Star Wars The Other Side of Eternity V3

[Knowledgeispower]

Mind you I expect that the AU side is going to have to upgrade their ship designs to be less optimized against Starfighter attacks and moreso against capital ships or at least this will be the case in the area where the entrance to the regular stars wars universe is

 

[ShadowArxxy]

Mind you I expect that the AU side is going to have to upgrade their ship designs to be less optimized against Starfighter attacks and moreso against capital ships or at least this will be the case in the area where the entrance to the regular stars wars universe is

The Imperator's main battery is actually more suitable for capital ship fighting than either version of the Imperial, since it's the equivalent of a balanced heavy cruiser configuration of eight-inch guns in armored turrets as opposed to either a handful of eleven-inch guns or an excessive number of six-inch guns in high angle capable open barbettes. The OTL Empire pretty much seesawed from one ridiculous extreme to the other. . .

Where the Imperator loses out on firepower is the secondary battery, because the heavy point defense leaves less reactor output and physical hull space for the medium caliber secondaries. That isn't something easily addressed by a field refit, because medium caliber turbolasers are too big and too recoil-intensive to be added by anything less than a full dockyard rebuild.

 

[ShadowArxxy]

You have to feel bad for these TIE pilots. They're already canon-fodder in fighters made by the lowest bidder, and now they're facing an enemy optimized for killing swarms of fighters. I'm guessing TIE fighter pilot life insurance premiums are about to skyrocket.

I would point out that the poor reputation of TIEs is really not supported by the core canon, only by secondary canon (mostly the X-Wing books) which excessively wanks Rebel snubfighters.

What we actually see in A New Hope is:

1. TIE Fighters are incredibly lethal, highly optimized space-superiority starfighters. A mere nine TIEs inflicted an astounding ~90% casualties on better than three times their number of X-Wings and Y-Wings. Or even looking only at explicit onscreen kills and excluding the trench run, an even one-to-one loss ratio was seen despite the Rebels' superior numbers and supposedly superior hardware.

2. The deflector shields on Rebel starfighters are so weak as to be practically useless, withstanding at most 2-3 individual hits from a TIE Fighter's rapid-fire guns. This absolutely validates the Sienar design experience from the Clone Wars that for small starfighters, it is better to eschew shields for speed and maneuverability.

Note: Imperial-Xs have solid shields, but this is because they are much larger than their counterpart X-Wings, or indeed any Rebel starfighter.​

3. Contrary to fanon, Rebel starfighters are also shown to not be more physically robust than TIEs, with a further 2-3 TIE hits tearing X-Wings and Y-Wings into shreds after their shields drop. For comparison, the oversized wingtip cannons on an X-Wing still take 2-3 hits to kill an unshielded TIE, and their lower rate of fire makes it much more difficult to actually score those hits.

4. At no point in the entire battle does an X-Wing ever outmaneuver a TIE Fighter. Luke Skywalker was the only X-Wing pilot who survived a TIE on his tail in the dogfight over the Death Star, and he explicitly "couldn't shake" the TIE even with protagonist-elite flying skills, only managing to evade its fire until a fellow Rebel shot it off him.

5. Rebel teamwork is practically nonexistent, due primarily to their comically horrible situational awareness. Note that even when Biggs is actively looking for Luke, he can't find him and Luke has no idea where Biggs is either. Apparently, no one was listening to the veteran Red Leader when he told them to pick up their visual scanning.

 

[Free-Stater 101]

Going fine so far keep it up! Although I would fix your threadmarks as your chapter numbers are sometimes numerals and at other they are just written.

 

[LordSunhawk]

Chapter 9

The two enemy star destroyers fired at the completely exposed flank of Impetuous... and missed completely. Behind Taber and Mara there was a thumping sound, and on the screen the elite level coordination of the Imperial snubfighters dropped to ‘merely’ veteran levels as Irolia passed out again from overexerting her battle meditation. In her inexperience she’d panicked, not remembering that a heavy cruiser like Impetuous is armored precisely so it could take a hit like that.

The two more senior Imperial Jedi shared a look, shaking their heads, then turned their attention back to the battle. Another lecture was now in Irolia’s future.on the importance of not overextending oneself.

“So, do we engage?” Taber asked, lekku twitching a bit in impatience as she’d much rather be out there in the cockpit of her X-Wing than here at the edge of the battle.

Mara gave her a tolerant look and shook her head. “Orders remain, we stick out here to keep the bluette safe.” she replied. “Although…”

The redhead tapped a control, zooming in on the course of the disabled and drifting TIE fighter that they were tracking. “The kid is good, that eyeball is floating our way.”

Taber muttered something under her breath, causing Mara to laugh and shake her head.

Meanwhile, Impetuous was able to complete her roll, dorsal turrets flashing bolts of ravening energy at the enemy as she presented a completely fresh shield face, even as the backup generators labored like hercules to bring the downed shields back up to full strength.

So far there had been no decisive blows, outside of the snubfighter battle which was trending more and more decisively towards the Imperials (well, the Imperials with Imperial X’s at least.) There were some small hull breaches on the two ISDs facing them, caused by the initial torpedo and bomb volley from the snubfighters, but obviously critical functions were not in the exact same place on these ISDs as on their own heavy cruisers, so less damage than would have otherwise been done had occurred.

The lighter units of the makeshift squadron were almost in position. For some reason the two ISDs had done absolutely nothing to hinder them, perhaps assuming that the smaller ships were attempting to escape rather than anything offensive.

That changed now, as both Tyrant’s Bane and Adina finally opened fire. While the light turbolasers were hardly in the same league as the heavy ones onboard Impetuous, they were firing at nearly completely denuded sectors of shielding as the ISDs had been shifting power from those shields to shore up those being hammered by the heavy cruiser.

The aft ray and particle shields on both ISDs failed within moments of the unexpected barrages, and both vessels staggered as lances of energy stabbed into their engineering spaces. Fire slackened as power relays exploded under the onslaught, then one of the two ISD’s seemed to shudder in place before detonating in an enormous fireball of transcendent fury as her solar ionization reactor went critical. The titanic explosion sent debris hurtling all about, wreaking even more damage on the lamed and crippled ISD that remained relatively intact.

A single moment can completely change a battle. What had been a fairly even slugging match was now an execution, as all of the engaged Imperial vessels focused fire on the nearly destroyed surviving ISD, intending to destroy it before it could even try to escape.

Irolia had rather blearily roused by the time the finale occurred as the second ISD came apart in a shuddering mass of secondary detonations as the vessel's spine was broken. Escape pods had been launched, although in shockingly small numbers considering just how much time there had been from the point where any sane and rational commander would have ordered the ship abandoned and the final destruction.

“New orders, assist with picking up ejected pilots and help corral the escape pods.” Mara said, tapping an acknowledgement on the comm system to automatically update their status as her hands moved on the controls.

“Picking up that disabled eyeball as well, yes?” Taber inquired, her own hands working the controls at the co-pilots station.

“Might as well, be useful to see what they can actually do, come to think about it.” Mara replied, before opening a channel.

“Impetuous Contro, Knight Three requesting permission to divert to corral a disabled eyeball and bring it in for evaluation prior to starting pickups. Be aware that the pilot of the eyeball is a person of interest, repeat, pilot is a person of interest.” Mara spoke into the comms.

“Knight 3, Impetuous Control, permission granted.” came the droid voice of the controller on duty. “Report completion of diversion.”

“Roger that, Impetuous Control, will report completion of diversion. Knight 3 out.” Mara replied.

“There we go.” she said with a chuckle. “So, little blue, any reason why you picked this one other than her being force sensitive?” she asked over her shoulder at the once-again meditating Chiss.

“Had a feeling she’d be important somehow.” came the quiet response. “Not sure how, there’s something there but I’m not sure what it is.”

Mara nodded, manipulating the controls to bring Hydaspes Star into a perfect intercept vector to the drifting enemy fighter. “Once you’re recovered, prep the holding cell for our mysterious guest.” the redhead shared another glance with Taber.

“Got it, Master Skywalker.” came the soft response.

Mara shook her head as Taber smothered a laugh. Since Mara hadn’t trained a Padawan yet, despite her seniority, she technically was only an Imperial Knight, not an Imperial Jedi Master, but neither woman felt like correcting Irolia yet again.

“OK, we’re about a minute out.” Mara said instead to the twi’lek beside her. “Prep the tractor beam.”

“Prepping tractor beam.” Taber replied, going into ‘Strictly Business’ mode. “Scanning… I have positive lock. Come 1 degree left, down 1 point 2.”

“1 left, 1 point 2 down.” Mara confirmed, adjusting the controls.

Taber focused on the screen, mentally comparing the projected course with what she could see visually and nodding. “Initiating... “

The tractor beam assembly located beneath each of the mandibles of the Intersector seemed to almost thrum with energy as it activated under the twi’leks deft hand.

“We have it, snubbing off tumble… done… extending array for berthing.”

“Controls neutral, delta-v zero.” Mara said calmly.

“Port or starboard?” Taber asked as the tractor assembly smoothly extended downward on telescoping arms.

“Starboard.” Mara decided. “Irolia, holding cell prepped?”

“Prepped, Master Skywalker.” came the response from behind.

“Good, is the pilot still unconscious?” Mara pressed lightly.

“She is. I can TK her into the cell.” Irolia replied in her soft voice.

“Then do so, berthing in 45 seconds.” Mara ordered, nodding to Taber who had been smoothly manipulating the controls to bring the obvious entrance hatch in line with the universal docking adaptor.

“Scanners aren’t picking up an atmosphere inside the eyeball.” Taber reported, looking over the readouts.

Mara nodded and smoothly slid out of her pilots seat. “Your spacecraft.” she said simply and headed back to assist Irolia as things had gotten just a bit more complicated.

“My spacecraft.” Taber confirmed, pausing the berthing program for the moment.

Mara motioned Irolia back and activated a control panel by the airlock. “You aren’t trained on this, I don’t think.” she said to the chiss. “Watch and learn.”

Irolia nodded, standing next to the redhead Imperial Jedi and watching as Mara programmed the airlock. “OK, get your helmet and gloves on, I’ll check your seals, you check mine.” Mara said once she’d finished, reaching up and tapping the side of her pilot’s helmet while making use of the eye-tracking control interface to activate vacuum seal.

Irolia meanwhile had to pull on a far more basic helmet that could interface with her armor to provide a similar seal, along with vacuum gloves that were much bulkier than the pilot gloves Mara was wearing. The chiss managed to get the seals closed regardless, as she had been shown how to do that before, but didn’t object as Mara performed a visual inspection of the telltales to make sure they were properly seated. She did the same for Mara’s pilot suit, the two-man rule existed for a reason, after all, and outside of an emergency situation you always followed it.

Or Imperial Health and Safety would be unhappy with you. And when Imperial Health and Safety is unhappy, nobody is happy.

It only took a few moments and by the time they were done, with exquisite timing, Taber’s voice came in over the helmet comms. “Berthing complete. Be aware that we do not have a positive lock, repeat we do not have a positive lock. Primary clamps are not able to engage.”

“Negative positive lock acknowledged.” Mara replied, grimacing a bit. That made this a bit more complicated. “OK, Irolia, I’ll show you how to rig the safety lines before we open the outer doors. The atmosphere shield isn’t compromised so this is likely unnecessary, but it’s something you should get in the habit of always doing.”

Irolia nodded and followed Mara into the airlock, then mimicked her actions hooking a safety line to the conveniently placed tie downs within the lock as the inner door cycled shut. Once the light turned green Mara made a visual sweep of the airlock.

“Another tip, always do a FOD check before opening the outer doors, if the atmosphere shield fails you do not want to have random crap flying out and possibly tearing your suit.” she explained. Check complete, the older Jedi tapped a control sequence on the panel and the outer doors irised open, showing the still-closed hatch on the other side.

It only took a bit of visual examination to spot the handles needed to open the hatch. “Opening mechanism found.” Mara reported over the helmet commlink to Taber. “Activating now.”

She twisted the handle and pulled it, causing the upper hatch of the unfamiliar snubfighter to swing open on a pair of heavy duty hinges. It was immediately obvious that the cockpit was not designed to hold atmosphere at all and that the pilot was completely reliant on their suit for pressurization and breathing air.

“Alright, monitor the prisoner while I see about getting her disconnected from this rig and unstrapped. Let me know the instant she starts to wake up.” Mara ordered.

“Yes, Master Skywalker.” Irolia replied with a nod, her eyes closing as she tapped into the Force.

Mara suppressed an eye roll before passing through the atmosphere shield and into the unfamiliar cockpit assembly. It took some work, but latches were latches, hose connectors were hose connectors, and it looked like these other Imperials weren’t completely braindead in how they arranged things. She first released the straps connecting the pilot to the seat before she unhooked the life support hoses as that would start a short clock where she would have to get the pilot into the atmosphere shield before she asphyxiated.

Luckily Mara was an Imperial Jedi, a little bit of TK, a little bit of Force sense, and it was no problem at all. In less than 5 seconds the pilot was inside the airlock laying on the floor and Mara was right behind her.

She tapped the controls, sealing off the outer hatch once more after visually sweeping to make sure there was nothing in the way.

“We’re clear, hatch closed and secured, opening inner airlock.” she reported over the comm.

“Roger.” came the response from the cockpit.

A few moments later and their ‘guest’ was laid out in the holding cell after Irolia and Mara had conducted a quick yet thorough search for any weapons or tools that could be used for escape.

“Alright, keep an eye on her for now, Irolia.” Mara ordered as she unsealed her helmet finally and started heading back to the cockpit.

“Yes, Master.” the chiss replied, drawing another eye roll from the redhead.

Mara settled back into the pilot's seat and strapped in. “Pilot’s spacecraft.” she said simply as she took control.

“Pilot’s spacecraft.” Taber replied, then grinned “Master Skywalker.”

“Don’t you start.” Mara laughed, shaking her head. “Luke’s the only one of us who’s made Master so far, so when you say that I start looking for him.”

Taber just laughed and worked the tractor controls, shifting the captured snubfighter into a suitable towing position.

“How is your brother anyways, haven’t heard anything since he was teaching at the Flight School at the Academy.” Taber asked idly as she monitored the tow status.

“He’ll be here shortly, actually, he’s now chief of staff of the 1175th under the Old Man himself.” Mara replied as she smoothly brought the Intersector around and headed for the battered but still very operational heavy cruiser. “Mom is very pleased that he’s no longer in the cockpit, especially after the stunt he pulled at 3rd Alderaan.”

“Surprised she let him out of the Palace after that one.” Taber agreed with a laugh.

It didn’t take long for Hydaspes Star to reach Impetuous.

“Knight 3 to Impetuous Control. Requesting landing clearance with captured fighter in tow, repeat requesting landing clearance with captured fighter in tow. We have a prisoner on board, repeat we have a prisoner on board.”

“Roger that, Knight Three. You are number four for landing. You will be on spot Aurek, repeat Aurek. Marines are ready to secure the prisoner and the captured bird.” came the slightly fussy droid voice of the controller.

“Knight Three acknowledges number four for landing, spot Aurek, Marines standing by.” Mara repeated back.

Mara eased back the throttle and entered the landing pattern behind a trio of rescue shuttles.

“Tow is configured for landing.” Taber reported as she swung the captured bird to rest between the mandibles of the Intersector, the tractor arrays locking themselves into place. “Those panels look reinforced enough to support the mass of the eyeball, and don't see any obvious landing gear assemblies.”

“That’s going to give the handlers a conniption.” Mara chuckled and shook her head. “Simple enough, but inconvenient as hell.”

Taber chuckled and nodded, then lifted an eyebrow. “Three o’clock, low.” she said, leaning forward slightly.

Mara turned, just in time to see one of the truly awe-inspiring sights of the Galaxy, a heavy squadron executing a flawless formation exit from hyperspace.

The 19 kilometer long dagger hull of the nameship of the Executor-class battle carriers was at the center of the formation, ringed by a quartet of Allegiance-class battleships. A more distant ring of a dozen Imperator heavy cruisers formed the primary screen, while twice that many Vindicators and Nebulon-Bs formed the outer screen.

Compared to one of the twenty numbered fleets that comprised the main striking arm of the Imperial Navy it was a tiny formation. But in comparison to what was actually present already it was a massive escalation in force.

 

[Bear Ribs]

Hmm, playing coy with the mysterious TIE Pilot's identity. I feel like I should know who that is but I'm coming up blank.

I rather like the twist that Mara has a brother. Now I'm wondering how many thousands of other people are alive who wouldn't be in the original timeline. Does the ATL Empire have Kyle Katarn or does he never turn into the Star Wars equivalent of the Doomslayer without the atrocities that gave him his start?

 

[Jarow]

I rather like the twist that Mara has a brother.

In this timeline, she got adopted by Anakin and Padme (who are Emperor/Empress); the brother here is Luke Skywalker (and Leia has been mentioned as sister before too).

 

[LordSunhawk]

Hmm, playing coy with the mysterious TIE Pilot's identity. I feel like I should know who that is but I'm coming up blank.

I rather like the twist that Mara has a brother. Now I'm wondering how many thousands of other people are alive who wouldn't be in the original timeline. Does the ATL Empire have Kyle Katarn or does he never turn into the Star Wars equivalent of the Doomslayer without the atrocities that gave him his start?

Remember that ATL Mara is the adopted daughter of Anakin Skywalker, so her older brother is Luke ^_^

 

[Bear Ribs]

Ah, my mistake then.

 

[Ash's Boomstick]

Hmm, playing coy with the mysterious TIE Pilot's identity. I feel like I should know who that is but I'm coming up blank.

Has there been anything that comes close to saying who he is?

 

[deathzealotzero]

Has there been anything that comes close to saying who he is?

First of all the pilot is a she... and have you actually read the original version of this story? For I am sure it would be the same character from that version of the story. Right @LordSunhawk?

 

[Ash's Boomstick]

I have read all the versions, if it is the same fine but if not then has there been any nods to who it might be?

 

[Bear Ribs]

Haven't read previous versions and not trying to spoil myself.

 

[Jarow]

Definitely very little hinting at the pilot being a canon character, but then not much saying she's not a canon character either.

If she is the version seen in version 2 (she wasn't in the first version at all), then she's an OC.

Just read both the previous versions for the first time, they were pretty fun. Though, I will admit some fatigue at the beginning of the second, when all three versions were at their most similar, so it makes sense to just wait for this one to proceed. Looking forward to seeing how this one diverges!

 

[LordSunhawk]

Chapter 10

Triselka couldn’t believe just how busy the spacelanes were. For all that the yacht they were on was amongst the fastest in space, they still were at the mercy of route control due to the sheer volume of traffic. A major hyperlane was always busy, but back home that just meant you had to keep up a good sensor watch. Here, the closer they got to Coruscant the worse it got, until positive traffic control took over and you had to wait your turn at defined transfer points.

It mostly wasn’t military traffic either, they’d been sitting waiting for their slot for the next leg of the trip for an hour as a seemingly endless procession of field-secured cargo vessels routed past, feeding the industrial heartland of an Empire that was straining all of its economic and industrial might. The amount of credits represented by the traffic visible just with the naked eye was staggering.

Almost as dizzying as the volume was the variety. Ships from nearly every major species were represented, from the organic looking Mon Cal vessels to the militaristic Kuati and MandalMotors designs. Corellian vessels of all sizes and designations seemed to be everywhere. Triselka had even seen some rather exotic looking warships that looked like somebody had taken a Mon Cal cruiser and mated it with an Imperial Star Destroyer, an entire squadron of which had passed by heading away from the Core several minutes before.

One of the covers they’d often used was as ‘legit’ light freighter couriers, they’d had documentation and transponder codes that identified them as a completely legitimate and loyal shipping firm that specialized in small cargo that needed to be routed quickly. Of course, that had meant that Aloni and Scrish had to hide in the smuggler’s compartment whenever they were boarded by Imperial Customs… which seemed to happen at every single transfer point.

As a consequence Triselka was quite familiar with how Imperial Customs worked, with the Customs Corvettes seemingly everywhere boarding everybody unless you were with a favored megacorporation. She’d had to pretend to be a good little Imperial stooge during those stops, spouting off all the COMPNOR approved phrases and responses like a good little lackey. Of course, 90% of the ‘Customs Inspectors’ never seemed to look past the skintight outfits she’d wear long enough to spot anything out of the ordinary, and the 10% who managed to actually perform anything vaguely resembling a proper inspection, well, that was what bribes were for.

She saw nothing like that. There were marked customs craft at every transfer point, of course, but they seemed to content themselves with requesting manifests and performing basic scans rather than boarding everything in sight in hopes of bribes. The one time she had seen them boarding something it had been one of the big FSCVs, not one of the small fry.

Back home there was relatively sparse traffic, even in the Core. Planets were generally forced to rely on their own resources or relatively nearby systems, with the Empire strongly depressing commercial activity as against their interest in total control. Only favored shipping companies were allowed to operate, and even they did so under severe restrictions meant to show the authority of the Empire.

Here it was the opposite, commerce boomed, most of the cargos Triselka could identify were about as non-military as could be, consisting of massive conglomerations of containers containing commercial goods. Granted, equally enormous amounts of possibly military materials were being moved, but it seemed that this Empire had a radically different view of commerce than their own.

This was a healthy commercial system, despite the war, not a commercial system that only existed insofar as it supported the interests of the Imperial Elites. This was commerce at a scale Triselka had only heard about from the oldest members of the Rebellion who remembered the time before the Clone Wars, when traffic like this would have been ordinary.

It was rather staggering.

They finally got clearance to make the final route to Coruscant itself, and wasn’t that a trip, Coruscant, not Imperial Center. One of the customs corvettes had scanned them just before they got that clearance, but that appeared to be routine for every routing to the capital.

An hour later, Aloni had joined her in the observation lounge as they came out of hyperspace.

And both promptly felt their jaws drop and panic seize them in an iron grip. Because right in front of them hung the gigantic orb of a DEATH STAR, its superlaser dish pointing straight towards them.

A kriffing DEATH STAR. Triselka felt her heart drop into her shoes and her bowels threaten to loosen, while beside her Aloni was looking utterly terrified.

Oddly, the steward who was in the observation compartment didn’t seem bothered at all.

“Beautiful sight, that.” he commented cheerfully. “She was finished two years ago and has been the keystone of the Coruscant Fortress Command ever since.”

It took a second, but Triselka realized that the steward sounded proud of the presence of this Death Star. Then what he said registered.

“Fortress Command?” she managed.

“Yeah, they’re responsible for system defense, as opposed to the Navy which does both defensive and offensive ops.” he explained.

“Of course, they plan to have them stationed at all the main systems to pretty much guarantee their security against the Rebels, who wouldn't want to try and attack a planet defended by a Strategic Command Battlestation, I reckon.” he sounded so satisfied. “My little brother is assigned to her, so I got the declassified tour back when she was commissioned. The Kuati did their usual bang up job on the design, and Raith finally got to build one of his Specials, so I hear.”

Aloni swallowed a few times and looked over at her, then the two of them paled again as the steward cheerfully continued. “They’ve got a half dozen under construction now, no way to hide ‘em with how big they are. One on Corellia, one’s almost done at Kuat itself, another at Dac, one at Sullust, one’s just gotten started at Corulag, and another just started at Mandalore Prime. According to my brother the application que to get one assigned to a system is pretty much ‘Is an Imperial World’, even the provisional government on Alderaan has put in a bid, which is causing a bit of a ruckus.”

“A… Alderan?” Triselka almost croaked out.

“Sure, although they’re probably not qualified because, I mean, it’s a provisional government, right? Not a full up Imperial world yet. Dunno how long it’ll take for that to happen. I mean, they’re Alderaanians, they put up with the Organa’s for how long?” the steward just grinned.

Triselka was pretty sure she now knew what a mental short-circuit felt like, because what the steward was saying made zero sense whatsoever. Outside the viewport the incongruous sight of a DEATH STAR that, now that the initial shock had faded, was actually not the menacing gray of the Death Star they knew but rather a crisp white base with red and gold highlights that somehow made it… incongruously welcoming.

In the distance she could make out something that was extremely reflective, even with how far away it is. Narrowing her eyes, she realized it was a second Death Star, but this one looked only partially complete, with large segments of the hull still not finished. But the segments that were finished, even from this distance, were… chromed? Really?

She was about to ask when the steward pointed towards it. “There’s the second one for Coruscant, the Naboo got real insistent that since it was guarding the Empress, who used to be their Queen, that it had to be chromium plated. Up close it’s even more garish.”

Aloni and Triselka shared a look. Things were making less and less sense and becoming more and more surreal.

“Ooookay…” Aloni finally managed, swallowing hard.

An hour later they had made their way through Coruscanti traffic and landed at a building that Triselka had only ever seen old holos of and which was completely buried by the Imperial Palace back on Imperial Center… the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

As they were heading to the hatch to debark they got another surprise, as the pilot showed up.

A petite, even for her race, female Dug swung in with an inhumanly broad smile on her fierce face. “You enjoyed your trip, yes, enjoyed your trip?” she asked in an oddly cheerful voice given her species reputation.

“Certainly.” Aloni replied after a moment. “The hospitality was very nice.”

“Good good! Give good review if asked!” the Dug seized one of Aloni’s hands between her feet and enthusiastically shook her hand. “First big charter to Coruscant! Will have to tell dad!” then the creature shifted, then deepened her voice in an obvious imitation of a male Dug. “If you want to fly slow luxury ships rather than pods, don’t let it be said that Sebulba doesn’t take care of his daughter!” before she laughed and waved, heading back up to the cockpit.

Triselka looked at the twi’lek. “Well, that just happened.” and then led the still somewhat dazed Aloni through the hatch.

Outside a young Mon Calamari woman wearing deceptively simple brown and beige robes waited for them with her flippered hands buried in her sleeves. “Welcome to the Temple.” she said, her voice almost completely devoid of anything but a faint Coruscanti accent. “Imperial Knight Skywalker requested that we extend our hospitality to you while we determine what, precisely, is going on.” the large black eyes fixed on Aloni for a moment. “The other you is already with our healers being evaluated, please, follow me.”

It was spoken as a courteous request, as if there were any options other than accepting it. Both Triselka and Aloni knew full well they really didn’t have any options here.

“Sure.” Aloni finally said, and the patient Mon Cal turned and led them silently towards the Temple from the landing pad right outside.

The structure was glorious, soaring above them with incredible majesty and glorious beauty. The bright sunlight of a clear day glinted off of the metallic highlights and decorations and gilded the multitude of spires and pinnacles with golden light. They were heading towards a side entrance, but from where they were they could see the main entrance with a snaking line of tourists evidently visiting the home of the Jedi on guided tours.

Aloni boggled a bit, she’d known a few old-timers who remembered the old days, and ‘tourist tours of the Jedi Temple’ were not on the list of things they’d ever mentioned about the place. “Ummm, miss? You allow tourists in the Temple?” she asked hesitantly.

“My apologies for not introducing myself.” the Mon Cal said, her skin darkening slightly in embarrassment. “I very rarely greet visitors. Healer Chi Tinor.” she paused, then shrugged slightly. “One of the Emperor’s less popular initiatives with certainly parts of the Order, especially the Monasts, but very popular with the common citizenry. He says it helps to keep us connected to the people we serve.”

“Well, umm, Healer Tinor.” Aloni began, turning the phrase into a bit of a question and getting a nod from the other woman. “Where are we going first?”

“To the Room of Ten Thousand Fountains, where Imperial Jedi Master Dooku is waiting for you along with my own Master.” she explained as they continued walking.

They passed a number of armored figures who stood impassively next to the arched doorway of the side entrance, each armed with a double saber clipped to their belts and not reacting at all to their presence.

“Temple Guardians, drawn from retired Imperial Knights.” Healer Tinor explained without being prompted. “Mostly ceremonial these days, thank the Force.”

The interior was nearly as glorious as the exterior, with glorious mosaics in the walls and soaring, vaulted ceilings that reached almost a hundred feet above their heads, the walls pierced with glorious stained glass artworks depicting the artists interpretations of the Jedi Code and philosophy. In niches along the hallway, even here at a side entrance, were plinthes holding artifacts of the order or exquisite statuary.

“Master Kenobi selected the artifacts on display.” the Mon Cal said pleasantly as they walked along. “I understand that His Imperial Majesty assigned him to the job as punishment for his part in forcing the Emperor to take the throne.”

“Forcing?” Aloni asked, looking as puzzled as Triselka was certain she was.

“Oh yes, His Imperial Majesty regularly complains that being Emperor is the worst job in the Empire, all the paperwork, all the responsibility, none of the field work. He likes to say he was much happier as a Jedi Knight.” Tinor replied.

“The Emperor is a JEDI?” Triselka blurted out, even as she saw Aloni’s jaw doing a good impression of dropping to the floor.

“Of course he is, who else would you trust in the big chair than perhaps the greatest Jedi Knight in many generations.” Tinor paused. “Well, as much as you can trust any one sentient with that much authority, but don’t let it be known that I’m agreeing with His Imperial Majesty on that score, he’d be insufferable and it’s hard enough getting him to come in for his annual physicals already.”

That seemed like a strangely normal thing for an Emperor.

Aloni only realized she’d said that out loud when Tinor laughed. “He’s still human, although he claims that we’ve turned him into a glorified protocol droid.”

Triselka couldn’t help laughing as she imagined one of the protocol droids she’d met wearing a big crown and fussing about everything.

It didn’t take them that long to reach the Room of Ten Thousand Fountains and both women again boggled at the glorious sight. There were countless fountains of all varieties, sure, but the greenery is what made the place so glorious. It seemed like they’d stepped out of Coruscant into a massive flowering jungle. The fountains burbled and gurgled and flowed and laughed, the leaves glistened in the spray, the flowers were glorious cascading displays of natural color. And it was peaceful, serenely, perfectly, absolutely, peaceful.

The two women were silent as they followed the Mon Cal down the meandering paths, already hopelessly lost after the second turn, until they reached a small clearing where a number of stone benches seemed to have been carved out of the primordial forest floor.

An incredibly distinguished looking elderly human waited there in exquisite black and silver robes that were deceptively simple and plain, while somehow giving the impression of enormous class and distinction. A much younger man stood next to him, wearing robes that seemed to match their guides. The mismatched pair turned as they entered the clearing, the elder of the two inclining his head in a gracious gesture.

“Welcome to the Temple, I am Imperial Jedi Master Yan Dooku.” came the smoothly cultured voice. “This is Master Healer Gronn Drukki. Please, let us be seated so that we can begin.”

 

[MrBirthday]

Here's a little something that I think would be fitting to post in this thread:

 

[LordSunhawk]

Chapter 11

The stone seats didn’t look all that comfortable was Triselka’s initial thought, until she actually sat down on one and found that it was surprisingly comfortable indeed. The stone was subtly shaped such that no cushion was actually needed. She settled into it, as Aloni did the same next to her.

The two jedi remained standing, while the young Mon Cal bustled off on some errand or other. As soon as the two women were seated Dooku nodded slightly, his arms folded behind his back. “You no doubt have plenty of questions. I am afraid that we have fewer answers than we would wish to have.”

Smoothly, as if prompted by some mysterious signal neither Aloni nor Triselka could detect, Gronn picked up. “It is self-evident that a novel force-twin bond has formed between the two Ms Liskins. When we complete this initial discussion I shall probe this further in an attempt to discern more about what caused it, and help Ms Liskin handle what, in natural twins, would have been instinctive from the womb.”

Dooku then smiled thinly. “Please indulge me as I seek to answer several questions you may have that I have anticipated, before we begin our discussion.” his eyebrow twitched slightly and both women found themselves nodding a bit at the silent invitation. “First, Knight Skywalker has reported that your transport shares a Corellian Unique Production Code ID with an active vessel that has been confirmed to be elsewhere. As CEC is quite fastidious about the CUPC system this leads to several potential scenarios. Either a previously completely unknown production facility is building copies of obsolete CEC light freighter designs without bothering to alter the CUPC codes, or we are dealing with a truly unusual situation in which we have two CECs building near identical products while being completely unaware of each other.”

He paused a second, allowing that to sink in. “We have been running ID checks on each of the survivors, as well as the identified casualties. Among the survivors only Ms Liskin has a double, however one of the names on the crew manifest who was not among the survivors, a young human male by the name of Nik Sunstim, did produce a match. Interestingly, young Mr Sunstim is currently in the hospital after passing out in the middle of Calculus class. Medically no cause could be found, however matching up the reported time chops makes it clear that this occurred at the very moment the anomaly appeared.”

Aloni paled at that, shaking just a little. Triselka swallowed her own reaction as Dooku paused, falling silent for a moment until the twi’lek managed to collect herself before he continued, his voice somehow… subtly gentler than before, while still aristocratic.

“Data recovered from the computers of your transport, interviews with survivors, and other data points indicate a significant lack of congruency with known events. Alderaan was never destroyed, Commander Skywalker is not and never has been affiliated with the Organas, Captain Skywalker never destroyed a ‘Death Star’, nor has the Strategic Command Battlestation seen any combat of any kind since her commissioning three years ago. There is no rank of ‘Grand Moff’ or ‘Moff’, and we have no records of a ‘Darth Vader’ in any database, although ‘Darth’ is a historical term for a Sith Lord of a certain rank. Wilhuf Tarkin was executed for war crimes upon his capture fifteen years ago at the Battle of the Empress Teta system.”

Dooku paused again, lips twitching slightly. “When shown footage of the supposed standard Imperial snubfighter, this ‘TIE’, Mr Sienar was most upset to learn that his name was associated with it. I will spare you his precise comments on the grounds of excessive vulgarity.”

Triselka surprised herself with a snort of laughter at that. Master Dooku simply quirked his eyebrows again, almost microscopically.

Dooku paused again, then continued. “Therefore, we have come to the tentative conclusion that the hyperspace anomaly is doing something quite unprecedented and somehow connecting our own universe to an… alternate version, with differing histories and situations. This is only a hypothesis at this point, but the data is in general agreement so far.”

He was about to say something else when there were faint sounds of a commotion nearby. A moment later a tall man dressed in black with silver highlights plunged through the undergrowth nearby, followed by a dozen children dressed in simple robes who were all trying to suppress giggles over getting away with something naughty, no doubt due to being with an adult.

Dooku gave the man a Look (™). And the man in black just grinned, looking incredibly boyish and dashing in the process despite the faint hints of silver at his temples. “Ahhh, Master Dooku, just who I was not hoping to run into. Well, come along, children, your lesson in Approved Shortcuts Through The Room of Ten Thousand Fountains…”

Dooku interrupted with a slight ‘hummph’. “There are no approved shortcuts through this room, as you well…”

The other interrupted him with a raised hand. “Ettt! Who is teaching this critical class, Master Dooku? Yourself or me?” the grin spoiled the attempt at looking imperious. “Why, if I had had a teacher half as skilled at this critical subject as myself when I was their age, I wouldn’t have gotten caught nearly as often as I did!”

The healer was looking like he was torn between laughing and bowing, the two women just looked confused, and Dooku’s eyebrows were twitching hard. “That is hardly…”

And again the newcomer interrupted the elderly Jedi. “I say, these the newcomers?” he grinned at them and swept a rather flamboyant bow. “Welcome to the Jedi Temple, home of the Imperial Jedi…” he made a slight motion and all the younglings cheered “and the Monasts.” another slight gesture and the kids made theatrical boos. “Except for the Healers, who are the exceptions that prove the rule about the Monasts being boring, right Gronn?” and with that he slapped the healer heartily on the back.

“I wouldn’t say that…” Gronn began, only to be interrupted by the newcomer wagging his finger at him.

“Aight! No titles in the Temple!” the man said cheerfully before turning to the kids. “Now, quietly mind you, go down this path and take the first right, and if Master Pan asks, I went thataway.” he waved vaguely in the opposite direction. With suppressed giggles, jerky childish bows to Dooku, and much jostling the younglings stampeded off in the indicated direction.

“Ahhh, to be young again. And I can see what Mara talked about in her report.” the man picked a fountain and perched on the side of it, looking completely casual about it. “You.” he pointed at Aloni. “Will be getting the ‘Introduction to Protecting Your Mind’ class, or I’ll have to assign a Jedi to follow you and your twin around to keep murder from happening and I don’t have enough Jedi to spare. Yan, report just came in, looks like the Multiverse theory is a go, and I have a feeling you’ll be needed here, so no you can’t go. Gronn, could you take Aloni here off to the healers lair and get started?”

It seemed that giving orders came rather naturally to the man, casual as he acted.

“Oh, bollocks.” he suddenly said, grinning at the two. “Anakin Skywalker, you’ve met my daughter already.”

Dooku shook his head slightly. “Anakin, both of my former padawans are…”

“I know, I know. They’ll be fine.” Anakin said, looking over at the old Jedi. “The reports in your inbox, but you might have yourself a new project, completely untrained force user who’s been exposed to the Dark Side her entire life. Assuming Luke agrees with Mara’s initial assessment she’ll be coming here for training and I want you to handle it. I’ll be sending 3PO to Mara and Taber, and Mara tells me that R2 has decided to go along, if only to annoy R1.”

Anakin then looked over to Triselka and Aloni. “Now, according to the initial debrief, you were talking about the other version of my eldest son blowing up a Death Star and being the last Jedi? Do you know what happened to my wife and I?”

Triselka at that moment knew what a gizka felt like when a nexu was looking at it.

A few hours later Anakin and Dooku were alone in the clearing. “Humph, that other universe is… bad. But can I afford to divert any forces to help this Rebellion of theirs?” Anakin asked, nursing a cup of caf that had been brought by an attentive droid.

“We might not have a choice.” Dooku pointed out, now seated across from his Emperor and grand-padawan. “If Windu’s forces somehow manage to get in contact with this… Dark Empire… it could undo almost all of the gains we’ve made since 3rd Alderaan, or worse.”

Anakin nodded, brooding a bit. “At the very minimum we will need to absolutely secure this… call it a hypergate for want of a better term. From both sides. And in order to secure the far side of the gate we’ll need to seize that version of Zaaloris, which I am certain this, Dark Empire, I like that term,” he flashed a quick, boyish grin that lightened his face immensely, “will strongly object to. Which in turn makes it advantageous to at least initiate talks and potentially provide some assistance to this Rebellion of theirs.”

“And get in contact with alternate forms of your eldest twins.” Dooku pointed out, although there was a faint smile on his face.

“And get in touch with the alternate forms of my eldest kids, yes.” Anakin grimaced slightly. “A terrible reason for an Emperor, I’m sure.”

“But for a father?” Dooku said softly.

Anakin simply nodded. “Sometimes I need to make decisions as a man, not as an institution.”

 

[ShadowArxxy]

Ahhh, Anakin Skywalker. The man who causes sarcasm quotes in both halves of "responsible adult".

In all seriousness, Anakin is pretty much the embodiment of that beautiful C.S. Lewis quote: "When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up."

 

[LordSunhawk]

Chapter 12

<A day earlier>

Taber had barely unclipped the safety harness when the comms squawked again. “Hydaspes Star, Impetuous Control, new orders. You are required to tow the captured fighter and bring the prisoner to Executor, comms channel point six five. I repeat, you are required to tow the captured fighter and bring the prisoner to Executor, comms channel point six five.”

Mara rolled her eyes as Taber strapped back in, having not bothered to unstrap herself in the first place. “I suspected this would happen.” she commented to the younger Jedi, getting a snort in response. “Impetuous Control, Hydaspes Star. She said into the comm. “Acknowledged, transport captured fighter and prisoner to Executor, will monitor point six five. Hydaspes Star requesting launch clearance and routing to Executor.”

“You are cleared to launch, vector 260 for one five kilometers, then cleared direct. Repeat, vector 260 for one five kilometers, then cleared direct.”

“Roger, we are cleared for launch, vector 260 for one five kilometers, then cleared for direct. [i[Hydaspes Star[/i] out.” Mara gently manipulated the controls, easing the Intersector out of the only bay on Impetuous large enough to handle the sloop, and oriented the vessel on the indicated bearing.

“Hydaspes Star on point six five to Executor Control, be advised on approach with prisoner and tow, requesting clearance.”

“Hydaspes Star, this is Executor Flight Actual, you are cleared for direct approach, bay 18 bravo.” came a very cultured Coruscanti accented voice, causing Mara to chuckle before she keyed the comms to respond.

“Roger that, Executor Flight Actual, direct approach bay 18 bravo, on the chop.”

Taber was trying, and failing, to keep from rolling her eyes. “Must he make a production out of everything? Not like Stacy’s here to be impressed with his perfect diction.”

Mara just laughed as she slightly advanced the throttle. “Luke’s always like that, thinks it’s funny or something. Should hear him and dad get into a snoot off after a state dinner. Usually lasts until mom threatens them with makeup and hairstyling.”

“Well, I know I lost some credits on betting that I could crack that composure when he was teaching the Advanced Flight School last year.” Taber replied with a laugh. “He’s better at maintaining poise than Master Dooku, then again Master Dooku absolutely hates flying in anything that isn’t a solar sailer and…” the two women chorus together “considers acrobatics uncivilized.”

Mara was grinning as she keyed the comms. “Hydaspes Star to Executor Flight Actual, on approach to 18 bravo, requesting landing clearance. Also, apple tree. Repeat, apple tree.”

There was an honest to the Force sputter over the channel. “Don’t you…” Luke started, then obviously got control over himself. “Hydaspes Star, this is Executor Flight Actual. Clearance granted. And that was completely your fault and you know it.”

“And that, Knight Ban, is how you get my brother to lose his cool.” Mara said to Taber in her very best upper-crust Coruscanti accent, while the twi’lek was laughing in the copilot seat.

“Apple tree?” Taber asked, between guffaws.

Mara nodded soberly. “Apple tree.” she said completely deadpan.

The docking bay they were heading to was one normally used to berth Contentor-class fleet replenishment vessels. Along with 18 alpha, the bay was amongst the largest on the ventral spine of the massive fleet carrier with each capable of internally berthing a pair of the massive logistics vessels. Indeed, one was still berthed, while the other had been deployed to resupply Impetuous and her ad hoc squadron. This left a truly massive amount of room for Mara to land the sloop along with the captured fighter, which settled neatly onto its durasteel ‘wings’.

The actual landing area would normally be blocked off by the Contentor, but was perfectly suitable for flight operations when the logistics vessels were away. As such it was fully equipped for shuttle operations, even if said operations were only an occasional sort of thing.

Mara and Taber rose from the cockpit, heading back to find that Irolia was already waiting for them in the central junction accompanied by the floating form of the still sleeping captured pilot. On the other side of the chiss a holstered blaster pistol, a survival knife, and several pieces of pilot gear floated, while the young chiss just stood there with her hands clasped lightly behind her.

Mara started to say something, reconsidered it, then simply shook her head, gesturing for Irolia and Taber to accompany her, along with the prisoner, down the access ramp.

By the time the ramp was lowered a platoon of Imperial Marines had arrived, along with Luke, wearing his immaculately tailored captain’s uniform, accompanied by a young Sullustan padawan wearing a uniform without any rank insignia. Behind them a medical team waited, with a repulsorlift stretcher. Taber glanced over at Irolia and nodded towards the stretcher, the chiss nodded back and the unconscious pilot floated between the Marines to land gently on the steady platform.

“Welcome aboard!” Luke’s diction was perfect, but he was grinning rather than acting at Full Pompous Formality. He looked over at the Marine Lieutenant who commanded the platoon. “Lt, escort the medics to the secure medbay, normal protocols.”

“Sir!” The Lieutenant snapped a parade-ground perfect salute off, getting one in response from Luke, before turning and nodding to his platoon-sergeant, who nodded back, turned, and evidently gave a command over the internal comm network for the platoon as all of the Marines turned and began escorting the medics out of the bay.

Once they were well away, Luke smiled and stepped forward. Beside Taber Mara suddenly stiffened, just as Luke moved like greased lightning and caught his sister in a headlock and began messing up her hair while smiling amiably at the twi’lek and chiss.

“So, how’s being a copilot to my sister treating you, kid?” Luke asked Taber. Mara was trying to get loose while retaining some dignity, while her big brother messed with her as big brothers are known to do.

“Let… me… go… you nerf herding…” Mara was fast, strong, and capable. Luke was faster, stronger, and more experienced. Taber meanwhile was giving her former flight instructor a very old-fashioned look.

“I was quite happily flying my X” Taber said a bit severely.

“True, but now you are my baby sisters copilot on an Intersector.” he said, finally letting Mara go and stepping just barely out of reach of his sister’s potential counter attacks.

“Luke… one of these days…” Mara growled at her older brother, who just gave her a cheery smile in response.

“C’mon, sis, if I didn’t mess with you you’d think I got replaced by a clone or something.” Luke replied drolly.

“Ha. Ha. Ha.” Mara replied, scarcely mollified and obviously already planning on how to get Luke back. Although from what Taber knew, Mara had yet to succeed at any of her grand plans to get Luke back.

“Anyways, have visiting quarters arranged for all three of you, and that obsolete pile of short-circuits you call a droid.” Luke seemed to completely ignore Mara’s sarcasm. “I’ve already gotten strict orders from the Old Man that I’m not allowed to be the first test pilot of that snub, and before you ask, sis, he also vetoed you or Taber from doing it as well. Irolia, I’ve gotten firm instructions from Master Bnar that you are required to sleep, not simply meditate, for at least 8 hours. Taber, please make sure she does so. Mara, mom is expecting a holocall from us as soon as reasonably possible, have an MSE guide you to my office once you’ve dropped your kit in the guest quarters.”

Command came quite naturally to Luke, both being the Crown Prince and having quite a bit of military command experience, first as a squadron leader and now as Carrier Fighter Commander for a supercarrier. Taber found herself nodding as soon as she got her orders, even as she snapped to attention. Even little blue seemed to catch the ‘command voice’, although it was obvious she’d no actual exposure to military courtesies. Only Mara seemed completely immune to her brother’s ‘I shall be obeyed’ voice, rolling her eyes and looking put out, like any proper little sister.

Luke then paused. “Leli,” he turned to look at his padawan. “Head over to the med bay and let me know when our guest is awake.”

The young Sullustan nodded and scurried off.

“They actually let you have a padawan?” Mara managed to inject some sisterly snide into her voice.

“Of course, after all only the best would do for the job.” Luke was completely unruffled. “Leli’s a good kid, still have to grind down some of the awestruck ‘I’m being taught by a SKYWALKER’ edges, but a good kid.” he then grinned over at Taber. “And she’s a Makashi user, if we have time you might want to see how close she is to acceptable at it.”

Taber nodded “I’ll be taking Irolia to the training room once we’ve dropped our kit off, if you want to send her there.” she said, glancing over at the quiet chiss who winced a little.

“That sounds acceptable.” he looked over towards the lifts. “You’ve been onboard Executor before, sis, you know where the visiting officer quarters are, right?” At Mara’s nod he continued. “I secured three sets for you, just need to check in. I’ll be in my office doing valiant battle against the paperwork monster.”

He then gave Mara a brotherly hug, making it obvious that for all that the siblings teased each other they were very close.

He then turned on his heel and left, heading over towards a bank of turbolifts. Mara led Taber and Irolia to a separate bank at a brisk pace. Behind them bay crews were going over the two landed spacecraft, a much larger crew than you’d normally see with a snubfighter swarming all over the odd little fighter.

-----

ES-624-16 woke up.

She hadn’t expected to wake up, but she did anyway.

She wasn’t in a bacta tank.

She wasn’t in her cockpit.

She thought she was in a medbay. Which was… good. Maybe. Perhaps they had won. She didn’t open her eyes yet though.

She could feel all of her fingers and toes. That was good.

She opened her eyes.

The overhead looked… typical for an Imperial medbay. Or so she thought, she’d not been in many medbays.

But it looked much like the overhead in the pilots quarters, only with more conduits.

She didn’t hurt anywhere, even the light didn’t hurt her eyes.

She turned her head slightly. Black-armored stormtroopers flanked the hatchway from the compartment. ISB troops perhaps… she couldn’t think of anything she’d done that would get her in trouble with ISB.

Not that… she squashed that thought before it could fully form. ES-624-16 knew better than to even think anything negative about the ISB.

Then an anomaly, a Sullustan, wearing an Imperial officer’s uniform. There were no Sullustans in the Imperial Navy that she knew of. With a… was that…

She blinked. The shiny metal cylinder was still there, hanging from a strap on the aliens belt. Since when would an alien Imperial officer openly carry a lightsaber.

The alien… female alien, ES-624-16 realized, wasn’t looking at her, but rather was at a bulkhead terminal doing… something.

Everything was strange. She could remember the briefing aboard the Endar Spire, that they would be going through the anomaly at Lord Vader’s command. It would be her first combat mission as a full-fledged TIE pilot.

She’d been sitting in her cockpit, ready to launch, when they’d made the crossing, and she could remember the splitting headache that seemed to erupt between her eyes. She’d forced herself to keep her focus, to keep silent, even though she wanted to scream. She’d never screamed during training, even when… her mind shied away from that.

Then she’d launched, last in the launch queue as she was the single most junior pilot on board, and directly into hell. X-Wings far larger than anything in the warbooks. Oversized ARC-170’s. Obviously must be rebels. But they flew like demons.

Her leader went down in moments, not that she did anything to assist him. TIE pilot training was brutal. And she was trained to never help another pilot, but rather to solely focus on killing the enemy.

Her fire was… ineffective. She couldn’t recall a single kill. These oversized X-Wings had ridiculous shields, and never seemed to be where she’d aimed.

But she never took a hit either. Somehow she seemed to know when to turn, when to vary her throttle. She’d seen bolts blast past, millimeters away from killing her, but none so much as scorched her paint.

She’d never flown like this in training.

Then she’d felt like a giant hand was squeezing her, and everything had gone black.

She thought she’d died.

The Sullustan finally turned and approached the bed she was on. “Awake, yes?” came a liquid voice that sounded painfully young to her ears.

Young, a laugh, she was young. Too young her fellow pilots said. And female. Her mind shied away from that as well, remembering hands and dark rooms and… no, focus.

“Master Skywalker will be here shortly.” the Sullustan said, causing ES-624-16 to blink again. Every Imperial knew the name ‘Skywalker’, it was the rebel Lord Vader wanted. Her ears were ringing. The Sullustan was saying something, but she couldn’t hear it as she felt a charge in the room, an oppressive weight.

It was crushing her. Then it wasn’t. It was a warm blanket enveloping her. It was a gentle shower cleansing her. It was a beautiful day invigorating her. It was her grandfather…

Her mind shrieked away from that. Her grandfather was dead. Killed by the rebel bombing. She repeated that by rote. Killed by the rebel bombing. The ISB said that. Therefore it was true. Questioning the ISB led to…

The sensation grew stronger, banishing fear. Banishing… fear… memories… pain…

The hatch slid open, and a figure whose face was familiar from countless wanted holos but who was wearing an… an Imperial uniform… what… how… confusion reigned… Luke Skywalker was a rebel. He destroyed the Death Star. Lord Vader wanted him… here he was… wearing…

Her head felt like she was detached from reality.

“My Padawan tells me you are awake.” came a cultured Coruscanti voice. Skywalker didn’t have a Coruscanti accent, the recordings of his voice gave him a Tatooine accent… what… “Welcome aboard His Imperial Majesty's Ship Executor. I am Captain Luke Skywalker, Imperial Jedi Knight, Carrier Fighter Commander for Executor and, for my many and various sins, Crown Prince and Heir to His Imperial Majesty, Anakin Skywalker, first of his name and house.”

ES-624-16 did the only sensible thing in this madness and passed right back out.

 

[ShadowArxxy]

ES-624-16 did the only sensible thing in this madness and passed right back out.

Really, it's the only sensible thing to do around Skywalkers.