So it was true. There really was a riot stirring on Earth, begun by Senator Tragan. That was why Maul took her back to Earth. She knew he had let her escape too easily. Solaria paced on her balcony. What was the point of letting her find the base? Solaria felt trapped in a web with an ominous spider hidden just out of site and manipulated by an expert puppeteer. It felt like a trap but she could not let it go, not without a contingency. She knew what was to be done but, could she bring herself to do it? Solaria fisted her hands in her skirt. Who was she really? She wasn't just a simple entertainer anymore. She was the only woman in the galaxy to manipulate Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, the Jedi Council, Padme Amidala, and Prince Tyrranus. Successfully! she thought with a touch of hysteria. She hid the rebellion on her planet for as long as she could but never did come up with a solution. At least she deflected the Jedi enough not to recruit Earth officially into their cause.

She needed leverage. Something she could sacrifice to Vader. Someone. Her reflection in the doors caught her eye and she turned to examine herself. Who was she anymore? She wasn't the same woman 3 years ago-the doe eyed ballerina suddenly catapulted into the galactic spot light. She wasn't the woman 2 years ago-the terrified woman left in the callous hands of Darth Vader. Who was she now? A woman who was willing to do what was needed to keep her system out of the civil war that was threatening the Empire.

"Naarva!" she called. Naarva materialized at her side. "Invite Padme to dinner here. I need to talk to her." Naarva dressed Solaria, keeping her eyes subverted. Solaria had a feeling she knew but Solaria squared her shoulders, she was committed now.

After an hour of enjoyable but meaningless small talk, Solaria decided to take the plunge.

"Maybe the Rebellion is something I need to look into." Solaria admitted.

"What is with the change of heart?" Padme asked, taking a bite of the pasta. Solaria shrugged, "My people have spoken, they are no longer happy under the Emperor's rule." Padme looked unconvinced and so she added quietly, "I went to Zygeria. I can't believe the Emperor turns a blind eye. It's barbaric."

"Exactly!" Padme leaned closer with a manic glint in her warm brown eyes. "Who should I contact?" Solaria asked. "Well, you can speak to Obi Wan." Padme suggested.

"I don't think so. Obi Wan is a Jedi and their position in the Rebellion is, well, questionable." Solaria said reluctantly. She didn't want to bring any more people down. Padme nodded. You can talk to Cassian Andor. He's a pilot in the Rebellion and I trust him."

Here was the hard part. Solaria made a show of fiddling with her bracelet, discretely turning on the recording device. "Cassian Andor. He's pretty well known, the Empire has a 100,000 credit bounty on his head. It would be dangerous to contact him." The warm atmosphere of her suite felt oppressively hot, the candles on the table were suddenly blinding.

"You can contact an associate." Padme offered.

"Traitors are everywhere," she winced internally. "I want to meet him face to face. I don't know if he is trustworthy, even with you vouching for him, no offense." Her heart was pounding in her ears. Solaria could not believe that Padme was unable to pick up her anxiety. She had to force herself to stay still.

"Meet him-"

Solaria cut in, "Not in the core worlds, if anyone caught me…"

Padme thought for a moment, then added, "Well there is a small base on Endor."

Solaria dismissed the suggestion with an elegant wave of her hand. "That is too far, any pilot willing to take me there would be suspicious why I would go to such a deserted place."

"There is a secret base on Taivas," Padme whispered. "Obi Wan can take you, I think it is a Jedi Temple."

Solaria nodded, "Go ahead and contact him. I'll meet with Andor." Padme made an unintelligible sound of glee and excused herself to contact Obi Wan.

Done. Solaria took her pendant in hand. Who was she anymore?

She waited for Vader's return in the evening. She wondered how she was going to broach the topic of the rebellion on Earth. Solaria was reluctant to betray Padme. Though she was overzealous in her mission for democracy, Padme was a breath of fresh air and Solaria genuinely liked her. There wasn't even a full blown rebellion, she told herself, this was just discontent. If Vader doesn't ask, she won't tell.

Vader brushed into the room and headed straight towards her. Solaria grinned and held out her hands. Despite her nerves, she was genuinely happy to see him. Vader took one and brought it to his lips for his customary greeting. She loved when he greeted her, it made her feel special. He let go of her hand and pressed his lips against hers.

He was so clearly a warrior and not a lover. He didn't have a lover's touch, he was all eager hands and lips. "I take it that your mission was a success?" she asked between kisses. "Yes," Vader murmured against her neck. She allowed him to lead her into the bedroom, curious at his newfound initiative.

Vader stripped quickly giving Solaria a delightful view of his amazing body. Tanned skin flowed over lean and hard muscles, lines and curves breaking his form up into individual muscles. Almost shy now, he turned to her and touched her face gently. She smiled, leaning into his touch. Vader swallowed visibly and then slid the straps of her dress off her shoulders and then led the dress down her body to the ground. Solaria held still letting him stare at her half naked body. Vader ran his hands through her silky hair, studying her. His eyes had darkened turning the most incredible shade of navy. Solaria took a step forwards and wrapped her slender arms around his neck, tangling her fingers in his hair. He reached behind her to undo her brassiere and growled with frustration when the tiny clasps refused to obey him.

Reaching behind to help him, Solaria laughed when he batted her helping hands away. "I can do it," he said stubbornly. Solaria shook her head and moved her hair over one shoulder as she turned around. After some fiddling, he got it off.

She laid down on the bed and let him take initiative. Vader climbed on top and gently ran his hands down her body. He tentatively caressed her hip then meandered his hand up to her breast and grasped firmly. Solaria arched into him with pleasure, driving him on with a roll of her hips. Vader shuddered and moved her legs to wrap around his waist. Carefully, he eased himself into her with a graceful stroke. Solaria enjoyed intimacy with Vader, he was always so careful and attentive. He never did anything without reason. It was always much more enjoyable seeing him break control.

Solaria moved her hips, meeting him thrust for thrust. She was so close. Gripping his shoulders, she tilted her hips so that Vader could go deeper and deeper. Pleasure radiated from her core, feeding off of his and multiplying like hundreds of butterflies that took flight; surrounding her and bringing her up to touch the sun. Solaria adored being so close to him. When most intimate, he was the most vulnerable and Vader was always so loving. The searing inferno of her orgasm to her to the edge of consciousness. Clutching him in her pleasure, Solaria's vision whited out. Drifting back down from her high, she felt Vader tense and then released his pleasure inside, his cum thick and hot.

Vader dropped down heavily beside her and oh so gently pulled himself out, the both of them shivering with oversensitivity. He slid an arm under her waist to hold her close. Solaria reached over and tangled herself with him. Pressing herself to his overheated skin, they caught their breaths. Vader reached over suddenly. "I have something for you," he said and handed her a golden apple.

"What is this?" Solaria accepted it and examined the apple in her hand. It was firm like a fruit but the skin was cool and shone like a metal.

"Extended longevity, eternal youth," Vader said, watching her. "You mean, if I eat this I'll have eternal youth?" Solaria looked at it dubiously. "Supposedly," Vader murmured, stroking her back.

Solaria put the metallic apple onto the side table. She looked at it hard. An extended life incurs a hefty price. She would leave all that she knows behind. She would only have a few people that will share her extended life. How long could she deal with the loneliness? Vader gazed at her, waiting. Solaria put the apple back on the stand and slid back to his side. "Not now, I have to think about it." Vader nodded, accepting her answer. Solaria rested her chin on his broad chest staring at his handsome face. He had already fallen asleep. She brushed his damp curls from his face. How was she going to break the news now?