Authors Note:
I don't own Star Wars, Lucasfilm/Disney does, and I make no money from this story.
Characters like Fixer Lonozer, Camie, and most of the others mentioned in the story come from cut scenes in A New Hope. Ree is an OC member of Bigg's Darklighter's family.
Trust me; there is a plan.
I only hope the Force is with us all.
"Thanks again, Fixer," Adriene Darklighter said, pulling the last of the parts from the back of his ship.
She whistled, "This is a sweet haul. Where'd you get this quality of parts, and so much of it?"
"A Rebellion attack on a nearby Imperials ended up with a ton of ships crashing on the west side of the Jundland Waste. A resourceful group of scavengers from Mos Espa set up a reclamation operation. They even found a way to keep most of the Jawas out. We're getting great stuff, cheap."
Laze "Fixer" Loneozer chuckled as both he and Adriene Darklighter made their way to the building he once worked in for years. "I'm telling ya, Ree. I've got loads of ideas for new pod designs based off of the stuff we've been getting."
Approaching the door, Ree pushed her elbow into a pressure plate and the door slid open.
Fixer nodded for Ree to go in first. She signed in contentment as the cooler air washed over her driving the heat Tatooine's twin suns seemed to soak into her very bones.
"I'm so glad you were willing to lower yourself by delivering to us while Timen's settlement for his stolen transport is being decided."
"Everyone knows this station was my baby for a long time before I left this piece of nowhere. The Toshe station might as well have been called the Fixer station. You think I'm going to let a station linked to me put out poor parts and substandard repair work. I've got a reputation to maintain."
Ree snorted in derision. "Yeah, you're all heart."
"Hey, take it as a compliment, littlest Darklighter. I know you do most of the repair work here, and I haven't found any reason to disavow my connection to this station yet."
"High praise," chuckled Ree as she sat down the box. "But I'm not the youngest Darklighter, remember? We have a big family."
"Yeah," he said, ruffling her hair. Ree slapped his hand away and glared at him. "But you are the shortest."
Ree chuckled and wiped her hands on her grease coated apron. "Point taken. Okay, how much?"
"Forty Rupee," Fixer said.
Ree's mouth dropped open. "This is worth way more than forty."
"Yeah, but I didn't pay much for it, and you're not a half bad mechanic. What can I say? I like encouraging young talent."
Ree rolled her eyes. "More likely it's your trying to work off guilt you and your delinquent friends earned for tormenting us poor young kids stuck going to school with you."
Fixer laughed. He followed Ree to the counter where she pulled out a lock box and began pulling out the credits. A flickering light captured his attention.
"What have we here?" he asked with a wide grin.
Ree flushed deeply as she slapped at the receiver's controls a moment too late. Fixer pulled the pad away and unpaused the display. A beautiful palace trailing waterfalls glowed above a scrolling line of text that read: Master Jedi Luke Skywalker to speak on behalf of the Alliance."
"Wormy's going to give a speech?" Fixer said, his eyes bright and his grin widening even further. "Oh, I have got to see this!"
"I can't believe you're still calling him that ridiculous nickname." Ree said, crossing her arms over her chest, her deep golden ponytail swishing with the movement. "He's a hero in the Rebellion and a Jedi Knight." She poked Fixer in the chest then added, "And you heard what happened to Jabba the Hutt when Luke came back to Tatooine."
Fixer laughed and pointed back at her. "You still have a crush on him."
Ree glared at him and strode forward as menacingly as one of her short stature could. "Fixer Lonozer, give me that holonet receiver right now!"
Fixer raised his hand in surrender. "Okay, okay. Don't burn out your boosters." He passed the pad back to her which she promptly paused.
He looked around the main room of his old shop for a moment caught up in the memory of a bright eyed kid running into the station spouting off yet another wild tale.
"Just before he left, or had to run," Fixer reminisced. "Luke rushed in here talking about some battle he'd seen overhead. We all laughed at him. All except…" Fixer cut off his thought with a worried look at Ree.
Ree caught his eye, her expression subdued. "Except Biggs. They left around the same time. I remember."
"I always wondered if they planned to end up at the rebellion together that day."
"No," Ree answered. "Luke wrote us a really kind note-handwritten. He sent it in a shipment of seeds for the farm. Luke worded it carefully so only people really close to him and my big brother could know who sent it. He said that luck, or maybe the Force, brought those two together again and that Biggs saved him at the big, big fight."
"Yavin?" Fixer guessed.
"Yeah, the way he worded it Biggs guarded his rear so he could make that shot. Luke said he'd have died if Bigg's hadn't taken that laser fire in his place."
Fixer patted Ree's hand. "I'm sorry, Ree."
"So am I," she said, a sad sigh, her green eyes bright for just a moment. "But Biggs died a hero. I'm proud of him. We all are."
Ree dug around in the box and pulled out the credits to pay for the parts and passed them to Fixer.
"Luke turned out pretty good," he said, a nod toward the paused transmission.
"Yeah," Ree agreed, sighing again but this time with no trace of sadness.
"And you have a crush on him," Fixer teased, though more gently this time.
"I have since I first stared noticing boys." Ree said with a sheepish grin. "But he's way too cute for a girl like me."
"Wormy?" Fixer chortled. "Scrawny, short, skinny, Wormy? You need to look in a mirror, Ree. You aren't that knobby kneed, freckle faced stick drawing of a girl you were at 14. You are definitely drool worthy now."
"Drool worthy?" Ree snorted. "Oh thats really attractive."
"It's the closest thing you're going to get as a compliment from me. Take it, or leave it."
"I'll decide later," she said. Looking toward the paused hologram, she asked, " Want to see what old Wormy Skywalker is up to?"
"Why not, Fixer teased. "I could use a laugh.
A smaller, though braver crowd, gathered around the wide massive stone landing that would be the stage for today's presentation and debate. Guards patrolled and security, seen and unseen, circulated within, around and in posts above the milling crowd of citizens.
Luke stood, the wind ruffling his hair, but it was the hairs standing on the back of his neck that bothered him. Something was off. He wasn't sure what it was, but between the message Mon sent through Leia and the smug assurance oozing from Adviser C'nnem, something was going on and it felt like a trap.
"Boy's stop meditating and come in to eat," called Ryoo.
"Okay, mom," Lanu said, staring out at the center of the lake.
"When did it start getting colder, mom?" Huwae asked, scrubbing his arms with his hands as he passed over the threshold.
"Colder," asked their great grandfather surprised,
"Boys, it's a balmy day. We were planning to go for a swim after we watched the second debate."
"I never thought I'd have the problem of trying to get you to boys to stop sitting still and quietly long enough to eat," chuckled Jobal, kissing her great grandson's heads. "Luke's been a good influence."
Ryoo was rubbing her hands up and down her arms now as well. "I hope you're right," she muttered to herself, fighting back the cold she, too, felt on what should have been a warm day.
"The very actions that are being lauded as courageous, this Jedi's," Adviser Peluch spat the title, "flamboyant attacks, and his unchecked and undisciplined destruction, compounded the weakness in your beloved Weeping Wall from it's initial attack leading directly to it's destruction and the charming tourist town that safeguarded it."
"Had we not been asked to stand down our ships by your own Queen, we could have sent troops in to destroy those attacking you without causing the devastation we all witnessed. Your day of mourning could have been a day of celebration!"
"We have the resources, discipline, and resolve to see that you are protected. Call for an end to this foolish vote now, and we shall see the end of this pointless destruction."
Tension rolled through the crowd. Some cheering was heard, but not much or too enthusiastic. Most of the crowd looked on in silence.
Luke took one last breath drawing on the Force to center himself before walking up to the podium.
The Queen stepped forward as he stood waiting for his introduction.
"My people," Queen Setalla began, "It is indeed most fitting that the representative speaking for the Alliance today is the one whose actions our esteemed Advisor C'nnem has maligned. I ask you hear him as you weigh the options set before our people."
"I guess I should start out by addressing Adviser C'nnem's charges. I can only say I acted in defense of life as directed by the Force. If there was another way to defeat the droids attacking and killing innocent people, I could not find it within the time constraints needed to protect those present."
Luke looked over the crowd a moment before saying, "Had I a chance to go back again, or I had to choose between saving that land form I wouldn't have. Not if it cost only a single life. My actions were in service to the Force and to the living. I only wish I could have saved all there."
"But for a moment, I wish to speak to you not as a Jedi, or a member of the Alliance, but as a farm boy from Tatooine."
"I had no idea Luke was such a fine speaker," Sola commented with a grin.
"Part of that has to be Pooja's help. They worked on that speech for hours," said Jobal.
"Our talented grandchildren," Ruwee agreed.
"So as a kid fresh from a moisture farm, to Commander in the Alliance, to a Jedi, I've found that it's when we each look in our own hearts, face our fears, and choose to do what's right that we become our best selves. That's not always a safe path, as General Solo both explained and demonstrated at the last presentation."
Luke stopped, a vision of Varykino and explosions flashed clearly and urgently before him. "No," he whispered.
He closed his eyes and reached out. 'Leia,' he sent to her. 'Try to reach Ryoo, Huwae, or Lanu. They need to hide. Something is coming.' Luke looked at the audience now shifting uneasily with his unexpected pause.
Luke forced himself to continue, "But to believe you'll be safe just because you are good little Imperial citizens? You won't have your farms sacked, and your family burned?" Luke shook his head. "My aunt and uncle lived their lives in obedience to Imperial authority. They were killed because they bought the wrong second hand droids from some Jawas. Jawas who, by the way, were killed for capturing the droids to sell in the first place."
"There were no pretty protections for them that Advisor C'nnem has outlined here. And there won't be for you. The Empire cannot be trusted. Like myself, the Alliance is not perfect, but our goal is not to control you, but work with you to see that things like what happened on that moisture farm a only a few years ago can never happen again." Luke's voice broke as he saw flames and smoke flowing out from his new family's home and saw dead burning on the broken stone boat docks.
Tears streaked down his cheeks as he added in a rasp. "Please, never again."
'Ryoo, please, hear me,' Leia tried once more. 'Ryoo, Huwae, Lanu, hide! Take everyone and hide."
Leia gripped Han's arm, hoping they would hear her. He looked down on her, worry clouding his face.
"You cannot reach them. You are not yet strong enough to do so from a distance this far," Obi Wan told her though he did not appear to her this time. "I will guide them to safety."
Leia sagged a bit against Han's arm. Once again Obi Wan was her only hope.
"Ryoo," a voice sounded in her mind. "I'm going crazy," Ryoo muttered as she pulled a throw around her shoulders.
"Mom, did you hear that?" Lanu said. "Someone's telling us to hide."
"Where?" Ryoo asked.
A shimmering form, indistinct but human in shape wavered before them. "Gather your family and hide in the underwater caves you were exploring with Luke," the voice instructed. "Go quickly! There is little time."
"Good," said Panaka, lowering his long distance viewers. "The supplies are here."
"Ryoo Naberrie, this is crazy," Sola said, helping her mother Jobal into the water. "Mother, I can't explain. I know we're in danger and the boys said there was plenty of room in the cavern just under this ridge. Just a dip under the edge and there is a cave where we should be hidden."
"How can you be sure?" asked Darred.
"Father, I,"
An explosion sounded in the distance, and a fireball rose just over the east ridge.
No more words were needed as the family dipped under the edge of the lake to the hidden cavern beneath.
"Lieutenant!" Panaka yelled into his comm.
Nothing but static answered back to him.
"Go now!" he order and raced toward the estate and the Naberrie family.
Several speeders and ships streaked up to the lakeside and landed. Masked troops of all species flooded out wearing armbands with the mark of the People's Protectorate.
"Destroy the traitors and their vile family! Make them pay for the danger they've brought to us all!"
"Call in for reinforcements," shouted Panaka. "Genten and Sartre, follow me. We have to evacuate the Naberrie family! Now!"
As the words left his mouth, several bombs screamed past the running guards and slammed into the side of the estate, sending chunks of stone tumbling into the lake.
"Shh. Shh," Sola cooed, rocking her crying grand daughter. "Julee we're safe here, but you must stay quiet love. Shh. Gramma has you."
"Who are you?" whispered Ryoo to the shimmering form floating near the underwater entrance to the cave.
"I am Obi Wan Kenobi. Or what's left of him."
"How is that possible? You're dead," she whispered, panic in her voice.
"I am, but it's possible for a Jedi to keep the essence of himself within the Force even beyond the loss of one's physical body. Though only a sentient who has opened one's mind and senses to the Force as you and your sons have could see or hear me."
"We're talking to a ghost?" whispered Lanu, his eyes wide.
"Yes, but I assure you that you are not the first. Luke and I chat quit often."
Blasts boomed overhead, each Naberrie crouched further in the cave. "Are they getting close to us?" whispered Huwae.
"I will warn you if you need to move, but for now you are safe. Stay put, and stay quiet."
"What is going on?" Sulle whispered, wading to his wife's side.
"The impossible."
"Burn it down!" screamed the attackers. Several more bombs were lobbed in the broken walls of the estate. Blasts blew windows out in fountains of flames and smoke billowed out to shroud the once pristine lake side in a poisonous dark.
"Yes, I said over 30 attackers," Panaka shouted over the noise into his communicator, "All biological soldiers with blasters and explosive launchers. They are determined to hurt the Naberries. We can't find them in the estate, but the attackers are spreading out. These slimes don't seem to have found the family either."
"Troops and ships are less than 10 minutes away. Capture as many as you can but use whatever force needed to protect your lives and that of the Naberries," the Queen's Guard Chief instructed.
As more explosions erupted from this paradise turned battleground a light, unseen by all around, began to swirl and grow brighter somewhere in the center of the lake.
"What is it?" Sully asked his wife Ryoo. "You're gripping my hand so hard I am losing sensation."
"He's becoming clearer. I can see him fully."
Obi Wan turned surprised from the wall he'd been staring toward a moment ago.
"This is too weird," whispered Huwae. Lanu nodded.
"Something strange is happening," Obi Wan said, pointing at the wall of rocky shore that shielded. "In that direction."
"A light?" whispered Lanu. "In the middle of the lake."
"I'm not sure. It almost feels like another's presence."
"Is it what's making you easier to see?" Ryoo asked.
"Luke said there could be concentrations of the light side of the Force if there were concentrations of the dark."
"Perhaps. I know I feel the Force flowing more strongly now, and it may something to do with that source of light. I wish I knew."
Noise. So much noise. Such a lovely dream. Interrupted. Love. Happiness. Something breaking it. Maybe should try to wake. Light nearby. Familiar. Maybe reach toward it. If I—
I.
Touch it. Maybe find the lovely dream again. Must reach before it goes away again.
"And what cost would he have us pay? Master Jedi Skywalker tells you of his aunt's and uncle's death due to purchasing second hand droids? But did he tell you that those droids were carrying vital intelligence stolen from the Empire?" Representative Sian Baemek said.
"My people, when you come in close contact with those who would attack the Imperial authority, you have much to lose. And his family? Was he there to see the attack?" A moment of silence passed.
"No, he claims to find their bodies after the fact. Could it be that they refused to answer the questions of the storm troopers? Did they hide what they did know? Is it possible this Jedi hides the fact that he sacrificed his family to take classified Imperial data to the Rebellion? Can we truly trust that he's not willing to sacrifice your families for his cause?"
"Your time is complete Repesenative Baemek," the Queen said, her voice calm. "Representative Naberrie, your rebuttal."
"I suppose I should argue that the intelligence he refers to was the battle plans for the first Death Star. Perhaps, I should point out that he was not there at that moisture farm any more than Luke when the Imperial troops arrived. His answer will be that I am lying to you or twisting the facts to shape the point of view I wish you to adopt. It is an argument neither of us can win."
"So instead I point to Luke. A simple farm boy, on that fact we can all agree. Leaving the authority and pushing past the boundaries set for him by our current system of government, he has become so much more. He has rediscovered the fire of the Jedi because he did not let fear of the Empire drive him into cowering and hiding. Princess Leia was meant to be crushed by the loss of her world, but she lives, loves, and fights for the principles of peace and democracy held dear by the people Alderaan. A smuggler looking only out for himself found in the Alliance his honor and a purpose he values more than profit and more than his own safety: Freedom. Not just for himself, but for us all!"
"I ask you my people; Who will you choose? For that may very well decided what will you become."
"The fighting is contained," Obi Wan said, turning away from the mysterious concentration of the Force still flowing but felt at the outer limits of what senses remained to his spirit form. It is safe for you to come out."
"He says it's safe to come out," Huwea repeated and began to wade toward the cave's underwater entryway.
"Wait," Sulle said, grasping his son's shoulder.
"I don't want to see what's happened up there, but we can't stay here forever," Ryoo said, her teeth chattering. "This water's getting colder. Night has to be falling." She sighed reluctantly and added.
"And I hear him. Obi Wan Kenobi if I'm not crazy. And I'm not promising I'm not. But he's telling us it's safe."
Everyone looked at each other, doubt and fear on their faces, but the followed Sulle as he dove under the opening. Ryoo followed directly behind. A few moment's later Ryoo popped back into the cave, and and waved for all of them to follow.
Fires burned in the twilight, some being fought by the security, others were loading up injured and dead. Tears flowed down Ryoo's face as she shepherded her boys ahead, a hand on each shoulder. Her husband, Sulle, his hand on her shoulder.
"I want Mama," cried Julee. "I'll bring you to her, love," Sola said holding the weeping child close to her wet chest. Ruwee and Jobal were walking up behind with Darred holding each of their hands to steady them.
A light flashed toward them and Panaka and several guards raced down to them, running into the water to assist the family.
"Thank the stars you're safe. When we couldn't find you after the attack began, we feared you were abducted or worse."
"We were able to hide before we could be attacked," said Sola, passing Julee to her mother. "What happened?"
"We captured a few members of the People's Protectorate, but most fled or were…" Panaka stopped himself, glancing at the children before he added, "neutralized."
"We have a transport nearby where you can change into dry garments, and then we will escort you to Theed. The Queen will have you under guard until the monsters behind this threat are stopped for good."
"Do you think anything is left in there?" Jobal asked, wiping at her eyes.
"We have troops pulling items from the stable areas of the house. What items we can salvage for you we will."
"Padme's dresses, Leia's wedding dress, her things. They were for them. Ruwee, I can't stand it."
"Love," he whispered so only she could hear. "We have the best tributes to our dear Padme's memory, and they'll be waiting for us at the Palace."
"If you'll come this way," Panaka said as he reached a cleared section of beach where a transport was parked and surrounded by a circle of armed guards.
Once the last Naberrie was on the transport, Obi Wan turned his attention to the light gently shining on the lake. "What is it?"
"Not sure, I am. Right perhaps, Luke is. A concentration of the light side of the Force it could be."
"It feels different," Another Jedi spirit materialized beside Yoda and Obi Wan.
"What do you think, Qui Gon?"
"I'm not sure, but I think we should investigate further as the Force allows," Qui Gon answered.
"Where's Anakin?" asked Obi Wan.
"You know where he is," Qui Gon answered. "He won't show himself to either of his children, but he cannot stay away from them."
"Perhaps we should have him look into this as well," mused Obi Wan.
"Interesting this mystery is, but vital is it?" Yoda asked.
"You may be right?" Obi Wan said with a sigh. "Dwelling in the Force and seeking it's knowledge of what's important is more necessary now."
The transport closed its hatch and took off with a humm of it's dual engines.
"I only wish I could have done better by Padme's family," Obi Wan said, his voice regretful.
Qui Gon laid his hand on Obi Wan's shoulder. It still amazed Obi Wan that he had a sense of touch in this strange place where the Force and the physical world met. It wasn't quite touch but the sensation of presences connecting. It seemed much like a Jedi's sense of the presence of another—a different, but welcome, kind of feeling.
"Padme would be grateful to you for saving her family. And this wouldn't be the first time you've protected those closest to her heart. You gave your physical self for her children, and did so in a way that even beyond death you could guide Luke and now Leia. Padme would tell you what an amazing friend you have been to her. Know this, Obi Wan."
Padme. Obi Wan. Friends. Luke. Leia. Luke! Leia! Obi Wan. Padme. The light. Fading. Noise dying. Fires going out, but names-names spoken. Heard names. Good names. Friend and family? Family? What?
Padme. A sense of happiness. A flash of light. Padme—the water lotus—that's what Padme means. Floats on the water like—like—I. Luke—light bringer like the warm sun in the sky. Leia—Heavenly flower in meadows. Beautiful happy meadows. Pretty names. Obi Wan—means—Friend?
Light fading. No! Come back! No. More names. Please.
Padme lotus floats . Dreams again. Favorite dream. Wise beautiful boy and brave lovely girl. Happy dreams.
"So I ask you to consider all you have heard here today, my people, as we adjourn until our next and final presentation and debate of this most urgent decision facing our world," the Queen concluded.
Everyone clapped politely for the queen and began to disband. The sense of unease was thick among the people.
When the Queen turned to see Luke and Leia, it was not tension on their faces, but carefully veiled terror.
The beads from her purple head dress clinked as she turned to the representatives. "Guards escort our guests to their transports."
The guards surrounding the Imperials filed out, their parties in tow but a guard raced up to the Queen a moment later. He spoke quietly, "My Queen there's been an attack. Varykino is no longer safe."
"No," she said, anger in her voice. She turned to see Luke fidgeting as he waited to be dismissed.
"Bring them to my chambers. They will be informed just as I am," the Queen ordered.
"Won't that give the appearance of favoritism, my Queen?"
"Perhaps, but the Alliance delegation was sheltered at Varykino. I would know if they saw anything that could have prevented this attack."
"As you wish, Queen Setalla," The guard answered with a short bow at the waist.
The guards led the Alliance delegation away from the transports and toward the palace.
"What's wrong?" whispered Pooja who had joined the Alliance delegation. "Why are we going back to the palace?"
"Luke?" Leia asked, her eyes bright.
"I don't know. I can't sense what's going on."
They turned from the open court yard into the palace.
"Tell me," Pooja demanded, her whisper barely audible.
"Vison," Like whispered. "Some sort of attack at Varykino."
"No," whispered Pooja. "No." She gripped Luke's arm as they strode swiftly with the guards to the queen's main audience chamber.
When they entered, they found the Queen pacing angrily.
Seeing the envoy's entry, she turned to face them her rage apparent even behind the mask of her royal facade.
"Thank you for escorting our emissaries and Representative Naberrie."
"You are dismissed," the queen directed the band of guards surrounding the distressed representatives.
"My Queen, what has happened? Pooja asked, seeing the open fear on Luke and Leia's face sent chills down her spine.
"First," the Queen said, visibly forcing herself to calm. "I wish to assure you Representative Naberrie that your family is unharmed and being escorted to the palace as we speak."
Luke let out a breath he'd been holding. Next to him Leia melted into Han's side, clinging to him as he hugged her close.
"What happened?" Pooja asked.
"Your family's home at Varykino was attacked by the People's Protectorate. The estate was destroyed and many guards were hurt. Five were killed."
"No!" gasped Pooja. Leia gripped Han's arm. Beside her Han, his jaw clenched, flushed red with anger.
"We have six of these detestable life forms coming into custody on a separate and secure shuttle. They will be remanded to the Theed justice system soon, and we will question them."
The Queen turned toward Luke. "I have offered Adviser C'nnem a chance to question these prisoners. Without assurances of loyalty, he refused to assist in our investigation."
"We offer the same opportunity to you, the Alliance delegation, but we make no promise of allegiance with you. Our people will determine our loyalty by their votes as is our tradition."
"I would be grateful for the chance to participate in the questioning," Luke said, his voice rough.
"As will we all," Leia agreed.
"Excellent, we will inform you when we are ready for your assistance."
The Queen nodded and and a handmaid and guard strode forward.
"These will guide you to your secure quarters. We hope that you will not mind sharing your accommodations with the Nabberries once more. We sought to provide you shelter that was secure and private, and, unfortunately, there are few such sections of the palace."
"We are grateful for your concern," Leia said, nodding toward the queen.
Han and Luke bowed to the queen. Leia nodded as Pooja curtsied. The Queen nodded in return.
Turning, Pooja and her allies trailed their escorts to their new palace lodgings.
Only once they exited, and the door closed, did the Queen drop heavily to her throne. A single tear tracked down her cheek as she lowered her head.
Leia paced back and forth in front of the doors to their new chambers.
Pooja, with Luke beside her, stared out the window.
"You knew something was happening?" Pooja asked.
"I saw a vision as I began to speak. It seemed imminent—like it was happening or would happen so soon I knew there was no way I could stop it. There was nothing I could do but keep speaking." Luke sighed sadly.
Lowering his head and crossing his arms, Luke rasped, "The whole time I was talking about losing Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru I was afraid I was losing my newest family, and I was just as powerless to do anything about it."
"Luke," Pooja said, and wrapped him in a hug. "I'm sorry."
For a few moments, the cousins comforted each other.
"Pooja," cried Sola, as she raced into the room followed by her husband Darred.
"Luke! Leia! Han!" called Jobal as she and Ruwee rushed to embrace Leia and Han.
Sola gathered Luke and Pooja into her arms, and both hugged back with equal fierceness.
"Luke, you won't believe what we saw," said Lanu who had raced up to his cousin, his brother Huwae beside him.
"Wait on that a minute," directed Ryoo who walked up with her husband Sulle, her daughter, Julee, sleeping in her arms. She nodded back to the guards at the doors.
"Panaka," Ryoo greeted, as the head of her family's security detail approached. He passed Luke a silver sphere. "A gift from the Queen. Should you need to discuss anything of an especially sensitive nature."
Luke nodded his thanks. "I appreciate your protection of the Naberries. I never would have forgiven myself had they been injured because of the mission we are conducting here."
Ryoo took his hand. "Thank you for delivering my family safely back to me."
He nodded and squeezed her hand before releasing it. "I only wish I could do more."
With that, he turned and led the guards out the doors, securing them and fortifying their quarters with palace guards and staff.
Luke held the sphere in his hand. "There is a sitting room just off this entry hall. We can talk more freely in there."
"We'll be back soon, Artoo," Luke said. "I know this," Luke said, holding a silver sphere out in front of Artoo's sensor, "makes you uncomfortable, so we'll get you when we no longer need it."
Artoo beeped plaintively.
"We won't be long," he promised, resting his hand on a silver dome. "Stay on watch for trouble?" he asked.
Aroo beeped a yes trill with much more enthusiasm.
Shutting the door behind him with a click, Luke turned to find his family all gathered in the chairs of the sitting room.
Dropping the sphere in the closed off sitting room, Luke turned to sit as well as the privacy shield flared to life and soon enveloped the room.
At the questioning looks from all around Luke explained. "A gift from the Queen. That device keeps what is said within this room from security feeds and other tech means of surveillance. We can talk freely now."
"We saw Obi Wan Kenobi," Huwae burst out excitedly. "He warned us to take the family and hide in those lakeside caverns we found a few days ago."
Leia took a deep breath grateful to Obi Wan for keeping his word to her.
"You've had next to no training," Luke said, shaking his head. "Basic meditation. I'm grateful you could hear him, but I'm also surprised."
"How much training did you have when you first heard him?" asked Lanu.
Luke chuckled ruefully. "Not much more than you. I was just introduced to it after Ben," At the questioning looks he received, Luke added. "Obi Wan died on the first Death Star, helping us get away."
"And you talk often?" Ryoo asked, rubbing her hands up and down on her arms as though cold.
"From time to time. Usually when he wants to say something cryptic and unhelpful. But occasionally, he really comes through for me," Luke said, motioning to everyone in the room.
"It was weird," explained Lanu. "At first he was fuzzy and unclear. But something happened. And we could see him as clearly as a holo projection."
"Even Obi Wan thought it might have something to do with that light on the lake. Whatever it was," Ryoo said.
"Light on the lake?" asked Jobal.
"Something. I'm not sure what it is. Maybe a concentration of the light side of the Force?" Luke theorized. "There are places where that happened with the dark side, so I don't see why it can't happen with the light."
"He said something about investigating it," Lanu informed Luke.
"Ryoo, Love, what's wrong?" Sulle said, placing a throw around his wife's shoulders.
"You've been saying you're cold since early this morning?"
"Are you having chills? Jobal said, worry in her eyes. "Do you need to go to the medical bay?"
"You're afraid," Luke stated.
"Of course I am," Ryoo said. "We were attacked."
"No," Luke explained. "You've opened yourself to the Force. Sometimes when a Force sensitive feels fear they have a feeling of cold. It's different than other cold."
"It goes deeper?" Ryoo asked.
Luke nodded. "Later, I'll help you with it, Ryoo."
"When you do, teach me what you can to help me protect my family," Ryoo said, her eyes hard, her mouth a grim line.
"I will help you any way I can. All of you." Luke added, looking around at everyone in the room. "I hope you know that."
"Of course we do, Son," said Ruwee.
Luke and Han were standing in front of a chamber, a wide video monitor showing a group of surly captives all manacled to their chairs. "We're glad you're here," said a man in a Noobian security uniform. "We are hoping your experience, gentlemen, and your abilities, Master Jedi, might help us find out the source of these attacks."
"What information have they given you so far?" asked Luke.
"Nothing, Master Jedi. We can show you the recording of our previous questioning if you would like?"
Luke looked to Han who nodded. "It can't hurt to review it."
Together they followed the lead investigator to a holo pad, and a very uninformative interview session. Luke was splitting his focus between the questioners, and reaching out to the Force, seeking knowledge. Luke's eyes drifted from captive to captive seeing nothing other than defiance in their stance and their responses to the Theed security forces. Seeing and, more importantly, sensing nothing Luke turned to Han. "Any tells you recognize, Han?"
"No," Han answered, scanning the last few scenes playing out before them. "These don't seem like the garden variety thugs I've been around. They seem to more like the crazier Alliance guys we get. You know, the political idealist kind."
"Yeah," Luke said sadly as he saw the screen go blank. "The ones that know what they know and go nuts when things aren't exactly as they expect it to be or are more complex than a simple good or bad evaluation."
"If you'd like, you may question them. Perhaps you can think of a different approach or come up with some different questions."
"We can try," Luke agreed.
A few of the captives jumped as the door slid open. Several eyes widened as they saw General Solo and Luke Skywalker walk in with the guards.
"I don't know what you expect bringing those off-world trouble makers in here will do, but I guarantee you that it will only strengthen our resolve to give you nothing which you desire."
"Did you know you were going to hurt innocents?" asked Luke, forcing himself to remain calm.
"By supporting this dangerous affront to our world's safety and favored status among the Empire, they lost any claim of innocence. All were corrupted, and all had to be destroyed," spat the self-appointed leader of this group of captives.
"Even the children," asked Luke. "A two year old girl and two boys not yet 14 years old."
"A message had to be sent," screeched a female, a crazed look in her eyes. "Their actions will lead to the destruction of our families. And they were indoctrinating those children with these dangerous ideas. They would either die, or be taught the price for their aunt's treason so soundly, their rebellion would be ripped from them."
Luke fumed at these fools. How could any reasonable…? But they weren't reasonable. Looking around, Luke realized that these were truly weak minded people, and they were dangerous. Whoever was informing them and guiding their actions , however, was the greater danger and had to be stopped.
"Your leaders must be wise to help you plan such a cunning attack," Luke said, waving his hand ever so slightly in front of the group.
Four of the six attackers began to nod and smile while two, the two quiet ones from the recordings, looked on warily.
"He's wiser than you'll ever be, you Rebel Scum," spat an alien species Luke didn't recognize.
"Shut up!" demanded one of the formerly quiet ones, panic in his eyes.
"He's," but his voice cut off as his jaw slammed shut. He yanked against his restraints and began to growl and groan out words he could not say as his jaw would not open. Luke's held his hand up slightly and pointed toward the protesting attacker.
"Guards. This man and his companion," Luke pointed to a female, curling back in fear. "Need to be escorted to a different room. These," Luke waved his other hand in front of the remaining captives. "Fine warriors were telling us about their wise leader, and I fear these two might interrupt our enlightenment to a wiser and safer path for the Naboo."
The man unable to speak continued to struggle and fight his restraints, his groans and growls increasing in volume.
"Take them," said a guard. Moments later the first man thrashed in the guard's hold as he was dragged toward the cell door. The woman stood with no prompting as her escort approached. She looked back to the fools, who brimming with pride at their leader, were about to betray them all. "We are released," she said, tears in her eyes.
A gasp rose from her companions as they all began to struggle in their seat. The man at the doorway jerked loose and tumbled to the floor still struggling.
"What?" shouted the Security Captain, rushing to the nearest prisoner.
Luke and Han raced to the others, searching frantically for the cause of the prisoner's torment.
Foam began to fall from the silent mouths of the alien in front of Luke a moment before the life form fell hard and limp to the table.
A moment later rivulets of red streamed from nostrils of a human female, her skin and lips a sickly blue. She collapsed a moment later.
A thud sounded beside Han as the guards lost their hold on the limp woman whose words preceded this horror, and she fell dead.
Several guards turned horrified gazes toward Luke and began backing away.
"I didn't do this," Luke said, looking toward the guards.
He turned to the Captain. "I did use the Force to keep the one man from being able to open his mouth to speak. And I was using a mind trick to influence the one's most likely to give us information, but I swear I didn't harm these captives."
The captain straightened. "Then you won't mind if we conduct medical examinations to seek a cause for this before you leave?"
"No, of course not," Luke said.
Han bristled, "I mind, but I understand."
"If you'll wait in the next room," the captain said as several guards loaded the now dead captives on floating gurneys and pushed them out. The door soon closed behind them and Han and Luke were left staring at each other and the empty room.
"Why do I get the feeling we are the captives now?" Han muttered, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms across his chest.
"Because we are. At least for now," Luke said, shaking his head. "I understand that they need to verify it wasn't anything Force related that led to the deaths of those sentients, but I don't like it either. He turned to look at the now empty room. Have you ever seen anything like that before."
"Yeah," Han said, his face grim. "Voice operated explosive chips can be put into agents. Seen it done in some of the more sophisticated crime syndicates I smuggled for. This looks more like some kind of poison though."
"Something that made them look as if they were being choked," Luke said with a grimace. "And she didn't say the words until I was there."
"Think they were trying to set you up?"
"It would be another thing they could point to as they said I couldn't be trusted—my deadly Jedi powers."
"They're going to find a the real reason this happened, Kid," Han assured.
"I know," Luke said with a sigh. "But will it matter? One fact will be agreed on by everyone. The captives here died because something cut off their airflow. The guards will present their findings, but I'm here with the guards. Those who don't trust us will assumed I killed these we captured here." Luke sighed, "They'll become martyrs to their cause, Han."
"I hate to admit it. But you're probably right. If the rest of their recruits are like the one's we've seen, to them, only their side can be trusted."
"And now they have another reason to hate us." Luke raked a hand through his hair.
A door hissed open.
"Master Jedi Skywalker and General Solo, we were able to find traces of a poison from the deep sea snakes. It swells tissues throughout the body causing pain and asphyxiation. We were able to find a portion of the metallic insert that released the poison in two of the agent's arms, but the rest of the prisoner's have only traces of the metal from the capsule in the bloodstream. It is ample enough evidence to show that their deaths were engineered to occur if any were about to betray their secrets." The Captain shook his head. "Just when we were close to getting answers."
"I'm sorry I didn't think to silence her as well," Luke said, still staring into the now empty interrogation chamber. "I didn't expect such a tactic. I should have."
"The devices were well hidden. They didn't show up on our initial scan of them after their arrest. We will circulate as much of our findings as the Queen will allow to ensure you are not blamed."
"We appreciate this," Luke said. "I only hope you are believed."
"I hope so as well," said the captain as he lead Luke and Han from the inspector's office.
"Ruined," whispered Jobal, "Completely ruined."
Leia looked away from scanning the hanger bay to Sola and Pooja who dug through the boxes of items recovered from the remains of the Varykino estate. In her grandmother's hands was a tattered green length of cloth that had once been her wedding dress.
"It's just a dress," Leia said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, while still scanning the hanger. Something about this bay made her nervous. That was odd as well because this was not the bay where she was attacked after her landing. "I loved that you made it for me, but it can be replaced."
"There's the last in tact dress," Pooja announced. She lay the gauzy golden dress that faded into purple down over two other gowns that survived the explosion. Burnt and torn fabric remnants lay in another pile. "Three," Pooja said sadly. "Three. Your and Han's Luggage wasn't harmed. Luke's was completely destroyed."
"At least Padme's jewels are safe and some of her her head wear," Sola said, stroking the smaller of the trunks.
"And we have copies of the holo images for the framed pictures that were destroyed."
"I had it shipped over to be protected," scowled Pooja. "It was for y-" she stopped, a guilty glance at Leia. "Years we've known her things were all we've had left of her."
Leia nodded, grateful for the quick cover for what Leia knew would have hinted at her true relationship to their former queen in the hearing of the nearby security guards.
"There is enough of some of these garments that I think something new could be crafted from them once they are cleaned."
Leia ran her fingers over a long strip of blue fabric of the dress she wore only a day before.-day so happy and carefree it seemed a lifetime ago.
"That would be great," Leia said softly.
The humm of a transport's approach drew everyone's attention away from this salvage mission.
"Guard?" asked Pooja.
"It is Master Jedi Skywalker and General Solo."
"Something's wrong," Leia said as she gazed at the approaching craft. "Something happened."
"What is it?" Jobal asked worriedly.
"I don't know," Leia said. "Luke is upset."
The silver transport turned slowly and lowered smoothly onto the lit pad with a clink of the delicate landing stands. The hatch lowered and Luke and Han departed, a few guards following closely behind.
Leia and the others rushed up to meet them.
"What happened?" Leia asked.
"The moment we stared getting somewhere with our questioning, one of the prisoners used a voice activation code to activate a poison release device implanted in each of them," Han explained.
"How horrible," said Jobal. "Have we truly come to this?"
"I have to believe these are the few, not the majority of us, Gram,' Pooja said, taking her Grandmother's hand.
"We might as well head back to the apartments. There isn't much more we can do now, but prepare for the third debate a few days from now."
Leia nodded.
"The items in the stack to the left are to be kept and, where necessary, cleaned and sent to our quarters," Pooja instructed the guards. "The stack to the right can be discarded."
The guards nodded, and a few moved to begin while the others formed up as an escort. The Naberries, Luke, Leia, and Han walked back into the palace.
"Luke," Leia stopped.
Luke paused and turned to his sister. Their guard and the rest of their company stopped as well.
"Yes?" Luke asked.
"I want to take a short walk. Alone," she added, as Han approached.
"Princess Leia, we mean no disrespect, but we are charged with your safety. It would be ill advised."
"I won't go far," explained Leia. "I wish to go there."
Luke followed her hand to see her destination and nodded.
"Perhaps if you wait here," Luke said calmly. "I think she only wishes to see your Hall of Regents once more. I can't blame her. It truly is a wonder."
"I need a bit of beauty in this time of turmoil," Leia explained.
A guard passed Leia a communicator. "Call us if you need anything. And please don't go further than the Hall of Regents."
"Leia?" asked Sola, worry filled her eyes.
"I need a moment alone to clear my head. I need to see wise rulers who came before me."
"We understand," Luke said. "We'll be waiting for you."
Leia stood away from the others, two guards on either side as the rest of her family headed back to their rooms.
She nodded toward both of the guards and turned to the entrance.
"Princess?" One called.
"Yes?"
"We'll have guards at both ends of the hall."
"Thank you," she said. She held up the communicator. "I'll call if I need you."
They bowed and turned to guard the entry.
For a moment, she relaxed just a bit as she strolled down the passage. How long had it been since she'd been completely alone with her thoughts? She rubbed at her arms a bit. "Cold?" she wondered in a whisper. "Or afraid?"
She grimaced as she approached the only regent she was interested in seeing. Turning to face her mother's window, she looked up, a greater chill descending on her. "Definitely afraid," she decided. Leia wrapped her arms around herself.
"I don't know what to do, Mother," she thought as she looked up at the image of a woman she had never known.
"A Jedi saved the Naberries. Jedi saved me on the Death Star. Luke's Force powers gave him the ability to destroy the Death Star. But our fa-Leia balked at the very thought of the word but taking a breath forced herself to complete it, though only in her mind. "Father turned, but before he did, he did great things as a Jedi."
Leia continued to struggle within herself as she gazed up at the image of her mother, "What if I learned? Would I be good like Luke? Or would I fall liked he did? If having a Jedi's power helped me save Luke or my new family, or Han, or helped the Alliance, wouldn't it be worth it? Who am I supposed to be? A princess? A senator's daughter? A Jedi? I don't know what to do?"
Sun was setting over the city roofs, leaving only a sliver of light shining through through her mother's window—the concentration of light shining through her heart.
Leia reached up, her hand bathed in the shaft of light streaming down.
"I wish I could ask you," she whispered. "But I can't. The only person who might be able to help me know what I need to know is the very last person I would ever want to talk to," she thought her emotions roiling within her.
"I wish I could have known you," she said, sadly as the light faded.
Shoulders slumped, she turned, and headed back toward the end of the hall and her palace escort. She was grateful to be going back to family even though they had no more answers than she could find gazing in her mother's window.
"Anakin, stop pacing," Obi Wan advised from the shadowy corner of the hall where they observed Leia's departure unseen.
"I can barely stand it," he explained. "I hurt her so much. I don't blame her for not wanting anything to do with me, Master. I destroyed so many lives. I don't understand why the Force allows me to remain. I don't understand why, I, of all Jedi, am a part of the order left to advise those who follow if they cannot bear to hear my words."
"In time, all clear will be," Yoda said, appearing beside the other two. "Patient, we must be. And ready," he said, looking up at Anakin.
"You really believe she will call to me? That she will seek me out?"
"A part of the path of the Jedi it seems to be for the children of Skywalker, to face their Father. If seek you she does not, a Jedi she should not become. A shame, that would be. Powerful, she is, yes. But wise she is, in a way her brother is not."
At Anakin's look of surprise Yoda added. "A fine Jedi, Luke is. The right Jedi, he was for the time of crisis in the Force. The impossible he did, when guided you back to the light. But much promise in your daughter, I see. Much promise I have always seen, if realize it, she will."
"I hope only that she does what is best," Anakin said sadly.
"As do we all," Obi wan explained.
"Where is Qui Gon?" asked Obi Wan.
"Investigating the strange concentration of the Force on the lake at Varykino, he is," Yoda explained.
Beautiful girl-Leia-sad. Calls to. To. Mother? Leia?
"Well, hello," said Qui Gon as he appeared as though sitting on the water next to the swirling light most of the living would not see.
"Hello?" thought the light though muffled and hazy.
"I'm not sure how you managed to save so much of yourself since you are not a Jedi, but perhaps, I can help you feel a bit more yourself."
"Help?" the light swirled a moment at the word. "Help, Leia?" the voice seemed to whisper.
"Perhaps when I help you, we both can work to help her."
And with that Qui Gon dipped his hand into the swirling golden light.
