The Adventures of the Crimson Hawk, Part 31

Luke was climbing to his feet when he saw the Falcon swoop beneath the Death Star. He couldn't help his smirk at Palpatine, whom his father was helping to the deck. “You were too confident, Prime Minister. Not only would I never be your apprentice if you were the last teacher on Earth, but my friends, the people you put down and ignored and treated like the dirt under your fingernails, are about to destroy this floating death trap once and for all!”

Palpatine's growl was nearly as noisy as Charles'. He wasn't used to failure. Every plan of his for the past thirty years had worked out exactly as he'd designed. “You will pay for your defiance, royal brat.” He threw off the ermine cape and lifted his pasty-white fingers. “If you will not turn, you will be destroyed!”

Hot purple lightning exploded from his fingertips! It struck at Luke with the force of twenty Death Stars, knocking the boy half-way across the bridge. Vader watched as the youth's screams were nearly drowned out by his teacher's incessant cackling and the snapping purple fire.

“Father,” Luke begged through the violet haze, “please!”

He couldn't lose the boy. Not like he lost his mother, or the respect of his closest friend and beloved ward. He couldn't stand seeing another part of him lowered into the cold ground or a stone tomb. He'd had nightmares about seeing Padme on the hot dusty floor at the Mufasar Iron Works, throttled nearly to death by his own hand. He had lost Padme, lost Ben and Ahsoka. He would not lose his son.

Even with one hand, he easily lifted Palpatine over his head. The prime minister was so shocked at his pupil's betrayal, he wasn't able to concentrate fast enough to stop the lightning. It continued to strike Vader and rocket around the room as the hulking half-mechanical man hurled him into the glowing khyber crystal globe. He managed to shove Luke into a corner as the crystal liquid bubbled over, giving off a deafening explosion.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Henry, Leia, Charles, Wicket, and the servants watched the explosion from on-board the Aurora Belle. As the Ewoks cheered and celebrated behind them, Henry put his arms around Her Grace. “I'm sure Luke wasn't on that thing when it blew. Probably not Wedge or the boys, either.”

“He wasn't.” Leia's lovely face was thoughtful. “I can feel it.”

“So,” he started, “I guess you're going back to Alderaan after this. After all, the Diamond Jubilee is over. Luke will be crowned king, and you'll be Queen, and Wedge will be the kid's...uh, His Majesty's regent.” He shrugged, trying not to show how left out he felt. “Maybe it's time Charles and I finally headed out. Haven't been home to Chicago in years, and Charlie's got family on Kashyyak he wants to visit. I still want to expand Solo Shipping...”

Leia put a finger on his lips. “How about expanding it to Alderaan?”

Henry's eyes widened. “Huh?” he mumbled under her ring finger.

She reached up, giving him the most passionate, romantic kiss she could manage on her tip-toes. “I'll be the Grand Duchess of Alderaan when Aunt Breha retires. I have no desire to become Queen. I'm already running a country.” She grinned. “But I could use a good Grand Duke, and the new Grand Duke and Duchess could use a devoted native bodyguard.” She kissed him again for good measure. “What do you say?”

Henry handsome face was slack-jawed and dreamy-eyed. “Uhhh...what was the question?”

Leia laughed as Wicket hurried over, hugging both their legs. He loved seeing his two new favorite humans get together and mate! Maybe they'd even create cubs that he could teach to hunt and fight predators. He squeezed their limbs as they hugged each other.

“Oh, you two are so beautiful!” Charles threw his wide, hairy arms around all three of them. “I love happy endings!”

Henry chuckled. “Me too, buddy.”

~*~*~*~*~*~

Luke was doing his best to drag his father down a hall, having had to abandon the bridge when most of it was blasted out from under them. He didn't realize how damn heavy all that armor was! It was like moving three tons of bricks, or trying to carry Charles around when he got knocked on the noggin. He finally settled down at the end of the hall to rest, leaning his father gently against the wall.

“Luke,” Vader coughed, “help me take this mask off.”

“No, Father, you need it!” Luke frowned. “You'll die!”

“Then I'll die.” He gently ran a gloved finger over the boy's tanned cheeks. “Just for once...let me look on you with my own eyes.”

It took a minute to unlatch the helmet and breathing apparatus. When Luke finally pulled off the helmet, he was surprised to be staring into sapphire eyes very much like his own. The rest of his skin was dead white and was plastered with deep, jagged scars, where it wasn't burned off entirely. “Father...how did this happen?” the boy gasped.

“Kenton and I...Mufasar Iron Works...confronted me...about killing Jedi children...” Vader hacked so hard, his son was surprised an iron lung didn't land on the floor. “Palpatine told me...give me power if I killed Jedi...we fought...” He managed to let out a strangled bleat that might have been a growl. “Cut off my legs...let me fall into a vat...master found...stitched into suit. Thought I killed your mother...”

“No,” Luke assured him. “Leia and Rusty told me she got away.”

“Rusty...Richard...he's still around?” A smile played on the scarred lips of the man who was once Baron Anakin Skywalker. “Tell him...I miss him.” He took his son's hand. “Luke, you were right...about me. Tell your sister...you were right.”

“Father? Father!” Even as Luke pleaded, Baron Anakin Skywalker's eyes closed. The benevolent Baron Skywalker and corrupt Baron Vader died peacefully in the lap of his grieving son.

“Luke?” Another explosion rocked the hall, sending Luke flying into his late father's metal lap. “What the hell are you doing here?” Wedge and five other silhoettes were nearly thrown into the hall, falling into each other.

“Wedge!” The future king of Naboo stumbled to his feet. “I've never been so glad to see you in my life!”

His lover grinned. “It's nice to be appreciated.”

The rest of the League of the Crimson Hawk gathered around Vader's armor. Wes poked at it with his gun. “Is he dead?”

Corran held up the breathing mask, its many tubes now hanging loose over his hand. “Where's the rest of him?”

Luke sighed. “I'm not sure, but I think he became one with the Force.”

“Wait!” Gavin grabbed the mask from Corran. “I always wanted to do this.” He held the mask over his face, then wailed in a higher-pitched, raspy voice, “I am Baron Vader! I am the terror that leaps in the night! I...hey!”

“Stop that!” Luke snatched the mask back. “That's my father you're making fun of!”

Wedge took a step away, his blue eyes wide. “Your father? I thought he killed your father!”

“It's a long story.” The young king handed the mask and helmet to Corran. “I'm going to need help getting his armor out of here. Do you have the Rogue?”

Wedge nodded. “It's attached to the back docking area. I just hope Calarissian didn't blast it to bits along with the rest of this death machine.”

“That's a chance we'll have to take.” Luke took Vader's arm. “Wedge, you get his other wrist. Gavin, Wes, you take his legs.”

Wes wrinkled his nose as more explosions nearly sent them right into Vader's rear end. “No offense, Baron, but that's a little closer than I ever wanted to be to you.”

Gavin yanked at a heavy boot. “I hope half-robots don't have smelly feet.”

Tycho smacked his arm. “Would you guys just get going?”

“Yeah, we don't have a lot of time.” Corran tucked the mask and helmet under his arm as another explosion nearly bounced him off a wall. “I'd like to get out of this in one piece!”

Gavin barely lifted a leg before he was panting. “Whoa, this jerk is heavy! Did he subside on a steady diet of lead pellets?”

“Make jokes about his size later.” Luke winced as the ship lurched starboard. “Get to the Rogue now!”

~*~*~*~*~*~

The Rogue and the Falcon were the last ships out before the Death Star II saw its final demise in a fiery conflagration that could be seen for thousands of miles across three Alliance countries. The two airships met the Aurora Belle, the Ghost, and the remaining Naboo and Coruscant ships in the harbor at Lothal.

“Lelita!” Bail was the first one off the Alderaan steam cruiser Tiana Ariel. His adored niece hurried into his arms. “I'm so glad to see you again! I've missed my girl.”

“Uncle Bail!” She gave him the biggest hug she could manage. “You don't know how happy I am to see you!” She grinned, giving his arm a playful slug. “You just had to get that dramatic last-minute entrance!”

Bail rubbed his arm, but he was laughing. “Your aunt always did say I was a drama queen.”

“Leia!” Breha and Mon Mothma followed him onto the deck. “Thank heavens you're all right!”

“I'm fine, Auntie.” She gave them both hugs, then turned to Henry and Charles. The duo stood behind her on the dock, shuffling from foot to foot, looking a little sheepish. “Aunt Breha, Uncle Bail, meet the Crimson Hawk, and one of his men, Chewbacca of Kashyyak.”

Bail smirked. “I knew it. I knew all along it had to be you. A pirate can never hide his swagger. You swaggered even when you were walking with a cane.”

His wife nodded. “I'd suspected it as well.”

“Looks like intelligence runs in the family.” Henry put an arm around Leia. “Your Graces, I'd like permission to court your niece. I think I've sort-of gotten used to having her around. I could use a new manager for Solo Shipping, since Junior's going to be busy with Naboo.”

“Sort of?” Leia glared at him. “You were very close to violently making love with me ten minutes ago!”

“Hey, that was your idea, Your Grace.” He put his hands on his hips. “I have half a mind to take back that job offer.”

Leia stepped right up to his face. “Don't start giving away half your mind. You won't have anything left!”

“Oh, yeah?” Henry was going to start into another retort when Charles finally nudged him into Leia's arms. “I think I have enough for this.” He pulled her into another kiss. This time, she did not protest.

Laughter erupted around the docks when they finally came up for air. Luke, Wedge, the Rogues, Langdon, Niem, Admiral Ackbar, Rusty, Charles, and the crew of the Ghost were all watching on the dock or the deck of the Admiral's ship.

“Damn, boy.” Langdon let loose with a long wolf whistle. “That was some impressive love-making right there.”

“You'll like courting a sailor, Leia.” Kanan gave Hera a squeeze. “I know I love mine.” Ezra and Sabine snickered as they, too, pulled into an embrace.

The Admiral bowed deeply for Luke as he and Wedge pushed through the crowd. “Your Majesty,” he began. “My men have secured the remaining Coruscant boats. The survivors will likely be sent back to Coruscant City under an armed escort tomorrow.”

Bail put his arms around Luke. “Leia wrote me and told me everything. I'm proud of you, my boy...and Padme would have been proud of you, too.” He frowned at the haunted look in the youth's eyes. “What happened? Where's Vader and Palpatine? Went down with the ship?”

“Palpatine did. Vader died killing him.” Luke pulled away. “I...there's something I have to do. Wedge, I need to borrow the Rogue. I'll see you at Corellia Manor later.”

Wedge frowned. “All right, Luke.” He gave him a kiss of his own, ignoring the grins and kissy noises from the rest of the Rogue League. “But we'll get some alone time later?”

“Of course.” Luke kissed his brow. “After the party's over, we'll have all the time in the world.”

Henry grinned. “Good idea, Junior. Everyone's invited to Corellia Manor for the biggest celebration in the history of Naboo!” He rubbed the top of Wicket's bear head covering. “You too, pipsqueak. Bring your whole clan.” The little Ewok chattered with joy.

Langdon put an arm around him. “I'll bring the champagne, directly from the finest wine-growers in Bespin.”

Leia smiled at the two men in her arms. “Let's go, League of the Crimson Hawk. We deserve a real ball..for all the people of Naboo.”

~*~*~*~*~*~

Alone in the woods in near Theed Town, Luke burned what remained of Vader's armor. A part of him wished his father had survived. He would never meet Leia or Henry under more pleasant circumstances, never get a chance to truly redeem himself. He could have done so much more.

There would also never have to be a trial, nor jail time. He was all too aware of how Naboo's laws worked. Regardless of his actions in the end, Vader had murdered dozens of people, including a whole school of children, and had ordered scores of others killed. He also wasn't entirely sure Leia could ever forgive him for his treatment of her and Henry.

After there was nothing left but metal and ashes, he had the remains buried in Padme's tomb with his beloved wife. Many protested this, claiming he was not royalty, nor was deserving of the title. Luke insisted on it. He needed to be with Padme. He missed her. The boy never knew what became of the melted helmet and mask; they were lost in the remains when he took the ashes away.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Luke was crowned king of Naboo in a ceremony two weeks later. Leia, Bail, and Breha remained at Chalindria Court for the coronation. Wedge married Luke the week afterwards, becoming Crown Regent. The two kept Corellia Manor as their summer home and the Aurora Belle as the royal family's official yacht. The Rogues remained on as the King and Regent's personal bodyguards. The Admiral was made head of the Royal Naboo Navy.

The new king offered Rusty a position as an adviser, but he declined. “That's ok, kid.” He adjusted his tool belt. “I'm just happy I can fix the furnace at Nabarrie Palace again. I have my tools, my work, and my friends. A man doesn't need much else in this world.”

Cedric was relieved to return to Chalindria Court, where he continued on as the secretary to Mon Mothma for many years. After the Senator retired, Leia offered him a position as her secretary. He proudly and delightedly accepted.

Captain Hera Sylendulla also turned down a commission, preferring to remain on the Ghost. Kanan and Luke began a school for new young Jedi guards, hoping to increase their ranks. Ezra Bridger and Sabine Wren did attend school, thanks to the new scholarships given to “youths of outstanding character” by the Royal Family. Sabine attended art school in Paris; upon her return to Naboo, she became a well-known painter and commercial artist. Ezra opened a small, radical newspaper in Lothal, widely read by many extreme thinkers.

Hux and Boba Fettson were both charged with crimes against the crown and arrested. While Hux was eventually released, he was exiled from Naboo and never allowed in the country again. Boba Fettson died in a shootout in jail a few months after his arrest.

Luke and Leia visited Ahsoka in the hospital. She made a full recovery, enough to join Cassian and Jyn in covering the coronation and the wedding. Her wild cheers were louder than anyone's when the bishop placed the crown on Luke's golden brow. She eventually took over as editor of the Theed Daily Star from Rex Fettson on his retirement. Cassian married Jyn after two noisy years of courtship. They were the Daily Star's top husband-wife reporter team for years, exposing corruption not only in Naboo, but throughout Europe.

Langdon Croydon used the money from selling Bella Vista and his share in the Bespin mining facilities to buy Jenkins' Casino and holdings in Tatoonie. As the Tropicale del Coronado, the casino flourished, becoming one of the most beloved gambling spots and extravagant resorts in the entire Alliance. Even the King and Regent of Naboo and Duke and Grand Duchess of Alderaan could occasionally be seen playing a game of baccarat with its elegant owner and host.

The party at Corellia Manor lasted for three days, most of which Henry Solo insists he still doesn't remember. He flew Leia and her parents back to Alderaan on the Falcon the day after the coronation. He and Charles briefly returned to Naboo to settle their remaining debts there. The second Solo Shipping offices opened in Alderaan three months later.

Henry never made it to America. He was too busy dating his beloved Duchess. It took three years of courtship, but they were finally married in a simple ceremony attended only by Leia's aunt and uncle, Rusty, Charles, Cedric, Luke, Wedge, and Ahsoka. Charles did remain their devoted bodyguard, becoming even more protective when it was discovered Leia was with child.

“Some summer, huh?” Henry and Leia stood on the balcony of Aldra House, less than a month after their wedding. “Amazing what can happen on vacation.”

“That trip was the best vacation I ever had.” Leia leaned on his shoulder. “Even with the Death Stars.” She grinned up at him. “You know, I sometimes miss the Crimson Hawk. I wonder what happened to him? To him, and the Golden Eagle, and the White Swan.”

He smiled as he rubbed his wife's round stomach. The dreamy glow that she exuded wasn't entirely due to the rosy sunset going on behind the castle. The father to be gave his wife a kiss. “What happened to them? Why, they lived happily ever after.”

The End