Chapter 16
Location: Alliance Base, Alderann
Day 25 Month 1 14 BBY
( Anakin's POV)
Four days ago, I thought my plans could be altered. I dreamed of the day the alliance could take down the Emperor and his apprentice, Dooku. I could take my place among the Alliance and Vader could disappear into the galaxy. No one would hear or see his presence again.
Now we will soon be at war with the Empire. Soon, the Emperor will hear rumours of his daughter's escape from my ship and know someone had her killed. I know the Emperor has spies on this planet besides myself. And although the Emperor had entrusted his daughter to me, he will not care how powerful I am. He will see a treasonous snake amongst his allies. He will blame me for her death, though I am clearly not responsible for her murder.
My com. link bursts to life at the wee hours of the morning. I blink back the sleep and press the "on" button. " Skywalker," I mumble gruffly.
" Sir, this is Captain Reynolds from the lab, I have new evidence for your case for you to look at." The tone of Reynold's voice sounds excited. He does not handle very many murder cases such as a prominent figure.
I wipe the sleep out of my eyes and I murmur, " I will be there within the hour."
I shut off my com. link and enter my living room. The soft snores of someone in the room perk my interest. My eyes land on the short brown stubs of hair perking up from under a Navy issued blanket. I smirk as I reach for the blanket and yank it off the young cadet. She shudders from the sudden chill in the room. Her bare shoulders are noticeable through her sleeveless black tank top. She grips her arms in the chill and moans out, " It's not time to wake up yet."
I cannot help but chuckle as I mutter out, " It wasn't my fault you chose to take up after lights out and study last night."
Her beautiful chocolate eyes blink back the sleep in them. Her eyes land onto me and she complains, " Anakin, you better have a good reason for waking me."
I reach for her jacket on the edge of the sofa and throw it at her. It hits her stomach and I
report, " The lab found new evidence on Amidala's body. You want be useful in this investigation correct?"
She sits up with her jacket in her hands and her curiosity overcomes her sleep deprivation. She slips her jacket on and mutters, " This evidence better be convincing enough to lead us to the killer."
I smirk at her and reply, " I hope your assertions are correct."
Location: Lab, Alliance Base, Alderann
Day 25 Month 1 14 BBY
Padme' and I reach the lab within the hour. Captain Reynolds is perched on his gray stool peering through a microscope at some material intently. His blue gloved hands swirl the microscope's lens as he ignores out entrance into the lab.
" Captain?" I call out to the younger man.
His gray eyes peer up from behind his glasses and he smiles excitedly at us. He gestures for us to come closer and hands each of us a pair of blue gloves. I graciously take the pair for my own hands and put them on. The snap of the latex clenches to my skin and my eyes land upon the specimen on his experiment table.
A small streak of blood layered in a fingernail lay under his microscope.
" Sir, why did you strip the corpse of her fingernail?" Padme' declares beside me.
Captain Reynolds smirks and states " The killer left behind DNA from this own skin. It seems our victim fought her attacker off, and then died from the strangulation around her neck."
I peer down at his specimen and ask, " Do we have a lead on the killer?"
He smirks excitedly, " Of course sir, I wouldn't have called you down here if I didn't have the name of the killer."
" Who is he?" I question, quite irritated with the suspense he is trying to play with.
Reynold's eyes the fingernail and replies, " The killer is a she. She is a prominent figure here on Alderann."
Padme' frowns upon hearing this and mutters, " Who is she?"
Reynold's smiles wide and announces, " Amidala's killer is Breha Organa."
I turn to see Padme's mouth drop open and she gasps loudly. I pat her shoulder and Reynolds appears concerned. " Sir, do you know Breha?"
I ignore the good solider and mutter, " That is none of your concern, Cadet Nabberrie, I believe we have a killer to arrest."
She nods silently and I gesture towards the speeder out front.
As we round the first corner, away from Reynolds I stop walking and push her towards the corner. Her body is stiff and she seems shocked from hearing the killer's name.
I eye the camera out of the corner of my eye and I whisper, " Are you all right?"
Her brown eyes land on mine and she mumbles, " I don't believe him. Breha wouldn't have killed her."
I grab her shoulders and assure her, " Padme', she left DNA evidence on the body. We need to arrest her before she leaves the planet."
She shakes her head and murmurs, " Breha has no motive for killing her. She- they were friends, Anakin. Breha Organa is the kindest person, I've ever met."
" The perhaps, you shouldn't be present when I arrest her. If she knows your face-"
I begin and she hisses back, " NO! I'm going with you. If Breha killed her, I want to know why."
I nod and gesture towards the exit. " Let us take our leave then."
To Be Continued.