I return to the quarters where I left Padmé sleeping, and stand for a moment examining the datapad in my hand.
"Ani? Is everything alright?"
I turn and see Padmé standing there, still in her nightgown.
"I'm not sure," I reply. "Something very strange is going on, and I need to find out what it all means."
"What do you mean?" she asks, walking over to me. "What is that you have there?"
I look down at the data pad in my hand. "All the possible locations of the Endeavour," I tell her. "And there are a lot of them." I have an idea and look up at her. "You can help me with this, Padmé," I tell her. I hand her the data pad. "Bring up the star charts on each of these sectors for me, will you? I will use the Force to try to find the Endeavour."
"Try?" she asks with a smile, taking the pad from my hand. "Isn't that word forbidden among you Jedi?"
I smile. "Yes, come to think of it. Master Yoda would always chastise me if I ever used it around him."
Padmé frowns at the mention of his name. "Don't mention his name," she says. "I'm not sure I will ever be able to forgive what he did."
I gently touch her face. "I'm sorry," I tell her as I remove my helmet. "I understand how angry you are, Padmé."
She nods. "Let's get to work," she says, sitting down at the computer console. I take a seat beside her, removing the mask as I do so.
"Let's see," she says, looking at the data pad. "This is going to take hours, Anakin," she says, turning to me.
I set the mask down. "Yes, it might," I concur. "But hopefully we will find something before we exhaust the entire list."
"Let's hope so," she says as she enters the coordinates of the first sector on the list. Within moments the star chart of the Aparo sector appears. I study the chart, focusing my mind on the stars and planets, using for Force to connect to the life energy that emanates from them.
"No," I tell her. "It's not there."
She looks at me. "Sure?"
I nod. "Yes," I reply. "Next one please."
Sector after sector I study, but after two hours we still have not found the Endeavour.
"Let's take a break," Padmé suggests, standing up and stretching. "I'm going to get dressed."
"Okay," I tell her, standing up also. I stretch my arms, feeling the tension in my shoulders and back ease a little as I do so. I pick up the data pad and look at the list, scanning down for the next one to be searched. The Chommell Sector..Naboo..I look back at the 'fresher, hearing the sound of the shower. Seeing her own planetary system may be difficult for Padmé; I know how long it has been since she has been home, and how much she has missed it. I decide to search it alone while she is out of the room.
I sit down again and bring up the Chommell sector on the computer console. There it is…Naboo...I must focus hard to set aside my emotional attachment to that planet in order to find what I am looking for.
Closing my eyes, I draw into the Oneness of the Force as I concentrate on the Chommell sector, its plants and the inhabitants there. He is there…I suddenly feel the presence of the destroyer, and the ripples of tension and fear that emanate from the planet it is orbiting…the planet Naboo. A cold wave of anxiety sweeps over me, as I realize why he is there. He knows…he knows about my arrest, about my trial, about my redemption…No wonder he has ignored my orders, no doubt he feels that 'Darth Vader' is an imposter. Piett always was the loyal one…but will that loyalty be transferred to a redeemed Vader? Firmus Piett was always a good man, despite the path he chose to take by enlisting in the Imperial navy. Will I be able to convince him of the evilness of the Empire? Or will he see me as the traitor?
"Ani? Have you found something?"
I turn and look at Padmé over my shoulder. "Yes," I tell her. "Naboo, Padmé. He's at Naboo."
She frowns, and I can see that this information is unsettling to her. "Why is he there? What does he want with Naboo?"
"He wants to confirm a rumor he has heard," I tell her. "A rumor that Darth Vader is not who he claims to be."
Padmé's eyes widen at this information. "What? How could he possibly know that?"
"I was arrested on Naboo, Padmé," I tell her. "It was there that the Rebellion caught up with me and had me arrested for war crimes. Somehow Piett has found out about this, and has gone to Naboo to confirm these rumors."
"Piett? I thought you said his name was Malz?"
"I believe that Malz is in fact Firmus Piett," I tell her. "My first officer aboard the Executor. Somehow he managed to survive; somehow he got off the Executor before it was destroyed. And now, for some reason, he is masquerading as Admiral Malz, obviously with an agenda of his own."
Padmé frowns. "What do you think that is?"
I shake my head. "I don't know," I tell her. "But we shall find out soon enough. I have to get back to the bridge," I add, putting the mask back over my face.
"I'm coming with you," she says as she hands me the helmet.
"Somehow we have to contact the Alliance," I tell her as I set the helmet on my head. "If Naboo is in danger, then they need to know."
"Oh Anakin, my family…my parents…they are still on Naboo," she says softly.
"I know, love," I tell her. "We won't let anything happen to them, or anyone else on Naboo. I promise."
She nods. "Alright, Ani," she says. "Let's go."
We enter the bridge and find Pandergan back in command. He turns to Padmé and me. "My lord, we have continued with the search, but…"
I cut him off. "Naboo," I tell him. "Set your course for Naboo."
"My lord?" he asks questioningly.
"They are there," I tell him. "Make for Naboo, at once. Highest possible velocity."
"Right away," he returns.
I turn to my wife. "Don't worry, we shall get there in time, Padmé," I tell her quietly. "No harm shall come to Naboo."
She looks up at me, her eyes reflecting her anxiety and fear. I must resist my urge to say more to comfort her, for I have an image to uphold. Darth Vader is not the sort to offer comfort to anyone, even his wife. Yet, I know that she needs reassurance. "I promise," I tell her, placing one hand on her shoulder.
She nods, and together we walk to the large window to watch as the Aggressor makes the jump into hyperspace.
