This story is based on characters and situations created and owned
by LucasFilm, Ltd.  No money is being made and no infringement
is intended.  All characters portrayed and official dialogue are the 
property of LucasFilm, Ltd.  Original situations and dialogue are the 
creation and under the unofficial control of the author.  Spoilers 
include situations from Courtship of Princess Leia, Truce at Bakura, 
Paradise Snare, and Hutt Gambit (almost mostly from Courtship).  It 
is not necessary to have read those to understand the direction of 
this story.  Please do not repost except with permission of the author.
Comments are welcome and encouraged.

An Alternate Path
by H2O (besteng@vm.sc.edu)

        As Leia and Han danced in their wedding reception, Leia let slip
a thought that had crossed her mind from time to time.  "Han, do you
ever wonder if I had remained the Princess on an intact Alderaan?  Would
we have found each other?"
        
        Han, as you might expect, tried to deflect the loaded question
the best he could.  He was afraid to say anything that reminded Leia
of her beloved home planet.  "Leia, what if the Empire hadn't had me
court-martialed for saving Chewy from the slavers?  As Luke would
probably say, the Force brought us together.  And I'm glad it did."
With that Han took Leia's hand and they excused themselves from the
reception.
        
        Before they were able to fully slip away for the night,
Luke stopped by, hugged both of them, and said only one thing to
the both of them.  "The Force will be with you, Leia and Han."
        
        They never gave a second thought to Luke's seemingly insignificant
statement as they retired to their quarters for the night.

*****

        Leia and Han awoke from the best day (and night) of their lives
feeling rested and content.  Leia finally opened her eyes, and took in
the familiar surroundings.  She automatically called Winter as she had done 
so many times before, then suddenly froze.  She realized these surroundings 
were TOO familiar.  She immediately snapped to attention.  She shook Han 
awake.  Han, not exactly wanting to get up the morning after your wedding, 
resisted for a moment.  Leia ended Han's beauty sleep.  "Han, wake up!  
We're not in our quarters on Coruscant."  Han immediately snapped up into 
an alert state and ran to the window.  Although he never saw things from 
this perspective, the island city, the view of the University, and the 
peaceful tranquil surroundings were a sight from a memory out a distant
past.  "Leia, come over, you gotta see this."  Leia, now frantic, but
knowing what to expect, ran over to Han's side and peered out the window.
She saw something she never thought she'd see again.  She looked out at
the landscape of Aldera.  She was home.

*****

        Leia and Han stood there for a few minutes, not believing what
they saw.  Han finally started, "I've been hanging around you and Luke 
too long," was all he could manage.  Leia, just as lost as Han, decided 
to act like the Princess that she was again.  "Han, let's get dressed and 
find out what's going on."  Leia opened her closet.  It took Han a moment
to find his in Leia's spacious room, but after a few moments Han found his 
closet.  Leia, as expected, found her usual clothes.  Lots of Alderaanian 
Royal House outfits.  Leia pulled out one that reminded her of the one Han 
first saw her in.  She looked over at Han, who was staring in his closet.  
Han was holding a uniform, and the badge was decorated with six blue squares 
on the top row, four red and two yellow squares on the second row, with four 
rank cylinders in the two pockets.  Oh no ... the uniform of a Moff.  Han 
was an Imperial Governor, presumably of the Alderaan sector.

*****

        The first thing Han could say was, "I got a bad feeling about
this ..."  Leia couldn't say anything.  She was just stunned.  What is
going on?  Was this an Imperial trick?  Were they kidnapped and drugged?
Before they could say anything else, they heard Winter's voice through
the door.  "Princess?  Governor?  Are you ready for breakfast yet?  The
Viceroy is awaiting you."  Better confirmation that they wanted.  "We'll 
be right there Winter," Leia said in her best royal tone.  Before Han could 
say anything, Leia took command of the situation.  "Han, as far as I can 
tell, we're married.  And we're on Alderaan.  Let's go along and find out 
what's going on before we react.   And get ready to meet my father for
breakfast."  With that, Leia quickly got dressed.  She was home, she still 
had Han, and she was hoping her father as well.  Even if this was an 
Imperial trick, she'd enjoy it while she could.  She wanted to use the
Force like Luke taught her to try to make sense of the situation, but a
sense of danger held her back.  She let slip a thought of her twin brother
as she prepared for her first meal with her father in over a decade.

*****

        Han nervously dressed in the Imperial uniform.  He felt terrible
putting it on.  He hadn't worn an Imperial uniform in years and it wasn't
any more comfortable now than it was then.  Even with all those extra
rank badges on the uniform.  And going to meet his father-in-law.  He was
sweating, nervous.  Finally, they opened the door to face their fate.  As
soon as he opened the door, however, he was smothered by a big hairy hug.
Chewie barked out something that could best be translated as, "And how is 
the newest member of the royal family?" in what Han recognized as Chewie's 
sarcastic tone.  Leia recognized it as well and gave Chewie one of her 
patented looks.  As Leia was in a hurry to meet her father for breakfast,
they silently proceeded towards the private chambers of the Viceroy for 
breakfast.

*****

        Han noticed that Leia was walking faster and faster as their
destination came closer.  Han started to sweat more and more, both from
walking as fast as Leia was and dreading meeting her father.  From looking
at the Palace from the outside like he did all those years ago, it looked
enormous.  But it seemed Leia's palace was even larger than the Imperial
Palace.  Fortunately, Leia was holding Han's hand so we would keep up with
her.  As soon as they stepped through the door, Leia rushed to her father
and gave him a big hug.  Leia was squeezing so hard her father looked as
if he was having trouble breathing.  Her father, although looking somewhat
bewildered considering he saw her nearly daily, hugged her back warmly.
Han nervously walked up and offered his hand for a handshake, but was
rebuffed and given a warm hug as well.  Now this was getting totally
bizarre, Han thought.  Han knew that Leia's father would never feel this
warmly towards an Imperial Governor, and so seemingly accept him as his
daughter's chosen spouse.  Something was going on, and he and Leia had to
find out quick.  Leia noticed this as well and gave him a look that he knew
well.  He let Leia do the talking, as per standard procedure in diplomatic
situations.

*****

        The breakfast conversation was mainly chatter about their
wedding reception the night before.  Except everything was wrong.
The guests seemed to include all the important governors and Imperial
Senators.  Senators Mon Mothma and Garm Bel Iblis were there too.  Yuck,
even the Emperor made an appearance.  Han made a mental note of the rest
of the names he heard.  Until he heard the name that Leia and Han both
loathed.  Tarkin.  Han and Leia, both shaken, begged her father's
forgiveness as they stammered off to their room to talk.  
        
        Leia took Han's hand and they ran back to her room.  Chewie
was following at a distance (he knew when Han and Leia were in one of
their "weird" phases) and didn't say anything as they continued to 
exhibit strange behavior.  After they got to Leia's room, Chewie 
decided they were probably safe enough, so he decided to get some 
more breakfast.  Chewie thought to himself that this is the best 
assignment Han ever got, he had never had so much good food in his 
life.   He thought of Han's story of being a street kid on Corellia,
Chewie knew that Han hit the jackpot by marrying the Princess.  He
just hoped that his luck wouldn't run out now, Chewie knew the Empire
would try to eliminate Han again soon, and he would be ready.
        
        As they stumbled into their room, they immediately activated the 
computer.  The first record they pulled up was Han's.  Then they found it.  
The big change from what they remembered.  Found not guilty in court martial
for interference in Imperial Edict regarding non-sentient species.  So Han
was not removed from the Imperial Navy for rescuing Chewie.  They followed
his career from that point forward.  After his not guilty verdict at his 
court martial he was assigned to various ships.  Within days after the 
court martial he was promoted to Commander and sent off to the Outer Rim 
territories.  An image of an uncomfortable-looking Han appeared, this time
with a Commander's uniform and rank symbols.   Apparently being a Commander
he was allowed to keep Chewie around provided he stayed out of the way of
the other officers.  Something had to be amiss if you get promoted upon
surviving a court martial.  It was obvious that the pattern of promotion
was the "kick him upstairs" mentality.  It could even be possible that
someone recognized the danger if Han were allowed to roam free.  It was
fortunate for Han, however, that no one thought of imprisoning him.  
        
        They followed Han's career from the critical departure from their
memory of the past.  Despite obvious passing over for promotion, he was 
eventually assigned a ship as a Captain.  Nearly killed in accidental 
explosion of ship during first week of command.  Leia and Han knew better 
than to accept that it was an accident.  Brushes with his superiors for 
questioning orders regarding treatment of newly acquired Imperial systems.  
The flap that Han caused over the "integration" of the Bakuran system
was the last straw for Imperial High Command, they had enough of Han.
So more reflection of what they remember happening.  Soon after Han was 
assigned a desk job on Coruscant and "promoted" to Commodore.  An image 
of Han was displayed in which Han wore the four-wide blue and scarlet rows 
of his Imperial badge plus the two rank cylinders for a Commodore.  Removed 
of all responsibility and power due to being stuck on Coruscant shuffling 
data pads, it was apparent to Leia and Han that Commodore Solo was there
just for the image of the Imperial Navy.  One of his duties was being sent 
to the Senate to hold meetings and to justify the Imperial Navy's latest 
outrage, plus tell them of the "accomplishments" of the Empire to the 
various Imperial Senators.  And to take the heat when the Navy did something 
that caused them some scrutiny.  Han and Leia knew this is probably where 
they met in this weird situation they were in, but they thought they should 
ask the one person they always asked for any information.  Winter.

*****

        After Winter sat down in their private quarters looking rather
bewildered, Leia returned into Princess mode.  As Han stood in the
background, Leia began tentatively asking Winter what they needed to know.  
"Winter, this may seem strange, but we seem to not remember anything about 
what is going on here.  So if you would just go along while we ask some 
strange questions?"  Winter, looking even more bewildered, but used to 
strange behavior from the Princess or the Governor, just nodded.  "Winter, 
does the name Luke mean anything to you?"  The blank look was affirmation.  
"Does the term Death Star bring any thought to mind?"  The continued look 
of bewilderment was answer enough.  
        
        Leia decided to go for something that she was sure Winter could 
answer.  "I'm sure you can answer this, how did the Governor and I meet 
for the first time?"  Winter's immediate smile was reassuring.  "During 
your first term in the Imperial Senate you and the Viceroy were attending 
a Senatorial function.  Apparently you had caught then-Commodore Solo's eye 
and he asked you to dance.  Of course you refused politely, that he was an 
Imperial officer being the clincher.   But he kept on asking you to various 
events and parties and eventually you agreed just to as you put it, 'make 
him go away'.  At this function that the two of you attended he was once 
again putting on the good face of the Imperial Navy when you noticed him 
with Chewbacca following him around as if a security guard.  You had him 
investigated and discovered his unusual career in the Imperial Navy and 
subsequently did not object when he asked you to attend yet another 
function.  You and the Governor then quickly became the hottest couple on 
Coruscant and the topic of conversation."  Winter paused for a moment 
considering what to say, as if remembering something humorous.  "Your 
disagreements were rather legendary,"  Winter looked as if she was about 
to giggle, "and loud, plus the Senatorial staff were even placing bets on 
whether the two of you would break up.  But the two of you have been a 
mostly steady couple since then, even if you threw a wine glass at him more
than once, and the wedding was yesterday.  You really can't remember this, 
your highness?"  Leia and Han looked at each other knowingly, and this did 
not escape Winter.  Leia finally decided to go talk to daddy, "Winter, could 
you please tell my father that the three of us need to talk in a private 
setting?"  Winter, treating Leia in a more formal fashion than Leia was used 
to from Winter, immediately went to undertake the task.

*****

        Bail Organa, his daughter Leia, and his new son-in-law Han met
in a room that Leia remembered as the secure communications room where
any Alliance activity was undertaken.  Leia, not very formal with her
father, started immediately.  "Daddy, we need to know about the status
of the Alliance, the political situation in the Empire, the Imperial
Senate, and how Han go to be the Governor here."
        Bail Organa paused for a moment, still bewildered, but answered
his daughter's query.  "Leia, the Alliance is in hiding on the Outer
Rim.  The Empire is decreasing the power of the Imperial Senate every
year and placing more control in the hands of the Governors.  Han, you
became our governor when the Imperial Navy wanted to get rid of you and
put you somewhere where you would stop bothering them with such "nonsense"
as treatment of species and of newly conquered systems.  And they knew we
would welcome you here on Alderaan, and that the Senate would gladly
resoundingly approve of the appointment.  Basically to get us there to shut
up for a couple weeks and talk about your appointment.  It was meant, of
course, to try to convince us in the Senate that the Emperor truly was
interested in reform.  So here you are.  Leia, I haven't told you this,
but our sources are hinting that the Emperor is ready to dissolve the
Senate and remove all obstacles to his power.  I hope this doesn't come
as too much of a shock to you."
        The lack of surprise on both Han and Leia's faces was rather
discomforting to Bail Organa.  Leia then threw the bombshell to her
father.  "In that case we need to retrieve Luke and Obi-wan immediately,
that is if they're still alive."   Before her father could express shock
at her knowledge of her twin, Han finally decided to speak up.  Han, now
freed from restraints on what he could say, finally joined in then
rather bluntly.  "Let's just say we know things we might not be supposed
to know.  I'll assume this a secure conversation, so I'll tell you what
we've found out.  Luke is her brother, and we know the true identity of her
biological father.  Plus if the Emperor feels secure enough to dissolve
the Senate, then he may have developed a superweapon strong enough to
destroy an entire planet."
        Bail Organa finally managed to cut off Han here, "You mean that
piece of junk that blew up over Despayre all those years ago?  Nothing
of the sort.  The Emperor has just placed enough loyal governors to, in
his own mind, safely remove all legal opposition to his rule.  Han, you are
considered a rogue governor, and we think there will be more assassination
attempts made on your life.  One of them came very close to claiming your
life.  Fortunately, Chewbacca has prevented that so far.  But we must be
cautious."
        There it was.  The other critical difference.  The Death Star
failed to be constructed.  Therefore the Emperor hadn't dared to
disband the Senate until now.
        Han and Leia couldn't believe it.  They had to be a trick of the
Force.  What did Luke know about it anyway?  They both had a feeling that
they would have to resolve why they were before they could wake up again
on Coruscant.  But in the meantime, Leia was ecstatic to be home, to
have her father alive, and still have Han by her side.  One more thing
was needed, however.  Luke.
        Leia, thinking along that thread, inquired about Luke.  "Where is
Luke now?  Is he still on Tatooine along with Obi-wan?  Is Obi-wan even
alive?"
        Her father took a few breaths to take this all in before answering
his daughter.  He was only now noticing her strange behavior.  "Leia,
I actually don't know.  I haven't seen him since you were born and he left
your mother and you in my care.  As for Luke, I haven't heard of anything,
not a rumor, or any other hint of his existence.  Speaking of which, just
how do you know about him being your twin brother anyway?"
        Leia answered in what Han knew to be a half-truth.  "Through the
Force.  I really can't explain it any better than that, I'm afraid.  In
any event,  I think it is time we bring Luke out of hiding.  Plus I really
need to get more training to be a Jedi immediately, I may not be able to
hide my presence in the Force for long.  Daddy, do you know where Master
Yoda resides?"
        After a long hesitation, her father continued, "I actually don't 
know.  But Obi-wan left me a data card with its location encoded.  Just a 
way to protect Master Yoda.  Leia, are you sure about this?  You know as 
well as I do what the Empire did to the Jedi Order.  And your disappearances 
will be difficult to explain.  I think it wise to wait until all your 
wedding receptions have been completed and all the Imperial and Senatorial 
emissaries have left Alderaan."
        "I have no choice then.  After our wedding receptions are over Han 
will retrieve Luke and Obi-wan and bring them here.  He'll drop me off
on Master Yoda's hideout on the way.  Do we have any ships that will not 
be recognized as attached to the Royal House?"
        Bail Organa could only name one ship, "Well there is that
Corellian freighter that Han captured years ago when serving in the
Navy and kept it as his personal ship ..."  Leia and Han immediately
grabbed his hand and headed towards the hangar bay.

*****

        It was a rather strange occurrence to have the Viceroy, the
Princess, and the new member of the family, Governor Solo, running
through the palace as maximum speed.  With Chewbacca not far behind
and Winter trying to keep up.  Bewildered looks greeted the royal
family as they sped through the palace.  And there it was.  The Falcon.
Han and Leia charged in to see the ship that seems to follow Han
everywhere, even in bizarre situations like the one they were in.
        Han immediately ran a check on the systems, any of his custom
modifications and hopefully upgraded weapons.  Han noticed that some of
the important modifications were missing and a few of the weapon upgrades
were never added.  Han made a note to himself to obtain some of these
systems, a few of them were critical in battles with the Empire, and he
knew better than to believe he'd be able to avoid any of those for long.
        While Han worked on the Falcon, Leia walked through the ship that
was nearly as much a part of her life as it was for Han.  She walked
through the main cabin, sat at the holochess table, and stood in the
spot in the side alcove where Han had the nerve to finally kiss her.
Her heart warmed at the thought of that.  She then felt someone observing
her, and so she softly elbowed the observant Han, watching her in almost
the same way as he did all those years ago.  Han, obviously enjoying playing
along with the game, muttered as innocently as he could, "Your worship,
I'm only trying to help!"  Leia at this point was laughing, "Would you
please stop calling me that?"  Han could barely stop laughing himself at
this point, but continued nonetheless, "Sure Leia."  It took a lot of
willpower to turn away again like she did all those years ago.  "You make
it so difficult sometimes."  Han, barely able to continue because he was
giggling, struggled on, "I do ... I really do.  But you could be a little
nicer though.  Come on admit it, sometimes you think I'm all right."  Leia,
instead of continuing on, and knowing if they kept this up much longer
they'll both be laughing while lying down on the floor, stopped playing
the game and upped the ante.  She surprised Han by saying, "I certainly
do Captain," and put her arms around him and kissed him warmly.  Han,
although surprised for a moment, quickly threw his arms around Leia and
kissed her back with as much passion as he could muster.  A howl stopped
their little replay of the past.  "Oh enough already you two,"  growled
Chewie.  Han and Leia gave Chewie an annoyed look at their interrupted
moment, but followed Chewie off the ship and started to formulate a plan
of action with her father.

*****

        Leia thought she would enjoy her wedding receptions a little
more than she was.  She almost felt guilty about it.  After all she
was home on Alderaan, her family was alive and well, and they even
liked Han!  She still found herself almost in disbelief at the very
thought.  It took almost all the discipline that Luke had taught her
to prevent herself from reaching out in the Force to find Luke.  But
thoughts of her brother creeped into her mind when she failed to control
her thoughts.  Despite the lack of formal training she found it difficult 
not to use the powers that Luke had taught her for fear it would be 
detected by the Emperor or Darth Vader.  Whether it be to gauge the 
emotions of whoever she was conversing with, or knowing what Luke was 
feeling at that given time.  Fortunately she was able to go back to her 
charmed life as the darling Princess of Alderaan.  During some of the 
gatherings she recalled the faces of some of the young noblemen of Alderaan 
who once vied for her affections.  Part of her always wondered if she would 
have married one of these men if Alderaan had survived.  It was reassuring 
to know that none of them ever had a chance, so long as Han existed and was
as honorable as she knew him to be.  She reminded herself to smile and
engage in useless conversation while meeting the nobles and Imperial
guests.  The real planning was at night, where the plans for secession
from the Empire were being put into place.

*****

        The plans were complete.  The Sector Fleet under Han's command
would be disabled, and the ships taken over by forces loyal to the
Alderaanian Royal Family.  The sector fleet was rather weak due to
the Empire not wanting to risk putting too much firepower in the hands of
a governor whose loyalties to the Empire were questionable.  So the
Rebellion would move their ships into the Alderaan sector for the
defense of the sector from an expected Imperial reprisal.  As soon as
the Senate was dissolved, the sectors in which there were strong rebel
cells would begin armed rebellion and begin defense of those territories
against an expected Imperial offensive.  Obi-wan needed to be retrieved
as soon as possible to organize the Rebel forces.  As Chewie prepared
the Falcon for its first journey in years, the royal family and its
newest member prepared for the last reception before all the functionaries
would go back to Imperial Center.  
        The final reception was much more pleasant, with all the important
members of the royal family thanking everyone for coming to attend the
wedding, and other useless babble.  This never bothered her before, but
after years of her life with the Rebellion this felt completely foreign to
her, despite her entire existence on Alderaan being in this fashion.  That
is, before her election to the Imperial Senate and the events that would
change her life forever.  The final reception finally ended and the family
was preparing to retire for the evening.  All the guests had left Alderaan
and they could finally get on with what needed to be done.   Then it hit
her.  She felt a dark presence near her.  Knowing that her family's lives
were in danger, she did not bother to suppress using the Force while she
quickly hurried them along to a secure area.  They nearly made it, but about
one hallway before they could reach a secure area two Imperial commandos
stepped out and started firing their blasters.  Chewy, ever vigilant in
protecting the lives of Han and his family, managed to rip the arm off of
one quickly, but one managed to fire two point-blank shots directly at
Leia.  While the shot was taken Leia felt what was transpiring slow to a
crawl.  As she saw the red blaster bolt float towards her, she did the only
thing she could think of doing.  Remembering that a blaster bolt can be
deflected with the Force, she placed her left hand in the path of the
bolt and pictured in her mind it dissipating in the path of her hand.
As the first bolt dissipated with the power of the Force and the second
reflected off her hand with a slight burn, she used the Force and seized
the weapon from the hand of the shocked Imperial commando.  Before the
Imperial could be apprehended for questioning, however, he took a
vibro-knife and stabbed himself.   The one-armed commando followed suit
immediately.

*****

        The Emperor sat in his throne room on Imperial Center.  Despite
his increasing iron-grip rule over the galaxy, he still had opponents
who commanded respect and power.  That annoying Bail Organa.  He should
have had him killed in the early days of the Empire, before he became
too important in the Senate to be disposed of.  And that dangerous
daughter of his, Princess Leia.  Something about her always bothered
him, the Force always hinting of danger in regards to her.  And that
disloyal husband of hers, Governor Solo.  He knew he should have been
kicked out of the Navy for rescuing that Wookie, but someone in High
Command suggested he be kept around to as he put it, "prevent him
from being a loose cannon."  And so the tribunal decided not to follow 
standard procedure and rubberstamp the guilty verdict.  The foolish 
grand admiral was long dead, as was the Commodore who voted along
with him, but Solo seemed impossible to eliminate.  Even blowing up his
ship didn't seem to work.  And then those silly Organas take an interest
in him, and suddenly he has those disloyal Imperial Senators protect
him with attention.  Even sending him off to Alderaan didn't work ... that 
Wookie kept protecting him from elimination.  Five failed attempts.  Five 
dead squads.  Alderaanian palace staff were as difficult to penetrate 
as his Imperial guards were.  Their loyalty was passed generation to 
generation.  So all the penetrating attempts failed.  But this would be the 
last time.  The wedding forced them to put security on a lower level due
to the large volume of Senatorial and Imperial guests, during which his 
personal shuttle slipped through a two-member commando team, his two best 
operatives.  There was no stopping them this time.  All three of them would 
die at long last.
        As the Emperor stretched out through the Force he watched a
hallway with the Viceroy, Princess, and Governor and that ever-present
Wookie.  Suddenly he felt the party tense, they were being warned?
But how?  The plan was fullproof.  They couldn't have been discovered.
He had selected the commandos personally.  As they tried to dart towards
a more secure area, the Emperor smiled.  They were walking straight to
the commandos.  He anxiously waited to see them all dead.  It had been
a long time coming.   His plan for eliminating two of the most important
Imperial Senators and the strongest Governor with questionable loyalties
would be complete and total control of the galaxy would be his.
        As the commandos started firing their blasters, the expected
reaction of the Wookie managed to disable a commando.  But the other
commando fired two on-target shots on the Princess.  Then an unbelievable
power practically shook through the Force, almost as a planetary
tectonic plate shifts suddenly.  He saw the two blaster shots reach her
hand and deflected away with the sheer power of the Force, directed from
the Princess.  As the Princess directed the Force to seize the blaster,
the Emperor's shock shook his concentration apart, and the vision faded
as the Emperor used his anger to anchor himself in the uncontrolled
tsunami-wave of the Force flooding towards him.

*****

        Luke Skywalker chafed at another day on the moisture farm.
His thoughts drifted to his friends, Biggs and Tank.  Both disappeared
from their squadrons two years ago.  Most likely joined the Rebellion.
Unfortunately denied a chance to attend the Imperial Space Academy by
his uncle's injuries, he was stuck with the responsibility of running the
farm, now with Uncle Owen physically incapable of handling it anymore.
Luke was bewildered as his aunt and uncle seemed particularly interested
in following the gossip surrounding the wedding proceedings of Princess
Leia Organa and Governor Han Solo of Alderaan.  Almost as if they knew the
people there.  For years his Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen didn't follow any
events that happened anywhere except for the movements of the Sand People.
This sudden interest in an event so far away was intriguing.
        
        As for unusual occurrences, it had been years since Luke watched
the sunset dreaming of a new life and adventure.  But yesterday before
shutting the power down, he found himself watching the twin suns of
Tatooine set.  As he thought about Alderaan and what it would be like
there, he swore he could almost hear a woman's voice whisper his name,
seeking his presence.  Luke stood there, intrigued by what he thought he
heard.  As the suns finally set and he proceeded to shut down the power
and undergo the nightly shutdown routine, he thought about that voice he
thought he heard while looking at the sunset.

*****

        Almost as soon as the two commandos stabbed themselves and it
became evident that the danger was over, Leia collapsed from the 
strain of her use of the Force.  Her father, being closest to her at 
the time, rushed over and caught her.  The four of them quickly darted 
the rest of the way to the secured communications room and sat the 
unconscious Leia in a chair.  Finally Bail Organa started asking questions.  
"Han, where did she learn how to do that?  I haven't seen that done in 
decades, and when did Leia get the training to know how to deflect blaster 
shots?"
        Han, although still hesitant to tell everything, finally relented.
"Leia and I think we're somewhere other than where we belong.  Almost as
if it were an alternate reality.  The people are the same, but what we
remember is the Death Star being completed and my being found guilty at
my court-martial all those years ago.  Leia thinks it is sort of weird
manifestation of the Force that we are here at this point."  Han left
out the part about Alderaan being blown to bits and the Senate being
dissolved.  Han pressed forward, "I never remember Leia being able to do
that, but once when Darth Vader captured us, he did exactly what Leia did
to those Imperial hitmen when I shot at him.  I think that is how Leia
knew that blocking blaster shots could be done."  Bail Organa took surprise
at one thing that Han said.  "Once when he captured you?  You escaped from
being captured from Darth Vader?"  Han, still disturbed by his experience
being carbon-frozen focused on Leia instead.  "Actually Leia escaped from
Vader twice.  Takes a blood-relative doesn't it?  And speaking of blood
relatives, I think that we should go to Tatooine and get Luke and Obi-wan.
I'll drop off Leia at Master Yoda's secret training hideaway.  The Emperor
and Vader had to have felt what Leia did just now."
        Bail Organa, still somewhat overwhelmed by all that he was hearing,
took a few moments to collect his thoughts.  "I suppose when you return
with Obi-wan and Luke we can discuss this further.  In the meantime you
must prepare for your journey, while I activate the plan for secession and
to inform the other leaders of the Alliance to prepare for the Senate
to be dissolved and Imperial crackdowns to begin.  After what just
happened, with your presumption that the Emperor and Vader know what
happened, we're going to have to deal with the Senate being dissolved
right now.  When Leia recovers, you can leave for Master Yoga immediately."
        Han, used to Luke recovering from almost getting mortally wounded
quickly, told his father-in-law, "Leia will recover quickly from that.
Jedi have a way of recovering quickly from things they have no business
recovering from."  He turned to Chewie, "Chewie prepare the Falcon for
takeoff."  Chewie, obviously bewildered by what Han had been saying, left
barking out, "Solo, you and your Princess better explain what is going on."