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Chapter 44 - Star Wars : Chapter 44: Fated Duel I

Luke's eyes hardened as he put away his blaster and drew his lightsaber. The blue blade came to life as he reached the top of the stairs and was held at the ready. Vader drew his own crimson blade and crossed it with Luke's.

Anakin held his covered the lower half of his face with his hand, completely worried that Luke won't have a chance against Vader. While Luke may had lessons fron Yoda, facing Vader was not the best course as of now.

Padmé insintctively held Anakin's hand, equally worried as him, now that she is watching her son fighting against the man who killed his father and her husband.

Luke struck first with a pair of overhead strikes that Vader easily parried with his own blade. Luke went for the same move, but stronger, but Vader parried that too and threw Luke back.

He allowed Luke to stand up, putting both hands on his saber and taking a defensive ready. Luke advanced, and Vader retreated to keep the distance.

Luke struck again with a pair of blows to the head and a third to the legs. Vader countered with a strike at the chest, but Luke blocked, spun and blocked the follow-up. From there, the duel turned into a dance of clashing blades.

"What do you think, Master Windu?" Shaak Ti whispered.

"Vader has the upper hand." he replied. "He has size, strength and experience over young Skywalker, who only has energy and maybe dexterity on her size."

"But by the looks of it, he wasn't exerting much effort, unlike his duels with Master Kenobi and Padawan Tano", Kit Fisto observed.

"He wanted Luke alive", Obi-Wan chimed in, his right hand at his cheek as he observed the duel. "He wanted him to become his apprentice, as is Palpatine's"

As the duo fought below, Lando led Leia and Chewie's escort into an ambush by his own people. Before they even knew what happened, the officer and all the Stormtroopers were disarmed and at Lando's mercy.

"Well done." Lando told his lieutenant, "Hold them in the security tower, and keep in quiet."

The audience breathed out in relief, realizing that Lando isn't some sort of an agent of the Empire after all.

Left alone, Lando began to undo Chewie's restraints while Leia looked bewildered.

"What do you think you're doing?" Leia asked, holding a pair of blasters Lando had given him.

"We're getting out of here."

Once even one hand was free, Chewie reached up and took hold of Lando's throat, pushing him up against a wall and squeezing, and roaring at him.

"Do you think after what you did to Han we're going to trust you?" Leia asked.

"I had no choice!" Lando croaked, grasping at Chewie's wrists.

"Oh, we understand, don't we Chewie?" Leia said snidely, "He had no choice."

Everyone looked at Anakin and there were similarities of his way of words to hers.

"Was just trying to help." Lando choked out, falling to his knees.

"We don't need any of your help."

"H- h- "

"Han!"

"What?"

Chewie loosened his hold slightly. "There's still a chance to save Han!" Lando said. "At the east… platform…"

"They can still make it!", Ahsoka called out loud.

"But given Boba's location, he should be near his ship by now", Mace pointed out.

"Chewie." Leia said, tapping the Wookie's arm. Immediately, he released Lando, took one of the blasters Leia offered him, and followed after the princess.

"I'm terribly sorry about this." Threepio said, "After all, he is a Wookie."

"That sounded inappropriate...", Luminara said regarding Threepio's description of Chewie.

"Please forgive Threepio for this...", Padmé pleaded.

Unfortunately for them, Boba and his prize had already reached his ship, Slave I.

"Put Captain Solo in the cargo hold." He ordered, watching the Imperial technicians load his meal ticket.

As Leia and company raced through the halls to the east platform, they inadvertently passed Artoo, who whistled we he saw them.

"Artoo, Artoo, where have you been?" Threepio asked. Chewie turned and saw the gold droid and growled at him.

"Turn around you wooly! I'll explain." Theeepio said. "Hurry, Artoo! We're trying to Han from the bounty hunter!" Artoo beeped a reply. "Well, at least you're still in one piece. Look what happened to me!"

"Because you went looking in places where you weren't supposed to" Anakin said snidely.

The trio arrived at the dock just as Boba was lifting off, but Chewie took shots at him anyway, while Leia looked on solemnly.

"Fett got away...", Shaak Ti uttered. "And to Jabba's"

"Who knows what Jabba had in store for him?", Kit Fisto asked aloud.

"Knowing him, it's far from good", Mundi said.

"Oh no! Chewie, they're behind you!" Threepio yelled as a squad of stormtroopers appeared in the hall they had come from. Taking cover behind the door frame, Chewie laid down cover fire while Lando led Leia down a hall to the left.

Back in the freezing chamber, Luke and Vader broke apart with another shove from Vader.

"You have learned much, young one." Vader commented.

"But not enough, truthfully", Yoda said in a low tone.

"You'll find I'm full of surprises." Luke grunted as he launched another series of attacks at Vader's head and feet. He stumbled when Vader pressed briefly and his saber was lost with a spin and a flick of Vader's wrist, falling to the ground at the base of the stairs.

Vader slashed at Luke, but Luke dodged by tumbling down the stairs. Vader leapt down the stairs after him, forcing Luke to dodge again, putting her on one knee with the Dark Lord blade pointed at him.

"Your destiny lies with me, Skywalker." Vader said. "Obi-Wan knew this to be true."

"I would never lead him to you, Vader...", Obi-Wan growled, hoping for the best for Luke. He couldn't bare to see his brother's legacy turn into the very being he had sworn to destroy.

"No." Luke replied defiantly, ignorant to the trap that laid open just behind him.

Vader slashed at him again. Luke tried to backpedal, but his foot found only air and he fell backward into the freezing pit.

"All too easy." Vader said, using the Force to flip the activation switch. "Perhaps you are not as strong as the Emperor thought."

The audiece glared at him for thar mocking remark that he gave to Anakin's son.

What he hadn't seen was Luke Force-jumping out of the pit just before the sequence could begin. A loud banging above him revealed Luke climbing the cables on the ceiling.

"Impressive." Vader admitted, a grin audible in his voice. He slashed at Luke, catching a few power cables, but not his opponent. "Most impressive."

Luke landed on his feet on the other side of the pit from Vader. The Dark Lord moved to strike at him, but Luke grabbed a hose and blasted Vader with freezing gases. He instantly called his lightsaber to his hand, and activated the blade as he swung it around to block Vader's next strike.

"Obi-Wan has taught you well." Vader mused. "You have controlled your fear." Vader went for three more strikes, all of which Luke blocked. "Now, release your anger. Only your hatred can destroy me."

"Don't fall for it, Luke!", Anakin called out. "He's luring you to him!"

Another flurry of blows forced Luke to flip over Vader's head, quickly taking the offensive with blow after blow, forcing Vader to give ground. Reaching the edge of the platform, Luke kicked his opponent, causing him to fall into blackness.

"That was anti-climactic", Rex commented though the rest were unconvinced.

"No.", Yoda firmly said. "Over, this is not"

Luke deactivated his weapon and jumped down after Vader. A door opened to his right, leading into a round metal tunnel. Cautiously, he stepped in and the tunnel lit up.

Passing through, the door closed behind him as he entered a new room. Some kind of control room if the consoles and window were any indication. All else was considered secondary when he heard the familiar rhythmic breathing of Darth Vader, but was unable to find the source.

He activated his blade again when he saw the Dark Lord walking up to him calmly, weapon at the ready.

Anakin frowned. Something was wrong. 'Why would Vader be that relaxed after what Luke was able to do just now?'

Obi-Wan and the rest of the Jedi knew that Vader barely put up any effort against Luke. After all, he wanted Luke to become his apprentice.

Luke inched closer, when suddenly a piece of machinery detached from the wall and flew at him from behind. Quickly, he turned and sliced it in half before finishing the pirouette and blocking Vader's attack.

A short exchange found them in yet another deadlock, only for Luke to be struck by a metal box, knocking him over. Vader backed off as Luke recovered, and another box glanced off Luke shoulder. He pointed his lightsaber at Luke and another wall mounting flew at him.

It missed Luke but hit the window instead. Air rushed out as the air pressure tried to equalize. Vader grabbed a nearby handle, while Luke was flung out the window.

Vader let go as the wind stopped and tried to see where Luke fell. Looking down, he saw Luke hanging from a bridge, grasping. Luke managed to pull himself up and took the time he had to recover from the experience.

"He's holding back against Luke.", Luminara observed with a frown. "His connection to the force, adding to his experience made him a powerful pawn of the Sith.

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