STAR WARS: An Old Friend's Secret

This book is written to Stephanie Jackson.

She has been an inspiration to me in every thing I

do and has inspired this book. We all love you very

much and miss you even more. And also to those who

knew I could do it, and you know who you are.

Chapter 1

The children were finally in bed. Leia Organa Solo was getting ready for a play that she had wanted to see. She was dragging her husband, Han Solo, and her brother along too. Luke Skywalker never said that he didn't want to go, but Han had. He had no desire to get dressed up in clothes he was not comfortable in and sit threw a play that he didn't want to see. But Han decided to go, if not only to spend time with his wife without children tugging at his arm. Plus, Leia had told him she would go without him if he didn't come. Some of the other members of the Senate where going also so that would give Leia a chance to socialize outside of their usual meetings. Han also knew that at least Luke was going to be there. Nothing is ever boring with Luke around

"Leia, are you ready? We have to meet Luke in ten minutes."

Leia walked out of the bedroom in a long black evening gown and was fiddling with her earrings. She rarely had occasion to wear this particular dress but Han loved the way she looked in it. "Okay, I'm ready to go. Do I look alright?"

"You look beautiful." The impatient ness from Han's voice was gone.

"Thank you. Now let's go we'll be late."

"Coming."

They were to meet Luke at the entrance of the playhouse. The got into the hover car and took off. That's when Han looked and saw that they had left an hour before the play was to start.

"Leia?"

"Yes?"

"Is there something wrong with this clock?"

"No, why?"

"Well it says we have an hour before the show starts." Han did not want to show up early.

"I know."

"Why?" Leia could tell by Han's tone he was not too excited about standing around and talking to others before the play started.

"We have to show up early enough to be able to talk to some of the other senators." She knew as soon as the words left her mouth that that was not a reason Han would have taken. "Plus, it gives you a chance to get this grouchiness out of you system."

"Me? Grouchy?"

"Han, just be nice."

"Why? Who is gonna be there I don't like?"

"I don't know but there is bound to be someone."

"Thanks." Han knew she was right. He knew that most of those attending would be the high-class beings of Coruscant would be there. And there were some of them he didn't care for. But he would be 'nice' because Leia asked him to. It was time for him to put on his friendly face, they were here. And Han could see Luke standing to the side of the entrance.

Han and Leia got out of the hover car and got a piece of paper from the valet. They walked over where Luke was standing. Luke knew how much Han hated to dress in formal wear. And a smile came across his face. He walked over to meet them. Leia gave Luke a hug.

"Hi, Luke."

"Hi, Leia." Luke turned to Han and his smile widened. "Hi, Han."

"Don't, Luke."

"Okay." Luke could tell that Han didn't want to be here but only came because Leia had wanted him to. That was the same partial reason the Luke came.

They walked inside the playhouse. The stair case that lead to the next floor, looked as if it was made of gold. Each entryway to the seats had a red curtain that was tied back with a golden colored rope. To the left was what looked to be a bar, but no one seemed to be working it. Luke had never been to this playhouse, so all of it was new to him. Leia saw a senator standing next to the bar and decided she wanted to speak to him for just a moment.

"I would like to get a look around this place. I'll be back before the play starts."

"Alright, we'll be somewhere near here." Han didn't want to go exploring with Luke so he decided to stay back with Leia. Han watched as Luke headed up the stairs. Leia was talking to the senator; Han just stood by Leia and listened.

She could see Captain Solo from across the room. He looked rather bored. This would be a good time to talk to him. Maybe it would be easier to talk to him than to Senator Organa Solo.

"Aunt Losa, I'll be back in just a moment."

"Okay, darling."

She could feel a nervous feeling in her stomach. She was half way across the room, and there was no way she could turn back now. She was only a few steps away when, who-ever-it-was walked away from Senator Organa Solo. She could not back down now, not after all this time.

"Hello Senator Organa Solo. Hello Captain Solo."

Han was a bit taken back. He didn't know who this woman was that just walked up and started talking to them. He thought maybe Leia knew who she was. But in her tone he could tell she did not.

"Hi, how are you?"

"I'm thank you. I hate to disturb you but I had heard that you were good friends on Luke Skywalker. I was wondering if you could tell me if he will be present here tonight." The young woman was soft spoken.

"Actually he is here somewhere. I just don't know where exactly. I could tell him you are looking for him." Leia suggested that because she wanted to find out who this woman was that wanted to see her brother.

"No, my presence here is to be a ...surprise. I'll try to find him." The woman walked to the end of the stair case and began speaking with an older woman.

"Do you know who that is?" Han asked Leia.

"No, but I think she's okay. She doesn't seem dangerous."

"She did seem nervous. Maybe we should tell Luke about our little run-in with the mystery blonde." Han also wanted to know who she was.

"No I think things will be alright. Plus, Luke doesn't really need us watching over him."

The music began to play and that was everyone's queue to head into the theater. People and other beings started to head to the curtained entryways. Leia wanted to find Luke, but he was to meet them back at the bar. They would have to wait for him here. Leia noticed that the young woman that had spoken with them was not headed up the stairs with everyone else. She stood at the end of the staircase, as if she was waiting for someone. That made Leia feel uneasy.

Luke had walked all over the second floor just looking around. He was headed to the staircase when the music started. He realized he had lost track of time and he picked up his pace just a bit. Luke used the Force to find out where Leia was. They were still waiting for him by the bar. He could tell she was a little worried about where he was. He saw the staircase and looked over the railing to see Han and Leia still waiting for him. He had to force his way through the crowd that was headed up the stairs. Most everyone had left the lobby. It seemed it was just Leia, Han, a couple of other people and the playhouse employees. Luke came down the stairs and was walking toward Han and Leia when he got the feeling someone was following him. And then he heard a voice form behind him.

"Luke Skywalker!"

The voice mad him stop dead in his tracks. He heard the sound of, what he could figure were, high heels coming up behind him. But the voice whose was it? It sounded so familiar and yet he couldn't place who it belonged to. The voice sounded a bit angry and that was not good. He realized he had his back to who ever this person was.

The voice continued, "Tell me one good reason why I shouldn't blow you into a billion pieces right here and now."

Luke still could not place the voice. He tried to use the Force but still could not identify who this woman was. "Tell me what I did to make you want to blow me up and I'll try to tell you why you shouldn't."

"You made me an important promise that you did not keep." The harshness was gone from her voice. He knew that she was no danger to him. He knew now that it was safe to turn around. First, he saw Han and Leia as he turned. Leia had gone from worried to terrified. He completed the turn to see who it was that was threatening him.

Standing in front of him was a woman; she looked at least five standard years younger than him. She was wearing a strapless, ivory, evening gown. She had fair skin and was a few inches shorter than Luke, even with the high heels. She had medium brown hair, curled and fell mid-way down her back. He looked into her eyes; they were a beautiful mixture of bluish-green. He had only seen that color once before. And then it hit him who was standing in front of him.

"Nomi?"

"I was scared for a second you had forgotten all about me."

Luke jogged to her and gave her a hug. She pulled back and smiled at him. A curl fell in front of her face and Luke tucked it behind her ear. Han and Leia walked up to them, assuming everything was alright.

"How did you know to find me here?" Luke didn't care really how she had found him. He was extremely happy to see this particular friend.

"I didn't. My Aunt brought me. I overheard someone mention that you were here. I knew I had to find you." Nomi was a soft spoken person and very sweet as well but Luke didn't know if Han and Leia realized that.

"Nomi, I want to introduce you to my sister Leia Organa Solo and her husband Han Solo. Han, Leia, this is Nomica. Nomi for short. This is Biggs Darklighter's little sister."

"Luke, I didn't know you had a sister."

"Well he didn't really know either until about ten years ago." Leia was felling better knowing that Luke had known her. She could tell they had catching up to with his friend. "Luke, Han and I are going to go sit down. It was nice to meet you Nomica."

"It was nice to meet you both as well." Nomi was just as excited to see Luke as he was to see her. She remembered though, where she was and that she needed to control how excited she got. She waited until Han and Leia were out of hearing range. "I can't believe its you."

"I can't believe how much you've grown up since the last time I saw you. You look so different, yet exactly the same." Luke was starting to realize how silly he sounded.

"And you haven't changed at all." Nomi had expected some change but there really wasn't any.

"Are you staying here in the capitol?" Luke hoped the answer was yes.

"No. I would like to. I don't think my Aunt will let me though." She hated the thought that she was still under the watchful eye of her Aunt.

"Nomi, you should stay a week or so. Plus, I don't think you should need your Aunt's permission"

"Luke, she'll call my father. And then we will both be in trouble."

"Oh. I remember him. Not a man you can forget too easily." Luke's tone was not a happy one. Nomi's father was the reason they had not seen each other in almost fifteen years. There was silence neither of them knew what to say and the music had stopped, signaling that the play had started.

Nomi was looking down at her hand and then realized Luke's hand was wrapped around hers. She looked up into those blue eyes of his. "Think you can help find me a cheap place to stay?"

Luke was excited over the thought of her staying in town, if just for one night. "I know somewhere you can stay for free."

"Luke, I don't think-"

"No, I meant in the palace," Luke said cutting her off. "How are you going to get away from your aunt?"

"You know me, I'll find a way. Just meet me by the bar after the show is over. Okay?"

"Okay. I need to go anyway. Leia will be sending Han to come check on me soon. I'll meet you at the bar." Luke gave her another hug, but this one much longer. He whispered to her, "It's nice to have you back."

During the play Luke could think of nothing else except Nomica. He was clearly distracted. He felt Han nudge his arm. He looked over at Han as he was nodding to the back. Han got up and Luke followed. They walked out and down the stairs and into the lobby.

"What is wrong, Luke?" Han knew what Luke was thinking about. He just wanted Luke to admit it for himself.

"Han, what are you talking about? I'm fine." Han gave Luke a 'yeah, right' look. Luke continued, "I'm just a little distracted that's all."

"Does it have something to do with that Nomica chick you introduced us to earlier? It does just admit it."

"Look, Han, it's complicated. She, Biggs, and I were all best friends. Always together and always in trouble. Biggs left for the academy, their father sent her to live with her aunt, and then a little while later I left."

"I can tell there is something you aren't telling me because that didn't sound too terribly complicated."

"Maybe later. Do you think we could get a ride with you and Leia to the palace?

"We? Sure you and your friend can have a ride."

"Nomi is going to stay in one of the guest suites. Plus, I had taken a cab and Leia had already told me that you two could take me home. I just wanted to see if you had room for one more passenger."

"Well that's good because I hope you didn't forget that you promised Leia that you would watch the twins and Anakin tomorrow."

"No, I hadn't forgotten. Nomi will be hanging around some. But she use to baby-sit back home all the time." Luke paused for a moment, he had an idea that he wanted to run by Han. "Do you think that we could all have breakfast tomorrow? I can pick up the twins and you guys can get to know Nomi more."

"I don't know Luke."

"Fine, we can have it at my place."

"Alright, I have to run it by Leia too though."

"Han that's fine, just let me know. And thanks."

"It's not a problem. But Luke, in turn you have to tell me the rest of the story."

"Ok, Han you got deal."