Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars

AN: Here's chapter 12! Thanks for all the great reviews!

Never Gone III

Chapter 12: Torn Apart by Evil

Leia sat her travel case down on the landing bay, as Han did the checks on the ship to make sure they were okay for take off.

"Is everything okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, Lando's coming to see us off and then we're good to go," he replied.

"I think you might want to put a hold on your little journey...permanently, Solo," a raspy voice chuckled. Han whipped around and drew his blaster. Leia turned also and pointed her own blaster at the man as well. He was human, but a frightening looking person. He was very tall and large, armed with various weapons. He was bald and wore an eye patch. He had horrible battle scars on his face, chest, and arms. His teeth were disgusting and crooked.

"Well, well, if it isn't Filth Armen himself, Jabba's favorite errand boy," Han goaded.

"It's Filtch, you disgusting slug," he spat.

"You ain't got room to call anyone else disgusting, Filtch. Now beat it...or do I need to remind you who took your eye?" Han warmed. Filtch laughed evilly.

"Jabba will pay me good for bringing you in. I ain't stupid enough to try and take you alone, Solo. I brought help," Filtch snarled. Han frowned, as several Hapan soldiers surrounded them. Two of the soldiers pulled Lando along, whom was their prisoner.

"Drop your weapons...or I'll order my men to execute your friend," Jaren stated, as he appeared from the shadows. Reluctantly, Leia and Han dropped their blasters, as Jaren approached Leia.

"Prince Isolder does not take kindly to being made a fool of...and neither do I," Jaren said, as he stood face to face with her...

"He doesn't need my help to do that...and neither do you," Leia retorted. She swore she saw a flash of yellow in his eyes for a split second, just before he backhanded her across the face. Leia swore she felt electricity behind the blow, as she was thrown to the ground.

"Bastard! How dare you hit her?!" Han roared, as he fought against the three soldiers that were holding him back. Filtch embedded his large fist in Han's abdomen, punching him twice there and then once in the face. Leia whimpered, as Jaren hauled her to her feet.

"You'll be returning with me to Hapes for your wedding," Jaren said.

"My mother terminated the agreement. You cannot force me into this marriage anymore!" Leia protested.

"Watch me," Jaren growled, as he shackled her wrists.

"As for lover boy, he'll be taken back to Jabba where he'll rot for the rest of his days. Tell me, Mr. Calrissian, your facility is equipped with a carbonite freezing chamber, is it not?" Jaren asked.

"Yes," Lando replied wearily.

"Good. You will lead us there. We must have a means of transporting Captain Solo safely back to Tatooine. We can't have him escaping," Jaren said.

"But...we've never used carbon freezing on a person! It could kill him!" Lando exclaimed.

"Oh well, if that's the case, I'll just pay this bounty hunter his fee for his trouble. If you refuse to lead us to the carbon chamber, then an unfortunate tragedy might befall some of your people," Jaren threatened. Having no choice, Lando led them into the compound.


Padme sat at her desk, looking at the files she would present to Mon Mothma in their meeting in just a couple hours. She did not see Mon's career being able to survive what she had discovered. She only had the power to suspend Mon from her post, but once word reached her people, it was unlikely she would be allowed to run for office again. Her people wouldn't vote for her after they learned of her dealings. There was a chime at her door.

"Come in," she called. She expected that Mon Mothma might be early, but was surprised to see her husband walking in. Her mouth dropped open and she rushed into his embrace.

"Ani...you're walking already!" she exclaimed.

"There's nothing a few hours in Barriss' healing trance can't do," he replied. Padme threw her arms around him tightly.

"Oh my love..." she sobbed and he felt a wetness on his neck.

"It's okay angel...I'm here," he told her.

"Did anyone see you? We don't want everyone, particularly, the Sith to know yet," Padme said. He smirked.

"No one remembers seeing me," he replied. She smacked his chest playfully.

"You are so bad," she pretended to scold.

"And you love it," he replied, as he pressed against her.

"I do," she agreed, as their lips met passionately. Padme ran her fingers through his hair, as he plundered her mouth lustfully. Padme's work was forgotten, as she began unbuttoning her husband's tunic. Anakin used the Force and shut all the curtains, darkening her office considerably.

"Sofa," she said breathlessly. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist, as he carried her to the sofa...


An hour later, Padme lay spooned against her husband on the sofa with his cloak covering their exposed bodies. Anakin nuzzled her neck and shoulders while placing soft kisses on her skin. Padme giggled, as he blew softly in her ear.

"As much as I would love to stay here all day, Mon Mothma will be here anytime," Padme said. He nodded and reluctantly, they went into the fresher at the back of her office to dress and clean up. Thirty minutes later, Padme sat at her desk when her office door chimed.

"Come in," she called. Senator Mon Mothma entered with a stoic, unreadable expression plastered on her face.

"Thank you for coming, Senator Mothma, please sit," Padme said. She did so reluctantly.

"I do hope this doesn't take too long, Chancellor. I have a very busy schedule today," Mon said.

"Oh, I assure you, this won't take long at all," Padme replied.

"For twenty some years before this, you were always a friend and trusted colleague. So it's only natural that your sudden turn on me made me very curious," Padme began.

"I hope you did not call me here to discuss our political friendship, for that's all it ever was. We shared the same interests for most of our careers and now we do not. That has always been your problem, Padme. You become far too attached to those around you. One cannot let their personal lives interfere with their career in the political arena," Mon lectured.

"And yet, they keep electing me. The public is well aware of my staunch devotion to my husband and our children. I've found it to be a great strength of mine and perhaps a weakness at times. A weakness that you exposed ruthlessly in a time of peril for me," Padme said.

"If you are referring to Leia, I was only doing what needed to be done for the Republic. You were too busy sobbing over your husband to do what needed to be done," Mon retorted.

"Anakin and I do not take kindly to those who try and harm one of our children; physically or emotionally. And if you were doing what was best for the Republic as you say, then why do your account records show three very large deposits made into your account by the Hapan treasury!" Padme yelled, as she slammed the datapad down in front of her.

"How...how did you get into my personal records?" Mon stammered.

"As you know, as Chancellor, should I suspect misdealing among my constituents, I only must be in agreement with two Council members to have the financial records of the person in question seized. Master Kenobi and Master Yoda both agreed with me when I told them I believed you were involved in said misdealing. I want to know why your involved with the Hapan government and what Leia has to do with it!" Padme demanded. Mon rose quickly.

"I need my attorney present if we are to continue this line of questioning," she said, as she turned and ran right into Anakin. She jumped in surprise, as she had been positive that the man before her would never regain consciousness.

"Ma...Master Skywalker?" she said nervously

"An attorney won't be necessary. Your going to tell us why your in league with Queen Chume and exactly what our daughter has to do with it...now," Anakin demanded.


Steam billowed around the freezing chamber, as they entered the frigid control room.

"Put him in," Jaren ordered, as they shoved Han onto the platform.

"I'm telling you, this could kill him!" Lando yelled. Jaren smirked, as Leia watched him wrap a leather strip around his hand. Lando yelped painfully, as Jaren hit Lando's face with the leather strip covered hand. A bruising welt appeared on his cheek and blood trickled down his chin from his busted lip.

"Shut up...or I might try testing it on you first," Jaren threatened, as he approached Han.

"Prince Isolder asked that I make sure I let you know how much he despises you, scoundrel," Jaren said, as he hit Han across the temple. Han grunted in pain and blinked his eyes.

"He doesn't like it when people steal his belongings," Jaren growled.

"She ain't his," Han rasped, which earned him another belt across the mouth and a knee to the gut.

"She is now. Enjoy Jabba's scum infested palace, for I doubt you'll ever leave there," Jaren said, as he hit him a few more times, ignoring Leia's sobs and pleas for him to stop. Blood leaked from a gash on Han's forehead, from one on his cheek, his nose, and his mouth. Jaren stepped back.

"Put him in," he ordered to the technician.

"I love you!" Leia cried. Han looked up at her.

"I know beautiful, I love you too," he replied, as he was lowered into the machine. Han clenched his eyes shut, as cold steam shot up. A few minutes later, a robotic arm lifted the carbonite slab from the pit and dropped it to the floor. Leia cried out in horror, as the pain etched on Han's frozen face was evident.

"He's alive," the technician reported.

"Good. Then you'll kindly load him into Mister Armen's ship, so he may be on his way to collect his bounty," Jaren said, as he grabbed Leia's arm.

"Let's go!" he ordered to his men, as he dragged Leia along to his shuttle. Lando watched helplessly, as she was shoved onto Jaren's ship, which took off moments later. Lando motioned to his aide, who was ready for orders.

"I need to contact the Chancellor of the Republic immediately," Lando said.


Mon Mothma returned to her seat nervously, as Anakin walked around and stood beside her chair.

"Master Skywalker, you were incapacitated and we needed help once these demons began attacking. Queen Chume was willing to offer the assistance of the Hapan army if Leia married Isolder. Do you realize that Leia would have one day been Queen of Hapes? Think of all the Republic could gain by such a union," Mon said.

"I don't give a Sith what is to be gained! We will not gain anything at the cost of my daughter's happiness!" Anakin roared.

"Anakin's right and that still doesn't explain why they paid you so many credits," Padme added.

"Tell us now," Anakin said, his penetrating stare searing through the Chandrillian Senator.

"The payments...were for making sure Leia had no choice...but to agree to marry Isolder. In addition...the credits were to ensure the Queen's help in the next election. She promised that if I helped her...then she would see to it that I won the next election for Chancellor," Mon confessed shamefully.

"Plotting against my wife and manipulating my daughter. You realize that I'll make sure you never work in public service again, I hope," Anakin said.

"I assure you my legal team will do an excellent job of refuting your claims. A simple misdemeanor like this will get me probation; nothing more," Mon said smugly.

"Possibly, but you are, effective immediately, suspended from duty for six months pending an investigation into your dealings by the Jedi," Padme said. Mon glared at her, as the comm on her desk beeped.

"Yes Elle?" Padme asked.

"Milady, there is an urgent call coming from Cloud City. It concerns Senator Skywalker," Elle said.

"Put it through immediately," Padme answered. A few seconds later, Lando's face appeared.

"Lando!" Padme exclaimed.

"Hello Chancellor...Master Skywalker, you're awake!" Lando said in surprise.

"Yes I am, but just keep that a secret for now," Anakin said.

"Lando, is this about Leia and Han?" Padme asked.

"Yes, they were here, lying low. But Jaren, Isolder's aide, showed up with soldiers tonight. He also brought a bounty hunter, who captured Han," Lando began.

"What would a bounty hunter want with Han?" Anakin asked. Lando sighed.

"Well, a few years back, Han inadvertently got involved with smuggling for Jabba the Hutt. He wanted out, but kept sinking in debt. He owed Jabba money," Lando said.

"And that's why he came to me for a job," Anakin finished.

"Exactly," Lando replied.

"I would have paid his debt. He should have told me," Anakin said.

"He didn't want you to be disappointed in him," Lando replied.

"Lando, what happened tonight?" Padme asked.

"Jaren forced my technician to freeze Han in carbonite. Then, the bounty hunter took him. He's taking him to Jabba to collect the bounty on his head," Lando said.

"And Leia?" Anakin asked.

"Jaren kidnapped her and is on his way to Hapes with her. Isolder is going to force her to marry him even though the agreement was terminated," Lando said.

"Thank you Lando. We'll handle this now," Padme said, as the transmission blinked out. Padme stared at Mon.

"You knew about this, didn't you," Padme stated, for it was not a question.

"I beg your pardon, but I had no idea any of this was going on," Mon replied.

"You're lying...I can feel it. We have to go find our daughter, but Obi-Wan will escort you back to the Temple," Anakin said.

"Happily," Obi-Wan said, as he entered.

"I am going no where, except home," Mon refuted.

"You have no choice. You are under arrest," Obi-Wan replied.

"On what charges?" she demanded.

"So far, accepting illegal funds and conspiring to kidnap my niece. You'll be interrogated at the Temple," Obi-Wan said, as he put the stun cuffs on her and led her out.

"Good luck on Hapes. Keep me informed," he called.

"We will," Anakin called back, as Anna and Luke rushed in.

"We want to go with you," Luke said. Anakin smiled at them.

"Go get the droids and meet us at the ship in twenty minutes. We're leaving for Hapes...tonight," Anakin said. Twenty minutes later, the Sapphire Angel blasted through the Coruscant atmosphere and disappeared into the realm of hyperspace...


Jaren dragged Leia into the Hapes palace and pushed her into the quarters that were assigned to her, where Isolder was waiting.

"Thank you Jaren," Isolder said. He nodded curtly and faded into the background, carefully watching and unknowingly influencing Isolder's actions and words. Leia rubbed her sore wrist, as Isolder calmly approached her. He stared at her with a stern look and she decided he was attempting to hold his temper. He failed in that attempt and Leia yelped, as he slapped her. Tears stung her eyes and she whimpered, as she blinked them back.

"How dare you run off with that...scoundrel and embarrass me like that!" Isolder yelled, but Leia refused to look at him.

"Look at me!" he demanded, as he yanked her shoulders forward and her head up.

"I have nothing to say to you, slemo," Leia growled.

"Slemo? Now you even talk like the filthy scoundrel," he retorted.

"I love him and you're the only filth I see here!" Leia yelled. Isolder wrapped his hand around her neck.

"I was good to you. All I asked was for you to be my bride, preferably untouched, but I guess will have to settle for slightly used," he sneered.

"You bastard! How dare you..." Isolder cut her off.

"How dare I what? Call them like I see them? Call you the filthy little whore that you are? Do you really expect me to believe you didn't let the scoundrel have his way with you?" Isolder growled. Leia raised her fist to punch him, but he caught it and slapped her angrily again.

"You're marrying me tonight, so forget about your scoundrel," he said, shoving her to the floor.

"I will be sending the handmaidens to ready you for tonight's ceremony," Isolder said, as he and Jaren left. Once they were gone, Leia broke down in sobs. She was so afraid for Han and she missed him so much. She was also terrified about marrying Isolder, for he proved he had a violent streak and had proved he would spend the wedding night making her fearful of him. Sobs racked her petite shoulders.

"Oh daddy...I don't know where you are...but I need your help!" she pleaded to the Force.

"Please daddy...help me..." she sobbed uncontrollably.


"Please daddy...help me..."

Anakin's eyes snapped open, as he sat in the pilot's chair.

"Leia," he said, as he could sense his daughter's fear and distress through the Force.

"I'm coming princess," he promised.

"How much longer, Artoo?" he asked. Artoo whirled and clicked. Thirty minutes was what Anakin read on the translator.

"Ani, are you okay?" Padme asked. He smiled up at her.

"I'm okay, but I'll be better after we get Leia off Hapes," he replied, as he pulled her down into his lap.

"I'm so worried about her," Padme said.

"We'll be there soon and then we'll all be together again," he assured her.

"Ani...what about Han? Leia must be heart broken. And poor Han is in the clutches of the Hutts," Padme said.

"It'll be all right, angel. As soon as I can, I'll go after Han. I've got a bone to pick with Jabba anyhow," Anakin replied. Padme laid her head on his shoulder, as their ship streaked through hyperspace, nearing Hapes as the minutes passed quickly.


Leia was forcibly escorted to the Throne room. She was dressed in a simple, white shimmer silk gown. The handmaidens had braided her long hair and then wrapped it in an elaborate twist at the top of her head. But sadness marred Leia's beautiful face, as she was forced to stand beside Isolder.

"Please begin," Ta'a ordered to the Hapan priest. He cleared his throat.

"We are gathered her today to join these two, Prince Isolder and Leia Skywalker in holy matrimony. You may recite your vows accordingly," the priest said.

"You may skip that part," Ta'a ordered. The priest looked a little disturbed.

"Very well. Your highness, do you take this woman, Leia Skywalker, to be your wife?" he asked. Isolder smirked.

"I do," he answered.

"And do you, milady, take this man, Prince Isolder, to be your husband?" he asked.

"I most certainly do not. But he is forcing me to anyway," Leia bit angrily. The priest looked confused.

"Get on with it," Isolder demanded.

"As you wish, your highness. I...I suppose, by the power vested in me, I pronounce you..."

"STOP!" a male voice roared. Leia turned, along with the others and her eyes swam with tears. Her parents emerged arm in arm, flanked by her twin brother and her little sister.

"You forgot the part where you ask if someone objects to this union, because we most certainly do," Anakin said sternly.

"Daddy?" Leia asked in surprise. She wrenched her arm away from a stunned Isolder and sprinted to her family. Leia couldn't believe it. The last time she'd seen her father, he'd been very pale and motionless in a bed. And now, he was here, looking as healthy as ever.

"Daddy," she cried, as she hugged him tightly.

"It's okay princess...I really am here," he assured her. Leia was encompassed by a group hug from her mother and siblings, as her father noticed the marks on her face, shining through her make-up. He lifted his daughter's chin and examined the fresh, angry welts, before turning to Isolder. The prince felt the temperature in the room drop at least fifty degrees and he yelped in terror, as the large, durasteel pillars around him suddenly were damaged by a crack in each. Jaren slipped into the shadows and raised his comlink to his lips.

"Father...Skywalker is here..." Jaren whispered nervously.

"I will send two demons to distract him. Escape to my ship with your fool of a brother and incompetent mother. We must adjust our plans accordingly," Palpatine said.

"Yes father," Jaren replied.

Isolder was white as a sheet, as Anakin stalked toward him, his eyes fixated upon the prince with an icy glare...