The Power to Save Her
Chapter 25
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.
Important Note: I will not follow comics/legends characters or concepts closely, if at all. My knowledge is strictly on the that of the movies and a more mainstream knowledge of Star Wars. Though I may reference events and things outside of the movies, I do not claim to know the material on a deeper level.
With a heavy tension settled inside him, Anakin stepped into the den of Rebels. Several eyes landed on him and Padmé, though none seemed to recognize him. The room was packed with Rebel leaders, as well as holoprojectors that were currently shut off for obvious reasons. He scanned the room, not sure what he was looking for when his eyes found a rebel leader, named Mon Mothma. Slowly, he nodded to her when she saw him looking. She nodded back, eyes wary, and lips pressed together. Her gaze shifted to Padmé, who appeared unfazed by all the eyes in the room, though Anakin could feel that she was hiding her true feelings of anxiety.
So many of the rebel leaders were former senators of the dissolved Imperial Senate, and though he had never been up to date on politics, he recognized most of them as people who had less than warm things to say about the Empire. Not all of them were politicians, however. Anakin recognized a former Imperial by the name of Madine, quite infamous among the Empire, as well as some other faces.
"Now that you are here at last, we can all receive some answers.", Mon Mothma began, gaze shifting to the other members of command. Madine nodded to her, they seemed to have some sort of silent conversation. "As I am sure you're aware, we have doubts."
Anakin almost made a noise at the understatement.
"I do know of the distrust my appearance brings, and I cannot blame you.", Padmé began, her voice neutral. Anakin could feel the tension in the room. "But I hope that by undergoing test to confirm my identity, you will inspect the intelligence I bring before you as additional proof."
"We require a sample of your DNA to check for cloning.", Mon Mothma informed, and already Padmé nodded.
"I will do anything."
"Before that happens,", Mon Mothma continued, with some tiredness in her eyes. Her gaze shifted to Anakin briefly before going back to Padmé. "We must know what Vader had to do with any of this, and why you've been seen at his side."
Padmé grew quiet, contemplating the answer before sighing.
"The truth… the truth is complex but necessary for you to hear.", she began, somewhat reluctantly and furrowed her brows. Anakin tensed, not really knowing what she was about to say but kept silent. "I woke up in my tomb right before I was taken to his ship."
There was some quiet as those who heard this were dumbfounded.
"How can this be?", Mon Mothma asked, her gaze in wonderment. Anakin himself had asked that very question many times.
"I do not know other than the fact that I was dead," she supplied eyes going into the middle distance. Then she took a step forward, in front of Anakin. "It was as if I had been sleeping."
"Surely this is by some miracle of the Force.", Mon Mothma replied, her gaze turning to her fellow leaders. Anakin observed as some murmured at the idea.
"But that does not answer why you were seen with Vader.", continued Madine, his gaze firm but not harsh. Anakin grew slightly irritated by this Rebel. His annoyed feelings must've been obvious, for Madine sent him a challenging gaze. Not wanting to hinder their cause, Anakin forced himself to advert his eyes, though he hated to do so.
"Vader is the one who opened the tomb to save me.", Padmé revealed, barely noting the exchange between the two, and if possible, the leaders grew even more astonished.
"Vader?", Madine questioned, raising his eyebrows, his attention back on Padmé.
"The very same.", Padmé stated, her tone quite serious. She interlaced her fingers, mind seemingly elsewhere as she recalled what had happened. "I was taken to his ship, though still unconscious, and healed by Lord Vader's medics."
"What did he want from you?", a Mon Calamari asked, his voice curious. The idea of such humane treatment being given by the Sith was unheard of.
"I'm someone he knew in his past, as he told me.", Padmé replied easily, curling a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. "And it was for that reason I was allowed to live."
"Do you know who he is?", Madine asked directly.
"Vader remains a stranger to me.", she answered, not truly answering the question. Anakin smirked under his mask at the evasive way in which she spoke. "But the weeks I spent on his ship revealed a certain dissatisfaction towards the Emperor."
"More than that I'd say. A report given to us by Princess Leia revealed that you believe he's shifted allegiances.", the Mon Calamari spoke again. "What makes that seem possible?"
"I witnessed him almost be assassinated by the Emperor himself on Naboo.", she replied, almost shuddering at the memory. Anakin noted the tense way her shoulders were formed. "Since the Emperor knows of his disloyalty, he has no reason to back down now."
"Even so, this is the same man who's responsible for the rise of the Empire.", Madine continued, gaze wary. "How do we know he's not just using you to get to us?"
"I cannot ease your fears about that, but I will vouch for him.", she responded, though upon seeing the skeptical expressions of high command, amended, "Though that means nothing until you verify my identity."
"Which brings us to our next questions.", Mon Mothma spoke again, placing her hands on the holoprojector table. "We need answers that only Padmé Amidala would know."
"I am ready.", she replied confidently, and the rebel leader nodded.
"What was it that we, including Bail and the other senators, decide to do weeks before the fall of the Republic?", Mon Mothma asked, eyes beseeching. Her gaze never strayed from Padmé's face.
Padmé smiled, seeming to know the answer.
"Why, it was to form this very cause, and the delegation of the two thousand.", Padmé replied looking all around the room. "Chancellor Palpatine was amassing so much power in the Senate that we grew concerned. We created a committee to go speak with him, to confront him, but he would not yield his powers until the war was over."
"In a private meeting I seem to remember you advocating telling the Jedi.", Mon Mothma continued, a knowing expression on her face. "Though you had one in particular you told us you trusted."
"Yes.", Padmé nodded, growing somewhat uneasy. She glanced down at her hands. "A longtime friend of mine."
Mon Mothma smiled but didn't press the matter further. Anakin didn't need to ask who this Jedi was. He knew that Padmé was referring to him, and her emotions confirmed this.
"Those of us who spoke planted seeds of the Rebel Alliance.", Padmé continued, trying to move beyond that questioning. "Bail Organa made us swear to secrecy before revealing what you and he were creating."
"I seem to recall your disapproval of these measures.", Mon Mothma continued, though her expression was growing more and more open.
"I did not… want to believe that my mentor had been corrupted.", Padmé replied gloomily, her eyes revealed how this knowledge changed her. "Though the night he declared the Jedi traitors was when I knew without a doubt that he'd been lying to us."
Anakin glanced down at the ground, recalling that night and the horrors that had happened because of him. Though his stomach churned, he reminded himself to breath, concentrating on Obi-Wan's words. The here and now.
"This is enough to convince me.", Mon Mothma declared. "The events transpired as she said. I can attest to the truth of her words."
"Thank you.", Padmé smiled, though some others weren't quite convinced. "But if it's all the same to you, I will still get myself checked to calm the minds of everyone here."
"As you wish.", Mon Mothma declared, motioning some sort of medic to come to her. Anakin watched as the medic took samples of her blood, and Padmé winced only a little at the needle prick.
"If you are Padmé Amidala," began Madine, his face confused as the medic was still working. "Then Vader knows this too."
"He does, and I know you don't trust his shift in allegiances," Padmé began, trying to find the words. "But you should trust his hatred for the Emperor."
"Why, after all this time has, he turned? Why should that change now?", asked the Mon Calamari, as the medic left the room.
"I cannot say, with any certainty, as to when he started hating the Emperor, but I do know he hates him enough to divulge a secret given by the Emperor himself."
This intrigued the Rebels, for they seemed to listen more carefully.
"This is information that cannot be acted upon immediately," she stressed, giving the leaders a firm look, while crossing her arms. "Vader himself believes a coordinated assault will bring the Empire crashing down."
"His willingness to work with us is hard to believe.", Madine remarked, and others murmured the same opinion behind him. "And it concerns me."
"His willingness to do this should show you how much he wishes the Emperor gone.", Padmé insisted, though she knew her words wouldn't be accepted by all. Anakin could tell the company was split on this issue.
Madine sighed, not wanting to argue.
"So, what is this information that proves the intentions of Darth Vader?", Madine asked, clearly skeptical.
Padmé took a deep breath in before speaking. Anakin waited in anticipation as well, knowing that this was dangerous information to be handing out to the Rebels. Even now he could feel reluctance at providing such crucial information, but he remained silent. He was doing it for her.
"There's another Death Star.", she revealed and for the third time, the room grew silent. She continued, "It's years from completion but it is a growing threat."
"Where?", asked Mon Mothma, her face ashen.
"I will reveal this if you promise not to act on it.", Padmé replied firmly. Some of the Rebels grew surprised by her stubbornness.
"We will discuss that," Mon Mothma replied, her gaze nothing but understanding "But rest assured, the Rebel Alliance will not act lightly with this information."
There was a long moment where Padmé didn't answer, to the point where Anakin didn't know if she's speak at all, when she at last opened her mouth to speak.
"It's located on the Forest Moon of Endor.", Padmé revealed finally, believing her friend's words. Mon Mothma sighed, seeming to send a silent thank you to his wife.
"We will send our Bothan spies to verify your words.", Mon Mothma responded, turning to the other leaders. "Once this is done, we will take council with you."
Anakin felt some finality settle in him at this.
There was no going back now.
Luke waited on the edge of High Command, listening to his mother confer with the Rebel leaders. His eyes wondered over to his father, who liked increasingly uncomfortable in the attire that had been chosen for him. He could sense that the intel being passed to the Rebel Alliance also made him uneasy, but Luke knew it was all for the best.
Finally, one of the Rebel leaders had the curiosity to ask his father's identity.
"And who's that with you?", General Madine asked.
"A bounty hunter we saved the life of on Tatooine.", his mother answered easily. Luke noted throughout this meeting how easy it was for her to avoid questions. "When Captain Solo went to pay of his debts, Jabba captured him. He's the only reason we all made it out of there."
"Very well. We must deliberate about what has been discussed.", Madine replied, seeming satisfied with the answer. Then the ex-Imperial turned his gaze to Luke. "Commander Skywalker."
"Yes sir?", Luke answered with the respected title, uncrossing his arms.
"Please escort them to them to private quarters.", he asked, motioning to Luke's parents. "We must ascertain the validity of what was discussed before they are to be cleared."
Luke nodded before motioning them to follow, to which they did immediately.
Just as they were about to leave the room, something stopped them.
"Bounty hunter?", called out Madine, and each of them froze, turning to face the Rebel leader. "What do they call you?"
"Rako Hardeen.", his father replied easily, as if ready for the question.
"Your reputation precedes you.", remarked Madine before he dismissed them once more.
As they moved out into the corridor of the ship, Luke had to wonder at the meaning of the name. He dismissed it however and kept his thoughts on the environment around him as there were many Rebels about. A few of them greeted him as he passed, glad to see him return to the fleet. Down the hall, he spotted Wedge Antilles, still in his orange jumpsuit, his helmet under his arm.
"It's good to see you Luke!", he greeted, approaching him.
"Hi Wedge.", Luke greeted with a nod, though he wasn't as enthusiastic knowing who was standing behind him. "Coming back from practice?"
"Yes, though it's not quite the same without you.", he replied with a half-smile before glancing over his shoulder. He didn't speak of them, but Luke could see the question in his eyes.
"I'm escorting our guests to a secure wing. They have to be cleared before being allowed access.", he clarified, and Wedge nodded in understanding.
"Can't be too careful, especially after what happened on Naboo.", he replied, before glancing over to the people standing behind Luke. "I hope you get cleared soon. Welcome to the Rebel Alliance."
Then the pilot walked off, with a helmet in one hand, and Luke was just left with he and his parents. Luke could certainly feel the discomfort of his father now. Especially at having been welcomed into such a place as this. Luke knew that now more than ever, he needed time away from it all. Finally, they made it to the secure rooms, and he ushered them inside. The door hissed shut behind them.
"Thank you, Luke.", his mother said, sitting down on the stiff cot in the very plain room.
"Of course.", he replied, though didn't immediately leave them by themselves. His mother was giving him a questioning gaze, and he continued, "I wish there was more I can do."
"You've done plenty.", she replied, immediately trying to calm his worries.
"If I were to explain my connection to you—"
"It's not a good idea.", his mother interjected. She glanced over to his father, who'd finally lowered his mask. "It will only hinder us now. You may use your influence as a Jedi, but nothing more."
Luke sighed, having known that this would be the logical thing to do.
"I will do everything I can in that regard then.", he replied before deciding to leave them be. After such a long day, they appeared tired. He nodded to the both of them, and stepped back out into the corridor.
The door hissed behind him and paused upon seeing General Madine just outside. Madine nodded to him in greeting though Luke felt a fair bit of surprise upon the general's appearance. Madine didn't appear combative or distrustful, but merely concerned.
"Commander Skywalker.", he spoke evenly.
"General Madine. I thought that High Command was discussing the situation.", Luke replied, getting straight to the point.
"Before the verification of her identity through the DNA sample, there's not much to discuss.", the general explained. "I came to find you on another matter, though it is related."
This piqued Luke's curiosity as he didn't know General Madine as well, but the man clearly respected him.
"In our search for the spy within the Alliance, we discovered some very disturbing intel on what happened over Naboo."
"What did the spy say?", Luke asked, noting that his father sensed his tension in the Force.
"The spy was very forthcoming. She told us that Emperor knew that Padmé Amidala would be there on that day, along with Darth Vader.", Madine revealed, eyes going distant. "It wasn't until Amidala confirmed it herself that the spy's words were verified."
"And you know from our report I barely escaped with my life.", Luke nodded thinking back to when the Emperor himself tried to hunt him down.
"I have to wonder if all of this isn't some elaborate scheme to fool us into trusting Vader."
And there it was. The idea Madine couldn't get past. Luke sighed, knowing he'd have to reveal a detail he'd neglected on the report.
"If Vader wanted me captured by the Emperor, he wouldn't have warned me away."
"He warned you?", Madine asked, eyes going wide.
"Through the Force, yes. I didn't know what to make of it, though I did know he was in great pain at the time.", Luke revealed watching as the general digested the information. "This only confirms what Padmé Amidala has said about the Emperor attempting to kill him."
"Why did you keep this from us?", Madine asked, narrowing his eyes in confusion.
"Because I myself didn't know the purpose of the warning.", Luke responded, though recognizing this wasn't a valid excuse. "There was a spy amongst the Alliance. Entrusting that information with the security breach, would not have been a good idea."
"That was the right call.", nodded Madine, accepting his answer right away. "Still, I have to wonder why Vader would do that."
"I suppose because he knows that if I am eliminated, the threat to the Emperor's power diminishes.", Luke replied quietly.
"Do you believe Vader wants us to destroy the Emperor so that he can gain control of the galaxy?", Madine asked, truly wanting for his opinion.
Luke was quiet for a moment, trying to figure out the answer.
"It is not easy for me to say.", Luke answered, though continued, "Either way, if all of this is a grab for power, then we will have removed one of the greater threats to the galaxy."
"Fair point, but if Vader double crosses us, which is a very likely scenario, then we should be ready.", Madine nodded, and Luke couldn't dispute it. "Very well, I shall work with Padmé Amidala unless I believe there's a threat to the Alliance."
"As will I.", Luke stated, knowing his words carried weight. "The Force is telling me that Vader's motives are true, and I cannot ignore the insight it provides."
"Very well, I will adhere to your judgement.", Madine replied, giving Luke a half-smile. "In the meantime, I'll leave you to it. I understand you've had an eventful couple of days."
"Very much so.", Luke replied, with an exhausted smile.
Madine then nodded to him and left. Luke let out a sigh of relief, though he felt his father probing at his mind. Finally, he acknowledged his presence.
Father? Luke called out as he returned to his rooms.
I sensed your discomfort, came the instant reply.
All is well. General Madine wanted to know my opinion of Vader's intentions. Luke informed, sensing his father tense at the name of his former self. Get some rest father.
Finally, his father withdrew his presence. Luke, now in his room, sat in a meditative stance, knowing much had happened since his last chance to do so. Silently he hoped that the Alliance and his father's fleet could work to figure something out. Though he felt fear, he sensed Obi-Wan's presence nearby, and immediately he relaxed.
There was much to do, which included keeping his promise to Yoda, but he rested in the knowledge that the passing of time would reveal the right path.
Luke drifted into meditation.
Leia found Han fixing the Falcon from its last series of attacks. He briefly looked up to her before focusing back on the panel of exposed wires. Chewie was working in the next room over, working with some other broken part of the ship, and Leia glanced at the broken mess that Han was repairing.
"Hey.", Han acknowledged, and Leia greeted him back.
"How's the Falcon?", she inquired, and Han let a slight smile come over his face.
"Same as ever.", he replied, continuing on the task at hand.
"What's wrong?", she asked, sensing something else on his mind.
"Other than the fact that we're harboring Darth Vader here, nothing much.", he replied the sarcasm very evident.
"We've taken every measure to ensure the safety of the Alliance.", Leia reassured, though she too was uneasy. "Luke can step in if anything goes wrong."
"You have a lot of faith in him.", Han replied, though Leia knew he did as well. Han shook himself. "Still can't get over the idea that you're related."
"Neither can I.", Leia replied honestly, before handing Han the tool he needed. Gaining a brother had been easier than accepting their shared father.
"I can't imagine.", Han replied, giving her a look of sympathy. "Though now that you are, you have the same… power as Luke?"
"Yes, though I have been neglecting the practice of it.", Leia responded, not wishing to contemplate the matter fully. Han caught her look of guilt.
"Hey, you don't need this ability.", Han reassured, putting it quite frankly. "It seems you've done just fine without it."
Leia smiled at the words, though grew pensive.
"I know, but to deny my heritage is impossible for me.", she answered, causing Han to turn fully to her. He was giving her a nonjudgmental expression.
"You don't have to do it."
"It's my responsibility.", she answered, if a little quietly, crossing her arms. "And with it, I inherit the same potential for mistakes as Vader."
"Then don't do it for him, or anybody else for that matter.", Han spoke, trying to work with her thinking. "Learn it when you're ready."
"Why must you put it so simply?", she replied, a smile gracing her troubled features.
"Part of my charm.", Han replied, giving a cocky grin.
A night passed, and the tension in Leia's heart eased a bit. Though she didn't fully trust Vader, she was starting to see that he kept his word. There were no incidents of any kind, and though she had no wish to speak to him, she did want to see her mother again. They'd had such a short time together, and she wanted to learn more about the culture of Naboo.
With some resignation, she decided that she couldn't go to her mother, not when he was there.
Instead, she spent much of her time with her cousins and aunt Sola, though they too had been sworn to keep their relationship a secret. Seeing as they had nowhere to go, the Naberries decided to stay with the Rebel Alliance until their safety beyond its protection could be guaranteed. Much of the morning she'd been with them, talking of the royal houses of Naboo and how its monarchy worked.
While she was speaking with them, a lieutenant approached them.
"General Organa, High Command is requesting your presence."
Leia nodded to the younger man, knowing at once that they'd verified the identity of Padmé Amidala. Immediately she followed him, eager to see what the other leaders were ready to discuss. In the room, High Command was gathered, and with them she saw Luke. As she was walking in, the medic from the day before came in behind her, and they waited with some interest for the results of the test.
"There's been no cloning.", the medic revealed, even displaying the results on the screen. "She is exactly who she says she is."
There was a collective quiet as they took this in, and each of the command members looked to the other. Only Luke, Leia, and Mon Mothma seemed unfazed by this answer. They each glanced at each other knowingly.
"The Bothan spies have also confirmed the construction of the next Death Star on the forest moon of Endor.", Mon Mothma announced and this time the room did go silent.
Knowing the information that Vader being willing to work with them was finally a fact.
"Does this mean that we work with the Imperials?", Ackbar stated, asking the question they all had on their minds.
"I don't see any other choice.", Leia spoke up, causing all eyes to turn to her. "This information was granted to us by his acquiescence. If we go against his wishes, then we risk an even greater danger."
"You're saying that he'll turn on us?", asked Madine seriously, but Leia didn't deny it.
"It is a possibility, which is why we must play the situation in our favor.", Mon Mothma stated, drawing the eyes back to her. "We must all be very careful with this potential alliance. It cannot be dismissed lightly."
"I agree.", came Ackbar, waving a fin at the room in general. "Our numbers are not yet great enough to take on an Imperial fleet should we attack the battle station without the aid of Darth Vader."
"What if it's a trap?", Madine asked the Mon Calamari. "I'd like to believe the best possible outcome, but we must surely prepare for the worst."
"General Madine is right.", Mon Mothma replied, seeing the potential ways in which it could go wrong. "But if the battle over Scarif has taught me anything, it's that the risk is worth taking."
"I vote in favor of hearing him out.", Ackbar continued, his voice confident. "Nothing can be lost by doing so."
Mon Mothma nodded with this and glanced over to Madine, who seemed to agree reluctantly.
"All those in favor of join forces?", spoke the rebel leader, peering at the crowd of onlookers.
To Leia's utter surprise, the majority of the room raised their hands, even the reluctant General Madine.
"Very good.", Mon Mothma nodded before continuing. "We will send Padmé Amidala back to Vader's fleet to relay the message tomorrow."
Then Leia's demeanor shifted. The very real time constraints on moments with her mother became apparent. She'd barely spoken to her after having finally reunited on Tatooine. Though in her mind, she knew that in a few days she couldn't done everything she ever wanted to with her, she lamented what could have been.
Suddenly, time was running short.
Then an idea formed in her mind.
A/N: Again, sorry for the delay! I'm spending far too much time doing other things instead of writing.
So, some of you may remember Rako Hardeen was the bounty hunter that supposedly killed Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Clone Wars show. I did some research but can't find anything about what happened to him after that episode. I'm just going on the assumption that he died, and Anakin is able to impersonate him much like Obi-Wan did.
Special shoutout to RyanSquad, Lawrence HBain, ProsecutorWalton, IntelEwok, Jeda31, ichigo urahara Shihoin, and Reconzilla117 for reviewing! A big thank you to those who favorited and followed my story! If you have any thoughts at all, please don't hesitate to let me know what you thought of this chapter! Again, a huge thank you all for continuing to read :)