Chapter 28:

Major Nol had been in many dangerous situations during his military career. He had faced Separatists' battle-droids, Black Sun raiders, Hutt crime lords, and more recently had been Darth Vader's immediate subordinate-a position not many officers survived. Of all the times in his life when he was in dangerous situations, he had never been more afraid than he was now.

He had, in the last several days, concealed evidence of treason within the Imperial Senate, teamed up with one who was working against the Empire he serves, and even agreed to join in the conspiracy. He was a traitor to those he served with. If he was discovered, he would be an object of contempt and hatred to the very men that he commanded-the men who looked up to him as an example.

Adan had wrestled with his new assignment as a rebel spy every since he volunteered for it. He made a promise to Bail Organa that he would send information helpful to his organization when the military campaigns began. The Imperial soldier in him screamed from within him that he was a disgrace, and he deserved nothing but the worst death imaginable for his treason. The rational side of Adan would not stop reminding him that the Empire would most likely discover his activities very quick, especially now that he was assigned to Lord Vader's ship. However, the husband and father in him had won the battle. He could not sit by and do nothing while his wife and son lived under the dictatorship that he swore to serve.

He gave a new oath, to an organization that was fighting against everything he had once believed in. In return, that organization would shelter his family and make certain they were provided for. The price he would pay for this agreement was living a dual life that Adan knew would eventually destroy him. He would either be caught, or go insane. He just hoped that he could do some good before either or those things happened. He owed it to his family.

"Daddy, where are we going?" Tomas asked again. Adan's four-year-old son had not stopped questioning him since he was told that they would be leaving Imperial Center. The child was not happy to be leaving the only home he ever had, but Adan had helped calm his fears by telling him that it would be a great adventure. However, it did not stop the child's questions.

"You and Mommy are going on a trip." It was the same answer Adan had been giving during the long speeder ride to the rarely used commercial landing pad near the Works where they would board a ship provided by Senator Organa.

"Where?" Tomas asked again.

Adan sighed, it was getting more and more difficult to fake enthusiasm to keep his son's spirits high; his fears were too great. He had so much to lose. "To a new planet, you'll love it."

Tomas was still not convinced. "Why can't you go with us?"

Adan felt another pang of grief. There was nothing he would have loved more than to run away with his wife and son and start over far from the Empire; but he had promises to keep. His family would not be safe while he was around. "I have to stay here, son; but you will have a lot of fun with your mother." Glancing to his side, Adan saw Rema staring straight ahead with little emotion evident. She had said nothing to him while they were getting packed and had even said very little to Tomas. "I have to work, I'm so sorry."

The speeder finally arrived. Nol was not surprised to see the ship that Bail Organa had promised was already there waiting for them. From the short time that they had spent together, Adan knew that the senator was a trustworthy man.

As the family exited the speeder and walked toward the ship, he could see many workers loading cargo on the ship, but he did not see Organa himself. It was decided that it would not be wise to tell his wife of the organization until the time was right. Adan wondered if his wife would eventually join the cause—somehow he knew she would. That was the kind of woman she was. He prayed to whatever god would listen to him that, when she joined them, she would be kept far away from Lord Vader…and him.

"I don't want to go." Tomas tearfully implored. It was no longer an adventure for him. He just wanted to go home.

Adan bent down to meet his son at eye level. "You have to, don't worry, you will love it." The lies were growing more difficult to utter, but he could not tell Tomas, or Rema, the truth. Nol looked up to see his wife standing behind the boy. He could see tears welling up in her eyes, but he knew she was fighting them for the sake of their son.

He then pulled the boy into a hug. "I'm going to miss you so much." He wanted to say so much more to him. He wanted to tell him his reasons for leaving. He wanted the boy to know that he was not being abandoned; but he was doing this so they would be safe. He wanted him to know that he was fighting for their future; but Adan knew the boy would not understand. He hoped that someday the boy would know why he had to leave them. Until then, he could only convey his feelings in a few words.

"I love you son, don't ever forget that. Be brave, everything will be all right." Nol hoped that would not turn out to be another lie.

The boy broke from the hug to look at his father's face. He smiled, "It won't be long, Daddy."

Adan saw that the workers had completed loading their cargo; the ship would be leaving soon. He wanted more time with his wife and son, but he knew he had to let them go. The longer the ship remained in that location, the more risky it was. He had timed the ship's takeoff to occur when the automatic security drones would not be flying over the area. Besides, having another hour or month with them would not make saying goodbye any easier. Nol pointed to the ship's gangplank. "Tomas, you go get on the ship, someone inside will tell you where to sit."

Tomas hesitated for just a few seconds before doing what he was told. It was not until the child was out of earshot that Rema broke her silence. "How is this ship going to get through the blockade?"

Ever since the bombing, Imperial Center had been placed under lockdown. Only military ships and Empire approved cargo and passenger vessels were allowed to enter or leave the planet's atmosphere. "I have the codes to get past it." Being an Imperial officer did have its advantages. "As far as the Empire is concerned, this ship is a supply freighter headed toward the Outer-Rim."

"What planet are we going to?"

Adan shook his head, "It's best I don't know...for now." He added. "My contact tells me that it is safe." He smiled hoping to calm her fears, at least somewhat.

"You trust him?" She asked.

"Yes, I do."

Rema did not appear to be convinced, but decided to move on. "You said that you will come for us when it is safe. When will that be?"

"I don't know." Adan looked away, he could no longer stand lying to her while looking her in the eyes.

"Is it ever going to be safe?" She asked in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Rema, there are a lot of variables to consider." He began. "Don't worry, I will let you know as soon as..."

"Please stop," she begged. The tears that she had been fighting since she was told of this plan began to pour down her cheeks. "Adan Nol, look me in the eye and tell me that you'll see us again."

Reluctantly, Adan turned to face her again. He knew what he had to do, but he did not think he could. He would have rather faced one of Darth Vader's interrogations than have to look into the eyes of his beloved and lie to her again. "I promise you, I will come for you as soon as it is safe. It won't be long." He knew the truth, as long as the Empire existed, it would never be safe.

Rema nodded, "I will hold you to that promise."

Adan then took his wife into his arms. He did not have much time. He held her for several moments. Finally, the alert on his wrist chrono sounded. The ship needed to leave within ten minutes before a security drone flew over the area. He reluctantly let her go. "The ship is taking off any moment; you need to get on board."

After giving Rema one last kiss, Adan led her to the gangplank. "I love you."

"I love you." Reluctantly, she walked up the gangplank. When she was at the door she turned around one last time. "I'll see you soon."

After she disappeared into the ship, Nol sent a message telling the pilot to take off. He refused to cry as he watched the ship get smaller and smaller. He could no longer afford tears. He had a job to do; tears were a luxury he could no longer afford.

A voice then emerged from the shadows. "You lied to her."

Nol sighed, "Senator, what could I have said to make this better?"

Bail Organa then walked up and stood beside him. "You owed her the truth." There was very little accusation in his voice, just sadness.

"What's done is done." Adan knew he had to bury his regrets, if only for the sake of his sanity. He turned to his unlikely ally. "Just make sure they are safe."

Bail nodded. "I will keep my end of the bargain, as you kept yours."

"Don't take them to Alderaan. It will be too easy for the Empire to find them if something happens."

"I wasn't planning on it. Are you certain that you don't want to know their location?" Asked the Senator.

"Very certain." He had never been more certain of anything in his life. If his treason was ever discovered, they would be used as leverage in an interrogation. It was common for the families of certain high-value criminals to be brought in and interrogated to either gain information, or as a tool to force the prisoner to surrender or talk to keep their families from experiencing the torture. Major Nol himself had ordered it to be done in certain cases.

Usually, such leverage worked and made the prisoner reveal what he knew; but not always. The screams of agony of the twelve-year-old daughter of a high-level Black Sun operative still haunted his dreams.

"When do you take your new post on Vader's flagship?"

"In three days." Adan knew that a man such as Lord Vader was anxious to get back on his ship to dispense his particular version of Imperial justice all over the galaxy. It was Nol's official assignment to make certain that happened to Vader's satisfaction. "How long will it be before I am contacted by someone in your group?"

"It could be a week and it could be months, but be prepared for it."

Adan nodded, "I will be ready Senator."

Nearly three months after the bombing that claimed the life of nearly one hundred thousand Imperial citizens, Imperial investigators issued a statement with the findings into the attack. Typho, along the dissident group, Soldiers of the Republic were formally charged with the crimes of treason and mass murder. Even though Typho was dead, charges were still brought against him as per Imperial regulation and an official manhunt began for all known members of Soldiers of the Republic and any sympathizers. Since the charges were filed, ten known associates of the group were rounded up and executed; but their leaders were still at large.

Just weeks after Typho's death, regulations that had been in place since the bombing were lifted and ships were allowed relatively unrestricted travel to and from Coruscant. However, the other draconian regulations that were put in place after the bombing had yet to be rescinded. They had even been extended to include other Imperial planets. More and more freedoms were being taken away on a daily basis and there was no end in sight.

Bail Organa wanted to take his daughter back home to Alderaan as soon as the restrictions were lifted, but since Leia was one of the last beings to see Typho alive, the investigators strongly suggested that it would be in his and his daughter's best interests if Bail waited until the investigation was closed before taking her off world. It pained him very much to not be able to take Leia home to where she belonged, but Bail did not want any more attention from Imperial authorities.

For the most part, Leia took the delay well; but she asked nearly every morning if today was the day she was finally free to go home. Bail could see clearly that her continued presence on the capital was taking a toll and he was heartbroken to see it; but was powerless to do anything about it.

Finally, the day came when the investigation was closed and he was finally free to take her back where she belonged. There was only one last task the Senator needed to take care of before he and Leia could leave for Alderaan.

Since the night that he and Major Nol formed an unlikely partnership, Bail had been haunted by the man's accusation that one of the members of his staff was secretly working against him; and in doing that opened a large hole in their security system that allowed Nol to discover Bail's secret activities against the Emperor. If the major had not needed him to protect his wife, those activities would have been discovered and the entire organization would have collapsed; and many would have been executed as traitors.

Bail was thankful that this information had been stopped from reaching Imperial Intelligence, but it sickened him to think that someone on his own staff was working against him. The morning after Leia was returned to him, the senator began a secret investigation to discover the mole. It took him nearly a month to determine his identity.

At three minutes prior to 0800, Bail was interrupted by a comm. From one of the consulate staff. "Senator Organa, Lieutenant Sobrel is here to see you."

Bail sighed, "Let him in."

Within a few moments the man who had been in charge of Leia's protection, the family's most trusted bodyguard, entered the office. "You sent for me sir?"

"Sit down." Bail commanded.

Sobrel quickly did as he was told; but his confusion was apparent. "Senator, with all do respect, shouldn't I be preparing security for the princess' departure? The ship leaves in just a few hours."

Bail felt his heart constrict with the mention of his daughter. "No, you will not be returning to Alderaan with us-at least not in the same capacity."

The Lieutenant was visibly shaken by Bail's stern tone. "I do not understand."

"You are not going anywhere near my daughter again." The senator spit out with contempt. His normally calm and collected demeanor was gone.

Sobrel shook his head. "Senator, I..."

Bail stood up from his desk and towered over the man before him. "Did you not think I would find out?" He shouted. "Granted, it took me a while, mainly because I never believed that the man that I trusted to keep my daughter secure was a traitor."

The man's eyes widened momentarily before he schooled his features. "Please, I..."

The senator put up his hand to silence the man. "Don't try to deny it, Sobrel, I have all the evidence of your activities right here: the slicing, the spying, and your association with Moff Tarkin. I've been gathering it for the past few weeks." Bail tossed a datapad at the man. "See for yourself."

Sobrel picked up the pad and reviewed the contents. As he read, the fear in his eyes was replaced by resignation. He placed the pad on the desk and sighed with what sounded, to Bail, almost like relief. "I don't know what to say Senator. I'm glad for your sake that you are finally taking security more seriously."

It was all Bail could do to not punch the man. It was getting more and more difficult to remember that he was supposed to be a pacifist. "Why did you do this?"

Sobrel shrugged, "I needed the money."

Bail was even more enraged. "That's it? It was all about credits?" If Sobrel's motivation was because he truly wanted to help the Empire catch a traitor, the senator would have been angry; but at least the Lieutenant's reason for doing this would have been for something greater than himself. It was more of an insult that his motivations were purely monetary.

"Yes, Tarkin was offering a great deal of credits for information concerning your activities." Sobrel answered with little emotion.

"What activities?"

"The treasonous kind. It is no secret that you do not approve of the Emperor's government, especially among those in the consulate." Said Sobrel. "Moff Tarkin believes that you have gone beyond idealism."

A surge of fear went through Bail. "You never found anything." He prayed that was the truth. If Sobrel knew anything about his actions against the Empire, he could still get that information to Imperial authorities, even from a prison cell on Alderaan.

The Lieutenant shook his head. "No, but you probably won't be as lucky the next time the Empire decides to take a look into your personal affairs. I would be preparing for that day, Senator, if I were you."

Bail nearly sighed in relief, the organization was safe-at least for now. He pressed a button on his desk and two guards came in at the pre-arranged signal. "Take him away."

Bail Organa had never been so happy to see Alderaan from orbit. It had had been so long since he had left his world with his daughter on what was supposed to be just a week-long trip. Now they were finally home after over three months on the capital.

Leia walked up to her father as soon as the ship began its landing procedure. "I'm so happy to be home; I miss Mother so much."

Bail looked down to see a child that appeared much older than the one he took to Coruscant. When they left, Leia was a carefree little girl. She was still a child, but Bail could see that she was far from carefree. He could not deny that the horrors that she had seen had changed her. She walked, talked, and carried herself much differently-much more grown up.

"Me too." Bail said with a smile that he hoped covered his anxieties.

Bail hated to think that Leia had to grow up so fast, but he sadly conceded that, given the current state of the galaxy, she really had no other choice. The daughter of a political revolutionary does not have the luxury of a long childhood.

Leia remained quiet for a few moments as she watched the approach to Aldera palace. Her father could tell that she wanted to talk, but he did not want to press her. Finally, she spoke. "Do you think it'll be possible for us to visit Sabé's grave?"

Bail was somewhat surprised by the request. He knew that Leia had grown very close to the former handmaiden and took her death very hard; but she had not spoken about it at all. There was much about that horrible night when she was held captive that his daughter had yet to speak of, despite his efforts. "I'm sure it's something that can be arranged."

Leia frowned, "I still don't understand why she did all of that to protect me."

"We will never know all of the reasons, but I'm glad she was there for you." The Senator had wondered that himself. When Sabé Komour first met his daughter, she seemed to immediately take to her and Leia to her. Sabé's former position as Padmé Amidala's handmaiden made Bail very nervous. He wondered if Sabé suspected who Leia's biological mother truly was.

"Father," She began. "Typho was going to tell Lord Vader something-something about me. Sabé told him not to but he refused. I think that's why she shot him."

Surprised, Bail immediately knelt down on one knee to be at Leia's eye level. "What did he say?" This was the first time that she had spoke about her experiences with Typho, let alone said that Sabé and him had mentioned Vader. A shot of terror coursed through the Senator. By the gods, did Typho know? Did they both know?

"He said that if Lord Vader knew who I really was that he would be more careful." Leia answered, seemingly confused by what she had heard. "I don't understand why he would say that."

Bail scrambled for a suitable response. "It must be because you are a princess." He felt sick at the idea that Typho, or even Sabé, might have figured out the secret that he was most desperate to keep. Of course, there was a possibility that Typho was only speaking of her status as High Princess of Alderaan, but deep in his heart Bail knew that was a very low probability. He suddenly felt sick. If they figured it out. How difficult would it be for Vader or the Emperor to do the same?

He was then struck with the realization that by Adan Nol killing Typho, he did more than protect his wife from being implicated in the bombing, he might have inadvertently kept Leia out of the hands of her Sith Lord father. If Typho told Vader, I would have lost her forever.

Leia was not convinced, "I don't think so; Lord Vader knows that I'm a princess. It's something else. I have to know." She then looked her father straight in the eye with such intensity that it took him by surprise. "What does Vader have to do with me?"

"Absolutely nothing!" Bail nearly shouted. Of all questions his daughter could ask him, this one terrified him the most. What if she finds out someday? What would that do to her?

Undaunted by her father's sudden ferocity, Leia continued her questions. "Then why did Sabé shoot Typho to get him to stop talking?"

Bail wished that the ship would go ahead and land. He did not want to be having this conversation-not now, not ever. "There is much that we will never know. Just put it out of your mind."

Leia sighed, "I can't do that."

In that moment, Bail could see Padmé Amidala clearly in the eyes of the child before him. His murdered friend would not have given up trying to solve this riddle, and neither would her daughter. He had nothing that he could say that would address these burning questions to her satisfaction so he opted to say very little. "Leia, I don't have the answers you seek. I am sorry."

For a moment, Leia continued to stare at her adopted father. To Bail, it seemed like she was trying to determine if he was telling the truth. Without a word, she turned away from her father and looked out the window of the ship. They could see Aldera Palace below them. For a few minutes, father and daughter watched as the ship got closer to the Royal spaceport. Bail could see that much was still on Leia's mind. He knew enough about his daughter to know that she was not finished with the conversation.

Finally, she turned back to him. "Father, when I was in the temple, I saw..." Leia stopped as the memories washed over her.

"What did you see?" A lump formed in the Senator's throat as he watched his daughter recollect what she had witnessed. He wished with all of his being that she did not have to carry the burden of such memories.

Tears began to form in the girl's eyes. "I saw skeletons; Typho told me that they were Jedi and Vader killed them."

By the gods, she saw their bodies! The idea that Palpatine left the bodies of the murdered Jedi in the temple to rot had never entered even Bail's darkest imagination until he saw them lying on the floor of the temple during his and Adan Nol's unsuccessful attempt to get to Typho before the Empire did. Other than being an insult to the Jedi, it was beneath all forms of human dignity to leave the dead in such a manner. In the back of his mind, he knew that he should not have been surprised by the actions of a Sith Lord who was responsible for the death of millions, but he was taken aback by the sheer barbarity of it.

Bail now understood why Leia could barely talk about what occurred in those dark hours while she was Typho's prisoner. When he saw the skeletons of the Jedi lying forgotten in the temple he prayed that Leia was in an area that had no bodies and would be spared such a horrific sight—but she was not. He did not have any words of comfort for her. There was nothing he could say that would make those memories go away.

The tears that were in Leia's eyes had yet to fall. Bail was amazed by her strength. Any other child would have been balling as she told of her experiences. "When I asked Lord Vader about it, he told me that traitors must be eliminated."

"You spoke to Vader about this?" Bail asked in surprise.

The girl nodded, "Yes, when he questioned me after Typho was captured."

As far as he knew, Leia was the only one, save for Obi-Wan Kenobi himself, who had ever confronted Vader about his horrific deeds on the night he fell to the dark side. Bail could not help but smile at his daughter's boldness. Anyone else, him included, would have remained silent. "You are brave, I will give you that."

Ignoring her father's admiration, Leia continued. "Many of them were kids. How could he do such a thing?"

She had spoken the same question that Bail himself had wrestled with for eight years. Every time he saw Vader or the Jedi Temple, he could not fathom how a Jedi could fall so far. He wondered how Anakin Skywalker justified the cold blooded murder of his brother and sister Jedi, and the younglings, in the name of power. He had no answers for his daughter. "Lord Vader is a man of many sins. I'm so sorry you had to see that."

"Does the Emperor know what he did?" Asked Leia as the ship finally touched down.

Logic told Bail that he should not answer her question. He did not want to burden her with such knowledge, but as he looked into the eyes that were so much like his dearly departed friend, he knew that he could not lie to her. Padmé Amidala's daughter deserved to know the truth. "Leia, you are not to speak of this to anyone but me or your mother; but the Emperor ordered it done."

A look of anguished surprised crossed the girl's face. "Why?"

This was one question that Bail knew the answer to. "The Jedi were a threat to his power. They were the only ones who could have stopped him taking full control over the Republic."

Leia straightened her posture and seemed to grow inches taller. Gone were all vestiges of tears. Bail could see anger and outrage written across her face. "He is just as guilty as Vader." She declared.

Bail nodded, "Yes, he is."

"You are a senator, how can you do that knowing what the Emperor did? How can you be a part of a government like this?" Leia demanded with forcefulness that the he had never seen from her before. She reminded him so much of Senator Amidala as she addressed the Senate as a young queen demanding justice against the Trade Federation that had invaded her planet.

Placing her small hands in his, Bail answered his daughter the best he could. "To protect Alderaan. Leia, there is a time to wait in silence, but there is also a time to stand up for what is right. We have not entered that season yet."

"Father, when the time for standing up comes, I will be with you and anyone else who will stand with us," Leia vowed without any traces of hesitation.

The lump in Bail's throat returned as he thought about the future that his precious daughter had in store. He wished with everything that was in him that she did not have to grow up in such a galaxy, but she did not get that luxury. Even though he knew what awaited her, the Senator was filled with hope. The battle ahead of them would be difficult and would most likely last decades. The next generation who would be instrumental in battling the Empire would have a leader in his young daughter when she came of age. "I know you will." It was time to prepare her for that role, they had much to do.

Epilogue...Eleven Years Later:

Adan Nol was a good officer-an excellent leader, motivator, and always got the job done with speed and efficiency. On Lord Vader's flagship, he was one of the few officers that it could be said that the second-in-command of the Empire was impressed with.

During action engagements, there was no one, save Vader himself, who was more calm and collected during battle. His men even referred to him as "the stone" behind his back.

It was rumored that he once had a family, but his wife left him many years ago. It was almost impossible for them to imagine him having children. The consensus among those he commanded was that his family, if they even existed, was far better off without him.

What no one knew, not his shipmates and certainly not Vader, was that Adan Nol was a man with many secrets, and those secrets had forced him to become the man that he was. He was ruthless and cold because that was what was expected of him; it was what was required.

It had been many years since he had seen Rema and Tomas. The last time was when they climbed the gangplank of the freighter that Senator Organa arranged so many years ago. He remembered how he promised his beloved that he would see her soon once things were safer. What he did not tell her was that he knew that day would never come. He knew because of the road he decided to travel, there would never be a time when it would be safe to be with the ones he loved.

There was never a day that went by that he did not think about his far away loved ones. Occasionally he received information from his Alliance contacts regarding his family. He was never told much—only a general report of their welfare.

Four years after he sent them away from Imperial Center, Rema was granted a divorce from her absent husband and had since remarried. While he was very angry about it when he first heard the news, Adan eventually realized that it was for the best. It was unfair for her to have to be alone for the rest of her life. He never learned the name of her new husband, but he was assured that he was a good man. He suspected that he and Rema were both members of the Rebel Alliance.

Adan always wondered if Rema ever forgave him for sending them away from him. He hoped that she did.

His son was now fifteen, and by all-accounts was a good boy who was counting the days until he could enlist with the Rebel Alliance. Nol found it ironic that his son was drawn to the soldier's life as he was, but on diametrically opposed sides. He did not worry that there would come a day when he would have to face his own son in battle, mainly because Adan knew that he would not be in the service of the Emperor much longer. His days as a soldier were quickly coming to an end.

What no one else, but a very select group, knew was that for several years Nol had been feeding the Rebel Alliance information regarding Imperial troop movement and long-range plans-plans that the now General Nol had a hand in creating.

He was careful to not release so much as to be discovered. While the higher up military brass held many briefings to figure out where the leaks came from, they never suspected that the man sitting next to them was the culprit. They arrogantly believed that their inner circle could not be breached.

Adan was painfully aware, however, that the luck that had kept him alive for so many years was about to run out. The plans he was going to transmit were too classified to not be traced. He had one chance alone to help the Rebellion that he had vowed to serve all those years ago-once chance to save his family from certain death.

He had learned of the Death Star and its destructive capability years before; and the Alliance had been tirelessly working to piece together the complete technical readout of the enormous station since that time. Now, he alone had access to the final piece of the puzzle.

On the third day of an otherwise uneventful week, Adan Nol committed his final treason against the Empire. With one push of a button, he transmitted the last section of the Death Star's plans which would give the Rebels a chance to defeat the Empire's ultimate weapon. It did not take long for the source of the breach to be identified. Vader himself led a squadron of stormtroopers to the quarters of the one officer the Sith never imagined would betray him.

But he never had the chance to confront the man. When the doors to his quarters were opened, only the body of Adan Nol was found. It would later be determined that he had taken his own life by injecting himself with a powerful toxin.

In the darkness of Nol's quarters, Vader did notice something very curious. Prying the cold hand open he discovered that his once most loyal officer had died clutching two objects-a strip of cloth bearing the insignia of the Rebel Alliance and a wedding ring.

The End