ALIVE

By Serena Kenobi

A/N: Okay, I haven't updated in a while... but writing a 140 page novel (and it's only halfway done) has been taking up most of my time. Here's the next chapter!

I studied the man in front of me, Admiral Piett, Vader told me, and decided that he seemed to be a decent man. I didn't remember any men other than Vader – was he even human? – but I got the impression that Piett wouldn't do me any harm.

"Miss," Piett bowed as Vader introduced me. I didn't know why, but I caught something disturbed in his eyes. Why was he looking at me that way?

"Admiral," I said softly, nodding at him. I was still wary of my surroundings and instinctively tightened my grip on Vader. Also, my legs were aching again.

"This is the bridge, Aisha," Vader rumbled, motioning to the space before him with his free hand. "You are welcome to come here when your legs have recovered."

I nodded, but my eyes were fixed on the large windows that surrounded the bridge. "Stars," I breathed, and moved forward hesitantly. Vader helped me along until I was standing right in front of the largest window. I reached out and touched the glass. "They're beautiful," I murmured.

"Indeed," Vader said. I somehow got the feeling that something was disturbing him now as well. "But they eventually die. Even stars die," he added solemnly, almost as an afterthought. I wondered at his bitter tone.

"Then you should enjoy them while they're there, right?" I said, looking up at him.

He looked down at me. "Perhaps. Or maybe it is a waste of time and effort."

"No it's not," I frowned. What had made him so bitter? I shook my head. I had too many questions, and my legs were hurting terribly as was my head. "I think I need to sit down now," I said faintly.

He quickly turned and nodded. "Of course. I'll have someone escort you back to your room."

"What are you going to do?" I inquired curiously.

"Attend to some… business," was his cryptic answer. When I frowned, he added, "I will explain later." He motioned a young man to come to us. "Private, escort the Lady Aisha to her quarters."

The Private nodded. "Yes, my Lord." He held out an arm, but I noticed that it was stiff, and his eyes were glaring daggers into mine. "Let's go."

I wondered at his hostile tone but didn't comment. Turning to face Vader again, I said, "Will I see you soon?"

He nodded. "Yes."

I nodded back, grateful. So far, he was the only one I trusted. "Thank you," I murmured, and allowed myself to be led away by the young man. But a small part of me was still disturbed by the… darkness that seemed to surround him. I shook my head. I was going insane.

THIRD PERSON POV

"Well, Dr. Wyax?" Vader said calmly as he entered the Medical Center. "How is our patient?"

"She'll be fine soon enough," The Dr. Wyax grumbled. "Her legs took quite a beating, but they'll be operational in around three weeks as you said."

"And her other condition?"

"Ah, yes, the amnesia. Well, unless her memory is trigged by something on a large scale, I don't think she'll recover her memory. If she meets another person, perhaps a friend of hers, then she might remember, but other than that… it looks permanent. But it's hard to tell."

Vader nodded. "Good. She may yet be of some use to us."

"There's, ah, another thing I forgot to mention," Wyax said, moving over to a console. "The Princess is adopted."

Vader hadn't known that. "Adopted?"

"Yes. I ran a DNA test on a side thought and came up with some fascinating news. Her parents are none other than legendary Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and Senator Padmé Amidala."

Vader certainly hadn't expected that. "What?" He hissed.

"Yes, I was as surprised as you – but I suppose that it's natural – the brat takes after her mother – Rebel scum-" Wyax suddenly found himself thrown up against the wall, the Dark Lord's hand squeezing his neck tightly.

"Do not… talk of her that way," Vader seethed, and promptly killed him. The Doctor dropped to the floor, dead. Vader stepped back, inwardly reeling. His daughter… Leia was his daughter! Their daughter!

"Padmé…" he murmured.

I wasn't sure how, but I just sensed, or it was more of a gut feeling, I guess, that the man escorting me to my room hated me. I was extremely uncomfortable, especially having to rely on his weight to continue walking, and even more so because he was walking quickly – too quickly for me. "Could we slow down, please?" I asked as the pain shot up my legs. I had to bite back a scream.

He just snorted. "What's the matter, Princess? Can't you do it on yourself?"

"Princess?" I echoed. Did someone else call me that before? I frowned, wracking my brain for memories…

"Don't get all mushy on me – so long, Princess."

"W-what?" I stammered, my face suddenly turning red as I halted. That voice… that tone… it was so familiar! Was I finally regaining my past? But to my sorrow, the feelings and the voice brushed by and faded into the dark corners of my mind, gone just as soon as they had come. I bit my lip to keep from crying. No! My mind cried. Come back!

"Hey!" The man escorted me jerked sharply on my arm, almost pulling it out of its socket, and I stumbled forward – my legs gave out, and I dropped to the ground with a whimper.

"Get up!" he growled, prodding me.

"I can't!" I hissed through clenched teeth.

He snorted again and prodded me harder. "What a pathetic sight this is. Why don't you just die?" He said disdainfully.

I turned my head to stare up at him bitterly. "Why do you hate me?" I asked drearily, my vision beginning to swim from the pain in my legs. I was beginning to feel something warm under my fingers, and I barely registered that it was blood. Why wasn't anyone helping me from this madman?

"You killed my brother," he hissed in my face. To my horror, I saw his hands descending towards my neck. Before I could move, however, the hands wrapped around my throat and began squeezing it, hard. I choked and brought my bloodied hands up to try and pry them off, but in my condition, he was much stronger. I felt the life being drained out of me –

But without warning, a downpour of emotions splashed onto me: anger, rage, fury, indignation – and before I could realize what happened, the man's hands had been pried off me, and he was thrown into the wall violently. I coughed, blinking drowsily, and lay there on the floor, trying to figure out what had just happened.

I heard a sudden inhuman roar, and as my sight dimmed, I caught sight of a familiar tall, dark figure holding up the man against the wall. I heard a sickening snap, and the dark shape tossed the lifeless man to the floor. Then, the figure advanced towards me. But as it – he – grew closer, I saw not dark armor and a long black cloak, but a black-clothed, dark robed young man. His intense blue eyes were the last things I saw before I fell unconscious.

So... there's that. ENJOY!

MtFbwy,

- Serena