Chapter XIII – The Past & the Future
“Team Tempest requesting permission to land,” Sakoya
said into the comm. as the shuttle she was piloting
approached Endor’s outer atmosphere.
There was momentary static then the reply,
“Permission granted. Welcome home.”
Sakoya’s head dipped forward and she sighed. “Thank
you. Proceeding with landing. Tempest out.”
The Imperial shuttle began its descent and gracefully
set down upon the landing platform. As soon as the
shuttle was securely settled, Sakoya cut the engines
and readied herself to depart – this was one time she
couldn’t wait to get off a ship.
Xar’ek stopped her by taking hold of her arm. “What’s
the rush?” he asked, surprised by her quick movements.
“I just want out of here – it reeks of Imperials.”
“Are you alright?” he pressed.
Sakoya took a deep breath. “Yes, I’m fine. I’m just
anxious to see Obi-Wan.”
“He sounds like an incredible man from what you told
me on the way here,” Xar’ek pointed out.
“He is.” Sakoya finally smiled.
“You…love him…that much?”
Sakoya looked at her old friend, a glint appearing in
her eye. “Yes, very much. I’m happy for the first time
in a long time.”
Xar’ek let go of her arm and turned away. “Guess we
better get out of here. You’re right, it does stink.”
Failing to hear her friend’s comment, Sakoya focused
her thoughts on Obi-Wan and his uncanny ability to
erase all the doubts and sadness that seemed to have
taken hold of her after the ambush. More than ever,
she looked forward to his comforting words and
embrace.
Sakoya, followed by Xar’ek, walked down the ramp of
the Imperial shuttle and straight for Obi-Wan who
waited for them on the duracrete platform.
“I’m sorry…I read the report you sent ahead…” the
Jedi Master said as he wrapped his arms around his
beloved.
Sakoya tightly held her Jedi, savoring the closeness
for as long as she could. Albeit reluctantly, she
stepped back in order to take care of the necessary
introductions. “Xar’ek Tinsir meet
Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi.” She nodded to each in
turn.
“Pleasure.” Xar’ek held out his hand.
Obi-Wan grasped the extended hand. “Nice to meet you.
Will you be staying long?”
Xar’ek smirked and replied, “I’ve decided to join the
Rebellion so it looks like I’ll be around for a
while.”
“I see… Looking for some action?” Obi-Wan boldly
inquired.
“Possibly…” Xar’ek winked.
Obi-Wan directed his annoyance inward and turned to
Sakoya, “Are you ready to debrief with the Council?”
he asked, concerned about the tired look in her eyes.
“Yes, I’ll rest after that,” she sighed.
************************************
Outside the window crickets chirped their nightly
song and owls hooted from the treetops but it did
nothing to soothe Sakoya as she lay in bed, wide
awake, next to Obi-Wan. She glanced over at his
slumbering body and watched the steady rise and fall
of his bare chest. She smiled, admiring how Obi-Wan
had aged so gracefully and reached out to lightly
caress his tight abdomen and refined chest, marveling
in the soft hairs that covered him. Her gaze shifted
to his muscular arms that he wrapped so lovingly
around her and then to his face. He still sported a
beard which she didn’t mind and enjoyed
nuzzling it whenever possible. Her eyes trailed upward
to his lips that made her swoon with each touch upon
her body. Just gazing upon this delectable man made
her shiver.
“How did I get so blessed?” she wondered aloud as she
laid her head in the crook of his neck, the lingering
scent of after-shave tickling her nose.
His arms were suddenly enveloping her, producing a
grin upon her lips. “How indeed?” he answered as he
placed a kiss on her head and nuzzled her hair,
lightly smothered in a chamomile scent from her
shampoo.
Sakoya reached out one arm and hugged him, “I didn’t
mean to wake you, love. I just couldn’t sleep with
such a delightful man next to me.”
“Mmmm, flattery.”
“Ohhh, much more than flattery, darlin’,” she cooed
while shifting her body so she could gaze at his face.
“The absolute truth.”
“And yet here I am so comfortable next to such a
beautiful woman that I fall asleep.”
“No offense taken.” she purred.
“Perhaps I need to prove how repentant I am?” Obi-Wan
seductively whispered.
“You won’t hear me complaining.” Sakoya looked deeply
into his eyes.
Obi-Wan grinned and brought her closer to him. A mere
breath away from her lips he managed to whisper, “Nor
I,” before merging his mouth to hers in a passionate
kiss.
************************************
The morning sun streamed through the window, waking
the couple who were blissfully intertwined, daring to
wake them from their dreams and rejoin the real world.
Sakoya moaned and her hand grappled with the air,
hoping to shoo the obtrusive glare back into oblivion.
It didn’t work.
“Come on, my lady, the sun beckons us,” Obi-Wan
quietly said as he brushed strands of hair from Sakoya’s face.
A very audible sigh escaped her lips as Sakoya opened
her eyes and looked perturbed. A look that caused
Obi-Wan to chuckle, no matter how hard to tried to
muffle it.
“What’s so funny?” she groggily asked, nestling
closer to his warm body.
“You and your dislike of early mornings.”
“I don’t dislike it – much,” she protested. “I’d just
rather sleep a little more than wake up at unworldly
hours.”
“C’mon, a warm shower will wake you up.” Obi-Wan got
out of bed and offered her his hand.
Sakoya groaned and grappled for his retreating body.
“Taskmaster!” she chided.
“Ohh, so that’s how it is to be this morning. Well
then perhaps I should live up to that name.” A
definite smirk played upon his face.
Uh oh, Sakoya thought, knowing full well the
“torture” she was about to endure.
Unable to move fast enough to avoid him, Sakoya
braced herself as Obi-Wan pounced onto the bed and
proceeded to tickle his lady while using his body to
prevent her from escaping. The joyous laughter from
both of them filled the quaint abode and filtered
outside, catching the ears of a particular passerby.
Xar’ek heard the laughter and for no apparent reason,
stepped closer to the location of the sound. He turned
and fell against the wall – feeling like an intruder
but unable to help himself. Though he had never
forgotten the fiery haired woman from his past, he did
manage to ease the pain by tucking his memories of her
deep inside – cocooning them from himself.
Now the memories resurfaced as Xar’ek mumbled to
himself. “She’s so near…but I can’t touch her. She
thinks I don’t remember what we lost. How could I
forget?” He hung his head low, ashamed. “She never
truly forgave me…and maybe I didn’t either.”
While laughter continued in Obi-Wan’s home, a
melancholy man stood outside and slowly slid down the
wall until he could go no further. “We have to talk
about this – it’s time…”
************************************
The sun rose higher into the cerulean sky while
Xar’ek sat huddled in the foliage outside Obi-Wan’s
home contemplating his course of action.
“How do I even say this? Hey Sakoya…No, jovial just
doesn’t seem right.” He grimaced and thought anew.
“Hmm, hello Master Kenobi, Sakoya, how’s it goin’?”
Xar’ek frowned. “That sounds stupid too.” He censured
himself.
“Can I help you?” Someone asked.
Spooked, Xar’ek exploded to his feet and immediately
took a defensive position.
“I’m not here to brawl. I’m just wondering what you
are doing outside my window, apparently
eavesdropping.”
Xar’ek swallowed hard and said, “Blasted Jedi and
their silent footsteps! I wasn’t spying on you if
that’s what you think.”
“Then what were you doing?” Obi-Wan pressed.
“Thinking.”
“Thinking?” Obi-Wan looked surprised. “Outside my
home…in the bushes…you were thinking?”
“Uh, yeah,” Xar’ek absently ran his hand through his
hair, “I was. Actually I need to talk to Sakoya.”
“Oh?” The Jedi raised an eyebrow. “Regarding….”
Xar’ek straightened his back, a look of defiance on
his face. “It’s personal.”
“I see…Well then, you know where she is, why not just
knock on the door?”
“I was about to,” Xar’ek stated, “but you interrupted
me.”
“Then let me interrupt no more. She’s inside,”
Obi-Wan said rather smugly.
Xar’ek displayed what could be interpreted as a sneer
then walked away from the Jedi Master and toward the
front of the house.
************************************
“May I come in?” Xar’ek asked as Sakoya opened the
door.
Sakoya glanced outside and saw Obi-Wan approaching.
She hesitated then moved aside and let Xar’ek enter.
“Are you feeling better? Wounds all healed up?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” Sakoya looked strangely at Xar’ek,
unsure where the conversation was heading.
“Oh, I officially joined the Rebellion. Spoke to some
officer and he got it taken care of.”
“Th-at’s good…” Sakoya looked confused as Obi-Wan
came in and closed the door
Xar’ek looked around the room, trying to figure out
what to say. “I feel like an idiot, barging in like
this.”
“You look like one.” Sakoya smirked.
Xar’ek returned the smirk. “Gee, thanks.”
“I’m kidding. What can we do for you?” she asked
pleasantly.
“I would like to talk to you – privately,” Xar’ek
stammered.
“Is it about the Rebellion?” she queried.
“Uhh, no.”
“Then what would we need to discuss?”
“Mara,” Xar’ek quietly uttered.
That one word made Sakoya instantly stiffen and her
brief smile fade away. “There is nothing to discuss,”
she stated flatly.
“I think there is.” Xar’ek paused. “We need to let go
of the past.”
Sakoya glared at him hard, her eyes bearing into him.
“I have let go!” she said icily. “I had no
choice.”
“Can’t we speak in private?” he pleaded. Seeing his
old love after so long and remembering everything they
had experienced together brought many emotions to the
surface.
“Whatever you have to say can be done in front of
Obi-Wan,” she said adamantly.
“Fine!” He glanced at the Jedi Master. “Do you know
about her past?”
“What she has or has not told me is not your place to
ask,” Obi-Wan said calmly. He easily picked up on Sakoya’s distress and had moved closer to her.
“What about a daughter?” Xar’ek spat.
Obi-Wan registered momentary shock but quickly
regained his calm demeanor. Before he could say
anything, Sakoya abruptly said, “This conversation is
over.”
“Why?” Xar’ek’s anger was rising. “Because it’s too
painful? Because you’ve buried it for so long? She was
mine too!”
“Oh really?” she spat. “Where were you then? We’d see
you for brief periods and then you would be gone.
Where were you when she spoke her first word? When she
learned to walk?”
“You know I tried Sakoya. I wasn’t ready for
fatherhood.”
“Oh, and I was ready to be a mom? Please! Quit trying
to be so sanctimonious! You came and went as you
pleased. I guess you assumed that since we weren’t
married you could do that, in spite of conceiving a
child! No, no one could stop the brazen Xar’ek Tinsir
from doing as he chose! Your only responsibility was
to yourself! I raised Mara until –” Sakoya suddenly
stopped ranting and froze.
“Sakoya?” Obi-Wan looked at her then turned and faced
her. “Love?” He looked at his beloved, bewildered by
her statuesque visage.
Memories flashed inside her mind as Sakoya recalled
the horrid events of so many years ago. Blood, fire,
smoke and screams invaded her mind. “Force…help me,”
she barely uttered.
Obi-Wan wrapped his arms around her, steadying her
swaying body, and whispered into her ear. “Yes, the
Force. Let it embrace you and help you with your pain.
You can’t run from this any longer. You must conquer
it and I’ll be right there with you.”
Mon aimé? she mentally linked, gazing at
Obi-Wan but her eyes held no glimmer and stared into
nothingness.
Right here, love, I’m not leaving you, he
answered her through the bond they had created. If
it helps, show me your pain. Let me guide you.
“Perhaps you should leave Xar’ek. I’ll take care of
her.”
“Master Kenobi…this is my fault.” Xar’ek said
somberly.
“Yes, it is! Please go.”
Xar’ek was about to protest again but conceded and
turned to leave. “I never meant to hurt her,” he said
over his shoulder as he left their home.
Sakoya suddenly squeezed her eyes shut as more images
poured forth – this time she allowed her beloved to
bear witness to the carnage brewing within her mind
and why she never discussed the excruciating memory.
************************************
Squadrons of stormtroopers emerged from every
conceivable direction, killing anyone in their path.
These were not typical troops that were normally
utilized by the Empire – these were specialized troops
whose only assignment was to kill – no prisoners and
no mercy. The colony under attack was a known smuggler
hideout and the Emperor wasn’t pleased with some of
his last shipments. Fire ravaged buildings, smoke
billowed into the dark sky, laser blasts from the
troops mingled with defensive blasts from the pirates.
Everywhere was chaos and screams – so many screams.
In her apartment, Sakoya busily gathered what she
could for herself and her young daughter so they could
escape on her ship when her door burst open and troops
barged in. She immediately opened fire as Mara hid but
the odds were against her and she was shot.
“MARA!” She screamed and fell to the floor. She
remained conscious long enough to see Count Dooku
standing over her daughter and to hear her resulting
piercing scream as she lost consciousness.
“When I awoke,” she whispered, “I was in a makeshift
infirmary. Bacta bandages covered my wounds. They told
me I almost died but somehow I pulled through. I
remember a few days later, Xar’ek showed up. He found
out about the attack…he told me the apartment building
was decimated…the burned bodies couldn’t be
identified…Mara…” Sakoya choked on her last few words
and clutched Obi-Wan tightly.
The Jedi Master was speechless but comforted his
beloved as she sobbed. “Now I understand why you adore
the twins so much – you miss your own child. How long
ago did this happen?”
Sakoya sniffled. “Yes, Luke and Leia remind me so
much of her, I can’t help but want to be involved with
them – even though I try to keep it at a distance.
Mara would be close to the same age as they are now.”
“Oh, beloved!” Obi-Wan gasped. “You’ve kept this
terrible incident buried for that long?”
“Yes… When Xar’ek returned, he tried to be
sympathetic but I didn’t want anything to do with him.
I told him to leave and never return…Using the
contacts I had through smuggling, I continually tried
to find out if Mara survived but I always came up
empty.” Sakoya paused to regain some kind of control
on her emotions and submerged into the Force, basking
in the additional comfort it granted. “I don’t believe
she did.”
Perplexed, the Jedi asked, “I must ask you – why did
you request him for the mission?”
“Guilt wouldn’t allow Xar’ek to turn me down, even
after all these years. I also knew without a doubt he
could decipher the codes we needed.”
“How could you be sure?”
Sakoya snuggled closer. “Over the years, we would
occasionally cross paths, although it was very brief.
Through some mutual friends I knew he kept current
with his little talent.”
“Sakoya…” Obi-Wan hesitated, “if only for your own
sake, please forgive him.”
“I have…my earlier outburst was just that, an
outburst. I didn’t expect him to talk about Mara. The
Force,” she paused and looked up at him, the glimmer
once more in her eyes, “and your presence have soothed
me. I can’t change the past, but I can look forward to
the future. Mara would have expected no less.”
Obi-Wan smiled and bent his head to kiss her. “I love
you,” he softly said.
“I know,” she replied and sealed their lips in an
amorous kiss.
************************************************************************
Chapter XIV – Luke
The deathlike grip the Emperor utilized to hold the
galaxy in thrall was lessening, ever so slightly.
Although such an obtuse transition nimbly sidestepped
unobservant worlds, those of the Rebel Alliance
interpreted it as a beacon of light shining through
unfathomable darkness.
Undaunted nor easily swayed, Emperor Palpatine wasn’t
about to give up his exalted throne just yet. A plan
formed in his mind and the spy reports he had been
receiving as of late made him gleam with anticipation,
in more ways than one.
All is proceeding as I have foreseen. The
Emperor smugly told himself. The traitor has
redeemed himself by exposing that pitiful band of
Rebels on Sullust and was duly exterminated for such
treachery. But I am most pleased with the recent news
of Skywalker’s son – one proven very strong with the
Force! No, I will no longer be denied that which
belongs to me! If I had destroyed that puppet of a
Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin would have been at my
side all these years. Count Dooku was sufficient but
he didn’t possess the power you harness. Had he done
as I instructed Kenobi would have been dead long ago!
The frustration and anger welled up in Palpatine and
he hurled his fist onto the console on the arm of his
chair. All these years I have waited. Your son will
join me and destroy you! Your atonement for killing
Darth Tyrannus!
Anakin hugged his son and said, “May the Force be
with you, Luke!” then watched the young Jedi climb
into his X-Wing.
“And with you, Father,” Luke called down from the
cockpit.
A subtle sense of dread blanketed Anakin about this
particular mission. He couldn’t tell if it was
something concrete or just his own paternal emotions
about witnessing his son flying off without him. He
tried to quell the unease by fondly recalling his
wife’s reaction to Luke flying for the first time…
“…I just get fearful. Now that Luke is grown…maybe
I just don’t want to let my baby go.”
Anakin smiled at the memory then furrowed his brow as
more of Padmé’s words sang in his mind.
“Tired of fearing for our children.”
Is that what I’m doing? Afraid that without me Luke
will be in trouble? I can’t let go any more than Padmé
could, it seems.
Anakin considered how his anxieties mirrored his
wife’s from what seemed to be eons ago – when their
son took to the stars for his first mission. The
assignment had been only a routine patrol;
nonetheless, it shook Padmé’s steely nerves. And
now…something gnawed at him, something unwilling to
reveal itself.
As Anakin watched his son leave it brought forth a
sense of nostalgia. A vision replayed itself in the
elder Jedi’s mind – back to a time when the twins were
small, chasing one another around the house, crawling
over furniture and chaos reigned. Unknowingly, he
smiled at the reminder of laughter as it rang through
the Skywalker house. Pride swelled in Anakin’s heart
at Luke’s accomplishments thus far. He recalled how
difficult it had been for him to be the son of the
Chosen One and the enormous expectations set upon
him. Not a shred of doubt existed in Anakin’s mind
that his son would not only meet these expectations,
but also exceed them.
A valuable asset and a noteworthy pilot, Luke was
well respected throughout the Alliance. Anakin knew he
hadn’t made it easy for his son as his reputation
shadowed Luke at every turn. His own antics after he
had joined the Jedi Order were notorious. Then there
was his adulation and forbidden love of a certain
Senator, not to mention the marriage that followed.
All of these incidents had been fodder for Luke as he
grew and matured. But the boy, and now the man, would
smile at his aggressors and casually say, “Yeah,
that’s my Dad,” then walk away. His amicable
personality rarely placed Luke on the defensive, his
Force abilities notwithstanding, yet the few taunts or
jeers he received were more jovial than menacing.
However, there were a few areas of expertise that no
one could dispute – Anakin’s incredible, and yet
unmatched, Jedi and piloting abilities. Luke’s own
prowess in these arenas rapidly matured and his father
couldn’t be more proud. Luke had proven himself.
“Yes, he has.” Anakin smiled.
Luke was confident but not cocky, and he had learned
to think through his actions before taking them. Even Genne Copper had finally tempted him into a
relationship and they were quite the compatible pair
despite a certain twin sibling’s constant barbs.
Anakin was stirred from his ruminations as the
engines of the fighter craft ignited and burst to
life. He never did tire of the sound the fighter
produced – the hum of the engines resounding in his
ears produced a warm smile. Except this time he found
himself outside the cockpit versus inside and it felt,
he searched his mind for the correct word…“anomalous”.
His brows knit together and he arched an eyebrow. Yes,
he nodded to himself, that’s how he felt. He watched
the X-Wing hover slightly above the ground as Luke
turned it to maneuver out of the hangar. Anakin felt a
lump in his throat as his son pulled away and out of
sight. Almost immediately a stinging sensation
gathered in the proud father’s eyes, blurring his
vision.
“Damn eyes, must have gotten something in them.” The
Jedi wiped his eyes roughly, attempting to hide his
tears.
“Oh, that’s a good one!” came a caustic voice from
behind.
Anakin smirked at the sound of the familiar voice.
“Want some flying lessons again, my friend?”
Obi-Wan chuckled as he stood next to his friend.
“It’s not easy, is it?” he asked.
Anakin smiled. “He’s an excellent pilot. He’ll do
fine.”
“Spoken like a father. Remember, Sakoya will be out
there too.”
“I know,” he acknowledged but the melancholy in his
voice betrayed his true feelings. “Speaking of which,
how have you managed since she returned from her
mission?”
“What do you mean?” Obi-Wan asked.
“That guy, Xar’ek?”
“Oh, him,” Obi-Wan scoffed, “nothing to worry about.”
“He seems quite taken with Sakoya,” Anakin pressed.
“Ah yes, my friend, ‘he’ being the operative word.
She thinks of him as no more than a friend. As I said
– nothing to worry about.”
“You sure she’s ready for another mission?” Anakin
probed.
“You’ve never tried to stop her when she wants to do
something,” Obi-Wan smirked. “She’s doing very well
though. Remaining occupied helps her and her Jedi
training hasn’t suffered.”
“I hope you’re right.” Anakin cast his mentor an
uneasy glance. “Do you feel it? A ripple in the
Force?”
“No.” Obi-Wan gave Anakin a quizzical glance. “Are
you sure you’re just not getting overly sentimental on
me?”
“Maybe,” Anakin shrugged but the feeling didn’t
subside.
************************************
It was a mundane, routine flight – escort a supply
ship to one of the Alliance outposts and return.
However, sometimes even the simplest of plans go awry…
Luke wasn’t fazed about the fact that this assignment
sent him to an outpost located in the farthest reaches
of the Galaxy. Orisidan had sustained heavy damage
from the Empire throughout the years and every time it
began to make a comeback, something would occur to
thwart such progress and to drive it back toward
recession. Hence, food, medicine and various other
supplies were brought in by transport by the Rebel
Alliance. Having no other home, the natives refused to
leave the near barren planet and continued to try to
make the best of their bleak situation. If the Empire
were ever to find out that the planet received aid
from the Alliance, the consequences for the
inhabitants would be dire, either possible
imprisonment…or worse. Grand Moff Tarkin’s view of
generosity was grotesque to say the least, and he
relished any opportunity to bestow such graces upon
the masses. Now stationed upon his “technological
terror”, also known as the Death Star, the Grand
Moff’s zeal to demonstrate his power was more
heightened than ever.
His breathing apparatus securely in place, Luke
climbed out of his ship to help unload the supplies.
The ground proved much more sludgy than that of
Dagobah and his feet felt like they were mired in
place. “Yuck!” he muttered. It took some effort but he
freed his feet and glanced down at the dark brown
sticky muck that swathed him up to his ankles. Whether
it was mud or not was anyone’s guess. The mere thought
of having to trudge through such slough almost made
Luke turn back to the comfort of his ship, but he knew
he couldn’t do that – others needed his help and he
was determined to help in any way possible.
“You okay, Luke?” Sakoya asked as her voice echoed
through Luke’s communication device.
Luke nodded, “Fine. It’s just been a while since I’ve
had to slog through muck like this – it reminds me of
Dagobah.”
Sakoya smiled inside her mask. She had been thinking
the same thing. “I know. We better catch up. C’mon.”
She motioned with her hand and began walking.
With a sigh, Luke started after her when he suddenly
froze, and an unexpected voice resonated in his mind.
Luke, an image beckoned at the young Jedi
within the confines of his mind. Luke, your father
said you would help me. Please help me. I’m an old
friend. Help.
“Sakoya, did you hear that?” Luke asked puzzled.
The woman stopped and turned around. “What? I didn’t
hear anything.”
Luke reached for his macrobinoculars and slowly
scanned the area. He didn’t find anything out of the
ordinary, which puzzled him because he distinctly
heard a voice – he knew it!
Luke…hurry, the mysterious voice persisted
again.
“Huh?” Luke looked around bewildered. Only those
closest to him spoke to him using this particular
method. He couldn’t fathom who would be trying to
contact him, and the image in his mind offered no
assistance, as the features were obscure and couldn’t
be made out clearly. “I’m picking up something,
Sakoya. Go on without me. I’ll catch up soon,” he
stated.
“Maybe I should go with you?”
Luke scoffed. “I’ll be fine – I don’t need you to
hold my hand no matter what Mom told you.”
Sakoya smiled and reluctantly gave in. “Just don’t be
long,” she warned, “or I’ll be coming after you.”
“Aye, aye ma’am.” Luke grinned and turned toward the
east.
“May the Force be with you,” she sighed and began
walking in the opposite direction.
************************************
Who are you? Luke questioned using his mind to
communicate with the invisible voice.
Old friend. Hurry. I won’t last long.
Where are you?
Not far, it answered.
The peculiar voice sounded urgent so Luke began to
trudge through the quagmire with no absolute direction
to follow. Through the Force, he tried several times
to find this mystery person who begged for his help
but he or she seemed to vanish and no Force signature
remained. “Maybe I’m too late,” he murmured, “still, I
have to try.”
Deeper and deeper he plunged into the swamp, using
his lightsaber as a tool to cut the branches that
barred his path. It didn’t take long before sweat was
streaming down his face from his exertion, and the
climate of the planet only compounded his problems.
Although Luke had once been accustomed to the dank air
of Dagobah, the atmosphere here was much heavier as it
clung to every part of him and slowed his movements
tremendously. Determined, he plodded on, wading
through knee-deep water and up and over mounds that
consisted of rocks, sparse grass and dark dirt. He
slipped on the slimy mounds a few times but the voice
that had spoken in his mind carried him forward. All
around him were muck filled streams, hideously
malformed trees that appeared to be more dead than
alive – moss clinging desperately to the limbs, trunks
and mud – everywhere was mud.
He finally stopped, panting for breath, and looked
around only to discover that nothing within the
scenery had changed – no one in distress called out to
him nor could he see anyone. Slumping against a tree,
Luke rested until his breathing wasn’t so rapid and
then reached into the Force again. It piqued his
interest that he could not sense anyone nearby. Just
when he was about to give up his futile search, he
felt a cold pricking sensation on his neck. His hand
immediately reached up to touch the spot, and when he
brought his hand back down to examine it, he noticed
blood – his blood. Before he could take another step,
Luke collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
************************************
“My revenge will soon be complete,” a voice cackled –
a venomous voice, cold as ice that dripped with death.
“I have young Skywalker and soon I will have his
father!” Palpatine rubbed his hands together eagerly
as he waited for Luke to awaken.
An hour passed and finally Luke began to stir.
“Wh-where am I?” He tried to sit up but fell back
again with a moan. His entire body ached and felt like
lead.
“On my ship. Do not worry, you are safe,” Emperor
Palpatine assured the young Jedi.
Regardless of the fact that every movement of his
body made him ache more, Luke slowly turned his head
toward the voice. “Who are you? How did I get here?”
“Rest, you are not done healing. Your questions will
be answered in time.”
Luke could hardly keep his eyes open nor could he
seem to keep his focus. “Everything is blurry,” he
stated to the person he had been conversing with.
“Your sight will return, now rest.” A sadistic grin
formed on the Emperor’s face hidden beneath the dark
hood of his robes.
Too lethargic to argue, Luke closed his eyes and
slipped into darkness.
************************************
One aspect of being in charge was the unfortunate
responsibility of reporting dire news back to the
Command Post. Obviously, it was something Commander Tolh dreaded. If only it were someone else… he
thought ruefully. He had been on numerous missions
with the elder Jedi Skywalker over the years and now
he commanded the current assignment, which involved
his friend’s son. What a bitter road we cross,
he thought irritably and proceeded to open the door to
his private quarters on his ship, the Elixir.
He smiled as he remembered how the transport ship
received its name. “Luke was still a teenager,” he
grinned. “Yavin 4, how could I forget that one?”
Jarden thought back to the fiasco that occurred more
than five years ago when the Rebels fell into a trap
set by the Empire. Their only intent had been to
evacuate the Rebel personnel on the moon but the
simple evacuation mission had quickly evolved into a
fight for their lives against the relentless
Imperials. Anakin had dubbed the ship its current name
out of jest because he had given it the “elixir of
life” so to speak when he had gotten the ship back
online so that it could make the journey back to
Alderaan after the Empire’s surprise attack. Tolh had
been so amused by the name he that he made it his
ship’s official designation soon afterwards. Now,
however, the name left a queasy feeling in the pit of
its commander’s stomach. Jarden seated himself at his
desk and proceeded to send his message directly to
Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker.
“Skywalker here,” Anakin cheerfully answered. A
cheeriness that faded fast as Commander Tolh’s grim
face appeared on the viewscreen.
“Luke,” Anakin said as he bowed his head.
“Is Padmé present?” Jarden asked worriedly. He
preferred that Anakin break the news to his wife in
his own words.
“No. She and Leia are in negotiations.”
“They’re still ongoing?” Jarden shook his head in
disbelief. “Some of these systems that join us want
much more in return than their freedom. I’m glad I’m
not a politician,” the commander affirmed then paused.
“Anakin,” he began, “Luke is missing. He told Jedi
Jade that he was going to check on something and
hasn’t been seen since. His ship is where he left it
and all we have to go on are the trail of footprints
that led away into a swamp. Jedi Jade is an excellent
tracker and followed his trail until it abruptly
ended. She can’t explain why he disappeared or where
he might be. I’m sorry, Anakin – we searched and
searched…his fate is unknown.”
Anakin sensed the remorse his friend felt and knew he
used every resource available to him to account for
Luke. The Jedi’s visage remain unchanged – his face
showed no emotion, only a blank stare as he took a
deep breath, closed his eyes, and reached into the
Force not only for support, but also for guidance.
“I feel him.” A sense of relief came over Anakin as
he felt Luke’s Force signature even though no other
answers were forthcoming. “He is alive, Jarden. Please
let Sakoya know that she is not at fault for this.”
“I will tell her,” the commander said with a nod then
added, “I didn’t want to think the worst. Sakoya and I
knew you would know of his fate. Rest assured, we’ll
find him. The Force be with you, my friend.”
Anakin nodded solemnly. “And with you.”
************************************************************************
