Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, etc.

Thanks for the reviews, everyone! Unfortunately, the chapters in this story won't be that long or updated daily seeing as how I only have limited windows to write in each day, but I'll do my best to stay on top of things. Hope you enjoy the rest…

Chapter Two

Evidence

The news had come as a shock, to say the very least. It had hit her like a durasteel wall. At first, her heart had leapt for joy and she had rejoiced alongside her allied freedom fighters; happily partaking in their jubilant celebrations. But soon, once her initial excitement had ebbed, the realization that the war for the galaxy was still far from over sank back in. Now, sitting alone in her own personal work quarters, Padmé meticulously poured over dozens of datapads strewn about her desk and mulled over the Rebellions' current situation.

New problems would undoubtedly arise. She could find some degree of solace in the fact that Emperor Palpatine had indeed been assassinated, but it didn't do much to ease the tension building up in the pit of her stomach. Originally skeptical of the rumors and countless reports flooding the holonet, the Emperors' demise had been corroborated and proven accurate a short time later. However, the death of the tyrant was twofold.

On the one hand, the Emperor was gone and his evil reign had come to an end. This was, undisputedly, a fortunate and most welcome turn of events. His cruelty and malice had known no limits, and Padmé was truly glad to see him dead. His downfall had, after all, been the goal of the resistance ever since its formation.

On the other hand, she knew exactly who was next in line to sit on the throne, and the thought made her stomach churn. Even as Chancellor of the Galactic Senate, Palpatine had been cunning and calculating in the steps and measures he had taken to ensure the destruction of the Old Republic. He had set the Jedi Order up as his scapegoats and made them enemies of the state; blaming them for a coup that had been a lie and just one more stepping stone in his diabolical plot to overthrow the system and mold his new empire.

Claiming that an attempt had been made on his life by the Jedi, he had labeled them traitors and wanted fugitives. It pained her deeply that so many across the galaxy had so willingly bought into his propaganda. In the end, his ploy had paid off perfectly.

Yes, the Emperors' scheme had certainly been a success. He had been guileful and patient, and had duped the public and politicians alike with his treachery. But with his cautious approach came time for the Rebellion to deliberate and find patterns that could be followed. Whereas his former apprentice, who would likely be inheriting the Empire in the very near future, acted purely out of impulse. Ruled by his emotions and bloodlust, Vader's movements had always been erratic and unforeseeable; making it nearly impossible to predict his actions ahead of time.

That name…Vader. It made her seethe with rage and loathing just to think it. Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith: the monster who had murdered her husband and robbed her of her children. He had killed Anakin, the love of her life. Her son and daughter had been taken from her and hidden away to keep that beast from learning of their existence. He was the epitome of evil. If ever she had hated someone…

Rotating in her chair, Padmé quickly pulled herself from her wandering thoughts and turned to her office door when it slid open with a swish. In stepped a familiar man with long, tousled redish–gray hair and an unkempt beard. Like most days, he looked weary yet content; his standard jumpsuit disheveled and wrinkled as if he hadn't changed out of it in weeks.

He was called Red by most, but with his advanced age came the fading of the bright crimson hair that had given him his nickname during the days of his youth, and he was often teased that he would soon have to change his moniker to Gray. He was loyal and trustworthy, but little was known of his past. He was known to have been a freelance computers specialist before the rise of the Empire; a skill that he had proven time and again while operating under the Rebellion. What exactly he had specialized in before joining them, nobody knew.

"Easy, boss, I come in peace," he greeted Padmé, lifting his hands in surrender.

"What?"

Padmé furrowed a brow, not immediately catching his meaning. Then, realizing that a deep scowl still shone on her face as the thought of Vader lingered in her mind, she released a heavy sigh and allowed her shoulders to slump in exhaustion.

"No, it's fine. Come in," she said as she sank deeper into her chair. "What did you find?"

"Do you want the bad news, or the worse news?" Red asked, approaching her desk and plopping down in the seat directly across from hers.

Once again, Padmé frowned. "Surprise me."

"First thing's first, I've recovered some disturbing data from the disc you stole last week," Red proceeded, matching Padmé's frown with one of his own. "It seems our friend the Emperor put these processing camps in place to test and determine the midi–chlorian count of suspected Force sensitives."

"Their midi–chlorian count?" Padmé repeated. "For what purpose?"

"Well, that's the thing," Red briefly hesitated before uneasily clearing his throat and continuing. "It says in the files that all subjects exceeding the set limit, uum…are to be systematically terminated."

Padmé gasped, horrified by the revelation. "You mean they were executing these people in cold blood?!"

"Apparently so," Red confirmed. "Men, women, children…any and all races. The Empire's mostly been targeting and operating in the Outer Rim territories, but I have a feeling it won't stop there."

"How many facilities do they have up and running?" Padmé questioned as she angrily rose from her seat. "We have to stop them!"

"We only have the locations of two other installations currently in use," Red answered.

Running a hand through his tangled hair, Red sighed and stood up while the agitated woman before him anxiously began to pace back and forth. He could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she thoughtfully stroked her chin; her eyes smoldering with an unbridled intensity.

"There's more, boss," Red eventually spoke up, unsure if whether or not he should resume his update. He took Padmé's silence as an affirmative and pressed on. "There's also a list of executive orders and procedures for the clone army…top secret instructions."

Padmé momentarily halted her pacing. "What kind of instructions?"

"See for yourself," Red replied as he held a holopad up and activated it. An image sprang to life an instant later; cataloguing a lengthy list of military directives and codes. "Take a look at number 66..."

Padmé watched as the older man used his finger to scroll down the list. She held her hand up to her mouth in shock when it settled on a single file: Order 66. "This is it…this is how Palpatine murdered them."

"It calls for the extermination of the Jedi," Red said in a near whisper.

"How long is the list?"

"Almost five–hundred separate orders and initiatives," Red replied. "I've skimmed through the first hundred or so, so far. The files were heavily encrypted, but I was able to crack their safeguards and find a way in. Trust me, it was no walk in the park."

"I can't believe even the Emperor could be so…" Padmé trailed off, wearily rubbing her temple as she spoke. "And right under our noses. Think of all the lives that could have been spared if only we had discovered this sooner."

"Could'a, would'a, should'a," Red retorted with a snort. "Every scenario has its own 'what if', but you can't go analyzing every little possibility like that. If you do, it'll drive you crazy."

Sighing, Padmé plopped back down in her chair and returned her attention to the holopad. "I know you're right, but that doesn't make it any better."

"Hindsight's a hell of a thing, boss," Red stated with a slight shrug. "Anyway, I should be getting back to work. There's still plenty to sort out."

"You look tired," Padmé said, more as an observation than a question.

"Not as tired as you," Red replied as he offered his worn–out commander a weak grin. Then, without another word, he turned and started for the door. Padmé once again peered down at the holopad resting on her desk until he abruptly glanced back at her. "Oh, I almost forgot – we received an incoming transmission a few hours ago. It was from Ben…he said he should be here sometime tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Padmé asked, barely able to contain her excitement. "Thank you, Red."

Padmé's chest tightened as the thought of their guests' arrival filled her mind and blinded her to all else. Watching Red's back as he disappeared into the corridor, she did her best to gather her composure. Their visitor, she knew, would be carrying with him vital information that only he and a few others were privy to…information that she had long awaited, and was eager to hear.