From the Author: Sorry it took me so long to update. I came down very ill recently, and have been busy with grad school work. It's the holiday season, so I don't know when I will get to the next chapter after this, but I will try to make it soon.
Please review my story if you have the time, and let me know how you like it so far. A few comments would suffice. I'd love to get some more feedback on how my readers like the story.
Thanks, Ian K.
**************************************
Chapter Five: Specters in the Dark
*
Sio Bibble led the party from the Millennium Falcon into the demolished remains of the freighter, now used as a makeshift clinic. As Padme walked down the corridor of the ship, she was confronted by the sight of wounded and dying men, women, and children, suffering from various burns and injuries. Some of them had heard that Lady Amidalla had come, and were reaching out to her. Padme began to go to them, to take their hands briefly in a gesture of comfort. It was all that she could do for these people, and this knowledge was breaking Padme's heart.
Eventually, they got to a door, which led to a private room Sio Bibble was being housed in. According to the former Governor of Naboo's capital city of Theed, he had been injured in the last imperial attack. After Bibble lay down on a bed, the others began to settle into chairs to talk. But before Han could sit, Padme spoke to him.
"Han, do we have any medical supplies in the ship?" she asked.
"Some, but not much," said Han.
"Go to the ship, bring whatever supplies we have to this clinic. Distribute it to the medics."
Han hesitated, but finally nodded, leaving to perform his task.
Padme, meanwhile, put her head in her hands, exhausted after being confronted with the death and misery in the corridor. Leia came over and kneeled next to her Mother's chair. The daughter embraced her Mother to comfort her.
"Are you alright, Mother?" asked Leia.
"I...I don't know," said Padme. "I just...don't understand, why Palpatine is so bent on causing our people more suffering. He has destroyed our planet, but now attacks the few survivors. These people can't possibly hurt him."
"To wipe us all out would make a powerful statement to the galaxy," speculated Bibble. "Palpatine would have caused the extinction of an entire race. His own race, none the less. No one would doubt his power and his will to use it. To think, I once called that BASTARD a friend."
"You were not the only one who trusted him," said Padme. "Now, we are all paying for our mistakes."
"What form do the Imperial attacks take?" asked Leia, changing the subject from the past to the present.
"TIE fighters swoop into the camp every once in a while and strafe it," said Bibble. "They could wipe us out in one swift stroke. We had some fighters, but all of them have been shot down. We are...defenseless. But, all their fighters do is strafe us for a few seconds, then fly away again."
"It makes no sense," piped in Ralla. "Unless the Emperor has something else planned for us."
"Tell me, Governor, about Naboo," said Padme. "My parents, my family...the planet...before..."
"Your Father died a year before the planet was destroyed," said Bibble. "I attended his funeral. Your Mother...went to live with your sister and her family. They were all on Naboo when the Death Star struck."
Padme closed her eyes, trying her best to hold back her tears. She wished Anakin were here, so he could hold her in his strong and loving embrace, to comfort and protect her from her grief and despair. Leia had her arms around her Mother, attempting to substitute for her Father's absent comfort.
"My Father and I were on a trade mission to Alderaan when the Death Star attacked," said Ralla. "We returned in time to see the planet destroyed. The survivors, we found on the outer moon of the Naboo system. He had time to evacuate the moon before it became completely uninhabitable."
"Now that you are here, Milady," said Bibble, "we now finally have a reason to believe we can survive."
"I don't know how much help I can be," said Padme. "But I will do all I can, of course. For now, we need to prepare our people to evacuate this planet. I know of a place we can take them. But we need ships."
"There are two left in operation," said Ralla. "They are hidden in the forest, several miles from camp. But...not all of our people can fit in them."
"We can take some in the Falcon," said Wedge. "But not many. Perhaps the Rebellion could help us."
"They are on the run, Wedge," said Leia. "We've found safety for now, but we can't mount this kind of a rescue operation."
"There must be a way," said Padme. "I will find a way. I will not stand by and watch my people become a dead race. If it costs me my life, I will save my people."
**
In the dark jungles of Degobah, the sounds of clashing lightsabers were heard amidst the normal howls and shrieks of the native wildlife. In a small jungle clearing, two men dueled another in a fury of thrusts and parries. Luke was the one fighting alone, while Anakin and Obi-Wan made swift strikes at the younger man's defenses. At the edge of the glade, perched on top of a rock, Yoda watched as the Jedi dueled each other.
Even though the combat was restrained so as not to cause injury to any of the participants, it did not restrain the energy of the combat, as Luke's skills were pushed to the limit as he defended himself against the two older, more experienced Jedi. This was the latest test that he was experiencing after two weeks of trials so far on Degobah. He did not know how long each test would go on, nor how long the trials themselves would continue. When Luke asked Yoda or the other two Jedi how much longer the trials would continue, they would always answer with the same phrase. "Only you can determine that, Padawan." Luke still did not know what that meant, but he seemed to know that this statement did not give Luke the power to say "okay, show's over, trials are done, make me a Jedi."
Obi-Wan came at Luke with a series of powerful strikes, forcing the latter to use all of his strength to block the attacks with his saber. The latter was being pushed backward by the attack, and Luke could sense the presence of his Father behind him. He adeptly leapt out of the impending trap with a force enhanced jump. The young man somersaulted in mid-air, and landed behind Obi-Wan. Luke struck out with his saber, to have Obi-Wan block the attack. Anakin then charged forward, bringing his lightsaber into the contest.
"Enough," said Yoda, finally.
The three men immediately stopped, and deactivated their weapons. They turned and faced the Jedi Master.
"Fought well, you have, young Skywalker," said Yoda. "Have used the force and your skills wisely. Now come, we must move on to the next test."
Inwardly, Luke thought about how exhausted he was from the last test. Now, he had to move on to another. All he wanted to do was rest his aching muscles in a nice warm bath.
"A health spa, this is not, Padawan," said Yoda, as he led them away from the clearing. "Want hot baths, you do? Then in the wrong place, you are."
"Be mindful of broadcasting your thoughts, my son," said Anakin. "You have never been this physically or emotionally tested before. Your controls are weakened by stress."
"Forgive me, Father, its just that I haven't slept or..."
Luke stopped speaking suddenly, as he felt something stir in the force. It was an uncomfortable feeling that washed over him, a cold feeling that was associated with the dark side of the force. He stopped, and scanned the area around him with his thoughts. The other Jedi halted as well, saying nothing as Luke sought out the source of the dark surge in the force.
Finally, Luke's attentions were drawn to a cave to his right. He could almost feel a cold wind coming out of the cave, tinged with the stink of a slaughterhouse. A sense of dread threatened to overwhelm the young man, causing Luke to physically back away from the cave.
"No," said Yoda, stopping Luke's retreat. "Confront the darkness, you must. Trust in the force, you must. Go into the cave, you will."
Luke looked at Yoda, then at his Father. Anakin nodded, encouraging his son to obey Yoda's command. Luke approached the cave entrance, drawing his lightsaber from his belt as he did so.
"Your weapon," said Yoda. "You will not need it."
The Padawan nodded, returning his lightsaber to his belt. He stepped into the cave with great hesitation. Each step further into the darkness was harder than the last. It took all of Luke's strength and will to continue. Several minutes went by as Luke made his way through the darkness, letting the force guide him.
He could sense movement up ahead. Luke stopped, waiting to see what was coming. He was surprised to see his Father approach him, or something that looked like his Father. Though the approaching being had the physical features of Anakin Skywalker, Luke could tell through the force that this was not the Father he knew and loved. There was a darkness surrounding him, and a look of cold hatred on the man's face. The being stopped a few feet away from Luke, making no movement at all.
"Who are you?" asked Luke.
Then, to the young man's horror, the being in front of him seemed become immersed by fire. It screamed in agony and rage at the same time, as flames engulfed his features. Luke was temporarily blinded by the light of the blaze, and he could feel the heat of the fire as the man in front of him was transformed by it.
Just as suddenly as the fire appeared, it disappeared again. In the place of the man that looked like his Father now stood a tall, masked figure, dressed in a black mechanical suit and cloak, a helmet of the same color covering his head. The thing's breathing was loud, mechanical, menacing...the sound filled the cave and echoed off of the walls.
"What are you?" asked Luke, once again regaining his composure.
"I am an alternate destiny," said the tall, dark figure, in a cold, mechanical voice.
Luke pondered the statement for a moment, as the figure drew a red blade lightsaber, and moved to strike at Luke. The young man moved at first to his lightsaber, but then considered Yoda's words. "Your weapon, you will not need it," the Jedi Master had said. Luke closed his eyes, and concentrated on the force to guide him, as the breathing came closer and closer, signaling that the dark being was coming closer.
"No," said Luke, opening his eyes. "I reject you. I reject your reality. You are a conjuring of the dark side, but you lack any power."
"I am a part of you," said the mechanical voice. "A part of your Father. I am your darkness, and his, made manifest."
"You are a specter," said Luke. "a figment. A phantom of what is not reality. I will not make you reality. You are to be...ignored."
Luke stepped forward, walking towards the dark figure as if it did not even exist. Just as it looked like he would run into the being confronting him, the dark specter vanished. Luke walked further into the cavern, unafraid of what may confront him.
He could see light ahead. Luke continued forward, curious to see where the light was coming from. Then, to his astonishment, Luke stepped out of the very same cave entrance he had come in through. He saw his Father, Obi-Wan, and Yoda waiting for him.
"But...I walked deeper into the cave," said Luke. "How did I..."
"Reality is not the same in the cave as it is here," said Yoda. "Twisted by the dark side, it is. You have come through the darkness, and have rejected its power over you. Done well, you have."
"Father," said Luke. "I saw...I saw this..."
"Matters not what you saw," said Yoda. "Matters greatly how you reacted to what you saw."
"The dark side can only claim us if we allow it into our existence," said Obi-Wan. "To reject its power is to reject its ability to have a place in our existence. By rejecting the reality of whatever dark specter you saw in the cave, you did not allow the dark side to exist as a part of you."
Yoda began to moan slightly, and had to lean against a log for support. The other three Jedi noticed this, and rushed to the aid of the old Jedi Master.
"Master, are you alright?" asked Anakin.
"Ugh, tired am I," said Yoda. "Many years, it has been, since the trials I have conducted. Rest, I must."
"Come, Master," said Obi-Wan. "We will help you to your home."
***
It had been two weeks since Padme and her party had arrived in the Naboo refugee camp. In that time, the former Queen and Senator from Naboo became reacquainted with her people. She helped out in the hospital, cared for the wounded, and aided in the distribution of food and blankets to those in need. Padme talked to her people, attempted to give them some measure of hope, though she herself had been at a loss as to how to get her people away from the planet to the safety of Lessalia. She had thought before her arrival here that there would be the necessary ships to take them. At least, that is the impression Wedge had when he had been here. But Sio Bibble told her that several of the transports were destroyed in Imperial attacks, and that the two remaining ones hidden several miles away would not be enough.
But Han now had an idea as to how to get the Naboo away from the planet. He, along with Padme, Leia, Ralla, Wedge, and Sio Bibble, met in the latter's room in the clinic to discuss Han's proposal. He had already explained it to Padme, and now explained it to the rest of them.
"Han, are you sure these people can help us?" asked Wedge.
"Yeah, I'm sure," said Han. "They've got the ships, and the moxy to pull it off...for the right price, of course."
Padme turned to Leia. "The box, please," said the Mother to her daughter.
Leia handed over a small, silver box. Padme opened it, and pulled out a brilliant blue crystal. Sio Bibble exhaled in astonishment when he saw it.
"The Star of Naboo!" he said. "I thought...it had been lost, years ago."
"Queen Jamilla had told me to keep it, when she succeeded me as Queen," said Padme. "It was a reward for service, one that I wasn't willing to accept. But she insisted. Now, I'm glad I did accept it finally. It will now save the Naboo."
"But, you can't...you can't be thinking of using that as payment to these smugglers Han is talking about," said Bibble. "It has been a symbol of Naboo nobility for five hundred years."
"What good is the Star of Naboo if the people of Naboo do not survive?" countered Padme. She gave it to Han, who took it in his hands gently. "Use this to pay the smugglers. It is a Naboo blue orb gemstone. Since there is no more Naboo, therefore no more gemstones from Naboo, it should be very valuable."
"Yes," said Han. "I'm sure it will be enough."
"Good," said Padme. "Now take it, and go. We don't know when the Imperials will strike again. I want to get my people out of here as soon as we can."
"It will take a couple of days," said Han. "Chewie and I will be as quick as we can."
"Leia," said Padme. "I want you to go with him."
"What?!" asked Leia in astonishment. "I want to stay with you."
"I need you to safeguard the stone. And Han may need help with negotiations," said Padme.
"But Mother..."
"Do as I say, dear," said Padme. "Please. I need you to make sure this goes right. This is so important, everything depends on it. I must stay with my people, otherwise I would go myself to ensure that the mission succeeds. But I entrust it to my daughter. You are the guardian of that stone, until you use it to pay the smugglers. Will you do this for me?"
"Alright," said Leia. "If you think that's best."
****
Darth Hister stepped into the holo-communications room of his command ship. He activated the comm's controls, then knelt in front of the holo-projector as the image of the Emperor appeared before him.
"Any news, my apprentice?" asked Emperor Palpatine.
"Yes, my Master," said Hister. "Everything is ready for the attack. Our agent reports that the Millennium Falcon has left to hire ships to take the Naboo from the planet. Skywalker's wife is still there, with her people."
"Excellent," said the Emperor. "Everything is proceeding as I desire. Move forward as planned."
Please review my story if you have the time, and let me know how you like it so far. A few comments would suffice. I'd love to get some more feedback on how my readers like the story.
Thanks, Ian K.
**************************************
Chapter Five: Specters in the Dark
*
Sio Bibble led the party from the Millennium Falcon into the demolished remains of the freighter, now used as a makeshift clinic. As Padme walked down the corridor of the ship, she was confronted by the sight of wounded and dying men, women, and children, suffering from various burns and injuries. Some of them had heard that Lady Amidalla had come, and were reaching out to her. Padme began to go to them, to take their hands briefly in a gesture of comfort. It was all that she could do for these people, and this knowledge was breaking Padme's heart.
Eventually, they got to a door, which led to a private room Sio Bibble was being housed in. According to the former Governor of Naboo's capital city of Theed, he had been injured in the last imperial attack. After Bibble lay down on a bed, the others began to settle into chairs to talk. But before Han could sit, Padme spoke to him.
"Han, do we have any medical supplies in the ship?" she asked.
"Some, but not much," said Han.
"Go to the ship, bring whatever supplies we have to this clinic. Distribute it to the medics."
Han hesitated, but finally nodded, leaving to perform his task.
Padme, meanwhile, put her head in her hands, exhausted after being confronted with the death and misery in the corridor. Leia came over and kneeled next to her Mother's chair. The daughter embraced her Mother to comfort her.
"Are you alright, Mother?" asked Leia.
"I...I don't know," said Padme. "I just...don't understand, why Palpatine is so bent on causing our people more suffering. He has destroyed our planet, but now attacks the few survivors. These people can't possibly hurt him."
"To wipe us all out would make a powerful statement to the galaxy," speculated Bibble. "Palpatine would have caused the extinction of an entire race. His own race, none the less. No one would doubt his power and his will to use it. To think, I once called that BASTARD a friend."
"You were not the only one who trusted him," said Padme. "Now, we are all paying for our mistakes."
"What form do the Imperial attacks take?" asked Leia, changing the subject from the past to the present.
"TIE fighters swoop into the camp every once in a while and strafe it," said Bibble. "They could wipe us out in one swift stroke. We had some fighters, but all of them have been shot down. We are...defenseless. But, all their fighters do is strafe us for a few seconds, then fly away again."
"It makes no sense," piped in Ralla. "Unless the Emperor has something else planned for us."
"Tell me, Governor, about Naboo," said Padme. "My parents, my family...the planet...before..."
"Your Father died a year before the planet was destroyed," said Bibble. "I attended his funeral. Your Mother...went to live with your sister and her family. They were all on Naboo when the Death Star struck."
Padme closed her eyes, trying her best to hold back her tears. She wished Anakin were here, so he could hold her in his strong and loving embrace, to comfort and protect her from her grief and despair. Leia had her arms around her Mother, attempting to substitute for her Father's absent comfort.
"My Father and I were on a trade mission to Alderaan when the Death Star attacked," said Ralla. "We returned in time to see the planet destroyed. The survivors, we found on the outer moon of the Naboo system. He had time to evacuate the moon before it became completely uninhabitable."
"Now that you are here, Milady," said Bibble, "we now finally have a reason to believe we can survive."
"I don't know how much help I can be," said Padme. "But I will do all I can, of course. For now, we need to prepare our people to evacuate this planet. I know of a place we can take them. But we need ships."
"There are two left in operation," said Ralla. "They are hidden in the forest, several miles from camp. But...not all of our people can fit in them."
"We can take some in the Falcon," said Wedge. "But not many. Perhaps the Rebellion could help us."
"They are on the run, Wedge," said Leia. "We've found safety for now, but we can't mount this kind of a rescue operation."
"There must be a way," said Padme. "I will find a way. I will not stand by and watch my people become a dead race. If it costs me my life, I will save my people."
**
In the dark jungles of Degobah, the sounds of clashing lightsabers were heard amidst the normal howls and shrieks of the native wildlife. In a small jungle clearing, two men dueled another in a fury of thrusts and parries. Luke was the one fighting alone, while Anakin and Obi-Wan made swift strikes at the younger man's defenses. At the edge of the glade, perched on top of a rock, Yoda watched as the Jedi dueled each other.
Even though the combat was restrained so as not to cause injury to any of the participants, it did not restrain the energy of the combat, as Luke's skills were pushed to the limit as he defended himself against the two older, more experienced Jedi. This was the latest test that he was experiencing after two weeks of trials so far on Degobah. He did not know how long each test would go on, nor how long the trials themselves would continue. When Luke asked Yoda or the other two Jedi how much longer the trials would continue, they would always answer with the same phrase. "Only you can determine that, Padawan." Luke still did not know what that meant, but he seemed to know that this statement did not give Luke the power to say "okay, show's over, trials are done, make me a Jedi."
Obi-Wan came at Luke with a series of powerful strikes, forcing the latter to use all of his strength to block the attacks with his saber. The latter was being pushed backward by the attack, and Luke could sense the presence of his Father behind him. He adeptly leapt out of the impending trap with a force enhanced jump. The young man somersaulted in mid-air, and landed behind Obi-Wan. Luke struck out with his saber, to have Obi-Wan block the attack. Anakin then charged forward, bringing his lightsaber into the contest.
"Enough," said Yoda, finally.
The three men immediately stopped, and deactivated their weapons. They turned and faced the Jedi Master.
"Fought well, you have, young Skywalker," said Yoda. "Have used the force and your skills wisely. Now come, we must move on to the next test."
Inwardly, Luke thought about how exhausted he was from the last test. Now, he had to move on to another. All he wanted to do was rest his aching muscles in a nice warm bath.
"A health spa, this is not, Padawan," said Yoda, as he led them away from the clearing. "Want hot baths, you do? Then in the wrong place, you are."
"Be mindful of broadcasting your thoughts, my son," said Anakin. "You have never been this physically or emotionally tested before. Your controls are weakened by stress."
"Forgive me, Father, its just that I haven't slept or..."
Luke stopped speaking suddenly, as he felt something stir in the force. It was an uncomfortable feeling that washed over him, a cold feeling that was associated with the dark side of the force. He stopped, and scanned the area around him with his thoughts. The other Jedi halted as well, saying nothing as Luke sought out the source of the dark surge in the force.
Finally, Luke's attentions were drawn to a cave to his right. He could almost feel a cold wind coming out of the cave, tinged with the stink of a slaughterhouse. A sense of dread threatened to overwhelm the young man, causing Luke to physically back away from the cave.
"No," said Yoda, stopping Luke's retreat. "Confront the darkness, you must. Trust in the force, you must. Go into the cave, you will."
Luke looked at Yoda, then at his Father. Anakin nodded, encouraging his son to obey Yoda's command. Luke approached the cave entrance, drawing his lightsaber from his belt as he did so.
"Your weapon," said Yoda. "You will not need it."
The Padawan nodded, returning his lightsaber to his belt. He stepped into the cave with great hesitation. Each step further into the darkness was harder than the last. It took all of Luke's strength and will to continue. Several minutes went by as Luke made his way through the darkness, letting the force guide him.
He could sense movement up ahead. Luke stopped, waiting to see what was coming. He was surprised to see his Father approach him, or something that looked like his Father. Though the approaching being had the physical features of Anakin Skywalker, Luke could tell through the force that this was not the Father he knew and loved. There was a darkness surrounding him, and a look of cold hatred on the man's face. The being stopped a few feet away from Luke, making no movement at all.
"Who are you?" asked Luke.
Then, to the young man's horror, the being in front of him seemed become immersed by fire. It screamed in agony and rage at the same time, as flames engulfed his features. Luke was temporarily blinded by the light of the blaze, and he could feel the heat of the fire as the man in front of him was transformed by it.
Just as suddenly as the fire appeared, it disappeared again. In the place of the man that looked like his Father now stood a tall, masked figure, dressed in a black mechanical suit and cloak, a helmet of the same color covering his head. The thing's breathing was loud, mechanical, menacing...the sound filled the cave and echoed off of the walls.
"What are you?" asked Luke, once again regaining his composure.
"I am an alternate destiny," said the tall, dark figure, in a cold, mechanical voice.
Luke pondered the statement for a moment, as the figure drew a red blade lightsaber, and moved to strike at Luke. The young man moved at first to his lightsaber, but then considered Yoda's words. "Your weapon, you will not need it," the Jedi Master had said. Luke closed his eyes, and concentrated on the force to guide him, as the breathing came closer and closer, signaling that the dark being was coming closer.
"No," said Luke, opening his eyes. "I reject you. I reject your reality. You are a conjuring of the dark side, but you lack any power."
"I am a part of you," said the mechanical voice. "A part of your Father. I am your darkness, and his, made manifest."
"You are a specter," said Luke. "a figment. A phantom of what is not reality. I will not make you reality. You are to be...ignored."
Luke stepped forward, walking towards the dark figure as if it did not even exist. Just as it looked like he would run into the being confronting him, the dark specter vanished. Luke walked further into the cavern, unafraid of what may confront him.
He could see light ahead. Luke continued forward, curious to see where the light was coming from. Then, to his astonishment, Luke stepped out of the very same cave entrance he had come in through. He saw his Father, Obi-Wan, and Yoda waiting for him.
"But...I walked deeper into the cave," said Luke. "How did I..."
"Reality is not the same in the cave as it is here," said Yoda. "Twisted by the dark side, it is. You have come through the darkness, and have rejected its power over you. Done well, you have."
"Father," said Luke. "I saw...I saw this..."
"Matters not what you saw," said Yoda. "Matters greatly how you reacted to what you saw."
"The dark side can only claim us if we allow it into our existence," said Obi-Wan. "To reject its power is to reject its ability to have a place in our existence. By rejecting the reality of whatever dark specter you saw in the cave, you did not allow the dark side to exist as a part of you."
Yoda began to moan slightly, and had to lean against a log for support. The other three Jedi noticed this, and rushed to the aid of the old Jedi Master.
"Master, are you alright?" asked Anakin.
"Ugh, tired am I," said Yoda. "Many years, it has been, since the trials I have conducted. Rest, I must."
"Come, Master," said Obi-Wan. "We will help you to your home."
***
It had been two weeks since Padme and her party had arrived in the Naboo refugee camp. In that time, the former Queen and Senator from Naboo became reacquainted with her people. She helped out in the hospital, cared for the wounded, and aided in the distribution of food and blankets to those in need. Padme talked to her people, attempted to give them some measure of hope, though she herself had been at a loss as to how to get her people away from the planet to the safety of Lessalia. She had thought before her arrival here that there would be the necessary ships to take them. At least, that is the impression Wedge had when he had been here. But Sio Bibble told her that several of the transports were destroyed in Imperial attacks, and that the two remaining ones hidden several miles away would not be enough.
But Han now had an idea as to how to get the Naboo away from the planet. He, along with Padme, Leia, Ralla, Wedge, and Sio Bibble, met in the latter's room in the clinic to discuss Han's proposal. He had already explained it to Padme, and now explained it to the rest of them.
"Han, are you sure these people can help us?" asked Wedge.
"Yeah, I'm sure," said Han. "They've got the ships, and the moxy to pull it off...for the right price, of course."
Padme turned to Leia. "The box, please," said the Mother to her daughter.
Leia handed over a small, silver box. Padme opened it, and pulled out a brilliant blue crystal. Sio Bibble exhaled in astonishment when he saw it.
"The Star of Naboo!" he said. "I thought...it had been lost, years ago."
"Queen Jamilla had told me to keep it, when she succeeded me as Queen," said Padme. "It was a reward for service, one that I wasn't willing to accept. But she insisted. Now, I'm glad I did accept it finally. It will now save the Naboo."
"But, you can't...you can't be thinking of using that as payment to these smugglers Han is talking about," said Bibble. "It has been a symbol of Naboo nobility for five hundred years."
"What good is the Star of Naboo if the people of Naboo do not survive?" countered Padme. She gave it to Han, who took it in his hands gently. "Use this to pay the smugglers. It is a Naboo blue orb gemstone. Since there is no more Naboo, therefore no more gemstones from Naboo, it should be very valuable."
"Yes," said Han. "I'm sure it will be enough."
"Good," said Padme. "Now take it, and go. We don't know when the Imperials will strike again. I want to get my people out of here as soon as we can."
"It will take a couple of days," said Han. "Chewie and I will be as quick as we can."
"Leia," said Padme. "I want you to go with him."
"What?!" asked Leia in astonishment. "I want to stay with you."
"I need you to safeguard the stone. And Han may need help with negotiations," said Padme.
"But Mother..."
"Do as I say, dear," said Padme. "Please. I need you to make sure this goes right. This is so important, everything depends on it. I must stay with my people, otherwise I would go myself to ensure that the mission succeeds. But I entrust it to my daughter. You are the guardian of that stone, until you use it to pay the smugglers. Will you do this for me?"
"Alright," said Leia. "If you think that's best."
****
Darth Hister stepped into the holo-communications room of his command ship. He activated the comm's controls, then knelt in front of the holo-projector as the image of the Emperor appeared before him.
"Any news, my apprentice?" asked Emperor Palpatine.
"Yes, my Master," said Hister. "Everything is ready for the attack. Our agent reports that the Millennium Falcon has left to hire ships to take the Naboo from the planet. Skywalker's wife is still there, with her people."
"Excellent," said the Emperor. "Everything is proceeding as I desire. Move forward as planned."