Goth Jedi: Anakin is about late thirties, making Padmé about early forties and Luke and Leia are ten, respectively.
Thanks to you guys for enjoying my stories so much! I'm working on the third chapter as we speak, and, boy, is it going to be a doozy!

CHAPTER TWO: Strange Presences

Far from the home she called so dear, a young girl, about ten years of age, was sitting outside in the courtyard of the Royal Palace of Theed. She sighed a deep sigh and began to stand up. She had been cooped up all week in the palace, running errands for the governor and taking orders from the queen's handmaidens. Since the girl was only elected as Princess of Naboo, she had the duties of that of the average gopher. The title was for looks, really, and not for anything of real importance, she was still, however, the daughter of a former queen and a senator, which did give her some lead in various affairs of the Naboo governance.

"Princess?" called a voice beyond the gate.

Leia turned and looked to find Orlé, Queen Marana's personal bodyguard. Orlé was dressed in the traditional flame robe and gown, and was holding a small hologram.

"Princess Leia? I have a message from your mother. She says she must speak with you." Orlé handed Leia the hologram and she pushed the button on its side, starting the transmission. A flicker of blue transformed an image of her mother before her eyes.

"Leia, tell Orlé thank you for bringing the transmission."

Leia smiled. She turned and thanked Orlé, who nodded her head in thanks. "I thanked her, Mother. I'm almost ready to come home this evening. I'm packed and just waiting for Queen Marana's captain to escort me to the hangar. Things have been so tense around here lately; no one has really been in or out of the palace recently, so I'm very glad to be able to leave today."

She noticed a smile flash across Orlé's usually proper face and Leia grinned back at her. Orlé knew how much she missed her family on Coruscant. She had gotten very close to the handmaiden over the past few months, so much as calling each other close confidants and friends. Leia turned back to the hologram.

"I have been so worried about you," her mother, Padmé, said. Her countenance showed signs of worry; maybe for her. Maybe for her brother and father. Maybe even both. "I've been in senate meetings all month about the awful spice mining incident two months ago. I know you are doing your job there on Naboo quite wonderfully, but.." she said. "I admit, I would rather have you home, safe and sound, with us."

"Mother, don't worry. We'll be together this evening. Is Father still meeting me at the hangar this evening? He'll know which one is me. I'll be the one dressed as a refugee," she stated. "Queen Marana believes it would be safer if I stayed on Naboo until this was all over, but, I really wanted to go home for a bit. She suggested that I travel in disguise so as not to attract any unwanted visitors."

"Leia, I wanted to ask you, without any secrets: Are you in as much trouble as I hear from the Senate about Naboo?" her mother asked, outright. Her expression was grim.

Leia lowered her head, and Orlé put a hand on her shoulder. "Yes, Mother, I'm afraid I am. Queen Marana says that even though I'm just an elected princess to the royal court, that I it doesn't keep me away from danger."

Padmé breathed in deeply and exhaled. "Then we'll just have to make sure you're safe when you're with us." Padmé looked over Leia's shoulder to Orlé. "Orlé, please take good care of my daughter. I know you are busy with Her Majesty, but I ask for protection over my daughter, as well."

"I will do all that I can, Senator," Orlé said, her head nodding in agreement.

"Very well. Leia, princess, I love you. Be careful and May the Force be with you." The hologram disappeared and Leia pressed the button on the side of the hologram to end the transmission. She turned to walk back into the palace, but stopped and turned back to Orlé. She appeared so much more... regal... than the rest of the handmaidens of Marana's inner circle. She also reminded her of someone she knew... but that wasn't possible, was it? Leia shook her head and continued into the palace.

Orlé, still staring out over the courtyard wall, facing the waterfalls, sighed. I wonder how much longer I can keep this secret from her. I'll need her help someday.

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Back on the shining city planet of Coruscant, Anakin walked beside Obi-Wan, going to his suite. He was to pick his daughter up in one galactic hour, and, as usual, he was a nervous wreck.

"You're sweating again, Padawan," Obi-Wan teased, his smile showing the cracks and crinkles of old age. Even though he was nearly ten years senior to Anakin, he felt older than that with everything that has been happening. Especially with all the trouble on Naboo.

Anakin puffed the shaggy hair from his eyes. He kept it long because Padmé enjoyed it being long. She would run her fingers through it and smile at him with a mischievous grin, one he had become accustomed to over the years they'd been married. He remembered how fast everything seemed to have gone. Their marriage, the ending of the Clone Wars, the capture of General Grievous and the birth of their children.

How he remembered that day so well. It started as a normal day. Padmé was preparing to leave the Senate until her children were born. She was on her way to Chancellor Organa's office when she felt the kick. She collapsed in front of Chancellor Organa's office. She was going to met with him about a decree going through that day. Dormé was there, and called for help. Chancellor Organa came out, along with his guards, and carried Padmé to the Medic Wing. She had Anakin paged from the temple and he came as quickly as possible. That day, two lovely twin children were brought into the world, healthy as can be. Naming them Luke and Leia, the Skywalker family felt a completeness that they had only dreamt about for so long.

"Are joining us for dinner, Obi-Wan? You know how much Leia enjoys talking with you," Anakin asked, turning his head, and smiling at him.

"Of course," he said, smiling right back. "I've missed her around the temple, as well." He chuckled and began to reminisce. "It's like she's my own daughter."

Anakin chuckled, facing the elevator doors again. Too bad you never had children, Old Ben.

I heard that! Stopping calling me that! Obi-Wan thought.

The pair chuckled and stepped into the elevator when the doors flew open. Stepping lightly and turning to face forward, the doors slid closed and took them to the dormitory level. "Children and family, although seem wonderful," Obi-Wan began gently, softening his tone. "would be a hindrance, a ---"

"A reason to go on living?" Anakin interrupted, though not angrily. "Come now, after all you've seen with the galaxy, and witnessing the birth of the children, you are still thinking that it was a bad idea?"

Obi-Wan paused for a moment, drawing his hand to his chin, deep in thought. He, too, really hadn't thought much about a normal life until Anakin had chosen to give it up for Padmé. Then, with the birth of the children a year later, he felt a tug at his heart that he couldn't stop. Was he really missing something in the grand scheme of things? Was there something you just couldn't simply learn but only hold dear? Something the Force couldn't give to him?

After a moment, nearing their level, he chuckled lightly and replied. "No, I suppose not. You win this round, my padawan, but you will not win next time we spar."

"Oh really? Ol' Ben?" Anakin said with a hearty laugh, causing Obi-Wan to jab him in his side. The two traded jabs back and forth until the elevator bell rang, then flew the doors open to the suite level where Padmé and Luke were waiting anxiously for Leia to arrive home.

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Ten minutes until touchdown. Siv read the graphs, charts and projections nearing her destination. She looked up from the screen onboard to the misty, greenish landscape appearing before her eyes. She was to land in a secluded area and then complete her main objective: capture the princess.

"This will be like blasting wampa rats in a barrel," Siv chuckled, laughing at her own, ghoulish joke. "If only Master Yoda could see me now..." she said, somewhat thoughtfully, but with a bite of sarcasm. Smiling from ear-to-ear, she pulls herself together. "Dangerous, this path is, young padawan," she said, imitating the old Jedi's voice with precision.

Oh, do you really want to know that path, Master Yoda? Have you ever really been on it before? She closed her eyes, breathed in deeply, and felt her body tremble. It had been a very long time before she really felt that her plan -- her Master's plan -- was actually going to come full circle. That hot, steaming plate of vengeance will be served, justly, to Anakin Skywalker and his pathetic, little family.

"Five minutes until touchdown," said a computer-automated voice. Siv rolled her eyes and muttered something about ancient ships, but began to type in the landing sequence. The large-hulled ship, for a spice freighter, was relatively easy for her to navigate. The past ten years had been kind to her, giving her experiences that few could have hoped for, even as a Jedi apprentice. But, for a Sith apprentice, things worked a bit more...differently.

The ship's landing gear engaged, slowing it to a near-halt and landing in open field near the base of a massive waterfall. The waterfall, a feature of Naboo's landscape, surrounded the grand and beautiful city of Theed. It was a good hike, for a regular person, but to the trained personae, it was a mere exercise.

Siv stood up, and ran to the back of the ship, grabbing her long black cloak. The bodies of the spice freighters were nowhere to be seen and the ship was ready, prepared to make a quick getaway once the heinous plan was complete. The bright rays of the early morning sun pierced Siv's white, snowy flesh. She despised the radiant sun, as if the universe itself was watching her every move, ready to pounce on her for being such a 'naughty' Jedi.

She gritted her teeth and covered her head and hair with her cloak and then began the hike up the side of the waterfall.

--------

"Mom, will Leia look different?" Luke asked, evidently quite serious.

Padmé smiled warmly and laughed. "Why no, Luke, she won't." She turned back to the heating element and watched over C3P0's shoulder. She then grabbed a spoon, and scooped up some and placed it to her lips. She blew slightly and then tasted.

"Threepio, you're cooking is getting better and better each time! I think I should let you cook more often," she laughed, patting the golden droid on the back.

"Thank you, Mistress Padmé. I've learned many more recipes since under your care," Threepio said, with a pleasant tone to his voice, or as best as he could sound, considering he was, after all, a droid.

"But, Mom," Luke continued. "I've seen some politicians dress really weird, and even Chancellor Organa's daughter, Rebecca, dresses weird." He huffed and sat down at the table, placing his head in his hands. "Will Leia act snooty to me as well?"

Padmé turned to him sternly. "Luke Skywalker! You will not speak like that of other people. It's not nice." She walked over to him and sat down near him, taking his hand in hers. "And... Leia might act a little more..." she paused, searching for the right words. "She might speak a bit more eloquently, but she is still Leia. And she is still your sister. Nothing in the universe can change that."

Luke smiled underneath his shaggy blonde hair. "Okay."

Padmé smiled back. "Okay then." She got up, but tossed back a final thought. "And no more talking about Chancellor Organa's daughter that way, either." She continued to watch Threepio cook the thick sauce swirling about. "And besides, Luke," she started again. "Do you remember how everyone treated you the first day you started your training at the Temple?"

Luke bowed his head. "Yeah, I remember. Everyone thought I would be cut some slack because I was a 'Skywalker'. Boy, were they wrong!" He got up from his chair and walked over to the heating element to watch Threepio cook. He then wrapped his little arms around his mother, and she patted his scruffy head. "I'm sorry I said those things about Rebecca, Mom."

"It's okay, Son. Leia will be back tonight and we can enjoy a nice, long vacation together," she said, her eyes also withholding the desire to see her daughter. "It's just sometimes we have to do what is expected of us and ignore our true feelings."

Luke looked up at his mother. "Why would we need to do that?"

Padmé looked deeply into her son's eyes, remembering that he was the very product of holding on to one's feelings, the wonderful little gift of the Force for doing exactly what her heart had been telling her for many years. "Luke, maybe we just need to do what is expected us for the good of everyone. But if there is something that needs to be done, and cannot be ignored, you must search and trust your feelings."

Luke looked expectantly up at his mother and then scrunched his nose up. "I'm not sure exactly what you mean, Mom, but alright."

Padmé laughed and the gave a quick hug to him and sent him to clean up before dinner that evening.

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Siv's long, brown braids swung wildly in the wind. She was nearing the top, when she heard a sound. She halted, scanning quickly over the area for anyone or anything. Suddenly, her sense became alive, taking in all that surrounding her. She felt every rock, every river, every leaf that was in the remote area. She also felt the presence of a droid. In a swiveling swoop, she swung her body toward a ledge, near a small cave, just behind the majestic waterfall that flowed from Theed. She stayed still for moments, listening with her sharp ears for the sound of, what she surmised, was a probe droid. She held her breath, then exhaled, allowing the Dark Side of the Force to flow through her, heightening her senses.

Moments later, the probe was gone, again she guessed from her sense, and looked about the cave she had dove into. It looked a lot deeper than what it first appeared to be. She began to walk slowly, her boots echoing slightly off walls. After about 30 meters walking and igniting her lightsaber on low for light, she found a fork in her path. Glancing from side to side, staring down the equally-dark paths, she released her mind back into the Dark Side. Thoughts and feelings swarmed about, but her senses kept bringing her back to the left path. She felt the presence of someone, however, that she didn't realize.

"Anakin Skywalker?" She whispered, not daring to let it echo. Why would I feel his presence here? He isn't on Naboo. He's on Coruscant; I checked a thousand times before changing the course of the ship.

Then it dawned on her: His daughter must have some connection to the Force. If she felt what she thought was Anakin Skywalker's presence, it must actually be his daughter's.

Oh, this really screws with the plan a bit, she thought, but then a smile curled her lips. But, maybe, it won't be so bad after all.

She chuckled slightly to herself and began to descend down the path, hearing the sounds of the waterfall become more and more distant.