3

3

For the longest time, all he knew was darkness. He slept without dream, or care, but then he was attacked by a vision; it was the most terrible vision he had ever encountered in his life. It was a world that he had never been on before, all Luke knew was Tatooine, but somehow this planet seemed familiar. The people were going about their normal activities, when they saw a green streak in the sky. People began to run and scream, but it would do them no good, and ten seconds later, when the beam made contact, the world came apart, bursting into a million pieces.

Luke came awake with a scream.

"Problem, Sir?" The medical droid that stood by the side of his bed asked.

"Problem? No just a terrible dream." He sat up in his bed. He was still in the medical center. The droid just looked at him. "Can I help sir?"

"No, thank you, I'm fine," Luke said. "Where are we?"

"Just orbiting what is left of Alderaan."

"What's left? What do you mean 'what's left of Alderaan?' "

"Alderaan was destroyed, sir, by the Death Star."

"Destroyed? But why?"

"We searched the droid that was found on Tatooine and found that the Death Star Plans were not in its memory banks." A deep voice over by the doorway said. It was Vader. He moved into the infirmary. "The Princess of Alderaan had hidden the plans in a droid that she sent down to the planet. Do you know anything about this, son?"

"Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. And you're not my Father no matter what you say!!"

"Fine. The Princess will be joining us on our journey to Naboo. It seems that the Emperor is staying at his summer home on that planet. He wishes to deal with her himself. The Death Star is moving on to Dantooine; she told us the rebels might be there. You may have your droid back if you wish. He is useless to us."

Threepio walked in through the door. "Master Luke, how glad I am that you're alright."

"I'm glad to see you too, Threepio."

They also carried in an unconscious girl and laid her on one of the beds. Luke recognized her right away.

"She's the Princess, right?" He asked pointedly.

"You have seen her before?" Vader asked.

"Lucky guess…."

"I will leave you now in the care of the medical droid. Do not give him any reason to sedate you again."

"Yes…Sir," Luke said.

Vader was gone then. Threepio walked over and looked at the sleeping Princess. "The shock must have caused her to collapse. Princess Leia, you poor, poor dear."

"Leia? Is that her name?" Luke asked.

"Yes, master Luke. She was the one who gave the plans to…"

"Shhh…" Luke cut him off. "We don't want to give them anything to work with."

"Yes, of course, sir. I am very sorry."

"Don't worry about it, Threepio."

"Who might I ask are you?" A voice said from behind Threepio. The Princess was sitting upright on the bed. Luke blushed, not knowing what he should say to her, but Threepio jumped right in. "Oh Princess, how glad I am to see you're okay!"

"Thank you, Threepio. Who's your friend?"

"Oh, this is Master Luke. He was our master down on the planet of Tatooine."

"Hi, I recognized you from the message you put on the other one."

"The message?" She said. "You saw the message?"

"Part of it." Luke said. "The part where you ask for Obi-Wan Kenobi's help, that was it."

"Where is the other one now?" She said.

"I have no Idea, but one thing's for sure, they don't have it."

"Good, then we must hope that he completes his mission."

"What is his mission, might I ask?"

"To destroy the planet destroyer…."

Obi-Wan sat in the cabin of the Millennium Falcon. They had made the jump to Hyper Space, and now they just had to wait. Owen paced nervously across the cabin, while Artoo and Beru played chess against the Wookie Co-Pilot named Chewbacca. Artoo was winning, which seemed to upset the large fuzzy creature.

"It's not wise to upset a Wookie," Han said as he came in and sat down. "Wookies are known for their ferocity, and don't lose easily. They've been known to pull people's arms outta their sockets."

"How terrible." Beru said. "Shall we call it a draw?"

"Sounds like a good idea," Owen said as he passed by.

"Will you relax, Owen?" Obi-Wan said as Owen came close. "Once we get to Alderaan, Bail will help us get this all figured out."

"How can you be so calm? That boy is like a son to us."

"I am a Jedi; I exude calm, even if I am not in fact calm."

He got up intending to go check on the new chess game that was starting, but suddenly he fell back into his chair, and held his head in his hands.

"What is it?" Beru said as she jumped to her feet. Owen was by Obi-Wan side in moments. Han watched; somewhat interested himself.

"Something terrible has happened." Obi-Wan said. "It was as if thousands of voices sudden, and then were suddenly silenced."

"What do you think it was?" Han asked nonchalantly.

"I don't know, but it was terrible. I hope Luke wasn't anywhere near it. I hope he's alright."

"Well we'll be at Alderaan in less than an hour. Then maybe we'll know something." Han said.

"I hope you're right." Obi-Wan sat back in his chair and waited, there was nothing else he could do.

Luke sat on his bed and listened intently to all of Leia's stories. She told him of the senate and of Alderaan, and even what she knew of the Emperor. "You've met him?"

"I am a Senator. He's not at every Senate meeting, but he does come to some."

"That sounds really exiting. Is he really as scary as everyone says he is?"

"He's pretty creepy, as all dictators are. So what's your connection to Vader?"

"My connection to Vader? I guess he's my father…"

"Your father?" Leia didn't know how to respond to that. Her greatest enemy, the man who had tortured her, was this boy's father. He could read the expression on her face. "It's not my fault," he said, "He kidnapped me from my Aunt and Uncle on Tatooine, and now he's planning to hide me on Naboo. I would rather have nothing to do with him. Anyway, if anyone should be angry, it should be me. It was you who sent those Droids down to Tatooine. You led him right to me. I never wanted this…My Aunt always said my father was a good man…"

"Maybe he was, once." She said.

"Thanks for understanding."

"I can forgive you, not him though."

"I understand." He said. "I hope you escape. I hope the Rebels come and save you before you're executed….You don't deserve that."

"Thank you, Luke, but we all must face our own fates. I wish you well, Luke."

"And I you, Leia." He reached over and hugged her.

An announcement came on over the com. "Now approaching Naboo."

"He'll be coming back soon." Leia said. "Do not fear…You he will not harm I'm sure."

"I'll protect you then." Luke said.

"That might not be a very good Idea, Luke."

Vader came through the door just then. "Come, Luke." He instructed. Luke just glared at him for a moment, but then he felt Leia's hand on his shoulder. "Go." She said. He got up and followed Vader. Leia was brought behind them, but she was guarded by four soldiers. They all boarded a shuttle and were soon bound for Naboo.

The Millennium Falcon came out of Hyper Space into what appeared to be an asteroid field.

"Isn't this where Alderaan's supposed to be?" Owen questioned.

"That's what the map says," Han said, "But it isn't here! Where could it be?"

"Destroyed," Obi-Wan said, "by the Empire."

"It's not possible. It would take thousands of ships and firepower like you wouldn't believe." Han said.

"Believe me," said Obi-Wan, "the Empire is responsible for this."

"Well then, there goes the plan…Now what about my money?"

"A planet has been destroyed here, and all you can think about is money?"

"Well, a man's gotta eat."

"So what do we do now?" Beru asked.

"We find the Rebels." Obi-Wan said.

"Now wait just a moment there, Grandpa, we are not traipsing across the galaxy looking for some rejects that we might not even find. Beside, you still haven't addressed the issue of my money."

"Your money is not important." Obi-Wan said. "I think it's time you all see what it is Artoo is carrying."

As Obi-Wan revealed to them the plans, they all stared in wonder.

"What is it?" Beru asked.

"A station with enough power to destroy an entire planet. Still think your money is important, Han?"

"Important, yes, but not as important as this, I think. Where to, old man?"

"To Couruscant, I know someone there who may be able to help."