Chapter 58:
Padmé and Vader parted ways, she to seek out their son, and he to check on the structural integrity of the ship after Atrox's explosion. Padmé made her way through the passageways to Atrox's quarters, sobered by the chaos he had left behind. Leia had risen to her feet, and joined her mother as they reached his quarters.
She stopped outside the door, however, the emotions pouring from her brother through the Force causing her to hesitate. Bracing herself, she followed her mother into the room.
Atrox sensed their presence, and ended his meditation. Padmé went over to him, a compassionate look in her eyes. "Oh, Luke. I'm so sorry." She said gently.
Atrox looked up into his mother's eyes, his own eyes continuing to burn bright red. "The assassin is a force user." He said coldly.
"A Force user?" she echoed, shocked. "What are you going to do?"
"Find them." He paused, then continued, his voice entwined with the dark side. "Then show him a piece of my mind."
Leia and Padmé were both silent, stunned by the rage burning red in his eyes. I've never seen him like that, Leia thought to herself, uneasily. Gradually, his eyes faded back to yellow as he regained control of his emotions.
Apprentice, come to the bridge. Atrox heard his master say in his mind. "I need to go to the bridge, my master has summoned me. Something is wrong." Atrox said shortly, turning around and stalking off to the bridge.
When he reached it, he was immediately aware of the tension and panic radiating from the crew on duty. Everyone was busy with something, as Vader stalked around, looming over them menacingly to ensure they worked at maximum efficiency. Han had a hydrospanner in one hand, and was expertly repairing some circuits.
Atrox stormed up to Vader. "What is the status, master?"
Vader turned on him, annoyed. "You appear to have nearly ripped the walls off the ship in your anger. Anger and hatred is good, but unless you can learn to control it, it will control you, and that is intolerable." More klaxons sounded in another part of the ship, sending two of the crew rushing out.
"Forgive me, master. It will not happen again" Atrox said submissively, with a new found resolve, then stormed over to Admiral Piett. "Status," he demanded.
"Life support systems at minimum capacity, sir." Piett reported. "Three bulkheads are locked down due to damage to the hull, and several others are in critical condition." He winced at the sound of the
klaxons. "Four bulkheads, by the sound of it. We're going to have to send men out in environment suits to repair them."
Atrox noted a crew member standing around, not doing anything and picked him up with the force and threw him towards the entrance to the bridge. "Make yourself useful or report to the brig." Atrox roared.
Mara stepped over the man, carefully, as she and the other two women entered. "You certainly know how to motivate them, master," she smirked.
Indeed. Atrox sent through the Force. "Go and motivate the crew to complete the repairs before the ship falls apart. If you deem them incompetent… throw them in the brig." Atrox said coldly, his yellow eyes locking with hers.
"As you wish, master." She said, her gaze turning down towards the crewman Atrox had cast to the floor. He hastily got to his feet, and half walked, half ran down the hall towards the sound of the alarms. She followed him, and began monitoring the repairs, noting their progress. The men were keenly aware of her eyes boring into their backs, and nervously tried to work harder.
She eyed one in particular, who was repairing some wiring for the life support systems that had been damaged. He accidentally clipped a wire, and suddenly the lighting in the hallway flickered out.
Mara was on him in an instant. "We have no need of men who don't know what they're doing. Come with me." She ordered in a cold voice. The young man winced, but had no choice but to allow her to escort him to the brig, where she locked him in a force cage and returned to her post.
Vader and Atrox were on the bridge supervising repairs there when the alarms sounded. "Warning: life support systems offline." The lights flickered out, replaced by flashing warning lights. "Admiral Piett!" Vader rumbled. "What happened?"
Piett scanned what few systems were still active. "Looks like someone cut power to the life support systems, milord," he reported. "Shall I send someone to look into it?"
"I shall deal with it myself." Vader responded. "Where are the life support systems located?"
"There's an access passage near this corridor," Piett said, indicating on the locator the area Mara was in.
Vader swept out of the bridge without another word, leaving his apprentice temporarily in charge. He quickly arrived at the site of the accident, and picked up the hydrospanner lying abandoned on the deck. He immediately set to work, knowing that if they did not get the life support systems online soon, everyone could die. A few minutes later, the lights came back on, and the computer fell silent, a small hiss indicating that the air filtration systems were functioning again. Satisfied, he continued the repairs; he had always loved fixing things, especially ships and other transportation devices. He found he was able to forget his fears and worries while he worked, able to relax in a way he could not otherwise.
Mara watched him, expressionless, as he worked, oblivious to her. Finally, she asked, "Would you and Lord Atrox like to speak to the one responsible for this, Lord Vader?"
"Yes, Jade. Bring him to the bridge, I will be along shortly."
"As you wish, Lord Vader." She went up and brought the officer down to the bridge. Vader arrived soon after, his work on the life support systems complete.
Atrox felt Mara and, just before hand, his master approaching the bridge. "Master." He greeted as he walked over to his side. Just as he was about to continue, his apprentice and an Imperial Officer who looked terrified out of his mind entered the bridge. Atrox chuckled at this, and turned with his master to look them in the eyes. "Apprentice." He greeted, "What's this?"
"The cause of the blackout," Mara informed him as she forced the officer to his knees. "The fool had no idea what he was doing, and was messing around with the life support system."
Atrox's gaze turned hard. "Fool… wait until my master is finished with you." Atrox sneered, a dark smile present on his face.
Vader's hand tightened into a fist, and the young man clutched his throat, unable to breathe. Just as he was about to die, Vader released him. "If we did not need every man on this ship, you would not be living, a fact which may still change if you cannot prove your worth."
"F-forgive me, my lord," the officer choked out, gasping for breath.
"Get out of our sight." Atrox said darkly, extending his hands towards the officer and blasting him towards the entrance of the bridge with Force lightning.
"Resume your duties, lieutenant." Vader said. He raised his voice so the rest of the bridge could hear. "Let this be a reminder to you of what will happen if you tamper with things you don't understand."
Padmé and Leia watched them, shocked by their injustice. Neither said anything, not wanting to start an argument in front of the crew.
Atrox stalked over to Admiral Piett. "What is the status of the repairs, admiral?" He demanded.
"The life support systems are back to capacity, milord. The other repairs are being effected at maximum speed." Piett replied.
"Good. I want to be underway again within six hours." Atrox replied, turning back towards his master and walking up to him. "We should be underway within six hours, master."
"Very good, apprentice." Vader replied.
Padmé approached the two of them, and said quietly, "There was a better way to handle it."
Atrox glared back at her, coldly. "He placed you and Mara in danger, and that is unacceptable." He said just as coldly.
"But the danger was passed. There was no need for such violence," she said firmly.
"He needed to be taught a lesson he will not forget." Atrox replied, just as firmly.
"But that kind of action is just why the Rebel Alliance was founded. You cannot hope to end the rebellion if you persist in the very reasons to rebel."
Atrox glared at both of them, using the Force to push them out of his way. "I may be a failure in your eyes, but not in my master's." Atrox growled, storming off the bridge, heading to his quarters. Once inside, he began meditating on the upcoming mission, and his master's visions.
Mara shot Padmé a glare, and followed her master to his quarters. She opened the door, quietly, and knelt down beside him, trying to determine if he was alright. "Master?" she asked, tentatively.
Atrox opened his eyes, looking at Mara. "She does not understand, apprentice. She does not understand our ways, I doubt she ever will. My master has done everything he has for her and she has yet to see that… if she has, she is hiding it." He said, his tone showing his determination as he said, "I will not lose you, apprentice."
She met his eyes. "We will find a way. When we get back to Imperial Center we can search for Palpatine's private records, to see if your suspicions are correct."
Padmé gazed in the direction Atrox had gone, stunned that he had attacked her. Leia glared at the doorway, angrily. He has no right to touch our mother!
Vader stormed out of the room, towards Atrox's quarters. When he reached them, he slammed the door open, and hurled Atrox across the room with a blast of Force lightning.
Padmé entered the room just as Vader lifted Atrox up, choking the breath from him. "Ani, no! Let him go!" She exclaimed, her memory flashing back painfully to a similar situation years ago.
Vader released him, allowing Atrox to fall to his knees. Padmé knelt down by his side and put her arms around him, embracing him. "I'm sorry. I was trying to explain what it means to be the Emperor's son… from a political perspective… I wasn't trying to judge you, or hurt you," she told him softly.
Atrox's eyes locked with Padmé's, searching for any kind of deception, finding none. After hesitating… he returned his mother's embrace, sending a thought of forgiveness into her mind.
Leia watched from the doorway, mixed feelings flowing through her. She felt like Atrox deserved to be punished, for venting his wrath on their mother, and on her. Suddenly she stopped, realizing her vengeful thoughts were of the dark side. Shaken, she turned and left the room, wanting to meditate to sort out her feelings.
Padmé smiled, relieved that he had forgiven their misunderstanding. They had all been through so much, each one alone and cut off from the other, and she was grateful for this chance to be together, as they should have been.
Anakin watched them, guardedly, the tender moment between mother and son giving him window through which to see them, untainted. For a moment, he felt a supreme sense of peace, knowing that the evil Palpatine had done to their family was slowly being righted.
Leia looked up from her meditation, startled by what she sensed from her father. For a moment, she felt the light in him, no longer cut off by the dark side.
Then the dark side felt it, and Vader reasserted himself, locking away that part of him that was Anakin Skywalker. He reached out to his children with the Force, and said coldly, We need to begin your training for the mission immediately. Come to the cargo hold at once.
Yes, master. Atrox replied submissively, slowly moving back from his mother. "I need to prepare for my mission, mother. I will return later."
Padmé squeezed his shoulder gently. "Go. I'll see you soon."
I'm on my way, father. Leia told him, mentally reminding herself to talk to her father later in private. She hurried to the cargo hold, where she found Atrox and Vader already waiting for her. She looked at her father, curiously, wondering what had happened.
Vader locked eyes with Leia, ignoring her stare. Instead, he suddenly reached out into the Force and cut both of the twins off from it.
Leia's first reaction was panic. It felt as if a heavy blanket had been thrown over her, muffling her senses, stifling her. She could no longer sense her brother, or her father. She couldn't sense anything.
Atrox was instantly enraged. He had known what was coming, but not what to expect. It wasn't so much the dulling of the senses, the slowing of movements, as it was the overpowering feeling of helplessness. The power that coursed through him constantly was gone, leaving him empty inside. His features seemed to revert to their normal appearance, free of the corrupting influence of the dark side.
"This is what it is like without the Force, my children. You will now learn to adapt to it, in doing so you will become stronger as well." Vader said, coolly, watching his apprentice's appearance transition back to normal.
Mara froze, confused. She couldn't feel her master through their bond. It was like he was unconscious, or dead, but she had felt nothing from him. Worried, she sought Vader's presence in the Force and followed it, knowing that Atrox had been with him.
When she reached the cargo hold, she stopped in the doorway, startled. Vader and Atrox were engaged in a duel, which Atrox seemed to be losing badly. Vader seemed to be almost toying with him, but that
was not the most shocking thing. Atrox's appearance had changed; he looked like he had when she had first seen him, and the contrast was startling.
Atrox had a furious expression on his face, rage coursing through him at his loss of the Force, his inability to even land a blow on his master. "How can I be expected to best you without the Force?" Atrox raged, charging towards Vader with blind fury.
Vader sidestepped Atrox's attack, responding coldly, "You are not thinking! You let your rage block out your training, even in front of your own apprentice."
Mara continued to watch them, shocked. He may look like Luke Skywalker, but he's still the Sith Lord inside, she thought to herself.
"My apprentice has use of the Force." Atrox growled. He took a couple of moments, recomposing himself, fury still evident in his eyes. "Forgive me, master, I… am unsure how to approach this situation."
"You shall have to relearn how to defend yourself without the Force," Vader responded, the chill still in his voice. He drew out his comlink, and spoke into it. "Captain, come to the cargo hold at once."
"As you wish, my lord."
He then turned to Leia, calmly. "Let us see how your abilities hold up."
She frowned. "With a lightsaber? I can barely use that even with the Force."
"Then use a vibrosword." He waved at a locker in the cargo hold, and she drew out the blade and activated it. Vader advanced, saber ignited, and their blades met. She slashed at his chest, and he blocked it, barely, only a whisper of danger warning him beforehand. She blocked his next strike, and they continued. Vader had the advantage of years of experience, but Leia was holding her own.
Atrox looked on Vader and his sister dueling, a dark sneer forming on his face. Jealousy towards his sister coursed through him. How she can fight without the Force when I cannot?
Mara watched him, surprised by the snarl of rage crossing his face. Vader felt the change in her emotions, and caught sight of Atrox's expression out of the corner of his eye.
Vader smirked. "So jealous over her skills are you, Lord Atrox? She is not as far in her training as you are, nor has she been aware of her... abilities, despite being Leia Skywalker."
At that moment, the Royal Guard captain arrived. Vader twisted his blade, knocking the vibrosword out of Leia's hands, ending their duel. "Captain, you are to train Lord Atrox in combat techniques such as you and your men use."
Atrox remembered the captain and glared at him through narrowed eyes as his master ordered the training.
The guard merely nodded, impassively. "As you wish, my lord." He eyed Atrox, puzzled by his change in appearance.
Atrox ignited and threw his lightsaber towards the Captain. "You are here to train me, apparently, not look at me." Atrox growled.
The captain watched as the lightsaber clattered to the ground, unguided by the Force. "With all due respect, Lord Atrox, if I don't watch you, I won't know whether you're doing the technique properly or not."
"Watch yourself when my master gives me use of the Force back, Guard." Atrox snarled. "If you continue to waste my time, I will be sure to give you something to worry about."
Mara stormed over, pushing the guard captain aside. "I am not only more qualified than the captain to train Lord Atrox, I am more efficient. I know how his mind works. The captain can step in if necessary," she snapped, glaring at Vader defiantly.
"Very well, Jade." Vader sneered. "I will be here to monitor your progress and if I feel that you are not as expedient... the captain will take over." He said coldly, pointing at her as he explained.
She nodded, coldly, and turned her head. Almost before Atrox could react, she had a small holdout blaster in her hand, and shot him. Atrox was thrown backwards, unconscious for a few seconds, then slowly awakened, a slight ache in his head.
"What happened to those reflexes, farmboy?" Mara's voice broke through his daze. "Surely it wasn't all the Force."
Atrox rose slowly, glaring at her. It took him several more moments to regain his composure without the use of the Force.
She closed the distance between them, punching him hard in the stomach while he was still recovering. "An enemy would not wait until you're feeling better, farmboy, and neither will I. Even some of those Rebels can recover faster than you."
She made a move to strike him again as he was doubled over, bringing her knee up to hit his stomach again. Atrox caught sight of her motion out of the corner of his eye, and took a step back, throwing a low block out to stop her knee. "Nor will I allow you to just stand there and beat me, apprentice." Atrox growled in return as he got back up to his full height. He summoned the Captain to him and forcibly took a vibrosword and assumed an aggressive posture... waiting to make his attack.
Mara called another sword to her hand, and held it in a guard position. Suddenly Atrox lunged, stabbing at her shoulder. Mara parried it, and returned a thrust in his direction. "Better," she told him, as he deflected the blow.
"Ironic... apprentice." Atrox sneered. "We have gotten so... close and you still blame my master for what happened to the late emperor. You are blaming the wrong man." He paused, allowing her to think over
this information. "You should be blaming me. I ended his pathetic existence; his power... was added to my own." He said softly, smirking.
She pressed Atrox harder, eyes flashing in anger. "It was Vader who… who forced me to end him, and you know it. You were there." Her voice shook with repressed rage and self-loathing as she swung her blade at his head.
"That was after I drained his Force energy into myself... making myself stronger. Ensuring he would never come back." He smirked, parrying her attack.
Mara snapped. She stretched out a hand and blasted him with Force lightning, anger and hatred pouring off of her. "STOP IT!"
Atrox screamed in pain as the lightning tore through him, unable to block it with the Force. When she finally released him, he gasped out between breaths, "You're… beautiful… when you're… angry… Mara Jade."
Mara looked down at him, the anger fading from her eyes. Her fingertips crackled again, and she directed a burst of Force lightning towards him, though it was more of a caress than painful. "And you look terrible, farmboy," she retorted, quietly. Regaining a bit of composure, she said, calmly, "You are improving, that's for sure."
"Indeed," Vader agreed. "You are learning to employ an ancient Sith technique known as Dun Möch to taunt and distract your opponents, even when the Force is not available to you."
Mara turned to Vader, reluctantly. "My lord, would you object to training Lord Atrox with blasters? I… can't, in my… condition."
"Very well." Vader replied, then used the Force and tore a blaster from the Captain. Mara tossed a blaster to Atrox, and as he caught it, Vader opened fire. She fled the room as stray shots ricocheted around, with Leia and the guard captain close behind her.
As soon as Atrox caught the blaster, he began raining blaster shots towards Vader. "Is that the best you have, Master?" Atrox sneered. The next stun blast caught him full in the chest.
Vader advanced, coldly, his blaster still on the lowest setting, but no longer on stun. He began systematically firing off shots at Atrox, stinging him each time they found their mark. "You are not the master yet, apprentice."
Atrox gritted his teeth through the pain of each blast. However, he continued to force his right arm to point the blaster towards Vader, aiming for his own chest. As Vader made his remark, he used his free hand, fighting the pain coursing through him, to take his own blaster off stun and moved it up to a mid setting. He fired, aiming directly for Vader's chest.
Vader threw out a hand directly into the line of fire, catching the shot and absorbing its energy with the Force. "Your tolerance for pain is growing, if nothing else."
Atrox glared towards him. "I can destroy my master when I am ready to challenge him... it is the way of the Sith, you taught me that." He paused... locking his eyes with his master. "However, I will not destroy my father... I will not break our family up after being apart for so long." Atrox whispered.
Vader paused, impressed by the loyalty of his apprentice. "I would have found you earlier, had I known of your existence. But Obi-wan" he spat the name with venom, "was careful in his deception. You are becoming one of the greatest Sith Lords of all time, make no mistake about that. Your training is progressing quicker than even I could have imagined. Think how much greater you will become with this training without the Force… a lesson few have had the privilege to learn."
Vader opened fire again, forcing Atrox back onto the offensive. He used the Force to turn up the setting on the blaster, to give Atrox a taste of what he would have to endure if it came down to a fight on Myrkr.
A shot struck Atrox in the shoulder, and he collapsed, agony tearing through him. "Get up," Vader said coldly.
Atrox shut his eyes in pain, gritting his teeth as he slowly stumbled to his feet. When he opened his eyes, he locked them with Vader's. After another moment, Atrox used the free hand to turn up the setting on his blaster to its maximum setting. After another slow moment, Atrox began to rain fire aimed at Vader, rage coursing through his body, but unable to use it to his own advantage with the Force.
Vader nodded approvingly, noting Atrox's determination. He lowered his blaster, indicating that Atrox do the same. "You have done well, apprentice."
Atrox lowered his blaster, the warmth of his master's approval coursing through him. "Thank you, master."
Vader released the unseen bonds severing Atrox from the Force, allowing him full access to it once more. "This lesson is complete, apprentice… though it can be enhanced in the future."
Atrox's eyes immediately shut as he felt the Force rushing back to him... the dark side once again coursing throughout his entire being. His appearance immediately reverted back to what it had been before when he used the Force, and he felt even more powerful. Atrox's eyes slowly opened after he savored the rush of power he felt again, revealing cold, sickly yellow eyes. "Thank you, my master. I will return to my quarters to mediate." Atrox said just before he left the room, heading for his quarters.
Mara felt the explosion of dark energy that heralded Atrox's return to the Force, overwhelmed by its potency. Both she and Leia turned when the door burst open and Atrox strode past, his features fully returned to their former state. Leia stared after him, startled by his appearance, still unable to sense him due to her own Force-blindness.
Mara followed him, quietly, wanting to know about his fight with Vader and sensing he had been hurt.
Atrox continued to walk towards his quarters. While doing so, he entered Mara's mind through their powerful bond to each other, and opened his to her as well. You did well back there, apprentice. Atrox sent, then paused. How is our child?
Mara paused, reaching down to rest a hand on her stomach, gently. Its presence is still faint, but I can feel it growing stronger each day. That is, she added dryly, when I'm not too sick to feel anything else.
It will pass in time, apprentice. Until it does, use the pain to your advantage... let it fuel your connection to the dark side of the Force. Atrox said softly into her mind. I have an assignment which I think you will find... entertaining when I return from the surface... one which will allow you to... test your own training. Atrox added as he entered his quarters, Mara following him in.
Yes master. Mara replied. I look forward to it. She frowned, irritated that they would be going without her, but knowing they were right to leave her behind. Master… you should have that burn looked at, she said softly.
Atrox turned towards her, allowing the dark side of the Force to flood through him, begging to do his bidding. He began to command the dark side to completely heal all of his wounds from his training with Vader.
Mara could feel his wounds closing over as he healed them, as flawless as if they had never been. She nodded, satisfied, and scolded teasingly, If I didn't remind you to heal them you would literally forget they exist. She sent a playful shock of lightning at him, not strong enough to do him harm.
Atrox looked Mara in the eyes. "Meditate with me," he whispered.
"Yes, master," she said softly, kneeling by his side. Their minds joined, becoming one as they meditated in the darkness of the room. Atrox focused his thoughts on the upcoming mission, plotting his revenge.
Mara thought about the assignment her master had planned for her upon his return, and about the vengeance she would exact upon the traitorous Rebels. Gradually, however, her thoughts wandered again to her child, and her expression softened, wondering what it would be like, what they would call him or her.
Leia reentered the cargo hold where her father was waiting. "Your brother has passed his training, as you saw," Vader told her. "He can survive the mission."
She nodded, then asked, "Is there anything else you want to train me in?"
"How well do you know the Rebel leaders?" Vader asked coldly.
She turned a little pale. "They were my closest friends during my time with the Alliance, as well as when I was a child," she said quietly.
"How well do they know you, Leia?" He asked, pausing for a moment. "Do they know of your parentage… your true parentage?"
"They know," she answered, gravely. "It is to their credit that they did not hold it against me when they learned of it."
"That surprises me." Vader muttered. "Do they know who my former self used to be?" He demanded.
"I'm… not sure," she admitted. "Were you very well known as a Jedi?"
Vader turned towards her, memories which he blocked out coming back into his mind. "I was Anakin Skywalker... the 'Hero With No Fear'. Some will recognize me... none know that I have become Darth Vader." He replied, distantly.
"Could they guess it from Luke's name?" she asked, hesitantly.
"They could guess that I am Anakin Skywalker... however, it is not likely that they can guess that I am Darth Vader. They could guess I am turning my own son over to them... but not the truth." Vader said, thinking it over.
She frowned. "They know that my father and Luke's is Darth Vader. If they see you, it wouldn't take them long to put two and two together."
"They have been associating Vader with that suit which OBI-WAN," he spat the name with pure rage, "put me in!" Vader roared. "He put me through more physical pain then you will ever comprehend, girl. I only have my son to thank for me being restored to my full self again, restoring me to my full potential." Vader said coldly, but proudly.
She took a step back, startled by his sudden change in mood. "I wasn't trying to anger you, I was trying to help you! I'll never be able to live up to what Atrox did for you, or make up for what Obi-wan did to you. You're right, I don't know what you went through, and I never will unless you tell me!"
Vader advanced towards Leia, reopening her connection to the Force, and stopped when he was just centimeters from her. "Very well," he said as he placed a hand on her forehead, joining their minds through the Force, sending her every memory from that tragic day. His duel with Obi-wan... the pain he felt when he was burning alive... when he found out that Padmé had died and he lost his child. He did not shield anything from her... he wanted her to know exactly what he had gone through.
Leia felt as if she was dying inside, living her father's memories as if they had been her own. When it ended, she was shaken and damp with sweat, physically and mentally exhausted. She sensed that she had been changed somehow by what she had experienced through her father, and needed to meditate to determine what had happened.
Not meeting Vader's eyes, she turned and left the room, heading for her own quarters adjoining her parents'. She seated herself in one corner of the room and shut out everything else, drawing the Force into herself to try to regain her inner peace, and understand what had happened. After what felt like
ages, she was still unable to center herself, unable to regain her inner peace. She rose and strode towards the entrance to her quarters, deciding to ask Atrox what he knew about their father's past. She reached his quarters, and tapped on the door, hesitantly, unsure if he was still angry.
Atrox sensed Leia's presence outside his door from within his meditations. Extending the darkness out to her, he whispered a single thought into her mind. Enter. What is on your mind… sister?
Leia suddenly felt another presence enter her mind… a presence which was… extremely annoyed to say the least. This had better be good for interrupting our meditations, Jedi Organa Mara Jade suddenly snapped inside her mind… the threat clearly behind the word Jedi.
Leia flinched, sensing Mara's animosity. Perhaps I should come back at a better time, she said quietly.
Atrox turned sharply towards his apprentice, his burning yellow eyes peering into her. "Apprentice." He growled coldly, his annoyance clear. He slowly turned back towards his sister and indicated a spot next to him for her to kneel and meditate with him. "Join us, sister." Atrox said guardedly, unsure of what Leia was here for.
She knelt down at her brother's side, suddenly at a loss for how to explain. "I… after our father completed my training, he showed me his memories of the day… the day he thought mother died. Do you… know anything about what happened?"
Atrox looked her in the eyes. "I do not know much about it. I know that he mentioned once that Obi-Wan" he growled the name with pure rage, "left him for dead. Other than that… I do not know . What did you see-"
Darth Vader had remained behind in the cargo hold, thinking over the recent events which had transpired, Atrox's training, and the upcoming mission. He was about to leave the room when he suddenly felt Atrox's and Leia's conversation and stormed into their minds. Daughter! Say another word… he boomed inside her mind, the threat clear. Come to me, apprentice… now. He said coldly into Atrox's mind.
Atrox sharply got up from his meditative position. Yes, master, he sent back through the Force submissively. As he left the room, he touched his sister's mind. I will return later. Afterwards, he touched Mara's mind. My master has summoned me.
For one of the first times since rejoining her family, Leia did not recoil from her brother's dark touch on her mind… however, she was unsettled by her father's coldness towards her. I will be with mother, she sent back through the Force, following Atrox out of the room, leaving Mara to her meditations.
Several moments later, Atrox entered the cargo hold, where Vader was waiting for him. Vader stormed up to Atrox and pinned him against a bulkhead with the Force. "You wish to know what landed me in that… suit," Vader spat the word as he growled, not giving Atrox a chance to reply before he forced his
hand onto his forehead, forcing him to relive everything he felt that day, enhancing the pain so that he could heighten Atrox's tolerance for pain.
To Atrox, the pain was blinding, so much so that he nearly lost consciousness during the memory of his father's immolation and later reconstruction. Had the pain been any more powerful, it might have killed him, but as with his father before him, his sheer will to survive kept him conscious. As he watched Obi-wan stand there after cutting his father down, his pain was forged into pure hate, white-hot in its intensity.