"Crossroads of the Force" [PG-13] - Chapter Thirteen
"CROSSROADS OF THE FORCE"
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
LARS HOMESTEAD, TATOOINE
Aside from the chatter that poured from the children's mouths, there seemed to be a vow of silence between the adults around the Lars' dining table. Or so it seemed to Obi-Wan. Owen and Beru Lars never struck the former Jedi Master as the verbose types. But he found Huff Darklighter's silent appraisal of him to be quite . . . distracting.
Obi-Wan had been surprised to find Darklighter and his young son at the Lars farm. When Leia had issued her supper invitation, apparently she also included the Darklighters. It took Obi-Wan several minutes to realize that the wealthy landowner wanted to express gratitude for protecting his son from a local drunk. But why did the man have to regard him as some kind of commodity?
"What exactly is your profession, Master Kenobi?" Darklighter demanded, interrupting the children's chatter.
Fixing the land baron with a polite smile, Obi-Wan replied, "I am retired, Master Darklighter. I used to be . . . a diplomat. A trade emissary between my homeworld and Coruscant."
"And where do you come from?"
All eyes now focused on the former Jedi Master. Both Owen and Beru seemed particularly anxious. Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "From Ghorman. I had retired from diplomatic service and settled here on Tatooine, some ten years ago." Obi-Wan had deliberately chosen a planet that was not only under direct Imperial control, but had been the site of the notorious Ghorman Massacre - an incident that led to the deaths of anti-tax demonstrators at the hands of an Imperial officer. From the corner of his eye, he saw Owen's shoulders sag with relief.
"But why Tatooine?" Darklighter insisted. "This is practically the far end of the galaxy."
Owen opened his mouth to respond, but Obi-Wan spoke first. "I'm afraid that it was not a matter of choice. I . . . It's personal."
"It must be very frustrating for you to be so far from the center of the Empire," Darklighter continued. "Of course, I personally consider that beneficial. If you must know, I am not a fan of the Empire." The landowner's mouth formed a tight line. "That business on Ghorman . . . We don't need such things here on Tatooine. Which is why I am grateful that the Imperial presence barely exists."
Again, Obi-Wan responded with a polite smile. "Yes, well that particular business had been difficult for many of us. A cousin of mine had protested the actions of the Imperials. Needless to say, nearly everyone in our family . . ." He paused dramatically.
"I perfectly understand, sir," Darklighter added.
Luke, who had been staring at Obi-Wan, commented, "It must be hard living on Tatooine all these years."
Obi-Wan gave the fair-haired boy a bright smile. "At first. But one learns to adapt."
"But what do you do . . . on Tatooine, I mean?" Luke asked. "Biggs and me like to fly. Sometimes we go racing through Beggar's Canyon in T-16 Skyhoppers."
The dark-haired Biggs added, "Well, we've only started racing last year."
"And at such a young age," Obi-Wan added with a smile. "I'm impressed."
"Luke is the better pilot." Biggs regarded his friend with genuine admiration. "As much as I hate to admit it." Obi-Wan noted the slight frown on the face of the young boy's father. "Both of us plan to join the Imperial Academy to become pilots."
Obi-Wan tried to imagine the fugitive Luke Skywalker as an Imperial officer . . . and failed. He knew that it would not take the Emperor and Rasche very long to find him.
Apparently, Anakin's son seemed aware of his situation for he added hastily, "Or we might start our own galactic freight service."
"But we can really learn to fly as Imperial pilots, first," Biggs insisted.
Leia snorted derisively. "I don't see why anyone would want to join the Imperial Academy in the first place. The military seems only interested in making war upon others."
Alarm flared in Beru Lars' wide eyes. Her husband gruffly admonished the young girl. "Leia! This is not the time or place for political talk." He shot a nervous glance at the land baron.
Judging from the expression on Darklighter's face, Obi-Wan surmised that the man seemed to agree with Leia. "Let the young lady talk, Owen. After all, the Empire is not exactly popular with the citizens of Tatooine. I certainly don't care for it. In fact," he shot a dark look at his son, "I still cannot understand my son's desire to become an Imperial officer."
Young Biggs exclaimed, "Because it would help Luke and me become better pilots, Father!"
The landowner merely grunted. "I can think of a better future for you, young man, than getting involved with the Imperials." He turned to Obi-Wan. "Don't you agree?"
"Uh . . . if you say so . . . sir." Obi-Wan noticed that Darklighter seemed satisfied with his answer. Then he glanced at the Lars and sensed relief pouring from Beru. However, a touch of anger emanated from a very tense Owen. Obi-Wan realized that it been a mistake for him to accept this supper invitation. And he promised himself it was one that he would never again repeat.
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WORLPORT, ORD MANTELL
"It's time for me to leave," Anakin announced.
Han glanced at the suite's chronometer. It read fifteen minutes after seven. "You and the senator's aide plan to have dinner, here in the hotel?"
A wide smile stretched Anakin's mouth. "Nope. I have something better in mind. You and Chewie try to stay out of trouble." He started toward the door.
The young Corellian rolled his eyes in mild annoyance. "Hey, I'm not the one who fought it out with a bunch of street scum! Remember?"
Anakin's grin merely widened before he left the room.
Once the door slid shut, Han strode toward his bedroom to shower and change into cleaner clothes. Chewbacca had remained with the Javian Hawk to finish inspecting the ship's systems. Han had expected the Wookie's return at least an hour ago. He hoped to pay another visit to the Lady Fate Casino and repeat his success of last night. Just as he had removed his shirt, the announciator rang. A frowning Han donned his shirt on and strode toward the suite's door. "Yes?" he cried.
A woman's voice replied, "Pardon me sir, but I need to speak with you." Suspicious of the woman's vague answer, Han grabbed his blaster pistol. One could never be too careful around strangers - especially in a smuggler's haven like Ord Mantell.
Han pushed a button and the door slid open. He inhaled sharply at the sight of a dark-haired, petite woman standing in the doorway. Judging from her rich blue gown and elegantly styled chignon, he had no trouble recognizing a member of the elite. The woman practically reeked of class. Only what was she doing in a place like Worlport and why did she strongly remind him of Senator Dahlma's aide? Unlike Miss Colbert, this woman possessed wide dark eyes, not green ones. Those same dark eyes now regarded him with an intensity he found slightly uncomfortable.
"May I help you, miss?" Han asked.
The woman scrutinized him in that same intense manner. Disappointment flashed in her eyes before responded with a polite smile. "I am sorry to interrupt you, sir, but . . ." She sighed. Her voice possessed a light and girlish voice that Han found interesting.
"Are you looking for someone?"
The woman shook her head. "I'm sorry. I thought you were someone I once knew." She paused . . . as if an idea had suddenly came to her. "Do you . . . are you sharing this room with someone else?"
A suspicious thought struck Han that this woman might have recognized Anakin. She seemed the type who may have spent time on Coruscant. And she looked old enough to have lived in the galaxy's capital about a decade ago. However, the last thing Han wanted was to alert anyone of Anakin's presence. Especially someone familiar with a place like Coruscant. He smiled politely at the woman. "Sorry lady. My roommate happens to be . . ."
A slight growl interrupted the pair. Han nodded at the tall Wookie that had suddenly appeared behind the woman. "And here he is. Hey Chewie! What took you so long?"
The woman glanced at Chewbacca. "This is your roommate?"
"That's right."
"You don't have a second . . .?"
Han quickly added, "This suite only has two bedrooms, miss." He paused. "Anything else?"
Another polite smile formed on the woman's lips. "No, I guess not. Pardon me for wasting your time. My mistake." She nodded once more and walked away.
Chewbacca entered the suite. "Who was that?" he growled.
Han merely shrugged his shoulders. "No one. Just someone with a case of mistaken identity."
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Upon reaching the hotel's lobby, Anakin settled in an empty chair inside one of the salons adjacent to the lobby. He had made reservations at one of Worlport's most exclusive restaurants - the Sapphire Moon. Only the reservation called for eight o'clock and Igraine happened to be ten minutes late. What could be taking her so long?
An impatient Anakin glanced at the salon's chronometer. At that moment, his impatience vanished as he sensed a familiar presence. One that he had not felt in . . .
"I thought it was you!" a man's voice cried out.
Anakin glanced to his left. His eyes widened at the sight of Ferus Olin standing in the salon's doorway. Memories of a long ago rivalry during his years with the Jedi Order rushed into his brains. "Ferus?"
The older man entered the salon. "Anakin Skywalker," he declared. "What in the blazes are you doing here, of all places?" Ferus eased into an empty chair, opposite Anakin.
The former Jedi Knight coughed slightly. "Waiting for someone. I have a . . . supper engagement."
A slightly bitter smile touched Ferus' lips. "Same old Anakin. Always evasive." Anakin inwardly bridled at his former rival's comment. "No, I mean here on Ord Mantell. What are you doing here? This system is mainly a haven for smugglers."
Anakin sighed. "Then I should feel right at home." He stared pointedly at his companion.
Ferus' face flushed slightly. "Oh. Of course. I had learned from Obi-Wan that you had become . . . a smuggler."
"Obi-Wan?" Anakin blinked at the mention of his former master. "When . . .?"
Ferus cleared his throat. "I had seen him about several days ago. And nine years before our last meeting. He told me about your new . . . vocation."
Anakin inhaled sharply. "And how did he find out?" he coldly asked.
"From a former passenger of yours. A Senator Solipo Yeb. I believe that you had helped him escape from Corellia some . . ."
Sharply, Anakin interrupted. "Yes, I remember. I had no idea that Obi-Wan had been keeping an eye on me."
"He had tried looking for you during the Jedi Purge," Ferus added. Then he shrugged. "But to no avail. Right now, he is living on . . ."
"I'm not interested in Obi-Wan's whereabouts." Anakin realized that he had spoken sharper than he originally intended. He shook his head in mild annoyance, as Ferus stared at him. "Sorry, I didn't meant sound . . . hostile."
Disbelief tinged Ferus' voice. "Surely you want to know where he is?"
Anakin sighed. He might as well tell the truth. "To be honest, Obi-Wan and I had parted on bad terms. You must know why."
Confusion filled Ferus' eyes. "Why would I?" the other man replied, frowning. "What had happened between you two?"
Should he tell the truth? Anakin could imagine the disgust and outrage that would pour from Ferus. Then again, why should he care? The former padawans had never cared for each other. Anakin took another deep breath and said, "Quite simple. I had betrayed the Order by becoming the Emperor's apprentice. A Sith apprentice. It happened during the last days of the war."
Shock appeared in Olin's golden brown eyes, followed by disbelief. And anger. "No! That's . . . You would never . . . ."
"Never turn to the Dark Side?" Anakin finished mockingly. "Rather odd coming from you. Didn't you once tell Obi-Wan that it was dangerous for me to be a part of the Order?"
"No! I mean . . ." Suspicion gleamed in Ferus' eyes. "How did you . . . Were you eavesdropping?"
A snicker escaped from Anakin's mouth. "Let's just say that I had overheard a conversation between you two quite by accident. Not long before you had left the Order."
Ferus cried, "I don't believe it! In fact, it's impossible. Romulus Wort became Lord Sidious' new apprentice after the war. After Dooku's death."
In a hard voice, Anakin added, "You mean, after me. I became the Emperor's apprentice not long after Dooku's death. In fact, during the beginning of the Purge. I was the one who led the attack on the Temple. I had also killed the Separatist leaders on Mustafar, where Obi-Wan also caught up with me. We dueled and . . ." Anakin paused, as he recalled those odd visions of his possible future as a Sith apprentice. He sighed. "I had a vision . . . through the Force. Of my future life as Darth Vader. So I left. I left Obi-Wan on Mustafar and I turned my back on the Emperor. Which is how I started a new career as a smuggler."
Ferus merely regarded Anakin with a stunned expression. Disgust and anger soon filled his eyes. "You betrayed the Order?" he hissed.
"I believe I just said so."
Angrily, the other man demanded, "So, you're just going to sit there and pretend that you did nothing wrong? Do you think you can simply turn your back on your crimes and pretend all is well with the universe?"
Anakin retorted, "Don't worry, Ferus! I've been suffering the consequences of my actions for the past decade! And I'm quite certain that I'll continue to pay for years to come." He paused and regarded the other man with a challenging stare. "Unless you want to punish me, now. Strike me down with the weapon you still carry."
"And what? Give in to the Dark Side, as you did?" Contempt flashed in Ferus' eyes. "Become the Emperor's new apprentice? I would never even consi . . ." He paused, as his face suddenly paled. Anguish and guilt replaced the contempt in his eyes. "I . . ."
Frowning, Anakin demanded, "You what?" Ferus' changed demeanor took him by surprise. "What were you going to say?" Using the Force, Anakin tried to sense what had suddenly alarmed Ferus. He detected a faint hint of another presence. Someone whom he had not laid eyes upon in over a decade. "You've been with the Emperor," he whispered accusingly. "Haven't you? When? Recently? Several years ago?"
Ferus' shoulders sagged in defeat. "It's been at least four or five years since I was last in his presence." After a long pause, he added, "I have . . . occasionally served as an agent . . . on the Emperor's behalf." He glanced up to look at Anakin with pleading eyes. "I had a good reason for my actions."
Anakin felt inclined to ask Ferus to explain further. But since he felt no inclination to reveal his own reasons for betraying the Jedi, He did not bother to ask. As it turned out, he did not have to.
"You don't understand," Ferus continued. "I had received a personal message from the Emperor that two of my friends - including my former partner, Roan Lands - had been arrested by the Bellassan government. The Emperor asked me to search for a rebel saboteur on Samaria, in exchange for their release and amnesty. I had no choice but to accept."
Unable to stop himself, Anakin asked, "Did the Emperor keep his word?"
Ferus paused. "I told a few friends about Roan's capture and they managed to free him and Dona Telamark and they went to Bellassa to free them. I went to Samaria to find the saboteur. She turned out to be an old friend of Obi-Wan and I helped both her and her son to escape from the Imperials. Both Roan and Dona were rescued by friends and they met me on Samaria. However, Romulus . . . I mean, Lord Rasche and several stormtroopers appeared. I had remained behind to delay them so that my friends could escape." A bitter laugh escaped from his mouth. Rasche merely ignored me and went after my friends, but they got away. I remained on Samaria . . . and got caught up in the rebellion there." A pained expression appeared on his face. "I also found myself acting as a double agent for both the Imperials and the Samarian rebels. I . . . thought I could help the rebellion in this manner, but . . . it all ended badly." He sighed. "Roan is dead. And my other friends began to consider me as a traitor."
A deep suspicion niggled at the back of Anakin's mind. "I thought your friend, Roan, had managed to escape. How did he . . .?" He broke off, as an elegantly dressed Igraine loomed in the doorway.
"Set? Are you ready?" Igraine's gaze fell upon Ferus. "Oh. I didn't realize you had company."
Both men stood up. Ferus bowed. "Milady."
Igraine asked, "Are you an old friend of Set's?"
Ferus blinked momentarily at the mention of Anakin's alias.
Anakin quickly added, "We're old companions from the Clone Wars. Ig . . ." He cut off when Igraine frowned at him. "I mean . . . Serena Cunus meet . . ."
"Petre Larker," Ferus finished. "Of Chommell Minor."
Igraine smiled politely. "Nice to meet you." She turned to Anakin. "Are you ready?"
After a quick nod, Anakin turned to Ferus and gave the latter a twisted smile. "Nice to see you again . . . Petre."
Ferus merely responded with a half-hearted smile.
As the couple walked away from the salon, Igraine asked, "Did you say that you two had fought together during the Clone Wars?"
"Yes," Anakin lied. "Both . . .Petre and my mother were from the Chommell System. It had been wracked by constant invasion attempts by the Separatists."
"Interesting. I wonder if he was a former Jedi, as well," Igraine added. "His dress seemed to hint it." Anakin inwardly winced at the Maldarian woman's sharp observance. Then she added, "Were you two, friends?"
A derisive snort escaped from Anakin's mouth before he could stop himself. "More like acquaintances." He shot a reassuring smile at his companion. "Ready for an exceptional dining experience?"
Igraine broke into a smile. "Lead the way, Captain Horus."
The pair made their way past the lobby and merged outside, into the wet evening.
END OF CHAPTER THIRTEEN