TWENTY-FOUR

Leia's mouth fell open at the news. Her first instinct was to deny it, to accuse Luke of lying...but there was no lie in his eyes. Only pain and that same, simple, farmboy honesty she knew and loved. He believed what he was saying, and it explained why he kept asking about Vader, even why he had brought him back. Luke had never known parents other than his aunt and uncle and the knowledge haunted him. If he thought for even a minute he could know his father, he'd do anything to hold on to that. "Did Vader tell you?"

Luke nodded. "After the duel on Bespin. It was the reason he wanted me to join him. I didn't believe him at first."

Leia frowned. "Then why believe him now? Luke, a lie like that is the perfect way to manipulate someone."

Luke insistently shook his head. "He's not lying. As terrible as the news might be, it's true. I know it is. I can feel it..." His voice caught, and he turned away.

Leia sighed. While she'd never understand Luke's connection with the Force, she knew it was real. Her father had spoken with reverence about the Jedi. They could tell when someone was lying. Well, he never knew his father...his uncle had already lied to him about it...and Obi-Wan did say that Vader was once a Jedi. Now the familial deception made sense. Owen Lars and Obi-Wan Kenobi had only been trying to protect Luke from a terrible truth. She took his shoulder. "I'm so sorry. But even so, you can't let it blind you to who Vader is and what he's done."

Luke moistened his lips, staring at his hand. "Leia...I don't expect you to understand, but...the man in the brig isn't Darth Vader anymore. It's Anakin Skywalker."

What is he saying? Now honestly concerned for Luke's sanity, Leia looked him in the eye. "I know you want to believe that. But someone who's spent twenty years of his life steeped in evil doesn't change overnight, or even in a few days. It's just not possible. And even if it was, he still has to answer for his crimes."

Luke pursed his lips. "I know...but think about it for a minute. In his own strange way, he was trying to protect me the whole time I was aboard the Executor. He insisted on treating the burns himself. Would Darth Vader do that?"

Leia shook her head. "I don't know. But it doesn't change who he is."

"Leia...he saved me."

"Luke-"

"He was running out of time to try and bring me to the Dark Side. I could sense the conflict in him, even then. Every day the battle between Darth Vader and Anakin grew stronger. He sabotaged his own hyperdrive to try and buy some time before we met the Emperor. While we were in port on Sheol, he took me down to the surface in a last-ditch effort to turn me. It didn't work. Vader would have killed me if Anakin hadn't stopped him. Then there was a groundquake..." Luke hesitated, turning away. "The bridge I was on collapsed. When my father reached for me, a boulder fell on him. That's how his arm was crushed. But then...somehow...he found the strength to reach out with the Force and pull me to safety. I felt the cold and the darkness leave. Darth Vader is gone now."

Leia blinked, trying to process what she'd heard. Again, there was no lie in Luke's eyes. There was only a plea for understanding. She didn't think he was crazy, either...crazy as this story was. Finally she shook her head, rubbing her temples.

Luke took her reaction as one of disbelief and let his shoulders fall. "You don't believe me?"

"Luke, it's not that. I know you're being honest with me, and I don't really think you're crazy," said Leia, apologetic. The image of all the evil that Vader had done danced before her eyes. "You know I'm willing to give people second chances. Look at Han, for goodness' sake." She smiled briefly, and Luke smiled in return. It faded quickly."But this..." She studied her hands, fighting to keep calm. It's just Luke...don't get angry with him for being naive. "Nothing Vader could do, even if he had a thousand years, could undo all the evil he's done. Nothing can bring back the lives he's taken. We can't let that go."

"I know," nodded Luke sadly. "He knows it, too. He doesn't expect any kind of pardon or forgiveness. But he does want to help."

"Well, General Madine is talking to him now, and I sincerely hope we can use any information he gives us. But...no matter what, we can never trust him." Leia closed her eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath. If she had her way, the masked monster would be locked away for good in the deepest, darkest hole they could find. She met Luke's eyes in apology. "Can you understand?"

"Yes." Luke hung his head for a moment. "I don't suppose the Alliance is going to trust me, either, once they know he's my father."

"That's nonsense. Many Alliance members have family in the Empire. As soon as General Madine and I compare notes, I'm sure they'll lift your restriction."

"I hope so. Do you think...it might be too much to ask, but do you think I might be able to see my father?"

Leia's eyes hardened.I'm not letting him anywhere near that monster. It's for his own good. "I don't think so...besides, you still haven't recovered from your concussion. And from what I've heard, Vader isn't doing much better."

Luke cringed. "Anakin, you mean. I know he's in pain. Aren't they giving him anything for it?"

Leia flinched. "How cold do you think we are? We're not in the habit of torturing prisoners...even someone like Vader."

"Anakin," Luke insisted. "Vader's gone. And you didn't answer my question."

I'm not calling him by that name, though Leia. She avoided Luke's eyes and studied her datapad. "Of course. Did anything happen on the trip from Sheol to the rendezvous point?"

"No. Both of us were pretty tired. He'd lost a lot of blood, and my head was killing me," admitted Luke. "I did ask him about the Jedi. He didn't say much...except their faces have been haunting him for years." Luke turned away, disturbed. "He feels a deep remorse for everything he's done..."

Leia bit back a scathing reply to that and instead shook her head. I hope so. I hope he lives with whatever guilt he can muster to the end of his days. "Well...that's about it. Thank you, Luke, for being honest. I know this wasn't an easy conversation for you. And don't worry about what others will think about your father. No one else is going to know except the leaders of the Alliance." She gave his shoulder a squeeze and rose to her feet. "I need to go. Will you be all right?"

Luke took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, now that the truth is out. Are you going to tell Han?"

Leia pressed her lips together. Han hated Vader more than anyone alive, but loved Luke like family. "You know how much Han cares about you. You're like a brother to him. Genetics isn't going to change that, but...I'll leave it up to you."

Luke nodded in relief. He sensed a lingering distrust and even hatred of Vader, but that was to be expected. At least she had not rejected Luke or his claims. He knew Leia cared about him. There was a kind of connection between them...though he still couldn't figure out what it was. "Thank you."

The princess managed a smile and pecked Luke on the cheek. "Rest up, now. We need our best pilot back."

Luke's cheeks colored. He knew Leia had picked Han. That crush that had begun with that holograph years before seemed so silly now. He couldn't help feeling self-conscious, and just a little guilty. "You...better go."

Leia nodded and headed for the door. At the last minute she paused, one final question dancing at the corner of her mind. "Luke...did Vader...ah, did your...father...tell you anything else that might be important?"

"Not to the Alliance, but to me; he told me about my mother. Not much...I think it's too painful for him, but at least I know her name." There was closure in his eyes that had been missing before.

"What was it?" Leia asked softly.

"Padme. Her name was Padme Amidala," said Luke with a wistful smile. "She was a queen, then a senator from-"

"From Naboo?" Leia broke in, reeling as if someone had punched her in the sternum. Padme Amidala was mymother...my real mother...Bail and Breha told me when I was small. She felt the blood drain from her face as the facts began stacking against her. She and Luke were the same age. They even shared a birthday. Before they had thought it a funny coincidence.

"Leia?" Luke's brows rose as he got to his feet. "Did you know her?" His voice rose hopefully.

Leia shook her head. Mother died when I was born...when wewere born- "My father...Bail, he knew her. They were friends in the Senate."

Luke's smile quickly faded. "What's wrong?"

Tell him! Tell him you're his sister! Imagine how happy he'll be. Leia shook her head against it and tears stung her eyes. "I...nothing, I...I just don't feel well." That was true enough. Her stomach was twisting in knots. Slowly she backed toward the door.

Luke's face fell. "Oh. I'm sorry. Is it Anakin-"

"No!" Leia's voice was sharper than intended, and she backed against the wall. "No, Luke...I told you, it doesn't matter who your father is." Who ourfather is… "It doesn't change who you are. I just...I have to go. If I caught some sort of bug, I don't want you catching it." That was a feeble excuse and she knew it, but the need to leave was pressing. "Take care of yourself..." and with that, she ducked out the door. Once it closed, she was running, trying to outpace the terrible news.

"Anakin Skywalker?" Admiral Ackbar said with wide eyes. "Are you certain?"

Both Madine and Leia gave slow nods. The entire Alliance Council had convened to listen to Luke and Vader's stories. To Leia's dismay, they lined up perfectly, albeit from different points of view. While Madine was fascinated with the possibility that Vader was telling the truth, Leia was concerned about Luke and what this news meant for him.

"My word. The rumor was that he died during the attack on the Jedi Temple...but only weeks later, the Emperor introduced his new right hand. Darth Vader. I doubt few ever put the pieces together. Skywalker- the elder -was a very unorthodox but revered Jedi. No one could have believed that he, of all the Jedi, would be the one to betray the rest..." Slowly Mon Mothma shook her head.

"Isn't there any chance he could be lying?" frowned Leia.

"It's always possible, but somehow I doubt it," shrugged Madine. "I've already run a full analysis on the recording. There's nothing in his voice, body language, speech patterns, or even vital signs that indicates deception. We can't see his face, of course, but...it would explain their stories. The only way to be sure is to run a DNA test."

"That might be a good idea," remarked General Rieekan. "If nothing else, to provide a benchmark in establishing his reliability."

"Telling the truth once doesn't mean we can trust him with anything else," Leia pointed out. "What about the other information he's given us? Is there any way to verify that?"

"Without a thorough investigation of each one, I'm afraid not," said Mon Mothma regretfully. "None of which we have the resources for at the moment."

"So we're back to where we started," sighed Leia, slouching in her seat.

Rieekan tilted his head to one side. "Not necessarily, Princess. If even one of these claims turned out to be true, it could be the turning point for the Rebellion. I feel we should investigate as soon as we can."

Ackbar nodded. "Agreed. Shall we begin with the simplest and carry out the DNA test?"

Mon Mothma shrugged. "I've no objections. However, I do believe that whatever the outcome- apart from telling Commander Skywalker- those results are not to leave this room. Commander Skywalker has a right to his privacy."

The others nodded. No need to get everyone into a tizzy because of DNA.

"Well, then. As there are no objections, I suggest we proceed with the test. And," Madine added, throwing a cautious glance to Leia, "perhaps improving our treatment of the prisoner?"

Leia avoided his gaze and nodded. "Very well. Send word to the medic to increase the dose of painkillers."

"Good. Council adjourned, then."

As the Alliance members rose and began to scatter, Mon Mothma approached Leia, who sat dejectedly in her seat. She didn't want to lay anything else on the young woman's mind, but something had been pressing at hers for hours. "Leia? Are you all right?"

I'm not that obvious, am I? Leia lifted her head. "Yes. I'm fine, just..." she shook her head. "Information overload."

Mon Mothma cringed. "Hmm. In that case, I'll not bother you with anything else tonight."

Leia frowned. It wasn't like Mon Mothma to put things off until tomorrow. "What do you mean?"

The older woman forced a smile and shrugged. "Well, it may be nothing...seeing you tonight, you remind me very much of your mother."

Leia closed her eyes. Please. Nothing more about family tonight. "No...I don't think I'm anything like Breha. She was so quiet and retiring; she hated having attention on her and was more than happy to leave the politics to Bail. Always so cautious. Me, on the other hand...I jump right in, sometimes into opee-infested waters." She gave a wry smile.

Mon Mothma smiled distantly. "I was speaking of your biological mother. Padme. She was just as passionate and dedicated as you are to justice and equality."

The glowing description did nothing to ease Leia's worries. What about my father? Who was he? Perhaps it was better not to know. All Leia wanted at the moment was run straight down to the hangar and lose herself in Han's arms. That would ease the terrible weight upon her heart, if only for a little while.