One month has passed since Emperor Palpatine's adopted daughter, DARTH THANA, was defeated by Ezra Bridger and Ahsoka Tano, and arrested by forces of the Rebel Alliance.
Thana infiltrated the rebellion using the name 'Jyn Erso', and brainwashed rebel hero LUKE SKYWALKER, forcing him to be loyal to her, and convincing him that she was a Jedi, on a secret mission to rebuild the Jedi Order.
Now, with her true identity revealed, Thana resides in a holding cell on the rebel base as the rebel leaders debate what to do with the captured Imperial princess, while Luke Skywalker, stripped of his command, now stands before the rebel leaders on the alliance's flagship, Home One...
On Home One, Luke Skywalker stands before the council of the Rebel Alliance, with Jedi Knight Ezra Bridger standing next to him.
"So, it is your opinion that Lieutenant Skywalker is now free of this woman's mind control?" General Dodonna asks.
"That's correct, general. He knows what was done to him, and he knows who Jyn Erso really is." Ezra answers.
"Thank you, General Bridger. Lieutenant Skywalker, do you have anything to say?" Mon Mothma asks.
"I was an idiot. I thought she was trying to help me. She told me she was a Jedi. I believed her." Luke says.
"You knew she was a force user, and didn't tell anyone?" General Madine asks.
"Yes, general, I knew. She told me not to tell anyone. She claimed to be working undercover to rebuild the Jedi Order in secret, and didn't want anyone to know what she was doing. Thanks to her control, I had no choice but to do as she asked of me." Luke answers.
"So, you admit to lying to your superiors, and aiding an enemy of the alliance?" Madine asks.
"General Madine, Luke was under her control. He didn't do any of this intentionally. He was under powerful mind control, which, fortunately, I was able to remove." Ezra says.
"Whether Skywalker is free of this mind control or not, the fact is, he betrayed the alliance. The evidence is clear. That is why I authorized security to continue holding him in confinement." Dodonna says.
"I understand why Luke was arrested and kept in a cell, but demoting him? Was that really necessary?" Leia asks.
"I admit that the punishment is a little harsh, but it is what the council decided, based on General Dodonna's recommendation." Mothma says.
"What about keeping him locked up for a month? Ezra freed him from Thana's control nearly two weeks ago, yet Luke was still kept in his cell!" Leia says.
"General Cracken's people hadn't finished their investigation yet. As alliance chief of operations, I authorized them to take as much time as they needed. Besides, can we really trust this man anymore?" Dodonna asks.
"Are you suggesting that he is an Imperial spy?" Admiral Ackbar asks.
"It is possible. We would need to do a thorough interrogation to be sure." Madine says.
"I am satisfied that Lieutenant Skywalker is no longer a threat to this alliance. There will be no interrogation, General Madine. I propose that he be reinstated as leader of Rogue Squadron, with the rank of commander, effective immediately. Such an action will of course require a vote from this council." Mothma says.
"Madam Chancellor, I hardly think this is appropriate. He should earn back our trust first. Then, maybe, he can have his rank back." Madine says.
"The council will vote on this matter, general, as well as the status of the criminal charges. Lieutenant Skywalker, if you will please wait outside." Mothma says.
"Yes, madam chancellor." Luke says. He leaves the room, and Ezra takes an empty seat.
"On the matter of the criminal charges against Lieutenant Luke Skywalker, I move that this council now vote to dismiss said charges due to the fact that Skywalker was under enemy mind control, and had no free will." Mothma says.
"I second." Leia says.
"I third." Ackbar says.
"Very well. Let us vote. All those in favor of dismissing the charges, please raise your hands." Mothma says. Almost everyone present raises their hand. Only General Madine and a few others do not. Mothma says "The vote is fifty seven to six in favor. All criminal charges against Luke Skywalker shall be immediately dismissed. Now, I move that we vote on whether or not to reinstate Luke Skywalker to the rank of commander."
"I second." Leia says.
"I third." Ackbar says.
"Very well. Let us vote. All those in favor of reinstating Luke Skywalker to the rank of commander, please raise your hands." Mothma says. Most in the room raise their hands. Mothma says "The vote is forty one to twenty two in favor. Luke Skywalker shall be restored to the rank of commander, effective immediately. As for his appointment as leader of Rogue Squadron, I shall leave that up to General Dodonna."
"I'll put Skywalker on reserve for now. He can assist General Syndulla with pilot training." Dodonna says.
"Really? You'd have one of our best pilots on reserve? Out of the cockpit?" Leia asks.
"He helped train most of the pilots we have, and he fired the torpedo that took out the Death Star. We need Luke Skywalker in his x-wing, leading Rogue Squadron." Hera says. Dodonna sits in silence for several seconds.
"Alright. I'll give him his squadron back." Dodonna says.
"Very good, general. Security, please have Lieutenant Skywalker enter." Mothma says.
Luke returns to the council room, and stands at attention.
"Luke Skywalker, this council has voted to dismiss all charges against you. You are hereby released from custody. We have also restored your commander's rank, and General Dodonna has agreed to allow you to return to your post as Rogue Leader. You are reinstated to active duty, and are now free to go." Mothma says.
"Thank you, Madam Chancellor, members of the council." Luke says. He bows respectfully, then leaves the room.
Once Luke is gone, Mon Mothma says "Now, onto our next order of business. Darth Thana. We have, as of yet, not reached a consensus on what to do with her, so she has been held in confinement since her arrest."
"She should be executed as soon as possible." General Cracken says.
"I will not condone an execution without trial, General Cracken." Mothma says.
"She's too dangerous to be kept alive!" Madine says.
"I agree. Darth Thana has committed many serious crimes. The most obvious being the massacre of the senate. She deserves no mercy." Senator Amren, a tanned, middle aged man says.
"Are you serious? An execution without trial? We'd be no better than the Empire! We should put her on trial, or freeze her in carbonite." Hera Syndulla says.
"I agree with General Syndulla. Carbon freezing should be considered. She could be kept that way indefinitely. It would remove a threat to the rebellion without resorting to a more extreme approach." General Rieekan says.
"I concur with General Syndulla and General Rieekan. Our options are-put her on trial, freeze her in carbonite, or...release her." Mothma says.
"Release her? That's absurd! Just let her go, like nothing happened?" Madine asks.
"This alliance was founded to restore the Republic, so we shall adhere to Republic law. Criminals shall not be held indefinitely without trial. The full council will vote to determine Darth Thana's fate, general. If this council votes in favor of it, then she will be released." Mothma says.
"So, let's just carbon freeze her and be done with it! We have more important things to worry about, like the evacuation of our base!" Madine says.
"I do not dispute what you say, general, but the law shall be followed, even for Darth Thana. Now, I move that we vote on this matter." Mothma says.
"I second." Ackbar says.
"I third." Hera says.
"Very well. All those in favor of carbon freezing Darth Thana, please raise your hands." Mothma says. Less than half of the people present raise their hands.
"Well, that looks like it's not happening. Foolish idea anyway." Cracken says.
"Thank you for your commentary, general. The vote is twenty six to thirty seven against. Darth Thana shall not be placed in carbonite. Now, all those in favor of putting Darth Thana on trial, please raise your hands." Mothma says. Most people in the room raise their hands. Mothma says "The vote is forty eight to fifteen in favor. Darth Thana shall stand trial for the crimes that she is accused of. The trial will be in two weeks. At our next meeting in three days time, we shall discuss the appointment of judges, as well as defense and prosecution. Until I decide otherwise, no one shall be allowed to speak with Darth Thana alone, other than General Bridger or General Tano."
"Madam Chancellor, I protest. Alliance Intelligence should have access to the prisoner." Cracken says.
"Your protest is noted, General Cracken. My order stands. If there is no further business, then I move that this council adjourn." Mothma says. No one says anything. Mothma says "Very well, this council is adjourned."
A few minutes later, Luke is in the hangar of Home One, with Ezra, Ahsoka, and Leia.
"Finally, out of prison, and I get my squadron back too. Honestly, I wasn't figuring on that." Luke says.
"You didn't think they'd give you your job back?" Leia asks.
"No. Dodonna doesn't seem to like me much anymore, so I figured he'd put me on reserve or something." Luke answers.
"He planned to, but we talked him out of it." Leia says.
"Thanks, Leia. If it weren't for Ezra and Ahsoka, I'd still be Jyn's puppet. She played me good. I thought she was my friend." Luke says.
"She was just using you, Luke. She didn't really care about you." Ahsoka says.
"She certainly acted like she did, and I fell for it." Luke says.
"She fooled us all, Luke. Don't blame yourself." Leia says.
"It's hard not to. I attacked a fellow rebel. Maybe Dodonna was right. Maybe I don't deserve a command anymore." Luke says.
"Luke, don't talk that way. You weren't yourself. Thana brainwashed you. I hated seeing you put in that cell, but we didn't have a choice. As for you getting demoted, I never supported that." Leia says.
"Neither did I. That was pretty harsh, bumping you down two steps in rank for something that wasn't really your fault." Ezra says.
"I agree. You didn't betray the rebellion. They betrayed you. The alliance has changed from what Bail Organa and I built. Honestly, I'm not liking what I'm seeing." Ahsoka says.
I'm not liking it too much either. Ezra thinks.
"I admit, it's not perfect, and I'm disappointed in the council for how they treated Luke, but this alliance is the only thing standing up to the Empire. It has its flaws, but it's the best we've got." Leia says.
For now. Ezra thinks.
"Well, now that Ezra and Ahsoka are here, I guess I can learn how to be a Jedi the proper way." Luke says.
"From an actual Jedi." Leia says.
"Of course, Luke. I'd be glad to train you. That being said, I'm not going to make you wear the robes, or call me master. I'll teach you, and you'll learn. It's as simple as that. Ahsoka will train you as well." Ezra says.
"Ezra and I both felt that you should have more than one teacher. We have different backgrounds and training, so we agreed that you would learn from the both of us. The more you know, the better you will become." Ahsoka says.
I get to learn from two Jedi? Luke thinks.
"Wow. I get to learn...from both of you?" Luke asks.
"Yes. We are all that's left of the Jedi. We must all work together. Ahsoka and I will pass on what we know to you. Then, one day, our numbers will grow, and eventually, you'll take a student of your own." Ezra says.
"I'll try to do the best I can." Luke says.
"Lesson one. Do or do not. There is no try." Ahsoka says.
"Couldn't have said it better myself." Ezra says.
"What does that even mean?" Luke asks.
"Trying to do something means you don't believe that you can succeed. So, from now on, you either do something, or you don't do it." Ezra answers.
"Umm, okay. I think I get it." Luke says.
"Took me a while too, but you'll get there." Ahsoka says.
"Thanks. By the way, what did they do with Jyn? All I know is they arrested her." Luke says.
"Darth Thana has been stripped of the rank and authority she earned under false pretenses, and she is confined to a holding cell on base. Her trial is in two weeks." Leia says.
"Could I see her?" Luke asks.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Luke. Besides, only Ezra or Ahsoka are allowed to see her. The council is concerned about her trying to brainwash people, so only Jedi are to be around her." Leia says.
"I want to talk to her. I want to hear her explain to me why she did what she did." Luke says.
"Understandable. You want closure." Ahsoka says.
"Yeah." Luke says.
I haven't talked to her since Ezra blocked our force connection. Of course, I was still under her control at the time, so he did the right thing. Luke thinks.
"The council will never allow you to see her, Luke." Leia says.
"I think that he could see Thana if one of us is with him." Ezra says.
"I don't know." Leia says.
"Well, I do. It won't be against orders. Mon Mothma did say that Ahsoka and I are the only ones allowed to see Thana alone. She didn't say we couldn't take other people to see her." Ezra says.
"Ever since you both came back, you've been butting heads with most of the other generals, and some of the senators too. Now, I am on your side, but maybe you should both try being a little more...diplomatic. The council would be more likely to approve your proposals." Leia says.
"That's easier said than done. Cracken and Madine are assholes. Dodonna isn't much better. Hell, Ahsoka had to fight to get her old job back, and she practically built the alliance!" Ezra says.
"I agree with you, Ezra, but she was gone for a long time. Nobody really knows where she was, or what she was doing, other than her story about being stranded on Malachor, and searching for Jedi artifacts. We had no contact for four years, and we thought she was dead. I don't believe it for a second, but some think that Ahsoka is an Imperial spy." Leia says.
"I understand that the leaders of the alliance are suspicious of me. Frankly, I don't give a damn. Let them think what they want, as long as they stay out of my way, and let me do my job." Ahsoka says.
"You have the three of us on your side. Mon Mothma and Admiral Ackbar too. We remember everything you've done for the cause, and anybody that thinks you're an Imperial spy is an idiot." Leia says.
"There is an Imperial spy in the rebellion." Ezra says.
"How do you know that?" Leia asks.
"Ezra has...visions...of the past and the present." Ahsoka says.
"The future as well. At least, the most likely future." Ezra says.
"I've heard something about Jedi being able to see the future." Leia says.
"This is different. I can control it. I can decide what I see." Ezra says.
"Wow. That sounds pretty cool." Luke says.
"It is. It's also a great responsibility. I am...what was in ancient times called...the Eye of the Force. My purpose is to use what I see to guide others." Ezra says.
"Similar to a Jedi seer." Ahsoka says.
"Basically, but more advanced." Ezra says.
"Can I learn how to see the past and the future?" Luke asks.
"Sight such as mine is very rare, so if you are able to learn it, I would be very pleasantly surprised. Now, brief visions of the future, that's pretty common, but they're usually misinterpreted since their meaning isn't always clear." Ezra says.
"Oh. Okay." Luke says.
"Don't be disappointed, Luke. No single Jedi can learn how to do everything. It would take centuries." Ezra says.
Or gaining the power of all five of the ancient kyber crystals. Ezra thinks.
"Ezra's right. Learn what you can, and be the best Luke Skywalker you can be." Ahsoka says.
"I'll do my best." Luke says.
"I know you will." Ezra answers.
"Ezra, did your vision show you who the spy was?" Leia asks.
"Yes, but I didn't recognize him. He must be a new recruit. I'll have to look some more, and see if I can determine his identity." Ezra answers.
I already know, and he may be key to helping Thana. So, for now, I'll keep the spy's identity to myself and Ahsoka. Ezra thinks.
"Alright, then. I wouldn't mind getting back to base. We all have work to do." Leia says.
"Leia's right. I need to let Rogue Squadron know I'm back, and give the bad news to whoever they replaced me with." Luke says.
"Major Zev Senesca from Green Squadron." Leia says.
"Oh, I know him. Great pilot." Luke says.
"He's no Luke Skywalker." Leia says. Luke smiles.
"Smile now, while you still can, Luke. Training starts this evening, and it won't be easy." Ahsoka says.
Nothing worth doing ever is. Ezra thinks.