Chapter 13- Alderaan Destroyed and Lessons
Vader and two guards escorted Leia Organa to the observation room where Tarkin stood in front of the window, Alderaan in front of him. Tarkin turned as they entered. "Governor Tarkin. I should have expected to find you holding Vader's leash. I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board," Princess Leia said haughtily. Vader found himself smirking. Now that he knew that she and his daughter were part of the Rebellion, there was really no point for her to keep up pretenses. Vader didn't really like Tarkin either, but Leia could get away with insulting the man. Vader couldn't. Tarkin grinned a lukewarm smile.
"Charming to the last. You don't know how hard I found it signing the order to terminate your life," Tarkin said, grabbing Leia's chin. Leia pulled free.
"I'm surprised you had the courage to take the responsibility yourself," Leia said in a biting tone.
"Princess Leia, before your execution I would like you to be my guest at a ceremony that would make this battle station operational. No star system would dare oppose the emperor now," Tarkin said in a tone that made Vader roll his eyes under the helmet.
"The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers. My Jedi uncle and cousins will see to that," Leia said in a condescending tone that Vader found surprising. So besides Lena and Talon Orran, the other cousins were Jedi as well?
"Not after we demonstrate the power of this station. In a way, you have determined the choice of the planet that will be destroyed first. Since you are reluctant to provide us with the location of the rebel base I have chosen to test this station's destructive power on your home planet of Alderaan," Tarkin said, taking even Vader by surprise. He was really going to slaughter an entire planet? Vader had thought he was bluffing.
"No! Alderaan is peaceful. We have no weapons. You can't possibly-" Leia started to protest, her haughty manner gone.
"You would prefer another target? A military target? Then name the system," a few moments of silence filled the observation room before Tarkin backed her into Vader. "I grow tired of asking this. so it will be the last time. Where is the rebel base?" Tarkin asked venomously.
Leia looked out the window at Alderaan and lowered her head. "Dantooine. They're on Dantooine," Leia said in a low, defeated voice. Vader couldn't believe it would be that easy. Dantooine was out of the way and remote, but apparently Tarkin bought it.
"There. You see, Lord Vader? She can be reasonable. Continue with the operation. You may fire when ready," Tarkin said to another soldier in the room. Leia's head shot up sharply.
"What?" She screeched as surprised as Vader. Vader didn't think that Tarkin would continue and destroy Alderaan as soon as he got the location. The only bright side was that Lena wouldn't be on the planet.
"You're far too trusting. Dantooine is too remote to make an effective demonstration, but don't worry. We will deal with your rebel friends soon enough," Tarkin said smugly.
"No!" Leia protested, lunging forward. Vader gripped her shoulders. It was too late for Alderaan for her to save it. Vader felt like he did the day he turned to the dark side and he cried when he slaughtered the Jedi younglings and Nute Gunray. It had to be done, but that didn't mean Vader liked to kill. Vader watched with Leia as a green beam shot out and completely destroyed the planet.
On Yavin IV Talon Orran dropped the spanner in his hand as a wave of pure anguish washed over him. Something had to have happened and to someone close to him. "Your Highness!" Winter, Leia's aide came rushing in, her face flushed and tears streaming down her face.
"What is it, Winter?" Talon gripped her arms. Cora sidled up to him and clutched his pant leg.
"It's Alderaan! We just got the news. Alderaan has just been destroyed," Winter said, fresh tears, slipping down her face.
Talon felt his stomach lurch and the tears came to his face. Bail had gone to Alderaan and Breha, Cena, and the boys were still there unless Cena had gotten off in time. She had talked of going to visit her family on Naboo, but hopefully Lena and Leia hadn't returned yet.
On the Millennium Falcon Leia felt a surge in the Force in the middle of Luke practicing with their father's lightsaber. Judging from Obi-Wan's face and how he touched his chest he had felt it too. Luke deactivated the blade and looked at them with concern. "Are you both all right? What's wrong?" Luke asked as he came over to where they were sitting.
"Luke, we felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened. You'd better get on with your exercises. Me and Obi-Wan will be all right," Lena said, squeezing her eyes so the tears wouldn't fall.
Luke went back to the remote as Han came out of the cockpit. "Well, you can forget your troubles with those imperial slugs. I told you I'd outrun 'em. Don't everybody thank me at once. Any way we should be at Alderaan at 0200 hours," han said when he didn't get a response.
Lena's eyes went to the holographic game of chess that Chewbacca and Artoo was playing. "Now be careful, Artoo," Threepio warned. Artoo applied a larger animal than what the wookie had applied, which promptly crushed Chewbacca's animal. Chewbacca roared in anger. "He made a fair move. Screaming about it can't help you," Threepio chided.
"Let him have it. It's not wise to upset a wookie," Han said.
"But, sir, nobody worries about upsetting a droid," Threepio said.
"That's 'cause a droid don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookies are known to do that," Han said dryly. Lena looked at Chewbacca who looked proud of himself as he placed his hairy arms behind his head. He must have pulled people's arms out quite often and apparently Threepio could see that too.
"I see your point, Sir. I suggest a new strategy, Artoo. Let the wookie win," Threepio said. Lena looked back to Luke who was watching the remote as it shot and moved.
"Remember, a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through him or her," Obi-Wan said.
"You mean it controls your actions?" Luke asked, keeping his eyes on the remote.
"Partially, but it also obeys your commands," Lena said as Luke then got zapped in the leg. Han laughed as Luke gave a sharp hiss of pain.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid," Han said. Luke deactivated his lightsaber.
"You don't believe in the Force, do you?" Luke asked reproachfully.
"Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field controls my destiny. It's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense," Han said. Lena and Obi-Wan looked at each other and grinned. Lena then stood with a blast helmet in her hands.
"I suggest you try it again, brother. This time, let go of your conscious self and act on instinct," Lena said, putting the helmet with the shield down over her brother's eyes.
With the blast shield down, I can't even see. How am I supposed to fight?" Luke asked with a laugh.
"Your eyes can deceive you. Don't trust them," Obi-Wan said.
"Stretch out with your feelings," Lena said as a bolt went wild. Luke raised his lightsaber and blocked three bolts.
"You see? You can do it," Obi-Wan said proudly.
"I call it luck," Han said.
"In our experience, there's no such thing as luck," Lena scoffed flatly.
"Look, good against remotes is one thing. Good against the living that's something else," Han said with a smile as a console beeped. Looks like we're coming up on Alderaan," Han said, getting out of his seat and walking to the cockpit.
"You know, I did feel something. I could almost see the remote," Luke said to Obi-Wan and Lena as Han and Chewbacca walked out.
"That's good. You've taken your first step into a larger world," Obi-Wan said, touching Luke's shoulder gently.
"Yes. When we get to Alderaan, my father can also give you other exercises. That with the blast shield we used for my five-year-old sister Cora," Lena said as they walked to the cockpit.