Star Wars: from conversations / reader requests

7 (continuation of #6): Ancestry

For mnp1689

Note: Had to... "be creative" for this one. In SWTOR, for the digital expansion "Shadow of Revan", the main characters (/the created main character for all eight storylines) all get the coordinates for Rishi (a planet) added into their ship's navigation system for unknown reasons, and the Sith Inquisitor's unorthodox "apprentice" Ashara Zavros even experiences a vision of her master constricted by a strange, unidentifiable plant. All eight characters travel to Rishi. I'd speculate that it was the will of the Force that those coordinates be added into the nav system. It goes the same for Ania Solo.

Note: A bit of information may seem askew/downright wrong; remember that Padme had been dead while Sidious' Empire was thriving.

*********************************

Navigating through Coruscant's eternally busy traffic had been, surprisingly, quite simple enough. It appeared that during her hibernation, the galaxy had changed quite a lot, and now remnants of Palpatine's empire ruled the planet.

Apparently Palpatine's empire had collapsed years ago. Good, that master manipulator had not succeeded in destroying the galaxy. For now, it seemed that this new Empire―the "Fel Empire"―wasn't too bad; there appeared to be no oppression, no slavery of sorts yet, though the people she had inquired this information from were commonfolk.

Anyway; she would find the truth to these things soon enough. For now, she stepped out of the lift while (painful) memories were revived in her head, and subconsciously raised a hand toward the keypad to unlock the entrance-

"Who are you?"

***

He had been in meditation when the Force granted him a vision. It had seemed to be a spacious but abandoned apartment, now riddled with cobwebs and covered by a layer of dust. Through the obliqueness of the vision, he briefly made out the traffic of Coruscant in the background, always buzzling and perpetually moving, like a never-ending snake.

Even when he had exited the vision, the Force kept whispering for him to leave for Coruscant, to head to the place he had envisioned. At first, he tried to ignore it, thinking that it was just some old, rusting apartment whose owner was probably dead.

But when the Force would not stop nagging at his mind, persistently pulling its tendrils at his body, he told himself: kriff it, I'm going, if it means those voices are blasted shutting up.

So, the crew of the Mynock found themselves on Coruscant the next day. Cade Skywalker decided to investigate the place alone, sensing no danger in his vision. It turned out that the apartment once belonged to a long-deceased senator of the Old Republic; still, he had been unsure why the Force had sent him here.

Sensing no presence inside the apartment, he opened the creaking entrance door with a wave of the hand.

Taking a deep, cautious breath, he stepped in, lightsaber at the ready.

***

Ania Solo's crew had received a job offer on Coruscant, in which the dealer had given the coordinates to the top of an apartment complex inside the Capital City to further discuss business. At first, Ania had held her suspicions, since the offer was sent through text and there was not even a reveal of the dealer's identity, as well as the message specifically asking for Ania Solo, but when the sum of credits was revealed, all doubt was erased.

Five million credits. A job worth that much?

Of course, they're doing it.

Soon they'd arrived at what was known as the 500 Republica- the most prestigious residential tower of the Senate District of Galactic City. Ania took the lift while the rest of the crew remained, lingering outside the residential building on a landing pad, but ready to play backup in case Ania were in danger.

It had taken a while, but the lift finally arrived at Ania's destination. The entrance was open--oh, the dealer must be awaiting--, so she walked in without hesitation.

The place immediately gave her the creeps. There was no sign of anyone awaiting, and the only objects were ancient pieces of furniture, falling apart and coated with a blanket of dust. There was a trail of footprints on the ground- fresh footprints, too, though the place was silent.

Is this really the right place?

She wandered around, cautious of her surroundings, following the trail on the ground. Whispers echoed in her ears, a lovely female voice, accompanied by one from a male, discussing the birth of an infant that, given the vacancy of the room, should not exist. There, she saw two figures on the center sofa, a pregnant woman and what was most likely her husband kneeling on the floor, cradling her stomach-

The image disappeared, and the voices dissipated into the background; Ania rubbed her eyes in disbelief. I must be seeing things.

A thumb ran over her comm, silently debating whether she should call her crew or not. A loud, irritated honk in the distant Coruscant traffic made her jump a little, and she reached for her blaster as she rounded a corner-

A green lightsaber lit up in front of her face, hissing and crackling. She tugged out the blaster, pointed the muzzle at the attacker-

"Ania Solo. What are you doing here?"

Out of all people she'd expected to find inside, it was Cade Skywalker.

The lightsaber snapped shut in recognition, and Ania withdrew her blaster. She let out a grave sigh. "You tell me."

***

Turning her gaze to the inside of her old apartment, she immediately noticed, to her exasperation, that there was a young woman pointing a blaster at her. By instinct, her hand moved towards her waist, prodding for her own Nubian blaster. Only then did she realize that she had no weapon as backup...

Diplomacy. That would be her way.

"I come in peace."

The young lady's blaster lowered, just a little, her gaze turning to the man beside her. Glancing towards the intruder's companion, Padme recognized a lightsaber on his belt-

Perhaps he is a Jedi?

"Show your face," the man ordered, though no malevolence could be found in his firm voice. Padme pulled down her cloak and revealed herself; the young lady with the blaster gasped a little, though soon managed to hide her surprise.

"What's your name?" The man continued, staring at her through intense green eyes.

Padme Amidala gave a minuscule smile, "I'd rather you introduce yourself first."

Sensing no ill intention from the stranger, Cade Skywalker gave his name. Eyes darting between the Jedi and the formerly hooded one, Ania decided to trust her instincts and introduce herself. After all, there was a Jedi by her side, plus she was more than capable of defending herself if there was to be any harm. The stranger didn't seem to be armed, either.

There was a sharp inhale from the cloaked woman. "Cade Skywalker?"

Cade's eyebrows raised, just a little. "Yeah?"

With a strange expression of recognition, the newcomer inquired: "Have you ever heard of a man named Anakin Skywalker?"

Ania's hand moved toward her blaster, just in case-

Cade gave a curt nod. "Yes. He's my ancestor."

A giant, delighted grin erupted on the woman's face; her brilliant brown eyes dazzled in the waning Coruscant light. "Before you ask, this apartment belongs to me. I am Anakin's wife, Padme Amidala Naberrie Skywalker; it is my pleasure to meet you, descendant."

Ania Solo could not help but gasp once more (isn't she supposed to have been dead for, what, more than a hundred years?), while both of Cade's brows lifted in astonishment.

"Well, nice to meet ya."

********************************************

A/N: Gracias for reading, have a nice day; constructive criticism is appreciated :)