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| - The kind of headache that followed a hangover roused Leia from her drunken sleep. She moaned quietly, struggling to find some clarity of mind. She was caught in a heavy fog, only impressions and faint memories worming their way to her awareness. She took a deep, cleansing breath and let the Force overcome her, clearing the drugged slumber from her mind and bloodstream. Slowly a more alert state developed, enough so that she could open her eyes and examine her surroundings. She was in a bed, in a bedroom that wasn’t hers. To her right a door was slightly ajar, letting light spill into the sleeping quarters. She could hear the faint sound of running water and assumed it was a ’fresher. What was she doing here? Leia took another steadying breath, sorting out the vague memories of where she should be. She was in the custody of a dangerous alien force, that much she remembered. She had been in her cellblock when Cale had summoned her. After arriving she had found he had prepared an exact replica of her wedding night from her stolen memories. They had had a very awkward dinner when he had…confessed a love for her? No, that couldn’t be right because then Han had come and they had… She gasped in horror and sat straight up in the bed, the clouds in her head evaporating in a stark and sickening reality. “Force help me,” she mumbled as she drew the covers over her bare skin. It was a nightmare, a horrible, ghastly nightmare, had to be. Leia pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, biting her lower lip to keep from crying. It was impossible. She would never do anything like that to Han, to her children. There was no way she could willingly… The sickness welling from her inner soul had had enough. She wretched suddenly over the side of the bed, trembling as her hands dug into the mattress. It didn’t stop even after her stomach was empty. She continued to dry heave in painful spasms, her body unable to handle the emotional stress. “You’ll have to get used to that for the next few months,” a voice came behind her. She whirled, pulling the sheets all the way up to her neck. Cale stood in the ’fresher door, bare from the waist up, a towel tied around his waist. His muscular chest glistened from the moisture and his ebony hair was tied in its usual knot at the nape of his neck. “What the hell did you do to me?” she demanded, her voice shaking. He sighed as he padded closer. Leia shrank from him, scurrying to the farthest edge of bed. He gave her a reproachful glance and sat down on the other end of the mattress. “Don’t you think modesty is a bit overrated after last night?” Leia had never wanted to kill anyone more in her life. She found herself teetering on the edge of a vibroblade, wavering to either light or darkness. She felt the call in her blood like a siren song, the fate of her father rising in a crimson tide behind her eyes. There was no doubt in her mind at that moment that she possessed the power to kill him where he sat. All it would take was a thought and his heart would freeze in his chest, or a main artery to his brain would pinch off. He would be dead before he hit the floor. And it would be such a sweet, sweet revenge. All it took was one thought… She fell forward with a pained cry, clawing at her hair with both hands. She shivered violently, sobbing into her own lap as she wrestled down the hatred she knew would consume her. Leia knew more about the dark side than almost anyone, was a product of its seduction. She knew the mantras Luke preached to his students. How many times had she heard him quote Yoda? Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. That fate would not be hers. She would die first. And right then death did not seem such an unhappy fate. “Oh, stop that,” he scoffed, never knowing how close he had come to death. “There’s no use to cry now, it’s too late for tears. We might as well make the best of things for the baby’s sake.” She raised her head, brown eyes growing large as moons. “Baby?” He looked disappointed in her. “Yes of course. What did you think this was about, my own satisfaction? Well, that certainly helped, but it wasn’t the purpose.” His slender fingers caressed her jaw lovingly. “Our child will be more powerful than any the galaxy has ever seen. He will rule countless stars, billions of lives. Even the Channel will bow before his greatness.” She batted his hand away and snarled, “You kriffing piece of Hutt ridden slime. You tricked me! You used my own memories against me! You—you drugged me and used the Force to manipulate my thoughts! Just to impregnate me?” He was nonplussed. “Calm down. There’s no reason to be so upset. This is your own fault, after all.” She stared at him, so aghast there were no words. “How in all nine Corellian hells is this in any way my fault?” “You knew the chance you were taking by not trying to escape when you had the chance. It was your own decision, just as it was by your own volition that you slept with me. Do you really think, deep down, that you could possibly mistake me for Han? I doubt it. You knew it was me and yet you consented.” His eyes glistened in wicked merriment. “And now, dearest Leia, can you possibly imagine a situation in which your husband will now take you back, carrying my baby? I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.” “No!” she screamed. “You’re a filthy liar and I hate you!” Her whole body quaked with the force of her rage. She felt a swelling that started in her middle and moved outward along her limbs before coalescing in her hands. Her fingertips burned with unspent energy, demanding to be loosed on this awful creature. She could taste his blood like the saltiness of her tears. “It’s true,” he continued, unruffled. “You have no home to return to. They won’t want you now. Who would ever want you now?” Her hatred burst forth like waters from a shattered dam. It took the form of an electric current that flared from her fingers, soaring across the space between them with such power that he was tossed across the room and into the wall with a sickening thud. He slid onto the floor were he writhed as she continued to pour her fury onto him. She felt alive, invigorated, vindicated, watching him be the helpless one for once. Again and again she sensed him pull the Force around himself, either as a shield or to attack her she didn’t know or care. But every time she smashed his hope in its egg, letting her rain of wrath drench him. Leia was too stuck in the moment and the venting of her agonies to be forewarned of the looming threat behind her. It came as a complete surprise when she was struck from the side, knocked full off her feet—she had stood at some point during the assault—and onto the floor in a tangle of sheets. She barely felt or even registered it. Someone was grappling with her hands, and before she knew what had happened her wrists were fastened behind her back in what she assumed were binders. Her seething storm now utterly depleted, Leia’s mind returned to the moment. She shrank under the horror of what had happened, what she had allowed herself to do. Tears streamed down her face in shame. If Cale hadn’t been right before he certainly was now. How could her family ever welcome her home now? A tall woman with the customary black hair and dark eyes of the Baci was kneeling over Cale, checking his vitals and using a healing technique through the Force. When she determined that he was stable, though unconscious, her murky gaze flicked to where Leia lay sprawled on the floor. “What have you done?” she sighed. “He deserves to die,” she muttered, hiding her face in the rug. “And so do many others in this life. But I will protect him until the end. I would kill you now if I did not fear his retribution,” she told Leia. “He’ll not want to keep me now,” Leia said, and was surprised at how cheery a thought it was that he might sign her death warrant. “We spent too many hours arranging this night to waste the rewards,” the Baci woman said. She had a very military bearing, a disciplined erectness to her spine and an arrogant tilt of her chin that led Leia to believe she was someone of great importance in their realm. Any reply she might have made was cut short when Cale moaned, rousing. The Baci bent down and helped him sit up and then stand. He was unsure on his feet and Leia could easily see the involuntary spasming of his muscles. And when he looked at Leia, she saw something very new in his countenance: fear, though well hidden. His gaze never left Leia even when he spoke to the woman. “Thank you, Zeya. Take her to solitary confinement. And put an extra squad of guards at the entrance, for good measure. I don’t want any more mishaps.” Zeya lifted Leia—still clothed in nothing but sheets—onto her feet. “Yes, Sir.”
* * * Padmé worked her mouth but no words came out. “Um,” she fidgeted with the lace on her neckline, “I’m…well I’m a, uh…” she swallowed, for once in her life completely flustered and at a loss for words. A good politician was never at a loss for words. Had she really lost her touch that much? “My name’s Padmé,” she concluded, and finished it off by extending her hand. The uniformed man took it warily, his eyes wrinkling as he examined her critically. It wasn’t that Padmé had any aversion to people knowing who or what she was. Rather, she felt uncomfortable revealing the truth to a complete stranger before her children even knew. When Luke and Leia came home, then the happy news could become public. “Wedge,” he nodded. His gaze returned to the butchered turbolift doors. He gestured at the area Jaina had disappeared with his chin. “What was that about?” Padmé, feeling a little edgy and alone in this situation, bought some time with a cough. “Well it seems we’ve managed to lose our bargaining chip,” she winced at last. Jaina had told her that if Mara Jade was looking for help that she was much more likely to find it with their military friends than the Chief of State. So when Iella had not been at her post they had gone to find this Wedge Antilles. From what little Jaina had told her, Wedge was one of Luke’s oldest and most trusted friends. She felt safe in that knowledge to divulge their plan to him. “He was our bribe.” One eyebrow cocked curiously in her direction. “Bribe? With whom?” “Perhaps we should discuss this in my office,” a new voice said. Padmé looked over Wedge’s shoulder at an aging Mon Cal in an admiral’s uniform. Beside him was a petite blond woman in a nondescript black jumpsuit. “Unless,” the Mon Cal continued, “young Solo requires some assistance?” Padmé pursed her lips and glanced back at the turbolift. She highly doubted that Jag would be easily found, but Jaina was Anakin’s granddaughter. If she couldn’t catch him no one could. “I think she’ll be all right,” Padmé sighed. They motioned her inside the inner office and she took a seat in front of the admiral’s desk. The woman sat beside her and Wedge Antilles stood behind. “I suppose you’ll all be wondering exactly what’s going on,” she sighed when their eyes settled expectantly on her. “Just a little,” the woman smiled. “But first, I’m curious as to exactly who you are and what you’re doing with Jaina Solo.” “My name is Padmé,” she repeated. “Padmé Amidala…Skywalker,” she finished, realizing unhappily there was no way to avoid it. There was a heavy silence. Wedge broke it with an incredulous exclamation. “Skywalker? A relative of Luke’s?” “His mother,” she whispered. With a start she realized it was the first time that claim had been made aloud. It felt good; really good. This time their taciturnity was stunned. No one said a thing, only stared. Padmé shifted uncomfortably under their scrutiny. “You probably don’t believe me, do you?” “No,” the woman stirred, “I do. I don’t know why, but I do. You…favor Leia.” Padmé’s smile warmed. “Thank you.” “I’m Iella, by the way,” she extended her hand. “And this is Admiral Ackbar.” “A pleasure,” the Mon Cal rasped. “Though I have a hard time understanding how Luke and Leia’s mother could have been kept a secret this long.” “They don’t know I’m alive,” Padmé sighed. “Only Jaina does.” “Why haven’t you come forward before now?” Iella prodded. “Let’s leave Padmé alone for the moment,” Wedge intervened. “I don’t feel comfortable with this information when Luke doesn’t even know.” “All right,” Iella relented. “Then can you at least tell us who that young man was?” “His name is Jagged Fel,” she watched Wedge’s countenance change subtly. “And before you ask, it is what you’re thinking. He’s your sister’s son with Baron Soontir Fel.” “How is that possible? They’re dead!” he stated, crossing his arms over his chest. “No, only gone. They live in the Unknown Regions with a civilization called the Chiss,” Padmé explained. “You’re making some very outrageous claims,” Iella frowned skeptically. Padmé shrugged. “Believe them or not, I don’t care. Jaina will vouch for it all when she comes back.” “Who are the Chiss then, and why have we never heard of them?” Ackbar demanded. “Grand Admiral Thrawn was a member of their species,” Padmé told them. “They’re a very severe, calculating people. They have a potent navy and defense force, as well, which has recently developed a weapon that can yank the shields from an entire fleet of starships. Jagged helped develop this weapon. Jaina and I have brought him here hoping that either the Chiss can be bought into defeating the Baci or we can coerce Jagged into helping us build our own.” “This is a lot to process all at once,” Wedge said, rubbing his forehead. He stopped and pointed to the outer office. “So that kid Jaina went running after is my nephew?” “I’m afraid so.” “I don’t think I believe you.” “I’m sorry,” she shrugged. “Let us assume, hypothetically, that we do accept all that you’ve said,” Ackbar mused aloud. “That drastically changes the things you and I were discussing a moment ago, Wedge.” Iella nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! With these Chiss helping us we could actually conclude this war soon enough to make a split from the New Republic a minor incident. We would only be apart from them a few months at the most. Everything would return to normal so much easier.” Something started to beep. Padmé looked around expectantly before realizing it was coming from her. “Oh! Sorry, I forgot Jaina had given me her comlink.” She pulled it out of her pocket and said quietly, “Yes?” “Jaina?” a young man’s voice asked. “No, she’s not here right now,” Padmé winced, not sure how she was supposed to handle the call. “Can I pass on a message?” “Who is this?” a new voice demanded, this time a woman’s voice. “Who is this?” Padmé countered. “Mara,” the woman ground out. “And I want to know who you are and why you have my niece’s comlink.” Padmé blew out a tired breath through her nose, glancing at the other three people in the room. They just stared. “I think I can explain, Mara. Can I meet you somewhere?” There was a hesitation. “Landing pad 1138, Senate District,” she answered at last. “Thank you. I’ll be there soon.” “If anything has happened to Jaina—” “She’s quite well, I assure you,” Padmé promised. “She better be.” The comlink clicked off from the other end. “We’re going with you,” Iella stood. “I want to talk to Mara about all this.” Padmé stood slowly, wincing at her aged and stiff muscles. “All right. I have a feeling without Jaina this isn’t going to go as well as I had hoped, anyway. ”
* * * “Kriff,” was all he said. “Yeah, I bet,” Jaina chuckled without humor. “Come on, get out of there.” She motioned him out of the turbolift with the end of her blaster. He obeyed, stiff and frustrated in his movements. “I can’t believe it,” Jag sighed as she pulled binders from her pack. “How did you find me?” “Nothing is impossible with the Force,” Jaina sighed, making sure to keep her weapon trained on him. “Let this be a lesson: you can run, but not for long.” He scowled at her but made no reply. Jaina kept her blaster aimed for another few heartbeats before holstering it and extending her hand. “Hold out your hands. I’m going have to put you in binders.” “You were foolish to not do so from the start,” he told her even as he complied. “You can play the part of some battle-hardened soldier, but you can’t hide the fact you’re as green as they come.” Jaina bit down hard on the inside of her cheek and snapped the binders on his wrists. He was goading her, and it was working. “At least I’m not some stuck up,” she tightened them, “half-witted,” tighter still, “Imperial wannabe!” she locked them in place. His expression turned into a cold mask of anger. “Better that than to be a trumped-up rebel princess with a hero complex and an X-wing you can’t even fly!” Jaina was on her toes and spitting venom, ready to slap the silly smirk off his maddeningly gorgeous face, before she realized that this development was not the best way to persuade him to help her mother. Slowly she backed away, trying with little success a calming Force technique. “One: My mother is the princess in the family. Two: I’d bet my lightsaber that I can fly circles around you any day. And three: if you want to ever make it home I seriously advise you to never insult a Solo with a lightsaber again. Got it, flyboy?” “I’ll get out of here. And when I do you’re whole little plan will turn to shavit,” he spat coolly. She started to snap back but was cut off as a familiar presence reached out to her. Jacen? she thought. He pressed back, worried. They didn’t know where she was and why she was on Coruscant so soon. Jaina soothed his worries and promised to meet him soon. An image of the family landing pad appeared in her mind’s eyes. She gave a mental affirmative and returned to the present. “Enough with the threats, Fel. We’ve got to get out of here. My aunt is waiting.”
* * * Leia was shoved into the small cubicle unceremoniously; a few seconds later the light flicked off, leaving her utterly in the dark. She rolled gently onto her side and curled into her center, trying to ward off the fear that would devour her. It felt like a dream. This sort of thing happened to other people, people without the Force to protect them. The bubble of safety that had always miraculously surrounded her and her family had burst, hurling her into the void with no apparent way out. No matter how hard she tried, Leia couldn’t keep from hating him. With every breath her revulsion grew heftier. Cale had taken her perfect world and turned it on its end. In an instant she feared for her marriage and the love of her family. When they learned what she had done and what she had become they might want nothing to do with her. And then there was the worst part of all: she was carrying another man’s child. Or at least, that’s what he claimed. How he could be sure Leia didn’t know, but she supposed that there might be some sort of Force manipulation that could make sure his seed had been planted. The thought made her sick. She needed to know for sure, she realized. The presence of a baby could change so much. If there really was a zygote clinging to her uterus perhaps she could sense its presence. In that state she could certainly…the thought didn’t make it past there. As much pain as it would cause, as large a rift as it would open between her and Han, Leia would never be capable of terminating it. Whoever had sired it, it was her child just like Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin. Shaking in nervousness, Leia reached with the Force down into her own body, sensing around the various organs and systems. When she finally managed to pinpoint her reproductive system it was with a mixture of horror and grief that she felt the infinitesimal growth. She would have thrown up had she anything left to vomit. Instead she pulled closer in on herself, using every bit of her willpower to keep from crying. It was doubtful that many people knew more about pain than Leia. She had endured torture at the hands of Darth Vader, had her home planet destroyed before her eyes, watched her one love encased in carbonite, and been temporarily enslaved to a Hutt as a dancing girl. This was just one very, very small life growing in her. She could handle this. She would. But first she needed a plan. Somehow she had to escape, and soon; before the baby was born. How she was received when she got there was another thing. That would be dealt with later. The important part would be protecting her baby while she was still a captive. Cale would never touch her or it again, she silently swore. Yes, it was all coming into focus. She would escape, she would have this baby, and, somehow, keep her family intact. She was Leia Organa Solo; she could do anything.
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