The princess in question had linked up with the droids and was busy inserting several codes into Artoo. Her face was obscured by the smoke in the engine room, but her white dress was unmistakable.
"So this is the princess" said Ashoka Tano as she looked at the brown eyed princess. She had brown eyes, chestnut hair, fair skin like Senator.
"Yeah we can see that, Snips" said Anakin.
"She looks like you, Senator Padme Amidala" Obi wan said as he noticed the similarities between the princess on screen and the former queen of Naboo.
'But her lips are like Anakin' Obi Wan thought to himself as he keenly noticed that one similarity between the two.
Padme's hand went to her belly when she saw the Princess.
"Well,the princess is in desperate need of help" said Caleb, the padawan of Master Bilaba.
"Thanks for stating the very obvious, Caleb" Luminara sarcastically said which made the said man blush a little in embarrassement.
Where have you been? Oh… they're coming this way! We'll be sent to the spice mines of Kessel or smashed into who knows what!", Threepio said with barely contained terror, Artoo just beeped and lead the way to the escape pods while the Princess watched them go.
"That's something only, Threepio can say" Anakin said to Padme who chuckled a little.
"Are you the one saying that. I remember you saying something similar to Obi Wan when we were on a mission to Larasia" Ashoka said that with a chuckle while Anakin groaned upon being reminded about that mission.
Outside, captured rebel prisoners were being marched away as the imperials continued scouring the ship. One of the stormtroopers returned to where the black-clad commander was waiting with the bad news. "Sir, we've finished checking the logs, the Death Star plans are not in the main computer."
The Cyborg nodded and returned his attention to the rebel officer he was holding by the neck, ignoring the man's flailing legs as they sought the floor. "Where are those transmissions you intercepted? What have you done with those plans?"
"W-we intercepted no transmissions hrrk! Th-this is a consular ship! We're on a diplomatic mission!" The officer sputtered out as he struggled to breathe through the iron grip.
"If this is a consular ship, where is the ambassador?" the black-clad commander asked rhetorically before tightening his grip and snapping the man's neck.
All the Jedi present in the room hissed at the man's unfortunate fate. Padme's hand went to her neck in an instinct. Anakin and Obi Wan glared at the man for what he did to the poor trooper.
Tossing the dead body to the side, he addressed the soldier who brought him the news. "Commander, tear this ship apart until you've found those plans! And bring me the passengers, I want them alive."
"Voice of a cynical tyrant" growled Mace Windu in anger.
"He gives me the vibes of a Sith" stated Obi Wan as he had fought with Count Dooku in past knowing the cruelty, cynical personality of a Sith.
"Right you are, Master Kenobi. Qualities of a Sith he has" agreed Master Yoda.
Once the orders were passed down, the Stormtroopers switched their blasters to stun and resumed their hunt. Several of them made it into the engine room where the princess was hiding, before they could make it any further in and compromise Threepio and Artoo, a single shot rang out and the lead storm trooper fell over dead from a shot to the heart.
Drawing attention to herself, the distraction allowed the droids to slip away unnoticed while the princess herself was stunned and captured by the imperials. The last thing she heard before falling unconscious was the sound of the escape pod firing. It was all up to fate now, she could only hope that the plans would get to where they needed to go before the empire could become unstoppable.
Anakin fisted his hand as he saw what they did to the princess. He felt a connection with her which he had no idea why it existed in the first place. He wanted to protect her from everyone.
Padme's hands went to her belly once again while she glared at the screen. She hated what happened to the princess and wanted to protect her maybe because she was pregnant and her child will be of the same age as hers. One of the main reasons why a connection existed between them.
"Wait, a minute where are Jedi?" asked Master Mundi as he noticed the absence of Jedi from future. Everyone focused on his words, as they all missed out the major detail - the absence of Jedi.
"The separatists must have won. Maybe the Jedi are in hiding" stated Anakin Skywalker as he looked at the old master.
And fate was on her side this day, capture notwithstanding. As the escape pod shot into the void, headed for the planet below, one of the Star Destroyer's gunners was about to fire on it before being stopped by his superior.
"Hold your fire, there's no life signs aboard that one. It must have short circuited or something. Save the ammunition for the actual rebels."
"Sir."
"Overconfident" stated Obi Wan as he saw the way commander was confident about nothing upon being at the pod.
"But his overconfidence ensured hope" said Master Bilaba.
"Well, the rebellion is going to be benefitted by their opponent leaders overconfidence" said Anakin thinking about the foolish behavior of those troopers who didn't even think that those droids can carry message.
Receiving word about the princess's capture, the black-clad Cyborg stepped out from where he had finished interrogating several prisoners to address the captive.
"Darth Vader, only you could be so bold. The imperial senate will not be still for this, when they hear you attacked a diplomatic vessel-" Leia stared at the Cyborg, thoroughly unimpressed with his actions and letting none of her fear show through.
Everyone grimaced at the cyborg's name. There was only one side of people who used that name. There reactions ranged from anger to disbelief to shock.
"A Sith Lord?" said Anakin in disbelief.
"Does that mean that the empire is ruled by a Sith?" asked Master Windu but deep down he knew the answer 'Yes'.
"Maybe you are right old friend, but how is this possible?" said Master Mundi.
"He must be Dooku's apprentice?" suggested Master Bilaba.
"Well, don't they follow the Rule of Two?" said Obi Wan Kenobi.
"To know more about this watch these we must" stated Master Yoda bringing a halt to everyone's questions.
"Don't act so surprised princess. You weren't on a mercy mission this time, several transmissions were beamed to this ship by rebel spies. I want to know what happened to the plans they sent you."
"I don't know what you are talking about. I am a member of the Imperial Senate on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan." She protested her innocence but Vader wasn't having any of it.
"You are part of the rebel alliance and a traitor. Take her away!" Giving the order, Leia was marched away by the Stormtroopers as their blasters dug into her back.
Anakin felt bad for the princess but there was an anger inside of him about where the hell were the Jedi or himself to help her in this matter.
Once she was out of hearing range, an imperial officer mustered up the courage to question Vader's actions. "Sir, holding her is dangerous. If word gets out, it could generate sympathy for the rebellion in the senate."
"I have traced the rebel spies to her, now she is my only link to finding the rebel's hidden base."
"She'll die before she tells you anything."
"Leave that to me. Send a distress signal and then inform the Senate that all aboard were killed."
A shiver passed through everyone as they knew what was that man trying to do with the princess.
"Sir, we've searched the entire ship. The plans are not aboard it and no transmissions were made. There was an escape pod that made it to the planet but there were no life signs aboard." Vader received the report and nodded.
"Let's just hope that Threepio and Artoo landed somewhere safe" mused Anakin.
"She must have hidden the plans aboard it, send a detachment down to retrieve it. See to it personally commander, there'll be no one to stop us this time."
"Yes sir."
"He is smart" stated Obi Wan with a sigh.
Author's Note - Hope you liked it. In the next chapter one of our OC's is making an appearance not just an appearance marking a ever lasting position for her.