Luke watched as a steady stream of Republic forces made their way to the surface of Tatooine. He could hardly believe the news that was brought to him, that this was the last of the Dark Forces they were looking at fighting. If they could take out Maul, and if need be Leia though that he doubted was necessary, here and now, they could end this for good. Once the majority of the leaders were down, using the Lars home as a staging point much to the excitement of his cousin Naomi (especially when Biggs showed up), they started planning their attack. When they were nearly done, suddenly their communications sparked to life with "This is Val Beckett of the Dark Forces, we surrender, repeat we surrender. Do not shoot. All land and aerial fighters of the Dark Forces surrender, please do not shoot."
Everyone looked around in amazement and Luke looked out over the sandy landscape to see a girl, followed by many others, waving a white flag. As she reached them and said "I am Qi'ra, commander of this group, and we surrender." Anakin, who had just exited a ship, burst out with, "Seriously? I come all the way back to this horribly, sandy place just for you to surrender?!" "Ani, if I had known that this is what it would take to get you to come see me, I would have arranged to have the Dark Forces come here years ago." Shmi Skywalker broke in.
Anakin blushed and muttered "Sorry mom." As Luke asked "Where are Maul and Leia?" "They entered the Hutts palace along with the Inquisitors. Darth Keeran told us to get out of here, off this planet even. There is some Sith device that she fears will wreak havoc on this planet if Maul succeeds." Luke's face became grim as he turned to Biggs and said "Start the evacuation process, those closest to the Hutts palace first just in case. Us Jedi will see to Maul and Leia. Wedge, you start getting these prisoners transferred up to the Dark Forces ship, better to keep them all in one place."
Turning back to Qi'ra he asked "Is there anything more you can tell me about this device, anything that we might need to know that could help in stopping in it?" She shook her head and said "If there is any of that kind of knowledge about it, I was not entrusted with it. Since this was Darth Keeran's plan to save us, I don't think she knows of any or its possible that the only way to stop what is to happen is to get there before they do whatever they are going to do with it."
"Why doesn't she just stop going along with this plan?" Anakin asked anxiously, "I mean obviously she doesn't approve of this." "She told me that she feels confused when she is around Maul, plus she was also hoping to buy us some time by seeming to go along with it. I don't know if she will end up going through with it or not, Maul's hold on her seems to be very strong when she is with him." Luke nodded and said "Thank you, Qi'ra. Now, go with the rest of the prisoners." She nodded and headed off to do just that, joining the members of her team that were on the surfaces.
Han walked over and said "Listen, I overheard what was being said, and I want to help." "You can by getting people off planet." Naare said, whom had been standing quietly in the background while the exchange was going on. "No, I mean I want to help with Leia. She's my friend Luke." "And she is my sister, but she also has been with a Sith for the last twelve years, I don't know what she is capable of, nor can I ensure your safety." Luke responded.
"She won't hurt me. Please, let me go with you." Han said, looking Luke straight in the eye. After a minute or so, Luke nodded and said "Okay, you can come, but stay in back of us as much as possible. We are dealing with four dark side users, so just try to keep one of us between you and them." "I will." Han answered solemnly, before turning to Chewie and instructing him to help in the evacuation process. The Wookiee wasn't pleased with this, but went to do as Han requested. By this time, Caleb and Ezra had landed and joined the group. "Right, Obi-Wan, dad, Ahsoka, Caleb, Ezra, Rowan, Naare and Mara, let's go take care of this threat to the galaxy once and for all."
XXX
Slowly Darth Keeran and Maul headed into the depths of the palace, taking the twist and turns that the Force guided them to take. An unease settled over Darth Keeran's heart, but she kept that and her thoughts to herself. The closer they got to the item, the more and more her Master seemed to be losing his grip on reality. What would he do once they reached it?
XXX
The nine Jedi and Han entered the Palace, the Hutts passing them on their way out and to a nearby ship. Luke followed the bond of his sister, though it felt murky and not quite as strong as when the contact was reestablished. He worried that his sister was losing her way in the Dark Side once more. Would they be able to reach them before they got to the item? Would he get his sister back? Or would their bond once more be severed, this time permanently?
XXX
"There!" Shouted Maul, startling Darth Keeran out of her thoughts to follow his shaking, pointing finger. "There is what I have been searching for all these years! To think such power is finally within our grasp! Come, Apprentice, we must hurry before we are interrupted. Hastily Maul made his way to a floating sphere, Darth Keeran cautiously following as she asked "How did such an item end up in the Hutt's palace here on Tatooine?"
Maul growled, "That foolish Hutt clan, they made their palace out of an old Sith Temple, one that had so many passages they never fully explored them. You must have noticed the lack of any signs of the past several rooms and hall having been lived in? They never come here." By this time he had reached the device and, turning towards her, said "Hurry, my Apprentice, we must do this together."
Darth Keeran made the last few steps cautiously, but quickly to appease her Master. "Now we must grab ahold of it and begin the chat I have been telling you to memorize." "But Master, it was all nonsense, it didn't make sense." Maul's eyes glowed dangerously as he asked "You didn't fail to learn it did you?" "No, I did, but…" "Then let's get started." Maul interrupted, "Whether or not you understand it, I don't have time to explain it to you now. This will enact my revenge on not only Kenobi, but all whoever did me wrong."
He pulled her towards the device, practically using the Force to make her grab it as he did so and they began the chant.
XXX
Luke and the others stumbled as the ground suddenly shook. Luke looked at the others in alarm as he shouted "Hurry!" They ran through the last few rooms, stumbling into the one containing Maul, Leia and the Inquisitors shortly. "Stop!" Anakin shouted. Leia seemed to jump at the sound of his voice, but neither she nor Maul stopped as the Inquisitors moved in on the nine Jedi. They attacked and whatever old Sith energy was lying in the room or was coming from the chant seemed to give them extra strength, for it took everything the Jedi had to stay one swing ahead of them, even with practically a complete five to one odds on both of them.
Han, seeing that the Jedi couldn't do anything to stop the process that was happening, took a deep breath and edge his way towards Maul and Leia. "Leia, its me Han. You need to stop this Leia, otherwise people you love and care for are going to get hurt." He said, hoping that would reach her. However, she kept on chanting as if she didn't hear him, and once again the Earth shook, knocking him temporarily off his feet.
He staggered to them quick as he could and tried again, inching even closer as he said "Come on Leia, I know you can fight this. You know this is wrong, many will be hurt. Your friends and family in this room will probably die. I know you wouldn't want this, you wouldn't kill any of us if you could keep it from happening. Come back to us Leia, come back to light, don't let Maul have this last and final victory over you. Leia hesitated a moment in her chant, but a glare from Maul started her going once more.
Han sighed and said "Please Leia, don't do this to us, to me. You are more then a friend to me if I am honest with myself. You mean the world to me, have since the moment I first met you." He put his hand on her arm, drawing her attention off of Maul and the artifact and unto him, "I love you Leia." He whispered. A tear slipped from her eye as she answered, "I know." Then turning back to Maul she glared at him and then started attacking the artifact with everything she had.
Before Maul could stop her, having only the time to scream "No!" she pulled out her lightsaber and split it in two. The shockwave threw everyone in the room to the ground, those who had been using the Dark Side being knocked out, while those using the Light Side and Han were merely stunned. As soon as he could concentrate, Han scooted over to Leia, Luke joining him shortly. "It's over." Mumbled Rowan from his prone position on the ground.
Luke looked at Han and said "She's okay, but something feels different. Our twin bond is still there, but it's missing something. It's missing the strength the Force lent to it." "Why do you think that is?" asked Ezra, to which Ahsoka responded "When she destroyed that artifact it must have messed with her connection to the Force. It may come back, or it may be gone permanently." Anakin joined Han and Luke by Leia's side. As he looked at her, he asked "What do you think the Council is going to do about this?"
"It's hard to say. She did a lot of damage to a lot of different people, but then look at all the lives she saved or attempted to save." Naare said, "I'm sure that those who decide her fate will take that into consideration. "What are we going to do with these three?" Caleb asked. "They too, will stand trial before the Council. Their sentence will definitely not be as lenient as Leia's." Obi-Wan answered. "Let's get everyone out of here and call off that evacuation." Mara stated, the others moving to do as she said.
XXX
Leia awoke several days later to find her friends and family surrounding her. "We were so worried for you Leia." Padmé said as a tear slid down her cheek. "Mom." Leia croaked, reaching for her. As her mother moved to hug her, she shushed her and told her, "You need to rest Hunny, but know that you are finally home and finally safe." Leia cried softly, not caring who was in the room. Maketh gave her a quick hug, glad to see the one she consider her friend and savior had finally pulled through.
Everyone had been waiting for her to awake with baited breath, Rig Nema's assurances that she was fine had fallen on ears that were wanting to believe, but doubted more and more after so many days slipped by that the good doctor would ever prove to be right. Luke was the last one to leave, the others being shooed out by Rig Nema, but she allowed the twins this moment alone. "Luke, did Han say what I thought he said?" she asked softly so as not to hurt her throat.
Luke chuckled and said "If you mean did he say he loved you, he did Leia. He is waiting in the hall for his turn for a moment alone with you now, but I selfishly asked if I might go before him." Leia chuckled softly before she sobered and said "I'm sorry." "I know, don't worry about it. It's all in the past. When you are feeling better, if you feel up to it, we can talk more about it, but for now just rest. There is so much to tell you and catch you up on, like Mom is Chancellor now."
Leia's eyes bugged out, before she said "I guess I shouldn't be surprised, she's always been good at politics." Luke laughed and said "Yeah she has. I'm going to go so that Han can have a moment before Nema makes us leave for the night, but I just wanted to say I love you sis, and I have missed you, missed this." Tears filled Leia's eyes as she whispered "Me too." Luke carefully hugged her before exiting the door, which opened again shortly with Han filling it.
"Hey." He said after a moment of standing there awkwardly. "Hey, you can come in you know." She said softly. "Right." He stuttered, before moving closer. After another minute of standing there silently, he said "Look, Leia, about what I said in that room, you know if you don't return the feelings or whatever its fine and I'll be okay if you don't and…" he stopped as she raised a finger to his lips and said "Hush, its okay, I feel the same way too."
With that he gently lifted her up into a sitting position and gave her a kiss which she returned. After a moment however, she broke contact with a sigh as she said "This isn't fair to you Han, my future is uncertain." "I know that, and I don't care. We can face it together." She smiled a shaky smile, before asking "Why doesn't anyone seem to want to tell me that I have lost my connection to the Force? It's not like I wouldn't notice it."
Han was taken aback by the quick change in subject, but quickly recovered and answered, "They aren't sure if it's permanent or not at this moment Leia, they think it effected all dark side users in that room, for Maul and those two Inquisitors have also lost their connection to the Force, but they aren't taking any chances with them and have them locked up with inhibitors in case it comes back."
"How come I'm not locked up with them?" she questioned. "Your mom pulled some strings as well as quite a few of us fighting for you." Han smiled. Leia was about to ask another question, when Rig Nema opened the door and said "That's enough for today, Leia needs her rest. However, feel free to come back tomorrow." Han sighed and said "Ok, see you tomorrow." He gave her another kiss, which caused Leia to blush as Rig Nema looked on, before leaving. Rig Nema smiled and said with a wink "You know, it wouldn't be the worst thing if you two got together." Leaving a very confused, yet happy, Leia to ponder over everything that had taken place.
Phew, that is finally done. I had always planned on Han being the one who would talk her down (though the I love you and I know part was completely spontaneous and I loved having the roles reversed on it). I also always had this artifact planned and Leia losing her Force abilities (though at the time when I am writing this, the situation is not decided on being permanent or not) however I never planned for it to be on Tatooine nor did I plan for it to be in Jabba's palace, that was totally spur of the moment. It was going to be on some unknown planet, or at least I never really thought about it.
And I got to included one of my all-time favorite characters, Rig Nema, in this. Seriously, this character needs some more love!
Hope you all enjoyed this installment, I look forward to bringing more to you soon!