Disclaimer

All characters appearing in the Star Wars saga are copyright Lucas Arts and the Walt Disney Cooperation. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are not authorized by the copyright holder.

All original characters are the property of Celgress.

Special thanks to fellow author J. Hellscythe for the use of his OC Rainah and the writing of her scenes.

Star Wars AU The Triumph of Darth Plagueis: Episode Forty-One –The Empire Strikes Back Prologue: Loose Ends

By

Celgress

5 ABY

Theed the capital city of Naboo, night

"The Empire is prosperity. The Empire is security. The Empire is peace. The Empire is belonging." A soothing female voice which originated from an enormous full color, holographic display projected overhead on the dark sky. A looping movie then played narrated by the same female voice. It showed storm troopers and battle droids patrolling the streets of different worlds, happy crowds surrounded the Imperial soldiers. "Remember the Empire can only remain strong with your continued support. Should you uncover any rebel plot that endangers our union report those involved immediately to our peacekeeping troops or peacekeeping droids." An image of a small group of diverse younglings pointing out a terrorist cell to a storm trooper and a B-1 battle droid was displayed. "Only together can we guarantee a bright future for all."

A news reel took the place of the PSA. It was narrated by a dynamic male voice, as exciting as its predecessor had been soothing. "Moff Durga of the Hutt Sector today announced successful suppression of all rouge criminal elements operating within the borders of his space. Following a gruelling two standard yearlong campaign spearheaded by our brave imperial storm troopers under the watchful supervisor Grand Inquisitor Tropiheus law and order has been restored in the Hutt Sector. Let all loyal citizens rejoice at this wonderful development. Now only the remnants of Black Sun remain to be dealt with. Remember loyal citizens the Empire is belonging."

Ignoring the constant stream of overhead propaganda Darth Vader stomped his way through the all but deserted streets. Save for the occasional patrol of storm troopers or other Imperial agents all was quiet. Vader was accompanied by his own contingent of heavily armed storm troopers, members of the vaunted 501st. When he reached a certain unassuming house on the outskirts of the city he halted. Rapping hard on the heavy wooden door he waited impatiently for an answer to his summons.

"I never thought I'd see you again after the scene you and your witch caused at my sister's funeral." Sola Naberrie sister of deceased Senator Padme Amidala scowled opening the door of her home. "You have some nerve showing up here Anakin after all these years."

"May I come in?" Vader asked calmly.

"That depends, what do you want Anakin?" Sola asked.

"That name no longer holds any meaning for me, cease using it at once." Vader threatened.

"Fine, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company oh mighty Lord Vader?" Sola said her voice thick with sarcasm.

"A private matter, one best not discussed out of doors." Vader said.

"Alright, but your friends remain outside." Sola said. "I will not have them shooting up my humble home."

"Acceptable, wait here for my return. I should be finished momentarily." Vader instructed his storm troopers as Sola led him inside shutting the door firmly behind them.

"What exactly is this 'private' matter?" Sola said once she and Vader were inside. He seated at her kitchen table she standing nearby.

"Are you certain Padme is dead?" Vader questioned following a rather long pause.

"What sort of outrageous question is that?" Sola fumed in anger and disbelief. "Of course I'm certain my sister is dead. Furthermore I know you killed her, so drop the grieving widower act."

"It wasn't intentional," Vader said his electronically enhanced voice barely a whisper.

"Bantha fodder," Sola snapped not buying Vader's contrite attitude for a second. "You're responsible for my sister's murder as surely as if you'd run her through with that lightsaber of yours. Please go away, my husband and our daughters will be home soon. I don't want them subjected to your delusional rantings. How can you even suggest such a thing? Why after all these years? Haven't you and your Sith accomplices tortured my family enough? We lost everything when Plagueis took over. Your master feared we'd share information about his past dealings on Naboo with others. My father never got over Padme's death. He died of a broken heart two years after we buried her. My mother followed him five years ago after more than a decade of mental instability."

"Some time about I sensed." Vader said picking his words carefully. "A familiar presence through the Force, that remained me greatly of Padme. I had hoped, wrongly it would seem, she had somehow survived. I will not trouble you again."

"See that you don't. Show yourself out." Sola said.

Without another word Vader got up from his seat and departed the dwelling. Reunited with his storm troopers he returned to his shuttle craft. Soon he was back abroad his personal Star Destroyer, one of the new type of Super Star Destroyers created after the Death Star's destruction, kneeling on one knee before a larger than life flickering blue hologram of his dreaded master Darth Plagueis. Vader awaited his latest set of onstructions.

"Report Lord Vader." The hologram of Plagueis commanded.

"The plasma shipments will resume promptly at 06:00 hr Imperial Standard Center time tomorrow." Vader answered. "The union leaders have been executed. There will do no further delays caused by silly demands for greater wages or improved working conditions in the mines."

"Good," The hologram of Plagueis said grinning. "Nothing must be permitted to impede our ongoing war effort against the Rebel/Chiss Alliance. All most run smoothly. We are close to victory my apprentice. I sense it. Proceed to Ryloth deal with the rebel cell detected there. Do not allow them to disrupt the spice shipments to the Hutt Sector. We need that lucrative revenue stream. Show no mercy Lord Vader."

"I shall make swift work of the rebels on Ryloth master." Vader said. The hologram of Plagueis nodded approvingly then blinked out of existence.

Rising to his feet Vader wasted no time keying another frequency, one known only by a select few, into the holopad. A moment later a life sized flickering blue hologram of his secret apprentice and surrogate son Galen Marek aka Star Killer stood before him. Star Killer's face hidden in the deep shadows cast by the cowl of a black robe.

"What is your bidding my master?" Star Killer asked dropping to one knee in a sign of deference

"There is a certain family of four, a mother, father and two young daughters, on Naboo named Naberrie who know too much." Vader explained. "All four of its members must be swiftly eliminated."

"Thy will do done my master." Star Killer said bowing his head. "I leave for Naboo at once."

"Be advised by apprentice their demise must look like an accident." Vader further instructed. "It cannot in any way be linked to us."

"Understood my master," Star Killer said.

"Good, you may go." Vader said waving his right hand to single Star Killer was demised. "Farewell my apprentice."

"Farewell my master." Star Killer said a second before his hologram vanished.

At first Vader had considered letting Sola live. However after she'd so freely used his former name in front of his storm troopers his earlier stance was no longer a viable option. The Naberries were a liability one he could under present circumstances ill afford

Although it had been five years since the destruction of the Death Star Vader hadn't forgotten about the squad of force sensitive pilots who had done the seemingly impossible. Two of who had been so tantalizingly familiar. He would find these young Jedi and he would learn their secrets, no matter the cost. They would then either join his and Cyrin's quest to overthrow Plagueis or they would be destroyed.

To Be Continued