Dynasty: Chunk Thirteen
by Valerie Vancollie and Rebecca Thomson
Leia woke to find her entire body aching. As the memories of the Imperial attack on the base came rushing back to her, Leia sat upright only to find herself once more in an Imperial detention cell. This was the third time in one year that she found herself a prisoner of the Empire. Absently she wondered if this was some new record as she tried to piece together exactly how she had been captured. She remembered the docking bay with the shuttle, blocking the door, the torpedo crates and... Skywalker! How in the Force had he gotten in there?
Organa was just pondering the answer to her question when she remembered something else. Her blaster! She had just been pointing her blaster at Skywalker, joy filling her at the thought of being about to rid the galaxy of one monster when... when her blaster had leapt out of her hand and into his. But that wasn't possible, was it? No, it must have been the after effects of the stun blast. After all, Leia had heard of people getting delusions after being stunned before. But then how had Skywalker captured her? Had a stormtrooper taken her out from behind?
Leia shook her head as she jumped to her feet and started pacing the cell. Why was this happening to her again? The thought of all her fellow Rebels that had died during the siege of the base made her want to pound the cell walls with her fists, but she restrained herself. She wouldn't give the Imperials and Skywalker the pleasure. Skywalker. How was it that she kept running into him? As she thought about him, Leia remembered something else from the scene during which she had been caught.
'Leia,' Skywalker's voice echoed in her head as she could see his smiling face. 'Don't try and hurt me, you'll regret it later.'
What in the galaxy had Skywalker meant my that? Why would she regret hurting him other than to wish that she hadn't killed him? His killing of Darklighter at the execution ceremony had proven once and for all that he was completely loyal to the Empire. Which meant that he was her enemy. So what had Skywalker meant?
Leia forced herself to sit down on the metal bunk and sighed. She knew that this was the exact reaction Skywalker had intended when speaking those words. Which meant that she should do all she could not to follow that particular path as it could only lead her astray. However, the fact that she had nothing else to do except wonder how many of her friends and comrades had died during the attack, made it impossible to push the matter from her mind. But she was determined not to let Skywalker know how much the issue was bothering her.
"Sir," the Admiral said as he approached Luke who had planted himself in front of the viewport on the Judgment's bridge the moment he had returned after capturing Organa.
"Yes?" Luke inquired as he turned to face the Admiral.
"The fighting has lessened and the troops are securing the base," the Admiral reported. "However, even after a brief count, it seems that we are missing a significant amount of Rebels."
"The Princess mentioned that they had an outpost somewhere else on the planet," Luke stated, recalling the conversation he had eavesdropped in on. "There will probably be several other pockets of resistance as they spread out to make the hunting harder for us. I want Walkers sent down to scout the area."
"As you wish," the Admiral replied. "Shall I recall the TIEs?"
"The Interceptors," Luke ordered. "Have the bombers sweep the planet dropping bombs in random places. Perhaps we can scare them out into the open. Have the other Star Destroyers spread out, I don't want any Alliance ships getting past us. Destroy any ships that try to escape."
"Yes, Sir," the Admiral said as he smiled, liking the idea.
Luke nodded to himself in satisfaction as he watched the officer go. He had instantly noticed the new respect the Admiral had for him upon his return with Organa. No doubt he had demanded a report from the Sergeant in charge of the stormtroopers who had entered the docking bay where Organa and the others had been hiding. Generally Luke would be displeased with having one of his subordinates checking on him like that, but if it earned him the proper respect, then he could overlook it this once. Next time however...
He looked at the rest of the bridge before turning around and watching the AT-AT Walkers being sent down to Mod Evine. Luke quickly concluded that there was no longer any need for him to be on the bridge. The troops could handle the search and the Admiral was capable of giving the order to have any escape craft destroyed. Besides, he knew that the Rebels would do the best they could to remain hidden and the search could well take several days. And he still needed to contact his father and inform him of his twin's capture.
Skywalker turned around and strode from the bridge, his black cape billowing out behind him. Quickly he made his way to his quarters only to find Garret waiting in the first room.
"Major?" Luke inquired.
"Sir," Garret replied. "While you were planetside, Lord Vader sent a message. He said to tell you that he'll be unreachable for the rest of the day and most of the evening as well."
"Damn," Luke stated.
Now he would not only be unable to give his father the good news, but he also didn't know what to do. He had been planning on asking Vader if it would be wise to have Organa shipped to Coruscant right away considering her talent for escaping and the fact that they wouldn't be leaving the area for a while.
"Sir?" Garret questioned, seeing the frustrated look on Luke's face. "Could I be of any assistance?"
"No," Luke replied as he thought how best to phrase his next sentence. "I need advice, however there is a delicate twist to the situation."
"I understand," Garret replied. "Is there is anything else?"
"No," Luke said at which Garret left the room.
Luke watched Ravenell go and thought for a moment before he made a decision. His father had said that he could contact Palpatine if need be. Considering the situation it was the best thing to do. Walking over to the communications console, he quickly made a connection to the Imperial Palace. Stepping back into the projection sphere, Luke knew that there was no need to kneel just yet as no one ever got straight through to the Emperor. All calls to him were taken by Palpatine's assistants.
"Yes?" a richly dressed, older man with silver streaked brown hair questioned.
"I need to speak with the Emperor as soon as possible," Luke stated, knowing that the man would recognize him. "Tell him it is an important matter and that Lord Vader is currently out of reach."
"Very well, Mr. Skywalker," Jamison replied. "Is there anything else?"
"No," Luke said.
"Then I will pass your message on to the Emperor," Jamison explained before the connection died.
Knowing that it would probably be some time before Palpatine managed to get back to him, Luke made another call to Tangior VI. Although Vader would be unable to take the calls, Luke knew that someone would be taking messages.
"Skywalker," Captain Alfredo said, recognizing the young man from the execution ceremony. "Lord Vader is not here at the moment."
"I know. Tell him that everything is running smoothly without any glitches so far." Luke ordered, using the code Vader had told him to use if he ever had something too sensitive to pass on to a messenger.
"I shall inform him as soon as he returns," Alfredo responded.
The moment the holo of Skywalker faded, Jamison indicated one of his own assistants to approach. "Monitor the calls for now," he ordered. "I have a message to deliver to the Emperor."
With this, Jamison left the room and quickly made his way towards the ball room. At the moment one of the noon sessions of the court was being held. Although the Emperor normally took the messages when he saw fit, if certain people called, Palpatine wished to be informed immediately. Skywalker had recently been moved onto that select list of people. Whether the Emperor instantly replied to those calls was another matter altogether though.
Jamison smoothened out his brown and red outfit as he neared the court rooms, knowing that, even if it were newly pressed, he'd still be out of place. Reaching the doors, he sighed before entering the room. Quietly, he made his way through the groups of exquisitely dressed people towards where the Emperor was seated. Reaching the upraised platform he stopped and waited, seeing that Palpatine was busy with Vladimir.
"Yes?" Palpatine inquired, catching sight of his aid.
Jamison bowed and approached the throne. "Your Majesty," he said as he ignored Vladimir. "Skywalker has called. He said it was a matter of importance and that Lord Vader is currently out of reach."
"Did he call just now?" Palpatine demanded.
"Yes, your Majesty," Jamison confirmed.
Palpatine dismissed the aid with a wave of his hand as he turned his attention back to the red-haired courtier. "I must take care of this now."
"Of course, your Highness," Vladimir replied evenly, but Palpatine caught the hostility and curiosity behind the words.
The Emperor eyed the man for a moment before he rose and made his way back to his throne room. Along the way he wondered what his young grandson could need so suddenly.
"Your Majesty," Luke said as he knelt in the projecting circle before the enlarged image of Palpatine's face.
"Skywalker," Palpatine replied. "What seems to be the problem?"
"I have captured Organa," Luke announced.
"Alive?"
"Yes."
"Excellent," Palpatine stated, pleased. "The Rebel base has been destroyed?"
"We have captured the base itself," Luke explained. "However a large number of Rebels fled into the surrounding area. I have troops combing the swamps even as we speak, but the search may take a while. I was wondering what to do concerning Organa, taking into account her escapist talents."
"Hmmm," Palpatine said as he thought. "She could be brought here, however that would require sending someone with her that is to be trusted not to slip up."
"Major Ravenell," Luke instantly replied.
"Lord Vader's assistant?"
"Yes," Luke confirmed. "He knows the truth about me."
"Good," Palpatine stated. "Have him bring Organa to Coruscant. I shall be expecting her then soon."
"Yes, your Majesty," Luke replied before the connection was cut.
Luke got to his feet and summoned Garret who arrived several minutes later.
"Sir?" Garret asked as he entered the room.
"Organa will be shipped off to Coruscant in several hours," Luke informed the Major. "You are to go with her and make sure that she doesn't managed to pull another escape stunt."
"Sir?" Garret questioned and Luke could sense the man's indecision. On the one hand, Garret knew that Luke was superior to him, but on the other hand he had Lord Vader's orders to remain with Skywalker for the entire mission.
"The Emperor changed your orders," Luke stated. "This is more important. Organa is my sister, Garret, although she doesn't know it yet. She most be transported to Coruscant before she gets away again."
Major Ravenell walked down the detention center corridor aboard the Star Destroyer Desolation towards the Princess's cell, followed by his stormtrooper escort. Inwardly, he sighed. He had taken it upon himself to personally check on the Princess Leia at least three times a day at random intervals, hoping to prevent any mishaps during the trip back to Coruscant. He hadn't spoken to the Princess, but he had listened to some of the things she said when she was brought food.
Garret grimaced as he thought about her relationship with the Dark Lord. She was far worse than Skywalker had ever been. She was so totally against the Empire, he didn't see why Lord Vader would even want her alive.
He reached her cell, and stepped back as the stormtrooper escort punched the code that opened the door.
"You again?" She was sitting on the bunk, pressed against the far wall. "Don't you have anything better to do?"
He motioned to the guards, who brought forth the tray of food. The trooper set down the fresh tray, and picked up the untouched old tray off the floor. Garret glanced at it, sighing.
"I'm not going to eat, it's drugged." The petite women announced. "Just like the food in your factories." Garret wondered what she was talking about. She groaned, and continued. "Don't you know? The Empire drugs its workers in the factories. Makes them more productive and controllable."
Ravenell just stared at her. That was ridiculous, nothing but Rebel Propaganda.
"Really, can't you talk?" She asked, "or do you need Vader's orders? You're his adjunct, aren't you?"
He briefly nodded, then turned and left. The door clanged shut behind him.
"Admiral, the sweeps have come up with nothing in the last three hours, and the walkers have continued to have difficulties in the wet ground. How much longer do we keep this up?" The transmission from the surface showed an older man, slightly swaying back and forth as his walker lumbered along.
The Admiral sighed. All night the walkers had repeatedly mired in the mud, each time having to be laboriously pulled free. The low brush and high grasses on the surface effectively camouflaging the many mud pits dotting the water-logged surface.
"General, the sweep pattern calls for six more hours of patrolling. We will assess the situation then."
"Very well. But please take into consideration that I won't be able to keep enough walkers running for effective sweeps in twelve hours. Every time one bogs down, struggling free strains the motors. They're starting to break."
"Of course. Thank you General." The Admiral cut the connection. He turned, and saw Skywalker come onto the bridge. The young man had changed into a dark blue outfit, pale blue gems highlighting neck and cuffs.
The Admiral gave a little bow. "Sir, the ground forces report that the mud continues to hamper their efforts and is causing mechanical breakdowns. Their effectiveness will be hampered in about twelve hours at this rate."
"Understood," Skywalker replied, obviously thinking. "Continue the patrol till the pattern is finished. If we haven't found any more hidden groups by then, we'll change strategy."
"Yes, Sir."
Leia followed the silent Major Ravenell off the shuttle. The binders cut into her wrists and she wistfully thought of a nice hot shower. The detention cell had no amenities. But she was headed straight for a torture chamber, or worse. She didn't know what could be worse, but she expected no less from the Empire.
The Major silently walked through the shuttle door and down the ramp. Leia followed, blinking in the harsh sunlight. She looked around, expecting a dozen white armored stormtroopers ready to drag her off to the local interrogation chambers.
They were on a landing pad in a garden, only house guards in green and black livery to be found. A fountain sparkled off to one side, paths intertwined around flowering paths. She looked up, and saw the sparkle of the house shield. And vehicles of all makes and sizes crisscrossing the skyline.
The skyline, she recognized it. Coruscant. They had taken her to Coruscant. And, she twirled around to get her bearings from the last time she had been to this planet as a senator, they had brought her to Vader's Castle.
"Oh no." She whispered, all hope dying. "They can't find me here." No one even knew what the inside of Vader's Castle looked like, let alone how to defeat its defenses.
The Major had turned around at the bottom of the ramp. He looked almost pitying, but his voice was cold. "If you'll follow me, I'll take you to your room."
She followed, she had no choice. Two house guards had come forward to walk beside her, hands on her arms, pulling her along if she slowed. They entered the building and walked down long corridors. Sunlight streamed through the windows and sparkled off the stone statues lining the walls. Heavy tapestries and hand-woven carpets muffled their footsteps. They came to a wide door, one guard stood on each side.
The Major nodded, and one guard tapped the code into the control panel, opening the door. Leia stiffened in anticipation, suddenly terrified of what the Dark Lord could have prepared for her. The Imperial officer entered the room, and Leia was reluctantly pulled after.
A sitting room. A perfectly normal, nice sitting room. Dainty wooden furniture sat in a small cluster around a low table, and large windows framed with lace curtains overlooked the busy skyline. The room was tastefully done in a light pink with a floral pattern repeated in the tapestries and upholstery.
The military officer cleared his throat, and Leia realized she had been staring. "Your bedroom and bath is in there. I'm to warn you that the room is bugged and that the doors and windows are double shielded and guarded at all times. Also, the house staff will be along shortly to take your measurements. You can't go around wearing that." His eyes flicked to her dirty jumpsuit.
"Excuse me, but I forgot my wardrobe when I was captured." Leia snapped back, trying to maintain her attitude. It wouldn't do to let the Imperial know how unsettled she felt right now.
He smiled at her, and bowed. "As you say." With that, he left.
Skywalker sighed, looking at the readout. He had spent the last two hours meditating, trying to pinpoint the last group of Rebels with the Force. He knew they were down there, he just couldn't figure out exactly where. And the AT-ATs were starting to break down.
"Admiral," he had narrowed down the area a little, maybe it would be enough. "Use the turbolasers from the three Star Destroyers to blow up all of the rock outcroppings within these sectors on the planet's surface. Have the remaining working walkers set up a perimeter here." He pointed on the map.
"Yes, Sir." Luke could feel that the man was beginning to think that there weren't any more Rebels to be found, that they were wasting their time.
Skywalker grimaced, looking at the readout again as the sound of the turbolasers firing could be barely be heard. He knew that the Rebels were there, the Admiral would just have to follow his orders.
"Sir!" Announced one of the technicians on the bridge, "A group of X-wings just broke cover from the last outcropping we hit!"
Skywalker smiled as he looked out the bridge's viewport. It had taken an hour, but they had finally flushed the Rebels. "Admiral," he gently said, "scramble the Interceptors. I don't want them getting away."
"Yes, Sir." The Admiral said, silently amazed that Skywalker had known.
"Sir," the technician added, "the Rebels have just launched a transport."
Luke just looked at the Admiral and nodded. The man said, "have it shot down."
Leia picked up the chair and threw it against the wall. It bounced and fell to the floor, undamaged. "Damn!" She cursed. She had taken a quick tour of her rooms and had quickly discovered that all was not as it seemed. The tapestries on the walls were cleverly made of untearable material and securely fastened. The furniture wasn't wood, it was made of some unbreakable substance and the larger pieces were bolted down. Her sheets and curtains were made of more untearable fabric, and she couldn't remove either of them from the bed or curtain rods. The pictures on the walls and the statue in the corner were also bolted down.
The closest thing to a weapon she had were a few bottles of scented soap, some make-up, and a few towels. And a new jumpsuit that had been laid out in the bedroom.
Leia sighed, and went to take the hot shower she had wished for. At least it was better than being tortured. Even if she knew some Imperial was probably watching her.
Fl'ann looked at the clothing order, his eyes narrowing as his fur ruffled. Rumors had it that the Rebels' Princess Leia had been captured and had been placed at Vader's Castle yesterday instead of the Imperial Palace's detention center. And here was a rush clothing order for some nice day-gowns to be sent to Vader's Castle. The measurements had been sent over last night, instead of a tailor being sent for to take them. Fl'ann glanced at the measurements again, before pulling the patterns from the shelf. Yes, they would be exactly her size if he remembered her correctly from when she was a senator.
He better tell his superior. Not the silly human whose entire life was taken up by the latest fashion and color, but his other superior. Master Van Kallen may know how to survive as a tailor in these turbulent times, but he was no genius when it came to true politics. Fl'ann's other superior was the one to whom he passed on every interesting tidbit of knowledge.
Fl'ann was rather proud of himself for being a spy. All good Bothans were spies, and he was very well placed for listening in on all the interesting gossip of court. One would be surprised to know how easy it was to plant listening devices during visits to the tailor's many clients.
Fl'ann didn't have much information on who received all the knowledge he gathered, but he did know that it went to his clan for them to sell and distribute. He sometimes wondered if they sold information to the Rebellion. He hadn't gotten much information on his clan's stand in the civil war, but he would follow his clan leader's decision. Obedience to the leader had kept his clan alive for centuries, he wouldn't break tradition now.
Palpatine motioned for the courtiers to leave the throne room and leaned back in his throne as he watched them go. The moment they were out of the room, he reached out with the Dark Side and probed the defenseless mind of his granddaughter. The anger and desire to destroy that he found there made him smile. Perhaps it wasn't too late for her. The thought instantly left the Emperor's mind as he saw the rest of Leia's thoughts. Although she held great anger, it was all aimed at the Empire, him, and Vader. Looking further, Palpatine could also find a significant amount of hate directed at her twin brother. The knowledge of her true heritage would come a complete shock to her. However it was the fact that he knew that it would be detested knowledge that made his own anger boil.
Bail Organa had seen to it to fill his adopted daughter's mind full of trash and Jedi ideals even though she had been left totally untrained in her Force abilities. Years of lies and trained anger at the Empire and all that it stood for, practically ensured that she would never thread down the Dark Side's path. There was still the possibility, as there almost always was, of turning her, but if it was to succeed it would require careful manipulation and time. Both things that neither he nor his son were willing to give.
Albeit, Palpatine knew that Vader would try, but he doubted that his Dark Lord would go as far as might be required. He already had a promising heir in Luke, and Leia could only complicate things. The only real use she could have was to be married off in order to buy closer ties to the throne. Especially when she would go public if she turned. The reaction of the court and all the other Imperials was unpredictable. But Palpatine knew that Vader would try. If for nothing else than to thwart his late wife's and former mentor's plans and to reclaim that which was rightfully his.
Palpatine smiled once more as he came back to Leia's hatred for Luke. It seemed that neither of the twins liked each other. On more than one occasion had he felt his grandson's resentment of his sister's existence and at first the boy had even felt threatened by it. The fact that he had captured her alive instead of having had her killed, showed that he knew his boundaries. The fact pleased Palpatine. It proved that Luke was fully adjusting to his new life. It wouldn't be long before he was finished with his training and fully established as one of the leaders of the Empire. Too bad it couldn't be as easy to reclaim his sister.
"Prepare my shuttle," Vader ordered the moment the Executor came out of hyperspace above Coruscant.
"Yes, my Lord," Admiral Nelson stated before he moved off to carry out his orders.
Vader frowned unseen behind his mask as he looked out the viewport at the planet below. When he had learned of his daughter's capture, he had left the party immediately, saying that he had business to take care of concerning the Alliance. He had hoped to arrive back before Leia did, but he had sent instructions ahead to his staff just in case he didn't make it back on time. Scanning the planet below he saw that it had been best to do so as it seemed Garret had arrived with Organa before he did.
The Dark Lord turned and swept from the bridge and made his way to the Executor's main docking bay. He could only hope that Organa hadn't gotten here too much earlier. Sighing he pushed the thought aside and started to think about what he would do. After learning of the existence of his daughter and her loyalties, he had decided that the best way to go about the situation was to tell her the truth about their relationship and of her relationship to Luke. The shock of learning the truth alone would shake her up for a while, as it had Luke at first.
However the difference was that with Luke he had had something to go on. Vader had known, from his son's mind, how much the boy had always longed for a father. Using that to show him the truth had been exceptionally easy considering that he had been raised by his enemy for so long. But Kenobi and Lars had made a fatal error with Luke; they had beaten him. From what he knew no similar treatment had been given to Leia by Bail Organa. The only thing Vader could use with her was the fact that she had been lied to and used. Although she probably wouldn't believe the latter, and if she was as brainwashed as he thought she was, she would probably believe that the first had been done for her own protection.
Tasting his disgust at the idea, Vader entered the docking bay and quickly made his way towards his shuttle.
"The Palace, my Lord?" Weng asked as Vader ascended the shuttle ramp.
"No," Vader replied. "My castle."
"As you wish."
Luke remained seated as the Admiral entered his chambers and moved over to him. "Well?" he demanded.
"The outpost has been destroyed, Sir," the Admiral informed him. "All their ships have been destroyed as well and only one X-wing got past us and into hyperspace."
"Good," Luke replied. Perhaps it was for the better that one had gotten away. This way the news of what had happened here would be believed by the Alliance as they disbelieved the news of Imperial victories that were broadcasted over the holonet. "Did any of the prisoners know of another outpost on the planet?"
"No, Sir," the Admiral replied. "We have interrogated several Rebels and we got the same negative answer from each one."
Luke nodded his head at this. He had spent the last few hours meditating and scanning the planet for any further signs of intelligent life and had found none. This meant that his mission was accomplished and he could head back home. Thinking of the fact that Leia would be there as well he nearly winced. Now he would learn what Vader planned to do with his twin sister.
"As soon as the troops are all back, set course for Coruscant," Luke ordered.
"As you wish, Sir."
"Have we heard anything else from the base since that message?" Mon Mothma asked as she looked at General Rieekan.
"No, Ma'am," General Rieekan replied. "The distress message alerting us to the fact that base Beta was under Imperial attack is the last communication we received from them. We don't even know exactly what happened."
"Why not?" Admiral Dl'os inquired as the fur along his shoulders rippled. "Normally the base should have time to tell us something of what is going on before communications break down."
"Not this time," General Rieekan stated. "It seems that whatever happened was not only unexpected, but happened extremely quickly. Here is the recording of what we got." Lending forward, Rieekan inserted the datachip he was holding into the holoplayer.
"Beta base to Home," a terrified voice suddenly broke the silence of the room. "Beta base to Home."
"Beta base, this is Home," a calmer female voice said through the static coming from the other end. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Imperial attack," the first voice stated. "I repeat we are under Imperial attack."
"What's happening?" the female voice inquired. "What attack pattern are they using?"
"None that we know of," the voice stated and suddenly shouting could be heard in the background.
"Look out!" one voice called out.
"Get away!" another said in broken Basic. "Explode! From fire!"
"Are the Imperials in the base?" the female voice questioned.
"I--" the voice began but was cut off with screaming as a loud BOOM sounded in the background before the static increased.
"Beta base, are you there? Beta base, please respond."
General Rieekan reached forward and turned off the recording. "The rest is just repeated attempts to reestablish contact with the base. They all failed."
"Which is why we are here," Mon Mothma said. "Princess Organa was in charge of that base. From her experience with Imperials it's safe to say that if there was any way to win the battle or get minimal losses, she would have taken that course of action."
"However the silence points towards a total loss," General Xa'sstresh said, his movement causing the light to reflect off of his polished scales.
"We can't be sure," Mon Mothma replied, although she knew that things did not look good. "We received the transmission a few days ago. We need to decided on whether to send in help or not."
"I personally think that we should investigate some more before we make a move," Admiral Dl'os stated. "We have no idea what kind of Imperial force we're talking about here and whether or not they're still in orbit around Mon Evine."
"Time could cost us any survivors that may be left," General Dodonna argued.
"True," General Xa'sstresh agreed. "But if we move without Intel we could well lose many more people."
"A vote," Mon Mothma said as she looked at the silent members of the High Council. "All those who think we should wait, raise your hands."
"Looks like we wait," General Xa'sstresh stated as most of the others raised their hands.
"Yes," Mon Mothma replied. "General Ragorsh, I want you to alert all our spies that we need news on what happened at Mon Evine as fast as possible."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"How long has it been since she arrived?" Vader questioned Mark as soon as he descended the shuttle ramp.
"Organa arrived last night, my Lord," Mark replied as he fell in step next to his master. "Everything has been taken care of as you instructed. The Rebel tried to break the movable pieces of furniture, but stopped as soon as she saw the futility of her efforts. The tailor has also called and said that he should have the first of her clothes ready this afternoon."
"Good," Vader stated as she entered his home and made his way towards his daughter's room. "Never refer to her as a Rebel or as Organa again."
"As you wish," Mark responded and took a package offered to him by another servant. "Here are the things you requested."
"Excellent," Vader replied as he took the package. "There will be nothing else for now."
At this Mark bowed and left. Reaching the door to Leia's room, Vader stopped and scanned the room with the Force. Seeing that she was worrying about what he would do to her and her confusion at what was happening, Vader smiled before he indicated the guard to open the door.
Leia looked up as she heard the door open, knowing that it was too soon for lunch to be brought in. "Vader," she hissed as she saw him.
"Organa," Vader replied. "I hope your room is to your likening?"
"What are you up to?" Leia questioned, not knowing what was going on and not liking it at all.
"You Rebels are never satisfied," Vader stated.
"Is this the game you played with Skywalker?" Leia suddenly demanded as she indicated the room. Having spent most of the night lying awake on the soft bed provided for her, she had thought about plenty of things. "Well, if it is, I can tell you now that it won't work."
"I know," Vader stated icily. "And no, this is not why Luke decided to join me. It was for different reasons, reasons which apply to you as well."
"I won't betray the Alliance," Leia declared. "And I will never join you. I'd rather die first! Whatever you did to Skywalker won't work on me. I'm trained to resist your manipulations; Skywalker, on the other hand, was an unsuspecting boy. And you took advantage of that, using his innocence to twist him into some monster."
Vader closed the distance between them in two strides, backhanding her across the face. Leia let out a scream as she was flung across the room, only to crash against the small table standing there. She cried out a second time as the table's sharp corner dug viciously into her back.
"You know not what you speak of," Vader boomed as he moved forward so that he towered over her, the light from the window casting his shadow across her small form. Pleasure seeped through his rage as he caught the small tremors that raced across her body at the oppressing image before her. "You will use respect when talking about Luke."
Leia forced herself to stop shaking as she tried to comprehend what had just happened and what she had just heard. Never in her whole life had she heard of or seen Vader show such an amount of emotion. Sure, he had killed officers and other people for failing him, but it had always been done so coldly; without any display of emotion. The anger and rage that had been in his voice just now on the other hand...
And then there was Skywalker. Leia had known that he lived with Vader and all, but the anger Vader had just displayed when she had insulted Skywalker clearly proved that she had hit a soft spot. It was almost as if the Dark Lord cared for the young man, deeply. She had heard of the assassination attempt made on Skywalker to get to Vader, so she had known that he must be concerned about his safety at least, but this? Briefly Leia wondered if the rumors she had heard were true.
"They are not," Vader stated. "I care for him because Luke is my son."
"Son!" Leia yelped as the meaning of Vader's words sunk in. Skywalker was Vader's son! "But... he was going to join the Alliance," Leia mumbled. "And... Tatooine."
"He was hidden from me," Vader explained, even as his anger of the deed filled him once more. Looking back down at his daughter, he saw that she had moved backwards and was now getting to her feet.
"Too bad he ran into you," Leia retorted.
"What do you know about your parents?" Vader suddenly demanded.
"My parents?" Leia repeated, caught off guard by the sudden change.
"Yes," Vader replied as he caught the image of Bail and his wife that flashed across her mind. "No, not the Organas, your real parents."
"Why should I tell you?" Leia demanded as she pulled herself together.
"I take it you don't know the truth," Vader stated.
"The truth?" Leia questioned. "Do you mean the real truth or your version of it?"
"The real truth," Vader responded, smiling behind his mask as he felt her trying to see where this line of conversation was heading. "Tell me, who was your biological father?"
"My father..." Leia began before her eyes got wide as she realized where Vader was heading. "Oh no. That's not going to work with me. Is that what you did with Luke? Pretend you were his father?"
"I am his father," Vader declared sharply. "As I am your father," with this Vader tore open the package he was holding and pulled out the special datapad and two syringes.
Leia laughed. "You really expect me to believe this? You must be dumber than I thought."
Vader felt his anger climb once more but clamped down on it as he stabbed one of the syringes through the padding on his arm into the flesh beneath. Silently he watched Leia as the syringe filled with red fluid. Pulling it out he quickly healed the small wound with the Force before he injected the contents of the syringe into the datapad. Calling up the DNA program he held out the second syringe to his daughter.
"You don't have to believe me," Vader explained. "The DNA will prove it."
Leia felt the blood drain from her face as she realized that he was serious about the offer. But it couldn't be true, could it? Vader couldn't be her father! He must know, through his Sith Magic, that she had no memory of her father and was now using that against her. This was probably what he had done to Skywalker. She didn't care if he claimed that it was true. What was to stop him from lying? Suddenly, however, another thought came to her. What if the memory of Skywalker pulling her blaster out of her hand wasn't a delusion created by the stun bolt?
Vader lifted his head an inch as he heard the thought. What had Luke done? He'd have to find out later. Now, however, he had to convince Organa of the truth. Seeing that she wasn't going to take the syringe, he stepped forward and inserted it into her arm before she could react.
Leia looked down to see the syringe filling with her life blood and struggled. Vader's grip, however, was too tight and all she could do was watch as he pulled the needle out of her and he injected it into the special datapad. Seeing the buttons he pressed, Leia wanted to run. Something inside of her knew that whatever was going to happen was bad. As the DNA program analyzed the two blood samples and displayed the results she gasped. It couldn't be true! It just couldn't be!
"You... you rigged it," Leia finally stammered as Vader released her and stepped back.
Vader sighed inwardly as he placed the datapad on the table. "Check it if you wish, you will find that it only shows the truth... my daughter." With this, Vader turned around and left the room.
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail Rebecca or me at valeriev84@hotmail.com
