AccioNimbus2000: Haha, I have considered him doing that... idk yet though. It might be fun. :P I love Princess Bride, one of my absolute faves. I KNOW ObiFluff daw. adorbs and pleasing to my eyes. ANOTHER. sorry. Not another as this one *barely* has Obi in it. Haha, well, I can't dance normally, you can't dance ballroom. We'd make a good pair :P I hope you enjoy this sucker, I have worked for the last... month on it. Sorry about that, my inspiration is limited as of late.
Nyce: Halihallo :D Aye, I do. Thankfully this one is either a two or three parter, so we should do well with it for the next few days... weeks... definitely not month. Ah, ah, yes. Very freaking addictive. It's like my mind refuses to think of anything *but* it... and Thranduil. I'm so screwed. Ah, yes, well missing Naberrie's actually are somewhat of the inspiration for this chapter - and I'll say no more. It's a riddle. Speak 'friend' and enter'. I KNOW AAAAAAHHHHH :D I was so psyched I finally remembered that. I hope you enjoy this one, mind you my inspiration may be a bit... off, but I credit you for the idea. :D
saramichellegellarfan: I know, he is so adorable. AWWWW. I don't know what to do with him, he's just so sweet. Ooop, I know... give him a daughter. Ah, later down the road. Thank you, you didn't say much, but I thank you nonetheless.
Seth Halo: Here's another clue: Padme isn't dead.
Amilia: Thank you so much, I certainly look forward to it :D I hope you enjoy this one, although it is one of a part, but I promise that it won't be a month before I update again. I promise.
JoselinCastillo'Skywalker: Hola, soy bueno. : D Cómo está usted? Conseguiste todo hecho para la Universidad? Qué fue? ¿Odontología? Ah, lo harán será. De hecho, al final de esta parte 2-3 un tiro, vamos a ver que ella está embarazada otra vez-SHHHH no digas a nadie. : P yo sé son totalmente adorables, que creo que voy a tenerlos al tener una niña. Espero que como éste y sabe que la siguiente parte saldrá en un par de días. Hasta entonces. :D
Guest: Haha, yes well Kayden will be getting a girlfriend soon enough... and he will marry her. But that's all I will say - except that we all know her. -_- now try to guess.
Alright you all, I am incredibly sorry for being absent. However, I have decided to make the a couple parter, so we'll see me updating a little sooner than last time. Again I apologize and HAPPY NEW YEAR 16 DAYS AGO. :P my apologies for being so late. I hope you all enjoy this, let me know if you think anything should be different and I will be more than willing to work it out. Enjoy.
This Chapter is Credited to Nyce for the idea. Thank you hon. :D
IV.
The arm of the empire has grown. Throughout the Core Worlds, many who oppose the Empire have been sent to various places for forced labor. Slaves of the Empire. Among the newest captured are several members of the Old Republic's senate: Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila and Senator Tristan Peregrine of Ergon, who have been taken along with Sheltay Retrac – a aide to Bail Organa of Alderaan.
The Alliance, aware of this sudden new development are preparing for a strike at the new slave colony on Begeren...
"Alright everyone, settle down." Bail Organa said, his commanding voice causing those who were gathered to quieten, the briefing room settling down to a hush. Anakin and Ozara settled next to each other, two year old Luke and Leia settled quietly in their laps. Yesenia sat on the other side of Anakin, cooing to Mara, while six year old Killian looked on. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan sat next to Ozara, Leiana unable to come due to Ben being slightly under the weather. Skandar sat in as well, next to Yesenia. They had formed a bond of sorts, of friendship, which what forged in the fire of lost love – still they were only friends, as brother and sister, no more.
Jax Pavan, Kayden, Zett, and Zhane were also present, now 25, 15, 16, and 14 respectively. Already they were beginning to be known throughout the galaxy, creating a team which were inseparable, the fastest of friends. Several missions they had all been on, whether to Corellia to help fight an invasion, or Alderaan to protect Bail Organa, in which they had all been secured success. In on thing, however, were they not successful... and that was the avoidance of giggling females who still had not the maturity to keep their thoughts to themselves. Jax was safe for the most part, but found himself laughing more than once at the embarrassment of his fellows.
However, it was Bail who was speaking, and no girl was allowed admittance unless she knew how to listen. "Now, you all are aware why you are here. News just came to us via our sources, who have informed us that certain members of the old senate have been taken prisoner, and sent to a slave colony on Begeren. Allies of ours. Tristan Peregrine, Mon Mothma, and ex-chancellor Eixes Valorum have been taken to this colony, along with their aides and mine. Now those names may not mean much to you, you may never have met them, but they are as much a part of us as you or I." he said. "One of us, sent to a labor camp where they are forced to do the Empire's bidding on pain of death."
"What if it's a trap?" a voice echoed from the back. "What if they want us to go there so that they can catch us?"
"It may be a trap, a false report to draw us out. They know that we know the names Peregrine, Mothma, and Valorum. They know that we do not leave our own behind. So yes, they may be creating a trap. But that is the risk we must take if we are to find out how to destroy this colony and free its inhabitants." Bail replied.
"And what do you propose we do?" Anakin queried. "Surely we don't have the resources for a full-scale attack right now, ad we know what kind of labor slave labor is. We can't leave our comrades to their fate, but we can't wage a war after we just lost so many men defending Corellia."
"No, we can't." Bail answered. "That is why we are going to need help."
"For what?" Ozara inquired.
"Three days ago we intercepted a ship, an Imperial ship, carrying supplies for Begeren. Aboard were three officers, two males and a female, who were to go to Begeren with the supplies and return to Coruscant." Bail said. "Now, what we have considered is that we send three of our people to Begeren under the names of these officers. They will be allowed to interrogate the real officers – humanely of course, we are not the Empire – and find out all you must know. This mission requires a great deal of stealth, and no small amount of courage. They will go to Begeren, where reports have come that the Imperial ship Interceptor is located, and they will have to come up with a plan to get our people out."
"Will they be given orders on how to do it?" Yesenia asked. "Or do they have to play it by ear?"
"Ear most likely. We don't know the layout of Begeren, neither do we know what will happen when they get there. In all likeliness, you may be there from days to weeks trying to create a plan – but remember we need our people out, and then once they are back here, home and safe, we can work on a way to get everyone else off the planet and free." Bail replied.
"So we are planning an invasion?" Anakin asked. "How?"
"By using what troops we can." Bail answered.
"Our forces are not large anymore. We lost many over Corellia." Qui-Gon said.
"True. But we are not so small that we cannot fight for the freedom of others. There are many slave planets in the galaxy," Bail said, careful not to rile Anakin up on the subject. "Which we can free."
"If you can free them." Anakin snapped. "Whatever you do, don't give them false hope. Remember, no slave wants to hear that they will be free, only to have that small light snuffed out."
'Shh,' Ozara whispered in her husband's mind. 'Do not concern yourself. We will free as many as possible. I'm sure no one will give anyone false hope'
'I only hope you are right.' Anakin replied, leaning in to kiss her forehead.
"Do you already have anyone in mind?" Obi-Wan asked.
Bail nodded solemnly. "Our three officers, according to the ship which captured the transporter, look rather similar to three of our people. Small galaxy after all I suppose." the room had a few chuckles.
"Who are they?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Three of our best... and also three who – if they were caught – the consequences could be devastating to our cause." Bail replied vaguely. "If they do not wish to go, then that is fine, I'm sure we can figure something else out."
"Who are they?" Ozara insisted.
Bail's eyes landed on her, an apology already in their depths. "You're not going to like this..."
The Imperial shuttle Operus pulled out of lightspeed over the Begeren atmosphere, the largest ship of the Empire – the Interceptor – hovering over the planet. "Well, there it is. Large as life." the pilot said. "I wonder what its like inside?"
"Don't even think about it, Skywalker." his female counterpart said, plopping herself into the seat beside him. "We are here to get in, get Mon Mothma and your wife's father, scope out the colony, and get out. We don't need any of your acrobatics yet, we are simply here on reconnaissance, gathering information for when we actually attack."
Anakin rolled his eyes. "I didn't mean that I wanted to go inside, Trint." he said. "I just wondered."
"You have to understand, Paris," Skandar Solo said as he entered the cockpit. "Anakin says things quite often without thinking, its what he does best."
"Thanks Skandy." Anakin replied.
"Don't get fresh." Skandar retorted. "Have you called in our recognition code?" Anakin shook his head. "Why not?"
"Because I was a little busy with your little Corellian over here." Anakin answered.
Paris snorted, pulling her long blonde hair out of her face and into a low bun. "Nothing stopping you now." she said. "I suggest you-"
The transmitter suddenly flickered to life, and Anakin was glad that he had cut his hair to the style that had been on the Imperial Officer whose identity he was taking. He had to admit, there was a striking resemblance between them. "Are you ready?" he asked.
"Yes, lets get this over with right now, I'm tired of the suspense." Skandar replied, nodding curtly.
Anakin hit the switch to allow the transmission through.
"Shuttle Operus, what is your crew, cargo and destination?" the technician asked through the transmitter.
Skandar leaned in to speak into the transmitter. "Crew of three: Sergeant Gale Lund, Captain Adren Rovan, and Commander Harre Durant. Cargo: Supplies and equipment for the slave colony on the system Begeren." he answered.
"Do you have a code?" the technician inquired.
"Yes we do." Skandar replied, motioning for Paris to send the information through. The line was silent for a moment as the Interceptor processed the code.
"Very well. You may continue." the technician replied. "Long live the Empire."
Anakin growled under his breath as Skandar replied with "Long live the Empire." before cutting off the communication. "Try not to do that when we actually are on Beregen." he reprimanded the Jedi.
"It will be a cold day on Tatooine before I speak those four words." Anakin snapped.
"Watch it, Captain Rovan." Skandar said. "You may have to speak those words on this mission, or you may never return to Ozara again." The Jedi cursed lowly in Huttese, but said nothing in reply. Inwardly he knew that Skandar was right – even if he hated that fact. In fact, he hated the whole mission. He hated being so far away from Ozara and the children for such a long time; especially now that both Luke and Leia, at eleven months, were beginning to explore their universe from a whole new standpoint – standing.
"Where are we landing again?" Anakin queried as they entered the atmosphere of Beregen.
"See that lighter blue part?" Skandar said, pointing to a clearing on the planet's surface. "That's where the Old Sith Ruins are, as well as the new factories."
"What exactly do they make here again?" Paris inquired. "I mean, what do they mine? You said that this was a mining colony of slaves..."
"Crystal." Skandar replied with a sigh. "They are creating part of the wealth of the Empire. The gems are good for weapons, as they are experimenting with a more powerful weapon than a blaster. Its based off of the technology for Lightsabers, using the crystals to make a weapon that could block any blaster bolt."
Anakin scoffed. "So basically, Her Most Tyrannical Majesty is trying to build something which may cause problems for us in the future?"
"Overall, Skywalker, yes." Skandar replied. "Paris, get your uniform on, and get the supplies ready."
"Alright." Paris answered, getting out of the cockpit and stepping in the back.
"Anakin, there's your landing pad." Skandar said, pointing to a set of steep cliffs. "We are to land at the bottom of that. "Understand?"
"Yes, I get it." Anakin replied, maneuvering the ship to land precisely where it had been sanctioned before he turned off the engines and headed back. "Captain... what was it again?"
"Durant, Harre." Skandar replied. "Lund, Gale." He pointed to Paris. "And you're Adren Rovan."
Anakin nodded. "Got it." He said, pulling his cap on which had the insignia of the Empire on it, thankful that Ozara had convinced him to cut it, as well as helping him cover up his scar. "Shall we?"
Skandar and Paris nodded, exiting the ship. They were greeted by a young man, not even in his twenties, who saluted them as they came off the ramp. Skandar saluted in kind, standing before him.
"Private Nahdonnis Praji, Sir. I was sent by Commander Lavonne to bring your supplies to the storehouse." Private Praji said. "Then I was instructed to show you to the Commander's quarters where you will stay until our shipment is ready to move out."
"Very well." Skandar said, nodding. "Lead the way." Praji gave a curt nod, spinning on his heel and marching in the direction of the buildings as a group of men moved behind them to gather the supplies.
"Slave labor." Paris whispered to Anakin. "Welcome to the Empire."
"Try not to draw attention to us yet, Trint." Anakin replied, looking behind him at the men before turning to face the direction in which they were moving. "You'd think that there was no such thing as robots here."
Paris looked up at him, noting the tick in his jaw. "This is painful for you, isn't it?"
"Exceedingly." Anakin ground out. "Given my past it's not easy to watch others be subjected to the same." He looked behind him again, presumably to check on the way the supplies were handled, but in truth it was more to get each face into his memory. If he could, he would free as many as possible.
"Well try to handle it a little better." Paris said out the side of her mouth. "Your posture makes your discomfort obvious."
Anakin sighed, nodding at her words before allowing himself to relax a bit, thinking of something which wasn't as stressful. Before they knew it, they split ways between them and the slaves, and Anakin had to figure out how he was going to find a way to get where the slaves were.
"Here you are sir," Praji said, motioning for the slaves to open the doors. It disgusted Anakin that beings with life in them were subjected to the same as robots, treated without feelings. It was hard to keep his cool, to focus on the task at hand. "Sir, Commander Durant is here." Praji stated, and out of nowhere a burly man stuffed into a Commander's uniform emerged.
"Ah, Harre." the Commander greeted. "Its good to see you, you're looking different than last we met."
"Am I?" Skandar played along, remembering why he was chosen for this mission. "In what way?"
Lavonne squinted his eyes more than they already were, pursing his lips in a way that had Paris staring. She didn't even know it was possible for him to look any more pinched than he did. "Maybe not." Lavonne replied. "Your eyes look different I suppose – but then again, its been years since I saw you last. Tell me, how is your mother?"
Skandar smiled, taking off his cap and sitting down opposite of the commander. He remembered that Commander Durant had told him that his reasoning for going to Begeren was to meet with the old family friend, and was already preparing for such a thing. All he could do now was play along, hoping that his answers did not give him away. "Very well. She sends her love." Wasn't his mother involved with this man? Isn't that what Durant had said?
"Do not toy with me boy, I know your mother would never send her love by you." Lavonne replied with a huff.
"I meant it unofficially, sir." Skandar replied smoothly. "We both know she wouldn't do it by normal means."
"Damn right she wouldn't." Lavonne replied. "And your father? Is he still having troubles with... you know?"
"Yes" Skandar answered after a pause. "He's... well – I'm sorry, I'm not at liberty to speak with you on such matters when we have lower-ranking officers here."
Lavonne looked up, spotting Paris and Anakin. "Ah, yes, Gale how are you dear?"
"Very well, thank you." Paris replied quickly, her heart nearly hammering out of her chest. In her interrogation of the real Gale, she had never gotten around to asking about her family. A mistake she would not repeat. She could feel Anakin and Skandar's burning gazes. Lavonne's eyes settled long on her face, seeming to scrutinize her intensely. Paris swallowed, wishing she knew some way to distract him.
With a minute wave of his hand, Anakin tried to influenced his mind, making him believe that what he saw was the real thing. Lavonne smiled, although Anakin wasn't sure it was because of his mind trick, before he moved on to Anakin himself, looking over at 'Harre'. "Captain Rovan." Skandar answered, and Lavonne nodded with an 'ah' of exclamation, taking Anakin's hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain Rovan. I hope you enjoy your stay here, and please excuse the familiarity with which I have greeted your comrades." Lavonne said, staring – rather blatantly – at Anakin's face.
"I understand. Do not concern yourself, were I in the same situation as Commander Durant or Sargent Lund, I should be grateful for the familiarity. You don't find it much anymore." Anakin answered, earning a look of panic from both Gale and Skandar.
However, their looks were out of place, as Lavonne simply chuckled. "No, no you don't do you? It's getting less and less every day" he said. "I was a commander in the Republic's army originally – well, before the Clones that is. After them, I was kicked to a desk job and left to my own devices. But when I was a commander then, I made sure to know everything there was to know about my men, so that they considered me as part of their family. Can't do that now, it's against regulations."
"A sad day when a commander doesn't know his own troops." Anakin replied, earning a smile from the older man.
"Sad day indeed." he replied, staring once more at Anakin. "You must forgive my staring, I swear to you, I don't do it often. But your face looks so familiar, I know I've seen it before."
"We've never met." Anakin replied.
"No, but I've seen your face before. I just can't place where." Lavonne stated, sighing. "Ah, well, I'm getting old anyway, don't pay any attention to me." With that, he walked away.
Anakin breathed a little easier when the man was no longer staring at him, but he wasn't comfortable. Skandar simply gave him a look, one which said 'I told you not to come, but you didn't listen to me.' Which, from a certain point of view – as Obi-Wan would say – was true. Skandar had told Anakin not to come with, and wanted to take someone else, but Anakin had staunchly refused to allow him to help his father-in-law without him.
"So, you all must be wanting to get to your quarters, as I know what it was like when I was a lad. You're probably also hungry, so—" he moved to his holocommunicator. "Private Praji, will you please come in here?"
"Yes, sir." Praji replied, his image fading.
"Poor boy. He's not even in his twenties and he's already in the army." he muttered to himself.
"I'm sure he finds it a great honor that the Empire would allow him in." Paris said, knowing she was treading on thin ice.
Lavonne scoffed. "Oh, he's completely thrilled. All too much in my opinion – at his age, I was off playing soldier, not being a soldier!" he said. "But I digress. It is an honor for the Empress to have allowed him to join the ranks at his age. He'll be a commander before you know it, perhaps a general by the end of his career."
The door opened, and Private Praji walked in. "You sent for me, sir."
"Ah, Nahdonnis yes. Will you please shod Commander Durant and his companions to their quarters for the duration of their stay? I believe you're staying for a few days, yes? You're supposed to take a report back to Polis?"
"Yes." Skandar answered. Commander Durant had never told him that, but it seemed to have worked out nonetheless, it would give them more freedom to find their allies and complete their mission.
"Well set up for someone to show them around as well, Private. Perhaps one of the droids, as you have duties to attend to." Lavonne ordered, sitting down at his desk.
"Very good, sir." Praji replied, turning toward Skandar. "If you will just follow me."
And follow them they did.
Once they were settled in, they allowed themselves to relax a little, Paris scanning the room for any recording devices. Of course, as it was a hastily-put-up shack put up very recently, she found nothing. "All clear." she announced.
Skandar gave her a nod, assisting her in putting her equipment back where it belonged. "I didn't think there would be anything, after all they just put these up, they probably didn't have the time to put in any recording systems yet." he said. "Which is good for us, as I don't fancy using Anakin's little scrambler, it would only cause problems."
"I only hope that no one figures out who we are. He looked an awful long time at Anakin, and that didn't make me feel very safe." Paris said, sitting down across from the Jedi.
"True." Skandar replied, looking over at Anakin. "It's a good thing that Ozara helped you out with that scar. We would have definitely been done for if she hadn't."
"I know." Anakin replied. "I tried to dissuade him, but his mind is not weak."
"Well it just means you're going to have to work that much harder to look as if you are loyal to the Empire." Skandar told him, taking off his jacket. "You too, Paris. Don't think I didn't notice how you stuttered when he mentioned knowing Gale – you didn't find out about her connections did you?"
Paris shook her head. "A mistake I won't make again." she said softly.
"Good." Skandar said.
"Ugh. I'm tired of espionage already." Anakin moaned, flopping down on the setee. "I can't believe we're only here to get who we're going to get and get out."
"Well, then you should have decided to stay behind with your wife. You would have done much better." Skandar replied. "But we need to work out how we're going to get away with this lovely scheme of ours."
"I say we go at night, get who we need, get them in our ship, and get out." Anakin said simply.
"Sometimes I wonder how a girl like Ozara, with a mind like she has, married you." Skandar chastised. "I only hope that Luke and Leia take after her instead."
Anakin glared at the man. "Sometimes I wonder how a guy like you thought that Ozara, with a mind like she has, would marry you." he quipped.
"You're ridiculous, Skywalker." Skandar replied, getting himself a drink. "Anyway, back to business."
"Well tomorrow we're going to be shown around." Paris began. "So, naturally, we should be allowed to inspect the mines."
"Correct." Skandar said, telling Anakin to move over so he could sit as well.
"Which means we should be taken on a grand tour of all the mines – in which we know that our targets are." she continued.
"They aren't targets." Anakin grumbled, playing with the promise ring which he had around his neck. He couldn't wear it around his finger, as it would raise suspicion, but he refused to leave it behind.
"Either way, we will need to then, after seeing them, find a way to—I got it!" Paris exclaimed.
"What?" the men asked in unison. Paris' eyes reflected her inner triumph as she relayed her plan, and in the end, Skandar agreed that it was a good one.
Meanwhile, Commander Lavonne sat in his quarters, his datapad laying in his lap as he sipped on his drink, the screen showing the results from the infocache on Captain Adren Rovan. He looked down again, pressing the option which split his screen to show the other window which he had open to another image: that of Anakin Skywalker.
Sighing, he stood, walking to the window to look out where the group of newly-arrived officers were staying. Taking a puff of his cigarra, he brought the holoimages back up, comparing the faces of the two men. He wasn't sure if they were the same, although he had a sneaking suspicion that they were. On one hand, he wanted to support them, not liking what it was that he was seeing around him – but on the other, he was a Commander in the Imperial Army, and Anakin Skywalker was a wanted criminal.
Commander Lavonne got no sleep that night.
Well? What do you think? Remember, I am looking for ideas for oneshots, so if you have an idea, let me know and I will credit you for the chapter idea. Please review, I look forward to your insights. :D