Chapter 2 Musings of a Sith

Darth Vader was in a foul mood. He hated politics, he despised bureaucrats, and he loathed wasting time, which was exactly what he was doing. He was standing in a small alcove that overlooked the once great Senate hall, listening to the now impotent senators discuss something ridiculously trivial. This little errand of the emperor's was nothing more than his master reminding him of his place in the greater scheme of things, beneath him. Well this little "exercise" is beneath me.

Vader had long ago realized that his master was a cruel sadist that enjoyed torturing his servant. And that's exactly what you are, a servant. He refused to even think the word slave. Sidious knew that Vader avoided the Senate complex like the Bothan Plague but he supposed it amused his master to try his patience and his temper by ordering him to "observe the Senate, my friend, there are enemies among us." Well, duh. Anyone with half a brain could have deduced that. The great Sith Lord Darth Vader is reduced to little more than an errand boy, oh joy!

Vader failed to notice the multitude of beings practically leaping out of his way as he stormed out of the alcove, finally unable to stand anymore of the senate's blathering. Being in this place so close to the anniversary of his wife's death unsettled him, which was probably exactly why the emperor wanted him to be the one to complete this menial task. Everywhere he looked he was reminded of her, of secret meetings they had shared in the hidden alcoves scattered throughout the senate hall. Has it really been 10 years? It seemed like it was yesterday and yet a thousand lifetimes since he had seen his wife. Forget her, she betrayed you remember?

As Vader stormed back towards the hanger where he had parked his speeder he became aware of a slight disturbance in the force and it felt…familiar. Almost like he had come into contact with it before. A Jedi? Here in the Senate? Not even a Jedi would be that stupid. And just as quickly as the disturbance had manifested it abruptly ceased. Yet Vader could still feel a vague tingling in the back of his mind, like a residual hum. His pace increased as he suddenly began to feel as if he was about to miss something incredibly important.

He could not explain the sudden urge he felt but he could not have slowed his pace even if he had wanted to. For the closer he got to the hanger bay the louder the Force became in his head. He had not felt the force this clearly, this strongly since before Mustafar. The voice that he had always let guide him, the one he had originally thought came from his heart was now screaming in his ears. Hurry! Run! Find her! See her!

Her? Who am I looking for? Who would I need to see? He was now entering the hanger and he slowed his step as he saw a head of neatly plaited brown hair peeking curiously over the driver side door of his sleek black speeder. His heart began to beat faster, which was supposed to be an impossibility in this suit, as he suddenly found himself anxiously waiting for the young girl to look up and meet his eyes.

Vader knew the instant that she heard his ridiculously loud inhale-exhale, every muscle in her body immediately tightened, and suddenly Vader was ashamed of the inhuman monster he had become. As the girl slowly raised her head from her obvious awe-inspired appraisal of the vehicle and met his gaze, despite the mask that actually hid his eyes from her view, two words floated through Vader's suddenly empty, peaceful mind…

Leia. Daughter.