The Will of the Force: Fading Into Light PG-13 ************* This story concludes "The Will of the Force Trilogy." It is written in a rather choppy, vignette-type style. I hope it doesn't drive you crazy. This is just the way the story happened and as usual it took on a life of its own.
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6 months after "Ripples in the Water"
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"Hey Ami!" Anakin yelled out to his fiance.
"What?" Amidala yelled from the fresher.
"Did you know that all along we were supposed to be calling you 'Your Majesty,' not 'Your Highness?'"
"No. Where'd you hear that?" Amidala came out of the fresher, walked to the kitchen and got some stim-tea.
"The holo-news. If you come here quickly you'll hear them speculating as to exactly what we're doing, moment by moment, leading up to the wedding."
She came up beside him, her arms around his neck, placing a kiss on his cheek.
"Are they right?"
"Well, no--hey give me some of that," he grabbed the cup from her, took a sip, and handed it back.
"Uggh," she complained, "Skywalker cooties!"
"Ha ha ha. . . We're supposed to be speculating about your legacy and how your retirement will affect women's views of power in the post-Clone War era."
"Can't a girl just retire without people analysing it to death?"
"Nope. It's no fun that way."
"And that drivel is?"
"People are watching."
Amidala sighed, "Thank goodness we'll get some privacy on Alderaan!"
"For awhile at least. 'Princess Amidala Skywalker' will be required to attend a few events for Senator Bail Organa, hero of the Clone War. Honeymoon or no . . . Hey! What's so funny?"
"You said my new name," Amidala giggled. "Remember we don't get a last name on Naboo till we marry. It's bizarre."
"Well, if you think my name's so funny, you could marry somebody else!"
Amidala made a face and slipped her arms around his waist. She sighed.
Anakin sensed her mood turn sad.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just want to make sure that we can make the most of these moments. After the wedding, we won't have many."
"Only for awhile. I can't gone all the time galavanting around the galaxy with the Fleet." He was turning earnest too.
"I'm sure the Chancellor's plans will make it otherwise."
Anakin jumped up, "Enough of this! We'll talk ourselves into a crying jag or," he grinned down wickedly at her, "a lot of trouble. And I haven't taken cold showers for 4 years only to blow it a few days before the wedding!" Amidala teased back, "And, more importantly, we don't want the Jedi sensing any guilt from us during the ceremony!"
"Now that's a scary thought! They can read minds you know. Yuck, what a frightening image. That's disgusting! Let's change the subject. I made you something."
"What?" she stood up grinning, wondering what it could be.
He led her into what would soon be their bedroom, and standing there was a shining new protocol droid.
Amidala's jaw dropped.
"What do you think?"
Anakin turned on the droid. "I am C4-P0 human-cyborg relations."
'"C4-P0?"
"There will be four Skywalkers come a few days," Anakin's voice was strangely husky.
Amidala's eyes filled with tears. That was the only reference he had made to his mother in all of the planning. They never talked about her.
It hurt too much.
**************
ONE WEEK LATER
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Amidala walked out onto the balcony of the summer house that was their honey-moon suite. Warm air blew through her hair as she watched the moon fade. Gradually sunlight burst onto the blue sea and reflected off the water.
It was beautiful.
"Amiiiiiiiiii! What are you doing out thereeeeee?"
She turned with mock annoyance, "Oh shut up Ani, you big baby! Can't you live two seconds without me?"
A Pause. "No."
Soft feet running behind her, picking her up.
She giggled, and said with a serious face "Patience! It's the virtue of a Jedi."
"Yeah, well, guess what sweetheart?" He slung her over his shoulder, "I'm no Jedi!"
****************
Amidala woke up. It was well into daylight. She sat up in bed and looked for her husband. He was out on the balcony. Meloncholy.
Amidala put on a robe and padded over to him, "Now who's doing the deserting?"
A wry smile.
She touched his hand, "What is it, Ani?"
"I don't think I can leave you."
"Yes, you can. You will. It will only be for a month." She was fighting against a lump that rose in her throat.
"I've missed you before, but not, well, I never knew that my feelings for you could grow even more strong."
"Our Jedi marriage book said that they would. 'Two become one to become three.'"
"I dosed through that retreat at the Temple," he smiled.
"Liar!" Amidala accused good-naturedly.
"Three . . ." he whispered. "That comes with 'the one,' doesn't it?"
"What? Nobody ever told you where babies come from?"
"Very funny!"
Amidala became serious again, "Life comes from the one, it cannot be stopped. You knew that! We accepted that when we got married. Why are you bringing it up now?"
"Because I will want to be with our children."
"You will," Amidala replied.
"All the time. Everyday. Like you."
"Hey, one of us has to work!"
"That's not what I meant."
Amidala got serious. She took his hand, "Obi-Wan always told us to trust the Will of the Force. And even if that Will has pain involved, it's always better in the end."
Anakin nodded, "We've always chosen the Light Side."
"Yes. I have faith that we will continue to do so. You should too." She hugged him and whispered into his ear, "Trust the Will of the Force. It hasn't let us down yet, why would it start now?"
*************
ONE MONTH LATER
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"Pull them in with the tractor beam," Captain Skywalker ordered.
"Yes, Captain," Ensign Holf replied.
The smugglers had attacked with no provacation. The Starship, 'Trader's Luck,' had been on the Republic's wanted list for quite a while, with good cause it seemed. The smugglers fired on the naval troops as they were being boarded. The naval officers were compelled to return fire. Almost all were killed.
A naval team ran inside and secured the ship. Captain Skywalker followed his team, stalking and inspecting the hallways, viewing fallen pirates, and shaking his head.
"The fools." He continued on.
He came across a female Wookie, dead. Huddled in the corner was a grief-stricken boy who couldn't have been more than ten years old.
"Han Solo's his name, sir," the medic told Anakin. "He was, I believe, a prisoner of the smugglers, forced to work for them. The Wookie and he were close. She was like a mother to him."
"I see. Lost his mother, and at age ten?" Anakin shook his head again.
***************
The young boy was looking around Anakin's ready room, inspecting various things.
"I'm going to be a pilot you know one day," he said casually.
"Really?" Anakin smiled. Han Solo sounded like someone he knew.
"Yeah. I'm going to the Academy."
"I'm sure you will."
Han looked out the window, "Where are we going?"
"To Coruscant," Anakin replied. "My ship reports in. We've been out for a month. Then we will do what we can to find any family of yours."
"I don't have any."
"You were stolen away young, Han, you never know."
Han shrugged in answer.
Anakin went on, "If you're right, you'll live at the Jedi Temple until they find a home for you."
Han's face scrunched up, "Live with a bunch of religious wimps?'
Anakin grinned, thinking about Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi in action, "Jedi are no wimps, trust me."
"Yeah." Han looked at the hologram on Anakin's desk. "Hey, she's pretty!"
"Thanks. She's my wife."
"Really? Can I meet her?"
"Sure. Maybe you can come to our place for dinner sometime."
**************
Han Solo did visit Amidala and Anakin's apartment before going to live with his aunt, Tiin Sal-Solo, on Correllia. The evening was pleasant and the young couple hoped that one day Han Solo would come into their lives again.
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THREE WEEKS LATER
************** Anakin walked through the Naval Academy and was surprised to see Chancellor Palpatine coming towards him. Anakin stiffened. He had never revealed what he learned at Mandolor--something whispered to him to keep it quiet--but he always watched his back with Palpatine around.
"Ah, Captain Skywalker. I am sending a Jedi with you on your next round of the Outer-Rim. There's a crisis near Tatooine that she needs to mediate."
Tatooine. Anakin wouldn't let Palpatine see his discomfort. I'm sure he just 'happened' to think of me. But I'm past that 'making-me-nervous-and-uncomfortable' garbage he always tries to pull.
"Certainly, sir. May I ask who I will be escorting?"
"Jedi Anabelle Jade," Palpatine replied, "recently widowed, I believe. You'll like her. She's what I consider in many ways my right . . . Hand."
*****************
Anakin made the jump to hyper-space.
Anabelle Jade was wearing black robes, for her mourning, she said. Anakin couldn't help but notice that the woman was also pregnant.
"Her name's Mara."
Anakin smiled, "That's a pretty name."
Anabelle returned the smile.
Something beeped, "Yes?" Anakin said.
"A transmission for Jedi Jade."
"I'll take it in my room," Anabelle replied curtly.
******************
Anabelle was kneeling before the hologram.
"You look tired, my young apprentice," Darth Sidious commented.
"It's hard for me to get enough sleep," Anabelle replied, "I've been busy, Master."
"You're never too busy to look after the girl," the Sith snapped. "She is what's most important to you now."
"Yes, my Master." Anabelle remembered a time when the Sith Lord was not too crazy about Mara. He had ordered her to use contraceptives with her husband. He did not like to connect sex with life and love. Sex was only for power, self-gratification, and domination.
But Anabelle had gotten pregnant anyways--contraceptives didn't always work--and Darth Sidious had made her pay. But then the idea of a child had grown on him. The child could be a powerful ally. And it gave Darth Sidious a reasonable excuse to kill Anabelle's husband so that she could devote all her time and energy to her training.
"Ha!" Anabelle exclaimed in disgust. The Sith Lord had become weak. It happened during the Clone War. He had failed in something, and since then the Sith had been showing insecurity. Anabelle sensed it, but would not let her Master know, for she had her own plans for Mara Jade. And her present 'apprentice' status.
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TWO MONTHS LATER
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There was a skip in Captain Skywalker's step. His wife Amidala met him at his ready room--he warned her that he wanted to meet her in a place private enough to give her a gravity-defying kiss. It was good to be near her again. Two months was too long, he kissed her again. Then he felt it . . .
"Wait a second."
"What?"
Anakin stretched out again. Yep, it was there. "Ami, you're pregnant."
"What?"
"You heard me."
"Hey wouldn't I know first?"
"I guess not," Anakin replied, one life within her, no two! "Wow! We have twins: a boy and a girl." He hugged her and spun her around like he used to.
"I don't think I'm pregnant, Ani, but if I am, do you think spinning around like that is a good idea? You ever heard of morning sickness?"
"Oh," he said sheepishly. "Point made."
"C'mon," Amidala laughed, "Obi's waiting."
"OK, we'll ask him then." "Since when is a Jedi a personal home pregnancy test?"
Anakin grinned, "Well, it's cheaper and more convenient."
***********
"Hey there, buddy," Obi-Wan greeted Anakin and the friends shook hands warmly.
"Ami," Obi-Wan aknowledged her. Anakin scrutinized him. Obi-Wan didn't seem to react to the lives within Amidala.
"Obi, you notice something about Ami?"
Obi-Wan hesitated, then replied, "Yes, she's pregnant, but I wanted you two to tell me."
Anakin flashed Amidala an 'I told you so' look.
She shook her head.
************
The trio of friends were talking and laughing at the restaurant. Names were being tossed around.
"Yoda!" "Obi-2, get it! Obi-2?" "Padme for the girl . . ."
"Anabelle, she's a cute Jedi--ouch! I was just joking Ami!"
"Teresa?"
"Luke," Anakin then said quietly. The group sobered.
Tears sprang to Amidala's eyes, "That sounds good. And for the girl . . ."
"You don't have to decide now," Obi-Wan said.
"Oh c'mon, Obi," Anakin lit up a little, "you can say it. I know what you've always thought of the name Lisa!"
"Not funny, Ani," Obi-Wan blushed remembering the Jedi he had a crush on when he was ten and what a dork he made of himself.
"Lucy? Lisita?"
"It doesn't have to be an 'l'"
"Leia," Obi-Wan mused. "Leia," Amidala repeated. "I like that."
***********
That night Anakin woke up with a start.
"What is it?" Amidala asked.
"A dream. Han Solo was there."
"Han?"
"And he was screaming."
A chill went through Amidala.
"He was grown up and screaming and I was the one hurting him!"
"Ani, it was just a dream."
"And you were gone," he continued as if he didn't hear her, "I knew you were gone, and I didn't care! I didn't care because I didn't want you anymore. And I didn't want our children. I didn't love them. They grew up without me, without you! I hurt them . . ."
"Ani, you'll make yourself sick with this. I know you miss me when you're away. I miss you too, but you are never going to hurt me, or our children. Of course you'll want us. And you'd never harm Han Solo. You're crazy about that kid. He's like you were when you were young, remember?"
Anakin shook his head, "It was so real." "Dreams usually seem so." He whispered, "I didn't want you anymore . . ." He buried his head in his hands and shook. Amidala touched his hand, it was ice.
She touched his face. "There's nothing to be afraid of!" Shook him a little, "Ani, I mean it! Stop letting it get to you."
She hugged him, gave him soothing words. He quaked in her arms and lay down, his head on her chest. She smoothed his hair, as though he were a child.
He kept mumbling, "I didn't want you anymore."
And she kept replying, "It was just a dream."
************
ONE WEEK LATER ************
The sandstorm blew around Anabelle Jade and Jedi Geog as they blindly moved through Mos Eisley. They found a door and burst through. They were in a cantina. The room was packed and servants of all species were desperately trying to serve those who had taken refuge.
Anabelle sat down at a table. She was out of breath. Only a few more weeks of this, she told herself.
"I'll get you something," Geog told her, concern on his innocent face.
Anabelle could only nod. Her master would not be happy.
Geog moved toward the bar and heard someone yell, "Hey Skywalker! Another Alderaanian ale!"
Skywalker! Both Geog and Anabelle stretched out with the Force. Anakin Skywalker's mother! What to do? Geog looked around and saw the gray-haired, gentle woman, serving drinks. He began to push his way through the crowd to Shmi, but was stopped by Anabelle, "Not yet," she told him telepathically.
Geog deferred to the senior Jedi.
Anabelle wanted to contact her master.
**************
"Skywalker's mother?"
"Yes, Master," Anabelle replied to Darth Sidious.
Silence while the Sith Lord thought. "Take her. Get her on a transport and bring her to me on Coruscant. Then we will decide what to do about her."
"Yes, my Master. What of Geog? He knows about her."
"You have my permission to kill him."
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THREE DAYS LATER
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Shmi Skywalker almost couldn't believe it. She was free!
Anabelle Jade had awakened her and forced her to move quickly, saying that she had used a Jedi trick to put her slave master at bay. She didn't say the trick was a lethal invisible choke hold.
The very pregnant Anabelle Jade fired up the transport and they were off.
For a while.
The hyperdrive failed and they had to make a crash landing on Dantooine. They were given a cabin by a kindly couple. Anabelle then had her child.
Mara Jade.