DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything.

He didn't want to be the one to tell the Emperor what had happened. He was no fool. He knew what happened to whoever delivered bad news. But he knew it would be worse if he didn't tell the Emperor.

Swallowing back his fear, he stepped up to the communications consol. The technicians around him gave him a wide berth, knowing what was about to happen. They didn't want any part of this. Slowly, with trembling hands, he reached out for the transmitter.

There was a pause before a blue hologram shimmered into view in front of him. The Emperor's aged features became obvious as he bowed down to his Emperor.

"What do you want Carth?" the Emperor demanded.

He sounded impatient. Carth wouldn't have been surprised if the Emperor already knew. The Neimoidian stood hastily, his hands twisting together nervously.

"There was an attack on my home only moments after you left, Sire. The intruder managed to find the cellblocks and release the Skywalker girl before we were able to detect him."

Carth fell silent, his head bowed. He was terrified the Emperor was going to kill him where he stood. A minute passed and still the Emperor hadn't said a thing. Warily, Carth raised his head to see whether the transmission was still running. Seeing the Emperor's burning gaze on him, Carth lowered his head in fear and started cowering.

"I'm so sorry my Lord. We couldn't stop him. The Clones were outmatched even though there was only one of him. We were unprepared for the assault. We have posted a number on Clones throughout the cellblock and the halls leading there. When he comes back..."

"He won't be back you fool."

The Emperor's biting tone silenced Carth. The Neimoidian, knowing he was about to die for his failure, dropped to his knees and waited in silence for his end.

When nothing happened for few minutes, Carth dared to hope.

"Do you know what this man looked like?" the Emperor asked.

Carth nodded his head vigorously. This could be his only salvation. He had gotten a good look at the human before he'd escaped.

"Stand up," the Emperor commanded. Carth obliged quickly. He smoothed out his robes as he awaited the Emperor's next orders. "You will have the boy read for travel in an hour. I am sending an escort to pick you up. Be ready."

The hologram flickered off but Carth didn't move for a moment. He took a number of deep, calming breaths before straightening. A devious grin spread across his face as he recovered from the unexpected turn of the transmission. He left the room in a somewhat better mood than he'd arrived in.

Pieter didn't loosen his hold on Leia until Ferus had exited the Neimoidian atmosphere. He still couldn't get past the fact that she was here, that he had found her and managed to rescue her. The adrenaline that had flooded his system was slowing dissipating leaving him exhausted.

Leaving Ferus in the cockpit, Pieter carried Leia into the cargo hold where he took a seat atop of a crate. She had been silently clutching his shirt in her small fists; face firmly placed in his shoulder. Pieter started rocking back and forth gently, his hand reaching up to smooth her dark curls.

"You're safe now Leia," he murmured. "We've been looking for you. Your mum and dad both miss you a lot."

A sob escaped Leia's throat – the first sound Pieter had heard her make since he'd rescued her. Her hands tightened on his shirt.

Rage blossomed impossibly fast inside him as he watched her search for comfort. No child should be deprived of love or happiness. The Emperor had hit a new standard of evil by allowing this to happen to a four year old. As Leia started to calm down in his arms, Pieter vowed that he would make the Emperor pay for this.

Anakin's emotions had been running wild over the past two days. He knew the Emperor could feel the pure loathing radiating from him and if anything it made his captor happy. He had been expecting the Emperor to try and control his anger, especially after everything else he'd put him through but so far nothing had happened. He hadn't even been reprimanded for nearly killing that dim-witted Neimoidian. He had simply awoken aboard the Emperor starship and hadn't been allowed more than three feet from him since.

His head bowed, hands fisted at his side, Anakin followed the Emperor as he made his way from the Senate building to his private transporter. Anakin's senses – as per his extensive training – were continually scanning his surroundings, searching for any potential threats to the Emperor. The area was all clear as he stepped on behind Palpatine.

As the Clone pilot closed the door, a painfully familiar presence announced itself. It lit fire to every nerve in his body, making every cell ache and then it was gone. Anakin opened his eyes, unaware he'd closed them, to find himself leaning heavily against the wall of the transporter. He was breathing heavily and sweating even though he'd only felt the presence for briefest of moments, considerably less than a second.

Palpatine was watching him silently, his eyes narrowed but knowing. He had felt exactly what Anakin had felt but Anakin was positive he hadn't figured out who the presence belonged to. He hadn't been exposed long enough for Palpatine to properly feel it himself. Anakin didn't dare raise his head any further than it was.

Slowly, gathering what strength he could, Anakin pulled himself off the wall so he was standing once more. He balled his fists so the Emperor couldn't see his hands were shaking. While the Emperor may not know who had reached out for him, Anakin knew exactly who it was. And it wouldn't be long before the Emperor got it out of him.

"Who was that?" the Emperor's voice was casual but Anakin could sense the deeper emotions behind his words.

Anakin swallowed. His whole body started shaking for an entirely different reason. He clenched his teeth in an effort to stop the words spilling from his mouth.

Agony stabbed at his lungs. His arm felt numb and heavy where the electricity had travelled up and into his chest. His right hand reached up to claw at the stabbing pain while his left arm hung useless at his side. He couldn't breathe, his throat constricting under the collar, his lungs burning. He dropped to his knees, wheezing heavily.

"Come now Pet. We don't have to do this every time I want something do we?"

Palpatine's voice was casual but with a twinge of annoyance. He had yet to move from his seat beside Anakin, had done nothing more than spare his kneeling captive that narrow-eyed glare. He now held that little remote in his hand, staring contemplatively at it.

His face red with exhaustion, hands planted firmly on the ground in front of him, Anakin managed to choke out a single word. He hated himself for saying it but he couldn't help his twins by dying. He closed his eyes as the bracelet deactivated and the collar instantly released him. He coughed as he tried to breathe in deep enough to fill his starved lungs.

"Could you repeat that?"

Pushing his sweat-soaked hair out of his eyes, Anakin swallowed to coat his parched throat.

"Padme..."

He dropped his chin onto his chest, hiding the single tear that ran down his cheek. He hated having to betray her like that but he'd known from the moment her presence had hit him that he would have to give her up. That moment single moment had filled him with an ecstasy he didn't think he would feel again but it had also bought an indescribable amount of fear. What was she thinking? Being that close to the Emperor – being on Coruscant – was incredibly dangerous! Why hadn't she gotten off planet the moment she was free? Why stay and put her in more danger than she should have to?

Anakin sighed to himself, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He knew why, even though he didn't like it. Padme wouldn't leave without him. She had probably been going crazy with worry over him and the kids but that wouldn't stop her. She would downright refuse to leave until she knew Anakin was safe. He would do the same thing.

Wrapped in his thoughts, head bowed, Anakin didn't notice where they were going or even how long it took. He just felt the Emperor stand and knew he would soon have to follow. He rose quickly to his feet, already reaching out his senses for any danger outside of the transporter. He was surprised to feel the insistent warnings from the Force that there was danger everywhere. Curious, Anakin risked a quick glance out of the window behind him. They were in the Slums, the dirtiest, most criminal-ridden place on the entire planet. What were they doing here?

Palpatine ordered him to pull the cowl over his head so he wouldn't be recognised. Anakin obliged without hesitation. Anakin had many enemies from before the Emperor had taken over and a few of them would more than likely be down here.

The Emperor told the Clone to keep the ship running, that they wouldn't be long and then he was out the door, his own hood hiding his face. Anakin jumped out after him, unsure of his allocated distance and too afraid to ask. He walked silently behind the Emperor, his senses on high alert. He wanted to know where they were going but he dare not ask. The Emperor was very strict about him talking without permission.

They reached a rundown apartment building, the whole facade one of age and disuse. It was multiple storeys high with all the window ledges badly rotted and broken. The door was hanging off its hinges.

The Emperor didn't even hesitate as he entered the building. Anakin followed, frowning at the rubble and dust covered insides. Once, a long time ago, this might have been a nice establishment but now it was nothing but ruins. The furniture was shabby and had clearly been taken to by the rodents. A blackened fireplace was half buried behind the remains of a desk and some of the beams from the roof. To the right of the doorway, a path had been cleared in the debris to an elevator. Three Clones were standing to attention in front of it.

Palpatine led Anakin through the mess and over to the elevator. The doors opened at one of the Clones touch and the pair stepped inside. Sensing no danger from the lift, Anakin sank to his knees and removed his hood. The Emperor had been working on what he deemed 'the little details' of Anakin's conditioning. One such detail had been that if Anakin could sense no danger in the immediate area and the Emperor was not moving around, then Anakin was to wait on his knees behind him on the left. Anakin hated this particular requirement as he felt like nothing more than an animal being bought to heel.

When the elevator reached the highest floor, the doors opened and they stepped out. This apartment looked worse than the foyer downstairs, if that was possible. It had clearly once been the penthouse; the once detailed wallpaper was peeling badly, some parts missing completely. The light sconces were almost all gone, the windows were too dirty to see through and the carpet was ripped and faded. This furniture too was in disrepair.

There was a whole squadron of Clones up here. They filled up the room, doing rounds with their blasters ready. The Emperor was pointed down the hallway and into the first room on the right. Anakin made his way along behind the Emperor, getting more and more confused about what they were doing here.

The moment they entered the room, all confusion disappeared. Anakin couldn't hide his shock.

"Ahsoka?" A stabbing pain through his arm had him clenching his teeth shut.

Kneeling on the ground, their hands bound behind their backs was Rex and Ahsoka. Anakin could barely keep the despair out of his face as he took in their battered forms. Clearly they had gone down fighting. Rex supported a bleeding lip and eyebrow, the right side of his face swollen and already turning a nasty shade of blue. Ahsoka's left shoulder was dislocated and her nose was bleeding. She glanced up at her name, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Master?"

Anakin winced at the old term of endearment. He didn't deserve such a title anymore. He lowered his eyes in shame, noticing that he'd already dropped to his knees. Adding to his humiliation, the Emperor patted his head before stepping up to Rex and Ahsoka. Feeling his face burning, Anakin bit his lip and closed his eyes.

"You must be Ahsoka Tano," Palpatine said. "And a Clone? How are you on their side?"

They both ignored the Emperor.

"Anakin are you alright?" Rex asked.

Anakin didn't lift his head, kept his mouth shut, hating himself.

"You shouldn't worry about my Pet. He is well enough. You should be worried about yourself if you won't answer my questions."

Anakin's jaw was aching after being clenched for so long. What was Ahsoka doing here? Or Rex for that matter? Were they with Padme or working separately? And if they were helping Padme could she be about to return here, walking straight into a trap?

His heartbeat kicked up a notch just as Palpatine grew infuriated with the lack of answers he was getting.

"Stand."

Palpatine's order cut straight through his distracted thoughts and instantly Anakin was on his feet. At his next order, Anakin was standing in front of Palpatine.

"One last time, how are you on their side?"

Still Rex and Ahsoka didn't say anything.

Palpatine motioned to one of the many Clones lining the walls of the room. He stepped up and handed Palpatine his blaster.

Anakin swallowed, knowing, dreading what he was about to do.

"Alright then." The Emperor held the blaster out to Anakin. "Don't let it go."

Without any hesitation, his shaking hands reached out for the weapon, his will not strong enough to overcome the Emperor's conditioning.

The moment his hand closed around the blaster, sheer torture sliced up his arm, through his chest and spread quickly throughout his whole body. Every muscle seized up, cramped. Every nerve burned like it had been set alight. His head felt like it had been crushed. He couldn't breathe as the collar tightened viciously.

On some level he could hear Ahsoka and Rex calling out for him but he couldn't think about them right now. He had to concentrate everything on finding that next breath. His fingers, acting on the Emperor's orders, still hadn't let go of the blaster. He wanted nothing more than to put his finger on the trigger and turn it on his tormentor. But just the idea of that thought was enough to send a fresh, more painful wave of agony through his body. His back arced as he tried to scream.

"Drop it."

Again, Palpatine's voice reached him through the fog and his fingers finally ended his pain. As the blaster clattered to the ground and Anakin sucked in desperate lungful after lungful of air, he heard Ahsoka sobbing and Rex swearing.

"That's better. Now tell me everything."