My many thanks again to all who have been following along. Here's more for you!

Emerald Green Queen: Glad to know you are hooked. The fun in writing this has been to suspend what I know from the movies and come from Sabe's perspective who doesn't know much about what happened. It is definitely easy for us to know which stone to turn or direction to take, but we have to suspend that knowledge and pretend we are learning these things for the first time. That's what has made this so exciting to think of and to write. Thanks for your comments. Hope you enjoy this update!

Sweet Christabel: Yes it has and is about to get even more complicated. Thanks so much for reading!

Fortune Zyne: Thanks so much. We should be seeing Vader come back into view very soon. Thanks for reading!

Unable to sleep, Sabé took an early morning shuttle ride to the Mensa shipyard. The revelations of the previous night still plagued her every thought. Somehow the Emperor was involved in Padmé's death, though to what extent still eluded her. How could she even fathom that the man she had always believed in was in any way responsible? Yet, this was the same person who threatened Queen Apailana and Naboo if she did not relent.

Sabé still did not want to consider the implications. In addition to Padmé, the Emperor had also been a mentor to her. He used to visit her family home and spoke about her future aspirations. He had encouraged her to apply for the chief handmaiden position when Padmé was elected Queen. After her second term, Palpatine helped Sabé to secure the deputy Ambassador's position. She realized that each turning point of her career, he had always been there.

Palpatine had seemed to want the best for her; but most importantly, he wanted the best for their world. She recalled how he helped bring Naboo's thermal industry into the galactic market. His diligence created numerous jobs, expanding the wealth of the planet. He had also strengthened Naboo's place in the Senate, making it an important player in interplanetary politics. The Emperor had even been celebrated for his many philanthropic efforts. Despite the accusations of political wrongdoings during the Clone Wars, Sabé had believed he worked for the common good. For the first time, doubt entered her mind.

And may the spirits help him if he had something to due with Padmé's death, she thought grimly.

Once the small craft completed its landing cycle, Lady Kelaria caught the ground crew drinking their early morning caf. The eldest man instantly recognized her and rose to his feet.

"Your Honor, this is an unexpected pleasure."

Sabé waved her hand. "I am in dire need of information about a ship."

The technician nodded, motioning her towards a nearby computer relay. "What ship are you looking for?"

"It is a Naboo skiff, designation number NCRA-1001."

He quickly called up the model then shuddered slightly. "That was… Senator Amidala's ship."

The Grand Inquisitor dipped her head. "I need to see it immediately. I am on official business for the Empire."

The short technician led Sabé to a small craft which they took to the far side of the complex. Numerous outdated or damaged starships were docked, waiting to be recycled or demolished. There were also others like Amidala's skiff that was held until the administration decided their fate.

"It's much smaller than your flyer," Sabé remarked as she looked about.

Padmé rolled her eyes. "Not all of us are fortunate enough to be shuttled back and forth from Naboo in luxury, Madam Ambassador."

Sabé scoffed as she joined her friend. "Still, it is much larger than that tiny little craft you ran off in to face the Separatists on Geonosis."

"They made quick work of turning it into scrap metal," Padmé said slightly amused. However, her face became more serious as she added, "And Queen Jamillia wasn't pleased that I lost two ships within a span of a month."

"I would imagine not," the young Ambassador remarked.

"I am still a Senator and require transport so she presented this smaller ship."

Sabé grinned. "Guess you will have to cut down in the number of dresses you haul back and forth from home."

Padmé snorted as she playfully slapped her friend's shoulder. "Don't think because we are now of equal rank that you are allowed to carry on in such a way. I was your Queen after all."

She folded her arms tight, giving Padmé a feigned leer. "I seem to recall, Your Majesty, that I saved your royal hide from getting stomped on back at the Academy."

Both ladies cackled as they boarded the vessel. Sabé glanced around the cockpit briefly before her eyes locked onto the single lily lying across the pilot's chair. "What's this?" she asked, picking it up along with an attached card.

'Milady,

This flower, which carries your namesake, pales next to your beauty and magnificence. I will keepits twin close during the dark days ahead as a reminder of my home…

Always yours…'

Sabé looked up to an unreadable expression on Padmé's face. She grinned wryly as she asked, "I think somebody has a lot to explain."

Padmé swiped the lily and the note from Sabé's hand, holding them close to her chest. Looking up, she solemnly said,. "I can't."

Sabé rolled her eyes, shaking her head. Padmé was many great things, but she did have a penchant for melodrama. "Far be it from me to question your private life. Though, I am glad that you are at least entertaining the charms of a would-be suitor. It's about time."

The Senator's features lightened as she beamed. "Well, I had to grow up sometime, no?"

Sabé grinned, wrapping her arm around her shorter friend. "So, is he ruggedly handsome?"

"Lady Kelaria?" Sabé blinked several times before realizing that they were standing inside the skiff's cockpit. The technician pointed to the main console. "You can power the ship up, but you won't be able to take her very far. The navicomputer is under security lock. We've had our best people trying for years to crack the code, but nothing ever worked."

"Thank you for your help," Sabé quietly uttered. Once she was alone, a childlike grin filled her face as she sat down at the pilot's chair. For all of Padmé's brilliance, she was incapable of remembering passwords so she always used the same one — her niece Ryoo's birth date. The former decoy keyed in the sequence causing the navicomputer to blink several times as it came back to life.

"All too easy," she muttered to herself, calling up the ship's last destinations.

As expected the Polis Massa Medicenter was the final course computed. Sabé backtracked further which only took a moment, but exponentially added to her confusion.

Mustafar.

Sabé reclined in the chair as she tried to recall why that place seemed so familiar. Prior to that flight, the skiff had made numerous trips from Coruscant to Naboo with several other irrelevant destinations. Why would Padmé willingly go to Mustafar — a world of volcanoes and lava pits? Sabé attempted to interface with the Imperial network, to gain more information about the planet, when a classified symbol flashed with the letters A1 priority — Emperor's eyes only.

She sighed deeply, reclining into her chair to deliberate. Only two people saw Padmé before she died. One was probably dead and buried like his brethren. Without a moment's hesitation, Sabé powered up the ship's engines and computed the course for Alderaan. Before she lifted off, the small image of Elermaé appeared on her holoviewer.

"Your Honor. Thank the spirits I found you."

"What's wrong?"

The handmaiden shifted nervously. "Imperial Center's border ships rendezvoused with a small Naboo shuttle a little over a standard hour ago. It failed to respond to all hails so the troops were ordered to board it. "Elermaé took a deep breath. "The ship had one passenger. It was Moteé Calliden. She's dead."

Sabé sat dumbstruck for several moments. "How?"

"We don't know yet, your Honor. The commanding trooper did report that it appeared she was electrocuted."

The Grand Inquisitor's heart pounded furiously as she quickly thought. She knew what had to be done, despite what it could mean for her. "Have her body as well as Dormé Ladaniare's sent to Chief Medical Examiner Zhass' office. Tell him that this is a matter of Imperial security. I want the cause of their deaths in my office within seventy-two standard hours."

"Yes, Milady. Is there anything else?"

Sabé dipped her head slightly. "Return to Imperial City immediately. I need you to find out anything you can about a planet called Mustafar."

"And?" Elermaé asked, knowing her mistress well enough to realize she had more on her mind.

She fidgeted in her seat briefly. "I hope you won't object to your lady asking you to do something that is rather…inappropriate." An unsettled look filled Elermaé's face before she continued, "I need you to gather what you can about a former Jedi named Anakin Skywalker."

"Milady?" The handmaiden said astonished. "You are aware of the Emperor's decree concerning Jedi?"

Sabé sighed deeply. "I am well aware of Palpatine's edict. That does not mean though you can't search old Holonews reports that coincidentally have information from the Clone Wars. I know his censors didn't erase those files for posterity's sake," she mocked.

Elermaé shrugged in defeat. "Very well, but I don't think I will find anything useful."

"Try anyway."

"Yes, your Honor," she replied dutifully. "Might I ask where you are going?"

Sabé smiled softly. "I'm going to see an old friend on Alderaan."

The Grand Inquisitor had an ear-to-ear grin as she watched her daughter play with her doll in the co-pilots' chair. She had been away from Sienna for far too long and, given that the trip to see Bail should be uneventful, she decided to bring her along. Besides, Bail's daughter, Leia, loved the company of other children, especially since she was always surrounded by adults. Plus, she just missed her and wanted to be the mother she knew she wasn't always able to be.

Sabé brought the skiff out of hyperspace as they reached the last nav point. She quickly entered the calculations for the next hyperspace jump, stopping when she saw the arrival of an incoming message. Sabé activated the holoviewer and a cold chill filled her as the Emperor's image appeared.

"Your Highness," the Grand Inquistor said with a slight tilt of her head.

"Lady Kelaria," Palpatine said slowly. "I trust that I am not disturbing you."

Sabé shook her head. "Not at all, your Highness. What can I do for you?"

He wrapped his arms snugly against his chest. "It has come to my attention that you have begun a murder investigation."

"Yes, my liege," she said without removing her eyes from his. "Moteé Calliden and Dormé Ladaniare were both killed under suspicious circumstances. From the preliminary evidence, I felt an inquiry was warranted."

Palpatine's face twitched as he withdrew a datapad. He read briefly before saying, "One was killed in an airspeeder accident, the other from a possible ship malfunction." The disfigured man gave her a contemptuous look. "These are your reasons for issuing an Imperial investigation?'

When he said it that way, she almost had to admit that her evidence seemed flimsy. But, Palpatine did not know what else she had learned. If he was somehow responsible for Padmé's death, then there was the possibility that he could have something to do now with her friends' demises as well. But why? They were no threat to Palpatine. None, except for herself, held any influential post or had any power. Something was still missing. Until she had all the pieces, she would continue to keep him in the dark. Gathering herself, Sabé gave him a determined look. "I find these 'accidents' too coincidental to be freak occurrences. Until I am satisfied, I will use the resources at my dispose to learn the truth."

"Yes, of course. You are well within your rights," Palpatine said with an amused look. "Conduct your investigation, but do it quickly. I do not want even the appearance of impropriety to smear my Empire. Is that clear?"

"Absolutely, your Highness," Sabé responded with a slight bow of her head.

When his image disappeared, the Grand Inquisitor released a breath she was unaware she was holding. Meanwhile, Sienna turned to her, wrinkling her face in disgust. "I don't like him, Mommy."

Sabé suppressed a chuckle and with a slight smile said, "Neither do I, baby."

There were few worlds aside from her beloved Naboo that captivated her with its beauty. The Garden of Remembrance that surrounded the Aldera Castle was a lush green and filled with flowers from throughout the known galaxy. The tall, slightly graying Viceroy walked slowly through them with the eloquently-dressed Grand Inquisitor. Sabé paused and beamed happily. "I cannot believe how fast Leia is growing up. I'm sure you and Breha are quite proud."

"We are indeed, Milady," Bail responded with a proud look which then melted into a frown.

Sensing his shift in mood, Sabé asked quietly, "And how is Breha these days?"

"As well as can be expected. I think we've seen every healer from Coruscant to the Outer Rim and none can tell us what is wrong," he said with a hint of frustration.

"I will keep you both in my offerings to the spirits, "she said, placing her hand on his shoulder

Bail gave her a forced smile before resuming their stroll. "I have to say that, although I am glad to see you again, I am puzzled with the timing, if the rumors are true."

Sabé stopped to look at him. "Then you've heard about Padmé's handmaidens?"

The Viceroy nodded. "The Holonews has been broadcasting it ever since you started the Inquiry." His grim expression momentarily became lighter. "I'm amazed that the Emperor actually authorized such a thing."

"He didn't," Sabé retorted. "I used my constitutional privilege to supersede him."

"Still causing trouble after all these years. You and Padmé were one in the same," he said with a slight smile, shaking his head in amusement.

"It is actually because of her that I came to Alderaan." Viceroy Organa shot her a bewildered look, at which she continued, "Padmé's family requested that I look into the circumstances of her death and I know you and Obi-Wan Kenobi were the last to see her alive."

Bail sighed deeply, as he slowly sank down onto a stone bench. "That is a day that I have tried very hard to forget," he said, staring out at the garden. "Padmé was a good friend and a compatriot. I've always felt that her death, and the death of the Republic were one in the same."

Sabé sat next to him, looking earnest. "I need to know why she went to Mustafar. What was there that was so important?"

"I don't know," he hesitatively answered. "But when my ship received the distress call from Master Kenobi, we rendezvoused with them on Polis Massa. Padmé was already in labor."

"Did Obi-Wan ever share what he knew?"

Bail shook his head abruptly. "No. Throughout our time together he never spoke of it. It seemed whatever happened affected him deeply. Besides, he had sustained some fairly bad injuries and had to be treated as well."

Sabé furrowed her brow briefly before asking, "Would it have anything to do with Anakin Skywalker?"The Viceroy tensed, immediately and abruptly stood up. He paced quietly while Sabé studied his actions. She then asked, "Did you know him, Bail?"

He paused to look at her. "I did."

Swallowing before releasing a deep breath, she inquired, "Was he the father of Padmé's child?"

Bail sighed. "He was."

"How do you know?"

The Viceroy shifted nervously where he stood. "Because she cried out for him when she was dying."

A thick air of tension grew between them as both nervously looked away from one another. Sabé decided to shift her focus. "Do you know what happened to him?"

An angry look grew on his face as he wrapped his arms against his chest. "Order Sixty-Six is what happened." Bail glared at her as he chided, "How could you have supported such insanity? The Jedi had always protected the Republic and stood for what was right. Then they were slaughtered like nothing."

Tears formed in her eyes and Sabé angrily retorted, "Those were perilous times and it was uncertain who was loyal and who was traitorous. I did what I thought was my duty."

"I'm sorry, my friend. I should not have said that," Bail said regretfully after a tense moment.

She released another deep breath, unwilling to shift her eyes from his. "It is quite alright. Those wounds just run very deep."

Bail gave her a nervous smile while motioning for her to stand. "It is almost time for dinner. Would you and Sienna care to stay?"

"We would be delighted," Sabé said with a smile.

Bail then called out, "Leia. Bring Sienna. It is time for supper."

She stopped playing and dutifully obeyed, grabbing the smaller girl's hand. They then skipped quickly over to both adults. "Can Sienna stay for dinner, Papa?"

Bail smiled. "Of course, darling. She and Lady Kelaria are both joining us."

Leia's beautiful grin grew as she scooped down to pick up Sienna. "And then afterwards, I can take you up to my room and show you my doll collection."

Sienna turned to look up at her mother. "Can I, Mommy? Can I?"

"Of course." Sabé said, softly laughing at Leia struggling to carry Sienna.

"Then shall we?" Bail offered, pointing his hand towards the rear door.

"I will join you shortly. I need to check in with my office," Sabé lied, needing a moment to sort through her thoughts.

Bail dipped his head. "Very well."

Once alone, Sabé walked down one of the cobblestone pathways, admiring the different flowers. She could not shake the feeling that he was lying to her. She knew a politician's tricks all too well and he had used one of the oldest. He used strong emotion to evade answering her direct question. There was more here for her to learn, but that would take time which she didn't have.

"Lady Kelaria?" called out a mousy voice.

Sabé turned around to see Leia standing behind her. "Yes, my dear?"

"Papa told me to tell you that dinner is going to be slightly delayed because he got a call on the holoviewer," she recited with a frown.

"What's troubling you, Leia?"

"Oh, nothing. I just wish Sienna could stay so we could always have fun together," she answered with a slight pout.

Sabé flashed a warm smile. "I promise that we will come back soon for a vacation. Then you and Sienna can have all the fun you want together."

A beautiful smile eclipsed Leia's face and nearly caused Sabé to recoil in shock. It was one she had known in another time and on another person. It was impossible.

Gathering herself, Sabé asked, "Maybe we can come for your Life Day celebration. Isn't it coming up soon?"

Her smile grew, further reinforcing Sabé's suspicion. "It is in the second month. I am going to be ten standard years old," she boasted proudly.

Sabé continued to force a smile. "Indeed, ten is quite a milestone."

Before Leia could answer, one of the attendants called out, "Princess Leia, it is time for you to wash up."

The little girl rolled her eyes as she hurried inside. Sabé did not need a calculating device to know that Leia's Life Day was close to when Padmé's child would have been born. Too close. And that smile of hers. She knew that face all too well. But how could this be? Sabé continued to walk as she pondered. She stopped abruptly, sensing somebody was watching her.

Sabé reached for her concealed blaster as she turned her head towards the grassy field. At the far corner she saw a short attendant staring at her, no doubt one of Leia's many servants. She withdrew her hand and was about to return inside when she felt a hand grasp her mouth and an arm attempting to subdue her. The Grand Inquisitor instinctively twisted violently to free herself. This person was extraordinarily strong as he continued pulling her to the rear of the veranda, which was obscured from sight.

Sabé calmed herself briefly then flailed her elbows into her captor's torso causing him to double over. Taking advantage, she kicked at his knee, causing him to lose his grip. Sabé whirled around, withdrawing her blaster, nearly dropped it when she recognized her attacker..

"That was probably one of the worse negotiations I've ever conducted."

Obi-Wan.

TBC-Thoughts, comments and suggestions are always appreciated.