The Dreamer & The Prize
She was beautiful. Good. Pure. Everything that was the opposite of him. And he had to have her. "Not in this lifetime." Vader looked up from the holo-image in his hand and glared at the accursed Jedi. "Don't you dare enter my mind." "I don't have to," drawled the other casually, his voice more fitting for an aristocrat on a silk couch than a Jedi in chains. "Any fool could read the look on your face whenever you gaze at that thing you stole. It would be disgusting if it weren't so pathetic." Vader lifted the hand that didn't hold the image and the wet darkness of the dungeon walls seemed to glow with the reflection of blue lightning. The Jedi's scream rose in a blood-curling crescendo to the ceiling that no eye could see. Vader lowered his hand and the silence was filled with the echo of screams. "You would do well not to mock me, Jedi." The Jedi hung limply in his chains. "You..." he coughed. "You would do well... not to mock yourself." In the blink of an eye, Vader was beside his tormentor. He yanked the Jedi's head back with one gloved fist, bending it until the Jedi's eyes were staring at the ceiling. The prisoner could feel the muscles in his neck screaming as they stretched to their breaking point and for a second, he almost believed that he had succeeded in his task - he had provoked the Sith into killing him at last. His head snapped forward as Vader let him go. "There'll be no escape for you, Jedi." The Sith's laughter was a mocking song in Kenobi's ears as he slump back into this chains. His laughter stopped abruptly the moment, the dungeon doors shut behind. Lifting the holo-image back to his face, Vader slumped against the doors, and stared with hopeless obsession at the wonderful creature that he knew in his heart, should never belong to a monster like him.
Everything could be bought for a price. Across the dirty table in the corner of the catina, a bag of coins was pushed by a gloved hand. "When will you find her?" Metal-encased fingers grabbed the bag. A pair of amoral eyes glowed as they gazed at the shiny contents. "Give me a week, milord." "A day." The bounty hunter laughed. "They haven't built space vessels that fast..." "I have. A day." Jango Fett looked at the Sith, considering. "Four days. I'll need to call in a favour first and that'll take some time. This woman won't be found unless she's betrayed." He looked into the mad yellow eyes that glared at him and smiled. "No one else would find her faster, I can assure you of that." The Sith kept glaring, considering. Then at last - "Three days. No more. And if you don't bring her to me by then, alive and unharmed, then you'd better go into hiding yourself." Fett watched the darkness swallow up the creature and sipped his drink slowly. A bag of money. A hint of danger. A query that had been missing for years. Almost certainly impossible to trace. The perfect job. He threw back the drink with one gulp and grinned. If Sabe Jankerrie refused to return that favour she owed him, things could become very interesting indeed.
5 Years Ago Her hands were shaking as she tried to slip her key card through the slot. After a few fumbled attempts, she finally dropped it. Sabé glared blearily at the floor. There were three cards by her feet and she wasn't sure which was hers. She bent down to pick one, almost falling over her knees in the process, and her hand scraped the dirty floor. She groaned and the door slid open. She would have fallen in if strong but gentle hands hadn't grabbed her. "Oh Sabé," murmured the kind, but disapproving voice of her roommate, Padmé. "Oh, Padmé," Sabé mimicked in a singsong voice as Padmé led her to their bunk. "You said you were coming out tonight..." she slurred accusingly to Padmé's head where it was bent over Sable’s feet. Padmé didn't look up from her struggles with Sable’s cloth slippers. "I did, then I came back, unlike you." She grunted. "How do you walk in these things anyway?" She yanked off one slipper. "Ow!" yelled Sabé. "Sorry." "You should be," Sabé said, her voice slurring again. "You missed the best ball. Oh the men!" and she fanned herself, remembering Him. Padmé managed to get off the second slipper with less effort. She looked up at her best friend, acutely unimpressed. "Imperial officers are not my style, Sabé." "Oh not just Imperial officers!" Sabé cried. "There were some others... outlanders..." "Really?" asked Padmé, getting to her feet. "Did you meet anyone special?" she added, sarcastically. Her roommate fell in love every other week, and every week during Hunting Season. Sabé fell back on the bed with a sigh. "I met Him." She said. Him. The one that she had been made for. Jango. She sighed again. "That sounds nice," Padmé’s voice said above her head, Padmé still sounding extremely impressed. Sabé didn't blame her. Jango had to be seen to be believed. Not bothering to undress, she snuggled into the bed, content to daydream about him since her roommate clearly was not in the mood for gossip. Padmé carefully tucked the bedclothes around her. The lower bunk was Padmé’s actually, but it would not be the first time she had had to sleep on the top. "Good night, Sabé." Sabé was already asleep, dreaming of Jango's kisses. ***** Today Sabé Jankerrie jerked out of her sleep gasping violently. Her hand waved for the automatic lights and she knocked down the water glass by her bedside. It shattered with the sound of tiny cymbals. "What? Sabé?" her husband said, sleepily beside her. "Nothing," she whispered quickly. "Go back to sleep." She waited until she heard his snores again. She didn't have to wait long. Then she slipped out the bed and walked quickly to her study in the next room. After making sure that the study was completely empty of humans and droids, the opened the secret safe that was hidden behind her father's portrait. She snatched out a small device from inside the cupboard and quickly shut it back. Then she stared at the datapad in her hand as if she could will away its contents. ...I know I can count on you. Fett. He had found her. And he would destroy her unless... she destroyed her best friend. Sabé looked at the study, the plush furnishings, state of the art architecture that had been in her family for generations. Looked at her father's portrait, her husband's, the holo of her children on the desk. Looked at the datapad that was branding her palm. Did she really have a choice? Tears slid down her cheeks as she started typing her reply.
It had been almost 5 years since she had left and in her eyes, Naboo had not changed in the least. It was still as warm, still as beautiful. Padmé kept her hood up as she strolled casually down the streets of Theed. A group of Imperial officers were walking down towards her and she curtsied when she passed them. The young officers doffed their caps to her and she remembered university days with Sabé with a smile. It was Sabé that had brought her out of hiding but even for her dear friend, nothing but the most extreme emergency would have made her return to Naboo. “My little girl… I am afraid. Tenlo must not find out if he is. I always knew what you and your grandmother were. Please help me.” As they had planned, Sabé was waiting for her in the gallery. Padmé spied her tall, statuesque friend in front of the newly commissioned portrait of the District Governor of Naboo. She took a circuitous path round the portrait until she had caught Sabé’s eye. Then she made her way out of the gallery. A few minutes later, Sabé followed. ---- There was a tiny little shop at the corner of the street that had been their favourites as students. It had been a long time since Sabé had been there, but it was a pleasant surprise to realize that it was still as private as she remembered, and they served the most excellent caf. “I can only be gone for a little longer before Tenlo sends someone for me.” Sabé said after the two friends had exchanged greetings. Padmé gave her a look over her cup of caf. Dressed in careworn clothes, her hair in poor girl’s braids, Padmé Naberrie appeared very different from the polished academic that Sabé had last seen in school. On the surface, that is. When she looked at Sabé with those perceptive brown eyes that saw too much, the years fell back and Sabé felt as inadequate next to Padmé as she had for most of her life. Suddenly, Jango’s request didn’t seem so hard. “With Bibble ill, Tenlo is being considered for Deputy Governor,” Sabé retorted. “If the world finds out he has a … a…” “I prefer to call them special,” Padmé said gently. “But your reasons are not my concern. There are difficulties in bringing up those children. Why don’t you get her to a Clinic? Get her treated properly?” “Aren’t you the one that told me that those treatments injured the children? That at best they come out retarded?” Padmé sipped her caf. “I hear the techniques have improved.” Sabé stared at her. “I will not give my child over to those machines.” “Why? Because of your concern as a mother or because you don’t want it to be on record that the Deputy Governor’s daughter is Hyper-chlorian.” Sabé felt her face flush and she resisted the opportunity to pour the scalding caf in her hand into Padmé's face. Calm down, she told herself. It’s not like if you’re arguing on something real. “Maybe both,” she said, raising her chin. Padmé gave her friend one of those piercing looks. There was a little frown between her eyes. “For a moment there, I thought you were going to pour your caf on my head.” Sabé laughed out loud. “Actually into your face. It would do more damage.” A little smile formed on Padmé's lips. “I ask everyone these questions, you know. You need to know what you’re going into. I can’t reduce your child’s midichlorian count. No one can – or should. Your child is not abnormal, just different, and in our world, hhunted. My grandmother and I were not witches, we just try to give these children a chance to live safe lives, under the radar of Imperial observation.” “I understand,” Sabé said quickly. Padmé’s smiled disappeared and she gave Sabé one of those looks again. “Is there something you’re not telling me, Sabé?” Sabé spilt the caf she had started lifting to her lips. “No! I mean… what do you mean?” “I feel like if you’re keeping something for me.” Sabé laughed nervously. “Oh, are you going to tell me that you were a special child once?” It was Padmé’s turn to laugh. “I think you’d have realized that all these years. Besides, someone like me could never have been special. Anyway I don’t need to be … I know you, Sabé. What’s wrong?” “Other than my husband’s political career and my child’s mental health being scales on a balance?” Sabé tried a sarcastic smile. A brittle, Imperial wife smirk. “Nothing at all.” Padmé nodded slowly. Sabé spoke quickly. “This evening, Tenlo will be leaving for a dinner. I won’t be going along. I’ll feign illness or something. How long do you need?” “An hour every day for five days.” “That can be arranged. Where do we meet?” “My old place in the lower town.” “Is it safe? Are people there keeping it for you?” “It’s for sale. The cleaning droids come in once a week. I’ll be gone before they return.” “How do you know this? Does someone keep tabs on it for you?” “I pretended to be a buyer and checked the records on the HoloFeed,” Padmé said slowly; that suspicious look was returning to her gaze. “So,” Sabé said quickly, “Chare and I will come there. Should we bring anything?” “Bring her, and something of hers that she’s fond of – a toy, a blanket, anything that she’s emotionally invested in.” Sabé nodded quickly. She drained the last dregs of her caf. “Fine. We’ll be there. I have to go now.” She got up. Then hesitated. “It was nice seeing you again, Padmé. Despite the circumstances.” She hurried off out of the caf shop and into the street. In a few seconds, she disappeared into the crowd. Padmé was left behind to settle the bill with credits. Of course, it would not do for it to be on record that the wife of the Deputy-Governor-elect had been in this place at this time. Padmé sat sipping her caf, and wondered at how much could have changed in five years.
His tools made quick work of the obstacles they had placed in his way in the name of security – doors, windows, and droids – protocol and astromechs. Jango slipped into the abandoned apartment as easily as a shadow. It was a nice little place, as fitting the student that had last owned it, but Jango was not interested in the quaint furnishings and art. His weapons drawn, he slipped from room to room, searching for his prey. Within a few seconds, he knew he had been fooled. There was no sign that anyone sentient had lived here in the past few years. He was almost smiling when he took out his COM link. A big part of him would have been very disappointed to have found his query so easily. Surely, an elusive prize like a Guardian deserved a more fitting hunt. ----- You betrayed me, Sabé, Padmé thought sadly as she sat sipping caf in the small shop she and Sabé had been regular patrons of… oh so long ago. The shop where her best friend had lied through her teeth as she set an elaborate trap for Padmé. What made you do it? Something to do with Telon, I’m sure. That much of your story was true. But I bet a Jewel of Zenda that none of your children are Hyper-chlorian. She checked the datapad readout that rested beside her caf. Her old astromech droid sent another text update on the situation in the apartment. The intruder was leaving. Then the screen blurred and resolved itself into the picture of her unwanted visitor – a sturdy helmet, with a uniform almost made entirely of armour. Padmé felt her heart skip a beat. This was no Theed police investigator or even an Imperial officer. This was no more or less than a bounty hunter. Calm down! She almost shouted in her mind as she fought the urge to bolt out of the caf and run, run and keep running until she reached the nearest spaceport. It was only an hour’s hard running. She could make it. You missed the danger and you’re safe now, her rational voice insisted. Don’t draw attention to yourself. Oh Sabé, what have you done? “Refill, ma’am?” Padmé muffled a scream as she spilt hot caf over her hands. The waitress droid made a solicitous sound as she mopped up the mess. A few of the other patrons – mostly students from the University – raised their heads to look at the commotion. Padmé cursed inwardly and bent her head low in her hood. “Refill, ma’am?” It asked again. “Yes, please,” Padmé whispered. She couldn’t leave anytime soon. She had attracted too much attention to herself. She could still feel interested eyes on her when the droid left. And her hands were shaking so badly when she tried another sip that she spilt caf again. It was almost a half hour before she finally left. She walked quickly down the street, resisting the urge to look over her shoulder and behave suspiciously. Oh Sabé, is this what our years together have come down to? What trouble you must be in to betray me like this? The urge to weep was strong but Padmé controlled it. Sabé had been all she had left. She had only a very young child’s memory of her big sister, Sola and none whatsoever of her parents. And then Winama had… had… Someone ran into her side and she screamed. “Sorry!” yelled the small child, picking himself up and resuming his race. His mates followed at his heels, pushing and apologising to Padmé as they ran past her. She felt besieged by the swarm of children and she struggled to the nearby wall to avoid them. Calm down! She glanced at the holo sign above her. She was only ten minutes walk from the spaceport. Only ten minutes from safety. The last child ran past. She pushed herself from the wall and pulled herself together. Carefully adjusting her hood, she took two steps forward. The hand like closed on her shoulder and the needle entered her neck before she could even feel pain. “Guardian Naberrie. What a pleasure,” whispered the voice of her captor as she slipped into forced unconsciousness. ----- Coruscant “Have my fee ready.” “You have her? You have her?” “I’ve never lost a query yet, my Lord.” “Curb your arrogance, bounty hunter. You will be well paid. If what you say is true.” Vader switched off the COM link then clenched his fists, his whole body, as pure, sheer joy coursed through his veins. He took out the holo that was always on his person now and gazed at it with burning intensity. Mine.
The holo image flickered then spluttered to life. The blue image was a meter high with startling clarity. One could almost read the expression on the old man’s face. And as always, when that face gazed on Vader, it was an eerily paternal mixture of affection and severity. Sweeping his cloak to his side, Vader went on one knee with a flourish. “Master,” he said reverently. “Lord Vader,” Emperor Palpatine a.k.a. Lord Sidious replied sternly. “How goes your interrogation of the Jedi?” “He has provided information on the whereabouts of certain covens in Dantooine, Hoth and Endor.” “Provided?” asked the Emperor with a small smile. Vader returned the smile. “The Jedi is quite obstinate. It has been entertaining persuading him. Unfortunately, his persuasion took longer than it might have favoured us. The Hands have investigated these leads with only relative success. The Jedi seemed forewarned of their arrival. The Hands met abandoned settlements in all but Hoth and there, after much resistance, they succeeded in capturing a young Jedi humanoid.” “And has that one been able to provide information?” “She’s less obstinate than Kenobi and even less informed. I have placed her in stasis for you to decide what to do with her.” “What do you suggest, Lord Vader?” Vader paused. “She is young, not skilled in combat but I suspect her talents are more medicinal. She would make a good addition to the Hands.” “Look at me, Lord Vader.” Vader raised his chin. There was a long silence as the two Sith stared into each other’s eyes. Vader could feel his Master cutting a fiery path through his mind and he braced himself, allowing it. It was mild torture compared to some other experiences he had gone through in his long apprenticeship. And it was torture that some of the Hands would have killed to have inflicted on them. The Emperor broke the stare first, looking away from his apprentice with a dismissive sneer. “At times like this, I cannot decide whether it is gullibility or sheer idiocy that motivates you, “ the Emperor roared. “Perhaps it is both.” “Forgive me if I have offended you, my Master.” “Ferus Olin would not have hesitated to kill that Jedi the moment she proved useless. I’m certain he would have been more persuasive with Jedi Kenobi as well.” Vader could feel his hackles rise at the mention of his rival’s name. “Olin is a spiteful child,” he said flatly. “He would have killed Kenobi in frustration and we would have got nothing from a valuable lead. Forgive me, Master, for thinking that the idea of preserving a potential resource is superior to venting a malicious and purposeless rage.” “You forget your place, Lord Vader.” “I remember my place.” Vader’s voice was respectful but forceful and even though his head was still bowed, every line of his body shouted pride. “I am a Sith Lord. I am the only apprentice of Sith Master Sidious. His only heir. I will not stand to be compared to a lesser Hand, not even by Lord Sidious himself.” Dark energy hit Vader’s mind with such a fury that it would have broken a lesser being. Instead, he had anticipated it and he let his own fury fly free, catching the other’s in a lock hold that was almost as destructive as an unchecked blast. The next few seconds seemed like an eternity as the two wills battled for dominion in Vader’s mind. Yield! Never! And just when Vader felt that he was going to die in the attempt to withstand his Master’s rage, the Emperor let go. The Emperor had the laugh of a witch's cackles. “Your powers are great, my apprentice. Your arrogance is not unfounded.” Vader gasped as he struggled to compose himself. His head felt like if it was on fire. “Indeed you are a true Sith. But you cripple your own strength. Let go of your compassion. Let go of human affection. Let your hatred and rage dominate and destroy them. Then will you be more powerful than your Master.” “I… I thought… I already was,” Vader managed between coughs. The Emperor’s cackles were sinister echoes through the holo-feed. “You still have much to learn, my young Apprentice.” And with that cryptic note, the transmission ended. A lesser Hand would have collapsed on all fours then, taking advantage of the sudden privacy to indulge in some respite from the incredible torture. Vader was no Hand. He got to his feet, acutely feeling the weight of his body on his aching joints, and he savoured the pain, channelled it to that dark centre from where he fuelled his rage. Then he strolled out of the transmission room, his cloak sweeping behind him. Very soon, my Master, I will show you that there are no more lessons to learn. Very soon.