Across fictive worlds

by Haxong

Bella Swan had always been a Star Wars fan. Her life in Phoenix was boring in comparison to the exciting galaxy far away and all the wonderful drama of the dysfunctional Skywalker family. Leia Organa had always been a Twilight fan. Eternal vampire soul bonds were so much better than arranged marriages and avoiding the evil Empire. One day, the two girls end up switching bodies.

6. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Leia POV

Leia had been involved in planetary politics ever since she was fourteen. She was no stranger to squabbling parties, greedy nobles, hostile emissaries and arrogant Imperials all trying to get the upper hand.

Now, today, sitting at a long table together with the entire Cullen clan and the whole Quileute pack, everyone looking about two seconds away from trying to rip each other's throat out... She almost felt like she was home.

It wasn't really a table of course, rather it was one large tree that had been felled to provide at least a rudimentary barrier between the two parties, with the wolves and vampires sitting on various boulders and tree trunks around it. There was no way either party would let the other enter their territory so their meeting had to take place in between the two in the forest.

Leia knew that some of her decisions would be unpopular, especially since she hadn't bothered to get anyone's permission. In her experience, it was much easier to ask for forgiveness anyway.

"You had no right to force so many of our young people to shift and to spill all of our ancient secrets!" Sam shouted, his anger underlined by Paul, who growled threateningly. Edward had refused to play translator so if Sam wanted to get any word in, he had to take human form. The younger wolves were refusing to bar fangs at Leia so Paul was the only one who stayed in his furry form for the meeting. As far as Leia was concerned, that was already a great sign and put her at an advantage.

"All I did was explain the nature of their gift to them and give them an opportunity to embrace it", Leia replied evenly. "I informed them about all the risks and consequences. They made their choice themselves and if any of them are unhappy with it now, there is a way for you to quit your wolves and return to being plain human, is there not?"

"That's not the point!" Sam shouted. "This was none of your business! You had no right! They are too young."

Leia thought that was ridiculous. She'd already started practicing her shooting when she'd been Seth's age. It wasn't like she was demanding anyone to fight space battles or storm a fortified Imperial base.

"You only had two active wolves before I came along. Your primary purpose is defending the reservation from vampires. With just two, you can't possibly cover the entire area all the time. You still have to sleep and eat and take turns patrolling. You could maybe manage to defeat a single vampire but you'd be at a severe disadvantage if you were up against a larger number. Most vampires travel in pairs of at least two, often even three or four. Your current numbers weren't enough. I did you a favor by recruiting so many new wolves and it wasn't like I was counting on all of them agreeing!"

"Sam, just quit it", Jacob said annoyed. "She's right, if there are vampires heading here, it's better if the pack is as big as possible. That makes everyone safer and we all chose this life."

"As great as this development might turn out for the reservation", Carlisle said quietly, "I do wish you wouldn't have made this decision alone, Bella."

"That's right!" Rosalie growled. "Did you ever think about what it would mean for us to have such a large bunch of stinking mutts around!?"

"Watch your mouth!" Sam shouted, pointing at Rosalie.

"I am not a vampire", Leia made clear. "I am not a Quileute. I am a human from Forks. That's the side I'm on right now. Because Edward is my boyfriend, I have ties to the Cullens and because I care about human life, I feel a responsibility to warn the Quileute that can protect it when there's danger coming. Both Alice' and my premonition gifts predict a coven of three nomads coming this way. We don't know where exactly they'll go or who they will attack if they happen to be thirsty. If they come to the reservation, you will be glad you have a larger pack. If they come to Forks, I hope that you, Carlisle, would protect the humans there."

Carlisle sighed tiredly. "Leia, I admire your compassion for the citizen of Forks. I'm afraid it's not as easy as that though." The old vampire gazed at the family assembled around him. His demeanor was composed, his golden eyes reflecting the moon's glow.

"I have a responsibility towards my own family first. The only reason we don't draw the envy and hostility of other vampires despite the great size of our group, our talents and our unusual way of living is precisely because we are not hostile towards any passing vampire. Of course we will protect you if they should target you directly. We're not going to leave Edward alone in this. But other than that, I believe our best course of action is to remain passive, to avoid conflict unless absolutely necessary," he stated, his voice calm and measured. "With the help of Alice' visions, this coven can easily be avoided and the pack is large enough to chase them off the reservation on their own if necessary."

Edward shot Carlisle a look that was almost... disappointed.

"You always tell us that all human life is precious, Carlisle. But is there really that much of a difference between killing someone yourself and stopping a murder when you could've easily prevented it?"

Emmet laughed nervously. "Come on, Ed. If we follow that we'd have to wipe out all vampires on Earth!"

"Not a bad idea", Sam growled, which earned him glares from all the Cullens. "We can't afford to be passive, Carlisle. We need to protect our territory and our people. If those nomads come too close to the reservation, we will take them out, not just chase them off!"

Leia stepped forward, her expression resolute. "I agree with Sam. We can't risk waiting for them to pose a direct threat. If they escape with knowledge of the wolves, you can bet that knowledge will spread and draw others here. These nomads are nothing like your family, they're malicious predators. We need to eliminate them before they endanger anyone in Forks."

Sam shot Leia a furious glance. "You've already done enough, meddling with the Quileute heritage, turning more of our young ones into shifters. You have no word in this assembly!"

Leia met Sam's gaze with unwavering determination. "I did what needed to be done. We need all the help we can get to face this threat. There may only be three of them but if only one escapes - and my own vision showed me there is one who has a literal gift for evasion - they will return with an army to take us out. We need to be thorough now. My talent can be of use to you."

Edward, standing beside Leia, spoke up in support. "Leia is right. We should be united in this. The nomads pose a danger to all of us, not just the Quileute reservation. We need to act together."

The moonlit clearing crackled with tension as the differing opinions within the group came to the forefront.

Rosalie crossed her arms in front of her. "I'm with Carlisle. Why should we risk our lives for Forks or for Leia? She's nothing but trouble!"

"We would hardly risk our lives if we all worked together", Jasper commented. "We'd far outnumber the enemy."

Carlisle sighed, acknowledging the divide within his family. "We need unity, but let's not forget the value of every life."

Jasper, crossed his arms. "Sometimes, waiting isn't the best strategy. We might need to take the initiative."

Alice hooked her arm into Jasper's, leaning against him. "I've seen the future. Trust me, this is the right decision for everyone."

Rosalie scoffed, her skepticism unwavering. "Alice, you can't see anything involving the wolves. Why should we trust your vision?"

Alice's expression remained resolute. "I may not see the wolves themselves but I can see the aftermath, and this is the path that ensures the best outcome."

Esme, torn between loyalty to her family and the desire for a peaceful resolution, spoke softly. "We must find common ground. Consider the safety of everyone in Forks and beyond."

Leia slammed her hands on the fallen tree she was sitting at, causing little stones and sticks to jump up into the air in a burst of Force power for dramatic effect. "I'm fully prepared to risk my own life for Forks, for the Cullens or the Quileute, for all of you. I can use my powers to help in ways that others can't. I'm not asking anyone to do this for me. I'm asking you to use the gifts you have to protect the innocent!"

"With great power", Seth whispered quietly, "comes great responsibility."

"This is not the time for comic references", Quil admonished the young wolf.

"But it's true", the boy said. "Isn't it?"

Jacob spoke up in Leia's defense. "Leia made our pack larger, gave us more numbers to defend our territory. We owe her. We can't let a small human girl face three vampires alone. We should help."

Sam and Carlisle exchanged reluctant glances, the weight of responsibility heavy on their shoulders. The unity of both their groups seemed fragile, teetering on the edge of a decision that would define their actions.

Leia seized the moment. "This is our territory. We have the strength and the responsibility to make the rules and draw the borders whichever way we deem fit. We can't stand by and let others dictate our fate. I know you both value every life. But you need to have actions follow your words!"

Carlisle nodded slowly. "Very well. Let's work together to protect our home."

Sam, though still hesitant, sighed. "For the safety of our people and our territory, we'll support you. But let it be known, if this goes south, we won't forget the part you had in this." His face darkened then. "But fighting together to get rid of the nomads is one thing. This truce isn't going to hold up for long with those two", he pointed at Leia and Edward, "involved like that. Our treaty clearly states that none of your leeches is allowed to bite a human. If that boy turns his girlfriend, this treaty will be broken. There will be war."

Leia's eyes flashed with outrage. "The treaty is ancient, Sam! It's not valid anymore, and you have no say in my choice to become a vampire or not."

Esme, her voice surprised, cut in: "Leia, have you already made your choice?"

"I..." Leia floundered, not knowing what to say. Her guilty expression spoke volumes though, confirming what everyone had already suspected.

After Leia had meditated on her choices and her plan, she'd told Edward, Jasper and Alice of her decision to turn when she turned nineteen. She had always refused the idea of being stuck in a body younger than the one she started out with so this was the earliest she was comfortable with. Edward didn't like it but was content enough knowing he still had some time to convince her otherwise.

Sam's anger flared at Leia's non-answer and a tense silence enveloped the clearing, the threat of conflict hanging in the air. Paul growled threateningly in his wolf form, ready to jump at a single word of Sam. Just as the situation teetered on the edge of chaos, Jasper, attuned to everyone's emotions, stepped forward, his supernatural gift at the forefront.

"Everyone, calm down," Jasper's voice resonated with a soothing power. A wave of tranquility washed over the group, diffusing the rising tension. Sam's anger subsided, Leia's outrage mellowed, and the potential for conflict dissipated.

"Let's focus on the immediate threat with the nomads. After that's settled, we can discuss a new treaty."

Sam, however, remained stubborn. "There's no need for a new treaty. The old one stands."

Unexpectedly, Jacob spoke up. "Why can't Leia make her own choice? If she wants to become a vampire, what's the harm so long as she sticks to the same diet?"

Quil added: "Yeah, why is it such a big deal?"

Leia looked at them surprised. In the novels the wolves had always all been against Bella turning. But she supposed Jacob hadn't been a member of the pack for long and with so many of them joining all at once, Sam hadn't had time to brainwash them all with his anti-vampire rhetoric.

"Don't", Edward said warningly. People looked at him in confusion, only to see the vampire staring at Sam, who was shaking in anger. "If you use your alpha voice on them they won't forgive you."

Jacob jumped to his feet. "Damn right he is, Sam! We've got just as much of a right to state our opinion here as everyone else! You're just the alpha because you were the oldest one to shift first. It's luck, not merit. Don't you dare order us around! You don't get to make the choice on whether or not we should be shifters and you can't take away Leia's choice just because you don't like it either."

The dissent within the wolf pack became evident as Sam faced backlash from the younger members. Leia suppressed a smirk. It had been the right choice to turn the wolves without telling Sam. The conflict over Leia's potential transformation into a vampire became a reflection of deeper tensions within the pack, challenging the traditional dynamics of authority and decision-making. These negotiations weren't just between vampires and werewolves any longer. They were setting the stage for a reevaluation of the wolves' relationships and the dynamics that bound them together. Leia's one concern about activating the young wolves had been the fact that the alpha could rob them if their free will with his voice. If she could nib that practice in the bud, she'd count it as a huge success.

Leia, fueled by a newfound determination, squared her shoulders and addressed Sam firmly. "Sam, it's no longer your choice alone. The other wolves deserve a say in their own lives, just as much as I do. Are you going to use your alpha power to force them to comply?"

The atmosphere in the clearing became charged as the younger wolves, Jacob, Quil, and even Jared, Sam's friend, voiced their discontent. "We won't let our free will be taken away. We deserve a say in our own future," Jacob declared, his eyes defiant. "Whether it's a treaty with the Cullens or when and how to defend our land."

Quil nodded in agreement, "Leia's right. We should have a choice in this."

Jared, typically loyal to Sam, spoke up, "I've been thinking the same. It's not right for one person to decide for all of us."

The weight of the dissent was palpable, and Sam had no choice but to back down. Reluctantly, he agreed, "Fine, after the nomads are dealt with, we'll discuss this further."

Leia, satisfied with the outcome, nodded. "Thank you. It's only fair that we all have a say in our future."

Finally they'd reached an agreement.

The meeting continued for another hour after that. The nomads were only a week away. They had training sessions to plan so the vampires and werewolves could practice fighting alongside and against each other. Leia insisted on participating. She'd recently figured out how to add a stun beam to her blaster. It did little against vampires, who didn't have a functioning nerve system. But Alice assured her with a shiver that the laser absolutely could severely injure a vampire and even kill them if she hit the head. During training she could practice using the stun beam on the wolves, who might be bigger targets but moved just as fast as vampires.

The boys were actually really fascinated by her weapon. Seth even drew the parallels to a Star Wars blaster. Leia claimed that that's where she got the idea from but that she was actually channeling her 'gift' into a blast of kinetic energy with this tool. She didn't think Earth was quite ready for a revolution of their weaponry. Only Edward knew the truth.

When the first wolves started to yawn they concluded the meeting and everyone started to go their ways.

Edward of course was going to drive Bella home (her excuse towards Charlie had been a late night date to the cinema with him). Alice claimed to be wearing her newest pair of designer shoes that she didn't want to ruin by running through the forest so she and Jasper tagged along with them.

When the group reached the place Edward had parked their car and they were out of range of the others, Alice sighed in relief.

"Finally I can see again!" she exclaimed.

"Is everything okay?" Leia asked worried.

Alice nodded happily. "The future cleared up so much now that you've finally decided to become one of us. I can see Carlisle already making plans to slowly extend our official territory lines. I also still see us all having a great time at the school dance in a few weeks so we're all going to get out of this fight in one piece."

"Oh well, that's the most important thing. At least the school dance will be saved", Leia replied only half jokingly.

"You'd be surprised how useful milestones like that are!" Alice said with a pout. "I'm not planning out events years ahead just because it's fun, you know. I can't see what I'm not looking for but by seeing how happy my family is at special dates, I can tell if a particular year has any bad surprises in store for us."

"Ah... Of course, I apologize. I hadn't considered that", Leia said, feeling a bit ashamed. "You're really dedicated to watching over your family. I'm sorry I caused you such distress with my indecisiveness."

"Oh, it's fine, Bella. I'm just happy to be able to call you a sister soon!"

Alice gave her a hug and the four teenagers piled into the car to drive home.

Edward dropped Leia off at her apartment. They shared a tender kiss, lingering at the doorway. Yet the evening air hung heavy with tension. The fading twilight cast long shadows across the wooden floor, framing the young couple in a moment of quiet contemplation.

Leia, her long brown hair cascading over her shoulders, turned to Edward with concern etched across her delicate features. "Edward, you've been quiet all day. What's wrong?" Her eyes, pools of deep brown, searched his brooding gaze for answers. Alice had been chatting for most of the ride and Jasper threw in a comment now and then too but Edward had hardly said a word.

Edward sighed, his golden eyes softened with a mixture of worry and regret. "It's just... the battles that lie ahead... The confrontation with that nomadic vampire coven. I can't shake this feeling that you're putting yourself in too much danger."

Leia's hand found its way to Edward's cheek, a gentle caress meant to soothe the turmoil within him. "Edward, we've been through this. I can handle myself. Besides, I'm not alone. Today was a great success in bringing your family and the wolves together. We'll protect our home."

A flicker of uncertainty passed through Edward's eyes. "But what if something happens to you, Leia? I can't bear the thought of losing you."

Leia took a moment to respond, her eyes reflecting a mixture of love and determination. "I'm not taking the danger lightly. I know I would be so lost if I didn't have you anymore and I know you feel the same. But I cannot allow our love to be our weakness. I must believe that it is our strength and we have to use that strength to leave this place in a better state than we found it at, even if it's just a little bit. We'll face whatever comes our way together, and I believe that love can conquer even the darkest uncertainties."

Edward's gaze lingered on Leia's face for a moment before he finally spoke, his voice low and filled with a sense of vulnerability. "There's something else, Leia. Something I'm afraid you've decided on too rashly."

"My turning", she assumed.

Edward nodded slowly. His words weighed down with a heavy truth. "I can't help but worry, not just for your safety, but for your soul. Turning into a vampire is not a decision to be taken lightly. It changes everything, and I fear for what it might mean for you."

Leia took a step back, creating a small distance between them. "Edward, I want to be with you forever. I'm not afraid of the change. I don't believe in souls quite the same way you do. For me, the soul rests in... Well, you know. The fact that Alice sees my 'gift' becoming stronger is a clear indicator for me that if anything, my soul will be strengthened by the change." She cupped his cheek lightly with her hand, adding in her mind what she didn't want Alice and Jasper back in the car to hear:

'I am not a being of this world, Edward. I was not created by your god. If there is any higher spiritual existence I believe in, it's the Force and I know it will not abandon me if I change. In your world, mine just exists in a movie... and yours was created from a novel too. Does that mean we're both man-made creations? If that's the case, I know the author of your world loved you and would have left you your soul. If those works are just a window into other dimensions though, our souls might follow different rules. I still believe you have a soul, Edward, but even if I'm wrong - I'm not going to loose mine when I turn. I might just become the first vampire with a soul. I suppose we'll see if that makes any difference at all.'

Edward's eyes widened. "I... never thought about it that way. You truly are special. But even so, just two years? That's so little time to experience humanity."

'What I consider a normal human experience differs greatly from what Bella Swan would've had. Everything here is special to me.' Leia smiled. "I don't think I'm missing very much. I'll still be doing university, I'll be old enough for most jobs and be able to try out so many of them."

Edward took her hand and placed a kiss on it, looking pained.

"You won't ever have children. Or see your grand kids play on the lawn."

Leia ripped her hand away from his grasp. "Edward, you forget who I am."

The conversation she'd had with Bella flashed in front of her inner eye - about the future the movies held for her and the consequences of her terrible love choices.

'You know who I would've ended up with if I never met you. Me not having children is not a loss, it's a favor to the whole galaxy.'

"I haven't forgotten", Edward denied. "But just because you came to Forks doesn't mean you have to stay here forever. You could be free here and still be human."

Leia shook her head. "I only ever came here because of you Edward." Well, I came here to make room for Bella so she could save my planet. But I stayed here because of you. If I couldn't be with you, I would spend my life improving this planet and if that is to be my life's purpose, I might as well have more time for it to do it right. This is the right decision for me. I only ever hesitated because the knowledge about my heritage shook me up. Bella helped me to make peace with it. I have no intention to step back now.'

Edward nodded, listening to her thoughts. "I see. It sounds like you are really sure about it. I... I can't deny I'm happy to have you with me for longer. But still, if in those years you ever do have doubt, know that you are always free to voice them. If you change your mind, we can find a way to make it work."

"Thank you, Edward. We have a storm waiting for us ahead and I am glad you're at my side to stand against it."

They stood there in the doorway, two beings bound by love and the impending challenges that awaited them. The night loomed ahead, carrying with it the promise of battles and transformations, and yet, in each other's arms, they found solace and strength to face whatever destiny had in store.

XxX

One week later

The moon hung like a spectral lantern in the ink-black sky, casting an otherworldly glow upon the dense thicket as the nomadic trio—Laurent, the dark-skinned vampire; James, his blond hair gleaming in the moonlight; and Victoria, her wild red hair flowing like flames—trudged deeper into the unknown territory. The ominous rustling of leaves was their only companion as they ventured forth, driven by a thirst for blood. They had been traveling for months now, sometimes chased away by larger covens, sometimes growing bored with a given city. They knew about the Olympic coven residing nearby, had heard rumors of them - but it was also known they weren't very territorial and so they were not concerned.

Yet this night, the forest seemed to close in around them, and the air grew thick with tension as they caught a disgusting scent. Unbeknownst to the nomads, the giant wolves, guardians of the Quileute tribe, prowled silently in the shadows. Their eyes, glowing with a primal intensity, watched the intruders with a mix of anticipation and a fierce bloodlust of their own.

Suddenly, the night erupted into chaos. From the shadows emerged the massive wolf pack, led by the imposing figure of Sam, his obsidian fur blending seamlessly with the shadows. Jacob, the russet beta, flanked by the younger wolves Jared, Quil, Embry, and Seth, moved with an eerie coordination that belied their supernatural nature.

The nomads, caught off guard, spun around to face their lupine adversaries, beings teh likes they had never seen before. The wolves, bodies coiled with an instinctual readiness, surrounded them. James, the most impulsive of the trio, bared his fangs, hissing a challenge that echoed through the forest.

A brief but intense skirmish ensued. Fangs clashed with fur as the nomads and wolves engaged in a frenzied dance beneath the swaying canopy. Laurent, agile and deadly, dodged and weaved through the snapping jaws of the wolves. James, his movements erratic, fought with a savage fervor, while Victoria utilized her lithe grace to stay one step ahead of her lupine foes.

In the midst of the chaos, Sam and Jacob, the formidable leaders of the pack, focused their attention on Laurent. The two wolves, moving in perfect synchrony, circled the dark-skinned vampire. With a coordinated attack, they lunged at him simultaneously, tearing into his vampire flesh with a brutal efficiency that left Laurent incapacitated on the forest floor.

The nomads, now reduced to only two, felt the tide of the battle turning against them. Panic flashed in their crimson eyes as the realization dawned—this territory was not theirs to claim. With a guttural snarl, Sam signaled to the wolves, and the pack closed in, herding the remaining nomads away from reservation.

In the moonlit shadows, the nomads fled, their footsteps echoing through the night as they disappeared into the darkness. The wolves, were hot on their heels, though some of those who'd earned more scratches in the struggle lagged behind.

The nomads, breathless and disoriented, burst through the thick underbrush and into a moonlit clearing. The soft glow revealed the trio of Cullens waiting in silence—Carlisle, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the intensity of the situation; Edward, his piercing gaze scanning the nomads; and Jasper, exuding an aura of controlled menace.

James, wary of the foreign vampires but more wary of what laid behind him, stepped forward. "You won't believe what we just encountered. Monster wolves, huge and relentless. We need your help to fend them off!"

Victoria, her red eyes wide with desperation, implored, "Please, we didn't expect this. We just need a place to rest, and these creatures attacked us out of nowhere. Help us fight them, and we'll leave your territory in peace."

Carlisle, his normally gentle voice tinged with regret, spoke, "I'm sorry, but we can't allow that. Our alliance with the wolves is strong, and we cannot interfere in their guardianship of this land."

As the nomads absorbed the unwelcome news, the air seemed to ripple with tension. Suddenly, the silence shattered as Sam, Jacob, and Jared emerged from the shadows behind the nomads. The lupine guardians had closed in, their eyes gleaming with an unyielding resolve.

Jasper, tapping into his empathic powers, unleashed a wave of fear upon the nomads. The atmosphere became suffused with an aura of terror, and panic flickered in the eyes of James and Victoria. Edward, reading their thoughts, anticipated their every move.

The battle erupted anew, a flurry of supernatural strength and speed. The nomads, desperate to escape, attempted to break through the encircling wolves and Cullens. Emmett and Jared clashed with a force that sent shockwaves through the clearing. Both were formidable, but the ferocity of the struggle left them wounded and disoriented. Emmet screamed more in anger than pain when James managed to rip an arm right out of his socket and flung it away.

Amidst the chaos, James, fueled by a frenzied determination, attempted to break through Carlisle's defenses. The patriarch, however, exhibited a strength of will that matched his physical prowess, holding James at bay long enough for Edward to jump on his back and bury his teeth in his neck.

Victoria, sensing the dire situation, managed to slip through the chaos. Tears welled in her eyes as she left behind the sounds of battle, running ahead with a mixture of fear and regret.

Jasper and Edward, their movements precise and calculated, continued to press the nomads. The lupine guardians circled, preventing any escape, while Carlisle kept a vigilant eye on the unfolding confrontation. Jacob and Jasper ran after teh fleeing Victoria. The air crackled with tension as the nomads fought desperately, each movement bringing them closer to the realization that escape might be impossible.

Victoria, her mind racing with a mix of fear and desperation, darted through the moonlit forest like a phantom, her movements fluid and unpredictable. Jacob and Jasper, one giant wolf and one just as deadly predator, pursued her with unyielding determination, their breaths hot on her heels. The dark canopy overhead became a blur as she expertly navigated the terrain, weaving through the trees and leaving her pursuers momentarily confounded. A river saved her life momentarily, washing away her scent as she splashed into it, swimming with the current for at least a mile before coming out at the other side.

As she raced through the wilderness, the scent of blood reached Victoria's nostrils, a tantalizing aroma that stirred her thirst. She hadn't drunken in days and teh fight had left her with scratches and bite marks all over. She needed sustenance to heal herself. Following the trail, she arrived at a moonlit clearing where a curious sight met her. A young girl with brown hair stood in the open, her eyes closed as if she was in a trance, her demeanor entirely calm. A shallow cut adorned her arm, the scent of fresh blood thick in the air. The other hand held a firearm of all things raised in front of her. More important though was the presence next to the girl, a small black-haired vampire. This was Esme, on guard duty protecting Leia, her scent hidden till the last minute by the overwhelming one of Leia's blood.

Victoria hesitated. She knew this new vampire had to belong to the same coven that just destroyed her own but she was alone and Victoria was thirsty... Alas, the risk was too great.

Barely a second had passed that the redhead turned around to flee again.

However, before she could get very far, Alice, her premonitory abilities allowing her to see just enough now that the wolves were distant, appeared in front of Victoria, blocking her path. The red-haired vampire, momentarily caught off guard, turned to flee in a different direction, only to be confronted by the statuesque figure of Rosalie, glaring down at her menacingly.

A chaotic dance unfolded in the moonlit clearing as Victoria, Alice, Esme and Rosalie engaged in a deadly ballet. Victoria, skilled and agile, evaded their every move, her movements a blur of supernatural speed. The scent of fresh blood, Leia's wound, drove her nearly crazy with thirst but the well-fed Cullens were more used to withstanding teh temptation.

Leia, standing with her blaster in hand, remained eerily calm, her eyes closed. Everyone moved too swiftly for her to track visually, but she sensed the frenetic energy of the battle around her.

In a daring move, Victoria lunged towards Leia, intending to use her as a hostage. However, in that crucial moment, Leia's eyes snapped open, and with unwavering precision, she pulled the trigger of her laser blaster. In teh hands of anyone else, the laser beam would've been too slow and would be easily evaded by a vampire. But Leia instinctively felt where Victoria's momentum would be pulling her. She felt her presence in the Force, she grabbed onto it and she held her with all the strength of her mind. It wasn't quiet enough to hold her still but it was enough to slow her down. That was all that was necessary. The shot echoed through the clearing as the beam struck Victoria right between her eyes, burning a red-rimmed hole the size of a large coin through her undead flesh.

Victoria's movements faltered, her eyes widened in disbelief as the searing pain overtook her. The scent of cauterized vampire flesh mingled with the night air. In a flash, Victoria crumpled to the ground. Her arms and legs were still working fine but with such a big hole in her head, her mind, even supernaturally powerful as it was, was hazed over. Alice was there in a flash, grabbing one of her arms, calling out for her sister for help. With a grimace, Rosalie grabbed the other arm, they pulled - and Victoria too was ripped apart. The moonlit clearing fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the fading echoes of the supernatural battle that had unfolded beneath the ancient canopy.

Later that night, after the vampires gathered all the bits and put them on a big pyre, the Quileute actually dancing around it in celebration, Leia sat alone in the empty Cullen house with only Carlisle as company who was disinfecting her cut and bandaging it, making sure it wouldn't scar. She'd talked with Edward over the phone shortly after Victoria was taken care of to let him know the plan had worked and reassure herself that there had been no losses on their side. However, Esme, Alice and Rosalie had quickly left her to burn Victoria. Carlisle had been the only one anyone trusted to leave alone with a bleeding Leia for too long so he was the one who drove her back into town to treat her. Sleepover at her boyfriend's was once again Leia's excuse to stay out so late so Charlie wouldn't expect her back till morning anyway.

"That was a very brave thing you did today, using yourself as bait like that", Carlisle said calmly as he worked on her arm. "I had wondered why you agreed so easily to stay with the other women in teh backup group instead of joining into the main fight. You knew Victoria would come to you all along."

"I couldn't be sure", Leia replied with a shrug. "This was was just deduction. I knew that Victoria was the most slippery one, the most likely to escape. I knew the wolves would take special care to drive her away from the reservation and from Forks, so if she did flee, it would be deeper into the forest. I knew if she wanted to loose her scent she would have to head to the river. After that, it was just a matter of waiting till Alice caught a vision of her once she managed to loose all her tails. We were able to cut her off because of that but we wouldn't have been fast enough to ambush her successfully if the scent of my blood hadn't masked the presence of the others."

"It was a good strategy", Carlisle said.

Leia waited to see if he would say anything more but he did not, merely concentrated on wrapping the bandages around her arm.

"You still don't like that we attacked them without warning? That we didn't give them the chance to flee?" she guessed.

Carlisle hesitated. "I... I understand the need to protect humans. Of course I do. But I am a doctor first. I see it as my duty to protect all life in need of help. There was a time when I did not consider vampires to be living creature However, that has changed after I turned Edward and Esme. A vampire's life is just as precious to me as a human's life."

"I understand", Leia said softly. "But even a doctor has the responsibility to tell the police if they know their patient has killed other humans and believes he has obvious intentions to harm or kill others in the future. That is the case even in places were such a crime would result in teh death penalty. Would you disagree?"

Carlisle sighed but shook his head. "Of course not."

"I wouldn't have suggested such a measure if I had the slightest suspicion that these nomads could've turned their lives around and adopted a diet like yours. But what my gift has shown me about them left no doubt that that would've never happened."

"It is one thing to defend ones family, friends and neighbors", Carlisle said quietly while he tugged in the last piece of the bandage. "But where does this end, Bella? You have decided to become one of us, haven't you? To stay by Edward' side forever?"

Leia nodded. "Yes, we want to do it in two years."

"Many in my family have... friends on the other side. Vampires who kill humans. They come to visit us occasionally. It would be no trouble to ask them to stay away for a while, for a couple of years, maybe even decades... But not forever. If we isolate ourselves that much from the rest of our kind, it would only brew trouble. If you become part of this family, Bella, you cannot expect us to treat every passing coven like these nomads."

"I understand that", Leia said calmly. "However, I believe you only see two sides to this, two ways. There are so many more possibilities to handle this situation. It doesn't have to be either humans die or vampires go thirsty. You're a doctor, Carlisle - you work at the most obvious source of human blood every day. We have people like Alice and Edward who could pick out humans to feed from that have also killed or will kill humans before so at the very least, no innocents have to die. And if these visitors truly are your friends, would it really be so much to ask that they join in your diet for just a few days or a week while they'e visiting? I know I can't change the thinking of the entire vampire race overnight. And I have no intention to go all vampire hunter after I've changed." Well she had at one point but Bella had talked her out of that. "You're doing wonderful work in helping heal humans in your job. That's something I truly admire about you. I just think that you could do so much more. Your family looks up to you and follows you and I have seen so many more vampires in the future who take your opinion into consideration. You underestimate the influence you have. Together, we can do a little more today, and a little more the day after."

"And that way, gradually make the world a better place." Carlisle smiled. "I truly wish you are right about that, Bella." He patted her arm lightly. "You're all done." He put a flame to the tissue used to wrap her cut and opened the window to let out the smell. Leia thanked him for the help and then went down to the kitchen - all the excitement had made her hungry and she knew Esme was keeping the fridge stocked because of how often she stopped by these days.

She'd just discovered a bowl of cookies when the entrance door slammed open and not a blink later she found herself wrapped up in her boyfriend's arms.

"Edward!" she gasped, surprised and laughed as he whirled her around once.

"I was waiting at the edge of my range for almost half an hour till Carlisle thought the scent wasn't all that noticeable anymore", he complained and kissed her. "It was torture not being able to see you right after the battle..."

Leia giggled, happy to see him whole and uninjured. "Honestly, you probably would've been fine with it." You were when something worse happened to Bella at this point int time. "But why take any unnecessary risks?"

"I heard you tested your blaster weapon. Quite successfully so", he said with a proud grin. "You may not officially call yourself a vampire slayer."

"I'm not sure if I want to advertise that fact", she replied with humor. "Everyone else is alright?"

"A few scratches and bruises and Emmet had to re-attach an arm. Seth and Quil have a few bruised rips but they'll heal quickly", Edward said. "Nothing too serious. They're all in a great mood."

"Yeah, I heard there has been dancing. I'm kind of sad I missed it"; she admitted.

Edward's eyes widened. "No, no you are not."

"I'm not?" she made questioningly.

"The wolves, ah... they don't really keep their clothes when they shift back", Edward said a bit embarrassed.

Ah. So there were a bunch of naked Quileute dancing around the fire.

"Please think of something different", Edward groaned and kissed her again. Rather passionately so. Great, now Leia was imagining Edward dancing naked around a pyre.

"Much better", he purred and Leia's heart beat faster.

Edward gave her another quick kiss. "Now that that whole problem is out of the way, I have something I wanted to give you." He took her hand and led her upstairs into his room where Leia sat down on the couch with her cookie bowl next to her. Edward went over to his desk and pulled an envelope from a drawer.

"This is for you", he said, handing it to her. "I thought, maybe, if you didn't have anything planned for summer break..."

Curious, Leia pulled out a sheet of paper. As a born and raised princess, she didn't have nearly as much of an aversion to receiving expensive gifts as Bella did so she half expected a vacation trip in some distant hotel, a cruise or sunbathing on a lonely island.

But it was none of those things.

"By the stars", Leia made, her eyes going wide as saucers. "Is this really...?"

"It only opened its doors a month ago", Edward said with a small smile. "Jedi Temple is registered as an actual religion in Texas, founded by people who believe in the Force as an energy that connects all living things. They have a doctrine and lessons on meditation and everything for those that want to join it. They have rites and hold funerals and weddings too. Of course, they still recognize that Star Wars is just a movie and they don't claim to be able to give people supernatural powers. But if there if any place on Earth where you can learn more about the Force and how to avoid the dark side, it's there."

The sheet held a letter of acceptance for both Edward and Leia, under her name as Bella, to join the temple and become padawans.

"Oh Edward, I don't know what to say... Except thank you", Leia made, tears in her eyes. She slung her arms around his neck, hugging him fiercely. "Oh, I love you so much, I can't believe it. Thank you."

"I'm glad you like the idea", he replied, smiling into her hair as he hugged her back.

"Wait... isn't your god going to be angry at you or something if you join another religion?" Leia asked. She knew from the novel how seriously he took his Christian beliefs.

"Well, I can't deny proof that the Force is real if I'm holding a telekinetic, blaster-wielding, future-seeing vampire huntress in my arms", Edward replied with a gentle smile. "And.. I've thought about what you said, about your soul and mine. You are right in that our love for each other should be our strength. You're my hope, my light, my love and I won't fight anymore if you want to drag me out into the sun with your grand plans and your grand heart. That includes leaving behind a few beliefs that have held me back thus far. If you're a gift from God, He wouldn't have given me such an amazing mate as you if He thought me a soulless monster to be punished and I should do what I can to help you shine brighter. If you've come to me from somewhere else, I have no reason to stick to dark beliefs that have tortured me for all my existence."

Leia was crying happy tears, too speechless to say anything more and just hugged Edward again. This was it. Leia had now officially and totally destroyed the original plot. She had made sure that Victoria and all her plans died. But more importantly, she hadn't just replaced Bella. She had build a love and a relationship with Edward on her own accord. The Edward in her arms now wasn't the eternal worrywart that was always hovering over clumsy Bella, ready to safe her, always brooding about souls and humanity and bloodlust. This here, now, was her Edward, proud of her and supporting her and celebrating her and being happier for it.

Leia had never been surer in her life that it was the right decision to come to this world.

---

XxX

Bella POV

Bella had never been as nervous in her life than in this moment, as she emerged from hyperspace with her fighter and the stars turned from blinding streaks into little distant dots.

After leaving Dagobah, she'd spend a week jumping from planet to planet, always on the move, always avoiding the empire and always on the lookout for news. According to those, Darth Vader had released Breha Organa only a day after she'd contacted him. The Queen returned to Alderaan but teh relief of the local people was stifled by the continued military occupation.

To Bella's surprise, no information had been published about why Vader had released this prisoner. speculation was running rampant. Objectively, it could've only benefited the Sith Lord to publicize their deal. Making it known that 'Princess Leia Organa' would be surrendering as per his demands, it would be a blow to the hopes of the Alderiaani people and possibly even the rebellion itself. The daring escape and continued evasion of the Princess was a sign of hope for many. Crushing that hope, maybe even painting her as a traitor to the cause and ruining her reputation, would've been a win for the Empire. Yet, no information had been leaked.

Maybe Vader thought she'd change her mind if he did this. Maybe such an announcement would only come later. Or maybe... and she almost didn't dare to hope... Maybe it was empathy that kept him from making things more difficult for her than they needed to be. For Anakin Skywalker, certainly his family would've come first. It wasn't like he hadn't cared about the galaxy but he'd been relativity content with a hands-on approach on the battlefield, leaving the ruling to other people. He'd hated politics and the intricacies of it and preferred to focus on the wellbeing and success of a smaller group he cared about. As much as teh dark side had changed him, it was entirely possible that those basic characteristics and preferences still lived on in Vader. Did he truly even care about the Empire? Bella didn't think anyone could be a Sith Lord and truly care about people, even if they were citizen of the Empire you helped rule and thus, technically your subjects. But did he care about the structures of the Empire? Did he agree with all of its policies and want them to be implemented? Did he care at all if there was widespread corruption and racism? Did he think it a good thing, to be enabled, or a bad thing that nonetheless wasn't important enough for him to take action?

From what Bella had seen on the galactic news, Darth Vader was described by pro-Empire propaganda as a herald of law and order. They were more often than not horrible laws, but still laws. There was a reason his flagship was named the Executioner. That was precisely his role. The Emperor had turned into somewhat of a hermit after the fall of the Republic but he was still the one to dictate the general structure and laws of the Empire. According to Bella's western education though, there was one big, important role that was missing: a judge.

Judgement, that is the interpretation of laws, was passed by local authorities and that was where all the most horrible corruption happened. Any law made by the Emperor for the whole galaxy was bound to be so general, a judge could interpret it a thousand different ways. More specific laws were harder to twist around but it would also be impossible to apply them to more than one planet, culture, race or even just a fraction thereof.

If Bella wanted to make a difference without getting her head cut off, she could mess with neither the law nor its execution of the Empire. But she could pass judgment on it. If Vader prided himself in executing law, all she had to do was convince him he followed a faulty interpretation of it.

R2D2 gave a series of beeps and Bella glanced down at the console in front of her to read its translation. The droid had summarized the information from the sensors, giving her a more detailed overview of what she saw in front of her. There was Alderaan, so blue and beautiful, so similar to Earth. Despite having lived in Leia's body for many months now, Bella had never set a foot on her home planet. Over there was Alderaan's moon, lazily orbiting the world. And over there, on the far side of the moon, was a great, sleek triangle.

"You know, that's also a form of corruption", Bella muttered dryly. "To use a damn Super Star Destroyer for family business."

If her 'father' wanted to impress her... Damn, it was working.

Bella fought down her inner fangirl at the sight of the famous ship. It was so beautiful.

R2 gave a series of sarcastic bleeps. Bella hadn't realized she'd said that out loud.

"Oh shut it, you", she chided the droid embarrassed. "I can appreciate a great design without approving of mass murder." The Imperial propaganda was a devastating weapon of course. Making cool and iconic designs was part of their job and what made them so effective. Bust look at Vader and Saw Gererra. Both had crippled lungs requiring breathing aids but one was totally rocking the design to the point where people wondered if he just wore the mask to strike terror into the hearts of his enemies and the other just looked like he escaped a retirement home.

Dammit, there was truth to the saying, the dark side had cookies. If cookies were representative of great outfits and amazing ships.

R2 beeped again.

"Don't worry, I have no intention of taking the cookies. I've read enough fairy tales to know the basic rules", she reassured him.

Of course R2 had no idea what she was talking about but considering Bella couldn't decipher a single beep of binary to save her life, she figured they were even.

Bella was in the middle of debating whether she should try landing on Alderaan or approach the small fleet of Imperial ships directly when a swarm of TIE-fighters came towards her at an alarming speed, aggressively hailing her.

"Unidentified ship, you have entered a restricted zone. Identify yourself immediately!"

"I am Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan", Bella claimed proudly. "I do believe I am expected."

For a moment there was silence as the fighters circled Bella's x-wing, which she uneasily remembered to be a design developed by teh Empire, stolen by the rebels and was now, ever since the destruction of the Death Star, a rather iconic Rebellion ship.

"We will escort you to the flagship, your Highness. Please remain in the middle of the formation and follow B78." One of the tie fighters flashed a green signal at her as it hovered in front of Bella.

"Roger that", Bella returned. She was carefully optimistic being addressed with such respect and calmly followed the instructions despite R2's desperate beeps.

"It's going to be alright", she promised the droid. "I have a plan. Nothing bad will happen to you or me."

Now if only she could believe her own words.

Swallowing her nervousness, Bella approached the Executor with the fighter squad. The hangar bay looked like a giant maw about to swallow her. It was one thing to see a Star Destroyer, itself big enough to darken the sky if it flew low enough over a planet, look like a tiny sucker fish clinging to a blue whale from a distance. It was another thing entirely to fly into the belly of that beast with her tiny one-man fighter. From this close, it might as well have been a planet.

"Someone is having complexes", she muttered as she started on the landing sequence. R2 beeped affirmatively.

Bella had been lucky enough to be able to change and shower on her last planet. She had exchanged the simple and easy to wash lines she'd used during her training on Dagobah with a robust flight suit in gray and blue. It was enough that she came in a Rebellion ship, she didn't have to wear that horrid orange as well. First impressions were important.

Bella stood from her seat as the fighter's cockpit opened. Her long, voluminous brown hair was tamed in a loose braid which swished through the air like a whip as she pulled off her helmet. She gazed down imperiously at the three rows of armed Stormtroopers and four humans wearing gray uniforms assembled in the hangar bay. The former were hard to read but the latter expressed a muted mixture of wariness, impatience and politeness. Bella wondered if they had been informed who and why she was here but honestly, if they had been, they'd probably look at her with more fear.

One of the uniformed men stepped forward and offered her a hand to help her climb out of the ship. He was maybe in his forties, short brown hair mostly hidden under his military cap and with an impressive number of red and blue squares adorning his chest.

"Welcome on board the Executor, your Highness", he said. "I am Captain Piett, at your service."

Bella had to suppress her inner fangirl again - Admiral Piett! Wait, no, Hoth hadn't happened yet - but still! She didn't think she'd get to meet Vader's right hand man so soon.

The Earth girl couldn't quite suppress the corners of her mouth twitching up but tried her best to cover it by channeling her inner royal highness, trying to imaging being Leia and talking to someone like Han Solo.

"Thank you, Captain. It was a long journey but I'd like to get to business as soon as possible before anything else. I assume you have a schedule for me?"

"Certainly. If you would follow me, please?"

As she did so, six of the Stormtroopers split from the squad to follow together with the other two uniforms.

"Lord Vader has been notified of your arrival. I will lead you to him right away. If all goes well with your meeting, the hostage will be released and you can take a rest in the quarters that have been prepared for you."

"How is my father doing?" Bella asked, choosing her words carefully.

"Pardon?" Piett made, his eyes going wide and his step faltering for a moment.

"He's been a... guest on this ship for quite some time. I hope he's been treated with the the respect fitting for a senator?" Bella clarified coldly.

"Ah, well... Yes if course, as much as was appropriate considering the situation", Piett answered, now sweating a bit.

Interesting. Bella couldn't imagine the news to have spread very far but at least Piett seemed to know about the relation she (supposedly) had with Vader.

"I would like to meet him before he is released. Could you please arrange that for after I've seen Lord Vader?" she asked.

"I'm afraid I can't promise that", Piett made evasively. "The senator is still a subject of investigation. I believe it would be unwise for you to have direct contact with him at this point. It would... displease Lord Vader."

That was a rather diplomatic choice of words. Bella was almost impressed, considering it almost certainly translated to Piett fearing he'd be force-choked to death in a fit of jealous rage. Then again, maybe it wasn't that bad - that was Kylo Ren she was thinking of. Vader was only ever seen killing subordinates for truly costly mistakes. You knew your anger had reached ridiculous levels when you had Nope-troopers inching away from you.

Nonetheless, Bella couldn't allow things to start off like that.

Abruptly she stopped, cursing her small height as she stared down the Imperial imperiously.

"Captain Piett", she said curtly, "you are aware of why I am here, are you not?"

Piett was starting to look nervous.

"Y-Yes, your Highness..."

"And are you aware of the conditions under which I agreed to come here?"

Piett blinked a few times and was slower to answer. "I've been notified that you are to be treated as a VIP, your Highness.."

Bella nodded, satisfied and crossed her arms in front of her. She had expected something like this from Piett's attitude but it was still a pleasant surprise. "If Senator Organa has not yet been informed of those details, he will be severely distressed once he learns of my presence here, which could lead to all sorts of problems on Alderaan. For the sake of diplomacy and my people as a whole, it is imperative that this exchange is concluded smoothly. This includes myself confirming the senator's wellbeing and him confirming mine. Therefore, I must repeat my request for you to arrange a meeting." She turned around, continuing her way down the corridor to signify that she would not allow further discussion on the matter.

"Do not be concerned about Vader", she added calmly as Piett recovered from his shock and caught up to her. "Leave him to me."

Bella felt like the queen of the world when Piett gave a meek "Yes, your Highness". Instead of leading her, she was now walking half a step in front of him. The troopers surrounding them made sure she didn't have to wonder where the heck she was going. This was one verbal spar she'd certainly won. If it continued like this, Bella might just evolve into Vader's worst nightmare... a politician!

She felt like cackling evilly.

Bella would've never dared to talk to anyone, much less a military officer like that on Earth. But ever since she'd come to this galaxy, everything had just been amazing to her. She could spend hours observing different alien species, sentient, animal and even plants and just marvel at the fact that they existed. She could look at a fleet of enemy ships and go This is so cool when others would quiver in fear. She could play around with buttons and levers and program settings in a ship and be elated she was in space when she'd never had any interest in informatics or mechanics before because this was Star Wars. This was her favorite fantasy world and she was living her dream. Bella had received Jedi training from Master Yoda and somehow her presence had saved Obi-Wan and Alderaan and she was best friends with Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader called her his daughter and, and, and - Could it even get any better than this?

Here, in this universe, Bella had shed her timid personality and fully blossomed as she got completely absorbed in her role as Leia Organa. No more wallflower, no more unimportant, gray little Bella Swan with her divorced parents and her confused Mom and her average grades. Here, she was confident and grand and important. Leia Organa may be a role she was playing but she was having so much fun with it, Bella started to wonder if maybe this had always been her true self. Maybe Leia, daringly leading an invasion force on Endor and declaring war on the Volturi and Bella, challenging Darth Vader and playing bait for a newborn vampire army had always had more in common than they knew. Maybe Leia, with her romanticized view of men falling for the ultimate bad-boy space pirate or vampire with a tragic past and Bella, with her natural willingness to sacrifice herself for René or the Organas and her ability to see the good in both Vader or, in another time, Edward Cullen, had always been meant to be the sisters in heart they were now.

Bella was determined not to let her sister and the rest of teh galaxy down. She would be the best Leia Organa anyone could possible be.

So long as nobody ever found that her entire life was build on one giant lie.

"Here we are", Piett said and pressed a button on great door. It slid open to reveal an open room. The walls were pastel instead of white and the floor, albeit from the same durasteel as teh rest of the ship, was made out of a mosaic of plates that made it look like tiles. Bella at first thought there were actual windows at the walls. However, they were indeed screens framed like windows, emitting light like lamps and displaying distant landscapes and beautiful weather, as if the spaceship was flying just a few miles over a planet's surface. There were even potted plants standing in the corners of the room, looking rather exotic with big, green, red and blue leafs. In the middle of the room was a grand table with settings for two and a selection of different foods on display.

Darth Vader stood at the end of the table, his hands on the backrest of one of the chairs. Bella took a moment to just admire the imposing figure, this time without the threat of immediate torture. She must've been standing still for a bit too long for Vader held out an arm and said maybe a bit sarcastically:

"Welcome Princess. I'd be honored if you could join me."

You have to fight the fangirl! There is no emotion, there is peace! Peace, dammit!

Bella couldn't help herself - she smiled. Well, at least she managed not to grin like a lunatic.

"Certainly, Lord Vader. I do happen to be famished." With more grace than she would've ever managed in her old body, Bella stepped forward, heading for the seat opposite of Vader. Captain Piett excused himself and left. She caught two troopers taking positions with their arms raised outside before the door slammed shut, Then, she was alone with the Sith Lord.

Leia sat down and let her gaze wander over the offered food. Most of it would've been strange and foreign to her just a few months ago and she might've even doubted it was meant for humans at all. After the Death Star, Bella did of course had to eat the same rations every other rebel got. But she had still gotten the opportunity to taste some foreign dishes on her travels. Bella was especially glad to have taken the time to research publicly available information about Leia Organa. As a princess, she was treated as a celebrity on her home planet so there was a lot of trivial information. Including her favorite food: Vishnu filet. It was a special kind of fish found in the Glarus Lagoon in Alderaan. Bella has never tastes it before but she knew it was supposed to have a vibrant red color. And wouldn't you know, there was a plate with red fish filet included on the table.

... Aww.

"That's a surprising choice of menu", Bella said quietly and smiled politely. She didn't go straight for the filet though, instead starting with a salad. She was supposed to be a princess and should be used to many-course meals, right? It was important that Vader didn't find a single flaw in her act. Her life and possibly the life of everyone on Alderaan depended on it.

"Who was it that came up with it, if I may ask?"

"Captain Piett is taking care if the details of your accommodations here. If there is anything you lack, you can tell him and he will take care of it."

Bella stopped in the middle of taking a sip from a glass of water.

"Can I ask... Why?" she wondered.

"Why what?" Vader returned and it sounded like he was snapping at her, though maybe that was just the mechanical voice.

"Why will I have accommodations on this ship? Is this where you plan to keep me for the foreseeable future? Why give the time consuming task of preparing all this, including researching and importing my favorite food, to someone like Piett? Of course I know you couldn't possibly take care of this yourself. You just be incredibly busy after all",especially since Vader supposedly had to spend a good chunk of his day in healing pods, "but the same could be said about the Captain. Why not hire a servant then?" Bella started eating, trying not to be bothered by the fact that Vader's plate would obviously be left untouched. "Is it because you want to keep the number of people who know of my circumstances limited? If so I would like to know exactly what and how many people know. In short, I would like to know more about your plans regarding me now that I am here."

"The only ones who that you are my daughter are the Emperor, Piett and a selected squad of troopers in charge of your personal security. It will remain this way until the time is right", Vader explained. "You are to take at least two guards wherever you go and you may not leave the ship without permission from me." He sat with his hands folded on the table, ignoring all of the food but watching every one of Bella's movements. The vocodor made him sound commanding no matter what he said but Bella still thought that he was overall being rather polite.

"Piett knowing is necessary so nobody would question the commands as he has the highest rank on this ship after myself. It is not entirely uncommon for the Executor to entertain high ranking guests such as Moffs and their family. Appropriate suites already existed, it was merely a matter of adapting one for you."

"Personal security and orders from the Captain himself...I thank you for your concern but are you sure it will be enough to secure my safety? I must have many enemies on this ship, even without considering important guests. After all, I'm still a known member of the Rebellion", Bella said.

"Everyone on board this ship is loyal to me. No harm will come to you here, you have my word on that", the Sith Lord promised. "If anyone dares to give you trouble, refer them to me."

This was going better than expected. However...

"What about... the Emperor?" she asked hesitantly.

"He is not someone you have to concern yourself with", Vader blocked, his tone making it clear that he wouldn't say anything more on the matter.

So the Emperor knew that Vader's child, or at least one of his children survived. If Bella's fandom knowledge was correct, Vader had been given a chance to turn Luke to the Dark Side himself and only when that failed (rather spectacularly so, see Could City) had the old man graciously offered to help out with the whole persuasion bit, resulting in The Return of the Jedi. The situation now was different. Bella had still refused to join the dark side but she had come to Vader willingly. Palpatine had worked on Anakin Skywalker for years before he made his final move so it was possible Bella would also be given some leeway. If Luke continued to follow the original timeline somewhat, there wouldn't be an Empire in two years so Bella would be fine with that.

On the other hand, back then Palpatine had been raising a Sith apprentice. Leaving 'Leia' to Vader would, in his eyes, only encourage Vader to try and take down Palpatine sooner rather than later. If this universe followed the Sequel timeline, Palpatine would already plan his immortality and wouldn't even need 'Leia' to replace Vader. If it followed the Expanded Universe timeline, Bella might get away with just being below average all things Force-related so they could only ever hope to make her an inquisitor. Both cases would undoubtedly result in assassins being sent after her. Even if the Emperor didn't demand Bella be brought before him then, she still had reason to be concerned.

Even so, now was not the time to complain about that. Bella decided to drop the subject.

"May I know the designation of the troopers you selected?" she asked.

Vader recited a list of numbers and letters, followed up, thankfully, by given names that she had an easier time memorizing.

"Thank you", Bella said. She'd finished her salad and now filled her plate with some of the red fish. "Can I make a suggestion?"

Vader stared her down for a few seconds but then nodded.

"I believe it would be unreasonable to ask Piett to take care of my daily needs on top of his regular duties. There are people working in professional service that are much better suited for that. Then there's also the matter that I would feel more comfortable if I had at least one female contact, someone who could follows my orders and reports to Piett or you as required. I would like to have a handmaiden of my own." This was a calculated request. On the one hand, Bella was mindful of her role as Princess Leia. While she was on the run it might not have mattered but she could use a handmaiden used to working with royalty to 'continue' her royal etiquette lessons (meaning start from scratch) to perfect her role. Then, if she ever did need to make an escape, she'd need to befriend and turn around as many of her watchers as possible and this would be easiest done with a handmaiden. Lastly, Vader had commented before that she reminded him of Padmé Amidala and she wanted to encourage that view as much as possible.

"I assume you'll want one of your handmaiden from the Alderaan palace to join you?" Vader said coldly. "Planning to pass along secret messages, are you?"

Bella stopped her movement, forks half way to her mouth.

"Why would you say that?" she asked, honestly confused. "Having anyone from my past I'm close to at my side here would only give you the advantage of being able to threaten them to pressure me." Also, anyone who spend a significant time around the old Leia and now had time to observe Bella would soon discover what a big fat liar she was. "No, if you're concerned about such things, feel free to select a candidate yourself." So long as he didn't send her an Inquisitor, Bella was confident to turn around anyone he sent her way. It would be a good test run if nothing else, considering she planned to turn Vader himself eventually.

Vader shifted, his folded hands now resting under his chin as he regarded her.

"You are... not what I expected. Leia", he said in his deep voice.

Bella felt a shiver run down her spine as he said 'her' name.

"What did you expect? A screaming harpy?" she asked amused.

"I expected more resistance, given the way you were raised", Vader admitted. "You haven't mentioned Senator Organa even once since you came... He was quite afraid for you but I'm starting to wonder if it was even necessarily to go to such lengths to get you here. Would your curiosity have lead you to my side eventually all on its own?"

Bella put down her fork, torn between indignation and elation.

"I was raised a Princess, Lord Vader and would've taken the seat of Senator before eventually succeeding the throne if my... affiliation hadn't been discovered. A whispered word is often far more powerful than a shouted one. Right now, you have me severely at a disadvantage. It would be the height of stupidity for me to shout at you. If I ever do shout at you", she smiled sweetly, "you'll know I trust you enough to spar lightly." Bella took another sip from her glass. "Besides, I do of course trust that you'll let me confirm the senator's condition personally before he leaves for Alderaan."

"You still want to claim connection to the man who abducted you?" Vader asked with a dangerous, cold fury. "You should've grown up at my side, under my care and tutelage, as a Princess of the Empire! Instead, you were confined to a single planet and taught a doomed ideology. I will not allow you to be poisoned any further."

"I just want to make sure that he's alright and that he'll get home safely", Bella said calmly.

You don't trust my word?" he snapped.

"Of course not. You are a military strategist, deception is part of your work. Trust is something that has to be earned", Bella replied just as carefully. "Even when you saved Alderaan, you never promised to keep it safe. How would I know you won't change your mind? I've decided to take a chance and see for myself if you are trustworthy. Whether you really are willing and capable of protecting me from harm and will honor my wishes to see my people and my adoptive family safe, remains to be seen."

"I have promised you will be safe with me and so it shall be", Vader replied. "However, it is true that I cannot always be at your side and there will be many wishing for your death. That is why it is imperative that you learn to wield the Force to protect yourself."

Bella, who had just taken the first bite of her fish, faked a minor coughing fit because damn, that dish tasted unexpectedly sour. She didn't normally have a problem with fish but ugh, just no! Did she really have to pretend this to be her favorite dish!?

Damn, now she had to cover up her mess-up. What had Vader just said? Something about Force training? Right, that was something she could get properly indignant about.

"I already told you", she said with a furrowed brown, discarding some of her carefully constructed mask of politeness, "that I don't care one bit about the dark side."

"Indeed", Vader made and she could just feel him smirk, "and I wondered how you would even be familiar with that term. I wondered about how you were able to contact and communicate with me so clearly over the Force. Someone must have... educated you."

Ah. Well, she should've seen that coming.

"I am self-taught, I do some meditation exercises and scrapped together what little written information I could find", she only half-lied.

"I don't believe you", Vader stated and for a moment Bella felt as if shadowy hands were reaching for her. "There is no reason for you to lie, so why do you try? I saw you flee the Death Star with Kenobi with my own eyes. What did you say about trust needing to be earned?"

Bella pushed away her plate, glad to have an excuse to do so.

"Believe it or not but I did ask Kenobi to train me and he refused. Something about both of us having too big a target on our back so staying together would've been unwise."

"Really", Vader made coldly. "I would've thought he'd jump at the chance to further indoctrinate and turn you against me."

Bella narrowed her eyes. "Kenobi believes there is nothing left of Anakin Skywalker in you. That the Jedi you used to be is as good as dead and you should be considered a separate person, unable and undeserving to make any claim to parenthood." She took a sip of water, washing away the fishy taste but keeping her eyes on the Sith Lord. She imagined his anger to be roused, his body trembling underneath the immovable armor as she threw back the words at him he himself would've uttered in another timeline. How vexed he must be to learn he agreed with Obi-Wan on anything.

"But I disagree. Humans change all the time, every day. That doesn't make them different people. Just because they slip into a different role doesn't have to mean they don't retain some of their core beliefs, ideals and characteristics", she continued.

The more Bella focused on him, the more she thought she might be able to read Vader despite the mask allowing for little insight. She grasped no thoughts but the Force was like a whisper nudging her into the right direction as she struggled to read his body language.

"You think I still am a Jedi?" Even though the vocoder. Vader sounded... incredulous. "Do you have any idea how many of that order I have cut down?"

"I know better than most", Bella whispered. She took a moment to close her eyes, to remember the countless lives lost to his blade.

"But I also know you are not without mercy. You proved that on the Death Star."

"I'm afraid I have to disappoint you, child. You have much to learn still about the galaxy. I didn't save your precious Alderaan because of mercy. I merely thought it would be an inadequate leverage to use to make you talk given how fearless you met me. Tarkin needed a fast and impressive demonstration of the Death Stars power. A military target was simply a better choice. If the weapon hadn't been destroyed, there's every chance your planet would be no more."

Bella could feel Vader's dark influence lick at her like waves on a rock, so much more insidious than Yoda's calming presence. In fact, she was surprised how attuned she found herself to be to the Force in his presence when she usually had trouble sensing any life even on a swamp planet like Dagobah. She felt his mind press against hers too, like a cat rubbing itself against her to be petted but none if his mental tendrils found a hold on her shield. When he denied her claims though, that same presence shied away and she wondered if he was doing it at all consciously.

Bella smiled.

She reached out for the foreign influence, detaching her shield by splitting off a layer and pushing it forward, grasping, enveloping Vader's probe... Like petting the cat.

"Maybe it was just luck. Maybe all I have is the hope that I'll get lucky again. In the end, that's all that really lead me here, hope." Her smile tilted downwards and she looked away, folding her hands in her lap. "But of course I need to wonder... Is it a vain hope? Was it a useless mistake to come here?"

"Of course not", Vader said sternly, yet a bit too fast. Bella felt him focus in the Force, felt his presence first tense and struggle in her grasp before gradually relaxing when she did nothing but gently latch onto him. She wondered if he was listening to a single word she said or if he was entirely immersed in his other senses. She wondered what else she could get him to admit to.

"I can give you whatever your heart desires, child..."

Bella felt Vader's presence grow, billow out like a cloak, a presence greater than any Bella had ever felt before. It enveloped and swallowed her up but it wasn't menacing at all. It was dark and warm and comforting, like a hug. She tensed initially but then relaxed, accepting the possessive gesture for what she recognized it to be: a father holding onto a child he had believed gone and would never let go of again.

"Show me your mercy then, father. Let me take my leave from the man who raised me", she asked quietly.

The comforting darkness went from warm to cold, making her shiver as the feeling of an embrace turned into a vice-like grip.

"You are trying to manipulate me", he snarled. "You dare...!"

"I am trying to form a connection. Is that not something you desire too?" Bella met his angry gaze sadly. "Why am I here... Lord Vader? Why did you want me to come so badly if you were going to refuse my attempts to see the man... to see my father behind the mask?" She shook her head, displaying a minimum of disgust and disappointment as she withdrew her outer shield, withdrew from him, making herself small and invisible and harmless and shutting him out entirely. "If it was just to gain a weapon for or against the Emperor, I have to disappoint you. I'm no more useful in a fight than a trooper with a blaster. You have millions of those at your disposal. You don't need me."

Bella folded her napkin on her barely touched plate. "I believe my appetite has left me."

Vader stood abruptly. His breathing apparatus was working slightly faster than usual. The Force was still swirling unseen but silently violent around him yet with her shield as tightly in place as it was, Bella no longer felt his presence. And he could no longer feel hers.

Bella waited, meeting his gaze calmly. The emotions she'd projected at him... They weren't false, not exactly. Bella was completely immersed in her role as Leia Organa and so she felt sad and disappointed. But it was the sadness and the disappointment she'd feel as a reader of a book or watcher of a movie. Bella was following a script she'd made up in her head, aiming for a gamble she'd come up with. Never for a second did she really think Vader would deny her because she knew there was good inside him. She knew he was lost and only needed a little nudge here and there to return to his former self. Allowing her to see Bail was nothing. It wasn't all that important to Bella, whose real father was dimensions away. It would be nice to see Bail because she liked him and wanted to be able to report to Leia that she saved him. Vader granting her that little wish, one that would cost him nothing, was important for an entirely different reason. It would be the first step for him to demonstrate and thus admit to himself that he was indeed still Anakin Skywalker, that he did still care, that he could show mercy. That he could maybe, possibly, even forgive a man who he thought in his twisted mind had stolen his precious daughter from him.

She was manipulating him. But it was for his own good, really.

"It's time for you to go to your room then", Vader said coldly. As if she was an unruly child.

"It would seem so", Bella said regally and stood.

Vader followed her as she made her way to the door and Bela was counting down in her head. Any moment now he would speak up again, granting her wish. Ten, nine eight... Maybe he'd attach some condition or another, maybe he'd demand something in return. But he'd said he would give her anything and she believed him. Seven, six... They had reached the door. Vader coldly told the troopers to take her away. Bella turned and gave him one last nod, polite but detached. Five, four... Any moment now... Three, two, one... One and a half... One and a quarter... The trooper grasped her arm and she was forced to break his gaze.

Fine then, Bella thought as she was lead away. So he needed more time. She would count down from a thousand. Slowly.

Fifteen minutes later, as Bella arrived at the truly luxurious suite she'd been given and explored it with a guilt sort of awe, her door chimed and two troopers dragged Bail Organa in, shoving him roughly to the ground in front of her.

She'd counted down to four hundred.

Bella smiled widely. She'd just won a verbal match against Darth Vader.

---

Bail POV

The last couple of weeks had been the most harrowing of Bail Organa's life. It was worse than election season, Clone Wars and the aftermath of the Purge put together. The only thing that even came close was when he'd learned that his daughter had been intercepted and captured by none other than Darth Vader on her mission to smuggle the Death Star plans. It had been a miracle when he had been able to embrace his little girl again and she showed no signs of being too broken by teh experience.

The interrogation Bail received now was... bad. There was little in terms of physical torture. He supposed his status was still worth something even though the senate had been dissolved. Instead the Imperials worked with sleep deprivation, giving him tasteless, rotten or even no food at all, having him go through humiliating 'cleaning procedures' as if he was a common street rat from Nar Shaddaa and similar. His mind was pretty much under constant influence of one drug or another.

The worst part was that he couldn't see his wife who had been apprehended with him. He didn't even know if she was even still alive.

And yet, he'd held strong. He hadn't breathed a single word about his planets involvement with the Rebellion.

But then came Vader himself.

Vader hated Bail. Personally and passionately, he was sure of it. When the former Jedi forced himself into his mind, there was nothing Bail could hide from him.

Sometimes he came for information about the Rebellion. Bail had been forced to cut all contact and withdraw support after Scarif because of the military occupation but many of his past acts of treason were revealed. Certainly enough to get him a death sentence. However, those probes were few and far between. Most often, Vader just came to torture him with nightmarish visions. He saw his planet burn, his people die, his wife wail in despair. He felt his flesh melt and rot and be cut away.

And then, sometimes, when Bail was at his weakest, Vader came to steal what was most precious to him. He came to dig in his head for memories of his daughter.

Leia's every birthday party. Her first steps. Her first words. Leia playing in the garden. Her tears when she fell and scraped her knee. Leia being scolded for making her toys hover. Leia's first ball and her second and her third. Leia's passionate speeches to the people. Her visits to various planets that had been exploited by the Empire and her compassion for the victims. Leia's friends. Leia's first crush. Leia volunteering for the Scarif mission. Leia, Leia, Leia.

Vader wanted to know everything about her.

If Bail had still had any doubt that Vader knew the girl was his biological daughter, they were gone now.

But as horrible as the situation was, there was one ray of hope. Vader shied away from looking at the very earliest memory Bail had of Leia. He shied away from anything connected to his late wife's death and that was the only reason why Bail managed to keep the existence of the other twin a secret.

Bail was sure that he would never see the sky again. He would die on this ship, in captivity. Once Vader had milked him of everything he had, the horrible visions of mutilation would become reality. Vader took pleasure in telling him everything he'd do to him, in detail, once he was no longer needed.

Bail thought he meant needed for information.

He was wrong.

One day Vader came to him and gleefully told him that Leia, his previous little girl, would be in his hands soon. The trap was laid, the bait was wriggling and Vader would personally make sure that Bail would never see her again.

For Bail, that was the last straw. He started to beg and cry, please please please don't hurt Leia!

"She's just an innocent girl, she just did what I told her, blame me but not her!" he'd begged. "She's pure and young and still has her spirit. If you touch her, she will break. You will lose her just like you've lost Padme."

That, he had to find out the hard way, was the wrong thing to say.

Days of agony passed, of praying to all the gods he'd ever heard of as well as the Force itself that Leia would escape Vader's clutches.

And then one day... A group of troopers took him from his cell. He was pushed into a bathroom and told to clean himself and he got the first real meal in weeks and clean clothes to wear and a woman even came to help pretty him up and hide the gauntness of his face with makeup. He asked what was going on and nobody told him. Right until he was escorted through two dozen hallways by armed troopers. Just before he was pushed through a nondescript door, he was tikd:

"You have five minutes inside. Not a second more. Afterwards, you'll take a shuttle back to Alderaan. Be thankful for the mercy of the Empire. You're being released."

Released? Released?!

Bail had barely enough time to process those words before the door opened and he was pushed inside a luxurious living suite. And there in the middle of it, wearing a old flight suit, stood his daughter.

"Leia?" he whispered, voice broken.

His daughter smiled at him and came over, helping him up.

"Father. I'm here. Everything is going to be alright."

"Alright?! Nothing is alright! What are you doing here? How did he find you?" Bail asked. He was horrified imagining his previous girl receiving the same treatment as him when Vader was inadvertently provoked by her fiery nature.

"I agreed to an exchange", Leia told him softly. "Mother has already been released a week ago. She's waiting for you back home. I wish I could see her but you gave to hug her for me instead."

"An exchange? Oh no, Leia what have you done? Vader... Vader knows. He'll never let you go again. He'll kill you!"

But Leia shook her head. "No he won't. He needs me, father, and he went to too much trouble to find me to just kill me off. I've met with him once already and was treated as a guest. It'll be alright."

"Leia, you don't know what that... That monster is capable of!" Bail exclaimed. "He's trying to trick you, to manipulate you but if that doesn't work, he will hurt you."

But it was as if Leia wasn't even listening.

"Please, you have to trust me. I have a plan and I know what I'm doing. The Force is on my side in this one, I know it. As long as I stay here, Vader promised to leave you, mother and our home world alone. It's a fair exchange and I know how to make the best of my time here."

"Leia..." Bail made helplessly.

Was it already too late? Had Vader already messed up her head with his strange dark Force powers? Leia had seen with her own eyes the aftermath of many of the Empire's and Vader's crimes against sentient beings. She had always loathed him and everyone else high enough in the Empire to put blame on with a rather worrying passion. Bail didn't doubt her love for him or their planet. But if she ever sacrificed herself, he'd thought she would meet her fate with stoic determination. Not with a hopeful smile.

"Leia, why are you doing this?" he asked quietly. He hated to have to admit it but he was afraid of the answer.

Leia took his hands and squeezed them. (She'd never done that before.)

"I believe there is still good in Vader. Somewhere, deep inside. He won't mistreat me and he won't break the word he gave me. You will be safe. And maybe I can save many more people if I stay."

Bail stared at the young woman in front of him.

He didn't recognize her.

"The time is up", a trooper said, motioning with his rifle for Bail to come out.

"It's going to be alright. I love you, father", Leia said and smiled happily.

Leia wouldn't say that to him. It was too mushy, too sentimental for her. She hadn't said 'I love you' since she'd been seven.

"I love you too, my daughter. Please be careful", Bail said hollowly.

Now that he thought about it, the last time he saw Leia on the Rebellion base, not too long after Scarif, she had been very emotional too. She'd forgiven him with such ease when he told her the truth about her parentage when he'd been sure she would be shocked, furious, desperate. It was... as if she'd already known.

Bail's heart sank to his stomach.

Leia had been strange ever since she first escaped Vader's captivity on the Death Star. Ever since she'd been interrogated and possibly tortured and had Vader invade her mind like he'd done with Bail.

Now, she was like an entirely different person.

Months of no contact, no calls, no signs of life - he'd written it off as security measures. But now he stood in front of her after weeks of torture and it looked like she didn't even notice. But she wanted to sacrifice herself for him? His daughter would never do that. His Leia knew that Bail and Breha would do everything for her, including die for her. His daughter knew how important the Jedi were, how great a hope they represented. As much as she might worry for Alderaan and her people, she not to blindly trust someone like Darth Vader to keep any promises.

Another thought crossed Bail's mind and his heart skipped a beat.

It had been hers ship Vader had been following to Yavin IV, that lead the Death Star to the main base of the Rebellion. Since then, she had kept frequent contact with Master Kenobi and her brother Luke. There were even rumors she started Jedi training on her own - possibly with another survivor since Bail knew she wasn't traveling with Master Kenobi. Another Jedi that had escaped the Empire till then. She had build connections and gathered information on the very last of the Jedi still in the galaxy. And now she was willingly surrendering? Returning to Vader?

Too many things were not adding up. This girl... This girl was not Bail's daughter.

Maybe she hadn't been for a long time already.

Maybe... They'd all been played.

Maybe Vader had already won this game long ago.

---

XxX

Darth Vader POV

Darth Vader hissed in pain when the last prosthesis was removed and the mechanical arms started lowering into the bacta tank. Cool fluid started caressing his inflamed flesh. The discomfort held for a few more moments. Normally he'd embrace, it, let it build his frustration, his rage, sharpening it to a pinpoint of purpose. But today... Today he merely drifted. Anger still churned in his stomach but there was far too much to contemplate, to analyse and dissect for him to make use of his usual Sith meditation.

Leia.

'Sweet little Leia, oh I remember how she suggested that as a name if it was a girl, her smile, oh her smile...'

Leia Organa. She was nothing he had expected. Vader could count the number of times he'd met the proud princess on one hand, escaping him time and time again as she got ever bolder in her support missions for the damned Rebellion. He'd expected her to be furious at him, for her to hate him, fear him, spit fire at him, or maybe 'please don't please don't, don't look at me like that' maybe even cry.

But there was no fear in her. No anger. No hatred.

Leia wasn't as good as some of the politicians he knew at keeping her emotions away from her expressions. But she was incredibly hard to read in the Force. If she hadn't reached out for him first, he would probably still wonder. But she had reached out to him first. And there had been... joy. And contentment. Happiness. Pride, even. There had been acceptance and hope and an overwhelming, rock hard conviction. He'd never met anyone with so much self-confidence, especially in something so utterly ridiculous as... as him.

When had been the last time someone entered the room, saw him and smiled that wide because they were happy to see him?

'I know exactly when the last time was.'

Vader clamped down on the pain that that blessed memory was now tainted with and swallowed the sense of betrayal. It made zero sense for Leia to feel that way. She should hate him. He had expected her to hate him. He had prepared for her to hate him. He had made all his plans on the assumption that she'd hate him. He had a whole program planned out for how to turn her hatred for him into hatred for his enemies. But now... What was he going to do now...? He had nothing to work with. 'Nothing to offer her but darkness and pain and what is all that power good for if I can't even...?'

Leia had barely touched her food. He'd noticed that too late.

'I should've paid more attention, she's still growing, she's so small, she needs to eat well, or maybe she'll remain like that, Padmé was small too, oh she looks so much like her, oh my angel, I miss-'

Vader gave a wordless cry of rage, muffled by the mouthpiece that let him breath in the tank. She did it all on purpose. He knew that. It was so obvious. He'd fallen for that same troupe of pretended care from Palpatine. He'd even seen Padmé use her words as weapons so many times. It just usually wasn't against him. But knowing that she did it on purpose did absolutely nothing to soften blow after blow she gave him. Every single word she said rang true and drew him in with impossible strength. It did nothing to weaken the fact that those emotions had been real. Back when Palpatine pretended to care, he hadn't felt it in the Force. Back then he'd though it was because Palpatine wasn't Force-sensitive. The emotions he sometimes picked up over the Force from Padmé were much weaker than what he could pick up from that man. But of course with Palpatine it had really been because he'd never cared.

Leia cared. Leia impossibly cared very deeply when she had every reason not to. She was able to hide it expertly when she wanted to and she was even capable of pushing false emotions forward. She'd done so at the very end when he'd rejected her infuriating request. She seemed to care much more about Vader than about her adoptive father, which 'makes me so happy' didn't make any sense at all. So sure had she been that he would give in to her demands, so clumsy her bluff had been as if it was all a game to her. But she couldn't or wouldn't hide how drawn she was to Vader. He just... didn't understand why. She had rejected every offer of power he made her. Why did she want to connect to him if she rejected his offer of power? Was she really so naïve to think he would spare any more than the bare minimum of people she cared about he could get away with to keep her at his side? Or maybe... Was she really happy to get to known her real father? Could she possibly understand... and feel the same way... about their connection? That all important essential connection of father and daughter? The only person who had always loved Vader, never betrayed him, always believed in him, had been his mother... The one person who shared his blood. Could it be possible that this was enough for Leia to care too..?

No, that was so stupid. He couldn't believe something so stupid even came to mind. Vader had researched the customs and culture of Alderaan extensively in preparation of welcoming his daughter. She would've been raised to disregard her blood relatives in favor of her adoptive parents. Especially since the fact that they were royals and from the proof Vader had seen himself during interrogation of the couple's love for his daughter he couldn't assume that she'd been mistreated in any way. Leia Organa had no reason to accept him this easily.

But she did.

'Oh thank the Force that she does.'

Something was very wrong.

'Something is finally going right.'

There must be some kind of deception. Some kind of hidden purpose, some scheme, some lie.

'I don't care.'

Vader closed his eyes in pain. He'd been here before. It was all repeating again. He kept making the same mistakes, over and over again. Giving, giving, giving until nothing was left, showing every weakness and being stabbed in the back. Force, he had given into her demands, like a fool. He just couldn't not fulfill that stupid wish.

Leia. She would be his undoing. She would destroy him.

'And I still don't care.'

---

Half a galaxy away, Darth Sidious opened his eyes.

Something had shifted in the Force.

---

XxX

AN:

Jediism is an actual religion founded at that time. Supposedly there is a church like that in Texas. However, I couldn't find any physical place connected to it there. Anyway, I have no idea what they're actually offering and what not so I changed the name to simply Jedi Temple and I'll be making up my own stuff about what I imagine Jediism on Twilight-Earth could look like. I don't think anyone actually went and build a serious Jedi temple anywhere or if they did, I haven't found it yet - this is purely a work of fiction! No matter how great it would be f it were more...

Honestly, I'm not all that happy with the first part of this chapter. I don't know, I just didn't feel all that inspired writing up the fight because in the end, even though it was important to build the alliance, a dozen against 3 isn't a particularly high stakes battle. But, on the other hand I'm happier with how Bella and Vader's first meeting turned out. I had particular fun writing Vader's short POV. Not to worry though, he's not been turned overnight. There will be some more work done on that.

Let me know what you think in a review please!