Chapter 10
by Saber Girl Leia
See earlier chapters for disclaimers.
Darth Mojo the Spork: Thanks! I like Leia's line about the Jedi Order, too. Girl Power:D
I've been thinking about Vader... I think at this point it would be harder for him to live, don't you? I'm working on it.
Cataracta: Thanks!
Arica, Princess of Rivendell: Here! Thanks for letting me know you're still reading :)
AMAPADME: Thanks! Me, too. Darn technology. ;)
Relyan: Thank you! School interferes with everything worthwhile, don't you agree? Thanks again for being such a loyal reviewer. :D
Tensixtythree: Thanks! And thanks for sticking with me through this :)
LucasKDWB: Heehee, glad you liked it! Thanks!
Alene: Thanks! Here's some more.
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So, yeah, I had planned for this to be the last chapter, but it was taking ages and I figured it would work better to send along this part and get back with more later.
Oh, and happy Halloween, everybody.
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Luke is piloting, I sit with my wheezing father and the shocked woman. Anakin is fading very fast, and I am afraid. Tentatively, I reach out my hand to his one remaining. He clutches it gratefully. His hand is trembling.
I want to say something comforting, but I don't know what to say. "Thank you, Father," I finally whisper, squeezing his hand.
Then I stand. "Just a moment." I walk to Luke. "Go to him. I can pilot."
He looks at me, and there is a deep connection between us. "You need this time," I whisper. "You were the one searching for a father your whole life." I embrace him, knowing that we are both hanging together for the other people in the shuttle. If left to our own devices, we would all have collapsed by now.
"He can't die." Luke's voice cracks terribly in my ear. "We've all only just found each other."
I don't know what to say. I pat Luke on the back, and take over the controls, while he goes to sit with our father. I overhear him whispering, but respect their privacy and do my best not to listen.
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Interlude Nine
Han saw the blast in the sky as he was nearing the camp. His legs turned to jelly, and he sat in the grass, hoping none of the other soldiers had seen him. But only with the little bit of his mind that wasn't much more worried with two people who he might never see again.
Any other free bits of his mind wondered how the Sith he had changed so much.
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Luke helps me land the shuttle in the clearest spot we can find. My head is pounding. The redhead seems to be having some sort of fevered daydream, and is murmuring to herself. Va- Anakin (is that what I should call him now?) seems to be stoically looking the other way. I wonder suddenly what they think of each other.
My brother taps me on shoulder and whispers, "What are we going to do, Leia? We can't take them back to base. At least, not Father."
I feel like someone just hit my aching head with a hammer, and groan. How could we have been so stupid as not to have thought of this before? "I- I don't know."
"He needs help."
"Yes."
Before Luke can answer, Anakin himself cuts in. "Is there a special camp for the wounded?" he wheezes. I can barely understand him.
"Yes, Father," Luke says, "but we were thinking maybe we should bring the doctor to you instead? In case..." he knows no way of putting this delicately, "the others don't understand... are scared of you."
"You don't understand. I'm..." a hacking sound, like coughing directly into a microphone, emanates from him, and I run to support his shoulders. Luke kneels by his other side. It passes, and he continues, "I'm dying. I can't stop it... It may be better if I don't try."
"Don't say that-" I begin, but Luke looks at me with his finger to his lips as our father begins again.
"I want to... make up for my life... I can help, I think. Do you know healing? I can help... Please?"
I hug him from the side, surprising myself as much as him. I need more time to understand everything that is happening, but my mind is blurred and overloaded, as my eyes now are with tears.
"If you still live then, we will save you as well as we are able, Father. But we will let you help first." Luke looks at me, asking for confirmation, which I give.
"Are we near it?" Luke asks, walking to the viewport and looking around.
"Yes, but there isn't much of a path."
Luke cast his gaze around the shuttle, looking for something of use. "Can you walk?" he asks Anakin.
"I can try."
I can see that Luke is about to say something, but changes his mind. Then he says, "You can do it, Dad." We each take an arm, and let him lean his weight between us.
"What about her?" I ask, gesturing towards the woman. (Why can't I remember her name?)
I feel a sense from Anakin... he does not like her very much.
Luke turns to face her. "Hello? Are you all right here?"
She does not answer, but continues to act almost possessed, rocking back and forth, murmuring.
"I don't trust her here alone," I say.
Luke purses his lips. "Then bring her. I have him."
"I can't lift her! She's bigger than me. I have no training and I'm too worn out to even try to use the Force."
He lets go of our father slowly, testing how well the black speceter can stand without his son's help. Luke goes to the woman and touches her wrist gently. She seems to jump, as if an electric spark has just woken her from a dream. She stares at him.
"Can you walk? Come with us."
Her mouth hangs open and her eyes don't seem to focus completely. "Alone. He's gone... failure... I'm a failure... I don't deserve..."
Luke seems at a loss for words. Finally he orders, "Follow me." Surprisingly, she hangs her head but does so. I can see the lattice of burns and bruises across her back where her jumpsuit tore, and am ashamed. Then I am angry at myself for being so. Then the throbbing in my head takes over and I let my mind wander as we all pick our way through the underbrush to the camp.
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So... I lied last chapter. There will be at least one more. Reviews, please :)