Coruscant:

Emperor Palpatine looked at the image of Firmus Piett as he spoke, "So they escaped the system?"

"Lord Reyas was ambushed and we didn't have the chance to even get a description of the type of ship that the Jedi left the planet in. I have investigators visiting the locals as we speak to see if any evidence can be found."

"What about the stormtroopers?"

"Half of the force that he took down to the planet was destroyed in the explosions. The other half was prevented from getting to him because of a building blowing up and blocking the road that they were moving on."

Palpatine shook his head, "This was a trap, it is obvious that it was, have you gotten in touch with the smuggler that visited him?"

"I already put the word out to the Bounty Hunters Guild your Majesty."

"Good, do whatever you must I'm heading to Naboo soon to attend to things there. I'm leaving this investigation in your hands Admiral."

"Yes your majesty," Piett replied with a bow.


Praesitlyn:

Eli sat down at the large dining table with his brother as he spoke, "I'm thinking that I will remain here for the next few days with Kayla and Master Windu. You and Obi-Wan and Ahsoka take everyone there and we will join you once Viceroy Organa comes. I'll take Mia, Grandmother and Shmi with when I leave."

"So you stay here for about two days and then come?" Anakin asked.

"Correct," Eli replied.

"Sounds good enough to me, in the meantime we will get to Varykino and see if we can make contact with Padme's loyalists in the city."

"Anything that you haven't mentioned?" Eli asked as he noticed Padme entering the room with a bright smile on her face.

Anakin smiled, "We're expecting."

"Another little one?" Eli asked in disbelief.

"Is that a problem?" Anakin asked.

"Not at all, just a little bit surprised after all of these years," Eli replied.

"It was kind of my idea," Padme replied.

Eli smiled at his sister in law as he spoke, "Congragulations."

Anakin noticed the shock on his mother and grandmother's faces as they heard the news of the new family member.

He noticed Luke and Leia exchanging glances with one another as Kayla and Mia looked at him in shock.

After a few moments Anakin spoke, "We are still going to perform our mission on Naboo, Padme will just have to stay out of the fighting."

"Obviously," Mia replied.

"And I kind of hate that part of the deal honestly, I hate having people fight for me," Padme replied.

"They are fighting for their own freedom," Mia stated as she looked towards her sister in law.

Padme nodded as she spoke, "I still hate it. I just hate war."

"We've been fighting it for decades now, I think we all are ready to say enough!" Eli replied.

"I'm going to miss it when it's over," Luke interjected.

All eyes turned upon the young padawan as Mace Windu spoke, "There will always be another war young man, but I will say this, your love for war is not the way of the Jedi."

Luke sighed as Anakin spoke, "I agree."

Shmi Skywalker looked at her grandson and spoke, "I've seen millions die in just decades Luke, there is nothing enjoyable or glorious about anyone's child dying in war. That's what each man that you kill is, somebody's son, somebody's brother maybe even somebody's father. Have you ever thought of that?"

Luke responded by standing up and leaving the table.

Obi-Wan looked at Anakin and spoke, "He is acting more and more like you every blasted day."

"Why don't we confront him?" Padme asked.

"When he's done nothing it's the biggest mistake we can make," Anakin replied.

"It's the mistake that I made with Anakin," Obi-Wan replied.

"He enjoys taking lives," Padme stated.

"Wait until he does something way out of line and we will confront him."

Padme said nothing to her husband in response.


Naboo:

Padme stared out of the viewports of the Millennium Falconas she entered the atmosphere of her homeworld in tears. It had been over a decade since she had seen her home.

She noticed that Mara also had a few tears in her eyes as she realized that Mara was reliving the loss of her parents.

She wrapped her arm around Mara as she spoke, "They are both missed."

Mara looked up at Padme and nodded.

"You two better sit down and strap in for landing," Han stated.

Padme sat down in the seat behind Han without question as Han spoke, "We were cleared to land in a docking bay in the city. When the time comes, we will take the ship to the mountains as you asked."

"Good," Padme replied.

A few minutes later, Padme found herself standing on Nabuian soil for the first time in over a decade.

She noticed Anakin walking down behind her as he spoke, "The hotel that I've chosen is just a few blocks away, we will walk to it and visit your family later."

"You should go to my father, I will remain with Luke and Leia."

"Your mother knows that there are two of them, I say that Obi-Wan takes Luke with him on a walk into the city and I'll go with Mara. Leia and Ahsoka can remain with you, don't go anywhere without at least one of them."

"Don't Leia and Ahsoka share a room in the hotel?"

"And so does Obi-Wan and Luke. Mara will room with us in our suite and Solo and the Wookiee have their own room."

"Just go see my father yourself and leave Mara and Leia with me, that's enough protection," Padme stated.

"So be it," Anakin replied.

Anakin entered the hotel a short time later with Padme and Mara.

He casually walked up to the clerk who immediately spoke, "Reservations?"

"Yes, under Starkiller."

"Ah yes, Mr Starkiller the room for your family is ready, you will be shown to it immediately stated a young woman of around twenty years of age.

Anakin smiled, "Thank you."

At the same time, Anakin looked out of the corner of his eye and noticed Obi-Wan and Luke lining up behind him. The group had all agreed to enter the hotel separately in order to avoid causing suspicion. Each person had a room under a different name.

A few minutes later, Anakin and Padme found themselves in their large suite with Mara as she spoke, "Is this the largest room on the floor?"

"From what I heard it is, I chose it since it's isolated, our entire group will be able to meet here without being noticed."

"Am I going to remain here with Padme when you go to Mr Naberrie's apartment Master?" Mara asked.

"I would feel a lot better if you did," Anakin replied.

"As you wish," Mara replied.

Anakin smiled as he turned and left the room.

As Anakin walked down the hallway, he noticed Luke joining him.

He looked at his son and spoke, "Raise the hood your cloak we should remain concealed for now."

"As you wish dad," Luke replied.

Anakin then spoke, "I can imagine that you're going to be excited to see your grandfather, it's been a few years."

"It has, how do you think that Aunt Sola will handle seeing you?"

Anakin shook his head, "She never liked me much Luke, and neither did your Uncle, but they had good reasons."

"No they didn't what you did was the past."

"Not when it's your sister from Sola and Darred's perspective."

"It's not like you raped her," Luke replied.

Anakin hung his head, if only he knew, he thought.

"Luke, if you were there you would say that they have every right to hate me."

"Than why has Granddad accepted you?"

"Because of his relationship with your Uncle and because of the fact that he sympathized with me since I had a slime ball father."

"It seems like he gets along with Grandma extremely well."

"They do, they are very good friends they grew close all those years ago," Anakin replied.


Ruwee Naberrie opened his apartment door to the site of his younger son in law.

"Anakin! Come in," Ruwee exclaimed as he noticed another dark figure following.

The figure unhooded as he realized that he was facing his grandson, "Luke! By force you have grown!" Ruwee exclaimed as he hugged his grandson. He then turned and hugged Anakin as he spoke, "So what brings you two to Naboo?"

"We need to get in touch with the resistance, Palpatine is visiting in a few weeks and we intend to kill him," Anakin replied.

"Kill Palpatine?" Ruwee asked.

"And take back the Galaxy," Luke added.

Ruwee glanced at his grandson and nodded, "I can get you in touch with some people this week. Where is Padme?"

"We are staying at the Sacred Forest Inn in downtown, visit us at the main suite on the fifth floor," Anakin replied.

Ruwee nodded, "That sounds good, shall I join you tonight?" The sun is going down soon, we can just steal away tonight."

"Do that, but leave separate from us in order to avoid raising suspicion," Anakin added.

"That sounds reasonable, why don't we catch up while we are waiting for nightfall?" Ruwee asked.

"That's why we're here," Anakin replied.


Padme and Mara walked into the hotel lobby as she noticed Leia approaching them. "Where is Ahsoka?"

"She's meditating with Obi-Wan."

"That's fine, how about the three of us go and get shurra smoothies down the street at the cafe? They always made the best ones in my time."

Leia smiled, "Ok, what are we waiting for?"

Within moments, Padme was walking on the streets with her daughter and Mara.

As they approached the cafe, Leia spoke, "Shouldn't you be wearing a hooded cloak?"

"I'm their Queen, they will not expose me and these Imperials are young horny boys that think of nothing but sex when they see me. There is nothing to worry about."

Leia nodded as she entered the cafe with her mother.

Within moments, Padme had made the order and was sitting down with her daughter and Mara.

It wasn't long before she heard a voice, "My Queen!"

Padme turned to see a dark haired man looking at her.

It took her a moment to realize that she was staring at Palo Reliaz.

"Palo," Padme casually replied.

"I was so happy to hear that you were alive and well. And even happier to hear that your mother never found you."

"Weren't you one of the suitors that she chose that night?"

Palo nodded, "Let me explain."

"I'm listening," Padme replied as a young waiter placed the three smoothies on the table.

"I didn't know what your mother wanted, and I was her first choice for marriage."

"Than why did she give my mother to Ian Lego?" Leia interjected in anger.

"Leia calm down," Padme replied.

Palo smiled, "She looks like you, but that volatile attitude isn't from you."

"My son is even worse, at least she controls it," Padme replied.

Palo nodded as he spoke, "The truth is that I was already married although hardly anyone realized it since it is a marriage that my parents are to this day against."

"Who would marry..."

"Leia please stop!" Padme exclaimed.

Leia nodded as Palo spoke, "Remember your handmaiden named Rabe?"

"Of course I do, she was the daughter of that nice farmer outside of the city, and I remember everyone who served alongside me in my Royal Council."

"We married secretly right before you were removed from the throne."

"I'm guessing your parents didn't approve since she already had her little boy," Padme replied.

"What I revealed to Jobal that night I had already just revealed to my parents, that boy is mine."

"You got her pregnant!" Padme exclaimed.

"Padme please, w-we were and still are deeply in love, we were young and I couldn't stand the thought of being without her, so we married, and I made things right."

"Against the wishes of your parents," Padme stated.

"We haven't talked in over a decade, but I'm a successful artist and I have more than enough to provide for my family."

"I see, I'm happy for you, give Rabe my best."

"I will," Palo replied as Padme noticed a beautiful young girl who was around the same age as Leia entering the room.

"This is my daughter, Sia, Sia meet your Queen."

The young girl looked at Padme in disbelief as she attempted to bow.

Padme reached out and took her hand as she spoke, "No need to bow to me sweetheart, you are as beautiful as your mother I see."

Padme turned to Palo and spoke, "And where is your son now?"

"He enlisted against our wishes two years ago. Force, the war has divided my whole family, my parents of course support Palpatine, one of my younger brothers joined the Empire and the other two joined the Rebellion and I of course am in the middle."

"You don't fight for either?" Leia asked in irritation.

"Palo is and always has been against war and violence," Padme replied.

Palo then spoke, "Let me tell you, you should be on your guard, your mother has already done her marriage arrangements with Lego. She's looking for you now that word has gotten out since the destruction of the Death Star."

Padme shook her head, "I hope she doesn't try anything, it's not her that I'm afraid of it's my son who has rage that no one seems to have the ability to control."

"Like Skywalker," Palo replied.

Padme nodded, "Anakin is a good man."

"I have no doubt that he is, just watch out for your mother she has friends everywhere."

"I'll do that," Padme replied as Palo turned and left the cafe.

She then turned to Leia, "What do you sense in him?"

"He's harmless, and he loves and is devoted to his wife, whoever she is based on what I've sensed."

Padme looked at Leia and spoke, "I always wondered why that boy looked so much like Palo, Rabe never would say a word."

"Why would you allow her to be a handmaiden if she has a child out of wedlock?" Leia asked in disgust.

"Because her family was extremely poor and she deserved to be able to feed her child. Don't be the judge it's safe to say that you and Luke were also born out of wedlock since your father and I weren't married until you were over a month old."

"Why would he marry a peasant?"

"Why do you have a crush on a smuggler?"

Leia blushed as Padme spoke, "One thing you need to learn about love is that society likes to keep everyone divided but who and what you and your family are should never matter. And the same for your lover. Don't be the fool that my mother is," Padme stated.

Leia nodded in response.

"What if you are noticed Padme? Aren't you afraid of your mother?"

"I'm not too concerned about her coming after me, if she does, I just hope that I can control Luke."


Anakin watched as his father in law hugged his wife.

He noticed Ruwee breaking away to hug Leia as his eyes rested on Mara.

"Mara Jade, thank the Force!" Ruwee exclaimed as he rushed towards Mara.

Mara embraced Ruwee as Ruwee spoke, "How did you find Mara?"

"We rescued her and Aria on Corellia, unfortunately, well you know the rest," Anakin sadly replied.

"Yes, I took care of burial arrangements for both of them, the Jade family was one of the most beautiful families that I ever saw," Ruwee replied.

"They were that, I still cry when I think of how she died in my arms," Padme replied.

At that moment, Anakin noticed Han entering the room with Chewbacca.

Han then spoke, "I talked to a man named Captain Typho."

"He was on my staff," Padme stated.

"He remembers you, he will not tell me anything but he has agreed that if we can prove that we work for you that he will bring me to the resistance."

"When is the next meeting?" Padme asked.

"We are meeting at noon tomorrow," Han replied.

"Good, I'll go with you," Padme replied.

"That sounds good, can I talk to you General?" Han asked as he turned towards Anakin.

"Of course Han."

Anakin looked back at his father in law as he spoke, "I'll be back."

A few moments later, Anakin looked into Han's eyes as he read the younger man's mind.

"Sir, I'm sorry to speak about..."

"Go ahead, I already know what it is."

Han uneasily looked into Anakin's eyes as he spoke, "I love Luke and frankly you're family is the only family I've got, but the way Luke is acting scares me."

"What bothered you about the mission?" Anakin asked.

"He just runs into the cockpit laughing about how he killed Reyas, he was bragging about how the kid cried for help and he was amused. I enjoy making kills in our dogfights, I enjoy a good fight, but to take pleasure in another man's suffering is sick."

"My son is sick," Anakin stated.

Han looked at Anakin as he spoke, "Watch him in all future engagements as best as you can. Whatever you do, do not get in his way. He is treading very close to the dark side, and once he embraces it you will not be able to reason with him."

"I-I don't know much about the Force sir, I didn't even believe in it until I met you. Y-You're saying just don't intervene?"

"You once asked me why I murdered my father. It was because I fell when I was Luke's age. It was the words and actions of my father that night that set me off. If you do the same to Luke, he will kill you."

Han nodded as he spoke, "I just can't see him doing that to me."

"When I had the dark side flowing through me, I did many things that I would have never done. Many of those things I will regret for the rest of my days."

"I understand," Han replied.


Jobal Thule watched as a young man was led into her parlor.

"What do you have to offer me."

"I-I was dining in this cafe with my girlfriend when I found some information that I'm willing to sell to you."

"What would interest me that you may have boy?" Jobal asked in irritation.

"It's in regards to your younger daughter."

"If it's useful I will give you three thousand credits, if not I will send you out of my house," Jobal stated.

"I saw her at the cafe with a dark haired girl who looked a lot like her and a redheaded girl."

Jobal smiled, "You are most useful, I will pay you and I know just how I can find her. It will take time but I'll find her."

"Thank you, milady," the boy replied.

Jobal smiled as she noticed one of her servants entering the room, "Get out that transmitter that Moff Panaka gave me a few years ago, I'm going to tap into Sola and Darred's comlink frequencies and listen and track my daughter down."

"Of course Milady," The young woman replied with a bow.

"I want my daughter to learn her place, she may have ran from me sixteen years ago, but she never will get away, and she will learn her place," Jobal stated.


Alright, that's it for now, thank you for reading and reviewing.

-Fallen Jedi 79