Chapter 3

The security guards left Leia's apartment. There had been no use in trying to be quiet; the twins were awake and very excited at the happening at the Imperial Palace. They were both full of questions for Luke. Luke stood in the dinning area and had watched Nomica explain what had happened to the security officers. He couldn't make out what she was telling them, but he wanted to know badly.

"Uncle Luke? I don't understand what happened." Jacen asked him.

Luke had no answer for his nephew. Luke, himself, did not truly what had happened in the apartment below. "Jacen, I'm not sure either." Luke didn't want to admit it to Jacen, but it was the truth. Luke had Anakin in his arm and was trying to put the toddler back to sleep. Leia walked into the dinning area.

"Luke, Nomica wants to talk to you. I'll take Anakin." Leia took Anakin away from Luke. "Jacen, Jaina, come on. You two need to get back to bed." There was a group sigh.

"Listen to your mother." That was all Luke ever had to say to get the children to do what they are told. Luke walked into the common room, where Nomi had been sitting.

He sat in a chair across the room from her. He felt strange sitting beside her. It was, to him, as if he did not know who she was anymore. He was the one with the Jedi powers that the other didn't know about. It wasn't supposed to be the other way around. He sat in the chair and said nothing. Mostly because he did not know what to say.

"Luke. I'm sorry. "Nomi said sadly.

That wasn't what Luke had expected. "About what? You did it to protect yourself."

"I'm sorry I hadn't told you sooner. I just didn't know when would be a good time. You have to understand. How was I supposed to tell you, one of the greatest Jedi masters, that I had learned? From the moment I walked into that opera house I knew you were there. That is why I came looking for you. I just, Luke, I was scared." Nomi wanted to hide. She worried about how he thought of her now that she had kept secrets from him.

"How did you know about me being a Jedi?"

"Luke, how can you live on Coruscant and not know?"

"I guess you're right." There was a pause. Luke wanted to ask so many questions. They didn't need to be asked or answered now though. "Who taught you?" He wanted to be sure it was by someone that hadn't tried to teach her with bad intentions.

"Actually, I don't think you'll believe me. Do you remember that old hermit back on Tatooine? Old Ben Kenobi? I had met him one day when Biggs and I went into Mos Epa. I saw the lightsaber and asked him about it. So once a week for about a year and he taught me so much. I know it probably sounds weird. Biggs found out about it and made me stop."

"I believe you. Actually it's quite funny. Obi-wan taught me also, well for a little while."

"Really? Does he stay at the palace now that he doesn't have to hide anymore? I would really love to see him. Oh, Luke, please?"

"Nomi, he isn't here. He, well, Ben died about fifteen years ago. We were on the first Death Star when it happened."

"You were there? Why didn't you do anything?"

"I couldn't, believe me I wanted to. I had only learned what the force was, maybe two days before hand. There was nothing I could do. Obi-wan told me there was nothing I could do."

They sat in silence for a while, neither knowing what to say. Nomica decided to break the silence first. "Do you remember when we use to sit in the speeder and talk about how we wanted our lives to go?"

"Yeah, I remember. You wanted away from your father and Biggs. You wanted to move to Naboo and live by the lakes." Luke got up and walked to sit beside her. "You wanted to start a family, but not be the normal stay-at-home mother."

"And all you wanted to do was be a Jedi, like your father. You wanted to get away from your Uncle's farm. Do something more, you and Biggs always talked about the academy. Your uncle just never let you leave. I guess things didn't turn out how we expected."

"No they didn't, but there's no use dwelling on the past. We are in the present." Luke didn't want to talk about the past.

Han walked into the room. He was hoping to catch part of their conversation but his timing was off. They noticed him standing in the door way. "I know you two want to talk but some of us have to go to work in the morning. Plus I need to talk to Luke."

"I'm sorry Han; I hadn't realized how late it had gotten. No one ever told me where I was to be staying." Nomi said.

"You're going to be staying in our guest room. It's right thru that door." Han pointed to the door in which Nomi was staying in.

"Thank you so much for your hospitality. I appreciate it very much."

"Don't thank me; it was Leia and Luke's doings. I really hate to rush you two, I know you have a lot to catch up on but the matter in which I need to speak to Luke about is rather urgent." Han said very distinguished like.

"No, it's your place. I'll see you tomorrow," Nomi said to Luke, "we can talk more then."

As Nomica walked into the bedroom, Luke began to laugh. He just stood and stared at Han, and by this time Leia had walked up. "What's so funny Luke?" she asked.

"I was about to ask the same thing. What is going on?"

"Oh Leia, you should have heard Han. He has been around you and the other senate members too long. 'The matter in which I need to speak to Luke about is rather urgent,' I'm sorry Han but it did sound funny coming from you." Luke chuckled again, "Okay, I'm finished now. What did you need to speak to me about that is so urgent?"

"Well, I kind of need a favor. You know I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't important. But, um, well I need you to come with me on a little trip." Han said sounding very serious.

"Where are we going on this 'little trip' and why do you need me to come along?" Luke had no true desire to leave, especially since Nomica was here. Han was his friend so he would at least consider it.

"Lando is missing. No one has found him or made contact with him. I got a call today from Tendra Risant to see if he had been by here. She said someone reported him missing but the only reason they did was because Lando owed them money. She said they were pretty straight forward and honest about why they called."

"Could it be that Lando is just hiding out on the Lady Luck?" Luke asked trying not to get too worried about his friend's disappearance, it wasn't working so well.

"No, I paid an insane amount to have a message sent to the Lady Luck, the ship received it but there was no reply. Lando would have replied to me. I know that you're thinking maybe he thought it was someone else but I used an encrypted code that only I would have known. Even if he was hiding he should have replied to Tendra."

"Han, I think your right something is wrong. When did you send Lando the message?"

"Two days ago, this gave him plenty of time to reply. I was hoping you would come along, help me figure this out. Are you in?"

"When do you want to leave?" Luke asked he knew his time with Nomica would be short but not quite this short.

"Tomorrow after lunch. I want to say bye to the kids and have time to get the ship ready. And of course so you can spend more time with your new Jedi friend."

Luke grimaced; it just sounded weird to hear someone talk about Nomi that way. "Okay, tomorrow. I need to make a few arrangements so I better get going."

Leia had been so silent the two almost forgot she was there. "I want to ask Nomica if she would like to stay with me and the children until Luke gets back. If that is okay with you two."

"I don't have a problem with it, someone to watch Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin. Plus you two can keep each other company." Han added.

Luke didn't like the idea of them using Nomi as a babysitter but if she didn't stay with Leia she might decide to go back to her Aunt's house. Luke and Leia began to walk to the door. "That is fine with me. I'll know she is in good hands. I better go now. I'll see you tomorrow for breakfast, right?"

Leia answered him, "See you tomorrow morning, Luke."

"Goodnight, Leia," Luke said in return and began to head to his apartment below.