Star
Wars - Episode VII. Shadow After Victory
By Jedi Adia
Disclaimers: Star Wars belongs to George Lucas, but some of the evil characters
were created by me, so those are mine.
Less than a year after the end of the Rebellion, remnants of the Empire
have resurfaced. Hoping to regain control of the galaxy, Admiral Jule
Tarkin, daughter of Grand Moff Tarkin, has sought refuge with her three
Star Destroyers in a vast nebula.
The Millennium Falcon has joined the Rebel Alliance at the Rebel Base on
Naboo. There, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia and Lando
Calrissian learn of Tarkin's plot to destroy the
on from where Emperor Palpatine left off. So now, the Rebels must fight
to maintain freedom in the galaxy, even if it means another galactic
war...
Admiral Jule Tarkin's fleet consisted of only three Star Destroyers. However,
these Star Destroyers had the firepower to blow entire planets into oblivion.
***
Jule stood alone in the center of the vast room. A holochip sat at her
feet, waiting to be activated. However, Jule knew only too well what was
probably inside. Hesitantly, she knelt down and touched the small disk
that occupied most of the top face. As she suspected, a hologram of Dark
Master Muroth rose from the disk.
"Rise, my servant," Muroth commanded.
Jule rose to her feet and stood, facing the holographic image. She was afraid
she wouldn't like what he had to say.
"Your progress out of the Beta Nebula is not as swift as it should
be," Muroth said.
"It is mandatory that we do not alert the Rebels of our
presence," Jule stood up straighter.
Muroth scowled. "We must do that, if we want to
regain control of the galaxy." Jule looked away. "Look at me!"
Muroth rasped.
"Don't start making idle threats, Muroth," Jule said, coolly.
Muroth regarded Jule for a moment. "You're preoccupied, Admiral," he
said.
"No, my master."
"I can see through you, Admiral," Muroth said.
"Yes, my master," Jule said. "It's Vader's wife. Padme Naberrie.
She's
alive."
Morning dawned over Naboo with an explosion of orange. The ominous
shadows of the Naboo palace fell over the Naboo plains. The capital city
of
before. The planet of Naboo seemed the perfect place for a Rebel base.
And that was on Princess Leia Organa's mind, as she walked down toward
the outer terrace, her boots echoing on the stone steps. A hovercar
approached and a man in a general's uniform got out.
"Ah. General Reikkan. I must speak with you."
"Princess Leia, it is urgent that I speak with you as well."
Leia cocked an eyebrow. Reikkan looked nervous about something.
"General, what is it?"
"This Rebellion is not over, like we first thought, Leia. As a matter
of fact, it's as if it's barely even started," Reikkan explained.
"What are you talking about, General? We've destroyed two Death
Stars, as well as the majority of the Imperial Fleet. Most, if not all
of the Emperor's people are in prisons all over the galaxy. If the
Rebellion isn't over, I don't know what it is," Leia pointed out.
"Not all of the Emperor's people are imprisoned and there's
still the minority of the Imperial Fleet that's out there. Like I said,
the Rebellion isn't over." The general walked past Leia and went into
the palace, leaving her to stare after him in bewilderment.
"He could be right, Leia," Luke said to her later on the lower
terrace on the eastern side of the palace.
"How are you so sure about this?" Leia asked.
"Never say that to a Jedi, Leia," Luke chided, gently. "Because
you already know why."
"Right," Leia said. The whole concept of the Force. Luke was
strong with it. So was she. And Vader is our father, she thought, with a
pang of realization. She was no longer Leia Organa. She was Leia
Skywalker. "Will this ever be over? Will there ever be peace?" She
asked, bringing herself back to the conversation.
"It could be, if what I heard is true."
"What did you hear?"
"That General Reikkan is right. However, there are only four
Star Destroyers. They're hidden in the Beta Nebula, if I'm not
mistaken," Luke said.
"We must go annihilate them," Leia said, getting up from the table.
Luke pulled her back down. "Anger and aggression lead to the Dark Side,
Leia. Besides, they're not harming us," he said.
"Not right now, but I tell you they are planning something. They're
figuring out where we are and when they find us, they'll attack. They'll blow
Naboo to pieces, just like they did Alderaan!"
"Is that what this is about? You want to avenge the destruction
of Alderaan, is that it?" Luke asked.
Leia averted her gaze. "You don't know what it was like. To see
the only home that you've ever known destroyed. To see the people
you've called your family killed, because the Emperor wanted people to know
just how powerful the Empire really was!"
"You're wrong, Leia. I do know what that's like. I had been away
at the time...I was with Ben, but while I was gone, some stormtroopers
came and burned my homestead to the ground. They killed my aunt and
uncle. Our aunt and uncle," Luke said, reaching out to her.
"I'm sorry," Leia whispered.
"Leia, what's wrong?"
"I don't think our mother's dead. I meant to ask General Reikkan
about it today, but I never got the chance," Leia explained. "If I'm
right and she is alive-"
"Then we have to find her before what's left of the Empire
does," Luke finished. "I see why you're so upset."
"Oh, Luke, I don't even know where to start looking for her. I
mean, the galaxy is so big, she could be anywhere..." Leia trailed off.
"Hey, what's going on?" a voice said from behind them. Luke
looked up to see Han Solo step out onto the terrace. Leia turned to
look at him.
"Han," she whispered.
"Hi, Han," Luke said. "We have some good news and some bad news.
Which would you like first?"
"The good news. It'll help soften the blow," Han answered. He
walked over and sat at the table with them.
"I think Mother's alive," Leia said.
"You think?" Han said. "Who is she?"
"Padme Naberrie," Luke said. "She was queen of Naboo more than
twenty years ago, in the days of the
Order, before the Purge."
"If your mother's alive, who was the woman that went with you to
Alderaan?" Han asked Leia.
"The queen had many handmaidens who resembled her. One in
particular was Sabe, who acted as her decoy and bodyguard. We think
that it may have been Sabe who died at Alderaan," Leia explained.
"Where did you find all of this out?" Han asked.
"Han, take a look around. This is Naboo," Luke said.
"Then this might be a logical place to start looking," Han said.
***
She called herself Ami Panaka. She made her home in the Mos
Emeran region of Tatooine's Southern Hemisphere. The sandpeople and
Jawas weren't abundant in this area, but there were some around. Ami
lived most of her life in Mos Emeran as a peasant, or so she led people
to believe. She had very little money; life had always been hard. And
on this particular day, things weren't any different than they usually
were.
Ami left her home, as small as it was, it wasn't much of a
house, but it was still a house, but anyway, Ami left her home and
walked down the road. People said hello to her - she thought they felt
sorry for her - as she passed them. One woman in particular - her name
was Tamia - was the only person who stopped to talk to her. Tamia was a
frail old woman, who was just as poor as Ami, maybe even worse off.
"Hello, dear Ami, how are things?" Tamia asked, placing her hand
on Ami's arm. Even through the cloth of her sleeve, the feel of Tamia's
touch was cold.
"Oh, Tamia, I'm fine, but I'm more worried about you. You...the
heat is taking its toll on you. Go find a place to rest...a cool place,
Tamia. I'm begging you as a friend...save your strength, Tamia. You
need it to survive the wrath of the Empire," Ami pleaded.
Tamia's eyes saddened. "Ami, the Empire cannot reach us here in
Mos Emeran of Tatooine. We peasants need not worry about the Empire."
She removed her hand from Ami's arm and walked away.
"How I wish that were true," Ami whispered, as she watched Tamia
walk away. The Empire could reach them. It had already contaminated
Tatooine with its presence when it invaded Mos Eisley a year before.
And now, Mos Emeran would be invaded...but Ami didn't want to be here when
it was.
***
The senior officers of the Imperial Star Destroyer Macabre were
gathered around the table in the conference room. They watched as Admiral
Tarkin placed the holochip on the table. She activated it and Dark Master
Muroth rose from its surface.
"Who is this man?" Lieutenant Savis broke
the silence.
"Sith Lord, Admiral? Is this another Sith Lord?" Commander
Roche asked.
"In a sense, Commander. He is the one that will get the Empire
back to what it was before..." Jule trailed off, as Muroth began to
speak.
"Senior officers of the Imperial Star Destroyer Macabre. Admiral
Tarkin has summoned you all here to meet my acquaintance. I am Dark
Master Muroth, Emperor Palpatine's successor," Muroth said, drawing
himself to his full height.
***
"You know, we've been here for almost a year and there are still
parts of this place I haven't even seen yet," Luke commented as he,
Leia and Han walked into Queen Amidala's chambers.
"There's a good chance she came back here after...what happened,"
Leia said. "I mean, she probably came back, but what are the chances
that she stayed?"
"I didn't say that she stayed here, Leia. I'm just saying she
might've left some clue here as to where she was going," Han said.
"And
so that's what we're looking for."
"You're right. You're right. I'm sorry," Leia said and walked
over to the closet. Flinging it open, she gasped. Headdresses,
robes...it
was overwhelming.
"Leia," Han said from the other room. Leia went to him and he
held up a holochip. "Where's R2?"
As if he had heard him, the little droid trundled into the room
and started babbling.
"R2, this is more important," Han cut him off. He inserted the chip
and R2 projected the image out in front of them. The image was of a young woman
in a lot of makeup and one of the headdresses and robes Leia had seen in the
closet.
"Mother," Leia whispered. R2 beeped affirmatively.
"Hey, I- What's this?" Luke said, walking in.
"We're just about to find out," Han said.
"Shush, she's going to say something," Leia said, leaning forward.
"Chancellor Valorum. The people of Naboo are in desperate need
of the Senate's assistance. The Trade Federation has taken extreme
measures and blockaded the Naboo trade routes. Please, Chancellor.
People here are dying. We'll take any help you can give us," Amidala
finished and the image faded away into nothingness.
"Did this message ever get sent?" Leia asked.
"This is a copy of the message that was sent to the
to the Trade Federation to negotiate with the viceroy. They were almost
killed," Luke explained. "Now I wonder...who were these Jedi? There's
no record of their identities."
"I don't think anyone was supposed to know. I believe it was a
secret mission. A secret mission that led to the Rebellion," Leia said.
"37 years..."
"What's 37 years?" Han asked.
"It's been 37 years since the Rebellion began. Mother saw the
beginning of the Rebellion, and if she's still alive, she saw the end,"
Leia answered.
"If? You're not sure if she's alive or dead?" Han asked.
"Oh, she's alive," Luke spoke up from where he had knelt beside
R2-D2.
Leia looked at Luke. "You have any more of these holochips?"
"I'm sure there are more, but this was the only one I found."
"Well. I think now's the time to go have that talk with General
Reikkan," Leia said and turned to leave the room. She almost ran into
Chewbacca, Han's Wookiee friend and co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon.
"Hi, Chewie," she said and continued out of the room.
Chewie roared in greeting and looked at Han. He roared again.
"Lando's here," Han said, casting a glance in Luke's direction.
They left the room and went in the direction of the ship and cargo
area.
***
After the image faded, Jule looked around at the faces of her
officers, searching for a reaction. Commander Roche cleared his throat
and stared at the face where Muroth had once been.
"So now, with the Dark Master, there's hope for the Empire,"
Jule said, breaking the silence. "We will crush the Rebellion. We will
sweep the
Rebellion. And as for the children of Darth Vader...they will join us.
Or...they will die."
***
Ami sat in the shadow of a building, near the center of Mos
Emeran. A storm was coming. She could feel it.
Closing her eyes, she tried not to remember what the Empire had
done to her. Palpatine had torn her family apart. He had destroyed
Alderaan, killing her daughter in the process. And her son...he might
as well be dead. He was probably killed when Mos Eisley was invaded. Ami
opened her eyes and let the tears flow. Pain...fear...suffering...that's
what Palpatine stood for. She was suddenly sorry she had backed him all
those years ago...before the Rebellion.
Ami was stirred from her pool of disturbing memories by the
sensation of dust and sand blowing across her face and the sound of
running feet. She staggered to her feet and stumbled blindly, trying to
follow the crowd. Ami fought to keep her eyes open and her feet moving,
but her efforts were in vain. She was shoved out of the way as someone
collided with her in the vast maelstrom. Ami stumbled and finally fellto the
ground on the side of the road. Closing her eyes, she mercifully
slipped into unconsciousness.
***
"Are you sure that's Lando?" Han asked, as they entered the
shuttlebay. He, Chewie, and Luke stood inside the shuttlebay and
watched
a Victory class Star Destroyer power down. Chewie roared, as the ramp
came down. Lando exited the star Destroyer and came over to them.
"Yeah,
that's Lando, all right," Luke said, under his breath.
"Lando, what the heck are you doing with a Star Destroyer?
Trying to get us all killed? The Rebellion isn't even over yet!" Han
said.
"Haven't you heard the good news? The Rebellion is over!
Coruscant has just been liberated by the Rebels!" Lando said,
excitedly. "Oh, and by the way, this ship behind me?" She's mine and
her name is
Excalibur."
"Oh, that is good news, but we've got bad news to go right
along with it," Han muttered. Chewie rumbled in agreement.
"Han, ol' buddy, what's going on? Is it Leia?" Lando asked.
Han looked at Luke. "You want to tell him?"
"Lando, the Rebels may have liberated Coruscant, but this
Rebellion is far from over. Word is that the Imperial Fleet has
regrouped and is hiding somewhere. They could strike at any time,
retake Coruscant..." Luke trailed off.
"I get it," Lando said. "You can't stand the fact that I have a
bigger ship than you do!"
"Oh, get o-" Han cut off, as Luke placed a
restraining hand on his arm. "Han, let him go. If he wants to get himself
killed, then let
him. He may be your friend, but I don't think his decision to risk his
life is yours to change. Let him have his own life," Luke said. Han
backed away. Luke was right. A Jedi was never wrong. Han threw up his
hands and left the shuttlebay. Lando followed him, with a nod in Luke
and Chewie's direction.
Luke looked at Chewie. "I'm lost. I tried to help, but I
honestly don't know what's going on." Chewie roared, perplexed by the
behavior of his friend.
***
Even from a good distance away, one could see that Leia and
General Reikkan were engaged in a heated discussion.
"Look, I know how much you want to find your mother, but we have
to fight this war - and win," Reikkan said.
"My mother could be the key to the end of the Rebellion,
General. She was the queen of Naboo in the beginning and then she
became Darth Vader's wife. Darth Vader, my...father," Leia trailed off and
recovered. "She was right in the center of the Rebellion. She knows
things that we would probably never even think of."
"Are you trying to tell me that you no longer think of Alderaan
as your real home, the Organas as your real family?" Reikkan asked.
Leia's eyes burned with angry fire now as she faced him. "Is
that what this is about? You think I want to abandon - no, forget my
life on Alderaan?" They're dead, General. Killed by the Empire. And
there's not a thing I can do about that," she said.
"You already have done something about that. But you must see
the Rebellion through to the very end."
"I believe, General, that my mother can help the
probably knows more than either you or I, so I'm going to find her."
"What if she doesn't want to be found? There is that
possibility, Leia. She's been running from the Empire for most of her
life. Been hiding from her own husband! What makes you think she won't
hide from her own daughter as well?"
"You know, General," Leia said, rising to her feet. "I've always
known you to be a rational person, but if you can't let one woman try
to find her family...her real family, because you're so wrapped up in
giving the Empire what they deserve, and that is your life, then you are not
being rational. I'm not going to listen to you. I am a higher
authority, after all. I am the Princess of Alderaan."
***
None of the people running down the road away from the storm
noticed the woman lying beside the road and if they did, they made no
move to stop and find out what happened. Except for one.
Panaka had served as captain under Amidala, queen of the Naboo,
back before the Rebellion had even started. And it was him now that
stopped at the side of the road to help Ami Panaka, peasant of Mos
Emeran on the desert planet of Tatooine.
The woman's clothes were tattered and the hood, or what was left
of it, was pulled over her head. As she was now, face down in the sand
and dust, Panaka could not see her face. Panaka rolled her onto her
back and picked her up. The swarm of people was gone now, the street was
quiet, as the storm gathered force.
Panaka picked his way down an alley between buildings. Reaching
the other end, he hailed a landspeeder, but the speeder didn't slow.
Panaka turned and saw a safe haven from the storm. A door. Shifting Ami
to his other arm, he hit the control. The door moved aside, revealing a
dark realm beyond.
Panaka stepped inside, locking the door behind him
after it had closed. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he laid the woman on
the
floor and leaned over her. Ami moaned softly and her eyes opened.
"My children," she whispered. "I wanted to save them, but I
couldn't, and now...they're...dead..."
"Your children...how?" Panaka asked.
"Mos Eisley...Alderaan...Vader did this..."
Panaka sat back on his heels. So this woman was a victim of
Palpatine's wrath. Her children had been killed, they had now been dead
for almost five years...she was incredibly poor...and her husband? What
about him? Was he dead, too? "And your husband? Is he dead?" Panaka
voiced the question which now sat foremost in his mind.
"He is dead...to me. He serves the Emperor...as an agent of evil..."
So her husband is a stormtrooper - wait. Maybe it was a Sith
Lord. But how did she fall in with a Sith Lord? There was only one
person Panaka knew of that that had happened to. "Who are you?"
Panaka
asked.
"Ami..." the woman whispered.
Obviously not what Panaka thought. "Get some sleep," he told her
with a sigh. This was going to be a long night.
***
The holochip spun so that Muroth could see all of those who were
gathered around the table. He finally stopped when the admiral again sat
within his line of view. "I am here, because as you know, the Empire is
on the brink of mass destruction."
"The Empire is already destroyed. It was destroyed by the Rebel
"You do not believe," Muroth rasped, as the chip turned to face
Roche. "The power of the Force is massive, the Dark Side strong. The
Rebels will not be able to stand up against the Dark Side, for they do
not know the power of evil. The Dark Side is strong and it is this
strength I will use...we will use...to destroy the Rebels and regain
control of the galaxy."
The hologram vanished, leaving the officers to stare at each
other in amazement. Jule closed her eyes. The Empire would survive. She
knew it would. And she would see to it that it did.
***
Leia met Han and Lando outside the throne room. Hugging Lando,
she asked, "What brings you to Naboo?"
"I came to show off my new ship - just kidding. No, actually I
came here to seek the
said. "They may have lost control of Coruscant, but there are some
places that they still have a hold of."
"That should be no problem. It would be a great undercover
operation with your new Star Destroyer," Han said, dryly.
"Star Destroyer?" Leia asked, looking at them with her eyebrows
raised.
"Never m-"
"Lando's got a new Victory Class Star Destroyer that he swiped
from the Imperials a couple of months after the Battle of Endor. He
calls it the Excalibur, and if you ask me, he's looking to get himself
killed," Han said, cutting him off.
"The Rebel Alliance would be glad to assist you, Lando. You are
a Rebel general and you did help the
Death Star," Leia said, ignoring Han.
"What are you suggesting we do?" Han asked.
"We go to Bespin and negotiate with the Imperials there. The
negotiations should be short and without bloodshed. The
strong. The Imperials won't be able to stand up against us," Leia said.
***
"The Imperials are strong. The Rebels won't be able to stand up
against us," Jule said during a meeting of the senior officers of the
Infiltrator, another Imperial Star Destroyer. "We will leave the Beta
Nebula as soon as the Eliminator is ready. I have already relayed our
messages to the Macabre and the Belligerent. I will be on the Macabre
and the Macabre will go first. The Eliminator will go next, followed by
the Belligerent and the Infiltrator. I contacted Commander Toska last
night and I was told the Eliminator will be ready by 1100 hours
tomorrow. Am I clear?" Six heads around the table nodded.
"Good," Jule
said. "Dismissed."
One by one, the officers filed out of the conference
room. Jule was the last to leave and as the officers went back to their posts,
Jule went to the shuttlebay and took a shuttle back to the Macabre. It was
time for the Empire to get back all that they had lost.
***
When Ami woke up the next morning, she felt incredibly
disoriented. She did not know where she was. Looking around, Ami was
able to ascertain that she was in a small room with no windows. She sat
up suddenly and wished she hadn't. Dizzy and lightheaded, she fell
back...and someone caught her.
"Anakin..." she murmured, her voice thick
with drowsiness.
"No," Panaka said, puzzled. "It's Panaka, miss...I'm sorry? I
don't know your last name."
"Panaka...Ami Panaka..."
"Quite strange," Panaka mused. "I don't have any relatives."
That's because it's an alias, Ami thought. I'm not really a
peasant either. At least, I wasn't always.
"Why don't you tell
me more about yourself?" Panaka pressed.
"My husband was strong in the Force...he wanted to become a
Jedi. He went over to the Dark Side, instead. I fled with my children,
Left one in Mos Eisley and went with the other to Alderaan...wait. No,"
Ami
said. "I sent the other one to Alderaan with a friend, and the other...I
left
him in Mos Eisley with my sister...and then I came here."
Panaka laid her back on the floor and sat back on his heels.
"You're not who you say you are. I think...I know who you are."
***
"You know, R2, I don't see why we have to do this at all,"
C-3PO complained, as the two droids entered the shuttlebay and walked toward
the Excalibur. "After all that happened at Bespin, I just can't understand
why General Solo and Princess Leia would want to go back there." R2
uttered a series of beeps, twirps and twitters. C-3PO cut him off in
mid-twitter. "I know she's the Princess of Alderaan, you senile
trashcan!" 3PO smacked
R2 on the very top of his dome and hastened toward the ramp of the Star
Destroyer. He halted when he saw Han Solo come down the ramp.
"General Solo! General Solo!" 3PO said, waving his metallic arm.
"Are you sure going to Bespin is wise? Our odds of meeting up with the
Imperials and surviving are 701,536-"
"Never tell me the odds!" Han said, sticking his finger in 3PO's
face.
"But sir, the Rebel Base will be unprotected!"
"The entire
Goldenrod - you don't have to go. You can stay here with everyone who
isn't going on this mission!"
"Good idea, sir," 3PO said and turned around. "Wait. What if the
Rebel Base is attacked? The odds of this happening are 403,375,215-"
"Just come with us, Goldenrod," Han said and pulled 3PO by the
arm onto the ship.
***
"Han, I just finished - what's he doing here?" Lando asked, with
a gesture toward 3PO. They were standing in the corridor near the ship's
entry ramp.
"He's coming with us. I really don't have a choice, Lando. He is
Luke's droid," Han said.
"I could be quite useful on this mission, sir," 3PO added.
"Yeah, in a situation of everlasting peace," Han said,
sarcastically.
"Where are the others?" Lando asked, ignoring 3PO. As if on cue,
R2-D2 trundled up the ramp and into the ship. "How many droids are we
taking on this ship, Han ol' buddy, ol' pal of mine?"
"Just these two," Han said. "I hope."
"Why, General Solo - how rude!" C-3PO said. R2-D2 hooted
indignantly. "R2-D2 says that droids may be quite vital on this
mission," C-3PO translated.
"There they are. It's about time," Lando said, looking out the
door. Luke, Leia and Chewie were coming toward the ship.
***
"You know, I have to agree with Han. If we fly into Bespin with
a stolen Star Destroyer, it'll be like wearing a sign that says `Here I
am! Come and kill me!'"
"This is really no different than when we took the Imperial
shuttle and landed on the forest moon of Endor," Leia pointed out.
Luke was silent for a moment. Then, "You're right. But still...I
have a bad feeling about this."
***
"All right. Who do you think I am?"
"You were one of the queen's handmaidens on Naboo 37 years ago,"
Panaka explained.
Ami sat up sharply. "You must be mistaken. I've been a peasant
for most of my life. I've never been near royalty. I've never even been
to Naboo."
"You're lying," Panaka said, accusingly.
"No!" Ami said, defensively.
"If you're not, then why did you think I was someone named
Anakin?" Panaka asked. "Wait. You're definitely not - my God,
Amidala,
I've found you!"
***
"Admiral? You wanted to see me?" Commander Roche said, as he
stood in the doorway to Jule's office.
"Yes, Commander. Come in," Jule said.
"How is our progress out of the nebula?"
"We have cleared the nebula, Admiral." There was silence.
"Permission to speak freely Admiral?"
"Permission granted."
"You didn't ask me here to talk about leaving the nebula, Admiral.
What is all this about?"
"All right, Commander. You do have a right to know, after all.
What do you know about Darth Vader's Jedi training?"
"Admiral, what is this about?"
"You'll find out soon enough. Just answer my question, please."
"Obi-Wan Kenobi had only just become a Jedi Knight when he took
on Anakin Skywalker as his apprentice. Things were going as they should
have at first. But Anakin went against the Jedi Code and married Padme
Naberrie-"
"Against the Jedi Code, Commander?"
"Yes, Admiral. It is against the Jedi Code for a Jedi to marry
someone outside of the Order," Commander Roche answered. "Skywalker
married Padme Naberrie and they had a boy and a girl - twins, I believe.
Then the Dark Side beckoned to Anakin and he took the bait. Padme left
the boy with her sister in Mos Eisley on Tatooine and accompanied the
girl to Alderaan. Padme died a short time later and so Senator Bail
Organa and his wife adopted her daughter."
"No," Jule said. "Padme Naberrie is not dead. An Imperial
scout reported seeing her in the Mos Emeran area on Tatooine."
"Are you certain, Admiral? There was a Naboo handmaiden named
Sabe that resembled her. It could have been her that the scout saw."
"It could have been Sabe that died on Alderaan. In any case,
we have to find this woman. We have to find her before Luke Skywalker
and Leia Organa do. Dismissed," Jule said. She watched the door shut, as
Roche left her office. Jule rubbed her shoulders and picked up her
comlink. "Tarkin to bridge."
"Savis here, Admiral."
"Set a course for Tatooine. Engage when ready."
"Aye sir. Bridge out."
Jule sat back in her chair and relaxed when she felt the
familiar sensation of the ship making the jump to hyperspace. "Ah, Padme
Naberrie. I will have you soon enough. And then...the Rebellion will
truly end."
***
"Well, everyone, we're under way. We should reach Bespin by
2300 hours," Lando announced, walking into the former Imperial
conference room that now served as a sitting room. The room was silent,
save for 3PO's squeaking, as he nervously paced the length of the room,
saying over and over again that they were doomed.
"Relax, Goldenrod. Take a load off," Han said.
"But sir, you know how much I hate space travel!" 3PO
protested.
"Would you like to be deactivated for the duration of the
trip?" Luke asked from his corner of the room.
"Forget the trip. How about deactivating him for the whole
mission?" Han muttered. Chewbacca roared in agreement.
"Oh do be quiet, Chewbacca. You'll only add to my pitiful
troubles," 3PO complained.
Chewbacca stood up to his full height and growled
menacingly. "Oh, my." 3PO turned and headed for the door as fast as
his
metallic legs could carry him. While Chewie wasn't built of metal, he
could go a lot faster. Quickly overtaking the golden droid, he flipped
the switch on the back of 3PO's head and the droid lapsed into silence.
Han tried hard to stifle a laugh, but was unsuccessful. Leia, Luke and
Lando soon joined him and Chewie growled in satisfaction. He then
proceeded to the cargo hold where he decided that C-3PO would stay for
the rest of the trip.
***
"You must be mistaken, Panaka," Ami whispered.
"No, Amidala...Your Highness. I am certain it's you."
"Very well...Captain Panaka, it's me. I'm Padme Naberrie,"
Padme paused, swallowing hard, "Skywalker. But please...Captain, you
must tell no one. I have no desire to be found. However, I do want to
find my children. I want to know if they are alright."
"You will have to reveal your true identity if you want
to find them," Panaka paused, contemplating what to say next. "Come
with
me, Padme. Let's go to the Rebels. We'll be safe there."
"Where?"
"Naboo. Once there, no one can hurt you. I promise." He
stretched his hand toward her and she took it. He pulled her to her feet
and together, they left for the spaceport. Padme was going home.
***
The rest of the journey passed quickly for Leia, as
she tried to remember all that she could about her mother. She was
actually surprised at how fast the time had gone by; before she knew it,
Lando had announced that the Excalibur had reached her destination.
"We should be landing in the center of Cloud City in about ten
minutes," Lando told everyone. The group rose and went forward to the
cockpit.
"I remember the last time we came here. I came under my own power, in my
own ship. I ended up leaving in a block of carbonite in the cargo hold of some
slimeball bounty hunter's B-Wing," Han commented. "You sure there're
no surprises waiting for us down there, Lando?" Yeah, he was nervous. And
Leia couldn't blame him. Vader had
used them all as pawns to get Luke, and Lando had betrayed them to the
Empire. She didn't think Han would ever forgive Lando for that. Leia was
nervous as well. She remembered that day as if it were yesterday. And
she knew that day was gone. Gone, but it never would be forgotten.
"I'm sure everything will be...fine," Luke said. Even he, a Jedi
Knight, was dubious. This was, after all, the place where he had lost his right
hand. Leia wondered what had happened during that duel, but she didn't dare
ask.
By then, the Excalibur had entered Bespin's atmosphere and was continuing its
steady descent toward the city. Leia gasped when she saw dozens of TIE fighters
zooming toward them. "I don't like this," she said.
"Victory Star Destroyer Relentless, it is good to see you again. Please
state your business," a voice said over the radio.
Han and Lando exchanged nervous glances. "We're, uh, here to drop off some
supplies," Lando answered.
"We called for no supplies! Who are you?"
"We're Imperial agents with news of the missing Imperial Fleet," Han
said, desperately.
The voice on the radio seemed to hesitate.
"I think he's figured us out," Leia said, leaning over. The TIE
fighters continued toward then at a steady pace.
"You know, I think you're right," Lando acknowledged her. "I
think they're preparing to fire on us." He pressed a button on the console
before him and the shields came up. "Everyone sit down and strap in.
This'll be a bumpy ride."
***
Jule walked onto the bridge, as the small fleet dropped out of hyperspace near
the planet of Tatooine.
"Admiral on the bridge," Roche said, looking up from his station.
"Admiral!" Savis said, rushing toward her. "We just got a
message from Cloud City. Word is that the Rebels are going to attack
them!"
Jule turned pale and wheeled toward the helm station. "Forget Tatooine!
Set a course for Bespin and engage when ready!" She cried. "Savis,
I'll be in my office." Turning on her heel, Jule left the bridge.
***
In her office, Jule sighed. What a cruel blow the Fates had dealt her! She had
been so close to getting Padme Naberrie, queen of the Naboo. But what had
happened at Bespin allowed Padme to escape the Empire - again. Had Padme done
this? Had she somehow known the Imperials were coming for her and contacted the
Rebel Base, telling them to attack? Was this all happening just so she could
escape another Imperial entanglement? Oh, well. She mustn't worry about
capturing Padme now. The Imperials at Bespin needed her. Padme would just have
to wait. Either way, sooner or later, she would fall into Imperial hands, no
matter how hard she tried not to. "Don't worry, Padme Naberrie. I will
have you soon enough," Jule whispered. She sat down at her desk. There was
work to be done if Padme was to be captured and the Imperials saved.
***
Panaka carefully maneuvered the borrowed landspeeder through the dusty streets
of Mos Emeran. His private ship was waiting for them at the spaceport.
Padme was nervous. She didn't know what would be waiting for her at the
spaceport; she hadn't been there since fleeing Naboo - the final time.
Just then, the speeder entered the spaceport and braked in front of the sixth
hangar, the biggest one in the port. Padme gasped. She had recognized the ship
immediately. A J-Type 327 Nubian. Her transport when she had ruled Naboo all
those years ago.
Panaka got out of the speeder and then helped her out. They left the speeder
with a mechanic droid, who whisked the speeder away. He looked up and glimpsed
what looked like stormtroopers. "Padme, we must hurry. I think we may have
company," Panaka warned. The two of them hurried onto the ship, closing
the hatch behind them.
Panaka flung himself into the pilot's seat and started the engine. The ship
roared to life and rocketed into the sky, leaving Tatooine in a matter of
moments. Once out of the system, the ship jumped to lightspeed and streaked
toward Naboo.
***
Panaka entered the room at the top of the stairs and found Padme sitting there.
"It's been so long since I've travelled. Look at me, I've been living on
Tatooine as a hermit for so many years," she whispered.
"What happened in those days before the Rebellion?" Panaka asked.
"I'd rather not discuss it," Padme said, turning away.
"Padme...listen to me. You are a vital part of the Rebellion. You knew
Anakin better than any of us-"
"So did Obi-Wan and look where it got him!"
"-and what you know could end this rebellion for good," Panaka
finished.
"And what will happen to me after the Rebellion?
You send me back to Tatooine where I will finish my life? Am I just a tool for
the Alliance? Is that what I am to everyone now?"
"No...you could rule Naboo again. You can be with your children
again," Panaka said.
Padme turned to face him. "Luke and Leia? Are they really alive? Are they
at Naboo?"
"Yes-"
"Why didn't you tell me in the first place?"
"We were in a hurry to get off the planet. But now, I will tell you,"
Panaka said. "As a senator from Alderaan, Leia was the youngest person to
hold a seat in the Senate. She's a princess, Padme. You should be proud."
"Oh, I am!"
"Now she's one of the leaders of the Rebellion. And Luke...well, up to
about 4 years ago, he just worked with moisture vaporators. And now, he's a
pilot in the Rebel Fleet. A commander, actually. As well as a Jedi Knight. He's
got a lot of his father in him," Panaka explained.
Padme's eyes sparkled with tears. "I can't believe it...I've missed so
much..."
Panaka placed his hand on her shoulder. "You'll see them soon," he
said. "I promise."
***
The viewport before them suddenly lit up with laser fire. Lando fired a couple
of torpedoes.
"Take evasive action!" Han yelled.
"This is a Star Destroyer, not a one-man fighter!" Lando yelled back.
"Then you should have thought about that before you stole it from the
Empire!" Han turned and went for the turrets. Lando fired 3 more torpedoes
in rapid succession, obliterating some more TIE fighters. Two TIE fighters
crashed into each other and exploded into a ball of flame.
"We should send for reinforcements," Leia said to Luke, as Chewie
followed Han to the turrets.
"I agree, but how will we contact the Alliance without the Imperials
noticing?" Lando asked.
"If we encrypt a short message and send it on Alliance channels only, we
should be safe. R2, can you do that for us?" Luke said. R2 beeped
affirmatively and went to plug into a communications console.
"We gotta find a way out of here," Lando muttered to himself. He
turned to look at Leia and Luke. Leia turned pale as she watched three Imperial
class Star Destroyers drop out of hyperspace. Lando turned back to the
viewport. His eyes widened in shock. They were truly outnumbered now. All they
could hope for was that the Rebels arrived soon.
R2 let out an electronic wail in despair. Luke looked at the droid and then at
Leia, who stared out the viewport. She was frightened. And, Luke realized for
the first time, so was he.
***
"And the Rebels? Where are they?" Jule asked, staring out the
viewport.
"It's an undercover operation, sir," Savis explained. "Like the
Battle of Endor."
"They're in that Star Destroyer over there," Roche reported.
"The Relentless?!" Jule wailed. "Open a channel."
"Channel open, Admiral."
"This is Admiral Jule Tarkin of the Imperial Star Destroyer Macabre. To
whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?" Jule asked. She waited for a
moment, but received nothing.
***
"We must bide our time until the fleet comes," Luke whispered. Lando
nodded.
"This is...Talon Karrde, an Imperial agent, Admiral. We have come to aid
the Imperials of Cloud City. The Rebel Alliance has planned an attack. They
could strike at any time, sir," Lando said, nervously.
Narrowing her eyes suspiciously, Jule asked, "How did you learn
this?"
"The Rebels think they've won. Therefore, they are not as cautious as they
used to be. They've broadcast their plans on all channels, both Alliance and
Imperial," Lando explained.
"Why haven't I heard about any of this?" Jule said, crossing her
arms. There was no response. "I thought so. Surrender your vessel and prepare
to be boarded." She turned to Savis and Roche. "Rebel scum."
***
Padme stared out the window as the Nubian dropped out of hyperspace near Naboo.
"The base is located in the capital city. We'll be landing shortly,"
Panaka said, as they slid into orbit. He maneuvered the sleek craft into the
atmosphere and dropped into the skies of Naboo. Flying in on thrusters, they
arrived at the base five minutes later, only to find that the Rebel fleet was
flying out.
"What's going on? Is it Luke? Is it Leia?" Padme asked, staring at
the fleet as it flew by.
"I don't know," Panaka said, as he started the landing cycle.
"What are you doing? We've got to go help them!"
"We have to stay here, Padme," Panaka said. "It's not going to
help the Alliance if the Imperials find out where you are." The Nubian
touched the ground and Panaka grabbed her by the arm and led her off the ship.
There were droids everywhere, but no sign of organic lifeforms. Padme stopped
walking and stared. Looking straight ahead, she saw the Naboo Palace, which was
probably the base itself.
"Come, let's go inside," Panaka said. "It's getting dark."
They entered the palace and went to the floor on which Padme's chambers were
located. Padme opened the door and turned to face Panaka. She started to say
something, but he cut her off.
"Think nothing of it for now. They will come to you," he said. I'll
be just down the corridor if you need anything. Good night."
"Good night," Padme whispered. She stepped into her chambers and he
went down the corridor. With a sigh, she closed her door and prepared to go to
bed.
***
"Lando, what will we do?" Leia asked.
"Leia, not so loud. The channel's still open. And no, I'm not sure what
we'll do. Looks like we'll have to - Luke, what is it?" Lando said. He
glanced up at the viewport and saw what Luke was looking at. The Rebel Fleet
was dropping out of hyperspace. They had finally come.
***
"Admiral! There are more Rebel ships coming in! Our Rebel friends have
called for reinforcements!" Savis cried, alarmed.
"Retreat!" Jule cried.
"Retreat!? Admiral, we could easily destroy them!" Roche yelled.
"I don't want to waste the little fire power we have on petty ships like
these Rebel ships! We only have three quantum torpedoes!"
"But-"
"They already know we've won, so they won't even try to fire upon us. They
know they can be destroyed," Jule said. "Now do as I command, and
turn the fleet around. We're getting out of here."
"Aye, sir." The fleet turned around and sped off into the infinity of
space.
***
"What are they doing?" Han asked, as he and Chewie came into the
cockpit.
"Retreating, it looks like," Luke observed.
"Are we that intimidating?" Lando asked.
"Maybe they didn't want to fire on a stolen Star Destroyer, because they
thought they'd get it back," Leia commented. R2 beeped in agreement.
"Hey, did someone ever reactivate 3PO?" Luke asked.
"Oops," Han said. "I forgot."
"Ah, leave him," Lando said, looking at Han with a grin. "It'll
be much quieter that way."
With the Imperial threat banished for now, everyone settled down and relaxed,
as the Rebel Fleet slid into orbit around the planet Bespin.
***
Padme froze when she saw the picture on the table by the bed. It was in that
instant that she knew it was Leia.
"I'm sorry, Panaka, but this is something I know I have to do," Padme
whispered. She went to the table, grabbed the picture and left the room for the
ship.
Outside, she opened the hatch and entered the ship. In the cockpit, she started
the engine and took off, leaving Naboo behind. Upon leaving the system, the
Nubian jumped into hyperspace. Padme was going to find her lost family, the
only family she knew she had left.