Author's Notes: Thanks a bunch for the feedback. It was fantastic! I tend to freak out every time I upload a chapter because it's now at a point where people starting thinking a bit more closely where the story is heading or what they want to be seen. I got to admit, it's a tad bit intimidating but I hope I meet or semi meet your expectations. It's been a pleasure writing this, and no, that's not me saying it's almost over. At least, I don't think. I'd probably say we're at the halfway point. Operative word here is probably. Without further ado...

Chapter 10: Arrival

Hidden beneath the safety of her cloak, Padme stepped out of the freighter and onto the familiar grounds of Alderaan. Even now, it was still difficult for her to imagine that she was away from Palpatine and everything he represented.

Despite her happiness of being free, her thoughts drifted to another person.

Anakin.

Or at least, that's what she calls him now.

After everything that they've been through together, she just couldn't continue calling him Darth Vader any more.

10 Hours Earlier

"This is suicidal," she exclaimed. "You're just going to get yourself killed."

Vader smiled slightly. "Save your compassion for someone who deserves it. He's going to find me sooner or later, and if so, I'd like to be prepared."

Padme sighed. "I've known this man for many years I've been in public office, he was practically my mentor," she said in distaste. "He's manipulative and dangerous to the core – " She raised her hand to stop him before he could interrupt. "And if you say 'so am I' I'm going to push you out an airlock."

Vader looked at her in an almost endearing way. Not only was this woman capable of having his full attention, he had no doubt that if given the opportunity, she would really throw him out an airlock.

"It's too dangerous for you."

"Marrying you, Lord Vader, has been on the top of a very big list of dangerous things I've done over the years. This is no different. I'm not going to let you face him alone. Come with me to Alderaan," she pleaded her case even though her mind and emotions were fighting an internal war inside her.

"This isn't your fight," he said, feeling the weight of their argument pulling him down. It wasn't supposed to be this complicated. She would get what she wants, and he would get his. "My Master taught me everything I know, he'll– "

"He isn't your master!" she argued. "Not anymore." She was tiring of the same argument they have been having all day.

"You've always been intelligent Senator, but never naïve," he said honestly. "I'm not like you or the people you serve. They will not welcome me with open arms, and I don't expect them to."

"Then you really don't know us at all. The Jedi are peacekeepers, not soldiers. This war has plagued everyone, including them. They were raised to be compassionate – "

"And rational," he added.

"If you follow your plans through to conclusion, it'll take you to a place that we cannot go."

Vader stopped what he was doing and turned to face her. A faint smile appeared on his lips before he reached out to touch her.

"May I ask you something?"

She nodded silently. In a lot of ways, he never needed her permission.

"If I wasn't who I am now, could you ever imagine us... together?"

She looked at him, sadness etched across her features. "Perhaps, had we met differently, in another place, in another time..." her voice trailing to a whisper. She had answered him without really answering, and to Vader, that was enough.

"It was never my plan to marry anyone," he said to her softly, his hand dropping slowly to cup the side of her cheek. She made no move to pull away. He continued. "But you've given me something I've lost a long time ago."

Padme tried to look away but she found herself unable to do so. She waited in baited breath until he finished.

"Hope."

"Va..." she stopped when she realized there was another name she has longed to say since she's learned of it. "Anakin."

"You can call me whatever you like, Senator," he said with a small smile before placing a soft kiss on her forehead, it was gentle, not unlike she had imagined a simple kiss from the Sith would be, andit was a gesture neither of them knew was going to happen until it did.

And like before, she remained unafraid by his touch.

That alone gave him the strength to do what he was about to do.

"Stay," she pleaded once more, holding her emotions.

"I can't." A beat. "I'm sorry," he said, and suddenly she went limp.

Vader removed the tranquilizer gun he had swiped in the previous ships' medical bay from his robes, and quickly disposed of it in a nearby trash bin. He held her unconscious body in his arms as he laid her down to rest in her quarters of the space freighter that they had managed to find passage in. It was en route to Alderaan, a planet that he had always suspected was still against the Empire.

Over the years, his Master had made a point to teach him everything from economics to politics. After the Battle of Naboo, he was assigned to learn about the young queen as much as he could, and he knew, from her years serving both as Queen and the Senate, Alderaan's prince, Bail Organa, was a close friend.

He hoped, something that was becoming the norm with him as of late that they would care for her when she arrived. The dark times that exist now share little sympathy for the people who do good.

When Padme awoke a couple of hours later, the ship she was in were already a couple of parsecs away from her last location, and Anakin was nowhere in sight.

Present Hour

Padme maneuvered through the beautiful and majestic streets Alderaan like a professional traveler. She knew her way around the city during her early years of travel. Next to Naboo, Alderaan would have to be her next favorite planet.

She continued to walk through the trail leading to an undisclosed location that would garner her entrance secretly to the palace. If she had thought it was dangerous to reveal her face in Tatooine, it was twenty times more dangerous to do so in Alderaan.

For now, she could only hope that her former colleagues will give her sanctuary.

HISSSS.

Vader knew that sound, but he continued to walk. His mental shields were up and prepared for the onslaught that was about to come. He had sneaked himself into a transport bound to Coruscant. Without the mask, it was easy for him to find his way to the Emperor's palace with no detection.

As he predicted, several droids appeared. Two in front and two in back of him. With one fluid movement of his lightsaber, he deflected their lasers, hitting each of them out of commission.

"Is that all you've got for me, Dooku?"

Out of the shadows appeared Count Dooku, former Jedi turned Sith. He was tall, and a great deal much taller than Vader. For what he cannot account for experience,Vader made up for with immense skill.

Dooku stared at Vader strangely. The normal suit he was accustomed to seeing the Sith wear was nowhere in sight. In its place was a long black cloak that covered him entirely. He had sensed earlier that Vader was near, and personally made it his priority to interrogate him himself, but there was something in his countenance that was different. Dooku could not penetrate the heavy shadows that covered his face.

"The Emperor is most displeased with you Vader," he said, chiding him on.

Vader removed his cloak, revealing his eyes blazing red.

Dooku is briefly startled by the sight.

"You are not Vader."

"Yes, I am," he replied in a deep, calm yet menacing voice.

Dooku was not amused. He was furious andlet out an angry laugh."All this time, underneath that pathetic mask, he favored you?" he said. "A child?" he added in a despicable tone. "I will finish you, and then, everyone will know that there is only room for one apprentice."

"You won't defeat me," Vader said simply, completely unafraid as hegripped his weapon for a firm hold.

"We'll see about that."

Dooku swung his lightsaber towards him but his attack was easily parried away that it almost took him off balance. Vader quickly stood on the defensive in no mood for theatrics.

"Where is the Emperor?" he commanded.

Dooku would have none of it. "Do not order me around, boy!" And again, he attacked with a series of blows. Vader countered with surprising quickness and agility that it left the older Sith stunned. He avoided another attempt to strike him with his sword and instead, forced pushed him across the corridor.

Vader slid on his back down the long hallway, but he remained relatively unharmed.

"Who. Are. You?" Dooku said, sensing the powers in this boy rising considerably. Not even during the presence of Vader over the last few years has he sensed the force grow this considerably around a human being.

Vader stood and called his lightsaber back to his hand, it had fallen from his grip as he was thrown across the hall. He lighted it once again as he approached the Count without an ounce of fear in him. He walked like he was in no hurry, making Dooku weary of his next move.

No more games, Vader was going to finish this.

In a move that Dooku didn't anticipate, Vader turned off his saber and started sprinting towards him with immense speed, and suddenly, flipped high above his head, lighting his lightsaber and dismembering his right arm with ease.

Dooku collapsed on the floor in pain as his horror stricken eyes saw the menace of Darth Vader looming over him without emotion.

Dooku's thoughts remained in one place.

Who are you?

He just couldn't believe that this is the same boy who helped served the Emperor with the mask.

Vader destroyed Dooku's lightsaber before kneeling down. He leaned forward, his hand outstretched before him until Dooku felt his lungs begin to close. He tried to breathe.

"I'm the boy the Emperor thought he killed."

And without another thought, the body of Count Dooku fell dead. Darth Vader stood without remorse for the fallen Sith.

Vader stepped into his throne room and closed the entrance with a command through the force. He was not surprised to find the Emperor Sidious sitting with a cackle of amusement spread across his face.

"Master," he greeted with an almost condescending tone, but Sidious did not rise to the bait. He is, in fact, the one who taught him everything he knew.

"I sense a change in you, my apprentice," he said so calmly, but Vader knows his character better than anyone and so he stood poised and ready in front of him. "Where is your lovely wife?"

"Safe from you."

Sidious laughed an evil laugh. "For now."

"You won't have her."

"Isn't that why I gave her to you!" Sidious returned with veracity. "I made you, Vader." His hands start to spark the familiar color that meant it was a prelude for something even worse. "I can destroy you as well." He let the power of the dark side out of his fingertips.

In reaction, Vader turned his red blade to absorb his immense power away from him.

"I see you're no longer the pupil I trained," Sidious said with evil. In any other situation, Vader would take his punishment. Apparently, it wouldn't be so today. "Do you really think you can kill me? I assure you that many have tried."

"Why me?"

Sidious smiled deviously, standing before him as they circled one another, both prepared to attack. He now knew the true reason why he had come, but he wasn't going to oblige him an answer. Seeing him suffer was too good to pass up.

"You were nothing but a slave boy. I've made you something more."

"But I was just a boy."

"You still are," Sidious said, his hidden lightsaber appearing in his hand. He lighted it and attacked Vader. Vader countered with every move and technique he has learned over the years. He can feel the anger and hatred build behind Sidious' cold lifeless eyes, giving him strenght and taking over his own.

Vader ducked and rolled away from him, removing the rest of his cloak to face him.

"Finally," Sidious spoke venomously. "I get torture you with pleasure all over again."

The anger Vader has been taught to yield have grown numb over the years. He followed his Mater's orders without question. Without remorse. Without a single thought as to the repercussions.

He hasn't felt emotional pain in a long time.

And he certainly wasn't about to start now.

"NO!" Vader lunged at him with a force of a thousand man, slamming Sidious heavily to the ground. "I... WON'T... let you... hurt me... anymore." The distorted face of his former Master gave him no fear, nor hate, nor anger...

There was only one thing he held dearly inside him.

Hope.

In an instant, the darkness that invaded his mind for as long as he can remember began to lift. His eyes changed from deep reptilian red to his natural born blue. And in those precious moments that which brought Darth Vader slowly out of the dark side, Sidious rose, sending him flying up to the ceiling, and holding him there with all his hatred.

"You dare. To. Defy me!"

Sidious was force choking Vader near death, but he refused to give up. With whatever strength he had left, he called upon the force to distract him. His lightsaber hung in the air as Vader concentrated. He turned it on and before Sidious could react, he severed his wrist from the rest of his body.

Vader fell to the ground as Sidious's scream evaded his ears. Holding in the pain, he sprints out of the tower knowing that his orboth their deaths shall come another time.

Through the force, he can sense several life forms and machines headed towards his way, and he knew right away he had to escape. He felt the blood seep through the fabric of his clothing as he clutched his wounded side.

He kept running and running until he couldn't run anymore.

A Storm Trooper appeared behind him, taking aim and hit him at the back of his right shoulder.

Vader gasped as the pain hit him hard and fast, and when he fell to the ground, he heard the faint sound of lightsaber activated.

He saw something blue until the blackness overwhelmed him.

To be Continued...

Author's End Notes: Yeah, I killed Dooku. I've wanted to since I thought up this story. lol