It does not take long before the anxiety filling me forces me off of the bed and sets me to pacing the room.
"Ani, you need to rest," Padmé urges me. "You're going to wear yourself out."
"I'm fine," I tell her, continuing to pace.
"You are not," Leia tells me, blocking my way, hands on her hips. "Now don't make Luke and I gang up on you again."
"The two of you against me?" I reply with a smile. "Sounds rather intriguing."
Luke laughs. "Careful, Dad," he tells me. "I think she's serious."
I look back at my daughter, matching her serious, I-mean-business stare with my own.
"You have no idea who you're up against," she tells me, a hint of a smile on her mouth.
"Oh yes I do," I counter. "You're a female version of me, only far far more stubborn."
Leia cannot help but laugh. "And where do you think I got that stubbornness from?" she asks.
I rub my chin thoughtfully. "I can't imagine," I reply.
"Don't tell me the party started without me."
We all turn to see Han Solo enter the room.
"Han!" Leia shouts and runs over to give him a hug.
"What's going on?" Han asks as Leia releases him.
"Nothing yet," Luke replies. "We're just waiting for word from the admirals."
"How did the big powwow go?" Han asks me.
"Hard to say," I rely. "They know everything now; we put everything on the table. It's up to them now."
Han nods in understanding. "Personally I think they'll go for it," he says. "I mean, what choice do they have? The Empire is all but finished, and they know it as well as we do."
"Let's hope you're right, Han," Padmé replies, watching me closely. "I saw that, Anakin Skywalker."
"Saw what?" I ask innocently.
"That wince of pain," she says, taking my hand and leading me back to the bed.
"Yeah, how come you're not laid up, Anakin?" Han asks. "I heard about what happened to you."
"Because he's incredibly stubborn," Padmé replies, looking at me pointedly.
Han laughs. "Must be genetic," he comments, winking at Leia.
I laugh as I reluctantly sit on the edge of the bed. "Yes, we were just discussing those very genes moments ago," I tell him.
"Definitely a Skywalker trait," Padmé pronounces, standing in front of me arms folded. "The Naberries are all very accommodating people."
I lift my eyebrows and am about to comment when Piett enters the room.
"News, Firmus?" I ask.
He nods. "Yes, they're finished their deliberation, and are ready to continue the conference."
"Good," I reply, standing up, looking down at Padmé. "Let's finish this."
The mood is different now. As we enter the conference room I am struck with the difference immediately. The men are far calmer, far more confident. What this change means, I don't dare to hope.
Padmé and I take our seats back at the head of the table while our children stand behind us, Han included.
"Admiral Traskk, you have reached a decision?" Piett asks, acting as convener of the meeting.
One of the men, no doubt elected to speak on behalf of the others, stands up.
"Yes, we have," Traskk replies, looking at me and then back at Piett. "But we need some assurances first," he adds, looking back at me.
"Continue," I tell him.
"We need to know what our status would be should we agree to this merger," he continues.
"Your status?" Leia asks. "What do you mean?"
"I mean what is to become of the Imperial Fleet?" Traskk replies. "If the Empire is disbanded, then what will happen to the fleet? To all of us?"
"The Imperial forces shall become part of the Alliance," I reply. "Do not think that you will all become obsolete if you decide to accept this union. I assure you this is not the case."
Traskk looks at his colleagues.
"Speaking on behalf of my colleagues, I have to say that I am quite intrigued and very surprised by this turn of event."
I frown, puzzled by his words. "Explain," I reply simply.
"Well, you could have easily taken compete control of the Empire," he explains. "You have the legal right to, the support of the clone army, and certainly the ability to yield the power of both. But you have chosen not to. Instead, you have given us a choice. And I have the impression that you will honor our decision no matter what it turns out to be."
I nod. "You are correct," I tell him. "Is that so surprising?"
"Yes, very much so," replies Traskk. "It shows us that you respect us, that you are not simply interested in power. If you were, you'd never have given us control of our fate. That says a lot about the sort of man you are. And because of the man you are, we have decided to join you, Anakin Skywalker. We want to be a part of your vision for a new republic, for we feel that with you at its helm, it will be a glorious and noble institution."
I smile, the enormous sense of relief I feel at these words filling me. I look at Padmé, who returns my smile.
"You have made the right decision," Leia tells them, her own joy carefully controlled. "And you have my word as a leader of the Alliance that you shall be treated as equals, as respected allies. I will contact Mon Mothma and the other leaders to arrange for a truce, as well as conference with you, Admiral Traskk. There's a lot of work to be done, but I'm confident that we can lay the foundation for a long and lasting amity."
Traskk nods with a smile. "I look forward to that, Princess."
One by one the admirals leave the room, but not before they each come forward to me and my family to shake hands and exchange pleasantries. Almost two hours are spent as each of the men speaks with us, sharing an insight, a
memory, or just a sense of relief that their future is no longer hanging in the balance. Many of them remember me from the Clone Wars, and express their admiration for my exploits as a Jedi Knight during those times. Others congratulate Padmé on her tenure as Queen of Naboo and the influence she had in the senate. The sense of relief fills us all, as the future looks decidedly brighter on this day.
My daughter is right; there is still much work to do, but I will leave that to the politicians. I am never been comfortable in the political milieu, for I am a soldier, not a diplomat. My destiny lies along a different path, one that my children will help me forge; the reestablishment of the Jedi Order. It is a daunting task, but one I feel that I was born to undertake. I am, after all, the Chosen One.
"Okay, now will you get some rest?" Padmé asks as we enter our quarters later on.
I smile at her. "I really am difficult, aren't I?"
She laughs. "Yes, you most definitely are," she replies. "But I love you all the same."
"I sort of had that impression," I tell her as I sit down. I hold my hand out to her and pull her to me. She looks down at me, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Anakin, how would you feel if I reentered politics?" she asks.
"Not surprised in the least," I reply. "The galaxy needs you right now, Padmé, more than ever."
She nods. "It would just be so exciting to be a part of something new, something brand new," she says with a smile. "Sort of like becoming a parent again."
I lift my eyebrows. "Is there something you'd like to tell me, Padmé?" I ask her.
She smiles. "Well, maybe…"
