A N O T H E R S K Y

Index

Darkshine

After the fall of the Empire, Luke and everybody around him must find out what it means to be Vader's son.

Darkshine Rising By by Z. P. Florian

The man who strode into the Council meeting room was not the Luke Skywalker Leia was accustomed to seeing. He was filthy, his black garments stiff with dried blood. Bruises distorted his unshaven face. Gripping his activated lightsaber, he stopped in the middle of the room, measuring the members of the council with unblinking, emotionless eyes.

His voice was hoarse, but steady, as he spoke. "I am speaking to those who are surprised now to see me alive. I hold no grudge against you. I understand your reasons and motives, and to a certain extent I respect them. Nevertheless, I cannot accept or support your views. You are mistaken. In time, you will realize your foolishness; most of you will regret it. I will not die. The Jedi Order will rise again, with or without the cooperation of the Alliance."

With this, he walked out, leaving the Council in total confusion. Fear gripped those who knew what he was talking about, and those who did not demanded some kind of explanation.

Leia found her voice almost immediately. "Honored Council members, I am sure there is a reason for, uh, the Commander's unusual behavior. He has been missing for the past three days. I will talk to him right away."

Someone tried to warn her, but she shook her head and went, resolutely. She instinctively knew where to find him.

~~~~~~~~~~

He waited for her in her room, a small concrete cell in what had been, a few days ago, an Imperial base on Endor. As she pushed the gray door open, she thought, this is not the victory I'd imagined.

She found a small measure of comfort in the fact that his saber was now extinguished.

"I was surprised," Luke said softly. "Not that you agreed to it... as I said, I understand. I have felt it coming, ever since you advised me to run away... such an uncharacteristic advice, after all we've been through. I understand why you find it impossible to explain to the Alliance that ot owes this victory to Vader, and Vader's children. I know you're certain that I would want this to be known. You are right. I would never agree to deception. Therefore, the only logical solution was to eliminate me, thus preserving the image of the farmboy-hero. There's only one thing I don't understand. You've told Han that I am your brother. How can you keep the truth from him, admitting this much already?"

"I can always tell him that our mother was the same, but you were fathered by Vader. Officially, we're not even the same age," she answered. "But you must know something. I wanted this to be swift and painless. You were not to suffer, you were not even supposed to notice what was happening."

"Thank you, but... they were not as skillfull as you expected. They tried hard enough. Please don't apologize. I understand. I do not agree, I cannot accept, but I understand."

She stared at the floor. A fresh drop of blood shone there. "You are hurt..." she said. Her voice was thin, childlike.

"I'm leaving," he said, and for the first time, he did not look at her. "There's a practical matter I want you to take care of, though. The Alliance owes me, in back pay, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four credits. I want them now."

This shook her out of her trance. "I thought you were prouder than that."

"I'm proud enough not to ask for Vader's wealth, but this small amount is what every pilot earned, and I think I deserve it."

She worked out the credit chip and held it out to him. He took it and sunk it into his pocket.

Leia looked down again, dreading to see the drops of blood on the floor. There were more now. "They might try to kill you again... be careful."

"I'll be very careful," Luke said with a small smile. "And you... try to forgive yourself. Try to see my point. The New Republic cannot be built on a foundation of pious lies. Your life with Han cannot be based on deception. One day he'll learn the truth, and as I know your Corellian, that will be the day you lose him. Think. You will have Jedi children. How can you explain to him where their gift comes from?"

She shivered. He continued. "This victory rose from darkness: acknowledge it Leia, you cannot renounce what you don't acknowledge. The more you try to hide it, the more it will occupy your soul. I know I'm not going to be another Vader... do you know that about yourself?"

His eyes were soothing, comforting.

"Where are you going? " she asked. "What are you going to do?"

"Revive the Jedi Order, of course," he said, starting for the door. His movements were steady, but she sensed the effort behind it. She wished there was some way to help him, let him rest. So many times she'd seen him hurt and tired -- how she used to hate his tormentors. And now she'd become one of them.

"I love you," she whispered, feeling lost.

"I never doubted it." He nodded. "I loved you with all my heart. Now, I would be of better use to you dead. I even admire your resolve to see it through. Your courage to live with the decision. But this is Vader's courage, Leia. A dark and desperate feeling. Do not give in. Please."

He swayed on his feet, lost control, and Leia saw the exhaustion on his face. His body trembled with a spasm of pain, and a thin line of blood ran down from the corner of his bruised mouth. His gloved hand moved weakly to wipe it off.

"You won't make it to the hangars," She said, desperate to help, yet she felt it would be a mockery. "Luke, I didn't want it this way, it hurts me..."

"Shh. I will heal. And I will make it to the hangars. I'll make it as far as I have to." He straightened his back, his eyes cleared. "Good bye. I'll miss you. Or what you could have been."

The door closed behind him, and she stood motionless.' I will miss him, 'She thought,' Gods ,how I'll miss him. If he were dead, I'd miss him a lot less. If he were dead, I could keep him; now, I've lost him completely.' With silent dread, she knew that Luke's speech before the Council and his departure were going to start a rumor that would be impossible to erase. Han would ask questions, and there would be more lies. Yet -- there was no other way. Luke understood. He did not hate me, she thought.

Neither did he love me, not anymore. I saw it in his eyes... the pity.

One day, Han will look at me the same way.

Index

The Battles of Peace >>