The Trace Which Remains

Chapter 22: ...aiming for...

'... guilty...'

'Guilty.'

'GUILTY!!!'

Anakin fell to the floor, clutching the sides of his head, trying to block out the voices in his mind, screaming for an admission, a confession, an absolute statement that it was his fault, it was all his fault, it had ALWAYS been his fault. He wanted to shout, to howl out the damning words, to yell until the voices in his head SHUT UP.

Then he felt the presence of Luke, in his mind, and Leia. Luke's spirit wrapped around his, encouraging. He heard Leia's voice, soft but steady, within his heart.

'You are not guilty. Legally, you are not guilty of anything.'

But his soul wouldn't listen, wouldn't even consider the thought that he wasn't guilty. He was damn well guilty, and no amount of legalese would erase that.

'SILENCE!' Another voice sounded within the caverns of his mind, stilling the rush of thought as though it had stilled time itself. 'I will not have you wallowing in mindless angst!'

"Who... who are you?" Anakin whispered, recognizing, but not recognizing, the voice.

It replied, more gently than the massive command. 'I am the one who coerced life itself to give you another chance. Don't waste the gift I have given you.'

More steady, Anakin responded within his mind, instead of out loud. 'But how can I lie? I am guilty. I've committed such terrible sins-'

'Sins, yes. Crimes, no, although they SHOULD have been crimes. If they prosecuted you for what you did as Vader, they would be committing an injustice. They would prosecute you ex post facto- the actions you performed were not criminal until the Alliance became the legitimate government of the galaxy.'

His eyes snapped open, and he looked about, and he saw the entire auditorium staring at him, some with impatience, some with disgust... but some with sympathy. He became aware of Leia's presence speaking to him.

'Father- are you all right? Please... you're not legally guilty. Morality is a different question. But if you have to hold on to something, remember- you are NOT GUILTY AT ALL for the rape! We have proof!'

Luke's soul was entwined with Anakin's, and Anakin realized that he was doing the emotional equivalent of bawling on his son's shoulder. Shocked at his lack of composure, Anakin staggered to his feet, letting out a shaky breath.

"Are you able to go on, Mr. Skywalker?" Mon Mothma's eyes were filled with worry.

He clutched the sides of the podium to steady himself, and drew upon Luke's strength. Force bless the boy- he was holding up so well.

"I am."

With a nod, Mothma asked, "Then how do you plead?"

Taking a deep breath- thanking the Force for that much underappreciated ability- Anakin stood tall.

"I plead not guilty to the charge of war crimes, by reason of Imperial law, and not guilty at all of the rape or murder of this Miss Granns."

He could hear both of his children gasp with relief behind him.

****

Borsk Fey'lya had to admit- if it had been anything other than genuine, Skywalker's collapse would have been an impressive display of theatrical manipulation. He could see that some of the beings within the auditorium believed that it was all just an act- but Fey'lya had seen far too many people crack under pressure. He knew when it was real.

So he deeply regretted having to use this tactic.

"Gentlebeings of the Alliance, respected members of High Command, as much as I am certain that Mr. Skywalker's regret over his actions and his pain during this trial are genuine-" he paused, and observed around a third of the audience scoffing in disbelief, "- it is the intent of the Prosecution to prove that the wartime actions of Anakin Skywalker, also known as Darth Vader, were criminal and to seek the highest possible penalty for those crimes."

Organa rose and took his place.

****

Standing as tall as her stature would permit, Leia strode to the front of the crowd, and fixed her eyes on everyone.

"Gentlebeings of the Alliance, respected members of High Command... as well as all beings within this galaxy... we have just emerged victorious in a savage battle for our lives and our way of life."

Pressing her lips into a thin line of determination, Leia continued. "But before we celebrate that freedom, we need to fully understand what form of tyrrany we have escaped from. Many of us know first-hand the perils, disgrace, and terror of slavery. But few know that Darth Vader himself was enslaved, directly to the Emperor."

"Before we judge him based upon what acts of immorality he has committed, we must view the light under which these deeds were performed. Imperial law states directly that all who oppose the Emperor are committing treason."

"It is my intent as the arbiter for Anakin Skywalker to prove that not only did his actions stem directly from the Emperor's commands, but that the Emperor was in fact manipulating Vader into his trap for years before Skywalker was converted. It is also my intent to prove that Anakin Skywalker is completely not guilty of the rape of Yalleigh Granns."

Mon Mothma gave a grave nod, and responded formally. "Thank you, Arbiter Organa."

****

Myka Severeth gripped the subpoena nervously, twisting it until he realized he was about to tear it.

He waited in the witness hall, unable to speak to any of the other witnesses.

Across from him sat HER.

She sat, staring at him with a look in her eyes which, from anyone else, would have seemed like flirting.

He had been summoned by Leia, and here he was, scared shitless, trying to numb himself to the fact that the testimony he was commanded to give... would condemn Anakin Skywalker.

Forget the fact that it would be perjury. Forget the fact that he would be risking his own freedom.

Forget the fact that he would betray the only people who had given him a chance.

****

After an hour of simple evidence- proof that Anakin had committed the war acts he did- it was time for the prosecution's final witnesses.

Mon Mothma gave the woman a curt nod, which the elder woman did not return. "Dr. Jaraya Devix, do you give your word that your words will be nothing but truth?"

"My word is given."

Leia didn't like the grey-haired woman, who glared harshly at her father. Anakin had an expression which Leia could only call stupefied. Borsk Fey'lya marched to the stand.

"Dr. Devix, will you please explain in your own words what happened to your husband?"

"I came over to his shop on tenthmonth 29, RD 976, and found my husband sliced in half, with cauterized marks that were analyzed to be identical to lightsaber wounds. The forensic investigator I hired took samples from the carpet of my husband's shop, and found genetic material from not only Anakin Skywalker, but also someone related to him by blood."

"What form of material was it?"

"Hair... some blond hair... some skin remnants." She pulled a sheet of paper from her briefcase-

- and Leia saw a flash of a DNA chart. It was instantly familiar. She had seen it only that morning as she reviewed the Morata files.

Devix handed the paper to Fey'lya, who examined it before handing it over to Mon Mothma. Mothma swallowed, and said, "It was deemed criminal for a member of Republic military to murder a civilian before the Empire's rise."

The hair on Leia's neck rose- it was a false report!

Leia watched the Devix woman hold a tissue to her eyes with a white-knuckled grip. She watched with new eyes. So this was Darth Morata.

Fey'lya glanced at Leia, with an almost apologetic expression on his face. He announced, "No more questions. Your witness, Arbiter Organa."

Leia drew upon her anger to straighten her back, to remove the shake from her limbs. Evenly, calmly, she greeted Dr. Devix. "You say that your husband was killed by the defendant. What association did you or your husband have with Anakin Skywalker?"

"None! It was a random murder!" The woman was putting on a very good act, Leia had to admit. But there were no real tears coming from the grey eyes.

"Tell me... do you have surveillance tapes from your husband's shop? And tell me... who did you hire to perform the forensic reports?"

"I- I have no tapes. The cameras were destroyed. And... the name is on the report. I can't pronounce it. I don't know a thing about genetics."

Leia whirled on her. "Then why is your briefcase filled with genetic data and code?" Enraged, Leia reached- REACHED- for her own files, and they flew to her hand effortlessly. "Mon Mothma, I request a seizure of the briefcase of Jaraya Devix, and I accuse her of perjury, murder, and collaboration with intent of sexual assault and torture." Slamming her paperwork on Mon Mothma's podium, Leia continued. "These are the decoded copies of the papers within Ms. Devix's case. They indicate a long-term plan to frame Anakin Skywalker for murder and rape, as well as instructions for the creation of a drug that causes the person under its influence to enter a state of uncontrollable rage."

Mon Mothma was clearly taken aback, and she hesitated, before ordering the bailiff, "Take her case. Let me read it. Councilor Fey'lya... I require your assistance with the code."

****

Anakin stared at the small grey woman who occupied the witness stand. She was absolutely infuriated- and he could feel her hostility through the Force like it was a wave of hot air.

He was astounded by Leia's observation- he hadn't even known of anything like this. He had heard of the rape accusation, but to have come from this woman?

But she was a Dark Side user. Perhaps even on a level with Palpatine. And Leia had seen through her.

Never had he been more proud of her.

He felt Luke's hand on his shoulder, and sighed into the comforting contact. Looking back into his son's eyes, however, he saw a great fear.

'What if Leia can't control her anger?'

****

Leia, eyes blazing, watched as Mon Mothma and Borsk Fey'lya reviewed the pair of files, before she heard a voice, rumbling deeply within her mind.

'Be still, my daughter. You gave me strength. Now receive.'

A few deep breaths later, Leia's mind was clear, and she no longer saw the world in shades of red. Opening her mind to the new-found Force, she observed the dynamics of the auditorium.

All were shocked. Most were confused. But some were terrified... of her.

Chagrined and nervous, Leia forced her breathing steady, wrapping herself in the combined presences of her father and her brother.

****

"These are indeed accurate decodings of this paperwork," Mon Mothma declared after around fifteen minutes. "Guards... arrest the witness."

Two guards approached the witness stand, and Luke was caught completely off guard when the woman leapt and somersaulted over the heads of the two men. A lightsaber flew from the hinge of the confiscated briefcase, and ignited, dividing the guards evenly through the midsection.

He ignited his own blade, but her momentum was too great. She slapped it aside like an insect, and bolted out the door.

****

"ATTENTION, SITH ON THE LOOSE! BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A SMALL HUMAN WOMAN ON THE RUN! GREY HAIR AND EYES. REPEAT, SHE IS A SITH LORD. DO NOT TRY TO FIGHT HER." Mon Mothma's voice echoed through the halls of Home One, and Myka stood in a hurry.

So Morata was discovered. A massive rush of relief filled his veins.

But it was quickly subdued when the blast doors separating the auditorium and the witness lobby crumpled like cheap foodwrapping foil.

He didn't have his lightsaber on him- he was not permitted to attend the trial armed. So he was completely defenseless as she bore down upon him.

He blacked out before his head hit the deck.

****

Anakin rose to his feet, staring down the destroyed hallway that the Sith had disappeared into. She was even faster than Yoda!

The remaining guards were upon him, blaster rifles in his face, before he could do anything else. He had to think fast.

Leia turned to Mon Mothma, panic tinging her voice. "I'm sorry- I didn't know she'd attack so quickly."

"It's not your fault, Leia- you were right to expose her. But we need to catch her."

"How?" Crix Madine- Anakin remembered him from the time before Madine had defected from the Empire- asked, wild-eyed with terror.

Leia spoke first. "We need to find out where she operates from."

Luke made his way to the ravaged witness hall, gathering an unconscious witness into his arms. Looking up at Leia, he said, "Myka would know."

****

It took Luke and Leia around ten minutes to rouse the injured Sith doctor, who had a burnt gash in his right shoulder. Gasping in pain, Dr. Severeth clutched the shallow wound.

Leia asked, "Morata did this to you?"

She could tell he was about to retort sarcastically, but instead, he nodded. "I didn't have my weapon- I'm sorry. I couldn't stop her."

Luke helped Myka into the auditorium, where Mon Mothma scowled over a map of the ship.

"An escape pod was launched, and it's no longer on our sensors. She's gone."

Myka immediately grew more alert. "We have to go after her!"

"But where would she have gone?"

Leia's heart fell with a PLOP into her stomach as Myka replied, "Coruscant."

Admiral Ackbar returned, "But that's in the heart of Imperial space! We can't get into the Core!"

But Anakin, brave, foolish, WONDERFUL Anakin, raised his hand, and answered, "Yes we can."

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