The Power to Save Her
Chapter 10
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or any dialogue from Empire Strikes Back.
Important Note: I will not follow comics/legends characters or concepts closely, if at all. My knowledge is strictly on the that of the movies and a more mainstream knowledge of Star Wars. Though I may reference events and things outside of the movies, I do not claim to know the material on a deeper level.
The halls where they were was filled to the brim with stormtroopers and Padmé raised her weapon, as did Han, Leia, Chewie, and Lando with the weapons provided by Cloud City's security. The firing began almost immediately and each of them ducked for cover behind the walls of a doorway. The white armor seemed to block every exit they had moving forward, and their faceless foes, were merciless in their firing.
Within the group she could see familiar officers, some recognizing her immediately, others she'd never seen before. She elected to target the ones she didn't know, feeling a little selfish at sparing herself. Within the group there was the face of Dannen Caltrel, who'd come to the front to begin firing on them. Suddenly, he caught her eye and was staring at her with a strong expression of betrayal while standing in the doorway.
Suddenly, Han shot the control panel that door and it cut off Caltrel, who'd barely gotten out of the way, and the team of stormtroopers from one side of them. He did so for the other doors that similarly had panels. For the most part, the smuggler's aim was true, despite his state. Leia was covering for the ones in between, and Chewbacca was rampaging with various wild shots. Then Wookiee backed into the wall accidentally switching the protocol droid on.
"Goodness me!", he proclaimed, eyes flashing to life as the laser fire passed all around them. "What's going on?"
They all ignored him while he continued crying his displeasure at the turn of events. Padmé fired on a few troopers, feeling only a little guilty at having to take a life. Some of them were probably not there by choice. Her feeling of conflict evaporated however, when one aimed at her daughter. She shot him without hesitation, a clean shot. Though they were doing well, they were trapped. Suddenly a side door opened, one that could get them to where they were going, and Lando stepped out into the line of fire.
"Go!", he shouted, drawing most of the fire, but waving them on furiously with one hand.
They obeyed, though Padmé looked back to make sure he followed. Thankfully, he backed through the door and it sealed shut. Lando let out a breath of relief, and the rest of them were calming down from the adrenaline rush. Thankfully, there were no troopers in this hallway, though there was a curious silver and blue astromech droid whistling and beeping excitedly by a control panel.
"R2-D2, what're you doing here?", demanded the protocol droid, and a dawning realization came over Padmé. It was Anakin's droid.
"Artoo?", she called out and the astromech's excitement only grew. It rocked back and forth as she approached. She put her hand on the dome.
"You're malfunctioning Artoo! She's no one we've ever met.", cried the protocol droid unhappily. She'd had her suspicions but now she was quite certain that this was C-3P0.
"Luke's here.", muttered Leia, her face growing white, and Padmé turned to furrowing her brows. The princess continued, "This is his droid."
A sick feeling of dread filled her at this knowledge, even as the two droids argued with each other in the background.
"Artoo? Where's Luke?", Padmé asked, getting down on the droid's level. He whistled back, and the protocol droid answered.
"He says that he can show you the last door he went through on his map.", answered Threepio from behind Chewie.
"Do it.", she nodded, and the droid displayed a map of the place, highlighting the door in question red.
It didn't look to difficult to find, as it was close to the detention level. Padmé worked out a route and a couple different alternatives in a few minutes. The rest of the group observed the map, and Han pointed to an empty platform.
"This is where we left the Falcon.", he affirmed. It was not far from where they were now.
"I'm going to find Luke.", Padmé announced and the others grew horrified by this.
"It's suicide going through there!", Lando said, gesturing to the door they'd barely made it through.
"I have a disguise.", she remarked, straightening her hat.
"They saw you fighting.", Han pointed out.
"The entire garrison doesn't know it was me.", she countered, holstering the blaster she'd taken from Lando.
"We're coming with you.", stated Leia, impassioned, and Padmé was already shaking her head.
"No.", Padmé stated firmly. "You must make it out alive."
"What about you?", asked Han, not exactly arguing with her.
"I'll be fine.", Padmé answered with a half-smile. "Now go. Draw their fire by escaping. This'll help me get Luke out."
"If you don't, we're coming back for you.", Leia stated, her voice quite resolved.
Padmé could only nod, as she took another hallway to find her son.
Vader waited in the carbon-freezing facility, steam from various pipes and machines rising into the air. The orange light emanating from the machines in the dark room cast shadows into a myriad of directions. His mind was calm in the Force, despite his thoughts going to the betrayal of someone he loved. This was his only way of getting her back.
Where Luke was, she would surely follow.
Just then, there were footsteps, as someone cautiously entered the room, his Force signature was bright. Vader opened his eyes, glancing down at the figure of his son, down the steps from him. He was holding a blaster in one hand.
"The Force is with you, young Skywalker.", Vader spoke, breaking the litany of sounds. Luke spun at the sound of his voice. "But you are not a Jedi yet."
Vader reached out in the Force, and saw that Luke's mind was on his friends, though he was determined to fight him. His blue eyes were watching Vader carefully as he stepped up the staircase, ready to spring. Vader made no move to incite a duel, though he could feel the determination to do just that from his son.
Quickly, Luke ignited his blue saber, and Vader took out his own, the crimson blade slowly crossing with his son's. There was a flurry of wide strikes, and Vader parried each one, protecting his center. Their blades crossed and Vader pushed his son back.
Cautiously, Luke approached Vader again, pushing his blade forward, testing the reflexes of the Sith. Vader let him. He wanted to see what his son was truly capable of. Again, Luke swept his saber on each side of Vader, trying to catch him off guard. Though Vader could've easily harmed Luke, he just blocked and parried. Then Luke's blade became locked with his, and he swiveled the saber, disarming Luke.
The saber went flying down the steps and Luke rolled out of the way, down the steps. Vader jumped down, forcing Luke to the edge of the carbon freezing pit. Again, Vader forced him back, and Luke fell into the machine. It would be all too easy to turn on the machine, but Vader hesitated. He'd not tested it on anyone, and he was unwilling to kill Luke.
It was enough time for Luke to escape, for he jumped out with the aid of the Force. Vader raised a hand, loosening the wires he hung onto, and Luke dropped but landed on his feet. Swiftly he raised the smoking tube up to Vader's mask and the Sith immediately began choking on the gas. Vader was forced back temporarily while Luke recovered his weapon.
Luke brought his blade down overhead, and Vader blocked it with his blade in one hand. The light flashed as their sabers connected. Luke was straining against him, and Vader could feel his frustration. There was no hesitation in fighting him though. He showed great courage.
"Obi-Wan has taught you well. You have controlled your fear... now release your anger." Vader pushed, hoping he'd tap into the dark side. "Only your hatred can destroy me."
Luke flipped over Vader, swinging his blade towards Vader's head. Just in time, Vader blocked the attack as Luke pushed him away from the center of the circle. He could feel the edge coming up behind him. Just then, Luke forced him over the edge, into the darkness of the pit.
Vader landed on his feet and hooked his lightsaber on his belt. Quietly, he stepped back into the shadows, down a dark passage and into another room. All the while, Luke, he could see in the darkness, was following. His stride was careful.
Vader would wait, testing Luke's ability to sense his presence in the Force.
Padmé raced down the hallways after having seen the map that R2 had shown her. It was no trouble to memorize the turns she needed to take, but it was quite another to actually get through some of the doors in a city under lockdown. Her heart was racing, hoping that Luke was okay while also pressing herself to run faster. The muscles in her legs burned with the effort and her breathing came out labored and wheezing. She kept forgetting her condition and more than ever she was detesting being so weak.
She stopped at an intersection of hallways, breathing heavily as her mind scrambled to figure out where she was supposed to go next. While she rested, she remembered where her turn was, and stood up straight. Again, she started in a run, getting to the door where R2 had last seen Luke.
Before it now, she recognized this place. She'd passed by it before, and had it explained that this was a carbon freezing facility. With this knowledge, she frantically worked to open the door. Thankfully, R2 had unlocked it for her before she'd gotten here, so it opened on her first attempt. She found herself on a lift, rising to the steamy facility. One tube was broken, clearly by lightsaber, its fumes spreading throughout the room. In a crevice, off to the side, she noticed the lights of a tunnel, and hurried to find a safe way down it. Her breathing was heavy, and her brow sweaty, but she pushed on.
The tunnel was long, but she had no doubt that this was where they'd gone. Even now, she could hear the clash of sabers ahead of her. This sound only incited panic, and adrenaline raced through her. With more haste than ever before, she rushed past a room with a broken window, passing through a tunnel towards the sounds. She came out to the gusty winds on a catwalk, the form of her husband, dueling someone smaller than him. All around them were lights of the facility and a gaping void below them. The boy was barely holding his own.
"Anakin stop it!", she cried, but he continued fighting, pushing their son to the edge.
Then she watched in horror as his crimson blade cut clean through Luke's wrist, her sons' hand and saber falling into the abyss. He cried out in pain, clasping his stump. The Sith stood over her son, threatening him with his blade. Padmé felt an otherworldly feeling of rage consume her as she raised her blaster at Anakin's back.
She fired.
Vader felt a rush as he pushed the Jedi away from him watching and testing the skills of his foe. Each strike was more deadly than the last. Somewhere, someone was calling his name, but he ignored it. His goal would be realized in this hour. Finally, young Skywalker caught his blade in a lock and again, Vader swiveled the blade. However, this time, instead of unarming the boy, he cut clean through the Jedi's wrist. His cry of agony filled the air.
For a moment, Vader fed of Skywalker's pain.
Suddenly, a warning through the Force alerted him, and immediately he deflected a blaster shot, swinging his blade behind him in a flourish. Sharply he turned to face his new opponent, lightsaber raised. However, a feeling of dread flooded his body and mind, as he saw her standing there, holding her center. The shot had been deflected right back at her. Her blaster had fallen with a clatter onto the grate. She was falling to her knees, an expression of pain on her face.
The all-consuming rage immediately left the Sith, and instead was replaced with horror at what he'd done. His fingers grew numb and the deactivated saber fell onto the catwalk. In a haze he hurried forward to catch her before she could fall onto the cold metal platform. He made it just in time before she could touch the unforgiving surface. He could feel it distinctly, her form was weak in his arms. Vader wrapped both trembling hands around her and leaned her back in his arms. Her loose hair draped over his arm and she looked up at him, with all the sadness of the world. Her brown eyes weren't accusing, but he felt guilty.
"What have I done? W-what have I— ", Vader uttered out, feeling an encroaching sense of hopelessness.
He was already pressing his gloved hand to her wound.
The swirling wind of this place caused her hair to flutter around, though he could hear something behind him. There was a creaking as someone approached them on the catwalk, footsteps careful. Vader could sense the young Jedi in the Force his emotions emanating anger and pain. With a hiss-snap, a saber was ignited. His own crimson blade came in the view, right next to Vader's face, while he held this woman. The Sith was quite unarmed, but Vader couldn't bring himself to care. He could feel that Luke was watching him, in agony from his wound. He continued holding the blade steady with his left hand.
Vader could feel hesitation though.
"Why hold back Luke?", Vader spoke, while holding his wife.
"It's not the Jedi way.", answered the boy, strangely echoing him from years ago.
"They told you to kill me.", The Sith pointed out.
"…yes.", Luke answered, conflicted feelings overcoming him. "But I do not wish to become a murderer, like you did when you killed my father."
There it was. The righteous fury. It showed how little the boy actually knew.
"Luke, I am your father."
There was a surge of horror in the Force.
"No… no! That's not true!", Luke began, his voice rising. The rage was there, the dark side tantalizing to the young Jedi. Then it evened out into a cold fury. "That's impossible."
"Search your feelings. You know it to be true.", Vader replied, gazing down at the woman in his arms. The blade next to his head shook as its user battled with the information. There was turmoil in the Force and then, the blade was deactivated. "Luke. You can destroy the Emperor. He has foreseen this. It is your destiny to help me do this."
"I'll never join you.", Luke insisted, voiced haunted, but the rage gone. It was replaced by feelings of betrayal.
"Luke.", came the weak voice of Padmé, raising her dark eyes to the puzzled Jedi. "Go."
"Who is she?", Luke asked. Vader could sense a sudden flash of guilt from the boy.
"No one.", Vader stated lowly, his voice on edge. "Leave me."
"You can save her—"
"GO!", Vader demanded, voice lined with rage.
Luke took a step back, gaze lingering on the woman, something telling him she was important, but went back the way he came. His mind however was clouded by what the Sith had told him, resignation and anguish filling him. Ben, why didn't you tell me?, Vader heard through the Force as the boy disappeared back into the bowels of the city. All the while, he looked down at his angel, who'd he'd killed a second time, feeling her life force diminish.
Something had taken him over while he'd been fighting Luke. It wasn't an unfamiliar feeling. He'd used it countless times through the years. The Dark side of the Force had granted him devastating power, its seductive nature giving him the strength to do all that he wished. Its only purpose was to spread fear and pain. Its only outcome was death, not life and it had once again led to her death. Realization struck him. She was dying because of the Dark side.
Something changed within him, taking over, and determination replaced hopelessness.
Though the Dark side had seduced him, it was his fault that she died the first time and it was his fault she was dying now. He'd let his greed for power blind him from saving her, but not this time. His anger, not for the first time, was directed inwards, but his self-loathing wouldn't stop there. For the first time in decades, he invited in serenity with the aid of the Force. A soothing peace, he could feel, began permeating his mind. Calling on his long-ago Jedi training, he put her into Force trance, temporarily slowing the effects of the injury. Her eyes closed as he moved his gloved hand away from her face.
With determination he lifted her into his arms, calling upon Piett to assemble a medical team and a set of coordinates for lightspeed.
She would live because he was determined to choose her over his lust for power.
On Coruscant, within the Imperial Palace, once known as the Jedi Temple, Sidious felt the disgusting shift towards the light side of the Force. In the foul darkness, his eyes opened, a gleaming yellow. Coruscant remained ever under the sway of the dark side though somewhere, in the outer reaches of the galaxy, there was change.
Darth Vader was still wholly connected to him, but he kept his mind hidden from Sidious. It was the way of the Sith to overthrow the other on the quest for greater power, but it was not to shun the darkness within. Yes, Vader's emotions were changing, there was grief, and oh yes, there was pain, but Sidious was dismayed to find something else within those feelings.
Love.
The word was detestable as it was during his early days as a Sith. It was useless and weak, everything the Sith grew to hate. Everything and everyone are tools for the Sith to gain greater power, and anyone who stood in the way of that must be destroyed.
Who did Vader love?
A/N: Okay guys, this was one of my favorite chapters to write thus far. I can't tell you how long I've been waiting to get this out, and I am eagerly awaiting your opinions. :)
I actually watched the Fight Scene Autopsy by Shadiversity on YouTube to help prepare me to write some of it. Though I'm no weapons expert, I did take some of the terminology he used to rewrite the fight scenes. You'll further notice that I changed some elements of the fight. Can't have the same exact fight as the movie. That's just boring!
Special shoutout to RyanSquad and Jeda31 for reviewing my last chapter! I appreciate your continued feedback! And a big thank you to those who've favorited and followed my story! And for some favorites and follows of my profile. I'm still seeing a great number of people reading the story, so a huge thank you for taking the time to do so! I'd love to hear your reactions, so don't be shy! Thank you for reading :)