Hope Denied
Chapter Two
A lone X-wing limped into a hanger on the planet Mon Calamari. A small delegation of aliens awaited him, their fishy faces grave. The cockpit hatch slowly lifted and the pilot pulled off his helmet. He discarded it in the seat before he dropped to the ground. His face was lined with exhaustion and streaked with tears.
"Captain Antilles," the head Mon Cal greeted.
Wedge nodded, "Admiral Ackbar, I would say it's a pleasure, but..."
"We feel your loss, Captain. However, not all hope for the Rebellion has been lost," the admiral responded, "Come with me."
Wearily, Wedge trailed after the group. After they entered a briefing room, he sank down into a chair, stretching out his legs and disregarding proper policy. He was too tired--both in body and spirit--to care.
"We have recently begun the production of a new ship called a Star Cruiser. They would have the military power to defeat a Star Destroyer," as Ackbar spoke, he punched a button and an image of a large, circular ship appeared. Schematics began to flash along the screen, what they contained enough to make Wedge straighten in his chair. The Mon Cal added, "With a fleet of these and careful tactical planning, we just might be able to defeat the Empire after all."
The lone human slumped again.
"What about the Death Star? The Empire could just wipe out Mon Calamari now, before it builds enough firepower to create a serious threat," he said.
Ackbar's round eyes fixed on Wedge.
"That, Captain, is where you will come in," he stated.
The human let out a sigh.
I could really use you right about now, Luke, he thought.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Is he awake yet?" Vader asked as he stalked into the medical bay.
"Not yet, Lord Vader, though I anticipate him awakening any time now," the med droid reported.
He nodded, head lowering to study the limp figure restrained on the bed. The Rebel's flightsuit had been stripped off him, but the regulation shirt and pants he wore beneath it gave no clue to his identity. He did not possess any sort of i.d. and the none of the databases could match his photo. This told Vader that he was a new recruit, probably from a backworld.
He had conducted a surface scan of the pilot's mind, but the only residual memories outside his mind were too clouded by pain to be of any use. In an attempt to shield his emotions from the blow they had received, the Rebel's mind had all but blocked off his feelings from his memories. Had the Rebel possessed less Force talent, Vader would have risked assaulting his mental defenses. But any attempt to do that with this prisoner would likely end up throwing Vader across the room. Thus, out of other options, he had to wait for the pilot to wake.
The Sith lord hated waiting.
He turned his head as Grand Moff Tarkin walked into the room. The tall, thin man halted at his side, surveying the captive through narrowed eyes.
"Still hasn't regained consciousness?" he asked.
"No," Vader answered.
There was a short silence, broken only by the rhythmic sound of the Sith lord's breathing and--oddly similar--the rushing of the air mask over the Rebel's face. He folded his hands behind his back, pacing over to the young man.
"The Rebellion is no threat to us anymore, so I see no reason not to terminate him," the Moff said.
"I want him kept alive," the dark-caped man responded firmly.
Something about this boy haunted him. Vader was certain that he had never met him before, but he seemed so familiar. He had only mentioned the captive in passing when reporting to the Emperor, nothing about how powerful the boy had the potential to become. It was the first time he had ever intentionally avoided telling his master something.
"Very well, Lord Vader," Tarkin said
The Sith returned his attention to his captive, ignoring Tarkin as he left the hospital room. His gaze sharpened at a subtle change in the boy's breathing. He waited a moment longer before probing at his mind. The young man's mind was shut tight to him now, not even the vaguest hint of surface memories for him to look through. He withdrew the Force tendril.
"I know you're awake," he said.
His captive's chest stilled, then those blue eyes opened reluctantly. The boy's hands flexed against the cuffs which restrained them.
"What is your name?" Vader asked.
The young man looked away from him, scanning the medbay. Vader frowned in annoyance. He was not used to being ignored. His fist started to tighten, then he thought better of it. He did not want to strangle the boy before he even learned who he was.
"There is no one left to betray, young one. Your silence will help no one," he continued.
The boy met his gaze, with only the slightest hint of fear showing in his eyes. The majority of the emotions he was emitting were consumed by anger.
"You will learn nothing from me willingly, Vader," he spat.
The Sith actually smiled behind his mask, not that this Rebel would ever know.
"I sense much anger in you," he said as he walked closer. His gloved hand grasped the boy's chin, forcing him to meet his gaze as he added cruelly, "You are not too different from me when I was your age."
The Rebel jerked his chin away, blue eyes flashing.
"I'm nothing like you!" he growled.
Vader was content to let the boy think he had won this round. Whether he knew it or not, he had given the Sith lord valuable information just by his reactions. There would be many more battles to come, which Vader intended to win. He was looking forward to the fight this boy would put up.
"Rest while you can. I will be back soon and I will expect answers then," he said as he left the medical bay.
He glanced back over his shoulder. The Rebel had closed his eyes again, but distress was leaking out of him like energy from a ruptured power cell. This was going to be most enjoyable.
Thanks to everyone who left me such positive responses! I'm glad to see that you are enjoying the idea. Below I'm goin to answer some questions reviewers left me, so if you don't want to read those, I want to thank you for reading this chapter. Please leave me a review (as short or long as you want) and let me know what you thought of this chapter!
BrokenAvenger21: Well, Luke certainly isn't beginning the story with the intention of joining the Dark Side. We'll have to see what happens!
Greatstar: Hope this chapter answered some of your questions about Wedge's fate. It's a good thing X-wings are equipped with hyperdrives. n.n
Kyle Zak: It is my intention to bring more Force powers/lightsaber duels into the story. Right now, however, Luke has only had a few days of training so he is decidedly lacking in skill. I hope to see that change as this story goes on.
To everyone who disliked the idea of Leia dying...I didn't like it either! But then I didn't like it when Lucas blew up Alderaan and Baal Organa. The sad fact of life is that it is pretty hard to escape the destruction of an entire planet. I hope you guys will still continue to read the story, though!