Leia made the pre-arranged speech,
showing through her tone and gestures that she was sincere. "We agree with
you Your Highness." The crowd intoned in one voice.
Leia gave them all a grateful smile.
"Great, because now I need to ask you all a favor. We should now take
over, or at least go and assist in the building, development and settlement of
our new planet. But, if we all go at once there will be a rush, so we need to
have groups go to our new planet, and aid in settling it."
"I volunteer for the first
group." One young man, said out of the crowd.
"Thank you, Sercent, can you
pilot a ship?"
"Yes, very well, your
highness."
"Good, because then I assign
you to pilot the first shuttle ship, when will you be ready to leave."
"At your convienience, I am
single and have no other attachments, but service to Alderaan and felow
Alderaanians."
"Admirable sentiments,
Sercent." Leia said, focusing her smile on him for a moment.
"Any one else, whose stuff is
on the first shuttle ship?"
Leia chose 10 others, they decided
to depart later that day. "All right, now, we also need a building
advisory committee, and a settlement advisory committee. The former should be
people with construction experience."
"Your highness, I was the head
of the Aldera Construction Committee, and would like to offer my
expertise."
"Thank
you." This way, 7 other Alderaanians volunteered.
"Leia, you were cut out for
this type of work." Han said, back at Luke's apartment.
"Thanks, Luke pull up the
direct interface, again, so we can see whose houses are ready, and whose
aren't."
Luke did
"Wow." Leia said, "I
am glad to see I won't have to pull anyone from the first transport, everyone
who is going's houses and businesses are finished."
"I should probably go on the
second transport." Leia said.
"Why the second." Rogue
asked.
"I don't want
to seem like a watchdog, at the same time the castle should be set up as well,
and I can get the committee's ready as well so I don't have to do
everything."
Han whistled, "well you certainly think ahead, but in all of this busy
schedule can you find some time for u and I to have dinner at my place."
Leia pretended to think about it, "Hmm. I think I can make time in my
EXTREMELY busy schedule."
"Good," Han said,
"Leia, meet me at my place tonight at 1800 hrs."
The next few days passed pretty
uneventfully. Leia was busy organizing the schedules of the development of the
planet that would serve as the New Alderaan, but she always found time to be
with her brother and Han. They all grew closer and closer. "Luke,"
Leia said, "do you think the time has come for me to ask the council to
let me marry Han." Leia asked one night, as she and Luke lay watching the
starry night.
"Leia, ask yourself, and i
think you will come to the same conclusion I have....wait until after the
coronation, and the date is nearing, Dathomir is almost ready, businesses are
starting up, again, we are going tomorrow to set up the palace again. Patience,
or you will destroy everything."
Leia sighed, she knew Luke was
right, "It is too bad Han can't come with us to set up Dathomir."
"Yes, but his assignment is
also important, Admiral Ackbar HAS promised to lighten up his schedule a little
bit so he can be here for the coronation, and be posted nearer to New Alderaan,
so I think you've got a fair trade off."
"Luke, why do you have to be so
sensible and perfect all the time, tell me." Leia asked, with mock
exasperation.
"Familial trait." Luke
shot back.
"Oh, really." Senta said,
walking up, "fighting already. I thought not having siblings would cause
it to be so that when u do have siblings you don't fight."
The next day Leia boarded Luke's
ship, accompanied by her honor guard, to go to Dathomir. They had decided, in
committee to address it by that name until it was fully developed. When they
reached Dathomir Leia drew in a breath. "Oh, Luke, it looks SOOOO much
like Alderaan." She breathed.
"All the construction work is
finished." Binns said, coming and greeting Leia and Luke.
"Thank you SOOO much."
Leia said, looking Binns in the eye.
"It was our pleasure."
Binns said.
Leia and Luke went to the Palace.
Leia took her stuff and set up the throne room, the other House Organa members,
who had come with the shuttle, helped. With all the help it took 2 days, only,
to set up the whole palace, and plant the gardens, etc. By that time everyone
else had also finished settling there homes, and offices. So, Leia, declared
the next day to be the official naming of the planet. From Dathomir to New
Alderaan, that would also be the day all businesses officially started under
the Alderaanian name. Leia declared it a holiday, the rebirth of Alderaan.
"Luke," Leia said, early
the next day, "I can't believe this day has finally arrived. I can't
believe the Alderaanians are finally together again."
Luke, who was standing on the
balcony of the palace with her, just put his arm around her. "Leia, you
look beautiful." Rogue said, coming out.
"Yes, she is right." Luke
said, looking at Leia's outfit and hairstyle.
"Aah, look people have already
started gathering." Senta said, "You really have proven yourself
worthy of there respect."
"Its time for me to fade into
the background." Luke said.
Leia made a decision, "No,
Luke," Leia said, grabbing his arm," you are my brother. You also
shall stand here, with Aunts Rogue, Tia, and Rainier, and my uncles and
cousins. You also are part of my family as are they."
"All right." Luke said, slightly reluctant, but
realizing there was no point in arguing.
Two minutes later, the speech started. "PEOPLE OF ALDERAAN." Leia
said, amongst cheering, "this day brings me great pride. We, and the fact
that we are all here today, together proves an old saying-EVIL CAN NEVER WIN.
The Evil Galactic Empire, aided by Grand Moff Tarkin tried to kill all
Alderaanians, and peaceful Alderaan, and Alderaanian spirt, but did he
succeed."
"NOOOOOO." The crowd
cried.
"Instead what happened? His
weapon of death rebounded on him, and he was the one destroyed, with his weapon
of death. Alderaan, lives once more, the planet and 5 Alderaanians died because
of this weapon of death. But we shall rebuild our culture and society. We thank
the planet we currently reside on, for giving us this chance. We thank the
Force, and the Almighty for this chance. We shall not let you down, we shall
take this opportunity and continue Alderaan."
"We shall continue the
Alderaanian way." The crowd chanted.
Leia gave them one of her smiles,
"Well, citizens of Alderaan, this has been our victory, and it shall
continue to be. LONG LIVE NEW ALDERAAN AND ALL ALDERAANIANS."
"Long Live Alderaan and all
Alderaanians." the crowd chanted.
Leia gave them another smile and said,
"Well, we must also thank some people for gracing us with their presence,
Mon Mothma, Chief of State of the New Republic." Mon Mothma, who had been
standing next to Rogue, bowed. "Admiral Ackbar commander of the
Fleet." He bowed, "General Crix Madine," he bowed, "and all
of you."
"It is my wish to see Alderaan
prosper, and this be a lesson that EVIL NEVER TRIUMPHS. Cruelty to others is
NEVER the way." Leia, then bowed her head, "Let us observe a moment
of silence for guidance from the spirits of the planet Alderaan, the 5 who died
with the planet, the almighty, and the Force."
Everyone in the crowd bowed there
heads. 5 minutes later, Leia said the words of an Alderaanian prayer to bring
an end to the moment of silence, "Alet, Monet, sogathan kartan hain. (Now
we end this solemn moment with a hope of a happy continuation.)
"Arem (So be it)." The
crowd rumbled.
"Now we have the guidance of
those Great's, nothing can stop us." Leia raised her hand, signifying an
end to the speech.
The crowd dispersed. "Leia, you were great." Luke
said, giving her arm a squeeze.
"Thanks, Luke." Leia said, throwing him a smile, "I wonder if
Han saw it, wherever he was."
"I am sure he did, your
highness." Admiral Ackbar said, in his gravely voice.
"Well, Princess Leia, you have
your mother's oration skills." Mon Mothma said.
"Liar." Amidala said,
appearing, "I never was that good at oration."
"Another thing, mother daughter
have in common selling themselves short." Mon Mothma said.
"Its a trait you learnt in the
Old Republic senate." Ami tossed back, "from certain senatorial
leaders."
"You still have it." Mon
Mothma said, wryly.
"Have what." Luke asked.
"Amidala still has her ability
to debate herself out of a corner, most people couldn't do what she just
did." Mon Mothma answered.
"Leia, your speech was excellent,
you would be great in the Senate, or whatever you are calling it, as a
peacemaker. Which is good news for the Republic." Amidala said.
"Yes, it is." Mon Mothma
said.
"Hey, Mon Mothma, there are a
few things we need to discuss, so join me on your ship. I'll talk to you later,
Leia and Luke." Amidala said.
"I will fade away." Mon
Mothma said, heading to her ship.
"Leia, you were GREAT."
Saty said. "I just went and looked at the media clips, you don't look
arrogant, concieted, or vain, things that are very easy to do, you also don't
look like a pushover. You look like...well, you look like a strong-minded
person who loves her planet."
"A great PR move, as
well." Jeanie said.
"Thanks, hey, did we ever find
out when the people have planned the coronation."
"Leia, don't you know, another
tradition is that not much planning should be allowed, so others will know, but
will be forbidden to tell you. 2 hours before the coronation is scheduled
Threkin shall come and say, your highness the coronation is set to begin in two
hours." Rainier said.
Leia made a face. Little did she
know, but the coronation was scheduled for that night. "Jedi Skywalker,
may I have a word." Jennetha, A respected member of the Alderaanian
council called.
Luke walked over. "The
coronation is set for tonight, I don't know if you know the tradition, but you
may not tell Her Highness, see the saying goes that she shouldn't have time to
prepare for the tests."
"On a Jedi oath, I won't tell
Leia." Luke said.
"Another thing, we have
decided, in the council, if you will agree, to have you bind the crown with
your force power as well, and help put it on Her Highness, to symbolize the
fact that you are there for her backing her in her role as Queen."
"Yes, I will do that, except
binding the crown with the force? Do u want it to be temporary, or just a
little showmanship, because I will have to keep the binding up, its not one of
those things where u touch it and the binding stays."
"Oh, well, then leave that
part, just help us put it on her, and say a line to her, we don't want to
dictate to you what that line should be, as another thing about this ceremony
is that every part of it has to come from the heart."
"The Alderaanian society is very
advanced in that type of thinking." Luke said, bowing.
Then he and the council member bowed
to each other, and Luke went back over to Leia. "I won't ask what that was
about." Leia said.
"Good, don't because I can't
answer your question, even if you posed it to me."
Just then a familiar ship landed on
the spaceport nearest to them. "HAN...and the FALCON." Leia said,
delighted.
"Well, looks like he made it, a
little after your speech, but he made it." Luke said, as he and Leia
jogged over.
"Hey, your worshipfullness."
Han said, his roguish smile lighting up his entire face.
"Well. This is great. Everyone
is ignoring me." Luke said.
"Oh, the kid is pouting, Hello
Luke."
"Hey, Han." Luke said,
cracking a smile.
Luke felt most comfortable in this
group-Leia, himself, and Han. The S.O.S group, it fit too, they usually were in
trouble- so SOS, but it also stood for Skywalker Organa Solo. "Oh dear me,
here comes the Alderaanian media." Leia murmured.
"Good, kid, switch places with me so I am next to you, not Leia, so they can't start making assumptions." Han said.
"Your highness, we at the
Alderaanian media station Your Holovid would like to congratulate you on a
great speech, but would also like to ask you a few questions if you have the
time."
"Thank you, Your HV, and sure,
go ahead with your questions."
"Your highness, when you
mentioned Grand Moff Tarkin your face, froze up a little, why was that."
"I was trying to get my anger
at the man under control." Leia answered, honestly.
"Is it true that you are
force-capable."
"Yes it is."
"Are you training as a
Jedi."