CHAPTER 12
It was exciting. Luke sat in the falcon as he recalled everything which happened. He LEFT Tatooine; the hellhole in which he was stuck for eternity. He would now go to Coruscant. It was a five days trip to Coruscant. He loved the fact that he left the planet and was on his first hyperspace travel to Coruscant.
"Ok kid, loved what you did back there but we have to go and pick up some raw materials from one planet and ship it to another. All of that will take at least one month. Is that okay?" Han said looking at Luke.
"Perfectly fine." Luke replied.
"Good to hear that."
Leia was walking down the hall to her classroom alone. Nora couldn't come out for three days as she caught some fever. She was confined to her room. Leia tried her best to ignore those vulture eyes everyone gave her. The rumors surrounding how she reached the first rank were quite INTERESTING. One was that she used nightsister magic to make the first ranker, Yoos Lass, to spill out all of his secrets. The other one was that she was Jedi and used the mind manipulation technique on the emperor. Leia was in fits of laughter when she heard that. Her, a simple learner of the light side of the force, manipulate the dark lord of the Sith, users of the dark side. He would have manipulated HER instead of the other way round. Nora was confused when Leia laughed at that. She still remembered Nora's concerns. Nobody knew what her history was, what her true self was. All they knew was that she was the only princess. She was dragged out of her thoughts by a call.
"Hey Leia."
"Kane I don't have time for whatever your idea is."
"Hey Skywalker."
Leia froze at this word. She turned to face a smirking lad. She then asked.
"Who?"
"You."
Leia was confused, afraid and curious. How did this idiot of a guy find out HER past? Nobody other than Ahsoka, Luke, Cal, Kenobi, the Lars and the Nabberie knew it. How did this nincompoop come to know?
"I was just joking. I was just searching through some clone wars files and found the name Skywalker in it. Do you know ANYTHING about the person I am speaking of?"
"Of course, the person you are speaking of is Anakin Skywalker. He was nineteen when the war started. He was a prominent figure. His first battle regarding the war was the battle of Geonosis, where he, his master; Obi-Wan Kenobi and his wi- I mean friend; Senator Padme Amidala were almost executed. He then became the leader of the 501st with its clone capain Rex; CT 5567. During the battle of Christophsis he met his Padawan, Ahsoka Tano. After the victory in the battle he accepted her as his Padawan after a series of rejection. Did you know the fact that he used to call her snips?"
"Whoa, I just asked whether you know who that guy was or not, not his entire backstory."
"Oh you don't even know half of his story."
"You seem to know it though."
"Of course he is my father- father's close friend's husband- I mean HIS friend in ways." Leia wanted to slap herself for almost revealing the fact that he was her father. Kane eyed her with a curious glance. She does look like she knows more about this Skywalker guy. I just mentioned the name and she went on. He thought.
"Hey why don't we meet each other?"
"Well we are meeting each other."
"I mean in the night."
"Where? Let me guess, the garden."
"No, outside you room."
He then gave a smile which made Leia angry. It was one of those pathetic smile he gave to the others whenever influencing them.
Leia was outside her room in a dark cloak. She was waiting for that Ya'lksi guy. He did promise he would be waiting but apparently SHE was waiting. She started tapping her foot as she grew restless.
"Try wearing white the next time, you will look like an angel."
She turned to find herself facing a smirking Kane.
"Whatever, so where do we go?"
"You do realize that tomorrow is a holiday right?"
"Yes it is the emperor's birthday."
"Yeah so that means we can sleep late."
"WHAT is your point?" Leia hissed in frustration.
"Come in." He led her to her own room.
"A really fascinating choice, Ya'lksi."
"Kane if you would mind calling me so?"
"Whatever, so what is it that we are doing again?"
"Nothing just watching some movies."
"We are watching holomovies."
"Yep. Now sit." He motioned to her own bed.
"Tell me what kind of movie is this?"
"Oh the usual."
"I am NOT a big fan of movies."
"I am sure you have seen at least few." He said as he set up the instruments.
"Maybe one or two."
"What? Are you telling me that a PRINCESS of an entire system watched only one or two movies?"
"My childhood was not normal Kane." Leia almost wanted to slap herself for revealing a part of her childhood.
"You know, I have a lot of movies just come in whenever you want and pick what you want. I can't tolerate the fact that someone who is my neighbor hasn't seen many movies."
Leia laughed at this. She never knew how much she had given up in order becoming something that ended in her rejecting it. Kane set up a movie called 'The Galanic.' The story was quite simple; there was a big ship which flew through space quicker than other ships, the hero and heroine were from different classes but still bonded, then suddenly the ship's hull exploded, evacuation pods were released and the heroine was in one of those. Leia had to admit that the movie was quite boring. She slept on Kane's shoulder five to six times as the guy sat next to her. It was irritating. She tried moving away from him but he kept on coming closer. Leia wished she hadn't sent Artoo to the library for help. After that they watched another similar movie called 'Ro-Meo and Juli Fett.' This movie was way boring than the other one. She slept through quarter of the movie. Kane switched off the machine and sat opposite to her. This raised a lot of questions in Leia's mind. Then all of a sudden Kane asked one question which made Leia slap herself. "You are a Skywalker isn't it?"
"What? No."
"You are lying."
"No I am not."
"Then how do you know so much about Anakin Skywalker?"
"I told you, he was a close friend to my father."
"Then where is he?"
"He must have died in the purge."
"The Jedi purge? I don't think so. He was the chosen one. I heard my AID tell ME that he was alive and was a rebel leader."
"Oh come on, your aid gives you a lot of false information. There are no Skywalkers in the rebel alliance."
"How do you know that?"
"I have my own information."
"Then why not submit it to the empire?"
"Why though? Why should I?"
"Maybe because Alderaan is a core world and is under the suspicion of being the rebel base."
"Of course not. I mean who told you that? If it is you aids then you need to talk to your aid."
"How do you know about that?"
"Well I have my own information."
"How would your INFORMATION, provide you this much of knowledge regarding the rebels when neither you nor your INFORMATION is part of the rebel alliance?"
"When did I say that?"
"So you are a part of the rebellion."
"No."
"Then Alderaan IS a base for the rebels."
"No."
"Then how did you receive your information?"
"Hey snap out of it. It is left to me from where I get my information and all."
"Why are you angry?"
"I'm NOT angry Kane."
"Then what is that on your face and in your tone, happiness?"
"Kane you are testing my patience."
"Oh yeah. I am testing your patience."
"Kane."
"Then how do you know that rebel base is not in Alderaan?"
"I know because the rebels have no base. We are looking for it. Oh shit." Leia realized that she revealed a lot to the guy.
"I knew it." He gave a victorious smile. "You ARE a rebel leader right?"
"Get out." Leia hissed in anger.
"Oh that is going to be so difficult. Imagine the number one being a rebel leader."
"I said get out."
"Oh I don't think so." He said with a sneer.
"Fine." Leia said before holding his collar and throwing him out of the room. She was in rage. She was in such a blinding rage that she didn't care to check whether had he broke his nose and hit his head. She revealed the main information of the rebels- the base. In the same process she revealed the fact that she was a rebel leader. Oh this is not good, not at all good. What am I going to do if he reveals everything to the imperials? Oh no. Force please guide me. Oh Force. Her thoughts ran.
The next day Leia was woken up by a worried Artoo. "What is it Artoo?" Leia asked as she was half asleep. She then heard the knocks on the door. It was then the realization it her. Had he told them already? She looked at Artoo as she slipped into something decent. Artoo beeped caution. She opened her door. She held her breath as she opened it. She then sighed with relief. She stepped aside to let the person inside.
"Don't scare me like that the next time."
"Oh come on Leia I haven't spoken to you in days. Hey Artoo." Nora said as Artoo came running towards her. "Aw, who is the good girl? Artoo is." She said as she pat Artoo on top of her dome.
"Oh I thought it were imperials."
"Why would the imperials come to your room?"
"Yeah you are right."
"Hey say why don't we join the rebellion?"
"Oh I don't know. They are so anti-imperialistic."
"Oh come on. It is for the betterment of the people. There is no liberty under the empire Leia."
"Oh okay, shut the door and make sure nobody is awake."
"Oh come on who will be awake at this time during a holiday?" Nora said as she shut the door and bolted it from inside. "By the way why are we closing the door?"
"You will get to know sit." Leia then called Artoo. "Artoo, dial the frequency of Wedge."
"Who is Wedge?"
"You will come to know." Artoo then beeped something which Leia understood through her translator. "The rebel one."
"Wait Leia what is going on?"
"Calm down you shall know." Suddenly the image of a young man came into view.
"Well look who remembered us boys." He said as he placed the device on top of a platform. As soon as he said that a bunch of soldiers including a clone from the clone wars were there.
"Leia, how are you?" the clone asked.
"Finer than rain captain Rex. So how are the boys?" as soon as she asked all of them lifted their helmets and said in one voice. "FOR THE REPUBLIC. FOR THE REBELLION."
"Ah haven't heard a better wording these recent days."
"So how is our future senator?" The boy who picked the call asked.
"All good Wedge. I need your help."
"Ah, ah, ah protocols first."
"Go on."
"Rebel name?"
"General Skywalker."
"Code name?"
"Ameliorate."
"Motto."
"Liberty is not a right it is a necessity."
"Good, so general how can I help you?"
"Commander Antilles I need you to enroll my friend over here, Nora Crai'sis, as a member of the rebel alliance."
"Very well. So Miss Crai'sis, what is your basic character?"
"I support the rebellion, I guess." Nora said hesitantly as she turned towards Leia. Leia then nodded and said.
"Basic trait is sympathy. Basic character is people oriented."
"Very well. So Miss Crai'sis, would you ever report our activities to the empire?"
"No."
"Hmm, even if your life depended on it?"
"No."
"Hmm, Leia I will need you to bring her to Alderaan in order to test her, till then her code name shall be red crisis."
"So be it."
And just like that the connection was cut. Nora stared at the place where the boy's image was. She was now part of the REBELLION. She then turned to Leia.
"You never told me that you were a part of the rebellion and you are a SKYWALKER."
"Shh, calm down. Yes I am a part of the rebellion; I just needed to confirm that you wouldn't give me in to the empire."
"Are you kidding? Leia this is amazing."
"Red crisis whenever talking about the rebellion refer to me as General Skywalker or Ameliorate."
"Okay."
"Now call me Leia."
"Okay Leia."
"Let us go and get ready for breakfast."
"I accept."