In the Hands of Time

by Darth Pipes and ami-padme

At the end of The Empire Strikes Back, Palpatine sends Mara back in time to strike a preemptive blow against the Skywalker family...but Vader, Luke and Leia are hot on her trail.

3. Chapter 3

IN THE HANDS OF TIME
(Part 3)
by Darth Pipes and ami-padme
joesw77@aol.com, ami_padme@yahoo.com

Luke, Leia, Jakked, and his team made their way through Section 327.  They managed to avoid most of the security. The few troops that they did encounter they disposed of quickly.  They continued until they reach the overview facility.

Jakked ordered his second-in-command, a female commander named Maya and to check it out.  Maya did so and reported the situation.

The room oversaw the sections operations.  From there, they could probably access information about the time machine.  There were only a few stormtroopers. She and the half the team could handle it.

"All right," said Jakked. "Take them out."

Maya and six of the team members entered the room.  A valley of blaster shots rang out.  After a few seconds, all was quiet.

Then Maya came out.

"Everything is clear.  Get in."

Luke, Leia, Jakked, and the rest of the team came into the overview room.

"Can Micro get us information on the machine and the rest of the security in this section?" Leia said to Jakked.

"He can get through anything," Jakked said confidently as Micro headed to the console and got to work.

Micro was able to access the files on the machine and it's operations.  He then saw files dealing with demonstrations. Micro accessed it and the video screen light up with images.

Dr. Sen Tharon discussing the operations of the machine and its initial runs.  Moff Jerjerrod discussing how the machine could be used.

Then, the image of a red-haired woman as she prepared to go through time.  IMara Jade,/I Luke thought, regarding the woman.

Then more images flashed forward, and the menacing vision of Darth Vader hit the screen.  Several gasps were let out and Luke and Leia's attention was magnified as they saw the images.  Vader, fighting off the Emperor's royal guards.  Him forcing Tharon and Jerjerrod to get the machine operating.  Vader using the Force to kill them and travel through time.

After the images faded, Micro got to work on discovering how many stormtroopers were guarding the main lab. Quite a few actually.  Forty.  This wasn't going to be easy.

When it was finished, Micro got up from the chair to address the group.

"You saw everything I saw.  With the information I have received, I believe I can get the machine working again.  However, we have to get through some forty stormtroopers to get to it.   We're good but we can't get pass that many."

Everyone paused for a moment.  Finally, Jakked stepped forward.

"I think we can."


Thirty minutes later, Luke, Leia, Jakked, Micro, and team members Callington and Todd, were stationed a deck away from the main lab.  They were waiting.  Waiting for a signal from Commander Maya.

Commander Maya and five members of the team would be confronting the stormtroopers.  If all went according to plan, they would draw away most of the stormtroopers, allowing the rest of them to dispatch the remaining troops and getting to the machine.

"They should have signaled by now," Jakked said.

"They will," Luke said.

"How do you know?" Jakked said somewhat annoyed.

"Because they were trained by the best," Luke said, drawing a smirk from Jakked.

"Yeah well, I hope we can get through this mission," Jakked said.

"You could come to the past with us," Luke suggested.

"No, I'm not leaving my team and I wouldn't have the slightest idea what to do in the past," Jakked said.  He turned away for a moment and smiled sadly.  "Still, I wouldn't mind using that machine."

"Really, what for?" Leia asked.

"Ah, it doesn't matter," Jakked said.  "The important thing is to get you to the past.  After those files we saw, I know now how important this mission it."

"It's the most important," Luke said.  "Possibly for all our futures."

Jakked nodded.

"You know, Luke...Leia, I use to work with the Jedi when I was in the Republic military.  During the Clone Wars, I met this one named Mace..."

Suddenly, Jakked's comlink beeped and he turned it on.

"This is Maya," the voice said.  "We've managed to engage the troops.  We got more than half of them after us."

"Will you be all right?" Jakked said.

"Yes," said Maya. "We'll find a way to lose them.  They're only stormtroopers.  Their not that bright."

Jakked smiled.  "All right," he said.  "Lose them and get back to Nin Dinub.  From there, I want you to get back to the shuttle and take off."

"But sir, what about you and the others?"

"Don't worry Commander, we'll find a way out," Jakked said.

"But, sir..." Maya began.

"You have your orders, Commander," Jakked reminded her. "Don't worry, Maya, we'll be fine," I hope, Jakked added silently.

Silence reigned for a moment before Maya answered.

"Good luck, sir."

"Thanks Maya.  Take care," Jakked said, turning off his comlink.

Jakked turned to face Luke and Leia.

"We're ready," he said.

"We all know the plan," Luke said. "We reach the doors, bust in, disrupt the environment, and take out the guards."

"Then I get to the time machine," Micro said.

"Exactly," Leia said. "We have to pull this off without damaging the time machine."

"We will," Jakked said.  He turned to Luke, who pulled out Qui-Gon's – his lightsaber.

"Let's do it," Luke said.

Luke, Leia, Jakked, Micro, Callington, and Todd made their way to the door of the main lab.  Luke and Jakked got on either side of it, with the rest of them behind the two.  With a signal, Jakked hit the controls and the door opened.

The stormtroopers turned to see the six rebels charge in.  Before they could fire, Leia threw a concussion bomb at them.  Smoke filled the space around them, blinding them.  The rebels opened fire.

Luke ignited his lightsaber and began cutting down the stormtroopers.  He cut down one, then another, and his lightsaber soon became a blur as more troops fell before him.  One stormtrooper managed to fire off some shots at him, but Luke deflected them.  The blasts flew back at the stormtrooper, killing him instantly.

Leia also made quick work of her enemies, her shots hitting the stormtroopers with lethal efficiency.  She quickly finished her work.

Jakked went straight at the stormtroopers, blasting away.  He quickly shot three of them down.  When one tried to jump him, Jakked threw him through a viewscreen.  He slammed through the glass and hit the ground with a thud.  When it was all over, the stormtroopers lay at the feet of the rebels, completely defeated.

Luke then turned and stared in awe at the time machine.  A large black structure, with a small opening the size of a door, in the middle.  This is what would take them back through time.

"Micro, get to work on that machine," Jakked said. "Callington, Todd, guard the door."

Everyone did as told.  Micro got to work on the machine as Luke, Leia, and Jakked went over the specifics of their mission.

"Twenty-three years, huh?" Jakked said.

"Yes, just after the destruction of Naboo," Luke said.

"That was a very dangerous time.  The Empire was on a warpath enforcing its will.  A lot of death and destruction," Jakked said.

"I know," Leia said, remembering the stories her father, Bail Organa, had told her.

Suddenly, the time machine roared to life.  The portal began to glow magnificently.

"All right," Micro said, heading towards the three.  "The machine is on.  I just have to set the coordinates."

"Will it send us back to were we need to be?" Leia said.

"I believe so," Micro said. "Time is very tricky.  You'll probably arrive after Jade and Vader did."

Micro then took out two alien-looking comlinks and handed them to Luke and Leia.

"Put these on," he said. "These are comlinks…comlinks through time.  When your mission is complete, punch in the proper coordinates to return back through time.  I will provide you with those shortly.   It also has several other uses. Person-to-person communication, computer upgrading...it's an incredible piece of technology."

Luke and Leia put them on.

"One more thing.  Make sure you succeed.  When you return, you will not be able to travel back in time.  More than one full trip through time and back will kill any being, even those that are strong in the Force.  Do you understand?"

Luke and Leia nodded.

"All right, I'll set the coordinates...aaahhh!"

"Micro!" Jakked yelled.

Micro slumped forward and fell straight to the ground.   The trio saw that a stormtrooper had fired a shot off the ground and shot Micro in the back.  The stormtrooper got up and pointed his blaster at them.

Jakked raised his blaster and fired a single shot at the stormtrooper, hitting him in the chest.  The stormtrooper hit the ground, now quite dead.

Luke, Leia, and Jakked went over to Micro.  Micro was on the ground and barely conscious.

"Micro!" Jakked said desperately. "Hang on, we'll get you out of here!"

"T-too...late," Micro said, gasping for breath.  He grabbed Luke by the shirt and brought him closer to him.  "Coordinates...are 092577...SJK1.  They will…r-return you…to this t-time…as well.  Punch…it...in…"

Micro's eyes closed.  He was dead.

Jakked got up.  His face was emotionless as he looked at the body of his dead friend.  Leia put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Leia said.

"So am I," Jakked responded.  There was no time for him to mourn now.  "Come on, let's punch in those coordinates."

Suddenly, Callington and Todd rushed in.

"Colonel," Callington said. "The Imps are heading this way.  A lot of them.  There on the verge of cutting through the doors."

Jakked, Luke, and Leia turned to face each other.  They didn't have time for this.

Finally, Jakked spoke up.  "Luke, Leia, get those coordinates punched in and go on with your mission.  The rest of us will hold off the troops."

"Colonel...Wes, you'll never survive.  You three are coming with us," Luke said.

"Luke, if we don't stop those guards, none of us are going anywhere.  We'll hold off the guards, you carry out the mission.  It's too important.  Don't worry about us, we'll find a way to get out."

"But..." Leia tried to say.

"Your Highness," Jakked said.  "We're running out of time.   In more ways than one, in this case.  You'd better punch in those coordinates before it's too late."

Luke and Leia hesitated for a second, but then agreed there was no other way.  Luke got to work on the machine.

Jakked and his men headed out but Jakked stopped as he reached the door.

"Luke, Leia," he said.

The two turned to face him.

"Good luck," Jakked said with a grin.

The two smiled back.

"May the Force be with you, Wes," Luke said and Leia echoed that sentiment.

"And with you my friends," Jakked said.  He then headed out the door to meet with his team.

Luke got to work on setting the coordinates.  Second later, they heard an explosion outside of the lab.  It was quickly followed by the sounds of blaster fire.  The stormtroopers had broken through.

A few seconds later, Luke had punched in the coordinates.  It was set.  It was time.

"We're ready," Luke said, and he and Leia rushed to face the machine.

Luke and Leia turned towards each other.  They stared at each other.  They knew the mission.  They knew the stakes.

They had to stop Mara Jade from killing their mother.  They might have to confront Darth Vader.  Their own future, and the future of the galaxy, was on the line.

Leia reached out her hand.  Luke took it in his own hand.  The two of them ran through the portal and through time itself.

It was a spectacular experience, traveling through time.  The glow provided the twins with a sense of joy.

The portal opened again and threw the two through it.  When they got up and walked around, they saw nothing but ruin.  Devastation.  Despair.  They knew then that the trip through time had been successful.  They were now where they needed to be.

"Naboo," Leia said.

Luke nodded.  They were on Naboo but he knew something else as soon as they arrived.

Mara Jade and Darth Vader were not on the planet.


How the hell did I get myself into this? Wes Jakked thought as the stormtrooper in front of him fell to the ground, dead from Jakked's blaster.

Jakked spun around and ran down the corridor, looking for a way out of this predicament.  Away from the stormtroopers and away from the section.  Callington and Todd were dead and he was bleeding from a blaster wound to his left arm.  It was not getting any better.  He had gotten careless in the battle against the stormtroopers and paid for it.  His best bet now was to patch up his wounds and find a way to escape.

Jakked came to the end of the corridor, a good distance away from the approaching stormtroopers and turned left. He ran only a few feet before he was met with a new hail of blaster fire.  Two stormtroopers were at the end of the corridor.  They had seen him approaching and had opened fire.

Jakked rolled on his right shoulder, the one without the wounded arm.  He rose and opened fire.  The first stormtrooper fell quickly.  The second stormtrooper fired at Jakked.  The blast narrowly missed his head.  Jakked returned fire.  The difference was that Jakked didn't miss.   He hit the stormtrooper right between the eyes.  With that taken care of, Jakked continued down the corridor.

If I keep down this path, I should reach the way out.

Jakked reached the end of corridor and looked in horror to find in closed off.  Apparently a concussion bomb had gone off and debris was completely covering the path.

He was trapped.  He would have to find another way out.  The Imps were hot on his trail.  He needed to hide and lay low.

Looking around, he found the door to the star map room open.  Jakked jumped into the room.  The star map room was lit up with the images of stars and planets.  Jakked knocked out the display with his blaster and the room was in complete darkness.  He then hid behind a console to treat his wound.

His arm was getting increasingly numb.  He ripped off part of his uniform and wrapped it around his arm tightly.  He screamed in pain as he did this.  It stopped the bleeding but he knew it was only a matter of time before his arm went completely numb.

Jakked thought about his next move.  If I could lie low in here for awhile, perhaps I could...

No.  It was time to face reality.  He wasn't going to get out of here alive.  He was badly wounded and all exits had probably been cut off.  Stormtroopers were on alert everywhere.  There was no chance he could escape.

He only hoped Maya and the rest of his team had gotten out safely.  He would die but he hoped his team wouldn't be joining him.

And he hoped that Luke and Leia had gotten to the past safely.  Despite his gruff nature towards them, he liked them both and wished them the best of luck.

As he lay in hiding, Jakked thought back on his own life, about how he had come to be caught in this situation.

A long time ago, he had been a child on the planet Eeos.  A runaway, he joined the Republic army.  He got his first taste of adventure and he loved it.  He also got his first taste of combat.  Fighting in the Clone Wars against the Mandolorians.  He fought beside the Jedi, including the great Mace Windu.  It had been an experience that helped prepare him for what was to come later.  After the Wars, he got out of the military and became a merchant.

It was during those years that he met her.  Feline, the woman of his dreams.  She was a beautiful and brilliant young woman with a bright future ahead of her.  He met her during a business deal and soon they were romantically involved.  The two had many adventures as they traveled around the galaxy.  He loved Feline so much that he would do anything for her and promised to spend his life with her.  He proposed to her and she accepted.

That marriage never came to be.  A week before their wedding, she was killed on Rampa 2.  Killed by the Empire.  A massacre, by Imperial troops on the planet.  She had been caught in the crossfire trying to help the victims.  The Empire didn't even have a reason to attack Rampa 2.  It was Rampa 1 that had rebelled against them.   But they attacked Rampa 2 as well, as an example of what happened to those who opposed the Empire.

Jakked remembered how devastated he was when Feline was killed.  He had been inconsolable.  He had even considered killing himself.  But he wouldn't.  No...he would fight.  Fight against the Empire and its tyranny.  Fight against the Empire that had killed her.  He would make every Imperial scum pay for Feline's death.

He joined the Rebellion and became a member of Special Forces.  He volunteered for the most dangerous missions, any mission that would destroy the Empire.  He would fight, to make sure the people of the galaxy wouldn't have to suffer under the Empire.

Jakked could hear footsteps nearby.  The stormtroopers were coming.

Jakked reached into his pocket and pulled out a pendant.  A pendant his Feline had given him.  He often kissed it for luck and he did the same now.  He would need it.

He checked his blaster.  He had just put in a full clip of ammunition in.  That would have to do.  He was going to die, he knew that now but he wasn't sad.  He knew he would be reunited with his love once again.

The footsteps were louder and the Imperials were closing.  Jakked was prepared, crouching and ready to strike.

A light filled the room.  Emergency lights.  He knew what would happen next.

Hold on Feline.  We'll be together again soon…

Imperial stormtroopers flooded the room.  Jakked sprung up from his hiding place and opened fire, taking down stormtrooper and stormtrooper.

He was going to die but he was going to take every Imp to hell with him!

The Emperor's Palace

The Emperor sat on his throne, considering the recent events that had just transpired.  Mara Jade, followed by Darth Vader, and later Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa had all managed to travel back in time.  They had traveled back to a time because of what he had planned.

Palpatine smiled.  It was going exactly as he had foreseen.

He had let Vader and later Skywalker and Organa follow Mara Jade.  Why else would he let security in the section be so lax?  He had wanted them all back in that time.

It would be perfect.  The four of them were violate elements.  Both Mara Jade and Darth Vader were corrupted by the dark side.  Skywalker was confused, and that would be his undoing.  Then there was Organa.

Leia Organa...the daughter of Darth Vader and Queen Amidala!

Palpatine shook his head in amazement.  He had always figured there was one more out there...one more strong in the Force.  But even he had not expected it to be Organa.  The fact that she was Vader and Amidala's daughter still surprised him.  He should have seen it though.  The two women were so much alike.  Beautiful, intelligent, independent, defiant, naive...easily controllable.

Organa was also angry.  He knew that.  With Organa, Skywalker, Vader, and Jade in the same place, that anger would flare and the dark side would take over.  He knew what would happen when too many beings strong in the dark side were around.  They would begin to destroy themselves, just as the Sith had over two thousand years earlier.

He had no doubt though that Mara Jade would come out the winner.  She was loyal to the Emperor.  She would be willing to do anything, to destroy everything for her master.  The others would not.  That would be their downfall.

Yes, he had no doubt that Mara Jade would defeat them all and complete her mission.  Amidala would be destroyed, thus ending any threat to his supremacy forever.  No Skywalker, no Organa, no Rebellion.  Nothing but the Emperor and his Empire would remain.

Even if Mara Jade failed, there something he knew that she didn't, and he would still win.  There were always Skywalker or even Organa.  He could take on either one of them as his apprentice.  By the time they returned to the future, he would have them taken prisoner and brought before him.  There, he would crush the will of the survivor and whoever it was would become his apprentice.

If Lord Vader were to survive, Palpatine had no doubt that he would destroy him as well.  He was powerful but he would not stand a chance against his power.  It was a win-win situation for the Emperor.  The kind of one he always had secured for himself over the last forty years.  He would not lose.

Palpatine continued to sit on his throne, staring out at the stars.  He smiled.  This would be a day long remembered.  The day that he would rule the galaxy forever.

Drayos, military base
23 years in the past

Amidala paced anxiously in the tiny room Ki-Adi-Mundi had assigned her.  Actually, it was barely a room at all – more like a closet with a chair and a cot.  Her "pacing" was just a step or two in either direction.  Amidala looked at the cot and sighed.  At the rate she was gaining weight, there was some doubt as to whether the bed could continue to hold her…but it wasn't as if she had been getting any rest since he left anyway.  But she wouldn't complain.  She had only received these accommodations because of her pregnancy – Ki-Adi-Mundi and Obi-Wan had gone out of their way to make her comfortable, and she was grateful.  Still, it wasn't rest that she needed; it was privacy.

She knew they all meant well.  The other members of the Alliance had given her nothing but sympathy…and pity.  Who wouldn't feel sorry for a pregnant widow who had become one of the most hunted people in the galaxy?

A widow… Amidala blinked back the tears that were starting to sting her eyes.  She still couldn't believe that he was gone.  Her heart ached to think of that battle between her husband and Obi-Wan – to know that Anakin died in such agony, from both the scorching heat of the molten pit, and the inner turmoil he had suffered over the past few months…

How could things have gotten so bad so quickly?  She had noticed the warning signs, but had never imagined that this would be the result.  How could he leave?  How could he commit those horrendous crimes?

Palpatine.  He had been the missing link.  If she could have realized earlier what the Emperor was…that he had been whispering in Anakin's ear…maybe she could have acted on the warning signs sooner.

But she hadn't, and now he was gone.  Anakin was dead.

Amidala felt a nervous sensation in the pit of her stomach.  She recognized it; it was always there when she thought about Anakin's death.  But it wasn't grief or sadness…it was a warning.  It was a hope.  She could almost feel his presence at these times.

She knew that as a Jedi, it might be possible that Anakin was reaching out to her, even after his death.  Obi-Wan had even told her to expect that to happen.  But something told her that this wasn't a voice from the after-life.  If Obi-Wan hadn't seen Anakin fall into that pit, she would swear that he was alive somewhere.

But Obi-Wan did see Anakin fall.  She had asked him so many times; made him describe the event in excruciating detail.  Obi-Wan didn't believe Anakin could have survived.  He worried that Amidala was setting herself up for more pain by harboring false hope.

He was probably right.  Anakin's dead.  You have to stop thinking this way.  She hoped that the self-admonishment would work this time.  It hurt too much otherwise.

Amidala was shaken from her thoughts by a kick from one of the twins. That was happening more often – the two of them were becoming increasingly active.  She lightly rubbed her hand over her stomach.  Her love for them was already deeper than any she had known.  She regretted every day that they would be born under these dreadful circumstances.  But she also knew that she had no choice.

Amidala shuddered, suddenly feeling chilled.  I can never allow him to find them.  She pulled the blanket off the bed and wrapped herself in it, sinking slowly into her chair.  Palpatine had already taken her husband and destroyed her planet.  She would die before letting him, or anyone else, harm her children.

With that, the tears threatened again, and she had to take several deep breaths to calm herself.  She hated to think about what might happen after their birth.  Obi-Wan tried to broach the subject before and she had stopped him every time.  She already knew what he thought.

He thought that it was too dangerous to have the children with her because of her status as a fugitive.  Palpatine would be after her relentlessly, and if she were found with the children…

He also worried that the twins were a threat to one another.  Obi-Wan claimed that he could feel them reaching out to him and to each other.  The latter was the problem – it seemed the twins were already bonding through the Force.  Even if they weren't trained, they would instinctively use the powers around each other.  With so few Jedi left in the galaxy, any ripples they caused in the Force could be detected by the Emperor.

Her head fell forward into her hands.  The tears finally began to drop, flowing freely down her face.  I can't give up my children.  How can they expect me to just give them away?  The thought horrified her.  She didn't know how she could bear another loss.  But it seemed more and more like Obi-Wan had made up his mind.

Damn him.  Damn the Jedi.  If they think they can take my children without a fight –

Amidala stopped short, pulling her face from her hands.  She looked up to see Obi-Wan standing at the door.  And he had clearly heard that last thought.

Silence reigned for several minutes as Obi-Wan and Amidala just stared at each other.  After a few more moments, Obi-Wan finally spoke.

"Are you all right?"  She didn't respond.  "May I come in?"

"Of course," Amidala replied.

Obi-Wan entered the room and sat down on the chair across from Amidala.  The two continued to stare at each other.  Again, several minutes passed with the two not quite knowing what to say.

Is he upset with me? Amidala thought.  Or did I hurt...

"I have spoken with Master Mundi," Obi-Wan said, breaking Amidala's thoughts.  "We should be safe here for the time being.  Drayos is far from the reach of the Empire."

Amidala nodded, saying nothing.

"Is there anything I can do for you, Amidala?" Obi-Wan said. "Perhaps I could…"

"Obi-Wan, stop it," Amidala finally said, looking at him. "Why don't you just tell me what's on your mind?"

"What would you have me say?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I think you know."

Obi-Wan stood from his chair and faced the wall.  It was time for them to discuss this matter.  "Do you hate me, Amidala?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Of course not, Obi-Wan.  Don't be ridiculous," Amidala responded.

"But you resent me for my plan to separate the twins?" Obi-Wan said more than asked.

"What would you expect, Obi-Wan? You're talking about taking my children away from me."

"Amidala," Obi-Wan said, turning to face her. "I know this is a difficult thing..."

"Do you Obi-Wan?" Amidala interrupted.  "Do you really?  You know that the last six months have been difficult enough.  Left pregnant with his children.  Losing my husband to the dark side, when he became the Emperor's servant.  Losing my homeworld, my friends.  The Republic being conquered by a madman.  The worst part of that all...was that I was responsible for Palpatine's rise to power."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Amidala," Obi-Wan said, putting a hand on her shoulder.  "We were all used by Palpatine.  Me, you, the Jedi, the Senate.  All the people of the galaxy."

"Yes, but you weren't the one who called for a vote of no confidence on Chancellor Valorum, allowing Palpatine to become Chancellor.  You weren't the one who championed his policies, thinking it would help him restore the Republic to its glory days.  Instead, it only further solidified his control of the galaxy.  You weren't the one married to Anakin.  I was unable to prevent my own husband from joining the Emperor and betraying the galaxy.  I was the Emperor's puppet Obi-Wan.  He used me to help him gain control and now the people of the Republic suffer because of it.  And now… now you come before me, asking to take my children away from me."  Amidala turned away from Obi-Wan, her eyes watering.

"Amidala," Obi-Wan said.  "If anyone is to blame for the current state of the galaxy, it is me.  I was the one who let Anakin turn to the dark side.  I saw the warning signs coming for a long time, but I chose to ignore them.  I felt there was no way that Anakin, someone I had trained, would turn to the dark side.  I thought that I had trained him just as well as Yoda and...Qui-Gon could have.  I was wrong."

Amidala turned around and looked Obi-Wan.  She could see the anguish on his face.  She knew that he blamed himself for the Emperor's rise as much as she did.

"Amidala, you know I don't want to separate your children.  It pains me even to consider the thought.  But you know it has to be done.  The Empire may one day discover you're alive.  When they do, they will send their full resources for you.  You will be hunted down, just as the Jedi are now.

"If the children are with you, they will be taken to Palpatine.  Ami, your children are the only ones capable of destroying the Emperor.  I cannot.  Neither can Yoda.  If they fall into the Emperor's hands, all hope for the future will be lost and a new era of darkness will sweep through the galaxy."

Amidala turned away.  She knew that Obi-Wan was right, but still…this was a difficult decision facing her.

"Besides," Obi-Wan said, "that darkness may be coming sooner than later."

Amidala turned back to Obi-Wan, confused at that last comment.

"I didn't tell you earlier, Amidala, but on our trip here, I sensed several...disruptions in the Force."

"Disruptions?" Amidala said.  Usually, that was just referred to as disturbances.

"Yes.  As if something entered this galaxy that was not suppose to.  A dark presence.  I cannot explain it."

Amidala moved closer to Obi-Wan and looked him straight in his eyes.

"Is it...Anakin?" Amidala asked.

Obi-Wan stared straight back at her.  There seemed to be some doubt in his eyes.  After what seemed like a long time, he answered her.  "No."

"I saw some doubt in your eyes, Obi-Wan."

"Amidala, we have discussed this before," Obi-Wan said wearily.  "There is no way Anakin could have survived falling into the volcano."  He cringed thinking about that final image of Anakin falling into the molten lava.

"But there are times that I can still feel his presence." Amidala said, a challenging tone in her voice.

"That is to be expected.  People who have close relationships to those strong in the Force can still feel their presence months after their death.  It was the same with me and Qui-Gon."

"But this is different Obi-Wan.  I feel as if he is still among us.  Among the living," Amidala said, more insistent.

"Amidala, you must except the fact that Anakin is dead!" Obi-Wan shouted in frustration, his anger starting to rise.

"But you don't know for sure.  Anakin was a powerful Jedi.  He could have survived.  What if he did?" Amidala said, as her frustration increased as well.

"Amidala," Obi-Wan said, looking right at her. "You're not going to like what I am going to say but I am going to say it.  If Anakin did survive, he is likely a mere shell of what he was.  He will be a corrupted, evil individual, who will be intent on carrying out the Emperor's will.  If you think what he did was horrible before, what he'll do if he's alive will be even worse.  I hate to say this Amidala, but I truly hope Anakin is dead.  Even if he could be turned back to the light, I don't ever think I could tolerate his presence ever again."

Infuriated by what she had just heard, Amidala slapped Obi-Wan across the face hard.

How could he say such a thing?

Obi-Wan turned back at Amidala.  Anger was etched in his face.  For a moment, Amidala thought Obi-Wan was going to belt her.

Instead, he turned around and stormed out of the room, leaving her behind.

Amidala just stood there.  She looked around the tiny room.  It was empty except for her.  No handmaidens, no droids, nothing.  She realized she had just driven off her last friend.

For the first time in her life, Amidala felt truly alone.

Deep Space

Images flashed before the eyes of Darth Vader.  When they focused, he was once again Anakin Skywalker, devoid of the armor and machines that had kept him alive.  Now in front of him was a man holding a lightsaber.  The man raised his weapon, allowing Vader to see who it was.

Obi-Wan Kenobi.  He was facing Obi-Wan.  They were on Sullust.  On the lip of the volcano.

Raising his weapon, he charged his former Master and the battle commenced.  The two fought viciously back and forth, no quarter given or asked.

Anakin attacked Kenobi with all the hate and anger he had stored up for that man.  Kenobi however fought off the attacks and battled back at Anakin, slashing at him.  No matter what Anakin threw at him, Kenobi always fought back and got the better of him.  It had always been that way.

Kenobi pressed his attack, forcing Anakin backwards and toward the pit.  Stepping back, Obi-Wan raised his arms and swung downwards with a mighty blow towards Anakin.  Anakin blocked it but the sheer power of the swing forced Anakin backwards and down into the volcano's pit.  Anakin fell until he hit the molten lava.

The lava quickly overtook him and Anakin fell deeper into the volcano.  He could feel the lava all around him, consuming him, burning the flesh off his body.  It was a horrible experience; being burned...being melted alive.  The pain was overwhelming.  In his mind, it happened to him a thousand times over.

Suddenly the pain stopped.  When Anakin came around, he was suddenly back in the armor of his true self, Darth Vader.  A bright light surrounded him.  In the middle of that light was a figure.  That figure walked forward.

Amidala.  His wife.  She looked as she did when Vader had first seen her all those years ago on Coruscant.  He had been looking for his friend Padmé, but instead saw the Queen.  It was later on that he would find out the two were the same person.  She was wearing the same dress and had the same hairstyle she did when she addressed the Senate.

The expression on her face was emotionless, much how it always looked when she was dressed like this.  She stared at Vader for a long time.  She opened her mouth and said but a single word.

"Luke."

Luke...LUKE!

Suddenly, Darth Vader jarred awake.  He looked around him.  He was in the cockpit of the old N-1 starfighter, surrounded by the starlines of hyperspace.

It had been a dream, but Vader understood the message.  Luke.  Luke was here.  He had traveled through time.  To save his mother, no doubt, and his own existence in the process.

The boy impressed Vader.  In order to follow him through time, Luke would have had to travel to Coruscant, break into one of the Empire's secret sections and get through the numerous stormtroopers.  All this less than two weeks after he survived his duel with his father, and was in emotional turmoil.  Impressive indeed.  He was his father's son.

Vader began to consider what must be done involving Luke.  He had no doubt his son would find a way off the planet.  If he did, he wouldn't know where to go.  Should he contact his son and give him the location of his mother?

This was a perilous situation for Luke.  Even though his son was powerful, this was a violate state of affairs.  Mara Jade was a dangerous opponent.  The Empire would be attacking the planet in about a week.  Not to mention what might happen if Luke was to come in contact with Obi-Wan Kenobi.  Combined, Vader was unsure whether even he could oppose the two Jedi.

Still, perhaps Luke could work to his advantage.  He was still vulnerable to Vader after their duel.  Vader could confront him and turn him to the dark side.  Together, they would easily find and destroy Mara Jade.  Then the two of them could return to the future and confront the Emperor.  He knew for sure that the Emperor was no match for their combined strength.  They would destroy him and take their place as rulers of the galaxy.

Vader looked out into hyperspace as he considered this matter.  For Luke to be involved in this situation was dangerous, for him, for Vader, for time itself.  But Vader knew deep down what he must do.  It was his only choice.

Vader closed his eyes.  He summoned the power of the Force and sent a single, one-word message through space.

"Luke..."

Naboo

Luke and Leia had spent the last hour wandering through the planet once known as Naboo.  All they found was death, destruction, and despair.  They wondered if there was even a living thing left.

Seeing a planet in this state was nothing new to the two, especially Leia.  She was forced to watch her homeworld of Alderaan be destroyed by Grand Moff Tarkin.  She had seen planets ravaged by the Empire.  She had seen the aftermath of massacres.  This was certainly nothing novel, but it still pained Leia every time she visited a planet such as this.  Especially considering it had been her mother's homeworld.

The two continued their walk through the ruins, looking for some transportation off the planet.  From there though, they were completely clueless as to where to go.  They had no way to locate their mother, or Vader, or Mara Jade. They could travel for years and never find them.

A gleam caught Leia's eye.  She turned around and saw something shiny to her right.  She made her way over to it. When she reached the shine, she saw a statue, lying face up, around the ruins of what must have been a public forum.

Leia looked at the face of the statue. It was a woman, her face emotionless.  She was dressed in an elaborate wardrobe, her hands outstretched.  The face, Leia thought as she ran a hand over it.  She had seen it before.

Images flashed across Leia's mind.  Images of a woman, beautiful but sad, lifting her up in the air...hiding in a trunk...crying as some people Leia didn't know told her something.  It was a young face, but old.  Leia knew who it was.

"That's Mother, isn't it?"  It was Luke's voice.

"Yes," Leia said with great sadness.

Luke reached out and put his hand on Leia's shoulder.  "Why don't you tell me about her?" Luke asked.

"There's not much to tell, only images really, feelings," Leia said.

"Tell me."

"Well, she was very beautiful.  Kind and gentle...but sad.  I always wondered why that was.  Now I know.  Maybe that's why she left.  Maybe I reminded her too much of our father."

"Leia," Luke said, turning to her. "I'm sure she loved you very much and it was probably one of the most difficult decisions of her life to leave you."

Leia nodded. "I know.  Luke, did you ever think about her?"

Luke nodded. "Yes, many times.  Uncle Owen told me she died shortly after I was born.  That was it.  I always wondered though..."

Suddenly, Luke's head jerked back and his eyes opened wide.  Leia looked at him with concern, not knowing what was going on.

"Luke," she said, trying to get through to him.

But Luke wasn't responding.   His mind locked in some sort of trance.  As if he was receiving a message.

"Luke," a voice said in his head.  Luke recognized the voice.  It was Darth Vader, his father.

"Father," Luke said.

"Son," Vader's voice said through the very fabric of space.  "I am on my way to Drayos.  Your mother is there, as Mara Jade soon will be.  Come to Drayos.  Join me, and together we will crush her once and for all."

"Father...Anakin..."

The link between the two men suddenly broke and Luke fell to his knees, clutching his head.  Leia kneeled down to help him.

"Luke, was that Vader?" she asked.

"Yes...it was Father," he responded.

"Don't call him that Luke," Leia said angrily.  "He might be our father by blood, but no more."

"He told me to go to Drayos.  That mother, and Mara Jade would be there," Luke said, turning to face Leia. "He wants me to join him and destroy Mara Jade."

"Luke," Leia said. "Did he know about me?"

"No," Luke said. "He must not have been able to sense your presence.  It's probably because you've only recently discovered your powers."

Leia nodded, not quite sure what to say.

"Leia," Luke continued. "We must go to Drayos.  There we can stop Mara Jade from carrying out her mission."

"Vader might be setting you up for a trap again."

"He isn't," Luke said. "I know he was telling the truth.  I can feel it.  He wants to turn me to the dark side, yes, but he knows that the most important thing is to stop Mara Jade."

Leia still wasn't completely convinced but she didn't have time to voice her concern.  Suddenly, a mighty roar bellowed out across the ruins of Naboo.  Luke and Leia turned around to face it.

Behind them, they saw a massive creature.  They recognized it as a Faamba, a giant lizard creature extinct in their time.  They were generally considered to have been peaceful animals but this Faamba had a savage, killer look in it's eyes, like it wanted to tear apart the first thing it saw.

To make matters worse, it was charging right at them!

Luke and Leia barely moved out of the way of the oncoming Faamba.  It rushed past them and smashed into a pile of rubble. It shook its head and turned around.

Facing it were Luke and Leia.  Luke had his lightsaber drawn and ignited and Leia had her blaster out.  They weren't sure what would drive a normally peaceful creature to go crazy but it was easy to speculate that the planet's bombardment had caused it.

The Faamba made another rush toward the two.  Again, they sidestepped the creature.  As the creature passed, Luke took a swipe at its side, cutting open the creature.  Blood oozed out of the creature and it roared in pain.

With its tail, it took a swipe at Luke.  Luke ducked and rolled, again coming to his feet.  He took another swing at the creature, slashing one of its pillar-like legs to the bone.  The creature again roared in pain and swung its tail widely, smashing rubble everywhere.

Luke and Leia managed to dodge it and Leia opened fire on the Faamba, firing three quick shots at the creature's head.  The creature absorbed the shots and charged the Princess.  She had forgotten that Faambas had thick hides and were very resilient to blaster fire.

The Faamba charged closer to Leia with its mouth wide open.  Leia moved just as the Faamba's jaws came at her.  One of its teeth nicked Leia's left arm, opening a gash.  Leia screamed in pain as she ran from the creature.

"Leia!" Luke screamed as he charged the Faamba.  He had allowed for himself to fall behind the creature and now it might cost Leia her life.

He was just feet away from the giant, lizard-creature.  Just then, the creature swung its mighty tail at Luke.  Luke's enhanced reflexes managed to prevent him from taking the full force of the blow.  But it was still strong enough to send him across the ruined street and through a pile of rubble.  When the smoke cleared, Luke was trapped under a pile of the rubble from the waist down.  He couldn't get out.

The Faamba continued his pursuit of Leia, who dodged the creatures powerful tail swings.  The ground literally shook every time its tail hit the ground.  Leia dodged and weaved, firing her blaster whenever she could, for what good that would do.  She continued this until her back hit a wall that still stood on the planet.  The creature was bearing down on her and there was nowhere to go.  She was trapped.

Luke watched helplessly as the creature was bearing down on his sister.  He tried to use the Force to remove the rubble but could not concentrate enough.  He couldn't move and now the creature was going to kill Leia.  He had gone on this mission to save his mother and his and Leia's very existence.  Now he was going to fail them all.

"Let the Force work through you, Luke."

The words of Obi-Wan Kenobi bellowed in Luke's mind.  Resolve filled inside of him.  Yes, he had to concentrate and let the Force work through him.

Luke looked in front of him.  There before him was the large piece of rubble that was holding him down.  Luke closed his eyes and summoned the Force.  He lifted the rubble from him, freeing him.  With the rubble still suspended in air, he used the Force to send it crashing into the skull of the Faamba.

The Faamba roared in pain.  Its balance was becoming off-centered.  The creature's distraction allowed Leia to get far away from it.

Rising to his feet, Luke signaled his lightsaber to his hand.  Igniting it, he charged the wobbly Faamba.  Using the Force, he jumped onto the back of the creature's neck and grabbed a fold of its flesh.

The creature roared and tried to throw the young Jedi off its neck.  Luke rode the creature, hanging on with all his might.  Raising his lightsaber high, he plunged the green blade deep into the back of the creature's head.

The Faamba let out a final, mighty roar as its body stiffened.  It then crashed to the ground, throwing Luke off.

The creature lay in the rubble of Naboo, dead.

Leia, still clutching her injured arm, ran to Luke to help him to his feet.  "Are you all right?" she asked, the concern evident in her voice.

"I'm all right," Luke said, struggling up to his feet.  He looked at Leia and noticed a nasty gash on her left arm.  "You're injured."

"It's not that bad," Leia said.  She was obviously trying not to show her pain.

Luke turned towards her and put his right hand on her wounded arm.  Luke closed his eyes and reached out with the Force.  In only a short time, the wound on Leia's arm was completely healed.

Leia stared at her wound, and then Luke, a look of shock on her face.  "How..." she began.

"The Force can do many things, Leia," Luke said with a smile.  "You just need to have faith."

Leia's lips curled in a smile.

Luke's face turned serious again as he looked into his sister's eyes.

"Leia, I know you are reluctant about what Vader told me.  But it is our only lead.  We must take it."

"I know Luke," Leia said. "But I still don't like it."

"Neither do I."

The two looked forward at the path ahead.  It was only a few hours till nightfall and they still had to find a ship.  This might take them a long time.

"We have to find a ship," Leia said.

"I know," Luke said. "This isn't going to be easy. We will just have to trust..."

"The Force," Leia said, finishing his sentence.

Luke smiled and nodded.

"Then we should head to the north," Leia said.  "I have a feeling it is there we will find what we are looking for."

Luke looked forward at the path Leia had suggested.  He reached out with the Force. The north.  Yes.  That might be just where they needed to go.

He turned back to face Leia.  He could sense something, something Obi-Wan Kenobi had sensed in him many years ago.  His sister had just taken her first step into a much larger universe.

"Lead the way, my sister."


It took several hours for Luke and Leia to reach their destination.  They traveled through rocks, rubble, and ruined landscape as they continued their advancement up north.  The sun was just minutes away from setting, blazing a magnificent orange light through the sky.  They knew they would have to reach the location before nightfall, for who knew what creatures might come out.

Luke and Leia stopped on top of a hill and looked down.  There, before them, lay a spaceport in ruins.  It was partially covered in debris, but a few ships remained.

The two made their way down the hill and to the spaceport.  They made the climb to the ships, looking for ones that were not buried.

It was then that a ship caught Leia's eye.  A freighter, an old Nubian vessel, with extruding wings and a single engine.  That's it, she thought.  That was exactly what they were looking for.

"Luke, over there," she said, pointing to the ship.

Luke looked over and saw the ship.  Yes, he thought.

They made their way to the shuttle.  The top hatch was opened and the two climbed in to the impending darkness.

Luke ignited his lightsaber.  The blade glowed to life and the two got a better look at the ship.  It was an old one, they both thought, but in decent condition.  Luke knew they would have to get to the bridge to get a full report on the ship's status.

The two made their way to the cockpit.  After forcibly opening the door, the two reached stepped inside.  In front of them was the pilot's chair, which faced the ship's controls.  Luke approached the chair and spun it around.  What they saw caused both of them to gasp.

The decomposing body of the ship's captain sat in the chair.  He had been dead for two weeks.  Looking at the body, it appeared a piece of shrapnel had flown out of one of the ships systems and stabbed the pilot through the skull, killing him instantly.  Luke looked over the systems and found the operations system to be damaged.

Leia looked over the ship's controls and hit a button.  The lights on the ship turned on and they were no longer in darkness.  She then got to work on getting a readout of the ship.

"What's the report on the ship's status?" Luke said, turning off his lightsaber.

"Surprisingly, its in relatively good shape," Leia said, checking over the readout. "Only the ship's operating system appears to be damaged.  The pilot must have been in a hurry to avoid the bombardment of the planet because he forgot to check the system.  We can clearly see the results."

"Fixing the operations system won't be too bad," Luke said. "With both of us working on it, it will take an hour, maybe two.  Then we can be on our way to Drayos."

Leia nodded, rising from the console.

Luke looked over at the decomposing body of the pilot.  He then turned to Leia and said, "I think it would be appropriate to give this pilot a proper burial."

Leia looked at the body and nodded her agreement.

It took the two less than fifteen minutes to remove the body and bury it.  Luke used the Force to cover the body in rocks.

When that task was done, the two got back to the operations system.  After an hour, they completed repairs and Luke took his seat at the pilot's chair.

Luke hit the proper controls and punched the engine.  The ship, which they discovered was called the Gambler's Luck, roared to life.

Luke looked over at Leia and the two smiled.

The ship hovered several feet off the ground.  Luke then pointed the ship to the sky and blasted off Naboo, leaving their mother's homeworld behind.

"It's going to take a few moments to locate Drayos on the star chart and punch in the coordinates for the jump to hyperspace," Luke said, working over the controls.

"Luke, what are we going to find on Drayos?" Leia asked.

Luke stopped what he was doing and looked at her for a moment.  "What are we looking for?  Our mother," he finally said.

"Do you think we'll actually see her?" Leia pressed on.

"I don't know.  Most likely we will.  I would very much like to meet her but we have to remember what Ben said.  Try to avoid all contact with anyone from this time period if we can.  If we interfere even for a moment, it can have great consequences."

"Yes, I know," Leia said grimly. "The little I have read on the theory of time travel has told me that even the smallest change can cause ripples through the very fabric of time."

Luke nodded. "We have to stop Mara Jade and that's it.  If we encounter Father...Vader, well...we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Leia looked as if she was going to say something more.  Instead, she simply nodded her approval.  She took the operations seat next to Luke and strapped herself in.

Luke turned back to the controls and the coordinates to Drayos popped up on the screen.  It was several days away from Naboo.  That would allow the two enough time to plot some sort of strategy.

As he prepared to make the jump to hyperspace, another thought bounced into Luke's head.  If their mother was on Drayos, that would mean that Ben...Obi-Wan Kenobi would be there too?  Luke considered what it would be like to meet his old teacher in this timeline.  How would Obi-Wan react to seeing them?

That thought was still in Luke's mind as the ship made the jump into hyperspace.