Chapter 32:
Leia was back on the Millennium Falcon, rare for when she wasn't sleeping. She knew where Han kept all his odds and ends on the ship, and so was rummaging through them, not entirely sure what she was looking for. Every once in awhile she would turn a piece over in her hands, thoughtfully, before either placing it into a small pile to the side, or tossing it back into the bin. She didn't really know why it had to be now, she just had a…. feeling, and she'd learned in the past weeks not to disregard feelings. Finally, she sat back, satisfied, then frowned. There was one more piece she needed, something she was sure Han wouldn't have lying around his ship. With a sigh, she gently drew a long cord out from under her tunic, revealing a small pendant set with a blue stone. She looked at it for a long moment, wistfully. It was a Bondar crystal from the Alderaan system, and the only piece of home she had left, anymore, on the run from the Empire. She carefully pried open the catch holding the stone in place, and added it to her pile. Well, looks like I'm ready to start. I hope the Force knows what it's talking about.
Vader was still pacing. It seemed that now that he had regained his full strength, he was in possession of boundless, restless energy. Finally, just as it was starting to drive Atrox crazy, he stopped, and said, "You should be mindful of your feelings, my son. Jade is not worthy of your…. attentions. She is untrustworthy, as well as dangerous."
Atrox spun around, his face twisted with anger. "Just because you have been unable to enjoy a woman for the past 23 years, DOES NOT MEAN THAT I AM GOING TO HOLD BACK JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN'T STAND NOT BEING ABLE TO!" He spun around and started to storm off towards the sleeping quarters of the shuttle.
Vader was momentarily at a loss for words at his son's outburst. A strange expression crossed his face, one of mingled grief and rage, and he tried to go after Atrox, only to find that Atrox was maintaining incredibly strong barriers around the room, preventing even Vader from penetrating. Han, meanwhile, sank as low in the pilot's seat as possible, hoping Vader wouldn't notice him. Looked like Vader missed having an insignificant Imperial officer to obliterate, and Han didn't want to take the chance of Vader…. taking what he could get.
Mara shot up when she saw Atrox storm in, slamming the door behind him. She could sense that he was blocking whatever was on the other side of the door from coming in, presumably it was Vader. "What are you doing here, farmboy?
"Staying away from Vader, and also looking for you." Atrox said as he walked over and sat down next to her.
"That makes two of us. What did he do to you?" Mara asked, turning towards him.
"He started to lecture me about… us, and, well, I didn't want to hear it."
"Man, farmboy, you are going to get it when you come out of here."
"Who says I have to come out?" Atrox countered as he moved closer to her. "Besides, think of how much it will tick him off with us… alone in here."
"You've got a point there, milord."
"A lesson in the dark side, Mara. Let your passion fuel your power with the Force, fuel your connection to the dark side." Atrox said as he leaned into her and began to passionately kiss her.
Mara let his emotions sweep her away, adding her own into the mix. She slowly reached up to wrap her arms around his neck, drawing him ever closer to her. Atrox's control began to slide as their passion began to overwhelm them, when suddenly they were forcibly thrown apart, each slammed into an opposing wall.
Vader stood in the doorway, a sneer curling his lip. "Lord Atrox, you disappoint me. Gravely. For all your power you are unable to maintain your CONTROL" Atrox had attempted to stand at that moment, but was shoved back to the ground by his father's fury.
Atrox glared back at his father and sneered, "You're one to talk about control. At least I have someone with whom I can exchange my passion, unlike you. What happened to my mother, anyway? Did you even care anything about her, or was she just a one-night stand?" He allowed his anger to fuel his already growing power further, filled at the same time with a curious desire to know, a desire he had harbored since he was a child. Who had his mother been? What had happened to her?
Vader held both of his hands out and blasted Atrox with a powerful blast of Force lightning. He screamed over the lightning, however, his voice was as cold as ice. "I LOVED YOUR MOTHER MORE THAN YOU COULD POSSIBLY, EVER, UNDERSTAND!" The power of the lightning increased with each word, as Vader poured out all his anguish of the past twenty-three years; it was as if a knife had slit open a raw and festering wound, opening it up again to further torment.
Atrox screamed out in agony, as he experienced pain he had never imagined possible. Mara turned white, his emotions still washing over her in waves, yet she dared not move, lest Vader hurt him even more.
Atrox writhing in pain became even angrier at his father for what he was doing to him. He found that as his anger increased, it fueled his own power with the dark side and also lessened his pain to almost nothing.
Vader maintained the lightning for a minute longer, then lifted it, and said, his voice a mere whisper in the silence, "If you even knew what your mother was like, you would understand why I don't want her child consorting with this…. harlot." He turned to leave, then stopped in the doorway, his back to the room. "We shall be arriving at the Dagobah system in an hour. I suggest you both find better ways of preparing yourselves." Then he was gone.
Mara hesitantly crossed the room to Atrox's side, and turned him over, gently. "Are- are you alright?"
"Y-yes, Mara. G-get ready for the mission, I need to see him." Atrox said, as he slowly got up to his feet.
"Er, sure. And L- uh, milord?" she smirked a little. "Watch yourself."
Atrox watched her for a few moments and nodded, You too. He then turned on his heel and found his father in the cockpit of the shuttle. He knelt down in behind him and waited for Vader to address him. "Forgive me, master."
Vader did not turn to acknowledge his son. "Was there something you needed, apprentice?"
"I- I wanted to apologize for my actions, father. I was out of line, forgive me." Atrox said as he lowered his head in submission.
Vader finally turned to look at Atrox, surprised that he had apologized. "You… are forgiven." He paused, then said, "I suppose I am partly to blame. I never told you anything about your mother. After this… mission, perhaps we can discuss it more in-depth."
"I would like that." Atrox paused, then said, "Is there enough time for some training, master?"
Vader contemplated that question, thoughtful. "I suppose I could show you a thing or two. Open your mind."
Atrox opened his mind to Vader, just as he was instructed, eager to learn more about the Force and what it was capable of.
Vader hesitated, momentarily, then slowly joined his mind with Atrox's, letting them both feel what the other was feeling, and doing. This technique allows for greater coordination in battle, but it requires a very high level of control, one which I do not believe you have mastered. Before Atrox could object, Vader continued. Control will come with time, and practice, and experience. It is no fault of yours that you have not yet acquired it.
Atrox felt Vader join with his mind, finding the sensation… intriguing, but paid attention. I understand, master.
Vader nodded, then carefully severed the connection. "It is too dangerous for you to use in true battle scenarios… yet, except in emergencies, but I sense that you will pick up the skill itself quite quickly. You learn fast, as I did when I was an apprentice."
"What about when we are battling that green slime, Yoda?" Atrox sneered. "It could come in handy, if one of us gets into trouble."
Vader raised an eyebrow. "It could, but if y- if either of us let our emotions get the better of us, that would mean two of us in trouble. And that could quickly prove fatal to both of us."
"You will find that I am full of surprises." Atrox replied with a dark smile.
Vader didn't say anything for a moment. Finally, he said, "We'll see." He turned away to look out the viewport, continually amazed by how much like himself his son was.
Leia emerged from the swamps near Yoda's hut. She could sense the old Jedi Master pottering around inside, and she gently knocked on the door before letting herself in. "Master, I was thinking today we'd—"
Yoda turned to regard her, gravely. "No training will we do today."
Leia frowned. "But, master, I thought—"
Yoda shook his head. "Into the Force, extend your mind. Feel the eddies, the flow. Sense them, can you not?"
Leia still didn't understand, but obediently reached out into the Force. She sensed the ray of light that was Master Yoda, muted by the darkness of the cave nearby. Stretching further, she suddenly froze with shock. She sensed no less than three Force-sensitives fast approaching the planet, two of them dripping with the dark side. "They found us," she whispered, feeling a tremor of fear. She looked down at her diminutive master, waiting for instructions.
Yoda closed his eyes, apparently calm. "No. Betrayed me, your brother has." He paused, and continued, "Go, you must. Already landed, their ship has."
Leia nodded. "Come on, let's get to the Falcon."
Yoda shook his head. "Go, you must. Stay, I will, to cover your escape."
Leia rebelled at this, immediately. "No, you're coming with us! I can't just leave you here, Luke and Vader will—"
Another voice broke in, gently. "Leia, you are the last hope of the Jedi. You are the last hope of ever saving your brother and father." Obi-wan stood near the door, arms crossed.
Yoda's voice had a renewed sense of urgency. "You it is, they are after. If find you they do, forever lost, the galaxy will be. Delay them I can, if leave you now."
Leia smiled, bitterly. "Last hope of the Jedi, huh? How am I supposed to restore the Order and stop the Sith if I haven't completed my training?"
"Already know, that which you need," Yoda assured her, gravely.
"Then why can't I—"
"No! There is no why. Know, you will, when ready to face them, you are."
Leia sighed, frustrated. "I'm not going to be able to convince you to come with me, am I? Fine, I'll go get the ship, but I'm coming back here to get you."
She turned to storm out of the hut, when Yoda's voice stopped her. "Leia."
She paused, and turned to look at him, questioningly.
"There is… another… Skywalker."