Imperial Memories and Forgotten Dreams

I do not own anything Star Wars. Han, Leia, and Luke are all borrowed characters, obviously, with Samantha Heart and Komiak being my own creation.

I wrote this a LONG time ago so please be patient as I "update" it...lol. Enjoy!

Chapter-Four

Snowy Memories

The sun has fallen already, twilight embracing the forest as I slip outside, Komiak behind me. Han, Luke, and Leia are all inside, talking quietly amongst themselves.

Komiak follows me to the barn, watching as I saddle up Nakita.

"Try not to be gone to long." She remarks. "I need to call the pack."

"Have them come here. I would like them to accompany us if they agree to it. I will be back around midnight." I lead Nakita from the barn, the mare shaking her mane against the small snowflakes floating down.

"I'll have them meet me here in the morning then. No use scaring the guests." I chuckle.

"You want to, I know. Call them, have them come straight here. I'll be back at midnight." Komiak nods, watching as I leap up into the saddle, Nakita dancing beneath me, eager to be off. Komiak backs away as I lean forward, linking my mind to Nakita's.

Lets go! Instantly she is off, practically leaping forward. We are in the trees in seconds, Nakita expertly winding her way through the trees. She finds her way through the dark easily, her sure footing carrying us high into the foothills swiftly.

Like Nakita's white coat, I wear a thick white jacket, its hem reaching down to mid thigh when I am standing. The fur on the rim of the hood tickles my cheek as we ride.

After a long, hard ride through the foot hills Nakita slows down, more cautious now.

Close.I nod, patting her neck with a gloved hand and leaning down against her neck as she passes under a branch.

The woods abruptly ends in a cliff face. Far ahead, two valley's over is the harsh, bright lights of the Imperial base, and from where I stand with Nakita I can see the massive landing pad and part of the complex.

We go?

Not now, but yes, we go back. Beneath me Nakita shivers and I pat her neck. I won't let them get you again.

I worry for you. You mind not handle going back. She replies, shifting slightly beneath me. It will kill you. I nod, staring down at the base a long moment.

Yes, it probably will. Come, lets go home. And take it easy this time.Nakita snorts.

You can't handle me? She asks mockingly. I grin and turn her toward the woods.

Try me you old mare.

As we near the house Nakita starts slowing down. Her sides heave and she is covered in sweat but happy after the brisk run. Nearly half a click from the house she suddenly stops.

Jedi.I frown.

What? What about him?

He is here. I scan the woods around us, but see nothing. Nakita suddenly turns, heading back into the woods on her own.

Where are you going? I ask her, studying her. Nakita is alert, both ears trained forward, head up high. She suddenly stops, dancing slightly in place.

Jedi and Talar!!! I immediately stretch my mind out, instantly picking up on the two ahead.

Go!I call to Nakita as I reach of my lightsaber under my jacket.

When we reach where Luke is, the Talar already has him down. Luke's lightsaber lies in the snow near the base of a tree, Luke on his back in the snow. The Talar stands over him, its tail moving from side to side slowly, like a content cat's as it bats at Luke. He lies prone on the ground and beneath me Nakita's ears flatten in rage.

Blood.I clip my lightsaber to my belt as the Talar turns to us.

Soon it will be his. Nakita charges forward, slamming her hooves repeatedly into the ground at the Talar, forcing it back away from Luke. I leap down between strikes, shoving at Nakita's shoulder.

Guard him! She backs down, the Talar watching as I stop a few feet away.

Don't do it. Use your weapon. Nakita sends.

I can't and you know it. I haven't fully healed yet. Just make sure to take me back. Behind me Nakita bobs her head.

I will. She replies, sounding somewhat sad. I feel a pang of guilt before I lose myself to the waiting darkness within me.

My arm instantly comes up, the dark force gathering in my hand. The Talar stares at me, looking slightly confused for a moment before the lightning hits it. Black lightning arches through the air from my hand and strikes the Talar, the smell of burning flesh and the dying screams of the Talar filling the once quiet night.

I drop my arm, staring at the burned carcass before me before turning slowly. Nakita stands over Luke, staring at me wearily. The dark force in me rages out of control, begging for release again, to kill again, anything. Nakita shies slightly as I take a step forward and she stares at me.

Samantha? Fight it.

I'm tired of fighting Nakita. I reply, turning toward the woods.

Don't go. Let me take you back. I turn back to her, using all my will to force the dark side back. I feel Nakita's mind like with me fully. Take what you need.

I fall to my knees in the snow, my entire body shaking. Before me Nakita trembles slightly. The darkness within me finally quiets, receding to the back of my mind.

Nakita, go home. Bring Leia back.

The other woman?

Yes. I will call her now. Nakita approaches me and half drags, half carries me over to where Luke is. A wound on the shoulder and a lump on the head are the only wounds I see so I sit in the snow, patting Nakita's neck as she muzzles me. Go, hurry. Get Komiak.

She-wolf is not going to be happy. I chuckle as she trots away, swiftly disappearing into the woods.

Leia. Help. Follow Nakita. I send before darkness suddenly takes me. I feel myself falling, mercifully pillowed by the snow.

Komiak...

I come awake as something brushes me, warm fur against my body. I look up to see black fur and golden eyes glaring at me.

I knew you shouldn't have gone by yourself. You always manage to get in trouble. She sends.

Luke?

He's gonna be fine. It looks like he got hit alongside the head pretty soundly but he'll be fine. Nakita brought Leia and Han and Nakita's carrying Luke and Leia back. Han's going to lift you onto my back and I'm carrying you back to the house. She explains as I feel human hands lift me.

"Easy kid, we got you now."

As Han sets me on Komiak's back I slip back into unconsciousness.

I wake as Komiak stops. Familiar barn walls surround me and I have enough presence of mind to slide off her back and onto the hay. After a second I see Komiak leaning over me in her human form now.

"Nakita's here. Just hang tight a minute and I'll get you a blanket.." I nod, watching her leave and notice Leia and Han at the door to the stall.

"Where's Luke?" I ask quietly.

"In the house. He's going to be fine." I nod, curling my body up against Nakita's warmth. A blanket is draped over me and Komiak tucks it around me.

"The pack will be staying in the barn tonight so if you need anything, call." I nod, slipping toward sleep again.

Han studies the two forms in the stall and frowns slightly.

"Will she be all right out here alone?" Komiak nods.

"She's weakened herself considerably. When she gets like this either Nakita or I have to remain with her. We act as an anchor for her. We haven't been able to figure out how it works but somehow Nakita and I can somehow anchor her to the light side, to life, basically. She'll be like this for a day or two, but that will give us time to prepare. Let's head inside and take a look at your brother." Komiak says as she wraps an arm around Leia's shoulders, pulling her away. Han makes a move to go into the stall but Komiak gives him a stern look. "Don't go in there right now. I am the only one Nakita will let in right now." Han glances back at the stall and sees Nakita pinning him with a rather intimidating stare, ears back. He nods, quickly turning and following Komiak and Leia from the barn.

I wake the next morning to a cold wet nose on my neck. I am awake instantly, staring into the dark gold eyes of one of Komiak's smaller pack members. The smaller female whines slightly and I feel Nakita shift against me.

Jedi wants to come in. Pack is keeping him out. Nakita glances at me. Allow him in? I nod and the wolf backs out. After a minute Luke appears in the stall entrance.

"May I come in?" He asks Nakita. She bobs her head and he has to chuckle slightly as he steps inside, keeping against the wall. "Leia and Komiak told me what happened. I wanted to come in and thank you."

"I am just glad we made it in time. Any later and he would have eaten you. What were you doing out there anyway?" Luke glances away, looking slightly embarrassed.

"I was looking for you." I shift against Nakita's side to look at him.

"You went looking for me? Why?" When he doesn't answer I can hear Nakita chuckling in my mind.

Jedi likes you.

You're not helping. I send. She snorts lightly behind me and I have to fight a smile despite how exhausted I am.

"So how is your head?" He seems relieved that I don't press the subject as he smiles slightly, touching the lump on his head.

"Fine." He studies me, his head down, tipped slightly to the side to study me. "How are you doing? You don't look to well." I shrug, looking away.

"I'll be fine, I just need to rest."

"You shouldn't go." I look up at him, frowning slightly.

"What?"

He's right. I smack Nakita's shoulder.

"You are not helping." Luke chuckles slightly.

"I'm just saying that Komiak knows the way. All we are going to do is find it, circle the base and gather information, then come straight back."

"Nakita knows all the paths around the base and through the mountains. If anyone should be staying behind, it's you and Leia."

"Why is that?" He asks, kneeling down near me on the hay.

"There is a Jedi at the base." I say quietly. "He would recognize you in a heartbeat as soon as you come within two clicks of that base."

"I can hide my presence, just like you did when I first saw you in the woods."

"You can't. Not against him." I pause and behind me Nakita shifts slightly, her muzzle bumping me. "He's a dark Jedi." Luke goes still.

"I thought that Darth Vader was the last." He says quietly. I shake my head.

"No, your father wasn't the last. Not by a long shot." Luke looks up at me sharply and I meet his gaze. "Yes, I know that Anakin was your father. The Jedi and the others at the base used to talk about you. They were searching for you particularly. The son of Darth Vader." I say, slightly humored.

"Did they know about me?" We both look up to see Leia standing in the open stall door. Behind me Nakita tenses, her ears going flat.

"No, they had no idea Anakin had a daughter." I reply, shifting against Nakita's side.

You go?

Yes, Inside.Nakita looks to Luke and he jerks, staring at her. After a second he nods and rises, moving to stand over me.

"You never said Nakita could talk to others."

"I didn't know." He bends down, about to slip his arm around my waist but I stop him. Nakita suddenly bumps my shoulder hard, giving me a look. I roll my eyes at her and her ears flatten.

He will help you. She states. I sigh and lift my arm, thankful that I am wearing long sleeves as he slips his arm around me, lifting me. I grip his shoulder as he leaves the stall, glancing back at Nakita. She almost looks smug as Luke carries me from the barn, Leia following.

In the house Komiak and Han are pouring over maps, barely looking up as we come in. Komiak gives me a hard look and I smile weakly and wave at her, earning a scowl before we disappear upstairs.

Luke takes me to my bedroom and Leia waits at the door as Luke sets me on the bed. I fall back onto the bed with a sigh as Luke levers my legs up onto the bed. I roll onto my side, getting comfortable on the bed as a light blanket is drawn over me.

"I'll be up in a few hours." I mumble. All I hear is an amused chuckle before sleep claims me.

Luke joins his sister in the doorway, the two of them watching the figure on the bed a moment.

"Nakita asked me to stay with her, at least until she wakes again." Luke says quietly. Leia nods.

"That horse can talk to others?" Luke nods.

"I don't think Samantha even knew." Leia nods and turns, heading toward the stairs.

"Call if you need anything." Luke nods, closing the bedroom door behind him.

I wake later on, curled up on my side facing the windows across the room. I stare out the windows, dimly noticing how dark it is outside.

Sensing another presence in the room I roll over slowly. Luke is sitting in a chair beside my bed, head bent forward as he dozes. I stare at him, my mind finding its way back to Tantooine.

In sleep he looks as young as I remember him to be.

His mind brushes mine and I watch as a slow smile curves his lips. His eyes open slowly, blue eyes fixing on me and I can't help but smile back.

"Hi." I say quietly.

"Hi. How are you feeling?" I stretch under the blankets.

"Better. You?" He nods and I glance around the dark room. "What are you doing here?"

"Nakita threatened to pummel me if I didn't stay with you tonight." I groan and roll my eyes.

"She means well, but you don't have to stay here with me. I promise she won't pummel you." Luke shrugs, shifting in his chair.

"I don't mind." I study him a long moment, then sit up slowly. Luke watches me as I let the blanket fall, revealing my spaghetti strap night shirt.

"That chair isn't comfortable enough to sleep in. Trust me, I've tried." He smiles slightly.

"The floors to cold." I work my lower lip with my teeth then reach out slowly. He studies my hand, then looks up at me.

"Share my bed." I say quietly. "Just for the night. It will be more comfortable and you need you'll need your strength for the mission. This way Nakita won't pummel you either." After a long moment he nods.

I lean back as Luke crawls onto the bed, moving to the other side of me as I lay back on my back. He lies atop the blankets, lying on his side to face me.

"I remember when we used to meet at night and just lie atop your home like this." Luke says quietly. I smile.

"The good old days." Luke chuckles.

"You are starting to sound like Han." I laugh, pretending to be insulted.

"Oh now don't even go there." He chuckles quietly, studying me.

"What are you thinking?" He asks quietly. I roll over onto my side away from him, staying quiet. Guilt eats at me, a deep regret filling me. I can feel the dark side inside me lusting for release as it feeds on my emotions.

"I can't think." I say quietly. "If I start to think, I start to hope. Hope is dangerous." I say quietly.

"Hope is all some people have."

"I cannot have hope. I cannot let any emotions rule me. Any sign of weakness, any second I let an emotion rule my thinking, my actions, the dark side of the force takes me and I lose all control."

"Is that what happened last time?" He asks quietly. I nod.

"A member of Komiak's pack was slain by a group of Imperial troops. They tortured the poor animal for hours. When I finally found them the wolf cub was already dead." I stare off at the dark wall near me, seeing the horrible sight of the mutilated body of the pup hanging from a tree branch.

"I let my anger get the best of me. I lost all control." I shiver slightly as the memories flash through my mind. "I can still feel the feeling of every life around me dying. Komiak finally managed to bring me back. She attacked me, somehow managing to knock me out before I could attack her."

"The dark side feeds on emotions such as anger, greed, jealousy, but it is the person that allows the dirk side to take control, not the dark side itself."

"I have been fighting the darkness for over ten years now." I say quietly. "I don't want to fight anymore. I am a danger to everyone around me."

"After this mission is done I will stay. I can help you find a way." I roll over quickly to face him.

"No. I don't want you anywhere around me after this." The hurt in his eyes is immediately apparent and I bite my lip. "You can't help me Luke." I whisper. He continues to study me, his blue eyes weakening my will against him.

"What's going to happen?" I close my eyes.

"After the mission, when I am sure that you are off planet, I am taking Nakita up into the mountains, as far away from any civilization I can get. Komiak and the pack will follow, but at a distance. I will end it."

"How?"

"Luke..."

"Tell me how." He says quietly, firmly.

"I will end Nakita's life then my own. Nakita cannot survive without me. She made this decision when I made mine."

"Why have Komiak follow?"

"If I somehow cannot finish it, I have asked Komiak to end my life." He stares at me a long moment, his brow knitting slightly.

"You speak as if it does not concern you that you are talking about ending your own life." I smile slightly.

"I have had time to accept the fact that I must end my life. It is the only way I can end my life without taking others around me with me."

"What will happen to Komiak?"

"She will get this house, all that I own. What she decides to do after that is her own business." I feel a touch on my arm just then, fingertips sliding up my arm to my shoulder. Looking down quickly I see that Luke has gloves on. The soft leather of his gloves brushes my skin as he cups my cheek in his hand.

"Can't I do anything?" He asks quietly. I sigh, about to pull away but he stops me.

"Luke, please..."

"We were friends once, weren't we?" I nod.

"Yes, we were, but that was a long time ago."

"Then for the friendship we once had, let me do this at least." He whispers. I close my eyes as his fingers caress my cheek and I nod. I feel him shift closer to me, the blanket between us as he pulls me against him. I rest my head on his shoulder, the soft warm cloth of his shirt smelling of him. His arms slide around me, encasing me in his warmth.

Within me I feel the dark side of the force beginning to surge to the surface, but suddenly the other half of me is there, the light side driving back the darkness. I look up to see Luke's face just inches from mine, his blue eyes smiling. Something within me urges me forward, and I shift against him, not even thinking twice as I press my lips to his. The light side of me suddenly floods me, and for a second there is no dark side, there is no worry, or sadness, or guilt. There is no end...there is just Luke. And for that moment, I feel whole.

Well? How do you like it so far? I would love to know. I'll keep going, but I would like opinions.