Episode 6 Ch 4

Return of the Senator

A/N: Thanks as always to my beta and Editor Fallenstar2.

Han sighed loudly as he collapsed back into his chair. He and Buffy were currently in the empty lounge at the Council and Buffy had just given him the good news.

"So it's over? I'm free to go back?" he asked. Buffy smiled and nodded.

"You're good to go," she confirmed. "And Joyce assured me that Fett wouldn't be coming after you anymore - at least, not for this bounty."

"Yeah, yeah, I get the point," Han groused. "Of course, all of this could have been avoided if I hadn't given my original reward back to the Alliance…"

"Hindsight and all of that," Buffy agreed.

Han chuckled, then rose from his chair. "Well, in that case, I've got a pre-flight to complete. Luke and Leia want to make a quick stop to Dagobah before we meet up with the fleet."

"And Willow and I will be going on some mysterious mission," Buffy sighed. "I hate mysteries, almost as much as I hate surprises."

"I don't like it."

Padmé sighed once more as she finished packing her bag. "It's the only way, Ani. Otherwise we'll be fighting a war with the Empire for the next 30 years!"

"We're fighting this war to bring back the Republic! How will this…"

Padmé lifted her hand and gently placed two fingers on his mouth, effectively silencing him. "I know, Ani. I know it's hard to accept, but the sad thing is that the Republic was dying long before Palpatine took power. For some, the Empire is the best thing that happened to them."

Anakin sighed dejectedly. "I understand. But it doesn't mean I like it. And I don't like you getting involved…"

"Ani, this isn't the first revolution I've fought," Padmé said with a small smile, which he returned.

"I know, I was there for the first one. And the second, and the third…"

Padmé grinned openly, then gave her husband a long kiss. "I have to go, as do you. Get that army ready."

"Yes, ma'am."

Dawn stared blankly at the doctor who had just given her the most unexpected news of her life. "What?"

"You're pregnant."

Dawn was in the medical wing of the council and she was the last to be checked out after the mission at Jabba's. Dr. Milton, an aging, grey-haired man of stocky build, had been the physician on call for the old Watcher's Council and had survived the First's purge by pure luck. Now he was the CMO of the new Council - but looked after the Watchers and Jedi as well.

"You're pregnant," Milton replied in his gravely voice.

"How?" Dawn asked dumbly. Milton gave her an annoyed look.

"Well, when two people love each other…or get sufficiently drunk… they sometimes-"

"Not that how!" Dawn snapped. "I'm on the pill! It shouldn't have happened!"

"Well, the pill is only 99 effective," he stated. "Plus, I've noticed that the blood work from human Jedi is slightly different from regular Earth-bound humans. I can only guess that when your body changed to accommodate your new powers, your body's chemical make-up changed as well and the pill was no longer effective."

Dawn huffed in annoyance. "That would have been nice to know."

"It takes two for effective birth control," Milton pointed out.

"So what happens now?" Dawn asked.

"Well, are you going to keep it?"

"Of course I am!" Dawn exclaimed. "It's not that I didn't want it, it's just that we were going to wait for the end of the war." She sighed, "When am I due? And will this affect the performance of my duties?"

"You got about seven months, give or take a week or two," Milton said, pulling out a cigarette. He eyed he soon-to-be new mother, then thought better of it and tossed it on the surgical tray. "As for your duties, you won't start getting bigger for a few more weeks, couple of months tops. Once the baby starts growing, you'll need to take it easy. In the meantime, just play it cautious."

The young Jedi nodded. "Thanks, Doc." She gave him a small smile and then bolted out of the medical ward. Milton sighed, then picked up is fag and lit it. "Damn kids today," he muttered to himself as he went about checking out his station.

The stillness of space was briefly disturbed by the sudden appearance of Willow's small Nubian craft, which she had dubbed the Knight Terror.

Buffy hadn't been amused.

The two sat in companionable silence as Willow checked, then re-checked her coordinates, then set off at a seemingly random vector.

"So, are you going to tell me what this plan you and Padmé cooked up actually is?" the senior Slayer asked. Willow just smiled mysteriously. "Right." After a few more minutes of silence, Buffy turned to Willow, exasperated. "Will you at least tell me where we're going?"

Willow smiled again, then pointed off of their starboard bow. Buffy looked and then gasped.

Sitting out in space, its white hull gleaming in the starlight, was an Imperial Star Destroyer.

Unidentified vessel, this is the Imperial Star destroyer Chimera, a voice boomed over the radio. Lower your shields and prepare to be brought on board for inspection.

Willow calmly signaled back. "Star Destroyer Chimera, this is the Knight Terror. Please inform the Grand Admiral that Lady Traya and Master Skywalker wish an immediate audience concerning matter of grave importance to the Empire. Message ends." She clicked off the radio and looked at Buffy apologetically. "Before you ask, now, I'm not insane again. It's just that the name 'Traya' still carries a lot of weight on the Empire and now we're more likely to get an audience."

"Why would we want one?" Buffy fumed. "Willow, what did you and Padmé cook up?"

"The only way to win the war," Willow said sadly. "We're going to make a deal with the Empire."

Mon Mothma tiredly entered her darkened quarters and let he door slide closed behind her, then locked it to prevent any intrusions. Running the Rebellion had been hard work when Senator Organa had still been by her side; since his death, even over five years later, sometimes it seemed all but impossible. Years of running, fighting and leading the champions of a free Republic was slowly draining the life out of her, it seemed and she didn't yet know how to stop it.

"Something vexing thee?"

Mon Mothma Jumped at the familiar voice and her jaw dropped when the figure sitting behind her desk clicked on her desk lamp.

"Padmé!" she exclaimed, moving briskly to her old friend and embracing the woman as she got up. "I can't…. I thought you were dead!"

"The rumors of my death were greatly exaggerated," Padmé replied wanly. "You've been running your resistance, I've been running mine. Facilitating relations between the surviving Jedi and the…organization… that's hosted us all of these years."

"You haven't changed a bit!" Mon exclaimed, looking Padmé over at arm's length. "My god, where have you been?"

"It's a long, long story," Padmé said as she took a seat on small couch in the office. Mon Mothma took a seat next to her. "I'll tell you about it some time. In the mean time, I'm here for an even more vital reason." She leaned in close, her hands clasped together in her lap. "We know about your plan to attack the new Death Star. What's more, the Emperor knows as well."

Mon Mothma shook her head. "Impossible. They may know we have the plans, but they don't know when or how we'll strike…and the Emperor himself-"

"Is drawing you out, so he'll know exactly when and how you'll strike," Padmé interjected. "Mon, he let the information be stolen in the first place."

"How could you possibly know that?"

"I know how he thinks - as does my sister." At Mon's disgusted snort, Padmé pressed on. "She wasn't in her right mind back then, Mon. She was sick…"

"And she isn't any more?"

"No, she's not. She's been under the guidance of the Jedi Council - and under the tutelage of my husband, Anakin Skywalker."

Mon sucked in a startled breath. "So that's why you wanted to bring him in!" she exclaimed quietly. "But the Council…."

"Wouldn't have approved back then, which was why we kept it quiet. But things have changed. Look," Padmé leaned forward, "we have dozens of Jedi ready to fight and a small army we've…acquired… besides that. The Emperor is drawing you out - but at the same time, he's made himself more vulnerable than he's been in years. So what I'm proposing is this - stage your attack. Draw out his forces and, when he thinks he's got you beat, we close our trap, and destroy him once and for all."

Mon Mothma smiled. "Clearing the way for the Republic to return." She noticed Padmé's look. "What?"

"Is that a platoon in the hanger, or are you just happy to see me?" Willow quipped. She and Buffy stood at the top of the Knight Terror's ramp. The small ship was surrounded by Storm Troopers, whose blaster rifles were all raise and pointing at her.

"Darth Traya, you are a traitor to the Empire," an officer announced at the foot of the ramp. He was a Captain, with slightly graying hair and a distinguished looking moustache. He stood slightly apart and ahead of the Storm Troopers, not cowering behind them like most officers would be and Willow's respect for him went up a notch. "Surrender any weapons you are carrying and prepare to be taken into custody. The same goes for you, Master Jedi."

"And my audience with the Grand Admiral?"

"The Grand Admiral is a busy man," the captain said, "However, your appearance here, and the manner in which you came to us, intrigues him greatly. He will give you five minutes. After which you will be escorted to holding cells."

Willow nodded in compliance, then slowly removed her lightsaber from her belt and set it gently onto the ramp. Buffy did the same, and the two rolled down the ramp to came to rest at the Captain's feet. He eyed them suspiciously. "No other weapons?"

"We don't carry blasters. Too uncivilized," Buffy said. The Captain nodded, then drew his own blaster. "Come down the ramp slowly and walk in front of me. I will direct you to the Admiral's meeting room."

"Well, he was the most courteous Imperial officer I've ever been arrested by," Buffy said as the waited in the Admiral's spacious lounge. They were surrounded by various pieces of art - most of which, Buffy saw, were merely holographic representations. "Huh. You'd think a Grand Admiral could afford the real thing."

"He probably has most of it," Willow noted. "But how much do you want to bet he can change what kind of art is displayed on a whim?"

"You'd be correct," a distinguished voice said from the door and suddenly the art changed into various pieces that Buffy herself had seen in the old Jedi temple - most of which were now in storage on Earth. "I'm something of a collector, you see. I appreciate all forms of art. With this system, I can change the art to suit me depending on my mood."

The Admiral walked into the room and Buffy got her second surprise of the evening - he wasn't even human. Indeed, she wasn't sure what race he was - she had never met any being with the dark blue skin or glowing red eyes, his lithe figure imposing in his white Grand Admiral's uniform. Willow smiled and bowed and Buffy belatedly did the same.

"Grand Admiral Thrawn," the redhead said. "It's been a while."

"Darth Traya." Thrawn nodded in return. "I was under the impression that you left the services of the Empire under, shall we say, dubious circumstances."

"I'm surprised you heard at all, being stationed so far in the Unknown Regions," Willow replied. "However, I've come here to day to speak to you of an urgent matter - and to make you an offer."

Thrawn considered her for a moment, then gestured toward his planning table. "Have a seat, then."

The three sat down and Willow got right to the point. "I'm not to sure how much you know about the current state of the Empire, but right now they're fighting a losing battle against the Rebellion. Sure, it may seem like you're winning and it may seem like you outman and outgun them. But you of all people know to never underestimate a desperate opponent."

"Granted," Thrawn conceded.

"The Emperor had good intentions…"

"WHAT!" Buffy exclaimed, but was silenced by a look from the Witch.

"But his methods were atrocious. He wanted the universe to be safe and secure; well protected - but at the same time, he wanted what all ambitious men want - power.

"He put his lust for power ahead of the greater good - a flaw of all Sith," Willow smiled ruefully, flexing her mechanical hand. "Because of this, he will lead the Empire into ruin if steps aren't taken immediately."

"And what steps do you propose?" Thrawn asked, leaning back in chair slightly. "Be aware that you are only adding to the charges levied against yourself and your companion."

"The Empire will never die," Willow stated bluntly. "The Rebellion is deluding themselves if they think it will. The Republic was dying for years before Palpatine seized power and too many systems enjoy the benefits the Empire provides.

"On the other hand, the Empire is tyrannical and hundreds of systems have suffered under it. When the Emperor dies, they will secede to this new Republic that is forming under the Rebellion.

"So you have two sides, with two diametrically opposing views, both who think they are right. What will you get?" she asked the Grand Admiral.

"Continued civil war," Thrawn easily replied. "That would be put down by the Imperial military immediately."

Buffy snorted. "Because they've done a bang-up job of it so far."

Thrawn eyed the Jedi coolly. "They have failed because I haven't been there. If I were to get involved in this conflict, which it appears I will have to soon, your Rebellion would be crushed."

"Confident, much?" Buffy said sarcastically. "Hate to burst your bubble, Grand Admiral, but the Rebellion is just the tip of the ice berg. You can study our art all you want," she gestured at the holograms around the room, "but even that won't let you predict what we could, can or will do."

Thrawn's eyes narrowed. "Even Jedi have weaknesses."

"Conceded. But we also have powerful friends. A couple thousands that would make your Noghri guards piss themselves. And I KNOW how good they are."

"The Emperor is going to die, Grand Admiral," Willow stated plainly. "And when he dies, the Empire will be thrown into chaos. Unless someone steps forward and puts the good of the Empire ahead of personal ambitions." She eyed the alien speculatively. "The question is, are you that man?"

"It's absurd."

Padmé watched as her old friend paced angrily in her quarters. Mon Mothma was shocked and outraged that Padmé would have made such a presumptuous move, especially without consulting the Rebellion leadership first. "Mon, please…"

"No, it's outrageous! How could you even think… We're doing this to restore the Republic!"

"Not everyone has fond memories of the Republic, Mon," Padmé explained calmly. "Naboo suffered, however inadvertently, under the Republic. The Trade Federation did as well, which led to them starting our conflict! Hundreds of systems like the Empire, they're proud to be a part of it! They will not let it go lightly!"

"And so you want us to make a deal with them!" Mon glared angrily.

"I want to avoid another twenty or so years of useless bloodshed!" Padmé rose to her feat. "I want peace, Mon. I want to be able to spend time with my children - to bear more children - in peace! I want our armies to defend our borders against outside threats, not fighting amongst each other over philosophical issues!"

Mon Mothma's eyes narrowed. "And how can you be sure whoever your sister makes a deal with is trustworthy? How do you know the Empire will follow him, instead of Palpatine?"

"Because we'll make him a hero to the people," Padmé reasoned. "The galaxy still remembers the Death Star, they still remember what happened to Alderaan. Even those loyal to the Empire despise that monstrosity and would surely rejoice the destruction of its predecessor. We merely take advantage of that, we show the galaxy the monster Palpatine truly is…"

"And they will follow him?"

"There will be obstacles," Padmé conceded. "But some obstacles can be overcome easier than others."

"Why?" Buffy asked. They were still in Thrawn's planning room, seated across from each other now. Thrawn had left to consider what Willow had said and the two were now locked in the room under heavy guard.

"Why save the Empire?" Willow guessed. "Because, in a way, Palpatine was right. We do need an Empire. A mighty machine, geared for war, equipped to do battle with the horrors of the galaxy. Because they are coming. Twenty, thirty years from now, to be sure, but they are coming. And if we spend decades fighting each other, then we will never be prepared to fight them when they come. And we will lose…so much, if not everything."

Buffy rocked back in her chair. "That's what he saw, wasn't it? What Palpatine saw? And he told you…"

"I was his apprentice, after a fashion," Willow agreed. "I learned a great deal about his earlier plans - along with a threat he perceived, far off beyond the boundaries of our galaxy. A threat so devastating, that the only way we could survive was by a massive show of force."

"So the Empire, the military, the Super Star Destroyers, the Death Star…"

"Are not only weapons to be used to maintain 'order', but to use against this threat when it arrives."

Buffy shook her head. "Unbelievable." She looked to Willow. "And Thrawn?"

"He's the only Alien to reach the rank of Grand Admiral. And if this threat comes, it will hit his people first and hardest. What's more, Thrawn is loyal to the Empire. I believe he'll do what's in the best interest of the Empire."

Grand Admiral Thrawn stood at the rear of the bridge of the Chimera. Hands clasped behind his back, as he observed his crew proceeded about their duties. Captain Pellaeon came up to him.

"Sir, all stations report ready and the fleet is at stand by."

"Very good." Thrawn paused for a moment. "What do you make of them? You were watching, I suppose?"

"Yes, sir," Pellaeon replied unapologetically. "They are women of their convictions."

"And their offer?" Pellaeon shifted nervously. "Speak freely, Captain."

"Sir, I visited Alderaan once. It was a peaceful, beautiful planet. And if they were supporters of the Rebellion, they should have been captured and punished. But there were innocent men, women and children on that planet - people it is our sworn duty, as Imperial officers, to protect." He straightened. "The Empire is bigger than one man, even if that one man is the Emperor."

"I happen to agree," Thrawn replied at length. "I have no doubt that the Rebellion will find a way to destroy his new battle station. And when he dies, the Empire will descend into chaos, unless we can find a way to prevent it." He turned to the captain. "Coordinates will be forthcoming. Have the fleet prepare to jump at my signal. I'm going back to talk to our guests once more."

"As you wish, sir."

"Welcome back, Mara," Halcyon said as the Hand entered her quarters on Imperial Center. Mara scowled as she threw her jacket onto her bed.

"Master Halcyon, may I ask what you are doing in my private quarters?"

"Our Master has summoned us to his new project in the Endor system," Halcyon replied. "I've come to collect you."

"Do I have time for a shower?" Mara asked.

"A quick one," Halcyon paused. "You failed, by the way."

Mara looked at the fallen Jedi. "What are you talking about? Jabba tossed a thermal detonator into the room. It was pure luck that I survived."

"All of the Jedi survived. Jabba was not so fortunate. Our Master was not pleased."

"Right," Mara eyed Halcyon with a predatory grin. "How's the grandson? Have a good visit while I was away?" Mara couldn't see his expression under the black mask, but she could feel the anger radiating off of him.

"You have fifteen minutes," he said at length, before turning around and leaving.

Mara peeled her burnt clothes off of her lithe body, wincing as charred pieces pulled off her skin. She hopped into her sonic shower and turned it on full blast, leaning against the wall as the water poured down her back.

They should have died at that palace, she thought to herself.

You knew they hadn't. A voice replied. She recognized the voice that she had been hearing more and more in her head ever since Cloud City - that of her mother. And you didn't care, because you didn't want them to die.

It was my mission! She assured herself. It was what I was born to do, what I was trained to do! It's what I've done all of my life.

Then why did you save Dawn? the voice pressed. She would have taken the brunt of the explosion if you hadn't thrown her clear.

You don't have to be that person anymore, Mara. Free yourself….

Mara tilted her head back and concentrated on the feeling of the hot water pouring over her face, letting the sound of the running water drown out the voices in her head.

TBC…..