Not where the black coach of sorrow has taken you
Angels have no thought of ever returning you
Would they be angry if I thought of joining you
Gloomy Sunday
"Ah, your Majesty." Governor Tarkin said, his voice full of smarmy scorn. "Welcome to the Death Star."
"Tarkin." She said, wishing she hadn't thrown the veil away.
"Where would your Lord husband be?" he said, his voice venomously sweet.
"I have charged him with commanding the Fleet. He's busy." Tarkin looked at the two guards behind her, Atam and Obi Wan were trying to look around without being obvious, Atam was impressed at the sheer size of the station, Obi Wan was nervous at her single mindedness, Too much like her brother.
"You must be exhausted after your journey. I will show you to your quarters." She gave a single nod and motioned for him to lead.
"Your highness will be please to note that once operational, this station will be the utmost power in the Galaxy."
"So I have heard, and why is it not yet operational? I have heard nothing but mutter mongers in the capital who say it should have been in the final stages before my late Father's demise." She felt Tarkin's anxiety and Obi Wan's amusement, which she shared but could not show. A good card player keeps their hand veiled till it's too late, Atam had told her when she sat in on the Red's card games. They eventually banned her because of her ability to read their minds, and therefore; their opinion; cheated.
"Here Milady." Tarkin bowed and opened the door. She, the Reds, and her luggage were escorted in. She eyed Tarkin who lingered, as if waiting for something.
"You are excused. I wish to freshen up."
"I will escort you to dinner Your Highness,"
"Till dinner Tarkin." She tried not to squirm as he kissed her hand.
"I shall see you then." He bowed and left as she wiped her hand on the her robe. Pulling off the headdress. She scowled and pressed a finger to her lips, her morning sickness dragging into real sickness. Obi Wan nodded in understanding and she and him scoured the room till they had both found the three listening devices and she the one camera, pointed directly at the bed.
"Gross." She said finally when they had all been deactivated. "I'm a married woman."
"It is my opinion that men will sink to any level, if they believe they can get away with it." Atam said disgustedly.
"Yes thank you, that's wonderfully helpful." She said sarcastically. "I'm going to get cleaned up. It's going to take me at least an hour to scrub that man's germs off my hand. Go get a caff or a tea or whatever." Atam nodded and paused at the door.
"Coming Obi Wan?" The Jedi hesitated.
"No, I'm going to stay," he said finally. "I will watch the room in case they return." Atam shrugged.
"Suit yourself." He looked from the Jedi to the Empress, "Milady," he bowed his head and left. Aja looked at Obi Wan who was trying to avoid her gaze intently, deciding it was useless she threw up her arms and walked into the fresher. Obi Wan sat on the couch and crossed his legs. Closing his eyes he attempted to meditate and find calm, but her presence had been causing tumultuous feeling inside him since she had saved him.
He tried to meditate, with her in the depths of the suite, he tried to refocus finding the feat far harder than he had ever before.
Dinner was a nerve wracking affair. Tarkin sat to her right, and Motti to his right, and the quiet General Tagge at the end. A quiet man who she had immediately liked when he had informed Tarkin that, according to ranking, she was to sit at the head of the table. Tarkin had been furious but had no choice but to bluster and plead ignorance.
"Milady, how is your husband?" Tagge asked as the men were enjoying their wine, she had refused quietly, causing Tarkin to be suspicious.
"He is quiet well. I have him commanding the fleet in the wake of Lord Vader, and I'd say he's filling in nicely."
"Lord Vader would be an easy act to follow." Motti sneered, "No one liked the man."
"My Father did." Aja said bluntly to the man she had almost been forced to be wed to, "He trusted him implacably."
"And look where that go him," Tarkin snickered.
"To speak ill of the dead is a great dishonour to them and yourself." She said primly. Tarkin swallowed audibly and Motti went pale.
"I know your husband," Tagge said redirecting the conversation back to a more pleasant one, "We attended the Academy together. He's a good man," She smiled at the young General, making a mental note to promote the man somewhere else.
"I will tell him of your praise, General." Tarkin shot Tagge a look of disgust, irritated with the conversation drifting from himself to the young officer.
As dinner concluded they sat and continued to discuss menial matters until one finally brave the question they had been dancing around the entire evening. "What is your plan for this station, Milady." Motti said prodding.
"I intend to scrap it. It is a massive expense that this Galaxy doesn't need. My late Father, bless him, did not understand what he was getting into, embarking in this flight of fancy."
"Empress, you cannot do this. Your Father would be furious."
"Governor, not twenty minutes ago you implied my father was a crackpot old fool."
Tarkin blushed puce, but his look of vehemence didn't leave. "But he was a man of vision."
"Well, I am not my Father. He's dead, and this station was designed to dominate."
"And dominate you shall."
"No!" she thundered, Tarkin was taken aback by her anger, "I am arresting you and this station will be taken apart piece by piece." Tarkin sat silently. He had been overjoyed when he had heard that she had been removing all the last remnants of the Republic when she closed the Senate. And then he heard her reinstating it.
"This is not acceptable." Tarkin snapped. "I think it's time for you to leave.. Empress."
She stood and smiled, "I don't think so." She glanced over her shoulder and Obi Wan stepped closer, his Lightsaber withdrawn, "I am taking control of this station. It is you who is leaving."
"So certain are we?" Tarkin sneered. Tarkin and Aja were staring off at each other when Atam came from behind and placed the Governor in binders.
The other officers stared at her, Motti in horror, Tagge in joviality. "You'll never get away with this." Aja rolled her neck and shot Motti a glance. And Father wanted me to marry him..
"General Motti. I can do whatever I want. I am Empress. Did you miss that?"
The man spluttered and attempted to speak when she cut him off. "General Tagge, I want you to get every Loyal officer off this station. You will all be reassigned. I am having all unnecessary personnel taken off by the Hand and returned to the Capital."
"Yes Ma'am" he said smartly.
"I better go check on Tarkin. I have a bad feeling that he won't go quietly." She muttered to Obi Wan. She knew that it would be a breeding ground for rebellion, but she also knew exactly where they were, as their propulsion system would be nowhere near ready in the next five years, let alone next few months. It was dangerous to leave such a opening, but at the time, she had no other option. Other than blowing a Imperial Vessel out of the sky and killing innocents.
They left the dining room and began down the hall, "Sometimes I wish I didn't care." She said, Obi Wan falling in step with her.
"If you didn't care, you wouldn't be in this position." Obi Wan said calmly. "You wouldn't have reached out to Anakin, you wouldn't have cared for Padmé and you wouldn't have helped me escape."
"I guess so." She murmured. Unsure of when this great Jedi grew such a high esteem for her. They looked up when she felt her loyal Captain approaching, his emotion highly nervous.
"Milady," Atam said, motioning to a squeamish Officer behind him, "We have a problem."
She had been right. They climax of their trip was Tarkin escaping into the bowels of the unfinished Death Star. She had thrown a fit of rage that had taken nearly a day to calm down from, taking every effort to not lash out at the sniveling officer who informed her.
With a heavy heart, she had returned to the capital, worry ravaging her body making her already delicate condition already more unstable. Tarkin had been stirring up a revolution in the Outer Rim, and she had begged Anakin to go, and protect the few planets that were unable to fight back themselves.
Anakin had fled to Destrillion as soon as he heard of Tarkin's rebellion rising. Imperials had started the slaughter in the streets and he had taken action. She was in a state of worry, and Padmé was furious at her, but she knew that Tarth was attempting to rein in the Governors, at least that was the official story. She didn't want an Imperial officer firing upon a peaceful planet, no matter what kind of distress they were in. Sending a Jedi looked much better, and Anakin had all the knowledge that she needed. The knowledge and the experience of a General and of the Imperials.
She looked up, fear washing over her as Obi Wan marched into her office like a man on a mission, "Empress," he bowed.
"Leave us." She waved to the Senators in her office. Bail Organa stood and nodded to Obi Wan.
"It is good to see you Master Jedi."
"And you Viceroy." Obi Wan said, his long-suffering teachings of etiquette impeding his impatience. Once the Senators left the room she looked back at the worried Jedi.
"What?"
"Tarkin has acted." He said, "He has sent assassins." She sighed.
"Bounty Hunters?"
He shook his head. "No. Imperial fanatics, but one was seen with a lightsaber."
She stood and turned to look out the large panoramic, her frayed nerves tensing. She exhaled a large breath, attempting calm. "To me?" She could deal. Additional security, less visits to the Twins and Padmé, despite their squabble she still adored her kind and loving sister-in-law.
"Yes..-"
"What is it?"
"It seems that Tarkin knows your weakness." Obi Wan laid the holo on the large desk and played it. The image of Tarkin sent fury through her and her fists clenched.
"...Anyone who brings the children of Anakin Skywalker to me, unharmed will be rewarded with two million credits, and the same as their mother. And to the one who brings me the head of Anakin Skywalker or the Empress will be rewarded beyond their imagination.."
How.. Her mind began buzzing with gnawing concern. While she had not been subtle about her friendship with Vader and Anakin, she was unsure how Tarkin knew to attack them. That they were her family. "Summon Padmé and the children. I don't want them dangled in front of this scum. Especially with Anakin in the outer rim." Obi Wan nodded and bowed. "And the Prince?" he asked stiffly.
"I'll contact him."
"I've tried to contact Anakin, but-"
"Leave that to me." Obi Wan nodded, still in a state of awe of their connection. Luke and Leia's gift was still young and their bond was very strong, but the elder Skywalker twins had a fully fledged bond. To see it in action was awe-inspiring.
She stared at the image of Tarkin, Anakin. She yelled in her mind.
ANAKIN, contact me NOW! She sat at her desk for a few moments, and was pleased when her comlink buzzed.
"I'm kind of in the middle of something, Mally."
"Tarkin is sending assassins after us."
"They'd have to be a great shot to get us.."
"But the same cannot be said for Luke, Leia and Padmé." Silence echoed on the other end.
"I'm coming now."
"No. Go to the Death Star. I'll rendezvous you there. I have an entire squadron bringing her and the children here to the palace."
"I'm coming home. That's final." The connection crackled and she heard a frustrated yell. "We're abandoning Destrillion for now. We can't get through the blockade without killing innocents."
"Understood. General. I'm leaving for the Death Star in 24 hours."
"I'll be there in 10." She closed the communication and rolled her eyes. Ever the stubborn Skywalker. She left the office, the hair on the back of her neck rising as she felt eyes on her. She looked around and saw nothing, the scenario too familiar with the one that had taken Nafia from her. She spied a few Clones on the other side of the room and a collective of Pages at the terminals, nothing out of the ordinary.
But she knew there was something wrong.
She didn't settle for hours, until the sight of Padmé, Obi Wan and the children hurrying through the great arches of the Palace. The clones surrounding them were ominous and scared the children. She was pacing in her chambers when she glanced up, the portentous presence closed in. She buckled under the pressure and her blade was drawn as the small family and Obi Wan walked in.
"Aja?"
"Obi Wan, take the children to my rooms and hide." Padmé looked at her, concern etched in her beautiful features. They slipped into one of the side rooms and sat in the chairs, while she motioned Atam to wait outside.
"We're the bait." Aja said softly. Padmé nodded, appreciating that, unlike her husband, Aja was willing to put her in harm's way to protect the children. She glanced at Aja and frowned.
"You hide it well."
"At three months, it's pretty easy. Soon I'm going to have to get creative." Padmé giggled and her nerves took over and her giggle turned to a full out laugh.
"I remember eating my breakfast while being wrapped into my garments." The two smiled conspiratorially.
"Ani will be here in a few hours. All we can do it wait."
"And wait we shall.. Empress." A silky voice came from the door. Aja caught a glimpse of a slumped over Atam and her heart moved up to her throat.
Ani, you better get here quick. She prayed that he would hear her.
Anakin had returned to the ship and was en route back to Coruscant within minutes. He barked orders like the General he was and the fleet raced home. They all saw the nerves that were rampant in their brave leader.
He paced the length of the bridge, wringing his hands, images of his children and wife injured flashing before him, I just got them back.. I can't lose them..Oh Padmé… the return trip to the Capital was excruciatingly long.
Hours later he was in the fighter, racing to the palace. A blast of sheer terror reached out to him, Padmé!
He barely landed when he was out and racing through the halls. He followed the fear and opened the door to the large conference room, there, four bounty hunters held blasters to his wife. Aja was unconscious on the ground and the tall hooded creature was smirking with delight.
Mally, he kneeled and felt her cheek with the back of his hand, her face was warm but a bruise was blooming across her cheek. His hand rested on her back as if in comfort, and he felt the hard lightsaber beneath his hand.
Picking her up he placed her in the chair, ignoring the eyes from the other's. Unsure of their plan, or their intent he withdrew her lightsaber and tucked it in her hand, his large frame cover the actions from the crowd.
"You going to kill us now?"
"The deal was alive." The hooded creature said, "But it didn't saw how alive." He knew that voice. He hadn't wanted his suspicions to be true, but he couldn't deny anymore.
"Ventress." She removed her hood and the long scar he had put on her face made him smile.
"Vader." She said, "You look .. well."
"You know better than to come here Ventress. You're lucky I let you live on Gyndine. And I'm not Vader anymore."
"Oh Lord Vader, once a Sith, forever a Sith," she ignited her blade.
"Same back, Ventress. Abandoned the Sith for Bounty Hunting?" He ignited his own blade and glanced at the men holding blasters to his family.
"More profitable."
"Put the weapons down, or you will not leave this room alive," he said, and a round of venomous chuckles greeted him, Amallakin, I NEED you!
Tell me when, he exhaled a deep breath in relief and noticed her hand clenching her blade. He stared at them trying to gauge how to proceed without Padmé being harmed.
Duck and roll, ready?
Ready. "Now." He yelled yanking the guns from the men's hands with the Force. They had been preoccupied with his ludicrous ideas suddenly found themselves in fatal danger, without weapons.
Anakin dispatched them and turned to help his sister, who was barely managing with the evil Ventress. "Mal, take Padmé out of here."
"Atam!" she hollered, "Get her out of here." She said, "I'm not leaving you alone." They smiled at each other and the brave Captain hurriedly pulled the unconscious Padmé out, leaving the two Skywalker's to fight.
"Nice scar," he said. Laughing at her blind rage.
Ventress was quickly coming to realise that she was outmatched. The Skywalker twins were so in sync they fought like a single entity. She refused to give up though. All the bitterness and the anger that swelled inside her came out in a single rage and she fought like the world was ending.
But it wasn't enough.
Aja spun low, bending back just in time for Ventress's blue blades to whiz past her, Anakin leaned over ducking the wild haymaker she had attempted with her double blades. With three quick steps Anakin had Ventress on her knees and Aja had her purple blade to the witches throat.
"I have some questions for you," Aja snapped, "if you don't mind dear brother." She gave Anakin a sly look.
"Not at all Sister. By all means." The glimmer in his eyes would have terrified anyone, and Ventress was just that anyone.
"Who sent you?" Ventress spat on Aja's boot. "WHO!" she pressed a little harder and they both smelt the burning flesh of the woman's skin under the sizzling blade.
"Tarkin." Ventress finally said, "And I would have gotten more than I need with your whore, Vader. Even more when I found the two brats." She said icily.
Anakin backhanded her, "Speak about my wife like that again and I'll do more than smack you." She looked up into Anakin's cold eyes and was suddenly afraid. This man had abandoned the Dark Side, something no one else in the universe had done, and now here he had a sister?
"Why?" Aja asked proceeding on with her questions, "Why us."
"I don't know." Ventress said hoping her face didn't betray her. Aja removed the blade and her hand encircled the woman's throat.
"You attempted to kill me, my baby, and my sister.. That's treason." Aja's smiled grew sly, "You know what the punishment for treason is in the Empire?" Ventress knew what came next.
"You wouldn't dare. You don't have the guts."
"I killed my father." Aja said, enjoying the woman's fear. She had not been kind to them while capturing them, and here was her chance for revenge, "He is dead because of me." She stuck her blade in the woman's gut and dropped her. Anakin had been concerned by the show of darkness, but quickly caught Aja as she collapsed with fatigue.
"I'm fine," she said as she fell into the chair, "Go to your family, send Atam back in." Anakin looked at her, grateful that not once, not twice, but three times had she saved his life.
He grabbed her hand and squeeze, "I'm not leaving you here." He said, and scooped her up, carrying her to her rooms, which fortunately, also was where his wife was.
"Ani" Padmé shrieked as he found her in Aja's quarter's. He set Aja down on the long couch and was struck with a memory. Try and kill me, again. He pulled Padmé into his arms and buried his head in her hair. "I'm so sorry Padmé, so sorry."
"It's alright Ani, we're ok."
"Where are the children?"
"Obi Wan has them. I don't know.." She looked to Aja who was clutching her stomach, "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine, I'm just making sure Jr. is alright. And their all down the hall." She said without looking up.
Padmé and Anakin hustled down the hall, the door was already open and Obi Wan was trying to restrain an anxious Luke. Padmé scooped up her son and held him close. Anakin's eyes met Obi Wan's and the two shared a look of unfiltered concern. Anakin picked up his daughter, who was hold her chubby arms out to her father, and he held her close to him, the past few hours of worry and leftover adrenaline still coursing his veins.
"Aja told me to take them and hide." Obi Wan said, trying not to blame himself, but failing miserably. Once again he had abandon his friend.
"You did exactly the right thing Obi Wan." Anakin said morosely. "It was Ventress." Obi Wan 's eyes grew dark.
"And?"
"She will never be a threat to my family again."
"Anakin you didn't-" While his transformation had been remarkable, the old Jedi couldn't refute that there was still pockets of darkness in the soul of his old Padawan. He felt the relief swell when the tall man shook his head.
"Mally did. We have to stop teaching her, she's getting better than me." Anakin cracked and all three adults burst out laughing, the tense, nervous energy bubbling over. They walked out to the main room where Aja was collapsed, Tarth now sitting with her, cradling her head against his chest.
"Tarth?" Padmé said surprised, "What are you doing here?"
"Atam contacted me. He felt I should be kept in the loop in concern with my wife. Miss Dala." Tarth said icily. Anakin was going to snap at the man for his disrespect but Aja spoke first.
"No, don't do this. Why am I always separating you two." Aja opened one eye and looked at her brother, "Your going have to show me that stance now. I think I got it but I'll be sloppy without direction." Obi Wan sniggered and Anakin shot him a look.
"Mal, your – "
"I'm a woman." She said flatly, "I'm a politician, I'm not a fighter, I'm not a warrior. I would never make a good Jedi for they were selfless and I'm not." She snapped, her temper rising, "I'm just like my father."
"No!" Anakin shouted. She was still sitting with Tarth, but her eye's became steely and she went nose–to–nose with Anakin.
"Then what?" she cried.
"You're almost as good as me." He said, an impish smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. She stopped mid sentence. "Mal, you have so much to learn, and yet, there's nothing we can teach you." She looked from one Jedi to another.
"Empress, you killed a Sith. It takes quite a formidable warrior to do that."
"Ventress wasn't a Sith anymore than Vader was. Too much emotion to be a Sith, besides you killed a Sith when you were a Padawan, Obi Wan." The old Jedi felt the pain from long ago seep into his heart. The memory of his Master and Mentor still washed coldness over him.
"Indeed. And you know this how?"
"I was nine. I was the daughter of a senator, and to much avail, he was training to be a Sith at the time under Plagueis, he had found Maul, or was given Maul. Maul taught me the basic's when he wasn't hurting me."
"You knew Plagueis?" Anakin said, his eyes wide in fear. Aja stepped back into Tarth's chest and her arms wrapped around herself. Padmé saw the woman folding into herself, and it didn't take Force sense to see her terror at the mere mention of the name.
"He was evil." She spat, "Evil! Imagine standing on the edge of an abyss with nothing but darkness around you. He was hate and fury and greed and lust, and I was nine." She started shaking and Tarth's arms encircled her, pulling her close. He didn't understand the words, Sith, Plagueis, Maul or Padawan, but he knew his wife needed comfort.
"Oh Mal." Anakin reached out and she flinched back.
"I had actually liked my Father until he came. He was mean, but it was before he became… Evil."
"What did he do Aja?" Tarth asked quietly. "This.. Plagueis, what did he do to you?"
"He made Father hurt me." She said, shivering. "I-.. I don't want to say anymore." Her eyes glanced at the children who were standing at their parent's feet, their large innocent eyes staring up at their normally sunny Aunt. They didn't understand why they both suddenly felt so cold, but they pulled from their parent's grasp and hugged her. She knelt down and pulled the children tight to her, their love melting her frozen heart.
The two Jedi glanced at each other and Obi Wan stroked his beard. "Milady could use some rest." He said, his clipping accent making the words sound less condescending and more caring.
Tarth nodded and the children let go of their Aunt. Tarth led her by the hand back to their room while Padmé and Anakin gathered their children.
"You should stay here tonight Anakin." Obi Wan said, "Moving the children now is not the best idea." Anakin looked at his dozy children and nodded in agreement, scooping up his children he led them to the rooms Aja had set aside for him. Luke had started whimpering and Leia was crying. He looked at Padmé and had a foreboding feeling that the night was yawning before them, taunting them to say the fateful words. Daring them to say it could get worse.
In the royal suite the Empress had watched her husband get half undressed then redressed when his comlink sounded. He had left it and glanced at his teary wife.
"Aja, can you tell me what's going on?" She shook her head and sat glumly on the end of the bed, her shirtless husband kneeling in front of her. They had begun getting ready for bed when he had gotten a call from the Hand that he was needed.
"Aja, darling, please." She waved her hands at her face and tried to breathe deeply.
"Just being pregnant. You'll have to get used to this." She patted the growing bump. "I'm a bit hormonal. That and I killed someone today." Tarth frowned, glancing back over his shoulder at the comlink. The two options weighing heavy in his mind.
"No, your needed there more. I'll survive."
"You shouldn't have to just survive my love." He said. She lifted his chin and gave him a chaste kiss.
"Go, they need you."
"Not yet." His grin turned sly and he cupped her cheek, pulling her to him. "Not before I'm made sure every inch of you is unharmed. They can wait an hour or two." He leaned in and kissed her neck, and she giggled, glad that he had delayed his departure.
"Empress," Rooki said, shaking her shoulder. "Milady the Jedi are here." Aja sat up slowly and rubbed her eyes. "You need to get up, right now." She glanced at the window seeing that it was still dark. The large cold bed felt empty and she felt a desolation that she couldn't quite label. She sensed her Brother's worry and sat up.
"What is it?" she said thickly, she still felt the flush that Tarth had left her with. She had assumed he had stayed long enough for her to fall asleep then left. Her heart a little colder without him there.
"There was an attack." She shot out of bed and dressed quickly, pulling the tunic over her blossoming baby belly, the wide sleeping trousers hidden under the heavy shawl she threw over her shoulders. They arrived in her main chamber where Atam and Kiratta were both standing, worry pinching their faces.
Everyone was worried.
"What's going on?" She asked, trying to keep up, a hand resting on her protruding belly, the child was quiet, as if in understanding of the gravity of the situation.
"Malla," both Obi Wan's and Anakin's face were solemn and grave.
"Empress," Yoda started, "Grave, this news is, strong you must be." She looked from the faces of everyone in the room,
"What is it."
"Sorry for the news I must give you, I am. Fired its main weapon on the Emperor's Hand, the Death Star has." Anakin's heart broke as he watched the color drain from her face.
"Tarth only left a couple hours ago." She said, her heart racing and her head pounding.
"Mall-.. he was onboard. He sent a transmission." Anakin said, Obi Wan held up at data disc and her face went white. Anakin felt the effect and reached out catching her mid collapse. She fell into his arms and began shaking.
"No-.. He's alive- he has to be-" She's alive, I felt it.. His own ache was hers as he dropped to his knees, his sister burying her head in his chest and growing hysterical. Anakin frowned at the Jedi that looked distained at each other. "If you're going to be useless then leave." He snapped, his hand smoothing her wild blond hair back. He hugged her to his chest and let her tears soak his tunic. Yoda and Obi Wan both turned and moved to leave.
"Obi Wan, tell Padmé and the twins." He said softly, his eyes apologizing for his words.
"I will Anakin." Yoda and Obi Wan left, the animalistic cry of torment ripping through the palace and across the Force.
"In much pain, is she. To go through that torment, we both remember what became of the last Skywalker. Dangerous, she will be. " Obi Wan shook his head, his own eyes knowing different.
"Love is key for the Skywalker's. As long as she still has love she will stay strong. She has a child to worry about." Yoda's ears twitch. "I've seen what happens when the Skywalker's become parents."
"Seen Anakin as a parent you have. Not the Empress." Yoda saw the coldness echo in the younger man. "Assess this tomorrow we shall."