Walking the Stars - Brothers

CHAPTER I

Desert. Mountains and canyons in the distance throwing long shadows against the endless barren lands. The coolness of night was quickly making way to the day's heat as Tatoo I kept creeping up on the sky with its twin, Tatoo II, following in the horizon. Thin metal towers dominated the land here, collecting every single drop of humidity around them. On this planet water was far more precious than any of the rare minerals or jewels hidden under the rock and sand. Vaporators were delicate objects that needed constant maintenance. And as any dutiful moisture farmer, the owner of these vaporators had risen before the first light of the suns to check on the instruments. Sabotage was not unheard of in these parts where the Tusken Raiders were seen every now and then despite all the efforts from the locals to drive them away. This morning the desert was silent and peaceful.

The same silence and peacefulness were not, however, what awaited Owen Lars at home upon his return from the first check-up round of the day. Two young men with red lightsabres was a sight he had grown used to during the past eight years, but the outright battle instead of the usual coordinated, practised movements on the yard made him wish he'd stayed to check even the furtherest ridge.

Galen, the assassin boy he'd accepted as his older adopted son, chased his younger brother Luke who had been forced into defence. Owen didn't know much about lightsabre fights and frankly had no interest in them, but even to his untrained eye it was clear that Luke was being badly outdone. They weren't just battling each other, either. PROXY, the dutiful combat droid Owen would've rather seen turned into a maintenance droid, had assumed yet another form of a Jedi long since gone. Both of the boys kept keeping the droid at bay while trying to defeat each other. The red lights of their weapons moved faster than his eye could follow.

His wife Beru stood red-faced in the doorway with a broom. "Galen Lars, how many times do I have to repeat myself? No lightsabers indoors!"

"Sorry, aunt Beru!" the boys called in unison, sounding not in the least sorry. Luke took advantage of the mere second of Galen's divided attention and leapt backwards right onto the dining table.

"Luke!" Beru screamed, shaking the broomstick for emphasis. "Off the table this instant!"

Rarely was she seen so angry.

"Sorry, aunt Beru!" their younger son responded again, but Galen had reached the table. Luke had the higher ground now, but he had essentially cornered himself, and even he, short though he was, was not able to stand to his full hight while standing on the table under the painted roof.

Turned out it didn't matter. As Owen descended the final steps down to the yard, PROXY attacked Galen viciously, giving Luke enough time to escape. He chased down the two, and took the opportunity to stab his lightsabre right through PROXY's hologram body. The droid fell down defeated, but their duel was far from over. If anything, without the need to fight the droid as well, their mutual knowledge of each other made the battle even more difficult. Without PROXY's interference it was almost too easy to instinctively know what the brother would do next. It was harmony that looked like chaos from an outsider's eyes.

The world outside faded away. It was just the two of them and the Force. The mighty, domineering dark and intoxicating Force all around them, and it was their's to manipulate. For Luke, time had slowed down. The glowing red light, the extension of his arm was all there was. And yet it was as if he could see everything, hear everything, feel—

He yelped when a powerful blow of Galen's lightsabre knocked the weapon off his hand. He stepped backwards, already reaching with the Force to recover the hilt, but stumbled on his feet when Galen's aggressive Force push hit him hard on the chest and he fell down on his back. The red, lowly humming weapon was mere millimetres away from his neck long before Luke's weapon was back in his hands. Galen scowled at him, towering over him. He could finish his brother off there and then, and no one could do a thing about it.

To them, the moment seemed to last forever, but what both Owen and Beru saw, was Luke falling down and Galen striking for the killing blow, only to deactivate the blade just before it would've gone right through Luke's neck.

Galen grinned down at his brother, hooked the hilt back on his belt and offered his hand to help Luke up. Luke grinned as well, taking the offered hand.

"This is why Lord Vader won't let you come with me on the missions", Galen huffed.

"Oh come on! I wasn't that bad! We'd make a great team."

"Yeah, a great team in which I'd have to be saving your neck every time you got distracted."

"It wouldn't be the same in real situation! I know you won't kill me."

"And as long as you think like that you're not ready", Galen replied.

Luke was a good fighter. Very good. There was no denying that. But he also had a bad habit of walking with his head in the clouds and getting distracted by the tendrils of Force. He was a quick learner, far quicker than Galen was. If he hadn't had the eight year head start, Luke would probably have been superior with his skills. As of now, Galen could still beat him almost always, but it wasn't as easy as it used to be.

"You're far too trusting. If I'd been an enemy you'd be dead now."

"But you aren't!" Luke argued.

Galen would have argued back, but aunt Beru's hands grabbed his shoulders from behind. "Galen Lars!"

Galen turned around reluctantly. Both boys bit their lips and rather looked at anything else but their furious aunt.

"And you, too, Luke. Shame on both of you! What have I said about those weapons?"

"No lightsabres indoors", both young men replied dutifully.

"Exactly! I've told you a million times I don't want those glowing sticks in my house. Which one of you hit the corridor wall this time?"

"Sorry, aunt Beru" they muttered in unison.

"And was that a lightning I saw, Galen? I've told I never want to see them here. In fact, I never want to see any battles in my house at all. Training you can do on the yard as much as you want on your free time, but battles you take to Beggar's Canyon or anywhere else where you won't be seen. Is that clear?"

"Yes, aunt Beru... Sorry, aunt Beru..."

"And Luke. No hopping on the furniture! I don't want your dirty feet on my dining table. You're cleaning it right after I'm done with both of you."

"Okay..." the younger boy sighed, awkwardly running fingers through his unruly hair.

"You're both going with Owen for the rest of the day. No more additional practising. You do your daily exercises and that's it. Neither of you goes to Tosche's tonight and Holonet is off limits."

"Yes, aunt Beru..."

"And PROXY, I'm not forgetting about you!" Beru called the combat droid. He was back on his feet now, hologram turned off. "You were in on this, too. You're not allowed to ambush them inside."

"I am aware of that, mistress Beru", the droid replied. "I am a droid, I do not go against commands. I ambushed the masters here. They took the battle inside, but I did not follow them because that would have been against your command."

"PROXY's telling the truth", Galen was quick to defend his droid. "He's just doing what he's programmed for."

"PROXY perhaps isn't at fault, but you two..! I don't want life and death situations on my yard! Galen, you nearly killed your brother!"

"No, I didn't!"

"He didn't, honest!" Luke echoed, tugging at his collar. "He didn't even scratch me! Look!"

"Maybe, but it looked like a close call", she chided, taking a closer look at Luke's neck.

"It wasn't!" the boy assured, trying to show off how unharmed his neck was.

"To my eyes it did, and I don't want to see it happen. Vader might be alright with your games, but I'm not."

"They're not games..!"

"Silence, both of you", Owen hollered at the boys. "Don't argue with Beru. You're coming with me to ridge after breakfast and you leave your lightsabres here."

"But what if—" Luke started, about to suggest they might need them in case the Tusken Raiders showed up, but Owen silenced him with a sharp look. The last of the yellow that had tinted Luke's eyes in the heat of the battle faded away, giving way to the blue.

"No buts."

"Thank you, Owen", Beru said, waving the man away. "I'm quite capable of handling this myself. The breakfast isn't ready yet. Luke, clean and set the table. Galen, you help me finish in the kitchen."

The brothers submitted to their fate without further arguments. Beru was still unmistakably annoyed by their behaviour throughout the breakfast, but was back to her happy, easy-going self when the boys arrived for dinner with Owen when the Tatoo I had already sunken behind the horizon. The lunch they'd eaten right after the hottest hour out in the desert.

With no Holonet allowed for either of them, the boys spent the evening sparring and brushing up their sword techniques. It was nearly time for shutting off the generators, when PROXY, who heavily favoured indoors because of the presence of sand everywhere outside, approached Galen.

"Master, a call from Lieutenant Lekauf."

Both boys dropped what they were doing instantly.

"What is it?" Luke wanted to know, barely able to conceal his excitement. Erv Lekauf only contacted them if Luke's father had contacted him. The messages were almost always meant for Galen, but Luke kept hoping that maybe this time the message would be for both of them. That maybe this time father would allow Luke to accompany Galen on his mission.

"It's for me", Galen said with confidence. They always were.

"Encrypting connection", PROXY told. The hologram around him started to take shape, within seconds it appeared as if the droid was gone and a man stood in his place.

"Erv!" Luke exclaimed before any formal greetings both the man and Galen were so fond of could have been made. "Hi!"

"Hello, Luke", Erv greeted with a sharp nod. Luke liked his father's former aide, not only because out of all the people he knew, the man had spent by far the most time with Darh Vader, but also because the man was just genuinely pleasant and interesting company. Sadly they didn't meet in person very often as Erv had relocated to Mos Espa after only a few years in Mos Eisley.

Galen cleared his throat. "Good evening, Lieutenant Lekauf."

"Evening, Starkiller."

Starkiller. The name sounded cold and unfamiliar to Luke. Only Erv and Vader ever called him by that name. And it always meant business.

"You've been given a mission. And Lord Vader's found you a new pilot, who's due to arrive some time before the noon tomorrow. If you could arrive around the same time—"

"I'll leave right away, sir."

"No, no, you don't need to drive here tonight. If you leave at sunrise you'll be here by noon."

"Sir, I'm not afraid of Tusken Raiders. If I leave tonight, I'll be there by sunrise and I'll have plenty of time to get ready", Galen argued.

"If that's what you want to do."

"I will see you at sunrise."

"Very well. Goodnight, Luke. Travel safely, Starkiller."

The call was ended without any details about Galen's new mission discussed. They never took unnecessary risks when it came to the safety of their home. The Empire had its ears and eyes even on this remote dustball.

"You're really leaving tonight?" Luke asked, even though he knew the answer. There was nothing Galen took as seriously as Vader's orders.

Galen didn't reply. Just headed to his room to gather what he'd need to survive a few days or weeks away. Luke followed him.

"Take me with you."

"You know Lord Vader would kill me if I did that."

"No he wouldn't", Luke laughed. "Come on, I promise I won't be in your way. You don't need to take me with you to slay the Jedi. I could just be your pilot. I'm good at piloting."

"I don't need a pilot. Lekauf just said your father's found me a new one. And being my pilot isn't an easy or a safe job", Galen reminded. "My previous pilot got killed."

"I wouldn't."

Of that Luke was probably right. By "got killed" he meant "your father choked him to death". But he couldn't tell that to Luke.

"Come on, you know I'm a good pilot. You always say you hate training new pilots. You wouldn't need to train me!"

"No. Luke, I know how much you want to, believe me. There were times when I thought Master would never send me on a new mission again. Your time will come, you just need to practise some more."

"But I do practise!" Luke whined. "And I'm ready! He just doesn't know that because he never talks to me! He doesn't even care!"

"Master Vader cares about your training the most", Galen replied, surprising himself for how well he could keep the bitterness from his voice. How could Luke even say that? Master cared far more for his son than he did for his apprentice. Not that he was an official apprentice. Sixteen years and Master still would not call him an apprentice. He shouldn't have cared, but he did. Because Vader didn't care for his not-apprentice at all, in fact. Starkiller would get attention only as long as he was useful. What would happen then was the gnawing sensation that still kept him awake at nights, no matter how much he tried to ignore it. It ate away at his mind, consuming his heart and filling it with fear.

What would happen to Galen Lars, when Starkiller became useless?

Luke evidently didn't share his fears, didn't see things his way. Luke thought the lack of interest Vader showed meant he didn't care, when nothing could've been further away from the truth. Galen had never seen Lord Vader care for anything as much as he did for his son, but Luke mistook his father's protectiveness for disregarding.

"He doesn't, he doesn't even know me! He doesn't speak to me, he doesn't even want to see me!"

"He's protecting you."

"He's ignoring me."

Galen shoved his things in his bags angrily. "Fine. Whatever. Think what you want. I'll see you in a few day or maybe weeks. Depends. Practise a lot, because when I'm back I'm taking you to the Beggar's Canyon and at this rate I'm going to beat the shit out of you."

He threw the bag over his shoulder and marched out of the room.

"Aunt Beru, uncle Owen", he called. "I'm taking the swoop, I need to be in Mos Espa by sunrise."

Owen hmm'ed in response. Galen came and went like this all the time. Aunt Beru, on the other hand, got up to hug and kiss him, and then fussed over the poor boy and insisted he'd have to take the leftovers of the dinner with him. It was her way of dealing with the fact that her elder son was basically a trained assassin, on his way to kill someone and Galen tolerated it. Even though aunt Beru was always like this, it still made him uneasy. The early childhood spent alone in a harsh environment had made him forever wary of touch.

Luke was waiting for him in the garage with PROXY, who would be coming with him.

"Hey."

Galen acknowledged the greeting with a nod.

"Listen, Galen... I'm sorry I lost my temper like that."

"It's fine."

"Yeah, but I don't want you to leave if we're fighting."

"We're not", Galen assured him. "Cheer up, kid. I'll bring you a souvenir."

Luke's lips curled into a small smile. "Give that Jedi some extra from me, too, okay?"

"I don't know if it's a Jedi, but deal", Galen said, hopping on the swoop. PROXY followed his example. The poor droid hated the swoop. "Practise a lot while we're away, alright?"

"Yeah. I'll kick your ass when you get back."

"We'll see about that", Galen laughed and reached out to ruffle Luke's blond hair.

"Good luck."

"The Sith don't need luck."

"I know. Force be with you."

"The Dark Side is always with us, Luke."

His brother cracked a smile. "Whatever. Get lost, Erv's waiting for you."

Galen grinned and revved the engines. The repulsors lifted the vehicle up to the ground level through the opened tech dome and the swoop shot off into the darkness of desert night. Luke smirked and grabbed a backpack of his own that had been hidden behind the landspeeder. He then ran to the living room, making a show off it.

"Did Galen leave already? He was supposed to wait for me!"

"What?"

"I told him I don't want to make a race of it!" he whined before his aunt could say more. Even Owen's attention was on him and he didn't look at all convinced.

"Your father's sending you on a mission?" he questioned.

"Well, um, yes. Sort of", he mumbled. He straightened his back a little in an attempt to look more convincing.

"He's sending you to fight a Jedi?" aunt Beru gasped.

"No! I mean, I don't know. You know Erv doesn't tell Galen any details on comm. And obviously Galen will do all the actual fighting. But I'll get go with him and watch and learn."

"Galen didn't mention", Owen mused. He hadn't got up from his armchair.

"I wanted to tell myself! Come on, can't you be a little more excited for me? This is huge! It's the first time I get to go!"

Aunt Beru looked torn. She didn't like one bit the fact that Galen killed people on regular basis, but she had to tolerate it. The idea that Luke would be one step closer to that life didn't sit well with her. But it was also something she had no power over. They had promised Vader that Luke would receive his training. Galen had never revealed in detail what his training had been like before he had come to Tatooine, but Beru was glad Luke would never have to go through the same.

"Why didn't Galen wait for you?"

"Because he's a piece of Bantha—"

"Watch your mouth, Luke", Beru warned.

"I need to go or I'll never catch up with him."

"Let the boy go", Owen muttered. "I'm not going to start arguing about this with his father."

Beru sighed and pulled Luke into a hug. They'd known this day would come eventually. Her boys were Sith learners and they were both grown up now. They were young men now rather than boys. Luke had turned seventeen on Empire Day, Galen would soon be closer to twenty-one than twenty.

"Be careful", she said.

"I'm always careful."

She kissed his forehead before letting him go. "More than usual. Don't do anything reckless. Listen to your brother and do as he says, alright?"

Luke rolled his eyes. "Yeah, fine. Can I go now? I can still catch him and be in Mos Espa before him."

She nodded with a smile. Her little Sith was growing up. She ought to feel proud, not sad or frightened. "May the Force be with you."

He smiled as well, only slightly feeling guilty about lying to her. But lying was an essential skill for a Sith to have. Manipulation was a powerful weapon. Or so he told himself. "Thanks, aunt Beru."

He glanced at Owen, but his uncle just waved him off. Aunt Beru followed him to garage, fussing over him. She wanted to know if he had packed enough clothes, if he had any food, if he had water, if he had his lightsabre. As if he'd ever go anywhere without his lightsabre!

It was completely dark out in the desert now, but it didn't matter. He could have driven through Beggar's Canyon with his eyes closed with the Force as his servant. He revved the engines and enjoyed the cool night air against his face. He had no intention to catch up with Galen tonight. As long as he's be in Mos Espa some time after him, everything would be fine. Galen would go to see Erv first to get a briefing, but Luke could go straight to the hangar where Erv kept the Rogue Shadow. He could the hide himself inside and reveal himself once they were out of the system. What could go wrong?

Dawn was breaking when Galen arrived to the outskirts of Mos Espa. First came the slums and slave quarters. It was early, but he had to slow down more than he would've wanted to because of all the slaves on streets on their way to their duties. Once he got past the slave quarters into the inner city, the streets became almost entirely abandoned.

Erv Lekauf lived on the northern side of the city, not even a kilometre away from Jabba the Hutt's city house. It was a wealthy part of the otherwise poor city. Most people there owned several slaves, but Lekauf had none. He shared Lord Vader's hatred towards slavery.

Galen parked the swoop bike by the wall and buzzed the door comm, PROXY hovering near behind him. Lekauf let them in with only a sharp nod for greeting. Galen bowed deeply. They were led into a small living room, door opened to a inner yard allowing the still cool air flow inside. He undid his cloak and sat down to wait. Lekauf offered him water, and closed the door and drew curtains to cover the small windows high on the wall before sitting down himself, back straight like a soldier he was.

"Good to see you, Starkiller", he finally said. "I trust you're well?"

"Yes, sir."

"And Luke?"

"As ever. He's a quick learner. Really keen to get to leave Tatooine. He wants to go to the Academy. Says he wants to be a pilot." Galen shrugged. "Probably because Biggs and Tank are going."

Erv had no idea who Biggs or Tank was, but he knew Lord Vader would not permit his son to leave for the Academy under any circumstances.

"Where am I going?" Galen grunted. Little else mattered to him right now. He wasn't Galen Lars anymore. This was a mission for Starkiller. It was who he truly was.

"Lord Vader will tell you himself. I've notified him of your arrival, so I'm sure he will contact you holodroid soon."

They didn't need to wait for long.

"He's here", PROXY informed before the hologram activated. Darth Vader formed in front of them as if he'd physically materialised inside the room.

Lekauf snapped to attention and Galen dropped on his knee.

"Master", he breathed out. He could feel the Dark Lord's presence only faintly.

"Good morning, Lord Vader", Lekauf greeted.

"Leave us", the Dark Lord ordered with slight inclination of his head.

"Yes, Lord Vader." Lekauf left the room and closed the door behind him. Galen knew the man well enough to know he would not linger behind it to eavesdrop.

Vader looked down upon him for nearly a minute before speaking: "You were weak when I found you."

The words seeped disdain. Galen was careful not to let anything show on his face. He knew he'd been weak. But he wasn't weak anymore. Everything Vader had done and taught him had made him stronger, had given him power. His connection to the Dark Side was stronger than ever.

"Past years have made you stronger, the Dark Side has become your strength", his Master continued.

Could this be it? Would Master finally formally accept him as his apprentice? His heart leapt, but he almost dared not to hope.

"But your training is still incomplete", the Sith Lord finished.

Galen bowed his head to not let Vader see the disappointment in his eyes. It shouldn't have affected him, but it stung like a cold knife turned around inside him to know that he still wasn't good enough.

"What is your will, my Master?" he asked quietly.

"It is time to face your first true test."

"Your spies have located a Jedi?" he gasped enthusiastically, lifting his face to look up at his Master. Perhaps he was closer than than Vader was willing to say out loud.

"Yes" Vader confirmed. "Rise."

Galen obeyed swiftly. Vader paced in the small room.

"Master Rahm Kota", the Sith announced the name of the hated enemy. "He's attacking a critical Imperial shipyard in Nar Shaddaa. Destroy him and bring me his lightsabre."

"I shall leave at once, my Master", Galen replied with a small bow, ready to exit the room and fully expected the hologram to disappear. But Vader was not finished yet.

"The Emperor must no discover you."

Galen turned around and clasped his hands behind his back. He inclined his head a little as a token of respect, but he knew these instructions well. Vader never failed to remind him of them.

"Leave no witnesses. Kill everyone aboard. Imperials and Kota's men alike."

Galen opened his mouth to protest about killing Imperial soldiers, then quickly closed it. His Master was right, of course. It may not have sat well with him to kill his own, but he had done so in the past and would in the future should need arise. This would just be one of those times. "As you wish, my Master."

"Master Kota is far more powerful than you. I do not expect you to survive."

With that the hologram disappeared and PROXY's posture collapsed momentarily before his systems were back online. The implied threat lingered heavily in the room. Failure was not an option. Either he would kill the Jedi or die trying.

Galen opened the door with a wave of his hand as an invitation for Lekauf to return and sat back on the sofa. His Master's aide walked in shortly after.

"Do you have our destination?" Galen asked the droid after a long moment of ruminative silence.

"Yes, Lord Vader sent me the coordinates and I downloaded more information about the target. Would you like to hear it?"

"Fire away."

"The target of the terrorists is Sienar Fleet Systems' low orbit TIE-fighter construction facility. It mass-produces TIE/LN-starfighters and is protected by Imperial Navy Commandos."

Galen crossed his arms across his chest and nodded. Commandos he could take easily. They were well trained and accurate shots, but with a lightsabre in his hand, he didn't need to worry about the blaster fire.

"If the terrorists attack according to what our Intelligence discovered, we should have plenty of time to get there."

"You keep talking of terrorists. Are there more than just Master Kota?"Galen asked, despite remembering Vader's words of "Kota's men". He'd assumed it meant the Jedi had couple of local gunmen with him who felt the Empire had wronged them, but this sounded bigger.

"The intelligence doesn't mention Master Kota at all", PROXY said, "but there is a large group of terrorist led by a Jedi in the sector, who have been attacking Imperial targets for months now. This would appear to be their largest attack so far."

"So he has an army?" Galen huffed.

"It would appear so, master."

"Master Kota", Lekauf spoke for the first time after his return. "So you are hunting a Jedi Master this time."

"Yes. Finally", Starkiller murmured. He'd never fought a real Jedi Master. He'd fought padawans and knights, and knights who called themselves masters, but not once had he gone against a true Master. He had asked Lord Vader, but had been told he'd be killed if he were to ever face a Master.

"Patience, my boy", Lekauf said. "I told you you would, once Lord Vader deemed you ready."

"I've been ready for a long time", Galen grunted. Luke's holding me back, a little voice whispered at the back of his mind. He pushed the thought away. Luke was like a brother to him, but there were still times when bitterness washed over him. The thoughts ashamed him, and yet he thought he could be so much more now if he still lived on the Star Destroyer with PROXY like he used to. If he could just devote all his time to his training, maybe Master would've already accepted him as his apprentice.

"That's for Lord Vader to decide. Since he's now sending you to eliminate a Jedi Master, he must believe you can do it."

Galen's eyes averted. "I don't think he does. He always says he doesn't expect me to survive."

He straightened his back and looked back at the man. He didn't want to sound whiny. A bad habit he'd picked from Luke. "Which is exactly why. To improve I need to constantly fight and defeat opponents better than me."

Lekauf nodded. The man understood him better than anyone else he'd ever met. They were both loyal to Vader, and they both understood what it took to serve under the man's command.

"Best of luck then, Starkiller. Destroy that Jedi."

"Consider it done", Galen smirked. He turned to look at his droid. "PROXY, give me the target."

The droid's holograms activated and formed a shape of an old human man. His beard and long bound hair were white, and numerous deep lines on his face revealed his age. There were three long scars on his face, one over his right eye. His expression was stern and determined, his stance spoke of military experience.

"According to Imperial record", PROXY spoke with the Jedi's unfamiliar voice, "Master Rahm Kota was a respected general in the Clone Wars. A military genius, but felt that the clone soldiers were unfit for battle. Instead he relied on his own militia, and vanished after Order 66. Official Imperial records claim he's dead."

PROXY shut the hologram. Galen leant into his hands and thought.

"So there were no clones in his squad during Order 66 and he escaped in the midst of chaos", he mused.

"That would seem the most likely solution", PROXY agreed.

"Why has he surfaced now?"

"By the damage he's done so far, I'd say he wants to be found", Lekauf commented.

"It's a trap then."

"Exactly."

"Great, sounds like fun", Galen smirked. "And my pilot?"

"I don't know. I just know Lord Vader sent someone", Lekauf replied. He didn't usually get to meet Starkiller's pilots unless it was needed. The less the pilots knew the better. He knew nothing of the latest one. Just that he would be meeting Starkiller at the docking bay where the Rogue Shadow was kept.

Galen nodded in acknowledgement. The thought of a yet another new pilot to be trained irritated him to no end. Couldn't the pilots just...keep their mouth shut and do as he told them? Why did they have to try to engage him in conversation? Why did they have to be so nosey?

He left the swoop at Lekauf's and walked with PROXY to the docking bay. Both suns were now shining brightly on the blue sky and the air was quickly getting unbearably hot. Even after over eight years of living on this planet, Galen still occasionally found it difficult to adjust to the dry heat.

The docking bay was only a few minutes walk away from Erv's residence. Close, yet private enough. Technically only people with the access code to the door could open it, but Galen knew there were plenty of other ways to get in. It didn't bother him, though. Should any unwanted visitor manage to enter, they'd still have to face the Rogue Shadow's own extensive protections. Even if they got in, the ship had many lethal ways of keeping away unwanted guests.

He walked the short corridor towards the hangar, PROXY heeling him. At the entrance way he doubled back. A woman stood next to censor arrays with a welder in her hand. Galen took a quick step back behind the corner, pulling PROXY with him.

"Who's that?" he whispered, taking a quick peek at her. She didn't seem to have noticed them yet. Blonde hair, civilian clothing. He couldn't say much from this distance.

"I would suspect she is our new pilot", PROXY replied. His photoreceptors being inevitably better and quicker at catching details than a naked human eye ever could, he had probably already managed to combine her facial profile with her name.

"Pilot? Her?"

"Accessing Imperial records."

The droid morphed into a near identical image of the young woman he'd just seen from afar. Now she wore a black TIE-fighter pilot's uniform, a captain's uniform judging by the insignia. She had a pale skin not suited at all for this planet, and light shade of blue eyes. She was slim and tall for a Human female. About the same hight as Luke or perhaps a little taller even. Her hair was neatly tied up under the black cap.

"Captain Juno Eclipse", PROXY said with a soft female voice. Galen couldn't make a connection to any specific planet from the accent. Somewhere from the Core, certainly.

"Born on Corulag where she became the youngest student ever accepted into the Imperial Academy. Decorated combat pilot with over one hundred combat missions, and a commanding officer during the bombing of Callos. Hand-picked by Lord Vader to lead his Black Squadron, but later re-assigned for a top secret mission."

Galen raised an eyebrow. Impressive stuff. She must have blown up something pretty badly to have Vader send her here. She didn't know it, but it was essentially a suicide mission. There'd be no way out for her of this alive. She knew too much already.

"Is there a psychological profile in there, too?" the same female voice asked mischievously behind his back. Galen stumbled to turn around and the hologram of Captain Eclipse next to him turned to face the real one. She stood astride, arms folded to her chest with a scowl on her face.

Galen could only stare –and scold himself for letting her surprise him. He'd survived countless of ambushes from PROXY, and now he'd entirely missed her coming.

"Actually, yes", PROXY replied with his own voice, abandoning the hologram. "But it's restricted."

He leaned closer to Galen and raised his hand to his face to mimic whispering. "Oh, master, I can tell she's going to be impossible to reprogram."

"Do you know why you're here?" he asked her, pushing the droid aside. Annoyance replaced the moment of embarrassment he'd felt over her managing to sneak up on him.

"Yes", came an instant reply. She moved her hands to her hips and comically PROXY copied the movement. "Lord Vader's orders were clear. I'm to keep your ship running and fly you wherever your missions require."

Oh, she was cocky. Galen hated her instantly. "Did Vader tell you he killed our last pilot?"

Her confidence faltered only a little. "No", she admitted turning quickly around and headed back for the Rogue Shadow.

"But I can only assume he gave Lord Vader a good reason to do so", she said over her shoulder, pulling a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I will not."

Galen hummed dismissively and followed with PROXY as his shadow. "I hope so, I'm sick of training new pilots."

He glanced at the Rogue Shadow properly for the first time since his arrival and instantly remembered Eclipse standing with a welder.

"What have you done to my ship?" he barked.

"I've, uh, taken the liberty of upgrading the Rogue Shadow's censor array", she told. Carefully, but clearly proud of her work. "Now you'll be able to spy on any suspect ships within the entire system."

Galen didn't comment or praise her efforts. He was already walking up the steep ramp, assuming she'd follow.

"You are one of Vader's spies", she stated instead. It wasn't voiced as a question, but it was one. Galen turned around to glare down at her.

"Did Lord Vader forget to mention that keeping my ship running and taking me to wherever my missions require are the only things you are to do?" he snarled. "You don't need to know anything about me but where I'm going, and we're going to Nar Shaddaa. Can you handle that?"

She pursed her lips and walked past him. "Of course."

Galen rolled his eyes, but followed. This'd be a long mission no matter where he was going.

It felt good to be back aboard the Rogue Shadow nevertheless. Here he had a proper, familiar training room, and no one would bother him, nor would he have to worry about the hanging laundry or aunt Beru getting in the way of his lightsabre. He left his rucksack on the floor and headed to the cockpit. The ramp had been closed, and Captain Eclipse was already seated. PROXY was on his usual seat.

"Ready to go when you are", she informed.

"We can go", he said, taking the seat next to her. She didn't say anything apart from communicating with the local tower before they were in space and ready to make the hyperspace jump.

"Coordinates for Nar Shaddaa logged. Prepare for light speed", she said keying the final numbers for the jump. The hyperdrive hummed softly and stars stretched into long, white lines.

"So, what do I call you?" she asked, rotating on her chair to face him after the view was filled with the blue hyperspace tunnel.

"Starkiller."

"I'm assuming that's not your real name", she smirked.

"You assume correctly", he said, although it wasn't entirely true. While he was now more accustomed to the name Galen Lars, he still considered Starkiller his true identity.

She leant back in her seat with a thin lipped smile. "Fine. I can see time's just gonna fly by with you."

"I could kill you faster than you draw your blaster", he snapped.

"I'm sure you could. However, then you'd be without a pilot. See what your masters would think of that."

Galen frowned at her, but didn't say anything to add fuel to their verbal sparring.

"I'll be in the training room if you need me", he said getting up abruptly. "I trust you're familiar with the ship."

"Absolutely", she assured. "I arrived early in the morning and familiarised myself with the layout, controls, the weapon system... You've got an impressive ship."

She was genuinely impressed by the Rogue Shadow. Starkiller opened the cockpit door. He didn't turn back to look at her as he walked away.

"I know. Try not to break her."