Oh hello, clock! What are you doing here? You're here to tell me it's nearly 3 in the morning and I need to go to bed? Sure thing, let me just upload this new chapter, or I won't be able to rest soundly.
Howdy, everyone! A brand new chapter, and within a reasonable time frame! Who'd have thunk it?!
I am warning you upfront this is a shorter chapter then you may be used to for the simple reason that some VERY EPIC events are on the cusp of happening. So this chapter serves as the setup and preparation for the awesomeness to follow. I preferred to have one shorter chapter followed by a longer chapter which will take a bit longer to come out, rather than ending a chapter right in the middle of a climactic build-up. I want to deliver as much emotion in a single chapter as I can. So look forward to chapter 27!
Also, I'm assuming no one is interested in a side story about Thrawn's quest to obtain the giant kyber crystal for the Death Star II? Last chance to say so if you are, otherwise, never mind.
Now, let us answer some reviews:
- RKF22: Thank you very very much. May the Force be with you.
- Bountyhunter1977: I totally get what you mean. Don't worry, I've got you :)
- the8horcrux: Thanks so much for your wonderful response! I can't address any of your predictions for future chapters, I just hope you'll enjoy them when they happen :). I am certainly doing my best to find an upload rhythm of one chapter a week, especially now that my exams are done and I have more free time. I've really excited to write chapter 28 since… you know… stuff happens ;) May the Force be with you!
- Jeda31: Thank you, thank you, thank you! That chapter was certainly one of my favorite fanfictions chapters I've written in a while; I'm glad it resonated with you. Chapter 28, as stated earlier, is definitely going to contain all of the intersecting plots and culmination of all the building events. I preferred to calmly set the last couple things up in this chapter and really give you a nice, thick piece of writing for chapter 28. Can't wait for some Luke/Mara and Han/Leia goodness :)
- SW AU addict: Thanks so much! Glad to have you on board. The final, final conclusion is a ways away, although, concerning the current events, we are pretty much in the endgame.
-Guest: Thank you very, very much for your kind praise. Your objections are all dead on, couldn't have said it better myself. That is exactly the reason I think people find Obi-Wan so endearing and likable. His absolute commitment to his ideals of what a Jedi should be is inspiring to everyone he runs into. Concerning Ahsoka, don't worry, she'll definitely be returning in a more prominent way soon; not going to say anything more at this stage. Luke is definitely a contender for most powerful Jedi, as you say he does have he does have innate gifts with the Force, although he is not yet able to unlock their full potential yet, and often takes a step back when he feels he's hit a wall. Once Luke learns humility and discipline, like Obi-Wan has, he will truly be able to complete his training as a Jedi and reach his full potential. See you in chapter 28 ;)
ALL RIGHT! Reviews answered, on with the story. Please favorite, follow, and review.
Enjoy!
"Is she awake?"
"I don't know… Poke her with a wrench or something to see."
"No, wait! Look at that thing on her belt. That's a lightsaber!"
Mara vaguely heard a buzzing sound around her. It felt like a Star Destroyer was laying on top of her; she was struggling to even lift up her eyelids.
"I heard the Empire's come to Cloud City! She must a Jedi they're hunting!"
"Then let's get out of here! If anyone sees us around here, we'll get the same punishment she will."
Mara felt the Force before any of her other senses returned. It awakened her body, bringing it out of its lethargy, urging her to get up; demanding that she get up.
"Let's at least take the lightsaber. That'll be worth a fortune on the black market."
"Oh no, she's waking up! Everyone get out of here!"
Mara finally managed to pry her eyes open. She quickly noticed she was still inside the escape pod, and just outside the front canopy was a quickly dispersing crowd of Ugnaughts. As she regained movement throughout her body, Mara felt a sharp pain in her left shoulder.
She immediately recognized the sensation and knew the bone must have gotten knocked out of its socket. Mara carefully unfastened her seat harness to liberate her other arm, and without even flinching punched her left shoulder blade back into place.
That last bit of stimuli was all Mara needed to regain full sensory awareness. As she got up out of her chair, she saw a crowd of Ugnaughts tripping over each other to get out of the escape pod. Mara's hand instinctively went to her belt where she was relieved to find her lightsaber still attached.
She stumbled towards the Ugnaughts who had almost all managed to leave the escape pod, except for one unlucky soul whom Mara picked up with the Force and pulled towards her. She held the Ugnaught under her arm like a pillow before finally exiting the escape pod.
What immediately struck her was the light. A beautiful blood-orange sunset cast a warm glow from over the horizon. Although it was not really a horizon, there was no sea in sight. In fact, there was not even any land in sight. From where she stood, the only thing in front of her were giant white clouds, stretching out as far as the eye could see.
"Lady, I haven't done anything I just—"
Mara distractedly covered the Ugnaught's mouth with her hand. She wanted to take stock of her situation before she started interrogating her captive. It appeared the escape pod had hit the side of the large metal structure she was in, but had come to a relatively quick halt once inside, only sliding across the ground over a couple of meters. Thankfully, it did not appear to have hit anybody.
Mara recalled the name of the planet she had been hurtling towards: Bespin. The only thing she remembered hearing about it was that it was a gas giant and was dotted with repulsorlifted mining complexes. The probability of landing on one, when every other part of the planet was covered in deathly toxic gas, was hard for Mara to wrap her head around.
Is it that hard to wrap my head around? she wondered. When I was running away on the Star Destroyer it felt as if every step I took was guided by something, and that that's what led me to the escape pod… After that, I somehow was not hit by any of the cannon fire and landed on one of the few places where I wouldn't die instantly…
These thoughts brought Mara's eyes up towards the sky. Since she was so high up in the atmosphere, she could clearly make out two Star Destroyers looming over Bespin. One of them was likely the one she had escaped from; the place where Obi-Wan was held, or had been held…
Mara's eyes darkened as she remembered those last few minutes before she fell unconscious. Obi-Wan had seemed so confidant and determined when he sacrificed himself to save her, it was like all those weeks of torture and torment had had no effect on him. Mara now understood why the Emperor was no longer interested in keeping him alive: that kind of willpower was truly terrifying.
Obi-Wan had put his trust in Mara, laying himself on the line to save her. There was no question she would do exactly the same for him. As soon as she got off this planet, she would find wherever Obi-Wan had been taken and break him out.
Mara now felt ready to interrogate the Ugnaught, who by now had stopped trying to break free and was defeatedly waiting for her to be ready. She dragged her prisoner into a secluded side street and finally let him go, or rather let her go. It was only now that Mara realized she was dealing with a female Ugnaught.
She made sure to position herself between her and her escape route, although the Ugnaught did not seem interested in running. She had a strangely composed and laidback attitude.
"What do you want?" she asked boorishly.
"Just information," Mara replied. Her Ugnaught was rusty but she could manage a simple conversation. "Once I know enough, I'll let you go."
"How generous of you," she replied sarcastically.
"What's your name?"
"Bragnna. Friends call me Bragn, so you can call me Bragnna."
"Where am I? What mining colony is this?"
"This is Cloud City. Lando Calrissian's operation."
"I see," Mara muttered to herself. She vaguely remembered both of those names in relation to Bespin. Cloud City was one of the planet's most profitable mining colonies and had somehow managed to avoid Imperial oversight; at least until now, judging by the orbiting Star Destroyers.
"What is the Empire doing here?" Mara pressed. "They shouldn't have any business in this sector."
"Yeah… figure you wouldn't know," Bragnna grunted dispassionately. "Word on the streets is that the Rebel princess is here. Probably been captured by now, though."
If Princess Leia Organa is here, Vader was more than likely sent to capture her, Mara reasoned. It will be even harder to escape off this planet now…
Mara reflected carefully on all of this. Obi-Wan had briefly mentioned his role in the Rebel Alliance and his closeness to Leia Organa. After all, if Mara was no longer loyal to the Empire, and had chosen to follow the path of the Jedi, did that not make her an ally of the Rebellion?
That notion was quite strange to her but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Essentially all surviving Jedi who weren't in hiding were part of the Rebel Alliance. Not to mention Obi-Wan had been one of its top generals and advisors. If she wanted to save him and be loyal to him, it would be hypocritical to not also help his friends…
Mara was beginning to picture how this could all work out. Princess Leia and her Rebel friends had likely come here with a ship. Therefore, rescuing them would also give her a means of escape, as well as ingratiate her with the Rebel Alliance.
"Alright you can go," Mara told Bragnna evenly. "Don't you dare tell anyone we met."
"Lady, like I ever want to remember meeting you," Bragnna replied with a derisive snort.
As the Ugnaught slunk out of the alley, Mara focused on the Force to sense where Leia or Vader could be. She made sure to keep her own Force signature hidden so as to not arise the latter's suspicion. Vader's presence was quite clearly located towards the center of Cloud City, likely in the administrator's building.
It was strange but Mara also sensed a second Force signature around the same place. It was far stronger than that of an average person; it almost seemed like a Force-sensitive. Although judging by how jumbled and erratic this Force presence was, it seemed clear this was not someone with much training. Mara had no idea who this person could be so for now she decided to focus on Vader. Wherever he was, the princess would likely not be far away.
Mara took her lightsaber off her belt, holding it loosely in her hand, before Force jumping onto a nearby roof and running towards the administrator's building.
I won't fail you Obi-Wan… I promise I'll save them.
Luke braced himself as his X-Wing decelerated out of hyperspace. The large, greenish gas giant of Bespin lay ahead of him. He did not even need to plot a course to Cloud City, the warnings he was receiving through the Force told him exactly where to go; as did the two Star Destroyers orbiting the planet.
"Do you think they're alright?" R2 beeped nervously. "I don't know if 3PO can handle much more excitement."
"Don't worry R2, I'll save them," Luke replied confidently into his comlink. "Let's just make sure we keep power consumption to a minimum as we enter the atmosphere. We don't want them to spot us just yet."
Luke carefully navigated his starfighter towards Bespin, staying far away from the Imperial Star Destroyers. He could now start to make out the "city in the clouds" from his vision. As he made his way towards it, R2 chirped in his ear:
"Something's happened to the communications array! Someone is blocking all transmissions coming in and out of Cloud City."
"Figure the Empire doesn't want any distress signals being sent out," Luke surmised. "Just hang on. We're almost there."
He could now clearly see Cloud City. In a different context he would have been impressed by its grand architecture and sumptuous location, but his mind was focused on other things at the moment. He couldn't sense anything through the Force, it had somehow become clouded; as if a thick fog lay over the entire city.
Luke had a bad feeling about this, but his confidence did not waver. Leia, Han, Chewie, and C3-PO needed his help, and he had grown powerful enough to hold his own… at least, that's what he hoped.
He cast his doubts aside, concentrating on setting his X-Wing down on an empty landing pad. It was located right next to the large central building around which the entire city gravitated; likely where his friends were being held. Luke waited for several, nerve-racking seconds inside the cockpit, expecting an army of Stormtroopers to burst out and attack him, but the platform remained empty.
Luke extricated himself from his seat and released R2 from his cradle. He removed his heavy orange flight suit, making sure his lightsaber was securely attached to his belt and his blaster's magazine was full. The Empire was clearly expecting him; all Luke had to do was spring their trap.
"Luke, I just picked up a message on an encrypted Rebel frequency," R2 chirped, rocking his body from side to side. "It appears to be coming from Cloud City… the origin point is… the Millennium Falcon!"
"Show the message," Luke said quickly.
"It was recorded less than twenty-four hours ago," R2 added before activating his holoprojector.
Luke was relieved when Leia's glowing blue hologram appeared. He was happy to see the determination and defiance had not left her eyes, though she appeared more grave and somber.
"This is Princess Leia of the Alliance to Restore the Republic," Leia spoke calmly. "If you are one of us, get off this planet immediately and call in reinforcements. I fear the Empire is somehow involved on Bespin, and by the time you hear this message we may have already been captured. This is a direct order, whoever you may be: leave and get help! And remember, I know what I signed up for when I helped found the Rebellion. I refuse to become a hostage to be bartered. I trust you understand what I'm asking of you… Leia out."
The hologram disappeared. Luke gently massaged the bridge of his nose as he reflected on what he had just heard. Leia's words were eerily similar to what Rahm and Yoda had said on Dagobah. She was ready to die for her ideals, and did not want the Rebellion to be put at risk by an attempt to rescue her…
Was this truly the right choice? Luke desperately wondered.
"I've found a second encrypted message inside the first," R2 beeped, drawing Luke's attention back towards him. "This one requires a decryption key only I possess. It must be meant for you."
R2 immediately projected the message without Luke even having to ask. It was Leia again, still the same, only her tone was warmer and more sincere:
"Luke, I don't know what drew me to leave a message for you, since there's no chance you'll ever come anywhere near here. I've just been feeling some strange… presence. I'm not quite sure how to describe it. As if some intangible force is guiding and helping me; I think it's the reason why I feel nervous about Cloud City. I thought it might be the Force, although to be honest I'm not sure what it even is, exactly. It's the sort of thing I'd like to discuss with Obi-Wan or you, but… Anyway, if you are indeed here, please leave now. Go back to the Rebellion and try to send help. Just don't do anything rash or stupid… I'd know it if you were. Don't ask me why but I feel some sort of connection to you… On Hoth, it was like I could sense your thoughts; I felt you were heading towards a dark place, and when I spoke to you, you heard me. So please, hear me now: don't go any further. Go and get help before it's too late… I am not exaggerating when I say you may be our only hope…"
Leia fell silent, but for some reason the recording continued to play. She just sat still, seemingly lost in thought. Luke was in a similar state, mulling over everything she had just told him, trying to justify to himself why he had come here.
Had he just been arrogant? Trapped in some delusion of single-handedly rescuing his friends from the Empire? He would be putting not just the fate of the Jedi at risk, but potentially the entire Rebellion… After all there was no telling Leia or Han would die… Perhaps he could bring back a Rebel assault squad to help him mount a rescue mission?
It was Leia's next and final words that put an end to all of Luke's hesitation:
"I love you."
By the time he looked up, the message had ended; the hologram was gone.
Luke did not know why, but those words had sounded so familiar coming from Leia. Not at all in a romantic sense, Luke had never seen her that way, and he was certain neither had she. It was something else… but if it was not romantic, why did it somehow feel normal for her to say it…
His mind was suddenly assaulted by a loud cry. It pierced Luke's ears, as if someone were screaming out in pain right next to him. He tried to find that person through the Force; he could feel their suffering. He knew who it was… it was… Han!
Luke did not hesitate. He ran to the door at the end of the landing pad that led inside the administrator's building. R2 quickly followed behind him.
"Open this door and connect to the building's mainframe," Luke said urgently. "See if you can find where Han and Leia are being held."
R2 connected to the data port, immediately opening the door and computing all the data in the blink of an eye.
"A log entry states that one of the carbon-freeze chambers has been requisitioned for a 'confidential Imperial project'," R2 explained. "Also, it appears the hyperdrive on the Millennium Falcon had been deactivated."
"Alright, nothing we can do about it for now," Luke sighed, gripping his lightsaber tightly in his hand. "Just stay close to me and use your scanners. We don't know what they've got in store for us."
"I'm right with you, Luke," R2 chirped confidently.
They both entered the building, cautiously gaging their surroundings, unaware of the terrible threat that loomed ahead.
Oh you hate me right now, right?
Don't worry, in the end, I promise it will be more satisfying this way (at least I hope).
Chapter 28 should come out between 1 to 2 weeks from now, depending on just how far into insanity I choose to go before I release it ;)