Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Luke nodded after Aellara finished and said, "Interesting. I know you said that your master never told you his name. Did you ever find out using the force or anything?" Aellara motioned for Luke to lean closer to her. She whispered, "When my master laid on his deathbed, he told me that his name was Cin. Apparently the Jedi Council thought he'd died in the purge and he became stranded on an Outer Rim planet." Luke's eyes widened and he said, "That was Jedi Master Cin Dralig! He was the greatest lightsaber duelist of all time. Most padawans around here would die for him to be their master." Luke felt a ripple in the force and he knew Aellara felt it too. Out from behind a nearby pillar stepped his mother and Leia. Luke stood up so fast he hit the table. Padme walked up to Luke and stood beside him. Luke looked at his mother and said, "Aellara, this is my mother. Senator Padme Amidala." Aellara gasped and said, "You are legendary on Tatooine!" Padme smiled and said, "Thank you. I couldn't help overhearing your conversation with my son." Aellara blushed and said, "We uh…" The bell tolled for morning training and Aellara was visibly relieved. Luke turned and left the table so quickly that Leia thought he used the force to speed himself up. Aellara turned to leave but Padme said, "I'd like to talk to you a bit more after your lessons Aellara. Go to the Galactic Senate building during lunch and ask anybody for me. They'll send you up to my office." Aellara nodded and said, "I will be there." She turned and left quickly, but gracefully. Leia turned to her mother and said, "There's something not quite right about that girl. She's nice enough, but there is something she isn't telling Luke." Padme said, "I agree. That's why I'm inviting her to have lunch with me. I can be very persuasive." Leia smiled at her mother and then said, "Mom, I've got to meet with Master Ti. I'll see you tonight I guess." Padme hugged her daughter and watched her move quickly toward the Council Chambers.

Anakin spun and blocked, his lightsaber humming as it whirled about his body. Anakin and Obi Wan practiced dueling in a training room. Despite his age, Obi Wan was agile and easily kept up with Anakin. Obi Wan said, "Your skills have greatly improved my old padawan. There isn't a lot I can teach you anymore." Anakin smiled and clapped the old man on the back. Anakin said, "Well, you can teach me how you stay so limber at that age." Obi Wan winked and said, "That, my friend, is the one lesson you'll have to learn for yourself." Obi Wan's portable holopad beeped and he pulled it from his robes. A miniature Mace Windu appeared and said, "Greetings Obi Wan. I need both you and Anakin to look at a hostage situation on Endor. There are Imperial Remnants hiding there who we believe are tied to the Sith on Hoth. They have captured a force sensitive boy and are demanding money from local settlers." Obi Wan nodded and said, "Are we to use force?" Mace said, "Only as necessary. The Imperials are not above killing the boy if they don't get what they want." Obi Wan nodded and said, "What transport are we taking?" Mace said, "Take a trade shuttle. If the Imperials are monitoring incoming ships they won't know it's a Jedi vessel." Obi Wan nodded and said, "Thank you Master. May the force be with you." Mace said, "And with you." Mace's hologram disappeared and Obi Wan turned to Anakin. Obi wan said, "Are you ready for another mission?" Anakin grinned and said, "It'll be just like the old days Master. Similar to when we were in the Clone Wars." Obi Wan said, "Oh. I certainly hope not."

At lunch Aellara rushed to the Senate building. Walking into the great front hall with it's red carpets and gold pillars, she stood in awe. Aellara assumed the Zabrak female that sat behind a nearby desk was the secretary. Aellara said, "Excuse me, can you tell me where Senator Amidala's office is?" The Zabrak said, "Go straight and make a left. You can't miss it." Aellara dashed down the hall and found herself in front of Padme's enormous office doors. Pushing them open, she stepped inside to find the Senator sitting behind her desk, writing something. Padme looked up as Aellara walked in and said, "Aellara! Welcome. I was just finishing up a report on Coruscant's energy costs. Please, sit down." Aellara smiled and sat in a comfortable chair facing Padme. Padme finished her last sentence with a flourish and set her pen down. She looked at the girl behind the desk and wondered exactly who she was. Padme said, "Would you like anything to eat?" Aellara shook her head. Padme said, "Alright. I just wanted to talk really. Tell me, do you have a last name?" Aellara blushed and said, "I do, I guess. I don't really like to tell people." Padme looked into the girl's large hazel eyes and said, "You can tell me Aellara. If you're a friend of Luke's then you're a friend of mine." Aellara smiled and said, "Well, on Tatooine, they called me Aellara Lars." Padme's eyes widened and she said, "Did you say Lars?" Aellara nodded and said, "Do you know them?" Padme said, "Yes. Cliegg Lars is my husband's stepfather." It was Aellara's turn to be surprised and she said, "Ciegg is my grandfather's name. My father, Owen, used to talk about an Anakin that he said was his stepbrother. But I always thought he was just telling stories." Padme said, "Earlier, when you were telling Luke about your past, I noticed you were holding something back." Aellara bit her lip but shook her head. Padme said gently, "It's alright. You can tell me. If you want, I wont tell Luke." Aellara broke down and said, "Will you keep it between us?" Padme said, "You have my word." Aellara said, "Do you remember how I said that my Master died but sent me to Hoth?" Padme nodded. Aellara said, "Well he didn't quite die of age." Padme said, "How did he die then?" Aellara hung her head in shame and said, "I killed him. I killed Master Cin Dralig."