Six months had passed, since Anakin Skywalker had rejoined his family and formed a truce with the former Rebel Alliance leaders. The Republic had been restored and Coruscant was again it´s capitol. In one of it´s first sessions after the war against the resurrected Emperor Palpatine the New Republic Senate had discussed wether to continue the Truce of Onderon. Finally, a compromise was found: The former Dark Lord did not officially join the New Republic, but he was allowed to freely visit with his children. The public was only informed about the return of Anakin Skywalker, without revealing his past identity as Darth Vader. There had been some curiosity from the press as to where he had spent the past decades, but information was held tight and finally they let it go. And now, another issue, a speech in the Senate Hall, occupied the minds of the press on Coruscant and elsewhere: The Jedi Master Luke Skywalker wanted to open an academy for the resurrection of the Jedi Order and the Senate had approved. Not only the press discussed this granted request very openly and critically, reminding the public of the rise of the Emperor despite having thousands of Jedi Knights and giving gruesome examples of the Emperor´s right hand man´s evil deeds. There was also a very private discussion on the subject in the household of Han Solo and his wife, Leia Organa Solo.
It was a quiet evening, too quiet for Leia, who missed her children, and too quiet for Han, who was wound up from lack of sleep and mountains of work. And to make things worse, Luke and Anakin would be here for dinner in fifteen minutes. "I just want to know why this family get-together can´t wait til we have more time," Han was complaining. Looking at him over the already laid table, Leia sighed.
"I know, dear, but this is important. Father called me just after having heard Luke´s speech. After, as in Luke didn´t talk to him about his intention beforehand."
"What´s so bad about this? Luke can make his own decisions. It´s not as if he´s still ten or a psycho, or something."
"Don´t you think that Anakin knows more about teaching Jedi than Luke?"
"Oh yeah? As I recall your father doesn´t want to teach anyone."
Just then the arrival of the two expected guests cut this discussion short. Both wore smiles on their faces, but they were forced smiles, foreboding an argument to come. This would become a pretty demanding family evening, Leia thought resignedly, as she sat the three men down at the table, then called for the household droids to serve dinner. The first part was spent mostly in silence, with the occasional praise of the food, some exchange of gossip and so on. Then Anakin posed the critical question:
"So, when do the twins come home?" he asked Leia in his curiously rough voice. His daughter, who had expected something regarding Luke´s speech, relaxed :
"A week. Han and I really miss them. And it´s been so long now! I really can´t wait."
"Will you start training them right away?" It was as if a cold blanket had been thrown over the small assembly as everyone except Anakin froze. Then both Han and Leia were looking at Luke, who blushed slightly and turned towards his father.
"Well, since Leia hasn´t had any formal training, I thought that I will teach them," he said. Fixing Luke with cool blue eyes, Anakin leaned towards him:
"And I thought you had learned something out of your past experiences."
The room temperature seemed to drop a few degrees and Han slapped his forehead, groaning in exasperation. Leia elbowed him in the side, still staring at Luke, whose face turned decidedly defiant and indignant.
"What do you mean? That I should not teach? That I am incapable?" Shaking his head, Anakin sat back again.
"No, Luke. I just think it is too early. Again you act as if time is running out on you. It isn´t. You must heal first, trust me on that."
"But I want to do something. Now." His father´s eyes suddenly became softer.
"Very well. Then do what you think you must."
Not really satisfied, Luke simply nodded, but the atmosphere seemed less charged.
"How about we all go to the living-room and get some more comfortable chairs?"" Han said suddenly and Leia was openly surprised at this diplomatic move coming from him of all people. He only grinned at her and stood up, the others not far behind.
The next morning Luke was exercising atop the flat roof of the apartment house he lived in, when he felt his father´s presence close. Anakin was watching him from a short distance, sitting cross-legged on the cool roof-tiles. Luke stopped and walked over to him.
"How about some lightsaber-practice?" he offered, but his father shook his head.
"No apprentices."
"Not even me or Leia?" Rising to his full, intimidating height before his son, Anakin answered:
"Not now. It is too soon." Luke smirked up at him.
"You just say this to make me rethink the academy. Well, I won´t. But you could help me," When Anakin started to say something Luke continued right over him," Yes I know you won´t train students, but I was thinking more of the right location."
"Okay."
The two of them had been searching the library for hours, when Leia came to see how they got along.
"Why not Yavin 4?" she suggested , "Seperate power supply, already installed facilities and lots of peace and quiet."
"It´s perfect!" Luke exclaimed, his eyes shining. Now he only needed some apprentices. Turning to his father he asked: "What do you think?"
None of the twins noticed the flicker in Anakin´s eyes, before he rumbled: "It is indeed perfect."
"Then Yavin it is," Leia was rewarded with a hug from her brother, before he left.
"Wow," she remarked to her father, "Sometimes I think he´s inexaustible."
"Well, he isn´t. But that lesson he will have to learn by himself. And preferably sooner than later," he added and took Leia´s hand. "I hear Han´s going on a mission to Kessel with Chewbacca. If you like, I´ll come visit more often, so you won´t feel all alone."
She nodded, grateful, for his concern, when Luke suddenly burst into the room again: "I have already arranged for a ship and she´s ready to fly. How about a little trip to Yavin?"
Anakin shared a brief smile with Leia. "If you don´t mind?"
She laughed: "Never. Have fun." And the two left. Great, Leia thought. All the family except me is getting some vacation.
The trip to Yavin was spent in silent exitement on Luke´s part and silent speculation and calculation on Anakin´s. Apart from that Luke was talking about what he dreamed the academy would be like, frequently asking for reassurance concerning the curriculum and seldomly getting it, for his father still refused to giving any input in these matters. His thoughts were on something else entirely.
Yavin 4 was as green and humid and alive as both men remembered. The Great Temple which had once housed the Rebel Alliance headquarters had not yet been swallowed by the rainforests and most likely woudn´t be anytime soon. Luke though didn´t seem to give this strange phenomenon any consideration, as he strolled proudly through the halls, showing his former quarters to Anakin and swapping stories and feelings around the battle of Yavin and the destruction of the first Death Star with him. Although they quickly became disturbing for both of them and they stopped. When Luke was heading up the stairs which led to the top of the huge pyramidal structure, Anakin took a moment to get a feel for the place. Laying his palms on the cool wall in front of him he lowered his head and closed his eyes in concentration. Yes. He was still here. Still hungry and waiting. Now the presence mentally acknowledged him, knowing. There was a connection here, not felt for long years, but still tangible. Breaking the link, Anakin shuddered in the cold and made his way up to join Luke in the hot sunlight.
"Great things will happen here," Luke stated with conviction, when he felt his father stand beside him.
"Do you see the future?" Anakin asked quietly.
"It is just a feeling," his son answered and as far as Anakin was concerned that was just as well. Sitting down on the warm tiles Luke continued: "Threepio and Artoo have retrieved information about two possible candidates. I though that I would leave right from here and have Lando pick you up."
"You are telling me that now? How very considerate of you. Leaving me stranded on this force-forsaken planet to wait for Calrissian? Come on! What am I being punished for?"
Laughing, Luke dragged him down to sit next to him. "Nothing. It´s just the practical thing to do."
"I can´t see why I even came along in the first place."
"Because you wanted to."
"Right. It turns out to have been a bad choice."
Luke was fidgeting around. There seemed to be something on his mind and his father didn´t need the Force to know what is was. Finally the boy broke his silence: "What I really don´t understand, is why you won´t even teach me. It hurts, you know? I´ve always wanted my father to teach me in some way. And I understand your concerns, but I think those are not justified."
"Not justified!? Luke, if I started teaching you not even I would know wether it was Dark or Light guiding me there."
"Wouldn´t we know the difference, having experienced both sides?"
"I don´t think so. You don´t notice the daylight you see by, or the artificial one, do you? You just take it for granted. I fear this might be similar."
For a while Luke thought about that. Then he said quietly: "Teaching students the ways of the Force is something I am not looking forward to. I haven´t had much training, nor much experience. That is what you told me too. That I am not ready."
"No, Luke. What I meant is that with the taste of the Dark Side still on your mind, you shouldn´t teach right away. But I can see that you are committed to restoring the Jedi Order as soon as possible. And perhaps I can give you some advice here and there. Nevertheless I want you to remember that I did not choose to walk in the Light alone. Don´t risk your students on my advice. It is meant for you only to use as you see fit , but never in a way that could harm your students. Always consider the consequences before you teach or act. And another thing: Your taking advice from me will be reflected back on your actions in the eyes of others. So be careful which of my teachings, if at all, you make known publicly. "
Now Luke was grinning: "That was my first lesson, I guess. Perhaps you being half Dark Jedi is not so bad a thing. At least you don´t take your own vows too seriously."
"Which doesn´t mean that you should too."
"Yeah," Luke sighed, "I know I´m the good guy. No need to tell me over and over again."
Now it was Anakin´s turn to smile and in a rare emotional outburst he took his son in his arms, secretly trying to protect him from the trial to come, the trial he had chosen for him the minute Luke had made his intention of founding a Jedi Academy known. The rest of the day was spent mostly in silence, as both remembered the events at Yavin from years ago and everything that had happened since. Finally, Luke left and Anakin stood in the cold darkness of the night, watching the ship´s lights vanish in the blackness of space. After a while he felt the unseen presence behind him.
"Let´s talk about the old days, when the Sith ruled," he said, to the other´s delight.
Lando Calrissian arrived the next afternoon, seemingly in a bad mood and the two men didn´t talk much during their flight. Suddenly the hypercomm came alive. It was Leia.
"Father," she acknowledged him with a nod, then turned to Lando, "When will you be on Coruscant?" Alarmed by her troubled eyes, Calrissian answered:
"Two days more. Why? What has happened?"
"I´ll tell you when you are here." Suddenly she brightened up. "The twins arrived today. And they can´t wait to see their Uncle Lando and their grandfather. So hurry." She broke the connection.
Looking at each other, Lando said: "You don´t, by any chance, know a shortcut to Coruscant?"
They made it in just over a day, using a shorter route through hyperspace, that Anakin navigated with the aid of the Force.
It was a hurried landing on Coruscant and Lando could barely keep up with Skywalker, as they paced the halls towards Leia´s and Han´s apartment.
"Thank the Force you are here!" Leia greeted them, hugging her father, "Han is missing."
"What? On Kessel?" Lando exclaimed, disbelieving.
"That is bad news, Leia," Anakin stated calmly , when the twins tumbled through the doorway to their room, squealing happily.
"Look who´s here," Leia smiled, brushing away a tear. Of a sudden, all graveness seemed to have vanished and Lando, Leia and Anakin played with the children until it was bed-time. Only then did Leia´s despair return. Finally, Anakin told her that he would go get Han, turning down Lando´s offer to accompany him. Confident in her father´s abilities Leia let him go.
On Kessel, Han and Chewie had seen their mission fail, the Falcon crash and an old enemy, Moruth Dole, in charge of the spice-mining facilities on the planet. Dole had taken them prisoner and now let them work alongside other unfortunate workers in the pitch-black, cold darkness of the mines. A few days ago Han had vented his anger in starting a fight with the wardens. Though it hadn´t gotten them anything but bruises, as Chewie had pointedly remarked afterwards, it did get them the attention of a fellow prisoner. His name was Kyp Durron, a kid really, who had spent most of his life down there. Han took to the boy in an instant. From his stories, he was force-sensitive and had been trained rudimentarily by Vima da Boda. Somehow Kyp reminded him of the young Luke he had first met on Tattoine. Although what Kyp might say to a Jedi Master who had killed his first teacher...Who knew? They were soon working on an escape plan, when a new prisoner arrived at "feeding time."
Han ckoked on his gruel, when the newcomer was unceremonially thrown into the closed quarters. Chewie roared a deafening question at the man, but Anakin Skywalker calmly picked himself up from the floor, regarded each prisoner coldly one by one, then went over and sat down in the opposite corner. "I´d like to know what he´s doing here too, you know?" Han whispered to Chewie, who growled something back. "Of course he´s here to rescue us. Though why he chose this charade instead of choking Dole a bit instead is beyond me."
Only half an hour later Moruth Dole´s right hand man, Skynex, entered with four guards at his heel. "I need four volunteers for a new shaft," he said. Looking at each other, Han, Chewie and Kyp stepped forward. Not surpising to both Solo and the Wookie, Anakin was the fourth to join them. He looked at them briefly, though his gaze lingered on Kyp longer. He knows the kid´s force-sensitive, Han realized. Then they were thrown into the black maze of the shafts, with four guards along for the ride. "Nice view," Han heard Anakin remark somewhere behind him after a while. His rasping whisper sent shivers through all of them and one of the guards barked, "Shut up," with a slightly trembling voice. Chewie huffed quietly in amusement.
When they finally stopped to gather spice, Anakin went over to Han, bending down beside him. "I´ll get you the infrared glasses," he sent Han mentally and a few minutes later Han could finally see again. "Wow!" Kyp exclaimed and turned to stare at Anakin. "How did you do that?" - "In time you might learn," the other answered. Han considered that for a minute. But he must have spoken figuratively, else he would break his own vow to never train anyone. At least that was what Han hoped. Anakin led them out of the maze into the weak daylight of Kessel. "My ship is over there. The hyperdrive needs some work, but we can find refuge in the Maw," he explained to them. "What? Hide in the Maw? You must be crazy. But I guess it´s the best plan we have right now." Han wasn´t really surprised to see that Anakin´s ship was an older Imperial shuttle. They boarded and took off immediately, straight towards the Maw.
It was only moments later that Dole´s little armada, stationed on Kessel´s moon, followed in pursuit. Anakin, seated in the pilot´s chair with Han as co-pilot, didn´t seem the least concerned that the shuttle wasn´t really designed for combat. "Just watch the shields and tell me when they drop below ten percent, alright?" he ordered Han calmly, when the first hits shook the ship. "Are you two strapped in?" he called towards Chewie and Kyp. Both shouted back an affirmative. "Don´t we shoot back?" Kyp asked after a few more minutes of serious rattling and shaking as more hits rained on the shields. "No. What power I don´t need for the shields goes to the drive. We are running here, not fighting." -"Ten!" yelled Han suddenly. The Maw´s first asteroids were nearly upon them. Then a particularly direct hit put them off course. "The shields are nearly gone! We must go faster!" Han shouted, making Kyp and Chewie pretty nervous. "Shields on two percent, one and zero. I guess the next lucky shot gets us," Solo finally told them solemnly. The miliseconds before the next impact seemed like an eternity. And when it came, they were still in one piece. "What did you do? What did you do?" Han was asking Anakin in bewilderment. "Shut up, I need to concentrate here," the Dark Lord answered curtly. He´s using the Force to shield us, Han sighed inwardly. And then they were inside the Maw. Anakin was deftly piloting the ship, his eyes closed, towards what he perceived as a save haven. "Oh." - "What is it?" - "There´s someone else where we want to go." - "How many?" -"Feels like....a lot."
Admiral Daala was not surprised when an Imperial shuttle entered the Maw´s center unannounced. One of her first principles was to never be surprised, no matter what happened. Take every possibility into account. And the shuttle simply was another possibility. "Are their codes o.k.?"
"Shitshitshit, this is Endor all over again!" Han whispered. Anakin only smiled, then turned towards the comm: "The code is TarkinRed," he told the comm officer calmly. The code was affirmed and the Imperial shuttle with it´s jumbled crew sailed towards the lead star destroyer on a tractor beam. "Oh man, look at them," Kyp was pressed between Han and Anakin to get a better view at the majestic ships, but soon, just after they had touched down on the vast hangar bay´s deck, pilot and co-pilot left their stations, heading aft. Chewie and Kyp followed. "Alright, here´s your parts. Han, you are Lieutenant Sola, Kyp is private Durron. And Chewie, I guess, is acting as my slave. Sorry." Chewie rumbled something, but agreed. "And who are you?" Kyp finally asked, but there was no answer. A game was about to start and Anakin would be damned if he told his pawns of his plans beforehand. That would only spoil the fun and besides, Han would never approve. Although he wasn´t entirely sure if this would work out after all. Then a thought came to his mind. " I´d better tell you not to do anything to your clothes, " he told them, pointing at their attire. Han and Kyp were slightly surprised to find themselves dressed in neat black uniforms. Grinning at each other they saluted Anakin and did an about turn. Shaking his head, Anakin stepped between them and pressed the door release.
All four straightened up and marched down the ramp towards the white-clad storm troopers waiting for them. One soldier wearing the markings of sergeant stepped forward. "I am Sergeant Theran," he said in his helmet-filtered voice," The Admiral asks you to join her on the commado bridge. Her? "Very well, lead on," Anakin answered gravely and then they were truly committed to this crazy stunt.
Admiral Daala had placed herself strategically in the forward center of the bridge, with the view on the Maw´s wild beauty behind her, and the contrasting gleaming gray deck to her feet. She wasn´t sure what or who to expect, but the code had been highest priority. What she saw though did surprise her. The newcomer´s leader seemed to be a tall man dressed in the same black uniform his men wore. There were no insignias in sight on either of them. And following them closely was a Wookie slave. Acknowledging their presence with a curt nod she put on her sternest expression: "I am Admiral Daala, commander of this installation . And who am I addressing?" Anakin stepped forward, careful to not violate her private space.
"This is Lieutenant Sola and his assistant Kyp Durron," he rasped, indicating the pair. "And you are?" Now Anakin turned his cold blue eyes on her, radiating an air of menace that threatened to overwhelm even Daala´s rigid composure. "You have heard of the New Order," was all he said. It took her a minute or two to digest this and fully comprehend what he meant. And then Daala´s eyes widened sudenly and she swallowed hard. "Of course, my lord," she answered quickly, "It must be very urgent business that brings you here. Please, we will talk in the briefing room. It has been years since we have heard anything from the Imperial Center." - "You are babbling," he admonished her, embarassing her in front of her crew. Her cheeks flushed with anger at that and she quickly led them to the briefing room, fuming, but careful not to show it.
Following, Han saw a satisfied smile on Anakin´s lips. "You are keeping a tight routine. I like that," he told Daala, after the door had closed behind them. She didn´t answer at first, but stared at Chewbacca. "Don´t mind him, madam," Han put in, before she could say something, and motioned Chewie to stand in a corner. Then he and Kyp moved to Anakin´s side. "Please, gentlemen, sit down," Daala offered and waited for them to be seated. "Let me be frank, Admiral," the Dark Lord started without preamble, "The Empire is in dire need of new weapons technology. Since the defeat at Endor, the deaths of Palpatine and Lord Vader, and the failed crusade of Grand Admiral Thrawn, the Rebels have gained more and more power." Daala´s mouth had dropped open and Han wasn´t sure if it was because of the news Anakin had just given her or his disrespect for Palpatine.
Han had noticed before that his father-in-law never granted the title of Emperor to the now dead despot whenever he spoke of him. "You are telling me that the Empire is defeated..." - "Severly incapacitated, yes. But not beyond repair. Based on what you can offer us, I can develop a strategy to defeat the rebels on a long term basis." Now it was Han´s turn to stare at Anakin disbelieving. Where did he know all this from? Had he planned this beforehand? "May I ask," Daala suddenly said in a nearly timid voice, "what has become of Grand Moff Tarkin?" Anakin´s face softened considerably and his tone was almost tender, a real achievement, considering his hoarse voice. "I am sorry having to inform you of his death," he told her. Hanging her head, she seemed on the verge of crying. "The best men dead. The Emperor, Tarkin, Thrawn and even Vader. How could this happen? How?" - "That is not an issue anymore," Anakin said harshly, "We must think of the future. Now. Tell me what you have to offer."
Only half an hour later the three men were looking at a holomodel of the sun-crusher. A beautiful, deadly machine. Han saw Anakin´s eyes shine at the sight of it and grew more and more uncomfortable. "This is perfect," looking over the holo straight at Daala, the Dark Lord´s blue eyes locking with her brilliant green ones, he whispered softly," And I know just what to do with it." Apruptly he turned to Han, his sudden movement making the Corellian jump.
"Lieutenant Sola, you and private Durron take the Sun-Crusher to Coruscant and finish the planet. Without leadership the Rebels will be an easy prey for this cute toy and the Admiral´s fleet."
"Yes sir!" Han shouted, then grinned openly. "Coruscant it is."
"I take it that you will be staying with the fleet, my lord?"
"Absolutely."
Standing at the ladder which led into the sun-crusher, Han and Anakin had a little talk.
"You knew they were here and you knew that there were weapons here. They even have the Death Star prototype!" Han hissed under his breath. "I´m gladly taking this baby to Coruscant, but no way I am trusting you with four star destroyers. And this pretty Admiral."
"Thank you for your concern, Han. Kyp will lead you out of the Maw safely, I know. And don´t worry about me. I know exactly what I am doing."
"That is what I fear," Han replied gruffly, but knew that he couldn´t win this argument. Anakin would rather use Force persuasion on him than go back to Coruscant now. "So I´ll just leave you to play, right?" he murmured at the retreating Skywalker´s back, then hurried up the ladder.
The controls weren´t too different from other ships Han had previously flown. Wistfully he thought of the Falcon, stranded back on Kessel. He´d give anything to sit in her cockpit instead of this murder machine. "All set?" Kyp nodded and relaxed in the copilot´s chair. Chewie sat strapped in one of the passenger´s seats, not too content with having to give up his accustomed station for this flight. But on the other hand he would gladly sit back now and let Kyp do the dangerous navigating through the Maw.
The ship took off smoothly under Han Solo´s expert hands and the Installation´s space station and then the star destroyers fell behind them. On board the sun-crusher Kyp Durron felt the uneasiness of his two companions, but couldn´t know the reason. Both Han and Chewie had bad feelings about leaving Anakin behind. They didn´t know what he had planned and the New Republic´s reaction towards his action might become hostile. Noone on the Defense Council would like it. That was for sure.
Anakin watched the sun-crusher vanish between the asteroids and mentally wished them well. Not that anything could happen to this ship. It was a real beauty, but surely not as beautiful as the sleek dagger-shaped star destoyer on whose bridge he currently stood, with Admiral Daala by his side, as if she were his trusted second. Of course he knew that she had been Tarkin´s lover, and he could understand the attraction on both sides. She was an intelligent woman, a fighter, much like his wife had been. But there were significant differences between her and Amidala. Where Padme had been wise, the Admiral was hardened, bitter and he could feel anger boiling deep inside her, eating her up slowly. She was not a content or happy woman. Neither had been his Amidala, he thought ruefully, at least not in the end. But the past was the past. "Sir?" he heard Daala ask, her sharp voice cutting into his reverie. "What." - "Sir, what are you planning to do now?" Anakin was smiling gleefully, turning back to the brilliant view of the Maw, behind which lay the vastness of space, the sparkling stars. "Let´s take this fleet for a ride?" he suggested and was rewarded with a smile on her part: "With pleasure."
Luke Skywalker was pleased. Both trips had been successful and now he was returning to Coruscant with two new students. One was Gantoris, a hard-bitten warrior and leader, with strange visions of a dark man who would be his undoing. Luke had silently vowed to himself not to introduce Gantoris to his father anytime soon. The other was Streen, an old man, too old for training, Yoda might have said. But you take what you get, Luke thought, and Streen was eager enough, though a bit strange at times. So all in all he could be proud of his first achievement. And Kam would certainly be relieved at not having to endure Luke´s lessons all alone. Now they only needed the necessary supplies and then they could start the academy in earnest. Life was great. Then they dropped out of hyperspace only a few lightyears away from Coruscant, closing the distance rapidly.
Luke wasn´t surprised to be hailed by a New Republic warship. more surprising though was the presence of unusually many in the vicinity. "What´s up?" he asked the comm officer, but got no straight answer. The man mumbled something about high command and secrecy. Bewildered, Luke landed his craft on a military space port, and together with Gantoris and Streen took a transport to the Imperial Palace. Both men were awed at the sheer size and sounds of the city planet, and therefore were relatively easy to handle. Luke was in a hurry to get to know what exactly had happened. And he couldn´t shed the nagging feeling that his father was behind all the excitement. It was two hours later that the three of them stood in Leia´s office.
"Alole," she told her aide," would you please see to it that my brother´s students get a nice dinner?"
"Of course," Alole replied with a smile and led Gantoris and Streen outside.
"Alright," Luke began, adressing both Leia and Ackbar, who had also been present when they first had come into Leia´s office. It was also the Admiral who answered Luke´s unspoken question:
"It seems that your father has found himself a new toy: A fleet of four star destroyers."
"What?!"
"Han and Chewie have returned yesterday, thank the Force, with a young Jedi hopeful and a deadly super weapon. And this particularly bad news. The Defense Council doesn´t want to take any risks, understandably," Leia explained.
"A Jedi hopeful?" Now his sister was laughing.
"I can see that your thoughts dwell on something else entirely."
"No, no. I understood all of it. I just can´t understand what there is to worry about."
"Your father with four star destroyers perhaps?"
"I don´t think he will threaten the New Republic, Admiral. He has changed, I know it."
"So have you," Ackbar put in quietly, making Luke wince.
"Come now," Leia said then, "The first thing is to establish contact with Father to evaluate his motives for this move. I´ll leave that to you, Luke, alright?" He nodded.
"What had Mon Mothma have to say to this?"
"Her very words? "We should have killed him when we could"."
"She said that?"
"Yes. But she added: "Not that we had a chance." and smiled. So I guess she meant only half of it."
"Which half?"
The four star destroyers hung in perfect formation in deep space. Anakin had tested the troops in mock maneuvers and was very satisfied with the results. They were in top shape. Now he only had to decide what to do with them.
"Admiral," he began. "Yes?"
"Let us talk about our mission." He and Daala retreated into her quarters and sat down in the living room, facing each other. Leaning back in his comfortable chair, Anakin was the model picture of perfect relaxation, whereas Daala bristled with anticipation. "Let´s face it, Admiral. The Empire is finished. Your troops are too good to be lost in a suicidal crusade against the New Republic."
"But what are you saying? We have the sun-crusher!" Daala exclaimed, aghast.
He closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them again they were pits of ice: "I have to tell you something, Daala. It was all a lie. The sun-crusher is now in the hands of the New Republic."
"What?! You...you!" She lunged for his throat, her face red and ugly with anger. But Anakin stopped her flight in mid-air, spinning her around her axis slowly, contemptously.
"Now, now. Be calm."
"Traitor!" she hissed, spitting at him.
He only threw his head back laughing aloud. Apruptly he stood, pacing the room apparently deep in thought. "Let´s see. There are a few possibilities for us now. One: I leave you and your troops here, stranded for some time, perhaps." He paused, smiling at her, "Not very likely. You´re too good for that. Second: Your troops manage to overwhelm me and I get thrown out the next best air-lock," His smile broadened to an open grin," Yeah, in your dreams perhaps. Third: I kill you all and destroy these ships. That sounds intriguing," Then, absolutely serious, he put his face in front of hers: "Four: I turn you and your ships over to the New Republic."
"You are crazy. Absolutely crazy if you think you can get away with this."
Letting her drop unceremoniously to the floor and leaving her there, he sat back into his chair, waiting for her to get up. "Admiral," he began quietly, "I am offering you a chance here."
"To be tried as war criminal?"
"As far as I recall you never fought in the war." That cut her short. He could practically see her thoughts and smiled lazily. "You see? this can work out to our mutual advantage. Of course, I will give you and your troops time to think this through. Maybe some of you want to return to the Empire, though I would like to spare you having to join that sad rabble. It would be a waste."
Lifting her head to meet his eyes she finally asked: "How long?"
With the sun-crusher safely embedded in the planet Yavin´s super-hot core, Luke Skywalker began training his four students. Kyp was a nice kid, eager and willing. And he had the greatest potential of them all. There should have been competition, but they made a good team. Streen´s calmness cooled Gantoris´hot temper and Kyp found a fatherly friend in Kam Solusar. The former Dark Jedi was a great help to Luke in the first days, sharing with him the teachings of his own father, a Jedi Master. As far as Luke was concerned, Kam didn´t need any training at all. And so he gladly accepted his input. Streen was keeping mostly to himself, when he was not together with Gantoris. One of the first lesson´s Luke put his students to were trips into the jungle of Yavin 4, to get a feel for the living Force. He paired them differently each time, and sometimes Kam or Gantoris would take off into the forest alone. Nothing to worry about though. Or so he thought.
Kyp Durron was fighting to keep up with Gantoris. The taller man was moving quickly and determinedly through the undergrowth, his greater height and strenght serving him better than Kyp´s smaller frame. "Gantoris!" he called ahead., "Let´s make a break, ok?" Gantoris turned around, his dark eyes ablaze. Fixing his gaze on the already seated youngster, who was covered in dust and scratches, the older man grunted an affirmative and sat down next to the other. They shared some water, breathing the humid air deeply and relaxed. "You know," Kyp began suddenly, "When I am a Jedi Knight I will bring peace to all people and bring the bad people to justice. Because justice is what is right. Some bad things happened to me and my family and I´m going to make sure that the people who did that to us won´t harm anyone anymore." His young face was shining with zeal, "What do you dream of, Gantoris?" - "What I dream of?" Gantoris´ eyes fixed on a place far off in the jungle and he smiled wickedly, before he answered: "I dream of leading my people into safety, to a better place, a place they deserve. And I will do anything to make that dream come true. And I know someone who could teach us just that." Back in the Great Temple of Yavin an unseen presence was laughing in delight.
The next morning in the academy´s canteen. "Kyp?" The boy was eating his breakfast bleary eyed. "Hey, Kyp!" Kam called again. "Hm?" the kid answered wearily. "Didn´t you sleep well?" - "Oh. No. I slept alright," Kyp said slowly, as if picking his way through an unfamiliar swamp. "Am I supposed to believe that?" Kam laughed, but was interruped by a sharp "Leave him alone," from Gantoris. He stood straight and tall, dressed a ll in black, and a lightsaber handle was dangling from his belt. "Gantoris," Kam acknowledged him, staring fixedly at the weapon.
"See something you don´t like?" Gantoris mocked.
"Yes. Where did you get that lightsaber from?"
"I built it."
"All alone? I find that hard to believe, Gantoris." His eyes narrowing, Gantoris stepped towards Kam:
"Perhaps you are just envious, Kam Solusar."
"Why should I? I have my own lightsaber, that I built with my own hands."
"Perhaps you would care to prove if you can wield it also?" The atmosphere was dangerously charged and in the middle of it all sat Kyp semingly fighting a headache.
"Gantoris?" he whispered, "Can we go please?"
Surprised, Solusar turned towards the kid, then his eyes darted back to Gantoris, who wore a triumphant smile on his dark face. He´s fighting for dominance and Kyp is the price, Kam realized, watching the two of them leave, I have to talk to Luke real soon. But the Jedi Master was off with Streen, practising with him to shut out the thoughts of other beings. Kam went to search for them. Finally he found both Luke and the old man seated cross-legged in the middle of a clearing, their eyes closed in deep concentration.
"Kam," Luke said calmly and opened his eyes.
"Kyp and Gantoris are acting strangely."
"What do you mean?" Just then they all felt an immense disturbance in the Force.
"What is happening?!" Streen cried out in dismay.
"The sun-crusher," was all that Luke whispered before he sprinted for the Great Temple, with Kam hard on his heels. But they were too late. The deadly and invincible ship was rising majestically towards open space. "How could that have happened?" Luke was asking himself aloud. But there was no answer to be seen.
Later he and Kam were facing Mon Mothma and Leia via holocom."You are telling me that two of your students have turned Darkside and have taken the sun-crusher the Force knows where? Not on top of everything else. Have you at least managed to contact your father?"
"He´s maintaining silence. So I guess he is busy."
"Busy. Busy with what, I wonder? If I may be so bold as to ask what exactly you are teaching at your academy, Master Skywalker?" Mon Mothma had never been so cold towards Luke. The stress must be getting to her, Luke thought sourly.
"If you doubt my teachings you are welcome to join us," he bit back, immediately regretting his words when he saw Leia´s expression.
"Luke, this is serious. The Senate is considering to put the Jedi under the Republic´s control. They don´t want you to run around doing what you like. And this will only strengthen their position." Luke paled visibly, but it was Kam who asked:
"Is that it then? After all our efforts they still don´t trust us?" Mon Mothma´s face hardened:
"Under these circumstances, Kam Solusar, their concerns are more than justified."
"What about Leia and her children?" Luke whispered, "Do they want to lock them away too?"
"Noone´s talking about anything remotedly like..."
"You would get there eventually," Luke cut in coldly. Shaking her head Mon Mothma tried to reassure him:
"Please, we all know and appreciate you, Luke. But we must nevertheless ask you and your remaining students to come back to Coruscant until all of this is solved." Looking at each other, Luke and Kam finally nodded grimly.
"Consider us already there."
"Thank you." Then there was only Leia left. Luke thought he saw tears in her eyes.
"They are scared, Luke, really scared. And I think the only one who can fix this mess is Father," a sudden smile lit up her face,"As Han said just this morning: He got us into it and he´s got to get us out again."
"Then let´s hope that he´ll be back soon."
The rest of the day Kam, Streen and Luke spent with packing their belongings. Streen was not happy to leave Yavin 4. He feared the noise of Coruscant more than whatever was lurking in the shadows here. With his two students finally aboard their ship, Luke made a final round through the academy. Standing in front of the dais in the great hall, he closed his eyes, letting his mind drift. Then he felt something and he opened his eyes again. In front of him hovered what seemed a dark spectre. The man´s skin and hair were ebony black, slick like an exquisite statue. The tatoo of a black sun shone on his high forehead. He was smiling faintly. "Who are you?" Luke asked when he found his voice again. "My name is Exar Kun, Master Skywalker, Dark Lord of the Sith, just like your father." - "My father..." - "Oh yes," the dark man laughed," and you will not stand in the way of the new Sith Brotherhood. I will gladly see to that." raising his hands reminiscent of Palpatine before he had poured Force Lightning into Luke´s helpless body, the Dark Lord´s face twisted into a feral snarl. The young Jedi Master took a step back, bracing himself, put nothing prepared him for the beastial onslaught of Dark power from Exar Kun. Before he lost consciousness, Luke Skywalker screamed for help. Kam and Streen heard him and ran to his aid. But they were too late.
They found his prone body at the foot of the stairs leading up to the dais in the great hall of the temple. "Master Skywalker!" Streen whispered, his eyes seaching frantically for the attacker. A few steps away Kam stood still as stone, listening with all his senses. Nothing was to be heard or felt. Finally he turned towards Streen, who was now kneeling on the floor and cradling Luke´s head in his lap.
"There´s no way we are leaving him behind. We have to find out who´s behind all this."
"What do you suggest?"
"We are staying here."
A few days later a small fleet of New Republic warships was hoovering over Yavin 4, poised for action. The Senate didn´t want to take any chances now and only hesitantly allowed Leia, Han and their children to visit the two Jedi apprentices and their fallen master onplanet.
Both Kam and Streen were grim-faced, with New Republic soldiers crowding the Great Temple´s halls. It was obvious if not said openly, that both were considered to be under arrest. Stepping forward to embrace Kam, Leia got a first glance at Luke, who was lying on a makeshift bed in the middle of the great hall, with medics all around him. "Luke!" she cried and knelt at his side, crying. Han followed with the twins, fighting back tears himself. Who had done this to the Jedi Master? Who had that power? Hidden deeply in the shadows, Exar Kun was laughing silently. Those fools, those stupid fools! Gantoris and Kyp were out there and would increase his power by their actions, no doubt. And given time, he would be free again.
Then all Jedi present felt the huge disturbance in the Force when the sun-crusher claimed it´s first victim.
Gantoris and Kyp, drunk with power, made their way ever deeper into Imperial territory.
Three planets had fallen by then and there seemed no end to what they could do. They would wipe the empire off the face of the galaxy forever, freeing all people of the Imperial threat.
Filled with these glorious thoughts they couldn´t believe their luck, when by chance they stumbled upon Daala´s fleet in deep space. They were hailed, but didn´t answer. Giddy with adrenaline and exhaution, their faces flushed, they prepared the sun-crusher for the attack. But all that happened, was nothing. Nothing. In bewilderment, for none of them was expert in this complex a machinery, they tried to fix the ship. To no effect. A powerful tractor beam locked on the sun-crusher, dragging them slowly but unstoppably towards the lead star destroyer, depositing the now incapacitated weapon in an empty hangar bay. Gantoris opted for an all-out attack, but Kyp remembered that they had a friend aboard and cautioned the older man.
So they let themselves be escorted onto the command bridge by a phalanx of white-clad stormtroopers. But the man seated in the command chair was very different from the one Kyp remembered. With his fingers steepled in front of his chest, long legs folded elegantly, Anakin Skywalker looked more dangerous and sinister than the young man remembered, banning everyone else present into the background. His blue eyes were literally burning into their heads, rooting around in their brains with a ruthless hunger. His face darkening suddenly, the Dark Lord stood.
"Kyp Durron. Gantoris." Slow, measured steps took him over the not so short distance towards the two Jedi. "I can see that you have embraced the Dark with a vengeance. Good. Then you might join me, if you like. Or else die."
"Who are you?" Gantoris asked loudly, his tone arrogant and challenging, but he seemed slightly unsettled by the curiously husky voice of this dark man. Anakin answered him with a smile:
"My name is well known, Gantoris. I am Darth Vader, last Dark Lord of the Sith."
Kyp was choking with shock and surprise, but Gantoris roared a defiant battlecry, with his lightsaber activated charging the tall warlord, who stepped aside easily. Kyp took in the surprised faces on the bridge crew´s faces, saw the open-mouthed Admiral Daala.
"Gantoris!" he called, but was too late. Gantoris swung his lightsaber up, but Vader caught the blade with his right hand, and with a Force blow hurled Gantoris over half the bridge.
"You challenge me, Jedi?"
"Gantoris, stop!" Kyp was yelling, but Gantoris´ anger took hold of him and he hurled himself at the Dark Lord bodily. Kyp didn´t see clearly what happened next, heard only the awful sound of breaking bone and then felt Gantoris´ body slacken and go limp. "You killed him," the young man whispered, disbelieving. Darth Vader turned around slowly, dropping Gantoris like so much cold meat.
"What about you, boy? Do you want to fight me too?" Suddenly realizing what was going on here, Kyp shook his head vehemently.
"No. I can see what you are trying. But you won´t get me." A horrible smile flashed over Anakin´s face.
"Well done, Kyp. You might make a good Jedi Knight someday. If you survive."
It was Daala who stepped between the two men, facing down Anakin:
"You lied to us. You betrayed us and now it turns out you are an even bigger traitor than we thought. Kill us now, or leave this ship," she hissed.
Kyp was only waiting for the Dark Lord´s anger to claim her, but the reaction they got wasn´t what they had expected.
"No, Admiral, you won´t goad me into anything. I had a plan, when I came aboard this ship, but it seems to be irrelevant now. There is something more important I must do than bring you to heel. You may leave, do whatever you like, and I don´t doubt that we will meet again."
"Count on it."
"Very well. Kyp, you take Gantoris,"Anakin ordered, making to leave the bridge. Only then did th young man realize that Gantoris was only unconscious, but recovering. His right arm was broken and his lightsaber lay a few meters to his right. Quickly moving to his side he slung the man´s left arm over his shoulder, heaving him up and dragging him away, following the Dark Lord. Noone bothered them while they left. Probabaly think it would be suicide and they might even be right, Kyp mused. Anakin boarded the sun-crusher, revived the systems effortlessly and pointed Kyp towards the co-pilot´s station. The young Jedi disposited Gantoris in one of the bunks, then strapped in beside Anakin.
"Let´s go."
"Where to?"
"Yavin 4, I guess. There´s some unfinished business waiting for me there."
"You mean Exar Kun?" Turning towards Kyp sharply, Anakin frowned.
"Yes. Exar Kun. I had hoped that Luke would recognize the danger in the Temple and set you students to conquer it. I can see that he´s let himself be distracted."
"It´s not his fault."
"You bet it is, son. But all said and done, I should never have encouraged his decision of taking Yavin 4 as the academy´s site. Exar Kun is more dangerous than one would expect from a spectre."
"Yeah. I guess Gantoris and I can see that now. He´s blinded us to reality. We only wanted to put an end to everything bad, not realizing what we were really doing."
"Believe me Kyp, I know that feeling well." Heading into hyperspace, they had their own brooding thoughts to content with. It wasn´t a pleasant ride.
Yavin 4´s sky was filled with warships when they arrived and some of them opened fire immediately at the tiny ship. "Whoa!" Anakin exclaimed, letting the sun-crusher dance wildly through the laser volleys. "This is mine and Gantoris`doing," Kyp whispered in a small voice. But Skywalker rolled his eyes in disgust. "Stop placing the blame, kid. Do something to solve this mess."
"Ok." Leaning towards the comm, Kyp hailed the next ship and promptly got General Madine on the line.
"You better have a good excuse, Durron," the man barked sharply. Swallowing hard before answering, Kyp replied hoarsely:
"We surrender." Madine seemed slightly taken aback:
"What? Yeah, right. Stop your machines and stand down your weapon´s system. We´ll take you aboard." Kyp reached over to comply, but Anakin grabbed his wrist tightly.
"Ouch!"
"Are you mad? We are going down there now, you understand?" Veering the ship away from the New Republic flagship, he dove straight for the planet surface.
"Durron!" Madine screamed over the comm, "You are only making things harder for you and your friend."
"Come now, Madine," Anakin answered calmly, "you can´t harm this ship and they will surrender, when we are onplanet. Is that a deal?"
"You," the General hissed, not wanting his troops to hear just who he was speaking to, "There´s a trial waiting for you, you know?"
But the Dark Lord broke the conection and concentrated on flying. At least the other ships had ceased firing upon them.
Anakin landed the sun-cusher in front of the Great Temple, with New Republic soldiers running towards them, weapon´s drawn. Without any comment he unstrapped and left the ship, pushing past the surprised soldiers, and marching towards the Temple´s entrance. Upon reaching the doorway, he closed his eyes, searching for Exar Kun´s presence and qiuckly found it. A commotion started somewhere behind him and he turned back to the ship only to see Kyp in a heated argument with the task commander about wether he was allowed to enter the temple or not. The youth´s sullen face was flushed red and he sought the Dark Lord´s eyes for reassurance. He didn´t get it as Anakin had already focused his attention elsewhere and was heading deeper into the great structure. He met more troopers on his way, but ignored them and their inquiries. Finally he entered the Great Chamber, where Leia was kneeling next to her brother and Han was playing with the children in a corner. "Leia!" Skywalker called her and she looked up, her eyes tired.
Recognizing him, she quickly got to her feet and closed the distance to him, hugging her arms around his torso. She was crying now. "There, there," her father tried to reassure her, feeling foolish. They held each other for a while, when Han came over, his eyes silently accusing. Anakin nodded at him: "Han, please get the apprentices in here. All of them." Solo left without a question. "What is your plan?" asked quietly, her fear palpatable in the Force. "You will see, my princess. This isn´t too bad." Then he let her go and went to Luke´s side, stroking his forehead tenderly. "I never should have left you alone. You two are all I have and now I cannot understand why I ever choose to live apart from my children." Looking over his shoulder at Leia, he smiled: "But mistakes are made to learn from them, right?"
She simply nodded, then turned around when Han came back with Kam, Streen, Kyp and a very pale Gantoris on his wake. They all were escorted by about twenty grim-faced troopers. Anakin took in their presence coldly, then motioned their commander forward.
"This is none of your business. You and your men will leave," he ordered them sharply. But the man didn´t budge:
"My orders come from General Madine directly and a civilian cannot give me any others that would override his."
"Civilian? I am not a civilian, commander. And this is not an order. It is a threat. If you don´t leave I will make you leave, in pieces if need be. Go now."
Visibly paling, the man considered his options. Clearly he didn´t know exactly who he was facing, but it was very obvious that the other meant what he had said.
"We will leave for now, but I will speak to the General."
"Do that, there´s a good man," Anakin mocked and waited until the troopers were well out of earshot.
Turning towards the Jedi, he raised his arms high, suddenly looking even more impressive and menacing. When he spoke, his voice was a low and angry growl:
"All of you, consider this a lesson about the dangers of the Dark Side. You all have experienced it in one way or another, as victim or as the one using it, and you all have learned to fear it. You, Kyp and Gantoris, have both fallen and done unspeakable deeds in the service of the Dark Side. At the time you thought your actions were right, and from a certain point of view they surely were. But it is not the view the Jedi take. And in the end, that is what you will be. Kam Solusar has been on the Dark Side, but has found his way back into the Light. Leia has been a victim of the Dark Side numerous times, but the encounters have made her a stronger person, a better Jedi, just as it was with her brother. You, Streen," and here Anakin smiled," seem to be the only one in this group who has not directly experienced teh Dark Side. Yet. Now your master has fallen victim to a very powerful foe, the Dark Lord Exar Kun. It was I who put him to this test and I admit to having badly misjudged the situation. I take the blame and the consequences. But first you will learn this lesson, the lesson about the power of the Light." Having ended his little speech Anakinlet his arms fall to his sides: "Exar Kun, I call you for this last battle." And the dark spectre came, appearing next to Anakin with a tight smile. The two Dark Lords nodded at each other, then Anakin moved to Han´s side, folding his arms and told the other Jedi quietly: "He´s all yours."
Kyp and Kam were the first to move, both holding lightsabers in hand. Gantoris had his handed over to the younger man, as it was useless to him with his broken arm. He and Streen hung back a bit, but Leia joined the other two. She ignited her brother´s lightsaber and threw a smile towards her father, quoting the old saying : "To conquer the darkness is to increase the light." Then the three Jedi crossed their blades in a sizzling burst of light and power, increasing the light through the Force. Now Gantoris joined in their effort and the large chamber lit up so spectacularly that Han had to shield his eyes. Exar Kun´s smile had vanished and he screamed in outrage, but he was too late. Realizing his part in this lesson, Streen bundled the light and threw it at the long-dead Dark Lord, whose silhouette was back-lit by the brilliance for a second and vanished forever. Exhausted, Leia, Kam and Kyp extinguished their blades.
Anakin had moved over to the twins, holding them in his arms, smiling at the others. "Wow," Han commented, impressed. And then Luke woke up, shaking his head dizzily, trying to orientate himself. He was immediately rushed by his sister and apprentices, who welcomed him, laughing and relived. "That´s what I call a happy ending," his brother-in-law told the world in general and took Jaina from Anakin´s arm.
This turned out to be untrue though. When Luke and the others finally managed to get outside the cold temple into Yavin´s sunlit afternoon, the New Republic troopers were still there. And General Madine had joined them. "The New Republic senate has just sent the order that we are to return you all to Coruscant immediatly. I hope there won´t be any complications," he added with a sidelong glance at Anakin, "And, by the way, it´s good to see you up and about again, Master Skywalker." The Jedi looked at each other in confusion. At least the apprentices. Leia, Han, Luke and Anakin wore grim expressions. They knew that the Jedi Academy´s future was on the line and with all that had happened, it didn´t look to be a rosy future at all.
It was a few days later, that the fleet arrived at the New Republic capitol. The Jedi were immediatly escorted into the Senate Chamber, where the Defense Council was already assembled. Mon Mothma and the others stood, when the seven entered. Leia had sent Han to get the twins home and into bed. Now they were arrayed in a single row, with Luke in the middle and Leia and Kam flanking him. Then, on Kam´s side Streen and Gantoris and next to Leia was Kyp. Anakin was standing a little apart from them, since the academy´s fate would be decided first. Or so they had been told.
"Master Skywalker," Mon Mothma began, her voice grave, "The Senate has reviewed the happenings connected to your academy and student with concern. It seems to us, that the Jedi need more control than you can offer. Therefore, the Senate proposes a Council to which you will directly report on the progress of your students, their assignments and so on, to be reviewed, and if necessary changes will be made." Luke interrupted her:
"Excuse me, but what qualifications would that particular Council have concerning the Jedi?"
"Obviously, the Council would have access to all resources and information we have about the Jedi. And they would of course value your input. Since there will be only two students in your first class, the Council will be able to evaluate them with greater care and in more detail. "
"Two students?" Luke asked coldly.
"Yes. Obviously, Kyp Durron and Gantoris are not fit for the task of becoming Jedi Knights. Furthermore, their crimes call for severe punishment." Leia could feel Kyp despair at her side and she quietly put an arm around his shoulder to comfort him. Gantoris only seemed resigned to his fate.
"Severe punishment?" Luke again, "Meaning you want them executed?" Now it was Borsk Fey`lya who spoke up:
"Luke, you can´t expect us to let them live. In the eyes of the public and in respect for their victims they deserve only that one sentence. We don´t want Palpatine´s New Order back."
"But you are proposing just that, reviving the New Order," Anakin Skywalker´s rough voice made the Bothan senator jump. But it got the Dark Lord everyone´s attention. "You want to control the Jedi, make them the New Republic´s elite force. In fact, that is what Palpatine did with his Dark Jedi. Only now you try to package it as "protecting the people". May I remind you that the Jedi Order in the Old Republic existed apart from the government? There was a mutual exchange of information and the Jedi Council decided when and how to act in service of the people. But not by their order."
"Lord Skywalker, we will decide your case later," Mon Mothma admonished him, turning back to Luke.
"No. This matter will be discussed now. With me," he shot back harshly.
"You do know that you will be tried for treason?" Fey´lya asked him sweetly. But Anakin only smiled at him:
"I am not citizen of the New Republic, remember?"
"Then you have now right to speak in this chamber!"
"Silence! Both of you!" Mon Mothma shouted, now truly angry, "You have broken the Truce of Onderon, Lord Skywalker," she accused him.
"In what way, if I may ask?"
"You have endangered the New Republic by your selfish actions."
"It was never part of the truce that I not endanger the Republic, only that I not attack it directly."
"Which is the same thing."
"It is not. I had Daala perfectly under control."
"But not Exar Kun," Luke put in quietly. Anakin turned on him:
"May I remind you of the pact we made? That you and your studenst would balance me up? Perhaps you should have tried harder."
Leia was speechless at the turn this was taking. Now father and son were fighting, when they should form a unified front againste the Council´s opposition. She could see Borsk Fey´lya smiling. This was bad.
"Lord Skywalker, since you want your case discussed, here is our proposition," Mon Mothma began again: "You will surrender to the New Republic and accept all consequences, as you had so boldly stated in the Truce. You will stay here on Cosucant, where we can have an eye on you. Think about it. It is either this, living unmolested and close to your family, or we will unveil your past identity to the public and try you for your crimes in the service of the Empire."
Throwing his head back Anakin laughed out loud. His eyes were twinkling with malevolent glee as he answered: "You want to admit to the public that you have protected me so far? Bad move, that. But to give you my answer now: If you want war, you can have it. I will not become someone´s slave or prisoner again. Neither should my children. Clipping a Jedi´s wings is like crippling the Light and in the end only darkness would come from it. You are making a big mistake. And though you don´t realize it today, a time will come when your choices will crush you under a mountain of guilt. I am leaving. And I advise you all," here he swept his left arm over the assembled Jedi," to follow my lead. I have seen the Old Republic and the Empire fall and each time it was the government who misused the Jedi as tools for it´s own means. Let my fate be an example to you all, of what will happen if you stay."
Throwing a last pained glance at his children, not daring to embrace them in front of the Council´s cold eyes, he stalked from the room without looking back, and felt just the same as he had when he first left his mother behind on Tattoine to follow Qui Gon Jinn to his destiny.
"He´s right, you know?" Luke said finally. Leia stared at him:
"No, Luke, you can´t be serious," she begged and somehow none of the Jedi realized that they were completely ignoring the Council, whose members were becoming more restless with each word spoken. Luke´s head came up and Leia saw understanding and resignation in them:
"The Jedi have lost the people´s respect and earned nothing but their fear. What we must do now is put their fears at ease. But to do that my students need training to become what they should be: guardians of peace and justice, and above all the protectors of those who cannot protect themselves. As I see it the New Republic government is very capable of protecting itself. It is our job to make sure that its interests don´t hurt the people it represents. Standing apart from the government is the only solution. Father is right there. But since they don´t trust us, we must leave for now, until we can truly prove ourselves."
"I understand, but I cannot leave my family behind, nor the people. I am sorry, Luke," tears stood in Leia´s eyes as she stepped forward to embrace her brother tightly. She stroked his cheek, smiling bravely: "Don´t leave without saying good-bye, you hear? And I hope that when I am ready, I will still be welcome to be a part of the Jedi order."
"Always, sister, always," Luke was smiling too. Then they broke their embrace and, gathering his students around him, the Jedi Master bowed towards the council assembly: "We bid you farewell for now. But perhaps we can find an agreement in the future that is satisfactory for all sides. Until then, let us fly free and without restraints, that we may find our true way in the Light."
With these words, the Jedi left. The Council sat speechless and one after the other, each member turned their eyes upon Leia Organa Solo, who stood smiling faintly, her head held high and proud.
"Thank you for staying, Leia," Mon Mothma said finally, truly moved. But her protege turned fierce brown eyes on her:
"Don´t think I sided with your point of view, Mon Mothma. I took the side of the people." Then she too swept out of the chamber, to join her own little family.
That evening was very quiet. The children were sleeping and Han was only digesting what his wife had told him of the happenings in the Senate Chamber that afternoon.
"I can´t believe that Luke chose to abandon us."
"He didn´t, dear, but from all that has happened, I can only guess that he needs peace and quiet, not any governmental distractions, to begin treaching in earnest. Father saw that from the first moment Luke wanted to start the academy and he has told him over and over again that the time wasn´t right."
"You realize of course, that they´ll be treated as outlaws, traitors even. And if Mon Mothma is true to her words, your father will find the New Republic military along with the Imps and bounty hunters on his trail pretty soon. Not that he couldn´t handle that, I´m sure."
Leia smiled at him and leaned forward to cuddle against his chest. Suddenly her head came up and she frowned: "They are coming," she announced and stood.
Only seconds later the door opened and her brother and father entered the room. Both wore smiles on their faces. Leia came forward and embraced them both. She sighed deeply. Then Luke slipped away to say good-bye to his sleeping niece and nephew.
"Little Anakin will be coming home soon too," Leia told her father, who had stayed behind.
"Good. They are wonderful children. I really envy you for the experience of getting to raise them," he replied with sadness in his voice. Then he brightened again: "But my children make me proud too. Don´t worry about Luke, I will keep an eye on him. From a distance. And you? Will you be alright?"
For a moment she turned her eyes to the floor, overwhelmed by her own feeling. Meeting his blue-eyed gaze she answered with conviction: "Yes. We live and learn, don´t we?"
He simply nodded and smiled again. "I am ready," Luke announced from the direction of where Han now stood. The two men embraced.
"Have you said good-bye to Chewie?"
"Of course. I´ll see you again, Han."
"Better sooner than later. kid. Best of luck to you. And give my regards to Kyp too."
"I will." With a final round of embraces the two Skywalkers vanished into Coruscant ´s night, leaving the New Republic behind.