Chapter Four: Embrace of a Family

Luke led his father in the first door, and they entered into the whitewashed hospital room. It had two beds inside, both pushed to the left wall, and a divider between the beds, although the divider was currently pulled back to allow the patients on both beds to converse. Across from the beds, on the right wall, was a large screen where the holonews was on, set to the channel that was reporting the recent explosion.

Leia and Han were both where he had left them, both sitting up, wearing hospital gowns, and conversing. Luke was relieved that Han had stopped complaining about the hospital food with Padmé and Anakin now in the room; his parents were already shaken up as it was, and Luke doubted an inconsequential complaint from Han would make them happy.

Luke felt slightly guilty that his call had not been able to go through that morning; he could have saved his parents from a great deal of stress. He was upset by how worried they had become; it was only a testament to how much he realized they had come to love him, Leia, and Han over the past few years. Luke had been especially unnerved by the paleness of his father, who had looked as if he would faint. Anakin had even proceeded to give Luke a hug, another testimony to how unsettled he had been; Luke knew his father rarely showed affection through physical touch, except perhaps to Luke's mother, and so it had been surprising for Luke to see him react in that way.

Luke watched his father rejoin his mother and put his arm around her. Padmé leaned into Anakin, and both returned their attention to Leia, who was already relating the story to Padmé.

"…We didn't know where the explosion came from," Leia was saying. "But Han and I managed to take cover underneath the table, and we left the reception apartments very quickly soon afterward. The other members of the dinner party followed closely behind us."

"Was anyone badly injured?" Padmé asked her, Padmé's eyebrows furrowed in concern.

Leia shook her head. "We haven't been told the extent of the other's injuries. The explosion occurred from the opposite side of the room, so we were lucky. We've heard that no one was badly injured."

"What was the cause?" Anakin asked her, his eyes fixed on the holonews, which was showing a shot of the building. Part of the building's side was missing, and most of the area around the top floor was charred.

Leia looked at him, apparently noting a solemnness and seriousness of his features that was actually quite unnerving. It even reminded Luke at times of Darth Vader; even though his father was redeemed, there were still traits that both of them shared. "It's unknown," she said. "Officials mentioned it was a gas leak…"

"It wasn't a gas leak," Anakin said abruptly.

Leia looked at him in curiosity, and Han voiced his confusion from the other bed.

"What do you mean it wasn't a gas leak?" he called over.

Anakin glanced towards Han, as if just noticing his presence in the room, and answered, "A blow like that wouldn't be from a gas leak."

Padmé looked from the holonews to him in confusion. "What, was it too big?"

"Too small," Anakin replied, nodding towards the news. "But it was made to look like a gas leak."

"What do you mean 'made to look like a gas leak'?" Padmé asked him.

"It was a poorly executed assassination attempt."

"What?" Luke and Leia said in surprise, but both were drowned out by Han's long and drawling response.

"Look, I know that this is a big mistake. There's always a tendency to blow things out of proportion-"

Anakin was apparently not in the mood to take Han's patronizing tone. He cut across him impatiently. "Solo, I know a mechanical mishap if I see one, and I've witnessed plenty of assassinations executed in my time. I assure you, as unlikely or likely as it seems, this explosion was not caused by a gas leak."

All were stunned into silence.

Anakin exhaled, as if frustrated that others did not see what he was pointing out. "This was a bomb that was meant to be inserted into the window of the dinner party. Apparently, the bomb misfired before it reached its destination, and instead blew out a portion of the floor below. The only question now is why someone was staging an assassination, and if the assassin himself is still alive after the blow."

"How would you be able to tell?" Han asked him suspiciously.

Anakin pursed his lips. "They'll find remains, I suppose."

"No," Han amended, shaking his head and seeming disgusted by the reply. "How would one be able to tell that the explosion was a bomb and not a gas leak?"

"Different materials and elements will be found in the rubble," was the reply.

"But why would anyone want to assassinate members of the Provisional Council?" Leia pointed out from her bed. "Granted, Mon Mothma is the Chancellor, but for the most part the Republic has received her well."

"Imperial sympathizers?" Luke suggested.

"No," Padmé said suddenly. As all directed their attention towards her, she turned to Anakin and continued, "Ani, what you and I were discussing last night."

Anakin's expression was, for one reason or another, blank and confused. His frown deepened, and he looked extremely uncomfortable, possibly more so than Luke had ever seen him. "We weren't… we didn't-"

Padmé blushed deep red. "Before that." As Anakin began to dawn in recognition, Padmé turned to Leia, apparently wishing to redirect the conversation. "Leia, you mentioned that many members of the Provisional Council support the new bill against trading with slavery planets, but that the bill has many who oppose it."

"Yes," began Leia, still seeming confused at their parent's strange behavior, "But the bill will be voted on in the Senate." She didn't quite understand what her mother was suggesting; why would someone want to assassinate a member of the Provisional Council over an anti-slavery bill when they could just cast a vote? It would make more sense to argue over it in the Senate, where people have the power to change it.

"Apparently there are those who have stronger feelings," Luke pointed out gravely. "An assassination states a much bigger threat than a vote in the Senate."

"Clearly someone has an agenda," Padmé agreed with Luke.

Leia looked uncomfortable and worried, glancing from Luke to their mother.

"You don't think," started Han, as if something was dawning on him. "You don't think they'll be targeting Leia next, do you?"

There was a small silence as all family members looked at one another uneasily. Finally, Padmé was the one to answer.

"If it's related to the bill," she said softly, "I'd expect they will be targeting all of its writers and strong sympathizers."

"Most likely, if the assassin is working for a higher power, there'll be funding for another attempt," Anakin agreed grimly, his arms folding tightly against his chest.

Luke frowned in thought, the news seeming more serious than ever. It worried him, knowing that his sister was potentially in danger. There was another silence, each weighing the gravity of the situation.

"We'll have to get you somewhere safe," Luke said to her quietly, after the pause stretched on.

"You're not staying here," Han agreed with Luke.

Leia looked affronted. "I can't leave now," she said, her forehead wrinkled in concern, and she glanced from one family member to another, as if looking for someone to chime in with her. Her voice steadily raised in volume when none spoke up. "The bill's about to be presented to the Senate; leaving would be like giving up! Luke-"

Anakin's voice met her increasing volume, cutting her off. "Your safety is first priority," he said, his tone firm and strict. "Politics comes second. At least until we can clear up this confusion."

Leia seemed to know that it was the final word, because she sank back against the pillows.

In the silence that followed, Padmé was the first to speak up, directing her words to Anakin. "Ani, she could come with us."

Anakin met Padmé's gaze. "What do you mean?"

"Few people know we are related to Leia; few know that you and I are still alive," Padmé said, her voice slowly growing in enthusiasm. "We're already living under a false name; no one would suspect we were hiding her. That way, she could still stay on Coruscant."

Silence met her words, as all were deep in thought, and Padmé continued, "We could stage Leia's departure from the planet. No one will know if she secretly returns to our apartment. No one could trace this to us. She could be perfectly safe."

Anakin glanced towards Leia and Han, as if to gauge their reaction. Both seemed surprisingly accepting, and no one voiced any protests.

"I know this isn't an ideal situation," Padmé continued. "But what else can we do?"

Luke considered his mother's suggestion. It was cleverly devised: a deception and an unsuspected hiding place. Padmé had considered all of the benefits: it was true that it would be hard to trace back to them; no one knew Anakin and Padmé's true identities or of their relationship with Leia, Han, or him. Even so, Luke felt uncomfortable knowing that he could not be with his sister or see her at all for who knew how long. Finally, Han voiced what they were both thinking.

"I would prefer to stay with her," Han finally said, startling all in the room with his sudden words.

Padmé glanced at Anakin, and the two shared a silent conversation, as if considering Han's words. Finally, after Anakin's nod of resignation, and Padmé turned to Han and Luke. "We have room for all of you."

Han and Luke glanced at Leia, who looked resigned. She gave them a look as if to say, what choice do we have? Even she seemed to prefer the idea of staying with family and on Coruscant than completely fleeing the planet.

Finally, noting Leia's assent, Han turned to Padmé. He gave her a grim, lopsided smile. "You got yourself a deal."