Thanks...well, I didn't give anyone any time to review, so, uh...thanks for reading, everyone! I know I said I wouldn't have another update for a while, but I got some unanticipated writing time and wrote this all in one evening! I felt kind of bad since I'll be gone and unable to write for almost two weeks…okay, that sounds just pathetic now, but it's the truth. Anyway, I see this chapter as mainly a transition spot, though it does have scenes that were important to the movie.

Hayley Westenra's "Dark Waltz" is with scene 2…

Taking Chances

"Wonderful!" 3PO exclaimed happily. "We are now a part of the tribe."

While she chuckled as Han was tackled by a native or two, Kelly was able to avoid a joyful ambush of her own and head straight for him. She had seen Elaina pull him out of there before the she disappeared and the narration started. At least her sister was no longer obsessed with that peculiar project.

"Just what I always wanted," the man said, smiling until a fuzz-ball latched itself onto his leg whereupon he looked desperately to the also incapacitated Chewie. "Well, short help is better than no help at all, Chewie. Thank you…okay."

"Han!" she called, nearing him. The general visibly cringed. He was a smart man to know when a woman wanted something he was probably unwilling to give…but, he smiled at her anyway as she reached him.

"Ah, fellow tribe-member!"

"We need to talk."

He cringed again, recovering with a cheesy smile.

"Something wrong?"

"Where's Elaina?"

"I don't…"

"Don't tell me you don't know!" she yelled angrily. "I have a right to know where…where she is." She managed to recover herself before making an irreparable slip.

"She didn't tell me."

"Han," she threatened.

"She just told me to protect Leia and that she was taking the shuttle."

"Blasted, Han! Why didn't you stop her?" Kelly didn't give him the chance to answer. "I have to go after her."

"You'll do no such thing, Kelly," he argued, suddenly losing his timidity.

"I have to!"

"We need you here, General!" The word actually stung. Was this what it had been like for Obi-Wan to have a command during the Clone Wars?

"Han, she'll try to take things into her own hands. I know her."

"My decision is final. We'll need you for the fight later."

Kelly bit her lip, in denial.

"I can't… I have a duty to go."

"You have a duty to stay."

After watching Han and Kelly bicker from afar, Leia caught sight of Luke slipping out the door and followed him. She noticed him stop on the little bridge, his head down. She took the opportunity to approach him.

"Luke, what's wrong?"

When he turned to look at her, there was a strange look in his face. It was the same look he had possessed before the briefing only hours before, but it was more obvious, now.

"Leia…do you remember your mother…your real mother?"

Not in the least expecting a question like that, the princess shifted her weight before replying.

"Just a little bit. She died when I was very young."

"What do you remember?"

Still confused, Leia tried to answer in the best way she could.

"Other than what Elaina told me, just…images, really…feelings. El said I'm lucky even to have that."

"Tell me."

"She was very beautiful…kind, but…sad." Breaking out of her sudden reminiscence, Leia looked back at the young man. "Why are you asking me all this?"

"I have no memory of my mother. I never knew her."

Honestly…

"Luke, tell me. What's troubling you?"

"Vader is her…now, on this moon."

That response surprised her.

"How do you know?"

"I felt his presence. He's come for me. He can feel when I'm near. That's why I have to go. As long as I stay, I'm endangering the group and our mission here. I have to face him."

Now she was distressed.

"Is that why Elaina left?"

"I don't know."

Why was he acting so strange? He was so calm, yet so melancholy.

"Why?"

"He's my father."

She grimaced in horror.

"Your father?"

"There's more. It won't be easy for you to hear it, but you must. If I don't make it back, you're the only hope for the Alliance."

"Luke, don't talk that way. You have a power I…I don't understand and could never have!"

"You're wrong, Leia," the boy insisted. "You have that power too. In time, you'll learn to use it as I have." Was that what Elaina had been talking about in training when she persisted in telling her to focus on nothing and be aware of her surroundings? "The Force is strong in my family. My father has it…I have it…and…my sister has it." Her lips parted in realization as he gazed intently into her eyes. "Yes, it's you, Leia."

"Did she really live during the reign of the old republic?"

"Oddly enough, you were born within days of the emergence of the Empire. You're smart enough to figure that out without me needing to tell you."

Elaina's level and emotionless voice always used when discussing an awkward subject was getting on the princess' nerves.

"Come on now, Elaina! Can't you give me an answer better than that?"

A slight smile graced the twenty-five-to-thirty-appearing face.

"I was two years older than she. We never got along until shortly before she died..."

"I know." Her eyes lit up. All the pieces fell together. "Elaina's somehow connected to the family, isn't she…beyond friendship?"

"She and Kelly are Vader's sisters…our aunts. Obi-Wan was our uncle, being married to Kelly, and Qui-Gon's our cousin."

She nodded.

"Somehow…I've always known."

"Then, you know why I have to face him."

That was a step too far.

"No!" she cried. "Luke, run away, far away! If he can feel your presence, then leave this place. I wish I could go with you."

"No, you don't. You've always been strong."

"But, why must you confront him?" she begged, tormented by the thought of losing her new-found brother.

"Because…there is good in him. I've felt it…and I'm not the only one." They both knew he was talking about Elaina's impulsively silent convictions. "He won't turn me over to the Emperor. I can save him. I can turn him back to the good side. I have to try."

After holding her hand a moment, he departed into the darkness, leaving Leia on the verge of tears.

A few seconds passed before she noticed Han's presence.

"Hey, what's going on?" he asked obliviously.

She fought the tears…failing.

"Nothing," the woman feigned. I…just want to be alone for a little while."

"Nothing? Come on, tell me. What's going on?"

She looked at him desperately.

"I…I can't tell you."

"Did you tell Luke?" he accused angrily, pointing in the direction her brother had gone. "Is that who you could tell?"

"I…" She turned away again in despair.

"Ah!" he exclaimed irritably, seeming to walk away, prior to returning. "I'm sorry."

"Hold me!"

Relieved for his presence, she fell into his warm embrace.

Luke remained cool and collected as the guarding commander offered his lightsaber to Vader. Somehow, his new knowledge allowed him to see a new aspect of the black giant.

"Good work, Commander," the Sith stated. "Leave us. Conduct your search and bring his companions to me. Take great care in finding Kelly Kenobi."

"Yes, my Lord," the stiff replied, departing with his followers, leaving the two Skywalkers to themselves.

"The Emperor has been expecting you."

"I know, Father," Luke replied calmly.

"So, you have accepted the truth."

"I've accepted the truth that you were once Anakin Skywalker: my father."

Vader turned to face him, pointing threateningly…but it no longer really frightened him.

"That name no longer has any meaning for me."

"It is the name of your true self. You've only forgotten. I know there is good in you. The Emperor hasn't driven it from you fully. That is why you couldn't destroy me. That's why you won't bring me to you Emperor now." He was walking a line…and he didn't know where the edge was.

His father quickly changed the subject, looking at the confiscated weapon.

"I see you have constructed a new lightsaber." He ignited the sword for study. "Your skills are complete. Indeed, you are powerful, as the Emperor has foreseen."

When the lightsaber was extinguished, silence reigned for a moment.

"Come with me!"

"Obi-Wan once thought as you do," he contemplated before hardening. "You don't know the power of the dark side. I must obey my Master."

"I will not turn…and you'll be forced to kill me."

"…if that is you destiny."

"Search your feelings, Father. You can't do this. I feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate. Kelly was able to fight it…so was Qui-Gon."

"It is too late for me, Son. The Emperor will show you the true nature of the Force. He is your master, now."

A door opened at the far end of the hall, revealing a few stormtroopers.

"Then my father is truly dead."

"The main entrance to the control bunker's on the far side of that landing platform. This isn't gonna be easy," Leia noted.

"Hey, don't worry. Chewie and me got into a lot of places more heavily guarded than this."

Kelly groaned her opinion before actually speaking.

"Is that supposed to be encouraging, General, or is that your chronic sarcasm oozing out again?"

"Would you be quiet, Kelly!" the princess hissed, then speaking to 3PO, who had just turned from a conversation with one of the natives. "What's he saying?"

"He says there's a secret entrance on the other side of the ridge," the droid informed them.

"Good boy!" the Jedi murmured.

The door buzzed again and a body sluggishly slid out of the bed, reaching for the robe on a nearby chair as she made her way to answer the call. She pressed the com.

"Yeah?" Larian groaned, trying to rub the sleep out of her eyes.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," the cheerful voice of the temporary head surgeon greeted. "We're just about to jump into hyperspace. Can you report in soon? I'll need you in the likely event that we have casualties."

"Sure," the woman replied, muttering to herself as she headed for the shower. "Always more casualties."

Before going through the refresher room door, she snatched a peek at her porthole window as the stars blurred with their advanced speed.

"Then we'll do it real quiet-like."

Famous last words! Leia and Kelly were glaring at Han's cockiness when 3PO informed them of a renegade fur-ball snatching one of the guards' speeder bikes.

"There goes our surprise attack," the former pirate grumbled. Their opinions changed, however, when the runaway drew all but a single guard away from the bunker on a chase. "Not bad for a little fur-ball! There's only one left. You stay here. We'll take care of this."

Sighing, but resigned, the girls glanced at each other in mutual dissatisfaction.

Minutes later, they were inside the bunker.

Luke's parting lips were the only sign of surprise that slipped to the surface; however, he was honestly shocked seeing Elaina standing beside the Emperor, watching the stars as if everything in the world was right.

"Welcome, young Skywalker. I have been expecting you," the shadowy corpse on the throne greeted, prior to looking down at the boy's binders. "You no longer need those." With barely a twist of the hand, he caused the cuffs to merely fall off with the Force. "Guards, leave us." The subjects did so without pause. "I'm looking forward to completing your training. In time you will call me…Master."

"You're gravely mistaken," Luke chided confidently. "You won't convert me as you did my father…" …and, seemingly, Elaina.

The Emperor rose.

"Oh no, my young Jedi. You will find that it is you who are mistaken…about a great many things."

"His lightsaber," Vader offered, handing the item to his leader.

"Ah yes, a Jedi's weapon…much like your father's. By now, you must know your father can never be turned from the dark side…so will it be with you."

"You're wrong," the young man persisted. "Soon, I'll be dead…and you with me."

All he got for that was a cackling laugh.

"Perhaps you refer to the imminent attack of your Rebel fleet." Luke jerked his head towards the speaker in surprise. "Yes…Elaina informed us of the details. I assure you we are quite safe from your friends here."

"Your overconfidence is your weakness."

"Your faith in your friends is yours."

"It is pointless to resist, my son," Vader put in quietly.

The Emperor returned to his seat, knowing that Luke's stoic barrier was weakened.

"Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design. Your friends, up there on the Sanctuary Moon, are walking into a trap, as is your Rebel fleet! It was I who allowed the Alliance to know the location of the shield generator. It is quite safe from your pitiful little band. An entire legion of my best troops awaits them." The creature was clearly enjoying the victory. "Oh…I'm afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive."

"Han!" Kelly called as they set the last charge, only to discover a whole troop of Imperial soldiers entering, guns trained.

"Freeze, you Rebel scum," the commander sneered.

Kelly put her hands up, while saying, as if to a child,

"Now, is that kind of language really necessary?"

Lando flipped a few switches as they dropped out of hyperspace.

"All wings report in."

He was obeyed quite quickly, to his satisfaction. If only Elaina could see him, now. She would…

"May the Force be with us," Admiral Ackbar stated over the radio.

Lando's mood was ruined as his copilot pointed to the scanner, babbling away in his language.

"We've got to be able to get some kind of a reading on that, up or down. Well, how could they be jamming us if they…" It hit. "…if they don't know we're coming." He hit the com. "Break off the attack! The shield is still up."

"I get no reading," Red leader announced. "Are you sure?"

"Pull up! All craft pull up!"

Thanks for reading and please review! This chapter was actually supposed to include a nice dramatic bit and all, but I didn't realize how long it would end up being…so, you get that next time. Only a few more chapters!