Chapter 25
Early the next morning, Leia and Han waited by a nearby landing platform at the Theed space station for the 'delegation' to arrive. All the while, Han had been careful to keep his reservations to himself. He knew there was nothing he could do to change Leia's mind about this, and expressing his fears would only serve to irritate her further. Leia's assurances – that Soruna wouldn't be bold enough to defy the direct wishes of the new Chancellor – did nothing to allay Han's sense of dread.
As the bulky personnel carrier descended towards the landing platform, Han's disconcertion was only accentuated. This had all the signs of a full on military operation rather than a diplomatic mission. Surely the Naboo wouldn't be fooled; surely Soruna wouldn't permit this blatant display of force?
Emitting several loud jets of propulsion, the personnel carrier slowed its descent and finally landed in the center of the platform. With another loud hiss, the vehicle's flank opened up revealing a dozen or so infantrymen waiting to disembark.
Jumping off the deck, the troops organized themselves into two rows in front of Leia and Han, their hands all rigidly saluting them. Noticing that Leia was returning the gesture, Han hurriedly raised his own hand to his forehead, feeling distinctly awkward and out of place. Sure, he had technically been a general, but he had never cared much for military discipline or code.
"At ease," Leia told the troops authoritatively. The troops all simultaneously widened their stances and placed their hands in front of them. "Which one of you is the commanding officer?" she asked.
An older looking man at the far left of the first row stepped forward. "Sergeant Fischer, at your service, ma'am."
Leia gave the sergeant a curt nod. "I assume you have briefed your men on the nature of this operation?" Han winced in spite of himself. An operation? Had Leia dropped all pretense that this was supposed to be first and foremost a diplomatic mission?
"Yes, ma'am," Sergeant Fischer replied.
"Good," Leia said, walking along the first row so that she could inspect the troops. "I remind you that in the case of a confrontation you are to follow my every order and that you set your blasters to stun." Giving Han a brief glance, she continued. "I want to avoid a conflict at all costs, but be warned that the Queen may be unwilling to negotiate through… traditional channels."
Han tore his eyes away from Leia to look at the troops. They were all rapt with attention to Leia, showing no indication that they resented being given orders by a young woman. On the contrary, as Han investigated them a bit closer, he realized that they all seemed to be in awe of her.
"Our meeting is scheduled at 12 hundred standard hours," Leia said, retreating from the line of soldiers to stand next to Han once again. "We will be in our ship at Station 4. I expect your men to be waiting for us there at 11:30," she told the sergeant.
"Yes, ma'am," the sergeant repeated.
"Good," Leia said and turned to leave. Following her, Han heard the soldiers click their heels and salute once more as they watched Leia leave the platform.
Leia was waiting moodily in the main hold while Han was off somewhere else in the ship, no doubt trying to avoid her. She knew he still had his reservations, but evidently he was wise enough not to confront her. She had enough to think about as it was.
Knowing that she still had a couple of hours before the troops were to arrive to escort her to the Palace, Leia sat up and started pacing the main hold. What will Luke think of me when he finds out what I've done? she thought morosely.
Stopping abruptly in the center of the main hold, she chastised herself. He'll understand, she assured herself. I had to do this to rescue him. I have no other choice…
Resuming her pacing, Leia continued to struggle with her guilt. She hadn't told Han yet. Why not? Surely he would understand. But she couldn't tell him, for whatever reason she knew that she couldn't confide in anyone right now, even Han.
Frustrated, Leia unclipped her lightsaber and activated it, soothed by the weapon's energetic hum. Swinging it a few times in a precise and well-rehearsed sequence, Leia began to feel her stress and guilt ebb away. Finishing the sequence, Leia looked down at her lightsaber with a remorseful look. Sighing, she deactivated it and placed it down on the hologram table.
Rubbing her eyes wearily, Leia turned away from the lightsaber to start pacing again.
"You show great skill with the lightsaber," she heard a now all-to-familiar voice say. Looking up, she saw Vader's force ghost looking back at her from a few feet away, a strange expression on his face. Was it pride? Or was he being sarcastic?
"I mean it," he said, perhaps sensing Leia's confusion. "Luke has taught you well."
Leia said nothing, finding herself too tired to tell Vader off.
"Although if I am being truthful," he said, apparently oblivious to Leia's weariness. "You demonstrate much more talent with the lightsaber than Luke does."
Surprised and a little bit indignant, Leia frowned at Vader. "What is that supposed to mean?" she asked accusatively.
Vader smiled back at her, irritating Leia immensely. "Luke is a skilled swordsman, don't get me wrong. But you have always been more adept at appreciating nuance, at mastering technique."
"You don't know a thing about me," she said, but without the fervor or anger which she had been anticipating. Her worry for Luke and overwhelming sense of guilt about what she planned to do clearly had left her too preoccupied to maintain her typical pugnacity towards Vader.
"Although perhaps you're not using the ideal fighting style. You know, I think you might be better suited for Form V, but then again…"
"Why are you here?" she interrupted rudely.
"To give you a warning," he replied, evidently not insulted about being interrupted.
Leia sighed. "Tell Luke I don't need––"
"Not from Luke," Vader said. "From me."
Leia raised her eyebrows and gave Vader a withering glare. "Are you here to criticize my methods as well?" she asked in a steely voice.
"No," he said calmly. "But keep in mind what I showed you."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Everything," Vader said passionately, all hints of levity now gone from his voice. "For you are following a path very similar to mine." Before Leia could say otherwise, Vader continued. "I told myself that I would do whatever I could to prevent your mother from dying in childbirth, including turning to the dark side."
"I'm not going to turn to the dark side!" Leia said angrily. "This is totally different. Luke is actually in danger, what do you want me to do? Sit here and wait for the best?"
"Of course not," Vader said. "But remember that it is easy to forget about what is right and what is wrong when those we love are in danger."
Leia said nothing, too indignant to speak. Since when did he know anything about right and wrong?
"The lines can be blurred in situations like these. Take care to remember this when you meet the Queen this evening." Without waiting for a response, Vader disappeared, leaving Leia staring at the empty wall. Feeling even more frustrated than before, Leia spun around with a huff and picked up her lightsaber off the table. Turning it over gently in her hands, she absentmindedly admired the weapon's sleek and simple design.
As much as she wanted to, Leia couldn't pretend that Vader's warning wasn't salient. With a twinge of self-loathing, she remembered that there was perhaps no one else in the world who could understand Leia's situation as much as he could. Their similarities were uncanny.
But they were not identical, Leia reminded herself. Leia was actually justified in her actions while Vader had not been. Luke was in tangible danger. Vader had been afraid of a nightmare like a child. Besides, it wasn't as if she was tempted by the dark side like Vader had been. She was merely doing what she had to do to rescue Luke. Why couldn't anyone understand that?
Agitated, Leia activated her lightsaber once again and resumed her rehearsals. Envisioning Soruna's laughing face, which was particularly ugly in Leia's mind given that she had never actually met the young Queen, Leia sliced through the air with an unmatched fury. I will destroy you, Soruna she thought to herself viciously. You will pay for what you did to Luke.