"Uncle, really...I am sorry."

"Padme, it's your only chance if you want to get out of here..."

"Uncle it isn't that..."

"Ever since your parents died I have tried, along with your aunt, Force be with her..."

"I am grateful uncle. But it is not that I do not want to leave..."

"What is it then?"

"Please understand uncle...I want to see the world. There has to be more to life than this. Please uncle."

"More to life, my niece? how is that possible without marrige to the Prince?"

"Marrying the Prince again?"

"He's the most wealthiest man in the Empire. He's willing to...provide you with all you need."

"But I don't want anything uncle. I just want to see what is beyond this planet.:

"You're as terrible as your mother!" Uncle Eara was angry now.

"Please, don't be angry uncle. I promise, I'll return in two moon cycles. If then, the Prince will still insist upon marriage, I will agree."

"Erm. I never could resist you, Padme. I hope for your sake you are right. If then you find one more 'deserving' of your love, please. Think of me."

"Thank you uncle!" The girl kissed him on the cheek, grateful for being able to persuade her uncle.

&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*

Lord Vader clenched his fists.

"Shall we commence to land the ship, my lord?" the admiral asked.

"No!" Vader pounded his autotramic fist harder then he meant to.

"But my lord..." Vader reached out, Force choking. Anger welled up. His wounded heart wouldn't heal. He was half-robotic, worthless to a woman and her selfish desires. Vader released his Admiral. "Leave me! Get out!"

He closed the pod, removed the helmet. Stared at the mirror. Would the scars be healed? No, it wasn't possible anymore. It just was not possible. He held back the welling rage, and slumped against the table. Life was slipping. And it didn't matter anymore. He would send himself on a mission. Be killed heroically in battle. On purpose. But then what? The Force had already condemned him. Who was to say they would not condemn him in the Netherworld? So he couldn't die. And he couldn't live. The pain caused by his master. And the pain of the prosthetics. It was all too much. It was not worth it anymore. He was trapped. He held a position of power, yet he was a slave. Couldn't come and go as he pleased. His master would be angry if he discovered his quest to see if the legend was really true. He was so close to the planet, they had even entered the atmosphere, but they would leave, or the Admiral was dead. He got out of the pod and glanced out toward the bridge. He knew he had a horrible temper. And what woman would like that? Women liked calm, easy going men. And he was far from easy going.

He stared down at the landing platform. A figure with dark wavy hair stared up at the ship. Vader tried to see her in his minds eye. Using the Force. A beautiful girl. With long dark hair, dark eyes. Dark eyes unlike the orbs he had for photoreceptors. Unlike the ice blue eyes under his helmet. Common, not a princess. And that was all he felt able to perceive. He needed sleep, hadn't slept in almost a week. This made his temper worse.

She suddenly stopped, shielded her eyes against the bright sun of Naboo. And she felt sudden pain in her heart, like she had felt when she knew her parents were dead. But it wasn't sharp and bitter. Only sad. What is this? she wondered.

A/N: For all intents and purposes, I am making Padme Force sensitive (she can sense things, but has not yet been trained)