Hi again! Yes, the last chapter was short. So, to make up for that, this chapter is rather long. I just couldn't think of a good way to break it up.

I discovered somthing from your reviews, apparently I'm a lot more deep than I thought. The bit with Owen and Obi-wan was meant to be lighter, but I guess it didn't turn out that way. Ookay, I'll get to relpies.

REV042175: You are, as always, very astute. :-) Either that or I'm not as subtle as I thought.

Owen isn't a jerk, he's just worried. Wouldn't you be, knowing that you were caring for Darth Vader's child and that the one person he wants to find the most is so close? I know I'd be terrified.

I've always felt for poor Obi-wan, even the first time I saw the first movie. He hasn't got it easy.

Reclaiming Yesterday... I like it!I like it alot. I'm going to have to seriously think about that one.

Beornthryth: I couldn't kill off the gungans. It would just be wrong (and, as you said, near impossible) Thanks for the compliment, I just did what seemed to make the most sense.

Kazzy: Word limit on reviews? Heaven forbid! I don't know what I'd do them. Yes, the chapter was short, this one's longer, I promise.

My mom has a stack of items made by me and my siblings. My grandmother has a box in the top of her closet with a similar collection. Report cards, drawings, little books we made in school. I guess it's a mom thing. I picked a plane because Luke woudln't have had much experience with Ships and shuttles and you can't fly a speeder. Remember, Luke later owns a light plane (T-16 Skyhopper) so it's not out of line for the planet to have other light aircraft. Maybe I should have used a different word though... Let me go back and look at it, I might correct that.

I have to say, I never meant for there to bo so much in Owen and Obi-wan's conversation. It was supposed to be a slightly humorous comment. What can I say? I guess I'm deeper than I thought.

Ah, all will become evident in time. Han and Telia will be a great help, they just don't know it yet. This chapter kinda drags out a bit, but I just couldn't figure out a way to chop it up.I hope it's not too long.

Authors Note: There's a lot going on here, but it looks like there are only going to be a couple more chapters. I just thought I'd warn you.

Sorrow Multiplied

Chapter 12

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Luke turned to his mother and sister. The former had just finished relating her run in with their captors. He still felt queasy and off balance, but Leia had assured him that he would survive. "Do you have any idea who he could have been talking about?"

Padmè shook her head. "No idea. The man's name was never said. After he hurt you, I didn't dare ask any questions."

"Don't worry about it mom. I'm fine." Luke told her absently. "But we do need to get out of here."

"I've got an idea." Leia said. She had been peering out of the steel bars to their prison and now she turned around. "Why don't we just blast our way out. When I was trying to wake Luke up, I could feel all around us. There aren't many of them. We can take them all out easily."

Padmè only considered it a moment. "I'm game. Luke, would you do the honors?" She gestured toward the door.

Luke shook his head slowly with a slight grin on his face. He ignited his lightsabre as soon as it was in his hand. "Why does this all seem terribly familiar?"

His sister grinned at him and stepped back. "It should, it's your plan. Remember? From the first Death Star. It worked well enough then, it shouldn't be too much harder to pull off this time."

Luke sliced through both the lock and the hinges and the gate fell with a loud clanging noise. He winced and stepped out slowly. "Well, it looks like you were right, Leia. If anyone was close enough to hear that, they would have sounded the alarm."

Leia followed him and Padmè followed cautiously. The narrow, low ceilinged, tunnel left them walking single file and it apparently ended with their prison. Luke led then through the long tunnel at a very fast pace. After a time, the tunnel widened out and branched into four options. There was nothing to signify which would lead them out. All angled down and into darkness. So far, they had been led by glowrods anchored to the ceiling, but it appeared that their captors could see in the dark because they had left no more.

"It's a technique for holding prisoners. If you black out the corridors they are just as likely to walk into a trap as to escape. Palace security used the technique a couple of times to catch would be assassins." Padmè's voice was tense, but even.

Luke looked to his sister. "Well, this is your plan, where do we go next?" He didn't need to say that right now he couldn't trust his own force sense.

Leia looked to each hallway. On impulse, she closed her eyes and concentrated. Yes, the presence that had helped her find Luke was still there. She reached out to it, dropping to her knees on the hard stone floor.

I need your help again. We're lost." She called to the voice.

The chuckle that answered was a warm baritone. "I will try to direct you, but you must not lose contact with me or I may not be able to help you anymore."

She felt a dizzy when she opened her eyes, but she stood anyway. The voice was still in the back of her mind. He hesitated, unsure of the route. Finally, he said, "The second corridor to the left."

"This way," Leia called to her family.

They ran for a time, then came to another fork. Her benefactor was ready. "Take the left fork."

Leia didn't hesitate. She followed his instructions blindly, barely aware of the corridors around her or her family behind her. The trip passed in a blur of brown and black. Later, Luke would tell her that the path had been dark the entire way, but Leia clearly remembered seeing the corridor walls and cautioning her family where to turn and when to look out for fallen stones.

The trip took nearly a half an hour, but they did eventually reach daylight. Leia stopped in the waning sunlight to thank her new friend.

"Who are you?" she asked again.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you, little Leia." Somehow, his voice was familiar.

"Well, thank you. D o you know what happened to the guards?"

"They left. Right after they threatened your mother, they ran out. I'm afraid they took the speeder."

Leia laughed out loud, earning a glance from Luke and Padmè. "We'll walk. Can you give me a direction?"

"Yes, but then I must go. Head east. Directly east. There you will be able to contact your friends and get a ride back to Theed."

"Thank you again... I wish I knew your name."

He laughed again and Leia opened her eyes quickly, thinking Luke had taken her hand but both he and Padmè were across the clearing. There was no one ther to touch her, yet she still felt as if someone was holding her hand firmly. The feeling faded slowly and she headed over to her family.

"We should head east." She told them evenly.

"Where did you go?" Luke asked her.

She frowned. "I was having a conversation with someone I think I should know. I don't know, he might be dead."

Padmè interrupted them. "If we're going anywhere, we need to do it quickly. We are losing daylight."

The march through the forest was more difficult than the run through the cavern. Leia and Padmè's gowns snagged on every branch and twig and the heavy fabric made travel slow. Luke was slightly better off, but he soon shed the heavy cloak and carried it as a bundle instead. He took the lead position and broke the trail for the girls, but he frequently found himself backtracking to help one of them tear their way out of a bush.

On one such occasion, Leia commented, "Can someone tell me again why I am dressed this way?"

"Funny, I was going to ask the same thing," Padmè confessed, trudging up to meet the pair.

"Well, I don't mind my outfit as much out here." Luke grinned and gave Leia's skirt a final tug, freeing her from the thorny vine she'd caught. "I retract all my earlier comments about your choice of garments, Mother."

Leia stuck her tongue out at him again and he grinned, then swayed unsteadily. "Come on. My force sense is still weak, but I think there are people up ahead. It won't be far now."

The princess couldn't feel what he did, but wasn't surprised. It seemed they'd been walking forever. The meager light from the sunset was nearly gone now, making her run into even more obstacles. She promised herself each time she became entangled, that she would never again curse simply wearing a dress. She would find some way to thank the designer of her much more practical senatorial gowns, however long he or she might have been dead.

Luke had been right, they were approaching a town of some size. And none too soon. The jedi had begun swaying slowly whenever they paused and Leia feared what that poison might be doing to him. Her brother was strong, but apparently prone to illnesses. This was not the first time he'd been poisoned in the last four years.

The town was close now, they could hear shouting and speeders. Padmè rushed ahead while Leia slowed to help Luke, who was now stumbling. She wondered if he was getting worse, or if he was just tired enough now to let show how ill he truly was. Either way, he needed help as soon as possible.

Leia felt a wave of reassurance from somewhere as she wrapped her arm around Luke's waist and laid his arm over her shoulders. He was protesting weakly, but accepting her support at the same time. She thought the reassurance might be from the mysterious man who had been helping her all along, but she couldn't be sure.

Padmè rushed out when they found the edge of the trees. There was a road bustling with people and what was obviously some kind of street fair. At first, no one noticed the tattered Queen, but slowly, one by one, people took notice. Whole groups turned as one when she called out and breaths caught in throats. He gown was dirty and wet, handing in strips some places. The gown was more brown than silver now and the blue trim, which had been a lighter material, had torn in many places from the repeated yanks and pulls. Her hair had pulled loose from the headdress and was clumped and falling into her face. Mud smeared her cheek and her gloves had been abandoned somewhere behind her. Despite this, she was recognized instantly.

A moment later, Leia appeared. The princess was in little better shape than her mother. The black and red did not show the dirt as bad, but her skirt was completely shredded and one of her sleeves was missing. Her braids had fared better, but she was just as dirty and wet. Luke was in better shape, having not fallen as often as the others, but he was only half conscious and being mostly carried by his sister.

After another shocked moment, two men rushed out from the crowd and took Luke from his sister's arms. A woman in a suit came forward.

"Your highness? Are you okay?"

Padmè managed to retain consciousness throughout her visit to the medicenter, though exhaustion tore at her. She had no idea how long it had been since they had left the palace. Sunset had only been a few hours away when they had left for dinner. Either they had been unconscious in the cave for an entire night and day, or for just over an hour. Leia had passed out on the way to the center and Luke was still out from the poison. As it was, Padmè was healthy and was mostly being ignored by the medicenter staff as they passed by. Her tattered gown had been traded for borrowed pants and a new shirt and her hair lay in a simple plait down her back, still wet from her quick shower.

The nurses told her Leia would wake anytime now, having only suffered exhaustion. Padmè guessed that had something to do with the strange Force connection she seemed to have been experiencing while they were escaping. She knew, from her time with Anakin that, for someone unused to it, that could be tiring. Right now, the former queen was waiting for the nurse she had been speaking with to be available again. Padmè still didn't know what room her daughter was in.

The nurse turned back to her just long enough to give the information, and rushed down the hallway, Padmè headed the other direction. She reached the room to find Leia already awake. "How's Luke?"

Padmè smiled. "He's going to be okay, Leia. You were right, it was an allergic reaction. The doctors say he'll be just fine in another couple of days, though he wouldn't be if we'd waited much longer. They're keeping him unconscious for a time, to help his body recover."

Leia smiled too. "That's probably a good idea. Knowing Luke he'd probably go chasing down our kidnappers as soon the doctors turned their backs."

The princess was wearing a long white shift that wasn't terribly attractive, but was much more comfortable than the gown they had cut her out of upon reaching the hospital. "I guess the dress was in such terrible shape they burned it. I can't say as I'm sorry to see it go."

Her mother laughed. "I was politely asked if I wanted mine washed or destroyed while I was showering. The nurse said you were supposed to sleep for a while longer."

"I'm alright mother, really. It's been over two hours, I'll be fine. Has anyone sent word to the Palace that we're okay?"

"No, not yet. They may not even know we are missing yet."

"What yousa meanin Miss Padmè issa missing?" The Gungan cried, throwing up his arms in frustration. "Did yousa lose her?"

"She was kidnaped, Ambassador. We are looking into it." Governor Lisk told him. The Gungan had walked in moments ago demanding to see the former queen. At his side had been two humans, neither of whom anyone present recognized. Now, the man spoke up.

"Did you lose Princess Leia and Jedi Skywalker too?" The man was frighteningly calm, though his eyes flashed with anger.

"Who are you?" Lisk asked the stranger.

"General Han Solo, New Republic Navy. Who are you?"

"Governor Arnor Lisk. I can not tell you how sorry I am that I was not able to prevent this catastrophe."

Han eyed the man. He recognized a duplicity in the man beyond that of a simple politician. He'd known coming in that his friends were missing and worried about them, but Telia had asked him to help her here. He knew Luke and Leia pretty well now and their mother had survived twenty years with a price placed on her head by the Emperor himself. Han guessed they would turn up any time now.

"Mya only talkin with Padmè." The Gungan said with finality, turning toward the door. He strolled out, leaving Telia and Han in the throne room. Telia turned to Lisk slowly.

"I suggest you all call it a night. Perhaps the Ambassadors will turn up by morning."

Most occupants of the room were exhausted by now and nodded agreement despite Lisk's protests. Telia smiled and bowed cleanly.

"Well, if any of you are interested, there are rooms ready for you on the level just below this one. The kitchens are also open, if anyone is hungry." She turned and left the room, followed by Han. Some of the young people from her group were waiting outside to direct the men and women to rooms and one winked at her. She led Han to her own apartment, satisfied that they had accomplished something.

"Can you tell me what's going on? It's all well and good to tell me that my friends were kidnaped but they are safe now..."

"Miss Padmè and her children are safe, they are in a hospital in a small town just an hour's drive from here. Jedi Skywalker suffered an allergic reaction and is being help until he recovers. My friends in that town are keeping me notified."

"So why the secrecy? Why not tell everyone that they are okay?"

Telia smiled and began fiddling with some piece of electronics on her end table. "Because they haven't come forward yet. I think one of the governors is responsible for their kidnaping. By now, he or she knows they have escaped. I am hoping whoever it is will slip up and show his cards."

"Ahh, they don't know that we know that they know, gotcha." Han sat for a long moment, then said, "So, what should we be looking for?"

"I'm waiting for word from my friends. Only a few senators brought aids. Each aid is currently being followed, as are any senators that choose to leave themselves, and all communications to the rooms are being monitored. Eventually, the kidnapper will say or do something to alert us."

"So we wait?"

"We wait," she said firmly, focusing on her tools.

Han sighed. "I hate waiting."

"Leia, who were you talking to, when you were trying to wake Luke up?" Padmè asked her daughter. They were both sitting at Luke's bedside, waiting for him to wake up, again. It was morning and he was, according to the doctors, over the worst of it. He should be able to leave after a brief exam.

"I don't know. He wouldn't tell me his name. How did you know I was talking to someone?"

"Your lips were moving, though you were too quiet for me to hear. You sat there for so long, I was starting to get worried about you." Padmè took her daughters hand. "You said it was someone you thought you should know?"

Leia frowned. "I think I know him. He sounded familiar, no, he felt familiar." She corrected herself. "I don't know much about the force, Luke is the only one I really sense. But this person, I just know I know him. Do you know what I mean?"

Padmè swallowed hard. "Yes, I think I do. And... I think I know who you were talking to."

"How would you..."

"Because I've been talking to him too." Padmè looked down at the bed next to her where her son still lay.

Leia frowned. "Everyone says I look so much like my mother, but right now, You look just like Luke did when he-" she broke off, horrified. "No. You are not going to tell me I was talking to Darth Vader!"

"Honey, I think you were talking to your father."

The princess turned away, tears filling her eyes. She faced the window and stood there until Luke said, "Hi mom."

"How do you feel, Luke?" Leia turned quickly.

"I'm fine, are you okay, Leia?" He asked, noticing the tear tracks that she had almost hidden under her broad smile.

"I'm fine." She said cheerfully.

"We were just dredging up old memories." Padmè added. "The doctors say you can leave today."

Luke smiled now. "Hey, that's great. I don't really like these places anyway."

"You sure end up in the medicenter an awful lot for someone who doesn't like it." Leia accused playfully.

"It's not my fault!" Luke said innocently, playing the old line to perfection. Their discussion was interrupted by a nurse, who immediately went for a doctor. Luke was pronounced fit and given his freshly laundered clothes back.

He frowned at the stack of cream colored cloth. "Hey, how come you two get real clothes and I'm stuck wearing this again?"

Leia laughed, "Our gowns were ruined. You could always go back to the palace in your hospital shift."

He frowned and headed for the 'fresher to change. He reappeared clean and fully dressed after only a few minutes. "So how are we getting back?"

"The mayor of this fine town has offered us the use of her private speeder," Padmè told them with a smile. "I guess she had formed a celebration, honoring my return and when we walked out of the bushes..."

Luke grinned. "I can imagine."

Padmè drove the speeder. She knew the planet best, it having been her home for so long. There was little to see, though. They flew back over the roads so the return trip took longer than the trip out.

"I still can't think who would want to hurt me here." Padmè told her children. "He said that his boss was the rightful ruler and that I was in the way."

Luke frowned. "Not that I'm complaining, but why didn't he just kill us all?"

"If mother had been killed now, she would have just turned into a martyr. That would have made it unlikely that this guy would be elected and it would have been impossible for him to take over by force." Leia pondered this for a moment. "Who even knew we were leaving?"

"Well, it was the Governor's aid who took us to the speeder. Odds are, nobody but the one aid and Lisk himself knew we had even left the palace. Lisk was keeping the security very tight. There would have to be a leak." Padmè told them.

Luke frowned. "He would have to have someone on his staff that was working for our captors and I sensed no duplicity from anyone we came in contact with, though a few had natural shields."

"That's not uncommon." Padmè said, not looking from the controls. "Ani told me once that most senators and the people who worked around them all the time were hard to read."

Leia grunted and crossed her arms. Luke sighed patiently. "Was that for the information or the source?"

"Both," Leia told him tersely.

"Well, for whatever it's worth, it's true. At least, as far as I've seen." Luke was worried. His sister had been doing so well. Despite his words to Padmè, it seemed that Leia truly had accepted the truth and moved on. But ever since he'd awakened in the hospital, she'd been distant, with that sarcastic edge to her voice that he knew meant she was struggling with something.

"So we have no way of knowing who it was? We can't know who could be after us or who is working with them?" Leia asked surprisingly calmly, though that meant nothing with her.

The silence in the car was deafening. It was Padmè who broke it. "I wouldn't say that Leia. Remember Telia's surveillance system?"

At the Palace, Telia and Han were alternating watching the final surveillance footage from inside the palace. They had to rely on old fashioned spying for everything else, but Telia's friends took care of that. Empty rooms were unmonitored, thanks to the motion sensors Telia had installed, even so most of her screens were divided into fourths just to keep track of the senators rooms. The bank of monitors showed nearly a hundred rooms, all of which were occupied. A handful of blank monitors could be used to enlarge any images that they might find interesting.

For the most part, people were doing everyday things, nothing out of the ordinary. Some slept, some ate, and some were reading or watching the holonet, all trying to relax. Only three were currently holding conversations and all three were being recorded and monitored by Han. He had no volume, but based on their motions, he guessed two of them conversing casually. One was a large group half of the participants were laughing, in the other, the two men were drinking something so strong even Han wouldn't touch it. The third, though, was something else entirely.

The third monitor showed a room full of people. A heavyset Governor that Han had seen earlier, a small and shady looking man, and a handful of burly guards. A young woman came in several times to bring items tot he senator, but the men stopped talking each time and did not resume until she had left. Both his smuggler past and the time he'd spent with the rebellion told him these were not the actions of an honest man.

Telia was snoring on the lumpy sofa and Han decided not to wake her for this. When the small man left the room, Han followed him on the monitors while he commed one of Telia's friends. After giving her the man's description and heading, he switched of f the device and split his attention between the senator's room and the shady man's progress. After another minute, just before the man made it outside, Han spotted the tail on the monitors. He grinned and switched the view away.

The senator had sent his guards away and they were now in their own rooms. The senator, whose name Han wished he had learned, was reading a datapad quietly in his chair. Several more of the rooms were inhabited by sleeping men and women, allowing Han to switch off those screens and consolidate the images again.

The smuggler couldn't help stealing a glance at the woman sleeping on the sofa. If only the rebellion had been able to recruit her. This entire setup was amazing. It was all manual, but from what he gathered, she had built it herself. Not only had she built it piece by piece, she'd done it from scraps. Han could only imagine the kind of effort it took for a single being to wire an entire palace, the size of this one, by herself. It was no wonder they didn't have sound.

Thanks to this woman's brilliance, they would soon catch his friends' kidnappers.