AN: I tell you. This chapter was nice to write. It's about a year time jump I guess. So Shmi's about seven in this one. Vader and Ahsoka are in this, but nothing serious. Han and Shmi are the real focus in this for now. Can't say much right now. I'll save it for the end.

Read, enjoy, and review!

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Chapter Fifteen

Melody groaned in impatience as she waited. Currently, she was working in conjunction with the commander of the Annihilator as they searched for the Millennium Falcon. At the moment though, she was on a scarcely populated planet called Varonat of the Varonat system. Sources said it was a popular stop for smugglers and pirates to rest in between jobs or on one for that matter. A source also said a Corellian Freighter that fit the description of the Millennium Falcon sometimes stopped there, the passengers being a girl about seven, a wookie, a droid, and an exotic cat. It was too close a match to ignore despite the presence of an exotic cat.

So there she was in disguise as a port worker waiting for the ship in case it came in. But after a few weeks of not seeing the ship, she was starting to lose patience being there. Maybe it was time to track another lead.

"Oh come on Uncle Han!" she heard a girl's voice shout as she stomped her foot.

"No Mimi."

"Why not? I hate those cantinas."

"What would we look like going to a galactic amusement park halfway across the galaxy with that thing kid?"

"His name is Kishan and he's not a thing. Besides, I don't see the problem."

"Walking around with a tusk cat in tow is practically screaming for attention sweetheart," the man said dryly.

"But he's harmless. Look at him!"

At the word tusk cat, Melody had turned around to see, hope rising in her heart. Perhaps this stop wouldn't be in vain…

The girl grabbed hold of the tusk cat's head and pulled it down to her nuzzling the cat.

"That cat's almost as tall as you kid… heck. He's two meters long and you want to call that thing harmless."

"He is! Just like you," she said hugging her 'uncle' around the waist.

Han groaned. "Don't try to suck up to me kid. And that's not the point. The point is we'll blend in better at a smuggler space port than somewhere like that with him around unless you want to leave him on the ship while you have a good time?"

The girl frowned and then said, "I'm not leaving him!"

"Point made Mimi. Now let's go."

Melody found it hard to keep the pretense as a space porter as they walked past. This was it. Sure the girl was a little tall for a seven year old (probably inherited it from her dad), but they fit the description. When they were gone, she raised her com and said.

"Report to the emperor for further instructions. We found them…"

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Shmi sat while she idly sipped on juice while Han enjoyed a game of sabbacc with some of his earnings. Hopefully he didn't waste them trying to double his credits to pay off Jabba the Hutt like he had a few months ago, resulting in one of Jabba's bounty hunters had coming after them… Then again, maybe he would. Running from the bounty hunter and then outsmarting him in the end had been fun.

She had to say that these space port cantinas, though no doubt not a place somewhere her age should be, were interesting to observe. But it was the things that made them interesting that made Shmi hate them. Loud men, dancing women, fights, blasters fired often, and all the scum you could find in the galaxy crammed into one space. It was certainly interesting, but it got old really fast. Shmi wondered how stunned her mother would be if she ever told her about all this… if she ever saw her again that is.

Something tickled on her senses, and Shmi sat up. Then using the limited training she got from the Nightsisters, she tried to figure out if it was dangerous or not. They told her to trust her feelings, that the force (they called it her magic) was never wrong and to always heed it. But that was hard to do when she didn't know what her feelings were trying to tell her. And it also didn't help that Han didn't really like her attachment to the Nightsisters, especially her odd relationship with Asajj Ventress, so he didn't quite take her powers seriously. He heard Ventress had fought against the Jedi in the Clone Wars and considering her mother was a former Jedi… Han really didn't like the idea.

However, it wasn't like she was fully fledged Nightsister (though she secretly would have liked to be). She only learned bits and pieces when they were there briefly (if Shmi was lucky she could convince Han to let them stay a day or two). But the change was obvious. Being around the feminine dominated society had matured her, instilled more confidence in her than she already had, and in combination with being separated from her mother and sister, had steeled her a little. She was still playful and teasing, but not overly anymore or at least, that what Han had said to her. Shmi thought she was the same old her. She didn't feel different. But Leia always told her that she could learn from anyone… good and evil. To be quite honest, Shmi wasn't quite sure where the Nightsisters fell. They were only loyal to each other and would turn on anyone if it meant the safety of their sisterhood. She didn't know whether that made them evil or not, but they treated her well enough.

Shmi groaned and decided to try to ignore her feelings as she couldn't quite figure it out, but it nagged her and so she determined that if it kept nagging her like this, it couldn't be good.

Next to her, Kishan growled.

"You sense it too?" she asked the feline.

His only response was a growl.

"Han," Shmi said deciding it was time to go.

"Just a second princess. I can win this one," Han replied.

"But Han-."

"Just wait a minute Mimi," Han said a little firmer. "Take Kishan and wait outside if that's what you want to do."

Shmi looked at Chewie who growled apologetically.

"Come Kishan and Threepio," Shmi said to the two.

"Oh thank heavens. That really is an awful place for a little girl and a droid," Threepio said.

As they stepped out the cantina, Shmi felt the overwhelming urge to look at the sky. She looked up to see a triangular shape in orbit around the planet surrounded by smaller dots.

"Uh-oh," she said and rushed back into the cantina. Han had told her a long time ago that a triangular shape in the sky was not a good thing for them.

"Han!" she said not caring if she interrupted the game.

"See kid. I told you I wouldn't be long. I won," Han said with a grin.

"Han we have to get out of here," Shmi said.

"Why?"

"It's the empire!"

"Sithspit!" Han swore and said, "Time to go get."

He turned around to collect his winnings. "Nice playing with you gentlemen. Me and my niece will be going now."

Shmi started to fidget. "Han!"

"I know kid. We're going!"

"No I mean," Shmi's senses spiked and on instinct she took Han's blaster off his belt and clumsily shot towards the exits a few times.

Two troopers fell before they were even able to get in the door.

"Stang kid… With some practice you'll make a good shot," Han said in amazement.

"Han!" Shmi said to her.

"Right," Han said picking her up and taking off out the door with Chewie, Kishan, and Threepio behind them.

"We can't run all the way there!" Shmi yelled.

Han stopped. She was right. He looked around and saw a man pulling out of a speeder.

"Excuse me," he yelled roughly pushing the man out of the way and snatching his keys. "I'm really sorry about this. Come to the docking bay later if you want it."

Han quickly dropped Shmi in the back seat and barely gave Chewie, Threepio, and Kishan to get in before he sped off toward the docking bay.

"Let's hurry it up kid," Han said as he climbed out the vehicle.

"If you had listened to me before we could have been gone," Shmi pointed out.

"We'll debate about this later sweetheart. Come on," Han said practically dragging her to where their ship was docked and being guarded by storm troopers. "Stay back kid!"

Han swiftly snatched the blaster Shmi was still holding and then grabbed another from his hip and began shooting off random shots. Chewie grabbed his rifle and did the same.

Shmi sighed. Next time they were on Dathomir she had to ask Ventress to show her how to aim a blaster properly.

"Get on the ship kid," Han yelled to her.

Shmi started for the ship behind Kishan who was guarding her protectively as they started up the ramp.

"Oh wait for me Miss Shmi!" Threepio yelled hurrying as fast as he could behind her.

"Start the ship!" Han yelled to her.

"You aren't going anywhere," a trooper said coming from the back of the ship with his partner.

Shmi groaned.

"Get them Kishan!" she yelled and the large predator lunged for the two men.

Shmi ran into the cockpit and looked at the ship controls in confusion.

"How do you start a ship?"

She heard running up the ramp and them Han swear loudly before telling Chewie to throw out Kishan's mess before he came into the cockpit.

"You didn't start the ship?" he asked.

"I don't know how!"

Han paused to gape at her and Shmi stomped her foot and yelled, "Han!"

"Sorry," Han said as he got the ship ready for takeoff. "I just find it incredibly hard to believe that with a mechanical genius for a sister and a hot shot pilot for a brother, you don't know how to start a ship."

"You can teach me sometime," Shmi said sitting next to him as she heard the troopers outside shouting at the side of the ship. "Go!"

"Don't have to tell me at all kid. We're getting out of here. How would you like to hang out on Dathomir for a while?"

Shmi clapped her hands in excitement but Threepio began to interrupt.

"Captain Solo."

"Can it goldenrod. We've got to get past this blockade first," Han said as they shot into space.

"But Captain Solo-."

"Shut him up or shut him down Mimi," Han snapped.

Shmi paused and then looked at Han.

"Han. Maybe we should listen to Threepio. Something's not right."

"It's okay kid. We're going to get out of here," Han assured albeit nervously as he could hear the lasers behind them.

Shmi sighed. Hadn't Han learned that it was better to listen to her by now?

"Ready Chewie?" he asked and Chewie growled the affirmative.

"Now," Han said as the hyper drive began to start. He tilted his head back in relief. "Whew! That was a close one wasn't it kid?"

"Han…" Shmi said looking out. "Nothing's happening."

Han looked out the visor just as soon as the hyper drive began to whine into silence.

"If I may say so, sir, I noticed earlier that the hyperdrive motivator has been damaged. It's impossible to go to light-speed."

Han let out a series of curses under his breath and Shmi groaned.

"And you say I'm hardheaded…" Shmi said dryly. "I think it's you who needs a lesson in listening.

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Vader started to walk right past Ahsoka until he noticed something odd and extremely perplexing. First off, the stripes on her lekku were a deep dark color that clearly indicated she was worried about something, but that wasn't the shocking part. It was the tub of ice cream she was eating that was shocking.

He looked at her with his head tilted cocking an eyebrow though she couldn't see it with his mask covering his face.

"Don't you have to meet with the emperor?" Ahsoka asked ignoring his perplexing gaze.

He ignored her question and asked, "Is that ice cream?"

"Caramel flavor. Want some?" she asked not seeing the significance of it.

"You hate ice cream."

Ahsoka looked down at the half empty tub and sighed.

"There's only two reason I eat this stuff. Either I'm incredibly anxious about some or I'm pregnant. I couldn't get enough of this stuff with Shmi or dairy in general…"

That didn't quell his concern.

Ahsoka noticed and said. "Before you ask, no. I'm not pregnant. I'm anxious if you must know."

Well that explained something. The question was about what? When Vader asked, Ahsoka shrugged with a deep frown.

"That's just it. I don't know. I feel like it's really important though, and I can't do anything about it right now."

"Why ice cream?" he asked her.

"Makes me feel numb," Ahsoka said in explanation.

"Meditating would probably help."

"What part of anxious don't you get?" she asked dryly as she set the ice cream down.

Vader didn't even bother getting mad. He had learned more about Ahsoka in the last year than he had learned in twenty years of knowing her and he still didn't understand her. Women, he had decided, were more mysterious and complicated than the force…

"In any case, the emperor wants you to be there too," he said. "So you'd do well to put your anxiousness aside."

Ahsoka glared at him for a moment before cutting her eyes and grabbing her cloak.

"What does he want?"

Ever since the incident a year ago on Shmi's birthday, Ahsoka made it more than clear that she hated the emperor and to her annoyance, the emperor relished in her disdain for him. But Ahsoka didn't know everything. Vader had done and said everything he could short of begging Palpatine or committing treason to convince the emperor not to punish her after that incident, after which she had blatantly disrespected him over the com when he asked for a general briefing on their way back to Coruscant. Vader had convinced him that it had been too soon for that mission and implied that Palpatine had only done so for his own sadistic pleasure. It might have gotten Vader punishment, but at least his implication had made the emperor forget about whatever he intended to make Ahsoka suffer.

Tensions were high between them and the emperor. Vader knew Palpatine was far from a stupid man. He had a feeling the man knew they were planning to overthrow him, and so it was a race against time to find Shmi at least before he did. Leia was a simple matter of connecting with his daughter wherever she was hiding and calling them back to him. And Luke… Vader was seriously considering freezing the boy in carbonite sometime in the future if he needed to.

The emperor didn't waste time with pleasantries when they got there. It was simple. The situation was simple enough. Rebellion had ensued on the mining planet of Donovia. Apparently the rebellion had convinced the miners working there that they were working on nearly slave labor. Naturally, the miners rose in rebellion and with knowledge of the tunnels and landscape, they were proving to be a formidable force to the troops stationed there. Needless to say, the emperor wanted Vader to go crush the rebellion and restore order, especially since the mines were the source of precious minerals and rare natural resources.

"You're still seem very anxious about all this," Vader pointed out to her as they went to prepare for the mission starting by getting a map of the landscape of the planet.

"I don't know," Ahsoka muttered looked down at her feet. "I just have this feeling that I should be going somewhere else, but I don't know where…"

"Have you meditated on the matter?"

"Nothing's clear. Everything's blurry," Ahsoka said.

Vader paused at that point. When something was blurry or uncertain, the emperor almost always had a hand in what was about to go down. The emperor was trying to get them out of the way for some reason, but it was unclear as to why he was trying to do this. If Leia were here, maybe she could've helped them.

"You know something," Ahsoka said to him.

"About as much as you do. But I think I'll have to try getting into contact with Leia later. She's always been good at playing these kinds of games so no doubt she can figure out the emperor's scheme," Vader replied.

"Can you reach her?"

"It won't be easy, but I'll find her if I need to."

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"You mean we have to go that far on sublight engines?" Shmi whined. "That'll take days."

"Well that certainly shows how much you know about ships. Actually, it'll take about a week or two," Han replied.

Shmi groaned. Unlike her brother and sister who would fly around all day in space if they could, she rather be on solid ground. After being pursued by the empire for the better part of three days and then hiding on the hull of the massive Star Destroyer, the Annihilator, Han made the decision to take them to the Bespin where he had a friend that could help them repair the Falcon.

"Are you sure about this?" Shmi asked him skeptically.

"Would it kill you to trust me a little kid. I've taken care of you this far haven't I?" Han asked.

"Barely," she said with a smile and Han ruffled the top of her hair, careful not to disturb the two montrals underneath her thick hair.

"Still… We can trust him, can't we?" Shmi asked.

"He hates the empire kid. That's good enough for me," Han replied.

Shmi sat in her chair and pulled her knees up to her chest. Ventress would kill her to see her sitting like this, like a weakling in her eyes. A warrior knew no fear, no weakness, and no mercy to the enemy… She didn't know exactly what mercy was, but she had a feeling she wasn't supposed to agree with that one, not completely anyway. Han just didn't get it though. She had a bad feeling about all of this… The force was telling her and just to confirm it, she wished she could reach the level of magic Mother Talzin had and paint the image of whatever danger in a ball.

Han just didn't get it. She had a bad feeling about this and when she voiced as much Han only sighed.

"Well it's either we go there and get help or we wonder in space sweetheart, and I know you don't want to do that," Han pointed out.

"No. But still…"

Han sighed. "Don't think about it so much kid."

"It's hard to ignore the force Han," she said.

Han didn't answer and for a moment Shmi thought he was ignoring her until he pulled her over to the controls and sat her down on Chewie's lap.

"Well I'm going to try to help you do that kid. So you're going to learn to fly a ship," Han said to her.

Shmi scowled. "Do I have to? Can't I just go practice some spells the Nightsisters gave me to practice?"

"I'd prefer it if you stayed right here," Han said dryly. He had already had his words with Shmi about her relationship with the Nightsisters and he wasn't about to do it again.

"But why do I need to learn to fly a ship? I'm not doing it anytime soon."

"In case there's an emergency where I need you to start the ship for me again," Han said and Shmi winced catching his point. "Now see those switches kid? To start the ship, you have to flip them on to start giving power to different places on the ship. Depending on what you're trying to do determines which one's you'll need…"

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AN: I liked this one. I was really trying to distinguish Shmi from her twin siblings here and so apparently, she missed the natural born pilot thing, in fact, she doesn't like to fly too much as you can see in here. It's just a means to get from one place to another. I never fully elaborate on her relationship with the Nightsisters, but we get more of that in later chapters. I can't really say much of anything without spoiling the rest of the story so I'll jet.

Hope you enjoyed. Review Please!