Chapter 6

"Only the two of you?" Inquired Akbar as Han and Starbuck met him in the small docking bay, nearby a shuttle sat ready. Han shuffled past and headed up the ramp as Starbuck explained, "Chewie's staying behind to finalize the repairs on the falcon. When Lando is released we figured he could lend a hand, Han really wanted to meet a Jedi."

The truth of the matter was of course Chewie was standing by in case the Admiral tried anything funny. He had already proposed the Falcon take them to the ship they had rendezvoused with. Han had vetoed that claiming the falcon wasn't fully operational, the truth was, as long as the Stargate was in the Falcon's hold, the Admiral wouldn't be tempted to do anything… rash. Once the Falcon was sitting in the much larger docking bay, it would be difficult to rationalize keeping the gate on the ship. It also kept Artoo onboard the falcon and the coordinates for Coruscant in one place, as Chewie was currently generating a high level of "Accidental" interference.

Han and Starbuck knew this, Akbar suspected it, however neither party was quite prepared to trust each other. Wedge jogged up helmet in hand.

"I take it you're our escort?" Starbuck asked nodding at the flight suit.

"That's right, there's my bird over there." Said Wedge pointing to a battered X wing parked beside the Falcon. Starbuck whistled appreciatively.

"She's got some scars, but she's a beauty!" he said approvingly, for a moment he thought longingly of his old viper. She had been on Galactica when Adama had taken her to found the last colony.

As Starbuck followed Akbar into the shuttle they found Han at the controls.

"I had intended to pilot this vessel myself." Stated the Admiral, "But you may consider this an opportunity to demonstrate your prowess for your future commission."

Starbuck smirked, "Well played Admiral, I'll just sit back here."

"Very well." stated the admiral taking a seat beside Han, "Let us begin. Flight control, this is the shuttle Tyderium requesting permission to launch."

"I got a bad feeling about this." Grumbled Han as he keyed the ship for take off.

***

Lando surveyed the mess in the work pit dubiously.

"Chewie what'd you do to my ship?" he demanded as he delicately picked his way down.

Chewie yowled at him and Lando shrugged, "Whose talking about the damage? Why would you put an L3 inverter into a surge assembly? What happened to that Seiner systems pulse coil I had installed here, that was a prime piece of equipment!"

Artoo trundled up and beeped inquisitively. Chewie roared back at the little droid. Artoo gave a disgruntled blat and rolled to the next compartment. Lando paused for a moment. "Sweet mother of Jabba I'm in a madhouse."

***

Home One was significantly larger than the cramped medical frigate. This was reflected in a cavernous landing bay and by wider halls bustling with crew. Starbuck attempted to keep careful track off their path as they wound deeper into the ship but even his pilots instincts found it difficult. Stretching hiss senses forward however he could definitely sense their destination as they approached. It was an island of silence amidst the bustle of life. An island that Starbuck found quite unsettling.

"I got a bad feeling about this." Han declared echoing Starbuck's thoughts

"Your instincts are pretty well honed." Commented Starbuck, "One would almost think you had something else going on."

"Just an old pilot." Replied Han casting a wary glance at Wedge. "No hocus pocus, just a lot of bad experiences."

"One begins to wonder if your instincts have lost the sense of anything else." Commented Akbar sagely.

"hey I get by just fine." Commented Han as the door to the chamber slid open. Inside was a surprising mass of trees, vines and plants. Here and there vegetables sprouted in containers under artificial light.

"This was our hydroponics bay." Explained Akbar, "It seemed to suit his needs most appropriately."

"Appropriate it is, for the times we now live in." declared a hoarse rasping voice, "But suit my needs, it does not."

A figure stood framed by the artificial light in the center of the room. Hobbling forward leaning heavily on an old crooked cane, a diminutive figure came into view.

"Penance I seek, punishment I deserve, for the pride that has doomed so many." Continued the forlorn creature before them, "Fitting it is, that remain I must in a false shell of life."

"Master Yoda had visions of the coming cataclysm but could not warn anyone in time." Explained Akbar, "he had only enough time to get to myrkr to save himself."

"Myrkr?" demanded Han, "What's on Myrkr its pretty much a navigational hazard." Starbuck was surprised to hear a tremor in his voice. He regarded Han carefully as Yoda answered.

"Shielded it was, from the oncoming storm, the storm what seared life from the force."

"There's a sort of buzzing noise." Commented Starbuck suddenly, "An interference I hear suddenly." Yoda nodded, and Starbuck continued, "Its these trees isn't it, you brought them with you, and they… scramble the connection…."

"Push back the force, they do, but the trees it is not." Replied Yoda gesturing with his staff. As Starbuck peered closer he saw a lizard curled up against the tree. "Ysalmiri. Bubbles in the force they create."

"Hocus Pocus." Said Han angrily, "Abracadabra, mystical Hoo ha ha. What is it really you old fraud, how did you really survive."

"Tell you I have." Replied the wizened little Jedi with quiet dignity, "Listen, you have not. Guilt…remorse…loneliness, no need of the force have I to see these things." He looked at the ground sadly, "Constant companions they have been of late."

"I'm afraid I don't understand." Began Akbar,

"The "Midichlorians" as you call them, are disabled by the jamming field I hear." Explained Starbuck, "When the Centerpoint Shockwave was unleashed through hyperspace it overloaded all the Midichlorians in the galaxy, except the ones on Myrkr because they were inactive. There probably aren't enough to reestablish a network on their own, and without center point there's no way to disperse them efficiently. The Force is gone from this place. "

"What I don't understand," clarified Akbar, "Is Han Solo's part in all of this."

As one they turned to Han who gripped a tree branch savagely. At last he looked back at them.

"The old man knew." He said, "He knew and I didn't believe him…"

***

"I got him! I got him!" The joyful cries of The Kid resounded in Han's ears as he lined up his shot. Han was in the bottom turret, the Kid was in the top. Pouring fire beneath the TIE he prevented it from ducking beneath the Falcon, forcing it to make a head on approach. The pilot began to veer left to right as his nerves collapsed. Han centered his target at last and blew him to dust.

"There's still two more out there, and another squadron trying to overtake us..." Snapped Leia as Han let out a whoop. Glaring irritably at the cockpit Han refocused his attention as the Falcon rocked.

"Keep your shirt on princess, they won't overtake this ship." Han said resolutely. He lent credibility to his statement by blowing the left solar panel off one off the fighters sending it spinning into space. An answering thump from Luke's gun and another shout off victory heralded the end of the other. Han tumbled gracefully out of turret and took off at a jog toward the cockpit. Leaping over a bitterly complaining Threepio he burst into the cockpit.

"Outta my chair sweet heart I got work to do." Han snapped and the princess relented after shooting him a withering glare. Checking the scanner Han gave an incredulous whoop even as Chewie roared in surprise.

"'Course their running, we just vaped all their friends!" he crowed as Luke came up behind them.

"What is it? Are they following?" he asked with some anxiety.

"Nope, the other squadron is breaking off." Reported Han as he flipped some switches on the navicomp, "We scared 'em off for now, and we'll make the jump before they can change their minds. Chewie rose to check the damage and Leia slid into his seat immediately. Han narrowed his eyes but permitted it. "Not a bad bit of rescuing hey princess? Sometimes I amaze even myself."

"That doesn't sound too hard." Grumbled Leia, "They let us go, it's the only possible explanation for the ease of our escape."

"Easy, you call that easy?" demanded Han

"They're tracking us." insisted Leia,

"Not this ship sister." Replied Han

Leia shook her head frustrated. Suddenly an indicator lit up on Han's console. He leaned forward as a message scrolled across a small screen.

"The Empire has issued a high priority security alert." He explained at Luke's questioning look, "All available units are to proceed to a rendezvous point near Alderaan. Something big is going down."

"The Wraith." Stated Leia with absolute certainty.

"Who the kriff are they?" Demanded Han. "That's a legend"

"No, several hive ships were spotted on the move near the core worlds.. , I heard Tarkin discussing them with Vader. Apparently my capture and the destruction of Tattooine took Tarkin off his mission and he was none too pleased but Vader insisted."

"I heard him demand information from Ben about them." Said Luke, "Right before he…"

There was an awkward pause.

"Sorry Kid." Said Han, "Hey if it means anything you can stick around here as long as you want, you're pretty handy in a fight."

"Actually…" Luke said looking at Leia, "I was hoping I might join the rebellion."

Leia gave him an odd look. "Luke we need all the help we can get but don't make this decision now, your whole planet was just destroyed, your mentor killed before your eyes…"

"I know." Stated Luke flatly, "I know, and that's why I've made up my mind. I will fight the emperor one way or another Leia, with you or without you. They have to pay for their crimes."

"Either way, I need some coordinates." Han broke in, "Whatever you decide kid, I have to drop this lady off."

"He's right." Answered Leia, "We have to get that Artoo unit to the rebellion." She reached forward and tapped a coordinate set into Chewies console. Han whistled as a planet came up.

"Nice pick princess, the middle of nowhere, say what's so important about that R2 unit, what's he carrying? "

"The technical read outs of that battle station." Replied Leia, "With the Emperor busy enforcing "order" we have the time to plan a proper offensive. I only hope when the data is analyzed a weakness can be found." She shot a glance at Leia, "Its not over yet."

"Look sister, I ain't in this for your rebellion, I'm in it for the money." Snapped Han, suddenly not liking where this was going, "I expect to be well paid."

Leia glanced at Luke and then at Han.

"Fine!" she snapped, "If money is all you care about, than that's what you'll get." Shoving past Luke she stormed off.

"I care…" Luke called after her lamely but Han waved his hand dismissively

"Forget it kid, she's nuts. We have death balls and space vampires roaming around the galaxy and she wants me to start waving a flag. Do I look like a patriot?"

Luke looked at Han, "You know Han I don't think that was about joining the rebellion."

Han looked at him for a second and then shrugged, "Look I don't know, you think a princess, and a guy like me…"

"No." answered Luke quickly, coolly. A little too quickly he kicked himself mentally as Han smirked at him, Luke looked away, "Enough of this, we have a few hours, I'm gonna get in some practice."

"yeah good luck with the light sword." Muttered Han as the kid strode off.

***

He found Leia in the lounge tinkering with a burned piece of equipment. She glowered at him and he retreated half a step before grinning good naturedly.

"Hey don't look at me! I think he's a jerk!"

"He's self centered and arrogant." Clarified Leia testily, "And we ARE being tracked, or something terrible is going on, or both. The galaxy is falling apart and right here right now we can stop it, and men like Han just don't give a damn!"

"I'm a man." Replied Luke earnestly, but even to his own ears it sounded like he was trying it out, "I'm a good pilot, and I will be a Jedi like my father."

Rather than reassured Leia was looking mildly exasperated.

"You're a good friend Luke." She said carefully and Luke beamed. "You're a really great guy too I'm sure we can use you in the rebellion."

"You bet Leia you can count on me." He said feeling suddenly warm and light. "I'm just going to do some training." He said to her grabbing the helmet and drone. She watched him pull the blast shield down and ignite the saber. He enthusiastically blocked the first few shots. "What do you think Leia?" said Luke beginning to pant, "you think the rebellion can use a Jedi?" He blocked another shot, "I'll go, even if Han won't."

When no reply came he flipped up the blast shield and found himself alone with Artoo. "You know what Artoo, I think things are finally looking up for me." Grinning to himself he flinched in irritation as the drone snapped off a shot into his arm. "You little twerp, I wasn't ready." He cried, hastily, he flipped the blast shield down as the drone dodged to one side and sent a bolt flying past his head.

***

Han flipped the levers for hyperspace and began to rise. Stomping feet were his only warning when suddenly a mouth forced itself against his. He froze in surprise then returned the kiss with equal hunger. His hands travelled her body as hers travelled his and after a moment she began fumbling at his waist.

***

"Let Go Luke, Trust Your Feelings…" the words echoed in Luke's Ears as he swung the light saber clumsily. A corresponding spark of pain indicated he had not blocked the drone. Frustrated he whipped off the helmet and hurled it to the floor. As it bounced however, the drone fired another jolt at him.

"Off you stupid…" Luke thrust out a hand in frustration trying to catch the drone, but it floated back as it was programmed. Anger boiled to the surface and as he clenched his fist in fury the drone suddenly crumpled in on itself in a shower of sparks. It dropped motionless to the ground, Artoo whistled excitedly as Luke's anger vanished and he looked at his hand in amazement. Suddenly a voice echoed in his head.

"Luke…Luke…"

"Ben…?" He asked in wonder, "Ben is that you?"

Like an automated recording Ben did not reply but continued, "You must go to Myrkr Luke, You must await Master Yoda."

"Ben?' asked Luke, but there was only silence. Luke raced to the cockpit to tell the others.

"Han1 Leia!, I heard Ben, through the force! He said to go to myrkyr…" he trailed off as he heard a Leia make a noise. Rounding the corner he stood transfixed by what he saw. As rage built within him the air picked up and tools began to clatter around him. Threepio came pattering up.

"Oh dear there seems to be some sort of malfunction in the ventilation… oh my how terribly inappropriate!" declared the droid in shock. Hearing the indignant droid, Han and Leia broke apart. Han dropped a lop sided grin at Luke.

"She digs pirates." He grinned as a mortified Leia gathered herself.

Luke ducked his head and left and Leia called after him "Luke wait!" She struggled after him climbing over Han who grabbed her playfully.

"Let him go, he'll be alright."

"Get your hands off me you.. disgusting scoundrel." She snapped tearing free. Chuckling Han watched as she plowed past Chewie who had come to see what all the noise was about. He gave a disapproving yowl.

"I'm not a scoundrel!" protested Han. "I'm fighting for my life one second I have a nice young princess in my lap the next, what am I gonna do?

***

"Luke!" shouted Leia catching up to him by the airlock. She had chased him until he literally had nowhere else to go. he cursed himself for passing the Fresher in his hurry. He glanced at her still flushed face for just a moment and then couldn't.

"Luke I'm sorry, I really am!" She protested, "I went in there to tell him off!"

"Well done." Luke retorted, "Is this how you persuade all your reluctant recruits? Maybe I shouldn't have said yes so easily."

Leia reared back as though slapped.

"What? How dare you." She shouted, "Don't lecture me farm boy I'm a member off the galactic senate heir to the throne of Alderaan, I was just tortured by the Empire, forgive me for getting a little carried away with my rescuer."

"You're rescuer?" Demanded Luke, "'Hi I'm Luke Skywalker, I'm here to rescue you?' Does that ring a bell? Han was going to just let them execute you, I talked him into saving you, and because off that Ben's dead. Don't tell me what you've been through Leia, Everyone I care about is gone now."

Leia paused, "Luke… you're right. What I've been through is nowhere near as bad as what you are going through, I just meant that… I wasn't thinking straight."

Luke swallowed his irritation and looked at her. He gave her the ghost of a smile.

"Well I suppose the torture…"

"Yes the torture." Answered Leia drolly, "So… you forgive me?"

Luke considered it and after a moment. "Sure thing princess. In what he hoped was a fair imitation of Han's style, he snaked an arm around her, drew her close and kissed her passionately.

The second he did it he realized how wrong it was, the second after that a resounding slap across his face clarified that Leia agreed.

"UGH!" She exclaimed, "You nerf herder you weren't even listening to me! Listen to me carefully Luke, Not now, not ever!" furiously she stalked away. Threepio pranced around the corner.

"Excuse me princess may I just say…Oh!" the droid cried as she shoved it to the ground with a clatter. A few moments later he heard the fresher door slide shut with a slam. Frustrated he sank to the ground and tried to clear his head. Shame and remorse thundered through his ears and more than anything he wished for Aunt Beru's comforting presence, or even Uncle Owen's stern but loving voice. Never had he felt so bad, despair and sorrow washed over him more so even than when He had felt the destruction off Tatooine through the force. Often when he was young and distressed he could find some work to do to burn of frustration or some place on the farm to be alone. But that farm was gone; he would never see it again. In the midst of his despair at last he felt the glimmer of a familiar presence.

"Beware the dark side Luke." Ben's presence chastised him, "Go to Myrkr, wait for Yoda, or all will be lost."

"All is already lost." Shouted Luke, "Uncle Owen, Aunt Beru, the farm? The Empire took it all, I don't want to wait I want to fight! I want to kill them, the Emperor, Vader.. especially Vader!"

"You cannot mean that Luke, you cannot." Pleaded Ben, "For years I watched over you and never have I seen the rage that flickers within you now, you must turn back from the path that is before you, before it is too late. Trust in the force Luke, return to the light and let it guide you."

"You and your absolutes, and your dire prophecies." Grumbled Luke, "What do you know? Your sad devotion to that ancient religion didn't save you from Vader, nor did it give you clairvoyance enough to stop the Death star from blowing up Tatooine, Stop haunting me, just leave me alone."

The countenance of Ben Kenobi crumpled into utter despair. His glowing form stood for a moment more.

"I cannot save you." He said at last, "I have failed you, as I failed your father. Now you too are lost to me."

"What does that mean." Demanded Luke irritably.

"Luke, listen to me." Said Ben gently as the young man looked up at him. He knelt and brushed an arm across Luke's shoulder. Luke felt a faint warmth brush over him. "I am so sorry, you are not ready for this, but time is short. Vader is your father. Your father was a Jedi, who turned from the light, and let the dark side consume him. He became the creature you know as Darth Vader."

"You lie!" Roared Luke shooting to his feet and clenching his fists. Leia came running at the noise and stopped staring at the apparition before her. "That's not true! That's impossible."

"What in the force? Obi Wan?" She demanded hope shining in her eyes.

"Him too?" Demanded Luke throwing up his arms, "of course, sure why not?"

"Luke don't be ridiculous." Leia chastised witheringly.

"I do not lie." Declared the Jedi solemnly, "Perhaps it is for the best that the two of you learn this together, Darth Vader IS your father Luke, and Leia, he is yours as well."

There was an incredibly awkward pause as both sides processed what was being said. Han stepped cautiously into the room his arms out.

"Princess…. Kid… I know we've all been a little crazy here…" he walked slowly towards Luke, not realizing he was coming dangerously close to the apparition of Ben Kenobi. "Luke don't look at me like that, I'm really sorry. I really like her, but I know what I did wasn't fair to you and if its what you want, I'll get out of the way alright?" He strode through the startled form of Obi Wan as though he weren't there. Luke cracked a grin at the expression on Obi Wan's face and then he couldn't help it. He sank back to the ground exploded into laughter so intense he had to hold his sides/ Leia joined him in laughter on the floor.

Han couldn't have looked more perplexed which only added to the laughter, yet both attempted to speak between breathes.

"You're standing…." Began Luke but Leia had to finish for him, "You're standing in a ghost Han!"

"What?" asked Han hesitantly with a half smile, "I'm what?" he looked about him.

"No trace of the force!" Gasped Luke wiping his eyes, "No trace!"

"You can't see him Han, it's a force ghost!" gasped Leia, "But I can!"

"Of course, because you're my sister!" Luke exclaimed, "Which is embarrassing!"

"You too are completely crazy." Declared Han waving his hands around him, "There's nothing here!" And suddenly they noticed he was right. Leia looked at Luke.

"I did see him Luke, didn't I?" She asked seriously, he wiped his eyes, and replied somberly, "I think so, I saw him too."

"If he really was here, than its all true." She said slowly, "You are my brother and he…is my father."

"Me?" demanded Han confused.

"Vader." Declared Leia frostily, "I knew I was adopted but my parents never told me from whom, they must have wanted to shield me."

"Uncle Owen always said if I went up into space I'd end up like my father." Luke declared, "He wouldn't let me leave that farm, and he was right, I nearly just.." he broke off as he realized how close he had come to losing control. "I'm not who I want to be out here am I." he looked at Leia and at Han, "I'm afraid out here. I'm alone."

"You're not alone Luke." Said Leia touching his shoulder, "I'm here."

"So I'm supposed to believe the Old man's ghost was just right here telling stories?" demanded Han, "You two are brother and sister?"

"So we've been told." Replied Luke looking wonderingly at Leia. They both looked back at Han. He looked back them.

"What a kriffing load of poodoo!." Snapped Han, "The sooner I dump you two off the better. We'll be at Yavin in a few minutes princess, my payment better be ready."

"No Han wait!" protested Luke rising to follow the angry captain, "We can't go to Yavin Ben said we have to go to Myrkr!"

"What?" objected Leia, "We have to get Artoo to the rebellion!"

"There isn't time!" exclaimed Luke, "Ben said to go now!"

"I'm not taking you two anywhere else." Snapped Han, "This is my ship, and what I say goes. You sit down, shut up, and stay out of my way until we land or I swear I will blow you out an airlock, I've had it with all this." He stormed off towards the cockpit swearing as he went. Luke started to follow him but Leia restrained him.

"Let him go Luke, we're nearly to Yavin, we can drop off Artoo and get a ship there. A few hours can't make that much of a difference."

Luke looked reluctantly after Han and then back at Leia.

"Fine, little sister. Than you sit down and tell me everything about yourself, we have some serious catching up to do."

"Just who said you were older?"

***

"When we arrived on Yavin, the princess was informed that the Emperor had destroyed Alderaan and was headed straight to the Corellian system. Later we learned the wraith had invaded Alderaan as a feint, and that Ra used the diversion to take over centerpoint."

"Luke and Leia must have felt its passing." Murmured Starbuck, "They were too untrained, jerking around like puppets because they couldn't understand what they felt."

Han glowered for a moment, "Whatever. We got to Yavin and Lea heard the news, I swear I've never seen anything more tragic…" his voice caught. "She felt them die and she didn't even know!" he choked up.

"Too late was Obi Wan's warning." Observed Yoda, "past Myrkyr the storm had passed. Nothing there was, that you could do."

"I could have tried to make her happy!" exploded Han, "Instead of playing little games! She didn't go happy, neither did Luke. Both off them lost everything they knew in the space of a few days, found out they were the children of a monster and then died an agonizing death."

"Neurological overload, cellular disruption...." Akbar stated sadly, "The more sensitive went mad and their bodies failed them, the less sensitive simply went mad from continual neurological misfiring. It was a holocaust that galvanized the galaxy against the Goa'uld."

"It sure galvanized me." Agreed Han, "The Empire needed ships and men, and I had both. I threw myself into their fight with everything I had, for her, and I hated myself the whole time." He took a shuddering breath, "And you made it all worse!" he shouted stabbing an accusing finger at Akbar, "You undermined them, opposed them, and when it was over, and we were all staggering, you went in for the kill, with your little friends the Cylons. I was ready to join the rebellion before the Wraith wars, now… I don't think I believe in anything, except Chewie." He ran a hand through his hair. "Big guy has stuck with me through it all, even when we did jobs for the Empire and the soldiers on board treated him like garbage."

"A true friend, Chewbacca is, and has always been." Agreed Yoda nodding appreciatively. "Loyalty, and bravery, worth believing in, these things still are."

"You seem like someone waking up from a dream." Starbuck observed as the ancient Jedi straightened a bit.

"Too old am I, to see the dawn once more." Negated Yoda, "But perhaps, a glimmer of light."

"If anyone should be feeling old around here it should be me." Argued Starbuck good naturedly, earning a sharp look from Yoda.

"Look Starbuck, it ain't the years, it's the mileage." Replied Han

"Astute, that observation is." Agreed the Jedi, "Not what you seem are you Starbuck."

"You know what, just stop." Declared Starbuck holding up his hands, "I had my whole civilization wiped out by an act of betrayal from one of our trusted eladers. The Cylons chased us across three galaxies until we found at long last the planet of legend, upon which we rested our hopes and our dreams, and guess what. Everyone's dead, some terror called the Ori beat the Cylons to it. We join the survivors in coming to this galaxy and on the way they offer to teach us the technique of ascension to a higher, more enlightened plane of existence. I worked for years to pull that off and the first thing I found when I got there? " he stalked angrily around the shrubbery to tower over Yoda. The Jedi master stared up at him with unblinking eyes.

"Baltar! the man who doomed my people. So much for enlightenment. Over time I have seen one malevolent race after another wiping out their neighbors while these so called "enlightened" beings just watch. A rag tag fleet from a possible future appears in orbit over Earth looking for a break and unleash the devil himself and what do they do? They study the situation carefully and agree to help Iblis create the future he just ruined with the agreement of course, that THIS time, he won't murder humanity."

"We ran into Iblis once before, even his own people thought he was a menace, according to Baltar, he was actually responsible for creating the Cylon race that wiped out my people." Ackbar's mouth dropped open and Starbuck tossed a glance at Han, "He created the Wraith and the Goa'uld too. Meanwhile, the ancients sit back and do nothing as events unfold around them exactly the way Kara warned that they would. They punish ME for daring the question them. That's my mileage ladies and gentleman, That's the universe I live in, and that's the universe I'm going to save." He took a breath and turned to them all.

"Han, she was a hell of a girl, in another life, maybe. Yoda, let it go, you tell others to accept what they can't change, well that goes for you too. Akbar, stop calculating the behaviors of your own allies and trust them, don't let the betrayal of Iblis dictate your actions, your rebellion needs higher ideals then the world you live in, the world he made."

"Much to say have you." Observed Yoda, "So simple do we seem to you?"

"Yoda, there's nothing simple about any of this." Replied Starbuck, "Your every sentence is a meditation, and for a creature of only nine hundred years you possess a singular insight and depth of wisdom, but even the wisest man cannot turn a lense upon himself."

"A mirror you seek." Replied Yoda, "Found me you have Starbuck. Where go will you?"

Starbuck sighed and dragged a stool over from a counter seating himself. Upon this action the others began to find seating of their own. Akbar poured a steaming cup of Caf from a dispenser hidden somewhere in the wall behind a tangle of vines. He gave it to Han who was still shaky.

"I'm not going anywhere." Declared Starbuck, "I've been looking at myself as an observer here, a drifter. I was going to scout out Iblis' plan and beat him at his own game. I was going to return to my own universe and save it. Now I see that's not so easy."

"Your universe, where you are, that it is." Observed Yoda.

"Right." Agreed Starbuck, "I've been picking my battles, letting darkness fester here because its not my problem."

"Injustice tolerated anywhere is an injustice everywhere," commented Akbar, he started at his own statement. "Perhaps I have been unjust to all of you." He declared hesitantly."

"Don't sweat it Akbar, I'm holding your Stargate hostage." Replied Han dryly.

"A firm foundation this is not." Declared Yoda, "Hidden away I have been in self pity have I withered."

"No Master Jedi." Said Wedge suddenly, "You have to protect yourself, or the wave will kill you, you have kept yourself, your wisdom, for us."

"Gone the wave has been, for quite some time." Yoda revealed with a glance at Starbuck who nodded. "Concealed myself I have, for face the silence, I cannot."

Wedge looked shocked and then thoughtful.

"Not so wise am I." admitted Yoda abashed, "When myself it concerns."

"What difference does it make?" Demanded Han, "What can we do about any of this?"

"Yoda can leave the Ysalimir if he is willing to experience the vacuum left by the force." Starbuck declared, "His senses would be limited by the Midichlorians in his body but there may be enough for the Force to someday regenerate."

"Lost they are, all those who went before." Declared Yoda, "The Sith, the Jedi, the good, the evil, gray it all is."

"They are not lost." Insisted Starbuck, earning a look of surprise from the others. "Yoda I feel them right now, at the edge of my senses. The spirits of Obi Wan and Anakin, they echo from a distance, the Force is beyond time, a relative moment without Midichlorians cannot undo that. "

"Leia." Broke in Han, "Is she out there? Somewhere?"

"Maybe." Conceded Starbuck, "I can't feel them so clearly, Ben is deep and Anakin is strong, but if Anakin passed over even as the Midichlorians died, Leia may have too. The Midichlorians were programmed to cherish life, "

"The here and now, upon it we must look." Yoda declared, "Undone, the work of Iblis must be. An unjust galaxy this is, a reckoning there must be."

"We have discussed some possibilities for dealing a blow to the empire." Commented Akbar, "Perhaps we may revisit them,"

"There is someone here who can help us too." Said Starbuck, "An Ascended being, named Adama, we must find him."

"And the force, restored will be." Declared Yoda, "If, the last thing I do, it is."

"You know… the Vong came here, maybe someone followed them." Said Starbuck scratching his chin thoughtfully, "There just may be a way to speed up the return of the Force to this place, with the guidance of all those gone before, maybe we can get things back on track around here…."

Han had tuned out at that point. He listened to the others talk off the future but his thoughts strayed to the past, memories of an old man, a Kid, and a princess.

***

"Its was like an Alderaanian fairy tale." She murmured weakly.

"Don't go Princess, don't give up!" he urged

"Rescued from the darkest tower by a pirate…" She continued dreamily.

"She's delirious." Declared the doctor, "We're losing her, how's the other one?"

"He's fading fast!"

"Ben! Ben! I can save him! Help me save him!"

"Leia don't quit on me, Hang in there kid, keep fighting!"

"Like a fairy tale… happily ever after…so bright…"

"Neural activity is increasing; I've never seen anything like this it's off the charts!"

"No Leia no! Stay with me!"

"He's going into arrest!"

"She isn't far behind!"

"Damnit Princess don't give up!"

And then there eyes locked.

"Its okay Han, it's ok, I will always be with you."

And then they were gone.