The Truth That You Refuse
Chapter 2: Abduction
"Coruscant?" Luke questioned bitter-sweat.
Lynbe Lisel smirked with a wry smile, "What better place to hide you? There are over one trillion sentient beings on this planet. I'll be like finding a needle in the galaxy's largest haystack," A flash of malevolence struck his eyes, "Besides, it's not like the New Republic is looking for you anyways."
"What do you mean, there not searching for me?" Surely someone would have been suspicious of my absence. Luke pondered.
"Trust me, they've got far more…dire situations on their minds." Lynbe said, without the faintest restraint at controlling his glee.
"How can I trust you?" The Jedi said, "All this is coming from some maniac holding me hostage for Force knows what!" Anger sparked inside him, Luke tried using an all too familiar calming technique; yet when he reached for the Force, no answer came back. Subconsciously staring at the brown dirt between the cracks in the ceiling, Luke inquired, knowing full well that a straight answer would be impossible. "Why can't I use it?"
"Use what?" Lynbe answered puzzled.
"The Force, where is it?"
Suddenly realizing what Luke was talking about, "Oh, so you noticed. Helpful little trick, isn't it?" The man paused, allowing his mouth to hydrate with fluids, "It's not like it went anywhere, but it's just not here." indicating to the room around them. "My master can do a great number of things…"
"And who is this 'master' you speak of?" Luke went into the kill; hoping desperately that he would finally unravel more of the increasing mystery surrounding his whole situation.
"The matter of my master is irrelevant." He snapped, "Now shall we move along or are you going to continue to ask me the basics?"
Luke waited a few seconds, debating the matter. "One more thing: How'd you capture me?" Staring at Lynbe with his blue eyes, the Jedi crossed his arms in waiting.
The man started to chuckle, "Believe me Luke, it was no simple task. You weren't easy to capture..."
14 Days Ago
Steering the speeder through morning traffic, Luke managed a glimpse at the ever increasing Coruscant Prime as it ascended the horizon. Shades of orange and yellow faded away as the calm blue emerged to take its place. Despite the recent events of the Reborn Emperor's capture of Coruscant and the New Republic's reclaiming, Coruscant's beauty hadn't even faltered a fragment. In Luke's eyes, the layers and layers of buildings that reached miles above ground were an architectural brilliance. He supposed that a man could spend the rest of his life on Coruscant, and still not see all of its magnificence. It was a total contrast to the bleak deserts of Tatooine, and Luke personally loved the difference.
Public transports and speeders buzzed by at increasingly fast rate around the Jedi Master. Rush Hour Luke smirked. On mornings like these, he often wondered what life would be like as a regular citizen, oblivious to galactic politics. All they had to worry about was earning enough credits to provide for their families everyday.
I did not ask for the destiny I was given, yet given to me it was.
Luke continued on through the intricate traffic lanes, eager to arrive back at Imperial Palace to pack for the quest that he had been granted to undergo by the Senate. Soon he would travel all over the galaxy, searching through countless records of any sign of Force users. He was to build an academy of Jedi knights…
Using a short cut Han had showed him, the Jedi separated from the lanes into the less dense entertainment district. Holo-boards and bright marquees advertised the new 'in' thing, while occasionally they displayed news.
Today's headline: Senator Disappears! Vacation Absence or Fatal Foul Play?
Grinning at the absolute absurdity of the headline, Luke was amused at how the media could twist events. As he speeded past the bright neon green marquee, he glanced back to get a second look, only it wasn't the news that caught his attention. Behind him, a large, red, rectangular gunship adorned with black markings sped towards his own speeder. A disturbance in the Force told him that something was wrong with the seemingly innocent gunship.
Trusting the Force, Luke swerved downwards, not wanting to be in the same area as the gunship. Mysteriously, the gunship followed to the lower levels in unison. Soon as the Luke increased speed, the gunship did likewise and was side by side with Luke's speeder. Within spitting distance, he thought this was finally the time to get a good look at the strange pursuer, but when he glanced over all he saw was the tinted black of the window.
With the wave of his hand, the Jedi Master fooled the driver's way of thought: you don't want to chase me. You want to leave this sector and find better things to do with your morning. Slowly, but surely, the red and black gunship drifted behind him, until it vanished from sight.
Riding the glass turbolift to his floor, he shook his head at how strong headed that driver had been. Teenagers… he smirked. A light breeze drifted across the back of his neck…but Luke was in a turboshaft? In haste, he threw up his arms to cover his face—
Too late.
Within the flash of a moment the turbolift burst apart- a fireball of gas exploded outwards in a fury of crimson and orange- glass shattered in thousands of pieces, flying every which way- blasts of heat waved over him in molten temperatures. Desperately, the Jedi protected himself using a small shield of the Force he had conjured at the last second. Smoke and fumes filled his nostrils with an odoriferous scent unlike that he expected from an explosion. It was a vile smell that immediately made his stomach queasy, among other things. Eyelids heavy, Luke dropped to the floor of the still moving lift, but not before he saw the black/red gunship outside.
Present
"It was a test Luke." Said Lynbe. "You survived with only minor burns- nothing that a little bacta couldn't heal. My master was very pleased with the results; very pleased." Still depositing the events of his capture, Luke sat still staring down at his palms. "Now," Lynbe started, "what am about to tell you is very important. Pay attention, as this relates to you.
"Over the last five decades your galaxy has been a total catastrophe: wars, assassinations, corrupted politicians, half-baked prophecies, galactic conspiracy theories, government turnovers, etcetera, etcetera. Mostly that was our doing." Pausing, the man stared at Luke's puzzled expression.
"Let me get this: you caused all of that?" Luke asked in utter disbelief. "What about Palpatine and Vader? Weren't they the ones that caused the Empire?"
"Yes and no. From a larger point of view, it was mostly my master's doing." Still seeing Luke's confusion, Lynbe followed up: "Do you believe in a fate Luke? Do you believe that all our actions lead up to an unavoidable conclusion?"
"In a way," said Luke, "yes. If the Force calls us to a path arranged for us, than we should follow that call."
Lynbe nodded. "Your father, Anakin, was called to that destiny. Unlike what those Jedi thought though, his destiny was not for the 'balancing of the Force'. His true destiny, the one that my master intended for him, was for the rise of order in the universe of chaos." At this Luke muffled a cough in his shoulder. "It was his destiny, as well as Palpatine's. They succeeded of course; there was finally order after an incompetent Republic that couldn't even settle such dismal matters such as a trade dispute.
"Everything was at peace," Lynbe indicated Luke, "until you and those rebels interrupted years and years of 'our' work."
"I don't see how 'you and your master' could pave other's destiny," Luke argued. "Your nothing but a liar trying to take credit for such an immoral accomplishment such as the Empire."
"I'm afraid your mistaken Skywalker. My master not only accomplished the Empire through others, he is fate. He is the manifestation of fate. His powers are far beyond your Jedi powers, Luke. There is no escape from his control, for he controls everything. He won't stop until he gets his way. Until your Republic is squashed like the one before it. Until your people are reduced to rubble, running from system to system delaying their end."
No. He would not allow it. There was no way that everything he had worked far would be gone because of this man. "You're a liar!" Anger and frustration swept through Luke's veins, swallowing him whole. The thought of laying waste to everything that made his life worthwhile was incomprehensible.
"Even now planets are being laid waste from because of my master. Do not deny the truth that you refuse, Luke." Lynbe said, determined to destroy all hope in an effort to break Luke. "Your galaxy is ours. See for yourself."
Instantly, a small projector device protruded out of the table between them. It flickered on giving a low hum as it started up. In a few seconds the Holo-Net channel displayed itself in the air between them:
"This is Holo-net correspondent Civoe Caperon on the roof of Imperial Place." A small, skinny woman said, with the backdrop of the Coruscant skyline behind her. "We have breaking news here at the Galactic Capital: reports and photos are indicating that a fleet of unidentified battleships have just jumped from hyperspace to the outer perimeters of the planet itself. No official word has been announced from the government on who or what is up there." She paused for a moment while the picture moved to the sky above. "If you look closely, there is definitely something orbiting the city." From the view there was visible tiny, miniscule dots clumped together just right from Coruscant Prime.
Moments of silent awe filled the room as the projection flickered off. Lynbe looked at Luke, teeth revealed in a smile of amusement. Luke stared and stared at the desk where the projector used to be. Horror filled his brain at the thoughts of what would happen: billions and billions would die even if an attempt was taken at the capital. And if what Lisel said was true, the Republic would have no chance. Luke had to do something to stop it. "I'll do anything, anything if you spare us. I couldn't live with myself if I knew I hade a chance to save the Republic and not take it. Please, I'm begging you."
"I suppose I could let you try..." Lynbe replied, letting go a howl of laughter.
Man does not weave this web of life. He is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.-Chief Seattle