The next morning, Imperial Palace, Skywalker trial courtroom
Once again, Counselor Trist had arrived early at the court room. A few security personnel were milling about, as were some holojournalists hoping for some exciting tidbit of galactic news.
Trist pulled up his Closing Arguments document on his datapad and perused it again. This was, in all likelihood, the last day of Skywalker's trial. He had no further witnesses to call, since no one in his right mind would testify in defense of Emperor Palpatine's assassin. Ort could call more witnesses for the prosecution, but he had heard through the legal underground that Ort was confident of a guilty verdict, and was likely to rest his case as soon as the court reconvened.
Well, Trist was as ready as he would ever be. The basic facts of the case were a reasonable argument for a self-defense verdict. It was unlikely that his client would be acquitted, but he had done his best.
He glanced at one paragraph of the Closing Arguments document again, then resolutely closed the file. If he obsessed over it anymore, he would be flat when he presented his case.
Instead, more for light relief than anything else, he opened his latest batch of holomessages. With Pestage no longer harassing him, and the publicity from the Skywalker trial, Trist had potential clients coming out of the skyscape. A few were worth considering. A surprising number were ridiculous.
The first holomessage of the morning fit in the latter category.
Counselor Trist,
I am the agent representing actress Rayla Skyte, best known for her substantial role in the epic holodrama Tatooine Days, Hoth Nights. My client was recently signed by Coruscanti Pictures for a role in an as yet untitled holofilm about early settlers on Coruscant . Due to an unfortunate incident, Skyte's appearance suffered a minor and short term alteration. Coruscanti Pictures negated her contract and refuse to pay any of her salary. We wish to engage you in a lawsuit against Coruscanti Pictures for breaking her contract, plus unspecified damages for impairing her future career. Please contact me at…
Trist stopped reading and sighed. Actresses were the worst clients. He had cause to know. And Skyte…hadn't Trist's 18 year old daughter mentioned something about her a few weeks ago?
A quick scan of the celebrity Holonews filled in his vague recollections of the "incident" in question. After a long evening of raucous partying, which naturally included substantial drinking, Skyte and a few friends had "trespassed" into a local clothing factory and gone swimming in their vats of dye, with the unfortunate result that all of Skyte's exposed skin was now a bright purple. Trist shuddered at one of the pictures of the young lady, then resolutely closed the file.
His wife always told him not to scatter Interdictors into his personal hyperspace lanes, so he wrote back with more courtesy than was perhaps warranted,
Dear Madam,
I regret to say that due to a great deal of pressing work, I will be unable to represent your client. Best wishes to both you and her.
Sincerely, Counselor Trist
He clicked the send button and looked up, suddenly aware of the Imperial officer who had abruptly materialized in front of him.
"Counselor Trist?"
"Yes?" Trist responded uneasily.
His anxiety was warranted when the officer continued, "Emperor Vader wishes to see you immediately."
Trist deliberately stowed his datapad in his coat and followed the officer out. A sudden demand by the Emperor to do anything was an unnerving experience, but there was no point in trying to prepare. Vader was not the sort of person one prepared for, merely survived. Or didn't survive.
The officer led Trist out of the court room and into a waiting elevator. Three floors up and around two corners, he guided Trist into a pleasantly appointed waiting room with a large window facing the Menarai Mountains. Seated on a nerf hide couch was a young woman with vibrant red hair and green eyes. She was both exotic and beautiful, and was attired in a comfortable, loose black jumpsuit.
"Counselor Trist," the officer announced, and left the room.
The woman stood up and nodded at him.
"Counselor Trist," she said, "I'm Jade, a friend of Luke Skywalker's. I wanted to thank you for representing him so well at the trial. His sister and I were hovering in near Coruscant space and were able to watch the trial almost in real time. I know this was a difficult assignment, and we are grateful for your work."
This conversation was so bewildering that Trist didn't know whether to ask questions, thank the woman, or just let his mouth hang open in disbelief.
He opted for the latter.
Jade smiled in what he guessed was intended to be a reassuring manner. Thanks to the exotic sculpting of her cheekbones, though, her face took on the look of a Nabooian Star Eagle about to pounce on its prey.
This was a totally confusing situation. A friend of Skywalker's? Why wasn't she in a prison cell somewhere? Why was an Imperial officer speaking to her with courtesy? What was going on?
A door at the other end of the waiting room slid open, and the situation became even more mystifying.
Emperor Vader stalked through the door with Luke Skywalker walking directly behind him. Trist noted that Skywalker was not restrained in any way, and he seemed to be haranguing, or at least lecturing, the Sith Lord.
"I just don't know if this is wise! I appreciate the thought, but are you sure this is the right approach to take? I wouldn't want you to cause a major intergalactic incident due to some misplaced sense of obligation to me…"
Vader spun around suddenly, "Misplaced obligation? Misplaced? I owe you and your sister more than any other beings in the galaxy, with the possible exception of Jade. The time is now to clarify the situation, and I will do so whether you approve or not."
Skywalker frowned, crossed his arms, and actually glared at the Emperor, "You also have a responsibility to the entire citizenry of the galaxy, your Highness. What if your testimony provokes major riots?"
Jade, to Trist's surprise, interposed diplomatically, "Perhaps, Emperor Vader, it would be wise to put your troops on higher alert in case of civilian unrest? Regardless of the jury's verdict, there might well be upheaval somewhere. I think Luke just doesn't want hapless innocents caught up in the midst of brawls."
Vader nodded grudgingly, "That is reasonable. I will give the order."
Jade continued, "I've also been thinking that perhaps I should testify at the trial. After all, I personally heard Palpatine …"
"Absolutely not," both Vader and Skywalker said simultaneously.
Skywalker now moved forward, placed an arm around Jade's waist, and said firmly, "You, my love, are staying safely out of sight of holocams, journalists, and crazed Palpatine enthusiasts."
Trist blinked. So they were friends, were they?
Vader mused aloud, "While Jade should not testify in person, we could use the recordings from the prison suite, with her voice suitably altered so she cannot be recognized."
"That was recorded?" Skywalker asked in surprise.
Jade gave her friend a quick kiss on the cheek, "Facilities like that have constant video and audio surveillance, Luke."
Skywalker nodded, "That would be fine. Counselor Trist, I believe you will find this testimony helpful."
Trist abruptly found himself the focused attention of the Emperor, his exceedingly dangerous prisoner, and the prisoner's apparent love interest. He swallowed hard.
Skywalker smiled pleasantly, "This must be quite confusing, Counselor."
Trist nodded, not daring to look at the Emperor, "Indeed it is, Skywalker."
Vader's next words forced Trist to look at the Ruler of the Galaxy, whether he liked it or not, "I will be testifying as a defense witness at the trial today, Counselor."
Trist found himself nodding automatically while his brain caught up with Vader's words.
"Very well," he said meekly.
After a moment, he managed to gather his thoughts enough to add, "Your Highness, are there any particular questions I should ask you? Or more to the point, not ask you?"
There was a pause.
Skywalker spoke up, "How about, 'Your Highness, please describe to the court anything you think pertinent regarding this case.' I think that would provide all the guidance the Emperor needs."
Trist nodded.
"And Trist, two more things, " Skywalker added, "One: you've never seen Jade. Two: Don't insult my mother."
Ort's contorted face leaped to mind, and Trist nodded again. "Certainly."
The door slid open, and an officer entered, "Your Highness, that proclamation is ready for you to consider."
Vader left abruptly, leaving Trist alone with his client and his client's unnerving companion.
Skywalker gave him a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, Counselor. The Force will be with you."
30 minutes later, back in the court room
Trist scanned his Closing Documents file again and was tempted to hit delete. There was no way that his closing arguments would be applicable after Vader threw whatever bombshells he deemed pertinent into the proceedings.
His brain skittered to a thought that had arisen more than once. He suspected the possible nature of Vader and Skywalker's relationship, but that amputated hand kept him profoundly uncertain. Could even the most brutal individual really do such a thing to his own flesh and blood?
Well, he suspected he, and the entire galaxy, would know the truth soon enough.
Someone abruptly stepped up to him, and he raised his head to see Counselor Ort.
"So, we finish this today," Ort said smugly.
Trist nodded. He found Ort contemptible, but he felt a vague pity for him. Obviously, the morning would not go entirely as Ort planned.
"I will be calling an additional defense witness this morning," he stated.
Ort lifted an eyebrow.
"That seems pointless, Counselor," the prosecutor said, "You are merely dragging out the proceedings to delay the inevitable guilty verdict for your client. If I may give you some advice, I would recommend asking for mercy in your Closing Arguments, pleading for a more…pleasant death…for your client than would otherwise be carried out."
Trist sighed inwardly, "I appreciate your advice, Counselor, but I will of course proceed as I deem best for my client."
Ort scowled, "I will ask the judge to deny further witness testimony. I have no doubt he will accede to my request."
The conversation was mercifully cut short when there was a sudden flurry of activity at the court room door. The judge entered, followed by Skywalker and Vader and an honor guard. Again, all in the court room rose to their feet to honor the Emperor. Again, Vader ignored his subjects. Skywalker was not bound this time, though a shock collar was around his neck. Based on the recent interactions between Vader and his client, Trist doubted that it was activated. Vader escorted Skywalker to a chair several meters to the left of the witness stand. Skywalker sat down and Vader moved to his former position against the wall, which allowed the Emperor to watch the prisoner and the court room with ease.
Again, all those present in the court room were ordered to sit.
The judge gave his usual opening remarks, then turned to Prosecutor Ort.
"Counselor Ort," he said, "Do you have further witnesses to call?"
"No, your Honor," Ort replied, "I do not. I believe that all pertinent information has been shared with the jury. I therefore request that there be no further witness testimony and that we move to the closing arguments phase of the trial."
The judge turned to Counselor Trist, "Are you in agreement with that request, Counselor Trist?"
"I am not," Trist responded, "I have another vital witness to call in defense of my client."
The judge frowned, "It is of course within my purview to decline your request for additional testimony. I must therefore ask the identity of the witness, and what useful information he or she will provide?"
Trist took a deep breath, and said, "My witness is Emperor Vader, and I have not had the temerity to ask him what testimony he will provide."
The entire court room gasped in unison, and the Emperor stepped forward.
"I trust, Judge Cintillai, that I will be allowed to testify on Skywalker's behalf?" he asked in what was definitely a sarcastic tone.
The judge obviously lost his voice, because he only nodded frantically.
The Emperor stepped forward and settled himself into the witness chair. Trist noted absently that the chair had been switched out sometime in the last 24 hours as it was now large enough to accommodate Vader's large frame.
Trist stepped forward and approached the Emperor.
"Your Highness, can you please share with the court room any details pertinent to this case?"
There was a long pause. The entire court room was completely silent with expectation.
The Emperor spoke, his deep voice filling the room easily, and going out via the Holonet across the galaxy.
"Twenty-five years ago," Vader began, "I was a Jedi Knight of the old Republic. In those days, I went by the name Anakin Skywalker."
There was an incredulous murmur as everyone – judge, jury, holoreporters, and Prosecutor Ort - heard Vader's words and absorbed the meaning. Everyone's heads swiveled as one as all gazed at Luke Skywalker, sitting calmly on his chair.
"Luke Skywalker is my son," Vader stated, obviously bent on making the situation entirely clear to everyone.
Vader apparently decided that sitting was not accommodating to his present mood, as he stood up and began pacing.
"Twenty-four years ago, my precious wife announced to me that she was pregnant with our child. I was not aware that she was carrying twins. She was…the light of my life, and I was soon tormented by prescient dreams of her death in childbirth. The then Chancellor Palpatine informed me that if I changed my allegiance to him, from the Jedi to the Sith, he would use his knowledge and skill in Dark Side powers to save my wife and progeny from death. "
"I pledged my life and my soul to Palpatine. I will not go into details of the ensuing catastrophe, but it is enough to say that the Jedi were slain to near extinction, I was very seriously damaged in a fight with my former Jedi master Obi-wan Kenobi, and my wife died, apparently due to injures sustained during the confrontation with Kenobi.
"When I woke up from surgery, in this life support suit, Palpatine informed me that my wife had died due to my actions, and the child with her."
Vader turned and looked at his son, who was gazing at him with sorrow written on his face.
Vader again stepped to the witness chair and sat back down.
"With my wife and family gone, I focused my energy on serving Emperor Palpatine and his Empire. Not surprisingly, a Rebellion arose due to the Empire's increasingly violent methods of suppression used to keep the galaxy under Palpatine's control.
"Four years ago, an unknown pilot successfully fired the torpedo that destroyed the Death Star, which had obliterated the planet Alderaan a few days earlier. I discovered shortly afterward that the pilot's name was Luke Skywalker. Research soon confirmed that he was undoubtedly my son, which meant that Palpatine had lied to me about the nature of my wife's death, as she had lived to give birth to my child. I discovered that my former master, Kenobi, had taken my son and hidden him from me, with the ultimate goal of turning him into a weapon to destroy me once and for all. Those of the Skywalker bloodline are powerful Force sensitives. My son and daughter are two of the most potent Force users the galaxy has ever seen.
"The last four years, I searched diligently, even obsessively, for my son. He proved difficult to capture. Eighteen months ago, I successfully engineered a meeting between the two of us on the Cloud City of Bespin. He was not aware of our family relationship, and fought against me. I was finally able to corner him and tell him the truth that he was my son. I offered him a position of nearly limitless power at my side. He rejected my offer, instead choosing to jump into a chasm and plummet to what should have been certain death."
Vader voice definitely shook slightly as he continued, "To my intense relief, he was rescued by his twin sister. I was not aware that the Princess of Alderaan was my daughter, but their twin bond allowed her to hear him call for help, and she saved him."
Vader stood up again and slowly scanned the entire court room, causing many to tremble. Ort, in particular, looked like he might faint, which was a reasonable response.
"Emperor Palpatine was not idle in all this family drama, of course," Vader continued in a dry tone.
He again resumed pacing.
"The emergence of a very powerful Force sensitive resulted in complications between my former Sith Master and me, especially as Luke is my son and therefore might be expected to be loyal to me. On the other hand, my former master Kenobi trained my son in the hope that he would destroy me. The situation was thus somewhat opaque, even to Palpatine, who had an extraordinary ability to predict the future. For some time, Emperor Palpatine allowed me to pursue my son without interference. But after my failure to capture Luke at Bespin, Palpatine took matters into his own hands, though I was not aware of that until this week."
He looked straight at Skywalker, and the two exchanged a long look.
Vader resumed, "Palpatine sent a trained assassin to kill my son a year ago, an attempt which mercifully failed. Multiple attempts to capture him followed, all unknown to me. I too pursued Luke, but failed to find him.
"Then, a little more than a week ago, my twin children were captured by Palpatine. Fortunately, the former Emperor was unaware of Princess Leia's relationship to my son, and she was able to channel her considerable powers to help my son defeat Palpatine. Luke was badly injured in the attack, resulting in his apprehension by me. Princess Leia escaped.
"On its own merits, the sequence of events supports a verdict of self-defense. My children were apprehended by bounty hunters, stunned, drugged, and dragged into the Throne Room. The Emperor placed my son in an untenable position, threatening to kill his best friend and sister – not that the Emperor was aware of their familial relationship – unless Luke pledged his loyalty to the Emperor and agreed to kill me. It is greatly to Luke's credit that he refused both options, and attacked Palpatine in spite of the serious risk of death by poison from the manacle around his leg.
Vader now walked closer to the jury, gazing at them one by one.
"This was the situation as I understood it until recently. But yesterday, additional information came to light. I was able to speak personally to the agent in the Throne Room who chained Organa to the post and placed the poisoned manacle on my son's leg. This agent has the potential for being of further use to me, and therefore his voice testimony is being massaged to prevent identification. The words have not been altered, except for the deletion of a few words that might identify the agent. I invite you all to listen carefully to his evidence. He is repeating what Palpatine told him, minutes before Organa and Skywalker were dragged unconscious into the Throne Room."
Vader turned and gestured sharply with his right hand. Speakers came to life, and a clear, if obviously altered, voice began to speak.
"He said, 'I think it rather unlikely that young Skywalker will accept my generous offer to join my glorious Empire, in which case I have a very special death planned for him. The poison that kills him will not do so quickly, nor painlessly. I assure you, (static), that Lord Vader will experience the anguish of having affection for his wayward child. His son's agony from the poison will be … most uncomfortable for him. I'm sure you will be pleased to know that Vader will suffer for his rebellious thoughts against me."
There was a long silence in the court room, as those in attendance absorbed the ramifications of the recording. Trist felt a sudden twinge of anxiety. He could only imagine how Emperor Vader felt about Palpatine's words.
Vader returned to the witness stand but did not sit.
"So," he said after a tense moment, "Emperor Palpatine's attack on my son was largely due to his anger with me for having affection for the child I thought lost 24 years ago. He intended to punish me for wanting my son at my side – not by directly confronting me, but by destroying my son painfully. As an aside, he nearly destroyed my daughter because he knew how attached Luke is to Princess Leia Organa. "
His fists suddenly clenched in obvious rage. Trist felt a familiar oppression in the air, and braced himself. He was not surprised when the chairs began to shake, followed by tables, the judge's podium, and then the walls themselves. There were murmurs of terror by those in the room.
Trist felt a sudden surge of relief when he saw Skywalker stand up and move swiftly in front of his father. The young Rebel placed both hands on his father's arms and said urgently, "Father!"
Vader stared directly at his son, and Trist saw his shoulders and frame relax. The shaking diminished, then stopped.
Vader nodded to Skywalker and gestured for his son to sit at the witness stand. Vader moved behind him, and put a large hand on his son's shoulder.
"Members of the jury, Judge Cintillai, Counselors, members of the holopress," he continued, "In my role as Emperor Palpatine's enforcer, I freely admit that I have committed acts that I now greatly regret.
"My children have fought long and hard for the Rebel Alliance in an attempt to change the galaxy for the better. I will be releasing a proclamation later today discussing the specifics of changes in the Galactic Empire and its relationship to the Alliance. I hope to soon begin peace talks with the Rebel Alliance in a quest to end the conflict that has taken so many lives and caused so much suffering for the galaxy."
Vader now moved to his son's side, and looked down at him.
"My two children are not to blame for my actions in the last 24 years. My children should not have been targeted by the former Emperor because I cared deeply for the one child I was aware of – and I assure you all that his sister is equally cherished. In view of my testimony, and the information presented to you today, I ask that the members of the jury find my son innocent of assassination."
There was complete silence in the court room for a full two minutes. Out of the corner of his eye, Trist noted that Ort's face had assumed the pasty green color of Geonosian Larecheese.
The judge finally found his voice, "Counselor Trist, do you have any further questions for Emperor Vader?"
"I do not," Trist stated.
"Counselor Ort," the judge continued, "Do you wish to question the witness?"
Ort shook his head, and managed to rasp out a quiet, "No, your Honor, I have no questions."
Judge Cintillai stood up. It was greatly to his credit that in the midst of today's bombshells, he was able to go through what was clearly a standard spiel, "Counselors, we will go into recess for 15 minutes, and then present closing remarks. Members of the jury, you will then convene in the nearby jury room, where you will discuss the evidence and decide on the verdict. As a reminder, the majority verdict will stand. Thus, if 7 jurors or more vote for innocence, the prisoner will be found innocent of the charge. If 7 or more vote that he is guilty, the prisoner will be found guilty. In the event of a guilty verdict, the sentencing portion will follow as swiftly as possible. Thank you for your service to the Great and Glorious Empire."
Author Note: Yes, Leia is probably going to be annoyed that the entire galaxy knows she is Vader's daughter now.