Chapter 10 – Thirteen Years
"We have come to an agreement."
Leia was back in the throne room, a foot below her parents who loomed over her imperiously from the dais. Bail had a look of resignation painted across his face while Breha's jaw was locked like a vise, her fingers grasping at the golden throne's armrests.
"Yes?" Leia said. She was alone this time. Luke was elsewhere – with the royal seamstress, apparently. He was being fitted with an entirely new, and presumably utilitarian wardrobe. As a Jedi, it was only fitting that he look the part. His farm hand attire simply would not do.
"We have," Bail said. "After much…"
"Acrimony," Breha provided.
"Dispute," Bail amended.
Leia waited.
"Considering the circumstances," Bail began, "we have agreed that you will not be safe here."
"What circumstances?" Leia asked. "You mean Vader?"
Bail looked pained. He tried to meet Breha's eye, but she looked away.
"What are you not telling me?" Leia pressed.
"We are telling you everything you need to know," Bail said.
"I don't think you are."
"Your mother and I are the judge of that. Not you."
Leia struggled to tamp down her anger. Could they be more condescending? They didn't see her for who she was, an exceptionally talented pilot and a Rebel fighter, but rather as their helpless daughter.
For all that could be said about him, at least Vader didn't belittle her like the Organas. He respected her talents. Indeed, he was impressed by her. The Force is with you. That was what he had said. Leia hadn't understood it then. She still didn't, to be honest. But it made her feel special. Valued. Bail and Breha didn't make her feel that way. They never had. To them, she was as much an object as a person. She was the heir. The princess. The child. They had defined the roles for her, and Leia had never had any input in the matter. But no more.
"You have no right to keep secrets from me," she said. "I am no longer yours to control. I am my own person, independent from you."
"That may be so," Bail said. "But this is for the best. All we want is for you to be safe."
Liar, Leia wanted to say. All you want is for me to return home. To become princess once more and assume my place as Mother's heir. But Leia kept silent. She couldn't afford to get into a fight with her sole benefactors.
"Fine," she said with as much bitterness as she could muster. "Keep your secrets then. I'll uncover them soon enough."
"I'm sure you will," Bail said. "In time."
The way he said it gave Leia pause. It sounded foreboding. What could he possibly be hiding from her?
"Where will Luke and I go?" Leia asked.
"Not so fast," Bail said.
"We are taking a very big risk by providing you this assistance," Breha said. "Alderaan is already under intense Imperial scrutiny. If you are tracked here, it is possible – nay, probable that the Emperor will insist upon my deposition and arrest."
"He doesn't have that power," Leia said.
"He has any power which he chooses," Breha said. "The Imperial Senate is powerless, now more than ever."
"What are you saying?" Leia asked.
"You may not wish to be my heir," Breha said, "but you are recognized by the people as such."
"I don't care –"
"You are the Lost Princess of Alderaan. That legend gives you power, and that power gives people hope." Breha took a breath and stood from her throne. She descended from the dais and placed a hand on Leia's shoulder. "Do you truly wish to make a difference in this galaxy?"
"Of course I do."
"Then use your power. Lead our people when I can no longer."
"They are not my people. Alderaan is not my home."
"Look beyond, Leia. The galaxy needs someone to rally behind. They need someone to give them hope."
"And you think that person can be me?"
"I know it." A small smile touched Breha's lips. "A queen must be a leader. She must be a warrior."
"I can be those things without pretending to be someone I'm not. I'm not royalty, Mother. I never have been."
"Leia, you are the epitome of royalty."
"You adopted me! I have no royal blood."
"That does not matter," Breha said firmly. "The monarchy on Alderaan is not based on blood. It is based on merit. You know this."
"No," Leia said, shaking her head. She unzipped her side pocket and produced her father's lightsaber. "This is who I am." She ignited the blue blade, and Breha took a half step back. "This is my blood. This is my purpose."
Now Bail stepped off the dais and came to Breha's side. "That is not the full story," he said. "You are royalty, Leia. More than you know."
"How so?" Leia asked. She extinguished the blade.
"When my rule comes to an ignominious end," Breha said, "let it be known that you are Leia, rightful heir of Organa and daughter of the late Amidala of Naboo."
Several beats passed as Leia absorbed this information. "Amidala?" she said, dumbfounded. "As in… Padmé Amidala?"
"Your mother," Bail said.
Leia's eyes turned wide.
"You are more than a weapon," Breha said, gesturing to the lightsaber. "You are so much more." Leia was too stunned to speak, so Breha stepped toward her, taking her face into her hands. "But I don't know that because of where you came from. I know that because of who you are."
Leia pushed past the lump in her throat. "And who am I, Mother?"
"A fighter. A leader." She leaned forward to plant a soft kiss on Leia's forehead. "You are my daughter. And I am so very proud of you."
Δ Δ Δ
Vader was on his way to the brig on the lower levels of the Prerogative when his comm signaled in his helmet.
"My lord," came an unfamiliar female voice. "It's Director Krennic. He wishes to come aboard."
"Do not let him," Vader rumbled.
"But my lord –"
"You have the authority."
"No, my lord. I do not believe I do."
The turbolift slowed to a stop and the door slid open with a hiss.
"You are the commander of this ship, are you not?"
"Yes my lord, but I am only a Lieutenant Commander."
Vader stepped out of the turbolift and paused. "How are you in command of this ship?"
"I was third in command, sir. Admiral Wilkins and Commodore Brannigan were first and second, respectively."
"And what happened to them?"
A brief silence.
"You killed them, my lord."
That's right. Vader had forgotten about that.
"I see."
"Director Krennic won't bend to the authority of a Lieutenant Commander."
"What is your name?"
"Bose, my lord. Jenya Bose."
"Congratulations Commodore Bose. You've been promoted."
"Promoted, my lord?"
"Keep Director Krennic off this ship. That's an order."
"Yes, my lord. Thank you, my lord."
The connection was severed. Unclenching his fists, Vader took off down the hallway. The entrance to the brig was being manned by two black-uniformed officers and a half-dozen stormtroopers. They all stiffened at Vader's arrival.
"I am here to see the prisoner," Vader said.
"Yes, my lord," one of the officers said crisply. "Cell 1405, third to the left."
Vader carried on without acknowledging the officer. A couple stormtroopers attempted to follow him, but Vader raised a warning hand. They stopped dead in their tracks.
His boots clanged against metal. The hallway was long, cylindrical, and dimly lit. Vader arrived at the cell in question and opened it with a wave of his hand. Inside was a shivering man in an orange jumpsuit. A spherical medical droid hovered by his side, assiduously applying stitches to the prisoner's forehead.
"Do not move, Dr. Erso," the droid said.
The advice was entirely unnecessary, for Erso was frozen, eyes wide with fear for Vader who loomed above. The cell door sealed itself shut behind him with an ominous thud.
"Galen Erso," Vader said.
"My lord," the terrified man managed.
Vader glanced at the droid. "His condition?"
"The patient sustained a laceration to the left temple, but otherwise is entirely healthy. He exhibits no symptoms of concussion or other cranial trauma." As he said this, the droid continued to work on Erso's stitching. With one last flourish, the droid made a soft whistling sound and retracted its appendages. "My work is complete."
"Thank you," Erso said.
"You may shut down, droid," Vader added. The droid did just that. Its flashing white lights went out and the sphere descended gracefully to the bench on which Erso was sitting.
"Adroit," Erso said with a nervous chuckle.
Vader ignored him. He looked around the cell, scanning for cameras.
"There," he said to himself.
Vader flicked his wrist, and the camera in the corner went limp. He approached to inspect it closer.
"What are you doing?" Erso asked.
"Making sure our conversation is secure," Vader said.
"Secure? From whom?"
Vader turned to look at him. "I know you are aiding the Rebellion."
Erso swallowed visibly.
"You will tell me everything you know, Erso."
"I know nothing," Erso said.
"Do not lie to me." Vader stepped closer, and Erso had to crane his head to meet his blood red lenses. "Let us start with this: The woman at the facility. Who was she?"
Erso was silent.
"Your daughter, I presume?"
"Yes," Erso said hoarsely.
"Her name?"
"Jyn."
"Is she with the Rebellion?"
"No. I don't know. I haven't… seen her. Not for quite some time."
"How long?"
"Thirteen years."
Vader felt the heaviness in Erso's heart when he said it. To be separated from one's child for so long was an unspeakable thing.
"Tell me about Bodhi Rook," Vader requested.
"I don't know who that is," Erso said.
"Do not play games with me," Vader growled. "See that droid over there?" He gestured to the deactivated medical droid "Do you know what's special about it?" Erso shook his head. "It presently is programmed to be a medical droid. But I know a very easy way to rewire it so that its base function is less… pleasant. Do you understand what I am saying?"
"Torture me, I don't care," Erso said. "You won't learn anything."
"Then allow me to present my hypothesis: I believe there is a critical flaw in the design of the Death Star. Furthermore, I believe it was you who deliberately built in this flaw so that Stardust could be destroyed. Am I correct?"
Erso's silence served as confirmation.
"If Director Krennic knew this, you would be dead right now. Believe it or not, I am your greatest ally, Dr. Erso. I will help you, but only if you cooperate."
"Help me?" Erso said, stunned. "Why?"
Vader considered. He turned his back on Erso. "Thirteen years is a long time," he said.
He could sense Erso's confusion. "Yes," the engineer said. "It is."
"Eighteen years is even longer," Vader said. He clenched his fists. "I have waited long enough."
Δ Δ Δ
The Tantive IV was a fine ship. Leia had always been fond of it as a child. She remembered accompanying her father on diplomatic missions. She had always insisted upon being in the cockpit when the ship jumped into hyperspace. Nettled as he may have been, Captain Antilles was always patient enough to answer all of her questions about interstellar travel.
Now, however, she was not permitted into the cockpit. She and Luke were confined to one of the smaller rooms in the ship's lower levels so none of the ship's crew would see them. They must have been close to the hyperdrive, because the whole room vibrated and hummed with white noise.
Leia would have been irked by the arrangement, but there were bigger things on her mind at the moment.
"I can't believe it," she said. "I just can't believe it."
"You keep saying that," Luke said.
"Yeah, well, I can't!"
Luke was pacing in front of her. He was finely dressed in a cream tunic and dark blue pants which tapered and tucked into a burnished pair of leather boots. The seamstress on Aldera had done an exceptional job, although Luke had complained on a few occasions about the fabric being scratchy.
Leia sat on the floor with her knees in her chest. She stared blankly at the white wall opposite her. Padmé Amidala was her mother. The Padmé Amidala.
"Who is she, again?" Luke asked. "I've never heard of her."
Leia shot him a look of disparagement. "How could you not have?"
"Tatooine's a totally different world. Literally."
Leia snorted. "She was a queen from Naboo."
"Where's that?"
"Mid Rim. Not far from Tatooine, actually. You've really never heard of it?"
Luke shook his head.
"It's where the Emperor is from."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Interesting. So your mother was a queen? That's cool."
"And a senator," Leia said. "She represented Naboo after her term ended."
"Impressive."
Leia's eyes narrowed. "You don't seem to be taking this seriously."
"I guess I just don't understand."
"What don't you understand?"
"Why this matters so much to you."
Leia was at a loss for words. Was he really this obtuse?
Luke seemed to realize he had offended her, so he quickly backtracked. "I mean, you don't care about royalty at all, right? You were born a princess. Your adoptive mother is a queen. You didn't care about it before. So why does it matter now?"
"Because Amidala's more than just a queen, Luke. She's a legend."
"How so?"
"She's the one who led the opposition against Chancellor Palpatine during the Clone Wars. She knew it was wrong to award him more and more power. She warned us where that would lead, but no one listened to her. And when she died…" Leia trailed off.
"I'm sorry," Luke said.
It hit her differently now. Before, Senator Amidala's death was a tragedy, yes, but not something which affected her personally. Yet now that she knew she was her mother, Leia felt her loss like a punch in the gut. She had so many questions. How had she died? Had she lived long enough to hold her daughter? To nurse her? Leia had no memories of her…
No tangible ones, at least. But now she felt as if she could remember something, when she closed her eyes, sifting through the deepest recesses of her memory. What was it? A profound sadness. Despair. Yet also an inkling of hope. Was it real? Was that really her mother? An echo of her, perhaps, long lost yet still alive in this faintest of ways.
She looked at Luke. And in a sudden flash, she felt the same echo within him. She saw her within him. But then it was gone, and Leia was left blinking in confusion.
The room shuttered. Luke staggered a step and looked around.
"What was that?" he asked.
Leia had a sharp comment ready, but she stopped herself. She had to remind herself that Luke was not familiar with space travel like she was.
"That means we've just exited hyperspace," she said. "We should be there soon."
"Wherever 'there' is," Luke said.
That was another sticking point. Bail had refused to tell them the name of the planet where the Rebel Base was located. It rankled how little he trusted her. But she supposed it was only fair. She could admit that it was prudent for him to be secretive, considering the Empire's acute interest in her.
Leia got to her feet. She paced about for a bit, her mind a flurry of disparate thoughts, about her mother, about the Organas, about Luke. Absentmindedly she unzipped her side pocket and pulled out her lightsaber.
"I'll show you how to use that," Luke said.
"What?"
She turned to Luke. He nodded to the lightsaber in her hand.
"When we get to the base. I'll show you how to fight with a lightsaber."
Leia's grip on the hilt tightened.
"I'd like that," she said.
Luke gave her a half smile.
"I still have a lot to learn myself," he said. "Obi-Wan didn't start training me in lightsaber combat until about nine months ago."
He was being humble. Leia thought back to that awesome display when Luke had so easily fended off a dozen or so stormtroopers back on Tatooine. It made her jealous. She always had to be saved by others, by Val and Biggs, by Luke and Obi-Wan. She wanted to be able to defend herself for a change. Although Breha's words ringed in her ears. You are more than a weapon.
Behind her, Leia heard the door open. She turned to see Captain Antilles.
"We will be arriving at the Rebel Base shortly," he said with characteristic rigidity. "If you would come with me, the viceroy wishes for you to exit through the emergency egress."
Leia sighed. "Very well. Lead the way, Captain."
Five minutes later, she and Luke were descending a ladder from a circular aperture in aft end of the ship. It was rather demeaning, but Leia refused to let it get to her. Her palms were black with grease stains and her hair frizzy from the heat of the engines.
"Well," Luke said, wiping down his own grease-stained hands. "That was pleasant."
"Ah, there you are. Master Luke and Mistress Leia, I do believe."
Luke and Leia turned to the voice. A gold-plated protocol droid was waddling toward them from across the hangar bay.
"You're Threepio, aren't you?" Leia said. "I remember you."
Threepio tilted his head. "So kind of you to remember," he said. "Most sentients' memory banks become corrupted with time. But mine is impeccable, I assure you. Unless my memory is wiped, that is. Which it most certainly has not been. I remember you very clearly, Mistress Leia. Although it has indeed been some time."
Leia traded looks with Luke. This droid sure was talkative. Yet Threepio eventually did get to the point.
"Captain Antilles has asked me to lead you to the War Room," he said.
"To the War Room?" Leia said. "Why?"
"To speak with Senator Mothma, I do believe."
"Who's that?" Luke asked.
"The leader of the Rebellion," Leia said. Her heart skipped a beat, but outwardly she maintained calm. "Come on. Let's see what she wants."
