Chapter 17: The Last Address

"I am sorry, Chancellor, but nearly 200 systems have signaled their opposition to the new Constitution, and another 350 systems have indicated uncertainty. We no longer have the votes. I am afraid that the proposal is dead." Senator Ismaren finished her report, watching as her mentor absorbed the catastrophic failure of her lifelong ambition.

Leia had not cried, raised her voice, or complained in any way, but the Senator could see Leia diminishing under the crushing weight of disappointment, failure, humiliation, and accusation. The Senator herself was still shaken at the revelation, and even as she fulfilled her duty to the Chancellor, she cycled through various emotions, ranging from confusion, anger, empathy, and pity. The remainder of Leia's advisors, including Defense Secretary Ackbar, Intelligence Secretary Madine, and Galactic Affairs Secretary Bryton all appeared to be going through a similar process. It had been a crushing report; systems falling out of line with the Chancellor's political goals, mounting calls for her resignation, and new demands from Bolsko's caucus for a full inquiry into the Chancellor's activities. More politicians, many of whom had opposed the new Constitution and the Chancellor's various reform efforts were even going so far as to call for her arrest. Leia's council was not taking this last proposition seriously – yet. However, they knew their agenda was now dead in space, and there was little hope of attaining enough political capital by the end of her term to be able to enact any kind of political agenda. Senator Ismaren recognized that, for all intents and purposes, Leia's chancellorship was over.

"What do you counsel, Secretary Bryton?" Leia asked, her voice heavy.

"Madame Chancellor, I've reviewed initial reactions from various systems, and it appears there's a growing desire for your resignation to be followed by a special election. It's not yet at a threshold where a vote can be forced, but over a hundred systems appear persuadable. I'm afraid we may end up at a referendum on your leadership," explained Bryton, who appeared cooler and more aloof than usual. Bryton grew up on a system that had suffered heavily under the Empire, and it was clear that he too was attempting to sort through his feelings about the Chancellor's heritage and her actions to hide it.

"And what is the sentiment of the military command, Secretary Ackbar?" Leia continued.

Ackbar, whose planet had also suffered under Imperial rule, inhaled deeply before speaking, "The military supports the Chancellor, but there appears deep ambivalence about these accusations. They may support a vote of no confidence, but they will also remain loyal should you survive that motion."

"Your personal sentiments, Secretary?" Leia asked, her voice hollow.

"Chancellor, I will never forget the sacrifices you made during the Rebellion and toward liberating Mon Cala. Whatever led you to choose this path, I accept and forgive," stated Ackbar, and Senator Ismaren could see Leia visibly relieved.

"I concur with Secretary Ackbar," said Ismaren. "I know that every choice you've made has been for the good of the Republic."

"I second that," said Bryton, although he appeared more reluctant. But then, the typically rational man added, "And I suspect many in the galaxy will eventually reach the same conclusion once the shock subsides. This may derail our agenda, but you will remain an influential presence."

Leia was visibly moved at the loyalty. For the first time, tears welled in her eyes. She spoke with a voice full of emotion, "Thank you, my friends. I can't tell you how much your loyalty. . ."

A commotion at the door to the office interrupted Leia's expression of gratitude. Through the thickly insulated walls, the assembled cabinet members heard a muffled argument. The argument peaked moments before the door slid open. Ben Solo barged into the room, his gate suffused with anger and purpose. Guards from outside trailed behind him, futilely informing the Jedi that he was violating protocol for visiting the Chancellor without an appointment. Leia signaled to them to stand down, and Ben crossed the room, his blazing eyes locked on his mother. The secretaries of Leia's cabinet watched him approach, apprehensive. Ackbar stood, ready to leave the room. Bryton appeared uncertain, and Ismaren stepped aside to move out of Ben's way.

"You lied!" spat Ben, his face contorted with rage.

"Ben, I am just about to conclude. . ." Leia began, but Ben cut her off.

"All my life, you let me believe that my grandfather was a hero of the Republic!" Ben continued, his rage building.

Leia held a hand up, then turned toward her cabinet. "I adjourn this meeting. I will communicate my intentions by evening's end." The trio of advisers left the room, glancing back at Leia standing before her enraged son. The guards also followed, reluctant to leave their charge with an aggressive man regardless of the relationship.

Once everybody had cleared the room, Leia said to Ben, her voice constricted by forced calm, "Yes, we did. If you will allow me to explain. . ."

"Explain? What is there to explain? You hid this from everyone so that you can accumulate power!" Ben shouted, looking to wound.

"No, Ben, we did it to protect the galaxy," Leia explained, sinking deeper into practiced calm even as Ben escalated.

"LIAR!" Ben shouted, and in his rage, the pedestal holding the fragment of Alderaan shattered. Leia looked toward the pedestal, alarmed at her son's outburst. She had long worried about his ancestry and the temptations of the Dark Side, but this was the first time she had witnessed him displaying overt anger and aggression. The eruption frightened her.

"If you would sit, I can explain everything," she said, gesturing to a seat.

Ben ignored the gesture and continued to stand, saying, "And what about Kira?" Leia's practiced calm faltered, and fear crossed her face. Ben continued, "All my life I watched you dote on her, favor her, coddle her. You took in the daughter of a man who murdered billions! What were you thinking?"

Leia waited to see if Ben was ready to hear her explanation. He stood expectantly, simmering with anger, but at least receptive to further comment. She took a deep breath, then explained, "When Palpatine died, Luke said that a wave of Force energy escaped the shaft that Anakin threw him down…"

"You mean Vader," Ben interrupted.

"No, Ben. He had turned back to the light. Luke went to the Death Star to save him. He believed there was still good in him. The Emperor pitted Luke against Vader, and Luke nearly killed him. The Emperor was trying to turn Luke to the Dark Side, but Luke refused. The Emperor tortured him, then Vader threw him into a reactor shaft. He saved Luke's life. When that happened, he became Anakin again," Leia explained, with every word costing an enormous effort.

"If that's true, why didn't you tell me?" Ben asked.

"We planned to when the time was right. It should have happened a long time ago, but between the Constitution vote and Luke's search for the. . ."

"Right," Ben snarled, his anger flaring again. "There was always something more important than telling me the truth."

The statement wounded Leia, and Ben saw the hurt flash across her face. "I'm sorry, Ben," she said, her voice thick with sorrow.

"Well, sorry isn't good enough. I thought being a Skywalker meant something. Turns out all it means is that I come from a long line of liars and murderers," Ben berated her as if the lid had been lifted from a deep well of anger.

"Ben, we did all of this to protect the galaxy, not harm it. I watched my father destroy my planet before my eyes. Everything I've ever done has been to prevent that ever happening again," Leia explained, anguished.

"Oh, is that why you trained the Emperor's daughter to be a Jedi who nearly killed her own Master?" Ben barked, still seeking to wound.

"Stop calling her that," Leia demanded, her voice firm.

"Everyone is calling her that. She escaped Coruscant. She's on the run. The whole galaxy thinks you were training a new Emperor. And to think I volunteered to help her along. Do you understand how that makes me look?!" Ben roared, his rage reaching new heights.

"I'm sorry," Leia said.

"Is that all you have to say?" Ben asked, mocking. "I'm sorry? You lied to me, humiliated me, ignored me. And all you can say is I'm sorry?"

Leia did not speak, knowing that any words at this point would only exacerbate his anger. Ben's fists were clenched, and he looked as if he would like to strike her. But suddenly, he went icy cold, and he spoke with suppressed, controlled anger. "I'm going to make this right."

"How?" Leia asked, concerned at the sudden shift.

"You'll see," Ben said cryptically. "But first, you have to resign."

"Ben, I can't just…"

"Yes, you can. You've brought enough shame on this family. Resign. Do it now," Ben ordered. He gave her one last icy glare, looking as if he was suppressing the desire to strike her. Then he added one final insult, "I'm walking away from this family. This legacy of lies. I'm finding my own way." He then turned to walk away, but paused, looking over his shoulder, "Goodbye, mother."

Ben strode from the room without another glance. Leia collapsed into her seat, her hand over her heart. She fought back waves of pain, anguish, and sadness that threatened to engulf her. She knew there would be time later to allow this wave of emotion to subsume her, but his final order demanded she wait just a while longer. She mulled over the conclusion that she had nearly reached with her council. She considered the massive and instantaneous shifts in public opinion, along with the impossibility of carrying forward any kind of agenda. Ben's anger rang in her ears as she felt decades of service evaporating like ice on Tatooine. She reached for the intercom on her desk, and said, "Threepio, I wish to address the galaxy. Send word for the holo crew to my office."

"Yes, your excellency," came Threepio's voice through the intercom.

***

Leia had changed into her Chancellor's gown, and the holo crew had set up their recording system within minutes of arriving. She did not have time to craft a speech and thus decided to improvise. The crew leader cued her to begin in 5 seconds, at which point she would be speaking live to the galaxy.

5. . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .

A red light lit up over the holo recorder, and she began to speak. "Citizens of the galaxy, I greet you. Earlier today, an accusation was leveled at me about my heritage and decisions to train the daughter of the late Emperor. I regret to inform you that these accusations are true. I come before you now to resign my title as Chancellor in the hopes that, by my stepping aside, the galaxy will finally have a chance to heal from decades of war."

Leia paused, considering her next words. "There are no excuses for misleading the citizens I was charged to protect and lead. However, I feel compelled to offer an explanation. When my brother, Luke Skywalker, and I considered the path forward following the Emperor's death, we knew that we faced the task of repairing a shattered, tortured galaxy. We wished to share the full truth, but with so many looking to us to heal the wounds of the Empire and the Clone Wars, we also recognized that our name, our legacy, might be a powerful tool to bring people together at a time when wounds were fresh, and tensions were high. Initially, it appeared to be the correct choice as we restored the Jedi Order, restored the Republic, eradicated the Empire, and brought a new era of peace, however imperfect. I hoped to use that success to enact a new Constitution that would better serve the people of the galaxy – an effort that I now recognize as failed."

Leia continued, "As to the training of Kira, who is now recognized as the daughter of Sheev Palpatine, my brother and I found her on Jakku following the decisive battle of the Civil War. She was alone and scared. She was already further along in her training than any child her age had ever been. We knew that, left alone, she could become a threat to the galaxy. We took her in. We trained her. We nurtured her. We healed her. Since that time, she has shown herself to be an exemplary Jedi, and her nature is utterly unlike that of her father's. We chose to save her rather than imprison her and further her torture. I stand by that decision, regardless of what anger it may produce."

Leia hesitated, teetering on a decision. In the moment, she made her choice, recognizing that, in doing so, she would cross a line that could not be uncrossed. "I have resolved that I will never lie to the people of the Republic again, and in that spirit, I would be remiss not revealing yet another truth. Yesterday, during our preparations for the Constitutional vote, I received intelligence from a defector claiming to be part of a military group called the Order of Ren. Our initial intelligence suggests that they are a vast, sophisticated military operation originating in the Unknown Regions. My son and my former husband, Han Solo, were nearly killed by a creature possessing the ability to manipulate the dark side of the Force, and our intelligence indicates the Order of Ren possesses many of these creatures under the control of a dark Jedi named Veryx. My intelligence officers have advised me against sharing this information at this time, but there is a connection between the timing of this revelation about my ancestry, the appearance of the Order of Ren, and the Constitutional vote. I share this with you to warn you - to prepare you. I stand aside as Chancellor, but I will not rest until the galaxy is safe from external and internal threats, regardless of what the consequences may be to myself."

Leia then reached her conclusion, closing her eyes momentarily to fight back tears. She steadied herself, then concluded, "It has been my honor to serve you. I regret the actions I took that led to this point, but I remain hopeful, as ever, that the galaxy will continue to move toward the light. May the Force be with you."

She concluded, and the red light shut off. The crew cleaned up the recording apparatus as quickly as they established it, leaving Leia alone in her office for the first time since the vote. She walked to the shattered pedestal upon which the fragment of Alderaan had stood. She stooped down to lift the rock, regarding it as waves of emotion washed over her. Recognizing that the die was now cast, she closed her eyes deep in concentration. Silencing her mind, she reached deep within herself to find a door that had been closed, by necessity, when she had permanently joined the government. Remembering the teachings of her brother and the Departed Masters, she reached out with her feelings to open that door.

The rock in her hands left her fingertips to hover a foot in the air before her. The Force was with Leia Organa once again.