Star Destroyer Redeemer

"We have run the name Ewon Klanto through all our intel databases and haven't come up with anything." Commodore Vanto took a seat across from Luke in the ship's ready room. "It is possible that Klanto never applied for an off-world visa through regular channels. His name is not found on any Republic or Imperial flight permits or ship manifests. Either he's using an alias, or he was off planet unlawfully when Alderaan was destroyed, or..." Vanto hesitated slightly. "Or you were lied to by your informant."

Luke drummed his fingers on the table he was sitting at. "I wasn't lied to."

Vanto leaned back in his chair as he regarded his Supreme Commander. "Sir, I assume your contact was a former friend, but that doesn't mean they are going to help the Empire. They could be feeding you misinformation."

"I am a Force adept that can tell if a person is lying." He glared at Vanto. "Just because I don't go around Force strangling crewmembers doesn't mean I don't have the same abilities as my father."

"Sir, I didn't mean to question your Force abilities...I guess I am just unaware of what those abilities are...can you read minds?"

Luke shook his head. "I can sense emotions. I can usually tell when a person is being dishonest. Or when they are panicked. For example, my father and I both sensed your anxiety and protectiveness when we last discussed Chiss Navigators. My father speculated that you might have a romantic interest in a navigator...or were we wrong about that?"

Luke felt a spike of unease from his officer. "Sir, it is not what you think. I am not courting a prepubescent girl."

That was not the response Luke expected. "What? What are you talking about?"

Commodore Vanto blanched slightly realizing he said too much. "Umm, I ah, I just assumed that your father might have mentioned that Chiss Navigators are almost always young, very young, girls."

"He mentioned they were female, but nothing about the age."

Vanto ran a hand over his face in frustration. "I am friends with an adult Chiss navigator. She was an adult when I met her. She somehow managed to keep her gift of foresight way past the age of puberty. We are not in a romantic relationship. She is a friend."

Luke smiled knowingly. "But you would like to be more than friends."

Vanto sighed deeply. "What I would like has no bearing on the situation. Currently, she is the most experienced navigator within the Chiss Ascendancy, and they do not wish for that to change." He blushed slightly as he cleared his throat. "The Chiss leadership fear any deviations to her personal life might interfere with her navigating abilities. For that reason, she must remain... chaste."

Luke thought about it for a second before understanding. "Oh, they are afraid she might lose her Force abilities if she loses her virginity. How does she feel about this?"

Vanto groaned in embarrassment. "She was hoping her powers would begin to wane... soon. Unfortunately, she's approaching thirty and her navigational abilities have yet to diminish."

"Oh," Luke regretted bringing up the subject. "I'm sorry...for both of you."

"Thank you." Vanto looked down at the table and frowned. "Sir, I wish to assure you that she, nor the Chiss government, are involved in these recent attacks. I lived with the Chiss for years. They absolutely would not do a preemptive attack. It is something deeply ingrained within their society."

"I believe you...and the news that there are three Dreadnaughts means my father will probably drop his theory that Chiss navigators are assisting the Rebels."

"Perhaps." Vanto didn't sound very convinced. "We still need to find out where the Dreadnaughts came from. Otherwise, your father might accuse the Chiss government of supplying the vessels to the rebels."

"Resistance," Luke corrected. "The group with the Dreadnaughts had split from the Rebel Alliance and call themselves The Resistance."

"Yes, of course. The Resistance," Vanto corrected himself as he stood. "If you will excuse me, I must confer with Grand Admiral Thrawn to see if he has any updates on the search for the Resistance Dreadnaughts."

Luke dismissed Commodore Vanto with a nod. He wanted this search over with. The faster they took care of this Resistance problem the faster he'd get back to Mara.

.

.

Ord Mantell

"You sure you don't want to come with me to purchase cargo?" Mara asked Karrde as she wrapped her blaster belt around her waist. "I could use the backup. The Correll crew can sometimes be sketchy."

Talon chuckled under his breath while leaning against the ship's bulkhead. "It's nothing you can't handle."

Mara frowned at her employer, not wanting to leave him alone. His depression over Karrina's injuries intensified the longer he was away from her. She wished he stayed on Corellia. "What are you going to do while I'm haggling with the Correll boys?"

Talon blew out a breath before gazing at his second-in-command. "I have a full day of moping about and feeling sorry for myself, followed by excessive drinking and maybe eating food that is definitely not good for me."

She laughed feeling a little better about Karrde's mood. "Is it okay if I take Chin or Aves?"

"Take Chin. Aves is going on an errand for me."

Mara raised a brow waiting for Karrde to explain, but he remained silent for an awkward moment.

Eventually he motioned for her to leave. "Go, go. Take Chin and stay alert for fraud. I heard somebody here is moving counterfeit Andoan Wine."

"I'm always alert." She walked down the hall and pounded on a cabin door. "You're coming with me, Chin." She turned to her boss before exiting "You sure?"

Karrde gave a forced smile. "Yeah, I'm sure. I have things to do."

.

.

Millennium Falcon

"He's not coming." Leia sat down across from Han at the Falcon's galley table and took a sip of her caf.

She had offered him a cup of her hot drink, but Han wasn't much of a caf imbiber. It made him jittery when he wanted to be relaxed...and that was the excuse he used when he poured his third Whiskey Slash, a mixture of Johrian Whiskey and citrus juice over ice. He lifted his glass to his lips and gave Leia his classic lopsided grin. "The Smuggler's Guild have very strict rules about these things. If you lodge a complaint against another member of the guild they must reply in person and violence is not tolerated. If he doesn't show up unarmed and ready to parley, he'll risk getting disbarred."

Leia didn't look convinced. "Won't you get expelled from the Guild for making a false report?"

Han sulked as he set his drink down on the table. "It wasn't a false report. We purchased cargo and we were denied delivery."

"He's going to suspect a trap."

Han shook his head. "It was an anonymous complaint."

"Anonymous," Leia scoffed. "The Millennium Falcon is one of the most recognizable ships in the galaxy. Once he enters the docking bay it won't be anonymous for long."

"True." Han gave a halfhearted shrug. "He'll hear us out, though. He's on planet. He requested the meeting to be done here. If he didn't intend on rendezvousing, he would have ignored the complaint and faced Guild member termination." At that moment, the Falcon's exterior proximity sensor alarmed. Han drew his datapad out of his pocket and deactivated the alarm before pulling up the image from the dorsal cameras. He smiled widely. "He's here." He scrutinized the image as his smile slipped from his face. "Boy, he looks pissed."

Leia rolled her eyes. "You expected him to be happy?"

Han rose out of his seat and walked to the back of the ship. "No, but he looks more furious than is warranted." He pushed a button lowering the rear boarding ramp. When the ramp was fully extended Han waited and waited. Eventually he called down to his visitor. "Are you coming up?"

Talon Karrde glared at Han for a long moment, his jaw tight and eyes narrowed. "So, you can have your Wookiee tear my arms off?"

"Chewie is on Kashyyyk. He's celebrating Life Day." Han motioned to the inside of his ship. "It is only me and Leia here."

Karrde glowered at Han for a few minutes before walking up the ramp. "Shouldn't you be blowing up orphanages or senior citizen assisted living facilities? Or are you going to go after another Smash Ball stadium?"

Leia walked up behind Han. "We had nothing to do with that! That was not the Rebel Alliance."

The fire in Karrde's eyes dimmed slightly. "Then who was it?"

"Ewon Klanto, the new leader of an organization called The Resistance."

"It's like the Rebellion," Han said drolly as he went to fetch Karrde a drink, "but with three fully crewed warships and no moral compass."

Leia led Karrde to the galley and motioned toward an empty seat. "Ewon Klanto came to the Rebellion and brought three Dreadnaughts with him. His group joined forces with the Rebel Alliance for a short time, but after our first combined attack, he left, taking many of our best pilots with him. He wanted to hit something other than military targets. He said the Imperial citizens should feel pain...the same pain he felt. He claims he is an Alderaan refugee...but he's not."

Karrde eyes narrowed slightly before he sat down on the proffered seat. Leia slid into the booth seat across from him as Han remained standing near the liquor cabinet. "If he is not an Alderaan refugee, then who is he?"

"I am fairly certain he is an Imperial."

Talon gave an incredulous laugh. "Why would an Imperial kill his own people?"

"We think Darth Vader sent him. I figure it was to disrupt the Rebel Alliance and to get the people to turn against us." Leia fiddled with her cup of caf before taking a quick sip. "We also think it is a form of manipulation to keep Luke from returning to the rebellion."

Karrde shook his head in disbelief. "Do you have any proof of this?"

"No," Leia admitted. "But where else could three fully manned ships come from? It's not like there are a bunch of Dreadnaughts floating around the galaxy for the taking."

Han was bringing Karrde a drink when he noticed the smuggler reacted sharply when he heard the word Dreadnaught. "It has to be the Imperials," Han said as he sat the drink down in front of Talon. "...unless you know another place to acquire Old Republic era Dreadnaughts."

Karrde accepted the drink and downed half of the cocktail in one gulp before answering. "I don't know where they acquired ships like that." He finished the drink and gazed at Han and Leia. "Why did you call for this meeting?"

Han brought the whiskey bottle over and refilled Karrde's glass. "We need your help."

Talon took another sip of his drink before looking at the couple expectantly. "Help doing what?"

"We know Vader is manipulating Luke," Leia began. "All these government reforms may look great now, but it won't last. Darth Vader is grooming Luke to become a Sith Lord. Darth Vader obviously sent Klanto to join the Rebellion so when he went on his killing spree it would damage the name of the Rebel Alliance. He may call his group The Resistance, but in the minds of the citizens of the Empire we are all terrorists. Luke can't afford to go easy of the Resistance...not after the war crimes Klanto committed. He'll have to crush the Resistance, and the Rebel Alliance along with it, if he's to remain Supreme Commander."

Karrde waved a dismissive hand. "I don't even think your friend likes being second-in-command of the Empire. He won't go all 'Tarkin' to remain in power."

Leia heaved a sigh. "Luke wouldn't do it to remain in power, but he will do it to make sure his reforms stay in place. Darth Vader didn't suddenly become a benevolent dictator. By allowing Luke to institute reforms, he is simply raising the consequences when it comes to Luke not towing the Imperial line. If Luke doesn't squash the insurgency, then there is a chance that his father will revert to blowing up planets."

"This is all one big mindkriff!" Han said adamantly. "Luke is being influenced by the very best that is why we need your help getting him away from Vader."

Karrde let out a sharp laugh. "And how in the nine Corellian hells do you expect me to accomplish that feat?"

Leia pointed to the cargo bay. "We still have the stasis cylinder. We know Luke is romantically involved with your second-in-command...so your crew has access to him. If Luke is in stasis, he will be safe while we concentrate our attacks on Imperial City. We need to take out Darth Vader."

Karrde spread his hands out in front of him. "And then what? Luke becomes Emperor?"

Leia's gaze dropped. "No," she said softly. "A Force-adept can never be allowed to rule the galaxy. The danger of turning to the darkside is too great."

Karrde looked confused. "So, are you going to keep him in stasis forever? I thought he was your friend?"

"He is our friend," Leia insisted, "and he won't be in stasis forever. Once we kill Vader and reestablish the senate, we'll let him go."

Karrde gave a scathing laugh. "That might take decades."

"Hopefully not." Leia chewed on her lower lip. "But, yes, it may."

"This is ridiculous." Talon stood while giving Leia a hard look. "You admitted to knowing Mara Jade has a romantic interest in Luke. Why would you think anyone of the Wild Karrde crew would help you imprison Skywalker?"

"Because we're trying to keep him safe," Leia insisted.

"He'll be safe if you stop rebelling." Talon scoffed at the outrageousness of the conversation. "The government you once rebelled against is no more. Luke made that happen. He brought about a new galactic order, and you're just pissed that it isn't exactly what you envisioned." Karrde moved to the exit but was stopped short by Leia's words.

"Another step and I'll shoot."

Karrde halted, his hands clenched in anger. "The Smuggler's Guild forbids violence during parley."

"I'm not part of the Smuggler's Guild," Leia pointed out. "And you won't be harmed...we'll just stun you...Mara will search for her boss and, knowing Luke, he will offer to help...that's when we'll get him."

Karrde raised his hands and slowly turned around to face the Rebel leader. "Aren't you worried that Darth Vader or his men will search for his son like they did the first time he was captured?"

Han moved to stand next Leia, his drink still in hand. "We're counting on it. Luke is our bait to kill the emperor." The smuggler chuckled. "Vader used me and Leia to capture Luke. We figure it is only fair for us to use Luke to capture and kill Vader."

"You two are crazy," Karrde hissed.

"You'd be crazy too," Leia said coldly while keeping the blaster aimed at Karrde, "if you were forced to watch your planet and everybody you ever loved die in front of your eyes."

"Maybe." Karrde sighed deeply. "But you are wrong about Luke, and you are wrong about me."

Leia's brow knitted in confusion. "How so?"

"First of all, Luke is not being manipulated by Darth Vader and second, I'm an Imperial Trader and no longer part of the Smuggler's Guild." Karrde suddenly dropped down flat on the deck as two blaster bolts whizzed over his head, hitting the couple squarely in their torsos. As the two rebel leaders crumbled to the deck Karrde slowly stood and turned to the shooter. "Nice work, Aves." He walked over and examined the prone bodies. "I can't believe they'd believe I'd come to an anonymous Guild confab without any backup."

"I can't believe they were going to abduct you."

"I can believe it...and their plan had some merit. Vader and Skywalker are the most guarded men in the galaxy. If I went missing Mara is sure to look for me and Skywalker would probably accompany her. If they managed to capture Skywalker, I don't doubt Vader would come looking for him. I'm just not sure how they expected to hold two Force-users or how they planned on taking on Darth Vader."

"I doubt they know Mara was a force-adept," Aves offered. "Maybe they were lying about putting Skywalker in stasis. They may have planned on killing you, Mara and Skywalker. They then claim Skywalker is alive to draw Vader into an ambush. That would be the safest approach." Aves walked over to the blaster lying next to Leia. He picked up and inspected the weapon. His eyes went wide before he handed it over to Karrde. "It was set on kill."

Karrde looked at the weapon and gave a grunt. "I have a feeling the Princess was improvising by pulling the blaster. I would like to think she would have switched to stun before firing." He slipped the DL-44 blaster into his waistband. "But I may be wrong. She did admit the Rebel Alliance worked with the Resistance during the first combined attack...I am certain that means the attack on Corellia."

"And on Karrina," Aves said softly.

"Yeah," Talon looked up to his communications officer. "Can you fly this ship?"

"Sure, boss."

"Good. We'll clean up this mess and then you'll fly the ship to Myrkr and store it in our ray shielded hanger. I don't need the Rebel Alliance coming after us."

.

.

Star Destroyer Redeemer

After his briefing with Commodore Vanto, Luke returned to his quarters only to find a frantic Force ghost pacing in his sitting area. The flickering image of Obi-Wan Kenobi accosted Luke as soon as the door shut behind him.

"Have you attacked the rebels?"

Luke stopped and glared at the specter. "I thought I asked you to leave me alone." He sat down on his couch and pulled off his leather boots. "But to answer your question, no, I haven't attacked the rebels. I would have to find them before I could do that...and it wouldn't be the Rebel Alliance, but the Resistance that I would attack."

The Jedi Master cursed under his breath. "Could somebody within the Empire have attacked the Rebels without your knowledge?"

Luke shrugged. "Anything can happen. A rogue stormtrooper or perhaps an attacked ordered by my father that I am unaware of." He leaned back into the couch cushions and regarded the apparition. "Why do you ask?"

Kenobi's head dropped and Luke could feel the Force pulsate with anguish and distress. "I can no longer sense Princess Leia through the Force."

That statement got Luke's attention. He stood and took a step toward the Jedi. "What do you mean? Is she dead?"

Kenobi stared at him somberly. "That I do not know. You disappeared from the Force before... when you went missing. Perhaps the same thing happened to her."

Luke threw his hands out wide. "Can't you do a ghost recon and find her?"

"That is not how the Force works!" Kenobi ran his hand through his hair in what Luke perceived as a useless gesture. "It is called the Flow of the Force for a reason. It moves through time and space. When a Jedi becomes one with the Force, they flow with it until their consciousness dissipates and becomes part of the collective cognizance. It is difficult to retain one's consciousness and to do so one must be tethered to a living person." His eyes bored into Luke's. "And that person is you. My connection to you binds me here and prevents me from losing my conscious cohesion or disappearing into the veil of the Force. I can't go wandering off searching the galaxy."

"Great." Luke bit his bottom lip in frustration. "Why can you sense Leia anyway? She isn't a Force user."

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to say something but hesitated slightly. After a short pause he continued. "She is not as strong as you, but she is a Force adept. Luke...she is your sister."

The Supreme Commander stared at the Jedi slack jawed for a long moment before laughing. "You don't have to lie to me to protect Leia. She is not part of the organization that I'm hunting."

"I'm not lying."

"Oh sure," Luke laughed. "So, you're saying I rescued my sister from a Sith Lord who coincidently was my father?"

"It's true," Obi-Wan insisted. "I was with your mother when she gave birth to twins. She died shortly after. Yoda instructed me to give Leia to Queen and Senator Organa and you to your family on Tatooine."

Luke chuckled again but then stopped when he noticed the look of pain on the old Jedi Master. "You're not kidding, are you?" He took a deep breath and reached out with the Force to determine the truth. After a moment Luke's eyes went wide with understanding. "I believe you, but why didn't you tell me? I can accept your reasoning about my father, but why did you keep me away from my sister?"

"It was for everybody's protection. Vader didn't realize his wife was carrying twins, therefore, if he found one of you, then, at least, the other would be safe from him."

Luke glared at the Jedi dumbfounded. "It was bad enough that I thought you were using me as bait to draw my father into a trap, but now I realize I was also the sacrificial twin. If Vader found me and you couldn't kill my father, then at least he wouldn't be looking for a missing child anymore. Leia would be safeguarded."

"What?! No!" Kenobi protested. "You are seeing conspiracies where there is none."

"Then why leave me on that dunghole of a planet? Why couldn't I have gone with Leia? Why was I denied the chance to grown up with my sister?"

"It was best that you were separated. If one fell to the darkside then the other twin wouldn't be lured to follow."

"Then why tell me now? If you are so certain that I am going dark...then why tell me now?"

Obi-Wan looked at him sadly. "Because she is either dead or missing and somehow blocked from the Force. If she is alive, she needs help, and you are the only person that I can communicate with that has the resources to find her. Will you look for her?"

"Of course, I'll look for her." Luke reached up and massaged his temples where a migraine was beginning to form. "Kriff! I'm so relieved Han got the girl because for a while I thought Leia and I might become a couple." He glared at the ghost angrily. "I really hope you would have intervened if I got more than a kiss from her!"

When the spirit didn't answer immediately, Luke shuddered. "Ewww...this is so kriff'n disturbing." He pointed a finger at the Jedi. "You had to know I had a crush on her."

"Luke, that no longer of any relevance. You need to locate your sister. Find out if your father captured or killed her." As Kenobi began to fade away Luke heard him say, "Find her."

Luke dropped back down to his couch while heaving a loud sigh. "Great. Now I have to find three Dreadnaughts and a sister."