Mirage of the Midnight Sun
By: Relena Skywalker
Email: leia_skywalker_83@yahoo.com
A Skywalker family fic. Alternate Universe. What if Darth Vader discovered Leia's identity on the Death Star? Just my little speculation. Revised and re-edited for easier (I hope) reading.
Hey! I'm back! By the way, my thanks to Elizabeth Hewgley for inspiring me to write once more. This chapter is dedicated to you. Thank you very much again. I know I'm not the best of writers but, dang! I love my story!
I'm not finished formatting the other chapters, but I'll catch on, eventually.
Chapter 15: The Circle is Now Complete I
"What the hell ???" Han Solo uttered in surprise.
The Millenium Falcon came out of hyperspace to be bombarded by debris, from moon to asteroid-sized rocks. All aboard were shocked as neither of them, with the exception of Luke, who had never been to Alderaan, could remember the planet having an asteroid field before.
"Chewie! Quick! Large one coming this way!"
The Wookiee and the space pirate struggled to get the Falcon out of harm's way, with not much luck. A titanic chunk nearly smashed the side of the tiny vessel. Alderaan's gravitational field started to collapse, threatening to suck the Falcon in. With the help of his long time partner and friend, the Corellian managed to distance itself from the deluge.
It's worse! Han thought. Now we've got to find someplace to land. What in the Bantha happened?
Even though in his heart the former imperial cadet already knew the answer, those pieces of rocks were once the planet of Alderaan. He had only been there once…some vacation after winning an incredibly large amount of credits from none other than legendary smuggler, Talon Karrde. Luck was on his side at that time, it seems, as he was the second person to beat the old timer in the game of Sabacc. That was according to the man himself.
Han Solo enjoyed the scenic beauty of Alderaan, especially the sights in Aldera, the planet's capital city. Though he wouldn't admit it, as the captain of The Falcon didn't want anyone thinking him to have gone soft. Not even Chewie could make him confess.
The Pirate was even fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of its Princess and Senator, Leia Organa. The latter had made an appearance in the Aldera Peace Square just in time for the annual Flower Festival. Han thought her to be very pretty. No. Beautiful was the right word. Though her likes were the type of people you wouldn't want to cross. A keen observer would see it in her eyes. Determination and something more shone from those brown depths.
It has been rumoured that the House of Alderaan was involved with the rebel alliance. Or something to that effect. You could never be too sure. Those were nothing more than spaceport rumours. Frankly, someone like Han Solo couldn't have cared less. But still…
I would have wanted to meet her sometime…the Corellian had thought then. It was impossible, of course. But he had a "hunch" that someday; somehow their paths would cross. One way or another.
An aftershock brought him back to reality. "Sith's hell!" he muttered. My passengers! How could I be so--?
"I felt a great disturbance in the Force...as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced." Ben Kenobi spoke as he rose from the cabin floor.
Han Solo was relieved to hear the old man's voice and even more when he saw that the former Jedi wasn't injured. Even the kid seemed to be just fine, although in a state of shock. After all, it wasn't everyday that planets were blown to smithereens before your eyes. And to think that it was Luke's first time off.
"Hey kid, you alright?"
Luke Skywalker managed to give the pirate a half-hearted nod. I heard voices. Terrified voices. Like fire, snuffed out. Thoughts filled the young man's numb consciousness. If he only knew that to be Force sensitive is to be both blessed and cursed. You feel peace, serenity, love…but also fear, hate, anger. Not just your own…at that moment he felt the terror of an entire race on the brink of extinction. Channeled to him by the living Force. The voices were silenced as just as abruptly as they were heard.
The debris that was Alderaan finally settled. It was unbelievable. Tombs surrounded them. "What ? How?" Luke finally found his voice to ask.
"Destroyed by the Empire." was Ben Kenobi's simple but grim reply.
"An entire starfleet couldn't destroy a whole planet. It'd take a thousand ships with more fire power than I've... " Han Solo interjected.
A signal starts flashing on the control panel and a muffled alarm starts humming.
"There's another ship coming in." The Corellian checked the sensors, concern crossed his features as he read the data.
"Maybe they know what happened." Luke's voice floated in the background.
"It's an Imperial fighter." The old Master confirmed Han's suspicions.
Chewbacca started to bark his concern. An explosion rocked the Falcon for the second time as an Imperial TIE fighter raced past the cockpit window.
"It followed us!"
Han almost wanted to laugh at the kid's naivete, if the situation had been slightly different. Luke certainly had a lot to learn, the pirate mused not for the first time.
"No. It's a short-range fighter." Ben Kenobi spoke before Han could say anything.
"There aren't any bases around here. Where did it come from?" The Corellian wondered out loud. As an experienced, at least he considered himself to be one, space traveler, he knew where Imperial bases were. And he tried to avoid one if he could. And if circumstances were not in favor, Han tried his best not to cause trouble.
An entire planet gone. A phantom base…what could come up next? Banthas in space?
"It sure is leaving in a big hurry. If they identify us, we're in big trouble." Luke uttered with concern.
"Not if I can help it. Chewie...jam it's transmissions."
"It'd be as well to let it go. It's too far out of range." the old man said resignedly.
"Not for long..." Han Solo gunned the Falcon's engines in hot pursuit of the Imperial vessel.
Next Chapter: The Circle is Now Complete II