"We need to conquer Naboo, but we can't do that without the help of the Gungans," Leia chided. "There might be a way to get them without bribing them."
"How do you propose we do that?" Admiral Ackbar queried animatedly. "You know the Gungans do not agree to help."
"Jar-Jar Binks worked with some from the Old Republic; Jedi. Anakin is our only link. We must hope that Jar-Jar recognizes him and will ignore that he was Vader."
"That's a long shot," Han Solo joked, but it did not go well with the committee members. "Look, Anakin proved his worth. We wouldn't be in NRPGA without his security codes. Face it; he's a valuable asset to the New Republic."
"He also refuses to put on that mask again," Luke said, reclining in the plush office chair. "We are in control of the galaxy, but the galaxy doesn't know what's happening.
"Anyway, we need to take Naboo. There aren't a lot of stormtroopers on that planet. It will be easy. They need supplies, too, so we need to bring some from Coruscant. Most of the people prisoned were imprisoned under Imperial regulations. They will be tried again or they will have less time until they are convicted again."
"We don't know of their convictions. If the Imperials thought them a real threat, they would have been slaughtered already. We will leave them alone," Mon Mothma argued. "Criminals are the least of our worries until Theed is captured. We must also reinstate a Queen as soon as the planet is in our hands. Anakin will help us with forming plan. Our attack will take place in five standard days; our next meeting three. Dismissed."
-
Luke was meditating in his living quarters when Leia abruptly answered, partially exiting when Luke whispered, "Don't go; you're presence is soothing."
"I'm your sister, not your lover, Luke," Leia reminded him.
"Yes, you're my sister," Luke responded with a soft laugh. Unraveling himself from his position, Luke stood up to properly greet Leia. "What's the plan?"
"You will be with Wedge on the armed medical frigate transporting the supplies. If there's any trouble, hold them off and call for assistance." Leia had memorized it so she wouldn't disturb him for long if he was meditating. She felt that he knew.
"Leia, you can interrupt my meditation if it's important," Luke consented. "Thanks for telling me. How's Father?"
"Oh, he's fine. He's tense due to the stress of closely timed battles, but the same otherwise," Leia speculated concernedly, but telling the truth. "How are you?"
"Surviving," Luke responded forlornly. "I can feel Father's pain flowing through me every minute of the day. The bacta is working well for him, but it's emotional pain that's worse. He often thinks about how death would have been welcoming. Everything disturbs him except for the thought that we are both safe. He often murmurs about Padmé."
"Who's she?" Leia sank into the Alderaanian silk couch, one that was taken before it was destroyed.
"I don't know exactly. She's related to us and was important to Father. I think she might have been our mother." Luke was in his thinking tone again, and Leia listened with interest. "We shouldn't ask him though. It would invade his much-needed privacy."
"He needs to open up soon, though," Leia reasoned. "That may be why he is hurting."
"Yes, but we can't let it worry either of us. I don't like to say it, but we can't tell Han about this, Leia. It would destroy him, too."
"I understand." Luke could feel the tears Leia so desperately wanted to shed, but she held face. "Some time we will have to tell him." Shuffling, Leia left to help Mon Mothma with the small details.
"Yes," Luke agreed at the closing of the door. He found that his worries would not disappear until matters were resolved.
-
He knew Leia was hiding something, but he couldn't be certain. The medical supplies he was ordered to protect were being loaded onto the frigate, and he was overseeing them when Han ambled awkwardly into the docking bay near NRPGA. Wedge walked up to his friend (if he could call him that) worriedly and cautiously. He knew Han was a time bomb when he was like this.
"Han, it's nice to see you again," Wedge offered oddly.
"I'm isolated," Han confessed. "Leia is always on her toes when around me. She wants to keep something from me, but she won't even hint at what or explain that she is hiding something from me."
"She was cautious about her words when I saw you two together in the cafeteria," Wedge murmured. "She's definitely hiding something, but I have a feeling like it's for your better good."
"What makes you say that?" Han snapped, turning so his eyes could face Wedge's.
"If she was truly hiding something from you to taunt or tease, she would be all over you. She's avoiding you for that reason. She's afraid that you would be able to read her. She loves you, and that's the weakness." Wedge knew it sounded childish and might not have been true, but it was his best shot.
"Right," Han grunted and left the docking bay, kicking the permacrete as he left for NRPGA.
Wedge sighed and rubbed his shoulders while checking the progress he had missed during his conversation with Han. "Good," Wedge confirmed, staring at the retreating silhouette, blurred slightly by the hot sun.
-
Lando Calrissian was checking the newly-installed blaster gun on his ship, The Brilliant Eye. It had come from the funds given to him for his performance in battles of the Death Star and Imperial Palace. It was quite plush, too, and let go of the Falcon's homeliness for the small luxury liner's rooms. It had amazingly-powered shields so Lando only needed several blaster guns. The only missing piece was the smuggler's compartments, but he decided on using the less plush rooms for storage. Besides, he wouldn't need them anymore.
Lando wasn't permitted to battle on this one, but was promised to allow passengers wishing to go to Coruscant on his ship. He would run a luxury liner, but help the New Republic when needed. It was guaranteed by Mon Mothma, who him.
"Nice ship, Lando," a grumpy Han commented.
"Nice grumble, Han," Lando chuckled. "Thanks. I'm hoping that she'll work out for my new luxury line."
"You? Luxury Line?" Han laughed for what seemed to Lando as the first time in days.
"The New Republic is helping to fund most of it. I'm also going to help passengers from Naboo. Hey, may the Force be with you, Han. I heard you were going to be General for the main attack."
"Word gets around fast here," Han remarked, smiling slightly due to his friend's roguish care. He decided not to tell Lando about Leia's icy façade. "May the Force be with you, Lando."
Lando watched his old friend go with a quizzical look as to his intentions. Lando knew Han was hiding, but he couldn't place it. He figured he was going to tell him about Leia's avoidance, but he wasn't sure.
-
"He's suffering because I can't tell him," Leia complained in the dim light of her new office. "He's told Wedge about it."
"Relax, Leia," Luke repeated for the umpteenth time. "It will take time for him to understand why. I'm sure that he will understand your actions when everything is explained."
"I didn't want to worry him, but now I am. He knows I'm hiding. I can't do this anymore." Leia was close to tears, but she was also frustrated at Luke's tranquility in the situation.
"You cannot do that, Leia. He can spread rumors about Anakin. It's better if you take the fall. Anakin's world crumbled twice. Nobody knows if he will heal. It was hard for him to come back from the dead. It was for you and me. Please, let our egos be destroyed instead of his."
Leia knew it was the truth, but she couldn't see away out of either path. "Don't ask me to do this, Luke." It was no more than a whisper.
"I am."
"You are no brother of mine." The words hit Luke like a lightsaber to his heart. Forgetting his practices, he strode out of the room without a glance behind.
Leia was not able to fathom the venomous words that had slithered so easily out of her mouth. Her lungs pressed for air that would not come. Thick streams of air escaped her mouth, only to breathe in a little air. She gripped the edge of her chair to keep her from fainting.
Hours passed until Leia was able to breathe completely correctly and enter the control room to help with communications. But when she heard the familiar voice of General Antilles, she kept silent, praying that Ackbar would take her place momentarily.
"Command to Medical. What is your position?" Ackbar stated automatically.
"We are on the far side of Naboo. We are awaiting landing directions. We will check in when docked successfully." Leia inhaled sharply as she heard her brother's hurt voice.
"Copy that," Ackbar said. "Princess, why didn't you answer the comlink?"
"I got here just when you answered." Leia was lying, and it could cost her the position at Command.
Ackbar gave a disapproving look before sighing, "Right. Carry on." In attempt to force her to answer the next incoming report, he stepped back from the display dome of the battle.
Leia swallowed and checked in with Red leader, Lando.
"Red leader, we copy. Force your way into the planet's atmosphere. Imperials seem to be in the air and scarce on the surface." Leia made up the best strategy she could, and it pleased Ackbar. He smiled behind her back before stepping back up to the dome to order another group into the planet's atmosphere, completing the third out of fourth stage of the mission.