Chapter 24

(Vaders palace, Coruscant)

The day had come and gone quite quickly. Indeed not a lot happened, as Coruscant went about its usual life in its normal nonstop manner with little signs that a great war was breaking out all over, and to some that was calming. To others it was maddening.

The star of Coruscant had passed the midday point and Leia found herself waking up as it got even closer to completely falling over and entering night. She had groaned as she woke up hoping all that had happened from Alderaan to Coruscant had been one long horrid nightmare, but instead it was real, and reality came flooding back and hit her like a brick.

She had just sat in her bed her head hanging low with drowsiness and depression mixed into one bad wake up call. Darth Vader was still her father, and she accepted that…now anyways. He hadn't been too bad she supposed, no what was she thinking? He's Darth Vader he's trying to mess with her head right? She didn't know anymore and groaned some more. Almost deciding to go back to bed and will it all away 3PO had entered and found her awake…unfortunately for her.

"Oh my mistress Leia! It is a relief to see you awake. I was beginning to get worried that you had fallen ill, and was coming to give you one last checkup before calling for help." The overly worried protocol Darth Vader apparently made sometime before her birth said in his usual manner, and Leia waved him off while rubbing the sleepiness from her face.

"I'm fine 3PO. Today was just a very," She looked for the right term.

"Emotionally exhausting day, but thanks for the worry 3PO, as usual." She said with a faint and thin smile. 3PO seemed pleased in that odd way droids emote.

"Of course mistress. I must say I am glad you're awake beyond just my concerns for your health. R2 has been getting quite bold and running around at will! In lord Vaders palace no less! You know, he may be my maker, but I wouldn't cross him if were R2, but he insists mistress, and I do hope you can reel him in."

Leia sighed and nodded her head.

"Don't worry about him 3PO, I'm sure he can handle himself, and he and Vader have history, apparently." She muttered the last word in a voice laced with annoyance.

"If you say so mistress Leia." The protocol droid responded. "Oh my, I forgotten you haven't eaten anything since breakfast early this morning!" 3PO cried out in horror at the idea of his mistress not eating, and Leia rolled her eyes with another smile.

"I'm fine 3PO, really! But, to calm you down I'll go grab something okay?"
"Oh that would indeed make me feel better mistress." 3PO said and waddled over to her bed as she got up and went to work making it as she left to go find a kitchen, or something.

'Does Vader even eat? I mean I am his kid, so he has to be human right?' She asked as all manner of questions went through her head, and images o strange looking men, or deformed alien creatures.

'No, that cant be it. He has to be human. If mother and he had me they have to be compatible.' She reasoned as thought of her mother then came racing through her mind.

What was she to Vader exactly? He was pretty vague about the whole thing before. Did they love one another or was she….something he used, but he said he would have come for her is he had known! So surely he must have loved her, must have known that she was going to born, and intended to keep her. He had said he though she had died with her mother. So surely he must have loved her…..right?

She growled in frustration again as she rounded a corner not really sure where she was going. Scratching her brown-haired head, which was a bit of a mess with bed-head, though not to bad, she considered going back and asking 3PO if he knew where a kitchen with food was when she then spotted a balcony to her right. The day of Coruscant was indeed nearing its end and for a moment she chastised herself for sleeping so long, and decided to make her stomach wait a while longer and go out and see the view.

The Alderaanian princess had to admit she didn't really give Coruscant much credit when it came to beauty. Alderaans snowcapped mountains, and pristine blue skies were beautiful she had cast the cityscape of Coruscant aside as being the height of Imperial greed and wealth, but that wasn't fair and she knew that.

The city had a life to it. A sense of grandeur that spoke of the heart of the galaxy. How so many peoples from so many places could be on one world struck her as something to behold at least. Even if the Empire tried segregating aliens from the human population she knew that the aliens still had decent ability to go where they liked despite Imperial attempts to put them in those wretched and overly propaganda laden 'ethnic Neighborhoods,' and she was glad that some were; even passively so, ignoring and breaking the Imperial laws. The endless streams of air speeders and the glimmering lights at night gave the world a beauty that she had ignored and now she admitted there was more to Coruscant then first thought.

"Enjoying the sights?" Asked a familiar voice and slightly startling her, Leia jerked to her right and saw Viathan casting her a sideways look before looking back over the railing of the balcony they both conveniently were sharing. She noted that he seemed down, and depressed, and her heart skipped a beat when she realized he was sitting on the rail and could easily fall over and fall for who know how long.

"Uh, yeah I guess I am. I got distracted trying to find some food around here…..are you okay?" Viathan shrugged not looking at her, and looking more childlike then Leia had ever seen him. He was wearing his usual dark cloak but didn't have his hood on and let his tied back hair flow through the breeze, but his face gave away his sadness, as did his eyes that seemed far away.

"I'm fine. Just had a….how should I say it? Weird day I guess." Leia nodded and got closer, and felt worried just looking at how close he could fall.

"I know how you feel. I had the news of a lifetime laid on a plate in front of me today. Emotionally taxing day I told 3PO. Slept almost the entire day actually." She said and Viathan nodded still looking down from where he sat on the rail.

"What was weird that happened, exactly?" Viathan huffed a great sigh and looked off to his right before answering in an equally far away voice.

"I went before my mast…I mean the Emperor this morning." He opened with and loudly growled in frustration as he almost called Sidious his master again, as was a common mistake on his part, but Leia only nodded in understanding.

"Going in front of him must be hard now. I mean with all that you're doing with Exar Kun."
"Yeah that was tough, but he didn't and still doesn't suspect anything. In fact he wants me to continue 'spying,' on Kun." He said making air quotations to get the point across that he thought the whole thing ridiculous.

"You gotta admit though, it is kinda funny that he wants you to spy on your master all the while I assume you're really spying on him."

"Funny in an ironically overly complex way…yeah I guess so." Viathan said casting her a small smile, and she returned it before his features went dark again and he returned to looking over the railing in thought.

"Anything else happen? You seem bothered by something other than the Emperor."
"Is it that obvious?" He asked and she snorted.

"Yeah it is. You're sitting on a rail, something stupidly reckless and dangerous might I add, and looking so forlorn that the Emperor himself might ask that you crack a smile!" Leia said in a genuinely concerned sounding voice and Viathan shrugged once more.

"I guess it's pretty obvious. Sorry about that I'm just….thinking stuff over. I met my genetic father today." He finally said and Leia's eyes went wide with surprise. Mostly because of the irony of his revelation, but also because something like that made him so sad. Was his dad really any worse than Vader, she doubted it, but didn't say anything just yet.

"Why is that such a bad thing? And, why the emphasis on 'genetic' isn't he just your dad, and the genetic thing a given?"
"My creation isn't normal apparently. I share his genes but he implanted me into my mother. I'm a science experiment! Nothing more than a freak of science created and authorized by the Emperor as a project to make more Force sensitive's for his own personal army." Viathan said angrily and filled with emotion as he once more went silent and gritted his teeth in frustration. Though Leia could see him do so, and winced at the sight as just looking at it made her hurt for him.

"I….um," She failed to find consoling words for a minute and scratched her chin in thought.

"I'm sorry you learned that Viathan. Really I am. It sounds like something sick and twisted I'll admit-"
"It is sick and twisted!" He cut her off and calmed himself down as he yelled at her louder than he meant to.

"Sorry, it's just that….I shouldn't even be alive. They made me. I was an experiment realized. There were failures before me. Children were born before I was, and they…and they killed them because they didn't meet their standards." Viathan said as emotion clouded his voice and Leia once more was shocked and truly sickened, as she added another Imperial atrocity to her memory.

"If I weren't my fathers definition of, 'perfection' he would have killed me too, and they used my mother! They used her, and she tried to take me away from them, she was a Jedi apparently. Fell in with the Emperor, but I guess she wanted out and wanted to take me away from them. She was then killed apparently." Viathan explained as his emotions would flare between sentences.

"That is….well horrible!" Leia cried and chanced a few steps closer.

"It doesn't matter really." He trailed off.

"I am overreacting. I know that I am, I just hate knowing that as usual my destiny is preordained to serve and do as ordered. A willing slave." The boy intoned sadly, and with his hands intertwined in his lap.

"Your destiny is what you make it!" Leia rebuked sternly.

"I don't believe people are destined to do one thing or the other. I think it's all up to you and your choices. If you choose to serve others all your life then that is your choice. If you choose to not serve then you wont."
"And what do you choose to do, milady?" He asked casting her an inquisitive look.

"Well…..I don't know yet." She answered honestly and looked down to the ground as she knew her answer didn't help. Especially with Vader now being in her life, she didn't know anymore what her future would hold.

"What I do know is that I wont let others tell me what I will be and will do when I finally am an adult. I will be me, and I will choose my own destiny. Maybe you need to stop thinking about what others want of you, and think about what you want instead."

Leia said as much to Viathan as she did herself, and Viathan shrugged slightly not feeling exactly as sound about the idea as Leia apparently did.

"So, what happened to you today?" Viathan asked, once more craning his neck to look at the princess who stood just off to his left side.

Leia sighed and folded her arms across her chest, and now it was her turn to look far off in thought. Viathan just sat expectantly and quietly waiting for her to speak.

"I learned something big. Yeah that's the word big." She said and rolled her eyes at herself and choice of words.

"No I met my father today. Like you. Ironic isn't it?" Viathan narrowed his eyes in confusion.

"Bail Organa? You went to the senate or-"
"No. I'm…adopted apparently."

"Oh…" Viathan said with his eyes now slightly widened, and then quickly narrowed once more in confusion as he tried to piece together how the princess was adopted.

"Well. I guess we both had our own version of fathers day today huh?" He said in attempt at humor, and luckily for him Leia giggled quite a lot at that.

"Yeah I guess we did." She said smilingly.

"So, who is he? Your dad I mean? For the life of me I cant figure out who had the time or the ability to come seek you out and tell you-"
"Darth Vader." She cut him off and Viathan's mouth hung open in mid-sentence, and he quickly cleared his throat before speaking.

"Wha…what did you say?! Vader?! Darth Vader?! The Darth Vader?!" Viathan asked as his voice rose higher in shock and awe.

Leia sighed and nodded. "Yes, the same. I, I didn't want to believe him trust me. It wasn't something I expected either! However, today he came to me and told me, and at first I didn't believe him obviously. But…." Again the princess sighed. "But, he had proof, and the words from Bail's mouth himself. Recorded him and Bail talking, and Bail admitted to taking me from my mother as she died. I guess to hide me from Vader. The whole strong in the Force stuff was a fear of Bail's I suppose." Viathan nodded and was silent as he thought of all the ramifications this could have.

"Well one thing is for sure."
"And what's that?"
"Your news beats mine." Viathan said with a small smile, and she returned a faint one and a very light chuckle.

"Here," Viathan spoke up offering her his left, and mechanical hand.

"Join me." He said and eyed the railing and she visibly cringed.

"Are you crazy?! Do you know how easy it is for someone to fall from where you're sitting?! You'll fall for hours without end!" Viathan smiled and waved her worries off.

"You think I'll let you fall princess?" Viathan asked with a raised brow and a bit of humor about him.

"Well, no, but-"
"Then just take my hand already." Viathan ordered and Leia continued to look weary, but placed a tentative hand in his mechanical one, and he helped her over the rail to take a seat next to him. Her legs dangling lazily over the side where she could easily fall over. She looked down as she settled into the seat and cringed again as her heart began to beat a mile a minute and her head felt dizzy by the endless chasm below.

"Why did I do this?" she said aloud and Viathan laughed and very lightly nudged her from his position nest to her on her right.

"Because! Sitting on the very edge of the abyss kinda puts things into perspective don't you think? Takes your mind to a place between reflection on the day and worry about the great plunge. But, as I said I wont let you fall milady." He said with a good-natured smile, and Leia shakily laughed back, and nodded her agreement.

"Looks like we are in similar predicaments I think. You found out your father is the biggest symbol of Imperial might and power. I found out my father is the foundation for Imperial genetic tampering and scientific immoral practices. Of which I am the ultimate sum of his project. Both of us disappointed in the discovery of who our fathers are. Both of us a little down, and staring down a far chasm that if you think about it represents the dark and unknown future that awaits us."
"Very profound I guess." Leia said laughingly, and Viathan shrugged, seemingly in a better mood.
"I try." He said still smilingly and the two entered into a content silence as they looked out into the Coruscant skyline as the star began to recede even lower nearing nighttime.

Viathan sighed after a while. "Well, at least we'll be able to talk more. Or enjoy one another and our mutual company more often. I suppose since you're lord Vader's….daughter, I will be seeing you a lot more often since he and my master are partners against the Emperor."

"That is something." She said in agreement and with a shrug of her own.

"So how about we make it official?" Viathan extended his right hand across his chest and offered it to the princess. Who smiled and nodded once.

"Friends?"

"Friends." She replied gingerly taking his hand and shaking it. As the two, the Sith acolyte and the daughter of Vader today became officially, friends.

After a few more moments of calm and content, even happy, silence and thought the two decided to get off the ledge and head back into the palace. Once inside Leia asked Viathan if he knew where there was a place to get some food.

"Yes actually. There's a droid manned kitchen down this hall here." he pointed down a random hall.

"How'd you know that was there?"
"After we first got here, and you went to get situated in your room, Vader's apprentice Starkiller, and I had a little chat. He pointed it out in case I was hungry, or if you asked later. I had forgotten to tell you, sorry about that." he apologized, and then cocked his head to the side in a questioning look.
"How did you eat this morning if you don't know where the kitchen is exactly?"

"Oh, 3PO and R2 knew where to stick their noses into places they didn't belong and got me a small bowl of something. I don't really know what it was but it was decent." She replied, and Viathan nodded in understanding, as he began escorting her there himself.

"I know I could go for a drink."
"You drink alcohol?!" She asked as if it was the biggest surprise of the day and Viathan sent her a smile.

"No. but I could still go for one."
"Oh I see what you mean." she said slightly embarrassed not getting the sarcastic joke at first.

"Come on," He said motioning forward. "Let's get something for you." She nodded and followed as they made their way to the kitchen.

(Elsewhere in Vaders Palace)

Vader had sat in a personal office inside his palace and had done so for several hours. Since morning really. Since meeting with Palpatine, and by the Force, Vader was getting aggravated with his long and tedious work that required doing on order by his master. He had things he wanted to do, and this certainly was not one of those things. Currently he set aside another data pad containing the history and background of a still loyal Imperial officer and placed it in a pile with other officers who had proven exceptional loyalty to the Empire in their years of service. It was luckily the last officer he needed to look over today, and peeking out a nearby window viewport Vader witnessed the star of Coruscant entered into dusk and nighttime approached quickly.

Hundreds of officers had been chosen, and Vader didn't want to see another officer credentials list or profile ever again. Or at least for a few weeks. So now Vader sat back in his seat and let out a sigh of relief and closed his eyes for a momentary rest. Vader had taken off his mask and helmet again after returning to his palace and had enjoyed using his won fully functioning eyes to look the officer records over, and not have to deal with the hindrance of his mask. A fact Vader knew his master probably enjoyed making him go through due to the annoyance it filled Vader with, and just thinking about his masters enjoyment of his pain, his agony, and annoyance, made Vader truly grind his teeth and seethe into the force.

'How I hate you.' He would darkly declare as the old mans face would pop up inside his minds eye. 'You haven't the faintest idea….master. I will be ready in no time, and you shall die by my hand. I will make you suffer as I have suffered for far too long!' Vader would mentally declare and would then suddenly find himself filled with more energy to get to work and further his and Kun's plans to topple Palpatine, his master. He was close now. Closer than ever before, and he could almost taste victory!

A quick succession of memorable beeps sounded outside his door and Vader used the Force to open the metal door, and allow R2 in who carried with him a tray, on it was simple water, and a ration bar that he had asked R2 to get for him a while ago. The little droid Vader had come to see was very forgiving and quite as helpful as he used to remember him being. Vader also decided that his mask-less face was okay to be shown to R2 for now.

"Thank you R2." Vader said taking the tray and putting it down on his desk. Vader feeling more comfortable having pleasantries with droids, and all made him much more inclined to thank and even apologize to R2 a little astromech droid then it did an actual living person.

R2 beeped more happy beeps, and quickly turned to leave to do whatever it was R2 did. Vader suspected the little droid liked to wander and explore. Something that fit with the small droids personality. A personality that had formed because of the lack of memory wiping the droid had, and Vader was happy about that fact. He couldn't imagine R2 being anything less then what he was.

Taking the ration bar Vader unwrapped it and began gingerly eating it. The taste of the ration could be described as….cardboard, but to Vader it tasted like the sweetest of fruit. The water also went down his parched throat and Vader had almost forgotten what water felt like on his skin, or being drunk by him. For far too long he had been confined to a disgustingly thick specialized paste that sustained and nourished him. It was the only thing his body could handle after all the damage Mustafar and Kenobi had done to him, and it was worse the cardboard tasting ration bars. Indeed it tasted like tar, or on a good day it tasted like nothing at all. So Vader realized that he needed to be far more grateful for the little things. Eating, seeing clearly, walking with no pain, sweating even! Vader would take extra care to remind himself that no matter how bad the situation he would appreciate that he was not in the situation he once was.

As the Sith lord sat back and savored the taste of his ration bar and allowed his mind to drift on what he though Kun was all day as he hadn't heard or seen him since the morning, a small console on his desk beeped lowly. Opening his eyes, and still chewing Vader pressed the console that was connected to security cams located outside his palace on a secure landing pad, and as he looked through the cam he saw two cloaked figures. Slightly smaller than a normal human, and ever so hunched. Immediately recognizing them he remotely opened the door and they walked in.

Silently and quickly they made their way to him, and Vader reattached his mask and helmet as he opened his office's door and decided to meet them halfway through the hall. The dark lord approached and soon came face to face with the two cloaked figures who at his sight dropped to their knees and lowered their hoods revealing the almost reptile like heads of the most loyal and efficient Noghri. Their heads were slightly domed but had ridged line on either side of their heads that followed up from their eyes and went all the way behind their heads. As their faces had a pronounced under-bite with several teeth usually showing through. They had big black eyes that could quickly and easily scare enemies into submission as well as pronounced snouts that easily distinguished them from a crowd. To say the least the Noghri were a sight to behold.

"We have come, as summoned, lord Vader." Spoke one Noghri in a scratchy voice. Vader recognized him as a Noghri that he dealt with many times named Kohr'meram.

"Indeed you have. I have an assignment for you and your people of great importance to me personally. It would go a long way towards fulfilling your peoples debt to me and towards holding up your honor bound duty."
"We are more than willing to fulfill our duties sire." Kohr'meram responded and Vader nodded in satisfaction.

"Very good. It would appear that I was mad unaware to the survival of a member of my family. My bloodline. A daughter." Vader said and he could feel the surprise from the Noghri, who cast one another a sideways glance from their kneeled positions.

"She is most dear to me, and I would see no harm come to her, as my enemies and rivals will, in time, come to know of her existence. Because of this imminent threat I am in need of your protective services. I will require you and your fellow Noghri to watch over and protect my daughter until these threats pass, or if she is required to be without guards at which time I will personally make the order to you and your fellow guard to await further instruction." Vader commanded and looked down to the Noghri.

"Do you understand what I am asking you?"

"Yes lord Vader. We will gladly, and dutifully watch over this, Lady Vader, at your command and gladly guard her to our very deaths!" The Noghri said and Vader smiled behind his mask and inclined his head in a pleased manner.

"Very good. Follow me, and I shall introduce you to her." He commanded and turned on a heel and began taking his long strides towards where he felt his daughters presence. A floor down, a few winding halls, and a few pauses to reassess where he felt her though the force, and he quickly came upon her in one of his palace's kitchens.

There she sat his brown eyed daughter, sitting in her all white outfit she had been in last time they spoke as well, and she was sitting at a counter within the kitchen while his droids went to work cleaning plates and the room behind her. Next to her sat Kun's apprentice who seemed to be in a conversation with Leia. A sudden feeling of protection fell over Vader, a sudden feeling of wrapping his hand in the boys collar, lift him from the floor and demand he leave his daughter be. But, Vader had to calm and remember that Kun said his apprentice had befriended Leia, and had convinced her to come to Coruscant, so with that in mind he made his approach.

When she noticed his approach she went from smiling and talking with Viathan to paling and preparing herself to speak with him, and Vader once more felt an unwanted pang go through his chest, but said nothing.

"Greetings….Leia." Vader greeted awkwardly and crossed his arms.

She blinked up at him and frowned. "Evening….father." She replied, and Vader very faintly smiled behind his mask.

'So, she's accepted it?' He asked and already knew to be a fact in slight glee.

"For your own protection against spies, assassins, and imminent threats from all over the galaxy I have ordered a protection detail be assigned to you. Do not worry." Vader said preemptively to any worries she may have.

"These are not mere bodyguards. These are Noghri. They are personally loyal to me, and unwaveringly at that. They will serve you well. They will personally protect you to their very deaths if need be." Vader informed, and Leia once more frowned, though Vader did not know why, as she didn't say anything, instead she only curtly nodded her understanding.

Seeming uncomfortable, and awkward Vader suddenly turned to the boy of Kun's and spoke to him.

"You! Apprentice of Exar Kun! By what designation do you go by?" Vader demanded much to the shock of Leia, and mild shock of Viathan who inclined his head respectfully at first.

"My name is Valek Zalliste my lord Vader, but I have forsaken that name for Viathan, and my master has accepted my request."

"Viathan? No doubt named after the great Sith leviathans, correct?"
"Yes milord." Viathan replied still bowing his head.

"Why is sit that you have been deemed a Sith name, but do not use the Darth moniker?"

"I am still learning, my lord Vader. I recognize that I am not yet worthy of the Darth title my lord. I hope to one day be worthy and take the beginning moniker of Darth for my own." Vader slowly nodded and understood, and even respected the sound of humility in the boys voice. Though the fact he was an ex-Hand of the Emperor was something he was weary about.

"I see. Well then. I shall leave you two, and leave your bodyguards." Vader said pointing to Leia, and then quickly turned on a heel and left.

As Vader left he felt a distinct sense of loneliness fall over him. Images of Leia coming into his mind, and the secret behind why Bail Organa had said children, as in plural when speaking of the events surrounding Padmé's death. So determined, Vader marched his way towards another console of his in his office. He had to see if Bail Organa was stupid enough to make any foolish calls.

(Earlier that day, Coruscant, imperial Senate Building)

After his confrontation with Darth Vader and his emotional defeat and mutilation at the black gloved hands of that monster bail had decided he needed to contact an old friend. He knew that there was a distinct possibility Vader had discovered his secure comms unit in his office, but bail was a wreck, not thinking exactly right, and needed to make this call now. He was done! Done with the senate, done with Kun and Vader, and done with the blasted Empire, and its kriffing Emperor, but most importantly he was done with pretending! Done playing the passive-aggressive senator passively fighting the Empire, and done being used as some actor to bring those who hated the Empire low. Yes he had screwed up by trusting kun, and now he paid for it with his daughter. She was lost to him, for now that is. Bail had slapped and berated himself after talking with Vader. No, he would not allowed him to keep Leia! She was HIS daughter, blood, or no blood, and he wanted and very well needed her back, so Bail made his move. It was now or never, and if anything he needed to get away from Coruscant anyways.

Keying in to his comm device Bail waited for his call to be answered and in no time an image appeared. An image of an older Mon Calamarian came onto the screen looking a little hesitant to be talking to Bail, and Bail knew why, but he needed to make his case here and now.

"Bail Organa, senator! I must say it's a surprise to be hearing from you!" The distinguished Calamarian Gial Ackbar greeted in a very political and cool manner.

"Yes I understand that Ackbar, but I am in need of your help."

Ackbar's eyes grew even wider then usual for a Calamarian.

"My help?! Senator Organa, I must say I was not expecting to hear you needed my help! Surely the Empire is taking good care of you these day."

"Gial please." Bail said holding up a hand in protest to Ackbar's combative sounding words.

"I know what it may look like to everyone but you must at least hear me out I haven't much time, and I may very well die for calling you. Whether that bothers you or not anymore doesn't matter to me. Only thing that matters is that you just please hear me out!" Bail pleaded and Ackbar studied him for a moment before sighing and nodding.

"I fully understand if you don't believe me but everything I'm about to say is the truth, and I hope everything I had done and tried to do before the senate incident several days ago will amount to something in your eyes." bail said and took a breath to calm himself.

"Everything that has happened was a lie. I did not betray the rebels across the galaxy. I never meant for them to be killed, but I admit I knew it would happen. I did it for selfish reasons. To protect my daughter Leia. That fiend called Exar Kun threatened to kill her or worse expose her as Force sensitive to the Empire if I didn't use my contacts and abilities to summon forth all the scattered and individual rebel cells across the galaxy to Dubrava. It was elfish and stupid, as Kun then made a fool of me before all the galaxy and had Vader kill all of those souls. He then forced me, threatened Leia even more if I did not play along with his 'son of the Empire,' ridiculousness! So I did. I am not proud of it at all but I did Gial." Bail said as rage flooded his senses.

"You don't know what it's been like on Coruscant lately. This war has thrown the Empire into paranoid madness. Gial, they killed both Mon Mothma and Garm Bel Iblis!" Ackbar sat back in shock and his mouth hung slightly open, but he did not say anything.

"They took Leia anyways Gial. They have her, and all my betrayal all my shame has been for nothing! I am a broken and low man Gial. I have failed everyone who only wanted peace and freedom, and I know this, but honorable Ackbar, I cannot allow them to keep my daughter! You have no idea how important she is to the fight for freedom! How bad things will be for your cause if the Empire turns her into a monster like Vader! She not Vader will be your downfall, of this I am sure. I am sure masters Kenobi and Yoda would agree with me on this matter." Bail declared sternly, and Ackbar nodded slowly as he thought what bail was saying over.

"Bail….I don't know what's happened to you, but…..I believe you. I don't know why, and frankly some here warned me not to take your call, but I did, and I will give you what trust for you I have left." Ackbar said and Bail nearly cried out with relief.

"However, I am afraid there is nothing I can do to help you at this time bail. There is something happening out here in the Outer-Rim bail, something that has been brought about because of Dubrava. Something that we here are going to be a part of." Ackbar said not mentioning the world he was on, though it may have been easy to say it was Dac.

"it would be near impossible for me to get anything to help you out with your daughter Bail, but I can offer you something. Though your willingness to accept the offer is the only wild card right now."
"What are you suggesting Gial?"

"Listen Bail. I cant go into too much detail right now, and frankly I wouldn't do that unless you were right here in the room with me where I could monitor you." Bail recoiled at that bit realized he deserved it.

"With that being said I recommend you get off Coruscant, get here to my location, you know where I am. I will offer you protection and aid. I will also put you in contact with the head of our new group. I think she may not be happy about you being with us, but I think I made a good impression on her, and will try my hardest to convince her of your innocence. With her help, we will work on saving your daughter Bail."
Bail bowed his head.

"I know I am undeserving of your help Gial, but I am beyond words with gratitude."
Ackbar sighed but smiled. "Of course Bail. Now please hurry and get off Coruscant as fast as possible. Get here to Dac as soon as you can, and we'll work from there. I think you'll be surprised by what's in store for us all."
"I will get ready as soon as we end the call Gial. Thank you again!"

"Of course bail. Now go quickly!"

Bail nodded and ended the call quickly. Calling up his staff who still felt loyalty to him and knew that he was played, Bail ordered them to prep the Tantive IV for immediate takeoff. He was getting off this world, and he was going to get his daughter back, by any means necessary.

Bail didn't and couldn't have known that Vader had indeed bugged his comms machine and that later that day Vader was watching this call with great intrigue, and a sense of boiling anger and rage at how the senator could act as if he had the right to Leia over him. The mentioning of Kenobi and Yoda only fueled his rage, and the call to Gial Ackbar of the Mon Calamari was most interesting to Vader.

But Vader had also smiled, because he had contacted the flight command station on Coruscant and learned Tantive IV had indeed left but they had not seen the senator when they had conducted a mandatory search of the ship and had let it pass. Vader smiled because he knew Bail had hidden himself on that ship somewhere. Vader knew that he had ordered his spies to watch bail, and just in case, place a tracking device on Organa's beloved ship.

"I have you now Organa. Just do me the favor of leading me to your friends." Vader said after watching the recording and prepared to track the man down and end him from his little mission to once more steal his daughter.

Authors Note: Ah so the plot and moves thickens! :D Haha, as usual tell me what you guys think of the chapter, and please excuse or point out any and all grammatical errors. Any ideas, requests, comments, questions? No matter what it is leave a review of some kind and make my day. Otherwise, please enjoy!