Chapter Two

The Offer

I

In his private chambers Palpatine looked at the three dimensional map of his Galaxy. Murr Hac, a spy for hire by the age of thirteen, sat in the midst of the regal Red Guards waiting for Sidious to address him.

"She is a little taller and her hair is different, and of course those eyes…but other than that the resemblance is great. She is Padme."

"What are your orders, my Lord?"

"I don't sense a plot to deceive me," he spoke as if only to remind himself. "Nevertheless, I want you to find out about her past. I want to know everything about her." With a wave of his hand he dismissed the emissary, "I expect a full report in two standard days."

"As you wish."

II

Vader sat behind his large desk, still as a statue, his mechanical breathing was the only sound in the room. Two of his most loyal spies were waiting for their orders.

"I want to know everything about the singer from Fathomer. Bring me all of her records." Vader's fist tightened as he spoke, "I want to know why she is here and who she is working for."

"Right away, Lord Vader."

After the men had left, Darth Vader allowed himself to think about the girl. Who had sent her and why? Undoubtedly he was the reason for this charade, the thought at being a pawn in somebody's sick game infuriated him. He hated mind games and underhanded attacks; he yearned for the hilt of his lightsaber and the chance to put it to good use. He kept his mind busy, thinking about everything except the face of the girl. Padme's face.

III

Lee and Naimah were resting before another performance at the luxurious Xannon Hotel. As she did often before a performance, Naimah set on the bed meditating, it helped her clear her mind and find peace. Lee, on the other hand could not seem to sit still.

"Honey, you were great last night! Did you see how the Emperor was pleased? Maybe he will invite us to dine with him again." Almost jumping out of his chair he grabbed Naimah's face and kissed her.

"Think about what that means! The Emperor!"

"It is great."

"I think you should be more enthusiastic than that," he seemed insulted with her lack of understanding about the importance of the situation. "He is the most powerful man in the Galaxy. He controls everything. And he liked you!"

"The Emperor doesn't like me," she responded. "I sensed curiosity, not sympathy. We should be careful."

"Honey, please don't let the Emperor know about your gift," he pleaded suddenly afraid. "He could think we are hostile; it's dangerous. No more tricks. At least until we leave Imperial Center."

Naimah stood up, her concentration was broken, and put her arms around her husband. "The Emperor Knows about me" gently she put her head on his shoulder and held him tight. "He knew it the minute he saw me. Don't worry, I'll be careful."

IV

Naimah's performance was breathtaking, and yet again was met with thunder's applause. The audience felt her every heartbeat as she sang. Even Darth Vader, who stood in the shadows behind the Emperor, was impressed.

"I feel the Force in her song," he said as to himself. "I have never heard anything like it."

"I have," the Emperor responded, wanting to talk about Naimah's resemblance to Padme, rather than her abilities. "A long time ago, a young Sith apprentice used music to manipulate the weak-minded, he had an unusual voice, not as good as hers, but the same power." He paused for a while, smiling to himself. "Unfortunately, that was his only talent. Pity."

"What happened to him?"

"Killed by a rival for his Master's affection." Palpatine couldn't help but wonder if Vader and his son would share the same fate, the thought satisfied him.

"Pity," Vader concluded. "The girl could be dangerous, Master. She could be a Jedi. She is old enough."

"I doubt that. If she is, she will die." The Emperor said matter-of-factly, not wanting to dwell on unpleasantries. "I'm more interested in her looks. What are your thoughts, Lord Vader?"

"Her looks don't concern me, Master."

"Your feelings betray you. I sense Skywalker's indecision. Now, tell me!" he felt Vader's conflict and waited with anticipation for the response. "What are your thoughts, Lord Vader?"

"Padme…She looks like Padme." Darth Vader uttered the name with difficulty. He had thought about her often in the past ten years, but never spoken her name. Hearing it come out of his mouth followed by the hiss of the mechanical breathing was strange, like he was defiling her memory somehow.

"Almost exactly. I want to know if this is going to be a distraction for you. I'm sensing residual feelings…Skywalker's feelings."

"Skywalker is dead! My loyalty is to you, my Master."

V

After the performance, Naimah was asked to appear alone in the Emperors private chambers. She calmed herself and cleared her mind before entering the room, so Palpatine wouldn't have anything to work with. She didn't fear him, she had nothing to hide, but she was cautious nevertheless.

As usual, she found him sitting in his throne-like chair, with hands at both ends of the armrests. He waited for her to come closer and make her bow before he spoke.

"I'm offering you a position to be apprenticed by some of my most promising students. The Force is strong with you; you need training."

"That is most generous of you, Majesty." Naimah began, "but I will have to humbly decline. My place is with my husband."

"You are refusing me?"

"With all due respect, my Emperor. I am not a warrior; I'm an artist. I don't see how I could be of any service to you." Hoping her excuses would satisfy him, she continued. "I'm sure there are many who are more suitable and who would find your offer irresistible."

"You are right. Many would kill to be in your position," the Monarch replied. "I'm curious. Why do you decline such power?"

"Power means nothing to me," she declared firmly. "It's dangerous. I don't want it."

"We shall talk about that another time," he brushed the subject to the side, not wanting to push her without knowing exactly where she stood. "There is one more thing that I'm curious about. You were born before the Empire, why haven't you bee apprenticed by the Jedi?"

"The Jedi identified me as a potential when I was three days old, but my parents declined." She felt a dull sting at the mentioning of the Jedi, careful not to reveal her feelings she continued. "They didn't want to give me to the Order. I'm glad…because I wouldn't be alive today otherwise."

"Indeed you wouldn't. The Jedi and their sad Order are dead."

VI

At Darth Vader's palace the spies returned with information abut Naimah. They found nothing unusual about the singer.

"Naimah Jamari Vaninadh, of the fourth moon of Fathomer. Twenty four standard years old, only daughter of Yejide and Prasata Jamari." Vader read the report out loud. "She was identified as a Force potential by the Jedi Order but her mother Yejide declined apprenticeship. Mother died of unknown causes thirteen years ago and father vanished five years ago. Married to a Lee Vaninadh for three years," he stopped reading and turned his attention to a Holo recording of the couple's wedding. It was different from his own; there were friends and music at this wedding. The bride and groom cut the cake, laughing. Not wanting to see the rest, Darth Vader turned off the recording.

"Is this all you got?"

"My Lord, that is all there is." The spy seemed offended. "No arrests, no underground connections. She has a clean record with the exception of minor violations mainly concerning censorship of art."

"We interviewed neighbors, friends, and coworkers," the other added. "Anybody who has ever come in contact with her. Everything was handled with greatest discretion." He explained, knowing how Darth Vader dealt with incompetence he did not want him to think this assignment was taken lightly. "We found nothing unusual," he concluded.

"Bring me more information on her parents. I want to know how her mother died. Find her father," impatiently he motioned for his recruits to get up, the meeting was over. "This husband of hers…have him followed."

VII

After the confrontation with Palpatine, Naimah and Lee returned to Fathomer. After their Coruscant tour they saved enough credits to settle in a cottage at the outskirts of Kailas, where Lee immediately started planning their next tour. The Emperor did not make attempts at contacting Naimah, so she spent her time choreographing new dance routines and painting.

Every now and again she would perform locally, but mostly Lee and her kept to themselves. She would meditate, and practice levitation. Lee did not understand his wife's need to spend so much time alone with her thoughts, but he knew she was different and he loved her. Naimah often told him that she lives her life by the will of the Force. If it were up to him he wouldn't wait for a shift in the Force to tell them where to go next, he would record an album and sell the songs. He would make a fortune, making all their dreams come true.

Naimah was strictly against recording, said it was her relationship with her audience that made her performance special.

"When will you be ready to go on tour again?" He finally asked after eight months of restless waiting. "I think our credits are about to run out."

"We are fine; we have more than enough credits," playfully she patted his cheeks. She knew he wanted to get away from the small town and she felt guilty for keeping him away. "Just a few more months. I'm not inspired yet."

"Is it because of the Emperor? We don't have to go to Imperial Center. We can tour the local systems."

"It's not the Emperor," she said truthfully. "I can't describe it. It is something unknown, something in the future." Stroking his hair she reluctantly continued. "I'm sensing a change. I don't know if it is good or bad yet."

"It is good." Lee assured. "Maybe we should make an album. We can merchandise your image. You are very popular; we must capitalize on our success while it lasts. Have you thought about wearing something more revealing?" Looking at her suspicious face, he quickly went on, "we'll acquire Holo images with sound recordings, they would be a hit."

"No!" she shot at him. Offended he would even think of cheapening her. "My work is very important to me. I'm an artist, not a sensation. All costumes are carefully designed. I put meaning in every stitch, you know that."

Lee took his wife's hand and pulled her down into his lap. Apologetically he kissed the palms of her hands. "I'm sorry. I just want to see you happy and you are so happy on stage."

Making herself comfortable in his arms she sighed, content he understood her. "I know," she breathed into his neck. "Why don't you book me for a local performance? We'll announce our tour then."

VIII

Darth Vader sat at his desk, reviewing the latest battle plans; he had received classified information of a minor Rebel station near the Champala world. Word was that the Rebels were planning an attack of an Imperial station located in the Outer Rim. It was another minor mission that annoyed Vader, but he had to deal with it.

His communication droid announced a message from one of his spies, he growled silently, reluctantly putting him through. A blue image of the man appeared on Darth Vader's desk taking his attention away from the battle plans.

"Lord Vader, I hope I'm not disturbing you but I have information concerning Naimah Jamari."

"You may speak."

"She will be visiting Imperial Center in four standard months," the Holo began. "She has three scheduled performances in the Opera House and another performance at an Orphanage on the south side of the Planet."

"Anything else?" Vader asked, his tone reveling he did not appreciate being disturbed for concert updates.

"I found her father," the spy quickly replied. "He worked for a small spice smuggler five months ago, but he won some money at a sabacc game and purchased his own ship, now he makes legal deliveries to Alderaan, Castel, Serenno and Uytar among others."

"Have you spoken to him?"

"Yes," the man raised his chin and continued more confidently. "Under the disguise of a human female I obtained information about his late wife. It seams she died of internal bleeding caused by his daughter. He said she was sick mentally, and than he broke down. I couldn't get anything else without compromising my disguise."

Vader was pleased; he wondered what could have caused the girl to murder her own mother. The father could be lying or she was framed, he thought. "This is useful information. Pick up your payment at the usual place."

"You are most kind, my Lord." The transmission was disrupted before Vader could hear the rest. He was preoccupied with his thoughts to pay any attention to the graveling of his subordinates.

'Odd, I did not sense any hatred in her,' he thought. Instinctively Vader knew the information to be true.

IX

All around her Naimah felt joy as she took a modest bow after her first performance at the Opera House. She had been away for over a year, perfecting her craft and judging by the feedback she received it was all worth it. The audience was at their feet; they clapped and shouted as if they were a sporting event. Naimah, dressed in her performance garb, took another bow; all around her she felt an outpouring of positive emotion caused by her act. Everywhere, except from a box in the balcony, from there she only felt cold and emptiness.

'Force help me,' she thought. He would call her again; she sensed it. There was no escape; she would have to go to him.

Naimah could not refuse the Emperor, so she faced him calmly letting the Force wash over her, guiding her subtly.

"You have stayed away for too long, Naimah." He said when Naimah and Lee approached. "Come, sit with me."

"Thank you, Highness."

"Have you given any thought to my offer?" he asked in his grandfatherly voice, the same voice he used when he urged Senator Amidala to take the protection of the Jedi.

"I'm sorry, your Majesty. I was under the impression that the matter was closed."

"You were wrong," he continued. "My offer still stands. What is your answer?" Palpatine turned his attention to Lee, sensing the young man's confusion.

"What offer?" Lee asked, forgetting to address the Emperor with a title of respect. "Naimah?" he turned to his wife.

"I offered your wife a position in my staff." Palpatine let Lee's indiscretion pass unnoticed. "She refused, says her place was at your side. Do you agree with her?"

"No, your Excellency. I would never stand in the way of my wife's service to the Empire. Never! I didn't know about an offer," he tried to explain. Terrified his wife would be in danger for refusing this Monarch. "Naimah?" he looked at her, pleading silently.

"My answer is still the same," she said. Feeling Lee's anxiety she was sorry, but nonetheless could not take Palpatine up on his offer.

"I see." Palpatine turned his attention away from the nervous man and addressed the girl again. "This would not by any chance have anything to do with your mother?"

"I see your Majesty knows a lot about me. I am honored."

"I know you killed her." The Sith delivered his blow, leaving Lee gasping in shock. "Internal bleeding, was it not? My sources tell me you were not mentally stable at the time. Is that true?"

It felt like he took the rug out from underneath her. Apologetically she tried to look at her husband whose gaze was turned towards the floor. She wanted him to look at her, to read in her eyes that she was sorry.

"That…is true," she finally managed to say.

"We shall talk about that at a different time, a more private time." Having made his point he allowed himself to be kind. "I wish to have a private performance tomorrow evening."