DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything.
He kept his eyes on every ship that landed in the hanger. His dirty clothes and defeated posture served its purpose to keep unwanted attention away. Nobody noticed his intelligent eyes or keen gaze. To the workers and guests of the hanger, he was just another beggar.
A new ship had just arrived, a large Imperial starship that could only belong to one person. He had been waiting for this ship to arrive for almost a week now. He had heard whispers of the Emperor's arrival from the first day. When he'd asked around further, he had discovered that the Emperor often visited Neimoidia but it had been a few months since his last visit. It had taken more than a few persuasive words before he'd gotten even that small amount to information from the tavern keeper. Now, a week later, his patience had paid off.
A troop of Clones were first down the ramp, shortly followed by two generals and then the Emperor himself. The Emperor was looking strangely pleased with himself. When he spotted who was with him, he knew why.
Anakin Skywalker had his head bowed as he walked. He never moved less than three feet from the Emperor but he looked alright, considering.
He watched in silence as the Emperor and his entourage made their way through the hanger bay, over to another smaller ship. This one was a small four seater speeder. The Emperor and Anakin got in the back seats while two Clones took the driver and passenger. Seconds later, they were gone.
Keeping an eye on the remaining Clones and generals, he lifted a communicator to his lips and started reporting his findings. When he was done, he stood slowly, his ever-keen eyes scanning the hanger carefully. Nobody saw him leave, in fact nobody even remembered him being there.
After waiting impatiently for half of the afternoon, Carth Aldan could finally see the speeder approaching. He'd been expecting this visit for the past week and now that he was here, Carth started to become nervous. What if his progress wasn't as far along as he expected? What if he'd done something wrong?
The speeder came to a sudden stop on the private landing pad. Carth swallowed down his nerves and tried to keep the fear from his face. His employer was an incredibly dangerous man and he didn't want to upset him.
Two men exited the speeder and approached the tall Neimoidian. Carth bowed respectfully to the older of the two.
"Emperor Palpatine, it's wonderful to see you," Carth muttered. "I trust you are well."
"Well enough Aldan. Now, I've had a long trip. Show me what I came to see."
The Emperor was already walking towards the bridge that linked the landing platform to the side of a mountain. An extravagant house had been built into the mountain. The Aldan family had built this house eight generations ago but it still looked like it had only been built yesterday.
Carth hurried to catch up with his two guests. He swallowed deeply before talking.
"I have been working night and day to perfect this for you, your Eminence," he said. "Everything you told me to do, I have done."
"Enough," Palpatine silenced him. "Just take us there immediately."
Carth nodded, half bowing at the same time. He walked faster so he could lead the two men through his home and to their destination.
Palpatine tried to ignore the Neimoidian's annoying banter as they walked and instead focused on his young captive. Anakin was progressing quickly. It was obvious that his latest device was working well. Putting that chip in Anakin had been more of a way to break his spirit even further than as an actual restriction device. But it seemed to be working both ways.
Anakin never once left his side, not for meals, not to sleep and not to travel. He was never more than two meters away and his presence always filled Palpatine with a sense of success and accomplishment. He never bothered to let his captive know that he'd extended his parameters just for this trip. He now had a ten meter radius to work with, just in case they ran into any trouble and Anakin needed to protect Palpatine.
The small mismatched group made their way through the beautiful house, deeper into the mountain. Soon the lavishly decorated rooms began to give way to closed off corridors. The walls, which had previously been painted peaceful colours and covered in portraits, were now bare duracrete. The hall ended in a lift, which the three boarded.
When the lift stopped, Palpatine sensed they were well under the mountain, far below the house, perhaps even under the mountain's base.
"This way sire," Carth motioned for the Emperor to lead the way out of the lift.
This corridor was short and only had one door. Carth showed the two men into the room beyond. It was a viewing room. There were only two chairs and a control panel inside. One wall was made up entirely of a glass window. Palpatine sat down in one of the chairs facing the window, while Anakin remained standing at his side. Carth went straight to the control panel.
"We started the moment they arrived. That was nine months ago. This is the best results we could obtain in that time," Carth explained, hoping it would be enough for the temperamental Sith Lord.
Palpatine dismissed Carth with a wave of his hand.
"Watch pet, this is for you," the Emperor said.
Anakin nodded his head minutely. Carth glanced at Palpatine for confirmation before flicking a switch on the control panel. Suddenly the window lit up revealing the rooms beyond. The viewing platform that the group was in, looked down over two neighbouring rooms. Both rooms were roofless so anyone standing above could see straight down into them.
Palpatine waved Anakin forward, ordering him to look. Reluctantly, Anakin stepped forward and lifted his head enough so he could see what was in the room. Then he gasped.
Momentarily forgetting everything that Palpatine had taught him, Anakin raised his head fully and pressed his face and hands up against the thick glass. Panic and fear lit his eyes.
In the room on his left sat his son and his daughter was in the right one.
"Luke!" Anakin breathed. "Leia!"