Chapter 3- Vader and Precautions
A/N: This is the first scene with Vader after he comes to and is in the suit. I want to do the scene where Palpatine tells him he killed Padme and the babies.
Anakin felt himself slowly awaken as the slab he was laying on moved. The last thing he remembered really well was his former master, Obi-Wan leaving him to burn on Mustafar. Knowing his master the way he did , he would have gone back to the ship that Padme had come on. Vader felt the jealousy flare inside him at the thought of his wife and Obi-Wan. It was then that he heard Palpatine and then he noticed the desiccated old troll next to him. Time was Palpatine looked better, but that was before Mace Windue had turned Palpatine's Force lightening on him.
"Lord Vader," Palpatine asked between Anakin's loud breathing. It was then that Anakin realized it was this suit that was keeping him alive and breathing for him. "Can you hear me?" Palpatine queried in a grave voice.
"Yes, Master. Where is Padme? Is she safe? Is she all right?" Anakin asked, his jealousy over her and Obi-Wan dissipating with concern for his wife. He was starting to remember Force-choking her and the baby.
"It seems, in your anger, you killed her," Palpatine said in a voice that almost outraged Anakin. The old buzzard could have cared less about Padme. While he slaughtered Nute Gunray, the Nemoidian had let slip that Palpatine was behind him. So Palpatine was responsible for the blockade when his wife was queen and for nearly killing her three years earlier.
"I? I couldn't have. She was alive. I felt it," Anakin said, his anger turning to grief as things in the lab exploded with the Force and he moaned. "NOOOOOO!" Anakin cried out in pain. If he had looked at Palpatine he would have seen the satisfied grin on his face and recognized the lie he had just been told.
Talon held Lena tightly in his arms as Bail came down the hallway, followed by Padme's droids. R2-D2 and C3PO. The baby had been fussy since birth and the nanny droind on the ship said she didn't seem to calm for nobody but him. That was the way of the Jedi younglings at the temple. Most of them gravitated to him, Lena Skywalker was no exception. This time was different as this youngling was his daughter now.
"Captain Antilles?" Bail asked a man with a scarred face and military-cut brown hair.
"Yes, Your Highnesses?" Antilles asked, giving both Bail and Talon a reverential bow. Already Bail had told the people on his consular ship that Talon was his brother and would be accorded all the pomp that came with being a prince of the royal house of Alderaan. Cail Organa. The name took a little getting used to, but Talon would try as it would keep him and Lena safe if the Empire thought that they were Organas and not misplaced Jedi fugitives.
"I'm placing these droids in your care. Treat them well. Clean them up," Bail said.
"And have the protocol droid's mind wiped," Talon added as an afterthought. It would be better this way as C-3PO knew that his daughter and Leia were really sisters and that Anakin and Padme were their parents. If they didn't do this C-3PO would talk and Palpatine and Vader would know where the girls were. Bail and Talon walked away to the nursery where Leia waited.
"That was quick thinking about the droid, brother," Bail said, clapping Talon's shoulder in a warm brotherly gesture.
"Thank you, brother, but I had to think of Leia and Lena. I can't let them be harmed because of a careless comment by a droid," Talon said as Lena curled into his chest and her baby whimpers gave way to baby snores.
"I understand, little brother. Are you going to train the girls in the way of the Force when the time is right?" Bail asked.
"I'll try. Lena is the right age for it as we used to train them when they were babies. Younglings came to the temple within six months of birth. Anakin was really too old to start training when he did," Talon said.
I will be happy to have you and Lena protecting my family and that you are my brother, Cail," Bail said.
"I am happy too. When the Empire destroyed my friends and my life I didn't know what to do with myself. Thank you for giving me and my daughter chances to be part of your house," Talon said as he left for his quarters, holding Lena tightly.
On the Star Destroyer, Executor, Darth Vader stood with Palpatine and Grand Moff Tarkin as a new project was being built. The pain over Padme's death still plagued his dreams, but Vader had managed a semblance of control. Vader had watched secretly on Naboo as Padme's body was moved through the streets, followed by the queen and Padme's father, mother, and sisters. Also her stomach was clearly shown as revealing she had died pregnant. Vader pushed down the swell of grief and turned his attention to the construction project being built.
On Alderaan Bail and Talon arrived at Aldera Palace and Talon watched, his daughter in his arms as Bail went to his queen, Breha, with Leia in his arms. He handed the baby to Breha, who looked clearly maternal with the baby. Talon turned to leave.
"Wait, brother," Bail said to Talon. Talon turned back around.
"My love, this is Jedi Knight Talon Orran. He is hiding from the Empire. I have told him that I will adopt him as my brother and his daughter will be a princess," Bail said.
"Of course. Welcome, Talon," Breha said with a warm smile.
"Thank you, your highness. This is my daughter Lena," Talon said, indicating the sleeping girl in his firm embrace.
"Of course. Welcome to you both. I trust you both will be happy with us," Breha said, touching Lena's dewy head.
"Thank you, your highness," Talon said again, giving a gracious bow.
"Now, Orma, can you show the Prince and Princess to their chambers?" Bail asked a small serving maid standing behind Talon.
"As you wish, Sire. Come with me, your highness," the girl said to Talon and Talon followed the girl to his chambers.
On Tatooine Obi-Wan Kenobi handed Luke Skywalker to his aunt Beru Lars. Obi-Wan felt a twinge of sadness that the triplets had to be separated, but this was the only way to keep them safe. Knowing Talon Orran, he would raise Lena as a Jedi princess and Leia would be a princess and senator like her mother. Obi-Wan took one last look at Luke, who for the moment was to be a moisture farmer. One day the Jedi would be back. The universe was hanging on what happened to three small children and all Yoda Obi-Wan, and Talon could do was wait.