Chapter 13 : The Awakening
How could all hyperlanes lead to Tatooine ? For a wasteland of a planet at the far edge of the Outer Rim, it sometimes seemed to Darth Vader that it was the focal point of the Galaxy.
After finding the Rebels barricaded inside the relay station on Toprawa he had configured a blockade of that planet to prevent the stolen Death Star plans from going any further. Unfortunately the lightning swift Corellian corvette Tantive IV had managed to come out of hyperspace inside the blockade ring, then re-enter hyperspace as quickly as it exited. It would have seemed a pointless manuever, except that the technicians on Devastator had detected the transmission of the Death Star plans from the Toprawa relay station to the Tantive IV. It was not supposed to be possible to follow a ship through hyperspace, but he had used the Force to keep the Devastator hard on the tail of the Tantive IV.
When both ships dropped out of hyperspace again they were outside Tatooine. He would have given anything to have seen the faces of the Tantive's crew when they realized they had not evaded the Star Destroyer. They definitely wouldn't have wanted to have seen his face,were that possible, when he discovered the plans were not aboard the corvette. An escape pod, devoid of life forms, had been launched from the Tantive IV, suggesting that the stolen plans had been hidden inside. It would be necessary to send a detachment of stormtroopers to the surface to investigate.
He would have gone himself, but Tarkin was waiting at the Death Star, both for himself, and their captured spy, the Alderaanian Senator Princess Leia Organa. Beyond the reclamation of the Death Star plans, Tarkin was certain the location of the main Rebel base could be wrung from her. Because of Tarkin's impatience, Vader placed an Imperial commander in charge of the detachment on Tatooine, while he took Devastator forward to the Death Star. Before he began his interrogation of the Rebel Princess, he checked on the progress of the search for the stolen plans.
He switched on the holotransmitter. "Have you found anything,Commander ?"
"Yes, m'lord. The escape pod appears to have contained droids. Tracks were found moving away from the pod."
"It would be possible to store the plans in the memory banks of a droid. I take it you followed them ?" he said.
"Of course, m'lord. The droids were picked up by a transport crewed by small, hooded creatures."
"Jawas," he said absently. "They buy and sell droids on Tatooine."
"Yes, sir, exactly," the commander said, thrown off by Vader's familiarity with the situation."We were able to extract information from these...jawas regarding recent transactions. We convinced them to reveal the location of the purchasers of the droids."
"You have not said you found the droids, Commander."
"Well sir, we haven't exactly. We went to the location the jawas mentioned, a moisture farm outside of Anchorhead, but the droids were not there. We searched the entire homestead, interrogated the occupants."
A feeling of dread was creeping in his mind."What did you do with the prisoners ?"
The commander's confusion was evident even in the small projection of the holotransmitter. "Prisoners, m'lord ?"
"You let them go ?"
The commander brightened considerably."Oh no, sir. We burned the place, and the occupants, too."
Dread was giving way to panic. "A boy, was there a boy ?"
"No sir, no children. They.."
"NO, not a child." He found he was almost shouting into the holotransmitter. "A youth, a young man."
Confusion had returned to the commander's voice. "I'm sorry m'lord.I didn't know we were looking for a particular person. The occupants were a man and a woman, middle aged, identification papers read Owen and Beru Lars. Should I be looking for a young man ?"
"No.You are looking for droids. Move the stormtroopers on to Mos Eisley. If the Rebels are going to get the droids off of Tatooine, it will most likely be through the space port there. Secure the town."
"Yes, m'lord. It will be done."
He flicked the holotransmitter off. He should have gone himself.He would have made sure that Owen and Beru's faithful raising of his son was not repaid in pain and death. He would have made sure Luke was safe.Instead he was light years away, on board the accursed Death Star, unable to protect Luke.
Why had the Rebel ship come out of hyperspace over Tatooine ? Why did the Rebel owned droids come to be bought by Owen ? Following the will of the Force had taught him to dismiss nothing as mere coincidence. At the edge of his perception he could feel the breeze of destiny starting to flicker through his cloak, an unreadable future starting to swirl around him.
Answers, he wanted answers. It was time to move on to the interrogation of the Rebel Senator. Perhaps the information she would undoubtedly reveal to him would give him insight not only to the plans of the Rebels, but to this stirring in the Force.
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He couldn't help but admire her.Her emotional strength and mental resolve were quite impressive, especially when considering the percentage of prisoners who usually succumbed to the invasion of the mind probe. To find such strength in one so young was even more remarkable. He was sure her father must be quite proud of her. Tarkin had no such appreciation, though. He was focused only on the failure to obtain the location of the principal Rebel stronghold.
Tarkin had his own plan to convince her to give up her secrets, and to that end Darth Vader escorted the Princess Leia Organa through the hallways of the Death Star, her slight form flanked by two black helmeted soldiers. The group entered the control room, where Grand Moff Tarkin and Admiral Motti were already waiting. Senator Organa leapt to the offensive as soon as she was within conversational range of Tarkin.
"Governor Tarkin. I should have expected to find you holding Vader's leash. I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board," she said fearlessly.
Tarkin, for all the barbaric acts in his head, firmly believed in civility. Her demeanor disgusted him as much as her words."Charming to the last. You don't know how hard I found it signing the order to terminate your life."
Leia was undaunted. "I'm surprised you had the courage to take the responsibility yourself."
As the two continued their verbal battle, Vader stood silently in the background. He had noted how strongly the Force was with her during his interrogation sessions, though she seemed to have no awareness, let alone usage, of the Force. That in itself was not an unusual finding, since younglings were no longer screened for Force abilities, but he couldn't remember Bail having any Force sensitivity.
Leia was just comprehending Tarkin's words that Alderaan would be destroyed by the Death Star, even though she had disclosed the name of the Rebel base. She tried to push past Tarkin, but Vader put a hand on her shoulder, and pulled her back, almost holding her against him.
Finally her mental resolve broke down, and he felt her desperation and fear. They watched as the Death Star's superlaser focused on Alderaan, blasting the planet into rubble.
The screaming in his ears was so loud that he didn't think it was possible for one small human to make that much noise, and then he recognized it was not coming from Leia. The agonizing noise continued, making him close his eyes, while waves of nausea swept over him. He realized he was grasping Leia Organa's shoulder rather tightly. Fortunately, in her grief, she did not notice. He struggled a moment to regain his composure.
The Force had not spoken to him like that in a long time.In the last decade, since his assassination attempt on Palpatine, his Force visions had dwindled into nonexistance.Even the destruction of Despayre had hit him with only moderate discomfort. With the destruction of Alderaan, however, the Force had unleashed the full power of its sorrow, as if his inaction after Despayre had been a disappointment. If the Force wanted his full attention, it certainly had it now.
He still felt unsettled as he escorted Leia Organa to her cell on the detention block, where he transferred her custody to the detention officer. She accepted her fate with great dignity. He could sense she had buried her grief so that she could once again assume her Senatorial face. Having been held prisoner while Tarkin made the great pronouncement, she was unaware that the Imperial Senate had been dissolved. She had no formal standing now ; she was a mere Rebel, a spy, a traitor to the Empire.
She had given up the name of the Rebel base : Dantooine. He remained unconvinced that revelation would prove to be of any use. Her mind had been too calm, too focused, as she spoke what should have been her dearest secret. He wondered what other secrets her mind held, especially the reason why she had brought the Tantive IV to Tatooine.
The detention officer relayed a message. "Lord Vader, Grand Moff Tarkin requests your presence in the conference room."
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He had been standing in the conference room with Tarkin when the call first came in regarding the ship that had been captured in the Death Star's tractor beam. His hope then was that the ship, which matched the description of a ship that had evaded Imperial troops in Mos Eisley, would contain the stolen Death Star plans. Strangely, the ship had been empty, the crew apparently having abandoned ship in escape pods.
As he walked around the perimeter of the Corellian freighter he was disappointed to find that the ship supplied more questions than answers. Disappointment was replaced by astonishment as he sensed a presence he had not felt in a long time. A very long time. He had no doubt it was Obi-Wan. Fifteen years of continual contact in the Master-Padawan relationship had left Obi-Wan's mental signature indelibly imprinted in his memory. The recognition had been so quick, it wasn't even conscious; he didn't even have time to think how illogical it would be for Obi-Wan to appear on the Death Star after a twenty year absence.
In fact, the identification was so certain, he found he was not asking himself if Obi-Wan was here, but why ?
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Obi-Wan Kenobi had never been very prescient. As hard as he had worked, that particular Force ability had never been his.He trusted in his fellow Jedi to provide that information, and if there had one salvation after Order 66, it was that Master Yoda had survived and could continue to farsee for the both of them. He drew on that knowledge now, for his own comfort, to give him courage, as he walked on to a future he could not see. He trusted in Yoda's vision, trusted in the Force, that what he was about to do was the right thing.
It seemed so risky to leave Luke now, his training barely begun, his association with the remnants of the Jedi Order really nothing more than a piqued interest. To leave him in the vicinity of his father, after spending the boy's entire lifetime trying to keep that very person from him, seemed even more dangerous. He had to remember that he was not truly leaving Luke, that he would still be able to speak with him, as Qui-Gon had done with himself during those long years on Tatooine. At least, that was the theory. Qui-Gon was so much more gifted in the Force than himself; he truly hoped he would have the ability to transform himself, to have his consciousness persist beyond the death of his body.
It must be done. The absent father was such a powerful figure in Luke's mind; the influence Vader would wield with the boy would be immense, the attraction irresistable, if Luke learned the truth. A wedge must be driven between them to eliminate the possibility of that bond, a wedge stronger than a simple story about Vader killing Luke's father. A direct experience that would burn itself into Luke's memory, and make Vader forever into an unforgiveable enemy.
This intentional manipulation of Luke's experience felt wrong, but Obi-Wan reminded himself that it was for Luke's safety. This was war, a war between the Jedi and the Sith, as in millennia gone by, except that now the Jedi were on the verge of extinction. The survival of the Jedi Order rested in this boy, and in war, sometimes things had to done by whatever means were necessary. He could not allow uncontrolled emotion to interfere with the will of the Force.
He heard the sound of the ventilator first, though he did not recognize it for what it was. The Force told him to look down the corridor, and he paused for a moment, analyzing what he saw. There was no doubt this was Darth Vader, though he only knew the image from news reports and Senator Organa's description. This monstrous being was in a way his creation; what atrocities would the Galaxy been spared if he had only had the courage to kill Anakin at Mustafar ?
He could see no trace of his former Padawan in the black armor before him. Vader was much taller than Anakin had been, certainly a result of the limb prostheses. Vader's presence was blank and unreadable to Obi-Wan. Anakin had never been able to contain his feelings that well, and Anakin could have never stood as quietly and patiently as Vader was doing now. An impenetrable shield seemed to cover Vader's mind; it was almost as if the mind inside was no longer human, but a machine.
The black form moved towards him, confident and controlled. "I've been waiting for you Obi-Wan. We meet again at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you I was but the learner. Now I am the Master."
Not Anakin's voice, but it sounded like him, nonetheless.
The clash of lightsabers brought Obi-Wan instantly back to Mustafar. This fight was pale in comparison, his own speed and agility diminished by age and lack of use. The absence of youthful strength would be of no consequence.He wasn't trying to destroy Anakin this time; he only needed to hold him off until the time was right, until Luke was present.
He kept his saber in a defensive posture, not allowing Vader close enough to be a real threat.He was close enough, though, for Obi-Wan to see the armor, the electronic controls of the life support suit. A fearsome visage Vader presented, but Obi-Wan saw mostly how much machinery had been necessary to sustain the wreck of a body that he had left smoldering among the rocks of Mustafar. It would have been a kindness to finish him then.
The slowness of the duel was apparently frustrating Vader.
"Your powers are weak, old man," he taunted.
Inside, Obi-Wan sighed. Still the same old Anakin. Still doesn't get it. He thinks this fight is about us, about determining a winner. This battle is not about that at all. He was reminding himself as well, reviewing the instructions Qui-Gon had given him.
He sensed Luke's presence, and turned his head slightly to see the boy staring, mesmerized by the battle. Now was the time. It went against every reflex he had to let the crimson lightsaber come toward him undefended. As Vader's blade swept towards him, he had to close his eyes to prevent himself from automatically countering the blow.
It was an eerie sensation, but at the same time comforting, to be enveloped in the Force in a way that he had never felt when his body had been alive.His relief at being able to accomplish the feat helped him throw off the disorientation, to come back to the present.
Run, Luke, run.
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It hadn't felt as good as he thought it would. He'd imagined it numerous times over the last twenty years, and each time then it had brought enormous satisfaction as he watched Obi-Wan's head roll away from his body, or his face contort in agony as he sliced limb after limb from his former Master's body. Sometimes he just saw the dull look of surprise as he shoved his lightsaber through Obi-Wan's chest.
Seeing Obi-Wan had answered one question, but presented more. Yes, he'd been right about sensing the presence of his old Master, however improbable that had seemed, but now it was important to know why, why here and why now ? Obi-Wan hadn't sensed him at first, and he'd stood quietly, waiting for Obi-Wan to finally notice him. His stomach tightened when Obi-Wan's eyes lit with recognition, but he let his hatred calm him.
The moment he had dreamed of so often was upon him, and he walked forward confidently to set events in motion."Now I am the Master," he had told Obi-Wan, so that there would be no misunderstanding.
"Only a master of evil, Darth," Obi-Wan had replied.
He shook his head within the helmet.Same old Obi-Wan. Sees everything in black and white, and judgemental to the bitter end.
Obi-Wan struck the first blow, but it soon became clear that this was to be no replay of Mustafar.It was hard to believe that this was the same Obi-Wan who had taken on the four sabers of General Grievous. He could feel the warmth of victory's breath, and his heart pounded with the knowledge that revenge would soon be his. When Obi-Wan conceded the battle and withdrew his weapon, he took the opening, let loose the mighty arc of his lightsaber to complete the dream. Only once it was done, the satisfaction he sought did not come to him.
It wasn't just that Obi-Wan had for some reason purposefully sacrificed himself, that he'd offered no resistance to the full length swing of the lightsaber.It wasn't just because in the end Obi-Wan hadn't lay crumpled in a heap, but had somehow vanished in the Force to leave only his ragged brown robe behind. It was that after it was done, after Obi-Wan was no longer among the living, nothing had changed.
His limbs had not regrown, his lungs had not been miraculously healed, and Padme' had not reappeared at his side.Obi-Wan had been responsible for the loss of all of those things, but his death had not brought any of them back.It was wrong that Obi-Wan had robbed him , that he had wandered whole and unpunished after leaving him for dead, and preventing him from being with Padme' when Luke was born.Without a doubt Obi-Wan deserved to die for those crimes, but nevertheless, vengeance left him hollow.
A commotion in the hangar bay drew his attention; it was a firefight between the stormtroopers and the crew of the Corellian freighter. The blast doors closed in front of him, preventing his entry into the hangar. No matter. The tracking device was securely in place aboard the ship; though its crew might think they were escaping, in truth, the Death Star would be right behind them.
As he walked down the corridor with Obi-Wan's lightsaber in his hand, his mind turned to Luke. To his knowledge, three people had been involved in raising Luke : Owen, Beru, and Obi-Wan. Now all three were dead. Luke was alone in the Galaxy.
He remembered when he was 19. He had been overconfident and insecure at the same time. Wanting to prove himself, but also needing the support of his mentors. Not a good age to be alone. If ever there was a time that Luke needed his father, it would be now. He would have to put aside his fears and step up to the responsibility, be the father that Luke needed.
As soon as the Rebel base had been dealt with, and he could leave the Death Star, he would take one of Devastator's shuttles, fly it alone, and find Luke.Though he might not have found a way to raise Luke before, he would not fail him now.
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Luke Skywalker had never felt air like this before. On Tatooine, it could get hot enough to roast a sandrat, but you weren't really aware of the air. You felt the heat, the wind, the sand, but not the air. Here, on the fourth moon of the planet Yavin, the air was a palpable thing, heavy and full of moisture. It hit you like a rampaging bantha, made every exertion feel like you were fighting a tractor beam. All that moisture made the jungles on Yavin 4 thick and green and lush, the exact opposite of Tatooine.
But then everything was different now. His Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, killed by Imperials. Ben, killed by Darth Vader before his eyes. Anything familiar to him was now gone, save for the friends he'd made in just these past two days : Leia, Han, and Chewie. Besides his father's lightsaber, which rested comfortingly on his hip, they were all he had in the Galaxy.
It was all a bit overwhelming, and he hiked alongside a wall of the enormous Massassi temple, away from the hub of activity, to sit by himself for awhile. His back was up against the ancient building, the stone cool and soothing through his tunic. He heard footsteps coming up the path, fronds of plants rustling out of the way as someone passed through.
Leia Organa came into view, and seated herself next to him. "I thought I saw you come this way. Are you feeling any better ?" she asked.
Luke was pleased she had paid attention to his whereabouts, but at the same time he felt like a cad. Here he'd been so caught up in his own grief over Ben, he hadn't even asked her about her own family on Alderaan."Yeah, a little. How about you ? Your family was probably on Alderaan."
Her head sagged downward, and her voice was so soft he could hardly hear her. "Yes. My father, my friends, everyone is gone."
"I'm so sorry, Leia.If it's any consolation, I understand. I'm an orphan, too," Luke said.He thought about putting his arm around her, but decided against it.
"I miss my father already. He was such a great man. He taught me so much about being strong, about fighting for what you believe in," Leia said. "You must miss your parents."
Maybe it was the similarity of their losses, but there was something about Leia that made him feel he could tell her anything. "They died when I was very young. I never knew them. Ben told me my father was a Jedi Knight, that they fought together in the Clone Wars. That was more than my uncle ever told me."
"Your father was a Jedi ?" Leia found herself viewing Luke with new respect, noticing a depth in his eyes that she hadn't seen before. "Then my father probably knew your father. He always spoke very highly of the Jedi, told me many stories of the Old Republic, when he worked closely with the Jedi Council."
"Ben also told me that Darth Vader betrayed and murdered my father," Luke said.
"He is a very evil man. They say he is closest to the Emperor. My father always told me to keep far away from him.Unfortunately that wasn't possible on the Death Star," she said.
Luke suddenly felt protective. "He didn't hurt you did he ?"
Leia shook her head. "No. Nothing permanent. But now you understand why it's so important for the Alliance to succeed here. We've got to find a way to destroy the Death Star."
"Well, count me in. I'll do whatever the Alliance needs.Back on Tatooine I used to say I hated the Empire, but now I mean it. Now it's personal."