Visions and Memories
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars; this is merely a fanfiction.
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"... and so Representative Naberrie is safe and sound, and we are en route to Naboo." General Kota stood in the communications room of the Rogue Shadow, arms behind his back in a professional military stance. Starkiller slouched to the side, arms folded. Before them were the three shimmering blue holo-images of Mon Mothma, Garm Bel Iblis, and Bail Organa.
"Nevertheless, the Imperial presence on Onderon has tightened." Mon Mothma sighed.
Kota nodded. "As long as Queen Ashti and Korr Sunka toe the Imperial line, I don't believe any harm will come to them as a result of the uprising. As far as the Imperials know, everything that transpired on Onderon was the result of the machinations of that old witch."
"But this news of her 'Master' is disquieting," interjected Bail. "Who is he? What is his role? We do need a third faction in this war - unless he comes to our aide."
Starkiller shook his head with a smirk. "I didn't get the impression he had any great love for the Rebellion. In fact, I think he equally disdains both sides."
"But the Mandalorians ... their clans have been scattered. Mercenaries, bounty hunters and thugs. How did he get such a force to fight alongside him?" Bail shook his head. "It makes no sense."
"These are distractions," Garm interrupted. "This 'Master' plays second fiddle in all this. We know who the true threat is. The Death Star. Any Mandalorian threat pales in comparison."
"Garm is right," Mon Mothma agreed. "These Mandalorians could not stand up against the Imperial reinforcements brought by Darth Vader. The Master can wait."
Kota nodded. "Very well. What are your orders?"
"Escort Representative Naberrie back to Naboo. She'll want to report to Naboo's Queen, Kylantha."
"But be wary," warned Bail. "There is an Imperial garrison on Naboo, and they must not pick up your ship's ID signature."
"That complicates things," Starkiller whistled.
"Not exactly," Kota replied, waving him away. "It just so happens we have a professional slicer onboard."
"Kaden?" Starkiller raised an eyebrow.
"Sure. He can change our ID signature, making it appear as though we're Imperial loyalists, escorting Pooja back to the safety of her home planet in the wake of Onderon's uprising."
"And the Imperials will buy that?"
Kota shrugged. "If Representative Naberrie manages to sell it well enough."
"It is a sound plan for the moment," Bail said. "We'll look forward to your update."
The three holo-images flickered, and then went out. Starkiller shook his head. "So we're going to be stuck on Naboo now?"
"Temporarily," Kota assured. "I'll make contact with Maris, see if her boyfriend has anymore intel. Then we can plan our next move with Garm, Mon and Bail."
Starkiller rolled his eyes. "I want to get back out on the field, General."
"All in good time, M'boy. Why don't you go meditate, try to center yourself?"
"Is this your way of telling me I have to be patient?"
"You know it."
Starkiller shook his head jokingly. "Sometimes I think the Dark Side has its perks - don't have to be patient with anyone."
"Yeah, and the only tradeoff is having yellow eyes, rotted teeth and decaying skin."
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Starkiller eased himself down in his mediation chambers. He stretched out with the Force, expanding his mind.
Letting himself drift, drift ...
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"We're losing her."
"Juno? Juno!"
He struggled to push himself past the medical droids, rushing to Juno's bedside. She was there, her heart monitor slowing, slowing ...
"Juno ..."
Slowing.
"Don't give up, Juno."
Slowing.
"Don't give up ..."
Gone.
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Starkiller's eyes flicked open, in a cold sweat. There was a presence in his chambers behind him. With a roar, more to do with his most recent vision, he ripped a piece of machinery and flung it at the person behind him.
Zarbina caught the metal casing with the Force and gently shoved it aside. Starkiller gasped at his momentary lapse in restraint. "I'm sorry ... I didn't know it was you ... I just reacted."
Zarbina didn't immediately respond. She surveyed him, watching curiously. Then she pointed a gnarled finger. "You have been marked by the Force."
Starkiller cocked his head. "How do you mean?"
"It has allowed you glimpses into the ever-changing future."
"So ... what I'm seeing ... these visions ..."
"It is what may possibly occur."
"Possibly?"
Zarbina shrugged. "The Force is ever changing. The future is always uncertain. But what you have seen is one very possible outcome."
"So it's true ... I've sensed it. Something's happening to Juno. She ... she might die in the future?"
"Might. Something is happening inside of her. She will not admit it to herself or others, but her life force is slowly ebbing away."
Starkiller stood up immediately. "I don't sense -."
"Because you do not want to. Because you love her too dearly to imagine this possible outcome."
"What can I do?" Starkiller asked. He spread his arms out. "What can I do? If she's dying ... maybe a doctor?"
"It may already be too late."
"What do you suggest then?" Starkiller's fears were intensifying. "Is there a way? Something the Force can do?"
"Not if her death is the will of the Force."
Starkiller's fist clenched. "The will of the Force? If the Force's will is to take away someone I love ... to slowly drain the life from her ... then I'll oppose the will of the Force!" He stopped, realizing how he sounded. "I'm sorry. Such thoughts are the path to the Dark Side."
Zarbina watched him curiously. "But Captain Eclipse is not the only one you have had visions of."
Starkiller felt like his mind was being invaded. "You know of this?"
"The other woman you have seen ... a relative of the Nubian representative traveling with us."
"Representative Naberrie."
"Her relative - aunt - died nearly twenty years ago. You are reliving it."
"Why?" Starkiller was genuinely puzzled.
"Because there is something the Force wants you to learn. Somehow, history may be repeating itself. And those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
"I don't understand."
"In time, you will," Zarbina answered. And with that, she turned and swept away from a very confused Starkiller.
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Juno hovered over the refresher in the bathroom. She looked down into it, seeing her own vomit mixing in with clots of blood.
Blood.
She couldn't understand it. She'd denied it, covered it up.
She couldn't let Starkiller see what was happening. It was unimportant. She couldn't distract him from his mission of saving the galaxy.
She was an exceptional actress.
Always had been.
Even when she was flying for the Imperial Navy, she'd never truly believed in the Imperial cause. But she fought, went along with it, feigning blind loyalty to the Emperor, concealing her true feelings from her superiors.
Even from Darth Vader, the Dark Lord himself.
She wiped her mouth, and flushed the refresher. She looked up into the mirror. Dark bags had appeared under her eyes, and her hair was askew.
She couldn't let anyone realize anything was wrong. At least, not yet.
She reached into a cabinet, pulling out some concealment. Juno was not one to wear makeup; Starkiller found her to be quite attractive either way. But she dabbed some foundation on her pale skin, rubbing some rouge in, giving herself some color. Then she patted some concealment on the bags under her eyes, and ran a comb through her hair, pulling it back into a sharp bun.
She looked good as new.
But her wound ... it seared in her flesh. But she was tough. She masked the pain well. But still ...
Juno slowly removed her overjacket, then slid the sleeve of her undershirt down, revealing her chest and shoulder.
The wound left by the Dark Apprentice's vibroblade was going from purple, to black, with thick pink throbbing veins. And it had spread, moving towards her arm.
She would have to wear a longer sleeved shirt.
She heard a knock on the door. "Just a minute!"
In her frenzy to put the makeup and concealment away, she ended up scattering it across the floor. She cursed under her breath, struggling to gather them up.
"Juno!"
It was Starkiller.
She temporarily froze. He couldn't know. She couldn't let him find out.
"I'll be right out! You can hold it for a second, can't you?"
"I don't have to go, I just want to talk!"
She froze again. Could he suspect. "Okay ... just, give me a minute."
She hastily threw the makeup back in a small case she carried in her pocket. She then moved to the door, and began opening it. As she did, she realized that she had left the pouff that she had used to place the concealment on her eyes on the counter. Too late now. The door was already open.
"Bathroom's all yours," Juno said with a grin, while silently praying Starkiller wouldn't see the pouff.
"I want to talk," Starkiller said simply.
"O-okay, let's go into the main hold where we can relax and have a drink. I hear Kota's playing Wedge and Kaden in Sabaac."
"I'd rather us not be heard," Starkiller replied, backing her into the bathroom and closing the door behind them.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" she asked. "I mean, imagine if someone caught us coming out of the bathroom together. The gossip coming from Proxy would be -."
"Is there something you're not telling me?" he interrupted.
Juno stiffened. "Nothing."
"You're sure. I mean, when you crashed on Onderon ... that wasn't like you."
"The ship's scopes went dead. It was a fluke."
"Juno ..."
"I'm fine, Starkiller. Everything's fine. I promise."
Her acting was extremely convincing. Starkiller nodded. Perhaps she's not sick. Perhaps my visions are just expressions of my fears.
That's when his eyes fell on the pouff on the counter. "Since when do you wear makeup?"
"Oh, I figured I would try it. See how I would look for once."
"Uh-huh." Starkiller picked up the pouff. Juno reached out to grab it, but Starkiller held it up out of her reach. He examined it.
"Concealer?"
"You know, gotta cover up those aging spots."
"Juno, stop it already. Just tell me the truth." His eyes were narrowed.
"I've already told you the truth! There's no reason for you to be worried." She moved past him. "I should go check on Proxy, you know how he gets when I make him fly the ship alone."
Starkiller's arm reached out, grabbing her shoulder.
"Galen ... Galen, you're hurting me!"
Starkiller didn't listen. He ripped her sleeve clean off, exposing the pulsating mass of scar tissue.
She was caught.
Starkiller stared at it, transfixed. His fears for her quickly bubbled up into anger. "When were you going to tell me about this?!"
"There's nothing to tell!"
"Are you kidding me?! Juno, look! And it's the same spot where that clone cut you!" He clenched his fists. "What did he do to you?!"
"I don't know ..."
Starkiller let out a animalistic cry, before punching a fist through the glass mirror in his rage. "When I find him ... and why would you conceal this from me?!"
Juno held her ground. "Because of the way you're acting now. I didn't want to worry you. I figured I'd privately find a doctor, and you would never have to be troubled with it." She reached out, rubbing his face. "You're too valuable to the Rebellion to be distracted with me."
"Forget the Rebellion! As far as I'm concerned, the Rebellion can crash and burn! You are my priority!"
"And again ... that's why I never wanted you to find out."
"You're going to a doctor on Naboo. No arguments. If I have to travel to the edge of the galaxy and back to find out how to help you, I will."
"I believe you will. But you can't. You mustn't. Please, we have to save the galaxy. We have to find a way to destroy the Death Star!"
Starkiller's rage was growing. He started ranting. "I would allow the Death Star to destroy a hundred planets - a thousand planets - before I ever give up on you."
They heard a throat clear from the other side of the closed door. "Is ... is everything okay? I heard yelling." It was Pooja.
Juno quickly threw her coat over herself, covering up her arm. "We're fine. Just a minor argument." She glared daggers at Starkiller, before brushing past him, opening the door, and heading for the cockpit.
Pooja watched her awkwardly; then her eyes fell on the broken glass strewn about the counter and floor. "One heck of a minor argument. Are you sure everything's okay?"
"Fine," Starkiller replied bluntly.
"Okay." Pooja turned and walked away, eyeing Starkiller suspiciously. Starkiller closed the bathroom door, locking himself in. He slowly sat down upon the refresher, and buried his face in his hands.
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Kaden had come through for them yet again by changing the ID signature of the Rogue Shadow. Proxy and Juno allowed Pooja to come forward and talk on the comlink to the landing personnel, while Kaden leaned casually against the wall.
"You are cleared for entry," the voice on the comlink said. "You may land in Hangar B of the Royal Palace. Queen Kylantha looks forward to speaking with you, Representative Naberrie."
Juno gave Pooja and Kaden an appraising look. "Nice work, you too."
Pooja shrugged. "Hey, you don't go into politics without learning how to be an actor." She gazed over at Juno. "You should've gone into politics."
Juno realized Pooja's words had a heavy meaning behind them.
The Rogue Shadow alighted in a hangar in Naboo's Royal Palace. Everyone onboard descended the ramp into the hangar, where several handmaidens in orange and yellow robes awaited Pooja. An older, dark-skinned man in uniform approached. Pooja politely bowed.
"Commander Panaka."
"M'lady. It is a great relief to see you here, safe and sound. When we heard about that uprising on Onderon, we feared the worst."
"Thank you for your sympathy, Commander."
"The Queen would like to receive you now."
"Very well." Pooja waved her hand at the crew of the Rogue Shadow. "These people escorted me off of Onderon at great personal risk to themselves. I would like their stay here to be comfortable."
Panaka observed the group. A blind old man, an attractive blonde, another young pilot who seemed to be trying to hide his face, an old woman, a Twilek, and a droid.
But it was upon the other young man that Panaka's analytical gaze fell...
Starkiller stared back at Panaka defiantly.
Finally ...
"Very well." Panaka turned to the handmaidens. "Make sure their accommodations are appropriate. They are to be considered personal guests of Representative Naberrie." He turned and offered his arm to Pooja. "M'lady."
Pooja slipped her arm through Panaka's, and he led her off towards the throne room. The beautiful handmaidens approached, bowing gracefully. "This way, please."
Kaden nudged Wedge in the ribs, pointing at the handmaidens. "Now this makes everything that happened on Onderon worth it!"
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Two separate suites had been readied for the men and the women. Proxy traipsed along with a tray of drinks, while Juno and Zarbina were relaxing in the lounge of the men's suite. Kota looked out the window, observing the beautiful Nubian falls combined with the sunset. Wedge sat at a table, poring over a holoreader, while Zarbina meditated in a corner.
Kaden kicked back, clearly enjoying himself as Proxy brought him more and more drinks. "Just so you guys know ... I'm jumping ship first chance I get. No offense, but you guys just hired me to hack through some Onderonian systems. Nothing about getting entangled in the Rebellion or the Empire."
Starkiller turned and glared at him. "Yeah, well you better not go blabbing to anyone that we're Rebels."
"Hey, I'd be an idiot to do that. I traveled with you guys, the Empire'd execute me as a collaborator."
"Trust me," Juno chimed in. "If we get executed, we'd make sure you were there with us."
Kaden grinned, and toasted her.
"We shouldn't stay here long." Kota was growing anxious.
"Why?" inquired Juno. "Pooja acted her part very well, no one suspects us."
"Commander Panaka suspects us," Kota replied. "He was sizing us up, didn't you see him?"
"I agree," Starkiller said. "He was reading us. He's quick, that one."
"He's also a big supporter of the Emperor," Kota continued. "I've read the files. He's angling to become Moff of the entire Chommel Sector."
"So we'll have to be careful," Juno answered.
"Like I said," Kota continued. "The sooner we're out of here, the better. Panaka already suspects us, mark my words."
Starkiller turned his gaze back out towards the setting sun. He allowed his mind to wander, and he thought back to his argument with Juno earlier. His fears ... were they coming true? Unable to be cooped up in here, he turned for the door.
"Where are you going?" Kota demanded.
"I need some fresh air."
"Well don't do anything that'll give Panaka cause to haul us before the Imperial judiciary."
Starkiller whirled around. "Hey. It's me."
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Night had fallen on Naboo. Starkiller walked through the cool, crisp streets of Theed, watching vendors pack up. Children were called home by their parents. Three human children and a Gungan child groaned with disappointment as their parents interrupted their ball game.
Starkiller weaved his way past them, not really sure where he was going. His mind was wrapped too much up on Juno and her impending fate.
Before he had known what had happened, he was lost. "Just great."
He was prepared to turn around and retrace his steps, when he heard it. His name, like a whisper, being carried on the wind. "Galen."
It seemed to be coming from what appeared to be a mausoleum. Attributing it to his nerves, he shrugged it off and began to turn around.
"Galen."
Okay, there was definitely someone calling his name. Thinking himself crazy, Starkiller turned and walked towards the mausoleum. He pushed the door open, and to his surprise, the door creaked forward without resistance, allowing him entry. He took a tentative step forward.
Several candles had been lit in the mausoleum, and the burial casket was situated in the middle. There was ... something familiar here. A familiar presence. He turned to the wall opposite the casket, and gasped.
There, forever memorialized in stain glass, was the image of the woman he had seen on numerous occasions in his visions. Padme. Pooja's aunt. He glanced back down at the casket. This must be her final resting place, he thought.
He had been drawn to this place, but for what? He reached out, rubbing dust off the top of Padme's casket.
And it happened again.
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Anakin Skywalker sits on a landing outside of an apartment on Coruscant, with an all-too-familiar look on his face. Behind him, illuminated by the moon, looking radiant as ever, appears Padme Amidala. She takes his hand.
"What's bothering you?"
"Nothing ..." A fake smile is plastered across his face as he touches a japor snippet hanging from her neck. "I remember when I gave this to you ..."
"Anakin, how long is it going to take for us to be honest with each other?"
Anakin sighs, before turning away from her. "It was a dream."
"Bad?"
"Like the ones I used to have about my mother ... just before she died."
"And?"
"And ... it was about you."
"Tell me."
"It was only a dream ... You die in childbirth."
Her hands automatically go to her round belly. "And the baby?"
"I don't know." He sounds completely devastated, at a loss.
She approaches him, comforting him. "It was only a dream."
"... I won't let this one become real."
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Starkiller stood there, at a loss for what he had just seen. So this Anakin Skywalker ... he had been involved with Padme Amidala after all. And he had been having nightmares about her death, just as Starkiller had about Juno ...
"Beautiful resting place, isn't it?"
Starkiller jumped, completely caught off guard. Pooja stood there, a sad smile on her face.
"How long have you been there?"
"I've been here for the past hour," Pooja replied. "I come here at least once a week to visit her grave. Bring some new candles."
Starkiller nodded. There was a terse silence ...
"She was pregnant," Pooja simply stated.
Starkiller looked up at her. "It was Anakin's."
Pooja shrugged. "Who knows? That's the problem. No one ever figured out who the father was. I think she wanted to keep it that way. But I like to think it was Anakin. Personally, I think it's terribly romantic. The shy, handsome young Knight, appointed to protect her, a secret love affair." The smile on her face grew more bittersweet. "So romantic ... and yet, so tragic."
"... He didn't protect her," Starkiller said. He was speaking more to himself than to Pooja.
"Like I said ... he most likely died during the Jedi Purge. Most likely at Vader's hand nonetheless."
Starkiller felt his fist clench. Vader. Another family torn apart ... a couple dying before they could truly start their lives together. A child that would never see the light of day. All because of Vader.
Pooja turned, and looked up at the stain-glass image of her aunt. "They say I look remarkably like her."
Starkiller surveyed her up and down. "There is a resemblance ..."
"Are you kidding, we could pass for twins. And my mother says I've got her fiery disposition. Oh ... if only she could see me and my sister, Ryoo."
"I'm sure she'd be quite proud."
"Perhaps. But it's best not to dwell on it. She's gone, but in a way, not really. She's become part of the Force, and since the Force is everywhere, in a sense, she's still here with us."
"That's an interesting way of seeing things," Starkiller replied.
"It's what keeps me going. Sometimes I believe she still whispers in my ear, encouraging me, guiding me. Telling me to follow my conscience, to not give up the good fight. But then, maybe I'm crazy."
Starkiller didn't say anything. He continued looking up at the stain-glass image of Padme, running his vision through his mind over and over. Remembering Anakin Skywalker.
Pooja, meanwhile, gathered a traveling cloak and wound it over her shoulders. "Anyway, I should be getting back home. Feel free to stay a bit longer if you like. If you look at the wall over there, it has the Naberrie family tree listed."
Starkiller nodded. "Thank you."
"Good night."
She turned and walked out of the mausoleum. Starkiller stared up at the image of Padme, completely transfixed by it ...
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Anakin and Padme are standing in their apartment together, in each other's arms. "I've found a way to save you," Anakin tells her forcefully.
"Save me?"
"From my nightmares."
"I'm not going to die in childbirth, Annie. I promise you."
"No, I promise you."
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Starkiller nearly lost his balance after this latest vision. He grabbed the chair Pooja had been sitting in, and collapsed into it, exhausted.
What did this latest vision mean?
Had Anakin found a way to save Padme? He sounded so sure, so confident that he could keep her from dying in childbirth.
But yet ...
Here was Padme's casket, her body inside.
She was dead.
Had Anakin not been able to save her? Had he not truly discovered the secret to eternal life?
Or had he just never had the chance to carry out whatever technique it was that would keep her alive?
"He will bring balance."
The voice, this time a man's voice, rang clear through the air. Starkiller jerked his head upward, and there ... shimmering in the moonlight, was the ghostly specter he had seen back on Dantooine.
"Qui-Gon Jinn?"
The spirit of Qui-Gon Jinn nodded.
"What do you mean, he will bring balance?"
"Anakin Skywalker is the one singled out by the Force, prophesied thousands of years ago. He is the Chosen One, the one to bring balance to the Force."
"What happened to him?"
"More than you are ready to know."
"What did he discover? Master Jinn, did he discover a way to keep people from dying?"
Qui-Gon gestured towards Padme's casket. "He was unable to save her."
Starkiller was growing desperate. ""But he sounded so sure! He told her that he found a way to save her!"
"Their destinies were only to be connected but for a short while. Your destiny, however, is another matter."
Starkiller stood up. "What do you mean?"
"The key to discovering the truth about yourself ... your past ... lies with Anakin Skywalker. The Chosen One."
"What must I do?"
"As the Chosen One, Anakin is the only one that would be able to destroy the Sith."
"But he failed. He hasn't done so. At least not yet." Starkiller ran a hand through his short hair. "So ... does this mean Anakin Skywalker is still alive?"
"... Yes."
Starkiller's eyes grew wider. "But then - he and I can join forces! Wherever he is, whether he's in hiding, or training ... he can help us! He can destroy Vader and the Emperor! And as for his technique of saving people from death ... he might not have perfected it, but it's a start!"
"Do not get carried away with such illusions of greatness. Such greed is a pathway to the Dark Side. As is the fear of loss."
Starkiller nodded. "Yes ... yes, Master Jinn. You're right. But still! Where can I find him?"
"You must search for clues. Follow in his footsteps. By finding Anakin Skywalker, you will find yourself. But be warned - the lure of the Dark Side is great, and the Sith are not the only ones prowling the galaxy."
Starkiller realized that Qui-Gon was referring to "The Master".
"Can't you give any advice? How would I go about finding him?"
"Search for the clues of his past. For they are the key to his present."
Starkiller scratched his head. "Okay ... I dunno how Kota and Juno are going to go along with this plan. But ... maybe if we could convince Anakin to join the Rebellion, they might see it as a worthwhile mission."
"Yet a treacherous one. There are many dangers, should you accept this path. And you will discover many things that will make think it would have been better off not knowing."
"I have to do this. Thank you, Master Jinn. I think I'm beginning to make sense of all these visions. They've been guiding me to find Anakin Skywalker. He's the key - the Rebellion's trump card."
Master Jinn nodded. "I will oversee you in this journey. Appear when you need me most, just like on Dantooine. Help you, when you appear to be slipping into the dark."
Starkiller bowed low. "I appreciate any guidance you have, Master Jinn."
"May the Force be with you."
And with that, Qui-Gon Jinn faded back into the darkness.
Starkiller clenched his fist in victory. He would find Anakin Skywalker, and he would convince him to aide the Rebellion against the Empire.
But even more importantly, he would get the Chosen One to reveal what technique he had discovered to prevent people from dying.
And get him to use it to save Juno ... even if he had to force him to do it ...