Author's Note: Once again, I must apologize for the lack of updates. I
change my email address on my bio page, so when I tried to log in I
couldn't. Of course, it took me about four months to discover my idiotic
mistake, and then I had the worst case of writer's block.
This story will be updated regularly from now on, so please review!! The more reviews I get, the more inspired and encouraged I become, the faster the updates! This is chapter four in this story, so enjoy!
New worlds, Strange Events
Something was wrong. The world he stood in was quiet, peaceful, but there was something wrong. He no longer had the sudden flashes of heat and then cold-he had long since resorted to using the Force to maintain his body temperature, but even the Force could do nothing to ease his fears. In fact, it seemed to encourage them.
Luke sighed, fingering his lightsaber tenderly. His blaster had been lost in the transportation from Kassik's gift to the world he himself now stood, but that didn't matter. As long as his lightsaber remained safe, the blaster would remain of no consequence.
"Besides," he muttered quietly. "I was considering abandoning it anyway. Now the choice has been taken from me."
He stopped talking to himself a second later, realizing the blaster was not the only thing that had been taken from him. His sister, friends, his whole world was gone, vanished in the strange flight.
But what had happened? And how? Surely he was not dead, for he felt very much alive, yet he could not know. and then he knew. He still did not know whether he was alive or dead, but the source of unease for this world suddenly became apparent. The world in which he stood in was strange, certainly, but until now he had been unable to determine why. It was rather simple, really, and mentally he cursed himself for not realizing sooner.
But this world was not a true one, not in the sense of having living creatures. Indeed, it seemed as though the vegetation was the only living thing other than himself, and he could not sense any minds with the Force.
*Stupid of me, stupid! I should have been paying better attention, but I wasn't!*
He stopped berating himself a second later, realizing he was not entirely at fault. And it was no longer that important, anyway, for he just needed to concentrate on escaping this place.
He became aware of a presence then, one similar to his own but much stronger. It was strange, he mused as he grasped his lightsaber warily and peered through the vegetation, but the presence seemed familiar somehow. But that was impossible! Wasn't it? Shaking his head, the Jedi Knight sent a tendril of the Force toward the presence. He felt the tendril move quickly and smoothly, silent even for other Jedi Knights. It was approaching the creature-the human-now, and a vague interpretation was beginning to seep through Luke's mind.
White hair, beard, kind eyes and a protective-if slightly strange- demeanor about him.
But it couldn't be true! The Force was deceiving him somehow, making him sense desperate hope instead of reality. He sent forth another tendril, then another, yet every impression he received back was the same: white hair, beard, kind eyes and a protective-if slightly strange-demeanor about him.
Then perhaps Luke really was not alive, but dead after all? There seemed no other explanation, no other reason for the events that were occurring, and he sighed. Leia would blame herself for his death, but she wasn't to blame. There was no way she could have known, no way she could have sensed either the Tarnsburry root or Kassik's true intentions.
He, however, could have.
And he should have.
But there was no use becoming terribly upset over it, for Ben would reach him soon. Luke waited patiently as his dead protector (and short-time teacher), drew nearer and nearer. After all, there was no reason to flee, for this world was inescapable. There no longer seemed any point trying.
* * *
There was a rushing noise, a sound similar to that of a waterfall, and it drowned all her awareness. All her senses, all her thoughts fled before the sound save one: peace. This was the way to an everlasting peace, a way to forgiveness for her deeds. It called her, whispered to her gently and soothed her inner pain- pain, she realized, that did not deserve to be soothed. It was her fault Luke was dead, and nothing anyone could say or do would change that.
She halted in her advance then, uncertain in her deeds. What was the point, she wondered. Why continue moving forward- how would that help bring Kassik to justice?
She didn't know. Confused, she took a small step back, attempting to create distance between her and whatever tried to soothe her. It was then, after she had backed away, that she heard her name being called, heard footsteps running frantically to where she stood.
"Leia!" Arms grabbed her, rough in their haste, and she felt herself jerked away from. from the Executioner?
What?
"Leia, are you okay? Leia? Leia!"
It was Han's voice, she realized, dazed. Han. He had come after her, saved her from certain death despite his anger.
*Maybe there is hope for me after all.* The thought came, unbidden, but she didn't try to suppress it. Instead she welcomed it, opening her senses to the world once more.
Han stood before her, eyes wide in frantic worry. She could see his thoughts flashing through his mind; *I've lost Luke, I've lost Luke. And I almost lost her.*
He urged her slowly to the door, then, and she was content to simply follow. It was strange, she mused as they stepped into the hallway. Han had been furious with her, yet he still cared for her. But how? Why? Luke was dead, killed by a man neither Han nor Luke trusted, and she had done nothing to prevent it!
Shoving those thoughts aside was not easy, but Leia realized the necessity of doing so. When Luke's killer was brought to justice, when The Executioner was destroyed, then she would be able to grieve. When that time came she would step aside as President, forgo her Jedi powers, and live a lone life as punishment. She would forsake everything and everyone dear to her, for she no longer deserved such happiness.
*Such thoughts are those of the Dark Side*, a voice in the back of her mind whispered. But she did not care; once this nightmare was ended, she would have some sense of peace. But no peace would come to her if Luke's murderer escaped justice, and so she focused her attention to the matter on hand.
Turning, she asked Han, "When's the trial?"
"We're still waiting." Han shook his head grimly. "The senate's more disturbed and upset than past cases, and it will take them a while to reach a decision." He sighed. "But that isn't important now. What is important is to collect more evidence, evidence to ensure Kasiik's execution."
"There isn't enough now?"
"No. Kasiik is the leader of Yuotobah and offered The Executioner as a gift to the Republic, but-"
"It could have been a plant, a frame-up to make Kasiik take the fall."
Han nodded grimly. "Then both Luke and Kasiik would be dead, the Republic and Yuotobah in utter turmoil.. war would probably result, and the Republic would be divided, torn. I think we need to investigate matters before accusing anyone."
Leia sighed. It made sense, and it truly was the right thing to do, yet her instincts were telling her that Kasiik was guilty. She told Han so, expecting to hear him disagree, and was surprised when he didn't.
"Look, sweetheart, I believe Kasiik is guilty too, but your instinct isn't going to stand up in court. Besides, he might not be alone in this plot-there might be someone else out there, waiting, biding their time until another chance arises- and then what? Kasik would be set free with the New Republic's apology. We would look like the biggest fools, the biggest hippocrites since the Empire, and much of our support would be lost. No, we need to find out exactly what is going on, and find out fast. There isn't much more time before the Council sets Kasiik's trial, and digging up enough dirt might take a while. But we have a start; that tarnsburry root isn't easy to come by, and it's very expensive. Well worth the money, though."
"Tarnsburry root?" Leia asked, confused. She had a fair knowledge of herbs and other medical plants, yet the root was unfamiliar to her.
Han winced. "Yes. It's known for affecting a Jedi's senses- that's why Luke couldn't pinpoint his suspicions, why he couldn't sense the danger until too late.... and it's why you nearly walked into the Executioner on your free will."
"Tarnsburry root can do that? But how?"
Han shrugged. "I never cared to find out."
She opened her mouth to comment, but he raised his hand to silence her. "I once smuggled a shipment of tarnsburry root," he said softly. "I know how difficult it is to find, how expensive it can be, but I also know there are only two places to find it. The first and closer place is Tatooine."
There was a moment of silence then as Han allowed her to digest the information. Tatooine. Luke's home planet. It wouldn't be easy, visiting it without the Jedi, but it certainly was necessary. If Han could somehow find a link between the tarnsburry root and Kasiik, then perhaps enough evidence could be gathered. Well, enough to keep Kasiik in prison, that was. Currently, he was being detained only on the grounds of being at the crime, and until the Council made its decision, he was likely to gain the upper hand.
Aloud, Leia said, "Very well. The first stop will be Tatooine, and if nothing conclusive is found, we can check the other place. When do we leave?"
The instant the words left her mouth she realized she had said the wrong thing. Immediately Han blanched. "We?" His voice was slightly strangled, as if he didn't quite believe her serious. "Chewie and I are going, darling. You're staying here."
"No."
"Leia-"
"No! I will not stay here while you search for evidence, nor will I allow you to change my mind!"
"Listen, honey-"
But she was beyond listening. In her mind's eye she heard again the argument, her accusation against Luke. She saw him step into the Executioner after a resigned sigh..
And she saw him die. The pain, the reliving of the moment haunted her. It would continue, too, if she allowed it, yet she was unable to stop it. Luke's death was her fault; nothing anyone could say or do could convince her otherwise, but she certainly wasn't going to simply wait for the trial.
Raising her finger, she jabbed Han in the chest. "Look, nerf-herder, I am coming with you. Nothing you say will stop me, so you should stop trying!"
"But you could influence the council, convince them to restrain Kasiik long enough-"
She gave him no chance to finish-she knew what he was trying to say anyway-but her mind would not be changed. "And I can do more with you, going to Tatooine and proving Kasiik's guilt!"
"Innocent until proven guilty," Han muttered grimly. The word's were spoken quietly, almost to softly to hear, but she heard them nonetheless.
"And that is what the jury will say! If we don't find enough grime to connect Kasiik with the murder, he will escape! You and I know he's guilty, but many don't! The Council is divided, split between eyewitnesses and the knowledge that Kasiik might be framed. For all we know, someone else did not want an alliance with Yuotobah and the New Republic, and so they decided to stage a murder! Killing Luke was just the first step; what's next? What if Kasiik is proven innocent and the alliance is somehow completed? Will the guilty one strike again, after having failed? No! They've killed once, they won't hesitate to do so again."
"If what you say is true," Han said quietly, "then you are a prime target."
"And if I am, what better place to be than with you? Chewie and you can protect me; tarnsburry root doesn't affect you like it does me."
"Not as severely, anyway," Han muttered.
"What?"
Han sighed and turned his head away. He seemed reluctant to continue, and just when Leia thought she'd have to prod him a little, he continued. "Tarnsburry root affects nearly everyone. Humans, Jedis.... even Wookies are confused by it! It doesn't, however, affect those without the Force as strongly as those with it. That's why I couldn't see the danger, or why Chewie didn't smell the Executioner properly."
"That and we weren't expecting any tricks," Leia murmured quietly.
"Not until we entered the room, anyway. Once we did, Luke seemed a little nervous, almost as if he did suspect something, but I'm not sure." He laughed bitterly. "He changed so much from the green farmboy he used to be! I actually think he was suspicious to begin with, but I'll never know."
Again, the sorrow and guilt threatened to consume her, but she fought it down. Now was not the time, not when she needed to concentrate. "We should leave now," she whispered. "Leave before anyone becomes suspicious."
Han hesitated, obviously torn.
"Please, Han! I must do this.... if not for Luke, then for me! I know I'm selfish and probably don't deserve such a favor, but it'll help ease my mind...."
She was about to continue, but her grief prevented her. With a soft cry of shame, she burrowed her head into her betrothed's chest, sobbing quietly. She felt her anger, her guilt and grief as it threatened to consume her. And then strong arms wrapped around her, bringing her close. Words of encouragement, reassuring her Luke's killer would be found reached her ears. It was Han, she realized. Han was holding her, lending her the comfort and support she needed.
But what did that mean? Did he no longer blame her? He said the tarnsburry root affected Jedi's minds, making them unfocused and confused. It was no excuse for how she had treated Luke, but perhaps some comfort might be found, some clue to let her feel less dirty.
"Why does he not come to me?" She asked. "Ben spoke to him frequently, and he saw both his father and Yoda after their deaths... why can I not see him one more time, if for no other reason than to say how sorry I am?"
"He knows, Leia. He knows. He loved you very much and would not blame you. I do not, either-that tarnsburry root fooled everyone. All we can do now is find his killer and bring him to justice."
Slowly, Leia nodded. "You are right. Shall we leave now?"
"In a few hours. I need to grab some things first, and Chewie will need time to prepare The Falcon."
"Again?"
Han grimaced, and Leia laughed. "Of course," she said. "When have you never needed to fix The Falcon?"
"Many times."
"Oh? Name one."
The embarrassed blush and muttered curse raised her spirits more, and she laughed again. Things would never truly be okay again, she knew, but for now.... Hope now coursed through her veins, and as she left to tell the plan to Chewie she allowed herself a grim smile.
For now there was hope to win the fight.
Author's Note: So what'd you think? Is it starting to make a little more sense now? The next chapter will have a little more of Luke, and will also (hopefully) have a little action instead of just talk. I know the chapters have been kind of boring up until now, but it truly is necessary. Trust me! That's it for now! Please review, and chapter five should come soon!
This story will be updated regularly from now on, so please review!! The more reviews I get, the more inspired and encouraged I become, the faster the updates! This is chapter four in this story, so enjoy!
New worlds, Strange Events
Something was wrong. The world he stood in was quiet, peaceful, but there was something wrong. He no longer had the sudden flashes of heat and then cold-he had long since resorted to using the Force to maintain his body temperature, but even the Force could do nothing to ease his fears. In fact, it seemed to encourage them.
Luke sighed, fingering his lightsaber tenderly. His blaster had been lost in the transportation from Kassik's gift to the world he himself now stood, but that didn't matter. As long as his lightsaber remained safe, the blaster would remain of no consequence.
"Besides," he muttered quietly. "I was considering abandoning it anyway. Now the choice has been taken from me."
He stopped talking to himself a second later, realizing the blaster was not the only thing that had been taken from him. His sister, friends, his whole world was gone, vanished in the strange flight.
But what had happened? And how? Surely he was not dead, for he felt very much alive, yet he could not know. and then he knew. He still did not know whether he was alive or dead, but the source of unease for this world suddenly became apparent. The world in which he stood in was strange, certainly, but until now he had been unable to determine why. It was rather simple, really, and mentally he cursed himself for not realizing sooner.
But this world was not a true one, not in the sense of having living creatures. Indeed, it seemed as though the vegetation was the only living thing other than himself, and he could not sense any minds with the Force.
*Stupid of me, stupid! I should have been paying better attention, but I wasn't!*
He stopped berating himself a second later, realizing he was not entirely at fault. And it was no longer that important, anyway, for he just needed to concentrate on escaping this place.
He became aware of a presence then, one similar to his own but much stronger. It was strange, he mused as he grasped his lightsaber warily and peered through the vegetation, but the presence seemed familiar somehow. But that was impossible! Wasn't it? Shaking his head, the Jedi Knight sent a tendril of the Force toward the presence. He felt the tendril move quickly and smoothly, silent even for other Jedi Knights. It was approaching the creature-the human-now, and a vague interpretation was beginning to seep through Luke's mind.
White hair, beard, kind eyes and a protective-if slightly strange- demeanor about him.
But it couldn't be true! The Force was deceiving him somehow, making him sense desperate hope instead of reality. He sent forth another tendril, then another, yet every impression he received back was the same: white hair, beard, kind eyes and a protective-if slightly strange-demeanor about him.
Then perhaps Luke really was not alive, but dead after all? There seemed no other explanation, no other reason for the events that were occurring, and he sighed. Leia would blame herself for his death, but she wasn't to blame. There was no way she could have known, no way she could have sensed either the Tarnsburry root or Kassik's true intentions.
He, however, could have.
And he should have.
But there was no use becoming terribly upset over it, for Ben would reach him soon. Luke waited patiently as his dead protector (and short-time teacher), drew nearer and nearer. After all, there was no reason to flee, for this world was inescapable. There no longer seemed any point trying.
* * *
There was a rushing noise, a sound similar to that of a waterfall, and it drowned all her awareness. All her senses, all her thoughts fled before the sound save one: peace. This was the way to an everlasting peace, a way to forgiveness for her deeds. It called her, whispered to her gently and soothed her inner pain- pain, she realized, that did not deserve to be soothed. It was her fault Luke was dead, and nothing anyone could say or do would change that.
She halted in her advance then, uncertain in her deeds. What was the point, she wondered. Why continue moving forward- how would that help bring Kassik to justice?
She didn't know. Confused, she took a small step back, attempting to create distance between her and whatever tried to soothe her. It was then, after she had backed away, that she heard her name being called, heard footsteps running frantically to where she stood.
"Leia!" Arms grabbed her, rough in their haste, and she felt herself jerked away from. from the Executioner?
What?
"Leia, are you okay? Leia? Leia!"
It was Han's voice, she realized, dazed. Han. He had come after her, saved her from certain death despite his anger.
*Maybe there is hope for me after all.* The thought came, unbidden, but she didn't try to suppress it. Instead she welcomed it, opening her senses to the world once more.
Han stood before her, eyes wide in frantic worry. She could see his thoughts flashing through his mind; *I've lost Luke, I've lost Luke. And I almost lost her.*
He urged her slowly to the door, then, and she was content to simply follow. It was strange, she mused as they stepped into the hallway. Han had been furious with her, yet he still cared for her. But how? Why? Luke was dead, killed by a man neither Han nor Luke trusted, and she had done nothing to prevent it!
Shoving those thoughts aside was not easy, but Leia realized the necessity of doing so. When Luke's killer was brought to justice, when The Executioner was destroyed, then she would be able to grieve. When that time came she would step aside as President, forgo her Jedi powers, and live a lone life as punishment. She would forsake everything and everyone dear to her, for she no longer deserved such happiness.
*Such thoughts are those of the Dark Side*, a voice in the back of her mind whispered. But she did not care; once this nightmare was ended, she would have some sense of peace. But no peace would come to her if Luke's murderer escaped justice, and so she focused her attention to the matter on hand.
Turning, she asked Han, "When's the trial?"
"We're still waiting." Han shook his head grimly. "The senate's more disturbed and upset than past cases, and it will take them a while to reach a decision." He sighed. "But that isn't important now. What is important is to collect more evidence, evidence to ensure Kasiik's execution."
"There isn't enough now?"
"No. Kasiik is the leader of Yuotobah and offered The Executioner as a gift to the Republic, but-"
"It could have been a plant, a frame-up to make Kasiik take the fall."
Han nodded grimly. "Then both Luke and Kasiik would be dead, the Republic and Yuotobah in utter turmoil.. war would probably result, and the Republic would be divided, torn. I think we need to investigate matters before accusing anyone."
Leia sighed. It made sense, and it truly was the right thing to do, yet her instincts were telling her that Kasiik was guilty. She told Han so, expecting to hear him disagree, and was surprised when he didn't.
"Look, sweetheart, I believe Kasiik is guilty too, but your instinct isn't going to stand up in court. Besides, he might not be alone in this plot-there might be someone else out there, waiting, biding their time until another chance arises- and then what? Kasik would be set free with the New Republic's apology. We would look like the biggest fools, the biggest hippocrites since the Empire, and much of our support would be lost. No, we need to find out exactly what is going on, and find out fast. There isn't much more time before the Council sets Kasiik's trial, and digging up enough dirt might take a while. But we have a start; that tarnsburry root isn't easy to come by, and it's very expensive. Well worth the money, though."
"Tarnsburry root?" Leia asked, confused. She had a fair knowledge of herbs and other medical plants, yet the root was unfamiliar to her.
Han winced. "Yes. It's known for affecting a Jedi's senses- that's why Luke couldn't pinpoint his suspicions, why he couldn't sense the danger until too late.... and it's why you nearly walked into the Executioner on your free will."
"Tarnsburry root can do that? But how?"
Han shrugged. "I never cared to find out."
She opened her mouth to comment, but he raised his hand to silence her. "I once smuggled a shipment of tarnsburry root," he said softly. "I know how difficult it is to find, how expensive it can be, but I also know there are only two places to find it. The first and closer place is Tatooine."
There was a moment of silence then as Han allowed her to digest the information. Tatooine. Luke's home planet. It wouldn't be easy, visiting it without the Jedi, but it certainly was necessary. If Han could somehow find a link between the tarnsburry root and Kasiik, then perhaps enough evidence could be gathered. Well, enough to keep Kasiik in prison, that was. Currently, he was being detained only on the grounds of being at the crime, and until the Council made its decision, he was likely to gain the upper hand.
Aloud, Leia said, "Very well. The first stop will be Tatooine, and if nothing conclusive is found, we can check the other place. When do we leave?"
The instant the words left her mouth she realized she had said the wrong thing. Immediately Han blanched. "We?" His voice was slightly strangled, as if he didn't quite believe her serious. "Chewie and I are going, darling. You're staying here."
"No."
"Leia-"
"No! I will not stay here while you search for evidence, nor will I allow you to change my mind!"
"Listen, honey-"
But she was beyond listening. In her mind's eye she heard again the argument, her accusation against Luke. She saw him step into the Executioner after a resigned sigh..
And she saw him die. The pain, the reliving of the moment haunted her. It would continue, too, if she allowed it, yet she was unable to stop it. Luke's death was her fault; nothing anyone could say or do could convince her otherwise, but she certainly wasn't going to simply wait for the trial.
Raising her finger, she jabbed Han in the chest. "Look, nerf-herder, I am coming with you. Nothing you say will stop me, so you should stop trying!"
"But you could influence the council, convince them to restrain Kasiik long enough-"
She gave him no chance to finish-she knew what he was trying to say anyway-but her mind would not be changed. "And I can do more with you, going to Tatooine and proving Kasiik's guilt!"
"Innocent until proven guilty," Han muttered grimly. The word's were spoken quietly, almost to softly to hear, but she heard them nonetheless.
"And that is what the jury will say! If we don't find enough grime to connect Kasiik with the murder, he will escape! You and I know he's guilty, but many don't! The Council is divided, split between eyewitnesses and the knowledge that Kasiik might be framed. For all we know, someone else did not want an alliance with Yuotobah and the New Republic, and so they decided to stage a murder! Killing Luke was just the first step; what's next? What if Kasiik is proven innocent and the alliance is somehow completed? Will the guilty one strike again, after having failed? No! They've killed once, they won't hesitate to do so again."
"If what you say is true," Han said quietly, "then you are a prime target."
"And if I am, what better place to be than with you? Chewie and you can protect me; tarnsburry root doesn't affect you like it does me."
"Not as severely, anyway," Han muttered.
"What?"
Han sighed and turned his head away. He seemed reluctant to continue, and just when Leia thought she'd have to prod him a little, he continued. "Tarnsburry root affects nearly everyone. Humans, Jedis.... even Wookies are confused by it! It doesn't, however, affect those without the Force as strongly as those with it. That's why I couldn't see the danger, or why Chewie didn't smell the Executioner properly."
"That and we weren't expecting any tricks," Leia murmured quietly.
"Not until we entered the room, anyway. Once we did, Luke seemed a little nervous, almost as if he did suspect something, but I'm not sure." He laughed bitterly. "He changed so much from the green farmboy he used to be! I actually think he was suspicious to begin with, but I'll never know."
Again, the sorrow and guilt threatened to consume her, but she fought it down. Now was not the time, not when she needed to concentrate. "We should leave now," she whispered. "Leave before anyone becomes suspicious."
Han hesitated, obviously torn.
"Please, Han! I must do this.... if not for Luke, then for me! I know I'm selfish and probably don't deserve such a favor, but it'll help ease my mind...."
She was about to continue, but her grief prevented her. With a soft cry of shame, she burrowed her head into her betrothed's chest, sobbing quietly. She felt her anger, her guilt and grief as it threatened to consume her. And then strong arms wrapped around her, bringing her close. Words of encouragement, reassuring her Luke's killer would be found reached her ears. It was Han, she realized. Han was holding her, lending her the comfort and support she needed.
But what did that mean? Did he no longer blame her? He said the tarnsburry root affected Jedi's minds, making them unfocused and confused. It was no excuse for how she had treated Luke, but perhaps some comfort might be found, some clue to let her feel less dirty.
"Why does he not come to me?" She asked. "Ben spoke to him frequently, and he saw both his father and Yoda after their deaths... why can I not see him one more time, if for no other reason than to say how sorry I am?"
"He knows, Leia. He knows. He loved you very much and would not blame you. I do not, either-that tarnsburry root fooled everyone. All we can do now is find his killer and bring him to justice."
Slowly, Leia nodded. "You are right. Shall we leave now?"
"In a few hours. I need to grab some things first, and Chewie will need time to prepare The Falcon."
"Again?"
Han grimaced, and Leia laughed. "Of course," she said. "When have you never needed to fix The Falcon?"
"Many times."
"Oh? Name one."
The embarrassed blush and muttered curse raised her spirits more, and she laughed again. Things would never truly be okay again, she knew, but for now.... Hope now coursed through her veins, and as she left to tell the plan to Chewie she allowed herself a grim smile.
For now there was hope to win the fight.
Author's Note: So what'd you think? Is it starting to make a little more sense now? The next chapter will have a little more of Luke, and will also (hopefully) have a little action instead of just talk. I know the chapters have been kind of boring up until now, but it truly is necessary. Trust me! That's it for now! Please review, and chapter five should come soon!