Star Wars: Specters of the Past

By SSG Michael B. Jackson

Disclaimer: Star Wars and all associated characters belong, ultimately, to George Lucas, and aren't mine, more's the pity. Still, he's done a damn good job so far, so who's complaining?

A/N: Thanks to everyone who's reviewed this so far, I really appreciate the feedback. Don't know how quickly I'll be able to keep churning the chapters out, but I'll keep at it, mission allowing. And if you wonder what I mean by that, take a look at my profile; it says it all.

Then, turning once more to Luke, she said softly, "You asked who I am, Luke? Well, my full name is Padmé Naberrie Amidala... Skywalker. And the man I married was-"

"Anakin Skywalker," Luke said in a tone of soft wonder, both his and Leia's eyes wide and moist as they beheld this strong, sad, beautiful woman; their mother, they both realized with awe and amazement.

There was a moment of profound silence in the treatment room as the full impact of this revelation hit those assembled. Finally, the hush was broken by Han Solo, who said in a somewhat astounded tone, "Now, wait a minute. If I just understood all of that right then... this lady is supposed to be your mother?"

When neither Luke nor Leia was able to come up with an immediate response, Han turned to Leia and said slowly in a somewhat skeptical tone, "But isn't your mom supposed to be dead? You told me she died when you were a just a little girl, right?"

"I- I thought so," Leia said uncertainly. "I mean, I didn't actually see her die. But one day she just wasn't there anymore, and- and when I asked my father, Bail, I mean, he said- he told me that she'd gone away to a better place. I mean, I was only maybe three years old; he knew I wouldn't understand if he put it any other way. Later, when I was older, he told me that- that she'd died. I never questioned that, I didn't have any reason to; but now..."

As Leia said this, she felt a small hand tentatively touch and then slowly enfold hers, and then Padmé said in a low, sad tone, "I'm so sorry that you had to grow up thinking that, Leia. But you mustn't blame Bail; he was only doing what I asked him to. I'd already endangered you enough by staying on Alderaan as long as I had. And not just you, but Bail and his people as well." She paused for a moment, sighing, and then continued. "The Emperor had put a huge price on my head, you see. I guess he saw me as one of the last loose ends he needed to tie up, one of the last links to the Old Republic that needed to be severed. Not only that, but- I think he saw me as a threat to his domination of Anakin. Somewhere in his twisted mind, he must have thought that I might be the only one left who had even a chance of helping Anakin pull free of that mechanized horror named Darth Vader." After another slight pause, she said, "At any rate, I thought it was best for me to be dead as far as you were concerned. That way, you wouldn't endanger yourself by coming to look for me someday. I... hope you can forgive me."

Placing her other hand over Padmé's, and on the verge of tears, Leia said in a ragged voice, "I do. When I was younger, I might not have, but- I understand now. You were trying to protect me. To protect both of us, really."

Sidling up to put a hand on Leia's shoulder, Han, apparently satisfied, said, "Well, that makes as much sense as anything else, I guess. So what now?"

Before anyone else could answer, Padmé, frowning slightly, said, "Actually, before we do anything else, I'm a little curious about just who else is here in the room. Being temporarily blind has some definite disadvantages." Then, turning toward where she'd last heard Han's voice, she said, "For starts, I'm rather wondering who you are. You seem to be very close to both of my... children and to the droids."

With his trademark grin, Han said, "Close? Yeah, I guess you could say that after a couple of decades of blasting around the galaxy with all of 'em. Name's Han Solo, and I gotta say, it's a pleasure meeting you. Especially since I never figured I'd get the chance and all."

"He's my husband," Leia said quietly, with a small smile, and then, mock-seriously, "And a bigger rogue and scoundrel you're never likely to find in this galaxy. But he does have a few... redeeming qualities."

"Thanks for helping me make a good first impression on my long lost mother-in-law, Your Worship," Han said sardonically, his even wider grin taking any sting out of the remark.

Hearing the undertone of love and humor between the two, Padmé smiled and said, "It sounds like you two are well suited to each other. You've been together for a long time, haven't you?"

Leia considered her answer carefully, trying to gauge just how much her mother was ready for, and then finally said, "For over twenty years now. Thirty, if you're counting from the time we met." And then, with a sigh, she said, "Thirty years, two full-scale galactic wars, the fall of the Empire, the rise of a New Republic that we helped build and then watched crumble, and... three children. Those are just some of the things we've been through together."

Padmé was dead silent for several moments, apparently digesting this, and then, in a small voice she said, "So long..." and then, in a tone laced with bitterness, "That Sith-spawned bastard Palpatine took so much away from me! I only hope he's rotting in whatever Force-damned hell he deserves!" After another moment's silence spent forcing back the hot tears that she felt welling up, Padmé said in a calmer and somewhat hopeful voice, "But children, you said? I'm... a grandmother, then?"

Both Luke and Leia smiled at this, and Leia said, "I guess you are. And, as luck would have it, all of your grandkids just happen to be standing right here behind us. Wearing the most peculiar expressions, too, I might add." And then, a shadow passing over her heart, Leia said in a low, sad tone, "No, that's not true. Not all of them are here. One of my children, he- I-!" But she could go no further, freshly stirred grief clutching at her throat.

"His name was Anakin," Luke said somberly, "in honor of his grandfather. He was a great kid, and a great Jedi. He... gave his life to save many others during the war with the Yuuzhan Vong. Who the Yuuzhan Vong are is something I just don't want to get into right now, but the war is over. We won. And we might not have if not for Anakin. You'd have been proud of him, Mother, and I know he'd have been thrilled to meet you."

This time she couldn't keep the tears from her eyes as she contemplated a grandchild she'd never meet, her Ani's namesake, and in a bare whisper she said, "Another thing Palpatine's taken from me. How I wish there were some way to pay him back..."

Silence enfolded the room again for several seconds, but was finally broken as, simultaneously, the Solo twins stepped forward and Jacen said, "All of us are sorry that Anakin is gone, Grandmother, but we've all chosen for the most part to celebrate his life, not mourn his death. It's what he would've wanted, I think." Then, grinning, he said wryly, "Oh, and in case you're wondering, I'm Jacen, one of the three Solo kids Mom mentioned. And that hand you feel on your shoulder belongs to my sister, Jaina. She's looking at you right now like she's afraid you might just fade away, and she's trying really hard not to cry. I guess she thinks that would be unseemly for an X-Wing squadron commander or something."

"Oh, like you're not a little misty-eyed yourself, dear brother?" Jaina sardonically.

"Never said I wasn't," Jacen said with a grin. "But can you blame me?"

Her darker emotions washed away for the moment, Padmé said wonderingly, "My grandchildren... Jacen, Jaina, I'm so happy to meet you! I only wish-"

"Grandmother," Jacen interrupted gently, "Wishing for the things that were taken from you is only going to lead you into frustration. Frustration becomes anger, anger becomes hate and- well, I'm sure you've heard all of that before. But instead of traveling down that path, please just try to accept and enjoy what you do have now. Let the regrets go. There's a whole roomful of people and droids here who'd much rather see you happy than sad."

Smiling, Padmé said softly, "You're wise beyond your years, it sounds like. And you're right. I need to leave the past in the past and start living for the now. After everything that's happened, it's nothing short of a miracle that things have worked out this way. I certainly do have plenty to be happy about."

"All of us do, Mother," Luke said matter-of-factly. Then, with a slight sparkle in his eye, he said, "And in case you were wondering, not all of your grandchildren are as grown up as these two."

Reaching down, he hefted little Ben, who'd been clinging to his leg quietly as toddlers are wont to do when they're unsure of what's going on around them, and settled him in his arms, facing outward. Leaning over Padmé, he brought the little boy close, and Leia guided her hand to his cheek, eliciting a giggle of delight at her soft touch.

"This is Ben Skywalker, Mother," Luke said in a tone of parental pride. "My son. He's only about a year and a half old, so I think you'll have ample opportunity to spoil him rotten before he grows up. And I think he'll appreciate having a grandmother around to cuddle him and tell him tall tales about her youth, don't you?"

"Of course," Padmé said in a whisper as she continued to stroke the little boy's cheek, an expression of rapt wonder on her face.

This tableau stretched on for several moments, but eventually was broken by Doctor Morell's quiet approach. "Excuse me," he said a bit abashedly as he reached Padmé's side. "I hate to interrupt what's obviously become something of an impromptu family reunion, but..."

Leia sighed softly, and said, "Let me guess; you have to."

The doctor nodded slowly, and said, "I'm afraid so. We need to move the young lady, -Miss Padmé, was it?- to a proper bed, and there are a number of tests that need to be run. Not only that, but, as happy as all of this has obviously made her, she needs rest. That might sound strange, considering that she just woke up from a several-decades-long nap, but it's true. That kind of hibernation is anything but restful for the body."

Luke nodded regretfully, and said, "We understand, Doctor. Just give us a another minute or so if you would."

"Of course," the doctor said with a gentle smile and then turned away to give them a few more private moments.

"Seems the medical authority has spoken," Padmé said wistfully, her hand still on little Ben's cheek.

Luke sighed, and said, "I suppose he does know best. Still-"

"Hey, don't look so glum, kid," Han broke in wryly. "You sound like your mom's being hauled off to the spice mines of Kessel or something. Once she's had a couple of hours sack time and the docs are done with their poking and prodding, I'm sure we'll all have plenty of time to catch up on the last few decades. And she'll probably be feeling a hell of a lot better, too."

Leia smiled, and said, "He's right, you know."

Luke nodded, and, turning back to Padmé said, "I guess they've got a point, Mother. But we won't be far away, and we'll be back soon."

"I'll be waiting," Padmé said with a quiet smile.

With that, Luke moved away, giving the others a chance to say their farewells, little Ben squirming in his grasp and reaching out toward this strange new lady for whom he felt an odd connection.

A half-hour later, the Skywalker/Solo clan had reassembled in one of the frigate's many mess facilities, both for a little light refreshment and to try to put into perspective the momentous event they'd just experienced.

At first, everyone was strangely silent, as if caught up in their own turbulent thoughts. But finally, the taut stillness was broken.

"We have a grandmother," Jaina said in an awed voice, as if the realization had just finally, fully struck her. And then, a bit sheepishly, she said, "I mean, it's just, I never thought-"

"I know what you mean," her brother said quietly. "It's just that other people take having their grandparents around for granted. It's... normal. And normal is something that's just never been normal for us."

"Who're you tellin', son?" Han said wryly. "At least you had parents around. Well, most of the time, anyhow. You're the only two in this little group who can say that, in case you didn't notice."

"I know that, Dad," Jacen said, "And I guess that's part of what makes this seem so... surreal. I mean, Mom and Uncle Luke have gone their whole lives without even knowing who their mom was, and now Wham! There she is, dropped into our lives in a block of carbonite of all things. Courtesy of Emperor Palpatine, no less. Only in our family, Dad, only in our family..."

"You don't sound very happy about this, Jacen," Leia said cautiously.

"Oh, no, Mom," Jacen said hastily, "Don't think that! I am happy; for her, for you, for all of us. It's just going to take some getting used to, that's all."

Luke nodded, and said, "I can understand that. This isn't a small thing! The things she knows, the things she can tell us! She grew up before the Empire was even thought of; she was a Senator of the Old Republic, from what she said! And she met our father when he was only a boy... I can't even imagine all the stories she has to tell." Then, shaking his head, he said, "What I really can't believe is that all this time, all these years that we've been searching for even a clue as to who she was, she was right here. Right under our noses, buried under all those tons of ferocrete and duralloy. And I, the great Jedi Master, never sensed a thing. How's that for irony?"

"Luke," Leia said in a soothing tone, "Don't obsess about this. And don't you dare blame yourself! You're not all-powerful, and no one should be. There was no way for anyone to know what Palpatine had done, and we should only thank the Force that things have worked out this way." Then, smiling ruefully, she said, "In fact, if so many people hadn't died in the process, I'd almost say that we had to thank the Vong too. If they hadn't done what they did to Coruscant, no one ever would've found her, and she'd have eventually died down there all alone, with none of us ever even knowing." She shuddered just slightly, prompting Han to wrap his arms around her protectively from behind, and said, "It scares me to even think that that could have happened."

Luke nodded thoughtfully, and said, "You're right, of course. I should take the same advice Jacen gave her and just be thankful for what we've been given. Getting mad over lost opportunities will only overshadow what we can build from here. And think of that! Physically, our mother is a decade and some change younger than either of us! She probably feels like she lost her entire life to that carbon freeze, but she has a whole lifetime ahead of her! That's something we've got to get across to her as soon as we have a chance."

"Huh!" Han said, grinning. "The old 'squeeze-bulb half-empty or squeeze-bulb half-full' thing. But yeah, it sounds like the right course to set."

As Luke was formulating a reply to this, he was preempted by the arrival of a rather grim-faced Doctor Morell. Seeing his expression, everyone present felt a sudden foreboding come over them. Whatever he had to say, they knew, couldn't be good.

Of them all, Leia found her voice first. "Doctor Morell," she said in her best neutral diplomat's voice. "You... don't look happy. What is it?"

The doctor gave a long sigh, and said, "Your Highness, I- before I say this, I have to ask; is there anyone you'd rather have leave the room first? What I have to say might be something that, well-"

Steeling herself for what she was afraid was about to come, Leia said, "No, Doctor. Whatever you have to say can be said in front of everyone here. We're a family, after all."

Nodding slowly, he said in a remorseful tone, "Alright then. We've completed our preliminary tests, and... things aren't looking good. Not good at all. Your Mother's immune system is severely compromised just for starts, and there seem to be other systemic failures in progress. We've already begun empirical treatments, going after the symptoms, that is, but we can't pinpoint a root cause. Right now we're not sure if this is a result of the extraordinarily long hibernation, or if there's something else at work. There's just no other case on record like this, and without baseline data..."

"So what's the prognosis, Doctor?" Luke said in a leaden voice, sure he already knew the answer.

With another long sigh, the doctor said reluctantly, "If we can't figure this thing out, then there's a very good chance your Mother is going to die."

Ok, I know! This is an utterly evil way to end the chapter! But never fear, I won't leave you hanging for long, and this is far from over. None of these characters are quitters, so you can bet they won't take the doctor's news lying down! Please review, and hope you're still enjoying this!