"Tatooine," Luke mumbled to himself as he exited Mos Eisley's spaceport and stepped out into the blinding glare of the two suns.
He had timed things so that the raid on Anchorhead would be at dinner time so that everyone would be in their homes instead of out at work. This way they could be wiped out quickly. However, he and his father had decided that it would be better to take care of the Darklighters before heading for Anchorhead, therefore he had decided to arrive at noon. Looking around, he took in the immediate area before walking out to the lead speeder that stood waiting for them.
His eyes momentarily met Garret's as he got into the speeder before drifting to General Hors who sat next to the lieutenant. Luke didn't need the Force to tell that the general was more than a little angry to have his command taken away for this mission that he didn't understand. Vader had only told him what would need to be done and that Luke was in charge.
Luke suppressed a smile and turned around to see the other transports. They consisted of four specially designed stormtrooper crafts. Each craft could hold an entire squad and consisted of seats for the driver and each trooper. Otherwise there was hardly anything but the repulsors and the engine. The designers had decided to eliminate any excess covering so that the troopers would be able to jump out of the craft quickly and strike, and any doors would only have been in the way of that. Depending on what terrain the craft was used for there could be a roof, but on Tatooine there was no need for one as it never rained.
"Go," Luke barked at the driver of his speeder as he sat down, knowing that the driver had been told where to go.
The trip was made in silence and Luke let his thoughts drift to his life spent on this dust ball. He was, however, careful to keep part of his mind focused on what was happening around him so that he wasn't taken by surprise. After a while, he directed his thoughts towards the Darklighters. Although Biggs' parents had been nice enough considering that he was their son's best friend, they had never tried to prevent the abuse he had suffered at Owen Lars' hands. Indeed they had often looked the other way when the signs had shown.
He could clearly remember playing with Biggs at his house one day when he had slipped and fallen against their speeder. The impact had made the healing wounds on his back come open and they had started to bleed. Beskley Darklighter had simply asked him if he was all right before sending him home. Never had she or her husband made any attempt to stop what they knew was happening. Luke felt furious at the memory and quickly captured as much rage as he could and used it as his father had taught him to.
As soon as they neared Anchorhead, the driver veered left and headed towards the Darklighter residence. They drove for fifteen more minutes before cresting the last sand dune between them and the house.
"Stop," Luke ordered and stood as soon as he speeder stopped.
He took out the macrobinoculars, brought them to his eyes, and scanned the huge residence. The Darklighters were richer and owned more land than any other humans on Tatooine and it clearly showed. The sides of the house were lined with pillars, each of which was hollow and filled with water. The precious liquid glistened in the sunlight for all to see. The fact that the house was above ground and that they could afford to keep the inside at a reasonable temperature showed just what level of wealth they possessed. And yet it was nothing but a grain of sand compared to what Luke had seen on Coruscant.
Luke smiled as he saw no one moving around. Mr. and Mrs. Darklighter would probably be inside eating lunch right now with their daughter Kelly. Luke nearly grunted as he remembered Biggs' pesky little sister who had never left them alone. She had always wanted to tag along with her big brother and play with his friends.
"Looks clear," General Hors stated as he too scanned the area.
"For now," Luke agreed. "The workers will be eating in that outbuilding," he continued as he indicated a building. "Have a squad secure it. Another squad will come with me to the main building. You stay here with the remaining two squads and keep an eye on things. Inform me the moment you notice anything."
"Yes, Sir," General Hors replied as he stood to attention.
Inside however he was seething. What had he done to have his command replaced by this... this courtier boy? And what had Skywalker done to gain the Dark Lord's favor the way he had? Some thoughts came to mind but he quickly shoved them aside as he turned around to give out the necessary orders even as some small part of his brain wondered how this Skywalker could stand the heat dressed in black as he was. He himself was dressed in green and it was all he could do to bear the oppressive temperature.
"Lieutenant, you're with me," Luke said as he got out of the speeder and watched as one squad of stormtrooper made their way as quickly as they could towards the outbuilding.
Luke temporarily ignored the squad that had come to stand near him as he watched the other squad go. As soon as the first squad disappeared into the outbuilding, Luke moved forward, motioning the second squad and Garret to follow. Nearing the house, memories threatened to overwhelm him, but Luke quickly shoved them back. Now was not the time for them. Gripping his anger, he motioned for the stormtroopers to surround the house.
Skywalker reached out, touching the Force to do a quick scan of the house. Picking up only three presences inside it, he smiled.
"Stay out here," Luke ordered as he turned to Garret. "Wait for my signal and then come in with them."
"Are you sure that there's no one else in there but the Darklighters?" Garret asked, a slightly concerned look on his face.
"Yes," Luke reassured him before turning away and nearing the house.
At the pillars, he briefly reached up and brushed his hand against one. Soon it would be no more, as would Anchorhead. Opening one of the doors and entering, Luke felt a tinge of dark pleasure race up his spine. All his life he had stood by and watched as things happened around him, helpless to do anything to either stop or change them. But not anymore. No, now he had not only the power to change things, but he had the power over life and death as well. Smiling, he silently made his way through the sparsely furnished home. He found it hard to believe that not all that long ago he had looked around these rooms in awe, marveling at the things they held. Now they weren't even worth a second glance.
Luke slowed and stopped as he neared the kitchen, listening to the conversation as voices floated through the open doorway.
"What are you saying?" Beskley Darklighter asked.
"That if things keep going the way they are, we'll be able to buy more ground," Raklin Darklighter replied. "Perhaps we'll be able to buy the Lars' former land."
"What happened to them?" Kelly asked. "To Luke, and Mr. and Mrs. Lars?"
"They're dead, Sweetie," Beskley replied.
"How?" Kelly demanded.
"I've already told you," Raklin said. "The stormtroopers killed them."
"Why?"
"I don't know Sweetie," Beskley replied. "No one knows why. But then, the Empire often kills without a good reason."
"That's where you're wrong," Luke stated as he entered the room, smiling as the two grown-ups started and Kelly screamed in surprise.
"Luke!" Raklin finally said after a few minutes of silence, his eyes opening wide as he took in Skywalker's black clothes and the soft blue gems. "You're alive!"
"Indeed," Luke replied sarcastically.
"Where have you been?" Beskley asked. "We all thought you were dead. Last time we heard from Biggs we told him you were dead."
"You have contact with Biggs?" Luke instantly inquired. Perhaps he wouldn't need to interrogate them to get the information he had wanted.
"Perhaps," Raklin said cautiously. "What did you mean when you said we were wrong about the Empire? And why didn't you knock?"
Luke sighed and snapped his fingers, alerting Garret to come in. Raklin was obviously suspicious and wouldn't give him any information until he was sure that he wasn't putting his son into danger and that would take too long. It would be easier to force the information from him or his wife. After all, Luke doubted the Kelly would be trusted with such information.
"I meant exactly what I said," Luke stated as stormtroopers appeared behind him and at the other door to the kitchen. "I want to know how you contact your son, and I want to know now," Luke continued as he saw a look of pure terror cross Beskley's face as she pulled her daughter closer to her. Looking to Raklin, Luke saw realization make its way onto his face and then horrified anger. "Take them," he said, smiling back at Raklin. The stormtroopers rushed in and both Beskley and Kelly screamed.
Raklin shouted an obscenity, and tried to kick at a trooper, but the white armored men had him in binders in only a moment. "Damn you, Skywalker!" He shouted, cursing. "I never should have let my son be your friend!"
"Take them outside." Luke commanded, waving a hand. The troopers began to drag the three Darklighters outside, Skywalker and Garret following. Raklin was cursing, and Beskley kept screaming for her daughter. Kelly just cried.
The front yard was ordered confusion, with the workers being lined up in ordered rows in the hot sand, bound hand and foot. Skywalker looked over the yard, and sent out feelers with the Force to see how everything was going. The troopers were standing tall, but wilting under their white armor. Their standard issue uniforms were not modified for the heat, and the environmental systems were very close to overloading.
"General!" Skywalker snapped.
The man came jogging over, thick streamers of sweat running down his face. "Yes, Sir!"
Luke could feel Raklin Darklighter watching him, but he didn't care. "I want half of the four squads stationed in the house. Be sure all of them get plenty to drink, they're not used to the heat. The remaining squads are to set up a perimeter or start questioning the workers. We've got time before dinner to take a little time here- have the squads rotate. It will get hotter as the day wears on." Biggs' mother, Beskley, screamed in indignation "Our water!", but no one paid any attention.
"Yes, Sir." General Hors swallowed. "What are the workers being questioned for, Sir?"
"The location of Biggs Darklighter- that man's son." Luke pointed. "Tell the workers that they will be allowed inside, out of the sun, if they know anything."
Skywalker walked away from the general as he saluted and turned, screaming orders. Skywalker walked straight up to Raklin, standing well out of the man's reach with Garret still right behind him. "This can either be ugly or quick. Your choice."
Raklin took a deep breath, face purple with rage. "He called to find you. He wanted to come and get you and take you with him. To be a Rebel pilot, with him. Do your new friends know that?"
Luke sighed, shaking his head. "It was your decision." He turned to the side, looking at the crying little girl. "Release her."
"Noooo!" screamed the girl's mother.
A trooper bent down and undid Kelly's bindings as Luke stepped forward. He lifted the girl's head smiling at her crying face. "Kelly." He said. Raklin lunged forward, his bound feet tripping him into the dust.
"Leave her out of this you monster!" he screamed.
"Walk with me Kelly, I need to talk with you." Luke smiled, trying to nudge the little girl's mind with the Force. He didn't have enough training, so he continued talking slow and calm, "I won't hurt you, just walk right over here with me." He took one arm, and pulled the girl forward. Her mother was screaming and wailing, and Raklin's obscenities following. The lieutenant just followed Skywalker, even if he was sweating buckets in the heat.
"Kelly," Luke began, "You remember how me and your brother taught you how to drive a speeder?"
"Uh-huh." The girl hiccupped, swallowing tears and drying them on her sleeve.
"And remember how we took you with us to Beggar's Canyon to watch the races? And to Anchorhead with us?" The girl nodded. "And you had fun, right?" She nodded again. "And remember how you cried when Biggs went away to the Imperial Flight Academy, to be a pilot?"
"Yes." She smiled at Luke, and Luke smiled back.
"But mommy and daddy and Biggs told you to be proud, and not sad, because your brother was going to be a TIE pilot for the Empire and this was a good thing, right? And remember how I was supposed to go with him, but Owen Lars would never let me? And remember how proud of Biggs you were when he graduated? I remember when you and your parents even got to go in a spaceship and see him graduate, right?" She nodded yes. "And your parents were proud, right?"
"Uh-huh."
"Well," Luke sighed, "Biggs ran off from his post. He joined the Rebellion, Kelly. And he hurt people, and broke the law. So he has to go to prison."
"Prison?" Kelly's eyes got wide.
"Yeah. So we need to find him. But your parents want to hide him. And if they do that, they have to go to prison. I don't want them to, but if you hide a criminal, you go to prison. So I want you to go ask your dad to tell us where Biggs is, because otherwise I have to send you and your parents up to the ship, and you'll be taken to prison. Okay? Just ask him real nice. Okay?"
"Okay." Kelly turned and walked back to her parents, and started talking. As she told her dad about all of them going up to the ship, her mother began to cry. Kelly began to plead, scared of her mother's reaction. Raklin just looked from his daughter, to Luke, to his daughter. Then he closed his eyes, looking away.
Luke could feel Garret's eyes on him, Luke could feel him wondering at the sudden coldness in his actions. He sighed. "Lord Vader told me that if I could get them to talk, her death would be painless. She's just a snotty brat, after all."
Luke's eyes swung across the dirt road, the brown buildings stained red with the light of the setting suns. He walked over to the door on the low-hung building that stretched the entire block. He knocked, pounding on the door with one balled fist. If this had been the front door of Fixer's place- the mechanic shop- he would have just walked in. But it was dinner time, and you knocked for Fixer's home. He had decided to try a different tactic with his friends here in town. Maybe he would get a different response. He doubted that they knew anything, but it was worth trying.
He stepped back, waiting. A stray breeze kicked up the edge of his black cape, the blue gems sparkling in the setting suns. They winked along the cape edge, neck, and cuffs; deep blue until the light hit them and they flashed and sparkled like a sunset on the ocean. He smiled an arrogant smile, preparing for the little game he had to play.
The door slowly swung open, and Windy poked his head out. He looked at Luke, puzzled. Then recognition set in, and his eyes got big as he took in the change of the young man's appearance.
"Luke?" He asked.
"That's me." Luke said, imitating someone cocky.
Someone yelled in the back. Windy turned his head and yelled back. "It's Luke!" He turned back to Skywalker. "Ah, come on in."
"What's that stupid little worm want now?" Skywalker could hear Fixer yelling in the next room. Luke frowned, and Windy glanced at Luke's clothes and grimaced. Windy quickly walked through the doorway, and Luke could hear him making shushing noises.
"Huh?" Fixer said, and belched. "Wormie's got some nerve, showing up here. His uncle's farm may have been burnt to the ground, but I ain't gonna help him get on his feet."
Luke stepped into the doorway as Windy loudly whispered, "Fixer, just trust me and shut up." Skywalker looked over the dining room. It was as dingy as the rest of the town, with Camie sitting next to Fixer, Deak across from him and Windy's place on the other side of Fixer. Fixer's back was still to Luke as he took another bite of his dinner.
Skywalker couldn't help himself from grinning in anticipation as Camie and Deak's mouths dropped at his appearance. No one wore black in Anchorhead, which was why Luke had chosen it. Fixer glanced at the two, and turned around fast.
"What in the blazes!" Fixer swore. "Where have you been Wor- Luke?" Fixer caught himself, suddenly realizing that by some miracle Luke must have come into credits in the last month. Fixer may have despised a sand-poor Skywalker for having dreams, but he would respect any man who could wave around some credits.
"Around. Things have been interesting lately." Luke shrugged, enjoying the effect of Fixer's sudden respect. Even if it was shallow. "Hey, have you seen Biggs lately? I've been out of touch."
"No." Fixer said, obviously thinking hard. "You want to sit down? I've got some more food, if you want."
"Nah, ate on the ship. Not hungry." Skywalker was disgusted at the naked greed he could feel in Fixer's mind. "Hey, are you sure Biggs hasn't been around? I really need to get a hold of him."
"Don't think so," Deak said, cutting in, "Haven't seen him since the last time he was here, you saw him then."
"You've got a ship?" Windy asked, eyes wide. He loved flying almost as much as Luke did, even if he wasn't as good.
"Sorta. Belongs to a friend." Luke suddenly smiled. "Wanna see it? I'm sure he wouldn't mind. The shuttle's right outside of town, I could give you a tour." Luke acted like the little boy with the new toy he couldn't wait to show off. He could feel Fixer and the rest become suddenly curious. Fixer eyed Luke's outfit, trying to judge how expensive it was.
"Why not?" Fixer said, privately scheming on how get some credits out of the deal, even if he stole them from Luke. "So," he drawled, "what does your friend do?"
"Oh, little this, little that. Shipping, stuff like that." Luke shrugged. It sounded blatantly illegal, but that wouldn't be a problem on a planet like this one. "I've started helping him out. Gave me a place to live after Owen's farm burnt down."
"Sounds like a nice guy." Fixer said, "Helping you out like that." The big man shifted in his chair, thinking about the pretty rocks that glittered every time the blond boy moved.
"Oh, I think he is. Maybe you'll meet him." Luke glanced at his chrono, letting the golden band catch the light, "Hey, I don't have a lot of time, are you coming or not?" Skywalker could feel the growing greed of Fixer, sensing him signal to Deak behind his back. Luke almost laughed, he wasn't the easy target he had been those few weeks ago. Luke felt tempted to take care of this himself, but signaled his backup anyway, touching the hidden button on his belt.
"I dunno," Fixer said, "I've got some work to do after dinner. Why don't you just stay here and tell us all about it?"
"Yeah, Luke, why don't you?" Deak added.
Windy looked hurt, "Aw, come on guys, I want to see this ship."
"No, Windy," Fixer growled, "We're going to stay right here. And Luke's going to tell us where he got those pretty clothes." Then Fixer balled one hand and began massaging the knuckles with the other, "and he'll find out that he wants to share."
Luke laughed, bending over and pulling out his hidden blaster. He snapped up, shooting Fixer with the stun bolt right in the chest as someone kicked in the back and front doors. Before the remaining three friends could react, stormtroopers had swarmed the building, blasters pointed at Deak, Windy and Camie.
"Hands up!" A trooper yelled, and the three complied. Luke just stood there, a smirk on his face.
Camie was looking at Luke, then at Fixer. Luke decided to cut in before she said anything- "Stun them and take them to interrogation." His voice was very cold.
"Yes, Sir."
Luke was overlooking Anchorhead from a rise to the East as the last of daylight slipped away. Each of the four squads was guarding either the East, West, South or North side of the town so that no one would escape. Garret was still standing behind him, watching his every move. Garret had been particularly revolted at what he had overheard Fixer's nickname was for Skywalker.
Luke wondered if Garret would make a report on his actions today to give to his father. Well, that was okay. It could have gone better, but everything was still on track. He pulled out his surface to ship comlink.
"Captain, your men may fire when ready."
Luke waited, and white laser blasts of energy bolted down from the skies from the gun turrets of the Imperial Star Destroyer above. The firing continued, until nothing was left of the town. Then, a few more blasts rang out, off to the side, wiping out the Darklighter homestead. He had waited till now to 'remove' that little piece of property- no reason to alert Anchorhead to its impending doom. The raid had spooked the residents enough, and several of the squads surrounding the town had been required to pick off people trying to flee before Luke Skywalker had gotten clear.
"Shooting stars, Biggs. Shooting stars." Skywalker whispered as he blinked at the afterimage of the planetary bombardment that hung on the back of his eyelids. The white streaks had perversely reminded him of the shooting stars him and Biggs used to wish on. He turned to Garret. "We'll stay here tonight, have the general set up sweep patrols around that smoking crater. I don't want anyone getting away by hiding in the sand tonight." He cocked his head, "Well, anyone we don't want to escape, anyway."
"Yes, Sir."
General Hors snarled at the orders when he received them at the West outpost even as he turned to obey. Damn kid, what was he doing in charge? They should just send out probe droids and go back to the ship, it was too blazing hot here.
Not that the heat seemed to bother that Skywalker. He had to be a native. People knew him here, and by what he had overheard from the worker's interrogations back at the Darklighter's residence, he had been dirt-poor when he lived here a few weeks ago. Now he was dressed in fancier clothes than a courtier, and strutting under the Dark Lord's favor. Everything he wore must have come from the Sith Lord.
Hors brooded on what the young man must have done for Lord Vader to receive such favor. "What he did, indeed." The general snorted. It must have been something special for a nobody from here to catch the Dark One's eye. General Hors let himself indulge in a particularly nasty idea. Skywalker did seem to spend an inordinate amount of time in Lord Vader's quarters, and, well, no one had ever seen Lord Vader with a women. He laughed at the idea, he couldn't help it.
"Sir?" one of his men asked.
"Nothing trooper, nothing." The general smirked.
Raklin groaned as he woke, feeling pain lance across his chest and down his legs. Suppressing the cry that rose to his lips, Raklin forced his eyes open. Thin shafts of fading light streamed down around him, giving him just enough light to see that he was covered with rubble. Coughing as he inhaled sand and dust, Raklin tried to move his arms. He instantly regretted it as more pain shot through his chest at the movement. Lying back he tried to remember what had happened.
Immediately images of Skywalker flooded his mind. He remembered how Biggs' former best friend had first asked them to reveal Biggs' location and then the more drastic measures he had used. First Skywalker had tried to use Kelly to get to them to talk and, when that hadn't worked, he had ordered the interrogation. Briefly images of Beskley screaming in pain rose to the top of his mind before he violently shoved them aside.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shut out the images of Kelly crying out in terror before being shot. She had looked so fragile as she lay on the sand in a pool of her own scarlet blood. They had killed her first, thinking her death might break him and Beskley. They were wrong. Kelly's death only fueled his determination not to give into their wishes. They had just lost their daughter, they would not lose their son.
Upon seeing that he wouldn't budge, they had started on Beskley. He could still hear her voice in his head. 'Don't tell them Raklin! Don't give in, for Biggs' sake.' She had begged him over and over. Remembering her death, he tried to remember what had happened next. Seeing his wife fall, he had made a foolish attempt to get at Luke, knowing that he was clearly in charge of this whole mess. The last thing he could recall was, somehow, managing to break free of the stormtrooper's grasp on him. Raklin had charged for Skywalker when his chest had exploded in pain at which he had been pulled into velvety darkness.
Slowly, Raklin brought his hand up to his chest as he tried to figure out why he too wasn't dead. Feeling a sticky liquid ooze through his fingers upon contact with his chest, he realized that they must have thought him dead. He must have been shot in the chest and they had left him for dead. But what, then, was the rubble above him? As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Raklin knew.
When the stormtroopers had attacked the Lars' homestead, they had destroyed the entire place. That's probably what the rubble was, pieces of his home. His anger flared even brighter at the thought. Anger and curiosity. It was more than clear to him that the Luke Skywalker he had seen earlier today wasn't the same Luke Skywalker that had played with his son for all those years. When Biggs had last returned he had told them stories of what the Empire did to people. It was his way of explaining his reasons for what he was going to do.
One of those stories was how unwilling young men were taken from their homes and drafted into service. Raklin doubted, however, that that was the only reason for the change in Skywalker. He had literally turned into a monster. Whatever the reason for the change, Skywalker would regret it. There was no way that he'd simply stand by and let the deaths of his wife and daughter go unavenged.
Raklin used his anger and determination to summon what little strength he had left to reach up and push away the rubble covering him. As it shifted, he could feel more pain lance through him, but he didn't hesitate. One of the reasons that had helped him keep quiet during the interrogation was helping him push on now. If he had revealed what he knew to Skywalker he would not only be betraying his son, but the countless other people who risk danger and death on a daily basis to fight the cancer that was spreading itself throughout the galaxy; to fight the Empire. By giving Skywalker and the Empire what they wanted would be to help them to gain the power to continue to do what they were doing to him and his family to millions of other innocents.
Finally clearing himself from the ruins, Raklin lay on his back for a moment as he let his eyes wander over the scene around him. From where he lay, Raklin could see the darkening sky as Tatoo II set beneath the horizon in a brilliant splash of color. He could also see that the blackened rubble and ash around him that was all that remained of his home and life. Looking more carefully, he saw that he was lying in the remains of the outbuilding where the workers normally ate.
He let out a small cry of pain as he sat up and his chest seemed to explode for a second time. Remaining still until the dizziness passed, Raklin slowly moved over to the ruins of his home, straight towards the base of one of the ruined pillars. Looking into it, he was glad to see that there was still some water there. Reaching over he quickly brought some of the precious liquid to his mouth. Once his thirst was satisfied, Raklin splashed the remaining water onto his chest and cleaned his wound as best he could. Seeing the wound and the amount of blood that soaked his clothes, he confirmed his theory that the Imperials had probably thought him dead. Even he was surprised that he had survived.
Raklin rested for a few minutes before forcing himself to his feet. The nearest settlement, other than Anchorhead, was a good way off and he would need all the time he could get to make his way there. Raklin knew he couldn't head towards Anchorhead as he had overheard one of the stormtroopers talking about going there, meaning that he couldn't. Heading in the direction of his nearest neighbor, he hoped that he could make it there before sunrise as he knew that once the suns rose, he was finished.
Thoughts of Tusken Raiders entered his mind, but he cast them aside. There was nothing he could do about the possibility of running across them so he might as well not think about it. Instead he focused his mind on Biggs and the other members of the Alliance. He would not let what had happened here today go unpunished and he was determined to warn Biggs about Skywalker. The boy would not get his son.
Luke walked down the ramp of the shuttle that had brought them back to the Star Destroyer and instantly headed in the direction of the bridge. Night had turned into morning with only two incidents of people trying to escape the ruins that were all that was left of Anchorhead and the stormtroopers had found nothing when they had swept the rubble before leaving.
"Here," Luke said as he reached down and took the hidden comlink from his belt and handed it to Garret as soon as the turbolift doors closed, sealing them off from prying ears.
"Now what?" Garret asked as he took the comlink.
"I'm going to see Lord Vader and then I'm going to see whether Fixer will give any information voluntarily now that the situation has changed," Luke replied. "He may not know anything, but it would save us the trouble of tracking Raklin."
"It would," Garret agreed as he took out a small, datacard-sized, device from his pocket. "He is, however, definitely on the move. At the moment he's at the nearest settlement from his home."
Luke smiled as he took the tracking device from Garret and examined it. "The Destlers. They'll help him and see to his wounds. With any luck he'll lead us right to Biggs and the Alliance. And if not..." Luke lightly ran his finger over the button that would release a small dosage of an extremely deadly poison into Raklin's bloodstream.
Garret nodded his head as he watched Luke. What he had seen today and yesterday proved that Skywalker had adjusted to his rightful place and was able to throw off all that the Rebels and the Jedi had taught him. He would need to write a report on what had happened down on the planet, all officers had to when they went on a mission, but he didn't feel uncomfortable about it. Skywalker had run everything as smoothly as could be desired when considering where he was coming from. Definitely more so than anyone else would have been able to.
As the turbolift stopped, Garret nodded to Luke before getting out. Watching the lieutenant go, Luke suppressed a smile, knowing that it would only draw looks from the other officers which had entered the turbolift. As the turbolift continued on its way, Luke quietly watched out of the corner of his eye as the other officers eyed his clothing shooting looks at one another. Reaching out with the Force, Luke brushed against their minds. Curiosity and surprise radiated from their undefended minds. Luke was tempted to try to see if he could influence their thoughts, but then decided not to, knowing that this was not the time or place to experiment with his powers.
Skywalker exited the turbolift when it stopped on the level he needed and quickly made his way towards the bridge. Stepping through the doors as they opened, he saw the admiral's eyes flicker towards him and then widen. As he walked towards his father, who was standing before the viewport, he could feel the eyes of the other officers turn to him. They were all eager to learn more about this boy who had so recently boarded with their commander.
"Lord Vader," Luke said softly as Vader turned towards him.
"Skywalker," Vader replied, letting his voice drop so that no one else could hear. "How did it go?"
"Good," Luke informed him before he handed over the tracking device. "Anchorhead was destroyed as were all the Darklighters save Raklin. None of them would talk so I used the backup plan and had the tracking beacon placed in him."
"Excellent. Who are the prisoners you brought aboard?"
"Old friends. Figured that it was worth a shot to interrogate them, they might know something," Luke replied.
Vader nodded his head at this, sensing the deeper reason involved as well. His son wanted revenge. Revenge for what they had done to him in the past. Luke could have his fun, no harm could come from it. Although Vader doubted that the Rebel would give his friends such valuable information. He knew the Rebels were stupid, but he didn't underestimate them either. Indeed, Tarkin had done enough of that for the entire Empire.
"I got more information on this Wedge Antilles," Vader said. "Seems his family used to own a fueling station on Corellia, though, his parents and siblings were killed in an explosion several years back."
"So the only way to get him is to capture him," Luke finished.
The first thing Fixer became aware of when he awoke was the cold. He felt like he was freezing to death. Trying to control the chattering of his teeth, he brought his hands to his arms and started rubbing them, desperately trying to warm himself. Looking around as he moved into a sitting position, he saw that he was in a small room, sitting on a metal bunk. Silently he cursed aloud as he wondered where he was. The last thing he remembered was Skywalker shooting him.
Obviously the blaster had been on stun, but that wouldn't help the little worm when Fixer got his hands on him. Why he'd be sorry that he had showed his little hide on Tatooine again! Fixer smiled in anticipation as he thought of his revenge. First he'd beat the worm up and then take his new things from him. After all that was done, he'd make Skywalker tell him exactly how he had gotten all the credits he now possessed.
Fixer was distracted from his thoughts by the cold. Breathing hard he cursed as he could see his breath. He had heard of how on some planets it was so cold that the water in your breath condensed so that it became visible, but he had never seen it before and now he wished he couldn't see it now. Jumping to his feet, he started pacing the small room, trying to get some warmth into his frozen limps. Fixer was so busy concentrating on that single task that he didn't hear the door open.
"Cold?" Luke inquired and smiled as Fixer jumped at his words.
"You!" Fixer declared as he turned around and glared at Luke. "Where am I?"
"On the ship I mentioned earlier," Luke replied, smiling to himself. Fixer had been unconscious before the stormtroopers had entered his home so he still had no idea that he was working with the Empire. "Now, tell me what you know about Biggs' location."
"Just because you've got fancy clothing doesn't mean you can order me around, Wormie," Fixer stated angrily. "You're still a useless farmboy, a nobody. And if you know what's good for you, you'll give me those stones on your clothes and anything else I ask for."
Luke simply lifted an eyebrow at this, an amused smile tugging at his lips. "Make me."
Fixer stood rooted to the spot for a moment, angry amazement filling him as the words sunk in. In the past, Luke had always done his best to avoid any fight, being drastically outmatched. Smiling, Fixer took a step forward, not even thinking about what could have caused the change in Skywalker's attitude. Suddenly he lunged forward, his fist heading straight for younger man's jaw. Just before it made contact it was knocked aside and Fixer found himself lifted off his feet and flying into the wall.
Luke laughed as Fixer lay where he had fallen, stunned. Watching as the mechanic got to his feet, Luke shook his head. The man would never learn. Letting Fixer charge once more, he easily sidestepped the blow and tripped him as he passed. Letting the 'fight' continue for a few more minutes, Luke waited until Fixer didn't immediately rise from where he had fallen.
"This is an Imperial Star Destroyer," Luke stated. "You are now a prisoner of the Empire. You will tell me whatever you know about Darklighter's location and you will tell me now."
"I don't know anything," Fixer finally replied, knowing that if Luke was telling the truth that he didn't stand a chance. There was nothing he could do to stop the Empire.
"We'll see about that," Luke said, his voice sending involuntary shivers down Fixer's spine. "This room is already colder than the rest of the ship. I'll make sure that the temperature drops in here even more. If you do know something, you'll tell us sooner or later."
With this Luke turned around and left the room.
Deak came awake on the hard bunk in the detention cell. "Damn," he whispered, "that was a surprise." He shook his head at the vision of Luke Skywalker dressed in black sneering at them while surrounded by stormtroopers. Deak groaned as he sat up. Everything hurt, it must be the stun blasts.
The door swished open, and Skywalker himself stepped in. He was still wearing that outfit, the blue gems glittering in the harsh light. The blond man glared at Deak, his eyes boring into him.
"Uh, Luke." Deak said, thinking fast. "I'm really sorry about Fixer, I am. But you know how he gets. I was just going with the flow. You know? Protecting my own hide. Uh."
"I know." Luke smiled, but it made Deak feel worse. The smile was very cold. Luke was just soaking up Deak's fear. His father had told him that he could feed off other's fear, but he hadn't really been able to practice, till now. It was giving him a rush. He had power now, and Deak's life was in his hands. "Fixer's doing fine, by the way. Well, for now. I was thinking about having him interrogated. What do you think?"
"Whatever you say." Deak said, letting Fixer fend for himself. Deak knew he didn't know anything anyway, and maybe if he agreed, Skywalker would have him released.
"It's so good to see that you agree with me, Deak. You know, I've been a bad host. Are you thirsty?"
"Uh, yeah!" Deak smiled at Luke, relieved to hear some friendly words.
"Good. I'll go get you some water." Luke turned, and walked out the door that opened at his approach. He turned back to Deak. "You know, some planets have enough water that you can actually drown in it." The door swished shut.
Luke smiled at the door as he signaled the operator at the end of the hall. Inside the cell, a thick stream of water began to pour from the ceiling. It would take a few hours, but Deak wouldn't be able to touch the floor or the bunk. And, like all natives of Tatooine, Deak couldn't swim.
Windy was much the same- he begged a lot more than Deak, but he was more than willing to drop Fixer and follow Luke. Windy kept trying to remind Skywalker of the bond they supposedly shared because they both liked flying. Luke smiled at Windy, and asked if he wanted a tour of the ship. Windy was more than glad to accept, babbling on about how they all wanted to join the Imperial Navy and be pilots.
Luke had him brought out, still with binders on his arms, and led him out of the detention center with an escort of four stormtroopers. "You're still a prisoner, but I'll see what I can do," was Skywalker's comment. Luke led the group straight to the hanger. They walked around the edge of the hanger, looking at ships and equipment. Windy was beaming and telling Skywalker he was the best while Imperial pilots and techs tried not to stare.
Luke signaled the troopers, and they suddenly picked Windy up and tossed him in a plain white room. Massive doors swished shut, and Luke walked over to the intercom. "It's an airlock, Windy. You always did want to fly in space." Luke pushed another button, and the lock cycled.
As Luke turned to return to the detention center, several of the techs and pilots hanging around leapt to their feet and saluted. Luke walked past, ignoring them.
When he got close to the turbolift, he was met by Garret. "Lieutenant."
"Sir." Garret replied.
Luke stepped into the lift, the lieutenant and the stormtroopers following. "Garret, I have a bit of a problem."
"Sir?"
"I'm running out of ideas. I can't think of a suitable way to deal with Camie."
"The girl?"
"Yes. Fixer is freezing to death, Deak is drowning, Windy- well, you saw Windy. Any ideas?"
The turbolift opened, and they walked into the detention center. Garret was thinking, while silently radiating approval. Luke soaked it up as they walked down the dark narrow passage to the cells. The stormtroopers had stopped at the control center, so Luke flicked a switch, opening a com to listen to Deak.
"-on, Luke. Please. Turn it off. Come on." Splashing could be heard as Deak paced his filling cell. "Skywalker please. I didn't mean it. Fixer made me. Please. Please. TURN IT OFF! I can't swim, please!" Garret looked at the door, then at Luke, whose eyes were half closed and dreamy.
"His fear, it's Dark, Garret. I can feel it, swirling."
Garret remembered what Luke had said about Lord Vader on the shuttle, and how the Sith Lord's Darkness swirled. He decided that whatever Luke was experiencing was probably a good thing. "Maybe you should wait until you have an idea for the girl."
"Yeah. I'll just wait here for awhile."
"Lord Vader said that when you are finished, he wants to see you."
"Okay." Skywalker paused. "It's a very good day, Lieutenant. You can go." Garret turned and walked down the corridor, followed by the low sound of someone pleading. The volume wasn't very high, and he couldn't hear a thing by the time he reached the end of the short corridor.
The general was in a foul mood. He had spent all night sweating at the western outpost down on the planet, watching nearly useless patrols around the smoking crater that had been that worthless little town. He had then come back to the ship and had written his report. Quite frankly, he had wanted to nit-pick every little thing that Skywalker had done wrong, but the general wasn't stupid enough to scuttle his career by picking on Lord Vader's favorite. So he had written a neutral report, trying to be as fair as possible, taken a shower, and gone to his post.
The general sat in his office, downing sim-tea and shuffling datawork. Blast regulations, he had been up all night! He should be in bed! The door opened and General Hors looked up at his aide. "Well?" He snapped, "Are the sweat stains going to come out of that uniform or not?" He motioned at the rank uniform hanging over the back of the chair.
Charles picked it up, giving it a critical eye. "I doubt it, Sir."
"Wonderful. Well, order a replacement. Lord Vader ought to pay for it- but he's too busy dressing up that little pet of his. Charles, did you see that outfit that little punk was wearing?" Charles was busy dumping the offending garment down the recycler chute.
"Yes, Sir." The general's aide was used to his CO's outbursts. They usually didn't mean anything, it was just a way for Hors to let off some steam from dealing with the red tape of his command. "Looked quite dramatic. I actually bought a ring with a stone like that for my wife."
"Pricey, aren't they? I bet that outfit of his could buy an entire ship, maybe a cruise liner."
"I wouldn't doubt it."
"So, Charles, what's the rumors on what that man did for Lord Vader anyway?"
"Not much, Sir. Mostly people are assuming he's some courtier's son, and Lord Vader is swapping political favors or something."
"He's not. That young man came from the town we wiped out yesterday. And less than two months ago he was lucky to have two credits to rub together. Makes you wonder what he did, doesn't it? To be Lord Vader's favorite? You know, he's in Lord Vader's quarters a lot, Charles. He's the only one I've ever seen who isn't afraid of the Sith Lord, who actually wants to be anywhere around him. I wonder how close those two really are?" The general had leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful.
"Sir?" Charles managed to squeak, his eyes wide.
"Oh, Charles, don't be dense. Not every world in the galaxy has prohibitions against that sort of thing. And no one knows where Lord Vader came from. What am I supposed to think when he picks up a rather young, handsome, nobody from the back end of nowhere and starts buying him expensive things? Not that I care. And don't look at me like that- Lord Vader hasn't exactly been subtle about it."
"But, Sir. You really shouldn't talk about-"
"You're right. Forget I ever said anything, and never mention it again. I don't need the Dark One's wrath on me." He waived at Charles. "Oh run along, if you want. I'll just stay here and try and stay awake."
"Thank you, Sir."
The general grinned at the door after it closed. Charles wasn't stupid enough to say that he, Hors, had said anything. As his aide, Charles's career was tied to Hors'. But the man was a gossip, and the whole ship would eventually be discussing the extent of Skywalker's relationship with Lord Vader. Then, maybe the entire Navy would pass the tale. Hors almost laughed. He didn't feel guilty, after all, someone would have put it together sooner or later. And it might even be true.
That ought to teach that young punk to keep him up all night.