While sleep was a necessity, restful sleep was often a luxury in her line of work. Mara jumped from one side of the galaxy to the other, investigating rumours and dispensing the Emperor's justice as his personal Hand. Small shuttles and tight turnaround times didn't leave her with leisure time, so Luke's cabin on the Aeres should have been a welcome change with the oversized bed and the soft sounds of the engine room below them. Should have.

Mara sighed, turning over in the bed to look at Luke who was sound asleep next to her. I sleep better when you're here, he'd said once, and she wished it went both ways. Usually it did, but lying next to him with only his quiet breathing and the engines to fill the room around them, her own thoughts were deafening.

He hadn't asked her for guidance as the Emperor said he would. Not yet, at any rate, and despite all her training, she wasn't sure she knew how to guide him away from his father. She had to, she truly understood that now. Luke was clever and determined, but he had a blind spot when it came to Vader. Despite the loyalty that he'd gained from his own men, none of them could or even would be able to protect him from that blind spot, but perhaps Mara could. She had to. He trusted her and she couldn't lose him.

Luke shifted a little in his sleep and Mara inched closer, reaching out under the sheets. Her fingers found his arm, elbow bent with his hand tucked under his pillow. She kept her touch light as she traced up to his shoulder and he stirred again, arm straightening to wrap around her waist as he pulled her closer. She let him and her fingers traced scars life had left behind.

"Morning," came the drowsy voice and Mara looked up to see those clear blue eyes watching her.

"Morning. I think."

"Haven't looked?"

"No."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. He lingered there a moment and she could feel the light probing of her mind. "Stop."

"Something bothering you?"

"No."

"Liar."

She snorted. "I could ask you the same thing. You were pretty determined not to think about something last night."

Luke's lips curled in a wry smile. "Or maybe I was just focused on you."

Mara hummed softly and he chuckled.

"Okay. Fair enough."

There was a long moment of silence from him and Mara's fingers continued to dance along his back. "You know you can tell me anything, don't you?"

"You're on my side," he acknowledged the old promise softly, almost as if reminding himself.

And she was. More than he knew. "And you're on mine."

He nodded, pursing his lips together softly, and she could feel the struggle before he decided to speak. "Have you ever thought of what life would be like if we left?"

"Left what?"

"The Empire."

Her fingers stilled. "To do what?"

He shrugged a little. "It doesn't matter. Just…. Find a planet and live."

"Sounds boring."

"Nothing could be boring with you," he murmured. "Do you think he'd let us?"

"Your father?"

"Palpatine."

That hadn't been the answer she'd expected. It would solve the question of apprenticeship. Vader might not be his first choice between father and son, but he'd done the job for what? Eighteen years? All of her and Luke's lives. Maybe….

A soft, mirthless chuckle escaped Luke even as she knew the maybe was futile. "No, I didn't think so."

"We're vital to the Empire."

"We serve it, if we want to or not."

She shifted, propping herself up on her elbow so she could look down at him. "Do you not want to?"

"I want to freely choose."

He held her gaze and she leaned down, her lips pressed against his. "We are free," she murmured. "Free to move about, free to be together. We pledged our loyalty to the Emperor. That was a choice."

"We were children. Do you even remember your life before?"

"My life before doesn't matter," Mara stressed. "I chose this. This life, this loyalty. We are the Empire. Yes, we serve it, but we are it." She stopped, searching for the right word that also felt true. "We're making the galaxy better. Safer. I know it doesn't seem like it sometimes, but we are making a difference."

Luke's fingers skimmed her cheek as he tucked a stray strand of red hair behind her ear. His fingers crept lower, hand going to the base of her neck and guiding her back down into a kiss. With each passing second it grew a little more desperate and she wasn't sure of it was him or if it was her. All she knew is that she felt like they were standing on the edge of something dangerous and that she couldn't let him fall over the edge. She wouldn't let him. She had to protect him.

Mara shifted, never breaking the kiss and she leaned over him, her hair falling loose and both of his hands settled against her face as if he were afraid she'd pull back at any moment. But it was her breathless voice that begged, "Don't go."

"I'm not."

She broke, looking down at him and her voice was raw as she spoke. "No. I mean… don't go somewhere I can't follow. Promise me that?"

His lips quirked up a little. "Never," he swore, and she believed him. She really believed him.

—

Something told him that Mara needed to go to the Mustafar system less than she wanted to catch a ride on the Aeres as an excuse to steal some extra time. She'd been focused on his mood, as if she were looking for something in particular. Probing and searching, but for what exactly, she hadn't said.

We're making the galaxy better.

Her words battered around his mind the rest of the trip and even through his inspection of Fortress Inquisatorious that had been the goal of his trip. She believed the sentiment, that much he knew, but as he searched his own feelings through the Force, he found that he didn't believe them. He wasn't sure she would either if she had seen what he had. Mara was capable of taking out an enemy of the Empire's with dangerous precision, but she didn't believe in harming innocents. It was the reason she'd helped him on Naboo and the reason he doubted that she even knew of the Death Star's existence. Sure, it would deter Palpatine's enemies of all sorts, but if used, it had the potential to wipe out everyone with them. If even he couldn't shake that from his mind, he couldn't imagine a galaxy where Mara would blindly accept that.

The fortress was secluded and was a relatively safe place to conduct an investigation if one didn't want to set off alarm bells. Luke would have preferred having someone else dig into it and report back, adding a layer of protection from Palpatine's dangerous foresight, but unknown variables weren't an option. He needed to control the situation closely or he'd put more than himself at risk. For that reason, the research was slow-going, gathering pieces where he could between his various missions and building his own secret file on what he found.

There was little direct information about the Death Star itself, which didn't come as a surprise. If the Imperial Senate were to discover that the Emperor was building his own planet-killing weapon, it wouldn't go over well. Not that Luke really thought they'd be able to do much about it, but it would be a hassle that Palpatine wouldn't put up with. Secrecy was his way. It always had been.

There was one name that crept up in his research: Orson Krennic. A ranking science officer that worked in advanced weaponry research. He had quite the resume, starting his career as so many did in the Old Republic. He studied in an advanced placement program before being recruited into the military. He shifted seamlessly as the Republic became the Empire, but that's where the data trail ran thin. He was working, clearly being funded, but it wasn't until Luke pinpointed his last base of operations as Geonosis that he felt the shift that signaled he was following the correct path. This was the man heading up the Death Star project. He was the one that could get him the information he needed. Maybe things wouldn't be as bad as they appeared.

Luke had never dealt with him directly, but he answered to Moff Tarkin who has filed some scathing reports on the man over the years. He would be looking for someone to take up his side. Someone with power. So, months after seeing the Death Star for the first time, Luke summoned Krennic to his father's castle on Mustafar. He felt the shuttle's approach. Rather, he felt the fear, the anticipation from inside the shuttle. Good. He could use that.

Luke unfolded himself from the seat he'd taken on the hard fortress floor, intentionally pulling the image of the monstrous battle station to his mind's eye. He focused on it, on the nightmares that followed in which he'd been driven to his knees, sharpening his own fear to use it rather than be used by it. A chill settled in around him as he moved through the halls and, instead of pushing it away as he so often wished to do, he took hold of it. He used it to help nudge at and grow the seeds of fear and anxiety emanating from the shuttle. The Force obeyed his command, and by the time he made his way onto the landing pad, Krennic was antsy with nerves.

"My Lord…. Natus," he greeted, choking a bit on his own surprise.

"Director Krennic," Luke answered, his tone even and he tilted his head slightly, studying him.

The older man stood straightened just a little more, but Luke could feel the fear festering in him. "Forgive me, my lord. When the summons came, I anticipated speaking with Lord Vader."

"You have been trying to reach him for some time now," Luke acknowledged.

"Yes, I'd hoped —"

"To go above your superior's head and set a meet with the Emperor."

The seed of fear blossomed into barely contained terror and the director took a physical step back. "I only wish to speak to the Emperor, to show him that I…" He trailed off, clearly uncertain if Luke was privy to the details of his project.

"That his faith placed in you in the construction of his Death Star isn't in vain. And that's what I'm here for: confirmation." Without releasing his influence through the Force, Luke let a knowing smile touch his lips. "I've worked with Tarkin before, Director. He has his own goals in mind. His own endgame, and he'll use you and throw you away once he thinks he has a hold on the project. I believe - if your battle station does what you say it does - the Empire will need you for additional projects after this one is complete."

And then he released the hold, allowing for a more natural relief to flood Krennic's mind with more intensity than it might have otherwise. He saw the trust being built. The lifeline the director was looking for.

"Of course, my lord. I look forward to proving to you that our Emperor's time and faith has not been wasted."

He had him.

Luke gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "Then let's not waste any of both yours and my valuable time."

—-

The closest thing he had found to peace was when he was working with his hands. Nimble fingers fitting pieces together, mind focused on the mechanics, and, in the end, a finished piece. He'd started with droids, then he'd built a lightsaber. As he grew up he'd learned all the intricate details of Lambda shuttles and TIE fighters to be able to make adjustments where he saw fit. The Force guided him in battle, but knowing every bolt and every piece of weaponry helped. There weren't any surprises when blaster bolts flew in every direction and he didn't have to second guess his own firepower. Knowledge and preparedness instilled confidence. In the same way, Luke had hoped learning more about the Death Star would quell some of his nerves about the unknown.

And it had. It had taken time, but Luke had gained enough leeway with Krennic that he had gotten pieces of technical information. Like so much within the Empire, the details were kept siloed to prevent them from being leaked out to anyone who might try to stop the project. The Senate, individual people, the Rebellion… the more he learned, the more he was relatively sure that Palpatine himself was the only person that could truly benefit from the weapon. Still, a weapon of this magnitude was only for show if it didn't have the power needed behind it, and the more he learned, the more he failed to see just where that power was coming from.

"As a battle station, we've never seen anything like it," Luke admitted as he walked along the decking of the partially completed structure, "but as a weapon, I've yet to see anything that convinced me of the firepower you've predicted." He glanced back at Krennic. "Even half a dozen Star Destroyers can't decimate a planet down to its core."

"It's the power behind it that governs the destructive capability," the director agreed. "The Emperor is… aware of the research that is backing the power structure. He has been since the beginning."

The hint of hesitation pulled at the corners of Luke's lips. He was walking a fine line and, if he wasn't careful, he'd tip his hand that he was acting outside of his actual authority. "Of course, but there's been no proof that the research is sound in it's execution on this scale."

"The stability of a kyber crystal of this magnitude certainly requires care, but…." He tapered off, his discomfort saturating the deck they'd paused on. He cleared his throat. "While I'm certain we'll have the weaponry online by the deadline the Emperor has set, perhaps a small scale demonstration of what a kyber crystal can do when used in this way would help alleviate concerns?"

"It'd go a long way," Luke managed, squaring his shoulders intentionally and pulling on the Force to help him stoke the rising fear in the science officer. "You have two standard weeks. Make sure you don't disappoint." He turned on his heel and left Krennic with the unreasonable expectation hanging on her his head. He needed him focused on that, otherwise he might realize that Luke was struggling to keep his own composure. Of all of the possible power sources he'd considered, the same crystals that powered his and his father's lightsabers had never crossed his mind. As far as he knew they were small, which limited what they could power. If Krennic had found a way to combine crystals or found one naturally large enough for his purposes, Luke's original fear became very real: the new battle station could turn an entire planet into a meteor field.

Fear welled up within him and he shoved it down hard, even as he boarded the shuttle that he had intended to take him back to the Aeres. That would have to wait. For better or worse, he'd learned the secrets he'd sought there, and if he wanted to make sure he and the people he cared for came out on the other side of it, he had to make sure that the Death Star never saw completion.

—

It was hard to say if business was just slow, or if there was a certain reason for it to be slow. Han Solo didn't think he was a particularly paranoid man, but he was skeptical when life called for it. Skeptical of the fact that old clients were steering clear, that new clients were few and far between, and that the timing of it all lined right up with that girl and her friend that had put him in the Empire's crosshairs on Naboo. The Falcon had got away, sure, but the repercussions seemed to follow behind like shadows on a planet with three suns barreling down, and he was living in borrowed credits.

Han let his dark blue gaze sweep the crowded cantina, falling on where Chewie was negotiating with a Bith that was trying to get his hands on some kind of tech that the Empire had limited. Supposedly he had the coordinates for pickup, but it had turned into a hard sale.

"You're not going to get that job."

The voice sent chills up Han's spine and he turned to find the kid that had helped cause all of this trouble. He frowned deeply. "Listen, I did what you and your friend paid me to do. We're even."

"Sure, but I'd like to pay you to do more. Possibly a lot more."

"I don't think you get it, kid. I don't want anything to do with you."

Chewie lumbered back over to the table Han was waiting at, casting a brief look at the kid before rumbling the bad news in Han's direction.

The Human's frown deepened. "What'dya mean he's 'goin' in a different direction'? What the hell did you say?" he snapped and Chewbacca howled in his own defense.

"Looks like you're free then," the kid said, leaning against the wall the table backed up to.

Han glared at him. He looked a little older, a little more determined than last time, but even if they'd paid well before it was more trouble than it was worth in the long run.

Chewie grumbled a counterpoint to what must have been clearly displayed across Han's face and the Human rolled his eyes. "Yeah, me too," he answered gruffly and looked back. "What are you looking for?"

"Passage to Alderaan."

"Avoiding Imperials?"

"Yes, but there's no reason to believe Vader will be there this time."

"Didn't see him last time, just a bunch of stormtroopers that boarded my ship." He looked the kid up and down. "Just to Alderaan?"

"To and from. I'll pay each way at the time we leave. Keeps us both honest."

"And your friend? Jade?"

"It's just me this time." He tilted his head a little, almost like he was studying him. Maybe he was. "You can say no and I'll find another ride, but you looked like you could use the work."

"And you would know anything about that, huh?"

"Not a thing."

Han snorted and pushed himself to his feet. "Dock fifty-six. Two standard hours."

"One."

He quirked an eyebrow at the kid. "Gotta get her ready."

"Something tells me there's a price that'll have her ready in an hour."

Chewie rumbled lowly and Han snorted. "An hour then."

The kid gave a sharp nod and then was gone. Chewie growled and Han glanced back. "I don't trust him either, but we're backed into a corner, pal."

They really didn't have any other choice.

—-

Leia had promised herself that when she became Senator - well, if, because even if all the polls showed her ahead in the race by more than the competition likely could make up, she knew that her birthright to the crown didn't guarantee her the senatorial seat - that she wouldn't spend more time than was absolutely needed on Coruscant. She would attend the meetings when the Senate was in session, but unlike many of her father's - and soon to be her - colleagues, she had no interest in making a full life for herself there. The other Senators made homes of their government apartments and raised families far away from the people that they supposedly represented, but her father had set a new tone even as far back as the Republic that she intended to follow. She would listen to her people directly and fight for them in the Senate. Someone had to.

And, as much as she enjoyed her adventures across the galaxy, Alderaan was home, and she loved it here. The people and the culture. They had made her who she was.

The day had been non stop appointments, as had the one before and likely the one that would follow. She'd spoken to two groups already and would speak over the holonet to her people that evening. The few hours between certainly weren't free, but had been slated to take care of other duties pushed aside for the campaign. "I don't want to lose track of our humanitarian mission planned for the people on Lothal," Leia reminded Winter, her childhood friend-turned-aid as they made their way through the halls of the palace.

"Even with the newly opened shipping routes, the government has that planet locked out."

"It appears as if the Grand Admiral would prefer to see the people starve than give them even a sliver of hope," the princess said with a deep frown. "There has to be something we can do. Reach out to Governor Pryce directly. Let her know that if she doesn't allow for aid to the people that my first point of order will be against her in the Senate."

"In those exact words?" Winter asked, but the hint of amusement was clear.

"Those words exactly. They rely on routes through our lanes to ship Force-knows-what kind of weaponry they're building there. We have the leverage, and I intend to use it." Her dark gaze flickered down the hall, catching sight of a robed figure speaking to a guard. She watched as one hand extended from the dark robe, waving in front of the other slightly, and the guard's stance eased.

"My lady?"

Leia startled, turning to find Winter following her gaze. "Just lost in thought for a second. I'll catch up with you in a few minutes."

Winter nodded slowly, but accepted the clear dismissal, leaving Leia to turn back to the robed figure that had spotted her. He moved forward, and once Winter was around the corner and away, he reached up to pull back his hood. Leia lifted a dark eyebrow. "Natus, this is a surprise."

The smile he gave her was small and strained. "Princess. I hear your trade routes have opened up."

"They have. I suppose I have you to thank for that."

He shrugged and she let her gaze sweep him up and down. He looked tired and tense.

"This isn't the first time you've come here without warning, but something tells me you don't want anyone to know you're here."

"You have good instincts." He took a step closer, his blue gaze locking with her own darker one and she could feel it. Whispers in her mind that we're nudging. Directing. Influencing. "Go about your business, Leia. I was never here."

She pulled in a shaky breath. He told her once that he didn't think this trick would work on her, but something was making him desperate enough to try. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog from her mind. "Natus, I can't —"

"It's okay," he promised. "I'm not here to hurt your family."

She believed him, but that didn't mean she was going to willingly let him manipulate her memories like he was trying to do. If she kept visibly fighting him, though, he was going to double down, and maybe he would succeed. No, there were other ways to get answers.

"Go about your business," he instructed.

"I will go about my business," she repeated, letting her eyelids hang heavy.

It seemed to do the trick. He gave her one more almost apologetic look and swept past her towards her father's offices. She started forward, but instead of hanging a left towards her own temporary nook she'd been conducting business out of, she followed her instincts right towards the hangar bay.

—

Unlike the trip before with the redhead that had called her Jade and the teen she'd called Luke, the visit to Alderaan had been smooth sailing. The kid had spent most of the journey in the back of the Falcon on the floor with his legs crossed and his eyes closed in some sort of attempted meditation. Han had his theories about the two of them, especially after this one's announcement of the infamous Darth Vader's presence on Naboo with no proof whatsoever. While the man himself hadn't shown, they'd gotten boarded and Luke had seen it coming. Between that and the weapon Han had caught glimpses of on his belt, he wondered if the kid fancied himself some kind of Jedi. Not that Han believed in the Force or any other part of that hokey old religion, but he'd heard stories. Enough to know he didn't want to get mixed up too deeply in all of this. He'd been paid well to bring him to Alderaan and he'd be paid equally as well to get him off planet, but that was it. It had to be. No reason to put even more of a target on his and Chewie's back than was already there.

The kid had said he'd be gone for several hours, so Han and his co-pilot had gone into the market to grab a bite to eat. Chewie had gotten distracted by a vendor and left Han to saunter back by himself in case whatever Luke was doing was cut short.

The spaceport was nice. Clean and safe. He hadn't even had to pay a protection fee for the ground crews to keep scavengers away, but as he approached the Millennium Falcon, he spotted a slim, feminine figure in a white dress and dark hair piled up on her head in an intricate fashion staring up at his ship. "Can I help you?"

She turned, all big brown eyes and round, porcelain face. She blinked in surprise and Han felt the corner of his lips stretch up without permission. Apparently his charming smile wasn't to her liking. "Are you the owner of this….ship?"

Despite her frown, Han's own smile broadened. "Sure am. If you're looking for a fast ship, she made the Kessel Run in less than —"

The young woman held up her hand. Small and dainty and uncalloused. High class. "I'll stop you right there. I don't want to know about illicit dealings —"

"Illicit dealings?" Han echoed, feigning offense.

"— or your junky ship."

"Hey!" Now he really was offended. "Listen, sweetheart. I —

"But I do want to know about your passenger."

Han snorted. "I don't know who you think you are, but we're done here." He turned to stalk back into the Falcon, but a voice that wasn't directed at him stopped him in his tracks.

"Princess, everything alright here?"

Princess? Han spun to see what looked like the platform director making his way over to the petite, pushy woman.

"Thank you, Erroll," she answered him with a sharp look back at Han. "I was just speaking to Captain —"

"Solo," he grumbled. No reason to lie. They had his name.

"Captain Solo here about his cargo. What did he say it was, Erroll?"

Han pushed a long breath out that was half grunt, half sigh. "I'd be happy to discuss anything you'd like to know about my cargo, your highness. No need to get your director involved." And cause him to take a closer look at the credentials provided. No, Han thought the safer bet was the princess, but not by much.

"Perfect," she answered in a falsely sweet tone and started forward as if she fully intended to board his ship.

Apparently she did. Han scurried after her and slipped in front of her. "Let's save both of us some time, huh? I don't think I brought in whatever you're looking for."

"Natus."

Han shrugged. "What's a Natus?"

"A young man around nineteen. Average build, slim, sandy hair and blue eyes. He usually wears dark clothes and he likely would have left your ship in a hooded robe that hid his face."

Han schooled his expression. "What makes you think I brought him in?"

The princess sighed impatiently. "Yours is the only ship that didn't give notice prior to coming out of hyperspace today. I didn't have to ask Erroll about the cargo, because I checked myself. A delivery of carpentry droids. Cargo that wouldn't cause question in our region which would lower the chance that they'd scan your ship or board it."

"You're questioning it."

"Because someone smuggled him in."

"Sorry to disappoint, your eminence, but I didn't bring a Nagus in."

"Natus," she corrected.

"Not that either."

"And the description?"

She was determined, wasn't she? Han gave a noncommittal shrug. "Could describe a trillion Humans in the galaxy."

"What name did he give you?"

Han rolled his eyes. She wasn't going to let this go. "Luke."

Surprise flickered across her pretty face, but she didn't seem to feel the need to tell him why. Instead she stormed back down the ramp, flagging down the lingering director. "Erroll, hold this ship here. It doesn't leave, nor does any of its crew or passengers until you hear from me directly."

"Of course, my lady."

Han balked for a moment before chasing her down the ramp. "Exactly what do you think you're doing?"

"Getting to the bottom of this."

"And what am I supposed to do?"

She turned, fixing her dark gaze on him in a way that made him stop in his tracks. "You're coming with me, Captain Solo. If you can see Natus and convince me he's not this Luke you brought in, you're free to go."

"All I gotta do is convince you?" Sounded easy enough, but there was something in her confidence that didn't set well with those predicted odds. "Okay, your eminence. Lead the way."

"Stop calling me that," she groused as she started forward.

Despite the situation, Han couldn't stop the smirk that touched his lips. "Whatever you say, Princess."

—

One would think an outgoing Senator who had trained his replacement for the past five years would have less paperwork on his way out than he had on his way in, but that certainly wasn't proving to be the case. Bail Organa found himself swamped these days, but when the transition of power was complete, he still wouldn't have time to stop to breathe. No. That's when the real work would truly begin. Up until now he'd had to walk a delicate line between the Empire and the Rebellion so as not to tip the former off to the latter. He'd still be under scrutiny, but far less than he had been for the last several years. Perhaps he would be able to find a few moments to breathe.

The door to his office opened without warning and Bail's head jerked up from his notes. "Kier," he greeted his personal guard. "What's wrong?"

The young man wore a vague expression, his eyes slightly glassed over even as he mumbled something unintelligible and bowed his way out of the office. In his place stood a familiar figure and the door slid shut behind him. He held up a hand, signaling silence, and Darth Vader's son pulled a small device from his robes, flipped it on, and a soft humming noise emanated from it. He set it on Bail's desk.

"What…?"

"It blocks outgoing transmission, including listening devices."

The Senator's brows drew together. "Forgive me, Lord Natus… you startled me. I was not made aware of your visit to Alderaan."

"No one was. No one will be. We don't have time to waste. The Emperor is constructing a weapon like nothing we've ever seen. They refer to it as the Death Star. I believe that, once completed, it will have the ability to wipe out an entire planet."

Bail took a heavy seat in his chair, shock washing over him. Unannounced visits from Imperial officers was nothing new, even Siths. That he could wrap his mind around with ease, but not the fact that Natus had barged in, indicated that there were listening devices planted in his home office, and dropped something that - if true - was likely a treasonous offense to share. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because if it's completed, there'll be no stopping him. No one can tell him no."

"You serve him," Bail managed, confusion refusing to dissipate.

Anakin Skywalker's son bristled at that. "I'm not his slave. I'm making my own choice."

This could be a trap. A way to catch him and subjugate Alderaan further, but there was something so raw in the young man's expression that he couldn't help but let in the hope that he was being honest. "Okay. Let's say this is true," he said carefully, "why are you coming to me with it?"

Natus seemed to think on that for a moment. "I would have taken this to Tano, but I think she may really be dead."

Bail tried not to startle visibly at Ashoka's name. "I don't know —"

"Yes you do. There are too many links between you and my mother and…." He shook his head and squeezed his eyes closed. When he reopened them, Bail could have sworn he was looking at Anakin Skywalker when he was still the celebrated hero of the Clone Wars. Young, brash, and utterly determined. "My mother trusted you."

"We worked together is all."

"It's more than that. I didn't tell you who she was, but you know anyway. You were her friend. Close enough that she trusted you with her."

Dread crept in. "I don't know—"

"Leia," the young Imperial bit out desperately. "She trusted you with my sister."

TBC

Notes: Everyone's starting to come together! I'm insanely excited to get into this part of the story. Funny enough, when I first started playing with the idea of the story on whole, I was planning to start it shortly before this period, but I decided I wanted to give us the chance to really get to know Luke as an Imperial, watch him grow up and change and learn, and I'm so glad I did. Seventeen chapters and just over 90K words later, here we are! Luke's taking his first steps towards the Rebellion. This is where the fun begins ;)

Next Time: Nothing comes for free, especially dangerous intel.