***Chapter Twenty-Four***

Padme hid her pregnancy for as long as possible, but with her small frame, her belly grew large, quickly. She would not publicly acknowledge the pregnancy, but it did not stop the holo network from gossiping, especially given that no one could agree who the father was.

The Life and Times of Amidala, the People's Queen, By: Softa Jiane, Oralist and Historian

The Queen, her handmaidens and Leia moved the party into an interior ballroom away from windows and Erickson, Luke and the rest of the security force kept the guest away from looking out towards the gathering crowd of Madden employees outside.

"We can't do this forever you know," Erickson said when he met Luke on their rounds of the palace.

"You have a better idea?" Luke asked.

Erickson looked at Luke for a moment and then said, "No, I guess not." And then walked past Luke to cover more of the palace, and to keep the guest contained away from the army congregated outside in the gardens.

Luke also continued his own rounds. He was near a service entrance that he had secured just a bit before, it had been unlocked before as it served as a major artery to the various housekeeping and kitchen functions in the palace.

Luke checked that it was still locked and then moved toward the next tasks. He was just a bit away from the door when he heard the clink of someone testing the metal bar securing the door. He pulled his lightsaber off his belt and reached out through the force to evaluate the threat, mostly he was looking for the intent behind the attempt, was it a House of Madden employee attempting to infiltrate the palace or something else. Luke was surprised to touch a familiar mind and then another and then another. He found Palak first, she was trying to open the door, but Luke was more surprised to find Han and Chewie also standing on the other side of the door. These three people did not shine brightly in the force as Leia, but even their duller profiles felt familiar enough that Luke opened the door.

"Han, Palak, Chewie," Luke said as he opened the door to his friends, a potential enemy and 12 X-Wing pilots. Luke ushered them in quickly and shut and re-locked the door.

"RWAWAER." Chewie wrapped Luke into a nearly bone crushing hug.

"It's good to see you to buddy," Luke said, patting Chewie's back, hoping for a release, the hug, as much as it was enduring, was also painful.

"Kid, it's good to see you." Han said, clapping Luke on the back of the shoulder. "Where's Leia?"

"At the party…" Luke said, trailing off as he looked over at Palak.

"Party, there's a party going on. I think this palace is about to become a battlefield." Han shook his head at the prospect.

"Welcome to Naboo." Luke responded.

"Also, I found your friend." Han said, motioning over to Palak.

Palak gave a little wave.

"I'm surprised to see you here, you still willing to help?" Luke asked Palak carefully.

"I think you'll need me." Palak responded. "I have an idea."

Luke nodded slowly, Palak would likely need a dose of reality. She'd been playing both sides and now was the time she would have to make a decision and it was unlikely going to be easy. Luke had been there before and had gotten lucky in that regard, his father chose for him.

"We should go up to the tower, it's a good place to meet." Then in his Comm, "Leia, meet up in the tower, I think we have a plan." Luke said in the comm unit, slyly forgetting to mention that Han was here. then sent a similar message to Erickson; they'd need as much help as possible.

Leia was the last one to enter the tower, she likely had to extract herself from more of the dignitaries babbling about their life of luxury.

"Han," She gasped, seeing him in the tower. She threw herself in her arms.

"Princess," He said softly, he buried his head in her hair. The rest of the room turned away to give them a moment of relative privacy.

"Hmmh," Erickson cleared his throat, breaking up the reunion.

Leia turned toward the room, smoothing down her dress and falling back into her role as the current princess of the former world of Alderaan.

"I am assuming we have a plan?" Leia asked room.

Palak stepped up. "I can get us to Rajal Madden."

Luke looked at Palak but did not say anything.

Han chimed in, "and if we take down Madam Madden, what does that mean? There are still thousands of soldiers outside, she was able to call in a blockade, albeit a bad one, but a blockade none the less. How many supporters does she have, even someone on the out of the way planet of Leona knew of her. Her reach is wide, taking her, it's not going to end this."

Palak looked at Han wide eyed. Her mouth gapped and her breathing heavy, when she spoke, her voice was small, barely audible. "I can call it off."

"What do you mean?" Han bit back, why would this woman be able to call off Madam Madden's army.

"She's my mother." Palak turned away and looked toward the wall, unable to deal with the shame.

"And you let her in?" Han looked turned his attention to Luke.

Leia intervened, "Children are not required to answer for the sins of their parents." Her tone was biting and final. Everyone in the room, including the X-Wing squadron, who previously seemed unsure what to do during the conversation focused in on Leia.

Han got the meaning well enough; he knew the truth about Leia's biological father. "What's the plan."

Palak spoke up, explaining what she could do and then, it only took a few more minutes to map out who was going to do what.

As everyone was exciting the tower to head towards their assignments, Luke held back and motioned for Palak to do the same.

"Palak, I just want to make sure you are fully aware what's likely to happen. When we get there, the best-case scenario is that we will be able to arrest her and have her tried for war crimes and at a minimum she will be charged for conspiracy and spend her life behind bars. Worst case, she doesn't make it out alive. This is a big ask."

Palak looked at Luke, her eyes big and wet. She'd been able to avoid thinking of this part, but Luke needed her to realize this now rather than when they faced Madam Madden.

"She's my mother," Palak exclaimed.

"I know, and if you can't do this, you need to speak now, we can go without you. We can find another way."

Palak took in a deep breath, "No, this is the way it needs to be."

Luke nodded, he understood better than Palak would ever realize, he had been in a near identical position nearly a year before, though unlike his father, Palak's mother was unlikely to seek redemption through self-sacrifice.