(previously titled: "What if the Empire Went Back in Time to Ep. I?")
Part Three
by Darth Pipes
and ami-padme
Based on an idea by Darth Sean.
Amidala paced anxiously in the tiny room Ki-Adi-Mundi had assigned her. Actually, it was barely a room at all - more like a closet with a chair and a cot. Her "pacing" was just a step or two in either direction. Amidala looked at the cot and sighed. At the rate she was gaining weight, there was some doubt as to whether the bed could continue to hold her...but it wasn't as if she had been getting any rest since he left anyway. But she wouldn't complain. She had only received these accommodations because of her pregnancy - Ki-Adi-Mundi and Obi-Wan had gone out of their way to make her comfortable, and she was grateful. Still, it wasn't rest that she needed; it was privacy.
She knew they all meant well. The other members of the Alliance had given her nothing but sympathy...and pity. Who wouldn't feel sorry for a pregnant widow who had become one of the most hunted people in the galaxy?
A widow... Amidala blinked back the tears that were starting to sting her eyes. She still couldn't believe that he was gone. Her heart ached to think of that battle between her husband and Obi-Wan - to know that Anakin died in such agony, from both the scorching heat of the molten pit, and the inner turmoil he had suffered over the past few months...
How could things have gotten so bad so quickly? She had noticed the warning signs, but had never imagined that this would be the result. How could he leave? How could he commit those horrendous crimes?
Palpatine. He had been the missing link. If she could have realized earlier what the Emperor was...that he had been whispering in Anakin's ear...maybe she could have acted on the warning signs sooner.
But she hadn't, and now he was gone. Anakin was dead.
Amidala felt a nervous sensation in the pit of her stomach. She recognized it; it was always there when she thought about Anakin's death. But it wasn't grief or sadness...it was a warning. It was a hope. She could almost feel his presence at these times.
She knew that as a Jedi, it might be possible that Anakin was reaching out to her, even after his death. Obi-Wan had even told her to expect that to happen. But something told her that this wasn't a voice from the after-life. If Obi-Wan hadn't seen Anakin fall into that pit, she would swear that he was alive somewhere.
But Obi-Wan did see Anakin fall. She had asked him so many times; made him describe the event in excruciating detail. Obi-Wan didn't believe Anakin could have survived. He worried that Amidala was setting herself up for more pain by harboring false hope.
He was probably right. Anakin's dead. You have to stop thinking this way. She hoped that the self-admonishment would work this time. It hurt too much otherwise.
Amidala was shaken from her thoughts by a kick from one of the twins. That was happening more often - the two of them were becoming increasingly active. She lightly rubbed her hand over her stomach. Her love for them was already deeper than any she had known. She regretted every day that they would be born under these dreadful circumstances. But she also knew that she had no choice.
Amidala shuddered, suddenly feeling chilled. I can never allow him to find them. She pulled the blanket off the bed and wrapped herself in it, sinking slowly into her chair. Palpatine had already taken her husband and destroyed her planet. She would die before letting him, or anyone else, harm her children.
With that, the tears threatened again, and she had to take several deep breaths to calm herself. She hated to think about what might happen after their birth. Obi-Wan tried to broach the subject before and she had stopped him every time. She already knew what he thought.
He thought that it was too dangerous to have the children with her because of her status as a fugitive. Palpatine would be after her relentlessly, and if she were found with the children...
He also worried that the twins were a threat to one another. Obi-Wan claimed that he could feel them reaching out to him and to each other. The latter was the problem - it seemed the twins were already bonding through the Force. Even if they weren't trained, they would instinctively use the powers around each other. With so few Jedi left in the galaxy, any ripples they caused in the Force could be detected by the Emperor.
Her head fell forward into her hands. The tears finally began to drop, flowing freely down her face. I can't give up my children. How can they expect me to just give them away? The thought horrified her. She didn't know how she could bear another loss. But it seemed more and more like Obi-Wan had made up his mind.
Damn him. Damn the Jedi. If they think they can take my children without a fight -
Amidala stopped short, pulling her face from her hands. She looked up to see Obi-Wan standing at the door. And he had clearly heard that last thought.
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Silence reigned for several minutes as Obi-Wan and Amidala just stared at each other. After a few more moments, Obi-Wan finally spoke.
"Are you all right?" She didn't respond. "May I come in?"
"Of course," Amidala replied.
Obi-Wan entered the room and sat down on the chair across from Amidala. The two continued to stare at each other. Again, several minutes passed with the two not quite knowing what to say.
Is he upset with me? Amidala thought. Or did I hurt...
"I have spoken with Master Mundi," Obi-Wan said, breaking Amidala's thoughts. "We should be safe here for the time being. Drayos is far from the reach of the Empire."
Amidala nodded, saying nothing.
"Is there anything I can do for you, Amidala?" Obi-Wan said. "Perhaps I could..."
"Obi-Wan, stop it," Amidala finally said, looking at him. "Why don't you just tell me what's on your mind?"
"What would you have me say?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I think you know."
Obi-Wan stood from his chair and faced the wall. It was time for them to discuss this matter. "Do you hate me, Amidala?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Of course not, Obi-Wan. Don't be ridiculous," Amidala responded.
"But you resent me for my plan to separate the twins?" Obi-Wan said more than asked.
"What would you expect, Obi-Wan? You're talking about taking my children away from me."
"Amidala," Obi-Wan said, turning to face her. "I know this is a difficult thing..."
"Do you Obi-Wan?" Amidala interrupted. "Do you really? You know that the last six months have been difficult enough. Left pregnant with his children. Losing my husband to the Dark Side, when he became the Emperor's servant. Losing my homeworld, my friends. The Republic being conquered by a madman. The worst part of that all...was that I was responsible for Palpatine's rise to power."
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Amidala," Obi-Wan said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "We were all used by Palpatine. Me, you, the Jedi, the Senate. All the people of the galaxy."
"Yes, but you weren't the one who called for a vote of no confidence on Chancellor Valorum, allowing Palpatine to become Chancellor. You weren't the one who championed his policies, thinking it would help him restore the Republic to its glory days. Instead, it only further solidified his control of the galaxy. You weren't the one married to Anakin. I was unable to prevent my own husband from joining the Emperor and betraying the galaxy. I was the Emperor's puppet Obi-Wan. He used me to help him gain control and now the people of the Republic suffer because of it. And now... now you come before me, asking to take my children away from me." Amidala turned away from Obi-Wan, her eyes watering.
"Amidala," Obi-Wan said. "If anyone is to blame for the current state of the galaxy, it is me. I was the one who let Anakin turn to the Dark Side. I saw the warning signs coming for a long time, but I chose to ignore them. I felt there was no way that Anakin, someone I had trained, would turn to the Dark Side. I thought that I had trained him just as well as Yoda and...Qui-Gon could have. I was wrong."
Amidala turned around and looked Obi-Wan. She could see the anguish on his face. She knew that he blamed himself for the Emperor's rise as much as she did.
"Amidala, you know I don't want to separate your children. It pains me even to consider the thought. But you know it has to be done. The Empire may one day discover you're alive. When they do, they will send their full resources for you. You will be hunted down, just as the Jedi are now.
"If the children are with you, they will be taken to Palpatine. Ami, your children are the only ones capable of destroying the Emperor. I cannot. Neither can Yoda. If they fall into the Emperor's hands, all hope for the future will be lost and a new era of darkness will sweep through the galaxy."
Amidala turned away. She knew that Obi-Wan was right, but still...this was a difficult decision facing her.
"Besides," Obi-Wan said, "that darkness may be coming sooner than later."
Amidala turned back to Obi-Wan, confused at that last comment.
"I didn't tell you earlier, Amidala, but on our trip here, I sensed several...disruptions in the Force."
"Disruptions?" Amidala said. Usually, that was just referred to as disturbances.
"Yes. As if something entered this galaxy that was not suppose to. A dark presence. I cannot explain it."
Amidala moved closer to Obi-Wan and looked him straight in his eyes.
"Is it...Anakin?" Amidala asked.
Obi-Wan stared straight back at her. There seemed to be some doubt in his eyes. After what seemed like a long time, he answered her. "No."
"I saw some doubt in your eyes, Obi-Wan."
"Amidala, we have discussed this before," Obi-Wan said wearily. "There is no way Anakin could have survived falling into the volcano." He cringed thinking about that final image of Anakin falling into the molten lava.
"But there are times that I can still feel his presence." Amidala said, a challenging tone in her voice.
"That is to be expected. People who have close relationships to those strong in the Force can still feel their presence months after their death. It was the same with me and Qui-Gon."
"But this is different Obi-Wan. I feel as if he is still among us. Among the living," Amidala said, more insistent.
"Amidala, you must except the fact that Anakin is dead!" Obi-Wan shouted in frustration, his anger starting to rise.
"But you don't know for sure. Anakin was a powerful Jedi. He could have survived. What if he did?" Amidala said, as her frustration increased as well.
"Amidala," Obi-Wan said, looking right at her. "You're not going to like what I am going to say but I am going to say it. If Anakin did survive, he is likely a mere shell of what he was. He will be a corrupted, evil individual, who will be intent on carrying out the Emperor's will. If you think what he did was horrible before, what he'll do if he's alive will be even worse. I hate to say this Amidala, but I truly hope Anakin is dead. Even if he could be turned back to the light, I don't ever think I could tolerate his presence ever again."
Infuriated by what she had just heard, Amidala slapped Obi-Wan across the face hard.
How could he say such a thing?
Obi-Wan turned back at Amidala. Anger was etched in his face. For a moment, Amidala thought Obi-Wan was going to belt her.
Instead, he turned around and stormed out of the room, leaving her behind.
Amidala just stood there. She looked around the tiny room. It was empty except for her. No handmaidens, no droids, nothing. She realized she had just driven off her last friend.
For the first time in her life, Amidala felt truly alone.
--------------------
Images flashed before the eyes of Darth Vader. When they focused, he was once again Anakin Skywalker, devoid of the armor and machines that had kept him alive. Now in front of him was a man holding a lightsaber. The man raised his weapon, allowing Vader to see who it was.
Obi-Wan Kenobi. He was facing Obi-Wan. They were on Sulluest. On the lip of the volcano.
Raising his weapon, he charged his former Master and the battle commenced. The two fought viciously back and forth, no quarter given or asked.
Anakin attacked Kenobi with all the hate and anger he had stored up for that man. Kenobi however fought off the attacks and battled back at Anakin, slashing at him. No matter what Anakin threw at him, Kenobi always fought back and got the better of him. It had always been that way.
Kenobi pressed his attack, forcing Anakin backwards and toward the pit. Stepping back, Obi-Wan raised his arms and swung downwards with a mighty blow towards Anakin. Anakin blocked it but the sheer power of the swing forced Anakin backwards and down into the volcano's pit. Anakin fell until he hit the molten lava.
The lava quickly overtook him and Anakin fell deeper into the volcano. He could feel the lava all around him, consuming him, burning the flesh off his body. It was a horrible experience; being burned...being melted alive. The pain was overwhelming. In his mind, it happened to him a thousand times over.
Suddenly the pain stopped. When Anakin came around, he was suddenly back in the armor of his true self, Darth Vader. A bright light surrounded him. In the middle of that light was a figure. That figure walked forward.
Amidala. His wife. She looked as she did when Vader had first seen her all those years ago on Coruscant. He had been looking for his friend Padmé, but instead saw the Queen. It was later on that he would find out the two were the same person. She was wearing the same dress and had the same hairstyle she did when she addressed the Senate.
The expression on her face was emotionless, much how it always looked when she was dressed like this. She stared at Vader for a long time. She opened her mouth and said but a single word.
"Luke."
Luke...LUKE!
Suddenly, Darth Vader jarred awake. He looked around him. He was in the cockpit of the old N-1 starfighter, surrounded by the starlines of hyperspace.
It had been a dream, but Vader understood the message. Luke. Luke was here. He had traveled through time. To save his mother, no doubt, and his own existence in the process.
The boy impressed Vader. In order to follow him through time, Luke would have had to travel to Coruscant, break into one of the Empire's secret sections and get through the numerous stormtroopers. All this less than two weeks after he survived his duel with his father, and was in emotional turmoil. Impressive indeed. He was his father's son.
Vader began to consider what must be done involving Luke. He had no doubt his son would find a way off the planet. If he did, he wouldn't know where to go. Should he contact his son and give him the location of his mother?
This was a perilous situation for Luke. Even though his son was powerful, this was a violate state of affairs. Mara Jade was a dangerous opponent. The Empire would be attacking the planet in about a week. Not to mention what might happen if Luke was to come in contact with Obi-Wan Kenobi. Combined, Vader was unsure whether even he could oppose the two Jedi.
Still, perhaps Luke could work to his advantage. He was still vulnerable to Vader after their duel. Vader could confront him and turn him to the Dark Side. Together, they would easily find and destroy Mara Jade. Then the two of them could return to the future and confront the Emperor. He knew for sure that the Emperor was no match for their combined strength. They would destroy him and take their place as rulers of the galaxy.
Vader looked out into hyperspace as he considered this matter. For Luke to be involved in this situation was dangerous, for him, for Vader, for time itself. But Vader knew deep down what he must do. It was his only choice.
Vader closed his eyes. He summoned the power of the Force and sent a single, one-word message through space.
"Luke..."
--------------------
Luke and Leia had spent the last hour wandering through the planet once known as Naboo. All they found was death, destruction, and despair. They wondered if there was even a living thing left.
Seeing a planet in this state was nothing new to the two, especially Leia. She was forced to watch her homeworld of Alderaan be destroyed by Grand Moff Tarkin. She had seen planets ravaged by the Empire. She had seen the aftermath of massacres. This was certainly nothing novel, but it still pained Leia every time she visited a planet such as this. Especially considering it had been her mother's homeworld.
The two continued their walk through the ruins, looking for some transportation off the planet. From there though, they were completely clueless as to where to go. They had no way to locate their mother, or Vader, or Mara Jade. They could travel for years and never find them.
A gleam caught Leia's eye. She turned around and saw something shiny to her right. She made her way over to it. When she reached the shine, she saw a statue, lying face up, around the ruins of what must have been a public forum.
Leia looked at the face of the statue. It was a woman, her face emotionless. She was dressed in an elaborate wardrobe, her hands outstretched. The face, Leia thought as she ran a hand over it. She had seen it before.
Images flashed across Leia's mind. Images of a woman, beautiful but sad, lifting her up in the air...hiding in a trunk...crying as some people Leia didn't know told her something. It was a young face, but old. Leia knew who it was.
"That's Mother, isn't it?" It was Luke's voice.
"Yes," Leia said with great sadness.
Luke reached out and put his hand on Leia's shoulder. "Why don't you tell me about her?" Luke asked.
"There's not much to tell, only images really, feelings," Leia said.
"Tell me."
"Well, she was very beautiful. Kind and gentle...but sad. I always wondered why that was. Now I know. Maybe that's why she left. Maybe I reminded her too much of our father."
"Leia," Luke said, turning to her. "I'm sure she loved you very much and it was probably one of the most difficult decisions of her life to leave you."
Leia nodded. "I know. Luke, did you ever think about her?"
Luke nodded. "Yes, many times. Uncle Owen told me she died shortly after I was born. That was it. I always wondered though..."
Suddenly, Luke's head jerked back and his eyes opened wide. Leia looked at him with concern, not knowing what was going on.
"Luke," she said, trying to get through to him.
But Luke wasn't responding. His mind locked in some sort of trance. As if he was receiving a message.
"Luke," a voice said in his head. Luke recognized the voice. It was Darth Vader, his father.
"Father," Luke said.
"Son," Vader's voice said through the very fabric of space. "I am on my way to Drayos. Your mother is there, as Mara Jade soon will be. Come to Drayos. Join me, and together we will crush her once and for all."
"Father...Anakin..."
The link between the two men suddenly broke and Luke fell to his knees, clutching his head. Leia kneeled down to help him.
"Luke, was that Vader?" she asked.
"Yes...it was Father," he responded.
"Don't call him that Luke," Leia said angrily. "He might be our father by blood, but no more."
"He told me to go to Drayos. That mother, and Mara Jade would be there," Luke said, turning to face Leia. "He wants me to join him and destroy Mara Jade."
"Luke," Leia said. "Did he know about me?"
"No," Luke said. "He must not have been able to sense your presence. It's probably because you've only recently discovered your powers."
Leia nodded, not quite sure what to say.
"Leia," Luke continued. "We must go to Drayos. There we can stop Mara Jade from carrying out her mission."
"Vader might be setting you up for a trap again."
"He isn't," Luke said. "I know he was telling the truth. I can feel it. He wants to turn me to the Dark Side, yes, but he knows that the most important thing is to stop Mara Jade."
Leia still wasn't completely convinced but she didn't have time to voice her concern. Suddenly, a mighty roar bellowed out across the ruins of Naboo. Luke and Leia turned around to face it.
Behind them, they saw a massive creature. They recognized it as a Faamba, a giant lizard creature extinct in their time. They were generally considered to have been peaceful animals but this Faamba had a savage, killer look in it's eyes, like it wanted to tear apart the first thing it saw.
To make matters worse, it was charging right at them!
Luke and Leia barely moved out of the way of the oncoming Faamba. It rushed past them and smashed into a pile of rubble. It shook its head and turned around.
Facing it were Luke and Leia. Luke had his lightsaber drawn and ignited and Leia had her blaster out. They weren't sure what would drive a normally peaceful creature to go crazy but it was easy to speculate that the planet's bombardment had caused it.
The Faamba made another rush toward the two. Again, they sidestepped the creature. As the creature passed, Luke took a swipe at its side, cutting open the creature. Blood oozed out of the creature and it roared in pain.
With its tail, it took a swipe at Luke. Luke ducked and rolled, again coming to his feet. He took another swing at the creature, slashing one of its pillar-like legs to the bone. The creature again roared in pain and swung its tail widely, smashing rubble everywhere.
Luke and Leia managed to dodge it and Leia opened fire on the Faamba, firing three quick shots at the creature's head. The creature absorbed the shots and charged the Princess. She had forgotten that Faambas had thick hides and were very resilient to blaster fire.
The Faamba charged closer to Leia with its mouth wide open. Leia moved just as the Faamba's jaws came at her. One of its teeth nicked Leia's left arm, opening a gash. Leia screamed in pain as she ran from the creature.
"Leia!" Luke screamed as he charged the Faamba. He had allowed for himself to fall behind the creature and now it might cost Leia her life.
He was just feet away from the giant, lizard-creature. Just then, the creature swung its mighty tail at Luke. Luke's enhanced reflexes managed to prevent him from taking the full force of the blow. But it was still strong enough to send him across the ruined street and through a pile of rubble. When the smoke cleared, Luke was trapped under a pile of the rubble from the waist down. He couldn't get out.
The Faamba continued his pursuit of Leia, who dodged the creatures powerful tail swings. The ground literally shook every time its tail hit the ground. Leia dodged and weaved, firing her blaster whenever she could, for what good that would do. She continued this until her back hit a wall that still stood on the planet. The creature was bearing down on her and there was nowhere to go. She was trapped.
Luke watched helplessly as the creature was bearing down on his sister. He tried to use the Force to remove the rubble but could not concentrate enough. He couldn't move and now the creature was going to kill Leia. He had gone on this mission to save his mother and his and Leia's very existence. Now he was going to fail them all.
"Let the Force work through you, Luke."
The words of Obi-Wan Kenobi bellowed in Luke's mind. Resolve filled inside of him. Yes, he had to concentrate and let the Force work through him.
Luke looked in front of him. There before him was the large piece of rubble that was holding him down. Luke closed his eyes and summoned the Force. He lifted the rubble from him, freeing him. With the rubble still suspended in air, he used the Force to send it crashing into the skull of the Faamba.
The Faamba roared in pain. Its balance was becoming off-centered. The creature's distraction allowed Leia to get far away from it.
Rising to his feet, Luke signaled his lightsaber to his hand. Igniting it, he charged the wobbly Faamba. Using the Force, he jumped onto the back of the creature's neck and grabbed a fold of its flesh.
The creature roared and tried to throw the young Jedi off its neck. Luke rode the creature, hanging on with all his might. Raising his lightsaber high, he plunged the green blade deep into the back of the creature's head.
The Faamba let out a final, mighty roar as its body stiffened. It then crashed to the ground, throwing Luke off.
The creature lay in the rubble of Naboo, dead.
Leia, still clutching her injured arm, ran to Luke to help him to his feet. "Are you all right?" she asked, the concern evident in her voice.
"I'm all right," Luke said, struggling up to his feet. He looked at Leia and noticed a nasty gash on her left arm. "You're injured."
"It's not that bad," Leia said. She was obviously trying not to show her pain.
Luke turned towards her and put his right hand on her wounded arm. Luke closed his eyes and reached out with the Force. In only a short time, the wound on Leia's arm was completely healed.
Leia stared at her wound, and then Luke, a look of shock on her face. "How..." she began.
"The Force can do many things, Leia," Luke said with a smile. "You just need to have faith."
Leia's lips curled in a smile.
Luke's face turned serious again as he looked into his sister's eyes.
"Leia, I know you are reluctant about what Vader told me. But it is our only lead. We must take it."
"I know Luke," Leia said. "But I still don't like it."
"Neither do I."
The two looked forward at the path ahead. It was only a few hours till nightfall and they still had to find a ship. This might take them a long time.
"We have to find a ship," Leia said.
"I know," Luke said. "This isn't going to be easy. We will just have to trust..."
"The Force," Leia said, finishing his sentence.
Luke smiled and nodded.
"Then we should head to the north," Leia said. "I have a feeling it is there we will find what we are looking for."
Luke looked forward at the path Leia had suggested. He reached out with the Force. The north. Yes. That might be just where they needed to go.
He turned back to face Leia. He could sense something, something Obi-Wan Kenobi had sensed in him many years ago. His sister had just taken her first step into a much larger universe.
"Lead the way, my sister."
--------------------
It took several hours for Luke and Leia to reach their destination. They traveled through rocks, rubble, and ruined landscape as they continued their advancement up north. The sun was just minutes away from setting, blazing a magnificent orange light through the sky. They knew they would have to reach the location before nightfall, for who knew what creatures might come out.
Luke and Leia stopped on top of a hill and looked down. There, before them, lay a spaceport in ruins. It was partially covered in debris, but a few ships remained.
The two made their way down the hill and to the spaceport. They made the climb to the ships, looking for ones that were not buried.
It was then that a ship caught Leia's eye. A freighter, an old Nubian vessel, with extruding wings and a single engine. That's it, she thought. That was exactly what they were looking for.
"Luke, over there," she said, pointing to the ship.
Luke looked over and saw the ship. Yes, he thought.
They made their way to the shuttle. The top hatch was opened and the two climbed in to the impending darkness.
Luke ignited his lightsaber. The blade glowed to life and the two got a better look at the ship. It was an old one, they both thought, but in decent condition. Luke knew they would have to get to the bridge to get a full report on the ship's status.
The two made their way to the cockpit. After forcibly opening the door, the two reached stepped inside. In front of them was the pilot's chair, which faced the ship's controls. Luke approached the chair and spun it around. What they saw caused both of them to gasp.
The decomposing body of the ship's captain sat in the chair. He had been dead for two weeks. Looking at the body, it appeared a piece of shrapnel had flown out of one of the ships systems and stabbed the pilot through the skull, killing him instantly. Luke looked over the systems and found the operations system to be damaged.
Leia looked over the ship's controls and hit a button. The lights on the ship turned on and they were no longer in darkness. She then got to work on getting a readout of the ship.
"What's the report on the ship's status?" Luke said, turning off his lightsaber.
"Surprisingly, it's in relatively good shape," Leia said, checking over the readout. "Only the ship's operating system appears to be damaged. The pilot must have been in a hurry to avoid the bombardment of the planet because he forgot to check the system. We can clearly see the results."
"Fixing the operations system won't be too bad," Luke said. "With both of us working on it, it will take an hour, maybe two. Then we can be on our way to Drayos."
Leia nodded, rising from the console.
Luke looked over at the decomposing body of the pilot. He then turned to Leia and said, "I think it would be appropriate to give this pilot a proper burial."
Leia looked at the body and nodded her agreement.
It took the two less than fifteen minutes to remove the body and bury it. Luke used the Force to cover the body in rocks.
When that task was done, the two got back to the operations system. After an hour, they completed repairs and Luke took his seat at the pilot's chair.
Luke hit the proper controls and punched the engine. The ship, which they discovered was called the Gambler's Luck, roared to life.
Luke looked over at Leia and the two smiled.
The ship hovered several feet off the ground. Luke then pointed the ship to the sky and blasted off Naboo, leaving their mother's homeworld behind.
"It's going to take a few moments to locate Drayos on the star chart and punch in the coordinates for the jump to hyperspace," Luke said, working over the controls.
"Luke, what are we going to find on Drayos?" Leia asked.
Luke stopped what he was doing and looked at her for a moment. "What are we looking for? Our mother," he finally said.
"Do you think we'll actually see her?" Leia pressed on.
"I don't know. Most likely we will. I would very much like to meet her but we have to remember what Ben said. Try to avoid all contact with anyone from this time period if we can. If we interfere even for a moment, it can have great consequences."
"Yes, I know," Leia said grimly. "The little I have read on the theory of time travel has told me that even the smallest change can cause ripples through the very fabric of time."
Luke nodded. "We have to stop Mara Jade and that's it. If we encounter Father...Vader, well...we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Leia looked as if she was going to say something more. Instead, she simply nodded her approval. She took the operations seat next to Luke and strapped herself in.
Luke turned back to the controls and the coordinates to Drayos popped up on the screen. It was several days away from Naboo. That would allow the two enough time to plot some sort of strategy.
As he prepared to make the jump to hyperspace, another thought bounced into Luke's head. If their mother was on Drayos, that would mean that Ben...Obi-Wan Kenobi would be there too. Luke considered what it would be like to meet his old teacher in this timeline. How would Obi-Wan react to seeing them?
That thought was still in Luke's mind as the ship made the jump into hyperspace.
--------------------
The N-3 Naboo Royal Starfighter descended into the atmosphere of Drayos. The vessel flew high, not wanting to attract attention from the military base on the planet.
As its decent gradually became lower, the starfighter made its way into a region full of mountains. It flew through one of the cave openings and made a successful landing.
Mara Jade opened the cockpit and jumped out of the craft. Now hidden inside of the well-lit cave, she knew the planet's resistance force could not locate it. She went to the ship's cargo hold and pulled out the supplies that were in it. She would set up camp here and wait. Wait for the right opportunity to strike at Queen Amidala.
Mara Jade left the cave and began a climb up the nearest mountain. With her skills, it took her only a few minutes to reach the top. The stars above rained their light down upon her. In front of her lay the green world of Drayos.
The wind blew her hair back as she looked across the planet. She was about five miles away from the base. Just outside of their sensors. Avoiding them had been no problem when landing the ship. She had done so many times against the most modern sensor systems on many of her missions.
She considered her current situation. Vader was alive...she had been foolish to assume he had been killed. Not only that, Luke Skywalker was here as well, and Vader had made contact with him. They were both heading for the planet.
Vader would arrive first, followed by Skywalker. Mara would have to be on alert. The Empire would be coming to wipe out this resistance force in about a week. Vader and Skywalker would be here before then.
She did not fear having to fight one of them. She had never met adversary worthy of her abilities. Victims fell so easy. None had given her that warrior's challenge she so desired. Vader and Skywalker, however, would be worthy opponents.
Vader was the more powerful of the two. He had slaughtered many of the Jedi personally. Normally someone like Mara Jade would not stand a chance. But she had benefited from being trained under the Emperor, the same man who trained Vader. The Emperor had told Mara Jade about Vader. His strengths, his weaknesses, his fears. Everything. Vader would be tough, but she could defeat him.
Skywalker was powerful as well. One couldn't survive a battle with Vader if he wasn't. But his power was raw, and undisciplined. Mara Jade would defeat him as well.
However, if the two of them were to combine forces, Mara knew she would not stand a chance.
Mara could get around that, however. She would stay close to the base. Vader and Luke would follow but would not cause a scene for fear of creating a scene or altering a future event. When the Empire struck, Mara would make her move and kill the Queen. The legend of Luke Skywalker would be erased from the history books forever and only the Emperor...and herself...would remain.
She descended down the mountain and to the cave where the makeshift camp she had made stood. She would rest here. Then in the morning, she would begin the journey to the camp. The Emperor had taught her how to conceal her presence to other Jedi. She could remain there until the Empire struck.
Mara laid down on the sleeping bag on the floor of the cave and fell into a restful slumber. In her sleep, she dreamed of the possibilities that lay ahead of her. Induction into the Sith, the Emperor's Supreme Commander, and finally, the obtainment of her own personal goal. Leadership of the Empire.
--------------------
Obi-Wan stalked through the base, barely noticing the looks of surprise and concern he drew from bystanders. Luckily, most knew to stay out of the way of an angry Jedi. Obi-Wan threw the back door open and continued through the greenery of Drayos. He didn't know where he was headed and he didn't care.
He was so furious he couldn't see straight. What is wrong with her? Obi-Wan knew Amidala was going through an incredibly tough time, but she seemed hell-bent on making things worse. She refuses to even try to understand. And he couldn't believe that she actually hit him. The shock of that moment hurt more than any physical pain she could have inflicted.
Why can't she just accept the truth? That Anakin was dead. And that despite the pain of losing him, maybe they were all better off for it...
Obi-Wan stopped and took a look around. He was somewhere in the forest behind the base. Fine. He needed to be alone anyway.
He leaned against a nearby tree and tried to calm himself down. Amidala didn't mean it, you shouldn't be angry with her. Obi-Wan struggled to center his thoughts. But it didn't work. He kept asking himself why he was mad at her in the first place.
Shouldn't she be hoping that her husband might have survived? Shouldn't she want to believe that her husband wasn't evil? How else was she supposed to react to Anakin reaching out to her?
No, she was simply doing what any wife who loved her husband would do. He shouldn't begrudge her that.
But, in the end, she was making things harder.
Obi-Wan still struggled constantly with his guilt and pain...yet, Anakin's death, at the very least, had given him a sense of closure. The horrific path that Anakin led them down had come to an appropriately dreadful end.
The thought that Anakin might have survived...that this nightmare might not yet be over...it was almost too much to bear. Amidala hadn't seen for herself what Anakin had become; she had reason to hope. He had held out hope himself until he met his Padawan at the volcano. That hope was gone now. Obi-Wan knew better than anyone how completely the Dark Side had Anakin in its grasp. Knew the horrors Anakin could unleash if he had somehow survived.
No, he didn't survive. We have to accept that.
"General Kenobi?"
The voice startled Obi-Wan. He looked up and saw Sylvn, Ki-Adi-Mundi's daughter, standing before him.
"Yes, Sylvn - is something wrong? Do they need me back at the base?"
"No, nothing's happened. I'm sorry for disturbing you." She looked a bit uncomfortable. "I usually come out here to think. I was a little surprised to see that I had company this time."
"I didn't mean to intrude," he replied.
"That's all right." She sat on the ground next to the tree, and looked up at him with a small smile. "I don't mind."
Obi-Wan sat next to her. He appreciated her smile, but knew it belied almost unspeakable grief. Losing Anakin had been like losing a son, but beyond that he had little family to speak of. She had lost nearly every member of an enormous family. And her friends. And her home world. Given how close he felt to the edge, Obi-Wan wondered how she managed to function at all.
Obi-Wan tried to push their combined grief aside. He wanted to make conversation, but couldn't think of anything else to talk about.
She glanced at him and said, "Don't worry, there isn't anything else to talk about."
Obi-Wan felt taken aback. "I didn't realize you're Force-sensitive."
"I'm not. I don't have to be. Every conversation here starts and ends with the Wars. Which means they all start and end with misery."
"I suppose you're right," Obi-Wan sighed. "You've been here much longer than I have; I'm sure you're tired of hearing sad stories."
"Well, there's always time for one more..."
Obi-Wan shook his head ruefully. "Trust me, you don't want to hear it. Besides...your father has likely shared most of it with you."
She hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Yes, he has, at least part of it. I'm very sorry to hear about your apprentice."
"Thank you." A moment of awkward silence followed.
"Do you...blame yourself?"
Obi-Wan bristled in surprise, and almost instinctively moved back from her.
"I'm sorry. Please, I didn't mean to upset you." Sylvn placed her hand over his. "I wasn't trying to be nosy...I was just wondering..."
"Wondering what?"
"How you are dealing with this. Like I said, I've heard everyone's stories...but they always finish with a thirst for vengeance. I think many - not all, but many - of the people here simply want the Empire to pay for what's happened to them."
Obi-Wan had also sensed that. He couldn't say that he blamed any of them. "You don't want that though."
Sylvn shrugged. "I don't know. There are days when that's all I can think about. But I don't...need it. I don't want to live that way, with revenge as my main motivation." She sighed heavily. "I could fight the Wars for a thousand years, and it still won't bring back my family, or my home..." Her eyes shut for a second, as if she were about to cry. But the moment passed, and when her eyes opened she looked fine.
Obi-Wan squeezed her hand, which was still resting on top of his. "I can't imagine what that must have been like for you. You and your father are fortunate to have each other."
She almost laughed. "It's strange how things wind up. The two of us haven't been very close; we've had some terrible disagreements in the past. Now we're alone...clinging to each other for dear life."
"If you have each other, then neither of you is alone." He dropped his eyes from hers and said, "I've lost or alienated those who matter most...and almost everyone else is dead..."
"I know...I know what that feels like. But self-pity is a cold comfort that doesn't last very long. Believe me, I've tried it.
"It's not easy," she continued softly, "but maybe the only thing we can do is try to focus on the present - on the new connections we might make to help us get through this." As she said that, her eyes took on a slightly hopeful look.
He smiled at her. She actually sounded a bit like Qui-Gon, telling him to live in the moment and not miss opportunities in front of him. It always was a wise lesson.
"You're right, Sylvn. There are too many things that need to be done now to have the luxury of wallowing in regrets." He paused, wanting to say something more, but then he changed his mind. The two stared at each other for a long moment. "Thank you, Sylvn," he whispered softly.
--------------------
As the sun's first rays began to rise, Ki-Adi-Mundi sat in his small room meditating. He did this every morning. For a Jedi, meditation was important. It could clear the mind and help the Jedi obtain a state of peace.
When at peace, a Jedi was at his most powerful. Ki-Adi-Mundi had much he needed to clear his mind of.
Such as the events leading up to where he was now. He mind raced as he thought of the events of the last two and a half years. The Clone Wars, the Battle of Concord Dawn, the Sith, all these images crossed his mind. Especially the image of his homeworld, Cerea.
Cerea, his beloved planet, that he served for almost fifty years. It was a paradise where technology was shunned and its people lived normal, quiet, and happy lives. It was so beautiful and so green. It was the perfect place to raise a family, or in the case of an average male Cerean, families. Correction, it had been the perfect place to raise the family. Now, it was completely destroyed and left unable to support any life.
Ki-Adi-Mundi thought back bitterly to the course of events that led to Cerea's destruction. It had been after the Emperor had declared marital law on the galaxy. He had sent his destructive new ships, Star Destroyers, out to crush any resistance to his New Order. One of the planets that refused to give in was Cerea.
Unfortunately, since Cerea shunned technology, they had nothing that could combat the Empire. Ki-Adi-Mundi, his former apprentice, A'Sharad Hett, and a force of Jedi and military personnel went to Cerea to help fight the Empire.
They were unsuccessful, and the Empire destroyed Cerea.
It was most bitter for Ki-Adi-Mundi. He not only lost his planet but he lost most of his force, including A'Sharad, whom he had come to think of as a son.
The worst blow of all was when he had attempted to save his family. When he reached the area where his large family dwelled, he found them all dead. His bond-wife and four honor-wives. Six of his daughters and his only son, who was only twelve years old. The only member of his family left alive was his first child, his daughter Sylvn.
Along with the remnants of his force and Cerean refugees, he escaped the planet.
The loss of his family had almost destroyed Ki-Adi-Mundi. Consumed by great sadness and rage, he had considered killing himself. But he couldn't do it. It was not the Jedi way; it was not his way. He still had Sylvn. He could not leave her alone without any family. He was also responsible for the lives of the refugees and his force. And the Empire still existed.
Resolve entered into Ki-Adi-Mundi's body. Palpatine and his Empire had brought along all the pain and suffering to Cerea and the rest of the galaxy. They would continue their atrocities. Ki-Adi-Mundi had to resist them, had to stop them anyway he could. He promised himself on the memory of his family that he would not rest until the Empire was destroyed. He might be killed one day but he would die on his feet, not on his knees, resisting Palpatine and his insidious New Order. He swore it.
Ki-Adi then began organizing a resistance force. He began rounding up survivors who shared his desire to see the Empire destroyed. His fellow Jedi, who the Empire was determined to eliminate from existence (that thought made Ki-Adi's anger burn even more). The Bothans, members of the Republic's military, and everyone else he could find.
They established base on Drayos and there they would begin their fight to destroy the Empire. It would be an uphill battle, he knew, and one they might never win. But it wouldn't be lost on a lack of trying.
His force was large, although it could be larger. The additions of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Queen Amidala were a major plus. Ki-Adi's thoughts drifted to the young Queen. How difficult it must be for her. She had lost her husband Anakin to the Dark Side, had lost her homeworld and most of her friends. Now she was pregnant with Anakin's children and on the run from the Empire.
Those children are going to be powerful, Ki-Adi thought. He could sense it. Perhaps even powerful enough to destroy the Emperor. Ki-Adi knew that the Queen and her unborn children must be protected at all cost. As the sun rose, Ki-Adi finished his meditation and prepared himself for the day ahead.
There would be a meeting in an hour about Captain Jonas' mission to Galan and the state of affairs on the planet. Ki-Adi also realized that his daughter was late in meeting him. She normally arrived to his room early for breakfast. He wondered where she could be.
Suddenly, his door open and his daughter walked in.
"Good morning, Father," Sylvn said, smiling.
"Good morning, Sylvn," Ki-Adi said.
Ki-Adi-Mundi was surprised to sense something different about his daughter. She seemed less sad then usual, even a little happy. This was especially surprising considering how she had been these last few weeks.
"How are you feeling, my daughter?" Ki-Adi said.
Sylvn looked at him and smiled. "Better than I felt in awhile. I was able to talk to a...friend who helped me quite a bit."
"A friend?" Ki-Adi replied.
"General Kenobi."
"I see. The general is a good man."
"Yes," Sylvn said. "He certainly is."
Ki-Adi could sense more to Sylvn's last statement then she had let on. Still, he did not press the subject. He was glad to see his daughter's spirits lifted somewhat. He hadn't always been close to her as much as he liked. They had had many confrontations over the years, most notably, about the Pro-Tech movement. They had often fought and argued much, but despite all this Ki-Adi loved her and hoped she realized that he did.
"Are you ready for breakfast Sylvn?" Ki-Adi said.
"Of course," she replied and the two left the room. As they were walking, Ki-Adi's thoughts were on the future. He had become increasingly aware of "disruptions" in the Force over the last week. They were like nothing he had ever sensed before. They were quite unnatural. General Kenobi and the other Jedi had sensed it as well. Ki-Adi wasn't sure what it was, but he had a feeling that he would be dealing with it in the near future.
They all would.
--------------------
The main auditorium of the Drayos military base was beginning to fill up for the morning briefing as Obi-Wan Kenobi entered.
Obi-Wan looked around the room. The room was filled with many different races, most notably Bothans and Cereans. Obi-Wan also saw some of his fellow Jedi. The Jedi Master Don-Wan Kihotay. Tubocca the Wookie Jedi Knight. The beautiful Devlin Knight Neea Danquis. Despite all the suffering that was going on in the galaxy because of the Empire, it made Obi-Wan feel good to see these races of free people come together, most likely putting aside any type of differences between them.
Obi-Wan walked up the stage, which was filled with some of the resistance leaders, the most prominent of which was General Basek Ter'lya, Mundi's Bothan second-in-command. Obi-Wan also found C-3PO and R2-D2 on stage with some of the communication officers, bickering about something. It looked like Threepio was still angry about Artoo's comment the other day.
Still, there was one figure Obi-Wan didn't see. Scanning out through the crowd below, Obi-Wan spotted Amidala in the back with other members of the resistance leaders. Their eyes met and the two looked at each other. Neither one of them moved.
I have to talk to her about last night, Obi-Wan thought. We have to get things settled between us.
Just then, the side doors leading two the stage slid open and Ki-Adi-Mundi and Sylvn entered. The room became silent as the two made their way onto the stage.
Obi-Wan saw Sylvn approach and smiled at her. Sylvn smiled back.
Ki-Adi-Mundi took his place at the center of the podium and began his morning briefing. He went over the usual bit of business. Status reports, meeting with contacts, and so on. He noted that the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 were instrumental in decoding several Imperial messages involving various projects.
As Mundi continued on, Obi-Wan's mind began to concentrate on the disruptions in the Force he had sense in the last few days. It bothered the Jedi that he was still unable to discover what they were. He had talked to Mundi and the other Jedi about it, and they were unable to sense what it was either.
The worst part was Obi-Wan kept feeling further ripples in the Force and had a feeling this "disruption" would involve everyone in the base. This concerned him very much as he continued to listen to Mundi's briefing. What could it possibly be?
"As you know, we recently sent Captain Hallington and his starship to Xtarri," Mundi spoke as everyone began to pay even closer attention. "It is there that we hope he can make contact with General Derek's resistance group in hopes of forming an alliance between the two of us. If we can get him to agree to join us, our resistance can begin to take on a stronger offensive against the Empire."
"However," General Ter'lya said, stepping forward to join Mundi at the podium. "It might take Captain Hallington several days to find Derek and convince him. In the meantime, our first priority is to get the planetary deflector shied operational. If we double our efforts, we could get it operational in about a week. I will be supervising this work."
"Most of our planetary weapons are operational," Mundi said. "Only a few more systems and this planet will be at completely armed in case of an Imperial attack. To oversee this and our military forces will be General Kenobi. Sylvn will serve with the General as his second-in-charge."
At the mention of his name, Obi-Wan stepped forward and walked over to Mundi and Ter'lya. Mundi knew what he wanted and gave the podium over to Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan looked out at the audience and began to address them.
"There is one other matter I would like to discuss," Obi-Wan said. "Over the past few days, I have sensed several disruptions in the Force. These aren't the same as a regular disturbance. Something is...unnatural about it. Master Mundi and the other Jedi here have sensed it as well. I am unsure of what it is, but I have a strong feeling it has something to do with Palpatine."
The mention of Palpatine's name sent grumbles through the crowd. Obi-Wan waited for them to quiet down and then continued.
"I have a feeling we might encounter this disruption in the near future. It is important that all of you, Jedi or otherwise, stay alert and focused in the weeks ahead. This disturbance might possibly have wide-ranging effects. For everyone."
The crowd was silent for a time. Master Mundi returned to the podium to address them once again.
"General Kenobi is right. We must all be ready. May the Force be with us."
With that, the meeting ended and the people began to disperse, going back to their assignments. Obi-Wan walked down the stage and through the departing people in an attempt to get to Amidala. He wanted to talk to her about last night. By the time he reached the back, he found that she was gone.
Obi-Wan sighed. It looked like she still didn't want to speak to him. He would have to talk to her at a later time.
Ki-Adi-Mundi and Sylvn approached him and Obi-Wan turned to face them.
"Is everything all right Obi-Wan?" Ki-Adi said.
"Not quite," Obi-Wan admitted. "But it will have to do for now. Do you have a timeframe for contact with Captain Hallington?"
Ki-Adi-Mundi shook his head no. "Hopefully, within the next few days. I can't be certain. For right now though, we will have to take care of business here. I know I can trust you to handle our officers and armament."
Obi-Wan and Sylvn nodded.
"Good," Mundi said. "Because I have a feeling you were right about that disturbance Obi-Wan. I believe we will encounter it in the near future."
--------------------
Admiral Lord Damon Raynar watched from the bridge of the Star Destroyer New Order as the world of Xtarri was consumed by flames. A man in his mid-forties, the admiral was tall, regal, with black hair and green eyes. He stood strong with his olive-green Admiral's uniform. Strapped to his waist was an old-fashion, ceremonial sword. His left hand rested on the hilt of the sword as he watched the carnage below him.
The armada of four-star destroyers led by Raynar had just laid waste to the planet and the resistance it held. General Derek's resistance force was the latest destroyed by Raynar in the past six months. With the apparent death of the Emperor's enforcer, Darth Vader, Palpatine had put the Admiral in charge of crushing any resistance to the Empire.
Raynar had lived up to the expectations. Six resistance cells had been destroyed under his command, the largest of which was Xtarri. His fleet had left the planets in ruins; their resistance force was unprepared for the Imperial bombardment. Their base and ships were completely destroyed. The planet's inhabitants, those unconnected with the resistance, were calling into the New Order, begging for help. Admiral Raynar ignored them. If they were to die, then they would die. It would be a message to the galaxy about what would happen to all planets that allowed a resistance cell to spring up against the Empire.
Raynar continued to look out of the viewscreen. Six resistance cells down but he knew there was more still remaining. It was his duty to find them and destroy them.
It was always about duty when it came to Lord Damon Raynar. The son of nobility on the planet Aeon, Raynar had always been among the most powerful individuals of the Republic. Heads of state, ambassadors, senators, everyone who had influence in the government. Anything he ever wanted as a child was given to him.
At the age of seventeen, he entered the Academy and graduated four years later in the top five percent of his class. He was given an officers commission and quickly worked his way up the ranks. At the age of thirty, he was given his first command.
With the outbreak of the Clone Wars, Raynar was promoted to Commodore and participated in some of the heaviest fighting of the government. The Supreme Chancellor himself decorated him as a hero.
When that Chancellor named Palpatine proclaimed himself Emperor and formed his New Order; Raynar was the first member of the military to support him. He believed in the Emperor's vision and would do what it took to help him. Palpatine rewarded him with a promotion to Admiral. Now he had become one of his most important officers.
There were those who dismissed Raynar's abilities because of his family's influence. Lord Damon had always scoffed at that. Those people were fools who underestimated his abilities. The fact of the matter was he was the best officer in the fleet, and had a military mind matched only by Admiral Thrawn. He was the best and that is why the Emperor had so much trust in him.
The Emperor's trust could be a very powerful and rewarding thing. With Vader's death, the Emperor was looking for a new second-in-command. Admiral Raynar intended to be that man. He would prove to the Emperor in this campaign that he was worthy of such an honor. Being the Emperor's enforcer would give him more power than one could ever dream possible. Raynar would not lose that opportunity.
Still, Raynar put those thoughts aside. The Rebels were out there, and until they were all destroyed he still had a duty to perform. It must be taken care of.
Raynar turned away from the viewscreen and headed to the turbolift. Once there, he ordered the computer to take the lift to the detention level. It was there that he might learn of another resistance cell.
While his Star Destroyers bombarded Xtarri, a Corellian cruiser had come out of hyperspace. The TIE fighters and assault frigates quickly captured it. His men were interrogating the ship's captain now. They would soon learn where he had come from and why he was heading to Xtarri.
Raynar knew though that he was from another resistance unit. There would be no other reason a ship would come to such of an out of the way planet. He had ordered his men to use whatever resources possible to discover what resistance cell the man worked for.
The turbolift stopped and Raynar got out and headed for Dention Cell 12. After clearing the necessary security protocols, he entered the cell. It was quite a messy site.
The rebel captain named Hallington was laid out on the floor in a pool of his own blood. He had been badly beaten.
An interrogator droid hovered above him. To his side were Captain Crix Wilston, his executive officer, and two stormtroopers whose white armor was covered with spots of crimson.
"Admiral Raynar," Captain Wilson said, stepping forward and bowing. "We have interrogated the prisoner and have discovered which cell this rebel scum came from." He handed a datapad over to Raynar, who took it and looked it.
"Drayos," Raynar said as he looked over it. "Has this been confirmed?"
"Yes Lord Raynar," Wilston said. "The interrogator droid has confirmed he was telling the truth."
Raynar nodded and continued to look over the datapad. He recognized the name of the planet. Drayos had been home to a military base for the Republic. It had been abandoned shortly after the Hyperspace Wars. Apparently, this is where these rebels had their base. It also appeared that Ki-Adi-Mundi was their leader.
Ki-Adi-Mundi. Raynar recognized that name. Mundi was a Jedi Master, and the last surviving member of the Council. The Empire had a termination list with various individuals on it. Mundi was on top of that list. The Emperor wanted all the Jedi eliminated but especially Mundi. If he could take care of the Jedi and this resistance, the Emperor would be indebted to him further. He would increase his influence in the Empire and his power would grow. This could turn out to be quite profitable.
Raynar smiled. He had always enjoyed big game hunting. Now Mundi and his rebels would be the biggest hunt of all.
Raynar and Wilston left the detention cell and headed for the nearest communication console. Raynar activated it and patched it through to the bridge.
"Commander Benton," Raynar said.
"Benton here, sir."
"What is the status of our fleet?"
"Our fighters are returning now sir," Benton said. "We're refueling and dumping our useless scrap metal. We should be ready to depart in less than an hour."
"Good, when that is all taken care of, have the fleet set course for the Drayos system. It seems the Captain's rebel friends are there."
"Yes Admiral."
Raynar shut off the console and he and Wilston headed for the turbolift. They needed to go to the war room to discuss strategy for the latest campaign.
It was time to eliminate this rebellion for good.
--------------------
"She's still not speaking to me," Obi-Wan said, breaking the silence between him and Sylvn. The two had just spent the entire day overseeing the bases weapons and supplies. They were finishing up their final check-ups.
"Give her time Obi-Wan," Sylvn said. "This is a difficult choice she is facing."
"I know," Obi-Wan said. "Still..." his voiced trailed off as he finished the last weapons check-up.
"Finally finished," Sylvn said with a sigh of relief. "All weapons in this base are now fully operational."
Obi-Wan was very impressed with Sylvn. Despite the fact that she had grown up on a world that shunned technology, she had shown an amazing ability to deal with machines and programming. She truly was a remarkable woman.
"That leaves only the planetary deflector shield," Obi-Wan said. "With these weapons ready, the Empire won't be taking this planet without a fight."
Obi-Wan and Sylvn then reported the news to Ki-Adi-Mundi via comlink. When that was done, the two headed out of the compound and to the main base.
"Would you care to join me for a walk, Obi-Wan?" Sylvn said.
"I would be happy to, Sylvn," Obi-Wan said.
The two spent the next hour walking through the forest exchanging stories about their lives. Obi-Wan told her about his early days of Jedi training. About training under Yoda, and then Qui-Gon. He also told her about Anakin. About when he taught him, and when they stormed the galaxy as master and apprentice. That thought made Obi-Wan smile. Those had been good times. How long ago those days seemed now.
Sylvn told Obi-Wan about her early childhood, being the first child of Ki-Adi-Mundi and how his family grew to include four honor-wives, six more daughters, and a son. She also talked about the time where her relationship with her father was almost destroyed by the Pro-Tech movement on her planet. She had joined the movement, embracing the technology and adventure it offered. Instead, it nearly cost her her life. She was rescued by her father and the two began to patch up their shaky relationship.
The problems caused by the Pro-Tech movement showed Sylvn what could happen when people of different viewpoints violently disagreed with each other. A year later, she joined the Republic's Diplomatic Corps. There, she would help worlds fighting with inner turmoil or other worlds. It was difficult and often dangerous work, but Sylvn hung tough and became one of the Corps best diplomats. It had been part of her life for more than a decade.
Obi-Wan listened intently to Sylvn's story. He also watched her as well. Her eyes, her smile. He noted how the glow from the moon radiated off her face, enhancing her natural beauty. Sylvn looked up at him and with an amused grin.
"You are very quiet, Obi-Wan."
This surprised Obi-Wan somewhat. "That is how I am. I have always been like that...although I might point out that with you I have said more than I have said to anyone else on this planet," he added that last part with a bit of playful humor in his voice.
"A'Sharad was like that as well," Sylvn said, quietly and with sadness.
"A'Sharad, you mean A'Sharad Hett, your father's former Padawan?" Obi-Wan said.
"Yes, A'Sharad Hett," Sylvn said, again very quiet and sad.
"You were close to him, weren't you?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes, the two of us were romantically involved. We had been for some time. I remember when my father first brought him to Cerea. He had just recently met him on Tatooine and had agreed to finish his training. A'Sharad had been raised on the planet as a Tusken Raider. As such, he had often been uncomfortable around others, especially considering they all had exposed faces. As you know, Tuskens conceal their faces. It took awhile but our family eventually befriended him and he became one of the family.
"Our relationship stared years later after he had become a Knight. By then, he had long since abandoned his Tusken facial wrappings. He spent some time on Cerea before he became a knight and the two of us fell in love. I was several years older than he was but that never bothered either of us. We were in love. That was all that mattered."
Obi-Wan nodded. There had also been an age difference between Anakin and Amidala and they had fallen in love.
"But, as you know," Sylvn said, continuing. "A'Sharad was killed when the Empire destroyed my homeworld. He died bravely, like the Jedi he was."
Sylvn stopped talking and grew silent. Obi-Wan thought he saw a tear in her eye. He put his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry," he said.
Sylvn nodded. It took a few moments for her to compose herself before she spoke again.
"What about you Obi-Wan? Did you ever have a special someone in your life?"
"I am a Jedi, Sylvn. Our line of work leaves us little time for relationships."
"Surely there must be some woman out there who was special to you."
Obi-Wan was silent for a while. "There was one, years ago when I was still a Padawan. She was a Princess. We loved each other very much. I even considered marrying her. But our duties and responsibilities could not allow us to wed. It's been many years since I have seen her."
"The path of a Jedi is not an easy one," Sylvn said.
"No, it is not," Obi-Wan said. "It is a difficult one. One with many paths and trials. It keeps us constantly moving and impossible for many of us to ever have a family. But it is the path that I chose and I do not regret it. The rest is in the hands of the Force."
Sylvn nodded and the two continued their walk towards the base. Along the way, Obi-Wan was surprised to find that he and Sylvn were holding hands.
The two entered the base and reached Sylvn's quarters. Obi-Wan turned to face her.
"I enjoyed our walk," Sylvn said with a smile.
"As did I, Sylvn," Obi-Wan said, smiling right back. "I appreciate the companionship you have brought me during this difficult time."
"Think nothing of it Obi-Wan. You needed someone to talk to and so did I. I'm just happy I could be there for you."
Obi-Wan took Sylvn's hand in his own and gently kissed it. Sylvn smiled as she looked up at Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan met her gaze and the two stared at each other for a long time.
Slowly, Obi-Wan moved closer and kissed Sylvn on the lips. Sylvn kissed him back.
When it was over, Sylvn pulled back and once again looked at Obi-Wan. A smile once again formed on her lips.
"Good night Obi-Wan," she said.
"Good night Sylvn," Obi-Wan said and Sylvn went into her room.
Obi-Wan left the corridor and headed for his quarters. His thoughts were of Sylvn. He realized that being with her made him happy for the first time in over six months.
Still, he could not shake that feeling he had that something was headed to Drayos. It would be here soon. Something that had to do with those disruptions he had felt earlier...
--------------------
It was the dead of night when the old N-1 Royal Starfighter landed in the tall grass of Drayos. The cockpit opened up and out came Darth Vader.
The tall grass was several feet high and tall enough to hide the starfighter from others on the planet. Vader made his way through the tall grass until he finally got out of it.
He reached a hill and ascended up it. When he reached the top, he looked across the land. Beyond it was the rebel military base. There he would find Mara Jade.
Vader reached out with the Force to try to find her. He knew he would not be able to. Sith and others strong in the Dark Side knew how to cloak their appearance. The Emperor had taught Vader this, and he no doubt had taught Mara Jade this as well.
Still, he knew where he would find her. She would stay close to the camp. That way, Vader could not attack her for fear of drawing attention and possibly altering the timeline. It was a clever strategy on Jade's part.
Vader had studied the theory of time travel many years earlier. About how even the slightest change in the past could conceivably have great consequences in the future. He would have to be very careful not to draw attention to himself.
Vader also knew there was another presence he felt on the planet. He knew this one all to well. Obi-Wan Kenobi. His former teacher and friend. With Obi-Wan here, that meant that Amidala would be with him.
Obi-Wan...the name burned in Vader's mind. How he would love to confront him one more time. The day he had killed Kenobi on the Death Star was one of his proudest moments. Still, it left him with somewhat of an empty feeling. Kenobi had somehow vanished when Vader struck him down. He didn't suffer, he didn't fall in two, and he simply vanished. Even with his understanding of the Force, Vader still could not explain what had happened to him.
"If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful then you can possibly imagine."
That had been the last thing Kenobi had said to him. Had Kenobi indeed found a way to live on in this galaxy that Vader did not know about? Did he truly become more powerful that he could possibly imagine? Perhaps I should kill Kenobi now...
No, he could not. He had to consider several factors. The timeline for one thing. Plus, it had been Obi-Wan who had kept Amidala alive long enough to give birth to Luke. Obi-Wan had been the one to train Luke as a Jedi. Vader was forced to admit that Obi-Wan had done well with Luke. Already at a young age, Luke had destroyed the Death Star and had held his own in a duel with him. As much as he hated to admit it, he needed Obi-Wan alive to eventually bring Luke to him.
His mind drifted to Amidala his...Anakin's wife. It had been even longer since he had seen her last. Anakin had loved her very much. She claimed that she loved him as well. But Vader knew that was a lie.
When he had first joined the Emperor, he had gone to Amidala. He wanted her to join him. He loved her and knew that she would want to be with him no mater what. He was wrong. She was horrified. She refused to join him and told him so. She told him she could not stand by and watch him destroy himself and others. That was the last time he had seen her. He left devastated. The only woman he had ever loved had turned her back on him and she didn't even care.
There were times though, that deep down, he knew that she was right. That she had been correct in what she had done. Vader quickly dismissed this as an echo from his past. An echo from Anakin's past. She had been the one who was wrong.
As for Obi-Wan, he had never wanted to train him in the first place. He was only obliged to Anakin because of a death wish from his master. It had been Obi-Wan who was responsible for the death of his mother. He had never forgiven him for that.
They both hated Anakin and wanted to have nothing to do with him. The Emperor had been right in that regard. Vader didn't need either of them. They might still be alive in this timeline but as far as he was concerned, they were both dead to him.
Clearing his thoughts, Vader began to consider his strategy. The base was five miles from there. He would go by foot and hide out of the bases outskirts until the Empire arrived and then Mara Jade would make her move. Vader hated sneaking around. That was a task more suited Jade and beings like Prince Xizor. Still, it is what he would have to do to complete this mission.
Before Vader would go to the base, his mind drifted to one more important thing. Luke. His son would be here within the next three days. Vader would have to decide what to do with him. Should he confront him and convince him to join his effort to save his mother? Or should he ignore Luke for the time being in order to concentrate on Mara Jade?
This thought occupied Vader's mind as he made the long walk to the rebel base, towards a date with the past of Anakin Skywalker.
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