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Chapter 9: Prologue

Padme.

He exhaled watching the puff of air he collected fog the mask covering his nose and mouth. The clean oxygen raced into his lungs and filling him with the element while he held the book he had taken in his robotic hand. His suit lay tucked away for repairs while he sat in his leather chair looking out the window at the fast greenery of the forests that hid his fortress. The darkness of the night crept over his bedroom in silence leaving him to his many thoughts and schemes. The name written in black ink on the clean white page stared up at him mockingly. The fiver letter word shined brightly with fresh black ink seemingly glowing among the darkness seemingly jovial at the secret it shouted out. Soon as he saw the name, the information flooded him like a distant dream. Seeing it written on the page by the woman who could not write a lie, he knew it was true.

Padme.

Every Jedi from the Jedi Order before its demise was taught of history, politics, and world affairs. It had to be known so that peace and progression moved forward. The name Padme was very much a part of the rigorous educational teachings especially to his specific learning. He remembered her well as he at one point called the man that escorted the small child from the castle, his Jedi Master. He shared with him how he escorted a young girl by the name of Padme due to very contradicting pieces of information among the Naboo royalty. But the story ended without further details as there was nothing left to talk about. Naboo had its Queen. The other daughter mattered not to the fate of the universe. But times have changed and so did her purpose.

Vader tossed his head back against the head rest at his own luck. His mind went over every detail had learned about Kleio from Palpatine and even the small details that Kleio knew about herself that spilt from her own lips. He desired to research further about the woman but he was on limited time with planning the coup of his own schemes against the Empire. The dark and the silence gave him peace to work things out with his mind and fill in Kleio's story. The pump of the machine next to him served as the rhythm to the story being stitched together.

The previous Queen Naberrie had two daughters out of wedlock, refusing to wed to share her supreme power and the family's wealth with any other. There were rumors that spread from the throne that she actually only had daughter but he knew better. Every Sith, Jedi, Darth, and Merchant knew it to be a lie as Naberrie flaunted her pregnancy for months excited to see her newborn. Her oldest daughter Sola was born from an affair Naberrie had with someone not worth mentioning. Later she had one more daughter. Not much is known about the daughter except that the she was born with an abnormality that caused Naberrie to die during childbirth. The newborn daughter grew to the age of four before being sent away with a Jedi escort out of her Grandmother's sight who couldn't take the idea of her mix-blooded granddaughter being the cause of her beloved daughter's death anymore. But if his memory served correct, it was not the case at all. The grandmother did not want a mixed child of different species having the family's name and influence. But she couldn't get away with sending her away for good without being confronted by the Jedi Order for reckless abandonment of the young royal. Vader nodded in agreement to his thoughts as they lines to the last piece of the puzzle. The grandmother hid the child's existence well within the confines of the palace. Then when she was finally of age, she sent her to the Temple of Mnemosyne where her oddity and powers would be of use and glorified under a different name with zero attachment to the throne. And the irony of it all is that she was chosen as a muse by the fates to carry the name and power associated with the legendary deity. Kleio.

Clever.

Vader ran his human fingers through his long tendrils of hair. Golden eyes shined in the dark at the malicious darkness held behind Kleio's own story. Indeed wherever the light settled, darkness was also present lurking for its time to be had with the world just like the day that changed into night. Naboo was no different. The planet had its glory age of peace when Queen Naberrie sat on the throne. The woman was stern and skilled in her maneuvering to keep Naboo out of the clutches of war and destitution. He wondered if she rolled in her grave at not being able to protect her children from the darkness she worked so hard to keep at bay. Or maybe it was the fact that her own family would betray her by being the cause of both her daughters suffering. One that had been coddle by Naberrie's mother and being so weak minded that she died from the pressures of the dark side. The other…abandoned by blood to grow and be held hostage by the very essence of Darkness.

He changed his mind about seeing the old Queen in Theed that he sent packing and running with the little time left of her miserable old pathetic life. Vader clutched his hand feeling the force and the anger simmer inside of him desiring to find the old witch and make her suffer for her crimes. He humored himself with the idea that even if he did confront her about Padme she would just deny everything as she had been doing for years. But her bigotry had become his ace. No one needed to know the ace he had in his grasp until he was ready to play the card. Now that left the question of what to do with this information for maximum effect.

He was the ruler of Naboo now that he kicked out the royal family. Naboo had an abundant of resources and discreet hiding places where he could build his forces and grow his empire until he was ready to strike. But his time was monopolized recently. Maybe, this is where Kleio could be useful. With Queen Sola dead and having no heirs, Padme now had a legitimate claim to the Naboo throne that he now owned. Regardless, he could just install her himself making the people believe she is a royal prisoner forced to do his bidding in exchange for keeping the people of Naboo safe from harm. Kleio could monitor things on Naboo and dissuade any civil war or rebel forces from attacking what was his.

His eyes seemed to glow brighter in the dark at his own plans. In his possession he had what could be a very powerful chess piece against his Master Palpatine in the end of days to come. He had in his grasp the current heir to the throne of Naboo, telling him his Master's doing and providing information so that he could be the true ruler of the galaxy. Now, she just needed additional training so she wouldn't be so easily destroyed. There was also the unfortunately likelihood that she would be called back to Palpatine's side when he was ready. He had to act before then at all cost.

Padme Amidala.

He thought of her proclamation to him earlier that night dressed in a light dress highlighted by the light of the moon like painting. Her hair changed from purple to blue unnaturally along with her emotions. Violet eyes were glossy from the water that shed from them. She began to question everything. Little did she know the betrayal went far deeper than just an uncaring queen. Her life of suffering began the day she exited her mother's womb and entered the house of Amidala. He watched her sparkling tears run down her pale face and he felt the small pulse of hatred resonate inside of her and touch his own intimately. Anger and rebellion surged in him to see her so distraught. But unlike his anger, hers simply beat steadily until it reduced to nothing and calmed into that of mourning. He relished in that moment of weakness she showed. But he would show her in those moments, ultimate power can be obtained…IF she could be reliable.

Before he left her she promised to find all information to help his cause. She spoke of the famed Library that held information from thousands of years across the galaxy. Maybe this was a good way to test her loyalty by giving her an additional task within his sight and control come morning. He would allow her this excursion for his own benefits of watching her behavior. He would tell her what he discovered so that he could verify it was true as well. This would be an ultimate way to test her proclamation. If she proved useful and loyal to his cause, she would worry not her position in the Empire and live knowing she was well until she passed of natural causes. If proven otherwise he would destroy her along with every memory that spoke of her existence as both Kleio and Padme.

"Let's see if fate will save you a second time." He muttered in the darkness making a note to research what type of being that would father a child with hair that changed colors based on emotion and eyes as violet as flowers. He stood from his seat and unattached the mask from his face. He made his way to his bed and pressed a button that dropped another mask from the ceiling down towards the bed. He sank heavily on the mattress doing his best to take small breaths so he wouldn't die of receiving too much environmental air. He placed the mask over his mouth and chin snugly. He lay down over the covers and stilled his body into rest.

Kleio woke up with the rays of fresh sunlight filtering through the window. Maestro began playing Caprice for violin solo in A minor by Paganini and floated around the room off his dock. Her hand came up to wipe the dust from her eyes as she recalled the events from the previous night. She was mortified a little for her behavior but her emotions were true. She felt betrayed by the crown that was supposed to protect them. But instead, they turned their backs and allowed her temple sisters to fall into ruin and suffer brutality. But there was light in all of this. She had found Vader.

"Good Morning, Mistress Kleio." He greeted with his lights flashing around his orb body happy that her serotonin levels were high indicating her good mood and demeanor.

"Good Morning, love." She responded and then sat up gracefully. She looked out of the window giving her a view of the beautiful trees and natural plants rustling in the morning breeze. Their rich color shined under the love of the sun reminding her of the many things that can grow even in the dark. She happily stood out of bed and stretched ready to begin a new day with many opportunities for her to make a difference. She immediately went to her chest and pulled out a beige jumpsuit this time. Today, she would go to the library to research as much as she could for information to help Vader and his cause.

Her mind traveled to the dark being wondering how he had taken over her thoughts as of late. He was her only hope to be free and to help the people of Naboo but this feeling she felt went deeper than that. She had hope for him. While documenting his story as Vader and Anakin Skywalker, she ran across many themes that caused him to become the person he is today. But, she also saw the small actions he did the reminded her of the small glimpse of light inside of him. And like the plants outside, that light just needed a little bit of water and sunlight. She would do this. She would not allow him to be forever tortured by the mind games of Palpatine and haunted by his own shortcomings.

Fate had brought them both together. She knew she was the only one that knew almost everything about the being that hid his face from the world to give them the monster they wanted. But despite having never seen his face, she believed in him. She could sense it now more than ever, he was special. She documented forty six Darths. Darth Vader was becoming the one of many firsts to do many things both grand and dark but she vowed this would change. She believed all hope was not lost for him and the universe. The light had not lost but was simply working its magic in the shadows. Fate had a reason and a plan to restore order in both the universe and in Vader. She would make sure he came out of this whole and righteous to redeem himself. She owed this to him. Out of all the Darths she documented, he was the only one to ask about her. He was also the only one ever to ask her write her own origins.

Padme.

She found her name contagious and said it repeatedly tasting it on her tongue. She didn't know why but it meant a lot to her that he forced her to write about herself from the beginning of her memory. Her chest swelled at his rather rude yet profound push for her to discover herself and her origins prior to her name being Kleio. She didn't have many memories of her time before the age of four when she took the oath to serve as Kleio. She vaguely remembered tall white walls and ornate columns stretching as high as she could see. But faces and spaces inside of her mind was blurry. She did remember the face of the man that escorted her to the steps of the temple. He was very kind and gentle like a father walking his child to school on the first day. He spoke lightly and told her to try her best and be the best she could. She remembered how warm and comforting his words felt especially when she had been nervous during the short journey. But he picked her up and held her hand giving her words of courage and wisdom. Once she was safely in the arms of the temple's superior muse Calliope, he bounded down the many marble white steps into the night.

"Maybe I should write that down." She spoke allowed going into the bathroom to wash and change. But before she went in, she looked at Maestro as he went to rest back on his charging dock. She smiled something grand and called out to him. "Maestro, record this."

Maestro's round eyes turned red and he buzzed letting her know he was ready.

Kleio inhaled a breath of fresh air before speaking. "Prior to Kleio there was Padme." She spoke watching as his light flashed. "End recording." Then she went into the bathroom to begin getting herself ready for the day.

She went through her wash routine with joy doing her best to remember the outline of the library. Much to her glee, she remembered every detail about its construction and layout. She made mental notes of the sections and aisles she needed to visit that housed subjects from histories of coups to war strategies published by some of the greatest minds in the galaxy. Also, she thought maybe she could collect some work from psychologies and behavior guide Vader down a different path. She did not want to manipulate him. This is the major cause of the problems he had now with people. But she wanted to learn how to deflect his rage and anger towards more positive activities instead of instant destruction of whatever put him in a foul mood.

Kleio got dressed and hummed with the tempo of the music Maestro played having switched to Dmitri Shostakovich, Waltz No. 2. So happy she was that she grabbed the poor bot and proceeded to twirl around the room with him in a waltz fashion. He flashed various colors at her excitement and turned his volume up louder, blasting the sound of music knowing it would echo down the halls. But Kleio didn't care because she had hope now. Hope for change and hope for a better future. Maybe one filled with music again and children picking up the violin instead of a weapon. She let go and laughed watching her poor friend spin round in the air before righting himself again.

"I will return, Maestro. Today we will go back home!" She shouted before collecting her pen set and books needed for another session with Vader. She reached up for him and kissed his sensor gently watching his eyes turn pink as registered blushing. With laced sandaled feet, she rushed out of the door and into the hallway ready to see Vader. She tried to recall where they should meet but then she realized her never told her. She looked ahead to see a Storm Trooper waiting and she knew he would be her escort. He nodded in greeting to her before turning around and walking in a different direction in a more private wing of the giant base.

The long hallway had many white columns and greenery growing from plants along the large archways of the walls that twisted and zigzagged further. It was also a lot darker down these select halls and she did her best to remember the way so she wouldn't get lost without the aid of light. Then her guide stopped and pointed ahead further down the hall. She nodded in thanks seeing the two shiny white metal double doors at the end. She made her way to his room and waited patiently outside knowing he would sense her presence. Then the doors opened with a hiss and she bowed politely before walking in. Normally she would look down out of respect and go immediately to her task but she found herself unable to do so.

Her eyes widened to the very large neatly made bed in the back of the room wrapped in crisp white sheets. Several large pillows were stacked on the bed casually thrown about as if someone did a rushed job at making the bed. Cold wooden floors supported her weight with soft white fur rugs here and there. An electrical black leather chair sat in the right corner next to a window that gave an amazing view of the mountainside where the valley dipped and a waterfall fell over the rocks of the cliff. The sun came in and lit up the room highlighting a small white table and chair in the far left corner of the room. His room was open and bright unlike his personality which baffled her. But at the moment she couldn't tell if she was more shocked from the décor or the destination. She was so in shock that she missed the sound of heavy footsteps coming in from the sliding doors to her left.

"Hm."

Kleio nearly jumped out of her skin before rushing to the table and quickly placing her things down. "Almost ready." She responded quickly.

Vader watched her humorously moved unlike the graceful motions he normally made. He stood behind her for a moment and crossed his arms to see if she would notice him. He knew very well what had captured her attention. He would have had this meeting in the meeting room like the one on his ship but for the conversation they were going to have, no one needed to know and he didn't want any interruptions. Also, additional construction was being done on his base to increase its defenses and technology to work as a formidable palace. He continued to watch as Kleio got herself together and sat down in the chair he provided. Her bright energy was blinding that morning which left him puzzled as to the cause of her good mood after such a tragic night. "I will take you to this library of yours that you requested as it is your right to have access to it. However, I must stay with you due to Palpatine's request that no one but him and myself be able to enter." He stated clutching his fist at how annoying even at a distance the croon was. "But first, this task."

Kleio pulled out his book and turned to the page they last left off. Then another book fell in its place covering the one she just opened. She looked at it curiously until she recognized it as being the book she wrote in last night. Its page was opened to the where she wrote her truth. "What?" She asked looking up at Vader.

"Today, you will write your story." He spoke moving to sit down in his leather chair near the window. Vader knew she could not write a lie. If all that he believed was true, she would write it down without hesitation confirming his thoughts as facts and revealing her own identity to herself. He would watch carefully for her response. If she said or did anything traitorous, he would end her life right there on the spot.

Kleio's heart beat madly in her chest unsure of what to say or do. She was just happy she knew something but nothing came to mind. But she knew she needed to do what she was told. With care, she picked up a pen and dipped it in her ink pot. As always, her hand came up and rested gracefully in the air ready to grace the paper with more eloquent handwriting. She turned to Vader and nodded ready for any kind of direction as he knew very well she had nothing else of her previous life.

"Write what you know about the time you came to be Kleio." He ordered.

Kleio swallowed and nodded. Her hand came down and glided across the white page in cursive letters that could never be duplicated.

'Before I became Kleio, I was Padme. I had changed names upon acceptance into the Temple of Mnemosyne at the age of four where I was bestowed the name Honorable Muse Kleio, the Proclaimer, Glorifier and Celebrator of history, great deeds, and accomplishments.'

Vader stood up and then walked towards her to read what she had written. He nodded and used the force to turn the page to a blank one. "Now write this."

Kleio frowned unsure of what he had to say would be relevant to her life. Never had someone told her to write the history of another based on their words. But Vader was a practical being and so she dipped her pen back into her ink pot and waited curiously to hear what he would have her write.

"The current elderly Queen had one daughter." Vader spoke now circling around Kleio as he spoke with his hands placed around her back. He held up his index finger to prove his point. He watched as Kleio's brush moved with fluidity across the page and her focus went to her task.

"That daughter became Queen Naberrie, one of Naboo's best royal rulers known for her intelligence and creative methods to ensure peace for her people and prosperity for her planet."

Kleio wrote again before coming to a stop and waiting patiently for the rest. Vader nodded and continued onwards.

"It is told that Queen Naberrie had relationships with many lovers as she refused to take a husband not wanting to risk sharing her wealth."

Kleio wrote but then stopped after the word not finding her hand unable to move to write. "That is a lie." She spoke out loud. "It cannot be written."

Vader nodded thinking again. "Then perhaps she either did it not protect the throne or maybe she really loved these men she took to bed but found them unsuitable to serve as her mate."

Kleio tried the first suggestion and found her hand easily wrote across the page. She smiled at the memory of all the beautiful tales the women of the temple told about Queen Naberrie. They always praised her name for her deeds and her beauty. Her many lovers were that of legends as they were all great and renowned in various righteous ways. Her temple sister Erato would swoon when retelling a story she swore was true of a warrior that conquered a thousand nations name Achilles coming to see the Queen during the midnight hour.

Vader continued onwards. "Queen Naberrie had relations with two different men and gave birth to two daughters from each."

Kleio wrote with her eyebrows drawn in at the truth upon the page being written. It was rumored she had two daughters but she only knew of one daughter of Queen Naberrie. The records in the histories that she knew only spoke about Queen Sola as the only daughter of Queen Naberrie. Her chest swelled with hope that there may be even more chance for salvation for her planet. Maybe they had crossed paths once as he was asking her to write it in her book. She waited patiently for more information. She listened to him speak and this time she wrote without stopping.

The first daughter was born from a relationship with a man and became the queen known as Sola Amidala. The youngest daughter was the result of an affair with an Annodite from the distant now unstable planet of Anodyne where the race has slowly died out. Due to the alien nature of the second child, Queen Naberrie died during childbirth. That child's name is Padme Amidala. Her Grandmother saw Padme's nature and rebuked her grandchild…sending her away at the age of four. Many people believed Padme died, but in fact she lives under the name Kleio of the Temple of Mnemosyne. She currently serves as aid to Darth Vader."

Kleio wrote with eyes growing wide at the story being told on the blank page. Her heart beat in her chest at the truth written before her by her own hand in her own book. Her hands started to shake when she reached the end of it. When she dotted the last sentence with a period, her pen dropped onto the table. "She lives." Her hair turned a series of colors from pink to blue to purple as her thoughts changed. Silence took the words from her lips as she read and reread what she wrote. It was the truth. Boldly printed right in front of her face. Her breaths became suddenly erratic and she nearly found herself hyperventilating.

Vader saw this and walked to her side. He placed a strong gloved hand on her petite shoulders to catch her attention and bring her back from her thoughts. He watched as he hand came up to rest on top of his and she looked up at him with darker shades of purple. She took in big puffs of air reminding him of the times when he fought to breathe the air she took for granted.

"Padme Amidala" She said looking to the sockets of his helmet as if she could see his eyes. "M-my name is Padme Amidala."

Vader didn't move but simply stayed still watching her process his words. Shock, disbelief, sadness, anger, grief, humiliation…it all ran through her in loops until it was gone and replaced with serenity. Her breathing slowly began to calm into a rhythm of normality. Slowly, he removed his hand from her shoulder and her own hand fell away. A tear slowly ran down her face before she wiped it gently away. Oddly enough her demeanor began to change and he sensed something a little bit more warm come through.

"How do you know?" She whispered staring at the page before her. "Why tell me this? You could have kept this a secret. It wouldn't have served you in any way to tell me." She thought of his exit from her room last night and she knew then and there, he recognized her name and its meaning.

Vader turned his head away to look out of the window thinking of the reasons he had before but unable to recall them now. "It matters not. Now you are truly equipped with the knowledge to begin a new path for yourself. Now the question remaining is what you will choose to do with this knowledge. Where do you stand?" He spoke circling her again with the expectation that she would disappoint him. But, he was wrong.

Kleio smiled feeling joy in her heart. She had a beginning after all. Granted, it wasn't exactly loving but she had one like every other being on the planet. She reread her whole story back to her and exhaled. She believed even more so now more than ever, they were meant to cross paths. She would use this information to do what she could to aid Vader now more than ever. And while doing so she would free him of his demons so he could make decisions for once without the influence of others. He made the first step on his own to challenge his Sith master and the Emperor Palpatine. She would take that as a win for the light. "I'm sure we can come up with a plan to use my identity to help you overthrow the Emperor." She spoke standing up and collecting her things quickly knowing time was not to be wasted. "We should go to the library immediately. There I believe we can find information about any subject from the science of cloning to military strategies." She spoke with determination. Fate had crossed the path of their aliases to the world known as Kleio and Darth Vader. But their true identities had been revealed for divine purpose. Realistically, Queen of Naboo Padme Amidala of the light had crossed paths with Anakin Skywalker, Reigning Jedi Challenger of the Galactic Empire to the dark side. Indeed he was a challenger to the dark side…he just didn't know it yet.

Vader watched her exit behind the shield of his mask. She was sincere in her actions and words. Her aura now glowed of the happiness she had shown when he first felt her enter his room. With a quick blur of his cape he exited his quarters to prepare their transportation.

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