Chapter 4: Captured
The white hallways of the Senate cruiser seemed to go on forever, and as Leia looked around at the many consoles and droids she was not even aware of the fact that they had left the system in which she was raised. Hyperspace carried them quickly and silently towards the outer rim, towards her mission, towards the empire.
Anxiety swirled in her heart but she clamped it down to her toes. She could do this. She had to do this. Everyone was counting on her. She forced attention back to the ship. The cruiser had only recently been added to the fleet, equipped with the latest technology, weaponry, and travel comforts. The interior still glittered with newness, having barely been used since its initiation.
"Ariala, isn't it beautiful?" Leia said to the young woman behind her.
Ariala nodded from within the folds of her navy cloak, feeling much more at home in the old fabric. "Much nicer than the last ship I was on."
Leia chuckled. "Well I would hope so. The hold of a cargo ship doesn't exactly sound like the lap of luxury."
The Jedi allowed herself a small chuckle. Like Leia, she was working hard to keep control of her feelings. They had not had a lot of time to digest what was happening. As soon as Leia received the request, they had been ushered onto the new ship prepared in haste by the council and launched merely twenty minutes later. Only now was she able to realize what going back to Tatooine meant.
Ben…Luke…she could see them again. And she would not need to take on the emperor alone.
But there was also a disturbance building in the Force that unnerved her. The last message with Bail made her cold. Death was on the horizon, she foresaw it, but she could not place it. It was too vague. She hadn't told Leia her worries. She hoped she was wrong.
The desert night was ending and the cooler temperatures were beginning to dissipate. The hot sun's rays beat down upon the earth before the suns even became visible. Luke Skywalker sat in the cockpit of his speeder, the engine idling but going nowhere.
It had been over a year since Ari randomly vanished from the planet and he knew she had finally gotten off the rock, but lately, he had been plagued by nightmares. Her voice in the dark, calling to him; pain and anger radiated out of her, and she was alone.
He didn't know why he thought they meant anything at all, but nonetheless they weighed on him, robbing of him sound sleep and troubling his soul. And so, he found himself out here, staring at the stars, wishing his little ship could take him wherever she was.
Further, in the otherwise empty dessert, Ben stared at the same sky. The Force roiled in unbalance; the future shifted and clouded over; his padawan's journey fell into darkness.
Something was happening. Something he could no longer predict.
The large Star Destroyer that trailed behind the dwarfed the Ambassador ship seemed to be playing with its fleeing prey. It fired almost lazily at the darting ship, barely giving full power to the laser canons.
The little ship tried its hardest to maneuver away, firing back vainly, but the Destroyer was too large and too well manned. The ship rocked violently as the Destroyer landed a hit on the main reactor. The smaller ship's engines whined as they powered down.
Leia stared out the window, cursing the Destroyer under her breath and darted away. "Ari, come on! We cannot let them re-take these plans!"
Ariala tailed her as they peeled away from the command center, skidding to a halt as a wave of oppressive power surged through the Force. She had never felt the power of the dark side, and thankfully, her instincts were faster than in her mind. She sealed her power within herself, cutting her conscious bond with the Force and hiding her Jedi presence. If he knew…
She shuddered at the thought and took off after Leia, barely catching her dragging the small blue astro-mech down a maintenance path.
xxxxx
Tensions mounted in the small group facing the docking bay, blasters primed. The Destroyer had them pinned and they could just make out the seal of the docking tube attach beyond the white door. Whatever came through, they had to hold firm. The silence was deafening, then, bang! as the door was suddenly blasted away. The men jumped as, for a moment, the debris cloud was all that wafted through, then suddenly, through the rubble stepped a horde of stormtroopers their own blasters lighting the hall red as they fired.
Their legendary aim cleared the rebel fighters in seconds. They barely had time to confirm the "all-clear" before the looming figure of Darth Vader walked through the still smoking hole. His anger radiated like a disease and the troopers stepped back from even the sweep of his cape as he strode through the hall.
"Status."
A 501st commander stepped forward. "The Death Star plans are not in the main computer."
Vader rounded on the nearest rebel, a barely alive fighter supported by the troopers. His gloved hand wrapped tightly around the boy's throat. "Where are those transmissions you intercepted? What have you done with those plans?"
"We intercepted no transmissions," the man said with some difficulty. "We are on a diplomatic mission, this is a counselor ship."
"If this is a counselor ship, where is the ambassador?" With each word, Vader's grip tightened, the man gaping silently, clawing for release, as his life was choked out of him. "Commander, tear this ship apart until you've found those plans and bring me the passengers, I want them alive!"
The trooper jumped to attention. "Yes, sir."
The maintenance path glowed red as emergency power was diverted from non-essential systems, like the steaming pipes of this room that provided the luxury of hot and cold water to the lavatories. Ariala stood watch as Leia recorded a message to Obi-Wan, slipping the stolen plans into R2's safe keeping. The Jedi resisted the urge to add her own message. This was not the time.
The sounds of metal feet drew her attention and she turned sharply to see C-3PO, the golden protocol droid, wander by, calling for his smaller counterpart. In response the little droid whistled his arrival as he emerged from the path, Leia ducking out of sight.
"At last! Where have you been?" 3PO said as he began chasing the little droid down the hall.
"Are you sure they'll make it?" Ariala said as she hid behind a stack of crates.
"I've never seen two more dedicated droids in all my life. They'll make it." Leia looked over and gave her friend a smile before hiding behind another stack of crates on the opposite side of the hall, a blaster raised ready for anyone who came.
A few tense minutes passed before anyone passed the hall and Ariala grit her teeth at the blank anticipation. She had come to rely on the Force's subtle information, but closed to it as she was, she had no forewarning when three stormtroopers stepped in, Leia's crisp white dress a beacon that drew their attention. They waited not even a moment and as Leia stepped out to fire, one of them blasted her, the stun wave knocking her instantly to the ground.
"Son of a - " The Jedi swore, launching from her own position, saber alight as she darted forward. Her sudden appearance caught them off guard and she easily separated the closest trooper from his blaster arm, the limb and soldier falling to the ground.
She threw herself over Leia's prone form, knocking back their attacks but she knew before it happened she was in too close quarters to keep up the assault. The third trooper, keeping watch from the doorway fired on her, the same stun wave that took out Leia, knocking her into unconsciousness. The saber rolled from her hands, blade retracting.
The soldiers closed in, blasters still aimed. "Don't worry, they're still alive. Inform Lord Vader we have two prisoners. We'll bring them to him once they awaken. 89, head back to the ship and get that arm looked at."
"Yes, sir." The wounded trooper walked out while the other two pulled the limp bodies to the side. "I'll stay here and watch them while you report to Lord Vader. They should be waking up pretty soon."
"Yes, sir."
Darth Vader watched, absentmindedly as his troopers bustled about the command center of the rebel ship, searching through files and records for anything that may be of use to their leader. His main focus was on the Force, swelling around him. A slight, almost too-distant-to-notice, disturbance had been tingling his mind since they first engaged the Alderaanian cruiser and now it ebbed and flowed in the Force, impossible to grab. His ire danced on the edge. What was it?!
Somewhere, in the physical world, he heard the mechanical notes of a trooper's helmet forming his name. The Sith Lord pulled himself from his meditation and rounded slowly on the man. "What is it?"
"Sir, we've secured the princess."
Good news at least. Vader strode from the room as the prisoners were marched up the hallways to meet him. He recognized the Royal Alderaanian dress immediately, leveling his dark eyes on Leia as they drew closer. He barely acknowledged the semi-conscious handmaiden being dragged just behind her.
"Lord Vader," the trooper saluted, turning the Sith's attention away from the captives. "These are the two we found in the cargo hold. They were armed only with these." The trooper held out Leia's blaster and the lightsaber, in which Vader took a sudden interest.
He turned to face his captive. "How is it that you have this, princess?"
Leia drew herself up. "I hardly think that's any of your concern."
"Possessing such a keepsake," Vader hissed, "could be seen as an act of rebellion. You should be more careful."
"Is that why you carried out this absolutely unprovoked attack on my ship?" Leia countered, not shying away from the Sith's threat. "The Imperial Senate will not sit for this, when they hear you've attacked a diplomatic-"
"Don't as so surprised, your highness," Vader said accenting the last two words with unavoidable sarcasm. "You weren't on any mercy mission this time. Several transmissions were passed to this ship by Rebel spies. I want to know what happened to the plans they sent you."
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm a member of the Imperial Senate on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan—"
"You're a part of the Rebel Alliance...and a traitor!" Vader roared, his anger making it impossible to focus. "Take them away!"
The troopers obeyed and nudged the two females down the hall and out of the blasted door. All the while, Ariala kept looking back at Vader and her lightsaber, which he pocketed before walking off.
Luke stared up at the sky, to the faded outline of the hovering Destroyer just beyond orbit. He hadn't been able to sleep again, the nightmares growing worse. And now this. A terrible dread washed over him, striking him cold to his core. Why was the empire all the way out here, and why was he so sure that somehow his friend was involved?
The boy shook his head vigorously, desperate to clear it of the phantom messages he did not understand.
Leia struggled against the bonds keeping her propped against the cold, metal wall, straining her limbs as much as possible but to a continued lack of avail. Beside her, Ariala sagged against her own bonds, fruitless struggle worn out of her. So that was Darth Vader. That was her father. She had only felt his crushing, biting, evil Force presence for a split second, but it was enough to haunt her. The dark side…the dark side was a power she had never imagined. The Force screamed, corrupted by his mistreatment, begging to be set free…she was selfishly glad she had closed herself to it. How am I supposed to face that…?
"Ari. Ari are you okay?"
Leia's worried whispers pulled the girl from her head and the Jedi nodded, tucking away her family drama for another day.
"As okay as I can be." She pulled herself up and gave Leia a half smile. This was not the time to be worrying about a future battle. The plan, the mission….Ben…everything now lie in the hands of the two droids and she worried if they had even made it off the cruiser before Vader arrived.
"I'm sorry about your lightsaber…"
Ariala stared. "What…?"
"The lightsaber…Vader took it. I'm sorry. I know that means a lot to you."
She cringed. It was more than a lot to her. The saber was imbued with her own spirit, her own Force. Vader would have no trouble reading the crystal within. There was no hiding from him now. She shrugged with false calm. "It's just a thing. We have bigger problems."
Leia sighed, the impending torture freezing her blood. "Yes…quite our first adventure…"
The little chamber quieted again, each of them lost in their own worries, until the doors slid open with an uncomfortably loud hiss and 4 troopers stepped in. "You two, let's go."
Immediately Leia's mask fell into place. "Address us correctly. When asking women to do anything you say it politely."
Ariala could have sworn she saw the lead trooper roll his eyes behind the white helmet. "Get them out, 97." A second trooper undid the clasps that held the two to the wall, painfully jerking overextended shoulders behind their back and leading them off the Destroyer.
"We have them Lord Vader."
"Good. Alert the commander on the Death Star of my arrival."
"Yes, sir."
The shuttle engines whirred and the console beeped as it lifted off of the floor and zipped out of the hanger. It was only a few moments until they arrived at the Death Star, the looming moon-sized station a blot on the star-capped sky, and the two prisoners were dragged to yet another cell.
"I don't think I have been forced to do so much in my entire life," Leia said as they were thrust unceremoniously into the small room.
Ariala did not have the heart to meet her humor and only chuckled softly.
"We should try to get some rest. Vader doesn't exactly strike me a talking sort…" Leia trailed off as her imagination painted a gruesome scenario. "We need to be strong enough to resist him."
"You first, highness." Ariala hurried on as Leia opened her mouth to protest. "I'm of no importance to him. He will come for you first."
As though to prove her point, the doors once again slid open and Vader, flanked now by militant officers, in addition to his loyal troopers, regarded them from the entryway.
Without a word, two of the troopers stepped forward and grabbed Leia, dragging her from the room.
"Leave her be!" Ariala struggled against the other troopers and for a moment, just a second of emotion-fueled weakness, she reached to the Force for help. The weight of Vader's power snapped her to attention and she withdrew the attempt but it had been enough. She felt Vader's eyes on her, felt his own probing into her mind.
She pretended unaware, focusing only on the princess being dragged away from her and the armored arms keeping her from giving chase.
The troopers withdrew with the princess and the officers stepped back to leave, but Vader waited several more seconds. He knew what he had sensed…but what did it mean?
He took one last look at her before leaving the room. She was of much more interest than he thought.
Ben stepped slowly over the rocky wasteland, picking his way carefully through the desert.
His unfocused mind wandered uncomfortably to his apprentice. He thought, just a day or so ago, that he felt her unique glimmer in the Force, but it was swept away before he could confirm it. And on top of that, he had felt the familiar darkness from so many, many years ago. Vader. The possibilities of what it all meant unnerved him and meditation did nothing but reveal more confusion. That was why he had come out here; it was by the will of the Force that he moved across the so-called badlands. The living essence pulled him, calling on his specific talents, though it tittered vaguely as to what he was supposed to do.
As though finally prepared to reveal its long-planned surprise, the Force led him to his mission. Across the ridge, a group of strangely dressed creatures, about five all together, digging in an idle speeder. Tusken Raiders. They dug hurriedly through an abandoned speeder, objects flying everywhere as they chattered amongst themselves about their findings.
Ben sighed, the childish jumping of the Force confirming that he was to intervene. He pulled his large cloak over his head, spread his arms, and wailed wildly as he lumbered toward the scene.
The Raiders started, as expected, and with their abrupt departure, Ben saw the real reason for his calling: the form of a young, sandy blonde, boy lying prone on the rocks. "Luke."
Rushing over, he knelt near the boy checking his pulse and heart rate, sighing calmly as he confirmed the signs of life. "Come now, wake up." He tapped Luke's face gently, attention drawn away by a soft moan-like whistle. Pulling his hood out of the way of his eyes, he slipped it off looking at the creator of the noise. His eyes met R2-D2 and he smiled at the little droid. "Hello there! Come here my little friend. Don't be afraid." The little blue droid waddled forward slowly as Luke groaned, his eyes opening.
"Ugh…what happened?" his head throbbed and vision struggled to adjust to the seemingly infinite brightness.
"Rest easy, son, you've had a busy day." Ben pulled the boy up. "You're fortunate you're still in one piece."
Luke really wished he could have stayed lying down. He was only just starting to feel better when the shift in position spawned a wave of nausea that nearly knocked him back down. As it ebbed away, he finally took in his savior. "Ben?" He could just make out the old hermit. "Ben Kenobi! Boy, am I glad to see you!"
The retired Jedi returned the boy's smile and nodded. "The Jundland wastes are not to be traveled lightly. Tell me young Luke, what brings you out this far?" The elder sat on a rock, Luke following his actions.
"Oh, this little droid." Luke gestured to the patiently waiting R2. "I think he might have been stolen because he's searching for his former master. I've never seen such devotion in a droid before...there seems to be no stopping him. He claims to be the property of an Obi-Wan Kenobi. Is he a relative of yours? Do you know who he's talking about?"
Ben leaned back as far as he could without falling, scratching his scruffy beard. "Obi-Wan Kenobi...Obi-Wan… Now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time...a long time."
"I think my uncle knew him. He said he was dead."
"Oh, he's not dead, not...not yet." Ben felt the Force tremble, once again, childish in its excitement as things fell into place. He would have laughed if not for the weight of realization pressing on him as well.
"You know him."
"Well of course, of course I know him." Ben paused, taking a breath before going in for the dive. According to the Force, it was time. "He's me." Luke gaped, mind still swimming. Ben continued, "I haven't gone by the name Obi-Wan since, oh, before you were born."
Piece by piece, Luke understood. "Then the droid does belong to you!"
Been shook his head. "Don't seem to remember ever owning a droid. Very interesting..." The Force suddenly rumbled in warning, drawing his attention to the overhanging cliffs. "I think we better get indoors. The sand people are easily startled but they will soon be back and in greater numbers." The two stood as R2 beeped softly, a distance away.
As he stood, Luke made out the shape of his second droid half buried in the sand. "3PO!" Luke rushed over.
"Oh what happened? I must have taken a bad step…" his gears whirred, grinding the sand within as he shifted.
"Can you stand, 3PO? We've got to get out of here before those sand people return."
Looking at the small hut was the first time Luke felt that maybe he didn't have thing so bad in his uncle's sprawling complex. The boy nearly knocked things over as he moved around and was grateful when he was offered a seat beside the small main room table.
Ben shuffled, fetching them each a drink, before taking his own seat. "Luke, you mentioned that the droids might have been stolen. Where did you acquire them?"
"My uncle bought them from some Jawas yesterday. 3PO says they've been in the rebellion."
"The rebellion? So it's reached out this far? Hmm." Then it was quite possible he had felt Vader…and his padawan. He barely registered Luke's response.
"Yeah, I was surprised by it too, but I saw the Destroyer." The boy leaned back with a dreamy expression. "I wonder what it's like up there; fighting against the empire."
"Not as glorious as your imagination makes it seem, Luke. You father thought battle would be fun as well. He was greatly mistaken."
"My father? You knew him?"
"I fought alongside him. We were together in nearly every battle. Clone Wars included."
"You fought in the Clone Wars?" The disbelief in Luke's voice was mingled with awe.
"It's quiet true, young Luke." Ben couldn't help something of a smug smile. "Yes, I was once a Jedi Knight, same as your father."
Luke crumpled. "No, my father didn't fight in the wars. He was a navigator on a spice freighter."
"That's what your uncle told you. He didn't hold with your father's ideals; thought he should have stayed here and not gotten involved."
If possible, the boy deflated even more. "I wish I'd known him."
Ben nodded. How much would have changed if that had been the case. "He was the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior." He leaned forward, forcing his old memories to silence. "I understand you've become quite a good pilot yourself. He would be proud of your skills."
Luke took the compliment with a shy shrug.
Ben rose and went to his storage chest rummaging through. "Which reminds me…I have something here for you." Ben stood, Anakin's old saber tight in his grip. "Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it. He feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damned-fool idealistic crusade like your father did."
"Sir," 3PO suddenly cut in, highly unaware of his inappropriate timing. "If you'll not be needing me, I'll close down for a while."
"Sure, go ahead." Luke answered absentmindedly, having almost forgotten about the droids. He took the saber from Ben's offering hand, holding it reverently. "What is it?"
"Your father's lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster."
Luke pushed a little red button on the handle. A long blue beam extended from the handle and Luke swung the saber with interest. It felt surprisingly comfortable in his hands, despite his unfamiliarity with it.
Ben watched the boy, feeling harmony return to the Force. "An elegant weapon for a more civilized time," he said as he retook his seat. "For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the empire."
Luke retracted the saber and refocused his attention on Ben. Whether or not be believed the whole clone wars and Jedi story, the old man did seem to have some answers and the boy was hungry for information. "How did my father die?"
"A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, helped the empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father." The half-truth was all he could bring himself to reveal. Ariala had had more time, more knowledge and patience. Luke was too new to this world to accept the truth. "Now the Jedi are all but extinct."
Luke frowned. "Why did he turn evil?
"Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force."
"The Force?"
"Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together." Ben turned to look at R2 who was beeping for attention, having clearly run out of patience. "Now, let's see if we can't figure out what you are, my little friend. And where you come from."
"I saw part of the message he was -" The start of the recording cut Luke off.
General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.
The message faded out leaving the hut in silence.
Ben's mind churned with dark thoughts. If Leia was on the run, if Alderaan had fallen to such danger…how did his pupil fare? The brief flash of her presence in the Force seemed all the more solid. He felt cold, even in the heat of midday. He had been too impatient…he has sent her to her death. His plea to Luke was more direct than he intended; Ben could not wait. "You must learn the ways of the Force if you're to come with me to Alderaan," Ben said after a moment.
Luke laughed at the statement. "Alderaan? I'm not going to Alderaan. I've got to go home. It's late. I'm in for it as it is."
"I need your help, Luke. She needs your help." Your sisters need your help. "I'm getting too old for this sort of thing."
"I can't get involved! I've got work to do!" Luke stepped away, doubling back only to add "it's not that I like the empire. I hate it! But there's nothing I can do about it right now." He sighed. "It's such a long way from here."
"That's your uncle talking."
"Oh, God, my uncle. How am I ever going to explain this?"
"Learn about the Force, Luke," Ben pressed again.
Luke pushed aside his thoughts of adventure and shook his head. "Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead. You can get a transport there to Alderaan or wherever you're going."
The old man closed his eyes, defeat heavy as it crashed into him. "You must do what you feel is right, of course."
The spherical station purred as it moved slowly through the vast expanse of space, the white noise an anchor for Vader's ruminating mind. In one hand, he slowly twirled the confiscated lightsaber, diving into its secrets.
It was fairly fresh in its crafting, the crystal ablaze with youthful energy that his blade could no longer muster. It was not some old relic, then, which spawned the question 'who'. The Jedi were dead, he had been responsible for so many deaths himself. So many…except one. The one that truly mattered; the one that had been the final nail in his coffin as Vader: Obi-Wan Kenobi.
It had been so long since the dark lord thought of his former Jedi master that the name seemed foreign to him.
But this weapon did not belong to Obi-Wan, the Force told him. The heart of the Jedi that made this blade was full of blind optimism and hope. Kenobi had been through too much to feel that way now.
Then the Jedi had found a new apprentice?
Vader would have laughed if he had the ability. What did that old fool think a single youngling would do? Was Kenobi trying to restart the order from his secret hiding place? Did he hope to bring an army of blue and green wielding children to the Sith and strike master and apprentice down?
As sarcastic as the thoughts were, anger bubbled within him at the possibility, old loyalties that had never fully severed burning at the thought. Kenobi was going to betray him again, come after him again, ruin everything again! Why couldn't the old man just curl up and die like the rest of the Jedi?
Vader seethed. If Kenobi was planning such a revolt, Vader would slaughter them all and finally would wipe his master from the galaxy.
His fingers tightened around the saber and the Force presence of the crystal seemed to scream at his domineering nature. He turned his attention back to it. He would start with this one.
Vader was certain the princess was not the one who carried the blade after all. The handmaiden, however, was a much clearer possibility. Though it had been fleeting, he had felt her draw on the Force. She was not only sensitive, she was trained. How much, still remained a mystery.
He rose, slow and steady in his determination. The princess needed to be dealt with first – the plans had not yet been located – but the Jedi would be his dessert.
To be continued…