An Echo of Things Which Were
Chapter 1 - Echo
Summary:
In his (malicious scheming) magnanimous generosity, the Emperor has decided to (hold hostage) foster in the offspring of (his fiercest opponents) the galaxy's leaders (to keep his enemies in line) in a bid for greater understanding and cooperation among the denizens of the Empire.
It's an (order) invitation Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan cannot refuse.
Fortunately, the Force has plans of its own. Including an unlikely friendship between Princess and Spy.
A Star Wars Legends AU.
Chapter Summary:
Princess Leia Organa is incredibly lonely. Unable to trust anyone or anything during her time on Imperial Center, Leia finds solace on the balcony of her room—the only place she can talk without being surveilled. Or, so she thought.
Written for Writer's Month – Day 10: Echo
Author's Note:
This is my first time writing Star Wars. And, wow, I was intimidated by the idea. Star Wars has meant a lot to me over the years—it was the first fandom I loved for my own sake, the (now Legends) books were my companion through middle school and high school, and a fandom I keep coming back to like an old friend. The idea of writing SW fanfic felt a bit overwhelming. Could I do my love of this fandom justice?
Writing during a month long daily challenge left me with not a lot of time to fret over my story. It also kept me from falling too deep into the research rabbit hole. So, I may have slipped with some details.
I hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading. ~rose
"Hello." Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan stood on the balcony of her room on Imperial Center and called out into the night.
The artificial valleys caught her voice and echoed back the greeting, "hello….hello….hello…"
With a sigh, Leia sagged against the railing and stared out across the valley towards the building across the way. It might as well be on another planet for all she was allowed to venture out. For a planet of trillions, Leia felt incredibly alone. As a general rule, she couldn't trust anyone. Even if she did find someone she could trust, there was no way she could be certain there wasn't someone or something eavesdropping on their conversations. She'd found at least three bugs in her room, there was no telling how many more listening devices might remain undetected.
Oddly enough, the balcony was one of the only places she felt safe. The airspace around the Imperial Palace was a no fly zone—unless you were the Emperor or Lord Vader. When they passed by, they never lingered long enough to listen in on whispered conversations. As for the palace, no was permitted to the building without a special access pass. Those who possessed such a pass didn't tend to spend much time outside, unless they were touring the pleasure gardens and those were located on the interior of the palace. She credited the safety of the balcony to the pique of paranoia a few years ago. The outside of the building was covered in anti-surveillance devices and a reflective substance cover the transparisteel windows. It meant no one from the outside could eavesdrop on the Emperor nor could a sniper target him for assassination, but it also meant the Empire's bugs didn't work outside the building.
So, Leia spent the majority evenings on the balcony talking to herself. At least when her echo responded she could pretend for a few moments that she wasn't so achingly alone.
Six months ago, her world had been turned upside down. Grand Moff Tarkin had personally delivered the official (order) invitation for her to reside at the Imperial Center as a (hostage) fosterling. On the surface it was offer to build unity and better understanding between the offspring of the galaxy's leaders, but the truth was more insidious. The group of children selected for this oh-so-altruistic fosterage were related to the Empire's most critical opponents. Before arriving here, Leia hadn't know most of the other children personally, though she recognized them by name. Unlike herself, most of the others didn't have a clue what their relations were up to. For instance, Mon Mothma's nephew was among the other foster children. He was five years younger than Leia and clearly had no idea about his aunt's dealings.
The children spent their days (being indoctrinated with Imperial propaganda) going to school, but schooling or making connections had never been the true intent for the fostering. They were hostages—a bargaining piece to keep their parents and relations in line. One wrong word, one misinterpreted motivation, from back home and any of her classmates could suffer a fatal accident. It also worked in reverse to keep the children compliant. If they slipped up, their family or planets could likewise suffer from an untimely accident.
Only on her solitary perch could Leia give way to her feelings. All other times she had to remain strong. Small defiances and small victories. She needed to remain strong for her parents sake. For her planet. For the whole galaxy. Someday she'd be able to make her move, though for now she must bide her time.
But, she was not made of stone. She couldn't always be strong, so Leia allowed herself this one indulgence. Tears dripped down her cheeks. She bit her knuckles in an attempt to stifle her sobs. It wasn't fair. Her heart hurt with a livid, visceral loneliness. Leia missed Alderaan. She missed her mom and dad. She missed best friend, Winter. She missed the forests and garden paths. She missed being able to speak her mind without fear. She missed her freedom.
Her smothered tears and hiccuping breath echoed back to her on the wind. This time it did not soothe her pain.
—
Another night, another lonely vigil. It had been nearly a week since the last time she sought her refuge on the balcony. Coruscant's frequent rainstorms had been particularity violent over the last week and on the nights it did not storm, there had been scheduled activities she didn't dare skip.
Leia was thankful for the clear evening. Or, at least as clear as evenings ever got on Imperial Center. The light pollution emitted by the planetwide city gave the sky an eternal gloom and blocked all but the brightest stars from shining through. In fact, the few lights she managed to spy were more likely than not the Golan Defense Platforms than actual stars. Occasionally she imagined she caught a glimpse of the true stars when gaps appeared in the planetary shield to permit the arrival or departure of various ships.
How she wished she could be on one of those departing ships.
Shaking her head, Leia squared her shoulders and gazed out into the night. She wasn't going to waste what little privacy she had feeling sorry for herself.
"Hello," she called out into the night.
"hello…hello…"
"Hello…"
Leia blinked. Her echo had changed. Instead of the diminishing response she expected, the echo had replied back in a voice all its own. No, that wasn't how echoes worked.
Was she going mad? Was her brain playing tricks on her? No. Unlikely as it seemed, Leia swore she could almost feel the presence of another nearby.
"Is someone there?" Leia held her breath, not daring to make another sound. Anxiety clawed and twisted in her stomach at the thought of someone listening to her private confessions. What little secrets had she uttered out here when she thought she was alone? Had she unintentionally doomed her parents? Her planet?
"Yes." The voice was soft. It caught at the edge of her thoughts like a hum. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone. I come out here to be alone too."
Leia swallowed back her trepidation. She was a princess of Alderaan. It was up to her to face this head on like she did every trial. "Have you been out here long?"
"Tonight, no. But, I've heard you coming out here since your arrival on planet." There was a note of challenge in the voice. As though she was daring Leia to deny her the right to also find refuge out here.
"Why didn't you say anything before?" Leia stared up at the balcony above her. A long red-gold braid hung over the edge. She suspected her companion was lying on deck of the balcony.
"I felt that you…," the girl hesitated. "It seemed like you wanted to be alone. I didn't want to intrude."
"What changed your mind?"
"The last time you were out here, you seemed so sad. I could sense your loneliness." The girl's voice grew quiet as she spoke until Leia needed to strain to hear. "I know that feeling. I feel the same way."
Though she'd never heard the girl's voice before, Leia felt a kinship with her. Maybe she didn't need to be alone. Not anymore. "Thank you for talking to me tonight."
"You're from Alderaan, aren't you?" The girl asked out of the blue.
Leia inhaled sharply. "Wh-Why do you say that?"
"Your dialect. When you speak, you sound like an Alderaanian noble." She spoke like she was reciting a lesson of little interest. "There's only one person from Alderaan on your floor, which means you must be Prin—"
"No!" Leia cut her off. There was no point of hiding her identity from the girl, but she still didn't want her name said aloud.
"Then what should I call you?"
"Lelia," Leia blurted out her childhood nickname. It was still close to her real name, but it was the only thing she could come up with on short notice. "What should I call you?"
"My name doesn't matter. I'm nobody. A shadow." A trace of melancholy echoed in her words.
The other girl was not one of the students in her classes, so she couldn't guess at her actual name. But, it they were going to continue conversing, Leia couldn't imagine continuing to call her companion 'the girl.' She needed to call her something.
"Of course you matter. You need a name. Let's see…Shadow?" She pondered the the options for a moment. "No, that's not right. How about Echo?"
"Echo," she repeated. A silence fell between them, hanging in the space between them like a held breath. "I like it. Thank you."
"Where are you…" A trilling chrono interrupted Leila's questions. Above her, the scramble of feet and limbs scraped against the balcony floor.
"I'm sorry. I have to go. Bye." Echo's voice was cut off before she finished the final syllable.
"Will we be able to talk again?" Leia called into the dark.
"…again…again…again…." was the only response to fill the silence.