Star Wars: Cross Paths
Thanks to Anon, Guest, Daisy, LOVEM, Elen, Sue, DirksTalia, RedLight16, princesselsaamidala22, JasonBondWriter and Connors for reviewing. And to everyone who take your time to read it. You guys are great. Love you all.
A/N: Naluma is a tribute to the character Naluma Fau from the great story The Jedi Reborn, written by a great friend of mine SapphireAlena. Please go read her story and review it cause is so amazing, trust me.
Chapter 57 – Naboo
Naboo was a planet that was the sector capital of the Chommell sector in the Mid Rim, near the border with the Outer Rim Territories. The planet had an unusual plasma core, and its surface was a largely unspoiled world with large plains, swamps and seas.
The ship, landed in the hangar of Theed, the capital of Naboo.
Luke stood up from his cockpit chair and helped Ines standing up, smiling and kissing her forehead.
She sensed he was nervous and she couldn't blame him for it. It was the first time they were on Naboo. Her father was here once and she only knew that Naboo was also the Emperor's home planet, although he didn't care much about it.
"Are you okay?" she asked him
Luke nod.
"Nervous. It is the first time I'm here and I don't know what to expect. I've always thought about my mother, who was she? How does she look like? What happened to her? Now I know and not only that, I found out that my grandparents are also alive. What they will think of me? Do they know what my father did?"
Ines smiled at him and ran her fingers through his hair
"They will be proud of you my love. I'm sure. Your mother always fought against the Empire and the Emperor. She was the founder of the Rebellion, that her son fought for, became Commander and helped to destroyed the Emperor and the Empire."
Luke smile. He hope they would think that.
"We better go. Queen Naluma, is waiting for us"
Nodding, they left the ship, while Luke was grabbing their luggage, being followed by R2!
"I wonder if Mr. Hatickson is still alive?" Ines said all of the sudden. They were walking a little slow, due to her condition.
"Who?"
"He was from Alderaan. Very nice man. He and his wife, never had kids, so they used to give a lot of presents to me and my brothers. They kind of took us as their own grand kids or something. I'm sure they are on their 70's now. They left Alderaan when I was 7 and moved here."
Luke smiled. He always loved to hear stories from her childhood, just like she always loved to hear his.
They reached the entrance of the big stairs of the Naboo Palace, where two guards were guarding the place.
Luke and Ines looked at each other
"Excuse me. I'm Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker. This is my wife Jedi Knight Ines Skywalker and Queen Naluma is expecting me" he informed
The guard looked at him
"One moment please" and climbed down the stairs, while the other one stood there, watching at Luke and Ines, and gave a glare to the lightsabers Luke had on his belt. Since Ines was so pregnant, lately she wore dresses, and since it didn't have a place for her to strap the lightsaber, Luke always had his and hers on his belt.
She wince a little grabbing her lower back, which made Luke wrapped his left arm around her waist
"Are you okay my love?"
"Yes, just my feet and my back are hurting. Standing to long" she said. Reaching her full term on her pregnancy, being standing for so long was getting difficult.
Luke try to help but there wasn't any place for her to sit down.
Then the heard footsteps coming from inside and an old man, with a white beard appeared.
"I'm sorry for taking to long, Master Skywalker. Queen Naluma was in a meeting. She will receive you now" he said stopping when he saw Ines. "I didn't know you brought company. We thought it was only you"
"I'm really sorry, but I didn't have any chance to warn the Queen"
Ines looked at the man
"Mr. Hatickson?"
The man looked at the young woman surprised for hearing his name
"Yes. Do you I know you?"
"It's me, Ines from Alderaan. Ken and Alli Talia's daughter" she smiled
"Little Ines Talia? Is that you?" he smiled and they hugged. "It's been so long. When I left, you were 7 years old and your brother Edmar and Dan were 11 and 13, still so young, that I didn't recognize you. Ines Talia" he smiled
Ines looked at Luke
"Actually is Ines Skywalker now" she smiled
Mr Hatickson looked at Luke and then to Ines
"And I see the family is growing." he smiled watching her pregnant belly.
"Who knew that tomboy that prefer to fight with boys would be a wife and a mother to be" she said making the nice old man laugh.
"My wife always said that she was not the married type of girl cause she was always fighting with the boys, instead of going shopping with the girls" he said to Luke, making him smile
"Tell your dear wife that Ines is the best wife I could ever had" he said kissing her forehead.
"I wish, sadly my wife died 10 years ago"
"Oh I'm so sorry to hear that" Ines said holding his hands
"Me too" Luke said
"It is life, and it is nothing we can do. But let's get inside and made you rest, cause I see you need my dear" he said, telling to other two guards to bring Luke and Ines luggage, while they climbed the stairs being followed by R2 who was beeping behind them.
Once they entered in the room, they saw the Queen Naboo, sitting by a desk. She was still young, maybe a year younger than Ines and very beautiful.
Once she saw Luke she stood up
"Master Skywalker, finally I meet the one the heroes of the Alliance and brought peace to the galaxy" she said.
"I'm not a Master yet, Your Majesty. You can call me by Jedi Skywalker"
"Sure." she said, and looked at Ines who was leaning against Luke. Her back and her feet were killing her. "Oh please my dear, have a seat. On your condition it is not good to stay standing for so long" she said pointing a chair
"Thank you so much, Your Majesty" Ines nod as Luke helped her to sit down, making Ines sighed in relief
"Are you okay?" Luke asked stroking her cheek, making Ines nod.
"Please have a seat" Queen Naluma said, making Luke sit down next to Ines "I got news that you wanted a meeting with me here in my home planet, by Senator Organa"
"Yes, Queen Naluma. I'm here because recently I found out that mother was from here"
"Oh. And you want information of her?" she asked "Well I don't know how I can help Jedi Skywalker."
"Actually, Your Majesty you can." Luke looked at Ines, who was holding his left hand, while the other one rest on her belly. Looking back at the young Queen he continue "I found out that my mother was former Queen Amidala"
Queen Naluma looked at Mr. Hatickson.
"Queen Amidala? Are you certain of this?"
"Yes I am" he told her
"Then it is an honor meeting the son of such a great Queen. Queen Amidala was an inspiration to all of us. When she was elected Queen at the age of 14, she faced terrible trouble with the trade federation. She was the one responsible that now we humans can live with peace with the Gungans"
"Gungans?" Ines asked
"They are an amphibious humanoid race native to our planet. We lived in war for a long time with them until your mother" she said looking at Luke "Became Queen."
Luke smiled at that information. He felt proud to be her son.
"When she ended her second 4 year term as Queen, she abdicate for the new Queen and became Senator and a very powerful one. I know there were very attempts to assassinated her. She even got the protection of two Jedi Knights."
"Yes. One of them was my father"
"I understand now. We know she died at childbirth two days after the rise of the Empire, but we thought the baby had died too."
"That was an excuse so the Emperor wouldn't know that my sister and I were alive"
"Your sister?" Mr. Hatickson asked
Luke and Ines looked at each other
We can't tell Leia is your sister, Luke. Ines told Luke mentally
He knew she was right
"My mother was caring twins."
"After the rise of the Empire, the Queen at the time, Queen Apailana, who was only 14 years old was assassinate, because the Empire find out she was protecting Jedi Knights who survived the purge."
Luke sighed. Ines looked at him, she knew what he was feeling.
"If you don't mind, where is my mother buried?"
"Here in the capital. I will make one of the guards take you there. Do you plan to stay here for a while?"
"Actually yes. I know that my parents married in a place called Varykino. I would like to visit"
"Of course. Your mother use that beautiful place a lot. You can stay there as long as you want."
"Thank you. One more question, about my grandparents."
"They still alive. I can give you the address" she said standing up, which made Luke stood and helped Ines standing up.
"Once again, thank you so much for your time" Luke said has the Queen approached them
"Like I said, it is an honor helping the son of such an inspiration." she said and looked at Ines "How far are you?"
"38 weeks." Ines answered looking at her belly
"Something tells me that this little one will born here on my planet. Do you know what it is?"
"It is a boy"
"I wish a very small hour. When do you plan to go to Varykino?"
"Maybe later. I want to visit my grandparents and my mother's tomb first" Luke replied
"Of course. I hope I helped you?"
"You did. Thank you so much" Luke bow and walked out of the room with Ines.
Luke and Ines, followed by R2, were following one of the Queens guards, who led them to Queen Amidala tomb.
Then he stopped
"That is Queen Amidala Tomb" he told to Luke "And here is the address of the Naberries"
"Thank you" Luke said grabbing the little advice with the address
Bowing he left, leaving them alone.
Luke walked towards the mausoleum in front of him. At the entrance of the tomb was a statue of his mother as Queen of Naboo. His eyes filled with tears. He dreamed with this moment for so long and now there he was. Ines grabbed his hand.
"Do you want to go inside alone? I can stay here if you want" she told him
Luke looked at her
"Please come with me"
Ines nod as they entered the Tomb and saw it. In front of it was a beautiful mural with Padmé's image. Ines looked at the picture in front of her and smile, she was very beautiful. Leia looked liked her actually. Grabbing her lower back, she felt another small pain on that area. She had being feeling those since they arrived at Naboo. Being standing for so long was making her back hurt. The pain only last for a few seconds. She really needed to lay down.
She look at Luke, who touched her mother's tomb, with tears rolling down his cheeks
She went towards him and pulled him into her arms
"It is okay to cry my love" she said wrapping her arm around his neck, while Luke wrapped his around her waist and cried on her shoulder. "You can cry on my shoulders any time you want. I know that your mother, where ever she is, I'm sure she is so proud of you and Leia."
They stood there, in each other arms for a while. Ines let Luke cry until he calm down. Making him look at her, she wipe the tears.
"Thank you for being here with me my love" he told her
"Anytime" she smiled
"I wish I could tell her that she was right all along. There was still good in my father and he came back as Anakin." he said pulling Ines into his arms "And she will be a grandmother soon"
"She knows" Ines told him.
They stood there for a few more minutes, before they finally head to his grandparents
"Do you think they know I exist or they think Leia and I were dead, or that our mother was caring twins"
"We will find out soon" she said "Here we are. This is the place"
They reached a house with stairs that lead to the first floor. Luke sighed and climbing the stairs, with Ines, he knocked on the door and wait.
They heard a female voice from inside.
"Just a minute"
A minute later and woman appeared on the door and looked at that young couple.
"Yes" she asked
"Is this the home of Ruwee and Jobal Naberrie?" Luke asked
"Yes"
"Are they here?" Luke continue
The woman was about to ask something when a female voice came behind her.
"Iury who is it?"
"Ma'am there is a young couple and a droid looking for you and Sir Ruwee" she stepped aside and an old woman, with white hair and brown eyes appeared at the door. She looked like around 80 years old.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry but are you Jobal Naberrie?" Luke asked her
"Yes. Who are you?"
Luke looked at Ines who nod at him
"My name is Luke Skywalker. I'm your grandson" he said to her.
Jobal gasped at that.
Luke finally visit his mother tomb. What do you think will happen now that Luke informed Jobal he is her grandson? And what do you think those back pains that Ines is feeling mean?