A/N: Yes, it has been awhile. I'm sorry. I really am. For those that care. As you may have noticed, I removed C3-6. I can do better. So the story might change a bit. I tried not to let my OC's overshadow the originals. That just wouldn't be right. Once again, I apologize for the wait. Here's the new and improved C3. I don't own SW but I do own my OC's. Remember, it's an AU…and I didn't know who Mara Jade's parents were so that is who my OC is serving as. I don't know who Han's father is, if ever mentioned, so I made up his father as well but he's only a minor character.
It was late evening on Coruscant when Garren received an invitation to the Grand Ball in honor of one of the most respected Grand Moff's birthday. Surprised, the redhead decided that he ought to go. It just might aid him in his mission: find the former Senator of Naboo. Six years had passed by since he had been ordered to do so by Darth Vader…six years of boring assignments from Emperor Palpatine and from Vader himself. It was either accompany Senators or an elite to another planet, or spy and bring down organizations that tried to overrun the Imperial Empire. It was all too easy and Garren had never forgotten his original mission, which was proving to be more difficult than he anticipated. Senator Amidala had covered up her tracks well. As far as he knew, she was still alive and most likely had taken a new identity.
Garren opted for that reason, believing it to be the most logical, and had searched the records of all leaders for any group, hoping to uncover any hidden facts that might unveil the whereabouts of Senator Amidala. She would probably be behind an underground administration that foolishly hoped to overthrow the Emperor. "What a ridiculous notion." He muttered out loud to himself.
"What is, Dad?"
Garren blinked, realizing he had been caught up in his own thoughts. The man glanced at his left to see his seven-year-old daughter, Mara, staring at him expectantly. The girl, who had the same fiery red hair as her father with piercing emerald green eyes, had been watching the holonews. Garren had taken her under his wing after he had been given much spare time. The Emperor simply did not require his services as much and rewarded his skill with more off-duty hours.
Of course he had argued with his mother-in-law about the idea of him actually being a parent but in the end, he had won. They never got along anyway, especially when it concerned Mara Jade.
"It's nothing." He answered monotonously and returned to reading the invitation on the datapad.
Mara normally would not take that as an answer but decided to let it go. "What's that?" She asked, moving closer to him on the couch. The two lived in an apartment in one of Coruscant's finest living quarters' skyscrapers. Garren had been able to afford it, what with being paid generous sums of credits by those he worked for.
Clicking his tongue, Garren responded, "It's an invitation to a party."
Mara peered over his shoulder and tried to read what it said. "You got invited?" She asked with wide eyes.
Wondering what she meant by that, Garren nodded slightly.
"Are you going to go?" Mara questioned him with sad eyes. Even with her father's spare time, she didn't get to spend much time at all with him. Maybe once in awhile he would take her on his walk throughout the levels of Coruscant and she valued those moments spent together. Other than that, he was usually busy with something he didn't like to talk about.
"I plan to." He replied, turning towards her. "Why?"
Mara bit her lip and shook her head. "Nothing." She echoed the word he had answered with earlier.
Meanwhile, on a planet far, far away…
"Boy, get in here!"
The raspy voice of Watto, the junk dealer, called for his young worker. Things needed to be fixed and he certainly couldn't do it himself. He was getting old with each passing day and frankly, though he didn't show it, he was grateful for the technical skills of the grandson of Shmi Skywalker-Lars. Somehow she had managed to talk him into hiring her grandson because they needed money and Watto was a better boss than the others she had come across were. It was actually her grandson's idea to get a job himself, giving no thought to his age of seven. Reluctantly, she allowed him to work for Watto since he had proved to be just as good as the next worker familiar with droids and other machines. Where he had picked it up, she had no clue. He must've learnt it from Owen, or maybe he just had a natural talent for fixing things, much like someone from her past.
"Coming!" Luke called back, getting up from his corner in the junkyard. The only son of Anakin Skywalker had been tinkering with an old hyperdrive. No one had come into the shop so he was free to do whatever he wanted until he was needed. But for now, he was glad to be going in from under the hot, blazing twin suns.
Upon entering the shop, Watto flew over to the young boy, his wings flapping like no tomorrow. "What ya been doin'? I've got customers comin' in left and right!" He frowned at Luke. "Here, taka these people to the back and show 'em the spare parts for landspeeders." The Toydarian demanded and then flew away to unceremoniously greet other customers.
Luke looked at the two people standing tall before him. Their skin had a grayish tint and they wore no expression although the female, with chestnut-colored hair, seemed to be bored. The male, who had the same hair color, merely stared at the boy, waiting. "Um…follow me." Luke offered and spun around, heading again outback into the hot sun.
Throwing a glance over his shoulder to see if they were following, Luke could not help but feel suspicious of them. There was nothing extraordinary or dubious-looking about their appearance; they seemed like perfectly normal people, dressed in the standard farmer's garb. Yet the boy could not shake the uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was something he could not explain but he felt it almost every day of his life in different things. Sometimes he had dreams about other worlds, and even felt other people when they were around. Other times, he was able to predict the next move of a pilot in a podrace, which still went on these days—Shmi took him to see the races.
It was so strange but in spite of that, it was comforting. It seemed to be always there, like a second nature.
"These are all the parts we have…" Luke pointed to a large scrap pile. "What do you need?" He asked, wishing to be more helpful.
No answer was made and the man continued to stare at him. Uncomfortable, Luke fidgeted with his tunic on the spot and glanced elsewhere. 'What's with him?' He thought, feeling his face grow hot. Why did strangers have to be such…strangers?
"Tell me, are you good at repairing droids?"
The question came so suddenly; Luke was caught off guard. "Uh…I…I know the basics and stuff…" He replied quietly, gazing up at the tall man. The man's name was Zenedine and he appeared to be debating over something in his head. Curious, Luke added, "Why…sir?"
Meanwhile, the woman, Ozna, was studying the little boy intently. For several days now they had been watching from shadowy places the progress of the boy's work and what he did. They needed someone who had a knack for constructing and renovating machines, droids, etc. Figuring the best place to find someone that wouldn't bring attention to their association would be Tatooine, as strange as it sounded. Zenedine had argued with her countless times on the choice of the planet but Ozna would not step down from her decision. He had been doubtful that Tatooine, a place for the lowest of lowlifes in his opinion, would have who they were looking for.
"That will be all. Apparently you don't have the parts we need." Zenedine finally answered and abruptly turned around. "Good day." The two departed from Luke's sight.
"That's funny." Luke murmured, narrowing his eyes. "We have lots of parts for all types of speeders…"
"Mistress Leia, shouldn't you be attending to attending to your studies?" A female voice broke through Leia's thoughts. It had come from a droid who was sent daily to make sure she was doing her schoolwork.
The young Skywalker girl, or rather Organa girl, rolled her eyes and turned from the window. "I finished it already." She answered curtly. Leia had been watching the starships come in from the atmosphere and beyond.
Schoolwork was tedious, except for her class on the political systems on Alderaan. It was relatively easy to understand for her grade level. Of course they only taught the fundamentals in the simplest way possible to understand for first graders on Alderaan. Leia attended a private school that was available only for those who wanted their children to become senators, politicians, leaders, and more. Leia was okay with that. After seeing her father, Bail, in action, she now more than ever wanted to be just like him.
Speaking of her father… Leia bounded out of the room and dashed down the hallway, leaving the droid behind. She rushed down the stairs and into the main hall where she stopped short, seeing her father discussing something with a strange man dressed in less than desirable clothing.
Then she noticed that there was someone else standing next to the strange man, behind him now that she got a better look. It was a boy, no older than she was with tousled dark brown hair and brown-green eyes. If she had ever thought she was restless, it was an understatement. This boy looked bored beyond belief and kept glancing about until he saw her. Then he frowned.
Leia raised her eyebrows and stepped down the last of the steps and wandered over to her father. "Father?" She tugged on his sleeve when he was finished speaking.
Bail smiled down at his adopted daughter. "Why Leia! You're just in time!" He gestured towards the man and boy. After introducing the man, he then asked her to do something. "I need you to entertain his son, Han, while we discuss some business…" The man, Relvern, gave a friendly smile to Leia while his son just stared at her, not really caring what was going on.
"Sure." Leia replied, giving a thin smile to the boy who merely raised an eyebrow at her. 'So his name is Han Solo…'