A/N-There were a few errors in the last chapter with pronouns- his and her. Anakin knows its Padme'.

Chapter 9

Location: Galactic Confederation Base 1, Alderaan

Day 16 Month 1 14 BBY

( Padme' Naberrie's POV)

My breathing is harsh and I leap over the last metal mount as it blocks blaster fire coming from the direction to my left. My eyes scan the left corridor to see if I can exit through to my target; rescue the civilians on the other side. My eyes peer from the other side of the mount and my eyes find Fersus' frame peering in my direction. He uses the signal for the all clear and I signal back to him to be sure. He leans in the direction behind the metal grate and nods. I leap up from my position, blaster in place and ready to move towards my target. I place my eyes on the front as two shadows appear from behind another grate. I grit my teeth as I make out Tarkin and one of his buddies behind him.

He fires at my small frame and I dodge onto my left side. I fire my blaster at him and his team mate. I hit his team mate and he falls to the ground stunned from my shot. Tarkin frowns at me as I hit the metal ground of our training facility. I call out, " Olin! Now would be a good time to cover me!"

Ferus appears as Tarkin's shocked eyes find his. Ferus shoots in his direction and stuns the stubborn ass. I smirk and Ferus calls out, " Nabberie don't just lay there! Get to the exit!"

I scramble from my spot on the floor and begin running with my heart pounding in my chest. I eye the blaring of sirens as the exit's door begins to slide shut. I bend my legs forward and use all of my force to slide across the exit and towards the civilians I needed to rescue from the "Imperials."

The screeching sounds can be heard of another body behind me. My eyes quickly dart back to see Ferus' body sliding through the closing doorway. As his body slides closer to my knees, I smirk at him and whisper, " About time you got your ass over here."

He whispers back, " You know I have your back Nabberrie."

I chuckle as I help him to his feet. I keep my blaster close to my face as I eye the corridors in front of us. I pull out a holo map and eye the building's structure in front of us. I point towards the next room and whisper, "That's where the civilians are being held."

Ferus nods and responds, "You go ahead and I'll cover you. We don't know how many guards are in that room."

I bend down and squat behind the corner of the corridor. I peer quickly behind the corner and I can make out two Imperial guards- two Imperial guards that appear very similar to two of our Commanding Officers- Kenobi and Watson.

The "Imperials" wear the gray uniforms of the guard and they hold blasters like us. They are discussing something I cannot make out and I gesture the number of guards to Ferus. He nods gestures for me to continue to the next doorway. I sneak across the doorway, and blaster fire rings in my ears. My eyes find Ferus using the force to fly the two Imperials backwards as they caught sight of us. Damn- Jedi, Kenobi would have sensed us coming- good thing I brought my own Jedi along.

I smirk at Ferus, but then notice Kenobi stands up and force pushes Ferus backwards. I scramble towards the doorway where our civilians await. My eyes peer at the civilians which are nothing more than foam cutouts that we were training to save. I whirl on my feet as I hear blast fire over my head. I whirl in time to see Watson firing at my head and I blast him in the gut. He falls backwards, stunned from the fire. I hear another shot being fired off and I have to ignore it. I have people to rescue or rather foam boards to rescue.

I reach the first "civilian" and pretend to check its pulse. My eyes dart back to the corridor as I hear a thud. My grimace and tense body relaxes as I realize Ferus stands in the doorway with a knowing smirk on his face.

My grimace turns into a smile as he replies, " The Imperials are all stunned. Now let's rescue these foam boards and gain our 200 points."

I chuckle as I pick up one of the foam boards and Ferus picks up the other.


Location: Galactic Confederation Base 1, Alderaan

Day 16 Month 1 14 BBY

( Padme' Naberrie's POV)

The clapping around us has halted and the pats on the back have stopped. Ferus and I had gained the 200 points and our names had slid up on the board we watched tirelessly. The first cuts were to be made in less than a week. We had started training with ten of us- and we would be cut to seven by the end of the week. Anakin had warned us about these cuts and the bottom three people would be the first to go.

My eyes watch the holo screen as my name appears fourth from the bottom. All the demerits from Skywalker had derailed my points and I had fallen behind in most of my classes. I am holding on by a thread and I need to keep going. I need to be away from Vader and the Empire.

The clapping has halted as our Commanders have approached us. Anakin tries not to smirk as he watches Obi-wan appear from the left holding his chest. He smiles at us and mutters, " Good work Cadets. Since the first cuts will be made in the next few days, be sure to study up. In the coming weeks, you'll be facing more than a few Imperial guards. In the meantime, get some rest and we'll continue our training in the morning."

Several members of our squad approach Ferus and I and my eyes stay on Anakin's the entire time. His eyes shine in appeasement. He is pleased with our progress. We had faced three other teams in our training facility and we had won by a landslide. Ferus pats my shoulder and utters, "You coming to the chow hall?"

I shake my head and eye Anakin and mutter, "No, I have studying to do."

He nods knowingly and mutters, "Good luck, and try not to get kicked out of the program."

I nod and begin to approach Anakin. He has his arms crossed as he watches my small frame near him. His eyes are playfully as he comments, "Good work out there. All you need to do now is try not to fail your piloting test."

I roll my eyes and mutter, " I'm sure your exam will be easy as shooting an Imperial."

He chuckles- something I hardly see now. He pats my back and suggests, "Let's hit the books Naberrie."

I nod and begin our track back to the study hall.


Location: Galactic Confederation Base 1, Alderaan

Day 17 Month 1 14 BBY

( Anakin' s POV)

I eye my wrist comm. link as the minutes pass by. It is two am and the Cadets would be waking in two hours. I can go without sleep for days during the war, 24 hours without sleep is nothing compared to the days I faced in the war. My eyes wander in search of Nabberrie's, whose eyes are blurry from lack of sleep and her eyes scan the data pad for the answer to my question about the drag fins. She sighs and rubs her already growing brown hair. Her hair is longer than most of the cadets' now. It is no more than a half-an inch long.

My eyes observe her focused expression and her lips that are set in a firm line. Her eyes express her frustration at the problem at hand. My mind rattles over her womanly features which are hidden by her uniform, but I know her body has altered since she was a young girl when we met. My eyes trace over her supple lips and I remember the days were we would sneak off after our duties and make out in the fields of Naboo.

Six years- why in six years did she not try to contact me? She allowed me to believe she had died with the others on Naboo. I'm sure she has valid reasons, but it would have been a courtesy to explain the mishap. I know she has connections to my -wife and probably knows where is she is at this time. However, if I were to reveal that I know of her identity, it would only cause pain and wounds for both of us. She knows not of how I suffered of hearing of her death- of how she meant to me. I locked my emotions away after her death, and shut others out- including ignoring for months my mother-whom I had tried to save after it was too late.

She mutters curses under her breath and slams the pad down in aggravation.

I chuckle at her motions and she glares in my direction. She mutters, "I don't understand the point of using the drag fins."

I gesture towards the datapad in her hand and reply, "You do if you're piloting a craft that is crashing onto an unknown planet."

She moans while rubbing her eyes, "I won't be piloting a ship anytime soon."

I scoff and point out, "You don't know that. It depends on your training and outcomes and if you don't find that answer soon, you'll be cut from the program."

She glares at me and snaps, "I'm tired okay? I haven't slept more than three hours in three days."

I shrug and utter, " If we were at war, you wouldn't have slept at all. Your lucky you have your sleep."

His glaring continues and his eyes peer down at the datapad again. He mutters, " Can you explain the purpose of drag fins again?"

I nod and state, " Drag fins are used to take off some of the pressure from the wings of a ship. So, again, my question to you is this: If you are crash landing your ship onto a known Imperial planet, which will save you? Using the drag fins or not?"

She pauses and her eyes reach mine. He states explaining, " It depends on if my ship has been shot down. So please provided me with that information."

I lean back in my chair and mutter, "Yes, your ship has been shot by an Imperial fighter. You're crashing your ship on a known Imperial Planet."

Her face is expressionless as she listens tiredly and then mumbles, "I think I would use them, because if one of the wings is hit, you're down a wing and I'll need all the pressure off the only wing left. So yes, pull the drag fins down."

I smack the table in agreement, "See? It isn't too hard to understand piloting. You've made progress."

She smiles tiredly and eyes the datapad in my hand. She asks, "What are you looking at?"

I sigh and eye the datapad cautiously. I had copied portions of the datapad found on Amidala's clothes. The first so-called paragraph is in a language I have never seen before. I eye the document and mumble, " A language I don't quite understand. I don't have linguistics down as a solider."

Naberrie suggests gesturing towards the datapad, "My father forced me to learn several languages due to his political views. His ideals included a variety of traveling when I was growing up. I could give it a try."

I eye the document carefully. It can't mean much can it? If she is hiding the whereabouts of Amidala, it wouldn't hurt to have her translate the text for me. Infact it would be best if someone who is close to her translates the data. I would rather not hand this datapad to Amidala's father.

I wearily hand her the data pad and she eyes the document. Padme's brown eyes furrow into the language and she rubs his chin in thought. Her eyes shift to the document and she mumbles, "It's a forgotten Nabbionan dialect and hasn't been used for hundreds of years on Naboo."

I lean back in my chair and ask, "Do you have any idea as to what it states?"

Her brown eyes dart to mine and she mumbles, "I can make out some of the words. It says something about a weapon. Parts to a weapon, I would guess."

My eyes narrow at the mention of the weapon in question. How did Amidala get her hands on plans to the Death Star? I inquire, " What sort of weapon is it?"

Her eyes shine in something sinister as he questions, " Sir where did you get this document?"

I cross my arms and suggest, "It was given to me by a solider from the city, why?"

The brown eyes in front of me appear fearful as she states, "This is a plan for some sort of Imperial weapon and the locations to retrieve the parts to make it operational. My guess is it's something that the Emperor is having his goons Vader and Dooku build."

I bite back the bile in my throat. Amidala had somehow known about the Death Star. She had been compiling evidence to provide the rebels with the locations of the parts needed to destroy the weapon I have spent years as an Imperial Officer trying to track down. She must have powerful allies within her father's government.

My expression is rigid as my thoughts twist to the truth that I didn't want to admit. Naberrie eyes me watchfully and questions, " Sir?"

My stiffen at her calling and ask, " Did you translate anymore?"

She sighs and mumbles, " Yes, this was written by the Emperor's daughter."

My eyes widen at the mention of Amidala. I lean forward and demand, "How could you know that?"

Her eyes meet mine as she declares, "Her name is mentioned in the paragraph, sir."

I eye the document in Padme's hand and the truth is upon my lips. Amidala has betrayed her father and the state of the Empire and I have evidence of her betrayal. I could easily find her and arrest her for her meddling in Imperial sharing of advanced weapons to the Rebels. However, if I can find her and persuade her to provide the rebels with this information, we can destroy the Death Star before it becomes operational. The only connection I have to her as of now is Padme' and I must gain her trusts. In turn means, she must not know that I am aware of her true identity.

" Sir?" The Cadet across from me calls.

My eyes slip back to the Cadet's and I mumble, " We're done for tonight. Go get a few hours of rest, and Naberrie? Can you translate the rest tomorrow?"

She nods cautiously and mutters, " Sure, if you keep helping me on my studies."

I attempt a smile and she leaves me in my spot in the hall.

To be Continued….