Anara gets up early, thankful her Jedi training allows her to be alert and functioning on practically no sleep. After a shower, she looks through the contents of the walk-in closet. It doesn't take her long to figure out the fashion trends of this world, the styles being much simpler than many places she's been.
Picking out a pair of black leggings and a long silver sweater, she gets dressed. Putting on her own belt and boots, she looks in the mirror. Judging from what she saw on the streets yesterday, she feels she'll blend in. Rebraiding her hair into a single herringbone plait, she fixes the end with a convex silver clasp. While pretty, it serves the dual purpose of keeping her braid intact and acting as a nasty little weapon, adding punch to the whip effect of her braid.
Leaving the large closet, she finds Thor awake and watching her from the bed.
"My lady, you look beautiful as always."
Getting out of bed, he walks to her, his physique taking her breath away. "I am tempted to keep you here and ravish you all day instead," he says, cupping her head and kissing her deeply. When they finally come up for air, she pushes away from him playfully.
"You brute." she says, laughing. "I would love to see you try, but not today. Now put some clothes on if you wish to see me off," she says, while using the Force to pick up his pants from a nearby chair and toss them at him.
Catching the pants with one hand, and catching her and pulling her against him with the other, he kisses her again before getting dressed. They're still laughing as the elevator reaches the lobby where they're met by Pepper and Tony.
"If it's alright with you, we'll stay overnight in California. I have business there tomorrow that I couldn't fit in today. Tony has a house there on the beach," Pepper tells Anara.
Anara looks to Thor. "I never asked how long we were staying. Is there any reason for me to return this evening?"
Thor shakes his head. "No, we are free to stay as long as we wish on Midgard, unless something should happen to call us home." He takes her hand and kisses it. "But my bed will be colder without you in it tonight."
"Oh, enough with the sap, Point Break." Tony says, right before he kisses Pepper.
Anara and Thor laugh as Pepper playfully pushes Tony away.
"Princess, I will continue to work on the lightsaber project. With any luck, we'll be able to test a new power source when you get back."
Anara nods her head. "Thank you. For everything," she says, indicating her outfit as well.
"New York fashion looks good on you," Tony replies.
Anara smiles at the complement, pleased that her choice of a tunic-length sweater over black leggings was a correct one.
Turning to Thor, Tony says, "You should try it some time. Maybe while your drapes are at the cleaners."
Thor glares at Tony, "I may not always understand your humor, Stark, but I would caution you against insulting the traditions of Asgard."
Turning his attention to Anara, he kisses her gently and says, "Be well, my love. I will await your return." Nodding to Pepper and ignoring Tony, he turns on his heel and returns to the elevators.
Pepper gives Tony a quick kiss and says, "That wasn't nice. How can I leave if you won't play nice with others?" she teases. Not waiting for a reply, she begins walking out the door towards a waiting car. Anara follows.
A short drive takes them back to the private airstrip where a streamlined Learjet waits for them on the tarmac. Anara notes the sleeker design and windows along the fuselage, indicating its use as a commercial transport and not a military vehicle. She finds the interior is as plush as the rest of the things Tony surrounds himself with. Settling in, Pepper tells the pilot they're ready and they taxi down the runway.
Anara finds Pepper to be very personable, and the ladies spend the entire flight chatting. Pepper gives Anara some insight into Tony and the interactions of the Avengers, and Anara tells her stories of Asgard and of her home. The time passes quickly for both, and they are soon walking across another tarmac to yet another limo.
Anara becomes nervous as the meeting draws near. Slipping into the car, she takes a few deep breaths to calm her nerves and pushes all the "what if" thoughts to the back of her mind. Determined to approach this as a Jedi and not a lost soul, she slips into the calmness of the Force.
The change in her demeanor is obvious to Pepper, who asks, "Are you OK?"
"I am fine, just preparing," Anara replies. "When you set up this meeting, what did you tell him?"
"I told him you were a foreign dignitary and a personal friend of Tony, and that you wanted to meet him. I didn't think he'd believe me if I told him you were a Jedi."
Anara smiles, respecting Pepper for her logic. "Seeing the movies that you all believe are fiction, I'm not sure I would believe you either," Anara says. "I think it best if you introduce me then simply as Princess Anara Solo. If he is who or what I think he is, he will understand, and likely will not want his own staff to know more than that." Thinking for a moment, Anara continues, "Will you stay for the meeting, or simply deliver me and return later?"
Pepper digs into her purse and pulls out a thin rectangular device. Showing Anara how it works, she says, "I assumed you wanted a private meeting, so if Mr. Lucas indicates he's willing to spend more than an hour with you, I had planned on leaving you there while I conduct some other business. You can use this phone to call me when you're done, and I'll send a car for you."
"Thank you," Anara says, truly grateful for the kindness Pepper's shown her. "I appreciate all that you and Tony have done for me, especially considering the fact that I was a complete stranger to you just a day ago."
Pepper smiles at her. "It's no trouble. I'm glad you've given Tony something to focus on. He was starting to get bored before you and Thor showed up, and that's never a good thing."
The sound of the road changes in the car, drawing the women's attention to the windows. They find themselves traveling down a long dirt lane, the view of open meadows flashing in-between the trees lining the road. Horses graze along the fences. A short drive brings them in sight of a lake with a large building sitting behind it. The car comes to a stop before a large Victorian mansion. Windows filled with stained glass decorate the front of the house. Their driver opens the limo door, and the women exit. They are met at the front steps by a middle-aged woman, well-dressed, but casual in grey slacks and a light purple sweater. Looking at a tablet in her hand, she walks down the steps and introduces herself.
"Hello, my name is Suzanne Tipkin, Mr. Lucas's assistant. You must be Ms. Potts and our dignitary." She holds her hand out to Pepper. Pepper takes her hand and introduces Anara.
"Nice to meet you. Please, call me Pepper. Ms. Tipkin, I'd like to introduce Princess Anara Solo." Anara, her hands tucked into the sleeves of her cloak, gives Ms. Tipkin a regal nod in answer to her short curtsy. She can feel the curiosity roll off Ms. Tipkin, but the woman keeps her questions to herself.
Ms. Tipkin leads them up the stairs as she says, "Mr. Lucas is still in another meeting, but while we wait, I'll give you a tour."
The house is open and cozy at the same time. Warm woods complement the stained- glass windows, and elegant, yet tasteful decorations lend charm. She leads them past a large breakfast nook overlooking the lawn and into an extremely large circular library. Books line the walls from floor to ceiling. Wood rails line the walkways on the upper levels, and the whole area is lent a warmth of color from the stained-glass dome ceiling.
"This is the main library, where Mr. Lucas likes to do his research. The collection boasts over 20,000 books."
Anara walks along the circular bookcases, admiring the vastness of the collection even though the titles of the books have no context for her. Seeing the library only strengthens her suspicions about who George Lucas might really be. A table in the middle of the room holds a single glass case in which a lightsaber handle is displayed. Anara moves to take a closer look. Ms. Tipkin follows her.
"This is Luke Skywalker's original lightsaber prop from the first Star Wars movie."
Anara looks closer at it. Small details jump out at her. This is not the prop from the movie, but is in fact a real lightsaber. She would bet her life on it.
Ms. Tipkin continues, "If you'll follow me, I'll show you the museum where we have many other original props from the movies."
They are in the museum looking at the various forms of Stormtrooper armor when they are joined by George Lucas. Anara can sense his presence before the others realize he's there.
"I think the Clone Wars armor is my favorite," he says by way of an introduction.
Ms. Tipkin starts. "Oh, I didn't hear you come in, Mr. Lucas," she says, flustered. "May I introduce Ms. Pepper Potts, personal assistant to Tony Stark."
Pepper shakes the hand Lucas offers. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir; I've always been a big fan." He nods in response.
"And Princess Anara Solo." Ms. Tipkin continues. Anara tucks her hands back into her cloak sleeves and gives him a deep bow, which he returns. She is struck by his appearance, and her suspicions are confirmed. Though his skin has lost its blue tone, likely from the loss of his native diet, his neck pouch clearly gives him away as a Slusian. She can sense him reaching out with the Force, and she lets down her guard just enough to let him see the truth of what she is. He turns to Pepper.
"The Princess and I may be occupied for several hours, Ms. Potts. You are welcome to take the full tour of the Ranch, or if you have other business to attend to, I can supply her highness with a car and driver to return her to you when we have concluded our meeting."
"Thank you. I do have other business today, but if it is any trouble, I can send a car back for her."
Ms. Tipkin interjects, "It is no trouble at all. Why don't you let me know where you're staying, and I'll get it all arranged."
Pepper nods and addresses Anara, "My Lady, if you need anything, you know how to get a hold of me. I'll see you tonight." Anara nods.
"Mr. Lucas, it was a pleasure. Thank you for indulging Mr. Stark. He will be making a sizable donation to your children's charity and has promised to make an appearance at the next gala."
They exchange goodbyes, and Ms. Tipkin and Pepper leave them alone in the museum.
"I have to admit," George begins, after a short silence, "I thought Tony Stark was playing a joke on me when his assistant told me there was a very important dignitary that wanted to meet with me. I'm still not sure I believe what my senses are telling me."
Anara opens up her cloak and calls her lightsaber hilt to her hand. She offers it to him.
"We thought it best to conceal my true nature from you, knowing you likely would not believe us. I apologize for that, but I had to be assured of a meeting with you, Master Lucasoria."
She senses shock from him, which he quickly covers. Examining the lightsaber for a moment, he ignites it and takes a few passes with it.
Shutting it down, he hands it back to her, saying, "Come, your Highness, we have much to talk about, and this is not the place for it."
He leads her down a hallway towards the entrance of the house and takes a right before the main doors. They enter a spacious but comfortable office, furnished with a large wood desk and several overstuffed chairs. He indicates the chairs and excuses himself for a moment.
Anara removes her cloak, draping it over the arm of her chair and takes a seat. Master Lucasoria returns shortly with a tray of fruits and cheese and a large pitcher with two cups. Setting it down on the table between the two chairs, he takes a seat himself.
"So, Princess Anara, I sense there is more to your title than just royalty. Tell me of your lineage and what rank you hold with the Jedi order," he says as he pours a light-colored wine into the cups and hands her one.
Anara smiles at his directness. "I am a direct descendant, seven generations removed, of Leia Organa-Solo. Daughter of Mara Solo and Dolaran Kingress, rulers of Alderan II. I am, or was before getting stuck here, a Jedi master, and member of the council on Coruscant."
Master Lucasoria sits for a minute, considering what she's told him. "I see. And how did you get here?"
"I'm not really sure. I was heading back to Coruscant from the Outer Rim territories when something went wrong while I was in hyperspace. I crash landed in a place called Asgard. I barely survived, but was saved by the people there. I believe you're familiar with a man called Thor? Some here consider him a god." She shakes her head, amused at the thought. "It was he and his brother who saved me, and it was via their technology that we came here. I thought myself alone in this galaxy until Tony Stark believed Thor was jesting about me being a Jedi, and they then showed me your movies." Before Lucas can reply, she asks the question she's been dying to know the answer to: "How did you get here, and is there any way to return to our own galaxy?"
Lucas shakes his head negatively. "I'm sorry your highness, but I have been here for nearly 150 years, and I have not been able to discover a way to return home. As you have probably guessed, I too came here by accident via a random wormhole in hyperspace. To my knowledge, you are the only other from our galaxy to end up here."
Anara's hope of returning home begins to fade, so she seeks to distract herself by focusing on Master Lucasoria. She knows his story well. Master Lucasoria was the Jedi's chief archivist and had been for over 100 years before the Purge, his species' extremely long life-spans making them prime candidates for keepers of the galaxy's historical records. Only the fact that he was visiting family off-world saved him from the massacre of the Jedi at the end of the Clone Wars. He disappeared on a return trip from a remote temple about 20 years after the death of Darth Vader and was never heard from again. His bust sits in memoriam in the great library in the temple on Coruscant.
Pulling her attention back to the present, she says, "Please, Master, I prefer my Jedi titles or none at all, over my royal ones. I have denounced my rights to the throne in favor of my vows to the Order."
"Very well, since we are two castaways, let us dispense with titles all together. Please, call me George, it's a name I've become accustomed to."
Anara nods. George gets up and walks behind his desk. Pulling a small device from a drawer, he returns to his chair and shows her the small rectangular device.
"If you'd permit me, I'd like to record your story and have you tell me all you know from the time I disappeared to now."
"Of course, though I may have to give you the abridged version for the time being."
He nods, and Anara begins the tale of her family, starting from time when he disappeared. When she reaches her own history, she pauses.
"I would ask that what I am going to tell you now not leave this room without discussing it with me first."
He nods. "You have my word."
He gets up from his chair. "I will give you a moment to collect your thoughts while I arrange to have dinner brought to us."
Anara realizes she hasn't been keeping track of the time, and the sun is within an hour of setting. "Thank you," she says simply.
When he returns, she starts up her tale again, telling him of her childhood in the palace, of her and her sister when they first enter the Jedi temple as younglings, and then finally to that horrible day when she and her twin sister Zaina were 12 and home for a short visit with their parents before being assigned as apprentices to Master Jedis.
That day started off as any other in the palace. She and her sister slept in late, taking advantage of being away from the Temple. They joined their mother, Queen Mara, for brunch out in her favorite flower garden, their younger brother, Han, already off to his lessons with his tutor. Both girls had felt unsettled when they woke, but had managed to convince each other that they were just feeling off from the trip home and being out of their normal routine. They would learn soon enough that they should have listened to their feelings.
The first sign that something was wrong was the silence in the garden. Just moments before it was a riot of bird song, but the birds had all fallen silent. That was when they heard the first blaster shots. Both girls reached for their lightsabers at the same time their mother grabbed a blaster from the underside of the table. Guards came rushing out of the palace to protect them, but they were outnumbered.
Imperial troops poured out of the palace, picking off the palace guards one by one. They fought hard, the twins deflecting blaster bolts as well as any fully-trained Jedi, while their mother took out her fair share of troupers, but it was a losing battle. They were eventually surrounded; their guards killed. Refusing to give up, the three women stood back to back, waiting for the troupers' next moves.
Their ranks parted to reveal a Sith Lord. Darth Demonus, the current leader of the Sith Empire strode towards them. Queen Mara positioned herself in front of her daughters, whispering for them to follow her lead and be ready. Holding her head high, she addressed the Sith Lord.
"How dare you invade the sanctity of my home," she said, with all the power of her station. "We are a peaceful planet. What could you possibly want from us?"
Darth Demonus ignited his lightsaber, its red blade like a slash of blood in the morning light.
"Your daughters," he said, as his blade slashed across Queen Mara's throat. Her body slumped to the ground, as her head rolled away to stop at his feet. The twins, in shock, took up defensive stances, ready to fight the Sith, but they weren't given a chance. Darth Demonus reached out a hand, and the twins fell to the ground, choking, their lightsabers falling from limp fingers.
Anara and Zaina woke up in adjoining cells on an Imperial planet. This part of the story Anara keeps brief, only telling George that they were tortured both physically and mentally for the better part of a year, forced to hurt each other until they broke and embraced the Dark Side.
Both twins bear the scars from that time, Zaina's being just a little more obvious to those who knew them before. The gentler of the two twins, Zaina was so tortured by what she'd been forced to do one day to Anara that she passed out from the stress and was comatose for several days. When she finally awoke, her hair had turned from black to pure white.
Though they'd been broken, they never gave up hope of escape. They allowed themselves to be trained by the Sith until they knew they had enough power to break free. To this day, Anara wonders if the Sith didn't allow them to escape, as things seemed just a little bit too easy on the day they did break free. Knowing Darth Demonus, she's pretty sure that was his plan all along.
By the time the twins escaped another war was underway, started by their abduction. It took two years of intense deprogramming and therapy before the Jedi council deemed the girls stable enough to resume their Jedi training. They threw themselves into the war, as much as their Masters would allow them, itching for the chance to avenge their mother's death and get revenge against the Sith that put them through hell.
Zaina eventually broke under the strain of battle, the Dark Side regaining control over her. She killed her Jedi Master and sought refuge with the very one they'd both sworn to kill – Darth Demonus. He took her as his apprentice and renamed her Darth Daeva. She eventually killed Demonus, but by then she was so consumed by the Dark Side that she took up his mantle and named herself Empress.
Anara fought her in several battles across the galaxy, one of those battles earning her the scar that runs from above her eye into her hairline, giving her the streak of white in her otherwise jet black hair.
Eventually, the sisters met up once again, and Anara was able to defeat her sister. Unwilling to kill her, she took her into custody, and they returned to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant where Darth Daeva was imprisoned.
With their Empress taken, the Empire retreated, and the Republic started restoring peace in the galaxy. Anara was granted the title of Master and given a seat on the council. When she was not off-world, she could be found in her sister's cell, attempting to bring Daeva back from the Dark Side. She was just starting to make some headway when she was called away on a diplomatic mission to the Outer Rim.
Finishing her tale, Anara sits back in her chair, surprisingly exhausted. George reaches to the table and turns off the recorder.
"Anara, you have my thanks for telling me your tale. Rest assured I will keep your part of it in confidence. I would ask the same consideration of you, that my true identity not be made known to anyone."
"You have my word, Master Lucasoria. Thank you for your time and indulgence. I trust that if you discover a way back to our galaxy you will contact me, and I will do the same. I will be returning to Asgard with Thor, but Stark has means of communicating with us."
George nods. Standing, he says, "I will have a car brought around for you. I am truly sorry I could not offer you better news about returning home."
Anara stands and settles her cloak around her shoulders, making sure her lightsaber is concealed.
"Knowing that someone else came over, but through a different portal, gives me hope that maybe one day we can find one going in the right direction," she says as they walk towards the front of the house where Ms. Tipkin is waiting for them.
"I heard you coming down the hall and called for the car. It will be around shortly," she says as they reach her.
"Thank you, Suzanne, " George says. They hear the car coming up the drive and walk outside.
At the car, Anara bows to George, saying, "It was a true pleasure to meet you. Your work is impressive, and I look forward to seeing more of it in the future."
George returns the bow. "It was a pleasure, your highness. Please know that you are welcome here any time."
Anara nods farewell to Ms. Tipkin and gets into the car. Pulling the phone out of one of her belt pouches, she taps the series of buttons on the screen to call Pepper to let her know she's on her way. Not wanting to be overheard by the driver, she keeps the conversation brief, telling Pepper she'll fill her in when she arrives. Settling into the plush seat, she forces herself to drop into a light meditation, filtering through the details of Master Lucasoria's own experience through a wormhole, trying to find anything that would give her clues on how to find a way home.