I don't own Star Wars.
Chapter 44: The Forest Moon of Endor
Several TIE fighters swarmed around the small shuttle, which carried the Emperor. The Shuttle began its descent into the docking bay on the Death Star II. The shuttle landed and the Emperor's red guards descended the ramp first. Vader and the other officers around him knelt, as the Emperor slowly hobbled down the ramp.
"Rise my friend," Emperor Palpatine ordered.
"The Death Star will be completed on schedule," Vader reported.
"You have done well, Lord Vader. And now, I sense you wish to continue your search for the Skywalkers," Palpatine/Sidious said, knowingly.
"Yes my Master," Vader answered.
"Patience, my friend. In time, they will seek you out. When Anakin and Luke come, you will bring them before me. The Chosen One is strong, but he will fall to our power and this time, he will die. As for they boy, he has grown strong. We will use his anger over the deaths of his family members and then he will be one of us," Sidious declared, as confident as ever.
"As you wish," Vader replied.
"Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen," Sidious said, his sinister laugh echoing around them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luke and Mara arrived on Degobah and found that Obi-Wan, Mace, Qui-Gon, Ahsoka, Aayla, Shaak Ti, Luminara, Barriss, and Quinlan were already there with the old Master. Most them sat in Master Yoda's hovel around the fire, while the others sat outside as the old Master hobbled around and then finally got into his bed. Luke watched Mace cover him with the blanket and noticed that the Master looked sickly.
Yoda noticed his gaze, "Do I look so old to young eyes?"
"No, of course not," Luke fibbed. Obi-Wan allowed himself a small smile as Yoda half chuckled, half coughed.
"I do...yes I do," he sputtered. "When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not, hmmm..."
"Master...save your strength," Mace requested.
"Know that my time is near, you do, my old friend. Speak I must, before gone from this world, I am," Yoda said.
Ahsoka lowered her head sadly, as she realized that he was dying. Qui-Gon looked down as well. Aayla, Shaak Ti, Luminara and Barriss were all in shock.
"Soon, will I rest. Forever sleep...earned it I have," Yoda said.
"But Master Yoda, you can't die," Aayla begged.
"Strong am I with the Force, but not that strong. Twilight is upon me and night must fall. The way of the Force, it is," Yoda rasped.
"But Mara and I have come back to finish our trials," Luke replied.
"Complete your trials are. Finished them under your father's guidance and tutelage, you have. Knows this, he does," Yoda replied. Ahsoka gave him a reassuring smile.
"Then we are a Jedi," Mara stated. Yoda coughed/chuckled.
"Not yet. One thing remains. Confront Vader and Sidious, you and your father must. Knows this too, Anakin does. The Chosen One, your father is. But need you, he will," he said. Luke listened intently, as Yoda continued.
"Remember, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware, anger, fear, aggression; the dark side are they. Once start down the dark path, forever dominate your destiny, it will. Do...not under...estimate...the powers of the Emperor. The last...of the Jedi...you all are. Pass on...what you have...learned..." Yoda rasped as he slowly passed away.
The little Jedi Master's body disappeared into the living Force. Luke and Mara bowed their heads and Obi-Wan and Ahsoka placed a hand on their shoulders as they shared a mourning silence.
Mace rose from his seat, clearly deeply effected by the loss of Yoda. He quietly left the hovel to mourn alone.
Aayla and Shaak Ti shed tears of their own and hugged each other. Barriss cried almost hysterically as Luminara comforted her, crying in silence.
Qui-Gon and Quinlan silently prayed for their Master.
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Leia sighed deeply as she finished dressing and prepared to attend the upcoming meeting where the Alliance leaders would be discussing the formulating plan that was in the making to strike against the Empire.
She knew that this would be the beginning of their final stand. She knew that meant her father and twin brother would soon go to confront Vader. Though she knew that this was something they had to do and something she knew was coming; she was nervous for them. Scared even and she knew her mother was deeply scared as well.
And then there was Han. Since rescuing him and leaving Tatooine, she had been avoiding him like the plague. Last time they had been together, she had told him that she loved him and she received a simple "I know" as her answer.
She could feel that Han loved her, but he had yet to tell her so and she was afraid that he might be having second thoughts about her. She knew she was probably being paranoid, but she was very new when it came to all this relationship stuff.
She needed advice. She needed her mother. But as Leia opened the door to exit her quarters, she found Han there, waiting for her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Are you ready?" Anakin asked as he came up behind his wife.
They were in their quarters aboard the main Alliance vessel and getting ready for the meeting where they would discuss their next course of action. Anakin only hoped that meant that they had learned the location of the Death Star II.
Padmé turned to him and nodded. She was dressed in one of her white battle uniforms and he knew that meant that she would insist on being a part of whatever team they formed to go disable the shield, assuming that they knew where it was being operated from.
Normally that would have made him nervous for her safety, but he actually was going to prefer it if both she and Leia were with him on this one. He didn't trust leaving them on one of the ships that could come under enemy fire.
And while he was overly protective and worried about her safety constantly, she was a formidable woman, a warrior Queen, which was one of the many things he loved about her. His angel was tougher than most men, even some Jedi males that he had served with over the years and his little princess was her mother's daughter in this respect.
Plus, they were both Jedi. Padmé had just completed her training while Leia hadn't, but she could still hold her own.
"You're going to face him soon," Padmé said knowingly, her tone deeply worried. He nodded.
"There is a very dark disturbance in the Force. In what is likely a rare occurrence, I am sensing that Vader and the Emperor are in the same place right now and for once, it's not on Coruscant. If the Emperor has left the Capital, then we won't get another chance like this," Anakin responded.
She nodded, knowing he was right, and swallowed the lump in her throat.
"I know...I know it's not right of me to ask you to promise me that you'll come back to me, because I know you will if everything goes your way...but I..." she said, but he put his finger to her lips and then kissed her tenderly.
"I promise to come back to you. I will do everything in my power to make sure of it. We've come this far, angel and there is no way I'm going to let us be torn apart, certainly not by evil. They will try and they will fail," Anakin assured her.
She gazed into his cerulean pools and threw her arms around him as she kissed him with fervent passion. He responded with equal fervor and moved his lips passionately over hers.
"I love you, my angel," he rasped as they drew air into their starved lungs.
"I love you too, my handsome protector," she replied as their lips met again.
Anakin suddenly pulled away, perplexing her, and closed his eyes. Padmé looked at him with concern as he put a hand to his forehead.
"Ani, what is it?" Padmé asked before she also closed her eyes.
"It's Master Yoda. He's gone," Anakin replied. She opened her eyes, gasping
"Oh Ani," she cried as she hugged him tightly and they mourned the small Jedi Master that they had known and loved.
Anakin hadn't always seen eye to eye with Yoda, but he respected him greatly and Anakin hoped he had gained the small Grand Master's respect as well.
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Leia tried to hide the surprise on her face as the man that all her uncertainties surrounded, was face to face with her.
"Hi," Han said simply.
"Hi," Leia parroted, albeit more nervously.
"Thought maybe we should talk," Han continued.
"About what?" Leia stammered, trying to play dumb, but the catch in her voice gave her away.
"You know what, Princess," Han replied.
"I'm not sure I do. Last I remember, I told you that I loved you and you proceeded to reply with a simple, "I know". I've been pondering exactly what that's supposed to mean for some time now and I'm still not sure," Leia replied.
"Come on Princess...Leia," he corrected himself, before continuing. "Do I really have to spell it out for you?"
Leia huffed, her temper inching closer to a boiling point. He was such a Nerfherder sometimes and by the All Mighty Force, he infuriated the living Sith out of her sometimes. He was reckless, egotistical, rugged, handsome...she stopped her train of thought in its tracks. She crossed her arms over her chest and her chocolate stare bore holes through him as she met his gaze.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, you do," Leia demanded. He snorted in annoyance.
"I thought that kiss we shared said it all," he boasted.
"Which one?" she asked.
"Both," he replied smugly.
"Perhaps they did, but I want to hear it from your lips," Leia demanded. Han shrugged.
"Fine, Princess bossy, you need me to prove it, then I will," he shot back.
Leia waited, half expecting him to make some wisecrack and put on his tough guy act. And she was prepared with a fiery tirade. But what she wasn't expecting was exactly what she asked for.
"I love you too," Han said as sincerely and heartfelt as any words she had ever heard come from his lips.
Suddenly as she looked at him in surprise, she was apprehensive. She trembled as he put his hands on her shoulders.
The old, detached Leia urged her to push him away, telling her that there was no room for love in the life of a politician sworn to serve the people. But then she remembered her mother's words and how she had faced the same thing when she had fallen in love with her father.
"Sweetheart, maybe Han isn't the man you imagined yourself being with, but you'll know in your heart when it's true love. And the more you fight it, the more miserable you'll be. I pushed your father away at first, but when I finally gave in; I found true and amazing love like I never thought possible. I'm more happy than I ever imagined I could be and despite what they tell you, you can serve your people and be with the man you love."
"Well, there you have it. I said it," he said, gazing down at her.
"You're speechless? Didn't think that was possible with you," he joked, but then was thrown completely off guard when she threw herself into his arms and kissed him as passionately as he'd ever been kissed.
Surprise melted away and he kissed her back, just as passionately. There was more they had to say and more they had to talk about, but for now, giving into what their heart's desired was all they wanted at the moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Talon opened her eyes as she finished her meditation. She sensed Yoda's passing and silently paid her respects.
She only met the little Grand Master a few times, but she had grown an enormous respect for him.
She also sensed more motions in the Force; Vader and Sidious were both on the new Death Star, and the Rebel Alliance was on the move again.
The final battle between the Rebels and the Empire was fast approaching, meaning Skywalker would soon confront the Emperor.
Seventeen years ago, she would've leapt at the chance to join the battle, but she had changed. All she wanted was to live peacefully with her son.
But the Force spoke to her, saying if she really wanted to redeem herself; help the Rebels.
Clenching her fist, she stood up and went to find Galen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Alliance members gathered together in the main conference room.
"Well, look at you...a General!" Han said as Lando approached him.
"Yeah, someone must have told them about some of my exploits," Lando replied, with a smile.
"Well, don't look at me, pal, I just told them you were a decent pilot. I didn't think they were looking for somebody to lead this crazy attack," Han replied.
"I'm surprised they didn't ask you to do it," Lando said.
"Who says they didn't? But I ain't crazy. You're the respectful one, remember?" Han asked, smirking. Lando smiled in a joking way.
Mon Mothma brought the meeting to order.
"The Emperor has made a critical error and the time for attack has come. Using the information brought to us by Bothan spies, we were able to pinpoint the location of the Death Star II. With the Imperial Fleet spread throughout the galaxy in a vain effort to engage us, it is relatively unprotected. But most important of all, we'e learned that the Emperor himself is personally overseeing the final stages in the construction of this Death Star. Many Bothans died to bring us this information," she said sadly.
A display was brought to life over the situation table. Anakin and Padmé glanced at each other, as the vibrations in the Force they had felt earlier confirmed what Mon said.
Admiral Ackbar spoke next, "You can see here the Death Star orbiting the forest moon of Endor. Although the weapon systems on this Death Star are not yet operational, it does have a strong defense mechanism. It is protected by an energy shield projected from the forest moon. The shield must be deactivated if any attack is to be attempted. Once the shield is down, our cruisers will create a perimeter while the fighters fly into the super structure and take out the main reactor. General Calrissian has volunteered to lead the fighter attack."
"Good luck," Han said, tossing a sideways glance at him. "You're gonna need it."
General Madine stepped forward to continue, "We have stolen a small Imperial shuttle. Disguised as a cargo ship and using a secret Imperial code, a strike team will journey to Endor and take out the shield generator."
"I wonder who they found to pull that off?" Leia whispered to Han.
"General Skywalker, General Solo, is your strike team ready?" Madine asked. Leia looked at Han and her Father incredulously
"Our team is ready, but we don't have a command crew for the shuttle yet, besides Rex, Han and myself," Anakin replied. Chewie rawled.
"It's gonna be rough pal, I didn't want to speak for ya," Han told him, but the loyal Wookie rawled again. "That's one."
"You can definitely count me in. General Skywalker is not leaving me behind on this one," Padmé said.
"Me too," Leia said.
"We're with you too," Luke said as he, Mara, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka arrived. Leia jumped up and hugged her twin brother, Mara and Ahsoka. Padme was next, hugging all four of them.
"Count me in!" Jyn announced.
"Here-here!" Cassian exclaimed, smiling.
Chirrut and Baze stood up as well. Cal and Merrin also volunteered, along with BD-1. Cere would be with Greez on the newly upgraded Mantis.
Artoo whirled in excitement as they were reunited and began preparing for the upcoming mission.
"Exciting is hardly the word I would chose," Threepio retorted.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everyone got their ships prepped in the main hangar.
"Listen, I want you to take her, I mean it. You need all the help you can get. She's the fastest ship in the fleet," Han insisted.
"All right, old buddy. I know what she means to you. I'll take good care of her, she won't get a scratch," Lando replied. "All right?"
Han nodded, "Right. I got your promise, not a scratch!"
"Would you get going, you pirate!" Lando retorted as he laughed. The two friends saluted each other. "Good luck."
"You too," Han replied before he went up the ramp to the shuttle.
The command crew took their seats in the cockpit and Han looked forlornly at the Falcon.
"Hey, are you awake?" Leia asked.
"Yeah, I just have a feeling, like I'm not going to see her again," Han replied. Leia patted his shoulder.
"Come on General, let's move," she replied. Han and Anakin took the controls, taking them out of the docking bay.
"Okay, let's see what this piece of junk can do," Han said. Anakin flipped the switch.
"Hang on," he said as he jumped them to hyperspace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What is thy bidding, my Master?" Vader asked as he bowed before Sidious.
"Send the fleet to the far side of Endor. There they will stay until called for," Palpatine said.
"What of the reports of the Rebel fleet massing near Sullust?" Vader asked.
"It is of no concern. Soon, the Rebel fleet will be crushed. Anakin Skywalker will die and his son will be one of us. Your work here is finished, my friend. Go out to the command ship and await my orders," Palpatine said. Vader bowed.
"Yes my Master," he said as he left the Emperor's chambers. Sidious wore a feral grin as his apprentice left.
"I will enjoy watching you suffer again Anakin, but this time; I'll make sure you take your last breath at my feet," Sidious snarled evilly as he turned in his chair and proceeded to gaze out the view window in his chamber.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Galen?" Talon called as she found him on their ship.
"Yeah?" he responded.
"Have you felt it?" she asked.
"Yeah; the end of this Galactic Conflict is around the corner," Galen said as he came out from under one of the consoles.
"Skywalker has grown stronger. There's no doubt in my mind that he and his family will defeat the Empire," Talon stated.
"They can do what ever they want, but Vader is mine!" Galen growled.
Talon sighed. Even now, her son still wanted revenge. She only hoped she could talk him out of it before it was too late.
They boarded up their ship and left Ryloth before jumping to hyperspace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The shuttle Tyderium exited hyperspace and slowly approached Endor.
"If they don't go for this, we'll have to get out of here pretty quickly," Han said.
"Don't worry, we should be fine," Anakin replied. Han nodded and opened the comm as they were hailed.
"We have you on our screen. Please identify," the officer from the Death Star ordered.
"This is shuttle Tydirium, requesting deactivation of the shield," Han said.
"Shuttle Tydirium, transmit the clearance code for shield passage," the officer ordered.
"Now we find out if that code is worth the price we paid," Leia said.
"It'll work...it'll work," Han insisted as he transmitted the code to the flagship.
"Vader's on that ship," Luke stated.
"Now, don't get jittery Luke," Han replied.
"No, he's right. Mask your presence," Obi-Wan told the other Jedi. Anakin masked his presence as well as Padmé and Leia's, but knew Vader might be able to sense him or Luke anyway. Padmé clasped her hands in his as they waited.
Cal and Merrin also masked their presence, as well as Ahsoka and Mara. Aisha was also with them, despite Ahsoka's reluctance.
"Keep your distance Chewie, but don't look like you're trying to keep your distance," Han instructed. Chewie rawled in confusion.
"I don't know, fly casual," Han replied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Where is that shuttle going?" Vader asked.
"Shuttle Tydirium, what is your cargo and destination?" Admiral Piett asked through the comm.
"Parts and technical crew for the forest moon," Han replied.
"Do they have a code clearance?" Vader asked.
"It's an old code sir, but it checks out. I was about to clear them," Piett said. Vader looked out the view window at the shuttle. "Shall I hold them?"
"No, leave them to me. I'll deal with them myself," Vader said.
"As you wish my Lord," Piett replied.
~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~
"They're not going for it," Han fretted.
"Shuttle Tydirium, Deactivation of the shield will commence immediately. Follow your present course," the officer told them. Han smiled. They all breathed a sigh of relief.
"See, I told you it'd work," Han said.
The shuttle continued and landed on Endor. The strike team was there too, having infiltrated the planet as well. As they disembarked, they took in their surroundings.
"Where do we start?" Luke asked.
"We need to find the base where they're operating the shield," Anakin suggested.
"We should probably meet up with the strike team and split up so we can cover more ground," Rex suggested.
"Agreed. You and Ahsoka can lead the search with them and the rest of us will go the opposite direction," Anakin said.
They nodded in agreement. Rex, and Ahsoka soon met up with the strike team, then led them on their search. While Anakin led the way in his group's direction, until they came upon a small detachment of Scout Troopers at a small check in station.
"Should we go around?" Leia asked.
"If they spot us, this will all be over real quick," Han said.
"Padmé, Obi-Wan and I will go around this way and take care of the ones over there. You take care of these guys," Anakin ordered as he took Padmé's hand and led her and Obi-Wan in the other direction.
"Chewie and I'll take care of these two," Han said.
"Quietly, there might be more of them," Luke warned.
"Hey, it's me," Han smiled, winking. Luke and Leia exchanged amused glances.
Han carefully snuck up on the trooper, but a twig suddenly snapped under his foot. The trooper spun around and hit Han, knocking him down.
"Go for help!" the trooper called to his partner.
"Great," Luke said as he and Leia ran to stop the trooper.
The trooper took off on his speeder bike, but Chewie managed to shoot him down!
"Over there, two more of them!" Leia called as she spotted two more troopers take off.
"I see them, wait Leia!" Luke called as he jumped on the back of the speeder bike behind her and they sped off after them.
"Jam their comlinks, center switch," Luke said. Leia pressed it and moved alongside one of them.
They began ramming each other, back and forth. Finally, when they were steady enough, Luke jumped on the back of the other one. He shoved the trooper off and took control.
As they continued onward, they passed two more troopers, who immediately went after them.
"You keep on that one. I'll take these two!" Luke called as he braked and let two pass him. He shot at one and managed to cause him to crash into a tree, while he kept on the other.
Leia pressed the throttle down faster and came up alongside the one she was chasing. He rammed her violently, before taking out his blaster and shooting at her. He managed to knock Leia off her speeder bike and it crashed. Leia cried out, as she was thrown into the nearby brush. Fortunately, the trooper wasn't paying attention and crashed into a tree himself. Leia fell unconscious.
Luke and the last trooper were side to side. Seeing the danger of the oncoming trees, Luke jumped off. The trooper circled around and came back at him. Luke ignited his lightsaber and blocked the oncoming blast fired by the Trooper. As the trooper passed by, he sliced off the nose of the speeder bike, causing the trooper to go spiraling wildly into a tree. Luke extinguished his saber and headed back to meet up with the others, unaware that Leia was not coming.
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Han, Anakin, Padmé, and Obi-Wan waited impatiently for Luke and Leia to return.
"Master Anakin, somebody's coming," Threepio said.
Anakin took his lightsaber from his belt, but quickly put it away when they saw it was Luke. Mara went over and hugged him.
"Luke," Padmé called.
"Where's Leia?" Han asked.
"She didn't come back?" Luke asked.
"No, she didn't come back," Anakin said.
"I thought she was with you," Han said.
"We got separated," Luke explained.
"All right, let's go look for her. I can still sense her tremor so she's probably just hiding from the Troopers or lost," Anakin reasoned calmly as they traveled off into the forest. Things had decidedly become more complicated.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A jittery little Ewok poked at Leia's unconscious form with his spear. She woke up suddenly, frightening the little creature.
"Cut it out," Leia snapped. The Ewok pointed his spear at her and she put her hands up.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Leia assured the little creature as she pulled herself to her feet and looked around. She knew it was best to try and stay put, which would make it easier for her family to find her.
"Well, looks like I'm stuck here. The problem is, I'm not sure where here is," Leia said as she sat down on a log. "Maybe you can help me."
She patted the spot next to her, "Come here, sit down. I promise I won't hurt you. You want something to eat?"
As she pulled out a ration stick, the little creature timidly put his spear down and sat down beside her and began munching on the food she had given him. Leia removed her helmet and the little creature got spooked again.
"Look, it's a hat, it's not going to hurt you. You're a jittery little thing," Leia assured him as she held it out for him to see. Suddenly, the little creature began to hear noises and looked to the sky.
"What is it?" she asked as she looked around. She sensed danger, but couldn't tell which direction it was coming from. The Force had a very dense presence on Endor.
She grabbed the Ewok and rolled them over the log to take cover as a blaster bolt almost hit them. The Ewok rolled under the log to hide.
"Freeze!" a trooper came up beside Leia, aiming his blaster at her. "Come on, get up."
He took her blaster, but didn't know about the little creature hiding in the vegetation. Or that Leia still had her lightsaber.
"Go get your ride, take her back to base," the trooper called to his partner.
The Ewok smacked him in the leg with his spear, making look down.
"What the-?"
Leia ignited her saber and decapitated the trooper. She picked up her blaster and shot the one that was trying to leave on his speeder, also blowing up his now dead partner's speeder.
She realized it probably wouldn't be long before more of them came along, so it would be impossible to stay there. But she didn't worry too much, because she knew her parents would be able to find her, no matter what.
"Come on, let's get out of here," Leia said as she started in one direction. But the creature insisted that they go the other way, so Leia followed him. It was his planet, so she decided that he might know a better and more importantly, a path free of any Imperial company.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vader entered the Emperor's Throne Room sometime later, despite his Master's orders to remain at his post.
"I told you to remain on the command ship," Palpatine stated.
"A small band of Rebels has infiltrated the moon," Vader reported.
"Yes, I know," Palpatine replied.
"The Skywalker's are with them," Vader stated.
"Are you sure?" Palpatine asked.
"I have felt them," Vader replied. Palpatine turned to look at him curiously.
"Strange that I have not. I wonder if your feelings on this matter are clear, Lord Vader," Palpatine questioned.
"They are clear," Vader insisted.
"You will go wait for them on the moon," Palpatine ordered.
"They will come to me?" Vader asked.
"I have foreseen it. They will come to you, and then you will bring them to me," Palpatine ordered.
"As you wish," Vader said with a bow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After scouring the forest for about an hour, Luke stumbled across Leia's helmet, which instantly struck fear into his heart.
"Luke!" Anakin called him over. There in the brush, was wreckage of a speeder bike.
"I found this," Luke said as he handed her helmet to his father.
"I'm sorry master Anakin, but Artoo can find no trace of Princess Leia," Threepio said.
"Ani, she's okay, right? You can still sense her?" Padmé asked. She wasn't as adept at sensing the Force in places like Endor.
"She's still here angel, we'll find her," Anakin assured her as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
Chewie rawled as he approached a dead animal hanging in the air from some vines.
"Hey I don't get it. It's just a dead animal Chewie," Han said as the group approached him. Chewie began pulling on it.
"No, wait Chewie, don't!" Luke called.
But it was too late. The trap was sprung and they were all swooped up in a huge net.
"Nice work. Great Chewie, always thinking with your stomach!" Han scolded. Chewie rawled miserably.
"Han, can you reach my lightsaber?" Anakin asked.
"Yeah, sure," Han replied as he began swinging them, trying to reach someone's lightsaber. Artoo was impatient however, and began sawing through the rope with his cutting tools.
"Artoo, I'm not sure that's such a good idea. It's a very long DROP!" Threepio yelled as they all fell to the ground, landing unceremoniously in a heap.
"Oh, I'm getting too old for this," Obi-Wan grumbled as he struggled to get up.
"A little warning would have been nice Artoo," Anakin chided the droid as he helped Padmé up.
Suddenly, many strange little creatures began to surround them. They looked around in confusion as the little creatures pointed their spears.
"They're Ewoks," Padme said.
"Ewoks?" Obi-Wan asked.
"They're native to this moon," Padmé replied. One pointed a spear in Han's face and he shoved it away.
"Hey, point that thing someplace else," Han said annoyed. The creature jabbed it at him again.
"Hey!" Han grabbed it in annoyance and drew his blaster.
"Don't," Luke said holding him back.
"Oh my head," Threepio complained as he sat up. The little creatures oh'd and awed before they began chanting and worshiping. Everyone looked around in confusion, as Threepio began speaking to them.
"Do you understand what they're saying?" Luke asked.
"Of course, remember I am fluent in-" Threepio replied.
Han cut him off, not in the mood for his rambling, "What are you telling them?"
"Hello I think. I could be mistaken, they're using a very primitive dialect, but I do believe they think I am some sort of God," Threepio said.
Anakin snickered and Han had to bite back a sarcastic comment.
"I've seen everything now," Obi-Wan said with an amused shake of his head.
Han smirked, "Well, why don't you use your divine influence and get us out of this?"
"I beg your pardon General Solo, but that just wouldn't be proper," Threepio replied.
"Proper?" Han huffed.
"Han's right Threepio, get us out of this. You may be a God, but I still built you. I can take you apart too," Anakin threatened.
"Ani," Padmé chided.
"There's no need for threats master Anakin," Threepio said. "But it's against my programming to impersonate a deity."
"Why you..." Han said as he prepared to lunge at Threepio. But the little creatures spears stopped him. "My mistake...he's an old friend of mine."
Anakin sighed, "Well, I guess we're going with them."
"Why? Let's just blast them and be done with this," Han complained.
"They're not bad. Their home has been invaded. We're the strangers, just like the Imperials. But if we show them that we're not bad like the others, we will have nothing to fear from them. And we may just find Leia along the way," Anakin reasoned. Han scoffed.
"Fine, but they better be careful where they're pointing those spears. And maybe they're not evil, but they're not very smart if they think Goldenrod is a God," he complained.
Anakin and Padmé shared an amused smile as they joined hands and allowed themselves to be led away by the small native creatures.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The tribe of Ewoks carried Threepio back to their village in a chair they had built for him. Anakin, Obi-Wan, Han, Luke, Chewie, and Artoo were tied up and were being carried back to the Ewok village on stakes.
"I'm gonna kill your droid!" Han yelled at Anakin.
"Get in line," he retorted as he gazed toward his wife. She and Mara were the only ones not tied up and were allowed to follow them freely.
"Threepio, please, you have to get them to release everyone," Padmé pleaded.
"I have tried Miss Padmé, but it seems they are quite intent on having prisoners," Threepio replied.
It seemed that they felt obviously threatened by males, being that the Imperial invaders on their planet were largely male. But they seemed to love Padmé. Anakin guessed that even though they were primitive creatures, they sensed the motherly warmth in her. He could hardly blame them.
"I have a really bad feeling about this," Han said as he watched the creatures mill about around them.
"You and me both. This is all your fault Anakin," Obi-Wan griped. Anakin rolled his eyes.
"How is this my fault?" he retorted.
"Because whenever I go on a mission with you, we end up in some despicable situation like this," Obi-Wan replied.
"Oh yes, like the time you fell into that nest of Gondarks and I had to rescue you. Oh, and then there was the time where you thought it would be a good idea to crash through Padmé's window and go flying around Coruscant hanging from an assassin droid, in which I had to save you from falling to your death. And don't even get me started on Cato Neimoidia. Face it master, trouble finds the both of us really well," Anakin replied.
"That business on Cato Neimoidia did't count," Obi-Wan replied. Their chatter died down as one of the Ewoks spoke to Threepio.
"What did he say?" Han asked.
"I'm rather embarrassed. It seems that all of you are to be the main course at a banquet in my honor," Threepio said.
"Why aren't we doing aggressive negotiations?" Mara asked.
"Because they aren't really a threat, they're just cautious," Padmé reasoned. "Threepio, you have to tell them to let them go."
Suddenly, Leia emerged from one of the makeshift houses in the trees and hurried down to them.
"Leia!" Anakin called, relieved that she was okay.
Padmé hugged her daughter and they tried to reach their loved ones, only to be blocked by the Ewoks.
"But this is my family. Threepio, tell them to set them free," Leia insisted.
Threepio spoke in Ewokese, trying to explain it to them, but it did not seem to deter them at all.
"Somehow, I got the feeling that didn't help us very much," Han said. The little Ewoks marched around them, loading firewood onto a pyre. Luke and Anakin exchanged glances..
"Threepio, tell them that if they don't release us, you'll become angry and use your magic," Anakin said.
"But Master Anakin-" Threepio tried to protest.
"Just tell them!" Anakin said impatiently. Threepio warned the Ewoks as instructed, which made them stop momentarily. But they soon went back to what they were doing.
"See, I told you they wouldn't believe me," Threepio said.
Anakin reached deeply into the Force and lifted Threepio's chair into the air. He floated him around above the Ewoks, frightening and startling them. Threepio repeated his commands and promised to get more angry if they did not obey him.
Now thoroughly convinced, the Ewoks chopped through the ropes and released them. Leia ran to Han and they kissed passionately.
Padmé smiled at her daughter, glad she was happy as her husband took her in his arms. Anakin looked a little uneasy at seeing his little girl in the arms of a man, but he knew Han was a good man and that he would take care of her. Padmé smiled at him and kissed him tenderly, knowing what he was thinking. The rest of the Skywalkers gathered around Leia and embraced her.
"Thanks Threepio," Luke joked knowing that the droid actually believed he had performed magic.
"I never knew I had it in me," Threepio replied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later, nightfall was upon the planet and the Ewoks gathered around Threepio inside one of the larger huts.
Anakin and Padmé cuddled together in the corner as Threepio began telling the Ewoks their story, and judging by his sound effects at this particular point in the story, he was starting with Geonosis.
It was often the story they told to Aiden at bedtime. Their young son loved to hear of his adventures as a Jedi and of course, their romance was very much a part of those adventures that were so long ago to most and yet not so long ago to them. And as Threepio continued his tale of wicked Sith Lords, valiant Jedi Knights, one Clone with the will to reject his programming, and of course a beautiful Senator; it reminded Anakin of what was coming and what he must do.
He looked down at his beautiful wife as he threaded his fingers in her long curls. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. She glanced up at him and a look of concern washed over her features. He took her hand and led her outside where they could be alone. It was dark, but torches dimly lit their surroundings in the sea of trees that was around them.
Threepio finished his story and the Ewok leader spoke to them in their native tongue. Threepio nodded as the little creatures began to whoop and holler.
"We are now members of their tribe," the droid announced.
"Just what I always wanted," Han joked as one of the Ewoks hugged him.
"Their scouts will show us the quickest way to the shield generator," Threepio said.
"Good, how far is it?" Han asked.
"I don't know," Threepio replied.
"Ask them," Han said. Threepio turned back, but Han tapped his shoulder.
"We need some fresh supplies," Han added. Threepio turned back again, but Han stopped him.
"Try to get our weapons back," Han added again. Threepio turned back again and again, Han stopped him.
"Hurry up will ya, I haven't got all day," Han said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What is it Ani?" Padmé asked.
"Vader's here...on this moon," Anakin stated. Padmé stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"What are you going to do?" she asked timidly, knowing she would not like the answer.
"Luke and I must confront Vader. I've felt him and so has Luke, so it's likely that Vader has sensed us as well. As long as we stay here, we're endangering the success of the mission," Anakin said. Padmé clung to him and rested her head against his chest.
"I don't want you to go," she whispered.
"I know angel, but you know I must. If there is any good in him, I'll find it. And if not, then I will have to destroy him. He will likely bring us before the Emperor, which is just what I want him to do. It's time that Palpatine paid for all the pain and suffering he's caused to this galaxy," Anakin said. Tears fell freely down her cheeks now.
"Please don't cry, my love," he said as he swept her into his arms.
"Promise that you'll come back to me," Padmé sniffed.
"I promise angel. And if it's not meant to be, then I'll always be with you," Anakin replied. Padmé choked back a sob.
"No, you have to come back. I need you, our babies need you," she pleaded.
"I need you too. And I will do everything in my power to return to you. Nothing will keep us apart," Anakin promised as he hugged her tightly and saw Luke, Leia and Mara approaching behind her. As they broke apart, Padmé wiped her tears away and Luke hugged her.
"Please be careful," she pleaded with her son.
"I will mom. I love you," Luke said.
"I love you too sweetie," Padmé replied. Leia hugged her father tightly.
"Mom's right, you better come back to us daddy," she said.
"I will princess, I love you," Anakin said.
"I love you too," Leia said as she choked back tears. Leia moved to say goodbye to her brother, but gave him time with Mara.
"You better come back, ya hear me?" she told him. Luke hugged her.
"I will, I promise," he said as he kissed her hair before their lips met in a passionate kiss.
Padmé moved back to Anakin and he hugged her tightly again, burying his face in her curls. He pulled back a bit and leaned down, bringing his lips to hers again.
Slowly, he deepened the passionate kiss. Anakin moved his lips passionately and sensually over hers, memorizing her taste. Padmé's knees went weak as she felt him touch her soul with all the love he held for her in his being. His strong arms held her up as he plundered her mouth, letting his unbridled passion for her take over for a few precious moments. Reluctantly, they finally broke the kiss.
"I love you," Padmé said breathlessly.
"I love you too, my angel," Anakin replied as he turned away. Anakin and Luke shared a quick goodbye with Obi-Wan, before leaving to seek out Vader.
"What's going on?" Han asked as he stepped out.
"Daddy and Luke went to confront Vader," Leia said as she let him wrap his arms around her. Obi-Wan put his hand on Padmé's shoulder.
"It will be okay, Padmé. Anakin and Luke will fulfill the prophecy and then they will return to us," Obi-Wan said.
"Thank you Obi-Wan," Padmé replied.
She knew they had their own mission to fulfill. They would soon meet back up with Rex, Ahsoka and the rest of the strike team to take out the shield. That was their mission.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rex paced impatiently in the camp they had set up for the night. They had lost contact with Anakin and the others hours ago and they were worried, for their comlinks had gone silent. But suddenly, he had a spark of hope as he heard his comlink chime once again at last. Ahsoka was on her feet and beside him in an instant as he answered.
"Anakin, what in blazes took you so long?! Do you know how worried we are?" Rex scolded.
"Sorry Mom, we ran into a small complication in the jungle, but we're all fine, though I don't think we'll be home in time for dinner," Anakin joked. Rex sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Very funny, where are you?" he asked.
"You're going to face him, aren't you Master? I can sense it and I have sensed him too," Ahsoka said, worry lacing her voice.
"You know we must do this, Ahsoka," Anakin replied.
"Master, you have to let me come with you and Luke," Ahsoka insisted.
"I need you where you are, young one. I'm so proud of you Ahsoka. You watched over Leia for me all these years and now I need you to look after Leia and Padmé again, as well as help Obi-Wan and Rex get the shield down. That mission is perhaps more important than the one Luke and I are about to embark on. You've taught your daughter well, and I know you'll do the same with your son. I just want you to know that I love you as if you were my own daughter and I always have," Anakin said.
"Mast-Anakin, stop it, you're talking like you're not coming back!" Ahsoka snapped.
"No, I'm just being prepared for any possibility, just in case. I'll do everything I can to make it back, but if things don't go my way, I just want you to know," Anakin replied.
"You better come back and that goes double for you Luke," Ahsoka demanded.
"Don't worry big sister, we'll both be back, I promise," Luke told her.
"You two better or we'll be coming up there after you," Rex told them.
"We will, but this is our mission and you two have an important one as well. Help Obi-Wan, because we all know how good he is at getting caught, look out for my girls and each other. We'll see you soon," Anakin said.
"Anakin...be careful and I love you," Ahsoka said. She could hear the smile in his voice even over the static filled comlink.
"I love you too Snips. May the Force be with you," Anakin replied as the comlink went silent.
"And you, Sky-Guy," Ahsoka whispered as Rex put his hand on her shoulder.
"Come on, let's meet up with Obi-Wan and the others. We have a shield to take down," Rex said. Ahsoka nodded and they went back to work.
Still, Aisha hugged her mother, knowing she needed one.
I hope no one is too upset about how Talon has changed.
Read and review, please!