CHAPTER 21:
Captain Han Solo grumbled unintelligible Corellian curses as he approached the oddly-shaped space station. Leia switched up their mission only moments before they hovered under the belly of the Scorcher, and as usual Han didn't like it one bit. Nevertheless, he attached the cloaked fighter to the Executioner and let her out.
"Trust me," Han rolled his eyes. How many times had he used that line on her? And how many times did he have a solid plan when he expected her trust? He slammed his fist on the console of the stolen ship and sighed. While Han was one to jump into a precarious situation without a thought, Leia always weighed the possible outcomes of such situations before acting. Well, most of the time. He pressed his lips together. Not so much recently.
"Ah, Sith! What was I thinking?"
The faster I get to the Emperor, the faster all this will be over.
Maybe Leia did weigh the possible outcomes. Maybe she already knew how things would end.
Han's fingers raced over the Scimitar's console as his eyes tracked the private Imperial Shuttle that left the Executioner and floated toward the Scorcher's docking bay. Han unconsciously rubbed the scar on his chin. He didn't have to guess who that shuttle belonged to, and if Leia was right, Vader was the most direct path to the Emperor.
Solo grinned. "That's my girl."
But that grinned quickly morphed into a concerned scowl. Darth Vader was taking Leia to the Emperor. And then what?
There was no way Han was going to let Leia walk straight to her death, even if that was what she truly wanted. The faster all this will be over. Han ran a hand threw his hair as he guided the Scimitar toward the Scorcher. The stealth fighter gently rocked as it attached itself to one of the space station's limbs. The rigid tentacles of the space station looked solid from afar, but up close it had ridges and groves that pulsed with fiery liquid. He leaned forward to get a better look at the glowing veins and grimaced.
His and Leia's mission originally had been to shut down the minor reactors so that when the Alliance forces attacked the Scorcher a catastrophic disaster could be avoided when the fireworks started. From what Han could see it would take more than just shutting down the minor reactors to prevent innocent casualties on the Endor moon. He mirthlessly grinned in spite of himself. How could he be so stupid?
War was nothing more than achieving one's goals with minimum losses, and minimum was a relative term.
Han's heart began to pitter-patter unsteadily as his vision swam with images of Leia in various states of well-being. Why did he let her go?
I need you by my side, want you there. But this…this is something I have to face alone. And this is something you have to survive. For me.
Han would do anything for her. She knew that. He wanted to be bitter about her using his weakness to win her argument, but he wasn't. She truly wanted him to survive, to continue living. He saw it in her eyes. Did she really believe he could live without her?
Nevertheless, Han intended to honor her wishes. Of course, that wasn't going to stop him from making sure she survived, too.
Solo thought about contacting Chewie but quickly dismissed the thought. There wasn't anything the Wookie could do. Han rose from the pilot's seat and stretched. "Here goes nothin'."
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The Emperor's lips pulled back to expose rows of decayed teeth as he studied the girl standing before him. Despite having her hands bound by stun-cuffs and facing her sworn enemy, she showed no fear, no anger. In fact, Princess Leia Organa was as calm as a quallet. The Emperor licked his lips and chuckled. Even this close, her Force presence remained elusive. How did an untrained Force Sensitive block her presence so effortlessly?
Unless she wasn't untrained. Unless Vader's senses were right and a Jedi Master was hiding with the rebels. The Emperor's strained smile melted into a frown. He tipped his head as he scrutinized the young rebel. Her large brown eyes met his, but they revealed nothing to the wizened despot. Palpatine grunted and settled into his throne. Not many could hide information from him and it was unsettling that this child could with such ease. The Emperor glared at his apprentice. Vader had made a crucial mistake allowing the princess to escape. Arrogant fool. Some things never change. Palpatine took a cleansing breath before returning his attention to the puzzle that stood before him.
"Your Highness," the aged despot pushed himself to his feet and took careful steps as he maneuvered the stairs that stood between him and the princess. "It's a pleasure to have you here before me."
Leia's eyes narrowed and she bit back a grimace. "I wish I could say the same."
"Ah, but you came to me," he limped over to stand in front of her.
"That I did."
"And by coming here," his yellow eyes narrowed as he studied her, "what do you desire to accomplish?"
The princess' bottom lip twitched, and her vision turned inward. She had refused the High Command's orders to assassinate the Emperor. I'm not a killer… Then why did she come? Why did she endanger Han's life by changing the mission?
Leia's brow furrowed as she looked into the Emperor's red-rimmed eyes. "Because I had to."
"Because you had to?" Palpatine smiled at Darth Vader. "Tell me, did a Jedi Master send you to kill me?"
"No," Leia frowned.
The Emperor gazed upon her, waiting for her to flinch, to reveal something. He grunted when he found nothing. Maybe there was nothing to find. Maybe Darth Vader's Jedi Master was a product of his paranoid imagination. Palpatine took a step back, and his eyes roamed over Leia's slight form.
"You want to kill me," he accused.
"No," she tipped her head to the left. "I want you dead, but do not wish to kill you."
Palpatine laughed as he regarded his apprentice, "Charming child. Wouldn't you say, Lord Vader?"
"Yes, My Lord," Vader smiled, pleased with his daughter's insolence.
The Emperor reached out a pale crooked finger to touch the princess' face. "Let me get a good look at you."
Leia pulled out of his reach, and her eyes flashed with anger. "Careful. I bite."
The Emperor cackled as he pulled his hand back into his robe, "Yes, that's what Lord Vader says."
A heated tickle prickled Palpatine's nerves, and he slowly inhaled as the princess' anger screamed out in the Force. The power that surged through her, almost as strong---no, stronger than…
"I understand that you almost defeated Lord Vader."
The princess looked at Vader, felt his burgeoning hate for her, but his contempt for the Emperor far exceeded his hate for her. Her lips pressed together and pulled to the right. Her skin crawled as she realized that she had unwittingly put herself in the middle of the galaxy's greatest struggle for power.
And here she thought she was going to…to what?
And by coming here, what do you desire to accomplish?
Her serene countenance remained intact as she inwardly cursed herself. What happen to her impeccable insight?
Palpatine shook his head, and he clamored back to his throne. "Guards! Take her away."
Before Leia could decipher her reasons for her actions, two royal guards donning red robes and standing at least two heads taller than her whisked her away. Though her purpose remained ambiguous to her, this was the last thing Leia expected.
How dare that old ogre dismiss me! Being locked away prevented her from accomplishing anything. She had to face Palpatine and her father. That much she knew. But now she was being roughly ushered away by two silent guards who held their weapons ready to use at the slightest provocation. Leia scowled at the Emperor as she was led into the turbolift.
"Leave me, Lord Vader."
"Your Highness?"
The Emperor grinded his teeth, "You heard me! I need some time to think about how I will deal with her."
"Her death is the only way to prevent her from damaging the Empire." Vader stood his ground.
"I do not dispute that fact," Palpatine concurred. He pressed his lips together as he studied his underling, my creation. But he didn't create Vader's mind, and he couldn't control Vader's will. Not anymore, at least. What little remained of Anakin Skywalker cared for nothing, therefore he had nothing left to lose.
But Princess Leia did.
Palpatine sighed heavily, "Go to the Command Station. The princess did not come alone."
Darth Vader's brow furrowed, "Her companion is insignificant. Perhaps I should personally guard the princess."
The Emperor's yellow eyes narrowed on his underling. "After you allowed her to escape three times now?" He pressed his lips together and raised a brow, "If I didn't know you better, I would wonder…"
Vader rankled under the Emperor's slight. But now wasn't the time to lose control. Not with the princess still alive.
"Go now. Bring me her companion to me when you find him." The Emperor leaned back in his thrown.
Vader's jaw clenched and he performed a deep bow to his superior, "Yes, my Lord." He turned on his heel and stalked into the lift. His days of bowing to that old despot would be over soon enough.
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Admiral Ackbar stood on the bridge of the sleek Mon Calamari star cruiser, his eyes rolling in opposite directions as he took in information.
"General Madine's team has successfully blocked all exterior ventilation tubes, sir."
"Very well." Ackbar sucked in a long breath of air, "Commence attack."
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"Ah, we've been waiting for you," Palpatine's lips stretched back, creating waves of crinkled skin and exposing his decaying teeth.
Princess Leia's head whipped around and her mouth dropped open. Han… She turned back toward the Emperor, swallowing down her shock and ire. She wasn't certain who she was more irked at: the Emperor, who kept her off-balance, or Han, who got himself caught. She stole a quick glance at Han. He shrugged.
It wasn't supposed to happen this way! But how was it supposed to happen?
"Captain Solo, I do not think the Princess is as pleased with your presence as I am," the Emperor chuckled as the quake of fury radiating from the girl dissipated.
Darth Vader shoved the smuggler aside, and stalked over to the princess. His large gloved hand wrapped around the thin tail that hung between two rolls her hair. Leia yelped as he sharply pulled down on the braid and exposed the delicate skin of her neck.
"Keep your hands off of her!" Han struggled to his feet but found he could do nothing to help her.
"It seems that you overlooked telling me something," the Emperor's voice dropped to a low growl, but Darth Vader's senses remained glued to the princess.
"You're hurting her," the Emperor raised his voice and laughed. "Are you going to make the same mistake twice?"
Vader slowly opened his fist as he gazed into the girl's frightened eyes. Her eyes, the same fear as she gazed upon him for the last time… He stepped back. The princess stood in front of him, so tiny and unbalanced, dressed in a sleeveless beige tunic, leggings, and fingerless gloves that covered most of her arms. Every detail down to the dark brown boots, thin leather straps and delicate gold clasp that sat between her breasts were replicated with one exception: her tunic laid flat against her stomach.
Leia stared wide-eyed into his masked eyes, utterly shocked and confused by his violent actions. Of course, she found no answers there. She never would… Darth Vader's hand slowly floated to his side and his gaze fell to the floor.
"How long did you think you could hide it from me?" Palpatine clutched the armrests of his throne.
"I can hide things from you?" Vader punctuated his question with a thrust of a finger in the Emperor's direction, recovering his footing.
The Emperor leaned forward. "Don't be coy with me, Vader." His eyes narrowed as he licked his lips. "I've had enough of your games and lies."
"I did not hide the existence of my son," Vader muttered, all the while keeping his eyes on his daughter.
Leia shivered. I want to become a Jedi like my father. Automatically, her mouth silently formed Luke's words. Vader had betrayed Luke even before he knew that monster was his father. Luke's pain overshadowed every emotion that ran through her. She felt a crack creep through her heart as if it were made of ice. Leia looked away from her father, fearing that she would crumble into a million pieces. Oh, Luke.
"But you failed to tell me of your daughter who happens to have the power to hide her Force Presence."
"Because she was hidden from me as well," he growled. The betrayal of his wife burned deep in his chest, scorching him as he looked at his daughter.
"The child is almost a spitting image of your dead wife." The Emperor gloated.
Leia's head whipped around and glanced at Vader. She had never seen a picture of her mother.
"I have to wonder why you did not discover her true identity sooner," Vader countered with a bite in his tone.
A deadly silence compressed the occupants of the throne room. Leia held her breath, wondering if this was the moment that war would break out between the two Siths. What would be her role? She glanced over at Han. She could see his mind churning with possible escape routes. She bit her lip. Escape wasn't on her mind.
Isn't this," the Emperor waved a hand at the princess as he leisurely leaned back in his throne, "how she looked when you killed her?"
"I did not kill Padme," the Sith Lord whispered.
Leia gasped as an invisible hand shoved her to the ground. Han scrambled to her side. She looked up at him, "I'm okay."
"Your temper got the best of you like it did just this moment," the Emperor shook his head. "Your anger has always made you powerful, but sometimes it controls you instead of you controlling it."
The steady metallic wheeze of Vader's ventilator did not betray the fire that gurgled beneath his armor. He clenched his teeth together in an attempt to hold it back. How dare his Master mention his Padme's death! How dare he dress his daughter like—Vader's eyes fell upon the princess as she climbed to her feet. She looked so much like Padme that it spun his head. The Sith Lord relaxed his jaw and he turned his masked eyes on the Emperor. The overconfident despot may know how to ignite Vader's fury, but he did not know how powerful his apprentice had grown under his instruction. And the Emperor had not personally witnessed what the princess was capable of doing.
"Your daughter, on the other hand," Palpatine paused to evaluate the effect his words had on Vader, "has exceptional control of her anger."
Anger leads to the Dark Side.
Leia raised an eyebrow and cocked her hip, "I don't have an ounce of anger inside me."
The Emperor laughed, sending shivers down Han's spine.
"It must be somewhat disturbing to have your own flesh and blood try to kill you."
Both Darth Vader and the princess looked at each other. My father. Her own flesh and blood tortured her within centimeters of her life, stood by as her home planet was destroyed, hurt Han just to see what she would do. She bit her tongue, savoring the metallic taste of her own blood.
Leia lifted her chin, "I know you lack a heart. Without a heart…is it possible to have any flesh and blood parts, Father?"
Vader's hands balled up into fists, "Your death will bring me great pleasure."
"You sure yer gonna be able to kill 'er?" Han smirked.
The Sith Lord growled as he stalked toward Han. Leia stepped between her enemy and her lover, holding one open hand up at chest level. The only thing that prevented further escalation of the tense situation was the ear-splitting cackle the Emperor emitted.
"Why don't we do things properly," the Former Chancellor waved his hand and Leia's light saber floated to her.
She licked her lips before taking the weapon out of the air. Palpatine's face crinkled in grooves as his lips stretched into a smile. At last, they had come to the moment for which he had waited.
"Your father's light saber," Palpatine cooed. "How fitting that he be killed by his own daughter with his own weapon."
"I will not be the one to lose my life today," Darth Vader ignited his weapon.
Leia's brow furrowed and she threw the weapon to the ground, "I'm not a Jedi."
Anxious to enlighten the Emperor of the princess' deadly talents, Vader held his lit light saber ready for battle, "Pick up your weapon!"
The princess looked up at him. Her large brown eyes reflected the same stubbornness Padme exhibited when he and her disagreed, and Vader hesitated. Was he repeating history?
"I will not fight you, Father."
Then he detected it. Under the stubbornness, Vader saw the disgust and ire that belonged solely to Princess Leia Organa, the living breathing reminder of Padme's betrayal. And she had to die.
"Then you will be destroyed," he stated as a matter of fact.
Han dove for Leia's weapon when Vader struck. Leia jumped out of the way of the incoming blade with little effort.
"Fight me, you ugly excuse for a cyborg!" Han yelled as he struggled to control Leia's light saber with his bound hands.
"Han, no!" Leia yelled and she yanked the weapon from his hands.
She glowered at Darth Vader and threw the light saber at him. It harmlessly bounced off of his chest plate.
"You'll regret your actions!" the Dark Lord sliced the air with his weapon while he advanced on his daughter. "And then Solo will pay for your sins with his blood."
Leia dodged the deadly blade by weaving and bobbing while she back peddled. She reached behind her and used the Force to remove Han's binders before she pushed him a meter away from the lift.
Han landed hard on his back-side. "I hate when you do that!" He pushed himself to his feet and started toward Leia.
Leia shoved her hand out again, "Han, don't!" She rolled out of Vader's way.
Han struggled to move, "Leia!"
She looked over her shoulder, "Remember what you promised! Go!"
"I won't!"
"You have to!" she dove under Vader's blade. "For me, please."
The Emperor's red-rimmed eyes were wide and hungry as he watched the one-sided duel. The princess' will to live pulsed with determination and strength, yet she refused to defend herself. He could feel her anger growing, yet she did not use it. Be she trained or untrained, she certainly was powerful. Palpatine salivated at the thought of what he could accomplish if he could just harness her powers. And there was only one sure way to do that.
"Enough!"
Darth Vader froze in mid-strike before deactivating his light saber. He glowered at the Emperor, prickling within his armor with his barely contained contempt and rage. His superior lowered his hand, and Vader let his hand fall to his side. The Dark Lord then glared at his daughter. His child had not chosen a side; she still did not know she had to. And her power exceeded that of both of her enemies. Couldn't the Emperor see the danger she possessed for both of them?
Leia's chest rose and fell with exhaustion as she gazed up at her enemy father. Darth Vader took a step back. Of course, his daughter was the most powerful Force Sensitive in the galaxy. Was she the Chosen One, the one to bring balance to the galaxy? It certainly wasn't him. A slight smile crawled its way over Darth Vader's lips. He, Anakin Skywalker, craved power, wanted nothing more than to be the most powerful Jedi ever. It had been his downfall. His daughter had no desire for power, rejected everything associated with Jedi. Would that be her downfall?
As long as she defeated the Emperor, Darth Vader didn't care.
Vader straightened and faced the Emperor, waiting for the tyrant's next move. The impatient Sith Lord closed his eyes and spent a second in meditation. The opportunity to exterminate one of his enemies would present itself soon. He could feel it. Vader's blue eyes opened. He knew the Emperor felt it, too. He wondered if the princess did.
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Mon Mothma decided to stay in her observation quarters aboard the Mon Calamari Star Cruiser instead of taking her position on the bridge with Admiral Ackbar. She sat rigid in her repulsor chair, staring out at the battle beyond her window, and nursing a tumbler of Nubian whiskey. It wasn't her practice to indulge in spirits during work or major battle attacks on the Empire, and she would be horrified if anyone caught her.
But calming her uncertainty trumped personal embarrassment, and right now the only thing that had the remote chance of calming her mind and conscience was a full tumbler of Nubian whiskey. Mon Mothma took another sip as she watched another A-wing explode. At least this one took out two TIE-fighters with it. The Alliance appeared to have the upper hand, but that did not ease her tension.
Mon Mothma frowned. More than just lives were to be lost in this battle. The Alliance's very existence depended on victory, which meant defeat was not an option. The woman sighed. When it was over, the task of rebuilding a democratic government for the New Republic of Free Planets would commence with her at its helm. The Alliance leader slowly rose from her comfortable chair and walked to the bay window. She could almost taste the dream she had clung to all these years, feel the breath of freedom.
Mon Mothma wasn't the only one that clung to that dream, that dedicated her entire being over to their cause. Princess Leia Organa had sacrificed more than her fair share for the Alliance and sacrificed even more when it was asked of her. But the girl's entire world had only been the rebellion. The Alliance leader had watched the princess grow up, breathing in every ideal her fath—Bail expelled, learning everything she could, watching Mon Mothma with her wide brown eyes so that she could become a skilled politician who championed democracy.
Just like you. Leia's tiny fingers had curled around Mon Mothma's when the child uttered those words. She could still see the toothless smile and chubby cheeks.
Mon Mothma wished things could have been different, that different choices could have been made. But too many secrets soured any room for mistakes. She and the High Command had to do what was best for the galaxy. The woman licked her lips. What Bail Organa would think of the decisions made? Mon Mothma's blue eyes followed a Y-wing as it tailed a TIE-fighter and shook her head. Organa had kept the secrets that had led up to this day.
Did you know? Would your feelings have stayed the same?
Mon Mothma swallowed the contents of her tumbler. Sacrifices had to be made, even if they left a bad taste in one's mouth.
"Mon Mothma," a faceless voice crackled over the comm.
The regal woman put her glass down with practice speed despite the fact that no one would see it. She cleared her throat, "Yes?"
"General Reeiken's relocated the evacuees to the other side of the planet. His evacuation mission was eighty-five percent successful."
Mon Mothma frowned, "Only eight-five?"
"A small group decided to stay and take their chances," the voice explained. "Survivalists. They've been waiting for the end of the world for some time now." When the Alliance leader failed to comment, the voice audibly swallowed and continued his report. "The indigenous beings were too hostile to evacuate, and none of them spoke Basic. We lost a couple of men. Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do."
Mon Mothma nodded, "Very well. Have you informed Admiral Ackbar and General Dodonna?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good," she turned her back to the comm and grabbed her tumbler. "Return to your duties. Continue to keep me updated on our progress."
"Yes, ma'am." The comm crackled then silenced.
Everything was going as planned. She poured more Nubian whiskey into her tumbler until it reached its lip, and her thoughts settled on Princess Leia and Captain Solo. By now Solo had to have figured out he was nothing more than an expendable decoy and a means to assure the princess made it onto the Scorcher.
I'm not a Jedi.
The girl had to know that she was the only one who had any chance of defeating both Darth Vader and the Emperor.
I'm not a killer.
That remained to be seen.
Mon Mothma stared at the bottom of her robust cup. Master Yoda failed to reign in the princess, refused his council, and had been reclusive once the Alliance's strategic plans were finalized. He disapproved, but Mon Mothma didn't care. Jedi did more damage than good. The galaxy was better off without them.