Where Am I Going To?
Part One
Chapter Thirteen
Luke knew all the short cuts, all the back alleys, all there was to know about the Death Star. In a way, it was like some strange homecoming. He was back in his own territory again. He knew the ropes, knew the rules. If he needed to have contact with anyone, he could give a barked order, and twenty officers, most older than he was, would scramble to do his bidding. The still prevalent Dark Side reminded him of that constantly; here's where his power was, here's where he belonged. This was his home.
But it wasn't. Padawan Skywalker knew enough to realize that this wasn't his home. No matter what the Dark Side was telling him.
They slid into the elevator, and young Skywalker nervously adjusted his collar, having changed out of the Storm Trooper uniform.
"This isn't going to work," Han sighed, rubbing at his temples.
"Shut up! It will so! Just give it a chance, can't you? Just once."
"Kid, if you screw up, once is all I'll physically be able to give you," reminded Solo bitingly.
"I won't screw up," the young Jedi swore. "I promise."
A ding announced that they were on the detention level, and the boy sucked in a nervous breath. Relax. It'll be okay. He knew what he was doing.
The officers at the desk looked up as Luke entered, striding with all his customary arrogance, a stern look on his handsome face. Their jaws dropped, and a few gasped.
"L-Lord Skywalker?" the commander asked hesitantly. "Sir? But…we thought…we were told…."
"I've been working as an undercover spy inside the Rebellion," he brushed off smoothly, scowling. "My absence has been well employed in other activities."
"Yes, sir, of course, but…Why are escorting a prisoner?"
"Rebel leader. I'm interrogating him."
The comprehension dawned on most faces, but quite a few were still pale and unbelieving. The awkward tension was too much for Padawan Skywalker, who snapped – and yet, with a slight patience in his voice – "What is it?"
The commander shifted nervously on his feet, and finally looked up at young Skywalker. "Sir…we were told you'd been murdered."
The shock nearly sent the young Jedi reeling, but he kept his head, remained on his feet. Captain Solo glanced at him with a questioning look on his face.
"Your father seemed to believe it. Does he know you're back yet? Should I call and announce-"
"No! No….Ah, that won't be necessary, commander. It was essential that no one think I was still alive in order to pull off the mission. As you can see, it has been successful because of the misinformation. Now, if you'll excuse me…"
"Of course, sir." The solders saluted, and the boy and his quarry walked smartly past them. Once they had their backs to them, however, Luke and the pirate shared a quick glance. Padawan Skywalker nodded. The smuggler and the Wookie slid their binders off, and whipped around, firing on the startled officers.
Luke raised his own blaster and gulped. "Sorry, commander. I can't let my father know I'm here."
He pulled the trigger, the gun went off, and the commander was sprawled across the desk.
"I think I'm gong to be sick," he moaned, bending down and clutching at his knees to relieve the dizzy sensation in his head.
"Stay with me, kid," cried Han, pulling the dead officer's body off of the communications link. "We aren't out of the woods yet."
Luke finished destroying the cameras before asking "Han…why do they think I'm dead?"
Solo glanced at him. "Sorry, can't say. You're going to have to take that up with your dad or with your Jedi Master. I'm not pretending to understand any of this. Now, let's find the cell this princess of yours is in…"
"I know which cell it is already." Captain Solo gave him a questioning look, and Luke gulped slightly under the scrutiny. "You…just stay here and make sure nothing happens….Han?"
"Yeah?"
"…Think on my question. It…it kind of has me startled."
The pirate nodded. "Yeah…I can understand that."
And he did, too.
…
Leia didn't look up as the door swished open. The figure didn't enter the cell, merely leaned against the door. They didn't know how close the princess was to breaking. Her nerves were shot, her spirits were crushed. She couldn't hold out much longer. She was too afraid to look up.
"So…did you miss me?"
That, however, made her look sharply up. Her jaw dropped as she was met with the sly and smiling figure of Luke Skywalker at the door, arms crossed with a superior attitude. Wait, why was he wearing white?...
"What, no hello kiss?"
"How did you…..But I thought that you…." She stuttered and could not regain her composure.
"Here, I suppose we ought to start this off right, hm? Hello. I'm Luke Skywalker, I'm here to rescue you." He took a few steps into the cell, bowed, and kissed her hand. She was too astounded to be angry about it. And in a way, she was immensely happy to see him. She really didn't hate him. The realization was an astounding one. He was grinning from ear to ear at her as he continued to hold her delicate hand. She hadn't snatched it away yet! He still had a chance at this! She might even love him…
"I'm here with Master Obi Wan Kenobi!" he announced very proudly. "Can your man deliver, or can he deliver?"
"Master Kenobi? Where is he?" Pause. "Luke, you're not my man."
Despite the fact that the situation was pressed for time, he embraced her very happily. "Of course I am! See? You even called me by my first name and everything." A very forceful shove at him queued the young Jedi to let the girl go, and, still grinning he did so. "I missed you," he admitted, quite serious.
"Can we just go now, please?" she begged, blushing, feeling intensely uncomfortable.
"Whatever you want," he appeased, stepping out of the doorway so she could leave. "We've got the Millennium Falcon waiting for you, and Han's guarding this floor, so we should have just enough time to get out of-"
"Who's Han?"
"All we need to do is find Master Obi Wan."
…
"He's here," he'd said. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Darth Vader had known that Obi Wan Kenobi was on board the Death Star. He'd come on board the rickety vessel they'd snared. The one that had blasted out of Mos Eisley. He was busy at work, he could sense that, but he was also busy hiding and defending something….But what?
It felt quite a lot like….
He'd felt so sure that Kenobi was dead. If a dead man could walk, then wasn't it at all possible that….
Don't think about it, he'd instructed. The work he was about to do would require his full attention.
He was going to enjoy this moment very much. So very, very much….He'd been waiting for it ever since that day, seventeen years ago….
The figure at the end of the passage stopped in its tracks. It didn't seem startled, maybe a bit wary, but entirely expectant of the opponent that awaited it.
"I've been waiting for you, Kenobi," purred Vader in a voice that just dripped with sweet justice. He wanted the man to tremble and bleed and fall at his feet begging for mercy. He wanted him to burn! To know the pain and feel the blistering heat. Well, he couldn't have that, but he'd be damned if he wasn't going to drag his former master through as much torture as he possibly could. Just like Luke had promised he would, if he'd ever gotten the chance. He was doing this for his son, too.
"We meet again, at last. When I left you, I was but the learner. Now I am the master. When I last fought you, you were trying to kidnap my son from me."
Obi Wan stiffened, shaking his head. "I never did anything I didn't think was for the best. And it wasn't best for Luke to be raised by you."
"Shut up!" he swiftly ordered, taking an angry step closer, flicking his black cape behind him. "You bastard, you treacherous scum! What right have you to decide what's best for him? I sired that boy, I raised him to be the most powerful Lord of the Sith in history! No one else did! It was all me, it was always me! What help were you anytime I needed you?"
"Anakin, please, I-"
"Don't call me that! I'm not your apprentice anymore. You had no right to Luke. Never. None. I'm his father. You're not his father."
"I think he might heavily contest that."
Vader seriously paused a beat. "What are you talking about?" He shook his head. "You're just a crazy, weak, old man now. That's what you'll die as. Just a whimpering dog."
"Don't make too many assumptions, Vader," he said coolly, drawing his saber. "It's not over yet."
"Yes it is. For you, it is."
They ignited their sabers. They began fighting. A grand and glorious destiny was reaching its peak.
To Be Continued…
Myotismon13: Yeah, you'll feel even worse for him next chapter, I guarantee it.
xInuyashaxangelx: Thanks, I needed something to wrap it up. Worked pretty nicely.
Fire Spirit: Thanks! Just a little something that refused to leave me alone. Well, actually, it's a pretty big something, but…
Asato-Chan: They're getting along better now that they've beaten the snot out of each other. –shrug and sigh- What can I say? They're guys.
Vivid Butterfly: Actually, I wouldn't bother. My dad doesn't let me use IM. Sorry. But I'm glad you like it! You can feel free to send me an e-mail, if you like! Good ol' slow e-mail….I love it so.
Annmarie Aspasia: I was debating for a while if I wanted Luke to stick to the Storm Trooper outfit, but I thought that was too easy. Besides that's not Lord Skywalker's style!
MJ Mink: Unstable anything is fun! Like chemicals….
TorontoBatFan: o.O? You know, the only explanation for the shirt collar thing is that it was late on Sunday night and that I was typing when I should have been in bed. You catch everything, don't you? I wish I was that observant. As for why he didn't dress as a Storm Trooper, there was some method to my madness there. Luke needed to find out that his daddy thought he was dead. And that's how it gets explained. He goes bonkers and has a real long talk about it with Leia later.
Schnickledooger: My only advice to you is never hear "Dentist," from Little Shop of Horrors. As for your scene, it is, by far and large, the favorite of the ones you have sent me. Very interesting.
Beka Darko: Writing is a drug far more addictive than crack cocaine.
