"Who's to say that the Rebels aren't the real villains here? The economy has been devastated, ladies and gentlemen, law enforcement is virtually nonexistent, health care, unemployment and ambassadorial policies have all been wiped out. We are doomed. What is freedom, if we are leaderless?"
"Thank you, Mister Ra'sier. We've got to take a break, but next up we'll hear from Sir Airian Voss, and Coruscant's new Senate-resurrection plan. Stay tuned!"

Luke rolled over the thin, military-grade mattress as his hand slammed the large, illuminated OFF button of the bedside clock. He looked blearily at its digital numbers, their bluish glow demanding the start of another day. He flopped onto his back. The entire room, much like the rest of the quickly assembled Rebel base of Endor, was gray. Inevitably, his eyes found the plastic-covered ceiling. In the months that followed liberation, there had been a spiritual rebirth that swept over the galaxy's sapients. Heroes were realized, planets freed and liberty seemingly redeemed. The victorious Rebel Alliance drank in the wine spirits, the fellowship and the stars.

But so quickly the partying ended and dissolved into panic and stress. The Rebel Alliance was not so, but suddenly rather "what was left" of the brave men who lost their lives. Diplomacy struggled to stand again on its broken legs. People were suspicious of each other, including the emerging leaders, and some even lamented the order that the Empire maintained. The galaxy and its respective planetary systems were free of the Emperor's tyranny, yes, but also of their common rule. The Imperial Ruling Council was gone, and people suddenly had to think for themselves. They were like slaves, running around, confused without their master. The Emperor had controlled trade. He controlled education. He oversaw transportation units, information broadcasting and the HoloNet which, so recently re-opened to the public, seemed bent on trashing the Rebel Alliance. The galaxy, at least for now, was lost without him. All the good that had been promised, expected, seemed to rest perilously like a boulder on an angel's slender wing.

And despite the heavy distractions (or perhaps due in part), Luke couldn't shake the heavy feeling from the pit of his stomach. In the midst of the rebellion, adrenaline had enabled his focus. But now, in the quiet barracks, he was reminded of the reality of victory. Friends, teachers, leaders...A parent. All victims to the same ultimate fate. No honorary rank or medals could resurrect them, and he felt it like an awful ache.

Adrenaline, too, had allowed Luke to throw around that term, "father" as it had been needed. He had been able to tell Leia the truth about their family, but ever since the hilarity died down, the queasy reality had settled in.
His father was a Sith Lord. Even if he had truly experienced redemption, Darth Vader was a merciless, master of evil. Had he been alive, he would have been tried for his crimes against galactic life. He was a prime reason that anyone bearing the name, "Skywalker," should not be a Jedi.
What had driven his father to betray the Jedi and Ben? Why didn't he overthrow the Emperor? If only he could have helped the old man, somehow. So much he would give, if he could rewrite history- if he could make the change that would save lives and so much heart ache.

Damn. What was it about sorrow that called for such tall orders?

"Luke? Luke?!"
Luke blinked several times, pulled out of his musings. He couldn't entirely suppress the grin that his sister's impatience brought. Even if he felt temporarily weighted, Leia was spunky enough to liven even the weariest souls.

"Luke- Oh," She stopped in her tracks, standing in the doorway when she found him, still in bed.
She huffed and, shaking her head, trudged into the room. As she shoved the window-panel up, light flooded the cubical room and made Luke squint.
"You were supposed report to base, seven clicks ago," She chided. "Admiral Ackbar needs you to approve the deployment program from Endor. If we don't download and relay the ambassador's com link files by- Are you listening?"
Luke blinked again. Why was it so hard to stay focused?
"Yeah...Yes. Right, okay. Let me get dressed, I'll meet you down there. Fifteen ticks, I swear." He tried to manage a smile, but it came out meek and weird. It didn't seem to fit anymore.
Leia watched him, her lipsticked lips pursuing slightly before she rolled her eyes.
"Fine," She told him. "Make it thirteen, we don't have time. Everything is due yesterday." She made her way for the door, the exit swooshed automatically open. "Also, we have Boonta Eve flat bread in the mess hall. Maybe you're interested."
If Luke hadn't been watching, he wouldn't have noticed the quiet smile that flashed across his sister's face at the mention of one of Luke's old favorites, before she rushed back into the hallway. It was hard on her, too, but she was doing her best to support him.
Dressing was simple. He wore the same outfit, a black tunic, simple pants and boots everyday. They never managed to stray far in his small, empty living quarters. His lightsaber was clipped safely to his belt; it was beginning to feel more natural there.
As he exited his room, a gust of cool air from the rest of the base rushed into his face. His skin felt sort of clammy and damp suddenly, but it could always be cured with food. When was the last time he had eaten, anyway?
Making his way to the mess hall proved to be no easy task. Everyone wanted something from him this morning.

"Luke!" Pilot Keyan Farlander's familiar voice called out. He motioned over for Luke to review the tactics for an air relief mission.

"General!" Admiral Ackbar needed his signature.

"Master Luke!" C-3PO cried out, R2 had gone missing.

Luke himself was beginning to feel stranger and stranger still. It seemed to him that he was caught in that pre-sick phase, with a throat that felt slightly too dry to be normal, a cold sweat and a pulsing headache. Perfect. This was all he needed.

He staggered into the mess hall, the air smelling of dish water and fresh bread. The ground seemed a little shaky, but before Luke could step into the food line, a HoloNet droid buzzed over, it's clunky, spherical form dashing through the mess hall and stopping short, only to hover expectantly in front of Luke's face.

Immediately it snapped a few photographs, the flash stunning Luke. A humanoid voice came from the droid,
"Luke Skywalker, as the newest general, what are your plans to rebuild the military and defense after Lord Vader's disappearance?"

Luke rubbed his eyes,
"Blast...Who let this droid in here? Somebody get it out of my-"

"Luke Skywalker, as the newest general, what are your plans to rebuild the military and defense after Lord Vader's disappearance?" The droid repeated itself, awaiting some key words to signify an answer.

He rubbed his face. Something was not right. This headache was relentless...

"Luke Skywalker, as the newest general, what are your plans to rebuild the military and defense after Lord Vader's disappearance?"

He growled, half heartedly making a move to swipe at the hovering globe, but missing under the shakiness of his legs. People were beginning to stare, and even though Luke now technically outranked them, he flushed with embarrassment.
Stumbling backward, he struggled to maintain balance while the droid snapped more pictures, the lights flickering before his eyes.

"Hey, kid are you alright?"
A familiar voice asked, but it didn't quite register with Luke. He swayed, standing in the middle of the of the mess hall's tiled floor, alongside a sea of tables and chairs.
"Someone get him a-"
With a heavy sigh, Luke was relieved of his delirious swaying, as the floor rushed up to meet him.

I hope you enjoyed the introduction. I realize that this may be a confusing start, but read on. I promise that things will make sense. All you need to know is that Luke has fainted, and is presumably ill.

Please comment and review.

Love,

TBT