Star Wars: Cross Paths
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Chapter 33 – The Emperor
The sun appeared over the Sanctuary Moon of Endor. Leia got out of her hut, fully dressed. They were all getting ready for the attack. She was heading to the place where she knew Ines slept. Last night she was trying to talk to her but she didn't see her anywhere. She thought Ines wanted to be alone. Luke was her twin brother and she was very worried about him, but she couldn't imagine what her best friend was feeling, especially being pregnant.
She reached the hut, and called
"Ines. Are you ready?" she waited for a response but nothing. Frowning she called again, and again she had no answer. Decided to entered she found the place empty and the bed looked like nobody had slept there.
Heading to where everyone was getting ready, she reached Han
"Han, did you see Ines?"
Han frown at that and shook his head
"No. I thought she was still asleep"
"She is not there and it looks like she didn't slept there"
Looking around, he saw 3PO
"Hey did any of them saw Ines? The one with the life growing inside her"
3PO, asked to one the Ewoks and after a while, the protocol droid looked back at him
"They say they didn't see Mistress Ines since last night"
Han looked at Leia. That was not a good sign
"You think she went to be with Luke?" he asked Leia
"I don't think she would do that, knowing that Luke would be upset." Leia said. "No. I feel it was something else. Something worst"
"Worst?"
"I think someone took her"
Han sighed. Ines was his friend, and he didn't want anything bad to happened to her, especially now. He only hope that at least she maybe was with Luke right now.
The shuttle lift off from the platform. Luke was sit down, with Ines head resting on his lap. He kept looking down, running his hand through her hair. For some reason she didn't woke up yet and he was started to get worried.
"Come on my love. Wake up" he kept saying to her, desperately to wake her up. Looking back at the officer her asked "What did you use on her?"
It was Vader who replied
"Nothing that would harm the child."
Luke looked at him.
"Father, please. Don't do this. This is about me, not her. Don't let the emperor do anything to our child. He is your grandson too. He is the innocent being in all of this."
Vader looked at him and then to Ines. For a moment he saw Padmé in her and Luke sensed that.
"Don't do the same mistake you did with my mother"
"Ines will not die in childbirth like your mother did. She will be safe with us"
Luke sighed.
"Luke?"
Looking at Ines, he sighed in relief when she started to waking up.
"Hey my love." he smiled and leaning down he kissed her forehead "Thank goodness you are awake"
"What happened? Where am I?" she asked and looking to her right she gasped when she saw Vader and the events of last night came into her head. "Why am I here? Luke"
"The emperor want to see you too" Vader replied making Ines looked up at Luke.
"Does he know?" Ines asked him, making Luke nod
"Don't worry, he will not going to hurt you"
Helping Ines sitting down, even having his hands tied up, he put his arms around her and pulled closer to him, as Ines rest her head under his chin.
"At least I'm here with you" she said looking at him
Luke couldn't help but smile at that and rest their foreheads he took a deep breath.
"Somehow I feel I needed you here with me to guide me" he said looking back at her "I need your love now more than ever" remembering Master Yoda's words a year ago, that her love will guide him. Maybe it was for the best that she was here.
"You have my love since we met. And I wouldn't want any other man to be the father of my child" she smiled at him. Looking at her for a while, he didn't care if everyone was watching, he leaned down and kiss her. He needed that, now more than ever.
"Interesting. Very interesting" Vader said making them bring back to reality as they look at him. "The love you two share for one another, gives you strength, not weakness"
"It is true love. Something that I doubt you ever know what it is. Your son is nothing like you" Ines said looking at Vader.
The shuttle stopped indicating they arrived at the Death Star. They all stood up, including Luke and Ines.
And officer approached Ines and grabbed her arm.
"Let's go" he told her
"Let me go" and kneed him on the groin, making the officer grunt in pain. Looking at her, he all of the sudden slapped her across the face saying "You rebel bitch"
Luke was about to do something but before anyone could react, Ines looked at the officer and all of the sudden he hit the ceiling of the shuttle and fall unconscious on the floor, making Ines gasped when she realized what happened. Looking at Luke she asked
"Did I do that?"
Luke nod.
"Pregnancy hormones are a bitch" she told him.
"The emperor will be eager to meet you" Vader said indicating them to started walking.
Once they crossed the path, the three of them entered inside the elevator. Luke could hear Ines heart. She was nervous and he knew it was not because of her, but for their baby boy. He was felling the same but for her and their child.
The elevator stopped and the door opened, they saw a chair on top of the stairs, looking outside to the space.
Stepping outside, they walked towards it, as they climbed the stairs. Luke felt Ines getting closer to him.
The chair turned and Ines gasped as she saw the emperor with his damage face and yellow eyes. She was always scared of the tales she heard from her father and how he ended like this.
He smiled when he looked at them
"Welcome, young Skywalker" he told at Luke, and then looked at Ines "Young Talia. I knew your father. So sad what happened to him and your planet."
Ines got tensed when he mentioned her family and her planet. Since the destruction of Alderaan, the remains of that planet were named Graveyard.
"I was expecting both of you. You'll no longer need those" he said and the binders that were tying their wrists, opened and fell on the ground. Immediately Luke pulled Ines towards him and wrapped his arms around her as a protection.
Looking at the guards, Palpatine ordered them
"Guards, leave us"
With a bow, the two Imperial Guards left the room, leaving only the four of them there.
Looking towards them he smiled
"I'm looking forward to completing your training. In time, you will call me master"
Ines looked at Luke. That man gave her goosebumps.
Luke looked at him with a smirk on his face
"You're gravely mistaken. You wont' convert me as you did to my father. I have something to guide me, that he didn't have" he replied making her smile. Luke was not like his father.
"Oh no, my young Jedi" he said standing up and walked towards their direction "You will find that it is you who are mistaken about a great many things" he said and looked back at Ines who got tense with his look on her. "And yes you have something indeed" he continue as he closed his eyes and smiling he spoke "I can feel the little Skywalker growing inside her womb." he opened his eyes looking at Ines, who felt Luke's arms tighten around her.
"His lightsaber" Vader said giving Luke's saber to him
"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"
Luke glare at his father and then to Palpatine.
"You're wrong. Soon I'll be dead and you with me"
Ines gasped
"Don't say things like that" she said
"Don't worry child. Nothing will happen to him or you and the little one you're caring" Palpatine laughed "Perhaps you refer to the imminent attack of your rebel fleet"
Luke and Ines looked at each other.
"Yes. I assure you three are quite safe from your friends here." he said turning around
Ines looked at Luke.
How does he know that? She thought that only Luke could read her mind
Luke shook his head. He didn't know either. Looking at Palpatine, Luke replied to him
"Your overconfidence is your weakness"
"Your faith in your friends is yours" he said getting back to his throne.
Vader looked at him
"It is pointless to resist, my son" he told him.
Ines made Luke look at her and opened her mind to him, which Luke did the same, make them being connected from know on.
Don't listen to him my love. Focus on me and in our baby
Nodding Luke pulled her closer and kiss her forehead.
"Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design" Palpatine voice made them look back at him. "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. And entire legion of my best troops awaits them. I'm afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive" he laughed at the end.
Luke heard Ines speaking
Han and Leia will know what to do. They have the Ewoks. Nothing is going happen to them. Just trust them Luke.
I hope you right or this was all in vain Luke replied to her
Will the Alliance be able to win this battle. And what will happen to Luke and Ines?