After the events of Bespin (Empire Strikes Back), Luke joined his father, Darth Vader and became a Sith apprentice. His best friend, Soyara, was left to clean up the mess. She couldn't help but want to restore Luke to the Jedi ways, but she would so...
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chapter seventeen: the sacrifice of a Jedi ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Luke's Pov
I pulled out of Soyara's mind, shuddering at the memories of Yavin IV and Bespin. Those were the memories of a foolish boy, I had to remind myself.
I took a deep breath and waited for her to come back from her trance-like state, but she never did. Instead, she began mumbling. I couldn't make it out, but I distinctly heard her call out for Luke. Poor girl, she still believes that I can be saved, that I can just go back. It's not that simple. It would be better for her just to accept Luke is dead. It would hurt less.
Without warning, she crumbled to her knees, gripping her head tightly, like when I saw her in the medical wing. The dark side of the Force. If she'd just accept it and stop resisting its call, the pain would cease. As much as I wanted to stop her pain, her suffering, it was all a part of the journey to becoming who she was meant to be. I knelt beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder and softly offering her a way out. "Give in Soyara. End this fight. Join me."
For a moment, I began to believe that she was going to give in, but the pain overtook her as she collapsed. I sighed in defeat. She was a fighter. This wasn't going to be easy, but I decided that if it meant that I could protect her, it was worth it. I picked her up in my arms and carried her out into the hallway.
I started to walk back to my quarters, which were closer than the detention area, but I quickly changed directions. I knew how my father would react. He wasn't thrilled about her arrival, so I doubted he would appreciate her staying with me. As I carried her to the detention center, I allowed my thoughts to wander, taking me back to that day on Hoth, the last time she saw me as Luke Skywalker.
•••
"You're just going to up and leave? Luke, we need you with the fleet. You can't just abandon us every time you think you see or hear Ben!" Soyara lectured me in the hangar bay after I told her that I was leaving for Dagobah.
"Soyara, I'm not abandoning the fleet. You are overreacting." I tried to calm her. My words had the opposite effect.
"Am I? Because we have finally started getting the base settled, and you want to take off on yet another adventure. What, is the Rebellion not exciting enough for you anymore?"
I was taken aback, "That's not at all what I'm saying. I don't want to go—"
"But you do. Otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation." She replied. I couldn't argue with her. Of course I wanted to go, but that didn't necessarily mean that I wanted to leave her. However, instead of letting her know how I really felt, I let my frustration get the better of me.
"You know what, Soyara, I'm your superior. I don't answer to you. When you come to your senses, come find me." I stormed over to a T-47 Airspeeder and took off, not once looking back. Little did I know that it would be the last time I would see her before my whole life changed.
•••
I reached the cell and used the Force to open it. It's not forever, just until she breaks. I laid her down on the small bed sitting in the corner and brushed a piece of brown hair from her face, smiling as I recalled how it always got in her eyes back on Hoth. I didn't want to have to break her down, but it was the only way. She'll turn. I know it.
•••
Soyara Pov
I paced the width of my cell, replaying the words of the Emperor over again in my mind. He was toying with me. I kicked the wall in frustration.
When I first lost Ahsoka on Malachor, I learned to cut myself off from others. I taught myself how to keep my relationships with everyone at bay. I had two rules. One, never get close enough to care for someone. Two, never let anyone get close enough that they care for you. Together, these two rules kept me from hurting whenever I lost someone, which in my line of work, was often. I had thought those rules would save me a world of hurt, like walls protecting a city, but I'd soon learn that those rules would come crumbing down like they had when the the Death Star decimated Jedha.
Han had been the first to break that barrier as he became like the brother I never had. Luke had been the second. He was able to get beneath my skin and crawl his way into my heart unlike anyone I'd ever known. I was captivated by his kindness in a galaxy that I had began to believe was completely cruel. He had become my light, bringing me back to the Jedi ways after my choice to disassociate from the Force entirely. Luke had saved me.
Now, he was gone. I sunk to the floor as I was reminded of Luke's memory of Bespin. He had turned to keep me from the Empire. Deep down, beneath the facade of Darth Malevolence, Luke was still fighting to protect me, by giving himself to the dark side, to the Emperor.
The sound of marching made me look up from where my head rested on my knees. In the back of my mind, I foolishly hoped that those doors would open to reveal my Luke and a squadron of freedom fighters here to rescue me. Instead, the footsteps kept up their march, allowing that small dream to fizzle out entirely. However, the door to my cell did open, only to reveal an ISB agent. I frowned. Of course, they want me to give up my intel on the Rebellion. Are they foolish enough to think an ISB agent can extract it from me when even their Inquisitors could not?
When the ISB agent stepped aside to reveal Vader, I froze. With my choice to close myself off from the Force, I didn't have the extra protection to hide my thoughts from him. I shuddered, realizing that if I were to crack, my mind would be like an open book with all of my memories, secrets, and information. To say the least, I was afraid.
Darth Vader loomed over me intimidatingly. His breathing grew louder as he crouched down to my level. I couldn't face him, so I turned my face away, not looking him in the eye. He expertly held out a hand, sending the familiar searing pain through my head. I sucked in a breath, trying to block him from my thoughts. At this, he chuckled, "He showed you. Didn't he?" I closed my eyes tightly as he continued, "He showed you what happened in Cloud City."
Images from the vision flooded my mind. I saw the shaft, the duel, and the unmistakable look of terror on his face when he realized the truth behind his parentage. Luke had only been a scared boy, unsure of his training on Dagobah and left utterly alone by the ones he came to save. His need to save his friends overtook him, allowing him to easily accept the words of a liar, a Sith. A small tear rolled down my cheek. Despite our choice to leave him behind, whether on Hoth or Bespin, he still gave everything to protect us from Vader.
"Young Skywalker sacrificed himself that day for the Rebellion, for his friends, but in doing so, he realized what you still have not. Only through the dark side of the Force can you protect that which you love."
I finally glanced up at the Sith lord, "Maybe, but at what cost? Is a lifetime of fear, anger, and suffering worth it?"
Vader's breathing ceased momentarily as if he were contemplating my words. However, he soon rose to his feet and ignored my inquiry, "The Emperor has requested that you be brought before him tomorrow morning. A squad will arrive to escort you, but should you resist, they have orders to shoot on sight. My son might care for your well-being, but I do not." With that, he swifty exited the cell. Only the ISB agent remained behind. She took off her helmet and smirked. I sent up a small plea before the inevitable, tortuous interrogation began, "Force help me."
author's note: sorry i didn't put this up earlier, i had a case of stomach virus and severe nausea that kept me from being on electronics for very long. i'm feeling much better and am ready to keep writing. i love y'all so much 💙 May the Force be with you! -Sarah
