So, parts of this chapter bug me, but I think I've rewritten them three times. This is honestly the best I could get out. Next chapter and the one following are better, I promise. In fact, I really like five. No spoilers though! Haha!


Chapter Three

"Empire?" Padme asked disbelievingly.

"Are you thinking what I am?" Bail asked and Padme glanced into his eyes and let out a small gasp.

"Palpatine's Empire?" she asked and he gave a shrug.

"Tarkin went into hiding not long afterwards, and then Mas Ameeda followed. It's only a logical guess."

"Then that means we're facing a graver danger than we thought," Mon Mothma summed.

"That title for the battle station isn't all that soothing either," General Rieekan of the Republic Navy said lightly, trying to ease the tension.

"They couldn't be more original than 'Death Star'?" Iblis continued along, smirking to Rieekan.

"Please, show some maturity," Mon Mothma scolded, her constant head banging with Iblis rearing its head.

"Hey, I'm just trying to bring light into a horribly dark situation," the Corellian held his hands up in defense. "What are the specs on that thing, anyway?"

"According to Anakin, the fire power could potentially destroy a planet," Bail responded.

"But is it activated?" Admiral Ackbar questioned. "Until we have proof, we have no reason to assume it isn't."

"Agreed," Padme nodded. "But where have they been sheltering this project for so long?"

"Outer Rim," Iblis shrugged. "If I was doing a secret project, I'd hide out there. There are dozens of places to keep a project secret."

"That hardly narrows it down," Mon said coolly. "Chancellor, how would we go about presenting this to the Senate?"

"I'll speak to it in a confidential meeting," Padme answered. "If we can vote on a course of action then it needs to be done now."

"You'll tie up everything like the pre-clone war days. They'll never come to a decision," Bail shook his head.

"Maybe," Padme shrugged. "But I refuse to let this go unattended. We have a new reign of senators in there now, too, ones who aren't as knowledgeable of Palpatine's reign. Maybe they will vote action?"

"It's a rather far fetched idea if you ask me," Mon sighed. "But I suppose it is the only way."

"It is," Rieekan nodded. "Say the word and I'll have my men moving."

"Thank you, Carlist," Padme smiled. "You out of everyone would be most helpful. We might need the Rogues and the other squadrons."

"Just say the word," he nodded again.

Iblis sighed and leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard. "We're sure Tarkin's in charge of this Empire, but we have no idea who else is. No second in command, no subordinates. Who ever has been recruited is probably from outer rim planets, or neutral planets even, and harbors some disdain for the Republic."

"There were only a few non-Republic planets that were not compliant with the Republic," Bail said. "And to have the number of recruits needed to run this station, as well as flagships while it was being built is astronomical."

"Several systems worth at least," Mon agreed.

"They surely have taken planets," Rieekan summed. "To try and take over the Republic without taking a few planets is absurd."

"Agreed," Padme nodded. "Now, what allies have we lost?"

"We never received a distress call," Mon sighed. "But that doesn't mean one wasn't sent."

"You think the planets are being jammed?" Bail asked.

"Maybe," she said grimly. "But I think it's more that the leaders of those planets were overthrown."

Iblis shook his head angrily. "This is an unfair situation for those planets, and now we have no idea who they are, or whether they are antagonistic towards us for the lack of backup."

"They feel the Republic has abandoned them," Padme said, a flash of pain crossing her features. "This is like the Separatists, isn't it?"

"For all intents and purposes, this is the Separatists," Bail told her. "Tarkin worked for Palpatine, and Palpatine manipulated the Separatists. They most likely have similar demands."

"No," Rieekan shook his head. "They would have evolved. Tarkin's no idiot. He would assume complete power immediately."

"You think he's Emperor?" Mon asked and Rieekan shook his head.

"No, but I'm sure he flaunts power like he is."

"That's hardly trivial," Mon said, restraining herself from rolling her eyes.

"Maybe," he shrugged. "But what I'm saying is that whatever we may think we know based on the documents recovered after Palpatine's death, we don't. Tarkin will have changed things to his liking. For all we know, they could still be using a droid army."

"That's hardly our biggest problem," Mon interjected. "We need to focus on the presentation to the senate. We can't walk in and announce that fight will take place."

"I never said we would," Padme shook her head. "You may be my most trusted colleagues, but this is hardly a matter to hide. The senate must know what we do. All of it. Regardless of the knowledge that will return to this Empire."

"That's dangerous," Bail said. "But I think it's the only working solution."

"I agree," Iblis nodded, running his thumb and forefinger along his jaw. Mon Mothma shot him a disapproving look but said nothing.

"I hardly agree," she forced out after a moment.

"No one said you had to," Iblis said lightly before standing and cutting off her rebuttal. "I have other matters to attend to, but do not fear interrupting them. This is my highest priority."

"Thank you, Senator," Padme said, a small smile gracing her face. "Why don't we all call this meeting to an end. We can hardly get any more discussion done tonight."

The group nodded and broke up. Padme sighed as the last member left her office. She rubbed at her temples before checking her commlink, having silenced it for the duration of the meeting. Several new messages awaited her, mostly about various senate bills. One came from Ani saying that the Jedi had arrived and were currently in the apartment, while another came from Luke regarding his sister's continued survival.

At least that was a comforting idea. It didn't seem that this Empire really wanted to harm Leia, nor hold her for ransom. It was a stalemate still, and that unnerved her. There was no visible return to her only daughter in sight.

She groaned and stood up from her desk, grabbing her cloak and rushing out of the office. She needed to get home and finally feel like she was doing something to save her daughter.

Anakin watched as the Jedi Masters left the apartment. The sun over Coruscant had set and the Weather Control had shifted the temperature down to a brisk chill, causing Anakin to give a shudder as he passed out of the warm apartment and onto the balcony.

"Fancy a drink?" a voice called from the side and Anakin glanced over to see Han sitting in a lounge chair and lifting up a bottle of what looked like Whyren's Reserve.

Anakin tossed the idea of drinking his pain of his missing daughter away over in his mind before settling on the idea of one glass.

"Yeah," he nodded, taking his seat next to Han on the opposite chair. "What are you doing out here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Han asked with a slight chuckle as he poured Anakin a glass. "Drinking my guilt."

"It wasn't your-"

"Don't give me that Bantha Fodder, Anakin," Han cut him off. "I took Leia to Tatooine in some misguided attempt to keep her safe. I should have thought through the idea Fett might be working for him. My fault."

Anakin let out a long breath at the end of Han's speech. He was right, in a way. Han was the reason Leia was on Tatooine to get taken. But the same thing would have happened if they had gone to Naboo or Alderaan or Ord Mantell.

"This is really tearing you up inside, isn't it?" he asked after a moment and Han nodded.

"You have no idea."

Anakin gave a slight smirk as he could feel Han's anguish rolling off him in waves. The Corellian was very strong minded, even if Anakin had never felt the need to use the Force against him before.

"Maybe," Anakin ended up shrugging out. "But I know that sitting here and drinking is doing neither of us any good."

"Maybe," Han snorted, taking another sip of his drink. Anakin followed suit, grimacing at the rough burn of the drink.

The sat in silence for a moment more, staring at the traffic patterns of the night sky before them. Anakin's thoughts drifted outwards, and into the past. The past was a safe place at the current moment. Leia was there, safe, secure, playing Senator to Naboo and idealist like her mother. But as his thoughts drifted further, they became less and less a haven and into the un-dealt with memories of the two Force Sensitive twins that invaded his heart so long ago.

"You have any family, Han?" Anakin asked, and Han turned to give a curious look.

"Dunno," he shrugged. "I suppose I've got a good for nothing cousin back on Corellia, but other than that I have no idea. Why?"

"No reason," Anakin shrugged. "Just knew someone about twenty years back with your name."

"Solo?" Han questioned and Anakin nodded. "Well, I wouldn't know if we were related or not. What's their name?"

Anakin chuckled and shook his head. "Names. Actually, Luke and Leia are named after them."

"Is that true," Han chuckled, realizing the familiar warmth he'd drunken himself into was messing with his speech patterns.

"It is," Anakin nodded. "They were some of the nicest kids you'd ever meet. They died at exactly the same moment too, according to Bail."

"What'd they die of?"

"Brain tumor," Anakin said roughly, feeling the sorrow fill him up again. "Real sudden. They got it at exactly the same moment too. It was the oddest thing, really."

"That is odd," Han agreed. They slipped into silence for awhile before the sound of the front door opening and sliding shut sounded and Luke's voice cut through the quiet. Padme was home.

Anakin stood and headed into the house, his eyes closing at the bright light.

"Hey, you're home," he called out and Padme nodded, falling into his arms and holding him tightly.

"Long day," she mumbled before he could ask. "How are things here?"

"Fine," Ahsoka's voice sounded and Anakin glanced back at her.

"I didn't know you were still here, Snips," he said, grinning lightly at her.

"Had something to talk to you all about," she shrugged.

"Tell us over dinner," Anakin suggested and she nodded. Padme pulled herself from his grip to start heading to the kitchen when Anakin grasped her wrist lightly and pulled her back. "I'll get it. Go rest."

She gave a grateful smile and turned to their room. Anakin watched her leave before heading into the kitchen to cook dinner.

Conversation was lacking as the group ate dinner. Han pushed his bantha stew around the bowl as Ahsoka fidgeted next to him nervously. Luke and Mara kept tossing teasing comments back and forth, trying to alleviate the tension. Anakin and Padme remained quiet as well, well aware of the tension that surrounded the table.

Finally, with a sigh, Anakin set his spoon down and looked to his old Padawan. "What's up, Snips? You've been awkward this whole meal. Completely off from your normal self."

"Sorry," she mumbled, hiding her face from view and spooning a large chunk of bantha up and taking a bite.

"None of that," Anakin chastised. "What's on your mind. You said you had something to talk about?"

She sighed in turn and pushed her food away, leaning over to where her bag lay at her feet and pulling out the two data-pads. She handed one to Luke and another to Anakin.

"These are from Luke," she said, then glanced towards Padme, wagering how the woman would react. "Solo."

Anakin's head snapped up as he looked at Ahsoka sharply. "What?"

"They told me not give it to you until the time was right," she sighed, hugging her arms close to her chest. "So I waited. The Force let me know now was the time."

"But Leia," Luke started and Ahsoka shrugged.

"I know," she said. "But now's the time."

"What exactly are on these?" Anakin asked and Ahsoka winced. This was not going all that well.

"I've never read them," she answered. "They were passphrase locked. All I was given was one hint: Solo. I don't know what it means."

"Han?" Padme asked and Han looked back to her. "Do you have some sort of idea?"

"Not one," he responded. "I didn't even know of Luke and Leia's namesakes until today."

Padme glanced at her husband before nodding and letting out a sigh. "Could their names work?"

"Anything could work," Anakin sighed before punching in the code. A negative beep sounded and Anakin shook his head. "Nope, something else."

Luke stared at the data-pad in his hands. The data-pad written by someone he'd never known, nor would. But apparently he would know the clue.

Solo

The word hung heavy in his mind, and the familiar tingling of the Force brushed at the base of his skull. He knew the answer. He was positive of it, but he wasn't sure why he knew it.

You think Han is the key? Mara sent through their small bond. She rarely used it, and it startled Luke for a moment that the other voice in his head wasn't Leia's.

Maybe, he sent back. Quietly he typed in Han's name, and the green flash indicated he'd successfully opened the data-pad. He looked up and locked eyes with Ahsoka, who seemed to know what he'd accomplished. Everyone else at the table with the exception of Mara was oblivious, and Luke planned to keep it that way.

"Ahsoka, you must know something about these notes," Anakin sighed, clearly frustrated.

"I do," she nodded. "But I honestly don't know how to tell you. I've had twenty years to contemplate what went on all those years ago, and I'm still not sure what exactly could have happened."

"Let's start with what you know then," he said, leaning in and crossing his arms. Ahsoka swallowed heavily at the intimidating sight of her old master.

"Okay, well," she started. "Solo wasn't their name."

"What do you mean?" Padme asked, her heart fluttering with anticipation.

"Just that," Ahsoka shrugged. "They lied for the greater good."

"Then what was their last name, Snips?" Anakin asked in an annoyed tone.

"Well, see, they were," she scratched her head before glancing at Luke. "They were, uh..."

Luke sent a wave of encouragement out to the Torgruta, and that simple act seemed to give her the strength she needed, re-lighting all the memories of Luke and Leia from years past again.

"They were from the future, I mean, now," Ahsoka finished. "Well, four years from now, I suppose."

"That's not funny," Anakin said firmly.

"It's not a joke, Master," Ahsoka insisted. "They were Luke and Leia Skywalker."

"Skywalker?" Padme echoed, looking at her child sitting in front of her. He was a few years younger than Luke Solo had been, but at the same time what she hadn't seen for years was suddenly there. The facial features, the personality, all the similar traits she'd ignored because of the pain in her heart were faced.

"Yes," Ahsoka nodded. "They came from a really horrible future. And now it seems that that future is still coming to pass."

"What exactly did this future entail?" Anakin asked warily as the long past threat of Darth Vader loomed in his mind.

"I don't know," she said. "They wouldn't reveal all the details. I didn't even know about Palpatine until Luke and I infiltrated his office. They never said a word."

"Sounds like them," Padme smirked, a slight smile playing at her lips.

"Am I the only one that finds this remotely neat?" Mara asked, her eyes light with hidden laughter. She knocked shoulders with Luke, "You can time travel! How wizard is that?"

"Mara," Luke hissed, glancing at his parents. "Seriously, not the time."

"Lighten up, Skywalker," she laughed. "You guys even knew Solo here apparently. Why else would he be the pass phrase?"

Anakin looked at Luke with a raised eyebrow. "You cracked the code?"

Luke shrugged sheepishly. "Yeah. It was Han's name."

Han let out a low whistle and ran a hand though his shaggy hair. "You Skywalkers never have a normal day, do you?"

"Not really, no," Luke shook his head with a slight chuckle.

"Han's name isn't our password," Anakin said dejectedly, glancing back up from the pad once more.

"Try their names with Skywalker attached," Padme suggested, and Anakin glanced down and typed it in. Sure enough, the pad flashed green with admission.

"It worked," he said, eyes wide with surprise.

"Read them," Ahsoka suggested. "Privately. Think about them. Then tell us what you want us to know."

Padme nodded, standing and pulling her husband up lightly with a slight kiss to the cheek. They left the room and the four remaining people sat in silence.

"I don't want to read it alone," Luke said.

"We're here for you, Luke," Mara promised, laying a hand on his arm and giving it a slight squeeze. Luke smiled grateful at her and nodded, inhaling deeply in preparation.

"Luke and Leia," he began.

'If you don't already know, we are you, but from the future. Or perhaps the past depending on the year. We are twenty four now, so that will give you nearly an exact count.

It was a wish, that sent us to the end of the Clone Wars. Luke, you were so powerful in the Force. You were the first of the new Jedi. Leia, you were one of the best politicians out there. You helped create the New Republic.

And you both saved Dad from the Dark side. It was a sad fate for everyone in the family, and hopefully it never becomes reality.

If the time really is right, then something new may be on the horizon. The Empire will no doubt try again in this timeline, and you must stop it. No one should live through what we did. The Death Star will destroy planets. It did in our time, it might in yours. Palpatine may be gone but that's a minor set back. The Empire still existed here after Dad killed him. You must make sure that the Empire falls. You're our only hope.

Our time here, in your past, is ending. But that's just because yours is beginning. Now, take control, and make sure the Force remains in balance.

May the Force be with you,

The 'Solo' twins


Next chapter will have Anakin and Padme's letter, I promise, and we'll see how these four react to this letter. Then come the plans and we hop into the story. Yay?

So, I'm completely curious, and Halloween is about a week away now. So, if you review (and please do), let me know what you plan to be for Halloween. If you don't celebrate Halloween (which is totally fine too), let me know why, and whether it's a personal decision or a religious one.

If you aren't dressing up this year, or can't, let me know why as well, or what you would dress up as if you could.

If you remember from Author notes past, I'm dressing up as Leia, and my sister is dressing up as Mara. She totally looks better though. She dyed her hair red and actually looks good. I'm just blonde... Sadness.

REVIEW + Halloween Note!