Chapter 27
(Coruscant)
The new day dragged on. It was a boring day really. The two Sith lords had met once more in the morning when Vader awoke to find Exar Kun sitting on one of his balconies drinking a fine Coruscanti wine. The long haired Sith lord had informed Vader of their new ally within the inner circles of the Emperor, Arden Lyn. Vader had been apprehensive at first, but relented when Kun told him that he would deal with her, should she prove to be too much trouble for her own good. Viathan informed his master about his father when lord Vader was not present. Exar had been most disturbed by the development, but told his apprentice not to let lord Vader or his daughter know of this yet, as he wished to deal with this situation himself. Though he informed Viathan that he would tell lord Vader in time.
Vader on the other hand had met with Leia again during the morning rise, as her Noghri shadowed her every move. The meeting was, as usual, tense. Leia had tersely greeted the hulking dark clad monolith as, "father," once more and Vader had bowed to her stiffly, as he held his belt and greeted her as, "daughter," all in front of Viathan, Starkiller, who had snapped to Vader in shock but said nothing, and Kun who watched with a small amount of humor in his look.
Starkiller had not seen his master in a day, and had wanted to speak with him about the great disturbance in the Force. Vader had informed his apprentice that nothing was amiss. That he and the Emperor had been wise to the disturbance, and that he was fully in control of the disturbance. Starkiller didn't make a peep in protest, and merely accepted his masters retort to his worry over the disturbance. Exar was off to meet with Octavian Grant and admiral Refflet again, to finalize the first actions once inside Tapani and in command of Fondor. Vader was to once more head to Imperial military Command and Naval Command to overlook current operations, as the day began to drag on.
Only when Vader returned to his palace for a mid-day rest did he check his tracker on the Tantive IV. Only then de he see it had reached Dac several hours ago, and only then did it see it was already on the move and had made a stop in the Calaron Sector and had been sitting there for sometime. It was now that Vader decided to meet with Kun on the matter, and make his move against Organa. Now, he would find out what Bail had meant by 'children,' and he would have his revenge on the man, at last he would have what was rightfully his.
(Coruscant, Later that Day)
As Kun's shuttle landed back at lord Vader's palace and the Sith lord exited the craft, night was already beginning to fall down upon the Coruscant skyline. Exar was weary with the war planning of the day and entered into the palace as Vader had called him for a little meeting. Something he was not happy about, but he did it because his partner asked it of hi, and so he was here. He quickly entered the palace and made his way a floor up to the highest most level of the palace as Vader wanted to meet him up there in his personal war room. When he entered the turbolift and quickly exited he was immediately met with a very comfortable looking war planning room filled with terminals, charts, and up to date information being fed to him via the Naval Command center. Though Vader most likely did not use this place often as Kun had not seen or heard of him doing so yet. As he walked on in further he saw the hulking Sith standing in the center of the room, for whatever reason still wearing his suit. He was looking over a central terminal at a map of the galaxy, and when he noticed Kun he snapped into their meeting.
"How are things, lord Vader?" Kun opened with a tired smirk, and Vader waved him off.
"The war progresses, and the Moffs are now on the offensive and gaining traction in all consolidation campaigns not involving direct confrontation from us. However that is of little importance right now. We have another, more personal matter to deal with."
"Oh? And what is this personal matter?" Kun asked as he approached further into the room.
"Your friend Bail Organa, has apparently taken it upon himself to, run away from his tasks as a senator of the Galactic Empire, and has smuggled himself off world, and is now in the Outer-Rim."
"Really?!" Kun retorted quickly with a raised brow. "That man must have really lost his nerve after…well, after whatever you said to him! Too bad really. I had such high hopes for him, but it seems I have lost my, 'son of the Empire,' eh lord Vader?"
"Indeed. However there is more to this tale then at first glance." Again Kun cocked a brow, intrigued.
"Please, lord Vader, enlighten me to how this tale has more layers to it then." Exar asked as he took a seat on a nearby metallic chair.
Vader began mildly pacing as he went into detail. "When I spoke to the senator concerning, Leia, he made a slip of the tongue, and mentioned 'children,' as opposed to child, singular. I asked him about it, and perhaps I had been too lenient on him, but he definitely was hiding something from me. I am not one to make assumptions Kun, but I now have to believe I may possibly have…..another child out there in the galaxy." Kun went slightly wide eyed, and brought a hand to his chin.
"That man despite all the pressure still hid this from me as well. It would seem I gave Bail Organa too little credit. If this is true, then he has indeed been hiding much more then we may have guessed."
"Indeed." Vader retorted as he still paced. "I have a recording of him making contact with a fugitive Mon Calamari, named Gial Ackbar, he has been on the run from the Empire for sometime, and we have assumed for long that he has been hiding on his homeworld of Dac. However this presents another problem."
"That being?"
"There has been increased chatter coming from the Outer-Rim, and silence from several key worlds. Both Imperial and Moff high commands have reported losing contact with worlds under their command and each side is assuming the other has launched an attack. However, Vellam, has reported in and asked for instructions on how to deal with the attacks, only for him to hear that I have not authorized and neither has any other Imperial commander, authorized any attacks on worlds he has lost contact with. This brings me to a troubling conclusion. A third party is taking advantage of the war Kun, and we need to deal with it as soon as possible, as Organa is no doubt seeking their aid to try and kidnap my daughter back away from me. He said as much practically in his call to Ackbar!" Vader seethed through his mask as he snapped his attention to Kun before pacing again, and Exar simply made a, 'hmm,' noise in thought as the information sunk in.
"I assume you have a plan then lord Vader? Otherwise I feel that you wouldn't have bothered making me come over here to listen to a report, eh?" Vader nodded.
"Indeed. I have decided to ready my flagship, and will be making for the Outer-Rim to track down senator Organa, and these probable third party rebels in the Outer-Rim, and eliminate them personally. I will taking my apprentice out with me to confront any threat out there, and I am afraid my actions may reveal him, and possibly my children to my master. This cannot be helped," Vader said, more trying to convince himself rather than Kun as his thirst for vengeance on Bail Organa, and possibly Obi-Wan Kenobi clouded his common senses.
"I may need support however on this matter. Someone capable in the Force."
"Not that I am not willing to help, however, lord Vader, I think someone needs to conduct damage control if and when the poodoo hit's the proverbial fan."
"I understand that and as such I must request of you, the services of your apprentice, the Viathan boy. He seems capable enough." Vader said as he admitted to the skills of the ex-Hand of his master. Kun sat back in his chair for a moment and mulled the question over for a few silent moments before sighing.
"Take him. He will be useful I assure you. Make any order you need to him, and trust me he will follow it to his death so long as you invoke my will that he does as such. Just do me a favor, and bring him back mostly together. I need an apprentice to call my own after all and I would hate to think I wasted these last several weeks on the boy only for him to die on this revenge quest."
"He will be intact I assure you." Vader responded with an incline of his head.
"What of your daughter lord Vader? With your not being here, and the news reaching your master of your children it may prove unwise to leave her so….vulnerable to his machinations." Exar reasoned, and Vader seemed silent for a moment as he seemingly forgot that part.
"I will have to take her with me then. I will not like it, nor do I like it now, but, for her safety I cannot leave her out of sight."
"Of course. I will deal with his majesty for now, and on your behalf. Just try not to make it so hard for us will you? The minute he discovers your children he will seek to replace you, as he no doubt still believes you to be…..out of your prime shall we say." Exar offered and Vader nodded his helmeted head as he pondered.
"He will accept my training and desire to be with my children. Our…history, will make him hesitant to so blatantly order me to just thrown them into his arms. There is no doubt he will want them, and seek to turn them against me, but I will NOT allow him to take them from me. If what you aim for is true Kun, a new Sith order, then there is not a single reason why I shouldn't be allowed to have and train my children in the ways of the Force." Vader spat, and Kun held up a hand to calm the dark lord.
"No need to get snippy lord Vader. I for one have no interest in your children as my hands are full with Viathan, and perhaps future prospects. I will aid you so long as we have a common enemy. If that requires a little bit of placating towards the old man, then so be it. You will however owe me a favor after this." The dark lord said pointing a finger to Vader, as the two men shared an odd, what one could almost call friendship, through their common partnership and enemy.
Vader nodded his agreement to Kun's terms, as the long haired Sith rose to a stand once more.
"It's settled then. When will you be departing?"
"Momentarily."
"Oh." Kun was taken aback but figured the dark lord was indeed in a hurry.
"Very well. I will order Viathan back and send him to your ship, the Exactor, right?"
Vader nodded, and followed Kun out of the room as the Sith began to call Viathan back from his long stay with his father at the palace. While Vader went to collect both Starkiller and Leia, who would not doubt be upset with his orders….as usual.
Soon all the Force users were assembled onto the Exactor, and of course the princess of Alderaan was very…annoyed by having to travel around with Vader, but having the apprentice of Kun as company seemed to calm her some, something Vader was pleased with as he hadn't the time to deal with her for now, as he went to the bridge and ordered captain Piett to jump to Imperially held Iskalon, in the Mid-Rim. He sensed that Organa would show himself soon, and when he did he would be closer to make a move against him in turn. With that, the Stardestroyer jumped into hyperspace, and left Coruscant behind.
(Earlier the same Day, Dac)
The Tantive IV had entered into Dac's orbit to the shock of them all was surrounded by both Imperial and Mon Calamari warships as they both patrolled, and Bail Organa quickly contacted Gial Ackbar who was onboard his flagship designated, Home One, was a massive and seemingly up to date Mon-Cal warship that was looming over the planet of Dac below. Ackbar told Bail to land inside Home One, and join him in a conference room he gave directions to through their message, as Bail asked what was happening, to which the Calamari Ackbar simply told him he would explain once he came over. As such, he ordered his crew to land the Tantive IV inside the ship, and he was escorted by two Calamari technicians armed with stunners to the conference room, though he had instructions on how to get there, he knew no one would trust him to walk alone.
As the doors opened bail was greeted by Ackbar sitting in a chair at a oval shaped white table, and upon seeing Bail Ackbar rose to a stand with a kind but guarded smile upon his face as he ordered the Calamari guards to leave. They did so hesitantly as the Calamari shook Bail's hand and offered him a seat.
"Despite how things seem Bail, I am happy you are off Coruscant. Though you can see not everyone trusts you."
"I wouldn't expect them to my friend. I have….done things to lose their trust and respect and I know that." Ackbar nodded sadly.
"Let's forget about that for now shall we? You asked what was going on before landing, and well I can tell you that some good came from your actions that led to Dubrava. A new rebel movement has been formed by the survivors of that massacre and they have sent out feelers all across the galaxy, including us on Dac. We and several other key worlds have joined in a coordinated uprising against both the Moffs and the Imperials." The Calamari informed with a large smile and Bail seemed take aback.
"How did this come to be? Where did the arms, the equipment the soldiers come from? Whose in charge?"
"Calm yourself my old friend, calm yourself." Ackbar said holding up a fishy hand to stop the senator who seemed frazzled.
"The new movement has taken an acronym style title, the United Rebellion Movement. Or URM for short and Dac has agreed to join the movement. Both Mon Calamari and the Quarren leading councils have agreed on this mind you and many of my people are hoping reconciliation is formed between the two peoples because of that." Bail nodded, but still seemed ready to burst with questions, but Ackbar preemptively cut him off.
"As for the other members I will say that Sullust, Sluis Van, Manaan, and Geonosis are onboard, and have all signed an informal pledge of friendship and alliance. You will find that the Geonosians are some of the most adamant supporters and proponents of this alliance. As well as the biggest suppliers of arms, and soldiers." Ackbar said with a certain knowing smile, and Bail looked stunned.
"You cant possibly mean that you are-"
"Yes Bail, we have re-commissioned the droid armies of the CIS. Only this time these droids will be used to free worlds from the Imperial and Moff-offshoot oppression." The Mon Calamari said with great pride and happiness about him.
"Right now, below on the surface of Dac, there are thousands of the droids we once feared under the command of Count Dooku, now fighting side by side with my people to either arrest or kill all Moff units."
"I suppose I shouldn't object seeing as I am perhaps the main reason why so many people may feel uneasy about trusting organics."
"You can look at it that way if you want Bail, but this is mainly a fact of reality. We can produce triple the amount of the vast, nearly innumerable Imperial and Moff armies with the droids. They may not be the greatest soldiers, or most effective but they get the job done and no one loses a child to war when using droid armies. AT least not in the mass army sense my friend. So if you were to ask me if I feel morally obligated to not use the droid armies I would tell you, I don't." The admiral said and Bail only nodded, again feeling incapable of arguing against the decisions of the rebels anymore.
"Beyond that we have more worlds supporting us outright and funding us through the appropriate channels, but beyond that I feel it is unsafe to say more, on a general level mind you."
"I fully understand Gial." Bail said as he eased back into his seat with a slightly far away look in his eyes.
"Now, let us get to the topic of why you're here my friend. Now I understand lord Vader has your daughter? Now I am a little confused, why does lord Vader personally have your daughter?"
"It's a lot more complicated than that Gial. I adopted Leia, and raised her from birth, but her parentage is a lot more of a personal matter to lord Vader personally. Her real father is the Jedi knight from the Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker." Admiral Ackbar's eyes flung open wide, even for a Mon Calamari.
"The Anakin Skywalker?! Whose the mother?"
"A senator, do you remember senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo?"
"Ah, yes I remember her indeed. I would never have thought…is that why she died?"
"Indeed, there were complications in the birth." Bail vaguely clued Gial in as he once more didn't feel it a good idea to inform Ackbar on who exactly Vader is or how Padmé came into complications during her birth.
"There's more Gial. She didn't have just one child, she bore twins. However, to keep them out of the grasp of the Empire, I and Jedi masters Kenobi and Yoda decided to split them up at birth to lessen their signatures and the probability of their being found by the Empire. However…..I have failed." Bail intoned with some emotion sneaking into his voice and Ackbar nodded sadly.
"These children can, and I believe will be the only ones powerful enough to rival Vader and the Emperor in power when the age, and now, they have the daughter of Skywalker. With her being compromised and in their grasp. I think we must take young Luke Skywalker, who is under the watch of master Kenobi on Tatooine, into productive custody, and prepare him to one day face down the Emperor and Vader in time. Then I would and will beg to those in command of your military to aid me in getting my daughter back, so we may teach them to fight for freedom, and the light and not the darkness the Empire is no doubt trying to make her do."
"I understand your desperation bail, but you will need to convince the Supreme Commander of the allied URM armed forces and a Jedi herself. A Jedi named Kellia Nelrain. She led the battles of Geonosis, and Manaan personally."
"Very well. Sounds reasonable enough. If she's a Jedi then I feel my odds have risen some."
"I warn you Bail," Gial interjected. "She is quiet pleasant I believe once you get on her good side, but I feel if you get on her bad side you wont like her, and she will make it plainly obvious she doesn't like you."
"I'll take my chances, Gial."
"Alright then…" Ackbar said as he rose up and entered a few keys into a terminal as the central piece of the table began to come to life with a holo-call connection.
Soon a hologram of the top half of a woman came forward. Wilde long dark hair, and dark eyes, though the hologram made it hard to really tell that aspect apart. She had a hard, but pleasant face, but she had a look that spoke of her uncomfortable position at having to speak with Bail.
"Senator Organa, of Alderaan. How pleased I am to be speaking with the son of the empire." She coldly greeted with a numb expression in her eyes and acid seething in her voice. It almost made Bail jerk back from the anger and distrust he could all but sense coming off this Jedi.
"You are Kellia Nelrain I presume? It is, an honor to speak with you, despite the fact that you obviously don't feel the same way, and I respect that."
"Do you now? Well it's nice to know you respect people and their positions now that you are being held by the people you sold down the river not too long ago, my dear senator. Don't make this formal, I am not a fan of politics, and really I only like a few politicians. Just please do us all a favor, and pardon me being so frank admiral Ackbar, but just spit out what you have to offer, and I will see if I will even consider helping you." She said as Ackbar remained respectfully silent, and Bail once more reeled back from the bluntness of the woman.
"Very well ma'am." Bail said and recounted everything he said to admiral Ackbar to Kellia who remained quiet throughout the whole thing. Never making any overt sign of surprise or emotion even. When he finished he expected her to say something, to call him a liar or, anything! Yet she didn't say anything for a few moments and closed her eyes as she took council with herself, and as far as Bail knew, the Force.
Finally she opened her eyes and looked very much disturbed, as if the Force had told her of the truth in his words, and thus she had to….believe him.
"Very well. As much as I'd like to send the kill order to the droideka units to kill you, and don't bother telling me about how that would be wrong for a Jedi to do so…I must believe you. The child of V…..Skywalker," She said and only Bail caught it as his heart raced at the fact this Jedi knew that Anakin was Vader, but he didn't say anything as Ackbar hadn't caught on.
"Will be brought under our protection, only if his Jedi guardian, master Kenobi, finds the threat credible, or necessary. That being said. I will meet you at these," she trailed off as she entered in a few keys in her terminal, and the terminal on Ackbar's side began beeping. "Coordinates, you will rendezvous with me there. I shall bring a task force of droid units, and we will make for Tatooine. You will not move a one inch lest I say it's okay, and if you don't show Organa, I will ordered every bounty hunter in the galaxy to hunt you down for more credits then they could ever imagine, and will personally send a droid army to Alderaan to find you and, or your allies."
"U…understood, madam." Bail said as he once more reeled back from her snappiness. As she then cut the feed immediately and Admiral Ackbar only chuckled.
"Oh my friend. I am afraid she doesn't like you one bit."
"Truly? What gave it away?" Bail asked sarcastically but also jokingly, as he shared an uneasy laugh with Gial.
"Listen while you are en route to meet with her I'll call her back and try to calm her down a bit. You just get there and get this ball rolling, and, Force willing, you will have your daughter back in no time, and will be under the protection of the URM. With me personally to back you up. Okay Bail?"
"Yes, thank you Gial. You have been…incredibly helpful to me in these hard times."
"Not a problem. Now get going." The admiral shooed as he pushed bail out the door, and soon the senator, onboard the Tantive IV made for the rendezvous point to meet face to face with this most, unruly of Jedi knights he ever had the 'pleasure,' of knowing.
Not knowing lord Vader, his apprentice, Kun's apprentice, his adopted daughter, and an Imperial army were making way to him and Kellia. For a final confrontation.
Authors Note: Okay guys, tell me what you think of this chapter. Next one will be the big confrontation you've been hearing about and waiting for, for the last several chapters. As usual please point out or excuse any and all grammatical errors, and enjoy! :)