Star Wars: Starkiller

(Coruscant)

The air in the interrogation cell was thick, oppressive. Luthen Rael was seated in a metal chair, pinned to the floor, his wrists secured to the table in front of him by thick steel shackles. The only illumination came from cold, pale lights at the sides, casting angled shadows in the sterile room. There were no windows, no clocks, nothing to indicate the passage of time. Only the suffocating presence of his own breathing and the distant echo of footsteps in the corridors of the ISB.

The door slid open with a mechanical hiss.

Luthen already knew who would enter before he saw it. He had heard it.

The rhythmic, mechanical, unmistakable sound.

Hhhk... Pshhhh... Hhhk... Pshhhh...

Darth Vader.

The dark silhouette of the Dark Lord emerged from the threshold like a living shadow, filling the room with his imposing presence. Every step he took seemed to rumble on the metallic floor. The absolute black of his armor absorbed what little light there was in the room, while the crimson glow of the sensors on his belt flickered with an ominous rhythm.

Luthen didn't move, but he felt his own heart racing. It wasn't the first time he'd faced an agent of the Empire, but this...this was different.

Vader stopped in front of the table, looking at him unhurriedly. Luthen held his gaze, though all he could see was the distorted reflection of his own face in the polished surface of the black helmet.

A long silence stretched between them.

Finally, Vader's voice broke the void, his tone cold and devoid of emotion.

"Where is Galen Marek."

Luthen arched an eyebrow, feigning ignorance.

"Who?"

Without a word, Vader raised his gloved hand and pressed a button on his belt. Immediately, a holographic projector activated on the table, displaying an image of a dark-haired man with a hardened expression and a cold stare.

Luthen recognized the face immediately.

Galen Marek.

The guy who had broken into his store and bought him a suit of armor, so his name was Galen, hmph, interesting.

The only thing he knew about him, was he had killed the Emperor and that he worked for Mon Mothma as a bodyguard, but he wasn't going to say that.

"Don't play games with me, Rael." said Vader, his voice low as thunder. "We know he came to your store, a few days ago. We know that if anyone can find him, it's you."

Luthen sketched a slow smile, though his mind was working quickly.

"Even if I knew who he was..." he said with feigned indifference. "What makes you think I'd tell you?"

Vader didn't respond. Instead, the room seemed to close in on Luthen, and he suddenly felt an invisible pressure squeezing his windpipe. It wasn't quite choking him, but the threat was clear.

"Tell me where he is."

Luthen grunted, feeling the air barely enter his lungs, but he refused to give in.

"If you're looking for him..." he coughed "it means even the Empire can't find him."

The pressure intensified, and this time Luthen felt his vision blur.

"Do not underestimate my patience."

Luthen forced a smile, though his body trembled from lack of oxygen.

"Do not underestimate you...a man with nothing to lose."

Suddenly, the Force suddenly released him with a jolt, and Luthen fell forward, gasping for breath. He forced himself to catch his breath before looking up at his captor.

"You must be desperate, Lord Vader." he muttered with a defiant smile. "If you came all the way to me... it means you haven't the slightest idea where he is."

Vader's black helmet tilted slightly, assessing him.

"The question isn't whether we'll find him, Rael." he said with absolute coldness "The question is how much pain you're willing to endure before you tell us what you know."

Luthen maintained his smile, even as he felt the shackles tighten even more around his wrists.

"Do what you want." he whispered "You'll get nothing from me."

Vader was silent for a few moments. Then, with a barely perceptible wave of his hand, the cell door slid open, and two black-clad guards entered.

"Take him to the advanced interrogation room."

Luthen felt the soldiers' firm hands lifting him from the chair and dragging him out of the room.

As they carried him, he couldn't help but wonder....

'How will Andor be doing right now?'

---

[STARKILLER POV]

"Okay, next stop: Garel City Spaceport." PROXY's voice echoed in the cockpit as he entered the coordinates into the navigation computer.

I watched the screen with a frown. Garel City... a remote world, but not far enough out of Imperial reach. I didn't have much choice, but at least here I had a starting point.

A heavy silence hung in the cockpit. Maul was sitting off to the side, arms folded and eyes closed, as if he were meditating... or planning something. Since leaving Malachor, he had barely said a word.

Finally, his voice broke the silence.

"Why are we heading there?" his tone was neutral, though with a tinge of suspicion.

"There's someone I need to see." I had no intention of giving him any more details.

The zabrak snorted in a murmur and rose without further question, disappearing into the rear of the ship. I didn't take my eyes off him until he was out of sight.

"PROXY."

"Easy, Master, I've got eyes on him with the sensors and holocams."

"Good."

I sighed and moved the hyperdrive lever. In an instant, the stars curved and we plunged into the blue vortex of hyperspace.

---

Thirty minutes later, the ship dropped out of light speed with a subtle jerk. In front of us, the planet Garel stretched out, its illuminated cities standing out against the blackness of space. I descended slowly through the atmosphere until I spotted the spaceport.

According to Sabine's last encrypted message, the Phoenix Squadron had taken refuge here. That saved me the trouble of having to track them down.

I maneuvered precisely through the incoming traffic and landed on a platform somewhat removed from the main hubbub. I shut down the engines and stood for a few seconds in the cockpit, watching the city through the windshield. I couldn't afford to be seen by the wrong people.

Maul appeared at the cockpit entrance, arms crossed.

"How long do you plan for us to be here?"

"As long as it takes."

I didn't wait for his answer. I stood up, grabbed my hood and walked down the ramp.

As I moved, internally my mind was focused on finding the presences of Kanan and Ezra, which I quickly managed to locate near my position, so I began searching for them.

As I advanced through the spaceport, my senses were completely focused on finding the presences of Kanan and Ezra. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the Force flow around me. It didn't take long to perceive them. They were like two flames burning in the vastness of the city, close to my position.

I quickened my pace.

Garel City was a bustling place, full of merchants, transporters and refugees seeking to hide from the imperial gaze. I moved through the crowd, keeping my hood down and avoiding eye contact. Although the Empire did not have a strong presence here, I could not afford to be recognized.

The presences became clearer as I turned down a narrow alley. At the end of it, I found a dilapidated-looking cantina, with an entrance dimly lit by a couple of flickering lights.

I sighed. Of course they would be in a place like this.

I pushed open the door and entered. The atmosphere was thick with voices, laughter and the unmistakable aroma of cheap alcohol and motor oil. I scanned the room with my eyes until I spotted them.

Kanan was sitting at one of the tables in the back, arms crossed, listening intently as Ezra spoke excitedly. Zeb was next to him, drinking from a pitcher and casting suspicious glances at anyone who passed too close. Hera wasn't with them, but if the rest of the squadron was here, she shouldn't be far behind.

I took a breath and moved forward.

Zeb was the first to notice my presence. His eyes narrowed and for an instant he didn't seem to recognize me. Then his expression changed to a mixture of surprise and disbelief.

"But what the hell...?"

Kanan raised his head. His eyebrows rose and for a moment he said nothing. Ezra, noticing the sudden silence, followed his gaze and gaped.

"Galen...?"

I stopped in front of them. No one said anything for a few seconds, as if they were making sure it was really me and not a hallucination.

"It's been a while." I said finally.

"We thought you were dead." Kanan muttered, still not taking his eyes off me.

Ezra jumped to his feet, visibly excited. "You abandoned us! We haven't heard from you in months."

I didn't respond right away. I looked at each of them. There was tension in the air, a mixture of relief, anger and distrust.

"I know," I admitted. "But I'm not here to apologize. I need your help."

Kanan crossed his arms. "Help for what?"

"To find something."

There was a brief silence before Zeb let out a grunt. "Let me guess, we got in trouble again."

I ignored his comment and looked at Kanan. "Where's Sabine?"

Everyone's faces hardened slightly. A bad feeling settled in my chest.

"Sabine isn't here," Kanan replied in a more serious tone.

I frowned. "Where is she?"

Kanan exchanged a glance with Ezra and Zeb before answering.

"That's something we should discuss elsewhere."

"We can discuss it here, I've already analyzed the place, there's no one listening."

Kanan let out a sigh, as if he was evaluating how much he should tell me. Finally, he leaned his elbows on the table and spoke in a low tone.

"Sabine is on a mission."

I frowned. Of course she is.

"What kind of mission?" I asked, not looking away from him.

"Picking up a courier."

"A courier?"

"Someone with important information," Kanan explained. "An encrypted transmission came in a few days ago. A Rebellion contact told us he has data that could be key to Starfleet. Hera arranged the mission and Sabine volunteered to go after him."

Ezra nodded, crossing his arms. "It was a quick mission. Get in, extract the courier and get out. But she should have been back by now."

A slight shiver ran down my back.

"How long has it been?" I asked with a frown.

Zeb grunted, resting the jug on the table with more force than necessary. "Too long."

"The last transmission we received was two hours ago," Kanan said. "He said he had contact with the target and they were on their way. But since then... nothing."

My hands clenched into fists.

"Where did she go?"

"She should still be in Garel Spaceport, she had to pick up the contact there, though I don't know what he looks like, no one does."

I closed my eyes for a moment, concentrating on locating Sabine, her presence, her imprint on the Force, until...

"I know where she is. We'll meet again when I bring her back." I said as I stood up and walked out of the place.

"Good luck." Kanan said as he watched me leave.

---

I immersed myself in the Force, letting it guide my steps. Sabine was not far away, but her presence felt agitated, on edge.

Something was not right.

I moved swiftly through the streets of Lothal, avoiding Imperial patrols and keeping to the shadows. As I got closer, the sounds of combat became apparent: gunfire, the clash of metal against metal, and a grunt of exertion that I recognized instantly.

I rounded a corner and there she was.

Sabine, with her blasters in hand, was moving nimbly, dodging the incoming shots. In front of her, a figure in dark armor and a crimson visor was firing at her with pinpoint accuracy.

With a simple wave of my hand, the Force wrapped around her weapon and tore it from her grasp, hurling her away. The bounty hunter whirled in my direction, bewildered.

"But what...?"

I didn't give her time to process. I lunged toward her with a downward slash of my saber. Ketsu barely managed to dodge it, pulling a vibroknife from her belt and blocking my next attack with surprising speed.

"I don't know who you are, but stay out of this!" he growled, backing away and taking a defensive stance.

"No, you stay out of this." I replied coldly, taking a step forward.

"Galen, wait!" exclaimed Sabine. "Don't kill her, be gentle."

"Oh easy, I'll be gentle." I said as I thrust at her with such force that it knocked her off balance and caused her to fall to the ground, to which I aimed my red lightsaber at her.

"Surrender."

To which she quickly obeyed by dropping her weapons and putting her hands up.

"Sabine, where's the Courier?"

"Easy, he hid among the crates. It's an EG unit."

I slowly lowered my saber, but did not deactivate it. My gaze remained fixed on the bounty hunter, analyzing her every move as Sabine approached. She approached the bounty hunter and quickly handcuffed her. Once she finished, she turned to me.

"Always so dramatic..." she muttered, crossing her arms.

I turned to face her for the first time in weeks.

The same determined eyes. The same unwavering energy.

For a moment, she said nothing. She just looked at me, as if she was still processing that I was really there.

"It's good to see you, Sabine." I said, finally putting my saber away.

She blinked, her breath coming in ragged gasps, and before I could respond, she rushed forward and threw herself at me, hugging me tightly.

"You fucking idiot." She muttered against my shoulder, her voice laden with pent-up emotions.

Out of reflex, I lifted my arms and hugged her back, feeling the tension in her body. It wasn't just surprise, it was something deeper. Something she had been holding back for a long time.

"Same here." She finally said, pulling away just a little to look at me. But instead of speaking right away, her eyes roamed over my face, as if she was looking to make sure it was really me. Then, without warning, she grabbed me by the collar of my jacket and kissed me.

It was a quick kiss, but intense. A shock of accumulated emotions, of uncertainty, of relief.

When we broke apart, Ketsu, who had been watching the scene with her arms folded, let out a sarcastic laugh.

"Well, well...so this is what all the drama was about."

Sabine shot her a sharp glare. "Shut up."

"Relax, I'm just saying I've never seen you do that with anyone before. Must be special." Ketsu arched an eyebrow with a smirk.

I just stared at Sabine, who still wouldn't let go of me completely.

"You know what, I don't have time for this," she finally said, returning to her usual tone, though her cheeks were still slightly flushed. "What are you doing here, Galen?"

"Later." I shook my head, averting my eyes to the bounty hunter still on the ground. "First, I want to know who she is."

Before Sabine could respond, the woman let out a dry laugh.

"Well, well... So this is your boyfriend, Sabine." Her tone was laden with mockery as she slowly sat up, dusting off her armor.

Sabine snorted, clearly irritated. "Shut your mouth, Ketsu."

"Oh, so it is?" Ketsu grinned mischievously, looking Galen up and down. "And here I thought you only liked guys in Mandalorian armor..."

I frowned, feeling the conversation slipping into territory he didn't quite understand.

"Have we met?" I asked dryly.

"No, but what a shame." Ketsu cocked her head to the side. "I like to know who I'm competing with. Still, I wouldn't mind getting to know you better though, bad boy."

"Competing?" I repeated in confusion ignoring Ketsu and looking at Sabine.

The Mandalorian closed her eyes for a moment and exhaled in annoyance.

"Ketsu and I go way back. We used to be partners..."

"And best friends," Ketsu interrupted, her teasing tone still present. "Until she decided to play heroine."

Sabine gave her a sharp look.

"Until I decided to do something more important than just survive."

Ketsu held up her hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Don't get upset, Wren." She then looked at me with an arched eyebrow. "And you? You don't seem like the type to work with the Rebellion."

I watched her for a second before answering.

"I don't work with anyone who doesn't share my goals."

"Oh, what a mystery..." muttered Ketsu with a sly smile. "Sabine, you really know how to pick them."

Sabine rolled her eyes and looked at Galen.

"If you're done fighting with my old friend, can we focus on the courier?"

I nodded.

"Yes. Let's get that droid out of here before more trouble arrives."

Ketsu smiled, crossing her arms.

"Well, well...looks like the meeting just got interesting. What do you say, Sabine, shall we grab a drink after this? For old times' sake."

Sabine snorted.

"I'd rather face a dozen stormtroopers than go out for drinks with you."

"Always so charming..." laughed Ketsu, following us as we went deeper into the shipments to search for the EG unit.

---

The ride back to the Ghost passed in silence. The EG unit walked alongside us, emitting low beeps as Sabine and I walked in front. Ketsu, hands tied behind her back, followed close behind us, casting furtive glances in my direction.

When we reached the landing bay, the unmistakable silhouette of the Ghost loomed before us. The ramp was open, and at the entrance Hera Syndulla was waiting for us, her arms folded and a surprised expression upon seeing me.

"Galen." Her voice held a mixture of disbelief and relief. "I never thought I'd see you again."

"It's good to see you again, Hera." I nodded respectfully.

She stepped down a step, watching me closely. "Are you here to stay?"

I shook my head. "No. That's not why I'm here."

Hera sighed, as if she had expected that answer. "Then why did you come back?"

Before answering, I tilted my head in Ketsu's direction. "Sabine and I found this bounty hunter causing trouble. We thought it best to bring her here."

Ketsu snorted. "Oh, come on, Sabine, is that how you treat an old friend?"

"Only when old friends try to get in my way." Sabine shot her a stern look.

Hera looked at Ketsu with a frown and then gestured to two members of Phoenix Squadron standing nearby. "Take her away. Find out what she was doing here."

The soldiers nodded and took Ketsu by the arms.

"Sabine, honey, you're breaking my heart." Ketsu joked as they escorted her out of the bay.

"You'll get over it." Sabine replied with a smirk.

Hera watched the scene in silence before looking back at me. "So, if you haven't come to stay... tell me, what are you looking for here, Galen?"

I took a deep breath. "I need your help."

---

The atmosphere inside Ghost was warmer than the bustling spaceport. Lights flickered softly over the control panels, casting shadows over the familiar interior of the ship. Hera and Sabine settled at the center table in the main compartment, while I stood, feeling the weight of the words I was about to utter.

Hera watched me with her arms crossed, her analytical gaze scrutinizing me. Sabine, on the other hand, tilted her head curiously.

"Well, Galen." Hera broke the silence. "You said you needed our help, for what exactly?"

I clenched my jaw. To say it out loud was to admit it completely. I took a deep breath and decided not to beat around the bush.

"It was me." My voice sounded firm, though I felt a knot in my stomach. "I killed the Emperor."

The silence that followed was deafening. Hera stood completely still, her face frozen in an expression of utter disbelief. Sabine narrowed her eyes, as if trying to process my words.

"What?" Hera was the first to speak, her voice barely a whisper.

"Palpatine is dead. I killed him in his own office, on Coruscant."

Sabine leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on the table. "That doesn't make any sense. The Empire is still standing, Vader is still alive. If the Emperor were truly dead, the Empire should be collapsing."

"Not if they've managed to hide it." My voice deepened. "The Empire needs stability. If the galaxy knew its leader had fallen, it would crumble. Vader and the Imperial Council are doing their best to maintain the illusion that he is still alive."

Hera exhaled, running a hand across her forehead. "I need you to explain exactly how it happened."

"You remember I told you I had a job for Bail Organa," I told Hera, looking directly at her. She nodded, her expression expectant.

"The assignment was simple: protect an important member of the Senate. Everything went smoothly until he had to attend a session. That's when an Imperial officer pulled me away from my protégé. He told me that the senate escorts had a reserved box. I knew it was a lie, but I decided to play along to see where it would lead me."

Hera frowned, but didn't interrupt.

"The officer and a group of Death Troopers escorted me to the top of the Senate Building. They led me through a hallway to an imposing door. When I opened it...he was there, waiting for me."

A heavy silence settled in the cabin.

"The Emperor knew everything." My voice came out deeper. "He knew I was alive. He knew who I was and why I was on Coruscant. He wasn't surprised-he was waiting for me."

Sabine crossed her arms, tense. "And what happened next?"

"He made me an offer." I took a deep breath. "He told me he had a place for me at his side. That the future of the galaxy depended on his power and that I could be a part of it."

"Let me guess." Sabine tilted her head. "You told him to fuck off."

"Sabine!!" Said Hera.

"What? It's true."

I smiled bitterly. "Sort of."

I straightened slightly, closing my eyes for a moment at the memory.

"I turned him down right away. That's when he stopped pretending. His mask of a frail old man faded and I saw his true nature. He revealed himself for what he really was...a Sith Lord. He didn't say it explicitly, but he didn't need to. His abilities, his presence in the Force, the red lightsaber that appeared in his hand..."

"Palpatine used a lightsaber." Hera muttered, as if she found it hard to believe.

"And he used it against me." I breathed in slowly. "We fought. It was... different than any duel I've ever had. His power was immense, but so was his arrogance. I thought he had me overpowered, that I was no real threat to him."

"Clearly, he was wrong." Sabine smiled with a mixture of awe and skepticism.

"That's right." I nodded. "He used Force beams against me, tried to crush me with his power. But I found an opening. At the exact moment he let his guard down, I redirected his own attack against him. I destroyed him with his own power."

Hera let out a ragged breath.

"After that, I escaped from the Senate with the help of a Bail contact." I leaned forward, looking at both of them. "And now I'm here."

Silence fell over the room again.

Finally, Hera spoke. "This is... a lot."

Sabine, for her part, shook her head. "Shit, Galen. You killed the Emperor and just took off like it was nothing."

"It wasn't that simple." I retorted. "And the Empire is still standing. Vader is hiding the truth, maintaining the illusion that Palpatine still rules. But it won't last forever."

Hera didn't react right away. She didn't move or say anything for a few seconds. But then, realization settled in her eyes. The weight of what she had just heard finally hit her.

Palpatine was dead.

The man who had plunged the galaxy into darkness, the architect of the Empire... was no more.

She took a deep breath, drumming her fingers on the table with a blank stare.

"This changes everything." He muttered finally.

Sabine and I exchanged a glance.

"The Rebellion... has always operated under Palpatine's shadow, knowing that as long as he was on the throne, we could never win." Hera continued, now aloud. "But if he's dead... if he's really dead..."

She stood up with a determined gleam in her eye.

"The Empire is living on borrowed time. Which means that at last in a long time, we have a chance." She said with a smile.

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