Happy Holidays!
I've managed to drag my muse kicking and screaming out of its hole that it has been hiding in since TFA. As a result, this chapter hasn't had the time to properly betaed, so apologies in advance.
I'm considering making a new summary to better catch the spirit of the story and what is appealing about, but… the best best part for me is… writing it. :) Suggestions or so would be appreciated.
Once again Disney and their Empire, owns Star Wars and I'll not say otherwise, lest they send the Imperial army after me.
? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ
Bail smiled sadly as he stepped outside into to the garden and gazed around, wishing Leia was here. His daughter had always enjoyed Life Day and would run around the palace, decorating wherever. He cursed himself for having scolded her in the past on Life Day. He'd give anything to have his daughter with him; to see her running through the hallways, to feel her by his side, to see her smiling face.
The sun shone on him and he could feel its warmth surrounding him. He looked at the sky, the blackness of space invisible, but somewhere out there his daughter was, somewhere traveling in the distant stars. The rebellion didn't matter anymore when his daughter wasn't there. It hurt to admit that he was so selfish to let others suffer because he couldn't bare for his daughter to be hurt. His eyes roamed the distant sky again, its blue hue mocking him. Once, he had felt anger for those who let themselves be agents of injustice because they were afraid. Now, he was an agent of evil, because he wanted his daughter back.
Closing his eyes, he could see her red lips, her brown warm eyes, and the warmth of her hugging her Daddy. The snapping of twigs alerted him to his wife sneaking up behind him. She threw her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder.
Whispering, "Isn't it beautiful?"
Bail looked around the garden, decorations strewn everywhere, "Yes Breha, it looks nice."
"What's wrong Bail?"
He looked around the garden again, his eyes searching for something, "It lacks… She isn't here, it's not the same without her."
"Shh," she whispered, "We'll see her again… we will have a feast then. For now, we have to deal with your sister, Katherine. It's nice to be in the garden and not hear her complain."
He laughed slightly, unable to forget the sadness in his heart, "My sister is certainly something... At least Leia won't have to suffer her presence. They don't understand each other at all."
"Bail!" came a cry from inside, "Where are you hiding?"
He cringed slightly, "I love my sister, but sometimes…"
Stroking his back, Breha whispered, "It's alright. It's only for a week and at least we won't spend Life Day completely alone."
"Bail, there you are!" Katherine interrupted.
Bail turned around and plastered a smile on his face, "Hello sis, I'm afraid I was caught in my musings."
She sniffed disdainfully, "You'll catch a cold outside, why don't you come in, we have to prepare for your friends from Naboo."
Closing his eyes in defeat, he began to follow her, Breha besides him, "I'd rather have Leia here."
Katherine prattled on next to him about table arrangements and where there guests were going to sit. The prattling feet of the royal guard that his sister insisted on, followed them through the palace.
"Dear, are you even listening?"
His wife was surely laughing at him as he turned around, "Of course I am, I'm afraid though I don't understand what you mean?"
She humphed, "I was asking who made this exquisite window, I must have one like it."
The light hit the ground, reflecting in odd shape, the window was truly exquisite, "You'll have to ask Breha."
For his efforts, he received a glare as his sister began to study the window. Amused, he watched her and leaned against the wall, relieved to have enjoy a rare moment of peace around her. His eyes closed sleepily, as he imagined Leia. She'd have hated being around his sister. Katherine had, even among the royalists of the galaxy, an old fashioned sense of what females were supposed to be. Leia, saw acting like a princess, superfluous.
"Bail!" shouted Katherine.
"Yes sis," he murmured opening his eyes, noting a distinct lack of light through the window.
"What in the name of the galaxy are your servants doing with the decoration, they're blocking the light!"
His eyes widened as he registered the absence of light. Rushing to the balcony, he ran outside and looked at the landscape of Alderaan, it looked as if it was night time. Swallowing, he gazed upwards, not surprised to find nothing, not even the twinkling shapes of the stars. He was about to get an unexpected visit it seemed.
"Well Bail!" came the annoyed voice of his sister, "Do something!"
"Not now, Katherine," he said, rushing back inside and ignoring her cries of protests.
"Your highness," cried a guard, "An Imperial Star Destroyer is in orbit. The captain suggests to take you and the queen to the safe room."
Bail breathed in deeply, aware that his own end might be near, "Sir, I thank you for your concern, but since the only Star Destroyers I know off are owned by Imperials and since Alderaan is a subject of the Galactic Empire, hiding will endanger everyone."
"But your highness," the guard cried out in distress.
"Prepare a welcoming party and send a broadcast to the citizens to explain why it appears to be night time."
"Your highness, the Royal Guards must protect the King of Alderaan."
He stopped walking, "And as a king I'm not going to put my men's or my citizen's lives in danger, return to your post. I forbid you from taking defensive actions."
Another guard ran up to him, "Your highness, we must get you to safety!"
He glared at the two guards, "Why are you so certain this is an attack?"
"Scanners indicated that the weapons are fully charged and they're low enough to commence orbital bombing."
"More reason for me to greet the delegates and sort out this mess!"
The guard looked at each other and raised their blasters, the stun setting on, "Your highness, our priority is your safety. The citizens of Alderaan wish for you to be safe and we will insure that even if we have to stun you for that."
His eyes closed for a second before staring back at the guards , shaking his head. He had to hope that there could be a chance for reasoning or else nobody would live and Leia would lose him. She'd remain in the clutches of the Empire.
Coldly, "If you do that, you'll risk the life of my daughter, the Princess of Alderaan!"
The guards didn't move, but they didn't fire either, confusion clear on their faces.
"If I hide, the Emperor will believe me to be a traitor and my daughter is in danger! Vader… Vader, theEmperor's attack dog, has her! I can't endanger my daughter"
They swallowed and stared at him, "We will accompany you as you try to hail the ship, should there be a threat to your life we will act. We don't want harm to befall the Princess, but should your life be suddenly in forfeit, then she is probably already dead your highness."
He nodded, knowing that it was the best he could hope for. Before beginning to run again, he gave them a small smile in relief. Servants hurried by him as he ran to the communication room, cursing Breha's ancestors for thinking that such large accommodations were necessary. At last, he skidded to a halt in the communication room.
"Have you established contact with the Imperial Star Destroyer?"
A female technician bowed to him, "No your highness, we've been experiencing some technical difficulties. One of the compensators overloaded a couple days, the shipment with the parts to repair it was supposed to arrive tomorrow."
Bile rose in his throat as he thought of the possible imminent doom of his planet, "Is there any way to achieve communications?"
The technician looked at him sadly, "We're trying to reroute the signal, so far we haven't-"
"Got it!" shouted another technician, "Holocam five!"
The room itself seemed to sag in relief as the hail was answered and the familiar blue light began to shine. The person revealing themselves did elicit screams on the other hand.
Bail bowed deeply, "Lord Vader, to what do I owe you the pleasure?"
"Why did it take you so long to open this channel?" he thundered and Bail looked at him fearfully, worried for Leia.
"You seem to have caught us at a bad time, our compensator broke down a couple days ago and-"
"My shuttle will be landing soon, be there."
The transmission ended, leaving Bail with a thundering heart in his chest. Vader was coming down to the planet and the reason was unknown. He stood there for another minute, trying to calm down his heart.
"Inform my wife and sister, that'd I'd like them to be there to greet a guest of ours."
One of his servants looked at him confused, "But sir, Vader hasn't even shown you the proper courtesy, why should you him such respect?"
Murmurs of assent came from the other members in the room, "Because Vader is perfectly capable of killing others and that's what happens if you aren't courteous."
The memory of being thrown across the room and being gripped in a Force-choke was hung in his mind and ghostly pains bathed him.
The royal guards moved in front of him, "Your highness, we can't allow you to meet such a dangerous man. If he's here, it is most likely to kill you. We must get you to safety."
Bail shook his head, if he was going to die, then he'd reveal the truth to Vader first, perhaps Padmé had been right, there was good in him. If he were to die, the only way Leia might be safe was if Vader knew of his daughter. The hope was flimsy, but it was the only way… if she was still alive.
"There's nowhere I can hide from Vader if he wants to kill me. The only way to stop him from killing me, is to kill me first. I will go, it's our only hope."
"Should the Queen be joining you then? How can one being be so dangerous?"
Bail's eyes darkened, "He's a Jedi killer. If a Jedi can't survive, what hope do we have?" he looked at the guard, "Don't waste your life for me, if he wants me dead, nothing will stop that."
The guard stepped back in shock, and Bail passed him, hurrying to the docking bay. As he neared it, he could only hope that Leia would be okay. The Royal Guard joined him, the men determined, with a hard look in their eyes, but they didn't stop him as he stepped onto the landing platform. His wife joined him, slipping her hand into his. Behind him, he could hear Katherine complaining. The guard lined up on the sides of the platform, their weapons visible.
Squeezing his wife's hand tightly, he watched the shuttle descend, its wings folding up and darkness flowing from it. It landed with a soft thud, and stood there dauntingly. The ramp came down slowly and stormtroopers flooded out silently, while the guards reached for their blasters slowly. His stomach clenched tightly together as he saw Vader.
Vader emerged slowly, the black cloak swaying behind him in an unknown breeze, the armor reflecting the lights of the place, the only light there was besides his chest plate. The chest plate glowed an eerie red.
"Daddy! Mommy!" a young voice cried out and he was accosted by a tiny little girl.
He and his wife kneeled down, enveloping her in a hug.
"I missed you," she whispered and the hug became tighter.
Even as the Sith came closer, Bail couldn't find it within him to let his daughter go, "I missed you too my baby girl."
The dark lord was almost upon them, his cape flowing behind him. Bail looked up, his eyes sad, hoping his daughter would still be the same person after he died and Vader knew the truth. He hoped that her biological father would take care of the child, whom he had consoled after her nightmares and watched her first steps. She was his daughter in everything but blood.
"Senator," Vader rumbled, his respirator hissing through the air.
Bail stood up, picking up his daughter, "Yes my Lord?"
Breha curtsied next to him, while he stood still, balancing his daughter in his arms, who was much too old to be carried. Behind him he could hear Katherine shifting behind him and he hoped that she wasn't foolish enough to actually speak out against Vader.
"I see you're well."
Bail smiled politely, wondering fi vader could even see his smile, "Yes I am in fortunate health, and you?"
The customary reply slipped off his tongue too easily before he could stop it, luckily vader ignored it.
"My hunt for insurgents has brought me to Alderaan."
Leia stiffened in his arms and he gently set her on the floor again, "That's unfortunate, we'll help you in any way we can."
Vader didn't say anything and the wheezing continued through the cold air.
"Is there anything you require?"
The stormtroopers and guards shifted nervously, "I'll see… For the duration of my stay here, your daughter will be with you. I have no need to also oversee a child as well as the operation."
Relief filled him, "Is that all?"
Vader was quiet, "Some of my troops will remain here, to protect you should the insurgents make a move against the royal family. The only condition I have is that if your daughter stays with you, Caden will accompany her at all times."
He stroked Leia's hair, aware that a killing machine would be stationed with her at all times, "I don't see the problem. Although we'll have to find accommodations."
Vader walked closer and he stepped back involuntarily, "I said at all times. I suggest you deal with it."
Even in the absence of proper lighting, he could see the frown on his wife's face at the breach of protocol. Biting his lips, he kneeled down besides Leia and smiled gently at her.
"Are you okay with this Leia?"
She hugged him, "Yes Daddy, I know Caden."
Bail gave her another hug before standing up again and bowing to vader, "We accept your conditions."
"Bail!" his sister cried, "This is most improper. You're a king, are you going to let yourself be addressed like that?"
If it meant his daughter's safety, he'd screw protocol, with Vader that was already a given.
"Katherine," he hissed, "Not now."'
He could feel Leia cringe at her next words, "Leia is a princess, I don't care whoever this is, she must be shown respect! You can't have a male be around her at all times. How is she ever going to get married?"
At certain times, he really hated his sister… like now. The marriage comment made him want to grind his teeth, whoever his daughter married shouldn't and wouldn't care about such inconsequential things.
Vader didn't take the comment well either and advanced forward, "Are you insinuating something about my men?"
He looked over at her as she tried to speak and then began to float in the air. Worried, he glanced back at the Sith Lord who was raising his own hand. The guards around him shifted and any minute he knew they'd open fire and the royal family of Alderaan would end.
"Please Lord Vader, " he implored the Sith, "My sister doesn't know what she's saying. She's used to old customs, it isn't a slight against your men."
Vader didn't respond and he could hear his sister scrambling for another breath of air. He readied himself to plead again, fruitlessly. His daughter shouldn't have to know of death at such a young age.
"Please," Leia whispered.
To his surprise, Vader turned to his daughter.
"Please," she whispered again, "She does that to everyone."
Vader's helmet was tilted slightly, as if considering a puzzle, "Very well."
He heard his sister scream in fear and her sinking down to the ground, screaming, before being flung into a wall. Two guards ran back to attend to her.
"She's alive!" they yelled.
Bail bowed again, "Thank you my Lord."
"It seems disrespect and stupidity is simply a family trait of yours. I'd probably do the galaxy a favor if I removed you from the gene pool and prevented the spread of such stupidity."
Wincing, "I see my Lord… Why don't I give you a tour?"
? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ
The room was open and airy, a thin sliver of light shone through the windows, the Star Destroyer blocking the rest. Leia smiled as she looked around her room. The bed was made, the only difference from when she left. Everything else looked exactly the same.
Leia looked around, her eyes landing on Artoo, powered down in the corner. Certainly, Threepio was somewhere around, hiding and worrying, but the amusing astromech was in the corner, deactivated. Happy, Leia ran forward, kneeled in front of the droid, and powered it on.
"Artoo!," excitedly, "Wake up Artoo, I'm home."
A miracle had let her escape the tour that her father was taking Lord Vader on and as such she wouldn't have to deal with her Aunt yet. Artoo beeped as he warmed up, his lights flickering on.
Leia turned to Caden, grinning with the excitement of being home, "Caden you've got to meet Artoo!" she turned to Artoo and pushed the droid to Caden, "Artoo meet Caden my new friend!"
Artoo beeped and twirled his dome frantically.
"Be nice Artoo, I'm sure you'll get along with Caden just fine. He's going to be here for a while."
Caden, decked out in his full clone trooper attire, stepped back from Artoo, who had released one of his arms, "Leia, I don't think he likes me very much."
She frowned at Artoo, "No need to be so rude, Caden is nice."
The droid's dome spun around again, and Artoo turned to her making urgent beeping noises. She frowned at it, the droid was being unusually unreasonable, not just his quirky loyal self.
"I can't understand you Artoo, why don't you find Threepio to translate. I don't speak binary."
Artoo whistled urgently and twirled his dome frantically, when she didn't respond, he settled himself down on the ground not moving. The droid really had an inflated sense of self and went to drastic measures to insure her safety. For whatever reason, Artoo didn't trust Caden.
Leia turned to Caden, "Sorry… I don't know why he doesn't like you. He's usually very friendly… It's weird."
Caden looked at her, still standing professionally, "Seems even droids are prejudiced against clones."
She sent a glare to Artoo, before turning back to Caden, "Doesn't matter, you're still my friend."
"Technically I'm your guard."
"That's what the Royal Guard is for, they take their job serious enough that you don't have to worry. We are going to have fun!"
Ignoring Artoo, Leia grabbed a starship model and a variety of animated toys, including her giant nexu. A small monkey jumped down from her shelf.
"Gru!" the monkey trilled happily and rubbed against her, "Missed you too Gru, want to play?"
"Is that your… pet?" Caden asked hesitantly.
Leia nodded and handed him the money, "Sit down, it isn't fun to play with someone always standing… and take off your helmet, you don't need it."
The clone trooper crossed his arms, "Technically I'm your guard, so I'm still on duty."
Rolling her eyes, "That means you need to keep your armor on at all times?"
"Yes."
Doubtfully, "Even when you're sleeping?"
"I'm your guard, I won't be sleeping."
She stared at him and drawled, "So how exactly do you plan to stay awake and be alert after having no sleep for over twenty-four hours?"
Exasperation showing, Leia watched as her words took effect. He stood still and then began to walk back and forth.
"Should I ask Lord Vader for another trooper so we can rotate guard duty?"
Obviously her words didn't have the exact intended effect, "No, I wouldn't know them or trust them. I know you."
"But you pointed out that I will fail my job," he murmured sounding dejected.
Sighing, "If you heard a sound while sleeping would you wake up?"
Looking at her, "Yes, why?"
"I'll explain in a minute… Does your armor increase your ability to protect me?"
"Yes…"
"It's not going to do anything should you be shot at close range. How's it going to help? Also doesn't it slow you down?"
Throwing his hands up, "Fine, you've made your point. I'll talk to Lord Vader if I can...But I'm keeping my armor on when we're in public. I'm still a soldier of the Empire and will present myself as such."
A smile grew on her face, causing her mouth to hurt, "So can you take off the helmet now and play with me?
Waiting for Caden's reply, Leia gave her best pleading eyes, the ones that nobody could resist except her parents, "Please?" she added for good measure.
Caden looked away, "After I talk to Lord Vader, besides, I'd imagine that he and your father will be revealing themselves soon."
At the mention of meeting Lord Vader, Artoo began to whir frantically, his beeping almost hysteric.
Warily staring at the astromechs, Caden asked Leia, "Is that normal for droids? It's creepy."
Artoo emitted a raspberry, earning a glare from her, "No, he's just a unique little droid."
"Weird," he murmured and felt his blaster, "I'm keeping an eye on him. I bet he's an assassin droid in disguise."
Groaning, "Right… He's been with me since I've been born."
The clone trooper's retort was cut short as they heard the bearing of footsteps and the ringing of Lord Vader's breathing. He straightened and turned to the door, ready to salute. Leia, worried for her father, anxiously watched the door.
"This is my daughter's room Lord Vader. Onward is-"
The harsh baritones of Lord Vader interjected, "I'll be taking a look if you don't mind."
The door opened, pushed by a strong force to reveal Lord Vader and behind him her father. She stood up, bowing, and plastered a smile on her face. Caden saluted, his posture rigid and at attention. The pressure on her shoulder was released as her monkey jumped off in fright and darted back up the bookcase.
"Hi Lord Vader, hi Daddy!" she chirped, well aware of the glare Lord Vader was giving in response.
The impact of Artoo hitting her legs caused her to stumble slightly. She tried to push the droid behind her, to keep it safe from a temperamental Dark Lord, which proved to be fruitless against a droid almost as big as her.
"Artoo, get back here," she hissed, as the droid rolled forward, screeching in binary.
Instead of decimating the droid with his lightsaber, Vader stood still, shock rolling off him through the Force, "What's the droid's designation number?"
Nose scrunching up in confusion, "Artoo-Detoo."
Pain hit her and she carefully watched Lord Vader as he stooped down closer to her maniacal droid, his mask nearly touching it. The droid wheeled back at the sudden move, an arm stretching out, crackling with electricity.
Not to be deterred, Vader walked forward until his hand came to rest on the dome, "Artoo."
A tad worried about her droid, she looked to Caden to see if he could make sense of the scene, "Do they know each other?"
"I think you're in possession of Lord Vader's assassin droid."
Artoo wasn't an assassin droid, he was a simple astromech with a quirky personality. He had always been there for her and insured her safety, as well as joining all her insane schemes. Despite all that, the scene of Lord Vader stretching out his hand hesitantly caused her to wonder about the whys and hows of the astromech.
Artoo stopped his angry beeping and gave a sad whistle, before rolling up to Lord Vader's hand and allowing it to rest on the dome. The black hand lightly brushed Artoo, before its owner straightened to his towering height and turned to her.
"Where did you get this droid?" he thundered as he advanced on her.
To her surprise, Artoo began to beep and whistle and Vader appeared to understand what the droid was saying as he stopped.
"Really Artoo?"
Said droid whistled again and beeped wildly.
"You sure you aren't lying?"
Artoo rolled backwards and its dome slowly turned as he gave a slow whistle as if to say, "Who me?"
Lord Vader glowered at the droid before turning to the door where her father stood, "Senator, why don't you explain how this droid came to be in your possession?"
Leia tried to run to her father as he slowly rose into the air, clutching his throat, only to find herself unable to move or speak, held by invisible bonds.
"Where did you get this droid?" he thundered again and her father visibly gasped for air as the invisible hand tightened.
Rasping, "I... I was… when Padmé.. died," he began to speak more clearly as the Sith listened, intrigued, "she had… the droids… Tried to get… her medical attention… went into early labor… and died… the med droids… couldn't… couldn't … find cause of… death."
Leia stepped closer to Caden as she felt the anger and shock roll off Lord Vader. Her father was released from the Force-choke and fell to the floor where he remained gasping, as he tried to regain his breath.
Artoo whistled sadly, drawing attention. Lord Vader stood still and seemed to listen to the droid, before straightening himself up.
"Come Artoo," he ordered.
In typical Artoo fashion, the droid refused, giving a lengthy chain of beeps and whistles. To her continued confusion, Lord Vader seemed to understand what Artoo was saying. It would be extremely odd if Lord Vader was fluent in binary, which seemed to her like an impossible thing.
"And I don't see why you feel the need to stay. You're still my droid."
Caden nudged her slightly at the statement, seeing it as proof to his theory. Artoo just whistled again, remaining still.
"I'm sure the Senator will be perfectly capable of giving up ownership of you."
Artoo blew a raspberry and rolled over to Leia causing Lord Vader to look at her in confusion, "What does the Princess have to do with you staying here?"
Her droid rolled even closer up to her and blew a raspberry. A surge of anger hit her as Lord Vader listened to the droid's tirade.
"What do you mean you can't tell me?" another chain of answering beeps, "I see Artoo. This isn't the end of this."
Anger and sadness raged from Lord Vader as he turned around and Leia held her breath as she watched him move over to her father. Something important had happened and looking at the astromech, who was nudging her affectionately, she knew the small and deceptive droid had something to do with it.
"I've got work to do… The room seems secure enough and I'm sure… the astromech will prove himself useful should a situation arise," Vader rumbled looking at her father.
"Of course my Lord, is there anything I can provide?"
He rudely pushed past her father, "Stay out of my way."
? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ
Vader stormed out of the Princess's room, his anger immense. Once again it seemed that his Master had deceived him, his wife hadn't died by his hand, at least not directly. Grief tore through him at the knowledge that his vision had still passed, despite his sacrifices for her.
The special optics of the suit allowed him to see the scurrying servants, fleeing before his pounding feet. He wanted to think, but at the same time, he didn't. He didn't want to confront the past and tear open his wounds and let old pains resurface. Sith thrived on pain, even their own, but he didn't seek it out.
There was of course the other point of interest; his old astromech. Somehow the droid had traveled from Mustafar to the clutches of Senator Organa. Now, the droid didn't want to leave. The one companion, who had never forsaken him, now did.
"Lord Vader, wait!" shouted the new owner of the droid.
He turned around and watched as the man ran forward, slightly out of breathe, "What?"
Organa remained quiet for a moment, in deep contemplation, "I want to… are you alright?"
Anger welled in him at the man's insufferable comment and he slammed the Senator against the wall, "That's none of your business, but I still have questions for you."
The senator clawed at his metal hands, trying to pry them from his neck, "If you want you can have Artoo."
Not releasing the grip, Vader leaned in closer to the man, "Why don't you tell me exactly how you came to be at Amidala's deathbed."
A panicked look entered the Senator's eyes and he could feel his worry, "Promise… me…"
His hand tightened around the Senator's feeble neck, "Or I could rip the answer out of your mind."
Panic poured off of the man, "Leia…"
Under the mask, his eyes narrowed and he loosened the choke, now curious.
"Should something… something happen… promise me to give… Leia… Leia… a blood test… bring her to… to her blood relatives."
The Force whispered to him, urging him to listen. He let the Senator go, watching him crumple down on the floor and rub his throat. He stared at the man, a slight Force suggestion urging the man to tell everything.
"Explain," Vader said.
Bail looked at him fearfully, the choking incident fresh in his mind, "Breha and I wanted a daughter… we adopted Leia, but amidst the confusion with the rise of the Empire we didn't realize… that her family may still be alive."
"And why didn't you rectify your mistake?"
A sad look entered Bail's eyes, "She's our daughter… and we're the only family she had. I want her safe. That's the only thing I've ever wanted for her, just please, I beg you, insure that she remains safe."
He stepped back, trying to ignore the onslaught of the Force, telling him it was urgent. The darkside screamed, told him to run the traitor down and then find out her father. The light whispered also, telling him to look deeper, to find out who's daughter Leia was.
"Who are her parents? You know don't you?"
The Senator didn't say anything for a minute before shaking his head, "It's better if no one knows. She'll be safer."
The lightsaber on his belt hung heavily, "Was she from the temple?"
"No."
The Force confirmed the words, "I will find out eventually, a secret can't be kept forever."
The Senator looked as if he wished that a secret could indeed be kept forever.
"Now," using the Force he applied some pressure to the man's windpipe, "I think you should tell me what happened."
He could feel the man's fear, "I got a message from Kenobi, he said he needed help and had Padmé… went to Polis Massa and tried to help her. She died… the droids couldn't figure out what had gone wrong."
"And where is Kenobi know?"
The Senator look at him, staring into his mask, "Yoda told him to deliver something… he wanted to fight."
Anger coursed through him, a customary response to Kenobi, it seemed he'd never catch the traitor. He turned around, walking to clear his mind. It disturbed him to know, that instead of his beloved spending her last moments with him, it had been with the traitorous Jedi who had turned her against him. She had died in a loveless environment, surrounded by droids.
The hostility that he always perceived from the Senator made sense now, the man knew almost everything. His lightsaber drew his attention, the urge to use it on Organa, like an unscratchable itch.
Then there was Artoo… He had to wonder where Threepio was, it seemed unlikely that both of the droids could live in the same household. It seemed he was being hit by nostalgia.
Light was beginning to shine through the windows again as the planet's rotation brought the palace out of the Star Destroyer's shadow. Through the Force he could feel the inhabitant's fear, knowing nothing of the true terror they'd experience when he began to flush out the rebels.
He closed his eyes and felt Leia's Force presence, so never endingly bright and luminous. Perhaps she was the daughter of a Jedi, but his mind scoffed at the idea. The Force agreed and promoted his urgings to discover her parents. They were important.
? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ? ﾝﾄﾾ
I hope you enjoyed the chapter, it was fun to write after my muse got kicked into action. Most of the week has been: Sit down to write… wait, I should do that first… or... sleeping sounds good. There may or may not be another chapter coming, considering this was supposed to be the holiday chapter and I underestimated the amount of words I needed.
Should anyone notice the TFA inspiration leaking through, please don't post spoilers in the reviews. On that note, everyone writing TFA stories, please keep spoilers out of the summaries. Happy writing...