I know it has been a long time and I do apologize, life has been very hectic for a while.

Ccp

Chapter 16

A year after the Tanaab incident:

Amidala made her way into the medical section of her ship for her periodic physical. She still had trouble reconciling that the level headed Breanna had actually pursued and wed a scoundrel like Wrenga. She had nearly choked when Breanna had asked her to officiate the small wedding. As was the norm on her drastically understaffed ships the bay was empty. The surprise however was the absence of her ever punctual personal physician. She continued into the bay intending to wait on the row of benches for the doctor to arrive when she heard someone reaching in the fresher. Shortly Doctor Breanna Jixton walked out of the fresher looking every bit her normal professional self if not slightly pale. The doctor walked to her desk to look dejectedly at the disposable breakfast plate sitting there for a moment. She then unceremoniously slid the plate off the desk into the trash receptacle. Amidala cleared her throat to announce her presence startling the doctor from her reverie.

"Lady Amidala!" Breanna blurted out, "you startled me."

"I am sorry Breanna; it was not my intention," the Lady spoke still looking at Breanna closely, "was there something wrong with your breakfast?"

"It just turned my stomach," Breanna said looking again at the offending meal then gesturing to the examination room, "Let's get your exam done." Amidala preceded the doctor into the room paying particular attention to the woman's actions. The examination was performed with Breanna's normal professionalism but it was obvious that the woman's mind was not on the task before her. Amidala was putting her clothes back on while the doctor went over the results. "You're in perfect health as usual," she said as the lady stepped from behind the screen. "Is there anything else?"

"I'm concerned about you Breanna," Amidala said stepping out from behind the screen, "you don't look well."

"Just a little stomach bug I'm perfectly healthy," she attempted to laugh off the Lady's concerns, "I scanned myself a couple days ago when it started. I think I might be allergic to our sheets or something in the room because it only happens in the morning and I'm more than over it by noon."

"I think it is a pretty common illness Breanna. Why don't you scan yourself just to allay my concerns?" Amidala asked a sly grin on her face. Breanna shrugged and proceeded to scan herself.

"Okay," she started, "normal, normal, normal, and perfectly healthy for a pregnant woman." She finished reading the read out in her typical professional manner just as if it was another patient, before handing the scanner over to Amidala. The Lady quirked an eyebrow as she scrolled through the display before highlighting one of the results on the screen. Breanna looked at the screen for a moment her eyes glazing over as she looked back to Lady Amidala, "it can't be."

Eight months later:

Leia watched in fear as the troopers aboard the Tanative prepared to repel boarders. She wondered how many would die to protect her. She had already made sure the plans that had been beamed to the ship from Toprawa would get to the right people. She hunkered back into a corner of the ship hoping to escape unseen. The hopes were dashed when a handful of storm troopers spotted her. Leia felt a moment of relief when she saw that it was Lord Vader and brought herself to her full height.

"Lord Vader what is the meaning of this we are a diplomatic ship on a mission to Alderaan."

"You are a member of the rebellion and a traitor," he pointed at her menacingly then turned his attention to the troopers escorting her, "Take her away." Leia's eyes were wide with shock as she was led away. "Commander, send a distress signal and scuttle the ship," he looked to the commander with meaning, "there were no survivors."

Imperial Senate Coruscant

Amidala stood in the office that was once reserved for the Chancellor of the Republic; it had been her office since the Emperor had placed her as head of the senate. She felt the normal trepidation at being in Palpatine's presence as he strode into the room.

"Good morning your majesty," Amidala greeted him with a curtsey, "it is always a pleasure to have you back in the Senate."

"Good morning, my dear," Palpantine returned the greeting and motioned for her to rise, "I'm afraid that it is with a heavy heart that I address the assembly today." He passed a datapad to her, "I would like you to make this announcement before I speak." He placed a supportive hand on her shoulder as she read the announcement and gasped. "My understanding is that it was some kind of technical malfunction," he spoke in his grandfatherly tone, "I understand you were something of a mentor to the Princess."

"Yes," Amidala whispered closing her eyes tightly and taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. When she spoke again the face of senator was firmly in place, "she showed great promise."

Moments later the two stood in the onetime chancellor's podium addressing the Imperial Senate. Amidala could feel the air in the chamber change with the Emperor's presence as she called for order to begin the proceedings.

"We are graced today by our illustrious emperor who will be addressing this session in just a few moments, but first," she paused struggling to keep her emotions in check, "it is my sad duty to report the untimely passing of one of our own. Senator Alderaan, Princess Leia Organa, lost her life when her ship suffered a catastrophic malfunction near Tatooine. The Princess, though the youngest member to join this great body, conducted herself in a manner that would be expected of a seasoned statesmen of the Empire. I know that she will be greatly missed as an occasional adversary, colleague, and friend. Now his majesty the emperor has something to say," She turned to relinquish her place at the podium. As the Emperor began she looked to the pod belonging to Naboo not surprised to find her niece openly mourning.

Conference room aboard The Death Star

Vader stared out at the stars as he listened to the conversation behind him. Admiral Motti and Commander Tagge lead the discussion arguing about the vulnerability of the station and the abilities of the rebellion. Motti shook his head.

"The rebellion will continue to gain support in the Senate as long as," Tagge started.

"The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us," Tarkin stated as he strode to the head of the conference table Vader turned back from the viewport to stand on Tarkin's right. "I have just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away."

"That's impossible!" Tagge stuttered, "How will the Emperor maintain control without the bureaucracy?"

"The regional governors now have direct control over their territories." Tarkin smiled as he sat, "Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station."

Senator Naboo's Offices Imperial Senate.

Pooja looked around her office with tear eyes wondering where to start and knowing she also needed to pack her apartment. Her eyes fell on a holo of her and Leia taken on a night when Pooja had forced the Princess out to a concert. Leia had met Rage that night, Pooja's tears fell again remembering her friend.

"I'm having trouble believing that she's really gone," Amidala's sad voice broke through Pooja's melancholy, "she was so young."

"I know what you mean," Pooja whipped some of her tears off of the 2d holo as she placed it into a box, "I keep expecting her to come gliding in that door with some amazing story about Corellian pirates and huge wookies." She looked to Amidala with a concerned expression, "you didn't look pleased with your new position in the Empire."

"Head of the Anti-Piracy Fleet," Amidala snorted, "it's the best way he's come up with yet of effectively getting me out of the way on social policy."

"The end of the Senate I wonder what Leia would say," Pooja asked herself, "probably something about fairness and pushing the people to rebellion by silencing their voice."

"Which brings me to why I'm here," The Lady walked around to where she was looking Pooja in the eye and she grasped the younger woman's shoulders, "Pooja I need to know and I need you to be completely honest with me. Is there anything that can tie you to the rebellion?"

"Mi Lady," Pooja started slipping effortlessly into the mask of a Senator, "I can assure you that my loyalty to the Empire and the Emperor has never."

"Dammit Pooja," Amidala cut her off, "now is not the time for postulating. "Think," she gave her niece a shake, "disbanding the senate takes all of you out of the public eye and makes you easier to dispose of should he deem you a threat. Now tell me is there anything that can be traced to you."

"I," Pooja stuttered eyes wide, "I'm not sure we were always so careful."

"If you are at all uncertain," Amidala spoke very seriously, "you mustn't return home, don't tell anyone on this planet were you are going, I am on my way to Corellia do you need any help getting off planet?"

"No," She answered bewildered, "my chief of security is preparing the ship now."

"Good" Amidala pulled her into a tight hug, "now go and be safe."

Detention Center Death Star

Leia lost track of time in the detention cell the only break in the monotony being when she was moved from the Star Destroyer noticing that it was in a massive hanger bay, this must be the Death Star. Leia was only given a brief respite before Vader entered her new cell she just allowed door slide closed behind him before she jumped to her own defense.

"Lord Vader," she started, "I can assure you that this is a dreadful misunderstanding. I will however be taking word of my appalling treatment back to the senate I'm afraid." She trailed off as Vader held up a hand to stop her diatribe.

"You have gone much too far this time princess," he started, "I can do nothing to protect you here. Prepare yourself an interrogation team is already on its way." Her eyes widened with his revelation. "Close your mind Princess, believe that you are on the outside looking in it will help." He strode back to the door turning back on the threshold, "or better yet simply tell them what they want to know."

The princess continued to stare at the door after it closed, for the first time in her life feeling completely despondent.

Cantina Mos Eisely

The look on Han's face made it plain that his friends imparted wisdom was not warranted or wanted. "Seriously Chewie I don't want to talk about her," Han growled, "why don't you go see if you can find us some work." The towering wookie launched into another series growls as he stood and headed to the bar. Chewie returned a short time later to speak to Han. "A charter, huh," Han asked, "send 'em over and let's see what they have to say." Chewie returns shortly with an old man and a blonde haired kid. Han nods in greeting, "Han Solo, captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewie here tells me you're looking for passage to the Alderaan system.

Death Star Control room

"Her resistance to the mind probe is considerable," Motti stated, "it will take us some time to get any useful information out of her."

"Perhaps she would respond to an alternate form of persuasion," Tarkin mused.

"What do you mean," Vader asked as Tarkin turned to the trooper at the controls of the station.

"Set a course for Alderaan," Tarkin stated before turning to Motti, "continue your interrogation until we arrive there." Motti nodded and left Vader turned back to the viewport willing himself to close out the Princesses screams in the force as he had been trying to do since the interrogation had begun. "Perhaps," the governor turned to Vader, "you could aid them in their search my friend."