Chapter 4

Angel One

"Padme get up here we just got yanked out of hyperspace and it does not look like we are the first."

Padme came running in with Anakin right behind her. Instead of getting in the copilot chair she gestured for Anakin to take it. "You know what we are up against and Sabe knows the ship."

"Yeah and I also know that ship out there is the Millennium Falcon. That's Mom and Dad." Anakin said setting a direct course into the fray.

"Sabe show them what we've got! You don't shoot at my family." Padme said, Sabe nodded making sure that all the weapons systems were primed.

"Sabe their ships project voids to swallow weapons fire. The trick to get past them is to fire lower intensity shots to distract the voids then hit them somewhere else full power. I'll fly, you shoot and if you need help ask Tahiri she knows more about the Yuuzhen Vong than anyone who isn't one." Anakin said finding the comm. and calling up the Falcon. "Hey, Dad we've got your back. Tell Mom I'm alive and boy do we've a lot to talk about when this is over. Between the two of us this shouldn't take too long." Anakin said to a very ecstatic if confused Solo.

"Anakin?"

"Yes, Dad I'll see you in a moment." Anakin said as they joined the fray and taking some of the heat of the Falcon's stressed shields.

o O o

"Leia you're going to love this." Han said with a very weird voice.

"What's up Han, are they going to help us?" Leia asked as she continued firing.

"Yes, and Anakin is the pilot. He is alive and the tide is changing in our favor." Han was so excited he forgot to control his volume. Since the Yuuzhen Vong had shown up he had been watching the imagined protective bubble around his family fall apart leaving his family in shambles. Now the bubble seemed to be reclaiming some of its former strength. 'Anakin is alive,' Was Han's only thought as he in typical Corelian fashion threw caution to the wind and started taking the fight to the Vong once more. Han wondered what in space were the blue glowing balls - that the strange ship that had brought his son back - fired were good for till one finally connected with a skip. A wave of electric blue goo spreading over the small ship the goo caused the skip to spasm. The sight reminded him of the time when Artoo jacked into a power port instead of the data port. When the wave stopped the ship continued to twitch evidently out of control.

'Where can I get some of those?' Han thought to himself as he set up another set of skips to be taken out by Leia.

"Like those, Dad?" Anakin called out over the comm.

"I'm a little busy, Son and right now you're distracting." Han said dodging another attempt to catch him in a crossfire. "Like how in the blue blazes you got here - alive - not that I'm complaining."

The Bombas as Sabe called them were making quick work of the swarm of Yuuzhen Vong ships. Leaving the Dovian Basal gravity mine undefended with spasming skippers all around it. Then Sabe fired two large blue torpedoes, the first blew just before being swallowed by the void the living gravity mine generated to protect itself allowing the second to reach and destroy its target. Between the two ships that the Vong had pulled out of hyperspace there wasn't a single skipper that was fully functioning.

'My baby is alive!' Anakin heard his mother's joy through the Force. 'I hope Tahiri didn't here that.' Anakin thought as he slid up behind the last skip. "That's the last of them." Anakin said reaching over and hitting the comm just as it started to beep. "Hi Mom."

"Anakin are you okay? How did you escape?" Leia's voice came flooding out of the comm.

"Yes, I'm fine but I don't know what happened or how I got away." Anakin paused for just a moment taking a deep breath then answered the question that he knew would come. "Jacen and Jaina were still fighting and then I lost consciousness. When I woke up I was on Tatooine a little ruff around the edges and more exhausted than I had ever been. First, thing I did was see if there was any sign of them." Talking was starting to get hard. The question, 'why me and not them,' kept running circles around his head. 'I was trying to save them, yet I am safe and they are missing'. "Mom we should probably clear out of here. I'll have Sabe send a course to you and we'll talk then. I can't talk about this over the comm."

Leia realized how hard this was on Anakin, that he was safe and his siblings were missing. "I am sure Jacen and Jaina will turn up too. I'm just glad that you are alive, they told me they saw you die. If you can come back to me from supposed death then I am sure that Jaina and Jacen will return to us as well. Anakin, I am just glad you are safe. I will talk to you later." Leia said, grudgingly signing off as Han took them into hyperspace.

Padme was standing behind Anakin during the battle and heard the pain in his voice. "Sabe, why don't you and I go back to look over the data from the battle." Sabe obediently followed her friend out of the cockpit leaving the two young ones alone.

"Are you okay? I mean really, okay." Tahiri asked sliding into the seat that Sabe had just vacated.

"As good as I can be and that is because you are here." Anakin said turning to look at Tahiri.

Tahiri smiled taking his hand and giving it a squeeze as they both just sat there enjoying the moment of rest bit that came along with hyperspace.

o O o

"So Sabe what do you think we are up against with the Yuuzhen Vong?" Padme asked as they both collapsed into their perspective seats.

"Those little ships were tuff. Tahiri said that they were just the fighter analogs and they have some ships that are the size of star destroyers." Sabe paused for a minute letting that soak in. "Amidala I must suggest that we head back to Naboo. My duty will no longer allow me to stand by and watch you run around hostile space without even an attempt at security. As your bodyguard I must insist that we head back it's not safe even with having found your family. In truth it sounds like we will now be facing even higher risks of danger than before since they are known targets." Amidala started to say something but Sabe raised her hand to stop her. Sabe knew that she was well in her rites to speak to Amidala like this when she felt the Queen was in danger. "Padme, I know that she takes after you and that neither of you will like it but it has to be said. Your Highness I am trying to ensure your safety."

"Okay Sabe, you are right, my duty is to my people. Naboo must be warned. I just hope that Leia will understand." Padme said walking over to the comm station and started typing.

Found hope. Hope has grown.

Found new trouble. Hope is being hunted.

Returning.

Send message top encryption Queen's eyes only.

Message sent.

o O o

Naboo Thrown Room

Rabe was sitting listening to a rather long and winded speech wondering how Padme stayed awake through it all. When all of a sudden in ran a communication technician.

"Your Highness, a message from one of your handmaidens coded your eyes only." When the comm tech finally got to Rabe he bowed and handed over the message.

"All but my handmaidens leave." Rabe said entering the decryption key and reading the message.

As the door closed behind the rest of the court, Dorme stepped forward. "What does it say Rabe? Is the Queen coming back yet?"

Rabe thought for a moment analyzing the message. "She has found them and if I had to guess from this I would say she is most likely a grandma since she said that Hope has grown. She is returning but there is nothing about when she thinks they will get here. This also says that they found a new sort of trouble and whatever it is it is after her family. I think they are in for a surprise."

"Did she say about what we are up against?" Eirtae asked.

"No, if I had to guess I would say that she was afraid that the message could endanger us but that we needed to be warned." Rabe said sitting back on the thrown. "We must start preparing for the worst. She said this was new, that means that the Empire is no longer our main concern." Rabe closed her eyes. "Contact the Jedi."

A hologram appeared of the Gungun Jedi assigned to the comm. "Yes, My Lady, what may we do for you?"

"Coast is clear Jedi Binks." Rabe said with a smile for Jinn Jinn Binks he sometimes reminded her of his late father. Yet he was a Jedi Knight. "We have received a message from Amidala and she is returning." Rabe paused for a moment. "She also sent news that Hope has been found and found to have grown. Yet she speaks of them being hunted. I fear that the danger is serious. I am sending the message to you now and hope to receive the suggestions of the Naboo Order."

"Thank you, Lady Rabe. We will examine the message and contact you as soon as possible. Till then Lady Rabe, may the Force be with you."

"May it also be with you in your examination." Rabe said nodding to the Jedi out of respect. Jedi Binks also nodded before closing the connection. "Eirtae, will you make sure that the fleet is both ready and briefed on the existence of this unknown threat. Dorme, check the planetary defenses. I want them ready at a moment's notice. Once that is done the Jedi will probably have some suggestions for us to look over. We should be able to complete our assignments in about two hours so let's meet back here then."

Eirtae bowed and left leaving Rabe and Dorme. "It sounds like we are going to be busy for a while. Meanwhile, there are most likely some very curious courtiers out there you should speak with." Dorme said as she bowed and left shaking her head at the face that Rabe had made when she thought it would not be seen.

o O o

Queen's ship Angel One

After sending the signal Padme and Sabe had decided that it would be easiest to tell the truth, from a certain point of view. Although Padme didn't mention what point of view she was going to use as they headed to the cockpit. When they entered both the young Jedi turned to face them. "We must head home. Naboo has no idea what is going on out here. They must be warned so that they can prepare." Padme knew that there was much that needed to be said and explained. "I really would enjoy a chance to talk with Leia on the way. Can you think of any way to pull that off Anakin?"

Anakin thought for a moment on ways of doing that. "We could dock quickly, trade one from here to there and be on our way. Let's see if we go to mom that will be trading two people so her coming here would be easier. Mom will want to see me and the whole point of this is for you two to talk so that eliminates us."

"I am not going to be separated from Anakin again so soon." Tahiri said defiantly making it obvious that she wasn't going anywhere.

Padme looked to Sabe hoping that Sabe would allow this. Sabe was her friend as well as her bodyguard, which made her all of the more protective. She watched as Sabe closed her eyes for a moment. "I guess that means I am going to switch places with Leia." Sabe acquiesced grudgingly.

"I'll call Dad and set it up as soon as we reach the next course change." Anakin said as he started to analyze exactly how they would go about that. "The plan is for us to drop out of hyperspace near a small but fairly busy back water world and mingle with its traffic for a couple of hours before heading out again on two different vectors. We hope this will confuse anyone trying to track us. While we are in orbit is the perfect time to break the news to Mom."

"That sounds good Anakin." Padme said thinking again about all she was about to tell her daughter. She was planing to break the shock up into manageable bites.

"Well, I had better go gather some things before the transfer." Sabe said heading to the back.

o O o

A couple hours later when the two ships dropped out of hyperspace it was evident that the Falcon was in trouble. Even before Anakin could call and ask about the switch, Han called him.

"Anakin the air is starting to get a little thin over here. We lost most of the air reclamation systems in the fight back there. The Falcon can't handle both your mother and me. Do you think we can transfer her over to you? We may also have to rethink heading straight to Mon Calamari till we can get somewhere safe for repairs." Han said.

"Sure Dad I know they won't mind Mom coming over." 'Well that was easy. I thought it would be a whole lot harder to persuade Mom to transfer over without telling her why.' "Is there anything you need from over here?" Anakin asked.

"Yeah some emergency breath masks and a safe destination." Han said sarcastically on the last part.

"I'll bring you the breath masks as soon as we get docked." Anakin said looking to his Grandmother for suggestions.

"We could go to Naboo." Padme suggested.

"Where?" Han said trying to pull the planet up on his nav-computer. "I can't find any planet by that name on my charts."

"You wouldn't they opposed the Emperor fifty years ago. All you would find is a listing for a navigational hazard." Padme paused for a moment.

"I've got to take Dad those breath masks." Anakin picking them up and heading for the Falcon said as the two ships docked. When he entered the Falcon he got two hugs one from Mom and one from Dad.

Padme came running up behind them. "We have been found there two Yuuzhen Vong vessels coming our way we have to go now." Padme said pulling Anakin and Leia on to the Angel as Anakin threw his father the masks.

"What about the coordinates?" Asked Han as he saw her push the disconnect button hoping he hadn't made a mistake sending his wife over.

Padme saw Artoo roll up behind Han and smiled. "Artoo, Hope protection protocol complete. Restore Pre-Imperial memories."

Artoo started beeping when she said this and at first it was to fast even for Threepio to keep up with. Then just as the door was all but closed Leia heard Threepio react to the last set of beeps. "What do mean Lady Skywalker? Mistress Mara isn't here." Then the door closed and the ships were once more apart.

o O o

Naboo Throne Room

"Your Highness." A Captain of the Naboo Guard called out as he ran up to her and bowed. "An unidentified Vessel has just entered our space."

Rabe could easily remember a time when they would never have reacted like this to an unidentified vessel. But there very was little known about conditions outside of Naboo and the Fleet was just starting to adapt to its post-fall duties. Most of them had never had to deal with anything like this. The Military had also been filled in on the gist of Padme's message.

"Have they made any attempts at establishing contact or any aggressive moves, Captain?" Rabe asked trying to judge what she should have them do.

"No, Your Highness, they are on a leisurely course toward Naboo. As far as we can tell they have not powered up either their weapons or shields. The reports do say the ship is made completely of living materials. Their communication equipment may not be compatible with ours."

"Send a squad of fighters to escort the ship to the Theed Space Port. Make sure that the public is kept at a safe distance." Rabe said nodding to the officer to show that he was dismissed.

"Yes, Your Highness." The Captain said bowing once more then doing a snap turn toward the door.

Rabe made eye contact with each of the others in the room. All the handmaidens were there with the exception of Sabe. There were also two Jedi, for it had been decided that at least until things settled down a bit the Queen or decoy as the case may be would need easier access.

One of the two Jedi, a Master spoke. "Who ever is aboard the ship the Force is with them, even though they try to conceal it."

o O o

Jacen brought the Yuuzhen Vong ship he had stolen out of hyperspace not knowing what to expect. Yet he knew that he had nothing to fear. He didn't have anyway of contacting the ships that he knew were out there. Yet, he was perfectly calm when a squadron of ships surrounded him and started escorting him to the planet. Jacen could tell that Jaina felt the same. As they headed to the planet he couldn't help but admire the ships they passed. The largest of all the vessels that his ship's senses could clearly show him must have been at least as big as a SSD. Where the Super Star Destroyers were designed to strike fear and scream of the power to destroy, this ship though through its beauty sang of power that was used with grace to protect not to conquer.

The fighters lead them down to a space port landing pad. Four of the fighters settled in the corner position around him as he landed while the others exited back out to space.

Jaina now knew she had nothing to fear here, for the first time in a long while she felt that she was safe. She also knew that her new friend was worried about something and that concerned her.

When they landed, their ship showed them those that were waiting for them. In the center stood a man, it was evident from his garb that he was important. What really caught Jacen's eye though was what appeared to be two Jedi standing beside him. On either side right behind him stood two women wearing hoods that concealed their faces. Eight men stood at attention on either side of the carpet that lead to the man, half of them were human and half of a species that Jacen had never seen before.

It took Jacen a moment to digest what he saw before him. Then he thought to himself, 'What would Mom do?' Jacen quickly pulled his lightsaber from its hiding place and hung it on the belt of his living garment which he had commandeered to replace the remainders of his uniform. 'If the Jedi have a high standing here then we might as well use that to our advantage.' Jacen thought as he picked Jaina up and squaring his shoulders headed down the ramp toward the welcoming committee. Kenan following the two young Jedi reluctantly.

When the Jedi saw Jacen carrying his sister they rushed forward as someone called for a medic. Now that they were out of the strange ship the Jedi could get a better sense of them. The younger of the two Jedi smiled reassuringly. "I am Jedi Torra, I am training in the healing arts, let me help."

"I am okay I just need rest." Jaina tried to say defiantly but it didn't sound very convincing.

"Then just let us make sure of that." The Jedi Master said as the medics arrived with an antigravity gurney.

Jacen gently laid his sister down and turned to the man who appeared to be in charge. "My name is Jacen Solo and the stubborn patient is my sister Jaina. I don't want to give insult but with all that I and my family have been through I ask that I we continue this at the health facility."

o O o

Jacen watched as his sister floated peacefully in the bacta tank for a moment before he turned his attention to the others in the room. "Thank you for your patience, I know that you probably have a lot of questions." Jacen said as he walked over and sat in one of the nearby chairs.

The man smiled. "Yes we do. First of all let me introduce myself, I am the Governor Panika of Theed. The Queen of Naboo wishes to know if you can supply us with any intel on what has changed in the rest of the galaxy. Thanks to the Emperor we have been sealed within our star system for a long time and just managed to get loose. We have sent out scouts but they haven't returned yet. We got a short message speaking of a new enemy, but that is about all."

Jacen smiled to himself; 'Yeah I can provide intel.' "They are called the Yuuzhen Vong. I commandeered the vessel I was in from them, not to mention this outfit. They come from a galaxy not so far away and are invisible in the Force."

"What do you mean?" The older Jedi asked.

"It is like they don't exist in the Force, they are voids, they and all their technology. They only use living technology and it like them is devoid of the Force. They have come to realize that the Jedi are the main thing standing in their way and have started hunting Jedi. They despise any technology that isn't alive. They especially hate droids calling them abominations. By the time we managed to convince everyone that there was a threat they had their foot in the door. They operate so differently from anything we had ever seen before, we are still learning how to handle them. Even now they continue to spread." Jacen looked into the eyes of the Governor. "Among the worlds they have conquered are Coruscant and Yavin Four. The Jedi Academy was on Yavin Four."

Silence reined for a moment as the magnitude of the situation sunk in. Then Jacen continued. "Jedi are being killed left and right and to make matters worse we are being handed over in hopes of appeasing the Vong." Jacen closed his eyes. "It is a dark time for the galaxy."

o O o

Angel One

Leia turned toward Padme her eyes wide. Padme winced slightly. "Yes, Leia. This is not as I had intended to tell you. However, we don't have time to go into detail. Suffice to say it is possible and it is reality." Padme said heading back to the cockpit. Again Anakin took the pilot's seat while Sabe took the weapons console. "Open a line to the Falcon." Padme said sliding into the role of leader. Sabe hit the button as Anakin swooped down after the skip that was heading for the Falcon. "Artoo set course for Naboo. Han we will watch your back till you get away."

There was no response; Leia knew it was because he didn't want to leave her and their son on a strange ship in the middle of a fight. "Han, we are safe and you are the one who is in danger. The faster you go the faster we can." Leia told him and cut the comm off knowing that would get him going. Before the next Yuuzhen Vong vessel could even get into firing range they were gone. Once they were safely in hyperspace Leia turned to her son. "You knew she was claiming to be part of our family?"

"Yes, Mom I figured out our connection before we found Tahiri." Anakin stated hoping that the shock would wear off.

"Are you sure? You know that others came forward in the past claiming to be Luke's and my mother or to know where she was. They even have come up with convincing evidence before. And at least those were close to the right age." Leia said not even looking at Padme.

Padme winced; it had never crossed her mind that others would have claimed to be her. She expected the need to explain the age discrepancy and that she was prepared for when the time came. Padme realized that her daughter first wanted to understand Anakin's reasoning before she would even think of listening to her. She just hoped that Anakin could plead her case to his Mother's satisfaction.

Anakin locked his eyes on his Mother's and laid what he knew out for her. "First of all she was going as far out of her way to hide her identity as I was. Plus why would anyone be trying to prove to be the Grandmother of a supposedly dead man? I found and tracked her, not her me. And how could she have set up what just happened with Artoo." Anakin paused for a moment at that and turned to Padme. "How did you do that anyway?"

Padme smiled. "Artoo was mine and Threepio was built by my Anakin. When I sent you children on your different paths the droids memories prior to that date were loaded within hidden memory centers. They were left with orders to protect you two at all cost including a complete system wipe or destruction. I just freed Artoo's past memories." Padme turned to Leia. "I bet those that claimed to be me didn't have evidence like that."

o O o

Theed Palace

"Your ways seem so different from our Jedi Order, Jacen." Jedi Apprentice Noszae Torra said as they were walking through the main courtyard of the palace. "At your age we are still considered apprentices, maybe your standards are more lax."

"If the Queen weren't here I'd show you our standards."

Rabe smiled as she walked over and sat on one of the courtyards many marble benches. "It would be interesting to see how the two orders compare. Just pretend I am not watching."

Jacen and Noszae looked at the Queen shocked that they had been over heard and basically commanded to spar. "You heard the Queen, Jedi Solo." Noszae said as she dropped her burgundy robe leaving her in her pink pearl essence tunic and ignited her pink lightsaber.

"How delicate, a color coordinated lightsaber." Jacen said with a smirk as he ignited his green lightsaber.

"This is true with all Naboo Jedi, Male or Female." She said starting the match, catching Jacen slightly off guard.

Rabe smiled as she watched the strange young Jedi as he sparred with one of the Naboo Jedi assigned to the Palace. "Jedi Torra I think our new friend is getting the upper hand." Rabe said as Jacen countered Noszae's latest attack.

"Yes, I think you are right." Noszae Torra said deactivating her saber and bowing. "You are quite skilled in the saber arts, Jedi Solo. Some of your techniques are unknown to the Jedi here."

"Please, call me Jacen. I have two siblings…" A pained look crossed Jacen's face for a moment remembering that he now only had one sibling. Jacen turned up the Solo charm trying to cover up his distress. "It can quickly get confusing when people just call us Jedi Solo." Jacen said returning the bow.

"I hope to speak with you again Jacen. For now I must speak with the other Jedi and get some rest." Turning her attention to Rabe Noszae bowed. "I fear I must take my leave of you, My Lady."

"Till tomorrow, Jedi Torra." Rabe said dipping her head in a form of a bow.

As soon as Rabe dipped her head Jedi Torra turned and headed toward the door. Just before she left she turned. "If you so wish you may call me Noszae." She said as the door shut behind her.

Jacen's pain had been apparent to both Rabe and Noszae, but they also realized he was not ready to discuss it. Rabe remembered well the ravages of war, both those of Naboo's short occupation by the Trade Federation and many battles of the Clone Wars. Once more war gripped their galaxy and again the Jedi were suffering the brunt of the casualties. Rabe chose to let the young Jedi Knight in front of her choose when to break the silence.

After a couple of moments of having nothing to distract him from his question, even though he couldn't think of any tactful way to ask it, he finally gave in and asked. "I don't mean to be rude, but here I told you that there is an enemy out there that makes the Empire look soft. Yet, we are sitting here as if there was nothing to worry about. You have given no orders, you haven't even spoke with your advisors." Jacen said confused.

"My orders were already given, my people warned and there is nothing more I can do at this time. My scientists are analyzing the vessel you brought us. I have sent some of my people out there and already received some sketchy data." Rabe said again letting a small smile slip. This young man was quite a Jedi and he was well versed in the ways of their new enemy.

All of a sudden the door flew open. Jacen recognized the lady as one of the Queen's handmaidens, although he wasn't sure which one. "Your Highness, we have picked up another ship heading this way slowly and this one has no living tech."

She Turned and addressed Jacen. "I am going to oversee the handling of the new arrivals. Yane, you are to care for the needs of our current guests within the confines of reason." Rabe said gliding out of the courtyard.

o O o

Outer rim of the Naboo system

"Well this definitely isn't on the charts." Luke said turning to look at his wife. "Mara?" The look on her face was one he had seen before. It was the look that was connected to her time as the Emperor's Hand.

"It was called Naboo. I say that because the report I read on it said that it was destroyed in a freak accident involving a new shielding technology. They dropped it after that test. They thought to use it like the Sun Crusher for a time but it created hyperspace anomalies that effected space for light years around." Mara stopped and turned to Luke. "This world has been gone for fifty years. Some of the reports spoke of a person that the Emperor felt could endanger his plans. The shield design covered a whole star system and wouldn't allow anything in or out. He apparently didn't want whoever it was dead."

"Well, the fact that they stood against the Emperor should be a good sign." Luke said looking around. "Uh, Mara, is there anything about those ships that strikes you as weird?"

"They are to some degree alive." Mara said as she reached out with the Force to sense the ships. "This world has been bottled up here for fifty years it only make sense that their technology might develop on a deferent path. Plus, you might say they had a head start. They bypassed the worst of the Empires tyranny. They would have had to adapt to being alone, with no trade. Those ships are a combination of living and non-living technology; the Vong would have had no part in it. This isn't Vong tech, however this was done, it is from this galaxy."

"I guess we should say hi and introduce ourselves to them since they are new to the neighborhood." Luke said reaching for the com-unit and focusing it on one of the nearby ships.

"Or, is the neighborhood new to them." Mara said turning to Luke once more. Her training had her running the odds of what they should tell and what they should hide but Luke had no doubt.

"Naboo ship this is Luke Skywalker aboard the Jade Sabre. May I speak to someone in charge?" Luke said knowing that Mara probably wouldn't have chosen the direct approach.

After a moment a slightly flustered voice came on. "Did you say, Skywalker?" The startled officer asked. When the first ship had arrived with word that Prince Luke was alive and the leader of the Outer Jedi Order, as the Naboo called it, had spread like wild fire. Along with the good news there was a memo. The memo said that only the Queen was to speak to an outsider of the royal twins until the twins learned of their birthright.

"Yes, Luke Skywalker. Why do you ask?" Luke said wishing he had taken at least a slightly longer path. Nevertheless, some part of him knew that he was safe.

"Hold on, I am patching you into the Royal Palace in Theed."

'Palace,' Mara mouthed. Neither of them had ever heard of access being given that quickly to anyone, anywhere.

o O o

I hope you enjoyed Chapter 4 thanks to my mom helping me. Please review and thank you for reading my story.