Author's Note: I'm a college kid on scholarship, I don't have anything you might want – don't sue me. Lucas owns everything.
Lucky guy.
No reviews on the previous chapter, so I don't know if anyone's read it yet - but hey, you'll get two chapters at once then.
This chapter's sad. Padme dies. Well, we know she lives, but ... you'll see what I mean.
– Kaitie
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Kenobi was tiring, and tiring fast. Vader smiled coldly and quickened his pace. Every blow, every parry, brought him closer to Kenobi's death. To revenge. To closure…
Approximately four years before
His master stood at the window, looking out over Coruscant. Vader stood in the doorway, a trifle uncomfortable; his master was continuing to ignore him, despite the fact that he'd been there for five minutes already.
Finally, Palpatine broke the silence. "Lord Vader."
"Yes, my master."
"The Empire's armies recently put down a Rebel base on Naboo. Are you aware of this, my apprentice?"
"Yes, my master." The words were a little forced. He had forsaken that life only a few months ago, and it still haunted him sometimes. He had been trying to ignore the invasion of Naboo, and the memories it brought.
His master continued, still without turning around. "It has come to my knowledge that Senator Amidala was the ringleader of the movement."
Vader was glad of the mask, as it hid his expression. Her…his master was probably the only person in the world who could speak of her so casually to him, and still live.
"We located her precise position, and I gave strict orders that she was not to be harmed."
Vader was skeptical of that. But then, perhaps his Master wished to test his devotion to the Sith by confronting him with her…he inwardly hoped that was not the case. He did not know how he would resist the sadness, the pleading that was sure to be in her eyes…
He shook himself out of his thoughts. His master was waiting for an answer. "Was ... she secured, my master?" Hopefully his master wouldn't have noticed the painful pause.
His master was silent for nearly a minute. Vader began to feel apprehensive in a new way. Wouldn't it have been more like his master to simply summon him and present him with a bound and defiant Pad…her?
"She and a Jedi were resisting our forces from a small house in the countryside," Palpatine continued.
Not the lake retreat…Such memories there…But wait, a Jedi? Who?
"I believe the Jedi was an old friend of yours, Vader. An Obi-Wan Kenobi?"
Kenobi. Of course.
"They withstood attack for two days. Then the fire abruptly fell silent. When my forces entered, they found that Kenobi had escaped." Palpatine's head tilted to one side slightly. "He is strong in the Force, that one. But in the Light Side, the Weak Side as it should be called…"
"And what of the Senator, my Master?" Vader didn't even realize he was interrupting, and wouldn't have cared anyway. So Kenobi had saved his own skin…Ah well, no matter. He would just have to convince his Master that Lord Vader with her at his side would be more powerful than Lord Vader alone…
Finally, his master turned, and held out a holo.
Vader furrowed his brows, but stepped forward and took it nonetheless.
It was her. In her elaborate royal robes, a blaster clenched in her hand. Her beautiful hair tangled and mussed, flung half over her beautiful face and shoulders. Her lips twisted in an enigmatic smile.
A lightsaber wound in her chest.
His world came crashing down.
"Kenobi left a note pinned on her body," Palpatine said, putting a hand on Vader's shoulder. "It said 'This one's for you, Vader.'"
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Leia felt strangely calm and clearheaded. Now that her decision had been made, she felt quite grown-up and sure of herself.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Padme felt strangely calm and clearheaded. Now that her decision had been made, it was up to the Force.