Vader stood in the main reception room of the Palace of Theed, browsing through the reports on his datapad. Lieutenant Piett stood beside him, reviewing the same reports, hoping to see a connection that they had missed.

A stormtrooper captain entered the room, striding to the Sith Lord and saluting.

Vader turned to the man. "Yes, Captain."

The former clone trooper of the 501st Legion said, "We have captured an informant, Lord Vader." His orange shoulder pad denoted his rank on the otherwise ubiquitous white armor.

"Very good."

"Evidence has led us to believe the center of this conspiracy is in the Lake Country, near Lake Paonga."

Vader rumbled in approval. "Excellent. If the informant is of no further use, dispose of him, Captain. Make him an example of what happens to Rebel scum."

"Yes, my lord." The captain pivoted on his heel, departing to carry out his orders.

"Lieutenant!"

Piett looked up from his datapad. "Yes, my lord."

"Make arrangements to move our central operations to Varykino in the Lake Country." Vader clenched his fist in the air.

"The entire contingent, my lord?"

"Leave a small force to maintain control here, but bring the boy."

"Will I be resuming the boy's education?"

"No, Lieutenant, I will need your help if we are ever to get to the bottom of this Rebellion. Bring the boy's tutor with us. She can at least keep him out of trouble." 

"Very well, my lord."

Vader departed, thinking of her. How can I go on, Padmé? This is too much. Varykino will seem empty without you.

By the time they had arrived at the Lake Country, the sun had long since set. The servants at the villa had provided the Imperial contingent with nourishment before showing them to their quarters.

Vader, though, could not sleep without his hyperbaric chamber. He found himself drawn to the moonlight that shone on the terrace above Lake Paonga. He was finally able to meditate here, gazing out across the lake, looking at the moon that had shone down on him and his Padmé so often—the place where they had joined hands fourteen years earlier at the beginning of the Clone Wars. 

Quemé spoke through the open hatches of the adjoining refresher unit. "Into your sleeping clothes right away. You can wash in the morning. It's late."

"Oh, why do I have to go to sleep right now?" Biggs yawned. "I want to explore this place."

"Biggs, there will be plenty of time to explore this place in the morning. It is packed with plenty of history, you know."

He pulled on his pajama bottoms. "Why does everything have to be a history lesson with you?"

The governess entered the sleeping chamber, stepping softly. She wore her handmaid uniform of bright red with touches of yellow and orange resembling a flame. Her habit held back her brown curly hair, but her modesty veil hung loosely against the side of her face, revealing her kind smile. 

"Because, if we refuse to learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it." Her eyes twinkled at the young boy. "Now, climb into bed quickly. Lord Vader will arrive any time now."

After resting his head on the pillow, Quemé pulled the covers up, tucking him in.

Luke reached up and grabbed onto her errant curls. "Why do you hide your hair under that scarf?"

She pulled back the coil from his hands, the hair sliding through his loosely-clenched fingers. "It is a uniform. It shows that I am a member of the queen's handmaidens—just like the stormtroopers wear armor." Quemé leaned in, stroking his face. 

"You're really nice. Did you ever think about getting married . . . because I want to marry you."

Quemé bit her lip and then smiled with bittersweet memories. "I've been married. I even had a little boy once. You remind me of him." A tear escaped her eye.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry. What was he like?"

"He had blue eyes, just like you. And when he smiled, I thought my heart would stop. I think he would have had your sense of adventure, too."

"What happened to your husband?"

"The Clone War. It changed everything in my life." Bitterness crept into Quemé's voice. "It took my husband from me and my son."

"I'm sorry. I lost my parents in the Clone War, too."

"But you got your father back." Her bitterness melted away with a warm smile.

The boys mouth dropped open in fear.

"Don't worry, it's our secret. I heard you call him 'Daddy' in Theed. I'm glad you found him. I wouldn't want any child not to have their parents."

"I wish I knew my mother."

"What was her name?"

"Padmé."

Quemé shuddered at the name.

"Daddy says she was a queen." Biggs's eyes watered with tears. "I know it's silly to miss someone you never knew, but I do miss her, Quemé."

The governess sat back. Her shoulders hunched in. She felt for the japur snippet that hung beneath her gown, fingering it. She looked at the boy anew, wiping his tears. "Maybe one day you will."

Quemé took the boy into an embrace, stroking his hair and kissing the top of his head before settling him in the bed.

"I'll check on you later, Biggs. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a busy day for us all."

As she exited the room, she turned back to him at the door. "I love you." She whispered the last word. "Luke."

Gasping for breath, Quemé leaned her head against the corridor wall. That boy Biggs . . . he's my son. And if he is my son, then my husband is . . . Lord Vader. Oh, Anakin.

It was too much to take in all at once. She remembered the last time she saw him on Mustafar, so sure that what he was doing was right, but was so wrong. Luke's words from the last night in Theed came back to her—"I know there is still good in him. He loves me."

She jumped when she heard a voice behind her.

"Lady Quemé is everything all right?" Lieutenant Piett stood next to her, efficient as ever.

"Yes, I'm fine." She quickly raised her veil and fastened it to her headdress.

"Very well." Piett turned to continue on his way.

She extended her hand. "Wait, Lieutenant. Could you tell me where Lord Vader is?"

"I'm sorry. He has asked not to be disturbed. Perhaps in the morni—"

Quemé pulled herself up in all of the queenly authority that she had ever possessed. "Lieutenant, he will speak with me. This concerns the boy. Now, either you will take me to him, or I will go there myself. I am sure he would not be pleased if he found out that you prevented me from seeing him about the boy."

Piett swallowed and clenched his teeth in fear. "Very well, my lady, if it is that important. Follow me."

Did you know . . . 

● I'm playing with a mask theme in these chapters. Anakin is hidden behind Vader's mask. Padmé is hidden behind the alias of Quemé, and Luke as Biggs. Nothing is right when they are not themselves. Only when the masks are removed will things become right.

Tell me what you think . . .

● How do you think Vader will react when he realizes Palpatine and Obi-Wan lied to him to about Padmé's death?