Under the cloak of darkness, Leia, shrouded in a hooded coat, long boots, hair coiled into what looked like a pair of starships, as mother had often wore her hair, slipped out of her master's ship.
The ship was old and in disrepair. Vines clung to the exterior as if to draw it into the ground beneath the swamp. A cloud of mist rose from the wet ground, and nearly claimed her foot as it she stepped into the mushy soil.
"Going somewhere?" a mechanical voice called out.
"Uh, Master…" Leia exclaimed. "I was just—"
Leia tripped over herself and landed flat in the swamp. Mud and liquid splattered her face. She gave a cry of anger and wiped it away as she rose to her feet.
"Looking for Luke?"
Oh blast! Leia thought. Could she hide anything from him? Could he hide anything from her? She could sense Master Windu's disappointment.
"I know that Luke has gone to fight the emperor."
"Oh! I'm sorry Master," Leia exclaimed, coloring. "I'm so ashamed for having tried to deceive you. Luke has been captured by the emperor. You can't blame me for trying to save him."
"Luke acted against our wishes and is paying the price for his obstinacy He cannot defeat the emperor now. Master Yoda and I warned him to complete his training first. But he did not listen and has been injured, defeated and captured."
"So you want me to abandon him? Just leave him with father to do as he will?"
"Father!" Mace barked, dark black mask emitting a gush of wind. "You dare address him in such a manner?"
"But he is our father…you can't hide the truth from us any longer," Leia said, lowering her eyes.
"Insolent Padawan," Mace windu admonished. 'Anakin Skywalker is no more. He is dead. He died a disgrace… a pawn of the Sith. Do you realize what he has done to you and your mother? To the Jedi? To the Republic? That he put me in this suit? That he has injured your brother and will surely kill him if he doesn't get what he wants?"
"I know he is my father. That I can save him. That he is kind, and has always been kind to me."
"That man is no more. But I leave it to you, Leia. To complete your training… or fight him now and perish."
"I could never fight him. I love him. He is my father…" she yelled, then lowered her eyes.
"Then we have failed you Leia, most abominably."
Her shoulders sunk.
"I'm sorry, Master…" Leia relented. "I will return to the ship and complete my training. I am sorry for disobeying you."
Mace turned on her then, the eyes of his cold dark mask indiscernible…
"I am pleased, Leia. Master Yoda will be pleased."
A ship. Touted as the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy lands atop a glimmering spire at the center of Coruscant, the landing base at the top the Jedi Temple.
Its windows gleam and sparkle like crystal in the bed of a stream marked by a ray of light. At its base, Jedi Learners of the New Order converge and study various techniques and styles in groups as large as twenty, others obligate themselves to chores, in obeisance to Supreme Master, Jedi Obi Wan Kenobi, and the Emperor, Anakin Skywalker.
Obi Wan, ever the paradigm of serenity studies the quiet storm before him; Anakin, pacing about the room, a disaster brewing in his heart. Obi Wan could feel a massive disturbance in the Force.
"He's here," Anakin said.
Ever the anxious padawan he used to be, Obi Wan thought. "Be calm," Anakin.
"How can I when she's out there?" Anakin barked.
"Padme? Have you still not learned to leave it to the will of the Force? The Force willed that you know she is alive, and so, if the Force wills it, you will see her again."
"I'm not your Padawan Learner, Obi Wan! I'm the Emperor, and I shall have what I want. And I want Padme back where she belongs."
Anakin stormed toward the door, but paused at the sound of Obi Wan's voice:
"Be that as it may, Anakin, whenever you hear her name, you are not unlike the restless Padawan you used to be; tempestuous, unpredictable, angry…"
Anakin hovered, arms at his side as he looked over his shoulder.
"Sometimes, I question the Force… I-I must confess, Master Obi Wan, that it means to keep Padme and I apart. We're doomed. I can't leave our fate to the Force. It means to destroy us. If I do as you ask, I will never see her again."
Obi Wan rose from his seat. "You can't trust yourself, Anakin. It is your decisions that have led you and the Order to terrible fates. But you have learned, and the Force has been your power to wield like no other before you. It is your friend. Be patient, and see where it leads. IF you must hire this… pirate to do your business, then I am not one to stop you. Just remember, how badly things turned out when you took matters into your own hands before. There will be a crucial moment, where you must decide to do the right thing. If you fail, Anakin… doomed, you and Padme will be. I have foreseen it."
Anakin paused on hearing his words. "Thank you, Master Obi Wan. I will meet with this pirate and see what he can do for us. I will use caution and patience. If anything these many years of loneliness as taught me is patience. "
At the top of the spire, a rogue waited. He was tall, goodlooking, with sandy hair, and a bold swagger. The man crossed one of his legs before the other, a deathstick between his parted lips. He rolled his eyes as a group of chanting Learners passed by and blew a cloud of smoke in their faces.
A pair of doors at the entrace of the Temple slid open and an impressive and intimidating presence walked out.
'Must be the emperor…' the pirate thought. As the man approached, the pirate bowed irreverantly, a look of amusement in his eyes.
"Han Solo at your service," he drawled sarcastically to the kingly looking Emperor, extending a hand.
Anakin looked down at the Correllian pirate, and adopted an haughty air to his stance. Han withdrew his offer and leaned against the ship, relaxing.
"I wish you to travel to the Outer Rim."
"Yeah. I can do that. This old girl can get me there in no time. What am I bringing back?"
"A young woman and her mother. This mission is especially dangerous. They guarded by two outlaws on Dagobah. You are to slip them away under a cloak of darkness. Then, the imperial army will invade this planet, and bring these outlaws to justice."
"Are they prisoners?"
Anakin shrugged. "Not... exactly," he faltered, attempting to use some tact. "But if you play your cards right, they will be."
"Your prisoners you mean? I thought slavery was outlawed by the New Republic ten years ago. What is this? You rich types think you can steal a pair of women against their will under a cloak of darkness? Find some other pirate to do your bidding," Han raved. "I'm out of here…"
Han brushed past Anakin and walked toward the descending ramp. He pressed a button and waited for the jatch on the Millennium Falcon to open. He was upset by the idea of anyone owning slaves, given his own history with Shrike and years of enslavement as a teenager. His actions led to their freedom, he would have nothing to do with it... especially the enslavement of women and children.
Anakin watched as a burst of steam rose to the sky and wondered if the ship might fail the New Republic emission laws. That was way too much steam for such a small ship. But that was something to deal with later.
"1 Million Correllian Rubes," Anakin offered.
Han looked over his shoulder at the emperor. "1 Million Rubes, you say?"
Han slid down the ramp.
"I Think we got ourselves a deal."
Anakin smiled. "Then I guess you can be bought."
Han sucked his teeth. "For the right price, any man could be. I'm not so sure about your woman."
It was at that moment that Han decided he would accept the emperor's price and deliver the woman and girl. One Million Rubes was too much money to turn down.
But then, he might come back later and rescue them both... and maybe, if she's pretty enough, have the woman for himself.