THE SKYWALKERS: book two

CHAPTER FOUR - Off-World

Padmé opened her eyes in a cold room with walls and a floor and a ceiling that were all entirely black. She sat up slowly, squinting against bright lights, but her leg no longer hurt. In fact, she felt good as new. She appeared to be on a bed in some kind of cell, but not just any cell. One that sterile could only belong to the Empire.

She looked down at herself and discovered she was no longer wearing her charred gown from before. She now sported a gray dress made of a stiff, scratchy material.

With a hissing sound, a door she hadn't noticed before slid open, and in walked a man with gray hair and a stern expression. "Ah, Ms. Amidala—or should I call you Ms. Skywalker? You're awake," the man smiled, but it was cold and did not reach his eyes.

Padmé recognized this man. "Governor Tarkin," she said cordially. "Might I ask why you have kidnapped an entirely peaceful former politician?"

"Entirely peaceful? You are at the head of an extensive military operation. I will not be fooled by your charm.".

"A shame," she pursed her lips. "Could you at least answer my question?"

"No, I cannot. But you are part of the Alliance, aren't you? You are aware of the numerous planets its members inhabit, though they are too weak to stand against us."

She laughed. "Not weak. You're just arrogant."

"If you will tell me where the rest of your family is, we will do this the simple way. If you don't wish to cooperate, we have...other means of persuasion."

Padmé's heart took of beating faster. "I don't know where my family is," she said defiantly.

"A shame," he narrowed his eyes, then turned to a stormtrooper that waited in the doorway of the cell. "Ready the chamber." The trooper nodded and retreated.

The chamber? She shrunk back against the wall. "The Alliance will not be intimidated by you."

He stepped toward the door. "Really?"

Padmé wanted to smack that smug superiority off his face, but she didn't move. She had to be careful until she was sure that she was the only one potentially in danger.

"We shall see." The door slid shut behind Tarkin with another hiss, and Padmé put her head in her hands.

"What are you two doing all the way out here?" Sola asked, drawing the twins into her embrace. She hurried them inside before they could answer. "Why aren't you at the lakehouse?" She drew the curtains in the living room closed. "Where are your parents?"

"They went to an alliance meeting," said Leia, tucking loose strands of hair behind her ears. She was grateful to finally catch her breath.

Sola paled. "They were likely caught up in the scuffle, then."

"Aunt Sola," Luke stepped forward, ignoring his stormtrooper armor; Leia was beginning to peel off her own, glad to shed the weight. "Where are Pooja and Ryoo?"

Sola hung her head. "I have no idea. Pooja should be at the university with Dad. Ryoo...she lives on the other side of town."

"We should go find her," Luke said eagerly. "We can find our parents, too."

"No!" Sola got on her knees to help Leia unhook her utility belt. "You won't do anything of the sort. Your parents would want you to get off-world as soon as possible."

"Don't say 'would' like they're dead! They're not!"

"Luke," Leia warned. "Just get that armor off."

Grumbling, Luke began aggresively peeling it off himself, throwing each piece down. "We have to help them!"