Chapter 6
The devastation of Naboo's countryside shocked Luke. He had seen many terrible things in the preceding days, as the Empire fell, but the sight of obviously blatant destruction and disregard of his mother's home world hurt him more than he had expected. Fields sat barren and stream beds stood stagnant. Luke wondered how Theed had been restored so quickly. The waterfalls there must have been flowing much diminished from previous years and yet they had still been stunning.
Suspicious citizens gleaning in the pitiful fields watched Luke and his companions warily. "I don't think off-worlders are quite welcome here," Leia murmured.
"I think you're right," Han said. "I hope Lando's keeping a good eye on the Falcon."
Lando had agreed to stay in Theed with the Falcon and Chewie had reluctantly stayed behind with him. Han had argued for leaving Threepio with the ship but Luke had over-ruled him by explaining that they might need his translating abilities.
"I'm sure the ship is fine," Leia soothed him. "Most people are probably too in awe of it to walk anywhere near it."
"They better be."
"Here we are," Cliaé informed the transport driver. "Thank you."
"Careful in these parts," the driver drawled. "Imperials still causing trouble here."
"We'll be careful," Luke assured him. They descended the transport steps, with Luke and Han carrying their traveling cases. Cliaé indicated they should follow her and Luke held back as Leia talked with their de facto guide to Naboo.
"Real convenient of that queen to loan us one of her indispensable handmaidens," Han remarked, almost as if he knew what Luke was thinking.
"I don't like it either," Luke admitted. "Keep an eye on her."
"I planned to, junior." Luke would have discussed the situation with Han further but his senses started warning him of danger just a second before blaster fire nearly knocked him off his feet.
"Leia!" Han called. She must have sensed the trouble in time too because she had pulled Cliaé behind a building and she had her small blaster - usually kept hidden on her leg - out and firing before Han had even ascertained the shot's origination point. Luke and Han ducked behind some wreckage littering the street. Out of the corner of his eye Han could see Luke's lightsaber glinting in the sun. Not for the first time Han wished Luke would carry a nice sturdy blaster. He just knew the kid would be a crack shot. Hokey religions and ancient weapons, he thought to himself as Luke began deflecting the myriad shots back where they had come from.
Han felt slightly disgruntled that Luke seemed almost completely relaxed and unworried. The droids, well, Threepio at least, cowered behind more wreckage. Artoo had some device out and firing, ignoring Han's orders to pull back.
"Can you see them?" Han asked.
"Imperials," Luke confirmed, "haven't seen their faces yet, though." His saber blade slashed effortlessly through duracrete crumbling from blaster shots. Luke continued breathing normally, unperturbed in spite of the accelerating situation. Despite his natural distrust of the mysterious Jedi ways Han found himself oddly comforted by the low hum of Luke's lightsaber and Han began to follow Luke's terse instructions to approach the Imperial's shelter. Helmeted stormtroopers rushed toward them, numerous but apparently fairly inept, as their shots veered wildly. They seemed surprised as they pulled back. Shots continued to fall from a distant location even after the troopers disappeared down back alleys of the deserted town.
As suddenly as the shots had started, they stopped. Leia cautiously stood and beckoned to her brother. "All clear," she called. Luke and Han ran to Leia and Cliaé. "Up there," Leia indicated where the shooters had been. "They just ran away."
"Not all of them," Han grimly indicated a body hanging out of a nearly demolished building. "You stay here. Luke and I will check this out," he ordered. Leia grimaced at him but she obediently sat and pulled Cliaé down beside her. Threepio scuttled over to the women, scolding Artoo and fretfully inquiring about the females' health.
Han expected more fighting but the deserted town remained silent as he and Luke stood over the abandoned body. Luke knelt beside the body.
"Their commander," he murmured.
"You sure?" Han asked. The body before them looked younger than Luke.
"I think the Imperials must be getting desperate," Luke answered. "He's definitely the leader of this attack." Han decided not to ask Luke any more questions about the dead boy. He didn't like responses that tended to stress "the Force" as the answer.
"So, how many got away?" He asked after they had emptied the boy's pockets.
"I'm not sure," Luke admitted, "At least two officers plus those stormtroopers." He looked around them. "I felt something...strange. Like a mind guiding them but still getting it wrong." His gaze settled on the terribly young and terribly dead Imperial.
"I know," Han joined the search. "We're going to have to bury him." Leia and Cliaé joined them in the distasteful task. Luke did not want to leave the body for whatever scavengers might exist on Naboo and none of them wanted to appear before the locals with tales of dead bodies left in their wake.
xXx
Though on edge, they proceeded to the lake retreat without further incident. They easily hired two skiffs to transport them over the lake. Very few of the distinctive water craft appeared to have work and several drivers had readily jostled the others to secure the job and their fares. Once they docked Cliaé walked from their skiff to a servant tending the gardens.
"Good welcome," the servant called, looking at each person in turn and staring at the droids as Luke effortlessly lifted them from the boat onto the walk way with a simple wave of his hand.
"Thank you," Leia answered. "I am Leia Organa and this is Han Solo," she took Han's arm as she spoke. The servant nodded.
"And I'm Luke Skywalker," Luke murmured. "We're looking for the Naberries." Cliaé, who had been ignored to this point, walked forward again.
"I bring the greetings of Queen Atalya," she spoke. These words caused the servant woman to stand at attention and look at each person yet again.
"I will bring Pooja," she murmured. Luke stood close to Leia as they waited to meet their cousin for the first time. Han instinctively fingered his blaster although he would have admitted he had no idea why.
"It's beautiful here," Leia said as she looked at the water glinting in the afternoon light.
"Your mother thought so, too," a voice responded and the three intruders whirled around to meet Pooja Naberrie. What Luke had been expecting he couldn't decide, but surely not this slim young woman who, despite being several years older than he, looked so young, with masses of fair curly hair and bright friendly eyes. Her clothes seemed stylish though understated; they would have been elegant if not for the stains circling her vivid pink skirt.
"Please excuse my appearance," she continued, "I've made rather a mess in the kitchen and I didn't want to keep you waiting. One does not meet long lost family every day."
"No," Luke recovered his voice before Leia. He smiled. "I hope you don't mind us intruding on you like this. Sabé sent us..."
"Yes, I know," Pooja interrupted. "Please come in." Luke caught Han's eye in time to indicate that they should follow and continue the discussion in doors. Once settled inside the servant they had met before came in with fruit and drinks.
"Thank you," Han, Leia and Luke murmured meekly. Pooja took food for herself and settled back into her seat.
"Now," she said. "Where should we begin?"
"How long have you known about us?" Leia could not help asking. Pooja frowned slightly.
"Not long. I had no idea Aunt Padmé had married, much less had two children, not until Bail Organa came here on a diplomatic mission." Leia leaned forward. Pooja smiled at her cousin. "You came too."
"Yes, but I was only two or three," Leia protested.
"And I was only nine or ten," Pooja confirmed. I heard my mother and father talking about your visit. Mother said that a child that looked just like Ryoo, my sister, as a baby, had been seen running to Aunt Padmé's memorial stone and crying and also that she was Bail Organa's daughter and how odd that a child we had never heard of would do such a thing.
"Mother had always believed that Aunt Padmé hid a relationship between herself and the Jedi knight from our family. Everyone had gossiped that your mother was pregnant when she died, but our culture did not permit any investigation. However, Mother became convinced that you were Padmé's daughter." Pooja smiled apologetically. "Despite her curiosity those days were not the time to be asking sensitive questions. She told no one other than my father, as far as I know."
Leia leaned into Han's arm. "I can't believe I was so close," she whispered. "My parents could have no other children and I grew up so alone," she confessed as she looked up at her cousin. "After Alderaan's destruction I thought I had no more family."
"You seem to be discovering family rather quickly now," Pooja observed and she grinned before she turned to Luke, choosing to ignore Leia's startled expression. "Of course, I had no idea about you. Several years ago, right after the destruction of the first Death Star, an Imperial ship came into this system. Not an unusual occurrence, you understand. This ship sent several commanders and bounty hunters, not to mention numerous droids, looking for Luke Skywalker. They searched Naboo very thoroughly, though we did not know what they thought they would find. Rumor had it that Darth Vader searched for you. Why here, I do not know," Luke stood suddenly and Pooja frowned. "I take it he found you."
"I found him," Luke said, crossing the room to look outside.
"Is it true you killed him?" Pooja leaned forward eagerly. "We are isolated here but even I have heard that you killed both the Emperor and Darth Vader. Is it true?" Han and Leia could see the struggle in Luke. Even they could not be sure what had happened on the Death Star. Luke had not explained the events in great detail and it obviously pained him to tell any part of the story now.
"I had a part in their deaths, yes," Luke said finally, unwilling to lie and yet unable to tell the complete truth. A certain point of view...
"You must be a great Jedi," Pooja said respectfully. "Please forgive the questions of a silly country girl."
"There's nothing to forgive," Luke turned from the window and smiled. "Where is your sister? Sabé said we had two cousins here."
"Sabé was mistaken," Pooja stood and turned. "Ryoo is not here anymore. You all must be starving. I must check on our meal."
"You alright?" Han asked as Leia stood and walked to the window by her brother. She nodded.
"It's just so...odd," she said. Luke squeezed her hand and turned back to watching the scenery.
"I know what you mean," he agreed.
"To meet her and know she knew our mother better than we ever will..." Leia stammered, "So much, simply taken from us. It just doesn't seem fair."
"Not much in the universe is," Han pointed out. Leia laughed and leaned against him, settling into the comforting embrace.
"You're right."
"Hey, did you hear that, kid? She actually admitted I'm right," Han teased. Leia punched him.
"You have your moments," she allowed. Luke smiled as his sister and Han laughed but the smile soon slipped from his face.
"Anyone know where the droids are?" he asked.
"I knew something was too peaceful here," Han answered. Leia frowned and looked back outside.
"Cliaé didn't come in with us, either," she realized.
"Did you need me, m'lady?" Cliaé's soft voice responded as she walked into the room. Leia whirled around.
"Where have you been?"
"Only speaking with the servants. Your droids are there as well," the handmaiden assured them. "I thought you would want time alone."
"Very thoughtful, thank you," Luke reassured her. "Could you send the droids in here, please?"
"As you wish, Master Skywalker. Excuse me." Cliaé bowed her head and then slipped silently from the room.
"Our meal is ready," Pooja called them from the doorway. "Please come and eat."