CHAPTER TWO
The fuselage of the X-Wing creaked and shuddered as it withstood the relentless barrage of anti-fighter flak. Shards of debris from the first wave of unfortunate fighters rained down on the cockpit, evoking memories of the soothing artificial rain sounds that Luke's aunt played when he was just a child. Amidst the chaos, the radar blared urgent warnings of fresh TIE fighters joining the fray. With a practiced flick of a switch, Luke silenced the alarms, fully aware that the Empire outnumbered their own six to one.
"Give me an update, Artoo!"
The blue astromech socketed behind him gave a series of sympathetic whines. Only four of the seven transport vessels managed to reach hyperspace. Two were torn apart by the Star Destroyers hanging over the planet like an executioner's blade. The remaining ship waited patiently behind a screen of the Rebellion cruisers that were quickly being torn apart by the swarms of TIEs still pouring out from the hangers of the destroyers. What began as a simple escort mission had turned into a disaster.
Luke snarled and yanked his starfighter's controls to avoid another flak barrage. He narrowly avoided the initial explosions but fell victim to the shrapnel that tore at his fighter's hull. The outer layer of protective paint had already been stripped away to expose the barren metal beneath. He doubted the ship would be able to handle much more.
Artoo chirped to inform him of an incoming message. He cursed at the poor timing.
"This is Red-Five. Kinda busy at the moment."
A loud electronic buzz nearly deafened him until a familiar voice broke through the static. "This is Hera Syndulla aboard the Ghost. What's your location?"
"Somewhere between a sharlacc pit and a krayt dragon."
He performed an evasive spiral to avoid the fire of a TIE fighter, then swung around to punish the overly confident pilot. The explosion briefly threw an orange glow across his cockpit and returned much-needed courage. Three more TIEs howled in his direction, hoping to avenge their fallen comrade.
Luke decided to meet them head-on. Reaching out with the Force, he predicted their attack vector and then quickly plotted his own. His gloved hand wrapped around the throttle lever and pulled it back, nearly silencing his ion engines and allowing the TIEs to scream past him. It took three pulls of the trigger to end their careers.
"Command has given us permission to retreat. Break out and return to Yavin," Syndulla ordered between waves of static.
"What about the last transport ship? Those guys aren't anywhere near the exit point. If they jump now, they'll be turned to dust."
"This is a direct order from command. If we don't leave now, we risk losing the entire fleet. I repeat, break, and return to Yavin."
"Sorry! I can't hear you. Too much static."
Luke flipped off his communicator. He pulled up a map of the space around the planet and the ships currently in battle. The Ghost and the cruisers rushed towards the exit point outside the planet's gravitational well. Trailing behind them was the final transport, though its slower engines left them vulnerable. One of the Star Destroyers was moving into position to intercept it. Turbolasers slammed into the shields of the transport. They would not last much longer and certainly would not be able to escape while under fire.
"Artoo, plot a course to that Star Destroyer." The droid gave a questioning, unsure chirp to confirm the request. "We don't leave anyone behind. They'll be home free if I can land a missile on their targeting array."
He maneuvered around the wreckage of the TIE fighters, heading directly toward the Star Destroyer. A smile split his face wide as he dodged incoming fire from the anti-fighter turrets running along the destroyer's spine. Four TIEs fell in behind him, but his erratic swaying kept them from getting a lock-on. A wave of plasma washed over his left wing and blew off one of his cannons. He darted low against the hull to get a brief respite from the flak and his pursuers.
Artoo whistled. Thirty seconds.
Luke flipped open the plastic panel holding the switches for his remaining two missiles. He placed a hand on the throttle but withdrew it. Hit or miss, he could not avoid slowing down, or else he would become a martyr or a fool. His targeting computer came alive, but like he had done at the Death Star, he pushed it away to let the Force guide him.
Use the Force, Luke.
Ben Kenobi's words rang throughout his mind. He was unsure if they were a memory of the strange occurrence that allowed him to destroy the Death Star or another message from the old hermit that started him on his adventures. It did not matter. He trusted Ben and trusted the words.
Twenty seconds.
He titled the nose of the X-Wing up to ascend. Its shields had been taken down earlier in the engagement, and the Imperials were far too arrogant to perform emergency repairs when faced with an insignificant foe. Their overconfidence would be their downfall.
Ten seconds.
Like a wart protruding from the destroyer's hull, the targeting array was the vessel's eyes. It tracked targets within its immediate vicinity with deadly accuracy. Destroying it prevented the Turbolasers from firing and drastically reduced the anti-fighter turrets' accuracy by forcing the crew to aim manually. A tight cluster of smaller turrets protected it from attack by enemy fighters and bombers. Only an insane or confident pilot would risk a frontal assault. It was a good thing he was both.
Five seconds.
His fingers pressed the red buttons to arm the missiles. He released the breath he had unknowingly held and relaxed his body.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Luke double-tapped the triggers and then accelerated away to avoid being caught in the blast. He could not see the explosion, but confirmation of his success came as a sudden stop of Turbolasers pelting the transport's hull. The TIEs chasing him were not so lucky. He caught sight of one of their wings hurling past him, confirming four more kills. Blinded, the Star Destroyer retreated to the safety of its sister ship, which was too out of range to be a serious threat.
He escorted the transport towards the exit point where the last of the cruisers waited. His grin died when he spotted the Ghost waiting among the vessels. As usual, the Twi'lek would have a long lecture prepared for him when they reached Yavin. Thankfully, Han and Leia would be there to celebrate his latest accomplishment.
"Totally worth it."
All sound within the hallway ceased save a deep, raspy mechanical breathing. Politicians and other officials craned their necks to find the source, curious about what type of creature could make such a horrid noise. However, imperial officers and those with experience in the military paled at the menace soon to be upon them. A few hurried towards the exit or into their offices, hoping to avoid notice. The civilians watched their reaction with confusion, with a few cracking jokes at their expense. Their humor died quickly.
The imposing figure, draped in ebony armor and concealed behind a mask, strode through the sea of humanity as though a demon merging from the depths of a long-forgotten abyss. Those unable to evade its path offered sharp salutes with quivering hands before screwing away to some newly remembered tasks far away. Onlookers not of the military kept their apprehensions to themselves, remembering whispered tales surrounding the Emperor's enigmatic enforcer. Only after the ominous figure had ascended the heavily guarded stairway to the palace's executive offices did the conversation cautiously resume.
Darth Vader felt their terror through the Force but ignored it. The opinions of those below him were not his concern, and his ill reputation only served to increase his effectiveness. His fearful image was just as effective a weapon to his master as he actually was on the battlefield. The mere rumor of his approach pacified entire systems, a fact used often by the Imperial Security Bureau. In better times, he would have lingered long among the crowds to reinforce their loyalty, but recent events forced him onwards.
It had been two standard weeks since the destruction of the Death Star. He avoided returning to Coruscant in the aftermath of his defeat. Punishment would come if he had arrived the day after or fourteen days later. He no longer feared the wrath of Sidious; there was only so much pain and humiliation one could endure before it became redundant. The delay was due to more intimate reasons.
The mechanical joints inside his gauntlets tightened at the thought of the young pilot that he sensed during the battle. After reaching an Imperial outpost and repairing his suit, he had begun the long and difficult task of tracking down the pilot responsible for the current predicament. He wanted revenge but also sensed a deep connection that reminded him of the long-dead Anakin Skywalker.
Echoes of Anakin and his weakness swirled within him. He gritted his teeth to push back the rising memories threatening to consume him. The past needed to stay dead.
Vader arrived at the doors to the Emperor's office to find them opened and unguarded as if he had been expected. His hand reached for the hilt of the lightsaber hanging from his belt but stopped at the last moment. Such an act would only prolong the coming torment. He needed to get this game over with so he could return to the hunt for the rebel pilot.
Only Mas Amedda, Grand Vizier of the Empire, sat in the office at a small table placed next to the grandiose desk reserved solely for their sovereign.
The Chagrian had been Sidious' pet for decades, having been a loyalist during the Clone Wars. The exact functions of the man remained hazy, with most of the running of the government handled by Moffs or regional authorities. Many wondered why the Emperor chose to keep him around but knew better than to openly question the decision. Vader never liked him, even when Anakin was alive, and the dislike only grew over the years now to the point he actively debated killing him. Only his master's fondness kept the Vizier alive, but even that had its limits.
Amedda looked up from a stack of paperwork with an expression of surprise. His eyes widened at the sight of a crimson lightsaber being ignited. He slowly placed his pen down and placed both hands in front of him in a gesture of mock submission that only further increased Vader's anger.
"Our Emperor is not here."
It was Vader's turn to be surprised, though his mask robbed Amedda of the satisfaction of seeing it.
"Where is he?"
"Emperor Palpatine has placed me in charge while he takes care of some personal business. Please sit. There is much for us to discuss."
With a flick of his wrist, Vader launched Amedda's table through the window. He reached to grasp the blue throat of the Vizier with the Force, slowly squeezing but releasing after a few seconds. Amedda dropped to the ground, clutching his throat and gasping for air.
"Where is he," repeated Vader. He did not have time to waste on Sidious' lackey.
"I do not know," spat Amedda between deep breaths. "He did not tell me anything. Without warning, he departed sometime two weeks ago and left only written instructions."
Growling, Vader lifted Amedda up again, this time with his hand instead of the Force, and hung him out the window.
"This is your final chance. Where is he?"
"I promise! The Emperor told no one where he was going." He pointed a finger at the arriving Royal Guards. They raised their pikes in preparation for a battle, but Amedda waved them away to further calm the raging Sith Lord. "He went alone, even forgoing the protection of his guards."
With a frustrated grunt, Vader tossed him aside. A worm like Amedda would have gladly squealed to save his own skin.
"The Emperor has orders for you." Amedda relaxed slightly, seeing Vader pause. He quickly scrambled to his feet to place a healthy distance between himself and the Sith Lord. "Lord Sidious has discovered the hideout of a group of Jedi on the world of Elo. They are attempting to restart the dead Order. He desires their destruction before they grow into a serious threat. Do this, and your failures at the Death Star will be forgiven."
Elo, a small ocean world in the Outer Rim, had been longed rumored to be a safe haven for dissidents but considered too out of the way of major hyperlanes to be worth investigating. The presence of Jedi, however, made subjugation a high priority. The Empire could not afford another enemy at such a critical time.
"It will be done." Vader turned to leave but paused when Amedda called out.
"The Emperor has another message for you relating to your mission." The Vizier grabbed a small box. "It is about the Jedi who is said to be leading the band on Eol."
Vader recognized the wood as coming from a tree that grows only on Naboo. He hesitated for a moment before flipping open the golden latch. A fresh wave of fury washed over him at the long strand of silver beads coiled inside.
"Grounded for a week, huh? I never pictured Hera to be that strict. Guess motherhood really changed her. Screwdriver."
Luke grabbed a screwdriver from the bag and tossed it down to Han, who was currently working on the hyperdrive of the Millennium Falcon. He knew a lot about starships' construction and internal working but lacked the practical experience expected of a pilot. Thankfully, Han needed another pair of hands to help with minor repairs, agreeing to show him a few things in exchange for the help. The smuggler was proving a much better teacher than Luke imagined in more than one way.
"It isn't fair," exclaimed Luke. "They were just going to abandon those soldiers. Someone had to do something."
Han tossed back a small wrench. "Heroics is not a trait valued in war."
"Is doing the right thing really heroic? Shouldn't we all be wanting to save lives?" He shook his head, knowing that the smuggler thought differently. "At least I get the chance to see Leia more."
"Hoping for some different type of action? She's a real maneater. I'd be more careful if I was you. Before you know it, she'll have you trapped in her web." Han went silent for a moment, then cursed in an alien tongue. "That furball did it again. I've told him a thousand times to stop lowering the voltage. No wonder it took us so long to get back. Come here, kid. This is good to know."
Tossing off his jacket, Luke climbed down into the maintenance shaft. While the central hyperdrive unit was easily accessible in the Engineering Bay, its wiring ran throughout the ship's interior, terminating in a second control panel that Han preferred hidden from untrusted eyes to keep his ship's secrets unknown. He felt honored to be privy to the panel's existence, let alone be able to work on it next to Han.
"Voltage," Han lectured, "is the electric tension between two points. With Hyperdrives, the manufacture typically recommends keeping it below a level to avoid malfunctions. It's all bullshit. The Empire, and before them, the Republic, didn't want civilian ships to go faster than their military vessels, so they pressured companies to lower the recommended level. Even your X-Wing could be tweaked to go much faster."
"How do I know the real threshold?"
"Trial and error, mostly. Increase it a little bit each time until it fails. These bad boys have built-in failures that'll activate far before anything bad or weird happens."
"Weird?"
"I'm talking about finding yourself in Otherspace." Seeing the confusion on Luke's face, he continued. "Otherspace is an alternate dimension that exists somewhere between realspace and hyperspace. It's not a place you want to be. Loads of nasty things. Maybe I'll share a few stories with you over a drink later. Now, hyperdrives from reputable manufacturers have plugs that melt when too much voltage passes through them. Always replace them with your own. Ceramic or glass, preferably. Just another way they try to slow you down."
He listened intently as the smuggler explained the complex workings of the hyperdrives. Han walked him through each step of adjusting the hyperdrive's voltage before giving him time to practice lowering and raising it to different levels. After a few hours, he made the final adjustment and earned an approving nod from Han.
"You're a natural, kid. This normally takes weeks for even the best to get ahold of. You sure you haven't done this before?"
"I mean, I used to work on my land-speeder back home. That seems like a toy compared to this." Luke whipped the sweat from his brow. "Thanks for teaching me."
"Don't mention it. This is as much for my benefit as yours. Chewy is decent with technology but always plays it too cautiously. I'll be glad to have a second pair of hands around to help." Han disappeared into one of the holds and returned with two bottles of a dark liquid. "So, what's your game plan?"
"Who?" Luke accepted the offered bottle and took a sip. He winched at the bitterness of the drink but forced it down. "Leia?"
"Who else would I be talking about? Of course, I'm talking about her!" Han took a seat on a sizeable contraband crate. "You two have been making googly eyes at each other and swapping saliva daily. That won't keep her interested for too much longer. Got anything planned?"
He blinked at the question. He hadn't thought about an actual date yet. "We could eat together."
"Right. She'll be glad to eat next to you in the cafeteria. Maybe you can slide her a note in class." Han shook his head. "You got to do something special, really knock her socks off if you wanna see her knockers."
"In case you haven't forgotten, this place doesn't really have much in the way of recreation." He forced himself to avoid thinking about the more intimate parts of Leia's anatomy. "It's not like we can go to a restaurant or something."
Han scratched the stubble growing on his chin. Neither spoke for a few minutes, with Luke trying to figure out his next best move and the smuggler lost in his own world. Finally, Han broke the silence. "What if I help you out?"
"Huh? How?"
"Well, I need to meet with a few associates of mine on Zent. It's a small moon not too far from here. Got a big city with a nightlife famed in this part of the galaxy." Han finished his drink and tossed the bottle into a trash bin. "I could bring you two along."
"She wouldn't go," Luke shook his head. "She's far too busy."
"What if I said it could benefit the Alliance? I'll introduce her to my friends and discuss business as you take her somewhere special. She gets the satisfaction of making some lucrative connections, and you get the chance to make a lasting impression on her."
The idea seemed solid, with no risk involved. Han and his fellow smugglers were no fans of the Empire and would make solid additions to the Rebellion. Leia, who would normally oppose leaving Yavin, would gladly go along with it. He doubted she would resist a few hours of fun while on a mission to a natural system.
Luke gave a nod of approval.
Author's Note.
Below are a few questions I've received from readers. Feel to free to send questions directly to me or leave one in a review to be answered in the next chapter.
1) Are you using Legends or Disney Canon?
Mostly Legends with a sprinkle of the better aspects from Canon. I am a huge fan of the Legends timeline but respect a few of the newer additions to the lore so long as it does not conflict with Legends.
2) What is the point of the prologue?
A good question! Certain details from the prologue will play a critical thematic role in the story. Sidious plays an important role in the story and giving a glimpse of his earlier days will prove beneficial.
3) Are Luke and Leia siblings still?
Yes. This is a central plot point as suggested in the summary. To further explain, this trope has been used to great effect in many of my favorite books (Children of Hurin), and I wished to use it myself.
4) Will you include adult content?
No. The scene from chapter one is the furthest I will go on this website. Maybe, in the future, I will post a separate story elsewhere. Haven't decided.
5) Do you have any other fanfictions in the works?
Maybe. I have a few ideas for a story involving Mara Jade meeting Luke far earlier in the timeline and a female Han Solo. Haven't decided if or when those will be written.