Dark Beginnings

Gillian Skywalker's earliest memories were of darkness and fire, of shadows descending like a storm, and leaving only death and destruction in their wake. She'd crouched beneath the window to watch them as they made their way towards the door, the Emperor's soldiers in their sharp white armor, and the man who was obviously their leader, a man dressed in robes similar to those her father wore, though this man's robes were black, a stunning color so dark it seemed to absorb all light around it, leaving the man in shadow darker than the night around him.

There were quiet voices, her mother's calm but wary, her father's deep voice with its pleasant tone of reasoning, as if he were simply mediating a dispute in the city. She knew that this was different, though she could not say how, and these men were not like the others who had come to her father in the past. She dared a second glance out the window, wile her sister hissed sharply at her. Gillian had long been the bravest of her three sisters, and she held tight to Alia's hand to quiet her. She looked out in time to see the dark man enter the house, giving some gesture to the soldiers so that they waited outside.

Gillian crept to the door and opened it a crack. Her twin remained frozen beneath the window, trembling, and Gillian glanced back. "It's all right," she whispered, not with her voice but with her mind, and, though she didn't know that it truly was, Alia believed her.

"I hadn't thought of ever seeing you again," her father said, and through the door she could see him move towards the man in his dark cloak. A step or two away, he stopped, as if reaching an invisible wall and not being able to step past it. "They told me you were dead," her father continued, seeming undisturbed. "I cannot believe that they would have lied to me."

"Some lies are necessary ones," the stranger replied. "I do regret that this was one of them."

Her mother smiled at him. "Still, it is good to see you. Have you been well?"

"Well enough," the man said, with no noticeable change in the tone of his voice. He still spoke as if from somewhere distant, as if he were farther away from the others than they would ever realize. "I fear I have not much time, Alaina. I must see the children now, before it is too late."

Alaina Skywalker nodded. "Of course. I had not believed it would ever come to this, but if you are sure- Are things so bad as all that? Is it necessary?"

"Palpatine dares farther each day, Alaina. He seeks to destroy the Jedi or to control them, and I do not know that he truly cares which, as either would serve his ends. We cannot take the risk of his discovering your children. For their own safety, I beg of you. Please."

Alaina sighed, and turned to look at her husband. "If it must be so. A moment, and I will fetch the girls."

"Alaina-" Gillian's father began, but something in her expression stopped him from speaking farther. He sighed, and gave the barest nod of acknowledgement.

Gillian stiffened, and fought back a sudden fear. Something was wrong. Her father had not seen the soldiers, or he would not have been so welcoming to the strange man. How could he not have seen them? With another look at the dark man, she knew. He held a power within him, the same power her parents possessed. Her mother spoke of it as the Force, and said that she and her siblings had the same abilities. But she had not known that any of them could do this, that they could have hidden such a large group from the notice of another with the same power. Something told her that such an action was not right, and that it was something her father and mother never would have done. Why, then, were they trusting this man?

The door opened before she could step back, and her mother smiled down at her, though the smile seemed forced and pinched at the edges. There was a sadness and a fear to her beautiful face that Gillian had never seen, and that, more than the strange man speaking with her father, more than the small army outside, made her suddenly afraid.

"Mother, what's going on?" she asked.

"It's all right, Gillian. Your uncle is here. He's going to-" Here Alaina's voice cracked, and she had to force herself to continue. "He's going to be taking you and your sisters and brothers away on a trip. Just for a wile, Gillian, and you'll be able to come back someday. I promise."

"I don't want to go," she said. "Can't I stay? Or all of us? Please, Mother?"

"I'm sorry, darling, but you must go." Her mother lifted her into her arms and held her a moment before reaching out for Alia. Gillian's sister shied away, but it was the look in her mother's eyes that made her eldest daughter take sudden pity on her.

"Mother says we must go, Alia," she said quietly. "We have to, you know that."

Alia nodded, and allowed herself to be lifted into her mother's arms. With a hesitant and heavy step, Alaina carried them out towards the front room.

Something is wrong, Gillian thought. She's afraid, and she doesn't want this to happen. This close to her mother, she could not help sensing Alaina's fear. She only hoped that her mother was not aware of the full extent of her abilities. Both her mother and father knew that Gillian's talents were very strong, even for one as young as she, but neither of them had ever guessed how much she was capable of, and she was glad of it now, for knowing her daughter could sense her feelings would only upset Alaina more.

Gillian had always known herself to be the most intelligent of her sisters, and was just as thankful now that her parents had never realized the full extent of her intellect, for if they knew all she was aware of going on around her, that too would upset them all the more.

Alaina carried them towards the strange dark man- her uncle- and her father. "This is Gillian, and Alia," she said, and set them gently on the ground. Alia hid behind her mother's skirts, but Gillian stood, calmly appraising the man. He kneeled before her, smiling a bit.

"Hello," he said.

"Hello," she replied, keeping her voice calm and clear. She was afraid, or rather nervous, at least, but would not let him see it.

"Did your mother explain who I am?"

Gillian nodded. "Yes. You're our uncle."

He smiled. "That's right. And you and your sisters will be taking a trip with me. Only for a wile, and then you can come back here."

What about my brothers? she thought, but didn't dare to ask. She smiled and allowed herself to be lead away from her parents, pulling at Alia's hand. ~We have to,~ she said in a quiet mental voice she hoped her uncle could not hear.

~I'm afraid,~Alia replied.

~So am I. But we must do this. It'll be all right, you'll see.~

Gillian turned back towards her parents, and wondered if there would ever come a time when she could stop lying to her sister. She had no idea if anything was going to be all right, but Alia seemed to need reassurance more than she needed truth.

Alaina leaned over and hugged her tightly, then moved to embrace her sister. "You girls be good, all right? Promise me."

"We promise," Gillian said, and Alia nodded. Her mother picked them up gain and kissed each of them goodbye, then passed the girls to their father. He held them a moment and kissed them both, then slipped something into Gillian's pocket and set them down.

"We'll miss you both," Alaina said, and then her uncle was leading them away, towards the door and the soldiers outside.

"It's all right," her uncle said, seeing her fearful glance at the soldiers. "They are only here to protect you, and to see that all obey the Emperor's laws. You will not be harmed, this I swear to you."

Gillian believed him. He sounded so sincere when he said it, as if he believed it, and she had no real choice but to trust him. She smiled and nodded, and didn't even flinch as her uncle walked her and her sister past the line of soldiers.

"Uncle?" she asked after they'd passed them.

"Yes, Gillian?"

"Mother didn't tell us your name, and I was wondering-"

He smiled. "It's Anakin, dear. Anakin Skywalker."