Ok, later in the chapter there's going to be a flashback to a certain part in Episode 3. The first part of it you probably don't know it. But George Lucas wrote it not me. It was just cut out of the film, and I feel like it would be a nice flashback at that part.
Yet another month past, although Luke had to admit this past month was easier.
It turned out that when Palpatine threw Mace out the window he wasn't counting on Mace landing on a balcony. Obi-Wan survived by a trick Qui-Gon had taught him. Right before Vader was about to cut Obi-Wan down, Obi-Wan transported himself to the planet that Mace was hiding on. They stayed there until they received word that Darth Vader turned back into Anakin Skywalker and destroyed the emperor.
They were still in the planning stage for fixing the temple. At the same time they were trying to find anyone to train. Leia declined saying that she didn't have the time to train and that she couldn't give up her duties to become a Jedi. Although everyone could sense that the real reason was Anakin, even Han knew that!
Padmé wasn't getting any better; in fact she was getting worse. Luke went to visit her daily now. Anakin often went alone to see her. And Leia went whenever she could, which wasn't often.
But Luke had bigger problems, or problem. Leia had given Luke 5 months to convince her to forgive Anakin and accept him. And 5 months was almost up.
Han now was sure that Lando was up to something. 5 months was too long. But Lando assured Han that he'd be back by Luke and Leia's 24th birthday. Ironically that was the last day for Luke to try to convince her.
The Day before the Twin's Birthday –Leia's Apartment...
"That was Lando." Han said to Chewie, Luke and Leia re-entering the room.
"What'd he say?" Leia asked.
"He says he'll be here tomorrow afternoon. I swear that guy's up to something." Han said.
"You said that last week." Leia said.
"And the week before that." Luke said.
"And the week before that." Leia said.
"In fact, you've said that every week since he left." Luke said.
"It's just not like Lando. Right Chewie?" Han said.
Chewie replied with what sounded like, "Right."
"Look, if something was up, I'd sense it. In fact all four of us Jedi would sense it. We didn't sense anything Han." Luke explained.
"Well if you're sure, why don't you put your money where your mouth is?" Han suggested.
"I didn't think anyone was crazy enough to bet against a Jedi." Leia said.
"Don't forget Leia that Han is crazy. I don't think you'd what to bet against a Jedi." Luke said.
"Just because you're a Jedi doesn't mean you can't lose a bet." Han said.
"How much?" Luke asked.
"20 credits." Han said.
"Deal." Luke said extending his hand.
"Deal." Han said shaking Luke's hand to seal the deal.
Leia rolled her eyes and asked Chewie, "Why do I even bother?"
Later –Luke's Apartment...
R2 and 3PO entered the living room to see Luke sitting on the couch, deep in thought.
"Is something a matter, Master Luke?" 3PO asked.
"What?" Luke asked breaking out of his trance. He obviously hadn't noticed the droids enter the room. "Oh, no. Nothing's wrong 3PO."
"May I as inquire as to what you were thinking about?"
"It's nothing. It's just, tomorrow's mine and Leia's birthday. I still haven't gotten her anything yet. I'm just trying to figure out what to get her."
"Can I assist you in anyway?" 3PO asked.
"I'm sorry 3PO, I don't think you-" Suddenly Luke stopped. It hit him.
"Master Luke? Is something wrong?" 3PO asked.
"No. It's just-. Didn't Leia say this used to be mom's apartment?" Luke asked.
"I believe so sir."
"Good." Luke said. "I think I've solved my problem. R2, 3PO, I think I need your help."
A while later...
"I think what you're doing to a wonderful idea Master Luke. I'm sure Mistress Leia will be pleased." 3PO said.
"Thanks." Luke said.
Luke was putting together some clips of their mother from the security tapes in the apartment.
"I still feel like it's missing something." Luke said.
"Perhaps files from another room?" 3PO said. "Perhaps from her old room."
"I'll check the files from there." Luke said.
The trio went into the room. Luke had been staying in the guest room.
Then Luke stopped. It just hit him. That was his parent's room. They had done "things" in there. And he for sure knew that neither Leia nor he wanted to see those.
"On second thought maybe not." Luke said. Then Luke looked around and said, "There's not even a camera in here."
Then Luke tried to things of what else to do.
"I can't think of anything." Luke said. Then he, a little too hard, fell back and leaned against the wall to think.
But when his back hit the wall everyone in the room noticed the hollow sound it made.
"Did you hear that?" Luke asked.
"I did sir." 3PO said.
R2 beeped agreement.
Luke turned to face the wall. He searched for any sign of a way to open the wall.
He found a little part of the wall that opened to reveal a hidden lock to something that Luke couldn't see. Flashing across the screen was one word:
NAME?
Luke wondered if he should see what his mother had locked up.
"It might have something important in it." Luke thought.
He was about to type in his name when he remembered that the lock wouldn't know a Luke Skywalker. So he typed in another name.
ANAKIN SKYWALKER...
PLEASE WAIT...
Luke held his breath.
ANAKIN SKYWALKER... APPROVED
Luke sighed in relief.
PASSCODE?
"Of course she would put in passcodes. Anyone can type Anakin Skywalker." Luke thought.
Then he remembered something.
Anakin, R2 and Luke were walking toward Jedi temple.
"Dad? There's a lock on the door." Luke called to his father from the temple's enter.
Anakin went up to see what his son was talking about.
"Oh that's right. I forgot about the lock I put on here." Anakin said.
"Well what's the passcode? I need to know it for future reference." Luke said.
"It's what all my passcodes are." Anakin said.
Then he typed in 759925537.
"Why is it 759925537?" Luke asked.
"I still can't believe he told me that that was all of his passcodes." Luke laughed silently to himself.
"What's so amusing, Master Luke?" 3PO asked.
"Nothing." Luke said as he typed the passcode.
APPROVED.
Suddenly a door that had been camouflaged into the wall opened to reveal a small closet opened.
The closet was filled with basically all evidence of his parent's marriage. But one thing took Luke's attention. It was a small white box. Luke took the box out of the closet.
"What's this?" Luke asked.
"I'm not sure Master Luke. But I really don't thing you should be looking through Mistress Padmé's private items. It really is unethical, very inappropriate for a Jedi like yourself." 3PO said.
"You're right, I – Wait a minute." Luke said.
He wiped off the dust from the lid to see that written on top of the box was, Luke Skywalker.
"I think she wanted me to see this one." Luke said.
He locked up the closet and took the box out to the living room.
He opened the box to find one recording, a box and an even smaller box with a lock on it.
He played the recording;
(The blue image of his mother at age of 27 flickered in front of Luke.)
"Luke, by know you've discovered the truth about you and I. You've also probably discovered the truth about Leia and Anakin. Let me say I hate or hopefully by now hated lying to you. I love you all and this has been really hard. If I didn't have to do this I wouldn't, be I had to.
You're probably wondering about exactly what happened to make your father. In the box that doesn't have a lock you'll find five recording. Watch them in order. And In the locked box there's a complete explanation. I'm the only one who knows the passcode so I'll open it up. But you can't see it until then. If something's happened to me, the box will open on your 25th birthday.
I have to go now. I love you, Leia and Anakin. Before we part remember something, the only thing you can trust is your heart. Listen to it and it will show you the way."
Luke looked into the box without the lock. Just as she had said there was 5 holos.
He played the first one.
His parents were standing on the balcony.
"Ani, I want to have our baby back home on Naboo. We could go to the lake country where no one would know." Padmé said brushing her hair. Then she turned to face Anakin and said smiling, "I could go early-and fix up the baby's room."
Anakin smiled.
Then she turned back and said, "I know the perfect spot, right by the gardens."
"You're so, beautiful." Anakin said.
"It's only because I'm so in love."
Anakin laughed and said, "No, it's because I'm so in love with you."
Padmé dropped her smile into a serious expression and asked, "So love has blinded you?"
Anakin laughed. Then he said,"Well, that's not exactly what I meant."
The holo ended.
"How in the galaxy did he go from that to an evil sith lord?" Luke asked. "I guess I'll find out."
He played the second holo.
His parents were in the very room Luke was in. It was later that night.
"What's bothering you?" Padmé finally asked.
"Nothing." Then he turned to her and touched the japor snippet around her neck and said, "I remember when I gave this to you."
"How long is it going to take for us to be honest with each other?"
"It was a dream." He admitted.
"Bad?"
"Like the ones I used to have about my mother just before she died." He said.
"And?" Padmé asked.
"It was about you."
"Tell me."
"It was only a dream."
He walked a little bit away from her. Then he turned around and confessed his dream,"You die in childbirth." Anakin said.
"And the baby?" Padmé asked placing a hand on her stomach.
"I don't know."
"It was only a dream."
"I won't let this one become real, Padmé" Anakin said.
"This baby will change our lives. I doubt the Queen will continue to allow me to serve in the Senate, and if the Council discovers you're the father –" Padmé said.
"I know, I know." Anakin interrupted.
"Do you think Obi-Wan might be able to help us?"
"We don't need his help. Our baby is a blessing.
The holo ended.
"I think I'm starting to understand what made dad turn." Luke said.
Then he played the 3rd holo.
Padmé's Speeder pulled up to a landing platform. Captain Typho escortedPadmé onto the veranda, where 2 handmaidens (Elle and Motee) were waiting.
Padmé turned to Typho
"Thank you, Captain." Padmé said.
"Rest well. My Lady." Typho said.
He got back into the Speeder, and it disappeared into the cityscape.
The handmaidens, Motee and Elle, approached Padmé as the shadow of a figure moved in the background. C-3PO was standing nearby.
"I'll be up in a while." Padmé said.
"Yes, my lady." Motee said.
C-3PO stood, confused, as the handmaidens turned and exit.
"Is there anything I might do for you, my lady?" 3PO asked.
"Yes, make sure all the security droids are working. Thank you, 3PO." Padmé said.
The golden droid turned and exits.
Padmé stood and watched the sunset. The shadowy figure moved toward her. She sensed something.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" The figure (who turned out to be Anakin) said.
Padmé jumped and turned around.
"You startled me." Padmé said.
He sat next to her on the bench.
"How are you feeling?"Anakin asked.
"He keeps kicking." Padmé said.
"He?!" Anakin asked startled."Why do you think it's a boy?"
Padmé laughed. Then she said, "My motherly intuition."
She put his hand on her belly.
"Whoa! With a kick that strong, it's got to be a girl." Anakin said.T
hey laughed
"I heard about your appointment. Anakin. I'm so proud of you."
"I may be on the Council, but . . . they refused to accept me as a Jedi Master."
"Patience. In time, they will recognize your skills."
"They still treat me as if I were a Padawan learner. . . they fear my power, that's the problem."
"Anakin . . ."
"Sometimes, I wonder what's happening to the Jedi Order . . . I think this war is destroying the principles of the Republic."
"Have you ever considered that we may be on the wrong side?"
"What do you mean?"
"What if the democracy we thought we were serving no longer exists, and the Republic has become the very evil we have been fighting to destroy?"
"I don't believe that. And you're sounding like a Separatist!"
"This war represents a failure to listen . . . Now; you're closer to the Chancellor than anyone. Please, please ask him to stop the fighting and let diplomacy resume."
"Don't ask me to do that. Make a motion in the Senate, where that kind of a request belongs."
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"Don't do this . . . don't shut me out. Let me help you. Hold me . . . like you did by the lake on Naboo, so long ago . . . when there was nothing but our love ... No politics, no plotting ... no war.
The holo ended.
Luke played the next holo.
"Are you all right? I heard there was an attack on the Jedi Temple. You can see the smoke from here." Padmé said.
"I'm fine. I'm fine. I came to see if you and the baby are safe." The newly turned Vader said.
"What's happening?"
"The Jedi have tried to overthrow the Republic."
"I can't believe that!"
"It's true. I saw Master Windu attempt to assassinate the Chancellor myself."
"Anakin, what are you going to do?" Padmé asked.
"I will not betray the Republic. My loyalties lie with the Chancellor and with the Senate and with you." Vader said.
"What about Obi-Wan?"
"I don't know. Many Jedi have been killed. We can only hope that he's remained loyal to the Chancellor."
"Anakin, I'm afraid." Padmé said.
"Have faith, my love. Everything will soon be set right. The Chancellor has given me a very important mission. The Separatists have gathered in the Mustafar system. I'm going there to end this war. Wait for me until I return. Things will be different, I promise."
They kissed.
Then Luke played the last holo.
"When was the last time you saw him?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yesterday." Padmé said.
"And do you know where he is now?"
"No."
"Padmé, I need your help. He's in grave danger."
"From the sith?" Padmé asked worried.
"From himself. Padmé, Anakin has turned to the dark side." Obi-Wan said.
"You're wrong! How could you even say that?"
"I have seen a security hologram of him killing younglings."
"Not Anakin! He couldn't!"
"He was deceived by a lie. We all were. It appears that the Chancellor is behind everything, including the war. Palpatine is the Sith Lord we've been looking for. After the death of Count Dooku, Anakin became his new apprentice." Obi-Wan explained.
"I don't believe you ... I can't." Padmé said as she sat down.
"Padmé, I must find him."
"You're going to kill him, aren't you?"
"He has become a very great threat."
"I can't . . ." Padmé said softly.
Obi-Wan got up and started to leave.
Then he turned back and asked, "Anakin is the father, isn't he?"
Padmé didn't say anything, she just looked down.
"I'm so sorry.
The holo ended.
Luke sat there shocked.
The next day –Leia's apartment...
Luke and the droids arrived earlier than everyone else.
He showed Leia the holos that he had watched the previous day.
"You're sure that the reason he turned was for us?" Leia asked.
"I'm saying anything for sure. But it's the best bet I have." Luke said.
"I don't want bets, Luke! I want facts!" Leia snapped. Then she softened up and said, "Talk to him about it today. Ask him about it."
"I was already going to do that." Luke said.
"Well, there's a reminder." Leia said.
"Why would I need a reminder?"
"Because you forget a lot of things."
"I forget a lot of things? You forget a lot of things!"
"Since when have I–"
"Well there's no doubting that you two are brother and sister." A voice said from behind them.
"Oh, you're finally here." Leia said.
"You're finally here? That's how you greet your guests?" Han asked.
"No, but that's how I greet you." Leia said.
"Ouch, Leia. That hurt." Han said pretending that it hurt.
"You'll get over it." Leia said.
"And people wonder why I have issues." Luke muttered.
"Hey kid." Han said.
"Hey Han, where's Chewie?" Luke asked.
"Oh he's–" Han was about to say something when 3PO came in.
"Oh, Mistress Leia, Master Luke." 3PO said.
"What is it?" Luke asked.
"Master Anakin is here. And he wishes to speak with you." 3PO said.
"Let him in." Leia said.
Soon 3PO came back in with Anakin.
"Uh, if you need me I'll be in the other room." Han said.
As soon as Han left Leia asked Anakin, "What do you want?"
"I want you to give me a few seconds to talk." Anakin said.
"Fine." Leia said.
"Ok. Look Leia, I've done things I'm not proud of. And the top 3 things I'm not proud of are: 3 freezing Han in carbonite, 2 leading the attack on the Jedi temple and 1 the Mustafar incident." Anakin said.
Luke and Leia looked at each other then asked him, "The Mustafar incident?"
"I'll tell you later. The thing is most of the things I regret involve this family. But I'm not as evil as you believe me to be. For one thing I didn't destroy Alderaan." Anakin said.
"You did so!" Leia said.
"Don't you remember my words? I clearly said to Tarkin, although I am strongly against this, the emperor has greatly agreed with this. Then I basically left after that." Anakin said
"True..." Leia said.
"Do you even know the first reason why I turned?" Anakin asked.
"You were having nightmares about mom dying in childbirth?" Luke asked.
Anakin looked at him.
"How did you–?" Anakin asked.
"I'll tell you later." Luke said.
"Yes that was the reason I turned. And you may think that I didn't do anything good after I turned. But that's not true." Anakin said.
"What!" Luke and Leia said.
"I did do one last good thing..." Anakin said.
"What?" Leia asked.
"About 2 months after you two were born Palpatine sent me on a mission. He felt a force sensitive. He sent me to retrieve this child.
Her name was Mayla Rekin; she was the younger of a set of twin girls. She was strong with the force. My job was to get this girl, and we would train her in the ways of the sith so that if anything happened to one of us there could still be two sith.
But when I finally found her I thought of Padmé. And at the time I believed she and our "child" were dead. And I knew I couldn't doom this child to have the same fate I did. So I lied to the emperor that the girl was dead, and I hid the fact that she wasn't. I saved her from sith hood." Anakin explained.
"You did that?" Leia said.
Anakin nodded.
"Wait a minute. What happened to this...?" Luke asked.
"Mayla. Well, when she was 14 Palpatine found out the truth. I paid greatly for that. And she was... killed." Anakin said putting his head down.
Leia put on arm on his shoulder and said, "I'm sorry that happened to you... dad."
Everyone, including Han who had been listening in, was shocked.
"What did you just call me?" Anakin asked.
"You heard me. I called you dad." Leia said.
"Wait a minute, does this mean your?" Luke asked.
"Yes." Leia said.
"Well that's great." Han said.
All three Skywalkers turned to see Han.
"Were you listening in?" Luke asked.
"Of course. Now if you don't mind I'm going to finish answering your earlier question. Lando's landing in now 5 minutes and Chewie's already there. We should be going about now." Han said.
"Let's go." Leia said.
Later –At the landing platform...
Lando's ship landed.
Everyone was waiting for him.
"You better be getting your credit chip ready Skywalker. Your money's mine!" Han said to Luke.
Lando emerged from the ship.
Han went to greet Lando first by saying, "Why, you slimy, double-crossing, no-good swindler."
"Funny Solo." Lando said.
Everyone (even Anakin) noticed that something was different about Lando. He had bags under his eyes, his voice was tired and yet it sounded like somehow it was more mature. In fact Luke and Anakin could sense something was different.
"So where've you been?" Han asked.
"You know, around." Lando said.
"Han thinks you're up to something." Luke said.
"Shut up!" Han said.
"So what have you been doing?" Leia asked.
"Um, I'll explain everything later but first, I want you to meet someone." Lando said.
"Who?" Leia asked.
Lando went back into the ship and then came back out with a bundle.
"Everyone I want you to meet Markus Calrissian." Lando said.
"Lando he's beautiful." Leia said with her feminine side showing.
"Thanks." Lando said.
"So what is he your nephew?" Han asked.
"Actually, he's kind of, my... son." Lando said.
Everyone suddenly stopped what they were doing to look at Lando.
There was silence.
"Bet you wish I was up to something now huh?" Lando asked.
Wow! That's the longest chapter I've ever written! 16 pages!
