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Post by therealthing on Jun 14, 2007 21:22:45 GMT -5
Chapter 65 The Rebel Fleet had been assembled for several days, with ships arriving sporadically as they made their way to the rendezvous point. Princess Leia’s message had been well received by the rebel leaders, who were very relieved to learn that she was alive. Her disclosure that she and Luke had captured an Imperial ship was most welcome, for the rebels had begun to hear rumors that the Empire had begun construction on a second Death Star. Having an Imperial ship in their possession would enable the rebels to infiltrate the strict security surrounding the new space station in the hopes of finding a way to destroy it.
“Any word yet from the Princess?” General Dodonna asked as he entered the conference room on board the command ship.
Mon Mothma looked up from the datapad she was studying. “No, nothing yet,” she replied. “She told me that she would be getting underway from Bespin first thing in the morning, and should arrive here mid afternoon.”
“Well it’s well into the afternoon,” Dodonna replied. “They ought to be here soon.”
Mothma nodded. “I just hope the shuttle they have in their possession is in good shape.”
“You know it’s a shuttle then?” Dodonna asked.
“What else could it be?” she replied, picking up her cup of tea and standing to look out the large view window. “Even with the help of Solo and Skywalker, they would not be able to capture anything larger, even if Skywalker believes he’s a Jedi.”
Dodonna was about to reply when before them a large distortion appeared in space. “Here’s another one,” Dodonna said, standing beside her to see which of their fleet had finally made it to the rendezvous. Neither of them was prepared for the sight that unfolded before their eyes. The ship that materialized before them was not a Rebel ship; no, it was far too large.
“What the devil…” Dodonna muttered. He and Mon Mothma watched as the gargantuan ship came into view. It was at least 10 kilometers in length, far larger than anything either of them had ever seen before.
Mon Mothma dropped her cup of tea to the floor, hearing it shatter into a hundred pieces. “It’s an executor class star destroyer,” she said in no more than a whisper. “They have found us, Jan! How could this have happened??” She turned and shouted an order to her aide. “Raise the shields! Alert the rest of the fleet!”
“There is message coming through from the imperial vessel, Commander,” her aide replied, rushing into the room. “It’s Luke Skywalker!”
Dodonna and Mon Mothma turned and looked at one another in utter confusion. “Skywalker?” Dodonna said. “The same one who destroyed the Death Star?”
Mon Mothma nodded and walked briskly over to the comm.. Activating the screen, she saw Luke Skywalker on board the imperial vessel.
“Skywalker!” Mon Mothma, she exclaimed. “What is the meaning of this??”
Luke smiled. “I think that is pretty obvious, Commander,” Luke replied. “Princess Leia told you that we had an imperial ship in our possession. Well, this is it.”
“You are trying to tell us that you have captured an imperial star destroyer? A super star destroyer?” Dodonna asked incredulously.
Luke shook his head. “No, not exactly,” he replied. “Permission to come on board, Commander. We will explain everything once we get there, I promise.”
Dodonna and Mon Mothma exchanged yet another look. “I don’t think we have much choice in the matter,” he said quietly. “They could blow us from the stars if they wanted to.”
“I can assure you that this ship has no malicious intentions towards you,” Luke said, hearing him despite his efforts to be secretive. “The fact that our shields are down should be proof enough of that.”
Mon Mothma checked the read out on the ship and saw that Luke was telling the truth. “Very well,” she said, nodding her head. “We look forward to hearing your explanation, Commander Skywalker.”
Luke nodded. “See you soon. Skywalker out.”
Luke’s image faded from view.
“This is most irregular,” Mothma muttered as she walked towards the door with Dodonna. “What could it all mean?”
“We’ll find out soon enough, won’t we?” Dodonna replied.
The two of them walked into the corridor and proceeded towards the hangar bay. They were met there by General Reikan and Admiral Ackbar, who had also seen the enormous ship materialize and were just as anxious to find out more about it as they were.
“Luke Skywalker is on his way here with an explanation,” Dodonna told the other leaders. He turned as a dozen armed troops ran down the corridor to meet them.
“Is this necessary?” Ackbar asked.
“I hope not,” Dodonna replied. “But there’s no harm in being careful.”
“Agreed,” Reikan said. “Let’s go.”
The troops entered the hangar bay followed by the four leaders. Silently they watched as the imperial shuttle entered the large hangar bay and set down on the deck. Tension was high as the ramp descended and the doors opened. The troops readied themselves as the first of the passengers appeared in the doorway. It was Luke Skywalker, followed shortly thereafter by Princess Leia.
“Princess!” Reikan exclaimed, “Skywalker! It’s good to see you both alive and well.”
“Thank you General,” Leia replied, and then turned to the doorway where an imperial officer emerged, looking rather uneasy.
“He is an ally, I promise you,” Luke said, sensing the tension level rising at the sight of an imperial officer.
“He’s a defector?” Reikan asked, not understanding.
“Well, in a manner of speaking, yes,” Leia replied, as another pair emerged from the shuttle. Mon Mothma watched in silent astonishment as Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker appeared. Padmé looked at Mon Mothma and smiled, seeing how shocked she was to see her.
“I’m sure you all must be rather shocked by this,” Leia said to the leaders who simply stood simply staring at them all. “Perhaps we can go somewhere and talk.”
Mon Mothma nodded, not taking her eyes from Padmé and Anakin. “Yes, I think that’s a very good idea,” she said at last. “I for one have many questions.”
“I’m sure you do,” Padmé said. “It’s good to see you again, Mothma.”
“Padmé,” Mon Mothma said, walking towards her. “I…I thought you were dead! We all did!”
Padmé smiled. “It’s a very long story,” she said, taking Mothma’s hand. “One I will gladly share with you at some point,” she told her. “But now we have more important issues to discuss.”
Mothma nodded. “Yes, of course,” she said, looking at Anakin. “And you’re alive too, General Skywalker?”
Anakin nodded. “Yes,” he replied. “Another long and involved story,” he added, looking at his wife. “We will explain it all to you, I promise.”
“Very well,” Dodonna said. “Shall we go somewhere more conducive to discussion?”
“Yes, please,” Leia said. “Lead the way.”
The small party proceeded to a conference room nearby, leaving the armed troops behind. As they sat down, Leia introduced Lieutenant Keller to the rebel leaders.
“Lieutenant Keller is here as a representative of the crew of the Executor,” Leia explained.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand this,” Dodonna admitted. “When you said that you had captured an imperial ship, we expected a shuttle; and yet you show up with a star destroyer!”
“Obviously the two of you did not capture this ship,” Reikan said, addressing Luke and Leia.
“No,” Luke replied. “We did not. Actually, it was our father who is responsible for this,” he said, turning to Anakin. “Not us.”
“Your father?” Mon Mothma replied. She looked at Anakin. “You’re Luke’s father?”
Anakin nodded. “And Leia’s as well,” he replied. “They are twins.” He turned to Padmé. “Padmé is my wife, their mother.”
“But you are a Jedi,” Reikan said, not understanding. “I didn’t think Jedi were allowed to marry.”
“They weren’t,” Anakin replied with a smile. “But sometimes rules are meant to be broken,” he added, looking at his wife.
“I’m afraid I’m confused,” Mon Mothma said. “Princess Leia, you were raised in the Organa family, and yet you are Luke’s twin? Why were you raised apart? And where have the two of you been for the past twenty years?” she asked, looking at Padmé and Anakin.
Anakin and Padmé looked at one another, realizing that this was an unavoidable question. Besides, if they were to gain the trust of their new allies, they needed to be totally truthful with them. And that included revealing the shocking truth about Anakin’s alter ego, Darth Vader.
“The twins were separated at birth because I nearly died giving birth to them,” Padmé replied. “I lost my memory due to the physical trauma, and have been on Naboo all this time, living in a convalescence home. If it weren’t for Anakin, I’d still be there, and would never have regained my memory.”
“That’s incredible,” Reikan commented, looking at Anakin. “But why was she in that home all those years?” he asked.
“I thought she was dead, along with the rest of the galaxy,” Anakin replied. “I also thought our child or rather our children were dead. The last time I saw her she was still with child,” he explained, looking at her. “But when I found our children, I realized that there was a chance she was still alive, and so I pursued it.”
“I’m afraid I must be missing something,” Mon Mothma spoke up. “You weren’t with your wife when she gave birth to your children? Where were you? How is it you were so mislead?”
Anakin sighed, looking down at his hands folded on the table in front of him. There was no way to soften the blow, no way to make what he was about them easy to hear. All he could do was drop the bomb and try to withstand the fallout.
“I too nearly died on the day the twins were born,” he began. “I was involved in a near fatal duel on the planet Mustafar, where I sustained serious, life threatening injuries. I was only able to survive by artificial means for the past twenty years, and only recently have received the reconstructive surgery I should have received twenty years ago.”
“So you’re saying that you too were in a convalescence facility?” Ackbar asked. “Is that why you haven’t been seen in twenty years?”
Anakin shook his head. “No, that’s not it at all Admiral. For the past twenty years I have been Darth Vader, enemy of the Alliance, right hand of the emperor.”
The silence that pervaded the room at this astonishing revelation was tension filled and oppressive. Anakin looked at each of the Rebel leaders, seeing in their eyes and their minds their utter shock.
“You are Darth Vader?” Dodonna asked. “You?? How…how can that be?? You were the greatest Jedi in the galaxy! A hero! A defender of justice and champion of the Republic!”
“I was Darth Vader,” Anakin replied. “Was. Twenty years ago, Palpatine managed to convince me that the Dark Side was the only way I could save my wife from what I believed was certain death. I had visions of her dying in childbirth, and he took full advantage of my fears and fed on them, making me believe that embracing the Dark Side was the only way I could save her. I was so desperate to do so that I believed him, and did whatever he asked, becoming his henchman and his slave in the process.”
“I can’t believe it,” Reikan said, shaking his head. “You have murdered countless thousands of beings across the galaxy,” he said. “You helped annihilate the Jedi! And now you expect us to trust you??”
General Dodonna sat quietly during Reikan’s outburst, his mind harkening back to the Battle of Yavin. Darth Vader had been largely responsible for the Alliance’s victory that day; not only that, he had saved the Princess Leia and had prevented the destruction of Alderaan. Now it makes sense, he thought, looking at Leia. She is his daughter.
“Yes, that is true,” Anakin said, looking down again. “I cannot deny any of that.” He looked up at Reikan again. “But I promise you, General; the Darkness that defined my existence for two decades is gone. Finding my family has destroyed Darth Vader. I am Anakin Skywalker again, in every way. There is nothing I can do to bring back the lives I took, or undo the damage I caused. But there is a way for me to at least atone for it in a small way.”
“And what is that?” Mon Mothma asked.
“By leading the crew of this mighty vessel out there under the banner of the Alliance,” Anakin replied. “There are one hundred thousand men out in that ship who hate the Empire and are tired of being a part of its tyrannical stranglehold on the galaxy.”
“You mean to say that they have mutinied?” Ackbar asked incredulously.
Keller spoke up at this point. “Yes we have,” he said, glad to have something to contribute to the conversation at last. “We want to end the fighting; we are no longer willing to wage a war that we consider morally wrong. The Empire is evil,” he stated, looking at each of the leaders in turn. “We want to put an end to it. We want to help you put an end to it.”
Mon Mothma looked at her comrades, too shocked by all that she had just learned to reply. We have an Imperial Star Destroyer on our side…not just a star destroyer, a Super Star destroyer, the flagship of the fleet. Not only that, we have the only Jedi in the galaxy…how can we say no to that??
“I think I speak for my comrades when I say that we will need to consider all that we have been told,” Admiral Ackbar finally spoke up. “This is so highly unexpected, so …unprecedented. We must have some time to digest it all.”
“Of course,” Padmé said, ever the diplomat. “We will return to the Executor, and leave you to discuss what we have proposed.”
“Thank you,” Mon Mothma replied as everyone stood up. “We appreciate it.”
“Contact us when you are ready to talk to us,” Anakin said. “We’re not going anywhere.”
“We understand,” Reikan said.
Anakin turned to his wife and took her hand as they made their way out the door with their children.
“They’ll accept us, I just know it,” Leia said as they walked through the corridors.
Anakin was not so sure. “We shall see,” he said at last. “All we can do is wait now and hope that they can see the enormity of the opportunity before them.”
Padmé squeezed his hand. “They will,” she said. “Mon Mothma has always been open minded. I’m sure she can see the big picture here and will be happy to accept us if it means peace.”
Anakin merely nodded as they entered the hangar bay, not allowing himself to get hopeful. If I hadn’t been Darth Vader for the past twenty years, then perhaps they would…but how can I expect them to trust someone who was their arch enemy mere months ago?
“We shall see,” he said again as they boarded the shuttle, hoping that it wouldn’t be long before the decision was made, knowing that the wait would be a difficult one.
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Post by therealthing on Jun 22, 2007 6:28:01 GMT -5
Chapter 66
Han Solo and Chewbacca left Bespin several hours after the Skywalkers. Han was in a foul mood, as Chewbacca soon discovered. Grunting in response to his copilot’s questions, he brooded sullenly about the last conversation he’d had with Leia. She’d been cool with him, cooler than she’d ever been. Han had become accustomed to Leia’s temper; part of him even enjoyed going head to head with the fiery Princess. But her coldness he could not take. It’s that Imperial jackass, Han thought petulantly. He’s to blame and I’ll bet a thousand credits that her old man set the whole thing up.
Chewbacca announced that he was about to make the jump to hyperspace, to which Han merely grunted in response. But when the hyperdrive engines failed to ignite, Han was forced to respond and respond quickly.
“What the hell is going on?” he demanded, sitting up and looking frantically at his controls. “Lando told me his men would fix this!”
Chewbacca tersely reminded Han of just how trustworthy Lando Calrissian was. Han frowned as he scrambled out of his seat and ran to the back of the ship to fix the recalcitrant hyperdrive. Chewbacca joined him at once, leaving the cockpit unattended as the ship cruised along. Neither of them noticed the ship that had been following them since they left Bespin. Neither of them noticed when it set its weapons on the Falcon. However when the ship drew close enough to place a tractor beam on the small freighter, both of them noticed at once.
“What the hell was that?” Han asked, pulling his head from the access hatch.
Chewbacca lumbered back to the cockpit followed quickly by Han. As soon as they looked at the screen, they knew what had happened.
“Tractor beam!” Han shouted, jumping into the pilot’s seat. Frantically he tried to push against the invisible force field, but to no avail. They were trapped.
Han turned to Chewbacca as panic filled him. Chewbacca growled a Wookiee curse.
“Yeah, you and me both pal,” Han muttered. “I think we’ll find out soon enough who’s behind this. In the mean time, let’s make ourselves scarce.”
Slowly the Falcon was drawn into the hangar bay of a strangely configured larger vessel. Han and Chewbacca, safely stowed in the secret storage compartments, listened with breath held as the ship was boarded and what sounded like two individuals commenced searching for the passengers. Han felt his heart pounding hard as the footfalls drew closer to the walkway where he and Chewbacca were hidden. They stopped, and then the two renegades soon began to hear the sound of an alien tongue. Han frowned, his fear doubling when he recognized it. It was the language of the Trandoshans, a violent, reptilian race who had a reputation for ruthlessness throughout the galaxy.
The footsteps started again, moving off. Han and Chewbacca looked at one another, blasters ready. Silently Han mouthed one, two, three! Chewie pushed open the hold with one mighty shove and the two burst forth ready to blast the intruders.
“Stop right there, Solo,” a sinister voice hissed from behind them. Han and Chewbacca slowly turned to see their captor, who stood with weapon trained squarely at them. He spoke briefly into a comlink, and soon his two comrades joined him.
“Always nice to see you, Solo,” the alien said as his associates took the weapons from Han and Chewbacca.
“I disagree, Bossk,” Han replied tersely.
Bossk only response was a gruesome smile, his mouth open wide to reveal an alarming number of lethal looking teeth. “Take them,” he commanded.
Rebel Fleet Rendezvous- Star Destroyer Executor
Obi-Wan Kenobi hated feeling ill, but the past few days of little sleep and stress had taken its toll on the old Jedi. He had dearly wanted to accompany Anakin and his family to the Rebel command ship in order to lend his support to their cause. Granted, Generals Reikan and Dodonna were already well acquainted with Kenobi, and knew how close he was to both Luke and Leia; still, Obi-Wan felt his voice was one that needed to be heard in defense of Anakin Skywalker. Perhaps there is more I can do than merely add my voice to their cause, he thought as he sat in the small sitting room adjoining his quarters. Perhaps there is something more significant I can do. Obi-Wan stood up and made left his quarters, heading to the suite where he knew Anakin and his family was waiting for the rebel response to their proposal. Several hours had passed since they had returned to the Executor, and it was a tension filled time for all. Arriving at their quarters, Obi-Wan found Anakin alone with his son and Lieutenant Keller. They looked up when he entered the room.
“How are you feeling, Ben?” Luke asked.
“Oh I’m fine,” Obi-Wan replied. “A nice sleep and I’m as good as new.”
Anakin watched his friend closely, worried about him. “Are you sure about that?” he asked.
“Yes,” Obi-Wan replied. “Quite. So tell me how things went on the command ship.”
Anakin shrugged. “Hard to say really,” he replied.
Obi-Wan nodded. “No doubt it was something of a shock learning that you were once Darth Vader.”
“You could say so,” Luke replied. “I thought their eyes were going to pop right out of their heads when Dad told them. They were completely blown away.”
“I’m sure,” Obi-Wan replied. “But the fact that they spoke to you is a good sign. It shows that they realize that you are no longer Darth Vader.”
“Possibly,” Anakin conceded. “But that may not be enough, Obi-Wan. Just the fact that I was Vader may be enough for them to damn me.”
Obi-Wan considered the dilemma for a moment. “I may have a solution that could help us convince them of your trustworthiness,” he said.
“What is that?” Luke asked.
“By showing them that you have the support of the Jedi behind you,” Obi-Wan replied. “Obviously my influence isn’t sufficient,” he commented wryly. “But add Yoda’s to mine, I believe that would make a difference.”
Anakin nodded, beginning to grow hopeful. “Yes,” he replied. “That might just be the deciding factor. Surely if they realize that the Jedi believe in me they will see that I am no longer a threat to them.”
“My thinking exactly,” Obi-Wan said. “Perhaps we could arrange for a shuttle to go to Dagobah. I will go myself to bring Master Yoda here.”
“You’re not in any shape to be making such a long voyage,” Anakin replied.
“I am perfectly fine,” Obi-Wan retorted. “Besides, I have no intention of flying the damnable ship. You know how I hate to do that.”
Anakin and Luke exchanged a grin. “Yes, I know very well how much you hate to fly,” Anakin replied. He looked at Keller. “Can you arrange for a pair of clones to accompany General Kenobi to Dagobah?”
“I’ll see to it at once, sir,” Keller responded, standing up.
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Obi-Wan said, glad that he would finally be contributing to the cause. “I would appreciate that.” Rebel Command Ship
The rebel leaders had sat in stupefied silence for several minutes after the Skywalkers had left them. To them it was unimaginable that the man that had sat in their midst had been Darth Vader. Each of them was old enough to remember Anakin Skywalker, and the thought that he had become the sinister Vader was both shocking and disillusioning to them. And yet, the more they pondered it, the more it made sense. It explained why Vader had risked so much to help Princess Leia escape, why he had helped the Alliance destroy the Death Star and why he had gone to great lengths to prevent the destruction of Alderaan. Somehow the presence of his children in his life had brought out the humanity in Vader, had brought Anakin Skywalker back from the dead. But could they truly trust him after all that he had done? How could they be certain that he would not slip again into Darkness? “Well, that certainly was ….surprising,” General Reikan said at last.
Admiral Ackbar nodded slowly. “Indeed,” he replied. “To think we were sitting here talking to Darth Vader…”
“But he is no longer Darth Vader,” Mon Mothma reminded them. “Or else none of us would be alive right now, would we?”
None could admit that the man who had sat in their midst only a short time ago was nothing like the formidable Dark Lord they had all come to loathe and fear. No, he was quite the antithesis of Vader, as though Skywalker and Vader were opposites. Perhaps in a way they were.
“I think the fact that Padmé Amidala supports him says a great deal,” Mothma went on to say. “I knew her very well, and I remember what a champion of justice she always was. Why, she was one of the founding members of this Alliance. Surely her judgment should count for something in this, gentlemen.”
“Padmé Amidala is the wife of Anakin Skywalker,” Dodonna reminded her. “Of course she supports him! I would expect nothing less.”
“Amidala is not some weak minded, defenseless female who can be pushed around, General,” Mothma retorted. “She has always been a woman of great intelligence and sound judgment. If she were not certain of her husband’s redemption, I have no doubt that she’d not be with him right now.”
“Or his children either for that matter,” Ackbar spoke up. “We all know what a staunch supporter of this Alliance Princess Leia has been. Her opinion is not one that could easily be swayed, no matter that she and Skywalker are kin.”
“I agree,” Mothma replied. “And let us not forget Obi-Wan Kenobi,” she pointed out. “As one of the last Jedi in the galaxy, his opinion should be considered as well. Reikan you told me yourself how involved he has been in Skywalker’s redemption, and how he has been active in the training of his children.”
General Reikan nodded. “Yes, he has indeed,” he said. He sighed, and ran a hand over his grizzled chin. “Clearly we are faced with a decision of monumental import,” he said to his comrades. “The fate of the galaxy depends upon it. If Skywalker is being completely honest with us, then we have before us an opportunity to swing the balance of power in our favor. If he is not…”
“Then we are all doomed,” Ackbar finished. The four of them sat in silence once again, the decision before them weighing heavily upon them.
“Perhaps we ought to sleep on it,” Dodonna suggested. “We have much to consider, and I don’t think I need to point out to anyone here that whatever decision we make will affect the course of history.”
“You’re right there, Jan,” Reikan said. “I think a good night’s sleep is a fine idea, granted any of us will be able to sleep tonight,” he put in with a smile.
“Shall we reconvene at 0800 hours then?” suggested Mon Mothma.
The others agreed, and so they parted company for the night, each preoccupied with the weighty matters at hand, each hoping that they would arrive at the right decision.
Star Destroyer Executor
Leia Skywalker stood in front of the large picture window in the suite she shared with her family gazing out at the massive array of Rebel ships. Unable to sleep, as was often the case with Leia, she stood in her nightgown, her long braids hanging down her back, looking at each of the ships. In her mind she was telling herself that she was just doing what any good leader would do, taking a headcount of who had made it to the rendezvous. It seemed that most of the ships had made it past the Imperial blockade above Hoth; but there was one ship that was conspicuous in its absence: the Millennium Falcon.
Leia knew that particular ship well, and had spent the better part of an hour scanning the assembled ships. She had even surreptitiously done a scan of the ships that were not visible from her vantage point while the rest of her family slept. It was clear that the Falcon was not yet among the fleet.
Leia tried not to let this bother her, tried not to read too much into it. He and Chewie probably just got a late start leaving Bespin, she reasoned. He’s probably hung over and forgot where he parked that piece of junk, she mused. But despite her best efforts to convince herself that Han was still on Bespin, the nagging feeling deep within her told her otherwise. Maybe he’s just not coming, she reflected, hating herself for the way that particular thought made her feel. Maybe he’s finally had it with the Alliance and has gone off to seek his own destiny.
The thought that Han had abandoned the Alliance without so much as a word to anyone angered Leia. But more than that, it hurt her, and it made her regret their last conversation. He was trying to apologize, and what did I do? I pushed him away. Maybe I pushed him too hard this time, she reflected. Maybe I’ll never see him again.
“Leia? What are you doing up?”
Leia turned to see her brother standing there, his blond hair tousled from sleep.
“I can’t sleep,” she told him as Luke came and stood beside her.
“You’re thinking about Han,” he told her matter-of-factly.
Leia knew it would be foolish to deny it; Luke could read her like a book.
“Yes,” she said. “Stupid I know,” she hastened to add.
Luke shook his head. “Not stupid at all,” he told her. “You love the guy, don’t you?”
Leia frowned, wishing she could deny that she did, but knowing she’d only be fooling herself if she did. Luke would know better. “Yeah,” she said quietly. “I guess I do.”
Luke put his arm around her. “He’ll be here,” he said, knowing her silent fears. “Han may be a nerf herder, but he’s a good hearted one,” he told her with a smile.
Leia couldn’t help but laugh at his comment. “I suppose so,” she said. “I just wish I knew where I stood with him. The last time we talked didn’t go so well.”
“Han needs a good swift kick in the pants sometimes,” Luke reminded her. “You know that. Maybe seeing that you are not so thrilled with him will force him to smarten up.”
Leia snorted. “Yeah, sure it will,” she said. “Thanks Luke. Thanks for trying to make me feel better. You’re my best friend, you know that?”
Luke smiled. “Yeah, I know. And you’re mine. Not to mention my favorite sister.”
“I’m you’re only sister, nerf herder,” Leia teased, poking him in the ribs.
Luke laughed. “Yeah, well, that doesn’t matter. Come on, we should try to get some sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow will be a long day.”
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Post by therealthing on Jun 23, 2007 20:43:54 GMT -5
Chapter 67 Anakin passed a fitful night, his rest compromised by disturbing dreams. He did his best not to disturb his wife as she slept, but eventually his restlessness forced him from his bed. He left the bedroom and walked into the common area. Sitting down on the sofa, he leaned forward, resting his face in his hands. He could feel the tension filling him, drawing every muscle in his body into a series of tight knots.
Part of him wished that there wasn’t so much resting on his shoulders. Part of him wished that his destiny was a simpler, more peaceful one. But this is what I was born for, he reflected, running his hands into his thick, tousled hair; this is what I was meant to do.
Anakin turned as he sensed Padmé entering the room. She walked over to him and sat down beside him.
“Can’t sleep?” she asked, running her hand across his broad back.
“No,” he replied. “I’m sorry if I woke you.”
“You didn’t,” she told him, running her fingers through his hair. “I couldn’t sleep either.”
Anakin turned to look at her. “What if they say no?” he asked her. “What if they can’t bring themselves to trust me?”
Padmé stroked his hair softly. “They will,” she said. “They will see reason, Ani, I just know it.”
Anakin sighed. “I hope you’re right,” he said, wincing as he straightened his back.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Just a bit of muscular strain,” he told her. “I’ll be okay.”
Padmé brought her hands up to his shoulders and massaged them lightly. “You’re in knots,” she told him with a frown. “No wonder you can’t sleep.”
Anakin closed his eyes, melting under her touch. “That feels amazing,” he purred.
Padmé smiled. “Good,” she said as she positioned herself behind him on the sofa and went to work. “I think Obi-Wan’s over doing it,” she told him. “He’s not looking well at all.”
“Try to tell him that,” Anakin muttered. “He’s so damn stubborn he won’t listen.”
“Hmm, reminds me of someone else I know,” she remarked, moving down his spine.
Anakin smiled. “You don’t mean me, do you?”
“No, of course not,” she replied. “You? Stubborn? Not a chance.”
Anakin laughed. “You have very talented hands, milady,” he said with a contented sigh.
Padmé leaned forward and kissed his ear. “So do you, my love,” she told him, causing Anakin to grin. “So do you.”
Anakin laughed. “Solo hasn’t arrived yet,” he told her. “Leia is upset, even though she’s trying to deny it.”
“Well, whether you like it or not, Leia cares for the man,” Padmé told him. “She’s bound to be concerned.”
Anakin snorted. “Probably still at the local drinking establishment,” he remarked.
“Ani, be nice,” she told him.
“I’m nice,” he replied, looking back at her with a smile.
Padmé shook her head. “When you want to be,” she said in response. She was silent for a moment. “I’m not sure I like the idea of Obi-Wan traveling alone,” she said.
“He’s not alone, Angel,” Anakin assured her. “He has two body guards with him.”
“Still,” she said, “I’ll feel better having him back here with us.”
“Me too,” Anakin admitted at last.
Planet Tatooine
Han and Chewbacca were pretty certain they knew where Bossk was taking them, but when they were roughly escorted off of the Trandoshan vessel and the twin suns of Tatooine assaulted their eyes, both had a sinking feeling. The Trandoshans had bound the wrists of their prisoners; having dealt with both Solo and his comrade before, they knew better than to underestimate them.
Han squinted up against the brilliant sky. Jabba’s gonna be ticked, he reflected as the Trandoshans shoved him and Chewbacca into a waiting transport. How the hell are we gonna get out of this one? He wondered miserably, looking at his friend.
“We have to find a way to contact Luke and Leia,” Chewbacca barked. “Or we’ll never get out off this planet again.”
“Yeah, easier said than done, pal,” Han replied.
“Shut up, human scum,” one of the aliens hissed, giving Han a rough shove, sending him sprawling onto the filthy deck of the transport. Han winced against the pain that filled him as his body made contact with one of the many pieces of abandoned droid that littered the deck. He didn’t want to let his captors know that they had injured him, however; and stood up as quickly as he could, gritting his teeth against the pain.
Chewbacca, however knew better, and moved to help his friend.
“I’m alright,” Han grunted, secretly grateful for his friend’s assistance. He’d had enough broken bones in his life to know what a cracked rib felt like; right now he was certain he had a few.
“Enjoy the ride, maggots,” the same surly alien told them as they found a place to sit amidst the junk piles. He sat down a short distance from them, never taking his yellow reptilian eyes off of them.
Han did his best to get reasonably comfortable, which, he decided, was impossible under the present conditions. He closed his eyes, willing himself to master the pain he felt growing worse with each breath he drew. His thoughts ran straight to Leia, as he realized, despite his best efforts to deny it, that she had somehow become the focal point of his life. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, sweetheart, he thought despondently, but I do love you, Leia…I just hope I get the chance to tell you some day.
Star Destroyer Executor Leia sat bolt upright in bed, her heart hammering within her chest. It hadn’t been a nightmare that had shaken her so abruptly from her sleep; no, it had been a strong feeling of terror, of dread, as though someone close to her was in trouble. Closing her eyes, Leia brought her mind into oneness with the Force, seeking out the meaning of the feelings she had raging through her. Brilliant sunshine, almost blinding in its intensity…sand, as far as the eye can see…a decrepit looking transport, slowly making its way over the dunes, creaking with age as it lumbers along….it is dark inside the transport, and it stinks of oil, sweat, and filth…a fearsome creature with the eyes of a serpent keeps watch over a pair of prisoners…one is a wookiee, and the other…the other is in pain…the other is…is… “Han!!” Leia gasped at last. Han is in trouble…he is in pain…he needs me… Leia jumped out of bed and rushed over to the door of her room. She stopped as a hard dose of reality hit her. What am I supposed to do now? She thought anxiously. How can I possibly help him now with all that is going on? Leia clenched her fists with frustration as her mind raced for a way to get to Han. I have to help him, she thought desperately. If I don’t…
Leia’s thoughts were interrupted by a light knock on her door. She opened it at once, and was not at all surprised to see her brother standing there. She could see at once by the look in his eyes that he had sensed Han’s pain as well.
“What are we going to do?” Leia asked anxiously.
“He’s on Tatooine,” Luke said matter-of-factly. “I recognize it.” Leia frowned. “Why there?” she asked.
“Because that’s where Jabba the Hutt is,” Luke told her, taking her by the shoulders. “The aliens who have him are bounty hunters, they have to be. They’ve brought Han and Chewie to Jabba to collect the bounty.”
Leia’s eyes grew wide with fear as she considered her brother’s words. Jabba the Hutt was as notorious as he was greedy. Han had managed to dodge his minions for almost a year now; no doubt his anger with Han would be tremendous.
“What will he do to them?” Leia asked at last, her voice barely a whisper.
Luke frowned. “I don’t know,” he answered honestly. “But Jabba the Hutt isn’t someone to mess with. He’s the biggest gangster in the system, Leia. He’s very powerful. Han should have paid him off when he had the chance,” he said, shaking his head.
“But he stayed with the Alliance to help us,” Leia said, guilt filling her for the many times she had coerced Han into staying just a little while longer. He stayed because of me, Leia thought as a cold feeling spread through her. He stayed because I made him feel guilty about wanting to leave…
“We have to help him, Luke,” Leia said, her eyes filling with tears at last. “We have to find a way to get him and Chewie out of there!”
Luke nodded, reflecting on how Han would have been debt free had he left when he’d planned too after their arrival at Yavin. But he had remained, and had saved Luke’s life in the process. We owe him, he realized solemnly. Many times over, we owe him.
“We will,” he said at last, pulling Leia into a hug. “I promise you Leia, we’ll find a way to save them both.”
“Save who?”
Both twins turned around to see their father standing before them, watching them closely. Luke and Leia looked at one another, wondering how their father would react to what they were planning to do.
“Answer me,” Anakin asked, not liking his children’s reticence.
“Han and Chewbacca,” Luke said at last. “Leia and I both sense that they are in tremendous danger.”
Anakin frowned. “What danger?” he asked, looking at Leia.
“Bounty hunters have them,” Leia told her father. “Both Luke and I saw them, Dad. He owes Jabba a lot of money and has had a bounty on his head for months now.”
“Solo was foolish to tangle with the likes of Jabba the Hutt,” Anakin remarked. “The Hutts are ruthless and without mercy.”
“Have you had dealings with them yourself?” Luke asked.
“Unfortunately yes,” Anakin replied. “My mother and I were owned by the wife of Jabba.” He frowned as he remembered the cruelty and brutality he and his mother had suffered while being owned by the vile Gardula the Hutt. He looked at his children. “Solo is in a great deal of danger if he owes them money. There is nothing they love more.”
“He needs our help,” Leia said. “We can’t just let him be enslaved or worse! We have to go to Tatooine and…”
“Have you forgotten about what is happening right now, Leia?” Anakin asked. “The very future of the galaxy is hanging in the balance. I’m sorry to say it, but Han Solo’s fate it less important than that of an entire galaxy.”
Leia was stung by her father’s seemingly callous remark; but she could see his point. “I will go if I have to,” she said. “Luke will help me.”
“Out of the question!” Anakin retorted hotly. “You two have no idea what sort of villain Jabba is! He would not hesitate to take both of you as prisoners if it meant he could make money from it. Neither of you are ready to face a foe as powerful as he is.”
“Well we can’t just let Han rot in Jabba’s palace,” Luke said. “I owe him my life, Dad. If it hadn’t been for him I would have died in the trench over the Death Star, I know it. He has been a good friend to both of us, and a valuable member of the Alliance.”
Anakin sighed. “I’m not questioning that, Luke,” he said, doing his best to remain patient. “But we simply cannot go rushing off to Tatooine right now, not with the fate of the galaxy about to be decided. We are at the center of something huge here,” he said, looking from Luke to Leia. “This opportunity must be seized now, for it may never come again.”
“I will go, then,” Leia said. “I am willing to take the risk if it means saving Han’s life.”
“Are you mad?” Anakin asked hotly. “Should I tell you of the atrocities that are committed against women in Jabba’s custody? There is no way, Leia, simply…”
“I’m an adult,” she said, swallowing her fear and standing up to her father. “You can’t stop me.”
Anakin met his daughter’s eyes, seeing that she meant business. He muttered a curse under his breath as he began to see that he had been forced into a corner.
“You realize that this is emotional blackmail,” he said at last, folding his arms over his chest.
“Maybe so,” Leia admitted, folding her arms as well. “But I will do whatever it takes to help Han. I know you don’t like him, but I happen to care a great deal about him.”
“Yes, I know,” Anakin muttered. He sighed, and ran a hand through his hair as he considered how to handle this most delicate situation. Part of him relished the opportunity to get revenge on Jabba for all that he and his mother had been put through by him and his wife. Revenge is not the Jedi way, a voice inside of him reminded him; but if it just happened to work out that way, was that a bad thing?
Anakin walked over to the comm. station and contacted the bridge. “Piett, this is Skywalker. Plot a course to Tatooine, maximum speed. I want a squadron of clones ready for surface action as soon as we get there.” He clicked off the communication and looked up at his children. “Happy now?” he asked.
Leia smiled and came over to him. “Yes,” she said, hugging him tightly. “Thanks Dad. You’re the best.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Anakin said, hugging her back. “I just hope Solo is grateful after all this.”
“I have a feeling this entire experience will change Han forever,” Luke said.
“I certainly hope so,” Anakin said. He glanced at the wall chrono. “Well, I’ll not get any more sleep tonight,” he remarked. “I’m going up to the bridge.”
“I’ll join you,” Leia said. She followed her father half way across the room and then stopped, looking down at her nightgown. “Well, maybe I’ll get changed first,” she added.
Anakin stopped too. “Yes, maybe I ought to do that too,” he said, realizing he was still wearing his sleep pants. “I’ll meet you there,” he said as he and Leia returned to their respective rooms. Luke merely smiled, and then went back to bed.
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Post by therealthing on Jun 23, 2007 20:51:54 GMT -5
Chapter 68 Han and Chewbacca were escorted at blaster point into the throne room of Jabba the Hutt. Neither of them was able to see for a moment or two as their eyes adjusted from the brilliant sunlight, but there was no mistaking where they were. The stench of a hundred different alien bodies, of spoiled food and alcohol permeated the very walls of the room; the sound of raucous laughter and rude bodily emissions was heard from every corner. As their eyes adjusted to the dimness, they found themselves standing at the foot of the massive dais on which reclined the repulsive pile of flesh that was Jabba the Hutt.
“So, Han my boy,” Jabba rumbled. “We meet again at last.”
“I was on my way to pay you back, Jabba,” Han began at once. “But I got a little side tracked. You didn’t need to send that bastard Bossk after us.”
“I was getting tired of waiting,” Jabba responded testily. “So where is it? Where’s my money, Solo?”
“I…I don’t have it with me,” Han replied. “Your hired goons sort of took me by surprise.”
“I see,” Jabba replied, his large eyes narrowing. “Then you’ll have to work off your debt, Solo.”
“How do you propose I do that?” Han retorted. “I’m not exactly cut out to be a dancing girl.”
Jabba was not amused at Han’s attempt to be humorous, and continued to stare at him unyieldingly. “Have no fear, Solo,” he replied. “There’s plenty of work to be had around here for a strong young slave such as yourself.” He turned to Chewbacca. “Not to mention the mighty Chewbacca,” he added. “Slavery is something he is accustomed to, isn’t that right?”
Chewbacca growled in fury and tried to lunge at Jabba, but the Gamorrean guard who stood closely by him yanked him back by the large manacle around Chewie’s neck.
“There are alternatives to slavery, should you find the thought of it too distasteful,” Jabba continued once the wookiee had been properly contained. “The Rancor is always hungry.”
The motley group of aliens Jabba kept as courtiers laughed uproariously at his comment. Han and Chewie exchanged a look of utter hopelessness.
“Take them away,” Jabba commanded with a wave of one great flabby appendage. “Lock them up while I decide upon a fitting job for each of them.”
Han and Chewbacca were brutally pulled and pushed out of the throne room and down a narrow set of stone steps at the end of a corridor. The hall way was very narrow as they passed by a series of cells, from whence the moans and screams of the denizens of this most horrific prison could be heard. The stench was almost overwhelming, at Han had to cover his mouth and nose as he gagged in response to it. Finally the two were shoved into a dank, dark cell, which smelled equally foul and was scattered with debris that neither Han nor Chewie wanted to know the source of.
“We’re really in it deep now, pal,” Han said as he peered into the darkness, looking for somewhere to sit down. The pain in his ribs was excruciating, and he was beginning to feel lightheaded. “We never should have left Bespin.”
“But the Alliance was expecting us,” Chewie pointed out. “We had no choice.”
“Yeah,” Han replied as he sat down on a stone bench. It was damp, but at least it afforded him a place to rest. “Wait a minute,” Han muttered as a thought stuck him. “If the Alliance is expecting us, and we don’t show up, then maybe they’ll realize something has happened to us!”
“Or maybe they’ll think we just took off,” Chewie replied. “Like you told Leia we were going to do one of these days.”
Han frowned, realizing that Chewbacca, as always, had a valid point. How many times had he told Leia that he needed to leave, that he’d had enough, that today was definitely the day he was going to pay off Jabba….and yet he hadn’t left, he had always managed to find some reason why he couldn’t leave, while deep down inside he knew that she was the real reason for his delay.
“Maybe,” he admitted at last. “But maybe not. There’s at least a chance,” he said, trying to convince himself as much as Chewbacca.
Chewbacca didn’t reply; he didn’t want to dash Han’s hopes. But he realized that the Skywalkers had more to contend with at the moment than the possibility that he and Han had run into trouble.
Star Destroyer Executor
Padmé woke up alone. She got dressed and then walked out into the common room where she found Luke alone eating breakfast.
“Where is everyone?” she asked.
Luke looked up at his mother. “On the bridge,” he told her. “We’re on our way to Tatooine.”
Padmé frowned. “Why?” she asked simply.
“Han and Chewbacca have been captured by bounty hunters,” Luke explained. “They’re being taken to Jabba the Hutt.”
“And your father is taking this vessel to rescue them?” Padmé asked incredulously.
Luke nodded. “Yeah,” he said. “I half believe it myself. Leia sort of….talked him into it.”
Padmé lifted an eyebrow. “I see,” she said. “I hope she thought to contact Mon Mothma before leaving the fleet.”
“She did,” Luke replied. “I think they were pretty surprised that Dad would try to help Han and Chewie like this.”
“Maybe it will help them to believe that he has changed,” she said. “I’m going to the bridge too,” she said. “Are you coming?”
Luke nodded as he downed the last of his juice. “Right with you, Mom.”
Anakin stood on the bridge of the mighty vessel, watching out the view screen as they raced through the galaxy. Tatooine… the thought of returning to his home planet filled Anakin with mixed feelings. He had not set foot on the sands of the desert planet since the time his mother died. That night still gave him nightmares, and the memories of it were part of the reason he had never returned. But now he would…. and why? To save the life of a man he despised, a man who probably deserved whatever fate Jabba had in store for him, a man who had somehow captured the heart of his only daughter.
Anakin turned and looked at Leia as she walked around the bridge, doing her best to preoccupy herself with learning the function of each of the stations and getting to know the men who manned them. She’s a natural leader, Anakin thought with pride as he noticed how easily she spoke with the men while still maintaining a professional distance with them. She was born to lead, like her mother, like me. Yet, despite the appearance she maintained to the men, Anakin knew that she was worried. He had come to know his daughter very well since the time they had been reunited. The bond between them was a powerful one.
Leia could sense that her father was watching her, and she turned her eyes to his. When he smiled at her, she returned his smile, expressing her gratitude for what he was doing for the man she loved.
“ETA to Tatooine?” Piett asked.
“Four point seven hours, sir,” one of the men replied at once.
A look of distress crossed Leia’s face briefly at this. Four and a half hours is a long time when you’re in danger, she reflected grimly, when you’re in pain.
Padmé and Luke entered the bridge, both impressed by the efficiency with which the men conduct themselves. Anakin turned to see his wife and son on the bridge and walked over to join them. “I understand we’re en route to Tatooine,” Padmé said.
Anakin nodded. “Seems Captain Solo has landed in some trouble with the Hutt.”
“And you decided to help him?” Padmé replied.
“Well, it was either this or Leia would have taken it upon herself to affect a rescue,” he told her. “And I was not about to allow that to happen.”
“No, of course not,” Padmé said. She linked her arm through his and reached up to kiss his cheek. “You’re a good father,” she told him.
Anakin felt a little embarrassed that Padmé had chosen to show her affection for him at this precise moment, with the men on the bridge watching. Well at least they can see that I’m no longer Darth Vader, he reasoned as he put his arm around Padmé.
“Thanks,” he said. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that she managed to talk me into it. She’s had me wrapped around my finger since we met on the Death Star.”
Padmé laughed. “That doesn’t surprise me in the least,” she replied.
Jabba’s Palace- Planet Tatooine
Chewbacca shuffled through the throne room, ankles manacled together, carrying a tray of drinks. The ignominy of the situation was almost more than the proud creature could bear; but he knew that any resistance would only end in punishment. Chewbacca could be patient when he needed to be; and the situation he and Han found themselves in clearly called for patience. An opportunity would present itself, of that Chewbacca was certain. In the mean time, he would bide his time, and do his best to keep the young one from doing anything stupid. Easier said than done, Chewbacca reflected as he served his tray of drinks to the various creatures that filled the throne room. Han was nothing if not impulsive…not to mention pig headed…
As for Han, he’d been put to work in the basement, where he was assigned to repairing the palace’s droids and mechanical devices. It at least kept his mind off of how desperate a situation he was in. Han enjoyed working with his hands, and he was good at it; so thus far he had managed to avoid being punished. However, unlike Chewbacca, he was not a patient man. He was constantly looking for a way to escape, but so far no opportunities had presented themselves. I’ll never get out of here if I’m stuck down here, he reasoned as he packed up the tools he’d been using. I have to get up to the throne room; I have to get closer to the surface…
While Han wracked his brain thinking of an excuse to go upstairs, Chewbacca entered the repair shop.
“I brought you some supper,” he told Han, setting a tray down on the work bench where Han had just been busy at work.
“Thanks,” he said, looking at the extremely unappetizing tray of slop. “I think,” he added wryly.
“I need to get upstairs,” Han told his friend between mouthfuls. “We’ll never get out of here if I’m stuck down here.”
“I may have an idea,” Chewie said. “The food replicator has been malfunctioning a lot. You could come up to repair it.”
“Yeah,” Han replied, taking hope. “Good thinking, pal! I’ll come up tonight when most of them have gone to sleep. Who knows, we might get lucky.”
“I hope so,” Chewbacca replied. “I’m getting pretty tired of serving drinks to these low lifes.”
“Hey, at least we’re still alive pal,” Han reminded his friend. “That’s something.”
“I guess so,” Chewbacca replied. “I’d better get back upstairs before someone starts complaining about being thirsty,” he said with a roll of his eyes.
Han laughed. “Okay, I’ll be upstairs as soon as night falls. Be ready for anything, pal.”
Chewbacca nodded his understanding and then left Han to return to his own duties.
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Post by therealthing on Jun 23, 2007 20:59:19 GMT -5
Chapter 69 Night had almost fallen when Han made his way up to the throne room. He was met on the stairs by a surly looking guard, who blocked his way. Han faced the creature as calmly as he could; giving him a stare that normally would make an opponent shrink away.
“Where do you think you’re going?” the creature demanded.
“Food replicator is acting up,” Han said, indicating the tool box that he had brought with him. “I’m going to fix it.”
The guard considered this, and, realizing that food was something nobody wanted to do without, let Han pass.
Han breathed a sigh of relief as he continued on his way, reaching the main floor of the palace in short order. Chewbacca was there waiting for him, and showed him to the replicator.
“I thought there’d be more of them asleep by now,” Han commented as he noticed a great deal of activity still going on in the throne room. “What’s going on? Another freakin’ party?”
“A new dancing girl,” Chewbacca told him. “What happened to the old one?”
“The Rancor was hungry.”
Han shuddered as he considered the horrible fate of the young twilek female who mere hours ago had been entertaining the motley crew of drunken aliens.
“I guess my idea is shot to Hell then,” Han muttered as he got to work on the replicator. “I’ll make sure this thing needs more attention tomorrow night so we can…” Han stopped as he and Chewbacca heard something above the normal din of the partiers. “What is that?” he asked. “Sand storm?”
Chewbacca tilted his head to one side. “No,” he said. “It’s footsteps, plenty of them. They’re coming this way.”
“What do you mean?” Han asked, but before Chewie could reply, a century of storm troopers burst into the room, blasters at the ready. Aliens from all corners screamed and tried to escape the invading force, but to no avail; they were shot instantly. The others froze where they were, having seen what had befallen those foolhardy enough to try to escape.
Jabba, who had been dozing, was abruptly awoken by the noise, and snapped open his eyes only to see his throne room swarming with a sea of white armored troops.
“What is the meaning of this!?” he demanded angrily. “On whose authority are you trespassing here?”
“My authority,” said Anakin as he emerged from the throng of clones.
Jabba looked at the imposing figure before him, recognizing the trappings of a Jedi Knight. “You have no authority here, Jedi scum,” he growled.
“I beg to differ,” Anakin replied. “I am here as commander of the Imperial Star Destroyer Executor,” he said. “You have kidnapped two members of my crew. I want them back.”
From their safe vantage point, Han and Chewbacca watched the entire scene in shocked disbelief. Chewbacca looked at Han. “Maybe he’s not as bad as you seem to think he is.”
Han frowned, not willing to admit that Chewie was right. I’ll never hear the end of this... “Crew members?” Jabba replied. “I have no imperial troops here, besides the ones you so thoughtfully brought with you,” he added sourly.
“Don’t play games with me, Jabba,” Anakin retorted, taking a step closer to the dais. “I know your kind very well, and I know that you have Solo and the wookiee Chewbacca here in this palace. Don’t think for a moment that I won’t tear this hell hole apart to find them.” Jabba merely smiled. “You don’t scare me,” he retorted. “I’m not afraid of the Jedi, that is, if you even are a Jedi. Didn’t your kind get wiped out twenty years ago?”
It was Anakin’s turn to smile. He lifted a hand and sent Jabba hurtling backward against the wall behind him. Pieces of ceiling fell down around him at the great impact, and more aliens shrieks were heard from the cowering masses.
“Not all of us,” Anakin said simply as he watched the fear blossoming in Jabba’s eyes as he struggled to regain his composure.
“Now where are they?” Anakin asked his eyes as cold as a glacier. “Or do I need to give you another demonstration?”
Jabba looked closely at Anakin as he was helped back onto his dais by a veritable army of lackeys. “Who are you?” he asked, the curiosity getting the better of him. No Jedi he had ever encountered had such power.
“I’m surprised you don’t recognize me, Jabba,” Anakin retorted. “Considering you and your charming wife made much of my childhood a living hell.” At this Jabba’s eyes widened. “Anakin Skywalker,” he said, recognizing him at last. “So, we meet again. Tell me, how is your dear mother? She always was so accommodating, so compliant. Never complained even when asked to do the most demeaning of things.”
Rage filled Anakin, dark, potent rage. Jabba felt his throat begin to constrict and his hands flew to his neck as he sputtered for air.
“You are not fit to utter her name,” Anakin replied coldly, watching the vile gangster as he choked and sputtered. “Go back to Hell now, Jabba, where you belong,” he added, squeezing just a tiny bit tighter, just enough to crush the larynx of the huge beast. Jabba gasped his last breath, and his eyes glazed over, his great slime coated tongue protruding from his mouth.
Anakin turned to his troops. “Find them,” he said simply.
“We’re here!” Han called out, emerging with Chewbacca from their hiding spot. The scene he had just witnessed had shaken him deeply. He knew that Anakin Skywalker was a formidable man; but he had no idea of just how formidable. Until now. The ease with which Anakin had dispatched Jabba had been terrifying to witness, despite the fact that it meant freedom. Anakin looked first at Han and then at Chewbacca. He could see how shaken Solo was, and it secretly pleased him. Maybe now you’ll know who you’re dealing with, he thought to himself.
“Are you injured?” he asked.
“No, nothing worth mentioning,” Han said. Chewbacca, however, proceeded to tell Anakin all about Han’s cracked ribs. Anakin nodded his understanding and looked back at Solo. “The Executor is in orbit,” he told him. “You can receive medical attention when we return.”
“Thanks,” Han said, at a total loss for words for the first time in his thirty years. “Really, thanks a lot. I’m in your debt.”
Anakin lifted an eyebrow at this comment, but did not reply. “Let’s go,” he said.
The clones held the aliens at blaster point while Anakin, Han and Chewbacca left the room and found their way to the exit. They then made their retreat also, leaving a stunned and terrified mob to deal with the shocking turn of events that they had witnessed.
Anakin was quiet and sullen on the shuttle trip back to the Executor. Han had wanted to speak to him, to express his thanks and try to make peace; but it was obvious that Anakin wanted to be left alone, so Han kept his distance.
Anakin’s family as well as Admiral Piett was waiting in the shuttle bay when they arrived back at the ship. Leia, unable to hold back her feelings any longer, ran to meet Han.
“I was so worried,” she cried as she hugged him gently.
“I’m okay, sweetheart,” Han told her. “Thanks to your dad. He was something else down there, scared the crap out of me.”
Leia smiled. “He does tend to do that to people sometimes,” she said. “Come on; let’s get you to the infirmary.”
Padmé and Luke had noticed immediately that Anakin was not himself, and both were concerned. Luke decided that his mother was the best one to get him to talk about what was bothering him, and accompanied a rather reluctant Chewbacca to the infirmary along with Han and Leia.
“Everything under control?” Anakin asked Piett.
“Yes sir,” Piett replied. “I gave orders to return to the Rebel fleet as soon as your shuttle arrived. I take it things went smoothly down on the planet?”
Anakin nodded. “Jabba the Hutt won’t be harassing anyone any more,” he said simply. “I’m going to my quarters to wash off the filth from that place,” he added. “I’ll join you on the bridge shortly.”
“Very well, sir,” Piett said.
Anakin turned to his wife and gave her a smile and a quick kiss on the cheek. Padmé decided to accompany him back to their quarters to try to get him to open up to her. She watched him as they rode in the turbo lift. Padmé knew her Anakin well; his body language spoke volumes to her. What happened down there, Ani? She wondered anxiously. Why are you so withdrawn? Finally, in the privacy of their quarters, Padmé voiced her concerns. “Tell me what’s wrong,” she said simply.
Anakin, who was preparing to get into the shower, stopped unbuttoning his shirt to look at her. “Why do you think something is wrong?”
Padmé frowned. “Because I know you,” she said, walking over and helping him. “Because I know that you are upset about something.” She looked up at him. “What happened down there?”
Anakin did not respond at once, removing his shirt and setting it on the bed. “The clones invaded the palace,” he began, still not meeting her eyes. “And we took Solo and the wookiee. It was relatively easy.”
Padmé took his face in her hands and tilted it down so that he had no choice but to look her in the eyes. “What else?”
Anakin frowned as the memory of what he had done, the memory of how he had felt flashed through his mind. “I…I killed Jabba,” he told her.
Padmé nodded. “I’m sure it was necessary,” she said, hoping that she was right. “He was a dangerous criminal, Ani. You were only doing what you needed to do.”
“I’m not so sure,” he replied, casting his eyes downward. “He was taunting me about my mother,” he told her quietly. “And I lost my temper. I used the Force to crush his windpipe, just like I used to do when I was Darth Vader.” He looked up at her, his blue eyes troubled. “I used the anger I felt to destroy him, Padmé! I used the Dark Side to get revenge!”
Padmé did not reply at once, for his words both surprised and upset her. “To be angry is to be human,” she said, remembering how she’d said the very same thing to him on that terrible day so long ago when Shmi had been killed by the Tusken Raiders. Anakin had gone insane with rage on that day, slaughtering the entire village of tuskens, men, women and children, in revenge for his mother’s death.
“I don’t want to go there again, Padmé,” he said, his voice full of emotion and fear. “I don’t want the dark side to claim me again!”
“It won’t!” she averred, stroking his face. “I won’t let it, and neither will Luke and Leia! Jabba made you angry, you had a human reaction. I know you are no longer Darth Vader,” she told him vehemently. “But I also know that not so very long ago you were. You have made a remarkable, even miraculous turn around, Anakin. It is not surprising that you still have an occasional slip.”
Anakin appreciated his wife’s words, even if the nagging feeling of fear was not alleviated by them.
“You’re not perfect, Anakin,” she reminded him gently. “I know sometimes you expect yourself to be, but you aren’t. No one is.”
“I know that, Padmé,” Anakin responded. “I suppose it’s just been too recently that I was Darth Vader in every way. I never want to be him again.”
“And you won’t,” she assured him. “The Dark Side will never take you from me again; Palpatine will never take you from me again. You are stronger now, Ani, wiser, and have learned from your mistakes. Don’t be so hard on yourself if once in a while you are human.”
Anakin smiled, and pulled her into his arms. “How did you get so wise?” he asked her.
Padmé ran her hands down to his bare chest. “Must be all the Jedi I associate with,” she told him.
Anakin laughed. “Perhaps,” he said, kissing her brow. “Or perhaps you are simply a remarkable woman.”
“Maybe so,” she said.
“I’m going to have a shower,” he said, releasing her. “Care to join me?” he asked with a grin.
Padmé laughed. “Don’t you think the bridge crew would wonder about us if we were both absent?”
“Let them wonder,” he said, kissing her softly. “They have to have something to gossip about.”
“I see,” she said, smiling at him. “Well in that case, I would love to join you.”
Anakin smiled, and pulled her closer to him again.
Imperial Palace- Coruscant
The Emperor Palpatine sat in his garden, staring vacantly into the distance. His sleep the previous night had been disturbed by a tremendous tremor in the Force, a powerful surge of Darkness that had shaken him deeply. Lord Vader is angry, very angry, he thought.
Palpatine had begun to have serious doubts about Vader, questioning his true allegiance. The fact that Vader still desired his wife troubled Palpatine, for she represented a weakness in him, and always had. But the surge of darkness that he had sensed coursing through Vader was undeniable, and it puzzled Palpatine. Perhaps it is merely lust he feels for Amidala, he reasoned. Just as Ferreus had felt for the whores whose company he kept… If that were the case, then Amidala’s presence in his life could possibly work to the advantage of the Dark Side. Lust, after all, was a dark emotion, an emotion of power, unlike love, which was one of weakness and compliance.
Vader had been most insistent during their last communication that he had rejected the Dark Side; so why did the Dark Side tremble with fury? Why was Vader so filled with anger that it resonated through the Force like a dark tidal wave? Palpatine smiled. It seems you are not as sure of yourself as you would like me to believe, Lord Vader, he thought with satisfaction. I will be waiting for you to return to me, my friend…it is only a matter of time now.
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Post by therealthing on Jun 29, 2007 16:12:37 GMT -5
Chapter 70 Anakin made his way to the bridge, where he was informed that the Alliance had made contact with them.
“It seems that General Kenobi and Master Yoda arrived at the command ship several hours ago,” Piett informed him.
“Good,” Anakin replied, relieved to hear that Obi-Wan had arrived safely. “ETA to the rendezvous?” he asked.
“Another twelve hours sir,” Piett replied. “Enough time for you to get some sleep,” he added with a smile.
“How observant of you to notice I need some,” Anakin remarked wryly. “Alert me when the Alliance makes contact again.”
“Of course sir,” Piett replied. He stopped as a thought occurred to him. “Uh, sir?”
Anakin turned around to face him. “Yes?”
“I know this question may sound a little…unusual,” Piett began, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “But I’m just wondering – how do you wish the men to address you?” he asked.
Anakin frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Well,” Piett began tentatively, “if you are planning on acting the part of Darth Vader in order to gain the trust of the emperor, then should we use that name?”
I hadn’t thought of that, Anakin reflected. The thought of using that hated name again made his blood run cold. But if he were to make Palpatine believe that he was truly Vader, then part of that persona included the Sith name Palpatine had given him twenty years earlier.
“I suppose so,” Anakin replied at last. “As much as I hate the thought of it,” he added. “But there can’t be any chance of the emperor discovering our plan, so Vader I must be for all intents and purposes.”
“I’d have to agree,” Piett responded. “It would be prudent not to use the name Skywalker at least until you have dealt with the emperor.” Dealt with him…that’s quite a euphemism, Anakin reflected. “Perhaps it is time we began our little charade,” he said. “No doubt the emperor is anxious to find a new apprentice,” he added.
Piett nodded. “Yes, no doubt. Will you contact him soon, then?”
“Once I learn where things stand with the Alliance,” Anakin replied. “Then I will contact him. I only hope they have decided to join forces, or else this plan of ours will be rather difficult to put into effect.”
“Difficult, but not impossible,” Piett replied. “After all, this is the mightiest vessel in the fleet, sir.”
“Yes, it is,” Anakin replied. “But I would feel better knowing I had the support of the Rebel fleet behind us.”
“Yes, of course,” Piett concurred.
A wave of fatigue washed over Anakin and he rubbed his eyes tiredly. “I’m going to my quarters,” he said. And will hopefully sleep, he thought to himself. “The bridge is yours, Piett.”
“Yes sir,” Piett replied. “Sleep well.” Anakin returned to his quarters, where the rest of his family had already retired. Despite his most vehement protestations, Han had been kept over night in the infirmary to ensure that his ribs were healing properly.
Padmé was sleeping when Anakin entered their bedroom. He watched her for a moment as he got undressed, and then saw her smile in her sleep, making him wonder what she was dreaming. Sometimes her dreams were so vivid that they invaded his. He focused his mind on hers, trying to see what it was that was making her smile. But before he could determine what it was, Padmé awoke, and opened her eyes, as though she sensed that he was watching her.
“Did I wake you?” he asked as he climbed into bed beside her.
Padmé turned on her side to look at him. “No,” she said.
“What were you dreaming just now?” he asked, running a finger down the side of her face. “You were smiling in your sleep.”
“Was I?” she asked.
Anakin nodded. “Do you remember what you were dreaming?”
“Yes I do,” she said. “I dreamed we had another baby.”
Anakin raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Really?” he asked. “Is that something you think about?”
“Sometimes,” she said. “Sometimes I think it might be nice to have another child, one that we could raise ourselves.”
Anakin nodded. “It would be,” he said. He smiled as a thought struck him. “Padmé, are you trying to tell me something?”
Padmé shook her head. “No,” she said. “I’m not pregnant, Ani,” she said quietly. “I thought I might be, but I’m not.”
“I’m actually surprised it hasn’t happened,” Anakin replied with a smile.
A frown creased Padmé’s brow. “I just hope those meds I took for all those years hasn’t made it impossible for me to conceive again,” she said.
That thought hadn’t occurred to Anakin. Doctor Deese’s report had not mentioned anything about infertility; but that did not mean it wasn’t a possibility. After all, at that point they were mostly concerned about her memory loss. “Well, if that’s something you’re concerned about, perhaps we can find out for sure,” he suggested at last. “The doctor I contacted on Polis Massa may be able to tell us. She has read your entire medical file.”
“I’m almost afraid to know,” she said, “but I suppose if we want to have another child, we need to.”
“I will contact her as soon as we’ve straightened things out with the Alliance,” Anakin said.
“Okay,” she said through a yawn. She snuggled up close to him as he drew her into his embrace. “Good night, Ani,” she said as she kissed his chin.
“Goodnight Angel,” he replied as he kissed the top of her head. “Sleep well.”
Executor Infirmary
Han Solo tried to get comfortable in the narrow cot, but it wasn’t easy. Still, it beats the hell out of the stink hole I was in on Tatooine…he reasoned as he turned onto his side.
Having had his ribs attended to, and a hot shower, which Leia had told him he most definitely needed, Han felt like a new man. Still, something was bothering him, and he hated to admit what it was: his conscience.
A conscience had always been an inconvenience for men like Han; but being at heart a decent person, he could not deny its existence or its insistence on occasion. This was such an occasion.
Leia had told him that she had loved him more than a week earlier; and he had never responded in kind to her. He had even gone to lengths to make her think otherwise, with his cool, dispassionate attitude. He knew that Leia had gone to great lengths to convince her father to go to Tatooine to rescue him and Chewie; there was certainly no love lost between him and Anakin Skywalker, and no doubt Leia had pulled out all the stops to get him to help Han. She must really love me, Han thought. And how have I repaid her love? By being a class one jackass… Han closed his eyes as the meds he’d been given earlier started to kick in. He was almost asleep when the door to the infirmary slid open, letting bright light from the corridor flood into the dimly lit recovery room. Han opened his eyes, squinting against the sudden assault of light, and was surprised to see none other than Leia approaching his bed. She wore a dressing gown over her nightgown, and her long hair was loose, hanging down past her waist.
“Hey good looking,” he murmured sleepily. “Come here often?”
Leia smiled at his cheekiness and pulled up a chair beside his bed. “Not if I can help it,” she replied. “You?”
“Only under duress,” he replied with a weak smile. “What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”
“I just wanted to check on you,” she said, averting her eyes from his and straightening his blanket. “I know how much you hate medi-droids.”
“Yeah, I sure do,” he said, suddenly feeling awkward with her. He knew what he wanted to say to her, what he needed to say; so why were the words so hard to utter? “Listen, Leia,” he began, propping himself up on one elbow. “I want to apologize for the way I talked to you back on Bespin,” he said. “I was a real jackass, a real jerk…and I’m sorry.”
“We already had this conversation, Han,” Leia reminded him. “Remember?”
“Uh, yeah….you’re right,” he said nervously. He hesitated before continuing, trying to work up the courage to say what he needed to say. “I had a lot of time to think when I was a guest at Jabba’s pleasure palace,” he said at last with a wry smile.
Leia raised her eyebrows. “Oh?” she said. “What about?”
“You,” he said.
“Me? What about me?”
She’s not going to make this easy for me, is she? “Well, uh, I guess I’m trying to say that I came to realize how important you are to me,” he said at last, surprising himself with the depth of the emotion behind his words. “I was afraid I was never going to see you again, and never get the chance to tell you something I should have told you a long time ago.” “And what is that?” Leia prodded, trying not to smile. “Come on, Leia,” he replied awkwardly. “You need me to spell it out?”
“Yes I do,” she retorted, not giving an inch. “Say it.”
“Okay, okay,” he relented at last. “I love you, Leia. There, I said it. I love you.”
“Wow, twice!” she said with a grin. “I’m impressed!”
Han was about to offer a curt reply when he saw that she was teasing him, and simply laughed along with her. “Well, when your life is on the line, you come up with some crazy notions,” he said.
“So loving me is crazy?” she said. “I’m a pretty lovable person,” she added, remembering his response to her declaration of love.
Han laughed again. “Yeah, you sure as hell are,” he said, reaching out and taking her hand. “Come here,” he said, pulling her closer. “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”
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Post by therealthing on Jun 29, 2007 16:19:00 GMT -5
Chapter 71 Anakin closed the bedroom door quietly behind him as he entered the common area. Sitting down on the sofa, he set his cloak down beside him as he pulled on his boots. He was just standing up when the door to the suite opened. Anakin looked over and was stunned to see his daughter entering the room. Judging by the look on her face, Leia was just as surprised so see her father up so early. “What are you doing?” he asked simply, looking at her. “Where have you been in your nightgown?”
“I …I just wanted to check on Han,” she explained.
Anakin narrowed his eyes, knowing that she was hiding something. “And for how long were you checking on him?” he asked.
“Just a few minutes,” she lied. “I’ve only been gone a …”
“Don’t lie to me,” Anakin retorted, cutting her off. “You’ve been there all night, haven’t you?” he demanded, his anger growing.
Leia did not reply, and averted her eyes from her father’s stern gaze.
“Answer me!”
“So what if I was?” Leia said at last, looking back at him. “Nothing happened, I just missed him, and I wanted to see him. What’s wrong with that?”
“What’s wrong with that?” Anakin repeated, his voice rising. “You spent the night in your nightgown with a man you’re not married to, and you ask me what is wrong with that??”
“You make it sound like we did something wrong,” Leia retorted, starting to get angry with Anakin. “All we did was talk.”
Anakin raised an eyebrow. “Somehow I doubt that,” he retorted. “I know Solo’s type, Leia. He’s not the type of man to spend the night simply talking with a woman.”
“Well then I suppose you don’t know him very well, do you?” she responded hotly. “Why did you even bother to rescue him, Dad? You so obviously hate him!”
“I did it for you,” he said as he donned his cloak. “Not that you’re grateful,” he added. “I’m going to the bridge. Get dressed. It’s not fitting for a young woman to be seen in her night clothes by half the crew.”
Anakin stormed out of the room before Leia had a chance to respond. She turned on her heel and stomped off to her room, determined not to allow her father to ruin the joy she felt at hearing Han say the words she had waited for months to hear him say. You don’t know him like I do, she kept telling herself. You just see what you want to see.
Anakin stepped into the turbolift where he was met by Firmus Piett. “Good morning sir,” Piett said. “Did you have a good rest?”
Anakin nodded.
Piett could see that Anakin was in a foul mood, and hesitated before speaking again. “Er…something amiss, sir?”
Anakin sighed and looked at Piett. “Do you have any children, Piett?”
Piett was rather taken aback by the question. “Yes sir,” he replied at last. “I have three daughters.”
Anakin’s eyes widened. “Three daughters?” he asked incredulously. “How do you manage? I can’t even deal with one.”
Piett smiled. “Well, they do make life interesting,” he replied.
“How old are they?” Anakin asked.
“Ylla, the eldest, is eighteen,” Piett answered. “Mina is fifteen and Deirdre is twelve.”
“Wow,” Anakin said, shaking his head. “You’ve certainly got your hands full there.”
“Of course I don’t get to see them nearly as often as I’d like,” Piett replied. “They’re growing up so fast and I’m missing a lot of it.”
Anakin nodded. “Of course,” he said, realizing that the life of a naval officer meant long weeks away from home and family. “Why don’t you bring your family here?” he suggested after a moment’s consideration.
Piett’s face registered his surprise at Anakin’s suggestion. “You mean here? On board this ship?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean,” Anakin replied.
“But…that is against every regulation in the book, sir,” Piett replied.
“Every imperial regulation,” Anakin pointed out. “Need I remind you that this ship is no longer a part of the Empire? We don’t have to govern ourselves by their rules. Besides, I have my family on board, why shouldn’t you?”
Piett was quite taken aback by Anakin’s response. “Well, if you’re sure it wouldn’t be a problem,” he replied. “The girls are currently on recess from school, so perhaps they could come for a visit for a few weeks.”
Anakin smiled. “That sounds like a fine idea,” he said as they arrived at the bridge. “Why don’t you contact them and make the arrangements?”
Piett smiled. “I will do that, sir,” he replied. “Thank you sir, thank you very much!”
Anakin merely nodded, pleased that Piett was so excited at the prospect of seeing his family again. If anyone deserved to have the rules bent, it was certainly him, Anakin reasoned.
“Lord Vader, we have a message coming in from the Rebel Command ship,” the communication officer announced.
Anakin walked over to the station and watched as the image of Mon Mothma materialized on the screen.
“Good morning Commander,” Anakin said.
“Good morning,” Mon Mothma replied. “Was your mission to Tatooine a success?”
“Yes, Solo and Chewbacca are on board now,” Anakin replied.
“I’m glad to hear it,” Mothma replied. “We’d like to have another meeting, Anakin,” she continued. “As soon as you can get over here.”
“We’ll be there within the hour,” Anakin replied. “Is that soon enough?”
Mon Mothma nodded. “Yes, that will do just fine. See you then.”
Anakin looked up at Piett as the transmission ended. “Looks like we’re about to have our answer,” he said.
Piett nodded. “So it seems,” he replied. “She seemed rather …friendly. Perhaps that is a good sign.”
“Let’s hope so,” Anakin replied. “I’d like you to accompany us, Piett. Perhaps when they see the admiral of the flagship they’ll take us seriously.”
Piett smiled. “If you insist, sir.” Within the hour, a small party had assembled in one of the great ship’s many hangar bays. Anakin and his family were present of course; as well as Admiral Piett, Lieutenant Keller, Han Solo and Chewbacca.
Strength in numbers, isn’t that what they say? Anakin mused as they all boarded the shuttle. He noticed how Leia was hanging close to Solo, and it only made his mood worse. She had not spoken a word to her father since their row earlier. If she thinks I’m going to apologize for what I said, she’s got another thing coming, Anakin reflected grumpily as he boarded the ship, Padmé at his side. She had noticed the almost palpable tension between her husband and their daughter, and was waiting for an opportunity to speak to one of them about it. They are so much alike, both stubborn to a fault. “Something going on I should know about?” Padmé asked her husband as they took their seats in the shuttle’s passenger lounge.
Anakin turned and looked at her. “Other than the Rebels contacting us?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m aware of that,” she replied, annoyed at his attempt to put her off. “You and Leia had words, didn’t you?”
Anakin did not reply immediately. “She is acting in an inappropriate manner,” he said simply. “I simply pointed that out to her.”
Oh boy, Padmé thought. “Would you care to elaborate?” she asked him.
“She spent the night in the infirmary,” he told her. “With Solo. In her nightgown. I caught her sneaking back into the suite first thing this morning.” Padmé sighed, finding herself yet again caught in the middle between her husband and her daughter. “I take it she didn’t appreciate your observations.”
Anakin snorted. “Hardly,” he replied. “She pretty much told me I was over reacting.”
“Imagine that,” Padmé muttered. Anakin turned and looked at her.
“You think I’m over reacting, too, don’t you?” he asked.
“I didn’t say that, Ani,” she replied. “I’m just concerned that you may have…come on a little strong.”
Anakin sighed loudly. “What would you suggest then?” he asked. “That I just sit back and let her do what she wants?”
“No,” Padmé replied. “And stop putting words in my mouth. You just tend to be rather…single minded sometimes, Anakin. When it comes to children, particularly teenagers, you need to be a little more flexible.”
“I rescued Solo,” he reminded her. “I think that shows flexibility. I could have easily let him rot there, but I didn’t.”
“You didn’t because Leia would have gone herself and you know it,” Padmé retorted.
Anakin did not reply. She was right, of course; that was exactly why he had gone to Tatooine to rescue Han and Chewbacca. It certainly wasn’t because I give a damn what happens to… he stopped as he saw his wife watching him closely, almost as though she could read his mind.
“I’m right,” she stated, sitting back in her seat. Anakin rolled his eyes. Aren’t you always?
The shuttle arrived at the command ship a short time later. Obi-Wan and Yoda were there to meet them, as well as the usual ‘honor guard’ as Mon Mothma had called the soldiers who escorted them to the conference room. Upon seeing his old friend again, Chewbacca nearly burst with excitement, and went lumbering up to the diminutive Jedi, picking him up and hugging him tightly.
“Good to see you too, old friend,” Yoda said, smiling at the demonstrative wookiee. “It has been a long time, hasn’t it?”
“So you made it back okay,” Anakin said to Obi-Wan. “We’ve been a little worried.”
Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows. “Oh? And why is that?”
“Because you’re an old man,” Anakin replied with a grin.
Obi-Wan merely shook his head in response. “Always so subtle,” he said with a smile. “I am fine, thank you for your concern.”
“Shall we?” Padmé suggested. “I’m rather anxious to find out what they have decided.”
“Yes, we all are,” Leia said, looking at her father. “Let’s go.”
As soon as they entered the room, Anakin could sense the tension amidst the four rebel leaders seated around the conference table. They are conflicted, he realized with a sinking feeling. They cannot agree… “Please sit down,” Admiral Ackbar invited them. “Good to see you, Solo,” General Reikan said. “And you as well, Chewbacca. We were concerned when Princess Leia told us about what happened.”
“Well I’m fine, thanks to Anakin here,” Han replied, looking at his rescuer. “We’d both be slaves in that place for the rest of our lives if he hadn’t come when he did.”
Anakin turned and looked at his daughter as Han spoke; but she was too enthralled with Solo to notice. Or perhaps too stubborn to look in my direction, Anakin thought irritably.
“What decision have you come to?” Padmé asked without preamble.
Mon Mothma tensed visibly, but only for a moment. “Well, we haven’t, actually,” she said, turning to her comrades. “It seems the four of us are at an impasse and have been unable to come to a consensus.”
Anakin frowned. “So what does that mean exactly?” he asked, looking at each of them in turn. “Are you with us or against it?”
Ackbar sighed loudly, shaking his head. “The commander and I are all for this merger of our forces,” he told Anakin. “However, the good generals still have some serious doubts and have been unable to put them aside.”
“I see,” Anakin replied in frustration. “I ask again, what does that mean?”
“It means we needed to call in a fifth person,” Reikan said. “Someone who has been involved with the Alliance as long as we have. They will have to make the final decision.”
“And who will that person be?” Leia asked.
“Someone you know very well, Princess,” Dodonna replied. “Your father, the viceroy.”
“Bail Organa is your fifth person?” Anakin asked incredulously.
“Yes, is that a problem?” Reikan challenged. “He’s been involved since the earliest days, your wife can attest to that,” he said, looking at Padmé.
“Yes, that is true,” she said, turning to Anakin, realizing how unhappy he was with this news. No doubt Bail Organa resented Anakin now that he had claimed Leia as his child; would that resentment make it impossible for Organa to be impartial in his decision? Surely he would realize that by rejecting Anakin he would be cutting himself off completely from any relationship with Leia; despite their recent disagreement, it was obvious that Leia adored her real father.
“And when is the Viceroy expected to arrive?” Obi-Wan asked, breaking the tension that had developed around the large table.
“We are expecting him later on today,” Reikan responded. “He has already received a report on our situation, and so he has had an opportunity to read it over during his travels. Hopefully he will arrive ready to join our discussion.”
“Let us hope so,” Padmé said, looking at Anakin.
Anakin did not say anything, but merely stood up. “I suppose we have to wait then,” he said, his frustration evident to all.
“I’m afraid so,” Mon Mothma replied. “I’m sorry, I know this is very frustrating for you, but that’s where things stand right now.”
“We understand,” Luke said, standing up with his father. “And we appreciate your support, Commander.”
“Yes, we certainly do,” Padmé replied.
“We will contact you once the viceroy has arrived,” Ackbar spoke up. “No doubt you will want to present your case to him yourselves.”
“I would appreciate the opportunity to do so, yes,” Anakin replied.
“Then we shall reconvene later on today,” Mon Mothma said as they all stood. “Until then.”
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Post by therealthing on Jul 2, 2007 12:44:11 GMT -5
Chapter 72 Bail Organa sat reading the report Mon Mothma had sent him as his ship hurtled through space towards the Rebel Alliance’s fleet. So Anakin Skywalker wants to join the Alliance, he thought with disbelief. He’s sure changed his tune, hasn’t he?
If Bail were completely honest with himself, he would have to admit that he harbored serious resentment towards Skywalker. Aside from the atrocities he had committed as Darth Vader, which were certainly abundant and horrific, Skywalker had virtually high jacked Organa’s relationship with his daughter, Leia. Since learning the truth about her biological parents, Leia had been distant and cool with Organa, for which he blamed Skywalker directly. She is my daughter, not his, he thought bitterly. Where was he when she woke in the night with fever when she was cutting her first tooth? When she learned to walk? When she fell and scraped her knee? I was there, not him! He was off slaughtering Jedi and other innocents, carving a path of murder and bloodshed across the galaxy.
Cognitively Organa knew that having Anakin Skywalker on the side of the Rebellion would tip the scales in their favor. He also knew that he had Anakin to thank for saving Alderaan from certain destruction by the Death Star. But Bail Organa was hurting from the disintegration of his relationship with Leia, and his mind wasn’t exactly thinking rationally. Since the death of his wife years earlier, Leia had been all he’d had in the way of family. Now that her real parents were in her life, she’d virtually divorced herself from the Organa name, even going so far as to change her name back to her birth name.
“We’ve made the reversion to sublight, Your Excellency,” one of Organa’s guards informed him.
Bail looked up to acknowledge the man, and then turned back to the report. So it’s up to me, is it? He mused. Well, Vader, this will be one time when you won’t get the last word, he thought smugly as he stood up and prepared to meet the rebel leaders. Star Destroyer Executor Padmé watched as her husband paced up and down in the small sitting room. She knew him well enough to know that Anakin was lost in his own thoughts at this point, and that there was nothing she could say to alleviate the stress that he was feeling. All she could do was stand by him and support him in whatever way she could.
“I can’t believe they’d ask Organa of all people,” Anakin muttered. “How can they possibly expect him to be impartial?”
“Bail is a decent man, Anakin,” Padmé reminded him gently. “Just look at the fine job he did with Leia.”
Anakin nodded; he certainly couldn’t deny that. “I know,” he replied. “But there’s been a tremendous amount of animosity between he and I over the past two decades,” he told her. “I highly doubt he is just going to forget all that.”
“You are forgetting something, Anakin,” Padmé pointed out to him.
“What is that?”
“You were Darth Vader for the past two decades,” she told him. “You’re not Darth Vader anymore. You have changed, and Bail won’t be able to deny that change. Not to mention that you saved Alderaan from certain destruction.”
“But will that be enough to convince him that he can trust me?” Anakin responded. “After everything I’ve done?”
Padmé stood up and walked over to him. She took his face in her hands. “I don’t know,” she replied softly. “But if he is the same man I knew all those years ago, then he will not simply judge you without considering all sides. He is a fair man, Ani; an honorable man. Besides, he knows what you mean to Leia. Do you really think he’s going to turn his back on her by rejecting you?”
“I don’t know what to think or what to expect,” he replied tiredly. “All I know is the longer we delay, the greater the chance that Palpatine will discover what we are up to. He isn’t a person who can be fooled for long, Padmé. I can’t ignore him for much longer without him growing suspicious.”
The mention of Palpatine’s name sent a shiver up Padmé’s spine. It had been many years since she had seen the evil Sith Lord. It was incredible to her to think that at one time he had been her friend. No, he was never my friend, she thought bitterly; he simply used me to get what he wanted, just as he used Anakin. He used and destroyed us both – but never again. “Palpatine needs you,” Padmé reminded him. “He is desperate – that gives you the advantage, Ani. Don’t forget that.”
Anakin nodded. “I know,” he said. “But even in his desperation he will grow impatient if I do not make a move soon. That is what makes this whole situation with the Alliance so bloody frustrating,” he added, recommencing his pacing. “They are so damn conservative it makes me nuts.”
Padmé smiled. “Patience has never been easy for you, I know,” she said.
Anakin had to smile. “No, you’re right,” he said. “You’d think I’d have acquired at least a little over the years.”
Padmé tilted her head to one side and looked up at him. “I think you have,” she said. “You are not the same man you were when we were married.”
He smiled. “I wasn’t much more than a boy when we were married,” he reminded her.
Padmé lifted her eyebrows. “Oh, I beg to differ,” she said with a smile.
Anakin laughed. “Well, I suppose in some ways at least,” he replied.
“Yes, in some ways,” she concurred. “You were very impatient, impulsive, and headstrong; you still are those things, but to a much lesser extent.”
“You mean I grew up?” he asked with a smile.
Padmé laughed. “Yes, I suppose so. The point I’m trying to make is that you are not the same man you were all those years ago, Anakin. You have matured; you have grown and become much wiser, much stronger. Bail Organa will not be able to ignore all that when he meets you.”
Anakin sighed. “I hope you’re right, Angel,” he said. “The fate of the galaxy depends upon it.”
At that moment, the door opened and Leia walked in. When Anakin’s eyes met hers, they both looked away, neither of them willing to take the first step towards reconciliation. Padmé, however, had other ideas.
“Leia, I’m glad you’re here,” she said as Leia started to head straight to her room. She stopped and turned to her mother, glancing at her father briefly.
“Oh?” she said. “Why is that?”
“I think you and your father need to have a chat,” Padmé replied, looking back at Anakin, who was staring at her wide eyed. “Don’t give me that look, Anakin,” she said. “I’m tired of the squabbling and the tension between the two of you.” She looked back at Leia. “Sit down,” she said in a tone that left for room for debate. Leia sat down at once, somewhat surprised by her mother’s take charge attitude. “You too,” Padmé added, turning to Anakin next. Anakin sat down across from Leia, avoiding eye contact with her.
“Now then,” Padmé said, as she sat down as well, “the way I see it, you both have reason to be upset with the other. Leia, you think your father is too interfering, too judgmental of Han, and is treating you like a child, correct?”
Leia nodded, looking at Anakin who had to bite back the words that jumped to his mouth.
“But you need to look at things from a different perspective,” Padmé continued, looking at her daughter. “As for Han, he has promised to try, and he is trying. You have to admit, Leia that being seen in your nightgown by members of the crew was rather inappropriate for a young woman in your position.”
Leia sighed loudly, hating to admit that her mother was right. “I suppose,” she said at last, looking at her father.
But Padmé wasn’t finished yet. “Your father has spent your entire life time apart from you and Luke, and has only recently found you,” she went on to say. “He is naturally going to be very protective of you, and that only means that he loves you a great deal,” she explained.
Anakin nodded his agreement, noticing that the hardness in Leia’s expression had begun to soften. He was about to say something when Padmé continued, turning to him next.
“And you, Anakin,” she said. “You think that Leia is stubborn and strong willed,” she began. “That she is unwilling to listen to you because she thinks she knows better, and is being completely unreasonable when it comes to her relationship with Han Solo.”
“That sums it up well,” Anakin said, looking back at Leia.
“It does, but you also need to see things from a different viewpoint,” Padmé told him. “Namely your daughter’s. Leia is not a child, she is almost twenty years old,” Padmé began. “And needs to be treated as such. You need to trust that she is capable of making good life choices, and not question everything she does. Yes, she may have shown poor judgment parading about in her nightgown, but you clearly over reacted. Leia loves you, Anakin, she idolizes you. But if you can’t learn to be more flexible, you will jeopardize the wonderful relationship that has grown between the two of you, and I know neither of you wants to see that. I certainly don’t,” she put in. “And it breaks my heart to see the two of you at odds this way.”
Anakin cast his eyes down at the floor; Padmé’s words making him feel ashamed of his behavior.
“Perhaps you two would like some time alone to talk,” Padmé said, standing up.
“I think so,” Leia said, feeling as contrite as her father. She looked at him. “Thanks Mom,” she added softly.
Anakin looked up at her and nodded. “Yes, thank you Angel,” he said. “For giving us the kick in the pants we both needed.”
Padmé smiled. “Any time,” she said, and turned to leave the room. She was met in the doorway by Luke.
“Mom, good you’re all here” he said. “We just got word from the command ship that Viceroy Organa has arrived.”
Padmé nodded, looking back. “Good,” she said. “Let’s give them some time alone, Luke. They have some things to discuss.”
“They’re talking again?” he asked as he and his mother walked down the corridor.
Padmé nodded. “They are now,” she said with a smile. “Luke, I need to get over to the command ship. Think you can handle one of those shuttles?”
Luke nodded. “Yeah, sure Mom.” He looked at his mother, knowing her well enough to recognize the expression in her eyes. “What do you have in mind?”
“I intend to have a chat with the Viceroy,” she said, trying not to let her deep rooted resentments rise to the surface. “He and I have a lot to discuss.”
“I’m sure,” Luke concurred. “When do you want to go?”
“Right now,” Padmé said. “Before your sister and father know what I’m doing.”
Luke smiled. “Mom, you never cease to amaze me.”
Padmé smiled and linked her arm through her son’s. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s go.” A short time later Luke and Padmé were on their way to the command ship. Padmé was quiet on the trip over as she planned what she was going to say to Bail Organa. There was so much she wanted to say, so much she felt needed to be said. She was counting on Bail being the same reasonable, honor bound man he had been when she had known him twenty years earlier.
Once on board, Padmé and Luke were shown to the room where Bail Organa was finishing the report Mon Mothma had furnished him with.
“Luke, I need to speak to him alone,” Padmé told her son before they entered the room. “I hope you understand.”
“Of course I do,” Luke replied, sensing that his mother had serious issues she needed to discuss with Leia’s adoptive father. “I’ll catch up with you later. Good luck,” he added, giving his mother a hug.
“Thanks Luke,” she replied. “I hope I won’t need it.”
Luke left his mother as Padmé turned to the door. She took a deep breath as she activated the door chime.
The door slid opened and Bail Organa stood before her. He had aged quite a bit since she had seen him last; the stress of twenty years fighting the Empire had been hard on him. But in his eyes she could still see the same man she had known so many years ago.
“Padmé!” he exclaimed upon seeing her. “I can’t believe my eyes!”
Padmé simply smiled. “Surprised to see me, Bail?” she asked.
“Well Leia told me that you were alive,” he said, showing her into the room. “But still…it’s good to see you, Padmé. It’s been a long time.”
“Yes, a life time in fact,” she replied. “My children’s life time.”
Bail could see the look in her eyes. She’s angry, he realized, not terribly surprised. I suppose I should have expected this. “Sit down, Padmé,” he said at last. “Obviously you have a great deal on your mind.”
“Yes I do,” Padmé replied, sitting down. “I understand that you have been given a singularly important job to do,” she said to his surprise. “And that you have a very important decision to make.”
Bail nodded, trying to determine where she was headed with her line of questioning. “I do,” he replied. “And I’m honored to have been chosen to do it.”
“As you should be,” Padmé replied. “It’s not everyone who holds the future of the galaxy in the palm of their hand. I only hope that you make the right decision.”
Bail narrowed his eyes, beginning to feel as though he was under attack. “You obviously have something to say, Padmé,” he said. “I’ve never known you to mince words; why not just come out and say it.”
“Very well, I will,” she said. “I realize that you and Darth Vader have had …issues, but..”
“Issues?” Bail repeated incredulously. “Is that what you’d call it? Padmé, you have no idea what your dear husband has been up to for the past twenty years.”
“Don’t I?” she challenged. “I may have lost my memory, but I have regained it, thanks to Anakin. You see Bail, once he learned that I was alive, he moved galaxies to find me and to bring me back; despite the fact that I would remember everything he had done, he risked my rejection of him in order to restore my life to me.”
“Padmé, we all thought you were dead,” Bail replied defensively. “Not just him. When you gave birth to the twins, you…”
“I did not die, Bail,” she interjected. “I was very ill, but I survived! Perhaps if you had made the effort to inquire after me, you may have found that out. But you didn’t bother, did you? I suppose it was just easier to take my child and believe that I was dead, wasn’t it? Knowing that I was alive would have complicated things, particularly where Vader was concerned.”
“What exactly are you implying?” he demanded.
“I think you know,” she retorted. “Darth Vader existed in Darkness for two decades believing that I was dead, that his child was dead. If he had known that we were alive, don’t you think that it would have made a difference in him?”
“No, I don’t,” Bail replied at once. “You seem to forget, Padmé, that it was Vader who tried to kill you and your unborn children.”
“Of course I haven’t forgotten!” she cried angrily. “What he did on Mustafar was terrible, unspeakable….but he has lived with the guilt and pain of that for the rest of his life. Darth Vader existed in darkness because of that pain, that emptiness; it wasn’t until he found his child, his daughter that he finally began to conquer that Darkness. The very fact that he risked everything to save her proves my point. Had he known his family was alive, he would not have spent twenty years in darkness, and the galaxy would have been spared two decades of his crimes.”
“I cannot deny what you are saying,” Bail replied, “but does that mean he can be forgiven for those crimes?”
“He does not expect to be forgiven for those crimes,” she retorted. “All he wants is a chance to atone for them. He has already begun to do so, and if you weren’t so narrow minded you would see that.”
“Narrow minded?” he repeated. “Because I cannot forget the way Vader persecuted the people of the galaxy? Because I cannot forgive the way he exploited the citizens of Alderaan and every other planet in the…”
“The citizens of Alderaan would be dead right now, you included, if it weren’t for him,” Padmé retorted hotly. “And you know it! Alderaan would have been blown into space dust if Vader hadn’t sabotaged the Death Star, or have you conveniently forgotten that rather pertinent fact?”
Organa was silent, the masterful construction of Padmé’s argument leaving him speechless. Nothing she had said could be denied; nothing she had said had been anything but the truth.
“No, I have not forgotten,” he said at last. “I cannot deny that he has changed, Padmé, nor will I.”
“If you know that he is redeemed, if you can see the change in him, why can’t you put the past aside and accept him?” she pressed. “You have always been fair minded, Bail. So what is the real reason that you mistrust him still?” She stopped as a thought struck her. “It’s Leia, isn’t it?” she asked. “You resent him because of the relationship he and Leia have now.”
Organa looked away at this point, not able to face her. “I raised Leia,” he said quietly. “As though she was my very own flesh and blood, Padmé. I love her as though she were my very old child. Since she has found him, she has slowly been pushing me away. Can you blame me for being resentful?”
“You dare to say that to me?” she asked, her voice full of anger. “My children were taken from me moments after they were born, and I was left to stagnate in a mental institution for twenty years until Anakin finally found me. Neither you nor anyone else bothered to determine if I was dead or alive all those years! If anyone has a right to be resentful, it is me! I was robbed of the privilege of raising my own children because the almighty Jedi decided to split them up and take them away from me!! Don’t you dare tell me that you are resentful!!”
Bail was shocked by the vehemence of Padmé’s response, and for the first time he considered her point of view. She had endured so much pain, suffered so much loss because of Anakin Skywalker’s fall from grace; and yet it was clear that she had not only forgiven him, but that she still loved him deeply. That level of compassion staggered Organa; it humbled him, and forced him to examine his own conscience.
“I’m sorry,” he said at last, at a loss for better words. “I don’t know what else to say, Padmé…I can’t even imagine what you have been through all these years, how much you have lost, how much you have suffered.”
“Not just me, Bail,” she told him. “Anakin has suffered just as much, perhaps more. He spent twenty years believing he had killed his family, living in that suit in constant pain. Do you even know why he turned to the Dark Side? Did Yoda even bother to tell you?”
“No,” Organa admitted.
“He did it to save me,” she told him. “Palpatine manipulated him, used him and lied to him. He turned to the Dark Side because he believed it was the only way he could save me from what he thought was certain death in childbirth.”
“I …I didn’t know that,” Organa replied quietly. “I had no idea...”
“No, of course you didn’t,” Padmé replied. “The Jedi didn’t think that was important enough to tell you. Perhaps now that you have the whole picture you will be able to make a decision that isn’t based on half truths and prejudices. You’re a good person, Bail. I hope you do the right thing.”
Padmé stood up and left, leaving Organa standing there looking after her, shaken and astonished by what had just transpired.
In the corridor outside, Padmé stood for a moment, trembling with emotion. She had tried very hard to maintain a professional, unemotional manner; but it had been impossible. Where her family was concerned, Padmé was anything but unemotional. Organa had managed to reopen wounds that had only now begun to heal. Yet, perhaps that was what was required for him to see what was at stake. Emotions were part of being a sentient being, and sentient beings were very much a part of the equation. To ignore that would be irresponsible and short sighted.
“Mom? You okay?”
Padmé looked up to see Luke standing before her. He had sensed her anger, and it had him concerned.
Padmé nodded. “Yes, I’m okay,” she said. “I did what I came to do. Now let’s go home.”
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Post by therealthing on Jul 2, 2007 12:49:56 GMT -5
Chapter 73 Luke could not help but notice how quiet his mother was on the way back to the Executor. He sensed that her conversation with the viceroy had been a heated one, that it had reopened old wounds. He looked over at her as he piloted the shuttle.
“So how did it go with the viceroy?” he asked.
Padmé looked at her son. “I’m not sure,” she replied. “I had planned to speak to him senator to senator, to use logic and reason to get him to see our point of view. But I’m afraid it didn’t quite turn out that way.”
“Does that surprise you, Mom?” Luke asked.
Padmé sighed. “I suppose it shouldn’t,” she replied. “It’s not exactly easy to remain detached when talking about one’s family.”
Luke smiled. “No, I know what you mean,” he said. “Speaking of which, I wonder how things went between Leia and Dad. What did you say to them to get them to start talking again?”
“I simply pointed out to each of them how stubborn and unfair they were being,” she replied, a trace of a smile on her lips. “They are so much alike it’s frightening.”
Luke laughed. “Yeah, I know what you mean,” he said. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough,” he added. “I’m going to contact the Executor to request they lower their shields.”
Padmé nodded her understanding, and watched as her son piloted the shuttle effortlessly into the massive hangar bay. He’s more like his father than he knows, she reflected.
Anakin and his daughter had spent the better part of an hour talking, arguing, and hashing out all their differences. And at the end, they had reconciled. Anakin had promised, again, to give Han Solo a fair chance, and Leia had promised not to act in a manner that was inappropriate for a young woman of her station. She also vowed to trust her father’s judgment more, as Anakin had promised to trust hers. Both were satisfied at the end, and both were relieved, for the rift between them had upset them both equally. Anakin and Leia were sitting in the refectory having lunch when Han Solo entered the large room. He looked around briefly, and, seeing Leia, smiled and began to make his way towards her. However when he noticed that she was with her father, he hesitated. Don’t let him intimidate you, Solo, he told himself, screwing up his courage. Do it for her…do it for Leia.
“Mind if I join you?” Han asked as he reached the table where Anakin and Leia were seated.
Leia looked up and smiled at him. “Of course not,” she replied. “Please sit down.”
Anakin watched the young man as he took a seat beside Leia. Keep your mouth closed, Skywalker, he told himself, forcing himself not to let Han’s presence get to him. You promised to be fair. “How are the ribs?” Anakin asked, surprising all three of them with his question.
“Good,” Han replied at once. “Yeah, they’re good, thanks. The medical droids were really great.”
Anakin nodded. “How did that happen?” he asked.
“Bossk and his pals were a little less than gentle,” Han replied wryly.
“From what I know about Bossk, you were lucky to remain alive long enough to get to Tatooine,” Anakin stated. “Particularly your wookiee friend.”
“You’ve had dealings with Bossk, Dad?” Leia asked, thrilled that the two men she loved the most were actually having a civil conversation.
“Yes,” Anakin replied. “Those Trandoshans are a ruthless, brutal race.”
“I’d have to agree with you there,” Han replied. “Sort of like the Hutts.”
“Ah yes, the Hutts,” Anakin replied. “Charming aren’t they?” he asked bitterly.
Han nodded. “How do you know them?”
Anakin hesitated before replying. “I was a slave when I was a child,” he said at last. “My mother and I were…owned by Gardulla the Hutt, the wife of Jabba.”
“You were a slave?” Han asked in surprise.
Anakin nodded. “Yes I was,” he replied.
“I guess you and Chewie have something in common then,” Han replied. “He was a slave too.”
“Many wookiees were,” Leia put in. “That’s how you and he met, isn’t it? Didn’t you help him gain his freedom?”
“Yeah,” Han replied. “I kind of have a problem with slavery,” he added sourly.
Anakin nodded, feeling a measure of respect for the young man. “How did you free him?” he asked.
Han shuffled in his seat, feeling somewhat uneasy under Anakin’s scrutiny. “I was with the Imperial navy for a short time, believe it or not,” he began. “About five years as a matter of fact, first at the academy on Carida, and then on active service.”
“I did not know that,” Anakin replied, surprised that the young man had ever demonstrated enough discipline for active service.
“Well, it was a short lived career,” Han replied. “I refused to follow a direct order, and was dishonorably discharged.”
Anakin frowned. “What order was that?” he asked.
“I was part of a scheduled rendezvous with a slaving vessel,” Han explained. “I lead a squadron and boarded the ship which had been damaged. Chewie was on board. He’d released the Wookiee children that were to be sold,” he continued, “and was barely conscious when I found him. My commander ordered me to skin Chewie, but I refused. I knew it was insubordination, but I didn’t care. I guess that makes me a bad soldier, but some things are more important than following orders.”
“So that is why he owes you a life debt,” Anakin replied.
“Yeah, crazy eh?” Han said with a self deprecating smile. “I haven’t been able to get rid of him ever since.”
Anakin couldn’t help but laugh at this comment.
“Seems you are a man of honor, Solo,” Anakin said at last. “I respect that in a man.”
Han could barely believe his ears. “Thanks,” he said. “That means a lot coming from you, sir.”
Anakin nodded, beginning to see that there was indeed more to this man than he realized. Just as Leia said there was, he reflected.
“I need to get to the bridge,” Anakin said, standing up. “Enjoy your meal,” he added, and then walked away.
Leia watched him leave and then turned back to Han. “Wow,” she said. “That was rather unexpected.”
Han nodded. “Yeah,” he replied. “I had no idea your dad had been a slave. Sort of gives me a whole different perspective on him.”
“And him on you,” Leia pointed out, “knowing that you were responsible for freeing Chewie. I could tell that impressed him tremendously.”
“We’ll see, sweetheart,” Han replied. “I’m not getting my hopes up just yet.”
Anakin made his way to the bridge. He felt a great sense of relief at having made peace with his daughter. Thanks to you, my angel, he reflected. I’ll have to be sure to show you my gratitude later.
Arriving at the bridge, Anakin was expecting to find Padmé there; but she was not there. He realized suddenly that he had not seen her since she had insisted that he and Leia iron out their differences earlier. I wonder where she is…she must be with Luke, he reasoned, since he hadn’t seen his son in the last several hours either.
Walking over to one of the computer consoles, he asked the ship’s scanners to locate Luke and Padmé, and was alarmed when he was informed that they were not on board the vessel.
“Something wrong, sir?” Lieutenant Keller asked, stepping up to Anakin.
Anakin looked at the young officer with a frown. “When did my wife and son leave the ship?” he asked.
Keller was surprised by the questions. “I’m afraid I don’t know, sir,” he replied. “I’ve only been on duty a few minutes,” he explained. “But I can try to find out, sir.”
“Please do so,” Anakin replied. He had an uneasy feeling not knowing where Padmé was. He focused his mind on her, and soon sensed her presence. She was close by and getting closer. Luke was definitely with her, and they were….
“Sir, Shuttle Meridian requesting permission to board.”
Anakin nodded, relief filling him. “Bring them aboard.” He then turned and left the bridge, heading for the hangar bay.
The shuttle door was just opening when Anakin arrived at the hangar bay. As soon as he saw Padmé, he knew that something was wrong. Despite the smile she gave him when their eyes met, he could sense that she was upset.
“Where were you?” He asked. “Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?”
“We went to the command ship,” Luke told his father.
“I figured as much,” Anakin replied.
“I needed to see Bail alone,” Padmé told her husband. “There were some things I needed to say to him privately.”
Anakin frowned. “What things?”
“Can we go somewhere and talk about this?” Padmé asked. “This is hardly the place for a private conversation.”
“Of course,” Anakin responded. “Let’s go.”
“So things are okay with you and Leia?” Luke asked his father as the three of them walked through the ship.
Anakin nodded. “Yes, they are fine now,” he replied. “Your mother put us in our place,” he added, looking at Padmé with a smile.
Luke smiled too. “She’s pretty good at that I’ve noticed,” he remarked.
Anakin was intrigued by his son’s comment.
“Yes she is,” he replied at last.
“Where is Leia now?” Luke asked.
“I left her with Solo in the refectory,” Anakin replied. “They’re probably still there, it wasn’t that long ago.”
“Refectory?” Luke asked. “Great, I could use something to eat myself. I’ll catch up with you both later.”
“Thank you again, Luke,” Padmé said, kissing her son on the cheek.
“Any time, Mom,” Luke replied, and then left his parents.
“So what happened on the command ship that has you so upset?” Anakin asked his wife as they entered their quarters. “Your conversation with Organa didn’t go well, did it?”
Padmé sighed as she sat down. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “It’s very hard to say where his mind is.”
Anakin nodded. “So what happened? What did he say?”
“Well, he began by reminding me of all the atrocities Darth Vader committed.”
“Not surprising,” Anakin replied.
“No, but I pointed out how Vader had prevented the destruction of Alderaan,” she replied. “And how Leia was saved by Vader at tremendous personal risk.”
“Did that make any difference?” Anakin asked, not terribly hopeful that it had.
“It didn’t at first,” Padmé admitted. “He’s very jealous because Leia and you are so close now. He had the audacity to tell me he felt resentful. Can you believe it?”
Anakin shook his head. “He is resentful??” he asked bitterly. “He is? After taking our daughter and never bothering to determine if you were alive all these years?”
Padmé could see how angry he was, and she was beginning to wonder if she’d made a mistake telling him what had transpired between her and Organa. Still, knowing Anakin, he would have sensed Bail’s resentment eventually. It wasn’t easy to hide anything from Anakin Skywalker.
“I pointed that out to him,” she replied. “Actually my response to him was rather heated,” she told him. “I tried to remain calm, but it was impossible. He just made me so angry, brought out so many emotions.”
“I’m sure,” Anakin replied. “I’m angry just hearing about it. So how did you leave things with him? Can we count on his support or not?”
“I wish I could tell you, Ani,” Padmé replied. “But I got the feeling that he was rather shaken by my anger. Bail is a decent person. He won’t make a decision of this magnitude based on spite or malice.”
Anakin sighed deeply. “I hope not,” he said.
“All we can do now is wait, Anakin,” she said. “There’s nothing else we can do at this point.”
Anakin nodded. “Thank you, Angel,” he said.
“What for?”
“For standing up for me the way you did,” he replied. “It means a great deal to me that you did that.”
Padmé smiled, and took his hand. “I believe in you, Anakin,” she told him. “Of course I would stand up for you. I don’t know if it made any difference, but I had to try.”
“I know,” he said, picking up her hand and kissing it. “And I love you for it. For the second time today I am grateful to you. I must think of something I can do to show you how grateful,” he said with a smile.
Padmé raised her eyebrows. “Oh?” she said. “I have an idea or two.”
“Is that so?” he asked with a smile. “Care to share them with me?”
Padmé smiled, and leaned over to him, whispering into his ear.
Anakin’s smile widened as she did so. “You never cease so amaze me, you know that?” he asked, pulling her onto his lap.
“Good,” she said, “That means you’ll never get bored.”
“Bored? With you in my life?” he asked, running a hand up and down her back. “Simply not possible, my love,” he said, moving closer to kiss her. Their tender moment was interrupted, however, by the comm.
“Sir, the rebel command ship is signaling,” a voice announced. “They wish to resume the treaty talks.”
Anakin pulled back and looked at his wife. “Acknowledged,” he said. “Looks like this will have to wait,” he said to her with a smile.
“I will hold you to that,” she replied.
Anakin grinned. “Oh, no worries there,” he said as she stood up. “Come on; let’s hope third time is the charm.”
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Post by therealthing on Jul 2, 2007 12:55:47 GMT -5
Chapter 74 Anakin and Padmé met their children in the hangar bay, having themselves been alerted of the Alliance’s message. They were soon joined by Yoda and Obi-Wan.
“Where is Han?” Padmé asked.
Leia glanced at her father before replying. “Well, he wasn’t sure if he ought to join us,” she said.
“He’s part of the Alliance, isn’t he?” Anakin asked.
Leia nodded.
“Then he has a say in this,” Anakin replied. “He should be there.”
Leia and her mother exchanged a look of surprise, and Leia walked away to content Han on her comlink.
“I’m pleased to see you’re starting to warm up to Han,” Padmé told Anakin.
“Well I wouldn’t go that far,” he told her. “But I did promise to be civil.”
“You know Anakin,” Obi-Wan put in, “I think once you get to know the young man, you will find the two of you have many things in common.”
“Yes, so I’ve been told,” Anakin said, watching Han enter the room moments later. “Come on, let’s go,” he said, turning back to his wife and son. “Time to get this over with.”
The short trip over to the command ship seemed longer than usual to everyone on board. No one, even the Jedi among them, could predict what the decision would be.
Leia had learned of her mother’s conversation with Bail Organa, and was secretly pleased that she had done so. Leia had already voiced her own feelings about what had happened; but her mother had lost so much as well. She had lost her children, her husband, twenty years of her life; it still astonished Leia that her mother could be so forgiving and positive considering all that she had been through in her life. A lesser person would have spent the rest of their life wallowing in resentment and self pity; but Padmé Amidala Skywalker was a person of singular strength and integrity, a person that Leia was tremendously proud to call her mother.
“Relax, Anakin,” Padmé told him as they neared the rebel ship. “It’s going to be fine, I just know it.”
“I wish I could share your confidence,” he told her. “But Bail Organa and I have a long and less than cordial history between us.”
“Yes, I know that,” Padmé replied. “But a lot has happened since then, Anakin; that will make the difference.”
“Perhaps,” Anakin replied, feeling the tension within him growing with each passing kilometer.
The delegation was escorted to the conference room upon their arrival at the command ship. They walked along in virtual silence, the tension becoming almost unbearable as they drew closer to the conference room. Anakin held his wife’s hand tightly as the escort came to a stop and stood aside, allowing them to enter. He looked at her briefly as the doors opened and Luke and Leia proceeded into the room.
As soon as the door opened, the rebel leaders looked up, Bail Organa included. His eyes met those of his Leia first, and he smiled at her. He stood up and went to her, hugging her tightly. “I’m so happy to see you,” he told her softly. Leia returned his hug, realizing for the first time just how much she had missed her adoptive father.
“It’s good to see you too,” Leia told him as she pulled back. “I want you to meet someone,” she said, turning to Luke. “This is my twin brother, Luke.”
Luke held out a hand and shook Bail’s hand. “Nice to meet you, sir,” he said.
“Yes, same here,” Organa replied. He then looked to see another young man move up to Leia’s side. “You must be Han Solo,” he said, recognizing him from the holo communications.
“That’s right,” Han said, holding out his hand as well. “Pleased to meet you, sir,” he added as they shook hands.
Organa nodded, sizing up the young man who was obviously so taken with Leia, as she was with him.
“Senator Organa,” Yoda said as he entered the room next. “Good to see you it is. A long time it has been.”
Bail smiled as he greeted Yoda and Obi-Wan, pleased beyond words that his dear old friends had survived.
The last ones to enter the room were Anakin and Padmé. Organa looked at the doorway as his eyes met those of Anakin, the smile fading from his face.
Anakin did his best not to show open animosity towards Organa, but it was not easy for him. All he could see when he looked at the viceroy was him holding his newborn daughter in his arms, walking away from Padmé as she suffered the trauma of child birth.
As for Organa, the sight of a restored Anakin Skywalker was utterly shocking to him. He knew that it had happened, he knew that Darth Vader had been remade; but seeing it with his own eyes was something altogether different. He looks like he did twenty years ago, Organa thought in astonishment. It hardly seems possible… “Welcome,” Mon Mothma said, sensing the tension between the two men and wishing to diffuse it before it grew worse. “Please, sit down.”
Anakin pulled a chair out for his wife and then took a seat beside her, as Leia took the seat on his other side, while Luke sat on Padmé’s right. Anakin felt empowered with his family surrounding him. The strength he felt in their love and support buoyed him, and made him feel as though with them he could face any adversity.
“I’d like to thank you for your patience,” Mon Mothma began. “I am sure it has not been an easy few days.”
“We realize that making a decision of this magnitude takes time,” Padmé replied, ever the diplomat. “And we appreciate that you have taken our offer seriously enough to give it that time.”
“So what is it to be?” Anakin asked, leaning forward, cutting to the chase. He was in no mood for courtesies or small talk.
Mon Mothma looked at Anakin, and then at Bail. “Viceroy? Would you like to address this question?” she said.
All eyes turned to Organa, who felt the pressure of the enormous decision weighing on him.
“This has been a most…unexpected turn of events,” he began. “Had someone told me one year ago that I would be sitting down with Darth Vader and discussing the possibility of an alliance, I never would have thought it possible.”
“You are not sitting with Darth Vader,” Leia spoke up. “Darth Vader no longer exists. He is gone forever,” she added, turning to Anakin. He smiled at her, and reached out and gave her hand a squeeze.
A jolt of jealous ripped through Organa as he witnessed the obvious closeness between Leia and her biological father. She used to look at me that way, he thought wistfully. I truly have lost her… “Yes, we all know that,” Mon Mothma said. “Obviously if it were Darth Vader we were dealing with we would not even be having this civil discussion.” She looked at Anakin. “Clearly Darth Vader has been destroyed,” she said.
Anakin nodded, appreciating her support.
“Yes, there is no denying that,” Organa said at last, looking at Anakin. “I want to thank you for doing what you did to save Alderaan,” he said. “I understand you enraged Grand Moff Tarkin tremendously,” he added with a wry smile.
Anakin nodded a hint of a smile on his own face. “He was properly annoyed,” he replied, remembering the red faced Tarkin raging at his underlings. “It was rather amusing, actually.”
Organa chuckled. “I’m sure it was,” he said. “But seriously, Anakin, I thank you on behalf of the people of Alderaan.” He paused before continuing, swallowing his pride in order to say what he felt he must. “I…I also want to thank you for saving Leia’s life and protecting her the way you did. I am very grateful to you for that.”
“Leia is my child,” Anakin replied, looking intently at Organa. “My flesh and blood. Once I knew that, nothing else mattered.”
Organa nodded, understanding completely. Leia may not be his flesh and blood, but he knew that he would have done anything to save her life just as Anakin had.
“There are other factors to consider in this matter, however,” Organa said next. “The matter of a lifetime of crimes perpetrated by Darth Vader, the thousands of lives destroyed by him and his shock troopers. While no one here can deny the …miraculous transformation that has happened to you,” he said, addressing Anakin, “the twenty years you spent terrorizing the galaxy cannot be denied either.”
A sinking feeling started to blossom in Anakin’s stomach. The past would never be forgotten, it seemed; he would never be able to escape from it.
“No one here denies that Darth Vader was a monster of epic proportions,” Anakin said, knowing that everyone was thinking it, “I included. I cannot offer any excuse for what I did, I do not ask for forgiveness, for I do not deserve any. What I do ask for is the chance to undo some of the damage I was responsible for. Destroying the Empire, destroying the emperor is the best way to do that.” He stopped and looked at his wife. “My family has given me a second chance,” he said, “the doctors on Polis Massa have given me a second chance; I am asking you to give me that chance as well.”
Organa listened to Anakin’s impassioned words, and they helped justify what he wanted to say next.
“Forty-eight hours ago I had made my decision,” Organa stated, looking at the members of the Skywalker family. “I felt that I had enough information to decide wisely and fairly, and in the best interest of the people of the galaxy. But then something happened.” He turned his attention to Padmé. “I was given a rather rude awakening by a good friend,” he said. “I was angry at first, because I was forced to listen to some things I didn’t want to hear, face some truths I’d rather not have acknowledged. But I did hear them, and I did face them. And they made me think that perhaps my decision had been the wrong one, and I began to second guess myself.” He paused for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. “Seeing you here with your family has been eye opening,” he told Anakin. “Seeing how much they love you, how much they believe in you, has made me feel that I have indeed made the right decision.”
“And what decision is that?” Leia asked, hoping that she was reading him correctly.
Bail looked at her next. “I have decided to give your father a second chance,” he said, giving her a smile.
For a moment there was no reaction, and then everyone started talking at once. Anakin could hear everyone around him offering their congratulations, their support, their relief; but he only had eyes for one person.
Turning to his wife, Anakin pulled her into his embrace, at a loss for words. Padmé held him tightly, too emotional to speak for a moment; but when she was unable to hold back her tears when she heard him whisper two simple words into her ear. “Thank you.”
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Post by therealthing on Jul 2, 2007 12:59:56 GMT -5
Chapter 75
Imperial City-Coruscant
Emperor Palpatine was not a man who worried often, but when he did, it was for good reason. It had been more than two weeks since the death of Darth Ferreus; and while he had not lived up to the potential that Palpatine had anticipated, Ferreus had served a purpose. He had been not been afraid to get his hands dirty when necessary, and had been just intimidating enough to keep those under his command in line.
But now Ferreus was gone, and Palpatine was without an apprentice. He had fully expected after his brief contact with Darth Vader that the powerful Sith would accept Palpatine’s offer, and would return to his service. Palpatine knew Vader well, and felt sure that is was only a matter of time before he came to his senses and returned to where he belonged, at the emperor’s side. And yet, there had been no contact from Vader in at least a week. Was it the influence of his wife that was holding him back? Amidala had always had a strong influence on Vader, at least until Mustafar, Palpatine reflected with smugness. Things had gone far better than I had ever anticipated on that particular day…Vader turned into a half human cyborg, his wife near death because of his anger…It was the perfect set of circumstances to keep Vader firmly engulfed in Darkness. At least, until he learned the truth.
Having found his children had caused a change in Vader, and had made him start to questions the truths that Palpatine had been feeding him for two decades. Vader was an intelligent man, after all; the fact that his children were alive had no doubt made him realize that Amidala had not in fact died at his hand. Yet, Palpatine knew Vader – he knew that the power of Darkness was not one he could resist for long, with or without Amidala.
“Excuse me, your highness.”
Palpatine looked up at a red robed guard who had dared to interrupt his mediation.
“What is it?” he snapped.
“Lord Vader is making contact.”
Palpatine tried to hide his surprise. “Patch it in here,” he said calmly, rising from his throne. He made his way slowly to the communication screen, the sight of the face of Anakin Skywalker unnerving him.
“Lord Vader,” he said coolly. “I was beginning to wonder when I would hear from you.”
Vader did not acknowledge the emperor’s terse comment. “I have come to a decision,” he said, keeping his mental shields at maximum. “And have taken command of the Executor.”
Palpatine nodded, a smile spreading over his ancient face. “Very good,” he said.
“I wish to search for my children,” Vader continued.
“Of course,” Palpatine replied, trying in vain to read Vader’s thoughts. “They will be a great asset to us.”
“Yes, they will,” Vader replied. “Once they are in my custody, we will join you, my master.”
Palpatine’s smile widened hearing Vader call him master after so long. At last you know your place, Lord Vader, he thought, sending the thoughts directly to the Dark Lord’s mind. I am willing to forgive this time, but make no mistake; I will not brook any further betrayal. The next time it will mean your life. Palpatine thought he saw a flicker of indignation in Vader’s eyes, but it was gone instantly as Vader bowed his head in submission.
“I look forward to meeting your offspring, Lord Vader,” Palpatine said at last. “I trust I won’t have to wait long.”
“No,” Vader replied. “Not long at all. I have many leads; it won’t be long before I claim my children once again.”
Palpatine nodded. “I hope so, Lord Vader.”
Vader did not reply, and the transmission faded from the screen. Palpatine turned in his chair, unable to shake the feeling of uneasiness that he’d had ever since he had first seen the face of Anakin Skywalker again. Endor System-Four days later
The planet Endor, a silvery gas giant, was orbited by nine moons. The largest of these moons, almost the size of a small planet, was known as the Forest Moon, the Sanctuary Moon, or simply as Endor.
The Endor system was not an easy one to reach. The uncharted area and a massive gravitational shadow of the planet made navigating this area treacherous and tricky. It also made this system the perfect place to hide the Empire’s greatest and most lethal secret: the second Death Star.
Kept secret from most of the Imperial forces, including the powerful moffs, the Death Star had been under construction for almost a month. Learning from the mistakes of the past, Palpatine over saw the design stage of his new super weapon personally, ensuring that the same problems that had plagued him in the construction stage of the first Death Star did not occur again with the new one. Thus, after only a month of construction, it was well under way, and had already begun to take shape above the Forest Moon.
Grand Moff Jerjerrod, an arrogant, self-serving little man, walked smugly amidst the construction, quite pleased with himself at having been appointed the commander of the mighty station. He was not an easy man to like, as any of the many underlings he commanded could attest to. Jerjerrod took his responsibilities seriously, and was not about to let the emperor down. The fact that he was utterly terrified of Palpatine was a huge motivating factor, and it made Jerjerrod push his men hard in their tasks. He wanted this space station to be the ultimate power in the universe, to out do the original Death Star in every conceivable way. The Rebel Alliance won’t stand a chance once this is completed, Jerjerrod thought smugly. They don’t even know of its existence, much less its location. The emperor truly is a genius to keep this so secretive…It made Jerjerrod feel singularly important that he was the only Moff who even knew about the Death Star. In fact, he highly doubted if the emperor’s apprentice the mighty Lord Vader had had any inkling of its existence before his mysterious end. That fact pleased Jerjerrod no end; and made his already considerable ego even more inflated.
“Sir, sir!”
Jerjerrod turned to see one of his junior officers approaching him.
“What is it?”
“Sir, long range sensors have detected a ship entering the Endor System,” the young man reported.
Jejerrod frowned. “Configuration?”
“It’s one of ours sir,” the officer replied. “It’s the Executor.”
What the devil are they doing here? Jerjerrod wondered as he followed his officer to the small command center of the space station. Sure enough, the enormous vessel had entered the system.
“Have they hailed us?” Jerjerrod asked the communications officer. “No sir and they are ignoring our hails,” the officer replied.
Jerjerrod’s frown deepened. “The emperor did not inform me of any inspections,” he muttered, starting to worry that it was the emperor who was on his way for a surprise inspection. “Keep trying to hail them,” he commanded.
“Sir, TIE fighters!”
Jerjerrod along with the rest of the officers and men in the small command center watched in stupefaction as a huge swarm of TIE fighters emerged, their huge number virtually filling the view screen as they approached at top speed.
“Sir, they are opening fire upon the Vengeance!!” came the startled cry of the tactical officer.
Jerjerrod could only watch in horror as the swarm of fighters attacked the destroyer.
“Sir, what should we do!?”
“I…I….” Jerjerrod stuttered as they watched helplessly as the unshielded ship was utterly decimated by the unrelenting waves of TIE fighters. What do I do? Jerjerrod wondered in utter panic. Who do I contact? Who is close enough to help? “SIR!”
Jerjerrod’s attempt to give an order was halted by the emergence of the mighty Executor which now loomed ominously before them. “Hail them,” Jerjerrod said, his voice barely audible.
“No response!”
Jerjerrod thought frantically. “Contact the fleet!” he cried. “Locate the closest vessel and...”
“Sir all channels have been jammed!”
“We’re sitting ducks,” Jerjerrod said as he watched the massive ship fill the screen, knowing with certainty that he would not live much longer. There were no shields, no weapons, no way to defend themselves, no way to escape.
Who is responsible for this? Who…
It was Jerjerrod’s last thought, for the enormous firepower of the Executor unleashed upon the unprotected shell of the Death Star, obliterating it within moments. Watching from a safe distance, Anakin Skywalker sat in the cockpit of a TIE fighter. He thought briefly of the men who had perished in this attack, but realized that this was war. He had killed in battle before, and would again if necessary.
“Luke, do you read me?”
“I copy, Dad.”
“Solo?”
“Right here, sir.”
“Let’s go.”
Luke and Han acknowledged Anakin’s order and the three of them lead the squadron back to the Executor.
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Post by therealthing on Jul 4, 2007 11:14:19 GMT -5
Chapter 76 The massive squadron of TIE fighters returned to the Executor, having accomplished their task: they had begun the insurrection.
Padmé and Leia were waiting outside the enormous hangar for the men to return. Soon the door opened as a veritable sea of pilots streamed out into the corridor.
“Luke!” Padmé called as she saw her son emerge with Han Solo at his side. She ran to embrace him, just as Leia did to greet Han.
“I’m fine, Mom,” Luke said as his mother hugged him tightly.
“I know,” she said. “I’m just glad to see you.” She looked over his shoulder as she released him to see his father walking towards them. Despite the many battles he had been in over the years, the fear that Padmé felt when Anakin was involved in one had never seemed to lessen.
“Ani,” she sighed as she embraced him next.
Anakin was silent as he held his wife in his arms, and she sensed that he was disturbed by what had just happened. She pulled back and looked at him.
“You alright?” she asked.
Anakin nodded. “Yes,” he replied, not wishing to discuss how he was feeling at the moment. “Let’s get to the bridge,” he said. “We need to let the Alliance know that the objective has been reached.”
Padmé nodded. “Piett has already done so,” she said.
“Good,” he said. He activated his comm. link. “Bridge, set course for Axxila,” he said. “We have passengers waiting for us.”
At once, sir!
“Axxila?” Padmé asked.
Anakin nodded. “Piett’s family,” he explained. “I suggested they come for a visit.”
Padmé lifted her eyebrows. “Now?” she asked. “Do you think that’s such a good idea with us embarking upon a war against the Empire?”
Anakin shrugged. “We have our family on board,” he pointed out. “Why shouldn’t he? Besides, somehow I don’t think the Empire will be much of a match for this vessel, do you?”
“If they combine forces they will,” she replied.
“They won’t have a chance to do so, Angel,” he told her as they walked along in the corridor. “I don’t intend to give them a chance.”
Padmé nodded her understanding, not sure she liked the ruthless implications behind his words. But still, she knew that in war ruthlessness was sometimes required. Anakin Skywalker was the greatest warrior the galaxy had ever known; she had to trust that he knew what he was doing.
Rebel Command Ship
“Commander, we have a message coming in from the Endor System,” the young communication officers informed Mon Mothma.
She looked over at her comrades with a sense of expectation. “Put in on the screen,” she commanded.
Commander, this is the Executor, Admiral Piett announced.
“Hello Admiral,” Mon Mothma replied. “What news?”
Our objective has been met, he told her with a smile. The Death Star has been destroyed. Mon Mothma smiled. “Well done, Admiral,” she said.
I wish I could take credit for it, Piett replied. But it was Anakin’s plan. He led a squadron of TIE fighters to take out the only destroyer in the vicinity enabling us to attack the Death Star unhindered. It was brilliant.
“He is a gifted tactician,” Mon Mothma concurred. “We are lucky to have him on our side.”
Indeed, Piett replied. We will be in contact soon once we’ve left the Outer Rim. Piett out. Mon Mothma turned away from the screen. “Well?” she said. “Does that make you feel more justified in your decision?”
Bail Organa nodded. “Yes,” he said, “I suppose it does. I just hope he was careful; we don’t need the rest of the Imperial fleet coming after us.”
“Anakin knows what he’s doing,” Mothma said. “I think that this attack proved it.”
Organa hated to admit it, but she was right. It was obvious that the addition of the Executor under the command of Anakin Skywalker was an invaluable addition to the forces of the Rebel Alliance. Just so long as Skywalker is able to keep the emperor from discovering the ruse, he reflected. Because if he does, we’re all doomed.
Star Destroyer Executor – Twelve hours later
It had been six months since Firmus Piett had seen his wife and daughters, and so their reunion was a warm one. Once they had left the planet surface, Piett took great pleasure in escorting his family around the Executor, giving them the grand tour. He was most anxious to introduce them to his commander and his family. Piett had come to admire the Skywalker family tremendously, and felt privileged to be serving along side such fine individuals.
As for Anakin Skywalker, what Piett felt towards him was nothing short of hero worship. Piett had always held a sneaking admiration for Darth Vader, even though he had never so much as met the man. He admired Vader’s leadership abilities, his tactical skills and his battle savvy. Anakin Skywalker possessed all of those same qualities, of course, but without the ruthless, dark nature that had defined the Dark Lord. Skywalker was noble, heroic even, and loved his family above everything. He was just the sort of man that could, and hopefully would, end the conflict that had plagued the galaxy for two decades. Piett felt honored to know him, and to have a part in Anakin’s plans.
“This ship is huge!” Piett’s youngest daughter, Deirdre, as they walked through the corridors.
“The biggest in the fleet,” Piett told her proudly.
“But no longer part of the fleet,” his wife, Malani, pointed out. “At least, not the Imperial fleet.”
“No,” Firmus said. “That is true. You never liked the Empire much any way as I recall, my dear.”
Malani smiled with a shrug. “No,” she admitted. “I didn’t. But mutiny? Firmus, are you sure this is the right thing?”
“Without a doubt,” he replied. “And when you meet the Skywalker family, I’m sure you will agree with me.”
The Piett family tracked down the family of Anakin Skywalker to the large refectory where they were sharing a meal together. Anakin looked up when he saw his first officer approaching and smiled.
“Am I to assume that these are the Piett ladies?” he asked as Piett and his family reached them.
Firmus smiled. “Yes, indeed they are,” he said, turning to his family.
“Please join us,” Padmé said, smiling also.
“Yes, please do,” Anakin said, standing up.
“Thank you,” Malani said, charmed at once by the couple.
“Anakin and Padmé, I’d like you to meet my wife, Malani,” Firmus said at last. “And my daughters, Ylla, Mina and Deirdre.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you all,” Anakin said, shaking hands with them. “I’ve heard a great deal about you.” He turned to his own two children. “And these are our children, Luke and Leia, and their good friend, Han Solo.”
“Very nice to meet you all,” Leia said, shaking hands with the three ladies.
Luke, however, found that he was somewhat tongue tied as he shook hands with the Piett women. He’d had next to no experience with girls, and found himself quite captivated by the eldest of the three Piett daughters, eighteen year old Ylla.
Ylla was certainly a beautiful young woman; she had shoulder length, wavy hair that was golden in color, and eyes that were the most brilliant shade of green Luke had ever seen. She smiled at Luke as they shook hands. “It’s nice to meet you, Luke,” she said. All Luke could do was smile at her, cursing himself for being such a dufus.
“It is so wonderful that you have been able to come and visit Firmus this way,” Padmé said. “I know it means a lot to him having you here.”
“I understand we have you to thank for that, Anakin,” Malani said. “Firmus told me that it was your suggestion.”
“It was,” Firmus said. “And might I add a very good one,” he added, smiling at his wife.
“Families should be together,” Anakin said, looking at his own wife. “I know I am a much better, much stronger man having mine close by.”
Malani nodded. She was starting to understand just what her husband meant about the Skywalker family. They truly were remarkable.
Just then Anakin’s comlink sounded. “Excuse me,” he said. He activated the mechanism. “Yes?”
Sir, the team you sent to the Gordian Reach has returned. They have the stones.
“Very good,” Anakin replied. “Tell them to meet me on the bridge in ten minutes.”
Yes sir.
“Stones?” Padmé asked. “What stones would they?” “Kunda stones,” Anakin replied. He looked at Leia. “Someone needs to build a lightsaber.”
Leia’s eyebrows lifted. “Me?” she said. “I’m going to build a lightsaber?”
Anakin nodded. “Actually, we both are,” he said. “I refuse to continue using a Sith blade,” he explained. “It’s time for a Jedi blade once again.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Padmé said with a smile. ************************************************************************************
“I like Malani Piett,” Padmé told Anakin as she brushed her long hair in preparation for bed. “She’s everything I imagined she would be. And their girls are just lovely.”
Anakin, who was sitting up in their bed watching her, smiled. “I know someone who was quite taken with one of the Piett girls,” he commented.
Padmé looked over her shoulder at him. “Who?”
“Luke,” Anakin replied, his smile growing. “He was literally speechless when he met the eldest girl, Ylla. I could feel his pulse racing from across the table.”
Padmé smiled in response. “Really?” she said. “I would love to see Luke with a nice girl like her,” she said, resuming her brushing. “I often worry that he feels left out, now that Leia and Han are so close.”
“I don’t know about that,” Anakin said. “I think Luke is pretty happy just the way things are. He is very focused on his training, much more so than I was when I was a padawan,” he said.
“You were a married man when you a padawan,” she reminded him. “That was rather a large distraction.”
Anakin lifted his eyebrows. “Distraction?” he repeated. “Is that what you think yourself?”
Padmé laughed as she set down her brush and stood up. “No, but you know what I mean. Luke may be a happy person, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t love to find some nice girl to settle down with. Personally I think it would be a wonderful thing,” she declared as she climbed into bed with him. “What a wonderful idea you had suggesting Firmus bring his family on board.”
Anakin nodded, the smile fading from his face.
“What?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”
He turned to her. “Nothing,” he said, lying down. “I’m just tired.”
Padmé frowned. “Don’t tell me it’s nothing,” she said. “I’ve noticed that you’ve been contemplative all day. What’s on your mind?”
Anakin sighed, realizing his wife knew him far too well for him to hide anything from her. “I’ve just been thinking about the battle today,” he said. “Battle, wrong word. The slaughter, that’s more like it.”
Padmé moved closer to him. “You did what you had to do, Ani,” she told him, framing his face with her hands. “You realize that, don’t you?”
Anakin nodded. “Yes, I do,” he said. “I just can’t stop thinking about the families of all the men who perished,” he said.
“I know,” she said. “You are a man of great compassion and conscience; it is natural that you would feel that way.”
Anakin nodded. “I don’t want to kill any more, Padmé,” he said softly. “There is already too much blood on my hands.”
His words took her by surprise, and caused a constriction in her throat. He obviously still carried around a great deal of guilt for the lifetime he spent as Darth Vader, and probably always would.
“You have been given the chance to atone for that,” she reminded him. “And you will, you will free the galaxy from tyranny and restore freedom to millions of beings. Don’t forget that, Anakin.”
He smiled at her. “I don’t know how I lived so long without you in my life,” he told her. “Thank you, Angel, for keeping me focused on the positive. I do tend to dwell on the negative; I suppose it comes from spending half my life in darkness.”
Padmé stroked his face softly. “I will never let that darkness claim you again,” she told him resolutely. “You belong here, with me, with our children, and nothing and no one will ever take you from us again.”
Anakin could only nod and hold her close, feeling that with her at his side, the Darkness would never win over him again.
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Post by therealthing on Jul 4, 2007 11:21:52 GMT -5
Chapter 77
Luke stood in the turbolift, heading for the Executor's recreation level. Of course, it had not been designated as such when the mighty ship had been under Imperial control. During those dark days it had been referred to as the PTF – Physical Training Facility. The facilities were excellent, providing state of the art fitness equipment and programming, several gymnasiums and swimming pools. Luke and his sister had spent many hours in the gymnasiums sparring with one another and engaging in the vigorous physical training that was a huge part of their Jedi training.
The door opened and Anakin joined Luke in the lift.
"Good morning Dad," Luke said.
"Morning Luke," Anakin replied. "You're up early. Where have you been?"
Luke shrugged. "No where special," he replied. "I'm on my way to the gym."
Anakin smiled. Luke was simply too easy to read. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that he had been out roaming the vast ship in the hopes of seeing a certain Miss Ylla Piett again. "I see," he said at last. "I'm heading there myself. I like to start each day with a workout."
"Me too," Luke replied. "I don't suppose you brought your lightsaber with you?" he asked with a grin.
Anakin smiled as he pulled back his cloak to reveal his lightsaber clipped to his belt. "Master Obi-Wan used to scold me terribly if I went anywhere without it," he explained. "I suppose old habits die hard."
Luke laughed. "I guess so."
The turbolift stopped, and father and son stepped off and proceeded down the corridor.
"I'd like you to be present when Leia and I begin construction on our lightsabers," Anakin told his son as they entered one of the enormous gymnasiums. "You haven't had the chance to go through that experience."
Luke nodded. "I'd l like that," he replied. "In fact, I'd like to build one myself if that's okay. This one is yours, after all."
Anakin considered his son's words for a moment. He wasn't sure that he wanted to use the saber he'd owned when he first became Darth Vader. How much innocent blood was shed with that weapon? How many younglings were slaughtered by that blade? He thought as he watched Luke take the saber from his belt. I tried to kill my best friend, my brother with that saber..
"Dad? You okay?"
Anakin averted his eyes from the saber and met those of his son. "Yes," he replied. "Just…remembering," he said quietly. "I like your idea, Luke," he said, forcing himself to push the dark memories from his mind. "You should make your own lightsaber. It is an integral part of your training, for your weapon ought to be a reflection of you. Even the color has significance."
"I didn't know that," Luke replied, looking down at the weapon in his hand. "I…"he stopped as out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of someone enter the gymnasium on the opposite side of the room.
Anakin could sense Luke's heart rate accelerate in a matter of moments, and looked over to where Luke's attention had been diverted only to see Ylla Piett.
"She's quite pretty, isn't she?" Anakin commented.
Luke turned to his father. "Sorry?"
Anakin smiled. "You've got it bad, don't you son?"
Luke's face turned a bright shade of red. "I don't know what you're talking about," he mumbled.
Anakin put a hand on his son's shoulder. "I've been there," he said. "I know the signs, Luke. Why don't you go and talk to her?"
"N-no…that's okay," Luke replied. "Come on, let's go."
Anakin removed his lightsaber from his belt. "As you wish," he said. "Let's begin."
As they sparred, Anakin felt as though his son’s attention was divided between the mock duel he was engaged in and the door where Ylla had exited the room. It surprised Anakin that Luke was so distracted by a girl after only meeting her once, for he had always figured Luke to be the more serious minded of his two children. He’s your son, though, remember? Are you really surprised he’d react this way?
Taking advantage of Luke’s distraction, Anakin easily disarmed his son and held out hand, bringing the lightsaber to it effortlessly.
“Go talk to her,” he told his son. “Because believe me, it will only get worse if you try to deny how you feel.”
Luke was about to offer another denial, but reasoned that it was pointless to do so. It was obvious that he father knew him far too well and was able to read his moods as well as his very thoughts easily. Trying to hide his feeling from him was futile.
“What do I say to her?” Luke asked at last.
Anakin smiled. “You’ll think of something,” he assured him.
“I doubt that,” Luke muttered. “I couldn’t even speak when I met her. She probably thinks I’m a complete loser.”
Anakin laughed. “Women do have that affect on us sometimes,” he commented.
“What did you say to Mom the first time you met her?” Luke asked.
Anakin smiled as he remembered that incredible day so long ago, the day that had changed his life forever.
“I asked her if she was an angel,” Anakin told his son. “I’d never seen anyone so beautiful in my whole life.”
Luke nodded, not surprised that his father had managed to be charming even from their first meeting.
“And what did Mom say?”
“She called me a strange little boy,” Anakin replied with a smile.
Luke laughed. “Oh yeah, you two were just kids when you met, weren’t you?”
Anakin nodded. “Yes, I was nine; your mother was barely fourteen. Yet somehow I knew even at that young age that we were destined to be together. When we met again ten years later I was a nervous wreck.”
“Were you?” Luke asked. “You?”
“Yes,” Anakin replied. “I remember riding up the lift to her apartment. Obi-Wan was laughing at me for being so nervous. I was sweating and jittery, and when she and I met face to face again after so long, I tried so hard to be smooth.” Anakin smiled at the memory. “Your mother had me tied up in knots from day one, Luke. Trying to ignore the way I felt about her only made things worse.”
Luke thought about his father’s words. “I just wish I could think of something to say to her that won’t make me sound like a complete idiot.”
Anakin smiled at his son, and put an arm around his shoulder. “Just be yourself, Luke,” he said. “That’s all I can tell you. Women respect honesty and sincerity.”
Luke nodded. “Okay,” he said, suddenly feeling very nervous. “I’ll do it.”
“Good luck,” Anakin said as Luke started walking across the floor.
Luke turned and looked back at his father. “In my experience there’s no such thing as luck,” he said, imitating Obi-Wan perfectly.
Anakin laughed. “Don’t be so sure about that,” he called back. He watched as Luke walked away, hoping that his son would not lose courage at the last minute. His thoughts were interrupted by his com link.
“Yes?”
“Ani, it’s me.”
“Good morning,” Anakin said, walking towards the exit. “Miss me already?” he asked with a smile.
Padmé laughed. “Of course. But right now I think you should get up to the bridge. They’ve been looking for you.”
“Okay, I’m on my way,” he replied. “Meet me there?”
“Of course. I’ll see you soon.”
Anakin left the fitness facilities and headed for the lift, hoping that whatever it was that required his attention was not bad news.
Padmé looked up from the comm screen as she saw Anakin enter the bridge. He wore his under tunic and a towel around his neck, his hair still sweaty from the work out.
“Did I interrupt something?” Padmé asked, smiling up at him.
Anakin smiled. “Well, not really,” he replied. “I just finished kicking Luke’s behind.”
Padmé raised her eyebrows. “Oh?” she asked. “Not literally I hope.”
Anakin laughed. “Well, his mind was elsewhere,” he replied, sitting beside his wife. “Miss Ylla Piett is far more interesting than fighting a mock duel with his old man.”
Padmé smiled. “She was in the gym too?”
“Only briefly,” Anakin told her, taking one corner of the towel and wiping a trickle of sweat from his face. “She was only in the room for a moment or two, but that was enough to send Luke’s mind into a tail spin. I was finally able to convince him he needed to go find her and talk to her.”
“Good,” Padmé replied. “I hope they hit it off,” she added. “It would be wonderful for Luke to have someone special in his life.”
“Yes, it would,” Anakin replied. “So what was the big emergency?” he asked.
“A message from the Alliance,” Padmé said, keying in the message they had received earlier. “I thought you should see this.”
Anakin turned his attention to the screen where the face of Mon Mothma appeared.
We have lost contact with the planet Alderaan, she began. Viceroy Organa had been unable to make contact with his assistant for more than twenty four hours, and so we sent scouts to the Alderaan System. The planet is currently under blockade, with at least four destroyers in orbit. Please contact us as soon as you are able- Alderaan needs our help.
The transmission ended. “The emperor has been looking to find a way to punish Alderaan for a long time,” Anakin said at last. “He was thwarted in his attempt to destroy it with the first Death Star; no doubt he was hoping to succeed somehow with the second.”
“Do you think he knows about what happened in the Endor System yet?” Padmé asked.
“I doubt it,” Anakin replied. “We left no one there to send a report. Eventually he will realize what has happened, once communications from the Death Star have gone silent for longer than normal.”
“Perhaps he has already learned what happened and thinks Alderaan is somehow responsible,” suggested Piett. “It could explain this sudden and rather drastic action.”
Anakin nodded. “Palpatine never does anything without a reason. Having said that, however, we are not simply going to allow him to bully Alderaan either.” He turned to the communications officer. “Hail the rebel command ship,” he ordered. “We need to make a plan.”
“At once, sir.”
Imperial City- Coruscant
Emperor Palpatine sat in deep meditation, swathed in the Darkness that had been the essence of his existence for most of his life. Something is not right, he thought darkly. Something is off…He could not put into words what it was he sensed; but he felt certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that there was something amiss in the galaxy…his galaxy.
Old age was a cruel beast, and even the Sith were not immune to its ravages. Palpatine himself was not even certain how old he was anymore; but there was one thing he was certain of: he was tired. I need my apprentice, he thought peevishly. I need Vader.
Ordinarily it was Vader who did the investigating, the tracking, the hunting down of traitors; he was good at it and he never failed. Even now Vader was hunting down his own offspring to make as an offering to the Dark Side, and Palpatine had no doubt that he would succeed in finding them. Vader was, after all, nothing if not relentless. And what if he doesn’t want to surrender them to me? What if they refuse to join the Dark Side? Will he side with them against me? Me against three of them??
Within the black heart that beat in Palpatine’s withered, ancient frame, something had begun to blossom that even he would not name. It was something that he had seldom felt, something he hated in others, and refused to accept in himself; but since he had come face to face with a whole and strong Darth Vader, he could not deny it any longer. For the first time in a very very long time, Palpatine was afraid.
Anakin Skywalker had been the greatest Jedi who ever lived, his strength and mastery of the Force was unmatched, his medichlorian count off the chart. Had Skywalker not turned to the Dark Side, he would have proven a formidable enemy. After Mustafar, some of the strength that Skywalker had been born with had been lost, along with much of his body. Palpatine had made sure that those injuries that Vader had incurred on Mustafar were not attended to properly; keeping his servant in a half human state in order to keep him subservient. Palpatine was no fool; he knew that so long as Vader remained half human, his diminished strength posed no threat to him. But now….
Palpatine stood up and began pacing about in his chamber. Vader was no longer half machine. He was whole, and fully human, and his strength had been restored – even in the brief communication with Vader he had sensed it. Should Vader decide to turn against me, he would be unstoppable, Palpatine reflected as the cold feeling of fear began to spread throughout him. I must ensure that never happens…I must take measures to protect myself. “Your majesty, still no response from the Endor System,” one of his guards reported, interrupting Palpatine’s broodings.
The emperor looked up. “Send a ship there at once,” he said. “I will have Jerjerrod’s head mounted on my wall for this,” he snapped.
“At once, sire.”
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Post by therealthing on Jul 5, 2007 19:46:30 GMT -5
Chapter 78 “Concentrate, yes,” Yoda instructed. “Meditate you must before selecting the crystal that will be the heart of your saber.”
Luke and Leia exchanged a look, and then focused their attention on the small stones that Yoda and Obi-Wan had placed on the table before them. Meditation was not easy for either of them; too much like their father, Obi-Wan was quick to point out. Yet, both were determined to do their best, realizing that their masters’ expectations were high. They were, after all, the children of the Chosen One; the future of the Jedi Order. Both Luke and Leia realized how important their place in the history of the galaxy was, and were determined not to disappoint their masters or their parents.
Obi-Wan was delighted that Luke had expressed a desire to build a lightsaber of his own. Not only was the exercise an important part of Luke’s journey, but it would mean that the saber that had been his father’s during the darkest time of his life would be retired. Obi-Wan had debated for many years whether he ought to destroy Anakin’s lightsaber, for it represented for him the darkest day of his life, the day he lost his brother. The image of Anakin screaming in agony as the fires of Mustafar consumed him had never left Obi-Wan’s memory, or the images of Anakin slaughtering younglings in the Jedi Temple. That saber had taken many lives, spilled much innocent blood. Obi-Wan sensed that Anakin too harbored ill feelings toward the weapon; for him it represented his descent into Darkness and was a constant reminder of all the innocent lives he had taken.
“Our father told me that the color we chose has significance,” Luke said after a few moments. “What exactly does that mean?”
“Simply put, blue suits a Jedi who focuses on combat,” Obi-Wan explained, “such as your father, while green lightsaber is for a Jedi who focuses on the force. Master Yoda’s lightsaber was green, as was Master Qui-Gon’s,” he went on.
“Red signifies the Dark Side then, I imagine,” Leia said.
Yoda nodded. “Yes Leia,” he concurred. “The symbol of evil it is, adopted by the Sith many years ago.”
“Red represents violence, blood and death,” Obi-Wan added. “No Jedi would ever carry a red saber.”
Luke and Leia nodded. They had both decided upon a color, one that their mediations had leaded them to. They were pleased to learn that they had chosen well.
“Chosen you have?” Yoda asked.
“Yes,” Leia said, looking at her brother. “I think I know what you are going to chose,” she told her twin with a smile.
Luke grinned. “Yeah, well I’d bet a thousand credits on the color you’ll pick.”
Obi-Wan and Yoda looked at one another with amusement at the competitiveness of the Skywalker twins. They are their father’s children, Obi-Wan reflected, remembering how Anakin had been at their age.
“I think I too know what color the two of you have chosen,” Obi-Wan told them with a smile. “May i?” “Of course,” Leia said with a smile.
Obi-Wan looked at her, stroking his beard thoughtfully. “Leia is very much like her father,” he said. “And so I would say blue.”
Leia nodded. “You’re right,” she replied.
“And Luke,” he continued, turning to the young man next. “You are far more cerebral than either your sister or your father,” he said. “So I would say green.”
Luke smiled. “You’re good, Ben,” he said. “That’s exactly right.”
“Now that we have chosen our crystal, can we get started?” Leia asked eagerly.
“Patience, young one,” Obi-Wan replied, putting a hand on her shoulder. “I believe we are about to rendezvous with the Alliance. Why don’t we begin when we can dedicate more time to the task?”
“Yes, a good idea this is,” Yoda concurred. “A serious job this is. Much concentration it requires.”
“I agree,” Obi-Wan said.
Luke, Leia do you copy?
Leia activated her comlink. “We’re here, Dad.” Are you with Obi-Wan and Yoda? “Yes we are.”
I need all four of you to meet me in the main conference room. Mon Mothma’s shuttle is about to arrive. “We’ll be right there,” Leia said. She looked up at the others. “Shall we, gentlemen?”
“After you, Princess,” Obi-Wan replied. Lieutenant Keller stood in one of the Executor’s enormous hangar bays as the Lambda class shuttle slowly made its way inside. There was nothing unusual about the landing, for Imperial shuttles were commonly used for short distance travel. What was unusual about this arrival, however, was the occupants of this particular shuttle. It was not often that members of the Rebel Alliance boarded an Imperial Star Destroyer as guests. Prisoners yes, but guests- never.
Keller stood at attention as the shuttle docked. He had been in almost constant contact with the Alliance, keeping them abreast of the Executor’s movements. He enjoyed this new responsibility, and looked forward to meeting with the rebel leaders in person once again.
“Welcome to the Executor,” Keller said with a smile as Mon Mothma and Bail Organa descended the ramp.
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Mon Mothma replied, looking around in awe at the enormity of her surroundings.
“Quite an impressive vessel,” Bail remarked.
“It is,” Keller replied. “I would be happy to give you a tour once your meeting with Lord Vader has concluded.”
Mon Mothma’s eyes widened in surprise. “Vader??” she echoed. “Did you say Lord Vader?”
“Relax, Commander,” Keller assured her. “We are using his Sith name only as a security precaution. I assure you, he is not Darth Vader.”
“That’s a relief,” Organa muttered.
“Now, if you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to the conference room,” Keller said.
“By all means, Lieutenant,” Mon Mothma replied. Padmé entered the conference room to join her husband. Anakin watched her as she approached the large table, sensing that she was upset about something. They had contacted Doctor Deece on Polis Massa days earlier and had been waiting for a reply from her. That morning their reply had come.
“What’s wrong?” Anakin asked his wife as she sat down beside him.
Padmé looked up at him, and he could tell that she had been crying.
He frowned and reached over to put his hand on her. “Angel, what is it?”
“A message came through just after you left earlier,” she told him. “A message from Polis Massa.”
A sinking feeling started growing within Anakin’s heart. “What did Dr. Deece say?” he asked.
Padmé’s eyes filled with tears, despite her best efforts to keep them in control. “She said that …that the drug I’d been forced to take all those years results in permanent infertility in ninety-eight percent of cases,” she told him. She brushed a tear from her face. “So that means we won’t have any more children,” she finished softly.
Anakin squeezed her hand, his heart aching from the pain he felt emanating with her. “It’s not impossible, Angel,” he told her gently. “Ninety-eight percent still leaves two percent left,” he reminded her.
“Ani, I’m forty-seven years old,” she replied. “Even without the drugs destroying my body for twenty years, conceiving a child would be challenging. The two factors combined ….” She stopped again, too overcome by her grief to continue.
Anakin get up off of his chair and went to her. He crouched beside her chair and put an arm around her. “Padmé, if there’s anything my life’s journey has taught me, it’s that anything is possible, even when it seems impossible. We can make this happen, Padmé, I know we can. It just means we’ll have to make a more concerted effort, that’s all,” he said with a smile.
Padmé looked up at him and smiled through her tears. “You think so, do you?”
Anakin nodded. “Absolutely,” he said. He kissed her cheek. “I have foreseen it.”
“And what exactly have you foreseen?” she asked, brushing her tears away.
“I have foreseen me changing diapers,” he told her with a grin.
Padmé laughed. “You’ve got that right,” she told him.
Anakin’s smile grew, happy to see that she had rise above her grief. She always was incredibly strong, he reflected. The doors slid open to reveal Luke, Leia, Yoda and Obi-Wan. Anakin stood up.
“Good you’re here,” he said. “I believe Mon Mothma should be here very soon.”
Luke and Leia knew that their parents had been engaged in an intense conversation, but didn’t have the time to ask them about it.
They didn’t have to wait long before Lieutenant Keller arrived, followed by the two rebel leaders. Leia embraced her adoptive father warmly, and then all of them took a seat around the large table.
“Now, tell us all you know about the blockade on Alderaan,” Anakin began.
“Our scouts tell us that the Imperial ships have been in orbit for at least three days,” Organa spoke up. “And that is when we lost contact with Alderaan.”
Anakin nodded. “Have you made contact with any of the ships?” he asked Organa.
“We’ve tried,” Mon Mothma replied. “But they refuse to acknowledge our hails.”
“Probably because they cannot justify their presence there,” Leia spoke up. She looked at her father. “Don’t you agree?”
“Yes,” Anakin replied. “Until the emperor has instructed the commanders of those vessels what to say, they will not return communications.”
“It sounds like Palpatine is trying to force a confrontation,” Padmé said. “But why?”
“Mistrusts you, he does,” Yoda told Anakin. “Testing you he is.”
“If that is the case, then we must proceed very carefully,” Mon Mothma said. “Because if he even suspects that we have joined forces, he will destroy us.”
Organa snorted. “He hasn’t been able to destroy the Rebellion for twenty years,” he pointed out. “What makes you think he could do so now, especially since it has become stronger?”
“Do not underestimate the power of the Emperor,” Yoda cautioned. “Capable of anything, he is. Without conscious, without honor he is.”
“I’d have to agree,” Anakin said. “He is capable of anything. Our plan must be perfect.”
“Then let’s get started,” Padmé suggested. “We haven’t time to spare.”
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Post by therealthing on Jul 5, 2007 19:53:54 GMT -5
Chapter 79 Captain Darius Crazell marched about on the bridge of his ship, the Star Destroyer Accuser. Everything was going as planned. The blockade was effectively smothering Alderaan, preventing both communication and transportation to and from the planet surface.
So far there had been no resistance whatsoever from the occupied Alderaan people. They were, however, known to be a peace loving people, and possessed little in the way of weaponry. Pacifists, Crazell thought derisively. No wonder the emperor holds this planet in such contempt. The emperor had given very little in the way of direction with regards to this blockade. All they had been told was they were to jam all communications, destroy any vessel that tried to leave the surface, and wait for further orders. So far it had been easy, and, if truth be told, rather boring. Crazell found himself wishing for a little more to do. He could only inspect the men under his command so many times. They were as bored as he was, and had the time to make sure they were doing their job well.
“Sir, we have a message coming in from the Engager,” announced the communications officer.
“Oh?” Crazell said, pleased for the distraction. “What is it?”
The officer listened to the earpiece in his ear, a frown forming on his face. He looked up at his commander. “Sir, he says that there are a large number of Rebel ships entering the system!”
Crazell’s eyes widened in surprise. “What?” he exclaimed.
The comm. officer nodded. “Yes,” he said, continuing to listen. “At least twenty ships, sir. The Engager is asking for our help, sir.”
Crazell’s frown deepened upon hearing this. He didn’t know what to do: the emperor had made it clear that the blockade was to continue until he decided to call it off. But the Engager was alone on the edge of the system with a veritable armada bearing down on them; surely that changed things. Surely they needed help.
“Hail the Intrepid,” he said at last. “I need to speak with Captain Norvall.”
“Yes sir!”
Crazell clasped his hands behind his back nervously, suddenly wishing for the boredom of an uneventful day once again.
Luke found himself excited at the prospect of the approaching battle. Not that it would be much of a battle, he reasoned. No doubt they would not be able to divert all four of the destroyers from Alderaan; they were hoping for two, three if they were really lucky. But even three destroyers against twenty two Rebel ships would not be much of a contest.
“Commander Skywalker!” Luke turned to the communication officer. “What is it?”
“Sir, we have enemy ships heading our way,” the young woman replied with a smile. “They took the bait.”
Luke smiled. “Fantastic,” he said. He looked over at his sister.
“Told you he was a genius,” she said with a smile.
Luke nodded. “Yeah, he sure is,” he agreed. He turned back to the comm. officer. “Contact my father on the Executor. Tell him the trap has been set.”
“At once, sir.”
Padmé watched as her husband paced up and down the length of the Executor’s enormous bridge. The tension was thick as everyone waited. Anakin glanced over at his wife, knowing that she was as edgy as he was.
It was with great trepidation that Anakin had sent Luke and Leia to coordinate the Rebel attack. Cognitively he knew that they were both more than capable of rising to the challenge; in fact they thrived on it. But in his heart he was still a father, and he worried about his two precious children. Having spent a lifetime apart from them, he found it difficult not to be over protective where his family was concerned. Even though Luke and Leia were adults now, he knew that no matter how old they were, he would always feel as though he needed to protect them.
“Lord Vader, a message from your daughter,” the communication officer announced.
“Put her on,” Anakin said, moving over to the comm. station where he was joined by Padmé.
“Leia!” Anakin said, relieved to see his daughter’s face appear on the screen. “What’s going on?”
“We’ve picked up two destroyers on the long range sensors,” Leia reported. “So the plan worked.”
“Excellent,” Anakin replied with a smile. “Think you can handle them?”
Leia smiled. “Yes, I think we’re okay,” she said. “What about you? It will be two against one.”
Anakin lifted an eyebrow. “Not exactly,” he said. “They won’t know what hit them, believe me.”
“I’m sure,” Leia replied. “Good luck, Dad.”
“Thanks Leia,” Anakin replied. “You too. May the Force be with you.”
Anakin looked at his wife, knowing that she was as worried as he was about their children.
“They’ll be fine,” Anakin told her. “They are experienced leaders.”
Padmé nodded. “I know,” she said softly. “That doesn’t mean I’m not going to worry.”
Anakin smiled and stood up. “I know exactly how you feel,” he said, bending down to kiss her cheek. “I’m going to brief the pilots. Coming?”
Padmé stood up. “Yes,” she said. “I need to be sure you and Han don’t get into an argument,” she added with a smile.
Anakin laughed. “That won’t happen,” he said. “Not this time at least. With Luke gone I need him to lead the squadron.”
“And he’ll do a great job,” Padmé replied. “Almost as great as you,” she added.
Anakin smiled and took her hand. He brought it up to his mouth and kissed it. “Let’s go,” he said as they made for the exit. “Piett you have the bridge!” he called over his shoulder.
“Yes sir!”
“General Kenobi, we have enemy ships in sector 342,” the tactical officer of the Reliant informed Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan nodded his understanding. “Raise the shields,” he said. He looked over at Yoda. “Here we go again,” he quipped.
It wasn’t long before the two star destroyers joined the Engager on the edge of the Alderaan System. When they arrived, the hapless ship was already under heavy fire from the Rebel fleet and was in distress. Joining in the fighting, the Accuser and the Intrepid were alarmed by the large number of Rebel ships and the efficiency of their attack. Whoever had organized this strike was obviously well versed in Imperial protocol, as well as a strategic genius. They knew exactly how to split up the blockade, effectively dividing the imperial forces. It had worked exactly as planned.
Meanwhile, on board the Executor, everyone waited anxiously to hear from the Rebel fleet. Once phase one of the strike had been accomplished, phase two would commence. The squadron of TIE fighter pilots, lead by Han Solo was already in their ships when the simple message came from the bridge: stand by.
Making a hyper jump that took the Executor from the edge of the system to within striking distance of the remainder of the blockade; the Executor emerged within visual range of the two remaining Imperial ships.
“Sir! The Executor!” shouted one excited young officer when the mighty vessel appeared seemingly from no where.
The commander of the vessel, Captain Needa, breathed a sigh of relief. He had been uneasy since the Accuser and the Intrepid had left orbit, leaving his ship, the Avenger and the Striker alone. Now that the flag ship of the fleet had arrived, Needa could breathe easier, knowing that the Rebels wouldn’t stand a chance against the Empire’s mightiest vessel.
“Hail the Executor,” Needa said.
“Right away sir.” “Lord Vader, the Avenger is hailing us.”
Anakin folded his arms over his chest. “Ignore it,” he said. He activated his comm. link. “Solo do you read me?”
“Loud and clear.”
“It’s time. Launch the attack.”
“My pleasure, sir.”
Captain Needa was puzzled by the Executor’s silence, and was starting to get an uneasy feeling about the entire situation when an astonishing sight unfolded before his eyes. On the screen before him, he saw what he was certain was the entire compliment of TIE fighters flooding out of the Executor.
“What are they doing?” he muttered. “The Rebels aren’t here, they’re….” he stopped as the cold realization of what as happening hit him.
“Raise the shields! Raise the shields!” he shouted, but not before the first wave of TIE fighters was able to deliver a volley of laser fire upon the two destroyers. Both ships sustained significant damage before they were able to raise their shields.
“Sir, shields are only at thirty percent!” the weapons officer announced in alarm.
Needa wasn’t surprised by this; whoever was behind this daring and treasonous attack obviously knew exactly where to target the attack.
“Ready our own fighters,” Needa said at last. “We’ll have to fight them ship to ship.”
“Yes sir!”
Needa knew that they were badly outnumbered even with two ships’ compliment of TIE’s against the enormous forces of the Executor; but he was desperate at this point. “Do your best to target as many of those fighters as you can,” he added. “Fire when ready.”
“But sir, how are we to tell their ships from our own?” the weapons officer asked.
Oh no, we can’t… “Belay that order,” Needa said, starting to perspire under the tremendous pressure he was suddenly under. Damn you Crazell for leaving us like this! he thought angrily. “Try hailing the Executor again,” he ordered. “Ask them for their terms of surrender.”
The officers and men on the bridge were shocked by their commander’s order. No star destroyer had ever surrendered, it was simply unheard of. But then again, no star destroyer had ever been attacked by another. Needa was at a loss to understand what was happening, but didn’t have time to consider it. “Sir, the Avenger is hailing us again.”
Anakin did not reply, his eyes focused on the dog fights in front of him. Solo had impressed him with his skills both as a leader and a pilot. Seems we do have something in common after all. “Time to end this,” he said. “Train primary weapons on the Intrepid,” he said. “Maximum fire power.”
“Yes Lord Vader.”
Anakin turned away from the screen to look at his wife. “Fire,” he said.
Padmé could see that the actions he was forced to take were troubling to him. As Darth Vader he would not have thought twice about blowing an entire ship from the stars; Anakin Skywalker however had a conscious, and the deaths of so many men weighed heavily upon that conscious.
“Sir, the Avenger is signaling their surrender.”
Anakin turned around, surprised by this news. “Surrender?” he asked. His eyes went to Piett’s, whose face bore the same expression of shock as his own.
“They’re on self destruct mode,” Piett said.
“Bring them down,” Anakin said. “Maximum fire power, widest possible spread.”
“At once sir!”
All eyes watched anxiously as the enormous fire power of the Executor was unleashed upon the Avenger. Everyone knew what would happen should the vessel self destruct: it would become an enormous bomb capable of taking out half of the planet below it.
Anakin watched in silence as the Avenger was bombarded, reducing it to rubble within moments, killing each and every officer and crewman on board.
“Recall the fighters,” Anakin said, his voice heavy with regret.
“And what of the enemy fighters?” Piett asked. Anakin looked at him, not saying a word.
“Understood sir,” Piett replied. He turned to the weapons officer. “Destroy the rest of the TIE fighters once our men are on board.”
Anakin turned and walked over to where Padmé stood.
“You saved Alderaan again,” she told him. “You did what you had to do to save them.”
Anakin nodded. “I know,” he said. So why do I feel this way? “I’m going to the hangar to meet the men,” he told her, and then walked off the bridge.
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