A Meeting on Alderaan
Jabba the Hutt licked his lips as he watched his mercenary forces bomb the planet below. The action was SOOO delicious.
Suddenly, there was a commotion from the side of the room. He snarled to his majordomo, "Find out what that is and take care of it!"
"Of course, Sir!"
Jabba went back to watching the action. His majordomo, unfortunately, interrupted again! "Your Magnificence! There is a very large ship that has just appeared from hyperspace. It is so large that it can only be from the Empire."
Jabba considered this. He wasn't in control yet – his forces had only arrived just a day before! However, he had called in the mercenary forces controlled by not only himself but all of his relatives that he could convince. This caper would see them in control of far more than just the Tatooine system.
"Tell the Imperials that I have claimed this system as its Master – and that I am dealing with some small nuisances but can make time for them. All negotiations regarding Dantooine can be done through me."
"Yes, Sir!"
The majordomo went toward the communications station to arrange for his boss's message to be sent. However, he never made it.
A fleeing refuge ship saw the attack and watched in horror as their former home was destroyed. Word had to be spread!
Harry looked at the planet below. Han was calling back, "They need the authorization."
Obi-wan interjected, "Tell them that their Princess is on board and she had brought an old friend to visit her father, Bail Organa."
Very soon the ship was being escorted to a remote location on the planet below.
Harry grinned as he led the group out of the Millennium Falcon. They were met by a squad of rebel soldiers. Upon seeing Leia in the arms of the wookie but unconscious, the soldiers raised their blasters. "What is this?"
They were further stressed when they saw a young man wearing the accoutrements of one of those. However, they were savvy enough to know that there would be dire repercussions if he died. So they lowered their arms – a little.
Harry just said, "She was a bit overly excited when we retrieved her – but I can wake her up." He pulled his wand out and cast a non-verbal rennervate.
Leia awoke with a headache, wondering where she was. She opened her eyes to see the shaggy face of Chewbacca staring at her. Her immediate response was to scream.
Before she could do that, a voice called out, "Welcome back to Alderaan!"
She stopped her scream and looked around. It looked like Alderaan. It smelled like Alderaan. She noticed that the wookie was dropping her legs to allow her to stand.
It took a moment for her to gather her strength and stand alone. "What in the name of the force happened? Where are Tarkin and Vader?"
The same voice said, "We kind of sent them off to the other side of the galaxy to an abandoned base on Dantooine."
She looked at the teenager from that planet and asked, "What are you doing here? Your people are known galaxy-wide for certain … predilections."
Gothboy God shrugged his shoulders with a slight smirk. "Hanging out with Harry. He does jobs for me from time to time."
Leia looked and saw the man being talked about. He gave a small wave. "Hello! We need to talk."
The room was filled with rebel leaders from around Alderaan, including Bail Organa. Also in the meeting were the people who came on the Millennium Falcon.
Harry started it off. "So! I happened to be coming this way and my boss over there suggested I help these two," he pointed toward, "get off-planet when they got ditched on Tatooine."
One of the rebel leaders had a question which needed to be asked. "What exactly do you do for him?"
Harry shrugged. "Help out in various places I visit to make sure that certain people are given aid. Mostly to prevent unnecessary war or suffering."
Most people in the room were shocked. "How can it be?" the rebel leader asked. "His people are well known for their … activities!"
Harry paused and then grinned. "I think you all misunderstand. He's not from this galaxy – in fact, neither am I. We happen to be from parts distant in time and space. We come from the same planet. Among our people, teenagers dress like that to shock adults and try to protest the social norms."
Leia looked with complete surprise at Gothboy God. "Do you know what you look like?"
Gothboy God only smirked.
Harry chuckled. "Truthfully, he's probably – not probably, IS – the absolute best entity you could have on your side: Kind of a hands-off kind of guy, but spot on with advice and directions when he gets involved."
Obi-wan noticed something. "Why do you call him an 'entity' rather than a person?"
Harry looked over at the Goth. God shook his head slightly. Harry turned back. "A long story and not really relevant."
Bail Organa looked at the people who had arrived and said, "That's all fine – but we need to make plans."
Harry sighed. "Well, first we need to get a few things straight. Alderaan is out of the rebel business. The units you have need to move off-planet and you need to appear to be toeing the line. His advice barely saved your planet and I promised the man that we would 'Ensure that you followed those that properly led you'. It doesn't mean capitulation, but it has to appear that way. Otherwise … that Tarkin idiot will be back with Tall-Dark-and-Metallic and Alderaan … will … be … gone."
Another rebel leader scoffed. "It's not as though they could destroy the planet in one shot!"
Bail shook his head. "It's exactly what he means. I got word just before this meeting: Dantooine is gone. Destroyed. One shot."
The atmosphere changed. It now appeared to be almost like a morgue. The rebel leader that had scoffed angrily asked, "So what can we do in the face of that?"
Harry looked around. "Boy, you people are kind of fatalistic. The whole POINT of saving the droids is that they have the info on the station. Its weaknesses too. With the right shot … even the mightiest can fall. I should tell you the story of David and Goliath."
The conversations lasted a few more hours. When it was done, Harry took care of one more thing that his boss had suggested.
"Okay! We need to speak to his Excellence about a private matter."
When the others looked, Bail nodded in agreement. The other leaders made their way out to evacuate Alderaan.
Harry finally looked at the people in the room. "A certain truth needs to be shown the light." He pointedly looked at Bail and Obi-wan.
There was immediate protest. "No! This isn't the time!" Obi-wan yelled. Bail was agreeing with him.
Harry looked at the two men with complete seriousness. "I grew up with a manipulative old man who tried to control what I learned because 'it was for the greater good.' Ignore the plans you've made and the talks you've had and feel. What does the force tell you?"
Han, who was the most objective, asked, "What's this about? And why am I here? I mean – I got paid and I appreciate that. But I have more credits to make to take care of a certain debt!"
Harry turned and looked enquiringly at GBG. He smirked and nodded. Harry turned to Solo. "Eh. Some news for you: Your former employer met with a certain accident when his forces were trying to take over Dantooine – the product of a certain rumour my boss started. Your debt is … well, it's not relevant."
Han and Chewie looked at each other in shock. Jabba wasn't a problem anymore!
"Besides, I can say with a certain amount of certainty that your involvement is critical. And you'll be much happier if you stick around."
Han looked skeptical. At his look, Leia murmured, "Scruffy Nerf-herder."
Harry grinned as the two bickered. He finally looked back at Obi-wan and Organa. Obi-wan sighed as he nodded. Organa looked pained.
"Okay. So, Leia. Were you aware that you are adopted?"
Leia nodded. "Yes. My father told me ages ago."
"Do you know who your parents were?"
She shook her head. "I was told it was too dangerous."
Harry shrugged. "It was likely true – but the time of hiding is coming to an end. You ARE, by the way, a born princess – not just adopted."
Leia was shocked. "How?"
"Your mother was the former Queen of Naboo."
She looked pained. "Naboo? Naboo was represented by Palpatine – who took the name of Emperor."
Harry sighed. "I know. Before that, however, your mother was Queen – at a younger age than you are now. Her giving up that to become the Naboo Senator was part of his plan. He needed to be Supreme Chancellor. Of course, he manipulated her husband into joining him."
Bail tried to protest again but Obi-wan quieted him by putting his hand on Organa's arm. When Bail looked over, Obi-wan shook his head. Bail sighed.
"Who was her husband?"
"You father. A Jedi Knight. He was turned by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious."
She looked shocked. "Is he still alive?"
Harry nodded solemnly.
"Is it Darth Vader?"
Harry nodded again. Leia looked horrified. After a moment to allow her to grieve, Harry said, "And there was another thing hidden. You were separated from your twin because the two of you would be far too tempting."
Leia looked shocked. "My twin? I have a brother?"
"Yep."
"Do I know him?"
"Kind of."
"Who is it?"
Harry looked around the room. "Perhaps it would be clear if I said what your father's name was before he was turned."
Leia was impatient. "Tell me!"
He looked directly at Luke when he said, "Anakin Skywalker."
There was a moment of shocked silence. And then there were two nineteen year olds providing quite the ruckus. Bail and Obi-wan looked very remorseful.
"You said Darth killed my father!"
Harry got their attention with a concussive blast. When two soldiers rushed in, Bail waved them back out.
"It's kind of true. Palpatine used trickery to convince him that he was killed his wife when he was being manipulated into embracing the dark side of the Force. He doesn't know you two are alive … or that his wife died because Palpatine prevented her healing when it was still possible. Even if Vader learned you were alive now – it would take herculean efforts to get him out of it. He could be saved," and here he turned and looked at Obi-wan with some annoyance, "but only if certain old men don't convince to kill him."
Luke and Leia were appalled. Obi-wan looked guilty.
Gothboy God, who had been observing quietly, volunteered, "Those that experienced the betrayal are too blinded by their experience to even conceive of the possibility that they've been blinded. In a way, you DO have to kill Darth Vader. But Anakin Skywalker can be reborn from the ashes."
Everyone looked at Gothboy God, who was sporting his Emo look. Harry said, "Redemption is a big thing with him. And he's usually right."
Most in the room were curious as to exactly WHO this was.
Gothboy God stood and walked to the door. He waved as he passed out of the room.
Bail hit a button on his desk. "Keep an eye on the man who just left the conference room."
A voice reported back through the communications device, "Sir? No one has come out!"
Everyone looked confused. Obi-wan and Bail rushed to the door and looked. The guards were looking back.
They all turned to Harry. Harry grinned. "There is a reason I called him an 'entity'."