Paternity

Princess Leia Amidala Organa raised her chin and looked straight into the eyes of the dark mask in front of her. "Lord Vader, only you could be so bold. The Imperial Senate will not stand for this."

Darth Vader stared at the princess in front of him. He blinked away a memory of a time that had never existed. Anakin Skywalker didn't exist, he had died a long time ago. He had died a poetic death with his wife. "You weren't on any mercy mission this time, Senator."

"I was on a diplomatic mission for Alderaan," Leia repeated staring up at him in defiance. "When the Imperial Senate here's of this..." she let her voice trail off leaving him to draw his own conclusion.

"Soon, milady, the Imperial Senate will be disbanded."

"The Emperor."

"Who do you think ordered that? Me? I care little for politics. If you are so displeased then take that up with him, if you can."

"But the government?"

"Will be run be the Moff's. They will keep their systems in line."

"You mean those appointed by the Emperor."

"You are correct, your highness." Darth Vader motioned for two stormtroopers to have her follow him. He locked the door behind them and they sat facing each other. Finally she spoke.

"All those years ago, even after all they said about you. I thought you were different from the Emperor," she stated her voice quivering at the end slightly.

"I am Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith," he got up and turned from her staring into a void that she couldn't see. "It is my destiny to uphold the Emperor's rule."

"How can that be anyone's destiny. Well, I tell you what, my destiny lies upon a different path."

"Tell me about the Rebel Alliance."

"I am a member of the Imperial Senate. I am a member of the house of Alderaan."

"You are part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor. Perhaps, other methods of questioning are in order." Darth Vader used the Force to bring the mind probe forward. "Do you know what this is?" She shook her head and he continued. "This is a mind probe, I developed it myself."

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" she quipped.

"It harness the Force into an instrument of torture, of pain. Now you can either tell me or be subjected to this," she stared with wide eyes at the creepy machine in front of her. The needle poked out spinning and without thinking she grabbed for the japor snippet and began twisting it. Suddenly, it cut off dropped to the floor and she was jerked up off of her feet, the japor snippet in his hand. "Where did you get this?"

"Put me down, and I'll consider telling you," she snapped. She was dropped to her feet so suddenly that she landed on her rump. "Oof."

Darth Vader stared at her and knelt next to her offering her his hand. She shook her head. "No. I can get up myself."

"It's a kind gesture. I suggest you take it. I hardly ever make them anymore."

When put that way, the princess grabbed his hand and was hauled to her feet. He opened the door and made a motion two some of the stormtroopers and five of them came in with chairs before leaving. "What is this some new method of torture?"

"Sit down," he barked at her. She sat. Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, sat down in front of the princess. "Now where did you get that?"

"The Japor Snippet?" she asked.

"Yes. To my understanding you aren't from Tattooine."

"No, I'm not," she tossed her head raising it up so that she felt she were meeting his eyes. "Not that it's any of your business but my mother gave it to me." She was sure in that moment his vocabulator spoke softer than it had ever spoken. She preened her ears and could just make out his words.

"Padme," then his voice picked up. "Do you know the story behind this?" she shook her head. "May I hold it?" she nodded and took it off handing it to him. "See these symbols?" he asked her. She peered across the table at him. "This one means good luck, this one is for good health, and this one is for prosperity. This one here is for general protection."

"How do you know that?" she asked.

"Well, because I made it," he turned it over and traced the A.S. On the back of it. She stared too.

"What does A.S. Stand for?" she asked.

"It's a life that doesn't exist anymore." She stared at him intently, taking in the deep mechanical breathing.

"You weren't always like that?" she knew that Imperials had died for saying less that that but at that didn't matter at the moment. Her handed it back to her and went to stare out into space.

"It was a different life, Princess Leia. It doesn't matter anymore. What does matter is that your father had made an enemy of Grand Moff Tarkin. He had convinced the Emperor to see through your execution. You are part of the Rebellion."

"I told you, I am a member of the Imperial Senate," she repeated.

"That gives my master grounds to have you executed. To stop the Rebel Alliance." She laughed and he froze. It was her laugh.

"Do you really believe that?"

"No, I don't. I've seen enough what things of that nature can generate," he spoke softly looking at her. She was Padme's daughter. She was his daughter. He would need proof and for some reason he didn't want to alarm her. "I fought in the Clone Wars."

"With General Kenobi?" she asked. He turned back toward her, his cape flying angrily behind her.

"What do you know of Obi-Wan?"

"Just what my father had told me."

"He is a traitor."

"So am I," she spoke down to him.

"You are safe. I will not allow you to be executed."

"Why not?" she asked. He motioned again for a stormtrooper to come in and they took a sample from her. "What's that for?" she asked and he thought back to that nine year old inquisitive boy he had once been.

"To check your force potential. You and I both know you have it. You know by all means you should have been dead or turned over to the Emperor the moment I discovered it."

"Why didn't you?" Darth Vader stared at her. He didn't know. He couldn't have answered that if the Emperor was shocking him to death for the answer. Ever since there meeting those years ago he had thought of her. The results came back and he exited the room with a swoosh not answering her. The results stared at him. She was his daughter. Princess Leia of Alderaan was the daughter of Queen turned Senator Amidala and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. He could feel his face under his mask tug in an upward motion. It actually was quite painful. What was his face doing? He sued the Force to feel the contours of his face, was he actually smiling? He remembered when Padme had told him she was pregnant. He had known it would be a girl. There was no way he could let anything happen to her. He would kill Moff Tarkin first. Normally, he would kill the stormtroopers but he couldn't seem to summon the right emotions to do that. He went back to see the Princess. "Princess Leia, you can not return to Alderaan. Alderaan will be destroyed in a matter of hours."

"No, you cannot. Alderaan is a peaceful planet."

"Do you think this is my order? I despise those who think this technological terror has more power than the Force."

"Then why go along with it?"

"What good can I do?"

"Alot, you are second in command are you not. You are the mighty Darth Vader. You may not realize just what you can do."

"Regardless, what purpose would my death serve? The point is, you cannot stay here either."

"Where shall I go?"

"You won't be safe upon, Naboo though that is my first inclination. Once it is discovered by the Emperor that I am behind it. I want you to go to Tattooine."

"Tattooine?"

"Yes, there's a couple there named Lars. In Mos Eisley. As soon as you get there arrange transportation to Mos Eisley. Owen Lars. Tell him Skywalker sent you."

"Who is Skywalker?"

"Someone who has been dead a long time," he stated and left after provided her with the access codes to a small starship.