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CHAPTER 23 - Risk
Location: Besbrillmir / The Armistice
"Get out of your cell you filthy animals. We're behind schedule. Get UP!"
The Apprentice blinked the sleep from his eyes and couldn't help a groan of pain as he tried to right himself. Across the way the Cerean was on his feet and, opposite him, so were the Wookiees.
What was going on?
Wait! Was Vader here? Is that what the panic was all about?
He rose unsteadily to his feet and tried to regain his bearings. What was happening? What time was it? How long had he slept? Had the Cerean had a chance to talk those slaves into helping out with their escape plan? Had it failed? Was that what all of the noise was about?
His vision swam and by the time it cleared again the Wookiees were out of their cell, complaining in their loud, unintelligible voices. He winced against their grating tones and tried to peer across at the Cerean, wondering if he might find some answers just by glancing in his direction. The world was still blurry – not helped by the sheen of his Force cage – but he could tell that the alien wasn't looking at him, almost as if he was pointedly ignoring him.
The Apprentice's anger boiled over.
If he was being ignored then that meant the Cerean had refused to risk the lives of those brainless brutes. And that meant another chance lost and another step closer to death. He gave a cry of rage and began to pace, trying desperately to come up with a new plan. When they came for him he'd have to pretend to be unconscious. They'd electrocute him until they were certain of it. Maybe if he could save his strength, gather his focus…
Would that even work?
Could he retain his consciousness and then blast his way out of here? Did he have enough strength left to make an escape? The heated rage inside him told him that he could do it, but the thought of Vader being there in the facility disturbed him greatly. Hopefully his master would not be able to attend in person. Hopefully he'd send some incompetent lackey who would flounder and make mistakes. Maybe his master was even hoping that he would escape and prove that he was not weak and ready to give in. This could all be some sort of test to ensure that he was still worthy of the title 'apprentice'.
The commander had paused to throw him an amused look and the Sith readied himself for that all too familiar blast of pain. He wondered, idly, how many more electric shocks it would take before his body admitted defeat. He was strong, but he wasn't invincible – though he had felt like it at times.
"You've got a little blood there." The commander indicated and the Apprentice wiped his face, smearing the blood that had trickled from his nose. Probably not a good sign. The commander's face split with a cruel grin; his laughter sharp.
And then suddenly there was a furious, animalistic bellow followed by screams and blaster fire and the room turned into a heaving mass of confusion. The commander turned to defend himself only to find the monstrous bulk of a Wookiee lunging for him. He was smashed to the floor before the stormtroopers could put down the raging beast. It took a good few shots to take the hairy alien down, as well, his back riddled with smoking wounds. Another Wookiee was tearing at the security panel that held the Cerean captive, and in a wild hiss of sparks, released the scientist who cowered away in fear.
Blaster fire still painted the air red but the fight was surprisingly even. Nawaraac had managed to grapple a blaster from the dead hands of one of the stormtroopers and had set loose with a barrage of shots that struck many of the last standing troopers. The dark clone watched the battle in a trance, feeling his blood stir and his hands tighten as he imagined himself in the fray.
And then, there was silence, filled only with the strained breathing of those who remained alive. Just two Wookiees were left standing; Nawaraac and a smaller, darker member of the species. Even with his blurry vision, however, the clone could already tell that Nawaraac had been badly wounded; confirmed when the scraggly-haired beast staggered back against the wall and slumped down to the floor.
The Cerean was at the Wookiee's side in moments and the clone's eyes darted around the room, seeking out anyone else who had survived: namely Imperials. Some still writhed in the throes of agony. Others were very, very still.
When he looked back, the Cerean was still fussing over the alien and the Apprentice became distinctly aware of the need to hurry.
"Leave that animal alone and get me out of here!" He hissed. After all, the danger hadn't passed.
The Cerean looked up, his brow wrinkled, and shook his head grimly. "Too many dead. Far too many dead. This was a mistake."
"And I've told you before that they were dead either way!"
The scientist dithered before aiding the Wookiee to his feet. The smaller one hastened to help, too, managing the bulk between them as they moved towards the door.
"Where are you going?" The dark clone seethed. "You've got to let me out!"
The Cerean paused and looked at him for a long moment. "So you can kill us? You are just as much a danger to us as they." He gestured towards the Imperials. "Why should I let you free?"
The Apprentice released a roar of rage. "You backstabbing, traitorous-"
"-Can you blame me for being hesitant?" The scientist interrupted. "Can you really?" And he turned again, seeming to struggle under the weight of the Wookiee. "When you threaten my life and rage like a madman?"
"But you can't do this alone. Do you hear me? You can't do this alone! There are more out there. You wont get far before they find you. Can you even use a blaster?"
The Cerean paused again, his shoulders tense, and paused to cast a look back.
The dark clone remained perfectly silent, trying to ease the rage inside of him. If he could control it for just a moment he might be able to convince the Cerean to release him from his cell.
The scientist looked torn.
"Like it or not, you can't do this without me." He hissed.
"If I let you go, what will stop you from killing us?"
Nothing, the Apprentice thought coldly. "Can you afford not to take that risk?" He replied.
The Cerean gave a troubled sigh, before leaving Nawaraac to lean on the other Wookiee. He crossed the room uncertainly; coming to stand by the security panel. "Okay, okay." He muttered lowly. "I can't leave you here to die and you're right; we need you." He growled, adding - under his breath: "But I am going to regret this."
Releasing the dark clone was much like opening the cage of a wild nexu.
Despite the initial panic of having woken up late, Juno felt strangely calm as she joined Leia down in one of the smaller meeting rooms. Instead of using PROXY to transmit the senator's image, they had opted for the more generic holographic technology, casting her shape in a faint, blue light.
"Thank you for getting your report to us so quickly, Juno."
"The sooner it's done, the sooner we can make progress." She replied easily.
"That's correct." Leia paused for a moment. "But, if you don't mind, I'd like to begin our discussion at a slightly earlier point, starting with what exactly happened on Kamino. I would like to understand the situation fully."
Juno's calm fizzled out in an instant, replaced by a cold dread. The feeling worked through her even as she tried to conjure the words to explain everything that had happened. But this conversation had already been started, back before the assault on the dark clone, and she had hoped – desperately – that she would never need to finish it.
"About Starkiller." Leia confirmed for her, then. "Your Starkiller."
"What do you want to know?"
"There have been many assumptions made about his current mental state and where his loyalties lie. The other senators, naturally, are suspicious of him; particularly after his outburst yesterday. I'm seeking to clarify what is true about him and what is guesswork. I'm hoping you'll be able to put my mind at ease so that I – in turn – can ease theirs."
"I can only give you my opinion, Senator, and in this case, I'm not sure how relevant you will find it."
"You know him best, Juno and there is no one else I can turn to for answers."
Juno had to agree with that. The only other person who had any idea was Galen himself, but quizzing him on his identity would not help him gain the stability he so desperately needed. In fact, it would probably just have made things worse. "I'll tell you all I know, Leia, but there is no evidence to back up what I'm saying. I can only tell you what I have seen with my own eyes."
"Thank you. That is all I ask." She lifted a hand and made an encouraging gesture. "In your own time."
Juno twisted her fingers together tightly and looked down at them in an attempt to distract her from what she was preparing to talk about. She was just grateful it was going to be discussed with Leia and not one of the others. It was hard enough to do this with someone she was on semi-good terms with let alone with those who were not as open-minded and willing to be swayed.
"I saw the clones on Kamino." Juno began. "Floating in vats, twisted and…and horrifying. So many. There were so many. But I couldn't say whether all of them were his clones, or if some of them contained different specimens. When that place fell, we truly believed that all of the clones that had been created were destroyed – except the one with us; the one who had teamed up with Kota and beaten all odds to rescue me. We had no idea that there was another, surviving clone out there that we had missed. If we had, we would have done things a lot differently."
Leia remained silent.
"Vader had me captured alive so he could use me as bait to lure Starkiller to him. They used his feelings for me against him and that's the only reason that they spared my life and why I was held hostage. It was nothing to do with my affiliation with the Alliance or my rank."
"So there could be other clones out there that we still aren't aware of?"
"Possible, but not likely. The dark clone views our Starkiller as a failure; an inferior specimen for going against Vader and returning to the light. That suggests, to me, that his new apprentice's complete acceptance of the dark side made him the perfect candidate for Vader to manipulate. There could be others, but it doesn't seem likely that Vader would have had two 'perfect' clones active at once. Even a dedicated Starkiller clone could be unpredictable and if two turned against him he'd have no chance at success."
"But if this dark clone is killed, there is nothing to say that there aren't any back ups?"
"No. Though if there were, they would have had to have been shipped elsewhere before we arrived on Kamino."
"So why did one clone break free from Vader whilst the other remained to obey? What is different in them?"
"Perhaps our Starkiller came first and they altered the next clone to better suit their needs. Perfected the process somehow?" She winced at that. They could hardly call the dark clone 'perfect'.
"Or perhaps the other way around? If the dark clone is losing his mind – as I read in your report – perhaps it was he who came first, but Vader kept him as a stand-in if his next clone failed to produce any better results?"
Juno sighed. "I think Kota believed our Starkiller is not a clone at all. I don't know what the likelihood of that is, but all I can say is that if he is, he's certainly not your average clone. He remembers. He remembers everything. His time as Vader's apprentice, his missions, saving you from Kashyyyk, rescuing the senators from the Death Star. He remembers it as if he were there. Leia, even if physically he's not the same man, inside, in his memories, he is that man. He razed that cloning facility...to find me."
Leia said nothing and Juno found herself pressing on, unable to stop herself now that she had started. "And he's afraid because he can't be sure what he is or how he came to be. He shouldn't even be able to exist but he does. He's got all these memories that he doesn't feel worthy of having. All this added pressure to continue the work that he was doing before he…before he died, but no real heart in it." She paused, her eyes burning. "Kota convinced him to continue serving with the Alliance but now that he's dead, Starkiller's struggling to see why he should remain. He's convinced that Kota was viewed as nothing more than a tool – just like Vader viewed him – and he doesn't want to be pulled back into a life of servitude. Not after everything he has been through to earn his freedom."
She paused to draw in a short breath. "He is a good man, Leia, thrown into an impossible situation. If you believe nothing else, then you must believe that much. You told me that he isn't the man I loved, but he is. He truly is."
Leia was silent; thoughtful and then: "Why did Kota think it was a good idea to keep his presence a secret from us?"
"Many reasons, I think. Perhaps he wasn't entirely sure whether Starkiller was interested in serving. Perhaps he thought that he wasn't quite ready to start fighting for the Rebels again so soon after everything that had happened. Maybe he thought that you wouldn't trust him enough to allow him to remain and fight. Probably all of those things. He was going to tell you at some point, Leia, but I don't know when or how."
The young senator nodded. "Kota never did anything without good reason, I'll give him that."
Juno nodded.
"And as for Starkiller's mental state. From what you describe, I can understand why he is acting as he is. You explained part of his outburst yesterday. Grief and self-blame are more than enough to push anyone into an angry outburst, but after listening to you, I can see there is so much more going on than that. Perhaps he is not ready to join the Alliance. Perhaps he will never be. I take it you did not manage to broach the subject of his partnership with us after our meeting yesterday?"
Juno felt her face heat up. "Not exactly, no. It didn't seem like the right time and I didn't want to push it too far too soon."
"Probably wise. It saddens me to hear that he thinks we would view him as nothing more than a tool. Kota was a dear and respected friend to us all, particularly my father. It's a dangerous game we play and we're all aware we may not live to see this through to the end, but…it does not make it any easier when we lose someone we care for."
"I know, Leia. I think – deep down – Starkiller knows that, too. Unfortunately, as fired up as he is, that is the conclusion he has come to and I can't particularly say that I disagree with him for doing so."
The young senator sighed. "Mon Mothma. She is an intelligent woman, mentor and friend, but she is stubborn in her beliefs. She and Kota never saw eye to eye, but he was still a fine warrior, one who brought us many victories. Unfortunately, her manner is not as personable as it could be."
Now it was Juno's turn to fall silent, mulling over everything that had just been said between them. She had spoken the truth – or the truth as she had perceived it. It gave her heart to think that Leia might also understand it. That she might see that he was only trying to do the right thing. That he truly was on their side.
"Almost got it."
"We're running out of time." The Apprentice pressed. And then, without warning, the Force cage sputtered and died and he was free. He leapt out of the containment cell faster than the Cerean could blink and gave a maniacal grin. The scientist leaped back as if expecting the clone to strike out at him. Fortunately, the Apprentice was still attempting to re-acclimatise himself. Without the curtain of light between him and the rest of room, everything looked a little bit clearer. A little bit more focused.
Lying at his feet – bleeding from a bad head wound – was the Imperial commander.
"Ah. Wait. My mistake. We do have a little time to spare." Leaning down, he grabbed the dazed man by the throat and hauled him backwards into the cell, turning expectantly to the Cerean as he drew back alongside him. "Activate the shield again."
The scientist hesitated.
"DO IT!"
The alien's hand jerked against the panel and the cage flared back into life. The dark clone smiled cruelly, shoving the scientist rudely out of the way as he took his place behind the security panel. "Now, which button was it? Ah. Yes. That one." He pressed his thumb against the activator switch and watched the electricity crack sharply against the commander's armor, attacking him with cruel, sharp jabs of pain.
The scientist tried to stop him but a blast of Force power knocked him clean away, giving the clone plenty of time to watch the Imperial writhe and scream in agony before his strangled cry fell silent and the life left him.
Only then did he lift his thumb and let the electricity fizzle out.
He turned, still smiling, and ignored the wild-eyed look the Cerean was giving him.
"I will not stop or slow. If you fall behind: you die. Anger me: you die. Get in my way: you die. Do what I tell you and you might just live long enough to get out of this place."
The Cerean looked genuinely startled that the dark clone was even giving him a chance to follow. But he nodded silently and hefted a blaster resolutely in both hands. "What about-?"
"—Leave the beasts. They'll only slow us down."
The Cerean looked set to argue, but a crackle of lightning along the dark clone's arm was enough to silence him. He knew, by now, that the Apprentice's threats were anything but empty. If he pushed even a little, he'd be dead in seconds. Even still, there was a horrible and definite pang of guilt as he passed Nawaraac by, not even daring to take the time to encourage the other Wookiee to follow.
Trusting that the scientist would follow, the Apprentice stalked out of the prison and began his ascent up the short staircase. The hum of a generator helped to mask the sounds of his footsteps – though not necessarily the demanding tone of his voice. "You, Cerean, do you know the layout of this place?"
"I have a name, you know."
"Keep it. I couldn't care less. Do you know where to go or not?"
"Only up to the labs. That's where I went to inspect their work."
"Anything of use there?"
"No. Yes. Well…maybe." The Cerean looked suddenly nervous, holding his rifle closer. "I don't know."
"Don't mess with me, alien. What do you know? What aren't you telling me?"
"They're all just prototypes. No telling what they might do."
The Apprentice swung around, his fingers finding their away around the alien's throat; holding him fast. The skin beneath felt fragile, tempting him to press down harder – to see how much the frail neck could take before it snapped. "Stop blathering and tell me – in simple terms – what you know. If you hadn't noticed, I don't enjoy my time being wasted."
"All I know are the projects I aided them with." The Cerean gasped around the fingers closing on his throat. "Two projects. Assassin droids." Another gasp; his next words even more strained. "Walkers."
"And you can you get us there?"
"Y-yes. If you let me go."
The Apprentice dropped him without warning and glared down at him with his furious, golden eyes.
The Cerean, with a groan, shakily picked himself up.
"Then let's go." The Apprentice snapped, moving on without another backwards look.
"Your belief and trust in him is clear, Juno." Leia replied after a moment. "You say he is the man you once knew and I am inclined to agree. He is a good man – a troubled man, yes – but a good one. He has deep and complicated wounds that will take time to heal. He will also need people around him who he can trust and at the moment I think you are the only one who fits into that category."
"I will do all that I can, but sometimes I think it's beyond even me."
"And what do you think he will say when you ask him to stand with us and temporarily abandon his search for Vader's clone?"
"Honestly? I don't know. I'll need to tread carefully with that subject and until we have a decision on what is to be done about the dark clone, I don't think I should even begin to talk him around. If the decision is made to ignore the threat completely then I can say, with almost one hundred percent confidence, that he will abandon the Alliance."
"From your report, Juno, I can safely say that we won't ignore the threat. If I was to make the decision alone, I would say that we can check the docking logs to see when the ship arrived at Fondor and then keep surveillance on him using spies we have in the sector. Unfortunately, I suspect that no move will be made to apprehend him until it is clear he poses an imminent threat which would mean diverting our resources."
"He might be agreeable to that. The other issue, of course, is the sharing of the information that you find."
"That is an issue. You will understand why we are wary of giving him any information before we have fully re-established our trust. If we hand over information too soon, there are concerns that he will just abandon our cause to carry out his own vengeance mission."
Juno's eyes darkened but she said nothing in response. She couldn't say that she would have done anything differently had she been in their position.
"And, regarding the possibility of the dark clone no longer operating under Vader's jurisdiction. How probable do you think that is?"
"More likely than not." Juno replied. "His movements suggest that he was receiving no help from Vader to get away safely. Also, he failed in his mission to kill Starkiller. Vader isn't much one for forgiveness or second chances."
"That may not have been his mission."
"That is also a possibility. Either way, he will make another attack."
"Agreed, though if he is working alone and if his mental state is deteriorating, the likelihood of his attack being well organized is much lower than if he were still Vader's apprentice."
Juno couldn't say that she disagreed with that hypothesis.
"I am due to speak with the others shortly. We won't keep you waiting long for your answer on our decision."
Juno thanked her.
"There were just a few more details I needed to touch on in the report. Namely the Selonian response to the Imperial threat and a talk through of the droids you encountered on the prototype Star Destroyer."
"Kota had the most dealings with the Selonians." Juno replied, glad for moving the topic on. "It was he who spoke with their queen and organized the assault on the downed ship. I think they were sympathetic to our cause but held some distrust, too. After all, we were strangers who had brought trouble with us and dealing with a language barrier did not help for communication, either. They helped me make some repairs to the Rogue Shadow though their charity could have been a simple desire to get us away from their home as quickly as possible. They seem to be very much focused on their own issues and not the wider troubles of the galaxy."
Leia's hologram flickered as she nodded. "And the droids?"
"Deadly. The only way to destroy them is to get in close, but doing so is almost suicidal. Engaging them in the air also seemed to work well, though they made for small targets. Starkiller used a Force shield to protect himself and his group of Selonians down on the ground. The squad that entered the XF-32 were not so lucky."
"Fatalities were high."
"They could have been a lot higher if it weren't for Starkiller and Kota." Juno pointed. "If that bomb had been detonated, we would have been looking at the destruction of their entire den; queen and all."
"Certainly." Leia agreed. "I wonder whether any of the droid remains could be collected for analysis."
"There will certainly be some salvageable remains." Juno agreed. "Apologies, Senator, I didn't even think about that."
"You couldn't have been expected to. You can't do everything, Juno."
So then why, Juno thought, did it feel like she had to?
"We want to make a left turn here." The Cerean informed the Apprentice as he paused in the doorway to glance out into the corridor.
No signs of life.
So far their escape plan had gone well. They hadn't roused any suspicion and activity in the facility seemed strangely minimal. A few patrols paraded back and forth – but were easily predictable – and the bustling scientists were so wrapped up in their work that they barely even looked up from their datapads as they passed by. Every instinct in the Apprentice had told him to kill them as they drew close. Strike them down and revel in the power of it, but another part of him told him it was better to stay out of sight and avoid detection until the last possible moment. He still needed his sabers, after all, and his injuries were hampering him far more than he cared to admit.
He'd just have to save up the desire to attack until they were ready to make their getaway. Then there would be no more holding back.
Another patrol up ahead had him lurching into a small side room and the Cerean staggered in after him – just in time for him to close the door and mask their presence.
A sharp and sudden pain made his vision blur for a moment and he lifted away the folds of his ruined shirt to peer at the bandages beneath. They were blotched with several dark patches: a clear sign that he needed to get some medical attention soon, or else collapse from blood loss. The thought of that increased his anxiety and he thrust out a hand to steady himself, hissing angrily through his teeth.
"What's wrong?" The Cerean asked nervously.
"Med bay?" The words were growled between gritted teeth.
"Um…I'm not sure. Never saw one." At the Apprentice's frown, he quickly added: "But there must be one somewhere. Stormtroopers are renowned for their clumsiness! We'll keep an eye out for it."
Without another word, the Apprentice opened the door again and, with a quick check both ways, started off again with the Cerean hot on his heels. "Where to next? You! Where are we going now?"
"We're going right. No, no not that one. The next door along."
"You better start hoping you're able to prove your value." The Apprentice snapped, sagging against the wall as he hit the opening mechanism and peered inside. Automatic lights sputtered sleepily into being, lighting up another narrow laboratory – similar to the one he had been led into by T'arrk. By each workstation, contained within a frame, stood a droid: six in total. All of them were in different stages of development, though perhaps three looked about ready for their first round of testing.
The Apprentice gingerly settled himself into a chair and set the Cerean with a firm glare. "What are you looking at? Time is ticking. Activate those droids and give me a reason to keep you alive."
"Hack the security. Reprogram the droids. Activate their systems." The scientist muttered. "No please. No thank you."
The Apprentice, swept up by another wave of pain and exhaustion, was to weary to respond. As it was, his silence seemed to make the scientist wary enough to begin the process without much fuss, though his hands trembled under the pressure.
The Sith clone felt himself slipping back into a woozy daze, rubbing a hand across one of his chest wounds as if seeking to ease the pain by touch alone.
Without warning the door to the lab snapped open, allowing entrance to another scientist: an elderly man with a rather large and prominent nose. He paused, blinking between the alien and the wounded man, and then staggered backwards in shock. "W-what! Who are you?"
The dark clone snapped out of his chair like a striking snake, grabbing the man by the head. With a sickening crack, he twisted the man's neck; killing him instantly.
The Cerean balked.
"Get back to work." The Apprentice warned, using the Force to drag the body away from the doorway; depositing it carelessly in a corner of the room.
"Y-yes. Almost done." The Cerean's hands were still shaking dramatically and he had to pause to gain control of them before continuing.
"How long is this going to take?"
"Not too long."
"Get to it, then." The clone staggered back to the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To take back what was stolen from me."
"You're leaving?"
The Apprentice didn't answer. Instead, he stepped out of the doorway and paused only to break the door's opening mechanism. If someone was really intent on getting in, it wouldn't be able to stop them, but it might be able to slow their progress enough that he could get back before they dismantled the droids.
Once they managed to get the droids running, he imagined the place would erupt into chaos pretty quickly. In his mind's eye he saw scientists and Imperials being mowed down by blaster fire and left piled in the passageways; the stench of burnt flesh all consuming. But before this place was brought to its knees, the clone needed to find his sabers. He was not likely to find replacements and constructing a new set was completely out of the question. Besides, he knew exactly where they would be.
Admiral T'arrk's office.
He was looking forward to paying the man a visit; showing him how much his hospitality had been appreciated. Perhaps pay him back in kind.
He laughed to himself as he navigated the corridors, not knowing exactly where the office was, but knowing a quick way to find out. There was always some cowardly minion who would be willing to spill secrets to retain their worthless lives.
Ducking into a small side office he brought up an arm and sent a blast of Force energy across the room. It punched into the back of a young officer and he crumpled lifelessly to the floor. Another officer; a junior, leapt to his feet and scrabbled to sound the alarm. Unfortunately for him, the Apprentice used the Force to pluck him from the ground, sending him hurtling back in the other direction. Before he could recover, the clone was on him; boot pressed against his throat, pinning him to the ground.
"If you don't want to end up like your friend, there, I suggest you do as I say."
The man's eyes bulged but he said nothing, his fingers curling white against the clone's boot.
"Where is the admiral's office?"
The man gave a strangled cry and raised an arm to point back the way the clone had come. "Stairs." He wheezed. "Top of stairs. R-r-right."
The Apprentice smiled and, with a feverish light in his eyes, crushed the man's throat.
Now confident in his path, the burden of his injuries seemed suddenly to lighten, allowing him to ascend the steps two at a time. Behind him, three unlucky guards lay dead, their bodies twisted and broken. Ahead of him was his next victim; a wide-eyed, stuttering Lieutenant whose shaking fingers sought out his blaster and failed. Behind him the two guards were quicker to step into motion and the clone threw up a barrier of Force energy, rolling to the side before striking out with intense blasts of energy. They slammed back against the admiral's office doors, leaving indentations, and slumped to the ground.
He stepped over them and into the office, turning his immediate attention to seeking any signs of life inside. He was surprised to find no trace of the man at all; certain that he would have been up there, sipping on some alcoholic beverage with his feet up.
With a growl of frustration he arched an arm up, sending a wave of Force energy across the room. It took objects from the shelves and smashed them carelessly against the far wall.
There was only one option now. With no one to interrogate and torture he was reduced to searching this hovel for what was rightfully his. He certainly was not about to be considerate with the man's belongings.
Traipsing through the office, sending more objects to the floor, he circled around to the desk. The drawers were locked but he tore them out with a sharp burst of energy and sent them crashing against the wall. There was nothing inside but two broken datapads, an expensive looking pocket watch and a rather delicately embossed pistol.
Leaving the desk, he paced along the far side of the room, scanning for something that might be secure enough to conceal a pair of lightsabers. With the Force as his ally, he ripped every single item from its place (including a rather beautifully carved statuette) and threw them haphazardly across the room. Still nothing.
Frustration growing, he moved back to the desk and swept everything from the surface, leaving the metal top bare. Then, just for good measure, he sat in the padded chair and overturned the desk; reveling in the impact as it rattled the floor panels beneath his feet. The sound of it striking the floor was immense in the stillness of the destroyed office.
Only then did he pause, leaning back in the chair to survey the carnage. There was a dull throb in his chest that accompanied each beat of his heart and, deeper, the constant nag of wounds in desperate need of medical attention.
He felt…he felt…
"What do you feel?" Vader's voice echoed from his memories – his memories and not those of that inferior original.
"I feel nothing…"
He blinked and looked down at the floor. There, where the admiral's feet would have rested if he had been sat further forwards at the desk, was a small indentation. Pushing the chair away, the Apprentice knelt down and hooked his fingers into it. The panel lifted away with ease and, feeling a pang of hope, he cast it aside. Beneath the covering a small safe had been revealed, shaped into the floor so that it couldn't be simply lifted out and carried away. Reaching down, he set a palm against its smooth surface and reached out through the haze of pain to the mechanics within.
"Nothing?" Vader prompted.
"Hate…" The clone whispered. "Hate for his weaknesses. Disgust…for his failings. And pride for rising above them."
The lock gave a shattering crack as it broke and, simultaneously, the office doors snapped apart to reveal a small troop of Imperial soldiers. A cacophony of shouts and weapon fire resonated through the room, met with the hum of a lightsaber activating.
"Have the recovery team been sent to collect the bodies of the fallen?" Juno asked quietly.
"As I understand, they are already there and making progress, yes."
"And what of Kota?"
"If you and Starkiller are in agreement, I believe he will be taken to Alderaan. My father is arranging for him to be given the traditional Jedi funeral."
"We suspected as much. I could think of no place better suited for him to go." Juno agreed sadly. "Starkiller will agree, too, I am sure."
"My only regret is that I cannot be there myself."
"Starkiller and I have already said our goodbyes. He's with the Force now."
Leia's eyes lowered, perhaps in a moment of silent respect, and then gently, she continued: "May I ask you something else, as a friend and not as a senator?"
"You may." Juno hadn't meant that to sound so hesitant.
"How are you coping with all of this? You spoke about Starkiller's delicate mental state, but what about your own, Juno? You've had a lot to deal with since the attack on the Salvation. Your life has been upturned just as much as his has."
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
The hologram fluttered and Leia's face seemed concerned and disbelieving.
"I'll be fine." Juno reiterated, smiling softly. She was stronger than she looked. She could get through this just as she'd gotten through everything else that had been thrown her way. She'd not exactly had an easy life before joining the Rebels and with Galen at her side, she felt stronger and more determined than ever. Besides, Leia would have many problems of her own to deal with. The young senator certainly didn't need her to add to them.
"If you need anything in the way or support, Juno, I want you to feel like you can speak to me about it."
"Thank you, Leia. That means a lot."
"I also owe you an apology—for what was said during our last discussion."
Juno felt suddenly embarrassed, remembering her brash defiance and her complete admission of her feelings for Galen. She had never really thought beyond that little moment in time or of the repercussions it might have. She opened her mouth to free Leia of any wrongdoing, but the younger woman held up a hand to quieten her.
"I was quick to judge him and dismiss him as dangerous when I should have given him the benefit of the doubt. I hope I will have the opportunity to speak with him about this in person."
"I should apologize too, for what I said to you."
"You were defending someone you care for. I would have done the same."
"Even so, I'll apologize all the same."
"Then apology accepted." Leia smiled. "Now, let us move forwards. The past cannot be changed, but the future can always be made brighter."
To be continued...
Next update: 11th February