I know. I know. You're sitting here on the computer not believing that this is up because it's not supposed to be out until tomorrow… I know. But I'm so happy right now. My teacher extended the due date for my essay and so I have a whole extra five days. That means my paper isn't due for another almost two weeks! Yay! I was so happy I said "Well, I'll go ahead and make someone else's day and put this up. So here it is! Read, enjoy, and leave lots and lots of reviews!
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Chapter One
"Padmé, I must find him."
"I can't…"
"Anakin is the father isn't he?"
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"Obi-Wan told me terrible things…"
"Obi-Wan is trying to turn you against me…"
"Anakin, all I want is your love."
"Love won't save you Padmé…"
"I don't know you anymore! Anakin, you're breaking my heart. I love you, but you are going down a path I can't follow."
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"You've turned her against me!"
"Your anger and lust for power have already done that."
"If you're not with me, you're my enemy."
"I will do what I must."
"You will try."
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"You were the chosen one! It was said you would destroy the sith, not join them. Bring balance to the force, not leave it in darkness!"
"I hate you!
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"Luke."
"Leia."
"Obi-Wan. There's good in him. I know… there's still…"
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"Dart Vader. Can you hear me?"
"Where is Padmé? Is she safe? Is she alright?"
"I'm afraid that in your anger, you killed her."
"I-I what? No. She was alive. I felt it. NO!"
Pesinoé snapped out of her meditation with a sharp intake of breath. What were these visions? Why was the force showing her these things? It was like an alternate ending to the end of the clone wars except Anakin was the sith lord. Darth Vader was what he had been called in her visions and he had been in a black suit with a black mask because of an accident on Mustafar. She looked at her mechanical arm and flexed the fingers. Compared to having all her limbs cut off and burning alive, having one arm cut off wasn't so bad… She stood up from her meditative position as she slipped on her boots and prepared to head to her shuttle.
The force was showing her these things for a reason and she couldn't figure it out. Why would the force torture her like this? Pesinoé tossed the question about in her head as she took off toward the large space station that was the new Death Star. All she wanted to do was to forget about Anakin Skywalker. She landed the shuttle and pushed the thoughts out her head. She had a job to do.
Pesinoé walked from her shuttle onto the half finished death star. She couldn't believe this. The Emperor lived to enrage her. He knew darn well after the last fiasco with the first Death Star, she wanted nothing to do with the second one. Not only that, but he had sent her here to get the construction back on schedule. It was practically an impossible feat without the force on their side…
Pesinoé didn't even want to begin thinking about that, but lately she felt as though the force had distanced itself from her. Sure she could still use it like she always had and could manipulate it, but it wasn't working for her anymore. For the first time since she had turned to the dark side, the force was working against her, and Pesinoé knew it had something to do with how active the light side was again, which the Skywalkers could be blamed for. The force was trying to restore balance. The force was no longer wholly consumed in darkness. All it needed was one more shift to tilt the balance either way.
The emperor however ignored her concerns. Pesinoé fumed. He was so arrogant that he couldn't see a threat to his empire, to the sith order. He had become no better than the jedi had been right before their fall.
Pesinoé pushed the thoughts out of her head and was greeted by Commander Jerjerrod.
"Lady Pesinoé," he said bowing slightly. "This is an unexpected pleasure. We're honored by your presence."
Pesinoé rolled her eyes. "Cut the pleasantries. We both know you're horrified that I'm hear and want nothing more than for me to turn around and leave. As much as I'd like to though, I can't. I'm here to put you back on schedule."
"I assure you," Jerjerrod said suddenly going pale. "My men are working as fast as they can.
Pesinoé smiled and put her hands on her hips. "Perhaps they need a little more motivation," she said slowly, suggestively.
"This station will be operational as planned," the commander stuttered.
"Oh I know it will be eventually. But on time?"
"Yes milady."
Pesinoé made a sound through her teeth and looked at the commander skeptically.
"The emperor does not chare your optimistic appraisal of the situation dear," she said starting to pace around him.
"But he asks the impossible. I need more men," Jerjerrod pleaded.
"And only a moment ago you were so sure, but if that's the case," Pesinoé said standing in front of the man again, "You can tell him yourself when he gets here."
"The emperor's coming here?" he asked.
"That's right commander. And he's most displeased with your apparent lack of progress," Pesinoé warned.
"We shall double our efforts."
"I hope so commander, for your sake," Pesinoé added. "When the emperor gets done with you you'll pray I come and visit more often if it means he won't.
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Leia! Don't do it. You're going to ruin everything, Anakin sent to Leia telepathically.
Luke's late. I'm freeing Han whether you like it or not, Leia sent.
I already don't want to be on this mission. As far as I'm concerned, Han can rot here for the rest of his life. I'm only here because you and Luke insisted on it, Anakin shot.
Leia smirked. And to see mom in that dancer costume. You're mad that she's dancing like that in this palace, but I bet you wouldn't mind a private showing. I never knew mom look so young.
Leia could sense her father's rage, guilt that she knew him so well, and a looming threat to pay her back later.
Those things should disgust you as our daughter, Anakin said.
I'm twenty-two years old dad. I know about the nature of the relationships between a man and a woman, Leia replied dryly.
Anakin's temper flared. What have you done with that pirate? I swear I'll rip his balls off and…
Leia rolled her eyes as her father began to rant in huttese. She took his distraction as time to focus on her task. She began to turn the controls on the carbonite block.
Leia stop! Anakin warned, but it was too late. The carbonite shell began to melt away and Leia watched as Han's body was freed from its metallic coat. She caught him as he fell and slowly sat on the floor. Han began to cough and opened his eyes.
"Just relax for a moment," Leia said softly. "You're free of the carbonite."
Leia stared in wonder as Han began to touch his face and moan. She was so relieved. He was alright.
"Shhh. You have hibernation sickness."
"I can't see," Han said in panic.
"Your eyesight will return," Leia replied trying to contain her joy.
"Where am I?"
"Jabba's palace."
"Who are you?"
Leia lifted up her helmet and sat it next to her. "Someone who loves you," she said, her voice not distorted by the helmet anymore.
"Leia!" Han said reaching his hand to her face.
Leia started to lift Han up and look around, reaching out with the force to help guide her.
"I gotta get you out of here," she said and then cursed when she felt the disgusting presence in the force followed by laughter.
"What's that?" Han asked looking around blindly. "I know that laugh."
The curtain behind them opened to reveal Jabba surrounded by his alien cronies. Leia groaned. She really wished she had her light saber right about now.
"Hey Jabba," Han said nervously. "I was just on my way to pay you back but I got a little sidetracked."
That's what he gets for making deals with a hutt, Anakin sent to Leia who scowled in the direction of her father who was dressed as a bounty hunter standing next to Jabba
Jabba began to say something in huttese and Leia frowned.
Father, what's he saying?
He says it's too late for that. Han may have been a good smuggler but now he's bantha fodder. Anakin translate.
Jabba said something else and guards grabbed Han while he shouted, "I'll pay you triple! You're throwing away a fortune here. Don't be a fool!"
Leia watched helplessly as they took Han away and was almost led away herself by Lando who she recognized despite his disguise.
Jabba said something else and Leia was pulled towards him by Lando and another guard. She saw Threepio out the corner of her eyes and held back a gasp. How did he get here?
"We have powerful friends," she said firmly looking back at Jabba. "You're going to regret this."
Jabba said something else in huttese and Leia guessed he didn't believe her. They pushed her closer to Jabba, within a few inches on Jabba's face, and Leia looked away in disgust trying to control her temper. It would only ruin everything if she lost it.
Jabba called someone to him, one of the palace servants and dancers it seemed. The woman came to him in a skimpy outfit characteristic of all the female workers and Leia glared.
Jabba said something in huttese to her and the woman nodded gesturing for the guards to follow her with Leia. They took her to a dressing room and brought Leia inside. The woman pushed the guards out and closed the door. As soon as it locked, Leia rounded on the woman.
"Mara Jade," Leia snapped. "You-."
"It's not going to do you any good to insult me. Besides, I want to help," Mara snapped.
Leia could sense deception from her and scowled.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because I want out of this palace. Damn Pesinoé sent me here to Jabba's palace as punishment and Jabba made me a servant. I've been under cover in a lot of places but this is just beneath me. I know you and your friends have a plan. I want in," Mara decided.
"Give me one good reason why I should?" Leia snapped.
"You don't have much of a choice girl. I can always tell Jabba about your plan," Mara snapped.
"You don't know what it is," Leia said haughtily. "Besides, you deserve to be here after what you did to Han."
Mara rolled her eyes and threw Leia a costume and pointed to the screen in the room. "Don't be so difficult princess. I'm trying to help you. Now do we have a deal?"
Leia glared at the red headed woman as she held the costume. Mara was right. She didn't have much of a choice. Not only that but if she got away with them, they could keep her and gain valuable information about the empire from her.
"Fine," Leia snapped. "I'll let you in on it. But I promise, if you do anything to mess this up, I'll kill you."
"I wouldn't expect anything less princess," Mara snapped.
Leia looked at the outfit again and scowled. "Ugh. I can't believe I have to put this on for Jabba. Someone kill me now."
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Luke frowned as he headed into Jabba's palace and insisted he speak with Jabba. Almost immediately he took saw that Leia was sitting with displeasure in front of Jabba with a chain attached to a collar on her throat dressed in a skimpy slave costume. Over to the side of the room was his mother dancing along to the music with some of the other dancers. She didn't look upset, but he could feel through the force that she was obviously displeased and so was their father. His head was turned to stare at Jabba and even though Luke couldn't see his face under the mask, he could imagine his father wearing a murderous expression. It would be best to get this over with quickly.
What happened? He asked his father through the force, reluctant to speak to the man at all, but he didn't think he'd get the whole story from Leia. Luke could feel his father's anger as he spoke.
It's your fault. You were late and Leia jumped the gun and freed Han. She got caught and now she's Jabba's new pet. I swear I'll-.
Father, Luke said calmly. We'll take care of Jabba later. Is there anything else?
Anakin scoffed. Yeah. Mara Jade is in on the plan now.
Who's she?
Believe me. You'll know her when you see her.
Luke cut off the connection when the guards brought him before Jabba. The guard introduced him.
"I told you not to admit him," Jabba said in Huttese.
"I must be allows to speak," Luke insisted.
Jabba hit the guard and glared at his insulting him in huttese before turning back to Luke who regarded him calmly. Leia was sitting with her arms crossed. How could Luke be so calm about all of this? She had been resisting the urge to kill Jabba for the last two days.
Watch out Luke, she sent telepathically. Mind tricks don't work on Jabba.
Luke nodded and stared Jabba down. "I am taking Captain Solo and his friends. You can either profit by this… or be destroyed. It's your choice. But I warn you not to underestimate my powers.
Leia rolled her eyes. Really Luke. That's dramatic. I think you've let being a jedi knight get to your head.
Shut up Leia, Luke snapped.
Jabba laughed and Leia looked down at the ground. She had to warn Luke.
"Master Luke, you're standing on-."
"There will be no bargains," said Jabba. "I shall enjoy watching you die."
"Luke, move out the way. It's a trap," Leia yelled and Luke heeded her warning back flipping into the air just as the floor opened up.
Jabba laughed and glared at Leia. Leia stood up. She had enough. She pushed Lando away from her and stood up. Then she grabbed hold of her chain trying to use it against Jabba somehow before deciding to use the force to pull it out his hand. To her surprise he let go and she fell back, stumbling into the pit.
"Leia," Luke said.
"You're a much too troublesome pet," Jabba decided. "You'll be less trouble and more entertaining to me down there."
Leia stood up cautiously and grabbed her chain, wrapping it around her arm so it wouldn't be in the way.
I've got a bad feeling about this, Luke sent to her and Leia sighed. How did she get out of here?
She heard a rumbling behind her and turned to see the door to a cage rising into the ceiling.
"Oh no!" Threepio yelled. "The rancor."
Leia wasn't too sure what a rancor was-though she had certainly heard of the beast-, but knowing the type of pets the hutts usually had, it was big with sharp teeth and claws and dangerous. As the beast came out into the light, her hunch was proved correct. Leia moved out the line of sight of the beast and it went after the guard. Leia backed away as the rancor got a hold of the guard and began to eat it.
"I could really use my light saber right now," Leia muttered as the beast swallowed the man and then turned to her.
"Watch out Leia," Luke shouted and jumped in next to her. Leia scowled as they both watched the rancor.
"I didn't need you to save me big brother. I could have handled it," Leia said unraveling some of her chain and spinning it in her hand.
Both of them dashed in opposite directions as the beast came after them. While Luke picked up a long bone, Leia struck the beast hard with her chain. It grabbed for her and she ducked out the way. It grabbed Luke instead and just as it was putting Luke to its mouth, Luke wedged the bone in the beast's mouth. It dropped Luke and roared in rage. When the bone snapped, Luke moved into a pit in the wall.
Leia noticing that Luke had cornered himself grabbed a rock and threw it at the beast while whipping it with her chain.
"Yeah over here," Leia shouted and looked at Luke who was headed towards the utility door. It swiped at her and Leia ducked under it to get next to Luke who pressed the button to lift the door. To their dismay, the exit was blocked by iron bars.
"Perfect," Leia muttered as she turned to face the rancor while Luke pulled on the bars in vain.
"Use the force. You're much better at telekinesis than I am," Luke said.
"If this situation weren't so dire I'd be gloating that you finally admitted that to me," Leia said with dry humor. "As it is, I'm not that much better at it. Still takes a bit of concentration, and we don't have the time for that."
"Okay," Luke muttered looking around the room. "Calm down."
When he was calm, he said a control panel halfway up the wall and grinned. Leia followed his eyes and smiled. They exchanged a glance and Leia whipped the rancor with her chain hard enough to keep it away from them, but soft enough so it wouldn't go running.
Luke used the distraction to pick up a skull. He drew into the force and hurled it at the panel. Leia jumped away from one last swipe from the rancor just as the door came crashing down on its head. The beast let out a pathetic whine and died.
I get dibs on Jabba, Anakin sent to them both as everyone in the room gasped.
Leia became aware of her mother's panic that was now turning into relief. However, it was a short lived. Jabba barked a command to his workers.
"What did he say?" Leia asked Luke who seemed unconcerned about it.
"Oh nothing. Jabba's just upset we killed one of his pets. So he's going to get Han and Chewie so he can punish us," Luke replied.
Leia stared at him in awe of his calm demeanor. "And this doesn't at all concern you?"
Luke shrugged and Leia shook her head. "I may have inherited Dad's temper, but you're the one that inherited his cocky attitude and arrogance."
"Actually, you're a little more arrogant than I am," Luke said to her as the guards came in to get them. "And I'm not cocky, just confident."
Leia rolled her eyes. Yeap. Being a newly knighted Jedi had definitely gotten to Luke's head.
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Okay, so I was kind of subtly mocking GL's dialogue in the last movie because let's face it, we went from an unsure, scared, kind of messed up Luke in the last movie to a calm Jedi Knight who accepted that his father was Darth Vader in the next… Sometimes the fifth and sixth movies are a little disconnected for me because Luke is so calm and I laugh at those lines. It's like the next movie should have happened more than a year later to have matured as rapidly as that. Don't ask me why. Might just be the way the actor says them. So I incorporated Leia telling him he was being dramatic and rolling her eyes as a bit of humor. Anywho. Hope you enjoyed! Review Please!
