A Destiny Rewritten

chapter vi: the rescue.

"She lied! She lied to us!" Tarkin exclaims. He seems genuinely surprised, but Vader is not shocked at the news.

Grand Moff Tarkin and Darth Vader are standing in the conference room on the Death Star. Tarkin has just been informed by an officer that only an abandoned base was found on Dantooine, and that the rebels are no longer present there.

"I told you she would never consciously betray the Rebellion." It's Vader own way of saying, 'I told you so.' With the way the princess resisted his interrogation methods, it should have been quite obvious that she would not break. Still, it is rather impressive that she allowed her planet to be destroyed in favor of the Rebellion's safety.

Tarkin scowls at him. "And why can't we terminate her? She should die for lying to us, Vader."

"You achieved your objective, Tarkin," Vader tells him coolly. "The Death Star's power has now been demonstrated. And we will never know the location of the rebel base if we kill her now."

The Grand Moff sighs in frustration and defeat. Vader can see the vexation on his face; Tarkin would love nothing more than for Princess Leia to die, but Vader can't allow that.

"I suppose you are right," he gives in. "But what is the true reason you want the princess alive, Vader? You seem very adamant about ensuring her life."

"Do you question my intentions?" Vader inquires harshly. He doesn't like to be regulated; only the Emperor himself has the power to truly give him orders.

"Your behavior lately is just strange," Tarkin shrugs. "Does it have to do with Amidala? Is that why you seem to be protecting the princess?" The Grand Moff is careful with his words, but his tone is definitely more accusatory than curious. Vader can sense his suspicion as well, and he doesn't take kindly to it. He supposes that his behavior is odd, and it isn't much of a surprise that Tarkin has caught on. It is quite strange, after all, to keep a 'prisoner' in a room rather than a cell, and to not use a torture device on them. But it angers him nevertheless; Tarkin should know better than to question his authority.

When Vader does not answer quickly enough, Tarkin continues. "Did Amidala ask you to keep the princess alive? They were captured together; their relationship may be stronger than she has let on."

"Amidala is none of your concern," Vader replies sharply. He hopes that Tarkin will stop there, but to his dismay, he doesn't.

"Just remember where your loyalties should lie," says Tarkin, his pale eyes narrowed.

Vader would have snapped his neck if he wasn't such a highly ranked Imperial. The Emperor would surely punish him if he killed Tarkin; that is the only reason Vader is able to behave himself. In all nineteen of his years as Darth Vader, no one had ever questioned his loyalty to the Empire. Not even the Emperor himself.

"My loyalty," Vader snarls. "Is to the Empire. It is not your place to question that."

Now the Grand Moff is glaring at him with icy eyes. "Just don't let your personal feelings get in the way of your responsibility to the Empire." Tarkin chastises him like a child, and Vader will not tolerate such things. He hasn't been spoken to like this since he was a Jedi.

"I'm not," insists Vader. "Why don't you mind yourself, Tarkin, rather than scrutinize my every move? I assure you, none of my actions will negatively impact the Empire."

Before Tarkin can argue any further, the intercom on the conference table buzzes. "Yes?" Tarkin answers.

"We've captured a freighter entering the remains of the Alderaan system. It's markings match those that blasted its way out of Mos Eisley," a man on the other end of the intercom informs Tarkin.