As Captain Antilles moved to comply, Leia put the last pieces of the puzzle together.
Somebody—several somebodies—had put together the numbers and firepower necessary to attack and disable an Imperial station. That had taken money, planning, and time. People weren’t just complaining about the Empire anymore.
They had begun fighting back.
Alderaan was known to people throughout the galaxy for its beautiful scenery, its aesthetically pleasing architecture, and its commitment to preserving harmony and tranquility. Those people would have been very surprised by the scene at the Aldera spaceport, when the Tantive IV unexpectedly unloaded a hundred refugees from Wobani.
Some of the refugees had become hysterical with delight or disbelief; others slumped onto crates or helper droids, in obvious need of medical care or at least a place to rest. All of them were muddy, as was the entire crew and Leia herself.
“I let Central know we were coming!” Batten protested as they tried to assemble everyone into some kind of order. “I mean, I let them know when we hit the atmosphere, which wasn’t that long ago, but that’s as soon as we could’ve—”
“It’s all right, Lieutenant.” Captain Antilles seemed strangely distracted, Leia thought. “I should contact the viceroy immediately.”
Why is he going to talk to my father? Leia watched, confused, as the captain strode away without looking back. The viceroy takes charge of Alderaan’s dealings with the galaxy at large. The governing of the planet itself is done by—
“Her Majesty Breha Organa!” announced a droid from the far end of the bay, and Leia turned with all the others to see her mother walk in, a huge entourage behind her. As usual, she wore a long gown, this one of russet silk and blue velvet, and she had ribbons of each fabric braided into her elaborate hairstyle. No jewels, no crown: Breha didn’t need them to command attention, to draw attention, or to appear every bit a queen.
Silence fell without being asked for. Leia watched her mother step up on a platform and begin to address them all, her rich voice carrying through the entire bay: “Good people of Wobani, you’re very welcome to Alderaan. Forgive us for not being better prepared to receive you, but from this moment on, my team will see to your every need.” She gestured to the entourage—medical personnel, social workers, and the like, who were already beginning to weave their way into the crowd. “No doubt you’ll want a chance to rest, recover, and reflect on what you would like to do next. I pledge here and now that every single person arriving today will receive a stipend that will allow you either to travel to another world where you may have family or friends, or to begin a new life here on Alderaan. It is my welcome gift to all of you.”
Someone yelled, “All hail Queen Breha!” which wasn’t the way people cheered royalty on Alderaan. Leia was more accustomed to gentle applause. But the Wobani took up the chant with such enthusiasm that the crew joined in, and even Leia had to shout it once at the end.
As the queen stepped down from the platform and the refugees began getting the help they needed, Batten said, “Wow, your mom pulls her act together pretty quick.”
“Her act is always together.” Leia simultaneously admired this about her mother and envied it. “She was born with it together. I wish she’d teach me the trick.”
“Well, if you ever learn, let me know, would you?” Batten gave a wink in Leia’s direction before heading back into the Tantive IV to finish postflight systems checks.
Leia saw her mother coming through the crowd toward her; those nearby parted before her, clearing a path without Queen Breha having to hold out a hand or say a word. At last, Leia would be able to talk with her mother about what she’d accomplished, about the splendid rescue she’d just completed on a world most people were afraid to even mention, much less visit. Breha Organa would have to talk to her daughter as an equal.
The queen came to Leia and folded her in her arms. Their embrace was warm and true—but when Breha pulled back, her lips were pressed together in a thin line.
Leia knew what that look meant. “What? What did I do?”
“The palace,” said Breha. “Now.”
“You should have run this by us first—”
“When would I ever have had the chance? You and Dad are always—”
“Your father and I have important business to conduct, and we should be able to trust you to understand—”
“‘Important business’? Like what? Planning another dinner party?”
“Leia!” Queen Breha rarely raised her voice, which gave it more impact when she did. Leia finally quieted herself and sat down on the long, low couch that curved around the east wall of the royal library.
The library, like everything else in the palace, had been the work of generations. Datacrons from countless worlds and eras shimmered in their cases, and one set of shelves bore precious, ancient paper books. Constellation globes of various systems stood in small nooks or hung from the high ceiling. A real fire burned in the center of the vast room in a spherical hearth made of copper and stone; that and the setting sun through the long, narrow windows provided most of the light.
There was, of course, another “Royal Library of Alderaan,” one open to all its citizens and with a collection even richer than this. But in this room, the royal family kept their own treasures and memories. It was more than a library. It was the place where they relaxed, where they laughed, where they spoke most openly as a family.
Which wasn’t always a good thing.
Breha shook her head as she paced to and from the hearth. “Whatever possessed you to go to Wobani?”
“There were people in need,” Leia insisted. She wasn’t about to apologize. “If you’d been there and seen how desperate they were—”
“I know how desperate they are.” The queen sighed. “I also know how dangerous the situation on Wobani is. It may be largely forgotten at the moment, but it’s only one of many loose threads that could turn out to be a fuse.”
What was that supposed to mean? Leia kept on. “It was a humanitarian mission. I put through for the proper approvals. You can see the records.”
Breha gave her daughter a look. “Yes, you arranged things very well. But speak to me in truth. You knew that if you had come to us directly, we would’ve told you to choose another place for your first humanitarian mission. Didn’t you?”
Shamefaced, Leia nodded. A lie of omission was still a lie.