Alderaan took Leia’s breath away, even from a distance.
As the Death Star slowly turned through space, the blue-green planet came into view. Leia felt a stir of emotions being reunited with her people like this… it shouldn’t have been this way, but as her hand felt the cold pressure of the dense glass, she knew deep down there was nothing she could have done to prevent any of it. She was always doomed to fail.
In the back of her mind, Leia felt as if she could sense the panic and fear of her people as they stared up at the sky towards the strange moon looming overhead. It was like a distant static in her ears, but she heard them--the questions, the screams, the terror. She wanted to comfort them, but what’s the comfort in knowing someone just as scared is looking back at you?
“Welcome home, Princess,” Leia didn’t bother to flinch, she had felt herself being observed from the moment Darth Vader brought her to this place. “Admiring the view? Alderaan is always a pleasure to visit; my own homeworld of Eriadu lacked the fortunes of core world refinement.”
Leia allowed Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin to have his moment of revelry. His angular features cut through the reflection of her own face on the clear glass, his eyes sharp and sunken atop steep cheekbones. His skin pallid and wrinkled in all the wrong places. He was just another Imperial puppet of the Emperor, but a dangerous puppet.
Tarkin came closer, his footsteps clear above the low clicking and chatter of ship technicians. “Long before the Old Republic’s development of Eriadu, it was not much more than savage wilderness. Life was chaos. Families clawed and struggled to survive, and while some were strong enough to live on, others fell to the basic instincts of lesser creatures.” Tarkin was directly over her now, and Leia felt her heart pound against her chest.
“It wasn’t until my own family took command of the situation. The Tarkins were ruthless; they spent years understanding their predators, living in the jungles like them, comprehending their flaws and breaking them with their own tactics. They tamed the beasts through force they could understand. They allowed their might to be challenged, and each time crushed the generations that dared to demand a place higher than they deserved,” Tarkin took a short breath, savoring his own words. “Eventually, the opposition was bred out of the wild, and discipline took hold. Through fear and power, primal chaos was forged into law and order--peace.”
Tarkin placed a hand on Leia’s shoulder. “I won’t claim any credit for the work of the dead, but I have learned from their lessons, Princess. You see,” his fingers dug into her dress. “This galaxy is in chaos, and the means to finally control it is within the Empire’s grasp. The hour of our triumph has arrived, and the agents of disorder and rebellion will bear witness to true power--to true fear.”
Fear, Leia thought, Fear will never be peace. Her ears rang again with the hum of discordant static. She didn’t want to listen to it anymore. She didn’t want to listen to Tarkin anymore.
“You’re wrong,” the words came out before she could think of more to follow.
Tarkin’s pale lips pursed a thin smile.
“Is that so, Princess?”
Yes, that’s so.
“People are not animals, Governor. You can’t control them through force; you will only turn more of the people you claim to protect against you.”
The Moff almost seemed to laugh.
“I’ve never met a being that doesn’t fear its own mortality, Princess. So long as that fear exists, it can be controlled.”
You’re a monster…
“No,” Leia shook her head, her face was hot. “The Senate won’t stand for this. When they learn of--”
“I’m afraid the Senate no longer has any authority, Senator.”
Leia broke free of Tarkin’s grip and turned to face him. She couldn’t control the disbelief and anger filling her words.
“What do you mean?”
The Moff crossed his arms behind his back, glaring down in amusement at the disgruntled princess.
“The Emperor has ordered the disbandment of the Galactic Senate. Regional moffs will take direct control of their sectors’ affairs. The final vestiges of the Old Republic have been eradicated. It is a new age, Princess.”
Leia had to catch herself. Everyone in the Senate knew Palpatine was vying to completely remove the senatorial powers over time, but no one could have guessed he had something like this planned.
As Leia tried to wrap her head around what this all meant, Tarkin turned his head to address an approaching stormtrooper.
“Governor,” the trooper’s voice was amplified through his white helmet. “The Queen and Viceroy have been apprehended in the Royal Palace and are en route to the station.”
“No!” Leia shouted, “Please, my mother and father--they had nothing to do with this, I swear!”
Tarkin’s head shifted, his steel blue eyes hawkish in their intensity. “I’m afraid the word of a rebel traitor is of no value to me, Princess. Unless you have any information that you would like to provide for the right cause.”
I can’t betray the Rebellion, but if I don’t say anything then Mother and Father--
“Well, Princess?” Tarkin’s words hung in the air, and it was only for a moment but to Leia it felt like a lifetime. Her mind raced to find some combination of words that would save her parents and the Rebellion, but nothing came to her. She couldn’t say anything to stop what was going to happen. She just looked at Tarkin, opening her mouth and refusing to waste any more words to save a life already doomed--her own.
“I’m the one responsible for the attack on Scarif, Governor,” Leia’s voice was resolute. “I coordinated the assault and organized the recovery of the Death Star’s plans. I, Leia Organa of Alderaan, am the only one guilty of this transgression against the Empire.”
The viewing gallery was silent. The clicking of the technicians died to intermittent taps, while the drum of the station’s ventilation system dropped to a hum. Leia stretched her breaths as it became harder to breathe--she had only been under scrutiny from Tarkin a few times before, but never like this. Never with so much at stake.
Tarkin placed a cold hand against the side of Leia’s face, resting it against her cheek and moving a finger through the loose strands of her brown hair. “I don’t doubt your culpability, Princess. I’m sure the Emperor will appreciate such a confession so as to avoid the lengthy tribulations of the judicial process for someone of your esteem; however,” his smile faded. “If you expect me to believe a girl who can’t even stop herself from crying is the mastermind behind this pitiful Rebellion, then Bail Organa was a fool of a father and a traitor.”
Tarkin brushed a tear Leia hadn’t even realize she’d shed, but she had a good reason not to.
She had snapped.
“My father is a greater man than you will ever be, you monster. He taught me to believe in something greater than the evils and corruption of your Empire. You, your Emperor, Darth Vader, and your army of stormtroopers are rotting from the inside, and you can’t help it. The very weapons you build to put fear into the hearts of those wishing to be free will only be turned against you as symbols of injustice. The Galactic Empire will fall, and it’s because of men like my father that there’s hope for a better galaxy when it does.”
Leia couldn’t keep it in anymore, and it felt good to get it out. She let her anger and fear pool into words--damning words--but words nonetheless.
“There’s that rebel fire you traitors are so fond of. I was beginning to doubt Organa raised you, but you do indeed share his passion,” Tarkin waved his hand. “And his fate.”
Before Leia could protest, the nearest stormtrooper grabbed the princess by her arms and began dragging her away.
“Interesting thing about rebels, Princess,” the Moff mused, “You’re like vermin: when one is found, there is sure to be a nest of a dozen more nearby. Or in this case,” Tarkin turned to the viewport and Leia followed his eyes to her homeworld. “Two billion more.”
Leia wanted to yell out, to do something, but she had no control over the situation. She took one last look at her home, and in the glass, could see the reflection of terror in her own eyes.
Tarkin watched it all.
When the doors slid shut, he turned to face Alderaan once more, crossing his arms over his chest, and placing a hand slightly above his chin. He studied the planet and all its features as it continued along its shadowed rotation. He savored the sight, knowing he’d be one of the last in the galaxy to see it.
A world, wild and untamed, in a galaxy just the same.
“Governor,” a grey suited technician called from behind him, “the station is ready to fire, sir.”
The Grand Moff’s eyes glinted with sadistic anticipation. “Set for standby and be ready to fire on my orders.”
“Yes, sir.”
The technician moved back to his work, and Tarkin returned to his approaching victory.
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“What is the meaning of this transmission, Lord Vader?” The drawling voice of Emperor Palpatine echoed in Darth Vader’s private chambers. Vader lowered himself to one knee and informed his master.
“I have captured the rebel traitor Leia Organa along with the plans stolen from Scarif,” Vader spoke, his low voice filled with reverence as he tried to please his master, “An astromech and protocol droid accompanying her were also taken into custody. Intelligence believes they are the property of Bail Organa, and are searching their data records for details concerning the hidden rebel base.”
A smile filled the face of the hooded hologram. “Good,” The Emperor’s eyes were far away, “very good. With the location of the rebel base, we will be able to eradicate them and they will be powerless to stop us.”
He took a deep breath before speaking again.
“There has been a great divergence in the Force, have you felt it?”
“Yes, master.” Vader responded. Capturing the princess along with the plans had brought a great sense of finality to everything; there would be no more opposition, no more uprisings, no more rebellion--not after the galaxy experiences the power of the Death Star.
“You have done well, my apprentice. Tell Governor Tarkin that he may do as he pleases with the planet Alderaan, and once we have the location of the rebel base, he is to crush them once and for all.”
“Yes, master.”
“Vader,” The Emperor’s eyes focused on his black clad apprentice. Though the hologram was blue, Vader felt he could see the yellow tint of his master’s eyes burning into him, “Return to Coruscant after our triumph. There is much work to be done, old friend.”
“Yes, my master.”
The hologram cut off, and Vader rose. Without the hum of the Emperor’s image, the room was silent, save for the rhythmic breathing emanating from the sith. Stepping from the chamber, Darth Vader made his way to the viewing gallery of the Death Star to deliver his master’s will to the Grand Moff.
Passing through the polished halls of the Death Star, Vader noticed the workers avoiding his presence. His heavy footsteps and breathing most likely tipped the officers off, and they made themselves scarce for their own longevity. The constant aversion Vader felt from the personnelle didn’t bother him in the slightest, because their fear fueled the stock of dark side power he drew from the station. Even away from the outer layers of the Death Star, Vader could feel the fear of not just his own men, but of the entirety of Alderaan.
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As stepped in and closed the door to a turbolift, he was stopped by the sound of a woman’s voice.
“Excuse me, Lord Vader, sir!” The Dark Lord allowed the woman to stumble through the almost shut doors, out of breath. While the officer caught her breath, Vader keyed in the level for Tarkin’s viewing gallery. The lift lurched upwards and he turned his attention to the officer.
“What is the meaning of this, Lieutenant?” Vader demanded.
The officer stood up straight, slightly coughing. Her light brown skin seemed to glow against the dull grey of her uniform. She saluted before reaching into her pocket and retrieving a datapad and handing it over.
“Results from Data & Recovery, sir. It seems the Princess planned to put the stolen data into the R2 astromech but was unsuccessful. The R2 unit and the protocol droid both are suffering from damage as a result of blaster fire.”
“So, the Princess tried to destroy the droids to prevent us from obtaining their memory.”
“It would seem that way, sir. However, our team has restored some of the data within their memory, though most of it will either be lost to corruption or take a significant amount of time to restore.”
Vader looked up from the datapad and raised his arm to point at the officer. “I want that information, Lieutenant, without delay.”
Her eyes crossed looking at the dark lord’s finger, and Vader could see her shaking. She cleared her throat before speaking again.
“Yes, Lord Vader. It’s just… the damage--”
The officer was cut off by a gag emanating from her own throat. She brought her hands to her neck and her eyes widened in terror, falling to her knees as she pleaded in silence with the invisible force around her throat. Just as the lift stopped, the pressure released, and the lieutenant gasped and choked, rushing to fill her lungs with air.
Darth Vader stepped out of the lift and stopped just outside the doors.
“Understand you will be held personally responsible for Data & Recovery’s failure, Lieutenant Yuska.” With that, the doors sealed shut, and Yuska allowed herself to take an uncertain breath of air.
Entering the gallery, Darth Vader noticed the line of six stormtroopers against the far wall. They stood at rigid attention, and Vader could sense them become even more tense as he stepped into the room. On the opposite end, Tarkin stood in front of the large viewport; the Grand Moff was looking out at the distant planet of Alderaan before him.
“Governor Tarkin,” Vader addressed the Moff, stopping a few paces behind him.
“Ah, Lord Vader,” Tarkin’s expression didn’t change as he turned to face the Sith, he lowered his hand, clasping them behind his back. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Vader gave the Moff the datapad Lieutenant Yuska had provided.
Tarkin studied the information closely, his expression stolid. He spoke as his eyes moved back and forth through the text, “So the rebel base is on the fourth moon of the planet Yavin, and it appears our Chandrilan senator Mon Mothma is at the head of it all. Was this all the information we could obtain?”
“The Princess destroyed the droids and corrupted most of their data, it will take time to uncover any more.”
Tarkin frowned.
“A pity, but no matter. With the rebel base located and hard evidence implicating Mothma of treason, we may continue to act with impunity. Without the Death Star’s plans, there will be no ham-fisted resistance. The Rebellion will be powerless to stop us.”
Vader didn’t have time for the Moff’s gloating.
“The Emperor requests that you deal with the base immediately.”
The Moff looked up and lowered the data pad. “And I shall. Once Bail and Breha Organa are brought to me, the the Death Star will be deal with the Rebellion once and for all.”
“I suggest you hurry, Governor,” Vader warned, “the Emperor would be most displeased if the rebels were allowed to escape due to your fascination with toys.”
Tarkin smiled.
“Have you seen the Death Star in action, Lord Vader?”
The Dark Lord remained silent, peering at the Moff through his mask.
“I see. Then you have yet to witness the true extent of the Empire’s might.”
“The true extent of the Empire’s might, Governor,” Vader pointed a black finger at the Moff. “Is the Force. The power to destroy worlds is insignificant to the power of the dark side.”
Tarkin’s smile wavered, but not completely. “Perhaps I could offer you a demonstration. I have seen your force, allow me to show you mine.”
Darth Vader was silent save for his breathing. His finger lowered, but his dark gaze was still pointed very sharply at Tarkin.
“Up in the recreation office,” Tarkin gestured to the window above the far wall, a window Vader wouldn’t have even noticed without the Moff’s indication. “From there you will be able to see the show. I assure you it will be well worth the wait. The sight is truly… breathtaking.” His smile widened as he turned back to face Alderaan.
“And I do hope you don’t mind the company, Lord Vader.”
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Leia had seen Darth Vader before while she worked in the Imperial Senate. The black cloaked figure towered over Emperor Palpatine on his podium. He was a glorified bodyguard like the Emperor’s royal guards, but royal guards don’t kill a dozen soldiers single handedly. Vader had done just that before boarding the Tantive IV--before capturing her--before capturing the Rebellion’s hope.
And here he was again.
Leia had seen the Dark Lord leave the viewing gallery after meeting with the Grand Moff.
Where was he going now? Did Tarkin send him to question Mother and Father? To Torture them?
She didn’t want to think about it happening, and, for better or worse, she didn’t have to.
Darth Vader stepped through the office doors, his heavy breathing immediately filling the recreation room Tarkin had left her in. She rose from the table she’d sat down at, glaring at Vader as he made his way towards her.
Leia froze as the Dark Lord neared, she couldn’t stop herself from being scared, but she didn’t have to show it. Her expression was hard and defiant, but when Vader passed her unbothered, she softened to confusion.
Why? She wracked the options. Why is he here?
Leia hesitated. She wasn’t entirely sure what the meaning of intimidating her was; truth be told, the Empire had gotten everything they could want from her. She had been caught red handed with no one knowing where she was, her life was forfeit.
Regaining her composure and swallowing her fear, Leia stood tall. The stun cuffs she wore hurt her wrists, but that was the last thing she was worried about at the moment.
“My parents,” she managed, “what does Tarkin plan on doing to them?”
Vader didn’t respond, his breathing unperturbed.
“The Governor mentioned bringing my parents aboard this place,” Leia continued, “Does he plan on questioning them? They don’t know anything. They’re innocent. I told Governor Tarkin that I did this alone, you shouldn’t punish my family for--”
“Do not presume to tell me what I should or should not do, Princess,” Vader’s voice was just as heavy and menacing as it had been aboard the Tantive IV, “You would do well to mind your place as our prisoner. The Empire’s hospitality does not run deep for traitors.”
Leia stopped speaking. Her plea had failed, and once again, she realized just how powerless she truly was to stop anything. She had been given one mission--one goal--and she had failed; when her father needed her most, he placed the fate of the galaxy in her hands, and she had allowed the Empire to wrest it from her. Now, her life, and the lives of trillions, were no better than dead.
There was a change in atmosphere as a click sounded over the room’s speakers. A low hum of a wind current and background typing filled the ambience of the office. The noise even covered most of Vader’s breathing. As another beep sounded in the room and the familiar footsteps of stormtrooper boots hit her ears, Leia realized too late what was happening.
Rushing to the Dark Lord’s side, Leia stared out at the viewing gallery and felt her heart catch in her throat as she tried to choke out some word that would make this reality go away. All that came out was…
“No…”
“Queen Breha and Viceroy Bail Organa of Alderaan,” The Moff’s voice sounded as if it were right behind Leia, it made her skin crawl.“So good of you both to join me in the Empire’s hour of triumph.”
Bail and Breha Organa shared an unreadable look with one another. The slick, silver half cape Leia’s father wore over his grey suit, along with the simple pale violet of her mother’s gown, gave the impression that Tarkin had snatched them from their home.
“Governor,” Bail’s voice was filled with the passion and indignation he usually reserved for the privacy of family dinners. “What is the meaning of this? What is this thing you’ve brought us to?” His eyes blazed as he gestured at the station around them.
“This is the solution to the pitiful Rebellion you, your wife, and a handful of other extremists have gone through the trouble of creating.” Leia could see her father’s face grow a shade paler.
“I don’t--”
“Do not play coy with me, Viceroy,” Tarkin snapped, “Your daughter told us enough before my patience with her grew thin.”
“What have you done to my Leia?” Breha moved past Bail to stand in Tarkin’s face. “Where is our daughter, Governor?” Her voice was a blend of fear, anger, and something ...deeper.
“Your daughter, just like the rest of your rebel friends will soon be, is dead.”
Breha took a step back, her anger gave way to the haunting reality of the Moff’s words. Bail caught her, a similar anguish played in his eyes but his tone was steel.
“We demand that you bring us our daughter this instant,” Bail insisted, “we have been loyal servants to the Empire, with nothing but good works to our name. I am a member of the Imperial Senate, Tarkin, and I demand that you bring me our daughter.” His voice seemed to catch in his throat as he finished.
Tarkin eyed Bail for a moment. “I'm afraid with the dissolution of the Senate, you have no sway here, Senator. And,” he gestured to the viewport, Bail and Breha’s eyes focused on their homeworld. “With the destruction of Alderaan, neither will you, your Grace.”
Wild confusion filled Breha’s eyes. “What do you--”
“Fire on Aldera.” Tarkin commanded into his comlink.
A loud, high pitched ringing flooded Leia’s ears as she felt the station shake. A bright emerald beam shot outwards, directly at Aldera. With a burst of light, the region of the planet where the beam hit seemed to explode, rising like a dark cloud into the atmosphere. The fear Leia had felt tingling in the back of her mind cut off, as if she had suddenly lost her connection.
“Cities can be replaced,” the Moff’s voice resonated in the now complete silence, “I'm afraid worlds cannot.”
Bail and Breha stood quietly where they were. Stepping from Bail’s arms, the Queen of Alderaan placed her hands against the window. “Aldera,” her voice was as distant as it had been on those evenings so long ago. “What have you done?”
“The rebel base, your Grace,” Tarkin ignored her question, “What is its location?”
No one said anything. Tarkin moved to stand next to Breha, his hands still clasped behind his back. The area where Aldera used to be was now nothing more than a plume of debris stretching upwards, seemingly reaching out for help.
“You're a monster,” Breha finally said, “I've known long before this but being able to say it…” the words were the only comfort the Queen could feel. Leia wanted to be there with her mother, but Tarkin’s sick plan was to strip her Grace of everything she held dear. First her daughter, now Aldera, next…
“Target the planet,” The Moff spoke into his comlink.
“No!” Bail shouted, stepping forward. His heart cried out for his people as much as Breha, but he couldn't bare to let the torment she was undergoing continue. “We'll tell you, just...please, let our people live.”
“Bail,” Breha’s voice was hollow. “Don't.”
“I must, it's the only way.”
“You can't lose hope,” tears fell from her eyes, but she was not broken. “Fear will not hold my people hostage. If you try to break us, to withhold the freedoms and liberties we have been entitled, then you will only destroy yourselves. I am Breha Organa, Queen of Alderaan, and this power you have, Governor? It cannot intimidate me.”
The Grand Moff didn't speak. He instead motioned to the line of stormtroopers behind him. Bail and Breha were grabbed and put on their knees, facing towards the sight of their beloved planet. In the middle of that view, was the figure of the one man who controlled the fate of billions.
Tarkin glared down at Leia's parents, his eyes glancing up for a moment to the window where she and Darth Vader were. If he couldn't get his pleasure from torturing her parents, then he'd get it from torturing Leia.
“Fire when ready.”
It wasn't slow. In fact, when it happened, Leia could have sworn she had only blinked. One second, Alderaan was there, and then it wasn't. If it hadn't been for the yelling of her father or the gnawing emptiness in her heart, she could’ve been having a bad dream. An awful, evil dream.
Bail’s shouting had turned to sobs, he had lost his composure and was being held up by two stormtroopers. Tarkin made him powerless to even grieve properly.
Breha, however, was silent.
“Nothing to say, your Grace?” Tarkin toyed. “No words of inspiration? Where is your hope now? Where is your rebellion? You've lost.” looking down at her, he gave a slight nod, and the sound of a blaster shot burned in Leia’s ears.
The yelling stopped. The crying. Everything.
All that sounded was the soft thud of Breha’s body hitting the cold station floor, a thin trail of smoke rising from the hole in her chest.
“Hope,” Breha whispered, her eyes finding their way up to the window where Leia was watching.
Leia couldn't even tell if her mother saw her, if she felt Leia’s presence at all--if she knew that Tarkin had not taken everything.
“... Is never lost.” The Queen of Alderaan let out a soft breath of air, and the glow of her pulmonodes went dark. Even from the above, Leia could see the light in her mother’s brown eyes--those beautiful brown eyes--vanish.
Bail Organa’s pain rendered him mute. He rocked in place; his mouth and face were contorted in anguish, his voice failing to articulate a semblance of what he was feeling. Tarkin stood over him next.
“The last of the Organa’s. A truly lonely existence, isn't it, Viceroy?” He turned back to the viewport; with Alderaan gone, it was nothing more than a dark canvas of scattered debris and starlight. “Trooper, you may fi--”
The Moff coughed.
He swallowed hard, but something was caught in his throat. Trying to speak, the Imperial found himself struggling for air. His hands rushed to his neck to fight the feeling as if something invisible were choking him.
“Va...der,” Tarkin spat out as he turned to look up at the office window, his eyes aflame with a dark fury. He stumbled back slightly, and rested against the dark viewscreen. Tarkin let out one last guttural inhalation before collapsing onto the floor.
The stormtroopers looked at one another, confused, wondering what to do. With a click, the audio in the office cut off, and Leia watched a group of them check the Grand Moff’s body only to find that he was indeed dead.
She let her eyes close. Hot tears ran down her cheeks as the ache of powerlessness died down. She let everything in the world slip away, save for the sound of punctuated breathing, and the weight of a heavy hand around her heart.