Chapter 20 – Not Exactly As Planned
Han impatiently checked the chrono on the console only to verify that another a minute had passed by. The old man - Obi-Wan, the astromech had finally provided after a bout of Han's frustrated grumbling – had not really been gone long, but to Han it seemed an eternity. He was going crazy just sitting around this small control room waiting to be discovered by the next Imperial patrol.
Han had taken to pacing over the last half-hour, occasionally letting out muttered curses or insults directed at the "Jedi" who had gotten him into this. He was even more aggravated that Chewbacca had seemed to recognize the name Obi-Wan and had once again barked his confidence in the man - something to do with the Clone Wars. If the man's real first name was so well known, then why the hell hadn't Chewie voiced a suspicion earlier? Sure the old man had used "Ben" as an alias, but he had kept his last name the same. If Chewie would have just said something when the Jedi started acting weird, Han would have dropped them out of hyperspace early and dumped his passengers off at the nearest star system, thereby avoiding this whole mess.
His bitter brooding was interrupted when the R2 unit began whistling wildly in irritatingly shrill tones. Spinning in anger, Han latched onto the opportunity to vent some of his frustrations. "I thought I told you to shut up!" he yelled.
"But sir..." the protocol droid began.
"No wait. Don't tell me. He's discovered the Katana fleet!" Han bit out sarcastically, unable to think of any other revelation that might shock him as much as the previous ones his passengers had delivered.
Threepio cocked his head in confusion at the remark, but decided the information he had to report was more important than addressing the illogical nature of that conclusion. "No sir. It seems a detachment of stormtroopers has been ordered to this docking bay. They've been instructed to check in with the gantry officer."
Chewbacca immediately howled his concern and readied his bow-caster, but Han had a more restrained reaction to the news. His eyes widened slightly as his mind absorbed the significance of the information, but in truth part of him was actually glad that this mindless waiting was coming to an end. "Great, a welcoming party. What nice hospitality these Imps have," he replied sardonically, his demeanor much more controlled now that he had a solid threat to confront. "How long before they get here?"
"They should be arriving momentarily."
Han cast a concerned glance toward the observation window to check on the Falcon once more, and immediately caught sight of a group of stormtroopers marching across the docking bay towards his ship. A chime at the locked door to the control room announced the arrival of yet more guests. Han felt a lump form in his throat as the chime sounded a second time in rapid succession, seemingly insistent on receiving a response. He would have liked to have a had just a few more of those dull moments to formulate a plan, but fate never seemed to smile on him in that regard.
"Um, who is it?" Han responded over the commlink to the exterior in his best spontaneous imitation of an Imperial gantry officer. He winced as he realized how wholly inadequate that response was, but it made little difference. The Imps at the door weren't likely to be going away. The best he could hope for was to buy Chewie and himself a few moments to get situated.
"Lieutenant Commander Frizick, reporting with squad 32768 per Lord Vader's command," a voice responded with more than a hint of annoyance. "Why is this door locked?"
Han was gesturing forcefully to Chewbacca to take up position by the door while he struggled to get the stormtrooper helmet back on his head, so this response came out even more stuttered and sloppy than the first one. "Um, had a slight problem with interruptions. I'll be there in a minute. Just hold on," he stalled.
"Open this door! NOW!" came the angered order, accompanied with the threatening sound of blasters being drawn.
Han did a quick scan of the small room they were trapped in, already knowing that there was nothing to offer any cover, but desperate to come up with some plan. Chewbacca was pressed against the wall to one side of the entrance ready to open the door and launch a side ambush on anyone attempting an entry. He was out of the immediate line of sight from the doorway, as were the bodies of the two Imps that had been stationed here. The astromech had disengaged its connection to the computer terminal on its own volition, and withdrawn enough that its presence would not attract immediate attention. The protocol droid couldn't look menacing if it were draped were thermal detonators.
Given those conditions, Han chose to stand at apparent ease in the middle of the room with the standard issue blaster held lightly across his chest in the hope that the stormtrooper armor he wore would initially fool their guests. Just for a moment, he thought. Just long enough to convince them it was safe to enter so Chewbacca could take them by surprise. Satisfied that their appearance was as benign as possible, Han signaled for Chewie to open the door.
As the door opened, Han could see that the officer was in the process of working his way behind the four troopers that accompanied him when the sound of the sliding door caught his attention. The officer turned back to look into the control room with an assessing gaze, then changed direction when he caught sight of Han just passively standing in the middle of the room. The expression on the officer's face was easy to read, and Han had seen it more than enough times during his stay at the Academy to know that his plan was working. It was the look of a miffed, egocentric, admiral-want-to-be, eager to give a slacker a good dressing down to elevate his own sense of importance and perhaps earn a little commendation on his next evaluation. That attitude overrode the man's sense of caution as he charged into the control room, managing to further disrupt the formation of the stormtroopers in the process. It was the last mistake the officer was to make, for as soon as his body broke the plane of the doorway, Chewie reached out with his powerful left paw to snatch the man by the throat, crushing his windpipe as he dragged the man clear of the entry.
The stormtroopers behind the officer did not have a clear view into the control room and were startled at the unexpected removal of their commander. The moment of confusion that followed was more than adequate to allow Han to snap into a combat pose and bring his blaster around with the speed and fluidity of reflexes well accustomed to fighting. Their weapons still out of line from the earlier shuffling, the first two troopers did not have sufficient time to readjust their stance before Han mowed them down. A third trooper had just started moving when Han's deadly aim caught him square in the chest.
The last stormtrooper had been in a better position to start with and was able to bring his blaster to bear, but with all the sudden confusion he did not take enough time to aim. His first shot went wild. Han continued to fire out the door as he dove out of the direct line of fire, drawing the trooper's attention with him. Chewbacca had already thrown the dying officer behind him, and he now quickly swung out into the entryway with his bow caster at the ready. At point blank range and with surprise on his side, Chewbacca easily took care of the remaining threat.
The clatter of the last trooper's armored corpse hitting the floor marked the end to the brief battle, but Chewie was not about to relax. He remained standing in the doorway with his attention focused down the corridor, searching for additional stormtroopers who might have heard the commotion, as Han quickly moved up along side him to assess their situation. They were met with only silence.
"Well, that wasn't so bad," Han concluded. The trill of the action tinted his tone with a cocky air, but his momentary sense of glory was quickly dashed when the comm board lit up with an incoming call.
Han briefly considered taking the call to see if he could bluff his way out of it. As cramped as this control room was, it had been a perfect place to wait for the old man and keep an eye on the Falcon. That had changed, though, with the arrival of this little party. The commander or one of the stormtroopers must have signaled their comrades, or the call might very well be in response to the disturbance of the brief firefight. Either way, more stormtroopers would likely be on their way soon, and Han did not wish to be caught cornered again.
"Enough of this waiting. We're gettin' outta here," Han said to Chewie as he began wading through the fallen stormtroopers, carelessly tossing his own helmet onto the heap.
"But sir, what about us?" Threepio immediately whined.
"Don't worry, goldenrod. Right now you two are my only hope of getting compensated for all this trouble," Han responded sourly over his shoulder. "You're coming with us. Now move it."
Chewbacca regarded his friend curiously as Han moved through the obstacles on the floor and continued down the corridor. Then the Wookie looked back at the droids. It was obvious those two would be unable to maneuver around the bodies, but apparently Han was not the least bit concerned with the dilemma. Grunting in frustration under his breath, Chewie quickly cleared a path and waved for the droids to follow before moving to catch up with Han.
****
"Yes, what is it Cass?" Tarkin demanded impatiently, barely looking up from the reports on his desk to acknowledge the officer's entry.
Deck Officer Cass swallowed hard as he prepared to report on the recent developments on-board the Death Star. He briefly wondered how he had come to be the one chosen to deliver all of the bad news to the Grand Moff, but quickly shoved the thought aside to conduct himself with the appropriate Imperial formality. "There have been reports of a disruption in the docking bay holding the captured freighter," he began.
Tarkin did look up at that, his expression relating more annoyance than concern. "What sort of disruption would that be?"
"Apparently the freighter was not unmanned after all. Two stormtroopers were found dead on-board, and the unit Lord Vader ordered to guard the ship encountered resistance at the control station. The intruders managed to escape. The on-duty patrols have been alerted, but additional troops are needed to thoroughly search the area."
Tarkin mentally sighed in frustration. He had been expecting a report of this nature since Lord Vader had informed him of Obi-Wan Kenobi's presence and explained his plans for the Rebel scum accompanying the Jedi. That stormtrooper unit had been ordered to the docking bay for the express purpose of flushing the Rebels out and keeping them on the move while Lord Vader dealt with the Jedi personally. Beyond that, the Rebels were to be left alone for now. "How many intruders were encountered?" Tarkin asked, more out of curiosity than concern.
"Unknown at this time, sir. They had managed to secure the control station before the unit arrived, and were able to ambush the small detachment assigned to report there. No witnesses survived."
This news was worthy of an inward grumble and a slight tightening of Governor's lips. An entire detachment eliminated with how many Rebel casualties to show for it? Apparently none, or Cass would not have omitted the detail. While this sort of efficiency was not unexpected with a Jedi involved, it was nevertheless disconcerting. Still, Tarkin had to admit that there was none better equipped to deal with the Jedi nuisance than Lord Vader, and Vader had been clear in his desire to handle this alone. Shoving his discontented thoughts back and keeping any further sign of alarm from his face, Tarkin replied to Cass evenly, "You've done well bringing this to my attention, but Lord Vader is aware of the intruders and is personally handling them. No additional patrols are needed," he added, effectively dismissing Cass.
The cool response surprised Cass, but he could not allow himself to be dismissed so soon. He had additional news to report. "Sir, there is also the matter with the Princess's guards," he ventured, unsure if this anomaly was included in Lord Vader's awareness.
The concern on Tarkin's face was much deeper this time and laced with a touch of anger. "What of the Princess?" he demanded.
"The guards, sir. They were scheduled to check in every hour, but they failed to make their most recent report. Nor do they respond to calls to their commlinks." Cass faltered slightly at the growing look of fury on Tarkin's face, the addition of clenching fists suddenly inspiring him to offer a defensive explanation. "I would have dispatched a patrol to investigate, but Lord Vader had ordered…"
"Enough!" Tarkin barked out. "I should have been informed immediately, despite any orders from Lord Vader!"
The Governor shook with his anger for a moment, his hard eyes burning holes into the unfortunate officer before him. 'This was not to involve the Princess!' he fumed in his thoughts. No mention of her had been included in Lord Vader's briefing on his risky plan to exploit the Rebels' presence, and Tarkin doubted that Vader was foolish enough to commit such an oversight. No. Either this group of Rebels was larger and far better organized than Vader had originally assessed, or more likely, Arkus was behind the disappearance of her guards. That impertinent youth had enabled the Princess to escape once before on Balitar, and Tarkin was not about to risk allowing him to do so again.
"Dispatch a patrol to check on the Princess at once, and increase the existing patrols to cover all passageways leading to that docking bay. They are to report any unusual activity immediately. If the Princess is found outside of Darth Arkus's quarters, she is to be terminated by any means necessary," Tarkin ordered, no longer caring if these instructions were within the limitations that Lord Vader had requested.
"Yes sir," Cass responded quickly, snapping to attention and immediately turning about to execute the orders.
***
Darth Vader waited with controlled anticipation in the middle of the deserted corridor, mentally preparing himself for the coming confrontation with Obi-Wan. He had waited for this moment, for his revenge, all too long, but his maturity and the knowledge that this time he would be the victor allowed the Dark Lord to restrain his passion. This would not be like their last duel, when he had been but a child easily riled into making a critical error by the experienced master. This time he was the master, and there would be no escape for Obi-Wan.
Vader wanted no interruptions, no witnesses, distracting him from his final victory over the Jedi that had wronged him in so many ways. To ensure this, he had ordered his personal squadrons of stormtroopers to secure the intersecting passages along the final portion of the path from the tractor beam power terminals to the docking bay that was several meters behind him. Still, the Dark Lord could sense a sudden inordinate amount of activity in this area of the battle station.
He debated briefly on stretching out his senses to seek an explanation, but quickly decided against it. Such an action would reveal his presence and alert Obi-Wan to his trap earlier than Vader wished it, and the fate of the cornered Rebels was a secondary concern when compared to the elimination of this one Jedi. Even if his plan to allow them to escape was disrupted by Tarkin's blundering, Vader would at least obtain a powerful weapon against the Princess's resolve. Presenting her Obi-Wan's head and the retrieved Death Star datacards her Alliance so desperately wanted might just be enough to crush what was left of her spirit and leave her completely defenseless against the next round of questioning, be it at his hands or Arkus's.
A tingle in the Force announced Obi-Wan's approach and brought Vader's focus back to the matter at hand. The hatred this man could still inspire in him threatened to burst forth once again, but the Dark Lord firmly pushed it back, refusing to be overcome by it. That emotion would tempt him into ending this duel all too quickly. He wished, instead, to savor each moment of the confrontation and toy with Obi-Wan a bit as he demonstrated his superior power and skill. Focusing his energies and igniting his lightsaber in anticipation of his old master's arrival, Vader could already taste the sweetness of long denied vengeance finally attained.
***
Obi-Wan kept his senses sharply focused as he slowly emerged from the shadows after yet another patrol passed by him. Cocking his head slightly in an instinctive gesture, he paused momentarily to listen after the whisperings of the stormtroopers' intentions. They were involved in an active search, to be sure. That much was clear from the purpose with which they moved and the sheer number of additional patrols Obi-Wan had encountered during his return journey. 'But for whom?' Obi-Wan contemplated. Himself, he knew, if his actions at the power generator had been discovered; Captain Solo if the restless Corellian had done something rash. Obi-Wan could not distinguish the object of the Imperials' search with any certainty without risking a more active use the Force, but truly it made little difference. If these search parties had not yet discovered Captain Solo and his companion, they surely would soon, and any hope for the droids' deliverance to the Alliance would be abruptly ended.
Sighing quietly, Obi-Wan mentally scolded himself for not having thought to bring a commlink with him. Such a simple device, it would have enabled him to instruct the pilot to take off the minute the tractor beam had been disabled. Now that oversight was seriously risking the success of this mission. With no way to signal Captain Solo and no way of knowing if his assistance was needed elsewhere, Obi-Wan abandoned his reflections and began moving again along the only logical path open to him, though he did so with a quickened pace. He did know time was running short.
He worked his way down several more corridors at this increased speed before stopping worriedly just two turns away from the docking bay. The path ahead had grown deathly quiet, and the dark chill permeating the air signaled all too clearly what laid in wait down that corridor. A wave of dread washed over Obi-Wan as realization of Vader's intentions came to him, the dark emotion chipping away at his steady resolve for a moment as it sought an inroad to inspire fear in his heart. But Obi-Wan had conquered those demons long ago, and he now willed the emotion to drain off of him, chasing it away with a calm acceptance of what could not be avoided. This confrontation had been fated to occur for nearly two decades, and the only path to freedom was through the completion of that destiny.
Drawing his lightsaber to hold at the ready, Obi-Wan completed the last turns more slowly to bring himself face to face with his old apprentice, but brought his advance to a halt still several meters away from Vader to allow himself time to better assess the Sith Lord that Anakin had become. He had never personally seen Darth Vader in his mechanized armor, and upon first inspection had to admit the sight was formidable, made more so by the chilling red glow of the lightsaber in his hands, though Vader held it casually with the blade pointed at the floor. There was no hint of restlessness in the pose Vader maintained, no sense of any anxiety at all. This mind had matured significantly since Obi-Wan had last encountered it, and it would not be so easily distracted. Now it was filled with the cold, calculating determination of an assassin.
Apparently convinced of Obi-Wan's refusal to advance, Vader began moving purposefully toward him with powerful strides and surprising fluidity for one so encumbered by prosthetics and life support equipment. Obi-Wan ignited his blade as the Sith approached, and gauged Vader's movements carefully to gain what insight he could into the physical capabilities of his challenger. The strength was undeniable, but the lack of grace suggested that this would be a more traditional fight, lacking the aerial acrobatics that had marked several conflicts from Obi-Wan's younger days. That suited Obi-Wan perfectly. He was growing much too old for physical combat, and would have to rely on his experienced skill and wit if he hoped to survive this duel, though Vader was likely his equal on at least the former point. With each combatant impaired, one by age and the other by physical handicaps, this promised to be a long and hard fight if not a spectacular one.
"I've been waiting for you Obi-Wan," Vader greeted him with chilling satisfaction as he closed the distance between them. "We meet again, at last. The circle of destiny is complete."
Eyeing his opponent warily, Obi-Wan met Vader's advance by moving his blade into a classic attack position, the point aimed directly at control panel on Vader's chest. Vader presented his blade in classic response and conceded initial control of the duel to Obi-Wan. He would allow the old Jedi to set the opening tempo of the fight.
"Now, let us see who the master is," Vader taunted when he had settled in his stance.
"You will never be the master of anything but evil," Obi-Wan replied, a mixture of sadness and reproof in his voice.
The Jedi wasted no further effort in words, choosing instead to immediately initiate the duel with an opening swing aimed at Vader's midsection. Vader easily parried the blow and countered with a low swipe. Obi-Wan blocked this move in turn, as well as the quick follow-up Vader executed by bringing his blade back up and around. Their sabers locked briefly before them, squealing in protest as they clashed, until the two combatants pushed away from each other to break the lock. The first testing blows exchanged, both warriors quickly moved in again, preparing to escalate their contest in more intense and faster paced exchanges.
**
In another part of the station still some distance from the docking bay, Darth Arkus was fully absorbed in keeping himself and Leia hidden as he maneuvered the two of them surreptitiously through the Death Star's interior toward her one chance at survival. Through the journey, he maintained a steady Force track on that Jedi, the muted but unmistakable light presence acting as a beacon leading him onward, though Arkus often strayed from the most direct route to seek out more secluded passages. Speed was essential, he knew, but the higher priority was stealth for as long as he could reasonably maintain it. Matters would get infinitely more complicated the instant Darth Vader learned of his intentions. Determined to delay that inevitability, Arkus kept the remainder of his essence very close in, guarding his thoughts and stretching his senses out only as far as a few meters ahead to give him a minimal warning of the presence of the others.
Arkus regarded the increased number of stormtroopers patrolling the area as an unwelcome nuisance, their presence warning that at least Tarkin had discovered the Princess's absence. But from what Arkus could glean from the muddled thoughts of the stormtroopers, the cause of her disappearance was being attributed to a group of Rebels that were now running loose on the Death Star. This lead Arkus to believe that his father was not yet aware that the Princess was missing from Tarkin's view, because he was certain that Vader would have searched him out by now to at least verify he was not involved with it, and perhaps to solicit his help in locating her. The fact that Vader had made no effort to contact him strongly implied that his father was occupied elsewhere. While this was certainly a relief to Arkus on one level, the continued silence was also filling him with a growing concern over just what was involved with that "elsewhere". That concern kept him moving at a rapid pace, sparing little thought for the comfort of the princess he was all but dragging behind him.
For her part, Leia had long ago submitted to Arkus's rather rough guidance, her pride keeping her from complaining about the almost painfully tight grip he maintained on her wrist despite the cooperation she was showing. The renewed fear Arkus had inspired in her back in his quarters was subdued now, supplanted by an amazed curiosity as she observed and considered his actions. She was no longer surprised when Arkus simply stared at the control panel of a locked access way until the door inexplicably opened to admit them into a more secluded corridor or private turbolift. And she had come to expect the way he occasionally halted their progress to press the both of them back into the shadows until a group of armed stormtroopers passed by, miraculously not seeing them. Not once, though, did Arkus give her any indication of where they were going. Their entire journey was being conducted in absolute silence, leaving Leia to puzzle out Arkuks's intentions all on her own.
'Is this more of his "protection"?' Leia wondered. It was certainly obvious from the way he ducked any possible witnesses to their passage that whatever he was doing, it was against the wishes of Tarkin and Vader, but this gave Leia little comfort when she considered what Arkus's motives might possibly be. He was, after all, a Sith Lord, an irredeemably evil agent of the Empire likely driven only by his own sinister ambitions. Any sane individual would conclude so without hesitation after spending but a moment in his presence, and Leia had seen ample demonstrations of his malicious nature to set that judgment in permacrete.
But she had seen other things, too. There had been deep pain in Arkus's eyes and a hint of empathy for the emotional pain she was feeling when he had first returned to her - a truly evil creature couldn't be capable of such emotions. He was helping her, a verified Rebel agent, avoid the clutches of the Empire's leadership – a loyal servant would never perpetrate such treason. These contradictions in his character screamed out to Leia as testimony to what might lay buried beneath his hardened exterior, urging her to have faith in him; yet she couldn't forget how he had nearly tricked her into betraying the Alliance once before.
'How can I trust you?' Leia asked of Arkus. The question remained unanswered in her continual struggle to resolve the conflict between what she knew in her mind and what she felt in her heart.
Leia slipped deeper into her reflections as Arkus lead them down a lengthy corridor with no incidents, her attention drifting slowly away from her previously careful study of his movements. She didn't detect the subtle shift in his posture that signaled he was about to stop, and failed to match the sudden change in his stride. Her misstep caused them to collide as he began turning to reverse directions, nearly knocking Leia off balance, but Arkus was already prepared for the impact. He moved quickly to steady Leia by way of his hold on her wrist, and pressed his other hand to her mouth to suppress the startled yelp that nearly escaped her lips as he shoved her forcefully back behind a pillar protruding from the bulkhead.
'Stupid girl! This isn't a game!' Arkus seethed silently at Leia, a barely audible hiss communicating the level of his anger as he glared harshly into her now fearful eyes. He scrutinized her deeply, searching for a sign of understanding while he debated if she had the ability to remain quiet and stay hidden.
Leia trembled slightly under Arkus's tight hold and his continued punishing gaze, wondering what it was he was seeking from her and worrying that he might finally snap completely. Faint but increasingly clear echoes of marching guards, that Arkus had, of course, somehow detected long before her, finally gave Leia an answer, and assured her that his actions still fell into the realm of rational. She calmed her fluttering heart and did her best to appear apologetic over her near betrayal of their location, hoping that acknowledging her error would buy her forgiveness.
Arkus eased his tension in response to Leia's submission, and slowly released his hold on her mouth. He gave her one last scowl of warning to ensure the lesson was learned before turning his attention to the approaching patrol that had just rounded a corner to enter the corridor. A minimal application of the Force on the minds of the stormtroopers as they passed by convinced them not to look in their direction, and the threat of discovery was quickly over with the lives of those troops having been spared by Leia's timely comprehension.
Leia relaxed more when the echoes of departing footfalls died away, fully expecting Arkus to resume their trek through the station at any moment, thereby giving her relief from the smothering feeling of his larger form pressing in on her. However, Arkus did not immediately move out again. There was another sense in the Force that had caught his attention, a tingling twinge of hatred that had pulsed out briefly from Darth Vader. This was not an emotion Arkus often felt from his father, and its occurrence at this juncture warranted some attention. A very gentle brush of inquiry provided Arkus the answer - Vader had found the Jedi and was preparing to confront him.
Dread washed over Arkus and sank slowly into the pit of his stomach as the weight of the revelation came down on his shoulders. Of course Vader would be out hunting the Jedi. Arkus felt a fool for not having realized that before. Always he had sensed that the Jedi was a warrior no longer in his prime, and now that Vader had found him first…'He'll be killed.'
Stunned at how suddenly his plan to save Leia had been shattered, Arkus half expected the previously persistent Force proddings to return once more to provide an answer, but that guidance was even more compelling in its absence. 'There's no other way,' Arkus realized. Either he intervened in the coming battle to safeguard that Jedi, or he abandoned his commitment to Leia. Suddenly the often-imagined prospect of dueling in earnest with his father was very real indeed.
A torrent of visions rushed into Arkus's thoughts, warning him of the possible ramifications to follow such a duel, but the burgeoning doubts born out of those images survived no longer than the time it took him to recognize that backing down meant deferring once again to his father. Then all hesitation was suddenly lost in a whirlwind of rising anger directed at the man who forever seemed to be interfering with his life. All the years of constant pressure, the endless attempts at trying to direct his thoughts, the open provocations and veiled manipulations Vader had attempted during this most recent assignment – it all came back to add fire to Arkus's anger and built it instantly into a blazing fury. He was sick of this man constantly baiting him and trying to control him, and Arkus now refused to tolerate Vader's interference with the completion of this one objective he was risking everything to achieve. Vader had been asking for this fight for some time, and now he would get it. The ramifications could be dealt with later.
Empowered by the dark strength of his new conviction and gripped by the urgency of the moment, Arkus turned back to Leia almost as an afterthought, and instantly silenced her growing confusion and annoyance over his lingering in their hiding place with the ominous gleam that flashed his eyes. "Hurry now," he commanded in a whisper, squeezing her wrist tighter still before pulling her quickly back out into the corridor to resume their journey.
Leia followed Arkus in stunned silence once again, somehow more deeply frightened of him for the display of this calm malevolence than by all of his angered outbursts.
***
Now unencumbered by the bulky stormtrooper armor he had shed some time ago, Han maintained a good lead in front of his companions as he jogged down what he hoped was the last corridor between himself and the Falcon. He held his blaster at the ready, constantly searching the path forward for any intersecting passageway that might conceal an enemy. They had already stumbled across three different stormtrooper patrols in their trek through the maze of station's corridors. The first skirmish had effectively cut off the most direct route between the control room and the Falcon after Han had been forced to close and disable a blast door to evade the firefight. Fortunately the next two patrols had seemed much more interested in keeping them contained in the general area of the docking bay rather than pursuing them into it. While this was a clear indication of the Imperials' thoughts on their chances of escaping on the Falcon, it had also served to prevent Han's little group from getting too lost as they sought an alternative path to the ship.
Han began to slow his pace as he neared the end of the corridor, realizing that it did indeed open up into the docking bay and mindful of the squad of stormtroopers he had observed moving into that area earlier. He pressed himself hard against the wall to his right for the last few steps to stay out of the field of view of those occupying the bay, and then stopped to peer cautiously around the frame of the blast door. He was surprised to find that only five of those troops remained to guard his ship and that the docking bay seemed otherwise deserted - another sign of the Imperials' confidence that there was no escape to be found there. Han shoved that doubt aside for a moment and focused instead on assessing the Falcon's condition while he waited for Chewbacca to catch up with him.
The droids arrived first and noisily enough to earn them another scowl from Han before he turned his attention to the Wookie bringing up the rear. "The Falcon looks okay, if we can get to it," he informed Chewie, then returned his gaze to the docking bay to start formulating their next move. They had been fortunate enough to come upon an entrance to the bay located directly across from the ship and only a few meters back from the open boarding ramp. 'Now if only that "Jedi" managed to knock the tractor beam out of commission, we might have a chance.'
Chewie voiced the concern in Han's thoughts with soft barks, and inquired if there was any sign of Obi-Wan out in the bay.
"No, nothing at all," Han answered as he intensified his scrutiny of the bay's darker recesses and other corridors visible from his vantage point. He felt his frustration rising again as he realized that they may well be forced to either wait exposed out in this corridor for a signal that might never come, or risk everything in a blind attempt to blast their way out. 'Unless…'
Han quickly looked to the control panel on the wall beside him and found a conveniently placed computer access terminal. "You," he gestured to the astromech that had actually proven to be somewhat useful. "Plug in here and see what you can find out."
**
Obi-Wan strained to block Vader's increasingly powerful blows as he slowly backed away, biding his time until an opening presented itself. Each of his previous attempts at initiating an offensive had been quickly thwarted, making it quite apparent that the Sith Lord was little affected by his direct efforts at overcoming him. And now, only minutes into the duel, Obi-Wan was already forced to devote energy to contain his mounting fatigue while Vader's reserves seemed hardly tapped. Knowing that growing disparity would soon become the decisive factor in the duel if he didn't find a way to improve his circumstances, Obi-Wan poured the entirety of his strength into a well-placed parry, and then quickly followed up with a bold, lunging strike aimed high at Vader's head. Vader blocked the blow, as expected, but this time Obi-Wan didn't not immediately back off to initiate another attack. Instead he leaned harder against Vader's blade, challenging the strength of his opposition and creating a dangerous deadlock.
Vader increased his counter pressure gradually, slowly twisting the locked lightsabers back toward Obi-Wan with a rising satisfaction easily sensed through the Force. Yet Obi-Wan persisted in the contest against the stronger Dark Lord, waiting for the tips of the blades to cross the neutral space between them before suddenly breaking contact and jumping sidewise to avoid Vader's blade as it came flying down unchecked. Momentarily hemmed in against the bulkhead, Obi-Wan then had to reach deep into the Force to find enough speed as he ducked and spun to evade Vader's rapidly executed follow-up that found its mark instead in a control panel mounted on the wall. The risky tactic paid off though, leaving Vader enough out of position to allow Obi-Wan to easily skirt around him to the other side. Now as he retreated, Obi-Wan would at least be moving closer to the docking bay rather than further away.
Obi-Wan quickly reestablished his battle stance, and used the brief interlude in the duel to blink the accumulating sweat away from his eyes as Vader turned to confront him once more. He could almost see the sneer displayed on Vader's face in response to this sign of weakness, but he also sensed that Vader would allow him some time to recover. 'All the more pleasurable to wear me down slowly,' Obi-Wan guessed. He took advantage of the opportunity, though, and cautiously held Vader at bay with a few circling feints as he dipped into the Force to replenish his energy and plan out his next move.
"Your powers are weak old man," Vader scoffed, being so bold as to take one hand off of his lightsaber to point a mocking finger at Obi-Wan. "You should not have come back. Surely you knew you could not hide from me. I would have thought you had learned that lesson on Enola."
Obi-Wan mentally cringed at the unexpected taunt, the echo of that planet's name ringing in his ears as he struggled to maintain his calm facade in the face of this harsh reminder of his failure there. He had long ago accepted the outcome that had doomed the best hope for the galaxy, but he had never quite been able to forgive himself for abandoning the boy he had sworn to protect with his life. The child's terrified Force screams still haunted his dreams. Try as he might, Obi-Wan could not suppress the twinge of pain that pierced his heart once more, betraying the effectiveness of Vader's emotional attack.
"I used to believe I should have waited for you there, and ended this then," Vader continued cruelly after he sensed he had indeed struck a nerve. "But how satisfying it is to know that you have lived with that failure all this time. Now you will die knowing you have delivered the Alliance to me as well," he goaded.
'Not so!' Obi-Wan suddenly brightened, finding both a source of hope and a path to victory in the confidence Vader projected in his last statement. Vader truly believed that with him dead there would be no opposition to him crushing the Rebellion, but Obi-Wan knew better. Having already stretched his senses outward, he could now feel the presence of the pilot in the docking bay standing at the ready to board the ship. One of the many lessons Anakin had forever failed to grasp was the unlimited capability born of the strength and determination that could be found in the courageous heart of one ordinary sentient, and now as Darth Vader, he would surely underestimate Captain Solo.
"You can never win, Anakin," Obi-Wan replied with a taunt of his own aimed at inciting the Dark Lord. "No matter how powerful you become in this life, all you touch will be destroyed, and there is only darkness waiting for you in death. But if you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."
Even before the words were completely out of his mouth, Obi-Wan lunged at Vader with an attack meant to increase the angered reaction he felt building in the Dark Lord. The action had the desired result. Vader was forced to take a step backward to defend against the assault, but he quickly applied his full power and skill to wresting control from Obi-Wan. A few parried blows and Vader was suddenly on the offensive, driving Obi-Wan backward toward the entrance of the docking bay with a series of viciously powerful strikes.
"We shall see, old man," Vader sneered as he relentlessly pursued his old nemesis.
**
Arkus's anger continued to build as he ran down the last few deserted corridors between him and his fight. He knew that the duel between the Jedi and Darth Vader was already underway. The Force was literally charged by the clashing lightsabers and the intense concentration of both combatants, making it possible for Arkus actually feel the two of them battling each other both physically and emotionally. It was a battle that should be his, that would be his soon. Now that the last of the patrols were safely bypassed, there was no reason for him not to be there already. No reason except the pathetically slow woman he was shackled with.
"Faster," Arkus demanded of her once more, barely giving her a backward glare to add force to his command.
"I can't!"
"You can!"
"No, please!" Leia gasped, nearly completely out of breath as she struggled to maintain her footing in the slick dress boots confounding her efforts to keep up with Arkus.
Her nearly tripping like a feeble incompetent disgusted Arkus past his limits. He abruptly stopped and wheeled back on Leia, allowing her to collide with him before roughly grabbing her chin in his right hand. He brought her face up to his and locked her shocked and fearful eyes into his intense stare.
"Like this!" he hissed as he brutally forced his way into her mind, smashing effortlessly through every makeshift barrier that stood in the way of his invasion. Anchoring himself firmly in the edge between her conscious and subconscious thoughts, he burned into her frantic mind a series of visions and sensations designed to instantaneously implant the rudimentary instructions to open her to the Force and allow her to tap her inherent abilities.
Leia squirmed in Arkus's mental clutch until the images he was forcing upon her overwhelmed her completely. Doors in her mind she hadn't even known existed flew open at his command to reveal the presence of a bright and powerful aura seemingly at her fingertips to control. Simultaneously frightened and awestruck, Leia slipped into a state of shock as she tried for the barest of seconds to assimilate the flood of incredible sensations that pulsed out from the aura to course through her body and soul. Then Arkus's domineering presence gripped her astounded mind in a vice-like hold and plunged her fully into the depths of that newly discovered world.
"Now move!"
Arkus bellowed the command both verbally and mentally as he seized complete control of Leia's mind and exerted the full force of his will upon her. He dragged her through the simple process of reaching into the Force to supplement one's physical abilities, and used their link to force her to follow his example as he employed the tactic himself. So joined, Leia successfully tapped the Force for the first time, though she had no actual control herself. Her body simply did as he commanded as the two of them burst into a run at incredible speed.
Images and sensations even more bewildering than this impossible feat came with Leia's immersion into the world of the Force. Now she too was aware of the lightsaber duel in progress somewhere up ahead. She could feel the fury boiling off of Darth Vader as he pursued his opponent, and could sense the deep calm that the other embodied as he prepared for his death. Most clearly though, she could feel the intense rejection of this apparent outcome that screamed out from Arkus.
The strength of Arkus's rage shot through Leia, bringing into focus a violently churning storm of impenetrable darkness that swirled dizzyingly around the periphery of her new vision. It was so different and yet somehow akin to the beautiful aura Arkus had first shown her, and filled with a power so intense as to be palpable. That power responded instantly to Arkus's summons, sending forth a wave of malevolent energy that inundated Leia's spirit with its dark essence as it swept over her to quickly coalesce into a single point at Arkus's control. Swelled with a sense of power she could not comprehend, Leia felt as if her heart exploded when Arkus next unleashed that concentrated energy in a kinetic blast that flew down the corridor like a terrifying howl, heralding their approach to the combatants just ahead of them. The last event Leia registered was a vision of Arkus grasping for his lightsaber, and then suddenly she was blinded to his world again, released both physically and mentally from Arkus's hold and left completely to her own devices to stop her now out of control momentum.
**
Obi-Wan continued to back willing away from Vader's powerful strikes, no longer sparing the energy to mount any sort of offensive of his own. A dozen more meters worth of retreat and their battle would reach the entrance to the docking bay that held the Millennium Falcon. It was there Obi-Wan planned to make his last stand, knowing he had no chance of escape himself but intending to make enough of a show out this duel to attract the attention of the stormtroopers he could sense in the bay. The distraction would give Captain Solo an opportunity to make a break for the ship, and the inevitable conclusion of the fight would be a clear signal to take off. Beyond those objectives, Obi-Wan could see little else that could be gained with his aged skills, except perhaps one departing lesson for his fallen apprentice.
With a growing sense of serenity, Obi-Wan accepted the coming death and began to calm his being in preparation for transcendence even as he struggled to block Vader's attacks for a few moments more. He was ill prepared for the roar of dark energy that lashed out at him from the direction of the corridor he had just retreated down. The force of that blast caught him squarely in the chest, flinging him backward and knocking him well clear of Vader's reach. Momentarily stunned, Obi-Wan landed hard on the floor in a semi-upright position that he struggled to maintain lest he fall completely onto his back. He regained his senses just in time to see Darth Vader spin about to meet a racing black blur that resolved itself into a frightfully enraged youth wielding a deep violet, nearly black lightsaber.