Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. I just created my own little AU corner to play in.
AN: Here's chapter 38! Thanks for all the great reviews, as always, and enjoy this next installment.
The Awakening: The Revised Edition
Chapter 38: City in the Clouds
Artoo whined, as it began pouring around him. He hoped that Master Luke returned soon...
The strange little creature went about cooking his gruel in his small little hovel, while Luke paced.
"Look, I'm sure it's delicious, but I really need to find Yoda now," Luke insisted.
"Patience. Jedi need to eat too," the creature replied. Luke tasted the gruel and while it wasn't his mother's cooking, it tasted better than his ration sticks.
"Will it take long to find Yoda?" Luke asked.
"Yoda not far," the little creature replied.
"Tell me why you must become a Jedi?" the creature asked.
"My father is a Jedi and I've been training with him and Obi-Wan Kenobi. They sent me here, because I'm ready for my trials," Luke replied.
"Powerful Jedi, your father is...powerful Jedi," the creature replied.
"How do you know my father? You don't even know who I am. I really need to find Yoda," Luke said impatiently.
"No patience you have...like your father," the creature chuckled. Suddenly, it dawned on Luke.
"Yoda," he said.
"Not ready you are," Yoda replied.
"But I am ready! Father said I was!" Luke insisted.
"See, we shall. Impatient you are. Reckless and much too old. Train you, Anakin shouldn't have," Yoda said disapprovingly.
"I won't fail you. I'm not afraid," Luke said, determination lining his face.
"You will be...you will be..." Yoda promised.
The Imperial Star Destroyers loomed slowly into the asteroid field, destroying the asteroids with laser blasts. TIE fighters roamed around the field, frantically searching for the Millennium Falcon at the order of Lord Vader himself...
Inside the cave aboard the Falcon, Leia and Padme sat in the cockpit, while Anakin and Han continued to make the needed repairs. The ship continued to tremble and both were growing worried. Leia stood up, as she thought she saw something moving outside the window. Padme followed her line of vision and suddenly a creature of some kind latched onto the view window. Padme and Leia screamed in surprise and ran out of the cockpit to tell Anakin and Han.
"There's something out there!" Leia cried to Han and her father.
"Out where?" Han asked.
"Outside," Leia replied. Han and Anakin exchanged glances, as Anakin drew his light saber from his belt, but didn't ignite it.
"We'll go out and check it out," Han said, grabbing his blaster.
"We're coming with you," Padme said, latching on to Anakin's arm. The ramp lowered slowly and the four of them stepped out, each having an oxygen mask around their noses and mouths. The minute Anakin stepped on the ground, he knew something wasn't right.
"This ground feels funny," Padme said.
"It doesn't even feel like rock," Leia replied.
"There sure is a lot of moisture," Han mentioned. Suddenly, a flying creature came out of nowhere. Padme screamed and ducked against Anakin, as it flew over their heads. The snap hiss of Anakin's light saber was heard and he ignited the blade. He swung and the creature fell dead to the ground.
"A Mynock," Anakin said.
"Mynock?" Leia asked. Curiously, Han shot a blaster bolt at the ground and the everything around them began to tremble violently.
"Get back on the ship!" Anakin called, as he steadied himself and Padme, as they made their way up the ramp. They threw off their oxygen masks once they were back inside and Han headed for the cockpit.
"What the hell is going on?" Clovis cried, as he steadied himself on the wall.
"Get back in your seat. We're in a bit of a situation," Anakin ordered and while Rush hated the idea of taking orders from him, he obliged.
"Chewie, get us out of here!" Han yelled.
"But the Empire is still out there looking for us!" Leia protested.
"I don't have time to discuss this with the committee," Han retorted. Leia balanced herself, before following him.
"I am not a committee!" she shouted angrily. Anakin helped Padme strap in, before strapping in himself. Han fired up the engines and began accelerating. The opening was beginning to close.
"The cave is collapsing," Leia said.
"This is no cave," Han replied, as he squeezed through the teeth of the creature. As the Falcon ascended into space, the space slug made on last lunge at it. When it missed, it retreated back into the ground of the asteroid. Padme heard Bella cry out on the baby monitor, followed by Jaden's voice, calling for her.
"They must be scared to death," Padme cried, as she prepared to undo her harness and make her way back into the cabin.
"You stay put. I'll get them," Anakin said, as he used the Force to steady himself, while making his way to the quarters where the children had been sleeping.
Luke painstakingly climbed the vine in the swamps of Degobah, carrying Yoda on his back. He swung from the vine and front flipped over a tree log.
"Yes, run. A Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of anger, fear, and aggression. The dark side are they. Once start down the dark path, forever dominate your life it will," Yoda said.
"Like Vader?" Luke asked. Yoda nodded.
"But he didn't have a choice. He was stolen from my parents before he was even born," Luke said.
"Sadly no, a choice he did not have. But you do," Yoda replied.
"How will I know the good from the bad?" Luke asked.
"You will know. A dangerous thing love and attachment can be. Fear of losing one's loved ones can lead a person to the dark side. Down that path, your father could have gone. But saved him, love did. Learned to draw strength from love, your father did," Yoda explained. Luke nodded.
"Is the dark side stronger?" Luke asked. Yoda shook his head.
"No, but easier it can seem. Now, clear your mind of questions," Yoda ordered, as Luke put him down. Luke looked around and felt that something was off.
"Something doesn't feel right. It feels cold," Luke said.
"That cave. Strong in the dark side it is," Yoda said.
"What's in there?" Luke asked.
"Only what you take with you," Yoda replied. Luke began to put his weapons belt back on.
"No weapons, you will need," Yoda warned, but Luke took them anyway. Luke climbed inside the dark, narrow cave and began trekking through it. As he got deeper into the cave, the darkness became stronger.
Suddenly, Vader appeared, his crimson saber blazing. Luke backed away, igniting his own emerald blade. Vader and Luke clashed sabers furiously. The young padawan took an angry swipe at the Sith Lord that should have been his older brother, beheading him. Vader's mask melted open and Luke was shocked to see his own face inside. He extinguished his saber and quickly made his way out of the cave. Yoda sat outside the cave, looking disappointed.
On board Vader's star destroyer, bounty hunters from across the galaxy had gathered. They listened with rapt attention, as Vader spoke of reward for the capture of the Millennium Falcon.
"There will be a hefty reward for the one who find the Millennium Falcon. Use any means necessary, but I want them alive–no disintegration," Vader ordered, looking particularly at Boba Fett.
"My Lord, we have them. The Avenger is pursuing them out of the asteroid field," Admiral Piett said.
"All right, get ready for light speed," Han said, as Chewie began flipping the switches. But nothing happened again, as the hyper drive was still malfunctioning. Leia lowered her head in disappointment. Another blast hit them and everyone knew that they couldn't take many more like that. Bella cried and Padme rocked her gently, trying to console her.
"Daddy…I'm scared," Jaden cried, as he clung to Anakin's chest and then buried his face once the ship rocked violently again.
"It will be okay, I promise," Anakin whispered to him, as he reached his hand out and placed it on Bella's back. He sent waves of comfort to her through the Force and she calmed considerably, allowing Padme to gently rock her to sleep. He wrapped his arm around his wife, offering her the same comfort, as he held them all close.
"Chewie, turn us around. I'm switching all shield power to the front," Han said.
"Are you crazy?" Leia exclaimed.
"It'll be okay Leia, I think I know what he has in mind," Anakin replied. Han charged at the Star Destroyer and then disappeared up and over it. The Imperials couldn't find any trace of them. Captain Needa had a shuttle prepared so he could go apologize personally to Lord Vader for losing them.
Luke concentrated, as sweat poured down his face. He held himself in a hand stand position, while Yoda stood on his feet instructing him. He carefully moved the rocks, as Yoda instructed, but Artoo's incessant chirps and whirls caused him to lose concentration. He fell to the ground, along with Yoda, only in time to see his entire ship sink below the murky swamp.
"Oh no, we'll never get it out now," Luke said with dismay.
"So sure you are? Feel differently your father would, if here he was. Feel differently Obi-Wan would as well," Yoda said.
"My father always tells me that with the power of the Force, the impossible becomes possible," Luke sighed.
"And maybe dad could lift that ship...but I can't. It's too heavy," Luke said dejectedly.
"Right your father is. Powerful ally the Force is. Lift it you will," Yoda said. Luke stood up.
"I'll try," Luke replied.
"No...do or do not. There is no try," Yoda instructed. Luke nodded and reached into the Force. He concentrated heavily on the ship and slowly began to lift it out of the water. The concentration was soon lost and she ship sunk back into the swamp. Yoda looked on, disappointed.
"I can't...it's too heavy," Luke panted in exhaustion.
"Size matters not. Judge me by my size, do you? A powerful ally the Force is...powerful ally. It's energy surrounds us, binds us. Feel it around you everywhere!" Yoda instructed.
"You want the impossible," Luke replied. Yoda looked down and sighed. Closing his eyes, he reached deeply into the Force. Luke watched on in amazement, as Yoda lifted his ship from the murky swamp and floated it to solid ground. With renewed faith, Luke was eager to begin learning again. And Yoda was still eager to teach him.
Captain Needa gasped for air, as he fell to the floor at Vader's feet.
"Apology accepted, Captain Needa," Vader replied. A few of his men dragged the body away, as Admiral Piett stood at attention.
"Calculate every possible destination. Find them and don't fail me again...admiral," Vader ordered.
"Yes my Lord," Piett responded.
The Millennium Falcon sat on the hull of the Executor. Anakin was in the back, trying to get the hyper drive repaired.
"What now?" Leia asked, as she shifted Jaden on her lap. Padme had gone back into the bed chamber to feed Bella in private.
"Well, they'll dump their garbage before they go to hyper space and we'll just float away with the trash," Han said. Leia smiled, as they looked over the star charts.
"Where are we?" Leia asked.
"Anoat system," Han answered.
"Anoat system...not much there," Leia replied.
"No...wait...Lando," Han said.
"Lando system?" Leia asked.
"It's not a system, he's a man. A card player, gambler and scoundrel. You'd like him," Han replied.
"Wonderful," Leia replied sarcastically.
"He's an old friend, we go way back," Han replied.
"You better run this by dad first," Leia replied.
"Bespin. It's pretty far, but I think we can make it," Han said.
"Do you trust him?" Leia asked.
"Not really, but he has no love for the Empire," Han replied. Han set the course and they headed for Bespin. A strangely familiar ship began following them, unnoticed by them.
"Concentrate...feel the Force. Things you see–the future, the past," Yoda instructed. Luke shuddered, as he had a vision. He lost concentration and fell from the hand stand.
"Control...control you must have," Yoda scolded.
"Han...Leia. I saw a city in the clouds," Luke said.
"Yes, friends you have there," Yoda replied.
"They were in pain," Luke said.
"The future you see," Yoda replied.
"Will they die?" Luke asked. Yoda closed his eyes.
"Difficult to see. Always in motion, the future is," Yoda said.
"But I didn't see my parents there. What if something is going to happen to them?" Luke asked.
"Leave here and help them you might. Or destroy everything they've worked for, you could," Yoda replied. Luke nodded.
Padme gently rubbed Bella's back, trying to ignore Rush's unnerving stare from across the cabin. She was so uncomfortable by his presence that she had chosen to feed Bella in Han's quarters, which he had graciously relinquished for her, Anakin, and the little ones. But Jaden was awake now too and very anxious to play, so she had come out to the cabin so Leia could watch him while she finished burping Bella. As Jaden played with his toys, he kept a careful eye on the strange man with them too. He hadn't forgotten how this man had said mean things to his Mommy and he knew his Daddy didn't like him. Rush sighed, tired of being gawked at by the little boy like he had three heads.
"He keeps staring at me," Rush complained.
"He's only three and he hasn't forgotten the encounter we had a few days ago," Padme reminded coolly. Leia smirked.
"Yeah, you were mean to his Mommy so that pretty much makes you Nexu poodoo in his eyes," Leia quipped, making Jaden giggled. He wasn't sure what a Nexu was, but he knew what poodoo was. Rush rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Fine, I know when I'm not wanted," he said, as he got up and left, deciding to go take a nap.
"Finally, I thought he'd never stop staring!" Padme huffed in annoyance.
"I can't believe his persistence. He just can't accept that you're married," Leia said, also annoyed.
"He's just someone who's never been told that he can't have something. Fortunately, he's harmless," Padme replied.
"I don't know Mom, I don't like his persistence and neither does Daddy. He may not be Force sensitive, but that kind of determination can make him dangerous," Leia whispered. Padme nodded.
"I know, but I'll be careful and your Dad won't let anything happen to me. Rush would be signing his own death certificate if he ever tried to touch me and I don't think he's that brave to risk it," Padme assured her. Leia wasn't entirely convinced, for the more time she spent examining the vibrations in the Force around him, the more she was convinced that he was up to no good. She knew she needed to express these feelings she was having to her father, for the Force was something that was still very new to her. But right now, since Rush had finally left the room, she had something else she wanted to ask and the person she needed these answers from was her Mother.
"Mom…can I ask you something?" Leia asked, as Bella strained to be put down so she could go play with Jaden. Having given a decent burp, Padme put her down and let her crawl around to play with some toys.
"Sweetheart, you know you can ask me anything," Padme replied. Leia smiled and nodded.
"How did you know that Daddy was…the one?" Leia asked awkwardly. Padme smiled at her.
"Well…I just knew. I knew it before I was prepared and ready to admit it to myself. I convinced myself that it was simply an infatuation that would pass at first, because a relationship between a Jedi and a Senator seemed so impossible at the time, not to mention scandalous. But your father knew our love was the Will of the Force and he loved me unconditionally, even when I was pushing him away and telling him that we could never be. It was in his eyes, in the way he looked at me. He made me feel so alive and at first, those feelings I was having in return for him terrified me. I was pretty cynical on love and I'd seen marriage after marriage fail for my fellow Senators, not to mention I dated a few royal jerks, Clovis included, before I met your dad again. I guess with your father…I just knew and my guess is that if you're asking me this, it's because you have very strong feelings for someone and you're not ready to admit it to yourself," Padme said, giving her a knowing look. Leia looked away shyly and Padme put her hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"Sweetheart, I was unsure of my feelings too, but when I stopped fighting them, I started being happy and found amazing love with your father. Maybe Han isn't the man you imagined yourself with, but love has a way of throwing the unexpected at us. But it's a good unexpected, at least when it's true love and from my experience, Skywalkers fall in love usually once and very deeply," Padme told her.
"Mom…I didn't say it was Han," Leia protested. Padme smiled mischievously at her.
"I know, but I know that it is. I'm your Mother, after all," Padme replied.
"But Han is so…" Leia said, not able to find the words.
"An infuriatingly handsome, reckless flyboy?" Padme asked.
"Yes!" Leia exclaimed and then looked at her Mother, who giggled.
"When you're ready to stop denying and start loving, you'll be happier than you ever imagined. Believe me, I know, I married an infuriatingly handsome, reckless flyboy myself," Padme said, as Anakin returned from the cockpit.
"Looks like our little ruse worked. I think we lost them," Anakin said, as he sat down next to Padme and watched their children play. Padme turned to him and kissed him with tender passion.
"Wow…what was that for?" he asked.
"Because I love you, flyboy," she teased with a giggle. His brow furrowed in confusion.
"Flyboy?" he questioned.
"Just go with it, handsome," she whispered. He shrugged, as she kissed him again.
Sometime later…
The Millennium Falcon entered the atmosphere on Bespin and into Cloud City.
"I know we don't have landing clearance. I'm looking for Lando Calrissian," Han said into the comm with annoyance dripping from his voice.
"You will not deviate from your current course," the voice replied.
"I thought you knew this person," Leia said.
"That was a long time ago," Han replied.
"This is a bad idea," Anakin said.
"What are you sensing Ani?" Padme asked.
"I'm not sure. The dark side seems strong here. It clouds everything," Anakin replied.
"Permission granted to land," the voice said over the comm.
"See, nothing to worry about. Lando and I go way back," Han replied.
"Just keep your eyes open Han, something doesn't feel right," Anakin replied.
The Millennium Falcon landed on the designated platform and the ramp lowered.
"Oh, no one to greet us," Threepio mentioned.
"I don't like this," Leia said.
"Me either princess," Anakin replied.
"Well, what would you like? It'll be fine, trust me," As Han said that, the door slid open and Lando Calrissian approached them followed by his people.
"See, my friend," Han replied. Padme clutched Bella closed to her chest and Jaden hid shyly behind his father's legs.
"Why you slimy, double crossing, no good swindler. You've got a lot of guts coming here after what you pulled," Lando said menacingly. Anakin's eyes narrowed, but he couldn't get a clear read on the man, since he had strong mental shields. Lando faked a punch, before laughing and pulling Han into a hug.
"How you doin' you old pirate?" Lando asked.
"Not bad. I was wondering if you could help me with some repairs. We just didn't have the right equipment out in space to do it," Han replied.
"What did you do to my ship?" Lando asked. Han raised his eyebrows.
"Your ship? I won her off you fair and square," Han retorted. Lando laughed.
"How you doing Chewbacca," Lando greeted and Chewie rawled.
"Hello, what have we here?" Lando asked, as he spotted Leia and Padme.
"Welcome, I'm Lando Calrissian, the baron administrator of this colony. And you lovely ladies are?" Lando asked.
"Leia," Leia answered.
"Padme," Padme said, as Lando kissed the back of both her hand and Leia's.
"And you might be?" Lando asked Anakin.
"Anakin. Padme's husband and Leia's father," Anakin replied, warning him with a stern look. Lando nodded, noticing the children now and motioned for them to follow him. Clovis followed as well, glad that this man seemed to not notice him. He had frequented Bespin too often and didn't want to be recognized. Landing in Cloud City was a stroke of bad luck. Senator Manara and his Aunt were quite upset with him, for when he had been dismissed from the duty of picking Rebel spies, the money had dried up for them, because they could no longer provide Intel for the Empire. They would turn on him and give him up to Imperial authorities, given the chance.
"So what's wrong with the Falcon?" Lando asked.
"Hyper drive is malfunctioning," Han replied.
"She's saved my life a few times. She's the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy," Lando mentioned, as he led them to the accommodations he had prepared for them.
A door slid open and Threepio spotted a droid that looked a lot like him.
"Oh, nice to see a familiar face," Threepio said. The other look alike droid tossed an obscenity at Threepio and walked off.
"Chutta," it said.
"How rude," Threepio said, as he heard something that sounded like an Artoo unit. But before he could wander off, Anakin came back and grabbed the droids arm.
"No wandering off Threepio. Everyone needs to stay close in case we need to make a quick get away," Anakin said.
"Oh, but that Lando fellow seemed so nice master Ani," Threepio replied.
"Yeah, really nice. Too nice," Anakin replied. Lando led them to their quarters and left them to freshen up a bit.
Luke went about fixing his ship, making sure it was in working order.
"Luke, you must complete your trails," Yoda insisted.
"I can't get that vision out of my head," Luke replied.
"Stay you must!" Yoda insisted.
"But Han and Leia could die if I don't!" Luke retorted.
"Know for sure, you do not. Take care of them, Anakin will," Yoda insisted.
"Dad wasn't there in my vision! What if Vader has captured him? My parents could be in danger too. What if the Emperor gets his hands on Jaden and Bella? I have to go," Luke insisted.
"Not ready to face Vader, you are," Yoda said quietly. But Luke didn't listen.
"Artoo, fire up the converters," Luke ordered, as he hopped into the cockpit.
"Strong is Vader. Use what you have learned!" Yoda called.
"I will. And I will return Master, I promise," Luke said, as he lifted off and blasted out of the atmosphere. He set a course for Cloud City and jumped to hyperspace...
Anakin wrapped his arms around Padme, as she looked out the window at the busy city. She wore a long blue dress now, as opposed to the white uniform she had been wearing. Her hair spilled around her in loose ringlets, the way Anakin liked it best and she leaned back against him, as he kissed her lips softly.
"Are you okay Ani?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just this place. It's so...busy, I can't get a good reading on anyone here. The Force is very clouded. Master would be complaining like crazy right about now," Anakin chuckled.
"I hope the transport made it to safety okay," Padme mentioned.
"They're all fine. I would have felt it if they weren't. Hopefully, we can try and contact them soon," Anakin said.
"The transponder codes are still in the Falcon, so hopefully we can try once we're on our way again," Padme replied.
"The sooner, the better. The kids don't like this place," Padme added, as she gently rocked a fussy Bella up and down. Anakin kissed their baby's forehead and put his hand on her head.
"It's okay my little angel," he whispered and she calmed a little. Padme smiled.
"You have the magic touch," she told him.
"It's just that I'm able to send calming waves to them through the Force. Jaden and Bella don't like this place, because the dark side is so thick," Anakin replied, as they looked to their young son, who was in the kitchen eating the snack Leia was making for him. Lando entered and smiled at his guests.
"I trust that everything is acceptable?" he asked. Padme nodded.
"Thank you for the accommodations, Mr. Calrissian and having a crib brought up for the baby," Padme thanked graciously.
"It is my pleasure, but I would like it even more if you would all agree to join me for dinner," Lando requested. Padme looked at her husband and he shrugged.
"I don't see why not," Anakin replied. He wasn't crazy about a big formal dinner, for he wanted to get his family off Bespin as soon as possible, but they had to eat, so he saw no harm in it.
"Excellent. I'll see you in the dining hall in two hours," Lando said, as he left swiftly.
"He didn't bother to mention how the repairs on the ship were coming," Leia mentioned.
"I'll go catch up to him and see how it's going," Han said, as he followed Lando out.
In the next chapter, Vader comes face to face with the man and woman who would have been his parents, as the Sky walkers are betrayed…