Alderaan's living room had been transformed once more into a non-descript seating area where Leia Solo sat opposite the renowned interviewer, OpR'ah, and strategically placed recording devices would capture the two women's words and features.
When Leia agreed to one final interview with Opi it had been with the intention of discussing the remaining two members of her family, Jaina and Jacen, and with a view to highlighting the missing member of the clan, Jacen's baby daughter Rey. Kidnapped...abducted...spirited away, take your pick, the infant had been stolen from the Solo homestead and remained a missing person until such time as a body was identified.
As she smoothed down her skirts, Leia knew she was taking a chance. But then, so much of her life had been about taking chances that this was no different.
Opi made her introductions to a recording device and turned to a smiling Leia. From his position behind Opi's assistant Finn, Han had a direct line of sight with that smile. It was one he had seen more times than he cared to remember, and one that only the very closest of Leia's inner circle might recognise as being delivered with a certain level of contempt. Not for Opi, Han was pretty sure, but for someone who if not watching this broadcast live, almost certainly would be before the end of it's transmission.
"Lovely to see you again Opi." Leia greeted, and the fake smile faded to a look of sincerity Han also knew to be false.
"I have to admit to you Leia, my viewers have been buzzing across intergalactic media since I announced there was to be a further interview." Opi continued to smile. "So, tell me, what does it feel like to be almost more famous for your holomovie persona than for your political career?" The question was meant to be light-hearted, something to break the ice, but Leia wasn't in the mood for dancing around egg shells.
"Disappointing." Leia answered, quite simply, and without elaboration.
Opi paused, her eyes desperately seeking the clarification it was becoming increasingly obvious she wasn't about to get. She scanned her notes, displayed on a monitor beside the screen she was recording into. "But you're no megalomanic." She posed, laughing.
"No," Leia agreed. "But I did a good job as Chief-of-State; I did a good job in all of my political roles in fact. At least, I believe I did...or tried to at the very least."
"And now you're doing a good job at being a...a script doctor, I believe they're calling you." Opi offered.
"Hardly the same." Leia stated.
Opi's eyes narrowed and a nerve twitched in her cheek. "Have I...are we reading from the same page here Leia?" She finally asked.
Leia took a moment to glance around the room. Her eyes drifted past the space where a family holo had been removed, over to a generic ornament brought in to advertise the residence as being just the same as any one of faceless viewers' at home, to Han standing behind Finn, one hand clamped to his hip whilst the other tugged at his pursed lower lip.
Leia licked her lips and smiled sweetly for effect. "I'm sorry, a little nervous is all. Han and I..." Again her eyes glanced his way, before settling on an out-of-shot portrait just a fraction to the right of Opi's face. Then she continued. "We didn't want to do this. As I mentioned before, this really isn't our story to tell."
"I understand." Opi reassured. "Whenever you're ready to continue..." She nodded her head indicating the devices be placed on standby, ready to switch to recording.
The portrait drawing Leia's attention gave her the courage to go on. "I wonder though, if we might talk some more about Jorj first." She queried.
"We can talk about anything you want to talk about." Opi reluctantly agreed. As charming as the youngster might be, a kidnapped infant grand-daughter offered far greater opportunities for improved ratings than an educationally-challenged boy.
"You see..." Leia started, hitching herself into a more comfortable position. "The one thing Jorj wants, more than any other, is to father his own child."
Nodding her understanding, Opi could almost feel the rumble of her ratings as they plummeted through the floor.
"I know he's just a boy now, but one day he'll be a man. And when that happens, his dearest wish is to hear someone call him 'daddy'" Leia said.
"That can't be easy, not for a child with Jorj's unique circumstances." Opi suggested.
"Indeed." Leia agreed, her face contorting slightly. "However, his circumstances are not all that...what was the word you used...'unique', I have discovered."
Opi's eyes narrowed again. She had a feeling she was being played, and something told her if she played along, she was about to uncover a major scoop – in any galactic time-zone! Her head canted to one side as she waited for more. She didn't have to wait long.
"Jorj was born with a number of medical issues; his brain was starved of oxygen resulting in his physical and educational difficulties, his immune system was compromised, his lungs and other major organs were under-developed, in short he wasn't expected to survive the night. The fact that he did is testament to his fortitude and fighting spirit." Leia recounted with a sigh and a moment to gather her thoughts. "We had a lot to absorb in those first few days after his birth. We were asked for our thoughts on resuscitation, on intubation, even on amputation if the need arose! And then we were asked what we thought about him being sterilised."
Leia left it there, waiting for Opi to take up the questioning. Like Opi earlier, Leia didn't have to wait long.
"They asked you to have him sterilised?" Opi asked, astonished.
"They asked if we'd ever consider the option." Leia corrected. "It was explained that if Jorj did survive, then his future would be drastically different to our other children. If we chose that option, we would do so in the knowledge that no 'little accidents' might complicate his future further. Since it could be said all of our children had been conceived through 'little accidents', it didn't seem such a bad solution to a potential problem."
"So you chose to have your, what?, day old son sterilised?" Opi questioned.
Leia emitted a slight, embarrassed laugh. "He was little older than that, but yes, we decided it was the right thing to do. And we were assured the procedure could be reversed, usually successfully."
"Usually..." Opi noted. Leia just smiled at her. "I'm guessing Jorj doesn't fall into that category."
"What do you know about male sterilisation Opi?" Leia asked.
Opi had another feeling, this one suggesting she might know more than most by the end of this interview.
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"So, in essence, the tubes are cut." Opi stated after Leia's lengthy description of the medical procedure they agreed Jorj should undergo.
"In essence, yes." Leia agreed. Her eyes told Opi there was more, she need only ask.
"Leia, you started by saying that Jorj wanted to be a father one day. Do you want to tell us whether or not that's going to be an option for him?" Opi asked. Her question was posed gently, this was where the story lay, she was certain. Both Opi's own interviewing style, and Leia's expectation, was for the truth to be teased out slowly as though in casual conversation.
"A few days ago we took Jorj to see a specialist." Leia retold and leaned forward to accentuate her point. "You must understand, it was a very confusing time for us after Jorj's birth. His emergency arrival, all the things that might or might not happen...Han and I soul-searched for days over what was the right course of action." She sat back then, her head drooping in resignation. "And during these more recent days...when Jorj spoke so often, and so fondly, of caring for his own child...we questioned our earlier motives again and again. Did we really make what we thought was the right decision for our son, or was it only for us? If in the years to come there had been a 'little accident', and if Jorj hadn't been able to care for his offspring the way he hoped...would it fall on us to parent our grandchild for him?" Leia fell silent, the pause as much for effect as for her to gather her thoughts before continuing. "A few days ago we returned to Coruscant, to a clinic specialising in male reproductive disorders."
"That must have been difficult for you, returning to the planet that had so publicly turned it's back on you." Opi suggested.
"Han described it as having the potential to open a 'can of cryptids'." Leia smiled, adding. "But I felt we owed it to Jorj to seek out the best advice, and the best advice can be found on Coruscant. The clinic listened to us, explained how the procedure might not be successful with the passage of time, then they examined Jorj's medical records and then they examined Jorj."
When Opi could stand the silence between them no longer, she prompted. "Leia..."
"Jorj is sterile." Leia stated, her voice steady.
"Leia..." Opi repeated, unsure whether or not the further silence was tactical.
"It's colloquially called 'the snip', because that's basically what happens. The tubes are snipped to prevent semen from entering the urethra. That's the procedure, as described to us and as detailed in our son's medical records. However, that was not the procedure carried out."
Opi's eyes narrowed at Leia again. "We need a minute." She announced, and the recording devices blinked off. "Leia, what are we doing here?"
Leia let out a sigh, then declared, her voice less steady this time. "I need a voice. Opi, I need your voice."
Opi's lips pursed in consideration. "Tell me." She finally said. So Leia told her and when she had finished, Opi exhaled slowly. "If you're right..."
"I am right." Leia interrupted.
"If you're right..." Opi whistled through her teeth. "This could be huge! You need an investigative journalist, not an afternoon chat show. An investigative journalist..."
"An investigative journalist wouldn't have access to this." Leia pointed out, and lifted a disc between finger and thumb for Opi to see. She watched Opi's eyes focus on the disc, then return to her face. "I have a friend on Coruscant. Her talents for slicing were honed back in the days of the Rebel Alliance, and she's not lost any of her touch." Leia couldn't help but smile to herself as she spoke of her old friend Winter.
Opi accepted the disc and let it rotate in her fingers. "If this is proof, why not just take it to the appropriate authorities?" She asked.
"The appropriate authorities on Coruscant? The same appropriate authorities who so publicly turned their back on me?" Leia queried, deliberately using Opi's words.
"Point taken." Opi agreed. "One question then, why me?"
"Your programme is watched by wives and mothers. Wives and mothers who might look at their child and wonder, 'if this thing could happen to her, might it also have happened to me'." Leia replied.
Opi let the disc rotate some more. It could be a scoop, there was no denying that. One which deserved to see the light of day, she just wasn't sure her style would do the story justice. "I'd like access to a disc reader before we go any further." She stated.
"I can arrange that." Leia smiled, and breathed a sigh of relief.
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"All right, everything that's gone before, put it out of your head. We'll be starting the interview fresh so don't worry about repeating yourself, we'll edit repeats out in post production." Opi told Leia while they both resettled themselves in the living room.
Han was back behind Finn, watching the young man's monitor as recording devices floated into their appointed places. Leia had been resistant to the idea of Han being on hand, concerned his attendance might be a distraction she didn't need. She was also worried he might take it upon himself to add his own thoughts to the proceedings, something she was keen to avoid. She bitterly regretted the words they had exchanged regarding that possibility, especially her suggestion that viewers would be tuning in to hear her speak. And not him.
She would apologise properly for that when they were alone, when her apology might be delivered more personally. For now, she needed to clear her mind, ready for the emotional onslaught ahead.
"Leia..." Opi prompted. "Are you...are you okay to go ahead?"
Leia took another breath, allowed herself to feel the Force calm her spirit and nodded, her face a study in serenity. With a discreet nod in the right direction, a recording device blinked on and Opi addressed her viewers with her usual welcoming statement before turning to Leia.
"Leia, it's wonderful to see you again." Opi stated.
"And you Opi." Leia replied, the smile fixed to her face only marginally less fake than the one she had worn earlier.
Opi adjusted her position, considered halting recording again, before deciding against it. If she took offence every time one of her interviewees appeared a little dispirited, she might as well throw her contract in the trash compactor and retire to Helling Island.
"For the viewer's benefit Leia, we were going to discuss a different topic today, one which I hope we might have opportunity to re-vist at some time in the future. For now, however, I understand you have an update regarding your youngest son you wanted to share with us." Opi said, metaphorically stepping through the door and waiting for Leia to follow.
"That's right Opi." Leia replied, just as she had heard other's answer the chat show host. Then she went on to explain Jorj's desire to become a father one day. Of the decisions she and Han had needed to make at the time of his premature birth, and of their discussions surrounding the prospect of reversing the sterilisation procedure they'd previously agreed to. She continued then to talk about their visit to a highly reputable Coruscant medical facility, who confirmed their fears that too much time had elapsed for any reversal to be successful. She closed by repeating the last statement she'd made before Opi had called a halt to the interview. "It's colloquially known as 'the snip', because that's basically what happens. The tubes are snipped to prevent semen from entering the urethra. That's the procedure, as described to us and as detailed in our son's medical records. Truth is, however, that was not the procedure carried out."
"You were told that on Coruscant?" Opi asked, her brows knitting together by curiosity even though she already knew the answer was negative.
"No, actually the clinic on Coruscant reviewed Jorj's medical records, examined him and merely advised that it was too late to successfully reverse the procedure." Leia answered.
"Then, how..." Opi started, again fully aware of the answer.
"Jorj finds space travel very stressful, so we decided to return home via a family friend to keep his flying hours to a minimum." Leia retold. She didn't mention that the family friend was Lando Calrissian and his wife Tendra, or that the couple's latest business acquisition had been a medical facility far, far removed from the one the Solos had visited on Coruscant. Nor did she impart that after much argument, she and Han had agreed to let one of Lando's medics review Jorj's notes.
"This family friend is a physician?" Opi queried.
"Again, no. However, one of their employees is." Leia confirmed. She didn't mention that the employee in question was less qualified in the reproductive system and more in the aspect of physical renovation. Or that they almost came to blows when she suggested how she might be able to enhance Leia's features with just a little nip and tuck here and there.
"And it was this employee who was able to determine your son underwent a different procedure to the one recorded in his medical file?" Opi pressed.
"What they were able to determine is that Jorj is sterile. And more to the point that no operation, no medical procedure in the Galaxy in fact, was about to change that." Leia said, adjusting her position to deliver the hammer-blow. "You see his tubes weren't just snipped, they were removed."
She knew the story, but Opi wanted her viewers to hear the words from Leia's lips. Her mouth dropped open and her face displayed a mixture of shock and confusion. "What?" She finally exclaimed.
"They were removed." Leia repeated.
"But surely if his tubes were snipped when he was so young, wouldn't what was left just...shrivel up or something?" Opi suggested.
Leia smiled. "No Opi, they would have continued to develop in line with his physical growth. And that's what would have allowed him to have the procedure reversed in the years to come."
"That...that must have been a difficult realisation for you." Opi commented.
"What was difficult, was discovering we'd been lied to. And the deeper we dug, the more research we did, the more we came to realise that this was a deliberate act." Leia said.
"Deliberate?" Opi questioned with mock astonishment.
"On learning that Jorj's medical records were inaccurate, we took it upon ourselves to investigate further. It turns out, it's not just Jorj's medical records that were a lie." Leia stated.
Opi held up a hand. "I'm sorry, you're saying you know for a fact that more than just Jorj has been affected by an anomaly in their medical history?"
"I know for a fact that more than just Jorj have been left sterile by an unnecessary, and frankly illegal, medical procedure." Leia clarified. Opi blinked rapidly and licked her lips, preparing for her next question. "And I can go one further..." Leia continued, not giving Opi the in she had prepared for. "Every one of those whose record indicates infantile sterilisation following medical guidance, has been..." Leia faltered, her mouth dry, the words stuck somewhere between her brain, her lungs and her lips.
"Go on." Opi gently prompted.
"They're considered 'damaged' in some way." There! She'd said it. Her beautiful, gentle, loving boy who's only crime was to be born too soon, had been thought too 'damaged' to be allowed the chance of giving breath and life to the possibility of another 'damaged' offspring. It was decided a risk too far. The authorities might just as well have smothered him at birth with a pillow!
Opi's palms had closed and were pressed to her lips. When she spoke, she did so slowly, her words considered. "And you're suggesting that the New Republic Government...that they knew this was happening?"
"No." Leia replied, before laying out her claim more precisely. "I'm saying it was approved by them. I'm saying it was, and continues to be, state sanctioned sterilisation."
