Chapter 15

"Turn it off, Han, just turn it off." Leia said disgustedly. She had watched the entire senate debate through the video transceiver on the Faclcon, where she sat in the copilot seat. She had been in the Falcon with Han and the droids when they first heard of the recent invasions. She could not believe what was happening: the entire senate had just given up and even cheered for the new ruler and government. "After everything that we fought so long for and they just give it all up. I…I don't know what we can do. This new Emperor is in charge now, and he can use the Force. There's now way we can fight back."

"Don't say that Leia," Han said. "There must be something we can do. We've been worse off before. We'll contact Luke and Mara and everything will be fine.

"No, Han it won't," Leia said. "The Jedi have not even forseen this threat. It has caught everyone completely off guard. I still don't know how this could have happened. And I don't know where Luke and Mara are, I lost contact with them after…after…" Leia could not finish what she wanted to say. She had lost contact with her brother and sister-in-law after the wave of pain in the Force had crashed into her. Leia knew what had happened, she felt all the Jedi die, and continue to feel them become one with the Force even as she sat there. She wanted to do something but did not know what.

"Are you sure Luke and Mara are alright?" Han asked. "And Jacen and Jaina?"
"I would know if any of them died," Leia said. "But I don't know where Luke or Mara are, or Jaina. I don't want to contact them in case someone intercepts the message and tracks them down. But I know they are still alive. And Jacen is in Hapes with Tenel Ka and Shmi. I know they are safe. But I don't know what to do about all the other Jedi that are still in danger."

"Can't you contact them through the Force?" Han said. "Jacen probably contacted Jaina through the Force and she's probably with him already. Maybe we can do the same with the others and all regroup on Hapes."

"I can try," Leia said. "But it feels as if something is preventing me from doing so. Some kind of weight on me that suppressing the Force flowing through me."

"Any idea what could be causing it?"

"No, but I'll still try." Leia got up and sat down again on the floor of the Falcon in a Jedi meditation position. She calmed herself and reached out into the Force. She spread herself out across the galaxy and contacted the Jedi. It was as if something had tore a huge hole in the Force. So many lives were missing. Leia felt Zekk's presence, and Tahiri's. Inwardly she cried for joy, knowing that they were still alive. She sent them the message to come to Hapes and to make haste. She felt her old master Saba as well and gave the message to her. Leia found others still alive, Corran Horn, Kyle Katarn, Cilghal, and others, but so many more were missing. Leia did not feel Kenth Hamner's firm presence in the Force, nor Kyp Durron's fierce presence, and there were still so many others tat were missing.

But there was another presence she felt. It was dark and savage, yet strangely familiar. She knew she had felt it before but it felt very different. There was a deep coldness to it, and a deep sadness even. She probed deeper, trying to see who it was. An image began to take place. It was a human dressed in all black, a dark aura around him. The person's back was turned to Leia. Then the person turned and with the face of one Leia knew from many years ago, and who she still hated for what he had done to her.

Darth Vader.

Leia screamed and snapped out of her trance. Han was by her side in a second and wrapped his arms around her.

"Leia, what's wrong?" Han asked. "What happened?"

"Han, there's no time to explain," Leia said. "We must head for Hapes immediately."

Han did as his wife said and began to put the coordinates for Hapes in. Leia joined him in the cockpit.

"We're in trouble this time, Han," Leia said. "And we're going to need all the help we can get."

"Can you tell me what's going on?" Han asked.

"I don't really know," Leia shook her head. "But from what I felt, if we don't stop this threat now, there may not be a galaxy to save."