Consequences

Chapter 11 - The Rebel Alliance

We've arrived at the Rebel Alliance base – which for now is just a cruiser floating around in space until they find a better option. I stand in the medbay next to Luke's bed as medical droid works on replacing his hand. Leia is nearby. Artoo and Threepio are standing by the large viewport in the room, looking out into space at the other Rebel fighters flying about.

"Luke, we're ready for takeoff," Lando's voice comes through the commlink in Luke's other hand. Chewbacca and Lando are leaving for Tatooine on the Falcon to go in search of Han.

"Good luck, Lando," replies Luke.

"When we find Jabba the Hutt and that bounty hunter, we'll contact you," Lando informs him. I still wonder exactly what happened to Boba during that the past twenty years. Not that it's as important as everything else, but I really find it sad how someone like the child I met so many years ago could have become someone like the person we know now.

"I'll meet you at the rendezvous point on Tatooine," Luke tells him.

"Princess, we'll find Han, I promise," he assures Leia who smiles in response.

"Chewie, I'll be waiting for you signal," Luke informs him. The Wookie grows a response.

"Take care, you two," cautions Luke.

"May the Force be with you," I add before the call disconnects and Luke sets the commlink down.

I glance over at the medical droid as it begins pricking the fingers on Luke's new hand. It looks real, unlike Anakin's mechanical arm back from my time. Technology has certainly advanced a lot during these past twenty years. At least that's one good thing. Maybe someday he'll be able to get an arm that looks more real also. With his hand replacement finally complete, Luke slides off the bed and walks over to Leia, who has moved to stand by the viewport.

As I watch them, I'm again reminded of my suspicion. Leia looks so much like Padme, it's just eerie. I can't help but wonder if perhaps they're actually twins. It doesn't sound likely, but then again, everything I've found out is also next to impossible. I'm guessing even if they're not, Leia's closely related to Padme in some other way. I haven't had a chance to talk to Leia much about her past, and besides, I know it's going to be a painful topic for her, but I'll try sometime to see if I can figure it out.

A tinge of sadness hits me as I realize that Padme's gone too. The last time I saw her was at my trial, when she was the only person willing to stand up against the entire Senate, struggling to prove my innocence. Just like so many others, she definitely didn't deserve her death. Maybe... maybe I'll be able to change everything. I can only hope.

Luke wraps an arm around Leia as I come to join the others at the viewport. Artoo and Threepio stand beside me. The Falcon suddenly flies into view before turning about and zooming off into space before disappearing from sight. Before long, they'll be gone into hyperspace.

Silence hangs in the room for many long moments as we watch the ships flying outside. Finally, Leia breaks it.

"It's probably time for us to head to that meeting with the Rebel Alliance leaders," she remarks. Right. They wanted to meet me after Leia informed them of my presence, but she's leaving it up to me to explain to them that I'm not the Ahsoka Tano they're expecting. At least she's given them a warning.

"I'll come with you," offers Luke.

He and I have already discussed his training and decided that we aren't going to return to Dagobah until this whole situation with Han is taken care of. While I'm anxious to have a talk with Yoda, and Obi-Wan, for that matter, it will have to wait for now. In the meantime, I'll continue training Luke. How ironic. I'll technically have a padawan even though I'm still a padawan. Well, was before I was thrown out of the Order. The only question will be lightsabers. We're going to have to make new ones as soon as possible. Luke needs to be much more skilled with his lightsaber before we can do anything about Han, and he needs to be practicing now. Especially since there's no way to know what else will happen before I go home.