Three days. Mon protected saved three days to enjoy with her family before the dangerous recruitment mission to Tatooine. She hadn't been to the desert planet since the massacre on Kashyyk. Organa advised her against the mission but Mon knew there were many academy students ripe to join the rebellion if given the proper nudge. A visit from the Senator and Alliance leader herself might prompt a surge in the number of skilled pilots in their ranks. Mon felt it was worth a try.
The Alliance was on the cusp of something big. She could sense it. Princess Leia had taken a seat in the puppet Senate beside her father. Her vocal stance for freedom was spreading throughout the galaxy. In the past few years, Organa's guerrilla operation had grown into a fleet of ships with a considerable amount of strength.
Mon shut down the engines on her ship. The hassle of covering her tracks home annoyed her. She wasted half a day hoping ships and doubling back which meant she only had two and half left to be with those she loved.
She stepped off the ship and found Cutter, Cassir and Elin waiting for her. The spring air was honeyed with the scent of the purple flowers of Bothawui. The mountains were warm and lush during the spring months.
Cassir was only ten but he was already taller than both of his sisters. Elin was seven and her pretty face perfectly reflected the kind heart housed within. Sometimes Elin's capacity for kindness shocked Mon. She always shared her toys. She always made sure everyone was included and gave plenty of hugs if she thought someone was having a bad day.
Elin was the first to run toward the ship and throw her arms around Mon. Mon hugged her back and kissed her forehead. Cassir strolled up to her casually with his hands in his pockets. He was about at the age where hugging his mom was embarrassing, but when Mon pulled him to her he grinned and hugged her tightly.
Cutter kissed her.
"Ew, gross," Elin said. In response Cutter swept Mon off her feet and dipped her down to kiss her again.
Elin protested again and covered her eyes with her hands. Mon's husband loved teasing the children. When she was back on her feet, Cutter picked up Elin and tipped her upside down.
"Oh, you think that's gross do you?" He tickled her and she screamed and then laughed.
"How long are you home for, mom?" Cassir asked with his hands back in his pockets.
"Only three days," Mon replied absently. Her eyes were busy scanning the landing platform.
"Where's your sister?"
Cassir looked down at his shoes. Elin stopped giggling and Cutter set her back down. The children exchanged glances and Mon frowned as she met Cutter's eyes.
"She's at home," he said simply. Mon felt relieved her thirteen year old was alright but on the walk home a deep dread settled in her gut.
"How was work? Did you get a lot of droids repaired?" Cassir asked on the trail back. He used a stick to whack at the heads of purple flowers on the mountain side. Elin rode on Cutter's shoulders behind them.
Mon felt a pang of guilt for the lie. Her back was turned but she knew Cutter's eyes were on her. For the last year he implored her to tell the children the truth. His arguments were getting stronger and she sensed his frustration grew each time she refused. She still thought the less the children knew about her real work the safer they would be.
"Yes, but we have a big shipment coming in soon which is why I have to get back." Even as the lie came out she knew it was wrong.
Cutter went quite for the rest of the walk back. The Bothan that Mon's mother employed, who's name she now remembered as Biree Dall'nel, had lunch waiting for them. The younger children went to the kitchen but Mon stopped Cutter in the hallway.
"Where is Jeanida?"
His eyes turned serious. The look he had of concern was one he rarely wore and it alarmed her.
"You have to tell her the truth."
She didn't like being ordered. Instead of considering his words her temper flared. Cutter's eyes softened.
"She's probably in her room."
Mon turned to go to her oldest but Cutter grabbed her arm.
"Just..." he struggled to find the words. "Don't jump to conclusions."
Mon blinked. Curiosity and fear mixed until she reached the teenager's room. She knocked on the door. Her oldest sat on her bed with several books scattered over the bed and her nose deep inside one of them.
"May I come in?"
Jeanida lifted her shoulders and kept her face between the pages. Mon tentatively stepped inside. She pulled the chair from the desk and sat next to the bed. She read the title of the book in her daughter's hands. The Power Within. By Palpatine.
Anger made Mon's entire body tighten into knots. How dare her husband allow that book in their household! She drew on all her willpower to keep from ripping the book from her daughter's fingers and blasting it through the bedroom window. Mon had to take a few silent deep breaths before she felt calm enough to speak.
"I'm happy to see you."
Her daughter didn't put the book down.
"Jeanida?"
The teenager sighed and finally dropped the book. She rolled her eyes over to Mon.
"Whatever."
The hostility in her tone took Mon by surprise. She knew Jeanida struggled with Mon's constant absences but she never reacted like this before. Mon was at a loss.
"Don't act so dumb, mother. Like I'm supposed to be all excited that your back? You'll just be gone again in five minutes."
She lifted the book back to her face. Mon leaned forward and put her fingers on Jeanida's forearm. The girl pulled away.
"Don't touch me."
"I'm sorry that I have to be away. Being parted from you is the worst-"
Mon stopped when Jeanida put the book down again and looked at her.
"But see, I know. Cass and E, they haven't figured it out but I have. You just leave dad to do everything by himself because all that matters to you is your stupid job. You probably have a boyfriend or something too."
Tears brimmed in Jeanida's eyes. She turned away probably in hopes that Mon wouldn't see. For a few seconds Mon was too stunned to say anything. For years she thought Jeanida clearly understood how much she loved her and the rest of the family.
"That slander doesn't even deserve a response!" Mon never before raised her voice to one of her children. Jeanida visibly swallowed. Her eyes were wide. Mon knew how intimidating she could be but her temper got the better of her.
"That book your reading has an evil force behind it." Mon moved forward in her chair. "It's called the Sith. It can find its way into your heart and turn it cold before you even know what happened."
Jeanida jutted her jaw forward.
"It's not the book, mother. It's you." She didn't look Mon in the eyes. "Please leave me alone."
The only thing Mon wanted at that moment was to threw her arms around her daughter and promise her than everything would be okay. She didn't move from the chair for a long moment because the urge to hug Jeanida was so overpowering.
Mon was surprised by the tears she felt on her cheeks.
"I love you, Jeanida. So much."
Mon left the room. She stopped in the outside hallway and heard her daughter burst into muffled sobs.
Mon had to pull herself together for the sake of her other children. She stopped at the hallway mirror and dabbed the signs of tears from her face. She returned to the kitchen and was greeted by the pleasant banter of Cassir and Elin. They teased each other over which chair Mon should take because they both wanted to sit by her. Mon arranged thing so she was in the middle of both of them.
She sent a glare across the table at Cutter. It was clear he knew from the moment Mon stepped into the house how upset she would be. The four of them ate but Jeanida didn't come out for lunch until Mon left the room.
That night Mon closed the bedroom door and faced her husband reeling of a sense of betrayal. Palpatine. Cutter let Palpatine into their family.
Cutter stayed on the other side of the room, next to the window.
"Look," he put his hands on his hips, "before you start in, I took the book away from her three times. She kept finding other copies."
Mon kept her expression neutral but that he tried to take it away was at least something. She already felt a twinge of forgiveness touch her heart.
"So, then I thought, let's talk about it." Cutter paced across the room. "I told her about Palpatine. How he is evil. How he is the Empire. How we have to fight him anyway we can."
Cutter stopped and looked at her.
"We got into a row over it, a bad one. She said if we are fighting for freedom then she should be free to read it and decide for herself." Cutter's shoulders dropped. "She had a point. I couldn't argue and she's angry with you. All she thinks she has right now is me so I didn't want to make it worse."
Bitterness got the better of Mon. She folded her arms.
"I see. Better she hate me than you."
Cutter looked at her with nothing but sympathy. She had to turn her eyes away from him because she wasn't ready to let go of her anger. He took a few tentative steps toward her.
"You have to tell her, Carrots. Tell her you lead the fight against Palpatine. Tell her what Vader did to her namesake. Tell her Palpatine wouldn't hesitate to kill you and all of us for the power."
Cutter moved gradually closer to her. By the time he finished speaking he was standing next to her. He put his hand on her shoulder. She kept her arms folded.
"It will make a difference to her, I promise you."
Mon dropped her hands to her sides. She started at a spot on the wall.
"You're right. I have to tell her."
Cutter squeezed her shoulder and bent his ear toward her.
"Say again? What was that?"
She sighed and tried not to give in to his teasing.
"You are right."
Cutter straightened and scratched his chin.
"So that would make you...?"
She rolled her eyes and a grinned came to her lips.
"Wrong."
Cutter nodded. He put his arms around her and she gave into his embrace.
"The words I never thought I would hear in our marriage."
Mon let a chuckle escape. She didn't know how Cutter always managed to make things better. He found humor at the most inopportune times. The times when Mon needed it most.
His hands gently ran across her back.
"Everything will be fine. It's all going to work out."
Mon clung to him.
"Being here like this I almost believe you." Her voice was muffled by the side of his shoulder.
"You should believe me, because I'm... you know. Say it again."
Mon smiled. She didn't know how she went from seething with anger moments ago to smiling but here she was.
"Right."
Cutter rocked them back and forth.
"Right, right, right." He repeated. She kissed him to make him shut up.
The next day Mon asked Jeanida to join her on a hike up the side of the mountain. When Jeanida was younger the girl loved to play in the wide meadows that covered the top of the mountain. At first Jeanida declined. It was only when Cutter told her that she needed to go because Mon had something important to tell her that their daughter agreed.
The hike up was nothing short of miserable. The spring day turned out pleasant but Jeanida carried a cloud over her that tainted everything around them. Mon tried to start a conversation but the monosyllable answers she received were bathed in irritation. Much to Mon's chagrin her daughter carried the book with her all the way up the trail.
They reached the top meadow but Jeanida chose to sit on a rock instead of running through the wildflower fields as she did when she was young.
Rather than prolong the torture, Mon took a seat next to her daughter on the boulder. Jeanida didn't look at her.
"You father mentioned to you there was something I need to tell you."
She shrugged her shoulders. Jeanida's attention was on the cover of Palpatine's ego trip of a manuscript. Mon sighed and pulled out a transmitter from her pocket. She set the holo-projector on the boulder in front of them. She pushed play. The first transmission that played was Organa's official announcement to the Empire that the Alliance to Restore the Republic was in place. Mon watched her own image at Organa's side.
Once it was over Jeanida looked to Mon with a mix of shock and confusion.
"This is the reply we received from the one who wrote that book."
Mon didn't look at Palpatine's image. Her focus was on her daughter. Jeanida seemed horrified by the scarred face that appeared and by the threats that followed. She looked down at the book in her hands.
"This is the reply we sent back."
Mon played the last transmission. The one of her standing resolutely in the face of the Emperor. She hadn't seen the transmission before then. The strength of her own voice and electric energy in her stance as she demanded Palpatine's surrender surprised even her.
When the image ended the only sound that filled the fields was the call of the native birds. Jeanida finally said something. She kept her eyes down on her book.
"You are part of the Rebel Alliance?"
Mon couldn't fight her instincts anymore. She reached out and brush Jeanida's hair over her shoulder.
"I am co-leader of the Rebel Alliance and Senator for Chandrila."
Jeanida look down at the book in her hands with a frown. The relief that swept over Mon nearly knocked her off the boulder.
"That's why you have to leave all the time?"
Jeanida still didn't look at her, but Mon sensed some progress had been made.
"Yes. You father and I kept it a secret to protect you and your brother and sister. No one knows about you. If the Empire found out I have a family you would all be in danger."
Jeanida pressed her lips together.
"Would it be alright if I thought about this for a while?"
Mon half gasped and half laughed. She wrapped her arm around Jeanida's shoulders and pulled her close. Mon could tell Jeanida didn't want to be hugged, but the teenager didn't object.
"You can think about it for as long as you like."
They sat together in silence for a while. When the sun dropped lower in the sky Jeanida suggested they go back for lunch. The teenager said little on the trip back but Mon felt that with time their relationship could mend.
Her three days home were over much too soon. She thought about Jeanida and the day on the mountain top all the way to Tatooine.
Tatooine's duel suns poured over the dunes and heated the air until it tasted of grit and sand. The wind swept grains across the plains and under the flaps of tent the Alliance set up in the middle of nowhere. Mon's white robes blew around her as pebbles impacted her legs. She changed into the ceremonial white in the transport only after they left Mos Eisley to avoid drawing attention.
Chairs sunk into the sand in neat rows about twenty deep. All seats were filled and still more onlookers pressed in from beyond the cover of the tent. The natives must have stood for hours in the hot suns. From the mumbled voices Mon could tell they were excited to learn more of the rebellion. Most were young men but Mon spotted a few women and some older beings of various species.
Beyond the gathering under the shade of a rock cliff stood a man. At least Mon suspected he was human. His face was half covered by the hood of a brown cloak. Traces of a white beard appeared under the cloth. She sensed he might be a Jedi.
Rumors met her ears occasionally. A Jedi or two survived. Hidden. Waiting. She knew Yoda was alive but she would take that knowledge to her grave. If her little gathering attracted the attention of one of the last of the Jedi she felt hopeful about the future of the Alliance.
The wind blew too strongly for her to get a clear glimpse of the man for long. Despite the conditions the meeting pressed on. This far out in the galaxy she found everyone watched her with awe. With so much awe she half expected the young man next to ask for her autograph. The meeting was ego boosting but, more importantly, the perfect opportunity to recruit.
The rebel commander on Tatooine, a young pilot no more than twenty introduced her. He rambled about her successes in battle and starting the Alliance, though Mon wanted to interrupt to say that was mostly because of Bail and Leia Organa.
She moved to the center of the tent. Her shoes sank into the sand as she walked so she couldn't be as imposing as she liked. The wind kicked up and blew one layer of her white robes into her face. Mon used her hands to hold in down. The men wore expressions of confusion about whether to be embarrassed for her or to ignore the awkward moment.
Mon felt the influence of Cutter's sense of humor.
"Really, Tatooine? I know you're excited to see me but don't get fresh."
Young students in the first rows exchanged glances. She heard a tentative chuckle.
Normally Mon opted for serious messages about freedom, hope and the evils of the Empire. She still intended to speak on such things but she felt she need to establish a rapport with the younger than usual audience.
"The clothes are a bit impractical but they make laundry day very easy."
Mon looked brightly into the faces of the young students. This time several more laughed.
"I was going relate the fall of the Empire to one grain of sand at a time passing through an hourglass but..." Mon looked at the sand to her left and to her right. "I think I will spare you more talk about sand."
The majority of the academy age men and women burst into laughter and Mon moved to the more serious topics.
Based on the praise and number of students eager to shake her hand after words Mon ruled the mission a success. She neared the end of the crowd and two young men approached her. The dark haired one shook her hand with excitement while the other stood timidly behind.
"It's an honor, Senator. Names Biggs. Soon as I graduate I'm joining up."
"Thank you, Biggs. Because of your sacrifice the Alliance grows stronger every day."
He let go and Mon offered her hand to the other young man. He squeezed it briefly.
"Luke Skywalker."
Mon smiled inwardly. The secret of the galaxy.
"It's nice to meet you, Luke." Mon remembered the last time she saw him he was small enough to hold in her arms.
"I'm not sure when I will be able to join. My uncle needs help with the harvest but I'm going to ask him to buy more droids to help out."
"You will join when the time is right, young Skywalker."
He nodded and his brown hair fell across his forehead. He looked back up with a grin.
"I won't forget what you said. Biggs told me the leader of the Alliance, the Senator in White, is the light of a galaxy. You proved him right today."
Biggs slapped Luke on the shoulder.
"I'm always right, kid. When are you gonna learn this?"
Luke smiled sheepishly.
"Be safe, Senator Mothma," Biggs said as the two of them walked away.
Mon's bodyguards flanked her and started to move her back toward the transport once all who wanted to greet her left. For a moment Mon hesitated. She scanned the surrounding cliffs for signs of the hooded figure but he had vanished.
On the ride back to Mos Eisley she changed out of the robes of Chandrila and into a grey outfit with a blaster holster. Anytime she went on a dangerous mission Cutter let her borrow his blaster. She looked at it fondly before she slipped it to the carrier strapped to her thigh. As she pulled on a green cloak she thought of her oldest daughter. That conversation seemed like a lifetime ago.
She wondered if Organa might let her have a little more time that usual to spend with her family. The Senate was out of session. Maybe she could manage a full three weeks. The Alliance seemed to be progressing moderately well and Mon felt her family, especially Jeanida, needed a more attention than she'd be able to give the last few years.
The transport stopped and Mon's two guards, dressed in plain clothes, guided her down the ramp. The spaceport bustled with all kind of creatures. They weaved through the masses toward the waiting spaceship. Some disturbance down the main corridor prompted Mon's lead guard to take a detour through a back alley.
She considered the wisdom of the decision but held her tongue. They were halfway down a secluded street when the blaster fire erupted. The lead guard fell before he had time to draw his weapon. The guard behind pushed Mon down as she grabbed her blaster. The guard behind her took a hit squarely in the chest. He tumbled backwards and dropped.
Mon scanned the rooftops and spotted the attacker. She fired. The bounty hunter took cover behind the brick of a Mos Eisley railing. He moved down the roof toward her. His face was hidden by a green helmet with a T-shaped visor reminiscent of clone troopers.
Mon took advantage of his placement and ran under the cover of metal stairs and balconies from overhead dwellings. She knew she had to get to the docking bay. He fired more shots and she dove behind a dumpster. Mon returned fire.
No shots came back at her. She peered up from around the dumpster but the bounty hunter completely vanished. Mon saw the bodies of her fallen comrades and felt the urge to run back to them. Her wisest course was to get to the ship and get help. With blaster raised she crept out from behind the dumpster.
She made it all the way to the corner of the alley when the bounty hunter descended on her from the air. Exhaust from his jet back slammed into her and she staggered back. He fired to more shots but missed. Mon ran toward him and lunged into the air. The move caught the bounty hunter by surprise and Mon knocked the blaster from his hand. She landed and was about to fire when she heard something click.
The grappling arrow from his gauntlet shot toward her. Mon dodged out of the way but the point hit her back. She cursed when the sting caused her to drop her blaster. Mon looked down to see the four pronged clamp protruding from her abdomen. She turned to face her attacker.
He held something in his hand. Too small to be a blaster. Mon narrowed her eyes. A holo-recorder. The arrogant assassin was filming his kill.
She stepped toward him but the flames from his jet pack kept her from getting close enough to attack him.
He tugged and Mon felt the pull on the metal chord coming out her back. The grapping wire extended to his forearm. In that moment Mon saw the faces of Cutter and her three children. It seemed the Empire would destroy her after all. Pain from the lethal wound finally registered. She fell to her knees. The killing blow would come soon.
A flash blinded her. For a moment she thought she was dead. Mon blinked and light scarred her eyes. The tense on the chord went slack. The blade of a blue lightsaber freed her.
The bounty hunter tried to take off but hooded figure reached out his hand and somehow stopped the movement. The bounty hunter's legs kicked as he inadvertently drew closer to the blue blade. The clocked man spun around and his lightsaber met with the jet pack. The tank exploded and the bounty hunter shot up into the sky.
Mon fell to the ground before she could see where he landed. Blood covered her hands and stomach. She looked up at the hazy Tatooine sky. The kindly face of a white bearded old man soon blocked her view. He reached out and she closed her eyes as she felt his hand on her head. Something he did gave her strength to stay conscious.
He shouted something, looked down, smiled at her and then disappeared. Within a few seconds more faces hovered above her. These faces she recognized. Her rebel crew from the docked ship.
"We have to get her out of here." She heard a jumble of voices. Her eyes welled with tears caused by pain and everything blurred.
"Who has the fastest ship at port right now?"
Mon heard a mass of ship and pilot names. Only one she heard clearly before she passed out.
"Millennium Falcon. Captain Solo."
Mon vaguely remembered beginning carried off a ship on a stretcher. She had flashes of a hospital and then another ship and another dock. Everything turned bright white and then went dark until she woke up in a soft bed.
She blinked a few times. The ceiling above her was elaborately decorated. Warmth filtered in from a skylight in the corner. Ships passed overhead.
Mon's mouth was dry. She tried to move. Every muscle hurt. Then the pain came. It felt like someone ripped open her stomach with a Tusken gaffi stick.
She threw back the blankets and a stern voice protested.
"Don't you dare move."
Mon turned and met the determined face of Senator and Princess Leia Organa. For the moment Mon obeyed.
"Where am I?" Her voice was weak. Mon wasn't sure if the bitter taste in her mouth was from her injury or some kind of medicine.
"You're safe. You're on Alderaan. My father brought you here after the hospital was compromised. Everyone thinks you're dead and because of that Boba Fett just became the most notorious bounty hunter in the galaxy."
Mon grabbed Leia's arm. The princess seemed alarmed by the strength.
"I need you to send an encoded message for me. You must do it yourself. I trust no one else."
Leia nodded gravely. The fact she realized how important the message was made Mon relax her grip a little.
"Send it to Biree Dall'nel on Bothawui."
"Bothawui?" Leia sounded both shocked and disgusted. The Bothan's didn't have a great reputation in the galaxy. Mon made a mental note to tell Leia about the Bothan spy net later.
"What should I say?"
Mon thought carefully. Though the message was encoded she had to account for the possibility of it being intercepted.
"A frost came to the garden but the carrots survived."
Leia frowned. Her lips turned up at the corner.
"You either have a hidden yen or gardening or your being cryptic. I'm guessing it's the latter. Will this Biree Dall'nel know what it means?"
"No, but she will tell someone who does."
Mon tried to sit up. Leia helped by arranging the pillows.
"How long have I been here?"
"About a week."
Mon felt another pang from her stomach but whether from her wound or the fact Cutter and the children thought she was dead for an entire week she didn't know.
"The Senate?"
Mon's question brought a frown to the lips of the Princess. The time that passed before she answered made Mon guess what she was about to say.
"They plan on calling nominations to replace you at the emergency session tomorrow."
Mon sat up in bed. The strain to her injured torso shot a blast of pain through her. She ignored it. Mon grabbed Leia's arm again.
"I must be there."
Leia shook her head.
"You aren't getting out of that bed for at least another week. Doctors orders."
Mon swallowed back the pain. She tightened her grip on Leia's arm. She drew strength from the force.
"I will be there. I will stand before the Senate and show the Empire nothing can defeat us."
Leia looked up at the ceiling then back to Mon.
"Unless you bleed out on stage."
Mon felt weakened by the conversation. She let go of Leia and rested back against the pillow. She never took her eyes from the Princess.
"You know I am right. The Empire must see they cannot destroy our hope."
Leia sighed. She stood and paced across the room with her arms folded.
"They can destroy you, Senator. You almost died."
Mon ignored the thought of her children who at this moment would believe they had been truly abandoned by their mother.
"But I didn't, Leia. I will fight them so long as there is breath in me. Like I know you will."
Leia clasped her hands together and put them under her chin. She retreated deep into thought and then dropped her hands.
"I will ready the transport."
Mon called after her.
"And send the message?"
Leia nodded and left the room.
Mon dozed off until she heard voices. She woke. The medicine made her groggy. She blinked several times before she recognized Leia. The princess worked with several nurses to ready a hover bed.
Moving onto the craft caused Mon to cry out in pain. The Rodian nurses exchanged surprised glances but Leia encouraged them to continue by a simple nod.
They boarded a ship and Mon was able to find some sleep for most of the journey. When she woke it was with thoughts of her family on Bothawui. She wondered if the message had been delivered. Did they know she was alive? She hoped they did. It pained her to think they might hear it first from gossip about the emergency Senate session.
When they finally arrived at Mon's Senate chambers, Princess Leia combed her red hair and helped her dress. The process was slow going and Mon weakened before she even faced the long walk down the corridor to the meeting room.
"I will call a transport," Leia looked down at Mon. Even sitting upright in the chair was painful. Mon held out her hand.
"No. I want to show them they can't destroy hope. They can't even touch it."
The conviction in her voice must have persuaded the Princess, even though Leia frowned at the words. Leia took Mon's hand and pulled her to her feet. Mon stood and her eyes stung with the pain coursing from the hole in her stomach.
"You can't do this."
Mon blinked back the pain and looked Leia in the eyes.
"I will."
Leia let go of her hand and Mon took a few steps toward the door. It opened and Organa waited on the other side. He and Leia exchanged a look. Organa offered his arm.
Mon took it more as a tool for helping her walk down the hallway than as an escort. They passed several aids and Senators on the way to the large conference room. Whispers followed them all the way down.
Organa helped Mon into her round flying seat. He and Leia had to leave her in order to take their place representing Alderaan. Inside the craft Mon greeted her wide eyed aid from Chandrila. The man's joyous grin reached his eyes.
"You're alive."
Mon looked to the center of the room. A hooded figure entered and took his place at the head of the Senate. Palpatine. She hadn't laid eyes on him in years.
"More than alive."
Anger numbed the pain of her injury. Emperor Palpatine opened the session.
"This emergency sesion is called to order for the purprose of nominating a replacement for the deceased Senator of Chandrila."
Mon smiled. She punched the controls on her craft and lifted into the center of the Senate. Gasps erupted throughout.
"As you can see. The Empire has lied about my demise. I am very much alive and very much opposed to the unlawful reign of the Emperor." Mon had never spoken so boldly in a session before. She wasn't sure if it was her words or the fact she was alive that caused the bigger stir.
Palpatine's chin angled toward her. She couldn't see his eyes under the dark hood over his face.
"The Senate from Chandrila tempts fate with her treasonous accusations."
Mon turned her attention to the faces of her fellow Senators.
"Yes, and such talk will surely inspire the Emperor to send another bounty hunter to take my life."
Again more mumbled whispers broke out. Palpatine slammed his fist on the podium.
"Seditious talk! Where is your proof Senator?"
"The proof is in you, Sith Lord!"
The allegation caused the Emperor to stand. The red guard on each side of him drew their spears into the air. Mon stared him down. She dared him to try something with so many eyes on them. She knew this display would convince many more to join the Alliance.
"Lies! Senator Mothma tells you lies to incite violence. The Empire is dedicated to peace in the galaxy." Palpatine nearly choked on his words. "Return to your post, Senator, before I request a motion to discharge you permanently."
Mon smiled. He was afraid. If he felt secure on his hold of the Senate he would have discharged her then and there. She steered the craft back to the dock. She felt triumphant. When the craft dock a wave of nausea caused to grip the railing.
As if she sensed it, Leia was already at Mon's side. She helped her back to the private quarters. Mon leaned heavily on Leia's shoulders and was exhausted by the time they made it back to the chamber. When the door opened Mon looked down to see a red stain on her white robes.
Mon's recovery was slow. She took a ship to Bothawui at the earliest possible chance, which wasn't until nearly a month after the General Senate Session. Gossip spread of how the way the lady in white rose from the dead and momentarily exposed the Emperor as an evil dictator. The Alliance seemed to grow in strength faster than ever. Mon's strength, however, was slow to return. She insisted on a solitary journey home but Princess Leia refused. They only way to convince Organa's daughter was to allow the young Senator to join her.
Mon hated letting Leia in on her secret life but as they navigated docking station and switched ships Mon realized with her still tender injury she would not have succeeded without Leia's help. Mon steered the ship on a final approach to Bothawui and for the first time the Princess questioned her on their destination.
"Bothawui again? Why?"
Part of Mon felt an excitement to finally share the wonderful world she created apart from her duties in the Alliance. Another part felt ill at the thought telling Leia might place her family in danger. The force whispered to Mon. Yoda's voice confirmed that Leia was to be trusted. Mon felt so overpowered by the force that seemed to dwell in the Princess that she wondered at her own sanity.
"My husband and children have lived in the remote mountains of Bothawui for years."
Leia's mouth dropped. Mon relished the sound of a not oft quiet Princess. It took Leia at least thirty seconds to form a coherent sentence.
"You're married?"
"The life of a Senator doesn't have to be a lonely one, Leia. Keep that in mind."
The advice snapped Leia out of her momentary surprise. She shrugged.
"No need. I'm too busy for romance."
"You're also too lovely and amazing for someone not to fall in love with you."
Leia dropped her eyes and appeared to absorb the compliment. When she looked back up she beamed.
"I never really knew my mother but I hope she was like you."
Mon put her hand to Leia's cheek.
"And I couldn't be prouder of you if you were my own daughter." Mon glanced down to the planet now in view. "I hope you'll stay to meet them."
Mon dropped her hand. Leia blinked.
"Them? As in more than one daughter?"
Mon gave Leia a sidelong glance and readied the shuttle for entry. Mon flew the familiar path over the mountain ranges to the landing dock Cutter and her father built in the mountains.
Her family must have heard the ship approach because as she landed she could see all of them waiting on the edge of the platform. Her heart leapt to her throat. Even Jeanida was there. In fact, Mon's oldest child waited a few steps in front of her siblings.
The ship landed and Leia took over the controls.
"I will shut down. Go."
The Princess did not have to encourage Mon further. She left the pilot seat and went to the cargo bay. The landing ramp seemed to take and eternity to touch down. Jeanida was already halfway up the ramp when Mon started down.
The girl wrapped her arms tightly around Mon. The action hurt Mon's wound but the joy that filled her countered the discomfort.
"I'm sorry, mother. I love you so much. I was just mad that you have to be gone but I hate the Emperor. Please, do you forgive me?"
The girl talked through sobs. Mon stepped back and cupped Jeanida's face between her hands.
"There is nothing to forgive."
Jeanida hugged her tightly again. Mon reviled the feeling. In an instant Elin and Cassir joined in the hug. Mon greeted each of them and they walked down the ramp together. Once on solid ground Mon looked up to meet Cutter's eyes.
The children broke their hold and Cutter stepped to her. None of the children objected when they kissed.
"I see now why you disappear so much."
Cutter stepped back in surprise. The children all looked to Mon.
"This is Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan. She helped me journey home."
Cutter lifted his eyebrows. She knew he realized the seriousness of her injuries. Elin's eyes grew wide.
"A real life princess?"
Leia smiled down kindly at the girl.
"It takes one to know one."
Elin giggled.
Mon was glad Leia insisted on travelling with her. The interaction with her family would be good for both her children and the young Senator.