Author's notes:

Yeah, sorry this one took so long (comparatively to my other chapters), currently experiencing a bit of writer's block. Just trying to figure out how I'm going to get to the part of the story which I have thought out in my head in a plausible and enjoyable way. I have a long list of things that will happen, just gotta build the bridge to get there. So chapters might be a bit slow to release in the coming future until I get back into the flow.

On a different note, since I've had so much trouble on this fic I started writing on another idea, I've read several fics that have just abruptly ended and stopped receiving updates and some of the ideas in them really appealed to me so I decided to combine them.

So yeah, Sith Blue Blood, my second fanfiction, pretty heavy AU wise, main themes: Sith Padmé, the war between the confederacy and Republic is a bit different, the force is more science like but still seems like magic. The first five chapters are out, mostly a prologue that explains the major changes that I've done. Planning on making arcs that I release all chapters for simultaneously instead of going 1 - 1 - 1 and so on, more like 5 — 5 — 5.

Just go to my profile and it should be found there, if you're interested in reading it.

Act 1 Part 12

The Handmaidens

"Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love."

Morihei Ueshiba

Vader found himself once again standing in Padmé's tomb, simply looking at the effigy on her sarcophagus like he had all the previous times he'd been here. It did not perfectly resemble her but that was only natural with handcraft such as this, it isn't as much about accuracy and more about the effort, the heart and soul of it…

He felt like he was in a weird part of his life, on top of everything else…

Everything that happened with Padmé's family, the way they somehow found it in themselves to accept him. How he seemingly had everything he could ever want… except for the thing he wanted the most. He couldn't really put his finger on it but everything just felt strange, he was elated at the possibility that his child might be out there, alive. But at the same time he was terrified, not knowing where they were, not knowing if they were safe or in danger. What had Padmé named their child? Had she named their child? Was it a boy or a girl? So many questions that both excited and terrified him about finding the answers to them.

Every part of him wanted to just rush out into the galaxy and try to find his child, but he couldn't… he had so much he needed to do. It wasn't like finding his offspring was not his first priority right now, in this short time of freedom he's had Vader had gone through a thorough personality change. It was clear even to himself due to for example Palpatine noting it, how he was seemingly interested in things that would've bored him out his mind half a year ago. He was still the same person but… how to explain it, it was as if he had been slammed by a large hammer, the air knocked out of his lungs. He'd received such a thorough shock by the death of Padmé and everything that came after that he took on these new interests and convictions to regain his posture… regain any semblance of normality.

He wasn't entirely sure of everything or how to even describe it, a psychologist could probably get a better read on this whole scenario, they would undoubtedly have experience with this kind of thing. But right now is not the time to think about going to a psychologist or try to put his feelings into words and sentences, he was here to meet with his solution to his most pressing problem. Finding his and Padmé's child, and those who would help him do it, Padmé's former handmaidens.

They had been surrounding the tomb for maybe 10 minutes, just watching him… it was actually getting a bit irritating. There were five of them and each of them seemed very tense, well who wouldn't be tense observing Vader just standing completely still. But around 15 minutes after they'd arrived and at the specified time one of them went inside the tomb, finally.

The handmaiden that had gone inside to meet with him stopped approximately halfway between the entrance and Vader. Vader didn't move or say anything; he simply kept staring at Padmé's effigy. He wanted the handmaiden to start the conversation, letting him gauge her attitude…

"Greetings, stranger." Cautious… wariness… he could tell quite easily, not only from her tone but also through the force. How to handle this then? Straightforward or should I beat around the bush. He turned his head first, sizing up the handmaiden that had come to talk with him. They looked so alike… well, that had been their job after all. It was almost like seeing Padmé again which made him a bit emotional but it wasn't her, this particular handmaiden was a smidge taller and that fire in her eyes was very different from Padmé's and not to mention the different presence in the force… Sabé…

"Greetings, shadow." He put emphasis on the last word, just like Sabé had done. Vader on the other hand wanted to convey something very different to the handmaiden known as "The Queen's Shadow", he knew who she was, he was the one in control here. Her reaction was barely visible, but to one with the force it was trivial to see, shock, confusion and a tiny hint of curiosity mixed in beneath the other emotions.

"I take it you are the one Mrs Naberrie was referring to… the one that could help us." She really seems to like emphasizing words Vader noted. Maybe that was her way of being straightforward while still keeping most to herself.

"Yes, that would be me… although it would be more apt to say that you would be helping me." Responding in a similar way, also emphasizing the most important words in his sentence.

"Well… before we do anything there is something I would like to know, who is it that I am speaking to?" It was almost comical the way this conversation was playing out, honestly amusing Vader thought.

"Introductions ehh… well, you can call me Vader, Darth Vader." Another prod, gauging her reaction to information.

"Darth? Like from those old myths about the Sith?" Compared to the start of their conversation she was more curious now, but there remained a hint of fear and hesitancy.

"Yes… just like those old myths." She casually moved her right hand to rest on her hip, he couldn't exactly see it since it was hidden underneath a cloak which she had on. But he knew very well what that gesture meant, she was prepared if things came down to a fight… which it wouldn't but he couldn't fault her for being prepared.

"There is no need for that Sabé, I pose no danger to you or the others." Her facade broke after hearing those words, the shock was clear on her face.

"How… how do you know my name?" Well at least she was done emphasizing words now thankfully, even if it was amusing it was a bit tiring.

"Let's say… necessity on a certain level, you can tell the others to come in if they would like… Dormé I can sense easily, the others… Saché, Eritaé and lastly Rabé, no?"

Sabé didn't respond, she just stared dumbfounded at him. Not moving or saying a word so Vader continued but this time louder so that the other handmaidens who were standing behind corners or just outside the entrance could hear..

"I know all of you, there is no need to hide so do come out, I know that all of you have been observing me for quite a while now." There was no response, until Sabé's comm beeped. In response she made some kind of signal which was then followed by the appearance of the 4 other handmaidens. All of them were clearly showing the blasters they were carrying, which honestly surprised Vader. While he had told Jobal not to actually mention him and just say that he was a person that could help he hadn't expected them to be this cautious, do they not trust Padmé's own mother?

After they gathered up around Sabé in a small semi circle Vader spoke.

"It is my understanding that you all have been searching for Padmé's body ever since her death during the Jedi rebellion, is that correct?" The group looked around to each other with wary looks before Sabé spoke. "That is correct, although we don't believe in the reasons given by the empire for her death."

"Why not?" He responded. More wary looks were exchanged between them, Vader couldn't sense anything particular through the force which he found peculiar. They were seemingly communicating completely wordlessly, impressive.

"For reasons which we are not willing to share with you, but let's just say we have a pretty ironclad reason that contradicts what the official statements claim." Their loyalty was still present even after Padmé's death, good, that would hopefully make all of this easier.

"That it was the Jedi that killed her?" He continued his questioning, if his plan was to come to fruition then he needed to get an even greater understanding when it came to the handmaidens.

They all gave a unanimous nod, they were among the few who knew of Anakin's relationship with Padmé… and that knowledge is now what made them refute what the Empire was saying.

"What is your interest in all of this, Darth Vader? What does a supposed myth want with our lady and why do you use her first name like you knew her?"

He didn't answer, instead he turned, he was now facing away from the group… he looked at the mosaic window, the one that resembled Padmé as queen… He sensed how the others in the tomb began feeling on edge, after finding the right words he turned back to the group.

"I can offer you two things, although I can only give both if you agree to my terms. Firstly I can give you her last known location, I will give you this even if you decline my offer. The second thing that I offer is access to unlimited resources to conduct your search, although I can only give you that if you agree to work for me…"

He made a momentary pause while audibly breathing out… "And lastly…If you want to know why I am interested in finding and retrieving her body, then you must accept my offer of working for me… and that… is non negotiable. So, what do you say?"

Dawnbreaker

" 'Tis not enough to help the feeble up, but to support them after."

William Shakespeare

The chill breeze, twisting and flowing in the air making the leaves and foliage rustle. The rhythmic sound of waves reaching up the shoreline, the cold and encompassing feeling of the water. She loved it here, it had only been a little like two months since she first woke up and found herself here… she woke up in her bed, in her room.

At first it had been hard, the two initial weeks had really been a challenge, but a welcome one. Getting used to the soft bed, the blanket that felt like a cloud, the clothes… force, the clothes were so different. She had never really had any choice when it came to clothing during her life, boorish Jedi robes, brown, beige… the only real thing she could call fashionable were the knee high leather boots. But now she had so many choices, although she would usually be in training clothes most of the day seeing as that was what she was doing most of the time.

Her new master, Darth Vader… that was probably the biggest change in her life, ever since he'd saved her… her feelings were mixed about that. She held no ill will to her new master whatsoever, in fact she held only gratitude to him… it was how she felt about herself that was what was complicated. She felt ashamed, about having been so weak… how she had just crumbled, how she had given up so easily. That shame would turn into anger and then self hatred, she hated to think about it… her weakness.

The floodgates had opened when she was freed from the Jedi, all those pent up feelings came crashing fourth. Something that had really shown itself during those first two weeks, thankfully her master had been there to teach her how to get a grip on it. She thought back to one moment that would probably stick with her for the rest of her life…

She was sitting on the beach, just like she was doing right now. It had been two days since her new life had started and so much had already happened. It was during that day, when the shame, the anger and the self hatred born from her weakness had shown itself. She had been unable to sleep so had chosen to go exploring instead in an attempt to get her mind on something else, but she had eventually ended up here on the beach just sitting and looking out at the lake. The sun had just begun rising and even though it stung slightly in her eyes she couldn't help but stare at it. She had therefore completely missed the fact that she was no longer alone.

"It won't get any easier…" Startled out of her rumination, her head jolted up to look at the source of those words, Vader, her master.

"The shame of weakness, that searing anger and deep self hatred born out of it. It's not going to get easier to deal with." She wasn't surprised that he already knew what she had been thinking about, even during the little time she had spent with him she'd come to understand that he could easily tell what she was feeling and that he understood how she felt.

"I don't get it… why does it have to hurt so much? Why do I feel this way?" Maybe he could give her an answer, even if he said that it wouldn't get any easier. She just wanted to understand. She was so unaccustomed to letting her feelings and emotions affect her…

"Your old master was Velna Harée, no?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"Well, that does explain a few things."

"What? Why?"

"I never liked her, she always seemed like a stuck up person who thought she was better than everyone. She would always preach that true Jedi were supposed to be above emotions and feelings, she thought they were inherently bad and only lead to the darkside no matter what the emotion or feeling was. As a Jedi she thought it was her utmost duty to simply help people quickly and efficiently, emotions got in the way of that in her opinion… Well that's what I can recall about her."

"Yeah… that sounds like her, unemotional… distant, she wouldn't even acknowledge my birthday." Her voice seemed to lack any happiness when she responded to his summation of her old master. "I always envied other padawans…"

"I would claim that she was among the worst in the order, the ones who brought about the decay and stagnation." In the past she would've refuted that statement vehemently… but now? Now she understood, now that her eyes were open. The Order was corrupt and rotting, among many other things.

"As for an answer to your question… I can't say for sure why it hurts for you." Dalia looked down at her feet, dejected by his answer, but he had only made a slight pause after which he continued. "I know why it hurts for me though… It's because I know… I know I could have prevented it. With the knowledge I've gained after the fact, I know I could've done things differently."

She sat there soaking in his words, they didn't exactly apply to her situation perfectly, but in the broad strokes? Yes… she could've done things differently. It didn't have to play out like it did.

"Well, come along now, breakfast won't eat itself and your training won't complete itself." She thought she heard a laugh when he talked, she got up from the ground and followed after Vader who had begun walking back to the estate. It won't stop hurting so there is no point in feeling sad for yourself Dalia, just make sure it will never happen again.

She couldn't help but give a smile when she remembered that morning. "You've come a long way since that day… and you've got ways to go still." She said aloud.

The sun had begun rising signaling the new day, she had gone to sleep a bit too early the previous day which meant she had awoken when it was still dark outside. She hadn't been able to go back to sleep so instead she had gone down to the shore and waited for the sun to rise. Just being able to do that simple thing filled her with warmth, even if it was pretty cold in the mornings this time of year on Naboo.

She may have been going a bit overboard the past 3 days, but she couldn't help it… her master had said that he would have two tests for her today. Even if she was a bit apprehensive about what they might entail she was still excited to show how far she had come in the past weeks.

She went about doing her usual morning routine, stretching, eating breakfast and not long after she felt his presence. Rushing outside she saw the silhouette of his fighter approach before it set down beside the small dock that reached out into the lake. She practically ran down the steps and stood waiting expectantly for him to make his way over towards the estate. He was in his usual black helmet, and had the long flowing cloak that covered the rest of his body as well under which he had a suit of armour on.

"Someone is eager to get started, I see." He said in his deep modulated voice.

"Yes, master." She responded quickly, he then motioned for her to follow him and she quickly fell into step on his right.

Eventually they ended up in the terrace garden, it had several flowers around the edges of it, the varying colours and sizes really made for a beautiful sight. The main part though was the very shallow stone pool which had a large tree whose branches and leaves covered it completely making the entire pond draped in its shadow. The water barely went over one's foot if you were to step into the pool, it was circular and took up most of the space in the garden.

"Time to show how much you've grown, my apprentice." Vader said.

Vader's cloak fell to the ground revealing the armoured physique underneath it. He stepped out into the pond and walked to the opposite end, the water splashed with his heavy steps. He turned and in his hands were two lightsabers that looked identical, there was a slight curve to them and they seemed to be very well made. She realized pretty quickly what he wanted to test, her skill with her lightsaber.

She stepped into the circular pond and took a wide stance with her legs while she reached for her lightsaber. She ignited it and the shadowy pond was illuminated in a blue glow. Vader's blades ignited a short moment after, instead of the usual snap hiss like with all other lightsabers there was a distinct roar sound. Two black blades emerged from the blades' hilts.

Time to show how much you've grown Dalia.