Walking outside with the others, Leia reflected how her different homes paralleled the evolution of the New Republic. When victory was fresh and the fledgling government dealt with resistance groups, she and Han had made a home on his ship, ready to pick up and go on a moment's notice. The galley wasn't much and the 'fresher was cramped, but little by little he had dedicated space for their growing responsiblities and family. A storage bay became an office, another a hospitality room, and a third a nursery for their twins.
The decision to start a family came at the same time Leia felt a stability in the government. Everywhere around the galaxy, signs of renewal were the norm. Active economies, available supplies, healthy, well-fed beings. The Millennium Falcon didn't fly as much. She and Han set roots.
First there was an apartment, then a small bungalow, and then they moved here. They bought three parcels of land in the upscale neighborhood, and sometimes Leia thought it was too much, and other times she thought why not. But Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin could have a childhood full of sensory experience, a normal, happy childhood. There was a grove of mature trees, a flower garden with paths and ponds and secret places, a wide lawn to romp and roll and chase. She loved it. It was home, something Han had never had, and the thing she'd lost in the war.
And now... all the feelings of the war came back. If what Luke said was true, then Palpatine had invaded her treasured sense of home once again, and she was furious and afraid.
"Ben's finally asleep," Anakin declared.
"Poor child," Mon Mothma said. "Worn out from all that crying."
"What should we do now?" Anakin said.
"I don't know what it is we should do," Mon Mothma went to look out a window.
"We could watch a holo," Anakin suggested.
"I don't feel like it," Jaina said.
"I don't want to, either," Jacen said. "I want to help Mom and Dad and Uncle Luke."
"You are," Mon Mothma said. "You are guarding me."
"It's kind of boring," Anakin said.
Leia and Han held hands and led the others to where a path led off from the house to the garden. Then Leia stopped and waited for the others to gather around.
She told Luke grimly, "I still don't see how you can be sure Palpatine is back. There's been a terrible event here. Someone was killed. But Han and Lando can't know it's Palpatine."
"I do," Lando said.
"They might have interacted with a life form who is very agile, who-" Leia saw Lando and Han were going to interject something, so added reluctantly, "- has a distinctive face, but they don't know that's the one that committed a murder."
"He's my leading suspect," Han said.
"What about the Force, Leia," Luke said. "I know you don't engage yourself as much in it as you could, but you sensed how upset Anakin was. He feels it; he knows something is going on that has the power to turn his world upside down."
"That's unfair," Leia snapped, and her brown eyes gazed down the garden path. She couldn't deny what Luke was saying. "How do we set it right?"
"That's the tricky part," Luke said. "We get rid of him for good but I'm not sure how. Yet. Now, there's three of us," he waved at Mara, Leia and himself, "and three of you-"
"Do you call us Nons at your school?" Han said.
"No, I don't like to distinguish," Luke said. "I'm aware of the term. I know, Han," Luke read the expression on his face, "I've heard Jacen."
"Coupla things you need to do if you want your Force to get all happy and content again," Han said. "First is give us Nons some credit."
"He does," Mara flared. "It's not his-"
"Second is make us Nons feel safe in your damn Force. Who the hell needs Force Ghosts coming back to be all evil? If you ask me, bein' a Non is better. There's evil, but at least we know what it is."
"Listen, Solo," Mara began but Luke held a hand up.
"He's right, Mara. Fifteen years have gone by and maybe the Force isn't content anymore; maybe it's grown complacent. And that's not ideal. But we've got a more urgent situation on our hands, so let's focus our energies on that, alright? Look at us, starting to argue. We're a family."
They were all quiet a moment. Then Mara sighed. "Do the twins know how to change a diaper, Leia? I have a feeling this is going to take all night."
Oh, he felt so alive. He felt so good. Stronger. Feeding off the fear. He would use it. All the beings, gathered in one place, while a slow and stodgy investigation began. Restlessness, frustration. Resentment. Fear. The dark side of the Force.
Yes, he thought, closing his eyes. There weren't many Sith who had accomplished what he had. He would be the greatest Sith the Force had ever seen. Forever, too.
He cackled.
"Leia, you and Chewie go to the patio. Convince security we need to let everyone go. They're very unsure right now; frightened, and some are growing angry."
"I'll go with her," Han said. "I live here, too."
"No-" Luke broke off. "Think about it. What if- I don't want to suggest that this is possible, but... what if Palpatine gets you both. Then your kids are orphaned."
Mara nodded. "You're right, Luke." She went up and kissed him on the mouth.
"Show off," Han muttered.
"As much as I hate it, I'll pair up with Solo," Mara smirked.
"That leaves me and you, Lando," Luke said.
Lando ran a finger across his mustache. "I got the Master," he gloated.
"We'll take the grove," Mara said. "Maybe Palpatine is still hanging around the trees."
"Lando and I will search the garden," Luke agreed. "And keep your eye out for something, like a portal, or some way he came back."
*The little ones met him in the street, I thought,* Chewie said.
"What, Chewie?" Luke's comprehension of Shyriiwook was still not good.
"He thinks you're full of supernatural nonsense," Han falsely interpreted and Leia swatted him on the arm.
"This was his destination," Luke persisted. "The Force is often blue, for some reason. Ghosts and... other things." To his own ears Luke knew he sounded ridiculous. "Just be on the lookout."
These were the beings who meant the most to him in all the galaxy, as close to him as his lifemate and cub. Luke looked deeply troubled; only the Princess could be so delicate and strong in the same breath; and Han- worried, casual Han, who gave back to him what others had deemed worthless- was ready to do it again.
*One moment* Chewie extracted a claw. *If the danger is as real as you say, I would like to tell Malla.*
"Sure, pal," Han said. "I guess that's not a bad idea." He watched the wookiee trot off and then turned to Leia.
She met his eyes, and gave a weak smile. "No orphans," she said.
"Definitely not," he answered. "That was a generation ago, right? You, me and Luke. Things are different now." He rolled his eyes at Luke and Mara, declaring their commitment to each other rather extravagantly. "Were we that bad?"
Leia's smile grew. "In private."
"Yeah, it's not a good look for a Jedi."
"We can still be that bad." Then her face grew more serious, and she drew Han closer. "Well, General, it looks like this is it."
"I remember that conversation," he murmured. "Talk about demonstrative."
She kissed his lips softly. "And then there was this one: I love you."
He nodded and kissed her back. "I remember that one, too. I love you, Princess. And our kids, and our home. I'm not gonna let some dried fruit of a face take it away. Come on, Jade," he called to his sister-in-law. "Let's get moving."
Mara gave Luke one final kiss. "For Ben," she said. "For childhood. For the future."
Lando grumpily watched the two couples. "I had a happy childhood, if anyone is interested."
"We're not, Calrissian," Han said.
"But I'm glad you're along," Luke added. "Thanks, Lando."
Moonlight guided them. Flecks of glassy mica sparkled in the rocks of the garden path. Lando looked up at the sky, where stars sparkled the same way in the black of night. For the briefest moment, Lando couldn't tell which way was up, and he stumbled against Luke.
"Excuse me."
"You're fine," Luke ground out. Lando could see the set of his jaw, how his shoulders lowered with each exhale.
"I thought I was tense," Lando said.
"We all should be," Luke said with hostility. "All these years!" He held up an apologetic hand. "Sorry. I'm angry with myself. And this feels worse than the first time."
"Isn't anger of the dark side?"
"You're right." Luke walked over to a grotto and sat on a bench. He took a huge, deep breath and let it out slowly.
Lando felt a little badly for him. "It feels worse now because then you had no idea."
"That's true."
"Look at this Non, counseling a Master."
Luke's head jerked up at Lando. "What is it with you and Han always going on about the Nons? Does it bother you that much?"
"No. It bothers all you Forcies."
"Is that what you call us," Luke's voice was dry.
"No. I made that up. Everyone says Jedi. So how is it possible, this Mischief Night, that we are chasing down the bogey man of the Empire who died fifteen years ago? We were both up there, Skywalker, this close-" Lando pinched his thumb and index finger together, "- to getting melted by that blast."
"Yeah," Luke nodded. "I've only marginally thought about it, so bear with me. But, when a being dies, they rejoin the Force."
"Even Nons?"
"Even Nons. And-" Luke pressed his lips together in disapproval, "- Forcies- it's like a part of them still lives in it. It's how I got help before, from my old mentors. As Force ghosts. They were blue," he added, as if to himself.
"Where I'm from," Lando said, "Sokorra, the humans believe in a soul. That part of us, our... character, identity, the part that makes us us, lives on in an afterlife. Out of a body."
"I like that; it's nice," Luke said. "Similar to what I'm telling you. So, Palpatine would be able to be a Force Ghost I guess, and the part of his soul is so dark; so greedy and angry and hateful, so rejecting of death, that he was able to harness that energy... and," Luke shrugged, "remake himself. I think too, from your description of him as a kid, that he is still... growing."
"Gods, of all beings."
"Yeah. But also only that being."
"May I speak with you privately?" Leia asked the security officer in charge.
"Of course, Senator."
Leia led him a distance from the ears of the crowd. "What killed the photographer?"
The officer grimaced. "There's not a mark on him. Outside the body, that is. But his throat was crushed. It's like he was thought to death."
Leia nodded. "Do you believe that anyone here is capable of doing something like that?"
"Frankly, Senator, I don't know what to think."
"Generals Solo and Calrissian believe they may have encountered the murderer. They met someone earlier, who managed to disappear in a physically impossible way. Master Skywalker has proposed the photographer's murder may have been a test, and we think the intended victims and purpose are high level. With your permission, may Chewbacca and I meet each being you've detained? Out of concern for their future safety and their likely innocence, they should be released. You may of course collect their contact information."
"You know who did this?" the officer squinted down at her.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Leia said, "but yes."
The grove of trees, where Han played hide and seek with his kids and Chewie helped them climb, looked different at night. Dark, reaching, groping branches. Han shivered.
"Scared, Solo?" Mara challenged.
"Never," he retorted. "Just worried a branch will snag that wild red hair of yours."
They walked a while in silence. It was enveloping. Han listened for birds, or the frantic scurry of rodents; something to indicate the sign of an unwanted presence.
"I don't sense anything out of the ordinary," Mara whispered.
Han nodded. "Neither do I. Would he, you know, recognize you?"
"My Force presence?" Mara considered the question. At one time she had been strongly linked to the Emperor's will as one of his Hands. Now, however, her life had a much different purpose. "I don't think he'd recognize me," she said.
"Yeah. You've gone all sappy."
"Look who went all soft," she derided.
"Nuh-uh. I've always been who I am. Proud and cool. Doesn't matter what I do- smuggling or generaling or familying, I do it proud and cool."
"I won't apologize for being in love."
"You can for the overt displays of affection."
Mara snorted. "You're just jealous. I am a very satisfied woman, Solo."
"Luke learned all that from me, you know."
She glanced at him sharply. It was always impossible to read Solo in the Force, and the dark was no help. "You'd like to think so."
He smiled; she knew because she saw the glint of teeth in the moonlight. He had her, and she had an urge to use the Force and whack him with a branch.
With false smugness, just to keep the tease on, inscrutable as he was, he bragged, "We might've shared a bunk once or twice."
"You mean when the tauntaun's insides got too cold?" Mara scoffed. "You don't fool me."
"Yeah, well. Guess you got Palps to thank for your life now."
Mara blinked. "That's a frightening thought. What if he uses that? I don't want to put Luke in danger."
"He's the son of Skywalker. I don't think it can get worse."