Leia sat down and extended her arm as the medic prepared to take her blood. They normally would do it from the cheek, but due to Vader's condition that would be a bit more difficult to do. She felt the needle go in as she took a deep breath and slowly released it.
"I don't understand why you're doing this," the medic commented as he finished withdrawing the blood. "If I were you, I wouldn't want to know."
Leia lowered her arm back down and shook her head. "I have to know."
"You'll know the result in an hour," the medic said as he placed the tube of blood into a bag. "Once you get the results, this will change your life."
"I know," Leia answered as the medic stood up and headed towards the door. "He's had suspicion for over two years."
"And you?" The medic questioned as he stopped at the door. "How do you feel about this?"
"I have mixed feelings," Leia answered honestly as she stood up and faced the medic. "I have a feeling I know what the results will be. I'll be in the waiting room."
"Very well, I'll come get you once the results are in," the medic said as he opened the door and walked out of the room.
Leia stepped out of the room and headed down to the waiting room. Vader asked the crew to leave her alone while she was on the ship and had free range for the most part. She stepped into the small waiting room and sat down in a chair and lowered her head into her hands.
Fress pulled back on the hyperspace lever as they emerged from hyperspace. She looked at the scanners as Ahsoka commed her. She was picking up several readings from near by. "Snips, do you see what I see?"
"The area is crawling with Imperials," Ahsoka reported as Jess sat down in the co-pilots seat and began to punch in a new set of coordinates. "It appears we're too late. I'm picking up chatter on their channels. They have Leia and Vader."
"Blast it," Fress swore under her breath as she glanced at Jess. "I'm transmitting new coordinates three channels below this one. There is nothing more we can do for Leia. We'll have to come up with a new plan."
"Ahsoka, the jump is for ten minutes," Jess spoke up. "We'll dock your X-wing and you can come aboard the Rogue for a proper rest."
"Thanks Jess," Ahsoka answered. "I could use one right about now."
"We'll see you in ten minutes," Fress spoke as she pulled down on the hyperspace lever. She really had a bad feeling about this.
Ahsoka stepped out of the fresher as Fress and Jess looked towards her with a frown. "What's the plan now?"
"We don't know yet," Fress answered honestly as she handed Ahsoka a bowl of food. "I hope this is okay."
Ahsoka looked at the bowl and smiled, beans and rice with some spices. "It's fine, thanks," she picked up a spoon and dug in. "Maybe I can get into contact with my spy aboard the Executer to find out if Leia is okay or in need of rescuing."
"That's a good idea," Fress agreed with a worried expression. "If Vader ever found out Leia was one of Anakin's off spring. There is no telling what he'll attempt to do with her."
"Or what Palpatine will do if he found out," Jess spoke out with a serious expression. "I can see him pitting father against daughter to see who comes out on top. For Leia's sake, I hope Anakin comes to his senses if at least for her safety."
Ahsoka slowly started to eat the meal and nodded in agreement. She sensed that they should wait to see what the situation was first. "I sense we should wait a bit. Just call it a hunch."
"We'll wait," Fress agreed as she handed Jess a bowl and sat down with another bowl in her hand and started to eat. "I have a feeling things will work out, we just need to be patient."
"Maybe the Force has something else in mind," Ahsoka commented between bites. "What is the chance that Leia can pull Anakin back to the light side?"
"Possibly," Fress answered with a frown. "We don't know that for sure. He nearly killed you a few years ago. I'm not sure if Anakin is really there anymore. I hold out hope that he will find peace one day."
Ahsoka gave a short nod in agreement as she finished off the meal. She really missed Anakin on days like this. His quick wit and sarcastic comebacks, he always knew what to say. All the plans he came up with. They all loved him. He really was gone. He killed Obi-Wan on the Death Star. Was he really that far gone? Fress was right, maybe one day he would find peace again.
Leia leaned her head back and closed her eyes as she waited to hear word on how Vader's recovery was coming. Most of the crew was confused on what was going on or why she was receiving the treatment she was. Not to mention Vader ordered the crew not to return to Coruscant yet. She heard a door open as she opened her eyes and straightened herself in the chair as Admiral Piett handed her a plate with food.
"It's not the best but it's better than nothing," Piett spoke as she accepted the plate.
"Thanks," Leia said as Piett watched with a curious expression.
"The blood test you both spoke of," Piett questioned causing her to raise an eyebrow. "Is it what I think it could mean?"
"Depends on your perspective," Leia answered as she watched him with a curious expression. She was wondering just how much he overheard or started to put the pieces together. She already felt sick to her stomach at the thought.
"A paternity test?" Piett questioned as Leia nodded. He didn't say another word as the medic who performed the test walked in.
"Princess, we have the results. Would you like them now or wait until Vader comes out of surgery?" The medic questioned.
"Yes or no?" Leia questioned with a neutral expression. She needed time to readjust with the thought if it did turn out positive. She already had a feeling she knew what it was going to be.
"The answer is yes," the medic answered with a frown. "The test came back ninety-nine point nine percent positive."
Leia placed the plate down on a small table in front of the chairs. She suddenly had no appetite. She rubbed her temples as she felt a stress headache take hold. It explained a lot. Bail always seemed to skirt her questions about her biological parents.
"Admiral, she's going to need some time to think things over," the medic cautioned as he steered Piett out of the room. "This is a life changing moment for her."
Leia glanced at the meal tray and picked it up and slowly started to eat the meal. Food always helped keep her from getting too sick. She could only eat about half as she placed the tray back down. She glanced back up as Piett walked back in. "Thanks for the meal."
"You're not okay with this, are you?" Piett questioned.
"No, just to find out I've been fighting my father without knowing it," Leia let her thoughts trail off as she felt her stomach twist at the thought. "Bail never told me. When I asked he avoided the question. Now it's clear as to why. It's a lot to take in, especially considering who he is and the rank he holds in the Imperial military."
"Princess," the medic who was overseeing Vader's surgery walked in. "Vader's awake and he is asking for you. If you do come, I need to prepare you first. If you don't come, he won't hold it against you."
"I'll come," Leia stood up and followed the medic out of the room and followed him into an office. She remembered the exchange she had with Vader back on the planet. He said it would change her perspective on him and she denied it outright. He was right, it was beginning to change her perspective.
Leia followed the medic into an office as he closed the door behind him and gestured to the chair in front of his desk. She sat down as he placed a file down onto his desk.
"Normally I wouldn't tell anyone about Vader's true condition. Considering you are his daughter, he's given me permission," the medic explained with a frown. "Vader was maimed over twenty years ago and had a run in with a volcano. That is the reason he's on life support. He's on heavy pain meds and he is going to be sleepy for the next couple of days. If you don't have any questions, I'm going to have to ask you to mentally prepare yourself for what you're about to witness."
Leia chewed on her lower lip and stood up as the medic walked around his desk and opened the door. She followed him down to the recovery room as a nurse glanced up with a curious expression. She tightened her hands into fists unsure of what she was going to see.
As they neared Vader's room, she noticed a pair of storm troopers was posted outside Vader's door. The medic gestured to the guards. "Princess Organa will be the only one besides myself and the nurse allowed to enter."
"Are you sure, sir?" The trooper on the right asked. "The Emperor left specific…" The trooper didn't finish his words as he started chocking and collapsed to the ground grasping at his throat.
Leia heaved a frustrated sigh as the trooper on the left looked at his unconscious comrade and turned his attention back to the medic. "Go on in."
The medic turned to Leia as the trooper on the right groaned a bit and started to get to his feet. "I'll wait here. I suspect you two want to be alone."
Leia nodded as she entered the slightly darkened room. She heard the door close behind her darkening the room further. She stepped towards his bed but he spoke out stopping her from walking further.
"Leia, I changed my mind," Vader explained in a deep richer tone then what she was expecting. "I don't want you to see me like this."
"It's too late now," Leia answered as she stepped towards the bed. "The medic already told me what to expect," she mentally prepared herself because she wasn't sure what to expect. She looked down and gasped in shock. What she saw was a human wreck.
Vader looked at her and she instantly saw Luke's eyes stare back at her with guilt before he turned his head away from her. She could count the spaces between his ribs through the sheets and his head had a scar that reached all the way to the back of his skull. His skin was pasty white. Leia smoothed the sheet back and took his hand into hers causing him to look at her again.
Not another word was spoken as Leia gently rested her free hand on Vader's forehead. He closed his eyes and she knew the meds were going to keep him in a heavy sedated condition for the next few days. She sat in a chair by the bedside and closed her eyes. She was losing her anger towards him. She had a feeling he needed her more than he was willing to admit.