Disclaimer: I'm just playing in George's sandbox. I don't own anything.
AN: Here's chapter 9! Someone asked in their review how old Obi-Wan and Sabe are at this point. Assuming that Obi-Wan was twenty-five in TPM, he would be fifty-six in this story. As for Sabe, I've always assumed that she was about three years older than Padme, so that makes her forty-nine. Anakin is forty-one and Padme is forty-six. Luke and Leia are eighteen, Larisa is twelve, and Zach is fourteen. Han is twenty-seven.
Thanks for all the great reviews!
A Matter of Hope
Chapter 9: The Burden of Destiny
Padme sat quietly in the underwater sub, as Obi-Wan steered them to Otoh Gunga. With the heavy Imperial presence on Naboo, she and Obi-Wan had agreed that it would be about the only place safe. Luke and Leia looked out the windows in wonder. Padme had told them many fond stories of her home planet and they were seeing it for the first time. They arrived and Sabe rushed to hug her husband and son.
"Obi-Wan, what's wrong?" Sabe asked.
"Psion has kidnaped Anakin and Larisa. And master Yoda has passed away," Obi-Wan told her. She hugged him tightly.
"Oh, I'm so sorry my love," Sabe said. Their small reunion was cut short, as Mace called them to the meeting.
"We have stolen a small Imperial shuttle from Theed. This will allow us to get a team on Rori. They're mission will be to disable the shield around the Death Star so our fleet can attack," Mace said.
"I volunteer to lead this mission," Padme said.
"Padme, I'm not so sure that's a good idea," Obi-Wan said.
"I won't just sit here and let those Imperial bastards take over my planet. Since I know you won't let me go after Anakin and Larisa with you, I need to be doing something," Padme argued.
"General Solo has already volunteered for this mission, so he will be going also, along with myself, Chewbacca, Luke, Zach...and Padme and Leia," Obi-Wan said hesitantly, but caught Padme and Leia's pointed looks. Anakin was right. There was no use arguing with the Skywalker women. Mace looked straight at Obi-Wan.
"It is Anakin's destiny to fulfill. He must destroy the Sith and another opportunity like this will not come along," Mace said.
"Yes, but he will not do it alone and I will make sure he comes back to us in one piece," Obi-Wan replied. Mace sighed.
"Very well. Mr. Calrissian, I trust that you are here to join the fleet that will be attacking the death star?" Mace asked. Lando nodded.
"Yes sir," Lando replied. Mace nodded and everyone dispersed to prepare for the mission.
"You know, this is going to be dangerous. I don't think your dad would like you and your mother going," Han said to Leia, as they loaded some things into the sub that would be taking them back to the surface.
"Daddy might not like it, but he wouldn't be able to talk us out of it, so save your breath," Leia replied.
"Well, excuse me for caring about your well being your worship!" Han retorted. Leia huffed and was about to retort, but Padme intercepted her.
"Thank you for your concern Han, Ani would appreciate it very much. But we're both going and we'll be fine," Padme assured him. Han nodded reluctantly.
The flight team was assembled and they arrived at the abandoned hanger where the Millennium Falcon and the stolen Imperial shuttle were docked.
"Not a scratch!" Han pointed his finger at Lando. Lando waved him off.
"I promise, not get going you pirate!" he laughed.
Some time later, after successfully getting past the check point, Han landed the shuttle on Rori.
"All right, let's go see if we can get ourselves on that death star," Obi-Wan said.
"Please be careful...and," Padme said, but Obi-Wan silenced her.
"Don't worry Padme, we'll bring them both back to you," he replied. Padme nodded and hugged Luke tightly.
"Mom..." Luke complained.
"Sorry honey. Please be careful," she replied.
"We will," Luke replied, as he followed Obi-Wan and Zach.
Psion held her hand out to cease the storm troopers.
"He's not going to talk. Leave us," Psion ordered. The storm troopers retracted and left. His head hung down and he groaned in pain.
"Padme," she heard him whisper, like the very sound of her name gave him light in the darkness. Her eyes flashed dangerously, an sickly yellow invading the pupils. How long had she wanted him? How long had she waited to possess him? Too long...too damn long. But he was hers now and she would make him see that. Jealousy reared its head again, as Anakin said her name again, pain evident in his voice. She lifted his head, his eyes clenched shut from the monumental headache he had. Her eyes stared at his full, soft lips. She had dreamed so long of kissing those lips, but never had she actually kissed them. Only in her dreams and fantasies had she kissed him...and so much more. Slowly, she lowered her lips to his, brushing gently, before settling on them in earnest. Just as she began to lose herself in the kiss, she felt a sharp pain in her bottom lip. She yelped and drew way, backing away from him while holding her mouth in pain. Realization of what he had just done dawned on her, as his pair of stormy blue eyes glared at her. He turned his head and wiped his mouth on his arms, a look of pure disgust crossing his features.
"You bit me!" she screamed. He glared at her and smirked in satisfaction.
"Maybe that will teach you to keep your hands off me...and your lips," Anakin replied. Psion fumed, but before she could continue to yell at him, she heard a light saber hum to life behind her. Psion turned to face the youngest Skywalker. Larisa wielded her father's sapphire blade, as she had yet to build her own.
"You really think you can take me on, little girl?" Psion asked, as she ignited her red blade with a snap hiss. Larisa held her saber and circled the Sith. Psion growled and brought her saber down on her. Larisa parried and delivered a series of strokes, surprising Psion a bit.
"You've taught her well Anakin. But how will you feel when I strike down your youngest daughter right before your eyes?" Psion taunted. Anakin pulled and twisted at the shackles.
"Leave her alone and fight me!" Anakin yelled. Crimson blood dripped down Anakin's arms from his cut wrists. Psion was about to strike at Larisa again, when a storm trooper ran into the cell.
"Lady Psion, we have captured three rebels. They're Jedi," the trooper said. Psion extinguished her blade and grabbed Larisa by the hair, while snatching her light saber from her. Larisa yelped, as Psion yanked her by the hair and tossed her to two of the troopers.
"Have the Jedi taken to the Emperor's throne room and help me escort these two there. The Emperor and I will deal with them ourselves," Psion said, as she undid Anakin's shackles from their hooks on the walls. She tugged the neck chain and pulled him along with her, as they headed for Emperor Palpatine's throne room...
Han, Leia, Padme and Chewy trudged through the woods that outlined the cities on the Nabooan moon of Rori along with Artoo and Threepio. Storm troopers were thick, but the brush and trees everywhere around gave them the cover they needed.
Han took his pair of binoculars and zoomed in on the generator, which was about five miles away from the largest city on Rori.
"Do you see it?" Leia whispered and nudged him.
"Just a sec, stop pushing!" Han said back, as he messed with the zooming capabilities on the binoculars.
"You're not using them right, give me those," Leia said impatiently, as she snatched them out of his hands. Han blanched.
"Now listen here, your worship. I agreed to babysit you, but I ain't taking orders from you!" Han pointed his fingers.
"Babysit! Why you scruffy looking nerfherder! I'm a Skywalker and we don't need to be babysat and certainly not by you!" Leia stormed off with the binoculars. Han watched her storm off and looked at Padme.
"Sorry Han, but Leia kind of takes after her father when it comes to her temper. She loses it really easily. But telling her that you think you're babysitting us didn't help," Padme replied. Han sighed.
"I didn't mean to say that. It's just that she's so bossy," Han replied. Padme smiled and laughed a little, realizing how much they reminded her of she and Anakin. Then she laughed again, when she realized that she and Anakin might be marrying off their baby girl sooner than they thought. Anakin was probably going to throw a fit, even though he did like Han a lot.
"She gets that from me. I've always been quite bossy, just ask Ani," Padme giggled. Han rolled his eyes and wondered what the heck he had gotten himself into by getting involved with the Skywalkers. They were definitely a one of kind family. As the small group of rebels descended upon the control base, a long gangly figure plowed into Han, as if running for his life.
"Ah, mesa so sorry," the tall, gangly creature said, as he helped Han up.
"Jar Jar?" Padme questioned. Jar Jar turned and ran to her in elation.
"Senator Padme! Mesa so happy to se yousa! Wheresa Ani?" Jar Jar asked.
"I'm happy to see that you're all right Jar Jar. Anakin and Obi-Wan are fighting the Sith of the Death Star. I was told that the Empire had enslaved the Gungans here. How did you get free?" Padme asked.
"Mesa and some of my palos escaped. Tarpals sent mesa to look for weapons, but mesa keep running into soldiers," Jar Jar replied.
"You and some of the other Gungans are free?" Padme asked. Jar Jar nodded.
"What are you thinking mom?" Leia asked.
"Jar Jar, take us back to your hideout. I have a plan to take over that control base and the Gungans can help us," Padme said.
"Theysa be so happy to see yousa," Jar Jar said, as he led the way. Leia and Han looked at each other skeptically. They really hoped that Padme knew what she was doing.
Palpatine's throne room was dark and cold, fitting the Sith quite nicely.
"Well, it seems we have visitors," Palpatine said, as he sat in his throne. A cowl hid most of his face, but one could make out the ugly wrinkles that covered his old face. His eyes were rimmed in red and his pupils were a sickly yellow.
"Anakin, how nice to see you again. You won't be needing those chains any longer," Palpatine said, as he waved his hand and the chains were released. Anakin glared at the man he had once seen as a mentor.
"Oh come now Anakin, don't you have a greeting for your old friend?" Palpatine teased.
"Old friend? You have the gall to call yourself a friend of mine? You were responsible for the war, millions of people dying, the assassination attempts on Padme...and my mother's death. How dare you call yourself my friend!" Anakin spat back.
"Yes, that makes you very...angry doesn't it?" Palpatine goaded.
"It does, but I have learned long ago how to keep my anger in check. Sorry to disappoint you, your highness," Anakin retorted.
"Yes it is a shame. Your anger made you strong, but your love for that useless woman has made you weak," Palpatine hissed.
"You understand nothing about love and you never will. But your reign of terror will end today," Anakin stated.
"We shall see. You may be lost to me as an apprentice...but your children are not. I can sense the anger in your son. His hatred for the Empire is evident in his eyes," Palpatine said. Anakin used the Force to call his saber from Psion's belt.
"You'll leave my children out of this," Anakin said, as he ignited his saber. Psion ignited hers and silver clashed with red. Palpatine chuckled evilly, as the battle began...
Jar Jar walked back into camp empty handed. Captain Tarpals sighed and placed a hand over his eyes.
"Jar Jar, where has yousa been! Mesa thought yousa been captured and then yousa waltz back in empty handed!" Tarpals said angry.
"But mesa not empty handed. Mesa bring an old friend that is muy muy special," Jar Jar said Tarpals saw Padme and kneeled.
"Milady!" Tarpals said.
"Please captain, there is no need to bow. I have come to enlist your help in taking over that control base. If we can successfully take it over, we can disarm the shield and allow the rebel fleet to destroy the death star," Padme said. By now, all the refugee Gungans were listening with rapt attention.
"Wesa do anything for yousa, my queen," Tarpals said.
"Thanks you Tarpals, but I'm no longer queen and have not been for a very long time," Padme replied politely.
"Yousa always be oursa queen milady," Tarpals replied. Padme smiled.
"Well, let's get this operation underway then. Our first step will have to be taking out the Imperial walkers," Padme began. The Gungans rallied around her, as they drew a battle plan. Han and Leia looked at each other in amazement. It seemed that Padme knew exactly what she was doing...
Emperor Palpatine laughed evilly, as Luke snarled at him. He patted the four light sabers that sat on the tray beside him.
"Good young Luke. You want this," Palpatine goaded.
"No Luke, he is trying to lead you down a path that you must not go," Obi-Wan said.
"I've had about enough of your meddling Kenobi. You and your brat are of no consequence to me. Remove them guards," Palpatine ordered. His red guards entered. Obi-Wan and Zach called their sabers and clashed with the six red guards who were all fighting with plasma charged pikes.
"Now young Skywalker, take your saber. Strike me down and your journey to the dark side will be complete!" Palpatine spat. The anger in Luke dissolved.
"I will not fight you in anger your highness. I'm a Jedi, like my father. You have failed," Luke replied. Palpatine frowned and a feral snarl crossed his features.
"So be it. It seems that you only need a little persuasion," Palpatine said, as he stretched his fingers out and shot Force lightning into Larisa.
"Noooo!" Luke cried, as he scrambled toward his little sister, as she screamed in pain. Luke called his saber to him in a state of anger.
"No Luke!" Anakin cried...
To be concluded in the final chapter...coming soon!