Hello! Sorry for the long wait! I've had a lot of inspiration for BYOR because I've been in the hospital with my sister while she had the cutest little baby YAY! so now that that is over, my update routine should return to normal.

Anyways, here is chapter 12! Things get very funky from here on out and I hope you all stick around for the ride!

-DFD

Chapter 12

Ahsoka made to protest against Padme's insistence but the former senator would not have it. She had to know for herself what was going on with Anakin because when the time comes that there is a chance to end this war, if he really is on the Empire's side, she has to be absolutely sure there is no good left in him before they kill him. She knows there is still good in him. She knows he could never turn, not with what his visions had told him. She knows there is something wrong with the tale Ahsoka told them. And she plans to figure it out.

"Padme, perhaps you should reconsider that," Bail suggested, "What about the twins?"

"They're his," She said simply, "He has a right to know about them. And if he does, there's a chance he'll come back."

Ahsoka jumped off the medical table, flexing her new arm, "And if he doesn't," She started, "Then he'll take your children from you and make them Sith. We can't let that happen."

Padme shook her head, "I know you all mean well," She starts, "But this is something I must do."

Captain Antillies entered the room and cleared his throat, directing all attention to himself, "Sir, Milady, Master Jedi; Anakin Skywalker is here."

Ahsoka is the first to step towards the captain, "What does he want?"

"He's calling himself Lord Vader," Antilles folds his hands in front of him, "He demands the Viceroy and the rebel guests he's been housing come with him… it doesn't look good."

Padme exchanges a glance with Bail. While there is always a chance she can hide among his staff as she has done many times before, this is not the course of action she wants to take. He wants to keep her and her children safe, which is understandable; but this is her husband they are dealing with. This is the father of her children and she is not about to give up on him just yet. Turning back to Antilles she shifts the baby in her arms, "Then we'd best not keep him waiting."

[][][][]

Vader waited on the landing platform with a squad of storm troopers at his back. He had his doubts the Viceroy would cooperate- all those who had dealt with him prior had said he was adamant that he played no part in the rebellion and found the notion preposterous. This would not be the case this time. He had proof of his dealings- an intercepted message from Hoth, and he had tracked the Jedi's ship here. There would be no escape this time.

When the doors to the palace opened and Bail Organa made his way to the platform, Vader paid close attention to the company he had brought with him. A woman and a child followed him each holding an infant. Vader scowled when he did not catch sight of the Jedi he had tracked here. Obviously Organa was still trying to be difficult. Crossing his arms over his chest he waited until the group came to stand in front of him, "I thought I made myself clear," He started, "I want the rebels you've been hiding."

Organa nodded his head, "That's why we're here." He said. He did not like Padme's plan to get involved like this at all, but he knew that if he were to argue now, it would not be good for any of them. He gestured to Padme, "This is the former senator of Naboo, Padme Amidala."

Vader took note of her and how despite her size she stood tall and looked determined to stand her ground yet the way her eyes flickered alerted him to the fear she was trying so hard to hide. But it was not a direct fear of him… it was fear for him.

"Anakin," She said. His brow knitted when he heard the name, "Anakin, please." She begged, clutching the child close to her.

His gaze dropped to the children, all three had potential in the force- the twins more so than the girl. "You're children are force-sensitive," He said, his eyes meeting Organa's, "If you think delivering them will spare you for your crimes-"

"That's not what we're doing," Padme interrupts.

"Is it?" He asks, taking a step closer to her, towering over her, "Because I think you and your Jedi friends have a trick up your sleeves to distract me so you can escape. I think you're counting on my orders dealing with the rebellion conflict with my orders for force-sensitives." He shakes his head, "That won't work." He said, waving his hand to call his troopers forward, "Take the children, get them on the ships." The storm troopers move in and separate Serena from Padme's side while another trooper takes the child from Padme's arms. The baby starts to wail as she fights to get to the child. Organa tries to get to them as well but the troopers point their blasters at both adults while the children are loaded onto the first transport. They watch as the door to the shuttle closes and the ship takes off. A blaster is pointed at her spine, flashing a glare to the trooper behind her, she starts to walk to the other transport with Bail and boards.

Vader holds on to the handrail as the ship starts to take off. He can feel the eyes of the woman on him but he ignores it. This isn't the first time a mother has glared at him. This isn't the first time he has done something to upset one, and it won't be the last. He's just following orders. He's just trying to bring peace to the Empire.

"Anakin."

He growls low in his throat, "Why do you keep calling me that?" He asks.

She blinks at him. "Don't you know?" She asks, "That's your name- your real name."

"Real name?" He asks, "I don't have a real name."

Padme stares at him and tries to wrap her head around what he said. Does he not remember? No, that can't be it. But then what? She wants to press for more, but if he doesn't know who she is, then there is a good chance she'll get hurt. That means there is a good chance her children will be hurt. What has she gotten them into?

[][][][]

The shuttle lands in the massive hanger of the Death Star. Vader disembarks quickly as the Viceroy and the senator are taken to the holding cells. The children he had taken had already been taken to a different part of the station under the watchful eye of one of the officers. Ignoring everyone as he went, he made his way to the conference room where Tarkin was waiting for an update. He hated the Grand Moff. He was egotistical and far too confident for his own good. The way he spoke of the station and how it would end the rebellion with one strike, only showed how naïve he was to believe such nonsense. The rebels were nothing if not resourceful.

Entering the room he listened as the admiralty gave updates on where the station and the fleet stood. The Moff seemed to enjoy making him wait as he complimented the men on their hard work and asked questions about the progress. As the last man finished his report, Tarkin dismissed them. Rising from his seat he greeted Vader and gestured for him to sit. Rather than take a seat, Vader walked around the table to stand a few feet away from him. "Organa is here, as requested." He said, "I'm curious how you plan to get him to talk."

Tarkin smiled, "Everyone has a breaking point, Vader," He replied, "Surely you realize that. I believe for Organa a full weapons test of the station will do."

Vader shook his head, "I believe that would only fuel the rebels for more drastic action."

"Then we'll take out another planet if that's the case." Tarkin said, "What's a couple planets in the name of peace? The end justifies the means, Vader."

Vader rolls his eyes at Tarkin's words. He hated how he occasionally spoke to him like a child.

"I heard you brought children on board." Tarkin said when Vader turned to leave, halting him in his tracks, "I never took you for having a soft spot."

Vader growled low in his throat, "I don't," He said, turning his head to glare at the Moff out of the corner of his eye, "They're force-sensitive. I believe the Emperor could find use for them since two of them are still infants."

Tarkin nodded, "Are you sure its not just an excuse so you don't have to kill them."

He turns more to face Tarkin again, "Do you think me weak?" He asks, "I assure you, if they prove more difficult than anticipated, I will end them myself." The statement seems to be enough for him for the moment. Without another word, Vader turns and leaves and makes his way to the detention block. There is something he is curious about.

[][][][]

Padme sat on the bench in her cell. She hadn't thought things through like she normally did. She let her emotions decide what to do rather than listen to reason. And now they were prisoners on this station and she had no idea what was going to happen to Luke and Leia. To make matters worse, she has no idea what is going on with Anakin. After seeing him, he looks far too young to be him. But he looked almost exactly like he had during the Clone Wars. Perhaps it really isn't him… but that only makes the situation even more dangerous.

The door to her cell opens and she is on her feet in an instant. Vader enters her cell and the door closes behind him. He stares at her for a long time before he speaks, "The name you said earlier," He starts, "It sounds familiar."

Padme nods, "Anakin Skywalker." She says, and watches him closely to gauge his reaction. He shifts on his feet a little and she continues, "Where have you heard the name before?"

He shrugs, "I don't know."

Padme sits back down on the bench, "You said you don't have a real name. What did you go by before 'Vader'?"

He meets her gaze and hesitates. What is it about her that makes him feel like he can trust her? Why does he want to trust her? When his training had been completed and he was given his Sith name, his number had become a secret he had sworn never to share. He never understood why it was such a secret; all his brothers had a number. Shaking his head, he decides to trust her. She was going to die soon anyway. "AS 16-192," He said.

"What does that mean?" She asks, "Is there any significance?"

He shrugs, "Not really. Its just the order I was born." He furrows his brow, "Why do you even care?" He asks, "Chances are once Organa gives Tarkin what he wants, you'll be executed." He said, "Why are you asking me these things?" He scoffs, "I'd imagine you'd be asking to see your children one last time."

Her eyes drop to the floor. She realizes he is right. But now she also realizes that the man before her is not Anakin. The number, referencing his birth… it all points to cloning. But does that mean that Anakin is a prisoner on Kamino? Or does it mean they killed him and took samples of his DNA to clone? Either way, she knows what happens from here on out is uncertain. Padme lets out a small sigh, "I could ask you to see my children one last time, but I doubt you'll let that happen." She said, "As for why I'm curious about you, I'm more interested in your host."

The knit in his brow deepens, "My host?" He asks. His eyes dart around the room and he raises his hand to crush the camera in the cell before taking a step closer to her, "You… you know about the Alpha?"

Padme shifted to lean forward. He is a clone. But referring to the original, as 'Alpha' is not something she has ever heard before. Even during the Clone Wars the clones never referred to the Jango DNA as anything special. She nods her head once, "I knew who he was before, yes." She said, "But I've never known him as 'Alpha' where did that come from?"

He crosses his arms over his chest and slowly starts to pace the room, "Started… a couple generations ago," He said, "I don't know who started it, but… story goes when my master heard one of them talking about it, he killed him. It's been a secret ever since." He shakes his head, "Why am I even telling you this?" He suddenly asks, "Why am I trusting you? You're a rebel, a traitor." His eyes meet hers, "I should kill you." He said, "But I can't… why can't I?" He asks; he runs his hand across his face and backs away. Turning quickly, he leaves the room and heads for the observation deck where Organa should be by now. He needs to stay away from that woman. She makes him drop his guard. She makes him weak. And he has no idea why. He cannot allow her to corrupt everything that he has achieved. He can't let her be the reason his master replaces him.