Chapter 8- Jedi Solo

Leia stood outside the door where the special committee met. She checked her chrono again. One minute and twenty-eight seconds. If the meeting did not end precisely when scheduled, she would enter anyway. She had sent Luke's holovid to all the news stations who would take it and now she was about to confront the committee. Forty-eight seconds. Leia mentally prepared herself. Senator Agati, I demand to be heard. Poppy and Handie had testified on the holovid that Tos and his compatriots had set fire to the Cantina. They had set the record straight on Ahsoka's intentions as well. It was time for Agati to face a day of reckoning. Her comm beeped softy in her pocket. Annoyed, she switched it on and stepped away from the door.

"Leia, it's me," said Luke's voice. "Can you talk? This is important."

Leia sighed. She supposed she could allow the senators a few extra seconds.

"I'm listening."

"Ezra had a vision. He's kind of figured out that big picture- along with a few small details. Can you meet us as soon as you're finished with the senators? I'll send Han the coordinates."

"All right. I kind of hate leaving Agati unsupervised, though."

"If Ezra has seen truly, it won't matter. And we need you. You're one of us."

Leia smiled. "I have to go now. I hear the senators. Goodbye, Luke."

"Goodbye, Leia."

Resolutely, Leia keyed the passcode and the doors to the chamber slid open.

"Senator Agati, I demand to be heard. My fellow senators, our beloved Jedi have once again been the victims of baseless slander. I have testimony from reliable witnesses," she waved the disk, "and evidence pointing to a deliberate attempt to frame the Jedi."

"My dear Princess," crooned the Arkanian, "if you are referring to the holovid plastered all over the news channels, we have seen it. Sadly, the Jedi have so influenced the Clones' minds that we can no longer trust them. These two confused fellows have no idea what happened. They are merely saying what the Jedi whisper in their ears."

"Yes," chimed in a senator from Malastare, "They can't even seem to tell the difference between plumbing and droid parts anymore."

"I have prepared a statement," Namah Agati explained condescendingly, "assuring the public that we are taking every possible action to rescue and rehabilitate the Clones. In addition, we are taking swift steps to see that this misinformation is removed from circulation as quickly as possible."

"Misinformation?" Leia fumed. "You can't simply label inconvenient truth 'misinformation'. This is not the Empire, Senator Agati."

Leia's friend, Senator Belden, spoke up. "Head Senator, in the interest of fairness and justice, I request that we interview these Clones. And the Jedi as well. The Senate has heard from their accusers. They have right to defend themselves against the charges."

A Devaronian interrupted, shaking his horns, "The Jedi can influence the mind. We will not get the truth from them."

"Sadly, you speak truly, Senator Ahkmerna. We cannot trust the Jedi, even if they would agree to come. And as for the Clones, as I already said, we are searching for them as we speak."

"You think you're so clever," Leia's voice was ice. "It just so happens that I know where the Clones are and they will gladly come testify, if you will hear them. What do say to that, Agati?"

"Ah, no 'senator', this time? No matter. I would say this knowledge would seem to implicate you in the plots of the Jedi. We know your dear brother is a Jedi. Perhaps you are, too?"

Agati snapped his fingers and a half dozen guard droids with stun blaster surrounded Leia. She drew her small hold-out blaster and shot one, then another. She heard Arnie Belden's indignant voice, alternating between shouting at Agati and calling his own security team on his comm. With an elegant turn, the princess took down two more, before the fifth knocked the blaster from her hand. The weapon clattered to the floor several paces away.

Leia hesitated for the space of a heartbeat. Luke needed her. She had no time to sit in an interrogation cell. Reaching out to the Force, she called the weapon to her hand, smoothly evading the two remaining droids. Two more shots and they lay smoking on the floor with the others. And Agati had his proof.

"You are a Jedi. I'm afraid you will have to be confined for the good of the Galaxy." Agati smiled coldly. "Perhaps carbonite freezing would be a humane option."

Leia returned his icy smile. "Yes. I am a Jedi, like my brother and my father before me. However, I'm afraid I must refuse your generous hospitality, Senator. The Order needs me."

Leia opened herself to the Force, calling out for strength. Springing forward, she Force-leapt over Agati and the additional droids he had summoned, neatly slicing open a large, sound proof window with her lightsaber. She balanced on the window ledge; then, using more Force-enhanced jumps, she made her way to the roof.

Tucked in a dark corner of the elegant structure, a familiar and welcome ramshackle sight met her eyes. The Millennium Falcon was waiting for her. It was also giving the distinct impression that someone was trying to start a junkyard on top of the Senate building, but Leia didn't care one bit. Han had had "a bad feeling" about this meeting and she was glad she had listened to him.

The ramp dropped with a sudden hiss. Han poked his head out.

"Did your meeting break up early? Luke wants us somewhere, and it's gonna take a while so we better get going."

From somewhere deep inside the ship, Chewbacca roared a greeting.

Back in the Meeting Chamber, Namah Agati quickly recovered from his surprise to speak a few choice words making the incident appear to be entirely Leia's fault. Angry and a little frightened, Arni Belden left the Chamber in the company of his security team. Agati watched him go, amused. As long as he served his purpose, the young man had nothing to fear from Namah.

He was not terribly disappointed that Leia had gotten away. She was more useful continuing to tell the other Jedi what he wanted them to know. He had not schemed for so many years without considering and planning for setbacks and interruptions. Phase one was complete. Phase two was well under way. Soon he would begin phase three. And after that, the galaxy would be his.

"Ezra, please," moaned Sabine, gesturing to the holoreceiver. "You know pregnancy makes my stomach sensitive. This garbage is the last thing I need right now."

"As you see, my dear citizens," the Head Senator soothed in a Galaxy-wide broadcast, "we are taking every possible action to protect you, the good people of the Galaxy, from those who would use their great power to harm you."

Ahsoka had to agree with Sabine. The broadcast was sickening. It also brought back painful, terrifying memories. Rex slipped his strong arm around her and she leaned into the comfort of his embrace.

"The evil empire we once feared was created by force users. One of them, as you know, was once a Jedi. I assure you; your Senate will not allow sentimental feelings for the Jedi Order or any of its members to-"

Ezra shut off the transmission. "I think that that's enough." He eyed Ahsoka. "Remind you of anything?"

Ahsoka nodded, shivering. The remaining Jedi will be hunted down. She could still hear the cold, cruel voice with its veneer of kindness and concern. She could still hear the thunderous applause from another news broadcast long ago. People had believed Chancellor Palpatine. People would believe Namah Agati. Evil was rising.

"Yes," she said at last. "It reminds me of the Chancellor and the speech he gave the day he tried to murder all the Jedi."

"Just what the Galaxy doesn't need," Sabine griped, "another dictator."

"Looks that way," agreed Ezra. "And now we'd better get to that meeting."

Sabine slowly rose from her chair. "Don't even think about leaving me behind, Ezra Bridger."

Ezra hurried to her side and eased her up into his arms. "Not a chance, Coco Bean. You know the Rules."

Jacen Dume put his hand on Sabine's shoulder. "But the baby's coming soon, Sabine. Maybe you should stay with Mom. Or she and Alexi could get Zeb to take you to Lira San."

"Well, you see, Jacen Syndulla Dume," Ezra explained, "we have a Rule that we only go off-world together. She kind of doesn't trust me after that incident with the Purgil that you may have heard about."

"Oh, I trust you. I trust you to get yourself into trouble." Sabine playfully poked Ezra's chest.

"The baby is a Jedi, too."

Everyone turned, startled by the soft voice. Jaina gazed back at them; her brown eyes unblinking. "The baby is a Jedi," she repeated, "so he needs to come with us."

"You've got a good point there, Jaina," Ezra agreed, clearly impressed. He nodded. "Our quest concerns every Force-sensitive person Galaxy."

"Wait. A quest?" Rex interrupted. "We're calling it a quest?"

"Yeah, why not? Anyway, we may need every one of our Jedi before the end."

Jacen looked at Pypey. "Does that mean we get to come, too?"

Ezra smiled at his enthusiastic students. "Of course. You have ten minutes to get ready and meet me at the White Loth-cat."

"Ezra, don't forget my bag." Sabine nestled down in his arms.

"You mean the one you packed just in case we had to go on a crazy adventure when it was almost time for you to go into labor? It's on the ship, along with the chrono and plenty of fresh towels and blankets, just in case."