Leia left her room, using the Force to sense Han's presence. It could have been a trap, but her heart knew it wasn't. Then she saw him, confused, disoriented, and with his hair a little disheveled. He was looking around until she ran toward him.
"Leia!" Han shouted with a radiant smile.
"Han!" Leia shouted, running toward him and throwing herself into his arms. She had missed him so much.
"I see you've missed me," Han teased before kissing her passionately.
They stayed like that for a few moments until Luke interrupted.
"Han," Luke greeted, happy to see his best friend.
"Dude," Han said, walking over to Luke and shaking his hand.
"But what are you doing here? How?" Luke asked, completely confused.
"Someone named Obi-Wan and someone named Yoda sent me with a message," Han began, trying to remember. Han wasn't the best at recalling things. "The future is changing. The Empire is losing power, but they fear the dark side will choose someone else. That was the message."
"Someone else? You mean the future has changed?" Leia asked hopefully, taking Han's hands.
"Who else could Palpatine choose if not Dad?" Luke asked, confused.
"How's that going?" Han asked, walking with them through the garden.
"The future is changing." "Our parents already know," Leia explained with a smile.
"That's... excellent?" Han asked, unsure how to react.
"Yes, about that," Luke said, scratching his head nervously. "Maybe I made a small mistake last night," he added, wincing from Leia's punch.
"What mistake?" Han asked, curious.
"Well, look, maybe I told Dad about Leia becoming a Hutt's slave for rescuing you," Luke said, and Han paled.
"What?" he asked as Leia glared at Luke.
"Luke is honesty personified," Leia said, and Han shook his head nervously.
"Anyway, I'm sure he'll understand," Han said confidently. The man was even younger than him these days; he couldn't be more terrifying than Vader, and he'd already dealt with Vader up close.
"I'm sure he'll understand." "Maybe he also knew you're a smuggler and that you're several years older than Leia," Luke continued.
"Maybe he also knew the kind of clothes Jabba forced me to wear and that I had to strangle him to escape," Leia smiled nervously.
"What do you guys want to do?" Han asked, astonished. "Was the point to offer me up as a sacrifice?" he asked, regretting not even having a blaster in his hands at that moment to defend himself.
"I'm sorry, Han," Leia said, stroking his face.
"I hope you do," Han said, kissing her again.
"Do you have to do that in front of me?" Luke asked, making a face of disgust.
"You should also get a girlfriend, kid," Han suggested, embracing Leia.
They continued walking through the gardens, filling Han in on the events that had transpired, until they remembered where they were.
"Luke, Leia," Anakin's voice called from inside the house. "Where are you?" he asked, sounding worried. Luke and Leia exchanged nervous glances, and Han began to feel genuinely worried.
Anakin had woken up that morning sensing a strange disturbance in the Force. It felt very similar to the Force mark of Obi-Wan and Yoda, but Yoda wasn't there. He barely got up without waking Padmé and noticed Obi-Wan fast asleep on a sofa. Why was he sleeping on a sofa? he wondered, but chose to ignore it. He thought about looking for his children; they had probably felt it too. But he was surprised to find Ahsoka cleaning their lightsabers in the room.
"Where are Luke and Leia?" Anakin asked.
"Actually, I was going to look for them," Ahsoka said. "They left about half an hour ago, saying they felt a mark in the Force."
"And you didn't tell me anything?" Anakin asked, worried.
"I just told you, Master," Ahsoka smiled.
Anakin and Ahsoka searched the entire house without finding them, and Anakin was getting nervous. What if something had happened to them? They were two adults; they could take care of themselves, but those adults were his children. Ahsoka, on the other hand, sensed they were fine, and she confirmed it when she found them outside the house in the back gardens.
"Luke, Leia, Anakin is going all over the house looking for you," Ahsoka said, yawning. "Who is he?" she asked, seeing a man who looked considerably older than the twins.
"He's Han," Leia said nervously, and Ahsoka's face fell. "He was sent from the future too."
"I won't ask how, but he'd better prepare for the worst," she said, sensing Anakin's presence.
"Luke, Leia!" Anakin called out and smiled when he found them in the garden. "Oh, here you are," he said, much calmer, but that calm didn't last when he saw Leia embracing a man much older than her, holding hands, though she immediately let go of him and stepped in front of him.
"Dad," Leia smiled. "We were out here. There's important news about the future," she began, but Anakin wasn't listening.
"Who is this guy?" he asked, approaching Han.
"He's..." Luke began nervously, not wanting to face Leia's wrath again.
"He's her boyfriend. He was sent from the future," Ahsoka said. If all hell broke loose that day, it had to start now. "Master, he seems like a nice guy. Why don't you try to meet him?" Ahsoka asked, moving toward her master, but Anakin pushed her aside. Ahsoka gave Leia an apology with her eyes, though Han's face looked quite pale.
"Father," Luke said, "Han has come to bring important news from the future. He was sent by Obi-Wan and Yoda, just like us." But he, too, pushed him aside, leaving him next to Ahsoka.
Anakin wasn't listening to anything; he only saw Leia holding Han's hand, and he remembered his horrific account of what had happened in Jabba's palace. His mind pictured his daughter dressed in the clothes of Jabba's slaves and what could have happened to her because of the imbecile standing before him.
Han, for his part, saw the look of hatred in Anakin's eyes and took back everything he had said. This guy was more frightening than Vader; at least when Vader had tortured him, he hadn't had to see that horrible look of hatred.
"I'm Han," he began, and Leia noticed in surprise that, for the first time, Captain Han Solo's voice was trembling.
"I don't care," Anakin said, pushing Leia away and grabbing Han by his clothes to pull him closer. Curiously, they were almost the same height, and yet Anakin managed to look taller.
"I think everything these two have said can be explained logically," Han said, trying to sound dignified. "Look, the story actually has several nuances. I don't know what your son told you, but come on, the kid's always rambling," he said, seeing Luke apologizing with his eyes.
"Is it because of you that my daughter was a Hutt slave?" Anakin asked, his voice truly frightening.
"Yes," Han replied, avoiding his gaze and swallowing hard.
"Is it because of you that my daughter had to strangle Jabba to save herself?" Anakin asked, and for the first time, Han didn't have a bold answer to give.
As soon as Han saw the man seem to be reaching for his lightsaber, he knew he had to run. Somehow, he managed to break free and start running. He rolled his eyes, realizing that this was what Obi-Wan meant in the future: "Be ready to run." In that moment, he hated the Jedi.
"Come here!" Anakin shouted, following him through the gardens with his lightsaber ignited.
"Dad!" Leia exclaimed in surprise.
"I'm sure he just wants to scare him," Ahsoka said, amused. "Right?"
"What's going on?" Padmé asked, yawning, confused by all the commotion.
"Dad wants to kill Han," Leia said worriedly, watching Han try to dodge his father's attacks. He seemed genuinely determined to at least cut off one of his arms. Or worse, Leia thought nervously.
"Your boyfriend? What's he doing here?" Padmé asked, truly confused.
"He was sent from the future. He brings important information," Leia said. "Mom, we have to do something," she said, and Padmé sighed. Dealing with an angry Anakin was more difficult than speaking in the Senate.
"Anakin!" Padmé shouted firmly, walking toward the spot where Anakin had managed to trap Han and was pinning him to the ground, his lightsaber pressed against his neck. "Could you let Han go?" "You don't really want to kill him, do you, Ani?" he asked gently as he kissed his husband's cheek. Anakin smiled at him affectionately and then turned his angry gaze back to Han.
"Do you think Leia deserved to go through that?" he asked, looking at Han. "I know guys like you," Anakin said. "How many other girls have risked their lives for you?" he asked, and Han's eyes widened in surprise, just as Anakin lifted him up again to his eye level.
"Leia is the only woman I love. Qi'ra is a thing of the past," he replied, mentally hating himself for having said that. Leia didn't know about Qi'ra.
"Qi'ra?" Leia asked, confused. Didn't Han say that only she had managed to make him feel love? Who was Qi'ra?
"Darling," Han said, looking at Leia, who seemed sad, "Qi'ra was a woman from my past."
"How far back?" "— asked Leia
— Many years ago, even before I joined the Empire
— You never told me about her— said Leia, but she couldn't judge him for his past.
— Darling, this isn't the time to discuss that— said Han with a smile as Anakin's lightsaber was once again at his neck
— Don't call her darling. You're not going near her while I live— threatened Anakin, and Padmé watched the scene with concern.
— What's going on here?— asked Obi-Wan, who was with Satine
— Anakin wants to kill Leia's boyfriend, and now they're interrogating him— replied Ahsoka
— Oh— said Obi-Wan, watching the scene. It was both amusing and worrying. That man looked to be her age. Did he really expect to be with Leia?
— Isn't he too old for her?— asked Satine to Padmé, who just shrugged.
"Can we talk?" Han asked, looking at Anakin. "I know I'm not what a father wants for his daughter, far from it, but can we talk without that lightsaber burning against my neck? I wish I could keep my head on my body," Han said, and Anakin thought for a minute.
"Fine, let's go," he said, dragging him toward the living room.
"If I die, I want you to know that I love you," Han shouted to Leia.
"I know," she said, and Han smiled.
"Everything's going to be alright," Ahsoka said, smiling. "Anakin's a good person, he's just a little upset."
"Come on, let's go inside," Padmé smiled, leading her daughter inside. She was sure Anakin just wanted to scare the poor guy.
Anakin literally threw Han into the living room, and he stood up with dignity.
"This reminds me of when Vader tortured me," Han said, remembering. "He didn't even ask me anything, he just did it," Han said, looking directly at Anakin.
"Funny that even my future self hated you," Anakin remarked.
"We haven't introduced ourselves. I think if you want to talk, I have to," Han said nervously, extending his hand, knowing the bad outcome that would have. "I'm Han Solo."
"I'm Anakin Skywalker," Anakin said, gripping Han's hand tightly, making him groan in pain, but at least he didn't fall to the ground; he had a point there. "Leia's father."
"It's a pleasure," Han said, taking his hand with dignity when Anakin let go.
"You love my daughter. That whole future is about to change. You probably won't even meet," Anakin said.
"That's precisely what I came to say, before you, you know, tried to kill me," Han said.
"I'm listening."
"The future has changed. There are time voids, altered memories. Not even I can remember accurately. Everything is beginning to fade. The Empire has lost power. No one has heard from Vader in a long time. Some don't even know who he is, and that's impossible. Obi-Wan Kenobi sent me to warn that the Empire might have a new ally."
"What ally?" Anakin asked.
"I don't know. Master Yoda said they had to send me before the time voids erased my memory of events. The future is changing rapidly, I imagine thanks to Leia and Luke's journey to the past," Han began to explain. "Not even I can control my memories. Only by leaving that timeline have they become clear again."
"We need to find this ally," Anakin said worriedly. "What does all this have to do with Leia?"
"What ally?" "My memories of how I met her are starting to fade, but I do remember her. I remember that I love her, but it's as if the way I met her was different," Han began to explain.
"I was hoping that if the future changed, you wouldn't have met her," Anakin mentioned.
"Well, thanks," Han said sarcastically. "I'm sorry to spoil your plans."
"Listen carefully," Anakin said sternly. "I need to know what new memories are forming in your mind. If you can tell me, we can anticipate what new things are going to happen."
"That's an excellent idea," Han said. He hadn't thought of it that way; perhaps that's why they had sent him. "But I can't remember clearly. Not a single memory is clear."
"I'll do it another way then," Anakin said, moving closer. Han sighed wearily; he had seen this method before.
"Here we go again," Han said, allowing Anakin to access his memories using the Force, but this time he would do it willingly, although he was sure Anakin wouldn't be careful with him. Only one scream echoed from the room, and Leia's heart sank outside.
"Dad, what are you doing with Han?" Leia shouted from outside the door.
"Relax, honey, I'm fine," Han said. "We're just talking." He tried to reassure her, but no one really believed him.
"Obi-Wan!" Anakin yelled. "Come here now!" he said, and Obi-Wan entered.
"What's going on?" Obi-Wan asked, watching Anakin use the Force to try and access Han's memories, but it was difficult.
"I need your help," he said, quickly explaining what was happening.
"Sorry, kid," Obi-Wan said, looking at Han, who was smiling sarcastically. "This is going to hurt."
Another scream was heard, and Padmé hugged Leia. If Obi-Wan was inside, she was sure Han was safe. But what were they doing?
"What do you see, Master?" Anakin asked.
"The Empire still exists," Obi-Wan confirmed.
"Palpatine has a very powerful ally," Anakin said.
"I already told you that," Han complained, his headache unbearable.
"Focus on how this idiot met Leia," Anakin said, trying to do the same. "That might give us some information."
"They meet in a dangerous place," Obi-Wan said.
"They meet on the Death Star," Anakin said. "Palpatine kidnaps Leia, and Han is going to rescue her."
"I can't see Palpatine's new ally. He's powerful."
"It's a known Force mark. You seem to know it," Anakin told Han.
"I don't remember anything else. None of this happened in my timeline. This is going to happen," Han said, collapsing to the ground when they released him.
"I don't remember anything else. None of this happened in my timeline. Is this going to happen?" Han said, collapsing to the ground when they released him.
"I don't remember anything else. None of this happened in my timeline. Is this going to happen?" "We've changed the future," Obi-Wan said, resting his hand on his chin. "But we haven't prevented the Empire."
"We're not seeing something," Anakin said, offering Han his hand to help him to his feet. "If you remember anything, you'll say so."
"I will," Han replied.
"Now let's talk about Leia," Anakin said, and Han rolled his eyes. Was he serious?
"Anakin, the man looks pretty tired."
"Perfect, he'll be more honest," Anakin smiled, sitting down, and Obi-Wan did the same.
"What do you want to know?" Han asked, sitting down, teetering between consciousness and unconsciousness.
"Do you love her, or are you just using her?" Anakin asked directly.
"Of course I love her. I endured your alter ego torturing me just for joining the rebellion on her side," Han said irritably.
"Very well, we'll talk directly then," Anakin smiled. "I like people who aren't condescending."
"That sounds perfect to me," Han said defiantly, too tired to notice who he was talking to.
"Jabba, what kind of crimes did you commit for him?" he asked, and Obi-Wan looked interested. They could be facing a potential danger.
"I'm a smuggler."
"How many did you kill?" Obi-Wan asked, and Anakin smiled. He was finally on the same page as his master.
"A few people," Han murmured. "Quite a few," he said, observing the men's gazes on him.
" "An assassin and smuggler wants to be my daughter's boyfriend. Perfect."
"Says the one who surrenders to the dark side and decimates cities," Han muttered suspiciously, and Obi-Wan took him by the shoulder, his expression quite serious.
"That won't happen," Obi-Wan said.
"You have a point there," Anakin conceded, and Han sighed in relief.
"Anakin is hiding something from us," Obi-Wan said. "What?" Han wondered. Was Obi-Wan now against him?
" "I know," Anakin said, looking at Han. "You remember something else."
"Yes, I clearly remember something else," he said as soon as they threatened to use the Force on him.
"You hid it from us on purpose then," Obi-Wan said.
"You'll want to kill me after this," he said, looking at Anakin.
"Probably, but I won't," Anakin conceded. "I would hate to see Leia cry."
"My memories have changed, as you can see, but I remember something new, something I know didn't happen, but my mind remembers it as if it did."
" "Tell me then," said Obi-Wan, losing patience.
"I worked for a guy named Darth Maul."
"You worked for Darth Maul?" Obi-Wan almost shouted, grabbing him by the neck with the Force.
"Master, you need to calm down," said Anakin, surprised by the turn of events.
"How did you come to work for him?" asked Obi-Wan, letting go.
"That's the problem. I didn't," said Han, confused. "My memories started changing after the twins traveled to the past, and suddenly it became crystal clear. I know I didn't do it, but the memory is clear. It's something that's going to happen soon, a way of the future that changed."
"Is Darth Maul an ally of Palpatine?" asked Anakin.
"No, he's the leader of one of the criminal groups called Crimson Dawn. I worked for them, but not in the way I remember."
"Explain the difference between your real past and the one that appears in your mind now," Obi-Wan asked.
"In my real past, I worked for Crimson Dawn on only one mission, in which I ended up helping the rebellion and betraying Crimson Dawn. Qi'ra was the one who remained loyal to Crimson Dawn."
"Your ex-girlfriend?" Anakin asked, and Han nodded.
"And in the memories that appear in your mind, the unreal ones?" Anakin asked.
"I join Crimson Dawn. I help them work against the rebellion by helping the Empire obtain contraband materials, those they couldn't acquire politically because it would weaken them."
"So how do you meet Leia?" Anakin asked, trying to remain calm.
"Fighting against the rebellion, when they attacked us before we were to deliver Kyber crystals. I was wounded, and she saved me."
"How did you decide to stay with her?" – Obi-Wan asked, completely distrusting the man
"I don't know," he replied honestly. "Look, in my real past and the past I created in my mind, I love your daughter the same way. I would do anything for her. I understand that no one wants a smuggler and murderer near their daughter, but I love her, and you're not going to change that," Han said sincerely.
"I don't want to change your feelings for her, nor do I want to change her feelings for you. I won't accept this relationship either, but I can assure you that if she sheds a single tear because of you, I will kill you slowly," Anakin said seriously, and Han swallowed hard.
"It's a fair deal," Han said.
"And I'll help him," Obi-Wan said, unable to trust anyone who had worked for smugglers, least of all Darth Maul.
"We have another problem now," Anakin said with a sigh. "First, we'll take care of Palpatine, but we must find all his allies."
"Even without you, the empire will rise. We must know who it will use to achieve it," Obi-Wan said.
"It will be difficult," Han murmured, and then Anakin looked at him.
"It will be difficult." "Maybe not," he murmured. "To create so many weapons, Palpatine must be working behind the scenes, ready to strike. We all know the biggest crime lord, who allied himself with Palpatine under the guise of supporting the Republic some time ago."
"Are you talking about Jabba?" Han asked.
"You're right, that time the Jedi rescued his son," Obi-Wan mentioned.
"Exactly," Anakin said. "We must interrogate Jabba."
"You want to kidnap Jabba?" Han asked. "We'll end up dead first."
"It's our only option," Anakin said.
"I'm not liking this anymore," Han said resignedly. He didn't want to see Jabba; he was happy he was dead in the future, so why would he have to go see him in the past?
"It doesn't have to be your thing," Obi-Wan said.
"Padmé already has information about the ships the Chancellor ordered to be built on Corellia."
"I remember something about Corellia," Han said. Feeling a pain in his head—An abandoned factory.
"That makes sense," Anakin said. "Padmé managed to halt the construction of some ships, but they won't give up. The best and fastest ships are from Corellia."
Suddenly, Han began to have a series of images in his mind. There was something he couldn't remember about Palpatine's new ally, something important he needed to tell them, but he couldn't recall what it was, and they hadn't been able to discover it through the Force either. Everything was becoming complicated now. They were changing the future, but they hadn't destroyed the Empire. It would take them much longer to destroy Palpatine.
"Han," Leia said, hugging him as they left the room.
"What was all that commotion, Master?" Ahsoka asked.
"Ani, did you hurt him?" she asked, noticing how pale Han looked.
"Who do you take me for?" Anakin asked, feigning offense. "Only a little," he admitted.
"Dad," Leia complained.
"It's okay, sweetheart," Han said, hugging her. "I asked them to. I needed them to use the Force to retrieve some memories from my mind."
"Some memories?" Luke asked.
"Long story," Han began, recounting the events.
"I think you'll need something to drink," Satine said, getting up to get the poor man something.