Blaze: uh huh, time for the next chapter
Tigerstar: who's POVV is this?
Blaze: it's one V and it's Leia's, Qui-Gon's and Luke's
Tigerstar: cool
Darth: what about my Padmé?
Anakin: (raises eyebrow) your Padmé?
Darth: (takes off in Mace's Mustang)
Mace: damn it, I thought he would stop doing that. (Chases after Darth)
Anakin: okay then
Blaze: here is the next chapter and I hope you like it
Chapter XXIX
Leia Organa slowly closed her eyes before reaching out with her instincts as she struggled to sense everything around her. She could sense Qui-Gon's Force signature nearby but other than that, there was no one else in the room. She opened her eyes slightly and noticed Qui-Gon was watching her with patience in his eyes.
"You're doing well, Leia," he said. "Just remember, calm yourself and don't think about anything, it will help your meditation."
Leia sighed. "I just have so much on my mind," she admitted. "I mean, with Palpatine and his new apprentice breathing down our necks, not to mention the Alliance's crazy notion to try and take Coruscant."
Qui-Gon tipped his head to one side slightly. "You don't believe the Alliance is ready to take Coruscant?" he asked.
Leia frowned. "No," she replied. "We will not only be up against Palpatine and that new apprentice of his, if the rumors are true, but also Vader."
Qui-Gon smiled slightly. "You'd be surprised," he said. "Don't think about that now, Leia, just focus on calming yourself, it will help you in the long shot in your meditations."
Leia took a deep breath before closing her eyes and struggling to calm herself down. She was half-aware of Qui-Gon's presence beside her and she heard his soft voice speak to her.
"Reach out with the Force, let it flow through you," he whispered.
Leia did that and suddenly found herself in a calm, tranquil place but suddenly, it vanished instantly and Leia suddenly saw darkness surrounding her on all sides. She saw flashed of bluish white lightening illumination parts of the shadowed area. Screams of pain sounded and the hissing sound Leia wasn't sure what caused it broke through the silence.
"Leia, Leia!" Qui-Gon's voice broke through the darkness and Leia gasped before blinking her eyes open. She spotted her master staring at her with concern in his sharp blue eyes. "What happened?" he asked.
Leia struggled to find her voice before shaking her head to clear it. "I…I was in a calm and tranquil place and then suddenly, it vanished and I was surrounded by darkness. I saw lightening and the sound of screams as well as a short of hissing sound broke the silence and then you woke me up," she said.
Qui-Gon breathed. "Hissing sound?" he echoed. "Could it have been the sound of two lightsabers intersecting?"
"I don't know, Luke would probably know but he's not here," Leia said, the sadness in her voice as she mentioned that was still clear. Qui-Gon nodded slightly before leaning back on the heels of his feet, his eyes were thoughtful.
"It would appear you have the gift of seeing the future," he said. "From what I can tell while I was observing my former apprentice, Obi-Wan, his padawan, Anakin, had a similar ability."
"Anakin?" Leia echoed. "Anakin Skywalker?" Or otherwise known as Darth Vader? She thought to herself.
Qui-Gon flinched slightly. "Yes," he replied, if he had heard Leia's thought, he didn't show it. "Isn't Anakin Skywalker Luke's father?"
Leia narrowed her eyes. "How did you know that?" she asked.
Qui-Gon shrugged. "Ahsoka told me that Luke's last name was Skywalker and so I put two and two together, which also tells me that Vader is Luke's father," he said.
Leia nodded, she knew Qui-Gon knew about what his apprentice's apprentice had become. He was, after all, the one that was convinced that Vader can change. But nothing can change that cold-hearted monster, she thought.
"You would be surprised, Leia, the Force works in mysterious ways," Qui-Gon said as if in reply to Leia's thoughts.
Leia scowled. "Stay out of my mind," she snapped.
The older man chuckled. "You needed to learn to shield your thoughts," he said.
She narrowed her eyes. "How?" she asked finally.
"I'll teach you that after you get your meditation under control," replied Qui-Gon.
~*~
As Leia meditated, Qui-Gon Jinn watched her with narrowed eyes. He could sense much anger inside of the young woman and he realized the anger was directed at Vader. And she believes that Vader cannot change? But he has changed, I know it, I had felt the disturbance in the Force when it occurred, he thought.
He sighed slightly. He needed to convince Leia that she had to let go of her anger if she was to become a Jedi. Anger leads to the dark side, Qui-Gon thought, thinking about his first apprentice who had turned to the dark side a while before he took Obi-Wan as his padawan learner.
He shook his head to clear it before crossing his legs and slowly slipping into a meditative trance. He was brought out of it when a knock sounded on the door. He blinked his eyes before glancing at Leia who was still meditating. He got to his feet before walking over to the door and pressing the door release button.
Han Solo stood at the entrance to the door before narrowing his eyes. "The council wants to speak with Leia," he said without preamble.
Qui-Gon nodded. "She's meditating now, I'll go get her, you're welcome to come in," he said, stepping aside and allowing Han to walk into the room. Han gazed around with narrowed eyes as Qui-Gon walked over to join Leia and gently shook her shoulder.
Leia blinked her eyes. "What is it, master?" she asked.
"The council wants to speak with you," Qui-Gon replied. "Come, we'll go see what they want."
"All right, master," Leia said before getting to her feet and following Qui-Gon as he led the way out of the room. Han dropped back to walk beside Leia and Qui-Gon could hear him talking with her.
"Why are ya with this old geezer?" he asked.
"He is a Jedi, Han, you should treat him with respect, you treat Ahsoka with respect after all," Leia snapped.
"Yeah but I've heard stuff about the Jedi, about their rules and regulations do ya honestly want to live your life never being able to love," he asked.
Leia snorted. "I doubt they'd keep to their old traditions, especially if it is Luke who is rebuilding the order," she pointed out.
"And if they do? What about us? I mean we all know how ya feel about me," Han said smirking slightly.
Leia scoffed. "I may love you, Han, but don't get on my nerves," she snapped.
"Ah don't pretend ya don't love me," Han said.
"I might, if you don't shut up."
Qui-Gon smiled slightly as Han and Leia continued to argue. He knew the old Jedi Order didn't allow attachments because certain attachments could lead them to the dark side. Like what happened with Anakin. Qui-Gon only knew that Anakin's love for Padmé had caused him to fall. The only reason he knew about Padmé and Anakin because Padmé had told him. She didn't tell him about her and Anakin having any children however but Qui-Gon was again vividly reminded of someone every time he looked at Leia and he knew Luke was Anakin's son.
She's the spitting image of Padmé, Qui-Gon thought realization suddenly hitting him. Could Leia be Padmé's daughter? And if that's true, does that mean Luke is Leia's brother?
Too many questions swarmed around in Qui-Gon's brain and he figured he wouldn't be able to find the answers to them any time soon. Sighing again, Qui-Gon led the still arguing Leia and Han into the council room.
"Master Jedi, Princess Leia, Captain Solo," Mon Mothma greeted them, cutting into the middle of Leia and Han's argument.
"Why didn't you tell me we were in the council room?" Leia said glaring at Qui-Gon.
He shrugged. "I was enjoying watching you and Han argue," he replied with a small chuckle.
Leia scowled angrily and Mon Mothma glanced at her. "Leia," she said. "We have just received word from the Queen of Naboo. They wish to discuss with you about joining the Alliance."
Shock flared in Qui-Gon's eyes and but he shook his head to clear it. I doubt Padmé had anything to do with this, he thought.
"We are still near the Naboo system so I want you, Captain Solo and Master Qui-Gon to go discuss this with the queen," Mon Mothma said.
"What about the Imperials?" Han asked.
Ackbar shook his bulbous red head. "There are no imperials there, that is the point, the Queen of Naboo wants to join the Alliance because the Imperials had just left all of a sudden and have not returned. It is as if they just abandoned the planet. And they aren't even getting food to feed their people," he said.
"Figured, the Imperials are cold-hearted idiots after all," Han muttered before straightening up. "Well," he added, "why don't we get going? The sooner we get there, the less likely the Empire will figure out what we are doing."
~*~
Luke slowly closed his eyes before slipping into a meditative trance, aware of his father sitting beside him in the training area. He held out a hand before concentrating on the Force and slowly, he could sense several things, including Artoo, start to rise in the air. It had been a day since Dr. Jade had finally allowed Anakin out of the Medbay but almost as soon as he was out, Anakin started training Luke again.
Artoo let out a squeal followed by a series of beeps and whistles and Luke heard Anakin chuckle. "Artoo, calm down, he'll put you down gently," he said but Artoo just beeped angrily and in an injured tone.
You told me to lift what was in this room, Luke pointed out silently, slowly shifting into a handstand, keeping one of his hands outstretched. A shrill squeal from Artoo caused another chuckle to come from his father.
Yes, but Artoo has never liked it, his father replied silently before his tone grew serious again. Keep concentrating, reach out with the Force and get a sense of everything around you.
I'll try, Luke replied silently, reaching out with the Force.
Do or do not, there is no try, Anakin said and Luke smiled slightly when he realized his father had just quoted Yoda. The smile faded away as he thought about the aging Jedi Master that had died on Dagabah soon after Luke had been driven from the Alliance. All that seemed like a lifetime ago.
Concentrate, Anakin's voice snapped in his mind and Luke realized his thoughts had been straying and he was starting to lose balance. He stretched out with the Force again before slowly calming himself down and concentrating at the task at hand. When he had reached the point of which Artoo, and everything else in the training area, was high in the air, he slowly lowered everything to the ground.
Once everything touched the ground, Luke flipped to his feet before opening his eyes to find his father gazing at him proudly. "Good job, son," he said getting to his feet.
"Thanks, father," Luke replied with a small smile.
Anakin smiled as well. "Want to spar?" he suggested.
"Sure," Luke said and almost self-consciously flexed his mechanical hand. This was the first time he would be fighting his father, as Anakin, but every time he fought his father, he was vividly reminded of their duel on Bespin.
Anakin flinched slightly and Luke realized his father had sensed his thoughts. "It was an accident, Luke," he said softly. "I had only wanted you to give up, it was a reflex and I couldn't stop it in time."
"I know, you said so before, but…" Luke shrugged before pulling out his lightsaber and igniting it, Anakin ignited his own ruby blade and they started out at a stalemate.
"You know what?" Luke said with a small smile.
"What?" Anakin asked.
"I think this time I'm going to beat you," he replied.
"Only in your dreams," Anakin retorted smiling as he swung his lightsaber swiftly at Luke who blocked it. The two of them began sparring, their duel taking them to every aspect of the training room. They fought on top of the droids, on the railings above the first floor, near the large windows and back to where they started but neither of them seemed to be getting the advantage.
"Tired, old man," Luke asked.
"Who are you calling old?" Anakin retorted flipping over Luke before swinging his lightsaber at Luke who blocked it and they continued to spar back and forth, both of them were unaware of Admiral Piett's appearance at the doorway to the training room.
"Um, my Lord?" Piett said, breaking into the silence, aside from the humming lightsabers.
"What is it, Admiral?" Anakin asked, looking back at Piett and barely avoiding Luke's lightsaber. "Hey, that was unfair, I was talking."
Luke laughed. "Next time, call a pause," he said, swinging his lightsaber at Anakin who flipped backwards to avoid it before landing on a dueling droid. Luke took a flying leap and landed beside him.
"All right, pause for a minute," Anakin gasped and Luke laughed before deactivating his lightsaber. Anakin deactivated his as well before leaping down from the dueling-droid and walking over to join Piett.
"My Lord, the Emperor wants to speak with you," Piett said saluting.
Anakin smiled. "I figured it would come sooner or later, that old scarface knows I'm back after all," he said.
"Old scarface?" Luke echoed before laughing. "That's good."
"Thanks, I've always had a way with words."
Piett coughed slightly. "He says right now, my Lord," he said.
Anakin smiled. "I know, I know, Stars, and people say I'm impatient," he commented. "You're dismissed, Admiral, Luke, why don't you join Piett on the bridge?"
"Sure thing," Luke said, clipping his lightsaber to his belt before walking after Admiral Piett out of the training room. He glanced back once as Anakin followed them before his father made his way to his chambers and he shook his head slightly. Things are defiantly starting to get interesting, he commented silently.
A/n what do you think?
Anakin: why does Palpatine want to talk to me? I'm not his apprentice any more
Blaze: to say the least, Palpatine knows this but everyone else thinks you are still his apprentice
Anakin: in order words, he's only contacting me to tell me that I'm not his apprentice any more
Blaze: basically, yes
Anakin: thank the Stars
Darth: you know, you just gave away the next chapter
Blaze: eh, not really
Darth: okay? (Raises eyebrow)
Blaze: (smirks mysteriously) you shall see, you shall see
Darth: good God, not again
Blaze: (laughs) please review and I'll post the next chapter as soon as I possibly can but I doubt it will be that soon.
