Luminance
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A/N1:Sequel to "House Divided", and Major AU story!
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A/N2: Remember that for the purpose of this story, I have changed some canon facts, such as Han Solo having the Falcon earlier, being younger, and other things like that that I needed to change to fit this story. Thank you.
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A/N3: I do not own Star Wars.
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Chapter One:
Five years ago
Leia Skywalker Vader sat with her head in her arms, perched against the small ship that had been one of Luke's all-time favorites to work on. It just so happened to be the same ship that Leia had been using for her little side missions. The thing was a work of absolute beauty, even Leia— who didn't have the mechanical eye and love that her father and twin brother did— could see that.
A hesitant, but concerned beep sounded, and Artoo Detoo rolled up to stand beside her.
Dooleep? the droid asked in obvious concern.
Leia did not need a translation this time. She merely shook her head where it rested upon her folded arms.
"They replaced him, Artoo." Leia couldn't believe it, even though she had just seen for herself. "They replaced Luke."
Artoo tootled questioningly, and Leia looked up, her eyes wet. "I just met my new baby brother, Arun. It's been almost nine months to the day that Luke..." Leia's throat closed, and she hesitated, not wanting to slip up, even though Artoo knew about Luke.
"They didn't even mourn the loss of Luke," Leia muttered bitterly. "My parents wasted no time in creating a replacement for Luke. It's like he ever even existed, in their opinion."
Artoo voiced his own sentiment on that one, and Leia patted the droid's dome. "Oh Artoo, what could have turned my parents into such... monsters? I know they were not like this during the Clone Wars. I wonder what changed for them?"
Artoo hesitated, and then spoke. I do not know all the details, but I know something changed when Master Anakin went to the Jedi Council for help. He came back furious, and that's when he and Mistress Padmé really began to change.
Leia frowned. "Maybe I know someone who can shed light on that subject."
Artoo was openly curious, and Leia lowered her voice greatly.
"General Hurst."
Artoo showed his understanding and then settled.
"But I can't do that any time soon." Leia added. "I have to lay low for now, lest my parents become suspicious. I'll need to proceed with caution. That includes you Artoo. I need you to stay focused and on point, can you do that for me?"
Artoo blatted a few tones that once more needed no translator. Leia smiled, patting his dome affectionately.
"I knew I could count on you."
00000
Present day
"Way to go Princess!" Wedge Antilles and the other Rogue Squadron pilots cheered her as she exited her fighter.
Leia smiled at them, the small group of pilots who were her closest friends aside from Mon Mothma in the Rebel Alliance. The Rogue group had been the first ones to give her a real chance, and they had continuously stuck by her. Even when it was only she and them, they had been at her side as much as they could be.
Now, much more of the Rebellion's membership accepted Leia, even trusted her, because she had successfully spent the last five years both feeding intelligence and helping in their attacks and such.
"We'll be sitting real pretty after that raid!" Wes said, socking Leia playfully on the arm.
"Yeah, we won't run out of caf for at least two months!" Hobbie seconded, holding up a can of what all Rebellion pilots referred to as brown gold.
The rest of the Rogues lifted hands to touch the can of caf, and Leia could sense their eagerness to have some.
Leia snickered, waving them off. "Go and enjoy some then, Boys. You've earned it."
"We'll save some for you too, Princess." Hobbie promised as the Rogues, minus Wedge, exited the hangar bay to go brew up some coffee.
Wedge looked after them and shook his head, and then turned to Leia. "May I walk with you?"
Leia nodded. "Please."
The two of them walked from the hangar and in a different direction from the others. The two of them now had to report in to Alliance High Command.
"That was a huge amount of supplies you managed to get for us, Leia." Wedge remarked as they walked. "It'll keep us going for quite a while now."
"Well, Sergeant Quane and I have been slowly siphoning supplies off of what gets distributed to the Imperial Navy," Leia said. "We will not be able to supply the Rebellion like that again for some time. We can't siphon too much too quickly or it'll get noticed."
Wedge nodded. "I get it. And hey, I commend your ability to have flown under your parents' radar for so long. I mean, five years... that's impressive."
"It's not always been easy." Leia admitted. "But I am not giving up."
"And we will continue to help you, no questions asked," Wedge promised. "At least the Rogues will. We all trust you."
Leia smiled warmly. "That means a lot to me, Wedge, thank you."
Wedge returned the smile, and then tilted his head. "Captain Solo has yet to arrive with his portion of the supplies. What was he running again?"
"He and his crew went to pick up the credits I also siphoned for the Rebellion," Leia answered. "He isn't scheduled to arrive until tomorrow, at a new rendezvous to avoid unwanted attention."
"Got it," Wedge said. Then Wedge wagged a playful eyebrow. "I bet you'll be happy to see the Captain, eh Princess?"
Leia blushed, shoving him mildly. "Come off it. We're just friends."
"Uh-huh," Wedge quipped, "and I am a Toydarian selling junk to desperate folks."
Leia looked away, and Wedge did stop then, though Leia knew he was only teasing her. He would never actually make fun of Leia.
The pair of them reached their destination and both turned business with the ease born of years in positions of authority. Wedge opened the door for her and Leia went through with a word of thanks.
Mon Mothma looked up from her desk and smiled warmly at both people. "Princess Leia, Commander Antilles, welcome back. I trust by the state of happiness in the mess hall that the trip was a success?"
Mon indicated a holo feed showing the gaggle of exited pilots near the caf makers in the mess hall, and Leia chuckled.
"It was," Leia said. "And the final portion of things will arrive tomorrow as planned, once we jump to the rendezvous near Vohai."
"Excellent! Those funds will be a welcome addition." Mon looked to Wedge. "And do you have anything to report Commander?"
Wedge straightened. "The Rogues performed a patrol before we left, and there's no Imperial activity near here that we could detect."
"Indeed," Mon murmured thoughtfully. "The Empire has been rather... quiet of late, wouldn't you both agree?"
Wedge nodded. "Almost too quiet, Ma'am. It's unsettling."
Mon looked to Leia. "Any idea what might be going on?"
Leia shook her head. "Not yet. Father has been working very closely with some of his best ship designers for the last year, but I have been able to find nothing on what his project is. Not even Artoo can find anything."
Mon pursed her lips. "If you hear anything..."
"I promise to pass the info along as soon as I am able to." Leia finished for her. She looked about. "May I ask where General Hurst is?"
"The General is once more on Tatooine." Mon informed Leia. "He would not say why, but I get the sense he was on a personal errand."
Leia nodded. "Did he say when he would return?"
Mon shook her head. "No, sorry. Why don't you get some rest? You look weary, Princess."
"I can stay for the rendezvous, but then I must be getting back." Leia turned, but not before bowing her head respectfully to Mon.
"Very good," Mon answered, dismissing Wedge also.
The two friends now made their way to the mess hall, and Leia pondered on the growing sense of family relations she had with the Rogue pilots. They were all as dear to her as siblings, and she loved them as such.
Her mind went to her little brother, Arun Vader, who looked very much like Anakin had when he had been five. The boy had a shock of golden hair that framed brown eyes, and if his growth rate was anything to go by, he would probably also be as tall as Vader was.
Arun was a sweet boy, but also conflicted. Their parents showed Arun love and affection, but it was clear to Leia that they also wished to control what their child was exposed to. Arun might not understand that at his tender age, but Leia could see it clear as day. This was also because Leia had lived in much the same way for most of her life. Her mother still sought control over Leia, but that had lessened once Padmé's attention had been diverted by Arun. Not that Leia minded less time with her mother.
The princess and the pilot arrived at the mess hall to find two steaming mugs waiting for them at the table where the Rogues were sitting. Once they entered the hall, a loud cheer went up.
"Hooray for the Princess, bringer of caf!" Wes and Hobbie led the cheer.
Leia rolled her eyes, but accepted the praise humbly, smiling and then moving to take her spot at the table. The cheering died down to the normal rumble of a mess hall as each table held its own conversation.
Once everyone was settled at the Rogue's table, there was a time spent where they all simply enjoyed their drink. But that silence was broken by one of the Rogues.
"Hey Princess, when will your friend Jirik make another appearance?" Dak Ralter asked.
Everyone at the table looked to Leia with great interest now. None of the Rogue pilot's knew Jirik's true identity, of course, but they all liked the man quite a lot. The first time Jirik— or Leia's twin brother, Luke Skywalker— had shown up to help in a fight; they had been flabbergasted by his piloting skills.
Luke had really and truly saved the battle group that day. He had arrived in the nick of time to ward off what had almost been a total defeat. The Rebellion had lost a few ships, and the Rogues were the only ones left by the time Luke had arrived to help. He'd saved the lives of the remaining pilots and had ensured they returned to Home One safely.
He had of course received instant attention, gratitude and respect from Rogue Squadron, though Luke had remained humble throughout. Luke appeared now and again as he was needed to help the Rebellion, though mostly he stayed away to train in the Force and work for Karrde per his agreement with the smuggler.
Leia looked to the pilots around her, all of whom were now keenly interested in what Leia had to say.
"I don't know," Leia said softly. "He's been busy, and only comes to our aid when we really need it."
"Where does he go when he isn't with us?" Dak pressed curiously.
"He travels extensively," Leia replied, lowering her voice in a pointed warning to her friends. "He is trying to learn all he can about the Jedi."
Wedge straightened. "The Jedi? Why would he want to do that?"
"Because Jirik is training to become one," Leia whispered.
"Doesn't he know that's a death sentence?" Hobbie asked evenly.
"And what we are doing isn't?" Wedge shot back calmly. "If we can get a Jedi in our ranks... we'd be lucky indeed!"
"Could you imagine fighting alongside a Jedi?" Wes looked star struck. "I mean, a real Jedi?"
Leia made a motion with her hands. "It's got to remain between us. Mon knows, of course, as does General Hurst. But please..."
"Hey," Hobbie said seriously. "We've got your back, Princess. Promise."
He held out hand and looked to his fellow pilots, all of whom nodded and added their hand to the growing pile. Once everyone's hands were in place, Leia smiled warmly and joined hers to theirs.
"Thank you all. I couldn't ask for a better group of friends."
00000
"So you mean to tell me that for five years, my daughter has done nothing noteworthy to your eyes?" Empress Padmé Vader demanded.
Damielle Kirin bowed her head deeper. "Milady, I have reported on all things I suspect you would find an interest in. As ordered."
"I find it hard to believe that after so long, my daughter has finally given up defying me." Padmé mused.
"If I may, Majesty?" Damielle asked.
"Go ahead."
"Perhaps with the loss of Prince Luke, Princess Leia felt that it would be better to fall in line so she too did not... lose her way?" Damielle suggested. "I am sure the Princess is smart enough to know when to fold, Milady."
Padmé considered this. "Perhaps there is truth to that. Still, I do not like it. Leia has been almost... too compliant."
Damielle remained quiet, having used her permission to speak. Damielle had of course noted Leia's odd behaviors, but had not reported anything of value to the Empress. Damielle remained a little on the fence on which way to spin her utter loyalties, since the Empress still held Damielle's family captive. Her family had not been allowed to leave their farm without an undercover escort since the Empire had taken up a residence there.
Her family had most of their privacy, but anything that went in or out of the farm was thoroughly inspected. As far as anyone on the outside knew, they were merely playing host to extended family.
There had been a few close calls as her family tested the severity of the Empire's hold on them, and her little sister now had a permanent limp due to one such scuffle.
Damielle had chosen to not report anything discriminating about Leia's antics, or the way she and Sergeant Quane often met up. She had chosen to not alert the Empress to anything that would incriminate the princess, but Damielle was too afraid of the Empress to do anything further. At least until Damielle's family could be rescued.
But how would that ever happen? The Empress was too powerful, and had far too many dangerous people at her beck and call.
So Damielle was essentially stuck where she was, and after the years it had been, she was growing weary of it all. Something had to give, because she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep up her charade. Already Empress Padmé was getting suspicious, and had been for a while now.
But since her attention was mostly taken up by her new son and her duties as Empress, Padmé had not done much to pursue the issue personally. That was probably for the best, Damielle knew, since the Empress had much greater resources at her disposal than did her daughter. And especially far more than a mere handmaiden ever would.
"Continue to report to me on my daughter," the Empress finally said, drawing Damielle's full attention once more. "I want to know of anything odd; even if you think it is insignificant."
"I will do as you command," Damielle replied, bowing low.
"You are dismissed," Padmé said, already looking away.
"Thank you Empress."
Damielle departed, keeping with the humble attitude of the handmaiden she was. Only when she was far from the Empress' personal quarters did Damielle allow her mind to wander. She knew she would have to come up with something for the empress, or Padmé would get impatient and find things out for herself.
Damielle sighed softly and tried to figure out what to do. Leia was off-world on a trip her father had sent her on, though Damielle suspected there was more going on than Leia was letting on.
The Princess should be returning home soon, and Damielle would have her quarters clean and ready for her.
Home? Damielle thought sardonically. This palace is not a home, at least not for Leia. The poor woman... stuck in a loveless life with her parents.
Leia was now an adult, and legally able to make her own choices. However, the Princess still had to tread carefully lest she step on the toes of her parents. Damielle suspected that while Leia was currently on genial terms with her parents, that relationship was walking on eggshells. One slip-up could cost Leia dearly, and Damielle did not wish to be the cause of that unraveling.
Damielle was so lost in her thoughts that she did not see the body before her until she rammed into it.
"Hey!" An indignant voice shouted.
"Oh!" Damielle cried in surprise, looking up with a red face. "I am so sorry!"
She paled when she saw who it was, and dropped to her knees. "My Prince, please forgive me! I was not looking where I was going!"
"Well maybe you should from now on?" the boy snapped, his chocolate eyes looking to her with obvious disdain.
"What is going on here?" the Emperor's voice sounded next.
"This woman slammed into me," Arun Vader said to his father, who now stood at his side.
"I swear, I did not mean any harm!" Damielle bowed her head. "It will not happen again!"
Emperor Vader looked to her, and when Damielle risked looking up, she saw that he recognized her. "You are my daughter's handmaiden."
"Yes Your Majesty," Damielle replied quietly.
"Normally you are so much more attentive to your surroundings... Damielle, isn't it?" Vader asked.
"It is, and I was distracted, that's all." Damielle bowed her head once more submissively. "I was given a task by the Empress, and I was trying to figure out how to best do that task."
"I see," Vader replied. "Well, carry on then. Do be more careful in the future."
"I will, Your Majesty; and Prince Arun, again, my apologies." Damielle boldly looked him in the eye. "I meant you no harm."
Arun's eyes softened a hair, and he nodded. "Well, don't let it happen again."
The pair walked off, with Arun looking to his father and asking a question. Vader patted his son on the shoulder and smiled, and Damielle looked away. She could imagine the youth asking his father if he had done a good job at being a prince, and his father had said yes.
Damielle could not believe that the child's parents were already teaching him to be a tyrant, and he was only five.
Damielle paid attention to where she was walking from then on, and when she was in her personal quarters within Leia's apartment, she settled onto her bed to think in peace and quiet.
Five year old Arun was still innocent, and did not understand what he was doing, not truly. Yet his parents were encouraging him to behave as if he was better than anyone who wasn't in his family.
Damielle only then remembered that she had wanted to prepare Princess Leia's quarters, and she left her room to do just that. A small smile blossomed on her face as Damielle recalled that she and Leia had grown rather close despite their separation of social class. Still, Leia never revealed anything of her behind-the-scenes activities.
Damielle suspected that was because Leia knew who Damielle ultimately worked for. Damielle would not want to share her secrets with one of Empress Padmé's servants either.
Still, Leia treated Damielle as more or less an equal when they were in the apartment, or whenever they would not be observed by anyone who would disapprove. Sergeant Quane knew of their friendship, but Damielle knew that he was not a threat.
Despite this, there was always a touch of guilt deep within Damielle's bosom. She was befriending the one who had lost her mentor at Damielle's hands. Damielle had been the one to dispose of Senator Organa, and she was still required to report to Empress Padmé in regards to Leia.
Damielle sighed once more and pushed such thoughts from her mind, welcoming the mundane tasks that lay ahead of her.
00000
General Hurst— once known as Obi Wan Kenobi— stood in the center of his small hut on Tatooine. Before him lay a large chest that held his most personal items. The hut was safe in that it lay on the edge of the Dune Sea and Sand People territory. His house also had the reputation of being cursed among the local peoples, so they avoided it.
And if that did not work, then Hurst had designed the house to camouflage from the air if need be.
He now stood before his chest, gazing at the lid and fighting back a slew of memories the thing invoked.
Growing tired, he finally unlocked the chest. He opened the lid and peered within. Master Yoda had contacted him and asked him to bring the small collection of lightsaber crystals he had on hand, and the crystal maker as well.
The aging master's pupil was now ready to build his own, new lightsaber. During his training with Yoda, Luke Skywalker had been using an old lightsaber that Hurst had managed to save from the attack on the Jedi Temple.
Hurst reached in and took out all the necessary items, wondering which crystal Luke would choose, or if he would opt to create his own.
Hurst sealed the chest once more and then left the hut, setting the security system before moving to his small ship. He left the desert sands far behind and made for space before he input a set of coordinates. He made three small jumps to throw off any chance of being followed before he put in his actual destination.
Hurst settled into his seat and waited patiently during the trip through hyperspace. His mind went to Leia, who had grown closer to Hurst over the years. He had been able to give her lessons whenever the woman was able to be there in person to help the Rebellion. General Hurst had made it a point to teach her what he could whenever he could, making use of any and all opportunities that were presented to him.
Leia's abilities had improved greatly, though not as much as her brother's had. Luke had grown by leaps and bounds, especially after travelling with Yoda to visit different cultures that used and understood the Force in unique ways from that of the Old Jedi Order.
As for Leia, she was an even more formidable force to be reckoned with than she had been even with her father's training. She could hold her own just fine in a fight, and yet she chose more often than not to let words do the fighting for her. That was a trait that Hurst knew she had inherited from her mother.
The old Padmé would have been so proud. The new one... probably could have cared less unless it benefited her.
Hurst was proud of the adults that both Luke and Leia had grown in to, and he felt like an uncle to them, even though technically he wasn't. Still, each twin had responded positively to him, though Leia had grown closer to him emotionally, since she spent more time with him than Luke did.
Luke appreciated Hurst, but was less emotionally attached because he was so focused on training with Yoda.
Hurst blew out a weary breath and closed his eyes, deciding to rest while he could. He still had a few hours left in hyperspace, and planned to not waste the chance to sleep unobstructed.
00000
Emperor Vader lifted the covers over his son's shoulders, smiling softly and bending down to kiss the young boy's forehead.
"Goodnight, my son."
Arun smiled at his father. "I love you, Father."
Vader dipped his head. "And I love you. Now, rest."
"Will Mother be in to say goodnight too?" Arun asked, casting his eyes hopefully toward the door.
"Your mother had an errand to run," Vader replied. "She will see you when she gets back."
"Oh." Arun sounded a little disappointed. "Okay."
He settled then, rolling over and closing his eyes.
Vader stood and left, turning out the lights as he did so. His son was growing swiftly, and he was eager to learn, something that pleased Vader. The Emperor was making sure to not repeat past mistakes with Luke, in how he handled Arun. Little Arun was his pride and joy, and Vader would not allow the child to turn out like Luke had.
Luke the disappointment...
Vader pushed thoughts of his deceased son from his mind, and went to his communications console. He input a sequence that would ensure the utmost security on his call, and then placed it.
Moments later a face Vader knew well came on screen.
"Good day your Majesty," Admiral Firmus Piett said crisply with a salute.
"Status report, Admiral," Vader replied.
"We are currently on-schedule, your Majesty," Piett reported, "though I fear we may need to locate a fresh source of the steel being used. According to the manufacturer, this particular composition we have created will need to be made in larger batches. We will not have enough to make any further ships until we do."
Vader considered. "But there is enough to complete the one already under construction, yes?"
"I have been assured that is the case, Majesty," Piett replied. "However, the focusing crystals for the main weapons placements have yet to arrive."
"My men on the ground have been experiencing difficulty with the mining process." Vader informed the man. "They should be shipping by the end of the month, barring any unforeseen complications in the mine."
"We will be unable to proceed much further without the crystals, Majesty," Piett said cautiously. "We must place them before we can enclose the system as it should be. And the remainder of the ship will be built around these systems once it is in place."
"I understand," Vader replied. "You will remain in the loop. As soon as the shipment leaves the mine, you will be informed."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Piett answered. "Was there anything else?"
"Not tonight." Vader moved a finger to terminate the call. "You are doing well, Admiral, keep up the good work."
He then ended the call, and sat back. His newest creation— a ship of his very own design, with the help of ship-building experts, of course— was being built in complete secrecy at the distant world of Belkadan. It was a planet on the farthest reaches of the northern galactic edge, where few travelled. It made Belkadan the perfect place to build a new ship in secret.
Only Padmé and the men working on the project knew it was happening. With this new ship, and the weapons capability it possessed, Vader would instill a new level of terror in the galaxy. A tiny part of him hoped that with its appearance, the Rebellion would stand down.
But a larger part of Vader hoped they challenged him, giving him a reason to show his might. He would not be challenged again!
Vader grinned in anticipation, imagining the looks on the faces of the Rebellion's membership as the Emperor's new toy was unveiled for the first time, and her abilities put on full display.
It was almost like giving himself a lifeday gift. But that wasn't for a few months yet, since the ship had yet to be completed.
He could be patient, a lesson he had learned well from Palpatine. Look at what patience had won the former Sith Master. And now it would reward Emperor Vader with utter victory.
So patient he would remain.