Dovasary: Isn't Darth vader the sweetest guy you've ever met? ;) 4.1? oo; - stabs own 3.83 GPA - I hate you. No. Not really. xDD
Eliza Evenstar: Lol, it's not exactly like Heart of Darkness. But, you know, same concept. I love Heart of Darkness, lol. Awwes. Thank you. :DDD
SkywalkerChild: Thanks. Answering your questions... he only knew that his kids (well, Leia) was alive afterhe found her. He went to the ship looking for Jedi sympathizers and found Leia. Go figure. And about the RotS thing, my view is that he's just in strong denial. As in she brought in on herself, crap like that. - has never written for Darth Vader before -
SuP3R G1R: Lol, well, here's chapter one.
.Sweet-KRAZY.03.: Thanks!

Author's Note: Okay. Chapter one (first was a prelouge). I was sort of unsure about it, but what the hell? My view is that it's a tiny bit filler, and a lot of you may hate me by the end. If that's the case, lemme just direct you to sentence three of my profile (disincluding the blanket disclaimer).


CHAPTER ONE: AN APPOINTMENT

Taptaptap. Taptaptap.

Seated around the table was Kik Niw of Corellia, Bail Asrich of Naboo, the Dark Lord Darth Vader (although he was standing), and The Emperor was at the head. The three contestants were nervous. The Imperial Princess Leia Skywalker of Coruscant was impatiently drumming her fingers upon the smooth metal surface of the table. Always one for politics, today was the day of her career: the day deciding whether or not she would be chosen to be ambassador to the Emperor himself. Leia had spent months and months preparing for this; they gave their final speeches to the Emperor four days before, and she was anxious.

A woman had never held a political office in the history of the Empire before (which was literally Leia's whole lifetime, eighteen years), but other than that, Leia had really nothing counting against her. She revered the Emperor: he was a great political mind with powerful intelligence, a gift for persuasion, and under him the Galaxy had had the best economical stability ever. Also, her father was the Sith's apprentice (that had to count for something, right?). And her contestants… well, she was sure she was the better of the three. There was no way any Nubian was about to be appointed, so that counted out Bail Asrich. Also, it was well known that every Corellian was an arrogant drunk, so Kik Niw was out of the picture as well.

Needless to say, Leia was confident.

"I have decided." The Emperor started without so much of a warning (they had been sitting there for ten minutes in silence). Like always, his mouth was enunciating every syllable as if they were about to run away on him. Leia glanced coolly around the table at her adversaries; Niw looked as if he was still enjoying the effects of last night's party, and Asrich looked as tense as Leia felt.

No one pressed the Emperor further.

"The one that I have chosen has an open mind and the courage for some of the… missions… that are, of course, absolutely necessary." (here Leia sat up a little straighter) "The new ambassador respects the workings of the my Galactic Empire, and I know will gladly and readily accept any new law I care to enforce." You could not see his face for the hood, but Leia knew his eyes were on her. Her stomach did a back flip with excitement. "Leia Skywalker, welcome to my cabinet."

Leia, every bit ready to jump up and scream, simply gave a small smile and a simple nod to the Emperor, then smoothly stood up to leave. Her opponents were not as concealed in their emotions, for Niw actually let out a sound of disbelief. In a half second, every pair of eyes was trained on him.

"Yes? Do you have an objection?" the Emperor asked, in an obvious mockery of interest. Niw suddenly collected himself, cleared his throat, then spoke.

"Uh, no, just somethin' in my throat…" he coughed to prove it.

Palpatine looked highly contemptuous and disbelieving, but nothing compared to how livid Vader appeared.

"Do not lie to me, Niw," he warned in his deep and menacing voice, holding out a right hand with the first two fingers slightly extended.

"I - " Kik Niw started, but then stopped, holding a hand on his throat. He looked as if he was trying to speak, but was rendered unable. Seconds later, with a sickening crunch, his throat closed and he fell sideways off his chair.

Bail Asrich threw a terrified glance between Vader in the body, and abruptly stood, gave a stiff bow to the Siths, and hurried out.

Leia was about to do the same (although more gracefully) when the Emperor motioned for her to stay.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"At noon tomorrow there is an, ah… confidential," he paused for effect. "meeting. I expect you to be there."

"Yes, Your Majesty," she agreed readily.

Without another word, he stood, turned, and walked out of the large doors behind her desk, leaving Leia and her father alone.

All was silent for a moment as they just looked at each other, then Leia let out a little scream and threw her arms around him.

They say that it's impossible for one of the Dark Side to feel affection and caring, but what the Sith Lord Vader felt for his daughter was nothing short of love. He gently placed his arms around her, and she hugged him for a little bit more before pulling away.

"Ugh! Finally," Leia said, tiredly gathering up her things. "I mean, all those months - " she stopped, shooting her standstill father a grin. "But I did it!"

"Yes," he answered simply.

She impatiently checked her wrist chrono. "Do you know what the meeting is about tomorrow, father?" she asked distractedly, now attempting to adjust it.

"Yes."

She waited a moment, then glanced up from her futile efforts as if expecting an answer.

"You'll know tomorrow, my daughter," he answered plainly. Leia shrugged, looking back at her wrist, knowing that she was not going to get an answer.

"I – can't - " she sighed, holding out her hand, and a simple wave of his fingers caused it to adjust slightly. "Thank you." She sighed, then laid her hand on his metal arm. "I'll see you later, but I have to get going," she smiled and watched him as he gave a nod and followed the Emperor into the forbidden throne room.

She turned and strode through The Executor. Once she reached her private suite-like quarters, she threw her datapads onto the desk at her left, and was about to head in to grab a snack when she felt a pair of arms encircle their way around her.

"Zach…" she pouted playfully, turning around. "How'd you get in here?"

"You gave me the code, remember?"

"Well, yes, but aren't you on dut - "

"Sh," he ordered, then kissed her. "Congratulations."

She blinked. "For what?"

"You got appointed."

"How do you know?" she asked, dumbfounded.

"Word travels rapidly."

She looked skeptical. "That quickly?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well… I met Asrich when he was running away."

"Oh."

"So word doesn't really travel all that quickly."

"Oh," she smiled, kissing him lightly.

"How about I fix you dinner?"

Leia smiled. Admiral Zach Read, a fellow Coruscanti, was her boyfriend. They had met here, on The Executor, and had been dating for almost as long as they'd known each other. She knew she didn't love him, but in time, she will.

Thing was, he wasn't that great of a cook. But one thing that Leia became in involvement with the Empire was a very accomplished liar.