"Neither of my fathers will tell me much about what happened then," Leia said. "They think they're protecting me. I know the history, of course, I've studied that, but none of the specific details about what happened to you."

"I'm sorry," Leia said, shaking her head. "That's not something I should be asking you to think about." She couldn't imagine that your last moments alive would be something you'd want to take with you after death.

"It's just pulling information about you from my father is an ordeal," she went on with a sigh of frustration. "And usually involves a fight, like last month when it was your birthday. He was depressed and wouldn't tell me why."

"I'm glad the Jedi have changed, then," Leia said fiercely. She couldn't imagine being discouraged or forbidden to love or laugh. "Luke isn't like that, or Jaina or Ben or Tahiri. And whenever I'm going to be taught, I won't be like that."

She squeezed her mother's hand. "I try to be understanding, but there's so much I want to know. About you, about him...even about the future, though I know there's a risk that could make things happen differently. He's absolutely adamant that I not look for him in my world or try to find Luke there. It's not just for selfish reasons" -- well, a little bit selfish -- "I just can't help but think finding them sooner would help bring down Palpatine and Vader sooner and spare the galaxy from civil war."

"Luke already is," Leia said. "And I will be, but not for some time. I don't have the time for the training. The rebellion's only just begun, and that -- and taking Bail's place in the Senate -- are what I need to focus on."

"A few months ago, he, Mom Mothma, and Garm Bel Iblis were captured by Darth Vader as they plotted against Palpatine," Leia explained. It still made her stomach churn to think how close she'd come to losing her adoptive father. "I was there as well, but only as a holo transmission, and Bail severed the transmission so I was not seen. They were all to be executed for treason, but a young Jedi Knight, Galen Marek, was able to save them. But now they are all wanted for treason, and Breha and I had to publicly disavow Bail." That still rankled her, but she knew if she hadn't she never would be able to take Bail's place in the senate.

"He is a Sith Lord," Leia said bitterly, "and Vader is his lap dog. They keep their brand of 'peace' and 'justice' with their stormtroopers. It's awful, Mother, but I will make things right again. The galaxy won't stand for this for much longer."

"I will be," Leia promised. "That's why I'm here right now, instead of back home. I want to be home so much, but this way I'm deflecting attention from myself and letting the scandal die down so there won't be so many eyes on me when I take my seat in the Senate." Not that there still wouldn't be eyes on her, though, she knew that much.

"But I can't hide for long. I need to be back home," she said. "It's not right that I'm safe here while people I care about are in danger."

"Like you used?" Leia said with a small smile. "Father told me how when he met you you were pretending to be one of your handmaidens. I've made Winter -- she's my sister, Bail and Breha adopted her, too -- dress up as me sometimes. She's better at being a princess than I am." She couldn't help but make a face.

"I'll be Queen of Alderann someday," Leia said. "But I'll be more proud of being her senator. That's the role the people have a voice in."

"I know I do, since I know people from the future," Leia said, "but I'm so worried about doing something wrong now. What if I make a mistake and things turn out differently?" She worried about that more than she'd like to admit.

"I like what I've heard about the future so far," Leia said. "We're going to bring down Palpatine and Vader and restore the Republic." She sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Maybe it's best if I don't know exactly what to do so I don't become locked into absolutes. But I don't want to second guess myself. It's maddening."

"I'll make you proud, I promise," Leia said fiercely.