CHAPTER 4

Alderaan

"You told me that you'd let me know if you were coming," Bail Organa said as he met Vader at the docking bay.

"It couldn't be helped," Vader said. "Something has come up, and I need answers."

"What has happened?" Organa asked as the two men made their way to his office. "What's wrong?"

Vader waited for Organa to sit down before he responded. "The emperor told me something quite alarming this morning," he said. "And I need answers from you, Viceroy. Straight answers."

Bail could feel his tension level rising, but fought hard against it. He knew that Vader's intuition was second to none. "What did he tell you?" he asked.

"He has recently discovered that someone from this planet has been making regular visits to the planet Tatooine," Vader said. "The past three months, in fact, like clockwork. I'm looking into navigational logs to determine if it goes back even further, but perhaps you can spare me the trouble." He allowed over to Organa and placed his large, gloved hands on the surface of the desk before him. "Who is it that is going to Tatooine and why?" he asked, his posture and voice both rendering Organa fearful.

"There are millions of people who live on this planet, Vader," Organa said. "You know that."

"Don't patronize me, Viceroy," Vader snapped. "You know more that you're telling me, I sense it. Who are you protecting? It's Kenobi, isn't it?"

"No," Organa replied. "I'm not protecting Kenobi. As far as I know, he's dead."

Vader was sorely tempted to reach out and choke him where he sat.

Upstairs

"Come on, Mommy," Leia said, taking her mother's hand. "Daddy is here!"

"No Leia, I can't," Padmé said, shoving toys into Leia's closet. "Stay here with me!"

Leia was far too young to understand why her mother was so afraid, and giggled when she saw her getting into the now empty trunk.

"Hide and seek?" Leia said, walking over and looking at Padmé.

"No sweetheart," Padmé said, her heart pounding hard. "You need to be very quiet, okay? Just play with your dolly and stay here!"

Leia watched her mother close the lid of the trunk she was in, and then ran out of the room to see her father. Padmé could do nothing to stop her.

Organa's office

"I warn you, Viceroy," Vader said. "I will get the truth from you, by whatever means necessary."

"Don't threaten me, Vader," Organa said, standing up. "You need me, remember? You need me to keep Leia safe."

Vader hated that he was right, but he couldn't deny it. So long as Palpatine lived, he needed Organa to keep Leia safe. "For now," he said. "I will learn the truth," he warned. "Make no mistake." He turned to leave when he heard Breha out in the hallway. She was calling Leia.

"Leia, come back here at once!" she said.

"Is there a problem, your majesty?" Vader asked the queen as he stepped out into the hall.

"Leia should be in bed by now," Breha said, her edginess clear. "She's playing a game."

Vader wasn't surprised, for he'd come to know that his daughter was very much like him in her streak of rebellion. "Where is she now?" he asked.

Breha exchanged a nervous look with her husband. "I was just going to put her to bed, Lord Vader," she said. "We weren't expecting your visit, after all."

"I realize that," Vader said, the woman's jumpiness confusing him. It certainly wasn't like he didn't spend a lot of time in her home. "But since I'm here, I want to see her. Where is she?"

"Daddy!" squealed Leia as she came running down the hallway, her little arms outstretched.

Vader bent down to pick her up, tossing her in the air the way she loved. Leia giggled wildly, loving her father's ability to toss her higher than anyone.

"What are you doing, making Queen Breha run after you?" he asked. "She said it's time for bed."

"Lord Vader I'll take her," Breha said, reaching out for Leia. "Please."

"I know where her room is," Vader said, starting down the hall. "I'll get her to bed."

Breha and Bail looked at each other desperately, not knowing what to do. What could they do?

"Mommy play hide and seek," Leia told Vader as he got her ready for bed.

"What do you mean, Leia?" He asked. "Did you hear about that in a story?" he asked.

Leia shook her head as she yawned. "No, Mommy hiding," she said, pointing towards her toy trunk on the other side of the room.

Vader turned to look at the trunk, a strange feeling coming over him, a feeling of familiarity. He walked over to the trunk, Leia still in his arms. Using the force, he opened the trunk, and then took a step backwards when he saw that it was not empty.

"Found you, Mommy!" Leia declared.

Padmé looked at her daughter, and then up at Vader, who simply stared down at her.

"You found me," Padmé said, climbing out of the trunk. She looked up at Vader. "You found me."

Vader watched Padmé as she put their child to bed, trying to formulate the words he needed to say to her. What could he say? The last time he saw her he'd try to kill her, along with their child. Or was it children?

"Goodnight sweetheart," Padmé, bending to kiss Leia. She could not be angry with the child for allowing Vader to discover her. Leia was an innocent child who loved her father. She could feel Vader watching her, the ominous sound of his breathing unnerving her. She kept her back to him and watched Leia as she fell asleep.

"It's good to see you," Vader said, his words woefully inadequate for the magnitude of the moment.

Padmé turned to him at last, her face a stone. "Is it?" she asked. "The last time you saw me you were convinced that I'd plotted with your best friend to kill you," she said.

So this is how it's going to be, he reflected, not at all surprised by her bitterness.

"I...I don't have the words to express how I feel about that," he said. "Not a day has gone by that I haven't hated myself for what I did to you that day."

His words had no effect on her, and she simply looked at him. "Your words mean nothing to me," she said. "You destroyed my life. You destroyed the love I had for you. And now you've found me. What can I expect from you now?"

Her coldness struck at his heart, but Vader knew he couldn't expect anything less. "You don't need to fear me, Padmé," he said. "I won't harm you, not ever again, I swear it."

Padmé lifted one dark eyebrow, her disbelief clear. "Why should I believe you?" she said. "I know who you are, what you are," she said. "You've made quite a name for yourself. Congratulations."

"Tell me about Luke, Padmé," Vader said. "Leia mentioned she had a brother, I thought she was playing make believe. But she does, doesn't she? We have a son, don't we?"

Padmé simply nodded, not seeing the point in denying it.

"He's on Tatooine, isn't he?" Vader asked, the pieces starting to fit together.

"With Owen and Beru," she said. "But now that you know, no doubt he'll be the next sacrifice to the emperor," she said, her voice breaking.

"No he will not," Vader said. "The emperor will never know about the twins, I promise you that."

Padmé wasn't sure she could believe him; but he'd known about Leia for almost a year now, and she had remained safe and hidden.

"So what now?" she asked. "What can I expect from you? Do you plan to take the twins from me?"

"Our family needs to be united," Vader said. "Instead of spread across the galaxy."

"You left me little choice," she said bitterly. "Do you think I wanted to split them up? Do you think it's been easy not seeing them for a month at a time? Being frightened all the time?"

"I'm sure it hasn't been," he said. "That's why I want you all to come live with me."

Padmé stared at him in disbelief. "That's your solution? To have two toddlers live with you on a Star Destroyer? Right under the Emperor's nose?"

'They would be safer with me than anywhere," he said. "I can keep them hidden, Padmé. I can shield them from him…"

"I don't believe you," she said. "I don't trust you," she said. "I never will again. Never."

"The situation is pretty clear," he said, starting to tire of her anger. "If you want them to be together, they need to be with me. That's the only way Luke and Leia will ever be together so long as Palpatine lives."

Padmé said nothing, but simply turned to see that Bail Organa was standing in the doorway. Vader noticed him too, and became angry.

"You lied to me," he said, advancing on Organa. "You told me she'd died!"

"He had to lie," Padmé said. "It was the only way to keep me and the twins safe from you. Given the way you treated me the last time we saw each other, you can understand why I'd be afraid."

Vader could see her point, albeit begrudgingly. "I want you to pack Leia's things," he said. "Tomorrow we'll go to Tatooine, and..."

"Wait a minute," Bail interjected. "What's going on? Where are you going?"

"To live with me," Vader said. "My wife and children belong with me, after all."

"You said so long as Palpatine lives that can't happen!" Bail said.

"I will deal with the emperor," Vader said. "There's no need to be afraid," he said, turning to Padmé.

"I'm afraid I can't going along with your thinking," Padmé said. "I don't think you can protect us from Palpatine," she said. "If I take Leia anywhere, it should be to Tatooine," she said. "At least there she'll be with Luke. Palpatine won't look for us there."

Vader didn't like the idea at all. "I don't like it," he said. "Tatooine is a gangster infested hell hole," he said. "It's no place to raise a family."

"And a star destroyer is?" Organa said.

"Perhaps we should take this conversation elsewhere," Padmé said, noticing Leia starting to stir in her crib. "Before we wake Leia up."

They headed down the corridor to Organa's office. Breha was already there, and her eyes widened when she saw Vader and Padmé walking side by side. She and Bail left the room to give Padmé and Vader privacy.

"Let's get one thing straight," Padmé said. "I will not be bullied into anything by you," she said.

"I have no intention of bullying you into anything," Vader said, trying to remain calm. "I'm trying to do what's best for you and the children."

"We're doing just fine without you," she countered.

"Are you?" Vader said. "Because it looks to me like you're doing very poorly," he said. "Only seeing our children for a month at a time, having to keep them apart," he went on. "I want to give you more," he said. "You're my wife, Padmé. I want to provide for you and …"

"I am not your wife," she interjected. "I had our marriage dissolved a year ago."

Vader was stunned to hear it, and simply looked at her for a moment. "You can't do that," he said. "Not without my consent."

"The judge was very understanding when I told him how you tried to kill me when I was pregnant with your children," she said. "We're no longer married. Trust me."

Vader said nothing in response. What could he say? How could he blame her for ending their marriage after what he did?

"Regardless of our ….relationship," he said. "The twins deserve to be raised together in a safe, stable environment. And unless you want to start getting into custody issues, then you'll just have to go along with it."

"Is that a threat?" she said challengingly.

"Think of it as a proposition," he said. "We either live together with them, together, or share them, which means you won't see them all the time. I don't want to live like that, do you?"

Padmé frowned. He had backed her into a corner.

"There's something else you need to consider," Vader said, seeing that she was starting to see reason. He knew that Padmé was a rational woman, a smart woman. She may not like his reasoning, but she couldn't argue with it. "Palpatine is aware that someone from Alderaan has been travelling to Tatooine on a regular basis," he said. "That's what brought me here today. He is suspicious, Padmé. We have to proceed very carefully."

Padmé nodded. "Yes, you're right," she said with a sigh. "But how long can we keep them secret?" she said. "How long before it's impossible to keep them secret?"

"Palpatine will be dead before we need to worry about that, I promise you," he said.

Padmé frowned. "Don't make promises you can't keep," she said.

Bail Organa appeared at the doorway, his face ashen. "We have a problem," he said. "The emperor's shuttle has just landed."

Padmé looked at Vader. "So much for your promise!" she cried. "I won't let you hand Leia over to him!"

"I have no intention of handing her over to him," Vader said. He activated his comlink. "Captain Rex, come here at once." He looked at Padmé and then at Bail. "Hide," he said. "I will deal with Palpatine."

Organa nodded, and took Padmé by the hand and ran out of the room.

"Lord Vader," Captain Rex said. "What are your orders?"

"I want you to take your men down to the landing platform," Vader said as they walked through the palace. "The emperor is here with his guards. Kill the guards, all of them. Leave the emperor to me."

Rex did not question his commander, and simply ran off to do his bidding.

Vader braced himself for a confrontation that had been brewing since he'd learned of Leia's existence. You used me, he thought, summoning the darkness around him like his great black cape. You lied to me, you preyed on me…it ends now.

By the time Vader arrived at the landing platform, there was carnage everywhere. Red-robed guards lay dead, as well as a few of Vader's elite troops. The shuttle sat silently, Rex having the presence of mind to take out its engines with his weapon. He's inside, Vader reflected, sensing the malevolent presence of his master. He's afraid, he thought with a smile. Good…be afraid you sadistic bastard, be very afraid.

"There is no escape, my master," Vader called, standing outside of the shuttle. "Show yourself."

There was no response, so Vader ignited his lightsaber and headed towards the ramp. Before he could step one foot onto it, Palpatine appeared at the top of it.

"What is this treachery?" Palpatine spat, a deep scowl on his face. "How dare you threaten me?!"

Vader said nothing, but simply stood looking at him, his lightsaber in his hand. "I'm finished being your slave," he said. "You've used me for the last time. This ends now. Defend yourself, or die."

Palpatine was shocked by Vader's aggressiveness, for while Vader had proved himself to be lethal, his demeanour towards his master had always been subdued and subservient. Palpatine was afraid for his life for the first time in a very long time.

"You will be the one to die, Vader," Palpatine said, raising his hands. "Die now, my traitorous apprentice!" he screamed, throwing Sith lightning in Vader's direction.

Vader lifted his lightsaber to deflect the blast, sending it back to Palpatine, who staggered back. Vader reached his hand out and used the force to yank Palpatine from the ramp. The old man fell to the landing platform, shaken up by Vader's belligerence.

"Defend yourself," Vader said, holding his blade to Palpatine's throat. "Or I'll kill you where you lie."

Palpatine looked up at his one-time apprentice. Vader could feel his rage, his fear. "And if I don't? Will you kill me, Vader? After all I've done for you?" he said, getting up slowly.

That angered Vader and he had to fight the urge to run the old man through. "All you've done?" he said. "What have you done but bring me pain? You've manipulated me since I was a boy. You lied to me, telling me that I'd killed my wife," he went on.

"So the slut of Naboo is alive, is she?" Palpatine sneered. "And your offspring, no doubt. Perhaps after I kill you I'll do the same to her, and take your child as my new apprentice."

That pushed Vader over the edge, and he lunged at Palptine with his crimson blade. Palpatine parried with his own blade.

"You're weak, old man," Vader said, shoving Palpatine back. "I can feel your fear."

"I'm not afraid of you," Palpatine retorted, pushing back against Vader. "You're overconfidence is your weakness."

"I'm not overconfident," Vader said, parrying the old man's thrust. "I know all your tricks, my master. You've taught me too well," he said, slicing his blade through Palpatine's arm.

Palpatine screamed in pain as he saw his forearm hit the ground. He looked at Vader with utter malice, his yellow eyes full of rage. He lifted his remaining hand to throw lightning at Vader, only to have Vader slice his arm off at the wrist. Palpatine fell to his knees, howling in pain.

Vader walked over to him, and waited for him to look up at him. He reached his finger out and used the force to slowly choke the old man. "Die now," he said. "And may you rot for all eternity in the Hell you came from."