"I come to free your people from their honorable service to the Emperor."
He had had to take refuge in aggressive negotiations – not a great sign. How had Padmé managed all those years ago gaining the help of Boss Nass – overcoming years of distrust and discrimination with a heartfelt plea to unite against a greater threat? He had admired her so much – suddenly seeing the kind handmaiden as the great ruler who succeeded when even Jedi seemed at a loss.
Of course, it helped that Padmé had not actively hurt the people she was trying to negotiate with. These Noghri now were in service to Thrawn. Why had he passed on such a great tool to the Chiss?
And for all his youthful dreams of freeing slaves, he needed an army standing behind him, not a people truly exercising their freedom. He wanted to topple the emperor – but to destroy the empire itself seemed foolish and wasteful. Surely under the right leaders, under Padmé and his children, the empire would become the government he had dreamed – powerful, decisive, a force for justice in a world where the average citizen settled for corruption and inactivity.
He would not lie to the Noghri. Everyone his entire life had lied to him, lied to his family. Perhaps there truly was no return from the Dark side. He owed his family apologies but he would not grovel before a galaxy that had already demanded its share of his blood.
"Why should we trust one who actively talks of the destruction he has wrought?"
It was a good question. If Obi-Wan were here, the Negotiator might take refuge in his fabled half-truths. Vader would not lie to the Noghri. He had never believed in concealing his opinions. Unfortunately, this left him racing to escape an angry Noghri army. So much for his plan to provide the deadliest bodyguard for his family.
"It's Father," Luke said in answer to Leia's inquiry. "I can feel something is wrong. He's in trouble."
"Luke…"
"I can sense it. It's the same way I knew you and Han were in trouble in Cloud City."
"Luke, we can't… you can't…. the Alliance needs us here. He can take care of himself."
"Do you truly sense your father is in danger?" Padmé questioned, her voice not quite managing to mask the dread.
Luke nodded slowly.
"Then we need to save him."
"I'll speak to the high command about a short personal mission while you tell Han to get the Falcon ready."
Luke grabbed Leia's hands in his own. "I knew you'd do the right thing."
"I wish I were so certain of that. I feel as if I keep letting the mission down. Our cause…"
Padmé touched her daughter's shoulder. "I once thought as you did, changed my mind only when I was on the brink of disaster, and often wondered if I made the right choice. Ani always tried to put the people he loved before everything. I couldn't condone that. I don't think I shall ever truly be able to even though I am grateful for this second chance."
Leia nodded and looked as if she would interrupt. Instead, Padmé put a finger over her daughter's lips. "But I know that a cause by itself lacks heart. You can't simply fight for justice without knowing what justice means. "Once your father had the most giving heart in the galaxy and he lit the sky not merely with his lightsaber but with his desire to change the world for the better. Don't feel you have to split yourself in two in order to do good. You fear to inherit anything from Vader but the need to separate your heart from your head is a mistake I made and would prefer for you not to repeat."
Tears welled in Leia's eyes. She couldn't verbally acknowledge her mother's words. It was too soon. Still, when she talked to Mothma she felt a weight lift from her heart.
Han grumbled but between him and Chewie, the Millenium Falcon and all its passengers managed to arrive on Honoghr. Unfortunately, Vader was long gone, leaving his rescuers at the mercy of a disgruntled and disillusioned species.
"We need to find father," Luke reminded his sister. "Han, how long before the Falcon can take off?"
"We can't leave yet." Leia stated firmly.
Han would have asked why, but several of the steel grey toothy creatures were stalking toward them.
"Have you ever dealt with the Noghri before?" Padmé asked.
Leia shook her head. She inclined her head slightly to the oncoming beings, prepared to do her diplomatic best. At her side, Threepio was babbling his usual anxieties while confirming he could speak the native dialect fluently.
In the end, Threepio was unnecessary. The first, Khabarakh strode up to her. His sharp senses immediately told him more than Leia would have revealed.
"You are the daughter the Vader." He turned his head, his gaze and other senses, taking in the rest of the party. "Why is the family of Vader hear to spread more lies and urge more destruction?"
Padmé turned toward the warrior. "We seek Vader. He was here, recently."
"Yes. But we will not fight for Vader. We will no longer fight for any man."
"He asked you to join the alliance?" Luke gasped.
Leia could tell from the Noghri's expression that that was not Vader's purpose. "He wanted a private army. Didn't he?"
"He asked for bodyguards."
"For him?" Han scoffed.
"For the members of his family, the wife and children of Vader in return he promised us truth."
"The truth?" Padmé asked.
"That his droids were poisoning our planet to keep us in thrall to the emperor."
Han whistled. No wonder Luke was half crazy if his old man was that insane.
Padmé paled. Every time she learned more about her husband's crimes against humanity she wondered how to secure the future with him she still wanted. Would they have to rule the empire simply to keep him safe from his victims? Would she turn into a tyrant to protect him from the justice he deserved?
"Whether he is Anakin or Vader, he has never…"her voice trailed off. No matter how he hated half-truths and deception, the emperor's henchman had clearly embraced those ruthless techniques if they aided his goals.
Leia took up the diplomatic banner. "While we would value your skills and your honor, it is as members of the Alliance, fighting against Palpatine, that we plead for your help. It is as members of the Alliance that we also promise aid. You deserve freedom from the empire and from the environmental catastrophe my father has perpetuated. We promise you to do all we can to create a solution. We offer this whether you choose to fight or not."
"We must discuss this with the Maitrakh," Khabarakh finally answered. "Come. Return with us to the dukha."
"That was definitely not a request," Han muttered. Chewie's answering growl confirmed the pilot's opinion a moment later.