Jealousy Rends the Heart, Star Wars EU, Secret Apprentice, Darth Vader, Rated PG, SW FicFest

[ring34-ani.livejournal.com]

Star Wars FicFest Prompt:
EU, Darth Vader and the Secret Apprentice; the Secret Apprentice is jealous that Vader once had a child and a family; "Why couldn't he have been my father?"

Title: Jealousy Rends the Heart
Author: ring34_ani
Fandom: Star Wars (Force Unleashed)
Characters: The Secret Apprentice (Starkiller), Darth Vader (mentioned only)
Rating: Rated PG
Word Count: about 428
Disclaimers: This is a work of fanfiction; I do not own or profit from these characters.
Summary: Vader’s apprentice is unsettled by his discovery that Vader once had a child.



Jealousy Rends the Heart

He stared at the scuffed black boots he wore as he sat on the edge of a crumbling set of steps on a planet most of the galaxy had never even heard of, a green and brown lump floating along the Outer Rim whose only redeeming quality were a certain scrawny yellow flower that had aphrodisiac qualities and was used as a filler in many illegal drugs.

There was a cool wind blowing against his singed face, welcome though it brought the scent of battle, of the blood and gore that was always left behind. The tendrils of the Force swirled here and there darkly.

Had he not always done as he was told? Had he not followed Vader’s orders explicitly? Had he not defeated all the obstacles set in his way and given Vader his unswerving allegiance? He’d completed the Jedi Trials in the ruined Jedi Temple on Imperial City, confronting and besting both Jedi and Sith.

He rubbed his boot heel against the small rough rocks that easily crumbled into dust, disliking the uncertainty he now felt, the wavering of his purpose.

He’d obeyed without question. He’d survived the rigorous and often cruel training and accomplished every task that Vader had set before him. But now, after all of these years, he’d realized that he’d only been a substitute. A substitute for his Master’s lost child.

A family. Who would have ever thought Vader had once had a family. So did you. He pushed the unwelcome thought away. His father had been weak, his mother weaker still. Why couldn’t Vader have been his father, his real father?

Was that why Vader had always been so uncaring towards him? Not just because they were Master and Apprentice but because he’d not been Vader’s first choice?

Perhaps the old Jedi had been lying to him about Vader. Perhaps there had been no lost wife and child. But Starkiller had sensed the truth in the old man’s last rambling words. He’d loved her…and there was to be a child…

His hands clenched and he looked down at the lightsaber he held. Holding his arm out he ignited it and stared intently at the brilliant crimson blade. If only the child still lived. Then he could show Vader that he had been the right choice after all.

He sighed and lowered his head. But that was the problem, the irritation that dug so deeply into his heart. The child did not live so there was no one to fight but a ghostly memory. And how do you compete with that?

Comments

[sandystarr88.livejournal.com]

Why couldn’t Vader have been his father, his real father?

It's my guess that all the Master and Apprentice partnerships that were shown in the movies can be seen (for the most part) as parent/child relationships. That's the view that Anakin had of Palpatine, so it makes sense that this apprentice would see Vader as a substitute father figure.

there was no one to fight but a ghostly memory. And how do you compete with that?

I liked this quote because of how true to life it is. You just can't compete with the past and the memories someone might have of another person.

Great fic!
~Sandy

[ring34-ani.livejournal.com]

Yes, this guy has had no one else in his life, just Vader. So even if there's no affection between the two, Vader is a father figure to him.

I always wondered if maybe Obi-Wan and Anakin were a little too close in age, there's more of a rivalry between them than you would see in a father/son relationship. Anakin turned to Palpatine for his kinder words and interest.

Thanks for reading and commenting on this, I've never written about this character before!

[beatrice_otter]

I've never read anything with the Secret Apprentice in it, but you brought him to life for me. Thank you.

[ring34-ani.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm glad I brought him to life for you!

This is the first time I've written a story with him in it but I've been interested in him ever since I read somewhere that he was raised by Darth Vader.

Thanks for commenting!

[mara-forever.livejournal.com]

*claps hands and squeals in a silly and girlish way*

You picked one of my prompts!

I have been very interested in the Secret Apprentice, not exactly for the games, but for storyline and SW history purposes. It just fascinates me that Vader raised this guy to be the ultimate Dark Jedi, perfect in every way. I can't wait for the novel to be released.

But your story was great and I know you didn't have a lot of info to work with. You really captured this character's unexpected vulnerability, he's just learned this strange and unsettling information about the one constant person in his life and now his view of Vader is skewed. And his jealousy of the unknown child (Luke or Leia) is understandable.

Thanks for writing this!

[ring34-ani.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'm glad you liked it!

I'm looking forward more to the novel than the game. My son will want the game and the poor thing will try to explain it to me but I'm not too bright with them or very coordinated. I want the book so I can READ about the guy.

There are a couple of communities about Force Unleashed and then starwars.com is posting things too and links. Wookieepedia has a page about him too, and that's where I kind of got a feel for the character.
Somewhere too I read that although he is perfect in his fighting skills and Force use, he's kind of immature emotionally since he hasn't really interacted with many people, at least in the normal way.

[pronker]

This is interesting, a bit on someone I'd not heard of. As anyone would be, he has been dutiful through difficult circumstances and expects reward; it would be a painful way to maturity to realize that he never could be good enough for Vader.

[ring34-ani.livejournal.com]

I guess he would be considered part of the EU universe, I'm never sure where to draw the line as to what's canon (for instance, it's said the new Clone Wars stuff is canon because Lucas considers it to be).

You can read about him at http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Secret_Apprentice (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Secret_Apprentice)

Thanks for reading the story, especially since the character was unfamiliar to you. :)

[girlshy.livejournal.com]

I think you just sold me on "The Force Unleashed".

In all honesty, I've been trying to avoid the idea of the game because my initial impression was that the concept was somewhat hokey and redundant but the emotion you write with and the feelings of the Apprentice really moved me.

I don't know if I'm ready to accept the official game as part of my personal continuity but your story makes me think that at least there's a concept there that I shouldn't have been so quick to write off.

Thank you for writing this and for changing my mind.

Also: I totally wish Darth Vader was my dad. (^_^)

[ring34-ani.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked!

Actually, I'm not waiting for the game, though my son is, but I want the novel (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Force_Unleashed_%28novel%29) that tells the story, it's by Sean Williams and comes out August 19. I think there's a comic too.

I don't wish Vader were my father, my feelings for him are different than that...;]

Thanks for reading!

[gray-paladin.livejournal.com]

Very interesting view of this new character that many fans are curious about. Starkiller's whole world is off-kilter now that he's found out something that gives him a different view of Vader. And the "lost child" he's worrying over, that must really cut deep too if Vader raised him. Even if Vader was a cruel "father" the apprentice would still view him as the main figure in his life and now that's shaken too with his idea that's he's only been a substitute.

Excellent story.

[ring34-ani.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he thought he knew how he stood with Vader, but the little info about a lost child really messed him up.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

[emavalexis.livejournal.com]

Jesus, this was good. Perfectly measured resentment in this, nicely described. Great work.

[ring34-ani.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for reading and commenting. :)

[saucysushi.livejournal.com]

Bruuuuuuuutal. I've never heard of Starkiller before now but you've made him such a complex character in so few words. The child did not live so there was no one to fight but a ghostly memory. And how do you compete with that?
That bit was so perfect and true. Wonderful work.

[ring34-ani.livejournal.com]

He is the main character in the new Force Unleashed games, novel, and comic, all due out soon. The look of the character in the games is modeled after actor Sam Witwer. There are a couple of previews floating around of the game and these are awesome. I usually don't play myself but the story about Darth Vader having a Secret Apprentice, one that he'd found as a child and raised to be kind of an ultimate warrior, really intrigues me. He sends him on different assignments and the apprentice may be not only against the rebel alliance but against agents of the Empire as well. Starkiller is his code name, we don't know his real name. Starkiller was originally Luke Skywalker's name in Lucas first drafts of A New Hope. The apprentice's parents were Jedi who were killed.

Probably much more information than you wanted to know but thanks for reading and commenting on my story!

[polypragmosyne.livejournal.com]

Very interesting and deep :)