This just popped into my head and I couldn't not write it down. How many in-progress stories is this now? I don't even know anymore.

Chapter 1

The grand celebration of the twenty-fifth year of peace under the Empire was a glorious celebration with beings from all across the galaxy gathering on planetary capitals to join in the festivities and to watch the holo news coverage of the Imperial Ball being held on Coruscant, the center of the Imperial Government. Emperor Palpatine spared no expense for the lavish and momentous occasion. Every Senator, every Moff and Governor and everyone of any significance was in attendance, and Palpatine wanted to remind them it was by his hand that such peace and prosperity was possible. At his side throughout the night, was his son and heir. Darth Vader was far from the politician Palpatine had been in his youth. Vader was more of a man of action, a man whose mere presence commanded respect. Palpatine had raised him from the day he was born to rule the galaxy one day and while that day might be far off, Vader had already proven himself to be a capable leader, at least when it came to military affairs.

Unbeknown to most, pockets of disgruntled citizens had been popping up every now and then in attempts to cause chaos to the Empire. Not wanting word of such things to spread or make their way to the wrong people, the Emperor entrusted such problems to his son. Vader always took care of these rebels with… swift and merciless care. It pleased the Emperor and Vader seemed to enjoy it as well. Though recently, the attempts at chaos had become emboldened. It started to make him think that there was more to these attacks than normal, perhaps even supported by an important figure. He had his suspicions that if there were any figures who might be foolish enough to put their trust in an unorganized rebellion, they would be in the Senate. In an effort to ensure more power lies with the seat of the Emperor, he had taken actions to remove some of the Senate's power. He had been doing this for years but now, more and more there were whispers of dissatisfaction from Senators over these changes. It stood to reason that one of these Senators had put their faith in the rebels.

And what better way to lure them out, than the Imperial Ball? Palpatine sat on his throne overlooking the dancing and the mingling of his guests. Vader stood rigidly by his side, his arms folded behind his back as he watched with a bored expression on his face. "Tell me what is on your mind, my boy," Palpatine said, glancing up at his son.

"Nothing, father." He said.

"Don't tell me 'nothing'. I can sense your discomfort."

Vader heaved a sigh as he looked out across the ballroom. "I shouldn't be here."

"You're my heir. You are exactly where you should be."

"Where I should be is on the Executor tracking down the leader of these insurgents."

Palpatine raised a brow as he looked back at his guests, nodding towards one of the Moffs who greeted him with an exaggerated bow, "And what makes you think they aren't here now?" He asked Vader. "Remember what I taught you. Everyone who has power is afraid to lose it. And who has more to lose than the people in this room?"

"I'll need proof."

Palpatine scoffed, "All the more reason for you to be here then." His head turned towards one of the red guards standing to the side. With a wave of his hand, the guard obeyed the silent summons and approached the throne. In one hand the guard carried an electrostaff, the traditional weapon of the guards entrusted with the Emperor's life. In the other, he held a datachip which he held out for the Emperor to take. Palpatine took it without a word and passed it to Vader. "This is all the proof you need tonight." He said. "Do what must be done, my son."

Vader bowed his head as he glanced at the information on the chip. Mon Mothma. The Senator from Chandrila. She had made a foolish mistake by intentionally altering the manifests on several of the shipments leaving Chandrila. Fortunately for him, the Empire had intercepted three of them which happened to be carrying the same weapons the rebels who attempted to bomb the shipyards had been armed with. This was just enough information, enough proof taken directly from the Senator's private comlink to prove her involvement in terrorist activities. Vader's eyes glowed yellow as he gripped the datachip in his hand. His eyes searched through the large crowed to find his prey, his senses stretching out in the Force to track her down. It wasn't hard to find her. She stood with a group of fellow senators. He couldn't make out what was being said, but he didn't care. Determined to make it known that she was conspiring against the Empire, Vader gestured for a squad of white armored stormtroopers to his side. The sight of the guards as well as the glare of the heir to the Empire leading them, had an immediate effect on the party as the festivities stopped, curious to this unprecedented interruption.

Mon Mothma's eyes widened as he neared, her eyes looking for some support from her colleges but receiving none. To her credit, she held her head high as he approached and bowed low to him when he came to stand before her. "Lord Vader," She greeted, playing the loyal subject.

"Senator, you nearly had us all fooled," He said, smirking as he held up the datachip, "You who are intent to corrupt the integrity of this Empire, you who conspires against her own people—"

"I have done no such thing!"

"Silence!" Vader struck her face and watched as she crumpled to the ground, cupping her cheek where he had slapped her with the back of his hand, "You have committed treason against the Empire. You have plotted to hinder the Imperial Navy which is charged with enforcing order in the galaxy. Your selfish ambition has put thousands of lives needlessly at risk. And for that, you will be punished!"

The stormtroopers moved quickly, hoisting her to her feet as she struggled to try and free herself. Vader turned to the crowd which had slowly gathered around them, watching from a safe distance. "Let this be a lesson to everyone! Treason will not be tolerated!" His hand grabbed down at his belt where his lightsaber hung. With a snap-hiss, the crimson blade ignited, the red hue reflecting off his face as he turned back to Mon Mothma.

"Wait!"

His head turned sharply to the side where a woman pushed passed the Senator from Alderaan. Her brown hair was held up by an elegant headpiece of gold, and she wore a slimming black dress held up by a single strap over her shoulder. Without speaking even a word, her eyes pleaded for mercy yet reflected a determination few dared to show in his presence. Her head bowed as she dipped before him, "Please, Lord Vader," She said, "Is bloodshed really necessary on this day? This is supposed to be a day commemorating the Empire. Why not show mercy on this day and let her live?"

"She is a traitor," Vader argued, "Are you suggesting that treason not be punished?"

"Of course not!" She said, "I merely wish for a day celebrating peace not to end with bloodshed. If she must die, do so tomorrow. Please don't spoil this day. Instead, spend it celebrating the glory of the Empire." Murmurs of agreement could be heard in the crowd, though no others dared to speak up.

Vader looked at her, his eyes narrowed as he looked at the way she carried herself. She spoke like a Senator and yet she looked so young. His eyes glanced back at Mon Mothma, her eyes staring at the lightsaber still in his hand. "Take her to the detention block," He commanded, deactivating the lightsaber and returning it to his belt. "I want guards on her at all times. I will deal with her personally in the morning." Without a word, the stormtroopers dragged the disgraced Senator from the ballroom as the crowd dispersed and the party continued as if the whole thing never happened.

Vader met the eyes of the woman who challenged him and his lips curled into a smirk as he closed the distance between them. "That was very brave of you," He commented.

"Someone had to say something," She said with a shrug.

"I don't think I need to introduce myself—"

"Your reputation precedes you, Lord Vader."

He smiled as he held out his hand to her. "I have yet to know your name though, milady."

"I am the Senator of Naboo, Padme Amidala," She said, taking his hand.

His eyes widened as he finally realized who she was, "The Queen who put down the Trade Federation's attempt at a coup," He said.

"I see my reputation also precede me."

"I was there when you made your plea for help to the Senate. And to hear only hours after it was denied you had left the safety of the capital to fight… I was impressed."

Padme smiled at him, "Thank you, my Lord."

"How long are you on the capital for?"

She sighed, "Only a day or two," She said, "There are things I must take care of back home."

The smile on his face dropped as he folded his arms behind his back," I see… I hope it isn't too forward of me to ask you to stay." Her eyes left his as she glanced behind him and noticed the two stormtroopers coming to flank him. His request was more of an order.

Dagobah was far from an ideal place to live but after the fall of the Jedi Order, the keepers of peace in the Old Republic, Jedi Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda had little choice but to make it their home. It was the only place where the Empire could not find them, the only place where they could search through the Force to find meaning in their exile. For the past few years, the Force had whispered to them, telling them that the time was almost near. The oppression of the Dark Side would end soon. But wait… wait… the path would show itself only when it was time. wait… wait… Obi-Wan liked to consider himself patient, but waiting for over twenty years was getting too long even for him. And with Yoda seeming to be on the verge of madness, he couldn't help but wonder if he would go mad too.

"Good day, it is," The little green Jedi Master said with a chuckle "Bright, the Suns are."

Obi-Wan looked up at the canopy of dense swamp foliage and frowned, "You can't see the Sun," He said, "We haven't seen it in weeks!"

"Ah, so blind, Obi-Wan is. Seen the light, I have, but not the light on Dagobah. Light in the Force I have seen." Yoda smiled as he tapped his Gimer stick on the crooked branch he perched himself on. "Dark today, yes. But light enough it will be soon!"

Obi-Wan sighed as he sat on an overturned log, "Master, I don't understand…"

"Fly into the Suns, we must! Fly," The old Jedi hopped down from his perch and hobbled deeper into the swamp.

"Master— Yoda!" With a groan, the human Jedi rose to his feet and followed. This wasn't the first time the Master had led him on some wild hunt. At over 900 years-old, Yoda had proved to be a stubborn leader and even worse roommate. The short green Jedi simply did as he pleased, uncaring about how crazy any of it was, always seeming to have a reason for it yet no matter how good the reason, it was a rather annoying trait.

Deeper and deeper into the swamp they went until they reached the remains of the ship they had stollen to escape here in. Yoda smiled as he raised an old three-fingered hand and used the Force to carefully free the ship of the vegetation that had overwhelmed it. "Fly into the Suns," He said again, walking towards the entrance and pulling the hatch open and walking in. It was questionable if the ship would even take flight after so long, but Yoda seemed to be determined to go somewhere. Obi-Wan just hoped it wouldn't kill them.