froovygirl: A person's fortitude can only go so far! And yeah, writing for the dark side is more compelling than the opposite route. The Code of the Sith reads like a formula for great drama. Thank you for continuing to read, by the way.
Rosesforever294: Leia was acting enthusiastic because she wanted a chance to escape. :)
Leia sat cross-legged and held a glowing blade inches from her face. She stared into the crimson with focus.
"I sense too much inner struggle," Starkiller stood a few feet behind her in a spacious portion of the docking bay. "These meditations are meant to clear thoughts and feelings, but they have the opposite effect on you, for some weird reason. I want to know what's been holding you back. Tell me what's in that rebellious mind."
Leia switched the lightsaber off and rolled it away. "I feel as though I've already betrayed the Alliance. Every one of them was my child in cause. And I've left my children in the cold night to face the predators alone," She lowered her voice, speaking to herself as much as him. "My hope is almost gone. Resistance becomes harder with each passing day."
The man slammed a fist into his palm. "You represent my failure. I should have broken you by now. You should be out there with me as we speak, but you keep being stubborn. I think of your face every time I'm on a mission and it gives me the fuel I need to dominate enemies."
Leia squeezed her eyes shut too late. Tears ran. I've started looking forward to these lessons. PROXY is artificial company. I need flesh and blood. I miss his presence when he leaves and I hate myself for it. I hate that his words can hurt me.
The woman rose and stretched out a hand. Starkiller levitated from the floor, gripped his throat.
"Is this what my dear teacher wanted? Are you proud, Starkiller?" She tightened her telekinetic grip and the man's eyes bulged. She flung him against a wall and then slammed his head into the ceiling. He fell with a THUNK, gasping raggedly for breath. Leia walked relaxedly to him and placed her boot on his head. "Adorable impression of an aquatic animal."
I could destroy him. Escape on Rogue Shadow. The act would be satisfying to my core.
But Starkiller twitched his finger. Leia abruptly shot upward herself. Her head collided with the ceiling and then the floor. She blinked several times, glanced around disoriented. I was in a drunken stupor.
The man lay on his back, resigned. They were both silent for a while before he turned to face her. "Words can cause worse damage than Force-lightning. Mine backfired on me."
Leia sat up on an elbow and moved a lock of hair behind an ear. "It did hurt when you said that I represented your failure," She gazed into his eyes. "But now I suspect some interesting implications in being your object of hate."
He raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
She elaborately shrugged a shoulder and looked away. "Oh. Nothing."
Starkiller sighed. "I guess we're ready to go."
"Huh? Where?"
"The Imperial Palace on Coruscant. Emperor Vader awaits."
Leia soon boarded Rogue Shadow with Starkiller and PROXY.
"May I dial up my difficulty settings and plan a surprise duel, Master, for old times' sake? Mistress Organa is an efficient fighter, but nothing compared to you."
"Negative, PROXY."
"Lounge," Starkiller told Leia. There were counters topped by food preparing machines, and a round table for eating. "Training room," He pointed to a sealed blast door.
They stepped into the cockpit and Leia froze. A stunning blonde woman in a black Imperial uniform grinned at them and saluted.
"And this is Captain Rayla," Starkiller plopped down in the co-pilot's seat and busied himself with the control panel.
"Pleased to meet you. . ." The captain extended her hand for Leia to shake.
Leia clenched her jaw and shook Rayla's hand. "PROXY over there addresses me as Mistress Organa."
The other woman looked caught off-guard. "I see," Then extracted her hand and took her seat.
The ship exited through a transparent force-field and rotated around to its new course. A Super Star Destroyer came into view, more than fourteen kilometers long. "That explains the life I felt all these weeks," Leia said.
"The Executor is Lord Skywalker's flagship," Starkiller explained. "He keeps his Force-signature masked, or you would've felt him very close by."
Leia shivered.
"How long will we be staying on Coruscant, sir?" Rayla asked, her voice sweet and high. "Will you want me to dock us in the industrial center?"
"Hard to say. Enter at point five-hundred and cloak on approach to the palace. I'll update you when I know," He left the two women alone in the cockpit.
"Please be seated," Rayla said. "We'll enter hyperspace in twelve seconds."
Leia did as instructed, murmuring. Pulsating lines of light stretched over the Rogue Shadow.
"How long have you known Starkiller?" Leia asked, a bit too casually.
"A couple months," Rayla grinned over her shoulder.
"A man like that must really use up his pilots."
Rayla shifted. "What do you mean?"
"I mean he goes on top secret assignments across the galaxy, facing enemies we can hardly imagine. I would feel vulnerable in your position, even with the stealth technology."
The captain gave an audible swallow, keeping her attention on the control panel. "I assure you that I am qualified to serve. We are safe."
Leia excused herself and walked to the lounge. Proxy sat still and quiet at a table. She went to a beverage console, poured two cups of hot coffee, and walked to the training room to find it closed. She kicked the blast door a few times, sloshing the drinks. It opened. The man was cross-legged as she had been earlier that day, but floated several feet from the floor. A red mist drifted over his body; pure, solidified rage.
"Come in," He said, keeping his eyes shut.
She did so, and the door snapped behind her. "I brought us drinks. But I can leave if you're busy."
"You accepted our present destination way too easily," He said. "Let me guess. You plan to make an assassination attempt on the Emperor."
Leia gasped and spilled some coffee on her wrists. "That's a crazy idea."
"Crazy and stupid. Something the little princess is capable of."
The woman set the cups on the floor and wiped her hands on her black body suit. "The little princess is about to crush your throat again."
Starkiller finally opened his eyes and lowered his legs to stand. The red mist evaporated. "I'd like to see you try."
She pressed her lips together, took a deep breath, and lowered her gaze. "I've let you keep your past a secret. It's none of my business, and I know it must be painful to relive. But let me ask you one thing. Did you ever try?"
He tilted his head. "Try what?"
"Try to overthrow your master. And his lapdog."
"I would be dead if I had ever tried. True, the Sith are known to betray one another out of habit and tradition. But I am what could best be described as a generic practitioner of the dark side. A tier below the Sith. Their powers are beyond me."
Leia ran a hand through her hair. "Humility, huh? Sorry, but I believe you're only claiming that. The dark side consumes its slaves with the will to destroy. I know from experience. When I tried to. . . to kill you, I felt hungry to extend and test my powers further."
Starkiller threw his arms up. "Then go ahead. When we get there, take out your lightsaber and chop away at them. See where it gets you."
"Perhaps you're discouraging me because you care? Seeing your apprentice die would break your heart to pieces. Admit it."
"I don't have to admit anything. Now leave me alone," He stepped closer and jabbed a finger into her chest.
"Help me destroy them," Leia took his hand and raised it to her lips. She kissed his knuckles while batting her lashes at him. "We can succeed. If we work together."