DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything.
So really sorry about this being a long time coming. There's been a few things but I won't bore you with the details. Hope this chapter isn't too bad. I wrote it while watching tele so it might be a bit crude. Sorry.
Leia hated the dark. She couldn't see anything in front of her but what she hated more was she couldn't feel her brother. He was always there, a calming, reassuring presence that lingered in more than her connection to the Force. It always scared her when they stabbed the needle into her arm and that icy feeling shot through her veins. After the initial icy feeling, a terrible numbness would follow. She felt like she was drowning in her own mind, perpetually trapped in the dark recesses of her mind without any hope of escape. Her limbs were always too heavy for her to move and her neck was so weak her head just stayed resting on her knees. Her eyes were always pressed closed despite the despairing darkness it created. She preferred the chosen darkness to the oppressive black that was the room.
Nothing had changed for months. The only reprieve from the all-consuming darkness was a few moments – mere seconds really – before the men arrived with her next shot. During that small window, a glimmer of something, a feeling maybe, gripped her mind. In those few seconds, she thought she could feel her brother, just a fleeting flash of his presence in her mind before the needle pierced her skin but it was gone. Leia still wasn't sure she was actually feeling anything or if her broken mind was just making it up.
She knew they would be coming soon. She was starting to feel that sensation now. There was a tugging in the deepest corner of her mind, one she couldn't quite reach but felt she needed to. Desperately she tried to reach out for that illusive feeling, needing to feel something, anything, other than that consuming darkness. But, like clockwork, the men were there, the cold steel already pressing against the crook in her elbow.
Mentally sighing in defeat, Leia nearly gave up before she began.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, her mind was flooded with feeling, her mind filling with so much hope and love her breath stopped. The feelings were so raw and intense and so painfully familiar that tears started streaming down her face. She tried to hold on to those feelings even as she felt the numbing start in her arm. Leia struggled with her own mind as it started to shut everything out again, bringing back the darkness. Within seconds it was gone.
Leia took a slow, deep breath. Her heart was racing in her chest despite the numbing agent coursing through her body. The tears continued. She knew where those feelings had come from but she had given up hope that she would ever feel them again.
She tried lifting her head, tried opening her eyes but her body refused to do her will. After what seemed like hours, Leia, exhausted but hopeful, stopped trying. She smiled through the tears, consoling herself with knowledge that her father was still alive. And if he was alive, nothing would stop him from rescuing her from her endless black nightmare.
Pieter double checked the wrist mounted scanner once more. Before leaving the hanger, he had snuck close enough the giant starship, fired one tiny tracking beacon onto its hull before following the small group out into the sunshine. This part had proven trickier. He was out in the open now and you didn't need the Force to see someone following you.
So while the Emperor and his entourage climbed into the small speeder, Pieter stayed hidden in the shadows of a crate tower. He pulled a longer, modified blaster out from under his shirt where it had been strapped to his back. Quickly, with deft fingers, Pieter had the blaster set up and aimed as the speeder pulled away from the platform. Before the speeder was out of range, Pieter released his breath and fired. The small tracker hit the back of the speeder between the thrusters and then it was out of range.
Not as concerned about speed now, Pieter calmly packed up the blaster, slung it back over his back and readjusted his shirt so it was hidden once more.
"Olin?" he held his wristcomm to his mouth, his eyes scanning the area.
"I hear you. Anything?"
Pieter stayed down, his voice low as a few men passed by his hiding spot.
"They just got into a speeder and disappeared. I have a tracker on it and am about to follow. The coordinates should be coming through live."
Ferus was silent on the other end for a few moments and then he was back.
"Got them. Stay safe, I'll keep an eye on the starship."
Pieter disconnected and glanced around quickly before emerging. He kept his head down and shoulders slumped, keeping up with the illusion of being homeless. Keeping his eye out for anyone who was paying attention to him, Pieter hobbled over to his own speeder. He programmed in the coordinates and proceeded to follow.
The house had been built into the side of a hill, a truly beautiful place but he knew what beauty could hide. He kept himself hidden in the garden outside, watching the flurry of activity unfold on the landing platform in front of him. Three Neimoidians stood at the door to the house, looking nervously excited as they too watched the Clones load an unconscious Anakin back into the speeder. The Emperor sat silently in the speeder waiting until the Clones were done. Minutes later, the Clones had joined their two Force sensitive accomplices and then the four of them were gone.
Making a split second decision, Pieter radioed Ferus again.
"I need you to follow the speeder as well. Skywalker is with it but I'm going to check out this place. Something doesn't seem right."
"Understood."
Pieter waited until the three Neimoidians went back into the house before carefully sneaking out of the garden. The whole front side of the house was made of windows so he moved quickly. He was inside the house before the door had closed behind the last Neimoidian. Despite the wall of windows, the inside of the house was relatively dark. Pieter crept through the wide hallway, keeping an ear out for any sound of the Neimoidians. He reached a branch in the hall and glanced down it briefly. The walls were smooth and only broken by two doors directly opposite each other. Glancing around, he continued on, knowing he wouldn't find anything in rooms so close to the front door. Two more hallways revealed the same thing but then he finally emerged into an open area. It was the sitting room, sparsely decorated and neatly kept. There was still no sign of the three Neimoidians.
There was a dark corridor continuing on from the hallway. Pieter slipped into the darkness. There were voices ahead but he didn't know enough of the native language to know what they were saying. Moving silently down the corridor, Pieter followed the Neimoidians into the dark. As his eyes adjusted to the dark he started to make out features. He could see the outline of the three aliens ahead of him as they turned into a room off the corridor. As the door shut Pieter hurried himself up. There was no way to see into the room but with the Neimoidians in there he didn't want to be there anyway. The corridor ended in an elevator door two meters in front of him.
Curious, Pieter hit the button beside the door and then stepped into the dark shadowed corner. When the doors opened, Pieter stayed crouched in the corner, waiting to see if anyone stepped out. When nothing did, he cautiously peered into the empty space.
There was a soft click and Pieter glanced behind him to see the door being pushed open again. His heart thudding faster in his chest, Pieter ducked into the elevator and frantically hit the down button. The doors closed just as he saw one of the Neimoidians leaving the room.
The elevator dropped quickly. Pieter tried to squash down the foreboding feeling that was gripping his stomach. Something was going on here, he could feel it.
The door opened into another dark corridor. This one was only short, about five meters long. There were two doors side by side, both closed and completely black. On the other side of each door was a window. Pieter walked over to the first one and glanced in. The room was lit by a glowing red lightsaber. Pieter gasped as he recognised the messy blonde hair on the young boy.
"Luke?" he whispered.
The boy was leaping around, flipping his body through the air in impressive feats. His agility and skill was reminiscent of his father despite his young age.
Gritting his teeth, Pieter took a chance and glanced into the other window. Huddled in a corner was Leia. He narrowed his eyes in anger as he took in the tiny, shaking form.
"Olin?"
"Yeah?"
"I've found the twins."
"What? Where are you?"
"The Emperor brought Skywalker here most likely to brag. I got here when they were leaving. Anakin was out cold when they left. I'm underground, beneath the house now. Can you call up the coordinates from the speeder when it was stationary? I'm going to try and get them out."
"Pulling them up now. I can be there in fifteen. Be careful Gorvus."
Pieter nodded to himself, swallowing down his growing emotions. He grabbed the doorknob to Leia's room and attempted to turn it. When nothing happened, Pieter pulled out his blaster, switched it to stun and then held it against the door, just beside the handle. The shot rattled the door and sent a numbing pain up his arm. Gritting his teeth, Pieter ignored the pain and holstered his blaster before trying the door again.
The shot had unhinged the lock and with little more than a shoulder nudge he was in. The room was pitch black but the small amount of light from the corridor was enough for Pieter's eyes to make out the outlines of everything inside. He could see Leia's curled figure in the corner, having not moved an inch.
Pieter dashed to Leia's side, reaching out for her. He gently placed his hand on her arm, hoping for some kind of reaction. She didn't move except for a slight shiver that ran through her whole body.
"Leia," he whispered.
Her arms tightened around her legs and the shivering became more intense.
"Leia sweetie," he tried again.
She still didn't lift her head. As gently as he could Pieter took her head in his hands and lifted it so he could see her face. Her eyes were closed, tears had left tracks down her cheeks but she appeared uninjured.
"Leia, my name is Pieter. I'm a friend of your fathers."
He spoke softly, carefully. Quickly he glanced over his shoulder, hoping he was still undiscovered. Satisfied for the moment he looked back to Leia. She had stopped shivering as soon as he mentioned her father but her eyes were still closed. He frowned.
"Alright sweetie, I'm going to get you out of here."
Carefully he slid his hands under her legs and behind her back. He held her against his chest as she finally responded to him by wrapping her arms around his neck. Her grip was tight but so was his. Pieter held her close, knowing he had to get her out of here.
He left Leia's room and moved towards Luke's. He was adjusting Leia in his arms so he could hold her with one arm when he heard the elevator. Swallowing hard, he glanced between the elevator doors and Luke's door. Did he have time to get Luke too?
The decision was taken from him when the elevator doors slid open and two of the Neimoidians entered the corridor. Two Clones followed behind, their blasters raised and pointed at him.
"Who are you?" the Neimoidian with green skin demanded.
Pieter took a step back, turning himself to the side so Leia was shielded by his own body. He took in the situation quickly, his thoughts processing everything at a phenomenal speed. Two blasters held by trained Clone Troopers. Minimal room to manoeuvre. Leia to protect. Get Luke if the opportunity presents itself.
"Get him and then put her back in her room," the Neimoidian demanded of the closest Clone.
The two Clones both took a step towards him, blasters ready. Pieter waited until they stepped into arms reach before reacting. Moving quickly, he grabbed the barrel of the closest blaster and shoved it in the direction of the other Clone. It went off as the Clone reacted on instinct. As the stun blast harmlessly hit the wall, Pieter had already kicked out at the other Clone, causing him to drop the blaster. The first Clone lunged for him again but Pieter still had a hold of his blaster. He slammed the blaster upwards as the Clone came forwards. The blaster smashed into the helmet, a crack appearing straight down the middle. The Clone released the blaster as he stumbled back. A harsh blow landed on his shoulder as the other Clone made a pass at him. Pieter took a step back, readjusting Leia before he turned the stolen blaster on the Clone.
"We need back-up! Call them all," one of the Neimoidians was calling into their wristcomm.
With one well-placed shot the Clone went down, landing heavily on top of his comrade. Pieter turned the blaster to the two retreating Neimoidians and shot without hesitating.
He heard a soft whimper from near his ear. Pieter instantly dropped the blaster instantly and raised his hand to place it on the back of Leia's head. He cradled her closer and made gentle shushing sounds.
He was about to turn back to get Luke when the elevator doors started closing. Realising it was the back-up Pieter made a split second decision. He leapt into the lift before the doors could close, leaving any chance of saving Luke behind.