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 Thirteen

The Way It Should Be

Komiak suddenly romps forward, tongue lolling out as she and the pack race ahead. Even Nakita picks up her pace and behind me Han frowns.

"What's gotten into them?" I chuckle as I watch the wolves weave in and out of the trees.

"We're home." Even as I speak the house appears ahead of us in the trees.

We tie the horses to the front porch railing and being unloading the supplies. As Han, Leia, and Luke take them inside the house Komiak and I lead the horses to the barn.

I have to duck out of Nakita's stall hurriedly, laughing as hay sprays up into the air as the mare rolls in the hay. The other horses are a bit more subdued but obviously happy to be back home. I turn to leave the barn and Komiak stops me.

"Nakita told me, Samantha." I stop and turn slowly. Komiak stares at me, no anger or sadness on her face. She keeps her face carefully blank, waiting.

"Told you what?" I ask, grinning. Komiak glowers then and I sigh. "Yes, I kind of thought she would."

"How could you even consider this!" Komiak suddenly yells. I don't flinch at her high pitched voice though the throbbing in my head worsens.

"They let us escape." This stops her.

"What?"

"Us escaping? It was all part of their plan. They knew if I developed more though the light side of the force, it would make me stronger then I was before. So they let us escape, the three of us. They've known where we are the whole time. They were just waiting for me."

"How do you know this?"

"I spoke with Commander Croviack at the base as well as that white female Talar. That female was actually created to be Nakita's replacement." Komiak simply stares at me a long moment, then her eyes darken in rage. She lets out a scream and punches the nearest wall support, causing the entire wall to shake.

"Damn them!! This has all been a sick joke to them!" She yells, her fists pounding the wood over and over again. I wait, silent, until her rage subsides. She stands absolutely still, her chest heaving as she looks at me. "There's got to be something we can do." I nod.

"There is, and I'm going to do it." She stares at me a long moment.

"I'm not going to like this, am I?" I shake my head.

"You scatter the pack, just for a while. You and Nakita leave the planet with Han, Luke and Leia. I will return to the base with Croviack and the female. Their base has to be underground. I never say any hint of activity aboveground while I was at the base. I will let myself turn and do everything I can to destroy that base. Give me six months, then come back. If I somehow fail, contact Luke and the others and tell them. The Republic can handle it from there."

"There has to be another way." I shake my head and turn, heading for the barn door.

"No, there isn't. Croviack and the female will be here tonight. We have to get them to leave before then."

As we enter the house Han, Leia, and Luke all look up from where they are scattered around the living area.

"We just contacted Mon Mothma and reported in. She wants us back soon. Apparently there is some trouble with some delegates from Yavin 4 making a ruckus about the jedi base there."

"You should leave planet in the morning. It will be easier to slip out undetected that way. You should all take the horses and head into town tonight so you can make it in time." Komiak says, glancing at the windows. "I will guide you there." Luke frowns, turning to me.

"Samantha?" I smile slightly.

"You guys would have to leave at some point. Now would be best. Komiak can take you. I need to rest up after this trip." I glance out the windows as well. "You might want to hurry, to make time before the sunsets." Luke is about to say something but I turn, heading up the stairs to my room.

Upstairs I immediately strip down, heading for the bathroom. After changing into some loose fitting clothing I pause in the bathroom doorway.

Luke is sitting on the edge of the bed, hands clasped and head down. He doesn't look up as I walk softly toward him.

"Luke?"

"Leia, Han, and Komiak are loading the packs." He says quietly. I stay back, clasping my hands behind my back. "We will leave once they are done." His head rises slowly, turning to look at me. The sadness in his eyes strikes me.

"Luke..."

"I'll never see you again, will I?" He asks quietly. I shake my head, moving forward as Luke extends his hand to me. I ignore his hand, instead moving to stand before him. He looks up at me as I rest my hands on his shoulders.

"It's better this way Luke." I whisper. He shakes his head, suddenly wrapping his arms around me and pulling me against him. He rests his head against my middle, clinging to me like a small child to it's mother.

"How can I let you stay here and die alone?" He asks quietly. "Come back with me. The medical units on the capitol. We could find a way..."

"Luke, listen to me." He stops and I drop down to my knees before him. "Ever since I was taken, my life has been nothing but a series of medical experiments. I am what I am today because of it. I have finally become able to break free of that. I would rather die as I am now then extend my life by returning to the life of experimentation."

"I don't want to walk away from you." He whispers.

"It's all you can do." I reply.

We stare at each other a long moment, then suddenly Luke's hands slide up my arms and neck to thread into my hair. His gloves are soft against my scalp and I can't help but close my eyes. I feel him draw closer to me and I open my eyes as his lips brush mine.

An image flashes through my mind, the white Talar standing patiently in the woods not far away. I draw away from Luke slowly, reluctantly, as the task ahead of me surfaces in my mind. I release him, pulling myself from his grasp and I close my self down inside. I turn my back to him as the walls around my heart slam into place like the shutting of a prison door.

"Goodbye Luke." I say quietly.

Behind me I hear him rise and I close my eyes, praying that he won't touch me, knowing above all else that one simple touch would be my undoing.

I hear him pause behind me, but after a moment his footfalls continue on, followed by the quiet shutting of the door.

Only then do I let the first tears fall.

As the sun sets I slide on my cloak, pausing to close the door quietly behind me. It closes with a resounding click and I hesitate, the sound only making my heart sink lower. Luke and the other had gone not long ago, even now I can sense them in the woods not far from here.

Looking up I see the female standing near the tree line, Croviack near her. They both watch me, waiting, and I understand. They want me to make the first move.

Resolved, I step off the porch.

Komiak has been silent the entire time since we left. Luke thinks to himself, studying Nakita's bobbing head before him. Nakita, what's going on?

The mare pauses in mid step and glances back at him.

Nothing is wrong, Jedi. It is as it should be. Luke stares at her, baffled.

What are you talking about? Are you talking about us leaving or Samantha? At the sound of her name the mare stops dead in her tracks. The other two horses behind her stop as well and Luke shushes Han and Leia's questions. What's going on Nakita? You know something.

It is her time. Nakita whispers. Luke's spine goes ridged.

What?

It is her time to go. Nakita replies. Luke turns in his saddle, casting his senses back toward the house. After a long moment he picks up Samantha's presence, but the twin orbs of the dark side of the force draw his attention. After a second it dawns on him what is happening and he curses, leaping down from Nakita's back.

"Samantha NO!" He yells, running as fast as he can back through the woods.

"I am here, as promised." I say, stopping just shy of them. Croviack nods as the female steps forward, head high.

I shall carry you back to base.

I nod, about ready to mount when a yell cuts through the air.

"Samantha don't!" I stop, eyes wide. I hear Croviack turn and curse and I keep my back to him as I hear Luke call my name again. "Samantha!" I glance up at the white female and she nods. Suddenly the darkness within me expands, overtaking me and I let myself go.

"Stay back!" I yell, my voice amplified by the force. Behind me Luke skids to a halt, lightsaber in hand. I turn and nearly lose control of the dark side of the force in me. Luke stands before me, lightsaber blazing, the pain in his eyes clear to all. I stalk forward a short ways, standing just behind Croviack. "Leave Luke." I say quietly, my hands trembling as the lighting around them builds.

"Saman..."

"I'll kill you Luke. You know I can." I say, cutting him off. Before me I see Croviack's hand slip down toward his blaster.

Suddenly the rest of the group appears in the trees behind Luke and Croviack curses.

"Damn you Skywalkers!" He suddenly curses. Luke doesn't look back, simply watching me. I glare back at him, but the light side of the force within me fights back the darkness. Suddenly he looks away.

"We're taking Samantha with us."

"No." I state before Croviack can say anything. "I told you Luke, this is the way it will be. Now leave."

"I'm not going to let you just give yourself to them." He argues. I lift one hand, Luke not even flinching as the lighting strikes the ground near his feet.

"Leave." I growl. Beside me Croviack smiles.

"I believe she wants to come with us. Leave now, Skywalker, before I change my mind and break our deal." Luke frowns.

"Deal?"

"She knew that the base was there. She just said there wasn't and led you guys back so you all could get off planet safely. In return for letting you go, we get her back." Through the force I feel Luke's anger practically explode and Croviack grips his blaster.

"I won't let you." Luke states flatly. Croviack smiles slightly and suddenly the blaster is up in the air, aimed right for Luke. He has no time to react as Croviack's finger twitches.

I leap forward, slamming into Luke hard as the blaster fires. I hit him hard enough that both of us go skidding back a few feet.

Luke stares up at me from where he lies on the ground. I am lying atop him, slightly to one side.

"Samantha?" I smile a little, fighting to stay conscious. The wound in my back screams and my vision blurs.

"Get out of here Luke." I whisper to him. "It's over for me. Please, go." I manage before sliding to the side and onto the ground. Luke leans over me, and I feel his hand touch my wound briefly. "Go." I whisper to him. He stares down at me a long moment, the indecision in his eyes evident before he bows his head, nodding.

He rises and Croviack simply holsters his blaster as Luke flicks off his lightsaber, turning away and walking quietly into the woods.

Croviack kneels down beside me, brushing hair from my face. I stare up at him, finding it hard to keep my eyes open.

"Are they gone?" I whisper. Croviack nods as the female Talar stands over us both.

"They're gone."

Let me heal you. The female sends. I stare up at her and she smiles. The she-wolf is threatening to skin me alive and feed me to her wolves if I do not. I like my hide where it is.

Just keep me alive long enough to get back to base. I murmur to her. I'll take care of it from there.

I just now realized that the heading on the chapters is different from the story title. please forgive me for that. i'm a full time college student and some things slip past me every now and then.

hope you enjoy so far! One more chapter to go!