The Adventures of the Crimson Hawk, Part 28

“Junior!” Henry and Leia watched from the third story as Vader carried the boy up the majestic staircase. “Damn it, Vader has him!”

Leia pointed over his shoulder. “I think we have more things to worry about at the moment.” Coruscant army soldiers in stiff black and white uniforms were coming right at them. She raised an eyebrow as the Crimson Hawk turned his goggles upwards to the ceiling. “Henry, what are you doing?”

“Saving our hides.” His eyes were still focused upwards as the soldiers rushed at them from both sides. “Ok, Sweetheart, on my count. One, two...”

They leaped upwards just in time, grabbing a smaller chandelier over their heads. The soldiers skidded into each other before they could stop. The resulting crash bore a close resemblance to a carriage pile-up, with arms and legs wiggling in a messy hill. Henry landed behind them, nearly falling over onto the rest of the group. Leia landed with a perfect little somersault.

Henry rolled his eyes. “Show off.”

She was about to point out that he was one to talk when she noticed another group of soldiers coming at them from behind him. “Look out!” She whipped out her sword, stopping two of them and slashing at a third's belt, making him stumble and showing off his rather adorable heart-print boxers. “Henry, get out of here. Get Charles, Rusty, and the secret weapons!”

“Charlie went to get them a while ago.” He shot at two more. “Sweetheart, I'm not leaving you.”

Leia shoved him along. “Just go! I'll meet you downstairs.”

He dashed off down the hall, leading the men away from Leia. “I got to give you guys credit,” he yelled. “You're persistent!”

Leia lead another group down the stairs to the second floor. She dove into what appeared to be a bedroom. One tried to get her on the bed, but she kicked him in his sensitive parts. As he doubled over, another man pulled out a sword. She went head-to-head with him, then with another, until she was dueling with three at once!

“I'm sorry, gentlemen.” She bowed before them. “but I can't fall for all of you. I'll let you do that.” Her hands were around the carpet under their feet before they could stop her. The moment it was yanked away, they toppled to the polished floor like bowling pins. The agile Duchess leaped over them and raced down the stairs.

Henry was having less luck. He was being chased by two squadrons at once and getting a little tired of the running around. It was about time for The Crimson Hawk to make his grand exit. “It's been fun, boys,” he chuckled as he climbed onto the railing, “but I've got other places to be, other people I need to rescue. See ya on the other side!” One man attempted to grab at his ankles, but Henry stomped on his hand before making a flying leap into the air.

His fingers just managed to catch hold of the crystal chandelier before gravity took hold. The soldiers tried to shoot at him, but he was swinging too fast. He wanted to swing to the other side, but it was too far, and he just couldn't get up the momentum. Sweaty fingers in leather gloves finally lost their grip on the crystal, leaving him plummeting to the ballroom floor.

All he saw for the next few moments was stars and piano keys. “Henry!” He was still seeing stars and ivory bars when a pair of slender arms in ruffled white silk wrapped around him. “What the hell were you thinking?”

Henry squinted up at the blurry face that glared through emerald green rings. “Huh? How many of there are you?”

“One.” The kiss he received from this vision in white only made his legs even more rubbery. “You dear, silly idiot.” That kiss was followed by a smack across the back of his head. “What were you thinking? It's one thing when we were all doing it together, but landing in the piano? You could have gotten hurt!”

“I did...huh?” Henry was surrounded by wooden splinters, metal wires, and small bars of ebony and ivory. “Oh.”

“Mr. Crimson Hawk!” Cedric hurried over. “That was quite a fall you took, sir.”

Henry winced as Leia and the secretary helped him out of the broken wood. “Oh, I always come into a room like that.”

“We have to get you out of here, before Vader's boys figure out what's going on.” Leia squeezed his sore hip. “The Death Star is about to take off. Anyone who had an invitation has already gone there, or to the windows to watch them leave if they didn't.”

“Stop right there, Solo.” Yet another squadron lined the wide staircase like well-armed ants. Hux lead them, dressed in a similar black and white uniform that was too tight and too short in the trousers, revealing a few inches of pale, hairy leg. “You're not getting away this time!” One of his men shoved Cedric forward. “This impostor is under arrest for impersonating an officer, rather badly, I may add, and being an accessory to criminal acts.”

“I am not impersonating you badly! Ow!” Cedric whined as Hux yanked off his red wig.

“Yeah,” Henry sneered. “He looks a lot better than you do.”

“Quiet, Solo.” The remaining guests gasped as Hux's men surrounded them. “I'm going to execute you right here, in front of all these witnesses! His Majesty King Palpatine might even make me a prince. Especially if I can bring his crown jewels back.” His blue eyes softened as they swung to Leia. “You have one last chance, Your Grace. Marry me, and I might consider letting these two renegades go. Otherwise, you die with them.”

Leia pulled up her goggles, giving Hux the full brunt of her angry glare. She took Henry's arm, partially to keep him from collapsing. “I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man in Naboo!” She continued, more loudly, so everyone could hear. “I'm the White Swan, a member of the League of the Crimson Hawk! I will never, never bow down to a sycophant like you!”

Hux merely sighed. “Very well.” He swished to the bandstand, managing to sashay even without his ever-present cape. “Men, search them for the jewels.” Two of the white-clad guards ran their hands all over Han and Leia. They confiscated both their guns and Leia's sword, but nothing else.

Leia slapped one hand when it wandered into her bosom. “Excuse me, but that's a private place!”

“I'm tellin' ya, we don't have 'em.” Henry smirked. “An' we're not tellin' you where they are, either.”

“Too bad.” He waved his hand at another squadron. “I want you to turn this whole palace upside-down. Don't rest until the Crown Jewels are safely in my hands.”

As he spoke, two of his men bound Henry and Leia together tightly with gold silk rope from one of the curtains in the parlor just off the ballroom as Hux's men gathered the remaining audience. Another bound a protesting Cedric to one of the musicians' chairs on the stage. “Sorry I got you into this mess, Sweetheart.” The taller man squeezed her hand. “I love you.”

His beloved White Swan gave him a small smile. “I know.”

“Now, Crimson Hawk, I'll get what I've wanted from the beginning.” Hux reached for his goggles. “Who is the man behind the mask?” He turned to the remaining crowd, hanging on his every word. “We've all wondered what manner of criminal has been stealing from the nobles and the gentry. Who would be so bold as to release all the Wookie natives from the Royal Regatta and the Death Star Airship? What manner of man would be able to invent the machines that allow them to escape every time?”

“Sir?” One of his men was shaking his arm. “I hear squeaking.”

“Not now, Officer!” Hux pushed him away. “I'm about to reveal the Crimson Hawk to the entire audience! What could be more important than that?”

The officer pointed at the railings. “Uh...them.”

And that was when he heard the heart-stopping, ear-pounding roar of the Wookie natives...and the chatter of a smaller breed of savage. Suddenly, brown blurs dropped from the railings, smashed through the windows, and climbed out of dumbwaiters. Fluffballs and massive giants pushed through guests and leaped over tables.

Henry's cheer was long and loud. “Looks like our secret weapon has arrived!”

Hux was screaming at the top of his lungs. “Well, don't just stand there! Stop them!” He grabbed one man with his good hand. “Oh no. You and I still have to get rid of the meddlesome Crimson Hawk.”

Henry smirked. “Thought you forgot us.”

“I won't.” Hux raised his gun in his left hand. “But history will only remember you as part of a failed rebellion, just another statistic.” His men aimed right for their hearts on either side. “Say good-bye, Crimson Hawk.” Henry clutched Leia's hand and stared right into Hux's eyes, ready to face death head-on.

Henry waited...but all he heard was a klonk and shattering china. When his eyes opened, Hux was on the ground, wailing over the bump on his head. Charles stood over him. Two Wookie natives in white waiter's jackets wrestled the soldiers to the floor.

“Nice work, Chewie.” Henry grinned as Leia's little friend Wicket cut through the rope with a flint knife. “You too, shorty.”

“Here ye go, mate.” Charles tossed Henry his gun and Leia her sword. “Now, let's go stop that Death Star, before they take off with the real King of Naboo.”

Even as Charles spoke, the chandelier rattled and the windows shook. A green light blasted through the oncoming twilight, sizzling the grass below it. “Damn! Damn it!” Henry, Charles, Wicket, and Leia watched through the wide windows as the Death Star II launched into the sky, finally melding into the purple and orange horizon. “They got the kid!”

Leia pulled a box wound with blue bubbling wires and wooden buttons out of her pocket. “Hello? Langdon?”

“Your Grace?” The former mayor's voice was tinny but recognizable. “From the sound of your voice and all the noise, I'm going to guess the party isn't going well.”

“No, it isn't.” Leia moved away from the party as the guards started shooting at the Wookies, who ducked their bullets and started throwing soldiers and guests into tables. “Langdon, tell Wedge Vader and Palpatine escaped...and they have Luke. I'm afraid to ask what they're going to try on him.”

Langdon echoed Henry's sentiment. “Damn it! We'll rescue him, Your Grace. Antilles won't forgive us if we don't. He's really crazy about him.”

“Watch out for the Admiral and Hera and her crew in the water. We'll join you with the Aurora Belle as soon as we have the jewels.” She just noticed three men coming at her in time to shoot down one and dodge another. “I have to go. This ball's getting a little crowded.”

“Good luck, Your Grace,” Langdon said as he signed off. Leia got the box in her pocket as soon as the lights stopped bubbling.

Henry had just punched out three men when Leia rejoined them. “Ready to find those jewels?”

“They're not hard to find.” Leia smirked. “In fact, I hid them in plain sight.”

“Well then, let's move things along.” Charles had Wicket under one arm, squirming away. “Before Hux calls for reinforcements.”

Henry nodded. “Right.” The three ducked upstairs, leaving the Wookies and Ewoks to fling rocks and food, throw spears and punches, and generally cause as much chaos as possible.

The Adventures of the Crimson Hawk, Part 29

Luke awoke in a thick leather chair on the bridge. As his eyes focused, he saw the malevolent visage of his father driving the main wheel, occasionally hissing at a button. The cathedral windows were surrounded by lavender clouds melting into the rapidly darkening evening sky.

“Good evening, my young apprentice.” Palpatine's ermine cloak hung off one shoulder, the bottom hems dirty and bedraggled from being dragged across a muddy lawn. He'd lost his red sash and three of his medals fleeing the ball, making him look even more like an ancient sorcerer cackling over a cauldron of foul-smelling brew.

“What...what happened?” Luke gazed steadily into Palpatine's yellowish orbs. “Where's Henry and Leia? What have you done with them?”

Vader pushed a button, placing the Death Star II on auto pilot. “We received word from General Brendol Hux at Nabarrie Palace that Captain Solo and Duchess Organa have been captured, and are awaiting execution. There's no hope for either of them now.”

“Nor for you.” Luke's voice was steady. “Soon I'll be dead, and you with me.”

“You mean the attack of your little band of rebels?” Even Palpatine's laughter resembled the cackle of a fairy-tale witch. “The Coruscant Navy is quite prepared for them. And what they don't deal with, the Death Star itself can handle.” He leaned into a long brass tube attached to the side of the wall. “Fire at will, Commander Jerrod.”

Luke looked on in horror as two of the boats following them on the Calamari River were blown to splinters by a thin green light. A third barely missed the Ghost, which managed to dodge the light beam.

“I'm afraid your band was fed older information.” Palpatine's sharp smile was that of a shark about to devour its pray. “This vehicle is quite operational, and has been for weeks. In fact, we're on our way to Aldra to eliminate the rest of their capitol city, and perhaps lay waste to a few of their other major ports as well. What a pity such a cataclysm should happen to one of the loveliest countries in the Alliance.” His gold eyes narrowed. “Grand Duke Organa should never have taken sides. This will prove once and for all what happens to those who defy the Coruscant Empire.”

Luke watched the carnage as the Ghost and Maz Kantana's pirates traded shells with the Coruscant Navy. They were hopelessly outnumbered. The navy had put another boat into the water before Luke finally turned to them. “No,” he said, his voice now a whisper. “I'm not a toady like my father.”

“I'm no sniveling wastrel, like that idiot Hux at Nabarrie Castle.” Vader clenched his fists. “I'm my own man, not a slave!”

“Yes you are, Father. You're a slave to” Luke nodded his head in Palpatine's direction “him.”

“Never!” His hissing became more pronounced. “I am a pupil!”

“That's right, my young apprentice. You were greatly mistaken.” Palpatine flounced over to a table near the bubbling generator, where Luke's electrical saber lay. “I can feel your fear. Release your anger! Take your place by my father's side! Eliminate me once and for all. I know you want to!”

Luke's eyes were closed. Sweat poured down his face. He knew Palpatine was lying about Leia, at least. He could feel her. If he could get rid of this madman, take him down, his father would come home. He could get rid of these phantom menaces, once and for all.

He faltered only a moment, looking out at the carnage on the water, before the pack and saber flew into his hand. The youth slipped it on and flipped the switch before Vader had the chance to let out another raspy breath. The mechanical man lunged for his son just in time to stop him from taking Palpatine's ashen head off all together.

Palpatine's cackle reverberated through the halls of the Death Star II, to the point where several officers had to check the rooms to make sure they hadn't picked up any spell-casting witches somewhere.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Did you see that?” Langdon Croydon's own dark eyes were wide with shock as he watched a green light shoot another ship out of the water. “That blast came from the Death Star! That thing's operational!”

“We saw it.” Admiral Ackbar's voice croaked from his own ship, the Ancient Mariner. Langdon was glad he'd thought to give him an extra talking box from the Falcon, even if the 80-year-old war veteran kept holding the thing like it would bite him. “I'm withdrawing all craft from the water, including Captain Syndulla's. We can't deal with fire power of that magnitude.”

“Captain Antilles is already on-board the Death Star, setting up the bombs to take out the shields.” Langdon turned the Falcon a hard right. “We're already on our way. You've got to give us more time!”

One of the Admiral's aides could be heard frantically behind him. “Admiral, three of the Coruscant ships have boxed us in. We can't get back to the harbor!”

The Admiral's croak sounded more desperate. “It's a trap!”

Langdon nodded at his co-hort, a small man from the mountain kingdom of Sullustia with a hang-dog face and large liquid brown eyes. “Niem, get Laurence and our boys to the guns. We'll show that Navy a thing or two. And we might even take a few of them along with us!”

Niem let out a fearfulstream of what sounded to most people like gibberish. Langdon, who spent some time among the Sullustians at their casino in the southern valleys, could translate well enough. “Don't worry, buddy, my friends will have that shield down in time!”

His friend just continued with his gibberish, even as he turned his attention to the nearest canon. “Or this will be the shorted offensive of all time,” Lando continued under his breath.

~*~*~*~*~*~

On board the Death Star, two baby-blue eyes peered around a corner. “All clear, boys!” Tycho Celchu emerged into the main control room first. “They must have all gone to man the cannons.”

“I wish I was out there with them.” Derek “Hobbie” Kilivan followed, his dark eyes glittering under his gray Coruscant Airship Officer's cap. “I'd rather be shooting something than sneaking around in here. We're going to get arrested again.”

“You only get arrested if you get caught.” Wes Janson, clad in a tight black gunner's uniform, tossed a few bright balls into the air. “I got these off Sabine Wren, that cute maid at Chalindria Court, a few weeks ago. She says they make colored smoke when they're dropped or thrown. Been dying to try them.”

“Ain't she gorgeous?” Gavin Darklighter's grin nearly matched that of his cousin Biggs, who had died trying to defend the Falcon and Rogue from the first Death Star. “Too bad she's hung up on Ezra Bridger. He's a nice kid, but I kind of wish she'd have second thoughts.”

Corran Horn shrugged. “I'm just hoping those crew members we left tied up in the ship yard before the Rogue delivered the Death Star to the Palace don't get loose and tell on us.”

“Shhh!” Wedge waved them all down. The domed generators, with their fizzy blue liquid and sizzling tubes, took up almost the entire room. There was barely enough space for him, the guys, and the three men looking over the room.

“Officers?” The only officer in room, a small, weasel-like little man, stared right into Wedge's eyes. “Haven't I seen you before?”

Wedge tried to look official. “No, Officer...” He peered quickly at the man's label “...Jerrod” He squared his shoulders and said in his stuffiest British accent, the one that made him sound like Cedric, “my men and I are here on our usual inspection tours of this facility.”

“Baron Vader didn't say anything about an inspection before we took off.” Jerrod started for the door. “I'll have to clear it with him.”

Wedge nodded quickly at Wes, who flung open the windows in the back. “Oh no, the machines are boiling over! Look at all this smoke!” He smashed every ball he held in his hands on the floor, creating a cacophony of rainbow fumes.

“Oh dear.” Wedge peered out the windows. “It seems that in our haste, we knocked Officer Jerrod and his men into the Calamari River.”

Wes looked out with him. “Aw, you mean they didn't land on a rock or something?”

Tycho wrinkled his nose. “You're bloodthirsty today. We wanted to get rid of the jerks, not impale them. See? The Admiral already fished them out.” Indeed, they could see the men of the Ancient Mariner, in their orange Naboo Navy uniforms, tugging the trio of Coruscant soldiers into the boat with a fisherman's net.

“That takes care of them.” Wedge pulled a small metal ball, this one a gunmetal gray, out of his pocket. “Let's set up these bombs and get out of here. I don't want to be hanging around this place when Calarissian shows up with the Falcon and blows it out of the sky.”

Wes nodded as he and Hobbie attached more explosive balls to the generators. “Yeah. I'd like to live to make jokes another day.”

“Not to mention,” Tycho added, “the moment they hear the blast, they'll be looking for us.”

Wedge stepped back as Corran attached the last bomb. “Good work, boys. Now, let's go find the Rogue and get the hell out of here!”

As he followed the others out the door, a tinny voice squawked in his back pocket. “Hello?”

“Hey, kid.” Langdon Croydon's honey-dripping voice was a lot more upset than usual. “Just got a call from the White Swan. Her Grace told me they have the jewels, but Vader snatched Luke and took him on the Death Star.”

Wedge's angry bellow echoed down the hall. “What!? If that walking tin can has hurt him in any way...”

“The White Swan wasn't sure what Vader had planned, but it didn't sound good.” A sizzling blast over the box nearly deafened Wedge. “We're in a tight spot with the Death Trap here, Rogue Five. I'm going to have to let you go. Over and out.”

“Over and out.” Wedge turned to the other men, all of whom were hovering hopefully over his shoulder. “Looks like we have a rescue mission, boys.”

“All right!” Wes cheered long and loud. “We get to be heroes!”

Wedge whipped out his own light gun, a look of grim determination on his face. “Let's go, Rogue League. The true King of Naboo needs our services.” He closed his eyes, then added under his breath as the others charged down the hallway, “and I need him.”

The Adventures of the Crimson Hawk, Part 30

“So,” Henry started as Leia dragged her, Charles, and Wicket to the second floor landing, “where did you stash the Crown Jewels?”

“Why, with Mother, of course.” The duchess came to a screeching halt by a long row of portraits, each depicting the Amidala royal family. The most recent painting showed a beautiful young woman in a rich crimson and gold court gown with puffed sleeves and a long train of azure silk under the same ermine cape Palpatine had worn earlier. The tiara Leia stole was nestled in her flowing brown curls. A diamond necklace with a topaz pendent the size of a goose egg rested on her creamy bosom. “Mother, meet Henry, Charles, and Wicket. Boys, meet my birth mother, Queen Padme Anastasia Marie Amidala Nabarrie.”

Henry admired the picture, his eyes roving over the Queen's elaborate outfit and serene expression through her heavy white and red makeup. “I can see where both of you got your good looks.” He gave her a grin as she lifted the portrait and set it on the ground. “She kind of almost looks more like Luke, though. She seems sorta peaceful. You never look that calm, at least not since I've known you.”

“Uncle Bail always said I took after Mother in looks, but I got Father's temperament.” Slender fingers in white silk gloves pressed a piece of golden leaf trim in the wall. A panel opened, revealing a cubbyhole...one wide enough to hold a tiara, crown, and scepter.

Wicket chattered excitedly. He'd never seen such fancy baubles before! Charles and Henry exchanged looks of surprise. “How did you know about this?” Henry asked, scratching the back of his head.

“Ahsoka told me weeks ago, when we were on our way to Lothal to see Luke in the hospital.” Leia dropped the jewelry in a velvet purse. “She and Mother were good friends. Evidently, the two of them, Sir Kenton, Father, and their army squadrons found most of the hiding places and secret passages in the Palace during the Alliance Wars. She said they came in handy for stashing loot and quick get-aways.”

Charles nodded. “That makes sense. Wouldn't be surprised if they built a few of them. I worked with some Alliance armies before I ended up being sold off as slave material. They could be very inventive, those soldiers. Too bad the grunts they have now ain't nothin' like them.”

“Let's get out of here and get to the Aurora Belle, before Vader does further damage to Luke...or worse, talks him into joining Palpatine.” As the White Swan slung the purse over her shoulder, she took Henry's hand. “There's just one thing I want to know. How long have you boys known about Luke being the true king?”

“Three years ago.” Henry shrugged. “He and Kenton originally hired Charles – Chewbacca is his native name - and me to take them to the mainland. They were already planning on trying to put Luke back on the throne and stop Vader and Palpatine from causin' more trouble in Naboo. I didn't want anything to do with it at first...until a week after I dropped them at Dantoonie Village. We lost our shipment when Vader and the Naboo Navy sank the Falcon. One of Vader's boys put that bullet in my knee to keep me from escaping. Good thing Chewie was able to carry me to a lifeboat.”

Charles put an arm around his closest friend. “Kenton used what money he had left, along with our money from a previous shipment, to pay for the surgery on Henry's knee and to raise and begin repairs on the poor Falcon. The remaining money was put into Solo Shipping.”

“Ben wanted Luke on the throne and the Jedi back in power. Luke wanted to avenge his aunt and uncle and parents, whom we thought had been killed by Vader and his boys.” The famous smirk returned, in full leering splendor. “The answer was to keep right on doing what I'd always done...but legitimately. Solo Shipping wasn't just a cover for our Crimson Hawk activities. It gave us the low down on exactly when expensive goods would be moving through the Alliance. I figured we'd make enough money through both to eventually pay off Huttman and get out of town after the kid was on the throne.”

“What about this?” Leia reached into her blouse, pulling out a gold pendant. “You dropped it the night of Mon Mothma's party.”

“You have that? I wondered what happened to it.” Henry ran a finger down the knotted leather cord that held the golden hawk. “Luke insisted that every member of the League of the Crimson Hawk should wear something that would identify us to each other that no one else knew about. Wedge and his buddies all have one. Charlie and Rusty do, too, and Kenton did.” Charles pulled out his gold hawk pendant. The gleaming bird looked tiny on Charles' mountainous breast.

“This is yours.” Leia's small fingers started to untie the cord. “I've been wanting to give it back, but I haven't had the time.”

“Keep it.” Henry's gloved fingers wrapped around hers. “It looks better on you, and as a member of the League of the Crimson Hawk, you should have one.”

They were about to lean in for a kiss when Cedric tapped his arm. “Captain, I'm afraid this isn't the time for that. We have a few problems.”

Leia winced as she was poked in the side by a long dueling sword. Hux, his eyes wild and his fine suit covered in the remains of the refreshment table, pointed his uniform dueling sword at her back. Boba Fettson grabbed her gun and Henry's.“I knew it! I knew if we followed you, we'd find the Crown Jewels. Palpatine will be most pleased.”

“He won't if you never get to him.” She dove right at him, swinging her weapon with all the finesse of a veteran swordsman. “Henry, go! Take the jewels!”

She tossed the velvet bag to Henry, who tossed them to Cedric, who nearly dropped them but managed to get them to Charles at the last second. “Come on, mates! This party's getting too hot for us!” The towering Wookie native swung Wicket onto his shoulders, letting him jab at soldier's heads and necks with his spear as they rushed out.

Leia glared at the ginger-haired general as they found themselves with swords crossed, eye to eye. Boba Fettson held his gun on Henry's chest. “Forget it, Hux. I'm still not going to become your bride. Now tell your tame bounty hunter to drop that gun, before this winds up in the empty spot in your chest where your heart should be.”

Hux sneered. “Can't blame a man for trying.” He pushed her off, trying to disarm her. Henry watched as they clashed, their swords and legs going so fast, they were a blur in the brightly painted hall.

The general may have been trained at the finest military academy in the Alliance, but Leia was the better fighter. She was mad as a hornet, her eyes flashing like burning stars. The angry duchess finally managed to shove him over a footstool that lay along the landing. The second he lost his sword, it flew into her small grasp.

“Fettson will release Henry Solo,” she snarled, “and then our people will lock you two in the dungeons bellow this castle until the Queen and King of Naboo decide your fate.” Chief Chirpa and six of his Ewoks chattered up behind her, their spears and knives raised.

Boba Fettson was having none of this. “You can keep this skinny little sap.” He took off down the hall. “I have other jobs in other kingdoms I could be doing.”

“Not this time!” He tugged the shoulder of one of the Ewoks. “Can I borrow this?” The little warrior turned over his knife and bola, even though he didn't quite understand what Henry had in mind.

Henry rushed after him. He swung the bola around as well as he could, getting it around Fettson's feet just as he made it to the ballroom stairs. They brought him and his green armor clattering to the ground. He used the knife to cut a tapestry, which tangled Fettson before he could escape. The Ewoks and several of the former dancers from Jenkins' Palace rolled him up like a cigar, then came upstairs and did the same to Hux.

Cedric and Rusty brought several Ewoks upstairs as Henry rushed to Leia, kissing her as hard as he could. “You were amazing, Sweetheart. I couldn't be prouder of my Queen.”

“Thank you.” Leia kissed him hard down his neck and chest. “There was no way I was going to rule a kingdom without my scoundrel.”

“Hey you two.” Rusty smirked knowingly as the Ewoks oohed and ahhed. “Not that this isn't better than a romance novel, but we really have to get going.”

Cedric nodded. “Mr. Bacca told me that the Aurora Belle is ready to depart. We're just awaiting the two of you, Rusty, and me.”

Leia nodded, frowning as she pulled away from Henry. “I can feel Luke. He's even angrier than I was, moments ago. Vader must have gotten his dander up over something.”

Henry took her hand as they walked out, dodging Ewoks jabbing at soldiers. “Let's go save your brother from himself again.”

~*~*~*~*~*~

Sabers sizzled and crashed as Luke and Vader fought all around the bridge. Vader was starting to think the boy was much better at fighting than previously believed. He'd gained a great deal of confidence in the weeks since they last confronted each other.

He finally pulled away as the boy leaped onto the upper deck by the captain's chair. “Your thoughts betray you, Father,” he insisted. “I can feel the good in you. The conflict.”

Vader's hiss was more pronounced. “There is no conflict.”

“You couldn't bring yourself to kill me before, at Bespin or on the first Death Star. You won't do it now.” Luke tugged at his pack, switching off his saber. He pulled into the darkness, trying to stay away from Vader's saber and his maniacally cackling teacher. “I will not fight you. I can't fight family.”

“Family.” Vader slowly sauntered up the stairs, moving closer to the dark corner where Luke hid himself. “Your mother thought she could bring me back. She, Kenton, and that cranky old fool Yoda tried to hide you from me. They failed. You will fail.” He pressed closer. “With the dark side, you can save your guardian, your lover...” There was a knowing bubble in his voice as he ground out, “your sister. Yes. Your feelings have now betrayed her, too. I should have known Padme would trust her daughter with Bail Organa. He was her dear friend for years.” The red blade edged closer to Luke, giving a coppery glow to his golden hair. “If you will not turn to the dark side, perhaps she will.”

“NEVER!!” Luke leaped from the shadows, landing nearly on Vader. It took all the mechanical man's skill to roll away from the distraught youth. He was seriously starting to regret having even so much as mentioned the Duchess Organa. The boy flung himself into the battle, swinging harder and harder with every slash. They overturned chairs and made splinters of an easel holding the plans to invade Alderaan.

Vader couldn't hold him off much longer. Luke threw everything he had into the sword, parrying and thrusting with a fury more commonly seen in typhoons. A final series of slashes brought Vader to his knees. With an angry scream, Luke swung his saber against Vader's hand, hacking it off with one blow.

“Good, good.” Palpatine was grinning ear to ear, his eyes glistening with unbridled delight. “Now, eliminate him, and you can take your father's place at my side.”

That woke Luke out of his angry stupor. His sapphire eyes glanced down at the smoking tangle of wires where Vader's hand had been. They then moved to his own black-gloved appendage, the one that now held the sizzling blue weapon. Part of him was mechanical. Part of him was like his father. He, too, was a mechanical man.

But not all of him.

“No, Prime Minister.” Luke slid out of his pack, dropping it on the navigator's chair. “You've failed. I'm a Jedi Guard, like my father before me....and a member of the Naboo Royal Family, like my mother.”

Palpatine's own blue eyes narrowed. “So be it, Your Majesty.”

Even as Palpatine moved forward, an explosion rocked the entire ship from stern to aft, sending him and Luke to their knees with Vader.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Langdon grinned as fire shot out of one of the rooms on the Death Star Airship like a roaring cannon. “See?” He nudged Niem. “I told you they'd do it!”

The blast ripped apart the guns hanging under that room, as well as any shields or deflectors it may have had. The Falcon had no trouble flying right in, shooting hard and fast.

“We will need more firepower, Mayor Croydon.” Laurence and members of Maz Kantana's pirate crews manned the cannons, shooting anything under or near them that moved. “We have all guns working as it is, but the Falcon is still taking damage.”

“Keep firing! Get as close to the Naval warships as you can.” Even with four cannons missing, the Death Star was still three times their size, with more guns than even many regular battle ships had.

“At that range,” the Admiral insisted, “we won't last long against the Coruscant Navy.”

“We'll last longer than we will against that Death Star!” Langdon turned the ship around, closer to the massive silver airship. “And we might just take a few of them with us!”

Niem let out a long, loud stream of gibberish as one of the Death Star's cannons took off the Falcon's back fin and railing, running to Langdon to report the damage. “That was too close. Henry's going to kill me when he sees his ship.”

As he swooped underneath the Death Star's undercarriage, most of the guns changed their focus. Niem pointed to the river below them. His gibberish became higher and faster. There was a big grin somewhere under that hang-dog upper lip of his.

Langdon looked over his shoulder...and let out a cheer of his own. “The cavalry has arrived!” He grabbed a spyglass from under the ship's wheel and gazed down at the churning river waters. Four battle steam ships...five...or was it six? Six battleships flying the Alderaanian mountain and hawk banner exchanged fire with the Naboo Naval vessels. One had already been sunk, even as the crew of the Falcon watched.

Niem was practically jumping up and down now. A familiar luxury yacht charged through the river, barely managing to wedge between two boats before cutting the largest Naboo cruiser off from the Admiral. While the Aurora Belle had no guns, he clearly saw exchange of rapid fire khyber crystal beams coming from Henry, Leia, Charles, and Rusty's brass pistols.

Another ship followed the Aurora Belle. Zeb, Sabine, and Ezra shot more of her colored smoke balls from their cannons. The air around the Ghost was filled with yellow, pink, blue, green, and lavender fog. Kanan fought with Naboo army

Niem was doing a wild jig on the deck that was popular in his native Sullustia. Langdon slapped him on the back. “Ok buddy, you take the wheel. I'm going to take out that flying menace once and for all!”

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