The Clones Wars did happen- but several systems decided to join the Separtists from the Republic due to the Chancellor's gaining of powers. The End of the Clone Wars three years later ( NOTE: Anakin did turn to the dark side at this time and was injured on Mustafar. He also served as Jedi Knight prior to the events. However, keep in mind in this story Padme' is 5 years younger than him-so switch their ages around.)

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-GP

Chapter 2

Location: Galactic Confederation Base 1, Alderaan

Day 2 Month 1 14 BBY ( 5 years after the Rise of the Empire)

( Padme' Naberrie's POV)

My eyes blink in the darkness as I lay there exhausted from the crying events of the night. Soon the morning drill would commence and the day of training would begin. A day which lasted from 4 am until 10 pm. I am nothing to most of these officers in the Rebellion- fresh off the farm as they would call a farmboy err… girl… in my case. Most fresh recruits are required 12 weeks of what they consider "boot camp" an intense version of military tactics and then we train under a Commanding Officer before being assigned bases for our first duty stations. This is my second day as a recruit. I had arrived off of the refugee ship enroute from Naboo on a 12 hour ride and arrived in time for the orientation at the Base.

When the new recruits are called into the conference rooms, we'll be introduced to our Commanders for the next 12 weeks. I rub through my nonexistent hair on my head and my thoughts dwell on the past few days of my life- or rather the past two weeks of my life.

After Lord Vader had killed Rush, I had stormed to my father's chambers and screamed and shouted that Lord Vader needed to be punished for his crimes. My father had sat back and listened carefully to my points of argument and then had calmly told me my punishment instead. He told me that I would be marrying that monster, which he had agreed to the arrangement only the week before and had waited to tell me of this joyous news. Yes- not only had Vader murdered the man I had loved, but he was to be my future husband….

Okay- he had by law became my husband three days ago. The wedding had been small- only my father, handmaiden, Vader and I and of course the priest. The wedding wasn't one I dreamed about- it was short and bitter. My father had made sure of it. Holo-photos had been taken to share with the public : Lord Vader in that black suit of his and I was dressed in a tradition white wedding dress. The gown had been chosen for me- it had been filled with ruffles and white roses all over it. The dress had been sleeveless and covered any cleavage I did have. And of course I had been required to wear the dreadful makeup of Nabooian royalty. Sabe had come to me after the ceremony and I had cried on her shoulder for hours at a time. I remember the fear I had of having to fulfill my wifely duty to Lord Vader.

I wanted nothing but to murder that son of Sith. I had told Sabe I wanted to get away. She had told me of her connections to Bail Organa in the rebellion. She helped me plan out my departure that evening. I had pretended to dress for my wedding night to go to Lord Vader's chambers. He had specific chambers made for him aboard his ship. Most of his soldiers thought they were for changing out his suits of armor, I knew better. My father had once told me of his newest apprentice's accident. Apparently Vader needed special chambers to walk around without his mask and suit on. He had been in a freak accident some years back and his lungs didn't work the same way as they had so long ago. I had wondered if he was even a human being- wouldn't my father had chosen someone that was compatible for children's sake? I doubt he would want to crossbreed with another species….

The lights flicker on and I blink back the bright ceiling lights of my quarters. A few fusses can be heard from below me and one of the men in the bunk across from my own curses and hides underneath the bright lights. I sit up and return my thoughts onto the day ahead. I had read up on the so-called boot camp I had joined. It depended on the Commander in charge of his troops- why? Because some of the Commanders are former Jedi Knights- some I even knew of- Obi-wan Kenobi is one man I haven't seen since the end of the Clone Wars- five years prior.

I pull on my boots and leap from the bunk.

My bunkmate below me rubs through his cleanly shaven head and his green eyes watch me. He snickers, "Aren't you a little short to be jumping from the bed kid?"

I roll my eyes and mutter in a deeper voice then my own, "I'm not a kid, I'm 21 you dolt."

The green-eyed man rubs his hand over my shaved head and stands in an intimating pose. I glance up at him with all of my 64 inches as he is four inches taller than me. He laughs and says, "You have spunk kid, but I think the gods forgot to send you through puberty."

I roll my brown eyes at him and hold out my hand to greet him. "I'm Ben- Ben Naberrie."

Green eyes holds out his own hand and announces, " I'm Ferus Olin. Where are you from Naberrie?"

I shrug and mutter, " Naboo, but I hail from Courscant."

Ferus smirks and mutters, "So you're an uppity huh? Imperial bred."

I shake my head and utter, "Nope, raised on the lower levels of Courscant. Where are you from Olin?"

Ferus grabs his navy jacket as we head out for morning training. He replies, "Actually I'm from the former Jedi Temple on Courscant- don't tell anyone though… I don't want others knowing I have an advantage up against you all."

I smirk at him and state, "I won't- but if you can watch my back that would be helpful."

We bound around the corridors one at a time, chatting away about our lives. He didn't say much about the Jedi temple other than he had been there the day Order 66 had been released; the day that most of the Jedi had been wiped out and placed in distant memory for most of the galaxy. A memory I had burned in my mind as I had watched the Jedi temple from my apartment in 500 Republica burn and the flames had licked the sky. The spin on the entire incident had been that the Jedi who had been former Council members had decided to attempt to join the newly formed Galactic Confederation and murder my father. The spin of lies didn't fool me. I had figured out this was a ploy for my father to take control of the Republic and I had just stood by and watched my republic burn in front of my eyes. I watched friends flee for their home planets and flee from Courscant in fear for their lives. I had cried at seeing the names of people- no Jedi that had died in the fall of the Temple- or in the battles across the galaxy which massacred the population of the Jedi- including a former flame…

But that is another tale- another lifetime…..

I find a seat at a table with Ferus as we had looked for our names on the listing board. The board had organized us randomly and I found myself sitting next to Ferus and eight other men. Though out of the ten of us I am the shortest one, and I have to sit up straight to reach the floor in the large uncomfortable metal chair. I rub my arms against the chair to stop myself from being a nervous wreck. The idea that my commanding officer could be someone I had known in my past life could put a threat to my existence here.

My eyes peer over at the other fresh recruits in the large conference room. The room holds at least five or six tables with simple metal chairs. These rooms were also used for meetings when the Council of the Galactic Confederation met to discuss the next moves for the Rebellion against the Empire.

My eyes dance around the men around me. There are humans- and other beings alike; all of us awaiting our fates in the hands of the leading Commanders of the Rebellion's army. One man beside Ferus leans into my ear and murmurs, " I've heard that the life span for a new recruit is ten months, hope you can last that long kid."

I spin my head to stare at the young man beside me. His brown eyes dance with fire and intimation. He cannot be more than 20 years old and his cockiness shines his little all-star attitude. I lean into his space, ignore his height and strength he has on me. I snap back, "I'll be an officer in no time, while the Imperials have your ass in their inquiring chambers. You won't last a day with them."

Ferus watches my sudden outburst as the brown eyed man snaps back, "Oh yeah? Why don't I just prove that now by kicking your ass."

I stand to my feet and glare up at the arrogant prick that has stood now ready to take a swing at me. His hot fiery eyes shoot towards me and his fist begins to descent towards my face. Though I have an advantage against the prick- I'm smaller than him. I duck and swing my fist towards his stomach. He grunts as I swing a jab and land a cross into his gut. He growls out in agony and throws me back towards the table the other men have left. They have encircled me and the brown-eyed man. The prick throws a hook in my direction and I block his punch with my elbow. I swing around his back and duck another jab to the face. He whirls just as I use my elbow to swipe him once across the face. The sounds of his nose cracking hits my ears and he stumbles back towards the metal table. I use my left foot to kick him directly in his manly parts and he grunts out as blood trickles from his nose. He falls against the chairs and Ferus and other men around us cheer. I realize in that moment they are cheering for me. I smirk at the bloody man in front of me and snicker out, "What do you think now huh? Arrogant Prick."

I smugly watch him get help up by two of the men in our little group. The cheers are shut up by the sounds of a booming voice, "What the hell is going on here?"

My eyes flicker to the demanding voice of a man standing to my left. The man in a navy uniform with the officers' insignia appears with his arms crossed. His cold blue eyes stare at the bloody man in front of him and then dart to me. My eyes meet the man's and my breathing stops for a few moments. Those blue orbs stare into my own and I intake sharply as the voice of Anakin Skywalker demands, "Who started this?"

To Be Continued….