Chapter 6

Location: Galactic Confederation Base 1, Alderaan

Day 7 Month 1 14 BBY

( Padme' Naberrie's POV)

Each day of training has my bones aching and body parts I didn't know could ache this terribly. I'm not one to complain, though people would think I would complain due to my status in the world- a wealthy world. They have no idea what I've been through over the years.

At the age of nine, my father had sent me away to help with refugees on a distant planet. I was gone for two years of my life- the best and worst two years of my life. I had been away from my cold hearted father and made friends who had not adapted to their new planet. My father's response to my crying over their deaths had been something along the lines of "Their deaths were a necessary evil the in the galaxy Padme'."

His words had rung home for more than a few years of my life. People had no idea what my father was capable of. The man wore a facade of smiles and people on our home planet loved him. They adored their Senator- and they cheered on when he became Chancellor and then was reelected for a second and a third term. After he had taken office as the Emperor- one reporter had the audacity to ask me if I had known of my father's corruptions and plans. If I had played along in his affairs of believing in a Republic and that he was a Sith Lord.

The reporter had been found dead five hours after our interview and I had been severely chastised about my answers to that woman. I had been truthful- and my father liked to please and lie to others. I am not a liar. I was made to be seen and not heard growing up and I knew better than to speak back to my father or there would consequences- sever enough to leave life-long scars.

My beating in particular that night after the reporter's death had been done by Count Dooku. Lord Vader had been made to watch as I had been struck by force lighting until I screamed and begged for forgiveness. I had learned my lesson- lie to anyone who is not your family or a friend. Keep those people you despise the most close to you and strike them down when you have the chance. I had done just that with Lord Vader. One lesson my father had taught me well.

I hadn't heard much from the holonews. But I believe if they had found Vader's body, it would have made it on through the Confederation's planetary systems by now. If I had succeeded in my mission his death would have been cheered all over the base. My heart sinks upon thinking these thoughts. I hadn't killed him and now I'm truly a traitor with my husband looking for me.

No- Vader is not my husband. If he were, he would have taken advantage of me when he had the chance and I would still be caged in his ship. Probably crawling and begging for my life to end.

A life with Vader would have been miserable. I would have been his slave- a trophy to the Empire. I know my father is disappointed in the fact that I'm not force sensitive. He wanted a boy and a force sensitive child at that. I had disappointed him twice.

The rapping of fingers on my datapad turn my thoughts back to the present. I blink back my thoughts and my eyes drift up to my Commanding Officer- his blue hard eyes. Anakin's eyes are hard and narrowed in aggravation at my day dreaming. I cannot help that I could care less the difference between a silver coil and a platinum coil to use in a ship's engine.

My least favorite class of the day is Skywalker's piloting lessons. I don't mind the katas or combat training- we haven't begun our weapon training just yet. That starts next week. But I didn't need to know the parts of a speeder or engine of a fighter ship. I've never flown a ship- people have always flown me in them- including the man standing aggravated in front of me.

He rips the datapad from my hands and states, " Naberrie what is the difference between the two coils?"

I shrug and rap my fingers on the metal table in front of me. I mumble under my breath, " I don't know Sir."

Anakin slams the pad onto the table in front of me and I'm shocked to see that the datapad is intact. My eyes meet his blazing baby blues and he snaps out, " If you hadn't been day dreaming about your girlfriend from a distant planet you would know."

I roll my eyes at him and rumble out of boredom, "No Sir, I was not daydreaming about a girl. I was thinking about my father."

Anakin's eyes blaze into my soul. I can feel those blue orbs burning a hole right through me as he retorts, "If you father had any idea of how you are acting in my classroom, he'd probably give you a beating."

I bite my lip and snip back, "I'm sure he would. I wasn't listening because I don't see how the difference in the coils will make in a damn ship's engine! Why on Alderann would someone need to know the difference?"

I can feel the other Cadet's eyes on me as I watch Anakin's fists ball up beside him. He grits his teeth and snarls out, "10 demerits for you and you can pull guard duty for the next two nights."

I shrug and retort, "Yes sir, at least I can perform well at those useful tasks."

Anakin's body stops from turning away from me and it's as if he's snapped. His eyes blaze in my direction and I can see the fury throughout his rigid body. Several datapads are floating throughout the classroom and crushing under his forceful fingertips. I smirk upon seeing his raw power and rage at me. Good- now he knows what it feels like.

His hands crush the datapads into dusty parts and all eyes watch him. He grips the back of my shirt and grits out, "Get out of my classroom! If you find those machine parts not so useful- I will be sure to fail you from my class!"

He drags me by the collar to the back of the room and presses the exit button. The door slides open and, I am shoved out. I turn my body so my eyes meet his as the door slides shut. His face is rigid and his eyes blaze with fireballs. If he had the power to murder me with his eyes, I think he would have done so right then. The door slides shut and I brush myself off and begin my long stomp back to my barracks.

To Be Continued...