Chapter 18

Leia's Trial

Naboo, Galactic Empire Sector

December 6, 1255

Mid Morning

Leia woke up with a horrible, throbbing headache. She rubbed her eyes and looked around. Where in the Galactic Alliance was she? Then it dawned on her. She was no longer in New Republic space! She was in Galactic Empire space!

"No, this can't be happening!" she muttered.

"Oh, yes it most certainly is, Princess Leia!" an evil voice cackled with glee.

"Well, if it isn't the Emperor himself." Leia muttered.

The Emperor was rubbing his hands in excitement. Next to his side and old looking blue skinned man with red eyes was doing the same. It was a chiss. But, it was no ordinary chiss; it was none other than Grand Admiral Thrawn!

"I'm done for!" Leia muttered under her breath.

"We finally have victory, my master!" Thrawn said in triumph.

Leia lowered her head in shame and wonderment. How could she have let herself be captured like this? Why hadn't Han and the kids done anything? She reached out in the Force for her brother, Luke, but felt nothing. She was stranded in the heart of the Empire and helpless! She cursed under her breath in anger.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Princess, none of that!" Thrawn mocked.

Leia regained her strength and stood up and faced the two villains with a grim smile.

"Emperor Palpatine, Grand Admiral Thrawn, listen closely. I may be in your clutches now but I shall defeat both of you in the near future! I am a Skywalker and a Jedi like my father and my brother before me! I shall overcome you both with ease!" she said with confidence.

"Stupid little fool! You may win a slight victory, but the Empire always strikes back! Always!" Sidious spat.

Leia stood her ground and unclipped her lightsaber. She held it loosely in her right hand. The emperor got off his throne and stood menacingly above the princess. Leia held her ground with determination. The emperor let loose waves of lightning at Leia. The princess was prepared for the sudden attack. She ignited her blue blade and with ease blocked the lightning. As the emperor issued the lightning at Leia, he was struck by the deflected lightning with fierceness. He grew weaker by the seconds. He gave up after a minute of this.

Leia kept her lightsaber ignited, ready for any sudden tricks. Suddenly Thrawn kicked her and she dropped her lightsaber. She raised her right hand and drew on the Unifying Force like Jacen had taught her and let loose waves of lightning at the Grand Admiral. Thrawn had not expected this from a Jedi at all! Neither had the emperor from the look on his face! Thrawn dropped lifeless on the ground in a heap of burning flesh. Leia directed the lightning at the Emperor. He went flying in the air and landed lifeless on his throne in another heap of burning flesh which soon disappeared in a wisp of smoke.

Leia finally shut down her lightsaber and reclipped it to her belt. She turned from the gruesome scene with a look of triumph on her face. She was starting to walk towards the door when she was stopped by a stormtrooper. She waved her hand in the air and put a thought in the trooper's mind through the Force. Be on your way. Have a nice day. Long live the Galactic Alliance! Leia nearly laughed at that last part!

She hurried through the hall until she reached the hangar. She found an empty TIE fighter and quickly made a speedy escape back to the known space of the New Republic. After several hours of being in hyperspace, she was finally back at Coruscant. She commed her brother alerting him that she was in a TIE Fighter and she quickly landed outside of the Jedi Temple. As she got out she was greeted by her brother and Han. Han had a giant smile on his face.

"Congratulations Leia! You passed your trial!" Luke said warmly.

She had expected that sort of response from him. She gave him a tight squeeze and began telling Him about her battle with the Empire. Han was impressed.

"Way to go Leia! You sure showed them." He said as he patted her on the back.

Leia ignored him and began telling Luke she felt that the Empire would be back and soon. Luke agreed and said he planned to bring this up at the council at noon.

"Noon, but it's noon now! We're late!" Leia said as she led them to the council chambers in a mad dash.

They reached the doors to the council chambers just as the chronometer struck noon.