Master Jedi - Into The Light, Part 4
posted 3 February 2008, Sunday
Suddenly finding herself on her home planet of Alderaan, Leia looked down from her summer home in the Spine Ridge Mountains and looked down at the splendor that used to be. She followed the mountains down to the thick Organa forest then over to her palacial home and the small city that was built around it. It had been a while since Leia remembered the beauty of her home. It had also been a while since she felt such peace and tranquility which is when she thought of Alderaan the most.
Leia cherished the memory realizing the dream, realizing that the darkness had gone. However, sadness began to come over her as she became more aware. From her balcony on top the snowy peak she closed her eyes trying to understand this feeling that had now overwhelmed her. It didn't take long before she whispered the name of her son and sensed that he was no longer with her. "I'm sorry Anakin. I'm so sorry," Leia whispered again as her memory faded.
Like waking from a normal night's sleep, Leia slowly opened her eyes and took a deep breath. Her body was numb and sore from the hard bed, but for the first time in a while she felt good. She felt pure, clean and as light as a feather. The burden she was bearing was gone and she felt like herself again. After her eyes adjusted to the light she turned her head to the right and saw her husband sitting by her in a black wheelchair. She reached out her hand asking for his and when he obliged she smiled warmly. "I'm sorry," Leia whispered through her dry throat. "I'm sorry for everything."
Han smiled at his wife thankful that the doctors were right when they told him she would be coming out of the coma soon. At her apology he shook his head and smiled, grabbing her hand with both of his. "How are you feeling?" He asked.
Leia took in a very deep breath then smiled. "I feel fine." Remarkably she looked fine too, and all of her diagnostic charts on the bed were clear.
Han swallowed hard then began holding Leia's hand tightly. "I don't know how else to say this so I'm just gonna say it, and I know you just woke up but I don't think this can wait. Anakin was killed four days ago by an Imperial spy." Han stopped waiting for Leia to absorb the news. Leia's heart sank and her eyes became watery, but she didn't cry. She remembered the sadness she felt before and her conclusion that she probably didn't deserve to feel bad after the way she had treated him. "There's more," Han continued. "The Empire cloned our son, and he's here on this ship. The clone is twelve years old, and it looks just like him." Han began to choke up. Leia didn't say anything. She just looked at Han and smiled then turned to look at the ceiling as the tears ran down her face.
On the perceptor Luke was getting the latest from Wedge about the Republic's new twelve-year-old prisoner. Wedge was stressed out of his mind trying to understand how they were infiltrated by spies and how they could get so close to such high ranking personnel. He was also dealing with the Military Counsel who wanted the boy for further interrogation while he wanted to keep him close to Han and Leia. "So let me get this straight," Luke asked leaning against a table. "Eshiy was a Velusian slave who was trained as a spy by the Empire in order to infiltrate us? And their plan was to replace Anakin with a clone then have him work for them from the inside when he got older?"
Wedge nodded as he gulped down his third glass of Calamari brine - the name of their strongest drink. Strong and great tasting though unpleasant sounding.
"That's one of the craziest plans I've ever heard of!" Luke shook his head.
Wedge moved to pour himself another drink. "Crazy or not they bypassed our security and succeeded in killing the son of a Republic senator. That's some serious shit Luke, and as the head of intelligence operations it's all coming down on me."
"You need to calm down Wedge. They're not going to do anything to you. They've put so much on your plate that they can't possibly blame you for anything... By the way, do you still have access to the journal she left behind?"
Wedge threw his drink away realizing that it would only make things worse. "No. The Counsel has that locked up tight now."
"And the boy?"
"I'll probably have to turn him over soon. They're not done scaring the poor kid to death." Wedge threw himself on his couch and started taking off his shoes.
"You don't think he knows anything?"
"That poor kid's so scared I doubt he even knows where he is. I figure they were in a rush so they got him over here and planned on using the nanny to train him."
"You think they'll take to him?" Luke asked sensing that Wedge had another reason for leaving the boy near Han and Leia.
Wedge wagged his head thinking about their loss, "I hope they do. I'm mean, he's their kid isn't he? Sure he didn't come directly from them, but..."
"I know what you mean. I'm going to be heading over there so I'll catch you later." Luke started for the door.
"Hey! I wasn't going to tell you until later, but since you have a way of disappearing I guess I'll tell you now. After all of this mess you owe me. In fact you owe me big. That's why you're going to go to Kashyyyk for me and do what our ungrateful politicians won't do. Help the Wookies get their planet back."
Luke crossed his arms at Wedge and shook his head. "And how am I supposed to do that all by myself?"
Wedge waved Luke off, "I'll give you the details when this storm blows over. Just make sure you stick around."
Back on the medical frigate Salvation, where the boy was being kept, Jina was practicing in an empty storage room taking out some of her frustrations. Luke had left her there to go see Wedge and she wasn't too happy about it. Leia, who had been taking a walk through the ship, had sensed her strong presence and decided to see the student that Luke had chosen over her. Dressed in a white hospital robe and matching slippers Leia sneaked up to the entrance and peaked in. Jina was practicing her Gaen form realizing that it greatly benefited her small frame.
Leia was Immediately impressed by what she saw. From her fighting style, to her lightsaber, to her strong Force presence Leia saw all of the hard work and teaching Luke had been imparting. As she watched her, Jina's youth became apparent suddenly touching her, reminding her of the cloned boy that was supposed to be her son. Is he my son, Leia had been asking herself since she learned about him. How could a clone whom I've never seen be my son? Thinking about Anakin was painful, but the strange idea that she could still have her son in a new boy gave her hope, and she felt she needed to see him.
Back at Han's room, which now accommodated both of them, Leia sat down unable to shake the desire to learn more about the boy. "What is it?" asked Han noticing his wife lost in thought.
"I think we should go talk to him," Leia replied knowing he knew what she was talking about.
"I've been thinking about it too. I don't know much about this cloning business, but if he's really our son..."
"Yeah," Leia said as she got up and impatiently helped Han into his wheelchair. They walked down the hall to the room the boy was being kept and curiously stared at him through the large, reinforced window. It was a medical room for prisoners and he was under constant surveillance. The boy was siting quietly in a chair flipping through some electronic magazines he was given. "He's just like I pictured him at this age," whispered Leia captivated by him.
"How are we going to get past the guard?" asked Han who noticed the guard getting agitated at their presence.
"I'm not worried about him," Leia replied as she found herself unable to take her eyes off what could be her son. After watching him for a while she decided it was time to go inside and walked up to the guard. He was about to tell her that she wasn't allowed inside, but was cut off. "You have to go to the bathroom. You're feeling sick and it's going to take a long time," Leia said focusing her mind on tricking his. The guard grabbed his head feeling a sudden headache then simply walked off.
"That was easy," said Han as he wheeled himself to the door. Leia Force-opened it and inside they both took a seat in front of the boy who was startled by their entry. He looked at them cautiously, afraid of more harsh interrogation, but these two people felt different. He didn't know what it was but they felt familiar. "Do you have a name?" asked Han.
The boy nodded silently.
"It's okay. You can talk to us. We're not going to hurt you," Leia tried to assure the boy who looked ready to hide under the bed.
"Is your name... Anakin?" Han continued, too impatient to wait on the boy.
Again he nodded.
"Do you have parents?" Leia asked.
The boy shrugged.
"Do you mind if we talk for a while?" Leia said as she felt herself starting to reach out for the boy but stopped herself.
Six days after Anakin's death Leia found herself outside Mon Mothma's apartment on Kalaac. She wanted to meet with Leia over lunch and would not take no for an answer. With the ringing of the door chime Mon Mothma's apartment door slid open onto a small but luxurious foyer that not only received guests, but also acted as a first line of defense for the New Republic's highest ranking Senator and Chairwoman of the Senate. After getting scanned, identified and approved a protocol droid led Leia just inside to the living room where Mon Mothma was waiting in a motherly, silver dress.
"Come here dear," Mon Mothma greeted Leia with open arms, embracing her tightly. "I'm so sorry for your loss. If there's anything I can do don't hesitate to ask." Leia smiled warmly as Mon Mothma took a seat on her large couch while she remained standing. She looked troubled and ready to say something so Mon Mothma waited patiently for Leia to say whatever she had to. "I'm sorry for wearing these," Leia said talking about her white senatorial robe. "It's all I had since they won't let me on board the Perceptor."
Mon Mothma laughed. "Nonsense dear! You're still a Republic senator and have every right to wear a senator's clothes."
"I thought I was disqualified?" Leia looked confused.
Mon Mothma motioned for Leia to sit down across from her. "Please sit down dear! You're making this feel like some sort of hearing." Leia finally sat down. "Now! You're being investigated because you up and disappeared for six months without telling anyone, and when we found out where you were the Empire was involved. Under those circumstances not even I could object to a little inquiry." She took a deep breath. "Now that said, I don't care what you were doing with Admiral Dorem. I know you, I trust you, and frankly I'm just glad that you're back. One day I'm going to be gone and this Republic we've fought so hard to establish will need a new leader, and I don't see anyone more qualified or deserving than you. Until then, though, I need you to help me keep some order in this damn place so there's no way I'm going to let them run you out."
Leia was confused, surprised and flattered by what she had just been told. She decided to follow up on something Mon Mothma was hinting at. "Them? Is there a division in the senate?"
"Unfortunately Admiral Corrs has convinced some in the high council that the Republic should be taking a more militaristic approach given the threat the Empire still poses. He's tried to use you as an example of the Empire's power to sway our politicians, and he will do anything to make his example stick."
Leia smirked. "So he wants to run me out."
"Of course I'll never let that happen, but you need to be prepared for--"
Leia laughed, "I've dealt with his kind before. I'm not new to the game of politics you know."
Mon Mothma sat up happy to see a bit of Leia's old self. "Good because I fear things are going to get rough. With the tragic death of your son and the spy infiltration Corrs has a lot of ammunition for his cause, and I feel he will gain more support."
Leia looked down at her hands on her lap - Clearly something was on her mind. After a short pause Leia spoke. "I'm glad that you want me back in the Senate and I'm willing to help, but I need two things first."
"Anything dear."
"First I want... no I need to go away for a while... A long while. I need to find a quiet part of the galaxy and spend some time with my family."
"Of course dear. In fact that will work to your advantage as it will give me time to make your return to the Senate easier." Mon Mothma smiled already planning out her strategy.
Leia braced herself for the next request. "The other favor I ask is that you let me take Anakin with us."
Mon Mothma leaned back in her chair and put her hand on her head pensively. She sat their for a minute worrying Leia before suddenly replying. "What you ask is difficult considering the boy is seen as a danger by some. However, I can sense what you're trying to do, and after what you've been through you have every right." Mon Mothma called her protocol droid and gave it instructions before shooing it away. "I'm going to use my executive power to put the boy in your custody. I will no doubt take plenty of heat for this, but when you come back I'm sure you will justify my decision." Mon Mothma looked to Leia for confirmation, and she gave it with a nod. "Now come on dear. Let's have something to eat."
After lunch and a long conversation with Mon Mothma that she was very appreciative of Leia walked down to one of the city's many landing platforms that overlooked the vast Calamari sea. There was something important that she felt she needed to do, and as she looked out at the glistening waves she began to think about everything that had happened. In her hands she held the lightsaber she had stolen from Luke and had used to express the anger that had until recently controlled her. I don't want to hold one of these ever again, she thought as she reached back and threw it as far as she could into the ocean. "If I knew you were going to throw it away I wouldn't have put it in your room," said a voice from behind.
"I'm sorry, but I don't want anything to do with a lightsaber ever again." Leia said knowing it was Luke. "I was wondering when you were going to come see me."
"I hope someone doesn't find that down there and starts causing trouble. You do remember that the bottom of the ocean is where everyone lives?" Luke smiled as he walked up beside his sister and began admiring the view with her.
Leia chuckled a bit. "I don't care what they do with it. I just don't want it around me."
"It's not like a Jedi to give up his lightsaber."
"I'm no Jedi, and after all I've done I'm shocked you would even think that," Leia scoffed.
Luke smiled, sure of himself. "But you are a Jedi. The second of the last two remaining Jedi in the whole galaxy."
Leia just shook her head.
"You overcame the Dark Side, and considering how close you were to falling over I'd say you accomplished a lot. I just hope you realize it before you let your talents go to waste."
Leia sighed, "After all the damage I've done I don't think I could ever hold one again."
"Then don't! It's unusual, but it's not unheard of." Luke thought back to what he read in his texts.
"Actually the aspect of Jedi healing has interested me. I was reading about it in the journal you left me. I like the idea of helping people without looking for confrontations," she said still unsure if she could keep her feelings in check during a fight.
"Great! Then you can learn more about becoming a Jedi healer back on Tatooine with me." Luke said selfishly.
"No. My place is here, trying to get this New Republic moving in the right direction. Mon Mothma has arranged everything, and when I get back I'm going to rejoin the Senate."
Luke turned and looked at Leia directly. "Get back? Where are you going?"
"On vacation. I'm going to spend the time with my family that I've neglected for so long. Han and I plan to be gone for a year."
Luke suddenly lowered his head. "I'm sorry about Anakin. If I would have sensed something--"
"It's okay. I know you would have, but there's no sense beating ourselves up over the past. We can only be thankful for what we have left and move on." Leia didn't want to get emotional in front of Luke so she tried to move the subject along.
"And the boy?" Luke made sure not to call him Anakin in front of Leia. He was unsure how she would react.
"We're taking him with us. If he really is our son then we need to start rebuilding our family as soon as possible. I can't say it'll be easy, but I have to try. I let my family fall apart once, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let it happen again."
Luke nodded thinking about the cloned Anakin and whether he would be able to train him as a Jedi.
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Leia said sensing his thoughts. "Besides don't you have your hands full with that blue girl?" she said still bothered that he stopped teaching her.
Luke laughed. "She really wants to meet you."
Leia sighed, "I don't think I'm ready to meet her yet. I have--"
"I know, I know!" Luke interrupted. "Just make sure you read those journals I lent you."
"I'll see you when I get back," Leia turned to her brother and gave him a hug confirming that everything was going to be alright.
"I'll be waiting," Luke smiled. "May the Force be with you."
To Be Continued...
Leia cherished the memory realizing the dream, realizing that the darkness had gone. However, sadness began to come over her as she became more aware. From her balcony on top the snowy peak she closed her eyes trying to understand this feeling that had now overwhelmed her. It didn't take long before she whispered the name of her son and sensed that he was no longer with her. "I'm sorry Anakin. I'm so sorry," Leia whispered again as her memory faded.
Like waking from a normal night's sleep, Leia slowly opened her eyes and took a deep breath. Her body was numb and sore from the hard bed, but for the first time in a while she felt good. She felt pure, clean and as light as a feather. The burden she was bearing was gone and she felt like herself again. After her eyes adjusted to the light she turned her head to the right and saw her husband sitting by her in a black wheelchair. She reached out her hand asking for his and when he obliged she smiled warmly. "I'm sorry," Leia whispered through her dry throat. "I'm sorry for everything."
Han smiled at his wife thankful that the doctors were right when they told him she would be coming out of the coma soon. At her apology he shook his head and smiled, grabbing her hand with both of his. "How are you feeling?" He asked.
Leia took in a very deep breath then smiled. "I feel fine." Remarkably she looked fine too, and all of her diagnostic charts on the bed were clear.
Han swallowed hard then began holding Leia's hand tightly. "I don't know how else to say this so I'm just gonna say it, and I know you just woke up but I don't think this can wait. Anakin was killed four days ago by an Imperial spy." Han stopped waiting for Leia to absorb the news. Leia's heart sank and her eyes became watery, but she didn't cry. She remembered the sadness she felt before and her conclusion that she probably didn't deserve to feel bad after the way she had treated him. "There's more," Han continued. "The Empire cloned our son, and he's here on this ship. The clone is twelve years old, and it looks just like him." Han began to choke up. Leia didn't say anything. She just looked at Han and smiled then turned to look at the ceiling as the tears ran down her face.
On the perceptor Luke was getting the latest from Wedge about the Republic's new twelve-year-old prisoner. Wedge was stressed out of his mind trying to understand how they were infiltrated by spies and how they could get so close to such high ranking personnel. He was also dealing with the Military Counsel who wanted the boy for further interrogation while he wanted to keep him close to Han and Leia. "So let me get this straight," Luke asked leaning against a table. "Eshiy was a Velusian slave who was trained as a spy by the Empire in order to infiltrate us? And their plan was to replace Anakin with a clone then have him work for them from the inside when he got older?"
Wedge nodded as he gulped down his third glass of Calamari brine - the name of their strongest drink. Strong and great tasting though unpleasant sounding.
"That's one of the craziest plans I've ever heard of!" Luke shook his head.
Wedge moved to pour himself another drink. "Crazy or not they bypassed our security and succeeded in killing the son of a Republic senator. That's some serious shit Luke, and as the head of intelligence operations it's all coming down on me."
"You need to calm down Wedge. They're not going to do anything to you. They've put so much on your plate that they can't possibly blame you for anything... By the way, do you still have access to the journal she left behind?"
Wedge threw his drink away realizing that it would only make things worse. "No. The Counsel has that locked up tight now."
"And the boy?"
"I'll probably have to turn him over soon. They're not done scaring the poor kid to death." Wedge threw himself on his couch and started taking off his shoes.
"You don't think he knows anything?"
"That poor kid's so scared I doubt he even knows where he is. I figure they were in a rush so they got him over here and planned on using the nanny to train him."
"You think they'll take to him?" Luke asked sensing that Wedge had another reason for leaving the boy near Han and Leia.
Wedge wagged his head thinking about their loss, "I hope they do. I'm mean, he's their kid isn't he? Sure he didn't come directly from them, but..."
"I know what you mean. I'm going to be heading over there so I'll catch you later." Luke started for the door.
"Hey! I wasn't going to tell you until later, but since you have a way of disappearing I guess I'll tell you now. After all of this mess you owe me. In fact you owe me big. That's why you're going to go to Kashyyyk for me and do what our ungrateful politicians won't do. Help the Wookies get their planet back."
Luke crossed his arms at Wedge and shook his head. "And how am I supposed to do that all by myself?"
Wedge waved Luke off, "I'll give you the details when this storm blows over. Just make sure you stick around."
Back on the medical frigate Salvation, where the boy was being kept, Jina was practicing in an empty storage room taking out some of her frustrations. Luke had left her there to go see Wedge and she wasn't too happy about it. Leia, who had been taking a walk through the ship, had sensed her strong presence and decided to see the student that Luke had chosen over her. Dressed in a white hospital robe and matching slippers Leia sneaked up to the entrance and peaked in. Jina was practicing her Gaen form realizing that it greatly benefited her small frame.
Leia was Immediately impressed by what she saw. From her fighting style, to her lightsaber, to her strong Force presence Leia saw all of the hard work and teaching Luke had been imparting. As she watched her, Jina's youth became apparent suddenly touching her, reminding her of the cloned boy that was supposed to be her son. Is he my son, Leia had been asking herself since she learned about him. How could a clone whom I've never seen be my son? Thinking about Anakin was painful, but the strange idea that she could still have her son in a new boy gave her hope, and she felt she needed to see him.
Back at Han's room, which now accommodated both of them, Leia sat down unable to shake the desire to learn more about the boy. "What is it?" asked Han noticing his wife lost in thought.
"I think we should go talk to him," Leia replied knowing he knew what she was talking about.
"I've been thinking about it too. I don't know much about this cloning business, but if he's really our son..."
"Yeah," Leia said as she got up and impatiently helped Han into his wheelchair. They walked down the hall to the room the boy was being kept and curiously stared at him through the large, reinforced window. It was a medical room for prisoners and he was under constant surveillance. The boy was siting quietly in a chair flipping through some electronic magazines he was given. "He's just like I pictured him at this age," whispered Leia captivated by him.
"How are we going to get past the guard?" asked Han who noticed the guard getting agitated at their presence.
"I'm not worried about him," Leia replied as she found herself unable to take her eyes off what could be her son. After watching him for a while she decided it was time to go inside and walked up to the guard. He was about to tell her that she wasn't allowed inside, but was cut off. "You have to go to the bathroom. You're feeling sick and it's going to take a long time," Leia said focusing her mind on tricking his. The guard grabbed his head feeling a sudden headache then simply walked off.
"That was easy," said Han as he wheeled himself to the door. Leia Force-opened it and inside they both took a seat in front of the boy who was startled by their entry. He looked at them cautiously, afraid of more harsh interrogation, but these two people felt different. He didn't know what it was but they felt familiar. "Do you have a name?" asked Han.
The boy nodded silently.
"It's okay. You can talk to us. We're not going to hurt you," Leia tried to assure the boy who looked ready to hide under the bed.
"Is your name... Anakin?" Han continued, too impatient to wait on the boy.
Again he nodded.
"Do you have parents?" Leia asked.
The boy shrugged.
"Do you mind if we talk for a while?" Leia said as she felt herself starting to reach out for the boy but stopped herself.
Six days after Anakin's death Leia found herself outside Mon Mothma's apartment on Kalaac. She wanted to meet with Leia over lunch and would not take no for an answer. With the ringing of the door chime Mon Mothma's apartment door slid open onto a small but luxurious foyer that not only received guests, but also acted as a first line of defense for the New Republic's highest ranking Senator and Chairwoman of the Senate. After getting scanned, identified and approved a protocol droid led Leia just inside to the living room where Mon Mothma was waiting in a motherly, silver dress.
"Come here dear," Mon Mothma greeted Leia with open arms, embracing her tightly. "I'm so sorry for your loss. If there's anything I can do don't hesitate to ask." Leia smiled warmly as Mon Mothma took a seat on her large couch while she remained standing. She looked troubled and ready to say something so Mon Mothma waited patiently for Leia to say whatever she had to. "I'm sorry for wearing these," Leia said talking about her white senatorial robe. "It's all I had since they won't let me on board the Perceptor."
Mon Mothma laughed. "Nonsense dear! You're still a Republic senator and have every right to wear a senator's clothes."
"I thought I was disqualified?" Leia looked confused.
Mon Mothma motioned for Leia to sit down across from her. "Please sit down dear! You're making this feel like some sort of hearing." Leia finally sat down. "Now! You're being investigated because you up and disappeared for six months without telling anyone, and when we found out where you were the Empire was involved. Under those circumstances not even I could object to a little inquiry." She took a deep breath. "Now that said, I don't care what you were doing with Admiral Dorem. I know you, I trust you, and frankly I'm just glad that you're back. One day I'm going to be gone and this Republic we've fought so hard to establish will need a new leader, and I don't see anyone more qualified or deserving than you. Until then, though, I need you to help me keep some order in this damn place so there's no way I'm going to let them run you out."
Leia was confused, surprised and flattered by what she had just been told. She decided to follow up on something Mon Mothma was hinting at. "Them? Is there a division in the senate?"
"Unfortunately Admiral Corrs has convinced some in the high council that the Republic should be taking a more militaristic approach given the threat the Empire still poses. He's tried to use you as an example of the Empire's power to sway our politicians, and he will do anything to make his example stick."
Leia smirked. "So he wants to run me out."
"Of course I'll never let that happen, but you need to be prepared for--"
Leia laughed, "I've dealt with his kind before. I'm not new to the game of politics you know."
Mon Mothma sat up happy to see a bit of Leia's old self. "Good because I fear things are going to get rough. With the tragic death of your son and the spy infiltration Corrs has a lot of ammunition for his cause, and I feel he will gain more support."
Leia looked down at her hands on her lap - Clearly something was on her mind. After a short pause Leia spoke. "I'm glad that you want me back in the Senate and I'm willing to help, but I need two things first."
"Anything dear."
"First I want... no I need to go away for a while... A long while. I need to find a quiet part of the galaxy and spend some time with my family."
"Of course dear. In fact that will work to your advantage as it will give me time to make your return to the Senate easier." Mon Mothma smiled already planning out her strategy.
Leia braced herself for the next request. "The other favor I ask is that you let me take Anakin with us."
Mon Mothma leaned back in her chair and put her hand on her head pensively. She sat their for a minute worrying Leia before suddenly replying. "What you ask is difficult considering the boy is seen as a danger by some. However, I can sense what you're trying to do, and after what you've been through you have every right." Mon Mothma called her protocol droid and gave it instructions before shooing it away. "I'm going to use my executive power to put the boy in your custody. I will no doubt take plenty of heat for this, but when you come back I'm sure you will justify my decision." Mon Mothma looked to Leia for confirmation, and she gave it with a nod. "Now come on dear. Let's have something to eat."
After lunch and a long conversation with Mon Mothma that she was very appreciative of Leia walked down to one of the city's many landing platforms that overlooked the vast Calamari sea. There was something important that she felt she needed to do, and as she looked out at the glistening waves she began to think about everything that had happened. In her hands she held the lightsaber she had stolen from Luke and had used to express the anger that had until recently controlled her. I don't want to hold one of these ever again, she thought as she reached back and threw it as far as she could into the ocean. "If I knew you were going to throw it away I wouldn't have put it in your room," said a voice from behind.
"I'm sorry, but I don't want anything to do with a lightsaber ever again." Leia said knowing it was Luke. "I was wondering when you were going to come see me."
"I hope someone doesn't find that down there and starts causing trouble. You do remember that the bottom of the ocean is where everyone lives?" Luke smiled as he walked up beside his sister and began admiring the view with her.
Leia chuckled a bit. "I don't care what they do with it. I just don't want it around me."
"It's not like a Jedi to give up his lightsaber."
"I'm no Jedi, and after all I've done I'm shocked you would even think that," Leia scoffed.
Luke smiled, sure of himself. "But you are a Jedi. The second of the last two remaining Jedi in the whole galaxy."
Leia just shook her head.
"You overcame the Dark Side, and considering how close you were to falling over I'd say you accomplished a lot. I just hope you realize it before you let your talents go to waste."
Leia sighed, "After all the damage I've done I don't think I could ever hold one again."
"Then don't! It's unusual, but it's not unheard of." Luke thought back to what he read in his texts.
"Actually the aspect of Jedi healing has interested me. I was reading about it in the journal you left me. I like the idea of helping people without looking for confrontations," she said still unsure if she could keep her feelings in check during a fight.
"Great! Then you can learn more about becoming a Jedi healer back on Tatooine with me." Luke said selfishly.
"No. My place is here, trying to get this New Republic moving in the right direction. Mon Mothma has arranged everything, and when I get back I'm going to rejoin the Senate."
Luke turned and looked at Leia directly. "Get back? Where are you going?"
"On vacation. I'm going to spend the time with my family that I've neglected for so long. Han and I plan to be gone for a year."
Luke suddenly lowered his head. "I'm sorry about Anakin. If I would have sensed something--"
"It's okay. I know you would have, but there's no sense beating ourselves up over the past. We can only be thankful for what we have left and move on." Leia didn't want to get emotional in front of Luke so she tried to move the subject along.
"And the boy?" Luke made sure not to call him Anakin in front of Leia. He was unsure how she would react.
"We're taking him with us. If he really is our son then we need to start rebuilding our family as soon as possible. I can't say it'll be easy, but I have to try. I let my family fall apart once, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let it happen again."
Luke nodded thinking about the cloned Anakin and whether he would be able to train him as a Jedi.
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Leia said sensing his thoughts. "Besides don't you have your hands full with that blue girl?" she said still bothered that he stopped teaching her.
Luke laughed. "She really wants to meet you."
Leia sighed, "I don't think I'm ready to meet her yet. I have--"
"I know, I know!" Luke interrupted. "Just make sure you read those journals I lent you."
"I'll see you when I get back," Leia turned to her brother and gave him a hug confirming that everything was going to be alright.
"I'll be waiting," Luke smiled. "May the Force be with you."
To Be Continued...
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