Vengeance of Alderaan Fanfic
Several times this year, I’ve tried writing a Fanfiction story idea set after the Return of the Jedi. I keep trying new ideas, but some central concepts remain the same. One version was narrated by R2-D2, which was hilarious, but I wasn’t sure it quite fit what I wanted. The story centers around Leia attempting to balance her life in the New Republic Senate with her growing Jedi powers that have become somewhat chaotic. Here is a small section that I tried writing (again) tonight. Hope you enjoy!
“You need to be calm,” Luke said. He and Leia were standing in a clearing in the forest on Dagobah.
“I am calm,” Leia objected. A particularly large lizard chirped from atop a log behind her. She pointed her blaster towards it, and shot without looking. The poor startled creature leaped away into the safety of the trees.
Luke sighed, and held out his hand. Leia gave him the blaster sheepishly. He set it down, then directed her attention back to a large boulder in front of them.
“Try again,” he said.
Leia closed her eyes. She reached out her hand, shaking, towards the boulder. All of a sudden, the boulder shot straight up into the air. R2-D2 gave a startled yelp and backed away. “Focus,” Luke said calmly. He reached over her shoulder, and tried to steady her hand. “Think about bringing the rock back down to the ground.”
The rock came slamming back down into the ground so hard that it left an indent in the earth. When the dust had cleared, and they had both stopped coughing, Leia sat down on a fallen tree branch in frustration.
“It’s no use,” she complained.
“It’s okay—you just need to slow down a bit,” Luke reassured her, sitting down next to her, “I didn’t do well my first time, either.”
R2-D2 gave a whistle of agreement.
“I don’t know,” Leia said.
Luke rose, and held out his hand to her. “Let’s try to do it together,” he suggested. He glanced around the clearing for something a little less destructive. He spied a smaller tree branch across the clearing from them. “How about that tree branch?” he asked, pointing towards it.
Leia rose hesitantly. Luke closed his eyes, and extended his hand towards the branch. The branch began rising very slowly. Leia reached out her hand, and closed her eyes.
“Careful,” Luke cautioned, as the branch wobbled. He opened his eyes, and lowered his hand. “Now, bring it back to the ground,” he instructed her.
The branch came down towards the ground slowly. “You’re almost there,” Luke said, keeping his voice level, “Just—“
His voice broke off abruptly. A look of pain crossed his eyes, and he held onto his head.
“Luke—“ Leia said, alarmed. She opened her eyes and turned around. The hapless tree branch shot off into the forest like a spring, nearly hitting the lizard who had had quite enough of their presence there.
R2-D2 rolled over quickly, and Luke put a hand on R2’s head to steady himself. “Luke,” Leia asked, “What’s the matter?”
He seemed unfocused. “I don’t know,” he said. She helped him sit down on the fallen tree branch. He continued staring straight ahead.
“R2,” Leia said, watching his face closely, “Go and get Han.”
The droid protested loudly.
“I saw...” Luke began, suddenly, “I saw a Death Star.”
Leia frowned. “But, that’s impossible,” she said, “Both Death Stars were destroyed—“
Luke shook his head slowly. He looked towards her, and his eyes seemed clearer, “It had the New Republic insignia on it,” he said meaningfully.
Leia looked away abruptly, a mix of surprise and anger on her face. “No one on the Senate would…” she began. Her voice trailed off, suddenly.
R2-D2, uncertain if he should still go and get Han Solo, whistled.
“I’m all right, R2,” Luke reassured him. He looked at Leia, who had a look of realization on her face. “What is it?” he asked.
Leia rose abruptly. “The Alderaan Peace Star,” she said, barely above a whisper.
“Leia?” Luke asked.
“I asked them what the proposal they were drafting was for, and they reassured me that it was just a kind of monument to commemorate Alderaan,” Leia began, enraged.
R2 whistled cautiously as two trees behind her began to shake. Luke watched them warily, and rose.
“This is the kind of thing that the Senate does behind my back? Recreating that monstrosity?” she continued in disbelief, “We’re trying to rebuild after the Empire… not become it!”
One of the trees shot into the air. Luke gestured imperceptibly towards it, and it landed harmlessly in a clearing behind them. “I’ll go with you to the Senate,” Luke said, taking her hands in his, “We can find a way to convince them.”
Leia looked at him quietly.
“Hey, listen, I like flying trees as much as the next person,” Han Solo began. He came down the path into the clearing, looking around in an unimpressed way. “But not when they almost land on my ship,” he added, pointing at Luke accusingly.
“Sorry, Han,” Luke said apologetically. “We’re ready to leave,” he added.
“Already?” Han asked, faking surprise, “I guess you’re a natural, Leia.”
She glared at him, and stormed past him down the path. “What did I say?” Han asked innocently. Luke shook his head quickly, and followed Leia. R2-D2 followed Luke, giving Han Solo a sympathetic whistle.
