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New Beginnings
The eighth Tale of Miklinar

NC-17

The Star Wars movies, their universe, concepts, and characters are the property of George Lucas and whomever else he has licensed. My characters and concepts, unless otherwise noted, are my property. In case of dispute, Lucas wins, no argument. There is no money being made on this story.

Medical wing. Miklinar's visiting a new mother. The father's there, holding the child close, murmuring to her. "Did the birth go well?"

The mother grins. "It was fabulous. We linked with her, explained what was happening."

You ask, "You're talking to her, already?"

Miklinar nods, "Alland said he could hear my thoughts from about the fourth month on. It might have been earlier, but only as sensations."

The father finally noticed that there were visitors. "Hi. Isn't she beautiful?"

Since newborns are notoriously red and wrinkled, you expect to agree politely but not truthfully. But the tiny face is a light tan, and plump. "I guess they don't cry a lot if you can tell what's wrong before it gets too bad."

The father grins, "Once you figure out that it's the baby, yes. It's fun separating my hunger from hers. And the burps!"

Everybody laughs.

The EmDee droid ushers the visitors out of the room. "I must examine the patient."

Miklinar nods. He looks over at you, "The next Tale is about Sorra Vader's birth."

You're not sure....

"Garn's first. Sorra eventually became Lord Vader."

You nod. "I thought I recognized the name. Her son Tichol's Lord Vader now, isn't he."

"Yes. This Tale is called 'New Beginnings.'"

New Beginnings
as told by Miklinar

     Once Vader had decided to stop pressing Leia for cooperation, Leia felt abandoned.

     A minor functionary, but one she knew Vader used as a messenger, made it worse. "No, we're not taking your base back. Your base is intact, for your use. But Lord Vader insists that you leave. No, he cannot be reached. No, Lord Anthru cannot be reached. To the best of our knowledge, Luke will be back in a few months, for a week or two. You can reach him as well as we can. No, you cannot stay here to wait for him. You must leave here within two days."

     Leia was finally aggravated enough to try to use the Force to contact Vader. He blocked her. Then she tried Garn. "Yes, Your Highness?"

     "Why am I being tossed off the planet?"

     "Your ... hatred ... of Lord Vader is disturbing him. He has tried to put aside the negative feelings but you keep projecting them at him. He would teach you shielding, but can't; he can't face you unshielded himself while your hatred is so virulent. He bids you leave, until your temper has cooled."

     "What about the base?"

     "It may remain, as per the agreement. Lord Vader still opposes the Empire."

     "And that's where Luke's gone?"

     "Scouting for his father, yes."

     "And how do I contact him?"

     Leia could feel Garn's smile. "He didn't tell you? I see. Try the method you used to reach me. And if doesn't work, consider that you were offered training."

     "Is he alright?"

     A moment's concentration. "Yes. But the mission is of grave risk. No one's safety is guaranteed, Your Highness -- you know that."

     Leia shook her head, "Garn, what happened? He wanted to settle down here, with you and the kid. What did you do to scare him off?"

     Garn could feel the strain the mind-talk was causing in Leia. "Is this a petition for an audience?"

     "You pompous... No. I'm asking you, as a sister, to talk to me."

     Aha, finally! "And how do you claim this kin-right? You've always denied it before."

     "As the sister of your child's father."

     "Not specific enough. And there is a closer bond."

     Garn could feel Leia take two good, deep breaths. "I ask it, who am daughter-of-the-body to your father-by-adoption."

     "Name the House."

     Leia sighed. "House Vader."

     "The audience is granted, sister. I'm in my office."

     She fairly flew. The office door was open -- several staff members stood talking to Garn. "Thank you, gentlemen. Your Highness, just a moment." Garn gave instructions to several of those gathered. "You have your orders. Dismissed."

     The room emptied, the door locked. "Your Highness? Will you have a seat?"

     "Only if you agree to stay seated." Garn nodded. "Why are you so tall?"

     "Psychological. And mimicry."

     "Ah. Do you hope to disguise yourself as him?"

     "For what reason?" then Garn grinned, "Are you sure I haven't?"

     "Hm. To throw off possible assassins? Is that why they shot you?"

     Garn shook her head. "Not that time. I couldn't have been mistaken."

     Leia stopped. "You're stalling. I'm stalling. Why don't we bring up the main subject -- Luke."

     "Very Well. He's well."

     "But where is he?"

     "He didn't tell me."

     Leia scowled, "Didn't tell you."

     "No. He operates under Lord Vader, not under me. I understand that one of his missions is to find new Jedi."

     "Then how do I reach him?"

     "I'll relay a message. Speak."

     "No. I want to talk to him."

     Garn shrugged. "Then you should have accepted the training. Perhaps he will bespeak you. Concentrate. Become calm, restful..."

     Distrustful won over restful. "Your emotions are too negative to use the Force properly. Only the Emperor now teaches the use of those emotions in wielding the force."

     "That's what I'm doing?"

     "That's why my lord wants you out of the system. You disrupt him."

     "Ouch. I begin to understand. Ask Luke if he will train me."

     Consultation."He's willing to try. He will meet you at 'the big base' in a week. He's not talking about here."

     "Tell him I'll be there." A brief grin, "Thank you, Garn -- I think. I'll see in a week. Tell me -- do I disrupt you as well?"

     Garn shook her head. "The resonances are different. And your emotions don't so much distract him as tempt him to use those emotions himself, to return to the dark side."

Miklinar smiles. "Can you imagine, Princess Leia being told that she could cause Darth Vader to revert to the ravening monster she had always pictured him as? It cut her very deeply. But it also broke her complete opposition to everything Garn had taught Luke.

"She left the Sith world within days, and met Luke. She stayed with him for several months, training, before he came back to Vader's world..."

     Luke returned less than a day before the child was due. Garn was in her office, turning certain duties over to her deputy. "Just a moment, General."

     "Take your time, my lord."

     She nodded. "Alar, we'll continue later. Dismissed." The officer half-bowed and left.

     Alone together. They stood apart."You don't look any heavier."

     "My mass increased a total of ten kilos." She scanned him. He practically glowed. She grinned, "You... you look magnificent. You've been training."

     An answering grin. "Yes. I have a gift for you."

     "Oh?"

     Concentration. A golden flowing, collecting in his hands. He made a tossing motion, and a thick cloud of sparks flew around her. "Very pretty. What else does it do?"

     "This one's an ornament. We've devised them to blind and distract an enemy. And there's a first aid application."

     "Then you have a report for me."

     Luke nodded. "Several. They can wait, though." He shook his head, "You're sure you're due?"

     "She thinks so. She's shifted head down, ready to dive out."

     "And her name?"

     "Sorra Vader." Luke blinked. Garn continued, "I thought you knew?"

     A whisper, "As if he'd married my mother." Garn could almost see the swarm of might-have-beens overwhelming him -- his father's weakness as well. He took a deep breath, seemingly shaking the visions off. "Where's Lord Vader?"

     "He was inspecting the birthing suite at hospital. It's not uncommon among the Sith for their officers or techs to suddenly lose weight, with no ill effects, after a few days' absence."

     "Yes. I've encountered your 'Disguised Ones.'"

     Garn's eyebrow rose, "Oh? Any results?"

     Luke grimaced, "I was able to go through the motions. No one's reported a child." A quirk of a smile, "No, one of them did. She swore it wasn't mine, but could I please use my magic and tell her who had fathered it." Garn lifted an eyebrow, Luke continued, "That's her translation. She used a Sith word first, was surprised that I didn't know it."

     "I know the word. 'Power' is closer, but 'divinity' is closer still." Garn pronounced the word, Luke nodded.

     "That's it. 'Divinity'? Aren't these people a little advanced to think that gods are walking around among them?"

     "You've never seen Lord Vader among his people. He makes no such claims, but that's how they treat him."

     "Hm." Luke moved closer to Garn, gently embraced her. "How do you feel?"

     "I'm impatient. While I'm carrying her, I'm on light duty. I want to get back to work."

     An unexpected answer, but..."So he cut back on your duties, did he?"

     "I'm used to ship duty, combat flying. Soon, now."

     Luke felt a shudder run through her body. "Very soon, I think."

     "It's started." She spoke softly, "Be calm, little heir. The final participant is here, and your birthing place is ready. Computer! Keyword 'transport'..."

     Vader's voice, "No need, Lieutenant. Waiting outside."

     A small cargo cart was waiting outside, Vader in a Sith uniform at the controls. "Thank you, my lord." She looked over at Luke, "I think we have time to give Luke the short course."

     "Perhaps. If you will accompany us, General."

     "Certainly, Father."

      Half hospital room, half office. And not even really a hospital room. A human doctor was waiting. "Good." He examined Garn quickly. "Blood pressure's good, good sounds inside..." He nodded at the taller man, "My lord, anything your perceptions can add to the analysis?"

     Vader shook his head. "I read all normal, myself. The surgical team is standing by?"

     Garn changed into a white robe styled like the Jedi robes. Vader shrugged on protective clothes as well. "They're on alert, normal for deliveries when there's no expectation of complications. The patient is healthy, her measurements are adequate, and you and she both have considerable healing talents. I don't think the team will be needed."

     "I will not lose Garn."

     Garn was used to being talked over by this pair, but she'd had enough. "Medic, I need a ten milliliter cryo-container."

     "Certainly, my lord."

     Garn cut a block of flesh from her upper arm about two centimeters on a side. It went into the cryo-container, then Garn healed herself. "There's more than enough for a clone. Name that one Elia, my lord. And never let her out of your reach." A shudder. "Sorra's jealous -- afraid she'll be displaced in your affections by someone not even your kin."

     "Tell her that she belongs to me forever, even if her mother gives back her oath."

     Another belly-ripple, this one dragging a gasp out of Garn. "She's ready."

     Garn climbed onto the bed. "Luke, stand at the head of the bed, grasp her wrists." Vader stood at the foot of the bed, prepared to do the delivery himself. "Garn, deep link, now." The tension poured out of her, into Vader's strength. She became serene, almost floating. "Bring Sorra into the link." A little knot of confusion mellowed out. "Luke, link in."

     "What are you doing?"

     "Something very old. Here. Feel your daughter's thoughts. Help her be born."

     "I ... don't dare. You're still too strong, more than I can break away from."

     "Very well." Vader was distracted by movement in the birth canal.

     Garn squeezed Luke's wrist. "Please? For your daughter's sake?"

     Luke sighed, "You win. What do I do?"

     Garn buffered Luke from direct contact with Vader. "Here. here's your daughter. Feel her thoughts?"

     "Already?"

     "For months." A faint smile, "Explaining what will happen. She's ready. My lord?"

     "In position."

     "Here she is. " One contraction, the slightest push, and the whole bundle came out -- water, baby, and afterbirth. Vader caught the child, cleared her mouth, then eased her into her first breath.

     The medic cut and sealed the umbilical cord, then handed Vader a towel. Vader cleaned and wrapped the infant and laid her in Garn's waiting arms. The medic inspected the new mother. "Not even a tiny rip. No anesthetics. I'll have the surgical team stand down now."

     "What? Oh, certainly. Do you have children, Medic?"

     "Yes. But I would never have dared to deliver my wife's children myself. If I lost one, the reminders would be too constant, in my profession."

     "For a Jedi, the benefits far outweigh the risks. When can Lord Anthru leave the hospital?"

     "Give her six hours here, to rest. Either or both of you can stay, but no other visitors."

     "And the child?"

     "Can leave with her mother."

     Vader withdrew from the close mental contact. He looked up. Even Luke's face was serene. "Thank you for insisting," Luke said.

     "It was for Sorra's sake. She was entitled to your attendance."

     Luke waved his hand at the foot of the bed, "That was a common Jedi practice?"

     "It used to be. It will be again." A long look at Skywalker, "Are you convinced now? That I mean you no harm?"

     "Risk assessment has nothing to do with belief, you know that. but I..."

     "How's Leia?"

     "Happier, now that I'm not underfoot anymore."

     Vader studied his son, "Underfoot?"

     "Hanging around here, doing nothing useful. Bad companions." Luke grinned.

     "Huh. you've been training her."

     "When she has the time. She finally let me show her what Garn taught me." Luke shook his head, "Are we always such fools, Father?"

     "Remember that. It keeps us human." Vader grinned, "Didn't you know that 'damnfoolpilot' is all one word?"

     "No one's ever outflown you."

     Vader snorted, "I'm getting old. You'll manage, one day. If you keep your flight hours in. Hard to do if the Alliance has you flying a desk."

     "I manage."

     Vader nodded. "Stay with her, Luke. I have to get back to work."

     "But .. she needs you here with her."

     "Do you think we're ever really separate?"

     "I mean physical contact, right now. She needs it."

     "Garn?"

     "Yes. Please stay."

     Luke asked quietly, "Do you want me to stay?"

     "We always did, Luke. You're always welcome here."

Miklinar sits quietly, soaking in the energy of all the new life. "I can never get a straight answer from them on that last statement. Luke doesn't remember whether Garn said it or Lord Vader. The other two just smile. Does it really matter, if they were as close as Vader claimed?

"The next Tale starts about two years later. Luke's scouting for other groups to join the Restored Republic. Garn and Vader are governing the Sith and their allies, and Sorra's starting to learn Jedi basics.

"Then Princess Leia is captured by the Emperor's forces...."

Miklinar shakes his head, "This is where I show up, at last. Not entirely wanted, though...

"The next Tale is called 'Rescue Party.' "

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