Only hope

"Darkness often clouds our view of the world, but now we find ourselves at a time in which that cloud has reformed and become a physical entity." The speaker spoke with confidence though she could feel the nervousness pouring from him. She could see that whatever this problem was it had him and many others trembling.

"This dark entity has formed itself in what can only believed to be a new dark Jedi. This entity signs under the name 'the Hand of Heartbreak'. The flimsipads before you contain what little we know of him." He signaled his aide and the young man stepped forward and began to pass out memory discs. "These discs you are recieving contain the security holo-recordings of the latest attacks. What strikes me and my investigators is that this entity though seemingly evil in nature, only attacks the miscreants of society. This latest and most deadly attack is of a smuggling ring in the Corellian system." There came a hum of excitement about the room. She glanced at the speaker and at her companions. From her view from the chancellor's chair she could see the shock on everyone's faces.

"I know that may be a shock that the Corellians actually asked us for their help, being a majorly independent state in the Alliance, but Corsec was so confused by the irony of the situation they had nowhere else to turn."

"Couldn't they have called upon the Jedi? They are far more experienced and equipped for this sort of thing." That came from the Senator of Naboo.

"The Jedi are dealing with a myriad of their own problems. It was best that they call upon us."

"Who gave them this information about the Jedi?"

"What's going on at the Academy?"

"Why haven't we been informed? Our systems depend on the safety the Jedi provide." It was at this point that she felt she should take over. She stood calmly, rising from her chair with feline grace. The room fell silent immediately.

"The Corellians have a correspondent in the ranks of the Jedi that keeps them well enough informed. I cannot inform you of the proceedings at the Academy at this time, for reasons I will not explain. Information has not been given as a widespread panic would induce if citizens were to know that something is amuck at the Academy. When the issue is settled to an appropriate point, everyone will be well informed on the situation." The speaker turned and smiled as she sat back down.

"Many thanks, Madame Chief of State."

"You may continue your presentation."

"Thank you. If you would all please take your eyes from your handheld information, I have the holo-recording playing." There was a murmur of small movement as the senators and and department heads looked up. The lights dimmed and the holo began to play. They watched as a figure walked into the room and quickly swept away his adversaries. As the holo spun she watched him closely, freezing in horror as she slowly recognized his movements. They were unmistakable belonging to only one person in the galaxy. No one could imitate the precise form.

No. It can't be. Not him. Its not possible.

She watched the holo with a keener eye, searching for something, anything, that would prove her suspicions wrong. To her growing horror, there was nothing there. Toward the end of the holo a small movement caught her eye.

"Stop the holo and roll back a few seconds." She waited patiently as her order was followed. When it began to play again she saw the same movement again. "Okay stop it right there." The other occupants of the room looked at her expectantly. "He spoke. I saw the movement of his lips. He said something. Does this recording have audio?"

"Unfortunately it does not. However, the transcript report we received does mention that the suspect spoke." The speaker said grimly. A senator raised a hand across the room.

"If this criminal is attacking criminals why exactly is this a problem for us?"

"No citizen should take the law into his own hands. He's killing people, and whose to say that he won't eventually turn on us? It is our problem because he is a danger to our citizens, regardless of his seemingly noble goal. Thus, it is up to us to stop him at all costs." There was a murmur of agreement from the senators. The speaker turned to her and smiled, bowing slightly.

"I am done with my presentation, Madame Chief of State." She smiled and stood.

"Then this meeting stands adjourned. If you will all excuse me I have business to which I must attend."

She gathered the flimsipad and holo-disc and left the room. As soon as she was out of earshot, she pulled a comlink from her belt and keyed its private frequency.

"Solo." came the quick response. She smiled.

"Han, meet me at the apartment in ten. We have a serious problem."

"What's wrong, Princess?"

"I'll explain when you get there."

"Okay. See you in five." The comlink clicked and she sighed. There was only one person that could stop the growing cycle of events. She only hoped she would listen.

Ten minutes later...

Han Solo walked into his apartment briskly and met a concerned looking Leia. He dropped his tool kit next to the door and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. He sat in a chair across from her and watched her, waiting for her to speak. When she didn't, he spoke.

"Ok, I'm here. There's not a single bug in this place so you are free to talk. What's going on?" She sighed and looked at him, a grave look making its way onto her face.

"Luke is missing from the Academy."

"We knew that. He was on an undercover mission in the somewhere in the galaxy. I can't remember where."

"That's because they didn't tell us where, and for good reason."

"What do you mean good reason?"

"Luke left the Order. He's not a jedi anymore. In fact, I believe he's fallen to the darkside." Han laughed, but his laughter faded at the serious look on Leia's face.

"I can't find him in the Force, Han. He's blocking me." She handed him the flimsipad and the holo-disc.

"The Hand of Heartbreak?" Han looked at her, belatedly wondering if she'd lost her mind.

"No I'm not crazy. That disc is a recording of an attack on a smuggling ring on Corellia. The man on the holo is my brother. I know him very well. He's unmistakable. No one can imitate him, even his clone would be different in some distinguishable way." Han stayed silent for a moment, thought etched on his face.

"So, what do we do about this? No offense, your highness," Leia frowned. This was not a time for games. "But you're just not powerful enough to stop him. In fact I don't think a Jedi in the entire galaxy is strong enough to take him." Leia's face lit up with a small smile.

"I know one Force-sensitive that may be able to."

"Who you talking about Leia? I mean your brother is teetering the dark-side here. This is no time to be funny." Leia glared at him.

"I know that Han. I can't do anything about it. I'm stuck here, mired in committee meetings while my twin is destroying himself. Only one person in the galaxy can help. The only problem is actually getting her to do it." Han gave Leia a wary look as he realized who she was talking about.

"You cannot be serious. We can't ask that of her. She's risked her life for us enough as it is."

"I know Han, but we can't let him just run rampant. He's killing people." Han stared at her in shock.

"Leia, I know she's helped us before but this is taking it a little far."

"We have no other choice Han." He sighed and nodded, reluctantly accepting the inevitable.

"I know." Leia walked over to him and looked him in the eye, her face showing her concern and compassion.

"If there were any other way, I would take it. But there isn't. Besides, who better than her? She'd die for him without a second thought. She's got a softer spot for Luke than any of us." Han smiled.

"Only problem is she either doesn't know it, or she's in complete and utter denial." His smile fell. "We really shouldn't do this to her."

"I know, but she's our only hope."