking devices were commonplace and he considered the Emperor's reproach on his abilities to be unjust. Demonstating habits of old, Luke withdrew in silent resentment.
Coruscant represented wealth, power, efficiency. It's smooth, uninterupted flow and corrupt, seedy underbelly appealed to Luke's mind and a small, mendacious smile crept over his lips. If he truly wanted control of all this, and more, he would need to reach out and sieze it! He would seek out Vader and destroy him!
****
As instructed by Yoda, the Millenium Falcon touched down in the regions of Naboo's Lake Country. It's three occupants stared through the cockpit windows, incredulous of the planet's beauty and sense of peace.
"Nice place to live if you have the time!" Lando quipped.
"And the money!" although Han was not as glib as his friend. The intrigue which had unfolded during his absence was alarming, at best. But in Han's opinion, Vader bringing Leia to Naboo made very little sense. He couldn't see the reasoning behind such a decision. "Why would he bring her here?"
"Yeah...well Vader's never needed a reason for anything." Lando collected his weapon and stood in the doorway of the cockpit, "So where do we start?"
"Right in there." Han pointed to the palacial home of Varykino. "That's where the little green guy said she'd be, so that's where we're going!"
"And you're taking his word for it?"
Chewbacca grunted in agreement with Calrissian, calling for the Captain to explain himself. Solo was in no mood for discussion and he stood to make his way outside. "From what I know of the Jedi, they talk in riddles and live in the worst places imaginable!" He glanced at his crew and smirked, "But what other choice have we got?"
****
Luke sat in complete darkness, his eyes and thoughts wide open. Searching. His father was indeed skilled in the powers of the force! Any effort to seek Vader out was fruitless, his force abilities so easily surpassing Luke's struggle to discover him. His thoughts and emotions were impenetrable! Each and every move the Dark Lord made was carefully masked. The frustration continued to grow within Skywalker and beads of sweat were forming on his brow from the effort required to maintain this mind battle with Vader.
But then, something else glowed in his mind. A familiar ship landing on a distant planet. Voices he recognized! Faces he knew! Luke Skywalker was seeing the Millenium Falcon land on Naboo! He smiled in the darkness, and waited.
****
Leia sat holding the gloved hand of her father.
'My father....'
Her decision to stand beside him united against Luke seemed impossible.
'My brother...'
As much as her heart fought against it, she knew that Luke had forsaken all he had known and turned against her. In a way, this was more difficult to accept than the fact that Darth Vader now stood in Luke's place.
'Darth Vader!' she recalled the fear and loathing that she held for that name.
She looked at the mask, raising her questions and fears one last time, "Vader is dead....isn't he? Defeated?"
Anakin turned to look at his daughter and nodded. His grief swelled as he stared her...the image of her mother. He had lost so much! "I cannot use that name any longer." A silence fell between them before Anakin squeezed Leia's hand, "Give to me the strength which your mother passed onto you, and together we will see the Force shift back into it's right and natural balance." Leia rose from the couch with Anakin and walked through the door by his side.
****
Chewbacca stood shaking his head at the foot of the palacial stairs. No amount of coaxing from either Han or Lando was going to change his mind. He was not joining in on a surprise attack against Vader under any circumstances, not even for Leia!
"Chewie!" demanded Solo in an irate whisper, but it was useless.
Lando tapped Han on the shoulder "Leave him where he is! We can use him for back-up. If we hang around in the open much longer the whole place is gonna know we're here!" Solo had to agree. But before he left with Lando, he turned once again to Chewbacca and delivered a threat if he should move from the spot on which he now stood! The Wookiee watched as the two former pirates ascended the stairs, then he carefully concealed himself amongst the hedges of the immaculate garden.
Calrissian and Solo crept their way along the verandah, peering into each window as they passed. The mansion seemed unnaturally quiet and empty. "Your little green friend seems to have got it wrong." Lando whispered ahead to his friend, who was huddled on the other side of the window. "There's no-one here!"
"Sshh!" Han waved urgently for Lando to shut up. He could hear approaching footsteps from the blind corner just ahead of them. Lando raised his blaster in unison with his friend and the two men waited in ambush.
Solo sprang first, spinning around the corner with blaster cocked and raised, shouting for his quarry to halt. Lando was close on his heels and assumed an identical stance. The Princess was taken by surprise and recoiled briefly before shouting for Han to lower his weapon, then completely surprised the Corellian by throwing herself before Vader and into the line of fire.
Confusion reigned briefly as the three rebels yelled back and forth with warnings and disbelief. Leia reached out to Han, insisting he not shoot! Instead, he attempted to aim above her and began to squeeze the trigger when his blaster was wrenched from his hand! Solo had encountered this before, and he knew it signalled his loss. He watched helplessly as his firearm flew from his grip and into the hand of Darth Vader. The giant then turned his attention towards Calrissian. Always less petulant than his friend, Lando carefully stood upright and raised both hands in the air, cautiously replacing the safety catch on his blaster.
Vader silently stepped back and Calrissian remained motionless as they watched Han and the Princess stare at each other before Han began his incredulous questioning. Leia stepped up to him, grabbing hold of his hands and touching his face, more intent on indulging in his presence than answering his questions. However, as relieved as he was to see her unharmed, he struggled to comprehend what could possibly coax her to leap in front of his blaster to defend Vader! Glancing over her shoulder at the Sith Lord, it was strangely apparent to him that there was no threat and he shook his head with astonishment and confusion. It appeared that everyone had gone mad! Solo wrapped his arms about Leia's shoulders, still watching Vader and expecting him to pounce. Squeezing her close, he laid a single kiss in her hair, "Are you all right? What the hell are you doing!"
****
Darth Vader may have successfully concealed himself from Luke, but Leia's feelings were raw and abundant. The joy of her reunion with Solo along with the anguish and turmoil she had endured while speaking with her newfound father were not shrouded by the Force.
"So. It seems we share a father." Luke's smile showed under the dimmed lights of his cabin. The mystery now presented itself clearly and he had won a personal victory over Vader. "But the family is still scattered....sister!" He considered leaving immediately for Naboo, but he sensed that there was still more to be discovered from this meeting. Luke decided to wait and watch. From his time with Vader, he had learned that in order to defeat him, he must first trap him.
****
Chewbacca sprang from the bushes and began firing at the dark figure which towered over his captives. The blaster shots were defected by gloved hands and redirected to the Wookiee's feet. Chewie snarled, shifting his feet quickly away from the ricochets, but continued to fire. He heard Han shouting for him to stop and caught sight of his long time friend furiously waving at him to stop! Solo had pushed the Princess behind him, all the while shouting down the stairs at Chewbacca, "Stop! Chewie, cut it out!" The unimaginable presented itself at the top of the stairs, but at last, Chewbacca heeded his Captain's orders, and lowered his rifle.
It was Leia, pushing past Han and Lando, who ran towards Chewbacca in attempt to explain. She reached up to touch his shoulders, whispering to him that everything was all right. Still, he growled fiercely as Vader approached with the others, again bringing his rifle to aim. This time it was Han who re-assured him and allowed Leia and Vader to board the Falcon. Chewie whined his disapproval and Han patted him on the back. "It's okay, buddy. She's sort of told me what's going on." He walked with Lando and Chewie up the boarding ramp. "None of it makes the slightest bit of sense, though. But, let's go inside and get the full story." Neither of his crew missed the sarcasm etched in Solo's voice.
****
Chewbacca and Calrissian sat like prisoners in Vader's presence. Leia had insisted on speaking with Han alone and for his wary companions, they seemed to have been gone for far too long. When they finally rejoined the group, Leia immediately sat beside her father, while Solo simply looked bemused. He stood briefly before Vader and stared suspiciously at him, the looked at Leia and sighed.
He addressed Vader, "So! Where is it that I'm taking you?"
"Coruscant."
Solo felt the anger and mistrust rise in his blood. He reached over and pulled Leia from her seat. "I want you up front with me!" She protested loudly, but he quickly quieted her with a stern voice, "No arguements!" He strode towards the cockpit with an irate Princess in tow and mumbled beneath his breath "I have a bad feeling about this."
end chapter
Our thanks to Angel Ruse, Pitdroid, MBooker, Eviefan, Ophuchi and not least of all, Ruth and all other reviewers.
DESTINY
Chapter 10
Luke watched the endless traffic which filled the sky of Coruscant, his hands grasped together behind his back, his brow furrowed. His new master was already expressing dissatisfaction with his failure in knowing Vader's whereabouts, and this angered the young Sith. Cloaking devices were commonplace and he considered the Emperor's reproach on his abilities to be unjust. Demonstating habits of old, Luke withdrew in silent resentment.
Coruscant represented wealth, power, efficiency. It's smooth, uninterupted flow and corrupt, seedy underbelly appealed to Luke's mind and a small, mendacious smile crept over his lips. If he truly wanted control of all this, and more, he would need to reach out and sieze it! He would seek out Vader and destroy him!
****
As instructed by Yoda, the Millenium Falcon touched down in the regions of Naboo's Lake Country. It's three occupants stared through the cockpit windows, incredulous of the planet's beauty and sense of peace.
"Nice place to live if you have the time!" Lando quipped.
"And the money!" although Han was not as glib as his friend. The intrigue which had unfolded during his absence was alarming, at best. But in Han's opinion, Vader bringing Leia to Naboo made very little sense. He couldn't see the reasoning behind such a decision. "Why would he bring her here?"
"Yeah...well Vader's never needed a reason for anything." Lando collected his weapon and stood in the doorway of the cockpit, "So where do we start?"
"Right in there." Han pointed to the palacial home of Varykino. "That's where the little green guy said she'd be, so that's where we're going!"
"And you're taking his word for it?"
Chewbacca grunted in agreement with Calrissian, calling for the Captain to explain himself. Solo was in no mood for discussion and he stood to make his way outside. "From what I know of the Jedi, they talk in riddles and live in the worst places imaginable!" He glanced at his crew and smirked, "But what other choice have we got?"
****
Luke sat in complete darkness, his eyes and thoughts wide open. Searching. His father was indeed skilled in the powers of the force! Any effort to seek Vader out was fruitless, his force abilities so easily surpassing Luke's struggle to discover him. His thoughts and emotions were impenetrable! Each and every move the Dark Lord made was carefully masked. The frustration continued to grow within Skywalker and beads of sweat were forming on his brow from the effort required to maintain this mind battle with Vader.
But then, something else glowed in his mind. A familiar ship landing on a distant planet. Voices he recognized! Faces he knew! Luke Skywalker was seeing the Millenium Falcon land on Naboo! He smiled in the darkness, and waited.
****
Leia sat holding the gloved hand of her father.
'My father....'
Her decision to stand beside him united against Luke seemed impossible.
'My brother...'
As much as her heart fought against it, she knew that Luke had forsaken all he had known and turned against her. In a way, this was more difficult to accept than the fact that Darth Vader now stood in Luke's place.
'Darth Vader!' she recalled the fear and loathing that she held for that name.
She looked at the mask, raising her questions and fears one last time, "Vader is dead....isn't he? Defeated?"
Anakin turned to look at his daughter and nodded. His grief swelled as he stared her...the image of her mother. He had lost so much! "I cannot use that name any longer." A silence fell between them before Anakin squeezed Leia's hand, "Give to me the strength which your mother passed onto you, and together we will see the Force shift back into it's right and natural balance." Leia rose from the couch with Anakin and walked through the door by his side.
****
Chewbacca stood shaking his head at the foot of the palacial stairs. No amount of coaxing from either Han or Lando was going to change his mind. He was not joining in on a surprise attack against Vader under any circumstances, not even for Leia!
"Chewie!" demanded Solo in an irate whisper, but it was useless.
Lando tapped Han on the shoulder "Leave him where he is! We can use him for back-up. If we hang around in the open much longer the whole place is gonna know we're here!" Solo had to agree. But before he left with Lando, he turned once again to Chewbacca and delivered a threat if he should move from the spot on which he now stood! The Wookiee watched as the two former pirates ascended the stairs, then he carefully concealed himself amongst the hedges of the immaculate garden.
Calrissian and Solo crept their way along the verandah, peering into each window as they passed. The mansion seemed unnaturally quiet and empty. "Your little green friend seems to have got it wrong." Lando whispered ahead to his friend, who was huddled on the other side of the window. "There's no-one here!"
"Sshh!" Han waved urgently for Lando to shut up. He could hear approaching footsteps from the blind corner just ahead of them. Lando raised his blaster in unison with his friend and the two men waited in ambush.
Solo sprang first, spinning around the corner with blaster cocked and raised, shouting for his quarry to halt. Lando was close on his heels and assumed an identical stance. The Princess was taken by surprise and recoiled briefly before shouting for Han to lower his weapon, then completely surprised the Corellian by throwing herself before Vader and into the line of fire.
Confusion reigned briefly as the three rebels yelled back and forth with warnings and disbelief. Leia reached out to Han, insisting he not shoot! Instead, he attempted to aim above her and began to squeeze the trigger when his blaster was wrenched from his hand! Solo had encountered this before, and he knew it signalled his loss. He watched helplessly as his firearm flew from his grip and into the hand of Darth Vader. The giant then turned his attention towards Calrissian. Always less petulant than his friend, Lando carefully stood upright and raised both hands in the air, cautiously replacing the safety catch on his blaster.
Vader silently stepped back and Calrissian remained motionless as they watched Han and the Princess stare at each other before Han began his incredulous questioning. Leia stepped up to him, grabbing hold of his hands and touching his face, more intent on indulging in his presence than answering his questions. However, as relieved as he was to see her unharmed, he struggled to comprehend what could possibly coax her to leap in front of his blaster to defend Vader! Glancing over her shoulder at the Sith Lord, it was strangely apparent to him that there was no threat and he shook his head with astonishment and confusion. It appeared that everyone had gone mad! Solo wrapped his arms about Leia's shoulders, still watching Vader and expecting him to pounce. Squeezing her close, he laid a single kiss in her hair, "Are you all right? What the hell are you doing!"
****
Darth Vader may have successfully concealed himself from Luke, but Leia's feelings were raw and abundant. The joy of her reunion with Solo along with the anguish and turmoil she had endured while speaking with her newfound father were not shrouded by the Force.
"So. It seems we share a father." Luke's smile showed under the dimmed lights of his cabin. The mystery now presented itself clearly and he had won a personal victory over Vader. "But the family is still scattered....sister!" He considered leaving immediately for Naboo, but he sensed that there was still more to be discovered from this meeting. Luke decided to wait and watch. From his time with Vader, he had learned that in order to defeat him, he must first trap him.
****
Chewbacca sprang from the bushes and began firing at the dark figure which towered over his captives. The blaster shots were defected by gloved hands and redirected to the Wookiee's feet. Chewie snarled, shifting his feet quickly away from the ricochets, but continued to fire. He heard Han shouting for him to stop and caught sight of his long time friend furiously waving at him to stop! Solo had pushed the Princess behind him, all the while shouting down the stairs at Chewbacca, "Stop! Chewie, cut it out!" The unimaginable presented itself at the top of the stairs, but at last, Chewbacca heeded his Captain's orders, and lowered his rifle.
It was Leia, pushing past Han and Lando, who ran towards Chewbacca in attempt to explain. She reached up to touch his shoulders, whispering to him that everything was all right. Still, he growled fiercely as Vader approached with the others, again bringing his rifle to aim. This time it was Han who re-assured him and allowed Leia and Vader to board the Falcon. Chewie whined his disapproval and Han patted him on the back. "It's okay, buddy. She's sort of told me what's going on." He walked with Lando and Chewie up the boarding ramp. "None of it makes the slightest bit of sense, though. But, let's go inside and get the full story." Neither of his crew missed the sarcasm etched in Solo's voice.
****
Chewbacca and Calrissian sat like prisoners in Vader's presence. Leia had insisted on speaking with Han alone and for his wary companions, they seemed to have been gone for far too long. When they finally rejoined the group, Leia immediately sat beside her father, while Solo simply looked bemused. He stood briefly before Vader and stared suspiciously at him, the looked at Leia and sighed.
He addressed Vader, "So! Where is it that I'm taking you?"
"Coruscant."
Solo felt the anger and mistrust rise in his blood. He reached over and pulled Leia from her seat. "I want you up front with me!" She protested loudly, but he quickly quieted her with a stern voice, "No arguements!" He strode towards the cockpit with an irate Princess in tow and mumbled beneath his breath "I have a bad feeling about this."
end chapter