Saga Destiny of the Skywalkers Part II: Splintered Paths OT AU (L/M A/P H/L) Completed

Title: Destiny of the Skywalkers Part II: Splintered Paths
Author(s): Jedi_BMK
Timeframe: OT
Characters: Anakin, Padmé, Luke, Leia, Mara, Han, Obi-Wan, Yoda, OC?s
Genre: AU, action, drama
Keywords: L/M, H/L, A/P
Summary: OT Era AU. Sequel to Hope Renewed. The Jedi must go their own ways and tackle new challenges. Analog to ESB.
Notes: Second in a planned trilogy.

Disclaimer: I don?t own Star Wars. George Lucas does. This is his galaxy far, far away. I?m just playing around with my own little warped idea of what that galaxy could be like. I?m not making any money off of this. Please don?t sue me. I have no money (but you can have my debt if you?d like).


Chapter 1 will follow immediately in the next post.

 

Chapter 1: Meteor

Luke spurred his tauntaun forward across the ice field of Hoth, continuing his patrol of the planet. In some ways, the ice planet was even more barren than his home of Tatooine. Tatooine. The last home he had inhabited for more than a few months. Since leaving the desert planet, his life had been in constant motion. First, he was reunited with a family he had never expected to meet. Then he had begun training as a Jedi just in time to take part in the Battle of Alderaan. He had become a hero of the Rebel Alliance that day by hitting the shot that destroyed the Death Star and saving a planet. Ever since that day he had been on the run with the Rebellion, moving from system to system in order to stay one step ahead of the Empire. Over two years on the run but Luke wouldn?t trade it for all the credits in the galaxy.

Luke just wished his love life was moving as quickly as everything else. His work with Rogue Squadron and Mara?s involvement in special ops meant they were rarely at the base at the same time. On the rare occasions he was on the same planet as Mara, they were often training or evacuating. Inevitably, in those precious moments they found time alone, Obi-Wan would show up and hold an impromptu lesson. Luke was convinced the old Jedi had radar for such things. Or a special Force sense developed from too many years around his father. And Luke had tried his hardest to trade someone patrols since Mara was finally on planet when he was, but to no avail. The Rogues were conspiring against him too. Maybe Obi-Wan had mind tricked them all.

A thunderous crash cut off Luke?s conspiracy theories, however. He pulled up hard on the reigns of his tauntaun and watched a streak of fire and smoke cut through the sky before him. Luke pulled out his electrobinoculars to get a better look at the crash site. However, the meteor had landed over a kilometer away on the other side of a ridge and he couldn?t see any more than a wisp of smoke on the horizon. Luke put away the electrobinoculars and spurred the tauntaun but it didn?t react. Instead, the creature started fidgeting. Luke leaned down to check on the animal just as he received a warning through the Force.

Luke rolled off the saddle just below a clawed paw which was looking to strike his head. The tauntaun was not as lucky as the ice creature turned and ripped it open, having failed to get a hold of Luke. Still lying in the snow, Luke snapped on his lightsaber, drawing the attention of the wampa as the tauntaun fell to the snow groaning. Luke pulled himself to his feet, keeping his eyes on the ice monster and his lightsaber in front of him. The wampa let out a loud growl and lunged for Luke. The young Jedi simply spun away from the lunge and swung the blue blade of his lightsaber high. The move left the wampa howling as its arm fell into the snow below. However, this did not stop the creature as the monster simply became more enrage and lunged for Luke once again. Luke was less graceful but no less effective in dodging the wampa?s second attack as he dove and swung his lightsaber to the side. The ice monster crashed into the ice, howling in pain and unable to stand on its severed leg.

Luke tried to block out the noise of the dying creature as he stepped closer and tapped into the Force to confirm what he already knew. The wampa was dying and in incredible pain. Rather than let the creature suffer, Luke closed his eyes and plunged his saber straight down. The howling stopped and Luke opened his eyes again. Luke stood silent for a moment, sorry to have been forced into the situation. Centering himself in the Force, Luke shut down his blue blade and clipped it back on his side. He went over to his tauntaun and found it dead as well. Luke removed his scarf and pulled up his comlink. ?Echo Base this is Echo 1. Do you copy??

?Loud and clear, Echo 1. Enjoying the scenery Farmboy?? Luke smiled at the sound of Mara?s voice on the other end of the line. He got the feeling she was hanging out in the communication center just waiting to tease him.

 

Great Start! With Luke better trained, he didn't end up in the medical center. And instead of Han & Chewie, he was the one that discovered the probe droid. This should be very interesting!

 

Luke doesn't have the best of luck with his love life. Everyone is conspiring against him

 

hmmmm......the Force is definitely not with Luke and his love life....snicker. And the Rogues will thank Mara for that story.

 

pm list please

 

Great start. Please put me on the PM list.

 

Awesome. Loved how Luke up and dueled the wampa - avoiding getting any scars. The Empire definitely knows they're there - unless the droid didn't transmit it's last few seconds. Either way, they need to move on.

Oh, if you're doing a PM list, add me to it.

Edit: when I said "as irregular as you" earlier, I was referring to the fact that I haven't updated any of my own stuff since May.

 

Ooh! Not only did you finish the last one, but there's a sequel up as well? Yay!

Hopefully updates will be more frequent?

Kat

 

Well done... I see that Luke has had some more training and it seems to have paid off. Nice start to your next segment.

 

Jedi_Liz: I certainly hope it's interesting. If not, I'm not doing my job.

RebelMom: Everyone conspires against Luke, including writers sometimes.

Teresa: Luke has no luck at all sometimes.

Darthme1011: You've been added.

ccp: Thanks. I put you on the list.

ZebulaNebula: We'll know for sure if the Empire knows they're there soon enough.

Katarina42: I don't intend for year and a half lapses in posting, but I won't have the free time necessary to get back to my old posting rate. I'm aiming for one a week.

Ocelotl_Nesto: Seemed silly to have Luke get blindsided when he's had two years of real training as a Jedi.


I'm targeting a new post every week give or take depending on what else is going on in my life. Because I won't be on any set schedule, I will be happy to send out PM's when I put up a new post.

PM List:
Darthme1011
ccp
ZebulaNebula

I'll keep a running list with my responses so let me know if you want to be added or deleted.

I am going to be updating a bit earlier than intended since I won't be home for a few days and don't want to leave you hanging in my absence. Expect a new post by morning.

 

Chapter 2: Evacuation

Luke marched down the frozen corridors of the Hoth base toward the speeders in the hangar. It was fortuitous the technicians had been able to outfit them for the cold just as Luke had found the probe droid. The Alliance was going to need the craft very soon. The probe droid must have had opportunity to register Luke?s face because the Empire had appeared at the edge of the system in record time. Luke was in a briefing to discuss the evacuation plan when the alarm had sounded.

A fleet of Star Destroyers, including Darth Venix?s Super Star Destroyer was moving into position to bombard Hoth and capture the fleeing Rebels. They did not have enough time to evacuate the whole base before troops could land so the decision was made to face the ground assault and hold on to the base as long as they could in order to salvage as much as possible. Luke had immediately and unsurprisingly volunteered Rogue Squadron?s services to pilot what speeders they had during the battle and escort the last of the transports after the final signal to depart. His offer had elicited sad but understanding looks from both Anakin and Obi-Wan.

?Luke! Wait up!? Luke stopped short of entering the hangar proper at the sound of Mara?s voice. He couldn?t stop a small smile from forming on his face in spite of the fact he was preparing for battle. He could see a similar expression on Mara?s face as she jogged to catch up to him. ?Good luck out there. I don?t want to be saving your butt. For the fourth time.?

?Third time. I had the situation on Cato Neimoidia well in hand. That doesn?t count.?

?Now you sound like Obi-Wan.?

Luke feigned a pained expression, but couldn?t even begin to count the number of times Obi-Wan had claimed the same thing to Anakin. As luck had it, Luke had run into trouble with a battalion of stormtroopers on the same planet and Mara had been there to lend a hand. He certainly could have taken care of the Imperial troops himself even if he had been on a bridge with troops on both ends. Nothing a Skywalker couldn?t handle. ?That depends entirely on your point of view.?

The bemused expression on Mara?s face reminded Luke that he wasn?t helping his case any with that response. ?Just don?t do anything to hold us up seeing as you?re supposed to be our escort off this snowball.?

?I won?t. Be careful not to hold us up yourself.? Luke pulled Mara closer to him to give her a good bye hug and prevent her from retorting. However, Mara was caught unaware and their faces ended up just centimeters apart. Neither knew nor cared at the moment which of them made the first move, though both would later take credit. All they were sure of was that the gap between them was gone and their lips had finally met after years of missed opportunities and interrupted moments. The pair lingered, not wanting to give up the moment.

Finally, they released though neither would ever claim to be responsible and were silent. The two stood there, staring into each others eyes until Mara broke the silence. ?You must really think you need some luck out there.?

Luke simply chuckled, not buying Mara?s sarcasm for a nanosecond. Instead he gave her a soft kiss on the forehead. ?May the Force be with you.?

?You too.? Luke walked backward until he almost tripped over a mouse droid. He smiled sheepishly as Mara laughed at his expense and Luke committed her smiling face at that moment to memory for the rest of his days. He would never forget the twinkle of her green eyes and the red tint her cheeks had from the cold. The sort of moments he would need to sustain him.

Luke was lost in the haze of his own thoughts as he moved in the general direction of his speeder. The young Jedi was so distracted he almost walked into a shower of sparks. Looking up, Luke realized he was standing right next to the Millennium Falcon. He was surprised that Han was still on base. After the trouble the smuggler had encountered on Ord Mantell, Luke expected Han to be deep in hyperspace looking for a way to pay off the bounty on his head. ?What are you still doi

 

I wonder how Anakin is going to react when Leia gets stuck with Han.

 

That was a fun post... I wonder who will end up in Bespin. Will Luke crash at Dagobah? Will they use Leia to lure Luke and Anakin to Bespin? Wow, what fun possibilities.

Add me to the PM list please.

 

Wow ... wait ... the Eclipse ... are we talking that superlaser-equipped dreadnought from Dark Empire?! Luke and Mara kissed! Yessssssss!! Took 'em long enough. Leia calling Luke "Little brother" ... lol ... she is kinda right about being more mature. Anakin is gonna freak when she gets stuck with Han, though.

 

they kissed

good stuff

 

Good luck. And may the Force be with you.? Luke stayed behind as the pilots departed for their stations. He stood silent off to the side as Leia finished up some business with one of the officers. Finally, his sister came up to him. ?That last part goes double for you, little brother.?

?We both know I?m the older one.?

?But I?m the more mature one.? Strengthening Leia?s case, Luke responded by sticking his tongue out.
Cuteness!! This is so good so far!! I love it!! Could you pretty please add me to the pm list? I don't want to miss a single post!
Fabulous!!

 

Here's hoping that the Rebels give the Imps a hard time despite the loss of the base! Luke and Mara's farewell was sweet.....maybe the fates are cutting them a little slack for once. The byplay between the twins was excellent as well. Many thanks for this chapter!

 

awwwwwwwwwww....They finally had their first kiss! I think Luke should do just fine. Make sure Wedge and Hobbie survive the mission as well, mmkay?

 

ccp: Let's see if that happens first. But remember that Anakin does trust Han. Whether he trusts him alone with his only daughter remains to be seen.

Ocelotl_Nesto: The answers to your questions will be coming as the story progresses. Many fun possibilities out there. Not to mention maybe a curveball or two. And you're now on the PM list.

ZebulaNebula: Wow ... wait ... the Eclipse ... are we talking that superlaser-equipped dreadnought from Dark Empire?!

No. I had no idea that was the name of a ship already. I was trying to avoid the Executor title and just liked the name. But from now on, I should check Wookieepedia before I name ships.

Darthme1011: Thank you.

dancing_star: You're too kind. And you are now on the PM list.

Teresa: Many thanks for this chapter!

Many thanks to you for reading and responding. Glad you're liking it.

Jedi_Liz: Make sure Wedge and Hobbie survive the mission as well, mmkay?

I may be able to arrange that.


Current PM List:
Darthme1011
ccp
ZebulaNebula
Ocelotl_Nesto
dancing_star

Let me know if you want to be added or removed.


The next post should be up sometime tomorrow.

 

Chapter 3: Imperial Assault

?Attack pattern delta. Go now!? Rogue Squadron?s speeders zipped through the legs of the Imperial walkers with a level of precision on another pilot could appreciate. The pilots concentrated their blaster fire on the joints of the war machines since these were among the walkers? weak points. Relatively speaking of course.

?Hobbie, you still with me?? A quick set of clicks told Luke his wingman was still following and Luke led him on through a tight turn to attack the AT-AT on a different vector. The speeders stayed low to the ground, weaving to avoid Imperial fire. Finally, Luke pulled up sharply, spraying blaster bolts at the cockpit. The energy just dissipated, doing minimal damage as Luke broke his climb to skim over the top of the walker. A survey of the battlefield from behind Imperial lines was not encouraging.

?That armor?s too strong for blasters.? They hadn?t even put a dent in the enemy advance. A new tactic was in order. Sweeping low against the ice to reengage the Imperial forces, Luke ticked through all of the capabilities of the T-47. Then an idea came to him.

?Rogue Group, use your harpoons and tow cables. Go for the legs. It might be our only chance of stopping them.? Luke set his craft in line with the legs of the walker. He pushed the speeder as fast and as straight as he dared.

?All right, stand by, Dack.? The speeder barreled headlong over the battlefield, shaking as it weaved through an obstacle course of blaster fire. Rattling and shaking, the speeder was difficult to control and Luke had to tap into the Force just to stay level.

?Luke, we've got a malfunction in fire control. I'll have to cut in the auxiliary.? Luke made a quick juke and throttled down just slight. The speeder was being pushed to its limits and was on the verge of breaking up.

?Just hang on. Hang on, Dack. Get ready to fire that tow cable.? Luke?s concentration wavered for just a moment as he cocked his head back to check on his gunner. Instead he saw an explosion as a stray blaster bolt penetrated the cockpit. ?Dack? Dack!?

The speeder zipped by a walker without so much as firing a shot. Luke took a deep breath. He may not be able to take down a walker without a gunner, but that didn?t mean he was out of the battle. Not by a long shot. ?Rogue Two.?

?Copy, Rogue Leader.?

?Wedge, I've lost my gunner. You'll have to make this shot. I'll cover for you. Set your harpoon. Follow me on the next pass.?

?Coming around, Rogue Leader.? Luke throttled down to allow his fellow pilot to form up on his wing. Once Wedge was in position, Luke locked in on the nearest AT-AT and created a barrage of fire to clear their path. Luke looped around the rear of the war machine just as the harpoon fired from Rogue Two. Diving down to harass a group of stormtroopers with his cannon, Luke watched out of the corner of his eye as the other speeder looped around the walker?s legs. The machine became unsteady as the Rebel craft broke away from its vicinity. The AT-AT wobbled and fell to the ground, turned into a fireball as Luke swooped overhead and made a precise hit into the exposed engine core. ?Whoa, that got him!?

?Good work Wedge.? Luke maneuvered himself towards the next walker he saw, seeking out another speeder with a ready harpoon. However, he was too focused on what was in front of him that he missed the AT-AT in his blind spot. A warning from the Force allowed him to juke just enough to avoid taking a blaster bolt in the cockpit. However, the speeder?s engine was badly damaged. It was all Luke could do to make a crash landing.

Luke undid his crash webbing and check for injuries. Nothing visible, but he was sure to feel the effects after the adrenaline in his system wore off. Popping the cockpit hood, Luke discovered a walker that was much too close for comfort, shaking the downed craft with its footfall. However, Luke wasn?t ready to bail out just yet. He had an idea. Vigilant of the AT-AT bearing down on him, Luke grabbed a concussion grenade from the weapon?s crate and work

 

As I was reading, I was feeling a sense of deja vu...it was so similiar to ESB, then you threw in the ending. Caught me off guard. Excellent job at that.

Now you need to save us from the cliffie.

 

Wow! Mara and Leia on the Falcon. Ben headed to the Sith and Luke needing to get out of the way as he is not ready to fight yet... Yipes!

I do wonder if Ozzel was killed? Perhaps he has another chance to be as clumsy as he is stupid.

 

No man trusts any other man alone with his daughter. Great update!