Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, etc.

This story has been pretty dark so far, but the angst does serve a purpose (I'll explain in upcoming chapters). So, if you stick with it, things will be heating up soon. And as for you action junkies, the next chapter will really be setting things in motion.

P.S. 'You know who' will be showing up before too long…

Chapter Three

Tidings

Secluded in a remote corner of the Outer Rim territories, Endor was an easy location to overlook. The forest moon was a green jewel that stood out against the dark reaches of space, but it stood alone. Rivers wound through its thick canopy of ancient trees, and its dense woods extended high over the dark floors and low mountains of the isolated world. It was nature at its best: thriving and healthy, untouched by the hands of civilization. All except for the single structure that towered high and ominous in the otherwise peaceful wilderness. Clone troopers by the hundreds bustled to and fro all about the lone compound; hastily making preparations for some unknown operation.

Hunkered down in the surrounding undergrowth of the forest, Astrid peered at the Imperial soldiers through a pair of high–powered binoculars while several of her subordinates quietly awaited their orders. However, it wasn't long before one subordinate in particular spoke up and broke the silence.

"Well?" Pavel whispered from his place beside her. "What do you make of it?"

"They appear to be evacuating the compound," she curtly responded.

Following up on the data that had been acquired on their previous excursion, Astrid had immediately been deployed alongside a squadron of Rebel fighters to do reconnaissance and neutralize a known processing camp. After learning of the true purpose of the horrific installations, she had leapt at the chance to liberate yet another facility without a second thought.

"I say we make our move," Pavel suggested. "Anything beats sitting here all day, twiddling our thumbs."

"Yes, Pavel, that's a wonderful idea," Astrid sarcastically retorted. "Let's go in, blasters blazing, and engage them in a heated firefight before we've even located a single prisoner. Brilliant."

Pavel snorted in half amusement, half irritation. "You got a better plan, love?"

"As a matter of fact, I do," Astrid said, stealing another glimpse through her binoculars. "And it begins with you not calling me 'love'. I still outrank you, you know – I can make it an official mandate if you'd like…"

"Hint taken, Captain," Pavel smirked. "So, what's this plan of yours?"

"We're going to do exactly as instructed," Astrid replied. "This mission calls for recon, and that's precisely what we're going to do. If these troopers are really preparing to move out, we'll just have to wait for them to leave. As far as I can tell, there are no captives inside or outside the compound."

"That's the plan?" Pavel huffed, obviously displeased with his superiors' chosen course of action.

"That's the plan," Astrid confirmed as she did her best to ignore her grating companion. "If we charge in blind and they do have prisoners, we'll get a lot of innocent people killed. And for now, the Empire itself doesn't seem to be killing them."

With that, their conversation came to an abrupt end. Astrid's tone had made it clear that she would brook no argument, and for once her quarrelsome colleague seemed to have taken the hint…for the time being, at least.

Only the sound of her hurried footsteps could be heard echoing through the massive hangar bay as she strode past numerous grounded fighters and discreet cruisers; all of which belonged to the mounting Rebellion. She spotted the man behind her uncharacteristic haste the moment she entered the building complex. Clad in his customary beige tunic, he pulled back the hood of his cloak when he caught sight of her and offered a polite smile.

His auburn hair was cut in its usual style, along with a matching beard with only the slightest tinge of gray giving away his age and decades of experience. In some ways, Padmé mused, he reminded her of Red…the biggest difference being that she had never heard the man presently standing before her ever crack a joke. He still walked with a limp; the result of a past injury sustained on the atrocious lava planet of Mustafar just before he had rescued her and found her refuge. He had, in fact, been the only other person to witness the devastating death of her husband, and the birth of the most monstrous tyrant the galaxy had ever seen. She had never asked him what had truly transpired between him and Vader on that fateful day, and frankly, she didn't really want to know. The memory was far too painful to reflect on.

"Padmé, it is good to see you again," her guest said with a respectful nod once he reached her. "It has been a long time."

"It's good to see you, too," Padmé replied, returning a weak smile. "How are you, Obi–Wan?"

Jedi Master Obi–Wan Kenobi. Even after the fall of the Jedi Order and the complete and utter destruction of everything he had ever held sacred, her old acquaintance was still all formality and etiquette. Seeing him in the flesh again was like opening up an old wound that had never fully healed. He reminder her of Anakin…of a past life that she would never get back, that was lost forever. It pained her to her very bones.

"You're just in time," she spoke up after a short, albeit awkward silence.

"Am I?" Obi–Wan asked, quirking a puzzled brow. "Just in time for what, might I ask?"

"We are preparing to hold a briefing," Padmé answered. "I would like for you to be present, if you don't mind…"

Obi–Wan smiled as he casually folded his hands beneath his robes. "Of course not."

"Chancellor Organa will be listening in from Coruscant," Padmé added while she turned on her heel and gestured for her visitor to follow. He obligingly fell into step as she started out of the hangar. Her chest tightening, she took a deep breath to steady her nerves before speaking again. "But before we get there…Obi–Wan, I have to know."

"They are doing very well, Padmé," Obi–Wan answered her unasked question, immediately grasping the meaning of her not so subtle inquiry. He had felt the wave of emotion, her overpowering anxiety, the instant he had arrived; and he could hardly blame her for feeling the way she did. "Young Luke is even beginning to walk. Soon he will be up and running, just like his fath–"

Obi–Wan immediately regretted his blunder.

"It's okay," Padmé said in a near whisper, easily picking up on the remorseful expression covering the Jedi's face. "Really, it is. I'm just glad to hear news of my children…any news."

"Rest assured, they are safe as long as they are with Sabé," Obi–Wan replied.

Padmé did her best to keep her own expression unreadable, for her companions' sake. Yes, the mere mention of her murdered husband had made her heart ache. But even more than that, the thought of her son and daughter was almost unbearable. Luke had taken his first steps, and she hadn't been there. One day he would speak his first words, and she wouldn't be there for that either. The realization that his childhood was slipping by and she was missing it hurt more than any physical torment ever could. And Leia…she would miss her life, as well. She would miss everything. Vader had seen to that.

"Isn't this it?"

So lost in her thoughts, Padmé hadn't even noticed that they had arrived at the briefing room until Obi–Wan's voice pulled her from her stupor. Glancing inside, she could see that the rest of her associates had already assembled and were patiently waiting for their leader.

"Y–yes, this is it," Padmé slightly stammered. "We're here…"