***********************************************
Chapter Three: Action Must Be Taken
*
Padme Skywalker, followed by her daughter, and Wedge Antilles, stepped into a conference room in the Rebel Based. They all sat down around the metal table in the center of the room. Padme looked pointedly at Wedge.
"Okay, Wedge, what were you talking about? What do you mean 'our people' need my help?"
"The people of Naboo, Lady Skywalker," said Wedge.
"I wish you would stop calling me that and call me Padme. And how can I possibly help the people of Naboo when they are all dead?"
"They're not, Milady," said Wedge.
"Wait," said Leia. "Naboo was destroyed by the Death Star."
"But not everyone was on Naboo at the time," said Wedge. "There are survivors, just like myself and Lady Skywalker."
"I've always supposed there would be," said Padme. "I was hoping...after this war was over that I could somehow track down as many Naboo as possible and maybe even...rebuild something of our society, but..."
"They have already done some of that, Milady," said Wedge. "Many of the Naboo, who were on the moons of Naboo when the Death Star attacked...they have banded together. Of course, they could not stay on the moons. Without Naboo to hold them in orbit, they became uninhabitable. So, they left to seek a new world elsewhere. They ended up on a small world near the Urishe Maze. It's a forested world called Triall."
"How did you come across them?" asked Leia.
"By accident," said Wedge. "I met up with one of them on Corellia. He was there to acquire medical supplies. His name was Levlin. He led me to Triall, where I found our people. Their living in camps made from materials in the ships they came in."
"How many?" asked Padme.
"At least eight hundred people, Milady," said Wedge.
Padme rose from her chair and walked slowly around the room. "This is greater...than I could have hoped for," she said as she slowly paced around the room. "Eight hundred Naboo still alive."
"And a few Gungans," said Wedge. "About forty, all told. Merchants on the moons when Naboo was destroyed."
"You said they need our help," said Padme, stopping and turning to face Wedge. The latter rose from his chair and came closer to Padme.
"Milady, the Imperials...they know that some of the Naboo survived, and they know they are on Triall. They have been making a series of air raids on the Naboo camps over the past few weeks. I barely escaped during one of them. My friend, Levlin...was not so lucky. Apparently, the Emperor wishes to finish the job he started with our home world. At least, that's what the Naboo in the camps think."
"That MONSTER!" said Padme, slamming her fist into the table. "Hasn't he done ENOUGH! He destroys our home world, now he wishes to destroy the whole of the Naboo people! WHY?!"
"I do not know, Milady," said Wedge.
"Wait, why are they only sending a few fighters to strafe the camps?" asked Leia. "One star destroyer could probably finish them in an hour or two."
"I don't know," said Wedge. "Maybe they are all busy, and the fighters are just keeping the Naboo pinned until a destroyer is free to come and wipe them out. That is why they need your help, Milady. I didn't know where to take them to safety. And they are so frightened...so beat up and exhausted. But when I told them you were alive and well, and fighting with the Rebellion against the Empire, their spirits livened. They want you to come to them, to lead them to safety."
"I don't know where I would lead them either," said Padme. "Where could we go?"
"Mother, I had a thought," said Leia. "Maybe they could go to Lessalia."
Lessalia was the world that Anakin and Padme had found all those years ago. They had been able to hide on the small, outer rim colony, from Palpatine's evil vendetta against Anakin, and raise their children in peace. Anakin's and Padme's other son, Ruwee, was still there, staying with friends and the family's trusted droid, C3PO.
"Leia, dear, I don't know if the colonists would want that," said Padme. "The Naboo coming there would outnumber the colonists themselves. Could they handle the influx?"
"What if it was a temporary solution, until the war ended or maybe until somewhere else safe could be found," countered Leia.
"We must do something, Milady," said Wedge. "Otherwise the survivors of our race will die."
Padme was thoughtful for a few moments before coming to a decision.
"I will go to Triall, to my people. Leia, tell Captain Solo he'll be taking me in the Falcon. Wedge, you will accompany me."
"Of course, Milady," said Wedge.
"I'm coming, too," said Leia.
Padme smiled. "I figured as much. I'll talk to Mon Mothma, explain to her where I'm going. I must leave a message for Anakin as well. I would contact him now, but...Luke's trials are too important. When we get to Triall, we'll lead our people to Lessalia. I am a member of Lessalia's colonial council. I'll find a way to find temporary refuge for the Naboo there."
**
A day and a half after leaving Hoth, the small ship carrying Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Luke arrived at Dagobah. When they entered the atmosphere, they immediately encountered zero visibility on visuals and on the scopes. They Jedi had to use their force powers to navigate the ship to a safe landing. They could also feel another's force pull guiding the Jedi from the surface, a powerful force sense at that.
After the ship settled in for a landing in the mucky swamps of Dagobah, the Jedi stepped off of their ship, their hoods draped over their faces and their cloaks covering their shoulders. Obi-Wan led them into the clearing the ship was in and stopped. Anakin and Luke stood beside him.
The three Jedi stood perfectly still for what seemed like an eternity. No one said anything nor made any attempt at movement, but merely stood amidst the sounds and smells and foliage of the swamp around them. Finally, Luke's youthful exuberance could no longer take the waiting.
"Father," whispered Luke. "What are we doing?"
Anakin was about to silence his Padawan son, when a voice from the woods spoke.
"Patience, your Padawan lacks, Master Skywalker," said the voice. It was a very familiar one to the two older Jedi standing in the clearing.
Anakin smiled. "He does, Master," he said. "But patience can be learned."
"My former Padawan is living proof of that," said Obi-Wan.
"And sense my presence, he did not," said the voice. "Unfocused was he on the flow of the force. Standing here ten minutes, I have been, for the Padawan to sense me."
"I didn't know I was supposed to be..."
"Silence!" said the voice. "Excuses mean nothing. Search me out with the force. Locate me, you will."
Luke closed his eyes, and opened himself up to the force. He picked up on his Father's and Obi-Wan's force traces immediately. Then, he extended his reach with the force, but found it difficult. The planet was so full of life in many forms. It made it difficult for the young Padawan to search through it all. Finally, he picked up a force trace from the trees to his left.
Luke turned, and saw a small, green figure emerge from the treeline, walking with a little wooden stick. The Padawan found himself confused. Surely, this can't be...
"Why can I not be the one you seek, Padawan?" asked Yoda. "Judge me by your preconceptions, you do? Hmmm. Wonder do I, whether ready this Padawan is for the trials."
Anakin and Obi-Wan took off their hoods and bowed. Luke followed suit. "Master," said Obi-Wan. "It is good to see you."
"And you, my old friend," said Yoda. "Saddened, I am. Old friends that are left...are so few. And Master Skywalker. Finally decided to rejoin the galaxy, you have. And brought a son and Padawan, you did."
"Yes, Master," said Anakin. "I'm sorry I was away for so long."
"Necessary, it was," said Yoda. "To protect your family. Now, the future, you have secured. Perhaps."
Yoda stepped over to Luke, and ran his eyes up and down the Padawan. "Hmm," said Yoda. "Have your Mother's eyes, you do. Your Father's force strength is yours as well. But whether you have the discipline, the will, to be a Jedi. That is the question. Ready are you, Padawan Skywalker, to face the trial that awaits you?"
"I am, Master," said Luke.
"And Master Skywalker," said Yoda. "Judge your Padawan to be ready, you do?"
"Yes, Master," said Anakin.
"We shall see," said Yoda. "Luke Skywalker will take the trials, under one condition."
"What condition?" asked Luke. "What must I do?"
"Not you, young Skywalker," said Yoda. "Your Father. Make a decision, must he. A sacrifice for his past tread down the dark path, which almost forever dominated his destiny. He must make a sacrifice for his son to face the trials."
"What sort of sacrifice?" asked Anakin with a slight hint of surprise and nervousness, both closely guarded by a Jedi's discipline.
"In order for your son to face the trials," said Yoda. "Give up your wife, you must, Master Skywalker."
Chapter Three: Action Must Be Taken
*
Padme Skywalker, followed by her daughter, and Wedge Antilles, stepped into a conference room in the Rebel Based. They all sat down around the metal table in the center of the room. Padme looked pointedly at Wedge.
"Okay, Wedge, what were you talking about? What do you mean 'our people' need my help?"
"The people of Naboo, Lady Skywalker," said Wedge.
"I wish you would stop calling me that and call me Padme. And how can I possibly help the people of Naboo when they are all dead?"
"They're not, Milady," said Wedge.
"Wait," said Leia. "Naboo was destroyed by the Death Star."
"But not everyone was on Naboo at the time," said Wedge. "There are survivors, just like myself and Lady Skywalker."
"I've always supposed there would be," said Padme. "I was hoping...after this war was over that I could somehow track down as many Naboo as possible and maybe even...rebuild something of our society, but..."
"They have already done some of that, Milady," said Wedge. "Many of the Naboo, who were on the moons of Naboo when the Death Star attacked...they have banded together. Of course, they could not stay on the moons. Without Naboo to hold them in orbit, they became uninhabitable. So, they left to seek a new world elsewhere. They ended up on a small world near the Urishe Maze. It's a forested world called Triall."
"How did you come across them?" asked Leia.
"By accident," said Wedge. "I met up with one of them on Corellia. He was there to acquire medical supplies. His name was Levlin. He led me to Triall, where I found our people. Their living in camps made from materials in the ships they came in."
"How many?" asked Padme.
"At least eight hundred people, Milady," said Wedge.
Padme rose from her chair and walked slowly around the room. "This is greater...than I could have hoped for," she said as she slowly paced around the room. "Eight hundred Naboo still alive."
"And a few Gungans," said Wedge. "About forty, all told. Merchants on the moons when Naboo was destroyed."
"You said they need our help," said Padme, stopping and turning to face Wedge. The latter rose from his chair and came closer to Padme.
"Milady, the Imperials...they know that some of the Naboo survived, and they know they are on Triall. They have been making a series of air raids on the Naboo camps over the past few weeks. I barely escaped during one of them. My friend, Levlin...was not so lucky. Apparently, the Emperor wishes to finish the job he started with our home world. At least, that's what the Naboo in the camps think."
"That MONSTER!" said Padme, slamming her fist into the table. "Hasn't he done ENOUGH! He destroys our home world, now he wishes to destroy the whole of the Naboo people! WHY?!"
"I do not know, Milady," said Wedge.
"Wait, why are they only sending a few fighters to strafe the camps?" asked Leia. "One star destroyer could probably finish them in an hour or two."
"I don't know," said Wedge. "Maybe they are all busy, and the fighters are just keeping the Naboo pinned until a destroyer is free to come and wipe them out. That is why they need your help, Milady. I didn't know where to take them to safety. And they are so frightened...so beat up and exhausted. But when I told them you were alive and well, and fighting with the Rebellion against the Empire, their spirits livened. They want you to come to them, to lead them to safety."
"I don't know where I would lead them either," said Padme. "Where could we go?"
"Mother, I had a thought," said Leia. "Maybe they could go to Lessalia."
Lessalia was the world that Anakin and Padme had found all those years ago. They had been able to hide on the small, outer rim colony, from Palpatine's evil vendetta against Anakin, and raise their children in peace. Anakin's and Padme's other son, Ruwee, was still there, staying with friends and the family's trusted droid, C3PO.
"Leia, dear, I don't know if the colonists would want that," said Padme. "The Naboo coming there would outnumber the colonists themselves. Could they handle the influx?"
"What if it was a temporary solution, until the war ended or maybe until somewhere else safe could be found," countered Leia.
"We must do something, Milady," said Wedge. "Otherwise the survivors of our race will die."
Padme was thoughtful for a few moments before coming to a decision.
"I will go to Triall, to my people. Leia, tell Captain Solo he'll be taking me in the Falcon. Wedge, you will accompany me."
"Of course, Milady," said Wedge.
"I'm coming, too," said Leia.
Padme smiled. "I figured as much. I'll talk to Mon Mothma, explain to her where I'm going. I must leave a message for Anakin as well. I would contact him now, but...Luke's trials are too important. When we get to Triall, we'll lead our people to Lessalia. I am a member of Lessalia's colonial council. I'll find a way to find temporary refuge for the Naboo there."
**
A day and a half after leaving Hoth, the small ship carrying Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Luke arrived at Dagobah. When they entered the atmosphere, they immediately encountered zero visibility on visuals and on the scopes. They Jedi had to use their force powers to navigate the ship to a safe landing. They could also feel another's force pull guiding the Jedi from the surface, a powerful force sense at that.
After the ship settled in for a landing in the mucky swamps of Dagobah, the Jedi stepped off of their ship, their hoods draped over their faces and their cloaks covering their shoulders. Obi-Wan led them into the clearing the ship was in and stopped. Anakin and Luke stood beside him.
The three Jedi stood perfectly still for what seemed like an eternity. No one said anything nor made any attempt at movement, but merely stood amidst the sounds and smells and foliage of the swamp around them. Finally, Luke's youthful exuberance could no longer take the waiting.
"Father," whispered Luke. "What are we doing?"
Anakin was about to silence his Padawan son, when a voice from the woods spoke.
"Patience, your Padawan lacks, Master Skywalker," said the voice. It was a very familiar one to the two older Jedi standing in the clearing.
Anakin smiled. "He does, Master," he said. "But patience can be learned."
"My former Padawan is living proof of that," said Obi-Wan.
"And sense my presence, he did not," said the voice. "Unfocused was he on the flow of the force. Standing here ten minutes, I have been, for the Padawan to sense me."
"I didn't know I was supposed to be..."
"Silence!" said the voice. "Excuses mean nothing. Search me out with the force. Locate me, you will."
Luke closed his eyes, and opened himself up to the force. He picked up on his Father's and Obi-Wan's force traces immediately. Then, he extended his reach with the force, but found it difficult. The planet was so full of life in many forms. It made it difficult for the young Padawan to search through it all. Finally, he picked up a force trace from the trees to his left.
Luke turned, and saw a small, green figure emerge from the treeline, walking with a little wooden stick. The Padawan found himself confused. Surely, this can't be...
"Why can I not be the one you seek, Padawan?" asked Yoda. "Judge me by your preconceptions, you do? Hmmm. Wonder do I, whether ready this Padawan is for the trials."
Anakin and Obi-Wan took off their hoods and bowed. Luke followed suit. "Master," said Obi-Wan. "It is good to see you."
"And you, my old friend," said Yoda. "Saddened, I am. Old friends that are left...are so few. And Master Skywalker. Finally decided to rejoin the galaxy, you have. And brought a son and Padawan, you did."
"Yes, Master," said Anakin. "I'm sorry I was away for so long."
"Necessary, it was," said Yoda. "To protect your family. Now, the future, you have secured. Perhaps."
Yoda stepped over to Luke, and ran his eyes up and down the Padawan. "Hmm," said Yoda. "Have your Mother's eyes, you do. Your Father's force strength is yours as well. But whether you have the discipline, the will, to be a Jedi. That is the question. Ready are you, Padawan Skywalker, to face the trial that awaits you?"
"I am, Master," said Luke.
"And Master Skywalker," said Yoda. "Judge your Padawan to be ready, you do?"
"Yes, Master," said Anakin.
"We shall see," said Yoda. "Luke Skywalker will take the trials, under one condition."
"What condition?" asked Luke. "What must I do?"
"Not you, young Skywalker," said Yoda. "Your Father. Make a decision, must he. A sacrifice for his past tread down the dark path, which almost forever dominated his destiny. He must make a sacrifice for his son to face the trials."
"What sort of sacrifice?" asked Anakin with a slight hint of surprise and nervousness, both closely guarded by a Jedi's discipline.
"In order for your son to face the trials," said Yoda. "Give up your wife, you must, Master Skywalker."