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Jedi Master Misty Sman-Esay
::Lost Girl::
Chapter Three: Treason
The Monument of the Alderaanian Forefathers was a grand sight to behold. The four large statues stood facing each other and stretched high into the cerulean colored sky, about 2000 feet
Breha led Leia and her companions to the round courtyard in the center of the circling, skyscraping statues. She had to let herself smile at how the children all tilted their heads up in amazement, straining to see the faces of the massive figures.
It was almost impossible to see the tops of the statues from where they were standing, but she would take the children to the viewing sight at the top of the mountain, and there were also holograms of the whole architect of the monument all about the cobbled courtyard.
The queen had managed to have a few of Leia's friends come along as well, despite the short notice. Her best friend, Tensa Vern, daughter of Alderaan's chief architect, Tensa's younger brother Oden, and Cian Roth. Cian was a few years older, but he and Leia got on well with each other. His father was the Minister of Justice and an old friend to the royal family. Breha had hopes that Cian would be a fine suitor for Leia someday.
Breha left the children with Margy while she and the attendants prepared for a picnic on the mountainside. Leia and her friends were allowed to roam, as long as they stayed on the courtyard.
"Can you believe the monument was carved out of an entire mountain?" Leia asked with amazement as she read one of the plaques. Cian shook his head, making his dark curls bounce about his boyishly handsome face.
"Everyone knows that, Leia." he told her, though there was only good humor in his voice.
The princess turned and scrunched her nose at the older boy. "I didn't say I didn't know, I just think it's still amazing."
Cian shrugged. "You've seen them once, you've seen them a thousand times."
"Well, maybe if one's uncultured like you." Leia quipped back with a turn of her nose.
Cian just shook his head again in amusement at the plucky princess, there was no point trying to argue with her. "Whatever you say, Leia."
"I want to take the lift to the top of one of them." Oden said, straining his eyes against the glare of the white sun, trying to see the top. "We can't even tell what our forefathers' look like."
"All about the same, I should think." Tensa said. "Old men in billowy robes and long beards."
"Mother says we'll take a lift to the top of each one of them." Leia said. "She has the next few days planned out full."
"Is the picnic ready?" Oden asked. "I'm starving!"
"When are you not?" Tensa asked with a roll of her eyes.
"Children, don't stray to far!" Margy called, standing beside the souvenir stand, purchasing each of the children miniatures of the monument.
Leia hadn't noticed they had wandered to the other side of the courtyard, nor how the tourists had begone to crowd.
"We better head back." she said, remembering how her father was almost shot down in a crowd by an Imperial extremist, who thought him a traitor to the Empire. For her family, crowds were never safe.
"Oh, you're always so worried, Leia." Cian replied. "The monument is only open to members of the royal council and their families today, no need to get all frazzled."
"I am not frazzled!" she said in haughty warning to the boy.
Well, perhaps she was.
Maybe it wasn't the crowd, but the hairs on the back of her neck were standing up and she felt as if someone was watching her, despite the fact everyone's attention was directed elsewhere everywhere she turned.
"Okay, okay!" Cian said, "We'll go closer to Margy, just relax."
As the children made their way back to the governess, the anxiety Leia experienced intensified into a focal point. She whipped her head toward one of the mountains.
There was something or someone watching her from there.
The notion was ridiculous to the girl a moment later, however, as she shook her head and continued back to Margy.
…
Vader narrowed his eyes slightly when Leia turned his way. She may have been a distance away, but it almost seemed as if she was looking directly at him from his perch in the observatory atop the mountain. He must have imagined it, because she turned away just as quickly.
Mar and Vellet were investigating underground tunnels just miles from the monument, and Vader had recalled that Breha was taking the princess here. He wanted to see if he could find any other reason as to why the Organas were going such lengths to hide the girl, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Breha had been true to her word and brought the child to the monument, just as she said. Instead, Vader simply watched the child as she walked with her friends. She seemed to be close with the other girl, and motherly to the little boy, and with the older boy there was something different. A childhood infatuation, it seemed.
The more he saw of the princess, the more he felt a nagging feeling, a feeling he couldn't shake… it was obvious she was Force-sensitive, but he had come across others that were as well, and he never a felt a pull like he did with her.
His communicator vibrated in his pocket, interrupting his thoughts. It was Admiral Mar.
"My lord, we've found something you'll want to see."
Vader spared a last glance at Leia. "I'm on my way."
…
Bail was on his way to the Throne Room to oversee a council meeting via hologram. He dearly hoped Breha and Leia had had a safe trip, and even more so hoped that their departure would be the end of the threat that loomed over his family.
He had seen the curious look in Vader's eyes when he had spoken to Leia. Something had sparked in the dark lord's mind, something Bail prayed he would never fully realize. It did not help that Leia had Padme's eyes and dark hair, nor that she had inherited Anakin's stubbornness, wit and spunk. Looking at her, Bail was always reminded of his old friends, the ones lost to the Dark Side.
He would not lose Leia to it as well.
His intercom buzzed, an attendant was informing him that Darth Vader was approaching, but there was no point in that, before Bail could rise in his seat, the young Sith opened the doors with a wave of his hands.
"My lord…"
"Stay seated, Senator. There will be no point in you rising for an interrogation." Vader said lowly. Following behind him were all his men, two remained as guards behind the door, closing it shut.
Bail slowly sat back down, remaining as calm as he could. "What is this about?"
"The fact I have apprehended two dozen rebels hidden beneath your mountains." Vader growled, slamming a holo-projector against the desk.
The ghostly images of familiar volunteers to the Rebel Alliance appeared before Bail and the senator's heart sank. He kept his political mask on as he faced the menacing gaze of Vader whose killing intent was evident.
"I am afraid I don't know what you're talking about, my lord." he said smoothly. "I do not know these people."
"I thought you a rebel sympathizer, but no Senator, I underestimated you, you're a rebel leader." Vader sneered.
"Lord Vader…"
"I am no longer a youth you can lecture, Organa, the only reason I have not killed you is because I know there is more than a band of miscreants you're hiding… and you will tell me where the rest are."
Bail looked the Sith in the eye. "My Lord, my allegiance is to the Emperor, I do not know of these traitors."
Vader inhaled sharply, but stood down. H
e had to commend Bail as one of the finest liars he had come across.
"Very well then, Senator." he told the older man, settling into a icy calm. "I will take these traitors off your hands then, I know you couldn't bear to have any rebellion brewing beneath your own capital. And do not fear, I will go into any lengths to make them talk, to make them pay for their treason."
Vader saw the fiery gleam in Bail's eyes and, for a moment, he thought he would give in and reveal himself, but the coward just nodded his head.
"You must do what you must, my lord, for the good of the Empire."
…
Breha received a call from her husband that night, as soon as she was finished tucking Leia into bed. He sounded so defeated.
"Vader found one of the underground bunkers, and took twenty-six of our volunteer pilots. They were ambushed and didn't have time to escape."
"Oh, Bail." she breathed out, knowing the pain he must be going through.
The cost for the Rebel Alliance was grave indeed, but for those left behind it required dishonesty and dishonor. For a good man such as Bail, it was almost unbearable.
"He knew they were tied to me, but there is no way he can prove it." he told her. "But, those brave men and women are still alive and I will not allow them to be tortured, I will have to plea for Mon Mothma to send in a rescue operation."
Breha knew it was risky, but she agreed.
"Then do it." she said. "Leia and I are both safe here so you will have no distractions."
"Then I will let you know more in the morning, my love." he said. "Kiss Leia goodnight for me."
"I shall." she replied. "Goodnight."
After she clicked off the com-link, she heard Leia mumble in her sleep. "Is father alright."
"Yes darling, go back to sleep." she told her, running a hand through her dark hair to soothe her.
Stay like this always, she wished for her daughter. Young, innocent and safely hidden from all this corruption.
…
Vader was fuming, pacing in his chambers. His hands were clenched and everything in the room was shaking with his anger.
He almost had him. Almost revealed Organa as the traitor he really was. But, he had not only underestimated how involved the Senator was with the Rebel Alliance, he also underestimated his ability to lie and sacrifice others. He had never thought that the noble and benevolent Bail Organa would condemn more than a dozen of his followers to be tortured and put to death, but apparently he was wrong.
The game he had to play with these politicians made him fume, the theatrics, deceit, and lies… when all that really had to be done was to cut down those that were disloyal and replace them with those obedient to the Empire. To wait and not act was enough to drive him mad.
Mar announced himself and Vader permitted him to enter.
"My lord, the ship has arrived to take the prisoners. Governor Harren has been placed responsible for their questioning."
Harren was the perfect man for the job. He was unfeeling and relentless, and would get the answers they needed from the rebels.
"Good, as soon as the traitors speak, the sooner we can leave this place and hopefully take Organa with us." Vader replied. "Make sure a full report is sent to the Emperor."
"Yes sir." Mar bowed, taking his leave.
Vader continued to pace in his chambers, the desire to choke the life out of someone still remained in him. How had Organa been so calm? So, willing to sacrifice others for himself? Could the man be truly so corrupt?
No. Vader knew better than anyone the eyes of a corrupt man, and Bail Organa was not that. He would attempt to rescue the rebels, not openly, but he would send for reinforcements, and that could not happen.
With a frustrated sigh, the Sith fell into the chair of his desk, rubbing his eyes. He would have to dispatch orders to the Central Command Station to be on guard for any attack from the rebel forces.
His gaze lowered to holo-screen of his desk, the files of the princess were still on display. He shut down the projection. The child and whatever Force abilities she had were frustrating him greatly and becoming a distraction to his real mission.
She doesn't matter.
The only thing that mattered was crushing the rebellion.
…
"Leia, I think we'll stay here in the mountains a few days more, perhaps go and visit your Uncle at his winery." Breha told Leia who was looking for a presant for her father at one of little gift stands.
Leia looked up at her in surprise. "But, my studies…"
"I'll have your tutors send your assignments to you, Margy and I can help you get through them… it is only a few days more." Breha explained.
Leia looked down, keeping her voice low as she had been taught when she brought up any matters of the Empire. "Is it because of the Imperials at the palace?"
Breha had a lie ready on her tongue, but it faded as Leia gazed up at her. "A little yes… it is important we let your father send them away before we get home."
Leia nodded, unsure what she felt. Apart of her wanted to share with her mother what she had felt at the monument, the strong sensibility she had never felt before, when she was aware of everything far and near. But, it had been so brief and so confusing for her, she didn't even know if she could put it to words that her mother could understand.
She didn't know what the Imperials were doing, but she felt the need to be with her father. Perhaps, perhaps he was in danger of some kind… whatever the reason, she didn't want to stay hidden in the mountains.
She had a bad feeling about it.
…
"Something is troubling you, Lord Vader." the Emperor's cold, cackling voice rasped threw the hologram.
Vader closed his eyes, trying to hide the one corner of his mind that he kept for himself. He kept his head bowed as he kneeled, forcing the image of the strange, little princess and the Force that surrounded her to his safe vault.
"Organa evades us, my master." he said.
"Patience, my young apprentice, the apprehended rebels will talk, they always do."
Not if they're rescued. Vader thought darkly.
"Any rescue attempts from the Alliance will be squandered." Palpatine spoke, reading his thoughts. "My, Alderaan has made you quite restless… you've not been this tense since you found that Jedi on Ansion."
Vader did not reply and kept his head bowed. "What is your bidding, my master?"
The Emperor gave a thoughtful pause, his apprentice was troubled and was keeping something from him, but finding out what that was was for another time.
"The apprehended rebels' intelligence will not be enough, it seems Organa is even more involved than we thought, he'll be our tool to the end of this futile rebellion. When the time comes, you will exploit his weakness, make him break."
Vader hesitated.
Organa's weakness…
His wife and child. The princess. Leia.
"Keep his weaknesses close, Lord Vader, be ready when the time comes."
"It will be done, my master." Vader replied.
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