Disclaimer: No, sadly, I do not own Star Wars...
Note: Sorry guys, a little behind schedule this week. Had a really manic weekend involving family reunions and a lot of transporting people around in the car. Will more than likely have an update with you for this coming Saturday. Thanks again to all my wonderful readers and reviewers. As always, your support means a lot. And thanks again to Liisiko for being a fantastic beta!
CHAPTER 4 - Gift
Location: Dantooine
"Father?" His voice echoed through the remnants of the rotting hut, which had once been his home. The last time he had been here, his father's spectre had appeared before him. Now it appeared he was talking to himself.
"Father?"
He wasn't sure why, but he thought that the sadness might have finally lifted from this place. After all, he'd turned away from the dark side and brought the Senators together to form an alliance against the Empire. But…it was still dark. Still sad.
His head drooped, shoulders slumping. "I'm…I'm sorry I didn't come back sooner. So much has happened since I was here last. You wouldn't believe the half of it. I'm not sure I even believe it. But…I wanted you to see…to see that I've changed."
"Who are you that darkens this place?" Came the familiar voice and, from the shadows, an ethereal form – touched with blue light – swept out towards him.
"Father?"
The spectre frowned. "You are not my son."
Galen blinked. "What?"
"You are not my son."
"I am your son!"
"I know my son."
"I am Galen Marek! How can you not know that?"
The spectre shook his head. "You…you are not even human. How could you possibly be my son?"
"You don't know what you're saying!"
"Leave this place, imposter. My son is dead."
"Then why does his spirit not stand by your side? Did he not die in the light? Where is he?"
The robed figure withdrew wordlessly back into the shadows and Galen fell to his knees, feeling the crushing weight of darkness and despair fall upon him.
He was jolted from his sleep, which – in turn – knocked Juno from hers. Concern filled her blue eyes, forcing him to look away. He didn't want her to see him in such a vulnerable state for the second time in so many days. She pulled him close, pressing a comforting kiss to his neck.
"More bad dreams?"
"I'm fine."
"No you're not, but that's okay. You've been through a lot." She snuggled against him. "Tell me about them, Galen."
"Juno…"
"You can trust me, you know."
"I know. I do. It's just…it's hard to explain."
"Take your time." She eased him onto his back and tucked herself against his side, pillowing her head on his chest. Over his heart. His fingers absently smoothed her hair, seeking to comfort them both with the simple gesture.
"I'm…afraid of what might happen."
She remained silent; worried that speaking now might have him closing up before he'd even begun. In her chest, her heart hammered with the beginnings of panic.
"I can…I can protect you from anything and anyone. Everything but myself. How…how do I protect you from myself?"
"I…I don't understand."
"When…well, before…when I rescued Kota from Cato Neimoidia…he…" Galen cleared his throat and continued slowly, as if thinking over every single word before it left his mouth. "We spoke to a Cerean medic about the cloning process. It was Kota's way of trying to convince me that I wasn't a clone." Though sadly the attempt had failed. "He told me that any attempts made at cloning those with Force sensitivity brought terrible results." The words had burned into his memory and he listed them off to her with a rising sense of dread. "Insanity. Psychosis. Suicidal tendencies. If that happens to me…"
"It won't." Juno's voice was firm, her fingers tightening in his shirt.
"How can you possibly know that?"
"I just do." She insisted. "I know you."
"What if..." He cut himself off, sighing deeply. "I just don't know any more. I...hope you're right."
Juno squeezed her arms around his waist. "I usually am, aren't I?"
When he didn't respond, she lifted her head to peer at him, her eyes dark with concern. "Galen..."
"I'm sorry. Look, I'm being stupid. Just...ignore me."
She shifted her body against him, tilting his head so that their lips could meet with ease. A jolt of electricity ran through her at the contact and she knew that she would never tire of kissing him. He seemed somewhat reluctant at first but her warm persistence paid off and his mouth softened beneath hers.
Truthfully, she had meant the kiss to be nothing but soft and reassuring. But, with her rising desire, the soft touches became hungry and passionate. Putting aside the gentleness for something that put heat in her belly, she pulled herself atop him, catching his lower lip between her teeth.
His arms came up around her, pressing her close as he drew a deeper kiss from her, pausing only when breathing became a necessity.
She set her forehead against his. "So…too tired to go any further?" Her smile was positively flirtatious.
"That sounds like a challenge."
"Hmm-mmm."
A slow but wicked grin spread across Galen's face and, before she could react, he had her pinned beneath him, his mouth tracing kisses along her jaw line.
He leaned against the barrier to watch her work, a smile curling the corner of his mouth. When he'd first met her – or the original him, anyway – she'd been working like this; making last minute repairs before their first mission. She'd been dressed in Imperial uniform, smart and proud. He remembered the fire in her eyes and her inability to back down or be intimidated by him.
He had been drawn to her from that very first moment.
Granted, he'd not had much contact with people – particularly women – but his other pilots had been nothing like her. They had all been male, for one thing, most of them old and stern and seemed either too keen or not keen enough on the job. Oh, sure, they'd been good flyers, but they'd lacked that certain something that had kept them from being killed (either during missions or by Vader himself.) He remembered the death of the pilot before Juno. Only on the job three weeks before he made a mistake he would never be given the chance to make again. The man had been too proud and, when Vader had highlighted these faults and his inability to follow orders, the pilot had leapt to defend himself.
Even now, Galen could remember the curl of his master's fingers as he constricted the pilot's throat with the Force. The tint of blue on the man's lips, the way he had gaped like a helpless fish.
Juno was curious and lively and intuitive. She was – despite her age – more skilled and talented than the pilots before her. But she could control and mask these personality flaws (if one could call them flaws, of course) when needed.
Now, there she was, a few meters away, working just as before.
And she was beautiful.
"Thought I'd find you here." Kota appeared at his side, PROXY with him. "Playing the part of the womanizing engineer, are we?"
Galen gave a loose shrug.
"What's that, there, Master?" The droid reached out nimbly, tugging the collar of Galen's shirt down to reveal a dark bruise on his neck. Kota gave a bark of laughter as Galen's face turned a brilliant shade of red, clapping a hand over the mark that Juno had inconsiderately left there.
"Haven't you got somewhere to be, PROXY?" He grumbled.
The droid made a show of looking dejected. "Of course, Master. I know when I'm not wanted." And he trudged away.
"Careful." Kota warned. "You don't want a jealous droid on your hands."
Juno looked up just as Galen pulled the cap lower across his face and threw both men a smile.
"It's good to see her happy again." Kota added as an afterthought.
The length of silence was broken, eventually, by Galen. "You here for something important, old man?"
"Of course I am." He eyed the young 'not-quite-Jedi' with mock disapproval. "They're not going to interrogate Vader for a couple of days, at least."
"And?"
"They don't want me around when they do." Kota pointedly refused to make eye contact.
Galen arched a brow, questioningly. "Are you being serious?"
"Boy, when am I not serious?"
"Good point." He growled. "But let me get this straight." He paused, drawing in a hissing breath. "They want you out of the way when they start riling an uncontrollable beast? One they won't be able to stop if something goes wrong? You're exactly who they need around. Are they stupid?"
"They think I might do more harm than good."
"Do they not understand who they're dealing with here?" Galen leaned sideways to force Kota to look at him, arm cutting angrily through the air.
"Shh, boy. Keep your voice down."
A finger jabbed in the old man's direction. "No, you need to be there. They don't…he can't be trusted!"
"I know. I know. You don't need to tell me that." He set a hand on Galen's shoulder and lowered his voice. "I've been dealing with those anxious Senators longer than you have. Trust me when I say there's no changing their minds."
"They're asking for trouble."
"Listen, forget it. It's out of our hands. That's not what I came here to talk about. They've picked up on another lead they want me to check out. Something Garm has been pressing for the others to follow through for the last few days. Given the circumstances I would have said no, but Leia has made it clear that the Senators feel I'd be better out of their hair until they've attempted to reason with Vader. She tried to dissuade them, but...you know what they can be like."
Galen's eyes darkened with disagreement.
"And, to be honest, I'd much rather be out doing something than waiting around here. It just figures that the one time they decide on action it would be at the most inappropriate time."
"Fine. Fine. What's the lead?"
"They intercepted some transmissions a week ago and some more this morning. Looks like the Imperials are designing a new ship."
"Is that all?"
"Well, I don't know. It's a powerful ship. They want me to take the Rogue Shadow and gain intelligence."
"Wait. What?" Galen's eyes seared back across to Kota's. "Hang on a moment. If you're doing the infiltrating then who's doing the flying?"
"Well, Juno, of course."
"Oh no. No, no, no. If she goes, I go."
"I don't want to leave the Rebels completely unprotected, boy. Vader is wounded and imprisoned but if the worst should happen—"
"—I didn't risk everything to save her just to let her go again." He was bristling with rage, his shoulders drawing up with a sharp intake of breath.
"You're being ridiculous. For one minute will you stop and think about the larger picture? The only reason she ever got into trouble was…" Kota trailed. "Forget it." He waved a hand dismissively. "If she's with me she's away from Vader. Doesn't that count for something?"
"I can't let you take her."
"Does someone want to tell me what's going on?" Juno had given up on trying to eavesdrop in on their conversation. She set a hand on her hip and fixed them with a stern look.
"If you're able to get the Rogue Shadow fixed up in the next day or so, the dear Senators may have a mission for us."
"So what's the issue? What sort of mission?"
"One which doesn't involve me." Galen interrupted. "You could be walking into a trap for all we know."
"Boy, stop letting your feelings get in the way of the job."
"My 'feelings' have only worked in your benefit so far." He snapped, advancing. 'If anything happens to her than I'll…" He never finished the threat – the shock of the words he had wanted to say stunning him into silence. Than what? He'd hurt him? Kill him? Horrified at himself, he took a small step back, almost as if unable to trust himself not to carry out his threat. "I…I need to go."
"Galen, wait." Juno tried to catch his arm as he turned, but he was quicker than she was; away before she could move to intervene.
"Probably best to let him go." Kota replied distantly.
"They don't know he's here anyway, so what difference will it make if he comes with us?"
"If the worst does happen then he'll be here to protect these people."
"Do you think something will happen?"
"With Vader, nothing is certain." Kota's face was grim.
"Master? You're back early." PROXY looked up as Galen stepped into the designated accommodation and used the Force to close the door firmly behind him. "Is something wrong?"
"No. Yes. I don't know." He sat heavily and buried his face in his hands. "Everything."
"Come now, Master, it can't be all that bad."
"I think I'm losing my mind."
"We could find you a new one?"
Galen jerked back to his feet, pacing erratically. "They've been called away on a mission. They're leaving me here. What if something happens and Kota can't get back in time or—"
"—Sorry to interrupt, Master, but if it helps, I could go with them?"
He paused, casting PROXY a surprised look. "That might not be such a bad idea."
"Always happy to help."
Galen sighed. "I thought things would be different once I found her, you know."
"Different? How so?"
"I don't know. I just…I've been used by Vader and now it seems I'm just being used by the Alliance. All of the choices are taken out of my hands and I'm just expected to follow them without question. I don't know if I can live like that anymore."
"We all have our orders, Master."
"But we don't all have to follow them." He sighed. "I need to meditate."
"Then I'll leave you to it."
For Juno, the next couple of days were shared between making repairs on the Rogue Shadow and indulging herself in the passions of her new relationship with Galen.
As for Galen, himself, he seemed to have calmed down a little and though she was certain he hadn't worded an apology to Kota about his angry outburst, the two men seemed to be back to their normal father and son rapport.
She reached into the mass of wires – revealed by removing one of the panels – and felt along the pipe for any breaks in the insulating membrane. Locating it a moment later, she unscrewed a circuit board partially blocking her view and gutted the ship to make room for the repair work. An hour later – tired and exhausted – she leaned backwards and called out to PROXY.
"Start her up."
A moment later and the ship rumbled to life beneath her feet. She waited for the sound to settle into a comforting growl and then called out again in a louder voice.
"How's it running now?"
"A lot better, Captain. Engines now operating at satisfactory levels."
"Excellent." Grinning with triumph, she began to replace the circuits and mass of wires, screwing them back into place and clipping the panels back into position. Standing, she stretched the ache out of her back and moved into the cockpit.
"There are still going to be a few issues until we can get replacement parts, but these quick fixes should be more than adequate for now." She clapped the droid on the shoulder and thanked him for his help. "I'll need to see about making connection with Bail Organa. Would you be alright to transmit?"
"Of course, Captain."
She hit the com-link. "Juno to Kota. Do you read?"
"What? No code names any more?"
She smiled. "We can use them if you want."
"I take it you've finished with the repairs?"
"I have. Would you be able to patch through to Senator Organa? I've got PROXY up here with me."
"Be right there." He ended the link and Juno waited the fifteen minutes it took for everything to be set into motion and for Kota to join her.
PROXY took on the form of Bail Organa just as Kota stepped into the cockpit.
"Captain Eclipse. General Kota." He acknowledged. "Have all the repairs been made?"
"They have, Senator. The Rogue Shadow is fit for service."
"That is good news. Kota has been briefed already, I believe, but let me recap on the transmissions we managed to intercept."
The pair nodded.
"There has been talk of a new Star Destroyer prototype that is nearing its completion. If we can find proof then we can make plans to sabotage this new creation and deal another blow to the Empire. Co-ordinates and mission detail has already been transferred to your datapad, Juno."
"Understood."
"It's highly important that you both remain incognito and give feedback as soon as you are in safe range." Bail Organa gave a wry smile. "May the Force be with you."
PROXY shed the skin of Bail Organa and took a small step back, photoreceptors blinking in an almost dazed fashion.
"Can you run a diagnostic, PROXY? I've got something to do before we head off." She gave the Jedi a meaningful look and hurried back to the barracks, pausing only to rummage briefly in the small store room on-board the ship.
When she arrived, Galen was meditating, sitting cross-legged on the bed, his head bowed. At her entrance his concentration lapsed and he just barely managed to catch the lightsaber before it could tumble to the ground.
"Sorry about that."
"It's okay."
She all but fell into his arms, rubbing her face against the smooth, warmth of his shirt. "We'll be leaving today."
He forced himself to relax but his voice was still tense. "I'll…be right here."
"I know. We'll try not to be too long. A few days at the most."
"Just…keep an eye out, okay? If it seems too easy or too obvious, get out of there as quickly as you can."
"I'll be on guard. I'm protecting Kota the same as he'll be protecting me."
He looked away.
"And PROXY will be there, too."
He kissed her without warning; a hard, possessive kiss that drew the breath from her lungs and left her giddy. They parted for breath and she followed up the spontaneous kiss with a string of softer ones.
"You need to take care of yourself, too." She reminded him softly, aware that without her, Kota or PROXY there, he'd have no one to talk to.
"I'll stay out of trouble." He confirmed with a slightly forced smirk.
"Good." She gave him a tight hug and then gathered her feet back under her. He stood to return the gesture and she listened to the thrum of his heart beneath her ear. Only with great difficulty did she step outside of the warm circle of his arms.
"Before I go, I have something for you."
He tilted his head, curious, as she fumbled in a pouch hooked to her belt. He saw the gleam of light spilling between her fingers as she held up to object for him. The holocron that had belonged the original Starkiller's father. He hesitated in taking it, feeling a tight panic beginning in his chest. As a clone, did he have any right to this? Did he even want to know what secrets it held?
She took his hand, gently uncurled his fingers and set the object in his palm. "It's yours by right."
"You…kept it safe."
Juno smiled. "Of course. I…think you need to hear the information it holds."
He nodded slowly, wrapping his fingers around it. "Thank you."
"It's no problem." She tugged on his collar to lower his head, pressed a short kiss to his lips and then backed away. "I love you."
"Love you, too." He swallowed. "Stay safe."
Then she was gone.
He drew back away from the door; longing to go after her. Longing to be with her. A few days seemed – quite suddenly – like a very long time. He just hoped his unease would prove to be misplaced.
Turning to the table, he set the holocron gently on the desk and stared at it for a long moment. Juno had clearly listened to the files contained inside. Whatever she had found had not been so terrible that she had felt the need to keep it from him. There was truth and knowledge in there that he had never expected to find. But now that he was faced with it, he was hesitating.
He reached out lightly with the Force, touched along its edge and activated the archive. If he thought too much on it, he might decide to avoid the data there. He could dwell on the consequences later – if, indeed, there were any.
Dragging a chair out from under the table, he turned it around and seated himself. Before him, a beam of light spread out across the tabletop to form the image of a man. He was younger than the spectre Galen had met more than a year ago on Kashyyyk, but it was most certainly him.
"Greetings, Jedi." Came the calm and helpful voice.
"Hello, Father."
To be continued...