Pax Blank - Into the Storm

Into the Storm by: blank101

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 1

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AU set at the end of TESB.

Darth Vader captures the passengers of the Millenium Falcon after their attempted escape over Bespin, sure that Luke will convert to his father's cause and aid him in overthrowing the Emperor. When his plan is rebuffed he falls back on more desperate measures, with devastating consequences for himself, his son, the Empire and the Alliance, as events cascade beyond anyone's control.

This is a completed trilogy, featuring Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Palpatine, Han Solo, Leia Organa, Mon Mothma, Crix Madine and Mara Jade.

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To anyone coming back to this story:This is a re-beta'd version of the original story which was the first thing I posted on FF.N. It's always bothered me that at the time I had no real grasp of how to format for posting, and grammar and POV was always sketchy! A newly-beta'd version was done a while ago to smooth it out, and I've been meaning to post it for a while, though this is the first time I've gotten round to it.

So nothing new, I'm afraid, just a polish of the original.

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PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS THE FIRST PART OF THE SON OF SUNS TRILOGY.

Part One:- Into the Storm

Part Two:- In Shadows and Darkness

Part Three:- At the Brink of the Dawn and the Darkness

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As per usual, I should point out that not surprisingly, I own no part of star Wars. It's all owned and run by George and The Mouse.

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Into the Storm

Blank101

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'New beginnings are bought at the cost of an end'

Fragment from the Son of Suns Prophesy,(Jedi Master Egorin Dovas translation; 3/ 14,159 -minus.)

Engraved into the Sunburst Throne (The Seat of Prophesy) circa 23,711 -minus.

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CHAPTER ONE

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Futures.

Fates.

Choices made. Paths taken.

Is the future an immutable event, preordained and inevitable?

Or can it be changed by a single act, the split of an instant fracturing all that comes after,

shattering it like glass against stone.

Can destiny be changed?

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The wind whipped at him, buffeting his body as he tried to turn, howling like a banshee as he edged backwards over the precipice on the narrowest of beams, struggling for handholds against the smooth plasteel outcrop which counterbalanced precariously over an endless drop.

He was tired and battered and bruised, and he hurt like hell. And he had no idea where he was going to go next...because there was simply no-where else to go. And still his adversary harried him...

"Luke, you do not yet realize your importance. You have only begun to discover your power. Join me and I will complete your training...with our combined strength we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy."

Battered and bruised, but not beaten. "I'll never join you!" Luke twisted about, straining to reach the supporting pipes, his tattered arm clutched to him, the pain making his breath come short and fast.

"If you only knew the power of the Dark Side..."

Luke didn't look, didn't listen. What could Darth Vader possibly have to say that he wanted to hear?

"Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father..."

That brought his head up, knowing resentment in his eyes. "He told me enough."

Grabbing the pipe, he swung himself onto the slim instrument vane which hung over nothing, pausing, heart in his throat as the fine plasteel veins rocked precariously, adjusting to a weight they were never meant to take. And still the winds howled, calling him on. Lifting his head, Luke threw the accusation at Vader, every fiber of his being hating him in that moment. "He told me you killed him!"

This was his truth, his mantra. This knowledge gave him the strength to fight, the spirit to resist. It was the very essence of his cause, the single most significant happening in his life. The frame around which all other beliefs were built. He was alone in this galaxy, and he had been alone his whole life. Because of this...man. Could he even be called that? He was everything that Luke hated, everything he fought against. He was darkness and death personified.

All that Luke believed was distilled down to this moment, to these two combatants; he would never give in--not to this...

"No... I am your father!"

The words were an emotional body-blow with the power to knock the air from his lungs, so great was his shock in that moment.

Everything else-- everything-- simply fell away... Every strength, every conviction...every lie.

Already he was shaking his head, denying it even as he knew it was true--he knew . But still the words fell from his lips, desperate and breathless... "No...that's not true. That's impossible ."

"Search your feelings, you know it to be true!"

Everything...everything was lost to him, the weight pressing in against his ribs so great he could scarcely breathe, his legs buckling as he leaned against the vein. If it were not there he would have fallen, would have simply collapsed, so great was the anguish.

He had lost his father. Lost him all over again in the cruelest way possible. The man he had worshipped ripped to shreds...by the man he really was. The grief fell from him in a cry, unstoppable, uncontainable. "No-o...No!"

What was left? What was left of his beliefs? What was left of him?

"Luke, you can destroy the Emperor. He has foreseen this. It is your destiny ."

Vader's words brought Luke's face up, though in that moment he did not truly hear them. All he heard was the gale howling about him, the blood rushing in his ears. He watched Vader close his hand into a fist as he voiced shapeless words, watched him stretch out over the precipice, willing Luke to reach out, to take the hand offered.

"Join me and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son."

Luke faltered, lost...and as he looked down, he saw release. Freedom. Calm from the storm which burned through him now, searing his soul, fiery and caustic. Bitter truth. Too much to bear.

The void beckoned, promising serenity...and with it came a strange elation, a burst of adrenaline which gave faultless clarity. Time slowed as his heart beat fast, mind and soul committed now. He looked up to the creature who had so effortlessly ripped his heart from his chest, aware that he was smiling at it.

He would steal victory from its hands, even as it reached out to grasp it.

"Come with me. It is the only way."

Calm, euphoria, pacific tranquility filled his soul with effortless acceptance. In that moment, death was easy--living was too hard to bear. He released his hold...

Falling away to infinity.

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Vader sensed it as the boy fell back; the stillness of spirit, the complex twist of choice and surrender, a Jedi's soul at peace with fate. For a moment he was absolutely still, lost in the moment, respectful and resentful.