Author's Note:
Star Wars belongs to Lucasfilm/Disney, not me. I am simply following a different path for the characters and, hopefully, a truly heroic path.
I make no money from this story, and gain only freedom to explore paths to greatness for those heroes who started it all who deserved better than what was laid out for them officially in this author's opinion.
"How long has he been like that?" Han asked. He leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Most of the morning," Pooja replied.
Luke, legs crossed, hands relaxed on his knees, sat on the shore. The morning's sun danced across the rippling lake before his still and silent form.
"I've never imagined I'd see a Jedi in meditation before," Pooja admitted.
"I never thought I'd see Luke as a Jedi," Han replied. "Still getting used to that."
"You know, over the last two days, he's not worn the robes, and he's acted so…," Pooja trailed off, then said, "normal. If it weren't for that lightsaber he always has with him, I think I'd forget he was a Jedi."
"Yeah," Han said, a crooked smile on his face. "Course I forget on purpose to annoy the kid."
Pooja chuckled. "Come on, Han. We have to see if the Queen's sent our travel plans."
Luke breathed in and out slowly. Soaking in the rich, warm sun and the free flow of the Force, he did not seek knowledge of how to handle this upcoming debate for a few moments as he had much of this morning.
He, simply focusing on the sense of joy and peace that surrounded him, put aside the search for dangers to his family and himself for the first time today.
It was in this moment of complete union with the Force, sand flew up in front of his eyes—his closed eyes. A vision: sand flying and blood red splatters spreading within twin trenches that looked as though formed from dragging feet.
Luke searched more deeply. There was a sense of danger, but it was distant: something he couldn't pin down. Luke shook his head and rose. He dragged his towel behind him and knocked the sand from his robes.
Looking up at the estate, his family inside, he frowned. Whatever it was he was seeing, he had to figure out. He was unwilling to let whatever he was seeing touch all the wonderful new people in his life.
"There's my Jedi," Jobal said, hugging Luke. "Please be careful," she added, her eyes bright and her brow furrowed.
"We will be," he promised, he caught her gaze and smiled warmly at her.
"See that you are, Grandson," Ruwee said, hugging Luke and looking toward Leia.
"Look at you," he said and reached to embrace her, as did Jobal.
"Subtle much?" asked Luke at Leia's make up, blue shadow hinting at tears from the corner of each eye and the beaded head wrap now streaming trails of blue beads framing her face.
"Have you seen Noobian royal dress?" Pooja asked, eyebrows raised and arms crossed. "This is a mild suggestion. Besides, our people will understand. Word of what that pathetic excuse for a human said in the Council has made it across our world. Everyone will know what is meant by it."
Leia nodded.
"We'll have your wedding dress ready for your fitting when you get back," Ryoo added as she hugged Leia.
"Tell everyone else, bye for us," Pooja said, hugging her sister, and grandparents.
"It must be nice to be adopted into such a loving family," teased a young guard, Anto Panaka.
"It is," said Han. "The three of us should have adopted ourselves out to the Naberries years ago," He patted his stomach. "Can't remember ever eating this well."
"Always thinking with your stomach," Pooja teased.
"Hey, Panaka," said Han with a crooked grin. He pulled Pooja to his side. "You single?"
Pooja squeaked indignantly as Panaka nodded, chuckling.
"Cause if you can't get adopted in, you could try to marry in. Seeing as how Pooja here is unattached."
Everyone else broke into laughter. As Pooja blushed bright red.
"Han Solo, you, you," Pooja sputtered.
"I should be so lucky," grinned Guard Panaka. The only sign that he was a guard, despite his casual dress, was his alert stance. "To win the heart of such a fine woman, and earn a place in an amazing family like this. One my own family has had the honor of serving for generations."
"Come on," Luke said, rescuing his cousin from more teasing. "The guards must be in place if Panaka's here. Let's go."
Pooja nooded, her cheeks still bright red, and turned to walk toward the gondola her delegation, and Panaka behind them, their guard for this short trip to the transport.
"Everyone secure?" Han called back.
"Yes," Luke called.
"Sure," Leia said.
"Artoo and I are secure as well, General Solo."
"I'm going to kill you, Han," shouted Pooja.
"I'll take that as as yes," Han said, snickering and lifting off.
Once the ship leveled out Pooja stormed into the cockpit and sat down in the copilot's seat. "How could you?"
"You like him. We caught you looking at him," Han said, pointing at her. "We could all tell," Han said with a grin then added. "And we could see him looking your way more than was officially necessary for a guard when you were in your ever so lovely swim wear."
"I was not," Pooja denied, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I hate to agree with Han when he's being annoying, but," Leia said with a smile, "Panaka was. And you definitely were. Not that I blame you. He's gorgeous with that deep chocolate skin and those toned abs."
"Hey!" Han protested.
Pooja broke into laughter. "Maybe I should step out of the way. If you're feeling other options are lacking in comparison?"
"I can't be selfish like that," teased Leia. "He may be a scruffy looking nerf herder, but I like scruffy." Leia leaned down, and kissed his cheek, before sitting behind the two of them in one of the navigation seats behind Han.
"The party has moved up here, huh?" asked Luke, sitting beside Leia.
"Yup," said Han. "Gotta say, Pooja, the whole way the two of you headed off all of the family questions with your little table talk, and then had all the guards think it was just your family being welcoming to us was why we were being treated like family was pretty brilliant."
"We do have occasional flashes of insight on how to deal with people," Pooja said dryly. "You know, diplomacy is our thing."
Luke laughed. "Good thing too. Han and I would have been lost if you hadn't already had that explanation prepared when Huwae and Lanu stared shouting I was the best cousin ever when we won that Water Ball game."
"That wasn't a real win," Han said. "We didn't want the kids to feel too bad, so we lost on purpose."
All three laughed at Han. "Han, they blasted you into oblivion. And Luke was holding back," Leia said.
Han turned and winked at her, "That sounded much more sincere than when we practiced making Luke feel good about being handed a win," Han stage whispered.
"Sure, Han," Luke deadpanned. "All for children's ego."
Everyone chuckled until Han leaned forward a bit.
"What?" asked Leia, looking around him.
"Message from the Coastal Plateau," he activated the view screen.
"I was made aware that you were on your way," Queen Setalla said, her makeup a brilliant white in the open plaza and deep blue crown of feathers fluttering against the pale blue sky and distant turquoise sea.
"I request you land at the new coordinates I provide for you. Follow my guards to private audience chamber to discuss last minute security updates and concerns."
"Of course, Your Majesty," Pooja said.
"Coordinates transmitted," Han acknowledged.
Once the screen flickered off, Han turned to Pooja. "You think something is wrong?"
"I hope not. I'm not sure," she turned to Luke "You sense any danger?"
Luke shook his head. "I've been meditating all morning. I've had a vision that worries me, but it has nothing to do with now, or this debate."
"What vision?" asked Leia.
"Sand. Sand and blood. It's the second vision like this. But it's —" Luke broke off, searching for the words. "It feels like a storm brewing in the distance, but you can't be sure if it's going to really come, or if it will turn from you at the last minute."
Han looked a question at him, an eyebrow raised.
Luke raised both hands in a baffled gesture. "Sorry, but I can definitely tell you I couldn't sense anything related to this debate."
"So, our guard stays up, same as always," Leia said, crossing her arms.
"Just over that ridge," Pooja pointed. "We're here."
Han nodded and arched the ship over some orange and blue leaved trees and soared down toward a building standing on marble columns. From their height they could see the steep drop of the oceanside cliffs and the observation balconies carved of the very stone of the cliff sides. A few rivers tumbling over the edges like trails of tears falling down the face of the cliff sides
"The Weeping Wall," Pooja said, pointing to the cliff face, as they lowered on the pad nearest the right side staircase into the hall of government."
"That's not ominous at all," Han muttered.
"The Queen chose this location, in part due to the name. It's meant to play off Leia's fashion statement, but it's also an easily defensible site."
"That cliff screams throw me of the edge, Imperials," Luke observed uneasily.
"The cliff is protected with Gungan shielding technology. If anyone gets too close to the edge, they will be repulsed back to the edge. Granted the landing might not be comfortable, but nothing that won't be too difficult to heal."
"I hope you're right," Han muttered. "I'd hate to be extra hard work for healers to patch up."
"Funny, Han," Leia said, her voice grim.
A little optimism?" Luke prompted hopefully.
"Aren't you nervous at all?" asked Leia.
"Yeah," Luke said, and then smiled. "And I know just what to do about it." He closed his eyes and drew on the Force, breathing in and out slowly.
"You know. He calls it meditation, but I think he's napping," quipped Han as he lowered to the ground with a clink of the landing claws on the cobblestones.
Luke opened his eyes and smiled at Han. "Nope, just ask Leia. Just cleared my mind and freed my senses."
"Then let's do this," Han said, standing and motioning for everyone to disembark.
"Master Luke," Threepio said, walking up to his waiting companions. "The Queen regrets to inform you that she has been held up by Imperial Adviser Peluch C'nnem, but requests that you meet with her handmaid, Bavanu, and several of her security agents."
Han frowned, his eyes narrowing, but Leia was surprised to see a smile flit across Luke's face for a moment before he smothered it.
"Lead the way, Threepio, Artoo," Luke said.
"Most happily, Master Luke," Threepio said. A warble and set of chirps sounded. "See I told you they'd not be unhappy with the situation, Artoo. Master Luke is and unusually reasonable—for a human."
Amused glances were exchanged as they were let through the curved hall to an enclosed office.
"Greetings, my friend," Handmaid Bavanu said, taking Pooja's hands. "The Queen hopes her protections aren't too distracting from your work or your precious time with your family."
Luke, Leia, and Han chuckled quietly as the guards closed the door behind them and stood outside, blocking them Luke sensed.
The handmaid looked confused as Pooja blushed.
"We'll there is this one…" Han began.
"We don't want to waste your time, my friend," Pooja interjected, a glancing sharply at Han.
"I will have to make time with you later, and learn of this one distraction that affects you so. But for now," The handmaid pulled a sphere seemingly from within her sleeve and tossed it on the floor.
A blue beam of light shot up from the globe and, hitting the ceiling, dispersed and flowed around the walls until all the surfaces of the room were covered in a glowing blue light.
"A privacy shield. It is newer technology available to the Queen. What is said here is private from all known technology."
"A moment," Luke requested.
The handmaid nodded.
Luke reached out with his senses and searched for listening devices. Artoo's scanner shot up one of his upper dome panels and began searching the room as well.
Luke opened his eyes and smiled at the handmaid even as Artoo whined piteously.
"Master Luke, Artoo cannot maintain records of his scans long enough to analyze them. His recording algorithms are malfunctioning as well."
"He is fine," Handmaid Bavanu assured Luke. "It is the method by which this technology works. It will cause no permanent harm."
Luke patted his droid gently. "It's just for a few moment's Artoo. My thanks, my Queen," Luke added to the handmaiden.
"How?" Bavanu shot an angry glare at Pooja.
"I didn't say a word," she said, her hands raised.
"I sensed you were more than you appeared to be in the hanger. After I learned of what Mo—"Luke stopped himself. "Queen Amidala did in her role as handmaid Padme, it seemed that you might be doing the same in this tense situation to avoid appearing to support the Alliance overtly with the intelligence I am guessing you are about to share."
Bavanu, now unmasked Queen Setalla, turned sharp eyes on Luke. "There is much more to you than I think you may be saying as well. But first," all pretense of timid handmaid fell away as the woman stood tall and began to pace.
"A group of planetary isolationist, The People's Protectorate have been found responsible for the droid attack. They are convinced the safest path for our world is to hide away and pay whatever tax or cost the Empire demands to be able to huddle low in our own little homes."
The Queen huffed in annoyance, "They see no further than their own communities, and they do not believe the Empire will turn on them as they have on so many other worlds as long as we we're loyal little Imperial citizens."
"And if I close my eyes and plug my ears, the great boulder rolling my way won't hit me, right?" Han asked, disgustedly.
Bavanu nodded, her mouth a grim line. "It is one of the reasons I decided to hold this debate here. Jess Rees, a wealthy leader of our mining industries, is known to espouse these views. We believe him to be a leader, if not the head, of this group, but to fund violent protests meant to shut down debate and frighten anyone from speaking against their policy?" the queen trailed off angrily.
She tensed, her hands fisted, "I will not have it! Our world will be a place where all can speak. All will be heard, and we will decide together how to live together in our world, and hopefully we will become part of the greater community in the galaxy again."
"We are grateful one such as you guides the Naboo," Leia said with a smile. "We will do our best to convince your people."
"There are whispers that the force this organization sent to us at the hanger are not all of the battle droids they have, and that human and some refugee species have been drawn into this group. All land entrances have been blocked off, and the shielding guarding the cliff face has been given enough of a charge that nothing will enter from that side without being blasted apart."
"Easily healable, Huh?" Han muttered to Pooja.
Pooja lifted her head and ignored him even as the Queen continued.
"We have every other entry into this area sealed with guards and troops. The debates will be broadcast to the rest of the planet," Queen Bavanu Setalla told them. "I want no chance that they are derailed."
"Of course," Leia agreed.
"Is Peluch C'nnem and his Imperial escort aware of all of the security measures in place?"
"They have been informed of all except the deadly level of power running through the cliff-side shields. If Imperial ships wish to touch down on our world, it will not be during this debate if there is anything at all I can do about it."
"I am glad to hear it," Leia said.
"I'm more worried about an Impy getting an itchy trigger finger," Han said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"It is a valid concern," Bavanu affirmed. Which is why there will be a perimeter of guards surrounding both your assembly and the Imperial's. There will also be shielding erected around the both of you during the entire debate."
"I was curious why you didn't disarm Luke and Han," Leia confessed.
"I saw it as counterproductive. By the time I convinced both Imperials and your party to give up your weapons, I'm fairly sure my term as queen would be long past. And I will not insult a Master Jedi by asking him to surrender his lightsaber."
"Wise," Luke said with a smile. "And I am grateful for the courtesy."
"Then perhaps," Bavanu turned her gaze back on Luke and then Artoo. "You will tell me what you are doing in possession of Queen Amidala's tribute."
Luke looked a question at Pooja.
"She is trust worthy. She will understand why you do not want your connection to her known."
Luke smiled, gratefully at Pooja, not just for her response but also for the fact that she did not include Leia in her words, allowing his sister to decide if she wished to be a part of this confessional moment.
"R2D2 was in the care of Bail Organa, a friend of Senator Amidala, and he, Luke said, patting the droid's head, was sent to Tatooine to look for Obi Wan Kenobi. Some might call it luck or chance that he ended up captured by Jawas and was sold to my Uncle, Owen Lars, but I know it was the will of the Force. It brought me to Obi Wan, then to the Princess, then to the Alliance."
"And there is no other connection?" she asked, brows raised, skepticism on her face.
"I didn't know of one until I felt drawn to the Naboo system when the Alliance was looking for people to serve on their diplomatic teams. I've since learned that he was the property of Padme Naberrie Amidala Skywalker, my mother."
"Skywalker?" she asked.
Luke nodded.
Bavanu relaxed a bit. "I wondered if it were possible. When the guards said how well your family," she said looking to Pooja, "were getting along with our friends here—treating them like family—and with what you said in the Council session about being concerned if your aunt's blood had any power. Still there are so many questions."
"Perhaps we can take a few minutes to answer them before the debate," Leia said, clasping Luke's shoulder. "My brother and I that is."
The Queen's jaw dropped in surprise, only a moment later to morph into a wide smile. "I am most eager to hear your tale."
A knock sounded. "Enter," Bavanu called from the desk she now leaned against.
"The Queen sends words that all arrangements are made. We are to escort you to the debate grounds."
"A few moments more," she requested. "We will be out in a minute.
Once the doors were closed, the Queen looked up at Luke and Leia.
"I understand and respect your choice to keep secret your mother's identity. While I wish our people to join the Alliance, I do not wish them guided by emotion and not by reason, as well as you. And I understand not wishing to endanger the Naberries from the enemies who would seek to hurt you." Bavanu smiled at them.
"You are both very like her in that and many other ways."
"Thank you, my Queen," Luke said with a smile. Leia smiled and nodded as well.
The Queen turned and led everyone out the door, now acting her role as handmaiden once again.
Luke blinked up at th brilliant sunlight, such a contrast to the dark passage way they'd taken to exit this governmental hall.
Handmaid Bavanu rushed to the queen's side. A wide stone plaza curved and arched around the main entry to the hall they'd just left, stairs curving gently up to the raised stone balconies above.
Banners stood in a semicircle just behind where they were meant to stand, the Alliance insignia a brilliant red against the white rectangle of silk.
Looking past the line of guards that surrounded them, Leia saw a similar set up with black silken banners with the Imperial insignia in white fluttering in the breeze behind Advisor Peluch C'nnem and his two Imperial officers and dozen storm troopers.
"That's not intimidating at all," Leia muttered to Han and Luke who chuckled.
"Good crowd assembled," Luke noted, scanning the citizens who had come to hear the proposals of each delegation and the ending debate between Pooja Naberrie and Sian Baemek.
"Remember what Mon said before we left, act as if this can get out to the greater galaxy, and try to act civilized."
"Hey, it's me," Han said with a crooked smile.
Luke chuckled behind his hand.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Leia teased.
"People of Naboo," the Queen, or rather her decoy began, "We welcome you to the first information session and debate regarding the vote to stay with the Empire, or break ties to join with the Alliance to Restore the Republic."
A hush fell over the crowd as the Queen continued.
"Our Imperial delegation, led by Imperial Adviser to our Regional Governor, Taneep Janku, is here to discuss the benefits of Imperial citizenship and the dangers of leaving the Empire.
"Advisor Peluch C'nnem, you may begin your presentation."
The Queen's decoy stepped back joined by her retinue as Peluch C'nnem stepped forward.
"This is going to be good," muttered Han on his side of the stone stage.
"A good excuse to meditate," Luke muttered back.
But all quieted as the Imperial began to speak.
"And so, good people of Naboo. You can see how foolish and naive it would be to try to return to nostalgic memories of a Republic that was more impressive in reputation than real galactic situations. We are here; we are effective; we are clear in our expectations; we will keep you safe."
When the adviser stepped back applause rose from the crowd.
Artoo beeped and trilled behind the Alliance representatives.
"You are right, my diminutive friend, they don't seem very enthusiastic in their applause."
"Could be because they are waking up from their nap," Luke commented wryly.
The Queen's Decoy once again stepped forward and began to speak.
"Unit 5, are you in place?"
"Rodger, Rodger," responded the battle droid. His climbing claws flexed, the droid turned his head to the left and right to then flipped it up 180 degrees to see the cliff face below him. Battle droids, all altered just as he had been were clinging to the Weeping Wall in groups of 20."
"All 100 battle droids are in formation on the cliff. Send in the spinster," The tinny voice replied
The water just below the assembled droids began to bubble and roil. A moment later an eight legged droid around the size of a tie fighter rose from the waves, salt water and seaweed sluicing off the gleaming metallic joints. Surprisingly nimbly, it began to climb the side of the cliff with clicks and clacks.
"Remember, we want very little permanent damage to our citizens."
"Understood." The droid captain replied as the spinster stopped it climb int the midst of the battle droids clinging to the sheer cliff face. "All weapons are set on half power. Two droids would have to coordinate fire before anyone could die from our blasters, Sir."
"Make sure you're ready to kill any rebel scum you come across," their unseen commander communicated from site unknown to all assembled above and unaware.
"Rodger, Rodger."
The gleaming eight legs of the droid clamped down on the hillside. A moment later several grooved spikes rose from each leg and drilled into the cliff.
A green light flashed from the droid as the dome, creaking and whirring, began to slide back from the center of the droid to reveal a great grooved drill tip.
The center of the droid swiveled pointing drill at the cliff face and the drill began to lengthen and spin till it began burying into the cliff side, smoke and dust bursting from the hill side and tumbling to the sea below.
"All droids, ready for infiltration and attack," the command droid ordered as the spinster unlocked its eight legs and disappeared into the tunnel it was drilling.
"And I present to you Princess Leia Organa to speak for the Alliance to Restore the Republic."
"Indeed, Adviser Peluch C'nnem makes some valid points, but are they not things we have all heard, some of us from infancy, about the benevolent leadership of the Empire? Have we ever thought however how high a price we pay for this perceived safety and order provided by our rulers? Have we ever imagined what we could become if we ruled ourselves as we once did during the time of the Republic?"
Every eye was looking toward this Alderaanian princess so the tiny device that poked up a finger length's height in the midst of a crowd of onlookers went unnoticed.
A green blinking light began to pulse rapidly until it glowed solid green and smoke exploded from it's tip with a violent boom.
Screams rose from the terrified crowd and people began to scatter in a panic. Above the tumult an explosion of earth flew above the smoke cloud, pummeling running men women and children with dust and stone.
"We're going to help," called Luke to the Queen over the snap-hiss of his lightsaber.
"Troops go with them," ordered the decoy.
A small contingent surrounded the Queen.
Han passed Leia his emergency blaster and whispered, "Guard the real Queen, will ya?"
She nodded and raced over to the Queen's retinue.
The Imperials raced out as Peluch C'nnem remained behind with the Queen's guards.
"Show them Imperial strength is their protection," he called.
"I see you don't seek to show them your strength," said Leia sharply.
"I will help guard the Queen from dangers like you," he snarled, pulling his blaster and circling around with the rest of the guards and Leia just as blaster bolts began to fire through the billowing smoke.
"This way!" Han shouted, waving at a group of huddled people. He raced just ahead of the line of guards that had set up a moving shield-lined exit from the plaza. His blaster ready, he scanned the slowly dissipating smoke.
"Still too many people caught up in that mess." Han muttered even as his last group raced clear of the approaching droids.
Luke was racing toward the fray knocking bolts away from the retreating cloud, his lightsaber a blur.
"Can you clear that smoke, Kid?" Han shouted.
"Not without better cover."
"Clear the field," called the Imperial officer in front of the storm troopers, "And we'll call a truce for now, Rebel Scum."
Surprised, Luke's guard dropped a moment and a misstep allowed blaster bolt past his saber to ignite his sleeve.
He ripped it from his shoulder with his mechanical hand and cast it aside while still defecting fire.
Refocusing immediately, Luke nodded to the line of storm troopers firing nearby as a few battle droids steped as if from the billowing smoke and flames itself and not the grounds behind them.
Luke raced behind their line and focused on the Force sensing that, not only was this the right course of action, but also that the droids were emerging through a hole in the ground twenty meters from him.
He reached out for a nearby land speeder and lifted it up by the Force, spinning it as it flew over the smoke covered battle field increasing it's speed until it was just above the opening where droids were crawling up like an infestation of skarrith ants.
With a deep breath, Luke focused and slammed his arms down, the speeder following his motion, on top of the opening with so much speed the fuel tank ruptured, exploding a moment later when the trail of fuel met a nearby patch of burning grass.
A plume of fire shot up from the tunnel and down in it causing further explosions as battle droids not yet above the surface were destroyed by the blaze.
The blast from the explosion blew away the smoke in a fiery wave of heat, knocking civilians down on the ground with cries of fright and moans of pain.
Around fifty or so droids could now be clearly seen marching forward in formation, a circular eight legged droid in the center firing from blasters that spun and fired wildly around it's massive domed base.
"Not bad, Jedi," mumbled the officer. "RG443, TY324 you go after those civilians, the rest of you, take out those droids," the officer shouted.
"I've got the big one," Luke called, and leapt high over the Imperials, dropping smoothly to race ahead, pulling droids at random into the path of the larger droid's spinning rays, and knocking back bolts with his lightsaber.
"Thatsa looking like the last of main group of the civilians, General Solo." Said one of the Gungans in the guard. "But wesa saw others cutting off from the main group."
"Break up and go after them," Han ordered. "You four, are with me." He pointed to the Gungan and a trio of human guards.
"Infiltration ranks," called the Captain, "go in your battle groups. Get our people to safety at all costs."
"Yes, sir!" affirmed human and Gungan protectors. They divided up and raced back onto the field of storm troopers and a lone Jedi facing down a droid army.
"I don't believe what I'm seeing," whispered Bavanu as a Jedi led a band of storm troopers into battle. It's like an old Clone Wars Holo News File."
"Yeah," said Leia, her brow furrowed, "and we all know how that ended for the Jedi."
Pooja grabbed Leia's blaster-free hand and squeezed.
"Promise me when we are out of danger, you'll teach me to shoot."
"Deal," Leia said, as Luke ducked away from the cloud disintegrating the fog in a blast of heat and sparks.
Pooja gasped as she saw Luke leap over the troopers and race toward the great droid at the center of the attack.
Pooja gripped Leia's hand harder as she gripped Pooja's back as they saw droids shot down, and thrown into blaster fire by Luke and the Imperials.
Han and other Naboo guards raced around to the pockets of civilians, their shields in formation, as they herded the Naboo to safety, while they squeezed out shot at the approaching droids.
Luke leaped as he yanked a blaster away from a droid, and fired at a few more with his confiscated blaster as he turned mid air. Falling feet first toward the whirling dome of the droid causing so much havoc with the shots firing from its spinning guns, Luke turned his blaster fire on it. The dome stilled and sparked as Luke threw his lightsaber into the center of the blue arching sparks as he landed just a few feet away. Luke ran toward the other droids squeezing out shots at his attackers.
Sparks danced around the no longer spinning dome and a thick black smoke began rolling from the crack the his lightsaber cut in the droid's core. The acrid smell of burning machine oil met Luke's nose as he saw the first flames flare up around his saber hilt.
"Get back! Get down!" He yelled. He tugged his lightsaber away with the Force just as the droid exploded in a cloud of fire and inky black smoke. Luke rolled behind a crumbled pile of debris that was once a fountain, watching with horror as a few troopers flew beside a line of droids toward the barrier to the cliff side.
Luke reached out with the Force, grabbing onto the troopers and pulling them toward the ground, his Force grip random and panicked. He fought the panic as he pulled them close enough to drop them a second before the droids slammed into the barrier with a bloom of fire and shower of shrapnel.
Han and several other Palace guardsmen were back to back firing at the remaining thirty droids surrounding them when the ground beneath everyone shook.
"Princess Leia, I'm not sure this cliff side is entirely stable," Threepio said nervously.
Artoo beeped and trilled, his panic evident in his tones.
"Artoo says his scans show that the explosions and the damage done to the cliff side by the digging have caused critical harm to the structural integrity to this land form."
A few panicked beeps later and Threepio squeaked.
"Oh my, Princess Leia, Artoo says the entire cliff side may fall into the sea in the next few minutes."
"Have the evacuation signal sounded," cried the Queen.
"Call for rescue vessels and get everyone out of here now!"
"Evacuation signal?" asked Leia, as their group raced away and a horn blared in the distance.
"We use it in case dangerous storms from the seas. We never thought," Pooja said, but her voice cut off as a tremor shook everyone to the ground.
"What?" Luke asked as a horn blared overhead. In spite of the fighting, people were screaming and flooding out of the buildings many had sheltered in.
The droids were splitting away from Han, the Naboo guard, and the Imperials and were now dividing off to attack the fleeing people.
The ground trembled again and he saw it_ a vision of the wall of earth and the entire town that rested on it crumbling into the sea.
"Run! All of you! This cliff breaking apard! Go!"
Just like that, the warriors on all sides, raced behind the droid firing on them even before the soldiers raced past the droid for the stable ground inland.
Leia and the others were at the final archway leading from the town proper when a tinny voice called out behind them, " Got 'em. Full fire, droids," Leia and the guards turned and fired from behind their raised energy shields.
Another tremor knocked her group to her knees and knocked her blaster from her hand. Droids were rushing toward her even as the guards around her fired scrambled to their feet and fired into the fray.
"Use the Force, Leia. Pull the blaster to you," she heard in her head.
"Obi Wan?" she asked.
"Yes, use the Force. You can do this."
Leia made herself calm and focus she felt the Force flood her even as a pair of droid were bearing down on her. The blaster twitched toward her outstretched hand when a burning scrap of ash fluttered by like the swish of a cape.
Leia gasped and recoiled from the Force.
"Fire on three for the kill shot," said the droid.
"One," said the first.
"Two," said the second.
"Thr," began the third as Han leapt in front of them shooting first one and then the other, but not before each got off a shot.
"Argghhhhh!" Han shouted in pain as he crumpled to the ground.
"Han!" Leia shouted, scrambling beside him.
"My leg," Han groaned.
The guardsmen with Han surrounded the group. The stood as one firing into the six remaining droid smoke and dust rising from the once pristine town.
Leia pulled Han up on one shoulder and Pooja came up beside him and together they limped away under the cover of the guard's shields and cover fire.
"Ow, ow, ow," Han whimpered even as they crossed over to a safe zone where a mass of people huddled at base of a wooded area.
A warble and few chirps sounded as they entered a ship docking area.
"Artoo says we have reached stable ground according to his sensor readings."
"Spread out!" commanded the Queen's decoy.
Leia and Pooja lowered Han to the ground. Leia ripped at the tear in his pants leg, exposing the blaster burn.
"Ahh! If you want me out of my pants, Sweetheart," Han said, gritting his teeth as she tugged the fabric from his bleeding wound. "All you had to do was ask."
"Funny, General. Really funny," she rejoined as handmaid Bavanu rushed up with a med kit.
"We pulled this from the queen's cruiser. May I assist?"
Leia looked up at the Queen and nodded. "I'd be grateful for you help."
"Let's start with this," Pooja said, jabbing a syringe in Han's arm.
"Ahh!" Han cried out.
"You'll thank me later," Pooja said, grimly.
Luke heard the squeals of the battle droids falling behind him just a second before he felt the ground beneath his feet falling away.
He pushed himself away from the ground with a jump that would have impressed even Yoda, rolling to a stop to see the several Imperial troopers scrabbling at the crumbling cliff in front of them. Luke focused on another speeder, powering it up, and promptly and sent it soaring over the edge of the cliff.
"What are you doing crazy Jedi?" called another.
"Help us," called the troopers.
"I just did," Luke called back as the troops fell over the ledge with a scream.
Luke sucked in a panicked breath, as the ground rolled and tumbled away in front of him.
"Hope you saved room for me," he muttered as the ground slid from under him dropping him over the edge toward the violent ocean waves below and town-sized wave of rocks and earth tumbling above him.
"My Queen, we believe we have evacuated the village square. Some Imperial troopers and Master Jedi Skywalker are missing."
Pooja gasped and looked up at Leia.
Leia tried to reach out and sense Luke. Guilt and fear blocked out her senses as if she were wearing a blindfold. Anger at the monsters who did this roiled within her as well.
"I can't sense him," she whispered. A new anger, an anger at herself grew within her.
"Leia, is he?" Han asked
"I don't know. I can't focus like I should," she whispered.
"That's understandable with all that's just happened," Pooja consoled Leia.
"Is it?" Leia asked more to herself than to Pooja.
Luke clawed at the smooth edge of the speeder, as he fell past it, when a white gloved hand shot out and caught him.
Another storm trooper took his hand. "We have you."
Pulling him up into the speeder, a trooper called to the once in the pilot's seat. "Take off; we are all secure."
"Never thought I'd be happy to be caught by a storm troopers," Luke chuckled as he slumped back in his seat.
"Never thought I'd be thanking a Jedi for saving my life," said a trooper with a chuckle as the speeder flew past the rain of rocks still sliding into the ocean below. The speeder angled up just as the final few buildings crumbled and fell to the waves below.
"Any particular reason Bavanu just joined the Queen on her transport?" asked Leia, as she raked Han's hair away from his sweating forehead.
Leia looked to a nearby guard. She had her own suspicions but hoped he'd have more to tell—like where Luke was.
"A message was sent to the Queen, among other things. The Queen wished all her handmaids at her side."
A speeder raced forward piloted by storm troopers. It slowed and landed on the outer edge of the the airfield.
"Luke!" Leia cried, jumping to her feet. He slid over the side of the speeder and raced to her.
"Leia!" Luke called as he pulled her into a relieved embrace.
"I was so worried," she whispered into his shoulder.
"You couldn't sense me?" he whispered teasingly into her ear.
"No," Leia said as she began to shake.
Luke pulled back, "What happened?"
From the corner of his eye he spotted Han, keeping Leia's hand in his he raced to his fallen friend's side.
"Han," he said, kneeling beside his friend.
"Kid?"
"How bad?"
"Won't be dancing for a while."
"That'll put a damper on the wedding plans," Luke teased.
A handmaid, not Bavanu, rushed over to their side.
"The Queen apologizes profusely, but requests that if you are able, you present your case to the cameras and what people who are willing to still listen after this attack."
Leia, Luke and Han looked from one to another.
"I have a few choice words,' Han said through gritted teeth.
"I think Han should speak for us today, Leia."
"What?" Leia asked.
"Are you crazy?" Pooja asked. "He's been shot and his pain meds are obviously not strong enough to drive back his suffering."
"My feelings tell me he needs to speak."
The Queen, the true Queen, Luke sensed, exited her ship and headed toward her people drawing toward the space port.
"I begin by speaking to my people harmed most by today's attack. We will see these monsters who did this horrible thing today captured and punished. We, the Naboo, will care for you. You are not alone. Your people stand beside you and will come to lift you up. Our wounded will be healed. And the three who died from today's attack will be honored and mourned by all our people.
I tell all my people today that we were attacked today by the group calling itself the People's Protectorate."
The Queen paused looking over the faces of her people, some weeping quietly, many dazed and in shock, a few showing the anger on their faces she felt inside. "They claim by showing us the danger we once faced before we came under Empire's protection should show us how foolish seeking to betray them would be."
"They betray us all! They seek to shut down our very system of self rule by lashing out in violence instead of dialog and debate. I will not let this attack on our people, our way of life succeed! We will hear from the Alliance, and we, as a people, will chose our own path."
"No stone will remain unturned, not a drop of water unsearched until we find the cowards behind this assault and bring them to justice."
"I will not. We cannot allow them to win! I ask you my people to listen as our Alliance representatives speak to you regarding their invitation to join them in their efforts to restore the Republic."
Leia looked at Luke and then Han who was sitting now, his face pale, sipping at the bottle of water Pooja had passed him.
"Are you sure?"
Luke nodded.
"Han?" Leia asked as Han passed the bottle back to Pooja.
"Let's do this," He said and reached out to take Luke's shoulder and Leia's hand.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow," Han groaned softly with every step.
"Are you sure about this," Leia asked.
"Nope, but I'm trusting the Jedi."
Leia nodded.
"Put those words on my gravestone if this doesn't work out," Han whispered. Luke and Leia chuckled at that.
Han nodded to the Queen and she sent the voice amplification droid and the camera droids soaring in front of him.
Still leaning on Luke and Leia for support, Han began.
"Look, I know what everyone here want me to say is join the Alliance and things like this can never happen to you and your people again."
"I can't say that. You have your really badly named People's Protectorate and the Empire here. Different methods but the same result. Cooperate and I won't hurt you, don't do what we say, and we will blast you, either with blaster or with some insane new planet killer."
"We ain't threatening you; we're asking. You want to help us make all of us free from the jerks pointing blasters at us and telling us what to do without giving us a say? Join up."
Han pulled his arm away from Leia, leaning more heavily on Luke and waved toward his injured leg. But I can guarantee you it ain't safe. I've been shot, tortured, taken a long nap in a chunk of carbonite."
"Luke here," Han waved toward the Jedi supporting him. "Lost his hand, been shot, and spent way more time in bacta tanks than anyone should."
He took Leia's hand. "And the princess here, you all know what she's lost."
"I used to think it was crazy to join up with a bunch of rebels and fight the Imperials. Now I know it's crazy. But I've been freer as a wanted rebel than I've ever felt as a loyal Imperial citizen. Freedom ain't safe, people, and it ain't free, but it's worth it. So join us,"
Han said, "Or don't. Your choice. We won't hurt you, but if you join us you're probably going to be in danger, so make sure you have a blaster ready."
Han, looping his free arm over Leia's shoulder, nodded back over at the Queen.
"Let's go," He said through gritted teeth. I think I've started bleeding again."
Together they walked toward Pooja who was waving them forward toward a transport, and hopefully, Han thought, painkiller, lots and lots of painkiller.
