Chapter 3 - Revelations

Brian Hughes had always been a coward by nature. Though he had big dreams, and was smart enough to know the paths that led to success, he had been too afraid to follow them through. He would rather be comfortable than ambitious. Looking back at his life, at his failed attempts at college, the promising commitments that he missed, his fear of rejection from Sarah, he realized that he was in exactly the same place he had been when he graduated high school. While most of his friends had long since finished college and were well into their careers with spouses and children to drive around in min-vans, he was still working at a dead-end job, living in a one-bedroom apartment, with no hope of change in the foreseeable future.

Now, for the first time in his twenty-eight year existence he had the chance to take control of his life, in both the literal and the figurative sense. If he ever regained control of his body, he promised that he would let his life be controlled by his fears no longer. It was time to finally grow up.

For the past few hours he had found within himself the strong urge to meditate. It was a strange sensation. Never in his life had he meditated. He could not explain why he was compelled to it, or how he knew how to sink deep into a trance once he gave it a try; it just felt right. Through its calming effects he found that his mind was surprisingly clear. What was even more surprising was the he found he was no longer afraid. This strange power that had engulfed him, the power that the voice had referred to as the Force, flowed through his body in gentle currents. It tugged and pulled at his consciousness, clearing his thoughts and removing his emotions. It assured him that it would be his guide if he was but willing to listen to its promptings. He knew in return it would listen to him, though he knew not what that meant. With this Force he found a special bond that was the very essence of who he was. It also was the very essence of everyone he encountered. It was in the walls, in the air. It was in everything he touched, smelled and tasted. It was in everything he saw. This Force stretched out, bridging the gaps between this world and his own. As he meditated he knew that it was the will of the Force that he was here.

Brian no longer questioned his sanity. He could see that the purpose for this journey was manifesting itself little by little. He felt something else too; a presence in the Force that stretched out across the galaxy. Someone that, like Vader, knew the intimacies of the Force, and yet this person was different. Darkness was not this person's companion but light, soft and reassuring. This person was strong in the Force and they would soon be here.

A disturbance in the Force sent a warning through Vader's mind. He's coming, it warned. Who? That he could not answer. Stretching out with the Force he searched for the approaching stranger. Nothing. He knew that now was not the time, but soon all would be revealed.

Vader strolled into the Star Destroyer's command center. Admiral Saxton was monitoring the planet below. At the sight of Vader he turned around and gave a salute.

"Lord Vader, the rebellion on the planet's surface has intensified. The Constellation has sent a request for more troops. I was about to send three squadrons."

"This rebellion has become a thorn in our side. If we continue to lose men we will be forced to retreat."

"Retreat my Lord? Surly the Empire is strong enough to squelch the rebellion of one world," Saxton said unbelieving.

"The Empire will not waist anymore resources. There are other systems with similar ship manufacturing facilities in which the locals can be more easily swayed."

"Yes my Lord. I'll inform the Constellation that if these squadrons should fail than we are to retreat," Saxton said.

"I also want you to put the ship on emergency status. All guards are to be at their posts," Vader commanded. "I sense a disturbance in the Force and feel that the Emperor may be in danger."

"Yes my Lord, it will be done," Saxton said.

Obi-Wan sat in the co-pilot's chair on board Sonia Dai'lyn's ship, the

Star Tamer. The Corellian S3X was a small, mat gray cargo ship. The cockpit protruded from the right side of the disk shaped fuselage and three small but powerful engines protruded from the rear. He sat patiently as his pilot performed the preflight procedures.

Conflicted thoughts passed through his mind as he waited for the journey that would take him off Tatooine for the first time in five years. On one hand, he was excited to see a place that offered more scenery than the sandy dunes he had grown accustomed to; on the other, he wondered if this was a good idea. His instincts told him that now was the time to strike; with the Emperor no longer in control, Vader had to be dealt with before he could assume power. This was the chance to end the Empire's short reign of terror, and yet he felt that there was something else he should be seeing, though what it could be he could not see. The dark side continued to cloud many things that should have been clear.

Sonia entered the cockpit, resting in her chair beside Obi-Wan. She quickly gave all the readout screens a once over and began starting the ship.

"Buckle up Jedi, you're about to see some real flying," she said as the corner of her mouth hinted a smile.

Obi-Wan felt a mixture of conflicting emotions as her comment brought up memories of Anakin. Without a word, he began strapping on the safety harness and braced himself for the flight. The ship lifted off the ground with the gentle grace of a gifted pilot and began its swift ascent into the atmosphere. In a matter of seconds the blue sky faded into a dark purple before revealing a blanket of stars against a dark backdrop. He felt an almost immediate drop in temperature as they left the hot atmosphere of Tatooine for the cold vacuum of space. Sonia began making hyperspace calculations.

"Here we go," she said as the ship lurched forward and the stars blurred into a dancing pattern of light. "There's no turning back now."

Darth Sidious exited the crowded terminal and looked around. A bustle of cars, taxis and buses were fighting for space in an effort to pick up passengers. As he made his way to a taxi parked by the curb, he was shoved from behind with violent force, tumbling him to the ground. Cursing his lack of focus at not foreseeing the sudden attack, he glared at the person who had made the fatal mistake. A young boy, no older than thirteen standard years, was getting into the taxi. He was about to strike when he felt a firm grip on his arm. A tall man helped him onto his feet. Turning his attention to the man, the boy was all but forgotten.

Could it be?

"I'm so sorry for that sir. Kids can be a little hard to handle at times, but I can assure you that he didn't mean to shove you like that. Please forgive him of his rudeness," the man apologized. "Mark! Get out of that taxi and come here right now!"

Sidious made no reply, barely hearing a word the man spoke. He dismissed the boy's insubordinate with a grunt. This man was the key that he needed. Through the Force he could feel the connection that existed between this man and another.

"I'm sorry sir. I didn't mean to shove you. You can have the taxi," the boy named Mark was saying.

Sidious continued to ignore the boy as he remained focused on the man who vibrated within the Force.

"Are you okay?" The man was asking.

"Yes," he finally replied. "Your apologies have been accepted."

"Good," the man sighed with a smile. "I was afraid you'd hit your head or something. No hard feelings then?" The man asked, offering his hand.

"No hard feelings," he answered as he shook the man's hand. "My name is... Brian."

"Brian, it's good to meet you. I'm Andy."

The Dark Lord smiled at the man named Andy. He no longer cared about the taxi. He no longer cared about the President. All his focus was on the man before him, the man who held an intimate connection in the Force with Darth Vader.

Andy Harper was not afraid to admit his mistakes nor was he foolish enough to not learn from them. He had known trouble all his life. From the time of his arrest for stealing a car at age nine until the day he had committed his first, and only, murder at the age of twenty-three, Andy had been exposed to every trouble one could think of. He knew the enslaving addictions of drugs and alcohol. He also knew about redemption. It was never too late. He had witnessed the hardest convicts on death row have a change of heart. It was the near death experience of a loved one that had finally given him the wake up call he needed.

After he was paroled, he enlisted in a court ordered community service program and began to volunteer at the local YMCA. He did not take this service lightly, however. He made it his personal mission to prevent troubled boys from making the same mistakes he had made. Mark was one of those boys. Mark was also his son.

Born while Andy was in prison, Mark had grown up not knowing a father for the first seven years of his life. His mother was an addict who had lived with a slue of boyfriends that would pay for her fixes. Once they grew tired of her act, she would move on to another. By the time Andy was released, Mark had ended up in a foster home, his mother in a rehab clinic. Andy hired a lawyer, and after a long and tedious battle, had at long last gained sole custody of his only son at the age of eleven. Mark had begun showing signs of trouble; from fights at school to steeling, he was on a dangerous path that Andy knew all to well. It had been hell, but with firm parenting, many open discussions about everything from drugs to sex, and an outpouring of love, he had begun to reach his son. It was a continuous job but he would never give up.

As he and Mark sat in the taxi that Brian had offered to share with them, he began to have a very bad feeling. He had always had a strong instinct and was a very good judge of character, a trait he foolishly ignored when he was young and stupid, but had learned to rely on most heavily while locked up in the state pen. Many people wore masks, attempting to hide who they were, keeping dark and many times dangerous secrets in their hearts. Andy knew that Brian had many such secrets. As soon as he had looked into the Brian's strange eyes, he knew that this was not a man to be messed with, a look he had seen hundreds of times in prison. He was even guilty of having that look himself, though as a protector rather than predator. Brian, on the other hand, was something else, something he could only describe as a monster.

After their brief introduction, Brian had insisted that he and Mark share his taxi. Andy had turned him down, but Brian would not take no for an answer. He insisted that there were no hard feelings, and he wanted to prove it by providing them with a ride. With much apprehension, Andy accepted, not wanting to appear rude and offend the man. After all, what was the harm in sharing a taxi? Still, Andy could not help but feel like the foolish child that had accepted a ride with a stranger. As the thought crossed his mind, Brian looked at him and smiled.

When the taxi finally arrived at his house, he and Mark got out and thanked Brian for the ride. Brian, however, did not appear to be listening. With his cold eyes, he was surveying the area as if he were imprinting it into his memory.

Maybe he's a child predator. Maybe he's after my boy.

Somehow that did not feel quite right though, for he could not help but to feel that Brian was not so much interested in Mark as he was in himself.

What could he possibly want with me?

He and Mark watched as the taxi pulled away.

He'll be back.

Andy was not sure how he knew that, but he did, and the thought scared him. What could he do? Call the police? And tell them what exactly? That some strange guy was after him? A guy who had never made a threat verbally or otherwise? They would just laugh in his face and lecture him for wasting their valuable time.

If only he knew that at that very moment the police were very interested in finding Brian.

"Oh no you don't. You're not going to meditate the entire trip, leaving me to keep myself company," Sonia said as she kicked at the kneeling Jedi's boot.

"That was the plan," he replied with a smile.

"The way I see it, you're paying me good money to fly you into this death trap of yours. That means you have not only the ship but the lady," she said with a wink.

"Really, I'm not comfortable," he began.

"Hey! Get your mind out of the gutter. What I mean is you're stuck with my company," she clarified.

Obi-Wan sighed and got up, sitting in one of the plush chairs in the lounge. "So what did you have in mind?"

"Sabbac," she said with a wicked grin, pulling out a deck of cards.

"I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with the rules of that particular game," he said.

"It's easy, you'll have it down in no time. If you're uncomfortable playing for money, that's okay, we can play just to past the time."

"Good, because after this flight, I'm afraid my funds are a little low," he said.

"Just don't use any of your Jedi magic to read my mind or anything. Jedi or no Jedi, I'll kick your butt if I think your cheating," she said.

"I promise I'll behave myself," he said with a smile.

Darth Vader sat in his oxygen rich hyperbaric chamber. It was the only place he could remove his mask without the risk of drowning in the contaminated air. His lungs had been severely burnt and could not filter properly, leaving him dependent on the aid of the filtration system in his mask. This was also the only place where he could see the world as it actually was. Though the chamber was plain, offering little to look at, it was a welcome change from the computerized screens within his mask that bathed his world in tones of red.

Deep in meditation, he began to focus on the danger he had sensed earlier. Dark currents flowed through him, aided by the fear he felt deep inside. Even as a dark lord of the Sith, the most feared being in the galaxy, he could not escape the fears that had plagued him as a small boy; the fear of loss. He had lost his family; both his mother, wife and child had died because of the Jedi. Had that idealist Qui-Gon Jinn not taken him from his mother, she would have never died. Had Obi-Wan not turned Padmé against him… A swell of hatred raged in his system. Suddenly the danger became clear. He could feel Obi-Wan. His old master was coming.

"So you know Obi-Wan. You have felt my master's weakness and have come to exploit it. Are you foolish enough to believe you can defeat me?"

With a flicker of thought, he commanded the chamber's mechanical arm to lower his helmet. As it snapped into place, the chamber walls began to separate in a jagged interlocking pattern. His seat spun around and he got up, strolling down the ramp that led away from the chamber.

He needed to prepare for his guest's arrival.

Sidious walked down the dim street of the suburban neighborhood. With the exception of a single car passing by, he was alone. Not even a cat prowled the night. The only predator on the loose inhabited the body of Brian Hughes. As his eyes scanned the home of Andy Harper, he felt Darth Vader's presence if ever so faint. A smile broke out on his lips.

'Soon,' he thought.

Andy's eyes opened with alert clarity, no sign of fatigue visible in them. He sat up and scanned the room. Something was wrong, he could feel it in his gut. He freed himself of his covers and swung his legs over the side, reaching over to the lamp on the nightstand and turning it on. He shielded his eyes from the sudden light and waited for them to adjust. Again, he scanned the room, confirming that he was indeed alone. His hand pulled the drawer in his nightstand open, removing the weapon hidden in a secret compartment inside, one that could get him thrown back in the pen should his parole officer ever catch him with it. He stood and began making his way to Mark's room. As he stepped into the hallway he felt a sudden chill. Shrugging it off, he walked to his son's door and opened it. He could see the boy sleeping under a large moonlit window, a soft snore echoing through the room. Satisfied that his son was okay, he closed the door and began making his way towards the front of the house. As he entered the living room he froze. Outlined in the dimly lit room he could see the silhouette of a man sitting on his couch.

"Who's there?" He demanded.

The man on the couch began to clap his hands and laugh. "The Force is strong with you, as I have foreseen. I sense no fear. You would have made a good Jedi. Fortunately for you, that was never the case."

"I haven't a clue what you're talking about buddy but you'd better leave now. I'm armed and have no problem killing you. I've already served time for killing someone else."

"Don't you recognize your friends?" The man asked. The lights suddenly turned on, bathing the room in light. Brian stared at Andy with an amused look on his face.

"You're no friend of mine," he said as he raised the gun. Suddenly it flew out of his hand and into Brian's. "What the hell?"

Brian studied the weapon with mild curiosity and then placed it on the couch beside him. "We need to talk."

Andy looked into the cold depths of Brian's eyes. Despite his urge to look away, he held the gaze without fear, and even with a bit of defiance. He approached the chair that catty-cornered the couch with practiced caution, his eyes never leaving the intruder. He rested on the edge of the seat, using all his restraint to keep him there. He wanted to pummel Brian's smiling face.

"What are you doing in my house?" He barked.

"Andy my boy, I am here to help you. You have a gift that has been wasted on such a primitive and pointless world as this. You are much stronger than you realize. Power beyond your wildest dreams lies within you, merely waiting for you to unleash it."

"Look, I don't know what you're talking about but I can assure you that I don't need my gun to kill you. I'm sure the police won't care one way or the other now that you've broken into my house."

Brian let out a laugh that grazed upon Andy's nerves like a fingernail on a chalkboard. "Yes! Give into your anger. I can feel it fueling your hatred. With every passing second you grow stronger. Soon you will be my apprentice."

"Your apprentice? Look Mr. Trump, I don't know what mental institution you escaped from but you're getting on my last nerve. I'm giving you one last warning; leave now or I will kill you."

"I'm not going anywhere," Brian replied with a smile.

Andy charged from his seat with the momentum of a freight train. He threw his 250 pound frame behind his swinging fist that was headed straight for Brian's face. Before he could connect the intruder moved with an impossible speed. Andy's fist no longer had a target. Unable to stop his swing he was thrown off balance, his body slamming into the couch, flipping it over. He let himself roll into a crouching position. Jumping as hard as he could, he threw his body at Brian, meaning to tackle him. As his body propelled itself through the air he saw Brian raise a hand. Suddenly his momentum shifted and he flew in the opposite direction, slamming into a wall. Andy gasped as his lungs struggled to reclaim the air that had been knocked out on impact.

"Are we done with this little demonstration? I am disappointed with you. I had hoped that you would focus your anger into the power within you. Instead you relied on your physical strength. The body is weak. Only through the Force can you attain the means needed to dominate and destroy those around you. With the Force you can manipulate others, exploiting their weaknesses, using them to your advantage."

Andy began to sit up. The room was spinning as Brian's words echoed in his head. Brian began walking towards him.

"With the power of the dark side you could have everything your heart desires."

"What are you?" Andy demanded.

"I am Darth Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith. Soon this pathetic planet will swear its allegiance to me and my Empire and you will stand at my side as my apprentice."

"I'll never join you," Andy spat.

"So be it. If you refuse, I will destroy you and everything you've ever cared about," Sidious hissed. "Beginning with your son."

"No!" Andy shouted, throwing up his hand. Sidious flew across the room, slamming into the opposite wall.

Stunned, Andy watched in horror as Sidious rose to his feet, cackling with delight. "Good! Very good! Your hatred has made you strong."

"How- how the hell did I do that?" Andy gasped in shock.

"With your rage. I will help you focus it. Accept me as your master and together we will be unstoppable."

"Dad? What's going on?" Mark stood in the doorway.

Sidious looked at Andy with a threatening smile. He stared helplessly at his son. The thought of losing him was agonizing. Mark was the only person who has ever loved him. In turn, his son was the only person he has ever loved.

"Nothing sport. Go back to bed. I'll tell you about it in the morning."

Mark gave them both a questioning look before shrugging. He turned and left the room.

"What is your answer?" Sidious demanded.

"If I join you, swear to me that you will not hurt my son!" He demanded. Tears began to blur his vision before he realized he was crying.

"The Force flows strong in your boy. Join me and together we will train him."

"No. He will have no part in this. If I join you, his upbringing will be left up to me and me alone."

"Then you swear your allegiance? Do you take me as your master?"

"Yes. I swear it," Andy said, defeated.

"Good. Very good," Sidious cackled in delight. "Now your training will begin."

Obi-Wan had won again.

"Wookie spit!" Sonia cursed, throwing her sabbac cards on the table in frustration. "I swear you're cheating Jedi!"

Obi-Wan smiled with the calm patience he had used on numerous occasions with Anakin. "A Jedi never cheats, they merely use their opponent's weaknesses to their advantage."

"Beginner's luck is what it is," she spat.

"In my experience, there's no such thing as luck."

"What do we do now? 'Cause I'm not playing another round of Sabbac with the likes of you."

Obi-Wan shrugged with a smile. "We could always talk."

"Okay. About what?" She asked.

"Well, for starters, how did you become a smuggler?"

"Oh sure, start of with the easy topics," she said, her voice thick with sarcasm.

"Okay, then why don't you ask me something," he said.

"Why do you want me to turn you over to the Empire?" She asked.

"I thought you didn't want to know," he said with a look of surprise.

"Well, I changed my mind," she shrugged as if she really did not care. Obi-Wan could see in her eyes that she did.

"Alright. Well to put it simply, I need to confront Darth Vader."

"Boy Jedi, you really do have a death wish," she said, shaking her head.

"If it's the will of the Force that I die, than so be it."

"I really don't get you religious fanatics," she scoffed, shaking her head. "So you're willing to die for this 'Almighty Force', but that's not really the plan is it? Suicide?"

"No, it isn't. You see, the Emperor has had a breakdown of sorts," he confessed.

"A breakdown? What kind?" She asked off hand trying to hide her curiosity.

"I'm not sure, but it has the Empire up in arms. He is unable to run things at the moment," he paused.

"And you mean to kill Vader, putting the Empire out of commission," she finished.

"Well, yes, that is the plan," he said.

"And you think that by turning yourself in they'll just let you stroll up to Vader with your lightsaber blazing? They'll be all over you before you've had a chance to think about it," she said.

"Well do you have any better ideas?" He asked.

"No, not really, but there's got to be a better solution," she said.

"I'm afraid there isn't; not unless you're aware of a way to sneak me onto a Star Destroyer."

"Actually, that could be arranged," she said with a smile.

Obi-Wan's eyebrows arched in a look of surprise.

"I am a smuggler you know. I occasionally have dealings with the Empire. They have this special project that they've been working on. No one knows exactly what the project is, or where it's located, but the demand for materials is so high that they've had to hire smugglers in addition to the normal legitimate sources ever since the Trade Federation was dissolved. Most shipments are delivered to special warehouses on Coruscant; but on rare occasions, special items are delivered to Vader himself."

"And you just happen to have some of these 'special items' with you?" He asked.

She shrugged, "I didn't see the point in telling you that I was already headed to Mon Calamari. If I had, you may have convinced me to lower my price."

"You are full of surprises," he said amused. "You know this means you'll won't be getting that reward from the Empire."

"What can I say? You've grown on me Jedi," she winked. "We'll be coming out of hyperspace soon. We'd better get you into one of those crates."