It is Your Destiny

Coruscant – A Few Months Later (1.5 ABY)

Leia Skywalker walked along the streets of Coruscant alone. She had just shared a dinner with the Organas and had declined their offer for a ride back to the Jedi Temple. Usually she found a long walk to be peaceful, a time for reflection. But this walk was different. She felt her father's presence blister strongly through the Force sometime during her meal. He had to be on-planet for her to feel him this way and whatever had brought him here, he was not happy.

Leia sighed. It would do no good to pretend that she didn't know why he was on planet, or what had made him unhappy. Of course she knew. Only she, her brother or her mother could get Anakin Skywalker so upset. But she truly didn't understand his anger. Even after the endless conversations they had shared over the holo about her options, she hadn't expected him to react this way.

Over the past six months Leia had all but discontinued shadowing Bail and Winter Organa in the Senate, opting instead to focus all of her efforts on the new Jedi Stealth Squadron. Tensions between the Imperials and the Republic had quickly mounted over the past several months and had finally come to their culmination when none of the Grand Moffs had bothered to come to the Senatorial sessions. The Imperials were declaring their independence from the Republic and all of the repercussions of that had yet to fully be understood.

Almost immediately after the stunt by the Imperials, Leia had finally officially joined the Stealth Squadron. Ironically enough, she was then immediately pulled off of the squad to organize a diplomatic mission with Bail Organa to Imperial space. She and the Viceroy were to fly to Byss and try and prevent a war. Their official task was to attend a meeting of the Moff Council and hear the Imperials' demands and gripes. Unofficially, they were to research the rumors that the Imperials were organizing a strike against the Republic and perhaps cutlivating an alliance with the emerging Sith.

Leia's mind had been laser-focused on her upcoming mission. That was, until her father had arrived.


Finally reaching the Temple, Leia walked through the winding corridors toward her room. The emotion emanating off of her father guided her like a navicomputer. Many would cower away from a confrontation with Anakin Skywalker. Leia looked forward to it. She'd rather have everything out in the open.

She entered her room, found her father standing with his back to her looking out of her small window. She signaled the door shut behind her and stood waiting.

After a long while, he turned to face her. His eyes slowly studied her, as if he didn't recognize the person standing before him. "Where've you been?" He asked.

Her first instinct was to remind him of how old she was and just whose business it was where she had been, but she bit down on it. Instead she said, "With the Organas."

He didn't respond.

She took a step closer, throwing her shawl on the small table. "Have you come to change my mind?"

"No," he replied quickly. "To understand your mind, perhaps."

She lifted her chin. "I let the Force guide my mind…my choices. I belong in that squadron." She considered for a moment telling him about her mission with Bail Organa. But it wasn't in her place to tell him and it still didn't change what her ultimate decision had been.

His eyes softened and for the first time, he looked like her father as she remembered him. "You were happy with what you were doing," he said softly, sadly.

She shook her head. "But it's not all about my happiness."

"That's all it's ever been about for me."

"I know that. But in times of war-"

"War?" He spit back, incredulously. "We aren't at war yet, Leia, and I fail to see how we can declare war on nothing more than a rumor."

"It's a little more than a rumor now, Father. The Moffs have refused to recognize the Senate as their governing body. And I think you know that we wouldn't go to war over a rumor. Plans are already being developed to address the Imperials concerns, to hopefully prevent a civil war. But-"

"Is that what the Council has told you?"

She straightened her shoulders. Her father's personal war with the Jedi Council aggravated her more than ever now. "The Jedi Council is not the enemy here."

"They are from where I stand. They now have both my children under their influence and are prepared to send them off to a needless war." He walked toward her. "I raised you to have a mind of your own, to see the Council for what it was, imperfections and all. You had to know that it was never my wish for my children to blindly follow anyone. If you disagree, no matter with whom, you stand up for yourself and disagree. Don't let them utilize this false threat to finally pull you in line."

"No one has pulled me in line. I have had my issues with the Jedi Council," Leia said slowly. "And I have always stood up for what I believed – had a mind of my own. But in times like these, it's a waste of energy and resources to fight against those who aren't truly our enemies. My personal goals and ambitions can be made to wait."

"Times like these?" He scoffed.

"If we go to war. You always told me that when it came time to fight, you must judge people on their actions and act accordingly. I will not fight against those that I merely disagree with."

"Who will you fight against?"

"Those whose actions warrant it."

"And have the Imperials warranted it?"

"Are we fighting yet?"

He took a step back, regarding her. "You've always been a strong-willed child. I will not see your talent wasted in pursuit of some idealistic crusade. The Imperials will always do what the Imperials do. They are different from us, that doesn't make them wrong."

"It's only those who don't truly want peace that call it idealistic."

"You have too much of your mother in you."

"And you would do well to be more like her."

He shook his head at her. "This is a waste of time. Nothing will be decided here today. Anyway, it seems you have already chosen your side."

She looked at her father, confusion crawling across her furrowed brows. "There is no side," she whispered. "I don't feel like you and I must become enemies for me to do what I think is right. Why can't you work alongside the Council? We could really use you right now. What have you been doing? If there's something that you've been working on? Share it with me and perhaps we could work together. Help me understand how you see things. How you imagine we can tackle these problems differently."

"Problems?" Anakin replied, turning away from her and running his fingers through his hair. "A few Senators throwing a tantrum and this is what the touted Jedi High Council concerns itself with?"

"There is still the matter of a rising Sith. It wouldn't be the first time that the Imperials have harbored one."

He turned back towards her, his face softening. "Maybe what I see isn't exactly clear yet. But what I know is that there's got to be another way to end all of this. To find peace without compromising our beliefs. Without chasing shadows and rumors. Without war." He hesitated. "Without sacrificing who we are."

Once again Leia found herself in an argument where she could see both sides. Having the Jedi Stealth Squadron so ingrained with the Republic military had never set well with her. But now was not the time to shun the Jedi Order. That much she was sure of. "I used to think that following the Jedi code was a sacrifice."

"And so it is," her father replied. "That hasn't changed."

"No," she agreed. "Maybe it hasn't, in some ways. But circumventing the system isn't the answer."

"System? There is no system. That's where you've been blinded. How long has the Council strung you along with a promise of change? How much more ingrained into the Republic do they have to become for you to see that they have lost their way? Open your eyes."

"My eyes are wide open. I see things more clearly than I want to. What kind of politician would I be if I can't lobby for change and work within the restraints of the system to bring forth revolution."

"Sometimes true revolution requires revolt."

"That is where our paths diverge. I will not tear down what is wholly good to mold it into something that is specific to my needs. We will not be here forever. We work for the small changes that matter to us and leave the big picture to slowly shift throughout several lifetimes. You changed the Jedi code-"

"But not enough!"

"Tell me, then. What will be enough?"

He shook his head. "I'll know when I see it."

For the first time in her life she was truly scared. Not of her father, but for him. "I think somewhere along the way," she said. "You lost your way. I think your issue with the Council has taken on a life of its own. Maybe if you could go back and meditate on it, you might find that the issue isn't even there anymore. That only your own doubts remain."

He smiled. "You're beautiful, Leia. Smart. I'll be proud of you no matter what you do."

And with that, she knew their conversation had come to an end. "Thank you," she whispered. "That will always mean a great deal to me."