Chapter 10- Welcome Party and Mistrust
"There. See? Nothing to worry about," Solo said a little too cocky for Talon's Force sensibilities. Chewbacca barked and they all looked in the direction he pointed. a crowd of people stood on the landing crater. Talon stretched out with the Force and didn't sense any ill will. "Hurry it up, Luke," Han ordered the younger man.
"Right," Luke said a little breathlessly and Leia, Talon, Lena, and Cora joined him.
Lena and Leia took in Luke's white dress uniform as he put on his utility belt with his blaster, some blaster cartridges, and his lightsaber. Talon and Lena were hiding theirs, but it was what wasn't spoken that spoke volumes in Luke's behavior. He didn't want to hide his Jedi status. "Good enough?" Luke asked Leia.
"I guess that's how a Jedi ought to dress," Leia said, her voice full of doubt. I wish you looked older, the thought slipped out through the Force to Talon from Solo. They all turned to look at him.
Han shrugged once he realized that everyone there heard that thought through the Force. "What does it matter what he thinks?" Leia asked.
"You look splendid, Master Luke. General Solo, you're rather untidy. Don't you think it would minimize our danger if-" Threepio started to say.
"Chewie, you want to stay on board?" Solo asked, interrupting the protocol droid. Given the track record of the Empire, it was probably a good idea that Chewbacca came as most of the Imperials Talon knew distrusted non-humans. Chewbacca was a good representative of the Rebel Alliance and Talon, being one of the leaders, had no objections to Chewbacca coming along; but only if he wanted to come. Talon wouldn't make him. Chewbacca roared, agreeing to come along.
"Okay. Guess we could use one more pair of eyes. Everybody look sharp," Solo warned as he put on his blaster.
"All right. Here we go," Luke said and they all disembarked. Talon holding Cora's small hand in his right hand and holding Lena's hand in his left. Leia was on Lena's other side and Luke was on the other side of Leia. Talon breathed deeply. It smelled dewy and fresh. It reminded Talon of the forest on Yavin IV or Naboo. It was then they all noticed the gravelly surface they had landed on. The rock was white and had a thin layer of gray rock dust. The surface crunched under their feet as they made their way to what looked like Imperial stormtroopers.
"Ooh. All the pretty white armor," Solo said snarkily.
"Cut it out. Me and Uncle Cail are wearing white too," Leia hissed. Leia had a good point. Bail had said as senators, they had to wear white and it was the color of the royal family on Alderaan. So every time Talon went out as the prince or went into the senate chambers on Coruscant, he wore white royal robes.
Talon's eyes then went to the man in the middle of the group and an instant dislike filled him. This was Governor Nereus. The man looked pompous as he towered over nearly everyone. He had dark hair with heavy-looking features. But he also looked like a moff; the Empire's thug who bullied everyone in the star systems. "Princess Leia and Prince Cail of Alderaan. It is an honor to serve you," Nereus said, giving courtly bows to both Talon and Leia.
"Governor Nereus. It is our honor to be here," Talon said, returning the bow with one of his own.
"In the name of the emperor, welcome to Bakura," Nereus said.
"Thank you for your welcome. You may think me or my uncle terribly rude to correct your kind words, but it's no longer valid to welcome us in Emperor Palpatine's name. Emperor Palpatine died several days ago," Leia said, trying to maintain a measure of politeness in her voice.
Nereus raised an eyebrow and clasped his hands behind his back. "My dear Princess, have you come to Bakura spreading rumors and lies?" Nereus asked.
"It gets better, Your Excellency. He was killed by his apprentice, Darth Vader," Leia said, the gloat in her voice not lost on Talon.
"Vader. Vader. His Imperial Majesty should never have trusted a Sith lord. I was prepared to disbelieve you, Your Highness. But Vader as an assassin, I believe," Nereus said with barely disguised contempt and disdain.
"Lord Vader is dead as well, Your Excellency," Leia said. Talon looked at her briefly along with Luke and Lena. They all wanted her to admit that Vader had reverted back to Anakin Skywalker in the end, but Leia didn't believe that ten minutes of remorse didn't redeem anyone of all the years he had hurt millions of innocents. She had said as much to Talon when Lena and Luke had told her what had happened. Talon disagreed, but Leia was too stubborn to see that Anakin had come back and that Talon had seen it with his own eyes when he saved Lena from the Force lightning.
The welcome party turned to whisper to each other. "Governor, may I present me and my uncle's escorts first, General Solo. His co-pilot Chewbacca of Kashyyyk. my cousin Princess Cora Organa, my uncle's youngest daughter. Lena Skywalker of Alderaan, Jedi knight and her twin brother, Commander Skywalker of Tatooine, also a Jedi knight," Leia said, making all the introductions.
When Luke and Lena bowed, Nereus's lip curled unpleasantly as he bowed. "Jedi. We'll have to watch ourselves," the man said, his voice dripping with barely concealed malice.
"Yes, Excellency. We mean to reestablish the Old Republic, including the Order of Jedi knights. Commander Skywalker, his sister, and my uncle are heads of the order," Leia said.
"Commander Skywalker and Lena Skywalker. Ah. Now I recognize the names, Commander. Fortunately for you and your sister, Bakura has a good trade balance. You might now for some years there has been a...an astronomical reward offered for your captures. Alive only. That must be something of a distinction among rebel forces," Nereus said, his voice oily and a little too smooth for Talon's liking. Talon gripped Lena's hand tightly.
"We're aware," Lena said quietly.
"And I see two droids. They'll have to be equipped with restraining bolts for the duration of their stay on Bakura," Nereus said as if Lena hadn't said anything.
"We'll see to it. Governor, Alliance forces intercepted your call for assistance. The Imperial Fleet is no longer a presence in this part of the galaxy. We are here to assist you in repelling the invaders. Once that is accomplished, we will leave you. Bakura must choose its own destiny. We will not impose ours upon your...on the Bakuran people," Talon said, correcting himself and layering his voice with the Force. Hopefully the Force would convince the man that he needed their help. Nereus gave a tight smile that looked forced as if he really hated that he had to accept help from the Rebellion and Jedi knights.
