Chapter 5: Vader
The damp, humid air carried no sound except Luke's panting. Nearby, standing on a tree stump among the greenery, Yoda was silent.
"Much training you need," he finally stated.
"I think I know that," Luke struggled, his eyes showing outrage.
Yoda shook his head solemnly, disappointed. The boy still hadn't learned to control his temper. So quick it was. Yet so little time. Not enough. He wanted to ignore his recent meditations, but knew better than to do so. If he had to speed up the training, he would do that. He had Luke run one more lap, then gave him time to eat.
Luke flopped down and gorged the bowl's thick, goopy contents. During his short time on Dogobath Luke had not forgotten about the weird girl. What was I thinking, believing she was from the future! True, she was a force- sensitive, there was no doubt about it. But a time traveler? No way! As for her mind-readings, they were most likely just that. She was probably very gifted in the force where reading minds was concerned. He had forgotten back there that he had only met a handful of force-users and didn't know the extent of their powers. Not that she was bad or anything. Desperate, yes, but with good intentions.
When not a spec of glop was left to for him to consume, Luke got up and prepared for another run.
Meanwhile, in Cloud City, Bespin
It wasn't the blinding light, nor the recurring announcements on the loud speaker, that woke her. It was the footsteps. Many, many footsteps, all diligent and quick, that scurried through the halls out her door. The obviously refreshed and awake owners of those footsteps shamed Jaina into rising from her sheet-sanctuary. Not knowing what to expect, Jaina quickly got dressed and, sensing no immediate danger, pressed her palm against a fist-size button near the door. It slid to her left, and two uniformed men and a brunette walked by, barely giving her a glance. Jaina remained at the door, dazed and waiting for something to happen. As she was trying to get out a reluctant yawn Lando burst into sight, a 100 watt smile and wide arms complementing his jovial eyes. Jaina pulled out from somewhere an aurora of good cheer.
"Good morning, Miss Jaina. How are you today?"
"Wonderful. It's beautiful here."
Lando's face became carved with concern.
"Oh, but you must be hungry!."
Right then and there, at that second, Jaina's head sounded an alarm. In full blast, she was soaked with an on pour of waves and waves of utter black, of sour distaste for love and it's endless bounty and a personal immunity to all the depths of the galaxy except those black, black waves. It shook her inner peace violently, her control threatened to break. With one good strong grip on her light core, she mustered her power and dignity and maintained a warm smile as Lando recited the breakfast menu.
"Pancakes sound great."
"Perfect. I'll tell the cook. After we get Han and Leia I'll show you to the dining area."
Jaina followed Lando.
Okay, it's pretty obvious. Darth Vader's here. Oh shit is he bad. But that's okay. Luke is going to be here soon. Luke... oh, Luke I totally forgot about him! How is he going to train, it's only been a day! Okay, Jaina, calm down. Darth Vader is going to hold you, Mom, and Dad hostage or whatever either here or in the Executor. What you are going to... what your goal is to keep Dad from getting frozen. Yes, that's it! You'll need to duel Darth Vader, maybe. I don't know. Maybe you can talk with him. Jaina unconsciously felt at her hip for her lightsaber. It was there. Alright, anyways, Luke may come a little later than you may want, like, a few days, but not that long because... wait a minute, the only reason why Luke came early from his training was because he felt Dad's pain when he was tortured! So, it doesn't matter about the day, it just matters when he feels needed here! Then he'll come and help us out! Alright, we're okay now.
Dad, surprisingly, wasn't the least drowsy. In fact, he was alert and as a refreshed as Lando. Mom was no different.
"You alright, Jaina?" she asked after greeting Lando outside her door. She didn't talk to Dad.
"I feel great," Jaina answered.
Time seemed to slow and details became more apparent as the four walked together through the white halls. Jaina touched her lightsaber again and was tempted to hold it, but knew better. Lando began explaining the mining colony.
"Aren't you afraid that the Empire will find you out?" Han asked. They were reliving history. Jaina looked at Dad's right hand and saw the blaster he would use in a few seconds.
"Well, we were, but we've..."
No, no, let's stop now. Let's just turn around and run for our lives.
"...just found a way to keep the Empire..."
We'll fly to Tantooine and pretend this never happened. We can escape. You don't have to do this.
"...out..."
Here we go.
"...for good."
The doors slid flew open, and there he was, none other than Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith. Two shots whizzed and fell midair. She heard Lando, but couldn't have cared less. Stormtroopers crowded around with blasters readied. She stared at the monster that her history teachers had been hush to talk about.
"We'd be honored if you would join us."
What was that? Great, the evil lord has a sense of humor.
She suddenly felt Mom's arm in front of her chest, but she whirled it away.
Lord Vader had expected the 'time-traveler' to arrive with the Rebels. What he had not expected was a young teenage girl. She had surprisingly strong mind shields, and he hadn't been able to detect the force-user's gender or age earlier. She didn't appear at all scared. She had even refused the Princess's comforting arm. She was probably trained in the ways of the force, then. Most likely a Jedi from before the Purges, though it was hard to determine whether she was from the past or future.
Jaina and her parents were pushed by the band of stormtroopers to the waiting figure. Jaina kept her cheeks stiff and mouth almost pursed, but not quite. The black helmet was nudged towards her.
Oh gods he's studying me. Oh gods this is really happening. The dark lord of the sith oh shut up scardy cat! Keep strong, girl!
"Take Captain Solo and the Princess to the torture chambers. Leave this one here."
Mom and Dad kicked and turned and stomped and shook but the stormtroopers held firm their limbs. Jaina half-heard Mom screaming her name and Han's grunts. When half of the stormtroopers left the room she backed off, taking the whole sight of it all. It was only when the last three stormies headed out the back door that she realized that she and Darth Vader were going to be all alone.
Oh shit, not even anyone, just... oh, my gods oh mercy oh somebody give me some mercy!
Only the long dining table, the chairs, and the clouds by the glass window stayed loyal. Jaina stood tall behind a chair and pressed her hands on the top of it. For some reason Jaina half expected the chair to fly out of her hands or crumble beneath her shaking fingers. Jaina brought her head up and saw Darth Vader's back turned towards her. He had his hand's clasped behind his back, staring out of the window. He could have been an art critic admiring a painting at a museum. It was definite now: Darth Vader was no bloodthirsty ruthless monster; he was a lethally shrewd, dangerous cautious, ruthless monster.
"At last we meet," he began, his back still facing her. "I detected your presence some number of days ago and hoped to find you. I must admit, I was not expecting someone so young."
What am I supposed to say? And I thought talking with boys was awkward.
"What were you expecting?"
What were you expecting? What kind of question is that?
The air trembled as the Sith lord turned slowly away from Jaina. He took a calculated step towards the other side of the dining table away from her, his gloved hands remained behind him.
"Considering the magnitude of time-traveling," he mused with another step, "in order to execute such a tremendous feat, one must be very powerful. Surely fluent in the ways of the force. Perhaps even," his helmet turned, glinting, "a Jedi."
Jaina met his penetrating stare with steady heart beats.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you," she replied.
Darth Vader immediately was right in front of her on the other side of the narrow table, his powerful arms stiffly planted on the table a couple feet from each other, helmet meeting 14-year old face.
"Are you, really?"
Jaina held firm.
The doors suddenly burst open and instantly yanked the eyes of the room's two occupants. One fumed, the other chocked.
The damp, humid air carried no sound except Luke's panting. Nearby, standing on a tree stump among the greenery, Yoda was silent.
"Much training you need," he finally stated.
"I think I know that," Luke struggled, his eyes showing outrage.
Yoda shook his head solemnly, disappointed. The boy still hadn't learned to control his temper. So quick it was. Yet so little time. Not enough. He wanted to ignore his recent meditations, but knew better than to do so. If he had to speed up the training, he would do that. He had Luke run one more lap, then gave him time to eat.
Luke flopped down and gorged the bowl's thick, goopy contents. During his short time on Dogobath Luke had not forgotten about the weird girl. What was I thinking, believing she was from the future! True, she was a force- sensitive, there was no doubt about it. But a time traveler? No way! As for her mind-readings, they were most likely just that. She was probably very gifted in the force where reading minds was concerned. He had forgotten back there that he had only met a handful of force-users and didn't know the extent of their powers. Not that she was bad or anything. Desperate, yes, but with good intentions.
When not a spec of glop was left to for him to consume, Luke got up and prepared for another run.
Meanwhile, in Cloud City, Bespin
It wasn't the blinding light, nor the recurring announcements on the loud speaker, that woke her. It was the footsteps. Many, many footsteps, all diligent and quick, that scurried through the halls out her door. The obviously refreshed and awake owners of those footsteps shamed Jaina into rising from her sheet-sanctuary. Not knowing what to expect, Jaina quickly got dressed and, sensing no immediate danger, pressed her palm against a fist-size button near the door. It slid to her left, and two uniformed men and a brunette walked by, barely giving her a glance. Jaina remained at the door, dazed and waiting for something to happen. As she was trying to get out a reluctant yawn Lando burst into sight, a 100 watt smile and wide arms complementing his jovial eyes. Jaina pulled out from somewhere an aurora of good cheer.
"Good morning, Miss Jaina. How are you today?"
"Wonderful. It's beautiful here."
Lando's face became carved with concern.
"Oh, but you must be hungry!."
Right then and there, at that second, Jaina's head sounded an alarm. In full blast, she was soaked with an on pour of waves and waves of utter black, of sour distaste for love and it's endless bounty and a personal immunity to all the depths of the galaxy except those black, black waves. It shook her inner peace violently, her control threatened to break. With one good strong grip on her light core, she mustered her power and dignity and maintained a warm smile as Lando recited the breakfast menu.
"Pancakes sound great."
"Perfect. I'll tell the cook. After we get Han and Leia I'll show you to the dining area."
Jaina followed Lando.
Okay, it's pretty obvious. Darth Vader's here. Oh shit is he bad. But that's okay. Luke is going to be here soon. Luke... oh, Luke I totally forgot about him! How is he going to train, it's only been a day! Okay, Jaina, calm down. Darth Vader is going to hold you, Mom, and Dad hostage or whatever either here or in the Executor. What you are going to... what your goal is to keep Dad from getting frozen. Yes, that's it! You'll need to duel Darth Vader, maybe. I don't know. Maybe you can talk with him. Jaina unconsciously felt at her hip for her lightsaber. It was there. Alright, anyways, Luke may come a little later than you may want, like, a few days, but not that long because... wait a minute, the only reason why Luke came early from his training was because he felt Dad's pain when he was tortured! So, it doesn't matter about the day, it just matters when he feels needed here! Then he'll come and help us out! Alright, we're okay now.
Dad, surprisingly, wasn't the least drowsy. In fact, he was alert and as a refreshed as Lando. Mom was no different.
"You alright, Jaina?" she asked after greeting Lando outside her door. She didn't talk to Dad.
"I feel great," Jaina answered.
Time seemed to slow and details became more apparent as the four walked together through the white halls. Jaina touched her lightsaber again and was tempted to hold it, but knew better. Lando began explaining the mining colony.
"Aren't you afraid that the Empire will find you out?" Han asked. They were reliving history. Jaina looked at Dad's right hand and saw the blaster he would use in a few seconds.
"Well, we were, but we've..."
No, no, let's stop now. Let's just turn around and run for our lives.
"...just found a way to keep the Empire..."
We'll fly to Tantooine and pretend this never happened. We can escape. You don't have to do this.
"...out..."
Here we go.
"...for good."
The doors slid flew open, and there he was, none other than Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith. Two shots whizzed and fell midair. She heard Lando, but couldn't have cared less. Stormtroopers crowded around with blasters readied. She stared at the monster that her history teachers had been hush to talk about.
"We'd be honored if you would join us."
What was that? Great, the evil lord has a sense of humor.
She suddenly felt Mom's arm in front of her chest, but she whirled it away.
Lord Vader had expected the 'time-traveler' to arrive with the Rebels. What he had not expected was a young teenage girl. She had surprisingly strong mind shields, and he hadn't been able to detect the force-user's gender or age earlier. She didn't appear at all scared. She had even refused the Princess's comforting arm. She was probably trained in the ways of the force, then. Most likely a Jedi from before the Purges, though it was hard to determine whether she was from the past or future.
Jaina and her parents were pushed by the band of stormtroopers to the waiting figure. Jaina kept her cheeks stiff and mouth almost pursed, but not quite. The black helmet was nudged towards her.
Oh gods he's studying me. Oh gods this is really happening. The dark lord of the sith oh shut up scardy cat! Keep strong, girl!
"Take Captain Solo and the Princess to the torture chambers. Leave this one here."
Mom and Dad kicked and turned and stomped and shook but the stormtroopers held firm their limbs. Jaina half-heard Mom screaming her name and Han's grunts. When half of the stormtroopers left the room she backed off, taking the whole sight of it all. It was only when the last three stormies headed out the back door that she realized that she and Darth Vader were going to be all alone.
Oh shit, not even anyone, just... oh, my gods oh mercy oh somebody give me some mercy!
Only the long dining table, the chairs, and the clouds by the glass window stayed loyal. Jaina stood tall behind a chair and pressed her hands on the top of it. For some reason Jaina half expected the chair to fly out of her hands or crumble beneath her shaking fingers. Jaina brought her head up and saw Darth Vader's back turned towards her. He had his hand's clasped behind his back, staring out of the window. He could have been an art critic admiring a painting at a museum. It was definite now: Darth Vader was no bloodthirsty ruthless monster; he was a lethally shrewd, dangerous cautious, ruthless monster.
"At last we meet," he began, his back still facing her. "I detected your presence some number of days ago and hoped to find you. I must admit, I was not expecting someone so young."
What am I supposed to say? And I thought talking with boys was awkward.
"What were you expecting?"
What were you expecting? What kind of question is that?
The air trembled as the Sith lord turned slowly away from Jaina. He took a calculated step towards the other side of the dining table away from her, his gloved hands remained behind him.
"Considering the magnitude of time-traveling," he mused with another step, "in order to execute such a tremendous feat, one must be very powerful. Surely fluent in the ways of the force. Perhaps even," his helmet turned, glinting, "a Jedi."
Jaina met his penetrating stare with steady heart beats.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you," she replied.
Darth Vader immediately was right in front of her on the other side of the narrow table, his powerful arms stiffly planted on the table a couple feet from each other, helmet meeting 14-year old face.
"Are you, really?"
Jaina held firm.
The doors suddenly burst open and instantly yanked the eyes of the room's two occupants. One fumed, the other chocked.