A New Hope Will Emerge
A Star Wars fanfiction by Andrew J. Talon
DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan-based work of prose. Star Wars is the property of Lucasfilm Ltd. and Disney. Please support the official release.
Set after "The Empire Strikes Back" but before "Return of the Jedi".
They gathered around a desk in the small, aged chamber. Jar-Jar set down a holoprojector, and it flickered to life. The form of the woman from the initial recording slowly appeared, this time from a different angle. She was meeting with a Naboo Security Guard, an young man with dark skin and an eyepatch. He handed over a small package, which the woman accepted. Jar-Jar nodded and hummed in a thoughtful way.
"Dis be Jay Typho," Jar-Jar spoke. "Great-nephew t' Moff Panaka. Panaka knew yer mum n' dad, ya know," Jar-Jar said, nodded over at Luke. Luke frowned.
"I didn't think Panaka had any support for the Rebellion," Luke observed. Ahsoka shook her head, her eyes narrowed.
"He doesn't. He's full in for Palpatine, has been since day one. His nephew, Jay's father, was a different matter. He died a year after the declaration of a New Order," Ahsoka explained. "Jay on the other hand has looked the other way when it's come to this woman."
"So it's possible she was able to prove to him that she's actually my mother? Or at the very least, supporting her?" Luke asked. Aphra crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at the tall Gungan.
"What do you have to say to that, Binks?"
The Gungan hummed thoughtfully again, and shook his head. "Saw yer mum's body at the funeral, Luke," he said, as gently as he could manage. "Not seein' how she still be alive. Where she been all dis time."
"Is it possible she faked her death though?" Luke asked, and at Ahsoka's look he knew he sounded desperate. But the look in the woman's eyes... It was too familiar for him to dismiss his hope.
Artoo whistled, sounding doubtful. The droid explained further what his sensors had detected when Padme had been on the medical table. Luke shook his head.
"Is it possible you made a mistake though, Artoo? Maybe she wasn't... Entirely dead?" Luke tried. "Maybe she just fell into a coma?"
Artoo conceded the point, but had little confidence in it.
"To what end? Who would do it?" Ahsoka asked. Artoo whistled low in speculation. Ahsoka shook her head.
"If Bail Organa did that, why wouldn't he tell me she was still alive?" She asked. "Or if she was in cryo or something similar?"
"Maybe there wasn't any hope for her until now?" Luke tried. "Maybe she was kept in suspension until they could revive her-I mean, how else can we explain that?" He pointed at the hologram. "We have to find out, Ahsoka!"
"Especially since Vader will be after her, real thing or not," Aphra pointed out. "I worked for him, after all: He'd do anything for his wife."
Jar-Jar blinked, and his jaw dropped.
"Waitaminute... Vader issa Ani?!" Jar-Jar blurted out in disbelief. Luke held his hands up.
"That's... It's possible," he allowed in deference to Ahsoka. His Jedi teacher grimaced and shook her head.
"Later," she insisted. Jar-Jar stared at her in shock.
"But-But-!"
"It's a long, complicated story Binks," Aphra said, reaching out and patting him on the shoulder. "But can you really blame us for wanting to hold off on that right now?"
Jar-Jar shook his head. "De ting is though, Vader'll be coming here. If he'sa Ani..." He grimaced. "There ain't no force in de universe dat will keep him from her. I've seen it. Over and over again."
"He's not Anakin Jar-Jar," Ahsoka said softly. "If he was, all that's left is Vader."
Jar-Jar shook his head again, eyes narrowing. "Nuh uh. If anyting survived from Ani... It'll be de anger," he said. "Dat will always be dere."
Luke took a deep breath, focusing and centering himself. "Which means we need to get to her first," Luke said firmly. He looked at Jar-Jar. "So, can we get to her or not?"
Jar-Jar was silent for a moment, getting the measure of him. Luke felt that beneath this creature's outwardly clumsy and goofy exterior, there was a keen mind honed by experience. At last, the Gungan slowly nodded.
"Dere a way. Jay Typho is close t' me." He puffed himself up in a self mocking way. "As de honored retired Senator o' Naboo, I have de benefit of many patrons 'n connections across de galaxy," he said, acting so serious that Aphra couldn't help a giggle. Artoo whistled in warning. Jar-Jar shook his head.
"Hey-Iffen anybody was layin' a trap fer Luke or Ahsoka, dey'd have t' know who his mum 'n dad are," he pointed out. "Not many who know dat."
"It's not like they'd need to know that," Ahsoka countered, "there are plenty of people who would want to get Padme without knowing anything about their relationships." She looked at Luke intently, sensing his annoyance. "I know you need to know, Luke," Ahsoka said, holding up her hand, "but you're conflicted here. The chances of this being a trap are very, very high. And the Force..."
"The Force isn't telling me anything I didn't already know," Luke said intently. He sighed. "I know this could be a trap, very easily. But I just... I have to know."
Aphra squeezed Luke's hand, and smiled at them. "Relax, I'll keep Farm Boy from getting too in deep. Someone's gotta balance out you two crazy Jedi."
Artoo burbled in laughter and mockery. Aphra snorted.
"Hey, I gotta look after my husband don't I?"
Jar-Jar elbowed Luke playfully as the young man blushed hard.
"She's a keeper, ya."
"We're not really married!" Luke insisted. Aphra sniffled and held her hands to her cheeks.
"Already in denial! I understand, but I have to be honest, sweetie: It really hurts!"
To be continued...