The four of us walk across the courtyard and into a lift that takes us up three stories to the suite of offices that the Rebel Alliance brass has ensconced themselves in. Word of the Imperial invasion attempt has seemingly reached the upper echelons, for there are people rushing around, with a distinctive feeling of tension in the air. Leia leads us to a conference room where several angry beings are assembled around a long table. In their midst is the Imperial officer who had been apprehended below. Apparently he is not exactly being cooperative.
"You can't make me talk, Rebel," the officer sneers at them. "I have nothing to gain by helping you."
"You will have a fair trial," suggests Mon Mothma, trying hard to remain patient. "And you will be doing the right thing. Does that not give you any sense of satisfaction?"
The officer laughs. "Bite me," he replies.
Mon Mothma's face betrays her shock at the man's rude outburst, and she looks at her companions with exasperation.
I watch the exchange with interest, wondering how the rebels will deal with this situation. I know how the Empire would have; truth serum, torture, imprisonment…usually very effective methods for extracting information. Somehow I think that the Rebel Alliance is above using such draconian measures.
"Watch your mouth," an older, bearded man says sharply. "We have ways of finding out what we need to know."
"Oh yeah? Like what?" retorts the officer boldly.
"We have two Jedi knights who are more than capable of finding out what we need to know," says Leia at last. The assemblage around the table looks up at this point, not having noticed our arrival earlier.
"Princess," says the bearded man, "this matter will have to wait. As you can see, we have another Imperial to deal with."
"My father is not an Imperial, General Dodonna," she replies tersely. "He is the very reason you are not all dead right now."
Dodonna narrows his eyes. "What are you talking about? Your father is none other than Darth Vader, or have you forgotten that so soon?"
"Our father is Anakin Skywalker, General," puts in Luke at this point. "And my sister is right; he was instrumental in stopping the invasion of the clone legion earlier."
I sense the disbelief spreading through the room, matched only my children's indignation.
Mon Mothma turns her cool gaze upon me. "I knew Anakin Skywalker many years ago," she says in her impeccable accent. "He was a good man, a hero. But everything that he stood for died when he betrayed the Republic and the Jedi Order, not to mention his beautiful wife."
I match her cold stare, now certain that it was she alerted the Nubians. "I know that I have made many mistakes in my past," I tell her, keeping my tone even, carefully controlled. "And there is nothing that I can do to erase that, nothing I can do to bring back the Jedi I slaughtered, nothing I can do to undo the tremendous pain that I have caused the galaxy, and, even though I would give my own life to do so, I cannot bring back my beloved wife."
Mon Mothma's expression remains unchanged, though I can see in her mind her unyielding hatred for me. It seems that nothing I do will change her mind.
"No one here expects you to change the past, Father," Luke says at this point. "But what you did today, what you did back on the Death Star six months ago, speaks volumes about the man you are, the man you have become. I don't think there's anyone in this room who can deny that," he concludes, looking pointedly at Mon Mothma.
"We are grateful for what your father did today, Luke," says the Mon Calamari officer sitting at the table, his large watery eyes looking soulfully at us. "But I don't know if that is enough to pardon a lifetime spent in the pursuit of evil. Darth Vader left path of destruction a parsec wide. How many beings have suffered because of his wanton disrespect for life and freedom?"
"He killed Palpatine!" protests Luke. "He sacrificed his own life to save me! Surely you can see how he has changed!"
Those gathered around the table look at one another uncomfortably, and I can sense that maybe, just maybe, there is a chance that they will consider me as more than just a monster. Mon Mothma, however, is another story. She stands away from the table, an imperious look on her face, her hands clasped in front of her.
"No one has more reason than I do to despise Darth Vader," says Leia at last. I turn to her, her words creating a stab of pain. "He stood by while Tarkin destroyed my home world and the parents I grew up with; he tortured me, nearly killed the man I love, not to mention my brother…" she stops, looking up at me. Our eyes hold one another's for a moment, and in their dark depths I see her desperation to make them see. "But the man you see standing before you here is not Darth Vader. I didn't want to believe it at first, refused to consider the possibility that Darth Vader could ever be anything but an inhuman monster; but I was wrong. He is Anakin Skywalker once again, Jedi Knight, hero, and my father," her voice falters, but only for a moment. "And I think that if you thought about it, you would see that he is far more valuable to us as an ally than locked away in a detention block."
"An ally?" retorts Mon Mothma tersely. "And what makes you think he would help the Alliance? What makes you think we can now trust the Emperor's henchman?"
"He has already helped the Alliance," puts in Solo at this point. "Or haven't you heard about what happened in the courtyard earlier this morning? If he were still an enemy of the Alliance, he would have sided with those troopers, not fought against them. How can you be so blind?"
Mothma's jaw tightens at this comment, and I can sense her growing anger.
"Your opinion is not needed here, General Solo," she tells him coldly. "The last time I checked you were not in a position of leadership."
"Now Mon, you are being unreasonable," says the fourth member of the group, a man I don't recognize. "Solo has done more than his share to help the Alliance..."
"No one is questioning that!" she interjects.
"Well it sure sounds like it to me!" puts in Solo. Soon there are raised voices from all quarters.
I stand amidst the chaos, feeling invisible and yet at the same time oddly self-conscious, knowing that I am the reason for the heated argument between these colleagues. I look over at the Imperial officer who stands in binders, guarded by a single rebel soldier. No doubt he too is surprised by the squabbling that has broken out between the leaders of the Alliance. I study him closely, trying to recall a name, to remember if I have seen his face before, when an idea strikes me.
He has noticed me staring at him, and yet I continue to allow my eyes to bore into him, looking past the veneer of indignation in his mind, searching deeper. It isn't hard to do, for, like most Imperial issue, he is not terribly sharp witted. I bend his mind, amazed at how easily I can probe it.
Evant…his name is Evant…he was on furlough when his ship, the Menace, was destroyed over Endor…his fiancée was aboard at the time…that would explain his reason for wanting revenge…I probe deeper, searching for the information I need…the clones and other three officers he brought here were from one of three legions stationed here. I already knew that. He acted alone, without orders, and yet he is aware of other vigilantes among the remaining Imperial ranks…
"There are…at least forty others," I say aloud, my eyes not leaving Evant's. I wait to have the attention of the room before I continue. One by one the arguing stops and they turn to me and listen. "…and they are gathering their combined forces, planning an attack….they plan to strike the Rebel Fleet…"
"What nonsense is this?" Mon Mothma says with a frown, yet I sense the fear growing within her; she knows that I'm right.
"It is not nonsense," I tell her calmly.
"And how would you know?" asks Dodonna suspiciously. "Unless you are a part of this plan yourself."
"Of course he isn't!" cries Luke hotly. "He is a Jedi!"
"I don't see what that has to do with anything," puts in Dodonna.
"The Jedi can read the minds of other beings," says the Mon Calamari at this point, looking at me. "Their telepathic abilities are legendary." He pauses for a moment. "Do you know where they will attack? Our fleet is spread through out the galaxy at this point."
"At your weakest point," I tell him. "You do know there are spies among your ranks," I inform him. His shocked response tells me that this is news to him, indeed, to all of them.
"Can you tell us who they are?" asks Leia.
I turn to my daughter. "Yes," I tell her. "There is a lot of information I can give you. I have security codes to every star destroyer in the fleet."
The room is silent. I watch the reaction on the faces of the beings before me.
"I suppose being Darth Vader had to have some perks," mutters Solo at this point. I look at him, deciding that I like the man.
"Clearly we have some decisions to make," says the Mon Calamari at this point, looking at me. I can sense within the odd creature a small measure of respect; he believes me. "Give us some time," he adds, turning to Luke and then Leia.
"Of course," replies Luke. "We will be waiting for your decision, Admiral." He turns to Leia, and I sense the silent communication between them. Both are hopeful, both are afraid.
"Please make the right decision," Leia pleads softly.
Dodonna nods thoughtfully. "Have you anything else you'd like to say at this time?" he asks me.
I think for a moment. "Yes," I decide. "I would. I know that the past is a painful topic for all of us in this room, but the past is gone, and nothing can change it. I am asking you to give me the chance to make amends for the sins of my past, the chance to help you build a future for this galaxy. Most of all, I ask, no, I beg you, to let me be a father to my children. We have spent a life time apart; don't force us to be apart for the rest of our lives. I...I need them…they need me. Please, give me the chance to be the father they deserve, the father they need."
Leia slips her hand into mine as I conclude my speech. I look down at her and smile, my heart swelling with love for her.
"We will notify you when we have reached a decision," replies Dodonna. "We will do our best to be quick."
I nod my understanding and leave with my children. Solo helps escort the Imperial officer to a secure area.
Once in the corridor, my children let their guard down.
"They will exonerate you, Father," Luke tells me, his voice soft with emotion. "I know it!"
I smile at Luke. "Hard to say, son," I reply. "I can't read all of them. Mon Mothma hates me deeply, though; she could sway the others."
"That can't happen," Leia says. "Not now, not after we've come so far."
I am touched by Leia's words, and part of me is surprised by the depth of her emotion.
"If it is my destiny to be condemned, then so be it," I tell my children. "I am grateful at least to have found you both, to have had the chance to know you, even for just a short time, and, I hope, to have earned your forgiveness."
Leia is unable to stop the tears at this point. "You have, Father," she says, her voice barely audible. I look down at her, moved beyond words. I pull her into my arms and embrace her, my cheek resting on top of her head.
Luke smiles as he watches, his own eyes glistening with tears. Our eyes meet, and between us pass the silent communication, the love, the forgiveness and complete acceptance that can only exist between a father and his child. I smile at him, thanking the Maker for both of them. I sigh, knowing that the waiting will seem endless as my fate is determined.
