Chapter 7: "Packing" Gown
The next morning, true to his word, Han woke Leia up early. She grumbled about the early hour, but eventually rolled out of bed. She was surprised when she felt his strong arms pull her close to him, and when she felt his warms lips against his.
"I thought you said we had to leave early," she said after a minute or so. Han shrugged.
"I think we can spare a few minutes," he replied. Smiling, Leia kissed him some more.
Luke decided to help Han pilot the ship to Coruscant when the left around midmorning. Leia curled up in her usual seat in the cabin, and began to read some more. She was dying to know what happened, but was disappointed to see that she still had so much more to read.
Not much has happened recently. Jar-Jar is taking my place in the Senate until I return (which I hope is soon). Obi-Wan has taken on the job of finding my assassin. Apparently, a bounty hunter had been hired to kill me, but she was killed by what appears to be another bounty hunter before she could tell Obi-Wan and Anakin who had hired her. It seems like we're back to square one. All we have is the toxic dart used to kill her. I won't let this bother me. I must focus on the trip before me.
I had a chance to talk to Anakin today. This is the first time I have really talked to him since I last saw him 10 years ago. The conversation wasn't private though. Dorme was helping me pack, so she heard what we were saying. Anakin was trying to act all knowledgeable while I was complaining about leaving. I still don't like the idea about hiding, but deep down inside, I know it's for my own good. Anakin also seems displeased with Obi-Wan. He thinks that his Master doesn't think as highly of him as he should. He wasn't happy when I told him that he was whining. Later one, Dorme told me that she was greatly entertained by the conversation! I couldn't believe her! Dorme is like my best friend though. It hurts that she's not coming with me to Naboo, but she must pose as me in public. How I hate putting her life on the line. Anakin looked deeply into my eyes today as I tried to comfort him about Obi-Wan. I felt, safe looking into those eyes, but because Dorme was there, I made it look like I was uncomfortable with Anakin looking at me like that. I don't think I tricked him though. Sabe and I didn't trick Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon 10 years ago when she posed as me. Jedis have this ability to tell what other people are thinking by looking into there eyes. No, wait, your eyes are the biggest giveaway. Anyone can tell what you're thinking by looking into your eyes. I must go now. Dorme isn't happy about me, "wasting our time by writing down my silly thoughts in this little book while she continues to pack." What a joke! I have been just as busy packing as her!
-Padme Amidala
Senator from Naboo
Of course! Why hadn't she thought of it before! It seemed like Padme had quite a few decoys and handmaids. Some of them had to be alive. Leia made a mental note to look into that on Coruscant and Naboo.
Traffic was horrible on Coruscant. At last, Han landed the Millennium Falcon on the landing dock on top of the Senate building. Leia was surprised when Lando came rushing towards her when she climbed down the ramp.
"Lando! What are you doing here?" she asked him, and the two friends shared a warm embrace.
"Working. Even though the war's over, there's still a lot of work to be done. I thought that you weren't coming until the day of the Senate Meeting," he replied.
"I was, but some things came up, so we came early. I'll probably be leaving directly afterwards though. Han and I are going to Naboo."
"Naboo? What's so important there that you have to leave in such a rush?"
"We're on a search for information on Luke and Leia's parents," Han said as he made his way down the ramp. "How are you, you old scumbag?" The two friends shared a friendly embrace.
"Been doing good. I see you still have that bucket of bolts with you." Han laughed heartily.
"That bucket of bolts used to be yours if I remember correctly."
"The only reason I used it in a bet was because I couldn't find anyone that would buy it!" Han and Lando laughed as they made their way inside.
"How are you doing?" Luke asked Leia, coming up from behind her. Leia shrugged.
"I don't know. I got an idea on the ship. We should look for one of Mother's handmaidens. One of them must be alive."
"Sounds like a good idea. We should look into that on Naboo. After all, that's where they're from."
Over the next few days, Luke and Leia spent all of their free time coming up with a speech that Leia could say at the Senate meeting. Before the siblings were ready, the day of the meeting arrived. Leia showed Luke the small compartment where they would wait to make the proposal. The Senate meeting room was gigantic. There had to be at least a thousand compartments, and each one represented a different race or planet. At last, the meeting was called to order.
"Is there any new business that must be brought before the Senate today?" the Chancellor asked from his compartment that was floating in the middle of the room. Leia pressed a few buttons, and their compartment lurched forward.
"Yes," she said in a powerful voice. Luke had only heard his sister use that tone when she and Han were yelling at each other (which was pretty often when he thought about it). "I have a new proposal for the safety of the Rebulic."
"Then speak, Princess Leia," replied the Chancellor. Leia took a deep breath, and began talking.
"Twenty years ago, there was a race of men and aliens alike that looked after, and protected the Republic before the Empire was formed. These men and women were trained since birth to serve their masters and the Senate, but not as an army. They were peace keepers, under a strict code of rules. The Jedis were our protectors before lies were spread about them. I have done some research, and come to the conclusion that the Jedi Temple should be rebuilt, and the race be rebuilt also." There was a commotion all over the place.
"Rebuild the Jedi Order? What gives you such faith in that, Princess?" a blue alien demanded.
"My Mother's faith in them, along with my adoptive Father's. They trusted the Jedis, and knew what lies were being spread about them. The previous Chancellor actually gave the order to have the Jedis brutally executed so they couldn't stop him from becoming Emperor."
"And where did you hear this?" the Chancellor asked calmly. Luke could tell that he liked the idea.
"Senator Bail Organa, my adoptive Father."
"You said that your biological Mother had a strong faith in these men and women. Just out of curiosity, who was your biological Mother?"
"Senator Padme Amidala from Naboo." That was it. There was uproar as Senators that had known Padme insisted that she had no children, and had died unexpectedly twenty years earlier.
"Order! Order in the Senate!" Chancellor demanded. The Senators slowly began to calm down.
"Senator Amidala had no children, you must have been misinformed," he said quickly to Leia.
"I found my own Mother's diary when I was packing to come here. I wasn't finished though. I think you'll like to know who my Father was." She paused to make sure that she had everyone's attention. "Anakin Skywalker. The Jedi Knight." Now everyone was on their feet screaming.
"That's not true! Jedis swore an oath not to marry! They couldn't even fall in love! It was against the codes that you just mentioned that had to strictly follow. We're not here to hear about your family, Princess. Let us discuss this proposition. Who will make sure everything is done properly? The Jedis are extinct," another Senator called out.
"I will," Luke said, standing up. Leia gave him a look that seemed to ask him to sit down, but Luke ignored it.
"Who are you?" Chancellor asked.
"My name is Luke Skywalker. I was trained by Master Yoda before his death 4 years ago," explained Luke.
"If you really are a Jedi, then prove it to us," the Senator that had tried to prove that Jedis were extinct said. Luke focused on the capsule that the Senator was sitting in. Without moving his hands, the capsule floated smoothly towards him. The occupants seemed terrified at first, until they realized what was going on. The Senate was in yet another uproar.
"Quiet, please! This meeting has been interrupted far too many times by you all! Is there any objections whatsoever to the rebuilding of the Jedi Temple under the last Jedi Knight at this current time, Luke Skywalker?" the Chancellor demanded. No one spoke. Luke and Leia had successfully proven their point. The Jedi Temple was to be rebuilt!