Star Wars Infinities: The Warrior

By Christopher W. Blaine (darth_yoshi@yahoo.com)

DISCLAIMER: The characters and situations contained in this story are ©2002 by George Lucas and are used herein without permission for fan-related, non-profit entertainment purposes only. This original work of fiction is ©2002 by Christopher W. Blaine and may not be reproduced in part or as a whole without the express permission of the author.

CHAPTER 2

Luke Skywalker jumped into the air, calling the Force to strengthen him as he pushed himself several meters high. His lightsaber came off of his utility belt and he ignited it, a black blade that shimmered with a slight purple hue on the edges. He somersaulted and swung at the same time, making no sound and listening for the telltale popping that accompanied a successful strike.

By the time he landed on the other side of the training room, he knew that his attack had been successful. He picked up the scent of burning electrical components and he turned slowly to see the two halves of the training probe laying on the floor. He smiled for the strike had been flawless; he had taken down an enemy he could not see, that possessed no life in the Force for him to detect as he began his attack. Instead, he had used his senses to reach out and find what was not in the Force.

He heard clapping from the door into the room and by its sound, he knew that it came from well-muscled hands. They were pilot's hands that were applauding his efforts. Luke made a small bow and then shut off his lightsaber. The lights suddenly came on and he saw a man in standard Imperial officer duty greens standing there with a set of night-vision goggles on. "What did you think?" he asked, seeking the approval of his friend.

"Not bad, kid, not bad at all. Wouldn't mind having you at my back during a bar fight, that's for sure," the officer replied, removing the goggles. "Hell, I don't think I could have taken that probe down with one shot with the lights on." The officer patted the blaster at his side. "Still, you know I don't believe in all of that hocus-pocus."

"Better not let my mother hear that, Han," Luke warned with a wink, "you know how she deals with the unfaithful."

Han just smiled. "Hey, you know I have the greatest respect for your mom, a pillar of the Imperial society…"

"I'm so glad I meet with your approval, Lieutenant Solo," Darth Deceptra said as she entered the room.

Han immediately came to attention and saluted, his eyes never wavering. Darth Deceptra regarded the man for a moment and once again could find no real fault with him. She could sense his fear and slight longing for her, but that was to be expected. The sliver of the Kaiburr Crystal that was embedded in her chest granted her great control over the Force, much more than what she would have been able to on her own, and it also enhanced her charisma and sexuality. In other words, she appeared larger than life to all of the senses.

She wasn't unattractive and she knew it and that did more to boost the aura of confidence that surrounded her. Even with the cybernetic eye and bionics that replaced the parts of her that had been destroyed by Darth Maul, she was someone that many men would have lusted for regardless of the Crystal. "I meant no disrespect, my lady," Han said in apology.

She did not answer him but instead left him at attention. Any other man would have been punished for such a sloppy attitude towards their superiors, but Han Solo was a member of Knight Squadron, the premier flight group within the Imperial military. Only the absolute best pilots were allowed to enter and as such, they were given great leeway since often times great pilots had great egos to match.

Approaching her kneeling son, she felt a wave of pride wash over her. When she had been a common senator of the Old Republic, back before her eyes had been opened to the chaos caused by the Jedi Knights, she had never even imagined having children. Marriage and family were thoughts for other young girls as she found herself thrust onto the galaxy stage after the Trade Federation her invaded her home planet of Naboo. 

The anger still heated her neck when she thought about how the corrupt senators had decided to debate the issue instead of take action. If not for the foresight of some Jedi Knights, like Qui-Gon Jinn, a man who saw through the deception of the Jedi Council, then Naboo would have been lost.

She also could not forget the contributions of young Anakin Skywalker, either, who took down the Trade federation Command and Control vessel by himself in a single snubnose fighter. Anakin would later grow up to become Darth Vader, Deceptra's master and husband.

Now Vader was gone and Deceptra had been left all alone to raise her son and had it not been for the Emperor's kindness, then she surely would have been lost. She had tried to repay him by providing him the heir he so desperately wanted, but the damage to her body caused by her battle with Darth Maul prevented any normal child from being produced.

Her new master had not been ungrateful for her efforts and now she enjoyed a position of authority, the second most powerful person in the galaxy. "Rise my son and tell me of your progress."

Luke did as he commanded, but did not raise his eyes to meet his mother. No male was allowed, save for the Emperor, to look directly at Deceptra without her explicit permission. It was a rule that had grown out of the misplaced intentions of Bail Organna, a would be suitor of the woman Deceptra used to be. When he could not have her, he began a campaign of competition between his child and Deceptra's.

In a dinner conversation, Deceptra had made the comment that Organna was not fit to look upon her visage. The Emperor took it a step farther and made it law not just for the Alderaanian viceroy, but for all male members of the Empire. A subtle way of maintaining needed order.

"I believe I am ready for the test of my lightsaber skills, mother, as in the tradition of the Sith," Luke said obediently.

Of that she had no doubt, but there was a problem with that. There were no other suitable candidates for Luke to battle against. It was only a formality; he would be considered a dark Jedi regardless, but the proving battle between two hopeful students was something that every student trained for because it marked a passage from student to graduate. "As you know, there are no others for you to test your mettle against. No longer do we accept students into our dark academy; there is no academy. We live only to serve the Emperor, my master and therefore your master. I will inform him of your progress and tell him there is nothing more I can teach you."

Luke nearly lifted his head up and in order to save the boy from being punished, she granted him permission to look upon her. She saw the glint of excitement in his eyes that so reminded her of her departed husband. Oh, she thought, how much she missed her Anakin! "Then if my training is done, may I submit my application to the academy?"

"There is no need for that; you are the Emperor's Fist and do not have to sit through boring lectures and training exercises to learn what you already know. You are a Sith apprentice, a Jedi of the darkest order." She cast an eye towards the ever silent and motionless Han Solo. "You are not a droid to be pushed out of the Imperial military machine."

There was a cough from behind them, but it was not unexpected. Deceptra has sensed the new arrival's presence very early on. "Ah, Baron Fel, the chief programmer of the assembly line I speak of."

"I do not turn out clones, unlike some members of the government," the commanding officer of the Knights commented dryly.

Deceptra turned to him, her cybernetic eye glowing briefly. "Be careful, Baron, for some members of the Emperor's court may find such talk treasonous."

"Then let them lay the charges at my feet. My service record speaks for my loyalty. Just because I wear the uniform, however, does not mean I agree with the philosophies of my superiors." Fel stepped into the room proper, throwing a curious glance at Solo. He shook his head and turned back to Deceptra, keeping his eyes lowered. "However, if my independent thoughts offend you, my lady, then perhaps I should just close my eyes and fly blindly into battle?"

Deceptra found the humor dry. "I suppose you have a reason for interrupting my time with my son?"

He handed over a data pad. "Indeed I do, my lady; young Skywalker's orders for a commission were just routed to me. I'm here to assign him properly to my unit."

Luke's smile grew. "You mean that's it? I'm a real pilot?"

Fel's response was quick, like a lightsaber strike to the heart. "No; it means you're an officer. You are a talented pilot, Skywalker, there is no denying that, but you have to learn how to integrate your abilities into a team."

Deceptra scoffed at the notion. "My son does not to integrate into anything; true power lies in what the individual can achieve. A 'team' as you put it is nothing more than the weak trying to live off of the accomplishments of the strong."

Fel did not bother to rely; it was an argument he had engaged in several times over the past year since he had taken command of the Knights. He decided to change the subject. "You are entitled to two weeks of leave prior to reporting to your squadron, Flight Officer Skywalker."

Luke began to smile and Deceptra could sense the hopes rising in her son. He had spent the last three years on Imperial Center, training in combat techniques. He was a young Sith warrior, eager to flex his muscles. Again she found herself comparing the boy to his father and there was a slight stirring in her heart. Would Luke go out and find his own Padme to fall in love with?

She held her breath as she remembered Anakin's touch. "And what are you suggesting, Baron?" she asked.

He shrugged, bringing his eyes up briefly. She admired the defiance he displayed but kept that information buried. The Emperor surely would not hesitate to kill even his favorite Imperial hero for violating his commands. "I think it would be good for the boy to get out and show the Empire he's all grown up."

"I would have to clear it with the Emperor…"

Fel handed over a piece of flimsy. "I have taken the liberty of speaking with him already."

Deceptra's anger became a hot blanket that dropped over all of them. Han began to sweat, but Fel maintained his cool demeanor. "You sometimes take liberties you shouldn't, Baron."

"I am a Hero of the Empire…I do not require your permission to seek an audience with the Emperor," Fel reminded her. It was true, but he was still skating the thin line between privilege and insubordination. Again, she found the quality admirable. Very few men were able to ignite such passion within her and though she would never speak her thoughts out loud, her feelings for Fel went beyond the chain of command.

"Do you suggest that he go alone out into the world?" she asked coldly.

He shook his head and then indicated Solo. "Let his comrade and future wingman go with him. Regardless of your beliefs, it is important that they develop a strong bond between them."

"Friendship is a weakness."

"As I said, your beliefs in this matter, my lady, are not the basis for my decision. I am in charge of the squadron and our current record reflects my management style." He bowed his head. "As for friendship, my lady, I am sorry to hear you say that for I had always considered us friends, even if we didn't always agree."

Deceptra tried to read his thoughts with the Force, but Fel's mind was too strong for her to do it passively. If she tried to force her way past his defenses, she could harm him and the Empire would lose a valuable weapon. Perhaps his sentiments were real and he did have a genuine affection for her or perhaps he sensed her desire for him and was using it as a striking blade in this duel.

Fel had been married once before, to a holodramas star. Deceptra had her killed, of course, but had yet to act upon the feelings she was developing for the younger man. Maybe it was time to seek out a new mate. Anakin had been dead for almost two decades and while she had been taken on as the Emperor's lover, she held no illusions about his feelings for her. She was his apprentice, the heir to his throne should he ever return to the Force, which didn't seem very likely.

If she were to remarry, she often times wondered how Palpatine would react. Would he no longer call her to his bed? Would he kill Fel as a rival, just as she had eliminated Fel's wife? Fel could perhaps fill the void that was left in her life by the death of Anakin and it was quite possible that they could have children together…normal children.

"A Sith has no time for friendship, a lesson I wish my son would learn," she said turning to Luke. He continued to smile and she realized that the spark of joy that had been passed onto him from his father just could not be put out. Luke was a different kind of Sith, just as Deceptra was. "I suppose we all have a tendency to gravitate towards those who opinions matter, even if they are below our station," she said. Han still did not move but she noted that his forehead was plastered with sweat.

She loved her son dearly, a quality that Palpatine had pointed out was very un-Sithlike. She had asked him if he had ever felt any type of feelings for any of his former apprentices. He had smiled, telling her that out of all them, including herself, he had always felt that Darth Maul had been most like him and that he had always felt a sort of admiration towards the Sith Lord.

"Very well, since I appear to have been outvoted on this issue, I give my consent. However, Captain," she said, using Fel's military rank and shaking a black gloved finger at him. "Should any harm befall my son because of that primate you send along with him, I promise you that you will feel death a thousand times before I send you to oblivion."

Fel clicked his heels together and bowed from the waist. "As you command, my lady."

"My mother has taken a great interest in you, Captain Fel," Luke said as he and his new commanding officer stood in the hanger bay. Han was already inside the shuttle, prepping it for takeoff. "Some would say an interest that is more social than required."

"Is there a problem with that, Flight Officer Skywalker?" Fel asked with a smirk.

Luke's normally pleasant blue eyes took on a dark hue. "If there was a problem, sir, I would let you know immediately."

"Are you threatening me, son?"

"Don't call me son. I am the child of Deceptra and Vader, a Sith by training and by lineage. If I were threatening you, sir, you would be dead already. Make no mistake, I need…no, I want to serve under you and learn what it is that you know, but that doesn't mean that I'm not who I am." He leaned in closer. "If you hurt my mother, I will not only kill you, but I'll hunt down every person in the galaxy with an ounce of Fel DNA as well."

Fel now looked at the boy whom he had considered merely an oddity, a Force-trained Imperial soldier for the past year. Gone was the face of innocence and exuberance, to be replaced by the visage of dark power. This was the Sith of legend, the fabled enemies of the accursed Jedi who could move mountains with thoughts and shoot lightning from their fingertips. All of his preconceived notions about Luke Skywalker went out the window.

He knew that Deceptra was interested in him and despite the age difference, he found himself attracted to her as well. Ever since his wife had been murdered by space pirates, he had been alone with his grief. In Deceptra, he saw a kindred spirit. Their differences, her with the Force and he with his piloting ability, only served to intrigue him more. He had not pursued his feelings only because he did not wish to be on the receiving end of the Emperor's wraith. "A very nice threat, but I do not scare easily."

Luke smiled darkly. "I know, which is why my mother looks at you the way she does. I have caught glimpses of the future, Captain, and I know that you will be with my mother soon. However, the future is clouded as to the end result. I'm just trying to make it easier on you."

"Or easier on yourself, perhaps? Maybe you think if I become involved with your mother you won't have to try so hard?"

Luke laughed a genuine, joyful outburst. "I do not need your patronizing, sir; I'm the best damn pilot you have and you know it."

"We shall see, Flight Officer Skywalker, when you get back. Enough of this; I am your commanding officer and you will never speak to me in such a way again. Remember, I do have the ear of the Emperor." He patted Luke's shoulder. "My loyalty to the Empire is absolute as is my loyalty to my superiors, including your mother."

Luke accepted that and his eyes took on their normal light hue. "I'll try not to be good."

Fel watched the young pilot run off to the shuttle. "I'm sure you will," he whispered.