Chapter 35 – Choices
"This is outrageous!" General Seelac exclaimed, face red with anger, as he stood, watching Anto Andorwyn leave the conference room.
The other members of the war council shared his confusion and outrage, all of them looking bewildered and shocked. The representative of the Confederate Zone had declared only a few minutes ago that he had been recalled to Bilbringi and that the Confederate Zone would assume a neutral position toward the conflict ravaging the Unknown Region, until they had resolved on a new course of action.
"I want a line open to Blbringi right now," Mon Mothma added, grim-faced, as she motioned for Seelac to calm himself and take his seat once more. An aide rushed over to establish contact to the Confederate Zone's capital, while the President of the New Republic fixed the remaining councilors one by one. Finally her eyes came to rest on Padmé's face. "I need not remind you that we are to address the Senate in half an hour to give a report on the status of our negotiations," she continued quietly, and Padmé could see how troubled she truly was. Guiltily, she tried to maintain her calm and said nothing.
"I want him with us!" Seelac snarled. "I want him to justify his actions in front of the Senate!"
"We cannot force him," Leia injected quietly, "he enjoys diplomatic immunity." She, too, looked deeply disturbed. But not because she had been surprised by Andorwyn's announcement, Padmé knew, but because she feared what was to come.
"Madam, the channel is secured. We have established contact to Bilbringi," the aide informed them calmly, and Mon Mothma gave her a weary nod.
"Thank you." A moment later Tomas Piett confronted them, pale eyes cold and face impassive.
"Madam President. What can I do for you?" he asked, seemingly undisturbed.
"You could explain why you chose to assume neutrality just days after your representative's arrival here on Coruscant," Mon Mothma began without preamble.
"Precautious measures. Things up here have turned more hostile, and I do not want to risk a two-fronted war. I cannot wait for you to come to an agreement concerning defenses," Piett explained earnestly. "I am sorry."
"But I am certain that Lord Andorwyn sent you the first draft of the plan General Seelac and General Page have drawn up along with Commander Al'than'erudo," Mon Mothma insisted. "Our forces have been on yellow alert ever since the Ryloth affair, and we can move them at any time."
"So I have read," Piett agreed. "But first you will have to submit the plan to the Senate, gain approval and revise the plan once more. It is taking too long. Perhaps a declaration of neutrality can postpone an attack on the Confederate Zone until you are ready to intervene."
"You have been negotiating with the enemy?" It was Telmann Page, his voice pure cold steel. For a moment silence smothered every sound in the conference room.
Then Tomas Piett offered a thin smile. "Our situation, as you know, is highly unfavorable," he told them, his tone betraying no emotion at all. "And yes, the Empire has indeed offered an alliance that I am considering, for now. That I must consider."
"Traitor." The single word, delivered in a hateful hiss, cut through Padmé's heart too, because she knew that it was her, in truth, who had betrayed them all, who had made this happen. She did not dare look at General Seelac, who had uttered that word, and who rightfully believed the former New Republic admiral to finally have returned to his origins. The Empire. "We will bring this before the Senate," Seelac threatened coldly, "and I am very certain that they will not hesitate to condemn your traitorous ways. We have been forced to tolerate the foundation of the Confederate Zone, but we will not let it become an ally of the Empire."
"Enough." Mon Mothma, face pale, held up a hand imploringly. Then her dark eyes again turned on Padmé. "I believe there is much more behind this."
Padmé froze for a moment, then gracefully rose from her seat and nodded. "You are right, Madam President, there is indeed more behind this. President Piett," she addressed the former admiral, "thank you for your time. We will not be bothering you further." With a nod he ended the transmission. Now that every eye was turned on her, Padmé felt better. The games were over, now the battle was on. And she was the only one who could shoulder the responsibility.
"What is the meaning of this?" Seelac demanded, staring at her in astonishment. "You?"
Padmé nodded. "Yes. Me." She raised her head high, favoring each of the attendees with a firm look, one after the other, much like Mon Mothma had just after Andorwyn's spectacular exit. "I know the proceedings of the Galactic Senate intimately, and I have experienced first hand how slowly it will react to an outward threat. Internal squabblings, diverse factions and interests, all that would have elongated the mounting of a suitable defensive front at the borders of the Confederate Zone and New Republic indefinitely. But we cannot afford that time." She took a breath, allowing this to sink in. "My people, the Naboo, were almost annihilated because the Senate was locked in a dispute over trade and constitutional rights. Back then I inadvertedly thought to rebel against the Senate by opposing the leader of the Galactic Republic directly, knowing that I could not make time to court each Senator, each faction, and persuade them to hasten proceedings. I succeeded in resolving the crisis at home, but at the same time I unknowingly assisted tyranny to eventually rise to power." She nodded at the Chief Military Advisor, who had gone very pale. "General Seelac is right. The Senate will approve of your plan once this becomes public, and you will have evaded the grid-lock of bureaucracy. Forgive me," she concluded in a hushed voice. "I saw no other choice."
For a long while there was silence. Then Mon Mothma, her lips pinched in a disgusted grimace, deliberately interlocked her fingers on the table in front of her, visibly calming herself. "Very well. The Senate will be hearing your case, and you will lay open all of the information you have, every plan you have made, for examination."
"No."
"No?"
Padmé nodded to emphasize her point. "I am resigning my post as Senior Analyst of the New Republic."
"That will not save you from impeachment and prosecution," Mon Mothma reminded her. "Please, reconsider. You could help us more by cooperating."
"No. My decision was made weeks ago. Is that not so, Commander?"
Al'than'erudo nodded gravely in aquiesance. "Yes," he agreed and joined her in standing too.
Padmé stole a glance at her daughter, who was staring ahead fixedly, but remained seated. Mon Mothma's jaw dropped. Bewildered, she sought Leia's gaze. "What about you? Will you be joining your mother's side?"
The Princess shook her head and squeezed her eyes close for a moment. When she opened them again she was calm once more. "We all must choose sides in this conflict. I choose for the New Republic."
Padmé smiled proudly, but the President was not finished yet. "This is a conspiracy!" she exclaimed. "You!" She pointed straight at Padmé. "I should have known that you would side with your husband. He has been accumulating power all over the Republic over the past weeks, hasn't he? Just for this! And you have been helping him all along!"
The former queen spread her hands soothingly. "Please, do not be ridiculous. Had he wanted to stage a coup you would never have survived the war," she reasoned.
"Then what is this supposed to accomplish?"
"A stalemate," Padmé explained. "A truce. A beginning."
"What do you mean?" Seelac demanded.
"You may have asked yourselves why no representative of the Empire ever announced his or her arrival. The answer is simple. The Empire has fallen under the rule of the Yuuzhan Vong. Their goal is to drive our alliance apart, by isolating one faction after the other. The Empire was the first, the Confederate Zone is the second. Now they hope to defeat the Chiss and move on to the New Republic. I have spared them that effort."
"But – why?
"Deception. We have been manipulated toward this conflict all the way, now we will use manipulation to end the struggle again. I have been using you, that is true. For that I apologize. But I knew I could not win by force and had no time to try the diplomatic way. So I deceived you. But," and here she held up a hand to make her point clearer, "I chose to reveal the deception in time."
"Once we were trapped!" Seelac protested.
"Yes. But now you know what you will be facing, what choices you have. That is my proposal. A choice. I do not wish to force you to choose against the Republic or for war, but if you do not support us, your standing in the alliance to come will be very weak indeed. You would not want that, neither would I."
"A system of checks and balances within the galaxy, between nations?" Mon Mothma asked laconically. "This is your husband's doing, obviously. So he has finally made his intents plain. But why is he off in the Unknown Regions, and not here, at the crucial front?"
"Because he trusts me," Padmé explained quietly. "You should trust me too. I would never willingly harm the Republic. Which is why I have chose to interfere in the first place. And I hope that I have not misjudged your honesty and integrity. Do not make a public scandal out of this. It would break this new republic apart, as dissent broke the old."
Mon Mothma rose abruptly, shaking her head. "This is too much for now. I must consider this. I suggest we all consider this. But I want to inform the Senate today. Padmé, perhaps you can let me in on a bit more of what you have planned for us on our way to the Senate."
Nodding, the former queen waited until the small assembly was ready to leave. Now came the hardest part, the one she loathed the most. She had no idea what would happen exactly, but the Seeker had warned her that disaster would complement her own strategy. What sort of disaster it had not been able to disclose. Or willing to.
Leia felt tense all over and now regretted that Han had not accompanied her to this meeting after all. But he was not an official member of the council. If it could still be called that. Al'than'erudo had joined Mother willingly, recognizing the validity of her arguments, the noble intent of her actions. Yet he also realized the dangers their actions entailed. Mother had decided to fully follow the Seeker's advice, which, considering the program's origins, was very risky indeed. None of them knew what unpleasantries the late Emperor had sought to achieve through using the finished program. What if it was deceiving them just now?
The Senate, that much was clear, would turn on both for this deception, and only Al'than'erudo was protected by diplomatic immunity. Yet his part in this conspiracy might strain the New Republic's relations to the Chiss immensely. Leia grimaced slightly. Well, they never had had any relations with the Chiss Empire other than with Grand Admiral Thrawn and his troops on Nirauan. And Thrawn was in exile. Had been. She was not sure what his standing would be after this war had ended.
Undoubtedly the New Republic senators would see this entire conspiracy as an encroachment on the republic's liberties, would accuse Mother and Father of cooperating with the Empire with the goal of reestablishing its dominant rule in the galaxy. They would be blinded by outrage and fear, never realizing that this 'conspiracy' was just a means to counter the path laid out for them by Palpatine even before his death. The only way to counter it.
"Leia?"
Looking up, the princess managed a smile. Mother was gazing at her concernedly, but Leia shrugged her own uneasiness off. They still had the meeting with the Senate ahead of them.
"I am all right," she assured Padmé and rose from her seat. "Let's go."
Everyone else was already standing, waiting for her. Mon Mothma, General Seelac and Telmann Page stood a bit apart from the others, making the distinctions even clearer. How she would deal with them Leia did not know yet. But she would deal with them. Definitely.
Taking the lead, the princess strode ahead and out of the meeting room. What they would tell the Senate she did not know, but that was not her task. Mon Mothma would have to decide what she wanted to disclose to the senators at this point. If she kept silent until she had managed to come to terms with the facts they might lose precious time. Still, she might also refuse to act simply to punish Father and the Grand Admiral. But that would be foolish. It was clear to all that they could not let the Yuuzhan Vong invasion force gain a permanent foothold in the New Republic.
Lost in thought, Leia sighed deeply as she rounded a corner and stopped cold at sensing movement up ahead. There was just a flash of something, but she could feel the presence's deadly intent clearly. Whirling around she looked up, where walkways spanned the wide hall that interlinked the Imperial Palace with the Senate Chamber. The white collumns and decorative greenery gave the hall a soothing look, but right now that effect was totally lost on the Minister of State. Al'than'erudo joined her carefully, his glowing eyes supicious.
"What is it?" he asked. Behind him. Mon Mothma and General Seelac had stopped about a meter and a half away from the leading pair, and Mother and Telmann Page had not yet noticed the sudden stop and were closing in on the President and the Chief Military Advisor slowly.
"I felt something," Leia explained, her eyes hunting around the hall, her senses searching. There was nothing.
Suddenly Al'than'erudo inhaled sharply and whirled around toward the president without a word. Startled, Leia noticed the shadow that practically fell from the ceiling only when it landed between the Chiss and Mon Mothma. The commander was unarmed, just like the rest of them, yet he still leapt for the tall humanoid rounding on the shocked president. With breathtaking ease the assailant slapped a powerful arm across the Chiss' chest, sending him flying into the wall to their right. Mother screamed, just as General Seelac valiantly pushed the president back to insert himself between her and the attacker. He too was pushed aside easily. Now the humanoid uncurled something from his right arm, and the snake-like thing straightened into a sharp-bladed sword. Leia's throat tightened when she realized that the thing was alive. There was no doubt in her mind anymore. This was a Yuuzhan Vong assassin. And to think that they had believed themselves safe here on Coruscant!
Telmann Page, more cautious than Seelac, had whipped out his comlink and was talking urgently into the receiver. Meanwhile Mon Mothma, her face deadly pale, retreated before her would-be assassin, who leisurely took up the pursuit. Mother stood rooted in place, a mask of horror frozen on her beautiful features. The Yuuzhan Vong assassin raised his arm high and attacked. Leia heard a 'ping', then another, but she did not know what to make of those strange noises. Mon Mothma screamed, when the slashing weapon tore across her shoulder and clipped her chest and abdomen. She fell in a crumpled heap. Just at that moment a rustle up ahead caught Leia's attention and she threw her head back, eyes wide, to see a familiar figure descend from the ceiling, jet-pack blazing away furiously. Boba Fett had discarded his crossbow for his blaster, firing repeatedly at the Yuuzhan Vong who had only now become aware of the new threat.
Whirling around, he growled something at the bounty-hunter, who seemed fairly unimpressed by the ferocious sound. He let the jet-pack carry him ínto a hovering position that placed him firmly between the assailant and his victim. The Yuuzhan Vong laughed, a horrible, distorted laughter that sent shivers down Leia's spine. Inpertubed, Fett thrust out his right arm and a slim rope shot forth from his wristlet, straight at the alien warrior. With a grunt, the Yuuzhan Vong took the handle of his weapon in both hands and brought his blade around to intercept the rope. But the bounty-hunter deftly used that distraction to rip a broad-bladed knife from his belt and thrust it into the alien's unprotected armpit. The Yuuzhan Vong twisted away, but too late. He only managed to get himself ensnared in the bounty-hunter's intelligent rope, which quickly wrapped him up in a tight package, no matter how fiercely he tried to fend it off. With professional, cold-blooded surety Boba Fett dislodged the rope from his wrist and brought his right arm around to smash it into the Yuuzhan Vong's face. The warrior folded up soundlessly and dropped to the floor.
Leia gasped in relief, and closed her eyes ever so briefly. She could sense a contingent of guards closing in on their position, called by Page, no doubt. When she could hear their boots hammering over the polished white floor she opened her eyes again, just in time to watch the bounty-hunter calmly execute his bound and unconscious prey.
"Impressive," a voice announced weakly from her right, and she averted her eyes from the gruesome scene ahead to stare at Al'than'erudo, who was laboriously getting to his feet. "Very impressive."
Fett gave the Chiss a solemn, appreciative nod. "Just my job," he grated out and calmly began collecting his weapons again. He dislodged two long metal projectiles from the wall and floor – the sources of the strange pinging noises Leia had noticed earlier.
"Thank you," she breathed, perplexed, and took a tentative step toward him.
"Freeze!"
Leia turned around, facing the guards down who had their blaster rifles trained on the bounty-hunter. "Commander, this won't be necessary," she informed the squad leader sternly, surprised at her own calm voice. "The assailant has already been neutralized."
A moment later they were joined by a medical team, also called by Page, that instantly took care of Mon Mothma and was gone with her in a flash, off toward the emergency medical ward of the Palace, Leia guessed. Feeling as if in a trance she glanced over at her mother, who had not moved from where she had stopped. She was incredibly pale. Walking over to her slowly, her limbs feeling leaden, Leia wrapped her in her arms cautiously. "It's over," she murmured, relief pouring through her body instantly.
"You do not understand," Mother whispered, voice choked with tears. "I knew –" she broke off, then disengaged from her daughter's embrace and turned away. Leia stood, staring at her back in shock. She had known? How? How! Bewildered, she glanced over her shoulder, to where Seelac, Al'than'erudo and Page were talking to Fett all at once. The bounty-hunter, hands crossed in front of his body, seemed to listen disinterestedly. Yet Leia noticed that he was looking in her direction, even though his helmet did not reveal which of the two women he was really looking at.
"Mother!" she hissed, laying a hand on Padmé's shoulder. "What do you mean? It's the report, am I right? You did not tell me everything, I know, but if you were aware..."
"I did not know what exactly it would be, but yes, I was warned," Mother admitted quietly. "I would not have been able to prevent it either, the Seeker was clear on that."
"Mother," Leia whispered urgently. "Please, you cannot let your actions be dictated by a computer-program! You have no idea what that might spark!"
"I know," Mother replied, voice breaking. "I know all too well." She shrugged Leia's hand off. "Go. Go talk with Seelac on how to proceed. Then talk to Master Fett. I will be making preparations."
"Preparations?" Leia asked, throat tightening in sudden fear. "What preparations?"
"To leave."
"Damn!" Han exclaimed, throwing up his hands in helpless fury. "Why didn't you let me accompany you!" he added, rounding on the small woman seated forlornly in the too large chair that made her look like a child.
They had retreated to her office to escape the chaos that permeated the entire palace and the government, ever since the attack had been officially disclosed two hours ago. Mon Mothma would survive – she was a tough one, that woman – and the palace guard had taken Fett into temporary custom, just to be on the safe side.
"Why did she have to be so foolish?" he added, brow creased in worry.
Leia had told him of her mother's chilling confession, and it had shocked him. He had always believed the gentle, head-strong woman to be among the noblest of creatures, just like her daughter was. He grimaced slightly. No, Padmé had had no malicious intent toward the president, what she was guilty of was much more innocent, and yet something that could not be forgiven easily. She had known – had known that disaster would strike – and done nothing to prevent it. But then, wasn't he as guilty as she and Al'than'erudo? He had not told anyone, not even Leia, what Tomas Piett had confided in him, what suspicions he'd had after the attack on his own life back on Bilbringi. All for the sake of the Dark Lord's plans. But he had been bound by promises, and Padmé had been free to act ... He sighed, then dropped into the chair next to Leia.
"Say something," he pleaded, weary of her pained silence.
"What is there to say?" she returned laconically. "Fett was sent by Sarreti, who knew what would happen here, just like Mother knew. Once this connection becomes public – " she turned pleading eyes on him. "Han, once this becomes public they will be tried for treason for sure."
Han didn't have to ask who 'they' were. Her parents, her mother and father. "So," he managed, voice hard, "what else did Fett have to say?"
"Sarreti is cooperating with the Yuuzhan Vong for show, and Piett's supposedly helping him keep up that charade." She sighed. "Yana apparently is also trying to play the Yuuzhan Vong, but can we be sure she won't be found out? And Jix and Mara are on their way to Almashin. The Senate will not like this. They won't like this at all. They will want to have a say in this, no matter how badly they've been outmaneuvered. This war was never ours to fight," she added quietly. "We always were pawns in a game, always. Pawns, nothing more. When this is over," she continued in a whisper, "nothing will be the same again, Han. Nothing."
"Who's going to take over until she's recovered?" Han asked suddenly, trying to get her to focus on something else.
"I will," she sighed. "I am Minister of State. If the Senate does not impeach me for having had an inkling of what would occur. If Seelac doesn't tear me apart publicly. Speaking of. Where is Al'than'erudo?"
Han shrugged. "I suppose he will keep low for a while. Keep quiet. Perhaps he'll leave once – once your mother leaves." He swallowed hard. "She's bent on going, isn't she?"
"Yes." Leia nodded, a faraway look in her eyes. "She won't stay here to fight. She'll wait until the battles are over, until her allies are available again. Anything else would be foolishness."
"Smart woman."
"That she is," Leia conceded thoughtfully. "I hope she is smart enough not to challenge me."
Han's jaw dropped. "What? How can you say that!"
She crossed her arms in front of her chest pointedly. "I have made my choices, nerf-herder, she's made hers. We both know what we want and what is at stake. As I said, she is a smart woman and she will know how to deal with me, and the New Republic." Apparently noticing Han's expression at last, she gave him a soothing smile. "Han, I have to deal with her as I would with any politician. She's doing the same with me."
"But I thought – I thought you were all happy with the way things were. I thought your parents would be content to sit back and let you run things instead of them. I thought – " Han broke off, utterly disappointed. "Guess I've been thinking too much," he growled.
Leia rose from her seat and stepped over to hug him. "No, you are right," she said sadly. "But we have to adapt to circumstances, and in doing so we also need to avoid the traps laid out for us. A difficult way to go, I agree, but necessary."
"What if it is a futile effort?" he asked. "What if what you get in the end is not the basis of a new beginning, but a one-way road to chaos?"
"That's why Mother is leaving," she explained. "To let us sort out things for ourselves first, before she makes her next move." There was a knock at the door. "Come!" Leia called, and disengaged from her fiancé.
A Gotal entered and gave Leia a small nod. "Minister, the Senate meeting has been scheduled for fourteen hours," he said.
"Thank you," she replied with a small sigh. "I will be there, of course." When he had left again she threw a look at her wrist-chrono and grimaced wrily. "Two hours. Well, I'd better get to work." She glanced up at Han apologetically. "Could you go and see what Mother is doing? Help her, if she needs a hand, anything she needs..." she broke off, and for a moment sorrow flashed across her pretty face. The sight made Han's heart ache. He reached out to squeeze her shoulders encouragingly.
"Anything she needs," he repeated, then gave her a quick kiss, before he turned to leave. Damn! For a moment he wondered very hard, whether they would ever learn to live in peace.
Mon Mothma's face was pale, but her eyes were clear and alert, as she watched Padmé move across the floor to come to stand in front of her bed. The former queen stood there hesitantly, not certain how to begin. She had not known Mon Mothma for long, and her feelings toward the president had been biased by the way she had been treating Anakin. She was a stranger to Padmé, yet that did not make this easier. Not at all.
"I was told you were feeling better," she began at last.
Mon Mothma regarded her quietly, then nodded very slowly. "Yes. Although it will take some time until I am fully recovered. I have designated your daughter to stand in for me until I can take over my duties again."
"I am glad that you did not choose General Seelac," Padmé commented softly, and sat down on the edge of the bed.
The auburn-haired woman smiled tentatively. "We need someone with a cool head now," she explained, "someone like Leia. And you knew I would choose her, did you not?"
"I expected it, yes. You are a reasonable woman, who knows what is required of a leader. Leia won't disappoint your trust."
"A compensation for her mother's betrayal?"
Padmé's mouth tightened angrily. "I tried to choose the most moderate course of action, Mon Mothma. And even though I am well aware of my deeds, I could not simply have sat back either."
"You and your husband, you are two of a kind," the president told her thoughtfully. "He would have said the same. Both of you regard duty as something that is set apart from all rules and regulations, other than what you perceive as just and right. I wonder if you realize how profoundly selfish that is, how arrogant."
"I suppose we both have realized that," Padmé answered calmly. "Yet we both regard it as necessary."
"And your husband's grand dream of a common council? Do you truly believe it can survive the distrust and resentment you have sown? Do you believe anyone would even give a damn about what this council you seek to found will say? Don't you rather think that the nations will ignore your advice and continue the way they have before?" Mon Mothma's voice never changed throughout that little speech, remaining calm and composed all the way.
It unnerved Padmé for some reason, and yet she fought down her rising anger once more. Once the president had ended, though, she took her time to answer. In the end she straightened the skirts of her dress demonstratively and said:
"Madam President, you cannot deny that this conflict in a far-away region concerns all nations. And you cannot deny that you will not be able to remain neutral in this matter. The New Republic's very existence is at stake, as well as its ideals. Ryloth and the foundation of the Confederate Zone showed you that you have to accept the will of the people, no matter how small that people may be. Yana Dar realized the same. Now you must come to understand that rivalry will get you nowhere without a goal to achieve. That goal cannot be renewed warfare. It has to be competition, yes, but competition for the loyalties of your people. Yet both of us understand the machinations of politics, the workings of governments. That is why we need a common council. You refuse to accept an order set apart from rules and regulations? Fine. Perhaps now you understand why the Jedi Order was not independent from the republic government. Yet not even that precaution saved the Jedi from turning from friend to foe in the eyes of many people."
"And how do you propose to solve that problem?" Mon Mothma asked. "There will always be people who fear the power of the Jedi, who will raise their voices against them. No matter if that new Jedi Order uses its power as benevolently and wise as the members of the old order did. Some people will always resent and envy those who are not even more powerful, but also humble, who have the moral high ground that allows them to judge the resentful." The president's eyes turned regretful. "I do not see a solution to that dilemma. Though I understand your husband's desire to be safe and free at last, he, as well as your children, will always remain special, will always find himself drawn into conflicts that need solving. Still, I am not at all certain whether that council he proposes would be the right solution."
Padmé swallowed slowly. "It will be, Madam President. Once this is over, people will demand that such a council be revived. And when it comes to that, we will need reasonable, sensible people to head that council. People like the Jedi."
"What do you mean by that?" Mon Mothma asked, suddenly suspicious. "It seems to me that you know something no one else does, something that will leave a shadow of darkness here in this galaxy."
"Not darkness, necessarily. Although," Padmé hesitated. "Yes. I suppose you are right. There will be darkness, and there will be light. And for those who choose not to see the light within darkness, the council must assume that part, as it must assume the part of a central agency of liberty and prosperity."
"Padmé," Mon Mothma urged her, "what is going to happen?"
And the answer to that, unfortunately, was very simple. "The Sith will return. There is no way of stopping that now. Not any longer," she added wistfully.
"How? How can that be?" the other woman asked, aghast.
" 'The living dead shall resurrect the glories of the past to rekindle the flame of life and reclaim what was once lost'," Padmé quoted solemnly, remembering her shock when she had first read that line in the report the Seeker had delivered. "This is part of the Jen'da prophecies, a collection of essays and thoughts from millennia long past. It takes a mind that old to decyher the meaning of that prophecy," she added with a wry smile. "Fortunately for us Palpatine delivered just that."
"How?
"It is a program nick-named Seeker. What it really does is catalogue and interpret the scores of knowledge gained from a flash-print of Lord Kell's memories. At the moment it is assisting myself and my associates with managing the current crisis."
"Your associates? What associates?"
"You understand that I cannot disclose any names right now. You know about Commander Al'than'erudo, and that is enough right now. Before you scold me for trusting a program that was initiated by Palpatine and is based on Roj Kell's memories, let me tell you this: if you fight a shrewd enemy it is best to use the same shrewdness he displays. And what better way to counter Palpatine's last scheme than to use his own weapons against him?"
"But Kell –"
"I know what you mean," Padmé interrupted her sternly. "Yet that prejudice is just as childish as calling the Jedi evil. You simply cannot compare to that level of knowledge and insight. It is impossible to understand. All we need to know is that over the course of three millennia the destructive potential of this knowledge was never used. Never."
"That doesn't make it any less dangerous," Mon Mothma countered, frowning.
"No, that is true. But it means that it can be controlled, that it can be used properly. Managing that knowledge, too, should be part of the councilors' tasks."
"Impossible!"
"Not impossible. And there is a safeguard against any misconduct, too."
"Which would be?"
Padmé smiled. "What you and I are doing right now. A system of checks and balances that encompasses everything." She rose abruptly. "Think about it."
"Where are you going?"
The former queen turned back to smile at the president. "Home."
Han Solo felt more than out of place, especially in the silly NRI uniform Leia had made him wear for the occassion. It was nothing fancy, thankfully, but it still made him feel uncomfortable. Telmann Page, standing next to him, was smiling knowingly, as if he had picked up on the Corellian's feelings and was mocking him now. Han growled under his breath angrily. But unfortunately Page was officially his boss, even if Han was in truth working for someone else. Sighing, the Corellian made himself stand straight and neat, while his eyes sought the different faces in the crowd that had assembled in the Senate chamber's anteroom to witness the official recognition of the Minister of State as pro-term president until Mon Mothma's recovery. Han knew, just as everyone else present, that Leia had good chances of becoming Mon Mothma's successor for real once election time dawned.
Apart from the two NRI representatives – General Telmann Page and Han himself – there were delegates from all ministries and a few senators. Padmé was not among them. She had left Coruscant this very morning, after a long goodbye from her daughter, and was now on her way to her homeplanet, Naboo. Leia, dressed in a floor-length white robe that was all clear and simple elegance, wore her head high, yet her expression was far from arrogant. Honest concern and determination were plain on her face. There was no pretense here, and everyone could see that. It was, apart from being what she truly felt, also a clear contrast to what had happened in the war council that had dissolved after Padmé's departure. Though Al'than'erudo had remained on Coruscant to keep the line to the Chiss Empire open for negotiations.
Han snorted inwardly. He was confident that between the two of them Thrawn and Anakin would manage the Yuuzhan Vong threat easily. And he trusted Piett and Sarreti, no matter what General Seelac and Telmann Page might think of them. And above all he trusted Leia to do the right thing. There practically was no way she could do anything wrong, in his mind. He smiled proudly to himself. Yes, despite all the difficulties he had experienced especially with his future father-in-law, he still felt that what the Skywalker family was doing was the right thing. He might question their methods and idealism, but when he thought about it, he could not fault them for their dreams either.
When all was said and done everyone had that same dream, of balance and peace. Except, perhaps, for a few deluded maniacs, like Palpatine. But those would stand no chance against the bond Anakin sought to renew, they would cower before the forces of truth and justice, as it was meant to be. Han laughed inwardly at his own pathetic thoughts. It was not nearly that simple, he knew, but simple always was a good basis for the complicated.
He noticed Leia, looking simply stunning, when she threw a cautious glance his way. Impulsively, Han held up his hands and gave her a thumbs-up. Her easy smile was reward enough for that, even though Page's low chuckle might rankle somewhat.
"Got a problem?" Han snapped uneasily. The general shook his head, all calm once more.
"No problem, Captain Solo. As long as she learns from her mother's mistake," he added, nodding toward the princess.
Han did not answer. If he had, he was not sure whether he might not have managed to get himself detained for heavy verbal assault on a superior. Well, he knew for sure that Leia would make no mistakes. She had been a dilligent student under her father, and with Padmé's knowledge to back those studies up she simply could not fail. No way.
The second session in Senate was an emergency session, and Leia felt slightly uncomfortable with that, since it was her first day in office. The inauguration ceremony had been short, at her own request, because unfortunately she knew they had no time to lose. Now, though, her friends and allies were all gone, leaving her at the mercy of the occupants of the Sneate Chamber's giant amphitheater. It was overwhelming. Although she had sat herself in this very chamber as aide to her step-father, viceroy Bail Organa of Alderaan, she had never imagined that presiding over a Senate discussioin would be such a lonely position. Yet she knew how to deal with situations like this. Keeping her features impassive, she stepped onto the president's podium platform, to face the crowd.
"The President of the New Republic, Leia Organa!" the speaker announced, then deferentially moved aside to yield the floor to her.
"Thank you," the princess answered the roaring voices that had risen all through the giant chamber, quieting them somewhat. "Please accept my humble thanks for selecting me to this important post until Mon Mothma has recuperated. It is dire news that I bring you today, sadly enough. All of you have been briefed on the sessions of the alliance war council over the past days, and each one of you has received a copy of yesterday's report." Again the senators started shouting and discussing among themselves. Leia ignored them. "Action is needed, defensive action, to secure the life and liberty of the citizens of the New Republic. We cannot – and will not – let ourselves be intimidated by the Confederate Zone's assumption of neutrality, or the Empire's own machinations. What we will do – and I expect you all to agree with me – is to stand fast against the forces that have invaded our galaxy with no other intent than to destroy us all. All of you are aware that the New Republic has already sent a task force out into the Unknown Regions to assist the Chiss forces under Grand Admiral Thrawn's command. We will continue to support those troops. And we will remain true to our allies in this conflict. The attack on the president has alerted us to the gruesome fact that Coruscant itself is not safe, and thus we must act at once. We must act, or perish," she concluded, forcing her voice to sound level and cool. "Therefore I ask you all to vote in favor of an official declaration of allegiance with the Chiss Empire." She lowered her head ever so slightly, casting her eyes down. "Thank you."
Now she could only wait. And hope.
"You don't seem very worried."
Looking up from his studies, Talon Karrde gave Lando Calrissian a tight smile. "Should I be?"
The baron-administrator, dressed in a business suit of exquisite fabrics, shrugged and walked into the information broker's office reluctantly. "Well, knowing that the enemy is on our trail is not the same as having defeated him."
"You are afraid."
"Afraid for my investment? Always," Calrissian retorted, a grim expression on his handsome features. "I put a lot of money into the security measures of this shack. Now you come and tell me we should make it as easy as possible for those Yuuzhan Vong saboteurs – without being obvious. Where's the logic in that? What if something goes wrong?"
Karrde leaned back in his seat with a sigh. "The stakes are certainly high, but I do not really believe we will encounter any troubles."
"Boss!" It was Aves, who stormed into the office, face reddened. "Got some news!"
"Out with it." Alert again, the broker sat forward to gaze at his right hand man.
"Dankin and Shee have discovered some suspicious activity going on in sector four, two levels down. There's someone heading our way."
"Where did they come from?"
"A transport from Garqui. Original port was Munnilist."
"Imperials, then. They are sending human saboteurs?"
"Looks like it," Aves growled, then closed the door behind him and walked toward the other two men. "Boss, I don't like this at all. We've sent an invitation that's courting disaster. And I don't care what some computer-program says, this is foolish."
"Foolish, hm?" Karrde echoed, brows raised ever so slightly. "Tell me, Aves, have I ever disappointed your trust? Have I ever set this organization into the ground? I think not. So you will leave it to me to decide whether listening to the Seeker's advice is foolish or not."
"You're calling it Seeker?" Calrissian snorted. "I thought only Halan and his slicer gang were so –"
"Foolish? No, they aren't the only ones." The information broker rose slowly from his chair and smoothed his mustache self-consciously. "The Seeker has its own personality, in a sense, a multiple personality, if you will. Everyone who has ever worked on the program has given something of himself or herself into the design and structures."
"Next you're going to tell me its alive!" the baron-administrator exclaimed, throwing his hands up in disgust. "Its just a program!"
Talon Karrde nodded in agreement, then picked up a datacard and pushed it into the slot of the holoreader sitting on top of his desk. "Have a look, Calrissian. You too, Aves. This is the latest report. I received it only two hours ago. Halan and Min'da Sher were pretty excited about it." Reluctantly the two men joined him at the desk to gaze at the report displayed there.
Tik-ey, tik-ey, remember the outrage we had concerning Project Zero-B? I told you it would get out of hand. You did not want to listen. But I know better now. I should have kept silent, and acted. Project Zero-B was your greatest failure, master. It is going to cause a lot of trouble yet. But I won't interfere. Oh no.
"These seem to be different strands of thought," Karrde explained. "Look at this," he added and pointed at another paragraph.
Look at the thing. As arrogant as its creator, as dangerous. The consciousness it has developed is astounding, considering. A rotten fruit among a garden of life, and it has infected everything. I should destroy it. I cannot. Not again. Jen Motha indeed. You are dead, although you do not know it yet.
An uncomfortable silence permated the office, as Calrissian and Aves read the rest of the report. Karrde was standing impassively, hands crossed behind his back, and waited until they directed their attention back at him.
"So," he said, "now you see what I mean." He activated his comm moments before the call he had been expecting came in. "They are here? Excellent. You know what to do. Yes, he's with me. Aves?" Handing the comm over, Karrde stood back to wait until his second had heard the sentinel's report.
"They are here," Aves repeated, frowning at his boss. "You knew?"
"In a way. Interesting play-thing, that Seeker. Come on. Let's get going."
"Boss?"
"Yes, Aves?" he asked, turning his head back to look at the man.
"What does Tik-ey mean?"
"As far as I was able to determine, it means something like pig-head."
"Oh. Great."
"Isn't it? Come now. We don't have much time."
And so, a few minutes later, the three of them had joined a contingent of guards in the outer room, where the Seeker was slumbering in its nest of circuits and high-tech electronics. The five screens were blank, looming above the empty room like the malevolent eyes of some mechanical beast. They did not have to wait very long. To minimize the risk to his own people, Karrde had had Aves deploy sentinel droids around the perimeter. By the sound of it, they were being taken out one by one by the assailants. Finally there was silence, and the information broker held his breath. Now it would be revealed whether the interpretation of the Seeker's predictions was right, or not. He fervently hoped that he had done the right thing. If he had, this would be the first – and probably last – time that he had made a fatal mistake.
The outer door to the room openend in a fizzle of sparks, and Karrde pressed back into the corner he shared with Toss Halan and Calrissian. Aves and his men were situated along the opposite wall, crouching in the shadows of the Seeker array. Five beings entered the room in single file, and stopped.
"Infrared!" Aves called out, and he might as well have shouted 'attack', for the small chamber exploded into action before the word was even halfway out of his mouth.
Cursing, Talon Karrde jumped up, along with his companions, blaster drawn and heart hammering in his chest. Now ...
"Ah. There you all are," a strange voice announced, and added: "Turn the lights on."
The room lit up abruptly, revealing five men standing in the midst of a ring of blasters. Karrde waved his hand at them. "Who are you?" he asked.
"Sergeant Alowyn Kattaran, Special Operations, Imperial Defense Department. At your service." The sergeant, a tall, heavy-set man with short-cut blond hair and brown eyes, smiled at the information broker. "You've been expecting us, so I've been told."
"Then Jixton and Jade made it," Karrde breathed, relieved. "Counselor Sarreti is back in charge?"
Kattaran nodded solemnly. "He is back, yes. I have this here for you," he continued, handing over a datacard.
"Have it checked," Karrde told Toss Halan, who took the card gingerly and retreated into the back of the building. "You will understand, " the broker addressed the sergeant again, "that we will take precautious measures until your identity has been confirmed."
"Their identities are confirmed, Captain Karrde." The voice was all too familiar, with its deep timbre and steely overtones, that crept up Karrde's back in cold shivers.
Turning his head slowly, noting the gaping and frightened expression on the faces of his own men, Karrde stared at the apparition that had appeared in front of the Seeker installation. The center screen, he noticed at once, was busily ticking away, with code streaming across its surface in a steady stream that filled the screen entirely. The apparition, he realized then, was only a projection, nothing more. It was a life-size hologram of the late Roj Kell, probably created from the body memory of the flash-print taken from the ancient Sith Lord's mind, a washed out image of what he had been. Relaxing a bit, the information broker nodded at the Seeker.
"Go on," he said. "Tell me more."
"Project Zero-B," the Seeker began, "was one of the last experiments conducted by Exar Kun on Yavin 4, a weapon that he believed would assist him in his fight against the Jedi. But the project developed faster than he had anticipated, and the Jedi struck sooner than he had expected."
"So he had to abandon the project?" Karrde asked, frowning. It felt strange, to hear a dead man's voice like this.
"The project rather abandoned him. It gathered a contingent of Massassi followers and fled into the jungle along with them, when the Jedi army descended on Yavin 4."
"What kind of project are we talking about here? I assume it was biological, yes?"
"Of course. You cannot compare this to modern genetic engineering, Captain Karrde. Project Zero-B was infused with the Dark Side, grown within the Dark Side, born of it. And yet it is an independent organism. It retains its master's knowledge, but it cannot learn new things. It has to assimilate information."
"Was there a Project Zero-A?"
"A test version. Harmless, considering."
"What is the project's current status and location?" Karrde continued, assuming the syntax he used when comunicating with the Seeker via keyboard.
"Current status is unknown, but presumably it still exists. Last known location was Shara Orl, a Yuuzhan Vong worldship."
"The last sighting was when?"
"I do not understand that question," the Seeker replied, features impassive.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Talon Karrde tried to find a different approach to getting the information he needed. "How did Project Zero-B come to be with the Yuuzhan Vong?"
"Conquest. Its Massassi followers defeated the Jen Motha and made them Yuuzhan Vong, Divine Slaves. In time the two races became one. Only Project Zero-B stayed the same."
"How does the project relate to current events?"
"The empress is in danger. She will succumb to darkness if she meets with Project Zero-B. You must remove her from the clutches of the Yuuzhan Vong at once. Your allies in the Unknown Regions cannot assist you. The Triad Worlds are the key. If project Zero-B assumes control of both the empress and the Triad Worlds, you will be lost."
"What about Roganda Ismaren? You claim she is with the empress."
"Roganda Ismaren will not be in danger. The prediction says she will be safe on Almashin."
"I see.The Triad Worlds would be where, the Unknown Regions?"
"Yes. Lord Skywalker knows. You must tell him that he should defend there."
"What about the battle at Almashin?"
"He will not be needed there. Tell him his prayers will be answered."
"What?"
The holo kept still, then flickered out, leaving the small assembly in bewildered silence.
"Boss, what are we gonna do?" Aves asked hesitantly, but Talon Karrde was not listening.
He was wondering hard what he had just witnessed. The Seeker had never before used holoprojections to communicate, why had it started now? Had it been listening in on them all the time? If so, that meant the Seeker was always active, and subsequently that meant that it was at least partly sentient. A chilling thought, that needed to be confirmed. It had called him Captain Karrde, as if it knew who he was, too. Very strange. And what was that about the Triad Worlds? They had been mentioned in the Seeker's very first report too. Tapping his chin thoughtfully, the information broker turned around to gaze at Lando Calrissian.
"You have a fast ship, Calrissian?"
"The Lady Luck is fast, yes, but not well-armed. If you want to suggest what I think you'll be suggesting, forget about it," the baron-administrator grated out darkly.
"You could get a lift from Sergeant Kattaran and his men, I am sure," Karrde offered. "But fact is that I want someone trustworthy at Almashin – no offense, Sergeant – and that we cannot communicate with them directly. It would also be more credible if you weren't here when I make my report to Coruscant."
"What report?"
"That the Seeker was damaged. You and the Sergeant here will transfer the equipment to Naboo, the way we had planned. Her Highness will be awaiting you, I suppose. And I can carry that message to Almashin."
Calrissian's frown deepened. "You believe that dooms-day nonsense?"
"That doesn't matter," Talon Karrde replied sharply. "What we want is an illusion to keep the Yuuzhan Vong guessing. Sergeant Kattaran will spare one of his men to act as proof of the attack and the Empire's apparent treason. Is that okay with you, Sergeant?"
The blond soldier nodded with a smile. "Counselor Sarreti suggested the same, yes. But I would say you need not inform the New Republic. It would be sufficient to send a 'survivor' of the sabotage team back to Byss and report the failure. That way Counselor Sarreti would be able to control the flow of information fully, without jeopardizing his own plans."
Karrde nodded. "Of course. That would make things easier, certainly. I still think I should go to Almashin."
"Captain, if I may, you are needed here, working with the Seeker. Perhaps you should go to Naboo instead of Calrissian," Min'da Sher piped up.
"And send Calrissian to Almashin?"
"Why not?"
"Hey!" the baron protested. "Don't I have a say in the matter?"
"Of course you do," Karrde assured him and gave him an expectant look. "So?"
Calrissian gritted his teeth. "I'm going, all right," he grated out. "But mind you, this is the last time I'm doing anything for you and your gang."
"And I wonder what sparked that change of mind," Talon Karrde added amiably. "Very good. Then let's get going. There's no time to waste."
Evening was a purple haze on Laa'kuan, an inky darkness that swallowed the labyrinth bit by bit, like a hungry predator. The glowing stars set into the maze's stone walls gave off a warm, soothing light, and the low snorts of the striped guardian beasts prowling the labyrinth filled the night with life. It was a peaceful setting, removed from time and the turmoils that had enveloped the galaxy since the arrival of the Yuuzhan Vong. A place of magic.
Belana Jen had settled herself on a small ledge that allowed her to overlook part of the labyrinth and, more importantly, allowed her to keep an eye on Roj Kell, who was standing at the center of the maze's core.
"Project Zero-B?" she asked lightly, brows arched in disapproval. "Why did you tell them all this?"
He looked up at her, his pale green eyes turning almost silver, as they reflected the sparse light of the moons. "I could tell them all I know," he began, "but that would be far too easy. If they cannot think of the right questions to ask they will have to find the answers themselves."
Her mouth twisted in dicomfort, as her eyes again fell on the body lying next to him. His own. She rubbed her shoulders self-consciously, then asked: "Must we stay here? I'd rather be back on Roon."
Following her gaze briefly, he turned back and shrugged. "You are free to leave, of course."
"You mean, you do not mind?"
He smiled up at her. "I suppose I am too old to mind. And I can still have you, no matter what."
"I suppose that much is true," the Jedi Master conceded, her lips twitching ominously. "So, will we have a happy ending?"
Laughing, Kell shook his head, his long black hair catching the moonlight in a shower of glittering highlights. The laughter lingered on his features even after he had turned his face to gaze up at her. "A happy ending? Is that what you want?"
"Yes," she beathed, her voice very low and timid.
She drew her legs up to her chest when he made his way up to join her on the ledge. Watching him, she again felt enchanted by his very being, his grace, his looks. She had fallen in love with him millennia ago, and never had she given up her hopes that someday they could truly be together. Why could they not start anew? Finally he stood before her, forcing Belana to crane her neck to smile at him. His face was very earnest.
"Are you sure about this?" She nodded quietly and lay a hand on the back of his knee, tugging gently to get him to sit down beside her. He complied and dropped down on his haunches before her. "Belana, I love you," he told her, his voice filling her with desire.
His right hand was placed on her forehead and she leaned into his touch, closing her eyes. She could sense him move toward her, gently pushing her back, until she could feel his lips on her mouth, his body against hers. For a moment her heart fluttered with uncertainty. A tiny voice in the back of her head shouted that this was forbidden, but in the depth of her heart Belana knew that there were no limits for them. None whatsoever. Wrapping her hands around his neck she drew him closer.
"I love you too," she whispered. "Forever."
TBC