Chapter 4

Anakin Skywalker was woken up by the fierce pounding on the front of his quarters. He and Padmé had managed to get sometime alone and were sleep. She was lying on top of him, he sleepily caressed her face.

"Ani," she whispered. The pounding did not abate. "Anakin…someone's outside…you should go…" He smiled as he cradled her face in his hands.

"It can wait till later…we're both off duty." She giggled a bit. They were both disturbed when a familiar voice accompanied the pounding.

"Anakin, open up! It's me Han!" Anakin sighed as he kissed his wife's forehead once more before he put on some of his robes. He went to the chamber, punched in the security code and the door opened. The worried face of Han Solo greeted him.

"What's wrong?"

"Luke hasn't reported back yet. It's been hours since I came back from patrol." Padmé stirred hearing mention of her son's name.

"Did they check all the entrances Han?"

"Twice." Han paused for a moment to collect himself. He heard the sound of his own voice—he was scared too though he'd never admit it to anyone. "I spoke with the deck officers. no one knows where he is. Leia was trying me on the comm earlier, I didn't pick up. I didn't want to speak with her…"

"Do I even need to ask why you're ignoring my daughter?" Han looked away from him, almost as if he was pretending he hadn't heard Anakin's question.

"I'm going out to find Luke," the smuggler turned Rebel retorted.

"I'm coming with you."

"No, Anakin. You can't."

"Why not?"

"There's a ship here that's arriving here to take you and Padmé off world. You can't miss that flight." Anakin Skywalker could never hide his frustration well. He didn't like it when people gave him orders, least of all when it came to members of his family. He stood up tall and stared at Han with a chilling gaze.

"Let me make myself clear. I'm going with you and that's final." Han nodded his head and smiled.

"Now I know where Leia gets it from." The two men exchanged an uneasy, nervous, glance before they took their leave.

Luke Skywalker fell down several times in the blistering cold of Hoth's rapidly decreasing temperature. He finally landed upside down in the snow. Having made the perilous escape from the attack by a Wampa, Luke was too tired to go any further. He heard a familiar voice in the distance.

"Luke! Luke!"

"Uncle Ben?"

"You must go to the Dagobah System…"

"Dagobah system?" Luke cried out in agony.

"There you will find Yoda…the Jedi Master who instructed me."

"Ben! Ben!" He cried before collapsing once again. The last thing he saw was the figure of two riders coming his way. He noticed the one dressed in darker clothing. It was his father. He reached out his hand and cried out falling down just as the two riders got off and ran toward him.

Naboo. The Lake Country. Fifteen years earlier.

Leia ran behind Pooja and Ryoo Naberrie as they ran past some wild shaaks that were grazing nearby. But Luke Skywalker was nowhere to be found.

"That boy is far too much like his mother for my taste," said Anakin as he leaned next to his wife.

"I think he takes after both of us dear," Said Padmé. He leaned in to kiss her softly. Suddenly they heard shots in the distance. Leia's face was streaming with tears. He was reminded of the scare on Tatooine with the Krayt dragon. Both of them stood up and ran to their daughter and their nieces.

"What's wrong Leia?" Said Anakin, not caring if worry entered his voice.

"Luke's by the lake, he's not moving." Anakin bolted past all of them toward his son.

"Luke!" He saw his son's body lying motionless. "By the Force!" He knelt by him and began pressing down hard on his chest.

"Stay with me Luke! Come on!"

The Present – Recovery Room/Medical Ward, Hoth.

"Don't do this Luke! Don't do this! Stay with me!" It was the voice of Han Solo echoing through him mind. Luke Skywalker woke up with a start. He saw his father years ago when he almost drowned. Then he saw Han through the ice of a storm.

Luke convalesced in his room, scars in his face still healing. Everyone had been worried sick about him. Leia came in first and hugged her brother.

"Leia, I am fine."

"I know." She stroked his cheek gently.

"Leia, I have to go soon."

"Go where?"

"Not far. It's another system. Uncle Ben told me to complete my training there."

"You saw him?"

"His spirit. I saw it as clear as your standing right in front of me sis." Leia nodded, understanding that what her brother saw was neither a hallucination nor a pain induced mirage. It was a real vision. She was about to speak again when suddenly the droids and their parents walked in, with Han and Chewie following close behind them.

"Hey Dad, Mom…I am fine really." Padmé's eyes were tearing as she hugged her son.

"I know son, I know." The two droids came in and added their say so into the mix.

"Master Luke, sir, it's so good to see you fully functional again," chimed Threepio. Artoo gave out a few excited beeps. "Artoo expresses his relief also." Chewie roared as Han moved closer.

"How are you feeling, kid? You don't look so bad to me. In fact, you look strong enough to pull the ears off a Gundark."

"Thanks to you."

"That's two you owe me, junior." He paused as he looked at Leia with one of his trademark sneaky smirks. "Well your Worship, looks like you managed to keep me around for a little while longer." Anakin and Padmé exchanged a glance with both of them rolling their eyes for what was coming next. Leia responded in kind.

"I had nothing to do with it. General Rieekan thinks it's dangerous for any ships to leave the system until we've activated the energy shield." Han scoffed at her.

"That's a good story. I think you just can't bear to let a gorgeous guy like me out of your sight."

"I don't know where you get your delusions, laser brain." At this comment, Chewie let out of laugh enjoying the banter immensely. Han gave him a look then added.

"Laugh it up, fuzzball. But you didn't see us alone in the south passage. She expressed her true feelings for me." Luke gave his sister an odd look. Speaking through the Force, he added.

"Really? Wow, Leia…I'm impressed." She chose to ignore her brother's comment as Han continue. Leia grew flushed, looking back between her bother and Han. Anakin had his hands over his face worried what was to come.

"My...! Why, you stuck up,... half- witted... scruffy-looking ...nerf-herder!" Han smiled.

"Who's scruffy-looking?" He turned to Luke. "I must have hit pretty close to the mark to get her all riled up like that, huh, kid?" The door from behind them opened as Wedge Antilles entered the room to greet Luke. Leia looked vulnerable for a moment, then she smirked for a bit.

"Watch this Luke." He braced himself for the worst as she spoke.

"Why, I guess you don't know everything about women yet?" Just as Wedge entered to say hello to Luke, he was caught off by a deep kiss from Leia. She pulled away, smiling at the befuddled pilot as she stormed out.

"Real mature, little sister…real mature." Said Luke through their Force-bond. An alarm was heard in the distance. The rest of the room could clearer her an announcer saying "Headquarters personnel, report to command center." Han sighed as he looked at Luke then back at Anakin and his wife.

"Take it easy." The droids followed suit with Threepio adding.

"Excuse us, please." Anakin patted his son on the back as he grabbed Padmé's hand. Wedge was left along with Luke.

"Why do I have the feeling that that had nothing to do with me at all Luke?" Luke laughed as he got up from his bunk.

A lone ship flew through the nearly empty space of the Anoat system. It was a slightly weathered ship that had seen better days. The Ghost was piloted by the last surviving member of Phoenix Squadron. She held onto her montrals and noticed that she was still sore from her narrow escape from the Imperials. It didn't matter now. She still had a job to do regardless if it came at the cost of her life. One of the dials on the lighted up a deep reddish color signaling that there was an incoming message from her. She paused for a moment and then clicked it. The voice of Lieutenant Sors Bandeam came over the comm.

"Fulcrum…this is Lieutenant Bandeam of the Redemption."

"I know who you are Sors," came the voice of Ahsoka Tano. "I'm not going back to the fleet…I have to protect our friends." Sors knew precisely who she was referring to but continued anyway.

"One of our associates will be joining you." She rolled her eyes and she toggled the throttle of her ship causing it to accelerate rapidly.

"I don't need any help…nor do I want any…too many have died as it is." Bandeam's voice grew frustration.

"Just hear me out…please." She sighed.

"All right. Who is it?"

"Does the name Skyguy mean anything to you?" She instinctively grabbed hold of her lightsaber and shut her eyes.

"He must be dead."

"No, he's alive Fulcrum. He's going to rendezvousing with you."

"Roger that Redemption..." She paused waiting to formulate plan in her mind. "I am heading to Dagobah. Tell Skyguy to meet me there, okay?"

"Will do, may the Force be with you."