THE HEART OF THE JEDI

 

WILLPOWER

by Martina

 Disclaimer: The people and situations used in this fic are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. 

This chapter NC-13

 

 

R2-D2 gave a short series of whistles as he looked around the large chamber.

Almost everywhere he could see there were seats, many of them now occupied

by senators from around the galaxy, as well as military and navy commanders.

Still, the great number of seats stood empty as the last individual of the

ruling body of the New Republic had arrived to this quickly arranged crisis

meeting.

The calming hand of Master Luke tapped his domed head as he, too, watched

all the people that had come take their seats. Far from all the leaders of

the New Republic could make it to Coruscant on such short notice. Still,

Luke was impressed by how many his sister had managed to assemble in the

twenty-four hours since his return from Endor.

R2 stood quietly by his side as they both patiently waited to give their

report. Luke cast a quick look to his sister who also waited for everyone to

quiet down. She had already taken her place at the podium, ready to address

the New Republic. She was dressed in white, not very different from what she

had been wearing the first time he had ever seen her. Her hair was

different, though, once more pinned up in a highly creative fashion around

her head while the rest hang loosely down her shoulders. Even if Leia had

taught him a bit of making a woman’s hair into beautiful creations, Luke had

no ability to do something as creative as what she was presently wearing.

But it didn’t matter. He was fully happy with just knowing the basics.

Like making a simple braid.

The memory of how he had braided Mara’s hair aboard he Lady Luck on their

recent journey home from Anargosa once more came to mind. She had been

pleased with the result.

Luke quickly pushed his thoughts and feelings of her aside. He was about to

give an extremely important report of his findings on the Moon of Endor in

front of the ruling body of the New Republic and even now he couldn’t stop

thinking of Mara. But he had to – even though that was easier said than

done.

Just being in this room made him feel a bit uneasy.

Luke never felt comfortable in these environments. He naturally respected

the ruling body of the New Republic and they had his full support. But he

did not belong here, among them. He was a man of action, not of politics.

Leia always asked him to leave the regular black uniform behind and dress in

more formal fashion when he was asked to participate in political meetings.

And he always did.

Luke wore the robes more known to the Jedi from previous days of the Old

Republic. It very much resembled what Obi-Wan had worn back when Luke had

followed him off Tatooine as a young man, with the difference Luke’s robes

were not in different shades of brown but were instead dark blue and white.

It felt comfortable but was a lot heavier than his regular uniform. That was

why Luke rarely wore these garments on missions. Leia, at least, was pleased

by his choice of clothing for the day. The more he looked like a Jedi the

better. And Luke had to agree with her on that.

Still, even if he made the right impression, being here did not make him

feel more at ease in these clothes. He was an outcast in this environment,

no more than an invited guest and ally. If the New Republic wasn’t so

confident in their belief that they needed the Jedi Knights for protection

and security, he seriously doubted he would have been let in.

This was one duty as a Jedi that Luke did not favour very much. But it was

still his duty, whether he liked it or not. A necessary pain. And he would

do all that was needed of him.

As when he had talked to his youngest nephew yesterday.

To be reunited with young Anakin had been more emotional than Luke had

expected it to be. Even if it had been a mistake made by Palpatine to

establish contact with the little boy first instead of him, the mere fact

that it had happened and that the Sith Lord had frightened his nephew was

difficult enough. No child should ever experience such visions and

nightmares.

Anakin himself never seized to amaze his uncle. Luke had only managed to

enter the boy’s room and say hi before Anakin had asked him outright if it

was Palpatine. The child had told him that the former Emperor had not

revealed his identity but Anakin had reached the conclusion that it was him

anyway. And when Luke had entered his room, young Anakin had seen the truth

in his uncle’s eyes.

They had both sat down on the boy’s bed and talked. With Anakin in his lap,

Luke had told him everything so that the young boy would understand. The

amazing thing with Anakin was that he was merely eight years old, but

sometimes he had the mind of an adult. And even though the boy had been

crying because of the horror that Palpatine had imposed upon him and

although he had sought comfort in his uncle’s protective embrace, he had

shown an incredible strength and understanding for what was happening.

Luke was so impressed by his youngest nephew.

He even admired the boy’s strength.

The whole family had sat down that very evening and talked about Luke’s

latest journey and what he had discovered. Luke had been very careful to

explain to all of them how exactly Palpatine’s return had affected him and

that, this time, they had nothing to fear from the Jedi Master because of

it. Leia’s question about it a few hours earlier had made him determined to

make sure that his loved ones would not question his loyalty to the New

Republic ever again.

Or to them.

And this time, no one showed any doubt.

They all believed him, without hesitation.

It had nonetheless been a heavy conversation, shrouded by the bad news of

the return of their nemesis. The entire family, even the children, had all

in some way suffered by the deeds of Palpatine in the past. This had stolen

most of the evening’s attention, which Luke was mostly grateful for. He had

also told them of what had happened on Anargosa but he had just as carefully

left out some details. Like his own strange and vivid feelings regarding

Mara ever since that day. Since he had no idea how to interpret what he was

feeling for the beautiful redhead, he could even less explain it to his

family.

Besides, at the moment, he didn’t want to talk about Mara. Not with anyone.

Even though Luke suspected that Leia would confront him about it very soon.

She had given him wondering looks when he had told them about the events on

Anargosa and how he had risked his life to save Mara. He would not be able

to run away or hide from his sister’s wondering stare much longer.

Still, the whole family, despite the bad news, was feeling a bit more

relaxed now that they knew what was going on and why. Even if their future

remained as dark as the night – they could now concentrate on the problem at

hand instead of trying to guess what the problem was.

And the loving embrace from Han afterwards still warmed Luke’s heart as he

thought back to the evening before. Having his brother-in-law’s trust meant

so much to him. Especially considering how far they had almost drifted apart

the last time Palpatine had returned from the dead.

Fortunately, that rift had mended on its own rather quickly again and these

days they were like real brothers once more. But either way, neither Luke

nor Han wanted to go through such a thing again. The angry, hurt and

disappointed promise to kill him for allying himself with Palpatine that Han

had given Luke all those years ago was a memory they both wanted to forget.

For almost a decade they had all believed that the nightmare was over. Luke

had found so much peace in his belief that his father’s killer, the same man

that had turned Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader and who had ended his life

while trying to protect his son, was finally dead.

But he had been wrong. For entire nine years he had been terribly wrong. And

the Dark shadow had crept closer once more. He had never even sensed it

coming.

That was another failure to his long list of failures.

Luke knew that no one was perfect, least of all himself. But some failures

that he had done in his life should simply never have happened. He should

have known better to begin with.

What bothered him the most about Palpatine’s latest return was that no

matter how much he tried to remember and think back to all the events on

Onderon, he always reached the same conclusion.

There was no way that he could have known that Palpatine had survived.

But he was a Jedi Master.

Such vital facts were not supposed to pass right under his very nose.

Luke stood patiently behind Leia, observing the impressing number of people

that she had managed to ask to come here in such short time. This was no

official meeting and all those who had not been able to make it to the

Senate today would all be briefed later.

Still, most of those they had wished the most to come had arrived. Most were

senators and representatives from their own individual worlds. At least a

third of the assembled was military; most of them were responsible for the

security of the New Republic. They were here merely on Luke’s request. And

basically everyone had come.

A smile spread on the Jedi Master’s face as he recognised one special face

in the crowd. A legendary hero from the Civil War and also one of Luke’s

friends. And he wore the famous and very recognisable orange pilot uniform.

General Wedge Antilles, the commander of Rogue Squadron. Wedge spotted him,

too, and the lifelong comrades in arms exchanged nods in greeting.

Right next to General Antilles, Luke recognised another familiar face –

another living legend. Garm Bel Iblis, the commander of the New Republic

Fleet. Now in his early sixties, Iblis still showed no signs of retiring

from duty. And no one would ever even think of the thought to ask him to.

This powerful and charismatic man that had helped form the Rebellion and

later engaged in his own civil war against the Empire was still far from

leaving the game.

Luke knew that he would have Iblis’ support. Not only because Han had been

the one to persuade Iblis to join the New Republic during the Thrawn crisis.

It had been Palpatine himself who had ordered the executions of Iblis’

family during the birth of the Empire – while he had been forced to watch.

Asking for assistance from the New Republic Fleet would not be difficult at

all.

The hardest part would be to convince all the senators and politicians. They

did not understand wars and conflicts like those who had been engaged in

them. Nor did they understand the ways of the Force and the constant threat

of the Dark Side. Most of them didn’t know because they simply were not

related to it and since the Jedi had been gone for so long during the Civil

War, much of the Light and the Dark was unknown to them.

There were, however, a few politicians that chose to not want to know. And

who openly remained suspicious towards all Force users.

Luke’s eyes narrowed as a proud Bothan glared at him with contempt before

taking his seat far at the back of the chamber. Borsk Fey’lya.

An excellent politician, no doubt, and loyal to the New Republic. But also

extremely power hungry, as most Bothans were. Fey’lya wasn’t merely power

hungry, though. He had no faith in the Jedi and had over the years openly

announced – even publicly – that the need for the Jedi Order was obsolete.

He had gone as far as to organise campaigns with the intention that the New

Republic should end all contact with the Jedi, who he claimed could not be

trusted.

Luke, for his part, knew what the Bothan was truly up to.

Fey’lya wanted the position as Chief of State for himself. Leia was the only

Jedi in the whole ruling government and that was why he targeted all of the

Jedi to get her out of his way. He could not defeat her political skills and

experience, so he targeted her position as Jedi instead. The fact that Leia

was a Jedi had helped her win the latest election and she was now Chief of

State for yet another term. The popularity of the Jedi in the common

people’s eyes was steadily increasing and Fey’lya couldn’t stand it.

He had fortunately not managed to damage Leia’s position. His campaigns had

still managed to create enough distrust for all Jedi in several other

senators. Many financial decisions regarding the Jedi Order and the Academy

had either been postponed or cancelled. Much needed funds had been lost. All

thanks to this one man. Even when it was no election time, Fey’lya continued

to try to discriminate the Jedi, being a constant thorn in their side.

Fey’lya was scared. He did not understand the Jedi and saw their powers

merely as a threat instead of seeing how the Jedi used their powers to

protect the galaxy. His wrong view of the Jedi was so unnecessary, Luke

felt. Fey’lya was otherwise a very resourceful man and his fundamental

beliefs regarding the galaxy weren’t much different of the ones of the Jedi

Order. They were on the same side and had the same goal. But they did not

have the same means.

The Bothan presently expressed confidence, as he always did. But he was

nervous, Luke could tell. Fey’lya was always nervous, whenever the Jedi

Master was present during their meetings.

Luke’s hope today was to gain as much support from the ruling body of the

New Republic as possible. They had to be warned of Palpatine’s return, that

was the top priority. But Luke was also forced to ask for their assistance.

Or rather, ask for their willingness to assist in the battle against the

Dark Side if the situation demanded their intervention. Luke didn’t know if

he was ever going to need the Fleet at all. But he had to know where they

stood before he faced Palpatine again. Later, they might not even have the

time to debate this.

Luke was pretty sure that he had the fleet and military on his side. He knew

and understood the mind of a soldier – they fought to obtain security just

as he did. The fleet and the Jedi understood each other. However, the

government controlled the fleet. Luke had to gain the trust of the senators

and had to make them understand the precarious situation they suddenly were

in.

Fey’lya could certainly be one senator that could work against him.

Not everyone present was either politician or military. Luke recognised at

least two other legends that had once been very much involved in both the

political and military strategies of this galaxy. Their efforts had helped

shape the past into the current present.

Today they were both retired from their former active services but were

still at times working as advisers. And Leia had especially invited them in.

Mon Mothma, once the leader of the Rebel Alliance and Leia’s predecessor as

Chief of State. And there was also Admiral Ackbar, the ever respected

Calamarian commander who once had been an Imperial prisoner and who had

later led the Rebellion to victory at the Battle of Endor. Both held

powerful political influence to this very day. And Leia was confident they

would have their support as well.

Finally it was quieting down and silence fell inside the large chamber as

everyone’s attention fell upon the Chief of State as she was about to

address the New Republic.

- “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to this meeting on such short

notice. I have summoned you all on the request of my brother, Jedi Master

Luke Skywalker. He has returned from a mission and wishes to brief us all of

his discoveries. What he has to say is utterly important, thus I strongly

advise you to pay attention. And I remind you of the high confidentiality”.

Leia turned to her brother and offered him to step forward.

- “Master Skywalker,”

It always sounded so strange in Luke’s ears to hear Leia address him this

formally, despite all the hours of preparations she had spent with him over

the years to help him coop with the world of politics in the proper way.

Leia had still been an excellent teacher. Luke knew how to behave. And how

to speak. Even if being engaged in a duel to the death against an enraged

enemy was a situation he was more used of handling.

Luke bowed before his sister and stepped forward.

- “Thank you, Madame President,”

Then he faced all the hundreds of people that had come only on his request.

Their presence, and the urgency that he had to inform them of, forced him to

ignore the frantic beat of his heart. He was terribly nervous.

He must not fail today.

Too much depended on this.

Luke took in a much needed breath. The Force was with him. And Leia was by

his side.

He could do this.

It was still completely silent inside the chamber as the Jedi Master started

to deliver his report.

- “My friends, senators and honourable representatives of the New Republic –

I come before you in a time of extreme circumstances. On the night of Life

Day I felt a powerful disturbance in the Force. The Force led me to its

origin, to the Moon of Endor. Some of you may know that the Dark Side has a

resting place above the moon where the second Death Star once used to orbit.

In this haunted resting place an old evil has returned – the very person who

created it.”

Luke had no intention to wrap up the truth in some nicely formed

expressions. There was no time for that. And as he had concluded years ago,

he was a warrior, not a politician. Although he was a fairly good speaker,

Luke preferred to get right to the point. And that was what he would do this

time, too.

It would have the best effect anyway.

- “The Sith Lord Emperor Palpatine himself.”

The mention of that name caused a lot of unrest in the chamber as the

senators and military men alike started to nervously mumble amongst

themselves. The serious expression in the face of the Jedi Master and also

of the Chief of State made it only clearer to them that this was no joke.

- “Palpatine!?”

- “How can this be?”

- “Isn’t he supposed to be dead?”

The last spoken question, Luke had recognised, came from General Antilles.

Both he and Wedge had fought against Palpatine during the Civil War and also

afterwards, both together as pilots and in separate ways. Wedge, along with

everyone, had believed they had finally managed to get rid of Palpatine for

good. The Sith Lord’s first reappearance six years after the Battle of Endor

had been shock enough as it was. And now he had returned yet again.

- “No one is more surprised at this than I am,” Luke declared and continued

to speak slowly and very clearly, just as when he was addressing his fellow

Jedi and students back at the Academy. - “I wish I had a proper explanation

as to how this was possible. A fellow Jedi of mine sacrificed his life

almost ten years ago to destroy Palpatine for good and we all believed that

he had succeeded. But we were wrong. Now the circumstances are different

from how they were back then. Palpatine is in his current state because of

the events that took place on Onderon. This means that he’s no more than a

being of pure energy, an evil spirit, if you will. But he has also become

more dangerous than ever before.”

A female senator from the Hapes Cluster raised her hand, asking for the

permission to speak. Leia, who was paying full attention to what was

happening in the chamber and who was in charge of this meeting, allowed the

woman to speak.

- “You know this, Master Skywalker? How?”

The senator of Hapes had asked the question that was on everybody’s mind.

And Luke had been expecting it.

- “While on the Moon of Endor, Palpatine appeared before me and told me of

his intentions. He believes he’s invincible and he also challenged me to try

and stop him.”

- “Stop him from doing what, Master Jedi?” another senator, whom Luke did

not recognise, asked.

- “When I arrived at the moon I discovered a large, dark area on the moon’s

surface,” Luke explained. - “I made several recordings of this. My astromech

can show you. R2.”

The little droid turned to a computer terminal and immediately sent the

requested information. A large hologram, showing the green Moon of Endor,

appeared in midair. Luke circled the hologram so that he could pinpoint the

different locations better.

- “This is from orbit,” he explained and pointed at the dark area that was

easily seen on the moon’s surface. - “Our ship’s computer discovered that

this area is growing steadily with approximately one meter per standard

hour. When we landed on the surface we realized the true horror of this

phenomenon.”

The hologram changed nature and now showed images from the surface and of

the Jedi Master himself as he was walking up to the very edge of the dark

area.

Luke turned to the senators once more.

- “Within this dark area there exists no Force energy whatsoever,” he

continued to explain; now letting the recordings speak for themselves. -

“The Force itself is dead and anything living that enters this area dies.”

The hologram continued to show how Master Skywalker levitated the large,

fallen tree that he had found on the ground and how he threw it into the

dark area. And, just as Luke, Lando and R2 had witnessed that day, now also

everyone in this room could see for themselves how the entire log vaporized

and fell to the ground as dust, destroyed by the Dark energies within this

area.

- “What the..?”

- “What is that?”

Many gasps and more mumbles were heard. A steady growing number of nervous

people were in this room. Luke waited a few seconds before he continued his

report. He wanted to give them time to understand what it was what they saw.

- “This is nothing natural,” he explained with determination. - “This is the

pure, evil, corrupted work of the Dark Side. The work of Palpatine! I can

not tell you how he corrupts the Force to destroy itself, I have no

knowledge of this ability and until now I had no idea that such ability was

possible for any Force user. I can merely tell you what he’s doing with it.

Like an evil plague, he’s feeding on the living energy that is the Force,

draining it from all life, and is thus nurturing his own powers. He

confessed to me that his plan is to destroy us all. Once fed by all the

energy of this moon, he will move from planet to planet and also to all the

stars and everything else in his path and drain them of the Force as well.

Not even space itself will escape. And neither will we.”

- “But why?” the senator of Taanab wondered, his growing worry very obvious

in his voice. - “Why does he do this?”

It was a justified question. It was a question with a simple answer, an

answer they all knew. But it was not an answer you could explain easily.

- “Because he hates us,” Luke said. - “He hates what we have become and

accomplished since his Empire fell. Me he hates most of all since I and the

Jedi have put an end to his plans several times in the past. Palpatine does

this simply because he can. He’s on a crusade of vengeance. And there’s no

telling which world he’ll go to next. I can not stress enough the danger we

are facing. If he targets a highly populated world… Well, you can all figure

out the consequences. This is why I come before you today. We must be

prepared and ready to act, no matter what that might mean.”

More mumbles erupted. The senators seemed to be the ones most troubled by

this disturbing news. The military seemed more controlled. Their worry was

no less, but most of them had been engaged in battle against Palpatine’s

forces in the past. They understood the magnitude a lot more than the

politicians.

After a while, Admiral Ackbar stood up.

- “The man is utterly mad!” the Calamarian said and stared with his big,

yellow eyes on the dark spot that the hologram was showing. - “We’re facing

a lunatic!”

Luke nodded.

- “That’s the problem, Admiral,” he said. - “He’s a brilliant lunatic, you

can’t tell which way he’ll go next. He is impossible to analyze. You can’t

predict him. This, of course, means that he’s not a lunatic at all.

Palpatine is crazy, but not stupid.”

Another hand, far in the back, rose, asking for permission to speak. Leia

gritted her teeth without showing. What she had feared seemed to become

true. But she had no choice, he was following protocol and she had no right

to deny him the right to speak his opinion and ask whatever questions he

might have. She, though, would stand by her brother no matter what happened.

The word was given to Senator Fey’lya. The Bothan stood up and faced the

Jedi Master.

- “We thank you for your report, Master Skywalker. And this seems to be a

genuine threat. But aren’t you turning this into gigantic proportions? What

we see here is a pathetic display of a man who is beginning to crack. He’s

afraid. Palpatine knows he no longer is the player he was and he won’t ever

be again.”

- “Nonsense!”

The quick and obviously irritated answer from her brother surprised even

Leia. Although, considering their past difficulties with the Bothan senator,

Luke’s reaction to the other’s arrogance was not entirely unjustified. She

merely prayed that Luke’s otherwise constant patience would not disappear.

Fey’lya would gain a lot if Luke lost his temper.

- “Underestimating him is exactly what Palpatine wants you to do!” Luke

continued.

- “My friend, please relax,” Ackbar cut in, all too familiar with the

political game that was beginning to form. - “We’re all on your side.”

- “You know you need us,” Fey’lya added and grinned towards the Jedi Master.

The Bothan was right; otherwise he would not have been courageous enough to

make such a statement. But if he believed Luke would lose his self-esteem

that easily he was greatly mistaken.

- “Yes, I need you. That’s why I’ve come before you today, Senator Fey’lya,”

Luke stated calmly. - “But I don’t need an army of so-called advisers to

tell me that the man that once gained control over the whole galaxy single

handed is more or less out of his mind when it’s very clear he’s sane.”

He broke eye contact with the Bothan. Luke knew he had nothing to gain from

him. He had to focus on those that still showed willingness to listen and to

act.

- “Palpatine is determined and filled with all the energies of the Dark

Side. He’s a mind of pure evil. He will show no mercy to anyone. He can not

be reasoned with. He must be stopped or billions of lives will be lost.”

This time it was none other but Iblis who asked for permission to speak.

Leia happily handed it over to him.

- “Master Skywalker, we are not underestimating anyone,” he stated and many

nodded in agreement as he said those words. - “We won’t get caught in that

trap. After all, winning or losing affects us all.”

- “I will win!”

Everyone stared in surprise, even Leia, at the sudden determination of the

Jedi Master. Luke had not given her any indication of this fact before this

meeting.

- “How do you know that?” she had to ask herself, before anyone else did.

- “I don’t,” Luke confessed. - “Except that I have to. What other option

have we?”

He faced the senators and the military once more.

- “And I need your support,” he said. - “We are fighting for life as we know

it. The Jedi will do what we must. But we require the assistance and the

authorisation of the New Republic to use all means necessary, what ever they

might be.”

- “Do you realize what you are asking for, Master Skywalker?”

The gentle yet so powerful voice of Mon Mothma herself caught everyone’s

attention. Her question made Luke a bit doubtful. The confidence that he had

been building up was suddenly beginning to crumble a bit. No longer the

Chief of State, Luke still had enormous respect for the wisdom of this

charismatic and intelligent woman. He had admired her and followed her ever

since the days of the Rebellion. Even if the two had not always agreed, he

was always willing to listen to what she had to say.

- “Yes, ma’am, I believe I am,” Luke answered carefully. - “But I am the

first to admit that I have my limitations and that I don’t have knowledge

about everything. Is there something I have failed to calculate into this

situation?”

Mon Mothma slowly rose to her feet. Despite her age, she was still tall,

beautiful and radiated leadership. She met the eyes of the Jedi Master, a

brave and wise man she admired greatly and to whom she was so grateful to.

She was not questioning him or his motives. She just wanted to make all

facts clear to him.

- “The last time a single Force sensitive individual asked for emergency

powers from the ruling body of this galaxy, he secretly created what came to

be the Empire and later he declared himself Emperor. It was before you were

born, Master Skywalker, but I think you know of what I speak.”

Luke trembled. Mon Mothma spoke from personal experience and he had to agree

with her that the present reminded too much of the past. But merely on the

surface. He knew that but she had awoken the question so that he would be

given the chance to answer it in front of everybody.

Leia had certainly been right. To invite Mon Mothma to this meeting had

indeed been a smart move!

- “Mon Mothma must know that I have never and never will have the same or

any similar intentions for this galaxy as Palpatine,” Luke stated. - “I

merely seek the permission, the authority and the means to act, not to gain

power – least of all for myself.”

- “Yes, that’s what you say. But is that what you mean?”

The familiar voice from the far back once more echoed in the large chamber,

once more seized everyone’s attention. Leia was beginning to lose her famous

patience with this man, like so often in the past. And she knew that he had

only started whatever trouble he was planning to cause.

- “Senator Fey’lya, you have not been given the word at this time,” she

reminded him. Instead of obeying her, Fey’lya rose to his feet.

- “Forgive me, Madam President, but I think others beside me would like to

know the true intentions of the Jedi Master. If this is as serious as it has

been presented here, we have the right to know!”

Leia was about to protest again when she heard her brother’s telepathic

voice in her mind.

‘Leia, let him talk.’

‘Are you sure?’

Luke sounded sure, but was he really? He did not possess the political

experience to handle things smoothly, unlike Fey’lya. Leia did not wish to

see the Bothan have her brother for breakfast in front of everybody.

‘The question is already out in the open,’ Luke continued in their private

conversation. ‘It will only get worse if we try to stop him. Whatever he has

to say, he can not change the facts.’

‘He’s not interested in facts, Luke. Be careful.’

She prayed that Luke truly knew what he was doing. Fey’lya seemed to have

the power indeed to destroy their hopes of gaining the much-needed support.

And if the Bothan were victorious, then maybe Palpatine could be, too.

Fey’lya turned to his colleagues around him.

- “My friends, I am no expert on Jedi issues but I certainly do not believe

we should be so easily frightened and all panic because a little moon in

the middle of nowhere suddenly grows dark.”

- “This ‘little moon’, where we won our freedom, is not merely growing dark,

Senator Fey’lya,” Luke explained. - “It’s dying.”

He knew the game of gain and power that Fey’lya was playing. But even so,

Luke was still surprised that the Bothan did not regard Endor any higher

than this, considering that so many of his own people had once given their

lives so that the plans for the second Death Star could fall into the hands

of the Rebel Alliance.

None of them would be here now if not for what had taken place at this

‘small moon’. And for the sacrifices all those Bothans had made.

- “And it will continue elsewhere.”

The idealistic ramblings of the Jedi Master did not affect Fey’lya. Nor did

he trust the human with the superpowers. Once, maybe, he had. But with time,

that had changed.

- “How do you know that with such confidence, Skywalker?” he asked. No one

said anything, but everyone noticed that Fey’lya merely addressed the Jedi

Master by his name now, not by his title.

Luke noticed, too. But he didn’t care.

- “I have no reason not to believe what the Force tells me – or the threats

from Palpatine.”

Another victorious grin appeared on Fey’lya’s face. The Jedi was such a fool

to try to challenge him in his own backyard. This was the Senate’s Chamber –

the ruling heart of the New Republic, not a ruined temple of a forgotten

civilization on some secluded jungle moon. The Jedi would one day be as

forgotten as the Massassi, Fey’lya was confident of that.

Why?

Here they dealt with facts. Within these walls the leaders of the New

Republic solved issues and problems that everyone could see and touch. The

Jedi Knights worshipped something that could not be seen, this mysterious

Force that seemed to give them all these powerful and strange abilities. And

the common people were fools enough to worship it, too! Something they could

not see or feel themselves!

If the Force was something so good that it deserved to be worshipped even by

those that had no connection to it, why was there still so much misery and

pain and injustice in this galaxy?

No.

The Jedi Knights were no more than a religious group, now trying to gain

political power. Force users had done this in the past; Palpatine was merely

the latest example. But how could you tell him apart from the Force user

that stood before them here today? Or the female one by his side?

They were all alike! And already the first time that Leia Organa Solo had

gained the position as Chief of State, the Jedi Order had managed to

increase its political influence. Not strange since their leader was her own

brother!

And that brother of hers, Fey’lya trusted least of all!

This man did not just convert more Force users to his superstitious religion

at Yavin 4. Now he had the intention to create a Jedi Council as well! It

was so obvious what Skywalker was doing! And here he was, trying to warn

them of someone that had the same intentions as himself. Yes, Palpatine had

always been a threat to be reckoned with. But he was no more than a ghost.

Skywalker, however, was very much walking around in a physical shape. And he

should righteously be considered as a much greater threat!

He had tried to warn the New Republic of this man’s influence over and over

again. There had been a time when Skywalker had been considered trustworthy.

But Fey’lya would again remind everyone why that was no longer so.

And now, Skywalker had even given him the reason to do this right here and

now! It was so perfect that he should perhaps consider sending the Jedi

Master a thank you note afterwards.

- “And there lies the true issue to what really is going on here, isn’t it?”

Luke did not answer. He wasn’t sure what the Bothan senator was referring

to. But he had the bad feeling he was soon enough going to find out.

- “My colleagues are just too afraid to say it. But I am not.”

Fey’lya glared at him, no longer hiding his contempt.

- “How can we be sure you have not come before us today to feed us with lies

and false intentions?”

He gestured towards the hologram that was still running.

- “How do we know you are in fact not in league with Palpatine? It wouldn’t

be the first time, would it!?”

If there was a reaction from the other senators, Leia did not notice. She

was too stunned and most of all disgusted by Fey’lya’s accusation. She had

expected a lot coming from the Bothan. But nothing as low as this. This was

getting very personal. How dared he!?

How dared he accuse her brother of being a traitor!?

Luke sensed his sister’s upset reaction and realized for the sake of

everyone, not the least for himself, that he had to retort to this

accusation as quickly and quietly as possible.

Fey’lya’s words had hurt, really hurt. Not just because they created so much

doubt among the others that were present but also because it simply was not

true. And it stirred so many painful memories.

But he had to stay calm. If he lost his patience, he would merely cast more

fuel on Fey’lya’s fire.

- “Senator, do you wish me to take a lie detector test so that you may

determine if I’m lying here before you today?”

Fey’lya frowned.

- “With your powers you can manipulate any machine or person that could take

a test on you. A test would not determine anything. History, however, does

not lie or manipulate.”

Who did Skywalker think he was? Well, the whole New Republic was just about

to be reminded of the man he truly was!

- “The galaxy has not forgotten, Master Jedi! The last time Palpatine

appeared from the dead you freely became his puppet. That did not surprise

me then and it does not surprise me now.”

Fey’lya made a short pause. He had longed for the opportunity to say this

out loud to so many simultaneously.

- “As they say; like father, like son!”

Even the great serenity that Luke had learned to master during the years was

not enough to prepare him for such an assault. The words of accusation,

doubt and distrust hit him like a sledge-hammer. He was openly accused for

having the intention to once more become Palpatine’s servant and that all

this was no more than a scheme to mislead the New Republic.

He was being accused to have Dark Side agendas.

He was being accused of following in the footsteps of his father.

His father.

How dared Fey’lya dishonour his father this way!?

Even if his father had been part of his reasons for accepting the Dark Side

all those years ago, he had nothing to do with this now.

Luke trembled all over. He fought back the anger that was boiling up within

him from everywhere. But he was not just fighting his own demons because of

this provocation. He was no longer quite sure how to respond to this.

Should he express his anger? Or should he simply swallow it? Everyone could

already see that he had recoiled and was deeply hurt.

Nervousness and insecurity started to overtake him.

What should he do?

And in the meantime, Fey’lya was the triumphant one.

A lot of loud voices spoke up simultaneously as soon as Fey’lya’s words had

ended. Everyone was suddenly speaking in each other’s mouths, no one really

listening to anyone. Not just Skywalker’s feelings had been shaken to the

very ground by this accusation.

Leia turned to look at her brother. He had taken a few steps backwards. His

gaze had dropped to the floor and his face had turned pale. And she easily

sensed the traumatic storm that was raging in his soul as all the memories

of the Dark Side once more returned to him. And so did all the loathing and

accusations he had once placed upon himself after she had managed to save

him from Palpatine’s clutches all those years ago.

There was no way she was going to let Luke fall into that despair again. And

certainly not because of Fey’lya!

Luke was also beginning to lose face. Leia could clearly see that he had

lost all focus, that he no longer knew how to handle this situation. His

feelings blinded his creative way of thinking, as they so often did when he

was hurt. She had to save him from this before it was too late!

She had to admit, Fey’lya had made a glorious coup. But in his aim to break

her brother and to undermine his influence, he had forgotten about her! And

unlike Luke, she did not take accusations aimed at their father so

personally and had never braced the Dark Side herself. She had no shadows.

And she was still standing by the Jedi Master’s side!

- “Order!”

Leia demanded silence and almost immediately got it. Everyone almost seemed

afraid of her, something that was very rare. But it was also rare that the

Chief of State was openly angry.

Leia turned to face Fey’lya – he was still standing up at the far end of the

chamber. If he thought he was safe over there he was deeply mistaken!

- “I object to such comments and accusations, Senator! Or do you question my

allegiance as well?”

A short-lived mumble appeared again amongst the senators, and only died out

again by the intensity in Leia Organa Solo’s eyes. If Fey’lya indeed was

accusing Master Skywalker of these things, was he also accusing the Chief of

State for the same things as well? If he was, he was digging his own hole

and his political career could most likely be over. Leia Organa Solo could

only be tied to the same accusations because of her bloodline with

Skywalker; otherwise they all knew she was not involved. No one had anything

that would make them question their political leader. She had shown no

motive or indication.

And if they could not question her, could they then still question the Jedi

Master?

The Chief of State stood by him, even defended him and his intentions in

this very moment. Yes, he was her brother and that did work in Fey’lya’s

favour. But every individual in this room knew that Leia Organa Solo would

never risk the safety of the New Republic. If she, too, believed in these

accusations she would not step in to the Jedi Master’s defence like this.

She would not even have let him speak before them today if she had suspected

him.

- “Master Skywalker has proven his loyalty to us numerous times,” she

declared. - “He has risked his life over and over again for our freedom and

for the constitution that we have today. All he has ever done has been in

the interest of us all, including his mistakes.”

Luke observed his sister as she spoke and his heart filled with warmth. As

always, she continued to protect him, with the same determination as he

always protected her. He had gotten off track a bit by the accusations aimed

at him and she had immediately stepped in to help him back to his feet.

She was never going to abandon him to the wolfs of politics.

Once more, he was beginning to feel hope.

Because of her.

- “Since when is a Jedi allowed to make mistakes?”

Fey’lya refused to let this go, it was too great an opportunity to ignore.

Naturally, the Chief of State tried to defend her brother, that was

expected. They were both of the same untrustworthy kind.

- “Aren’t you supposed to know better?” he asked and now addressed them

both. - “Is that not why you exist, to correct mistakes instead of making

them?”

Fey’lya’s arrogance and disrespect no longer fed Leia’s anger. It had gotten

to the point where she no longer allowed the Bothan to step on her.

His attempts to undermine her and her brother were going to fail. She was

determined to make that sure.

Not many in this chamber were unaware of Fey’lya’s many campaigns to change

the public’s positive view of the Jedi. If the Bothan could remind the New

Republic of their past events, then she should do the same about him too.

- “Master Skywalker’s loyalty to the New Republic will not be questioned!

Not as long as it’s merely based on personal opinions that are not backed up

by any fact or proof.”

It was completely silent inside the chamber once more; the smallest whisper

would have been heard. Leia glared at the Bothan senator at the back. She

preferred to not use her authority more than necessary but right now she had

to. And she would not hesitate to use it even more if she was pushed to the

limit.

- “Further outbursts of this nature and I will have you removed from this

meeting. Do I make myself clear, Senator?”

Fey’lya swallowed, yet he kept on smiling. He had still managed to make his

point. And even the Chief of State had helped him, too.

- “Yes, Madam President. Perfectly clear.”

Slowly he sat down, head still held high.

Luke observed Fey’lya closely. There was a risk that the Bothan had managed

to create enough doubt amongst the others with his outbursts. And as much as

he had needed his sister’s defence, the fact that she was defending someone

that a senator was accusing of treason could be enough to create even more

doubt. He was Leia’s brother after all, above all else, politics did not

really control Leia’s decision to stand by his side. And even if these were

baseless accusations, Fey’lya did have a point. Skywalker had once served

Palpatine, a fact that could not be ignored. The possible risk that he would

do so again was hanging in the air.

It was not up to Leia to prove his loyalty to them; Luke could only do that

by himself.

And he would.

By merely telling them the truth and being himself.

Those with clear minds and pure hearts would not embrace Fey’lya’s wrongful

accusations.

- “If you don’t trust in me, Senators, then trust in the facts,” Luke said,

feeling how new self-esteem embraced him. - “You may send your own

expeditions to Endor if that would comfort you. It will merely bring you the

same bad news. The Dark Side is spreading and Palpatine is moving against

us. Bickering amongst ourselves will serve nothing but his victory. If I

knew the Jedi could handle this on our own we would do so. Unity was what

saved us in the past and that’s the only thing that may save us now. I plead

for your help.”

The Jedi Master had not denied what the Bothan senator had accused him of.

Nor had he confirmed it either. He asked them all to think for themselves,

to reach their own conclusions. This realization swept over all the men and

women present. Fey’lya was power hungry and still upset about the fact that

Leia Organa Solo had won over him in the recent election with a clear

majority. It was rather obvious where Fey’lya’s accusations came from.

But the Jedi Master did not flee from the frame, despite how wrongful the

accusations were. Nor did he choose to face the Bothan senator by the same

means. And, unlike the senator, Master Skywalker stuck with what they all

knew was true.

Iblis once more had a question.

- “What means do you intend to use against Palpatine, Master Skywalker?”

Luke sighed. He had to be totally frank with them. It was the only way.

- “As of right now, I don’t know. Palpatine is a being of energy. He exists

in a parallel dimension that is linked to ours and through the Dark Side he

can enter our world. Even with all my abilities as a Jedi, my powers can’t

touch him, even less stop him. But I will turn to a source of information

and guidance of my own to find answers.”

- “And if you find no answers?”

- “Then I will turn elsewhere until I find them.”

Luke made a short pause, looking around the chamber. The looks on most

people’s faces were troubled. But that also meant that they believed him.

- “I don’t pretend that this will be an easy challenge, nor will I try to

make you believe that this will be over soon,” he continued. - “I can not

even promise you a victory. But I swear to all of you, I will not give up or

give in. I’ll need your help, though. I don’t know what that help might look

like as of yet. It might be ships and manpower. But what I truly ask for is

willpower. I must know whether I have it or not and can ask for it at any

time.”

The senator from Corellia turned to Leia.

- “Madame President, what’s your conclusion?”

Leia’s answer was swift and without doubt.

- “That we fully and completely assist Master Skywalker in everything that

he asks. He does not push the panic button for nothing. Palpatine represents

a threat that we can not be foolish enough to ignore. Most of us here

remember his evil deeds from the past. We can’t sit back and do nothing and

let history repeat itself.”

- “Most of you fought in the Rebel Alliance against the Empire,” Luke said,

continuing where his sister had left off. - “A few of you even witnessed

Palpatine’s rise to power.”

He shortly looked in Mon Mothma’s and Ackbar’s direction. Then he continued.

- “You know what we are facing here, the mind behind this. Only that this is

far worse than anything he has ever thrown at us before. Unlike in the past,

this is not openly aggressive and violent like the Imperial Starfleet, the

Death Stars or the World Devastators.”

He gestured to the still running hologram.

- “This is no machine that you can see and touch. This is slow and

deceitful. It doesn’t look so dangerous at first hand and it may not do so

for many years to come. But like I stated earlier, we don’t know what his

intentions truly are or where he’ll go from here. We must take a stand

against him now or in the end there will be nothing left.”

Luke made another pause. Everyone’s eyes were on him.

- “My friends, your goals are the same as the ones of the Jedi Order. We

want to live in peace and security with justice for all. Remember why we

rebelled against Palpatine in the past. Remember the values that are the

foundation of the New Republic. I and the Jedi plead for your support.”

He had nothing further to say. It was all in the hands of the New Republic

now.

- “I suggest we move for a vote on this matter,” Leia stated and met her

brother’s eyes. - “If Master Skywalker will kindly wait outside I will

deliver to you the New Republic’s decision shortly.”

Luke bowed before her.

- “Thank you, Madam President.”

He then turned to the rest of the government, bowing before them as well.

- “Senators”.

An unexpected sound suddenly echoed throughout the chamber. And it was

followed by further, similar sounds, coming from all directions. As Luke

looked up, he realized that all the senators and military were standing up.

And they were applauding him.

And even more of the others around followed. Finally, almost every single

individual in the Senator Chamber gave him a standing ovation.

This display of respect and support was something Luke had never expected,

even less dreamt of. And he had never experienced anything like it before.

Overwhelmed by this united praise, he looked over to his sister to his

right. Leia was applauding him as well. She was smiling, full of pride. And

she even blinked an eye at him.

He had done it!

He had managed to reach the senators and military of the New Republic. They

understood the new threat. And they had not been intimidated by the false

accusations made by Fey’lya.

The vote they were about to have was no more than a formality.

Luke swallowed, feeling both relieved and overwhelmed. He had hoped for

their understanding and willingness to act. But that they should follow him

so quickly and so strongly he could not even in his wildest dreams have

imagined.

As he was about to turn to leave, Luke could feel the angry eyes of Fey’lya

burning brightly at him. The Bothan’s attempts to patronise him in front of

the rest of the leading body of the New Republic seemed to have failed

utterly and it stung the alien senator’s pride. Well, he could have it, as

far as Luke was concerned. Fey’lya had made his own bed by bringing up the

Jedi Master’s days on the Dark Side. Now he had to lie in it.

However, just as Luke was about to leave the chamber, in the other corner of

his eye, an impressed Mon Mothma smiled at him – she, too, was applauding

him.

Leia saw, too, the former Rebel Leader’s satisfaction at the Jedi Master’s

ways of handling the situation in the political arena.

And she fully shared Mon Mothma’s admiration. Luke had stood his ground,

proudly so, and had stood up against all opposition with facts in hand.

In fact, Leia was very impressed by her brother today!

With R2 following him closely, Luke heard the applause continue even long

after he had left the chamber behind.

 

To be continued in: "The Phantom Menace" (YES! You read right!)

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