Chapter Thirty Two:
When Quane had received the call that the Emperor and Empress had cut their trip short and were coming home, his heart had clenched with fear. Would he be killed for failing to protect the Prince even though he had done everything he could?
Quane hadn't slept one wink since that call twenty-four standard hours earlier and he was feeling the effects of no sleep for so long. Thank goodness for good caf to keep him at least mostly awake.
He forced himself to focus now as their yacht settled onto its normal spot on in the Royal hangar bay.
Of course, Princess Leia had also been called, but the moment they had returned to the palace, Leia had locked herself inside her rooms and hadn't emerged since, even barring her handmaiden from coming in.
It was clear the young woman was in mourning, and while Quane respected that, he wasn't certain how the teen's parents would like her ignoring their summons.
The ramp lowered and Quane took a steadying breath, squaring his shoulders as the couple appeared.
Quane bowed low to them both. "Your Majesties welcome home. I trust your trip was pleasant?"
"Where is Leia?" Padmé demanded without responding to his pleasantries.
Quane straightened, clearing his throat. "The Princess has locked herself in her quarters, Highness, and refuses to come out. Nor will she let anyone inside."
"We will see about that," Padmé growled, and then Vader glared at Quane, his patience for his turn to speak wearing out.
"What happened to my son?" Vader asked in a tone that chilled Quane to the core.
Quane cleared his throat discreetly. "We are still investigating the occurrence, Sire, but so far we know he was taken by a figure in a black robe that had full access to the places they went. They just... went through like they had all the access codes already. So either someone hacked the system from the outside, or..."
"Or someone on the inside leaked the Intel." Vader finished for him, his face red with anger. "This will be investigated to the full extent of our capabilities." The Emperor pointed a finger at Quane, and then made a motion with his hand. Quane felt his airways constrict warningly, and his breathing stopped. "I want answers, Sergeant..."
Quane managed to keep his head, and he nodded his understanding. Vader eyed him for a few seconds more and then released him. Quane took in a few large gulps of air, struggling to regain his composure swiftly as the royal couple walked onward.
Vader was still addressing Quane. "I will be doing my own search into what happened. I want no stone unturned, and I want whoever was responsible for this in my office within the week, or there will be hell to pay. Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly," Quane replied, refraining from rubbing his neck.
He split off from the royals as they went to their daughter's quarters and he returned to where the investigation was in full swing.
00000
It was dark and gloomy inside her normally well-lit rooms. The lush curtains were drawn, blocking out most of the sunlight, and the effect mirrored the Princess's mood.
She'd lost her brother: her one link to something good within her family. Artoo was great, but he wasn't a living breathing person that could hug her back, crack jokes that only her twin brother knew would cheer her up...
Leia would never again see Luke's blue eyes light up with mirth when he teased her, or feel him hold her when she needed to cry and refused to let the galaxy see. He would never again stand up for her when Padmé used Leia as one would a porcelain doll: all dressed up to show off so Padmé would look great.
Nor would Leia ever again hear his soft voice... or spar against her twin with her lightsaber...
Leia was deeply saddened that she'd not been able to help Luke in his last days save to comfort him. She was grateful for that last moment she'd had with him, and would cherish the way he'd looked at her for the rest of her life.
Leia had raided Luke's room in the dead of night after everyone else had finally left her alone. She'd taken a few of his things and placed them in her room: Luke's first model— one he and she had actually done together— as well as his pillow, a few of his favorite trinkets, and lastly the small plant Luke had nursed from a seed with pride despite Leia's teasing.
Now these things were in her room, set with care on a shelf, save his pillow. She clung to the item like it was Luke, breathing in her brother's scent because it was all she could do now. Leia started crying again at the fresh reminder that Luke was gone, and she wondered who she had left to talk to: to really talk to. Someone who'd not judge her or turn her in for speaking things her parents may not like.
He'd not be there to comfort her ever again... to be her listening ear and shoulder to lean on...
A loud knock on her front door sounded throughout the apartment, and Leia's mood soured further when she realized who it was. Hoping that if she ignored them they'd go away, Leia buried her face in Luke's pillow.
No such luck. The knock came again, but was cut off by her Father's use of the Force to open it. Leia braced herself for the storm even as she sighed resignedly.
When her bedroom door clanged open, Leia made no move to acknowledge her parents, even as Padmé strode to the bed and ripped the covers off Leia.
"Get up," Padmé ordered... and Leia didn't move. "Young Lady, you need to get up. You are a Princess, and you will act like one."
Leia's anger peaked, and in a flash she was sitting upright and glaring forcefully at her mother. "I could be just like you, is that it, Mother? A heartless woman who cares for nothing and no one but herself and doesn't even weep when her son dies?!"
Padmé's eyes flashed and before Leia could catch the action, the woman's hand flashed out and slapped Leia so hard the young woman's head snapped to the side.
"You will not speak to me in such a manner!" Padmé snapped furiously.
Leia clenched her teeth, breathing with difficulty through her anger. "I'm sorry Mother; I was just trying to be honest."
Another hand snatched Leia by the shirt, and it was suddenly Vader in Leia's face. "You will watch how you speak to your mother, Young Lady."
Leia glared for a moment, and then realized she was dangerously close to messing up her mission. She then realized s how she could honor Luke: by fulfilling her mission... and doing for herself what he had tried to do for himself.
Playing the part smoothly, Leia cast her gaze downward, allowing more tears to fall. "I'm... I'm sorry... I'm just... hurting. I just can't believe Luke's g-gone!"
Vader softened and sighed, drawing Leia closer in a rare hug. Leia was surprised at the gesture, but welcomed the motion like the love-starved person she was. "We will figure this out, Leia," her father said softly, but Leia didn't hear any remorse in his tone, only... disappointment.
Leia had to work hard not to stiffen in indignation and ruin her charade. But oh, how she wanted to hit both her parents. Their son was dead, and not a single one of them so much as gave him a second thought save the loss of control they'd suffered. She could sense that Vader was angry— actually he was livid that Luke was gone— but Leia sensed that it wasn't because of the loss of his child. Vader's plans had been foiled, that was all he cared about.
Leia settled for a nod. "I believe we will." She pulled away and straightened her nightgown the best she could. "How was your trip?"
"Relaxing," Padmé replied, turning away. "Get dressed, eat something, and meet us once that's done. We have a funeral to arrange."
Leia's heart cracked, but she managed to keep herself together. "Yes Mother."
Once the pair was gone, Leia released her anger on a piece of art Padmé had given her: taking the thing and ripping it to shreds, not caring if the painting had cost more than most people made in a year.
She was furious with her parents' nonchalant attitude, and she hated them for it. But she calmed herself down by recalling her purpose: her mission. She would not fail. She would bring her parents down, and she would not allow Luke to have died in vain.
He would be remembered.
With that in her heart, Leia stood straight and performed her duties as was expected.
00000
Vader, to everyone's dismay, took the investigation in hand, going over everything himself and retracing the steps taken by the intruder, finish to start. He followed every iota of information already gathered while taking in any clues he could find himself. He relayed his findings to a stormtrooper tailing him, and the man dutifully took notes as ordered while the Emperor focused on the search itself.
He found it odd that there were no footprints in any of the halls, and yet the person had clearly come this way...
Eventually Vader found his way to the hangar bay the royals used to store their ships for repairs and tinkering and such. Thus it was that the people had discovered that Artoo Detoo, the droid kept in the royal family's hobby hangar bay, had been attacked.
The droid was still being worked on, but the Emperor was more concerned with his memory banks than the overall welfare to the mechanic, though he did still have a small soft spot for the droid.
For old times' sake, Vader ordered a full restoration of the droid, though his personality was to remain intact, so no memory wipes.
While he waited for Artoo's recovery, Vader took a ship and flew the path of the battle, taking in everything he could and trying to glean any data he could, hoping that maybe he'd catch something everyone else missed.
Vader took his time, ordering all other traffic to be re-routed while he inspected the site of the battle. He could feel the emotions of many beings, but oddly there wasn't much to be picked up by the person who seemed to be responsible for Luke's kidnapping.
Vader frowned at that, trying to puzzle it out. Was it another Force-sensitive who could mask their presence? But then why the lack of footprints all over the castle save the drag marks of some robe? Who could levitate for so long unless...
Unless they were using some sort of repulsor sled to get around. That would explain the lack of footprints...
Vader didn't sense another Force-signature in the immediate area, however something tickled his awareness at a certain point beyond the explosion, but an incoming transmission interrupted his thoughts.
"Your Majesty, Sergeant Quane here. We have Artoo awake, Majesty."
Vader nodded even though the call was voice-only. "Good. I will be there soon. Wait for me."
"As you wish."
The call ended and Vader peered around more, but there was no trace of his son's presence other than the muted effect brought on by his days of torture. Luke hadn't been in good health as it was, so it was no wonder his presence was so faded.
And there was no evidence that Vader could discern that anyone onboard the Armistice had survived the explosion. A fist clenched, and Vader had to make sure it was the one not holding the yolk. Luke was gone... and Vader's only link to a fully Sith bloodline was gone with him.
When Leia married, she would take on another name. And even so, she wasn't as powerful as her brother had been. Luke would have built up the Vader-Sith dynasty, ensuring that their family ruled for more generations.
If only the stupid boy had seen reason... all of this could have been avoided!
Vader caught sight of a nearby ship and directed his full wrath into it, not caring who was inside even as he watched it first cave in on itself and then explode. His anger somewhat sated, Vader sighed and turned back to the Palace.
Vader landed and immediately went to the hobby hangar where Artoo worked. The little blue droid was whistling irately and Vader was surprised to see Leia there. But then again, Padmé had told the girl to get her act together.
Dismissing the young woman's presence, Vader bent before the droid, who focused on him. "What can you tell me?"
Artoo whistled, already having been through a search via the tech's computers. Artoo had had to get crafty with shielding his memory banks so as to not give away Leia or Nella, but he had to give them something lest he appear incompetent and be scrapped.
I was attacked by a being in a hooded black robe, they had Master Luke, and before I could raise the alarm they shot me. Artoo played the recording of his photoreceptor seeing the hooded figure seconds before he was shot.
Vader eyed the footage, then the droid. "Did you get a full visual on the intruder?"
Artoo whistled sadly. No, their face was covered the entire time, but their feet did not touch the ground, and it was a female voice.
Vader's eyes shot up. "Female? You're certain?"
Artoo rocked once forward. A deep, female voice, it may have been a voice modulator, I am not certain.
Vader rubbed his chin. "Thank you Artoo, you've given me enough."
The Emperor rose. "It is clear to me now that the Prince was kidnapped and I want to know who it was. Find whoever leaked the intelligence, or I will start my own sort of investigation, and I promise you don't want that."
Quane looked around him at all the fine men and women he'd worked with for years, knowing they were all innocent. He decided to risk it in their behalf and stepped forward.
"Sire, I can assure you no one in the palace betrayed the Royal Family. You yourselves handpicked us for our loyalty to you." The Emperor turned to face the man, and he bravely continued. "I ask His Majesty to trust his staff. We would never betray you, Sire."
Many heads nodded consent, and Vader sensed their honesty. And while he appreciated it, it irked him that no one knew who had taken his son.
Although... Vader's head came up, and suddenly an idea formed, and the more he worked through it, the more he liked it. "Very well, but on one condition. I want you all to make this look like a Rebellion attack. Paint them as the murdering cowards they are."
Quane saluted crisply. "At once, Sire."
Leia stared after her father, wondering how he could just... drop it like that. Not that she wanted the innocent people around her to die, but she had honestly expected more from her father at least.
Maybe he didn't have nearly as much of a heart as she'd thought me might still have.
With a heavy countenance, Leia did what she could to help the Imperials paint the Rebels as the ones behind Luke's kidnapping and death.
00000
Night was in full swing, and rain was pouring down the side of the large building as two figures approached the entrance. They went inside and were met by the owner, who seemed to already know why they were there.
Following directions, the figures returned to their ship and unloaded their package, taking it to a hidden doorway. Their contact met them there and directed them on where to put their bundle, and they did so.
"How long will this take?" one figure demanded uneasily.
"That is uncertain," their contact replied cryptically. "These things take time, but in the end, they are always worthwhile."
The figure thinned their lips but said nothing more, taking a seat with a sigh.
