Previously
The ghost's breathing was loud and artificial. Much like the planet he stood on. His voice sounded unreal. It gave away no sense of emotion. Vader stiffened as his words reached him.
"Good, good." The monster spoke before disappearing into nothingness once again.
Vader was left standing alone, staring at the door before him. His image reflected on the marble texture. He looked dirty and almost dead. There were dark rings around his eyes from all of the sleepless nights. His eyes were bloodshot.
But what scared him the most, was their color. His heart skipped a beat to find they too were a bright golden color.
He quickly blinked and looked again to find their old color back. Had he imagined it? His imagination had been trying to drive him mad lately. That would be his excuse.
... Do Angels Die? ...
He was forced to pause for a second as he cherished the complete placidity around him. Something about being back inside of the temple made him feel... alive. The haunting memories experienced before just seemed to fade away as tranquility overtook him. He knew he should not feel so at peace; not where his life both began and ended, but it seemed to be unavoidable. Maybe it was the Force giving him a sign? A sign that he was getting closer to what he needed to know.
He had been shocked to find this room in such good shape. Vader still remembered the last time he had been inside of it. He had missed an important briefing, and had gotten scolded at by... by his old master. He momentarily smiled as he realized it really wouldn't have mattered whether he was present or not. His mind always seemed to wonder off somewhere else during these types of meetings. Something which had never changed in him.
The Jedi temple had felt so foreign to him at first. He felt all alone, having to cope with both the loss of Master Jinn, and having to be separated from his mother. He would just walk all alone through the endless halls of the gigantic complex on some days, not knowing where he was, or where he was going. The eyes of others piercing through him as he wandered aimlessly.
All the more surprising was the fact that the entire system was still intact and operational. After a few minutes of tampering with it, he had been able to pull up an old Jedi map of the galaxy. He knew their maps would hold all the information he needed to have.
Sure, most of the padawans and younglings in the temple admired him because he was the 'supposedly' Chosen One, but there was something else they could not pass by. The Master's were always so sophisticated and never once even flinched, no matter what happened. Well, unless what happened was him of course. The padawans would always have a ball during briefing's with him. He always knew just how to make Master Windu's eyes bright red, or make Master Gallia scream. He was a legend.
He stood near the center of the circular room as the darkness morphed into a luminous blue color. For just a quick second, he held complete power. All he had ever known now revolved around him. There were thousands of stars, daring any creature to outshine them. Marvelous planets, far exceeding the size of anything he could have imagined, and then those barely noticeable. There was no time to admire the majestic power which the galaxy held though, his sights were already set on something else. Typing in one unforgettable name into the system's database, the blue shine began to swirl around him in confusion for what seemed to him as an eternity.
His height seemed to matter not as he stood before them. One simple mistake, which would have been overlooked had it been committed by another person, was brought all the way up to the chambers of the council. They all studied him with cautious eyes. Distrust unmistakable, but certainly not understandable. He had always tried harder than anyone to gain their approval. His attempts seemed to matter not.
The momentary tranquility he had felt was now gone. There was no more silence; the demons around him were free to murmur endlessly once again.
"I've found you."
That which turns golden reappeared once again.
Had it been a snicker? No, it was most definitely a cackle. Her Master had cackled.
It took all of her strength to not grimace each time she laid eyes upon her masters features. She was sure he was aware of her feelings, yet disregarded them each time. She had not been able to witness how his permanent scars had been formed. All she knew was that Vader had been involved. It made her blood boil.
Even through the com connection, the dark fire in his eyes was visible.
"Ilianus..."
"My Master." She bowed even though he would probably not be able to see it.
"Have you uncovered anything interesting?"
Ilianus pondered for a minute. 'Interesting? Perhaps.' She had not been sure if Vader's noticeable interest on the man in the bar had been something important until he began spying on the man. There was obviously something important that had caught Vader's interest.
"I'm uncertain as to whether its of any use to us or not, but a foreigner seemed to catch Vader's eye."
"A foreigner you say?" Curiosity overtook the dark lord.
Ilianus nodded.
"Late last night..."
Her heart began to beat faster. She hoped that her master would not sense her unease. She had already decided that it would be best to not mention the emotions which she had encountered within Vader. She wondered if even her master new about them, let alone had any clue as to how powerful they were. Anger was what she had been told to feel, but all of a sudden, it didn't feel right to her. Not when she experienced so much more within his soul.
"He left his apartment and headed into a bar. He sat down next to a man there, I don't think it was purposely done though. I couldn't get close enough to hear what was going on, but apparently Vader had overheard something in the mans conversation which interested him. Vader followed the man back to his ship, and placed a beacon on it."
"Hmm." She heard her master mumble.
She herself still pondered what interest Vader could have in that man. To her, he looked to be nothing more than a worthless commoner. Appearances, however, seemed to betray as she had discovered.
"I want you to keep following him. No matter where he goes. Once you find more information, report it to me immediately."
Ilianus closed her eyes and bent her head. She heard the connection close, but did not move from her stance. She realized nothing was ever as simple as it appeared. There were always one or two hidden layers. She wondered just how many were in Vader. More importantly, she wondered how many were in herself –which she did not know of...
"Yes Master..." Her whisper sending shivers through the Force.
One of the things she loved about this world, both a pleasure and pain at the same time, was the people. They were all just so careless about what was going on around them. It both astounded and angered her at the same time.
On one hand, she couldn't grasp how they could just sit by and watch the universe crumble. Knowing that any day their world could become invaded by the Empire. Their children's lives and their own put to danger. It wasn't just the people of this planet though..it was everyone. Everyone that just sat back and allowed corruption to bloom.
And then, there was the warmth she felt when she looked around her. The people here were truly happy, living the normal life she had always wanted to take part in. But it had always been denied to her.
She wasn't complaining though, no not at all. Sure, her life had been anything but normal, but it had been a great adventure for her. Adventure that her free soul had always been seeking. She might had never experienced love in the way she had if things had been different. She might have never experienced pain...
Padme walked like a ghost amongst the crown of townspeople. Their chatter passing straight through her. Her mood was practically a reflection of the weather. How long had it been now? 'A week and a half?' The darkness which had recently consumed the planet did not seem to want to leave it. It was unavoidable. Once something pure becomes tainted, it is forever lost...
Of course, that was never true when it came to stories. Faerie tales always had to have a happy ending. Her childish spirit could never forget all the wonderful tales that were told once upon a time –in a magical land. There were princesses and princes; faeries and elves; even angels! The goodhearted always overcame the loathsome. And love...love always prevailed.
Love kept the hero's going.
Their spirit allowing them to succeed.
But what happens when that spirit burns out?
And love, is nothing more than a four letter word for you to perceive?
"How are they doing?" Her lips moved on their own, her eyes distracted by the giggles before her.
"Not bad at all." Obi-Wan replied; eying her quizzically. "Master Yoda agrees that the time has come to begin their training."
"You've spoken with him?" She made eye contact for only a second before continuing to look outside.
"Yes. A few days ago."
"Mm." Padme replied. "Is he well?"
"I believe so."
She slowly nodded her head in an approving manor. "I'm glad," she replied...barely above a whisper.
Her children ran back and forth outside chasing after one another. Little Leia was fast, but she was no match for the speed of her brother. She did have an advantage though. She could more easily move through the muddy grounds than her brother could. Padme wondered how any of it was possible. The weather had not changed at all. The rain still fell. But...there was sunlight; the clouds were clearer than she had seen them in weeks...yet the rain still fell. It was a wonder of this planet which she had never experience before.
"The Devil's Rain," she had heard it nick-named.
"Luke is a natural." Obi-Wan commented.
She could have smirked, but she decided otherwise. 'Of course.' There was no doubt in her mind that her little reflection would be anything short of the actual image.
"I-I..." he stuttered. "I worry for Leia, Padme."
She looked at him through the corner of her eyes. "How so?"
"I fear she will never be ready."
"Don't." Padme replied as she closed her eyes. She held on to herself as her body quickly shivered.
"I can feel somethings going to happen Obi-Wan. Surely you must also." She looked at him for support.
He nodded.
"Then we must not fear it. I have faith in her. In both of them." She sighed, "But if what I do fear comes true please take them away..."
"Of course." Obi-Wan replied as he walked away towards the door, flashing her a sad smile.
She kindly returned it.
"Mommy, mommy look!" A dripping wet Leia sped past Obi-Wan towards where Padme stood. She had brought the sunlight into the room with her; the cool feeling of the air and even the warmth of the Devil's Rain.
"What is it honey?"
Leia held two clasped hands out to her mother, her smile wider than ever before.
Padme blinked a few times, her curiosity consuming her. She stared in awe as Leia opened her hands. From inside of the little cave, a small creature flew out. Its wings flapped up and down at speeds too fast for the human eye; all that was visible was the extraordinary glow which radiated off of it.
"Isn't it beautiful!" Leia exclaimed.
Padme nodded and smiled. Indeed it was like nothing she had ever seen before. Maybe it was a sign; a light of hope in a way.
"Where did you find it?"
Leia walked cautiously after the bug through the room.
"In the forest." She said in one breath.
Padme's heart skipped a beat and her eyes widened. Of all the places in the galaxy, that was the one place she did not want her children to go in.
"You shouldn't go in there alone Leia." Padme warned.
She groaned as the bug escaped through an open window. "But I wasn't alone, Luke was there with me."
"Leia..."
Leia knew she was pushing it as her mothers tone changed.
"I'm sorry!" She quickly replied before her mother had a chance to finish the sentence.
Padme sighed. "It's alright, just don't go in there alone again. Alright?"
Leia nodded and ran back outside, grabbing her brothers arm at the door and dragging him with her.
He felt impatient; as if there were some mysterious creature crawling all over him. The journey had not been as long as he had expected—only a few days—yet it seemed like an eternity. He felt his heartbeat slightly quicken as the planet came into view. It looked like every other planet he had ever been to; but in a way, had a certain atmosphere of difference around it. It reminded him very much so of a planet he had once called a second home—if only for a few weeks.
He had decided that entering like a normal person would was out of the question. The cloaking device on his ship would finally be put to good use, though he doubted entering this planet would be of any trouble.
The planet was just as he had expected it on the inside. Lush green forests, that never seemed to end; and even though the sky was not as clear as in that other place, for just a second, he had thought he had come to the wrong planet.
The real question though, was how he would find what he was looking for. Reaching out through the force, he felt nothing but a few weak force presences. His former master couldn't still be in constant fear as to conceal himself all the time...'Could he?'
He slowly stepped out of the ship and walked a few paces into the forest around him. "Where are you..." He looked about, choosing carefully the path he was to take.
Leia looked out of her bedroom window with glee. The rain had finally stopped. She had been locked inside for practically the entire day. Her mother saying some nonsense about them becoming ill if they went out in the rain again.
In an instant, she was off her bed and changing her clothes to more appropriate ones for being outside.
"What are you doing?" Luke questioned. He sat on his bed toying with parts of a Lightsaber that his uncle had given him.
"What do you think."
"Pft. Like I care."
"Then don't ask." She replied smartly as she stood and walked over to the door.
"Leia..."
"Hm?"
"You do remember what mother told you yesterday of the forest and being alone don't you?"
"Will everyone stop worrying so much."
"You're going to get both me and you in trouble!" He narrowed his eyes.
"Well.. at least its a change from you being the cause, no?" She giggled as she closed the door behind her.
Luke sighed. Sisters were such an annoyance.
End Chapter 8
I AM SOOOOO SORRY! I haven't had time to update this, or any of my other stories in forever. So don't think I've given up. Its only just getting started! Next chapter will be very interesting.. I promise!
Sorry also if this chapter was a little...bleh... I have exams to study for this week so i couldn't really spend too long on it..