A/N- This update has been long overdue. I have been finishing up my Master's program so I've been a bit busy. If you would like to leave a review, please do so!-GP

Chapter 29- Vader the Rebel

Summary: Alternate World: The Empire Prevails and the Jedi have all been in hiding for thirty years. Emperor Palpatine searches for a way to live long past his dying body through cloning technology and his attempts at descendants. One of his "experiments' escapes and comes to live a slave's life on Naboo. He will meet and forever his destiny changed by the fateful meeting with none other than one young Naberrie girl…

Location: Imperial Sector, Coruscant

Month 5 Day 14 Year 28 BBY

Scouting work bored Vader. He had been ordered by the Council to scout out any potential weapons created by the Imperials and what research was involved. Currently, he has been keeping tabs on one Imperial Officer Ronda who is part of the RA on Coruscant. There has been talk of a potential tracking missile for the TIE class fighters which could even track through dropped tanks of junk. The Council had asked him to survey the Officer until he observed evidence of these schematics. Then he will be able to obtain them with a bit of interrogation. Vader enjoyed those parts of his missions. The Rebellion had approved of his usage of force if necessary.

The last three low-key missions Vader had been on had resulted in promise, but it had also resulted in orders to kill the targets as well. The Rebellion felt if those RA officers were dead, they could no longer take on the projects they had created. Obi-wan had argued this isn't the Jedi way and how could they ask Anakin to do these things. Anakin had accepted the missions without complaint because he felt he was helping the Rebellion rather than just infiltrating the Inquisitors for information. He has never been one full of patience- probably why as a slave he had been beaten. As an Officer in the Imperial Navy, probably why he had gotten so many demerits.

The Inquisitors had caught on to the killing streak after the last murder. Maul had assigned several of his lower Inquisitors to investigate to see if the so-called Terrorist had murdered these Officers. Vader's tracks were covered- mostly. Obi-wan and Anakin had been working on a camouflage mechanism within the suit so that it could blend into its surroundings. The camouflage only laster for a few hours at a time, but it has been enough these last two missions for no one to notice Vader being involved with these deaths.

Anakin had been grateful that Maul had not assigned him this case. Maul felt Anakin's training should be observing everyone, Inquisitors and trainees to filter out the mole within their midst. Maul felt there was a mole even though Anakin had investigated everyone's movements- tracking, and also covering up his tracks. Trying to juggle his last exams for the semester, shifts, and missions from the Council has left him with no time for anyone else- including his girlfriend whom he hadn't seen in a few days. He hadn't even had a chance to speak with her because of these missions and either he had to report back by 3 am at the safehouse or he had to report to work by 7 am which left him running on a few hours of sleep. He had yesterday managed a whole 5 hours before his surveillance shift tonight.

" Any movement?" comes Obi-wan's voice from his comm. link/

Vader sighs and murmurs, " No Officer Rondate is currently indisposed."

He can almost make out Obi-wan's frown within his response. " Indisposed? Please tell me you're referring to him in the Sonic Shower?"

Vader's chuckle comes out more as a low rumbling noise. " Not- quite-"

Anakin- force I hope you can hear me.

Anakin- please- someone is trying to kidnap me.

An-

" Padme,'" His voice rumbles through the wind.

" Anakin this isn't the time to be thinking about Pa-" Obi-wan is interrupted as he hears the low groan coming from his friend as if he's in pain.

Vader clutches his side and manages through the pain that is not his own. " Padme- she's hurt- I've got to go to her."

" Go then!" Obi-wan insists.

Vader stretches out his senses- at least the four blocks he's able to do so too. She has to be nearby for him to feel her pain. He can feel her agony through the force.

She's been shot.

He senses those lifeforms on the street as he races to the edge of the block, still within his camouflage. He had perhaps ten minutes to find her before the mechanism had to be recharged. His senses pick up her force signature two blocks away.

He leaps from the rooftop that he had been perched on, using the force to close the gap onto the next building. He breaks into a run-up and down the lower buildings' roofs. He keeps trying to stretch out his senses to her. He winces as he reaches the first end of the block, feeling her agony.

She's been shot twice.

This makes him break into a faster run- as fast as the suit will allow him to go via the force. He leaps and bounds from another roof-top- then another. He reaches the edge of the last rooftop and notices a masked figure standing nearby with a blaster.

Oh gods I'm going to die here- alone.

Anakin- I love you-

He feels her life force beginning to fade. His terror drives him to dive down into the alley. Still with the camouflage going, he uses the force to swing the bounty hunter sailing straight into the nearest wall via force choke.

" What in blazes?" She croaks out as her head hits the durasteel wall.

Vader stays silent and with a flick of his wrist breaks her neck- not even caring to know who the hell she is. He can feel Padme's life force fading, she needs medical attention soon.

He reaches her not moving body- her face bruised by hitting the ground. He lifts her up and covers her as well with the camouflage. With two figures covered it should be enough for him to get back to his speeder and change and take her back to the safehouse.

Location: Jinn's Safehouse, Coruscant

Month 5 Day 15 Year 28 BBY

Padme's eyes are blurry as she attempts to open her eyes. She blinks and is staring up at a white ceiling which at first appears to be an infirmary. She moans as she feels the pain in her stomach area as she tries to sit up. Her head hurts as well- as if she's been in a fog. Her eyes glance down to the iv's one for fluids and one for medicine.

" It's best if you don't try to move," murmurs a deep vocalization; it sounds almost mechanical.

Padme' leaps off the medical bay bed as she notices the creature in black, leaning in the corner, quietly watching her. Her eyes widened, recognizing its appearance from the holonews. Its soulless black eyes watch her -as if they can read her without knowing her. She winces as she leans down to reach for her blaster. The creature does not move.

" I will not harm you," Its voice rumbles low, watching her carefully. Vader has to tread lightly so she doesn't try to run, especially with Obi-Wan and Qui-gon on the other side of the med-bay.

She grabs her blaster and aims it towards the creature. She winces at the pain in her stomach as it continues calmly, " You shouldn't try to move too much. You could have died, you were shot twice."

Padme' ignores her pain and claims, " You're that terrorist, why are you trying to kill me?"

Vader shakes his helmet, explaining, " I found you unconscious and killed the bounty hunter after you. I did not send her to kill you."

Padme' bites her lip, putting the blaster beside her, and leans against the bed. Vader wants to approach her, but he's terrified that she might try to kill him. She questions, " Why did you save me?"

Silence ensues. Vader does not answer, instead questions, " Do you have any idea why the bounty hunter was after you?"

Padme's mind rolls over the last few days- including Rush's meeting. Oh, Force it had to have been either Krennic or Dooku. They were sending a message to Rush- oh Corde'.

She swallows trying to figure out if she can trust this rebel soldier. She winces again, feeling the pain in her side again. The medication helped take off the edge but it didn't quite take away all the pain. Vader reaches out instinctively through the force, trying to send healing waves to calm her and her pain. Padme' relaxes into the waves as she senses them through the force. Why did he care about her well-being?

" You can trust me." Vader's voice rumbles in a low purr.

Padme' senses the soothing healing waves through the force- almost familiar. The touch is light and full of the light side. She keeps her eyes focused on the life form in front of her, hesitating to explain everything, but for some reason a part of her trusts it.

" I think the bounty hunter was trying to send a message."

Vader can feel his insides freeze. Has his identity been compromised? Has Maul figured out that he is the mole? If he is, he has to figure out a way to get her off-planet, even if it means telling her the truth.

" A message to who?" Vader asks, his mechanical voice, breaking a bit heavier than before.

Padme' notices the change in his breathing. She tries reaching out within the force to the life form in front of her, but she's blocked mentally- shut out by a large protective wall. It crushes her and she takes a step back, sitting completely on the medbay bed. Whomever this creature is doesn't want her to know its identity and is very powerful within the force.

" The message I believe is for my boss," Padme says, trying not to pant as her chest feels heavy.

Vader notices her panting and sends more soothing waves through the force. Why would a bounty hunter be sending a message to Senator Rush Clovis? Rush is not a member of the Rebellion, nor a high official other than being connected to the Banking Clan.

He turns to her and demands, " Why? What has he done?"

Padme' swallows and feels a bit of fear hearing his demands. Perhaps this is all a trap. Yes, it could be that she had been knocked out, patched up enough to be questioned by the Rebellion. But how did the Rebellion get wind of the Battle Station? Rush is too much of a coward and self-preservation to have any connections to the Rebellion. Neither Director Krennic nor Count Dooku don't seem like the type to betray their Emperor. Perhaps Vader wants the Battle Station for himself- he is a terrorist either allied with the Rebellion or on his own.

Vader senses her mind reeling and her terror of him. He has no idea how to calm her down without revealing his identity, but he cannot do that without a good reason. He tries again, calmer as the vocalizer does make his voice seem more intimidating.

" What has Senator Clovis done?"

Padme' swallows, her throat a bit dry from being asleep for who knows how long. She sighs. What has she gotten herself into? And why did Vader find her? She had wanted Anakin. Gods she needs Anakin now. Her mind wanders to her last thoughts before she blacked out.

Oh gods I'm going to die here- alone.

Anakin- I love you-

She had been reaching out into the force to reach Anakin in a desperate attempt at a rescue.

No- it can't be.

Padme' shakes her head, disbelieving her thoughts. Anakin is loyal to the Empire. He's training to become an Inquisitor. He had volunteered to join the Imperial Academy. He is no Rebel. But her mind jumps back to the time he had come to her angry. It had been the night Vader had first appeared. Anakin had been exhausted as if he had been up all night.

Oh Gods- it's true.

" What has Senator Clovis done?" Vader repeats as patiently as he can. She has said nothing, but he can feel her mind wandering- terror radiating off her, but a sense of calm as well.

Padme' swallows and says one sentence. One sentence that will break the lies between them for good.

" You can take off your helmet, Anakin, I know it's you."

To Be Continued