Disclaimer : Don't own Star Wars

Notes : Ten chapters are planned, from pre-ANH to post-ESB.

I- Dark savior

Concentrated as he was on a boring report, Bail Organa started as he heard his comm buzz. He frowned, wondering who might be calling him. Grabbing it, he clicked it on and answered : ''Bail Organa.''

''Senator Organa,'' said a voice that Bail knew belonged to the Emperor's first Secretary. ''A very important meeting will take place tonight, at 6:00 p.m., in the Senate, concerning the Trade Federation and the Security Enforcement Law. Your presence is requested.''

Oh, great. Another endless meeting about that stupid law. ''I will be there.''

''Good. We will see you this evening, then.''

The Secretary ended the call. Bail's hand tightened into a close fist. The new Trade Federation, which had replaced the previous one, was probably as bad-intended as the first. Supported by the Empire, it was progressively taking control of the Inner Rim economic activites. Fortunetaly, they couldn't get direct access to the Core, which meant Alderaan was still – for now – untouched. As for the Security Enforcement law, it was merely another blow to the galaxy's freedom, he thought bitterly.

Bail sighed. Well, I'd better get going.

Gathering up what he needed for the meeting, he stood up, then left the room, comming Captain Antilles to tell him to prepare the Tantive IV. He was so deep in thought that he nearly bumped into Carlist Rieekan midway to the ship. ''Oh, sorry, Carlist,'' he said, embarrassed.

''No harm done, your Highness,'' the General smiled.

A petite form threw herself into his arms. ''Papa !''

Bail laughed, hugging his daughter. ''Leia, I hadn't seen you ! How are you, young lady ?''

She looked up at him, beaming. ''Fine.'' She then narrowed her eyes. ''But you are not. Something is troubling you, Papa. Are you leaving ?''

Damn. Even at four, his daughter always seemed to manage to pick up his thoughts. He supposed this had something to do with the Force, but still, it was a bit unsettling sometimes. He should have asked his friend Obi-Wan to tell him more about the Force, a long time ago, when there still was a Republic and a Jedi Order.

Exchanging a quick glance with Carlist, he kneeled and answered her : ''There is an important meeting I have to attend in the Senate. I must go to Coruscant immediately.''

''You are going to Coruscant ?'' her eyes brightened. ''On a ship ?''

Bail laughed again. ''Well, yes, on a ship, how else did you expect me to go ?''

''Can I go with you ?''

Bail frowned and stood up. Until now, he had never allowed her to go with him to any Senate meeting. Not that he wanted to keep her away from politics. How many afternoons had she already spent sitting on Bail's lap, listening to endless political discussions ? No, politics weren't the problem. Nor was her age. Bail knew she was far more mature than she should for her own good.

The real problem was him. He and the Emperor. Bail didn't want either of them near Leia. Especially not... Vader. If he ever discovered the truth... And, there was a bigger probability in coming across him in the Senate building than here on Alderaan.

He looked down at his daughter. Gods, he loved her so much it hurt. If anything ever happened to her...

He sighed. ''I want you to stay here on Alderaan, Lelila. Carlist will watch over you.''

Her eyes, which were bright with hope mere seconds ago, narrowed, disappointement clear in them. A second later, some sort of politician mask fell on her face. Bail raised an eyebrow, surprised. It wasn't perfect, but it was still an efficient one, and when has she begun to train in masking her emotions in that way ? It was certainly not his doing.

''I think Carlist may be a little tired of babysitting me. Besides, I am more than able to take care of myself,'' she said calmly.

''Personnally, I am quite fine with the babysitting,'' assured Carlist innocently, jumping in the conversation.

Leia shot him a look. Carlist remained impassive. Bail resisted the urge to laugh.

Deciding to act as if there had been no interruption, she continued : '' And if I am to become a politician, shouldn't I get better acquainted with the most important political place in the galaxy ?''

Bail glanced at his friend. He was smiling, clearly amused by the situation.

''And I've never been on a ship, nor on Coruscant, and... and...''

Apparently out of arguments, she dropped the pretense. ''And please, daddy, can't I really go with you ?'' she asked, her big brown eyes pleading him. ''Say yes ?''

Bail desperately tried not to feel affected by the sight, but soon understood it was a lost cause. He sighed deeply. Honestly, leading a rebellion was easier. ''Oh, alright, then,'' he answered, admitting defeat.

Leia beamed at him, hugged him briefly, and quickly ran towards her room to get her things. As he watched her hurrying out of the corridor, Bail heard a quiet cough beside him. Turning around, he raised an eyebrow at his friend. ''Is there a problem, General ?''

Carlist grinned widely. ''Such a great politician you are, your Highness. One of the most brilliant and dangerous of the whole Senate, and not even able to say no to your four years old daughter ?''

Bail glared at him.

''Even if I must admit she is quite stubborn,'' the General teased.

''Oh, be quiet.''

Carlist burst into laughter.

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Hours later, Bail left the Senate Chamber, utterly drained and exhausted. Despair threatened to overwhelm him. Leaning heavily against a wall, he breathed deeply, trying to regain control of himself.

The meeting went horribly. The very few senators – Bail included – who had tried to protest against the Security Enforcement law or to stop the Trade Federation from getting new, abusive powers, couldn't have made less of a difference if they hadn't spoken at all. The meeting was overseen by the Emperor himself, Vader at his side, though the latter hadn't talked once. He was probably there as a reminder of the Empire's power. In the end, only five percents voted against the law. Bail darkly wondered how many more blows the galaxy could endure.

Rubbing his tired eyes, he got off the wall and headed towards the senate Hall, where he had told Captain Antilles and a very excited Leia to wait for him. Hoping his daughter hadn't driven the Captain mad, he made his way through the crowd.

''Dad !''

Turning around, he spotted her running towards him, Captain Antilles trailing behind her and trying not to lose her in the crowd. Grinning widely, he lifted his daughter into his arms, amused by Antilles' quick breathing. Looking down at her, a vague of happiness flooded through him. One of the two people he loved most in the galaxy, she was a blessing.

''How was the meeting ?'' she suddenly asked him, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Under the impression that she had somehow felt that something was wrong, he decided to tell her the truth. ''Horrible. How was the waiting ?''

Leia frowned at his sudden change of subject, then smiled again. ''Great, actually. I learned loads of things !''

''Did you ? That's good.'' Then, turning towards Antilles, he asked him : ''I hope she didn't cause any problem, Captain ?''

''Not at all, sir,'' answered the young man.

Leia shot Bail a reproachful look. ''You know, I do behave sometimes.''

Putting her back on the ground, he frowned. '' Do you ? Then why can't it happen when your aunts are around ? You are driving my sisters mad.''

''But it does happen when they are around,'' she protested.

He raised an eyebrow. ''Sometimes,'' she added, grinning.

Bail groaned. Putting an innocent expression on her face, she asked : ''Am I really driving them mad ?''

Bail put his head in his hands. And soon felt his heart stop for a second when he heard the hiss of a respirator just behind him, and a low voice saying : ''Senator Organa.''

Putting his politician's mask back on, he turned around to greet the Dark Lord of the Sith : ''Lord Vader.'' Alongside him, Antilles nervously greeted the Dark Lord, too. Bail's fear increased when Vader, spotting Leia, directly asked her : ''Who are you, little one ?''

Apparently not afraid, she looked up and replied : '' I am the princess Leia Organa of Alderaan, sir.''

The Dark Lord stared at her for an excruciatingly long moment, silent. Leia only stared back at him. Alongside her, Bail wasn't merely nervous ; he was terrified. Trying desperately to remember how to breathe, he waited, hoping against all hopes that nothing would happen, and cursing himself for allowing Leia to come.

However, Vader only hesitated, then nodded and turned towards Bail. Stiffling back a sigh of relief, the latter immediately dragged the conversation back towards the meeting that had just ended. The Sith Lord didn't talk to nor about Leia again, which was more than fine with him.

It happened quickly. Bail heard the sound of a blastershot exploding through the Senate Hall, and before he could even react, the red blade of a lightsaber was ignited, and Darth Vader deflected the blaster bolt that was aiming straight at Leia, sending it back in the middle of the shooter's chest.

All of this was followed by a brief moment of deafening silence, quickly broken by Bail rushing towards Leia to hold her close, and by Captain Antilles throwing himself in front of them both. Coming out of its shocked state, the crowd, screaming and shrieking, rushed towards the exit, or hurried out of the Hall into the many corridors of the Senate building.

Still in shock, Bail looked down at his daughter and, searching for any injury, whispered frantically : '' Oh gods, Leia, thank you, you have nothing... Are you alright ?

''I'm fine,'' she answered shakily.

And indeed, she looked physically fine, if only a little shaken. Bail rose, Leia still in his arms. Suddenly, a surprising thought reached his shocked mind. Vader has just saved Leia's life. Well, he would have at least done one thing for his daughter, Bail thought bitterly, remembering the young man who had once been Anakin Skywalker.

However, Bail couldn't be more thankful towards the Sith Lord than he was now. He turned around, intending to thank Vader, but the Sith Lord spoke before Bail could even open his mouth :

''You should go back to Alderaan, Senator,'' he said, switching his lightsaber off. His voice was surprisingly quiet.

Bail nodded crisply, and walked towards the exit, Captain Antilles beside him.

No one spoke during the trip back to Alderaan, though nothing more happened. Leia, quietly sitting on her father's lap in his quarters, kept remembering what she had felt emanating from the red blade of the lightsaber. It had been so full of anger and hate, of doubts and shadows, screaming, and yet so alive... Leia shivered at the memory. She would never forget the image of Darth Vader, lightsaber in hand, standing in the middle of the Senate Hall, still and silent.

What she didn't know, however, was that the Dark Lord would stay still and silent, lightsaber in hand in the middle of the Senate Hall, for a very long time after they departed, before he finally moved and slowly left the Hall.

Fiction #2

Nylien