AUTHOR'S NOTE: I keep referring to the Luke/Vader Writers site -- there's even a shameless plug for it in chapter 16, I think. It's a haven for people who like to write stories with lots of Luke/Vader interaction. You can find them at http://members.tripod.com/luke_vader_writers/Home. Enjoy!
Chapter XXIV - Operation Elite
"I don't like the idea of Earth people coming along," Luke said for the fifth time.
Leia sighed. "Matthews and Li are professionals, Luke. They can take care of themselves." She watched as Li exited the bathroom and let his partner enter to change his clothes -- suits were rather inappropriate attire for physical activity. "Besides, they want to come, despite the risks."
"I don't have a problem with them going. It's Austin I'm worried about. Are you sure it's a good idea to take him?"
"I've tried dissuading him," Anakin replied. "But he won't hear of it."
Luke, Leia, Anakin, the agents, and Austin readied themselves for the mission, preparing weapons and changing into battle-suitable clothing. The Osmond brothers had gone to Jason's work on a mysterious errand, and the rest of the Elite had presumably gone back to their respective homes or workplaces. Han, Chewie, and Fett were back in the landing meadow, doing repairs on the Slave.
"Yes, is Liberty there?" Austin asked, cradling the telephone receiver in the crook of his shoulder while he cleaned a blaster rifle. "Well, when do you expect her back? Hmm. That's odd. She never leaves work early. If she does stop by, just tell her I called." He dialed another number and waited. "Damn, it's her answering machine. Hi, this is Austin. I'm going with Vader and the others on the rescue mission. If I don't get back... I just want you to know... I love you." He hung up.
"I'd appreciate it if you called me Anakin," Anakin told him.
"Sorry. Old habits die hard."
"Austin, for the last time, you would be wise to go back home," Anakin said firmly. "We have the situation under control."
Austin glared at him, a tortured fire burning in his ice-blue eyes. "My son was murdered by that fiend. I loved Trapper. He was the greatest treasure of my life. If I die trying to save another child from a similar fate, so be it, but at least I'll be with Trapper again." He paused to regain his composure. "If you want me to stay behind, you'll have to sedate me and chain me up first."
Anakin stared at Austin, then slowly collapsed into a chair. "Great stars," he breathed. "That was why love was forbidden."
"What do you mean?" asked Leia.
"Love is the most powerful emotion there is," Anakin explained. "It can be twisted into grief, rage, joy, hatred, any number of alternate forms, but it is just as strong nonetheless. It can create... or it can destroy." He gestured toward his children. "My love for Padme created you, but it also destroyed me. Austin's love for his son has been transformed into hatred toward the Emperor, and his love will destroy Palpatine or be destroyed trying." He shook his head in wonder. "Why it took me so long to realize..."
"I never thought of it that way," Li said. "I'm not a fanatic, but I've seen the movies. I thought the rule forbidding love was just something particular to the Jedi religion, like Judaism forbidding eating pork or the Shakers forbidding sex."
"That's still no reason for forbidding love," Leia protested. "Love can do so much good!"
"If one is careful, it can," Luke replied. "Apparently too many Jedi weren't being careful, and the Order had to ban it."
There was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it," offered Li, opening the door.
"Austin?"
The leader of Vader's Elite looked up. Striding into the living room was Liberty, wearing safari-type khakis, her red-and-blonde striped hair held back in a utilitarian braid. She carried a crossbow, and a quiver of arrows was slung over her shoulder.
"I didn't think I'd catch you in time."
"You can't come, Lib," Austin ordered.
"And why not?" she demanded. "I'm a crack shot with this." She held up the crossbow. "I know judo and tae kwon do. I can handle it."
"Liberty," Austin said warningly.
"I loved Trapper too," she continued, her voice breaking at the end of that statement. "He was like the son I'll never be able to have. And more than anything, I'd like to wring a few Imp necks and get Rachel back."
"Liberty..."
She threw the crossbow on the couch, grabbed Austin's head, and planted a passionate kiss on his lips. Too startled to protest, Austin responded in kind.
"I love you," Liberty breathed once they'd pulled apart. "And I'm not going to let you kill yourself on this jaunt. I'm going to be there to guard your back, whether you like it or not."
Austin sighed heavily. "Well, I DON'T like it..."
"Tough. I'm going." She realized the others were staring at her. "Any of you wanna tell me I'm not?"
Luke shrugged. "I have a feeling it won't make any difference."
Someone else knocked, and Li opened the door to admit Brigham, who carried a long- range hunting rifle and a skinning knife in a belt sheath.
"Brigham?" Anakin said in amazement. "I didn't know your religion permitted weapons."
"We are taught," Brigham said confidently, "to fight when the cause is just, to fight for our lives, our freedom, our faith, our wives -- and our children. We fight for a just cause now. The Lord is behind us."
Liberty rolled her eyes. "Yes, Porter Rockwell."
"Shut up, Liberty," Brigham retorted.
At that moment, Zack strutted into the house in all his glory, wearing camoflauge pants, combat boots, and a too-big army green tank top and carrying a semi-automatic that made him look like a Jawa trying to handle a laser cannon.
"Ready to rumble!" he cried. "Do I look like Rambo or what?"
"No, you look like a dork," snapped Liz, entering the house armed with an AK-47.
The entire Elite was pouring into the house, carrying guns of every kind, knives, clubs, body armor, even a battered sword. All wore expressions of determination, united in their cause. A ragtag army to say the very least, but the Skywalkers knew they would never find a more dedicated group of volunteers anywhere on the planet.
"Who wants to be the one to tell them they're not coming with us?" Leia remarked dryly.
"Oh no," groaned Matthews as he surveyed the motley crew. "We can't have them all go."
"Many hands make light work," Emily pointed out, twisting the sword in its scabbard.
"Yeah, what she said," Mike added as he patted his shotgun. Abruptly it went off, obliterating the kitchen light fixture.
"Not again," moaned Patrick.
"Mike, gimmie that," Emily demanded, wrenching the gun from him. "Hold this instead." She gave him the sword.
"Let them come," Anakin said. "The more help we have, the better. My only request is that someone stays on the planet to keep us updated on planetside events. I'd be a fool to think the Emperor will leave Earth unmolested during our strike."
"Already taken care of," Sparky replied, wheeling himself to the front. "George, Piett, and I will remain on Earth with a comm unit courtesy of our good Admiral. I'm afraid I'd only get in the way in a battle."
"You'll be doing us a great service," Leia told him.
Luke looked up from his own comm. "That was Han. The Falcon and Slave are as ready for travel as they're going to be. They're waiting for us."
"Let's go start some aggressive negotiations!" shouted Cody as everyone headed out the door.
***
In the Falcon's landing meadow, the Elite bustled about to prepare for the journey. Most members exchanged their conventional guns for blaster weapons, though the crossbow, shotgun, sword, and two automatics remained in the arsenal in case a situation arose where a blaster was useless. Sparky, Lucas, and Piett helped prep and load weapons while Anakin briefed everyone on what to expect once they boarded the Executor. Artoo projected a map of the Stardestroyer's interior as reference.
In the other meadow, Fett loaded the last of his personal gear into the Slave and began one last pre-flight check.
"Fett?"
Liz entered the clearing, clutching a blaster rifle. "What are you doing?"
He hit the loading ramp. "Leaving."
"Well, I can see that," she snapped. "Aren't you coming with us?"
He gave her an even look. "I'm a mercenary, Liz. I take no sides. I am neutral and will always remain so."
She gave him a glare that could have withered durasteel. "Rachel's being held captive by a crazed hack and you're picking NOW to be neutral?!"
"I am very sorry about the girl," Fett replied coolly. "She was a sweet thing. But it has long been my policy to not get muddled up in the Civil War. Or in any other political conflict, for that matter. My father subscribed to that belief, and so shall I."
"Damn you, Fett!" shrieked Liz. "Your father this, your father that, you follow your father off a cliff! So what? Jango Fett wasn't a god! He was a person and he's dead! Get over it already!"
Fett's hand came up to strike her. She was expecting this. She'd seen him slap a girl at Stellar-Con for bashing the elder Fett. She didn't flinch but only held his gaze defiantly.
The hand never connected. He lowered it slowly. "Don't you ever, ever say that to me again, Liz."
"Why not?" she retorted. "Because it's true?"
"I loved my father. He was my hero. In many ways, he was me and I was him." He looked away. "Part of me died the day I saw the Jedi strike him down."
"Then why the hell do you let the rest of you wallow in it?" She jammed a finger into his chest. "Be your own person, Fett, not a Jango incarnate! You won't ever be Jango! Deal with it!"
"Point well made, but it does not change my mind."
She exploded in a torrent of expletives. "You're incredible, Fett! You know what we're up against! You know what we're fighting! We could use you! You're a good fighter! We need you!"
"I know what you face. But rest assured we are not on opposite sides. I can't join you, but I will not aid the Empire and fight against you."
"You're already aiding the Empire! Your apathy aids it! By not fighting the Empire you're saying what they're doing is okay and allowing them to keep hurting innocent people! If you're not with us, you're against us!"
He let her finish ranting. Once she ran out of steam he placed his hands on her shoulders.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Liz. I had hoped we would part on good terms. But that doesn't seem to be the case."
"Boba, it's not like that," she hissed, trying to wrench away.
He held her fast. She placed her hands against his chest to push him away but paused, puzzled, as he reached for his helmet. With a swift motion he pulled it off.
She had expected Boba Fett to look like Jango under the mask. And he did have the same Maori-type features. But there were subtle differences that set the son of Jango apart. The scar patterns were different, for one thing. There was less flesh on his face, giving him an aquiline look. In Episode II Temeura Morrison's character had always had an amused look on his face, but Boba's expression was steely and ruthless, with dark eyes that glittered with a savage fire.
Liz barely had time to wonder why she was privy to a sight no other living being in the galaxy had seen before he pulled her close and kissed her.
She relaxed against him, sliding her hands around his neck. He embraced her tightly and gently raised a hand to caress the side of her face. For one glorious moment the Galactic Civil War, the rescue mission, everything faded away except the arms around her and the lips upon her mouth. For a moment that was an eternity, she knew paradise.
He pulled away, his eyes briefly aglow with something tender and human before they hardened again. Retrieving his helmet, he slid it back over his head. Once more he was the inhuman bounty hunter.
"Come with me, Liz," he offered.
She shook her head. "You know I can't, Fett. Our worlds are too different." She looked away. "I'd be a freak out there. And you'd be a freak here."
He released her. "Then this is goodbye."
Tears blurred her vision. "I love you," she whispered.
He nodded. "I know."
And with that, he boarded the Slave.
Liz stared, numb, as the Firespray lifted off with a roar and disappeared in the graying evening sky.
"Liz, we're ready to go," Leia said, entering the meadow.
She forced herself to look away from the receding mote. "I'd hoped he'd come around."
Leia opened her mouth to speak, but Liz jumped on her. "I know, I know, he has to follow his own path! No one can choose it for him!"
"I wasn't going to say that," Leia replied. "I was going to say it's a shame. You two made a cute couple."
Liz gave a resigned smile. "I don't know, Leia. Maybe there are reasons our worlds weren't supposed to collide. If I were to go with him I'd be 'The Beverly Hillbilly' in space. If he were to stay here he'd be 'My Favorite Martian.' Our cultures are way too different for us to make the transition..."
"Liz," Leia said gently, cutting her off. "We'll all miss him. But we can't wish him back. Now come on. Time's wasting."
***
"I feel like James Bond!" Zack hooted. He began humming the Bond theme, then saw Liz's melancholy expression. "Hey, I thought you liked Bond..."
"Shut up," she hissed. "Right now I feel like crap."
"Well, I feel like we forgot something," said Mike.
"We got all the important stuff," Jason replied. "Anything else can wait."
The Millennium Falcon streaked through the purple twilight, carrying what had to be its largest passenger load ever. Back on the ground, a golden humanoid waved its arms in despair.
"Wait!" Threepio shouted. "You can't leave me here!" He lowered his hands in exasperation. "Oh dear. Why is it always me?"
Chapter XXIV - Operation Elite
"I don't like the idea of Earth people coming along," Luke said for the fifth time.
Leia sighed. "Matthews and Li are professionals, Luke. They can take care of themselves." She watched as Li exited the bathroom and let his partner enter to change his clothes -- suits were rather inappropriate attire for physical activity. "Besides, they want to come, despite the risks."
"I don't have a problem with them going. It's Austin I'm worried about. Are you sure it's a good idea to take him?"
"I've tried dissuading him," Anakin replied. "But he won't hear of it."
Luke, Leia, Anakin, the agents, and Austin readied themselves for the mission, preparing weapons and changing into battle-suitable clothing. The Osmond brothers had gone to Jason's work on a mysterious errand, and the rest of the Elite had presumably gone back to their respective homes or workplaces. Han, Chewie, and Fett were back in the landing meadow, doing repairs on the Slave.
"Yes, is Liberty there?" Austin asked, cradling the telephone receiver in the crook of his shoulder while he cleaned a blaster rifle. "Well, when do you expect her back? Hmm. That's odd. She never leaves work early. If she does stop by, just tell her I called." He dialed another number and waited. "Damn, it's her answering machine. Hi, this is Austin. I'm going with Vader and the others on the rescue mission. If I don't get back... I just want you to know... I love you." He hung up.
"I'd appreciate it if you called me Anakin," Anakin told him.
"Sorry. Old habits die hard."
"Austin, for the last time, you would be wise to go back home," Anakin said firmly. "We have the situation under control."
Austin glared at him, a tortured fire burning in his ice-blue eyes. "My son was murdered by that fiend. I loved Trapper. He was the greatest treasure of my life. If I die trying to save another child from a similar fate, so be it, but at least I'll be with Trapper again." He paused to regain his composure. "If you want me to stay behind, you'll have to sedate me and chain me up first."
Anakin stared at Austin, then slowly collapsed into a chair. "Great stars," he breathed. "That was why love was forbidden."
"What do you mean?" asked Leia.
"Love is the most powerful emotion there is," Anakin explained. "It can be twisted into grief, rage, joy, hatred, any number of alternate forms, but it is just as strong nonetheless. It can create... or it can destroy." He gestured toward his children. "My love for Padme created you, but it also destroyed me. Austin's love for his son has been transformed into hatred toward the Emperor, and his love will destroy Palpatine or be destroyed trying." He shook his head in wonder. "Why it took me so long to realize..."
"I never thought of it that way," Li said. "I'm not a fanatic, but I've seen the movies. I thought the rule forbidding love was just something particular to the Jedi religion, like Judaism forbidding eating pork or the Shakers forbidding sex."
"That's still no reason for forbidding love," Leia protested. "Love can do so much good!"
"If one is careful, it can," Luke replied. "Apparently too many Jedi weren't being careful, and the Order had to ban it."
There was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it," offered Li, opening the door.
"Austin?"
The leader of Vader's Elite looked up. Striding into the living room was Liberty, wearing safari-type khakis, her red-and-blonde striped hair held back in a utilitarian braid. She carried a crossbow, and a quiver of arrows was slung over her shoulder.
"I didn't think I'd catch you in time."
"You can't come, Lib," Austin ordered.
"And why not?" she demanded. "I'm a crack shot with this." She held up the crossbow. "I know judo and tae kwon do. I can handle it."
"Liberty," Austin said warningly.
"I loved Trapper too," she continued, her voice breaking at the end of that statement. "He was like the son I'll never be able to have. And more than anything, I'd like to wring a few Imp necks and get Rachel back."
"Liberty..."
She threw the crossbow on the couch, grabbed Austin's head, and planted a passionate kiss on his lips. Too startled to protest, Austin responded in kind.
"I love you," Liberty breathed once they'd pulled apart. "And I'm not going to let you kill yourself on this jaunt. I'm going to be there to guard your back, whether you like it or not."
Austin sighed heavily. "Well, I DON'T like it..."
"Tough. I'm going." She realized the others were staring at her. "Any of you wanna tell me I'm not?"
Luke shrugged. "I have a feeling it won't make any difference."
Someone else knocked, and Li opened the door to admit Brigham, who carried a long- range hunting rifle and a skinning knife in a belt sheath.
"Brigham?" Anakin said in amazement. "I didn't know your religion permitted weapons."
"We are taught," Brigham said confidently, "to fight when the cause is just, to fight for our lives, our freedom, our faith, our wives -- and our children. We fight for a just cause now. The Lord is behind us."
Liberty rolled her eyes. "Yes, Porter Rockwell."
"Shut up, Liberty," Brigham retorted.
At that moment, Zack strutted into the house in all his glory, wearing camoflauge pants, combat boots, and a too-big army green tank top and carrying a semi-automatic that made him look like a Jawa trying to handle a laser cannon.
"Ready to rumble!" he cried. "Do I look like Rambo or what?"
"No, you look like a dork," snapped Liz, entering the house armed with an AK-47.
The entire Elite was pouring into the house, carrying guns of every kind, knives, clubs, body armor, even a battered sword. All wore expressions of determination, united in their cause. A ragtag army to say the very least, but the Skywalkers knew they would never find a more dedicated group of volunteers anywhere on the planet.
"Who wants to be the one to tell them they're not coming with us?" Leia remarked dryly.
"Oh no," groaned Matthews as he surveyed the motley crew. "We can't have them all go."
"Many hands make light work," Emily pointed out, twisting the sword in its scabbard.
"Yeah, what she said," Mike added as he patted his shotgun. Abruptly it went off, obliterating the kitchen light fixture.
"Not again," moaned Patrick.
"Mike, gimmie that," Emily demanded, wrenching the gun from him. "Hold this instead." She gave him the sword.
"Let them come," Anakin said. "The more help we have, the better. My only request is that someone stays on the planet to keep us updated on planetside events. I'd be a fool to think the Emperor will leave Earth unmolested during our strike."
"Already taken care of," Sparky replied, wheeling himself to the front. "George, Piett, and I will remain on Earth with a comm unit courtesy of our good Admiral. I'm afraid I'd only get in the way in a battle."
"You'll be doing us a great service," Leia told him.
Luke looked up from his own comm. "That was Han. The Falcon and Slave are as ready for travel as they're going to be. They're waiting for us."
"Let's go start some aggressive negotiations!" shouted Cody as everyone headed out the door.
***
In the Falcon's landing meadow, the Elite bustled about to prepare for the journey. Most members exchanged their conventional guns for blaster weapons, though the crossbow, shotgun, sword, and two automatics remained in the arsenal in case a situation arose where a blaster was useless. Sparky, Lucas, and Piett helped prep and load weapons while Anakin briefed everyone on what to expect once they boarded the Executor. Artoo projected a map of the Stardestroyer's interior as reference.
In the other meadow, Fett loaded the last of his personal gear into the Slave and began one last pre-flight check.
"Fett?"
Liz entered the clearing, clutching a blaster rifle. "What are you doing?"
He hit the loading ramp. "Leaving."
"Well, I can see that," she snapped. "Aren't you coming with us?"
He gave her an even look. "I'm a mercenary, Liz. I take no sides. I am neutral and will always remain so."
She gave him a glare that could have withered durasteel. "Rachel's being held captive by a crazed hack and you're picking NOW to be neutral?!"
"I am very sorry about the girl," Fett replied coolly. "She was a sweet thing. But it has long been my policy to not get muddled up in the Civil War. Or in any other political conflict, for that matter. My father subscribed to that belief, and so shall I."
"Damn you, Fett!" shrieked Liz. "Your father this, your father that, you follow your father off a cliff! So what? Jango Fett wasn't a god! He was a person and he's dead! Get over it already!"
Fett's hand came up to strike her. She was expecting this. She'd seen him slap a girl at Stellar-Con for bashing the elder Fett. She didn't flinch but only held his gaze defiantly.
The hand never connected. He lowered it slowly. "Don't you ever, ever say that to me again, Liz."
"Why not?" she retorted. "Because it's true?"
"I loved my father. He was my hero. In many ways, he was me and I was him." He looked away. "Part of me died the day I saw the Jedi strike him down."
"Then why the hell do you let the rest of you wallow in it?" She jammed a finger into his chest. "Be your own person, Fett, not a Jango incarnate! You won't ever be Jango! Deal with it!"
"Point well made, but it does not change my mind."
She exploded in a torrent of expletives. "You're incredible, Fett! You know what we're up against! You know what we're fighting! We could use you! You're a good fighter! We need you!"
"I know what you face. But rest assured we are not on opposite sides. I can't join you, but I will not aid the Empire and fight against you."
"You're already aiding the Empire! Your apathy aids it! By not fighting the Empire you're saying what they're doing is okay and allowing them to keep hurting innocent people! If you're not with us, you're against us!"
He let her finish ranting. Once she ran out of steam he placed his hands on her shoulders.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Liz. I had hoped we would part on good terms. But that doesn't seem to be the case."
"Boba, it's not like that," she hissed, trying to wrench away.
He held her fast. She placed her hands against his chest to push him away but paused, puzzled, as he reached for his helmet. With a swift motion he pulled it off.
She had expected Boba Fett to look like Jango under the mask. And he did have the same Maori-type features. But there were subtle differences that set the son of Jango apart. The scar patterns were different, for one thing. There was less flesh on his face, giving him an aquiline look. In Episode II Temeura Morrison's character had always had an amused look on his face, but Boba's expression was steely and ruthless, with dark eyes that glittered with a savage fire.
Liz barely had time to wonder why she was privy to a sight no other living being in the galaxy had seen before he pulled her close and kissed her.
She relaxed against him, sliding her hands around his neck. He embraced her tightly and gently raised a hand to caress the side of her face. For one glorious moment the Galactic Civil War, the rescue mission, everything faded away except the arms around her and the lips upon her mouth. For a moment that was an eternity, she knew paradise.
He pulled away, his eyes briefly aglow with something tender and human before they hardened again. Retrieving his helmet, he slid it back over his head. Once more he was the inhuman bounty hunter.
"Come with me, Liz," he offered.
She shook her head. "You know I can't, Fett. Our worlds are too different." She looked away. "I'd be a freak out there. And you'd be a freak here."
He released her. "Then this is goodbye."
Tears blurred her vision. "I love you," she whispered.
He nodded. "I know."
And with that, he boarded the Slave.
Liz stared, numb, as the Firespray lifted off with a roar and disappeared in the graying evening sky.
"Liz, we're ready to go," Leia said, entering the meadow.
She forced herself to look away from the receding mote. "I'd hoped he'd come around."
Leia opened her mouth to speak, but Liz jumped on her. "I know, I know, he has to follow his own path! No one can choose it for him!"
"I wasn't going to say that," Leia replied. "I was going to say it's a shame. You two made a cute couple."
Liz gave a resigned smile. "I don't know, Leia. Maybe there are reasons our worlds weren't supposed to collide. If I were to go with him I'd be 'The Beverly Hillbilly' in space. If he were to stay here he'd be 'My Favorite Martian.' Our cultures are way too different for us to make the transition..."
"Liz," Leia said gently, cutting her off. "We'll all miss him. But we can't wish him back. Now come on. Time's wasting."
***
"I feel like James Bond!" Zack hooted. He began humming the Bond theme, then saw Liz's melancholy expression. "Hey, I thought you liked Bond..."
"Shut up," she hissed. "Right now I feel like crap."
"Well, I feel like we forgot something," said Mike.
"We got all the important stuff," Jason replied. "Anything else can wait."
The Millennium Falcon streaked through the purple twilight, carrying what had to be its largest passenger load ever. Back on the ground, a golden humanoid waved its arms in despair.
"Wait!" Threepio shouted. "You can't leave me here!" He lowered his hands in exasperation. "Oh dear. Why is it always me?"