DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything.

Sorry about the last chapter. I just couldn't write it. Nothing was working, so that sorry piece was what you got. Sorry about that. This one is hopefully better. And longer.

Anakin's heart was pounding painfully in his chest. Fear was electrifying his veins as he stared at his twins. Leia was sitting tucked in a corner, her arms wrapped around her body. She'd grown since he'd last seen her but her head was buried between her knees so he couldn't see her face.

Luke, on the other hand, was standing in the middle of his room, a lightsaber in his hands. He too had grown taller but not by much. He was going through the motions of a complicated lightsaber drill, which Anakin noted was performed nearly flawlessly.

As Anakin watched in growing unease, Luke finished his drill and deactivated his lightsaber. Slowly Luke raised his head, as though he could sense someone watching him. His eyes pierced through the glass ceiling and double-sided mirror, seeming to stare straight into his fathers.

Anakin's eyes widened and anger flooded him. His son's eyes were bright yellow.

"What have you done to my children?" Anakin shouted, spinning to glare at the Neimoidian.

Without thinking about it, Anakin grabbed Carth around the collar of his gown and slammed him up against the wall. His fingers dug into the Neimoidian's throat, tightening quickly as his rage intensified. Carth struggled against the ex-Jedi's unbreakable grip, panicking as his airways were restricted.

"I have turned them Sith," Carth wheezed. His fingers uselessly clawed at Anakin's hand.

Anakin growled and slammed him against the wall again, this time harder. The Neimoidian groaned as his back flared with pain. He didn't notice Anakin had released him until his face hit the floor. His jaw rattled and he nearly bit his tongue. Anakin placed his foot heavily against the back of Carth's neck and began to slow assert pressure.

"I'm going to kill you," Anakin promised, leaning down so he could whisper in his ear.

Carth let out a strangled cry of fear. Anakin pressed down further. All of the fear, anger, hatred and frustration Anakin had felt for the past nine months was threatening to boil over and he was more than prepared to go through with his promise. Everything he had done was to keep his family safe and while Padme was no longer under threat, it was apparent his children weren't unscathed. He had given up his freedom and his dignity so that he could hopefully find out where his children were being kept so they could be rescued. Now, while he'd discovered their location, he was also to find out that Carth Aldan from Neimoidia had somehow turned his children into Sith.

"Stand down pet."

Palpatine's voice barely registered through the fog of emotions in Anakin's head. His foot continued to press down on the back of Carth's throat. The Neimoidian's struggles were nearly non-existent.

"Stand down!"

Agony like Anakin hadn't felt in months savaged his body. Anakin was floored, his body twisting and writhing as his muscles seized and burned. His mind felt like it was on fire. He couldn't think, couldn't move. His breathing was cut off as the collar tightened around his neck. Black dots clouded his vision and within moments he was unconscious.

That morning, it was Padme and Ahsoka's turn to cook breakfast for the small Coruscant Resistance group. More often than not these days, Obi Wan could be found meditating in his room and Rex was always out on patrol. Ahsoka's role was to always stay close to Padme, whether they were in the abandoned apartment or at the markets. As Anakin's former padawan, Ahsoka felt it was her duty to protect her old Master's wife. She was also better at dealing with Padme's unexpected mood swings than either of the men.

The two women had been silent as they bustled about the kitchen, a situation that was becoming more common these days. For the last two months, Padme had started to withdraw into herself, which made Ahsoka worry. She knew that Padme was beyond concerned about her husband and children but she had new, unexpected obligations now. She couldn't be moping around all the time.

Ahsoka opened her mouth to say something, anything that would bring Padme out of her funk but just as she did, Obi Wan came into the room.

"Pieter has found Anakin and the Emperor. They're on Neimoidia," he announced.

The news was unexpected but more than welcome. After six months with no sign of Anakin anywhere, they had all started to lose hope. No one in the room had known that Pieter or anyone was looking for him outside of Coruscant. No one had thought to look outside of Coruscant.

"How did they get there without us noticing?" Ahsoka asked.

"Is Anakin alright? What are they doing on Neimoidia?" Padme chimed in.

Ahsoka glanced at her friend. There had been a spark in Padme's voice that hadn't been there for the past two months, a curiosity that showed interest. After such a long time without any word of how her husband was or where he was, this news was like throwing oil on a dying fire.

Obi Wan also noticed her sudden change. He didn't say anything but his aging face relaxed a little.

"I don't know how the Emperor left Coruscant without a disturbance being felt in the Force. I guess he simply masked his Force presence. It wouldn't be the first time he's done it and we all know he's powerful enough," Obi Wan surmised. "As to Anakin's welfare, Pieter says he looks okay considering who is controlling him."

"What's Pieter doing on Neimoidia?" Ahsoka asked.

Obi Wan walked further into the room. The smell of cooked bacon was too much for his empty stomach so he picked a piece off the heaped plate. He bit into it and chewed before answering. It was cooked to perfection.

"Apparently he and Ferus have been searching for your twins Padme," he revealed.

Padme's jaw dropped and her hands flew to cover her mouth. She took a careful step forward, one hand subconsciously dropping to her stomach.

"And?"

Obi Wan could see the hope in her eyes and hated his reply. He shook his head.

"I'm sorry, they haven't found them. But they were following up a lead which led them to Neimoidia."

Padme nodded slowly, trying to digest the information. Ahsoka moved to stand behind Padme, placing a hand comfortingly on her shoulder.

"At least you know Anakin is okay. Furthermore, he's not locked away in some super-secret location and now we can do something for him," she said.

Padme nodded again. Her hands rubbed her rounded stomach, feeling the gentle movements of the small human growing inside her. She was so tired. She wanted to hold Anakin once again, to show him the miracle he'd once again given her but she couldn't. She wanted to hold her twins and tell them how much she loved them before smothering them in hugs and kisses, but she couldn't. Ahsoka was trying her best to comfort her but she didn't understand. Padme was all alone with nothing but a growing stomach to ease her sadness.

"Actually Ferus already has an idea about that," Obi Wan admitted.

Carth coughed and wheezed as he tried to return his breathing to normal. He pulled himself to his feet, leaning heavily against the control panel. His red eyes glared at Anakin's unconscious form.

Palpatine was staring out the window, down into the two rooms below. His arms were crossed behind his back and his face revealed nothing of his thoughts. When he'd recovered enough, Carth pushed away from the panel and walked over to Palpatine.

"You have done well Carth," the Emperor announced without looking away. "The boy is well on his way to becoming my newest apprentice but I sense something... strange about the girl."

Before replying, Carth sent Anakin a hate filled glare and then turned his attention to the Emperor.

"The boy is more like his father than the girl. He was easier to manipulate and we were able to use his strong emotions to our advantage – much like you did with Skywalker. But the girl is still proving to be a problem. She has proven to be harder to break. She weakened through torture just like her brother but she wouldn't allow her emotions to rule her head. I have only just started on a new tactic with her. As such, she isn't turned yet but I believe we will break her soon."

Palpatine turned his gaze to the little girl huddled in the corner. She hadn't moved since the lights had come on but he could sense that she was struggling internally with something. Her emotions were running high but they were very conflicting.

The Emperor turned to the tall Neimoidian beside him and patted him on the shoulder.

"You have done well. Keep it up. When she is like her brother, let me know."

Carth bowed his head respectfully in thanks. He was relieved it had gone so well, despite Anakin's outburst. His success buoyed his confidence.

"Your Excellence?" he started.

Palpatine turned to face him. Carth took this as a sign to continue.

"What are your plans for the girl?" Seeing the Emperor's eyes darken, he continued quickly. "I don't mean to overstep myself but I know that you wish for the boy to succeed you. It just seems the girl is of no consequence."

"That is none of your concern Carth," Palpatine replied coldly. "If you are going to start asking questions, I can take this project elsewhere."

"No, your Eminence! It was nothing, I'm sorry," Carth quickly said. "Forgive my transgression."

The Emperor turned away in disgust. He hated the Neimoidian's and their grovelling. If they hadn't been the best choice for this project he wouldn't have picked them. But as it stood, here he was.

The Emperor began walking out of the door. As he walked, he spoke into his wrist comm.

"Meet me at the end of the bedroom corridor."

The Clone on the other end confirmed his demand before Palpatine glanced over his shoulder, back into the viewing room.

"Bring him with us. My Clones will take him from your hands when we get out of the lift."

Carth glanced at Anakin's still form. Narrowing his eyes because he knew he had no choice, Carth lifted Anakin's arms and started dragging him after the Emperor.