Distraction/Chapter One (for real this time!)
"We're entering the atmosphere of Ryloth now, Sir."
Captain Luitt in command of the Vindicator, a Venator-class star destroyer, was a thin, young though balding man with a whining tone of voice, and I didn't like him. However, my Master trusted the man to get us where we needed to go, and that was good enough for me.
"Thank you, Captain Luitt," I replied flatly. "Please inform Lord Vader."
"Yes, my Lord."
The younger man clicked his heels and exited the galley – about the only place onboard I could find some peace and quiet. It wasn't always this way, I recalled. Following the order to execute the rebellious Jedi, Anakin and I found ourselves the target of a silent but difficult rebellion of our own. The Empire's officers weren't too keen on taking orders from a couple of lightsaber-wielding warriors – no matter how deadly they could be; especially when one of them had been a Jedi. Anakin Skywalker had been taken to the Jedi Temple when he was a but a boy. I had kidnapped him from the Jedi Temple myself when he was thirteen and brought him before Sidious. I'd even been instrumental in his early training. The simple fact was, there was none other better to train him. Master Sidious had informed me numerous times I was the best swordsman he had ever seen.
Even though the compliment rang true, it was years before I was allowed out into the public eye. On Anakin's twenty-first naming day as a matter of fact. Side by side we were introduced as the new voices of the Emperor. The scoffs of the officers now under our command were well disguised, but I could see their scrutiny behind their beady eyes. They didn't trust either of us.
Jealousy. That's what it was.
In time, things changed; just as Master Sidious had said they would. Now, Lord Vader and I carried out Master Sidious' orders and no one would dare question them. The entire galaxy would eventually fall at the feet of Lord Malefic and Lord Vader and shudder in fear. In time.
Until such a time, we had our Master's newest orders to carry out. There was an uprising on Ryloth. The Empire's shipyards had been attacked and significantly damaged. Anakin and I were on our way to investigate and stop the rebellion no matter the cost. The small band of elite Stormtroopers Master Sidious had assigned us were of little use. As my Master reminded me on occasion, sometimes civility pays; even to those you regard beneath you. Who knows? Perhaps someday, one of these half-wits may save my life. I highly doubted it, but anything was possible.
I met Anakin in the cockpit, reminding myself not to address my comrade by his childhood name. Master Sidious wouldn't like it, and more than one of these fools wouldn't think twice about informing the Sith Master of my little faux pas.
"We should land outside the main city," Lord Vader was informing the pilot. "We don't know what to expect."
"Indeed, it pays to be careful," I added, gathering my black cloak tightly about me. The sun had already set on this side of the planet and I could feel the chill of the arid night beginning to creep its way through the hull of the ship. Through the main portal, I'd already noted that R-17 shone full and bright, which was to our benefit. The bright moon would help light our path around the outskirts of the main city.
"We'll enter Kala-Uun from the south. Captain, take your troops in on the west side. We'll meet you at the shipyards."
From the look on Luitt's face, he hadn't agreed with Lord Vader's plan, but he wasn't about to say it aloud.
"If that's your wish, Sir."
Maybe the man wasn't so dense after all.
"Good. Let's get this over with," I announced as the ship shuddered slightly, its landing gear coming into contact with the desert terrain.
"Happy hunting fellas," Anakin glibly announced as he bounded toward the exit.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes. The boy had always taken these types of missions far too lightly. One of these days, something bad was going to happen to him, and I wouldn't be there to stop it.
Together, we disappeared into the night, leaving our armored entourage behind us. We stealthily crept into the city and stayed within the shadows, using the assistance of the dark side of the Force to warn us of any of the nearby citizens. We were counting on a sneak attack and didn't wish to alert anyone to our presence. Not just yet.
By the time we'd reached the shipyards, a skirmish had already begun. Blaster fire was being exchanged and a small band of rebels was taking cover behind a duracrete wall. Captain Luitt rushed to our side, breathless and excited.
"We were attacked soon after our arrival," he announced just before I took the opportunity to shut his stupid mouth.
Anakin chided the man while I focused my Force hold upon his worthless windpipe. "The plan was to catch them unaware, Captain! You gave yourself away and they probably scattered from here to Resdin! You idiot!"
For some reason, I suddenly felt sympathy for the man and released my hold upon his worthless throat. He went to his knees, gasping for breath. "This is your lucky day," I warned him leaning down to speak directly in his ear. "The next time, I won't be so forgiving."
Anakin and I entered the battle with confidence, using a combination of coordinated footwork, swordplay and deadly aim; each blaster bolt neatly blocked or deflected back toward the shooter. In no time, the flame of the little rebellion was nothing but a dying ember.
"This isn't over with," I informed my comrade. "The Captain's blunder will no doubt motivate the survivors and they'll more than likely return to do more damage."
"Well then," Anakin turned toward me, a twinkle in his eye. "It sounds to me like some recompense needs to be made."
The trip back home to Coruscant was far more pleasant without the clutter and chatter of Stormtroopers about. In fact, without their presence, I felt relieved enough to take a nap. I informed Anakin of such and retired to a sleep cabin on the second level of the ship.
No sooner had I shut my eyes than another dream began. These had happened before on several occasions, each one slightly different but always involving the same hauntingly beautiful woman.
This one began in a similar way as the last with a touch of silk against my skin. A pale color of cloth. Perhaps lilac. Maybe pink. That didn't matter. What was important was the skin beneath it; skin softer than the silk she wore and the color of honeyed cream. Each caress of my hand along its delicate smoothness heralded a gentle sigh; a sweet sound that filled my heart with desperate longing and intense desire.
I'd been with women before. Pleasure workers mainly. This was different. She was different. And the way she made me feel in these dreams was something I had never experienced in my life.
Her sigh was captivating although not as much as the pair of eyes which captured and held me prisoner. The intoxicating orbs were dark as an abyss and I voluntarily fell into them and kept falling, desperately reaching up for the salvation of her touch. Her gentle voice lovingly called out my name in order to bring me back. "Obi-Wan…"
I awoke, startled at the sound of the strange name which reverberated in my mind. "Obi-Wan? What the hell? Who in the hell is Obi-Wan?" I muttered, still half asleep.
Disappointed, I sat straight up. "So much for today's fantasy," I mumbled while standing and grabbing my black leather jacket. I was not only thoroughly perturbed, I was completely awake. I had no choice but to join Anakin in the cockpit. Perhaps the boy's corny jokes would entertain me for the rest of the trip.