Author's Note: I'm really sorry for the long delay. My work and personal life has been going through a lot of chaos right now for the last few weeks, and I ended up finding myself unable to make time until recently for writing full-on stories, or focusing on them with full attention.

I'm still going through some troubles with my work schedules right now unfortunately, but I'm going to try to focus on this book as best as I can now, starting with this short chapter. Also, just so you know, whilst I will still be referring to OC Starkiller as "Starkiller" or "the apprentice", he will often be referred to as "Jack" as well more often...especially in certain moments, scenes, or around certain people in the story...

Starkiller pressed forward through a hall of blasterfire, his progress hampered by the need to protect PROXY as well as himself. The droid was adapt at dueling him, but was not programmed to fight Imperials. Blasterfire came from all directions as troopers by the dozens rushed forward to replace those he had already dealt with!

Their determination to kill him seemed out of all proportion to their situation. Surely falling into the sun was more important than dispatching one escaped invalid?

But gradually, by overhearing their panicky comments to one-another, Jack realized the much darker truth: that their fear of him came from rumors spread around regarding his innate monstrosity, the worst of Darth Vader's experiments, which, if got loose, would kill them all in some horribly depraved way. The rumor was a contingency prepared in case he had rejected his Master's offer of a new alliance. 

Either way, he would have to fight his way off the ship before he could even start to think about what came next!

At the announcement that all escape pods had been jettisoned empty, the apprentice looked over his shoulder at the droid cowering behind his spinning blade.

"PROXY? Did you launch those pods?"

"Of course, master! It pays to be thorough."

He resisted an impatient retort. "How much time do we have?"

"Just a few moments."

PROXY didn't sound worried at all. The apprentice wished he shared the droid's confidence. He had taken long enough to fight his way through halls of preserved biological specimens to the escape pod launching point! And there was still one series of corridors to negotiate before they reached the air lock leading to the Rogue Shadow. Driving two Stormtroopers ahead of him with the threat of Sith Lightning, he pressed resolutely on.

The prison detainment area was broad and hard to defend, but a squad of Stormtroopers gamely made a go of it. Taking cover wherever they could, they fired in rapids bursts from several directions at once, hoping to find a chink in his defenses!

There was none.

Starkiller's new green blade whirled with astonishing effectiveness. It and the apprentice were one - as though his supposed death had never happened. He felt strong, powerful, deadly! 

A weapon refashioned by Darth Vader to bring ruin upon the Emperor and his minions...

The leader of the squad cast insults and aspersions over the blasterfire, as though that could possibly distract him...The apprentice let the Dark Side flow through him, buoyed up by his anger - at the squad leader, at the time passing so quickly, at the Emperor - and calmly mowed down anyone who stood in his path!

When the last had fallen, PROXY tapped him on his shoulder.

"Master, hurry! We're rapidly approaching the sun. Life support will be overwhelmed any moment now!"

"Wait," he said, raising a gloved hand. "What about - ?"

Even as he looked around at the entrances to the cells, he saw her!

Chloe was hanging in a magnetic lock with blood dripping from her right wrist, dressed in the scruffy remains of an Imperial uniform. Her hair was unkempt and her skin dirty. Her eyes were wide with shock, taking in not just him, but the ruin he head wreaked on the Stormtroopers as well!

"Chloe...!" 

"It's..." She struggled for words. "...really you!"

He understood her hesitation. She couldn't call his name because, as far as he was aware, he didn't have one. 'Starkiller' and 'apprentice' were the only things Jack had ever been called for as long as he could remember.

"Master!", said PROXY, cutting between them. He pointed with one metal hand toward an airlock at the far end of the chamber. "We're almost there! Hurry!"

The sound of klaxons had reached a fever pitch. The ship swayed underneath him as gravitational control began to waver. The air was almost unbearable. Even if they leave now, there might barely be enough time to prep the ship and get away!

Chloe's face was a picture of desperation!

He didn't move. Was this a trap? He could see no sign of deception in her face, just fear.

"Master, hurry!" PROXY tugged on his sleeve and whispered urgently. "She is part of your past life now. Leave her behind, as Lord Vader commanded!" 

Jack pulled himself free, deciding with his heart rather than his head! "I can't. You go ahead and prepare the ship for launch. We'll follow as soon as we can."

"But, master - "

"Just do it, PROXY! That's my command!"

The droid, surprised, tottered off through the airlock while Jack deactivated his lightsaber and looked around for the magna lock generator. It had to be there somewhere, a big one, sufficient to power all the restraints in all the cells. 

The air was becoming fumy and thick, and the flashing lights made it hard to concentrate! Thick bundles of cables snaked along the walls and under metal grilles. He traced them as best as he could to their source, a large boxy structure fixed to a wall two doors along.

He didn't have time to perform a thorough investigation! It was the right size, so he would have to chance it! Raising both hands, he sent a wave of Force Lightning through it, causing it to blacken and smoke! Current surged along the wires, sending out showers of sparks! Chloe cried out in sudden pain!

Changing tactics, he stilled the lightning, clenched his hands into fists, and ripped the box out of the wall with one single, uncompromising wrench!

The machinery inside exploded, filling the air with clouds of acrid debris! Chloe cried out again, but this time in relief.

Jack hurried to her, finding his way via the Force through the impenetrable air! She was on her hands and knees, struggling to find her feet on the uneasy floor. She clutched at him when he burst out of the smoke and pulled her upright. She weighed almost nothing.

"I saw you die..." she said, staring at him with naked disbelief. "But you've come back."

Rather than make her walk, Jack picked her up and hurried towards the airlock.

"I have some unfinished business..." he said curtly, not knowing where to begin.

"Vader?" she asked, then folded into a series of choking coughs.

"Don't worry about him." he told her. The airlock led into a narrow umbilical. Fresh air blew toward him from ahead. Heat radiated through the walls. He ducked his head and hurried toward safety.

"I've been branded the traitor to the Empire..." she told him. "I can't go anywhere, do anything - "

"It doesn't matter, I don't care about any of that. I'm leaving the Empire behind." He put all the reassurance he could find into his voice. She had to believe him without question.

"And I need a pilot."

She buried her face in his shoulder as the familiar walls of the Rogue Shadow enfolded them. Barely had he crossed the threshold than the airlock door slammed shut on the Empirical and explosive bolts severed the umbilical.

"Welcome aboard, master.", came the voice of the droid from the cockpit.

Assuming Chloe wouldn't be up to flying just yet, the apprentice called ahead of them, "Get us out of here, PROXY!"

"Yes, master."

The sublight engines instantly engaged, and they were away....!