The team moved swiftly through the grand halls of Theed Palace, lightsabers and blasters cutting through the ranks of stormtroopers. The urgency of the mission weighed heavy on them, each step bringing them closer to the heart of the conflict.
As they neared the dining rooms, the distress in the Force became palpable. Luke and Vader, in unison, sensed the Queen's presence and a disturbance in the Force. With a shared understanding, they burst into the room, lightsabers ignited, taking down troopers with swift precision.
In the midst of the chaos, Gideon Hask emerged from the shadows, blaster in hand, threatening the Queen.
"I will say it again Rebels, you will not capture the Emperor's homeworld! Now put your weapons down!"
His words echoed in the tense silence of the room, demanding the rebels lower their weapons. But Vader, unyielding and swift, used the Force to disarm Hask, pushing the Queen to safety.
As Hask found himself lifted off the ground, choked by an unseen force, Vader's voice cut through the air. "Perhaps another has a relation to this planet. There is more at play than you know. You have failed yourself for the last time."
With a final, forceful twist, Hask's neck snapped, and he fell lifeless to the ground. The room, once filled with tension, fell into a momentary silence.
The Queen, though surprised to see Vader, expressed her gratitude, thanking him and his squad for saving her. Vader, acknowledging her debt, revealed a request.
"There is a way for you to repay us," Vader stated. The Queen raised her eyebrows in anticipation.
As Luke and Leia approached Vader introduced his children, revealing their birth mother to be Padmé Amidala. "These are my children Luke Skywalker & Leia Organa. Their birth mother is Padmé Amidala. Once it is safe, I request for you to contact her family to meet them."
The Queen, astute and perceptive, noted, "Ah... Skywalker, you couldn't make it more obvious of your former identity. I will help reach out to the family once this all cools down. Thank you again." Vader simply nodded in response.
Luke, grateful for the introduction, thanked his father and then turned to him. "Father, do you want to come? Meet them?"
Vader, his gaze filled with a mix of longing and acceptance, replied, "It's obvious from my actions they would not want to see me. It is only fitting for you two."
The room, once a battlefield, now held the weight of unspoken truths and the potential for familial reunions. The journey to save Naboo had taken an unexpected turn, revealing layers of the past that demanded both resolution and acceptance.
XX
The passage of time on Naboo brought a temporary calm to the once-raging conflict. The Imperial remnants had escaped the system, leaving behind a planet on the path to recovery. Amidst the aftermath, Han Solo found Leia, holding her hands and gently asking if she was ready to meet her mother's family.
Leia, her breathing heavy, seemed to be grappling with moments of anxiety, the unknown anticipation of what awaited her. Sensing her apprehension, Luke stepped in, offering reassurance. "Calm down, Leia. We've been through worse events together."
Nodding in agreement, Leia drew strength from Luke's words. The bond between the Skywalker twins, forged through countless trials, was a source of resilience in the face of uncertainty.
Seventh Sister, standing nearby, approached Luke with a rare moment of sentimentality. "I'm proud to have trained a Skywalker. You should be grateful you still have the chance to meet your extended family." Luke, touched by her words, expressed gratitude, acknowledging the role she played in giving second chances.
Spectre Seven, smiling, tapped Ezra's shoulder. "Come on, let's give him a hug before he heads out."
Luke, turning to his masters and Han, spoke with sincerity. "You guys are still family to me. Come with me. We can help explain our adventures to them."
In a moment of contemplation, the trio, seasoned by shared experiences and bound by the ties of their unconventional family, agreed to accompany Luke on this journey. The prospect of meeting Leia's mother's family became not just a reunion but an opportunity to weave together the threads of their disparate pasts into a tapestry of shared stories and newfound connections.
XX
Under the gentle Naboo sun, Luke, Leia, Han, Ezra, and the Spectre Seven ventured outside Theed capital into the serene Naboo countryside. They arrived at a residence nestled near a beautiful lake, surrounded by the natural beauty of the planet.
There, they were warmly welcomed by the Naberrie family—Sola, Ruwee, and Jobal. The older Naberrie children, Pooja and Ryoo, along with Pooja's children, completed the family gathering.
"When the Queen contacted us directly we were in shock, not knowing what to expect. When she said my late daughter's children are alive it was like I was seeing a ghost," Jobal reminisced.
Ruwee, noting the striking resemblance between Leia and her mother, remarked, "You look just like your mother." Jobal grinned and playfully added, "And I see the Skywalker in you, Luke." Luke, with a lighthearted tone, replied, "Pleasure to meet you all. When it comes to personality, Leia and I are switched."
Sola, adding a touch of humor, recalled, "When Padmé and Anakin first met, their body language screamed love. Your mother tried to deny it, but love has its own language."
Jobal chuckled, and then, with a sudden cough, suggested they have a traditional Naboo meal. The idea was met with smiles and anticipation, the prospect of fresh, home-cooked food resonating with the visitors.
Sola, along with her grown-up children, busied themselves preparing the meal, filling the air with the delightful aroma of Naboo cuisine. As the family gathered around the table, Jobal brought up the topic that weighed on their minds.
"Do you know what happened to your parents?" Jobal inquired, a mix of curiosity and concern in his eyes.
Luke, with a deep breath, began recounting the story of Anakin's fall, his turn to the dark side, and the Emperor's malevolent influence. He spoke of Padmé's tragic fate and the separation of the twins at birth. The tale unfolded, revealing the intricate threads of the Skywalker family's turbulent past. The Naboo family listened attentively, their expressions shifting between sorrow and empathy as the narrative unfolded.
Jobal, breaking the silence that followed the recounting of the Skywalker family's history, couldn't help but voice a question that lingered in his mind. "How did you become a Jedi? Weren't they supposed to be wiped out?"
Luke began to explain that not all Jedi were extinguished. He introduced his masters, Ezra and the Seventh Sister, who played instrumental roles in his training. He also spoke of Ahsoka, Anakin's former apprentice, whose guidance was invaluable, even though she ultimately sacrificed herself during a mission.
Jobal, contemplating the diversity of teachings among Jedi, asked a thoughtful question. "Every teacher is different. In your opinion, what did each of them instill in you?"
Luke, reflecting on his Jedi training, remarked, "Ezra helped me defend with my saber, Spectre Seven enhanced my agility, and Ahsoka deepened my connection with the Force. Each master brought something unique to my journey."
Seventh Sister, offering wisdom, told Luke, "Don't forget the life lessons teachers impart on their students. You really stick true to forgiveness and second chances."
Luke, expressing his beliefs, told Jobal, "Forgiveness and giving second chances are crucial, especially for those who were once part of the Empire. It's a path to redemption." Jobal nods in response.
Jobal, contemplating his role in the pacifist ideals of Naboo, shared, "For me I have been a pacifist, striving to develop our people and our planet. Padmé carried those ideals into the Senate."
Ruwee, reminiscing about Padmé, shared with her children, "Your mother was dedicated to Naboo and passionate about diplomacy. She left an indelible mark on our world."
The conversation sparked a natural transition into discussing Leia's poltical endeavors, particularly her early entry into politics. Jobal, reflecting on Leia's trajectory, expressed his gratitude towards Bail Organa, the adoptive father who had provided Leia with the opportunity to follow in her mother's footsteps.
Jobal remarked, "I've always heard good things about Bail Organa. His decision to give you the chance to pursue your mother's livelihood is something I'm truly grateful for. The legacy of Padme is continuing in you."
As the night came to a close, Luke and Leia, feeling the weight lifted by the familial connection, decided to stay the night. In their respective rooms, they found solace, a moment of peace amidst the trials of war and the Force resonating within them.
XX
In the serene Naberrie residence, Seventh Sister and Ezra found themselves in a separate bedroom, a tranquil space that offered a moment of reprieve from the complexities of their ongoing journey.
Seventh Sister, perched on the edge of the bed, was engrossed in a large bowl of fruits leftover from dinner. Ezra, always attuned to her playful nature, couldn't resist a jest. "Your species must have a high metabolism; you never seem to gain any weight," he teased.
Seventh Sister looked up, a playful gleam in her eyes, and retorted, "Afraid to gain weight with age, Bridger?"
Ezra rolled his eyes, a warm smile playing on his lips, savoring every moment of her playful banter.
As they settled into a more serious conversation, Ezra expressed his joy at Luke finally discovering the roots of his lineage.
"It's great for Luke to finally see where he came from," Ezra remarked.
Seventh Sister, always pragmatic, reminded him, "It appears he is grateful for the opportunity. But moving onto you, I would suggest being grateful for the time you spent with your parents before the Empire." Ezra nods in response.
"It's interesting seeing Luke discover more about his parents at an older age," he noted.
Curiosity prompted Ezra to inquire about Spectre Seven's own memories of her parents.
"Hey... do you remember anything about your parents?"
"I only remember glimpses as a toddler."
She continued, "I also remember being picked up by my master. My parents were saddened, but willing to give me up. When I got older I learned my master was on a mission in her homeworld. My family somehow contacted the Order and she arrived."
Ezra, always probing for knowledge, asked about the Jedi's peculiar practice of allowing certain species to be trained only by others of their kind. An example being Spectre Seven and her Mirlian master.
"Jedi made exeptions to their rules to be friendly towards other cultures," she explained, her tone reflective.
She continued, "Another example would be Jedi of endangered species, of very low numbers. They were allowed to reproduce."
"Thinking about it, do you think that we give Luke exeptions in his training? And if we do, does it do more harm than good?" Ezra asked.
"For now, it's beyond our comprehension. Perhaps his father can guide us when this fight dies down," she pondered.
As the conversation wound down, Seventh Sister yawned, signaling the end of the day. The bed, a haven of comfort, awaited them.
"Let's go to bed now," she suggested.
Ezra settled in, and Seventh Sister, with a tender familiarity, wrapped her arms around him, her presence a comforting anchor in the vastness of their shared journey.
"Goodnight, Ezra," she whispered, the weight of their shared experiences echoing in her words.
Ezra, grinning at her rare use of his first name, embraced the warmth she brought to his life.
"Goodnight," he replied, feeling the soothing embrace of her arms.