OK, people, here's the next chapster! If you read this story, PLEASE review! I need to know what you think of it! Thank you very much!

Spirit of the Sky: Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Black's Phoenix: As usual, you're right on the money! Thanks for your reviews, I love them!

JinnTwins: I'm glad you like this story, I also like Force sensitives popping up in unexpected places! Hope you guys like this chapter! Thanks for reading!

Chapter 3

Vader paced back and forth, impatiently waiting for Guri to return and give him the information. But the young slave girl was on his mind for some reason. For some reason, she reminded him of someone. For some reason, she seemed familiar to him, but he couldn't quite place it. Who did she remind him of? This is very frustrating, he thought tiredly.

He was about to give up thinking of her when something popped into his head. For some reason, the girl reminded him of himself. But why? Well, she looked like him when he was younger, the same bright blue eyes, the same hair color... and she was a slave, just as he had been. And she had a familiar presence to him, something he had felt from her. He would have to find out more about this girl.

Ah ha! he suddenly thought. SHE was the one I shared the link with! So she is the Force sensitive one... He realized that he would have to think this over very carefully.

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"Why me? Why me?" Elena groaned, banging her head on the ship. She was fixing Guri's ship, the Stinger, and nothing she tried was working. Okay, I tried rerouting the power, fixing the jumper cables, powering down the hyperdrive, and it's NOT. WORKING.Argh! She sighed and picked up a hydrospanner to try one last thing.

"I suggest replacing the main wires," a low voice said suddenly from behind her, causing her to jump a little bit, which in turn made her bang her head. She whisked around to see Darth Vader himself standing there, observing her. "How would you know?" she questioned, cocking her head to one side.

He came a few steps closer. "I am a very experienced pilot, young one, and I know a great deal about mechanics and starships," he replied.

"Oh," she assessed, glancing back to the ship. "Thanks." She then snatched a wrench to do what he told her.

He continued to watch her for another minute, simply breathing. "Where did you learn how to fix starships, young one?" he finally asked.

"Oh, I don't know," she replied, wincing as she tried to undo a tight bolt. "My dad was really good at this kinda stuff, and so I guess I picked it up from him. I've always had a thing for ships."

Now Vader was more interested than ever. "And who was your father?"

"Um – yes!" she said as the bolt came undone. "Anakin Skywalker." She glanced up at him, and was surprised when he took a step back. "You okay, Lord Vader?" she asked, furrowing her brows.

Vader was in complete shock. "Anakin Skywalker.." he repeated. "Your father was Anakin Skywalker?"

She nodded, confused. "Yeah... is something wrong?" What in the... why the heck would HE care who my father was?

Vader stared at her, unable to say anything more. I have a daughter... a young, beautiful, intelligent daughter... Padmé DID have a child! he thought almost joyfully. He mentally shook himself out of his thoughts and focused on Elena, who was staring at him in bewilderment. "You and I must talk, in private," he stated. "Come with me, Elena." He turned and began to walk out of the bay.

"But...why?" Elena asked, seemingly ignoring the fact that he knew her first name.

Vader sighed. "Must you question everything? Come!" he said a little bit more forcefully.

Elena jogged to keep up with him, in total astonishment and puzzlement. She followed him to his quarters, where he motioned for her to sit down, and then sat down himself. "Now," he began, "How old are you, young one?"

"Almost fourteen, uh, milord," she replied awkwardly, fidgeting a little.

Fourteen... that sounds right... Vader mused. "And who was your mother?"

She looked down. "Padmé Amidala Skywalker," she muttered, not really wanting to share private information with the right hand to the Emperor himself. She put her head up again.

"What's with all the questions? Why are you so interested in me?" she asked, frowning.

Vader continued to breathe loudly through his respirator. "Do you know what happened to your father, young one?" he asked as gently as he possibly could.

Elena looked at him, seeming a bit broken. "He died... killed in an accident," she stated.

"What kind of accident?"

"... I don't know, the Prince never told me."

"Have you been living here all of your life?"

"Yes. As far as I can remember."

"And would you like to leave here, young one?"

Elena nodded. "Yes, I would. I don't like Xizor; he's mean, demanding, and hardly ever gives me any free time," she replied. "But what do you have to do with me, milord?"

Vader paused for a second before replying, "Elena, your father did not die in an accident."

Elena bounded from her seat. "What? How? What do you mean? He's alive?" she burst out eagerly.

Vader slowly brought a gloved hand up and rested it on her shoulder. She flinched, very nervous. "Yes," he answered. "I am your father."

Her jaw dropped. "...You're...my...father..." she repeated numbly. "But... you're not Anakin Skywalker!"

He shook his head. "No, I once was Anakin Skywalker, but I became Darth Vader. I did not know about your birth because of your mother's death, I thought that you had died along with her," he explained.

Elena nodded slowly. "I have a father," she said, more to herself. "I have a father! Wait," she continued... "Are you the one I talked to, in my mind, I mean?"

Vader nodded in assent. "Yes, I am," he replied. "It is a bond between father and child, and it will continue to grow."

She suddenly gave him a huge smile. "Wow... my father is Darth Vader... this is cool."

Vader was quite amused. " 'Cool'?" he echoed. "I was going to say more along the lines of 'this is unexpected and sudden.'"

She shrugged. "Same thing," she grinned; and suddenly darting forward, enveloped the Dark Lord in a big hug. Vader didn't know how to respond to this, since he was not used to being hugged, but awkwardly patted her on the back.

"So... what are we gonna do about Xizor?" Elena questioned. "I don't think he'll give me up that easily."

Vader stood up and nodded in assent. "I agree," he replied. "The wisest thing to do would be to take off at midnight, when most of the palace is not awake. Xizor will not realize your absence until daybreak."

Elena conceded. "All right then," she said, standing up.

"I would like you to gather your things together as soon as possible," Vader continued. "We will be leaving tonight."

"Ok..." she answered, and turned to walk out of the room. Suddenly she halted and glanced back at him, smiling. "...Father."

Well, that chapter's all done with! PRETTY PLEASE REVIEW! Nah, that's too nice. I NOW DOTH COMMANDE YE TO REVIEW!