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A/N: After chapter thirteen there's going to be a series of chapters I originally had planned but decided not to include with the original posting, so before we get back to the original chapter fourteen there will be a whole new side story.

Chapter 7

Padmé stared at Bail as he offered her his hand as they left the Naboo senatorial pod, "You're not telling me something, aren't you?" She quietly demanded of Organa, as they walked along the Senate hallways and away from the chaotic applause in the Senate Chamber.

"What's wrong?"

Prince Organa steered Padmé towards a vacant turbolift, "We will speak in here, quietly Senator Amidala, for I do not know if there are spies even watching us now," he whispered back, inclining his head towards Padmé's handmaiden Motee, who was walking behind them.

Amidala's expression didn't change, but she turned and motioned to the fair haired woman, "Stay here and inform me of further developments, Motee. Senator Organa is going to escort me out onto a balcony for fresh air," she dismissed quickly.

The handmaiden cleverly hid an expression of frustration, as she inclined her head swiftly.

"Yes, my lady." Motee turned on her heel, and walked back towards the Naboo entrance.

Padmé shook her head in frustration as she followed the tall man into the lift, adjusting the folds of her purple gown. "My own handmaiden? He must know about everything now, he must have known even before Anakin told him," the petite brunette shook her head, resting her hands on her stomach.

"Everything is falling apart. Bail, what sort of galaxy will my child be born into? What kind of galaxy will my son and baby grow up in?"

The Prince of Alderaan folded his arms over his metal edged cloak, "Nothing is for certain yet, Padmé. I want you to know some old friends send their regards," he reached into a pouch on his belt and grabbed something, slipping it into the woman's white hand.

Padmé glanced down at the ginger hair lock, then folded her hands quickly against her waist again, "I shall have to send them my best wishes also," she said conversationally, then narrowed her eyes. "And please tell me my son isn't with them."

Bail looked down at her with a wince, "I'd like to tell you otherwise, but you know Han, he just had to spend some time with them before he left. And I was already called back here for the meeting," he replied just as swiftly.

Padmé furrowed her brow. "Yes I see. Make sure Han stops by the apartment before you leave again, I forgot to pack some of his things," she said loudly. "He ran off without even packing his toothbrush." Padmé stared out at the city, her eyes becoming foggy with tears as they locked with the distant temple.

-:-:-:-

Han sat on a metal box just outside the huge com room, his arms folded across his chest, as he glanced into the blue glowing area. Zett was sitting on the floor beside him, leaning against the box. Obi-Wan was fiddling around inside one of the smaller control panels in the com room, and Yoda was watching nearby, his hands resting on his cane as he looked on from the scorch covered hallway.

"I've recalibrated the code warning all surviving Jedi to stay away." Master Kenobi's clipped, precise accent informed his fellow Jedi Master. Yoda nodded firmly and moved aside as Obi-Wan exited the com room, and stepped back into the control centre.

"Good. For the Clones to discover the recalibration, a long time it will take," the green alien affirmed as he followed Obi-Wan towards the hologram area. "To change it back, longer still. Hurry up, younglings," Yoda ordered the children. Han sighed and started to get to his feet.

"Wait. There is something I must find out from some of the security recordings," Obi-Wan interceded softly looking at Yoda, with a despondent look across his features. "And I don't know if I want the children to have to see what may be on them."

Yoda sighed and ran his clawed hand over his cranium, "If into the security recordings you go, only pain will you find, Master Obi-Wan."

"I must know the truth, Master, it is the only way I can try to make sense of it all." Obi-Wan started to walk further down the hall, his strange appearance not masking the steady, quick pace of the well trained Jedi Master the galaxy called 'The Negotiator.'

Yoda sighed, "Hmm, stay here young ones," he motioned to Han and Zett, the former thumping back down on the case box and fiddling with the talisman around his neck again, the latter watching Master Yoda hobble away after Obi-Wan.

-:-:-:-

Obi-Wan held his hand to his eyes and wiped away the tears, as he watched the hologram of Anakin knelling before Palpatine. "I can't watch any more of this," he said hoarsely, morosely switching off the hologram projector, and looking down at where Master Yoda was shaking his head sadly.

"Destroy the Sith, we must," Yoda informed him firmly, stamping his cane on the floor in his determination.

Kenobi saw the look in the venerable Jedi Master's eyes and shook his head. "Please send me to kill the Emperor, Master. I will not kill Anakin. I can't.He is like my brother," he wept.

He's like my son...

"Twisted by the dark side, young Skywalker has become," Yoda said gravely, Obi-Wan looked down at the floor in sorrow. "The boy you trained, gone he is...consumed by Darth Vader. To fight this Lord Sidious, strong enough, you are not."

"How could it have come to this? I can't...I do not know where the Emperor has sent him. I don't know where to look" Obi-Wan fell to his knees, shaking his head again in vague confusion and pain.

His elder companion sighed despondently and placed a gentle green claw on Kenobi's shoulder. Yoda had trained Obi-Wan as a youngling, right up until he had become Qui-Gon Jinn's Padawan. And the venerable Jedi Master felt Kenobi's pain acutely, as he remembered his own pain over the loss of his old Padawan, Dooku.

What tangled web we've woven, Yoda thought with dismay. I trained Dooku. Dooku trained Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon trained Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan has trained Anakin. Dooku fell to the darkside. Now Anakin has fallen to the darkside...two Sith in our lineage…

"Use your feelings, Obi-Wan, and find Lord Vader, you will. To wallow in sorrow and question, no time there is, visit the new Emperor, my task is." Yoda started to hobble away, then half turned.

"Perhaps back to Senator Organa take the boys, then visit Padmé Amidala, she for certain will know where her husband is. May the Force be with you."

Kenobi nodded, "May the Force be with you, Master Yoda," he farewelled as the venerable, green Jedi Master limped away. Obi-Wan got to his feet and walked back to the entrance of the com room where Solo and Jukassa were patiently waiting.

"Quickly boys, we must contact Bail and have him meet us. Han, we're going to visit your mother before we leave Coruscant."

The foster son of Padmé Amidala smiled widely, "Really? Does this mean I can stay with my Mom instead of having to go to Alderaan?" He demanded, trying to keep up with the slightly quicker pace of the two Jedi. Obi-Wan sighed as his thoughts trailed off elsewhere.

"I don't know just yet, Han."

Han shrugged, "I bet I can though, and you can stay with us, Zett," he put an arm around his new found friend. "It'll be fun. We can stay up late eating junk food and everything, and once Anakin's all better, he promised to teach me some flying basics. We could both learn," Solo sounded so innocent and happy.

Zett smiled at him uncertainly, but Obi-Wan rubbed his face with his hand again to hide the hot tears of pain and despair, threatening to build up again in his faded blue eyes.

-:-:-:-

Padmé opened up her arms wide to engulf Han in them tightly, "Oh my darling," she kissed the top of his head and looked down at him in concern. "Are you all right?" She demanded, her foster son's reply lost in the fibres of her dressing gown, as he was drawn back into her embrace.

Master Kenobi stepped out from behind Bail, "Padmé," he greeted stolidly, the brown haired woman smiled broadly in contrast and embraced the novel looking Jedi Master as well.

"Obi-Wan, thank goodness you're alive," she stepped back and looked at him, "and looking very... interesting." Padmé said diplomatically. Obi-Wan gave her a half-smile as Bail put a hand on the shoulders of the two boys.

"Why don't you two go see Han's room?" Organa suggested kindly, "I have a few things to take care of at the Alderaani consulate before we leave again. I will be back in around half an hour," he bowed his head to Padmé and Obi-Wan, before re-entering the turbolift.

Han's eyes became downcast as the Prince of Alderaan departed, "I guess that means we can't stay here after all," he commented to Obi-Wan. His foster mother kissed Han's forehead, and brushed back the shaggy brown hair.

"I'm sorry, Han, but remember what we talked about, I need to know you're safe," Padmé said kindly. "I've had Elle pack your things. I'm sure Zett would be interested in your model ship collection," Amidala motioned to the head of her security standing nearby.

"And Captain Typho will come with you to carry your bags."

Han nodded, "Okay Mom," he saw Padmé looking over at Obi-Wan, with a blush at the knowing expression on his face, Han looked between them, biting his lip.

Padmé lowered her eyes, "Take Zett to your room now, Han. I need to speak to Master Kenobi privately," she said sternly.

Young Solo furrowed his brow, Privately, that was code for boring, serious adult talk, and Han shrugged in Padawan Jukassa's direction. "Okay. I have a really huge model of the Republic Shuttle," he said to Zett as they started to walk towards the hall, the mischievous younger boy's voice faded, as both boys headed for Han's room.

Amidala turned to Obi-Wan and shook her head, "Remember how I said he was like Anakin? I take it back, he's even more of a bundle of mischief that one," she smiled down at the floor, as they walked towards the lounge.

"Han says he wants to be a fighter pilot in the Republic Navy—"

Obi-Wan interceded as he sat beside her, "The Republic has fallen, Padmé, even the Jedi Order." He interrupted bluntly, the lovely woman's expression was softened into one of pain.

"I know, it's hard to believe everything to which we've dedicated our lives is gone."

Kenobi rested his hands on his lap, staring down at the black boots he was wearing with a muted expression of melancholy. "I believe we have been part of a plot hundreds of years in the making."

Padmé sighed and looked at him intently, "Senator Organa thinks as you do. However I believe, since the Senate is still intact, there is still some chance that democracy will prevail."

"It's over Padmé," the Jedi Master said stiffly, "As it was before the Jedi Knights and the Republic, the Sith will rule the galaxy with their iron fist."

Senator Amidala stared at him, "What do you mean, the Sith?!" She exclaimed, placing her hand over her mouth. Remembering back when she was fourteen, and first seeing the terrible Darth Maul, that attacked and killed Qui-Gon Jinn all those years ago, before Obi-Wan killed him in turn.

Then Count Dooku on Genosis…But Anakin said he had killed Dooku...there was another?

Obi-Wan interrupted her silent thoughts, "I would like to confer with Anakin actually. When was the last time you saw him?" He invoked swiftly, hoping Padmé's reaction would give him a clue, if she wouldn't answer him directly.

"Yesterday, just after Bail took Han he came by the apartment." Padmé replied just as quickly. Kenobi didn't have to know that Anakin had postponed his sojourn to Mustafar to come and make sure her and the baby were safe, before leaving on his mission again.

Kenobi raised his eyebrows with a persistent stare, "And do you know where he is now, Padmé?" He watched as Padmé's expression changed and her eyes wavered with worried intensity.

"No I don't." She shook her head. Anakin...

Obi-Wan grabbed her hand insistently, "Please Padmé I must know where Anakin is, he is in grave danger," he begged.

"From the Sith?" Padmé asked quietly, withdrawing her pale hand in panic at the look on the face of her husband's mentor.

Master Kenobi shook his head, "Not from the Sith, from himself. Padmé, can't you understand what I'm trying to say? Anakin is working for Palpatine, he has turned to the dark side."

Those six words would haunt Padmé till the end of her days, but at the time they were said it was still inconceivable, she couldn't believe it, no.

"No, no you're wrong! How could you even say that?" Padmé cried out in horror, staring at the man who had been her friend for so many years, and Anakin's best friend, his brother, making such accusations.

"I have seen a security hologram of him killing the Jedi Knights himself Padmé. So has Master Yoda, and your foster son heard it himself directly from Padawan Jukassa," he tried to make her see the peril of the situation more clearly.

Padmé shook her head still, even as the tears started to fog up her brown eyes, "Not Anakin! He couldn't! You must be mistaken..."

"There is no mistake, he was deceived," Obi-Wan looked down at his hands. "All of us were lied to. It appears that Chancellor Palpatine is at fault for everything, including the war.

"Palpatine is the Sith Lord the Jedi have been looking for, ever since the attack on Naboo all those years ago. After Count Dooku died, Anakin became his new apprentice."

Senator Amidala looked at him with shock, "I don't believe you...I can't." She placed a hand on her forehead, the child in her womb kicked twice in protest of its mother's disturbance.

Obi-Wan tried to make her see clearly, despite her fear and pain, "Padmé, I must find him, please."

"You're going to kill him, aren't you?"

The words were straight from her breaking heart, and the Jedi knew he had to let her know.

"He has become a very great threat, Zett said he is calling himself Lord Vader. Padmé, he has named Han Count Solo-Vader, and he intends on making you Lady Vader," he watched as the tears started to flow from the eyes of the Senator. Amidala placed her hands on her stomach which was visible with her rounded pregnancy.

Kenobi lent forward, "I know Padmé, I know you married Anakin and are carrying his child. Please tell me where he is?" He made one final bid for her knowledge, but the brown haired woman shook her head again.

"I can't." Were all the words that escaped from Padmé's lips.

Obi-Wan looked out onto the landing pad, at where Bail had towed out a starship for him, a plan formulating in his mind as he read the thoughts in Padmé's conscience, with bitter unhappiness at having to do so. He got to his feet and bowed his head to her.

"I'm so sorry. Padmé, tell Han I send my farewell," Kenobi walked swiftly away, turning his head back to see the woman lower her head and make quiet shushing noises, as she rubbed her stomach.

Why, Anakin?

Obi-Wan wasn't certain if that thought was his own or the lingering thoughts of Senator Amidala, but at this point, he was sure from deep in his soul that it was almost one and the same.

-:-:-:-

Han's farewell from his mother would be very different this time.

He knew it from the moment he looked up in the doorway of his room, and Padmé was leaning in the doorway, staring over at him in quiet contemplation as Captain Typho bowed his head to her, and left with the packed bags.

Young Solo left Zett, who was studying the back of one of Han's holovid-games, and smiled up at his foster mother, "Are you alright, Mom? Are you still sure you want me to go?" Han tried to hide his worry, but Padmé placed a hand on his head.

"We have spoken about this, sweetie. I want you safe and Alderaan is perfectly secure unlike Coruscant, it's still in uncertainty," Padmé murmured dreamily. "But I promise you, when it's all over, we'll go to the lakes on Naboo. You can help me set up the baby's room, and you can have any room you like. And then when Anakin comes to join us we'll have picnics by the waterfalls, go swimming...can you swim?"

Han shook his head and Padmé pulled him into a hug, "We'll teach you, Anakin and I both…do you know he grew up on a desert world? Tatooine. Anakin learnt to swim from the Jedi..." She looked over at Zett.

"Padawan Jukassa, you are most welcome to come and visit us. I can see you and Han becoming fast friends," Padmé smiled shakily at the serious boy, who smiled kindly in return.

Han nodded, "And when the baby comes we can teach him how to swim and fly. I'm going to have to learn before that though," he remembered with a shrug, there was a chime from the turbolift and Han sighed unevenly. "Okay, goodbye was hard enough the first time."

Padmé smiled down at him, "It's not goodbye, it's a promise to meet again, remember?" She brushed the talisman around his neck. "You still have your promise and I have mine." Padmé took his hand and motioned to Zett.

"You two will love Alderaan, the planet is very beautiful and the people are kind."

Han only half-listened to his foster mother, taking her in his memory, her scent of Ieago flowers Anakin had brought her back from his travels. Padmé's bright brown eyes and wide smiling mouth, her soft embrace and her long brown tresses. Placing her inside his mind with the distant memory of another lady with long hair…but the other lady had long black hair and green eyes, with a perfume of Corellian Jasmine, instead of Ieago Flowers.

Both so precious, both locked in his memory where no-one could ever touch them.

Bail was waiting in the entrance room, looking grave as Anakin Skywalker's wife approached him with her foster son and Zett. "I beg your pardon, Padmé, but I need to take the boys now. A friend needs to be picked up urgently," he looked pointedly at her and the woman sighed.

"All right, I have some business of my own to attend to," Padmé kissed Han's forehead. "Remember what I told you yesterday, no fear and be brave. You too, Zett." Senator Amidala said benevolently, shaking Jukassa's hand, before kissing Han's cheek again.

"Mom, where is Obi-Wan?" Han looked around.

Padmé narrowed her eyes. "He had to leave, he said to say goodbye," her expression softened as she placed a hand on his face. "You know I love you, Han."

Han wiped his eyes quickly, "I know Mom," he whispered, hugging her tightly. "Be careful."

Padmé let him go and turned away as her foster son was lead away by the tall Prince of Alderaan, and the serious young Jedi Padawan and Captain Typho followed them into the lift, she turned back at the last second to wave at her son as the doors slid shut.

Han bowed his head and bit his lip, looking up at Bail Organa, "She seemed so different, Senator Organa. I think Obi-Wan must have told her," Han said softly, the Senator nodded seriously.

"I think so too. You and Zett can both call me Bail if you like. It's much better then 'your highness' this and 'Senator' that," Organa ruffled Han's hair with a kindly, easy-going manner.

"I think we all have to stick together. Master Yoda is going to need our help."

-:-:-:-

Obi-Wan slid the door shut on the cargo hold of Padmé Amidala's ship, sighing as he reached into the Force to mediate. The ship shook slightly as it took off and he could feel not only Padmé's troubled energy, but to his great joy and sorrow, the Force signature of the Senator and Anakin's child. It was strong, and almost like double to his own...

-:-:-:-

Bail had taken off in a rush, after he left the two boys on the Tantative IV, leaving them under the watch of his aide, Sheltay.

As the elegant Alderaani took the two boys to the dining quarters later that evening, Han gazed up at the woman with unabashed admiration, she returned the smile the small boy gave him.

"What is it Master Solo-Naberrie?" Sheltay's soft voice questioned, Han shrugged.

"You're really pretty and tall," Han said simply, the white clothed Retrac chuckled and lifted up the skirt of her dress slightly to show Han the high, platform shoes she wore.

The boy nodded. "Oh. You can call me Han."

Sheltay bowed her head, "Thank-you Han, you are very sweet. I wear high shoes so Prince Organa can look at me more at eye-level," she mentioned. The dark haired aide led the boys over to a stylishly fashioned table, with similarly created chairs, but in a slightly more cream colour.

Zett sat silently on the swivel chair, and began to pick at the food on the plate in front of him.

But Han, instead, hopped up on one of the seats and twirled it around experimentally, watching Retrac sit down at the head of the curved table, before he looked down at his plate and took a large forkful of food.

"Do you have a family on Alderaan, Sheltay?" Han asked before shovelling the food into his mouth. The young woman nodded and took a delicate bite of her own meal.

"Yes, Han. I have a husband and a little girl almost two years old, her name is Winter," Sheltay informed him with another small smile, nodding in dismissal to the prep-droids, who took their leave as Solo picked up the glass in front of him, and took an experimental sip of the sweet liquid inside.

"Really? I bet you miss them a lot," Han commented. Retrac nodded and Han looked down at his meal, poking the Nerf medallions with his fork. "My Mom's going to have a baby soon, and I haven't seen my...well my Dad, in a few days."

Zett ripped up a piece of flatbread, "I'm sorry Han, but I hope you never have to see him again," he intervened tonelessly, the other boy glared at him, and Jukassa was quick to continue.

"Han, can't you understand? Anakin is dead. I read long ago in the archives, when a Jedi turns to the dark side he loses his personality in the darkness. Someone else is inhabiting Anakin's body, like a parasite."

The talk was so serious to be coming from the lips of a ten-year-old, and Sheltay looked down at the folded hands on her lap in unobtrusive sympathy for the suffering young Jedi.

"It wears his face, but it's like a mask." Zett shook his head as Han looked downcast. "You don't want to see someone who isn't Anakin walking around in his skin, do you?" He sighed and went back to fiddling with his food. They sat in silence until Han suddenly broke the silence.

"Can he ever come back?" Han's voice was full of want and fear. Jukassa shrugged in response.

A gravelly voice replied instead.

"Only when the darkness can he overcome himself, which happened has only rarely within the Sith society."

The boys and Sheltay turned to see Master Yoda, without his cloak and looking exhausted as he hobbled in, followed by a despondent Senator Organa. Yoda crawled up onto a chair beside Zett.

"Failed have I, Palpatine I could not defeat," the Jedi Master sighed deeply. "To help Obi-Wan, we must go. I sense he and Lord Vader are in a terrible battle," Yoda clutched his head and Han jumped up from his seat.

"Master Kenobi is fighting Anakin?! No!" Han cried out as everyone stared at him, "I don't want either of them to die! Master Yoda," Han shook his head.

"I know if anyone can come back from the dark side it's Anakin, he's brave and smart and kind...!"

Han's anxious rambling was cut short as Yoda sadly held up a claw and Han fell into a Force induced sleep, slipping from his chair.

Bail caught Han before he hit the floor, and Bail's concerned eyes were the last thing the boy saw before he drifted into unconsciousness.

-:-:-:-

When Han awoke he found himself in a small medical centre room, with Zett staring down at him sympathetically, the other boy didn't return the smile though and sat up angrily.

"Where is that Master Yoda?! He did something with the Force to put me to sleep, didn't he...? Oww!" Han howled suddenly clutching his head. "I'm so dizzy."

Jukassa sat on the cot beside him, "Relax, you'll recover soon enough. Master Yoda is an expert Force-user," he assured Han, who raised an eyebrow as he lowered his hands from his face.

"Oh that's real great, very reassuring!" Han snapped, looking around the brightly lit room. "Where are we?"

Zett poured a glass of water and handed the decanter to Solo. "Polis Massa. We just got here an hour ago, it's a medical centre. Senator Organa just sent out a message to Master Kenobi, he's coming here with your mother."

Han nearly spat out his water, "Why does he have my Mom with him? And where's Anakin?" He swung his legs out from under the covers.

The Jedi Padawan shifted slightly, reluctantly not meeting Solo's eyes, "Senator Amidala wouldn't tell Master Kenobi where Anakin was, but he sensed that she was going to warn Anakin, wherever he was. So Master Kenobi stowed away on her ship and they flew to Mustafar."

Han lowered his eyes, "Mustafar," he mumbled, Zett stared at him, and Han pulled on his pants and reached out for his boots.

"Yes, it's a volcanic planet. I don't know what exactly happened between Master Kenobi and Anakin yet, but your Mother was injured..."

Han's jumped off of the bed and dropped his boots as he grabbed his shirt, jamming it on over his simple white undershirt as he rushed out into the hallway. Jukassa went running after the barefoot foster son of Padmé Amidala.

"Han, wait up!" Zett called out, Han briefly turned his head around as the slightly taller boy thrust the black boots at him. Solo grunted and sat down on the spotlessly clean floor to pull them on,

"Bail is in the waiting room with Master Yoda. I'm really sorry he Forced you into sleep." Jukassa apologised.

Han shook his head. "I don't blame you Zett. But I can't blame Master Yoda either, even though I'd like to," he got to his feet. "I was probably mouthing off again–hey!" Han grabbed the shoulder of a droid that went floating by them.

"Hi, do you know where the waiting room is?"

The droid pointed down the hall, "Just down this hall, seventh door on the left sir, would you like me to escort you?" The artificially soft voice inquired with a wave of its metal claws.

Young Solo rolled his eyes, Droids, "Sure, why not?"'

Han and Zett followed the floating medical machine down the hallway. Jukassa bit his lip as he folded his arms over his white tunic covered chest, worn over his regular Jedi issue pants.

"Han, can you promise me something?" Zett spoke up, Solo nodded. "Okay...if Master Kenobi had to...well…" Zett stammered under the glare Han gave him.

"…yeah. Don't blame him, please. Anakin was like his son, and I know he would never have done anything to hurt him, if he wasn't a danger or threat."

Han nodded, "All right, I won't," he said bluntly.

Jukassa hid the surprise he felt quickly, but realised that something had changed on Han's face. The simple kindness Han had possessed since Zett had met him had started to disappear into unfocused solemnity.

Thank you for reading.