Post by therealthing on Nov 11, 2006 22:48:19 GMT -5
CHAPTER 61
With the assistance of my wife, I get dressed in my Jedi clothes. It feels good to be back in them again; for although I know that the Darth Vader within me has been irrevocably banished, wearing that suit again brought back to many horrible memories, too many dark feelings.
I do my best to ignore the pain in my back as I prepare myself, but I cannot fool my wife. She has known me too long and knows me too well not to see that I am in pain. Yet, she knows that I am determined to do this, no matter what personal discomfort I have to endure.
“Are you ready?” she asks me as I adjust my cloak about my shoulders.
I nod. “As ready as I can be,” I tell her. I hold my hand out to her. “I want you to come with me, Padmé.”
She looks up at me in surprise. “Really?” she asks. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I reply. “If I am going to reveal the truth, the entire truth, then you are very much a part of it, Padmé. No more hiding, no more disguises. They will know me, and to know me is to know how important my family is to me.”
“Then perhaps the children should come too,” she suggests.
“They’ve already spoken with the admiralty, actually,” I tell her. “They took it upon themselves to make a peace overture to them on behalf of the Alliance.”
“Did it work?” she asks.
I shrug. “We shall see soon enough.”
“All set, Dad?” Luke asks as he and Leia meet us in the doorway. I look at the two of them, sensing that, once again, they have been plotting behind my back.
“Yes...” I reply. “Are you the official escort?”
Leia smiles. “Whether you like it or not,” she says, linking her arm in mine. “We are a family, remember? And families stick together, especially in the tough times.”
Padmé, who is on my other side, looks up at me with a smile. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
I can feel my pulse start to quicken as we approach the conference room where the admirals are waiting for me. I try to get a sense of how they are feeling, what they are thinking; but the emotions of my family are too strong, and they are all I can sense. Each of them is hopeful, though guardedly so. I also sense in them fear, and a definite sense of anxious anticipation. This is it.. I realize. The moment of truth.
Firmus Piett is standing outside the door of the conference room as we arrive. I am glad to have his steady presence with me here.
“This is your big moment, Anakin,” he tells me with a smile. “I want you to know that whatever happens in there, you have my loyalty, 100 percent. You have always had it, Anakin, and you always will.”
I smile at my old friend. “Thank you, Firmus,” I reply, extending my hand to him. He takes it and we shake. “You have always been a good friend, even when I didn’t realize it. Words cannot express my gratitude for all you done in this latest chapter of my life.”
“I’ve been honored to be a part of it,” he replies with a smile. “And to be associated with such a noble, brave family.”
His words warm my heart, and give me courage to face what lies behind the door he stands before.
“Shall we?” he asks, stepping aside to let us enter.
I merely nod, and move forward, my family following behind me with Piett.
The room becomes silent as we enter, and if feel the eyes of 38 men upon me. For many this is the first time they have seen me unmasked, and I can sense their surprise, their astonishment that I am not some deformed monster as they must have imagined me to be. Their eyes follow me as I move to the head of the conference table, where Piett has set aside two chairs, one for me and one for Padmé. As she takes her seat beside me, I sense the curiosity of the men now as they look upon my family, no doubt shocked to know that Darth Vader even had one, let alone one such as mine. I take a deep breath, calling upon the living Force to calm and guide me. I can sense my children standing behind us, and, feeling a hand upon my shoulder, look up to see my son standing there. Leia follows suit, both of them silently telling me that I am not alone. Their love and support buoy me, empower and encourage me. And so I begin.
“Gentlemen,” I begin my voice strong and commanding. “Please be seated. Let’s try this again,” I add wryly, eliciting a few smiles from the austere group.
“First of all, I’d like to thank you for your patience over the past few days. I regret that circumstances beyond my control forced me to delay our meeting. I know you all have many questions. I will be more than happy to answer them now, but first there is something I must say to all of you.”
I look over at Padmé and she smiles at me. I reach over and take her hand, feeling the surprise of the men before us at the intimate gesture. I turn back to them.
“Gentlemen, I come before you not as your emperor, but as an ally. I have already told some of you how reluctant I am to take the title of emperor. Like you, I have spent a lifetime in service to the Empire. I believed that the Empire stood for justice and order, and represented everything that was good in the galaxy. We all believed that, for all of us were manipulated by the late emperor. With my help, Palpatine created this Empire based on the destruction of everything that was good in the galaxy. His was a rule of tyranny, of exploitation and cruelty.”
Murmurs are heard around the room at my harsh pronouncement. Yet I feel no dissent. They know that I am right.
“I have no wish to perpetrate this regime of terror,” I continue. “There is already too much blood on my hands. Instead, I intend to put an end to the Empire, and thus eradicate the mark of Palpatine from the galaxy forever.”
There is an outburst at these words, just as I had expected.
“You mean to end the Empire? You cannot be serious!”
“What will become of the Fleet? Of all of us?”
“How will the galaxy survive without Imperial support and control?”
The questions come at me rapidly, and I begin to feel that all is lost when Padmé stand up to address the unruly crowd. Within a few moments there is silence again as the men decide to hear what she has to say.
“Gentlemen, I stand before you as one who has seen first hand what can happen when a tyrant is created. You see, I knew Palpatine when he was merely a senator, and watched him as he carefully and systematically set in motion a course of action that eventually lead to the creation of the Empire. He was the architect behind the destruction of the Republic, the Clone Wars, and the slaughter of the Jedi. Before his rise to prominence, democracy flourished in the galaxy, under the protection of the Jedi. The Galactic Senate ensured that all worlds were treated equally and fairly.”
“What is your point, my lady?” asks one of the men.
“My mother’s point is quite simple,” Leia replies. “Life existed before the Empire, and it can continue after its end.”
“I propose that we unite what is left of the Empire with the Alliance,” I tell them. “A coexistence of factions, mutually beneficial, founded on trust and equality.”
There is a ripple of commentary through the room as the men react to this.
“It all sounds perfect,” comments one man. “Too perfect. It will never work.”
“Why not?” speaks up Luke. “My father’s plan is perfectly reasonable. It’s no secret that the Empire’s resources have been drastically depleted. It will not survive in its present state, nor will it be able to best the Alliance again. It’s only a matter of time before the Empire is utterly destroyed, and everyone in this room knows it. This is an alternative to war. Why is it you are so opposed to it?”
“Anakin Skywalker is offering you a chance to be part of something noble and fine,” Piett puts in at this point. “Are you really going to pass it up simply because of some misguided sense of loyalty to a dead emperor who never gave a damn about anything but himself?”
“Why should any of us listen to you, Piett?” counters one man. “You were ready to kill everyone on board this ship, including Anakin Skywalker.”
Shouts of agreement are heard and I have a sinking feeling that these men are not about to be won over my mere eloquence. I stand up, ignoring the stab of pain in my back as I do so. The talking ceases as I stand before them, and the admirals look at me expectantly.
“I know what it is you fear,” I tell them. “I see your hearts. You are afraid of change; afraid of what it would mean to suddenly call who was once your enemy your ally. I of all people understand this, but I assure you that it is the only way. The Empire does not have the resources or the man power to continue a conflict with the Alliance, which grows in numbers and support each year. So I ask you now; would you rather spend the rest of your lives engaged in a fruitless, futile struggle against a stronger enemy who you will never defeat; or join this enemy, call a truce to the fighting, and have a hand in building a new Republic, one based on the values that we all believe in, and that the Empire blatantly disregarded?”
The men all look at one another, and I can sense that perhaps I have reached them. I sit back down. Padmé leans over to me. “Perhaps we ought to give them some time to consider all this,” she suggests.
I nod, in pain and tired. “Good idea,” I tell her.
“I’ll let them know,” Luke says. He looks up at the men. “It’s obvious that you need time to assimilate all this,” he tells them. “We’ll leave you and return in one hour. Is that enough time for you to discuss this among yourselves?”
“Yes,” one of the men replies. “We would appreciate that.”
“Very well,” I say, standing up again. I take Padmé’s hand and leave them, followed by my children. Once we are out in the corridor, I stand against the wall and lean my head back, closing my eyes as I try to gather my strength.
“You need to get off your feet,” Padmé decides. “This is definitely what I would call over doing it.”
I open my eyes and smile at her. “Yes, I think you may be right. Let’s go.” We leave the conference room and head for our quarters, where I happily lie down to rest while we wait for word from the admiralty. It is out of my hands now, I realize; all I can do now is hope that they can find the courage to make the right decision.
With the assistance of my wife, I get dressed in my Jedi clothes. It feels good to be back in them again; for although I know that the Darth Vader within me has been irrevocably banished, wearing that suit again brought back to many horrible memories, too many dark feelings.
I do my best to ignore the pain in my back as I prepare myself, but I cannot fool my wife. She has known me too long and knows me too well not to see that I am in pain. Yet, she knows that I am determined to do this, no matter what personal discomfort I have to endure.
“Are you ready?” she asks me as I adjust my cloak about my shoulders.
I nod. “As ready as I can be,” I tell her. I hold my hand out to her. “I want you to come with me, Padmé.”
She looks up at me in surprise. “Really?” she asks. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I reply. “If I am going to reveal the truth, the entire truth, then you are very much a part of it, Padmé. No more hiding, no more disguises. They will know me, and to know me is to know how important my family is to me.”
“Then perhaps the children should come too,” she suggests.
“They’ve already spoken with the admiralty, actually,” I tell her. “They took it upon themselves to make a peace overture to them on behalf of the Alliance.”
“Did it work?” she asks.
I shrug. “We shall see soon enough.”
“All set, Dad?” Luke asks as he and Leia meet us in the doorway. I look at the two of them, sensing that, once again, they have been plotting behind my back.
“Yes...” I reply. “Are you the official escort?”
Leia smiles. “Whether you like it or not,” she says, linking her arm in mine. “We are a family, remember? And families stick together, especially in the tough times.”
Padmé, who is on my other side, looks up at me with a smile. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
I can feel my pulse start to quicken as we approach the conference room where the admirals are waiting for me. I try to get a sense of how they are feeling, what they are thinking; but the emotions of my family are too strong, and they are all I can sense. Each of them is hopeful, though guardedly so. I also sense in them fear, and a definite sense of anxious anticipation. This is it.. I realize. The moment of truth.
Firmus Piett is standing outside the door of the conference room as we arrive. I am glad to have his steady presence with me here.
“This is your big moment, Anakin,” he tells me with a smile. “I want you to know that whatever happens in there, you have my loyalty, 100 percent. You have always had it, Anakin, and you always will.”
I smile at my old friend. “Thank you, Firmus,” I reply, extending my hand to him. He takes it and we shake. “You have always been a good friend, even when I didn’t realize it. Words cannot express my gratitude for all you done in this latest chapter of my life.”
“I’ve been honored to be a part of it,” he replies with a smile. “And to be associated with such a noble, brave family.”
His words warm my heart, and give me courage to face what lies behind the door he stands before.
“Shall we?” he asks, stepping aside to let us enter.
I merely nod, and move forward, my family following behind me with Piett.
The room becomes silent as we enter, and if feel the eyes of 38 men upon me. For many this is the first time they have seen me unmasked, and I can sense their surprise, their astonishment that I am not some deformed monster as they must have imagined me to be. Their eyes follow me as I move to the head of the conference table, where Piett has set aside two chairs, one for me and one for Padmé. As she takes her seat beside me, I sense the curiosity of the men now as they look upon my family, no doubt shocked to know that Darth Vader even had one, let alone one such as mine. I take a deep breath, calling upon the living Force to calm and guide me. I can sense my children standing behind us, and, feeling a hand upon my shoulder, look up to see my son standing there. Leia follows suit, both of them silently telling me that I am not alone. Their love and support buoy me, empower and encourage me. And so I begin.
“Gentlemen,” I begin my voice strong and commanding. “Please be seated. Let’s try this again,” I add wryly, eliciting a few smiles from the austere group.
“First of all, I’d like to thank you for your patience over the past few days. I regret that circumstances beyond my control forced me to delay our meeting. I know you all have many questions. I will be more than happy to answer them now, but first there is something I must say to all of you.”
I look over at Padmé and she smiles at me. I reach over and take her hand, feeling the surprise of the men before us at the intimate gesture. I turn back to them.
“Gentlemen, I come before you not as your emperor, but as an ally. I have already told some of you how reluctant I am to take the title of emperor. Like you, I have spent a lifetime in service to the Empire. I believed that the Empire stood for justice and order, and represented everything that was good in the galaxy. We all believed that, for all of us were manipulated by the late emperor. With my help, Palpatine created this Empire based on the destruction of everything that was good in the galaxy. His was a rule of tyranny, of exploitation and cruelty.”
Murmurs are heard around the room at my harsh pronouncement. Yet I feel no dissent. They know that I am right.
“I have no wish to perpetrate this regime of terror,” I continue. “There is already too much blood on my hands. Instead, I intend to put an end to the Empire, and thus eradicate the mark of Palpatine from the galaxy forever.”
There is an outburst at these words, just as I had expected.
“You mean to end the Empire? You cannot be serious!”
“What will become of the Fleet? Of all of us?”
“How will the galaxy survive without Imperial support and control?”
The questions come at me rapidly, and I begin to feel that all is lost when Padmé stand up to address the unruly crowd. Within a few moments there is silence again as the men decide to hear what she has to say.
“Gentlemen, I stand before you as one who has seen first hand what can happen when a tyrant is created. You see, I knew Palpatine when he was merely a senator, and watched him as he carefully and systematically set in motion a course of action that eventually lead to the creation of the Empire. He was the architect behind the destruction of the Republic, the Clone Wars, and the slaughter of the Jedi. Before his rise to prominence, democracy flourished in the galaxy, under the protection of the Jedi. The Galactic Senate ensured that all worlds were treated equally and fairly.”
“What is your point, my lady?” asks one of the men.
“My mother’s point is quite simple,” Leia replies. “Life existed before the Empire, and it can continue after its end.”
“I propose that we unite what is left of the Empire with the Alliance,” I tell them. “A coexistence of factions, mutually beneficial, founded on trust and equality.”
There is a ripple of commentary through the room as the men react to this.
“It all sounds perfect,” comments one man. “Too perfect. It will never work.”
“Why not?” speaks up Luke. “My father’s plan is perfectly reasonable. It’s no secret that the Empire’s resources have been drastically depleted. It will not survive in its present state, nor will it be able to best the Alliance again. It’s only a matter of time before the Empire is utterly destroyed, and everyone in this room knows it. This is an alternative to war. Why is it you are so opposed to it?”
“Anakin Skywalker is offering you a chance to be part of something noble and fine,” Piett puts in at this point. “Are you really going to pass it up simply because of some misguided sense of loyalty to a dead emperor who never gave a damn about anything but himself?”
“Why should any of us listen to you, Piett?” counters one man. “You were ready to kill everyone on board this ship, including Anakin Skywalker.”
Shouts of agreement are heard and I have a sinking feeling that these men are not about to be won over my mere eloquence. I stand up, ignoring the stab of pain in my back as I do so. The talking ceases as I stand before them, and the admirals look at me expectantly.
“I know what it is you fear,” I tell them. “I see your hearts. You are afraid of change; afraid of what it would mean to suddenly call who was once your enemy your ally. I of all people understand this, but I assure you that it is the only way. The Empire does not have the resources or the man power to continue a conflict with the Alliance, which grows in numbers and support each year. So I ask you now; would you rather spend the rest of your lives engaged in a fruitless, futile struggle against a stronger enemy who you will never defeat; or join this enemy, call a truce to the fighting, and have a hand in building a new Republic, one based on the values that we all believe in, and that the Empire blatantly disregarded?”
The men all look at one another, and I can sense that perhaps I have reached them. I sit back down. Padmé leans over to me. “Perhaps we ought to give them some time to consider all this,” she suggests.
I nod, in pain and tired. “Good idea,” I tell her.
“I’ll let them know,” Luke says. He looks up at the men. “It’s obvious that you need time to assimilate all this,” he tells them. “We’ll leave you and return in one hour. Is that enough time for you to discuss this among yourselves?”
“Yes,” one of the men replies. “We would appreciate that.”
“Very well,” I say, standing up again. I take Padmé’s hand and leave them, followed by my children. Once we are out in the corridor, I stand against the wall and lean my head back, closing my eyes as I try to gather my strength.
“You need to get off your feet,” Padmé decides. “This is definitely what I would call over doing it.”
I open my eyes and smile at her. “Yes, I think you may be right. Let’s go.” We leave the conference room and head for our quarters, where I happily lie down to rest while we wait for word from the admiralty. It is out of my hands now, I realize; all I can do now is hope that they can find the courage to make the right decision.