Stars and the moons shone brightly on the pitch black sky above Tatooine's endless wastes of sand and rock. The day's heat had escaped, and dry wind felt cold against Luke's cheeks. With no fire, no glowrods or lights from the towns anywhere near them the sky seemed endless. It blended seamlessly into the horizon, making it impossible to tell where the land turned into space. Once he would've feared the night, but now the darkness surrounding them filled him with calm.
Even here the night wasn't entirely silent. If he concentrated, he could here the small insects and lizards that emerged from their daily hiding places when the suns were down. He could hear the leathery wings of flying creatures hunting them. Once in a while a high pitched shriek carried across the dunes far from the south.
"Krayt dragon," he said.
"Hmm," Galen replied without opening his eyes. He lay on his side, thermal blanket tightly wrapped around him.
"You think it's coming here?
"Maybe," Galen murmured sleepily. "They're said to be attracted to dark side."
"We're a pretty interesting to it then."
"The abandoned Tusken camp is more alluring. Go to sleep."
Luke turned his head to look at his brother, but Galen didn't move or open his eyes. Only his face peeked from inside the covers. He looked calm and at the verge of sleep, but Luke knew he could get up in full alert and ready to slay any enemy that'd dare to disturb his slumber. He didn't worry about the krayt dragon, though. He would've been happy to see such a legendary creature. Tusken's were said to hunt them as a rite of passage. But it was far, far away from them. Even if he closed his eyes and spread his awareness he couldn't have said where it was. There was no one here but them. Not even PROXY accompanied them this time. Two days ago they'd driven far, far away from all settlement to practise in peace with no worry of prying eyes.
It was near impossible to practise anything physical during the hottest hours of the day, but they'd sparred late into the night before camping here by the mesas. Tomorrow they'd have to drive back. Luke would have to go back to school. Galen was lucky enough to be older. Despite his late start, he had graduated among with his peers. Maybe in a month's time they could come back for a few days again. Unless his father would have a mission for Galen. Even here Galen made sure to constantly be at a comcall's reach, should Erv alert him.
Luke sighed and raised his gaze to the stars again. As a child he had tried to count them, had tried to imagine how many planets there were around them. He could point the nearby systems from the sky, but most of the stars were mysteries to him. He felt very small, lying here on the sand and staring into the vastness of the space. It filled him with strange, empty longing. He'd been born somewhere out there, but since then he'd never set his foot off Tatooine. Even a trip to one of the moons with Biggs hadn't work out in the end.
One day, he reminded himself, folding his arms behind his head. Once Galen had completed his training. Once he had completed his own training. Then they'd go out there together. They'd march to Coruscant, they'd slay the evil Emperor. They'd be heroes and then he could go to all those places he'd dreamt of. Then he'd, too, get to have all those amazing adventures Galen had.
Luke reached out his hand. The sky seemed to be so close he could wrap his fingers around the stars and pull them down. So close, yet so far. He flattened his palm against the stars and watched them twinkle between his fingers.
"I can't wait to get out of here."
"I can't wait for you to sleep," Galen muttered.
"One day, when we're old and I'll be the Emperor," he began, ignoring his brother. "You'll be there with me, right?"
"I will."
"You'll be my right hand."
Galen hummed in agreement.
"We'll go form the edge of the galaxy to another and conquer everything in between."
Galen smirked, half asleep. "We'll be unstoppable."
Starkiller had very little time to think of his failure, Luke or even his new pilot. All his time awake was consumed by rigorous training. Now, only hours before his Master would take his leave, Starkiller knelt waiting for Lord Vader's decision. He would be sent to kill the Jedi on Raxus Prime –or back to Tatooine.
He had done more than his best. During these two days, he had given everything he had to prove his Master he was capable. He was confident he had proven himself.
Once again Lord Darth Vader faced the viewport, watching the faraway stars. What he saw there, Starkiller didn't know. Perhaps he just preferred the view to his not quite an apprentice. He knelt in silence for a long time, so long that once Vader finally spoke he jerked a little, having momentarily forgotten where he was.
"I have come to a conclusion," Darth Vader announced, but still he would not turn to look at him. Starkiller fought not to smile. Master would surely send him to Raxus Prime.
"You will not face Kazdan Paratus."
Starkiller's heart sunk and it took him great effort not to let the disappointment show on his face. "But Mast–"
He closed his mouth at the warning pressure on his throat. Vader turned around, so he bowed his head down. "As you wish, my Master.
He inhaled sharply as he heard his Master ignite his lightsaber, and his heart sank further still. Had he disappointed his Master so thoroughly? He looked up and watched as Vader approached. He couldn't have moved, even if he would've wanted to. He had told himself he would show no fear, but it must have been evident in his eyes. The red blade rose as his Master got closer, it pointed straight at his face, and he had to lift his head and lean back so it would not pierce his face.
All he saw was red. The blade was so close between his eyes he could feel its heat. He feared it might burn off his eyebrows. He swallowed, fighting to keep his body from trembling. He closed his eyes. He was ready. He'd been ready to die for a long time, he realised. There was a part of him that urged him to plunge himself into the blade. But Starkiller wouldn't. It was Vader who had started this, had given him his life. It would be only right for Vader to be the one to take it as well.
"I've watched you very carefully these two days," the Dark Lord said. "Indeed you are strong in the Force. The dark side has made you powerful. You've come far from where you started. You were but a weak child when I found you, but against all odds you have survived."
Starkiller opened his eyes, but the blade was still there. What was happening? It had sounded like Master Vader was complimenting him. But that never happened. Master never told him he'd done well. What kind of ruse was this? Was Vader trying to push him to overestimate himself?
Or had he truly been redeemed? But if so, why punish him by not letting him go after Kazdan Paratus?
"Your training is nearly complete."
His lips parted in surprise as Vader lowered the blade towards his chin. He could feel his Master's eyes meet his behind the black mask.
"There is but one final test," Darth Vader revealed and moved the lightsaber over his shoulder. It hummed only few centimetres from Starkiller's ear. He didn't dare to move. He was too shocked for words. Maybe Vader's words were meant as comforting lies right before his death. Maybe his Master was only saying such things because the moment he'd think he was safe the lightsaber would behead him. He wished he was wrong. He didn't want a kind death.
"Your anger makes you strong." As he spoke, Vader slowly moved the blade over Starkiller's head and onto his other shoulder. "The dark side truly is your ally."
The blade was moved back to the left shoulder, then deactivated.
"Rise, my apprentice."
Stunned and numb Starkiller did. He feared his knees would give out, but from the outside he was as stoic as ever. His mouth felt dry as he replied: "What is your will, my Master?"
"You will face your deadliest enemy yet."
"The Emper–"
"No," Darth Vader cut him off aggressively.
"But I'm ready," Starkiller insisted. Hadn't it just been proven? Hadn't Vader just knighted him? Hadn't he just finally accepted him as his true apprentice? "I'm ready now, Master! Together we can take him!"
"I will decide when you are ready," Vader stated, anger staining each word. His dark, overwhelming presence washed all over Starkiller, reminding him of how insignificant and small and weak he ultimately still was.
"You failed to defeat the real Rahm Kota. Your skills may be impressive, but you have not faced a true Jedi Master yet."
"Then let me prove my worth. Let me kill Master Paratus," Starkiller urged.
"Master Paratus is none of your concern anymore. He is a mad man tinkering with his droids. He is no threat to the Empire. Facing him would be waste of our time. You will go to Felucia instead."
"Felucia?" Starkiller echoed in confusion. His snapped his teeth together when he realised he'd said it out loud. He bowed slightly from the waist. "Who is it?"
"Master Shaak Ti. One of the last of the Jedi Council. She is not alone. Over the years she's gathered an army of local Force sensitives and trained them."
Starkiller scowled. "No doubt she plans to have her pawns killed to wear me off while she hides somewhere safe. She's a coward."
"A tactician who doesn't hesitate to sacrifice her subjects for what she believes is for the greater good," Lord Vader corrected him. "You will need mastery of everything I have taught you to defeat her. You need full control of the dark side. Only then are you ready to face our true enemy."
"Yes, my Master."
"This is your final test. Do not fail me this time."
"I won't, I swear," Starkiller vowed. He turned to leave, but right before the doors closed behind him, he turned to look at his Master. "I will bring you her lightsaber."
The doors did not open again, nor did his Master acknowledge his words in any manner. It didn't matter. He would do as he had promised. He would not fail this time.
Starkiller had nothing to pack. He had all the essentials on the Rogue Shadow, as well as here in his room. He dialled Juno. It took her less than ten seconds to pick up.
"Juno, we're leaving. Pack your things, I'm coming there to show you back to the ship."
"Roger, I'll be ready to leave in two minutes."
She was dressed in her uniform, hair neatly done and ready when Starkiller arrived. They made their way to the Rogue Shadow, where PROXY awaited them.
"Is Lord Vader still here?" Juno asked curiously while Starkiller keyed the entrance code to the landing ramp.
"Yes, but he's leaving, too."
"What did you even do here for two days?" she asked. She would have been bored out of her mind had she not had a computer full of Holodramas. As her mission was top secret, she was strictly forbidden from making any contact with her friends or even logging in on Holonet as herself. She had binge watched almost two seasons of that popular Coruscanti holodrama her rare girl friend at the army had recommended ages ago. She hadn't been wrong. It was just as funny as she had told her, and quite action packed, too. Sadly the two-hour Empire Day special episode would have to wait, as duty now called.
"None of your business," Starkiller replied bluntly. He'd softened a bit towards the woman, but he didn't trust her. She was his pilot, not his friend.
"Alright, sorry I asked," Juno said defensively. She couldn't bring herself to trust him, either. Not after what she'd heard. "I'll prepare the ship."
Starkiller watched her walk up the ramp. PROXY followed her, presumably to inform her of their coordinates. He closed his eyes an reached out in the Force carefully. His Master was still somewhere on the Star Destroyer. His presence was hard to miss.
The apprentice boarded Rogue Shadow and closed the ramp behind him. He needed to focus. This was his most important mission yet. And he was determined that nothing would come between him and success.
Once the engines started it didn't take long until the Rogue Shadow was hundreds of kilometres away from the Star Destroyer's hull. The hyperdrive hummed and they jumped to light speed.
"So, what's on Felucia?" Juno wanted to know. She'd pulled some basic information about the planet along with the coordinates, but Starkiller informed her he'd familiarise himself with the planet later.
"A Jedi Master I'm going to deliver to justice."
"What about Skywalker?" she asked cautiously.
"He'll have to stay onboard until I'm done on Felucia. But after that we'll have to figure out a way to get him out. I'm not risking taking him to Scarl again," Starkiller told. "I'll go see what he's up to. I'm sure you and PROXY will do just fine without me."
Once in the corridor, out of anyone's view, Starkiller leant against the wall. He swallowed, allowing his feelings finally wash over him.
My apprentice.
He could still almost hear the lightsaber next to his ear. Finally. Finally, finally, finally!
A joyous smile curled his lips and he felt like laughing. There was a fluttering feeling in his stomach, his heart beat and the blood rushed in his ears so fast he felt like he could hear his own heartbeat. It was all he had ever wanted. Or not quite, but knowing he would never be the same as Luke, it was the next best thing.
He was officially an apprentice! He could hardly believe it. What if he had dreamt it? What if he had misunderstood?
He straightened himself in an attempt to get himself together, but the giddy feeling would not leave him. It wasn't very Sith-like to have shaky hands because of something like this. Yet the smile still tugged at the corners of his lips despite his best efforts. He breathed out and made sure his face was neutral before stepping into the training room. Luke sat on the other side of the room, next to the wall. His eyes were closed and it looked like he was deep in meditative trans.
"Finally" Luke muttered, loud enough for him to hear it. He peered his eyes open slowly and stood up to greet him.
"What took you so long? I've been bored to death..!" he moaned. He stopped in the middle of the room, crossed his arms and frowned at him. Starkiller's composed mask didn't fool Luke.
"What are you so happy about?" he asked grumbly.
"I–I think he just knighted me," Starkiller blurted out faintly.
Luke's jaw dropped. "Knighted?"
Starkiller nodded faintly. "He put a blade over my shoulder and to the other and back. He called me an apprentice."
All hostility in Luke's mannerism was dropped instantly. For a moment he just stood, letting the knowledge sink in. Then, without a warning, he lunged at his brother and jumped to hug him, nearly toppling them both on the floor.
"That's amazing!" he beamed, hanging onto his brother with both arms thrown around him and feet off the floor. "Stars, that's so prime!"
"Stop it, let me go," Starkiller grunted, trying hard to keep his balance with Luke dangling on him. But it was hard not to be affected by Luke's genuine happiness for him. His brother dropped back on the floor, only to squeeze him tighter. Galen sighed and wrapped his arms around Luke awkwardly, allowing himself to smile a little. "Thanks..."
Luke let go. His eyes sparked with excitement and a wide smile spread across his face. He seemed to be expressing all the feelings Starkiller felt deep inside, but didn't dare to, didn't even know how to show.
"We have to tell Uncle and Aunt!" Luke exclaimed. "We'll have a party when you come back home. Erv will come, too. And we'll go to Bestine with Aunt Beru to get something real special. Like those Ooo-temiuk style cakes you really like. Some drinks from the Core! Biggs says he knows someone who sells liquors they import to Vensenor Flight Academy on Arkanis," he blabbered.
"We're not buying alcohol that was stolen from the Empire," Starkiller disapproved amusedly.
"Who cares, you've earned it," Luke smiled. "I'll compensate them when I'm the Emperor one day. Oh, but you'll want to tell them yourself, right?"
"I don't really care either way," Starkiller said as if it wasn't a big deal or anything.
"Well, if you're sure then I'll tell them and we'll have party waiting for you when you get back," Luke decided.
"I don't think there's a need for a party, " Starkiller said uneasily. What would Master Vader think of that?
"Of course we'll have a party, this is important," Luke argued. "You've been waiting for this. I've been waiting for this."
"I don't think Lord Vader would approve..." Starkiller pointed out carefully.
Luke waved his hand dismissively. "He's not invited. He should've named you an apprentice long time ago."
Starkiller looked away. He agreed, but it would've felt like betrayal to voice his opinion now. Who was he to question Darth Vader's decisions? Besides, what mattered was that Vader had finally, after all these years, acknowledged Starkiller's position as his apprentice.
Luke's hands clasped his shoulders and he looked at him with a concerned expression: "So is this it? Are you gonna kill the Emperor now?"
Starkiller pulled away and shook his head. "He doesn't think I'm ready."
"But...you just said–"
"I know. But he still wants to test me."
Luke looked just as disappointed as he had felt. "Oh... So what now?"
"We're going to Felucia."
Luke's brows furrowed. "Felucia? Never heard."
"Thanium sector in the Outer Rims. I'll have to check what kind of a place it is."
"Are we hunting a Jedi again?"
"We aren't hunting anything," Starkiller corrected. He straightened his back proudly. "I, however, am going to kill a Jedi Council member."
Luke oohed excitedly. "Which one?" he immediately wanted to know.
"Shaak Ti."
"Oh, she's a Togruta, isn't she? Togrutas have more senses than Humans have," Luke apprised. "I think it's echolocation? But she's got to be really old by now. You'll take her down easily."
"She's a very powerful Jedi Master," Starkiller reminded. "So you're staying onboard like last time, and once I'm done we'll figure a way to get you back home."
"No, can't I stay here?" Luke pleaded. "Please? I stayed here and hid myself just like I said I would. Father had no idea I was here!"
"That's only because I had something else to tell him when he asked why I was distracted," Starkiller grimaced.
"What do you mean..?" The feelings he got from Galen confused and worried him. Just moments ago he'd been so happy and proud, but now... He felt fear and irritation and...shame?
"Nothing that'd be important," Starkiller dismissed. He didn't want to admit his failure to Luke. At least not yet. One day, maybe, but not now. Not when it was still so raw and awful to think about. "You can't stay here when I go back."
"No. I know you," Luke insisted. "Something's wrong, something's bothering you."
"It's nothing."
"Tell me."
"I said it's nothing," Starkiller snapped at him.
"It's not nothing!" Luke argued, refusing to back down. "You can't hide your feelings from me. I know something's wrong. Talk to me. I want to help you."
"Then shut up and leave me alone. I need to be prepared to face Shaak Ti," the apprentice snarled. He shoved past Luke and stalked towards his little bedroom.
Luke pursed his lips stubbornly and followed, slipping in right before the door closed. "Galen, I'm not gonna drop this. What's wrong?"
His brother slumped on the bed, pressing his face against his palms with a heavy sigh. Luke sat next to him, fingers nervously digging around his knees.
"Please," he asked. For a long time, neither said a word. His brother wouldn't look up at him, and Luke was determined not to leave until he knew what it was that hurt his brother so badly. He could feel the hurt as a distant ache through the bond they shared.
"It's Kota," Galen suddenly confessed, eyes closed and face still buried in his hands.
"What about him?"
Galen let out a wavering breath. "I failed."
The torrent of emotion that carried across the Force hit Luke like physical punch in the gut. The way how Galen's voice nearly cracked slashed like hot blade in Luke's heart.
"No," he gasped. "No, you had his lightsaber!"
It could not be true, it just couldn't. His brother never failed.
"But I don't know if he's dead," Galen exclaimed brittlely.
"You killed him. You said you did. Of course he's dead," Luke tried to reason.
Galen shook his head. Slowly, torturously he began to explain. He described the visions he saw, he repeated Kota's words. He told how instead of killing Kota quickly he had arrogantly wanted to bask in the moment. He spoke of his confession to Vader, and of everything it led to. Not once did he turn to look at Luke. He was far too ashamed. Silence fell between them once he finished.
Luke didn't know what to say. Saying he was sorry wouldn't help at all. Saying it didn't matter would be denying the truth. Assuring him he'd do better the next time would only have Galen scoff at him that of course he would. So Luke said nothing. He placed his hand on his brother's shoulder to offer him silent reassurance. He felt Galen tense. He didn't like being touched. Or rather, he seemed to like it after a moment or two of confusion. Touch always seemed to surprise him, but Galen didn't pull away.
Luke pulled his hand back and stood up. "Should I go?"
Galen shook his hanging head. "No, don't. It's..." He closed his eyes and raised his head to face Luke. When he opened his eyes, the shame and hurt and despair were gone. Only determination defined his features. "I can't wallow in self-pity. I failed. Now I have to use it to succeed."
Luke could feel the dark lump of self-loathing within his brother spark into cold anger. It was good. Anger was good. You could defeat an enemy with anger. Galen would need it to defeat Shaak Ti.
He hit the door panel to open it, and stood in the doorway with a smug grin on his face. Lightning played between his fingers. "Come on then and show me how it's done."
"You won't stand a chance," Galen smirked. He was up and on his feet quicker than Luke could back away from the door. He yelped, but it was delighted sound of childish excitement. He made his escape to the training room, gathering the prickling energy in his hand. The crackling blue lightning illuminated the dimly lit room with eerie light as they shot across the air.
Galen's hands reached towards them, holding them at bay, sucking the energy carefully until nothing but tiny, glowing orbs hovered above his palms.
"You're gonna have to do a lot better than that," Galen announced. He pushed forward, mighty lightnings shooting from his hands, filling the air with pungent smell of ozone. Luke grunted, just barely able to keep the electric current from going right through him. And he knew Galen wasn't even being serious yet. This room was far too small for either of them to be serious.
Back home they'd gone far in the rocky hills and mesas, away from all settlements. When night fell they'd shot their lightnings far into the sky, just to see how far they would go. How powerful they could make them. Galen had so much more control over them. Luke's were just as deadly, but far from the preciseness of Galen's. Nor were his quite as powerful as Galen's, but they wouldn't need to be to kill just the same.
Later it turned out they weren't quite as far away from the settlements as they should have been. Turned out half of the population living in the area had seen their show in the horizon and it had been all over the local news the next day. People kept talking about this peculiar display of nature for weeks. Uncle Owen hadn't been impressed.
Galen's lightning died down and Luke grinned at him. When they were kids they used to run around the yard, firing Sith lightning at each other, giggling and laughing as they did. They'd howled with laughter at Aunt Beru's face when she saw Galen writhing on the ground while Luke pretended to electrocute him to death. No matter how much they'd tried to convince Aunt Beru it was all games and the lightnings only tickled and nipped a little she'd remained unconvinced. This was something else, though it was still just a game between two brothers.
When they arrived to Felucia, Galen felt readier than ever. They all gathered to the cockpit by Luke's request. To him, approaching yet another planet was nothing new, but to Luke it was a rare novelty. Sneaking on the Rogue Shadow was after all his first time travelling in space.
The blue-green planet hanging against the black void of space was filled with life. They both could feel it radiating strongly in the Force. But it was horribly unbalanced.
Luke lent over Juno's chair and tried to see everything she and PROXY on the co-pilot's seat did. Starkiller sat behind them, rolling his eyes at his brother's enthusiasm.
"I'm going to kill the engines now," Juno explained. "You've got to approach the gravity wall carefully. Too fast and we'll plummet like a comet."
She turned to speak to him over her shoulder: "Felucia in range."
"Readings?" Starkiller inquired.
Juno glanced at PROXY's monitors. "Can't see any major settlements, but the life signs are overwhelming the scanners. I've no idea where to land."
"I'll tell you."
"Oh, can I?" Luke requested quickly. "Please?"
Starkiller shrugged. "Sure. Since you're here you might as well practice."
"Okay." Luke inhaled deeply and closed his eyes in concentration. Juno frowned, first looking at Luke, then at him questioningly. She appeared a little spooked, but Starkiller had no intention to explain. She straightened her back and turned back at the console, hopefully having concluded it was none of her business.
He closed his eyes as well and reached into the Force. The planet underneath pulsed with life. The Force was strong here.
"There," Luke announced after a while. Starkiller's eyes snapped open and he stood up to see where Luke was pointing.
"Here, on the equator."
His brother turned to look at him, waiting for his approval. He nodded. "Juno, take us there."
"What is there, exactly?" she asked.
"My next target. Keep us cloaked and take me down."
She nodded and eased forward on the throttle. Luke's eyes were instantly back on what she was doing.
Starkiller had never understood Luke's passion for machinery and flying. Perhaps it ran in the family, seeing Vader apparently shared these traits, albeit behaving more maturely about it. The mental image of his Master fussing over flight controls like Luke was, was both disturbing and amusing. He pulled the hood deeper over his head to hide his face.
Turbulence shook the ship once they arrived to the cloud level. Luke gasped at the sight of giant, colourful fungi that covered the planet. It took Juno several tries to land the Rogue Shadow steadily on a mushroom cap.
"Well that was something," she sighed with relief once she was sure they were stable.
Starkiller got up, shrugging off the black robe. It would only hinder him here. "Lower the ramp. Wait for me here."
He gave Luke a long, warning look. "Stay here."
His brother rolled his eyes. "I can take care of myself."
"There's not much for us to do here..." Juno commented.
"Just wait," Starkiller told bluntly. With no further words or goodbyes he walked out of the cockpit. The ramp was lowered, and he stalked down onto the fungus and leapt into the jungle below.
"I'll be tracking your location, just in case," he heard Juno's voice in his ear via comlink.
"I know where I'm going," he replied. He could feel the Jedi, but she wasn't alone. The Felucian warriors were Force sensitives, too, and according to his Master, Shaak Ti had been training them. He ignited his lightsabre with a smirk. He was ready.
Juno leant her head against the headrest of her seat. "He doesn't seem to want my help."
Skywalker threw himself in the seat vacated by Starkiller, stretching his arms above and behind his head. "Nah, he's always like that. He's just concentrating on the mission."
"Would it kill him to smile even once?"
"It might," the boy chuckled. He straightened himself and looked at her eagerly. "So what do we do now?"
"I'll be keeping an eye on his and the enemies' movements, and try to be as much help as I can."
"Can I help?"
"Not really. Just sit back and relax. Maybe think of a way to get back to Tatooine," she suggested. She eyed at the scanners and the maps they were forming. The boy sighed dramatically at her suggestion. It was difficult to keep in mind this was the very same teenager she'd heard conspiring against the Emperor. She worked a long while in silence, watching Starkiller's movements. So far he hadn't met any heavy resistance, but the direction he was heading to had structures she assumed must have been settlements. She managed to locate several suspicious groups of Felucians, and informed Starkiller of them. The young man acknowledged her, but said nothing more. It had been well over an hour before the Felucians truly began to engage him.
"Starkiller. The enemy is closing in on you," she warned via comlink.
"I know. They're strong in the Force. I can sense them."
Luke watched the marks that indicated lifeforms the Rogue Shadow's scanners picked. Three groups had Galen surrounded from all sides, but once they got closer, one by one, the scanners quickly lost track on them as they died. Another half an hour passed. It had been exciting and interesting the first time, but this time Luke was mostly horribly bored. As long as Shaak Ti remained hidden, he had no fear for his brother.
"The Felucians seem more organised that the Imperial records indicate," Juno remarked worriedly. "And more powerful."
"Shaak Ti's handiwork," Luke mused. He wondered if Felucians were naturally Force sensitive, or if Shaak Ti had somehow gathered all Force sensitive Felucians on the planet in this one place. They may have had advantage in numbers, but they seemed to be no match for Galen.
"Maybe..." Juno spoke, scrolling through the maps, "if we identified the leader. That might demoralise them."
"Shaak Ti is their leader," Luke reminded.
"Yes, but she must have someone leading the groups if she's not there herself."
Juno studied the monitors and the numerous lifeforms that littered the sensor created topographic map. Luke wasn't sure how Juno could tell which were Felucians and which were just large animals.
"They're trying to wear you off," Juno said to the comlink.
"I know," Galen's strained voice replied. "The ground is getting treacherous. There's...acid? Acid pools everywhere. Any readings?"
"I'll see what I can find," Juno promised. She was back to her maps and readings, and Luke sagged against the seat. This wasn't at all what he had envisioned when he decided to sneak onboard. He had thought Galen would let him follow more closely. He hadn't seriously entertained the thought of fighting alongside his brother, but he'd thought at least he could see what he was doing. Sitting here in the cockpit was incredibly boring now that the novelty had worn off. Long minutes passed with seemingly nothing happening.
"Master," PROXY, who had stayed silent so far, suddenly called. He sounded mischievous more than anything. "Scanners show a very large creature near your position."
Luke's eyes darted on the monitor.
"Yeah. I see it," Galen's voice replied. "It's hard to miss."
"There's more of them coming," PROXY warned. "Don't let them kill you, master. I still need to fulfil my primary programming."
"Your worry is touching, PROXY." From his voice, Luke could tell he was smiling. "Don't worry, you'll get your chance. I can feel them. Stay off the comm until I'm done with them. I don't want distractions."
"Good luck, master," the droid wished.
The comm went silent again. Whatever it was he was up against they indeed seemed large based on the readings. Even so, just watching the monitors he didn't quite know how to read bored Luke. He wetted his lips and cleared his throat to catch Juno's attention.
"Do you mind if I go out? I swear I won't leave the ship out of my sight."
"I don't think it's a good idea," she said uneasily. She didn't like the idea of letting the boy out of her sight considering how important his safety seemed to be. "Starkiller said I'm responsible for you."
"Many lifeforms on Felucia are hostile to Humans," PROXY commented. The knowledge made Juno even more reluctant.
"I'll be careful," the boy promised. "And I'm not going to actually go anywhere. I just want to feel what it's like. I've never been on any other planet than Tatooine. PROXY, you know I can take care of myself," Skywalker argued, patting the lightsaber hilt on his belt.
"You've never been off Tatooine?" she gasped. Poor boy. She did feel a little sorry for him. "I guess it's alright... Just keep in mind that it's my head on the plate if you disappear or get yourself killed."
"I promise I'll be careful. Stars..." The boy got up and left the cockpit with a dramatic roll of his eyes.
Juno sighed as the door closed. She wished to be able to spy some more, but as long as the droid was with her, it was an impossibility. Starkiller wanted radio silence, and she had nothing to report to him in any case. All she could do was to monitor the situation. Unless...
"Well, PROXY... Just you and me then," she began.
"Yes, Captain Eclipse."
"Interesting masters you've got," she commented. The droid seemed indifferent towards its masters' behaviour. "Skywalker especially. Quite different from Starkiller."
"Perhaps it's because Lord Vader didn't program him," the droid replied.
"Program?" What an odd thing to say. "He programmed you?"
"He's the author for both my and Starkiller's systems. Perhaps Lord Vader can explain it better."
"Oh, I wouldn't like to bother him with that," she dismissed quickly. "What do you mean by programming?"
"Master Starkiller has been in Lord Vader's care since he was a child."
"Oh. So is... Is Lord Vader like his father?"
PROXY shook his head. He was very expressive for a droid. "Master has never referred to him as "father". Only as "master" or "teacher"."
She frowned, but it made more sense than her initial thought about Vader with a toddler. That didn't sound like a healthy combination. But then again, what did she really know about Darth Vader? Still, it was an outlandish thought if behind his public image he had been a caring father.
"How about Skywalker?" she wanted to know.
The droid turned to look at her. He spoke very seriously: "I'm not authorised to talk about Skywalker or his programming. It's top secret."
Juno swallowed. Even Starkiller seemed to be shrouded in mystery, and yet she knew even less about Skywalker. What was he?
"What about Starkiller, then?" she asked, pressing on with the subject despite dread spreading within her. She was on thin ice here. "What about his parents?"
"I don't know, Captain Eclipse."
"Has he never talked about them?"
"It's likely only Lord Vader knows," the droid said. "I believe such information has been expunged from my master's primary memory."
She hesitated, but she was curious and the droid didn't seem to mind sharing any of this information. As long as she didn't ask about Skywalker. But what the droid didn't know, was that she knew them to be brothers, so any information about Starkiller would inevitably be information about Skywalker as well.
"Does he have any other family? Friends? Girlfriends?"
"Lord Vader encourages him to lead a solitary life whenever he can. It's essential to his development."
Whenever he can. That didn't mean he hadn't had any opportunities to make friends.
"Development in what?" she asked, although she had an idea. A mysterious assassin. A Jedi killer and a spy to Vader. Was that what Skywalker was becoming, too? But why was he planning on murdering the Emperor?
"We're all servants to my master's Master," PROXY reminded her. It sounded like he was warning her to not carry on with this conversation. She swallowed and got up to straighten her uniform.
"Spot-on, PROXY. I'll–" She cut herself off as she saw something move in the corner off her eye. The scanner had picked something.
"Several lifeforms are coming this way," she pointed to PROXY. "Fast."
As she spoke, two of the lifeforms disappeared. Others continued towards their location.
"PROXY, keep an eye on them. I'll go get Skywalker inside."
"I advice caution," the droid said.
"I can look after myself," she replied, opening a hatch above the Captain's seat and removed her BlasTech pistol.
"One of your predecessors used the exact same words," PROXY remarked. "He was shot in the back by a Corellian gunrunner."
She paused for second, already halfway out of the cockpit and holster around her waist. Was the droid joking? Or was it just an innocent observation? Or worse –was she being provoked? She wanted to ask about her seven predecessors, but on the other hand, she never wanted to be reminded of the particular fact ever again.
She shook her head. "Just watch your own back. I've got my comlink. Keep an eye on that movement."
Starkiller had faced more resistance than he had expected. The size of Ti's army had taken him by surprise. He could feel her presence, but getting to her had proven a challenge.
And there was something else he felt. He wasn't entirely sure what it was, but it was an eerie premonition in his gut. It wasn't Ti and it wasn't her warriors. Whatever it was, he hadn't much time to focus on it. The Felucians had lightsaber resistant bone swords, and they knew how to use them, but their knowledge of the Force was nothing compared to his. Their attempts at telekinesis were clumsy, and they could not stop or even redirect his Sith lightnings.
The entire jungle of huge towering mushrooms around him was alive with the Force. That, too, served in his disadvantage in pinpointing the exact location of the Jedi Master. What a coward. She knew he was coming, yet she sent her helpless warriors at him instead of coming out of hiding herself. If she wanted to sacrifice more of her underlings, then so be it.
The air around him was hot and humid. The way his hair stuck on his forehead made him miss the times he'd kept his hair as short as possible. But it wasn't convenient on Tatooine. Hair protected his scalp from sunburns. He never let his hair become an unruly mop like Luke did, but it was long enough to protect the tip of his ears from the suns. And...though he loathed to admit it, longer hair was considered stylish on Tatooine and he did care of that a little. Camie said he ought to grow his hair even longer. Biggs had began growing a moustache. Fixer would've done it too had his whiskers agreed with him and grown as much as he wanted them to. They'd tried to get him try, too, but that was where Galen drew the line. He would not grow a beard or moustache in his twenties. At least Tank agreed with him, saying they were too young and handsome for facial hair.
His clothes, despite he had decided to wear a light clothes as possible, were equally sticking to his skin. He was muddy and bloody and sweaty all over. He had no time to think of it while fighting, but as soon as he could catch his breath it became impossible to ignore.
He'd thought now, after brutally breaking the spine of the last standing Felucian warrior that had attacked him on this clearing, he would have some time to advance in peace, but the way the ground shook spelt trouble. He could feel a presence of a large being coming his way. No. Several of them.
"Master," PROXY's voice called in his ear. His amused tone promised nothing good. "Scanners show a very large creature near your position."
Starkiller eyed at the creature emerging from the jungle. His grasp on the lightsaber hilt tightened. "Yeah. I see it."
The giant beast towered over him, its clawed fingers alone were the size of him. But it was just an animal with no one riding it.
"There's more of them coming," PROXY warned. "Don't let them kill you, master. I still need to fulfil my primary programming."
"Your worry is touching, PROXY," he said with dry amusement as he slowly backed away from the beast. It bared its teeth at him and roared.
"Don't worry, you'll get your chance," he assured his friend. "I can feel them. Stay off the comm until I'm done with them. I don't want distractions."
"Good luck, master," the droid wished just as the beast surged at him. Its massive hand tried to snatch him, but he was too quick for it. He managed to slash at it, but its skin was so thick it didn't even slow the beast down. It only howled at the pain and attacked him again, angered and confused by how such a small being could harm it. It clawed at him, so Starkiller jumped away. He locked the blade and threw it at the creature's head. The blade pierced through its cheek. It screeched in agony as Starkiller the called the 'sabre back. With the it confused, he jumped on top of it and stabbed the blade right through its skull, all the way down so that his hands holding the hilt touched the skin. They went down with a mighty thud, dust rising from the ground as Starkiller dropped and rolled safely from the beast's back.
He stood up, wiping his sweaty hair from his forehead with his dirty hand. His elbow was bleeding, but he made no note of it. Three more creatures had made their way to the clearing, and they were not happy to see their friend dead.
Starkiller reignited his weapon and surged an attack.
Luke inhaled deeply the scent of the new world. It was hard to find words to describe it. It was so unlike anything he'd ever seen, felt, heard or smelled. The colours were vibrant, the smells were rich. The whole planet was overwhelmingly alive. He could hear noises, presumably animals, coming from the jungle.
It was hot, but it was nothing like the heat on Tatooine. His clothes and hair stuck onto his skin. He had never experienced humidity like this. It was nothing like the humidity at Camie's parents' hydroponic gardens in Anchorhead.
Juno had landed Rogue Shadow onto a giant mushroom cap. Similar mushrooms covered the planet as far as he could see. He jumped to the nearest one, then to another. The spongy texture under his shoes gave away little at each step. Liquid oozed from the plants and there were insects everywhere. Many looked like they would burst if he touched them.
The Force was imbalanced. There was light and there was plenty of dark. Why they were called light and dark, he wasn't entirely sure. It wasn't like they were physically white and black. They were more like feelings and if they would be described by colours, there indeed were black and white, but also every possible shade of grey between them. Except here on Felucia the middle ground seemed to be largely missing.
He turned around to check he could still see the ship. He'd promised he wouldn't leave it out of his sight. Alas that meant he couldn't jump down and explore the planet better there.
"Skywalker!"
Juno ran from the ship. He felt the danger before he saw or heard it.
Out of seemingly nowhere, a Felucian jumped at him. He deflected the attack with his lightsaber. The weapon, whatever it was, resisted the blade, but Luke only needed to swing his weapon once to easily disarm him. He lifted the warrior in the air, stabbed him in the abdomen and pushed the body away.
Juno came running, blaster in her hand.
"We need to get back to the ship," she urged. "More are coming."
Luke could feel it. He ran towards Juno and the ship, lightsabre still ignited in his hand, when more warriors leapt up on the mushroom caps from the ground.
Juno grabbed his arm, aiming her weapon at the general direction of the enemy and dragged him towards the Rogue Shadow.
They were on the ramp when he turned to look behind him. The warriors weren't after them. They were escaping, they were fighting someone else, but it wasn't Galen's presence he felt. Neither was it Shaak Ti, because at that moment the presence revealed itself.
A young woman wielding a violet lightsaber leapt on the cap. There was at least fifty metres between them by then, but Luke could've sworn their eyes met.
She was dressed in a black combat suit, her long red hair was undone and waved in the wind. She was a Force sensitive and for a moment, for a flicker of a second, Luke felt like there was no one else in the world but them. One moment their eyes were locked onto each other, the next she turned to protect herself from an attack. A Zabrak girl had leapt at her, ramming two green lightsabers against her blade. It didn't look like she was winning against the Zabrak Jedi, but she was still doing a fine job keeping her at bay.
Strangely enough Luke's first instinct was to go and help the Human girl, but Juno slammed her hand on the lock panel and the ramp retreated, sealing them back inside the Rogue Shadow. The Captain wasted no time. She ran back into the cockpit, dragging Luke with him and seized the comlink.
"Eclipse to Starkiller," she called frantically.
Luke felt stunned. He realised his lightsaber was still ignited, and he deactivated it numbly, quickly following the Captain.
"I'm busy," Galen's voice replied.
"The Jedi is here."
The only way for the comcall to have come at a worse time would've been if he had been fighting Shaak Ti. This was nearly as inconvenient. The local warriors had him surrounded, there were more beasts and the ground was littered with the acid pools he'd encountered earlier.
"I'm busy," he grunted, hoping that whatever the Captain wanted to say could wait.
"The Jedi is here," her frantic voice cried in his ear.
"What?"
"The Jedi–"
"She's not a Jedi," Luke's voice interrupted. Damn that kid, he'd told him not to speak on the comm. "I don't think she is. Besides, there were two of them and neither was Shaak Ti. But they had lightsabers."
Not a Jedi female with a lightsaber. Two of them. It sounded like trouble.
"The other one might have been a Jedi, actually," Luke went on. "A Zabrak. They saw me with a lightsaber, but I swear I had no choice, but to use it!"
"What did she look like, the first one?" he asked, stabbing another warrior to death. The Jedi didn't worry him, but if the Human was not a Jedi... "Describe her, it's important."
"Uhh, Human, about my age, dressed in black, long red hair," Luke listed. "One violet lightsaber. Definitely a Force sensitive. Dark side user, I think. She handled the lightsaber okay, so she's definitely had some training. The Zabrak was better, though. I don't know, I didn't see her that well. Wait."
Starkiller could feel Luke trying to reach him through the Force, trying to sent a mental image for him to see, but he was too distracted by fighting at the same time that it was hard for him to grab a hold of it. He ran the description through his mind, trying to think of every single possible threat Vader had warned him of. There was only one that fit.
They were in trouble.
Kriff. He was too far. He probably wouldn't make it even if he turned back right now. If she contacted someone...
"The Zabrak girl was–"
"After her, quickly!" he shouted a command.
"What?" came Luke's confused reply.
"The Human. I know who she is. Go after her right now, before she can contact anyone. She's good, but she's no match to you."
"You want me to kill her..?"
"Yes, hurry up!"
"Alright, alright. Who is she?"
"She's Mara Jade, the Emperor's Hand."
NOTES:
So I was brainstorming for a place that'd be close to Tatooine, because why would anyone really export stuff to Tatooine if it wasn't somewhere close? But I wanted Galen to like something that's imported to Tatooine and thus maybe a little more expensive and special. So I was looking at the Essential Atlas for nearby planets, because I'm a total nerd, and checked what Wookieepedia said about these places. Eventually I felt like Ooo-temiuk would be fine since it was colonised by Rodians and it's on Triellus Trade Route, just like Tatooine. I was chatting with my friend and told her I settled for this place, to which she said it sounds like someone just saw a planet and went "oooooh!" So now my headcanon forever shall be that temiuk in Rodese means "a planet" and the settlers literally went "ooh, a planet!" when they found it and just kept calling it that.
I once saw a post on tumblr saying something like "why don't fic writers ever post WIPs the way fanartists do". Like when fanartists post those "this is how I made it" type of things. I can't find the post anymore because stupidly I didn't reblog it. If anyone can direct me to it, I'd be grateful. Anyway, I thought I'd do that. So, if you're interested to see what a part of this fic looked liked before some editing, check this out: oi62,tinypic,com/rkoroy,jpg Just copy paste and replace the commas from the link.
Once again, thank you so much for the nice comments. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you have time, please let me know what you think. :)
Also, I'd like to give a huge shutout to Star_Struck from AO3 for showing me her fanart and in general for being an amazing person. Thank you so much!