Sleep eludes me. I am not surprised really; too much is preying on my mind. I feel as though I'm standing on the edge of battle, and indeed I am; a battle for my freedom, for my very life.

From across the room I hear the soft sound of my son's breathing as he sleeps, and smile in the dark. He is such a blessing, such a gift; if only Padmé had been given the chance to know this remarkable young man we created.

There are other troubling thoughts that keep me from sleeping this night. According to my children there have been rumors of factions developing within the ranks of the remaining Imperial forces. Young, brash officers, hungry for power, have been rallying support to their cause by calling themselves 'defenders of the Empire.' I knew such men when I was Darth Vader; and crushed their egos, not to mention their windpipes, whenever I had the chance. There was no honor in them, for all that drove them was the chance of glory and fame. Piett was never like that

Firmus Piett was the closest thing I had to a friend during all those years. He was smart, resourceful, and intuitive. I regret that his life was lost at the battle over Endor; he would have remained loyal to me through all this, of that I am certain. But Piett is gone, along with the best men the Empire had, leaving the dregs and misfits behind to control the legions of clones that had survived Endor.

I drift off to sleep finally, my body surrendering at last to the exhaustion that the emotionally charged day has wrought.

"Father, wake up."

I awaken to the sound of my son's voice, as he gently shakes my shoulder. My eyes snap open, surprised that I had even fallen asleep at all.

"What time is it?" I ask, feeling disoriented for a moment.

"Still early," replies Luke. "But you were shouting in your sleep."

"I was?" I ask as I sit up in the bed.

Luke nods. "You were calling Mother's name."

I stop rubbing my eyes for a moment and look up at him. "Really?"

"Yeah, sounds like you were in distress."

I frown as I try to remember my dream. "I dream of her often, Luke," I tell him, getting out of bed. "I have for many years."

"I suppose that isn't surprising," he replies. "She was a huge part of your life." He pauses, and I can see that he is formulating a question. "Father, did you ever consider that, well, that maybe Mother is still alive? I mean Palpatine wouldn't be above lying to you about that, especially if it served his purposes."

"Yes, I did think of that, Luke," I tell him. "After I found out about you, I searched the Imperial data base for any information about her. I saw footage of her funeral. She's gone, Luke."

Luke nods. "I see. But you know that it would not have been that difficult to stage a funeral, and footage can be easily altered."

I frown. "Why? To what end?"

"Think about it, Father," Luke replies, growing excited by the idea that is forming in his mind. "Think of how things were between you and she the last time you saw one another. I'm sorry to say it, but don't you think she would have been afraid? I think she would have wanted to hide from you and the emperor."

I listen to my son, knowing that what he is saying is undoubtedly true. If she had survived, she would not have wanted anything to do with me. But…

"You and your sister grew up without knowing her, Luke," I remind him. "Without knowing one another. If she had lived, why would you have been separated from one another? And why would she leave you to be raised by someone else?"

Luke considers this for a moment. "Maybe she was just trying to keep us safe," he says at last. "After you had turned to the Dark Side, she must have been afraid that she would lose us to the emperor as well. I don't know, Father. I'm just conjecturing. But don't you think it's at least possible?"

I walk away from my son, and stand with my back to him for a few moments as I collect my thoughts, struggling to keep the hope that I feel surging through my son from taking hold of me. How I wish what he is suggesting was true! But if it were, wouldn't I have known all this time? Wouldn't I have felt her presence? She and I were connected, despite the fact that she was not Force-sensitive; the strength of our love for one another created a link that was indestructible…or was it? Did the Dark Side blind me to her? Was that bond severed irrevocably when I broke her heart? No, I cannot allow myself to hope. My heart has been shattered too many times to let that happen.

"No, son," I tell him, not looking at him. "I don't think it's possible. If she had lived I would have know it. She and I had a strong bond, a connection forged in the depth of our love for one another. I would know if she was alive, Luke. I'm sorry."

Luke is silent, and I can feel his great disappointment. I turn back to him. "I would give anything if your theory were true, Luke," I tell him. "But I'm afraid you're wrong, son. She's gone."

"I'm sorry," he says softly, looking down at the carpeting. "I shouldn't have even said anything, Father. I know how painful her loss is to you."

I walk over to him and put my hands on his shoulders. "Don't apologize, Luke," I tell him. "You've lived most of your life not knowing anything about your parents. It's natural that you'd be hopeful."

Luke looks up at me and smiles. "Yeah, I suppose it is." He checks his wrist chrono. "I'd better go get cleaned up. Meet you for breakfast in half an hour?"

I nod. "Of course," I tell him. "I'll be waiting for you."