Twilight is upon me. Soon night must fall. That is the way of things. The way of the Force.
-Master Yoda, Return of the Jedi

Previously on Fallen
Tahiri: Anakin.
We're floating in midair, Anakin realized.
Anakin gasped in shock, and whatever spell had previously held them above the ground was broken.

Winter: "Viqi Shesh has just announced her intention to run for President of the Alliance."

Jaina: "The Empire is building another Death Star."
Leia: "Where did you get this information?"
Jaina: "From an Imperial officer. I brought him with me."

Jacen: "Just because I'm not a soldier—"
Han: "
That's your problem, Jacen. You are a soldier."
Jacen: "I'm a
doctor."
Han: "You're a Chief. Medical.
Officer. You are an officer in the Alliance Army, whether you like it or not."
Jacen: "Dad, I need a leave of absence."
Han: Please take care of yourself, Son."

Anakin: "You know, nothing really seems to go right when I'm around you. I get shot, crash…"
Tahiri: "Oh, shut up."
After a few moments of motionlessness, Anakin turned around under her and half-sat up. Tahiri didn't really move, so she still straddled his waist. Another snide comment died on Tahiri's lips at the intense look in Anakin's eyes. She felt herself drowning in his blue eyes.
Oh no…
And then they were kissing urgently, their arms carelessly winding around each other. And their fate was sealed.

Twenty-Six Years After the Battle of Endor
The assembled Alliance starfleet floated through the loneliness of interplanetary space. The assortment of ships ranged from Old Republic to Corellian to Hapan.

And, suddenly, Imperial.

"Sir! Imperial Star Destroyers approaching the Exclusion Zone!"

The Alliance fleet was several hours' sublight travel inside the Interdiction Field, a defense the Imperials had not challenged in decades aside from the occasional ill-fated task force. The distance gave the alliance plenty of warning when Imperial ships approached, as appeared to be the case now.

Things were not always as they appeared.

"Shields! Go to battle stations!"

General Solo turned away from the IFF display, which had just seen the squadron of ISDs turn from red to green. "That's a negative, Captain. They're with us."

"Allies?" the Alderaan's commander asked incredulously.

Han grimaced. "That's debatable."

The Kuati fleet had arrived.

xxx

Fallen

Leia Organa Solo; President, Alliance of Free Planets (female human from Alderaan)
General Han Solo; Supreme Allied Commander, Army (male human from Corellia)
Commander Anakin Solo; Rogue Leader (male human from Hapes)
Flight Officer Tahiri Veila; Rogue Two; bounty hunter (female human from Tatooine)
Agent Jaina Solo; Alliance Intelligence; captain, Millennium Falcon (female human from Hapes)
Commander Jagged Fel; 181st TIE Interceptor Squadron (male human from Corellia)
Doctor Jacen Solo; Alliance Medical Officer (male human from Hapes)
Grand Moff Viqi Shesh; Imperial Governor (female human from Kuat)

xxx

"Night Must Fall"

Fortunately, Tahiri had been able to salvage enough emergency supplies from the Y-Wing that she and Anakin had at least a serviceable shelter. Anakin's wounds were healing quite well, but Tahiri nevertheless enforced a strict regimen of rest and… recreation.

At first, they agreed to wait for Search and Rescue; and by "wait for Search and Rescue," they both meant explore their feelings for each other. And as neither one of themwas particularly emotionally communicative (Tahiri wasn't very emotional; Anakin just didn't talk much, which suited her just fine), the exploration was very… explorative for them both.

After a few days, their rations were starting to run low, and the reality that they needed to do something began to set in.

Reality of another kind was driving Tahiri mad. Could she really fully commit herself to the Rebels for this boy?

"The comm unit is busted," Anakin declared after a thorough investigation.

"It's just as well," Tahiri pointed out. "We wouldn't be able to use it even if it were operational."

Anakin sighed, and Tahiri saw his brow knit in distress. She leaned towards him and placed her hands lightly on either side of his neck. "What?" she asked, gently.

"I really only see one option," Anakin admitted. "And it's very dangerous."

Tahiri shrugged. "Dangerous is kind of our specialty, isn't it?"

Anakin smiled faintly before answering, "I think we need to steal a ship."

"Well, this rock isn't exactly the commercial center of the galaxy. In fact, if I remember the briefing correctly, it's uninhabited other than – oh."

"Yeah," Anakin confirmed grimly. "Other than our target."

"So… we're going to walk into an Imperial base and steal a ship."

"Hey, this is probably the best time to do it. They'll have a lot of their attention focused on repairing from the bombing run." Tahiri was unsure whether Anakin was trying to convince her or himself. "Anyway, we should probably do a few reconnaissance runs to see if this is even feasible."

Tahiri sighed. Anakin would no doubt see her reluctance, but he would be unlikely to guess its source. A reconnaissance mission would be the best opportunity Tahiri would have to complete her mission, and might well force her hand. If she ever intended to return to the Bounty Hunter's Guild, she would need to accomplish her mission quickly. Any further delay would certainly arouse suspicion.

Mistaking her hesitation for fear, as she knew he would, Anakin leaned close and lightly brushed his lips against hers. Instead of reassuring her, however, he merely reminded her of her dilemma. He seemed to sense this, as he gently asked, "What?"

"Nothing," Tahiri replied reflexively, wincing at how unconvincing it sounded. If I do decide to join the Alliance, Tahiri realized, I'm going to have to tell them. Tell him.

Even if she decided to stay… would Anakin ever really be able to trust her when she told him how she had lied to him all this time?

"We also need to figure this out," Anakin noted, and Tahiri knew "this" referred to their budding relationship.

Tahiri forced a smile. "Yeah. Well. Let's just survive first."

It would probably be easier if they didn't.

xxx

Han had transferred his flag to Alderaan at Leia's request, so he stood at her side as she prepared to address the entire fleet. Her oldest children were on the bridge, as was Jagged Fel, in full Imperial uniform but without rank or other insignia. Isolder, Wedge, and the other commanders would see her holo on the bridge, and each ship's crew would hear her on audio.

The comm officer nodded at Leia, indicating the fleet-wide feed was ready.

Leia took a deep breath, and began. "By now, all of you know what we're faced with. I am about to ask all of you to show the courage and bravery you've given me no reason to doubt in my decades fighting against the Empire. Many of us might not make it back alive, but thousands… millions of lives hang in the balance.

"To the best of our knowledge, the Empire is constructing another Death Star at a secret facility deep inside the celestial anomaly known as the Maw. If it weren't for the honesty of an Imperial officer," Jag looked uncomfortable but determined at the mention of his actions, "we would not be in a position to do anything about it. I thank Jag Fel for his efforts, and hereby pardon him for any and all crimes against the Alliance of Free Planets, with an offer of sanctuary.

"Thanks to him, our mission is clear. It is fitting that as we undertake this project, I stand on the bridge of this ship. As Home One, it participated in the destruction of the Empire's second attempt to unleash this evil on the galaxy. As Alderaan, it is a memorial to all those who died thirty years ago. We are also a tribute, a living tribute, to them. As long as we carry them in our hearts, freedom will never truly be extinguished from the galaxy."

Leia paused to collect herself, consciously stopping images of her father – her real father, not the monster who killed him – from overwhelming her composure.

She nodded to the Alderaan's captain. "Begin preparations for the jump to lightspeed."

A flurry of activity began at this command.

On the other side of the bridge, Jacen approached the Imperial officer. "Commander Fel?"

Jag looked up from his last-minute reflections. "Oh. Jaina's brother… Jacen, is it?"

Jacen nodded. "Yes. I… I just wondered if you still intend not to accept my mother's offer of sanctuary."

With a sigh, Jag answered honestly, "I don't belong here, Jacen."

"Trust me, Commander," Jacen answered with a sigh. "You belong here more than I do. I know what it's like to be an outsider… but I think you'd be surprised if you just gave this place a chance."

"I will consider your words very carefully, Jacen Solo," Jag answered with a respectful nod. "Thank you."

Jacen nodded in return, and then turned around to approach the center of the bridge. He walked up to his father, and said, "Dad—" but found himself unable to say more.

Han turned to face his son, and for a moment there was a tense silence. Each looked in the other's face, searching, and finding an image of his own uncertainty in the other's face.

It was Han who broke the silence. "We sure could use you at your post, Doctor Solo."

Jacen drew himself to attention and saluted respectfully. "Sir. Yes, sir."

Han returned the salute with more proper form than was his custom.

"Calculations confirmed," the navigation officer informed Leia.

"Lower the Interdiction Field," Leia ordered.

"Interdiction Field lowered."

Then Leia spoke the words she had not spoken in twenty-five years. "May the Force be with us." She didn't say it because she believed it; she said it because the others needed to hear it.

xxx

Elsewhere, another woman was preparing to give a speech. In this case, however, it was being broadcast not to a fleet of ships, but every planet connected to the Alliance of Free Planets' HoloNet.

True, only a small fraction of each planets' citizens would see the speech, but the media would spread news of its contents like wildfire, forever altering the shape of Alliance politics.

"Good day," Grand Moff Viqi Shesh began with quiet confidence. "By now you've probably heard reports of my intent to challenge Leia Organa Solo for election to the Presidency of the Alliance of Free Planets. Many of you are probably asking yourselves why I am seeking this office. Perhaps you consider my timing questionable, as my planet only recently joined the Alliance of Free Planets. I do not begrudge anyone such thoughts; you would not be responsible citizens if you were not constantly questioning the motives of those in power. This leads me to the unfortunate business I am forced to bring to your attention. I must admit that my timing is not coincidental. No, I feel compelled to seek this office because I learned of a shocking truth that I could not in good conscience ignore.

"It is understandable that no one has given a second thought to the motivations of your incumbent president, Leia Organa Solo. She is a charismatic leader, and has been a powerful voice since the earliest days of the Imperial Senate. I must admit, there were times I felt myself tempted to join her in her cause of rebellion. Unfortunately, my ultimate decision to commit Kuat to her Alliance – and make no mistake, as long as she remains in office, this is her Alliance – arose not from my hopes, but from the realization of my worst fears.

"There is no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to say it: Leia Organa Solo is Darth Vader's daughter. Darth Starkiller's sister. And I believe she is deliberately leading the Alliance and its allies into a trap even as we speak."

xxx

On the bridge of the Alderaan, and on the bridge of every other ship on the fleet, every officer was at a state of heightened alertness as they navigated through the supposedly impassable cluster of black holes, using the information Jag had provided.

"How soon will we have sensors?" Han asked, looking restless.

"We've just cleared the black holes," Jag answered, sounding relieved even though he refused to look away from the display he had used to guide the ship's navigator through the impossibly complex path required to enter the facility. "Maybe a few more hundred klicks."

Jaina's parents were betraying various signs of nervousness, despite Jaina's reassuring smiles. They knew they could trust Jag; the entire situation was just very unsettling.

"Primary systems should be at full capacity any second now," Jag announced, now finally daring to step away from the navigator.

Even as he finished speaking, sensor displays began to come to life.

"Shields?" Han asked.

"Operational," the tactical officer reported.

Jag shook his head at the sensor display in confusion. "This doesn't make any sense."

"What?" Leia asked.

"We should be encountering defenses right now," Jag clarified. "At least fighters, if not capital ships. But the board is clear."

"We're just approaching extreme sensor range," the sensor officer announced. "Getting preliminary readings…" He shook his head. "I'm not reading anything General, Madame President."

"No, no, no," Jag protested. "It's supposed to be right here." He pointed to a planetary body on the display. "Here. Focus your sensors on this location."

The sensor officer shook his head apologetically. "I'm reading what might be the remains of a base… but it's definitely been abandoned for quite some time."

"They can't have completed it already?" Leia asked, dreading the answer.

But Jag shook his head with apparent conviction. "Impossible."

"Madame President, General Solo… the Kuati Star Destroyers have reduced speed… they're coming to a full stop."

Leia and Han turned back to the tactical display. "What the hell?" Leia asked for them both.

"They're charging weapons!" the tactical officer reported.

"Communications, get me their commander and find out what the hell—"

"They're firing!"

The ship shuddered under multiple impacts.

Without second thought, Han ordered, "Forward batteries, open fire!"

xxx

"Tahiri? What's your status?"

"I had to take cover to avoid being spotted," Tahiri's voice whispered back out of Anakin's commlink. "I'll be at the rendezvous point in approximately five minutes."

"Be careful."

That was when Anakin realized he was afraid.

A few days ago, he had been determined to avoid a relationship with Tahiri. True, he had deliberately sought and cultivated her friendship; he had even known that in another time, another place, they would have been great together. But he had known their circumstances made a relationship impossible, and Anakin was not interested in a one night stand.

Most of the other pilots Anakin had ever known were interested in very little other than one night stands. That was part of the Holy Trinity of pilot recreation: dangerous concentrations of alcohol, extreme (often to the point of recklessness) recreational activities, and sex.

Anakin was not oblivious; he was aware of the fact that he was fairly good looking. Based on the reactions of most females he encountered, perhaps more than fairly good looking. But he also knew that he could get shot out of the sky on a literally daily basis. That made it unfair to have a relationship with anyone who didn't understand that risk. Which narrowed his choices considerably. In fact, narrowed them to the fact that he had pretty much resigned himself to a life of loneliness; a short life, in all likelihood.

Then he had met Tahiri.

He still knew this was probably a very bad idea, but he also knew his heart was telling him to hold onto her and never let go.

Anakin sighed in frustration and confusion, but the emotions could not gain supremacy over a deeper, stronger realization. I love her.

No. That was insane. He barely knew her. They had just gotten carried way, that was all. It was way too fast…

No, Anakin realized. I love her.

Against all logic, against all reason, Anakin felt himself smiling, almost weak with joy.

Maybe that was why he didn't hear the sound of approaching footsteps; maybe it was because there was no sound of approaching footsteps. After all, bounty hunters were usually quite good at moving undetected.

Whatever the reason, Anakin's first clue that something was wrong came in the form of a strong hand clamping over his mouth, and a lithe female form pressing against his back. Anakin had no chance to struggle before a spray hypo was pressed against his neck. His muffled sounds of protest ceased as the strength left his body and his vision darkened.

xxx

The Kuati surprise attack had claimed several Alliance vessels and Hapan Battle Dragons, but as soon as the Alliance ships organized themselves for a counter attack, the Kuatis fled.

Leia was silent for the trip out of the Maw Cluster, but Jag knew anger when he saw it, and President Organa Solo was angry.

For his part, Jag was devastated. No one looked at him as he guided the fleet back out of the Maw Cluster, but he could sense their anger and disappointment. And it couldn't, wouldn't take long for it to find the most convenient object: Jag.

Or Jaina, Jag realized with a pang. He still felt angry with himself for the way he had dismissed Jaina a few days ago. But he didn't know how to talk to her about it without being hopelessly awkward.

Suddenly, that didn't seem nearly as important as it had a few hours ago.

So, Jag was understandably surprised when the President's daughter sidled up next to him as they cleared the last navigational hazard.

"It's not your fault," Jaina whispered as he followed her out of everyone's way. She looked almost as downcast as Jag felt.

"It's not yours, either," Jag answered quietly.

Jaina nodded, but without conviction. Both of them looked down at the floor, silence and regret hanging between them.

Jag sighed. "Jaina… I…"

"Madame President! General Solo! We're receiving a distress signal."

Both frowned in confusion. "That's impossible," Han stated flatly. "Every military unit is here."

"Not military, sir. Civilian. Broadcasting on every Alliance channel."

"Source?" Leia asked, her voice making it obvious she dreaded the answer as much as anyone else.

The comm officer hesitated, before answering with shock and fear, "Corellia."

Jag felt the world crashing down around him. Oh no

"They say Imperial forces are bombarding the planet from orbit… their planetary defenses are already down… they're defenseless."

Jag was horrified. The Empire, the Empire he had served for so many years, was slagging his homeworld; one of the most densely populated planets in the galaxy. They didn't need a superweapon.

Realization set in. He could almost hear Grand Admiral Thrawn's dispassionate explanation of the strategy involved. "They used me," he whispered, barely audible. "They used me," he repeated, barely restrained anger making his voice raw.

As Jag looked around the bridge of the Alderaan, he saw his own feeling of helplessness mirrored on the faces of everyone present.

To Be Continued…