Will you say to me when I'm gone
"Your face has faded but lingers on
Because light strikes a deal with
each coming night"
He had arrived through the side entrance, hoping to avoid all the media swarm in the front, he confused the droids and slipped into the Royal Imperial box nearly unnoticed. He was sure that many citizens in the boxes around them saw him, but he could ignore them for the time. He heard nothing and yet noticed everything as he felt a presence slip in. She sat in the seat next to him, her blond hair knotted tightly under the large hood of the dark cloak, the cowl covering her face as the Emperor's did.
"Hello Lord Vader." She said
"How did you evade the swarm?"
"I was the last one to leave the shuttle." He had watched on the screen beside the stage as the holos of the carpet outside had followed the elegant walk of the Princess in a stark white gown with a contrasting ashy veil, the last red guard paused, it's back straightening at the top of the stairs and then carried on.
"You were the Guard."
She nodded, "Kiratta still at the bar. She will not speak to the public, nor will be seen. And she is rewarded handsomely for her bravery."
"So I see." She looked at him, her brow quirking, the hood sliding back. She got caught studying him and he did a double take at the sight of her face. He was staring a vision of his mother. A blond haired, blue eyed twenty something Shmi Skywalker.
She sighed, irritated, and pulled the hood back completely. The ruse failed. She resumed looking forward trying to avoid looking at him, but the draw was incontrovertible. They fell into silence and watched the holo of the outside gate, every once and a while it would do a scroll of the common area. She could still see two guards standing vigil as Rooki and Kiratta appeared to be speaking to each other privately.
"You do this often I gather? Hide in the open." Vader smiled under the mask, and was rewarded with a large audacious grin. The darkness in her heart was still aching but she couldn't help but feel happy when she sat beside him. Like two children caught stealing candy.
"Not often. The opera is one of the few places I can get away without the veil. No one but the Emperor and my ladies and guards have seen my face. Them and now you." He had fought at the emotions, but he too couldn't help feeling happy. He glanced at her, without the air of mystery she was quite un-astounding, and yet utterly entrancing. Her blond hair was neat, and she had the complexion of the Force Witches of Dathomir, the moon worshippers with the milky skin and chilling visions.
He focused and tried to shake the image of her face out of his head, the image of his mother. "Don't get out much?" He said finally wryly.
"Don't tease, it's not nice." Oh, no, I'd be too frightened to tease a senator!.. The memory snuck up on him and a painful dart hit his heart. The dark skirted around and he let the words fall flat.
"I'm sorry." She said quietly after a long while. "Did I remind you of.. her?" He appreciated concern, though unsure why.
"How do you know?"
"I've known he's been a Sith for much longer then the Empire has. I was his first prisoner. His first slave." She was frowning and thin lines appeared on her forehead. She looked quite young, but had he dared to say a number, he would say approximately his own age. Although his own age was undistinguishable by anyone from the outside of his mask. Feelings of remorse hedged at the darkness, sneaking up and tentatively dispersing the darkness.
"Don't be sad for me," she said, misunderstanding his emotions, "My fate was dealt to me as yours was. " she frowned. "Although he has always had a sadistic streak." The coldness ached his bones and crawled up his back in understanding. When the Emperor was in a foul mood and the Sith lightening came freely. No matter who was delivering the bad news.
"You didn't answer my question." Vader asked quietly, he didn't want to know, but he was compelled to ask.
"He's been manipulating you years before you crossed over. Dooku had paid off some tuskan raiders and then he sent you the foul dreams, first of your mother–" she paused when the wave of grief hit her like a tsunami. "And then he manipulated you to fear for your-"
"You lie." He snapped.
"What would I gain from doing so?" She shrugged. This time the pain so unbearable she herself was shuddering, waking her own recent sadness. Touching her cheek she felt warmth as she saw the tears rolling down her cheeks, she reached out and laid a hand on his arm, the gesture was oddly calming.
"I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry." he nodded unable to speak.
It took him several moment before he was able to shove the pain down harshly. "Are you sure."
"Yes. Dooku bragged about it." she said, her voice held a note of finality to it. They fell into silence as the hall began to fill. She was thankful that his dark armor and the dark cloak she wore made them nearly invisible to the crowd glancing in. For a moment she closed her eyes and quieted her breathing like she had been taught, but instead of using the hate and anger, she summoned peace and calm.
"How do you hide that from your father?" The deep rumble asked, more gently then he had thought was possible.
"I don't. He has reached a point where he refuses to pay any attention. Thus the increase of punishment. It only started when I grew weary of channeling anger and hate. I knew nothing of pain and rage, how can I harness it if I know nothing of it. You have pain and grief, he has greed and anger. I seek nothing but truth."
"You sound like a Jedi." He spat the words like they were vile in his mouth.
"I wish I could agree.. But I have nothing to compare against." She sighed and continued to stare at the empty stage until a commotion outside the door was heard and the two remaining guards along with Kiratta in the elegant Princess guise and Rooki trailing behind her entered. The two took seats in the first row of the three, and did not acknowledge the two in the back row. Vader was damning his suit for being so conspicuous, but was grateful for the ploy to distract the attention of curious onlookers. They would see the gleaming Princess in the front row and the two guards on either side, none would look beyond the row that held their enigma of a Princess. The show started and they continued talking like old friends, she about her secluded life, him about the secrets of the socialites who had attended the Gala.
By the second act he was shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "Fire ants?" she smirked.
"Prosthetics." He answered glumly. Her smile faded and her face drew into a familiar frown, one his wife had perfected. Thinking her name was far too painful, but distracted him slightly.
"I'm sorry."
"Not your fault."
"Actually-.. I designed them." She said, trying to pretend she was suddenly entranced by the performance. "They were only meant as a temporary means. A year, two at maximum."
"You're a mechanic?"
"Healer. I asked permission to go to Kamino and learn from the cloners, but I was never allowed. I-"
"You created this, did you think of a way out of it."
Then she said four words that made him freeze. "Tissue scanning. Very simple."
He stared for what seemed like eternity. "It's possible?" he finally whispered.
"Very much so; under developed but very possibly. I seem to be the only one with interest in the field, but I employed a few of the physicians there to look into it way back. They've been knocking heads with the cloners since I was forbidden to look into it." The technology existed. The lie his master had told him burnt a hole in his chest but It mattered not to him, the only thing that had ever mattered was his wife and their children. There proof that confirmed the veracity of the Emperors greatest weapon. His pain. He knew as she did, if he were to confront him they would both be punished to an inch of their lives
She looked at the large dark mask, he felt the waves of sympathetic understanding. She sighed and rested her hand on his gloved one, "I'm sorry." She repeated sincerely. He summoned the darkness and did not speak to the Princess for the balance of the Opera. He hated the Opera, but somehow, in her presence, he didn't seem to mind so much. He was confused and concerned. She sat beside him, in the darkness, worried of the question she had let dwindle between them. Why did he seem so familiar to her when the last time there had been nothing, he recalled the pain he had been in, placing his faulty memory to the agony of loss he had been in at the time. Having been ordered to stand diligently as the crowds displayed their affection for the newly appointed Emperor. He had just lost his Angel and been distracted by the anguish.
The Opera ended and the party below departed, Vader remained in the box until he had sensed the coast was clear, and he and the true Princess left. She threw the hood over her head to cover her face. They left through the door he had entered through, after once again confusing the droids. They walked along in silence in the shadows of the building. They came to the darkened edge of the building and watched her party approach the Royal Imperial shuttle. She was about to walk towards the shuttle when she saw a figure begin running at the group.
Shots were fired and a scream echoed from the promenade as the Guards did their duty and the figure ran off. Right at them. "Get behind me," He said to Aja, as he withdrew the lightsaber from his waist. The fleeing Assassin dodged the crowd and ran right at them. Aja saw two of the Reds following him. She watched as the fight continued their way until the Assassin was feet from Vader.
Vader ignited the saber and the Assassin stopped in his tracks, finding himself cornered by the Reds from behind and Vader in front with the wall beside him.
"Leave, I will deal with this." Vader said to the guards. They didn't move, seeing the Princess behind him.
"I will return to the Palace." She said from under the hood. "Leave." The Reds bowed and left at the demand of the Princess.
Vader returned the Saber to his belt and grabbed the Clawdite by the throat. "Who do you work for." He growled.
The Assassin grunted and groaned as Vader's grip tightened. "The-.. The.. Em-.. Er-Or.." He choked out, "Emperor."
Vader squeezed, "Lies!"
"No-." it tried to say, "He.. Princess, kill the princess." Vader choked the creature till it went limp in his gloved hand. She stared at the pathetic creature, a certain disinterest in her eyes surprised him. Vader had expected outrage at the Assassin's death, but she merely sighed, resigned emotion washing over her.
"This doesn't surprise me. He's been trying to kill me for years, nothing will change." Vader's gaze followed hers as she looked up at the stars her hood falling back. "Trillions of people adore me, but that doesn't matter to him. My death would garner him sympathy to introduce some ridiculous law, and these attempts will do the same." She started to walk and realised the shuttle had gone.
"I will take you back," Vader said quietly, mulling over her words, "Come." She did not thank him for the ride, although she did grin at the adept piloting skills. The Emperor had told her once that he was as skilled with the Force as he was at flying but she had brushed it off as him bragging about his soon to be apprentice. Once leaving the speeder she hurried inside, knowing what she had to do.
"We're leaving." She said as soon as the doors had closed behind her. "Now." Rooki had been sitting with one of the off duty Reds, obviously wringing her hands.
"Milady, you're safe!" she cried out, but Aja brushed her off.
"Yes, I'm fine. Pack. Bare essentials only." Aja saw Padmé emerge from the hall.
"Your leaving?" concern pinched her face and Aja recalled her promise.
"Have you been able to contact someone?" Padmé shook her head, Meela had been unable to get in touch with Bail or Breha and they dared not contact Obi Wan while in the Palace.
"I will take you to Rori, I have a villa there where you can hide." Padmé nodded, knowing the moon of Naboo well.
"I can contact my -," The idea of contacting her family faltered on her lips as she recalled that her Father was dead, her Mother was too infirmed to recognize her and her sister had disowned her. The sensation of loss was comparable to the she fear she bore for being so close to Naboo. While she had removed all her hair to disguise herself and had become a mother, next to none recognized her. That had been true among the stars, not at the Capital and especially not on the moon of her own planet. She looked up to the Princess's steely look and decided to go with her gut. She nodded her approval.
"We will be leaving within the hour, gather your children." Padmé nodded and left the room.
True to her word, an hour later they party of fifteen was moving through the hanger. Padmé pulled her children closer as they approached a ship that resembled none other in the Hanger. It appeared well used and under maintained, she commented as such and receive a clipped response.
"It's supposed to look like that," Aja said as the guards walked onto the ship, "we're running away, not going on a royal mission." Padmé nodded in understanding. They loaded the supplies and started take off. She kissed the two little bodies that curled up on her lap, praying that her Force-strong child wouldn't see through the her fear.
Vader watched as a rebel frigate disappeared into Hyperspace. He was seething with rage and dark fury as they once again evaded him. It had been a week since he had left the Capital, fleeing as soon as he had left the Princess at the Palace. He had disappeared to his ship and pursued a rebellious faction that had grown brave enough to attack a Naval Academy outpost.
"Milord." Captain Voss was terrified by the looming dark figure that had appeared on the bridge. "The Emperor has requested your presence." Vader stood glaring out the viewport for another moment before storming off. Voss had only been captain for three days since taking the helm from his colleague who had expired at the fury of the Dark Lord.
"Ozzel, did you track that ship's-"
Vader arrived in his private chamber and took a moment to calm his anger before answering. "My master."
"Lord Vader." The emperor was grinning maliciously, "I have a task you will enjoy."
"Yes my master." Vader was tired, his knee was sore and he hadn't had a productive day. He was at the end of his last nerve.
"You seem to have taken an unhealthy interest in my daughter." The old man spat, consumed with irritation.
"The assassination attempts concerned the Admirals and her Guards. They summoned me-"
"You take orders from me, and me alone." The Emperor shrieked. "Understood?" Vader nodded, grateful to be out of reach of the Emperor's dangerous rage.
"Whatever that whore saw in you I will never know." Vader's anger swelled, the sadist took every cheap shot he could, and felt nothing but cruel glee at the pain that swelled in his chest, "Aja has been kidnapped. By the rebels." Vader's anger multiplied. Bad days just get worse.
"I want you to track her." He smiled, Vader seeing the path his mind was travelling.
"Yes My Master" The image disappeared and he stood, summoning the darkness. Ever since meeting the Princess he found it increasingly harder to summon the dark side, her golden presence had infected him somehow, the idea concerning him. He had always been able to feel the connection, but ever since spending less than a few short hours together she had become a growth in his mind. He could feel her signature, her glowing Force presence shimmering through the Force, calling him. He controlled his rage and returned to the bridge. Willing her found, wanting answers, answers about their connection for once and for all
Rori was beautiful. Padmé, Meela and the children walked in awestruck. A familiar paradise that Padmé was beginning to associate with the Princess who seemed to live in both heaven and hell at once. Aja smiled sadly as they landed on the private pad of the great house she had purchased incognito under a pseudonym. Aja simply stared at the walls, sorrow still aching the walls of her heart. Nafia had chose the place and had been the decoy to purchasing the property. Nafia had been such a presence in her life it was painful to continue on. She watched glumly and tried to mask the pain as she helped Padmé settle. She was deep in thought when she felt a tug on her sleeve. "Miss Aja, why are you sad?" she looked down in surprise as the little boy, Luke, was staring at her with big blue eyes.
She knelt down to look him in the face, "My friend just died, and I miss her. That's all Luke." She hadn't spent a considerable amount of time with them, but the draw she felt to the children was similar to that she felt to Vader. Which was why she needed to separate from them. He must never know, never in a million years, that she had helped this little family.
She smiled as the boy threw his arms around her. The action was so innocent, so spontaneous that she couldn't help the small giggle that swelled inside her. She hugged the boy in return, "Thank you Luke. You made me feel better." And as quickly as he had appeared, he disappeared, running off to find his sister. Aja stood and swallowed her fear back, walking to the grand room where Meela and Padmé where arguing, en route they had discovered that Bail and Breha were being questioned for traitorous activity. Which was greatly concerning.
"I must be off." Meela looked fearful but she saw a hardening in Padmé's jaw that was comforting. The woman would protect her children to her last breath.
In continued spontaneity, she pulled the petite woman into a hug. "Atam gave you a comlink with my personal frequency, use this place as long as you wish. You will be safe, but should you need, I have properties all over the galaxy that is untraceable. Do not believe you are without friends." Padmé nodded, looking into the woman's blue eyes and feeling the flood of familiarity staring into those bright blue eyes.
"Aja wait." In a fleeting moment of insanity she took the two rings she had always kept hidden, "if something happens to me, if they takes me somewhere and hides me. Show him these, and tell him you're looking for the Queen." Aja had stared at the two rings that had been dumped in her hand. "He will not recognize them, but I will, only me and one other knew they existed, and he's-.. he's dead."
"Thank you, I really must go now."
Padmé nodded, "Stay safe Aja." Aja smiled, pausing as if to say something but decided not to and simply left.
Aja tucked one lock of blond hair that was persistently getting in the way. The cowl of the hood covered her face as she tried to navigate to a quiet corner of the slimy bar she was hiding in. She had abandoned her entourage and hopped from one planet to another trying to sniff out a tail. Grateful for finding none she was now looking for a ride back to Rori. She held tight to all her most valuable worldly possessions tucked in her pocket, the two rings Padmé had given her, her book of medical notes from Rhinnal and her Mother's final letter. Taking a seat against the back wall she attempted to merely fade into the background. Trying to attract little attention. The feat proved impossible when three Imperial officers appeared inside, their voices booming over the thudding music.
"We are looking for wanted fugitive, please be calm and have your information ready."
The mass chaos from the troopers searching through the throngs of people. She watched the man wave his hands at the troopers and they left him, she sighed. "If I didn't have bad luck, I'd have no luck at all." Aja knew who was hovering above the ship in his super star destroyer. She could feel him, she could imagine his great dark frame filling the viewport, waiting for confirmation that his quarry was sitting in this bar.
To worsen the issue, she had to have picked the bar with one of the only Jedi in the Galaxy.
The Imperial presence was concerning, but sensing Vader nearby was even more so. She had run away and hoped that the Emperor wouldn't act. But she should have known so close to Empire day she would be sought out. Her pressing issue was made known when the Clones and an Officer re approached the Jedi. She sighed and swallowed her fear, summoned what calm she could and walked up to his side where she laid a light hand on his shoulder.
"Ben?" She asked questioningly, causing him to jump and look at her, "Darling is there a problem?" The hood covered her face from the men but from his seat Obi Wan garnered a unhindered view of piercing blues and soft blond. Her face was a mirror of a man who had once been his friend. One whom he had failed.
"You know this man?" the Captain asked briskly, still unwavering to the story.
"I should hope so, he's my husband." She dug in her pocket and held up the two rings held together on a thin chain.
"And you keep them in your pocket?" The captain accused.
"I lose everything, I'd lose my head if she didn't ensure it was stuck on." Obi Wan scoffed, grateful to the stranger for her assistance. He hid his nerves well but could tell it didn't go unnoticed by this woman. The Captain nodded suspiciously but continued to glanced around.
"Look for unmarried men, Kenobi's bound to be here. He's a Jedi thru and thru. According to Vader-" they're conversation waned as they carried on their search. They both sat down, neither able to breathe properly with fear and adrenaline coursing their system.
"You-"
"I know who you really are, yes." She looked in exasperation to the troopers. "You know what they'll do if they don't find you." His look was confused and scared. "Vader is up there, he knows you're here."
The two stayed close until the attention had moved on. "I don't know how to thank you." Obi Wan looked at the brilliant blue eyes and lock of blond hair that had escaped the cowl.
"How did they track you here, Obi Wan?" She asked quietly, the shock on his face was clear, the anger on hers more so.
He looked her up and down, she looked like any refugee travelling. Her gown a bit heavy, the cloak made of very fine material, but a woman travelling was not unbelievable. "You're on the run."
"I have a imperial monkey suit on underneath." Her eyes shot back at his stunned expression. "Slipped down on a Shuttle yesterday." she said, "You can't go to Alderaan, Bail is currently under questioning on traitorous accusations..." Obi Wan's eyebrows hit hairline.
"You are well informed. I wasn't going to Alderaan. I was going to Naboo, I was supposed to meet up with-..." His expression turn suspicious, "Someone."
"I know. But you won't make it." She said, "Not without my help. Vader is cunning, but we have an advantage." She looked down at the rings in her palm. "They need me alive." He reached for his lightsaber and she scoffed, "Oh please, Master Jedi. If I wanted you dead, you would be." The veiled woman said ominously.
"Then what do you want?" He responded, still not trusting the powerful presence that had quickly overwhelmed him with her Force aura. He quickly changed his tactic. "What is your name." he asked.
She looked away and grimaced. "I didn't mean to save you, I just recognized you from old Holos and from my Father. I wanted to help." She attempted to evade the question. Obi Wan just stared. "I also have self serving matters for avoiding Imperial entanglements."
Obi Wan watched her blather on, "You name?"
"I have a multitude of names, some I can give and some I won't give." She continued to evade the question. Finally she looked at the wise Jedi that Padmé trusted completely, a tidbit she had garnered from the woman's story. She finally decided that hiding the story she had pieced together would not benefit her anymore. It would not do to hide that which she knew.
"The name I was born with and the name I have are not the same. My mother wrote me a letter and tucked it in my skirt, told me to protect it." She withdrew a beaten piece of paper and laid it on the table between them. The paper was beaten and worn. 23 years later it was still tucked into her skirt. He glanced at it, and his breath faltered at the delicate signature at the bottom.
"But-.. That's impossible." He said softly.
"I know." She said softly. "We need to leave. Now." She grabbed his hand and tugged him to the door, hoping that enough time had passed that they wouldn't be spotted. He pulled some Jedi trick and got them past the clones at the door and as far as the space port. She saw them closing in before he did. They were trapped. There was no way out of it.
She saw the blasters aimed at them and a plan started in her mind.
"When you get the chance run, go to Rori, the Queen and her children are there." She said and whispered a code while handing him a bag of credits, hoping the firing storm trooper's helmets would muffle her words. She smiled, kissed his cheek and turned on the Officers who had arrived.
"How DARE you." She screeched, attempting to pull her Princess mask back on. "How dare you attack me and my associate." Her screech was enough to stall the troopers. The Imperial officer had also heard and paused.
"And who are you to demand we stop?" he scoffed, contempt dripping from his words.
"Princess Aja of Brentaal, daughter of the Emperor, Lady of the Capital." She pulled herself up to her true height, "and this is one of associates." From under the hood she could see the man pale and turn green. Falling to her feet he began to grovel.
"Milady, I apologise, I-" his hand reached out and she stepped back towards Obi Wan.
"Do not touch me. I was conducting business that you and that pesky Lord Vader rudely interrupted. I will have words with him." She straightened her skirt and tugged the hood lower.
"Take me to the ship." She snarled, grateful the ruse worked. The only problem was that they were going straight back to that which she had run from. Like willingly sacrificing oneself to a rancor, she had delivered herself on a silver platter. She looked pointedly at Obi Wan.
"Our business is concluded. Go back to your hovel you sniveling piece of garbage," she tried to be extra harsh but the words came out sounding false to her ears. The officers were still too giddy at finding the Princess that they were no longer concerned with their search for the Jedi. Obi Wan bowed and tucked the bag into his pocket, determined to find passage to Rori and had more than enough money to secure the trip.
He needed to get to Padmé, to see if she was unharmed. He had promised that much.