Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Alarms are blaring and flashing red light. The hallway security cameras record the door to the cabin shared by Wedge Antilles and Luke Skywalker flying open. Wedge Antilles steps into the hallway before turning and addressing someone in the room.

About a minute later, Luke Skywalker can be seen hurriedly exiting the room not bothering to shut the door. He is carrying a small bag and his helmet. He makes it a few steps into the hall before he pauses to adjust the bag. He turns and appears to speak to someone out of view of the cameras. None of the cameras catch his face well enough to read his lips with any certainty and the distant sounds of battle drown out the audio.

He turns and takes two quick steps before his left arm is pulled up and back causing him to jerk to a halt. It almost looked like someone much taller had grabbed his arm but Skywalker was alone. Turning to look behind and above him, the young commander looks annoyed. “Kin, let go! I have to get to my x-wing!”

There is a few-second pause where Skywalker appears to be trying to tug at something that no one else sees. From the way he cocks his head, it almost seems as if he is listening to someone. Desperately lunging backward, his escape attempt is stopped when his arm remains immobile as though held in an unseen grasp. “No, I have to go! I won't abandon my friends! Let me go!”

The boy by this point is frantically kicking and punching at nothing. “Kin, lemme go! They’re going kill me!”

Suddenly, the boy spins around. He is lifted about two feet in the air with his arms pressed against his chest. His legs kick for a second before abruptly going still. His eyes are wide in terror. He continues jerking slightly as though trying to free himself. Several groups of soldiers run past not reacting to the floating twitching bright orange pilot. One soldier trips on his fallen helmet but only curses before racing on.

Abruptly, Skywalker appears to pull his right arm free dropping his bag. He begins to frantically tug at the air again. He lets out an angry shout, “Let go Sleemo! You're going to get me…” His furious yelling abruptly ends when the boy suddenly stiffens with a gasp before going limp. He blinks several times before with a sigh his eyes close. The audio barely picked up a murmured, “No fair". The fear and panic are completely gone as his face relaxes into a peaceful slumber. The sirens continue blaring as the sound of battle draws closer but the youth does not stir.

The pilot turns in midair until it appears that he is being cradled like a sleeping child in someone’s arms with his head against their chest, if there wasn’t for a distinct absence of arms to hold him or a chest to rest his head on. Skywalker’s bag unzips itself and a battered stuffed bantha floats up onto him. A lock of hair moves as though an unseen hand is caressing the pilot's face.

Still suspended in midair and to all appearances sleeping peacefully, Skywalker’s body floats back into his quarters. The door closed behind him. His fallen helmet and now open bag were the only signs of the peculiar events.

Seventeen minutes pass without activity. A squad of stormtroopers from the 501^st jog into the camera view as they take up guard positions around the door. One stormtrooper moves the bag and helmet from the middle of the hallway.

For nearly two hours, nothing happens as the distant sounds of blaster fire cease. The guards remain unmoving. Occasionally, Imperials can be seen. A couple bound Rebels are marched past the cameras. There is no sign of Commander Skywalker.

Eventually, General Maximilian Veers arrives accompanied by a squad of stormtroopers with a large box on repulsors. Dismissing the door guards, he opens the door and goes in. While he is inside, the troopers open the box and remove a couple of blankets. At least one more can be seen lining the box. The General returns carrying an unconscious Luke Skywalker who has a stuffed bantha still clutched in his arms. Placing the boy in the box, the extra blankets were tucked around him before his helmet and bag were added. Once the lid was replaced, Veers and his men headed back up the hallway.

Chapter Text

Pilots do not disappear on bases. After Commander Luke Skywalker failed to join his squadron, Mon Mothma asked General Madine to check into what happened. Given who it was and his absurd bounty, it is possible that there was a traitor in their midst. By accounts of the Rogues, Commander Skywalker had plenty of time to make it to the hangar before that part of the base was overrun.

Madine did not like or trust the young Jedi. He was deeply suspicious of all sorcerers regardless of being called Jedi, Sith, Nightsister, or whatever. They were unnatural. He knew he had to take into account his own bias with the investigation. Intellectually, he knew Skywalker and Vader were very different but it would be easy to let his preconceived opinions effect the outcome.

Groaning, he starts making notes in italics on the recording transcripts to prepare a report for High Command. The first dozen times viewed only raised questions.

Recording with notes
Alarms are blaring and flashing red light. The hallway security cameras record the door to the cabin shared by Wedge Antilles and Luke Skywalker flying open. Wedge Antilles steps into the hallway before turning and addressing someone in the room.

Synopsis of interview with Lt. Commander Wedge Antilles. Interviewee had been in his shared quarters with Commander Skywalker when the alert sounded. Skywalker had been off duty and had been meditating before bed. Antilles had been finishing up a mission report.

When the alert sounded, Skywalker had first ordered the astromechs to finish prepping the fighters. As a result Antilles had left first, expecting Skywalker to follow momentarily. As he was leaving the room, there had been a message with an update on the Imperial forces. It was this message that had caused Antilles to speak to Skywalker from the door.

When asked if Skywalker had been behaving unusually, Antilles had responded that Skywalker is always unusual. “You are talking about someone who believes they regularly speak with the ghosts of dead Jedi, closes his eyes when sparring to see better, and had in complete seriousness compared the Death Star to a womprat before the battle of Yavin.”

Skywalker had been uneasy all day but had nothing definite to warn about. He was hoping meditation would help. Antilles did not believe Skywalker was planning to defect and insisted that he would not knowingly endanger the lives of everyone on base.

Antilles was familiar with a Kin. He said Skywalker spoke to him frequently in the Force. Skywalker believed that Kin was a force-user who is still alive. Kin apparently shared his interest in ships, piloting, and The Force. Kin did not approve of his involvement with the Alliance and reasonably insisted Luke was far too young to be in combat. Kin had tried on several occasions to persuade Luke to leave.

About a minute later, Luke Skywalker can be seen hurriedly exiting the room not bothering to shut the door. He is carrying a small bag and his helmet. He makes it a few steps into the hall, before he pauses to adjust the bag. He turns and appears to speak to someone out of view of the cameras. None of the cameras catch his face well enough to read his lips with any certainty and the distant sounds of battle drowns out the audio.

Skywalker along with most other pilots kept a bag ready in case of sudden deployment or evacuation. Antilles kept his under his seat in his x-wing.

Skywalker turns and takes two quick steps before his left arm is pull up and back causing him to jerk to a halt. It almost looks like someone much taller had grab his arm but Skywalker was alone. Turning to look behind and above him, the young commander looks annoyed. “Kin, let go! I have to get to my x-wing!”

Kin has been identified by some as a name of an imaginary friend Skywalker had as a child. Lt Commander Wedge Antilles said Skywalker believes Kin to be a living force-user. (See synopsis of Antilles interview).

Detailed analysis of video revealed no tampering. Careful analysis of shadows and reflective surfaces did not show another person. Only sign is the arm of his slightly-large flight suit is hanging incorrectly as though there was a hand wrapped around his arm.

There is a few second pause where Skywalker appears to be trying to tug at something that no one else sees. From the way he cocks his head, it almost seems as if he is listening to someone. Before jerking backwards but his arm remains immobile as though held in an unseen grasp. “No, I have to go! I won't abandon my friends! Let me go!”

The boy by this point is frantically kicking and punching at nothing. “Kin, lemme go! They’re going kill me!”

Detailed analysis of video revealed no tampering. Careful analysis of shadows and reflective surfaces did not show another person. Movements of his flightsuit would appear to indicate his movements were restricted and he was impacting something. There is no other indication that a second person was in the hallway.

Suddenly, the boy spins around. He is lifted about two feet in the air with his arms pressed against his chest. His legs kick for a second before abruptly going still. His eyes are wide in terror. He is jerking slightly as though trying to free himself. Several groups of soldiers run past not reacting to the floating twitching bright orange pilot. One trips on his fallen helmet but only curses before racing on.

Synopsis of interview with Lieutenant Richu. Richu was the soldier who tripped over Skywalker’s helmet. He was the only survivor of the soldiers who passed. While recalling the incident with the helmet, he emphatically denied the presence of a pilot much less a floating one. When shown a still of the hallway showing him running past Skywalker, he accused the interviewer of faking the image.

Reenactment of the scene suggests a much taller person had spun Skywalker around as his arms were pinned. Skywalker would have been held with his back against the other's chest. One arm would have pinned his arms to his chest while holding him up. The other hand would be over his mouth. Unknown how his legs were restrained. Once again there is no concrete evidence such a person was present.

Abruptly, Skywalker jerks his right arm, dropping his bag. He begins to frantically tugging at air again. He gets out an angry shout , “Let go Sleemo! Your going to get me…” His furious yelling abruptly ends when the boy suddenly stiffens with a gasp before going limp. He blinks several times before with a sigh his eyes close. The audio barely picked up a murmured, “no fair". The fear and panic are completely gone from his face now relaxed into peaceful slumber. The sirens continue blaring as the sound of battle draws closer but Skywalker does not stir.

Reenactment suggests Skywalker had jerked his arm free from his captors grasp which caused his bag to fall. There is no indication that anyone else was in the hallway or that Skywalker had been sedated or stunned.

The pilot turns in midair until it would appear that he was being held like a sleeping child in someone’s arms with his head against their chest, if it there wasn’t for a distinct absence of arms to rest in. Skywalker’s bag unzips itself and a battered stuffed bantha floats up onto him.

Still floating in midair and to all appearances sleeping peacefully, Skywalker’s body moves back into his quarters. The door closing behind him. His fallen helmet and now open bag the only sign of the peculiar events.

Reenactment suggests that his captor had adjusted their hold on Skywalker until he was laying in their arms and carried him back into his quarters.

Seventeen minutes pass without activity. A squad of stormtroopers of the 501st jog into camera before taking up guard positions around the door. One stormtrooper picks up the bag and helmet from the middle of the hall and moves them out of the way.

Security video analysis shows these stormtroopers heading directly to this location upon landing. They were among the first to land and appear to have been tasked with guarding this particular place. They were already on there way before Antilles left.

For nearly two hours, nothing happens as the distant sounds of blaster fire ceases. The guards remain unmoving. Occasionally, Imperials can be seen. A couple bound Rebels are marched past the cameras. There is no sign of Commander Skywalker.

Eventually, General Maximilian Veers arrives accompanied by a squad of stormtroopers with a large box on repulsors. Dismissing the door guards, he opens the door and goes in. While he is inside, the troopers open the box and remove a couple of blankets. At least one more can be seen lining the box. The General returns carrying a sleeping Luke Skywalker a stuffed bantha still clutched in his arms. Placing the boy in the box, the extra blankets were tucked around him before his helmet and bag were added. Once the lid was replaced, Veers and his men headed back up the hallway.

The general who had carried him into the hallway was Maximilian Veers. He serves directly under Darth Vader. The stormtroopers who accompanied him are all clones. The squad originally on guard duty have been identified as the elite Scar Squadron.

Conclusions

• Commander Luke Skywalker is almost certainly in Darth Vader’s hands.
• Reading through Skywalker’s files and interviewing his friends and colleagues, did not show indications that he planned to defect or desert.
• Darth Vader’s obsession with Skywalker is well documented. The alive and unharmed portion of his bounty suggests that Vader does not intending to kill Skywalker. Given the Commander’s known force-sensitivity, it seems likely he is wanted as an apprentice.

There are three possible scenarios explaining events but all are unlikely.

Skywalker was having mental health issues or under the influence of a drug causing him to hallucinate. While this is the least likely cause of the events, there is no way to completely rule it out. There is no evidence to suggest that this the cause. It is unlikely that either guards would have been assigned or Veers would know he was there. There is also no evidence that Skywalker has enough skill to do this consciously much less unconsciously.

Skywalker staged the hallway scene possibly with the help of accomplices in order to defect. This on the surface seems the most likely but again, there is no evidence. If coordinated with the Empire, it would account for events but only if Skywalker has enough skill with the Force and as an actor to deceive everyone around him. By accounts of his close friends and co-workers, Skywalker was notoriously terrible at deception and was very protective of his friends. Treachery on his part cannot be ruled out; however, there is no evidence he has the requisite skills.

Someone else or something else was in the hallway and had rendered the Commander unconscious. This invisible being may have been in contact to some degree with Skywalker for as long as six years. This unseen assailant is his not-so-imaginary friend, Kin. This imaginary friend would also need to be extremely well connected in the Empire, probably to Vader, given the stormtroopers sent to guard the room and General Veers personally retrieving the Jedi. This is the explanation favored by Madine’s staff. While this would explain events, it is preposterous. Life is not a daytime holodrama.

Chapter Text

General Madine was not looking forward to presenting his findings. Especially, if the Princess was there. She was unaccountably fond of Skywalker. She treated the pilot like he was her little brother and not the freak that he really was. If the Princess came, hopefully, she would not decide to bring that smuggler or Wookie with her.

Mon Mothma, Gial Ackbar, Jan Dodonna, Leia Organa, Wedge Antilles, and the Wookie were present. Given that Antilles was involved in the investigation and roomed with the suspect victim, Madine felt his presence was improper.

“Having conducted interviews and analyzed the security videos, there are only three possible explanations for events.

“The least likely is that the Commander was under the influence of drugs or hallucinating for some other reason. In this scenario, the odd events on the recordings were caused by the Commander. While it would fit some events it would not explain how the Imperials appear to have known exactly where to find him. It also has not been demonstrated that he has the necessary control of the Force.

“The second scenario is also improbable. There was another entity in the hallway with Skywalker that only he could see. That entity would have to be working with the Empire at very high levels. Since the 501st was involved, it would indicate that Darth Vader was as well. The entity would need to be well-known to Skywalker. It would need to be able to hide Skywalker in plain sight from anyone passing by. In my opinion, this is utter nonsense.

“The third and most likely scenario is Skywalker was complicit in the events. They were staged with the assistance of unknown accomplices to cover up his defection...” A curse from an outraged Princess now restrained by a Wookie short his accusations. Oddly, the conference room felt cold and Madine could have sworn he saw his breath. Even stranger were the ghostly fingers that he could swear brushed his neck.

Mon Mothma quickly stood, “I think we need to adjourn for a half hour. Not a word to anyone about this. Chewbacca would you accompany General Organa to her office, this last week has been difficult for her? Antilles, would you be so kind to fetch her some tea? General Madine, stay a moment.”

Chewbacca left the room carrying a struggling princess who was still shouting at Madine. Wedge hurriedly retrieved a bottle of moonshine from the Rogue’s hidden still. Hiding the bottle in his coat, he went to the mess hall for tea. Encountering Wes and Hobbie, they took one look at his face before retreating. Carrying the tea, he entered Organa's office. He was glad he did not run into Madine. Punching a general would not improve the situation.

It ended up being two hours before the meeting began. General Madine’s presence was unexpectedly required at the new Echo Base that was under construction. If Chewie’s description was accurate, Madine was in for a real treat, Wedge mused. The Chancellor must be truly furious or wanted him far from their Princess until she could cool down. Wedge was aware that Mon Mothma kept an eye on the twins when around. She had been a close friend of their mother. Although hiding it, he knew she was taking Luke’s disappearance hard. Maybe he should have brought her a bottle too.

Madine’s lieutenant took over the briefing. Apologizing, Lieutenant Aayla passed out copies of Madine’s transcribed notes. She added that no one on his staff thought Madine’s theory that it was staged was credible. There was no evidence of such a plot. None of them believed Skywalker is devious enough or willing to put others at risk. As strange as it seemed, it was their belief that the Jedi youngling was abducted by someone or something unseen by the cameras.

At the Princess's request, the video was also played.

Alarms are blaring and flashing red light. The hallway security cameras record the door to the cabin shared by Wedge Antilles and Luke Skywalker flying open. Wedge Antilles steps into the hallway before turning and addressing someone in the room.

About a minute later, Luke Skywalker can be seen hurriedly exiting the room not bothering to shut the door. He is carrying a small bag and his helmet. He makes it a few steps into the hall before he pauses to adjust the bag. He turns and appears to speak to someone out of view of the cameras. None of the cameras catch his face well enough to read his lips with any certainty and the distant sounds of battle drown out the audio.

He turns and takes two quick steps before his left arm is pulled up and back causing him to jerk to a halt. It almost looked like someone much taller had grabbed his arm but Skywalker was alone. Turning to look behind and above him, the young commander looks annoyed. “Kin, let go! I have to get to my x-wing!”

“Pause that.” The Princess was leaning forward. Puzzled, she asks, “Who is that with Luke?”

Chapter Text

“Pause that.” The Princess was leaning forward. Puzzled, she asks. “Who is that with Luke?”

A baffled General Dodonna responds, “No one else is there.”

Looking around the room, Leia asks, “There is a tall man in a cloak. He has Luke by the arm. You can't see him?” She is met with blank stares and confusion.

Mon Mothma broke the silence. “Maybe it is Force related. Restart it from the beginning. Leia, please tell us what you can see or hear.”

Leia takes control of the video. Watching it carefully, she often repeats certain segments.

Alarms are blaring and flashing red light. The hallway security cameras record the door to the cabin shared by Wedge Antilles and Luke Skywalker flying open. Wedge Antilles steps into the hallway before turning and addressing someone in the room.

About a minute later, Luke Skywalker can be seen hurriedly exiting the room, not bothering to shut the door. He is carrying a small bag and his helmet. He makes it a few steps into the hall before he pauses to adjust the bag. He turns and appears to speak to someone out of view of the cameras. None of the cameras catch his face well enough to read his lips with any certainty. The distant sounds of battle drown out the audio.

“That man just entered. He is very tall and appears to be human. He is wearing a black or dark hooded cloak over dark clothing. The hood is pulled up and has so far obscured his face. He has a deep voice. He is talking to Luke. ‘Come Luke. It is time to leave.’ He speaks to him like you would to a child. He reaches out his gloved right hand out to Luke like he wants him to come take it.”

Leia frowns before continuing. “Luke must know him pretty well, but it is not someone that I remember seeing on any of our bases. It is hard to be certain with the hood up. Yet, he seems familiar. His style of dress is unusual. His height should make him noticeable. He carries himself like an important officer. Maybe a high-ranked Imperial?”

He turns and takes two quick steps before his left arm is pulled up and back, causing him to jerk to a halt. It almost looked like someone much taller had grabbed his arm, but Skywalker was alone. Turning to look behind and above him, the young commander looks annoyed. “Kin, let go! I have to get to my X-wing!”

“The man walked up to Luke and grabbed his left arm with his right hand.”

There is a few-second pause where Skywalker appears to be trying to tug at something that no one else sees. From the way he cocks his head, it almost seems as if he is listening to someone.

“The man, whom Luke called Kin, continues to hold his arm with his right hand. He reaches out with his ungloved left hand and touches Luke's cheek. ‘Come, Little One. You can wait in your bunk for the battle to end. After, you will be brought to me.’ Luke attempts to get away.”

Desperately lunging backward, his escape attempt is stopped when his arm remains immobile as though held in an unseen grasp. “No, I have to go! I won't abandon my friends! Let me go!”

“The man sighs before saying, ‘Calm yourself, child. You're safe.’ ”

The boy by this point is frantically kicking and punching at nothing. “Kin, lemme go! They’re going kill me!”

Suddenly, the boy spins around. He is lifted about two feet in the air with his arms pressed against his chest. His legs kick for a second before abruptly going still. His eyes are wide in terror. He continues jerking slightly as though trying to free himself.

“Kin turns Luke around and pulls him up against his chest with both of Luke’s arms pinned down by one arm. His other hand is over Luke's mouth. His cloak conceals Luke. Odd, I can still see Luke through the man and his cloak. It is like he is translucent. Kin tells Luke to be silent.”

Several groups of soldiers run past not reacting to the floating twitching bright orange pilot. One soldier trips on his fallen helmet but only curses before racing on.

Abruptly, Skywalker appears to pull his right arm free and drops his bag. He begins to frantically tug at the air again. He lets out an angry shout, “Let go, Sleemo! You're going to get me…” His furious yelling abruptly ends when the boy suddenly stiffens with a gasp before going limp. He blinks several times before with a sigh, his eyes close. The audio barely picked up a murmured, “No fair." The fear and panic are completely gone as his face relaxes into a peaceful slumber. The sirens continue blaring as the sound of battle draws closer, but the youth does not stir.

“Luke manages to get an arm free. He tries to pull away the arms restraining him. Kin releases his hold on Luke's mouth. Luke starts yelling. Kin places his hand on Luke's forehead. He orders Luke to sleep. Must be a Jedi mind trick or something similar.”

Leia pauses for a moment. Describing Luke's capture was clearly taking a toll. “The hood has fallen back revealing the man’s face. He has dark blonde or brown shoulder-length wavy hair. I am unable to make out his eye color. It is something light. He has a cleft chin and a scar over his right eye. He is middle-aged. I am certain he is not a Rebel. I am pretty sure that I have seen a picture of him somewhere.”

Mon Mothma starts at the description of the man.

The pilot turns in midair until it appears that he is being cradled like a sleeping child in someone’s arms with his head against their chest, if there wasn’t for a distinct absence of arms to hold him or a chest to rest his head on. Skywalker’s bag unzips itself and a battered stuffed bantha floats up onto him. A lock of hair moves as though an unseen hand is caressing the pilot's face.

Still suspended in midair and to all appearances sleeping peacefully, Skywalker’s body floats back into his quarters. The door closed behind him. His fallen helmet and now open bag remain where they fell.

“Kin shifts Luke until he is cradled in his arms. Luke's head is resting on his chest. He just used the Force to unzip the bag and pull Luke's toy out. He carries Luke back into his quarters.”

The video is fast-forwarded.

Seventeen minutes pass without activity. A squad of stormtroopers from the 501st jog into the camera view as they take up guard positions around the door. One stormtrooper moves the bag and helmet from the middle of the hallway.

For nearly two hours, nothing happens as the distant sounds of blaster fire cease. The guards remain unmoving. Occasionally, Imperials can be seen. A couple of bound Rebels are marched past the cameras. There is no sign of Commander Skywalker.

Leia returns the video to its normal speed.

General Maximilian Veers arrives accompanied by a squad of stormtroopers with a large box on repulsors. Dismissing the door guards, he opens the door and goes in. While he is inside, the troopers open the box and remove a couple of blankets. At least one more can be seen lining the box. The General returns carrying an unconscious Luke Skywalker who has a stuffed bantha still clutched in his arms. Placing the boy in the box, the extra blankets were tucked around him before his helmet and bag were added. Once the lid was replaced, Veers and his men headed back up the hallway.

“Kin did not leave with the Imperials. I also did not hear him speak to Veers when he went in. I would expect one of them to say something to the other. There is no other exit to that room”

General Ackbar summarized events. “Commander Skywalker was captured by Imperials. An unidentified intruder was able to locate and capture him without showing on security cameras even when in clear view. Soldiers passed while he was holding a struggling pilot but apparently saw or heard nothing suspicious. The intruder, possibly named Kin, is another force-user. Skywalker knew his captor well enough to allow him to approach.”

“Luke had an imaginary friend called Kin. Maybe he really was in contact with someone or something for years. Zev Veers may know more about him. His squadron is due back later today.” Wedge added grimly. Zev was going to be devastated. That his father was involved would make it even worse.

Luke was pretty much Zev's unofficial adopted son even if High Command chose to ignore or take advantage of it as convenient. Zev had not been on the best of terms with High Command after repeatedly standing up to them about sending Luke on missions. He only backed down when threatened to be stationed separately. Wedge knew Zev had considered taking Luke away after Yavin but could not come up with a way to hide him from the Jedi, the Alliance, and the Empire. When Luke's insane bounty was posted, Zev reluctantly gave up.

Mon Mothma suggested a recess. As chairs were being pushed back, the room's comm beeped. An aide reported that there was going to be an important live Imperial broadcast in two minutes on all stations. The alert was only rarely used by the Emporer. Everyone returned to their seats. No one said it but all were dreading an announcement regarding the capture of the Deathstar pilot.

Instead of the Emperor’s shriveled visage, it was Darth Vader who appeared. “This morning, our beloved Emporer Sheev Palpatine unexpectedly passed away. Let us remember his wise and benevolent rule…” Stunned gasps greeted his words.

“Mother of moons” someone whispered. The quiet words are shockingly loud in the stunned silence.

“It is with a heavy heart, that I accept the scepter. It is my honor to become the new Emporer.” The camera panned back revealing stormtroopers of the 501st lining the steps of the Imperial Palace. High-ranking officials and officers flanked Vader on both sides. An admiral had his hand resting on the shoulder of a blonde boy who looked like he might bolt. Whether the hand was restraining or providing reassurance was a matter of question.