Here is the next chapter and I hope you enjoy it. Thank you to all the people who reviewed, followed, and favorited. Reviews are incredibly helpful to an author's moral, so thank you. When Leia Organa is actually related to Jar-Jar, I will own Star Wars. Thankfully that will never be true.
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CT-8721 stood in the empty Senate building and closed his eyes bored. His shift would end soon, but he had to wait until the first Senate meeting. The doors to the Senate opened and he watched sourly as chatting Senators began to trickle in. Every Senator wore extravagant clothing and paid the Stormtrooper no mind. CT-8721 felt partly relieved that to the general population he looked like every other Stormtrooper, not the clone her was.
Throughout the empire a general dislike of clones harbored in people's minds. The clones were often treated no better than a droid; to the populace they were no better than droids. Sometimes CT-8721 felt like a droid, he was programmed to obey orders and operate with undying loyalty. He was like a glorified droid, yet he got less respect. Droids were precious and expensive, the better the droid, the longer it survived. A clone on the other hand was met met with sneers wherever he went as people saw them disposable, despite being a dying race. Normal Storm Troopers had separate barracks from the clones and were often promoted to officers. Yet every recruited Stormtrooper is nothing but cannon fodder. A clone may be treated like cannon fodder, but they survived.
CT-8721 turned his attention back to the Senators and watched as they spared him no glance. A small child ran up him and blew a raspberry while his mother watched him carefully, but did not reprimand him. The clone gazed at the boy unimpressed and still, show no reaction was the motto that ran through his head. The boy left to annoy another trooper. Sighing in relief he turned to look outside the glass doors of the Senate building and the Senators landing there. Another Senator was landing.
Frowning the Senator stepped into the Senate and held onto his daughters hand. A nearby female Senator walked up to him and turned her attention to the girl. The clone gazed uncaring at the girl he perceived to be nothing more than a spoilt brat. Yet there was something about the girl that drew his attention, perhaps it was the way she was looking around or her white figure that darted around incoming Senators with ease. He was briefly reminded of the Jedi commanders that he had shortly served under, a long time ago.
"Leia!" came the shout from the father as the white figure tore free and began to run, "Come back Leia". CT-8721 stood a little straighter as the girl, Leia headed toward him, her father panting behind her. She was running through the crowd, avoiding grabbing hands and coming straight at him. The clone positioned himself in her trajectory, she would not be able to stop in time.
Leia, as he had begun calling her in his mind ran straight into him and he grabbed her little wrists. As he stared at her face he noticed the panicked look in her eyes.
"Let go!" she cried and began to pull away. The trooper remained unfazed and stepped closer to her, not allowing her to get away, "What is wrong?"
"Let go!" she insisted, "I'm late." Her mouth clamped shut as if she had revealed a terrible secret and he noticed the fear. He placed a calming hand on her shoulder, "Late for what?" Her father was closing in, "What are you doing Leia, have you lost your mind?" The girl looked at him and the clone was lying on his back. Standing up he noticed the fleeing girl rounding a corner. You are not getting away, and began to run after her.
Perhaps if Leia had been a little taller and had longer legs, she may have had a better chance. Either way a clone was designed to be physically fit and endurant and in a straight race the clone would have won hands down. Every minute let CT-8721 gain more ground on her. His voice felt rough from the yelling as he ordered people out of his way. The only reason he had not caught her was because the amount of people in the Senate. Leia had a distinct advantage, she never seemed to bump into people. He blamed it on luck and good spatial awareness. Despite his training, he did bump into people. She is just lucky, there can be no other reason. It was not possible for a child to have more spatial awareness than him.
Running, he frowned slightly as he noticed the zig zagging route, she has no idea where she is going. All of a sudden she stopped and he smiled, sure that she had given up. He did not expect her to run towards him. Part of him was shocked and too late his brain registered the importance. Leia was now behind him. Growling under his helmet he took after her and nearly ran into her father as he skidded to a halt to take a right turn. The senator looked pain as he saw her receding figure, "Leia, stop!" CT-8721 spared him an annoyed glance, she was not going to stop. He took off at a run again with a slow Senator trailing him.
The hallways in this part of the Senate were emptier as they passed old offices and he was steadily gaining ground. Then she took a right. That is where Lord Vader's office is! He will kill her if she runs into him. He began to run faster in hopes of catching Leia in time, "Stop, don't go there!" Predictably, she didn't stop. Ahead he could see Lord Vader exiting his office, appearing to be in a fouler mood than usual. She is going to die. Leia seemed to notice the danger as well and came to a sudden halt. She stood fearfully in front of Lord Vader and the clone stopped besides her.
He stood in front of Lord Vader and profusely apologized, "I am so sorry Lord Vader, she seems to think she is late for something. Please she didn't mean anything!"
"She is late," Lord Vader said flatly, "Leia, I apologize, I seem to be partially at fault. Wait in my office." Leia turned to Lord Vader with her mouth hanging open, just as shocked as the clone. His respect for Lord Vader rose even more and puzzle pieces began to click into Stormtrooper inclined his head, "My apologies my lord, she did not say anything." He paused momentarily, "Has the first Senate session begun?"
"Yes" came the terse reply. He looked at the unwavering black mask from behind his own mask. Feeling brave, "May I be excused my lord? I believe my shift has ended."
"You may"
"Thank you sir" he said and took off his mask. His lord didn't comment on him being a clone, just tilted his head slightly in a sign of respect. CT-8721 saluted and walked away. Ahead of him he could see the girl's father running towards him. The senator stopped in front of him, "Have you seen my daughter?"
"A girl named Leia was just running through the Senate. She is in Lord Vader's office" said a surprised clone. He watched intrigued as the color drained from the senator's face. He wondered if Leia told anyone that she had an appointment with Lord Vader. Of course she may have not been allowed to tell anyone and that is why she looked so upset when she slipped by saying she was late. What could require such secrecy though? The girl's father walked silently past him. Figuring it was none of his business, the clone walked away without sparing a glance back to end his shift.
Walking through the Senate with his helmet under his arm was probably not the smartest thing. Yet, with his helmet on he looked as if he was on duty. A spitball landed on his face. Part of the clone was surging with anger, but he simply wiped his face and continued on ignoring the sneers and looks of disgust from the people around him. At last he rounded a corner and was out of sight. His destination was the room at the end of the corridor, where he could rest and wait for his next shift. A moff exited one of the offices and looked at him with a sneer. CT-8721 felt his guard rise at the disdainful look he was receiving. He looked straight ahead and continued walking. "Wait" came the call behind him. He turned around slowly and glared at the moff approaching him. The moff stared at him sneering, "What are you doing out of uniform, clone?"
"Returning from my shift, sir"
"Right...Well there seems to be shortage of troopers. I will need you to stand guard in front of my office for the rest of the day. I better not find you out of uniform again"
CT-8721 swallowed his anger as he stood guard under his helmet. He had spent the entire night guarding the Senate, it seemed he would have to devote the day to guarding the senate as well. He is just a clone after all, it is not like he needed sleep or sustenance. Or even need to use the bathroom.
His mood remained terrible throughout the rest of the morning. It didn't help that there constantly seemed to be people checking if he was there. He hated the empire. It was corrupt. All the officers were incompetent. The emperor ignores all the hard work that the clones have done. Wait… hating the empire went against his programming. Although Lord Vader is a man worthy of his loyalty. Perhaps he could be something more than just a clone.
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There were occasion when Darth Vader felt like an idiot. Normally he just ignored the part of him saying he was doing something wrong and tried to enforce some morals onto him. Sometimes though, his conscious brought up very good points which he could not ignore.
That is why Darth Vader sat in his office wondering what he had been thinking the day before. The Senate would be opening in a couple hours and despite all her attempts Leia could not possibly arrive at his office in time. The Sith lord would have to offer an apology and Sith lords never offered apologies. There was also the fact that her parents may simply flat out refuse to take her to the Senate. He would. Of course, she would have to show up or he would drag her screaming to the Senate if she refused. It simply would not do if people saw him getting soft. He also did not know her last name. It would take hours to track down the child with only knowing her first name. Senators were registered in the data banks, but their personal information, such as family, was not included.
A small alarm beeped signifying the Senate had opened and Darth Vader looked up from his holopad. He would give Leia an hour to show up, otherwise he would have to begin searching. He continued working and felt his annoyance rise with every report he read. Rebels. How regional governors could allow for such treacherous activity to arise below their noses was beyond him. Every year dissent seemed to arise and could probably have been avoided, if the governors did the job that they were paid to do.
Annoyed by reading the reports, Darth Vader looked up from his work. He definitely did not have time to look for the girl. There was too much work. Groaning to himself, he got up and walked to the door. The Force was pulsing around him as if attempting to tell him something. Frowning to himself, even the Force was calling for his attention today, he stepped into the hallway. Out of the corner of his visor he saw a little figure running towards him, Leia.
He stopped and looked at the girl as she came to a standstill before him. He could feel the fear swarming around her and wondered about the cause of it. His attention turned to the storm trooper besides her who was babbling apologies for her. He felt rather curious about his presence. Despite his curiosities, he was a busy person and could not dally hear. "She is late," Lord Vader said flatly. He turned towards the young girl and gathered his courage. He really needed to work on his communications skills, if he was afraid of giving an apology to a child, "Leia, I apologize, I seem to be partially at fault. Wait in my office." He felt rather pleased about the shock running through Leia and the storm trooper. It was amusing. The trooper turned to him, his nervousness clear in the Force, "My apologies my lord, she did not say anything." Pausing momentarily he asked, "Has the first Senate session begun?"
"Yes" came the terse reply.
"May I be excused my lord? I believe my shift has ended."
"You may"
"Thank you sir"
Darth Vader watched the receding clone in contemplation. Clones were different from normal people with their devotedness and skills. A simple order could cause a clone to kill his best friend, but not willingly. Clones were people though, and outside the realm of command, one could often tell which officers a clone would happily murder in their sleep. A small frown stretched over his scarred face, the respect, or lack of respect that clones received was unacceptable. He would rather march into battle with a bunch of clone behind him than some stormtroopers produced by the Academy. The normal stormtroopers were often more stupid than a Hutt. Smart people went on to become officers, admirals, and commanders, but the truly smart people fled to a little unoticable planet and hid from the Emperor. Then there was the fact that stormtroopers considered the target area to be a speeder. Stormtroopers had to be the worst marksmen ever. A clone on the other hand, hardly ever missed. It was a waste to station a clone in the Senate.
Darth Vader once again returned to his office and looked at Leia, who was standing next to his desk. The girls was an enigma. Her emotions hid behind a mask, but her fear was broadcasting through the Force. Yet, her hands were curled in tiny little fist as if ready to try and fight. An image flashed through his mind of his departed wife and how she would face her greatest fears fighting. Leia was sure to be a spitfire when she was older and probably disregard all rules. He just knew that she would be causing him trouble.
Darth Vader swallowed as he noticed Leia's spike in fear and realized he had been staring at her for over a minute. He stepped in closer, "I am sorry Leia, I should have realized that it is impossible for you to get to my office in time. This is the only time I will ever tolerate tardiness."
"Understood, sir"
"I will write a pass for you that will allow you to enter the Senate early enough to be at my office in time." Darth Vader paused considering his options, "I also realize that you are not of the age where it is possible to transport yourself to the Senate. I will contact your parents so appropriate arrangements can be made."
The holocom beeped signifying that someone was at the door. Darth Vader closed his eyes in frustration and pressed the button for the door. The door slid open revealing Senator Organa. Darth Vader glared at him for interrupting his talk. The Senator stared at him defiantly and stepped slightly to the side to look around the towering blockade in front of him. "What do you want?" snarled Darth Vader. He smirked in satisfaction as he felt the spike of fear from the Senator.
"I have come for my daughter, Darth Vader"
"Your daughter?" Darth Vader turned around to look at Leia. The girl was still standing and seemed to be avoiding her father's eyes. Bail Organa shifted behind him and Darth Vader looked at the man. "I am very sorry for her interrupting you," began the Senator, "I do not know what overcame her. I can assure you it will not happen again." A sudden realization dawned onto the Sith lord. Leia, had apparently taken his instructions not to tell anyone very literal. A small plan of revenge began to form in his mind. "I was unaware she was your daughter Senator" He watched intrigued as the other man emitted another spike of fear. "Darth Vader, she is my daughter."
"I am afraid I will need proof, after all I cannot have random Senators taking other parents' children home." The fear that he could feel from the other man was intoxicating.
Bail Organa swallowed nervously and looked at Leia, "What sort of proof do you require?"
"Her identification papers will be fine, until then I will be supervising her." Senator Organa smirked and pulled out a couple papers from his coat pocket, "I believe these will be fine?" Darth Vader wordlessly summoned the papers to his hands as he began to look over them. The daughter of one of the Senators he most hated was in his office. A small word popped out to him. Adopted. It wasn't the girl's fault who her adopted father was and they didn't actually share any genes. While he wouldn't harm the child, the Senator did not know that. It would be a perfect form of torture for the man and would keep him from certain unfavorable plans for fear of him ending his daughter's life. He set a gloved mechanical hand on Leia's shoulder, "I am afraid you do not truly understand, she is staying with me."
"Excuse me?" came the panicked reply from her father.
"Yesterday she attacked an officer." The senator sent a disapproving look at his daughter before facing Darth Vader again, "She is just a child"
"That is why she isn't sitting in a holding cell."
"Then what do you propose?"
"I don't propose anything Senator. Your daughter's punishment will remain in my hands."
"Is this necessary?" asked Bail Organa his fear palpable in the Force. Darth Vader remained unmoving, "You may pick your daughter up at the end of the day. Be sure to bring your daughter to the Senate for the next two weeks so she can be at my office by the time the Senate opens."
"And how is she to enter the Senate before it opens?"
"I will write her a pass" concluded Darth Vader. The door closed and he used the Force to lock it to keep a certain senator out.
Leia had taken a seat and was frowning at the Sith Lord. Annoyed, Darth Vader looked at her, "What?"
"I am not a child" she exclaimed crossing her arms over her chest glaring at him. He stared at her amused, "I believe you fulfill the definition of a child."
Grabbing a datapad he handed it to Leia, "I need you to deliver this." Leia nodded and accepted the datapad hesitantly.
Darth Vader continued working and contemplated about the girl. She reminded him so much of Padmé, and he found it painful. The entire way she held herself reminded him of his wife. Adopted. Perhaps she was related to the Nabberies. He would not try to find out her heritage though, it simply would be too painful. She was also happy with her current family. It would be cruel to tear her from her father, no matter how much he disliked the Senator. Since when were Sith Lords not cruel? It seemed ever since he saw a little child looking at him in fear. He, for the first time ever, did not want that fear.
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Leia Organa was annoyed and as acquaintances of her father would remark, "Watch out." Running messages was boring and she was hungry. Perhaps it may be that the data was too sensitive to be transmitted, but a droid could have easily done the job. No, instead she was running through the Senate trying to deliver every message as fast as possible, so Darth Vader wouldn't be mad at her. Shame coursed through her body in admitting she was afraid of that thing. Yet, that thing could kill a person without touching them and towered over other people, his harsh breathing echoing through the room. Leia corrected herself, a thing could not breathe. Droids do not breathe. His entire presence demanded respect and unlike Threepio seemed to have no problem threatening people. Artoo was a little like that, but the astromech was always joking, besides he couldn't do any harm.
She began to assemble various ideas in her mind on how to achieve revenge. Pranks. Of course Leia would never perform any of the pranks. It was still amusing to imagine the Sith Lord covered in pink. Rounding the last corner she stopped in front of Moff Lewis's office. Sighing dejectedly she palmed the door.
Lewis was a dull man who had obviously not been favored by looks. He looked up at her when she walked in with a sneer, "The Senate is not a playground for children."
Exasperated, "I have a message."
"I am sure," came the sarcastic response. He walked up to Leia and pushed her outside of the office. Leia glared at him angrily, "I have a message to deliver."
"Well go back to your master and tell him not to send little girls" he sneered.
"I do not have a master!" exclaimed Leia. She would not return to Darth Vader with the datapad in her hands. In the best case scenario she would be sent back, in the worst case she would die. Biting her lip, "The message is from Darth Vader."
"I am sure girl. Now go!" With the last shout he pushed her back and Leia tumbled into the wall. Brushing herself she stood up and voiced her opinions icily, "Just because you lack decorum doesn't mean you have to inflict your distaste on others. Or maybe you just enjoy lording your power over other people because it is the only thing of worth that you are able to lord over people." Leia paused and continued sweetly, "Should I get you a Caf before I hand you the message? I am sure Darth Vader would appreciate the wait." A vein in the moff's forehead began to bulge, "Now listen here girl, I will not be disrespected this way!"
"Is there a problem" interrupted a stormtrooper.
"No!," shouted Lewis, "Get back to your post clone!"
"I would just like to tell you that the girl can quite possibly be sent by Darth Vader as she was earlier in his office."
"Get. Going. You idiot. CLONE!" roared Lewis. The clonetrooper turned around and Leia vaguely noticed as the moff rounded on her that he wasn't returning to his post. In fact the stormtrooper reminded her of the one chasing her earlier. Caught in her thoughts, she didn't see the hand coming towards her.
Leia found herself pressed against the wall as an angry face looked at her. Vaguely she thought how ludicrous it would be if he and Darth Vader stood next to each other both covered in pink. A small giggle escaped her mouth. Moff Lewis's face contorted in rage and he threw her on the ground. "Lewis!" shouted another person walking on the scene, "What do you think you are doing?"
Keeping his hands on Leia, "Teaching this brat a lesson." The stranger appeared to be an imperial cadet. His posture was firm and rigid, while his uniform remained pristine. He looked impassively at the Moff unimpressed, "Leave the girl alone, no fighting in the Senate is allowed."
"Don't tell me what I can do cadet. Who do you think you are?"
"Firmus Piett, sir" the cadet declared boldly as he stood in front of the enrage Moff and Leia.
Leia watched fearfully as the Lewis glared the cadet down, "Mind your own business."
Calm, Piett replied, "It becomes my business when innocents are a stake."
"I can get you bumped into stormtrooper training."
"Gladly, if it is for doing my job."
"Your job is to follow my orders!" roared Lewis and he lunged at Leia.
Leia backed against the wall when a cold feeling began to wash over her. "Vader," she whispered in fear. Her little form trembled in fear as the Moff advanced on her having knocked the cadet on the floor. Just as he was about to throw a punch at Leia, a blast sent him flying into the far wall.
The hiss of the respirator continued steadily and ominously. The black, armored clad man walked over to the trembling Moff, "When I send my assistant to deliver a message, I should not have to wait because of an idiot's ego."
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Vader to the rescue! Poor Vader, he is so confused. I wonder when he will start suspecting that the princess is force sensitive or his daughter. May be a while… Next chapter may take a while to post as I will be a little busier than usual. Goodbye for now and leave a review on how you want the story to go.