Yay! It's the first chapter of Ascension in Darkness! I don'tvhave much to say about the chapter except that upon doing a little research I found out that Vader didn't get the Executor until a year after the Battle of Yavin. I was like, for real! I would have never know what with so many stories on this site having his get it as early as a few years after the creation of the empire. Anywho, for the sake of the story. That ship, but under a different name already exists, only it just recently came into Pesinoé's possession. Read, enjoy, and review.

Chapter One

A togruta female walked onto the rebel ship in frustration. Honestly, she thought. Would it kill the emperor to send competent people to work on these ships, especially ones that had classified imperial intelligence on them, particularly the plans to the death star? She knew the rebels would try something so bold, but Palpatine guaranteed her that the plans were well protected.

"Arrogant old fool. He should have let one of my guards do it. Never send male imperial officers in to do a female's job," she muttered as she stormed into the cockpit.

The two pilots turned around to shoot her until they saw her. All they could do was stare.

"I know," she said. "I tend to have that kind of effect on people."

She turned around and waved her hand dismissively to her personal lady warriors. She had complained angrily to her master one day that clone troopers were too incompetent to be her guards and fighters, that she needed skilled warriors, particularly women. The empire was too male dominated. So he let her hand pick a team of nine fighters, trained in modern arts of combat and ones so ancient she was sure if Yoda was alive, he had never heard of them. The stipulation was that they couldn't be force sensitive. She never knew how they got the name 'The Ladies in Waiting', someone on the holovision or something. It certainly wasn't something Pesinoé picked. However it happened though, the name stuck.

"Kill them," she said as she strode to the back of the ship with new purpose.

She intercepted two more of her ladies flanked by three storm troopers with a captive. She frowned even deeper.

"Darth Pesinoé," the girl said. "Only you could be so bold. The senate will not stand for this, when they hear you've interrupted a diplomatic mission-."

Pesinoé cut her off. "Cut the politician's act Princess Leia. We both know this is far from a mercy mission this time. Now make my day a little easier and tell me where you hid the plans for the death star?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Leia persisted. "This is a diplomatic mission to Alderaan."

"Princess, I'm in no mood for your stubborn act," Pesinoé said and Leia almost felt soothed by the voice that seemed to be naturally sultry and suggestive. "You're part of the rebel alliance and a traitor."

"You're one to talk about traitors," Leia shot back.

Pesinoé hissed at her. "Don't speak about things you know nothing about Senator. Surely your traitor of a father taught you that. Take her to my ship," she told the two Ladies in Waiting.

Leia scowled as they took her. Everyone knew that Darth Pesinoé was a former jedi, and that she had become a sith when she was only a teenager on the cusp of adulthood. She had only seen her from far off or with her hood up and through old holos of the sith lady when she was teenager. But, though she was pretty when she was younger, she had always wondered why people said her beauty rivaled that of a Twi'lek's.

Today she saw why. She had gotten taller since then, but Leia was sure her full grown montrals added to whatever height she had gained so maybe it was just the appearance. All three of her lekku reached a little past her slender naked waist and touched her hips. Her face markings almost looked like they were specifically drawn in their place to enhance her already beautiful face, not to mention she didn't look as lanky as she had when she was younger. She had filled out.

Leia now understood why the galaxy called Pesinoé the sexiest and most dangerous woman in the galaxy. Everything about her screamed it, right down to her eyes. If only she had a personality to match. She was known to put on the façade of a somewhat cruel kindness, but she used her beauty to manipulate people into getting what she wanted. Leia made no mistake though. The woman was anything but a whore. It was the way she talked, what she said and how she said it. Her beauty just helped matters. She'd make a good politician.

As her Ladies in Waiting took the princess away, Pesinoé allowed herself to lose some of her well practiced control. Pesinoé was also known for not losing control, in addition to her beauty. It was why she had done so well in helping the emperor get control of the star systems. The emperor had admitted to her that he first sought for her former master to be his apprentice, but he didn't have as much control as she had gained. Pesinoé had forced herself to learn it though. When she looked back, losing control was what has cost her Anakin and made him reject her.

She shook her head of those thoughts as she regained her composure. Just because she was always in control didn't mean she didn't used her anger, hate, and other emotions to fuel her power any less than most sith. She was just as cruel and emotionally driven, just a little more subtle.

However, it had taken all her control not to strike the Alderaanian Princess down where she stood, consequences and losing a valuable informant be damned! The girl reminded her so much of Senator Amidala it was uncanny. The girl was practically the spitting image of the former senator. It brought back the emotions of the weak girl she had once been.

"Milady," one her ladies said. "Are you alright?"

"I am fine," she told the young robed woman. "We must not delay. The emperor will want us to find out the location of the rebel base as soon as possible."

"We checked the escape pod that the princess had launched. There were no signs of life in it."

Pesinoé huffed. What did the princess think? That she was dumb?

"I wouldn't put it past the princess to have hidden the plans in it. When the princess has been secured the three of you will go down to the surface of the nearest planet and search for the pod. When you are done, report back to me. I'll be on the death star," she said whisking away.

"Yes milady," the three woman said and followed her to her brand new star destroyer (a gift from the Emperor), the Enchantress, to get a smaller vessel to take to the surface of the planet they believed the princess had sent the droids.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"So?" an eighteen year old asked the repair man.

"So what?" the older man with long wavy blonde curls in a ponytail it his mid-back and beard asked.

"Can you fix it?"

"Don't insult me Luke," he said. "Of course I can fix it. The question is can I get my hands on the part."

Luke muttered a curse in huttese. "Oh man. I hate this old speeder and Uncle Owen won't let me race the newer one."

"I don't blame him," the man said in a dry tone. "A speeder is a hard and expensive thing to come by on Tatooine."

"I can't stand this backwater planet," Luke growled.

"You and me both."

"Then why are you here Alex. Why don't you go live on Alderaan with your wife? I'm sure she'd be thrilled," said Luke.

A woman came from the back with long blonde curls. She smiled at Luke.

"Circumstances dear," she said. "You wouldn't understand, so there's nothing to talk about."

"I didn't know you were in town Mrs. Starkiller," Luke said surprised.

The couple met eyes as the woman scowled, and the man smirked. They both hated that last name with a passion, not that there was anything wrong with it. It just reminded them that they had to hide who they were, Padmé and Anakin Skywalker. They both tried not to dwell on it though. They had both decided it was necessary to protect their children from Darth Pesinoé. No doubt she'd kill them or worse if she ever knew they were alive.

"Oh yes. The princess had some duties to attend to off planet, so I took the opportunity to come see my husband," she said smiling at Anakin.

Luke would never understand why Alex couldn't just move to Alderaan. He was sure Padmé made enough money working in the palace to support both of them and a good mechanic was a hard thing to come by, one like Alex anyway. He bet he could get a job fixing ships in the palace.

"So will you be able to get the part. How much will it cost?" Luke asked.

"Don't worry about cost," Anakin replied.

"You always say that. What have I done that you won't ever charge me for repairs when I come in here?" Luke asked the man.

Anakin honestly replied, "I've known you since you were a little baby. You're practically family."

Luke sighed. "Fine, pass up my good money if you want. You don't seem to need it anyway."

Anakin grinned, and Luke laughed.

"Okay. I'll be back for it in a week. Oh yeah," Luke said handing him a wrapped up plate. "Aunt Beru sent your favorite."

"Tell her thanks," Anakin said taking the bantha steak.

When he left Padmé's smile dropped from her face as she came to stand next to him.

"He's grown up so much and to think he did it without is… directly anyway," she said.

Anakin sighed as he put his tool down and sat on the counter. "How's Leia?"

"Wanting to see her favorite and only 'uncle'," Padmé teased. "She was so upset when I said I'd be going to see you. She wants me to bring you to the palace again."

"Did I really impress her that much? I only went once," Anakin replied. It was too dangerous for him to venture off the dessert planet. Even with a beard, his face was too recognizable.

"Even if she doesn't know consciously, subconsciously she knows exactly who you are," Padmé said. "She'll figure it out."

"So, what suicide mission did the rebellion send her on this time?" Anakin grumbled.

"Plans, for the death star."

Anakin rolled his eyes. "They really think it's going to be such a devastating blow to the emperor. Knowing him, he's got a second one waiting somewhere."

"It is devastating when you have the right people in place, even if the empire doesn't know it," Padmé replied smiling.

"All thanks to you," Anakin said.

Padmé didn't say anything, but Anakin was right. While the rebellion was a good thing, they had initially been going about fighting the wrong way. Sure they could plan to destroy the death star and kill the emperor and his second in command, but then what? It would actually be senseless to try to build a new republic. Who would get all those star systems under control if that were the case and take out all the governors? If they didn't do some careful planning, they would be looking at a new republic that would crumble before it even got started because someone else would rebel and take over. They'd be stuck in an endless cycle of rebellion, war and regime change for who knew how long. People, thousands of people had to be put in place so that as soon as the emperor was defeated, governors, and loyal imperialist could be arrested and tried immediately. Otherwise, the New Republic would be no better than the Empire they were in now.

She had voiced this concern to Bail one day and to his credit he talked to Mon Mothma about it right away.

"Are you done working today?" Padmé asked.

Anakin nodded and turned the closed sign around. "Where to milady?" he asked.

"Is there anywhere on this planet that isn't hot?" Padmé asked dryly as he took her arm in his and led her out.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Pesinoé walked down the ramp of one of her smaller ships onto the death star, a real monstrosity in her opinion and not really because of its power or size did she think that of it either. It was because it made imperial officers arrogant, foolish, and high on power. Governor Tarkin was proof of that. It only served to make her hate him more than she already did. He was a sexist and believed woman were only good for one thing… well two really. If it weren't for the emperor she would have killed the man the first time that comment came out his mouth…

"Darth Pesinoé," Tarkin said to her. "Always a pleasure."

The sith lady rolled her eyes. "I'm sure," she droned. "I'm sorry I can't say the feeling's mutual."

Pesinoé gestured to her Ladies in Waiting. "We have a prisoner on board. My ladies will escort her to a detention cell. We believe she may have some information about the rebel base and the whereabouts for the plans of the death star."

"We'll schedule her for immediate interrogation," Tarkin said to her. "And of the plans for the death star? Do you perhaps have an idea where they were taken?"

Pesinoé smiled and circled around the man. "You seem very concerned about those plans. Scared?"

"Of course not. This battle station is indestructible," Tarkin assured.

Pesinoé frowned and stopped in front of him. "Then why," she asked softly, "were me and my women called out here for an emergency situation. Why were the plans so top secret? This blasted thing must have some kind of weakness you don't want the rebels to discover… Hm?"

"Of course not milady," Tarkin said trying to keep his nerves at bay. "We just don't want to waste our precious battle station on what would be a pointless attempt by the rebels. It would be a waste of time and effort."

Pesinoé stared at him and then smiled again. She walked past the governor brushing his shoulders slightly.

"So you say," she replied as she walked off. "My ladies will interrogate the princess. I won't have your men, who probably haven't seen a woman in months, trying to have their way with her in the process. We want to make her suffer enough to persuade her into giving us information, not make the girl give up and let the interrogation droid kill her."

"Yes milady," Tarkin said through gritted teeth. He hated when Pesinoé made her visits on board. The woman took control of everything and dare he contradict her… Everyone knew what happened the last time someone had done that.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

So how do you like? I find the way Pesinoé and Tarkin interact in this story to be highly entertaining. It made for a few of the major changes that happened in the story. Oh and I always did think that rebellion wasn't as focused as it should have been and could have been if Padme were involved. They defeated the emperor and their new republic lasted all of twenty years? Really. Hope you enjoyed. Review Please.