CHAPTER 1:

Tatooine. The place where Luke Skywalker had grown up, where he toiled on his uncle's moisture farm. Where the two people, his Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen Lars who loved and raised him, died because of the Empire. Because of him.

There's nothing left for me here, Luke told Ben Kenobi, and here he was back on Tatooine. The last place he ever thought he'd step foot on.

Luke lay next to Leia in the bed that once belonged to Obi Wan Kenobi. They had taken shelter in the late Jedi's abode because Luke couldn't bear to return to the moisture farm where he grew up. Han Solo's beloved ship, the Millennium Falcon, sat just a few meters away and was more comfortable than the Kenobi's home. But for Leia, it was too painful to sleep in Han's beloved ship without him. When Chewbacca came to take her to Tatooine, Leia would occasionally lie in Han's bed and cry into his pillow, but she chose to sleep in the crew's quarters where Chewie's hammock hung. And now that they were staying at Obi Wan's deserted home, she chose to share the only bed with Luke. With no room for the large Wookie, Chewbacca chose to stay on the Falcon, fixing things he already fixed and sleeping in his hammock aboard the ship

Leia lay with her back to Luke, waking through the night as her dreams of Darth Vader, Han and their escape from Hoth, his horrid fate, and Alderaan interrupted her sleep. The cruelest dream that plagued her was those that were of her time on the Falcon while they traveled to Bespin when Han would awake her with a kiss on her forehead. Every time she had that dream, she'd open her large brown eyes only to find that he wasn't there with her, and she would feel sick to her stomach. Her fitful sleep left her tired the next day, making it hard to focus.

Luke lay there in the bed on his back—his upper arm touching Leia's back—unable to sleep. He stared at the sand-smooth ceiling looking for images in the imperfections and dents. Although he couldn't see Leia's dreams, he could feel her pain, anxiety, guilt, and disappointment. He wanted to tell her everything would work out the way he planned, that they'd rescue Han, and return to the Alliance unscathed. And he would have told her such things months ago before he faced Darth Vader. Everything had changed; he had changed. Leia had changed. Luke used to believe Good always triumphed over Evil, but now he knew the world didn't work that way. When he faced Vader, newly-trained Jedi thought he'd defeat the Dark Lord because Luke stood for Light and all that was right in the galaxy. He couldn't lose; he wasn't supposed to lose. But he overestimated his control over the Force, and underestimated the Vader's command of the Dark Side of the Force. Luke opened and closed the mechanical hand that replaced his own, the one that Vader cut off with his glowing red light saber. And Luke lost that battle and almost his life, would have if it wasn't for Leia.

And Vader's words came to mind. I am your father.

Luke shuddered.

"Are you cold?" Leia asked as she twisted around to pull the covers over Luke and then curled back into a ball still facing the wall.

Darth Vader's claim of being Luke's father burned him cold inside. Was it true? It couldn't be true. His father fought for the Old Republic, died as a great Jedi. Vader could have lied to trick Luke into joining him on the Dark Side and ruling the galaxy…as father and son. Luke closed his large blue eyes; he didn't want to believe that he could be the offspring of such a monster. He clung to the possibility that it was all just a lie, but deep down, beneath lies that he told himself, Luke knew Vader's words were true.

Luke glanced at Leia's back, wanting to embrace her, find comfort in her arms. How would she react if she knew the he was the offspring of the most evil monster in the galaxy? Would she be repulsed by him? Would she hold Vader's actions, how the Dark Lord tortured her and took Han away from her against Luke?

No, Leia would not hold anything him, but Luke feared she would be repulsed by him, maybe even be afraid of him. If Luke was Darth Vader's son, then the possibility that Luke would follow in his father's footsteps.

Skywalker resisted the urge to stroke her hair, to ask forgiveness for Vader's sins, if the Dark Lord was, indeed, young Jedi's father. He wanted to ask for her forgiveness for his own sins.

If you leave now, help them you could but you'll destroy all for which they fought for and suffered, Yoda had told Luke after the terrifying vision of Han and Leia. But certain Leia and Han. He had to come to their rescue; nothing was going to stop him.

And Luke did go to their aid, and Han and Leia didn't die, but Luke didn't rescue them; Leia had to come to his rescue. And like Yoda predicted, Han and Leia were suffered torture for no other reason than to lure Luke into Vader's trap. Han had fought to open Leia's heart, and when he finally did, he lost her when he was frozen in carbonite. And Han was one more person Leia had loved that he Empire took away. She lost her position in the Alliance, once the most important thing to her, to rescue Han. Both Han and Leia had lost everything for which they fought and suffered. Because of Luke's rash, selfish, obstinate behavior.

Luke's heart was filled with guilt. He had to make it up to them all. He had to rescue Han.

Unable to sleep again, Luke sat up in the bed and pushed the covers off of him. Leia didn't move, which meant she must have fallen back to sleep. He looked at her, curled up into a ball hugging herself. Luke pressed his lips together and pulled the covers over her.

Luke entered the common room/kitchen. There he found Chewbacca making kaffe. The Wookie greeted him and handed Luke a steaming mug.

"Mornin'." Luke took the mug and sat down at the table. "Thanks." He held up his mug. "I needed this."

Chewie ruraffed.

"No." Luke looked at the inanimate droids across the room. "I kinda like the peace."

The Wookie gurred.

"She's still asleep. She had a hard night."

The Wookie cooed.

Right before Han was frozen in carbonite, Han told Chewbacca that he needed to take care of the princess, and that was something the Wookie took to heart. He cooked meals for her to make sure she ate and Leia couldn't refuse his kindness. Chewie kept an eye on her even when she wanted to be alone and was hiding out from the High Command, and many times Han's best friend sat with her to share their mutual grief. Although Leia was used to isolating herself when she needed to let out her emotions and resented the Wookie presence (who only reminded her of Han) in the beginning, she had gotten used to Chewbacca's company and became quite attached to him. He wasn't just Han's friend anymore; Chewie was truly hers. When he wasn't around—for he was mourning too—she sought him out on the Falcon so he wouldn't be alone in his grief. In silence, Leia began keeping him company and would help the Wookie repair the Falcon, inside and out, and had come to know the ship almost as well as the Chewie.

When the princess first returned to the Alliance, the High Command gave her some space to mourn. They allowed her to spend time with the Wookie, repair the dilapidated ship that saved her and Commander Skywalker's lives. However, the High Command was losing patience and pressured her to return to her duties. Chewbacca once confronted Dodonna, scaring the wits out of him. Leia knew she had to return to her duties, and she did, but it only made her heart heavy. The princess felt that she should be off rescuing Han.

When Chewbacca returned to Home One and told Luke and Leia that they found Han, the princess expected to leave right away to rescue Han. But Luke said the time wasn't right, that they had to prepare to face Jabba the Hutt, a warlord Leia underestimated. Of course, after being tortured by Darth Vader, Skywalker could understand her belief that Jabba could easily be defeated. Luke had visions of successfully facing Jabba the Hutt, but as Yoda put it, always in motion is the future. The young Jedi couldn't predict the outcome. He only knew that the time wasn't right just yet.

Luke put his hand on Chewie's arm, and walked out of Kenobi's home. The first sun of the desert planet touched the horizon, coloring it a beautiful array of purples and pinks. The sun hadn't driven away the cold night completely, and a cool breeze rustled Luke's hair. Soon the sun would rise higher, and the second sun would follow, chasing the beauty of the morning. Luke inhaled and cherished the only pleasure he got from this god-forsaken planet.

The night was a fitful one, and Leia lay awake most of the night. When she finally fell asleep, she awoke thinking Han was the one making kaffe in the galley of the Falcon. When reality set in, and she realized she wasn't on the Falcon, and Han was still trapped in carbonite, that she was still in Obi Wan's abode waiting for the right time to rescue him. Her heart sank into her stomach.

But Han now wasn't far away across the galaxy anymore. He was merely miles away from her, which brought her a sliver of comfort. But she had already been on Tatooine for three standard weeks, and they had not done anything to rescue him. The more they waited the more Han was probably suffering. Did Jabba the Hutt release him from the carbonite? Did he torture him, make Han suffer for not paying off his debt, a debt he had not paid because he was busy getting her off of Hoth? How could Luke wait knowing terrible things Han might be going through?

Patience. Luke had told her. The time will soon come.

The princess was irritated with Luke. She didn't understand why they were waiting, or why Skywalker was unwillingness to rush into things. Patience was never Luke's strong point before. He always rushed into any situation, damn the consequences. But something had changed about him after Bespin, and sometimes she didn't recognize him.

On Home One and here on Tatooine, Luke spent a lot of time alone, meditating, practicing with his light saber, physically training his body, and doing things like levitating objects, things she always thought impossible. Sometimes, when she needed a distraction, she would invade his privacy and watch him train. She even on occasion sparred with him using light metal sticks instead if light sabers, though she didn't come near possessing the skills Luke had. He humored her, let her win on occasion. She also physically trained with him to rid herself of her frustrations with the High Command. What Luke was able to do, well, Leia would have thought it impossible if she hadn't seen it herself. But the Force was with him, and Luke's control of it was improving every day. Luke had reached his goal; he was a Jedi without a light saber since his was lost in his battle with Darth Vader. But from the way things looked to Leia, Luke didn't need the ancient weapon.

The young Jedi seemed ready to take on the Emperor himself; surely he could take on Jabba the Hutt. Jabba was a lowly warlord without the Force. It was difficult for Leia to remain patient, though she had always been the patient one, the one to think before jumping into anything (something she regretted when it came to Han). Luke had taken on her characteristics, and she had taken on his. She closed her large brown eyes to hold in the tears.

Sensing she was awake, Chewbacca entered the room and cooed. Leia rubbed her eyes as if she was just removing the crust from sleep to hide any remnants of the tears she held behind her eyelids. She knew she wasn't fooling the Wookie, but he always pretended not to notice her tears.

Leia yawned, and Chewbacca shared an involuntary sympathy yawn. He inquired about her sleep.

"Good."

He tilted his head and cooed again.

She looked down. "I woke thinking Han was here," she whispered.

The Wookie brayed.

"I know. But sitting around waiting is getting to be too hard."

Chewie sat down next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. The princess leaned into him and slipped her arms around his furry chest. "These three weeks make it six months for Han."

Her friend grunted and gurawfed.

"I'm tired of waiting," she stated. "I'm afraid he's suffering."

Chewbacca said nothing, and Leia knew he was thinking the same thing. Then the Wookie spoke to her and she looked up at him.

"Lando was successful in infiltrating Jabba's palace?" Leia repeated. "We're going to rescue Han," she breathed.

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Luke entered the work shed off the main house and went to the trunk in the middle of the room. He knelt down beside it, ran his hand along the smooth wooden top, and opened it. Inside laid a light saber, one that Luke built with his own hands using the items he found in the trunk. It was as if Ben left this trunk for Luke, as if he knew Luke would one day come back here and need to build a light saber.

Or maybe these were relics, talismans that Ben had saved over the years.

He stood up, ignited his new light saber, and studied the glowing green blade. The saber buzzed with life as he slowly cut the air with it. It was best he lost his father's light saber. After what Vader revealed, he couldn't have wielded that weapon without thinking of that monster. Or becoming just like him. His father, a monster, was not an honorable Jedi like Ben had told him. Anger, the Dark Side. He swallowed down his ire he felt over Ben's lie.

Anger, fear, aggression. The Dark Side are these.

Luke had to wonder about his fate. If his father turned to the Dark Side, would he? After all, the young Jedi's blood came from whatever blood was left that mechanical…man. Luke closed his large blue eyes and inhaled slowly then expelled his breath in the same slow manner. The High Command believed in his Jedi abilities. The rebels knew him as a good-hearted Jedi. Chewbacca had faith in him. Leia knew his heart. Could she see any darkness there?

Luke had learned to control his aggression, had mastered controlling his emotions, but underneath it all he feared his anger. If he couldn't control that, he'd lose himself to the Dark Side.

A series of beeps came from the doorway. Luke looked over his shoulder and deactivated the light saber.

"Artoo, good morning."

The astromech droid greeted Luke in another series of beeps.

"Where's Threepio?" he asked though he knew he wouldn't understand Artoo's answer. On Dagobath, Artoo had become Skywalker's confidant and his companion in his loneliness. It was hard to see the droid as anything other than a friend.

"Come here," Luke commanded and the droid obeyed.

Luke pressed his hand against one of Artoo's blue panels, and it popped open. Luke put his light saber into it. "You'll know when I'll need this." Artoo closed the panel, and Luke stood up. "You and Threepio will bring a message to Jabba."

The Jedi took a step back and commanded Artoo to record his message for the warlord.

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There was something that Luke was hiding; Leia was certain of it. Did he doubt himself? Did he fear that they would release Han from carbonite (if he was still frozen in carbonite) or a horrid prison only to find Han dead? She shuddered at the thought.

No, it was something else, something bigger than this mission, though at the moment she couldn't think of anything bigger and more important than rescuing Han. Luke had been hiding something from her since they rescued him from that antenna under Cloud City. At first she thought it was because of his injuries or battling Vader. He seemed delusional when he entered the cockpit during their escape. Leia had grown closer to Luke over the last six months. Since they returned to the Alliance, they had spent a lot of time together. They were almost inseparable.

Leia still fulfilled her duties of the High Command, but she didn't throw herself into her work like she did after the destruction of Alderaan. She was often overwhelmed by her grief and distracted. But being with Chewie, being with Luke comforted her, made her pain lessen, and joining Luke during his training sessions kept her mind off Han for a short time.

Leia pulled out of Chewbacca's embrace, yawned again as she stretched her arms in the air, and stood up. She followed Chewie to the kitchen/common room.

"Good morning, Your Highness." Threepio's shrill voice made Leia cringe. "I hope you slept well."

Leia smiled at the droid. "Good morning." Then she pressed his deactivation button. "I can't take his cheeriness this morning."

Chewbacca laughed.

"I can't believe we're finally rescuing Han." Leia sat down at the table with the steaming mug in her hand.

Chewbacca gave her more information.

Her brow furrowed and took a sip of her mug. "So Lando infiltrated Jabba's lair three months ago."

Chewie harrawed.

"Yeah, I guess it's taken time for him to gain the trust of Jabba and whoever else." Leia shook her. Three months to find him. Three months to infiltrate the palace. That's a long time for Han."

The Wookie agreed and brayed.

"He's still frozen in carbonite?" Leia's heart jumped to her throat. Six months in suspension. But if Lando was right, Han was in perfect hibernation and Jabba couldn't torture him.

Luke walked into Ben's home followed by R2-D2. "Hey, Leia."

Leia narrowed her large brown eyes on him.

Luke looked to Chewbacca. He grumbled and shrugged. Luke said, "The news came late. You were asleep, and I didn't want to wake you."

"I think news like that warranted you waking me."

Chewie growled and through up his hands.

"Yeah," Leia turned her large brown eyes on the Wookie. "Go work on that bucket of bolts when you don't like the conversation."

Chewie mumbled something, made an obscene gesture, and headed out the door.

"Same to you," Leia muttered. She then addressed Luke, "You should've woken me."

"I tried."

"Not hard enough."

"You just haven't had a lot of sleep lately…"

Leia pursed her lips. "Let me decide what's good for me."

Luke held up his hands. "It won't happen again."

"Yes, it will," she quietly said. She looked away from him, wondering what else he was keeping from her. The princess sipped from her mug. "I have a problem with your plan, Luke."

"What?"

"If I act like I'm collecting a bounty on Chewie, he's going to end up locked up, and we'll have to rescue him after we rescue Han."

"Your only job is to get Han out of the carbonite." Luke sat down across from her and took her hand. "I'll take care of the rest."

Leia looked down at his hand on hers. Luke is a Jedi now, she reminded herself. She had seen what he was capable of doing, but what if something goes wrong?

"The ruse will get you inside too." Luke tilted his head to look into her large brown eyes. "Everything needs to fall in place. It's pertinent we all do our part. This is the best way of getting Han back."

"Chewie can't do anything if he's behind bars." She gazed into Luke's eyes, and quietly said, "What if they torture him?"

"They won't have time."

"You sound so sure of yourself," she pressed her lips together, "but I know you're not as confident as you sound."

"I can't predict the future." Luke closed his fingers around hers. "Of course I'm afraid." Fear, the Dark Side. "I can't say I have my doubts, but I do have a good feeling about this."

Leia's right side of her lip lifted into a smile, one that reminded Luke of Han. "It's better than a bad feeling."

Luke smile in return. It was good to see her smile. He rose from the table, put his mug in the sink, and walked over to Threepio. Luke glanced at Leia, and she sunk in her seat and lifted her mug to her mouth.

"A little too early for him?"

"A little to cheery."

Luke smiled again as he remembered Han's aversion to the talkative droid. Then he activated the inanimate Threepio.

"Oh, good morning, Master Luke." Threepio came to life. "Please don't shut me off again."

Artoo sputtered a few beeps.

"Oh, shut up, you sorry excuse of a droid," the protocol droid's voice was harsh.

Luke ignored their interaction. "I have an important mission for you."

"An important mission? I promise I won't let you down."

"I know you won't." Luke patted the Threepio's shoulder. "Artoo has recorded a message for Jabba the Hutt from me. You and Artoo will deliver it to him."

"Jabba the Hutt?"

"I know you won't fail me," Luke gave the droid a meaningful look.

"O-of course not, Master Luke."

Luke and Threepio stood up, and Luke patted Artoo on the head. "You should be on your way."

"Yes, Master Luke. Good-bye and good-bye to you, Your Highness."

Artoo expelled a series of excited beats as they parted ways with Luke and Leia.

"Excited?" Threepio through his arms in the air. "Remember what happened the last time you had to deliver a message?"

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