Leia felt sure of herself now as she spoke,
"You don't have the power of your super weapon any longer."
The emperor smiled as he now stood paces away from Leia,
"There are other methods within my powers, Princess and I have the coordinates to every planet I need right here."
The old man pointed his finger at Leia and she felt utterly insulted and angry,
"If you think I'll betray the rebellion—democracy! You are wrong."
The emperor laughed viciously and Leia's ears rang with the despise that was evident in his character.
"No, no young Leia. It'd be far too much to ask that of you now, I've learned that with the last Jedi. In time you'll come around at your own will, with the right teaching."
The emperor's cold yellow eyes looked to Leia's left,
"Vader."
Leia glared at the man as he laughed once more and turned his back to them, signaling both to leave.
The ride back down on the elevator Leia felt great ease being removed from the emperor's presence. It was obvious her then just how much he contributed to the sickening aura all around the imperial palace.
"You have been the reason for all the rebellions success thus far, without you I reassure you it will all fall apart."
Leia didn't take to the odd compliment too well.
"Is that the plan? To keep me away from the alliance as long as possible and hope for their downfall?"
"The plan goes far beyond you, Princess."
Leia glared at the masked and armored man,
"Promising the security of the alliance all the while simultaneously reassuring me of it's demise with my absence isn't a great tactic."
"In time you'll see; it will be as it's been said—it will not matter to you."
The two walked around palace, fear and surprise evident in every sight. The rebellion's most valued asset besides the empire's iron fist. Even Leia feared it all now, even as she stood there beside the second most feared man in the Galaxy— specially then,
the emperor's right hand man, Leia knew she felt oddly safe enough with Vader to express the surface of her doubts— which was enough to alarm her.
Fear was consuming her and she knew from one too many talks with the old Jedi knights that fear could lead her where she'd never wanted to go. It was new to her, Leia wasn't one to be afraid, she was the one to confront the problem because it often irritated
her how others would be to scared to even react. And now here she was unsure of what to do.
Her feeling comfortable and safe with Vader, that was enough to confuse her and send her questioning all about. This man had tortured her and caused her an inexplicably amount of pain through many of his actions and just hours ago she'd been terrified
of him but something told her he wouldn't harm her, or that to say the least he wouldn't kill her or let her be killed.
Even beneath that thick layer of fear she knew there was a great deal more. Beneath her sceptical facet she knew she truly feared what they spoke of might work, that she'd be too engulfed in whatever they could possibly teach her to care about the prosperity
and democracy in the Galaxy. Leia's even greater and numbing fear of the emperor of course, had prohibited it all to show.
••••
"Your majesty, all the imperial fleets have left."
Pooja's red colored lips didn't speak a word, nor did her painted face express any emotion. She simply looked back at the guard and nodded before making her way to the throne room where communication monitors had been placed.
Three other figures appeared around the Queen's decoy, the first one of human race spoke,
"Your highness, what is the need for an urgent call?"
Pooja toned her voice down to reach the queen's voice,
"I'm aware the senate has been disolved years now, however the emperor does not take any consideration for the people's worries. We are living in a dictatorship uncontrolled by reason-"
Another one of the creatures intervened,
"Your highness, this is not the first time you've expressed these views what is it you propose we do? We are not the rebel alliance."
Pooja felt surprised but tried to maintain calm and focused,
"We are many, surely we can work together to disolve the countless problems the empire imposes. The emperor can make and undue as he wishes while we stand helpless to watch."
The human spoke again,
"We have armadas but above our highest command, resides the emperor."
"The emperor mustn't know our best bet. Who is to say we couldn't end up like Jedah, Scariff or Alderaan!"
The last of the figures finally spoke,
"Surely you realize how naive that is. The emperor has his most skilled general's in control, they would inform him."
"And to be clear, Jedah was destroyed in a mining accident."
"And Alderaan by it's own fault."
"Mining incident? How can you say that? Be ration-"
"I'm afraid this conversation is going nowhere."
"We all do have other issues that need our attention."
"Conference dismissed?"
"Conference dismissed."
Without one more word from Pooja the conference came to an end.
The whole throne room seemed meaningless now as Pooja sat in the highest authoritative seat on Naboo and was still unheard.
The only other option that remained was to call the alliance and let them know how badly they'd failed in keeping Leia safe. The communications seemed to be failing until there was clear view of Mon Mothma in her traditional white turbines.
"Your highness, we've awaited to be informed. What's happened?"
"Leader... General Organa has been taken hostage by Vader. It was her intent to confront him but it would seem he is still too strong."
"Your highness, this information must stay classified. No one else must know of what's happened. I will limit all comunications from here."
"But what about the General? We won't move to bring her back to safety? She is important to the alliance."
"Your highness, with all due respect it is not in our best interest to move against the empire only to rescue one person. General Organa would understand. Any attack would be futile, specially if she is in the core of the galactic empire."
Pooja felt gravely struck by the words but only said,
"I understand."
The image seemed to flash a few times before it stabilized,
"We can only hope the emperor deals with the situation in a secretive manner. Until later."
Without more exchange that conversation was cut short too and Pooja was left to deal with the losses.
As she exited the grand doors of the throne room she was greeted again by anther unknowing decoy,
"Your majesty. The guards inform me the bodies have all been prepared."
"Thank you."
Pooja moved towards the gardens and watched as two guards were set on each side of every few capsules. It was then that the decoy's large black dress contrasted greatly from the lively flowers that surrounded them, only singularly compared to each capsule
layed out all across the gardens.
At the sight of the Queen, all the men began to rise the capsules over their shoulders and walk.
••••
"You should know very well the democracy you seek is useless."
Leia glared at the shadow in front of her as she saw buttons being pushed.
"Conversing about what is best for the vast mayority is not useless, specially when compared to something like imposing rule that benefits a small and already secured population."
The mechanical voice spoke, his sight still fixated on the ships controls.
"Impractical,endless debates without conclusions while the problem persists. When there is a solution given it is only what a few hoped, a decision that still only benefits a few."
"No one is ever going to fully agree with what has been done that is why compromise is needed!"
The figure turned now and looked down at Leiafrom the short distance,
"Debating for so long only to fulfill half a promise."
Leia turned away,
"There is no making sense of it to you."
"There is simply no making sense of it. I've seen democracy and compromise fail for the very reasons I'm exposing to you."
Leia's brown eyes searched once more for the shadow,
"For what? I will not switch sides so easily. There is no logic in asking me to destroy the very thing I've helped strengthen."
Vader was quiet then and turned back, he didn't want to acknowledge the fact then but still bitter thought sought him out.
How curious it was for this child to think like that, how silly he had though it to be also, all those years ago until he sealed the demise of everything he'd been looking to save.
••••Author's Note••••
The small bickering is greatly inspired by my uncle and cousin's constant debating on democrats and republicans, silly thing is my cousin influenced Vader greatly and my uncle Princess Leia.
Any questions feel free to ask me and I love feedback so if you don't mind reviewing :)
This chapter is in celebration of the Episode 8 officially having a name.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Thank you for reading!