Note: All Star Wars elements belong to George Lucas.

Here are the alias all the main characters are using!

Anakin: Ani Naberrie

Leia: Winter Antilles

Padmé: Winama Thule

Han: Jonash Thule

Ameliora

Chapter 17: Detour

by ArchFaith

Naboo, the planet of green, rolling meadows and deep, quiet lakes. With a culture so sophisticated and civilized that its architectural masterpieces seemed only like extensions of the planet itself, it was no wonder that so many wanderers found themselves lost under its enchanting spell. Or so the tourism logs advised, anyway.

Shaking himself out of his timely reverie, Anakin quickly reminded himself that such a romantic view of Naboo would only contribute to his disappointment once he arrived. After all—he would have had no major ties to the planet had it not been for Padmé. Though he did not doubt the planet's natural beauty, his best memories were only enhanced by her presence. Walking along the terrace in the Lake Territory, the sun glinting off her smooth skin; sitting in the high plains, watching the immense waterfalls with their rising mist…

In his vacant stare, he had not noticed that Leia was looking at him with a calm expression set upon her face. Anakin's devotion to Padmé had been unwavering, even after all those long, dark years as Darth Vader. If there was anything she hoped to inherit from her father, she silently wished it would be to have a loyalty as strong and unyielding as his.

"We should be at Naboo shortly," she began.

Anakin cocked his head, slowly focusing his eyes on her as he quickly returned from his sojourn into the past. "Good," he said brusquely. "Two days of staring up at the wall have made me a bit…anxious."

Next to him, Artoo let out a few affirmative beeps.

"I just hope Luke's been doing alright," Leia answered, frowning. For the last few days, Luke had not attempted to reach out to her through the Force; though she had tried contacting him through the strong bond which they shared, it had done little to calm her nerves. All she could sense was the vague feeling that he was alive, though in what form and what capacity was uncertain.

"He got my message," Anakin assured him. "Have some faith, Princess. After all, Luke is—"

"—my brother?" she shot back at him. Crossing her arms over her chest, her eyes suddenly turned defensive. "I know, I know. It's just that—"

Her explanation was swiftly drowned out by a loud crackling noise that seemed to be coming out of a small fixture near the door. Father and daughter looked to each other in confusion, listening closely as the crackling grew to a faint, steady hum.

"—up here," a low, crackled voice finished saying, as the first part of his sentence had been hacked away. "I repeat: Naberrie, Antilles. It would be wise for you to get up here as soon as possible." Dengar's deep tones, though cut and mutilated by the low quality of the speaker, rang through the spare cabin in a low roar.

Giving each other confused looks, both rose spontaneously. "Stay here, Artoo," Leia commanded, patting the droid's plated dome. Worried, Artoo whistled twice, swiveling its dome to the side as Anakin and Leia filed out the door of the cabin.

Dengar was sitting in the captain's chair, his eyes focused on the large viewing window in front of the cockpit as the pair approached. Without turning his head, the bounty hunter signaled them closer with a small wave of his hand. "Look," he commanded simply.

Only a few minutes before, Naboo had seemed just another small, twinkling star on the Punishing One's radar systems; having emerged from hyperspace only fifteen minutes prior, the planet's outline and shape were visible, though just barely, to the naked eye. Now, as they approached the swirling mass of green and blue, less natural structures became apparent.

Though an inhabited planet, especially a core world like Naboo, was always expected to have somewhat crowded airspace, the traffic around the planet seemed unusually dense. Vessels of every type—from small tourist shuttles to personal one-seater fighter crafts to large, troop-bearing transporter ships seemed to be congregating in small circles high above the planet's atmosphere. Rising and cutting through these ships were immense circular space stations, the only stationary objects in the sky. Though there seemed to be some kind of pattern to the madness, it was not immediately discernible; the vessels seemed to be slowly gravitating towards the space stations, but the cause and procedure left much to be desired.

"Unless I've missed something," Dengar began, more to himself than anyone else, "there should be no trouble going on over Naboo at this time. Nothing of this scale, anyway." Knitting his eyebrows, he flipped several switches on the dashboard's communications panel. "Looks like they're only letting a few ships onto the planet at a time."

"Could it be a blockade?" Anakin asked, his mind racing back to this childhood, to the Trade Federation's spiral space station that held Naboo isolated from the outside world.

"We'll see," Dengar answered him shortly, as a red light on the dashboard suddenly began flashing. He reached out and touched it with a gloved hand. "This is the Punishing One, over. What's happening over here?"

The voice on the other end either did not hear him or chose to ignore him. "Punishing One, please reduce your speed to comply with Imperial airspeed limits, over."

Dengar frowned. "Roger that," he said begrudgingly, flipping a few switches to his left. Anakin and Leia immediately felt the ship slow as they both lurched forwards; Anakin quickly grabbed hold of the back of Dengar's chair, and caught Leia around the waist as the ship's speed quickly reduced to something more of a crawl.

"Sorry about that," Dengar said, eyeing his two traveling companions for the first time since they entered. "You'd think that with the Emperor dead, these lackeys would have better things to than regulate commerce on a planet like this."

Leia turned to give Anakin a meaningful glance as Dengar continued his transmission.

"Alright, speed reduced to comply. Now care to explain what's going on here?" he repeated.

The voice on the other hand end filtered back, in a cold, feminine accent. "The entire planet of Naboo has, by Imperial decree, been placed under quarantine pending investigation of a virulent attack that has killed several thousand people throughout the planet. Access to Naboo will be denied to all foreign vessels until they have formally passed through the checkpoints. All organic substances must be presented for Imperial inspection."

This can't be happening, Anakin thought, furrowing. They were so close to meeting up with Luke; if it wasn't the Rebel Alliance that would be on their backs, it would be the Imperial remnants, surely.

"Our scanning systems indicate that you have sentient beings on board your ship," the voice continued. "Please prepare all travel documents necessary and present yourselves for inspection at Space Station G-Sixty-Eight. Over."

With the characteristic snap signaling the end of a connection, Dengar flipped his transmitter switch off and turned to Anakin and Leia. "Looks like we're going to be a little delayed coming down on Naboo," he said calmly. "Bit annoying."

Leia shook her head, her face growing into a scowl. "More than just an annoyance," she said absently.

We can't put ourselves into Imperial hands, she thought calmly, feeling Anakin attune to her mind.

We won't, he replied. "Well," he began matter-of-factly, looking over to the calculating bounty hunter. "I hope we haven't put you in a bad place."

Dengar regarded him with a scowl. "Don't tell me you're wanted by the Empire?" he asked incredulously.

"Not exactly," Anakin replied. "Let's just say that my partner and I have had some dealings with them before…and we don't care to deal with them again. But I doubt they'll let us pass without some kind of commotion."

"Meaning that I would be held as an accomplice, harboring fugitives from the Imperials," Dengar finished, with a scowl on his face. "Just my lucky day." He quickly flipped a button,

setting the ship to auto-pilot as he quickly stood.

"Get your droid and your supplies," he said brusquely to the pair.

"What are you planning to do with us?" Leia asked, frowning.

Dengar gave them a shrug. "Dealing with any Imperial entanglements is your problem, really," he asked. "But out of goodness of my heart, I'll give you a head start."

(-)

"The entire planet of Naboo has, by Imperial decree, been placed under quarantine pending investigation of a virulent attack that has killed several thousand people throughout the planet. Access to Naboo will be denied to all foreign vessels until they have formally passed through the checkpoints. All organic substances must be presented for Imperial inspection."

In a gesture of disbelief, Han brought his first down on the dashboard, a frown upon his face. "All that way just for this?" he sputtered angrily.

Padmé shot him a worried glance. "No way," he said reflectively, looking up at the massive space stations circling the green planet before him. "This must have been some kind of inside job. I'll bet you there's no attack going on down there at all."

Padmé shook her head expressively. "Whatever it is, we'll have to find a way to slip through," she whispered. "You've done this before, haven't you? Sneaking into places, I mean."

Han gave her a small grin as he flipped a couple of switches on the dashboard. "Luke told you about the Death Star job, eh?" he asked, pleased. "More of a fluke than anything else, but hey—we got it where it counts."

He directed his attention back to the view screen in front of them. "This might be a bit difficult, but I've been through a lot worse. There are tons of ship that look exactly like this one—and trust me, those Imperial grunts have seen so many faces in their lives they probably couldn't pick their own mother outta the crowd."

Padmé smiled to herself. Leia, she thought simply.

Han, oblivious to his own reference, quickly stood up. "Luke gave you what you need?"

Snapping back to reality, Padmé quickly nodded. "I have identification as Winama Thule, from Bespin. Documents and everything."

Han smirked. Though it had only been a few hours, Padmé had proven herself to be a good traveling companion—though he had been unsure as to how to act around her, her light-heartedness and sense of humor quickly put him at ease.

The Millenium Falcon's journey to Naboo had been smooth enough; Padmé had accompanied him in the cockpit through the entirety of the voyage. To no surprise, he found her cheerful manner and regal way of talking reminiscent of Leia; the only difference between them being Padmé's patience and laid-back attitude. Leia was much more fierce and aggressive; qualities she had inherited from her father, it seemed.

He had initially thought that making conversation between them would be difficult, as they did not have much in common. But Padmé had a certain quality to her words and gestures—elegant but welcoming. He had found himself opening up to her more than he had expected—answering questions about his first meeting with Luke in the cantina on Tatooine, expanding on his terror at being frozen in carbonite, and discussing Leia's attempt to rescue him from Jabba's palace. And so time had passed—rather quickly, it seemed. Everything had been going so well…

With a shake of his head, Han quickly reached towards a flap on the dashboard and pulled out a new-looking identification book. "And I'm Jonash Thule, your loving brother." He chuckled in disbelief. "Some family you got."

"What about Threepio?"

"Him? He's fine. Always gets himself out of trouble. They don't really bother to scan the droids, anyway. Besides, Goldenrod wouldn't be able to tell them much."

"Captain Solo? Oh, sir!" Threepio, upon hearing his familiar nickname, appeared in the doorway to the cockpit. "Have you seen the vessels encircling the planet? Dear me, how are we ever to get to the surface now? It seems quite a dangerous undertaking! I would suggest—"

Padmé quickly reached out, pulled Threepio closer to her. "Oh, madam! Do you need me to amplify my tones? I—will—reeeeeeeepeeeeeeeat—"

With a sudden click, the lights in Threepio's eyes sputtered and died; the droid slouched over, silent and frozen in place.

"He talks too much," Padmé said reflectively, a satisfied look on her face. "But I'm sure you know that already."

In response, Han came forwards, giving her a hearty pat on the back. "You're my kind of girl, Padmé."

(-)

"That's the last of it." Leia stopped to breathe, wiping her sweating forehead with the sleeve of her jumpsuit. "All our supplies." She stopped to let out a light sigh. I can't believe this.

Anakin reached out and gently rubbed her shoulder, feeling the tense muscles beneath the slippery fabric of the suit. It will be fine, he soothed.

I suppose, she answered. I'm just so tired of being diverted from our goals. Shaking her head, she threw a glance over at Dengar, who was preoccupied in the corner of the spare escape pod.

Dengar had not been willing to incriminate himself for their sakes—understandable. The only alternative he offered them, however, did not seem all that appetizing.

"You've got everything and your droid?" the bounty hunter asked, looking up from his work. He had been repairing the escape pod's control systems; with an almost careless gesture, he flipped the control panel shut and rose from his kneeling position. "I don't want any traces of your supplies on my ship."

"We have everything," Anakin answered him, a grim look set on his face. "You won't have anything to worry about."

Dengar nodded gruffly. "I apologize for this," he began. "But you have to understand—the agreement was to get you to Naboo, not to sneak you past an Imperial checkpoint."

"We know," Leia assured him. "You did your part. And for that, thank you."

Dengar shook his head, the rags swaying against his neck. "Hope you have some kind of plan for once you get down there. This cloaking device should do the trick—it will phase out all signs of organic lifeforms aboard the ship. If anyone should scan it, all they'll pick up is your droid."

"What are you going to tell the Imperials if they ask where your other passengers went?" Anakin asked.

Dengar shrugged. "I'll just let them know we had an argument and that I was forced to…eliminate the threat to my life and that of my colleague."

Leia nodded. "You sure you won't miss this escape pod?"

Dengar shook his head. "Losing an escape pod is better than being captured for harboring fugitives wanted by the Empire," he answered. "Best get going."

Anakin nodded, and lowered his head to step into the pod's round hatch. Leia followed him, and the two buckled themselves into the pod's shabbily-padded emergency seats. Artoo had already been secured by the control panel, his legs fastened to an emergency handle by some cords and lengths of wire.

"Good luck," Dengar said ceremoniously. He reached up and gently pushed the heavy door inwards, sealing them into the small chamber. Though the walls were supposedly soundproof, his movements could still be heard outside the chamber as he pushed several buttons and flipped switches on the control panel, maneuvering the pod into position to launch.

Father and daughter were silent as they felt the pod slowly begin to move away from the side of the ship. Outside the small porthole, Naboo could be seen in all its splendor. So close.,..

With a sudden jolt, the pod darted away from the ship. Anakin and Leia found themselves pinned down the uncomfortable seats as the pod hurtled away from the Punishing One, turning the spinning as it fell through space.

This plan better work, Leia thought, furrowing her brow as the pod narrowly missed a piece of debris that looked like it had come from a Rebel ship. With our luck we'll be intercepted before we can even break the atmosphere.

The cloaking device do the trick, Anakin soothed as he was pushed back into his seat by the pod's jerking motions. I paid him enough for it, anyway…

Dengar looked through the viewing window, observing the pod as it tore through space and away from his ship. Shaking his head, he turned at the sound of approaching footsteps.

"I knew you don't much care for company, old friend," he said, a sly expression forming on his face. "But they had funds. Enough to pay for your medical bills."

He turned, allowing his friend a good luck through the viewing window. "But I didn't want to get involved with the Empire again. Look where that got us last time, eh?"

The other man stepped up to the window, pulling his simple tunic closer around his body. His dark eyes watched the fast-disappearing pod as it neared the Naboo atmosphere, emitting sparks of energy as it descended below the viewing window.

"I'll just tell the blockade that I was forced to seal some hostile companions in the pod after an attempt on our lives. They'll assume that the impact into the atmosphere killed them. They won't bother to check the pod once it lands."

For the first time in days, the man spoke. "You could have just killed them," he offered simply. "It would have saved you some trouble."

Dengar smiled and shook his head. "What would you have done?"

The man furrowed his brow, smoothing his dark hair close to his head. "I would have let them live. They committed no wrongdoing against us."

"So why suggest to kill them?"

"Most hunters would have killed them without a second thought. I thought maybe you would be the same."

Dengar gave his friend a slap on the back. "Being in that hell pit on Tatooine must have shot your brains a bit," he said playfully. "We hunters still have our honor. You should know that, Mandalorian."

The other man allowed a trace of a smile to show through his rough exterior. "My thanks for your help with the Sarlaac, Dengar. But I think it's time I suited up and paid you for my debts."

"Feeling better, huh?" Dengar asked. "You never were a man of leisure, Fett."

(-)

To be continued.

Next chapter: Everyone is converging for a reunion on Naboo! Anakin, Leia, and Artoo; Han, Padmé, and Threepio; Luke and Arfour; and even Dengar and Fett are getting in on this? But how exactly is this meeting supposed to happen, anyway? And…where are they all going to meet up? What about the mysterious person who's tracking Han and Padmé? Find out in the next chapter of Ameliora…when it comes!

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter…it's been quite some time since I last published anything. I love SW forever and ever. Thank you for reading, and I hope the next chapter isn't too far away from happening.

Also, thank you everyone who has reviewed! I would normally respond to everyone individually to thank you, but I feel that it's been so long since I last put up a chapter that it wouldn't really matter. As always, if anyone has any suggestions for Ameliora, please let me know. I have a clear idea of where this story is going, but I'm always up for putting in small comedic situations, cameos, etc.