Gone
Chapter Three

Coruscant

Bail Organa sat beside Leia on the comfy sofa as she flicked through her holos with him. Bail took them all in, asking about the people or places featured. Han wondered why she had not shown him any of Luke until she paused over a holo taken on Hoth of Han, Chewie and Luke. Han knew that she cherished this one. She didn't have many of her brother from that era and the few she did have had a special place in her heart.

"This is during the Rebellion on Hoth." Leia smiled at the antics depicted. It looked like Luke had come off worst in the snowball fight. It was a carefree moment and Leia loved this picture.

Bail recognised the emotion in his daughter, taking a better look at the displayed holo. He took in the picture of the three figures playing about in the snow. The smaller blonde headed young man was smiling broadly as he got snow dumped on him by Han and Chewie.

"I take it this is Luke?" Bail asked, broaching the subject with Leia since she seemed reluctant to take it up.

Leia nodded. "It wasn't until later I found out that he was my brother. Did you know?"

Bail took in her words and could feel the pain underlying them. He wondered what had happened to the young man that had hurt Leia and her family so much. He put his own questions aside for now while he tried to answer Leia's. There was so much information to take in, not just on a personal level but all the technological changes had left him astounded and a little lost.

"I knew that you were a twin but I didn't know what had happened to the other baby. I didn't know the details and I presumed the other baby had died as Obi-Wan didn't correct me on this viewpoint and Padme didn't speak about such things. It was much safer that way."

"Padme?" Leia asked. "Was that my real mother's name?"

"Yes. Her family name was Naberrie but her reign name was Amidala when she was elected Queen of Naboo." Bail let Leia digest this information. He had so much to tell her now which he hadn't dared in the past for her own safety.

Leia and Han took this in. Han knew that he was right about his inkling that Bail Organa would be able to give them a lot more background to her family history. Han wasn't immediately familiar with Naboo but he would soon correct that.

Leia had never dwelt on her past too much as she had thought the answers had be taken to the grave but now she had chance to ask all those questions. Her lack of knowledge suddenly seemed like a black hole in her soul. She had so many questions which she needed the answers to.

"Do you remember her at all?" Bail asked curiously watching Leia's face intently. Leia had been very young when her mother had died.

"Yes and no. When Luke asked me about our mother, I told him that I only had vague feelings and impressions of her." Leia paused hesitantly, unsure if her mind was playing tricks on her. "But I do have another memory about hiding in a trunk. Does that make any sense to you?"

Bail nodded. "We were searched with little warning and the only place to hide you both was these big chests. You were scared of the darkness after that if I remember. Do you remember that? We had to give you a night light after that at bedtime. I am not sure exactly of your age but you were a very young child."

Leia nodded in remembrance. "Did my mother ever mention Luke?"

Bail shook his head, "Not to my knowledge. Obi-Wan would be the best person to ask."

"Obi-Wan Kenobi died fifteen years ago on the first Death Star." Leia looked at Han. Han had always been suspicious of the 'old man' and the selective information he had fed Luke.

Han took over the story telling Bail about the events of them hooking up with Obi-Wan and Luke, rescuing Leia, the destruction of Alderaan and events leading up to the destruction of the first Death Star.

Bail took all this in. He had been briefed about the events but hearing it first-hand made it more real. His captors had taunted him about the destruction of Alderaan but he had believed it to be a bluff and to find out that it was the truth had been devastating. He had cried when he found out that Alderaan was really gone. He just reached out for Leia's hand when Han related that turn of events.

The conversation eventually turned back to the holos and Leia brought up more recent shots of the children with Luke. Something was nagging at the back Bail's mind when he looked at the recent pictures of Luke. His face seemed familiar but it seemed out of place so initially Bail thought it was something to do with family resemblance to Anakin. Slowly Bail began to get a feeling that somehow he had seen Luke Skywalker before.

"Leia, what happened to Luke?" Bail finally asked the difficult question. He had been initially concerned when he learned about Leia's brother but from what he had been told, he had been greatly reassured about this Skywalker.

"He was captured and executed several months ago by former Imperials while on an undercover mission. It turned out to be an elaborate trap." Leia looked hesitantly at her father before answering. "He wasn't that keen to do it for NRI so I asked him personally to do it as a favour for me." She didn't want to tell her father that the mission had been about him. There had been a hint of truth amid all the lies after all. Han always said that the best lies, had a kernel of truth in them.

Han put his hand on her shoulder, to try and stop her from going through this yet again. "You are not to blame, Leia. How many times do I have to tell you?"

Leia answered sharply, "I was responsible for him being on that mission."

Han knew where this was going as they had had this very discussion time and time again since the news. "Yes, I know. Please remember that doesn't mean you are responsible for the events that occurred on the mission. You are not responsible for his capture and execution. If anyone is responsible, it is the intelligence agents that bought the story."

"Yes, Leia. Listen to Han." Bail added. He hated to see his daughter like this. He tried to digest all the information so he could help her. Bail realised that Leia was still blaming herself over her brother's death rather than coming to terms with her grief. He wondered what the mission had been and why Leia seemed to be so adamant that she had failed her brother. Leia was still as stubborn as the teenager he had known and loved.

"Luke would not want you to be doing this to yourself. Snap out of it, Leia." Han continued.

The former Viceroy also wondered if he should speak up now about his suspicion that he had seen Luke somewhere before. Hesitating, he reached for the holos again for a closer look before deciding if he should bring this up. There was definitely something tantalising about his familiarity.

Han and Leia quietly conversed in the background initially unaware of Bail as he flicked through the views once more. He smiled at the ones of his daughter and grandchildren. He unconsciously paused longer on the ones containing Luke. His feeling of recognition was getting stronger. It was a while before he noticed that the conversation had died and that he was being observed.

"What is it, father?" Leia asked. Her previous guilt replaced by concern. She recognised that something was bothering him.

Bail looked up in to the chocolate brown eyes of his re-found daughter. He paused wondering if he should bring this up still but Leia knew his mannerisms too well. She always had excelled at reading people. Giving in, he just simply said the truth. "I'm not sure but your brother seems familiar to me."

"How?" Han asked, leaning forward suddenly interested. "Do you mean he reminds you of someone or that you have actually seen him?"

"That is what I've have been trying to work out." The older Organa answered quietly. Shaking his head, Bail suddenly looking tired. "I just don't know but it is just that in some of these holos, he seems remarkably familiar."

"This one for instance... it is ringing bells in my mind." Bail paused before shrugging. "I am not sure but I think I may have seen him during my captivity."

Han just looked at Leia before he asked, "How long ago?"

* * *

Mara Jade had tried to ignore the comm but the incessant buzzing was beginning to drive her demented. She was annoyed that whoever was trying to call her had interrupted her bath. Slipping in to a bath robe still dripping wet, she slapped on the comm on audio only. This had better be good, and as a shiver hit her, quick before she got too cold.

"Mara!"

Mara scowled at the sound of Han's voice. She was about to cut off the comm in disgust when the tone of Han's voice stopped her.

"Please wait, Mara!" Han instinctively knew he wouldn't get long with the trader. "It is about Luke..."

Frowning, Mara sat down, unsure what devastation was about to brought upon her now about Luke. She decided to hear him out. "I'm listening. Go on."

"I don't want to do this over a comm, Mara." Han's voice changed again, sounding rather hushed. "Any chance you can come round?"

"Now?" Mara exclaimed.

"Yes, immediately!" Han insisted. "We need your help with this, Mara. Please! Or we can come to you?"

"Okay. I'll be round shortly." Mara relented as her curiosity was beginning to burn. The last thing she wanted was the man pounding on her door while she was still undressed at this time of night. It would have the gossip hounds starting on another 'exclusive'. She wondered what was going on and hoped that it was not more bad news.

* * * *

On Board the Stellar Byrd

Rick Ells watched the stars reappear as he reverted back to normal space. Casting a glance at the chrono and nav-com, he had made good time despite the malfunction on the hyperdrive at the start of the journey. Looking forward to being planet side for a few days, Rick patched in to the local control requesting clearance for approach. They were a bit prickly out here so he made sure that he hadn't cut his approach too short. The security in this system often shot first and then asked questions later when it was too late.

Heading for the second planet in the system, Ells checked up on information he was receiving from the local computer network. It looked like that he was going to get excellent prices for his consumables as well as the fee he would collect from his agent. Pleased the tall man started to whistle a jaunty air. He could sell up quickly, meet his contact and then spend some down time on the lovely beaches of Rykesh.

A trader's life was good when things went well. Perhaps he would make enough to do an upgrade on the freighter soon. She was long overdue one.

Sometime later after his ship was unloaded and his cargo's payment secured, Ells headed out of the spaceport towards his meeting point.

Ira Kilallan was sat in his usual booth, sipping the local brew of Nerc Ale. Rick spotted the tattoo adorned humanoid immediately and slid in to the vacant bench across the table.

"Good run?" The Zabrak asked solicitously.

"Not bad." Rick answered casually. "The usual delays at the check-in but I'm sure the surf will be worth the trouble."

"The surf is always up here." Ira commented mildly. Easily chatting about the different surfing beaches while the server deposited a fresh brew in front of the tall Corellian until they were able to discuss their true agenda without ears listening in. Ira placed a discrete scrambler on the table top while they talked business.

The captain had a mouthful of the ale, savouring the bitter taste on his tongue. Not quite as good as the Corellian brews but quite a palatable alternative out here. At least, Rick thought thankfully, it was better than the other local drink. The green colour of that was enough to put you off but the taste was to say politely, an acquired taste which only the locals seemed to be able to stomach.

"The boss is wanting to know about news from your last port." Ira's yellow eyes scanned their surroundings, constantly people watching. "Reports are coming in of unusual activity amongst the Hywel."

Ells scowled at the mention of the Kyrash IV crime fraternity. "Yeah, heard that they were trying to traffic some mining equipment and explosives but things got a little hot for them. Had heard that they had it taken off their hands rather quickly and not for a lot of profit. Don't know where they got it from though or who has it now."

Kilallan frowned, the dark brown markings of his tattoos contrasting against his pale brown skin and horns. "Anything else?"

"Not much from Kyrash except a persistent hunch that something was about to happen. You know the feeling when I say it is like the quiet before the storm." Rick continued quickly. "I've seen a few new NRI agents kicking about the place which would back that up."

Ira's instant expression managed to clarify exactly what he thought of the NRI. He also knew from past experience that Corellian hunches were something to take heed of, even if initially they seem a bit ludicrous. Nodding, he accepted that last bit of information.

Rick went on to finish his report on the other worlds, that he had recently visited with Kerr. The Zabak listened carefully throughout, questioning him from time to time until Rick had imparted all his information.

Finishing the dregs of the ale, Ells wiped an arm across his lips to wipe away the froth off his moustache.

"Look forward to the same, on your next tour." Kilallan smiled and discretely passed Ells his payment. "You staying on planet for awhile?"

Rick answered. "Got a few days for R & R before I head off."

"Good, I may have something for you by then." Ira told Rick. "I'll be in touch in the usual manner if I need you."

"Fine." Rick stood up, now that his duties were all done, he could finally start to relax and enjoy himself. It was time to play tourist.

* * * *

Author's Note: With regard to my comments about Padme, this is an exception to where I take the films as canon and this fic is AU anyway. I have always believed that Padme accompanied Leia to Alderaan for the first few years in her life ever since I ever first saw ROTJ. I have just briefly elaborated upon the fragments mentioned about her in ROTJ's novelisation which IMHO was conveniently forgotten (or reconsidered?) for the prequels and the events at the end of ROTS .