Reviews

The Senate is turning into a political quagmire.

She folded her legs beneath her on the sofa and began unbraiding her hair, a lengthy process she had always found calming.

And it’s our own fault. After Palpatine, nobody wanted to hand over that much power again, so we don’t have an executive, only a chancellor with no real authority. Mon Mothma got things done through sheer charisma, but almost every chancellor since her has been…

Han finished the sentence for her: Useless.

Are you saying that Alderaan was destroyed in vain? For nothing?

Ciena held up her hands. Nash, please, I don’t mean to—

Listen to me, he said. Alderaan had to die for the Empire’s true power to be acknowledged. My homeworld’s end was also the end of the Imperial Senate, the end of the countless petty power struggles that had plagued Palpatine’s early reign. Only then was the Empire’s true strength revealed.

His gaze had become glazed, almost unfocused, like that of someone suffering from a fever.

Come to think of it, the Senate sessions had been quieting for a while. The boisterous beginnings she remembered as a tiny child had become more subdued later on, the stillness falling so gradually that Leia had missed it until now. Had the senators forgotten that they still held some authority? That they were one of the few forces standing between Palpatine and absolute power? They couldn’t afford to become passive in the face of resistance; that was when they needed to bear down and work harder….

It matters, Qui-Gon said quietly. It matters which side we choose. Even if there will never be more light than darkness. Even if there can be no more joy in the galaxy than there is pain. For every action we undertake, for every word we speak, for every life we touch—it matters. I don’t turn toward the light because it means someday I’ll ‘win’ some sort of cosmic game. I turn toward it because it is the light.

Chancellor Palpatine’s motion to increase Republic work against slavery had failed to make it to the floor for months after he had promised her he was working on it. When it was finally presented, it was so toothless that Padmé could tell it wouldn’t get anything done. And then it had not received enough votes anyway and disappeared back into the committee. Padmé kept abreast of developments but stayed off the committee herself at Palpatine’s request.

Naboo can’t be seen as too involved, my dear, he’d reiterated when she had asked him again about joining the committee after the failed vote. It is the price we pay for having chancellor and senator both. I am doing my best to represent your voice because I know how much this means to you, but if it becomes public knowledge that we are working together on such a potentially radical topic, I fear there will only be more obstacles thrust into our path.

And you? Poe asked, turning lastly to Finn, who had been idling in the background next to Rey.

Finn stepped forward immediately. Used to be a stormtrooper, but now I’m rebel scum, he said, pressing a fist over his heart. Until the end.

My point, Poe said, turning back to Agoyo, is that many of us have dubious beginnings, but it is how we end that counts.

My father was Darth Vader, Leia said, pitching her voice so that it rang out clearly through the room. Is there anyone who wants to question my loyalty to the Resistance?

Look, I said. Mordecai said you’re a lot more powerful than I am. Great. That means you’ll probably be okay. More okay than me. I leaned in. But I would rather just get this over with and get squished by a goblin bulldozer than spend another second dealing with this bullshit. Cats are assholes. I get it. But do you know why people like cats, despite their asshole-ness? It’s because they don’t fucking talk. If they did, and they were all like you, they’d all be extinct because we’d have killed you all by now. I pulled up my menu and tried to figure out how to remove myself from the party.

Wait, Carl, wait. Don’t. I’m sorry. Wait.

What? I said.

The cat sat on the floor. She seemed to deflate. I’m sorry. You’re right. I… It’s just… Have you ever woken up from a long dream, one where you’re one thing, and now that you’re awake, it takes you a moment to realize that’s not who you really are?

Opening his status screen, he was met with a slew of messages, but the first one alone gave him great pause.

*Blessing received*: [True Blessing of the Malefic Viper (Blessing - True)] – An alchemist recognized by the Malefic Viper himself. Few throughout the ages have found themselves blessed by the Primordial, despite their desire to be so. Through your direct karmic connection, the Wisdom and Willpower of the Malefic Viper empower you. +10% Willpower, +10% Wisdom. Grants access to many new paths. Only one blessing can be held at a time.

Jake was confused as he read it, before finally getting a bit annoyed. Could have at least asked first, he muttered to himself.

Renounce the Malefic Viper as Patron? All faith-based skills, titles, and Blessing will be lost.

What? No, no, no, it’s fine. Jeez, Jake quickly said as the prompt disappeared.

I made a big entrance when I arrived in my flying DeLorean, which I’d obtained by completing a Back to the Future quest on the planet Zemeckis. The DeLorean came outfitted with a (nonfunctioning) flux capacitor, but I’d made several additions to its equipment and appearance. First, I’d installed an artificially intelligent onboard computer named KITT (purchased in an online auction) into the dashboard, along with a matching red Knight Rider scanner just above the DeLorean’s grill. Then I’d outfitted the car with an oscillation overthruster, a device that allowed it to travel through solid matter. Finally, to complete my ’80s super-vehicle theme, I’d slapped a Ghostbusters logo on each of the DeLorean’s gull-wing doors, then added personalized plates that read ECTO-88.

I’d had it only a few weeks now, but my time-traveling, Ghost Busting, Knight Riding, matter-penetrating DeLorean had already become my avatar’s trademark.