PART 1

PART 1

Disclaimer: All this stuff, except my characters are a part of Lucasfilm, and Lucas gets all rights to it.  This story was written for fun, and not for any money.

Dramatis Personae

Aleese Sundancer, Human Female, daughter of Casa Sundancer (Hapes)

Jacen Solo, Human Male, Jedi Knight (Coruscant)

Luke Skywalker, Human Male, Jedi Master (Tatooine)

Mara Jade Skywalker, Human Female, Jedi Master (Coruscant)

Anakin Solo, Human Male, Jedi Knight (Coruscant)

Jaina Solo, Human Female, Jedi Knight, Rogue Squadron (Coruscant)

Nichos Cloudkicker and Fait Waverunner, Human Males (Unknown)

Leia Organa-Solo, Human Female, Ambassador (Alderaan)

Han Solo, Human Male (Corellia)

Droma, Ryn Male (Corporate Sector)

Actual Story J

To Every Up

          ~Aleese Sundancer

CHAPTER 1

            Aleese Sundancer paused and reflected briefly as she looked around her small home.  Hurrying to get dinner on the table for her mother, she put down her bag and prepared some chicken and threw it into the oven.  Working quickly, she got most of her homework done, flipped on the Holo-com to check for messages and had the table set.  This would leave her the night to finally rest and with luck, have some fun.

            A few hours later, she peered out the window.  It was not dark outside, and the chicken was dry and burnt.  Now starting to worry, she started to pace.  It wasn't out of the ordinary for her mother to be late from work, but she had never forgotten to call home. They were quite wealthy, retaining most of their wealth from the days of the Empire, but her mother was always content to serve her Mistress.  While she paced, she looked at the pictures on the mantle.  Many were of her mother and father on their home planet of Alderaan.  The happy couple often stood arms wrapped around each other, in front of magnificent landscapes of waterfalls and grasslands.  Several were of her and her mother on Hapes, smiling, or school pictures.  Not a single picture of her, held her father.  She hadn't been given the chance to know her father.  Her parents had fled Alderaan to the Hapes Cluster, but her father was back on business the day of the explosion.  Only weeks after the incident, her mother had discovered she was pregnant with Aleese.  While Hapes was the only home she'd ever known, she often sought to travel abroad, see the sites, find a home that was all her.  Her mother's mistress was a wonderful woman, taking care of her mother, and herself, as they faced the hardest times.  She paid them back every day by attending school, and watching the Mistress's daughter while at school.  The two were friends, which made her task much more pleasurable.  Smiling, she stared at a few select pictures of her father.  Her head never really out of the clouds, she often imagined meeting him in the life beyond, or finding out he had never died.

            Worried about her mother, she threw the burnt chicken into the fridge and sat down to enjoy a few fruits to hold her over until her mother arrived. 

           

            Staring straight ahead, unable to tear her eyes from the stone, Aleese wept silently.  Her mother's name, etched into the marble, marked her mother's existence.  Few attended the ceremony, leaving her feeling more alone than ever.  Her mother's Mistress stood nearby, resting her arm on Aleese's shoulder, and followed her unwavering gaze. 

            "I'm sorry Aleese. I should have sent one of the men to guide her home.  I hadn't expected it."  She whispered to Aleese quietly, her tone of sympathy and shared grief.

            "I know, Mistress.  I thank you for everything."  She muttered back, her eyes not moving.

            "I know you'll want to leave, to find yourself somewhere else.  I as your mother had, have set aside some credits, mainly New Republic, so that you are able to do as you wish.  Remember, you will always have a home here with us."  She said quietly, turning to look at Aleese's profile.

            Turning to look at her mother's Mistress, she opened her mouth to say something, but found the words would not form.  Seeing that she was struggling, her mother's Mistress tugged her gently into a hug, and held her dear.

            "Your ship, the New Hope, is waiting at our docking bay.  Leave when you are ready, but please, say goodbye."  She said, moving away.  She nodded to the priest, and took her daughter back home. Soon, everyone had left, and Aleese was left standing, her stare back at its original point.

            "Oh Mother.  I wish you had taken the speeder, instead of letting me have it.  Or had called me.  You knew better than to walk home through the streets, especially with everyone in the mood after the Vong.  Why mother? Why did you have to die?  WHY DID YOU DIE?" She screamed at the stone. It seemed to mock her feelings.  Falling to her knees, she wept into her hands and threw her jeweled veil at the stone, hugging the grass.

            Setting the ship into Hyperspace, she headed back towards the kitchen in the back.  Sitting down at the table she stared out one of the windows at the stars as they rushed by.  Having taken all the money, save a bit, and said her good byes, she left Hapes.  Watching the planet as she sped away, she said a silent good bye to her mother and headed off to Coruscant, at the Heart of the New Republic.  

CHAPTER 2

            Aleese set her ship down in a grungy spaceport.  Locking it up securely, and making sure all the codes were set, she turned on her comm.  The ship would notify her if anyone touched it.  Looking around, she knew that she didn't want to attract any attention to herself, so as to not bring hope to the people of the Republic that the Hapans were back in the fight.  Nodding at a beggar, and tossing him a credit, she headed down towards the dark under levels of the huge city.

            Lying in the small, uncomfortable and dirty cot, she stared at the ceiling.  It was spotted with water, and the room reeked of brandy.  She wrinkled her nose slightly, and stood up, getting into her outfit, and headed off to work.  With the inflow of people into Coruscant, there seemed to be few jobs available to her.  Settling almost happily with the Waitresses job in a small bar, she felt as if no one would know who she was.  She didn't want to be the daughter of an Alderaanian, or a Hapan; she wanted to be…well, whatever it was she was meant to be.  Walking into the room, in the scant outfit, she drew a few stares.  The dark green, tight fitting, mini-dress clung to her curves and accented the red in her hair.  Her blue-green eyes searched the tables for the regulars, looking out for those who gave good tips.  The light bounces off the gold streaks in her hair, giving her the air of an Angel, and yet, her demeanor gave off the impression of a sewer rat.  Walking over to the bartender, she smiled slightly, grabbed her small apron, and walked between the tables, getting orders. 

            "You. You don't belong here!" A voice called from behind her.  Ignoring it, and believing it to be in regards to someone else, she didn't acknowledge it until a warm hand turned her around.  She turned, and looked into the face of an obviously haggard and grieving man. His hair was tinged with silver at the temples, and his clothes were ragged.  Looking at him, she directed him back to his table.

            "You've had too many drinks, sir.  I think I'll get you some bread." She said, turning to walk away.

            "I am right. You belong somewhere better. I can tell, you walk too proudly sometimes, when you're caught off guard, and that betrays you.  I know all about those who are at the top."

            "Sir. Just sit down before you regret something." She said, warning him and turning around again. She whirled when he grabbed her hand.

            "Leave her alone, Solo. She's a good waitress. She wanted the job, and she's good at it.  Besides, we haven't had someone look that good in the uniform in a while." The Bartender said, motioning towards the other waitress, a Ryn who made her outfit look like a loincloth.  The Ryn made a face at him, and turned around. 

            "What is your name?" The man asked her, ignoring the Bartender.

            "Aleese.  Aleese Sundancer." She said, quietly, attempting to go help others.

            "You from Tatooine?"  He asked, as if something in the back of his mind made her name sound familiar.

            "No, sir. Now, please, if you'll let me, I need to work."

            "Where are you from?" He asked.  She backed away from him and shook her head, and headed towards the next table.  "Oh forget you." He muttered and stared at his Corellian Whiskey. 

            "Ignore Solo. He's grieving over the loss of his partner." Her boss remarked, as she picked up more glasses. She nodded and got back to work.

CHAPTER 3   

Aleese let out a long sigh as she left the bar, heading back out to serve the crowd again. Steadily, she was making a lot of money, enjoying the freedom of not being anyone at all. Not a servant, not a daughter, just…herself.  She had made a few friends within the crowd of regulars, but no one she would trust her life with.   While serving a table, she didn't even realize that two figures had entered the doorway.         

            "Solo, why the heck did you wanna come down here?" Droma muttered.

            Aleese almost spun around at that name.  She faced the two and then quickly went to the bar.

            "He looks better this time. Who's the other one?" She muttered

            "Must be the new partner." He muttered back

            "I wanna take my break alright?" She asked. He nodded, and Aleese headed to the doorway.

            "Wait. Waitress!" Someone called. She turned slightly to face Solo and his partner.

            "Solo, leave her alone." His partner muttered.

            "Look. I do remember somewhat what I did.  Please, I'm sorry. Just, tell me where you're from.  I want to put you in touch with some people who could…"

            "No. Look…'Solo', I just wanna be left alone." She said.  Quickly, he dragged her back to a table in the corner and lowered his voice.

            "My name is Han Solo.  I promise I won't hurt you. This here is Droma.  I just wanna know why someone who obviously is better than a hole like this, is here.  If you need help getting home, I have some connections still."

            "I don't need to get home, Solo. I have my own ship."

            "You've got money!" He exclaimed.  "And you ain't from around here, otherwise you wouldn't have that ship anymore"

            "I know about the Vong. There is a reason why I have a ship.  Please, I just want to go back to my room."

            "You own that Hapan ship!" He said, sounding as if he had a lightning bright idea.  She merely shrugged. "You're coming with me.  The NR people think its got a bomb in it, and were gonna blow it."

            "No, they can't do that.  That ship has my…." She said, standing up and rushing out.

            "Get away from my Ship!" She called out to the people surrounding it.

            "This is your ship young lady?" One of the men called out.

            "Yes. Now get away from it!"

            "You have any proof?" He asked, mockingly. She hit the pad on it, and it opened.

            "It was a gift to me from a friend.  See no bombs.  Now, go away."

            " The New Republic is confiscating this ship for planetary defense."

            "You can't. You have no right." She said, blocking their way.

            "Why not. You are a NR citizen!" He proclaimed

            "No, I'm not." She said, pulling out her ID. "I am a citizen of the Hapan Consortium." She told him, and showed him her ID.  He looked it over, and slid it into an identifier.  It beeped affirmative.

            "Well then, Ms. Sundancer.  Why are you on Coruscant?"

            "Personal reasons." She told him

            "Such as?"

            "She's with me." Solo told him. He nodded.

            "Yes captain." He nodded to her and turned on heel and took his friends with him.

            "Thank you, Solo." She nodded, and headed into her ship.

            "Han?  Where were you?" A voice called out. Suddenly a large group of people appeared at the door, a family. 

            "Sorry Leia.  I was showing Droma the sights.  This is Aleese Sundancer." He motioned towards Aleese as she attempted to get the people to clear off to she could get out of here.

            "Leia…Leia Organa?" She asked her.  The woman nodded.

            "You don't know any of the others here?" She asked suspiciously.

            "Not really.  I only know of you from your visit to Hapes. And of the battle." She responded. "You are also from the same home planet as my parents were."

            Leia took a small step back, as if trying to remember something.  She then shook her head lightly and introduced those around her. "You know Han.  This is Luke Skywalker, my brother, and his wife Mara.  These are my children Jacen, Jaina and Anakin." She nodded and held Jacen's gaze.  His brown eyes seemed to see something in her, that she didn't want him to.  She shifted her gaze to look at Mara.  Something passed through her mind.

            "You're Expecting?" She asked her.  Mara blushed slightly, and the group turned to look at her."

            "Well, Skywalker, cover's blown." She muttered. "Time to bail."

            "Mara? You're pregnant?" Leia asked. The rest seemed almost dumbfounded.

            "Yes.  Luke and I are going to have a son." She told them, then seemed to half glare at Aleese.  Aleese blushed and shrugged slightly. How was she to know?