Star Wars: The New Rebellion Read Free

her idealism the moment she stared into Senator Palpatine’s ruined face.
    “They’re members of the New Republic now, Leia,” Mon Mothma said. “They were elected fairly.”
    “This is wrong. This is how it all started before.” Leia had had this same conversation with Han since the elections. Several planets had petitioned the Senate to allow former Imperials to serve as political representatives. The argument was that some of the best politicians had kept their peoples alive by working with the Empire, asminor functionaries. They were petty bureaucrats who saved dozens of Rebel lives by overlooking strange troop movements, or unusual faces in the crowds. Leia had opposed the petitions from the beginning, but the arguments in Chamber had been fierce. M’yet Luure, the powerful senator from Exodeen, had finally reminded her that even she had once served the Empire in her role as Imperial senator. She had retorted that she was serving the Rebellion even then. M’yet had smiled, revealing six rows of uneven teeth.
These people were serving the Rebellion too
, he had said,
in their own way
.
    Leia had disputed that claim. They had served the Empire and not fought against it, had merely looked the other way. But M’yet’s argument was powerful, and because of it, the Senate had approved the petition. Leia had modified the election law with the help of her backers—no former stormtroopers could hold office, no Imperial of rank, no former Imperial governor—in short, no Imperial with access to power in the Empire could serve the New Republic. But still she felt this law was wrong.
    “They’re going to destroy all we’ve worked for,” she said to Mon Mothma.
    “You don’t know that,” Mon Mothma said softly.
    Her words echoed Han’s. Leia clenched her fists. “I do know that,” she said. “Since we formed the New Republic, we have always known that our leaders have the same goals. We have the same philosophy of life. We have always worked in the same directions.”
    Mon Mothma’s grip on Leia’s arm loosened. “We have always fought the Empire. But the Empire is gone now. Only bands remain. Someday we must move beyond the Rebellion and into true government. Part of that, Leia, is accepting those who lived under the Empire but did not serve it.”
    Leia shook her head. “It’s too soon.”
    “Actually,” Mon Mothma said, “I think it isn’t soon enough.”
    Leia tugged at her skirt. She had even worn her hair in the long-outdated style, braids wrapped around her ears, in defiance of the new Senate members—as a sign that Chief of State Leia Organa Solo was once Leia Organa, princess, senator, and Rebel leader. Han had kissed her roughly before she left their apartments and had grinned at her.
Well, Your Worship, does this mean I get to go back to being a scoundrel?
    She had laughingly pushed him away, but his words echoed even as Mon Mothma spoke. Perhaps Leia was the problem. Perhaps she was not willing to move forward.
    Perhaps she was the one unwilling to let go of the past.
    “All right,” she said, straightening, a leader once more. “Let’s get on with this.”
    Mon Mothma did not move toward the door. “One more thing,” she said. “Remember that whatever tone you set at the opening remarks of this Senate will be the focus of the debate for years to come.”
    “I know,” Leia said. She reached for the door when a wave of deep cold smashed into her. She froze. Voices screamed—hundreds, no—thousands of voices, so faint she could barely hear them. Then she saw a face form on the golden door, a white face with black, empty eyes. The face was concave, almost skeletal, like the death masks she had seen in a museum on Alderaan in her youth. Only, unlike them, this one moved. It smiled, and the cold grew deeper.
    Then the voices ceased, and Leia collapsed against the door.
    Mon Mothma hurried to her side, and grabbed Leia, staggering as she attempted to support her weight.