Chapter 34:
Leia could feel whoever it was getting closer. She felt that they'd be dropping out of hyperspace soon, and she awaited their coming with cautious enthusiasm. She felt reasonably certain it wasn't an Imperial, or Luke—Atrox, as he now called himself—would have been much more satisfied with himself. Sure enough, a ship dropped out of hyperspace a short distance away. It looked to be a light freighter or yacht, with smooth, graceful lines. Baudo-class, maybe. The comm chimed, and Leia answered it, curious about her rescuer.
"Unidentified ship, this is the Forsaken Hope. Are you in need of assistance?" The voice was that of a woman, soft and earnest, yet with an edge of experience to it.
"Forsaken Hope, this is the Millennium Falcon. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Our hyperdrive's blown out."
"I copy, Millennium Falcon. Attaching a tow cable to you now, we'll take you in to the nearest system."
Leia heard the clank of the cable attaching itself to the side of the ship, and replied, "Thanks for the assist, Hope. We'll see you planetside."
The two ships dropped out of hyperspace near the planet Naboo, and the comm chimed again. "Dock at Moenia."
Leia raised an eyebrow. "Moenia? There's—"
"We'll talk about it when we get there, it would be… unwise, to do so now."
"Very well, Hope. We'll see you there." Leia fired up the sublight drive, and followed the Forsaken Hope down to the planet's surface.
Moenia was surrounded by mists, leaving the city almost perpetually in twilight. Leia was puzzled. She couldn't tell whether this was genuine, or a trap. Moenia was a city devoted to the arts, and as such, the Empire considered it beneath its notice. The Alliance had taken advantage of this, and there were many Rebel supporters in the city. But was her mysterious rescuer genuine, or a trick to get her to reveal her contacts?
Darth Vader sat on his throne thinking about what his apprentice's punishment would be for his… insults back on Dagobah. Darth Atrox entered the throne room and knelt before the throne. "Master."
The throne slowly turned as Vader acknowledged his apprentice. "Apprentice, I have thought of a suitable punishment for your actions. "You are to clean the crew barracks and officer's quarters with nothing more than paper towels and water. And this is your… motivation." He coldly said as he raised both hands and gave Atrox a quick blast of lightning.
Atrox flinched as the lightning shot through him, but more powerful was the anger and resentment that his assignment generated. He gave Vader a look, as if he was going to refuse, then bowed his head, abruptly, the resentment simmering within him. "As you command… master."
"I sense you would like to… refuse that punishment, my… son. Be greatful because this is the only time I will do this. You can either carry that punishment out or go for a more… direct one from me. Choose now." Vader said coolly as he picked up on Atrox's thoughts.
Atrox's eyes glittered, a hint of malice and defiance in them. "I choose the direct approach… father."
"I thought you might. Very well." Vader said as he got up from his throne and loomed over his apprentice's kneeling form. A moment passed, then Vader began to shoot powerful lightning into his apprentice, at the same time forcing his way into Atrox's mind. HOW DARE YOU COMPARE ME TO THAT TOAD OF A JEDI! The lightning's power increased. YOU WILL SHOW ME THE RESPECT THAT THE DARK LORD OF THE SITH DESERVES! Vader said as he increased the power once more.
Atrox took the punishment, accepting it, embracing the pain and twisting it into rage. He let Vader vent his anger on him for awhile, then told him, You are correct, master. It was foolish of me to compare you to an insignificant Jedi. Even the least of the Sith is far greater than the most powerful Jedi, and you are far from the least.
Vader continued the lightning for another few moments and then stopped. Nor are you, my apprentice. You may rise.
Atrox rose to his feet at once. "Thank you, master."
Vader was silent for a moment, contemplating, then he said, "I believe you asked about your mother, did you not?"
Atrox frowned. An odd ache settled in his chest, and it took him a moment to figure out what it was. Finally, he said, "Yes, father, I did."
Leia walked down the boarding ramp of the Falcon, and turned an anxious glance towards the ship that had rescued her. A woman, roughly middle-aged, though she didn't look it, emerged, with a tired expression on her face. Leia headed towards her, and stopped, startled.
The older woman looked up, and smiled, the tiredness vanishing from her face. She came quickly up to Leia, and then paused, hesitantly.
"You look just like me," Leia noted, quietly.
The older woman nodded. "I haven't seen you, since… since the day you were born." A tear rolled down her cheek, and she brushed it away, quickly.
Leia's eyes widened, and she touched the woman's arm. "M-mother?"
Padmé Amidala Skywalker embraced her daughter, tightly. "I've tried to keep an eye on you, as much as possible. I'm so very proud of you."
Leia returned the embrace, then broke away, confusion in her eyes. "Why? Why did you never try to contact me? And how did you find me now?"
Padmé sighed. "It was too dangerous for anyone to know I was alive. Even you. If An- if your father knew I was alive, he would never rest until I was found, and if he found me, he would discover the truth about his children. I couldn't let the Emperor find out about you."
Leia wiped a tear away from her eye. She could feel the regret and grief that her mother had carried with her all these years, and it had taken a heavy toll. "But how did you locate me now? I thought for sure that I was doomed." She gave a wry smile, remembering her fussy protocol droid.
Padmé's expression was one of wonder. "Obi-wan came. He told me you were in trouble, that no one else could help you, and he told me where you were. So I followed his coordinates, and there you were, right where he said." She looked sad again. "He's dead, isn't he. After all these years."
Leia nodded, and her expression was gentle. "Yes, he is. He died in a duel with- with Vader."
Padmé's eyes filled with tears. Her gaze unfocused, slightly, her thoughts in the past. "He- he wasn't a bad man, your father. No, he was a very good man, so dedicated and true. But… he worried too much about those he loved. About me." Her voice broke, and she turned away, suddenly businesslike. "We can talk about it more later, if you like. Only… tell me, how is your brother?"
Now Leia's eyes began to fill with tears. "Luke has… he's fallen to the dark side, like- like Vader."
Padmé looked horrified. "No… no, not Luke, too! He wouldn't… he's so much like his father…"
Leia shook her head. "I'm afraid that might have been part of the problem. He's wanted a father desperately all these years, I think, and he'd do anything to try to fill that void in his life."
Padmé straightened herself up, determinedly. "Let's- let's not think about that right now. We have things to do, and I want to catch up on what I've missed."
Vader led Atrox into a side room from the throne room which had a table and a couple couches in it, each took a seat on a couch.
Neither spoke for a long time. Vader was lost in memories, both tender and painful, that he had tried to bury the past twenty years. Finally he spoke, and his voice was hoarse with emotion. "When I first met her, she was like something out of a wonderful dream, and I knew, even then, that I would marry her. Padmé…" the name rolled off his tongue, and Atrox could feel the intensity of his emotions spike. When he finally continued, his voice was steadier, and his feelings more controlled. "She was… so brave, and selfless. Dedicated, and stubborn." A tiny smile formed on his face at the memory, then was gone almost before Atrox saw that it was there.
"How did she die?" Atrox asked, softly, never taking his eyes off his father.
Vader's eyes blazed up then, filled with fury, and pain, and… was it guilt? "Do not ask me that!" he snapped, and stormed out of the room before Atrox could say another word.