Light Up The Dark

Disclaimer: I don't own.

Chapter 5: Missing Princess and Panicking Sith Lord

Vader couldn't hide his sense of foreboding as he approached his castle. Something must be wrong; I just know it. His fears were confirmed when he saw the clones guarding the castle on the ground, groaning as they awoke. He ran to the nearest one, helping him sit up. "What happened here?" he demanded.

"Someone attacked us! We didn't expect it!"

"What about the princess? Where did you last see her?"

The trooper cocked his head, thinking. "She was in the garden, playing."

"Before or after the attack?" Vader asked, though he realized with a sinking feeling that he already knew the answer.

"Before, my lord."

Vader nodded curtly. He leaped to his feet and began to run towards the garden. "Leia! Leia!" he called. He froze when he arrived at her favorite spot to play. On the ground lay a pristine white shoe. He slowly picked it up, while trying to find Leia's Force presence. He could tell that she was still on Coruscant, but she was far away. Something else caught his eye. "Blood?" He reached out a hesitant hand to touch it. It was indeed blood. "I swear to you, my princess, whoever has hurt you will pay." Wait. When did she become my princess? He shook his head. I don't have time for such foolish questions. I must find her.

*L*U*D*

Leia groaned as she awoke. Ow. My head. Her eyes snapped open as she remembered what had happened. I've been kidnapped! She noticed the binders around her wrists and rope tied around her ankles. There's something covering my mouth, too. She felt the air on her right foot and recalled flinging that shoe at one of her attackers. A sharp pain in her left arm reminded her of the vibroblade that one of them had stabbed her with. Panic rose in her, but she forced herself to calm down. Daddy will come for me. I know he will.

Another part of her whispered, But he doesn't know he's my daddy. He might decide to just leave me here.

He wouldn't do that, even though he doesn't know! He loves me!

Does he?

Yes. Now shut up!

Leia's mental argument was cut short when one of her captors entered the room with a cup in his hand. He knelt beside her, untying the cloth around her mouth and lifting the cup to her lips. Leia drank the water gratefully. "Thank you," she said just before he replaced the gag.

"Well, you're no good to us dead, girl." He left her alone again.

Oh, Daddy. Please hurry.

*L*U*D*

Vader paced around his office, desperately hoping (in vain, he knew) that he would hear the now-familiar voice calling his name. So far, there had been no leads regarding his princess's whereabouts, and he was about to storm out and coordinate the search himself. Then, his comm buzzed. He answered it immediately. "Yes?"

"Lord Vader, we might have found a clue!" the voice at the other end replied.

"Where are you?" he snapped.

"I'll send you the coordinates, my lord."

"I'll be there as soon as possible." Vader hung up. "I will find you, my sweet princess, and I will bring you back. I cannot live without you anymore."

*L*U*D*

Leia bit at the gag in her mouth. Daddy, hurry up! They haven't fed me, and I'm getting hungry! My arm hurts really badly, too! Suddenly, one of her captors barged in. "Tell me, little girl, why Lord Vader hasn't responded to our demands? He must not care about your life after all." The man leaned over and cruelly ripped the piece of cloth off of her mouth.

She coughed. "Maybe not. Or maybe he's planning to rescue me and destroy you all," she declared defiantly, but the ferocity of her words was dulled by the cracking of her voice.

He scoffed. "If he does, he cannot hope to rescue you before we kill you."

"You underestimate him," she replied coolly.

"I believe that you underestimate us."

"I thought you wanted me alive."

"We do, but we also will not risk you being rescued."

"Oh. He'll kill you if you hurt me, you know." Leia was not exactly sure of this fact herself, but she wanted to make this creep afraid of her daddy. By the way his face paled, she had succeeded.

"If he doesn't care enough to respond to us, he won't care enough to rescue you." He roughly replaced her gag and walked out.

Oh, Daddy. You haven't forgotten me, have you? You can't have. You're coming; I know you are. She curled into a tiny ball. Please hurry. I need you.

*L*U*D*

"Have you pinpointed the location of Leia's kidnappers?" Vader was getting impatient with the amount of time tracking down his little princess was taking.

"Indeed we have, my lord," the man responded.

"Then a strike team and I will go to rescue her immediately."

"I have taken the liberty of assembling one for you, Lord Vader."

"Good." He stormed out to be met by a group of soldiers. "We are leaving now to find the princess," he commanded.

The troops responded with a simultaneous, "Yes, sir!" and followed him.

I'm coming, little princess. I'm coming for you.

After several minutes, the group arrived at the kidnappers' base. Vader didn't need to issue orders to the men; they knew their job, and they knew it well. Vader strode to the doorway beside the men. Using the Force, he opened it. His red blade ignited, he stepped inside, sensing that the last thing most, if not all, the scum within would see was the yellow gleam of his eyes.

*L*U*D*

As she lay in the bare cell-like room she had been placed in, Leia couldn't help but hear fighting in the next room. Daddy finally came! she realized. Just in time, too, because I feel terrible. My arm hurts so badly!

The door was blown open by some incredible force. She smiled widely. The man quickly knelt by her side and removed her gag. "Daddy!" she whispered before she closed her eyes and knew no more.

*L*U*D*

Vader frowned as he lifted his princess into his arms. She must be delirious enough to assume I am Bail, he thought as he glanced at the wound on her arm. Even I can tell that's infected. I've got to get her to a medcenter. He sat in his speeder and cradled her in his arms. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew her pure white shoe, which he had carried around since she had disappeared, and placed it on her foot. "I've got you now, Leia, and I won't let anything hurt you again."

*L*U*D*

He took Leia to the medcenter, where the doctor gave her bacta for her wounded arm and assured them both that she would be all right in a few days. Vader never mentioned to Leia that she had accidentally called him daddy.

A/N: Right. How much of an accident do you think it was? Certainly not as much as he thinks it was.

Anyway, here's a hobbit-style birthday present for you! (That's a Lord of the Rings reference; hobbits give presents on their birthdays, not receive them.) Yep, today's my birthday!