Parallel Shadows

Chapter 2 - The Voice

Author's Note: Parallel shadows. Do you finally Get It now? ;)

~ Amina Gila

It's been a couple weeks since everything happened, and if anything, it only seems to be hurting worse. Luke has had enough time to think everything over, and... Maybe he can understand why the Rebels were so gripped with anger and fear and a desire for revenge that they did what they did, but that doesn't justify it.

But Luke should have been able to save him. Vader was his father, and he failed to save him. Maybe he should have done something differently. He knew the Rebellion wouldn't trust him. Maybe he should have gone straight to get medical help elsewhere instead of going back to Endor.

It's all their fault he died.

Luke's hands move almost automatically over the controls on his fighter as he dives forwards, shooting at the Imperials surrounding them. He knows it's true, and he doesn't think the pain of this betrayal is ever going to fade, at least not for a long time.

They don't deserve your forgiveness.

He shouldn't be thinking about this right now when he's supposed to be focusing on the battle, but he can't seem to get it out of his head. The thoughts that keep popping into his head are true, and that's the worst part. He has no reason to forgive them for what they did, and nor does he want to. They took his father from him. True, it was because of the Emperor in the first place, but –

They should have saved him. They were acting like the Empire itself when they refused.

He can't deny that that's the truth. The Empire does things like that all the time. He thought better of the Rebellion than this, but apparently he was wrong. If he doesn't focus, though, they could risk losing this battle, and he could easily end up getting people killed when he could have saved them.

Do they really deserve your help, after what they did?

Do they? He squashes the thought as quickly as it comes. Of course they do. It wasn't a decision by everyone. He can't take out his anger on them by – What is he even thinking?!

They betrayed you. If they could do this, what else could they do?

It's the truth, and that's the worst part. He can't shake thoughts like this from his mind, and it's only growing increasingly worse. Maybe it should concern him that he doesn't really care to try and stop it, but he can't even feel that much. He is angry and this isn't something he can ever forgive them for. His father is dead because of them.

(And because of him. He should have done something, anything differently, but he doesn't know what.)

He couldn't avoid those he worked with in the Rebellion forever but being back with them is hard. Everything feels cold and distant, and it feels like he doesn't belong with them.

You don't. They killed your father.

Another wave of anger washes through him, and he sends his fighter spinning forwards, shooting down several more Imperials. It's also because of the Empire that his father is gone, so for now, he let out his anger as he fights. He knows he isn't supposed to do that, but he isn't actually using the Force, so it shouldn't matter that much. The anger and betrayal – and grief – are swallowing him whole and he needs a way to let it out.

It feels like there's no one he can trust anymore, because he does have to wonder. If the Rebellion could do this, what else could they do?

Luke manages to keep his focus for the rest of the battle – at least as much as he can – finally shooting down the last of the Imperial fighters, then flying with the rest of the Rebels to a rendezvous point.