Disclaimer: All things Star Wars belong to LucasFilm.

Authors' note: This story was written well before the release of Attack of the Clones, and as such, is reliant on fan assumptions not borne out by the film.

IN THE HANDS OF TIME
(previously titled: "What if the Empire Went Back in Time to Episode I?")
by Darth Pipes and ami-padme
[email protected], [email protected]
Based on an idea by Darth Sean.

Coruscant

The Emperor stood silently in his palace throne room looking out at the stars.  He was pondering the recent events that had transpired on Bespin.

His servant, Darth Vader, had confronted young Luke Skywalker on the planet.  Skywalker was the last of the Jedi and Vader's own son.  He had ordered Vader to either turn young Skywalker to the dark side of the Force or kill him. Vader failed.  Despite the fact that the Dark Lord had years of experience over the boy and had slaughtered many Jedi, Luke Skywalker survived his duel and escaped.  Escaped to fight another day.

This thought not only troubled Palpatine, but it filled him with fear as well. Skywalker was powerful, as powerful as Vader had been at that age. Skywalker would return, and quite possibly destroy not just Vader, but Palpatine and his Empire. The Emperor had foreseen this.

Still, there was one thing.  Something the Emperor's best scientists had been working on for quite some time. Perhaps Skywalker survived his battle against Lord Vader, perhaps he even had the potential to become the most powerful Force-user to ever live, but even he could not control time itself...



The Star Destroyer Executor

In the security of his meditation chamber, Darth Vader removed his helmet and the facemask that enabled him to breathe outside of the pod.  Once removed, his thoughts dwelled on recent events, particularly his duel with his son, Luke Skywalker.

He had defeated Luke, cut off the boy's hand, and filled his mind with fear and doubt.  Still, the boy had managed to survive and escape him.  He had failed in his attempt to turn him to the dark side.  His plans to remove Palpatine as the Emperor and take control of the galaxy with his son would have to wait.  Still, Vader was not concerned.

His son would return.  He had no doubt about that.  He would return and challenge Vader once again.  He would lose to him once again and then join his father.  Luke was powerful, there was no doubt there.  But Vader was the strongest of all.  Obi-Wan, Yoda, Mace Windu...they had all tried to oppose him and all failed.  He had survived everything.  The Clone Wars, Sith apprentices, the Jedi Council...even the fury of a volcano, of being burned alive in hot lava, had not stopped him.  He would defeat Luke, turn him to the dark side, and then they would rule the galaxy as father and son.  Together, they would bring balance to the Force and order to the galaxy.  Vader knew this would happen, he had foreseen it.

So had the Emperor.  Vader knew that.  He also knew the Emperor had lost faith in him for his failure to capture Skywalker.  The Emperor was planning something bold to deal with his son.  Palpatine always thought he knew more than Vader but he was wrong.  Vader knew he had something planned.  Vader wasn't sure what, but he would find out.  He would find out very soon...



Deep Space
The Rebellion's Medical Frigate

In the privacy of his own quarters, Luke Skywalker pondered over recent events.  The duel with Darth Vader, and the terrible secret that he was Luke's father.

How could that possibly be true?  Obi-Wan had told him Vader betrayed and murdered his father.  Would Obi-Wan lie to him? Could the man who changed his life be capable of lying to him?

No, no, it couldn't be, Luke thought.  Ben is a good man and a Jedi.  Jedi were supposed to be honest.  But still, he had sensed that Vader was telling the truth.  Could Luke possibly be...

Suddenly, violent pain erupted in Luke's head and he collapsed to the ground.  When he got up, Luke tried to make sense of what hit him.  A great disturbance in the Force.  It was something unnatural, something that could not be done.  But it had been done, it had happened, and Luke feared there might have far-reaching effects for the galaxy, especially himself and...Leia!


Coruscant

Moff Jerjerrod and Dr. Sen Tharon walked into the Emperor's throne room.  When they reached the steps, the two kneeled before the Emperor.  The nervous men both wondered whether or not they would leave the room alive.

"Rise, my friends," the Emperor said in a cryptic voice.  The two rose.  "Your report."

"The alien time machine found on Grand Admiral Thrawn's expedition of the Unknown Regions five years ago is now fully functional," Dr. Tharon said.  "We have made the necessary tests by sending some of your stormtroopers into the future and into the past.  The missions were completely successful."

"We are now capable of sending anybody through time, whether it be the past or the future, Your Majesty," Moff Jerjerrod said.  "It will take us some time to set the proper coordinates you have sent us, but they will be ready in less than one standard week."

Palpatine remained silent for a moment, allowing fear to build up in the two men.  Finally, he spoke again.

"You have both done well.  Your service to the Empire has been noted and you will both be rewarded.  For now, though, you will get to work setting those coordinates.  Now go."

Jerjerrod and Tharon both breathed a sigh of relief.  They bowed before the Emperor and left his throne room.

When they left, Palpatine rose from his throne and looked out at the starry night.  This was going perfectly.  If his mission succeeded, he wouldn't even have to go through with his plans for a new Death Star.  In fact, if this succeeded, there would have been no reason to build the first Death Star all those years ago.

That mission?  To eradicate a cancer in his empire that had developed a long time ago.  That cancer?  A beautiful woman known as Amidala, Queen of Naboo.

Amidala, the woman who had given birth to Luke Skywalker, the most powerful Jedi that ever existed.  The woman who had formed the Rebellion.  The woman he had never been able to kill.  Until now.

He would send a servant twenty-three years into the past, when Palpatine's apprentice Darth Vader abandoned a pregnant Amidala.  This is when the Queen had been most vulnerable.  He couldn't eliminate her at the day of her birth.  No, she had been an important tool in his rise to power.  He would kill her when she was at her most helpless.  When she had been abandoned by her husband, when she had lost her title as Queen of Naboo in anticipation the destruction of her planet, when she was pregnant and had nobody to turn to, save for one particularly persistent Jedi named Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Yes, he would have her killed in the past.  That would enable him to eliminate his two most dangerous adversaries.  Luke Skywalker, who would never have existed, and the Rebellion, who would not have had Amidala around to establish them.

Now, whom would he send for this important mission?  It would certainly not be Vader.  Vader would not take place in a plan that would kill his own son.  Palpatine knew he would rather defy him then take part in a mission such as this.  Palpatine also knew that Vader was planning to use Luke to help overthrow him.  Vader thought the Emperor was unaware of this, that he was just as smart as the Emperor was, but he was wrong.  So very wrong.

He wouldn't send Vader but he knew another pawn that he could send.  Somebody who was used to this sort of work.

Suddenly, the doors to the Emperor's throne room opened and in walked a beautiful, red-haired woman dressed in black.  When she reached the stairs, she knelt before the Emperor.

"My Master."

"Mara Jade," the Emperor said.  "I have a...most unique assignment for you..."



The Executor

The tremendous disturbance in the Force was enough to awake Vader from his slept in his hibernation pod.  He stared out into the darkness of the pod.

It has begun, Vader thought.  Palpatine's plan for dealing with Luke.  Vader couldn't be sure what it was, but he knew Palpatine's plan had been set into motion.  The disturbance in the Force was centered on Coruscant, and Vader knew something even bigger would be happening soon.

The lights came alive in his meditation pod as his facemask and helmet were put back on him.  With this taken care of, the pod opened up.  Vader got out from it and exited his quarters.  He then headed straight for the bridge of the Executor.


Admiral Piett was standing on the bridge of the Executor, monitoring the latest reports being sent in by Imperial TIE fighters.  The Executor had been in the Kabar sector for over a week, looking for a rebel resistance cell in the sector.

So far, their searches yielded nothing.  Piett hoped they would find the cell soon.  It had also been more than a week since the Millenium Falcon had escaped their grasp.  On board that ship had been a rebel Vader was looking for.

His name was Skywalker and rumor around the ship was that the rebel had gone toe-to-toe with Lord Vader and survived.

Piett had figured Vader would have killed him for the Falcon escape.  To his surprise and considerable relief, Vader did not.  The Dark Lord had become increasingly distant in the last week and hadn't been seen much on the bridge.

Not only was that a relief to Piett, but it was a relief to the entire crew.  Still, Piett knew that failing Vader again would likely seal his fate and he would join the long list of officers who had "disappointed" him over the years.

Suddenly, the doors on the bridge opened and out came Darth Vader, walking in swiftly, much to the surprise of the crew.

"My Lord," Piett said with a bow.

"Admiral," Vader said, "set course for Coruscant.  Top speed.  I have some business I have to conduct."

"But, my Lord," Piett began nervously. "We have not found the resist…"

Vader raised his right hand and Piett was on his hands and knees clutching his throat.  This lasted only a few seconds before Vader lowered his hand.

"Do not disobey me again, Piett," Vader said sternly. "Now, set course for Coruscant."

Piett rose to his feet, a little wobbly, but obeyed and ordered the crew to set course for Coruscant.

Vader turned and left the bridge.  He would arrive on Coruscant in three days.  That should give him enough time to find out what the Emperor's plan was.  Palpatine has something big in mind to dispose of his son.  Vader knew that he must stop it.  He couldn't explain it, but the Dark Lord felt that all he had ever known would depend on it.


Rebel Medical Frigate

Luke Skywalker ran down the halls of the medical frigate looking for Leia.  Something was going on, and it concerned her as much as him.  He had to find her.

Luke reached Leia's quarters and knocked on the door.  No answer.  He knocked again.  Still no answer.

Finally, he used the Force to open the locking mechanism.  The doors slid open.  Inside, Luke found Leia unconscious on the floor.

"Leia!" Luke yelled, running toward the Princess.  He picked Leia up in his arms and tried to shake her awake.  After a few seconds, Leia opened her eyes.  She had a dazed look in them as she met Luke's eyes.

"L-Luke...what, what happened?"

"You passed out," Luke said, helping Leia up. "I think it had something to do..."

"With a disturbance in the Force," Leia finished.

Luke looked at her in surprise.  Leia wasn't strong in the Force.  Yet she was unconscious at about the same time he was.  Luke was confused.

"You...sensed it?" he said.

"Yes," Leia said, equally confused.  "It was like...something had happened, something that shouldn't have happened, that couldn't have happened.  I can't explain it.  Was it a disturbance in the Force?"

"Yes, a great one at that," Luke said. "But why you sensed it, I don't know.  You're not Force-sensitive, are you?"

"No, not that I know off.  Then again, there are a lot of my early days I'm not very sure of..." Leia trailed off.

Luke knew a little about her early years from what Leia had told him.  Prince Bail Organa of Alderaan and his wife had adopted her.  Her real parents died when she was very young.  She had never discussed them with him aside from that.

"Luke, this disturbance, what could it mean?"

Luke turned away from her, looking out the window of her quarters and at the stars.

"I don't know.  My knowledge in the Force has grown in the past few weeks but I have no idea what this is.  Only that this disturbance could have wide-reaching effects for the galaxy...and for us."

Leia was puzzled but Luke continued to stare out at the stars.  No, he did not know what this disturbance was.  But one being might know.  One being, so strong in the Force that he survived the power and fury of Palpatine and Vader, to become one of only two Jedi to survive the Jedi purge.  Yes, he would seek out Master Yoda and fulfill his promise to an old friend.  And he would have to bring another along with him.

Luke turned around to face Leia.  He put his hand on her shoulders and looked her directly in the eyes.

"Leia," he began. "You have to come with me to Dagobah.  There, I will introduce you to Master Yoda.  Only he may be able to discover the source of this disruption in the Force."

"Luke, are you crazy?  I can't leave the Rebellion.  We're on the run and looking for a new base.  And Han, Han," she said with considerable anguish.  Luke knew.  Luke knew she had fallen in love with Han while he was away.  He knew how much she cared for him and how much pain she was in with his loss.  She had barely eaten or slept.  She loved Han Solo.  Three years ago, that would have devastated Luke but he had moved beyond that.  Leia had become like a sister to him.  "Lando and Chewie are still tracking down Boba Fett.  We have to rescue him Luke.  We can't..."

"Leia," Luke said, staring at her intently. "Believe me, I want to rescue Han too.  He's my best friend, but if we don't address what has happened, what we both have sensed...then I fear the consequences.  Leia, you have to come with me to Dagobah."

Leia stared at Luke for a long moment.  She trusted Luke and knew that he would not ask her to do something like this unless it was absolutely necessary.  Still, her thoughts went back to Han.  She missed him so much.  She wanted desperately just to find him.  She wanted to hold him in her arms again, to kiss him.  That was the only thing she wanted to do.

But she also considered what Luke had just said.  That disturbance in the Force had been considerable, like nothing she had ever known.  She had to find out what happened.  If she did not, she feared something terrible would happen.

"All right Luke, I'll go with you to Dagobah."

Luke smiled and kissed Leia on top of the forehead.  He then considered the path ahead.  He would go to Dagobah and discover the nature of this disturbance from Yoda.  He also would ask Yoda about Vader, and about Leia.  He had many questions that needed to be answered, and answered now.


Coruscant
The Emperor's Palace

Mara Jade spent the entire night reviewing her mission.  The Emperor was not lying when he said her mission would be unique.  Time travel...the notion had been considered a scientific impossibility.  Yet it has come to be and Mara Jade was intent on making the initial trip into time a successful one for the Empire.

Mara reviewed the all the files on Queen Amidala.  All information on her had been completely destroyed. Only these files had been preserved by her master, Palpatine.

She looked over all of it.  Amidala had been a brilliant and beautiful figure in her day.   At the age of fourteen, she became one of the youngest planetary rulers when she became Queen of Naboo.  Shortly thereafter, she became the perfect puppet for the Emperor in his rise to power.  She was responsible for calling a no-confidence vote on Supreme Chancellor Vallorum, leading to his removal from office and Palpatine's election to Chancellor.  Thus, the first seeds of the Galactic Empire were planted.

After his rise to power, Palpatine continued to manipulate Amidala, the Jedi, and the Republic.  It led to his proclaiming himself Emperor of the galaxy.  Amidala discovered his deception but by then it was too late.  She had lost her husband.  Palpatine had ordered her planet destroyed, and a death sentence on the young Queen.  He had thought she was killed, but the young Queen, always a formidable adversary, had survived.  Survived to give birth to the accursed Luke Skywalker and then years later, the Rebellion. She had died, shortly thereafter under mysterious circumstances.  Her legacy continued to plague the Emperor and Mara Jade was determined to make sure her master would have the last laugh.

Mara Jade continued to view and review all the material on Amidala and the year that she would be sent to.  Twenty-three years in the past, when the Emperor had taken complete control and had begun to hunt down the Jedi.

Mara Jade stopped reviewing her mission and looked out of the window in her room.  Morning was approaching.  She would have to go soon to the secret location of the time machine and oversee the completion of the project.  Then, she would go back in time and eliminate Amidala, while she was still pregnant with her son.  She would eliminate her and the plague she would inflict the Empire with.  She would not fail her master.

When she returned from her mission, she would take care of one more problem for the Emperor.  Darth Vader.  He was proving too dangerous for her master, and Palpatine wanted him dealt with.  Killing Vader would eliminate the last of the Skywalkers and insure Mara of a place as the Emperor's second-in-command.  She would be the Heir to the Empire.  And then, one day the galaxy would bow before the Empress Jade.

Mara smiled and watched the sun rise.  Yes indeed, one day the galaxy would be hers.



The Executor

Darth Vader spent the next two days in his quarters.  He ordered nobody, for any reason, to interrupt him.  If they did, they would regret it.

In his quarters, Vader was pouring all his resources into uncovering the Emperor's plan.  He had been in contact with many of his spies and informants.  He had learned of an experiment the Emperor's scientists were on involving "time manipulation," which Vader interpreted as time travel.  Unfortunately, the informants and spies Vader had spoken to all ended up dead within hours.  It was a deadly example of the efficiency of Palpatine's security.  No matter, Vader knew where to look for an answer.  The Emperor's private communication system.

The Emperor's communication system was the best and most sophisticated in the galaxy.  Not even the best of slicers could crack it.  Nobody except Darth Vader.

Vader hacked into the Emperor's system.  Trying to break the code, he hit dead end after dead end.  He persisted and after more than twelve hours, he finally broke the code and gained access into Palpatine's communications.  He searched the most recent one and found a communication to an underground base known as Section 327.  Vader hacked into the communication and found the information about this "time manipulation."  It seemed that five years ago, Grand Admiral Thrawn found an alien time machine of unknown origin.  It was sent to this section, where they were ordered to get it operational by Palpatine.  It had recently been completed.

Vader switched to the second part of the message and was visibly shocked at what he saw.  The message Palpatine had sent.  He ordered the scientists to punch in coordinates to send an agent of the Emperor back in time twenty-three years.  The planet they would be sent to...Naboo.

Vader sat silently for a long time, pondering this course of action.  He knew the year very well.  Very well.

That was the year Anakin Skywalker ceased to exist and Darth Vader was born.  That was the year Vader joined the Emperor's New Order and led the hunt of the Jedi.  That was the year he fought Obi-Wan Kenobi on the lip of a volcano and was left for dead.  That was the year he left a woman, a pregnant woman (unbeknownst to him at the time), named...Amidala.

Vader's head snapped back in shock.  That's what the Emperor had in mind.  He was going to send an agent back in time to kill Amidala while she was still pregnant with Luke.  He was going to make sure Luke Skywalker, the son of Vader and…Amidala, was never born.

Vader got up and went to his desk and turned on his holo-imager.  A small image of Luke came up.  Vader studied the image for a long time.  Palpatine, his master, was going to take away his son, erase his existence, and take away his legacy.  Vader walked back to his viewscreen.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Vader screamed as he slammed his fist through the viewscreen.

That bastard!  Vader thought.  He was going to try and take away his son, his legacy.  Vader was not going to allow that to happen.  He would not allow for his son to be destroyed.

Damn Palpatine!  He had lost so much in the last twenty-three years.  Now Palpatine was going to force him to confront the past he had spent many years trying to bury.  He was going to force him to step back into that past and confront the faces.  Obi-Wan, Yoda...Amidala.  All of them.  By the time Vader arrived on Coruscant, Palpatine's agent will have had several hours on him.

He already knew whom the Emperor would send.  Mara Jade, the Emperor's Hand.  The little girl who wanted to be a Sith.  She was powerful and crafty Vader knew and is the only one capable of pulling off an assignment such as this.

Vader turned away from the broken viewscreen and went into his meditation pod.  There he removed his helmet and facemask.  He ran his hand through his scarred, burnt face.  He still remembered the burning and pain he felt when he fell into that volcano.  It took him a week to crawl out of it.  Only his tremendous hatred had keep him alive.  He had given in fully to the dark side on that day.  He remembered the year he spent hooked up to life-support machines, barely a lump of flesh.  He remembered the mechanical arms, legs, and other parts put on him.  He remembered it all.  Now he would have to remember it again.  He would be returning to the past.

"If I were you, I wouldn't be so sure where the future would take me."

Obi-Wan had told him that when Vader had been his Padawan.  For once, Obi-Wan was right.  He wasn't sure where the future...or the past would take him.


The Dagobah System

Aboard the Alliance shuttle Resurgent, Luke and Leia were just minutes away from the Dagobah system.  They had left almost a day earlier.

They had several things to take care of.  One was informing Mon Mothma of the temporary leave of absence.  Mothma wasn't too thrilled about the request, especially with the Rebellion's situation after the Battle of Hoth.  But she relented when Leia expressed her concerns about the disturbance she and Luke had sensed.  The second bit of business was informing Lando and Chewie that they would be gone for a short time.  Lando and Chewie were still searching for Fett and Han. They believed Fett was currently in Imperial space where he would be safe.  Finally, Luke and Leia considered bringing C-3PO and R2-D2 along but decided against it.  If Lando and Chewie discovered Han's location, they wanted someone there who could relay the news to the Alliance in case Luke and Leia were unable to participate in the mission.

With that completed, Luke and Leia departed for Dagobah.  During the trip, Luke revealed to her his experiences on the planet and about the Jedi Master Yoda.  She was familiar with the name, having heard stories about him from her father.

Eventually, as the trip grew longer, Luke told her about the big secret that he had been hiding.  That Vader had revealed to him that he was Luke's father and that Obi-Wan Kenobi had lied to him.

Leia was startled, unable to say anything right away.  Finally, she turned around to face him.

"Luke, do you really believe him?"

"I don't know, Leia," Luke said, sighing.  "I can't imagine Obi-Wan lying to me, but I could sense that Vader was telling the truth."

"Vader is a liar, Luke.  I've seen his deceptions first-hand."

"I understand but...but I don't know what is true anymore.  My whole life has been turned upside down. I just..." Luke broke off.

Leia reached out and put her hand on Luke and squeezed.  The look in her face told Luke that no matter what, she would always be with him and that he could always trust her.  For Luke at this moment, that was enough.

A button began flashing on the control panel, indicating that the Resurgent had reached the Dagobah system.  A short time later, they reached the planet itself. Luke, along with Leia, was able to successfully land the ship a short distance from Yoda's hut.

The two exited the ship a short time later and made the small hike to Yoda's hut.  Luke looked inside to find that it was empty.  Yoda wasn't there.

Luke and Leia walked past the hut looking for some sign of the Jedi Master.

Where could he have gone? Luke thought.

"Expecting you both, I have been."

Luke and Leia turned around and there before them was diminutive Jedi Master Yoda.  Despite his small stature, Yoda towered over them both by his very presence.  Luke walked over to Yoda and bowed.

"Master."

Yoda simply nodded.

Luke turned to face Leia.

"Master, this is..."

"Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan.  Know her I do.  A pleasure it is, Your Highness." Yoda interrupted.

Leia was unsure how Yoda knew her, probably Luke had told him.  Still, she smiled at the Jedi Master.

"You know why where here," Luke said more than asked, for he already knew the answer.

"Know why I do.  Great disturbance in the Force, there is."

"Yes, I sensed it.  Leia did as well.  It felt like something even greater than just a disturbance in the Force."

"Yes indeed," Yoda replied.  "A disturbance in time as well."

Luke and Leia looked at him bewildered.

"A disturbance in time?" Leia said skeptically.

"Indeed.  Doubt it you should not, young Princess, for it has happened."

"What has happened, Master?" Luke said, clearly confused.

Yoda took a deep breath. "Found a way to manipulate time the Emperor has."

"The Emperor has found a way to travel through time?" Luke said, now clearly shocked.

Yoda nodded.  "Planning to alter the past, he is."

"How?" Luke and Leia both said, not liking where this conversation was going.

"By killing your mother," Yoda replied to both of them.

The two were clearly shocked and said nothing for several seconds.

"Whose mother?" Leia asked.  "Mine or Luke's?"

"Both."

"Both of ours?"

"No, only one.  Belongs to both of you, your mother does."

Luke and Leia stood dumbfounded for several seconds before the words Yoda spoke to them began to make sense.  Was he saying that Luke and Leia's mothers were the same person?  If that were so, that would mean...

"Twins," Yoda said. "Born to the same mother, twenty-three years ago named Amidala, Queen of the Naboo."

Luke and Leia stood in shock as Yoda made the announcement.  Twins!  Yoda had just told them they were brother and sister.  Luke was in total shock.

Amidala.  The name jarred Leia and her memory.  Some of her earliest memories were of her birth mother.  Beautiful and sad, she had died when Leia was very young.  Leia had long since forgotten much about her, including her name.  But now she remembered.  Yes, she remembered Amidala, her mother...and Luke's.

The two looked at each other in shock, not knowing what to say.  They had come to Dagobah to find answers and had discovered more than they could have thought possible.

Luke turned to Yoda.  He suddenly remembered what he was going to ask the Jedi.

"Master Yoda, is Darth Vader my…our father?"

Leia looked at Luke, suddenly realizing what he had said.  If she was Luke's brother, that might mean that Vader...that Vader...was her father.  No, that couldn't be.  A monster like Vader could have never given birth to Luke and Leia.  Could he?

Yoda was going to respond when he suddenly stopped.  Luke and Leia looked at Yoda, and then turned around to see the shimmering image of Obi-Wan Kenobi.  He smiled at both of them.

"Hello Luke," Obi-Wan said.  "Hello Leia, it's good to finally see you again."

"General Kenobi," Leia said, stunned.  The last time she had seen the Jedi, the only time as a matter of fact, was when Darth Vader cut him down on the Death Star.  He had disappeared.  Yet, here he was right in front of her.  She knew it was him because she recognized him from an old holo-photo of him and her father, Bail Organa, had taken during the Clone Wars.

"It is indeed me, Leia," Obi-Wan said, reading her expression.

"It's an honor to finally meet you, General.  My father spoke highly of you."

"I thought highly of him as well, Leia," Obi-Wan said. "It is indeed a great pleasure to finally talk to you in person. You remind me very much of your mother.  You have done much with yourself, Leia."

Leia smiled sadly at the mention of her mother.  Obi-Wan could see this and he wished he hadn't said it.

"Ben, what's going on?" Luke said, sounding angry.  "You never told me about Leia being my sister.  Or about my mother. Or about..."

"Luke," Obi-Wan said, cutting him off.  "I will explain all of it if you will let me."

Luke considered for a moment.

"Fine!" he snapped at Obi-Wan, not bothering to hide his anger.

Obi-Wan walked closer to the two and Yoda.  He sat down on a rock next two them.

"You are right Luke, I never told you about Leia or your mother.  I could not, not until you had completed your training."

"Why then Obi-Wan?" Luke said, getting increasingly agitated.

"Because you need to be focused on your training...and because you needed to be prepared for another revelation."

"Vader," Luke said.  "Tell me the truth this time, Ben.  No tricks, no lies.  Is Darth Vader my father?"

Obi-Wan remained quiet for a long moment before he finally answered.

"Yes, he is your father, Luke.  Leia's as well."

That revelation hit him like a fist.  Darth Vader was his father and Obi-Wan had lied to him.  It made Luke feel sick.

Leia, on the other hand, was horrified as she stared at Luke and Obi-Wan.  Darth Vader was her father...their father.  No, that couldn't be.  She couldn't be related to that monster, she just couldn't.  Leia began to tremble with horror and anger.  The three Jedi around her turned to look at her.

"No, No!  That can't be true.  You're lying!" Leia yelled at Obi-Wan.

"I'm sorry, Leia, but it is the truth," Obi-Wan replied.

"No, you're lying.  That monster is not my father.  He couldn't be!"

Luke put his hand on Leia's shoulder.

"Leia…" he began.

"Don't touch me!" she screamed at Luke, slapping his hand away.  She then took off running down the swamp.

"Leia!" Luke yelled, running after her.  He chased Leia down the swamp.  He lost sight of her for a moment.  But then he spotted her again.  She was running into the cave.

The cave!


Leia ran away from the Jedi, looking to escape the horror she had just learned.  Vader was her father.

No, No, No! Leia thought.  She would not accept it.  She could not accept it.

She ran and saw a dark cave.  Wanting to get away from everything, she ran into it.  Almost immediately, she felt a dark chill.  She sensed many different emotions while inside the damp, animal-filled cave.  Fear.  Anger.  Hatred.  All of it very strong.  She felt cold.  Still, she continued running.

Suddenly, she sensed something in front of her in the darkness.  She stopped and looked straight at it.  She gasped in horror as she saw a figure emerge from the shadow.  It was Darth Vader.

Terrified, she tried to back up but tripped over a root.  She fell backward to the ground.  Above her, Vader was moving towards her slowly, almost in a dreamlike state, but still very menacing.  The cave filled with his loud hissing from his breathing machine.  Leia tried to move but she could not.

She watched helplessly as Vader removed his lightsaber from his belt and ignited it.  He raised it above his head and prepared to land the killing blow on the Princess.  Leia closed her eyes and waited for the lightsaber to strike her down.  It never came.  When she opened her eyes, Vader was gone.  She was now alone in the cave, trembling in fear.

"Leia!" she heard Luke's voice cry out behind her.  Luke ran up to her and wrapped his arms around her in a hug.  She returned the embrace.

"Luke," Leia began, trying to fight back tears.  "I can't...can't believe Vader is..."

"I know," Luke replied.

"He's a monster.  I'm the daughter of a monster."

"You're the daughter of Anakin Skywalker, not Darth Vader.  You have to remember that.  You know, Leia, you weren't the only one devastated with this news."

Leia looked at Luke, who appeared to be fighting back tears as well.

"Oh Luke, I'm so sorry.  I didn't even think about you in my anger."

"It's all right Leia.  I understand."

Luke helped Leia to the ground and the two waited awhile to compose themselves.

"Luke," Leia said. "Thank you."

Luke gave her a lopsided grin.

"What are brothers for?"

Brother.  Yes, that was something Leia had forgotten.  Her brother...she had a twin brother.  She had a true family again.  It had been many years since her real mother had died.  She had been very close with her adopted family but she had always missed not having a blood relative.  That loneliness had filled her even greater after the destruction of Alderaan.  But now, she was not alone.  There was another just like her – of her blood, of her family – in the galaxy.  That knowledge comforted Leia greatly.

Luke extended his hand.  Leia took it and together they left the cave.


Obi-Wan and Yoda turned to see Luke and Leia returning hand and hand.  They seemed calm, and at peace following what had happened a few minutes ago.

A mark of the Jedi, Obi-Wan thought.

Luke stepped forward between the Jedi Masters.

"Obi-Wan, before you tell us of this plan of the Emperor's, we must know the truth.  What happened to our father and our mother?  How did Anakin Skywalker become Darth Vader and how did everything get to where it is now?  We must know."

Obi-Wan considered this for a moment.  He turned to Yoda, who nodded at them.  It was time for the truth to be told.  All of it.

Obi-Wan and Yoda spent the next hour telling Luke and Leia the entire story.  Everything.  They told of the Trade Federation and the invasion of Naboo.  They told of Qui-Gon Jinn and his discovery of their father.  They told the origins of C-3PO and R2-D2 (Luke still couldn't believe his father had built him).  They told about their mother.  They told about the Battle of Naboo and Obi-Wan's training of Anakin.  They told of the courtship and marriage of Anakin and Amidala.  Of the Clone Wars, and the Emperor's manipulation of the Republic.  About the Battle of Concord Dawn.  About Anakin's betrayal of the Jedi and his wife.  About the rise of the Empire and the killing of the Jedi.  About Obi-Wan's duel with Anakin on the lip of a volcano.  Of Anakin's survival and of their birth.  All of it.

Luke and Leia sat silently, letting it all sink in.  At last, they knew the whole story.

Slowly, Luke turned to face the Jedi.

"There is still good left in him?"

Obi-Wan shook his head.  "He is more machine know than man, twisted and evil."

"Destroyed, he must be," Yoda said.

"I can't kill my own father," Luke replied.

I can, Leia thought bitterly.

"Then the Emperor will have already won," Obi-Wan said.

"General Kenobi, Master Yoda," Leia suddenly said, facing them.  "What does the Emperor have planned for our mother?"

"He intends to send one of his agents back in time to kill her while she was still pregnant with you two.  He wants to prevent you two from ever being born and Amidala from forming the Rebellion."

Leia looked at Obi-Wan in shock.  "He wants to erase our existence?"

Obi-Wan nodded.

"Who?" Luke said. "It can't be father."

"No," Obi-Wan replied.  "He is sending a Force-strong young woman named Mara Jade.  She is the Emperor's Hand."

"Another Sith?"

"No," Yoda replied. "Only two there are, a master and an appearance.  She is neither.  An assassin, she is.  Powerful as well."

"What must we do?" Luke asked.

"You must go to Coruscant.  By then, Mara Jade will have already made the trip through time.  She will be followed by Vader, who will try to stop her from completing her mission.  You must travel back in time to stop her," Obi-Wan said.

"Getting to Coruscant won't be easy," Leia said.  "How will we find this machine?"

"Follow the Force, you will," Yoda said.  "Take you to the location, it will."

Obi-Wan suddenly turned to both of them.  His face became deadly serious.  "This will be a dangerous mission for the both of you.  It will test you in every way.  The very fate of the galaxy will rest on your shoulders and you will face a powerful adversary in Mara Jade.  You must trust the Force.  Remember that your focus determines your reality.  Luke, let the Force work for you, let it come to you instead of forcing it.  Leia, I understand your feelings on Vader but you must not give in to your hate.  If you do, you will become just like the man you fear.  Do you both understand?"

The siblings nodded.

"Good, also there is something more.  This might be difficult but I must tell you this now.  As much as you might like to do otherwise, minimize your contact with others in this timeline.  I know this may be difficult but you must not interfere with future events.  Even a small alteration might result in huge ripples through time, and then who knows what will happen.  Do not get involved with others, even if they need help.  If you do, the consequences could affect the entire galaxy."

The twins nodded slowly.

"There is one problem though, Ben.  I have no lightsaber and am unsure how to build a new one," Luke said.

Obi-Wan turned to Yoda, who went into his hut.  A short time later, he emerged with a small package.  He handed it to Luke, who brought the package up to his face.

"Open it," Yoda said.

Luke opened it and inside was a lightsaber.  It had silver and black plating.  He ignited it and a green blade came to life.

"Luke," Obi-Wan said, staring at him directly in his eyes.  "This was the lightsaber of my master, Qui-Gon Jinn.  It came into my possession shortly after he was cut down by the Sith Lord.  I used it myself for several years.  I am now giving it to you, in the hopes you will use it as a true Jedi Knight would."

Luke looked at Obi-Wan in surprise.  From how Obi-Wan spoke about the Jedi Master known as Qui-Gon Jinn, Luke knew he cared for him very much.  For him to give Luke the weapon was a sign of his trust and admiration for Luke.  He had been angry with old Ben for lying about his father.  He felt that Obi-Wan did not trust him.  By making this gesture to Luke, it was clear Obi-Wan did indeed trust Luke.  Luke felt foolish and ashamed for ever doubting Obi-Wan, his mentor, his friend.

Luke raised the blade before Obi-Wan.

"I will use this weapon with honor like a true Jedi.  I will use it this weapon the way Qui-Gon Jinn used it, as an instrument of peace and justice.  I swear it Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Obi-Wan smiled.  "Thank you," he said, genuinely touched.  "The Force will be with you both, always."  Obi-Wan Kenobi then faded away.

Yoda turned to Luke and Leia.  "Fare thee well, children of Skywalker," he said.  He then left the two to themselves.

Luke and Leia turned to each other, trying to grasp what had just gone on.  They would have to get to Coruscant.  But they couldn't do it in the shuttle they were using.  They would have to return to the Alliance first and devise a plan.

But they were Skywalkers.  They would find a way.



Coruscant
Section 327

Mara Jade spent the next two days overseeing work on the time machine.  She spent little time with the staff, wanting to keep her identity private.  After all, she was the Emperor's Hand.  One of her jobs was to hide her existence and remain in the shadows.  The only two she came in contact with were Moff Jerjerrod and Dr. Tharon.

Mara considered her mission ahead.  The time machine would be sending her twenty-three years into the past to the Queen's homeworld of Naboo.  To Naboo, roughly two weeks after it had been finally and completely reduced to rubble by the Emperor.  It had been believed that Queen Amidala had been killed there but obviously she survived.

Amidala herself wouldn't be there.  No, she would have escaped by then.  Still, she could search the ruins for her palace.  The palace had a shelter that could withstand a planetary bombardment.  Again Mara knew Amidala wouldn't be there but she had a strong feeling the shelter would give some clues as to where she and the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi had fled.  The shelter included files to the palace communications array.  Yes, she was indeed sure of it.

Her communication board hummed, signaling that the Emperor wanted to communicate with her.  Mara turned on the communication board and there came the image of the Emperor before it.  Mara bowed.

"My Master."

"How goes the machine?" Palpatine said.

"The coordinates will be on-line shortly, Master," Mara replied.  "Then I will depart for the past."

"Good," Palpatine said. "You have been a dependable and loyal servant to me, Mara Jade.  Complete this mission successfully and I will make you my apprentice.  You will become a Sith and rule the galaxy at my side."

Mara gasped.  The Emperor's Apprentice.  All that power.  What it would mean for her.

"What about Lord Vader, Master?" she asked.

"Lord Vader is to be disposed of.  He has disappointed me for the last time.  He is on his way to Coruscant as we speak.  I will have him...eliminated."

That sent a chill up Mara's spine.

"Do not fail me, Mara Jade."

"I will not, my Master," Mara replied with a bow.  The Emperor smiled and his image dissolved.

Mara Jade stood there silently for a while.  Palpatine would have Vader disposed of.  She doubted that any of his agents could do that.  She believed Palpatine knew that as well.  Still, she did not doubt her master's judgment.

Mara exited her room and went to the main laboratory.  She entered it and there it was standing before her.  The time machine.

It was a huge, black wall.  Magnificent in its structure as well as imposing, it had only one open space.  When the time machine was activated, a portal would emanate from it.  Go through that portal and it would take you back into the past or the future.

Little was known about it.  It was like nothing Mara had ever seen before.  It was believed to have been a machine used by an ancient and long-dead civilization thousands perhaps millions of years before the birth of the Old Republic.  Whatever it was, it was powerful.  Such power could be the ultimate weapon for anyone.

Dr. Tharon stepped before her.  "Mistress, the coordinates have been set.  We will be activating the machine shortly."

"Good.  Has my equipment been readied?"

"Yes indeed," Tharon said pulling out a comlink.  It was designed so that a person could put it around their wrist.  "This comlink will help you return from your journey into the past.  In order to return to the present, you will have to punch in the coordinates and activate it from the spot in time that you entered," he said and explained to her a little bit more.

When he was done, he turned back to the machine and began to make preparations to activate the machine.

"I am activating the machine...now."

With that, the machine came to life.  Energy pulsed all around it and the middle burst to light with a white glow.  The portal had been opened.

Mara checked her belt and her hand momentarily fell on her lightsaber.  She had built it recently and was beginning to wield it with a warrior's grace. She had a feeling it would be put to good use on this mission.

With that, Mara faced the machine and ran to the portal.  She went through it and for a time, all was still.  Then strange, glowing lights glowed around her and covered her.

It's so beautiful, Mara thought.

Suddenly, the portal opened up and she was thrown through it.  She hit the floor hard.  When she got up, she scoped the site around her.

Absolute ruin.  Destruction in every direction.  Crumpled buildings lined what use to be streets.  There were fires still raging.  The smell of dead bodies filled the air.  The machine had worked.  She had arrived twenty-three years into the past.  She was on Naboo.

She began to look over her comlink.  Not only was it a way back to the future, it had many other purposes.  Mara used it to help her find the location she was looking for.

The palace.


Twenty-Three Years in the Past

Former Republic General Obi-Wan Kenobi sat in the bridge of the Queen's royal starship, looking out at the starlines.  It seemed to be the only thing he could do now.  He was on the run, along with the pregnant Amidala Skywalker, formally Queen of Naboo.  A woman he swore to protect from the Empire.

Six months.  Six months he and Amidala had been on the run, along with the droids C-3PO and R2-D2.  Six months since his best friend and former apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, had betrayed the Jedi.  Six months since the Empire had gained total control of the Republic.  Six months since the destruction of the Jedi Temple.  Six months since he fought with Anakin on the lip of Mount Sulluest.  Six months since he had killed his best friend.

Obi-Wan got up and left the bridge.  He began walking around the ship.  Passing through main engineering, he saw Threepio sitting on a chair next to the worktable, temporarily deactivated.  R2-D2 was doing some diagnostic checks of the engines.  Obi-Wan reached the front of the hall to the door that led to Amidala's quarters.

Quietly, he walked in.  Amidala was asleep now.  That was a good sign.  The Queen had barely slept since Anakin had left her.  She would need her rest now, especially since she was pregnant.

Obi-Wan thought back to the course of events that led to where they were now.  After his battle with Anakin, he returned to Naboo to tell Amidala.  He found that Naboo had just come under siege by the Emperor's forces.  Obi-Wan managed to avoid the Star Destroyers and land on the planet.  He then fought his way to the palace under attack.

When he stepped inside, he found nothing but death.  Captain Panaka and the Queen's handmaidens were dead.  Obi-Wan had feared Amidala was killed as well.  By the time he had reached her quarters, he found stormtroopers surrounding the Queen.  He managed to kill them and save Amidala.  He then noticed another grisly site.  The body of Jar Jar Binks, killed by blaster fire while protecting the Queen. 

Obi-Wan sighed.  He had considered Jar Jar a "pathetic life form" when he first met him.  He was wrong.  Jar Jar had given his life to save the Queen.  Obi-Wan would never forget Jar Jar's bravery.

Obi-Wan and Amidala fled Naboo on the Queen's starship along with the droids.  By the time they were in hyperspace, Naboo was on its way to total destruction.  A testament to the grim glory of the Empire.

Damn Palpatine!  It was he all along manipulated the events of the galaxy.  The Trade Federation invasion of Naboo, the Clone Wars, Qui-Gon's death.

Then, he turned Anakin to the dark side.  They proceeded to turn their fury toward the Jedi.  Anakin, on Palpatine's orders, entered the Temple and found most of the members of the Council.  He killed them all, including Mace Windu.  Using the dark side of the Force, he employed an ancient Sith technique to completely destroy the Temple, killing all the Jedi in the Temple.  With their leadership destroyed, the remaining Jedi had been thrown into chaos.  Since then, Palpatine's forces had taken over the Republic and wiped out more than half of the Jedi.

Damn Palpatine!  He promised he would kill him if he could.

But even Obi-Wan wasn't as powerful as the Emperor was and he knew it.  Anakin's children however, might be.  Obi-Wan could sense that the two would be powerful and together, they could topple the Empire.  It was his duty to protect them.

He had to protect Amidala as well.  Obi-Wan turned to his dear friend, who was sleeping quietly.  Sadness filled his heart.  She lost so much...her husband, her planet, and her friends.  She didn't deserve it.  Obi-Wan wished he could do more for her.  He cared for Amidala so much.  Amidala was his friend.  He would protect her and her unborn children or die trying.

Their friendship had been a source of jealousy for Anakin, who had accused Kenobi of lusting after his wife.  Obi-Wan had denied it.   He loved Amidala, of course but as a friend.  He had never felt romantic feelings for her.  Still, Anakin had accused him of everything from having an affair with his wife, to the death of his mother, to holding back his potential as a Jedi.  He had felt that Obi-Wan had betrayed him when he opposed him and the Emperor.  He had made that clear to him during their duel.

Anakin.  His dear friend.  A good and noble person.  A magnificent warrior...turned to a Sith Lord.  The devastation Obi-Wan felt about what happened to his friend was great.  It shouldn't have happened.

Anakin should not have turned to the dark side.  He didn't deserve that fate.  It was Obi-Wan's fault.

I should have trained him better.  I thought I could train him just as well as Yoda.  But I failed.  I failed Anakin, the Jedi, the Republic and Qui-Gon.  I failed my Master.

Obi-Wan's eyes began to water but he wiped them clear.  Now was not the time for tears.  This ship was headed for the Outer Rim world of Drayos.  There, Obi-Wan and Amidala would hide out with a resistance group of Jedi Knights and Republic Military officers led by the Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi.

Mundi was one of only two Council members to survive.  The other, Master Yoda, had been with him during the destruction of the Temple.  Yoda had since gone into hiding on the distant world of Dagobah.  Mundi had survived the Temple destruction simply because he wasn't there.  He was on his homeworld of Cerea, along with his former Padawan and Jedi Knight A'Sharad Hett, fighting against the Empire's forces that attempted to take the planet.  It was of no use.  Hett was killed, along with most of Mundi's large family and Cerea was left in ruins.  Mundi had escaped and eventually formed the small resistance group.

This was where Obi-Wan and Amidala would be going.  There they would be safe for the time being from the Emperor's forces.

Obi-Wan left Amidala's quarters to head back to the bridge when his head erupted in pain.  He fell to his knees, his head now throbbing.  Suddenly, the pain stopped.   Obi-Wan looked around slowly and then got back to his feet.

That was no regular pain. That was a disturbance in the Force.

No, not a disturbance.  A…disruption.  A great one.  Something that did not belong in the galaxy had entered it and it was a great threat.  Particularly to Obi-Wan and Amidala.

Obi-Wan didn't know what it was but he knew it would be trouble.  Whatever it was, it could have a great effect on the future.  Or perhaps the past?