The Senate was filled. Murmurs rose as the Senator of Kian entered the podium floating in the middle of the huge chamber.

He looked out over the crowd and then picked up a datapad from the desk.

"Gentlebeings", he said, his voice high and pitched. "All votes have been accounted for and tallied. The new Supreme Chancellor of the Republic is Viceroy Bail Organa of Alderaan."


Cheers rose in the room as the small pod with the Alderaanian delegation slid into the middle of the chamber. Bail entered the podium and started to speak.

Mace Windu turned off the holo.

"I think that went very well", he said.

Yoda nodded.

"A good Chancellor he will be."

"And once the politics are cleared up, we can turn out attention back to healing our own wounds."

Yoda seemed to ponder that before answering.

"Over it is not. The new Imperial leader...a threat he is."

Mace frowned, but then nodded solemnly.

"You are right. But I believe we'll be able to defeat him. The Jedi will rise again."

"Hope so I do. But certain, I am not."

The bald master regarded his short friend. Suddenly, he felt a twist in his stomach.

Yoda was right. It wasn't over.


---


"What? A new leader?"

Obi-Wan stared at Bail who shrugged uneasily. The Jedi frowned, and gave him a close look.

"You are telling me that some unknown guy has gathered all the remaining Imperial troops, and are leading them against us? And you knew it a week ago? Why haven't you said anything? This should have been..."

Bail lifted his hand.

"Obi-Wan, we had no choice. We had to keep it quiet. We needed to get the election out of our way first. With all the confusion right now, things would only have gotten worse, had we said anything."

Obi-Wan sighed. He could see the truth in that, but still...to let an Imperial commander stomp around in the galaxy with a huge fleet...

"Why tell me now?"

"The Jedi, of course, will participate in the battle against him. And you are one of their leaders, a general. We thought you should know."

"And you need something from me."

Bail nodded, somewhat reluctantly.

"Yes", he said, hesitating. "We don't know who this leader is, know nothing at all."

Obi-Wan waited.

"Most of the Imperial leaders were killed on Styx, or have fled. We only have one of the ones high enough to know anything valuable - "

"Oh, no Bail!" Obi-Wan cut him off in the middle of the sentence. "Forget it. He would rather die, than help us."

"We can ask him, right? Offer him something for his co-operation."

"What could we possibly offer him? You know we can't let him walk away, he's too dangerous. Bail, he is a Sith."

The words were sour in his mouth. A Sith. Anakin was a Sith, so dangerous he had to be locked up.

Bail shrugged.

"Favours in the prison, there's got to be something."

"He won't do it. And either way, he's too proud to accept any favours from us."

Bail closed his eyes. He had dark bags under them.

"We have to try, Obi-Wan. Right now, he's our only option."

Obi-Wan sighed, feeling as tired as Bail looked.

"As you wish. I'll talk to him. But there's not a chance."

"Thank you, my friend."

Obi-Wan nodded curtly, and turned to leave.

"Obi-Wan?"

He looked at the Supreme Chancellor.

"Yes?"

Bail met his gaze steadily.

"I'm not the only one who needs you. The whole galaxy does."

---

At this time of the day, late in the evening as it was, the part of the Senate's building that had been reserved for the Jedi was filled with the beings who'd sworn to protect the Republic.

Mace Windu lifted his head when Obi-Wan entered the small room and mad a nod towards the chair next to him. Obi-Wan went over the floor and sank down on the stuffed pillows.

"A hard day?"

"Yes, master. Chancellor Organa told me about this new leader of the Empire."

Mace Windu nodded with a sigh.

"The Force should know that we could have done without that. But we are to face all events, good and bad."

"You know he wanted me to talk to…Vader about it?"

The dark-skinned leader of the Council raised his brow.

"Do you believe he would say anything to us?"

"No, but the Supreme Chancellor thought it's worth a try."

"Maybe. It can't hurt."

"I'm allowed to speak to him then?"

Mace Windu gave him a curious glance.

"Of course, Jedi Kenobi. Why do you ask?"

Obi-Wan smiled faintly.

"I don't know. Maybe because I hoped you'd say no."

---

Vader was doing the few exercises the measured space would allow when Obi-Wan arrived. He gave the Jedi a contemptuous glance, finished the move and threw himself at the bed.

"I thought I'd gotten rid of you."

"I need to talk to you." Obi-Wan's voice was tight, as the Jedi did his best to suppress the pain and intense sorrow that tore him apart as soon he set eyes upon Anakin – Vader.

"Talk as much as you like, Jedi. Even though I'd prefer it if you did so elsewhere."

He paused and yawned.

"So, what is it this time?"

"A new leader has taken control of the remaining Imperial forces."

The young Dark Lord snorted.

"The vultures are already there, trying to get a piece of the corpse."

Obi-Wan frowned.

"You don't fancy the idea of the Empire fighting back?"

Vader gave him a casual glance.

"Why should the Empire matter to me if I'm not there to rule it?" He smiled at Obi-Wan's puzzled expression. "C'mon, old man. It's all about power. The Empire gave us, the Sith, power, that's why it was created. Do you think I give a damn about what happens to it now?"

Obi-Wan nodded slowly. That was what he'd wanted to hear.

"Should I take it as if you don't care about what happens to the Empire now?"

"I thought I just said that. Then again, you always never too quick to catch up." He looked up, suddenly alert. "What about that, Kenobi? Why do you wanna know? You're up to something, aren't you?"

Obi-Wan took a step closer.

"We don't know who this leader is. The knowledge would mean a lot to us."

Vader laughed. Then he shook his head and gave Obi-Wan an amused glance.

"Spare me, Kenobi. You're not made for that kind of talk, it only makes you look even more pathetic. So you want me to give you the name, and then wait for the cookies you give to an obedient dog?"

"I wouldn't…"

"I'm sure you wouldn't, but it's true, huh?"

Obi-Wan sighed.

"Fine. Have it your way. Will you help us?"

Vader gave him a glare of uttermost contempt.

"Hell I will! It's true I don't care about the Empire any more. But that doesn't mean I'd like to help you. To be frank, I'd be ready to help anyone who could bring your fall about. You've got me here", he nodded towards the door, "and you've got me wearing chains anytime I see anyone except the Jedi. I'm your prisoner to do whatever you want with. But if you for one damned second believe I'll give in to you, you're wrong." He shrugged and leaned back against the wall. "And now that you know that, won't you just leave?"

Obi-Wan rose.

"You know how to get me, should you change your mind."

"Is this the last time I see you then? Or is that too much to hope?"

Obi-Wan stopped and turned back to behold the man on the bed. When he spoke, he could no longer hide the pain in his voice.

"There is a chance. If it is that way, and this is our last meeting, I bid you goodbye. And may the Force be with you, Lord Vader."

And he went out of the cell, not looking back.

Vader looked at the shut door.

May the Force be with you? What that supposed to be some kind of irony? He glared maliciously at the Ysalamir.

Damn that Jedi. How did he dare to mock him?

But somewhere, deep inside, he heard a small voice telling him it was no mockery. Obi-Wan's words had held no sarcasm, just…sadness.

Why the hell should he care of that? Kenobi's pain should satisfy him. On some level it did.

On some level it bothers you.

Shut up!

Why didn't the old man hate him? Padmé was angry, showed it. Padmé…

He firmly dismissed the memory of her face. She would only weaken him. And as a Dark Lord of the Sith he allowed no weakness.

So. What about Obi-Wan then?

It seemed as if the old man finally had accepted the fact that Anakin Skywalker was dead. Good. But why didn't he hate Vader?

He ought to. Sure, he was a Jedi, but he was still a human, right? So why didn't he hate him?

And if he had, Vader thought as he rose, it would make it so much easier to forget that he once had loved the man as a father.

He had an idea Obi-Wan was remembering that too. Could explain the sad tone in his voice.

Vader took a deep breath. Everything was fine, right? Obi-Wan had understood that Vader was all that was left of Anakin Skywalker, and that hurt him.

Good. After all, that's what he'd wanted.

But why didn't it feel better then?

---

"He's advancing, Bail. We need to stop him now, before the people decides he's a better leader than the Republic."

Bail Organa nodded as he paced over the floor in the small antechamber.

"I know. But we need more information." He glanced at Obi-Wan, who stared back from one of the chairs around the table.

Obi-Wan knew he'd been disappointed when the Jedi told him about what Vader had said, but he'd done what he could. He wasn't going to apologize for that.

Bail sighed.

"We're checking all archives, all spies at our disposal are searching for any tiny piece of information."

"We can't wait for that", said Senator Kayla of Sarla. The humanoid femals was dressed her planet's formal costume and radiated calm competence.

Bail stopped in the middle of one step and nodded reluctantly.

"I know, Senator Kayla. I know. The question is, what can we possibly do?"

---

On the Imperial cruiser the "Dread", Korlon Eysh was watching his men at work from the bridge. A small smile lingered on his lips-

What a bunch of ignorant fools they were, the Republic leaders. Soon they would pay for their stupidity. Pay in blood and tears. In lives.

After the death of the Emperor the whole Imperial fleet had collapsed. It had screamed for a strong leader to wave the flag and guide them in the battle against the traitors.

He'd waited for such a moment. Now that he'd got it, he would never let go.

Never.

And he would win.

But before that could happen there was a lot of work to be done. Persons to take care of. Lord Vader, for one.

Korlon had never trusted the Dark Lord. He doubted the Sith would stay loyal to the Empire while rotting in prison. That left him with two options. He could free him and put him back in command. But what good would that do? Vader would never let Korlon rule the Empire if he had a chance to stop it. So, the Kel Dor guessed, the only solution would be to kill him.

Well. He wouldn't mourn the Dark Lord. Actually, he would rather enjoy his painful execution.

And then there were the senators. Bail Organa. The Jedi. They would die, all of them.

But for the moment he had a special plan for the young senator of Naboo, Padmé Amidala Skywalker.

He smiled once more.

He would enjoy using Vader's wife to kill the Dark Lord- And then he would kil her as well.

Korlon Eysh turned and left the bridge, preparing the orders that would bring his plan about.

---

Padmé combed her long hair as she watched the news on the holo. The last two days had been so busy she almost hadn't had time to sleep, let alone watch the news. But it was worth it. The peace must go before anything else. And she'd never been afraid of hard work.

Besides, it kept her from thinking of…him.

She sighed. Now that nothing occupied her, the thoughts returned. The memory of their conversation stood clear in her brain.

Damned be that man!

It was fortunate he was about to be moved to one of the most well guarded places in the galaxy, where she would have no chance of seeing him. If she could choose to follow him, even as he was now, she would do that, rather than living without him again. Realizing that had been one of the more terrifying moments in her life.

But she couldn't. For one, he wouldn't allow it. Neither would the Jedi, or the Supreme Chancellor. And then there was her responsibility. Her people trusted her, so did Bail. As to the Jedi...well, they didn't exactly trust her. Not after she'd "stolen" their Chosen One. Padmé's smile was sardonic.

She had to be strong, and she hated him for making it so hard.

Force, she didn't want to love him!

With an uncharacteristic roar of anger she threw the comb at the table and rose.

At that moment she realized that she was no longer alone in the apartment. She turned around quickly, but it was too late. Arms locked around her neck, and she could no longer breath. She fought furiously to get loose, but the grip wouldn't soften. She lost consciousness and everything went black.




Vader awoke with a start.

What the…?

The sensation of sudden alarm passed. He frowned. He couldn't feel the Force, but he'd felt something.

Something that was very wrong.

He didn't know why, but suddenly it felt as if his blood had frozen to ice.

TBC