Hope Reborn - Chapter 15

"Skywalker." Ventress joined them in the cockpit. "I've got the location."

There were only two seats, so she had to stand behind him. He could feel the tension rolling off of her through the force. Not that it was hard to tell. Her entire body looked like it was tense. Luke took the puck and entered the destination.

"It will take about twelve hours to get there." Luke announced. "We aren't being followed so we can let the ship go on auto until we get close."

Iden nodded but stayed in the chair. "I'll get the Navi-computer online to plot the course."

She paused.

"Anything the matter?" Luke asjed.

"Aquilae Sullust?" Iden squinted at the readout. Her gaze shifted to Ventress with obvious confusion in her eyes. "They are hardline Empire."

"Never question a Mandalorian." Ventress shrugged. "Their heads are as thick as their helmets."

"Mandalorians?" Iden yelled. "No one said anything about Mandalorians."

"You didn't ask." Ventress shrugged.

Iden looked over at Luke. She held her face in her hands when she realized he didn't look bothered at the information.

"You knew?" She asked.

"They're the ones who helped me find her." Luke motioned to Ventress.

"Why are you dealing with Mandalorians?" Her voice came out close to a whine.

"They have information I need." Luke shrugged. "I had to bring her back before they would tell me."

"What information?" Ventress arced an eyebrow at him.

"I need to find Ahsoka Tano." Luke replied. "Bo Katan knows where she is. Or she knows where to start looking for her."

Ventress studied him for a long, tense moment.

"We need to have that talk now." Ventress instinctively rested her hands on the hilts of her blades.

Luke nodded. He stood and spared a look at Iden. She still held her face in her hands.

"Get us on the way once the Navi-computer is complete." He said. "They've got my ship, and this one is theirs. Leave the talking to me, it will be ok."

Iden stayed silent. She went about her task mechanically. Luke left her to the task. He found Ventress in the small cargo area. She stared down at R2 who had one of its zappers out and sparking.

"You really are a Skywalker." Ventress looked at him as he entered.

"My father is Annakin Skywalker." Luke replied. "Do you know him?"

Ventress laughed. It rang hollow.

"I know Annakin Skywalker." She raised her shirt to expose her stomach. "This is from the last time we met."

There was a long, raised scar just above her hip. He recognized it as a healed lightsaber wound. Bacta was a wonderful thing.

"We were on opposite sides of the Clone Wars." Ventress lowered her shirt. "Were, until I realized Count Dooku was perfectly fine leaving me to die to further his agenda. I stepped away after that. Left the Sith behind and wandered the galaxy for a while. Settled on being a Bounty Hunter."

"You live an interesting life." Luke smiled at her.

"What about you?" Her eyes drifted over his body until they came to a stop on his lightsaber. "What's your story?"

"I thought my parents were dead until a few months ago." Luke shrugged. "Then I find out that my father is a famous Jedi, and my mother was the former queen of Naboo."

"I knew it!" Ventress yelled victoriously. "Those two couldn't be in the same room without eye-fucking."

"I did not need to know that about my parents." Luke shook his head. "Anyway. R2 here showed up at my Aunt and Uncles farm. He and 3PO had been sent by the rebellion to find Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Kenobi is alive?" Ventress growled.

"No." Luke closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "Not anymore. He died saving Princess Leia Organna from the Empire."

"How?" Ventress crossed her arms. "Even in his old age Kenobi should have been able to handle some stormtroopers."

"It wasn't stormtroopers that killed him." Luke spoke softly. "Darth Vader was the one who did it."

"Vader." Ventress spat the word. "I've heard the name a few times. Word is that he's a Sith Lord that showed up at the end of the Clone Wars. Funny how I never saw him."

"You did." Luke met her eyes. "He gave you that scar."

Ventress tilted her head as she studied him. She leaned back and laughed. The sound echoed around the ship. It contained pure, unadulterated venom of vindicated hatred. Her emotions were palpable. The laughter continued until her throat was raw.

"The Paragon, Jedi Master Annakin Skywalker is now a Lord of the Sith." Ventress wore a feral smile. "To kill Kenobi, his brother in the Force. I would have never dreamed of such things. And here I stand with his son that searches for his former padawan. Oh, how sweet fate is."

"Are you done?" Luke stared at her flatly.

"Oh, dear Skywalker." She strutted over to him. "I am nowhere near finished." Ventress trailed a finger along his chest. "Does Annakin know about his son?"

"We've met." Luke bit out.

Ventress smiled, more baring her teeth and a show of amusement. She took another step closer. They locked eyes as she placed a hand on his cheek.

"Your emotions betray you." She purred. "Meeting daddy didn't go the way you hoped."

"There's still good in him." Luke kept his voice flat.

He tried to rein in his emotions. This younger body didn't make it easy. Sure, there was an adjustment going from an old man to a teenager again and it would have been easy to blame the strong hormones for his recent behavior. That argument didn't stand deeper inspection.

Ventress didn't say anything. The smug smile on her face was answer enough. After a moment the expression dropped. She took a deep breath and let it out.

"Thanks for the rescue, Skywalker." She said. "You dad was quite the hero before he turned Sith. We fought each other a lot. Once we have room to work, I'll put you through some saber practice."

"Why do you think I need practice?" Luke raised his eyebrows as he spoke.

"Did you cross blades with him?" Ventress asked.

Luke shook his head.

"Did Kenobi train you?" She continued.

Look dropped his gaze. He shook his head.

"Have you fought anything more than stormtroopers with your saber?" She asked.

Luke thought back on his life. When was the last time he had actually fought another force user? It was shortly before he left on his journey. The day the Knights of Ren attacked. He left his saber with Maz Kanata after that. It didn't feel right to have it anymore. Ben wasn't the only student that turned to the Dark Side, a few had joined the Knights. There were three he knew for sure. Those ones he had fallen to his blade. Afterwards, he couldn't stand to have a saber.

He shook his head.

"Trust me, Skywalker." Ventress patted his cheek. "I've got a few things I can teach you."

~ꬸ~

Vader floated in the tank of bacta-fluid. He had been completely submerged vertically. The mixture wasn't pure bacta. His injuries were rather resistant to the original composition. That was one thing Palpatine hadn't lied about.

The scientists postulated that it would have been more effective if the injuries weren't so old. This combination, whatever it was, could have likely healed a large portion of his body. He could breath without the assistance of his helmet after the second treatment.

They had to pull him out to cycle the liquid. A round of measurements and tests were also completed to chart any progress. The formula was altered after each cycle to ensure the optimal efficiency.

He had no idea how long he had already been on the planet. It was a slow process. There were long stretches of time where he simply existed in the fluid. It put him in something of a dream state. He hadn't been able to meditate since the duel with Obi-Wan on Mustafar. Pain and rage didn't allow him a moment of peace.

Now, he had nothing but time. Vader closed his eyes and let himself drift. It wasn't meditation, but he had forgotten what true sleep felt like.