A/N: Here is the next chapter! A little more introspective. Hope you like :) I'm off to a Christian function with a Star Wars theme tomorrow night - my friend and I have a little duel planned. I'm looking forward to it! Anyway, personal life aside, please review this chapter! Reviews make me happy :)

pokey: Yeah, I agree - she's a risk-taker. Thanks for your review!
eridani: Thanks, I'm glad you think so :)
Chou hime: Well, the next few chapters won't really focus much on Padmé at all. Hope you'll still like them, though :)
Hopeless4life: Lol, I'll update as often as I can.
TriGemini: Nice to know I can surprise you! There'll be less Padmé and more Han and Leia in the next few chaps. Glad you're enjoying it!
PrincessSkywalkerOrgana: Thank you, I shall :)
aquatmarine: Thanks!
Stephanie C: Yes, I agree, it was rather sad. And yes, it does change future events. Wait and see ;)
Speckled Bird: Thanks for your review - and you'll have to wait and see whether or not the ending is happy. Happy reading!
Laura-chan: Oh, yes, Vader will find her. Soon or not, though - difficult to say. Lol. Never fear, I've already finished writing this whole story :)
Miss.S.P.: Thank you for your advice - I'll take that into consideration when I'm editing my chapters. This chapter has a little more character thoughts. Hope you like it!
Snow Lepord: No problem :) Will it work out well or badly? Just wait and see! hehe.
Anna: Thanks! Here's an update for ya :)
akidura: Glad you like the banter - I was hoping it would all be in-character! As for Obi-Wan, I'm not sure. I've re-read my chapters, and he doesn't do too much. I'll decide soon :)

Chapter Nine

In the entire galaxy, there was only one person whose very presence instilled fear in Darth Vader. The Galactic Emperor stirred in his apprentice a mixture of emotions – respect, fear…and now anger.

The Emperor had told him, all those years ago, that Vader had killed his wife in anger, and his child with her. But now he knew that she was alive, and his daughter too– and he was enraged that the Emperor had kept this information from him.

Now, as he waited for the transmission, Vader tried to subdue his boiling emotions. He tried to reason with himself. The Emperor may not have known she was still alive – and if he found out now, he may try to have her killed. Sith or not, Vader could not let that happen. Neither his wife or his daughter must be lost to him again.

A light began to play across his dark cloak, and he quickly dropped to one knee, bowing his head. A huge hologram of the Emperor materialised before him.

"What is thy bidding, my master?" Vader asked respectfully, quashing his inner turmoil so Palpatine would not sense it.

"There is a great disturbance in the Force," the Emperor's deep, sinister voice filled the room.

"I have felt it," Vader agreed solemnly, rising.

"We have a new enemy – Luke Skywalker."

Skywalker? There is another! She had twins!Vader worked hard to conceal his surprise and shock, for though he knew his mask covered his face, the Emperor could often sense his emotions through the Force. "Yes, my master," he responded automatically. Where is he? Where is my...son?

"He could destroy us."

Which means we must destroy him… Vader thought numbly. It must be that pilot – the Force was strong in him...his presence seemed strange and familiar all at once. "He's just a boy…"

"The Force is strong with him," the Emperor cut in. "The son of Skywalker must not become a Jedi."

The younger Sith Lord's mind raced as he tried to think of another way – any other way. He could not fail his family again… "If he could be turned, he would become a powerful ally."

"Yes…yes…" the Emperor muttered, seeming pleased. "He would be a great asset. Can it be done?"

Vader simply said what he knew his master would expect to hear: "He will join us or die, my master." He knelt down again as the hologram faded.

Slowly, Vader rose to his feet. How would he find his son? How could he turn him to the Dark Side?

Padmé…

Before he found his son, he had to find his wife. He would bring her back to him, turn her away from her foolish Rebellion – and then she would help him find their children. The twins. And they could bring them to the Dark Side together.

He would overthrow the Emperor, and he would finally be free – free to rule the galaxy with his family by his side. Together. As they should be.

Luke powered down his lightsaber and removed his helmet as Obi-Wan switched off the training remote. He had just spent the last couple of hours being trained to fall into and use the Force – now he found it much easier.

"It's time," Obi-Wan said suddenly.

Luke replaced his lightsaber hilt in his belt. "Time for what?"

Obi-Wan's lips twitched faintly into a smile. "Time for you to meet Yoda."

"Yoda? Who's Yoda?" Luke asked curiously.

"Yoda is a Jedi master," Obi-Wan informed the young man. "He once instructed me, years ago."

"Where do I go?"

"He lives on Dagobah. You must go there to continue your training."

"Aren't you coming with me, Obi-Wan?" Luke asked. He was eager to complete his training and become a Jedi, but he wanted his friend and mentor there as well.

"I will meet you there later. You must meet Yoda first – alone."

Luke was puzzled, but he nodded nonetheless. "All right."

He moved off to find his sister, following her Force signature. Obi-Wan had taught him that every living being had an individual Force signature that could be sensed, and after a while, Luke had begun to feel these identifying signatures all around him. There was no presence he felt more strongly than that of his twin sister. Though they had known they were twins for only a week or two, already they were developing a deep bond.

Leia was sitting quietly at the front of the temple, obviously deep in thought. She didn't glance up when Luke walked up behind her – she hadfelt that it was him.

"What's wrong?" Luke asked her. The look on his sister's face was pensive, and she seemed a little…sad.

"Nothing. Nothing's wrong," Leia answered, keeping her eyes on Yavin, gleaming in the distant sky. "I was just…thinking."

"About what?"

Leia sighed. "How could he be my – our – father?" She turned to face her brother. "Mother used to tell me stories about her husband when I was a little girl…about how kind he was, how compassionate…stories about his heroic deeds as a Jedi Knight. How could a man so good turn into Darth Vader? Someone who could destroy a whole planet - and torture innocent people," she added in little above a whisper.

"I don't believe he has become completely evil," Luke said quietly. "I believe – I know – that there is still good in him. So does our mother."

She gazed at him silently for a while, almost sceptically – but then she backed down. She seemed to accept what he was telling her – not as the truth, but as a possibility.

"What is it that you want to tell me?" she asked, changing the subject. She didn't want to think any longer about her torture at the hands of her own father, or of Alderaan's destruction. Those thoughts only served to torment her.

Luke glanced at her. "I'm going to Dagobah to continue my Jedi training. I'm going to leave as soon as I can."

"Oh." Leia's voice was quiet, but understanding. "How long?"

Luke shrugged. "I don't know. However long it takes, I guess."

Leia gave a small smile. "It seems like everyone's flying off." The smile faded and her expression shifted. "Have you heard from Han?" she asked her twin. The young man shook his head. "He was due back here last week…" she murmured, half to herself.

"Well, it's Han," Luke said with a wry grin. "He probably got sidetracked."

There was a slight pause, and then Leia looked back at her brother, a smile on her face.

"You go on and do what you have to do," she told him. "We won't run across much trouble – the Empire is lying low for a while. Our victory has lessened their grip."

"All right," Luke replied. He was grateful for his sister's understanding – not that a lack of it would have stopped him, but it helped to have it. "If you hear any news about Han, you can reach me on my comlink."

Leia nodded. Suddenly, she reached out and gave him a quick hug.

"May the Force be with you," she said.

He squeezed her shoulder, and then got up and disappeared into the hangar.

"Commander Willard!" Leia called as she entered the command centre. "Has there been any communication from Captain Solo?"

The commander shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Your Highness."

Leia's spirits seemed to droop a little. "Thank you, commander," she said with a small forced smile. She walked out of the command centre and made her way to her own quarters.

Once inside, she sank down in a chair and propped her chin on her hand.

Why did it bother her this much that Han had not returned?

He's a valuable member of the Alliance, she reasoned. We need him here.

The words he had spoken when he had left rang in her mind.

"What about you?"

What about me? she asked the empty air silently in frustration. Captain Solo is nothing more to me than a valued colleague. It doesn't matter what I think. There is no point or need to be anxious about him – he can take care of himself, as he has shown on many occasions. He only cares about himself.

Yet was that really true? She remembered the way he had winked at her at the medal ceremony, the way he had looked at her after they had destroyed the Death Star, and his last words to her before he left. She couldn't deny that there was something there. After all, why would he care whether she had 'warmed up' or not?

A slow smile spread over Leia's face as she pictured Han's smirk.

"You want me to stay because of the way you feel about me."

She sighed and dropped her forehead to her palm. He was right. She did feel something for him – she wouldn't even be thinking these blasted thoughts if she felt nothing for him.

She pushed these new (were they really new?) thoughts aside. Something was wrong – no matter what Han was like, no matter how sidetracked he usually got, she could feel that something was not right.

She stood and left the room abruptly, leaving her swirling emotional thoughts behind. She would find Han first – and then she would decide what to do about him.