Title: Ghost of the Past
Author: Spirit White
Summary: Luke Skywalker died at thirteen years of age. Abruptly, the threads of the future were torn to pieces and remade, and Leia Organa and Lord Darth Vader must deal with the consequences.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by George Lucas, Lucasfilms Ltd. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N: Revised Saturday, December 8th, 2007. Much of the dialogue in this chapter was taken directly from A New Hope, but I will endeavor to not make it a habit.
Chapter Ten: Alderaan
"I'm telling you," Owen said stubbornly. "Beru and I do not wish to leave Tatooine."
"You will be killed!" Obi-Wan said, his voice sounding oddly frustrated. "The Empire will not hesitate to kill a pair of farmers who do not give them the information they desire!"
"We will go to Mos Oorin, it's on the other side of the planet," Owen returned. "They will not find us there." Obi-Wan sighed, defeated.
"Very well, Owen," he said quietly.
"Take the droids," Owen said firmly. "We no longer want them."
"Of course," Obi-Wan replied. There was a pause, and Owen's face softened slightly.
"Do not worry, Obi-Wan," he said finally. "We can take care of ourselves." Obi-Wan sighed, then smiled.
"Of course, Owen," he said. "You always have been a strong man," he smiled. "Now I must go," his lips twisted ruefully. "I have to find transport to Alderaan…the Jawas destroyed my shuttle."
"Did they really?" Owen grinned. Obi-Wan shuffled a bit, nodding. Beru laughed softly in the background. "Good luck finding an honest one," Owen said. "Mos Eisley pilots tend to be murderers or drunks."
"I will find someone," Obi-Wan said confidently.
When Leia woke up again, she looked much better. Torture droids didn't mess around with blood and broken bones, they simply sensitized the nerves and poked. Therefore, Leia woke up to absolutely no pain at all. Sighing in relief for the temporary reprieve, she sat up and looked around.
She saw no familiar glow of blue around her, and crushed down her disappointment. Luke couldn't always be there, she knew. Besides, he was probably checking on the droids, or doing something to make sure they got to Alderaan. All the same, she couldn't stifle the aching desire for him to be there with her.
As if her wish had reached him, wherever he'd been, a shimmer of blue caught her attention in the corner of her eye, and she turned. Her heart immediately broke at the sight of her brother, looking so small and young and fragile, sitting with his knees to his chest in a posture she hadn't seen him hold in years. His whole body seemed to be wracked with fine tremors, and Leia had never seen his face so white, even through the blue glow.
"Leia!" He said, looking at her in relief. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, Luke," she said, surprised that her voice sounded so normal. Of course, she hadn't screamed much, either. "I'm fine. The serum wore off while I was asleep." Luke seemed to shrink in on himself even more, but this time his face was fixed in an expression of relief. His eyes rolled back in his head and Leia wouldn't have been surprised had he fainted, but he shook his head and managed to stay upright. He blinked rapidly for a few moments and swallowed convulsively once or twice before he could speak again.
"I contacted Ben Kenobi," he started. "He left at once. Should everything go all right, he should be back at Alderaan within two days with the droids."
"You should go check on him," Leia said worriedly. "Make sure everything's all right." Blinking, Luke managed a shaky nod. He seemed much more rattled than she was, but she supposed the wondering could be worse than the actual pain. He didn't move at once, however, just sat there and watched her quietly. "Now, would be good," Leia said pointedly. "You do have to show yourself to him." Luke blinked and nodded one, taking a deep breath. He paused, and then straightened, lowering his legs. He reached out with a hand and brushed his fingertips over Leia's wrist, causing a feeling of static electricity to fuzz along her arm, making the hairs stand up. She gave him a small, sad smile. "Go on, then," she said, and Luke nodded before fading away.
"My Lord," an officer said nervously. "The guard in the Detention Level has something he wishes to show you."
"I see," Vader rumbled. "How much importance, Lieutenant?"
"He says that one of the prisoners is…well, she's talking to herself," he said. "He thought you might like to hear it. It's Princess Leia."
"Very well," Vader said. "Tell the Deck Officer to record every word she says. I will review the tapes at my leisure."
"Yes, Lord Vader," the Lieutenant said hurriedly, and then moved quickly away.
The Mos Eisley cantina was one of those places that could make one feel physically sick. The combination of heat from Tatooine, the smell of smoke and alcohol and the smell of unwashed bodies was enough to roll Obi-Wan's stomach. He swallowed and ignored it, moving towards the bar to order a drink. Looking around, he surveyed the many humanoids around him, searching for one that looked promising.
Instead, his eye caught a glow of blue.
Snapping his eyes to the shimmer, his gaze settled on a thirteen-year-old boy, standing with his hands at his sides and his head tilted slightly to the side. A little smile was on his face. Obi-Wan furrowed his brow, unable to speak in the presence of so many people. Luke didn't speak. Instead, his smile widened and he raised his hand to point at something behind Obi-Wan, who turned to look. Familiarity struck him in the form of a swaggering, dark-haired man and a seven-and-a-half foot tall Wookiee. When he glanced back again, Luke was gone.
Laughing softly, Obi-Wan stood up and moved towards the Wookiee, who was walking towards the bar. The man was making his swaggering way towards a table in the corner. The Wookiee ordered a glass of hot beer, which Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows at. Smiling, he tapped the alien on the elbow.
"I am Ben Kenobi," he said when the Wookiee turned questioningly. "I am looking for passage to Alderaan."
"Yes, Luke, I'm fine. The serum wore off when I was asleep," the Princess said, her expression facing the wall of her cell. Vader stiffened in shock.
Luke…?
"You should go check on him," the Princess spoke again, her voice echoing slightly in the confines of the cell. "Make sure everything's all right." There was a pause, while Vader barely breathed. "Now, would be good," she said pointedly. "You do have to show yourself to him." Her eyes rose, her wrist twitched and moved, and she smiled sadly. "Go on, then," she said. Vader swallowed. There was nothing unclear about this. The cameras wouldn't pick up a ghost. The princess acted exactly as if she were speaking to someone invisible.
His son.
Whirling in the grips of a sudden rage, Vader stalked from the Detention Level, the Dark Side storming around him.
"Han Solo," the dark-haired man said. "Captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewie here tells me you're looking for passage to the Alderaan system."
"If it's a fast ship," Obi-Wan replied, wondering what had caught Luke's eye about these two.
"Fast ship?" Solo asked, sounding incredulous. "You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?"
"No," Obi-Wan said, fighting a smile. "Should I have?"
"It's the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs!" Solo said, angry. "I've outrun Imperial Starships! Not the local bulk-cruisers either, mind you. I'm talking about the big Corellian starships. She's fast enough for you, old man. What's the cargo?"
"Only passengers," Obi-Wan said, smiling now. "Myself and two droids," he leaned forward. "And, no…questions…asked."
"Local trouble?" Solo asked, his interest piqued.
"Lets just say we want to avoid any…Imperial entanglements…" Obi-Wan said, smiling a slight smile. His gaze slid to the left, where a shimmer of blue shone in his peripheral vision. Luke was smiling at Solo, the bright blue of his eyes twinkling. Glancing once at Obi-Wan, the boy blinked at him calmly before opening his mouth. Oddly, his voice echoed, as if he was behind a wall of water. Now that Obi-Wan thought about it, his image wavered weirdly, as if looking through a warped mirror.
"Bad news, Ben," he said, his voice wavering with echoes. "Vader heard Leia talking. Hurry, I feel that something bad is going to happen soon." Luke's eyes bored into Obi-Wan's own. "This one has good in him," he said finally, and slowly faded away.
"Hey, hey!" Solo was saying. "Man, wake up!"
"Hmm, sorry?" Obi-Wan asked, turning to the man. Solo looked disgusted.
"Ten thousand in advance," Solo said in irritation. Obi-Wan's eyebrows raised.
"I have two thousand now," Obi-Wan said, and leaned forward. "And a further fifteen thousand when we reach Alderaan." Solo looked shocked.
"Seventeen thousand, eh?" He breathed, exchanging a look with the Wookiee. "You've got yourself a ship. We'll leave as soon as you're ready. Docking bay ninety-four." Obi-Wan smiled as he rose to his feet.
"A pleasure, Mr. Solo," he said. Laughing under his breath, he strode away, his step slightly springy.
Sadly, Luke watched Vader striding towards Leia's cell. Throat working, Luke hesitated, not wanting to witness the torture again. But Leia needed him…he knew that. She needed his support, if nothing else. Shakily, he stepped into the cell just before the door hissed closed.
Leia sat up, nervous but fierce. Her glossy lips pulled back, baring her teeth. Vader merely paced. Just over two of his steps brought him to the wall, and he pivoted to take two more steps. His hands were clenched behind his back.
"How do you know Luke?" He finally demanded, and Leia sat up straighter in surprise. Luke gasped, then groaned in dismay.
"What?" Leia asked, startled.
"How do you know Luke?"
"Luke?" She asked, surprised. In desperation, Luke jumped behind Vader and shimmered into view, waving madly at his sister and shaking his head. Her eyes flicked at him nervously, undecided. Horrified, Luke stumbled back and covered his eyes with his hand, not wanting to watch disaster unravel. A moment passed…then…
"Well, I had an Uncle Luke," Leia said. "He died last year."
Luke slumped in relief.
"Interesting ship," Obi-Wan said neutrally. The Millennium Falcon was a Corellian Freighter, saucer-shaped with a double protrusion on the front. The panels of the ship's outer shell were darkened with grease and tell-tale signs of skirmishes, and looked as if they were bolted on with spit and hope. Doubtfully, he once more wondered why Luke had pointed him to these two.
"She's the fastest ship in the galaxy," Solo said proudly. He jumped down when the ship sparked beneath one of the wobbly panels. He hit it once and the sparking stopped.
"Yes, you mentioned that she was fast," Obi-Wan said idly. "Are we ready to lift off?"
"Huh…? Oh, right," Solo said, grabbing up a toolkit. "Come on, then."
Obi-Wan beckoned to the droids, who followed him. Artoo bleeped and whistled cheerfully as he ascended the ramp, but Threepio made anxious noises as he followed.
Just as they boarded the ship, a swell of stormtroopers entered the bay, blasters blazing.
"What the…" Solo said, surprised.
"Get us out of here," Obi-Wan said quickly, relieved when the ramp finished closing.
"Right!" Solo said. "Chewie, start 'er up!"
"Governor Tarkin!" Leia spat, her eyes blazing. Beside her and invisible, Luke stared angrily at the old, gaunt-faced man whom his sister was addressing. Hands bound, with a squadron of stormtroopers at her back and Vader, her most hated enemy, standing beside her, she showed remarkable defiance. Luke felt a surge of pride. "I should have expected to find you holding Vader's leash. I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board." Tarkin laughed softly.
"Charming to the last," he said, smiling. Luke disliked his voice, but his attention was diverted when Vader stepped backwards to stand directly behind Leia. Suspicions began to arise…and a feeling of dread. Out of the viewport, Luke recognized the blue-green orb that hung in space. Around it, though the Force, was a feeling of imminent destruction.
Luke backed away, feeling sick. Beneath all of his darkness, Vader's light had never seemed so small.
"Not after we demonstrate the power of this station," Tarkin was saying. "In a way, you have determined the choice of the planet that'll be destroyed first. Since you are reluctant to provide us with the location of the Rebel base, I have chosen to test this station's destructive power...on your home planet of Alderaan." The sick feeling grew in the pit of Luke's stomach, growing worse by the second and Vader shifted his weight slightly behind Leia.
"No!" Leia cried. "Alderaan is peaceful! We have no weapons! You couldn't possibly…"
"You would prefer another target, a military target?" Tarkin demanded. "Then name the system!" A pause, where Leia stared out at Alderaan in horror, her eyes shining with a sheen of tears. "I grow tired of this," Tarkin growled. "Where is the Rebel Base?" Leia seemed to shrink. Her voice was weak…defeated. Her head fell.
"Dantooine," she whispered. "They're on Dantooine."
"There, you see, Lord Vader? She can be reasonable!" Tarkin said, pleased. Vader didn't answer, knowing, like Luke, that Leia's words weren't true. Tarkin turned away, his smugness radiating off of him. "Continue with the operation," he ordered. "You may fire when ready."
"What?" Leia cried frantically.
"You're far too trusting," Tarkin smiled. "Dantooine is too remote to make an effective demonstration, but don't worry, we will deal with your Rebel friends soon enough."
"No!" Leia moaned, making as if to rush forward. In horror, Luke saw Vader – his father! – reach forward and grab Leia, preventing her from attacking Tarkin. In spite of knowing that he shouldn't, and knowing that it would certainly have repercussions, when that horrible feeling of imminent destruction coalesced in his abdomen, Luke stepped forward into view.
"NO!" He screamed, reaching out one despairing hand towards his father before a streak of green lit up the darkness around them and Alderaan exploded in a shower of rock. The Death cries of the people…of Alderaan…reverberated in the Force around him. Anguished, Luke screamed again as he flailed and fell. He didn't see Vader turn towards him abruptly, didn't see Leia sway with the devastation and almost fall as well.
He was in that place where one is dead but not gone, sitting at the table in a chair that he'd sat in so long ago to speak with Qui-Gon, as he cradled his head in his arms and cried.
Aboard the Millennium Falcon, Obi-Wan Kenobi swayed. When he raised his head again, his eyes were filled with sadness, even though he didn't know exactly what had happened.