Anakin pulled the speeder to a stop as memories slowly began to surface as he looked around the Lars homestead. His mother was buried here along with Cliegg, Owen, and Beru. He got out of the speeder and walked to where they buried his mother. Luke followed closely behind him as Brice followed Luke. He knelt down in front of the spot where they buried her. He knew his mother wouldn't kick someone out based on his or her actions.
"Father, are you starting to have second thoughts about this?" Luke questioned as Anakin glanced behind him at Luke.
"Your grandmother was an extraordinary person, you would've liked her, Luke," Anakin explained with a frown. "She wouldn't kick someone out based on their actions. I have strong feelings about slavery due to my past."
"Anakin, I'm okay with you talking to them," Brice said with a frown as he walked up beside Anakin and took his hand into his little one. "If you don't want to kick them out, that's okay too."
"Father, they lied to me about raising Brice here. I would rather have someone here who didn't lie to me," Luke explained as Anakin turned his attention to his son. "There is nothing saying we really have to go through with this but… I would rather have an honest couple in here."
"It's more up to you, Luke. I no longer have any say in this," Anakin explained as Luke nodded in agreement. It maybe his step family, but the dwelling was left to Luke.
"I want to talk with them first," Luke spoke with an unsure expression. "By the way Fress and Jess told me, they didn't seem to care about Brice and resented him for being Force sensitive."
"Very well," Anakin looked at the spot his mother's final resting place was and shook his head. Forgive me mom for what we're about to do. He took the lead towards the dwelling as Shala walked out of the dwelling as fear crossed her features.
Shala turned her attention to Brice as her eyes widened in shock. "I knew adopting you would be trouble," she snapped angrily. "My brother was an idiot."
Brice's face fell as Anakin placed his hand onto the young boy's shoulder. He glanced at Luke with a frown as he raised an eyebrow. Anakin turned his attention to Shala. "The boy's parents are good friends of mine. And I despise slavery with a passion due to my past. My mother was betrayed just like Brice was."
"What are you doing here anyway?" Shala questioned as she caught sight of Luke. "Mr. Skywalker, is there a reason Vader is with you?"
"He's my father," Luke answered with a serious expression. "And he's upset that you sold his friend's son into slavery. I'm disappointed you lied to me about wanting to raise Brice."
"The Lars was a generous and caring family. Cliegg Lars bought and freed my mother. He married her. I prefer an honest family living here," Anakin explained in a calm tone as panic crossed her features. "Selling family members into slavery is the worst thing anyone can ever do. Slaves have no freedom at all."
"It's not like you can kick us out," Shala spoke in a sure tone. "You lost your claim to this dwelling years ago."
"No I can't," Anakin agreed as Luke glanced at Brice and nodded. "But my son can. You're being evicted."
"Brice," Luke spoke to the boy as Brice stepped forward with the paper in hand and handed it to Shala.
"You're evicting us?" Shala questioned as panic crossed her face. "We have no where else to go."
"You have two months to find a new place to live," Luke explained with a frown as some relief crossed her features. "We do want you out. I'm sorry. I thought you were raising Brice not selling him into slavery after I let you move in here. I don't like the fact you lied to me."
"Very well," Shala turned her attention to Brice as he took a step back from her after handing her the piece of paper. "I'm sorry, Brice. We shouldn't have done that to you. Can you forgive us?"
"In time." Brice answered with a frown. "I'm getting to know my biological parents. It will take time."
Shala nodded as she looked down at the paper in her hand and walked back towards the dwelling. Anakin didn't like doing this but considering they were mean to Brice, he didn't feel quite so bad about it. "Let's go home."
Lando had sneaked into Jabba's Palace as a guard three days ago and set up hidden cameras, one focusing on Jabba, one on Han and one in the hallway entering the main part of the palace. It would allow Anakin to see how Jabba would react to the new proposal. He glanced at Ahsoka who was watching everyone with disgust on her features. "Got to hand it to Lando. Not sure how he managed to rig the place, but he did."
"They drink so much that they take a lot of naps," Ahsoka explained with a frown. "Lando must've waited until the right moment to do it," she paused for a second as she eyed Anakin with concern. "No matter what happens to Leia. If she's found out, I can see Jabba dressing her up scantily. You can't lose your temper or it will mess everything up."
"The plan is to get Han into an easier area to rescue from," Anakin explained. "If Jabba dies mysteriously, it would make our job easier," he wondered if it was possible to Force chock a hutt or not.
"Just stick to the plan, Anakin," Ahsoka reminded him with a stern expression. "Keep Vader under control."
"That stung, Snips," Anakin snipped back as he gave her a hurt expression as he placed a hand over his heart. "It's my parental side I need to keep under control."
Ahsoka rolled her eyes as they watched Threepio and Artoo enter in causing him to grin. Here we go, either Jabba accepted the proposal or he didn't. He highly doubted it though. He glanced at Luke who decided to do the holo recording as he shook his head. "You know this is going to go south."
"I haven't been on a mission that has yet to go right," Luke answered as he watched Anakin with a frown. "This will be an interesting trial, that's for sure."
"Luke, if you pass this, you'll be one step closer to being a fully fledged knight," Ahsoka said with a grin. "You're following in your father's footsteps. Just steer clear of the dark side."
"You just could not resist, could you?" Anakin questioned as Ahsoka gave a sly smile.
"The last thing we need is another Skywalker gone wild," Ahsoka reminded Anakin with a stern expression.
Anakin didn't respond as the holo of Luke was played for Jabba. He listened to what Luke was saying and he paused for a good twenty seconds as the room broke out in laughter. That was not a good sign. As predicted Jabba said there will be no bargain and decided to keep the droids. "Leia, the plan fell through as expected. You and Chewie are up. Give it fifteen minutes. Good luck."
"Copy Anakin," Leia answered her voice sounding strange through the vod codder as she killed the link.
Jess walked in behind them as Anakin turned his attention to the younger man and raised an eyebrow. "How is Fress feeling?"
"Not good enough to go, her hormones are starting to kick in," Jess answered with a frustrated sigh.
"Jess, stay here with Fress. She needs you right now," Ahsoka said with a frown. "Rex and I can handle the speeders."
"Thanks Ahsoka," Jess said with a relieved smile. "How is it going?"
"As expected," Anakin answered as Leia walked in with Chewie on a leash next. "We'll wait to see if Leia gets caught or not," he muttered under his breath. "Hopefully Jabba is smart enough not to dress her up like the other girls."
"I don't know if I should pity the hutt or not," Jess muttered under his breath as he sat down beside Ahsoka to watch. "I don't think Leia would give herself away too easily."
"I hope not," Anakin agreed with a frown. "She wanted to know how to properly unfreeze Han and I suspect she'll wait until everyone passes out for their afternoon nap."
Ahsoka nodded in agreement as she stretched her arms. "I think I'll take a nap before that happens. And you should too."
"Right," Anakin agreed as Leia approached Jabba with Chewie in tow and threatened to blow him up if he didn't give her fifty thousand. He gave a proud smile as Jabba agreed. "That's my girl."
"Proud parent moment," Ahsoka grinned as she patted him on the shoulder. The party resumed as Leia walked off to a corner by herself and warded off anyone who attempted to get too close to her.
"I think I'll take that nap," Anakin glanced at Jess with a small smile. "Would you mind keeping watch for a bit?"
"I'll let you know as soon as things happen," Jess agreed as he sat down in the chair Ahsoka had just evacuated.
"Thanks Jess," Anakin stood up and followed Ahsoka out of the small room and headed towards the hover bed. Old age with bad injuries caught up with you faster then you expect it too.
Anakin blinked his eyes open as he heard someone call his name over and over again. He rubbed his eyes as his eyes focused on Fress leaning over him. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Fress answered with a weary smile. "Leia is starting to move towards Han."
Anakin sat up and slid off the bed. He followed Fress back to the holo recordings they set up to follow everything that went on in Jabba's palace. He sat down in a chair as he watched Leia observe the controls on the slab of carbonite and punched in the sequence.
Anakin glanced at the other cameras noting everyone was asleep except for Jabba who was watching Leia causing him to groan. "Blast it, Jabba is awake and watching her," he noticed the hutt was watching Leia while licking his lips. A bright light caught his eye as he turned his attention back to Han beginning to unfreeze. He collapsed to the sandy ground as Leia leaned down beside him.
Han felt along Leia's mask as he shook uncontrollably. "Where am I? I can't see."
"Shhh, you're suffering from hibernation sickness. Your eyesight will return in time. We're in Jabba's palace," Leia answered as Han froze.
"Who are you?" Han questioned as Leia took her mask off and gently took Han's face into her hands.
"One who loves you," Leia answered in a loving tone.
"Leia," Han leaned his head up and kissed her on the lips. "I love you."
Anakin watched the two as they interacted with each other. Leia was going out of her way to rescue Han like Padme would go out of her way to rescue him. "They're soul mates, aren't they?"
Fress nodded in agreement as they watched Leia helped Han stand. "I have to get you out of here."
Anakin heard Jabba beginning to laugh. He heard the hutt refer to Leia as Vader's daughter. He sighed knowing the hutt was smart enough to figure it out. Han looked shocked as he turned a confused expression to Leia who muttered about explaining it to him later. The guards stepped forward taking Han and Leia into custody.
"Look, Jabba I was on my way to pay you back and I got a little side tracked, it's not my fault," Han spoke with a frown as Jabba chuckled. Leia was the reason Han got side tracked with the Alliance.
"It's too late for that, Solo. You may have been the best smuggler in the business but now you're bantha fodder," Jabba spoke causing Leia to sigh, she glanced at Han as she took his hand into hers. "Vader will have to pay me the full amount of one point five million if he wants his daughter back and I will alert the Empire to where he is."
"Is Vader really your father?" Han questioned as Leia looked away from him.
"He's Anakin Skywalker, my father," Leia answered honestly with a worried expression. "If you want to run, I wouldn't blame you."
"I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart," Han spoke honestly as relief flooded over Leia's face. "I love you, Leia, black sheep in the family and all," he paused for a second as a smirk crossed his face. "So that means Luke is your brother and you used him to make me jealous?"
"I only recently found out," Leia explained with a frown. "Please don't bring it up again," she leaned her head up and whispered something into Han's ear as his face paled. Leia must've told Han that they had the palace under surveillance.
"Take Solo away," Jabba commanded as the guards stepped forward taking Han away as Leia noticed Lando was among them. "Bring the Princess to me, she is beautiful."
Leia turned her head to the side as Jabba kissed her. "You're going to regret this, Jabba. My father is not one to be trifled with," she commented with a growl. "I have powerful friends."
"I'm sure, I'm sure," Jabba signaled for a girl to walk forward. "Take the princess and get her into something a little more comfortable."
The next twenty minutes crawled by as Anakin gripped the table hard. He balled his fists as he watched Jabba give Leia a giant sloppy kiss and then forced Leia into an outfit that showed more and covered very little. Jabba just painted a larger target on that giant backside of his. "Get your grubby hands off my daughter, she is not your plaything," he growled as the anger began to build. Fress watched him with concern as she placed her hand onto his shoulder. He felt some of the anger begin to drain, but it wasn't enough. He'll make the hutt suffer for putting the moves on his beautiful daughter.