As one of Vader's many personal ships (he didn't want the attention that would accompany his imperial Star Destroyer) approached Alderaan, he hoped Bail Organa would be in a cooperative mood, for his sake. After several months of searching Vader's limited patience was effectively spent. Trying to find a dead girl-child and her fraternal twin brother, neither of whom he had ever seen or knew the names of, was proving most difficult. He'd had several disappointments already. All of Mon Mothma's nieces and nephews proved to be biologically hers. None of the children in Gar Bel Ilbis's household were of the proper age. It grew frustrating.

However, the new lead from Alderaan had captured Vader's attention. A virus had devastated the planet, killing more than 1/3 of the child population, including a young princess. The funeral had been quick, quiet, and private; odd for a member of a royal family. True, there was no record of any other children, but it was the best lead Vader had.

Bail Organa was in a bad way. He had adored his adopted daughter and the pain of her loss was horrible. The added pressure of his failure in his mission to protect the precious child was almost too much for him. He was in no condition to face the skills of a Sith when Vader came before him. Behind his mask, Vader was smiling. The normally self-possessed diplomat's palpable fury at the mere sight of Vader was all the proof he needed to know he had finally located his offspring.

"Where is the other?" Vader demanded without preamble as soon as he was alone with the grieving father.

"Damn you, Vader!" Organa cursed. "My daughter has just died. Why do you come to torment me further?"

"She was never your daughter," Vader said coldly. "You cost me the girl, but I will have the boy. Give him to me now and I won't have you charged with the murder of an Empire official's child."

"Murder?" Organa gasped. "I, murder my own…How dare you!"

"If you had not conspired to kidnap my offspring," Vader stated, "The girl-child would not have been exposed to the virus and would still be alive. Now, I will ask you one more time: give me the boy."

"What boy?" Organa shouted. "Leia was my only child, you heartless bastard! There is no boy."

Vader clenched his fist and started to crush Organa's larynx. Organa grasped his throat and struggled to breathe as Vader forced him to his knees.

"I am losing patience with you, Senator," Vader sneered at the title. "Do you really believe that your crime does not warrant a death sentence if I choose to pursue it? And the rest of your family? They are your accomplices and co-conspirators." Organa glared up at the black giant effortlessly choking the life out of him, but only his own horrified reflection stared back at him from that polished helmet. "This is your last chance, Organa. Hand the boy-child over to me or I will have your entire family stripped of their positions and properties. Alderaan autonomy will end and your entire planet will be placed under martial law."

"He's not here," Organa choked. "The boy's not here!"

Vader released his hold and Organa fell gasping to the floor. He sensed no lie in the old senator's words. Had they sent the boy away in preemption of his coming? This was unexpected and deeply disappointing.

"Then where is he?" Vader demanded.

"I don't know," Organa sighed. He felt the pressure returning to his throat. "I swear, I don't know!"

"Where did you send him?" Vader snarled.

"I never had him!" Organa exclaimed. Vader released his hold.

"Explain," Vader commanded.

"We separated them," Organa said dejectedly. "To protect them from you and your master. I only took Leia. I don't know what happened to the boy. I don't even know his name!"

Vader was seething. The fools had separated his offspring? They separated twins! Separated Force-bound twins? Did they have no understanding of the damage they had done? Vader looked down at Organa in utter disgust. This man had more to answer for than he'd suspected.

"Who took the male child?" Vader growled.

"I told you, I don't know!" Organa snapped.

"Who placed him?" Vader shouted. "Who chose where he would be fostered?"

"I don't know," Organa said. This time Vader could tell he was lying.

"Perhaps Grand Moth Tarkin will agree to the governorship here," Vader mused as he started to walk out. His cape billowed impressively behind him. "He's always had a certain interest in this planet."

"The Jedi Knights!" Organa confessed miserably. "A few survived the raids. One of them took the boy baby to be fostered. But I don't know who they placed him with, I swear, I don't know!"

Vader didn't respond. He opened the doors and waved in the waiting stormtroopers.

"Senator Organa is under arrest for conspiracy and crimes against the empire," Vader told them. "Take him into custody."

The stormtroopers obeyed without question or hesitation. Vader returned to his ship to continue his search, ignoring Organa's demands for assurances for his family and Alderaan. He had been so close and now this! The Jedi had taken his son, just as they had taken his wife. Vader ground his fists in hatred. Was this Obi-wan's doing as well? But where, where would he have taken him?