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DISCLAIMER:  The characters utilized in this writing do not belong to me.  I am just borrowing them from their true masters, George Lucas and his many organizations.  I promise to put them back when I’m done.  They’ll just have indelible smiles when it’s over.  NO MONEY WAS MADE FROM THIS WRITING.

Description:  This story takes place after The Empire Strikes Back.  It is my version of what should have been seen in the Return of the Jedi.  I hope that you’ll enjoy it.

Without further adieu

Scoundrel’s Rescue.

Han had been captured by Boba Fett and placed into hibernation inside a  carbonite freezing unit.  Luke had almost plummeted to his death trying to escape from Darth Vader.  The rest of the group did escape from Cloud City.  However the loss of Han and Luke’s near death weighed heavily on Leia.

She refused to leave the blond Jedi’s side once the Millennium Falcon had made the jump to light speed.  Instead she continued to monitor the micro medi droid as it attempted to curb the pain that the young man had to endure.

When they had arrived at the medical base she refused rest, food, even sleep.  She watched as the medical droid installed the new bionic hand that would replace the one that Vader severed from Luke's wrist during their duel. 

Through it all she refused to say a word.  However, her mind raced, she followed the invisible lines of the Force that linked her with Luke; those links that connected her with the twin brother that she had always known that she had.  Vader had almost killed her brother.  The anger boiled through her.  It burned away all that was kind and good and laid bare the hatred within her. 

“Leia.”  Luke called to her with a soft voice.

“Yes Luke?”  She answered her voice sounded hollow, empty.

“I feel your anger, what has happened?”

“It’s nothing to worry about.  I have to go.  I’ll meet you at the rendezvous point on Tattoine.”

“Where are you going?”

“Vader almost killed you, and I plan on making him pay.”  Her voice was deadly calm.

“No! Are you out of your mind?”

“You don’t need to stop me.”  She tried to bend the force to her will.  Luke wasn’t the only one who had been through some training.

“I don’t need to stop you.”  Luke’s eye were alight with fire, he was fighting her control over him.

“Doctor, sedate the patient.”

The droid followed her orders and immediately sent a pulse of a potent narcotic through the intravenous drip.  Luke immediately slumped back into the bed.

“I love you brother, what I’m about to do is for you.”

She hadn’t bothered to unpack the Falcon; she knew that she’d be taking it.  Luckily Lando and Chewie were off the ship.  Probably off playing Sabbacc in the dark corners of the station, she didn’t care.  It gave her the opening that she needed.

Leia  keyed in the code and entered the ship.  She didn’t bother going to her quarters she headed straight for the cockpit, her hands danced over the controls as she cleared the moorings and plotted her course.  She activated the thrusters and cleared the station. 

The commlink was beeping wildly, she ignored it.  As soon as she had moved the ship far enough away she entered the proper coordinates and pushed the ship to light speed.  Leia setup the autopilot and left the cockpit.

She entered her quarters, pausing by her bunk.  She reached under the edge and pulled free her hidden light saber.  She activated the energy blade, with a low hum the purple energy blade sprang forth.  She stared at the scintillating blade for a few moments then allowed it to retreat back into the polished chrome handle.

She pulled a duffle from under the bunk, and began to pull items out of it.  Soon she had  everything arranged, she had shed her white clothing.  Instead she was clad in a black body suit, over which she wore the rough brown cloak of a Jedi knight.  She knelt, she had to prepare herself to meet her Father. 

Leia, stop this you must!

A glowing figure appeared beside the woman.  It was a small form, through the blue glow the light green skin appeared much darker.

“Master Yammda, you were the one that said I would never become a Jedi until I faced my Father!”

Face him you must, as must Luke.

“I’m facing him, please leave me to it.”

Remember your training, anger leads to the Dark Side.

“He almost killed my brother, he took his hand!”  Her voice was seething with uncontrolled fury.

Your anger, control it you must!  Otherwise all is lost.  If you follow this path all is lost!

“Master Yammda, leave me.  I am doing this and you can’t stop me.”

I could not stop you, choice is yours. 

The tiny green Jedi Master lowered her head, then she disappeared.

Leia turned and began the deep meditation that would reawaken her force sense.  She had felt the need to suppress her abilities when it had became evident that Darth Vader would be boarding her Corellian Corvette when she was taking the plans for the Death Star to the Rebel Alliance headquarters. 

After hours of deep meditation she had gathered her powers to her and was sufficiently rested.  Leia steeled her emotions and cast her mind out into the depths of space. She allowed her consciousness to course through the web created by the Force.  She called out the name of the one she sought.

“Vader!  Come to me!” 

Over and over she repeated the litany.  Finally she "heard" mechanical breathing.

“Who calls me?”

“Leia Skywalker!  Come to me you evil being!”

“Skywalker?  Ah, twins Obi Wan was wise to keep you secret from me.”

“You tried to kill my brother, it’s my turn.  I am a Jedi too, come to me!  Face me if you dare.”

“If I dare, you’re a plucky one.  I will enjoy turning you to the Dark Side.  I sense that you’re near Yavin V, you’ll wait?”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

The contact was broken.  Leia then turned her mind to concealing her presence from other prying eyes.  She enclosed the Falcon in a pocket of Force energy masking its presence from all types of sensors and ships scanners.  Let her brother try to figure that trick out.

Leia occupied her time as best as she could by checking and rechecking her equipment.  She scanned the planet below where she and the evil one who was her father would face each other in battle. 

Leia had extended her Force sense to alert her when Vader appeared.  It was mid-morning of the third day when she sensed his imminent arrival.  Leia quickly dressed in her Jedi robes, adding a utility belt to this she clipped her light saber.  She then made a quick decision and cut her hair.  The new length was just below her collar.  She wouldn’t be able to call a time out to re-braid her long locks.

“Come and get me Vader.”  She mumbled to the reflection in the mirror. 

~SW~

Luke regained a lucid state over a number of hours.  Even under the influence of the drugs he knew that he had been tricked. 

Leia, please don’t do this!

Finally he slowly was able to awake from oblivion that he had been forced into.  He looked around and saw that the medical droid was gone.  He flipped back the sheet and stood.  He was steady enough on his feet.  He moved into the hall, he had to find Lando and Chewie.

“Master Luke, why are you out of bed?  I don’t recall the medical droid releasing you.”

“C3PO, where are Lando and Chewie?  Leia is doing something stupid.”

“We know, she’s stolen the Falcon.”  Lando said as he moved to help support the blond man.  “Any idea where Leia has gone?”

“She has gone to take revenge; on Vader.”

“What?  Why would she go after Vader?”

The little astromech droid made a series of whistles and high pitched beeps.

“If I may Master Luke, R2D2 says that he stumbled on something in her quarters onboard the Falcon.  She had a light saber hidden in the frame of her bunk.”

“A light saber?  What the hell would she be doing with that?”  There was a bright flash, then Luke heard a familiar voice.

Luke, I have set us outside of time, your friends will not know of our conversation.  Your sister must be allowed to follow the path that she has chosen.

“Sister? Ben?  Why is she going after Vader?”

You were born the son of Anakin Skywalker, who was seduced by the Dark Side.  You were given to your uncle and aunt to raise.  Your sister was given to a friend of your mother’s.  His name was Senator BaleOrgana of Aldarran.  It was necessary to separate the two of you, otherwise if Vader had found one of you, both would have been lost. 

“But Leia is going after Vader!  I was no match for him how can she hope to take him.”

Leia was found and underwent training under Master Yammda, she was Yoda’s spouse.  She was forced to hide her abilities when Vader boarded her ship.  She managed to evade him and send Artoo out in the escape pod to find me. 

“What can we do?”

Nothing is to be done.  You have another mission right now, you have to find and rescue Han Solo.  He is important in the skein of things.  You and your friends must get him back.

“And Leia?”

Leia is on her own, she must face Vader alone, she will either triumph or be turned to the Dark Side.  No one can interfere, not you, not Yoda nor me.  Right now you another concern, rescuing Han Solo.

“Why is Han so important to you?”

He’s important to you, allow yourself to feel what you have been denying all this time.  A Jedi must not allow his emotions to rule him, he must master them.  Mastery of those emotions is not achieved by denying their existence.  You must rescue Han and face those emotions.

“I understand.”

Ben’s image brightened briefly then was gone.

There was a short pause, then C3PO picked up the conversation where he had left off.

“I have no idea why the Princess would have a light saber.”

“She underwent training, she’s gone after Vader.”

“What!  Luke where did she go, can we stop her?”

Luke shook his head.

“She has taken the first step on this path and must proceed alone, but I fear for her.  If Vader turns her to the Dark Side there’ll be hell to pay.”

“Luke we’ve got to try!”

“As Master Yoda told me once, do or do not, there is no try.  We can’t, even if we knew where to find her I assure you she would allow no interference from us.  We can only hope that she succeeds.  In the meantime we have to rescue Han.  Lando we’ll need a ship, not that we’ll find one as good as the Falcon but see what you can secure for us.  Chewie, I’ll need your help to get me inside Jabba’s palace.”

The wookie let out a loud growl.

“Chewbacca says count him in.”

“Good, now Artoo come with me I’ll need you to deliver a message to our old friend, Jabba the Hutt.”

~SW~

Leia landed the Falcon on Yavin V; she took care to hide it under the forest canopy.  She grabbed the pack and headed away from the ship.  She’d picked the battlefield; the area where she would face her father would be loaded with obstacles and varying heights.  She would need every advantage that she could get.

As she trekked through the forest she head the familiar sound of an imperial shuttle overhead.  Vader was here.

Where are you?  The thought was fired at her as if from a laser cannon.

Find me Father.  She sent back. 

She broke the contact yet she did not raise her mental shields.  He’d be able to find her but she’d get her chosen area first.  She increased her pace, being sure to exude an aura of unease to keep the large bloodsucking flies away, she couldn’t afford to be weak from blood loss.

When Leia reached the dark temple the first thing that she did was to hide her utility bag, hiding it in the hollow base of the black statue outside of the foreboding structure.

She contemplated her life thus far as she awaited her prey like a spider in her web.  As she looked back over the many accomplishments, she realized that few of them actually meant anything to her.  The Empire still reigned supreme in the galaxy, freedom was a distant memory.  This would be her crowning blow for that freedom, as well as her revenge for the attempt made on her brother's life and the murder of her mother.

She "heard" with force enhanced senses the mechanical breathing of Vader's life support systems.  She moved to the farthest area away and lay in wait.  Moments passed by seeming like hours.  Finally she glanced a flash of black plasteel. 

"Come out, my daughter.  Let me have a look at you."

She stepped forward out of the shadows and allowed herself to be looked upon by evil incarnate.

"You've already seen me father.  Remember I was to be terminated when you destroyed my home world of Aldarran!"

"You!  Leia Organa are my daughter?  How did I not sense your abilities when first we met?"

"I am not like my brother, Darth Vader.  I am trained as a Jedi and I excel in the arts of mental shielding."

"You have your mother's looks."

"I didn't come here to discuss my mother or your betrayal of everything that I hold dear."  She ignited her light saber.  "Care to dance?  Daddy dearest?"

"You hatred of my will be your undoing."  Vader activated his own saber.

The sounds of the duel echoed through the forest of Yavin, blade smashed against blade, the smell of ozone tainted the air. 

"Your master has taught you well my daughter.  Join me and side by side we will rule the galaxy."

"Fuck you!  Save your recruitment speech for Luke.  I'll not stop until I have your head encased in carbonite on my wall!"

She redoubled her efforts, thrust, block and parry.  She came in under Vader's guard and found the opening that she sought.  She cleaved his left hand from the wrist.  She left only a stump of bionic circuitry hanging from the sleeve.

"That's for Luke!  He's now forced to be like you, he was fitted with a bionic hand thanks to your last battle."

She waited until the black clad figure had regained his footing.  This was her time and she would not be rushed as she separated every limb from his evil body.

~SW~

Luke and his friends had arrived on Tattoine.  The plan had been made and gone over numerous times on during their journey at light speed.

When they landed Luke sent R2D2 and C3PO on ahead to Jabba's palace.  They would deliver a message to confuse the giant slug, so he wouldn't be expecting Luke.

"Lando, I have acquired a V35 Landspeeder.  Take it and go to the palace before the droids.  They are on foot and will take longer to arrive.  You know what to do once you're inside."

"Gotcha, I'll be waiting for you."

Luke watched as the former administrator of Besbin's Cloud City piled into the speeder and was within moments out of sight.

The young Jedi knight strode into the ship's cockpit.  Chewie was sitting in the pilot's seat, going over the control boards of their Imperial Lambda class shuttle.

"Chewie, we'll leave for the palace in three hours.  I'll have to ask you to trust me.  I'll be in disguise and I'll need you as my prisoner.  We'll free Han and we'll all get away."

Chewie roared his agreement.

"I know you're worried about Han old friend, I promise that we'll get him out."

Chewie let out a low whine.

"Chewie, Leia's situation isn't your fault.  She took this on herself, believe me Han won't hold you responsible for this, there was nothing that anyone could have done."

A large tear slid from the corner of the wookie's big brown eye.  The wookie let out a keening moan as he rubbed the moisture away.

"I know that you cared for her.  She's special, I love her too.  She's my sister."

The brown fur ball shook his head violently as though to clear his head.  He made a questioning moan.

"I only found out as she was leaving.  She told me.  I never knew before this Chewie.  I didn't even know that she was Jedi trained.  Some Jedi knight I am."

Chewbacca reached out and pulled the blond man into his arms.  Luke was hurting, and even though his Han had professed love for Leia; Chewie knew the truth of the matter.  Han had he been there would have reached out to this vulnerable man who meant so much to him.

Chewie keened reassuringly to the young man and held him to his furry chest, he rocked him gently.

Luke's mind interpreted the meaning of Chewie's words.

*There there, you expect too much from yourself my little one.*

"Chewie, I've lost my sister and probably my father as well."

*We don't know that.  Right now you have to keep centered on what is at hand.  Jabba is a dangerous foe; he won't part willingly with Han.  Now we have a couple of hours will you rest or shall I rock you as I did my own cubs?*

"I'll go to my bunk.  Thank you Chewie, I needed that."

*You're welcome my little one.  Now off to bed with you!*

~SW~

Leia swore as Darth Vader's red glowing blade sliced through her forearm.  It was a glancing blow however, and the energy weapon immediately cauterized the wound. 

She'd have a deep scar for life but it wasn't worth worrying about at the moment.  She ruthlessly suppressed the pain and struck back with a double thrust and parry maneuver that caught the dark warrior by surprise.  Her blade grazed a deep furrow in the forward control panel of his life-support suit.

Vader fell back, his breathing had stopped.  He pounded on the control panel managing to switch to the backup system just before he blacked out.

 ~SW~

“Is the nothing human left of you?”  Leia snapped as Vader fell beneath her strike.  His leg fell away leaving another bionic stump behind.

Vader didn’t answer, even though he was more machine than human the bionic implants and cloned muscle material transferred pain just as his original parts had.  He was in terrible pain.

“Before I send you into oblivion do you have any last words, Daddy dearest?”  Leia asked scornfully as she raised her light saber to deal a killing blow.

There was a sudden burst of light.

Leia, stop this.

“Who are you?”

My name is Amidala Padm`e Naberrie, I am your mother.

~SW~

Luke and Chewbacca stood outside of the daunting palace of Jabba the hutt.  Luke was disguised in a bounty hunter’s armor including a helmet with a voice disguiser.  The door sentry slid forward it demanded to know who wanted entry.

Luke answered, allowing the computer in his helmet to translate his words into an obscure language.

“I am Bounty Hunter, Tr’vlr.  I am here to collect the price on this wookie.”

The sentry eye slid back into place, a moment later the huge blast door lifted a few meters allowing the “bounty hunter” and his prisoner to enter.  Luke was at once met by a Twi’lek male.  The Twi’lek motioned for Luke and Chewbacca to follow.

Luke was shown into the main audience chamber.  He saw Artoo standing in the corner of the room, a tray of drinks balanced on the chrome dome.  C3PO was sitting on the repulsor sled that held the disgusting over-grown slug.

“I am here to collect the bounty on this wookie!”  Luke stated flatly.

C3PO moved to the side of the hutt and began to translate the guttural language of the hutt.

“Ah, at last we have the mighty Chewbacca.  I will happily pay the $25,000.00”

“I will take $50,000.00 no less.”

Jabba was outraged; he threw the gold protocol droid off of the repulsor sled.  After a moment he addressed the bounty hunter again.

“The Great Jabba wants to know why he should pay you such a sum.”

“If Jabba doesn’t this thermal detonator will destroy this entire fortress.”

“He has a thermal detonator!”

The giant slug laughed and spoke.

“Jabba has offered $35,000 and I respectably suggest that you accept it.”

Luke allowed the trigger to slide back to the disarmed position.

“I agree.”

“He agrees!” 

The orc guards surrounded Chewbacca and led him away.  He roared in protest yet allowed himself to be taken.

Luke followed the Twi’lek and was paid the $35,000.00.  He was then invited to join in the celebration.  He accepted the hospitality of the hutt.  Luke rejoined the party; he stayed back dark corners, wrapping himself in the shadows.  He was disgusted by the show of lasciviousness and perversion.

~SW~

“This is a trick!  My mother was not a Jedi.  How could you be here?”

Brought her have I.  Needed to speak to you she did.

“Master Yammda what have you done?  Why have you brought my mother here?  I will not allow you to interfere.”

Leia please let me speak with you.  My time is limited; you must stop what you’re doing.

“He tried to kill Luke!  Mother how can you defend him?”

Leia, please listen to me.  I must tell you about the fall of Anakin Skywalker, your father.  You must understand what I am telling you my child.  Anakin had refused to turn to the Dark Side.  Senator Palatine decided to get to your father through me.  He had me abducted, I was pregnant with you and your brother at the time. 

Your father and I had met and fallen in love two years before.  We were forbidden to be together by the Jedi Council.  We defied them, slipping away to be together whenever it was possible.  I had just told Anakin that I was going to have a child.  He had decided to leave the Jedi Order, we were going to be married.  However, before he could be granted an audience with the Jedi Council, Palatine took me away.

“What happened?”

Palatine had not real interest in me.  He only wanted to get to Anakin.  He sent word to your father that unless he turned himself over to Palatine I would be killed.  Anakin flew into a fit of rage.  The Council had decided that he had caused enough damage, they refused to allow him to accompany the rescue party.  Palatine destroyed all members of the elite force.  What was unknown to the Jedi was that Anakin had stowed away onboard the ship.  He when the others failed, Anakin came out of hiding.  He turned himself over to the perverted Jedi in exchange for our lives.

“I was always told that Vader killed you?”

No my beloved Leia, I delivered you and Luke.  I knew that I had to protect the both of you.  It was told to me by Obi Wan Kenobi that a Jedi seer had foreseen that if Anakin had offspring that they could pose a threat to the Sith lord.  I placed Luke with his father’s brother Owen and his wife Berberu.  I knew that he would be well cared for because of their detached lifestyle they would not allow any harm to come to him.  Also Obi Wan decided to take up residence on the planet of Tattoine.  Any times over the years he diverted probe droids and Jedi hunters and kept Luke safe.

“And me you left with my adopted father.”

Yes, because I knew that the two of my children must be separated for their own safety.  The two of you would be the last hope of the Jedi Order.  The seer had sent word that the Senator would bring forth an Empire of evil.  The Empire would target the Jedi because they and only they could oppose the Dark Side. 

I had a good friend, the Senator from Aldarran.  He was a good man his wife and he could not have children.  I asked him to care for you.  He gladly agreed, I accompanied you to his home, spending a few weeks with you, to make sure that you had settled.  I took everything within me to leave behind my children.  Yet I knew that I was the only one who could bring Anakin back.

I left you and journeyed with Obi Wan to Coursant.  Already the Senator was beginning to build his power base.  I confronted Anakin on Coursant he wasn’t as you see him now.  He was still human at that time.  I plead with him to reject the Dark Side and return home with me.  He could only say that I couldn’t understand the power of the Dark Side.  It was at that moment that Palatine found us.  He attacked me sending black serpents of the Dark Force into my body.  Obi Wan tried to defend me, yet Anakin engaged him.  They fought with light sabers.  I was killed by the evil Palatine, your father fell in battle against Obi Wan.  It was because of that battle that Anakin was forced into the life support suit that the galaxy identifies with Darth Vader.

“You’re telling me that Anakin gave himself to the Dark Side to protect you?  He sacrificed himself out of love?”

Yes, there was always a core of good inside Darth Vader.  It waits for the right person to come to turn him back.  He must not be struck down.  If you do so Vader will never be able to be redeemed.

“No!  He doesn’t deserve to be redeemed!  He’s killed hundreds of millions of people.  Those deaths should weigh on his soul!”

Your own soul in peril is.  To your mother you must listen.

Leia, please you must not do this thing.  If you do you will be turned to the Dark.  You will take Vader’s place, and become the newest Sith apprentice. 

“Then I would be in a position to destroy the emperor!  I could end the war and bring the Empire to its knees!”

~SW~

Luke had allowed a female Twi’lek to show him to a suite of guest quarters.  When she tried to enter the room he respectably declined her advances claiming that they were incompatible species. She stamped away, apparently not believing his explanation.

Luke spent the time in silent meditation.  It would be hours before the party revelers would drift away, either too intoxicated to for more merry making or else once they had paired up with a willing partner.

Luke’s mind began to drift off of his meditation as thoughts of he and Han crossed his mind.  Would there be any chance of a requited love between the two of them.  Luke’s Jedi sensibilities almost immediately dismissed the possibility.  Han was interested in Leia.  Luke had no chance, and if he did would he be able to live with himself knowing that he had taken Han from his sister.

Time and again, Luke’s mind would break out of the meditation pattern.  Han’s face taunted his inner vision.  Finally the Jedi ruthlessly suppressed his doubts and emotions.  He checked the chrono, it was time. 

Luke slipped out of the room.  He moved from shadow to shadow, pulling them around him to cloak his presence.  Slowly, he made his way into the grand audience chamber.  There on the wall was the carbonite frame containing Han Solo.

Luke used his telekinesis to lower the frame soundlessly to the floor.  He moved to the side and keyed in the sequence to “thaw” the carbonite that encased Han.  The flat black material began to disintegrate.  Within moments the top layer of the material was gone.  Han slumped down on the floor.

Luke moved to help support his friend.  He pulled the smuggler to a sitting position.  Han was blinking his eyes rapidly and was obviously disoriented.

“Where am I?”  Han’s voice was a harsh croak.

“You are in Jabba’s palace.  You are suffering from hibernation sickness.”

“I can’t see.  Who are you?”

Luke removed the helmet and spoke softly, “Someone who cares about you.”

“Luke?  Is that you kid?”

“Hold still; let me see what I can do to help you.”

Luke placed his hands over Han’s eyes.  He touched the Force and began to channel the healing energy into Han’s eyes.  He maintained the connection for a few moments.  He opened his hands and looked at the man.

“Is that any better?”

“Yeah, I can see now.”

“Come on, we have to get Chewie and the droids.”

Luke and Han moved down into the bowels of the palace.  They soon came to the cell that held the wookie.  Luke moved forward putting a finger to his lips, biding Chewbacca to keep quiet.

Chewie made a low whine. 

Luke activated his light saber and cut through the lock.  Chewbacca stepped out of the cell and moved to embrace his friend.

“Easy buddy, I’m still a bit shaky.”

“Chewie, keep him safe.  I have to get the droids.  You two get to the blast door and wait for me there.”

“We’ll be there.  Luke, where’s Leia?”

“I’ll explain later.  Right now we have to get out of here.  I promise I’ll tell you all about it as soon as you’re safe.”

“I’ll hold you to that.  Now get those buckets of bolts and let’s get out of here.”

Luke retraced his steps back to the grand audience chamber.  There he found C3PO and R2D2, both were wearing restraining bolts and were powered down.  He ignited his light saber and using it removed the bolts with a flick of his wrist.

“What?  Oh I say, Master Luke I thought that you’d never come.”

“Quiet 3PO, Artoo let’s get out of here.”

“I don’t think so.  Where is my favorite ornament?  Where is Solo?”  A light turned on showing Jabba on his repulsor sled.

“Don’t make me have to kill you Jabba.  I am leaving with my droids and Han.”

“With one command I can summon guards to destroy you.”

Luke stepped up to the repulsor sled and ignited his saber again.  He brought it down on the control panel.  The sled listed to the side, throwing the hutt to the floor.

“I warned you Jabba, I can not allow you to stop me.” 

He brought the glowing blade down on the hutt’s fat neck. The ugly head was cleaved from the body and fell to the floor.  The rest of the body slumped back twitching.

“Come on, get to the main exit.  Han and Chewie will be waiting for us there.  We have to get out before the body is discovered.”

Luke and the droids moved quickly yet quietly through the halls, they encountered no one until they reached the blast door.  Luke looked around, searching for the Wookie and Han.

“Chewie, are you here?”

There can a low whine.

“Come here Chewie, where’s Han?”

*He is here, all is well.  I trust that we are ready to go?*

Luke didn’t answer he moved to the control panel and keyed the sequence that he had “lifted” from the orc guard’s mind earlier.

“Chewie, get him out.  3PO, Artoo you follow. 

Luke waited until all members of his group had made it outside, he set the door to close.  Using the Force he slid under the door as it silently closed.

Luke led the group to the secured Landspeeder.  He keyed in the authorization code to the control panel.  Immediately the door opened allowing everyone to climb inside the enclosed V35.

Luke sat in the driver’s seat. 

“Lando, the bird has flown the nest.”

“Understood, I will rendezvous with you in three hours.”

“We’ll be waiting,” Luke closed the channel.

“Hang on, we’re going to make a quick exit.”

Luke started the power ground car and moved out, slowly at first.  Gradually he began to increase speed.

“Luke, shouldn’t you turn on the lights?”

“Sorry, I didn’t want to turn them on where we could be seen.”  Luke flipped the toggle and the powerful lights were powered up, illuminating the bare sand in front of the vehicle.

The group rode the rest of the way in silence.  That is until the Speeder stopped in front of the shuttle that Lando had procured for the escape.

“Where’s the Falcon?”  Han asked.

“Leia has it, wherever she is.”

“She stole my ship?”

“Come inside, you’re probably starving.  I’ll get you something to eat and fill you in on what’s happened.”

“I can’t believe she stole my ship!  Chewie, what happened?”

*I didn’t let her take it she surprised everyone.  Do you think I’m stupid?*

“Sorry pal, I’m not angry I just never thought that she’d steal anything, much less a ship.”

“Han, come inside the shuttle, or do I have to drag you inside?”

“Alright, I’m coming, geesh I’m out of it for a little while and everyone gets delusions of grandeur.”

Han stepped out and made his way to the shuttle.  The man disappeared inside the multi-finned vehicle.

“I hope that he can deal with what I have to tell him Chewie.”

*He is sturdy, you know that already.  Be frank with him, tell him about Leia.  He’ll cope.*

“We almost lost him Chewie, I almost lost him.”

*He is here, all is well.  I suggest though that you tell him.  Tell him how you feel about him.*

“But Chewie, he loves Leia.  How can I profess love for my sister’s boyfriend?  He’s liable to punch me in the face and storm away.  I don’t think I could bear to lose his friendship.”

*You underestimate him, Han is capable of great emotion, however he just has trouble expressing it.  It’s something that both of you have in common my little one.  No get in there and talk with him.  I’ll busy myself with preparing a descent meal for you both.  You haven’t eaten since before we left the medical station.*

Luke allowed the wookie to steer him onto the shuttle.  Han was sitting at the table in the common room.  He was obviously losing his patience.  The fingers of his right hand tapped on the smooth surface of the table.  He turned to face the young Jedi as he entered the room.

“Well?”

Luke sat down across the table from Han.  How he missed this man in his life.  How he had missed those hazel eyes that could look into the very soul, that slow smile that seemed to brighten a room.

“Ahm, I’m waiting.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.  I was distracted for a moment.  Chewbacca is taking care of the meal so I can be free to talk with you.”

“Where is my ship?”

“Leia took the Millennium Falcon; she went to face Darth Vader.”

“What?  She went to face Vader?  That’s suicide!”

“Not necessarily Han, Leia is my twin sister.  She was found by a Jedi Master and was trained just as I was.”

“Leia’s a Jedi?”  Han looked at Luke obviously disbelieving what he was being told.

“Artoo detected a light saber hidden in the bunk in her quarters.  He didn’t think that it was important.  Han when my hand was being replaced she told me that she was going to seek vengeance on Vader, because he had tried to kill me.  I have no idea where she is, I’ve tried to find her using the Force, but she’s shielding against detection.”

“Your hand was being replaced?”

“In my fight with Vader, he took my hand and my light saber.”

“My gods, you’re lucky to have escaped.”

“Luckier than you think, I jumped down a disposal shaft and ended up hanging from a weather vane under Cloud City.  I managed to reach out to Leia.  They were in the process of escaping.  Lando had liberated them; she turned the Falcon back and rescued me.”

True concern shone in Han’s eyes.  He looked at Luke, and surprisingly a tear rolled down his cheek.

“I should have been there.”

“Han there’s more.  Darth Vader is my father, and Leia’s.  He was Anakin Skywalker, a Jedi knight.  Somehow he was turned to the Dark Side and came to serve the Emperor.  He tried to turn me.”

“Thank all the Holies of Corellia that he didn’t.”

“It was close.  Only one thing kept me from turning.”

“What was that?”

“My love for you strengthen me, it gave me the will to hold out.”

You could have heard a Corellian tappan bird’s feather hit the deck plate.

“I need to be alone.”

“I understand.  I’ll wait for Lando outside.  We’ll depart Tattoine once he rejoins us.  After that I’ll leave.”

Luke turned and exited the shuttle.

Immediately Chewie entered the common room.

*What have you done?  He didn’t deserve that.*

“You’re right he didn’t, but damn it Chewie.”

*Don’t ‘damn it’ me!  I know how you feel about him!  I see it every time you look into his eyes!  You love him!  You were in heat with Leia!  Even I know that!*

“Chewie, I care a lot about Luke, but…”

*You’d better think this through; otherwise you’re going to lose him.  Ponder that Solo, are you ready to lose him in you life forever?*

“No!”

Han jumped from the table and ran out into the night.

“Luke!”

“I’m here.”  Luke answered.

Han heard the control in his tone.  He had hurt Luke deeply, the Jedi who he spoke with now.

“Luke,” Han started, and then thought better of it. 

He reached out and grabbed both sides of the comely face.  He kissed Luke, pouring all the love that he had hidden in his heart of all those long months.  The blond was obviously stunned, he almost pushed away.  The next moment Han felt those hands pull him closer, the lips returning the kiss.  The kiss went on; Han wanted it to last forever.  He breathed in the scent of Luke.  Han wanted to imprint the smell in his mind forever.  Finally both me slowly, reluctantly ended the kiss.

“Han, what was that all about?  If you feel that you owe me anything you don’t.”

“It’s not about owing you Luke, I wanted you when I met you, and I didn’t dare make a move.  Not with Kenobi there.  When I spent time with you, when I got to know you I found that I was developing feelings for you.”

“What about Leia?”

“I’ve wronged her, I turned my attentions to her so I wouldn’t slip up and try with you.  I didn’t think that an innocent kid like you would want anything to do with a smuggler.”

“I’m not a kid anymore.”

“I know that.  Believe me I know that your not a kid anymore.  Can we go inside?”

“Yes, you still need nourishment.”

Han took Luke by the hand and led him back inside the shuttle.  Once inside they returned to the common room.  Chewbacca had laid out the meal that he had prepared.  They sat down and both began to eat.  Both men were famished, they didn’t speak.  They simply gazed into each other’s eyes.

“So where does this go from here?”  Luke asked.

“Where do you want it to go?  I know how I feel, I love you.  I know what that generally means when there’s a relationship.  But with you being a Jedi…” Han broke off not really knowing how to finish the statement.

There was a blue flash…

A Jedi may take a lover.

“Ben!”

I am pleased to see that you two finally have come to a meeting of minds, and perhaps more.  I have some news about Leia.  It’s not good.

“What is it Ben?”

Leia has killed Darth Vader.  She has turned to the Dark Side.  Palatine has dispatched a detachment of his imperial storm troopers to bring her to him.  Her destiny is now set, she will become Vader’s successor.

“No!  What can we do?”

There is nothing now that can be done.  I want you to understand Luke.  You will have to face Leia just as you would have Vader.  She has taken his place. 

Han moved to wrap an arm around Luke, the young Jedi was slumped forward, hot tears flowed freely down his face.  His face was a mask of horror.

“Luke, let it out.”  Han whispered and pulled the blond man into a full embrace.  He rocked Luke gently, making soft reassuring noises to help calm his soul’s mate.

Take care of him, Han.  I feared that this would happen.  He should not have learned of his sister so soon, or of his father.  Now he had lost both of them just as he discovered his family.

“Kenobi, I am not a Jedi.  If there is anything else that we should know about you had better tell us now!  Or I swear if you ever hurt him like this again I’ll find a way to kill you again.”

You are mistaken Han, you have the potential.  However your concerns about Luke are genuine.  I assure you that there are no other secrets that I am keeping that could cause him pain.  Please take care of him; he’ll need you more now than ever.  It’s the reason that I advised him to rescue you instead of telling him where to find Leia.  Your ship is hidden on Yavin V.  The Imperial Stormtroopers will have collected Leia by the time that you can get there.

“Thank you for telling me where to find my ship.”

Good bye Han, and remember there is always potential.

With those last cryptic words the phantom disappeared.  

“Chewie!  I need your help.”

The wookie stepped into the common room and took in the scene.  He turned angrily on Han.

*What has happened?*

“I didn’t do it.  Kenobi was here, or a shadow of him was here.  He told Luke that Leia has been turned to the Dark Side.  I believe that she killed Vader.”

*Let me have him.  I’ll take him to bed.*

“I’ll take care of him, Chewie.  Help me get him to our quarters.

*So you’ll be sharing quarters with him?  I take it you made your decision?*

“Yes, I just needed a kick in the head old friend.”

A wookie laugh broke the air.  Chewbacca moved and help Han get Luke to his feet.  The young man had curled in upon himself.

*Is there anything that I can do?*

“If there is I’ll let you know.  When Lando returns we’ll need to lift off.  Kenobi told me that the Millennium Falcon is hidden on Yavin V.  We should be able to find it pretty easily.”

*Shall I prep the ship for a lightspeed jump to YavinV?*

“Unless there are other plans, I believe that the Falcon will be safe until we collect her.”

*These are your quarters.  I’ll take my leave.  Lando contacted me a few minutes ago, he had some trouble getting away but will be here shortly.*

Han and Chewie got Luke settled on the bed.  The wookie gave Luke a pat on his shoulder and then left.

“Luke, look kid I know that you’re taking this hard, anyone would.  I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.  If you want to talk about this I’m here to listen.”

“Could you just hold me?”  Luke’s normally control voice was a whisper.

Han opened his arms, allowing Luke to snuggle against his chest.  He enfolded Luke in his strong arms. 

“It’s alright, Luke you can let it out.”

As if on cue, the dam that usually held Luke’s emotions in check seemed to burst.  Sobs wracked Luke’s trim muscular body.  Han held him tightly to him, using the tactile contact to let this wounded man to know that he wasn’t alone.

Slowly, painfully slowly the tears were brought back under control.  Luke took a deep breath and looked into Han’s hazel eyes. 

“I love you Han.”

“I love you too, kid.”

“Are you ok now?”

“I will be.”

“So what happens now?”

“I don’t know, I suppose that I’ll have to face Leia sometime.  I’m not in any hurry to face her though.”

“So maybe we have enough time for a well deserved furlough?”

“Sounds nice, where will we go?”

“Personally I don’t care if we don’t even get out of bed.”

“Oh, are you that tired?”

Han kissed those sensual lips tenderly.

“Not now, but we will be.”

“Han, I’ve never…”

“You’ve never been with a man?”

“I’ve never been with anyone.  My Uncle was terribly strict; I wasn’t allowed to go into town very often.  Of course it probably wouldn’t have made a difference, there never were very many girls around.”

“Well, I’m honored that you saved yourself for me.  That is if you want me to. . .”

“Yes, I do.  I’m just a bit…”

“Frightened?”

“No more like unsure.”

“Well the first thing to remember is that you don’t have to do anything that you don’t want to do.  If something makes you uncomfortable or you feel like you aren’t ready to go that far just say so.  I’ll stop, I promise.  I’ll never hurt you.”

“Everyone that I’ve ever cared for as left.”

“I’m not going anywhere.  So you’d better get used to me because you’re stuck with me.”

“For how long?”

“Forever, if you want me.”

Han leaned in and claimed Luke’s mouth with his again.  The kiss was tender and full of promise.  It held the promise of a million nights together in passion, of growing old side by side, of unconditional love and support, a life full of laughter and tears, joy and sorrows.  Though it all they would be together, through this life and throughout eternity together as one in the heart of the Force.

When Han moved to reluctantly break the intimate contact, Luke pull him back.  Those soft lips parted in invitation.  Han deepened the kiss, allowing his tongue to probe the deepest recesses of the offered haven.  His hands found the hem of the shirt that covered Luke’s chest.  Slowly he moved his hands under the shirt allowing the palms to caress the soft skin that covered firm muscles. 

Luke pulled back, his breathing was labored, his voice deep and husky.

“Han, love me.  Please?”

Han didn’t speak; he allowed his eyes to answer for him.  The love and lust shone brightly for Luke to see.  Han moved to loosen the confining clothing, to toss it aside into a heap on the deck plate.  As the clothing was removed, Han kissed each bit of skin that was exposed.  He covered Luke’s body with kisses; a kiss to soothe the ache, to ease his lover’s pain, to bless the beautiful man’s tormented soul.

“You’re so beautiful, Luke.  You’re body is like a statue of a god come to life.”  Han murmured as he moved to reclaim that wonderful mouth.  Han took the breath in that Luke released, drawing it into him, wanting to share the very air with Luke.

Luke pulled away, gasping.

“Han you’ve too many clothes on.” 

Han chuckled, as he rose off the bed and began to shuck his clothing allowing it to join Luke’s on the floor.  Soon he stood there in all his glory.

“You forgot to put on underwear.”

“I never wear any.”

“Oh gods, I didn’t need to know that.  I’ll never be able to look at you in the cockpit with knowing that.”

Han rejoined Luke on the bed, chuckling.  “My Jedi, am I corrupting you?”

Luke lunged forward and pulled Han to him, wrapping his arms and legs around the smuggler’s long lean frame.  He kissed Han pulling him tightly to him, molding his body against Han’s.

Han slid his mouth to one side of Luke’s face and down the long supple neck.  He suckled the sweet hollow where the shoulder and neck met.  Luke’s head was thrown back a moan escaping from his lips. 

Han moved lower, trailing his lips down the well formed chest.  He took one of the coral colored peaks into his mouth, using his tongue and the skillful application of suction he was rewarded with another moan. 

Luke’s hand came to rest in the thick silky hair, gently cradling the head of his lover.  Luke allowed the sensations to wash over and through him, losing himself in the tumult of emotion that accompanied each caress.

Han moved away from the nipple to take its twin into his mouth.  His hands blazed a trail down the flat plane of Luke’s stomach, reveling in the rippled muscles. He moved further down to engulf Luke’s sex in his calloused hand.

Luke’s eyes opened wide his body began to tremble.  The blond hair glimmered in the light like spun gold and the younger man began to thrash, his body contracting in the pleasure of the release.

“Ohmygod!  Han-n-n, oh great Force!  I’m cumming!”

Han felt the splash of hot liquid hit him in the chest.  He held Luke to him, moving to claim the mouth in a scorching kiss.  His hand tightened around the pulsating organ, to heighten his lover’s pleasure.

Luke pulled back gasping,” Han, I’m sorry.”

“Shush, the pressure’s off now.  Now you can enjoy all I have to offer.”

Han lay back on the bunk, pulling Luke on top of him.  He offered himself to this young man, whom he had loved for so long in the depths of his heart.

Luke began to explore the muscular body of his lover, with long sensitive fingers and smooth, tender lips.  He felt Han’s strong hands on him, renewing his ardor.

“Luke I want you to make love to me.”

“I’ve never,”

“I know, just take it slowly.  It’s been a long time since I was with another man.”

Luke knew that Han would know what to do.  The young Jedi touched the Force and “looked” into Han’s mind.  He found the memory and watched as Han stretched and lubricated the person that he was with in the memory.

“You were with Lando?”  Luke asked in a whisper.

“It was a long time ago, I’m with you now and forever.”

Luke moved between Han’s thick muscled legs.  He pulled them up onto his shoulders and began to tease the tight ring of muscle.  He watched in awe as it flexed under his attentions.  Pausing for a moment in his loving manipulations the blond man concentrated on the drawer by the bed, it slid out and items began flying across the room.

“What are you doing?”

“Need lubrication.”  Luke said as his mental “hands” continued to toss items from the drawer.

“I have some in my pants pocket.”

The pants stood up and walked looking like a macabre phantom.  Luke reached into the pocket and pulled forth a small plastic pack.  He broke the seal and spread a dollop of the scented gel on his lover.

“Always prepared?”

”Grabbed it on the way out of the shuttle.  I thought we might need it.”

Luke’s long fingers began to penetrate Han’s snug opening.  Luke used a gentle mental touch on the muscles inside to ease his passage.  Han moaned in response to the slow thrusting.

When Luke was satisfied that his lover was ready he removed his fingers.  Han grunted softly at the loss.  Luke placed the tip of his penis against the guardian ring, then gripping his cock at the base pushed forward.  He slid inside with little resistance, he continued his mental manipulations to make sure that Han felt no pain.  Within moments the blond thatch of hair above his “light saber” was pressed firmly against Han’s ass.

“Oh god!”

“Are you alright?  Should I take it out?”

“Hell no, don’t you dare.  Just give me a minute, you’ll feel when I’m ready for more.”

“There isn’t anymore.”

“Cute Luke, real cute you know what I mean.”

“I love you Han.”

“I love you too, I want this to be special for you.”

“It is special.”  Luke whispered as he leaned down to kiss the smuggler’s pursed lips.

Luke felt the tightness of Han’s canal loosen a bit, he experimentally flex his hips, withdrawing just a little then pushed back in.

“Ohhhhh, Luke it’s so good,”  Han murmured in a throaty growl.

Luke began to move in earnest, keeping his motion slow and smooth at first.  He savored the closeness, the merging of his body with Han’s.  He searched the memory again and found what he was looking for.  His large member was stimulating a tiny organ deep inside of Han and each thrust made the man shudder.  Luke reached out with a tiny Force tendril and applied direct stimulation to the organ.

Han saw stars explode behind his eyelids.  Luke was pushing him past all control.  Han felt the orgasm building quickly in the pit of his stomach.  Han clenched his lower abdominals trying to head off the overload that Luke’s thrusts were creating.

“Han don’t fight it.”

“Don’t want it to end.”

“It’s not, its beginning.”

Han felt what ever Luke was to doing to him intensify, the sensations ripping from him all sense of control.  The waves of ecstasy were almost violent in their intensity as his erect organ sent the hot essence of his body flying on to his chest.

Luke was amazed at the effect of the release on Han, his tunnel contracted forcefully milking Luke’s cock, triggering the young man’s own pleasure.  He groaned as the waves of crested then broke over him.  He rode upon the waves allowing them to take him higher and higher, until he felt he was flying; only to be brought crashing back to earth.

Luke withdrew and moved to Han’s side, capturing him in an embrace.  No words were spoken, none were needed as the bond between them had already began to forge itself.  They shared memories, thoughts, even feelings.  Luke reached out and gently wiped a tear from a hazel eye.

“Han, what’s wrong?”

“Nothings wrong, everything’s right.  I just never thought in a million years that I would be so lucky.”

“Ben was right, you have the potential to be a Jedi, your gut instincts that always keep you out of trouble are an indication of more.  I could take you as my padawan.”

“What’s a padawan?”

“An apprentice, I’ve found more out about the Jedi training procedures.  Would you stand by my side as lover and founder of a new Jedi order?”

“Yes.”

Luke kissed him tenderly.

“I’ll cut your hair in the morning.”

“Ok,”  Han didn’t even flinch.  It would grow back, as long as he was with Luke nothing else mattered.

They fell into a deep sleep their bodies still interwoven from their lovemaking.  The canned air of the room was heavy with the odors of sex.

Outside the sealed room, Chewbacca was about to rip Lando’s arms out of their sockets.  The man wouldn’t listen to a word he was saying.

“What do you mean I can’t see Han?  We risked our lives to get him out and I’m going to see my old buddy!”

Chewbacca moved to one side and allowed the dark man access to the door.  Let him find out for himself.

Lando overrode the door, and turned smiling to see Luke and Lando both nude lying entangled in the deep sleep of two sated lovers.

“I’ll be damned.”  He whispered quietly then allowed the door to close.

*I tried to tell you*

“Chewie, fuck you.”

*Lando, I didn’t know you cared.*

Lando’s face split in a huge grin, as he patted the shoulder of his friend.

“You’d kill me Chewie.  Come on let’s get this bucket off the ground.  Where are we headed anyway?”

*Left, then straight on till morning.*

~Fins~

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