Executor: In orbit above Ord Mantel: One Week Later:
Vader stood on the Command Bridge of the Executor in eager anticipation.
After three years of careful planning and hard work, he was finally on the verge of capturing his son. Thanks to Jix and his three years of dedicated investigating, he was finally going to have his son in his grasp.
Once he had Luke captured, He could turn him to the Dark Side and together the two of them would fulfill their destinies together.
He smiled in anticipation of the coming days. In the future, He would rule the Galaxy with his son at his side. He would have Padme at his side and she would never run from him again. He would have Leia at his side along with Vima. The Skywalker family would rule the Galaxy for Thousands of years because of his efforts and his twenty two years of war that he had fought for his family.
At that moment, Admiral Piett approached him, "Sir it Looks as though they are in fact entering the system."
Vader nodded, "I am concealing my Force presence. Once I land, he will sense me but it will be to late. Prepare my shuttle. Have a squad of Stormtroopers on standby. I don't want to use them for anything aside from containing him once I capture him."
"Understood my Lord and I also will have your Speeder onboard the shuttle."
Vader smiled, "Admiral what would I do without you?"
Piett smiled, "Me sir?"
Vader nodded, "The reason I have never eliminated you is because you actually can do your job. You're certainly my favorite when it comes to those that serve me. You actually can do a good job without me hanging over your shoulder and you speak your mind when I ask you to instead of saying what I want to hear."
Piett nodded as Vader spoke, "You have the bridge Admiral."
"Understood my Lord."
Piett frowned as Vader left, What kind of man makes plans to take his own son prisoner? Or has a prison cell on an Imperial Star Destroyer specially prepared so that his own son can't escape? What is wrong with this Man?
What Vader did, didn't sit well with him. He saw good in the Dark Lord but the man needed to change his ways if he wanted his family. Being the monster that he was would eternally prevent him from having his family together. If only he realized that, thought Piett.
Vader smiled as he entered the Hanger Bay. He looked at the young Officer who stood before him, "We are ready for take off on your orders sir."
"Good, have the men set their weapons for stun. I will be heading after the target on my own."
"Understood Sir," replied the Officer as Vader boarded the shuttle.
Ord Mantel:
Han Solo brought the Millennium Falcon into the atmosphere of Ord Mantel without any incident. The week of rest that him and Luke had been given had gone by fast and it seemed almost as if they hadn't even had the week off because of the assignments that they had been bombarded with the moment that they were restored back to duty.
He smiled as he looked at Luke who was at his side.
"Well kid, Are you ready to meet some Smugglers?"
Luke nodded with a smile on his face, "I certainly am. That is if they have what we need."
"I already got in touch with the one that we're dealing with and he's got all of the stuff that we need."
Luke nodded in silence.
As the Falcon landed in the Hanger bay, Luke noticed a large middle aged man with several tattoos and a large beard that was waiting for them.
Just as they landed, Luke noticed Han speak, "The man outside is the one. He's just gonna load our ship up right from the Hanger Bay."
Luke nodded in silence as the ramp of the ship lowered.
He followed Han out of the ship and towards the waiting smuggler.
Han smiled, "You have the cargo ready Pal?"
"I do Captain Solo. Have your Wookiee Load up."
Han nodded as Luke spoke, "Another thing, Do you know anything about where we could find some Tibanna gas?"
The man stroked his beard and spoke, "You're in luck. There is some lady smuggler that is in the cantina right now. She says she has some extra left overs from her last run. She is offering them to the highest bidder. If you are quick enough you can catch her."
Luke nodded, "I will take care of this, Han you go find her."
Han nodded, "What's her name?"
"Don't ask, nobody knows, She is just known for her black jumpsuit and black veil. No one has ever seen her face. Believe me, you can't miss her."
Han nodded, "Aright kid I will be back."
Luke nodded as Han left.
Luke then probed the man's mind as Chewie secured the cargo on the Falcon and quickly determined that the Man would not intentionally endanger the Alliance.
He looked at the man and spoke, "I am going to get your credits."
The man nodded as Luke left.
Han walked inside of the Spaceport Cantina and, scanned the room.
It didn't take long for him to find the woman that he was looking for. He saw her sitting at a table with her veil still covering her face. He noticed her dark eyes lock onto him the moment that he approached her.
"Can I help you Captain Solo?"
Han frowned, "Uh? How do you know my name?"
the woman merely stared at him and spoke, "I am sure that the entire Galaxy knows your name. It seems like every time that I watch the Holonet I see your wanted Poster alongside Skywalker's. Don't worry you are safe with me. What can I do for you?"
Han frowned, This woman didn't seem like your typical smuggler he thought in silence with her soft voice and calm manner. She didn't even appear to be drinking.
Han frowned, "I don't seem to remember ever meeting or hearing about you. I mean..."
His words trailed off as the woman spoke,"It doesn't matter if you did or didn't know me or who I am. Now do you want the cargo or not?"
"Yeah for certain sister, How much do you have?"
"I have four Blocks of Tibanna gas. I will return to the Hanger with you and Give Skywalker a price. Then, you can take it. That is if you wish to."
Han nodded, "I certainly wish to."
Han then turned as the Woman stood up at his side.
The two of them immediately headed towards the Hanger.
Luke watched as Han entered the Hanger with a veiled woman who was casually following him.
He looked at the woman and noticed a blaster strapped on each hip along with what he could tell were grenades and darts. The woman no doubt, was armed to the hilt. At the same time, he felt something through the Force. There was something familiar about this woman. It was as if he was supposed to know her from somewhere. In fact he felt as though he knew her yet he couldn't place where he had met her.
He watched as the Woman's eyes locked onto him. He could swear that he had seen those brown eyes before.
As he looked at the woman, he probed her emotions, He sensed something in her.
She was guarding her emotions fairly well. It was as though she was trying to control herself for some mysterious reason.
He sensed something that shocked him, He sensed longing, Love and affection as well as horrible pain and grief. He could sense heartache and loss in the woman's soul.
What was she longing for?
Luke frowned, "Greetings, I am to understand that you have some Tibanna Gas that you're willing to see us."
"Correct Jedi Skywalker," replied the Woman in a soft voice. She sounded as though she was about to start crying just at the sight of him.
Luke then spoke, "And your name is?"
"Don't worry about it. My name doesn't matter Skywalker."
Luke nodded and spoke, "Who do you work for? I mean I would like to negotiate a deal with whoever you get the Tibanna gas from. Perhaps the Alliance could buy directly from that person. That is if the person is able to avoid Imperial prying."
The woman shook her head, "To many Questions Skywalker, All that matters is that that product is real and that the money is real. Names, business partners, Employers and deals don't matter. I don't work under Contract. Now do you want the product or not?"
"Of course I want it. When will I be able to buy from you again? I mean we will pay you well for whatever you can give us."
The woman shook her head, "I can't promise you anything. It all depends on how safe I am."
Luke frowned, "Who are you?"
"Again, To many questions young Skywalker."
Luke frowned and raised his hand and made a gesture at the woman, "You will tell me your name."
The woman didn't speak for a moment and, Luke could almost swear that the woman was smirking under her veil, "No I won't. Your Mind tricks won't work on me boy. Don't waste them on me."
Luke frowned and nodded, "Very well, I will take what you've got."
The woman nodded, "Good I will go to my ship right now and bring it over via speeder then, I will take your money. Is that clear?"
Luke nodded as she spoke, "Just leave somebody here, I will take forty thousand."
With that, The Woman smuggler looked at Luke one more time before leaving.
Luke at the same time, noticed that her eyes were watered and that tears were pouring out of her eyes.
"Are you alright?"
The woman nodded, "Don't worry I am fine, I will bring the cargo over."
With that, The woman left Luke as quickly as she could.
Luke looked at Han with a frown, "Did you see that? She was crying Han. Why was she crying?"
Han shook his head, "I don't know kid. Leave her be. When people don't want to talk, you don't ask them questions. I have never heard of her before but she seems to want to remain unknown and as a smuggler and, I will respect that."
Luke was silent in response.
Han then spoke, "Come on Kid, We'll go grab a drink while we wait for the woman."
Luke nodded and followed Han towards the Cantina.
The moment that they entered the Cantina, Luke stopped. Han looked at Luke and noticed that his face had turned red, "What is it kid?"
"Vader is here."
Han frowned, "What do you mean Vader is here?"
"I can sense him. He's here for me."
Han frowned, "Alright kid what do you want to do?"
"Let's get back to the Ship."
Han nodded and walked with Luke as they left the Cantina.
Han and Luke entered the Hanger Bay together side by side and looked ahead of them in shock and horror at the sight that awaited them.
Vader looked ahead of him at his quarry. After three years, he was finally face to face with his son. He looked at his son and, noticed his blond hair and blue eyes. The boy looked like he did at the age of nineteen, only he was smaller.
Vader smiled and spoke, "The Force is with you young Skywalker, but you're not a Jedi yet," stated Vader with a smirk.
Luke looked at Han and made a gesture towards the Falcon.
Han nodded as Luke activated his lightsaber.
Luke waited until Han was out of hearing range and glared at his father and spoke, "Father we meet at last."
"Kenobi actually had the courage to tell you the truth after all? I am surprised," stated Vader as he looked at his son's green lightsaber. He realized that his son wanted to fight. He had hoped to avoid a fight with the boy although he had somehow known that the boy would choose to fight.
Luke glared at his father and spoke, "You're slower and older than I imagined."
Vader sneered, "Just as disrespectful as I was at your age."
Luke grinned as he spoke, "What do you want?"
"I wish to offer you a position at my side as ruler of the Galaxy. Together we can destroy the Emperor. Then, Only then we could rule the Galaxy as Father and Son."
Luke shook his head, "I would rather die."
Vader shook his head, "I will take you with me by force if necessary."
"I am the one who is holding out my lightsaber and I am going to attack," stated Luke in anger.
Vader smirked as he activated his lightsaber.
Within moments, Luke began to attack his father.
Vader swiftly parried his son's attack And Force Flipped behind him. Luke swiftly back flipped and made a slash towards his father's neck that was easily blocked.
Luke was fairly skilled but, he was outmatched by his father's skill and experience.
As they continued to fight, Luke felt the Force leave him. To his shock, He noticed that it appeared that Vader was having the same problem.
At that moment, Luke heard a blaster shot and looked to see the mysterious smuggler woman holding a blaster and a pair of binders as Vader fell to the ground.
"The blaster is set to stun. He'll be awake in a few minutes. By then I want to be well out of here. Do you still want the gas?"
Luke nodded, "For certain."
The smuggler then gestured to two lizards that Luke noticed laying on the ground.
"Those are Ysalamiri, They deprive you of the Force whenever you're in range of them. Vader was so focused on you that he didn't notice me. That is how I knew that he would fall for my trick."
Luke nodded as the Smuggler moved towards Vader's body and pulled a set of binders off of his belt. She immediately bound his hands before taking a Ysalamiri and placing it on the Dark Lord's chest.
"There, he will wake in about ten minutes. By then I want all of us to be well away."
Luke nodded as he looked at the woman in shock, "Why did you stun him?"
"My reasons are personal Skywalker. If I had the blaster set to kill, He would have sensed it with his natural senses. Don't worry he'll awake soon enough."
Luke then watched as the Smuggler drove her Speeder towards the Falcon.
He immediately yelled into the Falcon, "Han get down here, our Tibanna gas is here."
Han immediately appeared at the boarding ramp in shock, "Where is Vader?"
"He has been neutralized Solo. Now take your Cargo."
"Come on Chewie."
Luke then reached into his pocket and pulled out the four Valid Credit Chips.
"Here is your Thirty Thousand."
"Thank you young Skywalker. It was a pleasure to do business with you. You have your mother's compassion although you look every bit like your father."
With that, The mysterious smuggler left Luke and headed for her speeder. At the same time, Luke noticed her rubbing her eyes. He immediately knew that there were more tears in her eyes. He frowned, What was wrong with her? Why did she seem so broken?
Han smiled, "Are you ready kid?"
"Yeah Han, We've got Imperials in the system. We'll have to throw them off somehow," said Luke as Han ended his train of thought on the Smuggler.
"We'll go to Tattooine and throw them off. I gotta pay Jabba off anyway."
Luke nodded, "That sounds like a good plan, let's go Han."
Han smiled and together the two men boarded the Falcon as Chewbacca loaded the last slab of frozen Tibanna Gas.
Moments later, The Falcon lifted off, leaving the passed out Darth Vader behind them.
Vader awoke with his hands bound in anger.
He looked at his chest noticing the Ysalamiri that was clinging to his chest.
He ripped the Ysalamiri off of his chest as he stood up in anger.
He instantly removed his Binders and then took out his lightsaber and stabbed the Ysalamiri.
"I hate those things!" Vader screamed in rage.
At that moment, Vader looked ahead of him to see Jix waiting for him.
"You didn't get him Uncle D?"
Vader shook his head, "Who was it that shot me in the back and left the Ysalamiri?"
"Not sure Uncle D. Want to find out?"
"I want you to get your hands on whatever survailance footage that you can and then report back to me. I will be onboard the Executor. Whoever it is, they are going to pay with their life. Three years of hard work and careful planning all just went down the drain. Now go and get me the information."
Jix obediently left the angry Dark Lord and headed off to do his bidding.
Millennium Falcon:
Luke looked at Han as the Falcon made the jump into Hyperspace, "That woman, There is something about her. It is the strangest thing. It is as though I know her. In fact I feel like I do. Who is she?"
Han frowned, "I don't know Kid, Like I said I've never heard of her before."
"Maybe you should ask Master Kenobi if he has any idea," stated Chewbacca with a roar.
Luke nodded, "That's a good idea Chewie. I wonder if she knew my mother."
"What did she say about your mother kid?" asked Han.
"She said that I looked every bit like my father but that I had my mother's compassion."
Han nodded, "Interesting, Your mother died during your birth right?"
Luke frowned, " Yeah, That is what Ben told me."
Han nodded, "Maybe she knew your mother. I mean it is possible."
"Yeah I guess so. I would like to find out more later."
Han smiled, "There may be a way."
"What do you mean?"
"We can track down the seller of the Tibanna gas."
"How is that possible?"
"I will look at the blocks and see if there is a seal or any way to tell who produced it. In fact, if It is being distributed by smugglers, that means that I may know who is selling it," stated Han with a smile.
Luke looked at Han in shock, "Really?"
Han nodded, "I'll tell you what kid, after we pay Jabba off and get back to base, I'll go ahead and make some calls and see if the seller is who I suspect."
Luke nodded, "Alright Han, thanks."
"No problem kid."
Luke then spoke, "I'm gonna go meditate for awhile."
"Alright kid."
Luke then wordlessly left the Cockpit feeling more and more mystified by the smuggler woman. Who was she? Why was she so emotional by the sight of him?
Ok that is it for now. Thank you for reading and reviewing. More will be up soon. I hope that you are enjoying this story. So your long anticipated encounter between Father and Son has taken place right? Any guess on who the smuggler is? Should be pretty easy.
-Fallen Jedi 79
