Leia Organa could not stop the fluttering of nerves in her stomach if the galaxy depended on it. After so many false leads and failed attempts at catching up to Han, this one felt like they really had a chance. The princess looked down at her disguise. No one doubted that she was Boushh the Ubese bounty hunter on the Black Sun and she hoped no one would doubt it now either. In reality, Boushh was presumed dead, but hardly anyone knew that.
As a member of the Rebellion, Leia had concocted scheme after scheme to aid the Republic effort, but this was one of the most thought-out plans she had been involved in. Lando Calrissian was already at Jabba's palace on Tatooine, having been accepting into the Hutt Guardsman's Guild under the alias Tamtel Skreej. Leia had her Boushh costume ready to go and even brushed up on Ubese, which she already spoke a little of. Luke had fashioned a Padawan's robe from some of Ben's old clothes and constructed another lightsaber so Tess could believably disguise herself as his apprentice.
There was something unnerving about being in the former bedroom of a dead man though Leia never believed in ghosts. Luke once alluded that Ben Kenobi still contacted him through the Force—maybe that allowed for the ghost-like presence that the Alderaanian princess felt.
Leia's disguise smelled just as horribly as when it was given to her. She would have washed it, but she assumed the lingering Ubese smell would make her costume more believable. Leia struggled with one of the belts around the thick, brown tunic before she heard a knock outside the room. She swiveled to face Luke.
"Perfect timing," Leia told him with a smirk. She turned her back to give him access to the stubborn belt. "Can you help me with this?"
Luke nodded accommodatingly and entered the room to help her. He fastened the belt with ease, then took Leia gently by the shoulders. The princess sensed some unease from him.
"What's wrong?" Leia asked him.
Luke exhaled generously. His gaze fell to the little blue droid rolling in beside him.
"Master Yoda…" Luke began nervously. "Did you know that he knew your father? Bail Organa, I mean?" Everyone always felt like they had to clarify who they meant with the term 'father' when you were adopted, Leia had observed over the years. She scanned Luke's face. Leia was not expecting such a serious tone from him. It took her a moment to answer his question.
"Yes," Leia recalled. "They worked together in the years before the full rise of the Empire."
Luke nodded.
"Master Yoda received a message from your father years ago—soon after your adoption. Yoda gave me permission to take the message through Artoo so that I could show it to you."
Leia's eyes widened like saucers. Her father. She did not allow herself to think about him most of the time. She missed him so much.
"It concerns Tess," Luke added turning to leave the room. "I'll keep her out of hearing distance."
At that, Luke Skywalker left Leia alone with the droid. As much as Leia hated to taint her idealistic image of her late father, after finding out about Tess the secret child, Leia had so many questions. Would this message answer them? There was only one way to find out.
"Play the message, Artoo."
The little droid immediately beeped a response and a blue holoprojection emerged from his tiny frame. The blue fog was too static to make out a face at first, but moments later Leia recognized that the projected image was indeed her father. The holoprojected Bail Organa cleared his throat—a sentimentally familiar sound to his daughter.
"Jedi Master Yoda," Organa began. "I trust you have arrived safely at your destination. It has taken me several standard days to bring myself to create this message, so I assume the most effective attack would be to come out and say it. I have done something shameful. Following the adoption of my daughter Leia I became overwhelmed with a fear for her safety—knowing where she came from. Though I take complete responsibility, this fear brought me to the medical wing, where I thought I would solve all my problems. I ordered for the creation of a child. It sounds insane as I state the words. They created the child I asked for—another biological daughter of Padme Naberrie. I created a decoy for my Leia.
I returned to the medical center months later with regret towards the decision, but I had to check on the status of the child. She was supposed to have been fully developed by then, using chemical processes similar to Kamino cloning methods. But the experimental procedure failed and her artificial womb growth was instead slowed. Though the child would grow normally once she reached full term, she was no longer a possible decoy for my daughter. I took this as a time for me to redeem myself. The child I speak of will be named Tess Naberrie, and in seven years when she grows to full term in the provided artificial womb, I will take full responsibility for the care of this child.
I understand, Master Yoda, that this was a mistake. I know it complicates things. However, I will die before Tess knows that. I realize now that I have done nothing but put the children in more danger. They were separated for a reason, and adding a third to the mix just increases their chances of detection. I found it necessary that you be informed of this change in the developments.
I sincerely apologize for going against the original plan that you, Obi-Wan and I worked so carefully to unfold. And again, take this message as my acceptance of responsibility for the creation of Tess Naberrie, and my willingness to take care of this child not just as the half-sister of my child—but as if she were my own daughter."
The blue holoprojection flashed off.
Leia just sat there, frozen, staring at the empty space where it used to be.