It's been way too long. I'm sorry. But I would never abandon this fic. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

CHAPTER VI

Cursing himself Starkiller quickly dressed into his more comfortable training gear and hurried back. Juno was nowhere to be seen when he sneaked into the refresher and snatched his belongings. PROXY was in the common lounge, eager to tend to his wounds, but Starkiller ordered the droid to wait as he threw his tattered clothes into the washing machine.

Luke wasn't back yet. He wasn't worried, but he could feel...darkness. Like heavy clouds hanging in the sky just before the rain hammered down.

Felucia was strong in the Force and horribly unbalanced. The darkness here was pure, it refused to be diluted by the light. Even so there was something off about it, and Starkiller was glad he would soon leave it. He did not want to be exposed to this planet longer than needed. Perhaps staying in this place, in that abyss of sacrifice, for so long had been the reason for Ti's ruthlessness and her calculating willingness to sacrifice so many lives despite her devotion to the Jedi ways.

Whatever the reason, Ti was now dead. One of the last of her kind and her death had been by his hand. There was no way his master would now refuse him his destiny –he was ready to face Darth Sidious.

Though perhaps not right at this second, he admitted to himself as pain shot up his leg with each step too careless. He wrapped a cooling compress PROXY offered around it. The compress would release medicines and pain killers to be absorbed through the skin to ease the pain and swelling. They had come in hand countless of times throughout his life. There had been a time Vader had supplied him with them albeit without the pain relievers. It had been...bizarre to be introduced to it by Aunt Beru. You could have an injury, but no pain? Crazy!

PROXY would have wanted to go through his injuries more thoroughly, but Starkiller refused for now. He wanted to speak with Juno before Luke was back.

The Captain sat at her seat in the cockpit, running system checks. She turned quickly to look at him over her shoulder.

"We need to talk," he announced before she could say anything. He didn't want to hear any remarks.

"Alright," she said carefully and turned her seat around to face him. "About?"

"About Skywalker."

"I know I–" she began uneasily, but Starkiller cut her off: "We'll have to find him a way to go back to Tatooine. I can't take him to Scarl again."

"Oh. Yes. Yes, of course." Juno combed an errant lock behind her ear and nodded. "I've been thinking about it, actually. We could take him to Kway Teow," she told. "It's the capital of Felucia. He could buy himself a ride home there."

Starkiller considered it. He had enough credits for Luke to do that, and while he did fear for the boy's safety, he knew Luke could easily defend himself against the common people.

He was about to ask what she knew of Kway Teow if not for the Force alerting him. He had already turned around to look through the door as the landing ramp began opening. Luke walked in with a solemn expression. The boy noticed them watching through the open doorway He turned away quickly and stalked towards the training room.

"That's probably our best option," Starkiller admitted, eyes still at the landing ramp. Something was off about Luke and he wanted to know what it was. Were they in trouble? Had Jade escaped?

"Take us to Kway Teow then. I'll give you further instructions later," he said, watching the landing ramp close. He heard Juno agree, but his mind was already fully focused on Luke.

Luke sat on the floor, next to the wall in complete darkness, head buried to his knees. As the door closed behind Starkiller, the apprentice flicked his fingers to turn on the lights. The boy did not stir.

"Luke?" he asked tentatively. "What's wrong?"

Luke shiged shakily and and his head seemed to slump even further down. The dull pain in his ankle was forgotten instantly and he hurried to Luke, kneeling down to his level. "Are you alright?"

Luke shook his head, but didn't say a thing or lift his head. Behind them the door opened once again. Starkiller glanced over his shoulder and saw PROXY. The droid walked to their side, carrying the medpac.

"Luke," he tried again. Luke didn't seem to be injured, but Galen had never seen his brother like this. He looked up helplessly at PROXY to seek for advice. None came.

"Hey..." Galen called gently, running his fingers through the blond hair. "Look at me. Tell me what's wrong."

"Go away!" Luke barked, shoving at him violently. His voice broke. The Force push toppled Starkiller on the floor. He gasped and startled when Luke turned to look at him with angered, pained expression. His eyes were gleaming yellow, reddened and wet with tears. He had often seen Luke with the Sith eyes, but only while fighting. They never persisted long, and never appeared unless Luke was actively connecting himself to the dark side.

"No, I won't," he said adamantly. This time it was his turn to figure out what ate his brother. "What happened? Where is Mara Jade?"

"Nothing happened," Luke breathed and his head slumped to his knees again. "I– I caught up with her and I killed her. The Jedi, too. Mara Jade is dead. We should be safe."

"Do you think I'm an idiot?" Starkiller accused. "What happened?"

The ships engines came to life and they could feel Rogue Shadow take off. Luke lifted his head and let out another heavy, shaky sigh. "A vision, I guess."

Starkiller frowned. Luke had been crying long before this moment. The skin around his eyes was red and puffy. "When? What kind of a vision?"

He was immediately reminded of Kota. Vader won't always be your master, the Jedi's voice whispered in his head.

"I think I saw my future," Luke began. "But I destroyed it. It was all taken from me. And it's my fault."

He swallowed. "Completely wiped out. I know I saw it, I saw all of my future, but– I can't remember any of it. It's like...when you've had a dream, and you wake up and try to remember it, but you can't," he explained with a wavering voice.

Starkiller nodded. He glanced at PROXY, but the droid only shrugged and offered him the medpac. Starkiller took it.

"I wasn't supposed to kill her, I just know it," Luke continued. "We were meant to meet again. We– I don't know how to explain it, but there was a– a connection. I think she was supposed to be part of my future. Mara Jade wasn't supposed to die like this, but I killed her anyway."

Starkiller thought of Kota. The Jedi seemed to have been sure their futures would entwine. And maybe they would. When the time came, he would make sure to finish off Kota for good. He thought of Vader and of his words.

"My Master recently told me that the future is in constant motion," he said. "Visions of it are just one version. The Force is our servant, not the other way around. Our actions determine our future."

"Well, all I know is that it felt horrible," Luke argued bitterly. "Like a part of me had been ripped off."

"I'm sorry," Starkiller offered for the lack of anything better to say.

"It's not your fault," Luke muttered. He reached to his belt and pulled an unfamiliar lightsaber hilt.

"Here," he said, handing it to Starkiller. "I took her lightsaber. You take it. I can't take credit since no one's supposed to know I'm here."

Starkiller took it and turned it in his hands as Luke pulled out two more sabres. "The Zabrak Jedi had these."

He accepted the strange hilts, weighed them in his hands and examined them.

"Congrats. Your first real kill," he said with a small grin in an attempt to cheer the boy up. "Wish I'd been there to see it."

Luke huffed, but smiled a little. "How did you do, then?"

"Shaak Ti is no more," he smirked with a hint of pride.

"You've got a cut on your face."

"Yeah, I probably twisted my ankle, too. Bad landing. She sort of...exploded."

Luke chuckled. "You're kidding me."

"No, I swear by Lord Vader it happened," he vowed good-naturedly. "She fell into a sarlacc pit and there was a massive Force explosion."

"My mental image was a bit more gory when you said that," Luke laughed. "Do you need help?" he asked, nodding at the medpac.

"I think PROXY can handle me, can't you PROXY?"

The droid tilted his head. "Actually, according to my calculations, now is an opportune moment to kill you," he said.

"PROXY, no," Luke cried, but the hologram was already taking shape around him.

"Move," Starkiller ordered immediately, shoving his brother aside as he stood up to face whatever PROXY had in store for him, lightsaber ready and ignited in his hand. This was between the two of them. He had no idea how PROXY's programming would deal with Luke, should the boy intervene. The droid would probably not intentionally kill or harm Luke, but accidents happened.

"PROXY, you can't! He's hurt!"

"Do you think a real enemy would care, either?" Starkiller snarled at his brother.

The Jedi whose shape PROXY took was familiar to both of them. They had both fought and defeated the image of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi long ago.

The hologram smirked and assumed Soresu opening stance, lightsaber held high and pointed forward.

"Kenobi?" Starkiller scoffed, lowering his blade. Luke was just as surprised. Kenobi was an old module. An easy module. "Are you malfunctioning?"

PROXY's Kenobi did not reply. Luke watched Galen parry the attack easily. His brother had PROXY on defence immediately. Galen drove the droid on the other side of the training room and stabbed him against the reinforced wall. The hologram failed and PROXY sagged to the floor.

Galen deactivated his sabre and knelt down to his friend.

"What was that supposed to be?" Galen complained annoyedly. "That training program's years old. I thought you'd erased it by now."

"I don't erase my modules," PROXY said as he stood to his full hight. He reached to retrieve another lightsaber behind the panels covering his chest. "Let's try another one of your old enemies."

"PROXY, no! What are you doing?" Luke exclaimed, finally scrambling up from the floor. Twice in a row wasn't fair play. And Galen was injured!

"Stay out of this, Luke," Galen warned him sternly. "He's being serious."

PROXY shrunk as the hologram took form. Orange skin with white marking's on her face replaced the metal. Short lekku and low montrals marked the young age of this particular Togruta. She held one full length lightsaber in her right hand and a short bladed shoto in her left with the same Shien reverse grip Galen favoured. Without a word she assumed her attack position with a self-confident smile.

"Come at me, big boy," she said, flexing her fingers as an invitation. Then she gripped the hilt properly and lunged at Galen.

Luke had seen Galen fight this module before –Ahsoka Tano was a familiar foe to them both. It had taken Luke four times to defeat her. She was fierce, but Galen had beaten her before. Galen had never lost against PROXY. Even with that knowledge it was frightening to watch Galen fight for his life. The knowledge that PROXY, the very same droid that had trained him, had beaten Luke many times in a duel, would jump at any opportunity to kill Galen if he slipped even once turned Luke's stomach. Fear gripped his heart, but he knew he could not intervene.

As he watched, holding his breath, he realised that instead of helping he might end up hindering Galen if he ignited his 'sabre and attacked PROXY. Following Galen in secret had been incredibly selfish of him. Had he insisted on following his brother to the battlefield, he could have got them both killed. Galen was right. He was not ready.

He drew a sharp, frightened breath through his nose when Galen was forced to take nearly all his weight on his bad ankle as he backed away. He heard Galen cry out in pain and his knee buckled under him. He fell, but it was a controlled fall and he rolled safely out of the attack's way. Tano's lightsabers scorched the floor.

Galen was back up on his feet and landed a heavy kick on Tano's side before she had regained her balance from missing her mark. She fell hard with a metallic sound and PROXY's hologram failed for quarter of a second. The shoto blade deflected Galen's attack, and her full length 'sabre made sure they had no time to lock blades. She got up and they danced across the floor, lightsabers clashing against each other.

There would have been a chance for Galen to slice off her arm, but he didn't take it. He didn't want to damage PROXY. Instead he went for a far riskier move and grabbed her arm, wrenching her violently against himself. Tano attempted to kick him off and reach him with her shoto blade, but before she could, Galen threw her on the floor.

His red blade stabbed through PROXY's chest panel once more. Galen fell on his knees by PROXY's side. He breathed heavily, exhaustion and pain evident on his face.

"Just shut down, PROXY!" Galen shouted at him exhaustedly, clutching his still ignited lightsaber. "There's no one inside you I haven't defeated!"

"PROXY, stop this!" Luke echoed, finally daring to approach them. PROXY's lights flickered and the droid stood back up. Galen deactivated his sabre, sighing heavily. Through the Force Luke could feel his exhaustion like a heavy blanket draped around his shoulders, pulling him down. Through their bond he could feel echoes of throbbing pain.

"Face it. You can't beat him," Luke told the droid boldly. PROXY had tried and failed since the moment he'd been built. Him and Father would have to accept that Galen was ready. Luke couldn't boast of having met many masters of the Force, but he was confident Galen was amongst the best of them.

PROXY tilted his head and looked at Luke. "Give me some credit, master," he said, then turned to face Galen once more. "I have one module left that neither of you has ever seen. I have stored this enemy for years."

PROXY's voice was positively gleeful.

"Get back!" Galen barked an order immediately as the hologram began to form. Luke gasped at the sight of the tattooed Zabrak warrior that stood in PROXY's place. The young man seemed nothing like the Zabrak he had beheaded just hours ago. The warrior snarled at them between his teeth. This was no Jedi, Luke realised. It was a Sith. No Jedi would have red-and-black tattoos of the ancient Sith warriors on their face.

The tattooed Sith sniggered at Galen, who scrambled up and backed away, reaching for his hilt and gathering lightning in his hand. The Sith appeared to reach inside his own ribcage as PROXY took hold of a sabre he rarely used. Luke gulped and backed away as the Sith ignited both ends of his long, double bladed lightsaber.

It wasn't unheard of for PROXY to use it. There had been a Jedi woman with a double blade 'sabre they both had fought. Galen had won of course. Luke did, too, eventually. It was a difficult weapon to both fight against and use. He tried to mimic its usage with a gaffi stick of a dead Tusken raider, but had it been a real lightsabre, he would have cut off his own foot.

The Zabrak spun the lightsaber show-offishly before surging an attack. The blue Force lighting hit the blade and was deflected uncontrollably all across the room. Luke yelped and jumped out of its way. Then PROXY's and Galen's lightsabers clashed against each other.

Luke watched in horror struck awe them move across the room.

"You're weak," snarled the Zabrak Sith with PROXY's voice as he kicked Galen heavily on the chest. He didn't seem to have a voice profile for this module."You were weak when your master found you and you are still weak."

The statement sparked cold fury and stinging ache in Luke. Galen was anything but weak, even though the kick had sent him stumbling away from the droid. Galen was the strongest person he knew, be it Force or endurance or anything at all. PROXY had no right to say that. He wanted to shout at the droid to shut up, be he held his tongue.

"You are afraid. You reek of fear," the Zabrak taunted. Luke was glad that Galen didn't dignify it with a response other than an attack.

"Fear should be your ally, not your enemy."

"Stop, PROXY..." Luke whimpered under his breath as he watched the droid's blade scrape his brother's arm. Galen suck in a breath and didn't cease his attack –but PROXY was quick and dodged its master's savage blows with incredible accuracy. Luke had never seen PROXY move this quickly before. It was terrifying.

"You will never be strong enough to fulfil your destiny."

He wanted to beg for PROXY to stop. He knew it wasn't truly PROXY taunting Galen, but hearing the words spoken with his voice... Perhaps it was the exact purpose of this all. It was cruel.

Lightning illuminated the room –and then a loud bang rang in Luke's ears as the lights went out, sparks scattering around for a mere moment from a single light on the wall that was hit.

In the darkness Luke could only see the lightsabers moving and clashing against each other. Red emergency lights flicked on, casting eerie, sinister glow against the duelling pair. Shadows danced across the floor as Galen lunged at the Zabrak, forcing one end of the sabre down. Luke gasped when Galen's hilt suddenly clattered on floor. PROXY's stance faltered momentarily and the blade came dangerously close to Galen's shin, but his brother held onto to the Sith's hilt with both hands. The hologram snarled –then thrust his head right against Galen's forehead.

It seemed to daze him for half a second, but Galen didn't let go of the lightsaber they now fought over to control. He kicked at the droid with his good leg, foot piercing the hologram, and twisted the lightsaber out of PROXY's hands. He flung the hilt across the room with an angry growl and attacked the Zabrak barehanded. Luke winced, thinking of how much it must have hurt to land a blow against PROXY's metal frame. Galen's sabre flew back into his hand. Taking advantage of his split attention the Sith warrior knocked him off his feet with a swift kick aimed at his bad leg. Galen crashed down with a howl of agony.

Luke wanted to leap to his brother's aid, but his feet felt like they were bolted to the floor. His brother rolled out of the next blow's way. He managed to get on his feet and grab the Zabrak's arm, hurling the droid to the floor. Before PROXY could react Galen had impaled the droid, blade stabbing through his back. The hologram failed instantly and PROXY's system went offline. Galen let go and his trusty companion began rebooting itself.

"Just give up, PROXY... You're–," Galen panted furiously, "you're nothing compared to the real thing!"

The droid pushed himself up, seemingly unharmed from the duel. Galen still clutched his hilt, trembling ever so slightly with sheer effort to keep his stance.

"I'm sorry, master," the droid responded forlornly. "It seems I have failed again. It was my best program."

Galen faltered with relief . He let the blade deactivate and stumbled. Luke rushed to his side. Galen seemed ready to faint from exhaustion. Vader's apprentice leant heavily against his brother for support.

"I couldn't kill you this time, either," PROXY said mournfully. "It might be I will never be able to fulfil my primary programming. I'm sorry, master. I fear Lord Vader will be disappointed with my report once again."

"Enough, PROXY, he defeated you!" Luke barked at the droid as Galen sagged against him.

"It's alright, PROXY," Starkiller reassure the droid. He allowed his legs to give in and with Luke's support fell on his knees. A tired smile passed his lips. If Master Vader were disappointed in PROXY's report, it meant overall he'd performed acceptably. "You did really well this time."

"It was an excellent duel, master!" PROXY agreed happily.

"Will you just help him?" Luke cried.

"I will do my best, master," the droid promised, acknowledging Luke's presence for the first time since transforming into the Zabrak warrior.

Starkiller wasn't sure how much time passed, but he realised Luke was still right next to him, beckoning him to stand up. Without even noticing he'd rested his forehead against his palms, elbows propped against his knees. He ached. Thoroughly and all over. His ankle throbbed and his head hammered with dull ache.

"Come, master, we must tend your wounds," PROXY coaxed.

With some effort Starkiller forced himself back on his feet. Luke was back at his side instantly, but he waved his brother off. He must not show weakness. Not more than he already had. As soon as he sat on his bed he removed his boots and undid the compress around his bad ankle, wincing in pain. Luke stayed, silently witnessing PROXY taking care of his injuries. Bacta to cuts and burns, a new cold compress around the ankle after a scan. Injection to fight off any inflammation and prevent swelling. According to the scan it wasn't serious. Painful now and maybe for a few more days, but with treatment and proper care it would heal quickly.

"What was that combat thing just now?" Starkiller wanted to know as his droid moved to pack away the medical supplies. "I want to learn those kicks and jumps."

"It's a Bunduki unarmed combat discipline called Teräs Käsi," PROXY explained. "It was created especially to fight the Jedi by non-Force-sensitives."

"Do you have it all stored in you?"

"Of course. I know thousands of combat forms."

"You've got to teach us that one when we're back home." Starkiller turned his ankle experimentally. It still ached, but was already feeling much better.

"PROXY..." Luke suddenly spoke. "Do you know if it's possible to...turn invisible? With the Force."

"Invisible?"

"There is a Force technique referred as Force cloak," PROXY replied. "I am not familiar of how it works for organic beings. Even if I did, I would not have means to simulate it."

"But it's possible?"

"Theoretically, yes. But there are no complete records for this technique. I only know it has been referred to, so some knowledge must have existed. Perhaps it was lost with the Jedi."

"It is possible," Luke said with absolute certainty. "I saw it. It must have been that."

"Invisible?" Starkiller repeated.

"That Zabrak Jedi I killed. She vanished right in front of me. First I thought she must have had some kind of a cloaking device, but... It was the Force."

"How could the Force turn you invisible?"

"I don't know. But I want to find out."

"If you do, let me know." Frankly it sounded silly. The Force wasn't magic. It was possible to fool non-Force sensitives and Force sensitives into not noticing you, but that didn't mean you became invisible. But if Luke had fallen for a simple trick like that it further proved that his brother wasn't ready to face their true enemies.

"So...what now?" Luke wanted to know after a moment of comfortable silence. They could still hear the soft hum of Rogue Shadow's atmospheric engines. They still hadn't left Felucia. "Where are we going?"

"Felucia's capital. I forgot the name already..."

"What do we do there? Are you contacting Father?"

Starkiller looked at the eager expression on his brother's face. He hated to disappoint him.

"I'm going to drop you off, Luke. You're going home."

Luke's face fell. "No..! No, please, can't I stay?"

"No. I need to report back to your father–"

"I'll hide. He doesn't have to know."

"He'll want me back on Scarl. I can't take you back there, Luke, it's too dangerous. Your father would kill me if he knew."

Luke wanted to argue, but kept his tongue . There was no point arguing about their father with Galen.

"Ok," he agreed silently.

He knew Father was not known for patience or tolerance, but surely he would not kill Galen. Luke didn't think he would. Nevertheless, he understood the trouble his brother would be in should their father know Luke had been with him all this time. He didn't regret sneaking onboard, but he didn't want to cause trouble his brother, either.

Yet he already had.

It hadn't gone exactly as he had planned or thought. He had wanted to see Galen in action –and he had. But for the first time he had truly understood the weight of it. He'd known Galen would kill and would be shot at, but it was different to hear the muffled screams and blaster fire through the comm.

He had daydreamed of being able to take part in the action himself, but now that he had, he wished he hadn't. Killing wasn't new to him. He had killed people before, but Mara Jade was the first member of same species he had killed. He wasn't sure if it mattered. It shouldn't have mattered, nor the fact that she must have been about the same age with him. Yet it did.

It was the vision fault. It was the worst of it. It turned his stomach to think of it.

He wished...he wished it would not have come to that. He wished he hadn't taken her life. It hadn't been right. He could still feel the Force calling out to him, begging him not to alter the path he was to take.

It was no use to dwell on it. It was done and couldn't be undone. There had been no other choice –not if he wanted to keep his family safe.

And now he would have to do the same and go home.

Kway Teow distantly reminded him of Bestine. Or maybe space ports just were the same no matter where in the Galaxy you were. It wasn't as hot as the equatorial section they'd been to, but very exotic to Luke nevertheless. There weren't many Humans and plenty of species he had never seen before.

"Public transport only," Galen reminded him of what must have ben at least the fifth time. "Remember, you're not sightseeing, you're not making friends. You're–"

"Going home the straightest way with at least three changes. No booking trips in advance. Use fake name. Yes, I've got it," Luke sighed. Galen worried too much. He knew to keep low profile. Galen even told him not to get robbed after giving him credits from his personal expenses account.

Luke rolled his eyes at the idea. He was a Sith. The being who dared to try to mug him would be a dead being very soon.

They bid their goodbyes quickly. Perhaps when Galen got home, the Emperor would be dead and Luke wouldn't have to hide anymore. Perhaps then Father would finally talk to him. Luke swung his backpack over his shoulder and walked down the ramp to the humid early evening air. The Rogue Shadow lifted off and Luke was on his own for the first time in his life. It was time to go home.

"Where to?" Juno asked. The Rogue Shadow circled low above the vast, dense forests of fungi that coated the planet. She wondered absently whether they were all connected. Perhaps the entire forest was just a few giant networks of mushrooms from pole to pole.

Vader's agent collapsed on the jump seat. "I don't know."

Juno frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Vader hasn't made contact yet... He should have done it by now. I signalled him the mission is over."

"Maybe he's busy."

Starkiller hummed thoughtfully.

"We could go back to Kway Teow," she suggested. "Eat well, have some rest. By stars, you look like you need some."

"I'd really fancy a proper dinner at a cantina," she tried when the assassin still said the nothing.

"Do as you wish, Captain," he huffed. The young man stood up to leave.

"Fine. In that case I'm flying us back," she decided. Let the Jedi killer sulk. She at least wanted her dinner, now that there was a chance for it.

"Let's go. I'm hungry," she announced once Rogue Shadow was securely parked with an overnight charge. She was back wearing her civilian clothes, hair undone.

The assassin was in the middle of the training room, going through carefully measured series of steps, kicks and jumps.

"I can't. Lord Vader could contact me any moment."

"Clearly he's busy," she asserted. "Come on, live a little. The universe won't cease to exist even if you aren't here to answer the comm."

Starkiller gave him an amused look. "This is Lord Vader we're speaking of."

"Surely even he sleeps sometimes," Juno reasoned. "Doesn't he..?"

"I'm not sure," Starkiller admitted with almost a smile.

"PROXY can man the comm. It's just a dinner."

"PROXY is the comm."

"All the better. It'll be fine."

Even with all the persuasion Juno hadn't truly expected for Starkiller to join her. But he did. He followed silently as she navigated the streets busy with people enjoying the warm evening. Humans were scarce, and it earned them a few curious looks.

Starkiller wore his dark robe, heavy hood shrouding him in its shadow. Captain Eclipse led them to a decent cantina with tables set around a dance floor. A live band played slow, unfamiliar music and couples swayed with the rhythm as they were seated.

Starkiller glanced at the menu they were given. It was written in common Aurebesh, but the language made no sense to him. The pictures were mostly unhelpful.

"Uh, do you speak Basic?" he tried asking a passing waiter. He couldn't have told it from the waiter's face, but he felt the Felucian's confusion.

"No. Apologise. Speak no Basic," the waiter stammered.

"Does anyone?" he asked, but the waiter just repeated "speak no Basic".

"What about Huttese?" he asked, switching to the language.

"Huttese!" the waiter echoed happily with an unfamiliar accent. "Yes, yes, I speak Huttese."

They had a lengthy conversation about the menu –occasionally interrupted by him turning to translate to Juno. The waiter warned them off of several mushroom dishes that were generally lethal to most mammal species.

"Any drinks?"

"I'll have a cocktail," Juno suddenly said in accented Huttese. She pointed a picture on the menu. "This one. One for him, too"

"No, I–"

"One for him," she repeated stubbornly and the waiter hurried away before Starkiller could argue further.

"Why didn't you say you speak Huttese," he asked in Basic.

"Not very well, but enough to get by," Juno replied, still in Huttese. Her accent was typical to a native Basic speaker from the Core worlds. While Galen had lived years on Tatooine, he still occasionally slipped with his accent, though his was modelled by what was considered standard Huttese. Luke's was pure Tatooinean Huttese –as was his father's. It was a tiny bit amusing, truth to be told.

"And there was a lot of vocab I didn't understand," Juno continued in Basic. "It's all on my file, isn't it?"

"Probably. I didn't read it," Galen admitted.

"But...I thought you had access to–"

"PROXY has. I don't. And I don't care. So long as you can fly my ship."

"Right..."

Juno bit her lip and turned to look at the dance floor. Starkiller berated himself for killing the conversation that had barely even started.

"So how's...how's life?" he began awkwardly. Juno turned back in surprise.

"Sorry?"

"Your life. When you're not flying stealth ships on secret mission, I mean." He cleared his throat and attempted to look relaxed.

"It's alright. I go where the military goes."

"Right... Of course."

An amused smile passed Juno's lips. "Are you trying to have a conversation with me?"

"It's what you're supposed to do while having dinner, isn't it? I'm trying to be polite."

Aunt Beru always emphasised good table manners –and Juno was definitely smiling now. It lit up her face and wrinkled the corners of her eyes. She looked a much younger and friendlier with her long blond hair framing her face freely. It was like letting her hair down had pulled down the layers of professional facade she had built around herself to succeed in what was very much a man's world. It was a shame, he thought. Such a competent and brilliant person shouldn't be forced to change herself to fit in and match some silly expectations of what a woman in the army was supposed to be like.

"I suppose it is," she agreed. "And I appreciate the effort. It's...very sweet of you."

"I'm not trying to be sweet."

Juno suppressed an amused smile. It was funny to see the fearsome assassin out of his comfort zone. "I joined the Academy on Corulag as soon as I could. I worked hard to get where I am, I had to. I graduated with top marks and joined the Navy. Then Lord Vader picked me to fly in one of his squadrons –it was the proudest moment of my life."

The waiter returned with their drinks.

"I didn't realise I had such a decorated Captain flying my ship," Starkiller commented, accepting the bright orange drink topped with a layer of green. It looked positively toxic, but the little glittering streamers attached to the straw ruined the image.

"It's an honour."

"It's not, really," Starkiller replied to her surprise. "It's dangerous and secretive. No one will ever know of your accomplishments and no one will thank you."

"Flying is always dangerous," Juno said defensively. "And as for accomplishments... You'll know. Lord Vader will know, I hope."

The assassin's expression grew serious once again and the line between his brows deepened. "He will. Trust me, I will give you the highest possible recommendation."

"You will?" She hadn't expected that. "We'll still fly together for a long time, won't we?"

"I wouldn't count on that."

The statement took her by surprise. Lord Vader had seemed to imply that this could be a long term position.

"Is it because Shaak Ti is dead? She was one of a kind, wasn't she? So it's back to routine now, whatever it is that routine is to you."

Was she to return to her routines as well? It hadn't been a long time and she may have managed to stick her nose into something far more dangerous than she could handle, but that was exactly why she needed to stay. If there was a conspiracy against the Emperor... She had to find proof. She had to let Lord Vader know.

Starkiller sipped the drink and made a face. "Killing Jedi is never routine. But if all goes well...then this was our last mission together."

"Will Skywalker take over, then?" Juno asked.

"You shouldn't say out loud that name," Starkiller snapped a warning immediately.

"Sorry," she apologised, taking a quick look at their surroundings. The music was still playing, people were still dancing and no one seemed to be paying any attention to them.

"But will he?" she pressed. She wouldn't mind flying Skywalker from one end of the Galaxy to the other, but Starkiller shook his head.

"I don't think it was ever meant for him to do this kind of thing. His position is...unique."

"Why?"

"It's none of your business."

"All right. Sorry I asked..."

Juno knew she sounded offended. She shouldn't have been, but she was. She was part of the crew, yet there were so many secrets kept form her. She already knew more than she was supposed to and she couldn't help her curiosity. If Starkiller and Skywalker were brothers, how come the other's position was so different from the other? Was it simply about which of them was Vader's favourite?

"Juno it's... I'm not saying that because—

"I know," she cut him off. "It's classified. I'm not even supposed to know he exists. I get it. I don't know what's so special about him and it's probably for the best I never find out. So it's fine. Let's talk about something else, shall we?"

Starkiller just kept looking at her as if trying to read her. She had an eerie feeling he really was. Then the assassin broke his silent stare.

"Tell me about Corulag," he requested. "I've never been there."

So Juno did. She told about the capital with its skyscrapers and busy streets, she spoke of her school and the Corulag Academy. Their meals were brought to them and she kept telling him of the white mountains in the south and of the village she grew up in until her mother died. She spoke of the snowy meadows sparkling in sunlight as if someone had scattered diamond dust on the ground, of the blue sea of flowers in the summer and of the auroras that lit the sky on cold winter nights.

"It sounds beautiful," Starkiller admitted.

Juno smiled fondly at the memories. Starkiller watched the corners of her eyes wrinkle ever so slightly. In that moment she looked so content, so perfectly happy that it ached him. It must have been wonderful to feel such belonging and connection to a place. Tatooine was his home, but he knew he didn't quite belong. Not in his own mind. If anything, he was like the skeletal hull of The Executor –unfinished, existing alone in the void and waiting for his completion, waiting for being finished. Like his true purpose and place were somewhere ahead, but always beyond his reach and like everything up until that was temporary.

He feared it was all temporary, yet he longed for the day it would all come to an end, the day he would reach his primary programming. Did PROXY ever feel what he felt, he wondered? Were droids capable of understanding what it felt like to be so close to your goal, yet not quite being there yet, not quite believing you'd ever be there. If they did, then PROXY must have known exceptionally well what it was like. If it were so, he pitied PROXY.

"It is. You should visit," Juno sighed. She felt a pang of homesickness tug at her chest. It didn't happen often, but the nostalgia was suddenly almost overwhelming.

"I don't have time for sightseeing."

"What do you do during your annual leave then?"

"I don't have one," the assassin replied bluntly, pushing away his empty plate.

"Never?" Surely that was illegal.

"Never," Starkiller confirmed. "Don't bother yourself with that, though."

Juno supposed it a warning not to pursue the subject and frowned at her moody companion. During their meal she must have revealed so much of herself, yet the man before had revealed nothing. It wasn't fair, a childish part of her insisted. She wanted to unravel the mystery before her despite the gnawing fear for her life –but she had never let that hold her down. She would get to the bottom of this. She would expose whatever conspiracy lay behind the closed doors of Rogue Shadow. She would find out who the man before her was.

She watched Starkiller stir the remainders of his drink and down the mix in one go. She had already finished hers. The orange layer had been sickeningly sweet, but the fresh, almost sour green layer had balanced the taste nicely –and it was definitely getting into her head.

"What is this?" Starkiller voiced the question Juno had been thinking of while having hers.

"No idea. It's nice, though," she said, glancing at her empty glass. "Shall we get a new round?"

"One's enough," the young man said with a grimace. "It's definitely doing its job."

Juno simpered with a sudden idea.

"Come on. Let's go to the dance floor," she coaxed.

Starkiller looked at the hand tugging at his arm. "I don't dance."

"Don't be shy. Anyone can dance."

"No really, I don't—" he tried despite letting the Captain pull him towards the dance floor. The volume boomed as they left the dining area.

"It's fine," Juno called over the music. "Just follow my lead."

She led the young man to the floor holding onto his hands and letting herself get caught up in the music. It had been forever since she'd last went clubbing. Did Imperial assassins ever do that, she wondered. She grinned at the bewildered look Starkiller was giving her. There was a first time for everything, and she didn't particularly care. She felt light and happy and freer than she had in months, and for once she could just forget everything, just be Juno Eclipse. Her father was a face forgotten, Callos but a bad dream, and the Empire and her life in the army somewhere so far away her thoughts couldn't reach them. Just Juno...and so she danced.

The music changed from joyous to slow and sweet. Couples around them pulled closer and began swaying with the rhythm.

"May I?" Starkiller asked, holding his hand out for her. In the dim light he was a mere shadow and she couldn't see his face properly. But for a moment...she'd thought he'd looked so young. She smiled and took the invitation for a dance.

"I thought you said you didn't know how to dance," she said quietly. Her voice came out tender and far more breathless than she had intended.

"I said I don't dance."

"Yet here you are," she said, pulling a little bit closer. In response Starkiller's hand against her back held her closer still. He was firm and warm against her. She supposed being held so close by him could have felt incredibly safe if she weren't reminded of the fact that he was a killer conspiring against the Empire. The thought sent shivers down her spine, but whether it was fear or something else she didn't quite know or care to know herself anymore.

Starkiller hummed in agreement to her words. Her hair brushed against his hand resting against her back. She felt small and fragile, though he knew she was anything but. The silence stretched between them, but it was comfortable and oddly reassuring.

It was a very long song, or at least that's the way it felt. He wouldn't have minded if it had lasted longer. They looked into each others eyes in silence until the music came to an end and the next song blended in. Neither let go. They looked into each other's eyes, and he felt breathless and weak under her gaze.

He felt Juno's hand brush against his cheek (when did she move?) and the her lips pressed against his, making him even weaker. He didn't notice when he had closed his eyes or when he forgot how to breath –only that both had happened when Juno pulled away hastily.

"Oh stars..." she gasped. "That-that wasn't very professional, was it?"

Starkiller blinked at her. She looked like she regretted her action.

"No, no it wasn't," he agreed under his breath. Despite his words he found himself leaning closer. Juno's lips parted and her wide eyes looked into his with an alarmed expression. Then she blinked and the look was replaced by determination. Her hands held his face between them and she pressed her lips against his again. For a moment Starkiller froze. Juno's lips slid against his mouth, her scent filled his nostrils. Then he buried his fingers in her hair, his eyes fluttered closed as he melted into her kiss. Carefully, almost frightened, he responded. Her nose bumped against his, but their lips didn't part.

When she pulled away he looked at her in boyish wonder. No one had ever kissed him like that –no. No one had ever kissed him at all. Camie had once pressed a wet kiss on his mouth when they were still kids. Fixer would probably attempt to kill him if he knew. But that hardly compared.

He licked his lips nervously and opened his mouth to say something, but words failed him.

"Maybe...maybe we should go back," Juno said breathlessly with edge of something in her voice. Hope?

Galen swallowed. The lump seemed to settle at the pit of his stomach. "Yeah. Yeah we probably should."

He turned abruptly away from her, suddenly just feeling an overwhelming need to escape her presence. He dodged the people, quickly walking out of the cantina. If Juno followed, he didn't notice. PROXY greeted him at Rogue Shadow, but he pushed past the droid into the training room and across to his chamber. There, and only there, in the privacy of his dark chamber did he allow himself to come apart and think of sweet what ifs.

Thank you for reading, and thank you so much for everyone who keeps sticking to this story. It means so much to me. Please let me know how you feel about this chapter if you have a moment.

Incidentally, as a native Finnish speaker, my eyes and ears bleed when I read teräs käsi. It might not seem like a big deal to you English speakers out there, but it should be teräskäsi to be grammatically correct.