Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 18

Ahsoka slowly blinked, she honestly hadn't been sure she'd wake up again but…she frowned as she felt the cool breeze on her skin and realised she was in a large, open room and lying on a bed. She let out a shrill noise, beyond normal hearing, using it to help her montrals take in more detail.

"Take it easy." The voice of a clone, not her Rex, came from her left. "You're lucky we found you when we did." There was something nagging at her memory and she turned her head to see the man beside her bed. His hair was no longer shaved with lightning bolts…but the tattoo was still visible.

"Kix?" she asked in disbelief, he was older, like Cody but when she reached out with the Force she felt his presence.

He grinned. "Good to see you again Commander." But then the grin faded. "You were wounded badly so you won't be getting out of that bed any time soon."

"Where are we?"

"Naboo." A new voice answered but it, and the Force presence, were also familiar. She looked over as Luke stepped into the room and she blinked at the lack of uniform or formal clothes she had seen him wear in holo's. With his hair messed up and in normal clothes he looked like any young spacer. "Varykino to be exact, holiday residence of the Naberrie family." He moved to take a seat near the bed. "Only myself, Kix, Cody and Spark know you're here. My grandparents think I just needed a break while the crew of the Avenger believe I am visiting family."

At least it seemed she was no longer a prisoner. "How did you find me?" she moved to sit up and Kix grumbled but helped her.

"I felt your pain." Luke admitted even as he pulled out her lightsabers. "Figured you'd want these back." He passed them over and Ahsoka was relieved to have them back, it was a pain to make new ones. "The Grand Inquisitor is dead."

"Are you sure?"

"He had a lightsaber hole through his chest and then the building blew up." Luke shrugged and she relaxed, relieved he was dead.

"The Emperor won't be happy."

"There's nothing to connect either of us to it." He assured her.

"So, what happens next?"

"You rest, heal. There's a secure comm if you want to reassure anyone you're alive. Kix will stay, I'll be heading to Theed in case anyone thinks to check if I'm there or not. The Avenger will leave orbit tomorrow evening. I purchased a ship for you, it's on the landing pad so you can leave once healed."

"Thank you." She reached out and clasped his hand and Luke smiled at her. For the millionth time, she wished Obi-Wan had brought Luke to the rebellion instead of running alone. How much could they have helped the cause? Instead Luke's many talents were used by that monster to supress the Galaxy…so how was it he was still so Light, friendly...a lot like Skyguy but without his explosive temper.

Luke stood and straightened his jacket automatically. "May the Force be with you." And then he was gone. Ahsoka lay back, thinking over what he had said.

Kix watched his General leave and then went back to his patient. "Any pain?"

"No." She looked at him and smiled. "It's good to see you Kix, could have used your services over the last few years."

"Don't doubt it. How…how is the Captain?" Knowing Rex had escaped Order 66, that he had kept Ahsoka safe all these years, it had been good for all of them to hear.

She chuckled. "Rex is Rex, even if he is older. He's got to be going mad with me out of contact so long."

"I'll get the comm and you can reassure him, without getting up." He grabbed it from the table and handed it over. Ahsoka hid the code she input and then waited until a small holo appeared.

Kix stared at the small image of his old Captain, he looked older than they did, but not as old as he would if the aging hadn't been stopped, so he'd managed to get that fixed at some point which was good.

"Hey Rexter." She smiled at the image and saw him immediately relax at the greeting. "I'm okay."

That made Kix snort and he saw Rex's image startle at the sound. "She'll be alright Captain, if she keeps to bed rest for a while longer." He shifted into view and saw Rex stare with wide eyes.

Rex stared, wishing the holo showed more detail, but that tone…medical… "Kix?"

"Sir."

"Ahsoka where are you?" he asked, tense. They had never found Kix among the free Vod which meant she was very likely in Imperial hands…but she would never contact him if it could be a trap.

"Naboo. Thanks to a certain youngling realising I was in trouble. He got me out and to medical help. I'm going to be here for a while until Kix decides I can be allowed up."

"At least another four days, unless trouble comes and you have to leave." Kix stated firmly.

"Hear that?"

"Yeah, I heard. are you sure you're safe?"

"I'm hidden and well cared for. If he wanted me dead he would have just left me where I was." She smiled sadly. "Stay there, I'll come to you." She didn't want him risking the trip when he didn't have to and Naboo was an Imperial controlled planet. Once she would have trusted Panaka with their lives, but Moff Panaka? Never. He had betrayed everything his people stood for in remaining loyal to Palpatine.

"Alright. But if I don't hear from you…"

"I know." She rolled her eyes and then ended the connection, feeling exhausted.

"Get some sleep Commander."

"Not your Commander anymore Kix, call me Ahsoka."

"Alright Ahsoka, now get some sleep. I'll make sure a meal's waiting when you wake."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Luke smiled as he watched his younger cousins play, envying them their carefree games. Technically second cousins, the children of his cousin Ryoo. The only person close to his age was Ryoo's younger brother, who was actually a year younger than Luke himself, named after their grandfather, Ruwee. He glanced over at his grandparents and felt a surge of grief, they were getting so old, even since the first time he had met them, how much longer would they be with them? He hoped long enough to see the Galaxy freed from Sidious. He didn't want to leave but the Avenger needed to meet up with the rest of Death Squadron and he didn't dare make them late and risk the Emperor's displeasure.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Ahsoka looked up at the sky, feeling Luke's Force signature vanish as the Avenger went into hyperspace. Kix had left two hours earlier to return to the ship and now she had a decision to make, obey medics orders or leave now and lessen the risk of discovery? In the end, she forced herself from the bed and into the fresher to clean up, enjoying the water. Her clothes had been replaced with a clean outfit and she dressed, settling her lightsabers on her belt. She opened one of the belt pouches and smiled, Luke had left her some extra currency which was kind. She slowly made her way to the ship and then went to work, lifting off and inputting a complicated course back to Rex to ensure no one could follow.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Vader was faced with a dilemma. The Emperor was giving Luke his own fleet of ships, separating the Avenger from Vader's own fleet. Needa was a good Captain for his son, but was nowhere near ready for the promotion to Admiral. He would need to assign one and he had two options, his own Admiral Yularen, or the newly promoted Admiral Ozzel. He trusted Yularen, he had served him well since the Clone Wars. Ozzel…there was something about the man he did not trust. He was arrogant, not uncommon in the Imperial Fleet, but also smug and too eager to seek out glory for himself. No, he would not make a good Admiral for his son. He would keep Ozzel and work around him all the while watching the young Captain Piett, that man was a good officer and would make an excellent Admiral with some more experience.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Leia sat behind her Father in the Senate pod for Alderaan, watching everything going on around her and wishing Winter was there for her better memory. It was her first time allowed to sit in the pod and it was exciting…but also disappointing as she listened to what the Senators debated and even argued over. This was the Senate? She knew the Emperor had taken a lot of the power from them but this was such a waste. As soon as the session was done she returned to the Embassy, leaving her Father to talk to his allies, unable to stand the hypocrisy any longer. It made her rethink her desire to be Alderaan's next Senator but she would be needed and so she would serve.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"My Lord." Wullf Yularen saluted smartly, ignoring the newly promoted Kendal Ozzel who stood beside him.

"A new Squadron is being formed with the Avenger as its flagship." Vader announced, watching them both closely. He saw the flash of greedy anticipation from Ozzel and knew he had made the right decision, despite how much he would miss Yularen's competency and calm. "Admiral Yularen, you are being transferred to the Avenger to serve as Admiral to Vengeance Squadron. Ozzel, you will take his place with Death Squadron, dismissed." Ozzel quickly left while Yularen remained. "You have served me well for many years, I trust you shall do the same for my son."

Wullf nodded, understanding what Vader was saying. He wasn't being demoted in anyway, Vader trusted him to keep his son safe. Vader could deal with any trouble Ozzel gave him. "I will not fail you." He swore and Vader nodded.

"Dismissed."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Rex watched the ship land, blasters at the ready just in case, but only Ahsoka left the ship so he stepped into view and saw her relieved smile. He moved quickly to her and she threw herself into his arms, holding on tightly.

"Thought I'd never see you again." She whispered and he held her close.

"What happened?" He asked as he led her inside their current hideout.

"Whole thing was a trap by the Grand Inquisitor," she answered and his grip tightened a little. "If Luke hadn't sensed I was in trouble and risked coming after me…well you talked to Kix. At least we don't have to worry about him anymore, Luke killed him and then they blew the building up on the way out."

"Good, I knew there was something off with that mission."

"Next time I'm listening to you." She teased.

,,,,,,,,,,

Luke laughed at the story Han was telling, the other pilots of Blade Squadron teasing their Commander. They'd been working through simulations all day, with Luke flying with them for some and against them in others. They all preferred the ones where he was on their side because only Han and Boggs could come close to taking him on, Biggs because they had learnt to fly together and Han because he was just that crazy. If Luke wasn't with members of the 212th then he could be found with the Blades. The Avenger's naval crew were always more formal so he could never really relax with them, not like this.

He needed relaxation right then, they were on their way back to Imperial Centre, ensuring his men were being very protective of him. They all remembered the condition he'd been in when Cody had brought him back to the ship last time and feared what the Emperor would do to him this time.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Luke approached the dais and dropped to one knee, head bent. "You summoned me Master."

Sidious stared at the head of short dark blonde hair, letting the boy remain kneeling. It was a pity the boy took so much after the Senator, it made teaching him much harder than twisting his Father had been. No matter what he tried the boy stubbornly remained Light. It seemed he would need some sort of leverage, the deaths of his Mother and Wife had helped greatly in turning Anakin. Perhaps something similar was needed with this boy. He would not kill Vader, he was still needed, no Luke's final test would be killing his own Father. So, who else could be used? The boy was close to his men but not the right kind of closeness. For this, women worked best, bring out the protective instincts. But the boy was not close to any females so he would have to arrange something.

Sidious stared down at the boy before smirking…. yes, that could work. He knew the child had been to Alderaan several times, a planet he knew was with the Alliance, even if there was no proof. But that could be used, he knew of the young Princess, the same age as the young Prince. Yes, he would ensure they met if they hadn't already. An Imperial marriage was just what they needed to keep people happy and looking on them well. The children of Skywalker would be powerful and when the time was right their mother would die, shown to be a rebel, pushing Luke over the edge and into the grip of the Dark Side. Then he would have the Apprentice he would have, if not for Kenobi. One day he would die, not even he could prevent that, and when that day came young Luke would be his successor, with his children to keep the line going.

Luke focused on remaining still, knowing this was a game the Emperor enjoyed and he could be left kneeling for hours at the man's whim. He just wished he knew why he had been recalled. He was careful to hide his discomfort and disdain for the man deep inside, behind layers of shields. He kept many secrets the Emperor must never learn of, from Obi-Wan's survival to Ahsoka and Rex.

"Rise my young friend." Sidious finally commanded and smirked at the flash of discomfort he sensed as the boy stood, standing at attention. "You will be seventeen soon, as such it is time to begin thinking of dynastic concerns." He stated, feeling his Apprentices shock. "I will not live forever, one day the Throne will be yours and you too shall need heirs."

"Yes Master. Who shall their Mother be?" He asked, he really did not want a political marriage, he wanted what his parents had had, love.

Sidious stood and left his throne. "Walk with me." He commanded and Luke fell into step as they moved away from the public audience chamber. "What do you know of the Organa's?"

"Alderaanian Royalty with suspected Rebel ties. The Viceroy was close to Amidala and one of those behind the 'petition of the two thousand'. He is said to have been a staunch ally of the Jedi. He has done a lot of work over the years with various charities. The Queen was badly injured when she was sixteen and nearly died, her heart and lungs were replaced, an obvious weakness. She has been very involved in work with refugees and education. The Princess is her heir and expected to take her Father's place as Senator eventually."

"Did you meet the Royal Family on any of your visits?"

"Yes Master, they were very welcoming."

"Hmmm. Did you sense deception?" Sidious glanced at the boy and saw him considering.

"There are secrets, we did not discuss imperial policy which is where deception would most likely be needed if they do support the Rebels."

"You will begin to Court the Princess, she could be a useful tool against her Father if necessary. And turning her to a loyal wife would be rather depressing to the rebels."

Luke was shocked. Leia? He was to court her? it would be no hardship, she was beautiful and easy to speak with. "As you Command." He answered automatically. "If she proves resistant?"

"Employ whatever means you deem necessary." Sidious answered coldly. He didn't care if Luke ravaged her mind and will with the Force, that would help turn the child just as well. "You have three years to get her agreement to marriage. We do not wish to rush this and anger anyone."

"I look forward to presenting my wife to you Master."

"Good." He smirked and then sent a flash of lightning, dropping the boy to his knees in pain. "Do not fail me young Prince."

Luke remained on his knees, breathing deeply as the Emperor walked away. He steadied himself and then left the Palace for their Residence, retreating to his room to meditate. He would have to work carefully but he found he wanted this, he wanted Leia at his side, not as his enemy. But how exactly did you go about courting a girl?

TBC…