Chapter 45

Laetitia walked slowly into a room full of droids. Bail Organa and Obi-wan came up with a story about Padme and how Bail came to find her. And since Palpatine had already said that Laetitia didn't have a body, it made things easier. She was supposed to be buried with her mother in the Naberrie family monument. Well, her lightsabers, anyway.

"Leave us." She told the droids. It was just her and her mother now.

She put her hand in her pocket and grabbed a necklace. It was the Japor Snippet that Anakin had given Padme. Laetitia placed it in her mother's cold hands.

She couldn't hold in any longer and started crying.

"You wanted me to have the best birthday. Why did it turn out to be the worst?" She asked crying.

"I'm sorry, mom. I promised to save dad but I … killed him. I was just so angry that … But I won't make the same mistake with Luke. I promise, I will do everything I can to make sure he'll be okay and happy. I won't trust anyone with him. No one."

"Leah, it's time." Bail Organa came in.

"I'll make him pay. I promise. He will pay for everything he's done." She whispered to her mother and left.

On her way, she saw 3PO and R2.

"Hey, guys."

"Oh, hi. I am C3PO, human-cyborg relations. How may I help you?"

Laetitia blinked and looked at R2 for an explanation.

R2 beeped around. He was clearly amused.

"Oh, that explains it."

"R2, how dare you say such lie? My mind has not been wiped and …"

"You may not have your memory but you're still annoying." She said smiling.

"I beg your pardon, mistress …?"

"Never mind." She sat on the ground and hug R2.

"Take care of him, okay? You never know what he'll do." She chuckled.

R2 beeped in sadness.

"I'll miss you, too, buddy. Hey, can I ask you for a favor?" she said as she broke the hug. "Don't let anyone know what happened with my dad. Let him be remembered for all his heroic acts and not one mistake he made."

R2 beeped in agreement and the two droids went on their way. Laetitia looked at them from the back. They were practically a part of her family and now, there was a chance that she might never see them again. She sighed in sadness. She needed to go find Luke before someone else does and figure out everything. That would ruin her plan.

On Coruscant

Emperor Sheev Palpatine had heard the news about Bail Organa finding senator Amidala's body and Laetitia's lightsaber.

"You summoned me, master?" said a mechanical vice.

Sidious turned around and saw his apprentice, the chosen one.

"Yes, Lord Vader. As I'm sure you've heard, Padme Amidala's body has turned up. They are holding a funeral for her and her daughter, Laetitia Naber..." He stopped "Oh, my mistake. Laetitia Skywalker."

"Yes, I've heard, master." Vader said, not wanting to give Sidious the satisfaction of breaking him. It was still hard for him to talk about his past life. A week ago, he was Anakin Skywalker, a father and a husband, and now? He was unrecognizable.

"I had the doctors do a check-up on her body. I'm afraid her unborn child died with her. You will not attend the funeral. Is that understood? I have more important missions for you."

Vader wasn't planning on going to Naboo, either. It was too painful for him. Besides, he was the reason they were dead. His wife, 5-year-old daughter and unborn child. He had no right to be there.

"I understand, my lord."

"As I've said on the media, not all the Jedi were killed in Order 66. Some escaped. Your job is to find all the remaining Jedi and kill them on sight. But of course, you will not be hunting them alone. The Inquisitors. A project of mine, long planned. Slaves to the light side once, now awake Hunters, one and all."

"What do they hunt?"

"Why, Jedi, of course. When you find the Jedi, test them. If you see their dark potential, train them and build an army of Hunters to help you get revenge on the Jedi."

Vader said "Very good, my lord." He was more than pleased to kill the Jedi. They were traitors. They deserved to die.

He ordered a guard "Tell them to come in."

Two 8-year-old boys came in. They looked exactly alike but one was wearing black armor and the other one, white. They couldn't be clones because Vader could feel the Force within them and clones weren't Force-sensitive. No, they were brothers. Twin brothers. Very strong in the Force.

Vader took a closer look at the one wearing black armor. He had seen him before. Somewhere. But where …?

Then it suddenly hit him. He had seen him before for a second, with Laetitia. He was the one who gave her that scar and cut her face. They never got to talk or see each other after as he ran away.

He may not be Anakin Skywalker anymore, but that kid needed to pay for what he'd done to Laetitia.

Vader was about to grab his new red lightsaber but Sidious interrupted him.

"By the look on your face, I assume you know where you've seen the black one, Thexan. He was just following his orders. I hope there are no hard feelings?" He asked softly but Vader knew that it was actually a threat.

Vader just shook his head. What was the point now?

Thexan was confused. Where had he seen him before?

"Good. I brought them here so you could meet your new apprentice. I thought during your journey in the dark side, you, as a Dark Lord of the Sith, must have one. I will be training Arcann but Thexan will be under your teachings."

"I am Thexan Palpatine." Said the black one.

"And I am Arcann Palpatine." The white one continued.

Vader was confused.

What is happening here …?

"Palpatine? As in …"

"Yes. They are my sons." Sidious finished, smiling.

Done :)