Chapter 11 – A Question of Motives
Arkus paused outside the door to the Princess's cell as he considered just what he was doing. This could not be a private discussion between them like the one he had arranged on Imperial Center. She was a prisoner now, and any interruption in the signal from the sensors in her cell would attract more attention than he could control quietly. Still, he had risked interfering with the audio feed and convinced the officer at the control console that this minor annoyance was nothing worth reporting. He had also left that man with the impression that this was an approved visit with no need for additional clearances or escorts. That should give the Princess and him at least a degree of privacy.
Arkus knew he didn't have much time before Vader would be here to continue the interrogation, and he also knew he had no chance of convincing the Princess to not resist in that short time. He might just weaken her resolve, though, and create enough doubt to cause her to slip before the session grew too intense. He wasn't sure he could tolerate watching her suffer like that in person considering the effect the first session had had on him while he was dozens of light years away. Determined to prevent a reoccurrence of that misery, he focused his energies and entered the cell.
The Princess had been dozing, likely trying to regain some strength, when Arkus' entrance disturbed her. While she stirred and moved to upright herself, Arkus noted she appeared considerably different than when he had last seen her. The formal gown was gone, replaced with a worn and stained jumpsuit that seemed quite inappropriate for her. Also, her hair was no longer neatly arranged in the braids, but gathered into a disheveled and unflattering bun at the back of her head. He noted with some relief, however, that she appeared physically unharmed, and the glaring look she was now fixing on him left no doubt that her spirits were still healthy as well.
"Don't give me that look," Arkus chided her mockingly, easily slipping back into their game. "I warned you this would happen."
"You came all this way just to point that out?" she sassed back at him with a disbelieving look.
Knowing the mask again prevented her from reading any emotion from his expression, Arkus allowed himself to smile in admiration of her biting sarcasm in the face of a threat. "Not quite," he responded, adding just a hint of amusement in his voice to indicate his willingness to play. "I was simply in the sector and decided to see if, given your new circumstances, you might have reconsidered my offer."
"And here I thought you'd come to rescue me," she quipped with a feigned offended expression to clearly communicate her continued rejection of that so-called offer.
Arkus laughed outright at the retort, but quickly turned his voice more scolding for her stubbornness. "You really should consider your situation more seriously. Lord Vader will be here any moment to continue his discussion with you. There is nothing I can do to prevent it even if I was inclined to do so. You've earned this punishment."
"I'm pleased to hear you are so concerned for me," she bit back sourly, in part to hide her dread of the coming torture. Somehow, Leia had expected Arkus' arrival would mean an end to the traditional Imperial questioning techniques, but now it seemed that instead she would be pitted against two Sith lords. That thought caused a slight waver in the strength of her confidence.
Arkus sensed the barest weakening of her resolve and quickly moved to build on it. "Such bravado," he commended mockingly. "Tell me, why do you insist on wasting yourself like this? Do you really think you can resist Vader's interrogation when so many others have broken? And what difference would it make anyway?" he questioned, projecting just a hint of doubt into her emotions. "The Emperor continues to expand his power despite the best efforts of those who dare to oppose him. I understand he's even dissolved the Senate now. There is nothing your pitiful Rebellion can do to reverse this progress."
"The more Palpatine exerts his power, the more systems will stand against him. In time you won't consider the Rebellion so pitiful," Leia challenged, shoving away her doubts.
"If more systems rise against him then they will be crushed along with the rest of the fools," he coldly countered. "Don't you realize what this station is capable of?" he continued, projecting hopelessness now. "Do you really think Tarkin will show any restraint in using it? By protecting the Rebels, you're only dooming more to die with them."
Leia glared at him with a hardened expression, refusing to be affected by his arguments.
Unable to keep his patience with her foolishness any longer, Arkus focused the strength of his own desire into his words and urged her forcefully. "Give up the Rebel base, let them be destroyed now while only a few will die, then begin building upon this Empire with me!"
"Never!" she spat hatefully back at him.
Arkus felt a spark of excitement from the strength of her emotion. The feeling seemed to resonate deep inside him, fueling his own fire and increasing his conviction to convert her despite the fact that his attempts to entice her continued to fail. The process of winning her over would obviously take much more time and care, but it would be well worth it. For now, he had succeeded in planting some seeds of doubt in her that he could use to his advantage during the interrogation. He took satisfaction in that and changed tactics somewhat to inspire the fear she should, by all rights, be feeling.
"Such a stubborn girl, you are," he said shaking his head after some heat had dissipated from her. "You really have no idea what you're up against, do you?"
His taunt caused her to physically pull back some, but mentally it served only to strengthen her resolve against him. Arkus was preparing to pursue her further when he sensed Vader searching for him. Concerned, at first that the force of his appeal to the Princess might have attracted Vader's attention, Arkus carefully allowed his presence to be felt and sent a probe of his own in response. The sense he picked up from Vader indicated the other Sith was only communicating his desire to begin the interrogation and slight annoyance that Arkus was not where he should be.
~I'm here already.~ Arkus sent to answer the unspoken question. There was no point in hiding where he had spent the last several minutes, but he was also under no obligation to offer an explanation. 'Let him wonder what I'm up to,' he thought to himself.
He then turned his attention back to the Princess and provided an answer to her curiosity at his momentary distraction. "Lord Vader is coming."
Her emotions fluttered at the announcement, but she made no reply.
"I should warn you, these sessions get more uncomfortable far faster after the first one. The droid and Vader already know your weaknesses. I assure you, they will be exploited."
She was no longer listening to him, Arkus could tell. Her mind was already retreating behind fortified mental barriers to steel for the coming assault. She was strong - too strong for the droid to break by itself, though he had no doubt that Vader and he together could accomplish it. The only question that remained was at what price.
"You'll want some time to prepare. I'll wait outside," he said quietly as he left her.
***
Arkus was leaning against the cell block wall with his arms crossed and his eyes closed in momentary meditation when Vader arrived. No words were needed between the two of them to communicate the elder's curiosity and the younger's refusal to respond. Arkus was surprised, though, when Vader did not press the issue.
"Let us begin," Vader stated flatly before opening the cell door.
Arkus responded by straightening his posture and moving aside to allow Vader and the droid to enter the cell first. Arkus was quite familiar with Vader's techniques, having observed several previous interrogations in the course of his training, and could easily predict the course that would be taken. This time, however, he knew he would get no pleasure, no dark power surge, from the victim's fear and suffering. He hated Vader for what was about to happen.
"And now, Your Highness, we will continue to discuss the location of your hidden Rebel base," Vader rumbled at her as he stepped aside to allow the droid to pass.
Arkus immediately shifted his attention to the Princess as soon as she was visible to him again. She was crouched back into the corner of the metal slab that served as a bed in the small cell, shrinking away from the advancing droid with the defiance and hatred of a cornered animal flashing in her eyes. She knew very well what was coming; yet her fear was contained, well under control. Arkus felt a rush of great pride in her courage. If he could work the answer out of her before she lost hold on those emotions then perhaps this would not be so difficult after all.
She flinched only slightly as the needle pricked her neck and the first of the drugs were injected. The fact she hadn't resisted at all gave evidence she was in control enough to apply lessons already learned, that she was indeed being held fast despite the lack of visible shackles. As usual, Vader forwent any physical restraints in favor of using the Force to increase the subject's sense of confusion and helplessness. This time it had no effect on her. Arkus was further impressed by her control.
Shunting away the drugged induced terror he sensed in her, Arkus sought out the Princess's true emotions and slyly slipped into her mind through the link he had established what seemed an eternity ago. He made no attempt to understand or control the flow of her thoughts, but simply immersed himself in her essence and let her take him where she would. The images of her life began to flow through him as she searched for memories to distract her from the terror of Vader's frontal assault. Her father, her aunts, a beloved pet purr all surrounded her in love and supplemented her strength. Joyful times of running through Alderaan's verdant hillsides and tumbling roughly with the estate servant children were also recalled and added to her defense arsenal.
Arkus was simultaneously surprised and intrigued by the path she had chosen to fight Vader. He had expected her to focus on her anger to gain strength, as he would have, but instead she had left it behind in her forethoughts while her main consciousness had sought shelter with these memories. He couldn't understand this approach or why it seemed to be so effective at fending off the initial attack.
He quickly saw the weakness in it though, as the building pressure forced her to concentrate harder on her concocted surroundings and to lose complete touch with reality. Here in the deepest recesses of her mind, she could no longer distinguish between her directed thoughts and those controlled by her dream. A forceful entry into this place would snap her out of the dream and end the vulnerability, but he was already here.
Allowing her to continue undisturbed for a few moments more, Arkus carefully studied the images of the people she leaned on for support. Her father obviously had a great deal of influence, but there was another that was even better suited to his needs – a dear friend and confidante, the woman that had served as her double on Imperial Center. Applying that woman's image to his presence, he inserted himself more visibly into her mind.
***
Leia didn't waste any effort fighting the drugs being pumped into her. She had already learned that was a useless tatic from her first experience with the droid and Vader. This time she chose to leave the induced emotions unchallenged, retreating instantly behind a wall she had been mentally constructing before her conscious could be engaged in battle. She envisioned blast doors descending and locking behind her as she went deeper into her own mind and reinforced the image with all of her conviction to shut out the coming assault.
This defense line was firmly in place before Vader began testing her strength with gentle but firm pushes meant to guide her thoughts. These first attempts pinged harmlessly against her fortifications and yeilded no indication of weakness. The pressure started increasing rapidly then, turning the soft pings into deafening blows as Vader intensified his attack against her resolve, trying to forcefully twist her mind to his will. But Leia turned her back on him and remained intent on ignoring the growing pain from the pressure as she slipped further into subconsciousness, seeking distractions.
Leia found relief from Vader's nightmarish tactics in her childhood memories and eased her discomfort by embracing the warm love and laughter that dwelled there. Inserting herself in that atmosphere, she began reliving the happiest and most peaceful moments with her family and friends surrounding her. The angry assault on her mind was forgotten as she became a child once more running and playing with her friends across her home's beautiful fields.
The dream continued almost blissfully until suddenly the childhood form of her friend Winter dissolved to be replaced by the unsolicated image of the full grown woman. Leia was startled and confused, but the shock quickly faded to concern as Winter's sorrowful expression registered in her semi-conscious thoughts.
"Why are you so sad, Winter," she asked worriedly.
Arkus softened his assumed expression to a comforting smile and offered Winter's hand invitingly. "Come, sit with me. That ogre cannot find us here. Let us talk," he whispered.
"Yes. It's been so long since we talked," Leia answered dreamily with a faint smile as she took his mental hand.
Using this acceptance of his presence, Arkus quickly surrounded this part of her consciousness with a protective blanket to create the safe-haven that he had promised. Confident that Vader's torture could not disturb them through his wall, he began his own manipulation of her.
"It saddens me to tell you this, but I must," he started tenderly. "Our Alliance is losing, dying. We can no longer deny it."
"No!" Leia protested, confused to be hearing these words from her usually determined friend. "We're growing stronger. We can survive this Death Star, we must survive it!"
"You don't understand, Leia," he gently pressed. "Aach and I did not escape Imperial Center. They knew our plan from the start and trapped us as soon you left." Arkus increased the pain reflected on Winter's face and placed tears in her eyes before he continued. "Aach couldn't take the pain, Leia. He… he gave up so much. So many have been captured now that everything is collapsing."
Horror registered on Leia's face as she quickly started to run through everything Aach knew to assess the possible damage. These thoughts were left unguarded in her haste and were open to Arkus' review. Unfortunately, the location of the Rebel base was not among the information itemized. Straining to control his frustration, Arkus worked to maintain Winter's gentle image and nudged the Princess's emotions in the direction of despair.
"You shouldn't suffer like this, Leia," he continued carefully. "The Alliance will die soon anyway. When doesn't matter any more, but you must survive to safeguard the future."
Confusion crept onto Leia's face as she tried to comprehend why Winter would put so much value on her minor contributions. This didn't sound right, but Winter had always given such insightful advice in the past. Leia couldn't think straight enough to reason it through, and fighting the guidance of her most trusted friend was sapping what remained of her strength. She began to falter.
Sensing her weakness, Arkus continued quickly with the most eloquent appeal he could manage. "End our suffering, Leia, that others may live in peace."
Leia's confusion intensified. Who was she to throw away the lives of the thousands that manned that base and discount the choice billions had made to support them? "No," she said, calling deep into own reserves to challenge her friend.
That rejection caused Arkus' control of her dream to waver just enough for her to sense that something was wrong. He tightened his wall closer around them, trying to keep her attention on Winter instead of on the budding doubts that were creeping into her thoughts, but he knew it was pointless. He would not be able to deceive her once she suspected the truth, and his mirage was already unraveling under her increasing scrutiny.
"No, never!" Leia pushed back harder at Winter, responding to a gathering storm of doubt in her thoughts. 'How could this be Winter? How could she be here if she'd been captured?' she argued to herself now, straining to understand what was happening through the haze of the drugs and… something else. Then suddenly, her mind presented her with the only logical conclusion. This wasn't real.
"I don't believe you! You're not real!" Leia asserted with forceful conviction.
Winter's image completely shattered at the confidence in Leia's declaration, leaving Arkus' presence exposed for what it really was. Arkus froze completely, making no further moves toward her, yet giving no sign of retreat. Unwilling to use the full strength of his will to force her into submission lest he snap her mind, he simply waited passively for her reaction and watched with subdued caution as horror and rage erupted up from depths of Leia's soul when complete understanding flooded in.
"Get out!" she screamed in intense revulsion, summoning the full power of her spirit to eject him from her mind. "Do you hear me!! GET OUT!!"
Arkus was caught unprepared for the force behind her mental thrust as she smashed through the wall he had constructed and propelled him out past it with enough power to cause him to physically jerk. He was gone from her mind, but so was the brief protection he had given her from Vader's assault. Now the full pressure of that attack closed in on her exposed shelter. With the last of her strength spent, Leia fled before it in tearful panic, seeking any means at all to end the strain without revealing her secret.
"Enough!" Arkus bellowed at Vader as he simultaneously used the Force to swat the droid away from Leia.
Arkus was relieved to see the Princess go completely limp as the sudden lack of the droid's electrical stimuli to her brain finally allowed her mental defenses to render her mercifully unconscious. It had taken him a moment to re-establish his bearings following the abrupt removal of his consciousness from her mind - a moment that had nearly cost her sanity. The intense pressure that he had felt on his own mind in response to her frantic distress quickly dissipated as she found her escape, but he was still left feeling somewhat disoriented. Knowing this was far from over, Arkus immediately turned to his primal emotions to gather the strength he would need to deal with Vader.
**
Vader turned sharply toward Arkus, seeking immediate justification for the actions the boy had taken, but quickly called his own anger back in check as he surveyed his son's condition. Arkus was obviously disoriented from the hours of interrogation and seemed more than a little weakened as he sought reinforcement from the Force. This was not the typical reaction Arkus had demonstrated in their previous joint interrogation sessions, and its occurrence now, with this particular prisoner, caused Vader to reassess the boy's participation.
The beginning had been no different. Vader had sought to torque the prisoner's mind with a frontal attack while Arkus had slipped back further into her subconscious to apply more subtle pressure. They had employed this double assault technique together before to break particularly stubborn individuals. This time, however, Vader had quickly lost all sense of his son's presence in the subject's mind as the boy had drifted through barriers that had stood fast against him.
The possibility existed that Arkus had actually been working to thwart him and had been forced to retreat when faced with failure. This didn't feel quite right though. Certainly the boy was trying to protect the Princess on some level, but the sudden and violent recoil of Arkus' presence and the condition of her resolve left in his wake testified against all-out insubordination. Something else had happened here. As he sensed his son bolstering his strength in preparation for a confrontation, Vader could see only one path to gain insight.
"Why did you end this?" Vader asked calmly.
Arkus' defensive anger pulled back slightly in suspicion at the openness of Vader's tone. "Her mind was collapsing," he ventured truthfully. "I couldn't control her any longer."
Vader sensed the veracity of the explanation on the surface, but the best of deceptions were always hidden behind the truth. Arkus was certainly clever enough to manage it here. "What were you attempting?" he tested further.
"I was trying to lead her into revealing the Rebels willingly. It didn't work," Arkus replied honestly again, hopeful that his apparent cooperation would quickly lead to his desired outcome without requiring him to expend additional energy.
Vader studied him closely as he considered the plausibility of the account Arkus had given. To be effective against an individual as strong and aware as the Princess such an effort would have to be quite elaborate and might strain the boy still maturing in his powers. The rapid deterioration of her control that had presumably resulted from his failure would likely cause some distress as well. Vader needed no clarification to understand why Arkus had allowed her to slip unconscious rather than permit her mind to disintegrate.
Convinced the boy had acted faithfully here, Vader now decided to use the opportunity to teach him a lesson. "Very well. We will resume when she has recovered," he deliberately provoked.
"No!" Arkus protested forcefully, his anger rising again. "I already told you this would happen and you risked it anyway. You know her will is too strong to break without destroying her. Now she's mine!"
"You think you can do better?"
"I could hardly do worse!"
"Watch your tone with me!" Vader warned with feigned vehemence.
Arkus was nearly shaking from his rage and was apparently willing to fight without restraint to get what he wanted here despite his weakened condition. There was little doubt who would win in such a contest, and Arkus had to know this. The boy had already foolishly extended himself far enough to make Vader's point. Vader now dropped his façade to reveal the ruse and took satisfaction in sensing first confusion and then chagrined resentment washing through his son.
"I think your involvement with this girl is clouding your judgement," Vader reprimanded. He waited until the chill in Arkus' sense indicated the boy had given the thought as least some consideration before continuing. "Take her. Do with her what you will, but consider just how open to manipulation this girl has left you."
Vader wheeled about and left Arkus alone in the cell with the unconscious princess. This girl was proving to be quite an asset and not just for the Rebel information still to be plucked from her mind. If he was cautious enough in handling her, she might well be the key to turning his son against the Emperor.
**
Arkus managed to calm the turmoil of his garbled emotions shortly after Vader left, but he couldn't shake the splitting headache that remained behind. He had again played right into Vader's hand and stupidly revealed the strength of his desire to have the Princess. The anger he was feeling with himself was tempered only by the fact that the end result had still been what he wanted. Perhaps that slip would prove to be useful in the future, Arkus mused. With this great effort his father seemed to be expending to win his trust from the Emperor, Vader might now be willing to intercede for the Princess on his behalf the next time she was in trouble.
Arkus turned to regard her limp form slumping awkwardly on the cold metal slab. He really needed to concentrate on getting his strength back so he could deal with Vader on even terms, but he couldn't just leave her here. This simply was not the proper place for her, and Vader had given him permission to do as he pleased.
Arkus immediately decided to bring the Princess to his personal quarters. She would be safer there, and they would be alone for him to continue working on her. He wouldn't take her just now, though, Arkus thought as he went to arrange her into a more comfortable position. She would be unconscious for some time after that ordeal, and there would still be some obstacles to him keeping her, he was sure. He would deal with them first, then have the guards transfer her when everything was prepared.