Disclaimer: I do not own most of these characters or the worlds or even some of the ideas and terms. The HoloNet bulletin comes from the holonetnews website. I make no profit from this...it is just an outlet for my creativity! Thank you, Lucas, for providing the foundation.
2
Leia awoke the next morning to whispers coming from the living area outside her bedroom. She lay still for a moment, confused, and tried to determine the source of the voices. Amongst the unintelligible sounds she suddenly clearly heard her name spoken.
Her eyes snapped open, and she sucked in a sharp breath. Oh, no, she thought. Her stomach flip-flopped with anxiety, and she could feel a cold sweat begin to break out on her forehead. Please, no, she begged silently, I'm not ready to leave the Academy.
The last time her father and her aunts had met secretly to talk about her had resulted in a heated argument, rather out of line on her part, over her academic future. Leia had been perfectly content with her private tutoring in the Royal Palace, but her family had other ideas. It was custom for Alderaanian nobles to send their daughters to the Alderaan Select Academy for Young Ladies to be educated, and her father and aunts had agreed that the time had come for her to transition to the Academy.
Leia had hated the Academy at first. It seemed crowded and impersonal, and she no longer received constant individual attention from her instructors, the luxury she was most reluctant to relinquish. After she began to talk with her instructors and interact with the other ladies, though, the once-overwhelming Academy slowly became a more friendly and emotionally safe environment.
As she lay in bed, she feared her family now wished her to leave the Academy that had become like her second home and transfer to the galaxy-renowned University of Aldera. At the university she could study with all types of students—male and female, noble and common, human and non-human—and learn from some of the best and most famous instructors in the galaxy. She still had no idea why her family would want this for her.
Feeling that she had postponed reality as long as possible, Leia sighed and got out of bed. She slowly dressed in a casual white gown and draped a pale green shawl over her shoulders. She combed her hair, stole one final glance in the mirror, took a deep breath to calm her nerves, and pressed the button to open the door.
"Putting an end to a three-month scandal in the halls of higher learning on Alderaan, Provost Dalus Othona formally censured and suspended Dean Halcor Raystal."
Bail Organa sat with his three sisters, Tia, Rouge, and Celly, intently following the developing story on the HoloNet.
The blue-skinned humanoid continued her report: "The investigation into the Dean's improprieties began after numerous student complaints that his frequent lectures were increasingly off topic and erratic."
With a quiet swoosh a door opened and Leia stepped out from her bedroom. The four heads turned briefly in her direction, then focused once more on the news. Leia paused in the doorway and tilted her head, bewildered at the absence of greeting. But her dignified upbringing prevailed and she quickly composed herself. Princess Leia Organa of the Royal House would not be ignored. She stepped further into the room. "I should think that I—"
"Quiet!" Celly hissed without taking her eyes off the holoprojector.
Bail motioned for Leia to join them. She silently walked across the room and sat on the sofa beside her father.
"The charges were compounded when it was revealed that Raystel propositioned two female students, offering course credits in exchange for personal relations."
"Oh, my!" Leia gasped, horrified.
"Listen!" This time it was Tia who silenced her, turning to glare at her niece.
"Drug tests further proved Raystel to be a ryll abuser. Raystel, staying at his Delaya-based cottage, refused comment." The humanoid reporter signed off and the Net turned to news in other parts of the galaxy. Bail turned off the holoprojector and the viewers sat stunned, still staring at the empty space where the images had been projected.
Celly was first to move. "Well," she said, as she turned to face the others, "that is certainly the most scandalous bit of news to come from this city in quite some time."
They all nodded, then Bail sadly shook his head. "It's such a shame. One of the top universities caught up in a disgrace like this." He sighed and continued, "All the more reason why Leia attends the Academy instead."
"Ah, yes," Celly said gleefully, rising from the couch. "Back to business. Leia, we have something we must discuss with you."
Leia took a deep breath and nervously looked around at her family. She sighed; so the news had not been a permanent distraction after all. Most families on Alderaan—perhaps even throughout the entire galaxy—would no doubt still be discussing the story, amazed that this quiet and seemingly perfect society could hold such a secret. She wondered what could ever be so important as to take priority over her aunts' usual tendency to gossip over the news.
Bail could see his sisters' eagerness, but he wished to relay such exciting information to his daughter himself. "If you will kindly excuse us," he said, turning to the three ladies, "I would prefer to dine with my daughter first." He watched as their jaws dropped and he firmly stared back at them.
"Fine," Celly answered, agitated that she would have to wait even longer. "If you so desire."
"I do," Bail replied simply.
Without another word, Tia, Rouge, and Celly glanced one last time at Leia, who was sitting dumbfounded, then turned and left the room.
The Palace dining hall was huge and lavishly decorated, fit for entertaining hundreds of guests at a time. Leia and her father chose instead to eat in their more private quarters. See-Threepio brought out a light dish of l'lahsh and two glasses of blue milk. "Anything else, sir?"
Bail shook his head. "Not at the moment, Threepio, thank you."
"You're perfectly welcome, sir. Now, if you will excuse me…" Threepio bowed and left the room.
"Now, Leia," Bail began, in between mouthfuls, "as you have just recently turned sixteen standard years old, your aunts and I feel that your time at the Academy is nearly complete."
Leia did not meet her father's eyes. She stared down at her meal, not really seeing anything, not quite able to believe her worst fears were becoming reality. Bail noticed his daughter's gloom and prodded her with a note of concern in his voice. "What's wrong?"
Leia brought herself to look at him and answered honestly, "I don't want to leave the Academy. Transferring there from private instruction was hard enough. If you make me go to the university now, it will be even worse. Please."
Bail chuckled and took a sip of the milk, relieved that Leia's worry was over a simple misunderstanding. "No, Leia, don't worry. You won't be going to the university." Leia looked up at him in surprise. "Especially not after today's news," he added as an afterthought.
"Then what—?" Leia began.
"Princess, it is time we presented you to the Emperor."