Set during Empire Strikes Back...
- - -
Darth Vader waited at the head of the table in Cloud City's finest private dining chamber. His trap was set, sprung... All that remained was to see the looks on the faces of the Rebels when they learned they'd been had.
Dramatic? Oh yes. But Darth Vader seldom had any joys left in life. This was one of them.
It had been six months since losing Luke and the Falcon at Hoth. Vader needed Luke's friends to lure him out, and at last, here they were. That rustbucket freighter had limped along on its back up hyperdrive all this way, carrying his son's closest companions:
Princess Leia Organa. Captain Han Solo. Chewbacca. And Doctor Chelli Aphra: Formally his agent, now a traitor and part of the Rebel Alliance.
Her turn had been shocking. That the Alliance had accepted her, even more shocking. That his son had befriended her... Baffling. Honestly, he was tempted to murder the mad archaeologist to keep her from anywhere near his son. But she would prove useful.
He hadn't actually seen any of Luke's comrades. Stealth had to be perfect, to spring the trap. Yet he could feel them through the Force, and... Something was off.
Leia's lifeforce was strong and vibrant-Determined and aggressive. Captain Solo's was less bright, but spoke of danger and confidence. Chewbacca's was cautious but strong, nothing special among Wookies though. Aphra's though... It was different. Very different. He'd worked with her for a long time, after all. Her signature had become familiar. It felt brighter, stronger, as though there was someone with her. Someone strong with the Force.
Yet this was impossible-Her Force sensitivity was average. What could have changed?
For a few moments, he could swear she almost felt like Luke. But how could that-?
Ah. The doors opened. He stood up.
The Wookie roared in challenge, and Captain Solo pulled his blaster and fired off several shots. Had it been anyone other than Vader, his blasts would have all hit him in the head. But Vader easily blocked every blast with his hand, and with a tug of the Force, ripped the weapon from the smuggler's hand and caught it.
"We would be honored," Vader practically purred, "if you would join us."
Boba Fett emerged to stand alongside Vader. His troopers came up behind the group, blasters on them. Aphra was being hidden behind the Wookie. Strange, she usually was fearless enough to smile and wave at him. Say something snarky, and annoying.
"They arrived just before you did. I had no choice," Calrissian said, soft and regretful, "I'm sorry."
"So am I," Captain Solo replied, quiet but deadly. The Princess held onto his arm tightly. The Wookie advanced. Aphra tried to stay behind him, but a trooper shoved her forward as the doors shut behind them.
"Whatever you're going to do," the Princess stated boldly, "leave Aphra out of this."
"You are hardly in a position to-"
Aphra finally emerged from behind the Wookie... And Vader stopped short. Behind his mask, his jaw dropped.
She was dressed in one of the glamorous dresses Calrissian had provided for his guests, just like for the Princess. She was quite becoming. But that hadn't attracted Vader's attention.
Aphra sighed, and held a hand over her large, round belly.
"It's not like I could hide it, Princess, but thanks," Aphra managed.
For the first time in a long time... Vader was momentarily speechless.
Not that this lasted.
"Take the others," Vader ordered to the other troopers who filed into the room, "leave Doctor Aphra and I alone."
"You can't just-Leave her alone!" Leia shouted, as the guards dragged her off. Chewbacca and Solo violently fought their guards, to the point they had to be stunned and dragged off. Calrissian winced as he watched this, but bowed and left.
The bounty hunter left as well. Soon, it was just Aphra and Vader in the silent room.
Aphra stared at him, before shuffling to a chair and sitting down in it. She sighed. She looked exhausted.
Vader couldn't help but see Padme in her place: How tired she had looked towards the end of her pregnancy. He put that thought out of his mind.
"... Figured out it's Luke's, huh?" Aphra asked softly.
"You would usually lie about such things," Vader stated coldly.
"Yeah, well..." Aphra looked down, "I'm a little too terrified to lie right now."
Vader walked over, standing in front of her. He hesitated a moment.
"... When he joins me, you will want for nothing," Vader promised, "you and he will be safe. Rich. Your child-"
Aphra put a hand over her belly.
"My child will become a weapon of the Sith," she said softly.
Vader was silent. He didn't deny it. Aphra resumed talking.
"When I found out? I was terrified. It was so stupid... Forgetting my birth control. I thought about what might happen if I aborted. Leia caught me with the test. She'd already figured it out but... She asked me if I could honestly get rid of Luke's baby. Of... My baby."
She laughed, soft and sad.
"I thought I had... Lost all those emotions, ya know? Love. Affection. Trust... He brought them out of me. I... I couldn't imagine killing his... My baby."
She was silent for a moment, staring into nothing.
"It's funny, huh? How having children changes... Everything," she murmured.
"... Yes," Vader murmured back, softly.
"You're going to torture us," Aphra said quietly, "to lure Luke in."
Vader paused.
"Them, yes. In your condition..."
He had a son... And a grandchild. He felt so lost.
"My baby will end up like you, one day. Won't he?" Aphra asked.
"Your child will be strong," Vader said, "powerful, rich beyond your dreams. The ruler of the galaxy-"
"Suffering," Aphra stated.
"It is the way of the Sith," Vader stated, "it will make them strong."
Aphra looked up into Vader's eyes. She bit her lower lip.
"Is that what you want for your son?" She asked quietly.
Vader didn't answer her. He turned away. He summoned Calrissian.
"Keep her in a secure location," Vader stated, "and have a medical team attend to her."
"Of course, Lord Vader," Calrissian said, nodding. Two of his security guards came through the doors, and Lando offered her his hand.
"If you'll come with me-"
"I'll walk on my own," Aphra snorted, getting up, "I'm pregnant, not disabled."
She headed out under escort, Vader watching her every step until the doors closed.
This... Was going to make things easier, in a sense.
Yet so much more complicated in others.
- - -
Sitting in opulence, plates of the finest food Lando Calrissian could buy sitting nearby, and a beautiful view of the clouds before her... Aphra considered that, a year ago? She would have been all for this scenario.
Even the getting pregnant part. Actually, especially the getting pregnant part. That had been amazing. Sure, Luke was a doe eyed innocent little farm boy, but... Wow... Was he a fast learner!
And sure, she hadn't intended to get knocked up. But having Luke's kid basically meant that Vader and the Emperor couldn't kill her. She was untouchable.
At least until they took her baby away and turned it into a horrifically damaged Sith assassin for their own ends.
Yeah. Okay. That was why she wasn't happy where she was.
That, and Luke. If he fell to the Darkside... Even if she would someday become Empress of the Galaxy... It felt like too high a price to pay. Everything she cared about in him... It would all be gone.
That thought was... Horrible to her. Where a year ago, she may have just been bothered by the idea that she would be labeled as a desperate cradle robber. She was almost ten years older than Luke, after all.
"Fierfek," she cursed, "you two have completely ruined me, you know?"
She glared at her belly, and pointed a finger at it.
"You must be pulling some kind of Jedi mind trick: I care about shavit. I want to make sure you and your daddy are happy, not just rich and powerful! And free too! Ugh! All that time spent around do-gooders! Stupid Rebel Alliance, stupid Luke, stupid baby."
The baby kicked her, hard. Aphra winced, and rubbed her belly reassuringly as her child continued to assault her insides.
"I take it back! I take it back! Mama loves you! I promise!"
The baby calmed down. Aphra sighed again, and wore a wan smile.
"Well," she muttered, "guess that means I've gotta figure a way out of this..."
The doors opened. A few Stormtroopers walked in, blasters lowered.
"Ma'am," said the first, "Lord Vader wants you aboard the Executor."
Shavit. Fine time for her to have to work out a plan. Still, she'd done some of her best work under pressure.
And she did have one unexpected advantage...
"All right..." Aphra pushed herself up to her feet, took a step... And then staggered back, sliding back into her chair.
"I'm sorry," she said, "I'm not feeling great. Baby and all. Can you get a hover chair or something for me? Please?"
The lead Stormtrooper turned away, and tapped his holocomm. Apha, with ease of long practice, pretended not to notice the conversation he was having with Vader.
"My lord, the Doctor apparently needs a hover chair," the trooper said, "but we don't know where one is-"
"You will get her a hover chair immediately," Vader boomed, "and if any harm comes to her or her child? I will personally execute every single one of you. Do you understand, Sergeant?"
The Sergeant stood up straight.
"Yes, my Lord!"
"Good," Vader stated, "you will meet Calrissian and our other prisoners at my shuttle. Go."
"Yes, my Lord!"
The comm cut off. The Sergeant pointed to four of his troopers.
"You! Find us a hover chair!" He ordered.
"Sir!" They chorused, heading out. The Sergeant turned back to Aphra, shrugging, as they were now alone in the room.
"Sorry about this, ma'am," he said, "we'll get you your chair."
"Thank you," Aphra said, "um, one other thing? Can you please help me stand up? I need to use the 'fresher."
The Sergeant was clearly holding back a sigh. He walked over, and gracelessly took hold of Aphra's hands and pulled her to her feet.
"All right, we'll just-"
"AHA!" Aphra shouted, pulling a thermal detonator from the trooper's belt and staggering backwards, "drop your blaster!"
The Sergeant stared in disbelief as Aphra triggered the detonator.
"Wha-You-No-You'll kill us both-your baby-!"
"Drop your blaster right now or I'll blow us all to bits!" Aphra screamed. "DO IT!"
"Okay! Okay!" The sergeant dropped his blaster.
"Kick it over to me!" Aphra ordered. The trooper slowly complied.
Aphra struggled with this part. Bending over wasn't exactly easy.
"Nngh...!"
"I could just pick the blaster up-" The Sergeant offered.
"I've... Nngh... Got it!" Aphra staggered back up, pointing the blaster at him. "Now! You're gonna take me to the Millennium Falcon, got it?!"
"It's a long way," the Sergeant pointed out.
"Yeah, I know," Aphra stated, "which is why I need you to give me a piggy back ride there."
"... You can't be serious-"
"BEND OVER!"
"All right, all right!"
- - -
Lando had broken his deal with Vader, and had gotten Leia, Chewbacca and Threepio free. They were trying to get to the East Platform to save Han before Boba Fett took him. Along the way, they'd run into Artoo, who had joined them.
Unfortunately, they'd been too late. Slave 1 rocketed off, a few shots from Leia's blaster uselessly bouncing off its hull.
Crestfallen, Leia had lowered her blaster... But Threepio's screamed warning had gotten her back on the alert. She dodged a blaster shot, and returned fire at a Stormtrooper. A few others were blasting away, trying to hit them.
"We've gotta get to the Falcon!" Lando shouted. Leia grimaced.
"Where is it?!"
"Same place I left it..."
A familiar engine roared nearby. Leia, Lando, Chewie, and Threepio looked up at the form of their YT-1300 freighter flying overhead. It descended down onto the landing pad Boba Fett had just vacated. Through the cockpit windows, Leia spotted a familiar, exhausted face.
"Chelli?!" Leia gasped in disbelief.
Aphra hit the loudspeakers.
"What are you waiting for, an invitation?! GET ON BOARD!"
- - -
As it turned out, escaping Cloud City wasn't exactly easy. TIE fighters were patrolling the skies overhead, so they had to navigate slowly through the cityscape of Cloud City to avoid them. Ducking through the valleys and canyons of durasteel and plasteel very carefully.
Han Solo was quite the pilot of course, but Chewbacca was just as accomplished.
Han... Yeah. Aphra stared out the window as she sat in the aft navigator's seat.
Okay, so they hadn't gotten off to the best start for a friendship... But he'd kind of grown on her.
Aphra was fiddling with one of the droid brains of the Falcon, trying to get it to process things properly. She shook her head, grumbling a bit.
"I'd enjoy this more if this stupid brain wasn't salvaged out of a scrap heap," she muttered.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
Aphra yelped as Han Solo yanked her away from the droid brain casing, and with his other hand slapped it closed. Aphra scowled up at him.
"Me?! I'm trying to help fix this pile of junk!"
Han scowled deeply, still tugging on the back of her jumpsuit like she was a disobedient nexu kitten.
"You didn't ground it. You're liable to shock yourself," Han stated.
"I've been shocked lots of times-"
"Not when you're carrying the Kid's kid, you haven't," Han growled.
Aphra growled back.
"I'm not a freaking invalid! What do you expect me to do, sit around and do squat?!"
She paused.
"Actually that sounds great, being waited on hand and foot-"
"You're not getting that, Doctor Psycho," Han stated, "you're just going to have to actually pay attention to the damn warning labels."
"Hmph," Aphra grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest petulantly "so just because I'm an incubator for Luke's baby, now you like me?"
"I never liked you, Nutjob," Han stated, working on the droid brain carefully, "but we're in danger enough. That kid of yours didn't do anything to warrant all this hardship. So don't pile more on."
Aphra was silent, as Han adjusted the settings on the droid brain interface. She sighed.
"I know... I'm sorry," she muttered. "This is... All new for me."
"Yeah well, I didn't make this ship childproof, so we're both in it," Han stated. He looked over at her.
"Still... Just because I don't like you doesn't mean I want you or your kid dead," Han said quietly.
Aphra stared back, and nodded slowly.
"I... Thanks," she mumbled. She shuddered.
"Fierfek... Are we bonding?"
"Kriff no," Han stated, "I just don't want to tell Luke his babymama got herself killed because she's a psychotic nutjob."
That made Aphra smile as she retorted.
"Grungy smuggler!"
"Lunatic!"
"Bleeding heart!"
Yeah. Okay. So maybe she didn't want Solo frozen and turned over to Jabba the Hutt. It didn't make her a goody two shoes heroine. She owed him one. After all, he got her off Hoth after a stray blast from an Imperial Walker collapsed the ice on top of the Ark Angel. She couldn't have dug herself out in time to escape.
Then again, given she was pregnant... Vader would have caught her, realized it, and...
Kriff no, don't think like that, Aphra thought to herself, as Chewbacca got them out of the city and heading out along a jetstream. They were hoping they could drift to the far side of the planet this way, maybe hide in the clouds for a while, before escaping. Or maybe...
Her baby jumped in her womb. She felt a flash of fear, desperation-But it wasn't her own.
"Hey," Lando asked, leaning over her, "you all right?"
"I... I don't," Aphra managed.
"Luke," Leia murmured. She shook her head, and looked over at Chewbacca, "I know where Luke is."
"You do?!" Aphra cried.
"We have to go back, have to get him," Leia said.
"Wha-You're crazy!" Lando insisted, "we can't go back!"
Chewbacca made some noises of protest. Aphra got up and held onto the big Wookie's shoulder.
"Chewie... Please?" Aphra tried.
"Just do it, Chewie!" Leia pushed.
Chewbacca grumbled... But brought the Falcon about and shot right back for Cloud City. Lando's eyes widened.
"But what about those fighters-!"
Chewie snarled at him, and Lando held his hands up.
"All right, all right! Geez," he grumbled, "I'm the one who got us out, ya know."
"After getting us into that mess in the first place!" Leia shot back.
"Wow... So this is what it feels like," Aphra murmured.
Chewbacca made a comment about empathy. Aphra bristled.
"I do too know what empathy feels like!"
It was a small joke. But it was all she could make, with how fearful her child had become. Aphra rubbed her belly, trying to be soothing. But it was so hard to actually be that when she was such a whirlwind of emotion herself.
They flew underneath the great expanse of Cloud City. Lando looked up, face full of regrets. Then... He pointed out a dark spot far above them.
"Look! There's someone up there!" Lando said.
Aphra's eyes widened. Her baby calmed down, happiness flooding her.
"It's Luke!" Leia cried. "Chewie, get right underneath him! Lando, go open the top hatch!"
"On it," Lando said, heading off. Aphra got up and waddled after.
She waited at the bottom of the lift shaft, as Lando went up. It felt so tense. Her baby though was so happy... She found herself drawing strength from the child.
Finally... Lando descended. He was holding a badly beaten, cut, and bruised Luke. He was holding his right hand underneath his other arm. It didn't take a doctorate to figure out why.
His eyes widened in shock.
"Chelli-Mmph!"
Aphra hugged and kissed the hell out of him. Desperate frantic kisses.
"Luke... Luke...!"
Leia joined them, giving Luke a tight hug. Lando sighed, a hint of a smile on his face.
"Come on, come on, get him to the medical bay," Lando insisted. He shook his head in disbelief. "You look like you've been through hell, kid."
Luke managed a nod, as Aphra awkwardly got him over to the medical bay. Leia headed with Lando up to the cockpit, promising she would be back.
Aphra laid him on the bunk, and began attaching IVs and stabilizers, and applying bandages. She wrapped a regenerator and sterilization cuff around his stump, and secured him. She then had to practically lie on top of him, to catch her breath.
In all honesty, most of her exhaustion had not been feigned in the slightest.
"Father," Luke murmured. Aphra looked down, grimacing. It didn't take much to put two and two together about this situation.
"Luke," Aphra murmured back, stroking his battered face, "Luke... I..."
Luke stared up at her.
"You knew," he muttered.
Tears prickled at her eyes. She slowly nodded.
"Why... Why didn't you... Ben... Why didn't you tell me...?" Luke murmured, as though half asleep and having a nightmare. Aphra hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry," Aphra whispered, planting kisses on his bruises, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
She could feel something else... Someone else. Dark and familiar. So powerful, and yet... There was a deep sadness in the presence as well.
The ship shook from laser fire. Luke wanted to get back up, but Aphra held him down. Not really of her own volition-She was so tired. She crawled into the bunk with him, to make it less uncomfortable for both of them. Luke's left hand came to rest on her belly, and he stared at her in shock.
Aphra just held him tightly, and buried her face in his chest.
"I didn't know that until after Hoth," she murmured, "can't get angry at me for that..."
Luke, so overwhelmed, passed out. Which was a shame-Apparently Artoo got their hyperdrive working at just the right moment to escape.
She could only imagine the look on Vader's face.
She tightened her hold on Luke.
They were going to have a lot to talk about, but...
For now? They were together.
And that was enough, as she fell asleep.
- - -
The most terrifying silence that had ever fallen upon the Executor bridge ensued, as the Millenium Falcon leaped into hyperspace.
Admiral Piett made himself as small and hidden as possible, desperate to hide. There was no use though.
The moment Lord Vader turned around, that was it. Piett was finished.
Piett had worked so damn hard. He'd gotten where he was with hard work and no family connections. He'd probably lucked out that Ozzle was one of the most incompetent Admirals to ever blight the service. His life expectancy had been shortened over and over again with every pigheaded, foolish remark. Piett hadn't done anything special, just let the Admiral's idiocy run its course to the expected conclusion.
Now... Now, despite him doing everything Lord Vader had asked. Doing all he could, competently, expertly... Somehow...
Lord Vader turned from the window. He walked... Right past Piett, and off the bridge, without a single word.
Piett let out the breath he was holding. He took another one. Another.
Somehow, he was still doing it. He wasn't dead.
Why?
Don't ask questions like that, Piett's mind screamed frantically, you don't want him to change his mind!
Piett went off to the 'fresher, splashed cold water in his face, and stared at himself in the mirror. He focused, breathing in and out, in and out.
His calm slowly returned. And with it, his keen faculties. All of which began to run at lightspeed. It was in Piett's nature to try and figure out something strange and bizarre. Oh, he knew when to keep his nose out of Lord Vader's business-That had kept him alive. But all these strange events?
He couldn't simply ignore them.
Yes... All those mysterious orders... The strange concern Vader had for Skywalker, and now Aphra? Doctor Aphra was a rogue element, a former agent of Vader's who had betrayed him and thrown in with the Rebels. She was marked for death. Her being pregnant shouldn't have mattered.
Yet it did... And Vader had insisted on all this, just to capture Skywalker. He'd even treated Aphra with care, for him. Ordering that she not be harmed, upon pain of death. It was always implied with Vader what the price of failure was, but this...?
Piett himself had spent hours poring over intelligence reports with Lord Vader himself on Skywalker's possible whereabouts. His origins, his friends. Aphra figured prominently among them. There was a high probability the child she carried was Skywalker's. Using her as bait made perfect sense.
Not torturing her... Well... Piett could admit he did not relish the idea of torturing a pregnant woman, even a Rebel one. There was just something deeply wrong about that. It was a line he struggled to cross.
That Lord Vader would not cross such a line with her was... Somewhat reassuring? Yet given all they had done to try and find Skywalker... Why spare her? Was it unnecessary?
The gentle treatment she received... It couldn't just be Lord Vader's conscience. Something else was at work here.
Something to do with Skywalker... But what?
It took an hour for Piett to calm himself enough to meet with the section chiefs. They too were rattled, but to their credit, they gave their reports on the events on Bespin as best they could.
The lone Sergeant who had been effectively kidnapped by Doctor Aphra was the last to speak. He looked like he was expecting the gallows as he tonelessly recounted his experience.
"Then she stunned me, and I didn't know anything else until the rest of my squad found and revived me," he finished.
Piett nodded slowly.
"I see," Piett stated, "I suppose, under the circumstances and given your captive-"
The doors opened. That mechanical breathing filled the room. Piett, through long practice, was able to turn calmly to face Lord Vader as he walked into the room.
"My Lord," Piett greeted.
"You are the one who let Doctor Aphra go?" Vader asked.
The Sergeant, again to his credit, didn't shrink back or scream. He slowly nodded, staring back at Vader with a face made of stone.
"Everyone but you and Admiral Piett, leave," Vader ordered. The officers all scurried out, only a few trying to maintain their dignity.
Well... This is it, Piett thought to himself. What was it? Three years, seven months, four days he'd avoided death at Vader's hand? It was a record he couldn't see being broken any time soon. Good luck to Captain Venka. He would need it.
What could he say? There was no way to blame anyone else for this, and even Piett wasn't cold enough to throw the technicians on the sabotage squad under the speeder. They'd done their jobs. Hells, he'd inspected it himself!
That bloody ship's hyperdrive was disabled!
"You did not harm Doctor Aphra in any way?" Vader asked, almost softly. The Sergeant shook his head mechanically.
"No, My Lord."
"Good," Vader said with a nod, "you followed my orders despite her reckless actions. I have found it difficult not to harm Doctor Aphra even under the best of circumstances. You are dismissed, Sergeant."
"Yes My Lord, thank you my Lord," the Sergeant replied, bowing low, before he headed out. Piett could feel the pitying look on the Sergeant's face as the doors shut behind him. Piett stood at attention, determined to meet his end with some semblance of dignity.
"My Lord. What is it you wish of me?" He asked. May as well be direct.
"My private wing on the Executor," Vader stated, "you will have a team begin modifications on it immediately. I wish to add a nursery."
Piett blinked. He blinked again. He knew the price of questioning Vader's orders, but... This was... He felt like the universe had come to a complete deadstop.
"My... My Lord? I am afraid I do not understand," Piett said.
"A nursery," Vader repeated, "Doctor Aphra's child will need the best facilities available when it is born."
"... I... Apologies my Lord," Piett said, "I... I will carry out your orders immediately. The context is just, a bit..."
Vader looked over at Piett. What thoughts were churning behind that inscrutable mask?
"... Is there a particular theme you would like, My Lord?" Piett tried.
Vader slowly looked back out the conference room windows.
"I have no experience with children," he said quietly, "but... yellow and blue would be good colors, do you not agree?"
"I... I suppose so, sir," Piett admitted, "I only have nieces and nephews, myself, but they..." He nodded again, cutting himself off.
"Yes, My Lord. That should be sufficient."
"Good," Vader stated, "you are dismissed, Admiral."
"Yes sir," Piett bowed, and headed out. As soon as the doors closed, Piett let out a long exhalation.
What in the name of every hell there was happened on Cloud City?!
Vader contemplated the stars. His feelings were tumultuous, unfitting for a Sith Lord. And yet...
He had felt through Luke's senses a bit, just before they jumped. He felt that, despite his son's roiling emotions... He trusted and cared for the mad archaeologist. And despite her keen ability to disguise her thoughts... The Doctor cared for his son, too.
It was so strange, and yet... Comforting.
"I am a grandfather," he murmured.
He would have preferred a less violent, psychotic daughter in law... But he supposed his son admired her fire. That at least Vader could share.
"I have... So much to do," he muttered, a smile threatening to develop underneath his mask.
