HEROES AND VILLAINS By Kondoru.
Alternative ending to RotJ
Standard Disclaimers.
Thanks to Budgie for Beating.
Interlude 2; Mon Mothma and Luke
Luke was very pale. Mon Mothma was sadly reminded of the period just after his injury at Bespin.
But as she now knew, that was not all shock from a sudden amputation…
…part of it was from the enormity of finding his father.
Now, his father was an ongoing problem.
Mon Mothma shook her head sadly, she gestured to a chair in the informal corner of the office. After getting out the `VIP` biscuit tin she sat down by the dejected young man.
"He's not himself". Luke said.
Anakins health had suffered a bit of a relapse in recent months. Leia had disappeared off with Han and Chewbacca; rumour had it she was on Naboo but with those three you never knew what they were up to.
Luke and Ashoka visited him as much as they could…But they had more pressing concerns, restarting the Jedi order.
The old Jedi's physical health was improving beyond all expectations, but he was very depressed.
After a period of merciful dryness, he had started bedwetting again.
Anakin took very little interest in eating, and his carers had to continually supervise him to see he ate, that he took his exercise, that he kept up with his chores.
But Basket was mopey, he was no longer as cheery and co-operative as before, though he still had the unprecedented holonet access, apart from his work (He kept this up, but as Governor Norran said with real concern, there was real effort behind it). It went unused.
`If he had his way, I'm sure he would starve himself.` The Governor had told Mon Mothma sadly, `- I won't let that happen, he knows if he tries it, I will have him force fed.`
`Only in extremity` the Lady had said. She did not want to see Anakin suffer.
Now the son of Darth Vader was sat in her office snivelling over his marginally deserving father. The VIP biscuits went uneaten.
"Why must my sister treat our poor Father so? And the Naberries, who are decent people…How could they?" He wept.
Mon Mothma was silent. As the leader of the Alliance, she could have had quiet words with Padmes family. She herself was sure that her friend would have been very angry with their treatment of Anakin, a man who had done so many terrible things, but who was proving he could reform…Still, she was sure it would blow over in a few years. Anakins pardon was already written, but there were still a few things that needed to be done before she issued it.
Things like Anakin Skywalker get citizenship on a respectable Coreworld, say.
But there was very little she could do with Leia, who had a will of Durasteel.
Quite behind Leia's back, Mon had had a quiet conversation with Han and Chewbacca on the subject.
Han had shaken his head. "Leia isn't the forgiving sort." He turned and looked at Chewbacca, "In many ways she is like a Wookie; if they are wronged, they bear a grudge forever." Chewbacca nodded.
"But Anakin is doing his best to reform, -we have so many Imperial planets in the fold because of him; this whole galaxy could have been plunged into a civil war like in my childhood." Han said. "I want peace…As do the Imperials, I think."
"Isn't that worth anything?" asked Chewbacca.
Lady Mothma shook her head. "Leia has nightmares."
Han nodded. "The times I have had to hold her at night…I don't think she will ever achieve good sleep ever again. But I am there to comfort her…And if I am ever absent, then Chewie will." He paused. "Who is doing that for her in the Shard?"
"Leia needs help" Chewbacca added fervently.
"Our Princess is not being neglected," Mon Mothma told them. "This remand period is for her to rest and heal…And achieve closure with her father."
Han shook his head "Oh, is it he doing the holding now? He was kind enough to hold her while Tarkin blew up Alderaan after all."
"That was snide." Mon Mothma scolded. "Anakin no longer has any hands to hold with. Taking away his suit and cybernetics has taught him a lesson…Anyhow, Leia has counsellors and female staff to care for her. You have read the reports."
Han gave his nasty look. "I would like to have contact with my girlfriend." Though he was kept up to date with Leia's welfare he had not spoken to her in months.
They all knew why. Han had a rather colourful background after all.
Now Mon Mothma had to deal with a distressed Luke. Skywalkers and their problems!
Mon Mothma looked miserably at her papers. She took a big breath. "Is this situation going to be resolved by pardoning him?" She asked.
Luke shook his head. "I have no idea." He rather thought not.
"I know you want to see him out of the Shard."
"Yes I do." It was no secret.
"I could have him sent to a care home…It's not like your poor Father is very mobile."
"Dads very unhappy about the whole situation regarding his cybernetics."
Anakin Skywalker did not complain…Except about this…It was a continual issue with him and one that came up every time she holoed.
Mon Mothma stretched her arms. She picked up the biscuit tin. "I'm planning a Hearing to decide the ultimate fate of Anakin Skywalker…A hearing like there has never been before in history…" She outlined her plans to an increasingly shocked Luke.
Lady Mothma had plans…Big plans.
