Saga - Legends Veil of Shadows (Luke/Mara, Leia, Vader, OT AU, angst, romance) - Completed - Author Update 10/2

Title: Veil of Shadows
Author: ViariSkywalker
Timeframe: OT
Characters: Luke, Mara, Leia, Vader, Palpatine & more
Genre: AU, angst, romance
Summary: A strange tale where the good guys are bad, the Empire has won, and a Sith adept pursues the girl of his nightmares.

Notes 1: This is my response to the SJRS Wordless Romance challenge. The challenge rules stipulate that you must: 1) Begin your story with the sentence "There were fifteen minutes left." 2) Write a story that portrays "romance" without "mush". Luke and Mara may not touch. Find a way for one or both of them to express love without the use of the words "I love you". Be creative! 3) Feel free to use any era, canon or AU, that you wish. 4) Put "SRJS Wordless Romance Challenge" somewhere in the A/N so the story may be indexed.

Notes 2: This will be a multi-post story, so stick around and enjoy the ride!

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars, and no profit is being made. Peace, George!

A huge thanks to my two lovely betas, Gabri_Jade and Bri_Windstar, for their help and support. You guys are the best! Also, thank you to leia_naberrie for inspiring the format and feel of this fic.


~~

Veil of Shadows


1. Scintillate


There were fifteen minutes left. Luke tore his eyes from the chrono and growled a few choice words under his breath.

“What could possibly be taking so long?” he snapped, glancing at the young brunette sitting in the corner.

“Stop whining,” she replied lazily, examining her fingernails.

“Why are we even here? We obviously weren’t needed.”

The girl let out a little sigh. “You’re unusually anxious today.” She looked up at him in a detached manner, as though she were inspecting an insect that had to be crushed.

Luke glared at her and began to pace back and forth across the antechamber. His companion’s brown eyes flashed victoriously.

“So the Emperor’s little Hand is leaving after all?”

Luke stopped and took several angry breaths. “That has nothing to do with this, Leia, and you know it.”

She shrugged and resumed the careful study of her nails. “Either way, you’re pathetic.”

The young man closed his eyes, but all he could see was her. He tried to tear the image from his mind, not because he wanted to, but because the longer he kept it there, the more likely it was that Leia would pick up on the true depth of his yearning. The last thing he needed was for her to jeopardize his tenuous position with the Sith Lords.

The door to the conference room opened, and Darth Vader stepped through, his nightmarish mask aimed in Luke’s direction. Luke tried to dampen his emotions, but he had the sinking feeling it was too late. Across the room, Leia smiled with dark satisfaction.

Vader looked from Luke to Leia. Without a word, he started walking to the far door. Luke and Leia exchanged a curious glance before quickly falling into step behind the Sith.

Luke checked his chrono and gritted his teeth. Ten minutes. Didn’t anyone understand how important his time was? If he didn’t get back to the palace before those ten minutes were up…

No. I have to see her again.

He blinked twice and focused on the hem of Vader’s cloak as they reached the landing pad where their shuttle awaited. The Sith Lord was subtly probing his mind, trying to follow the path of Luke’s previous emotions to their source, but Luke could feel him, and he responded forcefully to Vader’s intrusion.

You don’t ever get to touch my thoughts, old man.

As they climbed the ramp, Vader paused and glanced over his shoulder. The steady hiss of his respirator seemed to drown out the noise of traffic as he stared down at Luke. Then he turned away.

Six minutes left.

~~


He dreamed about her every night.

She stood in front of a tall window at the end of a dimly lit corridor, her slender body wrapped in a shimmering white ball gown. Her red hair fell in loose ringlets across her shoulders and down her bare back, drawing his eyes to the smooth curve of her spine. It made him remember how badly he has wanted to touch her, from the moment he first saw her. The sight of her was like a stab in the gut, sending white hot tendrils of pain lancing through his body. He had to have her.

Now.

She looked at him over her right shoulder and extended her hand. As he reached for it, his skin erupted in flames, scorching his nerves as he opened his mouth to scream. She pulled away in horror, watching as the flames poured from his mouth. He stumbled toward her, unable to speak through that fire that was consuming his tongue.

She lifted the skirt of her gown, revealing her right leg and a small sheath from which she extracted a vibroblade. The weapon’s electric glow cast a faint light across her face, adding an unnatural spark to her green eyes. Before he could react, she let out a war cry and plunged the blade into his heart.

He tried to remove the blade, but it only sank deeper into his chest. As he fell to his knees at her feet, he grabbed the virgin fabric of her dress, leaving smears of blood where his fingers touched. She yanked the cloth from his hands and lifted her left hand to the ceiling. Something slapped into her open palm – he couldn’t see what. The fire was burning out his eyes, blinding him with heat, with rage, with lust.

He collapsed on the ground and felt something cool touch his forehead. Raising his eyes, he saw the faint outline of a blaster in her hands. He groaned and grasped desperately at the air, trying to touch her.

Every night she fired, and then he woke up.

~~


“You’re too late.”

Luke didn’t look behind him. His eyes were locked on the distant pinprick of silver that was her ship. Rage shot through him, rage like that of a cornered beast staring down its tormentor. He spun around, ready to lash out.

The red beam of Leia’s lightsaber sizzled to life a centimeter from his chin. Startled, Luke stumbled backward, igniting his own weapon.

“Unwise, young learner,” she mocked. “You disappoint me.” She flourished her saber before deactivating it and clipping it to her belt.

“I hate you.”

Her lips twisted in a smirk. “Good. You’ll never become Lord Vader’s apprentice otherwise.” She spun on her heel and walked away.

Luke shut down his weapon and watched her stride purposefully down the hall. “I’m the best choice by far,” he called after her, “and the Emperor knows it.”

“Only Vader’s opinion matters,” she replied without looking back.

He folded his arms tight across his chest and snarled, studying Leia’s steps. Who did she think she was? He was the chosen apprentice. Not Horn or Katarn or anyone else. And definitely not this spoiled one-time princess.

I hate you, his mind whispered.

I know, she whispered back.

~~

 

Wow Intense! I like how you have characterized dark Luke and Leia's character is simply chilling. If you are keeping a PM list, I would appreciate being added.

 

Some of the prettiest writing I've ever seen, Vi. I'm utterly enchanted by Luke and Leia's relationship here, as well as Luke's fascination with Mara. (And his need to impress Vader mixed with such defiance.) The imagery of Luke's dream is just gorgeous, and the whole setting of the fic is something I've never seen before. It's quite mesmerizing. Lovely job, my dear.

 

Woah dark Luke and Leia is not something you see often and yours seem to be quite the spitfires... And Luke is in love with the woman of his nightmares??? Definitely interesting. I will be keeping an eye on this one.

 

Honestly, I can't put it better than Gabri did here, so I'm just quoting her review. This is wicked cool...

 

This is off to a good start! I'm fascinated by the twins' relationship - the hostile affection for want of a better description.


?I hate you.?

Her lips twisted in a smirk. ?Good. You?ll never become Lord Vader?s apprentice otherwise.? She spun on her heel and walked away.

So Leia wants Luke to become Vader's apprentice, right?


Mara a.k.a. the girl of Luke's nightmares doesn't have a single line of dialogue in this chapter and yet her presence is strongly felt.

I'm also interested in Vader's relationship with his children & the whole topsy-turvy world.

Please put me on the PM list for this one.

 

Jedi_Emeritus - Wow Intense! I like how you have characterized dark Luke and Leia's character is simply chilling.

--Glad you liked it!

If you are keeping a PM list, I would appreciate being added.

--You are added!

Gabri - Some of the prettiest writing I've ever seen, Vi.

--Oh, stop it, you! You know I'd be lost without my betas!

I'm utterly enchanted by Luke and Leia's relationship here, as well as Luke's fascination with Mara. (And his need to impress Vader mixed with such defiance.) The imagery of Luke's dream is just gorgeous, and the whole setting of the fic is something I've never seen before. It's quite mesmerizing.

--I've seen Luke and Leia dislike or hate each other, but I wanted to explore it from a somewhat different angle. I'm so glad you find it fascinating. Actually, I find it pretty fascinating myself. Luke and Leia are just writing themselves lately. I'm having fun with this different Luke/Vader dynamic.

And I so loved writing that dream.

Lovely job, my dear.

--Thanks, Gabri!

Jaina_and_Jag - Woah dark Luke and Leia is not something you see often and yours seem to be quite the spitfires... And Luke is in love with the woman of his nightmares??? Definitely interesting.

--I think I get a twisted sort of delight out of writing them that way.

I will be keeping an eye on this one.

--Great! Hope you enjoy the ride!

Rigil_Kent - Honestly, I can't put it better than Gabri did here, so I'm just quoting her review. This is wicked cool...

--Aw, thank you! I'm very glad you like it, and I hope you'll stick around!

leia_naberrie - This is off to a good start! I'm fascinated by the twins' relationship - the hostile affection for want of a better description.

--Hey! I'm glad you're liking it so far. Hostile affection is a great description for them, even if they might insist that they loathe one another.

So Leia wants Luke to become Vader's apprentice, right?

-- Hmm, I'd say it's more of a challenge. They both want it, and Leia likes to be pushed. She doesn't want her rival to be a wimp.

Mara a.k.a. the girl of Luke's nightmares doesn't have a single line of dialogue in this chapter and yet her presence is strongly felt.

--I'm relieved to hear that. That's the effect I was going for.

I'm also interested in Vader's relationship with his children & the whole topsy-turvy world.

--It's going to get interesting.

Please put me on the PM list for this one.

--Done!


To All Readers: I will be updating every other day, as long as my schedule permits. Right now I'm in my last two weeks of classes, and then I have exams. Please have patience if I do happen to drop off the face of the earth for an additional day or two.

Without further ado, I give you the next chapter!

 

~~

2. Reflection


“Something is troubling you, my son.”

Luke lifted his head to meet the Emperor’s gaze. Yellow eyes peered back at him from beneath a black cowl. Luke wondered if he had been born with those eyes or if they were a gift from the dark side. As much as he wanted to become Darth Vader’s Sith apprentice, he did not relish the thought of having those burning yellow eyes.

“It’s nothing, master. I haven’t been sleeping well.”

The Emperor’s lips twisted into a grimace that might once have been a smile. “Why not?”

Luke wondered how much he should tell the old man. It was nearly impossible to lie to him. “I have these dreams.” Already he could feel the hypnotic pull that always preceded his master’s intrusion. If he didn’t yield enough, the Emperor would break him.

“What do you dream of, young Starkiller?”

Luke swallowed the moisture in his throat. “Burning.”

He half expected the Emperor to laugh and reassure him that dreams were nonsense, but the Sith just stared at him curiously. And then he asked a strange question.

“Do you burn to death?”

Luke shook his head. “No, master. I just burn.”

The Emperor leaned back in his throne. “There is something else on your mind. Tell me.”

“Master, I think you should get rid of Lord Vader.”

Few beings, he knew, had the ability to truly surprise the Emperor. Luke had the feeling he’d just joined their ranks.

“Why would I want to do that? Lord Vader is far more powerful than anyone else who might replace him.”

“I could become even more powerful.”

“Yes,” the Emperor murmured thoughtfully. “I believe you could.”

Luke felt his heart beat faster at the Emperor’s words. He struggled to maintain an air of seriousness. “I could, my lord, if—”

“Not yet,” the Sith interrupted. “You have skill and ambition, but you severely lack experience. Prove your loyalty and your worth, and perhaps one day you will stand at my side.”

Luke bowed his head. “Yes, my lord.”

“Now go. I expect you and the others to be present tonight.”

“As you wish.”

~~


The Emperor was known to hold formal gatherings at the palace every now and then, inviting his moffs, governors, generals – basically the biggest boot-lickers in the Empire. Luke hated such occasions. Most of the other adepts shared his opinion.

“Hey, Starkiller!”

Luke cocked his head to the side, following the sound of Katarn’s voice. He was pulling two drinks off of a serving droid’s tray and heading in Luke’s direction.

Great.

Katarn stepped over to Luke’s side and handed him one of the drinks. “As much as I loathe the old man, you gotta admit he throws a good party.”

Luke took a small sip and made no attempt to hide his distaste. “You’re acting like one of his pathetic servants. You’re a chosen adept. Have some pride.”

Katarn smirked and took a loud gulp from his glass. “Listen, runt, I didn’t come over here to listen to a lecture. If I wanted that I could have talked to Horn.” He gestured with his free hand, indicating a sullen-looking boy on the other side of the room.

Luke rolled his eyes toward the ceiling and shook his head. “I’m not a runt,” he muttered more to himself than to his companion. He smiled despite himself.

Katarn finished off his drink and set the glass on a passing tray. “You’re right, if anyone’s the runt, it’s Horn. You’d never know it by the way he talks, though. Bossiest little—”

“Excuse me,” Luke interrupted, pushing through the crowd of evening gowns and formal attire to reach the flash of red hair he’d just seen leaving the ballroom. He stepped out into a wide corridor where a few couples were quietly flirting. Luke darted past them, reaching out with senses beyond sight, beyond hearing.

There. A single beating heart, moving out into the gardens. He approached the open doors, feeling the cool night air rush across his skin. She was standing next to a fountain, her back to him. Red hair, darker than he remembered, was elegantly braided and coiled on top of her head. She wore a green dress that hugged her body before flowing away at the knee, flowing like the water she was moving with her fingers. He watched the ripples float away and disappear.

Luke approached her slowly, and when he was within a few meters he realized her fingers weren’t touching the water at all. She turned on him, her green eyes curious and a bit amused.

She was exquisite, to be sure, but she wasn’t the one he sought.

Her features were similar, but there was something sharper about her appearance, something that made him feel like she was a predator and he was her prey. Luke put on his most gracious smile and extended his right arm. “I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure.”

“We haven’t.” She placed a smooth hand in his and allowed him to press his lips to it. “Lady Rasia.”

“Luke Starkiller.” He released her hand and pretended not to notice the circles she’d been making in the water. “You must be married to someone very important to be a guest tonight.”

“Not married, no. My father is a colonel.” Her eyes were unusually calm as she stared back at him. Usually the women he talked to showed signs of fear. Then again, none of them had been Force-users. He doubted her father was a colonel.

“Ah, there you are! Lady Rasia!”

Luke spun around as a short, blond-haired man in a captain’s uniform came strolling into the garden. He held two drinks in his hands.

Lady Rasia smiled politely at Luke and swept past him to join the captain. “You brought my drink! How wonderful of you.” She glanced at Luke one last time before leaving with her companion.

Now alone, he went to the edge of the fountain and stared down at the clear pool of water. The person looking back at him had shaggy, dark blond hair and blue eyes that showed signs of fatigue. “Who are you?” he whispered to the reflection, not sure why he had asked that question.

“Luke Starkiller, one of the chosen adepts.”

Luke put his hands on the fountain’s edge and tried hard not to dig his nails into the stone. “Come to torment me, Organa?”

“My, my, so formal tonight.” Leia’s reflection appeared in the water next to his. Brown eyes met blue. “You’re still upset about the Emperor’s Hand?”

“Why would I care what happens to any of those weaklings?”

“But she’s not just any weakling, Luke, and you know that.”

“Do I?” He turned away from the fountain and studied her face. She glanced at him sidelong, continuing to focus her attention on the cascading water.

“If you want her so badly, why don’t you go after her?”

Luke leaned one elbow against the stone and pressed his thumbs together. Why didn’t he? Because he wasn’t even supposed to know who she was? Because he wasn’t allowed to leave the palace without expressed permission?

Leia smiled knowingly. “I see. You’re afraid of what the Sith will do if they find out.”

“I’m not afraid,” he insisted steadily.

She looked up at him, and this time there was something almost sad in her expression. “You will be.”

Luke felt a chill across his nerves as Leia turned and walked away. He was about to shout after her, to say something just so she would stay and explain what she meant, but she beat him to it.

Korriban. That’s where she’s gone.

He watched dumbfounded as Leia disappeared into the palace.

~~

 

Cool! Still enjoying the heck out of this one...

 

Woah. Luke is the bold one. Telling the Emperor that Vader needs to be taken out and such... hopefully he doesn't come to regret those words.

 

So there are adepts, and there are Hands. No mention of the Jedi so far.

Starkiller!

*fangirls you for life*!!!!

As the twins are bearing different name, I'm guessing they don't know they are siblings?

I don't trust Leia's sudden offering up of information.

Is Lady Rasia supposed to be Brie, the woman that became a Dark Lady later on?

 

I like this very much. A dark luke and Leia! and they are very much I would picture them. with a little bit of their father mixed in.

Does Vader know they are his?

 

You know I'd be lost without my betas!

Pfft. I know that I've rarely done so little work as a beta.

Already he could feel the hypnotic pull that always preceded his master?s intrusion. If he didn?t yield enough, the Emperor would break him.

Interesting contrast, that Luke evicts Vader from his mind but doesn't dare try even to hide anything from Palpatine. And I like how he doesn't want the yellow eyes even if he does want to be a Sith. (We need a yellow-eyed Sith smiley instead of the one. )

?What do you dream of, young Starkiller??

Luke swallowed the moisture in his throat. ?Burning.?

He half expected the Emperor to laugh and reassure him that dreams were nonsense, but the Sith just stared at him curiously.

Fascinating. Does Palpatine know this is Anakin's son? Or is dreaming of burning an ordinary thing among Sith? Or does it portend something else entirely?

I also love Luke's gall in suggesting that Palpatine replace Vader with him. Fortune favors the bold, huh?

Katarn stepped over to Luke?s side and handed him one of the drinks. ?As much as I loathe the old man, you gotta admit he throws a good party.?

Luke took a small sip and made no attempt to hide his distaste. ?You?re acting like one of his pathetic servants. You?re a chosen adept. Have some pride.?

Katarn smirked and took a loud gulp from his glass. ?Listen, runt, I didn?t come over here to listen to a lecture. If I wanted that I could have talked to Horn.? He gestured with his free hand, indicating a sullen-looking boy on the other side of the room.

Luke rolled his eyes toward the ceiling and shook his head. ?I?m not a runt,? he muttered more to himself than to his companion. He smiled despite himself.

Katarn finished off his drink and set the glass on a passing tray. ?You?re right, if anyone?s the runt, it?s Horn. You?d never know it by the way he talks, though. Bossiest little??

I love this section. Katarn has a fantastic voice here, and both Luke's contempt for him and the contempt of both of them for Corran just cracks me up. And I am quite interested by Lady Rasia.

Now alone, he went to the edge of the fountain and stared down at the clear pool of water. The person looking back at him had shaggy, dark blond hair and blue eyes that showed signs of fatigue. ?Who are you?? he whispered to the reflection, not sure why he had asked that question.

?Luke Starkiller, one of the chosen adepts.?

Luke put his hands on the fountain?s edge and tried hard not to dig his nails into the stone. ?Come to torment me, Organa??

?My, my, so formal tonight.? Leia?s reflection appeared in the water next to his. Brown eyes met blue. ?You?re still upset about the Emperor?s Hand??

?Why would I care what happens to any of those weaklings??

?But she?s not just any weakling, Luke, and you know that.?

Luke and Leia continue to intrigue. As does one of Leia's lines - why would Leia set Mara apart from the other Hands? Because she senses that Luke's fascinated with her? But if that were the case, she wouldn't imply that Luke also realizes that Mara's special. So what is going on with Mara, that she catches the eye of both Luke and Leia?

Write faster, girl.

 

Rigil_Kent - Cool! Still enjoying the heck out of this one...

--Glad to hear it!

Jaina_and_Jag - Woah. Luke is the bold one. Telling the Emperor that Vader needs to be taken out and such... hopefully he doesn't come to regret those words.

--Indeed. He may not know what he's getting into...

leia_naberrie - So there are adepts, and there are Hands. No mention of the Jedi so far.

--Hmm, now isn't that interesting?

Starkiller!

*fangirls you for life*!!!!

-- After I started writing this I found out that in The Force Unleashed the last name of Vader's secret apprentice is going to be Starkiller. Talk about coincidences.

As the twins are bearing different name, I'm guessing they don't know they are siblings?

--Nope!

I don't trust Leia's sudden offering up of information.

--Oh, but why not? It's not as if she's vying for Sithdom and wants to mislead her rival.

Is Lady Rasia supposed to be Brie, the woman that became a Dark Lady later on?

--Now that is a good question.

Anakins_Kiss - I like this very much. A dark luke and Leia! and they are very much I would picture them. with a little bit of their father mixed in.

--Thanks for reading! I'm happy to hear you're enjoying to so far!

Does Vader know they are his?

--Nope.

Gabri - Pfft. I know that I've rarely done so little work as a beta.

--Well, the support definitely helps. And talking to you and Bri somehow gets my creative juices flowing, so that has to count for something!

Interesting contrast, that Luke evicts Vader from his mind but doesn't dare try even to hide anything from Palpatine. And I like how he doesn't want the yellow eyes even if he does want to be a Sith. (We need a yellow-eyed Sith smiley instead of the one. )

--It's hard to hide anything from Palpatine. And no matter how skilled Vader is, I just don't think he can break someone's mind the way the Emperor can. *shudders*

And we so need a Sith-eyes smiley.

Fascinating. Does Palpatine know this is Anakin's son? Or is dreaming of burning an ordinary thing among Sith? Or does it portend something else entirely?

--Hmm...sounds like you're on to something there. (And I won't tell you what. )

I also love Luke's gall in suggesting that Palpatine replace Vader with him. Fortune favors the bold, huh?

--I can just see ESB Yoda eyeballing Luke: "You are reckless!"

I love this section. Katarn has a fantastic voice here, and both Luke's contempt for him and the contempt of both of them for Corran just cracks me up. And I am quite interested by Lady Rasia.

--I had fun writing that section. It was interesting shifting the dynamic of the EU Jedi Masters to an AU setting where they are younger and dark side. According to Wook, Kyle Katarn is about three years older than Luke, but Luke's the one with the raw power. And then there's Corran. Makes for an interesting relationship between the adepts.

Luke and Leia continue to intrigue. As does one of Leia's lines - why would Leia set Mara apart from the other Hands? Because she senses that Luke's fascinated with her? But if that were the case, she wouldn't imply that Luke also realizes that Mara's special. So what is going on with Mara, that she catches the eye of both Luke and Leia?

--Or maybe Luke and Leia have different reasons for realizing that Mara is special, and in her usual cryptic manner, Leia is hinting at something that Luke isn't actually aware of?

Write faster, girl.

--*salutes* Yes, ma'am!


Next post coming up!

 

~~

3. The Nature of Demons


Tonight the dream was different.

She was still wearing the white gown, but this time she was in a desert, trying to climb a massive dune. He raced after her, calling for her to slow down. He reached the top of the dune right behind her, but when he tried to grab her arm, she pulled out a new weapon.

The snap-hiss of a lightsaber was unmistakable. She whirled on him, her magenta blade burning as intensely as the two suns overhead.

He reached for his own saber, only to find that it was gone.

She swung at him, forcing him backward down the sandy slope. He lost his footing and fell onto his side, beginning to roll down the dune. When he came to a stop at the bottom, he looked up to see her bent over him, blocking out some of the light.

“Why did he do this to me?” she asked, her voice cracking.

I don’t know, but please don’t leave me.

He lifted his hand to touch her face, so near he could see the little droplets of sweat making trails down her neck. There was a brilliant, blinding flash of light, and then she was gone.

He pulled himself to his knees and ran his hands over the scorching sand. Set me on fire, he ordered to the sand. Burn me now.

Burn me forever.

~~


He awoke with beads of sweat all over his skin. The twin suns of that desert planet had burned her image even deeper into his brain. All he could think of, all he could feel, was that he had to be with her.

“Why did he do this to me?”

He wanted to find the answer to that question. He wanted to take her in his arms and promise to end her suffering.

She could end my suffering.

I didn’t always want to be this way, did I?

Her eyes followed him into his waking life. They were so strange, so complicated. In them he had seen pain, defiance, helplessness, confusion, rage. He had seen courage and cold indifference.

He had never really seen them. She was only a ghost, something that haunted him in his dreams and whispered lies that he believed upon waking.

“Take control of your demons or they will take control of you.”

Those had been Darth Vader’s words, rumbled softly to someone else, someone Luke hadn’t been able to see at the time because he was eight years old, hiding in the closet. He remembered thinking it was strange and frightening, a demon giving advice about demons.

And then there was Leia Organa, who had been his fiercest rival ever since he could remember. Why was she trying to help him? Or was the mention of Korriban merely a ploy, a ruse that would get him offworld long enough for her to solidify her position with the Sith Lords? The more he thought about it, the more likely the second explanation seemed. And yet there was something about Leia’s actions that rang a deeper chord, touching on something so elusive he wasn’t even sure it was real. Despite his brain and his instincts and everything that told him Korriban was a trick, he felt the truth of her words.

There was only one thing left to do. Luke pulled out his comlink and flipped it on. “Artoo,” he whispered, calling on the little droid that headed Darth Vader’s astromech team. If anyone could take him to the Sith planet, R2-D2 could. “I need a favor.”

As if sensing the need for discretion, Artoo replied in a series of quiet beeps and trills that Luke was still surprised he could understand.

“You owe me, buddy. After that little stunt you pulled over Commenor, you’re lucky Vader didn’t turn you into scrap.”

Artoo whistled indignantly.

“That’s because I told him it was my idea. Now are you going to help me or not?”

The droid gave a short groan of resignation. Luke smiled and began collecting his gear with his free hand.

“Thatta boy, Artoo. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

~~


Darth Vader’s hangar was located high on the western face of the palace. Luke had clearance to be in that area, but it was still highly unusual for an adept to be creeping around that part of the palace at night. He passed a maintenance droid dusting off a gold bust. The robot considered him for half a second before returning to its job.

Luke was struck by the darkness in this wing of the palace. The only light in the corridor was the neon glow of Imperial Center’s nightlife, streaming through the tall windows. But even that light was faint, since this part of the structure towered over much of the capitol. Like Vader, it stood aloof from the rest of the world, detached in a way that was both enviable and frightening.

A gentle breeze tousled his hair, and he felt something whisper across the back of his mind. Luke emerged from the shadows and approached the open doors that were letting the air in. As he reached the doors, he realized that they led to a balcony and that the balcony was occupied.

There was little mistaking the small figure that was leaning into the wind. Her long, dark hair was loose, and she was wearing a simple, pale blue robe. Luke pulled his presence back, wondering if Leia had sensed him. Satisfied that she had not, he extended his senses out to where she was standing.

For the most part, her voice was carried away by the wind, but Luke picked up a few words.

“…not sure if I can…much longer before…my mind…not strong…”

He wondered for a moment who she was talking to, when one of the shadows trembled and moved. Luke had to physically clamp a hand over his mouth to keep from projecting his shock into the Force.

The silhouette of Darth Vader was unmistakable.

The Sith Lord joined Leia at the edge of the balcony. He didn’t lean into the wind, as she did. He didn’t bow his head or rest his hands on the rail. He just stood there, hands clasped behind his back, breathing mechanically, in and out.

And then he did something Luke never expected to see.

He lifted his gloved left hand and placed it on Leia’s shoulder.

She looked up at Vader, but other than that she remained still. Luke sensed the tension in her body fade a little.

The face of his chrono lit up, calling Luke back to his mission. He was already late to the hangar. If he stayed here much longer he would definitely be discovered.

Taking one last look at the odd pair on the balcony, Luke retreated into the shadows and continued on his way to Vader’s hangar.

~~


Nights were cold on Korriban.

She hugged her cloak to her body, leaning against one of the giant, abandoned stones that littered the canyon. Her rucksack had torn on a jagged rock during her escape, dumping at least one third of her supplies. Down to only a few days’ rations, she knew she wouldn’t last long, especially if they were hunting for her.

She should have stayed on the ship or gone to the old academy in Dreshdae, as her master had instructed her. But the voices had been very persistent. They invaded her mind whenever they saw fit, probing with such ferocity that it nearly toppled the mental shielding her master had erected. In her normal state, she might have been able to ignore the voices long enough to complete her mission. But she was not in her normal state and would not be anytime soon. And now she might die because of it.

Something howled in the distance, a blood-curdling, paralyzing cry that shot up her spine like a stun bolt. Her fingers curled over the hand grip of her blaster, but other than that small motion she remained still, listening carefully for another cry. She was standing downwind, so if she was being hunted by smell, it would take longer to find her.

If she was being hunted through the Force, however, she was in trouble.

Come to me, a voice whispered across the wind. It was much deeper than the one that had lured her into the tomb.

Come to me.

She pulled her blaster out of her cloak and switched the setting to kill. “Not a chance,” she muttered, peering out from behind the stone.

You will join us, Mara Jade.


You will join us or die.

~~

Earlier That Day


The planet was much lighter than she’d expected. The sun beat down upon vast canyons and towering crags, subjecting the entire surface to its brutal illumination. Mara shielded her eyes against the glare with one hand and rifled through her rucksack with the other. She pulled out a pocket holoproj and turned her back to the sun, activating the device. A tiny, blue-static image of the Emperor appeared.

“I trust your journey was uneventful?” His voice seemed to echo off the canyon walls.

Mara nodded. “Yes, my lord. I have reached the planet.”

“Good. You may enter the remains of the academy in Dreshdae or stay on the ship until I send further instructions.”

“As you wish it, my lord.”

He cut the transmission abruptly, and Mara tucked the holoproj back into her bag. She felt a sudden uneasiness, as though someone – or something – was watching her. Brushing the feeling aside, she pulled out her datapad and began searching for a land route to the ancient academy.

~~

 

Keen! I didn't realize until this chapter that the Skywalkers were unaware of their familial relationship, or at least Luke is ignorant of it. Though it seems Leia and Vader might be aware of their blood relationship. No surprise, that, since Leia has always struck me as more like Anakin than Luke.

This line really caused me to go "hmmm...": But she was not in her normal state and would not be anytime soon.

Eagerly looking forward to seeing where you're taking us with this...

 

Rigil_Kent - Keen! I didn't realize until this chapter that the Skywalkers were unaware of their familial relationship, or at least Luke is ignorant of it. Though it seems Leia and Vader might be aware of their blood relationship. No surprise, that, since Leia has always struck me as more like Anakin than Luke.

-- I definitely agree that there is a lot of Anakin in Leia.

This line really caused me to go "hmmm...": But she was not in her normal state and would not be anytime soon.

--Oh?

Eagerly looking forward to seeing where you're taking us with this...

--Good, because the next post is coming right up!

 

~~

4. Almost Normal


“How we doing, Artoo?”

The droid whistled unhappily that they would be doing better if Luke would leave the flying to him. Luke grinned at this and twisted his head to look out at the disgruntled robot.

“If you were flying, we’d be dropping out of hyperspace and heading back to Imperial Center. I think I’ll keep it on manual for a while.”

The droid chirped something quite rude and fell silent. Luke laughed and checked the nav console. Six hours until they reached Korriban. He could manage that long. If he could survive almost two decades of training under the Sith Lords, he could certainly stay awake long enough to reach the woman he loved.

You don’t even know what love is, said a mocking voice in his head. As much as he wanted to imagine that it was Leia’s voice, he knew it was a distorted version of his own.

Shut up, he scolded himself. He tried to fix his eyes on the starlines around the cockpit, but that only made him dizzy. He closed his eyes.

I am worthy. He repeated the mantra over and over in his mind, as if doing so would make it true.

I am worthy of being a Sith. I am worthy of love.

I am worthy of the Emperor’s Hand.

But the mocking voice returned. You will never be good enough.

~~

Eleven Years Ago


“Get up, stupid child.”

Luke whimpered and pushed himself up onto his hands and knees. It was so hard not to cry, but he knew if he did he would be punished even more. He quickly rubbed his eyes against the sleeve of his tunic and stood up.

“You are a weak little brat. Get out of my sight.”

“I’m sorry, Mast—”

“I said, get out. I have wasted enough time on you.”

Luke turned and stumbled toward the door, tears blurring his vision. He ran to the equipment room, not for any special reason, but mostly because right now he couldn’t remember how to get back to his room. His master was right – he really was stupid.

Inside the equipment room, Luke collapsed on the floor and tucked his knees under his chin. He hated it here. His master was mean, and his other master… well he was just scary, and Luke didn’t like him at all. The other kids were always picking on him, and they all liked perfect Leia better than they liked him. Luke took the edge of his sleeve in his mouth and began to suck on it.

He didn’t understand why he could feel some things before they happened, but he still knew that someone was about to come through the door of the equipment room. Luke looked about frantically for some way to escape. He spotted the closet and crawled over to it, leaving the door open just enough so that he could see what happened outside.

Darth Vader, his other master, entered the room. Luke heard someone crying, and for a second he thought it might be him. Luke clamped a hand over his mouth, but he could still hear the whimpering.

The giant Sith Lord turned toward the source of the whimpers, but Luke could not see who it was. He couldn’t hear very well either because they were too far away. The other person was muttering something. Darth Vader walked out of Luke’s view, but he heard him say something in a deep voice that rumbled in Luke’s ears.

“Take control of your demons or they will take control of you.”

The crying stopped, and Luke listened for a response. There was none.

How weird. He had always thought Darth Vader must be some kind of demon, like the ones Luke sometimes dreamed about. He wondered who he was talking to out there.

Luke stayed in the closet until long after the Sith left. He fell asleep in there and was punished the next morning.

~~

Now


The planet Korriban filled the canopy, and Luke felt his abdomen grow hot in anticipation. “All right, Artoo, let’s see what you can do.”

Artoo whistled indignantly.

“To redeem yourself for Commenor. Come on, are you telling me you can’t land the ship?”

Luke read the response over the monitor and smiled. “My, aren’t we grumpy today. I thought you wanted to do some flying?”

The droid screamed a response. Luke winced and shut off the cabin comm unit.

“All right, all right. Lazy droid.”

He angled the ship toward Korriban’s atmosphere, and as he drew closer he saw a world dominated by mountainous terrain. Interesting place to send an Emperor’s Hand.

He located the capital city, Dreshdae, which he knew had been vacated sometime after the Clone Wars. His scanners weren’t picking up much active technology. There were a couple of ships down there. One of them was certainly the Hand’s. The rest might well be antiques, for all he knew.

“Artoo, let’s set her down in that canyon, away from the city.”

Thankfully, the droid complied, helping to steer his ship toward the correct spot. The vessel settled down on the rocky ground without any trouble, and Luke let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

This is it.

He opened the canopy and vaulted over the edge, landing softly on the ground. He looked up at Artoo as he shouldered the little bag of supplies he’d brought. “You stay with the ship.”

For once, the droid seemed happy to comply.

Luke looked off in the direction of the sun and realized it was already beginning its descent toward the horizon. He had to get moving if he wanted to find her before dark.

The planet felt dead for the most part. As he stretched out with his feelings, he sensed something apart from that deadness. It was a spark of life, somewhere in the direction of the vast canyon before him. He stared out at the valley in awe as he realized what it was he was looking at.

Enormous statues and elaborate structures lined the canyon walls. Rows of tombs stretched to the horizon. He had learned about this place in his studies, but the only way he had ever hoped to see it was to become the Sith apprentice. Somehow, in his haste to follow the Emperor’s Hand, the true importance of Korriban had slipped his mind altogether. And yet, the spark of life he had felt was calling to him too loudly to be ignored. Luke adjusted the bag on his shoulder and began to climb down the canyon walls.

He would find her. Nothing could stop him now. He was in the land of his forebears.

He was in the Valley of the Dark Lords.

~~

 

I'm really intrigued with where you are taking this. Luke and his dreams of Mara, the whole dynamic between him and Leia, the dark feel of the fic - you've certainly got me hooked!

 

Still so much story love. (Even if you are cryptic in reader replies. *sulks* )

Why is Luke dreaming of Tatooine? Why did who do what to Mara? Why does she disappear? Many questions I have, hmmm, yes. And recalling the challenge requirement of Luke and Mara not touching, my optimism for a happy ending wanes . . . In fact . . . I've been puzzled about Leia and Vader's little conversation, but I wonder - did Vader and Leia set this up somehow, getting rid of Mara, and through her, Luke, in order to knock Luke out of the running for Sith apprentice so that Leia could take his place? Hmmmm . . .

Artoo's rudeness amuses me tremendously. Luke's early experiences, on the other hand, make my heart ache for him. Whether all of this is a set up or genuine happenstance, I hope Luke triumphs. Even if I'm not counting on it.

 

Jedi_Emeritus - I'm really intrigued with where you are taking this.

-- I'm happy to hear it!

Luke and his dreams of Mara, the whole dynamic between him and Leia, the dark feel of the fic - you've certainly got me hooked!

--I've really enjoyed twisting the relationships between the characters. It's fun to make them so different, and yet you can still recognize the things that drew them together in the canon.

Gabri - Still so much story love. (Even if you are cryptic in reader replies. *sulks* )

--I haven't had the chance to be cryptic in a while, and I'm thoroughly enjoying the experience.

Why is Luke dreaming of Tatooine? Why did who do what to Mara? Why does she disappear? Many questions I have, hmmm, yes.

--LOL! The answers will come... eventually.

And recalling the challenge requirement of Luke and Mara not touching, my optimism for a happy ending wanes . . .

--*pats Gabri on the shoulder* Well, I like happy endings, but you're right. It's not looking good, is it? But then again, I am cryptic, so maybe I'm trying to throw you off. Or maybe I'm trying to make you think that I'm throwing you off.

In fact . . . I've been puzzled about Leia and Vader's little conversation, but I wonder - did Vader and Leia set this up somehow, getting rid of Mara, and through her, Luke, in order to knock Luke out of the running for Sith apprentice so that Leia could take his place? Hmmmm . . .

--I'm not telling.

Artoo's rudeness amuses me tremendously.

-- The interaction between the two of them was fun to write. Maybe droids can go over to the dark side.

Luke's early experiences, on the other hand, make my heart ache for him. Whether all of this is a set up or genuine happenstance, I hope Luke triumphs. Even if I'm not counting on it.

-- Trust me, Gabri!


Everyone - There will not be a new post today. Posting will resume tomorrow. Thanks!

 

~~

5. Monsters


Luke stared down at the inscription outside of the tomb. It was written in an older form of Basic, but after the first few words he realized it was a passage he’d been drilled on many times over the years.

Peace is a lie. There is only passion.

Through passion, I gain strength.

He wondered if the ancient Sith Lords had considered love to be a form of passion. He had never been taught to use romantic passion in his training. When he returned to Imperial Center, could he just claim that since he was pursuing his object of his desires, he was only adding to his strength?

Luke shook his head. Something didn’t sound right about that, but he wasn’t sure what. Maybe it was the fact that he was still disobeying by leaving the capital. Maybe it was because he had never once seen the Emperor or Darth Vader display any emotion that could be described as love. Interest and respect, yes. Admiration, maybe. But never love.

Through strength, I gain power.

Through power, I gain victory.

Luke frowned as the inscription ended. He studied the tablet for a moment, kneeling in the dirt. After a few more seconds of scrutiny, he wiped away a thick layer of dust, revealing the last two lines.

Through victory, my chains are broken.

The Force shall free me.

Those last words had always struck him as strange. It seemed to imply that all but the Sith Master were in bondage. On some level, he supposed it was true, but there was a part of him that rebelled at the idea. Maybe it was that part of him that had caused him to come here.

He examined the footprints in the dirt. Whoever had come through here recently had not stopped to look at any of the tombs. The tombs themselves were, for the most part, blocked off by debris. Many of the grand structures that lined the canyon walls were in ruin. No, the latest visitor to the Valley of the Dark Lords hadn’t stayed long.

Luke squinted at the tablet before looking up the horizon. The sun was gone from the sky, but some of its pale light remained, coloring the sky in shades of blue and lavender. Luke spared one last glance at the tomb and the tablet before continuing down the wide pathway between the monuments.

~~


Mara sat in the cave, examining the holoproj she’d been foolish enough to drop. Of the numerous items that had fallen from her rucksack the day before, this was the only one she had spared a second to recover. It had nearly cost her her life.

And the damn thing was broken.

The outside was only dented, but the inside was a mess. The circuit board had dislodged and completely shattered the focusing mirrors. After a few more minutes of tinkering, Mara threw the device over her shoulder in disgust.

A shriek echoed through the cave, and Mara jumped to her feet, blaster in hand. She turned in the direction of the sound and crept forward, keeping her weapon raised to her right shoulder. As she came to the mouth of the cave, she could see that it was nearly dark; the sun had already dipped below the horizon. She picked the smashed holoproj up off the ground and tucked it into her jacket pocket. Wouldn’t do to leave any clues for her pursuer.

Another shriek split the night, and Mara ducked instinctively as something large flew over her head. Mara rounded on the creature, aiming her blaster to take a shot.

It was some kind of bat-like creature with no visible eyes, long razor-like teeth, and the ugliest mug she’d ever seen on anything that flew. She fired off a shot as it swooped back over her. The laser didn’t slow it down much, and it turned to come after her again.

“Fine,” she muttered, drawing her lightsaber with her left hand. As the creature dove at her, she pivoted to the left and swept upward with her blade. The magenta beam passed neatly through the creature, cutting it into two pieces that thudded to the ground. Both pieces convulsed for a few seconds before going still.

Mara returned her blaster to its holster and shifted her saber to her right hand. The air around her suddenly seemed to crackle with a dark frenzy, and warning spikes shot up her spine. Though the sky was growing steadily darker, the ground where she stood seemed to be bathed in an even deeper shadow. Mara looked up and discovered the source of the shadow.

At least two dozen of those winged creatures were circling overhead. Mara held her lightsaber up like a shield, and every single one of the creatures plunged toward her.

~~


The hunter had returned to its tomb, waiting for dawn, waiting for the monsters to crawl back to their lairs. There was no reason to fight them off. If the hunter could not have the girl, those dark creatures could feed on her blood.

The hunter felt the surge in vicious, mindless joy that always came when the monsters attacked. It was the promise of food, the promise of blood. This time the blood was rich in the Force. The monsters would enjoy a special treat tonight, one they had probably not indulged in since the time of their ancestors. The hunter smiled at the thought of a tradition renewed.

Tomorrow the hunter would leave the cave and make sure the girl was dead. If she was not, then the hunter would continue its pursuit. One way or another, the hunter would win.

~~


The disturbance was sudden and overwhelming, striking Luke as he plodded through the immense valley. Where before there had been a not-quite-peaceful silence in the Force, there was now a loud, unrelenting delirium. Spurred on by the agitation in the air, Luke began to run down the wide path, his focus on the little trail that led out of the canyon toward what looked like a series of caves. He reached out mentally, trying to gain a clearer picture of what was pouring this chaos into the Force. He saw a flash of leathery brown skin, a piercing magenta light, and green eyes.

Luke growled wordlessly and demanded more power from his legs, sprinting toward the caves and praying it was not too late.

~~


He entered the caves with his eyes closed, trusting the Force to guide him through the darkness. It was hard – he had always had trouble letting go of his other senses. But he felt the Force more clearly here, and he obeyed its whispers. He plowed through the caves without incident, without hesitation, only to realize there was more than one set of caves.

Luke opened his eyes and found himself standing on the edge of a precipice. To his right was a natural bridge that connected this ledge to the next series of caves. On the other side was a flock of hideous winged creatures circling around one figure.

The Emperor’s Hand.

Luke ran across the narrow bridge, igniting his lightsaber in the process. With a war cry that might have disturbed even Leia, he plunged into the middle of the fray, his crimson blade skewering and slicing through the monsters. He caught a glimpse of magenta before it was swallowed up by the creatures’ brown wings. Luke hacked the heads off of two of them as they passed on either side of him.

The rest of the monsters broke off their attack and descended on their fallen companions. Luke took a step back and watched as the remaining eight creatures fed on their dead. His face twisted in a grimace as the stench met his nostrils. He looked up to see the Emperor’s Hand staring back at him, her green eyes livid. Without a word she turned and fled into the cave. Luke skirted the feeding animals and chased after her into the darkness.

~~

 

You're really churning the posts out fast. Impressive!

I wonder if Vader wasn't really talking to Luke after all, and Luke didn't realize it. Or maybe he was talking to Leia. Only I don't see Leia as much of a dreamer??

I love the Luke/Artoo banter. Nice to know that Sith-Lords-in-training aren't above making friends with and being owed favours by droids.

 

Those last words had always struck him as strange. It seemed to imply that all but the Sith Master were in bondage. On some level, he supposed it was true, but there was a part of him that rebelled at the idea. Maybe it was that part of him that had caused him to come here.

That's our Luke. Still rebellious, even as a Sith.

Mara sat in the cave, examining the holoproj she?d been foolish enough to drop. Of the numerous items that had fallen from her rucksack the day before, this was the only one she had spared a second to recover. It had nearly cost her her life.

And the damn thing was broken.

Now this really does interest me. Why would Mara take that extra second for the holoproj if nothing else was worth it, and what about recovering it nearly cost her life?

She picked the smashed holoproj up off the ground and tucked it into her jacket pocket. Wouldn?t do to leave any clues for her pursuer.

So she knows she's being pursued . . .

It was some kind of bat-like creature with no visible eyes, long razor-like teeth, and the ugliest mug she?d ever seen on anything that flew.

Dark side Qom Jha!

And Luke to the rescue - but not a particularly gratefully received rescue. He does keep getting the ones who don't want to be rescued, doesn't he?

 

leia_naberrie - You're really churning the posts out fast. Impressive!

--LOL, well I was, but things might slow down a little bit now. I'm coming up on finals week.

I wonder if Vader wasn't really talking to Luke after all, and Luke didn't realize it. Or maybe he was talking to Leia. Only I don't see Leia as much of a dreamer??

-- I feel like being ambiguous today, so I'll just say .

I love the Luke/Artoo banter. Nice to know that Sith-Lords-in-training aren't above making friends with and being owed favours by droids.

--Glad you liked it! I really liked writing the banter between those two. No one can resist Artoo, not even a Sith.

Gabri - That's our Luke. Still rebellious, even as a Sith.

--There are some things that will just never change.

Now this really does interest me. Why would Mara take that extra second for the holoproj if nothing else was worth it, and what about recovering it nearly cost her life?

--It was the holoproj she used to communicate with the Emperor when she landed on Korriban. If it's broken, that means no communication. As for why it nearly cost her life...

So she knows she's being pursued . . .

--Yep.

Dark side Qom Jha!

--I read that thinking "Wha...?" so I looked it up on Wook. The creatures in this scene are actually shyracks, native to Korriban. But now I can see why you'd mistake them for Qom Jha. I don't think shyracks are sentient, though. I got them from playing KOTOR II. (As a matter of fact, the cave Luke and Mara are in is in the game, too.)

And Luke to the rescue - but not a particularly gratefully received rescue. He does keep getting the ones who don't want to be rescued, doesn't he?

--Poor Luke. Guess none of his Sithly instruction prepared him for girls.


Next chapter coming up!