I hated doing this part, as it's my least favorite moments from Empire.
I don't own Star Wars.
Chapter 39: Betrayal Among the Clouds
Lando watched Leia and Padmé with admiration. Clearly aware of the glares that Anakin had been shooting him earlier, he had tread lightly around them since then. But he couldn't help but be entranced by the beautiful women.
He had once heard that Padmé Amidala hailed from the planet Naboo and he had heard that it was a well known fact that Naboo was home to some of the galaxy's most beautiful women.
Today, that had been proven to Lando without a shadow of a doubt. And the fact that he couldn't take his eyes off them wasn't going unnoticed by Anakin. The Jedi hadn't had to say a word to Lando, but he knew that the blonde man did not trust him. And Lando had to admit that his mistrust was well placed.
Guilt was already eating at him, because he would soon lead them to a dinner date with Vader, which would likely mean Anakin's death. He hated himself right now, but he really didn't really see what other choice he had. Darth Vader would massacre his entire planet if he refused to cooperate.
"I do believe that you are both truly the most beautiful women I've ever been privileged to see. You truly belong here among the clouds," Lando said, clearly aware of Anakin's glare on his back.
He truly wondered if a hole was being burnt through him. Anakin Skywalker never took kindly to a man hitting on his wife, even though he knew she only had eyes for him. And he didn't like it when it concerned his daughter either.
He knew that Leia would eventually get married someday and he was aware of his daughter's growing affections for Han. While he considered no man good enough for her, he certainly approved of Han more than this Lando character. Fortunately, his daughter saw right through his supposed charms as well. Lando soon left, as the evening grew closer and Padmé and Leia went to get ready for dinner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rex entered the residence they had rented in Jabiim's capital city. They were laying low, waiting to hear from Anakin before starting the journey home to Ragnos IV. But as the hours passed, they were growing increasingly worried, for they had expected Anakin to make contact by now.
"Anything yet?" Rex asked as he joined Obi-Wan at the comm station.
"Not yet," he replied.
"I don't like this. Something is wrong. Anakin should have made contact by now," Darred fretted.
"Do you think they're in trouble?" Sola asked worriedly.
"I don't want to think so, but the vibrations in the Force say otherwise," Obi-Wan replied frankly.
"I feel it too. The question is how do we find them?" Ahsoka asked.
"That's the problem, we can't without making contact with them. We can only hope that Vader hasn't found them," Obi-Wan stated.
"Damn it!" Rex spat. There was nothing he hated more than just waiting around and not being able to do anything to help.
"They'll be fine, we have to believe that. Anakin would never let anything happen to Padmé and their kids," Ahsoka assured them, though she was also trying to reassure herself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Han paced in the living area impatiently as he checked the chrono.
"Man, it's just dinner. What's taking so long?" he complained. Anakin smirked.
"Don't worry, the wait is always worth it when they come out and stun you to speechlessness. I've spent many hours waiting on Padmé like this and I've never regretted a moment of it," he replied.
Han looked uncomfortable at his implication and was surprised that the Jedi was taking his attraction to his daughter as well as he was. Of course, Han had yet to even admit that the Princess was having any kind of effect on him at all, but he guessed that Anakin could sense what he hadn't got up the courage to tell her yet.
Before he could ponder those thoughts anymore; Leia came out of the bedroom and Aiden scampered out with her, before latching onto his Anakin's legs. He smiled and picked his son up.
"Daddy, look at Leia!" the little one said.
"I see her. You look beautiful, as always Princess," he told her and she smiled. She was wearing a white and red dress and her hair was done in twin braids which were looped at the back of her head. And Han agreed. She was absolutely breathtaking.
"Thanks Daddy. Mom's feeding Bella and as soon as she's done, she's going to change her and she'll be out," Leia said.
"I'm hungry," Aiden complained.
"Well, I can wait for your Mom and Bella. Lando is probably waiting on us, so why don't you two take squirt here and start eating. We'll be along soon," Anakin said as he handed Aiden over to Leia.
"Mommy and I'll be along soon," he told his little boy, as Leia and Han left for dinner with him. He smiled and entered the bedroom, seeing his wife changing their daughter as he entered.
"We're almost done, Daddy," she told him as she cooed to the baby. Bella giggled as Padmé blew on her tummy, before finishing.
"You look beautiful as always, angel," he told her.
She smiled up at him, her eyes sparkling with love as she held their baby. She was wearing a beautiful sky blue colored dress with a scoop collar, iridescent sleeves, and her hair cascaded down her back in flowing curls. She had put their baby daughter in a little lavender dress with a lavender bow in her chocolate colored hair.
"I think we're ready," she said.
"Not quite," Anakin replied as he kissed her with tender passion. She smiled, as their lips parted.
"Now we're ready," he replied as they suddenly heard a banging on the door. Anakin's lightsaber was in his hand in the blink of an eye and Padmé held Bella close. Her eyes widened in fear, as she heard banging again. Someone was trying to break the door down.
"Stay here," Anakin told her as he crept out into the living area.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Lando led them to the dining room, he explained a little bit about his colony.
"Just how do you get by without the Empire noticing you?" Leia asked as she held Aiden's hand and he trotted along beside her.
"Well, we're too small really. And so far, we've gone unnoticed," Lando replied.
"This way," Lando said, as he led them to the dining room. The door slid open and to their horror; Vader was waiting for them. Chewie rawled angrily as Leia plucked Aiden up and held him tightly. There was no leaving the room though, for Storm Troopers blocked their path.
Han drew his blaster and fired rapidly at Vader. The blaster bolts bounced off his gloved hand and Vader pulled the blaster out of Han's hand with the Force.
"We would be honored if you would join us," Vader said.
Leia looked on in horror as Boba Fett stepped in to stand beside Vader.
"I'm sorry. I had no choice. They arrived just before you did," Lando said regrettably.
"I'm sorry too," Han replied.
"Daddy!" Leia called through the Force. A plea that he could not hear, but Vader could.
"Your father was supposed to be joining us. I've sent a detachment of Storm Troopers to see what's keeping them. They will bring him to me and there will be no escape this time," he stated.
"Your Storm Troopers are no match for my father," Leia spat.
"I know and that's why I've sent someone with them that is able to handle him," Vader goaded.
"Leia, I'm scared," Aiden whimpered as the door slid closed, trapping them in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kyla's hired brutes forced the door open and had blasters in hand.
They entered and looked around, seeing that the apartment was vacant. Anakin stealth dropped behind one of the hired enforcers from his hiding place in the ceiling rafters and cut him down. The other fired his blaster and Anakin blocked all three shots, sending them right back at him and killing him with his own blaster fire.
Garrett drew his blaster, but Anakin pulled it out of his hand with the Force, before shoving him hard against the wall. His azure blade hummed as he glared at Prince Lago and Kyla Manara.
"I knew there was something off about you, Lago!" Anakin spat as Padmé came out.
"The bounty on your head is simply too tempting to ignore. Emperor Palpatine will reward us richly when we deliver you to him," Kyla retorted.
"You're not taking us anywhere," Anakin replied as he used the Force to confiscate their weapons as well. Kyla laughed.
"Oh, but you're wrong, for even if we can't capture you for the Emperor, you'll never escape Cloud City with Lord Vader here," she goaded. A ripple of fear struck him through the Force.
"Daddy!" he heard Leia and Aiden calling for him. And then Vader's evil presence filled his senses. Ian smirked.
"Yes, I'm afraid that Vader probably already has your lovely daughter and young son. But it is your husband that he really wants, Padmé. If you willingly come with me, perhaps I can negotiate the release of your other children," he told her. Padmé glared daggers at him.
"You unimaginable bastard!" she screamed before she and Anakin Force pushed both of them to the ground.
He took her hand and led her to the door. He had to get her and Bella somewhere safe before he could go after Leia and Aiden. But suddenly, the door slid open and none other than Cad Bane stood in their path.
"No..." Padmé uttered in horror.
"Well, we meet again, Skywalker," Bane leered as he slowly entered with several of his goons flanking him. Anakin backed up and guarded Padmé and Bella behind him. Kyla smirked.
"So much for that plan," she scoffed.
"Lord Vader sent me to collect you and your woman for him. He informed me that Senator Manara and his Aunt intended to double cross him by trying to capture you and take you to the Emperor. He asked me to take care of that problem for him too," Bane said as he shot Garrett point blank in the head.
Padmé rocked Bella as she cried and tucked herself as close to Anakin as she could, as things around them grew more hopeless by the minute.
Kyla screamed as her nephew slumped dead to the floor and cried out even more, as Bane pointed his blaster at her now.
"No...please we had no intention of betraying Lord Vader," Kyla pleaded.
Bane ignored her plea and gunned her down, then pointed his blaster at Anakin and Padmé,
"Surrender and I won't shoot her and the brat."
"Ani...no..." Padmé pleaded.
"You can do this the easy way or the hard way, Skywalker," Bane goaded as his goons surrounded them.
"I'm not letting you or your filthy goons touch my wife and baby," Anakin growled as he crouched into a fighting position. Bane sighed
"You always pick the hard way," he said as he drew a peculiar looking blaster.
Anakin prepared to block the blaster fire, but what came from the weapon was not what he expected. Two cables shot out and wrapped around him. But before he could cut himself free, an electric current shot through the cables and he screamed in terrible pain.
"NOOOO!" Padmé screamed as Ian's bodyguards grabbed her and pulled her away.
Bella cried uncontrollably and Anakin writhed on the floor in pain as the electric current generated by the device rippled through his entire body. When it finally ceased Anakin lay shaking on the floor, barely able to move.
"This thing was worth every credit I paid for it. I was skeptical that it would do the trick and it wasn't cheap, but I guess I got what I paid for," Bane goaded as his goons placed a pair of stun cuffs on Anakin's wrists.
"Let's take them to Lord Vader," Bane ordered.
"I expect to be compensated for my assistance," Ian stated.
"Speak to Vader about that," Bane responded coldly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luke checked their position and saw that they were almost there.
They would be coming out of hyperspace in about twenty minutes and it wouldn't be too soon, for they could feel the danger Luke's family was in.
"We're almost there, Luke," Mara assured him.
"Thanks for taking my side on this," he replied.
"Hey, we're family. That always comes first; that's what Mom taught me," Aisha stated.
Luke smiled; everything Ahsoka learned, she learned from Anakin. Their family was in trouble and they intended to save them, no matter what they were possibly walking into.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bane's goons dragged Anakin into the dining room, while Bane led Padmé by the arm and Ian and his bodyguards followed.
"Daddy!" Aiden cried as they dropped him at Vader's feet.
"You have him, so when do I get paid?" Bane asked.
"As soon as I have him contained securely enough to transport him back to my Star Destroyer," Vader said as he eyed Padmé and the baby.
"What do I do with them?" Bane asked motioning to Padmé and the others.
"I'll deal with them soon enough. Lock them up in a cell for now," Vader ordered.
"This one thinks he deserves a reward for his assistance," Bane said, gesturing to Prince Lago.
"All I want is Amidala," Ian responded
"We will discuss that matter after we are finished with the one at hand. Lock up the others, but leave Skywalker and Captain Solo with me," Vader ordered.
"Anakin!" Padmé cried in despair as they were dragged away.
"Take him to my interrogation room and Captain Solo to the other one," Vader ordered as his Storm Troopers dragged the two men away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chewie rawled angrily as they were left in the cell. Padmé tried to get Bella to calm down, all the while trying to stop herself from crying. But she was unable to hold it.
Leia sat down beside her mother with Aiden on her lap as she tried in vain to console her. But Padmé's sobbing became uncontrollable as suddenly Anakin's tortured screams rang out through the halls.
Leia cried with her and looked on helplessly as her mother ran to the bars, crying uncontrollably with sobs violently racking her petite shoulders. She crumpled to her knees and held Bella tightly as the baby cried with her.
"Anakin...ANAKIN!" she screamed. Her mind was joined with her husband's and she could feel his pain. He'd told her to close their connection, but she refused, saying his pain was her pain.
"I'm coming Leia...I'm coming, just hang on!"
Leia gasped as she heard her twin brother's voice in her head through the Force.
"Luke..." she uttered as there was suddenly a sliver of hope once again. If Luke was coming, Mara and Aisha were with him too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The rhythmic, controlled breathing of Vader's respirator snapped Anakin out of his daze of pain and he opened his sapphire eyes, only to see the masked monster staring at him through the lifeless black lenses of his mask.
"Hello Skywalker..." Vader said.
Anakin looked around and noticed that he was in a tiny room; better known to most as a torture room. His arms were shackled above his head and he had been forced to his knees.
"Where's my wife and children?" Anakin demanded to know.
"You're in this kind of predicament and yet all you can think of is that woman and your brats," Vader stated, almost confused and utterly disgusted by the feelings of love he felt radiating from this man. He was in immense pain and soon would be in even more agony, yet he could only send waves of love to her and the brats through the Force.
"You are a peculiar being indeed," the Sith Lord surmised.
"Do what you want with me, but leave her and my kids alone," Anakin pleaded.
"Oh I intend to, but unfortunately, Prince Lago wants your wife for himself. The young ones will be taken to the Emperor. The baby will likely be killed, for I doubt he'll have use for her, but the toddler may make an excellent apprentice someday," Vader said.
Anakin struggled against his shackles, despite the terrible pain as they cut into his wrists. He tried in vain to break free, but it was no use.
"No...I'll never let that bastard get his hands on my children," he hissed.
"You can prevent it by joining me then," Vader stated.
"What are you talking about?" Anakin spat.
"Think about it. The Emperor would be no match for us. We could rule the galaxy together...I was cloned from you, so in a sense; we're brothers," Vader propositioned.
"That may be true, but I will never join you," Anakin told him. Vader was silent for a moment.
"Then so be it, brother," he spat as he opened a case and Anakin saw the sparking electric weapon inside.
It was a brutal form of torture, a cylindrical rod looking weapon that ran on an EMP charge. It was an ancient, barbaric form of torture and even more painful than the commonly used plasma pike. And Anakin knew he was going to be inflicted with incredible pain.
"I think you'll find my methods of persuasion quite convincing. Even some of the strongest, most resistant men have crumbled under this method and told me all I want to know. And you shall be no different," Vader hissed.
But Anakin would not tell him what he wanted to know, especially since it meant protecting his family and friends. He braced himself as Vader picked up the weapon by its hilt and slowly approached.
"Tell me where the Rebel Leaders are hiding," Vader demanded.
"I don't know," Anakin lied.
"Very well, I guess we'll do things the hard way," Vader said as he pressed the weapon into Anakin's side, causing him excruciating pain. He howled in agony as his own twisted, evil clone/brother tortured him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Leia... What's happening to Daddy?" Aiden asked as big tears gushed down his little cheeks. Leia cuddled him close as tears of her own escaped from her brown eyes.
"I don't know baby brother, but Luke is on his way. I can feel it and so can you if you concentrate on the Force like Daddy taught you. He's coming and he's going to help us all," she told him as she kissed his hair.
"It is Luke...I feel him too!" Aiden said. Leia put her finger to her lips.
"I know, but it has to be our secret, okay?" she asked. He nodded and she put him in Chewie's lap.
"Stay with Chewie and I'll help Mommy," she said as she knelt beside her hysterical mother and helped her up onto one of the benches. Padmé sobbed and gently rocked the baby as she kissed her head.
"It's okay Bella...Mommy didn't mean to scare you," she whispered to her.
"Mom...it will be okay. I heard Luke through the Force. He's coming to help us and he'll save Daddy," Leia promised.
"I hope you're right, sweetie," Padmé sniffed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anakin's screams ceased again as Vader pulled the crackling weapon away. Anakin's head fell forward as he heaved air into his lungs.
"I have to say, I'm very impressed. You are far more resistant than I imagined. I think I'm going about this the wrong way," Vader said as he stepped toward the door. "Perhaps if I use this little mechanism on your beloved wife and daughter, you might be more cooperative." Vader said.
Anakin's head shot up and he pulled on his chains.
"No...NO!" he screamed as one of the Storm Troopers came through the door.
"Lord Vader, the flight tower has informed us that someone named Luke Skywalker is landing at the compound," the Storm Trooper reported.
Anakin's eyes widened. He hadn't sensed Luke yet, because his mind had been so focused on the pain, but his son was masking his presence very well. And he had a feeling Mara and Aisha were with him.
"Well, it seems that he's arrived as your rescue party. Presenting both of you to the Emperor kills two birds with one stone. We'll set a trap for him and then I'll freeze you both in carbonite for transport to Coruscant. For now, take him and Captain Solo to the cell with the others. We will deal with all of them shortly," Vader promised as two Storm Troopers dragged Anakin's form down the hallway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leia and Padmé leapt to their feet as Storm Troopers dragged Han and Anakin to the cell. They tossed them in and Chewie rawled in despair. He helped Leia turn Han over onto his back and Leia knelt beside him as she caressed his face soothingly.
"What did they do to you?" she asked.
"They didn't even ask me any questions," Han replied as they helped him sit up against the wall.
"Oh Ani..." Padmé cried as she knelt beside him and caressed his face gently.
"I'll be fine," he groaned as he sat up and propped himself up against the wall. Bella babbled incoherently and he smiled at their tiny daughter.
"Daddy, are you hurted?" Aiden asked as he sat next to him. He put his arm around Aiden's little shoulders and kissed the top of his blonde haired head.
"Nah, I'll be fine buddy. The important thing is that you, your sisters and Mommy are okay and I'm going to make sure it stays that way," he told him. The tone in his voice worried Padmé even more, for it sounded like he wasn't including himself.
"Anakin..." she said, gaining his attention again. "Leia said she felt Luke. I think he's coming, along with Mara and Aisha."
"They're walking into a trap then," Anakin said as struggled to stand. "I've got to get you and the kids to the Falcon, before Vader has you taken to his ship."
"But what about you?" she asked.
"He wants me, so he's going to have me. I have to face him in battle, because I'm not going down without a fight," Anakin replied.
"No...we need you. You have to come with us," Padmé pleaded. He looked back at her and she saw the sadness in his eyes.
"I want to and I'll do everything in my power to make sure I can join you. But...the only way to make sure you and the babies get off this planet is if I distract him. Luke is coming and I have to warn him to stay away. Vader can't get us both and I'll make sure he joins you too. If the Force is with me, then I'll be right behind you," he promised.
"No...I won't leave you," Padmé cried as she clung to him and Bella whimpered.
"You have to...for our children. I love you angel and I have to see that you and our kids are protected from Vader and the Emperor, even if it means not being able to join you," he said sadly.
"No...NO, I won't let you do this," she cried as she clung to him and buried her face in his chest. He held her tightly and kissed her hair as she looked up at him, face stained with her salty tears.
His lips descended onto hers and they met with searing passion. Their lips parted as they heard someone coming in and were surprised to see that it was Lando and two of his aides, minus any Storm Troopers.
"Lando," Leia spat as she helped Han sit up. Chewie rawled angrily.
"Oh, get outta here, Lando," Han spat.
"Shut up and listen!" Lando demanded. "Vader has released Leia and Chewie to me. They have to stay here, but they'll be safe."
"And me?" Han asked.
"They're turning you over to the bounty hunter," Lando replied.
"And my parents?" Leia asked. He looked at her sadly.
"I'm sorry, but Vader is having him and the young ones taken to his Star Destroyer. Your Mother is being handed over to Prince Lago. Vader is also waiting on someone named Luke Skywalker. Is he related to you?" Lando asked.
"He's my brother," Leia stated. "So that's it! You've just sentenced my father and siblings to death!"
"You fixed this good. My friend," Han spat the last words as he punched Lando in the jaw, but then stumbled, hitting the floor himself.
"I've done all I can. I'm sorry I couldn't do better. But I have problems of my own," Lando said as he recovered from Han's punch and exited the cell, not even able to look at Anakin and Padmé.
"It doesn't have to be like this. You can help my wife and kids safely off this planet. Siding with Vader won't protect you. He's a Sith and he's using you. Once you've served your purpose, he'll go back on whatever he's promised you," Anakin told him.
Lando stopped in his tracks for a moment, thinking about what he was saying, before he silently continued on his way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Monitor Skywalker and allow him to land," Vader ordered, as his prisoners were marched into the chamber.
"Yes Lord Vader," the officer replied.
"What's going on, buddy?" Han asked Lando sarcastically.
"You and Anakin are being frozen in carbonite," Lando informed him.
"Put Solo in," Vader ordered as two Storm Troopers grabbed him. Chewie rawled angrily and began fighting them, but they pointed their blasters at him, ready to shoot.
"Chewie! Chewie, this isn't helping!" Han called as he calmed Chewie down. "Save your strength, there'll be another time. I need you to take care of the Princess. You hear me?"
Chewie noticed that he glanced at Anakin. And he understood that Han and Anakin needed him to get not only Leia safely to the Falcon, but somehow see that Padmé and the young ones escaped Vader's clutches as well.
It saddened Chewie, but he would protect those he loved, even if it meant letting go of ones he loved as well. He rawled in despair and ceased his fighting. Leia managed to hold her tears back, as she stood in silent despair next to the Wookie.
Han leaned in and kissed her passionately, before he was pulled away and placed on the platform.
"I love you!" Leia called.
"I know," Han replied as he was lowered into the chamber.
Steam shot up around him and Leia turned away. The mechanical clamps lifted the slab of carbonite out of the freezing chamber, before dropping it to the floor. Leia looked down at the man she had only started to admit that she loved with horrified eyes.
"You may take him to Jabba to collect the bounty," Vader told Boba Fett.
The bounty hunter had Han carried away to his ship by the Storm Troopers and Leia saw them moving her father into position.
"No...NO PLEASE!" Padmé cried as she clung to her husband. He turned to her as they hugged fiercely.
"I'm not sure what's going to happen after this, but always know, no matter what, that I'll always love you and always be with you," he told her, his voice strained with grief over their seemingly inevitable separation.
"No...I can't lose you...not again," she sobbed.
"Be strong angel and have faith in our love. I know it can make things right in the end," he told her as he kissed her passionately, before he was pulled away.
"Take them all, including the Princess and the Wookie to my ship," Vader ordered to his Storm Troopers.
"But you said they would stay here!" Lando yelled.
"I'm altering the deal," Vader replied as they were led away.
"Wait a minute! Padmé is supposed to be given to me!" Prince Lago exclaimed, before clutching his throat, gasping for air.
"You were not careful in choking on your aspirations, Your Highness," Vader said the last part with mockery, before a sickening CRACK was heard. Ian's neck snapped and he fell to the floor. His bodyguards were about to step forward, but the Storm Troopers pointed their weapons at them.
"Now, take them away," Vader ordered.
"No...ANAKIN!" Padmé cried as she was forced out of the room.
"Put him in position," Vader ordered as Anakin was led to the platform.
He looked up and noticed the exhaust tubes above him. Vader gave a nod to the technician and as he engaged the freezing chamber, Anakin leapt up and grabbed hold of one of the exhaust tubes.
He swung forward and flipped around, landing on his feet. He held out his cuffed hands and used the Force to unlock them.
"You didn't really think that I'd go down without a fight, did you?" Anakin asked as he called his lightsaber to his hand from Vader's belt.
"I suppose not. The Emperor will be pleased once I tell him you are dead, though he may be a little disappointed that he didn't get to kill you himself. I'm sure he'll take his wrath out on your wife and daughters though," Vader goaded.
"Trust me, they'll be leaving Bespin soon, but it won't be aboard your ship. Now, are we going to talk...or fight?" Anakin taunted back.
Vader ignited his crimson saber and engaged the Jedi as his saber clashed with Anakin's sapphire blade.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Keep moving," one of the Troopers growled as they marched their prisoners toward Lord Vader's shuttle, which in turn would transport them to Vader's personal Star Destroyer, which currently orbited Bespin.
Chewie rawled angrily as one of them shoved a distraught Padmé and she nearly fell.
"Don't push her! Can't you see the baby in her arms?" Leia spat.
"Keep moving or we'll move you the hard way," he threatened.
"I'm okay sweetheart," Padmé said dejectedly, though it hardly sounded convincing.
Once again, someone had ripped her husband away from her. Suddenly, Aiden tripped and fell forward.
"Ow..." he cried, but the uncaring Trooper simply grabbed the collar of his little tunic and jerked him back to his feet. Aiden stared up fearfully into the black lenses and tears welled in his blue eyes.
"Aiden, come here," Padmé called as she tried to kneel down, but the other Trooper stopped her.
"No...keep moving," he spat.
"Please, just let me have my son," Padmé pleaded, but he violently jerked her arm, causing her to cry out in alarm.
"I'm close to putting a blaster bolt in your pretty forehead and telling Lord Vader that I had no choice when you tried to escape, so keep moving or you're dead!" he said menacingly.
Padmé stared at him, perplexed by his behavior. Most clones acted indifferent and simply did their job. But this one acted like this was personal to him and it scared her to think one was performing his duties with such bitter emotion.
"Commander Cody, please report to the east hanger. We have Luke Skywalker's star fighter. He's in the base somewhere," they heard another Trooper say from his comlink.
"Take them to Lord Vader's shuttle in the west hanger. I'll join you soon," Cody ordered as he left.
'Cody...he was often under Obi-Wan and Anakin's command,' Padmé thought silently, filing the information away for later.
"Yes Sir," one of his subordinates replied. They continued on and they listened to the two Troopers talk.
"Do you think they'll find this Skywalker kid?" one asked the other.
"Yeah, just like we found the rest of the Rebel scum," the other spat, referring to their prisoners.
Padmé and Leia glanced at each other, planning to break free like they'd discussed through the Force. Padmé motioned Chewie over to her, and he gently took Bella from her.
Suddenly, the Troopers heard a thud behind them and they turned, only to see a blonde haired young man behind them now. He had somehow dropped down behind them from the ceiling.
"It's him!" one cried as they raised their blasters. But Padmé ignited her desert-green lightsaber and Leia activated her cyan colored one before swiftly cutting them down.
Even when dressed elegantly; the Skywalker women always found a way to keep their lightsabers on them, well hidden.
"Luke!" Aiden called excitedly as he latched onto his big brother's legs. Luke smiled and lifted him up.
"Hey baby brother," he said as Padmé nearly knocked him down with a hug.
"Oh Luke," she cried.
"I'm here Mom, it's going to be okay now," he promised. Mara and Aisha appeared next and hugged Leia.
"Thank Gods we made it," Aisha said.
"Vader captured us and he's frozen and Han and your father in carbonite," Padmé cried sadly.
"Don't worry, I'm going to go find them," Luke promised.
"He told Boba Fett he could take Han to Jabba the Hutt, but they made us leave before they froze Daddy. We don't know where they are," Leia said.
"He hasn't froze Dad yet, I can still feel him. The rest of you need to get to the Falcon, I'll go after him," Luke replied.
"Who are you?" Mara demanded as Lando approached them.
"He made sure Vader knew we were here," Leia said. Chewie rawled angrily and wrapped his large paws around Lando's neck.
"Please...there might still be...time to save Han," he choked out.
"Let him go Chewie," Padmé requested and the Wookie did so. "If you can find Han and get my children safely to a ship off this planet, then you may be able to redeem yourself Mister Calrissian, that is, if you have realized that siding with Vader will get you no where, but to an early grave."
"Please...I want to help," Lando pleaded.
"Keep an eye on him Chewie. I'm going to find Dad and we'll join you soon," Luke said as he headed off. Mara grabbed his arm and kissed him passionately on the lips.
"Be careful," she told him.
"I will. You and Aisha stay with them," he told her before running off.
"Luke, be careful!" Padmé called, before they followed Lando to the docking bay where Boba had headed off to. They just hoped it wasn't too late and Padmé prayed that her husband and son would both be with them once again where they belonged.
For those who don't know; Han's response to Leia saying she loves him, was improv!
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