"Rebellions are built on hope!" the young woman exclaimed, facing the table of Alliance leaders and the assorted group of Rebellion soldiers and pilots.
One of the men around the table opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by a woman speaking from beyond the gathering. "The young one is right. Hope keeps a spark of rebellion alive even in the darkest of times. Sometimes hope is all we have left. But hope is enough."
The pilots, soldiers, officers, other Alliance personnel parted like a sea to let a woman flanked by two men through to the table. She was small, towered over by her seconds, cloaked and hooded in white. A pale blue and gold dress was just visible under the cloak. A white utility belt had a variety of pouches and two holsters, carrying slender silver blasters. The white cloak's sleeves drowned her arms and hands and the soft hood shielded all her features. When she reached the table all eyes turned to her as she raised her arms, the sleeves slipping down her arms to reveal her hands. A white glow emated from deep within both her sleeves and she linked her fingers and hands in a certain way to form the shape of what appeared to be wings. There was a mutual intake of breath as the gathering recognised the symbol. It was one of the most famous of the Alliance, but very few had worked in conjunction with the group of cells that operated under it. It was one of the most secretive, but also the most efficient, of the Rebel's various groups. Mothma voiced all of their thoughts in one word.
"Angel."
She inclined her head gracefully, looking every inch her codename in the white cloak that seemed to shine softly under the lights. No-one among the gathering, save perhaps Bail Organa, had met the Angel in person. She was mysterious and reclusive, and a terror to the Empire with her lethal teams of saboteurs that took out imperial installations with remarkable swiftness from being assigned them as a target. No one was expecting her to look quite so, well, angelic in person, glowing under the florescent lights.
The gathering now turned its attention to the two men, most likely bodyguards, that had accompanied her. Both were taller than the woman between them, but the one on the right towered almost half a head over the other. They both were clearly well-muscled and strong but the taller one was significantly broader than the smaller one. They were cloaked and hooded like the woman they accompanied. Their cloaks were brown, fastened at the throat, but when the smaller one shifted the cloak moved to reveal cream and light brown robes. The taller one to his right folded his arms across his chest and his cloak moved to reveal the silver hilt clipped to his solid utility built. The entire group seemed to suck in a collective breath as they recognised the robes and the weapons of the men standing across from them.
"Master Jedi," Bail Organa said in shock. "We were not expecting to see two of your Order here, we thought that your kind had gone extinct."
The taller one tilted his head to the side before answering, "We are not a kind, Senator Organa. But I thank you for your concern. You have an impressive set-up here."
"Thank you," Mon Mothma answered. "If I may, Angel, why have you decided to join us here now, when you have never communicated with the Alliance at large before?"
The Angel turned her head to look at the young woman who had been speaking so passionately only moments before. Jyn swallowed under the scrutiny of this clearly well respected woman but straightened her spine. The Angel tucked her arms into her cloak, mimicking the movement of her bodyguards, tilting her head.
"You have heart," she said softly, at last. "And you have been hurt by the Empire, as we all have. But you speak well. You have a gift for inspiration Jyn Erso. And a gift for hope. And rebellion thrives on hope."
She switched her attention to Mon Mothma. "As for why I am here, Senator, you are correct in asserting that I have not contacted the Rebellion personally for many years. I found that my network operated best as a separate group, with only a few links with the main Rebellion. We have been able, therefore, to work from the shadows, and strike when the Empire is not expecting us to. We had heard whispers of the Death Star, indeed for several years we have been delaying its construction through targeted attacks on supplies. But we could not stop it forever. I have several agents inserted in high positions on the Death Star and they have been subtly sabotaging it for some time now. Enough to prevent the main mechanism from being fired, but not enough to blow it up completely. You will still require the plans for that. As to why I have come here personally. The Jedi received a suggestion from the Force that now was the time for us to emerge. And so I have come to introduce myself, or to reintroduce myself to you."
Mothma sucked in a breath. "You mean, Angel, that you are going to reveal your identity?"
The Angel nodded. "It's time the Emperor learned who he was dealing with."
The Rebellion focused their attention on her as she lifted her hand to her hood and then pulled it away from her face carefully. The woman behind the hood was beautiful, with dark brown hair and eyes and creamy skin. She smiled at Mon Mothma and Bail Organa who had gone pale as if they were seeing a ghost. Murmuring broke out among the group as they looked at the woman who had so transfixed their leaders.
"Padme Amidala Skywalker," she introduced. "At your service Supreme Commander."
"Padme?" Mon breathed. "You're the Angel? We thought you were dead! How can this be?"
"Skywalker?" Bail interrupted suddenly, eyes darting to the Jedi who flanked her. "As in Anakin Skywalker?"
Further murmurs broke out at the name of the 'Hero with No Fear', the best Jedi.
Padme tilted her head slightly and then raised an eyebrow. "My husband." She raised a slender hand and gestured to the Jedi on her right, the one who towered over her easily. His hood fell back without a noticeable movement to reveal the recognisable face of Anakin Skywalker, albeit aged a little from when he had last been seen on the eve of the rise of the Empire.
He made a small Jedi bow. "Senators."
"And your other companion?" Mothma questioned faintly.
Padme smiled, her face lighting up with pride. "Our son, Luke Skywalker." He pulled his hood down to reveal a remarkable resemblance to his father, and then bowed. The room erupted with noise. The Generals shouted for silence, Mothma raising her hands as it was given, staring intently at the small group across from her.
"Why have you remained hidden? We could have used you these long hard years."
Padme exchanged glances with her husband and then he stepped forward to answer.
"Before Palpatine announced the advent of the Empire he had been trying to turn me to the Dark Side, to make me his apprentice for years, influencing my mind, having my mother kidnapped and killed, threatening my wife. He knew of my relationship with Padme, and therefore knew of our unborn child. If he did not think that both of us were dead he would have hunted us relentlessly. Our offspring would have been in constant danger of his quest to take them and make them his apprentice."
Padme took up the story at this point. "He would have been single-minded in pursuing the Rebellion if he knew we were with you, you would not have been given the chance to build and rally as you have. And we needed to wait until Luke was old enough to defend himself."
"Your intentions were honourable, my lady," Bail Organa agreed. "And you have done much good from the shadows with your network."
The gathering broke up at that point, Jyn Erso disappearing into the hanger, Bail, Mon, Padme, Anakin and Luke standing together.
"It's good to see you again Padme. It's been a long time," Mothma said softly.
"You've done a wonderful job, Mon. I've been watching from the sidelines. You should be so proud of yourself," she replied with a smile. "Now," turning serious, "what can we do to help?"
"I'm assuming you know that young Miss Erso is currently recruiting some of your soldiers to her cause," her husband added. "They'll take off shortly."
"That is their decision," Mothma said gravely. "But your offer of help is appreciated. There will be much to do soon certainly, and much that a Jedi could help with."
"Fly in the assault on the Death Star?" Bail offered.
"Yes," Mon confirmed. "Despite what the others say, war is inevitable."
"Yes, I agree," Bail said sadly. "I must return to Alderaan to inform my people that there will be no peace. We will need every advantage."
"Your friend…the Jedi?" Mon questioned.
"Jedi?" Anakin asked.
"He served me well during the Clone Wars and has lived in hiding since the Emperor's purge," Bail said, considering. "Yes, I will send for him."
"Him?" Padme said. "Who is this Jedi?"
"Someone very familiar to you, Master Skywalker," Bail said, even more quietly, as Mon Mothma drifted away slightly to give them some privacy.
"Not, not Obi-Wan? I thought he was gone?" Padme clasped her husband's hand as he said this, hope suffusing his voice.
Bail looked away for a moment and then his chin dipped in a slight nod. Padme covered her mouth and blinked away tears.
"He's on Tatooine, living as a hermit."
"Tatooine?" Anakin demanded in a harsh whisper. "What in the blazes is he doing there? He sunburns easily!"
Bail choked back a laugh even as he responded to the man who had been Obi-Wan Kenobi's closest friend and pseudo-brother.
"I believe he thought that the Empire would rarely visit there, and his belief has been borne out."
"Yes," Anakin agreed. "No-one, except apparently Obi-Wan, would willingly set foot on that dust-ball."
"Well, hopefully he will agree to rejoin the fight."
Mothma rejoined the group. "You will need someone you can trust," she said carefully.
"I would trust her with my life," Bail said backing towards the door, smiling, before he turned and headed out calling out for a Captain Antilles. Ah, Mothma mused, he was sending young Senator Antilles, his political prodigy, a young orphan who had been discovered to have extraordinary political talent. She was standing watching him retreat when she heard a groan from behind her. She turned to see Padme burying her face in her hands, Luke rubbing his forehead and Anakin fishing for something in the bag he carried. It appeared that Anakin was the one who had groaned.
Mothma raised her eyebrows as Padme lifted her face from her hands and turned to talk to her husband. She made her way over to the small group to see Anakin handing the thing he had dug out to his son. As it changed hands she caught sight of it. It flashed silver in the light and Mothma realised that he was handing Luke another lightsaber.
"Go and pull your sister out of whatever she's got herself into this time," he said with annoyance. "Just like her mother."
Padme coughed a laugh as she spluttered in outrage, "Just her mother Anakin? Do I need to remind you of several missions in the Clone Wars?"
"No," her husband objected quickly. "Just, Luke, take Solo and the Falcon and intercept the droids, collect Obi-Wan and then get your sister out of there."
"I'm sorry Master Skywalker," Mon Mothma interrupted. "Whom are you referring to? I was not aware that you and Padme had a daughter?"
"My twin sister," Luke offered. "Leia. She works for Viceroy Organa in his Senatorial offices. She has a talent, shall we say, for getting into scrapes. She will likely be the one to intercept the plans and take them with her to Alderaan."
"Yes," his father agreed. "Get going Luke. This needs to be timed perfectly."
His son nodded and disappeared into the hangar. Near the door Mothma caught sight of a tall Corellian, flanked by a Wookiee meeting him and they strode off together talking. The Senator returned her attention to his parents.
"Leia?" she demanded in a harsh undertone. "As in Senator Leia Antilles? She's yours?"
Padme nodded. "Bail met us shortly after the twins were born. We informed him of our intentions and offered to provide assistance should it be needed. A few years ago he contacted us and asked if I could provide him with an agent to work in the Senate. Leia volunteered to go. She adopted the surname Antilles, a common name as I'm sure you're aware on Alderaan, we forged papers and she took up the post. She's Jedi trained and has provided a lot of useful information. Imperials are very weak minded, you see," this was said with a smirk, before she shifted to a more pensive look. "We are very proud of her, as you can imagine."
"So we wait," Mothma said.
"So we wait," Padme agreed. "Although the Angel Network can do something."
A glance between her and Anakin was exchanged and then he grinned and headed outside, palming a comm as he went. Padme looked after him for a moment, a soft expression crossing her face, before she reverted to her previous business expression, an expression Mon recognized from her days in the Senate. The two women walked inside, Mon listening as Padme began to explain everything.
"The first thing you need to know," she began. "Is that Chancellor Palpatine is actually Darth Sidious, the Sith Lord who the Jedi had been looking for during the Clone Wars. Count Dooku's Master. He manipulated the events of the galaxy from the time of Naboo. His first apprentice was the one who slew Master Jinn. It was he who ordered the assassination attempts on me to trigger the vote on the military creation act, and he who ensured that as many Jedi were slaughtered as possible. His entire aim was rule of the galaxy," Padme ignored the shocked look that her companion was giving her as she continued her story. "He ordered his own kidnapping in order to bring my husband back from the front lines. When Ani and Master Kenobi rescued him and he returned to the Capital I was eight months pregnant. Anakin was thrilled when I told him. But that night he began having nightmares of my death in childbirth. The last time he had dreamed of someone's death it had come true, so he became obsessed with saving me from dying."
"Is that even possible?" Mothma questioned.
Padme gave her a dry look. "It's not of course," she said. "But Palpatine claimed that he had the solution. Anakin nearly went to him but I asked him how Palpatine knew of his dreams. That got him thinking pretty quickly, and after he told Master Windu of Sidious's identity he came to me and prepared me for the possibility of having to leave the planet rapidly," a shadow crossed her face briefly, "and it was a good thing he did. Palpatine had an acolyte who attacked Master Windu after he had defeated Palpatine and allowed Palpatine to kill Windu. He portrayed the legitimate attack on him by the Jedi as an assassination attempt and declared Order 66. His apprentice, whom he named a full Sith upon realising he wouldn't be able to turn Anakin, led the attack on the Temple. Ani and I decided that Palpatine wouldn't attack me publicly. He would want to use me to draw my husband out. So I went to the Senate and Anakin went to the Temple where he fought the troops for as long as he could, but to no avail. They slaughtered the younglings he was protecting. He still doesn't talk about to this day. After he escaped the Temple he came to me and took me off planet, we fled to Polis Massa, where I delivered our twins and then Artoo told us that he had intercepted a transmission from Obi-Wan in the Jedi Temple reversing the beacon. Anakin was delighted that his Master was alive, but then Obi-Wan disappeared from the Force. And that hope was shattered."
Mon Mothma looked at Padme and she looked back at her, blinking away tears.
"I recorded a message to Bail and my husband encrypted it so Artoo could transmit it. Bail rendezvoused with us a short while later and agreed to take a closed casket back to Naboo with him…"
"But Palpatine would have opened it and found out that you weren't dead!" Mothma interrupted.
"Yes," Padme agreed. "So Anakin and I purchased another ship using hidden accounts and set autopilot on my Senatorial cruiser to crash on a moon on the hyperspace route between Naboo and Coruscant. It would appear that I had come out of hyperspace unexpectedly and lost control. The Polis Massans provided us with a corpse from the morgue which we burnt to make only bones and ash which we placed in the casket. Then we sent the ship off and watched it crash."
She paused for a moment before continuing, remembering the moment where it went up in a ball of flame. "Then Bail left us, and we went into hiding. But I wanted to help. So I adopted Anakin's childhood nickname for me as my codename and we built our network. The best moment of the last 19 years, however was when Ani went to meet the first Fulcrum," Mothma sucked in a breath, realising who the first Fulcrum was, and what she meant to Skywalker. Padme nodded in agreement. "I'll never forget when he told me who Fulcrum was. He'd revealed his identity to her, but I had no problems with that. She of all people deserved to know who he was."
She closed her eyes and thought back to the events 3 years earlier.
3 years earlier. Aboard Fulcrum's ship. Just after the retrieval of Captain Rex.
A small ship docked with the corvette. It was nondescript. It could have blended in on any planet in the galaxy. But Ahsoka Tano, gazing from a viewport, knew that it carried something very important. A representative of the legendary Angel Network, perhaps the first one to personally meet with a member of the Rebel Alliance. She turned from the window to face Rex. The faithful Clone Captain was seated in a chair around the small conference table, feet resting on the table. She laughed and shook her head at him, montrols swinging, before turning back around to face the window.
At that moment the door behind her slid open, Kanan Jarrus stepping through. He placed his hands behind his back in the parade rest position before addressing her formally.
"Fulcrum, the representative of the Angel Network is outside."
"Send him in," she replied.
There was the sound of footsteps behind her and then the cabin door shut again. She could only feel Rex and one other in the room with her. A well shielded presence but still somehow familiar. Time to begin.
"Welcome," she said, turning around to face the representative and examining them. He, she, it, whoever they were, were tall and strong, an all-encompassing black cloak shielding all features. "I am…"
She was interrupted by an incredulous examination from her counterpart. "Snips?"
At the sound of the old nickname she tensed, hands going to her lightsabers. Rex swung his legs off the table and sat up, his hand on his blaster, his face focused. She narrowed her eyes and slipped the lightsabers off her belt before saying dangerously, "Only one person has ever called me that. How dare you…" and then it was her turn to have her sentence interrupted as the man, as it was clearly now a man, flung his hood back and her Master's face stared back at her, albeit obscured by the beard muffling his features. There was a splutter from behind her and Ahsoka herself choked on her breath.
"Skyguy?" she breathed.
"Snips, I thought you were dead!"
And then there was a sudden warmth and brightness in the Force enveloping her in love and affection and she knew that this was Anakin. One motion had the lightsabers back on her belt and then she was rounding the table fast, so fast, Anakin approaching her just as quickly. One step more and then he had lifted her off her feet, montrols swinging, and they were laughing. He put her down and went a step back, hands on her shoulders, eyes running over her, examining her for injury as he used to when she was his Padawan after a tough battle, and all of a sudden she felt fifteen again, young and inexperienced.
"Master."
"Padawan."
And just like that the universe settled back into its rightful place. It had been slightly out of kilter ever since Order 66 and she'd thought Anakin was dead. Skyguy's eyes flickered up to behind her where Rex had risen from his seat.
"Rex?" he asked incredulously.
"General," Rex snapped to a salute as easily as if were 20 years earlier and they were on the battlefield of Christophsis. Anakin's face relaxed into an easy smile and the faithful Captain grinned back.
"So," Anakin said conversationally, like they had just run into each other at a diner, not a clandestine rendezvous for the Rebellion. "You two been causing some trouble for our good friend the Emperor then?"
"You can say that," Rex responded with a chuckle. "Of course, its really the Commander who has been causing the most trouble. Her and her band. I only joined recently."
"Yes," Anakin agreed. "Fulcrum right?" he looked at Ahsoka.
"Fulcrum." she confirmed. "And you are the Angel's representative?"
He grimaced. "Representative sounds so formal," he complained. "I'm here to tell you what's what."
Ahsoka rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath. "What else is new?"
"Don't be snippy Snips," he said automatically. Then he took a breath and considered something, head on one side. "I can trust you guys to not even tell the Alliance this?" he asked dubiously.
"Tell the Alliance what?" Rex asked from behind her.
"The identity of the Angel."
"Well that's easy," Ahsoka replied, rolling her eyes again. "We promise. But I bet I can guess. There's only a few people you'd willingly take orders from, and I don't think you'd call Master Kenobi Angel. So how is Senator Amidala?"
Anakin gaped at her for a moment before laughing loudly. "She's fine Snips and you're right. Although technically it should be Senator Skywalker now."
"Skywalker!"
"Yeah."
"Well that explains a lot."
"It does?" this was said with the lift of an eyebrow.
"Assuming you were married during the Clone Wars?" this got a nod. "It explains a lot of missions, like I don't know Malevolence, the Blue Shadow Virus, the thing with the Banking Clan, the Hostage Crisis, the Zillo Beast, do I have to continue?"
Beside her Rex was trying to hold his laughter in as Anakin huffed. "Fine. Whatever."
"Wait," Rex interjected suddenly. "Wasn't the Senator pregnant at the end of the Clone Wars?"
"So she was Rex," Ahsoka agreed. Then light dawned. "You have a kid?"
"Two actually," Anakin smirked. "Twins. Luke and Leia." He produced a holoprojector from the folds of his clothing and clicked it on to show a holoimage of two teenagers, a blonde boy and a dark haired girl. They wore simple clothes, lightsabers clipped to their belts, arms wrapped around each other, grinning. Behind them Anakin and Padme stood, a hand on each of their children's shoulders, Anakin's arm around Padme's waist.Rex and Ahsoka looked at the image in silence for a moment before she giggled.
"They look just like you two! And trust you to have two children at once!"
"Yes," pride suffused the father's voice as he tucked the projector away again. "I've told them all about you guys. They, and Padme, will be thrilled to hear that you guys are alive." He considered something for a moment and then nodded. "Perhaps we could arrange a rendezvous so you could meet them at some point?"
Ahsoka felt her eyes welling up with tears, and beside her Rex was similarly afflicted. "That sounds good, Skyguy," she said hoarsely, sniffling.
He hugged her again, planting a kiss between her montrols, now much higher than they used to be. Her tears soaked his tunic and she felt him shake Rex's hand.
"The invitation goes for you too Captain," he said firmly.
"General, it would be an honour to meet your younglings."
"Not so much younglings anymore," Anakin said with a laugh, Ahsoka detaching herself from him. "They're 16 years old."
"Right," Ahsoka said, wiping her eyes with her tunic. "Let's get down to business. There's important things to discuss, and we don't want to prolong this rendezvous any longer than absolutely necessary. We have things to do."
"As do I," Anakin said with a familiar smirk. "Alright then," he bowed extravagantly. "At your command Agent Fulcrum. One moment." Skyguy pulled his hood up, wrapping his cloak around himself, heading to the door and calling something out in a muffled voice. A droid beeped cheerfully and whirled past him into the room, the door sliding shut behind him. Anakin pulled his hood down again and grinned as both Ahsoka and Rex recognised him.
"Artoo?"
He whirled his top again and then charged over, stopping a metre in front of them and projecting a still of the three of them during the Clone Wars.
"Nice to see you too buddy," Ahsoka said, kneeling down and throwing her arms around the faithful droid. He beeped softly in her ear.
"Artoo," came Anakin's voice, his General voice. "I need the data."
Artoo made a soft sound as he ejected something into Anakin's hand. A small datastick, smaller than Ahsoka had ever seen before. Anakin caught their looks and explained. "Mine and Artoo's design, specially adapted to carry more information and be concealed more easily. It holds everything we are willing to reveal to the Alliance at this time. And," he gestured again at Artoo who shot something out of his top port towards Ahsoka. She snatched it out of the air to reveal a miniature comm device.
"A comm?" she asked with raised eyebrows. "You know I have one of these Skyguy?"
"I'm sure you do Snips, but this one is linked into 3 unique frequencies in addition to Alliance frequencies and the normal ones which allow it to be disguised as a run-of-the-mill comm," she glanced up at him in shock. "This one is connected to three Angel frequencies. One of them will cause the comm to whirr softly when within 10 metres of an Angel operative. One will connect you directly to the cell that from now on will handle all communication with the Alliance. One of them will transmit a distress signal to Angel Command and all cells."
"And this little button on the side?" Ahsoka prompted.
"Will project the Angel callsign and image. To give you credibility with any of our cells should you come across them. Put your finger on it and then Rex you put your finger on it," they complied.
"It's now coded to you," he explained. "If you want to put the rest of your cell on it that would be a good idea, as well as High Command. It will prevent you accidentally showing the sign. There are 3 other notches in the side which will transmit the 3 Angel frequencies. Enjoy." This was said with his trademark smirk.
"Thanks, Anakin," Ahsoka said in shock.
"Welcome, but," this turning more serious. "Please tell the Alliance to only use it in absolute emergencies. The datastick should give them enough information for targets to take out for the next 18 months. If we deal with any of the targets listed then it will become white on the list. Then you know you needn't worry about that anymore."
"All right," she considered. "I'll give it to them."
"I should go now," he said sadly. "Padme will be wondering how much longer I'm going to be. But we'll see you soon. Artoo, go and prep the ship. Wait, half a sec, I'll be there in a minute Artoo."
The droid rolled out of the door as he dug in his belt pouch and finally producing a comm so tiny that only the call button and the video projector were installed.
"Here," he pro-offered it. "This will put you into direct contact with Padme or I. We'll arrange a meeting point through this. Do NOT lose it."
Ahsoka took the comm gently and fastened it to her own gauntlet, aware of the trust that Anakin was bestowing on her.
"Thank you, Master," she said gently. He shook hands with Rex, and they slapped each other's backs in comradeship.
Then her Master stepped in front of her. She met his eyes. "Keeping up your training, Padawan?"
She quirked a grin. "Taking down Inquisitors Master."
"Good job." He hesitated a moment and then hugged her again, murmuring into her montrols. "I will see you soon, youngling." One fatherly kiss between her montrols again and then he stepped away, drawing his cloak around his body. Hands went to his hood and then he checked and grinned at her.
"Besides, the kids will kill me if I come back, tell them I met Aunt 'Soka and Uncle Rex, and didn't invite them to visit."
With that he drew the hood over his head and left the room. There was a shudder as his fighter detached from her corvette. Ahsoka and Rex were still standing, gaping at the door, when Kanan, Ezra and the crew of the Ghost entered the room.
"Uncle? Aunt?" Rex spluttered.
"Rex?" Ezra questioned.
"Nothing," Ahsoka intervened. "Just some codenames that the Angel network have applied to us."
"So the meeting was successful?" Kanan asked.
"Very," Ahsoka said, eyes still fastened on the door through which Anakin had departed. "We have important information for the Alliance delivered by the representative. You'll need to detach. Set course for Yavin IV."
The Ghost Crew's faces split into grins and they sped out of the room quickly.
Present Day
"So," Padme said, concluding her story. "We've built up the Network, and we've only got stronger since then. I've got agents in almost every rank of the Empire. Our sabotage is only becoming more efficient. My spies inform me that the Emperor is incensed. Anakin and I are delighted." She smiled with a glee that Mon was unaccustomed to seeing on her face.
"Well," Mothma said. "You've done a lot of good for the Alliance, and a lot of bad for the Empire. You are to be congratulated for everything that you have done."
Padme inclined her head graciously. "Thank you Supreme Commander that means a lot to my husband and I."
The two women smiled a smile of mutual understanding. At that moment Anakin Skywalker rejoined them, pocketing the comm, and sliding a look at and a nod to his wife. She smiled, satisfied, and then bowed slightly to Mothma. "We have something to deal with Mon. We'll be back in a few minutes."
The two of them disappeared out the back door and vanished among the crowds on the base swiftly.
Leia Skywalker crouched in a corner near the escape pods on her ship. She had just given the plans to R2, so hopefully he and 3PO were off the ship and taking the plans to the Rebellion, getting Obi-Wan Kenobi en route. She had felt the shudders as the boarding party docked with them, and had felt through the Force her men die. But she couldn't risk communicating with her brother. Not when Darth Malum was no doubt on board. R2 had her lightsaber as well, she was armed only with a blaster. She slipped the white hood off her head and stepped around the escape pod, hitting the lead stormtrooper with Force-given accuracy before turning and running. She heard the blaster and then felt the stun ray hit her back, before collapsing to the ground. 'Alderaan' was her last thought before she blacked out.
Luke Skywalker stood on the surface of Tatooine, just outside of Mos Eisley, a small datapad on his hand. On it was shown the trackers of R2-D2 and C3PO. They were headed towards the Jundland Wastes. He heaved a sigh and headed back inside the cantina. Han Solo and Chewbacca were seated at a table in the back and he slipped into the booth opposite them.
"I've found them. I'm heading out now."
"Alright," Solo responded. "The Falcon will be warmed up and ready."
"I'll see you in a few hours." With that, Luke rose and went out of the cantina. On stepping onto the street he made a scan of the surrounding area and then made his way over to a Twi'lek male who handed him the key to a speeder before slipping off towards the spaceport.
Moments later Luke Skywalker was speeding across the dust plains in search of the plans for the Death Star. He was into the Jundland Wastes when he heard the panicked cry of Tusken raiders as they scattered from the call of a Krayt Dragon. But there was no large Force signature ahead. Only a small, blazing one. It appeared that Master Kenobi had found the droids. Luke stopped the speeder and leapt out, running around the border. Artoo was wobbling next to a prone Threepio. A figure in a brown robe was stooped over him, but on sensing Luke's presence his head jerked up.
"Master Luke!" Threepio cried.
"Hello Threepio," he acknowledged, his eyes on the figure who was backing away as he approached. "Excuse me Sir, would you happen to know an Obi-Wan Kenobi?"
The figure stopped and Luke felt utter shock roil in the Force before it was absorbed. The shrouded man lifted leathery hands to his hood and then flung it back. The man hidden beneath was old; tanned hard skin under a beard and hair that was more white than auburn now. He was still dressed in the robes of the Jedi but they were worn and stained. He was strong, although Luke could feel through the Force that he was consciously projecting an aura of fragility, so he appeared to have maintained his Jedi training even through his exile. Luke met the blue-green eyes of the old man which seemed completely hopeless and full of sadness, although wariness was now entering them.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan" he said, contemplation entering his voice. "Now, that's a name I've not heard in a long time. A long time"
"Do you know him?"
"Well, of course I know him. He's me."
"I see," Luke said. "Well, in that case, Master Kenobi, R2 here has a message for you."
"Let's go back to my house then. The Tuskens will return soon," Master Kenobi said. "We can view the message in safety there."
Once in Obi-Wan's small desert house R2 played the message and Luke saw his sister just before her capture. Once it was over Kenobi sat back in his chair and stroked his beard.
"Master Kenobi," Luke said, leaning forward in his chair. "I'm a member of the Angel network, we're allied with the Rebel Alliance. Senator Antilles is affiliated with the Alliance. She managed to get a message to us and I came here to retrieve the droids, and to find you, which was the Senator's mission, and to ask you to join the Aliiance. If you're willing Master, that is."
"I see," he replied, still stroking his whiskers. "And how can I be sure that you are not affiliated with the Empire."
Luke turned his head to look at R2. "You recognise these droids? They used to belong to Anakin Skywalker," there was a shallow nod. "R2, show the Malevolence mission."
The astromech displayed a hologram depicting two Jedi Knights fighting alongside one another. Obi-Wan Kenobi leant forward, eyes fixed intently on it. "Yes I remember."
"So you will come?" Luke asked.
"Yes. Let me gather a few things." The old Jedi rose from his chair and leant over a chest, pulling things from it, and stowing them in a satchel.
"I have a speeder, and a ship waiting for us at a docking bay at Mos Eisley," Luke explained. "Artoo, you and Threepio go and get in the speeder. I'll gather some provisions."
He moved into the kitchen and began gathering food and water. After only a few moments the Jedi Master appeared, cloak pulled around himself, satchel over his shoulder and a roll of sleeping mat and clothes tucked under the other arm. They left the hovel quickly and sped into Mos Eisley. Luke pulled up outside the Falcon's docking bay, Han leaning against the door frame. The droids hobbled swiftly past him to the small Corellian freighter and Luke handed off the key to the operative who brushed against him before heading towards the Captain, the Jedi following him. Once onboard the Falcon and safely into hyperspace the Jedi Master finally rose from where he had been seated off to the side.
"You are Force-Sensitive, young Luke, are you aware of this?" he observed. Obi-Wan Kenobi examined the young man who had found him in the desert. Young, maybe 19, blonde hair, blue eyes, dressed in white desert wear underneath a long poncho. He looked like Anakin.
"I am aware," he responded calmly without glancing at the Jedi, then he strode past him into the main cabin, grabbing a helmet on the way with the blast shield down. Obi-Wan followed to see him plant the helmet on his head and switch on a small probe droid which levitated and began to spin. Obi-Wan recognised an exercise for the younglings from the Temple. So this young man had been trained, at least for a little while, with a Jedi. Sure enough, he produced a lightsaber from underneath the poncho and lit it. A green beam shot out and he began deflecting the bolts. The Jedi Master sat down again and watched in amazement. The young man was surprisingly skilled. It appeared that servants of the light side were rising again in the galaxy. For 5 minutes Kenobi just observed the exercise. Then the young man shut the lightsaber off and pushed the helmet back, turning to face Obi-Wan, the probe droid landing in his hand, lightsaber hooking to his belt. He tilted his head to the side.
"I sense you are intrigued Master Kenobi," he said quietly. "And you are wondering where I got my training."
"Yes," Obi-Wan admitted. "The exercise you were just performing is a Jedi one. I am wondering where you learnt it."
"From my father. He taught me all about the Jedi," Luke explained. "My name is Luke, yes. But my full name is Luke Skywalker."
Obi-Wan staggered back at the name. His former Padawan, his brother's name, attached to the young man in front of him. Impossible. It was like seeing a ghost. "Skywalker?" he said incredulously, hopefully.
"My father is Anakin Skywalker," the boy responded. "Your former Padawan I understand. I've heard stories about you my whole life."
"Anakin is alive? You are his son?"
The boy's eyes were filled with compassion as he gazed at the old Jedi who was shaking slightly. "Yes, my parents run the Angel Network, and have done since myself and my twin sister were born."
"Ah, Padme," Obi-Wan mused, before shooting his eyes to Luke's face. "I assume she is your mother, and the inspiration for the name."
"Very astute Master Jedi," he commentated.
Obi-Wan waved a hand. "Angel was Anakin's childhood nickname for Padme, and I wasn't blind through the Clone Wars. I could sense their feelings went beyond friendship, but I wasn't prepared to confront either of them about it. They deserved their happiness."
"Well, they've been looking for you for a long time, although they thought you were dead for several years. I think you reappeared briefly in the Force around when I was seven. Too briefly for Dad to be sure that it was you, but it gave him some hope."
Obi-Wan felt his eyes watering and unashamedly brushed tears from his weather-beaten cheeks.
Luke smiled. "We're going to rescue my sister, Leia, from the Death Star, before heading to the base at Yavin IV. Mum and Dad are there, waiting. Artoo's transmitting the plans right now."
"I doubt that very much," Obi-Wan said dryly. "Anakin never sat still for more than a few hours at a time. 'Always on the move' was what I used to say to him."
Luke Skywalker laughed. He laughed like Padme and for a moment Obi-Wan Kenobi felt emotion overwhelming him again as old memories emerged.
On the Death Star Leia Antilles (well, Skywalker, but she wasn't about to tell Tarkin that) was standing in front of the Grand Moff himself. She was still strong after hours of torture at the hands of Darth Malum, and she refused to bend to this weasel of a man. Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, the Commander of the Death Star, was bragging something about this weapon being the ultimate power in the universe. Internally she rolled her eyes. She knew, even if he didn't, that there was no way that this weapon was firing on anything, except maybe small fighters, any time soon. Her mother's agents had made sure of that. Alderaan was safe. She, however, was not. She suddenly focused, Tarkin was addressing her directly. She reacted the way that he was expecting her to, screaming, pleading, capitulation. He reacted the way she anticipated. Pride, vanity, arrogance and finally triumph and delight at her feigned pain.
"You may fire when ready."
Lights flashed around her and finally a lever was pressed down. Nothing happened. Tarkin rounded on his engineers, shouting, demanding to know what had happened, why the weapon wasn't working.
"Quite the power Governor," Leia said mockingly. "I'm in awe."
He struck her across the face, her head snapping to the side, as Malum steadied her. Tarkin ordered her back to her cell. As she was forced off the bridge she heard him barking orders to send a garrison to Dantooine. She knew that all they'd find there would be an abandoned base, and a spray painted Angel sign. Her brother had made sure of it. Once back in her cell Leia relaxed and stretched out slightly in the Force. Tarkin and Malum's anger bled into the Force, but beyond it Leia could sense the shielded signature of her twin brother approaching. Another powerful signature was shielded similarly alongside him, and beside them the two weaker signatures of Han and Chewie. Leia relaxed back into her body and decided to rest a little. She would need to conserve her energy for the escape.
On the Millennium Falcon Luke Skywalker sensed his twin sister's gentle probing, and knew she would be ready for him when he arrived. The ship dropped out of hyperspace to reveal the beautiful blue orb of Alderaan floating in the void, the Death Star orbiting it menacingly. The Falcon shot towards the Death Star and sure enough they were caught in the tractor beam. Obi-Wan followed him, Han, Chewie and the droids into the smuggling compartments, Luke concealing both his and his sister's lightsabers in his clothing. The ship shook as they entered one of the Death Star hangers and the smuggling compartment thudded down on top of them.