Debrief1

Luke Skywalker settled back into the uncomfortable chair in the debriefing
room aboard Home One. I made my decision, now I have to live with it, he told
himself. It had been hard to tell about what had happened aboard the Death
Star, especially because he didn't want to tell the entire thing. It was just
too hard. Too hard to explain, and too hard to withstand what would happen if
they knew. Some things were better left untold.

Admiral Ackbar leaned back in his seat, apparently comfortable with the
humidity. Well, being that it was his flagship, Ackbar probably controlled the
atmosphere.

"Now, Commander Skywalker, I know this could be hard for you, but we need
to debrief you. It's been long enough, so I hope you are ready for this. This
debriefing will be taped, if you don't mind. I'm just going to ask you some
questions. I'm not accusing you, just think of this as a conversation between
friends. Ready?" Ackbar asked, putting all the kindness he could in his voice.
He was not unaware that this was a delicate topic with the Commander. But,
needs were needs, no matter how ugly.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be, Admiral. Begin." Luke swallowed the lump in
his throat and tried to replace it with courage, not succeeding. If only!

"Okay. Tape on. Where did you go after you left the Princess at the Ewok's
dwelling?"

"I went to an Imperial scout walker that was rumbling around and... I...I
surrendered. I surrendered to him, telling him to bring me to Vader. He
did...and..." Luke faltered, trying to swallow his fear. What would Ackbar do
when he found out that Luke had surrendered and asked to be brought before one
of the Alliance's most hated enemies?

"Uh, okay. Did he bring you before Vader?"

"Yes. He gave Vader my lightsaber; I wasn't carrying a blaster. I had lost
it in the forest. Vader told me that the Emperor had foreseen that I would
come, come of my own free will. He said he was going to take me to the Emperor.
He also said that..." Again, Luke's voice wouldn't come out. This was getting
worse and worse. He was sweating and he hadn't even gotten to the hard part
yet. This was going to be a long debriefing.

"Well?" Ackbar prompted. He hated having to do this to a friend.

"He said that I would turn to the dark side, that the Emperor...The
Emperor...that he was my master now. He then led me onto a shuttle going up to
the Death Star. I was brought to the Emperor. He took my weapon and told me of
terrible things, of lies I couldn't imagine. I broke. I took my lightsaber from
the Emperor and..." Luke put his head down trying to disown his actions, again
not succeeding. He was what he was, a Jedi, Sithspawn. Yes, even that. Only two
living people besides him knew, and he didn't want to increase that number.

"Luke. We have to know. Doing it in steps increases the pain. You must
face your actions. It can help heal. Trust me. What did you do once you had
your lightsaber?" Ackbar asked. He wanted to stop! Why was he assigned this
task? He wished Mon Mothma would stop staring at him and Luke from across the
table.

"I took a swing at the Emperor. I almost killed him, killed him in anger.
That would have been my first step to being one with the dark side. Vader
blocked my blow, even though... Never mind that. It isn't important. I battled
Vader. I released my anger and channeled it through my weapon at Vader. I was
winning, but I was winning the wrong way. I found out what I was doing and
stopped. I gave Vader my lightsaber saying that I wouldn't fight him. He then
went through my mind, trying to find something to provoke me with. He started
talking about...how...how..." Luke couldn't continue and started to cry.
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