I Am Me: Dark Angel
By Serena Kenobi
Author's Notes: Once again, thanks so much to my reviewers!! PippinBaggins in particular, for she has placed Elena, Keira, Bece, and Mara in her fantastic mutant Jedi story "Spectre." I HIGHLY encourage everyone who likes this series to check out her story, it's really, really good!! A different take on the mutant Jedi theme, and it's wonderful. Go read it if you like this! Oh, and Pippin, it's funny you should say something about Padme and the bounty hunter thing in this story... I actually had planned it something like that, lol! I don't think it'll be like that, but maybe something similar. We'll see..
ALSO!! Super Tinfoil Man Part 2 (welcome back!!!) asked me which power Elena used to heal her father. Well, it's kind of a combination of telepathic power, plus using Wolverine's healing powers, and Rouge's, to mush them all together. But instead of taking powers from someone else, Elena's tranferring her powers, i. e. healing, to someone else. Hope that clears it up.
Disclaimer: Any time Lucas wants to borrow Elena, he can ask me first. All the rest is his. I also don't own Darcy aka Spectre. I don't know when I'll mention him in the story, but I know I will. He is owned by PIPPIN BAGGINS!!!
Angel: (looks on as the Sith flounder around in the water and smirks) Well, I'm feeling better after doing that!
Arie: If they survive this ordeal, I'm gonna pour nail polish and shampoo into their eyes.
(Sith manage to get out of the water)
Arie: THAT'S IT!! I'm goin' in, people!!
Pippin: Have fun! (waves)
Back to the real story!
Chapter 10
"We will have to keep this from the Emperor," Anakin said sternly, "If he finds out, the results could be disastrous."
Elena nodded as they walked swiftly down a corridor. "You'll have to wear your suit out in public still… and when you pass anyone else, too. We can't risk anyone else seeing you without it on."
Anakin shook his head. "Shame," he remarked remorsefully. "I hate that blasted suit. It takes so long to get in and out of."
Elena gave him a sideways glance. "I think I might be able to help you with that," she spoke up. "I could try and create a device that would morph you from your normal self back into your suit in seconds, and vice versa."
"How would you do that?" Anakin questioned. He was garbed in all black, but his frame was slightly smaller without the bulky suit.
She furrowed her eyebrows. "Well, if I could somehow transfer some of my power into a small device, it would morph you back. I can't really explain it, so bear with me."
"I'll try," Anakin replied, mouth twitching upwards. "Though I doubt I'll ever understand how you came to be able to copy comic book hero's powers… when no other Jedi or Sith, or any person, ever has before."
Elena shrugged. "Well, I guess I'm a one of a kind person, then," she lied. "I suppose it's because you were created purely by the Force... I think that has something to do with it."
Anakin nodded in agreement. "It would make sense."
When they reached a control room, Anakin instantly got back to work on a report, but reveled in the feeling of clean air against his face. He absently ran his hands through his hair again, noticing that Elena was grinning up to her ears. He cleared his throat. "What?" he asked, trying to regain some dignity.
She shook her head slightly. "For almost four years I never saw your face or heard your real voice… and now…" It was too much, and she broke down in tears, trying desperately to muffle some of the sobs with a hand. She turned around, ashamed of her behavior.
Anakin stared at her for a minute, unsure of what to do. He had not actually touched someone in over seventeen years. Slowly, he walked over to her, and cautiously put an arm around her. "It's going to be okay," he said quietly.
Elena didn't reply but wrapped her arms around him, crying into his shirt. He then put another arm up and began stroking her hair, trying to comfort her. It was a non-Sith moment for Vader. At that second, he wasn't a Sith. He wasn't the second to the Emperor. He wasn't a commander of Imperial forces, either.
He was just a father.
Eventually Elena released herself from him, wiping her eyes. "Sorry about that breakdown," she whispered.
"It was understandable," Anakin calmly replied, gathering himself back together. "Come, I think it is time that you went to bed."
She nodded and left the room.
The next morning, Elena used her powers to create the device she had been talking about. It had been tricky and slightly painful, and it involved a blood sample, but it was worth it. As Vader went to his room, he found it with a note on a datapad that read:
This is the device. I strongly suggest you wear it at all times. You only need to press this button here, and you will change into the form that you're not in at present. It will only take you a few seconds. Put it on your wrist, so it will be easy to access. Good luck, and mtFbwy.
Elena
Vader stared at the last sentence. What did that mean? It was rather odd, but he figured that it was probably some random teenager good luck sentence or something. He took the device, attached it to his wrist, and pressed the button. He immediately morphed back into his non-suit clad self. Staring at himself in the mirror, he thanked the Force that he had a daughter who could do something like that.
A son would have been nice, too, he thought absently.
A few weeks passed. Things went as normal as they usually did… except for Elena and Vader. Since Vader… or Anakin, as Elena preferred to think of him when not wearing the suit, was beginning to feel more comfortable with his revived appearance, he would join Elena in a private living room that housed a holoproj, some hologames, and other entertainment things. It became their hideaway when Anakin didn't have the suit on.
Elena was beginning to have some real hope that Vader would turn back to the Light Side. There were still days, however, when she saw on the holo-news reports of Vader capturing Rebels, or when she heard from Captain Piett that he had Force-choked another officer who didn't meet his standards. When that would happen, she would become a bit depressed, but still didn't lose hope.
She had to stay strong. Not only for herself, but also for the rest of her family. She couldn't afford to have a mental breakdown.
On one occasion, around three weeks after Elena had healed Vader; she was dueling with Luke and Leia and talking to them about the situation.
"I know he's not fully changed, and he still kills people, but there's got to be some hope, right? Ah, nice block bro," she grunted, clashing lightsabers with her brother.
Luke nodded, pulling back to gather some power. "This is such a good sign," he replied, "I think we still have hope with him… trust the Force and our own instincts, and we're good."
Leia spoke up suddenly, "It's odd. I never thought of Vader… or Anakin, as being such a young man like that."
"So you got the holo images I sent you?" Elena asked, flipping in the air.
Leia nodded. "Yeah. They're in one of my secret files. I also got the ones you have of Mother. Thanks, it means a lot to me."
"No problem."
"Of course, I never pictured him as my father." Leia shook her head absently.
"And what do you think now?" Elena said, swinging around, "Do you acknowledge him as your father now?"
Slowly, Leia began to nod. "I will not deny it," she replied quietly. "I have searched my feelings and know it's true. Even if he's still a Sith Lord, I guess he still deserves a second chance. Maybe."
Luke and Elena knew firsthand how hard it must have been for Leia to admit that openly, and they paused, feeling both love and pride towards their sister.
However, without warning, right in front of Elena, appeared Mara Jade. Elena halted in mid strike and stared at her friend, who was blinking, stunned, and disoriented. She frantically turned around to see her surroundings, mouth open.
Leia and Luke were also staring at the Emperor's Hand, and it was a few seconds before Mara actually noticed them.
"What… what in Vader's blasted name is going on here?" Mara shrieked wildly, green eyes flashing.
"That's almost exactly what I said," Leia muttered, both annoyed and confused at the sudden appearance of Mara. She then sighed shortly, rubbing her forehead. "Mara, I know this is a bit of a shock, but you need to calm down, okay?" Her politician instincts began to kick in.
"What is she doing here?" Elena grumbled, "Now she'll know what's going on, I and really didn't want that to happen..."
Luke, on the other hand, was gazing at Mara, unabashed. "Who is she?" he asked, completely in awe. "She's beautiful!"
Elena rolled her eyes. "I've told you about her before… she's my best friend from back home..."
Mara turned to them, still in complete distress. "Elena, what is going on, where am I, and who is he?" she pointed at Luke, glaring at the both of them heatedly.
Elena groaned and began, "Mara, I need to know if I can trust you to keep a secret."
"What makes you think I'm not trustworthy?" Mara shot back, "You're like a sister to me, and you know it. I won't tell anyone; just tell me what's going on! You had better tell me everything right now, or so help me I'll… I'll…"
Luke raised an eyebrow, amused. "You'll what?"
Mara shot him an evil look. It didn't faze him.
Elena opened her mouth, closed it, and opened it again. "All right. You want to know what's going on? You really do? Well, fine! You're in a Force vision, and this is my sister, Leia and my brother, Luke. We're triplets, and we're all helping each other to learn about the ways of the Force. Satisfied?" She shouted, suddenly raising her voice.
Mara took a step back, startled. Luke and Leia were also surprised at Elena's sudden irate behavior.
"Elena..." Luke started, "Remember, there is no passion, there is serenity..."
"Yeah, yeah," Elena interrupted, "There is no death, there is the Force. I just needed to do that."
Mara eyed Luke. "Where are you from?" she asked stiffly.
Luke glanced at Elena for conformation, and the youngest Skywalker nodded, defeated. "The planet that is farthest from the center of the galaxy," he replied dryly, crossing his arms over his chest. "My uncle runs a moisture farm."
"Farmboy, huh?" Mara said, raising an eyebrow.
Luke clenched his teeth. "Sort of," he retorted tightly. "Why? You have a problem with them?"
"No, just asking," Mara returned. "Are you older than Elena?"
"As Elena just said, we're triplets," Leia added. "Luke came first, then me, then Elena. Listen, you're not going to tell anyone, right, Mara?"
Mara nodded slowly, still staring at Luke suspiciously. "No. Does your father know about all this? Wait, do you two even know who your father is?" she demanded, glaring at Luke.
"Yes," Luke snapped. "We know. We're not as ignorant as you seem to think."
Peas in a pod, Elena thought to herself, smirking. This could work out better than I had thought. "So Mara, why don't you tell Luke a little bit more about yourself?"
"Why should I?" the red-haired assassin sniffed.
Elena rolled her eyes and shoved her towards a chair. "Don't get that attitude with me, Mara Jade, cause it's not going to work. Come on, let's all sit down and talk like civilized human beings."
The others took a seat on the patio and began to chat. Luke and Mara argued quite a bit. In fact, the only they were doing was fighting with one another. Leia and Elena gave each other looks as the assassin and the Farmboy continued in their heated discussion.
"What would you know about hyperdrives?" Mara shouted, "You're just a Farmboy living who knows where!"
"I know a lot, thank you very much," Luke shot back in annoyance, "I've spent lots of time working on ships, and I get my piloting skills from my father."
Mara just rolled her eyes and snorted. "Sure, Skywalker."
"I have a name, you know, Jade," Luke retorted, glaring at her. "Why don't you use it."
"Maybe I don't feel like it," she answered.
Elena sighed. "Hey, I have an idea," she spoke up suddenly, wanting to stop the argument. "You two should spar. See what each other's weaknesses and strengths are. I'm guessing we're going to be meeting quite frequently from now on."
Mara and Luke glanced at one another before shrugging.
"Fine with me," Luke said evenly, standing up and drawing out his lightsaber.
"You're on, Skywalker," Mara muttered, igniting her purple blade. The two circled each other for a moment before their lightsabers clashed. Mara leapt out at Luke, driving him back for a minute before he began to take control. Their skills in dueling were about even, but Luke had a much greater Force presence. Using his metal power, he suddenly wrenched the lightsaber out of Mara's hand and brought it into his own. She stared at him.
"How did you…." She began.
Luke turned to Elena. "I'm realizing that you didn't tell Miss Assassin here about our powers before, did you?" he accused.
Elena shuffled her feet and mumbled, "Well, it was for our own safety," she grumbled. "I didn't know if I could trust her or not."
Mara narrowed her eyes and took a menacing step towards Elena. "Is this is about your crazy healing powers that you refuse to tell me about?" she demanded, putting her hands on her hips.
"Just healing powers?" Leia quipped, observing her lightsabers carefully.
Mara was confused. "What are you talking about?" she wondered, bewildered.
"Look, we can also copy comic book superhero's powers," Elena added, knowing that it was useless to keep the powers a secret anymore. Showing off one of her powers, she ignited her hand, and it burst into flame. Mara's jaw dropped as she stared, wide-eyed.
"Oh Force," she stammered, stepping back. " But… but… how can you do that!" she exclaimed.
Elena shrugged and turned her hand icy, the hand crackling as she balled it into a fist and stretched it back out. "We don't know, but we're the only ones who can do it," she continued. "Sith lightning can't even hurt us. Watch. Luke, if you please."
Luke nodded and struck her with a huge blast of lightning, using Dr. Doom's powers. It just ran up and down her body, dissipating into tiny electrical currents.
Elena simply smiled and watched as the currents ran up and down her hand. "Can't fight lightning with lightning," she grinned.
Mara merely stared, in complete shock, while Leia and Luke chuckled.
"Bravo," Leia remarked, taking a sip of water.
Mara was silent for a moment. "This secret is very important, isn't it," she stated slowly.
"You bet your life," Luke replied gravely. "If anyone finds out about me or Leia, it's pretty much over for us."
"But you're more powerful than the Emperor," Mara protested, "Why are all of you afraid of being discovered?"
The triplets were silent.
Leia finally spoke, "Because if we don't control our emotions, we could be turned to the Dark Side. Look what happened to our father, and he's not even a mutant. We can't take that risk right now. Plus, the Emperor could kill off all our families, labeling them as traitors."
Mara glanced to the others. "I understand. But now that I know your secret, no more lies, got it?"
Luke fought to maintain his patience. "Mara Jade, this secret shouldn't be taken lightly."
"Don't get all high and mighty on me, Farmboy," she rejoined, whirling around and sitting back down. Luke's self-satisfied grin continued to stay on his face as he leaned against a short rock wall.
Leia gave Elena a sideways glance, and her sister just rolled her eyes.
"I think all of us are going to get along pretty well," Leia remarked. Elena nodded agreeably, but Mara just glared at Luke, who continued to smirk at her.
"Welcome to the Skywalker family, Mara," Leia said, smiling and sticking out her hand.
Mara raised an eyebrow. "Is that supposed to be a good thing or a bad thing?" she questioned.
"Both," Luke cut in. Mara decidedly ignored him and shook Leia's hand firmly.
Elena glanced out at the large mountains in the distance, feeling a change in the balance of the Force.
Things were certainly getting interesting.
I hope everyone enjoyed that chapter. Won't know unless you review, hint, hint!! Thanks for reading!
MtFbwy!
Serena Kenobi
