Chapter 12: He is looking for you
Three months passed after Anakin and Engel met.
Lord Vader was traveling throughout the galaxy, hunting the rebels, but the Emperor from his throne was not satisfied at all, he could feel the feelings and thoughts of his apprentice... this was not to please him... it was for others reasons.
"Lord Vader has been very strange these last few months... not to say mysterious, but I'm sure this is all due to Engel." Palpatine said with a gesture of annoyance at the insubordination of his apprentice.
"Why do you think so, Master?" Mas Amedda asked curiously.
"He has been distancing himself from me lately, and if he has started investigating Engel's whereabouts, I more than anyone have the right to know."
"If you were looking for him, you must have already heard about the whereabouts of his brother?" Amedda suggested.
"I don't doubt it, but what bothers me the most is that he did all this behind my back and without my authorization." Palpatine grunted in irritation at the thought.
"That must be the reason why he insists on searching for the rebels and their bases… the last time he met his brother, he was in the rebel alliance…"
"He was with them, but now he is not…"
"What do you plan to do about it?"
"For now, be patient, stay out of the situation... I'm going to watch my apprentice's steps very closely." Palpatine smiled.
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Engel was blindfolded, and using a lightsaber he deflected stone throws against him.
"Like a river, the force flows within you… you have learned a lot, in these past three months. And faster than any student I've taught before." Yoda reflected as she looked at Engel.
"Even Anakin?" Engel asked as he deflected another attack.
"Powerful was the force with Anakin, before he became Darth Vader. Impatient and stubborn he was constantly pushing me to exceed beyond his abilities… more sublime, your approach has been."
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"I'm getting impatient, captain, another dead end…" said Vader aboard his star destroyer, unable to find Engel's whereabouts.
"Lord Vader, we are truly sorry, but we have searched several worlds and still have not found… the person who is identical to his majesty…"
"We will change plans Lieutenant, we must look for Captain Solo or Princess Leia Organa... they must know Engel's secret location." Vader ordered.
"Yes Lord Vader... a shipment of probe droids has arrived and the bounty hunters await your orders."
"Launch the droids as soon as they are programmed and instruct the bounty hunters. I feel like my search is coming to an end."
After giving his orders Vader left the place... the lieutenant took out his holoprojector and turned it on, seeing the Emperor's face.
"You're late, news," Palpatine ordered, placing his eyes on the lieutenant.
"Lord Vader ordered the deployment of probe droids and bounty hunters to find the person he is looking for."
"I don't want Lord Vader to find out, that I am helping him in the search for him... after all, just like him, I wish to find my brother."
"Yes, his majesty... the inquisitors are already doing their job separately, anyone who has seen Engel will recognize him because of the great resemblance he had to you..."
"If I found my brother, he would be the happiest man in the world…" Palpatine smiled maliciously.
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Engel was meditating under the guidance of Master Yoda.
"Tell me what you see?" Yoda asked next to Engel.
"I see…the swamp, Dagobah, the system and the galaxy…I feel many things." Engel said with his eyes closed.
"What are you feeling?".
"I feel a dark presence… he is getting very close to me… he is calling me." Engel said trying to contain his fear.
"Hold on Engel…" Yoda asked next to him.
Engel opened his eyes tiredly, that presence felt dark... he was calling him, why?
"You still have to learn... that place is full of the power of the dark side, your next challenge is...". Yoda said pointing to a dark cave.
Engel composed himself and entered the cave, he felt very cold in there... he didn't like it.
Suddenly he felt someone approaching him, it was a dark figure in the shadows... with a large black robe and his facial features hidden in the shadow of his hood.
"You are equal to me… you and I are one." He said the shadow with a smile.
Engel, wanting to discover the face of the shadow, removed the hood... but there was nothing, it was just an illusion...
At that moment the illusion changed again, but now he found himself in front of a glass... again he could see his reflection twice in the mirrors...
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While Lord Vader was aboard his Imperial battlecruiser, one of the generals gives him a report.
"Lord Vader… the Emperor demands that you contact him immediately, the Emperor already knows that you are looking for Engel."
"I will not delay my general search, if the Emperor tries to hold me… his efforts are useless." Vader declared.
"Quite the opposite sir, the Emperor said that he is helping to find Engel."
If my master is looking for Engel, he can't be any good... with Sidious nothing is as it seems. Vader thought suspiciously as he answered his master's call.
"What are his orders, my master?" Vader asked kneeling in front of the hologram of his master.
"Lord Vader, I don't remember at any time authorizing a search… it's interesting." Palpatine said, staying calm and hiding his true thoughts from him.
"My apologies, master." Vader excused himself.
"Pathetic! A powerful Sith Lord invaded by melancholy as he clings to the memories of a Jedi." At that moment Palpatine let his displeasure and anger shine through.
"There is no attachment, Anakin Skywalker was weak. "I destroyed it." Vader declared.
"Yet you insist on holding on to a cheap copy of me, don't you?" Palpatine asked with annoyance and disgust.
Vader did not respond and Palpatine gave him a direct order.
"Rise Lord Vader... You have heard that between twins we normally feel what happens to the other."
"Yes master, I have heard cases…"
"I have a task for you, my young apprentice… two Jedi have been detected and you must exterminate them, they must pay for their betrayal. They are in the Dagobah system, and of course next to Master Yoda is your dear Engel…" Palpatine said with a cruel laugh.
"Do you believe Engel is being trained in the ways of the Jedi?" Vader asked fearing that possibility.
"It is no coincidence, do what must be done Lord Vader, do not hesitate, have no mercy..." Palpatine ordered.
"I will finish what we started, master." Vader declared.
"You will do it? He asked me... remember that I did not tolerate failure. If you defy my orders, I may find a suitable punishment for you… now get out of my sight." Palpatine cut the communication and Vader ordered all units to the Dagobah system.
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"Master, I see it…" said Engel, meditating on the force. "The crystal for my lightsaber… is in a cave not far from here."
"Ah, yes… the crystals. I left them here when I arrived in Dagobah. The heart of a Jedi weapon, this is. You must recover these crystals."
Yoda pulls out a lightsaber hilt and gives it to Engel.
"Normally, a Jedi must build his own hilt. Supplies are scarce here in the swamp. Use this weapon and replace his crystal with yours."
Engel takes the hilt in his hands. "When I complete this challenge, will I be a Jedi?" he asked with a smile.
"One final challenge, you will face… and then a Jedi you will be."
"Now go, with a clear mind find the crystal you must... and return in the morning with your weapon complete."
Engel left the place towards the cave where the kyber crystals were located. Master Yoda waited patiently until nightfall when he felt a familiar presence approaching.
"Vader, I was waiting for you." Yoda said as he saw the silhouette of Vader in person.
"I came for Engel, where is he?" Vader asked authoritatively.
"Engel is not here…" Yoda responded.
"Don't play with me, Jedi." Vader warned menacingly.
"I am too old for games, Vader."
"Yes, I am surprised to see that you are still alive." Saying this Vader took out his red lightsaber.
"There will be many surprises for you, this day…"
Once saying this Yoda entered Vader's mind.
"What have you done?" Vader asked in confusion.
I have entered your mind, even more altered here you are than in your physical reality. Yoda reflected.
Your tricks will not save you Jedi, I will destroy you. Vader replied in protest. My life is Jedi suffering, it will take more than that to stop me.
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Engel entered the cave of crystals, one crystal in particular felt like it was calling him. Looking for his crystal, he found a blue one.
Engel opened the handle, picked up the crystal. And he built the lightsaber again, when he turned on the blade you could see a beautiful blue.
But at that moment he felt a serious danger… "Master!"
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With pain your life has been filled, although your choice is gone. Wrong choices you have made your entire life, selfish and cruel you have been. Never thinking about others. Seeing yourself better than others. Denying your true feelings of being a father to your child.
a son!? Vader thought in confusion.
Unfortunately you have wasted your devoted life on hatred and lies...hurt yourself and many others, you have. Your late wife was able to live long enough to give birth to her child...
I'm afraid... that it's already too late. With these words Vader attacked in surprise with his lightsaber, filled with anger at having been deceived... at how they dared to hide his son from him.
"Not…!" Engel shouted in horror upon seeing the scene. "What have you done?! Because you did?" Engel asked, crying with sadness.
"They deserve no less... I gave the Jedi too clean a death... by daring to keep my son from me." Vader said with yellow eyes and hatred dripping in his words.
"They just wanted to protect your son from the Emperor… and from you." Engel said with sadness and disappointment.
"Obi-wan betrayed me just like Padme…don't you betray me too." Vader said warningly.
"Anakin… you are choosing a path that I cannot accompany you on." Engel said sadly.
"As you wish…Jedi." Vader said with contempt and hatred.
Engel cautiously directed his hand toward his lightsaber just as Vader was going to attack. A blue lightsaber stops the attack.
And Engel sees Luke next to him, in the distance you could also see Han and Chewie.
"Now I know who you are Vader, I learned a lot about my father Anakin Skywalker, from Master Yoda." Luke said containing Vader's attack.
"You can join me…" Vader offered.
"I will never join you!" Luke said determinedly.
Luke was fighting Vader, but he was just on defense. But Vader managed to knock him down with the blow of his hand.
"Join me and together we will rule the galaxy, as father and son!" Vader offered again.
Luke wiped the blood from his forehead. "I never sought to rule the galaxy, I only sought peace, father…"
"Luke, my boy…if only you could understand the power of the dark side. "Don't make me destroy you."
"Luke!" Engel shouted, igniting his lightsaber to defend Luke.
The battle began, a blue lightsaber collided with the red lightsaber... exchanging thrusts and attacks with the force.
The battle reaches a point where Engel defeats Vader, and he realizes that like his master, Engel was a very good dualist with lightsabers. You are just like your brother... Vader thought with disgust.
"This is not over," Vader declared, turning off his lightsaber and retreating to his tie fighter to leave.
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Engel approaches Master Yoda, he was still alive but for a short time.
"Master Yoda…" Engel said, approaching the little Jedi master, sighing. "Master…".
"Go in peace, you have passed the test. You are… a Jedi, you are."
They were the last words of Master Yoda, before disappearing, becoming one with the force.
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Far away from Dagobah in the imperial capital Emperor Palpatine stood on his throne. When he feels a presence fade into strength.
"That…? "Ah!" Palpatine said, reflecting on this matter... "Master Yoda...".
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Engel was back in the rebel alliance. Hurt by Anakin's attitude...
"Luke how did you know?" Engel asked.
"What were you in trouble? I'm a Jedi you forget…" Luke said with a mocking smile.
"Right now… we have a galaxy to save," Engel said, hugging Luke to give him comfort.
"Don't worry... we're going to find a way for my father to come back to us..."