"They must have fixed it."
Leia grinned. "They did. After Mara threatened to shoot them both."
Mon Mothma laughed. They stopped in front of the ballroom door. Mon Mothma put her hand on Leia's arm. "You realize that some of the senators are saying 3PO and R2 should be deactivated for taking such initiative. They also want action taken against Cole Fardreamer. The theft of the freighter has them all disturbed. They'll try to make that the first order of business."
Leia glanced at the closed doors. The last time she had gone into a Senate Chamber dressed like this, she had been worried about the petty backbiting of the senators. The explosion had come out of the blue, had ruined so many lives, and had made those worries seem trivial.
Kueller. His youthful face would haunt her longer than his death mask would.
His actions would haunt her longer still.
He had taken so many lives without a single thought. And it had taken so much to defeat him. She would do everything she could in her position as Chief of State to see that no other monsters like him were created under her watch.
And the first order of business would be to make sure no truth got distorted by opportunistic politicians.
"They won't succeed in deactivating the droids," she said. "R2 and 3PO are heroes. I have some ideas about changing the laws regarding droids. And they won't touch Cole Fardreamer. He discovered the flaws in the new X-wings. It's on his suggestion that we're returning to the older models. I'll take care of all of this. I also have some bridge building to do."
"Sounds like a busy day," Mon Mothma said.
"It can't be too busy," Leia said. "Luke is having his last bacta treatment this afternoon, and I plan to be there when he wakes up. Then I am going home. Han promised dinner for me."
"And no children until tomorrow," Mon Mothma said.
Leia smiled. "A person always has to make the best of every situation," she said.
"Oh, you do, Leia," Mon Mothma said.
The moment had suddenly gotten too serious for Leia. She put her arm around Mon Mothma's waist. "A whole new chapter in here," Leia said.
"Yes," Mon Mothma said. "And the first order of business is for me to step down and you to regain your post."
"Think they'll ratify my return?" Leia asked.
"Without dissent," Mon Mothma said.
Then they opened the door to the temporary Senate Hall. Leia was already planning her speech. It would be different from the one she had planned so long ago. This one would be about unity and respect.
She would set the tone for the new Senate term.
And this time, she would do it right.
Star Wars - The New Rebellion Page 44