HEROES AND VILLAINS By Kondoru.
Alternative ending to RotJ
Standard Disclaimers.
Thanks to Budgie for Beating.
Chapter Three; In which Darth Vader learns all about Kangaroos.
The trial of the millennia took place in the great hall of the Imperial palace. The hall had been re arranged as a courtroom, with a judges comfy seat, (they would be occupying it for a long time.) witness box and a bleak spotlighted area for the accused.
Mon Mothma was acting as judge. Since Leia had vested interests. Leia sat off to one side, Luke next to her. She was glad for once not being in charge…And secretly annoyed at all the fuss and bother. Darth Vader would thoroughly enjoy being the centre of attention.
The hall was packed, and there had been some unseemly fights when it was discovered that just not anyone could get in. Still, the media was there…It was going to be interesting.
But hopefully not too interesting.
Mon Mothma settled in her seat. She had long been involved in politics, trying to be the diplomatic counter to the Rebellions warriors…Now it seemed she was a judge.
"We are gathered here today to see justice done…As far as it can be done in this case." She opened. "No one is to heckle, throw things or generally act like an idiot, -right?" She frowned. "Darth Vader has spoken to me and Admiral Akbar…He has pleaded guilty to our charge of Crimes Against Civilisation."
There were a few laughs and boos at that. Mon Mothma raised a hand. "He is guilty and does not deny it…But of what? What does it truly mean to be an enemy of all that is decent? This is what we will examine during this trial." She rubbed her auburn hair, "And then we must agree on a punishment of sufficient gravity, a punishment so harsh, that it will deter any being of committing this crime ever again." She looked grim in her white dress against the blood red of the imperial drapes. "Darth Vader, who has terrorised the Galaxy for over two decades, the destroyer of the Jedi Order…This is where his path ends." She called off to the side "Bring in the accused!"
This had been the moment many were waiting for, the entrance of the prisoner. (Few were interested in Lady Mothma, pretty as she was.)
Chewbacca, being the strongest there, carried Darth Vader in. He had wanted to drag him in by a leg, but Han had gently reminded him that Luke wouldn't like that and anyway the polished granite floor would get scratched. He did dump his cargo down with an undignified thump, however. After viewing the Dark Lord with a critical eye, he swiftly flipped him on his back and arranged his flopping limbs with a bit more dignity.
"And you are?" Mon Mothma asked.
"I'm Darth Vader." That person replied humbly.
"You could be anyone under the mask. Can you please remove it?" Mon Mothma requested politely. "Or consent for another to remove it so we can all get a good look at you?"
Luke Skywalker stood up. "To remove his mask will kill him." Luke said flatly. "He's dependent upon it for breathing. I've downloaded his medical reports to all your datapads."
"Very well." replied Mon Mothma with just a hint of distaste.
"Oh, it's not like we want to see his ugly mug." Leia sneered. "Your mask is now your face." She gave an ugly laugh. "Isn't that what happens when you let a mask take over your person? One day it will be in command and you will never remove it ever again."
Mon Mothma clapped her hands. "Does all present here agree that this being is the Sith Lord known as Darth Vader?" She asked.
All shouted their assent.
"Very well, let us begin." Mon Mothma picked up the uppermost of a stack of bulging flimsy files. "Here we have a list of your crimes." She began. "I will read them out and you plead guilt or innocence."
"I understand, my Lady." Darth Vader said "must we go through them all? I am guilty of all you claim."
Mon Mothma gave a smile "I think we all need to be reminded of the depths of depravity you inhabit, Darth Vader…As you do too." She picked up the first flimsy "Darth Vader, you are charged with the murder of Shaak Ti, Jedi Master…Do you plead guilty?"
"I do."
And so it continued. The crimes continued thick and fast, seemingly at random. They ranged from simple murder, to the destruction of settlements, and the massacre of their inhabitants, to arresting innocent citizens (Though how innocent was not discussed.) To torture of prisoners, to unprovoked military action, to the abduction of Force sensitive younglings. Indeed, some of the names read out were of very young children.
Darth Vader pleaded guilty to each and every one of the charges.
It took nine days to read out the charges. Finally Mon Mothma handed the last file to her aide. She looked about the hall with a grey face. "Now the Galaxy knows the true extent of your evil, is there anything we might have missed?
The mask hissed, as it had done without pause during this ordeal, "I murdered my wife." Darth Vader managed to get self-loathing into his toneless voice. "Can I please be charged with that?"
"Who was your wife?"
"Padme Amidala."
Mon Mothma had concealed her feelings all week. "She was a friend of mine! How dare you! And you were married to her? What did a woman like her, a girl who devoted all of her life to public service and the good of society as a whole, see in a worthless monster like you?"
Darth Vader nodded. "I wasn't always this wretch, I assure you. She would not love me now, indeed, you are correct, my Lady, I am everything she fought against." He sighed "Such is my fate, to become her enemy…"
Mon Mothma scowled in her first real display of emotion after all the atrocities she had read out all week. "Do you agree you have free will?" The senator's voice was grim.
"Yes." Darth Vader said.
"And you do know the difference between Right and Wrong?" She added.
"I do."
Mon Mothma drew herself up to her full height. "Do you plead guilty to all these offences?"
"Yes, I plead guilty."
She nodded with satisfaction. "Then I charge, Darth Vader, Ex Jedi Master, the Dark Lord of the Sith with Crimes Against Civilisation. Guilty!"
The courtroom erupted in cheers. But it was uncertain who they were for; Mon Mothma, the twins, the Heroes of the Rebellion, or their helpless victim.
Court was adjourned for the day, so everyone could go partying.
Late that night, Mon Mothma visited the condemned. Since she was his Judge, she was allowed access to the prisoner at any time.
The Imperial guard outside the door shut down the energy shield and Mon Mothma stepped through.
Darth Vader was still on the floor, and as far as she could tell from the security cam records had not moved. Idly she wondered if she had disturbed his slumber.
"Did I wake you?" she asked sadly.
"I wasn't sleeping." He said. "I don't sleep much. Since I was put into this horrible armour I have known little rest."
"That's sad." Mon Mothma agreed.
"When I sleep, I have a whole, healthy body, I have friends, I have Padme, I have my honour and good name, I can feel the rain on my skin and sun on my face." He gave a laugh "I am free!" Darth Vader added. "…Then I wake up…To this."
Both knew it was not being in Alliance custody he was talking about.
"Sleep is the friend of the oppressed, you may be a slave, a prisoner, trapped in a crippled body, and suffering no end of trouble by day…When you sleep you have relief." Darth Vader continued. "But for me, to be reminded of these things…Even my happy dreams are now nightmares…And the nightmares of the Dark Side…There is nothing good about the Dark Side…Fear…Anger…Hatred…That's just the beginning." He paused. "But I assume you are not here to listen to the ravings of the condemned?"
Mon Mothma shrugged. "Maybe I am?" she said. "Luke believes you have good in you."
Darth Vader gave a laugh. "Don't listen to my son too much. He's a tad idealistic."
"And I am too…And so must you be, serving the Emperor all these years."
Darth Vader nodded. "It's going well?"
"We had a big party." Mon Mothma said.
"Was it a good party?" He asked hopefully. "Don't worry about not inviting me. I hate parties. I don't eat, I don't drink alcohol. I am the ultimate Party Pooper."
"Well, that's one crime you weren't charged with." She gave a laugh, "do you want it taken into consideration?"
"Yes please!" Darth Vader gruffed.
She sat down wearily on the bunk. "Tomorrow we decide upon a penalty."
"I thought it's already been decided. If not by you, by everyone else." Darth Vader tilted his head.
Mon Mothma shook her head, "This crime is only just on the Alliances legal books. No precedent. I'm going to condemn a man to death." She said to the air, as if that person was not in the room with her. "Do you know how that feels?"
Darth Vader shook his head. "No. "He said. "I've killed many times."
"It's different to that. I myself have never fought or killed." Mon Mothma added. "I trained as a fighter pilot once…But I have never flown in battle."
"I agree…It's more impersonal. " He paused. "Killing should be a personal thing. As a Jedi I carried a lightsabre, -we fight up close." Darth Vader said. "That is one of the reasons I disagreed with the Death Star."
"Did you?" This was news to Mon Mothma.
"Yes. I thought it was a ridiculous waste of money to build. Also time! Twenty years! And the waste of lives!"
Mon Mothma went pale. "Intel told us there were over one million individuals on that ship. Not all were military either."
Darth Vader nodded. "All wiped out as if they had never existed in a second by my son. Luke Skywalker, the Hero of the Rebellion." He traced a circle with his remaining hand. "Now, I think you know why Luke is so keen to save me. By rights he should never have pulled me off of the Second Death Star…"
"Luke is an idealist…As is our Princess."
"Who wants to turn me inside out slowly." The Dark Lord added.
Mon Mothma had to laugh mirthlessly. "What a gruesome mental image."
"I would look wonderful inside out." Darth Vader agreed. "Flesh outside and cybernetics inside…"
"Yes, it might improve you…" she looked sad. "I'm going to condemn a man to death. I will be praised for my bravery," she gave a little laugh, "I may receive senitientarian awards for doing it…Isn't that frightening?"
Her prisoner shook his head slowly. "I killed my Master…In Sith law that means I have the right to take his place…Instead I chose to return to the Light Side and surrendered to my son…Who I fought to save."
Mon Mothma was sad. "One good deed does not wipe out many bad deeds."
"No. It does not." Darth Vader agreed. "Did I ever tell you about Anakin Skywalker?"
"No."
"You met him several times." Vader prompted.
She nodded, "it was a long time ago. He was said to be the greatest Jedi of all…But he was so young…I don't think he came into his full potential…And he never got the chance."
Darth Vader shook his head sadly. "No, I didn't let him."
Mon Mothma said nothing.
"Now he would have killed me without argument, as he did Count Dooku." Darth Vader said grimly.
"He did?"
"There was always a darkness in that one's soul." The Sith said slowly. "When you become a Sith, you revoke all ties you may have previously had. In doing so, you receive a new name." He said slowly. "Names are important. Before I was Darth Vader…I was called Anakin Skywalker."
"I see." Mon Mothma was silent.
"What penalty is there for the crime of betraying your younger self? Anakin Skywalker would have hated Darth Vader, would have fought against him." He shivered, making his chains clink. "You are perfectly right, my crimes are as extraordinary as they are horrible."
Mon Mothma shrugged. "Most of the Empire military are being sent to re-education centres. They need to learn how to live as civilians." She added thoughtfully. "Few of them remember civvy life."
"I suppose that's a soft way of saying jail?"
"No, not at all. The places are institutionalised, yes, but the inhabitants are free to come and go as they please."
Darth Vader sighed. "Thank you for looking after all my troops. I may be a Dark Lord but I do care about them."
"I'd like to see you sent to a similar place. You have many skills that we could use, -and you have proven willing to co-operate with us." She gave a grim smile. "I think you are beginning to reform. Isn't that what justice is all about? Seeing that wrongdoers admit the evil of their ways and help them to become better people?"
"The Princess Leia Home for Unemployed Dark Lords in Need of Love and Understanding? I don't think there is such a place." Darth Vader had to laugh. "You are an idealist…Unfortunately everyone else thinks Justice equals Revenge."
"We will set one up for you. Clearly there is a need for such an establishment."
"Nice idea; but what about all the good citizens here who want to see me dead?"
The senator had no answer to that.
