leiajadevader

[leiajadevader]

Imperial Introduction

Aldera, Alderaan: The Organa Palace

Patience was a virtue. Or at least that's what she had been told. Her experience with patience was quite to the contrary. It was frustrating, maddening, and downright aggravating! Every fiber of her body was screaming at her to move, to pace, to run, to shout, to scream, to do something - anything as she waited for her father's return from Coruscant. However, none of those actions were the embodiment of the due patience of a Princess and soon-to-be Senator. Bail Organa's comm had been unsettling, especially when paired with the holo news that reported his resignation from the Imperial Senate.

Leia had become aware of her adoptive father's involvement with a resistance movement known as the Alliance to Restore the Republic. In the year that followed, Leia confided in Bail about her own feelings towards the Empire. The blatant disrespect they harbored for non-humans, the inequalities between men and women and the prevalence of slavery throughout the galaxy was inexcusable to say the least. In the end, she confessed to having eavesdropped on him and expressed her desire to work alongside him to right the many wrongs of the galaxy. She now feared that his resignation from the Imperial Senate had something to do with his involvement with the Rebellion.

There had been more than a few close calls in recent months, most recently was on Corellia where her father, Jedi Rahm Kota, and Senators Mon Mothma and Garm Bel Iblis were arrested by an Imperial raid led by none other than Darth Vader. They eventually escaped when Vader's secret apprentice, Galen Marek, turned on him and the Emperor. Having met Galen once before, Leia had suggested the Alliance use his family crest as the symbol, a means of immortalizing his sacrifice, just weeks later on Kashyyyk.

At great length, Leia pushed away from the awning she had been leaning against and gave in to the nervous pacing, her steps soft but echoing softly as her booted feet met marble tile. Glancing at her chrono, she couldn't shake the growing pit in her stomach. Bail should have returned nearly two hours go. Licking her dry lips, she turned her chocolate brown eyes towards the night sky, searching for any sign of the approach of the Tantive IV. Seconds seemed like hours, and she had fallen to the point of checking her choro every 30 seconds. At long last, she finally heard the distant but distinctive thrum of a Corellian corvette. Her heart leapt into her throat as her eyes shot to the sky. Holding her breath, she quickly found the approaching ship and tracked it's movements through the air until she was certain it was her father.

Watching the Tantive IV position itself above the landing pad reserved for the Organa Family, Leia turned from the balcony with tears already glistening in her eyes and raced to meet her father. Her hair, free of the extravagant styling the nobles seemed to favor, flew behind her, nearly blinding her when she found herself running too fast and tried to slow to round a corner without slamming into the wall. Unable to slow enough, Leia found herself running several paces on the wall as if it were the floor, before continuing down the hall. Moments later, she slowed to a brisk walk, chest heaving slightly as she struggled to slow her breathing. Running fingers through her hair, she walked between two of the palace guards and out onto the landing pad, just in time to see her father descend the ramp of the Tantive IV with her uncle, Captain Raymus Antilles.

Leia had made it halfway across the landing pad before Bail saw her, a smile lighting up his face instantly. "Leia!" he remarked, unable to keep the surprised look off his face even as he struggled for sternness. "I didn't think you would still be up. It's nearly 0200."

She gave him a look that said he should know better. Since Queen Breha, her adoptive mother and Bail Organa's wife, had passed away nearly two years prior, Leia was continuously concerned regarding the well being of her father. Even before she had died, Leia would stay awake as long as she could to see him return home safely. And with his resignation from the Imperial Senate…Leia was feeling more than a little paranoid.

Raymus Antilles chuckled beside Bail. "Well I guess you don't know your daughter as well as you think you do," he said jokingly, looking at the expression on Leia's face.

Leia's face softened at her uncle's words. "Thank you Uncle. At least somebody knows me."

Bail gasped dramatically, clutching at his heart. "I'm hurt!"

Smiling as she closed the last few steps to her father and uncle, Leia quickly hugged Bail tightly, squeezing her eyes shut as tears burned. She swallowed the tears back and managed to croak, "Welcome home father."

"Thank you Leia," Bail replied, hugging her with one arm while using the other hand to idly brush her hair. "We have much to talk about. But let's get some rest, shall we?"

Shaking her head, Leia drew back to look up at him. "No, let's talk tonight." Bail looked down at her, tiredness ringed around his eyes. He could see the stubborn determination in her face and knew she wouldn't sleep until he answered her questions. Nodding, he took her under his arm and bade Raymus a good night before heading into the Palace with Leia…

:: The Next Morning ::

Aldera, Alderaan: The Organa Palace

She still wasn't satisfied with the answers her father had given her the night before, but she knew he needed to sleep and that she needed to prepare for the next day. The citizens of Alderaan would be voting to elect their next Senator. The Organa family was loved by many and her father had been beloved by many in the galaxy. It was because of this, he was confident the Empire wouldn't outright kill him. To do so, might only pour fuel on the fire that was the Rebellion.

Leia on the other hand…had been more difficult and thusly, less endeared. She had been described as boisterous, argumentative, and troublesome. She was expelled from the Collegium for Young Ladies at the tender age of seven. Additionally, she was known to be the instigator of mischief and trouble at the Royal Palace, including outings with boys and dropping a water balloon on Moff Wilhuff Tarkin's head. She fought and resisted her three aunts who were determined to turn her into a "Proper Princess." Madame Vesta had had only slightly more success than her aunts did while Leia was enrolled at the Alderaan Select Academy for Young Ladies, and Leia took to the etiquette instructed. However she was hardly friends with her peers who often took to throwing grand parties and viewed others as beneath them. In short, she did not make friends easily.

Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly and hefted a brush to her hair, setting about the chore of preparing for the day's events. She was nervous and concerned about her father's situation but she was determined to carry on with his covert missions and support the Alliance under the very nose of Emperor Palpatine and his dog, Darth Vader. She would make her father proud…

Leia's door hissed open a few minutes later and her father walked in. The fine lines and graying hair that came with three decades of service to the Senate decorated his otherwise handsome face. Pinning the last braid in place, she rose and faced her father. "You must remember to smile Princess," he commented, seeing the unhappy and stern look upon her face as he approached her.

Forcing a smile to her lips, she asked, "Better?"

After a moment of silence and looking at her, Bail nodded his head, his own smile slipping from his face. Pulling Leia into a hug, he gently kissed her forehead and whispered in her ear, "You'll do fine."

"I'm not worried about me. I'm worried about you."

Leia could feel him shake his head and suppress a chuckle. "You needn't worry about me darling. That's my job as a father…to worry about you." He drew back and cupped her chin, tipping her head back to look into her eyes. Leia watched tears gather at the corners of his eyes. "Your mother and I are so proud of you Leia." He paused, shaking his head and then repeated, "So proud."

Leia smiled again, this one reaching her eyes. "I love you father."

Bail smiled and his face lit up. "I love you too Princess. How about we go out there and win this election, huh?"

:: One week later ::

Coruscant: The Imperial Palace

Somehow, Leia had won the election, becoming the youngest Senator ever elected. The show of support was staggering for she had won by a landslide. She suspected that it was perhaps it was in part due to the charismatic and influential Bail Organa. However there was no time to decipher the how or the why. She had literally spent her entire life preparing for this moment and she was eager to get started. And first thing was first: her introduction to the Emperor.

While it was customary for the Royals to be presented to the Emperor and his Imperial Court at sixteen or seventeen standard years of age, Leia had refused. She was determined not to be presented as young girl in the Court marriage market, but rather to stand before the Emperor and his Court as a Senator in her own right. Leia smiled at the memory of her aunts' horror when Bail supported her decision.

Leia was roused from her thoughts as the sounds of an argument reached her ears. Immediately, she slowed and looked around for the source, quickly spotting two stormtroopers who appeared to be arresting a Caamasi. Brow knitted, she found herself walking towards the trio, leaving her father who hadn't yet noticed. As she neared, she could hear the specifics of the encounter more clearly.

"Will you truly not take my credits?" the Caamasi inquired, looking to the human behind the counter.

The fear and disgust on the dark skinned man was plain to Leia, even from this distance. "No, I won't!" he exclaimed, raising hands defensively, almost as if he wanted to push the grey furred being away.

The Caamasi shook his head. "Sir, you are going to have to come with us," one of the stormtroopers chimed in, his blaster already drawn but not quite pointing at the Caamasi. His partner had a pair of binders already out and was advancing towards the alien who stepped backwards, bumping against the counter, spooking the man behind it. Leaping up onto the counter, the man swung at the back of the Caamasi's head, connected and sent him to the floor. The stormtrooper's blaster was now pressed to the back of the disoriented Caamasi's head. "Don't move."

"Hey!" Leia cried out, approaching the group and alerting both the troopers and her father to her presence. Quickly, Bail began to weave his way through the growing crowd towards Leia, hoping to get her out before things took a turn for the worst. The second stormtrooper drew his blaster and leveled it at Leia which didn't deter her at all as she kept advancing.

"Leia!" Bail called, hoping to slow his daughter. When she didn't slow, he picked up the pace, excusing himself as he more forcefully pushed his way through the crowd. Leia hadn't assumed her Senatorial post quite yet, thusly, didn't have diplomatic immunity.

"What seems to be the problem here?" Leia asked, looking at the faceless and indistinguishable helmet of the stormtrooper who had his blaster pressed to the Caamasi's head.

"Ma'am, you need to step away now," intoned the stormtrooper who had his blaster on her.

Leia disregarded him and knelt beside the Caamasi, her gaze leaving the stormtrooper as he moved his blaster from the Caamasi to her. Gently, Leia examined the swelling bulge that was growing on the Caamasi's head. The grey furred alien turned to look up at her with wide red eyes. "What…" he trailed off as his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he slumped to the ground in unconsciousness.

Leia found herself grinding her teeth together as anger blossomed in her. Turning her gaze upon the man still crouched on the counter who was positively sneering at the unconscious alien. Rising, Leia found the words leaving her mouth before she could even think. "I want him-" she pointed to the human, "- arrested." There was no movement from either of the stormtroopers to arrest the man, and when Leia glanced at them both, she found their blasters were still trained upon her.

Leia's gaze went to her father as he finally reached the inner edge of the crowd. "Excuse me gentlemen. I apologize for my daughter's brash behavior." Leia's jaw fell in disbelief. How could her father allow this to happen? There was a warning look in Bail's gaze that told Leia to shut up. Snapping her mouth shut, she straightened and lifted her chin slightly, almost in defiance.

One of the stormtroopers glanced away from Leia to see who had spoken. His blaster lowered a moment later as he saluted the former Senator. "Sir, I apologize but we received numerous complaints. We have to take him in."

"Yes, of course. I understand," Bail replied smoothly. Raising a hand towards his daughter, he gestured for him to come to him. When she didn't come immediately, he said. "Leia. Come." Leia seriously considered disobeying her father. What was happening wasn't right. The Caamasi was being arrested for simply trying to purchase a meal. Looking around, she realized she wouldn't be able to fix this immediately. She would make it a point to bring up with the Emperor. Exhaling defeatedly, she glanced back at the unconscious Caamasi before moving back towards her father. "I apologize gentlemen." Bail grasped Leia's arm firmly, which earned him another dirty look.

One of the stormtroopers nodded at him in understanding. "Don't let it happen again Senator."

Without another word, Bail guided Leia back through the crowd, leaving the stormtroopers to arrest the Caamasi and the crowd to disperse. Leia jerked her arm free when they were far enough away. "How could you do that?" she hissed at him.

Bail sighed and stepped into a vacant alcove and Leia followed. "Sweetheart…" he began, pausing as he searched for the right words. "Things are different on Coruscant. You can be arrested for assisting a non-human. I know how hard it is to not do anything, but you must be patient." Bail placed his hands on his shoulders, looking into her defiant gaze. He smiled gently at her, earning a scowl. Chuckling, he drew her in for a hug, one she reluctantly returned. He released her a few moments later. "Let's present you to the Emperor, shall we?"

Nodding her head, Leia and her father resumed their walk, entering the nearest turbolift and ascended to the Throne Room. Despite being dressed in a long white senatorial gown, Leia quickly found herself feeling cold. The closer they came, the more solid the pit in her stomach grew, along with the growing sense of dread and…fear? Shivering, she glanced at her father who seemed impervious.

"Don't you feel it?" she asked.

He looked at her questioningly. "Feel what?"

"Nothing," she whispered, shaking her head as the lift's doors opened, revealing the Throne Room. Swallowing tightly, she pulled herself together, trying her best to ignore what she was feeling and stepped into the narrow corridor that led into the Throne Room. To either side, along the sloping walls, were dozens of stormtroopers situated at various stations. Looking before her at the top of the seemingly distant flight of stairs, she could see four of the Emperor's Royal Guards, dressed in long vibrant red cloaks. Standing next to the throne was the Emperor's right hand man: Darth Vader. And seated upon the throne he was next to was none other than the Emperor himself.

Leia's step faltered as she beheld the pair. Ice lanced through her heart painfully. She couldn't explain how or why, but she felt that these two beings were why she was feeling so cold. Glancing at her father, who was now two paces ahead of her, the sensation abated momentarily. Bail was a light for all in the galaxy. It was why so many loved and cherished him. An inspiration to all.

Taking a deep breath, Leia quickened her pace, catching up with her father's long stride. Their steps up the stairs echoed strangely, and all too soon, they were meters away from the Emperor and Vader. Leia's skin nearly crawled, but she reached deep within herself and not only somehow found the strength not to run screaming from the room, but managed to plaster her best diplomatic smile.

Bail bowed before the pair, his grey cloak sweeping forward with the movement. "Your Excellency, may I present to you Alderaan's new Senator and my daughter: Princess Leia." Bail straightened and turned towards Leia, gesturing for her to come forward and to bow.

Were she able to, she would have run to her father. However, her feet felt as if they were suddenly cemented in place. She glanced at the Emperor and knew it was a mistake. He rose from his throne and her gaze dropped to the floor immediately. She bowed slightly a moment later and murmured, "Your Excellency."

Even with her gaze fixed firmly upon the metal floor, Leia could feel the Emperor looking at her. It was downright unnerving as she felt as if he could see into her soul and read her every thought. At great length, he rasped, "You have your father's fire. I look forward to seeing your pretty young face in the Senate."

His words sent a shiver through her body and she forced herself to look up from the plated deck. "Thank you," she whispered breathlessly. She held the Emperor's gaze as long as she dared before she glanced away, only to find herself looking at Vader.