Chapter 44

Palpatine continued on HoloNet "You see, my apprentice was once a Jedi but did not hesitate to do the right thing when he saw the errors of the Jedi. He helped the clone legions execute Order 66, which shall be known as 'the Jedi Purge'. He has always been on the side of the Empire and will continue to be. Some of you may ask yourselves 'why is he wearing this … suit?'. The answer is because of the Jedi!" he shouted.

"I had sent him on a mission but the Jedi found him and cut off all his limbs and decided to burn him alive, all that for doing the right thing. That is the true nature of the Jedi! How evil they are!"

Laetitia's jaw dropped when she saw Darth Vader, Sidious' apprentice. But she thought her dad was his apprentice and she killed him. Does that mean that Anakin's alive? And his story was similar to this Darth Vader.

"Is … is that …?"

"No." Obi-wan said quickly and firmly. It was like he had read her mind.

He had recognized his former Padawan immediately, but he figured if he could do Leah a favor and lift the burden of having to live with the truth, he would do it.

"He's dead, Leah." Obi-wan said quietly.

Laetitia twitched but accepted the truth. She had killed her father.

"So you mean to tell me that Palpatine waited 15 years to have the most powerful Jedi as his apprentice but when things went sideways, he had a backup plan and a replacement?" Leah muttered bitterly "And yet, my dad was stupid enough to trust him."

Obi-wan didn't say anything. He and Bail exchanged a look. Apparently, he had figured it out, too.

"But the birth of the Empire did not come without its cost." Palpatine said sadly. "Today, I bring you the news that is so painful for me … Our beloved senator Padme Amidala is dead." He said wiping a tear off his face.

Laetitia's attention was back on the HoloNet again.

"Citizens of the Galactic Empire, Padme Amidala was a dear colleague and friend of mine. For years, she worked to end this terrible war, and it is to her I ow all the thanks. It was she who allowed me to lead the Senate. She was a fiercely passionate woman who did not allow herself to be deceived by the lies of the Jedi. This is how our beloved senator will be remembered. A brave woman who fought and died for the Empire. She will be known as 'Martyr of the Empire'."

"Mom is what now?!" Leah cried out. How twisted Palpatine must be that he was destroying her mother's legacy. Killing her was bad enough but her reputation and everything she stood for?!

He won't get away with this!

"And the other name that shall never be forgotten, the Skywalker family, Anakin and Laetitia."

At the mention of Anakin's name, Leah unintentionally jumped out of her seat.

"Anakin Skywalker. A true Hero with no Fear he was. Anakin was a dear friend of mine. He helped Lord Vader build the Empire and wipe out the Jedi, as soon as he saw their mistakes. He was a genius, a clever tactician, a talented mechanic, a powerful Jedi and most of all, a great father." He said with sympathy.

"As you are aware, the Jedi Code forbids you from making attachments but Anakin did not let that stop him. He followed his heart and married senator Amidala shortly after the Battle of Geonosis. By then, the senator was already carrying her husband's child. You know her as Laetitia Naberrie but from now on, she will be remembered as her rightful name. Laetitia Skywalker."

Leah's jaw dropped. Her heart stopped.

"He … he didn't …"

"I'm afraid he did." Obi-wan said with his mouth open.

"Because of the stupid ways of the Jedi, Anakin couldn't show his real love for his daughter and this pitiful child … she never got to call her father in public and now, she never will. Another evil deed the Jedi did, this family sided with people, the Empire, and the Jedi tracked them down to Mustafar and, in vengeance, murdered them." He was fake crying now.

"I'm dead?" Leah asked.

Everyone in the room showed sympathy for her.

"Who knew Palpatine would ever do us a favor?"

"That Jedi was none other than Obi-wan Kenobi! He found this innocent family and murdered his own brother, his heavily pregnant wife and his 5-year-old daughter!"

The crowd was outraged. They were clearly buying whatever lie Palpatine was selling.

Leah turned around to see the look on her master.

"You killed me?!" She shouted.

Obi-wan innocently shrugged "It appears I did. I'm sorry, I can't think of my reason at the moment.."

"This so-called Jedi master murdered them so barbarically that there is no body of the child."

Of course there isn't. Laetitia thought bitterly. And one day, she'll come back and rip your stone-heart out!

"May they rest in peace. Anakin, Padme, Laetitia and the unborn baby, who never got to see the galaxy his or her parents and sister fought bravely for. Your heroic acts and sacrifices will never be forgotten."

Laetitia turned around and saw the HoloNet again. She could feel Vader hurting, and for whatever reason, that hurt her. Why would she care if some Sith was sad?

She had had enough. She took the Holo device and threw her in the wall. It shattered to pieces.

"You know what the scariest part is?" Leah asked "He's right."

Before Obi-wan could say anything, she continued "Not about you killing me but … practically everything else. He dug up every mistake the Jedi made and used it against them. That's what he's great at. Manipulating the truth and making people see what he wants. There is no line in what he can do."

"Even your parent's relationship and you being Anakin's daughter?" Obi-wan smirked.

Leah looked at him sharply. "Okay. There IS a line." She admitted.

"I'm gonna go say goodbye to mom." She said suddenly and left the room.

As soon as Obi-wan was sure Leah was away, he slapped himself in the forehead.

"Anakin's going to kill me."

"I'm sorry." Bail said. It was true. Palpatine made sure of it. If Vader ever found Obi-wan, he would kill him.

"Well, why make me a murderer too? As a Jedi, I was already one."

"Perhaps, he wanted to push Ana… Vader further away from you. What I don't understand is Laetitia. Why say she's dead too?"

"To make sure Anakin is unreachable. He knows if Anakin and Laetitia were to see each other again, she could bring the good out of him and make him the person he was and fulfill his destiny and destroy him."

They all fell silent. The HoloNet news was just too much for them to handle.

"Shouldn't we tell Leah about Vader's ... true identity?"

"What's the point? It will only bring her more pain." Obi-wan turned to master Yoda "Master … I think Leah deserves to know why her father did what he did. You and I saw the security Holograms. We know Anakin turned to the dark side and destroyed his soul to save her … Shouldn't she?"

"No. Need her, we do. The only one who can fight him, she is. If knows of this matter, she does, hesitate she might, to do what is right."

"You mean kill him? You expect Laetitia to kill her own father?" Obi-wan asked.

"Master Kenobi, I don't like it any more than you do but … it's the only way."

Obi-wan wanted to protest but he couldn't. he had to admit, they were right. It was Laetitia's destiny to kill her Sith father, and one day, she will.

Done :(