Fear Part 10

The Millenium Falcon had scarcely settled into place beside the Angel when the ramp lowered and Leia rushed out. Luke and Anakin hurried towards her and the three of them wrapped their arms around each other. Standing in a small group at the side of the lake retreat, the four padawans exchanged smiles. It was nice to see their masters so happy and excited about something.

"Hey, isn't anybody glad to see me?" Han had come down the ramp to join them. Anakin and the twins drew apart and Luke grinned at his brother-in- law.

"Well, since you brought Leia back safe and sound," he said even as he moved to embrace Han, too. The two friends/brothers hugged and clapped each other on the back before stepping apart, still smiling.

Anakin held out his hand. He had grown quite fond of Han Solo over the past months, though at first he'd had doubts about Han's past. When Anakin heard the word "pirate," he automatically thought of slavers. After all, it had been pirates who had kidnapped his mother and torn apart her family when she'd been only a girl. For many years, he'd lumped all pirates and smugglers into one stereotyped group, and felt they deserved his hatred and scorn.

But upon meeting Solo and Calrissian, really meeting them and getting to know them after his redemption, he'd had to change his views. Han had a deep loyalty and an understated sense of honor that had surprised him at first. The man was a true friend to his children, had risked his life for both of them several times. Han had had a hard time learning to accept Anakin as well, but for Luke and Leia's sakes, he'd made a gallant effort, and Anakin had had to admire him for that.

The turning point for both of them had come when Anakin had learned that Han had saved Chewbacca from slavery, had even sacrificed a promising career to rescue the Wookiee, and when Han had learned more about Anakin's history as a slave and the pain he and his mother had suffered. Ironically, once they'd been able to see beyond their own troubled history, they'd discovered that they actually got along rather well.

They shared a love of flying and mechanics that no one else in the family did. Luke enjoyed piloting, and, of course, he was very talented at it, but he didn't feel quite the same intensity that his father and friend felt. Jedi skills were Luke's true passion.

Now Han returned his father-in-law's handshake with a firm grip and a smile. They might not be ready to hug, but they were comfortable acknowledging one another as family. Which was a major miracle, in Anakin's opinion, considering how he had hurt the Corellian. Indeed, there was a lot more to Han Solo than met the eye.

"It's good to see both of you," Anakin remarked as Leia moved closer to Han and the newlyweds shared a loving look. "I can tell you've had a wonderful time. You look splendid."

That was true. Leia was beautiful in a deep blue pantsuit and a matching knee-length cape. She wore her hair pinned up with blue and gold combs and her dark eyes sparkled. She looked happier and more relaxed than usual, and in an odd way, it made her seem at once both older and younger.

Han looked good, too. The stress of the war and then ironing out the smaller conflicts that inevitably sprung up during the peacemaking process had left him with tiny lines around the corners of his eyes and mouth, but now they seemed smoothed away. Han had never one to talk openly about his feelings, but Luke was aware that his friend radiated a sense of joy and completeness that had not often been present before. At least, not to such an overwhelming degree. He wasn't as fashionably dressed as Leia, but he looked nice in a maroon shirt that was only slightly rumpled, and dark pants.

"Thank you, Father," Leia took his hand and gently squeezed it. Anakin's heart soared. The chance to have a loving relationship with his daughter was more than he'd ever hoped for, but she had given him that chance and he was humbly grateful for it.

Han glanced around. "Where's Chewie? Isn't he still here with you guys?"

Luke nodded. "Yes, he spends a lot of time outside, but Threepio called him on the com-link to tell him you were coming, so he should be here any minute."

"Why don't we all go inside?" Anakin suggested. "We'll help you bring your bags in later."

So they all went into the living room. Leia and Han met all the padawans, who seemed to be awe-struck at meeting the Vice-Chancellor of the New Republic. Keren wasn't the only one who was tongue-tied, for a change.

In the middle of the introductions, Chewbacca barged in, barking gleefully, and sweeping Han and Leia both into a wild embrace. When he set them down, Leia's hair had fallen loose on one side and some of her combs were on the floor. She and Luke knelt to pick them up at the same time and bumped heads.

"Ouch," they both exclaimed and then laughed at each other. When they laughed, everyone else did, too.

Anakin shook his head. "Those are my twins," he remarked dryly. "Phenomenal Jedi and galactic leader, able to blow up Death Stars and inspire the Senate, but don't ask them to pick jewelry off the floor."

After that, the ice was broken and they all relaxed. The padawans helped the droids prepare broiled shaak for dinner while Anakin, Luke, and Chewie visited with Han and Leia. Once they'd eaten, the Skywalkers and the Solos brought several suitcases in from the Falcon and up to Han and Leia's room.

"We brought you something," Leia told her father and brother, holding out a large, circular package to them.

"What is it?" Luke asked curiously.

Han rolled his eyes. "Open it and see."

So Anakin held the present while Luke tore off the wrapping paper and pulled out a bronze, engraved plate. They looked at it for a minute, then Luke grinned at Han and Leia. "Our family crest."

Leia nodded. "We loved it so much that we had two large copies of it made. We're going to hang one in our apartment on Coruscant, and we thought you might want to have one here."

"We'll hang it in the foyer downstairs," Anakin said. He kissed her forehead. "It's a beautiful gift. Thank you."

Leia and Han nodded, both of them looking pleased that their present was appreciated.

Anakin and Luke let the padawans' training slack off for the next couple of days. They'd all been working hard and had made good progress so Anakin declared that it wouldn't hurt to take a few days' vacation.

Keren decided to go back to Theed and see her parents. Although she was happy at the retreat and had been too busy to be very homesick, she did miss them and wanted to spend time with them when she had the chance.

Gil spent a lot of time at the Shaflizes' estate. He enjoyed playing with Wrennet, and Mr. and Mrs. Shafliz seemed to enjoy having him visit, too. Anakin and Luke hadn't forgotten the ominous warning, but one of the family drove Gil over and picked him up, and the Shaflizes had top-notch security measures at their home, so they all figured that Gil was pretty safe there.

Tera and Elissa remained at the retreat, but they had a great time sleeping late in the mornings, watching the holonet, and listening to music.

Anakin, Luke, and Chewbacca took advantage of the time to spend with Han and Leia while they could. After all, they were due back on Coruscant in a few days, and probably wouldn't get have any time off for a long while.

"You could come visit us, though," Leia pointed out. "You did say you were going to bring the padawans to Coruscant at regular intervals during their training, didn't you?"

"Yes," Luke agreed. "We'll have to come soon."

"Good. Besides getting to see each other again, I think Mon Mothma wants to talk with both of you about setting up that Jedi Council," she told them.

Anakin and Luke nodded. In the weeks following the establishment of the New Republic, they had discussed the Jedi Order's role in the government with her. Anakin, in particular was concerned that the Jedi not repeat the mistakes of the past. They all agreed that the Jedi should be accountable to the New Republic, but Anakin and Luke also felt that the Jedi should have a little more independence than the old Order had.

"If the Jedi can only act with the approval of the Senate and the Chancellor, what will happen if someday the corrupt politicians gain control again?" Anakin had pointed out.

Mon Mothma had stated that they all, the government and the Jedi, must work together to make sure that didn't happen, but if the Jedi were completely free to do whatever they wished, there was a lot of potential for corruption there, too.

The solution they had agreed upon was for the Jedi to be part of a new Council, made up of the Vice-Chancellor, several Senators, and Jedi Masters and Knights. They would meet periodically to discuss concerns and agree upon missions for the Jedi to undertake.

"Yes, I guess we do need to see about getting the Council started, though I'm not ready to take our padawans on a mission yet," Anakin remarked. "They're off to a promising start, but they've still got a long way to go. Do you know if Mon Mothma needs Luke and me to do anything?"

Leia considered. "Well, there are some planets that are having difficulties because of the changeover, like Tatooine. You saw how bad circumstances there had gotten when you were looking for Betta and Keren. But New Republic relief workers and troops are already trying to help, so I don't know if we need you guys to go anywhere right now. Of course, I've been out of touch for the past few weeks so I don't know the current situation."

"Well, maybe we'll gather up the padawans and go back to Coruscant with you and Han," Anakin glanced at Luke to see if he agreed.

"Yes, and we could see Han begin his career as a flight instructor, too," Luke grinned at his friend. "I'd love to sit in on your first class."

"Hey, I think they're pretty lucky to get a first-class pilot like me," Han responded. "You just watch. My students will be flying circles around your padawans before long."

The friendly bantering and planning for the upcoming trip to Coruscant continued well into the night, but finally they all retired to bed. Anakin had trouble getting to sleep, though, for some reason and he was still wide awake hours later when he sensed fear and horror coming through the mind- link he shared with his son.

Leaping to his feet, he hurried across the hall to his son's room. The nightmares didn't come as often as they used to, but they hadn't completely ceased, either. He stepped through the doorway and almost bumped into Luke.

"I'm awake. I was coming to tell you that I'm all right now," Luke said, his voice sounding hoarse.

"Are you sure?" Anakin studied his son carefully. Luke had turned the lights on and in the dim glow, Anakin could see that Luke was pale and still trembled slightly.

"Bespin?" he asked softly, even though he already knew the answer. There was only one nightmare that upset Luke this much.

The boy hesitated, but then nodded. Anakin held out his arms and Luke moved into his father's embrace. Neither of them spoke. It wasn't necessary. Luke could sense his father's sorrow and love, and Anakin could sense his son growing calmer and wanting to reassure him.

After a time, they stepped apart. "Let's go down to the kitchen and get something to drink," Anakin suggested gently. He knew from his own experience that getting into a different environment and relaxing could help remove the terror of a nightmare.

Luke agreed so they headed downstairs and were just getting the glasses from the cabinet when the com-link buzzed. Father and son stared at each other in surprise.

"Who could that be, this time of night?" Anakin asked, even as he reached to answer it. "Hello? What-" He broke off and listened, his expression becoming concerned. "We'll be right over."

He switched the com-link off and said, "That was Shafliz. Their estate is on fire. They've all gotten outside safely, but the village is further away from their place and he's afraid the emergency squad won't get there before everything is destroyed. He asked us to come just to see if we could do anything."

"I'll get the others," Luke rushed out of the kitchen, calling for the rest of the family to wake up.

Everyone rushed about, changing from their sleepclothes to everyday attire, and then headed outdoors for the speeders. Even Threepio and Artoo were going along in case there was anything they could do.

Later on, looking back at the events of that night, Luke could only think, with humble gratitude, that somehow the Force had been subconsciously guiding them to get everyone out of the retreat. For as they were driving past the front gates, there was a tremendous booming sound and flash of fire as bright as day. Debris rained from the sky as Han and Anakin brought the two speeders to a screeching halt and they turned and stared in horror.

The lake retreat was gone. A burning pile of rubble stood in its place instead.

TBCa