19 BBY

ROYAL PALACE, ALDERAAN

Lord Vader took long strides down the landing ramp of his personal shuttle, a cavalcade of Clone Troopers meeting his every step. House Organa itself was grand, but certainly not by the standards of Coruscant. Perhaps in taste, but never in scale. However, the seething rage contained within the black armor cared little for that. He was fully living up to his reputation as the Emperor's brutally efficient enforcer as he stared ahead past the landing platform's staff. Killing them would have only slowed him down.

Bail Organa, no doubt fully aware of the Sith and his inevitable appearance, was waiting for him just inside, surrounded by his meager force of Alderaanian volunteer soldiers. A mere distraction, without a doubt. He made an effort to keep himself open to the infinite possibilities within the Force.

"Lord Vader," he began with a smile. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Playing coy will only delay the inevitable," he said. "Where is the child?"

Organa, ever the politician, gave no physical sign of anything other than friendliness. Even in the Force, Vader had to scrutinize to find his slight panic. "I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific. There are thousands of children in Aldera alone."

"You seem to misunderstand your importance. Your treasonous behavior has only been allowed in order to root out more traitors to the Empire," he said, Bail completely unfazed. "Release the child to me and you have my word, my wrath will only extend to yourself…"

"No one here fears you, Vader. We're all prepared to die. The cause of restoring the Republic, the Jedi, are much too important to cave to you," Bail declared with great ambition.

He was unamused. These sorts of speeches had been recited to him many times in the months following the dissolution of the Republic. Few lacked the mettle to back them up. Fewer died with anything but primal fear in their eyes. Vader was only surprised Organa was being so overt with his rebellious drivel.

"Does your wife share your convictions?" Vader threatened bluntly.

Organa took a moment to choose a response, clearly shaken. He knew there was to be no standard procedure here. Only death.

"Did yours?"

Something cold crept into his veins.

He didn't care how Organa knew. As Vader raised his clenched fist, so did the throats of every man on the landing platform save for Organa himself. He swiftly snapped their necks by way of the Force and threw them off the edge, uncaring of their allegiance. Only one was to leave here alive. Vader's menacing breathing was briefly interrupted by the sound of his lightsaber igniting.

Organa seemed to briefly fear for his life, and suddenly the reality of it came crashing onto him. He no doubt knew he was a dead man. The only option he had was to keep digging the hole he was in- like a wounded animal. Vader felt as though this would only get stickier. Best to end him now. He raised his saber high.

Bail Organa began taking a step back for every two of Vader's. "Would she approve of all this?"

Vader's approach came to a dead halt. The words that had haunted him for over half a year came crashing to him all at once. "No…" he droned dejectedly. His despair threatened to overcome him before the Dark Side reminded him of his resultant strength. Bail captured his attention once again. "No! I am… unconcerned with the opinions of the dead! You will fully understand all too soon."

Suddenly, the roaring engines of a CR90 Corellian Corvette activated from nearby. Vader and Bail whipped their heads around, following the ship as it lifted off towards Vader's Imperial fleet. Briefly, the Sith felt the presence of someone immensely strong in the Force. Like a star, it burned brightly and unashamedly. Foolish, even for a Jedi. Something about it was familiar, which was a useless thing for his senses to pick up on considering just how many Jedi Vader had met in the past. But still...

"Too late, Vader."

Aforementioned Dark Lord lifted his unoccupied prosthetic hand, clenching it in the direction of the blockade runner. Despite the sheer lifting power of the ship, the Force had stopped it dead in its path, with no small strain to Vader. Perhaps Organa's remark had given him the power. "Incorrect. The child will be mine after I slay you and the Jedi," he announced as he raised his lightsaber toward Bail. Such open insubordination was unforgivable in the eyes of the Empire.

Organa raised a blaster and took aim at Vader's fist. Between his use of the Force to stop the CR90, his emotional pain, and his underestimation of Bail Organa, the bolt struck its target. Vader groaned as his focus slipped and the ship flew away.

The second shot was blocked, sent right back at the blaster, causing Bail to drop it in pain. "Kill me, then! I've done my part."

Vader ignored him, deactivating his saber. "You are insignificant," he announced simply, pinning Bail painfully to the floor with the Force. Said Senator panted as his body adjusted to essentially what was high gravity. "My priority lies immediately with that child," he declared, grabbing a communicator from his waist. "She is your adopted daughter, is she not? Perhaps someone with your name will serve the Empire dutifully yet."

"Your… escort… won't stop her!"

"It will. I arrived with the possibility of invasion. Even then, nothing escapes the notice of the Empire."

His comlink beeped, to which Vader immediately answered. "My Lord, we've captured the blockade runner attempting to escape the planet in our tractor beam."

"No!"

"Good," Vader droned. "Prepare a boarding party and await my arrival."

"As you command."

Vader clipped it back to his belt, staring down Organa. "I have sworn to destroy every link to the Jedi, including links to Anakin Skywalker. You are one such link."

He sensed fear, but not the self preserving type. Bail Organa was afraid for the child. Unnaturally so. It was distinct from the other parents who he had stolen children from in some way he had yet to discern. "You have bested me. Just don't kill Leia."

"Her fate lies in my hands. No one else's," he grumbled.

Bail smiled in relief. Vader couldn't place why, and it infuriated him. "Not even your Master's?"

Vader ignited his lightsaber, driving down with both hands into Organa's torso. Only when life flickered out of his eyes did he relent. "You politicians talk far too much."

His breathing hissed as he turned toward the shuttle. He desperately hoped flying the ship himself would distract him from the thoughts of Padmé Amidala. It didn't. Vader sloppily landed the craft, storming out and toward the Tantive IV. He hoped to simply finish this long day and perhaps distract himself with a new mechanical project. His left hand's joints seemed to be sticking after the laser blast. Besides, he wasn't sure if these emotions would empower him. He didn't feel stronger thinking about Her.

"My Lord?"

Vader was pulled from his distraction, looking at the clone that had called him out. "Yes?"

"The door's already been cut. We're ready to board on your command," he said dutifully, nodding his white helmet.

The Force was his command. He threw his hand forward, igniting his lightsaber. As if an invisible hand had pitched the blast door, it flew down the hallway, crashing against the bulkhead opposite them. Whoever wasn't struck by the door were struck by blaster bolts, whether they be the clone's or their own deflected back at them. It all went off like clockwork.

Perhaps the Emperor was right to be unfazed by whispers of rebellion. If these Alderaanians were the best they had, they truly were a pathetic lot. Sensing no more danger, Vader's saber returned to his waist. "Any passengers aboard are now prisoners of the Empire. Round them up, Commander."

"Right away, sir," he said, motioning for his troops to split up. The clones dispersed, leaving him be.

Vader lifted what seemed to be a corpse up with the Force, tearing his blaster away and crushing it with his hand. Gripping the struggling man by the throat, he let his passive intimidation do its work. "Where is the child? Spare me your heroic speeches."

"Child..?" he gasped. "We're… delivering… some packages!"

He probed his mind, finding no deception. Vader noted his honesty without a word, gripping his hand tightly, squeezing the life from the soldier until his neck snapped audibly. He released his grip and what was once a man crumpled to the ground in a lifeless heap. After that, he headed toward the cargo hold.

There he met two clones rifling through the various crates meticulously. In terms of contents, none of them would be out of place if this were a relief mission. Just medicine, water, and rations of high quality. Perhaps the ship was truly heading on a humanitarian task, second to delivering the Force-sensitive child to safety. He made a mental note to uncover information regarding the destination of the vessel. A surviving Jedi could have been the recipient.

After a few minutes of carefully observed searching, the troopers found nothing. Vader folded his arms, giving the clones a sense of unease. He wasn't attempting to do so. In reality, he was merely attempting to recall where the hidden compartments on such a vessel were. He cocked his head to the side, spying a slight indentation on the wall.

Approaching it, he placed his hand to it, immediately recoiling. Electricity crackled on the panel. The clones required no command to aim their blasters toward it. Vader stepped back, moving the compartment's door with the Force. Out came tumbling a white and blue astromech droid, beeping binary curses and prodding wildly with an arc welder.

Vader recognized the droid. Not just because of the paint job or identifying features, but because he had taught the droid the huttese obscenities it was spouting himself. R2-D2 was a relic from his past, and therefore he resigned himself to destroying the droid. Not before recovering intel or attempting to change his loyalties, of course. Droids were at their simplest tools, and easily manipulated in skilled hands. At their most complicated, they could even be allies.

He deactivated it with a wave of his hand, gently setting him down onto the floor. R2 could wait. "Bring that astromech to my quarters," he ordered, getting rid of the two clones and the droid.

There were bigger fish to fry in the form of a large container within the compartment. It wasn't until he opened it did he begin to feel the presence of the child within. Something was shielding her. Force-dampeners procured with the Organa fortune, he was certain.

For now, the child wouldn't stop crying. He tended to have that effect on most weak-willed organics. The swirling and chilling darkness surrounding him was nearly visible to those who were Force-sensitive. Speaking of which, this child was extremely in tune with the Force. He realized that he had mistaken her presence for a fully-trained Jedi back on the landing pad. He was half tempted to kill her, as a Sith suffered no rivals.

Her scrunched up face and screeching were growing quickly on his nerves. He levitated the baby, infiltrating it's mind in order to coerce sleep. He could dwell upon her later.

Vader's head split as she retaliated with her familiar presence.

In that moment, he was free of the mask- free of the traumatic experience that was Mustafar. He was a boy on Tatooine meeting a handmaiden from Naboo for the first time. He was back on Coruscant, feeling the cool night air on his skin and holding his beloved close. He was on Mustafar, experiencing the overwhelmingly scorching heat, crushing Padmé's throat until she died.

When he was back in reality he set the child down in the container, collapsing to his knees, a storm of grief brewing within his mind.

Vader lifted a hand to his face to wipe his tears but was stopped by the mask.

When he looked at the child he just as suddenly came to the realization that she was Padmé's daughter.

…His daughter.

"How… is this possible?" he asked aloud, almost wishing his… daughter would answer him. He had killed Padmé with his own hand- she had died on the landing platform on Mustafar. He had seen a recording of her funeral where she was pregnant clear as day. That story, however, was beginning to seem exactly like that- a story. The situation stank of deception. He was furious.

Fine details were unimportant to him now. His child was alive! Vader picked her up once again, this time sending soothing waves through the force, finally quieting her temper. He observed her face, and even through the red lenses he recognized miniature features all too familiar. Her parentage was so certain to him that genetic tests weren't even on his mind. For the first time since becoming Vader, the Dark Lord felt lost.

He had questions, questions he was determined to ask. Vader cursed himself for letting Organa die, but perhaps his spouse could be of use. The Sith stood up, cradling the infant close. With his free hand he took his comlink from his belt. "Admiral, see to it that the Queen is brought into custody."

"Right away."

He left the cargo hold, passing clones and caring not for their stares. Vader entered the conference room where it seemed the prisoners were being held. Breha Organa sat in the middle of those who had been rounded up, looking at him with a horrified expression.

"Take everyone but the Queen and leave us," he ordered. His men and the prisoners cleared out like criminals when a bounty hunter stepped into a bar. No one wanted to be near him.

Queen Breha, ever the strong politician, held a stone cold expression despite her anxiety. "You must know Leia's true heritage by now."

"Leia," he said, testing the name out. Vader didn't know enough to be furious at her in particular. "So it is true then."

"If you ever harm her, I will make you regret it," Breha spat.

Darth Vader almost believed her. "You misunderstand your position. I could execute you for treason, let alone taking my child for your own."

"Then do it," she said. Vader didn't do it. She still was of use.

"Not before you give me what I search for. How? Is Padme still alive..?"

"No- she died giving birth, but not before naming her. I only know what Bail told me."

"I see," So she had lived long enough to give birth, but died anyway. No doubt due to his actions. He had made many mistakes, had many regrets, but now he had an avenue in which to make even some of them right. Vader had devoted himself to the Dark Side, to Sidious, because he had no other reason to live. Not anymore. He had lost so much, but he had gained a daughter.

It thrilled him- excited him to no end.

"I will not make the same mistakes," he promised. Although it infuriated him, he fully understood the reasoning behind separating him from his child.

He had ample time to consider his mistakes.

"I don't believe you. Not for a second."

"You will come to know the truth," he said.

Breha raised a brow. "I don't understand. You aren't going to kill me?"

He thought someone realizing they were to be spared wouldn't speak of it so casually.

"Leave this place and never return. You are not responsible for your husband's treachery."

'Not without Leia-"

"Leave!" he shouted, sending Leia into tears. "If you ever come into my sight again, I will not be as merciful."

"No!" she shot back, surprising the Sith Lord. "You're just going to turn her over to Palpatine, and look at what he did to you!"

Vader paused, considering this. He felt it was not prudent to inform her that his current form was the fault of Obi-Wan Kenobi. "You have my word, she will not be his. I… cannot allow that. Padme would not want that."

Breha stood up, lip trembling. "I will come out of exile just to kill you if I discover you've lied to me."

"I will hold you to that," he said, turning to a crate he sensed was full to the brim with weaponry, levitating a DH-17 into her hands with his free one. "Do not take what I have given lightly."

She tossed it to the ground and drew a concealed stunner from her boot. "I'm not planning on killing anyone."

Her determination would be inspiring were it not so foolish. "So be it. I will not aid you again."

Breha scoffed, leaving through the doorway. He heard two shots go off followed by plastoid hitting durasteel before it closed.

He drew a long mechanical breath, looking once more at the child in his arms. What was he supposed to do? If only she could answer him. He'd have a thousand questions for her. Another two by the time he had worked up the nerve to ask half of the first.

All that mattered now, he supposed, was keeping her safe, secure, and alive. His impulse was to keep her hidden, but Sidious would no doubt discover her anyway. In fact, he probably already knew, and lied to him in order to keep his loyalty. That changed today. His loyalty was first and foremost to Leia.

Vader set out to his quarters, uncaring of the stares he received. It wasn't as if anyone possessed the backbone to inquire further. He was on autopilot, bumping into the occasional droid or clone. The newfound father eventually made it, entering his meditation room.

The Sith Lord kneeled, sending a communication to his master. Sidious' gnarled visage almost immediately came into view.

"My young apprentice," he began, with words that cut deep. By all accounts, Vader was young. Much younger than anyone would have expected him to be. "I trust your mission was successful. Why is the child not with the Nursemaids?"

"Master, the child- she- Leia… I have no doubt she is my own."

The Emperor didn't falter for even a moment. "Are you certain, Lord Vader..? The offspring of The Chosen One is an asset we cannot afford to lose…"

"No!" Vader shouted rashly. Sidious' glare snapped him back into reality. "I have not performed any genetic testing, but I can sense it."

"And… what of your late wife?"

"Padmé perished, but perhaps not as soon as I was led to believe…"

Sidious frowned. "Jedi trickery, I am sure."

Vader wasn't…

"My Master… What is to become of the child?" Vader inquired, a thousand outcomes running through his mind. He was certain his Master's answer would determine the actions he took throughout the rest of his life.

He took a moment to consider. "Your loyalty is something to be commended, my apprentice. Any other in your position surely would have attempted to hide the child from me. I see your attachments come second to me…"

"Of course, Master," he lied. Just as Sidious was to him. No doubt she would be allowed to stay by his side so that Sidious could groom her to replace Vader. It worked once before, after all...

"Provided you do not train her in the ways of the Sith, you will be allowed to raise her. Your work thus far has been far too excellent to go unnoticed. Take as long as you need to arrange your affairs, but as soon as you return, I expect the quality of your actions to remain steady. I do not believe the consequences of failure need to be spoken…"

"It will be done. You have my gratitude," he said, lowering his head.

"Another thing, my apprentice."

"Master?"

"I would much like to meet this child at your earliest... convenience. She is, in a way, my creation, after all…" he said casually.

Vader lifted his head suddenly. "In… what way?"

Sidious' mouth crept into a disgustingly smug smirk. "Do not tell me you have forgotten what I told you that night at the opera?"

He shifted uneasily. It was a fact he'd been groomed by Sidious, but for his own creation to be so literal… It made sense. It couldn't be true... "I have not."

"Good. All doubts are removed."

"So it would seem," Vader said. He stood up when the transmission cut, staring at the wall for a moment, before punching it with all of his strength. Leia's tears resumed, as they were stifled only by the terrifying presence of Sidious.

He hated the lying. The tiptoeing around politically. He was only being allowed to raise Leia so she could serve as leverage against him before turning her into his apprentice. Vader didn't even know why he brought her to him. Sure, it ended up much better than it possibly could have, but it still didn't end all that well. He himself had been manipulated, so he considered himself well read when it came to Sidious' trickery. That came to a crashing halt the moment Sidious had claimed that even his creation was premeditated.

Nothing but falsehoods meant to sow doubt. It hardly mattered in the grand scheme, he told himself. Vader would do everything in his power to give her a happy life, or die trying.

LARS HOMESTEAD, TATOOINE

Obi-Wan Kenobi was by all accounts, a polite man. Therefore, when he came knocking on the door of the Lars homestead in the middle of the night, he couldn't help but feel like he had better come back tomorrow. The subject matter dissuaded him.

Owen Lars answered shortly. "Kenobi? What's the matter? It's the middle of the night, you could've woken up Luke."

"I'm afraid it's urgent, and in fact about Luke."

"You're not training him in wizardry. He's not nine months old, and you know how his father ended up."

Obi-Wan sent his pained memories away through the force. "I understand. This is about his safety. Earlier this afternoon, an agent of the Empire engaged me in Anchorhead. He was unskilled, but a dark Force-user nonetheless."

"Was?" Owen asked quietly.

"He won't be pursuing us any further…"

"What does this mean? Was he after you? Or Luke?"

"He was part of a group of Jedi turned dark. They are searching for Force-sensitives to twist to their liking," Kenobi explained. He didn't think Owen wanted to know how he knew this. "Being that the Outer Rim was relatively untouched by the Republic, he was hoping to find them here."

Owen Lars took a moment to consider the implications raised. "Blast. There are more of them?"

"Yes, but they are spread thin across the galaxy. Not many would betray the old ways. I don't believe we will have much trouble unless it stumbles upon us."

"Well one of them stumbled to our doorstep not even a year after the Republic died."

"I believe it is necessary that I protect you all more closely. I can work as your farmhand, free of charge in order to guard you all. Luke will not become a Jedi by my hand, I promise," Obi-Wan said.

Owen nodded slowly. "That would be the safest option. I'd be a fool not to accept free labor. I'd also be a sleemo. We'll give you a bed and meals. I can't imagine it's too pleasant living like a hermit," he declared. "But! There'll be no Force training in my home. Leave your Jedi business at the door or you'll be thrown out through it fast."

Kenobi bowed slightly. "You have my word. Thank you, Owen."

"You may be an idealistic wizard, but you're a good man. You're just looking out for his safety, like us," Owen said, holding out his hand. "Until you prove me wrong, that is. An inkling of it, and you're out of here."

Obi-Wan shook it firmly after a pause. "No harm will come to any of you on my watch."

Owen clapped a hand on his shoulder, ushering him in. "It's short notice, but I insist you spend the night. It's getting too cold for you to return, and we've got a lot to do in the morning. Moving will have to wait- harvest starts tomorrow."