This chapter sets up for the dramatic climax. A whole bunch of things are happening that set up for the final confrontation of the story. Not much to say except this is a longer chapter and it reveals some stuff about Pesinoé's true motives. It's one of my favorite chapters. Read, enjoy, and review please!

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Chapter Eleven

Dad, can I ask you something? Leia asked.

Hm, Anakin said.

I don't get the jedi code. Leia said.

For the last few days, Anakin had been guiding Leia through her forced training with Pesinoé. She had confided in him though that she was starting to like the sith lady's presence sometimes. She also mentioned that Mara Jade was an interesting character. The red headed woman was two years younger than her, but she acted so haughty. Anakin snickered when Leia said that. Apparently, she didn't look at herself in the mirror. He had been wondering when Leia would decide to ask him about the code though. He remembered reciting it to her and then telling her some other rules. He felt her slight confusion.

Why does it forbid love?

Anakin couldn't say he hadn't been expecting this. She had grown up in a family where love abounded and there was no need to hide it. And she was sure her mother (both of them) used to gush to her about one day getting married and getting a family, things that usually involved in finding love.

You remember that line in the code. There is no emotion, there is peace. Leia gave a metal nod. Love is an emotion, an emotion that can cloud a person's and love also leads to attachment to those you love.

Leia gave a mental frown. I don't see the problem with doing something out of love. I love Luke and I'd do anything to save him. In fact that's one of the reasons I'm letting Pesinoé train me.

That's fine. But love can also lead a person to doing dangerous and evil things, even though the intent behind it might not be malicious. Like any emotion, it can twist your mind if not handled properly, Anakin sent.

Leia was quiet for a moment as she contemplated it. Then she responded dryly, Whose dumb idea was it to ban love then?

What do you mean?

Well, from your explanation of it, it just means to keep them in check. That when things happen to those you love, don't let it cloud your thinking, keep it in control and don't let your fear get the best of you before you act. It sounds a bit like having to learn to accept things and move on because things happen and when you overcome them, it makes you better, right? Leia asked.

Anakin smiled. You're wise beyond your years princess. I'm very proud of you.

Leia was silent again and Anakin could tell she was brooding on something else. Finally she said, Was that what happened to Pesinoé?

Leia detected the change in her father's mental presence. He seemed tense all of a sudden, not to mention very sad.

Yes, Anakin admitted. The council doesn't seem to understand that though. They're so stuck in the code. Now don't take this wrong. The jedi didn't deserve to be eradicated, but to be honest, they had it coming. The new generation of jedi that was coming up was different. I could feel it. I was just the vanguard of it. Then there was Ahsoka. Tashina and Rashina, even Obi-Wan to some degree and then you and Luke were coming right along… Our numbers were already low. The jedi order was dying and had been for a long time. If Pesinoé hadn't done it, it would have happened anyway by the jedi's own hands.

What happened? Why did Pesinoé turn?

It's a long story... One I don't think-.

Princess.

Leia snapped out her mediation at Pesinoé's call to her. Darn. Just as she was getting somewhere…

"Yes," Leia said aloud though she sent it to Pesinoé through her thoughts.

That's enough meditation. Come to dinner now.

Leia groaned. Perfect. Another fine evening with her master. Couldn't she just send it to her room again like she had been doing for the last few nights. Pesinoé was confusing to be around, especially since she could have a mood swing in a second. The only way Leia could detect her mood swings was with their bond. Otherwise, Pesinoé always looked rather passive and cool. Even through their bond, it was hard to detect her mood. Pesinoé seemed so guarded.

Leia got to the dining area and started to sit down in her usual spot before Pesinoé put out her prosthetic hand to stop her. It was then Leia noticed Pesinoé was standing as well.

"What?" she snapped.

Pesinoé put her hand to her chin and raised her to meet her eyes.

"You look unwell. Are you okay?"

Leia rolled her eyes. "Well, considering you're keeping away everyone I care about and I have to keep my brother from saving me lest you kill him or turn him over to the emperor, I think I have the right to be a little bothered, outraged, sad," she added turning away from Pesinoé.

Pesinoé dropped her hand. "Lonely perhaps?"

Leia looked up in surprise and then said coyly, "So you know the feeling perhaps?"

"Hmp," Pesinoé replied and left the dining area.

Leia scowled. "What was the point of bringing me down here to eat if she was going to leave anyway?" she asked herself grabbing her chair.

Just as soon as she started to do so, the door opened again and two storm troopers came in the room, followed by…

"Han," she cried, ran into his arms, and kissed him.

Outside the room, Pesinoé heard Leia's cry and scowled. There was only one reason she was doing this and that was to carefully manipulate the princess' turn to the dark side. It had nothing to do with feeling sorry for her loneliness or because Leia awakened another side of her that had long been forgotten and she was starting to grow fond of the girl who had her father's stubbornness, wit, temper, rebellion, and a touch of arrogance. Because of that it was easy to ignore who her mother was and the traits she got from the woman… At least Pesinoé had convinced herself it had nothing to do with that. She wasn't fooling anyone.

"You're too lenient with her," Mara Jade said. "I would have never let her see him if I were you."

"You're not me. That's the point child," Pesinoé said to the young woman.

"As soon as I get out of here, I'm reporting you to the emperor. I will not participate in this betrayal," Mara Jade declared.

"If you didn't so blindly serve my master, you would see that not only is he using you, both of us actually, you'd also see that my plan could greatly benefit you," Pesinoé said suggestively.

"Don't play your crazy force seduction tricks on me," Mara said. "I know what you're doing."

"But that doesn't mean it hasn't been working," Pesinoé said smirking.

Mara glared at her. She'd never admit that was true. "You're growing fond of the girl," she said instead. "I don't think you'd even kill her even if she didn't turn."

Pesinoé shrugged uncaringly. But inside, Mara had touched a nerve. She didn't think it was that deep, but she hadn't been as angry and hateful as she usually was and it concerned her. For so long, it had driven her, but if it was going away, if she let all that go, then what did she use to drive her…

Mara looked at the woman from behind as she walked away and then to the doors of the dining room. It was time she stopped taking orders from Pesinoé, and she knew exactly the first step to doing it.

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Ever since Yoda had lifted his ship out the swamp, Luke had more confidence in being able to use the force. Over the last week, he had become more focus and it took less energy to concentrate. At the moment, he was upside down and lifted two cases into the air with the force.

"Good, young Skywalker. Concentrate. Feel the Force flow. Calm, yes. Through the force, things you will see. Other places. The future, the past…"

Artoo whistled and beeped furiously as Luke lifted him into the air with the other cases. Luke almost laughed, but didn't lest he loose his concentration. Suddenly his mind saw a picture of Leia. She was in a dark room with Chewie, Pemé, and Alex. She was staring at something and Luke wasn't sure what it was… He noticed he didn't see Han in the picture as soon as a tidal wave of pain and sadness swept him.

"Leia," Luke said and lost his concentration in the force. Artoo and the cases fell down, while Luke then fell over. He groaned, vaguely aware that Artoo had fallen on its side and was beeping furiously for Luke to lift him up.

"Control," Yoda said. "You must learn control."

To be quite honest, the last thing Luke was thinking about was control. Leia and Han were in trouble…

"I saw a city in the clouds," Luke said.

"Mmm… Friends you have there," Yoda replied.

Luke shook his head. "Not just friends. My sister. I've been feeling something from her all week, but it wasn't this bad. She's in pain and confused about something. I'm afraid something's wrong."

"It is the future you see."

"Future," Luke muttered. "Will they die?"

Yoda closed his eyes. "Difficult to see. Always in motion, the future is."

Luke got up and brushed himself off. "I'm going to them. I'm leaving right now."

"Cloud your judgment, your fear does. If go to them now, destroy all they have fought and suffered for, you may," Yoda warned.

Luke shook his head and began to gather his things. "You stopped me before. You're not stopping me again. Something's wrong with Leia. She needs me."

Later, when Luke had gotten all his things together, Yoda was still trying to stop him from leaving. Luke was ignoring him for the most part. The force was whispering to him and he doubted it would be doing so if he was to stay. Then again, he never contemplated whether the force was whispering for him not to go.

"Complete the training, you must," Yoda insisted.

"You don't get it," Luke said. "Leia's my sister. We have a bond. It'll kill me if something bad happens to her."

"Had a sister too, I once did. Sad I was when she passed, but rejoiced, I did, that one with the force she had become," Yoda said.

Luke resisted the urge to curse in huttese. "I'm going."

"Luke," another voice said and Obi-Wan materialized next to Yoda. "This is a dangerous time for you, when you will be tempted by the dark side of the force."

"I'm not going to sit here and do nothing while the people I care about are in danger," Luke said when he got over his awe at seeing Ben.

"Headed toward a dark path, you are. If can't let go of your attachment to your friends and family, consume you, your desire to save them will," Yoda warned.

"So what are you saying?" Luke asked stopping for a moment. "That I just accept that they could die knowing I could have done something."

"Things happen. Accept when there is nothing to be done, you must. Bring everything under your control, you cannot. Learn this, Pesinoé could not. Drove her mad when rejected her, your father did. To the dark side, she decided to turn."

Luke froze as he started to mess with Artoo. He turned to Obi-Wan and Yoda with curiosity. "My father rejected Pesinoé… You mean when she turned right to the dark side right?"

The jedi were quiet and it suddenly dawned on Luke. He had always known there was more to Pesinoé's story than they told. "Wait. Pesinoé was in love with my father. Wasn't she?"

"Yes." Obi-Wan admitted. "Palpatine used it to manipulate her to the dark side. But in turning, Pesinoé forgot all about that. She became drunk on the power of the dark side."

"So that means…" Luke trailed off. "That's why my father didn't want you to train me. He thinks there's still good in her."

"Once started down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny," Obi-Wan said.

Luke contemplated this and then started to get Artoo going, except some mud had gotten into his circuits from when he crashed earlier. He started to clean it out.

"I'll be back. I promise to return and finish what I've begun," Luke declared.

"Pesinoé is trying to lure you to her. The emperor desires your abilities. That is why your friends are made to suffer."

"Pesinoé wasn't in my vision. Besides, that's why I have to go," Luke said trying to get a piece of mud out Artoo's circuits.

"We don't want to lose you like your father lost Pesinoé," Obi-Wan insisted.

"You won't," Luke replied.

"Conquer Pesinoé and the emperor, only a fully trained jedi with the Force as his ally will. If choose the quick and easy path, as Pesinoé did, become an agent of evil, you will."

"Patience," Obi-Wan added.

"I won't sacrifice my sister to do that," Luke replied. "And I won't turn. There must be-."

Luke was cut off as he knocked something, a blockage it looked like out of place in Artoo's circuits. A holo began to play. Luke almost shut it off until he saw who was in it.

"Alex, Peme…" he said and looked at it… Why would they be on here? They looked different though, not just because they were younger.

It was a wedding ceremony, their wedding. Luke watched. He would have turned it off, but something told him to keep watching. When the priest pronounced them man and wife and said their names, he knew why. Luke stared at the video in disbelief and then his disbelief became something of rage, hurt, and betrayal…

The holo ended and Luke stared.

"Luke," Obi-Wan said carefully. "It wasn't their fault. They wanted to tell you, but-."

"They lied!" Luke snapped and put Artoo into his ship. "You all lied. You told me they were dead!" Luke climbed into the pilot's seat.

"Luke, wait. You can't go anywhere like this. You're upset," Obi-Wan warned.

"That has nothing to do with saving Leia. I'll deal with my parents after all of this," Luke declared.

"Luke, don't give in to hate. It leads to the dark side," Obi-Wan warned.

"I won't," Luke said tensely and ordered Artoo to get ready. "I'll return. I promise."

With that, Luke too off leaving Yoda and Obi-Wan watching after him.

Yoda sighed. "Told you, I did. Reckless is he."

"Like all Skywalkers mind you," Obi-Wan pointed out. "But I fear what this new revelation will do for his balance. Somehow, I have a feeling this can't end well."

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Leia smiled as she brushed out her hair that evening. She had been so happy to see Han earlier. She couldn't believe Pesinoé would let her seem him. Leia had hardly eaten any dinner. Han had of course been concerned when she mentioned that Pesinoé was training her, but Leia assured him it was all part of her plan, even though she was beginning to doubt it herself. Maybe killing Pesinoé wasn't the way to go about destroying her. Her father seemed against the idea also, but hadn't told her his opinions, something about getting in trouble with the jedi council.

Just as she pinned her hair back up for the night and started to take off her jacket, her room door opened and Mara Jade walked in along with some of the guards from the facility Lando ran. The force began to embrace her and she frowned. Something was wrong.

"What's going on?"

"Follow me little girl," Mara replied as the men put cuffs on her.

Leia ignored the fact that she was actually two years older than the girl before her and began to protest.

"Why? What are you doing?"

"A little entertainment," Mara said leading them down the hallway.

"Mara, what are you doing?" Leia demanded.

"In a moment princess," Mara said and led then to a dark damp room with controls. Han was there, along with Chewie and Threepio. Han looked a little worse for wear than she had seen him during dinner.

"Han," Leia said going to stand next to him. "What's going on?"

Han scowled. "Why don't you ask Pesinoé when you get a chance?"

"Why? What's going on?" Leia asked looking at Han and turning to look at Mara. Lando was standing next to her along with the bounty hunter she had come to know as Boba Fett.

"We're testing the carbonite freezing chamber," Mara replied. "On Captain Solo."

"Han?" Leia said as fear crept into her heart. "No!"

She started to summon her light saber from her belt.

"I don't think so princess," Mara replied and two people came from the shadows of the room with storm troopers pointing their blasters at their heads.

"Pemé, Alex," she said in horror. "You wouldn't."

"I might not, but I'm doing this on Pesinoé's orders," Mara lied. "She's grown impatient with your stubbornness and thought you might need more motivation."

Leia's anger soared. She should have known better than to trust a sith. How dare she? Forget having mercy on the woman. When she was out of this, she was going to kill Pesinoé. Her betrayal would not be forgiven.

"We can't put him in there," Lando insisted. "It might kill him. This wasn't part of the deal."

"He's no good to me dead," Boba Fett added.

"The empire will compensate you if he dies," Mara said. "As for you Calarissian, the deal has been altered."

"Again," Lando said and then muttered, "This deal just keeps getting worse and worse."

Chewiw began to struggle, but Han calmed him. He didn't want the wookie to be hurt.

Han then turned back to Leia. He kissed her and Leia's heart broke as they put him on the platform. Sad and angry tears ran down her face.

"I love you!" Leia cried as the guards held her back.

"I know," replied Han as they began to lower him.

From where he was Anakin scowled, but couldn't find himself to be as disapproving of the relationship as he wanted to be as he watch his daughter cry for the pirate while they poured the liquid on him. Something else wasn't right here… If Pesinoé had ordered this, it didn't seem like her to not be here and oversee it.

When they lifted the block out, Lando looked at the control and adjusted the knobs.

"Did he survive?" Mara asked curiously.

"Yes, he's alive," Lando said stiffly. "And in perfect hibernation."

"He's all yours bounty hunter," Mara said to Boba Fett. "Now we will reset the chamber for Skywalker."

"Me," Leia asked.

"Not you. Your brother. He should be here soon," Mara replied.

"How?" Leia asked. "I-."

Leia's eyes widened. Mara had been counting on this. She knew Luke would sense her distress. He would probably have sensed it well before it began to happen… Leia couldn't find the words to voice her worries.

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Another chapter finished. Oh I loved writing the next few chapters. A lot of stuff came out and well, you'll see. And I know you're wondering where Pesinoé was and where the ladies in waiting are but you'll see. It's all planned out. So I guess I'll see you guys Monday. Hope you enjoyed. Review please!