A Star Wars Fanfiction

Disclaimer: All Star Wars characters belong to George Lucas. This story was written for my enjoyment and, hopefully, for the enjoyment of other Star Wars fans who will read it. And I, in no way, am seeking any financial gain from this story.

Also, there will be many direct quotes from "Episode III – Revenge of the Sith" with my own twists added. I did not write these direct quotes and they belong to George Lucas.

Early Redemption

Author's Note: This is an AU of my "Return to the Light" series. This idea has been bouncing around in my head for a while. I was going to wait until I finished writing "Lost In Time" (sequel to RTTL) but decided I couldn't wait and will be working on the simultaneously. So sit back, relax and I hope you enjoy the ride as well.

11/23/14 Author's Note: If you have read this before and re-reading it again, I am starting to fix some tenses in the first few chapters. When I was first writing this, I was using a copy of the script I found online as a guide. The script is in present tense and the rest of my story is in past tense. Unfortunately, I failed to fix much of this the first time I wrote this; and it's been bugging me for years. So I am finally fixing it and some other things I might find along the way.

You will also see some additions to some of the scenes to give them more depth and believability. The scene where Luke and Leia arrive to speak to the Jedi council seemed a bit shallow as I realized years later that I should have had more skepticism about them being from the future. So I hope I was able to add that depth to this chapter.

Also, I have added a good-bye scene between Han and Leia…and Luke as well. It was pointed out to me that I had not mentioned Han at all and also not the possibility that they could never meet him if Luke and Leia are successful in their mission. Shame on me. So I hope this will help satisfy some of you.

Chapter 1

(Revised)

Two years after the fall of the Empire, the Rebel Alliance or the New Republic, as they now call themselves, found what they discovered to be a time travel device hidden in the basement labs of the Imperial Palace on Coruscant.

Upon learning of the nature of this device, the New Republic Senate was eager to have scientists take a look at it to see if the device was not only functional but if it is feasible to send people back in time. Their hope was to send someone back in time to warn the Old Republic and the Jedi of their fates, if they allowed Palpatine to have control over everything.

The scientists worked hard on the device and experimented with it until they determined that the device did, indeed, work and that it was safe for people to travel through the worm hole the device created. When they reported this to the Senate, they immediately started debating on who would be the best choice to send back in time. But then it all became so obvious. And it was Leia who suggested it. Palpatine was a Sith Lord, who better to send than a Jedi Knight, Luke Skywalker.

With Alderaan being destroyed by the first Death Star, Leia had no planet to represent so when she was asked by Mon Mothma, the current Chancellor of the New Republic, to serve on her staff, she jumped at the opportunity. Also, upon Luke's encouragement, she had started her Jedi training with him. She would meet with her brother, Luke, every morning before the Senate came into session and was growing stronger every day in her abilities to use the Force. She still wasn't as advanced as Luke, but she was learning quickly.

So it was during one of these early morning sessions that Leia asked Luke if he would be willing to be the one to go back in time. He had, of course, heard about the device from his sister from when they first discovered it, through its experimentation; and now she would be talking to him about this opportunity.

Leia, who was dressed in a white tunic and pants with brown boots, walked into the large columned room in the Jedi Temple where they met every morning. Her hair was in braids that circled the top of her head and she wore a light saber on her belt. Luke was already there, in a meditative state as she approached, sitting Indian-style on a circular, cushioned seat. He was dressed in all black Jedi attire and also wearing his light saber.

"Good morning, Leia." He said to her without even opening his eyes. He had sensed her approach even before she entered the room.

"Good morning, Luke. Are you ready to begin my morning lesson?" She asked him. But he could sense that she had something on her mind, something she wanted to ask him.

"Is there something you want to talk to me about, Leia?" He said now looking up at her from the circular cushioned seat he was sitting on.

Leia looked at him with surprise. It still threw her for a loop every time he did that, read her feelings before she was able to express them. But that came due to the great bond they had between each other through the Force, something she would never want to lose. That's why making this request of him was so difficult, because she knew that he could get stuck in the past and then her brother would be lost to her…the only real family she still had after their father's death.

Father…The thought of Darth Vader being their father was still a constant thorn in her side from time to time; but over the past couple of years, she had softened towards this idea because of who he had once been, Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight, a hero of the Old Republic and of his eventual turn back to the Light Side of the Force to sacrifice himself to save her brother and the galaxy from darkness. For this, she was eternally grateful; and, despite everything in his past that he did as Darth Vader, she had learned to love Anakin Skywalker's memory.

While Leia was in this state of reflection, Luke was also looking at her with curiosity and anticipation. He could sense things; but he would never invade the privacy of her thoughts, even though he had demonstrated many times under different circumstances that he could if he wanted to. So he patiently waited for his sister to ask him the question she had come to ask him.

Leia walked over and sat on the circular cushioned seat directly across from Luke and looked at him with concern on her face. "Luke, you know how I have been telling you about the time travel device that they found in the basement of the Imperial Palace?"

Luke nodded and then waited for what else she had to say. "Well…" She continued. "It has been deemed safe for a person to travel back in time to try to warn the Jedi Council and the Senate of the Old Republic about Palpatine." She paused. "And I'm here to ask you if you would be willing to be the one to do this?"

Luke looked at his sister in awe. "Me?"

"Yes…I mean…Palpatine was a Sith Lord. We need Jedi Knight to be the one to warn them about him. Besides, the Jedi Council would be more willing to listen if the news comes from a Jedi Knight." Leia explained to him.

Leia waited with anticipation as Luke looked down at his boots in thought. What an opportunity…and if I'm lucky, maybe I'll run into Father before he turned to the Dark Side and be able to keep him from turning. Luke looked up at his sister with a face of determination and smiled at her. "Tell the Senate that I will do it."

"Good, because I'm coming too." Leia told him with equal determination.

"What? No, Leia. If something happens to me, you should be here to carry on the re-establishment of the New Jedi Order." Luke tried to reason with her.

"If we succeed, we won't need to re-establish the New Jedi Order because the old one will still be in place." She replied. "You didn't think I was going to let you go alone, did you? You'll need me to watch your back. I'm a Jedi too, you know."

Luke chuckled a little. His sister could be quite determined, and he knew arguing with her would be pointless. He sighed. "Ok, Leia. You can come with me."

She smiled. "Good. We leave today then." She said as she got up from the seat.

"What? So soon?" Luke said in shock.

"No time like the present. They are getting the device prepped as we speak." Leia informed him with excitement.

"How did you know I'd accept?" He asked here.

"Because I know you and this is too tempting to pass up." She responded with a smile and her arms crossed, looking down at him.

"You're right. It is too tempting to pass up." And with that Luke got up from his sitting position, following her as they left the room.

ooOoo

Luke and Leia entered the lab where the time travel device had been set up and found Mon Mothma waiting for them when they arrived. Leia had called her to let her know they were coming, so she was eagerly awaiting their arrival.

Although, both of their attentions, instead, went immediately to Han Solo, as they both realized that, if they were to succeed on their mission, there was a distinct possibility that they may never meet the scruffy Corellian in whatever alternate reality they were to create. This saddened them greatly as the gravity of that possibility started to feel more real as they approached him.

Han was also there waiting to see them off on their journey, and they could see by his expression and stance that he was not very happy about the whole situation. This caused both of the twins additional distress and sadness as they watched him leaning up against the wall with his arms crossed in front of his chest. They knew he knew too well the implications of what could happen in regards to Luke's friendship and Leia's relationship with him; and this pained Leia greatly, especially, because she loved him so dearly. But if there was a chance to save the galaxy from darkness and the people of Alderaan from global annihilation, she had to take that chance, even if it meant that she may never see Han again. She just couldn't justify putting her selfish desires before all of the lives that could be saved.

Mon Mothma smiled at them as they approached, and then she and Han became serious. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes, we're sure." Luke responded as Leia glanced over at Han with affection and sadness.

"Well, I'm not ready for this to happen." Han interjected with his arms still crossed in front of his chest as he looked at Leia with tenderness and concern. "What if you don't make it back? Or what if we never meet because you changed history? I love you, Leia, and I love you, Luke, like a brother." He told them as he looked from one to the other and pushed himself away from the wall to walk closer to them.

"Han..." Leia started as she neared him, looking up into his brown hazel eyes with devotion. She put her arms around his waist. "We have to do this. It could save so many lives."

Han glanced away and then back at her with love, putting his arms around her waist as well. "Don't get me wrong, Leia. I understand what you want to do. But I'm selfish and don't want to lose either of you. You've both given my life so much meaning again."

Tears started to form in Leia's eyes as she looked up at him. "Maybe it won't be so bad. Maybe we will still meet. You never know, Han. I think we were meant to be together, and we will find each other."

Han just sighed as he gazed down at her with ardor. "You know I've never believed in that star-crossed lovers, destiny crap, Leia."

A tear escaped from Leia's left eye down her cheek as she tried to control her emotions but was failing miserably. "I know, Han. But please try to have faith in us still possibly meeting. I need to believe that...so please, Han. Please try to believe in that too. It's the only thing that is keeping me going right now."

Han pulled Leia into a tight embrace before crashing his lips down onto hers. She returned his passionate kiss with equal vigor, causing Luke to blush and Mon Mothma and the scientists in the room to look away to give the couple a little privacy. They finally pulled away from each other and stared into each other's eyes. "I'll miss you, Han." Leia told him with heartfelt love and sadness.

"I'll miss you too." Han replied to her as he also looked over her shoulder towards Luke. "Bring her back to me, Luke." He told him. "I don't like this...but I know I can't sway either of you from going."

Luke shook his head as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "No, you can't, Han." He told him with grief. "We will miss you too." He paused. "Perhaps Leia is right, and we will all meet again...despite what happens."

"I'd like to believe that, Luke. I'll try to believe it…but I still have a bad feeling about this." Han sighed again. "But I guess if anyone can change things for the better, I know you two can." He paused as a thought occurred to him. "I would pay good money to see the look on ol' Palpy's face when you ruin his grand plan for galactic domination."

Leia, who still had her arms around Han's waist, couldn't help but chuckle as she looked up at him with affection with tears still evident in her eyes. "I'm sure you would." She replied with a smile as she became more serious again. "Thank you, Han…for believing in us."

"What choice do I have?" Han retorted but then weakly smiled back at her before giving her a quick kiss on the lips. The couple, still holding each other, then turned to face the rest of the group.

"We're ready, Chancellor." Leia told Mon Mothma with a determined look on her face and Luke nodded in agreement.

"Very well…" Mon Mothma turned to one of the scientists. "Proceed doctor."

The scientist looked at Luke and then Leia, who was still holding onto Han, with excitement. He was so excited at the possibility of them going back in time as he explained to them the nature of the device and what they would need to do in order to return to their own time once they completed their mission. He gave them both wristbands that looked like a chrono and told them to never lose it because it was their key to getting back. When they were ready, they would just have to lift the protective lid and push the button beneath it. They nodded and swore they wouldn't let anything happen to them.

"Good." The doctor responded. "Please stand on the platform." He told them as they both nodded and then proceeded to walk onto the platform where the scientist had explained where the time warp would form.

Although, Leia stopped and turned to Han again, running into his arms to share one last embrace and passionate kiss. As they finished their kiss, they gazed into each other's eyes. "You must go." Han told her as he put his hands on her shoulders. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Leia nodded her head in agreement and then used her hand to wipe the wetness from her face. "I love you, Han."

Han smiled at her warmly. "I know." He sighed. "Now go…before I change my mind about letting you go without me."

Leia couldn't help but laugh before becoming serious again. "Good-bye, Han."

Han became serious. "Good-bye, Leia." He then looked up at Luke and bowed his head. "May the Force be with you." He paused before he gazed at Luke again with concern. "Take care of her for me, Luke."

Luke smiled sadly. "I will, Han."

Han and Leia then shared one last quick kiss on the lips before Leia turned and joined Luke on the platform.

They waited nervously as the doctor entered the time coordinates they had agreed-upon, with Leia and Han not taking their eyes off of one another the entire time they waited.

The time period that had been agreed upon was not long after the Separatist attack on Coruscant. This was due to the fact that Luke had been able to, at one time, discover an entry in the Jedi Temple's archives that described how the Jedi had grown quite concerned about a Sith Lord being in their midst during this time; but they didn't know who he or she was. Well, they were going to make sure they did know…one way or another.

"Ok. We're ready." The doctor finally announced as Han, Leia, and Luke all shared a final glance and waved at one another.

"May the Force be with you." Mon Mothma told them and then the doctor pushed the button, sending them into the past.

Light swirled around them as they felt like they were being thrown through space. This happened for what seemed for several minutes until they finally arrived in the past, almost falling onto the front steps of the Jedi Temple as they landed just at the very bottom of the vast staircase that led to the temple's massive front doors.

They both groaned as they straightened their aching bodies and got up from the ground. Luke and Leia both gazed up at the Jedi Temple with awe. "Wonderful." Luke exclaimed with astonishment. "I never imagined it being this grand."

Leia viewed the building with wonderment as well, but then she snapped herself out of her shocked state to bring her attention back to the mission at hand. "Well…we better get going." She urged as she turned to Luke, who was still staring up at the building but then turned to face her. "We have a mission to do."

"Yes, of course. Let's go." He replied as they both started to ascend the stairs to the main entrance of the temple.

Jedi Council Chambers

"Allow this appointment lightly, the Council does not." Yoda paused. "Disturbing is this move from Chancellor Palpatine."

"I understand." Anakin answered from the center of the room.

Master Windu looked at Anakin with a look of suspicion on his face. "You are on this Council…" He paused. "…but we do not grant you the rank of master."

Anakin was both surprised and insulted by this response as he became irate. "What?!" He paused and looked around the room before turning his attention back to Master Windu. "How can you do this?! This is outrageous! It's unfair! How can you be on the Council and not be a master?!"

"Take a seat, young Skywalker." Windu retorted with disgust and pointed his hand to the empty seat next to Obi-Wan.

Anakin managed to regain his composure after Windu's stern response and bowed. "Forgive me, Master." Anakin responded and turned to sit down. Obi-Wan then glanced over at him with concern and shook his head.

This tense moment was suddenly interrupted when they heard a knock on the door, causing the entire room to turn to look towards the door as it opened to reveal a young Jedi Knight standing just inside the doorway. "I'm sorry to interrupt you during your Council meeting, but two visitors just arrived claiming to be from the future. And they said they know who the Sith Lord is." He said with some skepticism. "Do you wish to speak with them?"

Everyone in the Council chambers looked at the young man in either shock or disbelief and then at each other. "Send them in." Master Windu replied. "It wouldn't hurt to hear what they have to say."

Master Yoda nodded. "Agree, I do. Curious this is."

"Yes, Masters." The young Jedi Knight replied with a bow of respect before walking back over to the door and motioning Luke and Leia to enter.

As Luke and Leia entered the council chambers, they scanned the room to observe who was there, wondering who exactly they were going to be addressing. Maybe Obi-Wan is here. Luke thought to himself with hope apparent in his eyes.

"Come closer." Master Windu instructed them as they both nodded and moved cautiously to the center of the circle. "What are your names?" He asked them.

Luke bowed to them with a sign of respect as Leia did the same after observing Luke's actions. "It's best that we don't tell you at this present time." Luke cryptically replied with his hands clasped in front of him. "We don't know how much we should reveal beyond what we came here to tell you."

Anakin and Obi-Wan looked at them with interest yet suspicion. They do seem familiar to me somehow. Anakin thought to himself as Master Windu continued to address them.

"We understand that you are from the future and know who the Sith Lord is?" Windu asked them. "Excuse us for doubting your story, but how is that possible?"

"Sense the truth in them, I do. From the future they are." Yoda interjected while continuing to study them.

"Yes, Master Yoda." Luke responded with a bow.

"Oh, know me you do?" Yoda replied as he raised his right eyebrow at them.

"Yes, you are one of the Jedi Masters who instructed me." Luke informed him with smile.

Master Windu glanced over at the ancient Jedi master. "Are you sure, Master Yoda?"

"Question me, you do?" Yoda retorted to Windu as he then also raised his right eyebrow at his fellow Jedi master. "From the future, they are." He stressed once again as he returned Windu's unbelieving expression with a stern one. Yoda then continued to study the siblings with interest. "Sister and brother, you are." He stated to their surprise as he squinted his eyes. "Twins, I sense." He added.

Luke and Leia could only stare and nod back at the wizened, old Jedi. "Y-Yes, we are." Luke confirmed.

Windu, who finally decided to accept and trust Yoda's intuition about the pair, let out a sigh. "Very well. If you believe this to be the truth, Master Yoda, then so shall we." He replied as the others nodded in agreement. He then turned to look at Luke and Leia with anticipation. "You say you know who the Sith Lord is…then who is he?"

"Chancellor Palpatine is the evil Sith Lord you have been looking for." Leia interjected with disgust before Luke could answer.

"What?! That's impossible! Chancellor Palpatine is a good man." They heard a defensive voice answer from behind them that sounded similar to Luke's.

Both Luke's and Leia's eyes got as big as saucers as they slowly turned around to see who the owner of that voice was. They saw, to their surprise, a young man of about the same age, hair color, and blue eyes as Luke glaring back at them. "Anakin Skywalker?" They both asked him in unison.

Anakin got a confused look on his face. "Yes."

Luke continued stare at him in shock. So this is what he looked like before…

Leia, on the other hand, was more irritated by what Anakin had said than the implications of who he was, or who he would become, as she turned back to Master Windu and Master Yoda with disgust. "Will you excuse me while I go a little Dark Side on you for a moment?" And with that she stormed over to where her father was sitting and slapped him upside the head. She looked him straight in the eyes. "What part of 'Evil Sith Lord' did you NOT understand?!" She yelled at him as he put his hand up to his head where she'd slapped him and began rubbing it.

"What was that for?!" He retorted with anger and confusion as he continued to glare up at Leia.

"Leia!" Luke interjected with shock.

"Leia?" Anakin replied with astonishment as an impossible thought crossed his mind. No, it can't be. Can it?

"Luke! Somebody had to knock some sense into him!" She shouted back at him as she walked back towards where Luke was standing.

"Luke?" Anakin exclaimed as he looked at the man with blonde hair and blue eyes standing in the middle of the room. Could they be our twins? No..no way. Anakin thought as he continued to look at these two people from the future who reminded him, he now realized, so much of himself and his beloved Padme.

"Boy, I guess she told you, Anakin." Obi-Wan said with a smirk as he crossed his arms in front of his chest and gave his old padawan a sideways glance.

Luke recognized his old master's voice. "Obi-Wan Kenobi?"

"Yes." Obi-Wan replied with surprise as he turned to Luke. "You know me too?"

"Yes, you were the other Jedi Master who instructed me." Luke said with a huge grin on his face.

"Did I now." Obi-Wan responded with interest as he stroked his beard in wonderment.