Out on the calm, clear waters, Vader was in a mood. He was annoyed that Ahsoka knew how to drive the jet ski before him and she would not stop rubbing his face in it. "You don't know how to drive these Master? Let me show you." She smirked. As if he'd let a snip like her teach him about machines. He scanned the controls quickly, easily identifying the accelerator, the brake, the speedometer, etc. "I can drive it."

Ahsoka glanced at him doubtfully, "You just took a look at it now!"

Vader shrugged, "I know how to drive it." He gripped the controls confidently.

"If you're sure, let's race!"

"Here to the beach and back."

"Ok!"

As they raced toward the beach, Vader saw Solaria talking to Nox Bonteri. Vader had allowed Ahsoka to introduce the Naboo aristocracy to Solaria to smooth ruffled feathers the night before. Apparently, they were displeased that Imperials were staying there. Not that he cared, but Solaria had insisted on the grounds of it was good for something if they did something with this family-he was not paying any particular attention. Of course they were delighted to meet the famous ballerina. Especially the boy's father, Nox. The way he lingered over the kiss on her hand irritated him. Miffed, he glanced at them. They looked so intimate lounging near each other on the warm sand. In a fit of pique he sped up, passing Ahsoka and drove almost to the beach. He stopped abruptly, jerking the handles to spin in a quick circle, showering Solaria and Nox with his wake. With the squeals from the shore he watched them spring up soaking wet with satisfaction.

"Vader!" Solaria stamped her foot in aggravation. Reaching out with the Force, he pulled her to him and deposited the slight woman on the seat behind him. Ignoring her questions, he gunned the throttle and headed to the other beach. Feeling her arms settle around him, Vader took a deep breath of the clean air. The water ski floated across the glassy lake, the scenery faded. It was just her and him in between the water and the sky.

Ahsoka had reached the shore before him and was dancing on the sand in triumph. Solaria laughed at her; Vader was glad his apprentice had distracted Solaria, she didn't seem vexed anymore. Lux appeared and the two of them ran off.

Solaria wrung out of her hair then placed her small fists on her hips. "Vader, what was that for? Splashing then abducting me was completely unnecessary!"

So she was still irritated after all. "You are wearing swimwear, it is to be expected that you will get wet," he said reasonably. "No, I did not want to get wet today," she huffed. That didn't make sense to him, why else would she wear swimwear if not to get into the water?

Capitulating, he held out his hand, "I want to show you something." Solaria gave him an exasperated smile and gripped his hand. He held her clasped her to his chest and leapt off the cliff. She gasped and held him tighter. No wonder the men in the ballet was able to lift her easily. She was so small. Landing onto the ground lightly, he led her into the caves below the palace. In the dark, she stumbled into his back. Holding her hand, he slowly led her deeper into the cavern.

Light sparkled and Solaria held her breath in awe. Sunlight filtered into the caves where the crystals refracted the light sending colorful light around them. "It's beautiful!" Solaria let go of his hand and he let her slip away regretfully. She spun in a circle, staring at the surroundings. Her short skirt flared around her, Vader stared at her exposed legs.

"How did you find this place?" she left his side to examine the crystals. Vader didn't know how to answer her. The Force told him and when he went to explore, he found this cavern of light. He shrugged in response and she made another face at him. "Was it the Force?" Solaria drifted to the walls holding up her hand to see the colors on her skin. He nodded in confirmation.

Vader broke the silence. "Should I take the Senator to the ball?"

"What?" she dropped her hand to look at him.

"I am taking the Senator to dinner after your performance and I will try to ask her about the Jedi and Rebel base. I don't know if I can consolidate her trust with just one dinner. Uncle said that if I take her to the ball, she might trust me more, right?" He clasped his hands, scrutinizing her.

Solaria tilted her head, staring at the ground, thinking. "It might be a good idea. If dinner doesn't end up well, taking her to the coronation ball might be a way to show that there would be no hard feelings."

Vader frowned, confused. "Why would there be hard feelings?"

Solaria placed a hand on his broad shoulder. "Vader, sometimes your questions can be…intense. You might say or ask her something that would offend her. You must remember that when questioning Padme, it isn't an interrogation. Ask her indirectly or at least phrase the questions so that they don't seem hostile. She might not like being questioned and it would be harder to gain her trust."

"She's a senator. She's going to twist my words and be hostile no matter what," he grumbled. Scuffing his feet. "That's the way it is," she smiled, brushing her dress off. "Let's go back, my performance is tonight."

Later they went to Theeds for Solaria's performance. The festival of lights took the stars in the sky and put them on the ground. The entire city was alight and the Emperor arrived with a great deal of pomp and ceremony. The Naboo welcomed him and celebrated his anniversary of ruling the Galactic Empire. In the evening after the celebration, the affluent and the celebrities went to the ballet.

Seated in the Imperial box, Vader leaned forward as the spotlight shone upon galaxy's most exalted ballerina. The ballet was a melodrama with an overly tragic plot and melancholic score. Vader was not particularly moved by the story but the way Solaria performed caused his chest to ache. For once, he paid attention to the plot. A woman was cursed to transform into a swan and while trying to break the curse, was betrayed by her beloved.

Solaria was graceful and romantic as the innocent white swan. She poured out longing and sorrow as she fluttered her arms, acting out a transformation from woman to swan. He leaned closer to the edge of the balcony, entranced. She swirled and glided as a swan across the stage, her pure white costume a graceful blur. The diamonds in her dark hair and the bodice of her costume glittered under the lights.

Later on in the ballet she came out as the White Swan's antithesis, wearing a black costume, exotic and erotic as the black swan. She wore the tiara Vader commissioned and stolen the sapphires for, so long ago. She smiled directly at him and his heart skipped a beat. Was she actually smiling at him? She performed a brilliant sequence that made the crowd stand in a spontaneous ovation. The audience loved her and she reciprocated their adoration.

In the last act, Solaria playing the woman died as a swan. The betrayal of her beloved had sealed her fate. The music slowed and quieted until only the piano accompanied her. The entire amphitheater was silent, watching her drift from one end from the stage to the other like a bird falling to the earth. He could see the motions of a genuine swan trying one final time to take flight as Solaria moved her arms desperately then slower and slower as the swan perished. Finally she folded herself gracefully on the ground in the position of a dying swan. The entire crowd was hushed until she stood again, breaking the spell.

He stood up with the rest of the audience in a standing ovation. The performance was glorious but something worried at his mind. It seemed ominous, a foreboding glimpse into the future; he couldn't shake the feeling. Ahsoka-at his side as usual-clapped and cheered raucously. The Emperor also stood, beaming at the stage. Vade made eye contact with the Senator, stiffening his resolved, he nodded to her. Then, a massive bouquet of roses passed the Imperial box and he reached over to pluck a singular perfect bloom from it. Solaria's favorite flower, he thought as he fingered the blood red petals. Tucking it into his jacket, he joined the applause.