A/N: The speech in this chapter was taken directly from Wookieepedia: wiki/Declaration_of_a_New_Order. All rights belong to George Lucas.


Alema woke slowly, several different sounds coming in broken stages. The first thing she heard was whining alarms and shrill bells. She must have drifted back into unconsciousness, though, for those faded after a short time. The next thing she heard was Dia's voice, hard and low, as though she was trying not to wake her. Somewhere off to the right, her father's rich baritone rumbled in response. Another few moments of darkness came and went, and Alema felt her mother's hands stroking her lekku as the small, calloused fingertips worked magic. Alema tried to respond, to open her eyes at least, but she felt so very, very weak. Even breathing was difficult. She shouldn't feel like this…

Swallowing thickly, she tried to speak, but all that came out was a soft whimper. The next thing she knew, a hand was grasping hers. Dia, no doubt. And another was lifting her head, placing a hard forehead against hers. Her father. She felt her mouth being opened, and a cool liquid washed down her throat. She tried to swallow, tried to breathe, tried to open her eyes, to do something. The result was a choking fit that wracked her body. She felt someone lifting her and a brief thumping against her back. After taking a few choking gasps of air, she finally managed to crack her eyes open. Her mother stood in front of her, blue eyes puffy from crying.

"Alema? Can you breathe?" she asked, running a finger along Alema's jawline. Alema nodded shakily, leaning back against her father's chest for support.

Dia knelt in front of her and placed a hand on her knee. "You gave us a scare."

"Wha- what happened?" Alema croaked.

"You passed out shortly after coming back. Mother and father walked in a few seconds after. The sirens woke them. Father put you on the couch," Dia explained, her voice soft.

"Sirens? Why would there be…?" she trailed off before remembering the carnage of the previous night. Alema's eyes snapped open, her strength suddenly returning. Careening off her father's lap, she stumbled for the window, almost reaching it before Dia grabbed her arm and pulled her back into an embrace. "Let go. I have to see – "

"No, Alema. It's too late," Dia protested, struggling with her sister. Eventually, Alema managed to wriggle away, pulling the hotel curtain back. Wincing at the sun, her eyes eventually adjusted. She wished they hadn't. She wished, suddenly, that she'd tried to shoot that clone. Then she wouldn't have to watch the smoke rise, watch the gleaming white Temple seem so incredibly small where once it had loomed. Sinking down to her knees, Alema let the curtain fall back to cover the window.

"I had hoped…I had hoped I would wake up and find that it all was just a nightmare," Alema sighed after a minute. Her mother and father glanced down, not knowing what to say. Dia closed her eyes, placing a hand to her forehead. The silence hung thick for several moments. "Does anyone know why?" Alema finally whispered.

Byt and Aola looked at each other for a moment before glancing at the Holonet receptor in front of the couch. Sensing this, Alema started to crawl towards it. Dia stepped in front of her before kneeling down. She took a deep breath before attempting to speak. The first try wasn't successful, and neither was the second. "They claim that the Jedi attempted to overthrow the Republic. Apparently, four Jedi attacked Chancellor Palpatine last night. His guards killed them. After that, several legions of clones attacked the Temple. The Temple, as well as the area surrounding it, has been put on military lockdown. No one is allowed in or out. According to the reports, there were no survivors of the Temple massacre," she whispered. "I'm so sorry, numa…"

"I don't understand. Why would the Jedi ever try to overthrow the Republic?" Alema asked. "It makes no sense."

"The building manager personally stopped by every room on this floor. He told us that Chancellor Palpatine has convened the Senate this afternoon. It will be broadcast tonight on every Holonet frequency. All citizens of Coruscant have been instructed to tune in," Byt replied.

A pressure suddenly gripped Alema's chest, as if all the air were being squeezed out of her lungs. The air around her felt charged, the confusion and despair of thousands of Jedi moving within the Force. Lies, it whispered. All he speaks is lies. Alema glanced at the Holonet receptor, the blackness of its screen mirroring the shadows that were beginning to rise in her own soul. When she tried to think of the Chancellor, all she could see was the dark flame from her dream. "Then, by all means, let us hear his explanation," she hissed.


The sun had just begun to set when the Holonet receptor finally picked up any signal. Byt and Aola sat on the couch together, Byt folding his wife in his embrace. Alema's heart sank when she looked at her mother. After their earlier conversation, her mother had made the mistake of staring out the window for a few moments. Alema had felt her disbelief through the Force, as well as the considerable depression that followed. Her mother had run into the bathroom after that and refused to come out for an hour. Her sobbing could be heard from every corner of the hotel suite. Finally, Byt had been able to coax her out, and her daughters had rested with her on one of the beds. Alema had used a gentle Force suggestion to push her already exhausted mother over into sleep. She smiled at the memory of her mother's peaceful expression during her nap. She was sure Aola would not make that face for several months.

Dia sat on the couch above her, with Alema's head propped against her knee. Dia silently ate a bagel as the smell of its honey spread filled Alema's nostrils. Tapping Dia's knee, she gave her a weak smile and nodded her head at the little pastry. Normally, this would have made her sister roll her eyes and continue eating. Today, however, Dia merely broke off a piece and handed it to her. Alema munched the food slowly, knowing that nothing else was coming until morning. The manager had assured them that he was trying to get a shipment in, but until the military lockdown ended, he was having to ration food for the entire hotel.

A siren broke the eerie silence, making Aola jump and press closer into her husband. Dia froze for a moment, taking the Holonet remote into a shaking hand. She placed the bagel down and sighed. "I don't want to know."

Alema placed a hand on her sister's knee. "Night must fall so that the sun may rise," she whispered.

Dia raised an eyebrow, her tone disdainful. "What kind of poodoo is that?"

"My Master told me that once. I never realized until now just how right she was," Alema answered. Without another word, Dia switched on the receptor. The Chancellor stood before the Senate wearing a maroon cloak. Alema's stomach revolted unexpectedly. Her hand tightened on Dia's knee as he spoke:

"Citizens of the civilized galaxy, on this day we mark a transition. For a thousand years, the Republic stood as the crowning achievement of civilized beings. But there were those who would set us against one another, and we took up arms to defend our way of life against the Separatists. In so doing, we never suspected that the greatest threat came from within.

The Jedi, and some within our own Senate, had conspired to create the shadow of Separatism using one of their own as the enemy's leader. They had hoped to grind the Republic into ruin. But the hatred in their hearts could not be hidden forever. At last, there came a day when our enemies showed their true natures.

The Jedi hoped to unleash their destructive power against the Republic by assassinating the head of government and usurping control of the clone army. But the aims of would-be tyrants were valiantly opposed by those without elitist, dangerous powers. Our loyal clone troopers contained the insurrection within the Jedi Temple and quelled uprisings on a thousand worlds.

The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated! Any collaborators will suffer the same fate. These have been trying times, but we have passed the test. The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed, but I assure you my resolve has never been stronger. The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning. In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society, which I assure you will last for ten thousand years. An Empire that will continue to be ruled by this august body and a sovereign ruler chosen for life. An Empire ruled by the majority, ruled by a new constitution!

By bringing the entire galaxy under one law, one language, and the enlightened guidance of one individual, the corruption that plagued the Republic in its later years will never take root. Regional governors will eliminate the bureaucracy that allowed the Separatist movement to grow unchecked. A strong and growing military will ensure the rule of law.

Under the Empire's New Order, our most cherished beliefs will be safeguarded. We will defend our ideals by force of arms. We will give no ground to our enemies and will stand together against attacks from within or without. Let the enemies of the Empire take heed: those who challenge Imperial resolve will be crushed.

We have taken on a task that will be difficult, but the people of the Empire are ready for the challenge. Because of our efforts, the galaxy has traded war for peace and anarchy for stability. Billions of beings now look forward to a secure future. The Empire will grow as more planets feel the call, from the Rim to the wilds of unknown space.

Imperial citizens must do their part. Join our grand star fleet! Become the eyes of the Empire by reporting suspected insurrectionists. Travel to the corners of the galaxy to spread the principles of the New Order to barbarians. Build monuments and technical wonders that will speak of our glory for generations to come.

The clone troopers, now proudly wearing the name of Imperial stormtroopers, have tackled the dangerous work of fighting our enemies on the front lines. Many have died in their devotion to the Empire. Imperial citizens would do well to remember their example.

The New Order of peace has triumphed over the shadowy secrecy of shameful magicians. The direction of our course is clear. I will lead the Empire to glories beyond imagining.

We have been tested, but we have emerged stronger. We move forward as one people: the Imperial citizens of the first Galactic Empire. We will prevail. Ten thousand years of peace begins today."

Several silent moments passed after the speech was over. Alema's head felt numb, her skull hollow, and her body nonexistent. As she watched the screen, now showing fresh video of the still-burning Temple, she could not fight the horror that slowly descended. How could this have possibly happened? When she had come to Coruscant a month ago, the world had made sense. The Chancellor was the Republic's figurehead; the Senate made the true decisions; and the Jedi Order was there to ensure peace throughout the galaxy. As of last night, the Jedi were no more. The Chancellor was now an emperor, and the Senate members were merely his puppets. She knew it as surely as she breathed air. A hideous, deformed ghost floated in the air, his words judging those who defended his power, condemning them to death. Alema swallowed thickly as Dia switched the frequency. It didn't help. Every one showed the same loop.

Sighing, Alema sank inside herself, opening her mind to the call of the Force. Normally she loved Coruscant, its energies beautiful and varied beyond measure. Now, however, everything was twilight and darkness. Alema felt her family's emotions first, overwhelmingly so almost. Her father's disbelieving shock, her mother's defeated sadness, and her sister's numb anxiety were only the beginning, though. The deeper she sank into the Force, the darker the energies became. She felt the confusion of billions, merged together with shock and anxiety. Anger, with fear mixed in, flooded her mind's eye with a deep crimson, almost like the blood of Coruscant's soul. She felt the call of the dark side the deeper into meditation she slid. Anger and fear created so much incredible power. As the fine barley wine of Dantooine would coat her tongue, that outrageous power coated her mind. It was intoxicating… all she had to do was reach out and take it. Negative power though it was, it was still power. And wasn't that what she needed to protect her family? Her brother was gone; she had already failed him. She couldn't lose another loved one, couldn't fail them again. Power would protect them, would serve her well…

Power is an illusion, a distraction. Service is the call of the Jedi. We serve; we do not rule. The crimson vision began to bleed away as Alema remembered her Master's teaching. She was there to serve, to protect. Not to rule, and not to be served. Alema flinched as Dia touched her shoulder.

"Alema," she asked, squeezing tighter, "what is it?"

"Lies," Alema gasped, rejoining her family rapidly from her meditation. Her head spun. "It is all lies."