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Chapter 36
"This is madness!" Jon Dodonna snapped, "Many joined the Rebellion because of the terribleness of the Empire. We cannot let ourselves be lured by the words of a Jedi who don't know what he is talking about." He then finished with grinded teeth. "Vader may have corrupted him in their time together."
"Agreed!" Mothma chorused without hesitation. "While I understand Skywalker's point, we cannot afford to sacrifice our morals and honors as the Confederacy did in the Clone Wars! We must remember that we're fighting for a democracy!"
A red and black Zabrak, Commander Tetua - a former register of the Grand Army of the Republic who dropped out after the end of the war - exclaimed, "I also must concede with General Dadonna and Chancellor Mothma! The corruption that came with the Ascendancy of the Empire was exactly why the Imperial Military gets away with anything without sanction!"
So badly, Leia wanted to agree with them. After all, she'd witnessed how terrible the Empire was with its iron fist, especially on Kashyyyk. But the more she'd been around her father and brother, the more she slowly started understanding that too many within the Empire loved the state of affairs, enough to applaud at the stature of the galaxy or to close their eyes to them.
Truth be told, without those supplies, people enlisted, and such, the Rebellion would have a problem. She had to face a lot of people who didn't join the Rebellion because of the cruelty of the Empire. Oh, that was one reason; it was just natural since the state of the Emperor was to be unnaturally cruel, but also because the Empire violated most of their interests and interfered. In a wide galaxy, someone was going to suffer.
"If I may speak..." Leia came forward.
Morally, disagreeing with her brother and, especially, her radical father would be the right thing to do. She was the future, as far as many of them were concerned. Bail Organa's prophet daughter. The peacemaker who believed in the Reformation of the Republic. Yet, Luke's points had been bothering her for weeks. No matter what she did to banish them, she understood that he had more experience than her. He ultimately saw the failings of the New Republic and knew that of the old one. What would be the point in achieving anything if those same power-hungry manics who handed Palpatine the power they did remained involved, or if the New Republic was slow to react against any threat like the old one?
More pain for everyone...
This was a choice. Not for her father. While conflicted about him, still, it was about Luke. He was her brother, and she would protect him with all she had. She would have to lead alongside him against the Yuuzhan Vong and any other threats that may come their way.
After being given permission, Leia started. "Let's consider Luke's points. He is right. At the end of the Clone Wars, many people did applaud at the Rise of the Empire. I want to believe that all of the problems started with the Empire. That they did not exist for anyone to see. But we all know the answer to that."
"That's the entire point of a Reformed Republic, Leia," Bail replied, disappointed. "We don't just want the New Republic restored, but new protocols in line."
"What can we do about the Core, father? We have to work with the same amount of people who worked to secure the Republic whether we like it or not." Leia responded unhappily, tossing Luke's words for them to all hear again. "It will be called a diplomacy but I doubt that many of those people will be just turning a new leaf afterwards."
"We're supposed to be better than that, Your Highness-" Mothma began.
"How can we if it's just going to be a rehash of the old in the Senate?" Leia countered. "We both know it's going to be the same members as before. New introductions don't change anything. The extremists of the Core will just operate quietly once more, and nothing will change."
"It's better than serving a dictatorship!"
"If I may," Garm Bel Iblis held up his hand, stopping a would-be argument, "but I remember when the Republic was declared into the Empire. Far too many of those people were upset, yes, that is true. Many still want the Republic back. But a lot more supported the bid for the Empire, not because they wanted the crushing of the system or so, but because of the need for a stronger one. And I feel inclined to point out that while the Empire is a dictatorship, there is the unfortunate reality that the Empire is providing the galaxy with stability that the Republic could not. The Republic dragged their heels in matters to devastating effect. It started on Naboo with the Trade Federation and then the secessionist movement. We may have to face the reality that the Republic was dead long before. Palpatine only delivered the final blow."
Mothma glared at him. "I cannot believe that. Yes, mistakes were made, but no system is perfect."
"Luke never recommended a dictatorship. He only pointed out why everything won't be easily solvable." Leia pointed out. "He clearly has done his research in this and knows what he is talking about."
"Wrong leaders may be elected, Princess. But this Alliance continue to grow from them and hold an advantage over our enemies because we hold the moral high ground." Mothma grumbled.
"Mothma, open your eyes," Bel Iblis said bluntly. "One, this is a Jedi telling you this. Two, history tells you what happened to people who depended only on the moral high ground! No one will listen because you want to do the right thing. Otherwise, more than half of the galaxy would have joined our cause already."
"What if this is a power play by Vader?! Huh, Garm, you tell me!" Mothma snapped. "He holds the ideals of a tyrant-"
"No," Leia replied, causing them all to look at her. "My apologies for my interruption, Chancellor, but Vader has repeatedly stated that he didn't wish to rule."
"There is the matter of the Rim worlds. If we'd bid for Imperial Reformation, the Rim worlds may leave us to dry and we'll lose more than we'll get. The CIS were saviors for much of the Rim, and they did continued to receive support after the end of the Clone Wars, when CIS remnants fought the Empire, and eventually absorbed into a core part of the Rebel Alliance." Breha pointed out neutrally.
"Okay them, I believe that we should consider a Union or even better yet an improvement over the CIS," Leia responded. "That way, we can please the Rim and maybe acquire some dissenters. We have to build from somewhere. The Rim is implied to be the lesser of the two evils, even though the Core is more powerful. We cannot choose both due to the bridges burned. And perhaps, an elective monarchy will be satisfying to Luke."
"Bu-" Mothma opened her mouth.
"It's either that or we lose our only Jedi we have. I don't believe that he will be alone if he pulls back." Leia said.
"He won't be," Bel Iblis added. Everyone in the room saw the Corellian's fire. He'd already respected Luke for not holding onto outdated beliefs that drove the Republic downhill. No doubt, he would follow him out.
"The New Republic would solve so many issues," Vernan protested weakly. "There are members of the Core here. Both of you are also one which is why it's astounding you're supporting this."
"I believe the Princess of Alderaan is the only one speaking sense here. It took a lot for Order 66 to carry over to Corellia," Iblis mentioned. "You forget that a big problem with the Green Jedi and Corellia are concerned because said Jedi had very relationship with both the local nobility and the sector. They were closely affiliated with most important political and military families on Corellia and have being doing so for much longer than a thousand years. Yet, it had been pulled off. Palpatine had to make deals with our governments as he did with the Core, and eventually, they were no longer safe. Members like my deceased wife plagued the Corellian Sector, and eventually sold the Green Jedi out to dry."
"I... I refuse to believe that so many people would select the option of tyranny instead of liberation and democracy when offered the choice!" Mothma exploded.
"Yet, they did," Leia reminded, cringing inwardly. "We saw it when the Empire rose."
And everyone knew that too, though they didn't want to admit it.
Leia continued, "In theory, the correct answer should've been unmistakable. The Galactic Republic is better than the Galactic Empire but we must look at a bigger picture. How much of that independence and democracy were authentic? How much are those votes were legitimately the people's voices and not the derivatives of diversion, threats, or coercion? Were those Senators actually representing their people? While there were Senators who wanted to do what they can for their people, unfortunately there were also Senators who didn't have a voice or would do the best for their own appeals. Let's not forget about how corporations being bestowed a seat in the Senate because for all they were power-hungry opportunists who would take advantage of people to expand their pay rate, they were also the most, and only, legitimate sovereignty in the Outer Rim outside of the Hutts because they were the ones who had to to fill in the role the Republic had deserted." Leia closed her eyes and sighed. "It's for these reasons that both are actually two sides of the same coin, it's just that one did it publicly and did so unwisely, while the other did it subtly and off radar. The Republic was democracy in name only but never a true one."
A stunned silence passed. She was now in hot water, too.
"What do you recommend, Leia?" Bail asked tiredly.
She scowled. "That we do the logical thing and reconsider what we're truly fighting for."
Before argument could break out, Leia held up her hand.
"I'm not finished!" Everyone quieted down. "We also start a treaty with the Hutts."
"We take advantage of their desperation?" Mothma asked, disappointed.
"If that is necessary. We need to start off somewhere. The Rebellion needs to consider how powerful it is military speaking and think about how we survive without things falling apart." Leia said pointedly, her voice rising. "If the condition of Alderaan is anything to go by, it showed me that we're not going to win this war by being nice."
"My dear..." Dodonna spoke up, his voice full with surprise and agitation, "what happened to you? Is it possible you are now working with..."
"No," Leia replied firmly. "I'm forced to look at things with logic. Vader being my father has nothing to do with it."
"Then why? Why, Leia?" Bail pressed, looking like he'd regretted letting Leia alone with his father.
"Prior events persuaded me to look at things differently and examine my ideals and beliefs. I could see where my good intentions is leading to. I'm not enjoying it. It's not me who suffers because of my good intentions, nor anyone in here, it's the entire galaxy. It's always been that way."
"Not when the Republic was in powe-" Jon started.
"Were you not listening, General?" Leia asked, shocking the man. "Forgive me," she said apologetically. "Palpatine was Chancellor when the Republic was around. If the Republic was the bastion of good, why did so many people agreed to leave it when Count Dooku formed the secessionist movement? Nothing has changed for many. The lives of people dying right now, voided of hope, that we refuse to even address, are suffering. It's not about us but them. It's the slaves who were abandoned by the Old Republic for far too long all over the galaxy!" Leia's righteous anger was painfully clear. "But we can't do anything. No, now, in this time, we must be able to prove that we're competent to survive instead of just reverting back to the status quo! We just show that we're not going to revert to the weaknesses that the Old Republic had or the radical extremes of the Empire!"
An extended silence pursued while everyone processed Leia's words and the explicitness of her new position.
'Man, oh man, what am I going to say to the Emperor? Confess that I 1. kissed a Jedi, 2. he's a hell of a good kisser, 3. I want HIM more than ANYONE. Oh, and 4. WHY WASN'T I TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT THERE BEING MORE EMPEROR'S HANDS?' The thought gave her a headache again, even as she corrected her hair.
Since Mara needed some form of distraction, the redhead occasionally went to the nearest makeshift gym that Skywalker showed her in their little tour not that long ago.
Workouts distracted her from the thoughts that tended to plague her mind otherwise, usually like now...
But of course, they always came back.
Grunting, she left the gym, beginning the walk back to the Falcon, stopping when a voice rang behind her.
"I don't think I've ever seen you here before." She turned to see a uniformed woman, clad in black, wearing the insignia of the Rebel Alliance. "Who are you?"
"I wasn't aware that it's so important," Mara sassed.
If she took insult, the woman didn't show it. "I have to make sure that my base isn't in trouble. This was hastily put together since... well, our unlikely ally. Now..."
Mara thought about using a fake name, but since Skywalker had compromised her identity, it would be meaningless.
"You're an Imperial," she realized before Mara could respond.
"Gee, how did you know? It's not like I'm wearing a badge." Mara sniped sarcastically.
The woman didn't rise to the bait. "I was a decorated Imperial combat pilot. I have been in the business long enough I can just tell." Her eyes became dark for a moment. "Since you haven't tried to kill anyone here and isn't trying to hide, I'm going to assume you're not a threat."
Mara didn't respond for a moment. "My name is Mara Jade. Since you wanted to know my name so bad, why don't you tell me yours?"
"My name is Juno Eclipse, General."
"You're perceptive. I'll give you that, but I'm much more than an Imperial soldier. I am the Hand of the Emperor." Mara revealed.
"Those existed?" Juno blanched. "I thought those were myths."
"Clearly not. Now answer my question: 'Why are you here?' If what you told me is true, if you really were a well-decorated Imperial pilot, then what are you doing out here playing Rebel? Much less being in the position of command." A thought flitted through her mind. "Are you on a espionage mission?" Even as she spoke, she knew that it didn't make sense; there were enough spies to do that.
Juno's face remained calm as she looked at her. "Well, first, it isn't like I would be sent on such a lackluster mission unless the Imperial channels changed. As for why I am here…. Well, it's a bit of a story."
Mara reminded flatly. "I'm not going anywhere."
"That's true, I suppose." Juno hesitated. "Early in my life, my mother died, reportedly caught in the crossfire of an insurrection on Corulag. The death of my mother left me in the care of my father. I wanted his approval more than anything. He was always enamored with those that enlisted into Imperial Military service and so I did so too. But," she shrugged her shoulders, "he wasn't happy with some of my fascinations with alien cultures and diversity, a trait which my mother encouraged."
"How high were you?" Mara asked, getting straight to the point.
"I served under Vader himself."
That was surprising.
"What happened?"
"During the Bombing of Callos, I continued my assault on the already beaten and defenseless planet, leading to the mass genocide and complete sterilization of all life on the planet." Her face lined in disgust and regret now. "After, I was sent on a top secret assignment to transport Vader's agent to wherever his missions required him to go. During that time, I was unaware that the mysterious young man was Vader's secret apprentice, codenamed "Starkiller."
She tried to search her mind, but truth be told, she'd never heard that name before.
"Vader sent him to kill Jedi, manipulating him into believing they were going to overthrow the Emperor. What we didn't know at the time was the Emperor was using us both. Starkiller killed two Jedi Masters and wounded Master Rahm Kota in a fierce battle. Eventually, when given the opportunity to overthrow the Emperor, Vader betrayed Starkiller, stabbing him in the back and leaving him in a comatose state for six months. Afterwards, I was arrested and declared a traitor to the Empire by Vader. For those six months, I was kept as a prisoner aboard a science vessel."
Mara scoffed, not at her, but at the idea of Vader stabbing someone in the back. Of course, he would when the Emperor reminded him who was in charge.
Juno's eyes brightened. "After he recovered, he was told he had to sever his attachments to the past to fully become Vader's Apprentice. I didn't know at the time he was still loyal to Vader. Starkiller returned for me, saving me from certain death. At the time, we were in denial about our love, but Starkiller slowly started to become more compassionate. I found out he was still loyal to Vader, and I had my reservations, but he believed that Vader wasn't going to betray him a second time. When he'd gathered the enemies of the Empire which you may now know as the forefathers of the Rebel Alliance, all under the guise of wanting to start a rebellion against the Empire, Vader betrayed him a second time and left him to die, capturing the Rebel leaders."
"Is that it?" Mara asked. "He died then?"
But that didn't make sense. She knew even that brute, Vader, would not be incompetent enough to allow a bunch of leaders to escape. Maybe one or two, but there would be a heavy price to pay. No way the Rebellion was that lucky.
"No, he survived and went back for them, saving them. The Emperor... he killed him."
"The Emperor killed him?" Mara repeated.
"Yes," Juno confirmed.
"Are you sure it wasn't Vad-"
"No, I was told it was the Emperor. He unleashed what I was told to be Force Lightning against Kota, and Galen took the blow..."
"But why allow Vader here if you kno-" Mara couldn't deny the contempt she felt for Vader... and surprisingly the Emperor. It seemed like he had a thing for using people, even Vader. She quickly crushed the treacherous thoughts.
"Starkiller told me that Vader was his father figure, and for that reason, along with owning Princess Leia a favor, and prioritizing my General status, I have to put my personal feelings for him to the side, as much as I despise him and everything he stands for. But the Emperor..." Juno's face hardened, "for everything he did he deserves to die. And I will play my part in doing that."
"I see," Mara responded in a low, controlled voice. The hot agony in her chest had been increasing steadily throughout the woman's retelling of her life story, and now she almost felt like she was about to explode.
"Are you going to kill me now?" Juno asked.
"No," Mara looked down.
"You're conflicted. I remember Starkiller giving that expression a lot before the inevitable."
"I am not," she insisted.
The other woman did something she didn't expect. She placed both hands on her shoulders. "I once thought I was something, Mara. But Vader, and especially, Palpatine taken everything from me. He doesn't care about anyone but himself. You're just another cog of the machine like me and Galen was."
"Leave..." It was said in a hoarse whisper. "Just... please leave."
Her heart wrenched for the woman and her love, but she didn't know what to say or do.
'I can tell she's not lying. Someone else used and discarded...' Suddenly, Mara felt sick.
Juno's eyes turned empathetic and her grip became tighter. "I hope you wake up sooner than Starkiller did. I think about him every day. I don't know if you care about anyone, but if you do, and you stay loyal to the Emperor, be prepared to say goodbye." Her eyes turned glassy and lower lip trembled. "Even if we win this war, I'll never be the same person I was before."
And Eclipse released her and was gone without another word.
Pity had filled her heart. She shouldn't feel terrible with the fact that Eclipse lost someone close to her by the Emperor. He was a traitor! Death happened in war...
It just didn't matter.
Eclipse was playing a part in the institution that was attempting to throw down the Emperor! A renowned pilot reduced to a General of a bunch of traitors that wouldn't go nowhere. It was disgraceful.
But now, Mara's mind wouldn't stop spinning. She had thought about Vader...
'Is he using Luke too? Is this a twisted game?'
She wasn't sure where the charge of protectiveness came from. Perhaps it was because of Luke Skywalker's importance, personally. After all, he was much more than the rest of the horrid Jedi she had been told about. If she could knock some of what must surely be the Jedi's negative traits out of him and get him away from his wretched father as well, it could be just him and her. Luke was alright for a offspring of Vader even with those two elements. His lineage being as karked up as it was wasn't his fault.
Hell, she could even be convinced to spare his sister if only for a show of good faith.
But...
Now, she had to think about herself.
'Will the Emperor kill me too if I'm no longer needed?'
Author's note: For Julie, the Guest who recommended I do another time travel fic on Net, but Mara goes back instead, I actually will consider it. Would have to think about how to make it different than Revived. For example, I feel like Mara post Vong War would want to save Vader, too, for Luke and Leia's sake, and I tend to believe that he would do ANYTHING for his children. But if she goes BEFORE A New Hope, it can lead to many interesting ripples alone.
May the Force be with you all always.