Remade

[therealthing]

CHAPTER 44


“What did you say?? Are you sure?”

“Yes, quite certain,” the physician replied. “You are pregnant, Mrs. Naberrie.”

Leia turned to her mother, a huge smile on her face. “I can’t believe it!” she exclaimed, hugging Padmé. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I…I didn’t know,” Padmé stammered. “Truly, I didn’t….I didn’t think that at my age…”

“Nonsense,” the physician spoke up. “It is not uncommon at all for a woman in her 40’s to have a child.”

“No, I don’t suppose it is,” Padmé replied. Part of her was thrilled; this was an opportunity for her and Anakin to raise their child, to experience all the precious moments of childhood that they had been robbed of with Luke and Leia. Yet, she was uncertain how Anakin would feel about this unexpected turn of events. She remembered back to the day she had told him that she was pregnant with Luke and Leia, so long ago. He had been so happy, so very excited…..

This is a happy day…the happiest day of my life…

Suddenly Padmé remembered the way Anakin had looked at her when they had said goodbye to one another nearly one month ago. He looked as though he had been told a secret, a marvelous secret; and now she realized what it was. He knew…

“Shall I set up a prenatal visit for you then? Say in a months’ time?”

Padmé looked up at the physician, tearing herself away from her musings. She nodded. “Yes, please do.”




“The emperor and I wish to visit the city while the repairs are being made,” Luke told one of the clones. “Arrange for us to have some local attire so that we may move about the populace unnoticed.”

“At once, my lord,” the clone replied, bowing and then leaving the room.

Luke walked back to his father and sat down with him to finish his meal. “I haven’t been to Mos Espa in years,” he said as he picked up his fork. “Though I’m sure it hasn’t changed much.”

Anakin shook his head. “Probably not since I was a child here,” he agreed. “There will be a lot of changes around here, however, now that the hutt influence has been removed.”

Luke nodded. “About time too,” he put in. “What do you plan to have done with Jabba’s money?”

“Divide among the slaves in his possession,” Anakin replied. “The palace is going to be destroyed just as soon as they round up all the denizens within. Quite a den of inequity I’m sure.”

“No doubt of that,” Luke replied. “His name was synonymous with debauchery and crime for as long as I can remember.”

“Yes, I know what you mean,” Anakin replied, pushing his plate away. “I remember his wife, my mother and I were owned by her. She was incredibly cruel; a truly loathsome creature.”

“I can see why the two of them ended up together then,” Luke quipped with a smile.

“My lord, excuse the interruption…”

Both Anakin and Luke turned to see a clone standing in the doorway.

“What is it?” Anakin asked.

“I have procured some native garb for you,” the clone replied, holding out a bundle of clothing. “Lord Vengeance requested it.”

Anakin nodded. “Very good,” he replied. “Set it down and leave us.”

The clone complied immediately.

“Well son, ready to pay a visit to the locals?” Anakin said, standing up and walking over to the pile of clothes.

Luke smiled, standing up too. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

Anakin held up a beige tunic made of lightweight fabric. “I remember seeing you in something like this on board the Death Star,” he told his son. “I caught only a glimpse of you, but I noticed it at once, realizing that you must have been from Tatooine. Where else would sackcloth be fashionable?”

Luke laughed. “Very true. Come on, I’m looking forward to checking out the place.”

Anakin nodded as he started to disrobe. “Yes, so am I.”

Padmé and Leia arrived back at the Imperial palace in time to sit down to dinner.

“Well?” Han asked as they sat down to join him. “Everything okay?”

Padmé and Leia looked at one another. Padmé had asked Leia not to tell Han, not just yet; and Leia had agreed to honor her wishes.

“Just run down,” Padmé replied, picking up her fork and trying to summon up her appetite. “They gave me some vitamins.”

Han, being male, did not suspect for an instant that there was anything more to it, and simply continued with his meal. “We still on for tonight then?” he asked Leia.

Leia looked at her mother, completely forgetting about the plans that she and Han had made to go into the city that evening.

“Oh, I forgot,” she said. “I’m not sure if we should…Mother shouldn’t really be left alone just now. I mean…”

“Nonsense,” Padmé put in. “I’m fine. You two go on and have a fun time. I’ll probably just turn in early anyway.”

“Are you sure?” Leia asked her concern evident on her face.

Padmé reached over and put her hand on Leia’s. “Yes, completely sure. But thank you for worrying, love.”

Leia smiled. “Okay, if you’re sure.”

“I am. Now let’s eat before this gets cold.”





As Anakin made his way through the crowded dusty streets of Mos Espa with his son, a thousand memories assaulted his mind. Watto’s junk shop, where he met his angel…Jira and her pallie stand…Sebulba and his swaggering…and home…Mom…

“Father?”

Anakin looked at his son, not realizing that Luke had already called him more than once.

“Sorry Luke,” he apologized. “Just lost in a sea of memories.”

Luke nodded. “I’m sure,” he said. “You grew up here, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” Anakin said, stopping as they reached the shop where he had worked for Watto. Was he still alive? Anakin wondered. Toydarians could live to be 70 years of age, he reflected; but Watto didn’t exactly live a clean life.

“That is the place where I met your mother for the first time,” Anakin said at last, nodding in the direction of the shop. “I was 9, and she was 14. I knew the minute I set eyes on her that she would be the love of my life.”

Luke smiled. “That’s an amazing story,” he said. “Mother told us about that day. Where did you live with grandma? Is it around here?”

Anakin nodded. “Yes, not far. Down this way,” he said, walking along the street, passing the same buildings he had passed hundreds of time growing up. When he reached the doorway of the home he had shared with his beloved mother, he stopped, unprepared for the emotional onslaught seeing it again would herald.

“There,” he said softly. “That was where I lived with your grandmother,” he told his son. “I can still see her standing there when I left with Qui-Gon to become a Jedi.”

Will I ever see you again?

What does your heart tell you?

“I wish I’d known her,” Luke said at last, sensing his father’s immense sadness.

Anakin turned and looked at him, a sad smile upon his face. “She was a wonderful, gentle, wise woman,” he told Luke. “And I know that had she lived to know you and your sister, she would have been immensely proud.”

“She would have been proud of you too, Father,” Luke told him.

Anakin frowned. Would she? Would she have been proud of the monster I became? Of the atrocities I spent a life time committing?

“Perhaps,” he said simply. “Come on, let’s go.”

As they made their way back to the centre of town, a woman approached them, and Luke found himself being stared at. And then he realized why.

“Camie??” He asked as the woman got closer.

The woman smiled. “I thought that was you, Wormie,” she replied, putting her arms around Luke to give him a hug.

Wormie?? Anakin questioned his son silently, an amused expression on his face.

Don’t ask, Luke replied, causing Anakin to chuckle.

“What are you doing here?” Camie asked. “I thought you left Tatooine years ago.”

“I did,” Luke replied. “I’m just back for a visit with my father.” He turned to Anakin. “This is my father, Anakin Skywalker. Father, this is an old friend of mine, Camie.”

Anakin nodded his head in her direction. “Nice to meet you, Miss...”

“Lozeozner, and it’s Mrs,” Camie said, showing Luke her wedding band. “Fixer and I got hitched about a year back.”

“Congratulations,” Luke said with a smile. “Can’t say I’m really surprised.”

Camie shrugged. “You gonna be here for the big race? He’ll be there if you want to say hi.”

“What race?” Anakin asked at once.

Camie looked at him. “Pod race, what else?” she replied. “Big one tonight at Boonta Eve. You interested?”

Anakin smiled and looked at his son. “You could say so.”

[therealthing]

CHAPTER 45

“Are you sure you don’t mind if we go out tonight?”

“Why would I mind?” Padmé replied. “Go! I know what it’s like to be young and in love,” she added with a smile.

Leia smiled back, and then gave her mother a hug. “Okay,” she said. “I love you, Mother,” she added.

“I love you too, Leia,” replied Padmé, feeling emotional at the exchange. “Have a nice time.”

Leia left her mother and headed upstairs to get changed for the evening. Padmé considered going to bed, but reasoned that it was far too early, and she would only end up waking up in the middle of the night and start fretting about Anakin and Luke. Instead she returned to her office and continued to work on the notes that she and Leia had made.

“Can I get you something, my lady?”

Padmé looked up to see her protocol droid standing there. “No, thank you,” she replied. As the droid left her, Padmé was reminded of the golden protocol droid that had been her companion during the long weeks without Anakin during the Clone Wars, C3PO. He had an almost human fussiness about him, and it made Padmé think that he was more human than anyone realized. Leia had mentioned that both 3PO and the little astromech that had been Anakin’s companion during many a battle, R2 D2. They had been her and Anakin’s only witnesses at their wedding, 3PO had been the first one who had learned of her pregnancy with Luke and Leia, and had been with her during many other pivotal moments in her life I wonder if they’d know me now, she mused. Not likely... no doubt the memories of both droids had been erased more than once in the ensuing years since Padmé had seen them last so many years ago. Captain Antilles had taken ownership of the two droids; it was Obi-Wan’s belief that a connection would be made between them and Padmé, and so they too were removed from her life for her own protection. Still, part of her missed the quirky protocol droid.

Shaking the painful memories from her mind, Padmé picked up her datapad and set to work.


********************************************
Waves of memories, good memories, struck Anakin as he, Luke and Camie walked through the large entrance of the arena. The seats were already packed with loud, boisterous spectators, anxiously awaiting the last of the contestants to take their place at the starting line. There seemed to be some delay, as some of the spectators were starting to get unruly.

“Wonder what the delay is,” Luke commented.

Anakin shook his head. “One of the lanes is vacant,” he noticed. “Must be mechanical problems.”

“There’s Fixer,” Luke said, pointing at a young dark haired man who was approaching them. “Maybe he knows what’s going on.”

“Is that Luke Skywalker?” Fixer said with a grin as he reached the trio. He held out his hand to Luke and the two shook hands. “Long time no see, kid. What brings you to these parts? I heard you took off two years ago.”

“I did,” Luke replied. “I’m just here for a short time. My father and I will be leaving by nightfall.”

Fixer turned to the man at Luke’s side, surprised to see the resemblance between them.

“I thought your father was dead,” Fixer commented.

“It’s a long story,” Luke replied, smiling in Anakin’s direction. “Fixer, meet Anakin Skywalker, my dad.”

Fixer shook Anakin’s hand. “Did you say Anakin Skywalker??” he asked.

Anakin nodded his head. “That’s correct,” he replied.

“The same Anakin Skywalker who fought in the Clone Wars?”

Anakin nodded again. “You’re too young to remember that time,” he commented.

“My pop told me stories about the wars,” Fixer replied. “Your name came up more than once. I had no idea Wormie here had such a famous dad.”

Anakin smiled at the name again, and looked at his son, whose face bore a mixture of pride and embarrassment.

“So what’s the hold up?” Camie asked, interrupted the conversation.

“Ah, the pilot who was supposed to be in that lane broke a tentacle earlier today,” Fixer replied. “He’s the best one around, too. Guess they’ll have to run the race with one empty lane.”

Luke looked at his father. “Too bad, isn’t it Dad?”

Anakin lifted an eyebrow. “Yes, it is,” he replied. He narrowed his eyes as he realized what his son was suggesting. “Now wait a minute, Luke,” he said, almost as though Luke had made the suggestion audibly.

“Come on!” Luke urged. “You are the only human to ever pod race! Aren’t you just itching to have another shot at it?”

Fixer turned his attention once again to the elder Skywalker. “You pod raced??” he said incredulously. “Are you that kid that I’ve heard stories about??”

Anakin smiled. “I was,” he replied. “A long time ago.”

“But you’re still the greatest pilot around,” Luke countered. “Bar none.”

“You’re very kind to say so Luke,” Anakin replied. “But…”

“The prize money is huge,” Camie put in for good measure. “5000 at least.”

“It’s not the money,” Luke put in, but Anakin interrupted him.

“5000?” he asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Okay, I’ll do it.”

Luke was puzzled by his father’s sudden interest, and even more so that he would care about money. As emperor he had more wealth than anyone in the galaxy; why would the thought of a measly 5000 credits mean anything to him?

“Come on this way,” Fixer said, taking Anakin by the arm. “I’ll introduce you to the owner of the pod racer. I’m sure when he learns who you are, he’ll be more than willing to let you race.”

************************************************
Padmé was just about to turn in for the night when she heard someone out in the hall. Reasoning that it was Han and Leia home from their evening out, she called out to them.

“Leia? You’re home early,” she called, but there was no response. She frowned, figuring that her daughter hadn’t heard her. I hope they haven’t been fighting again, she thought, reflecting on the stormy relationship her daughter had with Han Solo. She had been witness to more than one scrap between the two of them, feeling terribly uncomfortable to do so. That’s probably what happened, she reasoned. They had a row and have come home early.

Padmé put her datapad away and stood up to leave the room, when she heard someone approaching the office. A female, uniformed imperial officer appeared in the doorway, one whom Padmé did not recognize.

“Padmé Amidala?” the officer asked.

Padmé frowned at the woman’s familiarity but did not comment. “Who are you and what are you doing here in my home at such a late hour?”

“I’ve come to return something to you,” the woman answered, gesturing outside the door for someone to come forward. Padmé watched in astonishment as the very droids she had been thinking of earlier that evening appeared.

“Threepio??” she asked. “R2?? What…I don’t understand...” she began, and then a feeling of unease started to blossom within her. Those droids were last in the possession of the Rebel Alliance...

“What do you want?” Padmé asked, taking a step back from the woman, moving towards the security alarm located on the underside of her desk. “And don’t try to tell me that you’re an imperial officer either, for I don’t believe it.”

“Don’t take another step,” the woman said quietly, drawing her weapon. “If you summon security, your daughter and her companion are as good as dead.”

Padmé’s eyes grew wide. “What??!” she exclaimed.

The woman nodded. “I have three associates who have been following them since they left here earlier tonight,” she told Padmé. “And all I need to do is give the word and they will act. So unless you want your precious princess harmed, you’ll do exactly as I say.” She turned to the droids. “Beat it.” She said curtly.

“How rude!” Threepio declared as he and R2 left the room.

“What do you want from me?” Padmé asked, fighting to remain calm, even though she realized the gravity of her situation. “Who are you?”

“You want to know who I am?” the woman asked, her eyes reflecting her anger suddenly. “I’m the widow of one of the pilots you and your family blasted into oblivion a few weeks ago. You remember that, your majesty??”

No, I don’t…I slept through the whole thing... Padmé wanted to tell her, but realized that would not be wise. “I’m sorry,” she said instead.

“Spare me,” the woman retorted. “Now let’s go. Your presence is kindly requested on the command ship, my lady,” she said with a sarcastic tone. “And if you don’t come along quietly, you know what will happen.”

Padmé nodded. Yes, I know... she reflected grimly, knowing that this woman would gladly kill Leia and Han in revenge for the loss of her husband.

“I won’t give you any trouble,” she said as she approached the woman.

“Smart lady. Let’s go.”

[therealthing]

CHAPTER 46

“You’re the Anakin Skywalker who won the Boonta Eve Classic? The only human to ever do it?”

Anakin nodded. “That’s me,” he replied.

“You think you remember how to operate one of these babies?” the owner of the pod racer asked.

Anakin looked at the racer. It was configured differently than the racers he’d raced, but that didn’t concern him. “Yes,” he replied simply. It’s not a matter of remembering, he thought to himself. It’s second nature.

“Well, what have I go to lose?” the man remarked. “I’m already out the enrollment fee if I forfeit the race. So go ahead. If you win, I’ll give you 20% of the prize money.”

Anakin frowned. “No, you’ll give me 80%,” he said, using the Force to manipulate the man’s mind.

“Make that 80%,” the man corrected himself.

Anakin smiled and looked at his son. “In that case, you have a deal.”



Han and Leia arrived back at the palace shortly after midnight. They were not expecting to see Padmé up, due to the lateness of the hour. What they did not expect was to see two familiar droids in the great hall.

“Mistress Leia, Captain Solo!” Threepio exclaimed upon seeing them. “I’m so happy to see you!”

Leia became alarmed immediately, sensing that something was wrong, very wrong. “Threepio, how did you get here??”

“We were delivered brought here by a rather rude young woman,” the droid replied. “She had the most atrocious manners, and...”

“Who was she?” Han asked, cutting off the droid’s commentary.

“A member of the Alliance, I presume,” Threepio replied. “Although she wore an Imperial uniform, and we arrived here in an Imperial shuttle,” he added. “So I’m not entirely certain...”

“Where is my mother?” Leia asked, realizing all of a sudden what was going on.

“Your mother, princess??” Threepio asked.

“Yes, my mother!!” Leia cried, becoming frantic. “Where is she??”

She ran into the office, looked around briefly and saw that her mother’s work had not been filed away. That is not like her. Leia thought anxiously. She’s meticulous about such things. Leia left the office and rejoined Han and the droids.

“She’s not there,” she replied. “I’m going to look upstairs”

“Wait, sweetheart,” Han said, taking her arm. “R2 can do a scan to locate her faster than you can look in every room.” He turned to the little droid. “Scan for…no, wait, he can’t,” he realized in frustration. “He would have no idea what to look for.”

R2 beeped in response.

“What did he say?” Leia asked.

“I don’t know where he gets his delusions,” Threepio commented petulantly. “He claims to know your mother, Princess Leia,” he continued, shaking his head. “Honestly R2D2, where do you get your…”

“You know my mother?” Leia asked R2, completely ignoring the protocol droid. “How??”

R2 replied in a string of beeps and whistles. Leia looked to Threepio for the translation.

“He says that he has known her since she was a child and that he…”

“Never mind the details right now,” Han interjected impatiently. “Just scan for her!”

R2 complied at once, and then replied in a short burst of beeps that required no translation. She wasn’t to be found.

“I’m afraid R2’s sensors can find no trace of Padmé,” Threepio translated.

Leia turned to Han. “They took her,” she said, anger filling her. “Mon Mothma is behind this, I’m sure of it!! If any harm comes to my mother, Mothma will pay for it, I swear to you.”

Han was unnerved by Leia’s declaration. He knew she had a temper, but this was different. This was…dark.

“Now don’t jump to any conclusions, sweetheart,” Han said, taking her by the shoulders. “Mon Mothma may be a lot of things, but she’s not violent. She wouldn’t do anything to harm your mother, it’s not her way.”

“Han, there’s something you don’t know,” Leia replied. “Mother is pregnant. She only found out a few days ago.”

Han’s eyes widened at this disclosure. This changes everything, he reflected. “We’d better let your father know,” he said.

Leia nodded. “Yes, I can only imagine how angry he will be,” she replied, frowning at the thought of her father’s reaction.

“You do that, and I’ll find out what I can from golden rod here about the location of the rebel fleet,” Han responded. “Don’t worry, Leia,” he added. “We’ll find her.”

Leia made no reply, but left the room to contact her father. You’ll rue the day you messed with this family, Mothma, she thought to herself. You have no idea who you are dealing with.



Anakin had almost forgotten the thrill of being at the controls of a pod racer. It had been many years since he had last raced, but it took him no time to familiarize himself with the configuration of the new machine at his control. He adjusted the helmet, readying himself as the start of the race approached. As he focused on the Force, he felt a tremor, a surge of negative emotions; but before he had a chance to determine where it was coming from, the starting signal was heard. He hit the accelerator and jumped out to an early lead, handling the pod as though it was an extension of him.

Luke sat with Camie and Fixer in the stands, watching as his father burst out of the starting line. He too had sensed a negative surge of energy in the Force, but unlike Anakin, he could focus on its origin. Leia… Luke was troubled to discover this, and wondered what was happening. What is wrong Leia?? What is going on?? He asked her, hoping that even at this distance she would hear him in her mind. But the only response he got was a surge of anger, a surge of darkness that frightened him. What has happened that is causing her to feel this way? Luke wondered.

“Your dad is incredible,” Fixer commented as Anakin’s podracer sped past, lapping the other racers easily. “Now I know where you get if from, Luke.”

Luke wasn’t really listening, his mind preoccupied with the negative feeling he sensed in his sister, worrying about what had her so upset.

"Luke? You okay, kid?”

Luke looked at Fixer. “Uh, yeah, I’m fine,” he said, returning his attention to the race. “He’s quite the pilot, isn’t he?” he remarked with a smile, the pride evident in his face.

Fixer nodded. “Yeah, sure is. I guess he was a real hero in the wars too; you must be proud to be his kid.”

“I am,” Luke replied at once. “Very proud.”

Anakin could sense the racer in the next lane getting closer, and hit the accelerator harder, draining for all it could give. He knew the route like the back of his hand, every turn, every dip and dive. Now that he was a parent himself, however, he realized why his mother was so worried every time he raced; he would feel the same way if one of his children were to get it into their mind that they waited to race. He smiled as he thought of Padmé, wondering if she had found out yet what he had suspected before he left. Another child…this time we will raise him, or her; this time I’ll get it right.

“I heard a rumor that they were going to outlaw these races,” Camie commented as Anakin’s racer sped past in a blur for the penultimate lap. “Too many accidents or something like that.”

“Well they are pretty dangerous,” Fixer replied. “I’ve seen a few bastards get fried out there. Oops, sorry kid,” he added, turning to Luke. “I don’t think you need to worry about your dad.”

Luke smiled. “No, I don’t think so either.” At least not when it comes to racing anyway.

“That was one hell of a race,” Fixer said, shaking Anakin’s hand. “Not even close!”

Anakin smiled, wiping the sweat and dirt from his face. “Thanks,” he replied. “It was fun.”

“Anakin Skywalker? Is that really you??”

Anakin turned to see a tall, dark haired man approaching him. There was something about the eyes that looked familiar. No, it can’t be…

“Kitster??” Anakin asked in surprise.

Kitster broke into a huge grin when he saw that it was indeed Anakin. “Wow, I never expected to see you on this dust heap again!”

Anakin laughed. “Well, it has been while since I’ve been here,” he replied. “I’m here with my son,” he added, turning to Luke. “This is my son, Luke,” he told Kitster. “Luke, meet Kitster, one of my childhood friends.”

Luke extended a hand to the man. “Nice to meet you,” he said.

Kitster nodded. “Wow, you sure look like you’re father,” he commented. “I had no idea you had a son, Ani. When did all that happen?”

"Well, Luke is 21,” Anakin replied. “So you do the math.”

Kitster grinned. “I guess you were keeping busy all these years then, weren’t you?”

Yes, far too busy…Anakin reflected.

“What about you?” Anakin asked. “Married? Kids?”

Kitster nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got 4 daughters,” he replied with a smile. “My wife and I run a shelter for orphans. It’s pretty hard work, there never seems to be enough to go around.”

“I’m sure,” Anakin replied. “There have always been a lot of needy people here.”

“You on Tatooine for long?” Kitster asked.

Anakin shook his head. “No, we’re leaving within the next hour,” he replied. “I wasn’t exactly planning on racing this afternoon,” he added with a smile.

“Well you’re still a hell of a pod racer,” Kitster replied. “Even without me in the pit.”

Anakin grinned.

“Well, here’s your winnings,” the owner of the pod racer as he approached the small group. He handed Anakin an envelope full of money. “Sure I can’t talk you into sticking around for next week’s race? You’re a sure thing.”

“No, I’m afraid not,” Anakin replied, taking the envelope. “But thanks for the offer. My son and I need to get going now.” He turned to Kitster. “Here, take this money,” he said. “I want you to use this to help out those orphans.”

Kitster’s eyes grew wide as he accepted the money. “That is really generous of you, Ani,” he said. “This will go a long way, thanks. Thanks a lot.”

Anakin smiled. “It’s been good to see you again,” he said, putting a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I wish I could stay longer to meet your family, but we need to go.”

“I wish you could too,” Kitster replied. “But it was great seeing you. Try to get back this way once in a while, will you? Next time bring the wife.”

Anakin grinned. “Deal.” He turned to Luke and his friends. “Time to go, son. It was good to meet you both.”

“Same here,” Fixer replied, shaking Anakin’s hand.

Luke bade goodbye to his friends as well, inwardly feeling anxious to be alone with his father so he could tell him of the disturbance he had felt in the Force. No doubt Anakin had felt it as well. Luke only hoped that whatever it was, it had nothing to do with his mother; she had been central to Anakin’s fall to the Dark Side all those years ago, and Luke knew that his father was extremely protective of her. No, it’s probably just another fight with Han, Luke reasoned, trying not to think the worst. Leia’s temper is incredibly volatile.



“The repairs are all finished, my lords,” a clone told them as Anakin and Luke entered the ship.

“Good,” Anakin replied. “Prepare to take off right away.”

“There is a message waiting for you, Lord Vader,” the clone added. “Priority from Coruscant.”

Anakin turned to Luke. “You know I felt something earlier, Luke,” he said with a frown as they made their way inside. “A disturbance in the force…I couldn’t focus on it because the race began.”

“I felt it too,” Luke told his father. “It’s Leia. She’s angry, Father, very angry.”

“What is she angry about?” Anakin wondered aloud as he sat down at the comm. screen. He activated the screen and called up the message. A holographic image flickered into view. Anakin and Luke’s sense of alarm increased when they saw the image of Leia before them.

Father, Luke, there’s no easy way to tell you this. Mother had been abducted by the Rebel Alliance. They used Threepio and R2 D2 to get past the security, claiming that they were returning them to Mother. Han and I have located the fleet, but we will wait until we hear from you before we take any action. Leia paused for a moment before continuing. There’s more; Mother is pregnant. She found out a few days ago. Please contact me as soon as you get this message, Father.

Luke and Anakin sat in silence as they digested the sobering message. Luke could feel the anger in his father, boiling up inside of him.

“I’ll try to reach Leia now,” Luke said at last.

Anakin made no reply, and his silence was alarming to Luke.

They have Padmé…they have my pregnant wife…if any harm comes to either of them, may the Force protect them from my vengeance…

“Luke? Luke is that you?”

“Hi Leia,” Luke replied when he saw his sister’s image appear. “We just got your message. What else can you tell us?”

Leia shook her head. “Nothing,” she replied. “No message was left, nor have we received any since.”

“We’re coming home, Leia,” Anakin spoke up at last, his voice eerily calm. “I will not allow this heinous act to go unpunished.”

Leia nodded. “Nor will I,” she concurred. “How soon will you be here?”

“As soon as possible, even if we have to blow the ship apart to get it there,” Anakin replied.

“We’ll see you soon then,” Leia replied, replied that her father was coming to deal with this. They’ll soon regret their actions when they have to face his wrath...she reflected with grim satisfaction. You’ll be sorry you messed with my family, Mon Mothma; I’ll make sure of that.

Anakin stood up as Leia’s image faded from sight. He picked up his cloak and threw it on to hide his face.

“Father, I know you’re angry,” Luke began tentatively, sensing the Darkness swirling around his father’s aura. “But please don’t give into hate...”

Anakin turned sharply to look at his son. “Don’t tell me what to do, Luke,” he snapped. “You’ve never loved a woman; you don’t know what it’s like to feel the way I do right now. You’re mother is a part of me; she is in my very soul, Luke. I swear to you, if they harm her, or the child she carries, I won’t rest until every last one of them pays for it.” He swept out of the room to head for the cockpit, leaving his son feeling terrified and anxious. Please don’t leave us again, Father, Luke thought desperately. Please don’t let the Darkness win again.

[therealthing]

CHAPTER 47

Padmé fought against the nausea that she had woken up with every morning for the past few weeks. The last thing she needed was to give her captor another weapon to use against her. No, I must be strong…I mustn’t show them how frightened I am…She thought about Anakin, and wondered if he knew yet, wondered if Leia had put it together what had happened. Of course she will, she’s a brilliant young woman...Padmé thought, her throat tightening at the thought of the conversation she’d had with Leia the previous day. Despite the fact that they had spent a lifetime apart, Padmé felt as close to her grown children now as though they had been with her since their birth. And now there is another one, she thought, putting her hand on her abdomen.

“We’ve dropped out of light speed.”

Padmé looked up to see the woman who had abducted her enter the small hold. She merely nodded in response.

“What does the Alliance want with me?” she asked.

“I guess you’ll find out soon enough, won’t you?” the woman asked.

“If your leaders don’t’ realize the ramifications of this abduction, then they must truly be fools,” she said.

The woman smirked. “And if you and your husband think they are going to dupe the galaxy with this pretense of good will, then it is you who are the fools.”

Padmé shook her head. “You know nothing about me or my husband,” she replied angrily. “None of you do.”

“I think we do,” the woman replied. “We’re almost there, prepare yourself.”

Padmé watched her leave, her sense of unease growing the closer they came to the Rebel fleet. Ani, help me!


****************************************

“ETA to Coruscant?” Anakin demanded.

The pilot jumped in his seat at the sound of the emperor’s voice. “Uh, less than 3 hours, sir,” he replied.

“Not good enough,” Anakin barked. “Push that hyperdrive until it bleeds, do you hear me? I want to be there in one hour. Understood?”

“But sir, the engines won’t take that…”

“Don’t tell me what the engines will or will not do,” Anakin retorted angrily. “I designed this model; I know what the engines can bloody well do!!”

“Yes, sir, of course, sir,” the pilot replied. “I’ll push it for all she’s got.”

“One hour. No less.”

**********************************************

Leia paced up and down in the great hall of the palace, unable to do anything but worry as they waited for Anakin and Luke to arrive. Han had tried to get her to get some sleep, to have something to eat; but Leia flatly refused. Han knew better than to argue with her; besides, he was as concerned as Leia as he was about Padmé. He had never seen her like this. Usually when Leia was angry she shouted, she fumed, she stormed; but there was an eerie calm to her demeanor that alarmed Han. He didn’t know what would happen should something befall Padmé; he didn’t want to think about it.

“Mistress Leia, they’ve arrived,” Threepio announced as he and R2D2 entered the hall.

Leia looked over at Han briefly and then ran to the entranceway of the private tunnel that leads to the landing platform. It wasn’t long before Anakin, Luke and Chewbacca emerged.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Leia said as she embraced Anakin tightly. Just being in his embrace made her feel better; but she sensed a change in him since the last time she’d seen him. She pulled back and looked at him. “Father?”

“Where is she, Leia?” Anakin asked his voice full of barely restrained anger. “Where are those bastards who took her?”

“Sullust,” Han spoke up. “They’re in the Sullust System”

Anakin looked up at Han and nodded. “Then we shall make for the Sullust System. We will leave in 30 minutes.” He left the room and headed upstairs, leaving Han, Luke and Leia to watch him.

“I’m worried about him, Leia,” Luke told his twin.

Leia turned and looked at him. “He’s very angry, Luke,” she replied. “It’s to be expected. We’re all angry.”

Luke shook his head. “You don’t understand,” he replied. “Anger in him can be dangerous.”

Han frowned. “What do you mean, kid? Dangerous for the idiots who took his wife? Damn right it is.”

“No, I mean the Dark Side, Han,” Luke replied. “He has never completely let go of the darkness, not entirely. This could push him back into the darkness; undo all that he has accomplished in the past 3 months.”

“Don’t say that, Luke,” Leia said, his words unnerving her. “Don’t even suggest that we could lose him again!”

“We have to make sure we don’t, Leia,” Luke replied. “We have to make sure this doesn’t destroy him all over again.”

Leia only nodded, knowing that her brother was right. She only hoped that the Rebel Alliance wasn’t foolish enough to harm Padmé, for if they did, they would know incur wrath unlike anything they had ever known. The wrath of the Sith.

***********************************************
Flanked by two guards, Padmé walked through the same corridors that she had walked through seemingly such a short time ago with Anakin and Han. But both Anakin and Han were light years away, and unable to help her.

“Right this way, your majesty,” one of the guards said as they stopped at a door. Padmé waited for the door to open, and then proceeded inside, prodded by her armed escort. Once inside she saw her one time friend, Mon Mothma, sitting alone at a long table. She was surprised that she was alone, and wondered where the other leaders she had seen the last time she had been here were. Were they unaware that she was here? Had Mon Mothma acted alone in this? It didn’t seem likely, but the absence of any of the other leaders was highly irregular, and it made Padmé wonder if there was some dissention among the leaders of the Rebel Alliance.

“So nice of you to come,” Mon Mothma said, not trying to hide her acrimony. “Please, sit.”

Padmé took the seat that the guard pulled out for her, facing Mothma unflinchingly. “You have a lot of nerve,” she said without preamble. “If you think you’re going to get away with this...”

“Spare me your noble protestations, my lady,” Mon Mothma interjected. “You have a great deal of explaining to do, and you know it.”

Padmé lifted her eyebrows. “Do I?” she asked. “I think you are the one who need to do some explaining. You can begin by telling me where your comrades are.”

Mon Mothma was surprised by the question, and did not respond right away.

“They know nothing about this, do they?” Padmé asked.

“Of course they do,” Mon Mothma replied at once. “You think rather highly of yourself to think that all the leaders of the Rebel Alliance will all be here to welcome you..,” she added rather sarcastically.

Padmé knew Mon Mothma well enough to know that she was bluffing, and smiled. “I have no such arrogance,” she replied mildly. “I just assumed that since I am such a dangerous enemy that your entire staff would be here to interrogate me,” she countered, a touch of sarcasm in her voice.

Mon Mothma became angry with Padmé’s calm demeanor, for she had hoped that Padmé’s fear alone would be enough to coax the information from her. Obviously it would not.

“So tell me, Padmé,” Mothma continued, doing her utmost to match Padmé’s coolness. “Why is it a former senator of the Republic and a champion of democracy is now the consort of the Galactic Emperor? And don’t try to deny it; obviously we figured out your game.”

“Game? Is that what you think this is?” Padmé retorted, her dark eyes flashing angrily for a moment.

“I have no idea what this is,” Mon Mothma countered. “I was hoping you could enlighten me.”

Padmé was about to speak when the door behind her opened. She turned and saw two men enter, two of the other leaders she had seen the last time she had been here. Judging by the shocked looks on their faces, they did not know that she was here. Until now.

“Gentlemen, I believe you know our illustrious empress,” Mon Mothma said.

Generals Reikan and Dodonna approached the table, their expressions changing from shock to anger as they realized that Mon Mothma had gone over their heads.

“My lady, are you alright?” Dodonna asked, sitting down beside her.

Padmé frowned. “Why are you asking me that? Surely my well being was the furthest thing from your mind when you sent a hired gun to abduct me from my home.”

“I assure you, my lady, that we were very much against this idea,” Reikan spoke up, glaring at Mon Mothma. “Obviously our misgivings were ignored.”

“Enough,” Mothma snapped. “We have been through all this, and now is not the time to rehash it all.”

“The hell it isn’t,” Dodonna growled. “You’ve abducted the wife of the emperor! You’ve brought down the Empire on our heads! Don’t you realize that??”

Padmé sat back, watching the three of them bickering. Incredible, she thought. No wonder the Alliance has never managed to accomplish anything.

“We can at least agree on one thing,” Mothma said at last, looking back at Padmé. “That we have a lot of questions, and that you, Padmé, are the best one to give them to us.”

“Why me?” Padmé asked. “My husband could tell you what you need to know. Why is it you sent someone to abduct me and not him? Much easier to bully a woman than a Jedi knight, isn’t it? You cowards,” she spat. “You have no idea what Anakin and I are doing, no faith whatsoever that we are doing what is best for the galaxy. All you can see it black and white, the Empire has always been evil, and so anyone who is a part of it is evil by association. You don’t have the vision or the intellect to see that there is more to things than you know.”

“Perhaps you could explain it to us then,” Reikan suggested gently. “That is all we want, my lady; I assure you. We don’t understand any of this, including your children’s defection.”

Padmé shook her head. “Defection?? Is that what you call wanting to be with their parents? They have done nothing to merit your distrust, and yet you treated them like traitors!! My son destroyed the Empire’s Death Star single handedly, my daughter stole the plans to enable him to do it; and yet you still mistrust them simply because of who their father is. And now you expect me to explain what we are doing, what are plans are. Well I won’t do it,” she said firmly. “I won’t jeopardize what my family is working so hard to achieve by revealing to you, who are so petty and narrow minded that you’d probably ruin everything.”

“You sound just like one of them, you know that?” Mothma retorted. “You truly are an imperial now, Padmé; I can’t believe it. You, of all people! You seem to forget the matter of two Alliance pilots being killed,” she added. “How else can you explain that except that you have embraced the imperial philosophy as your own?”

“Now Mothma, you are being rather harsh,” Dodonna spoke up. “This is not an interrogation! Stop treating her as though she were a prisoner!”

“She is the wife of Darth Vader,” Mon Mothma countered. “How would you like me to treat her?”

“We’ve been through this, Mothma,” Reikan said, getting frustrated with his comrade’s attitude. “You’re only asking for trouble if you carry on this way.”

Padmé had stopped listening to what they were saying, for she had begun to grow alarmed by a nagging dull ache in her pelvic area. No…don’t let anything happen to my baby…please…

“Padmé are you listening to anything we are saying?” Mon Mothma asked in exasperation.

Padmé looked up at her, the anxiety within her growing. “I…I think I need to see a doctor.”

************************************************

“Here, I want you to have this,” Anakin said to Leia.

She looked down at his hand to see what she recognized as a lightsaber. “You want me to have this?” she asked in amazement as she took the weapon from his hand.

Anakin nodded. “Yes,” he replied. “I made this a few weeks ago, before Luke and I left for the Outer Rim. I was hoping that you would show an interest in learning the Jedi arts, and so I took the liberty of making this for you. Normally a padawan would make her own, but…”

“I can’t believe you did this for me,” Leia said, cutting him off. She examined the weapon reverently, almost afraid to touch it. She knew the power it harnessed, and was more than a little awed by it.

“Here,” Anakin said, standing up and holding his hand out to her. “Let me show you how to use it.”

Leia stood up and assumed the stance as her father instructed. This feels right, she thought as she held the saber in the classic Shii-Cho stance.

“Very good,” Anakin said with a smile. “You’re a natural.” He took out his own saber and proceeded to teach her a few rudimentary steps, how to parry, how to lunge, how not to cut off her own head with the blade.

“Pretty good with that thing, Leia,” Luke said as he entered the room.

Leia looked up and smiled at him. “Yeah, well, I have a good teacher,” she said, looking at Anakin.

“You think this is necessary, Father?” Luke asked.

“Of course,” Anakin said, looking back at Leia. “She is a natural, just as you are. It’s about time she had her own lightsaber.”

“No, I don’t mean that,” Luke said. “I mean, right now. Do you think that we will be forced to use our weapons? Do you anticipate things getting violent?”

Anakin frowned. “I don’t want them to be,” he replied honestly. “But let’s be honest, Luke. It’s highly likely that we will have a fight on our hands once we get there.”

"I agree,” Leia said, slashing through the air with her new saber. “They’re not going to get away with this, Luke.”

Luke frowned, concerned not only for his father now, but also his sister. She and Anakin were so alike; their anger equally volatile.

“Of course not,” Luke said at last. “But there are solutions that don’t require fighting. As Jedi we have to find those solutions.”

Anakin nodded, realizing that his son was right. His mind told him so, but his heart told him something else entirely. Padmé is in danger…Padmé is carrying my child…if they hurt her, if they hurt them; I will not hesitate to exact my revenge…

“We’ve reached the Sullust System,” Han said as he entered the hold. “Show time.”

Anakin looked back at his children. “Yes, so it is.” Hold on Padmé, we’re almost there.

[therealthing]

CHAPTER 48

Chewbacca hated being left behind. He knew that the palace needed protection, and that the Skywalkers were on a personal mission; yet that didn’t make him feel any better. He wanted to do something, anything, to help; and sitting here was not helping. What made matters worse was the presence of the irritating protocol droid he had been only too happy to leave behind at the Rebel fleet. Just great thought the wookiee when he, Han and the Big Skywalker had first arrived home. The droid, of course, had been overjoyed to see all its friends and had done nothing but prattle on about every single detail of his existence since they had last been all together. The thought of shutting him down completely had crossed Chewbacca’s mind more than once; but he didn’t have the heart to do it. Besides, as much as he hated to admit it, there was something comforting about having a familiar voice around, no matter how annoying that voice was.

“R2D2, when will you ever stop trying to impress everyone with your exaggerated tales?” Chewbacca heard Threepio telling the astromech droid. “A sea monster? It ate you? Indeed!”

R2 responded with an interrogative series of beeps and whistles. Chewbacca was certain that he had detected a hint of condescension in the droid’s tone.

“No, I have not been to the planet Dagobah,” Threepio retorted. “But that doesn’t mean that….”

Chewbacca cut him off. “You’ve been to Dagobah recently?” he asked R2D2.

R2 responded in the affirmative. Chewbacca began to get an idea. “Was Master Jedi Yoda still there?”

Threepio translated the little droids response. “Yes, he was there,” Threepio told the wookiee. “He was training Master Luke. Do you know this Jedi Master, Chewbacca?”

Chewbacca ignored him, as the wheels in his furry head began to turn. Yoda was the only remaining Jedi to have survived the Jedi purges. He had been one of the greatest Jedi of his time. If anyone could sort out this mess, he could.

“Where are you going?” Threepio asked, following Chewbacca as he left the room.

”I’m going to Dagobah,” Chewbacca responded. “And you’re not coming.”

Threepio stopped in his tracks. “Well!” he exclaimed, watching the retreating wookiee.

****************************************************

“Father, can I talk to you?”

Anakin looked up at his son. “Of course,” he replied. “Sit down.”

Luke took a seat across from his father, not even sure where to begin.

“Father, I’m worried,” Luke began without preamble.

“We’re all worried, Luke,” Anakin replied. “But I’m not about to let any harm come to your mother or your brother.”

“Brother??” Luke asked. “You know that the baby is a boy?”

Anakin nodded. “Yes,” he replied with a smile. “So set your mind at ease.”

“Father, I’m worried about you as well,” Luke replied. “About what this crisis is doing to you. I’m sensing such anger, such …darkness in you that it frightens me. I’m worried that you may slip back to the Dark Side.”

Anakin frowned. “I am angry, Luke,” he replied. “There’s no doubt of that. But can you blame me?”

“No, of course not!” Luke replied. “I’m angry too; we’re all angry and worried about Mother. But that isn’t what I’m talking about, and I think you know it. I’m talking about seeing glimpses of Darth Vader in you. I know how much you love Mother, and I also know it was the fear of losing her that pushed you to the Dark Side all those years ago. I…I don’t want to lose you, Father,” Luke said, his desperation clear in his eyes. “None of us could stand to lose you again.”

Anakin could see how afraid his son was, and realized that he was right; the Dark Side had been beckoning him, taunting him lately, he could not deny it. He had entertained thoughts of vengeance, of violent retribution since finding out about Padmé’s abduction; thoughts like that were what lead him to the Dark Side so many years ago. I cannot let that happen again…never.

“You’re right,” Anakin said at last. “I’m sorry Luke, I’m sorry for the way I lashed out at you on Tatooine. I know you are concerned, and I know that were it not for you anchoring me right now I may already have slipped back.” He put a hand on his son’s arm. “I promise you that I will not give in to the negative feelings that I have been experiencing lately. I swear to you that I will not let the Darkness within me win.”

Luke smiled. “That means a lot to me, Father,” he said. “I want you to know that I am with you in this fight, and will do everything I can to help you win it.”

Anakin smiled. “You are a true Jedi, Luke,” he said, pride and love filling him. “What would I do without you?”

“Let’s hope we never have to find out,” Luke replied.

*****************************************

“Any idea how to get on board?” Han asked as they approached the Rebel command ship.

"Leave it to me,” Anakin replied.

Han vacated the pilot’s seat and allowed Anakin to take over. He, Luke and Leia watched with baited breath as Anakin used the Force to manipulate their way into the hangar bay of the command ship.

“Still don’t believe in the Force, Han?” Luke asked with a smile.

Han shrugged. “Can’t argue with results like that,” he replied begrudgingly. “Let’s just see how long the trick lasts.”


The four of them entered the command ship and immediately sought out a com screen.

“According to this, Mother is on board,” Leia reported. But the next piece of information stopped her cold. She turned to her father, her dark eyes full of angst. “She’s in the medical wing.”

Anakin felt his entire body tense at this news. He looked at Luke, fighting to keep his word, to keep the dark side that beckoned to him.

“Take us to her,” Anakin told his daughter at last.

Leia nodded. “This way,” she said, setting off down the corridor.

****************************************************

Padmé had been brought to the small medical facility on the command ship, where she had been examined by the resident physician there. Her symptoms had subsided, but the doctor wanted to keep her for observation regardless. She had been given something to help her sleep, and had been sleeping for nearly an hour when Mon Mothma entered the room.

“How is she?” she asked the medical droid who was present in the room at the time.

“She is resting,” it replied.

“And the child?” Mothma asked.

“He is stable,” it answered.

Mothma breathed a sigh of relief. She’d had no idea that Padmé was pregnant.

“Is the child out of danger?” she asked the droid.

“It is too early to say,” the droid replied. “If the symptoms do not recur within the next 24 hours I would say so. But until then, we have to consider his life to be tenuous, and prevent his mother from any further stress.”

Mon Mothma nodded her understanding, a pang of guilt hitting her hard as she realized that the stress the droid was referring to was brought on by her. If I’d known she was pregnant…would I have done anything different? The fate of the galaxy is hanging in the balance…is the life of one child worth more than the well being of an entire galaxy?

“Yes, it is.”

Mon Mothma turned around quickly and was astonished to see Anakin Skywalker standing in the door, flanked by his two children and Han Solo.

“What…what did you say?” she stammered stupidly, too shocked to say anything else.

Anakin walked towards her, keeping a tight rein on his emotions, on the anger that threatened to erupt from him at any moment. “I said yes, the life of one child is worth more than the well being of a galaxy,” he said, seeing how shocked she was that he had been able to read her thoughts so effortlessly. “When that child is hers and mine.”

Mon Mothma’s eyes darted from Anakin to Luke, then to Leia. Each of them was watching her, various levels of anger in their eyes. It was Leia who frightened her most however; she had never seen the princess so full of hatred.

“How did you get on board this ship?” Mothma asked at last, finding her wits.

“Seems a little irrelevant since we’re on board, doesn’t it?” asked Han.

“You have the nerve to ask us what we are doing here after sending someone to kidnap our mother?” Leia asked angrily. “After abducting a pregnant woman at blaster point??”

“I didn’t know she was pregnant,” Mon Mothma replied. “I only found out just now.”

“The fact that she is pregnant only exacerbates the situation,” Anakin said. “You abducted my wife, the mother of my children. I am not going to let you get away with that, Mothma.” He turned to Han. “Take her,” he said, stepping over to the bed where Padmé was asleep.

“Where are you taking me?” Mon Mothma asked as Han took her by the arm.

“It only seems fitting that you be our guest, don’t’ you think?” Leia replied, turning to face Mothma. “After all the kind hospitality you have extended to my family.”

Mon Mothma shook her head. “You are truly your father’s daughter now, aren’t you Princess?” she replied.

“Why thank you,” Leia replied, smiling broadly. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me!” She looked up at Han. “Take her away,” she said.

“With pleasure,” Han replied. “Let’s go, commander.”

Anakin stood at Padmé’s side, concentrating on the tiny life within her. To his relief, the fetus seemed healthy and thriving, his Force signature already unmistakable, even at this early stage of life. Anakin found himself growing emotional as he connected with his unborn son, his heart already full of love for the child.

“Is she alright?” Luke asked as he and Leia came to stand by Anakin’s side.

Anakin nodded. “Yes,” he replied softly. “They both are.” He looked up at Luke and Leia. “Your brother is beautiful,” he said with a smile. “So beautiful.”

Leia smiled, amazed. “You can see him?” he asked.

Anakin looked down at Padmé. “No, not in the way you mean,” he replied. “It’s his…spirit, I suppose you’d say, that I can see, that I can sense. His Force presence,” he explained. “It reminds me of yours, Luke” he added, looking back up at his son.

“Something’s going on out there,” Leia said, looking over at the door suddenly, a frown on her face. “Han is in trouble!” she ran to the door, grabbing her lightsaber from her belt as she did so.

“Leia, wait!” Luke cried, running after her.

Leia’s instincts were correct, for in the corridor Han was indeed in trouble. He was trying desperately to hold off a group of rebel guards who had been alerted to the presence of intruders aboard the ship. Leia jumped into the melee, deflecting the blasts with her lightsaber, surprising herself with the innate skill she seemed to possess. Soon Luke joined her, and in a moment the two Skywalker twins had turned the tide of the battle, driving back the enemy fire and enabling Han to get to get out of harm’s way.

“You get to the ship,” Luke told his twin. “I’ll get rid of the rest of them.”

“Right,” Leia said, running down the corridor in the direction Han had taken. She rounded the corridor and stopped dead in her tracks. Han was slumped against a wall, holding a hand up to blood soaked shoulder.

“Han!!” she cried as she rushed over to him. His face was pale when she reached up, and she grabbed his arms as he started to lose consciousness and slip down to the floor.

“What happened??” she cried, easing him to the floor, trying to keep calm, trying not to let the terror within her drive her mad.

“She…she had a weapon...” he muttered. “I didn’t even suspect…”

“Where is she Han? Where did she go?” Leia asked, her fear quickly being replaced by anger.

“I don’t know,” he said, his voice barely audible as his ability to remain conscious slipped away.

Leia took off her jacket and tore a strip of fabric from it, fashioning a crude tourniquet for Han’s wound. It was nasty looking, but she reasoned that it was far enough away from any vital organs not too be fatal. Yet, the thought of him in pain, the thought of him suffering was all that she needed to drive her anger to new heights. Her hands trembled as she tied the tourniquet. Then she planted a kiss on his brow and stood up, wiping the blood on her pants. She looked up when she heard footsteps coming down the hall, and readied herself for combat. When she saw her twin brother, she relaxed.

“What happened?!” Luke exclaimed when he saw Han.

“That hag Mon Mothma attacked him,” Leia growled, igniting her saber. “And I mean to make her pay for it,” she said, running down the corridor in the opposite direction.

“Leia, no!!!” Luke cried after her. But she wasn’t about to stop. Mon Mothma had crossed the line too many times, and now, Leia thought resolutely, she would pay for that mistake. I will make sure of it, she thought grimly as she checked the comm. screen for her whereabouts. You’ll regret messing with me, Mon Mothma, she thought as she made her way thought the labyrinth of corridors.You will rue the day you messed with me and my family.

[therealthing]

CHAPTER 49


With difficulty Luke made his way back to the medical sector, his unconscious friend slung over his shoulder. Anakin looked up when he heard the door open and ran over to help his son.

“He’s not...” Anakin began, fearing the worst.

“No, just unconscious,” Luke explained as he and his father carried Han to a bed.

“Where is Leia?” Anakin asked, growing more alarmed.

“She’s gone after Mon Mothma,” Luke replied, wiping the sweat from his brow. “She did this to Han.”

Anakin frowned, sensing anger emanating from Leia.

“She means to kill her, Father,” Luke told him.

“Not if I can help it,” Anakin said, rushing to the door.

Hurry Father, Luke thought ardently. He summoned a medical droid to attend to Han’s wound and stood watching it, his mind and heart in turmoil. Don’t do it, Leia…don’t give in to hate…

“Luke? What are you doing here?”

Luke turned to see his mother looking up at him, a puzzled expression on her face. He went to her side at once.

“We came for you,” he told her, smiling and taking her hand. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m alright,” she said, looking around the room. She stopped, heart in her throat when she saw Han being attended by a medical droid.

“What happened to Han?” she asked, growing anxious. “Where is Leia? Where is your father?”

Luke hesitated before answering Padmé, worried what the stress of knowing the truth would do to her in her delicate state.

“Luke, tell me what’s going on,” Padmé said, her voice firm and authoritative.

“Father went after Leia,” Luke replied at last. “And Leia went after Mon Mothma. Mon Mothma is the one who shot Han.”

Padmé’s eyes widened at the implications of this dire news struck her. “Anakin will kill her for what she has done,” she said quietly.

Luke shook his head. “It’s not him I’m worried about.”
*******************************************************
Anakin did not need the ship’s internal sensors to tell him where to find his daughter. The anger and hatred was radiating from her in dark, concentric circles, acting like a homing beacon to draw him closer. He ran through the corridors, drawing closer and closer to the eye of the storm, willing his legs to move faster.

“Stop right there!”

Anakin did not even stop, but merely pushed the pair of security guards with a wave of his hand. He was not going to let anyone get in his way, for he knew that if he were too late, his daughter’s soul would be forfeit. He recalled another day many years ago when he had made the wrong choice, choosing to save the life of Palpatine instead of a brother Jedi, and losing his soul in the process. I won’t let Leia make the same mistake I did...I won’t allow the Darkness to claim my child!

*************************************

Leia stood outside of the room where she had tracked her quarry. She steadied her nerves, grasped her weapon tightly in her hand, and activated the door. It was locked. This only served to fuel her anger. Leia pushed her hand against the smooth metal door, channeling all her anger and frustration in what she assumed was a futile gesture. To her surprise and amazement, the door burst open, falling into the room with a loud clang. Inside, Mon Mothma jumped to her feet, shocked by what she had just witnessed. Her shock soon turned to fear when she saw Leia standing in the doorway, brandishing a Jedi weapon. Slowly Mon Mothma stood up, her hand reaching for the small blaster she kept concealed in her voluminous sleeve.

“Drop it,” Leia commanded before Mon Mothma could even take aim. She froze as Leia moved toward her.

“I said drop it!!” Leia yelled, throwing Mothma against the wall with a powerful Force push. The rebel commander struggled to regain her footing, her terror augmented by the sinister look in Leia’s eyes. Her eyes…they’re…yellow… Mothma noticed in horror. What is happening to her??

“Now let’s be reasonable about this,” she began, trying to remain calm. “I swear I didn’t’ know your mother was pregnant, otherwise I’d never have…”

“I don’t want to hear your excuses!!” Leia cried. “You have caused enough pain to my family, to my loved ones. I won’t let you harm anyone I love again!” she declared, stepping closer, brandishing her weapon high above her head.

Mon Mothma panicked, and pulled out her blaster, firing wildly in Leia’s direction. Leia deflected the laser blasts with speed and accuracy that surprised even her. With a swipe of her weapon she sliced Mothma’s wrist, sending her hand and the blaster in it to the floor. Mothma screamed in agony, falling to her knees.

“That was for Han!” Leia told her, enjoying the sight of her enemy’s agony. “And this is for my mother!”

“Leia, NO!!”

Leia stopped mere centimeters from Mon Mothma’s neck, the anger and hatred making her hands shake.

Mothma looked over to the doorway to see Anakin Skywalker standing there. Now I will die for sure…she thought dully.

“Leia, lower your weapon.”

Leia turned to her father, and he was horrified to see the darkness in her face. “She tried to kill Han!!” she told him. “She almost killed my little brother!! My mother!!! She deserves to die!”

Anakin walked over to her slowly. “Yes, she does,” he agreed, casting a quick glance at Mothma who was close to passing out by now. “But that is not the Jedi way. That is the way of the Sith, Leia. You are acting like a Sith, and the Dark Side is controlling you.”

Leia frowned. “No it isn’t!” She insisted. “I would never allow that to happen!”

Anakin shook his head. “I thought that too at one time,” he said. “But the Dark Side is insidious, Leia; it feeds on your anger, on your hatred. Don’t make the same mistake I did; don’t let it win!”

Leia looked back at Mon Mothma, who was now unconscious on the floor, at the woman’s severed hand lying on the floor beside her, and suddenly realized that her father was right. The surge of power that had enabled her to open the door, to push Mon Mothma across the room, that power had come from the Dark Side. What have I become?? Leia thought in horror as she dropped the lightsaber to the floor. What have I done? What would I have done if my father hadn’t stopped me??

Anakin sensed the shifting with in her Force aura and approached her once again. “Leia, look at me.”

She turned to face her father once again, and this time he was relieved to see that the darkness had left her, that her eyes were once again their natural hue of dark brown. She looked up at him as tears filled them. “Father…” she said softly.

Anakin wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. “I know, Leia,” he said gently. “I know what you’re going through; I know what you are feeling. But you stopped before it went too far. Everything is going to be okay.”

Leia sobbed against her father’s chest, feeling for the first time complete empathy for what he had suffered all those years ago. He turned to the Dark Side for the love of my mother, for the love of Luke and me…now I understand how easily that could have happened, for it nearly happened to me…

“Let’s get a medic down here,” Anakin said at last. “Time for the bloodshed to end.”

Leia looked up at him and nodded, her face wet with tears.

“Let’s go, I’m sure Han is anxious to see you,” Anakin said with a smile.

Leia smiled through her tears. “Thank you, Dad,” she said. “Thank you for saving me.”

Anakin nodded. “Come,” he said, taking her hand. “Let’s go.”

[therealthing]

CHAPTER 50

“What’s going to happen to me?” Leia asked her father as they waited for the medical team to arrive.

Anakin wasn’t sure how to answer her. Mon Mothma was certainly a vindictive person; yet she had nearly killed Han, so would she be able to see that they were, in a bizarre sense, even now?

“I don’t know,” he replied at last, stroking her face gently. “But whatever happens, you know I’ll be right there with you, Leia. I’m not going to let you go through anything alone.”

Leia smiled. “Thanks,” she said softly. “I know you won’t.”

Just then the door opened, and a pair of medical droids carrying a floating gurney entered the room and hurried over to the unconscious Mon Mothma. Anakin and Leia were about to leave when Generals Reikan and Dodonna stepped into the doorway. Anakin and Leia looked at one another, wondering what was coming next.

“My daughter was simply retaliating for Mothma’s attack upon Han, and Padmé s abduction,” Anakin explained.

Reikan shook his head. “We’re not here to make judgment on Leia,” he said. “We’re here to make sure that she is alright. We heard about what happened.”

“I’m fine,” Leia replied. “I’m more concerned about Han. Is he alright?”

“As far as we know,” Dodonna replied.

“Why don’t we go check on him?” suggested Anakin, who was more than anxious to see Padmé.

“Good idea,” Leia replied, turning to her father and taking his hand.

As they walked through the corridor, Reikan finally worked up the nerve to speak to Anakin.

“I want to assure you, Anakin, that my comrades and I were very much against Mon Mothma’s radical move to abduct your wife,” he said uneasily, hoping that Anakin would understand.

Anakin looked at the general. “But you allowed it to happen, nonetheless,” he remarked.

Dodonna spoke up. “Yes, we did,” he admitted awkwardly. “And we should have put a stop to her plans before things went this far. She has become obsessed, irrational; and we should have taken measures to curb her power. I only hope that the damage she had caused is not irreparable, and will not prevent us from sitting down and talking rationally.”

Anakin considered the man’s words, sensing the sincerity behind them. It seemed the only thing these men were guilty of was cowardice, for they had lacked the backbone to stand up to Mon Mothma when her lust for revenge against the Skywalker family pushed her beyond the edge of reason. Would they now be willing to remove her from the picture completely? Would they be strong enough to do so?

“Is that what you want?” Anakin asked at last.

“Yes,” Dodonna replied. “It’s about time, don’t you think? Perhaps if we had talked to one another sooner none of this would have happened.”

“A moot point,” Anakin remarked dryly. “Besides, the level of mistrust on the part of the Rebel Alliance where I am concerned precluded such a thing. I trust that you see now that my family and I are more than worthy of trust.”

“We’re beginning to see just what caliber of people you and your family truly are,” Reikan commented earnestly. “But, understandably, we still have many questions. We don’t begin to understand your goals for the galaxy; but we would very much like to be a part of the goals.”

“Of course,” Anakin conceded. “And I think it is time those questions were addressed. If there is ever to be peace in the galaxy, we must begin to communicate openly.”

Upon reaching the medical facility, Anakin was thrilled to see his wife up and about. He rushed to her, embracing her tightly.

“Thank the Force you’re alright,” he said, realizing all of a sudden just how long it had been since he had seen her. He kissed her tenderly, taking her face in his hands.

Padmé looked up at him. “What happened, Ani?” she asked. “Luke told me that Leia was going after Mon Mothma. Please tell me you got there in time.”

Anakin nodded. “Yes,” he replied. “But not a minute too soon,” he added with a frown. “We nearly lost our daughter, Padmé; we nearly lost her to the Dark Side.”

Padmé frowned. “No,” she whispered. “Not my Leia,” she said.

“I was able to prevent the worst,” Anakin assured her. “I can help her, Padmé; I know what she is feeling, I understand her. She will not follow the same path that I did, I swear to you.”

Padmé smiled, thankful beyond measure to hear her Ani speak those words. The darkness is gone now, she realized with joy and relief. He has truly returned to us now…he has defeated the Dark Side once and for all.

Just then the medical team brought in Mon Mothma. Padmé watched, feeling sick inside when she saw the severed hand lying beside her on the gurney. My little girl did that…what would she have done if Anakin hadn’t come in time??

“Han!” Leia exclaimed as Han started to come around. He opened his eyes and looked around, discombobulated for a moment.

“Where the hell am I?” he asked, looking up at Luke who stood by his side.

Leia and Luke smiled. “That last place you’d want to be,” Luke replied. “Recovering in the med ward.”

Han frowned “What happened?” he asked, and then he spied Mon Mothma on the other side of the room being attended to my medical droids.

“Oh yeah,” he muttered. “What happened to her?” he asked.

Leia looked over her shoulder. “My bad temper,” she said quietly. She turned back to Han. “But everything is going to be okay,” she said. “Thanks to my father,” she added, looking at Anakin.

Anakin smiled and put his arm around Padmé.

“Let’s hope so,” he commented. “We still have a long way to go, and a lot of work to do.”

“We’ll be waiting for you in the conference room,” General Dodonna told Anakin. “Your children know the way.”

Anakin nodded as the two generals took their leave.

“Will somebody tell me what’s going on around here?” Han asked.

“A good question, this is.”

Everyone looked over to the doorway to see Chewbacca with the diminutive Jedi Master, Yoda.

“Master Yoda!” Luke said with a smile, coming over to him at once.

“Much has happened since you left Dagobah, young Luke,” Yoda remarked, looking around the room. “Much of it I have sensed,” he added, looking at Anakin.

Anakin smiled. “It has been a long time, Master Yoda,” he commented.

Yoda nodded. “Far too long, Anakin,” the ancient Jedi master concurred. “You have done well, young one. The Chosen One, you truly have become.”

Anakin’s smile grew at these simple yet powerful words from Yoda. “Thanks to my family,” he replied. “Without their support and their love, I would have remained in the Darkness.”

“Perhaps too hasty the Council was to forbid attachments,” Yoda commented, looking at Padmé. “Perhaps the love of a family is more important than we realized.”

“I can vouch for that, Master,” Anakin said, looking down at his wife with a smile. “Perhaps something to think about when we reestablish the Jedi Order.”

“Perhaps,” Yoda agreed, nodding sagely.

“The Rebel leaders are waiting for us,” Luke reminded everyone. “I don’t think we should keep them waiting any more.”

“Luke is right,” Padmé said. “Time to start talking.”

Anakin nodded. “Indeed,” he replied. “Lead the way,” he said to Luke.

[therealthing]

CHAPTER 51

Anakin and his family, along with Han, Chewbacca and Yoda made their way to the conference room where the remainder of the Rebel leaders had assembled.

“You’re sure you’re up to this?” Anakin asked Padmé.

“Yes, of course,” she replied.

“I don’t want you to overdo it,” Anakin insisted. “Not in your condition.”

Luke and Leia exchanged a smile. Their father’s solicitousness was amusing, and yet touching, for it showed a side of their father they were not accustomed to.

“Ani, please stop worrying,” Padmé told him at last. “I’ve been pregnant before, remember?” she reminded him with a smile.

“I know,” Anakin replied. “But I was away at the war for most of that pregnancy,” he reminded her. “I didn’t get the chance to fuss over you,” he added with a smile.

Padmé laughed. “I see,” she replied. “So you’re going to make up for that with this one, is that it?”

Anakin nodded. “Exactly,” he replied. “So get used to it.”

Padmé smiled and hugged his arm. “I think I can do that,” she replied.


General Reikan, General Dodonna and Admiral Ackbar all sat at the long conference table awaiting their guests. The three Rebel leaders were nervous, not really knowing what to expect. If the actions of Anakin Skywalker were any indication, then they had greatly underestimated the emperor, and could possibly expect him to be benevolent and cooperative. Yet, the actions of Leia Organa concerned them deeply. Granted, she had every right to be furious with Mon Mothma for the horrific acts of violence she had committed against both Padmé and Han Solo; yet the nature of her actions, the darkness of her revenge troubled them greatly. All three of them suspected strongly that had Anakin not shown up when he had, that their comrade would be dead right now.

And then there was Padmé Amidala. Padmé Skywalker. It still amazed them that she and Skywalker were married, and had been married for more than 20 years. Most of those years they were apart, the dark years that Skywalker had lived as Darth Vader, and yet she took him back. She took him back…Clearly there were many facets of this whole situation that they still were ignorant of. It was their hope that they would soon be enlightened.

“Please, sit down,” Ackbar said as the group entered the room.

Anakin pulled out a chair for his wife and sat beside her. It was clear not just to the Rebel commanders but everyone in the room the level of devotion Skywalker had for his wife. Clearly this man was no longer the ruthless Sith Lord they had been fighting for two decades, for no Sith would be so tender, so devoted, so utterly in love as Skywalker obviously was.

“Well,” Reikan began, deciding to take the initiative. “This is certainly long over due, I’d say.”

Anakin nodded. “I would have to agree,” he commented.

“I think it would be best if we started at the beginning,” Padmé said, sensing how uncertain the Rebels were. “You certainly have a lot of questions, I’m sure.”

Ackbar nodded. “Yes, an understatement that,” he concurred. “First of all, how did this transformation take place?” he asked, addressing the question to Anakin. “Surely you did not wear that dreadful mask all those years for no reason.”

“No, of course not,” Anakin replied, a little annoyed by the stupidity of the question. “I had massive reconstructive surgery on Kamino several months ago.”

“We know about that,” Reikan replied. “I think what Admiral Ackbar means is, when did you stop becoming Darth Vader? Not just in the physical sense. When did you become Anakin Skywalker again?”

Anakin hesitated before responding. The question was not an easy one. When indeed…

“I believe my …rebirth has been a gradual one,” Anakin replied. “Not something that happened all at once. I believe that today was the end of Darth Vader once and for all, though. When I saw in my daughter the reflection of what I had become all those years ago, that destroyed any vestiges of Darkness left within me. But I know that were it not for the love and support of my family, I never would have won the fight,” he concluded, looking at his wife with a smile. “They never gave up on me, they believed in me, and that was the impetus I needed to fight and to destroy Vader.”

“Unprecedented this is,” Yoda spoke up at this point.

“What do you mean, Master Yoda?” asked General Dodonna.

“Never before has a Sith turned from the Dark Side,” Yoda explained. “Believed all my life I have that once you start down the dark path forever would it dominate your destiny. Proven me wrong, Anakin has. The Chosen One, you are, Anakin. Hope you have given the galaxy. You and your family, the future of the Jedi you are.”

Anakin was moved by Yoda’s words, and he sensed a new found humility in the ancient Jedi. Perhaps a lifetime spent in exile had shown him the error of his ways, shown him that the Jedi were not infallible, and that the precepts and codes that they so stringently protected were too rigid to stand the test of time.

“You obviously have a plan in mind,” Reikan commented to Anakin and Padmé. “Since you have taken control of the Empire, you have both been extremely busy. What is it you are trying to accomplish?”

“It is quite simple, really,” Padmé replied. “Dismantle the Empire, bit by bit. Return power to the individual systems; divest it from the greedy bureaucrats who have spent the past two decades bleeding the galaxy dry.”

“Simple?” Reikan replied, his eyebrows raised. “Doesn’t sound simple to me!”

“Why else do you think I’ve assumed the position of Emperor?” Anakin asked. “Why else to you think I’ve pretended to be Darth Vader? So long as the rest of the Empire believes that I am still he, then they will do whatever I command. Don’t you see that?”

Ackbar nodded. “Yes, it’s brilliant,” he commented. “Like an implosion, destruction from within.”

“Exactly,” Padmé replied. “And once the infrastructure of the Empire is taken away, the rest will fall into place. The Senate will take over, along with the rulers of the individual planets. Soon there will be no need for an emperor at all. That will be the day that Democracy will return to the galaxy. For good.”

“Noble goals,” Dodonna commented. “But is it possible? Do you really think the bureaucrats of the Empire will go along with it? That they won’t suspect what you are up to?”

“They might,” Anakin replied. “But that is why we are removing the dangerous elements now, before our plan gets too far along, and our goals become too obvious. I have no intention of having a civil war on my hands, General. I’ve had enough fighting in my life to last a hundred life times. The galaxy needs peace, and I mean to see that it gets just that.”

“The question is, what can we do to help you?” Reikan asked.

Anakin smiled. “I was rather hoping you’d ask me that.”

[therealthing]

CHAPTER 52

“Well, isn’t this cozy.”

All eyes turned to the door to see Mon Mothma standing there.

“The mighty Galactic Emperor and his family conversing with the lowly Rebels.”

General Reikan stood up. “If this is going to be your attitude, then you are not welcome here,” he told Mon Mothma.

“Who are you to tell me that??” she retorted hotly. “I started the Rebel Alliance! Were you there when it all began?? Were any of you?”

“I was,” Padmé spoke up. “Your memory is a little faulty if you think you were the only founding member of the Alliance. I was there too, if you recall.”

“That may be,” Mon Mothma replied. “But you certainly abandoned the Cause quickly enough! You haven’t exactly been active in the Rebellion, have you Padmé?”

“How did you expect me to do that?” Padmé retorted angrily. “I have spent the past 22 years hiding from Palpatine, moving from one system to the next to evade his spies!”

“That was a situation of your own making,” Mon Mothma replied coldly. “Perhaps if you’d not been sneaking around, compromising your integrity and that of the Jedi Order you’d not have ended up in such a perilous position.”

“Enough!!” Anakin shouted, rising to his feet. He turned to Mon Mothma, his blue eyes bright with anger. “I will not sit by and allow you to attack my wife this way!”

“Nor will we allow it,” Luke said, as he and Leia stood up and joined their father.

“Get her out of here,” Leia told Dodonna, her eyes not leaving Mon Mothma. She could feel the rage welling up within her, and had to fight to keep it in check. “Before someone says or does something regrettable.”

“Is that a threat, Princess?” Mon Mothma asked as the two guards at the door moved towards her.

Leia shook her head. “No, not a threat,” she replied. “A promise.”

The guards took Mon Mothma’s arms. “Let’s go, Commander.”

Mon Mothma yanked herself free. “Not until I see that she is charged for what she did to me,” she declared, pointing at Leia.

“And what about what you did to Han?” Leia retorted angrily. “And my mother??”

“Mothma, you have truly lost your mind,” Reikan said, shaking his head. “Don’t you realize that you would be dead right now if it weren’t for Anakin here? And that the Skywalkers are the best chance for peace in the galaxy? Are you so blinded by your own jealousy and vindictiveness that you can’t see the truth of it all?”

“You are the one who has lost his mind,” Mon Mothma retorted. “All of you,” she added, looking at the other Rebel commanders. “If you think you can trust a Skywalker, then you truly are mad.”

Padmé shook her head. “What happened to you, Mon? You used to be such a great leader, such a reasonable wise person. When did you stop believing in the truth?”

“Don’t lecture me, Padmé Skywalker,” Mothma returned. “You who have compromised everything you believed in for the glamour of a life of intrigue and romance. You lied to everyone, broke every rule and convention there was, and yet you have the gall to say to me what happened??”

“That’s it!” Leia said the anger inside of her breaking loose. “Shut your lying mouth!” she shouted, clenching her fist tightly.

Mon Mothma felt her throat constrict, and her hands flew to her neck. Anakin realized at once what was happening.

“Release her Leia!” he said, taking her by the shoulders. “Do it!”

Alarmed by the turn of events, Yoda intervened. With a small gesture of his hand, he pushed Leia, not enough to harm her, but enough to knock her off balance. Leia stumbled back against her brother, who took hold of her tightly. Mon Mothma fell to her knees, gasping for breath. She looked up at Leia, daggers in her eyes.

“You’ll pay for this, you little b*tch!” she rasped. “I’ll see to it!”

The guards hauled her to her feet and escorted her out the door, taking advantage of her temporary weakness to get her out of the room.

“Luke, what is wrong with me?” Leia said, looking up at her brother. “Why am I doing these things?””

Yoda walked over to her, leaning heavily on his gnarled gimmer stick. “The Dark Side is quick to join you, young Leia,” he told her solemnly. “Resist its lure, you must.” He turned to Anakin. “Your father will teach you, of that I am certain, for he has learned to resist that temptation.”

Anakin nodded a frown on his brow. “Yes, I will,” he replied. “I won’t let the Dark Side win again, Master Yoda.”

Yoda nodded sagely. “Of this I have no doubt, Anakin,” he replied warmly. “Train your daughter you will, teach her the dangers of the Dark Side. A powerful Jedi she will be.”

Anakin looked at Leia and smiled. “Yes, I know she will,” he replied softly.

Reikan, Dodonna and Ackbar had watched the proceedings with shock and alarm. While they recognized that the Jedi had certain abilities, none of them truly understood the nature of those powers. With a Jedi knight as powerful as Anakin Skywalker as an ally, the Empire will surely be destroyed, they reflected.

“Mon Mothma has oblivious lost her mind,” Ackbar commented. “And I apologize for her cruel outburst.”

Padmé shook her head. “You needn’t apologize,” she said. “I think we are all more concerned about what she may do to undermine our efforts than a few nasty comments.”

“Agreed,” Reikan said. “But leave that to us. She is our problem, and I assure you we will not allow her to interfere in our joint efforts.”

“Unpredictable she is,” Yoda commented. “Madness can be very dangerous. Watched she must be.”

“She will be,” Dodonna replied. “There is too much riding on this new alliance to allow her to jeopardize it.”

“So it’s decided then,” Anakin spoke up. “Padmé and I will return to Coruscant with Luke and Leia, while Chewbacca and Han remain here as liaisons.”

Ackbar nodded. “Yes,” he replied. “We will ensure that all hostilities on Imperial outposts stop. It is time to concentrate our efforts elsewhere.”

“Yes,” Padmé agreed. “The formation of the Senate is a huge undertaking. Leia and I could use your help with that, particularly now,” she added, running a hand over her abdomen.

Anakin smiled and took her hand. “That’s right,” he said. “I’m not going to let you work yourself ragged, Padmé, not a chance.”


“I rather had that impression,” she replied with a smile.
***************************************************
“Search, I will, for Force sensitives,” Yoda told Anakin as they walked through the corridor of the Rebel command ship. “The Jedi Order will be reborn.”

Anakin nodded, as memories of the very reason the Jedi Order had died flooded his mind.

“I am so ashamed,” Anakin said softly. “I destroyed the Order, Master Yoda. I killed so many Jedi, so many younglings…I ignored their pleas for mercy and slaughtered them like animals.”

Yoda listened to Anakin’s confession, knowing that he needed to speak, needed to release his guilt.

“There are no words I know that can apologize to you, Master,” Anakin continued. He stopped and faced the ancient master. He got down on one knee so that he could look Yoda in the eyes. “I promise you that I will do everything I can to atone for what I did,” he averred. “Even if it takes the rest of my life to do it.”

Yoda nodded. “The Chosen One you are, Anakin,” he said. “Perhaps your fall into Darkness, a part of the prophesy it was. Now that you know the power and the danger of the Dark Side, help you it will to teach future Jedi of those dangers.”

Anakin nodded, trying to take comfort from Yoda’s words. “It will,” he agreed. “My daughter is in danger from the Dark Side,” he reflected sadly. “I will not let her lose this fight, Master. I can’t lose my child to the Dark Side.”

“Strong with the Force she is,” Yoda remarked. “A struggle it will be for her, just as it was for you. But she has you, Anakin, and Padmé and Luke to help her. Your love will defeat the darkness.”

“Just as theirs defeated the darkness within me,” Anakin realized.

Yoda nodded. “You are right, Anakin,” he agreed. “Love is the opposite of hate, and Darkness thrives on hate; logical it is that it would be destroyed by love.”

Anakin smiled. “Leia has many people who love her,” he told the Jedi Master. “She will be fine.”

“Of that I have no doubt,” Yoda concurred with a smile.

[therealthing]

CHAPTER 53

“I’m worried about you, sweetheart. Are you going to be alright?”

Leia nodded. “Yes, don’t worry,” she told Han. “I know I’ve been acting a little unusual lately, but…”


“A little unusual??” Han repeated. “Leia, you’ve been acting like Vader. I’ve never seen you this way, and I’m really worried. I wish your father hadn’t asked me to stay here; I feel like I should be with you.”

Leia smiled. “I know,” she said, caressing his face gently. “I wish with the same thing; but we all have our part in this, Han. Besides, it’s not like we’re going to be apart forever. My mother needs me right now, especially with the baby coming.”

“And you need your father,” Han remarked. “He seems to understand what you’re going through.”

“He does,” Leia agreed. “Remember, he was seduced by the Dark Side all those years ago. He is the only person who has ever turned back from the Dark Side,” she added, the pride evident in her voice.

“Your father is an amazing guy,” Han agreed. “I know he’s the best one to help you get over this, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to miss you.”

“I will miss you too,” she said, taking his hands. “I’ll miss your crooked smile, your cockiness, your hair brained ideas,” she teased.

Han laughed. “Yeah, yeah,” he said, pulling her close to him. “I love you too.”

***************************************************

“It’s a long trip to Coruscant, you should try to get some sleep,” Anakin told his wife as the ship settled into hyperspace.

Padmé hated to admit how tired she was, but realized that it would be futile to do so. Anakin had always been able to read her, and now that she was pregnant again, his protectiveness had increased exponentially. Padmé had always been a very independent woman, and normally chafed under such attention; yet, she knew that for Anakin this was a chance for him to try and make up for his absence during her pregnancy with Luke and Leia. Besides, it was nice having him fuss over her, she’d decided. It revealed a side of him that she had not seen in far too long.

“Will you sit with me?” she asked, taking his hand. “Keep me company?”

“Of course,” he replied at once. “Think of me as your human pillow.”

Padmé laughed. “You’re not soft enough to be a pillow, Ani,” she said, wrapping her arms around his arm.

Anakin smiled. “Well, you wouldn’t want me to be soft, would you?” he teased her.

“Ani!” she replied, shocked by his comment. “You are so bad!”

“What?” he asked, his face the picture of innocence. “I simply meant you wouldn’t want me all flabby and out of shape; what were you thinking??”

Padmé’s face went pink and she laughed. “You know very well,” she muttered. “And I know that is what you meant. You just love to tease me, that’s all.”

Anakin laughed. “Only because you are so adorable when you blush,” he told her, leaning over and kissing her. “Now, time for a nap,” he said as they reached the passenger lounge. He sat down and patted the cot beside him.

“Very well,” she said, sitting down. She lay down and put her head on Anakin’s lap, loving the masculine scent of him, the comforting feel of his strong hand as he stroked her hair gently.

“Ani, can you believe we’re going to have another baby?” she asked.

Anakin smiled. “Of course,” he replied. “We’re far from old, Padmé.”

“I suppose not,” she replied. “But still, we have two grown children. I didn’t really think that we would be having another child.”

“Well you know what causes that, Padmé,” he teased her.

Padmé giggled. “You are so bad,” she said, stifling a yawn. “What am I going to do with you?”

Anakin smiled, remembering how often she used to say that to him when they were first married. He was merciless in his teasing of her, but she enjoyed it, and eventually learned to dish it out. The passion between them was so deep, so strong; it seemed they could never get enough of one another. Time apart had not dampened that passion; indeed, Anakin found his desire for her just as ardent as when he had been a 20 year old. Being apart from her for the six weeks in the Outer Rim had been very difficult. He hated the thought of being apart from her again, though he realized that there was still much work to be done in the Outer Rim. The thought of sending Luke on his own had crossed his mind; but he knew that such a decision would be irresponsible, for Luke was new to this, and did not have the presence nor the reputation among the Imperial bureaucracy that Anakin did.

"Whatever you wish,” Anakin replied at last, stroking his wife’s silken hair. “I am yours to command.”

Padmé did not reply, however; so Anakin bent down to look at her face, smiling to see that she had already fallen asleep. He kissed her softly on the cheek. “Sleep well, beloved,” he whispered in her ear.

*********************************************

“Quite an eventful few days,” Luke commented as he and Leia sat over a cup of caff in the ship’s small galley.

Leia nodded, staring into her cup. She had never been so confused, and the jumble of emotions swirling in her heart was almost too much for her to handle. I miss Han…when will I see him again? Am I truly like Vader?? Am I becoming what he was? Will I be able to stop myself from lashing out like that again?? These questions tore at her mind, giving her no rest, no peace.

“Leia, I know what you’re feeling,” Luke began tentatively, sensing his twin’s mental anguish. “I wish you would talk to me about it.”

Leia looked up at Luke. “You don’t know how I’m feeling, Luke,” she replied. “I wouldn’t wish that upon you. You’ve never been tempted to use the Dark Side, have you?”

Luke sighed. “No,” he answered truthfully. “Master Yoda pretty much scared that out of me on Dagobah,” he added, recalling that terrible vision he’d had of Vader in the cave. Seeing his own face under the mask of Vader was truly terrifying, and it taught him well the danger that his aggressive tendencies could mean. “But that doesn’t mean that you can’t talk to me about how you’re feeling.”

“I suppose not,” Leia replied, casting her eyes down once again. “I’m afraid Luke,” she said at last, her voice hushed. “I’m afraid of becoming what Father was. I can’t explain what it felt like to do those things I did,” she told him, looking back up at him. “It was like…like someone else was controlling me. The power came so easily, so quickly; I’d never imagined I was capable of such power.”

Luke listened, nodding in understanding. He remembered the first time he’d experienced the awesome power of the Force; it was a heady feeling, an incredible feeling; but one that didn’t come without a tremendous amount of effort and hard work.

“Master Yoda told me that the Dark Side was quick and easy,” Luke told his sister. “Quick to join you in a fight,” he added. “Perhaps that is the reason the power came to you so easily. It makes it harder to resist.”

Leia nodded. “Yes, I know,” she replied. “But I will resist it, Luke,” she averred. “I have no intention of becoming a Sith, don’t worry.”

Luke smiled. “I know you won’t,” he said. “Besides, neither Father nor I would let it happen. When I think of what happened to Father, I realize that he had no one to talk to about what he was feeling, no one who could empathize with him or reassure him; all he had was fear.”

“Yes, I’ve thought of that too,” Leia replied. “I understand him a lot better now, Luke; I can see why things happened the way they did. To think that he lived as Vader all those years; so lonely, so filled with remorse and pain. The thought of it is heart breaking to me now.”

Luke reached over and took her hand. “But he has us now,” he assured her, “and Mother. He won’t ever be lonely again.”

Leia smiled. “Don’t forget our baby brother,” she reminded him.

“Yes, him too,” Luke replied. He smiled. “I still can’t believe we’re going to have a little brother.”

“I’ve always thought of you as my little brother,” Leia told him. “Even though you were born first.”

Luke smiled. “Yeah, by a matter of minutes,” he replied. “In a way I’m envious of him; he’ll have what we never had- our parents to raise him.”

“That’s true,” Leia replied. “He will have lots of people doting on him,” she said with a smile. “I for one can’t wait to spoil him rotten.”

Luke laughed. “Somehow I don’t think you’ll be the only one doing that. Father’s already got that I-can’t-wait-to-show-him-how-to-fly look in his eyes when he talks about him.”

Leia laughed. “Yes, I’ve noticed that. Well he’ll be one lucky little boy, that much is certain.”

Luke nodded. “Yes, he will. He’ll have the best parents, the best big sister...”

“The best big brother,” Leia put in. “Don’t forget that. I don’t know if I’ve told you recently Luke, but I love you. You are my best friend, and I’m so proud of you.”

Luke smiled. “I love you too, Leia. And I’m proud of you too. We’ll get through this, I promise. Just please, talk to me, okay? I don’t want you to think you can’t talk to me about this, even if I can’t relate, I can at least listen.”

Leia smiled and squeezed Luke’s hand. “Thanks Luke, that means a lot to me.”

“Hey, what are big brothers for?” Luke replied.

[therealthing]

CHAPTER 54

“I’ll take over,” Anakin announced as he entered the cockpit. “You may take a break.”

The pilot of the ship exchanged a look of surprise with his copilot, but did not question the emperor. The two clones simply stood up and left the cockpit, bowing respectfully to Anakin as they passed him.

Anakin sat down at the controls. Less than 3 hours now, he noted as he checked the navi-computer. Padmé was sleeping in the passenger lounge, and Anakin was anxious to get her home. Even though she seemed fine, the scare she’d had hadn’t left his mind. Padmé was almost 49 years of age; and while it wasn’t unheard of for women her age to have a child, it wasn’t terribly commonplace. Anakin worried that the stress of her position would compromise the pregnancy; and knowing Padmé, she wasn’t one to back away from her duties. Perhaps the close call she’d had would force her to be more cautious. She can be so damn stubborn sometimes, he reflected.

“Want some company?”

Anakin looked up to see his daughter entering the cockpit. Surprised, and yet pleased, he gestured to the copilot’s seat with his hand.

“Absolutely,” he said as she sat down beside him. “Can’t sleep?”

She shook her head. “No. Luke and Mother are sleeping; it was getting a little lonely back there.”

“I’ve never been able to sleep well,” Anakin commented. “I guess you inherited that from me.”

“Well Luke certainly didn’t,” Leia replied. “He can fall asleep anywhere, anytime.”

Anakin laughed. “A good quality to have,” he commented. “I envy him.” He studied her profile for a moment as she studied the controls in front of her

“I’m sorry I had to ask Han to stay back on the command ship,” he said, sensing how much Leia was missing her scruffy Corellian pilot. “I hope you realize why I did it.”

Leia looked up at him. “I do,” she replied, nodding her head. “I know how delicate a situation this is. Now isn’t the time to let personal feelings get in the way.”

Anakin smiled. So much like her mother… “That doesn’t mean that they don’t,” he said in reply. “If you’re anything like me, and I suspect you are, then you have a difficult time separating your feelings from other aspects of your life. I know I always have.”

“I try not to let them get in the way, but sometimes they just…take over,” she replied, grateful to be able to talk to someone who actually understood how she felt. “Like back on the command ship; I don’t know what came over me when I attacked Mon Mothma. I was so angry, I just lost control.”

Anakin nodded, a slight frown creasing his brow. “The Dark Side,” he said solemnly. “That is what caused you to do those things, Leia.”

Leia looked at her father, the fear evident in her eyes. “I don’t want…” she stopped, not quite sure how to phrase her words. “I don’t want to end up the way you did,” she said at last, bracing herself for the flash of hurt feelings she expected to feel from him. To her surprise, all she felt was his empathy and his love.

“I know you don’t,” Anakin replied. “And you won’t, Leia. I won’t let what befell me happen to you. Our situations are completely different, remember; I had no one to talk to but the very one who was manipulating me. I couldn’t talk to Obi-Wan, to your mother, to anyone in the Jedi order; I was alone in that…that hell that Palpatine created for me. You are not alone, Leia. You have your brother, your mother, Han…”

“You,” she added. “You are the one who I will need the most, Father. You are the only one who understands what this feels like. As much as I know Han, Luke and Mother love me, they can’t help me the way you can.”

Anakin smiled, his heart warmed by his daughter’s words. If falling into Darkness has given me the wisdom to save her, then it was worth every minute of pain, every scar, and every lonely, empty year. “Yes, Leia, I can help you. I mean to take you as my padawan learner, to teach you how to use your powers and to resist the lure of the Dark Side. You will be a powerful Jedi, Leia.”

Leia believed her father, but it seemed like an unreachable dream to her. Me? A Jedi?? It didn’t seem possible. Luke was a Jedi, well, almost; her father was a Jedi, the greatest of all the Jedi. But me?

“I hope I am able to live up to your expectations, Father,” she said at last.

Anakin reached over and took her hand. “Leia, you have already surpassed my expectations,” he told her. “I am immensely proud of the young woman you have become. I am honored to call you my child.”

Leia smiled, her father’s words bringing tears to her eyes. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I can’t help but feel guilty about what happened back there, though,” she admitted. “If you hadn’t come when you did, I might have killed Mon Mothma.”

Anakin nodded. “Yes, you may very well have,” he concurred. “But you did not, and that is what you need to remember. Besides, if I know her, she isn’t finished yet. I fully expect we shall hear from her again in the not too distant future.”

“You think so?” Leia responded. “But the Alliance has her locked up now. Surely they won’t let her escape!”

Anakin shrugged, turning his eyes to the view screen ahead of them. “People like Mon Mothma find a way to get what they want,” he said thoughtfully. “And do not hesitate to use whatever means necessary to get it. She has lost her sense of reason, and is vengeful. That is a dangerous combination.” He turned and looked at his daughter. “She’ll be back, Leia,” he stated. “Mark my words.”

Leia frowned. Whatever means necessary?? Han and Chewie were on the command ship… “What can she do, though, really?” Leia asked. “The Alliance has seen what she has become; they won’t allow her to manipulate them any more.”

“No, perhaps not,” Anakin replied. “I’m more concerned of what she could do to expose your mother and I.”

“You mean you think she would actually go to the Empire and tell them who you are?” Leia asked incredulously. “You think they would listen to a word she says?”

Anakin sighed. “There are those among the Imperial elite who resent me and the policies I have brought about since becoming emperor. They would be only too happy to see me removed from power.”

“Then we have to ensure that she isn’t able to escape,” Leia replied. “She cannot be allowed to endanger you and mother that way.”

“No, she cannot,” Anakin agreed. “Because all our efforts would be in vain if our true identities were revealed.”

I won’t allow that to happen, Father, Leia vowed silently. No matter what it takes, she will never hurt any of us again.

Anakin watched her carefully, hearing her silent vow, and making one of his own. This will not destroy my daughter; I will not let the Dark Side win again. Never.

*********************************************

“Padmé, wake up angel.”

Padmé opened her eyes and looked up at Anakin who was sitting on the edge of the cot. He smiled at her. “We’ve just dropped out of hyperspace,” he told her.

She nodded. “How long have I been asleep?” she asked.

“About 4 hours or so,” Anakin said, gently stroking her face. “You needed the rest, obviously.”

Padmé sat up. “Did you sleep?”

Anakin shook his head. “No,” he replied. “Though I did have a rather interesting chat with our daughter.”

Padmé lifted her eyebrows. “Oh? What about?”

“I told her that I wanted to take her as my padawan learner,” he replied. “She seemed quite pleased to hear it.”

“Good,” Padmé responded. “I’m worried about her, Ani,” she added. “The way she lashed out back there really scared me.”

Anakin frowned as he nodded. “Yes, me too,” he told her. “But don’t worry, Padmé; I’m not going to let her fall into darkness. She has all of us supporting her, and my own experience to guide her. She will be fine.”

“I hope so, Ani,” Padmé replied.

Anakin smiled, not telling her about the dark promise he had heard Leia make to herself. “Come on,” he said, taking her hand. “Time to go home.”

[therealthing]

CHAPTER 55

“It’s good to be home,” Padmé said as they walked into the great hall.

Anakin put an arm around her shoulders, looking around the familiar, comforting sights of home. “It is,” he said. “I wish I didn’t have to leave again,” he sighed. “Maybe I can just send Piett…”

Padmé looked up at him. “Ani, we talked about this already,” she reminded him. “You know that you are the only one who can affect the changes we need to ensure our plan works. I don’t like the idea of being apart any more than you do; but we really don’t have a choice.”

“Perhaps not,” he replied. “But I don’t intend to stay away for weeks on end this time. I won’t let you go through this pregnancy alone, Padmé.”

“But I’m not alone,” she protested. “Leia is here, and she’s been wonderful company. And now that Threepio is back, he’s not going to let any harm come to me,” she added with a smile.

Anakin lifted an eyebrow at her comment. “Somehow that doesn’t make me feel better,” he muttered. “Nevertheless, I plan to return here on a regular basis between missions.”

“That’s an awful lot of traveling,” Padmé commented.

Anakin put up his hand to stop her from continuing. “Yes, it is,” he agreed. “But I’ve made my mind up, Padmé. Don’t try to dissuade me.”

“I know better than that,” she teased, taking his hand with a smile.

“I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m starved,” Luke announced.

“You’re always starved,” Leia teased, smiling at her brother.

Luke laughed. “Come to think of it, you’re right!” he admitted.

“You come by it honestly, son,” Anakin said with a smile. “Let’s see if dinner is ready. I’m starving too.”
******************************************************

After enjoying a large and enjoyable meal, the family adjourned to the parlor. They had barely sat down when a familiar voice was heard in the doorway.

“Master Luke! Mistress Leia! I can’t tell you how relieved I am to see you both again!!!”

All eyes turned to the doorway where a familiar golden protocol droid stood, with R2D2 in tow.


“Threepio??” Anakin asked, looking in wonder at the droid. “Is that really you?”

Threepio looked at Anakin, but, having had his memory banks erased more than once over the past 22 years, did not recognize him except that he resembled Luke very much.

“I am C3P0,” he began, reciting the litany he had ingrained in
his programming. “Human cyborg relations. May I ask who you are, sir?”

Anakin was more than a little disappointed that his childhood friend did not know him. “Anakin Skywalker,” he replied. “I made you.”

If Threepio had eyebrows, they would have shot clear off the top of his golden metallic head at this revelation.

“You are the Maker??” Threepio exclaimed.

Anakin nodded. “Yes, I made you when I was a boy. I’m sure your memory banks have been erased, or else you’d remember me, as well as Padmé,” he said, turning to his wife.

“I truly wish I could remember you, sir,” Threepio replied mournfully. “But…” he was interrupted by a series of whistles and chirps from his short companion. “He didn’t ask if you remembered him, R2,” Threepio chided. “He was asking me! Now mind you own business, you overweight glob…”

“R2 remembers me?” Anakin said, turning to the astromech droid.

“How would he know you, Father?” Luke asked.

Anakin squatted down in front of the little droid. “He and I were on many missions together,” he said with a smile. “We had many adventures, didn’t we old friend?”

R2 responded with an excited affirmative, which made Anakin laugh.

“That’s amazing,” Leia said, watching the reunion with wonder. “I had no idea there was a connection between you and the droids.”

Anakin stood up and looked at his daughter. “Well actually R2 was the property of your mother before we even met,” he said, turning to Padmé. “When she was queen. We sort of did a swap, since I needed an astromech for my fighter, and she needed a protocol droid to…well, to ….”

“Drive her crazy?” Luke offered with a grin. Everyone except Threepio laughed, including R2.

“Threepio was a good companion when your father was away at war,” Padmé said, out of consideration for the droid’s nonexistent feelings. “They were our witnesses at our wedding, weren’t they Ani?”

“That’s right,” Anakin recalled with a smile. “I wonder…” he said, thinking for a moment. He squatted down to face R2 again. “R2, do you still have the footage from that day? The lakeside retreat on Naboo?”

R2 responded with a series of chirps and beeps. Anakin looked up at Threepio for a translation.

“He says he will check his redundant files,” Threepio replied.

“Redundant, indeed,” Padmé muttered.

R2 chirped excitedly and immediately projected a holographic image. Anakin sat down beside his wife, taking her hand as he did so, as they watched in silent amazement the simple wedding ceremony they had celebrated so long ago.

As for Luke and Leia, they watched as well, their eyes drinking every detail. They’re so young! Leia reflected looking at her parents as they were almost 25 years ago.

“I can’t believe how young I was,” Anakin remarked, looking at Padmé with a smile. “I wasn’t much more than a boy!”

Padmé smiled. “I don’t remember you as a boy, Ani,” she said softly, squeezing his hand.

Anakin smiled at her, remembering as vividly as she did the events of that memorable day and the night that followed.

“That was incredible,” Luke announced as the images faded out. “What a wonderful memento of your wedding day. I don’t imagine you have too many holographs of those days since you needed to keep your marriage a secret.”

“You’re right,” Padmé replied. “So having this is truly special,” she added, looking up at Anakin.

“”Well I’m beat,” Anakin said, anxious all of a sudden to be alone with his wife. “It’s been a long few days and I think we could all use a good night’s sleep.”

“Yes, I agree,” Padmé said, standing up. “Luke, Leia are you heading up?”

“I’m going to see if I can get through to Han first,” Leia said. “But then I’m going to bed too.”

“I’m done,” Luke said, standing up with a yawn. “That huge dinner did me in.”

Anakin smiled, his heart warmed simply by being with his family this way. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined an evening like this, enjoying a meal and a pleasant evening with his wife and children. I will never take this for granted, he vowed. Never stop showing them how much I appreciate them all. They are the world to me; they are the greatest part of me.

“Are you coming, Ani?” Padmé asked, holding her hand out to him. He looked up at her and nodded.

“Yes, I’m coming,” he said, standing and taking her hand. “Goodnight Leia,” he said, kissing his daughter on the cheek. “Give my best to Han.”

“I will,” Leia replied. “Sleep well everyone.”

*******************************************************

“You don’t seem to understand the gravity of the situation,” General Reikan said, leaning forward in his chair for emphasis. “You tried to kill Han Solo, and you abducted the Empress of the Galactic Empire! Don’t you see how these actions would give us cause to question your sanity?”

Mon Mothma made no reply, but merely glared across the table at her former comrades. Enemies, now they are my enemies, she thought venomously.

“And what of Princess Leia’s attacks upon me?” she asked at last. “Or was that simply justifiable in your eyes?”

“No, of course it was not,” Dodonna put in. “But can you blame her for doing what she did? After what you did to her mother and to Solo?”

“I see,” Mon Mothma replied icily. “So she is permitted to retaliate, but I am not, is that it?”

“What were you retaliating for??” Han retorted hotly. “I didn’t hurt a hair on your head!”

“What harm had come to you at the hands of any of the Skywalkers??” Reikan put in. “Anakin Skywalker saved your life! Why can’t you see that he is a changed man? His plans for the galaxy are noble, and address the very issues we have been fighting for over the past two decades! Why can’t you admit that?”

Mon Mothma made no reply, but merely stared ahead of her blankly, her mind working frantically.

“I think I understand,” Reikan said at last. “This is a matter of pride, isn’t it?” he said. “You wanted to be the one to save the galaxy, and you can’t stand the fact that someone else is doing it, someone who has been our enemy for the past 22 years.”

“That’s not true!” Mon Mothma retorted hotly, her cheeks turning red with anger.

But the men were not convinced; her reaction was too vehement, too angry.

“No?” Han challenged her. “What else could it be, then? All you’ve wanted all these years is for democracy to return to the galaxy, and now the wheels are in motion; Anakin and Padmé will return democracy to the galaxy! Isn’t that what counts??”

She made no reply, for she had stopped listening to them completely.

Reikan, Han and Dodonna looked at one another, all of them thinking the same thing: this woman is mad.

“Perhaps it is time to adjourn this meeting for now,” Reikan suggested. “Obviously we are not getting anywhere with this discussion.” He motioned for the guards at the door to take her out of the room.

“How much longer am I going to be treated like a prisoner?” Mon Mothma asked at last as the guards come forward to escort her back to her cell.

“That depends on you,” Reikan told her, looking up at her as she stood up. “When you start acting rationally, then maybe we can talk about it. Until then, you are a security risk, and we cannot allow you to do anything that will jeopardize the safety of anyone on this ship or anyone in the Skywalker family.”

Mon Mothma nodded. “I see,” she replied quietly. She said no more, and allowed the guards to escort her from the room, her mind working furtively to find a solution to the situation she was mired in.

As the door closed behind her, Han turned to Dodonna and Reikan.

“She is crazy,” he stated. “There’s no doubt of it. We can’t let her free, no way!”

Dodonna nodded thoughtfully. “I agree,” he said, his voice somewhat sad in its tone. “What happened to her? She was such a great leader, how could this have happened?”

“It has happened,” Reikan pointed out. “And that’s all that matters right now. Han is right; we can’t let her free. Somehow we have to contain her. In her present state of mind she’s likely to do anything.”

Han nodded. “Yeah, she could go to Empire and blow Anakin right out of the water,” he said. “If she does that…”

“Then we’ll have another civil war on our hands,” finished Reikan. “We can’t allow that to happen, Solo; even if it means confining her to a sanitarium.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Dodonna said. “We still owe her a great debt for all she has done to put the Alliance together, after all; let’s not forget that, gentlemen.”

“Don’t let your affection for her blind you to what she has become, Jan,” Reikan warned his comrade. “She is not above taking advantage of that affection.”

Dodonna nodded sadly. “I know,” he admitted. “I won’t do anything foolish, don’t worry. I know how dangerous she is.”

Han and Reikan exchanged a look. Let’s hope so, Han thought grimly.

[therealthing]

CHAPTER 56

Anakin woke up in the middle of the night, a strong stirring in the Force interrupting his sleep. Padmé still lay nestled in his arms where she had fallen asleep hours earlier. He kissed the top of her head and moved away from her, careful not to wake her. He picked up his sleep pants from the floor where they had been tossed earlier and slipped them on. After a moment’s consideration, he reached out in the dark with his hand and summoned his lightsaber, which flew to his hand at once. Without a sound, he left the room, closing the door behind him.

From the great hall below, he heard a familiar sound. Someone was wielding a lightsaber. Anakin knew who it was before he even started down the stairs, for his daughter’s Force signature was distinctive, edged with darkness as his own had once been. Relieved, and now curious, he descended the stairs to join her.

“Kind of late to be practicing your saber technique, isn’t it?” Anakin asked as he reached the hall. Leia turned to see him, holding her saber above her as he had instructed her.

“I couldn’t sleep,” she said, lowering her weapon. “I thought if I worked out a bit it would help.”

Anakin nodded. “It usually does,” he replied. “Would you like a partner?” he offered with a smile.

Leia’s eyes widened. “You mean…you?” she asked.

“No one else around,” Anakin said with a smile.

“I…I don’t know, Father,” she said, unwilling to admit that the thought of sparring with him intimidated her tremendously.

“Come on,” he said, activating his own weapon. “I won’t hurt you, I promise,” he said, knowing that her pride would be too great at this point to turn him down.

She laughed. “Okay, but remember, I’m a novice,” she said, assuming the stance he had shown her.

Anakin nodded. “I won’t forget,” he said, smiling at her. He assumed a defensive stance, and motioned with his hand for her to strike first.

Leia swallowed hard, tightened her grip upon her weapon, and moved forward, watching her father’s movement closely. He moved his feet as she approached him, his eyes never leaving her.

“Hold it higher,” he instructed her. “I’m much taller than you are, remember.”

“No kidding,” Leia muttered, raising her weapon as high as she could.

Anakin grinned. “Master Yoda always says that size doesn’t matter,” he told her. “And he’s right; he’s one of the greatest saber masters I’ve ever known.”

“I’ll try to remember that,” she said, lunging forward and bringing her blade to his. Sparks flew between the two blue blades as the energy channels clashed against one another. Anakin easily pushed Leia’s blade away, backing away from her. She came at him again, striking harder this time, amazed by her father’s strength and agility as he parried her blow easily.

“That was good,” he encouraged her. “Now try something different,” he said. “Try to surprise me.”

Leia lifted her eyebrows. “You can read my mind, Father,” she reminded him. “How do you suppose I do that?”

“Clear your mind,” he told her. “Allow the Force to guide your movements, not your mind.”

Leia nodded, taking a moment to concentrate. The Force swirled around her, seemingly out of reach. Frustrated, she closed her eyes, willing it to come to her. Anakin sensed her frustration and walked over to her.

“Relax,” he told her, standing behind her, his hands on her shoulders. “Let it flow, Leia. It’s right there, your aura is so strong with it.”

Leia nodded, taking a deep breath and allowing herself to relax. She wanted so badly to please her father, to impress him with her abilities; but she knew that he was right. Relax, she told herself. Don’t make this so hard… “I can feel it!” She exclaimed at last. Anakin smiled, proud of her.

“Now use it,” Anakin said, stepping away from her again. “Find me.”

“Find you?” she asked, puzzled.

“Yes,” he said. “Keep your eyes closed and use the Force to find me.”

Leia felt a little silly standing there with her eyes closed, and was reminded briefly of a game she played as a child which involved a blindfold. But this is no game, she reminded herself, focusing once again. She reached out into the energy that surrounded them, seeking out his unmistakable Force presence. She found him, drawn to his brilliant aura easily. She turned to him, and opened her eyes. She grinned when she saw her father standing before her, a smile on his face.

“Very good,” Anakin said. “You see? You are a natural, Leia.”

She nodded. “I never imagined I could do that,” she said in awe.

“There was never any doubt in my mind,” he told her. He looked over her shoulder when he saw R2 D2 enter the room. “R2? What is it??”

R2 responded in a series of beeps and whistles that neither of them understood completely.

“Is it Han?” Leia asked.

“That’s it,” Anakin said, recognizing the droid’s affirmative response.

“I couldn’t get through to him earlier,” she said as they headed for the office. “But I left a message.”

“Let’s hope he has some good news,” Anakin replied as they entered the office.

Leia sat down at the desk and activated the comm. screen. Han’s image appeared. He smiled when he saw Leia.

“Hi there gorgeous,” he said, and then noticed Anakin. “Oh, hey there Anakin,” he added.

“Solo,” Anakin replied. “You have some news for us?”

“Yeah, we had a meeting with Mon Mothma earlier tonight,” he began. “The woman has lost her mind. She’s vindictive and irrational. For some reason she has it in for you, Anakin, for your whole family.”

Anakin frowned. “Yes, that much is evident,” he remarked. “What is the Alliance planning on doing with her?”

“Well, for now she’s being held in custody under guard,” Han replied. “But long term I don’t think anyone really knows what to do with her. It’s a dicey situation, her being one of the founders of the Rebellion and all.”

“That doesn’t make any difference now after what she did,” Leia spoke up. “She should be tried for the crimes she commented like anyone else.”

“Yeah, try to tell Dodonna that,” Han replied. “He seems to think she is just misguided. I’m worried she’s gonna find a way to get him to help her.”

“That cannot happen,” Anakin replied. “If she is free, then none of us are safe, and our plans for the galaxy are in jeopardy.”

“Well Chewie is keeping close watch on her, but he can only do that for so many hours in a day, you know what I mean?”

“She’s a loose cannon and needs to be dealt with definitively,” Anakin responded.

“Can’t you do something, Father?” Leia asked, looking up at him. “You’re the emperor, after all.”

“Yeah, you could arrest her for kidnapping Padmé,” Han suggested.

Anakin sighed. “As much as I would love to do so, I can’t. She would reveal our identities to the Empire, and then all our efforts to affect change would be in vain.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Leia said in frustration. “Well there has to be something that can be done to contain her.”

“Reikan mentioned the possibility of a sanitarium,” Han told them. “That may be our only hope at this point.”

Anakin nodded. “Yes, that would solve our problem,” he replied. “At least for now. Well I’ll let you two talk alone,” he said, knowing how anxious his daughter was to speak with her beloved alone. “Good night Han, keep us informed.”

“Will do,” Han replied. “Goodnight Anakin.”

Anakin bent down and kissed Leia on the cheek. “Goodnight love,” he said. “You did very well tonight, my young padawan,” he added with a smile.

Leia smiled back at him. “Thanks Father,” she said. “Good night.”

Anakin left the office and returned upstairs, climbing back into bed beside his wife. He simply lay in the dark for a few moments, his mind too occupied to sleep. The conversation he’d had with Han disturbed him, and he could not help but think that Mon Mothma was going to prove to be more dangerous than anyone had anticipated.

Rolling onto his side, he wrapped his arms around Padmé, taking comfort in her soothing presence, and, before too long, he managed to fall back to sleep.

[therealthing]

CHAPTER 57

“Good morning everyone,” Firmus Piett said as he entered the breakfast room.

“Good morning, Firmus,” Anakin said, “it’s good to see you old friend. Please join us.”

“Thank you, sir,” Piett replied, feeling a little overwhelmed at being invited to dine with the Imperial royal family. He took a seat beside Luke, glancing a little nervously about the table at the faces of those seated there. “I took the liberty of preparing an itinerary for you, my lord,” he said, looking finally at Anakin. “I assume you will want to continue your tour of the Outer Rim now that the crisis has passed.”

Anakin nodded. “Yes, I do,” he replied. “But I have no wish to be gone for weeks on end this time,” he added looking at Padmé. “I want to be home every two or three weeks to see my family.”

Piett lifted his eyebrows in surprise. “Oh?” he asked, looking at Padmé. “Is my lady alright?”

“I’m fine, Firmus,” Padmé replied with a smile.

“We are expecting another child,” Anakin explained, smiling at his wife. “And I am not about to miss this experience again.”

Piett smiled. “Well, congratulations to both of you,” he said. “Perhaps we ought to tighten security here at the palace for when you and Luke are away,” he suggested. “Just to set everyone’s mind at ease.”

“That won’t be necessary…” Padmé began to say.

“I think that is a great idea,” Luke said.

“So do I,” Leia agreed. “With Mon Mothma showing signs of mental instability, we must ensure that she isn’t able to infiltrate this palace again.”

Anakin nodded. “Most definitely,” he agreed.

“Consider it done,” Piett replied. “I will see to it personally. And as for your itinerary, I will make the necessary changes. When are you planning on leaving again, my lord?”

“Within the next few days,” Anakin replied. “I don’t want the governors getting complacent.”

Luke grinned. “Somehow I doubt that will happen,” he said. “They’re still shaking in their boots after what you did to Jabba.”

“Yes, I heard about that,” Piett put in. “Well done, my lord. It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving candidate.”

“The Hutt have been exploiting the people of Tatooine for too long,” Anakin spoke up. “I thought it was about time that came to an end.”

“You know Ani I’ve seen the word crusading attributed to you in the holonews lately,” Padmé said with a smile. “It seems the people of the Empire applaud what you are doing.”

“Well, not all of them I’m sure,” Anakin replied. “But they are the ones whose jobs are on the line.”

“Not to mention their heads,” Luke said.

Anakin smiled. “Well, not unless absolutely necessary. Jabba gave me no choice. He was unwilling to listen, unwilling to yield, and so he forced my hand, if you’ll excuse the pun.”

“I can’t believe how you Force pushed him not once but twice!” Luke said in amazement.

“Now that I would have enjoyed witnessing,” Piett said, standing up. “I will take my leave now, and get back to you as soon as possible with your alternate plans, my lord.”

“Piett, will you stop calling me that?” Anakin said. “My name is Anakin. I am not your lord any longer.”

Piett smiled. “Forgive me…Anakin; old habits die hard.”

Anakin laughed. “Yes, they do indeed my friend. I’ll walk you out,” he said, standing up and leaving the room with Piett.

“Father Force pushed Jabba the Hutt??” Leia asked her brother in amazement.

Luke nodded as he took a sip of his juice. “Yep, it was incredible,” he said. “He has such power, such incredible strength; I am truly in awe of him sometimes.”

“I know what you mean,” Leia said with a smile. She proceeded to tell Luke and their mother about her impromptu late night training session with Anakin.

“The three of you ought to have a sparring session,” Padmé suggested. “The two of you against him.”

“Mother, I can’t believe you’d suggest we gang up on Father that way!” Leia laughed.

“Gang up on me in what way?” Anakin asked as he rejoined them at the table. He looked at his wife. “What ideas are you putting into their heads, Padmé?” he asked with a smile.

“Nothing too devious,” she assured him. “I just thought it might be interesting to see you take on the two of them in a lightsaber duel. A mock one, of course. You do have practice sabers I assume.”

“We do, but the real ones are more fun,” Luke said with a grin.

Anakin sat back in his chair as he considered this. “You two against me,” he said. “That hardly seems fair.”

“Exactly what I thought,” Leia said.

“I could easily beat you both using only one hand,” Anakin added with a smile.

Luke and Leia looked at one another. “That sounds like a challenge to me,” Leia said to her twin. “What do you think, Luke?”

“Yep,” he said, folding his arms over his chest. “Exactly what I was thinking.”

Anakin laughed. “And what do you think, Padmé?”

Padmé had not been listening to the conversation however, for her meal was not agreeing with her. “I think that I shouldn’t have eaten those eggs,” she said, standing up and rushing from the room.

“Poor Mother,” Leia said with a frown. “How long was she this sick when she was pregnant with us?” she asked her father.

“I wasn’t around during the early part of her pregnancy,” Anakin reminded her. “But she told me it was about 5 or 6 weeks. A long time to feel that way I’m sure.”

“So how about it, Father?” Luke asked. “What do you say to our challenge?”

Anakin looked at his son. “I say, name your time and your place,” he replied with a smile.

************************************************

Mon Mothma paced up and down in her small room, her mind churning. The meeting with her former comrades had not gone as well as she’d hoped; they most certainly thought she was mad, the looks in their eyes said as much. Somehow I have to convince them otherwise, or I’ll never get out of here…she pondered. There was never a time when there wasn’t a guard posted outside her room, and much of the time it was the indomitable Chewbacca. I wouldn’t stand a chance against him even if I was armed, she realized grimly. I need someone as an ally…someone whose allegiance I can depend upon, someone I can use to help me get the hell out of here…

“Lunch is served, Commander.”

Mothma’s reverie was interrupted by the guard entering the room with a tray of rations. It wasn’t terribly appetizing, but she realized that if she were to even attempt an escape, she needed her strength, and so she ate each and every meal that was brought before her, no matter how non-descript. She watched the guard as he set the tray down on the small table beside her cot, and retreated from the room, resetting the force field on the door as he did so. Mothma stood up and walked over to the meal. No cutlery other than a spoon. Fat lot of good a spoon will do me... she thought petulantly as she sat down to eat the food before her. Someone will slip up; she told herself as she ate. Someone who still sees me for who I truly am and not the fiend the Skywalkers have made me out to be. It’s only a matter of time, and I will have my freedom…and then, mighty Skywalkers, look out. You won’t even see it coming.

[therealthing]

CHAPTER 58

“How are you feeling? Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m okay,” Padmé replied, sitting down.

Anakin frowned, sitting on the floor in front of her. “Are you sure?” he asked.

Padmé smiled, stroking her fingers through his longish hair. “Yes, Ani,” she told him. “This is completely normal, I promise you.”

“It doesn’t make me feel any better about seeing you this way,” he grumbled.

“Well just think of the baby,” Padmé replied. “Thinking of him always makes me feel better.”

Anakin smiled. “Yes, I suppose that does help,” he agreed. “We do need to think of a name for this little boy, you know.”

Padmé laughed. “Ani, he’s not due for another six months,” she told him. “Plenty of time for that.”

“You’re right,” he said with a smile. “I guess I’m just looking forward to this so much, I’m a little over anxious.” He took her hand, his face becoming pensive. “I never will forgive myself for not being there for the birth of our twins,” he told her, looking down at her hand in his.

Padmé nodded sadly, the memories of that day still painful in her mind. It was a day of beginnings, and a day of endings; the birth of her children, and yet the death of her beloved Ani…or so I thought, she reflected, looking down at him. “Let’s not dwell on the past, Ani,” she said, stroking his hair softly. “I’m thinking of the future, our future, the future of our family, including this little one,” she told him, rubbing a hand over her abdomen.

Anakin smiled. “Yes, you’re right,” he said, putting his hand over hers, looking at her as yet unremarkable belly.

Padmé watched him thoughtfully for a moment. “You know, I have been thinking of a name, though,” she told him.

He looked up at her. “Oh?” he asked. “I thought you said it was too early to think about names?”

“Well, it’s a few months before he’s born, but that doesn’t mean we can’t decide upon a name,” she said. “Especially since we know the gender. You’re certain it’s a boy?”

Anakin nodded his head. “Not a doubt in my mind,” he replied, looking back down at their hands upon her abdomen.

“Okay then,” Padmé replied. “I was thinking I’d like to name him after his father,” she said.

Anakin looked up at her again, his eyes wide. “You want to name him…after me??” he asked in astonishment.

Padmé nodded. “Yes, Ani,” she replied. “Is that so surprising?”

Anakin smiled, words escaping him momentarily. The gesture meant more to him than he could express; and he could feel the emotions threatening to overwhelm him. “Padmé, I don’t know what to say,” he admitted at last.

“Does that mean you like the idea?” she asked with a smile.

Anakin’s smile broadened. “Yes, very much,” he replied. “Thank you, angel. Thank you for this second chance. You have no idea what it means to me.”

Padmé could see that Anakin was very moved by her suggestion, and it warmed her heart. “I think I do,” she told him, leaning forward and kissing him softly on the cheek.



“So, Mon Mothma, tell me about yourself.”

Xanathe Kimer was a psychologist who was a part of the vast medical team of the Rebel Alliance. Generals Reikan and Dodonna had asked Kimer to speak to Mon Mothma to ascertain whether or not she was suffering from merely an emotional collapse, or a full blown psychosis. Kimer was well experienced with mental illness, and composed herself with professionalism and efficiency. If anyone could get to the root of Mothma’s irrational behavior, it was her.

Mon Mothma sat staring at the woman across the table from her. They think I’m crazy, and they’ve sent this person here to find some proof of it. Well I’m not crazy, and I’m not about to let them manipulate me.

“What would you like to know?” she asked sweetly.

“Whatever you think I’d like to know,” Kimer replied, smiling at her.

What the hell does that mean?? Mothma fumed. She must think I’m really mad to talk to me that way…what have they been telling her?

“Well, I’m from the planet Chandrila,” Mothma began. “I was a senator when the Republic fell. I was one of the founding members of the Rebel Alliance, along with some of my fellow senators.”

“Padmé Amidala was one of those senators, wasn’t she?” the woman probed, watching closely for Mothma’s reaction.

Mon Mothma controlled her emotions well at the mention of Padmé’s name, despite her inward anger at the sound of it. “Yes, she was as a matter of fact.”

Kimer watched her closely, taking note of the slight tension in her body language as she spoke of her. “You and Senator Amidala were friends in those days, weren’t you?”

Mon Mothma shrugged, endeavoring to appear indifferent. “I wouldn’t say friends,” she replied. “Colleagues at best.”

“But you knew her socially,” Kimer persisted. “Visited her home on more than one occasion.”

“Yes, but purely for official reasons,” Mothma replied, straight to get annoyed with the woman’s persistence.

“Did you like her?”

“What difference does that make?” Mothma retorted hotly, and then regretted her words. She took a deep breath to calm herself. “We were colleagues, we agreed on many issues, and collaborated on more than one occasion. She was a fine politician.”

“And personally? What did you think of her personal life?”

Mon Mothma frowned. “I don’t know what you mean,” she replied evasively.

Kimer regarded Mothma for a moment, trying to think of a way to phrase her questions in a way that would give her the answers she needed. “Were you ever…envious of her?” she asked at last.

Mon Mothma frowned. “Envious?? Of what?” she asked irately.

“I don’t know, any number of reasons,” she replied. “She was well respected, well loved by her people; a queen at the age of 14 and held in high esteem by the Jedi…”

“That’s one way of putting it,” Mothma muttered.

“What do you mean by that?”

Mothma looked at the woman. Was she trying to trap her? Or was she truly unaware of the relationship that had existed between Padmé and the Jedi knight Skywalker?

“Let’s just say that it was more than high esteem that she was held in by one particular Jedi Knight,” Mothma replied.

“Would you care to elaborate?”

“I think you can figure it out for yourself,” Mothma replied.

“And that bothers you? Why?”

“Did I say it bothered me?”

“No, you didn’t, but I get the impression that you disapprove.”
Mothma folded her arms and looked away.

“I’m right, aren’t I?” Kimer persisted. “You don’t approve of the relationship between Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker?”

“It’s not my place to approve or disapprove,” Mothma replied smoothly.

“No, but you obviously have an opinion on the subject,” Kimer remarked.

Mothma looked back at her, trying with all her might to hold her tongue. “Well, let’s just say that since finding out about their…relationship, I understand things a lot better. The past is starting to make more sense to me.”

“What do you mean?”

Mon Mothma was on a rampage now, and wasn’t about to hold back. This had been eating away at her since she first learned of the connection between Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, since she found out that Padmé Amidala had secretly been involved with Anakin Skywalker; the same Anakin Skywalker who annihilated the Jedi.

“I mean that she was responsible for destroying the best chance the Republic had of destroying the evil in the galaxy,” Mothma replied at last. “I realize that now. I always wondered what had happened to Anakin Skywalker, and now I know! She happened to him; she seduced him and carried on with him for years while he was trying to fulfill his duties as a Jedi. And he let her do it; he abandoned his duties, his vows to the Jedi and allowed her to compromise his position in the Jedi Order! And now I know he became Darth Vader, probably because of her, probably because of being torn between the two of them, and we all know what Darth Vader did to the galaxy!”

The woman sat listening to Mothma, growing more alarmed by the minute. This is the crux of it, she realized. This is what is driving her hatred…she blames Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker for the fall of the Republic…

“General Reikan tells me that Darth Vader has been redeemed and that he has great plans for the emancipation of the ….”

“Don’t try to convince me of the greatness of Darth Vader,” Mothma spat. “I know better than anyone what a monster he is! He and his storm troopers laid waste to my home planet during the Jedi purges, he destroyed what had been my ancestral home for generations,” she ranted. “And yet everyone seems to forget all the atrocities he committed! Well I haven’t, and I never shall, nor will I ever trust anyone who bears his name or his children!”

Kimer sat there in silence for a moment, trying to maintain her calm exterior in the face of Mon Mothma’s obvious psychosis.

“I am sorry to hear of your loss,” she said at last, standing up to take her leave. “I think perhaps we should conclude our chat for today. I can see that I have upset you.”

Mon Mothma watched her as she stood up and prepared to leave, wondering what report she was going to file with those traitors she had once called her friends. Surely this woman can see how justified I am in my anger; in my need for revenge…surely anyone can see that!

“I will talk to you again soon,” Kimer said, turning to Mon Mothma once again. “I wish you a good night.”

Mothma made no reply, but merely watched as the woman left, no doubt proceeding immediately to Reikan and the others as soon as she had cleared the detention block.

“Supper,” the guard announced as he entered the room, holding a try in his hand.

Mothma looked at him, and then at the tray, trying to summon her appetite. But the conversation with the councilor had left her agitated; eating was the last thing she felt like doing. How am I going to get out of here? She thought anxiously as the guard reactivated the force field. If I don’t soon, they will lock me up forever….and I won’t allow that to happen, not so long as Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala are ruling the galaxy.