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Cody did not shoot his General. For whatever reason, CC-2224’s chip malfunctioned. The how or why this happened is not relevant. The important things come later.
Padmé Amidala died in front of a Jedi, a clone, and 2 droids. Bail and Breha Organa did not arrive in time.
Obi-Wan Kenobi is taking the boy twin to Tatooine. He says that they cannot be together because they are too strong in the Force. Cody realises what he is going to do before he says it out loud. “I’ll take the girl.” Obi-Wan pauses at this before realising that there is no choice. He nods and they part ways over Padmé Amidala’s body, minutes after bartering her children off.
Cody quickly realises he has no idea about nat-born babies. He is frantically trying to acquire baby food because she won’t stop screaming. He hears movement behind him and turns around to see a group of his brothers that he’s never met before. Everyone stills before a blonde girl rushes up and starts cooing over the baby. “Omega, get back here.” says a voice that is equally hard and exasperated. “Her name’s Leia. She’s mine.” Cody offers to the girl. “Cool!” the girl, Omega, grins.
The Bad Batch, or Batch 99. Cody’s heard of them, and he knows that Fives missed Echo more than anything. “So, your chip.” A voice from behind inquires once they are all on the Marauder. Cody shakes his head and replies, “malfunctioned.” The other man nods.
“How did you acquire a child? Clones cannot reproduce.” Tech asks. Cody stills before answering vaguely. “Friend of mine died. Took her in.” Tech nods and his gaze briefly flicks to Omega. When he looks back there is understanding in his eyes.
Cody and Leia stay with the Bad Batch. Cody cannot bear to leave behind any more of his brothers, and newfound sister, and he honestly has no clue how to care for a kid. Tech tells him what he needs to do for newborns, and he is eternally grateful.
They stick around through everything. Omega getting captured more times than Cody can count, Crosshair joining the group and grumbling about another kid, and them finally settling on Pabu.
Leia grows in fits and spurts. She learns how to shoot a blaster and how to do advanced mathematics and how to fly a ship. She scrapes her knees and bandages them herself; she knows every single story the clones have, and she knows that the Empire is bad, and she knows of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Cody cries when her first word is boo. Leia manages to say buir when she’s a year and a half old.
(Cody does not tell her of her Anakin Skywalker but he does speak about Padmé Amidala.)
Leia no-last-name is 9 years old when her aunt Omega leaves to fight the Rebellion. There is crying and a lot of promises all round but there is dead silence after she leaves. Hunter doesn’t speak to anyone for 2 days. Leia makes a silent vow that she will help fight the Rebellion like Omega but that she will make sure she calls home.
Omega does not call. It’s been weeks and there has been nothing. Cody is freaking out, but it is nothing compared to Hunter’s silence. Everyone knows that they are all getting old and cannot chase after her like in their youth. Their advanced aging has slowed with help from various allies and Tech’s unwavering dedication, but they are still too old. That complete inability crushes them all.
Leia is 13 years old and there has been no word from Omega and Cody is fucking worried. He knows Leia and he knows that eventually, she is going to go find her aunt. Cody doesn’t think he could bear it if Leia disappeared like Omega. He doesn’t know how Hunter can even wake up in the mornings with the uncertainty of Omega’s fate hanging over his head.
So, yes, Cody knew that Leia was going to sneak off, but he thought he had time. He did not think he’d be watching the girl he raised for 13 years fly off in a ship after a screaming match they just had.
Leia is 13 years old, and she is going to find her aunt. That is a fact, and she will accept nothing else.
Dear clone daughter, I hope you know what you’re doing. The universe will not be kind to you.
The first place Leia goes to is Tatooine. She knows she shouldn’t and that it’s a dumb idea but there is a feeling deep in her mind. Obi-Wan Kenobi lives on Tatooine, Leia knows, he was a Jedi. Leia has been housing a secret from her family for the past 2 months. She can feel the Force deep in her bones, she can feel its guidance on her decisions and its unwavering indifference. Her family has always known she’s Force-sensitive, but they did not imagine she’d want to learn how to wield that power. Her buir doesn’t like to talk about the Jedi and she knows he'd never agree with her plan.
The feeling in her mind leads her to a mountain. She enters the carved-out hole in said mountain and announces, “My names Leia. You need to teach me the Force.” Obi-Wan Kenobi looks so resigned that Leia knows he’ll say yes.
“Your father was a great Jedi.” Obi-Wan starts after a week of meditation. Leia narrows her eyes and responds, “No he wasn’t. My father was a clone trooper.” She glares at him, almost daring him to disagree.
Leia is meditating when Obi-Wan shakes her awake. “The Empire is here.” Leia nods and tries to hide her fear.
“Kenobi.” Rasps the modulator of Darth Vader. Obi-Wan looks like he’s going to cry as he replies, “Vader.”
Darth Vader senses her because he’s Darth Vader. “You have a new padawan I see.” He pauses. “Shame she will not live long.”
Obi-Wan schools himself and shoots back in a deceptively light tone, “This is between you and me Anakin.” The use of Darth Vader’s previous name has him seething in anger. He lashes out with the Force and Leia falls backwards.
“Is that all you got old man?” Leia yells while wiping the blood off her face. Darth Vader sneers, “You are insolent.” Leia can feel him rooting through her mind and the pain is unbearable and she wants her buir. “Raised by clones and yet you don’t know anything.” Leia snarls, “You don’t know anything about my fucking family!” Darth Vader laughs, and it is a terrible thing to hear, “Who is your mother, little girl?” Obi-Wan is not fast enough to stop the words from flowing out of Leia’s mouth. “Padmé Amidala dickhead!”
Darth Vader stills. Leia can sense the change in atmosphere. Obi-Wan breathes out in resignation and places her behind him.
“Kenobi.”
“Anakin.”
It is at that moment a ship comes into view and Leia is so grateful for the distraction. She can’t get a good look at it since the sky is too bright.
Darth Vader and Obi-Wan both tense and move into defensive positions and Leia wants to laugh hysterically at the thought of them working together.
Leia slowly starts to back away from the fight, more than content to let the 2 very fucking confusing man-children handle it. Leia has had enough of their bullshit today. The Empire is EVIL. Why is Obi-Wan not attacking????
Leia continues backing away till she hears a voice yell out, “Hey! Lei-Lei!”
That is all it takes for Leia to run past both men and towards the ship, the confused and scared yells from the men behind her. She runs as fast as she can and soon, she can see Omega on the ship’s hangar. Leia throws her arms around her while Omega never leaves her defensive position, blaster pointed at the people behind.
“Force, kid! What the hell are you doing here?” Omega questions, still without looking at her. Leia grins, “I was looking for you!” Omega simply stares.
“Let the girl go.” Darth Vader rasps. Leia fumes indignantly, “She’s my aunt fuckface!” Omega makes a sound at the insult levied against Darth Vader.
“I’m taking Leia.” Omega’s tone brokers no argument, but Darth Vader still tries. He is not fast enough as the ships hangar suddenly closes, and they lift off.
Leia grins. Omega has a tired smile on her face. A thought comes to Leia and her eyes narrow, “Why didn’t you call?!” Omega’s face drops and she explains, “The Empire is too dangerous. They have a bounty on me. I couldn’t risk a comm-call. They would have found you guys.” Omega pauses. “I know that Cody never would have let you chase me.” Leia’s grin turns sheepish.
“About that.” Leia starts, “We can’t actually comm them because I ran away.” Omega groans. Leia has missed the sound so much. She wraps her arms around Omega again and this time she feels arms circle her too.
Leia is 13 years old, and she found her aunt. She has accomplished her first goal and now she will defeat the Empire. The galaxy won’t know what hit it.
(Years later, Leia, daughter of clones, will be regarded as the Hero of the New Republic.
she will wonder whether it was worth it. she is the daughter of no one now.)
(Years later, Omega will refuse to talk to anyone about the events that will occur in the following years. She will guard her secrets, and her horrors close to chest.)
But for now, the present is still the past and the future has not yet occurred. For now, this moment in time is untainted and pure.
Omega is 12 years old when she meets her niece. She ran up to a brother that she hadn’t met because he had a baby in his arms, and she hadn’t seen one of those before. The brother, Cody, tells her the baby’s name is Leia and something in the universe clicks.
Omega is 12 years old, and she is an aunt. For someone who had no close family a month ago, she thinks she’s doing pretty well for herself. Omega swears to herself and the universe that this baby will not grow up alone like she did. Omega is the daughter of a man who let his children be fodder in a pointless war and Leia is the only daughter of a clone.
A lot of things happen in quick succession after but eventually they all end up on Pabu. Leia is learning to speak, and her second word is ‘Meg’. Omega throws a party. Leia’s second word is ‘Unc’ which the rest of the Bad Batch are smug about for weeks.
Omega teaches Leia to braid her hair and how to climb any tree. Leia learns how to shoot from Crosshair and is given boring school from Tech. Cody tells Omega stories about brothers she will never meet and ruffles her hair when she’s being annoying.
The bad things happening in the galaxy get harder to ignore. Omega is 15 when she decides she’s going to fight the Empire. She has heard too many stories about dead brothers to do anything else but dedicate her life to stopping the Empire.
Omega is 21 and she is leaving. She talks with the man who raised her before she goes, and she promises to be alright.
Her first mission fills her with actual delight. She meets Hera again and she has a friend in the Rebellion now. She steals data from the Imperial base while Hera plants the bombs that destroy a entire section of the weaponry. They giggle like schoolgirls when they are back on ship.
Their humour lasts until they get handed a casualty report. Hera throws up and Omega rubs her back on the cold floor. Her knees ache but she will stay here until her guilt is dissolved. Hera and Omega fall asleep in the bathroom of their shared quarters.
Omega has bruises on her knees.
The first mission without Hera she is sent on is terrifying. She is paired with a 17-year-old boy with haunted eyes. He introduces himself as “Andor.” He does not expand further. His accent reminds her of Pabu and the nostalgia hits her all at once.
By the end of the mission, she managed to get him to smile slightly. She gave him her comm and told him to call if he needs help and that she makes a killer cake.
The first call she receives from him is 3 weeks later and he sounds so hesitant that Omega is violently reminded that Andor is still a kid. At 17 Omega herself was still making her family bear witness to her fashion shows. He’s staying at the same base she is, which is surprising because he’s typically an undercover agent. She shows up at his quarters with Hera and a cake in tow.
Andor starts comm-ing her more after that. Between Hera and herself not a full 2 weeks can pass without a message from him, even if it’s only a sentence.
“I have a niece, y’know.” Omega informs them. It’s a rare instance these days that they are all on base together. “Her names Leia and she’s my favourite person ever.”
Andor smiles and Hera encourages her to go on. Omega is happy to oblige. “She’s so stubborn, she gets that from Crosshair, and no one can tell her to do anything. She’s always so sure of herself and brave.” She takes a breath before continuing her ramble, “and it’s virtually impossible to beat her at anything because she works so hard even though she’s nine and doesn’t have to work hard.”
The two people sitting in front her are still smiling. No one else speaks after her. The grief from outside these small quarters is palpable. Omega shot down a fleet of Imperials and the Empire released their names on the Holo-net. The Rebellion suffered a massive blow with 47 soldiers dead.
Omega has been in the Rebellion for 3 months and she is officially banned from contacting her family. The Empire is upping their game, and she can’t risk leading the fight to her family.
There are clones with deactivated chips in the Rebellion and she finds that while she loves them, she still misses her family with everything in her. The Rebellion figured out the same anti-aging thing that Tech did but much sooner.
She goes on more and more missions. Hera got paired up with someone Omega knows instantly is a Jedi. Kanan Jarrus never acknowledges it, but she saw the way he flinched when she said she was a clone. Andor, who has now revealed his name to be Cassian (quickly shortened to Cass), goes on longer and longer missions.
Omega is 23 the first time she kills someone with a blaster. Her mission goes wrong because the number of enemies was underestimated. She kills 7 people while trying to get to her ship. Omega can hear them fall. She did not have the luxury of using stun mode. Omega throws up in her ship. She wants Hunter to smooth her hair and tell her it’ll be alright, she wants Crosshair to offer to do something morally questionable to avenge her, fuck, she wants her family. She hasn’t spoken to them in 2 years to keep them safe and it hurts. She wishes more than anything that Leia was here, that she was here as a physical reminder of what Omega was fighting for.
Omega is 24 and she hasn’t heard from Cassian in 4 months. It’s not unusual these days, but Omega can’t help but worry. She comms Hera to ask if she’s heard from him but a girl with brightly coloured hair answers instead, “Hi.” The girl offers nervously. Omega smiles, “you’re Sabine, right?” the girl nods. “Can you put Hera on?” the relief is palpable on the girl’s face.
Hera’s face quickly enters the frame and her smile is blinding. “Omega, hey! No, I haven’t heard from Cass.” Omega nods and the worry intensifies but she ignores it for now, “I met your stray.” Hera somehow brightens even more and starts gushing about how amazing Sabine is. Omega wonders why no one in her life has children naturally. Hera is 22 and a mother to a teenager now apparently. Omega listens to her rant.
Omega is 25 and she has a mission on Tatooine. Obi-Wan Kenobi is needed in the Rebellion, and she has been sent to recruit him. In the back of her mind, she criticises the choice to have a clone approach a paranoid Jedi. She can see an Imperial ship and she readies herself for a fight. Darth Vader is here, and it appears they are gunning for the same person. Omega is about to join the fight when she spots a little girl with her hair in braids. Her mind focuses on one thing and that is getting her niece safe. “Hey! Lei-Lei!” Omega screams over the voices. She can see her nieces head snap up and a pure happiness spread across her face. Leia starts sprinting past the men who are shouting and soon she is latching onto Omega’s neck. Omega doesn’t take her eyes off the threat as she yells to her co-pilot to take off quickly. Only once they are safely in hyperspace does she wrap her arms around her and thanks the Force that Leia is safe.
Her niece is still as snarky as ever and Omega has never been more grateful.
Explaining Leia’s presence is difficult before she announces loudly, “Obi-Wan Kenobi trained me in the Force.” Which is something Omega most certainly did not know. She demands more details later. Senator Bail Organa is her biggest supporter in the battle of letting Leia stay on the Rebel base. When Omega looks to thank him, his eyes are wistful.
The clones at base are absolutely joyful at her mere existence. Once it was found out that she was the daughter of a clone, she became a celebrity. One of Omega’s favourite brothers, even though you aren’t supposed to have favourites, asks her who her father is. Leia’s face lights up as she proudly exclaims, “My buir’s name is Cody!” Rex freezes before a soft smile appears and Leia grins when Rex reveals that they were close. She demands every detail and Rex indulges her.
Obi-Wan Kenobi somehow makes his way onto the Rebel base alive. He simply sighs when asked and says, “I trained him.” The him in question being Darth Vader. The sentence is typically sadder than he means it.
This is the beginning of the end for Leia. The events that have been set in motion cannot be stopped now. The prayers of many will not help you clone daughter; you are now on your own forevermore.
(Historians will look at this 13-year-old girl and they will name her 3 things: the herald of death, chief mourner, and queen.
If they had the right of it, they would add another epithet to that list. They would name her child.)
Leia knows she is being watched. Alderaan’s senator is not as sneaky as he would like to think. She stomachs about 24 hours of this before marching up to him and demanding to know his problem. Bail Organa simply smiles, it’s a sad thing, and informs her, “I knew your mother. I was wondering if you’d like to know her as well.” Leia freezes at that. The first thing she feels is betrayal for her father, and the next is curiosity. She agrees.
Leia immediately runs to Omega after and asks her if Cody would feel betrayed. Omega hugs her and says no, and Leia cannot sense any lie.
Leia learns about Padmé Amidala nee Naberrie, she learns that Padmé Amidala was a queen and senator, she learns that she married a Jedi though Bail would not give her a name and Leia does not care for one. She has a father already and she doesn’t care for biology. Padmé Amidala was from Naboo, she had a sister, 2 nieces, and 2 parents. Overall, she seemed to be a lovely woman. Leia feels a tightness in her throat and smiles through it.
She resumes her training with Obi-Wan. He tells her to feel the Force in a rock she saw him pick up off the ground 10 minutes ago and she does her best to not glare. When she loses her temper and bares her teeth, he doesn’t even flinch and only offers, “You are so much like your father.” She knows who he really means but she takes it as she’s like her buir. If Kenobi doesn’t cut this shit out soon, she is going to find this Jedi and throw him into the sun or something. Leia has one father and that is her buir, fuck you very much.
Leia goes to sleep a day before her 14th birthday and wakes up back on Tatooine. Only, its not at Obi-Wans house. She wakes up to a farm of some sorts and a boy. The boy runs up to her. “Why are you in my dream?” he asks with only curiosity. Leia responds with malice in her voice, “Why are you in my dream?” the boy looks perplexed. “My names Luke!” he says before sticking out his hand. Despite contrary opinion, Leia was raised with manners. She takes his hand and is about to introduce herself when the dream shifts. Suddenly they are on a lava planet and Darth Vader is there. Leia straightens up to her full height, which doesn’t even reach Darth Vader’s shoulder. Luke beside her shrinks. She moves to stand in front of him, her buir’s lesson echoing in her mind.
(“We protect those who cannot protect themselves.” He told her once. She’d hit the neighbouring houses teenage boy because he insulted Omega behind her back. “However, ad’ika, Megs’ can protect herself.” Leia had harrumphed at that and replied, “But I can still protect her!” her buir, sensing that he was not going to win this fight, acquiesced.)
Clearly the boy beside her couldn’t protect himself, so that was Leia’s job.
Darth Vader turned to look at them. “Leia.” He pronounced her name right. Many people called her ‘Lai-ah’, instead of ‘lay-yah’. Darth Vader didn’t though. He said her name almost in reverence. She bared her teeth at him. The bitch chuckled. Leia bristled. “I will not harm you.” He told her. Leia scoffed, “yeah right!” this time it was Darth Vader who bristled.
“Kenobi has been teaching you.” He said as if it was some great offence. “Yeah, so what?” Leia replied, still defensive. Suddenly, a new voice entered he mix. “Wait, Kenobi, as in Ben Kenobi? That Kenobi?” Leia silently prayed to the Force for strength. “Yes.” Was all Darth Vader answered. “And who are you?” Luke brightened at that. “I’m Luke Skywalker!” he exclaimed with pride. “And I’m sorry to be rude, but what are you both doing in my dream?” Leia scoffed again, “I am telling you; this is my dream idiot!”
The air changed again. It was reminiscent of when Leia proclaimed her mother to be Padmé Amidala. Only, there was a distinct lack of reality.
The dream ended abruptly.
Leia woke up on her 14th birthday and immediately went to see Obi-Wan. She informed him of her dream, and he went deathly pale before running off. He returned the next day with Luke Skywalker and suddenly Leia had a brother.
She brought Omega to see Luke and decide if he could stay. If Omega said that Luke had bad vibes, she’d be really sad, but Omega always had the best intuition.
Omega said that she’d be surprised if he could harm a fly. Which was her saying Luke was safe.
Luke wouldn’t stop rattling on about his father, not theirs because Leia already had one of those, and it wasn’t long before she heard the name ‘Anakin’. Her head shot up and soon she was storming through the base and demanding Obi-Wan to face her. The man in question reluctantly appeared before her, a look of apprehension of his face. Leia started screaming in Mando’a about how could he hide this from her? “Darth fucking Vader? Really? Did you think I didn’t need the information?” her eyes started to well up of their own accord. “Did you not trust me?” she asked finally.
(Obi-Wan internally was panicking. He could deal with screaming, but crying? That was something he could not do. Especially when the tears were coming from Anakin’s daughter.)
It took 4 hours of discussion for Leia to see reason. No one knew until after they had split the twins. They had no way of contact. Luke took the realisation harder. His idol was a child murderer.
At the end of the day, Leia was exhausted, and she wanted to cry. She was too old to cry now though. So instead she went to Omega’s quarters and collapsed on her bed.
She woke up to Omega’s steady breathing and herself curled up like a cat.
Omega’s 26th birthday came with a lot of fanfare. Apparently, she’d made a lot of friends at the base. At the party, where Leia and Luke were glued to her side, she was approached by a young man who seemed wary of the two children. Omega screamed and dragged him into a hug before introducing them. “Cass, this is my niece and newly found nephew, Leia and Luke!” recognition dawned in his eyes. “I’m Cassian.” The accent sparked a reaction in Leia. “Tu hablas pabüian?” Cassian shook his head, “Kenari.” Leia nodded. She was about to add something else when a blur of green slams into both Omega and Cassian, engulfing them into a hug. Omega laughs, “Hi, Hera.” The twi’lek, Hera, grins. Cassian sighs and almost as if admitting surrender, greets her as well. “Hey, Hera.” the other woman’s eyes narrow. “Well, hello Cassian. What a surprise to see you here.” Omega rolls her eyes and says, “You can be passive aggressive later, it’s my birthday.” She pauses, “Hera, have you met my niece and nephew?” the grin. She receives from the other woman is blinding.
Leia and Luke are eventually sent off to socialise when Omega catches up with her friends. Leia spots 2 children who look about their age if not a little older. “Hi, I’m Leia.” The older girl with brightly coloured hair answers with a nod, “Sabine.”
Luke seems to have more luck with the younger boy. The two of them talking animatedly. Leia points to her brother and says, “His name’s Luke.” Sabine nods at points to the younger boy, “Ezra.” Sabine pauses before asking, “Want to do something fun?” Leia grins.
The fun in question turns out to involve spray paint, a lot of spray paint. Sabine is drawing a brightly coloured mirage on a wall of the base and there are flecks of paint on her face and Leia’s heart is beating traitorously in her chest. When Sabine hands her the can Leia is helpless to do anything but take it. Leia thinks she would do anything if the girl kept smiling at her.
Eventually the party ends, and Sabine is collected by Hera and someone whose gaze goes distant when it lands on Leia. Hera just sighs when she sees the paint on Sabine.
“So. Sabine.” Luke starts with an unsaid taunt on his face. Leia’s eyes narrow, “So. Ezra.” She counters. They stare at each other before nodding simultaneously. They do not speak of the party again after that.
“So. Sabine.” Omega says with an evil grin. Leia just groans and hides her face in her hands.
Obi-Wan begins to teach Luke as well. Leia is already advancing quickly in the Force and has had previous hand-to-hand training.
Leia teaches Luke minor combat, but primarily it is Omega who teaches him to fight. Luke hates it. He doesn’t want to hurt people and doesn’t want the skills to do so. Leia convinces/forces him to learn anyways. She’d rather have a sulky brother than a dead one.
Leia bugs Omega for Hera’s comm, who she then asks for Ezra’s comm. Hera gives her 2 comms and she already knows who the second one belongs to.
“Pfft. Leia, I so didn’t even want this.” Luke tells her while looking at the number like it holds all the secrets of the galaxy.
Leia doesn’t call Sabine because she found out that the other girl is 16 and thus too old for Leia. She plays sad music for days and tells everyone she speaks to that love is dead.
Leia’s melancholy is cut short by Cassian offering to teach her to forge identity documents. “It’s an entry level requirement for undercover work.” He had told her. Leia was immediately entranced.
(Neither of them noticed Draven watching them. Leia, too absorbed in the teachings, and Cassian finding himself begrudgingly liking the younger girl’s company.)
Leia was officially inducted into the Rebellion the following week.
Luke followed soon after.
Her first mission was to retrieve data from an Imperial stronghold that Cassian was currently undercover at. It went smoothly up until Cassian appeared out of nowhere and physically hauled her up and started running for their ship. She could hear blasters being fired behind them and Cassian’s grunt of pain before something hit her stomach and she was blacking out.
She woke up to Cassian applying pressure on the wound. She reached into her pocket and handed him the data she stole. Leia promptly blacked out again.
This time she woke up in a med bay with Omega hovering anxiously and Luke sleeping on the side of her bed. When she opened her eyes, Luke shot up and asked her a million questions before Omega chimed in and asked, “How’re you feeling ad’ika?” Leia wanted to cry from the term of endearment alone. “Like I want my buir.” She answered honestly. Omega’s face crumpled in sympathy before she climbed into Leia’s bed and moved herself till Leia was laying on her shoulder. “I know.”
(Somewhere in the galaxy, Cody feels a distinct sense of grief hit him; that’s not all that uncommon these days. The grief doesn’t feel like his own, however. Cody prays to anything and everything that the child he raised is safe. He has stomached a lot of grief in his life, losing Leia, however, is not something he’d ever recover from.)
Cassian visits her soon after. “Glad you’re well, kid.” Leia musters up a grin, “samesies.” It has the desired effect and the man smiles.
Leia is more practical after that; she never wants to feel as helpless as she did in that moment, waiting for someone else to save her. She decides that she is never going to be anyone’s damsel in distress again. Leia was raised as a protector, not the protected.
On nights when nostalgia hits her in full force, Leia imagines going home. She thinks about her buir running up to the ship and holding her while saying that she’s safe and that he forgives her. She dreams the same thing. However, Leia lives in reality, and this particular reality says that she can’t even talk to her family before the Empire is defeated.
Leia keeps on meeting with Bail Organa. Soon enough, he becomes her main point of contact in the Rebellion, something Draven threw a fit about. Her missions nowadays mainly include data retrieval and minor undercover work.
Leia is set to deliver the new Imperial stronghold location to Alderaan. It’ll be her first time there and she’s nervous. Leia’s never gotten used to the new planets.
Queen Breha Organa greets her when she arrives. The woman is warm and motherly, and Leia loves her and hates herself for it. She has a father, and she is betraying him.
Queen Breha sits with her for tea and tells her about Padmé Amidala. “Your mother’s maiden name was ‘Naberrie’. She had a sister called Sola and 2 nieces, Pooja and Ryoo.” Leia digests that for a minute. “I knew she had family, but I didn’t know their names. Do they know about me?” Queen Breha’s face twists up. “No, young one, they don’t.” Leia nods.
When Leia is about to board her ship, Queen Breha stops her, “You are always welcome here. no matter what, you will have a place on Alderaan.” She pauses before deciding to continue, “I always wanted a daughter.” The emotions packed into that statement are too much for Leia to handle and Leia has the feeling the queen doesn’t want a reply, more talking to herself. In lieu of a response, she wraps her arms around the queen and there is no hesitation when the queen hugs her back.
Omega hates that Leia is being given more and more dangerous missions. She constantly wants to hover, but she refrains. Omega can remember what it’s like to be a 14-year-old girl with an overprotective family. The thought makes her heart hurt. Their family isn’t here to tell Leia to be safe, that’s Omega’s job now. Their family isn’t here to make sure that Leia is eating or feeling okay, that’s Omega’s job now.
Distantly, in the back of her head, Omega realises that she is doing the same thing as Hera. She is 26 years old and responsible for 2 14-year-olds. Omega never really wanted children, but she supposes that sometimes life isn’t fair. Cody isn’t here to look after Leia, so Omega will. Luke’s aunt and uncle aren’t here for him, so Omega will be.
(Years later, Luke Skywalker will be in the same position as Omega, and he will wonder if she felt the crushing weight of responsibility and lack of freedom. He will wonder and decide that yes, she did. She was just better at hiding it. Luke will feel her absence like a gaping wound.
But again, this is not the future yet.)
Leia keeps visiting Alderaan. The queen and king have no children, and Leia can recognise when she is being used as a substitute. She doesn’t mind, not really.
When Leia is not on a mission or at base, she is at Alderaan. If, on the rare occasion, she is not on Alderaan it is not uncommon to find the king or queen lurking closely behind her.
On Leia’s 15th birthday Queen Breha dies and Alderaan is left without an heir. Desperate and grieving, Bail Organa begs Leia to take up the mantle. She obliges out of duty.
Leia’s life will never be the same. This is the final notch in stone, sealing her future.
Leia, descended from queens and child-killers, you do not know what awaits you.