Dark Heretic-Child of the Sith
By Aglaranna
Chapter Three-The Little Green Hermit
"Life creates it."
-Jedi Master Yoda
The swampy jungles of Degobah were Yoda's domain. He'd fled here, many years ago, when the turned Jedi Anakin Skywalker hunted down and eliminated the last of the surviving Jedi. On Degobah the Force was strong, created by unaltered life. Here there were no buildings or cities, no sentient life. Just the pure Force, the untouched Force, the living Force, it was strong enough to disguise his presence from the Sith Lord and his Emperor. Yoda found it peaceful to be surrounded by so much life, while he waited for the one he had foreseen. A scrawny boy, Vader's son, who's potential was matchless in the galaxy. Except perhaps for one.
Overhead, he could feel the senseless slaughter, lives vanishing like extinguished flames. A star fight raged. He honored what the rebels fought for, but he could not join them. His days of adventure were over. Now he must wait for the one who could defeat Darth Vader. Only a Jedi would that be. Someone must train the boy. Someone must again give life to the Jedi Order. Obi-wan, he sensed could begin the boy's training, but within the other surviving Jedi there was much guilt. Yes, much guilt indeed.
Above, there was a stirring in the Force, a sad and angry strength. This terrified grief burned like a blinding star, around an escape pod tumbling towards his planet. Toppling it did, towards his sanctuary. Not the one he waited for, one for which there was little hope, so angry this presence was. But for now, it would do.
***
Standing on the deck of his starship, Vader reached out with the Force. An angry blast struck him, and he could not relieve a nagging worry. Was Revan safe? 'She is fine.' He assured himself as he sought the route the Emperor's Hand had taken. 'Nothing is wrong.' Seeking her defined presence, the warm fluctuation in the Force. Vader drifted from himself, out across the wide expanse. Their connection, their bond was unbroken, he felt her pulsating heat. But her existence was masked, gone.
"M-my Lord." An officer stuttered behind him. His nervous tone told Vader it was bad. Enough to upset the Dark Lord. A failure. Something to do with the convoy, he was sure.
Vader waved his gloved fist. "Continue Commander." He thundered coolly.
Regaining his confidence, the officer began again. "Yes my Lord, we-we've just received word that the freighter The Emperor's Hand." He trailed off, gazing warily at the Dark Lord's towering figure. Hesitating, but knowing it would not be in his best interest to keep the Lord of the Sith waiting, he strangled out. "It-it se-seems that the freighter met with some trouble in the Degobah system.."
That was unfortunate, but not troubling enough to bother Vader. 'There's more.' He knew. "Do not keep me waiting Commander." He warned, hand flexing at his side, frightened officers were of little use to him. They were easily replaced.
The officer, intelligent enough to realize this, swallowed and completed his message. "The freighter and the frigates were destroyed my Lord."
Blast. The surviving officers would pay dearly. But Revan was alive, and that was enough of a miracle to satisfy Vader. If any harm came to her, if she was in rebel possession, the Alliance would learn a new meaning of pain and suffering. That Vader vowed. His promise to Obi-wan was not forgotten. 'I will protect her and the child.' He'd sworn many years ago, Revan would be recovered. That was assured. "Were there any survivors?" He questioned coldly.
"No my lord." The officer gulped. "The ship was never boarded, but several escape pods were launched. I believe sir, that they landed on nearby planets."
That was the only good news. Beneath his impenetrable helmet, Vader's scarred skin bent into a painful smile. She was alive. And presumably out of rebel control. The guard, Karth, would be commended if he survived. If not, then he'd done his duty. The galling part was that the rebels were bold enough to attack a protected ship. Well, that too would be dealt with in time. Now, he must inform the Emperor, and see about discovering his wayward apprentice.
***
The ship crashed jarringly on the surface of Degobah. Rattled and shaken by the vines and branches intertwined over the floor of the planet. When the orb slammed to a halt, its heated casing steaming from landing in the muddy waters, Revan was shaking from head to toe. Unharmed, she huddled within the tiny ship. Abandoned and frightened, completely alone, racking sobs shook her tiny body. Great bulbous tears dripping down her cheeks, snot dribbling from her nose. She clung to her knees, grief overwhelming her. Only an empty echo remained where the ships and Karth had been. 'Karth is dead!' She moaned, her Karth, her Guard, gone forever. 'It's not fair!' She shrieked, rocking back and forth, overcome. 'It's not fair!' It ripped her apart, tearing at her heart. She cried and cried. Curling into a ball, she lay, terrified and alone.
She didn't know how long she lay there, sobbing in her grief. It could have been on minute or two, an hour, maybe a day, she didn't know, and she didn't care. Karth was gone. 'Like Mommy!' And it hurt just as much. "I hate them." She screamed, pounding her fists into the console. "I HATE THEM!" Continuing, her voice darkening with conviction. "I hate them, I hate them, I hate them!" Cementing the words into her brain.
"Hate who, you do?" A merry gravelly voice asked, prodding her with a gnarled walking stick.
Gathering her wits, and wiping dampness from her cheeks, she glanced up at the tiny creature. Burning with humiliation, asking. "What?" She reached out with the Force, but nothing came to her. Nothing but curiosity existed in the being before her. 'Size matters not.' Came the words, though she knew not what it could mean. He may've been curious about her, but she wasn't. "Leave me alone." She muttered curling up, hiding her head in her knees.
'Strong is her hatred.' Yoda thought, but the child's innocence had not vanished. And beneath the coldness, the anger, the hatred, he sensed a lonely child. A lost little soul. Worthy of pity, she was. He prodded her again. "Hate who?" The three-foot wrinkly midget surveyed her, ears flapping disarmingly.
"Just leave me alone!" She cried, creating a Force wall around herself, throwing the intruder away.
Picking himself up, Yoda nodded to himself. Strong she was, well trained. Patient he could be, and wait he would. A smile spread over his crinkled face, her attack was merely a defense, a way of removing him. Behind it he sensed no malice or hatred, no desire to dominate, only the need to be alone. "Alone all your life, you have been." He said, clamoring back up, to perch near the circular open hatch of the pod. "Most comfortable, that way is."
Jerking out the blaster, the one shoved unceremoniously into her arms by Karth, when he'd said. 'You're first duty is to survive.' Well, survive she would. "Who are you?" She demanded, too large for her small hand, the blaster swayed clumsily away from its target.
The little creature covered his face in terror. "Away with your weapons, I mean you no harm." He cried.
Sighing, Revan glanced at the useless gun. "Look," she started. "I'm not going to shoot you." Trying to regain composure, perhaps this creature could be of help to her. "Here." She muttered, offering him a look. "The safety's on." The little old hermit stared at her addled. Hastily adding. "It won't shoot." She put it away. "Is there anyway to contact the Imperial Armada from here?" She asked.
'Odd for an Imperial, this one is.' Yoda thought, regarding the child. 'But conqueror of the Emperor, this child cannot be.' He knew. Noting the distinctive twitch in the corners of the girl's mouth, and the sandy brown coloring of her hair, the child's parentage became clear. 'None other, can she be. Obi-wan's daughter she is.' This was the grandchild of the Emperor, the birth of whom he had sensed years ago, from his hut in the swampy forests of Degobah. Cocking his head to the side, chirping lyrically he said. "Lost you are." Continuing on, as he climbed down from his perch. "Help you I will."
Unsure of her rescuer, Revan tugged her bag out from under the crushed consol, lugging it onto her shoulder. Standing up, she banged her head on the mesh of wires and pipes. "Ow!" She yelped, glancing across the swampy marsh, she saw the diminutive creature wading out of the shallows, leaning heavily on the walking stick. 'He reminds me of the Emperor.' Startled, she corrected herself. 'But he's not, no creature that small can be as powerful.' And again the words ran through her mind. 'Size matters not.' Could this creature be as powerful a conduit as the Emperor? No. Shaking her head, she assured herself. 'Of course not.'
Waving his cane, the creature called. "This way, this way, help you seek, yes. A warm meal you need." Chuckling to himself the creature began disappearing into the foggy mist.
Scrambling down from the pod, bag in tow. Revan wondered for a moment what was so funny. 'That creature is deranged. No matter, if he proves helpful.' The Empire would come for her eventually; all she needed to do was survive until then.
***
"What is it Lord Vader?" The Emperor snapped as the Dark Lord knelt before him. "I thought I told you to oversee the construction of my Death Star." His withered hands clenched the sides of his throne. The Emperor did not bother to hide his displeasure, nor did he need to.
"As I am now doing, my master." Vader said, accepting the Emperor's anger. "However a small matter has come to my attention, the freighter conveying my apprentice has been destroyed."
"Yes, I know." The Emperor told him, tone dripping with boredom. Vader withheld a sigh, didn't the Emperor care that his heir was missing? He most likely did not. "The manner of her disposal was unfortunate."
"She is alive." Vader rumbled, concealing a menacing tone. 'As is important, a child of her caliber must not be discarded so easily.' "I have felt it."
"Strange that I have not." He sounded perplexed, angry, and.something else Vader could not distinguish. "It is of little concern, Lord Vader."
"Shall I look for her, master?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
"No, no. Hire the bounty hunter Boba Fett; he has been most useful in the past. You will stay where you are. Remember Lord Vader, the battle station must be completed on schedule."
An order was an order. Vader growled as the Emperor vanished, disgruntled. He wished to search for his wayward apprentice. 'No matter.' He knew Boba Fett would do his job well, and perhaps if stimulated with the proper competition; the child's return would be swift. Pressing a comm button, he called to the captain. "Have one of your lieutenants locate Boba Fett, I have a job for him."
***
Sloshing through the waters, following the small creature, Revan winced. Her good boots were all but ruined, coated with sticky mud and reeds as she marched through knee-deep water. Though the boots kept her feet warm and dry. Her good uniform pants were stained with the murky waters, and her top was torn and ripped. Revan though with a sigh. 'I'll be in such a state when they find me.' Glancing back to the guide, far ahead, she called. "Hey!" When he didn't answer, she tried again. "Hey you! How far is it?"
"Rudeness, rudeness." The creature bobbed turning around, leaning comically on his gnarled wooden limb, serving as a walking stick. "Patience you have not." He stated pointedly, accusing her. His ears twitched. "Act this way do you, towards all who help you?" he asked.
Chagrined, she opened her mouth, indignation flaring up within her, she retorted. "I've never needed help before." The statement was complete bull, but it served her purposes, until the little hermit answered.
"Need help you did, when escaping ship, hmm. Surviving on planet you know not, yes?" He leaned towards her, focusing his large eyes upon her.
Ashamed she lowered her eyes. "I suppose so." 'Karth, mom.' They'd helped her.
"Help you he did." Yoda nodded, probing the churning grief within the girl. Sensing the anger and sadness, but most frightening her hate. Hatred so new, it overwhelmed her, and saw Yoda did, another figure long passed from the child's mind. An older, tired image of Aranya. "Like your mother."
"How did you." She trailed off softly; this hermit was no ordinary creature. 'Could he be?' She wondered quietly, she must tread carefully. "How do you."
Smiling cheerfully, disarmingly, Yoda waved. He knew she wondered about him, perhaps she had already guessed. Better was it, if she did know, but discover on her own, she would. "Come come," He called. "Good food you will eat, yes, good food." The two vanished into the mists of Degobah. Sometime later, Revan asked. "How did you know about my mother?" They were seated in Yoda's tiny hut, made for a Yoda size person, not a Revan size human. She leaned against the sloping walls, the simplicity helping her to feel at home. The creature she knew, lived a simple life. Like hers. Scooping up another mouthful of stew, she thought. 'At least his cooking is better than rations.' It wasn't good, but it wasn't terrible either. Like Storm Trooper rations. She intended to repay this debt, his allowing her to stay with him until the Empire removed her from this rock. Hopefully there was nothing deeper to this kindness than helping a lost stranger, in this little hermit's motives. 'Don't trust that.' She told herself sadly. She'd like to trust him, but doing something out of kindness was rarely the case.
Glancing up from his bowl, the creature's face crinkled into a smile. There was something so warm and inviting about him, Revan wanted to trust him. "Pieces of yourself you know not, easy to read by a trained eye, they are."
"I wish you'd stop speaking in riddles." Spooning more of the warm meal into her mouth, she added. "If you're saying I don't know myself, then you're wrong." She glared at the hermit. "I know myself." Annoyance flitting through her, she went back to her dinner.
The hermit chuckled, a gravelly, humorous sound. A strange emotion played at Revan's core. Wanting to smile back, she fixated her gaze on the green gruel-like food. "If know yourself you did, be here you would not."
"What's that supposed to mean!" She snapped, shoveling in some more food. Silence followed them for several seconds. "Maybe if I were more like Vader." She thought aloud wistfully. And glanced balefully at the hermit. She shouldn't be taking any chances, what if he was a member of the Rebellion? 'That's doubtful.'
Yoda sat unperturbed by the statement. Long, he knew, had this child been under the influence of the dark side. Her turning out like this was the result of Vader's neglect; still, he did sense something malevolent beneath the surface. 'Clouded her future is.' Yoda thought quietly, staring at the girl. 'An agent of evil, her destiny may not be.' Here was his chance to lay the framework, sow the doubts, even if they were covered in darkness, for this innocent child to be saved. "A threat to you, I am not." He reminded her gently, almost ready to reveal whom he was. Alleviating her fears was the first step.
"That's good to know." She told him gruffly. 'I must not trust him.' "Thanks for the meal." Standing, she banged her head against the ceiling. "Ow!" Fervently rubbing the back of her head, she tried to smooth over the bump.
Yoda chuckled softly, the child was as amusing as she was talented. "Like your father you are." The words slipped out before he could stop them. 'Now and then,' He thought ruefully. 'My thoughts aloud I do say.' He peered at the girl's startled reaction. Revan's eyes flew wide, curiosity and fear warring on her small face. Around her the pattern of the Force leaped and twisted, so attuned was it to the child's emotions.
"You knew my father?" She blurted. How could this hermit know that unless. Unless he was a member of the Empire!
"Wise Jedi was he." Yoda nodded agreeing with himself. "Powerful Jedi, strong like your mother."
That was a lie, unless this creature was a Jedi. Revan growled. "My mother was not Force talented." Her mother would have survived longer if she'd been attuned to the Force. Wouldn't she? And her father, a Jedi? No that wasn't possible. "And my father was an General of the Emperor's troops."
'Clever are Palpatine's lies.' Yoda thought, grudgingly admiring the Emperor's brilliance. Obi-wan had been a General of the Republic, serving Palpatine in the years he was Chancellor. Most clever. 'Deceit within truths he hides.' Yoda spoke, unable to keep up the charade. "Useless to the Emperor she would be, were she not." Knowing this would only spark her anger more.
Infuriating the storm, Revan shouted. "The Emperor promised my grandfather he'd care for her! He loved her like he'd love his own child."
"His own child she was, but love her he did not." The diminutive Jedi smiled, his ears twitching.
"My grandfather is not the Emperor!" Revan hissed. "His name was Darth Tyranus, a Sith serving the Emperor. He died before I was born."
"Leave no children, Count Dooku did." Yoda informed her. "My Padawan learner once was he, know I would if born were any child of his." No, this girl showed too many similarities to Aranya and Palpatine for her lineage to be any other.
"You're a Jedi Master." Revan breathed. "An enemy of the Sith." Her enemy! She should kill him! 'But I can't.' She needed him. "There's only one of your description, you're Yoda." She sighed sadly. In an enemy's clutches, with no way out. This was not turning out well. 'I owe him.' Perhaps he could answer all her puzzling questions, about Sith and Jedi.
By Aglaranna
Chapter Three-The Little Green Hermit
"Life creates it."
-Jedi Master Yoda
The swampy jungles of Degobah were Yoda's domain. He'd fled here, many years ago, when the turned Jedi Anakin Skywalker hunted down and eliminated the last of the surviving Jedi. On Degobah the Force was strong, created by unaltered life. Here there were no buildings or cities, no sentient life. Just the pure Force, the untouched Force, the living Force, it was strong enough to disguise his presence from the Sith Lord and his Emperor. Yoda found it peaceful to be surrounded by so much life, while he waited for the one he had foreseen. A scrawny boy, Vader's son, who's potential was matchless in the galaxy. Except perhaps for one.
Overhead, he could feel the senseless slaughter, lives vanishing like extinguished flames. A star fight raged. He honored what the rebels fought for, but he could not join them. His days of adventure were over. Now he must wait for the one who could defeat Darth Vader. Only a Jedi would that be. Someone must train the boy. Someone must again give life to the Jedi Order. Obi-wan, he sensed could begin the boy's training, but within the other surviving Jedi there was much guilt. Yes, much guilt indeed.
Above, there was a stirring in the Force, a sad and angry strength. This terrified grief burned like a blinding star, around an escape pod tumbling towards his planet. Toppling it did, towards his sanctuary. Not the one he waited for, one for which there was little hope, so angry this presence was. But for now, it would do.
***
Standing on the deck of his starship, Vader reached out with the Force. An angry blast struck him, and he could not relieve a nagging worry. Was Revan safe? 'She is fine.' He assured himself as he sought the route the Emperor's Hand had taken. 'Nothing is wrong.' Seeking her defined presence, the warm fluctuation in the Force. Vader drifted from himself, out across the wide expanse. Their connection, their bond was unbroken, he felt her pulsating heat. But her existence was masked, gone.
"M-my Lord." An officer stuttered behind him. His nervous tone told Vader it was bad. Enough to upset the Dark Lord. A failure. Something to do with the convoy, he was sure.
Vader waved his gloved fist. "Continue Commander." He thundered coolly.
Regaining his confidence, the officer began again. "Yes my Lord, we-we've just received word that the freighter The Emperor's Hand." He trailed off, gazing warily at the Dark Lord's towering figure. Hesitating, but knowing it would not be in his best interest to keep the Lord of the Sith waiting, he strangled out. "It-it se-seems that the freighter met with some trouble in the Degobah system.."
That was unfortunate, but not troubling enough to bother Vader. 'There's more.' He knew. "Do not keep me waiting Commander." He warned, hand flexing at his side, frightened officers were of little use to him. They were easily replaced.
The officer, intelligent enough to realize this, swallowed and completed his message. "The freighter and the frigates were destroyed my Lord."
Blast. The surviving officers would pay dearly. But Revan was alive, and that was enough of a miracle to satisfy Vader. If any harm came to her, if she was in rebel possession, the Alliance would learn a new meaning of pain and suffering. That Vader vowed. His promise to Obi-wan was not forgotten. 'I will protect her and the child.' He'd sworn many years ago, Revan would be recovered. That was assured. "Were there any survivors?" He questioned coldly.
"No my lord." The officer gulped. "The ship was never boarded, but several escape pods were launched. I believe sir, that they landed on nearby planets."
That was the only good news. Beneath his impenetrable helmet, Vader's scarred skin bent into a painful smile. She was alive. And presumably out of rebel control. The guard, Karth, would be commended if he survived. If not, then he'd done his duty. The galling part was that the rebels were bold enough to attack a protected ship. Well, that too would be dealt with in time. Now, he must inform the Emperor, and see about discovering his wayward apprentice.
***
The ship crashed jarringly on the surface of Degobah. Rattled and shaken by the vines and branches intertwined over the floor of the planet. When the orb slammed to a halt, its heated casing steaming from landing in the muddy waters, Revan was shaking from head to toe. Unharmed, she huddled within the tiny ship. Abandoned and frightened, completely alone, racking sobs shook her tiny body. Great bulbous tears dripping down her cheeks, snot dribbling from her nose. She clung to her knees, grief overwhelming her. Only an empty echo remained where the ships and Karth had been. 'Karth is dead!' She moaned, her Karth, her Guard, gone forever. 'It's not fair!' She shrieked, rocking back and forth, overcome. 'It's not fair!' It ripped her apart, tearing at her heart. She cried and cried. Curling into a ball, she lay, terrified and alone.
She didn't know how long she lay there, sobbing in her grief. It could have been on minute or two, an hour, maybe a day, she didn't know, and she didn't care. Karth was gone. 'Like Mommy!' And it hurt just as much. "I hate them." She screamed, pounding her fists into the console. "I HATE THEM!" Continuing, her voice darkening with conviction. "I hate them, I hate them, I hate them!" Cementing the words into her brain.
"Hate who, you do?" A merry gravelly voice asked, prodding her with a gnarled walking stick.
Gathering her wits, and wiping dampness from her cheeks, she glanced up at the tiny creature. Burning with humiliation, asking. "What?" She reached out with the Force, but nothing came to her. Nothing but curiosity existed in the being before her. 'Size matters not.' Came the words, though she knew not what it could mean. He may've been curious about her, but she wasn't. "Leave me alone." She muttered curling up, hiding her head in her knees.
'Strong is her hatred.' Yoda thought, but the child's innocence had not vanished. And beneath the coldness, the anger, the hatred, he sensed a lonely child. A lost little soul. Worthy of pity, she was. He prodded her again. "Hate who?" The three-foot wrinkly midget surveyed her, ears flapping disarmingly.
"Just leave me alone!" She cried, creating a Force wall around herself, throwing the intruder away.
Picking himself up, Yoda nodded to himself. Strong she was, well trained. Patient he could be, and wait he would. A smile spread over his crinkled face, her attack was merely a defense, a way of removing him. Behind it he sensed no malice or hatred, no desire to dominate, only the need to be alone. "Alone all your life, you have been." He said, clamoring back up, to perch near the circular open hatch of the pod. "Most comfortable, that way is."
Jerking out the blaster, the one shoved unceremoniously into her arms by Karth, when he'd said. 'You're first duty is to survive.' Well, survive she would. "Who are you?" She demanded, too large for her small hand, the blaster swayed clumsily away from its target.
The little creature covered his face in terror. "Away with your weapons, I mean you no harm." He cried.
Sighing, Revan glanced at the useless gun. "Look," she started. "I'm not going to shoot you." Trying to regain composure, perhaps this creature could be of help to her. "Here." She muttered, offering him a look. "The safety's on." The little old hermit stared at her addled. Hastily adding. "It won't shoot." She put it away. "Is there anyway to contact the Imperial Armada from here?" She asked.
'Odd for an Imperial, this one is.' Yoda thought, regarding the child. 'But conqueror of the Emperor, this child cannot be.' He knew. Noting the distinctive twitch in the corners of the girl's mouth, and the sandy brown coloring of her hair, the child's parentage became clear. 'None other, can she be. Obi-wan's daughter she is.' This was the grandchild of the Emperor, the birth of whom he had sensed years ago, from his hut in the swampy forests of Degobah. Cocking his head to the side, chirping lyrically he said. "Lost you are." Continuing on, as he climbed down from his perch. "Help you I will."
Unsure of her rescuer, Revan tugged her bag out from under the crushed consol, lugging it onto her shoulder. Standing up, she banged her head on the mesh of wires and pipes. "Ow!" She yelped, glancing across the swampy marsh, she saw the diminutive creature wading out of the shallows, leaning heavily on the walking stick. 'He reminds me of the Emperor.' Startled, she corrected herself. 'But he's not, no creature that small can be as powerful.' And again the words ran through her mind. 'Size matters not.' Could this creature be as powerful a conduit as the Emperor? No. Shaking her head, she assured herself. 'Of course not.'
Waving his cane, the creature called. "This way, this way, help you seek, yes. A warm meal you need." Chuckling to himself the creature began disappearing into the foggy mist.
Scrambling down from the pod, bag in tow. Revan wondered for a moment what was so funny. 'That creature is deranged. No matter, if he proves helpful.' The Empire would come for her eventually; all she needed to do was survive until then.
***
"What is it Lord Vader?" The Emperor snapped as the Dark Lord knelt before him. "I thought I told you to oversee the construction of my Death Star." His withered hands clenched the sides of his throne. The Emperor did not bother to hide his displeasure, nor did he need to.
"As I am now doing, my master." Vader said, accepting the Emperor's anger. "However a small matter has come to my attention, the freighter conveying my apprentice has been destroyed."
"Yes, I know." The Emperor told him, tone dripping with boredom. Vader withheld a sigh, didn't the Emperor care that his heir was missing? He most likely did not. "The manner of her disposal was unfortunate."
"She is alive." Vader rumbled, concealing a menacing tone. 'As is important, a child of her caliber must not be discarded so easily.' "I have felt it."
"Strange that I have not." He sounded perplexed, angry, and.something else Vader could not distinguish. "It is of little concern, Lord Vader."
"Shall I look for her, master?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
"No, no. Hire the bounty hunter Boba Fett; he has been most useful in the past. You will stay where you are. Remember Lord Vader, the battle station must be completed on schedule."
An order was an order. Vader growled as the Emperor vanished, disgruntled. He wished to search for his wayward apprentice. 'No matter.' He knew Boba Fett would do his job well, and perhaps if stimulated with the proper competition; the child's return would be swift. Pressing a comm button, he called to the captain. "Have one of your lieutenants locate Boba Fett, I have a job for him."
***
Sloshing through the waters, following the small creature, Revan winced. Her good boots were all but ruined, coated with sticky mud and reeds as she marched through knee-deep water. Though the boots kept her feet warm and dry. Her good uniform pants were stained with the murky waters, and her top was torn and ripped. Revan though with a sigh. 'I'll be in such a state when they find me.' Glancing back to the guide, far ahead, she called. "Hey!" When he didn't answer, she tried again. "Hey you! How far is it?"
"Rudeness, rudeness." The creature bobbed turning around, leaning comically on his gnarled wooden limb, serving as a walking stick. "Patience you have not." He stated pointedly, accusing her. His ears twitched. "Act this way do you, towards all who help you?" he asked.
Chagrined, she opened her mouth, indignation flaring up within her, she retorted. "I've never needed help before." The statement was complete bull, but it served her purposes, until the little hermit answered.
"Need help you did, when escaping ship, hmm. Surviving on planet you know not, yes?" He leaned towards her, focusing his large eyes upon her.
Ashamed she lowered her eyes. "I suppose so." 'Karth, mom.' They'd helped her.
"Help you he did." Yoda nodded, probing the churning grief within the girl. Sensing the anger and sadness, but most frightening her hate. Hatred so new, it overwhelmed her, and saw Yoda did, another figure long passed from the child's mind. An older, tired image of Aranya. "Like your mother."
"How did you." She trailed off softly; this hermit was no ordinary creature. 'Could he be?' She wondered quietly, she must tread carefully. "How do you."
Smiling cheerfully, disarmingly, Yoda waved. He knew she wondered about him, perhaps she had already guessed. Better was it, if she did know, but discover on her own, she would. "Come come," He called. "Good food you will eat, yes, good food." The two vanished into the mists of Degobah. Sometime later, Revan asked. "How did you know about my mother?" They were seated in Yoda's tiny hut, made for a Yoda size person, not a Revan size human. She leaned against the sloping walls, the simplicity helping her to feel at home. The creature she knew, lived a simple life. Like hers. Scooping up another mouthful of stew, she thought. 'At least his cooking is better than rations.' It wasn't good, but it wasn't terrible either. Like Storm Trooper rations. She intended to repay this debt, his allowing her to stay with him until the Empire removed her from this rock. Hopefully there was nothing deeper to this kindness than helping a lost stranger, in this little hermit's motives. 'Don't trust that.' She told herself sadly. She'd like to trust him, but doing something out of kindness was rarely the case.
Glancing up from his bowl, the creature's face crinkled into a smile. There was something so warm and inviting about him, Revan wanted to trust him. "Pieces of yourself you know not, easy to read by a trained eye, they are."
"I wish you'd stop speaking in riddles." Spooning more of the warm meal into her mouth, she added. "If you're saying I don't know myself, then you're wrong." She glared at the hermit. "I know myself." Annoyance flitting through her, she went back to her dinner.
The hermit chuckled, a gravelly, humorous sound. A strange emotion played at Revan's core. Wanting to smile back, she fixated her gaze on the green gruel-like food. "If know yourself you did, be here you would not."
"What's that supposed to mean!" She snapped, shoveling in some more food. Silence followed them for several seconds. "Maybe if I were more like Vader." She thought aloud wistfully. And glanced balefully at the hermit. She shouldn't be taking any chances, what if he was a member of the Rebellion? 'That's doubtful.'
Yoda sat unperturbed by the statement. Long, he knew, had this child been under the influence of the dark side. Her turning out like this was the result of Vader's neglect; still, he did sense something malevolent beneath the surface. 'Clouded her future is.' Yoda thought quietly, staring at the girl. 'An agent of evil, her destiny may not be.' Here was his chance to lay the framework, sow the doubts, even if they were covered in darkness, for this innocent child to be saved. "A threat to you, I am not." He reminded her gently, almost ready to reveal whom he was. Alleviating her fears was the first step.
"That's good to know." She told him gruffly. 'I must not trust him.' "Thanks for the meal." Standing, she banged her head against the ceiling. "Ow!" Fervently rubbing the back of her head, she tried to smooth over the bump.
Yoda chuckled softly, the child was as amusing as she was talented. "Like your father you are." The words slipped out before he could stop them. 'Now and then,' He thought ruefully. 'My thoughts aloud I do say.' He peered at the girl's startled reaction. Revan's eyes flew wide, curiosity and fear warring on her small face. Around her the pattern of the Force leaped and twisted, so attuned was it to the child's emotions.
"You knew my father?" She blurted. How could this hermit know that unless. Unless he was a member of the Empire!
"Wise Jedi was he." Yoda nodded agreeing with himself. "Powerful Jedi, strong like your mother."
That was a lie, unless this creature was a Jedi. Revan growled. "My mother was not Force talented." Her mother would have survived longer if she'd been attuned to the Force. Wouldn't she? And her father, a Jedi? No that wasn't possible. "And my father was an General of the Emperor's troops."
'Clever are Palpatine's lies.' Yoda thought, grudgingly admiring the Emperor's brilliance. Obi-wan had been a General of the Republic, serving Palpatine in the years he was Chancellor. Most clever. 'Deceit within truths he hides.' Yoda spoke, unable to keep up the charade. "Useless to the Emperor she would be, were she not." Knowing this would only spark her anger more.
Infuriating the storm, Revan shouted. "The Emperor promised my grandfather he'd care for her! He loved her like he'd love his own child."
"His own child she was, but love her he did not." The diminutive Jedi smiled, his ears twitching.
"My grandfather is not the Emperor!" Revan hissed. "His name was Darth Tyranus, a Sith serving the Emperor. He died before I was born."
"Leave no children, Count Dooku did." Yoda informed her. "My Padawan learner once was he, know I would if born were any child of his." No, this girl showed too many similarities to Aranya and Palpatine for her lineage to be any other.
"You're a Jedi Master." Revan breathed. "An enemy of the Sith." Her enemy! She should kill him! 'But I can't.' She needed him. "There's only one of your description, you're Yoda." She sighed sadly. In an enemy's clutches, with no way out. This was not turning out well. 'I owe him.' Perhaps he could answer all her puzzling questions, about Sith and Jedi.