A/N: This one was slightly longer. I just started a new job, so I haven't had a ton of time to write this week. Hopefully, once I learn what I'm doing, I'll have more free time after work.

Please read and review! And happy birthday to Daisy Ridley!

XVII

Darth Vader's ship floated just outside of Tatooine. The sensors they had picked up from Rykin had vanished as soon as they entered the system, making it unreasonable for the Empire to land and search for her. She wasn't the main target – Skywalker was.

"Sir," a first lieutenant greeted as he stood attention in front of Vader. "Our fleet has tracked the Princess and the Millennium Falcon to Naboo."

"Naboo," Vader repeated, his helmet rumbling as he spoke.

"Yes, sir. Skywalker is believed to be with them." After a few minutes of silence, he added, "The Emperor wished to speak with you."

Vader turned, his cloak whipping through the air as he spun. He strode toward the window of the cockpit. Memories troubled his mind as he fought to decide what to do with the information. Then, finally, a decision.

"Put him on. Then, ready my ship, lieutenant," he ordered. "I want to capture Skywalker personally."

"Yes, my Lord."

Once the lieutenant disappeared, Vader brought up the message channel, displaying a big, blue hologram of Emperor Palpatine.

"Darth Vader," his voice seemed to sing. "I suppose by now you've learned the boy and the Princess are on the planet of Naboo."

"Yes, Master," Vader bid. "And the smuggler, too."

"I hope your personal feelings won't get in the way of things." Palpatine reminded the Dark Lord of his history with Naboo – a history he didn't want to remember.

"Not at all, Master."

Queen Apailana showed the group to an open room somewhere in the back of the castle. Then, she bid farewell until she received word that the rest of the Rebellion had been brought to her by her army. The space was decorated with a big sitting area and several massive, open windows.

Naboo continued to remind Leia of home. For a moment, she contemplated the possibility of making the planet the new home of the Rebellion, but she knew it wouldn't work out in her heart. The Queen was hospitable, but this was her planet, not the Alliance's.

Once they were left alone, the group was finally given time to reunite. Chewbacca sat in one corner, attempting to repair something on Threepio while Luke put Artoo into rest mode. There was always something wrong with the golden droid, it seemed.

Leia stared out the window towards the green landscape in the distance. Blue mountains climbed high into the sky and the trees in the fields below blew gently in the wind. The Princess sighed silently, taking it all in. The Alliance had been with the Senate, then on Alderaan, then on Dantooine before it moved into space. Then, they were on Chad, and now here. This was her favorite of all those places…all except for Alderaan, of course. Nothing would beat home.

"You miss it, don't you?" Han's voice suddenly sounded in her ear.

Leia turned her head to face him. Solo stood looking over her shoulder with his fingers hooked on his belt. She was trying her hardest to keep her feelings hidden, but he had read her well.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she bickered.

Han rolled his eyes. "Sure, Princess. Just like you didn't know what I was talking about the other day."

Her cheeks flared up with red. "Clearly that poison's gone straight to your head."

Solo sucked in a breath but turned around to leave the Princess alone. His attempt to cheer her up had failed miserably, but then again, when had it ever succeeded?

"Watch it, kid," he warned as Luke approached them. "Her Highness isn't being very lady like right now."

It was Luke's turn to roll his eyes. Han complained about Leia so often, it was a wonder he was still part of the Alliance.

"So what are we going to do?" Luke asked the other two.

Leia turned to face them. "Once we have the rest of the Alliance with us, we should plan to make our trip to the new location." Her clean robe the Queen had given her to change into hung all the way down to the ground and swayed as she walked.

"New location?" Han repeated. "What did you have in mind?"

"There's a planet on the other side of the outer rim called Hoth. It's remote, which will make it harder for the Empire to locate us."

Han snorted in astonishment. "Hoth? You've got to be kidding me!"

Leia's nostrils flared in hostility. "No," she told him. "We received a hologram from our scouting mission before we landed."

"Is it safe?" Luke asked.

"There have been no life forms found yet."

"Just how cold is it, then?" Solo asked, getting at the reason why the planet was not inhabited.

"Cold," Leia told him just as coldly.

Luke thought for a moment, but then asked a more logical question. "Can we make it there from here?"

Leia glanced at him, a cloud of anxiety in her eyes. Part of her wasn't sure. "With the proper fueling, most likely."

"Oh, this is just sounding better and better!" Han complained, throwing his arms up in the air and stalking away towards Chewbacca, who yelled a comeback to tell him to settle down.

"Well, I happen to think it's perfect for a new base," Luke agreed cheerfully.

Skywalker's attempt to persuade Solo didn't go any further. Suddenly, a low rumble echoed somewhere outside of their room. Then, silence.

"What was that?" Solo asked, heading for the window.

Leia turned to view the outside once more, but this time, her heart fell. In the courtyard below, several members of the Queen's security unit were falling, killed by Stormtroopers. In the distance, she saw an Imperial ship.

"Not again…" Leia whispered, remembering the last time she saw an army this size.

From the loading ramp of the Imperial ship strode a black, hooded figure. Leia recognized the figure of Darth Vader easily. He stepped onto the grass and paused, looking around. He seemed weak for a moment, unsure of why he was on the planet. Then, he strode strongly toward the courtyard to aid in the battle.

"We have to get down there!" Leia called out as she watched Vader and his army.

"And do what?" Solo argued.

"Fight with them, of course!"

"Fight? Listen, sister, this isn't our battle!"

Luke grabbed for his lightsaber and ran for the door. "We can't just let them die!" he yelled in agreement with the Princess. "They've tracked us here, I'm sure of it."

"You're not a Jedi, kid," Han taunted, reminding Luke not to get too cocky. Then, he decided Skywalker was right. "Just don't make me save you again."

Leia grabbed for a spare blaster and ran with Han to Luke's side. Together, they would aid the army of Naboo in the attack.

Chewbacca left the two droids by themselves. Threepio insisted on activating Artoo again, just in case they needed to evacuate and escape.

The group had gathered the rest of the Rebels on their way out, all ready to fight. Though they would still be outnumbered, it would be a ruthless fight if they hadn't tried to help.

Luke led the group with Han, Leia, and the Wookie backing him up. As soon as they made it to the courtyard, they were swarmed with chaos. Explosions erupted as ion grenades burst and sent Stormtroopers and Rebels, alike, flying. Many of the Queen's army had already been taken out, their bodies lying as obstacles in the space.

"Come on!" Solo called as he grabbed Leia's free hand and drug her into the mess, Chewie following behind them.

Luke attempted to follow the two, but was attacked as soon as he tried. He reflected shots from two Stormtroopers coming at him as soon as he found his ground. Though he hadn't fully learned how to wield his weapon yet, he had done some practicing while they set up base on Chad.

Then, behind the two Stormtroopers he had knocked out, stood the one person he hadn't wanted to see just yet – Darth Vader.

Vader stood in front of Luke, frozen. His lightsaber shone an eerie shade of red, making the space around him glow. For a moment, he let his eyes wander off of Luke. He watched the birds fly away from the fight. The big castle behind Skywalker stood tall, almost as though it was looming down on him.

Then, Luke interrupted his thoughts.

"Get out of here, Vader," the Jedi in training spat. He held his lightsaber in a ready stance.

"Luke Skywalker," Vader breathed into his helmet. He took a step towards the Jedi Knight. "I see you've progressed in your training."

Before Luke could answer, a body shoved him to the side. "Mesa take this one, Jedi Knight!" it called.

Jar Jar came out of nowhere, ready to take on the Dark Lord. The walking lizard held up his two arms with fists, ready to fight.

Vader was not amused. He easily warned Jar Jar with his lightsaber by swinging it close to his forearms, ready to slice them off it necessary.

"This isn't your fight!" Luke called through the mayhem.

Vader proved him otherwise, though. "Jar Jar Binks," his voice rang as he spoke through his breather. "We meet again."

"Yousa little Annie," Jar Jar responded.

Vader growled and swung his lightsaber around again. "Enough!" he threatened. "I am Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith and heir to the great Emperor Palpatine!"

Jar Jar stepped towards the dark Lord, ready for his battle.

"Duck!"

Han pulled Leia down into a crouch as a Stormtrooper fired at them. The red laser flew past the top of Leia's braids as the two ran through the madness. Leia's goal was to find the Queen and make sure she was safe. So far, they had no luck.

"We're outnumbered!" she shouted as she continued running after Han.

"Told you this isn't our fight!" Solo shouted back.

Leia fired two shots over her shoulder at a Stormtrooper to her side. She watched him fall as Chewie shot his crossbow at one in front of them. The two leapt over the fallen soldier after him as they made their way for the center of the fight.

"Han!" Leia yelled, tugging at his arm as she slowed.

"What?!" Solo threw his head back at the Princess, wondering what was so urgent.

"The Alliance!" she gasped.

Entering the courtyard were reinforcements. The rest of the Alliance had

Before Han could locate them, a shot coming from behind the two pierced Leia's back. Solo shot back, knocking the Stormtrooper out.

"Leia!" he yelled, dropping his DL-44.

Chewie gargled in outrage. Han caught her as she fell, holding her upright. A wound was red and warm where the shot had hit – a direct fire.

"Come on, sweetheart!" Solo lightly shook the Princess as she closed her eyes in defeat. "Ah, don't do this to me, Leia!" he growled.

Chewbacca yowled out in agony, but then nudged Han in the direction of the Queen's castle. He was right – it would be best to get her out of battle.

"Let's get you back inside!" Solo picked her up over his shoulder as she blacked out and began taking a path back towards the castle, ducking as shots zoomed over his head. "Chewie, watch my back!"

Across the courtyard, Luke watched as Darth Vader ran at Jar Jar, lightsaber fully ready for battle. The red beam attempted to slice at his fists, but was soon caught on the body of a Stormtrooper that Binks threw in between them.

"Still avoiding the fight, Jar Jar?" Vader rumbled, mocking the fact that Binks never fully entered a battle.

"Yousa underestimate Jar Jar Binks!" he cried.

Vader let out a yell that could have rang throughout the courtyard if it had been silent. He held up a hand to force choke Jar Jar, but when he tried, nothing happened. Again, he attempted to grip the lizzard's neck, but was left looking like a fool.

"Yousa back on Naboo," Jar Jar told him.

"Back on Naboo?" Luke repeated, confused. "He's been here before?"

"A long time ago," Binks confirmed.

Vader growled again, then swung his lightsaber at Jar Jar. It pierced into his body before Luke could react and help him, sending him down to his knees.

"Little Annie!" Binks cried out, looking up at the Sith Lord.

"No!" the Jedi Knight cried, ready to swing.

Vader ignored him. Instead, he retracted his lightsaber, letting Luke know the fight would be ending. "Not today, Skywalker," he warned.

"You coward!" Luke yelled, his blood burning with rage.

"Padme watches yousa," Jar Jar whispered before he collapsed on the ground.

"Padme?" Luke questioned. "Tell me what he means!" he demanded as Vader began to walk away.

"We will meet again, young Skywalker," Vader rumbled.

"Wait!" Luke called, but the Dark Lord disappeared into the crowd, wandering back towards his ship.

Luke didn't chase – the courtyard was soon full of more Rebels, taking out the Stormtroopers one by one. The rest of the Alliance had come, and the Empire was retreating.

But why couldn't he use the Force? Skywalker wondered as the fight turned in their favor.