Summary: The war between the Republic and the Empire begins.
Rate: PG
Category: Drama/Romance
Disclaimer: See part one and two
�Anakin the emperor will do anything to make the empire grow,� Padme said.
�I know and the first real battle hasn�t happen yet,� Anakin said.
�What do you mean,� Padme said.
�There have been small battles but the true first battle has happen and when it does�we better be ready,� Anakin said.
�Hey sweetheart,� Han said.
�Hi, Anakin and the twins are asleep,� Leia said.
�It looks like you need some sleep yourself,� Han said.
�I do�so why were late General,� Leia said.
�Well I got us to sign a treaty with Bespin and Corellia,� Han said.
�How�d you do that,� Leia asked.
�One I�m Corellian so that helped and Bespin is owned by Lando,� Han said.
�Well that I say we both need a good night sleep,� Leia said.
�Agreed,� Han said beginning his way towards the bedroom.
�Han sure was busy today,� Mara said.
�I know�I want to joining the Rouge Squadron,� Luke said.
�What,� Mara said.
�Your remember Wedge Antilles,� Luke asked.
�Yes he the pilot that wanted you in the Rouge Squadron,� Mara said.
�An Admiral saw me fly a week ago and offered me the commission of Commander,� Luke said.
�I see and you want to do this,� Mara said.
�Yes I�ll be the leader of the Rouges,� Luke said
�How does this Wedge and his friends feel about it,� Mara asked.
�They�re the one who requested me and go the Admiral to watch me,� Luke said.
�Luke�just don�t get yourself killed until after we�re married please,� Mara said.
�I won�t,� Luke said and gave her a light kiss.
The next day Leia and Mara watched as Luke went off with the rest of the pilots and waved hi goodbye. The first was battle close Leia and Mara could feel it and they knew Luke could too. They walked back to Leia�s apartment where they would train for a while.
�You think he�ll be ok,� Mara asked.
�Yes�Luke a good pilot,� Leia said.
�I know but with the empire coming I wonder if it�s a good thing for him to do,� Mara said.
�It could be the best thing for him to do�w need good pilots,� Leia said.
�Your right�I guess I�m just afraid of losing him too,� Mara said.
�You won�t�you two will marry and have children this I promise you,� Leia said.
�Leia why don�t we skip training to day and go to Lunch I know I could use a break,� Mara said.
�Dad will be mad, Han will upset, Mom will be worried�ok I know just the place,� Leia said and they stared off.
�Here is where they will be,� an officer said.
�Great�I want those children,� Captain Tect said.
�Captain Tect,� the officer said.
�Yes should be ready the battle ships,� he asked.
�Yes this will be the first victory of the empire,� Captain Tect said.
Luke looked up and heard Wedge mumble something about the size of the ships and how many there were. Luke would have been lying if he had said he had seen one in his past. He stood there also in amazement but hide it from everyone. The next thing he knew the firing shot out and the battle began, but it was the only battle being fought.
Leia and Mara walked into the apartment that had been trashed, curtains has been torn down chairs where knocked over, table had been broken and several things were broken. Leia could hear moaning coming from Jacen and Jaina nursery so she rushed in there. Padme was on the ground, she had a very large cut on her head and she was beginning to wake up and there was no sign of any of her children.
�They have my children,� Leia said as she helped her mother up.
�Only�the twins,� Padme got out.
�Where�s Anakin,� Mara asked.
�With Han he came by to take them all but Jacen and Jaina were sleeping,� Padme said.
�We need to clean that cut,� Leia said holding back her tears.
�It looks like you lucky if they�d hit you harder you�d be dead,� Mara said.
�I know but I think that what they were going for,� Padme said.
�We�re home,� Han said.
�Han,� Leia said.
�What the hell happened here,� Han said.
�The empire have the twins,� Leia said.
�Is Padme ok,� Han asked.
�I�m fine Han just a small head injury,� Padme said.
�I�ll get a message to Luke about this,� Mara said.
Mara had held in her tears for Leia but now that she was home she let them fall. It hurt her so much to know that had been taken and that she was helpless to get them back. She put in a call to Luke and the young man said he was out and the first battle was happening the war had officially begun. She called his office and left a message for him to call her as soon as he could it was an emergency.
Luke looked to see another one of his rouges being shot down and he had to think fast or they would all be dead for sure. Luke noticed a point on the ship and made an order for all remaining ship to hit it there, they thought he was crazy but followed orders. Each fire was a few seconds behind each other but when the last hit was made the very large ship exploded along with the other three large ships. He knew it was the force that had helped it, but he didn�t know why it started a chain reaction. Luke suddenly felt all those men who died, took in a deep breath as the dark flash went through him, but he put it aside, because they had a battle to win.
The emperor was not happy as he began to hear the details of the first battle every ship of his was destroyed hundreds of his men killed. Of course the Republic had just as many casualties and he General Solo and Princess Leia twins so that made up for it. They had been taken to their room, where they were put in the most expensive clothing, he would make sure they were spoiled and trained well. Jaina would take the place of his current hand since he knew she would be dead soon, and Jacen would take his place as emperor. He had hope Anakin would take his place but he knew now it was meant to be, besides Anakin will always remember his parents these two will not.
�Sleep my children sleep,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�When they wake I�ll give them a bath and feed the,� a nurse said.
�Yes I want only the best for my grandchildren,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�Grandchildren,� she asked.
�Yes my son who was their father dead at the first battle,� Emperor Palpatine said sadly.
�What about their mother,� she said.
�You will take that role,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�Yes milord,� she said and he left.
The plan was perfect or so he thought, pretend to be their grandfather, have her play the role of their mother and they would be hers. He had to make up a fake son for when they started to ask question, but he was sure that wouldn�t be for some years. So it didn�t matter if this war went on for a few months or years there was no way they would find them and Jacen and Jaina would one day destroy the Republic.
�Luke how many down,� Han asked.
�Only five us pilots left, three rouge and two gold,� Luke said.
�Alright we have meeting at 0700 tomorrow,� Han said.
�OK�Han I just heard about Jacen and Jaina,� Luke said.
�Well explain more when you get off duty,� Han said leaving Luke�s office.
�Hey Boss Horn is back,� Wedge said coming into his office.
�Good we have a long training session tomorrow,� Luke said.
�Long as in three hours,� Wedge said.
�Let not put in a time frame yet,� Luke said.
�Ok I�ll tell Corran to be there at�0800,� Wedge said.
�Yea I have a meeting 0700 so I may be a little later,� Luke said.
�Ok see you then,� Wedge said.
Luke then started his way home, his father would be back in a few days and he could only imagine what he would do. It still surprised him the council sent him on a trip at this time and with only a few minutes notice. Mara seemed so sad and he could tell she had been crying so he wanted to get home fast to her. Padme had told him Leia had said very little since Mara left her and Han blamed himself for this. Anakin wouldn�t leave the nursery, for a baby he knew something was wrong Luke was sure of it. Luke came home to find Mara on the couch, she had fallen asleep and he could feel her helpless feeling but something else.
�Mara my love,� Luke said and she woke up and sat up.
�Luke forgive me I didn�t know,� Mara said clinging to him.
�Know what,� Luke said.
�My father worked for the empire he told me Emperor Palpatine was waiting for these twins I didn�t know,� Mara said.
�What,� Luke said feeling Mara crying harder.
�I was to be his hand but then I met you and you showed me love and�� Mara said not letting go.
�Why didn�t you tell me sooner,� Luke said.
�I thought you�d hate me,� Mara said looking him in the face.
�Did you ever swear allegiance to the empire,� Luke said.
�No I was on my way to the empire when I met you,� Mara said.
�Do you know where the Emperor Palpatine is,� Luke asked.
�Yes I thought I could hide from it I�m so sorry it never hit they were jedi twins,� Mara said.
�Mara it�s ok we all make mistakes look at my father and I could never hate you,� Luke said.
He let his thumb wipe the tears away from her face and move the hair from her face as well. He kissed her forehead and she took in a sharp breath. He hugged her even closer and she could feel his unconditional love for her and he could feel hers too. She only hope Han and Leia were as forgiving as Luke was.
�Mara it not your fault you never were with the empire,� Han said.
�But if I told you they might still be here,� Mara said.
�No he would have found them,� Padme said.
�Leia I am sorry,� Mara said.
�Han and Luke are right to blame you would be like blaming my father who was with Emperor Palpatine,� Leia said.
�I can take you to the emperor�s palace,� Mara said.
�Not now�we have to wait for father,� Leia said.
�I�ll send Padme and Anakin to Lando,� Han said.
�Remember Mara we all learn from out mistake,� Padme said.
Mara never would have thought they would forgive her for the lies, but they did. She knew now she had found a family not like the one she had been making up. She could remember almost laughing at Yoda and Ben when they talked good about her father. Her mother died some years ago at the hand of the emperor because she didn�t believe in it and she was sure Anakin would remember her father. Now she only hoped that her information could help destroy the empire and Emperor Palpatine for good.
Next Chapter: The Invasion