"The fear of loss is a path to the dark side. Mourn them do not, miss them do not." –Master Yoda
"Then why do we fight at all, Master? Why save anybody?" – Anakin Skywalker
Revenge of the Sith by Matt Stover
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PART II – Protecting the Innocent
In the inner sanctum of his castle on Imperial Center, Darth Vader stared out the viewport. He had just ended a transmission with his latest adversary, Prince Xizor. It seemed as if toppling him from the station he now inhabited as the second in command had become the ambition of every neophyte regime leader. A station that he despised these days, and more and more found himself having to defend, though not entirely with everything that had. The effort it took be concerned was harder and harder to summon, and he found his ambitions wandering at times.
Xizor fancied himself the dark prince and leader of Black Sun, a corrupt organization that dealt with the Empire and kept their more amoral dealings hidden under the veil of big business. Dark prince, Vader thought contemptuously. What could this reptile know of the dark? It certainly was not something the alien prince would be so quick to call his own if he knew the complexities and terrors that accompanied the distinction of being called dark. Had Vader been able, he would have laughed out loud.
He had learned of Prince Xizor's intention to kill Luke Skywalker from a trusted Imperial operative who had tracked several transmissions of bounty hunters and Black Sun operatives back to their source. Needless to say, the very thought of the situation made Vader's blood run hot. He was on the scent now, and it made him feel alive. More alive than he had felt in a long time. The thought that this creature would harm his son, made something primal and long believed dead, come alive. Deep inside he felt the hotness in his veins come perilously close to the tiny damp and dormant wick long thought snuffed. The heat dried it and made it dangerous.
He hadn't stopped to ask himself why he was so concerned with making sure the boy was safe, there was no inclination at this time. He now suspected that Xizor knew the truth of his relationship to Luke, which infuriated him even more. If this criminal thought he could strike vengeance against Vader by making an attempt on his son's life, he was gravely mistaken. He was drawn to protect him and he did not question the Force in this instance. It was something he had to do.
Xizor had thrown Luke's traitorous alliance with the Rebels in Vader's face as an excuse to end Skywalker's life. A desperate, useless gesture in his bid to best Vader. He had not had a good challenge in quite a while and the thought of choking the air from Xizor's lungs gave him a much needed lift as it stoked the darkness to smoldering. Even better if it were done slowly and from a very close proximity. He might even do it with his own hands.
Aboard the Millenium Falcon, Luke shifted in the pilot's chair and tightened his grip on the controls as Leia, Lando, and Chewie positioned themselves for the fight. Prince Xizor's fighters had engaged them and even with Rogue Squadron assisting, they were outnumbered fifteen to one in their flight for escape from Xizor's now-demolished compound on Imperial Center.
Stretching out in the Force, Luke flew as he had never flown before. But it wouldn't be enough. A Super Star Destroyer had just appeared at the battle's fringe deploying TIE-fighter's in its wake.
Trying to keep his mind on the escape at hand, Luke fought the edges of despair that threatened to take hold.
And then, help came from a most unlikely source. The TIEs were not targeting the rebel ships exclusively, but were concentrating most of their attention on Xizor's unmarked armada.
A familiar wave in the Force washed over him. Vader. He felt the ripple as it spread in the Force. It was different than when he had felt the presence before. Still ominous, but seemingly not as dark. It was calm and in control. Powerful. The energy that burned from the presence...hovered. It was the only term he could think to explain the feeling in the Force that covered the battle. He felt the dark lord searching, but then just as suddenly as it had risen, it disappeared. Withdrawing its focus and retreating like a great winged bird leaving its half-eaten prey for another meal, another day.
On board the Executor, Vader stalked the bridge as his officers maneuvered the Star Destroyer around the planet and into the fray of battle. His operative had come back with solid proof that Xizor had ignored his request to stay away from the boy. His blood practically thrummed through his veins as he smiled with satisfaction. This ridiculous criminal thought to play games, with Darth Vader's son's life. Did he hope to hide behind the Emperor's robe tails forever? The prince had put Luke's life in danger to serve his own purposes and Vader was going to make sure he saw the grievous error of his ways. He would end this today. He had warned the immoral crime lord, now they would play by his rules.
If Skywalker is harmed, I will hold you personally accountable.
He had just given the prince two minutes to surrender to his custody. He fervently hoped the dark prince would characteristically not comply. The idiot had actually threatened Vader with the Emperor, as if he could do anything out here. Vader would pay his penance, but it would be worth it. This slime had been a thorn in his side long enough. It had truly been a momentous day when the news that he was after Vader's son had dropped into Vader's proverbial lap. Xizor's skyhook and fighters had engaged the Millennium Falcon, that was all that he needed.
At two minutes, Darth Vader simply ordered, "Commander, destroy the skyhook."
In addition to the satisfaction of Xizor's demise, Luke's signature sang to him through the Force.
He felt the boy's exertion as he poured his soul into the desperate vie for escape. He could almost see the Millennium Falcon's controls responding to Luke's expert touch and Vader wondered, briefly, what it would be like to fight alongside his son in combat. Luke was good – they would be a formidable team.
A new sensation rose in his chest, one that he did not immediately recognize.
Pride. He could not see the freighter diving and swerving in a rapid succession of Force-led maneuvers, but the knowledge that he would be proud skated along the edge of his thoughts. He knew it was not something that he should linger on, for the sake of either himself or his son.
He watched with unmitigated satisfaction as Xizor's small planetoid ship shattered to a million pieces under the strobe of the laser from the Executor.
Yes, today was one of those very rare days when it was good to be alive.
Safe again at the latest incarnation of the Rebel Base, Luke stared out of the transparisteel viewport, slowly absorbing what had happened over Coruscant. The Imperial Navy had attacked the fleet of an agency known to be subsidized by the Empire. Reports now confirmed that it had been the Executor, Vader's command ship, that had destroyed Xizor's skyhook.
And Vader had been there. Luke had felt his presence with brief certainty. The dark lord had not been overtly reaching or tentative this time, but confident and self-assured. Luke could almost see the armored, black visage standing tall at the helm of his ship. In that brief touch of their souls, Luke had felt the charismatic prowess that made him, for one moment, long to be standing at his father's side, a strong, gloved hand resting approvingly on his shoulder.
We can rule the galaxy as Father and Son.
Luke slumped against the viewport, resting his head on the smooth, cool surface. It could never be. Something deep inside him whispered the lament his heart had sang all through his childhood.
Father.
He felt the childish need to rail against the Force. This was all he had ever wanted, and yet...it would destroy him in the end. He could tell the dark lord wanted him. He now knew that he wanted him alive. A slight flicker of hope made him wonder... does he want me alive or does he simply just want me, as I have wanted my father? His mind had fought against the truth. He had to know for sure, he wanted hear from Yoda's mouth the words that now settled on him like the darkness he had been so warned against. If it was true and Vader was his father...
Then what had happened?
Luke silently cursed the darkness that had stolen his father. Yoda had assured him that the dark side was not stronger. Luke had to believe it was true. He had to believe his father could come back.
To be continued…
