Space, Imperial Shuttle. Destination: Deathstar:
Silently, aboard the space shuttle filled with designated Storm Troopers which stood around the small group of civilians along the decking of the ship; Aether was placed down beside one of the elder males whom seemed scruffy looking. His hair all over the place, but he held high hopes; moving so that he was able to move an arm around the little girl as he had comforted her. She pulled her knees towards her small chest, and dropped her face within them; balling her eyes out as she wailed in sadness for being separated from her father. The Troopers patrolled the group, making sure they were not doing anything up to no good; holding their blasters in place as the shuttle had began to descend towards the space port of the docks. Closing her eyes as she had sniffled within her clothing, Aether was a horrible mess. The male beside her tried his best to comfort her, before he was issued to stand with the rest of the group. She began to stand, following to stand as the youngest prisoner of the alliance. They all peered towards her, but Skywalker held her chin high; staring her eyes towards a Storm Trooper.
"Come on, no messing around; get these prisoners off board." The commander demanded from the soldiers, whom nodded and began to escort the group off to the tiled floors. Aether following rather slow behind them, as she stumbled into one of the adults due to being a straggler. She began to grow tired, looking around her in awe at the many Troops and men that were in this port alone. She wondered how big this space port was, and after a few moments of gazing at the surroundings; she felt a tap on the back from a blaster from one of the troopers. "Move along, now." He nudged her, and she nodded quickly to dart off behind the group of adults ahead. Being escorted into their cell blocks not too far away. This was the holding area, where their tags and passports were checked to see who they were. Identity check list.
One of the human soldiers approached, demanding everybody to sit down. And they did so whilst he began to notify Vader of their capture. "My lord, we have captured these rebels from Tatooine in the areas of Mos Eisley. They are about to be treated and timed for Identity." He spoke, and Vader in the hologram had nodded; his breathing sinister.
"Good work, Commander. I will be down within moments to scan them myself." With that, the hologram faded; and he began to issue space droids to have taken their blood for analysis. Silently, Aether watched one by one of the silver droids approaching with sharp needles; and each of the men and women felt their blood being extracted. She shook, noticing it was her turn now. Shaking, she lifted her arm as the droid jabbed the tight needle within her flesh, and she released a squeaking scream. With that, it nodded before continuing to the next person. She rubbed her arm where it was placed, and she returned to sit beside the male whom comforted her earlier.
A few moments later, the footsteps of the dark Lord approached; his mechanical being swayed gently as the masked figure turned to gaze at each of the hostages. The Commander approached, bowing his head firstly. "My lord, we have just about finished obtaining their DNA. They will be scanned now for their true tags." With that, Darth Vader nodded; moving down the line of men and women. Before long, he stopped, his attention casting upon the little girl whom had caught his gaze. But immediately she turned away, scared of his appearance as he cocked his head to one side. Vader was confused, no... this... this girl. She is almost an exact replica of his dead wife, Padme Amidala. He moved closer, so that he was only a few feet away. She held her exact appearance, her eyes and his once dark brown and almost black locks. Before long, the Commander had to ask, "My Lord?"
Silently, he approached the girl one more step to gain her attention; his breathing limited now. Somewhat, curious and nervous at the same time. "Girl... tell me your name." Aether had blinked, gulping to take in his gaze once more; moving so that she clenched the rebels arm beside her. Quietly, she murmured out the name she took on.
"Ae-Aether Kenobi... " She spoke, and Vader immediately took note to the last name. Obi-Wan Kenobi? Could she be mentioning his once old and foolish master? And is this HIS child? And not his OWN? He growled, somewhat; before turning to the commander whom blinked in curiosity. "Once the blood samples are complete, I want a full issued data scan on this girl... I sense something that I have not felt since-" He paused, before shaking his masked head and began to sway off into the distance. Scowling in horror to the given news as he began to leave the holding bay. The human Commander was worried, but took his orders further and began to issue another order. "Escort these prisoners to their cells."
Death Star, 2 hours later:
Aether was situated in one of the cells closest to the boarders of the office quadrant, whom she had laid flat against the surface of the metallic seat. Thankfully for her small figure she was able to stretch outwards in a matter and have it to herself. Nobody was in there with her, and she only stared up towards the blank ceiling, thinking of her father back home on Tatooine. Sighing, she could not help to think of the glance stained in her mind of Darth Vader whom had asked her of her name. Why was he looking at her like that, what information could possibly a 4 year old girl have that is useful to the leader of this Death Star? She simply could not hink of any clues, afterall; she had no idea that her bloodline ran so perfectly well within the abilites far gained to any ordinairy Jedi. Obi-Wan had said so himself!
What could he possibly want with Aether?
Seated within in the dark egg shell chamber, Vader had sat in his throne rather uncomfortably in thought. His metallic palm lifted as it rested against the brim of the mark, the other hand dangling at an attempted ease against the armrest. Staring at the monitors at the various types of soldiers within the mainframe. Some working, others patrolling and occasionally off duty. Vader grunted, until the sound of his chambered main doors opened with the steam rolling out from the exhaust pipes. Turning in his chair to peer down at the commander whom had escorted their new range of prisoners, he held a folder in his palms of the blood sample extracts. The sheet documents as his steady gaze lifted towards the dark Sith. His heart furiously pounding within his chest as he glanced his full gaze upon the black helmet figure.
"Commander," Vader began his deep sounding voice, the weak heart of his own uneven and nerved to hear the results of the given tests that held within his hand. "What news that you share?" Vader struggled with his language and words to speak, he seemed very curious as he leaned forward on the edge of his black throne. And the human approached, opening the folder to Aether Skywalker's page, and with a nervous tone he began to respond. Feeling like he was going to fall over from such inner nerves. "The droids have completed their analysis on the girl, and... her full name is Aether Sky-Skywalker." With the last name spoken, Vader's palms began to tighten into a fist, his breathing short and deep; and he did not say a word.
The Commander continued, "Ae-Aether Skywalker was born on the 12th Quadrant, her mother named Pa-Padme Amidala. She has been resided on Tatooine for the last 4 years, and her age matches the time frame. " The Sith had raised a hand, stopping the Commander from speaking any more. This was too much to handle for the dark lord, and he turned his head towards the tiled floor with an angered expression overwhelming him, and he slowly began to stand. Breathing shortened. "Co-Commander, take me to her holding cell. I wish to speak with her, myself." The human gulped, bowing his head as he began to turn, awaiting Vader to follow as he began to trudge along the path towards the elevator.
"My Lord, what do you intend to do with Skywalker?" He asked, as they stepped inside and it began to descend towards the base floor where a large hallway opened in view, stepping out as he paced alongside the dark Sith, there; after spoken Vader lifted a finger to point towards the human. "That name is not to be said in my presence any longer, do you understand?" And there, he nodded.
"Shall I contact Lord Sideous?" Vader paused, before thinking this through and shaking his head, Palpatine need not know of this new information currently, for it was too soon to understand that he would kill her on sight. But, the dark lord had an idea; how he was going to pull it off was the next question. "No, Commander. Sideous does not need to know of the girl, you are to keep this information silent until the time is right. If any others know, tell them also or I will personally threaten to kill you and the others." He gulped, and nodded to Vader's response as they paced the corridors further. 15 minutes later of walking, they reached the quaters of the holding cells as the double protective doors opened, and two staff had lifted their hands to salute. "At ease." The commander responded, before peering towards one of them. "Vader wishes to speak with cell inmate number 24."
"Yes sir." He responded, taking Vader whom remained silent down the very small but long corridor of each passing cell, till they reached the desired number. Stopping, the soldier began to dial a cell pin into the pad holding the lock closed as the small red light turned green beside the panel. "Leave us."
As the soldier had left, Vader took a moment to breath in calmly; his palm lifting to open the panel as the button was pressed. The door slided upwards, and revealed Aether whom was sleeping upon the metal seat given to the prisoners. She had rustled to hear the door open as she had gazed her eyes open, turning her head over her shoulder from facing the wall as she had caught the sight of the Dark Lord whom stepped inside the chamber. Closing the door behind him as he set his mechanical gaze towards the lonesome girl in the small cell, his palms by his side with ease, and his breathing picked up a quick pace when he caught the sight of the identical image of his wife. Though, she held his dark locks he once had so long ago when he was in the council. Aether had shuffled slowly and carefully so that she wobbled to stand on the floor, her hands at her side as her eyes looked to the floor. Afraid to even look at his face.
"Aether 'Kenobi', daughter of Obi-Wan Kenobi." he began to speak, his palms moved to set his thumbs upon the belt around his robotic frame. Tilting his head as she nodded, biting her lip as she huffed. "I have heard you come from a planet called Tatooine, is this correct?" and she nodded, again. Vader wondered why she did not speak, perhaps she was afraid of what he is; the fact that he was more machine than man scared most that came within his presence. Some lucky to see another day, on some occasions. Before long, he bowed his head as he began to approach the tiny girl; setting a palm upon her head. "There is no need to be afraid, young one. You have much to learn and to accept." He spoke, and her eyes slowly lifted to the lenses that peered upon her. And she gulped, nervously before speaking.
"Like what?" She asked, and he tilted his head; producing another weak breath of air before he had moved to set a finger beneath her chin. Lifting it so that he could gaze down at her small appearance of her mother's features.
"You much resemble your mother, Aether." She was confused, how could he have known her mother? She never had a mother! All that Aether knew of family was her father, Obi-Wan Kenobi. She was a Kenobi! "W-What do you mean? I never had a mother!" She exclaimed, as Vader was taken aback and she silenced, nervously looking down again with an afraid expression. Fiddling with her fingers as Vader turned his head towards the wall, staring blankly for a moment. "You have your father's hair, very much alike... of a Skywalker." Aether suddenly blinked, lifting her chin once more to step back; shaking her head vigorously as her hands caught the back of the bench. "N-No, I'm a Kenobi! I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Aether, this is what I mean. You must accept the truth."
"What truth!?" She panicked, moving to the corner of the cell to huddle in a ball against the floor, her hands bundled together as she was very frightened at this stage.
"I am your father, Aether." Vader bluntly spoke, and she had shook; her eyes opened wide as her shocked expression was blank towards the floor. Then it locked onto the dark figure whom peered emotionless towards his daughter. She couldn't believe it, she just couldn't! "Aether... your mothers name was Padme Amidala, Obi-Wan Kenobi took you in. Do you understand?" She was adopted all this time? Aether had moved her gaze towards the floor, tears swelling in her eyes as she had been in this situation, but was there any proof of such? How? But, now that she puzzled it all together, the tears in her eyes began to drizzle down her cheeks as she gazed up at her now known 'father'. He had seen this emotion flow through the 4 year old, and he lowered his mask. Breathing gently and calmly now as she had began to ball her eyes into her small hands, wailing about as she was balled together.
Silently, Vader approached to kneel on one knee towards the girl in the corner. Lifting a palm to reach out and around the small figure whom he had brought her closer so he could lift her with ease. As he did so, his gloved palms circled around her back as he attempted to comfort the crying girl. Gently, his palm petted her back as her chin and hands rested over his shoulders, and she began to uneasily calm. Panting now and out of breath as she tried to regain herself, the tears still staining her precious and white pale cheeks. She could suddenly feel a connection, as though he was telling the truth and Obi-Wan was the traitor. That he lied to her all this time, but... was it all for the better so that she wouldn't end up this way?
Many questions now ran through her mind as her small feet circled around the hips of the Sith, and he began to hold her with one palm easily now as he supported her weight on his weak frame. Turning, his mechanical arm raised and pressed open the button to the cell as the doors opened, and he began to leave; ducking his head as his height was incredible and towered many human beings. Holding a hand over her head to cover her so that she didn't bump into the upper door. Now, he turned and paced down the corridor, back to where he once came as the Commander awaited at the end, catching his gaze as he stood straight as well as the remaining soldiers in the room. "Commander, I wan't a meeting held in one hour with the upper deck." And he nodded, catching sight of the child within his arms as he turned to catch a quick look as he left the quarters.
I am so sorry that this is such a late chapter, I have been very busy lately; but here it is! I hope you enjoy!