In the aftermath of the Battle of Yuuzhan'tar, Mara Jade watches as her husband's life ebbs away. Leia and the Solo family have been destroyed in the destruction of Shimrra's citadel due to Nom Anor's treachery. Mara wished Luke could be saved, that their lives could have been lived in peace rather than turmoil. Mara just wished things had been different. (Time Travel, Wishfic)
Preface
As a prelude to the actual 'traveling through time' bit, I needed to add the departure between my story and the book The Unifying Force by James Luceno. These departures will create no small amount of angst and will provide the motive for the "wish" that will be granted by the Force. At the time of the Unifying Force, Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade are 48 and 46 years old, respectively.
Given life-spans, medical technology and their natural strength in the force, I concluded that while considered middle-aged, they would still be in their prime. Given that Obi-Wan was able to best a much younger Anakin Skywalker on their duel on Mustafar at the age of 38, I don't think it's much of a stretch to say that Luke and Mara can still be badasses.
Disclaimer: I don't own any part of the Star Wars franchise; they are the product of the imagination and efforts of the actors, directors, writers, and authors that created the amazing and expansive universe that is Star Wars. Disney, as owners of the franchise, are given full credit for any ideas or characters borrowed.
Rating: T+ - Graphic descriptions of violence and injuries and occasional adult language. I do not currently have any "racy" scenes planned for either Luke/Mara or Anakin/Padmé but should they occur, I do not expect them to be either lengthy or explicit. Explicit language will occur, but it will be fairly tame and relatively sparse.
Author Note: I am using an author's prerogative and am going to change a fundamental facet of the New Jedi Order era: I was somewhat conflicted about the presence of Ben Skywalker. I thought adding him to the journey as a toddler wouldn't really fit in and would simply add too much complexity, but I believed simply killing him off was a little much to pile on top of the initial angst. So, *poof!* There neither is nor has there ever been a child of Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker.
Author Note #2: The title of this story is both a nod to the book by James Luceno as well as the Jedi philosophy regarding the Unifying Force, whose followers viewed the Force with more focus on events in the future and past and the distinction of the Light and Dark sides of the Force as simply natural parts of a single cosmic field of energy. Jedi were encouraged to study the Living Force instead, whose focus was on the present moment, with clear distinctions between the Dark and the Light.
Author Note #3: It is inevitable that I will make mistakes regarding the Prequel and Legends' canon, timeline, or characters. Feel free to let me know if or when you catch these mistakes. I apologize in advance to any fans of the Solo family. Though I have already begun to plan out the course of the story, I am still unsure about how I'd like it to end, though I do wish it to have a happy or happy-ish ending.
Author Notes #4: Just in case there's some confusion about the who, what, when, where, and whys: here's a helpful guide that should assist in differentiating the events of the novel and the premise of the story.
Dramatis Personæ
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Jedi Master of the Jedi Order, serving member of the Jedi Council. Anakin Skywalker's former master - 38 Years Old
Padmé Naberrie (Padmé Amidala): Senator of Naboo, former Queen of Naboo, secretly married to Anakin Skywalker following the Battle of Geonosis - 28 Years Old
Sheev Palpatine (Darth Sidious): Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, former Senator of Naboo, secretly Sith Lord known as Darth Sidious, becomes Emperor of the Galactic Empire in pre-time ravel universe - 84 Years Old
Anakin Skywalker: Jedi Knight of the Jedi Order, the 'Chosen One,' secretly married to Padmé Naberrie immediately following the Battle of Geonosis, becomes apparentice to Darth Sidious and Dark Lord of the Sith in pre-time travel universe - 23 Years Old
Luke Skywalker: Grandmaster of the New Jedi Order, son of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Naberrie - 48 Years Old
Mara Jade Skywalker: Jedi Master, wife of Luke Skywalker, formerly the Emperor's Hand (Serving Emperor Palpatine) - 46 Years Old
Yoda: Grandmaster of the Jedi Order, serving member of the Jedi Council. Luke Skywalker's second master in pre-time travel universe. Unknown Species - 877 Years Old
Minor Characters
[This will also include important characters that are largely absent with mostly references pertaining to them]
Kit Fisto: Nautoloan Jedi Master of the Jedi Order, serving member of the Jedi Council - Unknown Age
Serra Keto: Jedi Knight of the Jedi Order, highly regarded duelist - Unknown Age
Anakin Solo: Son of Leia and Han Solo, Jedi Knight, died on Myrkr at 16 Years Old (2 years before Battle of Yuuzhan'tar)
Han Solo: Former General of the New Republic, former smuggler, husband of Leia Organa, father of Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin - 58 Years Old
Jacen Solo: Son of Leia and Han Solo, Jedi Knight, captured and trained/tortured by Vergere under the Yuuzhan Vong - 20 Years Old
Jaina Solo: Daughter of Leia and Han Solo, Jedi Knight - 20 Years Old
Leia Organa-Solo: Jedi Knight of the New Jedi Order, daughter of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Naberrie - 48 Years Old
Vergere: Fosh Jedi Knight of the Jedi Order, present on Zonama Sekot when first attacked by the Far Outsiders (Yuuzhan Vong), traveled with them and became a valued prisoner/guest. Tortured/Trained Jacen and taught him advanced techniques to modify body chemistry and toxins with the Force. Former Sith who turned back to the Light to save Jacen.
Mace Windu: Jedi Master of the Jedi Order, serving member of the Jedi Council, master duelist - Approximately 55 Years Old
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There will be many other characters introduced and referenced, but I'll try to give them enough background information so you don't get lost. These were the characters I thought should be immediately laid out and explained.
Battle of Yuuzhan'tar (29 ABY) Timeline
Canon:
Jacen and Luke battle Shimrra while Jaina confronts Onimi. Shimrra poisons Luke with amphistaff. Luke kills Shimrra. Luke instructs Jacen to go to Jaina before healing him.
Led by Nom Anor, Han, Leia, Mara, Tahiri, and Kenth find Luke and Shimrra's body. Mara and Tahiri take Luke to safety. Kenth remains to inform the New Republic that Shimrra had been killed and eventually goes with Mara and Tahiri to the Falcon.
Nom Anor, Han, and Leia find Jacen and Jaina with Onimi. They witness Jacen's victory over Onimi.
Nom Anor takes Solo family to an escape pod, but is misdirecting them, taking them to a waste disposal system.
Hoping to bring the Jedi to their deaths, without care for his own survival, in the collapsing Citadel, Nom Anor distracts Jacen with a poisonous vapor and attempts to activate an implant in a false finger to render the Jedi unconscious. Leia senses the attack and cuts off his arm, preventing the gas' release.
The Solo family find an escape pod and is retrieved by Mara (Kenth, Tahiri and several others as well) in the Falcon.
Jacen heals Luke with his and Mara's tears with the methods taught to him by Vergere.
Shockwaves in the Unifying Force:
-SPOILERS-
Events occur in the same order until Nom Anor's attempt to kill the Solos.
Jacen, tired from his exertion from using the Force in his battle with Omini, isn't quite as aware of their environment or of Nom Anor. Nom Anor's attack disables him.
Already distracted by her brother's pain and dwindling Force signature, Leia is further impeded by Jacen's collapse. Therefore, she fails to sense Nom Anor's last act of treachery and is unable to prevent his actions.
The attack is in the form of a knock-out gas being released, rendering all the family but Leia unconscious as the Citadel begins to self-destruct.
Nom Anor's actions were ultimately successful in that their recovery from the gas is enough of a delay that they are unable to escape the destruction of the Citadel.
Escaping Yuuzhan'tar to the safety of the Republic's fleet, Mara deposits Kenth Hamner, Captain Page, the Solo's Noghri bodyguards (Cakhmaim and Meewalh), along with R2-D2 and C-3PO. Knowing there is no cure for Luke, and wanting to be with him and the feeling of family and home that only the Falcon will provide, Mara leaves with Luke, now in a force trance but still dying, and plots a random hyperspace jump.
Luke is the last of his bloodline. The Solo family is, in its entirety, destroyed. Lacking Jacen's knowledge and skill in biological and chemical manipulation through the Force, Mara is unable to save Luke with her tears. Mara flies the Millennium Falcon away, as her husband slowly fades.
This is my first fanfiction story and I hope to provide a story that will be both entertaining and of good quality. My writing ability is questionable, but I'm trying my best. Be gentle.