Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. I just created my own little AU sandbox to play in.
AN: Here's chapter 6! Sorry about the cliffhanger that I left you with last chapter, but it keeps you wanting more. So, without further ado, here's chapter 6! Enjoy and let me know what you think!
The Corellian Conflict: A Forever Destined Vignette
Part 6/?
Natalie screamed, as the blaster bolts came at them. Jayden moved his blade swiftly to intercept the attack. He blocked all three, absorbing two of them and sending the other harmlessly into the wall. Xizor chuckled.
"So, your father has taught you a few moves. It will still be no match for me, child," Xizor sneered.
"We'll see, you slimy green freak," Jayden spat. Xizor snarled.
"So, you want to sword fight, huh? That can be arranged," Xizor said, as he pulled a long, gleaming sword from the scabbard at his side.
"This blade is coated with a very special alloy found only on Falleen and it is able to withstand the heat of any light saber. Give me that disc and I'll let you and your little girlfriend leave unharmed," Xizor said.
"You're lying. You need us dead, because we know the truth. But you're not sure you can defeat me, so you're trying to get me to let my guard down. Well, it's not going to work," Jayden snapped. Xizor barred his teeth angrily and then chuckled.
"I'm going to enjoy skewering you on my blade, you little brat. Because if you think I'm going to let a couple of stupid kids like you ruin me, then you have another thing coming," Xizor growled.
"Are you going to talk all day or are you going to show me what you've got?" Jayden taunted.
"Careful what you wish for," Xizor retorted, as he crouched into a fighting stance.
"Jayden…" Natalie whimpered.
"It's okay Nat," Jayden replied, as he ushered her off to the side with Artoo. Xizor chuckled.
"Your move kid. Let's see what you've got. It's time you show me just how much of your father's son you really are," Xizor taunted.
"A Jedi never initiates a fight. We're keepers of the peace," Jayden retorted, glaring at the Prince.
"Spoken like a true Jedi fool," Xizor growled, as he launched at the boy. His blade crashed down on Jayden's light saber. The boy struggled against the Falleen Prince's oppressive strength, but held strong. Artoo whirled worriedly, as the blades crashed together again and again.
"Artoo, you need to get Jayden's dad," Natalie said. Artoo chirped in agreement and she read the translator.
"He's coming? Are you sure?" she asked. Artoo chirped affirmatively, as he spit the disc out at her.
"You made a copy?" she asked. He chirped yes again, as he started rolling toward the exit. But his plan caught Xizor's eye and the evil Prince raised his blaster, frying the control console. The blast doors slammed shut, trapping them inside the landing bay.
"None of you are leaving here alive!" Xizor spat, as he continued his vicious onslaught against the youngest Skywalker.
~*~
"Well, at least it looks like Bel has calmed down a little," Padme mentioned, as they watched him boast about the new Corellian Elite Officers that would be piloting the first batch of stealth fighters..
"Yeah, for now. Tomorrow's not looking in our favor though, even if we do manage to tear apart Xizor's witnesses on the stand," Anakin replied.
"But we can still have hope," she added. He smiled and caressed her cheek.
"We always have hope. And of course, we always have our love," he replied, as he kissed her tenderly. Suddenly, he felt a very big disturbance in the Force and Jayden was surrounded by it. Padme saw her husband's stricken face and immediately knew something was going on.
"What is it?" she asked.
"It's Jayden…he's in trouble," Anakin said.
"Can you tell where he is?" she asked, panic creeping into her voice. Anakin only nodded.
"Stay here," he said.
"Absolutely not. I'm coming with you," she stated.
"Angel…" he started to argue.
"He's my baby too Ani, now let's go," Padme demanded. He knew arguing with her was pointless, so he took her hand and jogged toward the lift. Luke met them, having heard his father's call through their Master/Padawan bond. Their daughter's would be safe here until they returned. They boarded the lift and Anakin chose the landing bay as their destination.
~*~
"You're not old enough to drink that you know," Leia told Han, as she approached him at the bar. Kimberly and Jenna were with her.
"And who are you? The liquor police?" he retorted sarcastically. Leia fumed. This boy was so infuriating!
"Maybe I am!" she retorted back.
"Well, I got more important things to do than to hang out with a bunch of girls," Han said, as he stood up. He had to make nice with Bel Iblis, whether he wanted to or not. Leia felt Jenna tug her arm.
"Leia! Leia!" she called.
"What Jenna?" Leia asked in irritation.
"Jayden's in trouble!" she announced. Leia looked at her seriously.
"Are you sure?" she asked. Jenna nodded with a frown.
"How does she know that?" Han asked.
"The Force…and they're twins. She's right though. Daddy and Luke went to find him," Leia sensed.
"Mommy went too," Kimberly added.
"Natalie is with Jayden. We have to go!" Jenna called.
"Okay, but stay close to me. We don't want to get in Daddy's way," Leia said.
"Hey wait, it could be dangerous. You shouldn't go," Han protested.
"Well, if you're so worried, then why don't you come with us?" Leia questioned. Han scoffed.
"I ain't got time to baby sit you little girls," he retorted.
"Fine. Let's go," Leia told her sisters, as they headed for the lift. Han sighed in irritation.
"Wait up!" Han called.
"So, you're coming after all," Leia said victoriously.
"Only cause I'd hate to see your little sisters get splattered or something," Han joked.
"Ugh…you're such a scoundrel. Besides, our Daddy would never let anyone hurt us," Leia retorted.
"Yeah, well, I may be a scoundrel, but you're a pain in my ass," Han retorted back. Leia gasped in outrage.
"Well, then why are you even here, Nerfherder!" Leia yelled.
"Good question, your highnessness!" he yelled back. Kimberly and Jenna watched their exchange in bewilderment, as Han and Leia glared daggers at each other. Leia relented first.
"Hope you know how to use that blaster, laser brain," she mentioned, going back to casual badgering.
"Better than you I'm sure, Princess Bossy," Han retorted. Leia scoffed.
"I don't need a stupid blaster, especially an ordinary one. If I didn't have my light saber, I'd use one of my Daddy's special Sentry blasters," Leia boasted.
"Whatever. I'll take a blaster any day over a hokey religion and ancient weapons," Han spat.
"The Force is not a hokey religion," Leia snapped.
"Whatever sister…HEY!" Han cried, as Jenna pulled his blaster from his hand with the Force. The three girls giggled.
"Still think it's a hokey religion?" Leia challenged. Han didn't answer.
"Give it back!" Han demanded.
"Give it back Jenna," Leia said. Jenna floated it back to him and he holstered it, as the lift came to a stop.
~*~
Padme ran behind her husband, as he pulled her along. Her Sentry blaster was drawn, ready to fire on whatever or whoever was trying to hurt her son. They reached the landing bay's blast door and Anakin pressed his palm to the wall panel. But it would not open.
"Someone fried the control panel," Luke said.
"Then we'll have to melt our way through," Anakin said, as they raised their glowing blades and thrust them through the door.
~*~
Jayden evaded another of Xizor's thrust and their blades clashed again.
"I can't wait to see the look on your mother's face when I present her with your mangled corpse," Xizor sneered.
"You talk a lot, yet I'm still standing…and I'm winning this battle," Jayden taunted.
"Oh, you think so? We'll see, you rotten brat!" Xizor snarled, as he lunged at Jayden. But the young padawan back flipped away from him. He raised his hand and knocked the blade from Xizor's hand, disarming him. Xizor growled in disbelief and then lunged at Natalie. She screamed, as the Falleen picked her up and put his blaster to her head.
"Sorry, but you lose brat. Make this little rust bucket give me the disc or I'll blow her pretty little head off!" Xizor growled. Artoo whirled angrily and zapped Xizor with a plasma ray. He growled and kicked the droid, toppling him onto his side.
"Give me the disc now, you tin can!" he screamed.
"I'm not joking around kid. I will kill her unless you give me the damn disc!" Xizor screamed.
"He doesn't have it," Natalie sobbed.
"Give it to him Nat," Jayden pleaded.
"No," she refused, even as he pressed the barrel tighter against her head. Xizor picked it out of her pocket and then threw her to the ground. Jayden rushed to her side, as Xizor cackled evilly.
"My secret will be safe again once I eliminate the two of you!" Xizor yelled, as he raised his blaster. Jayden called on the Force and it exploded around him in the form a brilliant, silver shield.
"NOOO!" Xizor screamed in rage.
"Drop the blaster, Xizor!" Anakin demanded. Blinded by rage, Xizor fired on them, but Anakin absorbed his blaster bolts with his bare hand. He hauled Xizor off his feet and slammed him against the wall.
"Artoo…play the recording for Mom and Dad!" Jayden called, as Han, Leia, Jenna, and Kimberly arrived behind them. Artoo whirled and began to play the recording from the disc he had copied.
"It seems like you might pull this plan off after all, Prince Xizor," the Sith Lord said.
"Yes Master Tyrannus. Corellia will be successfully framed for the attack," Xizor replied.
"They must not find out that your associate self-destructed the ship on your orders. If they do, you're a dead man," the Sith Lord threatened.
"I assure you, they will not find out," Xizor insisted.
Anakin and Padme looked at each other in astonishment.
"It's not what you think!" Xizor lied. Anakin slammed him face down against the wall and took out a pair of stun cuffs.
"I think it's exactly what it looks like," Anakin replied.
"I demand that you release me now! That disc isn't proof of anything!" Xizor lied, but he cried out, as Anakin grabbed him by his ponytail and pulled his head back, before slamming his face into the wall, bloodying his nose.
"So, you didn't just try to kill my son and Natalie?" Anakin growled.
"Those brats had no business touching that disc! I was trying to reason with your brat and he attacked me!" Xizor lied. Artoo blew an electronic raspberry and played a recording of the battle, showing Xizor launching at Jayden after firing on him and Natalie. Anakin smirked.
"Guess Artoo tells a different story. I've waited a very long time to do this," Anakin said, as he cuffed Xizor.
"You can't do this!" Xizor protested.
"Oh I can. Prince Xizor, you are under arrest for conspiracy to commit treason against the Republic, conspiracy to the murders of forty of your own people, and the attempted murder of Jayden Skywalker and Natalie Organa. I'm sure our upcoming investigation that your arrest will warrant will add to these charges. It's fairly safe to say that you'll be going to prison for the rest of your miserable life," Anakin said.
"That's what you think, JedI," Xizor spat, as he caught sight of Han.
"You…this is your fault! You were supposed to destroy these discs, you little bastard!" Xizor screamed. Leia looked at Han in disbelief.
"Han, is this true?" Anakin asked. But Han didn't answer.
"Oh yes, I paid his mother to destroy my evidence, but her stupid brat messed it all up! You and your whore of a mother will pay for this!" Xizor screamed, as he struggled against Anakin. Han's heart pounded, as the Skywalker clan stared at him. He bolted out of the landing bay and sprinted toward the lift.
"Han…WAIT!" Leia called, as she went after him.
"I'll go," Luke told his father, as he followed, while Anakin dealt with Xizor.
"Release me now or mark my words, I'll make her pay for it when you least expect it!" Xizor yelled, as he indicated Padme. But Anakin kneed him in the gut.
"Threaten my wife and family again and you'll spend the night cuffed to a hospital bed, because you'll be breathing through a tube," Anakin growled, as he led him out of the landing bay. Padme kept the children behind and hugged both Jayden and Natalie tightly.
"Are you two okay?" she asked. They nodded.
"Okay. Let's go upstairs and wait for Daddy," Padme said, as she led the four children to the lift.
~*~
"Han…wait!" Leia called, as she ran after him.
"Beat it Princess. I ain't letting your Dad arrest my Mom!" Han yelled back.
"Han, my Dad won't if Xizor forced you and your mom to do it!" Leia explained.
"He didn't. He paid us to," Han replied, as he stopped running for a moment.
"Why? Why would you do that?" Leia asked in disbelief. Han snorted.
"Mom and I have to make a living. She didn't grow up with a silver spoon in her mouth like your Dad did. We're not fortunate enough to the have the luxury of living the high life like the Almighty Skywalker family," Han spat. Leia crossed her arms over her chest.
"So, that gives you the right to commit crimes?" Leia questioned.
"Don't judge me, Princess. Go back to your rich Mommy and Daddy," Han sneered, as he stepped onto the lift.
"Han…wait, my parents will help you and your mother," Leia pleaded.
"She's right, especially if you two agree to testify against him. We might even be able to convince our Dad that you deserve immunity. Our Mom can make it happen. She's a very powerful and influential Senator," Luke said. Han stopped and seemed to consider it for a moment.
"Nah…I think we'll take our chances as fugitives," Han refused, as the door on the lift closed.
"What are we going to do?" Leia asked her twin.
"They aren't going to escape. Dad already has their ship surrounded by Republic officers. They'll either make a deal and agree to testify or they'll go to prison," Luke said regrettably.
"But it's not Han's fault. He was just doing what his mom told him to do," Leia argued.
"Unless he tells the court that, he'll go down with her. We just have to hope they do the right thing and testify," Luke replied, as he patted her shoulder.
~*~
Holocams flashed and reporters swarmed around Anakin, firing questions a mile a minute, as the Jedi led Xizor to the detention block in cuffs.
"Master Skywalker…on what charges have you arrested Prince Xizor?"
"The charges against Prince Xizor are pending and will be presented in court tomorrow morning. I can't comment further at this time," Anakin answered curtly.
"The Jedi have no basis for this arrest! The charges are fabricated!" Xizor cried.
"Shut up," Anakin snapped, as the blast doors closed behind them and he tossed the Prince into a tiny cell.
"You won't get away with this, Skywalker," Xizor hissed.
"The Republic does not take treason lightly," Anakin retorted.
"I'll never make until morning. The Sith will have me killed before trial," Xizor told him.
"I've taken care of that," Anakin said, as two Jedi Knights entered the detention block.
"I'm glad you two were close by," Anakin greeted them. Whie Malreaux smirked.
"And we thought providing extra security for the Corellian consulate was going to be boring," Whie joked.
"Well, well, the green womp rat is finally where he belongs, I see," Scout taunted the Prince.
"Yes and I need to keep him alive. As muct as I would love for him to rot in Sith hell, I need him breathing for trial tomorrow. Once the case is dismissed against Captain Jennings, we can transfer slimy here to the Temple where he can safely await his own trial," Anakin said.
"This is outrageous! I demand you release me now on bond. I want an attorney!" Xizor demanded.
"The Jedi Council has already denied that request for you," Scout replied.
"They can't do that!" Xizor protested.
"Thanks to my wife, they can. After the mess with Palpatine, my wife helped to pass legislation that the Jedi Council is allowed to suspend your rights if there is proven Sith involvement and are allowed to step in to take full control of your case. Your obvious involvement with Darth Tyrannus, better known as Sifo-Dyas, automatically revokes your right to an attorney and posting any kind of bail for your release. My wife really is a very brilliant woman. She knew snakes like you would pop out of the woodwork, even after Palpatine's demise. She knew that you would slip through our fingers if adequate measures to ensure that you couldn't worm your way out weren't taken," Anakin said with a devious smirk.
"We'll watch his every move," Whie promised.
"Good. There's a short list of people allowed to see him. Don't deviate from it and be on alert. Sifo-Dyas will try to get an agent in here to eliminate him," Anakin warned, as he glanced at Xizor with a gloating smirk.
"We've got you this time, you slimy bastard," Anakin said, as he left. Now, he had to find Lauren and her son. They were in a lot of trouble too…
~*~"Mom…we gotta go now!" Han called, as he rushed in and started dragging toward the lift.
"Han…what is going on?" Lauren asked.
"Xizor was arrested for trying to frame Corellia for the attack on that Falleen ship! He turned on us the moment he knew he was going down, Mom. Skywalker is coming for us," Han explained breathlessly, as they reached the lift. Lauren followed him onto it, as he chose the landing bay as their destination. The question was, could they beat Anakin there and escape in time? She had her doubts, but she would make whatever deal she needed to in order to keep Han out of prison. She had made this mess and Han was not going to clean it up for her. She hadn't always been the best mother or role model, but she would see that he was protected, no matter what…