Disclaimer: Star Wars is owned by Disney and Lucasfilm Ltd. The following work is not intended to add to, promote or distort this series. This is a work of fanfiction, and the author does not profit in posting. This is simply a writing exercise written for fun.

As stars rushed by in her viewer, the old hag sank deep into thought. It had been some time since she'd left Isis with her master, and he'd shrunk off into the darkness. He'd made mention he had to confer with greater ghosts, though what he'd meant my that, she could not fathom. All she knew was he was gone and she was at peace with her thoughts once again.

Thoughts of ages past, when the Jedi were at the height of prosperity, and she a simple analyst in the archives. She remembered those days well, but not fondly. Though knowledge was treasured in the order, few actually respected it at that time, and she was often shrugged off as being an over-trained librarian. That is, until one day a dark file caught her attention and she began reading.

It is true that no Sith ever schooled her and that she should not count herself among them, but many fall under the banner of Jedi without treading foot on Coruscant, so she felt no wrongs in diluting her information to her subordinates. Especially since her master was well beyond the dark conjurings of brigands like Bane or even Sidius. Yes, Demantis seemed to know no foe.

Except Skywalker... his own flesh and blood

She meditated on these thoughts, wondering how it is that a man would learn to spurn his own descendants, especially when one was so capable of great deeds, for good or not. Even Vader, who existed as mere walking corpse for twenty years, delighted in the idea that his son could reinvent the meaning of life. But Demantis, he was cold... more distant than any dark user Pestilis had ever known. Unliving. Unyielding.

Yet it makes so little sense, she decided, sitting forward to think, The Sith thrive on emotion, mostly anger and fear, but we do allow happiness to boil through now and then. We are allowed to revel in victory, wouldn't a man be thrilled to know his descendant is worth protecting.

Yes, his determination to kill Luke and Leia Skywalker truly did confuse her. Especially since she believed her Anhilis was correct; they were better served turned as small children. And that only begged a question, what was Demantis truly hiding about them? What piece of information was she missing?

And then she considered Masana; she'd been selected to be sent back to Skywalker to confuse him, to distract him based on old feelings. If Skywalker was really beyond such things, as Pestilis suspected, he wouldn't be drawn to her predicament so easily, recognizing it for what it is. She'd been sent for more than that, but Pestilis couldn't understand exactly what her master was up to. What was on his nails that was potent enough to warrant her caution?

As she left hyperspace to return to Coruscant, she frowned at the notion that she had no answer.

Had she not already chosen to believe that Luke and Leia were her master's son and daughter, this circus would have told her anyway. Standing beside Luke alone gave him away for the Skywalker he was. He was courteous, quiet and tended to watch over interact. In almost every way, she felt she was beside her master, and that brought her some comfort.

Being on her own was rather scary. Having no one to guide her started feeling intimidating the night before.

But, for every idea she concocted that would show she was not ready for this, she could turn to Luke and find a crooked grin on his face, his father's grin of all things, and find him shaking his head all knowingly. "You'll do fine." He assured her, as though reading her every thought. And what amazed her was how much she believed him. She believed him more than she did her own master.

That was the part of him that reminded her so much of his mother; his poise. His calm. Not even her master possessed that attribute, being more like a torrential storm than a calm harbor. But he was not most like her in Ahsoka's opinion.

Leia's ability to dance and dine, interact and network amazed her. She moved about the room easily, making friends with everyone she passed. Nearly every person she spoke with had wide smiles on their faces upon meeting her. It floored Ahsoka that she and Luke were twins, they seemed so different in this moment.

Yet before, they seemed so alike; moving with one another like a single person, completely immersed in good humor and fun. And then there was that fight at Varykino.

Ahsoka would kill to fight with someone like that, and she wondered if either twin could teach her how. Instinctively, she turned to Luke curiously, surprised to see him smiling slightly.

"What's so funny?" She wondered aloud.

Shrugging, Luke replied, "My sister's in her element... and happy about it for the first time in a long time." He then turned to Ahsoka with his brows raised, "She's a minister in our time; works hard and loves it, but her boss hasn't been all that kind in doling out assignments." Then, with a grin, he added, "I think Mothma intends to step down and have my sister take her place and wants to groom her for the job a little, but I'm afraid to suggest it to Leia. She can be so stubborn at times."

Jaw dropped, Ahsoka commented, "A minister and a Jedi?"

Chuckling, Luke explained, "She's a part-time Jedi." Again, Ahsoka was stupefied, her mind attempting to contemplate all the changes the order must have gone through in the next thirty years. "Full-time politician."

Astounded, Ahsoka managed, "Does she sleep?" to Luke's humor. She then turned to him with a raised brow, "And what are you, pray tell?"

Shrugging once more, and acting like it was no big deal, Luke informed her, "I'm just a humble Jedi." Crossing her arms over her chest, Ahsoka stared him down, and when he didn't cave, she admitted to him.

"Somehow, I doubt that." Luke only smiled.

They continued to watch the festivities quietly, each smirking like they were the only ones in on a grand joke. And all the while, Ahsoka was calm in knowing that, in a very strange way, a part of her master was with her this day. She needn't be afraid.

But, as they continued to observe and guard, one particular senator approached the duo with her own look of determination in her eye. With a polite smile, Senator Amidala approached and inquired, "Are you two enjoying the party?" They both nodded with smirks on their faces, doing their best to hide their boredom, but it seemed that Amidala could read them both, "Perhaps some mingling wouldn't hurt either of you? I know I wouldn't mind a quick dance with Mr. Darklighter." Ahsoka turned to find the best poker face she'd ever seen on Luke, the only giveaway of his surprise being his slightly wider eyes and shock radiating in the Force.

Finally, at seeing she was serious, he took her hand and added, "I hope you like your feet, cause they might not be there after this waltz."

Chuckling, Padme retorted, "With all your Jedi forms, it amazes me how many of you dodge dancing." To that, Luke had to chuckle.

With her brows furrowed, Ahsoka could only wonder what Padme wanted to talk to Luke about. Hopefully she just wants to thank him for a job well done or something. She couldn't imagine any other topic that would warrant a private conversation.

But Luke was not mystified. His sister had informed him of all that had transpired in the gardens that day, and he'd been expecting his mother to attempt to level the field. Or, better yet, to find leverage. He yearned for his access to the Force, yearned to know just what his mother was thinking as he entered the dance floor with her. The only thing he could sense were his sister's eyes on him from the opposite end of the room, watching carefully over her brother with concern.

After some time, however, it became apparent that the senator truly wanted to dance, as she said nothing to him, choosing instead to allow him to lead as they moved about the floor. Feeling comfortable again, Leia returned to her chatter while Luke continued to count in his head. And Amidala must have sensed his comfort, because she turned her eyes back to him, to his right hand specifically.

She'd never noticed it before, but when he moved, his fingers had that familiar tremble in their motions that Anakin's robotic arm had.

"I didn't realize you had a prosthesis." She pointed out, startling Luke out of his concentration a moment. He nodded sadly, but nothing more, "May I ask how you came about it?"At first he shrugged, not wishing to discuss the matter, but Padme's patient eyes were steady. The scrutiny of them distracted him as the orange stone on Padme's necklace began to glow, "I mean... I've not heard of you fighting in the Clone Wars, so I speculate your hand was lost another way."

His eyes dodged towards Leia as she asked, and still he said nothing. "I'm not comfortable discussing it." He offered her after some time.

Padme frowned a moment, "I see... And here I thought it was only fitting you tell me." Confused, Luke looked up at her with his brows raised. And, reveling in his confusion, Padme coldly pointed out, "I mean, you did break into my Varykino, after all. Uninvited. Lord only knows what you've unearthed about me... I'd figure you'd be kind enough to at least level the playing field." Even without his Force senses, Luke could feel her bitterness.

So he tried to humor her, "It was cut off in battle. I'd gotten careless against a very powerful opponent." She frowned a moment.

"Count Dooku?" She wanted to know. He shook his head and swallowed, hoping he was all right in this decision. Something deep down told him it was all right to be honest with her on this topic, but it was a topic that pained him eternally.

"Darth Vader... He was a very powerful Sith lord, and was set on making me his apprentice." Luke then added, "I refused and we fought... and I lost." He turned his eyes away towards his sister, who was watching him with pain in her eyes as well. She could feel his pain as easily as she felt her own, and offered him sympathy and comfort through the Force.

"You seem very regretful for that encounter." Padme pointed out.

Shaking his head, Luke explained, "My only regret was that I hadn't saved him sooner. That.. that he died saving me."

"Save him?" Padme inquired, surprised laced into her features, "I'm not sure I follow... It's my understanding that the Sith are the enemy of the Jedi, that they have fallen and cannot be saved."

Changing pace to match the new song, Luke did not answer right away, "You aren't mistaken." He pointed out, "The Sith are the enemy of the Jedi... but they are not beyond saving. Very few actually take pleasure in the lives they lead as Sith; it's like a disease in the mind clouding their judgment, twisting what they see until they can only view their actions as righteous. A part of them lives on, knowing their path's mistakes, but it only serves to make them believe they cannot return from darkness. My father certainly didn't believe he could rejoin the light, but in the end he proved that his love for his family trumped his lust for power." Padme's eyes went wide.

"Your father?" She wanted to know and he nodded in return, "Your father was a Sith?"

Feeling his sisters encouragement, Luke admitted, "My father was Darth Vader."

Stunned, Padme almost lost her footing as she contemplated that, looking at her dancing partner's prosthesis with new eyes. She stared at it a moment longer, making Luke feel a tad uncomfortable, but eventually, she was able to voice her amazement, "Your own father cut off your hand... and yet you only wanted to save him?"

Nodding, Luke admitted, "I could feel his regret when he hurt me. Feel his love for me. It was then that I understood how the darkside is a disease of the mind... truthfully, I've fallen victim to its taint myself. That only served to solidify my understanding of it."

Padme continued to dance with Luke, not saying a word for some time as her eyes searched the room aimlessly. She was processing things, reevaluating her perspective of many things, and she eventually had to ask, "Do you believe someone like Dooku can be saved?"

Luke shrugged, "I think that depends on his reasons for embracing the darkside. Did he simply wish for darkness, or did he feel like there was no other recourse?"
To that Padme admitted, it was just then that she realized they were no longer dancing, but rather talking at the edge of the floor, "I wouldn't know..."

"I embraced darkness when my father threatened to turn my sister into a Sith." he told her sagely, as though the battle had occurred a millennium ago, "She is the only person in the galaxy I have left, and I love her dearly. The thought of her spirit being twisted and crushed... it killed me inside." She looked at his wizened features closely, seeing the pain of a thousand battles etched into his familiar features and grasped at her stone.

And, in the shadows and fog of her mind, she saw a terrible fight with the young man before her standing over a cyborg with a great dark cloak and mask. Only the cyborg had one arm. And the man, he lowered his sword with fear in his eyes, tossing the hilt of his lightsaber away in disgust.

"You cut his arm off too..." She realized, "Didn't you." It was a question, not a statement.

Somberly, Luke nodded, "You are very perceptive."

By now their absence on the dance floor was gaining attention from various officials. But Padme didn't care, she was seeing deeper into this man than he'd allowed her to before. And she needed that leveling. "Why didn't you kill him?... He-" She turned to him, tears in her eyes on account of his sad story, "He threatened you and your sister. His actions showed no sign of love."

Luke shook his head, "On many occasions, my father could have unknowingly killed both my sister and I. He didn't. I like to believe his love for us stopped him."

Padme shook her head, "That doesn't sound like love." She pointed out. Luke nodded in agreement, a smile on his face.

"Those ill with the darkside struggle to show what we would perceive as love." He retorted sincerely, "That is why they require patience and peace in the healing process. I'd arrived to our second battle knowing I needed to be level headed to save him, and it worked." Padme's eyes darted over towards Ahsoka, who stood with her eyes wide and tear-stained, but Luke turned her chin towards him so he could affirm what he said next. "He gave his life to protect me from his master... Tell me that isn't the actions of a loving father."

Padme sighed, fighting off her own tears just picturing that painful story in her mind, her Kasha crystal supplementing these thoughts with their own slide show of horrendous images from that final fight. "I hadn't realized your story was so tragic." She admitted, resuming the dance with the man.

Luke nodded and sighed, "I hope my candor was enough to make you feel on even terms with my sister and I."

To that, Padme chuckled, "Ahsoka had told me you were brother and sister." She then added, "I'm not sure I understand your deception, but I will respect it given what you have shared with me. It seems you two have much to hide from." Again, the young man nodded. They continued to dance through to the start of the next song, each feeling somewhat more comfortable around one another now that the air had been cleared.

Padme felt secure knowing she knew something of value about the Darklighters, and she was certain that, for once, he was being honest with her. And Luke felt more at ease knowing he could share a little about himself with his mother and not risk either he or his sister in the process. So the calmness of the dance floor helped to sooth these changes for them, making them easier to accept.

"But there is one violation I do feel I need reparations on." Padme eventually required. Luke glanced back down at her a moment, his brow raised and reminding her greatly of Anakin.

"And what might that be?"

Feeling her anger rise, Padme inquired, "Why did your sister try on my heirloom wedding dress?" It was a strong demand, laced with a large amount of fury and, even without the Force, Luke could feel it, "It's been passed down four generations by now... my sister was married in it, my mother..."

"And you?" Luke stared her down with ice in his eyes, "Were you not also married in it?"

Swallowing, Padme spat back, "I happen to be single."

Grinning like a villain, Luke shook his head, "Lying isn't very becoming of a Senator."

"Nor is dodging a great trait of the Jedi." Padme sneered, "Yet here we are, Mr. Darklighter."

Chuckling at her gumption, Luke carefully replied that, "Our mother had a dress like that... but she died before she could pass it on to my sister. Jaina merely wanted to know what she would have looked like and hoped you wouldn't mind."

Filled with venom, but trying to be considerate on account of his terrible past, Padme informed him, "I mind very much." Again Luke chuckled.

Only this time, he keenly inserted that, "Your husband did too." And then she slapped him, startling the whole of the banquet with her actions, including herself. With the whole room frozen and staring at them, Luke merely stood still, slowly raising a hand towards his reddened cheek. Padme appeared near tears before she stormed out of the room, humiliated by her own actions.

She'd meant to outsmart Darklighter, but that was apparently near impossible.

Glancing towards his sister, Luke sent her entreaties for hope. For reassurance that his confessions had been the right course of action. And she nodded with fierce determination in her eye; she wanted to save her parents and what Luke did could eventually lead to that.

But her eyes left his, rushing towards the patio where Luke spotted Ahsoka fleeing. With a nod to his sister, he followed the young Togruta and found her hidden away on a bench beside some sculpted, potted plants crying.

Wordlessly, Luke sat down beside her and put an arm over her shoulder and, wordlessly, Ahsoka jumped into his embrace to cry into his chest. After a time, she asked him through tears, "How could my master do that to you?" She looked up at him with her blue eyes stained with red, "How could that be the same man?"

Fixing her headdress a little, Luke smiled and shook his head, "I wish I knew the answer to that Snips." He replied, figuring she needed to hear her pet-name now more than ever, "But my sister and I were born with nothing from our parents. We're figuring all this out right along with you, and we are glad for your help." He then brushed a tear off her cheek, "And for all we know, your help will make all the difference... Just don't give up on my father." Ahsoka swallowed and turned away, but Luke grabbed her chin and brought her eyes back to his, "I didn't... I won't."

With a sniffle, Ahsoka nodded before resuming with her tears, crying into Luke's chest like she was trapped in a nightmare.

And, once again searching for his resolve, Luke turned back to find his sister by the patio door, her eyes laced with concern. Carefully, he nodded to her. And she nodded back to reassure him.

Author's Note: I know that this is a short one and sort of a rehash, but powerplays are tricky. I mean, Padme tried to get the upper hand over Leia before and lost, and then tried to work with the more reasonable Luke only to reinforce the fact that they still have the upper hand. It seemed appropriate for their trespassing to gain her attention and that, in turn, she would be interested in knowing who they were. And, well, Luke's dialog kind of wrote itself. He has Leia pushing him to make changes on one end, and, even inside, he's feeling a need to try and reach out to his unknowing mother. I hope the interaction was enjoyable.

I'll be posting a new story later on this weekend (a comedy of all things), which is part of the reason this chapter is so short, be sure to check it out!

And please don't forget to review.