I look down at the face of the dying man at my feet, and let my gaze travel to the ashen face of the woman beside him.
"You were lying to me earlier when you said you didn't have any daughters, weren't you?" I ask softly. Maybe I was lying to me, too. Maybe I shouldn't.
She hesitates, then bobs twice and tries in vain to find my eyes through the mask. "Sola and Padme—both are grown, but they have children as well. Well, Sola does, anyway. Ryoo and Pooja. Padme has a son."
"I don't think that's the only thing you've been lying about. I think you and your husband—you aren't really Yausta and Werdol…whatever last name you made up."
"Limantay," she says quickly, biting her lower lip. "We are Limantays."
"You are Jobal Naberrie, and your husband is Ruwee Naberrie," I stab, reaching out into the Force, hoping it will deny what I think I know.
The woman visibly flinches. "No," she whispers, bringing her hand down to brush a strand of hair away from her husband's face. "No."
"There is no need to lie," I laugh bitterly, reaching out towards her face. "I already know the truth."
As I expected, a handful of SynFlesh falls away into my palms.
She gasps, startled, and begins to mutter frantically again, "No—culpea dernit, Padme—I promised, we promised—culpea, culpea huwqi juniqua, Padme, lomanyo."
She bends down and grabs a 7 inch shard of glass from the broken vase and drives it at her heart. I stop it an inch from her chest with the use of the Force and pull it roughly from her hands, which drip blood. She looks at the deep, jagged gashes on her palms in disbelief.
A baby cries downstairs. Our heads turn simultaneously in the direction of the stairs. I wonder where Luke is? I wonder if Leia's okay, or if because of what I did she'll never call me 'Daddy.'
Oh, Force.
Didn't Padme say something about Luke being sent to live with her parents?
Luke.
I bolt from the room, the Force carrying the shards of glass with me. I take the flight of stairs in three leaps and race to the table where the child—Luke?—is screaming hysterically, face red and blotchy.
Hesitantly, I reach towards the child. I don't know if I should touch him.
His sobs slow somewhat. He opens his startlingly azure blue eyes and looks at me through tears. He waves a tiny fist at me and screams defiance.
Gently, I ease one hand under his back and the other by his side. Am I holding him right? I've never really held a baby before.
Regardless, it seems that maybe all he wanted was a little attention. Tentatively, I reach out and feel for his mind through the Force. I send little thought waves of affection and love. "Hi, Luke," I whisper, rubbing his downy soft tufts of hair. "I always wanted to be a daddy. Think I might do okay, after all?"
He gurgles and spits up all over my black robes.
"Urgh. Thanks, Luke," I say sarcastically, holding his with one hand and wiping the stuff off with another.
My son gives a contented sigh and falls asleep in my arms.
I wander upstairs, calmer than I have been since before the war started, perhaps more content than anytime in my life. Together, my son and I peer into the room where his grandparents are.
The man is still on the floor, now with his wife asleep beside him. But his force signature is even weaker than it was before. Luke, maybe sensing this, wakes up and yawns, waving a tiny arm vaguely in the direction of the two people curled up on the floor, before turning slightly and closing his eyes again.
There is a soft beeping from downstairs; Naboo making its response to my demand.
I place Luke on the bed, near the wall so he won't roll off, and hurry downstairs. I pick up the commlink and turn it on to find myself speaking to the Queen Jimilla, Padme, and the other Senator, Laimoyr.
"Your demands will not be tolerated," the Queen says as soon as my face is onscreen. "Naboo does not negotiate with kidnappers."
"Then these people will die," I threaten, my head spinning and my stomach sinking.
"I do not share the Queen's sentiments," Padme said in a trembling voice, "And we have reached an agreement. We cannot meet your exact demands. That would be ninety percent of our population over 20 years of age. But I will meet you somewhere neutral to carry out negotiations for some other settlement."
The Queen and Laimoyr scowl furiously at Padme, and I can tell that whatever she says to the contrary, this is her own idea, and she most likely has not discussed it with either of them. She must have recognized her mother, despite the disguise and false name.
I do not know if she recognized me. Perhaps she was unable to because of the fact I used Force tricks on her last time we spoke. Perhaps it's better this way.
Ignoring the protests of the other two, I ask, politely, "Where did you have in mind?"
"The third moon of Dantooine," she says promptly, "It's uninhabited, and outside of the jurisdiction of the Republic. I will come alone," she adds, voice wavering and eyes shining with tears. Don't cry, beloved. It will be alright in the end.
"Don't come alone," I say finally, after a pause. "Bring a medical staff."
Well, here is a little more. Not much, I know. It is 935 words. It is also 1:27 in the morning. I really need to go to bed. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter up tomorrow. There we will FINALLY have Obi-wan back. For most of the chapter. I've missed him! It will also feature Padme, Ruwee, Jobal, Luke, and Leia. And Anakin. Please review!