Chapter Fourteen: Chase

I sat stewing in the navigator's chair as Solo and Chewie tried desperately to get us all away from where I wanted to go. I could only imagine how Vader was handling things.

"I saw them! I saw them!" Han yelped as he tried to do several things at once.

"Saw what?" I snapped, my frustration adding just the right amount of tension to my voice.

"Star Destroyers. Two of them. Coming right at us."

I glanced up. Maybe it wasn't too late!

Threepio hurried into the cockpit. "Sir, sir! Might I suggest –"

Han glared at me – as if this were all my fault. Which, in a way, it sort of was. "Shut him up or shut him down!" He turned to Chewie. "Check the deflector shield!"

Chewbacca barked.

Han groaned. "Oh great. Well, we can still outmaneuver them. Prepare to make the jump to lightspeed."

"But sir!" Threepio squawked.

"They're getting closer!" I hissed at Han, trying to keep up the charade, though I was secretly hoping for tractor beam.

Oh, Force . . . hoping for a tractor beam? What was wrong with me!?

Solo smirked. "Oh yeah? Watch this!" He pulled back the lightspeed lever.

Nothing happened. I nearly cheered.

"Watch what?" I snapped instead as Han and Chewie looked at each other in horror.

Han tried again.

Again, nothing happened.

"I think were in trouble," Han muttered.

"If I may say so, sir," Threepio interrupted again, "I noticed earlier that the hyperdrive motivator has been damaged. It's impossible to go to lightspeed!"

Han got up. "We're in trouble!" he repeated, more urgently this time.

Suddenly an image popped into my mind of a boy with round cheeks, blond hair and bright blue eyes. Luke's father, Anakin, as I'd seen him in my dreams. Padme Amidala had met him when her hyperdrive failed.

I smiled to myself. "I wonder if I'll get a cute little boy," I murmured under my breath.

Unfortunately, Solo heard me. "Gee, Your Worship, I didn't know you felt that way. I'm flattered, but to be honest, I'm not real sure I'm ready to be a father."

I could have killed him. He read my expression and wisely left the room.


I sat idly at the helm, staring out the window but not really seeing anything. Solo and Chewie were in the back, trying to fix the hyperdrive. Every now and then a crash, yelp, growl, bark or panicky voice would reach my ears, but I paid them no mind.

Thinking about Padme Amidala had led my mind back to Obi-Wan's journals, and something was bothering me about them, but I couldn't place my finger on it. It was just a vague feeling I had, but one I couldn't shake. What was it? I thought back over the last few entries, the really sad ones, the ones where everything fell apart.

We found the younglings . . . Anakin was gone . . . he was one of the last I'd have thought . . . he had been overtaken by Darth Vader . . . Padme gave birth . . . they must be hidden . . .

That was it! They must be hidden. They. Who was they? Luke, certainly. But who else? And was it only two? Or more?

Perhaps Padme Amidala had survived! Obi-Wan's journals didn't mention anything about her death . . .

But no. Amidala's funeral had been quite public; she had been a prominent political figure.

But hadn't she been pregnant when she died? I frowned. It seemed to me that she had been. It was kept relatively quiet, something of an open secret since there was no record of her being married, but I was almost sure she had been carrying when she died . . .

And Luke was alive.

So maybe the funeral was a ruse, too!

But then why was Luke raised by his aunt and uncle? Surely Amidala would not have let her child be taken from her?

Well, Luke had been told that his mother died. Perhaps Amidala was told that her child died?

I frowned again and sighed. This was so frustrating! Who else was included in that word, they?

Suddenly, something large moved in front of my eyes, jarring me from my reverie. My eyes focused, then widened. "Han!" I yelled over the comlink. "Han, get up here!"

He was there within seconds, for which I was grateful. I pointed out the front window as I moved from the pilot's seat. "Asteroids!"

He took my place as more asteroids appeared in front of us. "Chewie, set two-seven-one."

My eyes widened as I calculated that course in my head. "What are you doing!?" I nearly screeched. "You're not actually going into an asteroid field!?"

"They'd be crazy to follow us, wouldn't they?" His tone was ironic.

An asteroid hit the side of the ship. "You don't have to do this to impress me," I said desperately.

Threepio spoke up, sounding just as terrified as I felt. "Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately three thousand seven hundred and twenty to one!"

Han set his jaw. "Never tell me the odds!"

Chewie barked as another asteroid hit us. My shoulders grew tenser by the second.

Solo gave me a quick glance before turning his gaze back to the scene before us. "You said you wanted to be around when I made a mistake; well, this could be it, sweetheart."

I tried to glare at him, but ended up looking more pleading than anything else. "I take it back! We're going to get pulverized if we stay out here much longer!"

Another aseroid came a little too close for comfort – actually, they were all too close for comfort. "I'm not going to argue with that," Han muttered in agreement.

"Pulverized?" Threepio whimpered.

"I'm going in closer to one of those big ones," Han announced suddenly.

"Closer?" I repeated, shocked.

"Closer!?" Threepio yelped.

Chewie barked something short and abrupt. From the look on his face, it was the same thing Threepio and I had said.

We were hit again. I grabbed the back of Han's chair to steady myself as Threepio panicked. "Oh, this is suicide!" he cried.

Han nudged Chewbacca and pointed out the window. "There. That looks pretty good."

"What looks pretty good?" I demanded.

"Yeah." Han had a small, self-satisfied grin on his face now. "That'll do nicely."

Threepio turned to me. "Excuse me, my lady, but where are we going?" Despite his politeness, there was still an edge of hysteria in his voice.

Suddenly, we dove steeply, and then were swallowed in the blackness of the crater.

"I hope you know what you're doing," I said to Han sourly.

He nodded. "Yeah, me too."


"Where are you?" Vader demanded as soon as I answered my comlink.

"In a cave, on an asteroid," I said as I made myself comforable on the refresher floor.

Vader growled wordlessly. "You should have waited for me!"

"I tried!"

"Not hard enough!"

"Well, what was I supposed to do? Say, sorry, I can't leave, I'm meeting our archenemy here any minute now?"

Vader frowned silently and I allowed myself a brief flash of triumph.

"I suppose it does not matter all that much," Vader admitted finally. "After all, it is not as if this meeting was important."

"It was important to me!" I snapped, my ire flaring.

His eyes narrowed, and his tone had a bite to it. "Then what do you propose we do, Princess? I can hardly go searching through an asteroid field for you – in case you have not noticed, my ship is not quite as small and agile as yours. The damage would be catastrophic."

It was my turn to frown. "I know, I know." I bit my lip.

He waited impatiently for me to speak again. Finally, I looked up at him, an idea forming.

And suddenly I had the feeling that I'd seen the person in the holoimage before. I just couldn't place him . . .

And then it hit me.

Vader was projecting an image of Anakin Skywalker.

It wasn't the same as the pictures I'd seen. After all, the first one was a profile shot, and dark, and the second had been filled with mirth. This image was full of anger, and the scar over right eye was missing. But there was no doubt that it was the same person.

A cold knot formed in my stomach, and I set my jaw.

"How did you know Luke's father?" I asked tightly.

"What?" he asked, surprised.

"If you know that you didn't kill him, you must have known who he was. How?"

Vader's voice had an edge to it. "He was a hero of the Clone Wars. Everybody knew who he was."

"Why him?"

His brows drew down in confusion. "What?"

I waved an impatient hand at him. "Why did you choose him to be your image? Are you trying to irritate me? Because it's working. Are you trying to prove that the two of you were such great friends and convince me that you would never hurt him and by using his image you're honouring his memory? Because that's not working!"

I paused to catch my breath. Vader was silent and as still as a stone for several seconds. When he spoke, his voice was quiet and controlled.

"I didn't realize it bothered you. If you like, I'll change the image."

"You do that," I snapped angrily, then turned off the comlink with more force than was necessary before I remembered that I hadn't told Vader of my idea.

Oh, well. That was fine. He didn't need to know about it.


I stood with Typho and Dorme. "Honestly, I don't need a bodyguard," I insisted rationally."Especially not a Jedi bodyguard. They'll only be bored, following me on my duties, and they'll only get in my way. It's perfectly fine. I can take care of myself."

"No one is doubting your ability with a blaster, my lady," Typho assured me as Dorme frowned at my stubbornness. I knew Corde's death had upset her – it had upset me, too – but this was going too far. "However, there are more ways to kill someone than to attack them directly. Jedi sense danger of all kinds; they will be able to protect you best."

"No better than I can protect myself," I insisted, though I knew it wasn't true.

Typho smiled sadly, calling my bluff. "Far better, actually, my lady."

At that moment, the doors opened and Jar Jar walked in, his bonelessly fluid walk seeming awkward out of his natural habitat, as it always did. And as always, he had that slight air of clumsiness that he couldn't shake no matter where he was.

"Lookie – lookie –" He babbled excitedly. I caught his eye. "Oops! Oh, dear, I'm afraid I've forgotten myself again."

I smiled, then looked at the two Jedi behind him.

I recognized Obi-Wan immediately, despite the ten years that had passed. His hair was long now, partially tied back, and he had a beard, but his eyes still had that merry twinkle in them. "It's a great pleasure to see you again, my lady," he greeted me.

I smiled politely. "It has been far too long, Master Kenobi. I'm so glad our paths have crossed again, but I must warn you that I think your presence here is unnecessary."

His smile was gracious and didn't hint at the fact that he likely thought I was being stubborn and ungrateful, as everyone else did. "I'm sure the Jedi Council has their reasons," he said smoothly.

My phony smile refused to become any more sincere, so I turned to the other Jedi, waiting for an introduction – until I noticed the braid hanging behind his ear, the mark of a Jedi apprentice. Surely this tall, handsome young man wasn't . . .

"Ani?!" I burst out in surprise as his bright blue eyes, eyes I had never forgotten and knew immediately, met mine. I fumbled for my next words. "My goodness . . . you've grown," I finished lamely.

It was so true, though. He didn't look anything like I remembered, saving the eyes. He was so tall now, he towered over me. Somehow, in my head he had stayed ten years old. His hair, out of the Tatooine suns for so long, had darkened. His cheeks had lost all their chubbiness, replaced by high cheekbones and a strong jawline. From what I could guess by the way his clothing fell, his body had hardened, growing more lean and muscular, whereas before it was full of childish softness.

But perhaps the most startling change , aside from his height, was the shape of his body.

It was a man's body, there was no doubt of that. His shoulders were broad, his hips narrow, and though he was slender, it was obvious he was not done filling out yet. I had no doubt that once he was done, he would dwarf Obi-Wan.

"So have you," he replied, his eyes holding mine and burning with an intensity I had never seen in him before. "Grown more beautiful, I mean . . . and much shorter – for a Senator, I mean."

Only years of being in the public eye and leaning to keep my emotions from the masses kept me from blushing at the awkward compliment; as it was, I held my arms and hands close to my body in an effort to keep them from shaking, and locked my knees to keep my legs from melting under the heat of his gaze.

What was wrong with me?

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Obi-Wan shoot Anakin a disapproving look, and that was all I needed to shake off whatever had happened to me and attempt to regain control of the situation.

I laughed and shook my head. "Oh, Ani, you'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine."

He looked down, cheeks glowing a dull red as Obi-Wan and Typho smiled in that superior, knowing way that parents get whenever their teenager has a hopeless crush. I restrained myself from smacking them both in Anakin's defense, then frowned mentally at the desire.

"Our presence here will be invisible, my lady," Obi-Wan assured me, turning his attention away from Anakin.

"I'm very grateful you're here, Master Kenobi," Typho told him before I could get my mouth open. "The situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit."

"I don't need more security, I need answers," I informed them both with a slight bite to my tone. "I want to know who is trying to kill me."

Obi-Wan frowned. "We're here to protect you, Senator, not start an investigation –"

"We'll find out who's trying to kill you, Padme," Anakin assured me. "I promise you."

The three of us merely blinked at him. We hadn't expected him to speak up. He bit his lip in frustration at our silence and his faint blush returned.

"We are not going to exceed our mandate, my young Padawan,' Obi-Wan informed him sharply with a glare, and I held back a wince at the reprimand.

"I meant in the interest of protecting her, Master, of course," Anakin replied.

"We are not going through this exercise again, Anakin. You will pay attention to my lead –"

"Why?" Anakin asked calmly, though there was obvious tension underneath his skin.

Obi-Wan reared back in surprise. "What?"

"Why else do you think we were assigned to her, if not to find the assassin? Protection is a job for local security, not Jedi. It's overkill, Master. Investigation is implied in our mandate!"

I secretly agreed, but Obi-Wan was rapidly turning red now, so I kept my mouth shut.

"We will do as the Council has instructed," Obi-Wan said, voice firm and cold, "and you will learn your place, young one!"

I had to speak up. "Perhaps with merely your presence, the mysteries surrounding this threat will be revealed. Now, if you will excuse me, I will retire."

They all bowed slightly as I all but ran from the room.

Dear Force! I was definitely feeling those ten years. Anakin had grown up so much, but at the same time, he was still exactly the same. Still eager to please, always wanting to help, to make things better . . .

"My lady?" Dorme asked.

"Right," I murmured, and sat down in front of my vanity so that she could take the style out of my hair.

"Is that the young man who gave you that necklace?" Dorme asked conversationally.

I had forgotten about the japor snippet. It had quickly become part of my daily accessories. When Dorme had first started to work for me she had asked about it, and I had told her about Anakin.

"Yes," I replied, almost in a daze, as my fingers went automatically to the wooden charm. "Except he didn't resemble a man at all back then."

Dorme smiled at me in the mirror. "Amazing how we can never imagine children changing, isn't it?" she said. "Though in reality it is they who change the most."

"Indeed," I murmured, staring at the japor snippet. Then I closed my fist over it. I recognized the look in his eyes, the longing and the lust. But he was a Jedi; I was a Senator. And even if I felt anything other than friendship toward him – and I did, there was no point in denying it – we could never be together. Jedi were not allowed to marry, I knew that, and for a Senator to help a Jedi break his vows would be disastrous.

No, we could never be together. I would have to convince him of that if he continued to pursue it.

Even if convincing him meant breaking his heart.

Dorme lay my nightgown on my bed and left me alone. I glanced at the security camera Typho had installed in my room in anticipation of the arrival of the Jedi, then dug out another nightgown and threw it over the device.

"Be on alert, Artoo," I told my little droid as I slipped into the nightgown I would be sleeping in. He beeped in reply.

No sooner had I settle the fabric around my ankles than a knock came at the door. I opened it a crack.

Anakin was lounging on the doorframe. "You shouldn't leave that covered," he told me quietly.

"Too bad," I replied.

He straightened. "Padme, listen to me. I realize you don't want us here, but we're trying o protect you. The least you can do is not inhibit our work."

I swallowed. He really had grown up. "I'm not comfortable with the camera," I told him. "I've activated Artoo to stand guard."

"That's not enough. What else do you suggest, milady?" he asked impatiently.

I glanced to the side, then back at him as an idea came to me. He was standing so close . . . he was taller than I had initially thought, and received another slight shock when I realized that I had to look up at him. Way up. Before, his head had come to my shoulder. Now, I only came to his.

"I'll be bait," I said with more confidence than I felt.

"And you expect that to work without allowing me – us – to view your room?" he asked skeptically.

I raised my eyebrows. "You're a Jedi, aren't you?" I shot back coolly. "Can't you sense things like that?"

His own brows rose, as if I had challenged him. Which, I supposed, I had. He stepped back from the door and gave a slight bow. "As you wish, milady."

I shut the door, then sagged against it. It was going to be a long night, and I didn't think I was going to sleep through a wink of it.


"There is still good in him."

I groaned and rolled onto my back. "Back, are you?" I muttered. I sat up and smiled, realizing just how much Luke looked like his father, and just as convinced that there was no way Anakin Skywalker was Vader. He was just too . . . human, too sweet and caring, for that.

Then I glanced at my chrono. It was time to go.

I slid out of bed, already fully dressed. I grabbed my jacket, my blaster and a couple of Imperial credit chips, then moved soundlessly out of the room, closing the door behind me.

I stopped only once on my way down the hall, to check and make sure that Han and Chewbacca were both asleep. I had considered drugging them, but the only sedatives available were in the Falcon's medical kit, and would be sure to be missed. Plus, if they did catch me, it would just be one more thing for them to be angry about. So, I decided to let them sleep naturally.

What I didn't understand was how they didn't wake each other up with their snores. The thin walls of their rooms did little to keep me from hearing their noise in the hallway; surely they could hear each other.

I shook my head at their male oblivion and continued on my way, thankful that my room was at the other end of the hall.