CHAPTER 18
Leia tried reaching the force. But those force inhibiting lizards were stopping her. Six lizards and one girl was a good competition. Leia closed her eyes and recalled what Ahsoka told her about them, Ysalmir, a beautifully dangerous lizard which can stop our connection with the cosmic force. That's it; they could stop her connection to the cosmic force but not the living force. Leia closed her eyes and felt the living force. She felt the lives of those lizards and every person in the Death Star. She let herself reach beyond the normal grasp. She felt the force fill her with a whole new energy. She felt the living force. She felt the brightness she felt through it. Soon the creatures started screaming as she slowly turned to cosmic force. Her connection made it next impossible for the creatures to block it. She remembered all that occurred recently and managed to create a force field large enough to kill those lizards. Soon she could feel the call of Luke. Leia, Leia can you hear me?
Yes brother.
Very well, now listen to me carefully. Get out of the prison and reach a docking area. We shall receive you there.
So be it. Leia opened her eyes and scanned the room. The door was being opened, she felt it. An inquisitor was there behind it with a squadron of stormtroopers. Leia reached out for the lightsaber she had hidden inside her dress. She ignited it and readied herself as the door was opened. The inquisitor backed away as she saw the lizards lay dead. The troopers fired stun shots at her. But Leia deflected them. She used the force and pushed them back. She still used the living force. It was refreshing. She then fought the inquisitor. She felt Luke and the Falcon land in one of the landing platforms. She battled the inquisitor. The inquisitor was more skilled than she was. Leia managed to hold her ground and push him back. She then leaped and escaped. She managed to run away. She felt the location of the Falcon through the connection she had with Luke. She managed to communicate with Luke. Luke, Luke where are you guys?
Leia we got caught by a bunch of imperials. We are hiding as of now. I don't know how long we can hold this position. Do not worry we shall come quickly.
Luke where are you guys? I shall come there.
I don't think that will be possible.
Why though?
Vader is here.
Okay I shall be waiting.
Wait what are you thinking to do?
Creating a distraction.
Don't get caught.
Fine.
Leia moved towards the defense sector of the north area. She made sure the troopers couldn't see her. The battle station was alerted of her escape. She had to make sure that nobody could see her. She slipped past the security and managed to get inside the sector. She reached the generator of that area and cut through it using her lightsaber. Soon the power of the north was out. Vader was in the north- east-west area. He was informed of this problem. Leia managed to get out undetected and headed to the north-west-east area. There she managed to get in the generator area and cut the power there. This was enough to drag Vader away from them. Leia managed to get out of the area but the problem aroused when they closed the doors to the north-east-west area. Leia had to go all around or under in order to reach there.
Leia.
What is it?
Those diversions are pretty risky. Ahsoka and Obi-Wan have gone to find you. Han and I are in stormtrooper armors. We are coming from another side to find you.
I can tell you where I am. Why did you all split and come to search for me?
That is a good point. Anyways don't tell me where you are I can see you. Chewie is in guard of the ship. We are coming.
Luke it is too risky.
Eh whatever.
Leia shook her head as she paced the hallway which led to the north-east-west area. She thought of cutting through the doors and going. But she remembered that Ahsoka and Obi-Wan were looking for her. So she sat there and closed her eyes reaching out to Ahsoka.
Ahsoka, Ahsoka it's me Leia.
Leia where are you?
In the north area, I am in the hallway which leads to the north-east-west area.
All these areas are confusing.
I know. But where are you and Obi-Wan?
We just entered the North-west-east area.
How did you enter?
Underground. Stay where you are. We will come towards you.
Ahsoka I will just cut through the blaster doors and get out. You need to go back to the Falcon.
No it is important that I find you.
Leia was infuriated. Neither would her brother nor would her master listen to her. She could get out of the Death Star on her own. She then decided to cut through the blaster doors. She ignited her lightsaber and started to cut through the blaster doors. But the doors were thick and hence it took longer.
Ahsoka and Obi-Wan ran through the corridors. There was no light as the generators had been cut apart. They used the force to guide themselves. Ahsoka was nervous. She knew how Leia would act. She knew she would disobey her and cut through the doors. But what Leia didn't know was that Vader was standing behind the door. They ran to stop her.
Luke and Han ran towards where Leia was. They faced stormtroopers at almost every turn. They used live rounds and continued. Han was nervous. Ahsoka told that Vader would be waiting to capture Leia and turn her to the dark side. This terrified Luke. Han didn't understand the dark side stuff but he knew getting caught by Vader was a bad thing. The two ran to rescue Leia.
Vader stood outside the blast doors. They led to the north-east-west area. He knew the princess would come this way. He would also get to a ship which would get him out through a short and quicker way. There was something in the force fields she let out that was familiar to him. Not only did it kill the Ysalmir lizards but it also shook the entire area. The raw energy she had was familiar to him. The moment the rescue ship had landed, he felt two presences which meant next to everything to him long ago. Along with those presences he felt another raw presence much similar to the princess's. This made him question the familiarity. It felt as though the two presences were connected. He concluded that they were twins. The shift in the force confirmed it. But the force signatures of the twins were so familiar to him. The princess's features looked like the one he loved. But her hair and her attitude, even her force signature was so familiar. It was as though they belonged to his former past. Could she be the child of the two she so impersonated? But that was not possible as Padme and her child had died. Or were they? What if the authorities had lied about the children and had hidden them from the empire? Then the princess and the other presence were his children. But how and why? Why did they hide it from HIM? Were they actually his children? There was another shift in the force. Vader lifted his head. His eyes were filled with tears. His children were alive. His and Padme's children were alive. And they were on this battle station. Leia who stood behind the door was his daughter. What was the name of the other child? He remembered the conversation he and his wife had regarding the child's name.
What will we name it?
I don't know. What do you think?
I know. If it is a girl we shall name her after your mother, Shmi.
No, it brings all those memories. Let's name her Leia.
Yes that's sounds better. If it's a boy, we shall name him Luke. I always liked that name.
If they are twins then Luke and Leia will sound perfect.
He smiled as he remembered those memories. Memories which would often remind him of his idiocy and naïve behavior of his whenever near the creator of his monster. He remembered the way Palpatine manipulated him to fall to the dark side. Now he had fallen so deep that it was impossible to escape it. How would he when the memories of his past kept haunting him? how could he have been manipulated so easily to the dark side? It was as though Palpatine just nudged him and he fell. But why did only HE fall so quickly? Maybe it was because he just wanted to get out of the systematic, robotic life of the Jedi. The Jedi. They never cared about him. To them, he was just something unnecessary. To them, he was just a thing Qui-Gon left that they had to look after. When he went to them with his nightmares, they just told him to deal with it. The dogmatic view of the Jedi was what made him search for an alternative. That was why he grabbed the branch of the dark side and fell into its abyss. But for now all he could care about were his children. Would they accept him? Would Leia accept him after all that had happened? Would Luke accept a man who terrorized the galaxy as his father? Would the galaxy accept them after their lineage is revealed? Would the galaxy believe that the famed war hero was now a monster? Would he accept himself as he is? How would it be for the galaxy if the chosen one to suddenly reappeared as the terrorist?
His other child's name was Luke. Luke and Leia, the new Skywalkers. He turned towards the doors. There was a circle forming on it. One large enough to fit a person.
Ahsoka was panting now. She was running towards Leia. Obi-Wan too ran behind her. They had to reach before Leia would cut open the blast doors. As Ahsoka felt through the force they were getting closer. She suddenly felt a warning through the force. She turned and ignited her lightsabers, striking to the right side. Obi-Wan too ignited his lightsaber and turned to the right side. Ahsoka's white lightsabers met the cyan one of Luke. "What are YOU two doing here? Who is guarding the ship?" Ahsoka asked.
"Hey calm down. We left Chewie to guard the ship. We both came to rescue Leia." Luke replied.
"Why are you two in stormtrooper armor?"
"Long story. Where is Leia?"
"We are going that side. Wait I lost the connection. It is like someone is blocking it."
"Don't worry. I can pick it up. This way."
The four then ran as Luke guided. His connection to Leia kept on growing stronger as he ran. He ran faster. The three ran behind him. Obi-Wan lagged a bit. Han ran back to him and helped him. Soon the two were close to the rest. Luke suddenly stopped. He felt something along with Leia's presence. A presence which had started to develop a shield around his sister's presence. Luke then communicated with Leia.
Leia. Are you fine?
Leia stopped immediately and turned. Luke. I am. Where are you?
Close. "This way." He announced as he moved towards the right corridor.
"Luke are you sure?" Ahsoka asked as they ran. They then faced a whole troop of stormtroopers. "Well, well looks like the force is playing with us." She commented as she ignited her blades. Soon the Jedi and the Mandalorian were fighting. The troopers used live rounds to try and stop them. Luke attacked them and killed them quickly. He was anxious. There was a danger beyond the doors his sister was trying to cut through. Obi-Wan was tired, he was tired of the Skywalker family's recklessness and impatience. He just sliced through the troopers and was trying to control the anger rising in him. Ahsoka was calm. She knew that Leia was skilled enough to hold her ground against Vader for a while. But they had to hurry.
Leia stopped. She didn't continue to cut through the door. She felt the anxiety Luke had and the terror Ahsoka had. Something was wrong and Leia felt it. But what? She switched of her lightsaber and sat to meditate. It was way difficult to meditate now. There was something blocking her. She tried letting out a force field but the shield blocked her from doing that. Suddenly the door behind her shut tight. She was trapped in the hallway. She lifted her head and saw the door she was trying to cut through; another lightsaber was cutting through it. Leia stood up. Who could it be?
Ahsoka, Luke, Obi-Wan and Han went through the troopers quickly. Before they could move Obi-Wan stopped them. "We need to take a breath and calm our minds before we continue." He said holding Ahsoka from her arms.
"But Leia. She needs our help." Luke protested.
"Leia can hold her ground for a while Luke. Kenobi is right. We need to take a breath and calm our minds."
"Fine." Luke then sat on the floor. He then tried contacting his sister but whatever was blocking him didn't allow him to. I'll be there sister. I will.
Vader had waited behind the doors. He saw the blade suddenly stop. He reached out to the force and saw his daughter communicating with her brother. He had to block them in order to turn her. So he started creating a shield. He then saw her move towards the other door. Vader used the force to shut it. She was trapped. She then did something his sister would; meditate. Of course Ahsoka trained her. He then ignited his red blade and started to cut through the doors.
Luke was resting like the rest three. Ahsoka had taken time to meditate. They couldn't contact Leia. Vader had cut them off; something which Obi-Wan discovered. He and Ahsoka decided to reach out to the force. Luke and Han were resting. They ran a lot. Luke suddenly had a cold feeling on the back of his neck. He turned to the right corridor. There was something in the corridor far down which caught his eye; a door just shut. Luke got up. So did Ahsoka and Obi-Wan. "What is it?" he asked Luke. Han too got up. Luke just pointed towards the door. "I think Leia is there." He said.
"Luke, are you sure?"
"Yep. I felt it." Luke declared. Ahsoka and Obi-Wan exchanged glances. Ahsoka then moved forward and placed a hand on Luke's shoulder.
"Let's go then." She said as she walked towards the door. The lights were back on. The generator had been replaced.
Leia got up as she saw a lightsaber cut through the doors. She stepped back. The lightsaber had reached halfway the circle. She managed to step forward.
The door was far and the four were tired. Luke just hoped his sister was all right. They walked quickly and silently so as to not get caught.
Leia stepped forward a step as the lightsaber went slightly away from the half.
Luke was walking quicker. The door seemed to have been designed to never reach them. From behind them Obi –Wan had slipped. Ahsoka quickly turned and reached him. Luke too turned. They helped him stand up. "Go on without me. My old bones won't be able to help you." He said as he got up.
"Come on it is your old bones which have helped us all along." Ahsoka commented. Han moved forward and helped. Soon Obi-Wan was standing. Ahsoka placed a hand on his shoulder and closed her eyes and muttered one thing over and over again; I am one with the force and the force is with me. Soon Obi-Wan was able to stand clearly.
"Thank you my old fried." He said to Ahsoka.
"Anytime." She replied.
Leia observed as the lightsaber moved away from its previous position. She took another step towards it.
Luke and the party were walking quicker. The door never reached them.
Leia took another step as the lightsaber moved again.
Luke and the rest walked quicker and more silent. The door was still far away.
Leia took yet another step.
Luke walked quickly. The door was relatively closer.
Leia took another step forwards.
Luke and the rest walked quicker. The door was again relatively closer.
Leia took another step forward. The lightsaber was quarter through the door. Only a tiny portion was left for it.
Luke and rest walked quicker. The door was closer.
Leia took another step.
Luke walked quicker. The door was closer.
Leia took another step further as the lightsaber had moved again.
Luke and the rest walked quicker. The door was very close.
Leia took another step closer to the door. The lightsaber had almost completed the circle.
Luke and rest had finally reached the door. Ahsoka ignited her lightsaber and started cutting a hole.
Leia quickly stepped away as the lightsaber had completed the circle. Behind her another circle had been created.
NOTE- Roses are red, violets are blue,
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