AN: I had a long busy weekend people and I didn't know whether I was going to update today at all as I really didn't feel like editing and revising this, especially because I ended up switching the order of two scenes in this. So I'm tired. There's nothing much to say. Getting closer to the end. I might post another chapter. It all depends on how I'm feeling.

Read, enjoy, and review!

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Chapter Thirty

The first thing Shmi was aware of when she awoke, after a habitual checking of her surroundings with the force and her rudimentary montrals, was that her dad wasn't anywhere around. And she did what any child her age did when they didn't find (or sense in Shmi's case) their parent around.

"Daddy!" she said loudly as she got out of bed of started to go around the house calling his name.

"Daddy!" she sang a little as though it were a game of hide-and-seek.

By the third time though, it wasn't a game and so in a harsh tone she started to call him, "Da-."

"With all that racket I'm surprised he hasn't heard you from wherever he went this morning."

Shmi turned around to see her aunt standing behind her. She appeared to be trying to hold back a laugh at her and if there was anything Shmi hated, it was people laughing at her when she was serious (as playful as she admitted she was most of the time to people who were too serious).

She crossed her arms and set her jaw. "Where's my dad?"

Beru shrugged and gestured for Shmi to follow her to the kitchen.

"He left early this morning an hour or so before dawn and said he'd be back by late afternoon or so. Don't worry. He's coming back for you. Of course, it took him a while to convince Kishan," Beru said.

Shmi stretched out her senses for the feline at that point, finding him outside the house. He must have been tired of being in the house.

"Threepio told me some of the things you like, but I didn't know what half of them were. They sounded foreign," Beru said.

Shmi only shrugged. She doubted her aunt knew anything about food from Dathomir.

"But I still wasn't sure what you liked so Threepio made your lunch," Beru replied.

"Lunch?" Shmi asked.

"Yes. You slept right through the morning and part of the afternoon."

Beru ran a hand over Shmi's head. Shmi flinched as they brushed over her montrals, but her aunt didn't seem to notice as she did it again.

"Poor child. You must have been exhausted. Anakin told me you didn't go to sleep until early morning."

Shmi reached her hand up to stop Beru the third time she was about to run her hand over the young girl's head.

"Could you not do that?" she asked politely.

"Oh," Beru said seeming a little embarrassed. "Sorry. I didn't know you didn't like it."

"You're doing it wrong is all," Shmi said repositioning her aunt's hand. "If you do it like that, you won't bother my montrals."

"Oh, that's right," Beru said to her. "I didn't think about it."

"Miss Shmi you're awake. I was starting to think you would sleep right through lunch and the afternoon as well," Threepio said to her. "I would have hated to have to wake you, but eating is equally as important as adequate rest."

"Worrywart," Shmi said to him.

"Now Miss Shmi. Name calling isn't necessary and is very unbecoming of-."

The distinct sound of a ship landing outside the farm caught their attention, and Beru started to go to the door to see who it was. Shmi heard them before her aunt ever saw them though.

"Can't you walk properly?"

Shmi immediately recognized her dad's voice.

"Well it's not my fault I've been in carbonite all this time old man."

"Don't make me regret rescuing you smuggler," Vader said obviously irritated.

"Well I'm not exactly thrilled that I owe my life to you either."

"You don't owe me anything. The only reason I retrieved you was for my daughter's sake. She seems to have been very fond of you though I can't imagine why," Vader said coming into the house by this point.

"I can't imagine how she's alright having you for a dad. Personally, I'd be-. Ouch! You could have warned me there was a step."

Vader smirked at where the man had tripped. "My apologies."

"Sure."

Growling laughter came from just outside the door where Chewie was laughing from where he was behind Han trying to keep him steady.

"Oh laugh it up…"

"Han!" Shmi said running up to him and launching herself into his arms.

"Hey kid," Han said and then started to fall. "Hold on kid. Either you've grown or the strength hasn't returned to my arms yet."

Shmi giggled and let go standing in front of him instead. He put his hand on her head and gasped dramatically. "Talk about a growth spurt kid. I don't remember you being this high. What you been up to all this time?"

"Training on Dathomir," Shmi said simply.

Han frowned. "Got your wish didn't you…"

"I'm part of the clan now. They gave me a name and everything," she said sitting back down.

"What name?" Han asked stumbling to find a seat.

"Vijaya," Shmi said and then noticed the glazed look in Han's eyes. "You can't see!"

Vader interjected, "Relax. It's only carbonite sickness. He'll get his sight back."

Shmi then realized that her father had gone alone to save Han at that point and frowned, "Why didn't you take me?"

"Jabba's palace is no place for a child, young one," he said to her. "It was better I did it alone. If you had been there, I wouldn't have been able to… negotiate as effectively."

Han snorted. "Sure if you call cutting down his guards and threatening to kill him negotiating. It's a wonder we got out of there alive. He almost fed us to a sarlacc. Wanna hear about it kid?"

Shmi didn't hear Han because she had gotten out her seat and ran to where Vader was standing. She hugged him around the waist and Vader stiffened a little, uncomfortable with how affectionate Shmi was being with others around.

"So sweet," Beru said laughing. "Are you all hungry? Shmi was just about to eat her lunch."

"I don't know who you are but since you offered," said Han.

Shmi let go of Vader and sat down before watching him sit across from her. To be honest, she had found Vader equally as strange as Han had been when she went with him. He was so serious and there was no need to be that serious all the time. But maybe that was because she didn't know him like Leia did. She'd probably call it normal. But he had been different the previous night, less cold and more welcoming.

"Daddy," she said happily as she picked on her sandwich. "When are we-?"

Shmi then felt the force in a way she never had before. If was like a sudden jolt to her senses, something she hadn't felt even when Melody had captured her and Han.

They're attacking the bridge.

Turn the ship around.

I'm coming down there personally

Jedi…

Ahsoka!

Luke…

She gasped as she came out the vision shakily.

"You saw it too?" Vader asked her.

Her dad's eyes were narrowed as he looked at her, but the expression wasn't directed at her. She nodded his way and Han sensing something amiss said, "It's another force thing isn't it?"

Shmi sighed. As much as she loved Han, it was nice to have someone who took her force dreams seriously. She had never really mentioned her nightmares and visions to the Nightsisters either.

"We have to leave," Vader said abruptly standing up. "Now."

"Where are you going?" Beru asked surprised at the sudden change.

Shmi didn't answer and instead ran to put her regular attire back on. She came back to find a still confused aunt and Vader trying to rush Han out, despite his blindness. Chewie was growling for him to be careful, and Vader was giving him cutting glares.

"Sorry about this," Shmi said to her aunt as she watched the rest of her group leave. "I'll come back and tell you what happened. But we really have to go."

Beru didn't quite know what to make of the situation and for a moment opened and closed her mouth as though to protest them leaving before sighing and saying, "Be careful."

"We will," Shmi assured as she ran to follow them. "Kishan let's go!"

The cat immediately fell into step next to her and behind her Threepio rushed to catch up.

"You weren't going to leave me behind I hope Miss Shmi," Threepio said.

She grinned. "Never. Han might have."

Her dad was already starting the ship by the time Shmi got on board, and preferring to sit in the cockpit, Shmi sat next to him.

"Hey Shmi," Han said from the back. "Where's the Falcon?"

"Back on Dathomir. It's in some bad shape though. Don't worry. Daddy's going to fix it," she said.

Vader gave her a sideways glance. "Quite honestly I think it's better off where it's sitting permanently. I've never seen a hunk of scraps thrown together and called a ship quite like that one."

"Hey!" Han said. "I'll have you know-."

"Aren't you going to call mama and see if she's okay?" Shmi asked suddenly to diffuse the argument she sensed would ensue. She didn't quite understand it though. Her dad and Han were very similar to her, but she doubted either would appreciate her pointing it out.

"Shmi," Vader said to her. "Get in contact with the Executor for me."

"Assuming she knows how to do it," Han replied dryly.

"Just because I can't fly a ship, and would prefer not to, doesn't mean I can't work a com," Shmi shot.

"Your brother and sister are two of the best pilots in the galaxy. Your father's Darth Vader. Your last name is Skywalker, and it screams natural born pilot. You mean to tell me you didn't pick up that gene?" Han asked incredulously.

Shmi rolled her eyes and ignored him as she got worked the com.

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"Endor…" Luke said after Ahsoka left. "Stang it."

"What's wrong?" Leia asked him.

Luke looked at Leia. "The rebellion's here. They're planning an attack on the Death Star."

"Another one!" Abdul asked remembering the first one.

"Wait a minute. A project like that would be really hush hush after the disaster with the first one," Leia replied as the gears started to turn in her head. According to what she had eventually found out from Ahsoka, who had known about the large space station for years and had chosen not to mention it to Vader, the first Death Star had been attacked multiple times before its completion because too many people who wanted to be a part of the project knew about it. Many times the entire project had nearly been put to scraps because of rebel attacks on it before it was finally sent to be built over Despyre where it was eventually first tested (contrary to the Rebellion's belief that Alderaan had been its first testing site). The delays had taken it twenty years to finally build. The emperor wouldn't risk that happening again.

"You think it's a trap?" Lana asked.

"Well of course it's a trap. He wants to wipe out the rebellion," said Luke. "I have to contact them."

"So that they'll think you're in league with the empire?" Leia said putting a hand on Luke's to stop him from grabbing his com. "There's more to this than the rebels."

"But I'm supposed to be on this mission," Luke said determined. "I have to leave."

"Luke!" Leia yelled after him as he got up to leave.

"Don't try to talk me out of it Leia," Luke said.

Leia groaned. "Why would the emperor set a trap for the rebels without his right hand man here to handle it?"

Luke stopped and turned to look at her. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Maybe Vader took off again. Ahsoka said he left on a personal mission."

"Daddy wouldn't skip out on something as important as this. As much as he hates the Death Star, the reputation of the empire is on the line. He wouldn't up and leave like this," Leia said pointedly.

"Alright then master manipulator. What other explanation would there be?" Luke asked impatiently.

Leia sat down to figure out what exactly she knew about the emperor. The only time she had observed him, and that had been indirectly, was when he tried to use Shmi to get to them. Since then, it had been a stalemate power struggle between an apprentice who wouldn't dare move until he could assure the safety of his entire family and a master who wouldn't outright eliminate him until he could gain leverage over his apprentice and ensure himself a new apprentice that was equally as powerful…

"Oh no…" she said paling.

"What?" Luke asked urgently.

"This isn't a trap for the rebellion. The real trap is for Ahsoka. Vader's let his guard down. He left her alone and the emperor hasn't liked that he keeps her around from the beginning," Leia said and gestured to Artoo. "Come on."

"But if the emperor has Ahsoka killed, Vader's just going lose it and go after him isn't he?" Abdul asked.

"Or it might have the very effect he wants," Leia said and then groaned. "If the emperor can make it seem like the rebellion killed Ahsoka and the emperor allows him to do whatever it takes to completely wipe them out, it would reinforce my dad's loyalty to him."

"But what if father figures out it was the emperor?" Luke asked her.

"He'll blame himself for letting his guard down and serve him anyway, just like he did when mom died… And we'll be forced to run or serve him. The Skywalker twins and eventually Shmi right in his grasp for him to manipulate."

"So who do we warn? Ahsoka or the rebellion?" Lana asked.

"Both," Abdul said as though it were obvious.

"It's too late for that. The rebellion's already made their way onto Endor by now. Their fighters will be coming out of hyperspace at any moment to start their attack, if the Jedi managed to get the shield down," Luke explained.

"It's not too late," Leia said getting up. "We can still retreat. We won't be pawns in the emperor's game."

"You're one to talk," Luke pointed out to her.

Leia opened her mouth to reply, but her comment died on her tongue as something rocked the massive destroyer making them all fall over and grasp the nearest thing they could to anchor them.

"What in the universe?" Lana asked.

Leia looked at Luke who mirrored her horrified expression.

"They're attacking the bridge," they both said and then raced out the room.

"Every time…" Abdul said and then jokingly said, "Don't we get a say in when we take off in a run somewhere?"

Artoo whistled a dry response.

"What did he say?" Lana asked Abdul who understood binary better than she did.

"It's a Skywalker thing I think," Abdul said looking at Artoo for confirmation. He nodded his dome and then added something that translated to, 'If you're not used to it by now, you won't ever be.'

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"Tell all the pilots to head to the hanger and prepare for air combat. The Executor may have the artillery but the rebel fighters are smaller and faster. Until then call a mandatory evacuation of the Death Star," Ahsoka ordered amongst the chaotic bridge.

"But the emperor-."

"I don't care about the emperor. I care about the people who are going to die on that battle station if we're arrogant enough to think that the rebels won't be able to take it down," Ahsoka snapped at the officer.

She did an about face to look at Commander Bow, the leader of the 501st.

"What's going on down there?" she asked referring to Endor.

"It appears the rebels are trying to take down the shield for the Death Star," he said.

Ahsoka glared at him. "Then why aren't you down there trying to stop them?"

The commander quickly went to go about her orders. Sure she wasn't as volatile as Vader, but Ahsoka wasn't exactly pleasant when people were acting incompetent either.

"Ahsoka what's going on?" Leia asked coming up to her with Luke.

"A big mess!" Ahsoka admitted catching sight of the battle outside the window. "Where are our fighters?" she demanded.

"Ahsoka," Luke said to him. "You can't attack the rebellion."

"It's either them or us Luke," Ahsoka said bluntly.

"Since when have you taken on that attitude?" Luke snapped at her. "Ahsoka those are my friends."

Ahsoka turned to look at him with a sympathetic look. "I have no choice Luke. I've made my choice and now you have to make yours. I know it's hard. It took me a lifetime. But you don't have that kind of time."

"Are you saying I have to choose between the rebellion and the empire? I'll never support the empire," Luke declared.

"This isn't about the empire Luke," Leia said to him. "This is about dad. Either you're with him or against him, and if standing by him to keep him from completely falling into the twisted way he fell into right after the clone wars means siding with the empire, then that's what I'm willing to do. Now that you know everything, are you?"

Luke looked Leia in the eye for a moment and then glance down.

"I don't know Leia… I just…"

"Lady Pesinoé," an officer said. "You have a contact from-."

"Can't you see this is a bad time?" Leia asked him.

The officer cleared his throat obviously a little intimidated before saying. "It's Lord Vader."

Ahsoka barely had time to excuse herself before she rushed to take the call. Leia started to follow her when her senses went off, and she turned around.

"Admiral," Leia yelled hoping the admiral would answer her. The man in question came up to her. "The Executor is in danger. Concentrate all your shields toward the bridge."

"I'm sorry but you don't have jurisdiction to-."

"I'm Lord Vader's daughter. I think that gives me jurisdiction enough," Leia said standing to her full height (not intimidating on its own) and leveled the Admiral with a glare that meant business.

Luke looked at the Admiral with a more welcoming demeanor and said, "She's right. Until they can get the shields down for the Death Star, the fighters will attack the surrounding Star Destroyers. They'll bombard the bridge to disable it. If that alone doesn't take out the ship, without being able to control it, the rebels will go after the engines because they won't have to worry about being blown away. If you concentrate most of the shielding on the bridge, they won't be able to take it down."

"But that would compromise the rest of the ship."

"Leave that to me," Abdul assured as he went to help the bridge technicians.

"Lana," Leia said. "I need you to work your magic and get down there to prevent the alliance from taking down the shields."

Lana blinked. "But I've never been on a field mission before. My mom just showed me some things."

"If you're a quarter as decent a spy as your mother that's good," Leia assured. "Take Artoo with you."

An explosion rocked the massive ship again.

"Abdul hurry up with that shielding," Leia yelled.

"I'm trying. It's going to take a while for a ship this massive."

"We don't have that kind of time," Luke said as the force warning came.

"Abdul," Leia yelled as another explosion came. This time the lights flickered and blinked before turning back on.

"That was close," Luke said sighing in relief.

"Don't speak too soon," Abdul said to him and no sooner than he said it they heard a whine and everything cut off. "We've lost all power from the main power generator systems."

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AN: I decided it would have been a waste of my time and energy to write Han's rescue and as if Vader was really going to let her go anyway. So even though originally I wanted to write it, I decided it just wasn't important enough to make the cut. Now it would make a nice side story. Han and Vader finally meeting face to face. Oh the possibilities. But I'm not going to do it now. The point is I'm focused on this story and Han's rescue has no purpose in this story.

So things are starting to heat up and all that training Luke, Leia, Abdul, and Lana got over the years is going to good use. I always say you never know what you can do until you're put in the situation. So let's see what the little children I grew up from SbaA are going to do. You may call it a cliffie. I don't, but whatever.

Hope you enjoyed. Review Please!