Chapter 12 – This is your life
Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you've broken
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
Switchfoot
- What do you mean he went in alone!
- Just that. He wanted to do it alone.
- And you let him!
- Leia, you know your brother. If he didn't listen to me when I was his master, what makes you think he would listen to me now.
A deep frown spread across Leia's delicate features, as Aayla Secura gave her the news. She was in the Coruscant Security Force HQ, checking with the Master Jedi over a secured com line.
She and her brother had been working on this case for the past 3 months, collaborating with the Coruscant authorities. This slave-ring, run by Ragadat Bin, was extremely well organized, and every time they felt somebody, whether Jedi or not, tracking them, they had to vanish without a trace and destroy all the evidence. That was until last month when Luke decided that the only way to catch them would be to send somebody undercover, somebody that could pose as a potential client. The Republican Intelligence Agency granted him a new identity. Ragadat's men were supposed to pick him up on Bespin and carry him off to an unknown location. Aayla was supposed to be his bodyguard, only Luke had decided at the last minute that bringing along a bodyguard could be interpreted as a sign of mistrust. The lack of one however, could be interpreted as insanity.
- So is he going to bring down the entire cartel by himself? Leia asked sarcastically.
- He promised me he would transmit the slavers' coordinates as soon as possible.
- How long has it been?
- 3 days.
- And he hasn't radioed in?
- Not as much as a peep.
Leia was getting worried, but Aayla was confident Luke could handle himself. Sure, he was a little head strong for his own good… but that was simply in the genes. The Skywalker blood. Besides, they couldn't very well round up some Jedi and create a search party. First of all, they had no idea where to look, second of all… the slavers weren't stupid. They had planned a decoy shipment, hoping that would throw the Jedi off their tracks. And for now it seemed like their little trick worked. The Jedi Council couldn't afford to do anything suspicious, anything that might blow Luke's cover. Aayla explained all this to Leia and the younger Jedi nodded her head in understanding.
She knew all of this. And yet she couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. That her brother was in danger. The two shared a very close bond, but Aayla was right. They couldn't go to the Jedi council for help. She'd just have to do it on her own.
But first, she had to pay her father a visit.
Outside of the Police Station the crisp Coruscant air was not so crisp. Fellons and criminals were brought in by various security droids, and they weren't the most hygienic people in the world. Leia jumped in her fighter and set in the destination: the Jedi temple.
Under the control of the Jedi order, the republic had stabilized. The first few years after the war were the hardest, but her father managed to keep control by using the clone army. After all the systems vowed their loyalty, the democratic regime was reintroduced. The first chancellors were honorable men, that could see and understand the Jedi Order's irrefutable logic. Now, there was peace again, and except for the danger of the Sith that was still looming, the galaxy was safe. Over 5 thousand Jedi worked every day to keep it that way.
Leia reached the temple soon enough and entered it. She headed for her father's audience chamber. She could feel his strong presence from behind the door. She loved that presence, that power that demanded respect, something that she hoped she possessed also, if only in the slightest bit.
She opened the giant carpian wood doors and entered his chamber.
Anakin Skywalker was sitting in his favorite chair, reading an old philosophy book, written thousands of years ago. His once sandy blonde hair now had a graysh hue, and although his eyes were still a bright blue, the skin around them was slightly wrinkled. He was in his forties, but he still looked as healthy as possible for a normal human being, without any enhancements.
Except for his right hand of course.
Leia approached his chair and waited. He already told her all she needed to know. The two shared a very odd bond. She knew almost instinctively what he was thinking, and most of the time it was the exact same thing she was thinking. She homed this skill over the years, trying to emulate as much of her father as possible.
- Leia, he finally said getting out of his chair. He came over and simply squeezed her shoulders.
- Anakin, she replied smiling brightly.
- I trust everything went well on your mission.
- Yes. I have already written my report on the way here. You'll find it in the databank.
- Good. Did that Corellian give you any trouble? He asked amused.
- Trouble? Him? Don't make me laugh…
Anakin laughed in his usual restrained manor and then head over to his huge mahogany desk.
- Anakin, Leia began. About Luke…
- Yes. He isn't back yet. I heard that he refused Master Secura's help. Why do you think that is?
- He is… too confident in himself.
- Is he? I suppose you blame me for that.
- Of course not.
- I have been very lenient with Luke. But only because he works so hard… he has been taking many dangerous missions lately. I trust you noticed that. The feud on Bakura, and then that whole smuggler incident on Rodia, and now this. Very dangerous situations indeed. Why do you imagine that is?
- I… I think he only wishes to help people.
- You don't think he's doing this… to impress me?
- Why would he need to impress you?
- Precisely. Alright Leia. I know why you came here… You want to ask me permission to go off and search for Luke. Permission granted, but I urge you to be as discreet as possible. This is a very volatile situation.
- Understood father.
- You'll be on your own.
- Just the way I like it.
Leia considered the conversation done and headed for the doors when she heard her father calling her one last time:
- Leia. Master Yoda has expressed a wish to see you. You better go right now.
- How… is he?
- It's only a matter of time now, Anakin said lowering his head.
Leia left her father with his own thoughts and headed for Yoda's chamber. She sneaked in, walking on the tips of her toes, not making a sound.
- Surprise me you want, eh? Yoda said chuckling slightly. He was sitting in his bed, covered with a blanket. The bed, like everything else in the room, was tailored for his size. When she was a teenager, Leia loved Yoda's room. When it became obvious she would forever be short she reveled in the existence of at least one room in the Temple where she could feel like a giant. She grew out of these feelings, pun intended. After all, arrogance leads to the Dark Side.
- Of course not, Master Yoda, Leia said quickly realizing Yoda might pick up on her foolish memories. I just didn't want to disturb you.
- Heh, young people… He sat up on the bed and Leia quickly arranged his pillow behind him to make him more comfortable. Ahh, thank you. Nice to be taken care of, it is. After all this time of taking care of other people.
Leia smiled warmly and then added:
- And we are forever grateful to you, for everything you've done.
- Yes, yes, yes. That line, heard before I have. Grateful is good, but happy is better.
- It's not a…
- Leia. Please. Always honest you have been. Change that for me do not. Soon I'm going to die. Afraid I'm not. Death is easy. Regrets… worse are they.
- I can't believe you would have regrets.
- Oh…. I do. I do… For a second he had a faraway look, like he was staring at something right through Leia, but then his sight focused on her again. Sorry I am I didn't spend more time with you. You and your brother. Did not want to interfere with the way your father raised you, after what happened between him and Master Obi Wan. But now, short my time is.
- I wish you wouldn't speak like that.
- A great Jedi you will be, Yoda continued ignoring the girl's remark, but I wonder… What kind of person will you be?
- A good person I hope, she replied amused, obviously not taking the matter seriously.
- Indeed? Why you think a you are a good person?
Leia was taken completely by surprise and realized that master Yoda was serious. She stammered slightly.
- I… I'm a good person because I… want to make the world a better place. I want to fight evil.
- And who decides what is evil?
Although the words "my father" stood on her tongue, she quickly corrected herself and said:
- The Force.
- Right… a secret I shall tell you.
He made a hand movement indicating he wanted her to come closer, as if he was about to reveal some great secret that nobody else, not even the walls, could learn about. Leia leaned in, until she was only inches way from her master.
- Nothing is what it seems, Leia. The Force does not know evil from good. Trust the force to help you make the choice, not make it for you. Trust the force and your brother. They will show you the way.
- I don't understand master. What way?
Yoda placed his hand on his chest and frowned. He began coughing.
- Are you alright? Should I call a medi droid?
- No. Alright I am. Worry you should not. Especially about your brother. Reunite you will soon enough. Now go. And remember… what… I've told you. See Luke one last time I want, before I die.
- I promise you, Leia said clutching the master's small green hand, I'll bring him back.
Leia left her master, hoping that he would be better by the time she and her brother will get back. She didn't even want to think that he could die by then. He was master Yoda. He wasn't supposed to die. But then again, Obi Wan wasn't supposed to leave…
On her way out, the librarian caught up with her. Jocasta Nu's padawan, Talinda, took over her master's position with the Jedi order. She told her the Coruscant Security Force left her a message. Apparently, a very volatile suspect desperately wanted a meeting with her.
