Star Wars: Darth Nyx (Book 1)

Ch34.5: Masked Intruder

Alderaan

Bail Organa's POV:

The forest was silent except for the faint hum of the Mandalorian fighter's engines. I watched as the ship ascended into the sky, a sleek silhouette against the backdrop of clouds. My heart pounded with a mix of relief and dread. 

Breha was safe, for now, thanks to Fennec Shand. Strange bedfellows, indeed, the Empress of the Sith Empire aiding my wife against Palpatine's tyranny. But safety in these times was fleeting and alliances, ever fluid.

I lingered a moment longer, letting the bright sky swallow the ship. The forest around me, usually a sanctuary, felt rather foreboding. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, seemed amplified. I forced myself to turn away, to head back to the palace. Duty awaited, and with it, uncertainty.

As I approached the palace, an eerie silence replaced the usual bustle. My stomach knotted with unease. The great doors loomed ahead, half open, as if inviting me into some twisted parody of my home. I steeled myself and stepped inside.

The grand hall was surprisingly dimly lit, given how bright outside had been, shadows dancing on the ornate walls. I'm still walking along without coming across anyone but the second I begin thinking perhaps this was all a bad dream, I saw them—my fellow nobles, the very lifeblood of Alderaan, forced to their knees, heads bowed in submission. My gaze was drawn to the throne, Breha's throne, where he sat. Darth Vader, the emperor's dog-

Rage flared within me, hot and potent. How dare he defile our home, our people, with his presence? I took a step forward, fists clenched at my sides.

Me: You dare sit on our Queen's throne?

He turned his helmeted head towards me, the dark visor reflecting the flickering lights. 

Vader: Organa...

His voice is icy cold, a mechanical purr devoid of all emotion. 

Vader: Kneel and swear loyalty to the Emperor.

The command was simple, but the implications were profound. To kneel would be to betray everything I stood for, everything Alderaan stood for. I looked at the nobles, their eyes filled with fear and hope, searching for any sign of defiance or submission in my face.

Me: No...I would never kneel to Palpatine. Besides, it is not my throne to give.

For a moment, the hall was deathly silent. I braced myself for the inevitable, the searing pain of a lightsaber or the crushing grip of the Force. But instead, Vader laughed. A low, mocking sound that echoed off the walls, filling the hall with its sinister resonance.

Vader: Your defiance is noted, Organa, but it changes nothing. The Emperor's will is absolute.

I stood my ground, the sound of Vader's laughter ringing in my ears, a cruel reminder of the power he wielded. As his laughter echoed through the halls, I realized the true depth of our peril. We were pawns in a game far larger than ourselves, caught between two dark titans vying for control of the galaxy.

And yet, even in the face of such overwhelming darkness, I found a flicker of hope. Breha was safe, and as long as there was life, there was a chance to fight back. Vader's laughter may have filled the palace tonight, but it would not drown out the spirit of Alderaan.

With one last look at my people, I vowed silently to them and to myself that this would not be the end. The fight was far from over.