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| After The Duel by Sidra |
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The personal shuttle craft’s pressure sealed door opened to release its reconstituted atmosphere into the black face of the Dark Lord himself. Without noticing, Vader made his way into the cramped shuttlecraft.
“We are here to serve, my lord.” The stuffy looking officer could see that things were not well with the Sith Master as soon as he stepped into the shuttle. He seemed preoccupied with something. Vader moved past him as though not noticing the junior officer. Once in the crafts hold Vader turned to address the subordinate.
“Make haste to the Executor, general”
“Yes, my Lord”
“And”, Vader continued, “have the landing bay cleared. I do not wish to be disturbed upon landing”
“Yes my Lord” Upon hearing the general’s reply, Vader turned to take a seat in the craft’s hold.
Vader truly was preoccupied by the events prior to the brisk lift off. He knew it might come to destroying the boy, but to kill him so early on truly was unsettling. Vader knew there was something special about this boy in the trench above the now vanquished Death Star. It took the long trip, limping back to an Imperial base aboard his damaged Tie fighter, to unlock the mystery of this boy’s presence in the Force.
The shuttle’s lift engines rumbled as the craft began to climb away from the floating city. How he wished he could have changed the outcome of the confrontation with his son, Luke. It seemed that Obi-Wan’s treachery had not ended with his life aboard the Death Star. Vader could feel, through the force, that day, on the armored space station in the past, was going to be one long remembered, however, it seemed not for the reasons he had assumed. Obi-Wan’s training of the young boy had been cut short, however, Luke’s skill was a bit surprising for someone so untrained. His betrayal truly went deeper than Vader thought possible for the old Jedi. Vader had had enough of betrayal.
Obi-Wan simply didn’t understand his motives. He would bring order to the galaxy. Surely even Obi-Wan realized, in the turbulent time of the Old Republic, that order must be restored. Complete control was required to restore that order. Martial law had to be established in order to do what had to be done. The Emperor was the only other being in the galaxy that had the courage to do the unpopular things that had to be done. For that, young Anakin, realized it was time to break with the old cowardly Jedi and stand behind this brave Chancellor. The leader of the new order in the galaxy.
“General”, said the crafts pilot, “we seem to have a disturbance on the far side of the city”
“What kind of disturbance, captain?”
Through the force, Vader could feel someone calling...calling for...help. He knew it was not a plea to himself, but he was unsure who it could be meant for. Luke. Vader began to come to the realization that it was Luke calling through the force. So, his son still lived. There was hope after all for order in the galaxy. His rule of father and son would bring brotherhood to the galaxy. The Emperor must not know Vader’s true motives for converting his son to the dark side.
“It seems there’s a fire fight, general. Tie fighters are in pursuit of a freighter trying to leave the...”, the captain began receive reports through his communications headset. He raised his hand to the headset to hear the comm traffic more clearly.
“What’s the problem, captain?” asked the very nervous general.
“Sir,” the captain began “we’re getting reports of mass evacuation from the city. It’s really bogging down the comm traffic.” the captain looked back at his superior for guidance.
After thinking the situation over, the general said, “Are we near the fire fight with the escaping freighter, Captain?”
“No sir, it appears they are making for open space.” After a momentary pause the captain added, “Sir, the freighter has been identified as the Millennium Falcon.”
Upon hearing that name the general was no longer indecisive as to a course of action. He studied the tactical display being relied from the Executor and made his decision.
“Once we have landed, the Executor shall be brought around on course to cut-off that... that...” he spat the next word, “Falcon, where a boarding party shall be assembled to take control of that ship.” He paused, looking off into space, then added, “I have had enough of chasing the flying piece of scrap all over this system.”
Vader overheard the general’s orders and added, “That ship, nor it’s crew, will not be harmed. I want them captured and brought before me.” Vader looked the general directly in the eye and added “Is that understood... general?”
The distance from the hold to the door of the cockpit did not matter, the terrified general began to feel his throat tighten. “Yes, my Lord. Yes, I...I understand, My Lord.” After having said those words he noticed his throat loosening. It became easier to breathe. He turned back to the front view canopy and decided that would be the last order he gave without first clearing it with Darth Vader.
Vader did not know the full state of events unfolding around him and would not let them fly beyond his control...again. After a moment, he had retreated back deep into his thoughts. The thoughts that kept the fire burning in him. The thoughts that showed him the true nature and power of the force. The thoughts that continually showed him the ones, in his past, who had hurt him. Obi-Wan’s true nature had been revealed to him. Even Padme’s own nature was becoming more apparent. She had become pregnant and removed herself and her child...HIS child...from the equation of the situation of the old, orderless republic. He could have sheltered her, as well as, his son from the fall of that weak, erred government. Now his only chance was to give Luke time to consider his offer of a father and son governed galaxy. Perhaps, given time to come to terms with the revelations of the past day, his son would realize the need for order and Obi-Wan’s treacherous plans would finally be nullified
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