Chapter 2: Very Wrong Indeed
Luke could barely hold in his awe at the sight of the ecumenopolis city surface. Large skyscrapers towered into the sky, each a different shape and size. Sunlight reflected off the durasteel buildings showering him in rays of reds and golds.
Rising in the distance, a massive structure towered above the surrounding rooftops, its appearance like that of a fortress. Five spires extended from the roof, four smaller ones and one large spire in the center. Luke gaped in wonderment, having never seen anything like it.
His captors parked the speeder right in front of the colossal building. The structure itself reminded him of the ziggurat temple back on Yavin IV, despite not looking so ancient. A set of stairs led to a promenade that was crowned by four bronzium statues. The two outer statues depicted warriors holding their weapons vertically while the two inner statues depicted hooded figures with their heads bowed and their hands clasped together. Beyond these statues were another set of stairs that opened up to the entrance.
The togruta and the male guided him inside, moving with haste. The entrance led to a cavernous main hall with high arches supported by rows of massive pillars. Above them, mezzanine walkways spanned left and right. Oddly enough there was no one to be seen. The only sound that could be heard was the echo of their footsteps.
They made a sharp right and came upon a turbolift. The male shoved him inside none too gently and pressed a button to the top floor. When the turbolift finally came to a stop, a hard push to his already aching shoulder made him wince and he stumbled forward.
Large durasteel doors lay straight ahead and Luke could feel multiple presences inside. The doors opened automatically as they approached, and he was met with a startling discovery. Seated in a semicircle around the room were a variety of faces; some present while others were in hologram. He didn't recognize any of them. Although the bright metallic glint of lightsabers at their sides told him they were Jedi, or at least avid Force-users.
Which was Luke's first clue that something was very wrong.
Behind them were large transparisteel windows revealing a stunning view of the skyline. Luke stared transfixed, before remembering there were others in the room. Curious eyes watched him as he was brought to the center. He tried not to fidget at the attention. Luke scanned each of their faces, looking for anything remotely familiar, before settling on the form of a small green dwarf.
"Master Yoda?" he blurted, surprised. Another clue that something was very wrong indeed. Immediately the room froze, soft whispers coming to a stop.
Master Yoda, for it really was Yoda, leaned forward on his gimer stick. "Know me, you do?"
He blinked, wondering why Yoda didn't recognize him. He was starting to suspect this might be some form of the afterlife. Perhaps the Emperor has finally killed him. That would explain why Yoda is sitting in front of him, very much alive, or as alive as he could tell. A heavy silence settled over him and Luke realized Yoda was still expecting an answer. Avoiding the eyes of the others, Luke kept his gaze focused on Yoda.
"There are not many who don't know you," he replied, his words carefully chosen.
Yoda hummed, tilting his head. "Your name, what is, hmm?"
"Luke." Years of running from the Empire has taught him to be diligent when giving his name. Especially since he's on the Empire's most wanted list.
"Your report, Skywalker," a voice spoke. Sitting on Yoda's left was a human male with dark skin and a bald head. His dark eyes narrowed at Luke before turning towards the male beside him.
Luke froze. Skywalker? That couldn't be right. The only other Skywalker he knows of, besides himself, is his father. Then why...? He was too engrossed in his thoughts that he was only half listening to what was being said.
"—on Level 1317. In accordance with the police data, he was wearing black armor with a mask and wielding a red lightsaber. I engaged him in a fight and based on what Ahsoka and I witnessed, I strongly suspect him to be a Sith. Unfortunately, he escaped before we could apprehend him."
The temperature of the room grew colder as they all processed this new information and Luke shifted uneasily. Their concern was palpable, and he could feel their deep worry and distress.
"And who is this?" a Cerean Jedi asked, looking at Luke.
"He was found collaborating with the Sith." The male—Skywalker—grabbed Luke's lightsaber from his belt and handed it to the bald man. "He was armed with this."
"Where did you get this?" the bald man asked sharply, glaring accusingly at Luke.
Luke bristled. "It's mine. I made it."
The whispering started up again.
"Did you get an identity on this so-called Sith?" a new voice asked. Sitting on Yoda's right was another human male, with auburn hair and a neatly trimmed beard. Luke studied him for a moment. He looked strangely familiar. Almost like…
"Ben?"
For the second time, the room froze. The man, Ben, blinked at him. "I'm sorry?"
At this point, Luke knew there was something seriously wrong. None of this was making any sense. He could not decide if this was an illusion or if he really was in the afterlife. The Force whispered in his mind, an utterly preposterous theory forming. It was both strangely exhilarating and terrifying. So much so that he could hardly accept it himself. It would explain, though, why the others seemed to simply disappear. He knew, logically, that it was impossible. There's no way he—
"Enough of this," the bald man said, addressing the other Jedi. "We must focus our efforts on the war, not on trivial matters such as this boy."
There was a murmur of agreement.
"Skywalker, Tano, you stay behind. Finish your report."
Just then, two temple guards entered the room, coming to stand on either side of Luke. They held yellow lightsaber pikes which were clenched tightly in their hands. The bald man gave his orders and they each grabbed an arm and pulled him from the room. Luke left without protest.
They brought him down many halls, lefts and rights, before Luke lost any sense of direction. Instead, he quietly observed his surroundings, taking note of everything they passed by.
Eventually they came to a stop outside a detention cell. The guard on his right touched a pad on the wall and the ray shield lowered with a flicker. The interior was bland and colorless, lit by dim artificial lights. A shelf jutted out from the far wall, directly next to what Luke assumed to be the refresher. He waited until his binders were removed and stepped into the cell, the ray shield activating behind him.
How did he get himself in this mess? He had no idea what planet he was even on. Or how he came to be here.
Luke curled up on the shelf, staring at the ceiling. The lights were dim enough that he didn't have to squint. Heaving a deep sigh, his thoughts returned to his earlier theory. Could it be true? Had he somehow...time traveled? No, that's impossible. He knew both Yoda and Ben were dead, having been a witness to their deaths. And yet it was the most sensible explanation, despite how unbelievable that may be.
Your report, Skywalker.
A warm syrupy feeling settled in his stomach. Was it possible that Skywalker was actually Anakin Skywalker? Has he gone back to before his father became Darth Vader?
Their bond flared in his mind and Luke focused his attention on that. He was aware that his mind was intimately linked with his father's, a fact he knew well by now. Oftentimes he would feel Vader pulling at the other end and he had no doubt he could communicate through it if he wanted.
Should he try to reach out to Vader? His father was probably just as confused and alone as him. Since Bespin, he has studiously ignored the bond in its entirety, fully intent on giving Vader the cold shoulder. He had no desire to speak with Vader after what had happened, but he cannot deny that the temptation lingered. And now...
The bond flared again, this time stronger, and Luke made up his mind. He closed his eyes and tentatively pulled on the thread that connected them. A rush of emotions slammed into him—rage, confusion—and oh, so much rage. Luke physically recoiled from the sensation. He considered if he should just say forget it and close off the bond but decided against it.
"Father."
The thread brightened at his touch, the rage dimming yet not quite retreating from his mind. There was a gentle poke against his shields, curious and uncertain.
"Luke?"
Vader's mental voice was oddly softer in his head than in person. Luke hesitated only a moment, unsure on how he should go about this. "Something has happened."
A slight pause. "I am aware."
He contemplated what to say next, wondering if he should share his theory. The silence was leaning towards awkwardness when Vader spoke. "Where are you?"
An obscure sensation leaked through the bond but Luke couldn't discern what it was. His brows furrowed and he sent a mental image of the colossal building along the link. He received a burst of indistinguishable emotions. The bond weakened suddenly, as if Vader was distracted.
"Father?"
"I will find you." Then he abruptly severed their connection. The sudden loss of the bond was painfully sharp and Luke struggled to understand why. Turning onto his side, his exhaustion won him over and he fell into a restless sleep.
