Leia Organa

Leia was welcomed to Alderaan by its Queen, the wife of Bail Organa. She was taken into their home, and quickly was integrated into the childless family. Leia spent most of her days meditating as well, on a wide balcony that overlooked the valley and snow-capped mountains of Alderaan. It was beautiful, and Leia couldn't get enough of the sites. Some of the people of Alderaan were also aware that Leia was present, and was now the adopted daughter of Senator Bail and Queen Breha Organa. They adored the Princess, and kept quiet about her background. No one asked where she came from, even after the Queen explained that they adopted her from Carida. The people were strongly opposed to the Empire, and didn't want to attract any attention, so they kept quiet about the Queen and Senator's new daughter.

Leia made herself present in many sessions of the Alderaanian Parliament, partaking in intense debates and giving inspirational speeches. She was the youngest senator ever, and one of the boldest. She passed many bills, and wrote a few pieces of legislation in the Parliament, deeming her one of the most progressive senators on Alderaan as well. She represented the capital's district on Alderaan, and her polls were phenomenal.

Behind the curtains of Alderaan's Parliament, Leia partook in many deals with the rising rebellion against the Empire. It was a dangerous thing to get involved with, but she knew that the Empire needed to be punished for what they did to the Jedi and billions across the Galaxy.

"You need to be more careful, Leia."

"What do you mean? I'm just speaking my mind, and the minds of the people I represent." replied Leia to her foster father, Senator Bail Organa.

"You're speaking out against the Empire too carelessly."
"I'm giving Parliament a scolding they've been in need of. They shouldn't be afraid to stand up to the Empire."

"It's too dangerous." said Bail a bit loudly, and he suddenly realized how loud he was. He blinked away from Leia, and sighed, "I can't let the Empire find you, I won't break Ahsoka's promise. Besides, you and your brother are the last hopes for the Galaxy. You can't just go around speaking against the Empire so willy-nilly, Leia. I don't want you to get hurt or caught."

"But we can't sit here and watch the Empire continue to destroy the Galaxy." said Leia, looking deep into Bail's eyes, "It's something I know you won't let happen, and neither will I." Leia stood up straight. "I'm a part of this rebellion."

That night, Leia went to her room in the palace to get ready for bed. She had showered, brushed her teeth, brushed her long hair, and put on a night gown. She went into her bedroom and sat on the bed, looking out the nearby window. She could see the beautiful night sky that was littered with millions of stars, with the bright moon peeking from behind the Alderaanian mountains.

The teenage girl looked down from the window, towards her hands that rested in her laps. She dangled her bare feet from her bedside, and couldn't help but think about her mother. It had been a few months already, but to Leia; it felt like years. She felt as if she quickly was swept into this new life of hers, a life of hiding in plain sight, and verbally taking arms against the Empire. But it was happening too fast. Not long ago she was on the frontlines fighting a galactic war, and now she feels like she's back doing the same thing… but this time… alone. No Republic, no Jedi, no Masters… no Ahsoka… no Luke.

A tear rolled down Leia's cheek, and she closed her eyes. Leia took in a deep breath, and felt a cold sensation within her. Her eyes shot open,

"No. Get… away… from… me…" Leia knew what the feeling was. She recognized the pull, the tug… the tug of the Dark Side. The coldness swirled around her, whisking around her feet, up her legs, around her arms, around her whole body… She took in a deep breath, then exhaled. "I am far stronger than the Dark Side. I don't need passion, hate, or anger to keep me going. Get away from me, get away from me! Get away from me!"


Ahsoka Tano

Get away from me! screamed a voice in Ahsoka's mind. The Togruta instantly shot up from her slumber, nearly hitting her head on the bunk above her. She rubbed beads of sweat off her forehead, and looked to her left. She was alone in the room that contained four beds, two of them being bunkbeds.

Ahsoka swung her feet to the side of the bed, and got up. She headed for the door, which slid open. The woman walked out to the narrow corridor, walking across the metal flooring that echoed with each footstep. She reached the end of the corridor, where there was another door with a control panel beside it. She activated the button, and the door slid open, revealing a cockpit with two seats. One of the seats, on the left, had somebody sitting in it. It was a man roughly the same age as Ahsoka, had black slick hair, and was human.

Ahsoka sat in the co-pilot's seat, looking out the viewport to the blue tunnel of Hyperspace. She held her hands together,

"I'm glad we found each other again, Lux." the man beside her turned to look at the Togruta, and smiled,
"So am I. It's nice to be working together again, fighting against evil."

"Can I be honest with you?" asked Ahsoka.

"Of course." said Lux, leaning closer towards Ahsoka.

"I didn't think things would get this bad. I didn't sense it at all… you'd think the Jedi would be able to sense the Emperor's evil plans."

"The Emperor was never a bad man, though."

"That's not the case now…" muttered Ahsoka, "I feel like this all could've been prevented if the Jedi were just more open minded and aware."

"I'm sure they were, since the Republic was completely transformed into an authoritarian government. You don't think they weren't worried as each day passed? They were basically paranoid about this same problem during Palpatine's reign." explained Lux. Ahsoka didn't say anything, but turned away to look back at the hyperspace tunnel. Lux reached out his hand to touch Ahsoka's hand on her armrest, "Ahsoka."

The Jedi turned to look at former Senator Bonteri.

"You're one of the last few Jedi alive, and I will make it my life duty to make sure nothing bad happens to you."

"I don't see myself as a Jedi anymore…" said Ahsoka softly, removing her hand from Lux's touch.

"What is that supposed to mean? You can't deny your powers." said Lux confusedly.

"I'm not denying anything." snapped Ahsoka, "I'm accepting the reality of things. The Jedi failed to save the Republic, failed to understand my troubles when I was framed, and they failed again just now. The only way to do it is to find balance…"

"So many people rely on you and your ties with the Jedi. The entire Rebel Alliance is counting on you."

"I never said I was leaving, Lux. This is just something I need to figure out on my own… and now is the time, unfortunately."

"You're sounding like a Knight of Vakara." chuckled Bonteri, looking back to the viewport.

"I'm sure they've been wiped out by now as well. It's why we've been called to System 66."

"You really think their President was killed off?" asked Lux.

"No… I can still…" Ahsoka paused, staring blankly into space, "I can still feel her. I know the Empire attacked Navarchos, and I'm sure she escaped with others. They are an extremely powerful group of individuals…"

"Central command said that a fleet of Star Destroyers blew their temple off the face of the mountain islands. What do you think would happen if she did die? Who would lead us? Senator Organa is tied with Alderaan and the Imperial Senate, Padme is gone, and the former Separatists are selfishly minding their own business. They won't listen to us if Vakara is gone." contemplated Lux, aloud.

"The Rebels all have a single cause." spoke Ahsoka, "We all have one goal, and it's to overthrow this corrupt and evil Empire. We won't separate from each other, for hope is the only thing we have. Hope and unity will govern us until our final victory against the Empire."


Imperial Center

Once called Corusca Hall during the age of the Republic and benevolent years of the Empire, the octagonal palace that housed the Imperial Council was now named the Imperial Center. It held the offices for the Grand Vizier, Grand Moffs, Grand Admiral, and a secondary office for the Emperor. The exterior of the building was remodeled as well, sporting a steel gray color rather than the warm tan it used to be painted. The low-level buildings around it were also cleared away, replaced by an expansive wrap-around plaza that stretched a mile outward. It made the Imperial Center more prominent, and allowed larger diplomatic ships to land in the plaza as well.

"He's named Amelia Daala as the Grand Vizier. The fucking nerve of that man! Naming a fucking military member to a civilian post!" shouted Khen Su, throwing numerous papers and folders off his desk as he walked around over to his chair. He was in his Councillor's office along with another individual, Senator Serinna Vylantis of Parchuverda. The Kaminoan sat down and rubbed his forehead, and Serinna rested her hands on the back of a chair in front of Su's desk. She wore a fitted black dress, with a large silver necklace that resembled a plate of armor on her upper chest.

"Things aren't going as we planned." she noted, "My resolutions have gotten nowhere in the Senate." Khen Su looked up from the palms of his three-fingered hands.

"I should probably tell you this, but the Emperor is thinking of dissolving the Senate entirely."

"What?!" exclaimed Serinna, "Are you serious? What do the other Councillors think?"

"They support him." answered Su solemnly, staring into blank space. He glanced up at Serinna, not surprised to see an angered expression on her face. "No one is going to go against his wishes."

"That needs to change."

"And risk being dismissed? Or worse, execution?" pondered Su.

"He's not going to kill any of you." said Senator Vylantis, shaking her head, "You're all too prominent to disappear that easily."

"There have been many senators that have gone missing, I'm surprised you're still here." shot back the Kaminoan, who was rather worried. "Anyone who speaks against him are sent away, and are never heard from again."

"Zaoku likes me. I helped him a lot when he was Chancellor."

"Zaoku doesn't like me."

"But he promised you to make you Grand Vizier." noted Serinna.

"And that didn't happen." responded Councillor Su, bluntly. Serinna walked around the chair and sat in it, crossing one leg over the other.

"Alright." she clasped her hands together in her lap, "What are we going to do about it?"

"We?" Su cocked back his head, with shock and curiosity.

"Yes, we. That man has tossed out all of my proposals, and told Centrist party leaders to not allow any of my bills to the Senate floor for a vote. And he's fucked up election schedules for senators, introduced voter registration laws that ended up preventing millions from voting… and you can see what I'm getting at by now. He fucked me over too." said the Senator with disappointment.

"Well… then we must act." nodded Khen Su, "But you won't be able to achieve anything whilst in the Imperial Senate. You are just screaming into the dark."

"I need to be on the Imperial Council." stated Serinna blatantly, "It's the only way."

"You'll have to wait until someone is removed." said the Kaminoan.

"Won't be long. A few of your colleagues are growing tired, and it'll only be a matter of time someone resigns." the senator got up and rubbed her hands together, "We are going to bring him down, Su. Nobody crosses me- us. Not after everything we've gone through, and how far we've come. It doesn't end here."

"You're sounding like an Empress in the making." said Su with a slick smile, and Serinna looked at him.

"The Empire is going down too, Mr. I-wanted-to-be-Emperor." she said in a mocking tone. Vylantis raised a brow and Khen Su got up from his chair, holding out his hands.

"Fine, fine. You have a plan to change this shitstorm then?"

"Of course I do." smirked Serinna, "I was born for this…"