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Now, time for some backstory...
Chapter Three
True Power
After leaving the office of the Senator, Darth Vader walked around the Senate Rotunda or as it was more appropriately called the Senate Arena.
Getting lost in the seemingly endless maze of grand staircases and hallways.
Thinking.
This was...this was real. This was happening. He was really going to marry this...this politician. If it wasn't for the respirator Vader would have curled his lip in disgust. This former Queen turned Senator of Naboo. Though, Vader supposed he was on some level relieved it was not only a woman, but also someone he knew—no.
No.
How many times must he remind himself? He was Vader—Darth Vader! He was not that foolish, scarred little boy. He was not him. Not anymore. Vader vowed long ago that he would never be him again.
As his one time master Maul said, "Fear is for the weak, boy!" The Zabrak often said during those few but long months. Until Sidious and Tyranus came.
Even Tyranus had said the same, "Sith do not fear, and I sense much fear in you!"
Foolish old man. He knew nothing of the Dark Side.
Vader had!He had conquered his fear!
And as Sidious said, "By harnessing our emotions of fear and anger—rather than suppressing them." Such as the dogmatic Jedi, "The Sith achieve true power."
And Vader had. He had achieved true power. Physically. In time he would obtain his ultimate goal—galactic power.
Vader also wondered if Maul were still alive would Sidious have made him do such a thing. Marry the Senator. Really, knowing the tattooed Zabrak he would have cut her in half by now.
Hm! And here Vader hadn't touched a hair on the Senator's head. And yet the Galactic community called him a monster.
But someday they would see...they would all see. After Palpatine had done all the messy cleaning up. Trying to unite Galaxy. "Secure" it. In the end, it would only unite against him—there was a reason the Rebel Alliance existed. They would see. They would all see, when the time was right—Vader would take him down. And the Empire and its beings would be grateful. Freeing them from the shackles of Palpatine. The Outer Rim would be grateful—when he took down the Hutts and freed every last slave. They would all be grateful and he would be made Emperor! And they would love him!
Someday...
Vader shook his head. He knew he shouldn't think about the future, it would only distract him. He had to concentrate on the here and the now. Vader thought back to the Senator. He also supposed she had the experience to the job. Though Vader wasn't certain if she was the one for the job. She was rumored to have ties to the Rebellion. Also, both Queen and Senator Amidala had always been an idealist. Bringing the Gungans and the Naboo back together. Going against the Trade Federation when the Old Republic Senate did nothing, as always. And so on and so forth.
Though the Senator did seem afraid of Palpatine, as she should be. Still, he couldn't help feel it was more than her being "experienced" and her "weaknesses". Though he supposed that her fear and experience could be very useful. Well, that and her clear love and weakness for her family. The fact that her father was currently imprisoned made this the perfect storm. Or was it? Maybe Sidious had something to do with that. He was from the same world as the Senator, or perhaps not. The Senator had probably gotten her idealism from somewhere.
Finally, he stopped in one of the grand sitting rooms. Though he did not sit. He simply paced around the room. The being who had been sitting here had already ran out of the room. He could still feel their presence and fear through the Force.
Vader leaned out onto the railing. Looking across the awning below. He looked clear across the Senate District and the horizon.
Again, Vader knew he shouldn't think about the future, but he could not help it. One day this would all be his. Vader was one step closer to his goal. The Senator was only a minor inconvenience, but a useful one. For now. Still, he would not allow this Senator to distract him from his ultimate goal. To sit upon the throne.
For some reason Vader then looked down across the awning below. Covering some sort of Alderaanian eating area. But Vader hardly noticed. What he was more interested in was one of the patrons sitting there.
Vader's... His... What was the correct word? His betrothed? Bride to be? Fiancée? He didn't like any of the choice word. Probably because he really didn't want to be "married" in the first place. Decided to stick to thief or Senator.
More importantly, she was not sitting alone. She was sitting with a man. Who was speaking with her...and she was speaking with him.
Vader's simmering yellow eyes narrowed.
The being was a white human male. Dark hair and what looked to be tattoos on his face.
Curious...but it was no matter. He didn't really care if she continued to see anyone outside their "marriage". It was simply only one of convenience.
Still...it couldn't hurt to know who this man's identity.
Vader almost took another step, but decided not to. If he moved anymore closer, beings could see or hear him. Instead, he called out, "Trooper."
The trooper ran towards his commanding officer. "Yes, my lord," he saluted the Supreme Commander.
Vader pointed his gloved finger in the Senators' direction. "Do you know who that man is?"
The trooper turned his helmet towards the direction his commanding officer had pointed at. "The one sitting next to Senator Amidala sir?"
"Yes," Vader impatiently answered. "Him."
The trooper took another look. "Negative, my lord." He shook his helmeted head. "I do not know the man's identity, but I have seen him around from time to time." The trooper assumed he was a politician. Possibly also a Senator, but it was hard to say. There were thousands of systems in the Empire. "I can also tell you he is often seen among Senator Amidala's company."
Vader's eyes narrowed. "Find out who he is." Name. Address here on Coruscant and homeworld. And any other useful information.
"Yes sir!" Again, the trooper saluted him.
Vader then took another look at the man. Again, while he did not care who his wife continued to see outside their "marriage". Such information could prove to be useful one day.
Meanwhile...
"I don't...I don't understand," Senator Rush Clovis answered. He was clearly fighting back the tears in his eyes. They had practically living together for the last few months. Days ago, he had just proposed to her. She had said "yes". They had been so happy. Now she was giving back his mother's ring? It didn't...it didn't make any sense.
"Soon you will," Padmé lowered her head somberly.
The Scorpio native still didn't understand. He...he didn't even want the ring back. It was hers. Rush had given it to her and... "I deserve a better answer," He tried to argue. "I've shared - was planning to share my life with you!" He told her everything. The good, the bad, and not mention the real secrets he shared with her and that they all now shared.
"I know," She answered. "And I'm sorry, but I can't marry you." That was true. She got up. Kissed him on the cheek. Turned around and slowly walked out the food court.
Padmé took a deep breathe. That could have gone better. Then again, it could have gone worse.
In time, Clovis would see she was doing this to save his life. Padmé had a feeling he was lucky to be alive. It was rather amazing Clovis did not have some "tragic" accident like the late Sate Pestage. As an act of revenge from the Emperor and his Enforcer himself. So he would have to stay away from her if he wanted to live. Padmé just hoped he would. Especially once all this came out.
Padmé and Clovis had dated previously when the first joined the Senate all years ago. After the Empire was formed they had reignited their relationship once more.
While Clovis had his uses, Padmé truly was tired of being alone. Yes, she had been surrounded by friends, handmaidens, family, and colleagues her entire life. But still, Padmé was tired of going home to an empty apartment in the evening. Which is why she agreed to begin dating him again. While she had never planned to marry while in office...unless it served greater purposes, she knew the Senate would one day soon be dissolved. The Senate recesses were becoming longer and longer. During the time of the Galactic Republic they had a total of two month vacation. Eighteen months after Palpatine declared himself Emperor, the Senate vacation time was upped to three months. Currently it was five and half months. It was only a matter of time until it was upped to six months and then one day...the Senate wouldn't return from their vacations at all.
But even still, while Padmé knew she cared for Clovis, would it really have worked? She smiled sadly. Padmé sensed it would not. And he would not work into her long term plans. True, Clovis had his uses. Along with companionship, he had given her what she needed, but now that she had it, she no longer needed him.
But Vader could provide her with everything else she had planned and much, much more.
Padmé smiled.
Padmé would meet Vader later tonight. Back at her office. She had no intention of letting that monster into her home...and yet she was considering marrying the creature? Though could it even be called considering anymore? After all, she had just ended her all too brief engagement.
Though really, while Vader hadn't exactly said so, she suspected she had little choice in this marriage. Even if she refused, Palpatine would almost certainly force her. While continue to keep her father locked up. Assuming they followed through with their promise. That she would not—could not allow that. He was her father and she loved him and he loved her. So Padmé had to try. Not only for her family, but also because of all the good she could do in such a position. Not only could she save the lives of the entire Senate. But think of what help Padmé could be to her colleagues and their cause. Maybe...she sensed Palpatine would do his best to control her. Would he succeed? Padmé had to admit he was doing a good job of it so far.
But...perhaps in time she would have a weapon of her own to use against that monster and Vader.
Still, Padmé had to know what was in the fine print of this marriage before this went any further. Though she was certain Vader or Palpatine especially would give her a straight answer.
While Palpatine was a political animal, Vader was no politician. So she sensed he had few skills in masking the truth. Though how readable could he be? Appearance wise, he was made of nothing but robes and a respirator that covered most of his face. The only part of him that could be read would be his sickly yellow eyes. The only humanoid part of him— that anyone knew about was his eyes.
Really, what did the public really know about Vader? He didn't appear until the tail of the Clone Wars a year ago. In some ways he reminded Padmé of the cyborg, General Grievous. The ruthless leader of the Separatists' Droid Army. Vader, also a cyborg was the leader of the Grand Army of the Empire. And again they did not know anything about him. His height while officially unknown, though according to estimations he was at least two meters off.
Even simply how old was Lord Vader? While he seemed rather energetic and cunning in battles. While at times other times he walked like an old man. Perhaps Vader was an old, wrinkly man like the Emperor. One who she would have to marry and possibly sleep with...Padmé held that thought. She hoped not, to say the least. That question would be on the list she would ask Vader later tonight. Before she gave her final answer. For now she would think of other things she might need to learn from him.
Where was he from? Coruscant? Darth Vader made his first public appearance during the Jedi Temple during their Rebellion. Though according to Palpatine, Vader saved Palpatine from the Jedi assassination plot earlier that dark evening. Hence his "gratefulness" towards Vader. No one knew anything about him before that time. Padmé suspected he was a former Jedi. Fallen to the Dark Side, like some Jedi had during the Clone Wars. Or that he had been some secret apprentice of Palpatine's alter ego Darth Sidious.
Padmé supposed this was her chance to learn. After all, such information could quite...useful one day.
On the day, Padmé Amidala would attain true power to set everything right. By taking the throne herself.
What do you think? About Vader's AU backstory. About Padmé's very AU character?
Also, how would you all feel about the rating possibly going up in the later chapters? Nothing is official yet. Nor will it be for anytime soon, but later on.
Next chapter to Surprises: Unimaginable should be coming within a few days.
Updated: 3/14/2019
Review please!
