Chapter 73

Luke could not help but notice how quiet his mother was on the way back to the Executor. He sensed that her conversation with the viceroy had been a heated one, that it had reopened old wounds. He looked over at her as he piloted the shuttle.

"So how did it go with the viceroy?" he asked.

Padmé looked at her son. "I'm not sure," she replied. "I had planned to speak to him senator to senator, to use logic and reason to get him to see our point of view. But I'm afraid it didn't quite turn out that way."

"Does that surprise you, Mom?" Luke asked.

Padmé sighed. "I suppose it shouldn't," she replied. "It's not exactly easy to remain detached when talking about one's family."

Luke smiled. "No, I know what you mean," he said. "Speaking of which, I wonder how things went between Leia and Dad. What did you say to them to get them to start talking again?"

"I simply pointed out to each of them how stubborn and unfair they were being," she replied, a trace of a smile on her lips. "They are so much alike it's frightening."

Luke laughed. "Yeah, I know what you mean," he said. "I guess we'll find out soon enough," he added. "I'm going to contact the Executor to request they lower their shields."

Padmé nodded her understanding, and watched as her son piloted the shuttle effortlessly into the massive hangar bay. He's more like his father than he knows, she reflected.

Anakin and his daughter had spent the better part of an hour talking, arguing, and hashing out all their differences. And at the end, they had reconciled. Anakin had promised, again, to give Han Solo a fair chance, and Leia had promised not to act in a manner that was inappropriate for a young woman of her station. She also vowed to trust her father's judgment more, as Anakin had promised to trust hers. Both were satisfied at the end, and both were relieved, for the rift between them had upset them both equally.

Anakin and Leia were sitting in the refectory having lunch when Han Solo entered the large room. He looked around briefly, and, seeing Leia, smiled and began to make his way towards her. However when he noticed that she was with her father, he hesitated. Don't let him intimidate you, Solo, he told himself, screwing up his courage. Do it for her…do it for Leia.

"Mind if I join you?" Han asked as he reached the table where Anakin and Leia were seated.

Leia looked up and smiled at him. "Of course not," she replied. "Please sit down."

Anakin watched the young man as he took a seat beside Leia. Keep your mouth closed, Skywalker, he told himself, forcing himself not to let Han's presence get to him. You promised to be fair.

"How are the ribs?" Anakin asked, surprising all three of them with his question.

"Good," Han replied at once. "Yeah, they're good, thanks. The medical droids were really great."

Anakin nodded. "How did that happen?" he asked.

"Bossk and his pals were a little less than gentle," Han replied wryly.

"From what I know about Bossk, you were lucky to remain alive long enough to get to Tatooine," Anakin stated. "Particularly your wookiee friend."

"You've had dealings with Bossk, Dad?" Leia asked, thrilled that the two men she loved the most were actually having a civil conversation.

"Yes," Anakin replied. "The Trandoshans are a ruthless, brutal race."

"I'd have to agree with you there," Han replied. "Sort of like the Hutts."

"Ah yes, the Hutts," Anakin replied. "Charming aren't they?" he asked bitterly.

Han nodded. "How do you know them?"

Anakin hesitated before replying. "I was a slave when I was a child," he said at last. "My mother and I were…owned by Gardulla the Hutt, the wife of Jabba."

"You were a slave?" Han asked in surprise.

Anakin nodded. "Yes I was," he replied.

"I guess you and Chewie have something in common then," Han replied. "He was a slave too."

"Many wookiees were," Leia put in. "That's how you and he met, isn't it? Didn't you help him gain his freedom?"

"Yeah," Han replied. "I kind of have a problem with slavery," he added sourly.

Anakin nodded, feeling a measure of respect for the young man. "How did you free him?" he asked.

Han shuffled in his seat, feeling somewhat uneasy under Anakin's scrutiny. "I was with the Imperial navy for a short time, believe it or not," he began. "About five years as a matter of fact, first at the academy on Carida, and then on active service."

"I did not know that," Anakin replied, surprised that the young man had ever demonstrated enough discipline for active service.

"Well, it was a short lived career," Han replied. "I refused to follow a direct order, and was dishonorably discharged."

Anakin frowned. "What order was that?" he asked.

"I was part of a scheduled rendezvous with a slaving vessel," Han explained. "I lead a squadron and boarded the ship which had been damaged. Chewie was on board. He'd released the Wookiee children that were to be sold," he continued, "and was barely conscious when I found him. My commander ordered me to skin Chewie, but I refused. I knew it was insubordination, but I didn't care. I guess that makes me a bad soldier, but some things are more important than following orders."

"So that is why he owes you a life debt," Anakin replied.

"Yeah, crazy eh?" Han said with a self deprecating smile. "I haven't been able to get rid of him ever since."

Anakin couldn't help but laugh at this comment.

"Seems you are a man of honor, Solo," Anakin said at last. "I respect that in a man."

Han could barely believe his ears. "Thanks," he said. "That means a lot coming from you, sir."

Anakin nodded, beginning to see that there was indeed more to this man than he realized. Just as Leia said there was, he reflected.

"I need to get to the bridge," Anakin said, standing up. "Enjoy your meal," he added, and then walked away.

Leia watched him leave and then turned back to Han. "Wow," she said. "That was rather unexpected."

Han nodded. "Yeah," he replied. "I had no idea your dad had been a slave. Sort of gives me a whole different perspective on him."

"And him on you," Leia pointed out, "knowing that you were responsible for freeing Chewie. I could tell that impressed him tremendously."

"We'll see, sweetheart," Han replied. "I'm not getting my hopes up just yet."

Anakin made his way to the bridge. He felt a great sense of relief at having made peace with his daughter. Thanks to you, my angel, he reflected. I'll have to be sure to show you my gratitude later.

Arriving at the bridge, Anakin was expecting to find Padmé there; but she was not there. He realized suddenly that he had not seen her since she had insisted that he and Leia iron out their differences earlier. I wonder where she is…she must be with Luke, he reasoned, since he hadn't seen his son in the last several hours either.

Walking over to one of the computer consoles, he asked the ship's scanners to locate Luke and Padmé, and was alarmed when he was informed that they were not on board the vessel.

"Something wrong, sir?" Lieutenant Keller asked, stepping up to Anakin.

Anakin looked at the young officer with a frown. "When did my wife and son leave the ship?" he asked.

Keller was surprised by the questions. "I'm afraid I don't know, sir," he replied. "I've only been on duty a few minutes," he explained. "But I can try to find out, sir."

"Please do so," Anakin replied. He had an uneasy feeling not knowing where Padmé was. He focused his mind on her, and soon sensed her presence. She was close by and getting closer. Luke was definitely with her, and they were….

"Sir, Shuttle Meridian requesting permission to board."

Anakin nodded, relief filling him. "Bring them aboard." He then turned and left the bridge, heading for the hangar bay.

The shuttle door was just opening when Anakin arrived at the hangar bay. As soon as he saw Padmé, he knew that something was wrong. Despite the smile she gave him when their eyes met, he could sense that she was upset.

"Where were you?" He asked. "Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?"

"We went to the command ship," Luke told his father.

"I figured as much," Anakin replied.

"I needed to see Bail alone," Padmé told her husband. "There were some things I needed to say to him privately."

Anakin frowned. "What things?"

"Can we go somewhere and talk about this?" Padmé asked. "This is hardly the place for a private conversation."

"Of course," Anakin responded. "Let's go."

"So things are okay with you and Leia?" Luke asked his father as the three of them walked through the ship.

Anakin nodded. "Yes, they are fine now," he replied. "Your mother put us in our place," he added, looking at Padmé with a smile.

Luke smiled too. "She's pretty good at that I've noticed," he remarked.

Anakin was intrigued by his son's comment.

"Yes she is," he replied at last.

"Where is Leia now?" Luke asked.

"I left her with Solo in the refectory," Anakin replied. "They're probably still there, it wasn't that long ago."

"Refectory?" Luke asked. "Great, I could use something to eat myself. I'll catch up with you both later."

"Thank you again, Luke," Padmé said, kissing her son on the cheek.

"Any time, Mom," Luke replied, and then left his parents.

"So what happened on the command ship that has you so upset?" Anakin asked his wife as they entered their quarters. "Your conversation with Organa didn't go well, did it?"

Padmé sighed as she sat down. "I don't know," she admitted. "It's very hard to say where his mind is."

Anakin nodded. "So what happened? What did he say?"

"Well, he began by reminding me of all the atrocities Darth Vader committed."

"Not surprising," Anakin replied.

"No, but I pointed out how Vader had prevented the destruction of Alderaan," she replied. "And how Leia was saved by Vader at tremendous personal risk."

"Did that make any difference?" Anakin asked, not terribly hopeful that it had.

"It didn't at first," Padmé admitted. "He's very jealous because Leia and you are so close now. He had the audacity to tell me he felt resentful. Can you believe it?"

Anakin shook his head. "He is resentful??" he asked bitterly. "He is? After taking our daughter and never bothering to determine if you were alive all these years?"

Padmé could see how angry he was, and she was beginning to wonder if she'd made a mistake telling him what had transpired between her and Organa. Still, knowing Anakin, he would have sensed Bail's resentment eventually. It wasn't easy to hide anything from Anakin Skywalker.

"I pointed that out to him," she replied. "Actually my response to him was rather heated," she told him. "I tried to remain calm, but it was impossible. He just made me so angry, brought out so many emotions."

"I'm sure," Anakin replied. "I'm angry just hearing about it. So how did you leave things with him? Can we count on his support or not?"

"I wish I could tell you, Ani," Padmé replied. "But I got the feeling that he was rather shaken by my anger. Bail is a decent person. He won't make a decision of this magnitude based on spite or malice."

Anakin sighed deeply. "I hope not," he said.

"All we can do now is wait, Anakin," she said. "There's nothing else we can do at this point."

Anakin nodded. "Thank you, Angel," he said.

"What for?"

"For standing up for me the way you did," he replied. "It means a great deal to me that you did that."

Padmé smiled, and took his hand. "I believe in you, Anakin," she told him. "Of course I would stand up for you. I don't know if it made any difference, but I had to try."

"I know," he said, picking up her hand and kissing it. "And I love you for it. For the second time today I am grateful to you. I must think of something I can do to show you how grateful," he said with a smile.

Padmé raised her eyebrows. "Oh?" she said. "I have an idea or two."

"Is that so?" he asked with a smile. "Care to share them with me?"

Padmé smiled, and leaned over to him, whispering into his ear.

Anakin's smile widened as she did so. "You never cease so amaze me, you know that?" he asked, pulling her onto his lap.

"Good," she said, "That means you'll never get bored."

"Bored? With you in my life?" he asked, running a hand up and down her back. "Simply not possible, my love," he said, moving closer to kiss her. Their tender moment was interrupted, however, by the comm.

"Sir, the rebel command ship is signaling," a voice announced. "They wish to resume the treaty talks."

Anakin pulled back and looked at his wife. "Acknowledged," he said. "Looks like this will have to wait," he said to her with a smile.

"I will hold you to that," she replied.

Anakin grinned. "Oh, no worries there," he said as she stood up. "Come on; let's hope third time is the charm."