Imperial Palace
Imperial Center, Coruscant
2 hours later
Ahsoka Tano opened her eyes. She was lying on reclined bed, with clean crisp white sheets under her, a comfy pillow, and a warm and positively fuzzy blue blanket on top of her.
Slowly her gaze traversed the room around her. It was decorated in soothing shades of greens and blues, and a series of small alcoves along the wall held a variety of objects.
She sucked in her breath even as she pushed aside the blanket and rolled, with difficulty, out of bed. Her head swam as she achieved verticality. She was ridiculously weak!
She realized, belatedly, that she was wearing a comfortable blue robe over synthsilk garments. So very different from the uncomfortable coarseweave prison garb of the last couple of years.
Ahsoka shook her head in bewilderment, and walked carefully over to the wall. The alcoves held a variety of objects, some familiar, some not. Several small sculptures were from Shili, her home planet. There were wooden bowls made of homogony wood, with concentric stained circles. Most artistic. And there were two clusters of Nak'tra crystals. It was like a rich sentient's personal art museum. Why was it all here? Why was she here? Where was here?
Her brain was buzzing and she closed her eyes. She couldn't quite remember her last moments of consciousness before she woke up here. She had been on the Lusankya, she remembered that. She had been almost dead from thirst and hunger. And then, and then ... frustration filled her. Cautiously, carefully, she reached out with the Force. Of late, her connection to the Force had been badly disrupted by pain, fatigue, and starvation. Now she could, tentatively, connect with its life giving power, but her reach was still nebulous and shaky. She was able to tell that there were two sentients outside the door to her room. Probably guards. And she was far too weak to try to break out right now, she knew that.
With a sigh, Tano walked slowly over to a large window set in the corner of the room. Outside, a verdant garden grew with a variety of waving green vegetation and an elaborate fountain which flung water about.
She tilted her head in admiration, and was startled and pleased to see a rainbow appear from the sunshine beaming through the scattered droplets.
A sudden memory surfaced, causing her mood to plummet. Vader. Here! Or, at any rate, on the Lusankya! He had opened the door to her cell. He had said ... said something. But she had lost consciousness almost immediately.
She stretched out with the Force, with difficulty, seeking the dark behemoth who had brought such sorrow to the galaxy. And to her incredulous shock she felt, not Darth Vader, but Anakin Skywalker, moving closer to her.
It couldn't be. Skyguy was dead, had been for more than 20 years. She must be mistaken! But the Presence certainly felt ... sort of ... like her former master. There was a strange feel to it, a swirl of darkness mixed in with the Light, but it certainly felt like ...
The door abruptly slid open, and she stiffened as Darth Vader strode through the door, followed by an Imperial doctor.
For a stunned moment, the Togruta stared at the behemoth, and then she sputtered out in incredulous horror, "No! That's impossible!"
/-
Conference Room
Imperial Palace
"Prince Luke, what a pleasure to meet you."
Luke nodded unenthusiastically to Daria Flinth, the official Imperial Festivities Coordinator.
"Likewise," he said as politely as he could manage, "May I introduce Commander Tregast, who is kindly acting as an unofficial aide-de-camp for me at the moment?"
Flinth shot Tregast a slight, disintegrating smile, before focusing her attention on Luke. Based on her Force sense, Luke could tell she was less than impressed with him.
Luke, on the other hand, was both amused and stunned.
Daria was in her late 40's, with brilliant magenta locks and exotically sculpted cheekbones. She was dressed in the very latest of Coruscanti fashions which, sadly for her, meant that her dress had strange bulges in it as if she had randomly inserted medium sized balls into her sleeves and bodice. An array of iridescent orange and red jeweled fishes were sprinkled across her long skirt, which caused Luke to occasionally be blinded by an aberrant reflection.
The youth sighed even as he turned his gaze resolutely toward the woman's eyes.
"Well, your Highness," she said brightly, "Perhaps we can sit down and discuss the upcoming ball in two weeks. It will be your formal debut to Imperial high society, and I'm sure you want it to go well."
Luke lifted an eyebrow, "And my sister's debut as well, of course."
"Of course," Flinth responded, her very white teeth flashing.
Luke sighed inwardly. It wasn't the Imperial Coordinator's fault that she was dealing with a Force Sensitive, and there was no way for her to know that her growing dismay at his appearance and Outer Rim accent were obvious to him. She was doing her best to appear welcoming and enthusiastic toward the Outer Rim lout who was now the heir to the Imperial Throne.
"Leia has more experience with balls and high society," Luke commented, "So it makes more sense that she would be the focal point of the festivities instead of me."
The woman's brow wanted to wrinkle but it was obvious that either medicine or make-up wouldn't allow it.
"With all due respect, your Highness," she began carefully.
Luke wasn't worried about wrinkles, so he lifted his brows even as he looked at her in what he intended to be an encouraging manner.
"Your sister is beautiful and cultured and well mannered ..."
"Which I am not," Luke commented boldly.
A sympathetic smile now, "I'm sure you will learn what you must, your Highness. But you see, your sister is, ah ..."
"Yes?"
"Married. Correct?"
"She is very definitely married," Luke agreed, "And to a great guy."
"A most interesting man, at any rate," Flinth said with an artificial titter, "A former smuggler, I believe? But at any rate, your sister is not available. So you see, while she will of course be an honored guest, you are of far more interest because you are unmarried."
Luke groaned openly, and shook his head, "Unbelievable. Well, available or not, I guess I need to do this. So let me tell you what my father, sister, and I have planned."
The Coordinator looked incredulous, "Ah, your Highness, the accepted mode is that I present you with a variety of options for the ball, and you choose one of them. I realize you don't know that, but there are literally decades of tradition in force ..."
The Heir to the Throne interrupted ruthlessly, "Tradition will need to be discarded, Coordinator Flinth. This is a new season, a new age, and we will not be held back by the traditions of the past."
The woman's cheeks reddened just slightly through her make-up, "Very well, your Highness. What are your plans?"
Luke stood up now and began pacing, even as Tregast firmly hid a smile. For all that the young Skywalker looked innocent and even dewy at times, the Heir was entirely capable of getting his own way when he was passionate about the issue at hand.
"First, Coordinator Flinth, no alcohol will be served at the ball. Secondly, the food will be plentiful, but basic, not exotic ..."
"That is ridiculous, absurd!" she exclaimed, her horror giving her the courage to interrupt Vader's son, "This will be the ball of the season. The Emperor, your father I mean, has at his disposal some of the most valuable wines and liquors in the galaxy. And Imperial Center receives the very best of foods as well – moonglow, giant Nabooian crab, mondals coated in dark chocolate from Trammistan ..."
Luke interrupted ruthlessly, "There is every reason, Flinth."
He paused, then strode close to her, "I have no desire to make your job a distasteful one, but you and I will do much better together if you understand that my word is law on this issue. Those wines, those crabs from Naboo, the moonglow, it's all been purchased on the backs of a quadrillion beings who have been taxed and enslaved and used. The Imperial Palace is beginning a new season of austerity starting today. No longer will the leaders of this galaxy live in luxury while those they govern suffer under the burden of heavy taxation."
Flinth actually wobbled in shock, and Luke put a hand out and guided her to a chair, "Are you all right, Coordinator?"
Years of experience told her to say yes, but she decided on honesty.
"No, your Highness, I'm not. I think I'm going to faint."
/-
Ahsoka's room
Imperial Palace
"It is you! You ... you turned against the Jedi, you destroyed the galaxy, how could you?"
"Ahsoka ..."
"Madame Tano," the Imperial doctor said, with an alarmed look on his face, "This excitement is not good for you."
"Tell him that," Ahsoka said, enraged, "He's the one who betrayed everything we held dear. It's not like I'm going to be calm about it!"
She picked up a Shili rock from an alcove and hurled it at the Dark Lord.
He caught it with the Force easily, and said in as soothing a tone as he could manage through the vocoder, "Snips, I deeply regret my actions, but throwing things isn't going to help right now. Nor, as Doctor Sert says, is it good for you."
"It makes me feel better," she snarled back, and picked up a wooden bowl.
/-
Corridor near Ahsoka's room
"Luke's probably giving the Imperial Coordinator Flinth heart attacks right now," Leia said, linking her arm through Han's, "He's very determined that the wanton excess of the upper classes no longer be encouraged by the occupants of the Imperial Palace."
"He's got my vote," Han said, "I'm guessing growing up on Tatooine gives him a second sense about what's reasonable and what's not."
Leia nodded solemnly, "I've spent the last couple of years living a relatively austere lifestyle, but I grew up in luxury. Luke knows what it's like when high taxes result in actual hunger. There were a few years when his aunt and uncle were short on food, though they always made sure he was fed ..."
Her head suddenly snapped up, and Han saw her "Force expression" appear on her face.
"Come on!" she said, dashing forward.
They skittered around a corner and into an open room, and then both stopped in astonishment.
Darth Vader stood near the door, one hand outstretched. Doctor Sert was standing near a tall and clearly angry Togruta, trying to coax her back to bed. And between Ahsoka Tano and Vader were 12 objects – rocks, sculptures, crystals – floating in mid-air.
"Ah, is there a problem?" Leia asked in a bewildered tone.
"Ahsoka is ... upset." Vader said. She felt his anguish in the Force, and was thankful that he had restrained himself from blowing out walls in his distress.
"Upset isn't the word!" she riposted back, picking up the last sculpture and hurling it with surprising accuracy at the black behemoth.
"Madame Tano," Sert said gently, "Please sit down ..."
Leia suddenly chuckled aloud, "I like you already, Ahsoka Tano."
Ahsoka's gaze shifted and her expression shifted from angry to surprised, "Princess Leia Organa?"
"Yes."
"You're working with him?" Tano demanded suspiciously.
"Or he's working with us," Leia responded. Deliberately, she reached out through the Force to touch Tano's ragged soul, to envelop her in the Light.
The Togruta's eyes widened and her montrals swayed, "You're a Jedi?"
"Working on it," Leia said gravely, and walked closer. Up close, she realized how very tall Ahsoka was. Not for the first time, she felt dwarfed by those around her. At least Luke was short.
"Sit down, Madame Tano," she said, and guided her to the bed, "And let the Doctor look you over before we evict all the men and have some girl time. How does that sound?"
Ahsoka stared, then smiled, "All right."
/-
Docking Bay 4
The Liberty
In Orbit around Hoth
The nondescript freighter lowered its ramp and after a long moment, Wedge Antilles walked down the ramp with his arm around an old man in a cloak.
Mon Mothma had trained herself to stay calm, stately, unruffled, in all circumstances. But this ... this was beyond anything she had hoped for.
"General Dodonna, no, Jan," she said softly, tears filling her eyes even as she rushed forward and enfolded the old man in a hug, "It is so good to have you back."
/-
Conference Room
Imperial Palace
"And we will have several of the side rooms set up as galleries. We're going to have a silent auction of various items from the Emperor's palace, like expensive wine, art that Palpatine actually bought as opposed to stole from someone. Those who wish to acquire such things can bid and we'll use the proceeds to help with humanitarian projects."
Coordinator Flinth, who had been sitting on her chair looking morose, perked up, "An auction? That's really quite an exciting idea, your Highness. There are treasures in the Emperor's collections which collectors across the galaxy would give up their tentacles for. I would suggest, however, that you give the auction some time so that off worlders can bid as well. Perhaps 2 weeks past the banquet itself?"
Luke nodded, "Good idea, Coordinator. We'll have a special section with several dozen bottles of Alderannian Toniray wine, along with some of my father's personal treasures, with the proceeds to benefit the Alderaanian diaspora."
/-
Ahsoka's room
"Is it true about Alderaan?" Ahsoka asked abruptly. She was lying on her bed again with the back nearly upright so that she could look straight at Leia. The princess was herself standing at the window, staring out. Coruscant was a cityscape, so gardens like these were rare indeed. But of course Palpatine had always insisted on the very best for himself.
"That it was destroyed?" Leia asked, with a slight tremble in her voice, "Yes, it's true."
She turned now to look at Tano, her eyes narrowed, "How long were you imprisoned?"
The Togruta sighed, "I was captured 18 years and 7 months into the Emperor's reign."
Leia felt her throat close in horror, "More than 2 years ago? Oh Ahsoka ..."
Tano sighed, "I wasn't ... tortured after the first year. Palpatine made a couple of visits trying to bore into my head in those early months, but I managed to resist him. Then he left me to Ysanne Isard's tender ministrations, but she got bored me with me as well. Speaking of Isard, where is she now?"
"Dead, as is Palpatine, and a host of other ugly Imperial types. Vader is the official Emperor now."
Ahsoka blinked, "So Vader turned on Palpatine? How and why? I'm absolutely enraged with him, but he feels mostly Light now. That's not supposed to even be possible."
Leia ran a hand over her braided hair, "It's a long story, Ahsoka. But Vader's redemption all started with my little brother..."
/-
Weird Force Afterlife
Varykino
"We've got some seriously messed up people in the real galaxy," Jinn said gravely, "Ahsoka's a mess, the other sentients rescued from the Lusankya are a mess, Mara Jade's a mess. And I don't mind telling you, young Luke, that your Alter seems to have a thing for her ..."
"I can't blame him. Me. She's gorgeous," Luke said with a grin. He plopped down onto the sand next to Jinn and began shaping a sand tower to put next to Qui-Gon's massive castle.
Padme nudged her son with her foot, "There is far more to a healthy relationship than mere looks, my son."
"Says the most beautiful woman in the entire galaxy," Anakin teased.
Padme blushed and Luke rolled his eyes.
"You two are actually cute together," he said with a shake of his head, "And that is a weird thing to say about my own parents."
"I quite approve of Mara Jade," Jinn said, even as he used the Force to pour water into a moat around his sand castle, "She's smart, astringent, and honorable. It says much for her that she survived being raised under Sidious' less than benevolent eye without being totally destroyed. But she's got a lot of cracks in her soul, and a great deal to work through."
"Mind healing needed," Master Yoda croaked thoughtfully, even as he cautiously stepped into the water and wiggled his toes.
"Can, uh, other Anakin do that?"
"No, he can't," Anakin said firmly, "I was never any good at that kind of thing."
"Leia? My Other?"
"Other Luke," Obi-Wan said, stepping out of the waves and gesturing for a towel, which flew into his hand, "He's got the right gifting and personality. It's a long job to work with those who have been torn apart by torture and dark Side Force manipulation. And Leia is going to be very busy politically, whereas Luke ..."
"Is merely going to be the Regent of the known galaxy," Jinn said with a smile, rising to his feet and casting a fond eye at his sand creation.
"It's mostly a figurehead role," Kenobi said calmly, "And I can interact more easily, and for longer times, with Luke than Leia. I'll visit him as soon as possible to begin instruction in Mind Healing."
"Count me in as well," Jinn said with a smile.
Author Note: I've long been interested in the tragedy that was Marie Antoinette, Queen of France in the years and days leading up to the French Revolution. She wasn't necessarily an evil person, but she grew up being taught that royalty deserved whatever it wanted, and the 'little people' didn't matter. Her lavish lifestyle, combined with the starvation and struggle of the 'common' people, was a significant factor in the events leading to the French Revolution. Since Luke grew up in near poverty, he'd have a much better feel for how the regular people were suffering in the Empire, even the ones not being openly enslaved and subjugated.
