Star Wars: Cross Paths Part 3
Thanks to Anon, Guest, Daisy, LOVEM, Elen, Sue, DirksTalia, RedLigth16, princesselsaamidala22, JediLukeSkywalker and Connors for reviewing. And to everyone who took your time to read it. You guys are great. Love you all.
Chapter 33 – Future Empress
Mos Espa:
Ines and Leia were walking through the streets of Mos Espa, talking and watching closer the small kids, who were jumping and seeing the different stands with the most insane things on top of it.
"I can't believe they lived here and as slaves," Leia said looking around.
"Everyone here was a slave back then. According to some locals who told me and Luke, the last time we were here, this place was ruled by the Huts, many years ago, even before your father was born. But everything ended when we they died," Ines started to explain to her.
"You mean when we killed Jabba."
"You can say that," Ines smiled at her sister in law. "After that apparently Bib Fortuna ruled, but he was not that scary as the Huts, so he only lived inside the palace with his hunters and a poor bikini slave girl."
"Don't even remember that. I'm glad I choke the breath out of that disgusting slug," Leia said.
"I think you have more of your father in you, that your son," Ines laughed at her making Leia rolled her eyes.
"Do you think that they were succeeded back in the Palace?"
Ines had that question all afternoon.
"I hope so. Even if we don't like to admit to ourselves, but Boba Fett can be a good ally to be honest," she said looking around, hoping they would arrive soon.
She was looking at the spot where she knew they would come, when her eyes stop on a stand. But it was not the stand that made her gasp, but the person who was behind it.
"You've got to be kidding?!" she said, making Leia looked at her and the follow her gaze.
"What?"
"Please tell me that guy is not who I think he is," Ines replied, making Leia give a better look, and after a while she also gasped.
"I think it is."
"What do you say? Will we pay a visit to an old friend?" Ines smirked at her sister in law.
"This will be fun cause I doubt he will recognize us."
"That's what I'm counting for," she winked and making sure the kids were closer to her, they both walked towards the stand, where a man, now closer to his 60's were selling a lot of stuff.
When he saw the two women standing in front of them, and at the small kids, including Grogu, he smiled widely.
"Good afternoon." he said to them.
"What is that?" Bail asked looking at the many stuff that were on display on top of the stand.
"Oh this were things that once belonged to fellow friends back from the Jedi Temple, where I was studying when I was your age, before I had to hide from the mean people," He told looking at the kid, who frown and looked at his mother.
"Are you a Jedi?" Anakin asked the man.
"I was, a long time ago."
Ines and Leia looked at each other, rolling their eyes.
"What do you mean you were?" Ben asked. Somehow he was not believing this man.
"Because I had to hide for so long, I had to destroyed my lightsaber and stop using the force, which made me a little rust and I lost my powers. Now I'm just a normal guy, selling stuff to survive," he said looking down sadly.
"A Jedi don't lose his powers like that?" Ben replied shaking his head to the man.
"And how do you know about that, little boy?"
"We know more than you," Padmé replied pointing the finger at him.
Alli, looked at Ines.
"Mama, this man is lying," she said pouting, which made Ines laughed at his young girl.
"Oh sweetie, mama knows he is lying. There is something he does, a lot," Ines replied looking back at the man, whose eyes wide open.
"How dare you saying that? You know I could choke you only with my mind."
"You know, if that was not the Jedi way, I would have show you what choke with your mind is. But that is something that Jedi don't do. At least to living things," Ines continue.
The man looked at her and then to Leia and his eyes then stopped on the lightsaber that Ines had on the belt of her suit.
"You are a Jedi?"
"My mama and papa are real Jedi," Padmé said. "And you are not, mister."
Leia had enough of that talk.
"Haja, just stop already. We both know you are not a Jedi and apparently you continue to trick people. You didn't change, after all these years."
Haja open his mouth, surprised by the fact that woman knew his name.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know who that Haja is. You are confusing me with someone else."
"Oh really. So you are not the same guy who lied to people, pretending to be a Jedi, back in Daiyu. But ended hunting by the empire after helping a real Jedi and two little girls, like 20 years ago," Ines said.
"Mama is this the man from your story?" Alli asked her, making Ines nod at her daughter.
Then out of nowhere, Padmé reached the man and kicked him.
"Padmé, what did I tell you?" Ines told her daughter.
"But you kicked him before too," the four years old said looking at her mother.
"But I'm your mother, young girl," she told her, adjusting Luke, Jr on her arms.
Haja looked at Ines and Leia, and all of the sudden he gasped.
"Wait, it can't be. Leia? Ines?"
"I wonder when you would figure it out, or we had to tell you ourselves. Even our kids figure who you were," Leia replied shaking her head.
"I see that you talked about me. And look at you two. You change."
"It is call growing up, Haja. But apparently you didn't at all," Ines said. "Are you still using that lie of you being a Jedi to trick people for money?"
"A guy needs to do something for a living, right?" he tried to smile but got serious when the kids looked at him.
"Bad man!" Padmé said pointing her finger at him.
"Yeah!" Anakin said right after his cousin.
"And see your kids have your personality too," Haja looked at them. "But what are you doing here? Where is Obi Wan?"
Ines and Leia looked at each other, but it was Ben who answered that question.
"My Godfather died years before I was born. That is why my mother and father named me after him." The almost 6 years old boy said looking at Haja.
"Oh. I'm really sorry to hear that. He was a great man."
"Yes he was," Ines sighed.
"But Uncle Ben visit us every time and tell us stories too," Alli replied.
"Just like Grandpa," Bail nod.
Haja looked at the kids and then to Ines and Leia.
"It is a Jedi thing. Something that the real Jedi would know," Ines smirked at him. "When we die, later we became one with the force and can return as force ghosts."
"I see, and I see you are a Jedi." Haja spoke glaring at her lightsaber.
"Alongside with my husband, we are Jedi Masters in the Jedi Temple in Coruscant, where we live."
"And about you, Leia?"
"I'm learning to become one too." She replied.
"Let me explain to you, that Leia and my husband are twins," Ines said seeing Haja not understand much. "The Organas adopted Leia right after she was born, while my husband was sent here, to Tatooine to be raised by his uncle and aunt. That is why we are here. Leia never being to Mos Espa or seeing Luke's farm home."
"Adopted?" Haja repeated.
"Yes. My biological father was once a Jedi. Actually he was Obi Wan's apprentice." Leia answered him.
"I thought Jedi couldn't marry?"
"Now they can. Luke change that rule. Back then, they weren't. That is why our parents kept their relationship in secret. My mother was a former Queen of Naboo and later a Senator. Which I am now too."
"Well, that I'm not surprise, to be honest."
"But why are you here?" Ines questioned him.
"Well after left both of you in Alderaan, I was from system to system, until I end up here and…"
"And you saw a perfect place to trick people with your crap," Leia replied, grabbing her nephew from Ines arms, smiling at the little baby.
"Saying like that, it sounds horrible," Haja said.
"It is," She looked at him.
"You know what, you didn't change at all."
"Good," she smirked.
"Papa!" Padmé said pointing to her right, and running towards them, Luke smiled and picking her up, he kissed her cheek.
"Hey, you. What are you doing?"
"Mama and aunt Leia are talking to the man from mama's story."
"What man?" Luke frowned and approaching them, he looked at his wife, giving her a small kiss on the lips. "What is going on?"
"Sweetheart, you remember Haja, right? The man who pretended to be a Jedi when I told you the time Leia and I were taken and Ben saved us."
"OH, that guy," Luke said looking at Haja. "So you are the famous Haja, that my wife told me about. I have to thank you from taken her and my sister safely to Alderaan."
"Thank you. At least someone who appreciate me," Haja said looking at Leia and Ines.
"Babe, don't encourage him, please."
"Yes uncle Luke. He lied and lying is bad, right papa?" Anakin said looking at Han, who had picked up his son the moment he got near them.
"Yes it is buddy."
Haja looked at the man, and frown.
"Haja, let me introduce you my husband, Han Solo. This is Chewie. That is a great friend of ours Din, and my twin brother Luke Skywalker."
"Wait, Han Solo. And Luke Skywalker?"
"Yeah, it continues to be weird," Han told making his son giggled at him.
"Yes, that Han Solo and that Luke Skywalker. Get over it," Ines told him.
Then Grogu focus on someone away from them, and pointing at them, he took Alli's hand and they head towards a woman and man, that looked like Din.
"Alli, sweetheart. Where are you going?" Ines asked but Luke stopped her.
"Wait. Let her go for a while," he said looking to the people their daughter and Grogu walked towards.
"Hello," the four years old said, smiling at Fennec and Boba Fett.
"Hey," Fennec said and looking at Grogu she smiled at the kid.
"Grogu said that you are his friend."
Fennec looked at Boba, who smiled a little.
"Well he is right." Fennec replied.
"He also thank you for help uncle Din to save him from the mean man."
"Oh, you are welcome, Grogu," Boba said to the child.
Looking at Boba Fett, Alli noticed that he had a similar armor as the Mandalorian.
"Are you like Uncle Din?"
"What do you mean?" he asked her.
"Your armor are like Uncle Din's."
Glaring at Fennec, who smile at him, Boba look at Alli.
"Smart girl," she said.
"Thank you," Alli answered all proud.
Crouching in front of her, Boba looked at the blonde hair and blue eyes girl.
"You are right. My father was a Mandalorian and this was his armor."
Alli looked at it and nod.
"What is your name?" Boba asked her.
"Alli and I'm four," she said right away showing her four fingers.
"Where are your parents, sweetie? Are you alone here?" Fennec asked a little worried that a four year old was walking around all by herself.
"My mama and papa are there with my aunt and uncle and cousins and my brothers and sister," she said looking behind her and pointing at Luke, who was already walking in their direction.
"Alli, sweetie, what mama and papa told you? Not walk away by yourself. It can be dangerous," Luke said smiling, stopping near them.
"But Papa, Grogu knows them. They are his friends. And if they are Grogu's friends, then they are my friends too," she said looking at Fennec and Boba. "What is your name?"
"I'm Fennec."
"And I'm Boba Fett."
"You are the person that my papa ask for help," she said right away. "Are you going to help us, right?"
Boba glare at Luke, and then to Alli.
"Why do you want my help?"
The little girl looked at the Bounty Hunter.
"You help Grogu from the mean man. I almost died too because of him, but my papa gave me his blood. And you are nice and good. So good people always help each other. Right Papa?"
"That's right sweetie," Luke smile.
"Besides I like you."
"But how do you know I'm nice and good? I can be a bad person?"
Alli frown at him for a while and then shook her head.
"Bad person don't help kids like you did with Grogu."
Fennec couldn't help but smirked, while Boba was surprise by that answer.
"Okay, let's not bother Boba and Fennec. Come on, go to your mother. Both of you," Luke told her and Grogu.
"Okay. Bye Fennec. Bye Boba," the little girl said waving at them and holding Grogu's hand they walked towards where the others were.
"Sorry about that."
Boba was staring at the girl, who right now was jumping with another girl that was identical to her.
"Gideon tried to kill her?" he asked looking back at Luke.
"When she was 7 weeks old. He did what later he did to Grogu. He tried to take her blood."
"Because they are like you," Fennec said, making Luke nod.
Then he knew he had to tell them something.
"Look, you asked back in the Palace how we knew that Thrawn plans to get the kyber crystal were ruined."
"I know you were hiding something. Something important. So I can't I trust you, if you are not telling everything," Boba told.
"And you are right. And if my daughter says you are a good person and sees you as a friend, I will trust her instincts. The reason why we know that, it is because we are the ones who have that crystal."
"But you said that crystal was special and only manifest towards the real ruler of the galaxy," Fennec replied, frowning.
"Exactly," Luke nod.
Looking at each other, both Fennec and Boba, glare at Alli.
"Your daughter Alli. She is the owner of the crystal. The future ruler of the galaxy. Isn't she?" Boba asked.
"Yes, she is. And Thrawn, when he finds out about that, he will try everything to take her," Luke said. "So, I'm not only ask you to help to not allowing the galaxy fall into the hands of another Empire, but also I'm asking your help to protect my daughter."
Boba looked one last time to the young girl who was laughing and playing with a baby, making funny faces, making it laugh at her.
"Thank you for your honesty."
Nodding, Luke was ready to walk away, when Boba called
"Skywalker."
Turning around, Luke looked at him.
"You can count us. Not only because we had enough lack of freedom, during Palpatine's reign, but also when someone goes after a child, that really pisses me off. Besides, I have a feeling that the galaxy will be in very good hands in the future."
Looking back to his daughter, Luke smiled.
"I agree with you," looking back at Boba, Luke extended his arm towards him. "Thank you."
Shaking hands, they both bow their hands.
"Fennec and I will have some contacts here, I'm sure they will also help."
"Great. Just be careful. Just like the person who was able to free Gideon, I'm sure there are already allies and spies everywhere. Be aware of every knew face walking around."
"I agree. We need to be extra careful," Fennec said, making Boba nod.
"My family and I will leave to Coruscant tomorrow. We were away from the capital long enough, and we need to get back to our students. But like I told Fennec, Din has our contact. So if you need anything, you can pay us a visit or contact us anytime."
"We will," Boba replied.
"May the force be with you," Luke said nodding and turning his back, he walked towards his family, who had a questions look on their faces when saw Luke smiling.
"What?" Han asked him.
But before he could answer, Ines knew already.
"He agreed to help us, didn't he?"
"Yes and I think we own to a certain girl," Luke said looking at Alli.
"She can be very persuasive when she wants," Din replied laughing. "I think it is time for us to leave. I will be here, talking with them and set some plans. So we need to say goodbye, now," he said looking at Alli who pout at that.
"Already?"
Din nod.
"But don't worry, we will pay a visit to Coruscant once in while."
"Promise?"
"Yes we promise."
"Okay. Bye Grogu." she said and they hugged each other, before Din pick up Grogu and they head to where Boba and Fennec were.
"And we need to go back to our farm, too. After all poor 3PO and R2 are there all alone," Ines said.
"And we need to get ready cause we are going home tomorrow," Luke inform, making Alli smile.
"Yes. I'm tired of this heat and sand," the little girl said making everyone laugh, as they head to the moisture farm.
So Ines and Leia met an old friend: Haja. And Alli was able to convince Boba Fett to help them. What did you think of that?
