[Accidental Video] UN: JustLuke

[faithfulson]

[ CW: Character death. ]

[ The video comes in sharp and suddenly all over the omnis, the viewpoint jagged and bouncing, full of ragged breaths and the sharp glare of fires springing out from metal panels. People in black and grey uniforms and white armor were running around the viewer, ignoring them entirely as they struggled with something heavy -- a person, judging from the wheezing sound that was loud gasping in the viewer's ear. Grey halls struggled by as they moved, circuitry popping out of walls and smoking, before they finally emerged out into a massive hanger. Most of the uniformed individuals were running for ships, but one stood apart from the others -- a tri-winged ship, with one central fin sticking straight up from the main body and two others folded over on the sides. The viewer paused to let out a tired, ragged breath... and finally looked over to the person they were carrying. ]

[ Even bent over and huddled close to the viewer, the black death mask of Darth Vader was both recognizable and absolutely terrifying. The sharp, electronic wheeze was coming from did not sound remotely okay, nor did the right arm that he had tucked tight against the control box on his chest, with burnt wires hanging limply from a stump where a hand used to be. There was the sound of a deep breath, the viewer steeling themselves, before they turned their gaze ahead, starting forward once more. ]

[ It was clear that the person was beyond exhausted at this point, however. The view of the hanger wavered slightly now and then, the image shaking as something behind them rumbled, before finally the whole area shook from an impact, sending the view tumbling around as the person hit the floor. A loud thunk came from beside them as Darth Vader hit the ground as well, the dark lord coming into view as the person rolled up, back to their feet. There was an urgency now as the person didn't even pause to get their breath back, grabbing Vader's arms and dragging him, hurrying as fast as they could to the ship, not stopping until the dark lord was propped up against the boarding ramp. ]

[ The viewer shifted around, coming down like they were getting ready to lift Vader up again, lifting him up by his shoulder, only to be stopped. ]

Luke... help me take... this mask off.

[ The viewer -- Luke himself -- froze at the request, a shuddering breath escaping from him. ]

But you'll die.

Nothing... can stop that now. Just for once, let me... look on you with my own eyes.

[ There was a clear hesitance in Luke despite the view of the scene coming from his eyes, before he nodded, propping Vader up enough so he could reach up and grasp his helm. A hiss escaped as he lifted up, exposing the complicated workings of the mask underneath, and Luke set it aside in favor of peering around, trying to see how the mask came off. He figured it out soon enough, reaching behind and pulling back, taking the mask away... ]

[ And revealing the face of Anakin Skywalker. ]

[ The face was heavily marred, deeply scarred and completely hairless, skin paled from two decades of being hidden in the dark. Yet still, blue, slightly pale eyes glimmered from deeply set eyes as Anakin gazed up at his son, and the view of him started to get hazy as Luke struggled against tears, finally able to see the face of his father. ]

Now... go, my s-son. Leave me.

[ He was choking, unable to breathe, just barely able to get the words he wanted to say out. Luke's vision cleared as tears fell from him shaking his head. ]

No, you're coming with me. I'll not leave you here, I've got to save you.

[ Anakin just smiled, straining slightly from the effort. ]

You already have... Luke... You were right. You where right about me. Tell your sister... you were right...

[ The last word came out with a rasping breath, and Anakin started to fall back, unable to keep himself up anymore. ]

Father--! I won't leave you--!

[ It was too late. ]

[ With one last, almost relieved sigh, Anakin Skywalker fell still against the boarding ramp. The view of his still body blurred immediately with Luke's grief. A gloved hand slid down Vader's armor, before the image turned dark, with only the sound of Luke's shuddering breath as he struggled not to openly weep. ]

[ The dark fades away, leaving Luke standing in front of the omni in stunned silence. Tears were falling from his eyes, though he didn't seem completely aware of them as his mouth moved, struggling to say something, anything, about the deeply personal memory that was just broadcasted for all of Trench to see. ]

[ Finally, he clicked his mouth shut, quietly reaching over and deactivating the omni without saying anything. ]

Comments

[action]

[distant_one]

[D isn't entirely convinced yet this isn't part of or a prelude to a larger or more dangerous mental or spiritual assault, so he's going to track down Luke and keep an eye on him.

From a safe and concealed distance at first. Which is completely to be in a better position in case something happens.]

[faithfulson]

[ Luke was in one of the few abandoned places he would stay when he just wanted to be alone, on the outskirts of Willful Machine, where there were very few others around. It made it easy to sense when other people were approaching, such as the presence that was hiding from his sight. It took him a moment to recognize D, which considering how different his presence was compared to everyone else was just a testament to how upset he was. ]

[ He thought to go out there and approach him directly, but almost immediately changed his mind. Just from their previous interaction, he could tell D seemed to be the type that would just walk away if he was in a situation he didn't want to be in, so instead he settled for texting him. ]

You don't need to lurk outside. You can come in, if you want.

[distant_one]

[It didn't take long for D to respond to the text. Not with a text of his own, but by slipping inside as silently as a shadow. He seemed to almost materialize out of the shadows as he separated from them rather than merely walking.

D didn't stay at a distance once inside either, but kept approaching until he was within arms reach of Luke. Not quite invading his space, but not keeping his distance either.]

text; @skywalker

[facultative]

[What was that

Am I dead

Why would you]

Why do I look like that?

UN: JustLuke

[faithfulson]

[ He wasn't surprised that his father replied, but for a moment, Luke had no idea how to answer, or even if he wanted to. He was still a little sore at their last conversation, and... well, there was the whole issue of not really having an answer for him. ]

I don't know. Any information about "Vader" is an extremely tight lipped secret in the Empire. I wouldn't even be surprised if it wasn't documented at all.

[facultative]

[Anakin is also still upset, but his curiosity had won out in the end. This was still something that directly pertained to him after all.]

This is one of your last memories before all this?

Text; un: lothrat [Private]

[ezra_of_lothal]

I knew already. This is the past for you, right?

I'm so sorry.

un: JustLuke [Private]

[faithfulson]

Yeah.

[ There was a long pause, before: ]

It was the last thing that happened before I ended up here.

Video; un: lothrat [Private]

[ezra_of_lothal]

I see. He killed the Emperor to save you. Yes?

[VIDEO]; UN: [USERNAME NOT SET]

[demonicbeauty]

[The bad news: Ariadne hasn't quite mastered making conversations private.

More bad news: Ariadne is incapable of not sticking her nose in, where Skywalker Family Drama (tm) is concerned. Especially given how fond she is of a certain farmboy.

The good news is she immediately understands that this is an accident. And one that carries a lot of weight with it. So her tone is especially gentle when she replies.]

Oh, Luke.

[Video | Privating...]; UN: JustLuke

[faithfulson]

[ Oh Airy... he manages to give her a weak smile, before pressing something on the omni, making sure the conversation went to private. ]

I'm okay. I just...

[ Never wanted to share that with anyone, ever? He helplessly waved a hand, before letting it drop into his lap. ]

[demonicbeauty]

[She's going to have to ask him about that private feature sometime.

Meanwhile...]

You don't have to be. Okay, I mean.

It's...upsetting.

video; un: darth imperius

[drawsghosts]

You have my condolences.

UN: JustLuke

[faithfulson]

Thank you.

[ Luke paused, glancing at the display, looking like he just didn't have the energy to get into it. But there was a person of a species he didn't recognize, with the clearly recognizable title of "Darth" in his username. Apparently subtle wasn't in a lot of Sith vocabularies. ]

You're... another Sith Lord from the far past?

[drawsghosts]

Yes. As you can see, I am Darth Imperius.

action

[hopesparks]

[ Anakin doesn't ask where Luke is. He just follows his presence in the Force, completely heedless of anything else, and arrives right where Luke is at remarkable speed.

Normally, Anakin would knock and make some attempt at conversation. But he doesn't. The door opens (whether it was locked or not) and Anakin walks immediately over to his uncle.

He wraps his arms around his uncle and pulls him into a tight hug, feeling Luke's anguish as if it's his own. ]

[faithfulson]

[ Fortunately, Luke had decided against staying at Maul's place that day, and was instead nestled inside one of the abandoned buildings on the outskirts of Willful Machine. It doesn't take long at all to figure out which one, and Luke doesn't even blink in surprise when his nephew is suddenly there at his side. ]

[ Instead, he just lets himself be pulled into the hug, closing his eyes and just letting his senses fill with the younger Anakin's presence in the Force. ]

[hopesparks]

[ Anakin doesn't let go, instead infusing the Force around them with comfort and gentleness and warmth. A tinge of his own grief seeps in, but is eclipsed by everything else.

This moment had been told to him over and over as a story. The details had been intentionally left out and he realizes why. The pain in his uncle's voice is evident, the grief is overwhelming.

But his own grief comes from knowing Anakin Skywalker in the here and now. Actually knowing him as a person, not just a story, has added gravity to it. In the dying Anakin Skywalker, he sees bits of the living Anakin he's met in the Trench. He sees his grandfather.

Tears well in his eyes but he doesn't try to stop them for once. They both know the Jedi adage-- there is no death, only the Force. But grief isn't forbidden, and it's something to be shouldered together. ]

Private Video; un: darkness

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul's quiet and his voice sympathetic. Considering this was exactly what had just happened to him, he knows how much Luke must be hurting right now.]

Do you want to talk about it?

[Leave the door open for Luke to decide how he wants to approach this.]

UN: JustLuke

[faithfulson]

[ Luke's silent for a moment, a distant look on his face, though he doesn't try to turn off the video or anything like that. It's a long pause before he finally lets out a breath, propping up the omni nearby so he could comfortably curl up on himself without turning off the video. ]

It was the last thing that happened before I ended up here... I'm sorry I left it out when I showed you what happened on the Death Star.

[ It was still too much to process, even though he had accepted it by now, he wasn't sure when he would ever stop privately grieving. Having it out in the open like this was not helping. ]

I wanted to save him.

[survivalthroughhate]

Has anyone ever told you that you apologize too much for things which are entirely not your fault?

[The words are admonishing but mostly gentle, just something to try and break up the grim nature of how Luke's memory has been broadcast to all the Sleepers.]

You did. You saved him from himself.

accidental video; un: amidala

[democratically]

[Without the knowledge that Padmé now has, the meaning behind everything would have been different. Another passing video. But Luke... Her son- their son, catches her attention.

And oh. Oh. What even...

It's the sound of her heart breaking and shattering. Her own death, she knows, comes, far sooner than she would ever have wanted, with so much still left for her to do. It's what she's had to deal with this month, trapped within the form of some equine creature, yet Anakin... Just what has he gone through?]

Oh, Ani...

UN: JustLuke

[faithfulson]

[ ...he's not even going to question why his mother's shape is different. It had been happening to others as far as he noticed, and he had just learned to roll with it by now. Still, he can feel that it's her, and feel her pain as well, and it makes him flinch, feeling all the more devastated that this just went out to everyone. ]

Mother... I'm sorry.

text ; un: bail.organa

[simplegestures]

[There is an array of emotions that work through Bail. None of which are shown. He has already seen her funeral although not what had brought them to this point. He can connect some dots. Others may come in time.

Yet for now...]

You're the boy.
Luke Skywalker.

UN: JustLuke

[faithfulson]

[ Luke has to stare at that username for a good long minute, just to make sure he's reading that right. It was good that this was text, because his first instinct was to blurt out, "You're alive," and oh, he was not in the mood for that conversation. ]

I am. And you're Leia's father.

Wish we could have been introduced under better circumstances.