A/N- Bad idea for me start another fic right now, but my muse is in high gear right now and this prologue just had to be posted. Let me know what you think. If you are wondering about the plot, read my profile and it'll give you a taste.
FYI- Vader is SANS SUIT in this fic.
Disclaimer- All characters belong to the Flannelled One aka George Lucas. I own nothing; the plot is mine though and so is Padme's other identity.
Assassin- Prologue
Pre- A New Hope Era – fifteen years after Clone Wars:
How is it, you may ask, that someone such as myself turned out like this? How did I, former Queen and Senator of Naboo turn into one of the most feared enemies of the Empire? How does someone – who once fought so hard for peace and justice – become a warrior like me…someone who once condemned war and acts of savagery become the epitome of those acts?
Granted no one knows that I am actually Padme Amidala Naberrie Skywalker. Everyone believes I died several years ago, at the end of the Clone Wars. In a way you could say I died, just like my husband. I have shed my former identity and taken one that is both feared and revered, unlike my husband – who is now the second-most feared man in the galaxy.
Some would say that the day my life would never be the same was the day my husband – my soul, my other half – turned his back on the Jedi and his former life; taking on the identity of Darth Vader. But they're wrong…my life was forever changed the day I walked into that junk shop on that Sith-forsaken spit of land known as Tatooine. How could I have known that that little boy would be my husband? How could I have known that he would be my maker of destiny?
Do I regret loving him? Absolutely not. To regret loving him would be denying him…something I could never do. Because of him I learned to love, to live life to the fullest…because of him I had two beautiful children. The day they were born was the day I died. My children. My sweet babies…Luke and Leia, whom I haven't seen since they were born. I know they are well cared for and loved.
It breaks my heart – or what's left of it – knowing that they'll never know who I am. I never got to see them take their first steps or say their first words. Nor will I ever get to kiss them or hug them when they get hurt. Do I blame my husband? Maybe a little, but mostly it's my fault my life and children's lives are in constant danger. If I had never allowed myself to throw all caution to the wind, then perhaps my husband would never have turned. Perhaps I wouldn't be in this predicament I am in now. But then again, I would never have had Luke and Leia.
How did I end up here in this Imperial Jail Cell? How is it that, Maria Antus, an unstoppable assassin is now sitting in this dark, dank cell…waiting for certain death?
Maria Antus.
My new identity. Maria was bred on Naboo by an assassin breeder no less. Soon after I gave birth, I returned to Naboo unbeknownst to my family and friends, knowing my children were safe and well. For one year I recovered from the physical and emotional trauma of Mustafar and the "death" of my husband. While there I had plenty of time to think about the remaining shambles of my life; I lived incognito. I had no purpose anymore. The Republic I fought so hard for was gone, my husband was gone, my children were gone. What more could I possibly lose?
Absolutely nothing. Having nothing to lose and nothing to gain, I contacted Bail Organa in hopes of doing something to help the Rebel Alliance. He told me that most people believed me dead; something I knew having gone to my own funeral with no body present. I took the opportunity to discard my former life and gain a new one. And so I became Maria Antus.
But how is it that I became an assassin? How did I become so feared and so admired?
I was a fool to believe that becoming an assassin would help the Alliance. I encountered a man by the name of Aeron Nadres… a notorious assassin breeder. I went to him disillusioned, foolishly believing murdering high-ranking Imperial Officers would save the Rebel Alliance and destroy the Empire so hated by the galaxy.
I knew that one day I would be caught… and when I was caught, I would be killed. After all, I am a murderer. My family would be horrified at the thought of their good, peaceful daughter and sister would turn into such a seemingly cold-hearted killer. But they don't know how hard it is. None of them do. They don't realize how much it kills me to take the life of another. This isn't who I was raised to be. Padme Amidala was never raised to harm any living thing.
Maria Antus, on the other hand, has no family, no friends, nothing to stop her from being the best she could be. I tricked myself into believing that I had abandoned my former self. It made it easier to commit these senseless acts. I was a fool. No matter how hard one tries, you can never be rid of your former self. The past always finds a way to come back and bite you hard.
Why did I think I was any different? How could I believe that what I was doing was for the good of the Republic? How did my life become such a mess?
Perhaps this path I've decided to follow can ultimately save me, save my husband, and most importantly my children. I can only pray to the Gods that when I encounter Darth Vader, he will not recognize me. Once again it is that man, who will be the maker of my destiny. If he did recognize me, would he kill me? Is my husband lying dormant in that man? Could he come back? Could I come back from the dark, abysmal life I was living?
Can we be saved?
You're still wondering how I came into this existence. Let me take you back fourteen years, the day Padme officially ceased to exist and Maria was born.
A/N- Ok, I shouldn't have started another fic already, but I had to do this. This prologue needed to be posted. Let me know what you guys think! It's different from any other fic I initially had in mind, but I thought it would be interesting to write. Please review!