Rating: This is rated M, there may be some disturbing scenes, obscene language and sexual scenes, viewer discretion is advised.
I hope you enjoy Chapter 8!
The trip back to Tatooine was a pleasant one and I remember it like it was yesterday. I was nervous, not because of the meeting but because of meeting with Padme, again. Naboo isn't far from here and would only take a couple of hours to travel too, but the difference between Naboo and Tatooine, is one planet is in the Republic and the other the Outer Rim Territories and relations aren't exactly friendly. However, no Republic official or Jedi would ever tell me what I could and could not do.
This was the meeting where I make her mine and failure wasn't an option.
I also had to contend with the Jedi and the other Senator that they sent.
The Jedi were no doubt suspicious of me, an eighteen year old, Force sensitive, Chancellor of the Outer Rim Territories...
I doubted they were even that dumb and I turned out to be right. However their source of information wasn't as helpful as they would've liked, I made sure of that and had back up plans for my back up plans and they looked like idiots in the end. You don't mess with the Dark Lord of the Sith and live to tell about it, it may take some time but you will meet your end, eventually.
In the end the meeting was a success, more for me than anyone else. Leaving Amidala wanting more.
I landed my shuttle back in my secluded hangar that is the most secure hangar on the planet and is protected by my hired guns, mercenaries to protect it even when I am away and anyone who gets close is warned to keep moving or they may be shot and killed, per my standing order. I put a lot of work into my baby and I'll be damned if I allow some thug to mess with her. I modified my hangar making it the most secure hangar and trying to break in is next to impossible, I may be a little paranoid about it but this ship is my baby, and I take care of my baby. I put a lot of her work into her and she is mine.
"Welcome back, Lord Vader." My personal mercs greeted in unison as they held their blaster rifles in their hands.
"How was everything?" I asked knowing once something happens on Tatooine, everyone knows about it.
"Quiet, but your orders have already been put in motion." The merc assured me. "Security was tightened and the talks should go off without a hitch, unlike what happened on Mandalore."
"You heard of that?" I asked with a laugh, I forgot that the whole thing was recorded and put on the secure holonet. In the Outer Rim we have our own version of the holonet, it was created by me and a few other engineering geniuses, there are quite a few worlds out here that work on communications and they were a great help in doing this. It is also one hundred percent secure, only those in the Outer Rim know of it and have access to it.
"Of course, I liked the head on the spike." The merc said with a laugh.
"I told Lord Maul that I want the head on a spike, then I took one of their swords and he was already beheaded. I figured if I planted it outside of their former HQ then people will get the message." I said with a devious smile. "I think they did."
"Just another reason why you are in charge." The merc said kissing my ass, metaphorically speaking.
"That is my way, my way or death. Mandalore needed to learn a lesson and I was eager to teach it. If you cross me, that'll be the last thing you do." I said and walked away, I don't normally speak with the regular people here or my own staff but why not? There is no rule that says a Sith can't talk to nobodies.
I made my way back to the Palace and walked to the conference room where the talks would happen and I was impressed, well no I wasn't, I was just being polite. It is too bland, but then again, it is the Republic I am meeting with and I don't care what they think, they believe that we are beneath them and I'll allow them to believe that but they will be surprised.
I looked around the room and saw the long rectangular table was set out with six chairs, three on either side. A protocol droid sat to the side and was turned off and another droid, a waiter/server, if you will was also turned off next to the first droid. The room wasn't fancy, but it was big and newly furnished since it was empty before. There will be more added to it, some food, drinks and such but that won't happen until we close in on the date.
Speaking of dates, I don't know how to have one. I've never been on one and that is well... beneath the Sith. Love isn't an emotion that the Sith recognize, nor do the Jedi. But like I've said before, I am not most Sith and I make my own rules. I guess I will have to do my research on Padme and this whole romance thing, I am sure the holonet has information on it and I will just have to remember to do that later. For now, I have a meeting with my Lieutenant's, the criminals and people who I placed in charge of certain regions of the Outer Rim. Their formal names are Governor's but I call them my Lieutenant's since I am a Sith and they serve me and we're not a real government, we're more of an organization, perhaps a criminal one but then again so isn't the Republic. Okay we are a government but it isn't a real structured one, it is structured more like an organization since I never really liked bureaucracy.
I ordered that a company of those I call my reserve troops, I didn't name them yet since I want them to remain a secret but I ordered they show up here in full uniform and gear. That is two hundred and fifty men and women arriving with their black armored uniforms with their body armor and helmets, they'll have blasters slung around their shoulders, three vibroblades, two concealed and one visible and they'll have more equipment and weapons but not all will be visible since they'll have cloaks concealing their body armor much like the cloak that I constantly wear.
It will take them two days to arrive which will leave less than a day for them to set up and rest and prepare for the meeting. They will more or less be a show of force to the Republic and there for security, they may not feel safe thinking that Tatooine is full of scum, which it used to be but now is more of a nicer planet with good people. Before they had to live the way they did to survive but now they are apart of something bigger and able to live honest lives without having to do dirty jobs to provide for themselves and their families and with the abolition of slavery, the slaves were put to work so they could provide for themselves and their families and actually being paid compared to being slaves and just doing what you're told or else...
I saw first hand how that was and my punishment for them was to put a shock collar on them and treat them the way they treated their slaves. I only did it for a couple of months before I ended their sorry existences, they were a sorry excuse for a sentient being and I had a pleasure cleansing the galaxy of their filth. There is no room in my Empire for their kind to live. I am not a xenophobe but most of these slaver owners were aliens, non-humans and most of the slaves were humans, which was sick and even sicker since my mother and I were slaves to a damn insect! He is lucky he died when I killed him when I was nine because his death wouldn't have been pleasant had he still been alive. He alone wanted me to kill all of the Toydarians but they aren't all the same and you can't punish a whole species for a few bad rancors. They exist in every species.
"Milord?" A woman said standing in the doorway of my office, I recognized the voice and her immediately as one of my assistants or spies on Tatooine, she was a bounty hunter, a damn good one too.
"Hey, come in." I told her as she entered and sat across from me on the other side of my desk. "What have you discovered?"
"I followed her as you asked me too and she went back to Coruscant. She entered the Senate building with Senator Mon Mothma where they went to meet with the Supreme Chancellor. They are close friends and have been for a long time. I continued to follow her for a few more days and she reported to the Jedi Temple. I was able to determine that she had a meeting with the Jedi Council, however I wasn't able to uncover what they spoke about." Mindy reported and it infuriated me. They are using her to get to me and asking her to spy on Anakin Skywalker, I expected that especially since she and Obi-Wan no doubt reported me being the same person from Tatooine who has the highest midichlorian count out of all Jedi. They definitely suspect me to be one of the mysterious figures and no doubt they will try and test me, push me to revealing my true self and I can't allow that. If they suspect that I am a Sith Lord and only one Jedi comes, they wouldn't do anything rash but they may prepare for battle and stay on the Republic side until it is confirmed. That complicates things, I need to keep them off balanced and I can use Maul for that.
"I see." I finally said after a few moments of silence. "They want to find out if Anakin Skywalker is one of these mysterious figures."
"I am sure they suspect it, but suspecting it and proving it are two completely separate issues. With only one Jedi, they can't expect to kill you, even if it is Grand Master Yoda himself." Mindy replied, she is one of a few who know that we are one in the same but others do suspect it but they don't dare say it out loud for fear of forfeiting their lives.
"True but if they force my hand and we battle, then I will be forced to kill them all and the war begins." I said with a sigh. "I am not ready for that yet. We have more than enough resources but I don't want war yet, I want the Jedi to be blamed for the war for invading our sovereignty and failing to heed our warnings. If I kill them here then it is our fault and my plan will be foiled and I'll have to use my backup plan. I don't want to do that. I am just hoping this Padme Amidala doesn't try to use Anakin and then turn him in or use information against him. I'll have to be careful around her. In the meantime, I want you to go to Naboo. Keep tabs on her family and send me holovids of them. If I discover her working as a spy I will use that against her. I am sure she loves her family more than doing the dirty work for the Jedi Order. I don't want you to do anything rash but stay close, I'll contact you with further orders if I need you to escalate matters or return."
"As you wish, milord." Mindy said with a wide smile as she stood, bowed and left my office. That is why I like the woman, she likes to get her hands dirty and isn't afraid to do so. She'll kill anyone just for looking at her the wrong way, hell even just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, very much like myself except she isn't Force sensitive.
As she left I pulled out my holocomm and typed in Maul's frequency and waited for him to answer, a moment later he appeared with the black hood covering his horns and the sides of his face but the red and black markings were visible but the holograms always appeared to be blue which disguised the actual color of his face but surely the Jedi would know what he is. "Master." Maul said with a slight head bow.
"Maul, a development has come in and I need for you to leave Mandalore immediately." I said with urgency. "I received intel that the Jedi are suspicious of Anakin Skywalker and I need for you to keep them off balance, go have some fun and kill some Jedi in the Republic but stay away from Naboo, Alderaan and Coruscant. Take their lightsabers as trophies and try your best to not be seen by anyone. Lure the Jedi away from people and take them out. I want the Jedi to be shaken up and I want to show them who their messing with but be sure not to attack the Republic, my war isn't with them... yet."
"Understood, Master." Maul replied and the transmission was ended and I couldn't help but smile. The Jedi think they have me figured out but I have been planning this even in my captivity, the later years of it and I already shook up one of the best, well let's see what happens when I shake the tree and a few dead Jedi fall out...
I did some research on the whole romance thing and it was sickening. Flowers, candle light dinners, chocolate, it seems like it is the same idea. But I am not a normal man, I am a Sith Lord and more than that I am Lord Vader and I do not do what others did or do. I write my own rules, I am a game changer not a game player. I lead not follow. I write the book, the book doesn't write me. The galaxy will learn that soon enough and Padme Amidala will find out even sooner although I know she would probably be upset when she learns that I manipulated everything, but that is what Sith Lords do. If I manipulate her enough, she would never know. I need to make her believe that the Jedi are the enemy, as they are but she doesn't see that yet but soon enough she'll see it, maybe sooner if they had to force her to spy on me but then again she may spy on me for herself to discover if their accusations are right.
Either way, she will learn that no one is safe from me especially not her as I am obsessed with her. She was the only one I ever loved, romantically. Of course, I loved my mother but she was my mom, Padme was someone I developed these sickly feelings for and apparently she felt the same way back, hopefully that is enough but if not then I will have to use my backup plan, coercion.
You will play by my rules, or they will die.
That is a simple rule-book that even a droid can follow although they wouldn't care about loss of life since they don't have feelings but some think they do and some are programmed to prevent such things but most don't care and I am going into another subject altogether... like C-3PO and whoever has him now, good luck to them, he talks too much for my liking. He was more of a torture droid than anything, now that I think of it. He'll make you wish you were dead, I think I did an awesome job with him and he was programmed in more protocol than any protocol droid I have ever seen however he does talk too much with his annoying voice and annoying timing... well there is only so much you can do with parts from the junk yard.
The day before the meeting, my reserve army has arrived and they have landed in their ten different small troop transport ships. I have larger ones for them but I couldn't get them the ships in the time allotted and their ships would do. I had many ships built for the anticipated war which will no doubt happen in due time but not all were ready and not all were meant for transporting troops. Some were for recon and intelligence, some were for transporting cargo and such, some were pure warships, some were fast attack ships and some others were for multiple purposes and served many functions. Then I had even more at my disposal that mostly serve as spies and mercenaries and then of course the bounty hunters who do some investigations for me, a bit more than simple spy activity.
The ten ships landed side by side by side and so on and the rear hatches lowered and they began to disembark as they stood before me in formation and stood at attention.
"At ease, soldiers." I said with my commanding Lord Vader voice. "Welcome to Tatooine. I want you all to go walk around Mos Espa and get a look around. You don't have to worry about people here and the main reason for you coming for tomorrows meeting is for a show of force, we need to show these Republic Senators and the Jedi that we are organized and not unorganized idiots like the Hutt's and former criminal syndicates that I have destroyed with Lord Maul. Therefore go and enjoy yourself, we will meet back here tomorrow morning bright and early and you will be briefed by me. Until then go have some fun and make sure to get your rest, tomorrow may be a long day. Dismissed."
The troops bowed in unison and went their separate ways forming groups and walking around the city as they learned their way around.
"Lord Vader." One of the troops said as he approached me and removed his helmet allowing me to see who he is.
"Jango, it's good to see you." I said with a smile as I greeted my old friend who was responsible for training the troops. "I didn't know you were coming."
"Neither did I." He admitted as I didn't need my Force powers to know that, I wasn't planning on asking for their presence until I did. "It is good to see you too."
"I assume these guys are the best of the best?" I asked and he nodded as we walked back to my Palace.
"You asked for the best and I brought them." He confirmed. "I selected these troops for elite training and they all passed, just under two hundred men and the rest were women, although you can't tell by the uniforms as they all the look the same as you designed."
"Sure did, just like the Clone Army except we have better gear and equipment, per my design, as well." I gladly admit, I am a Master of many things and architecture is another one of them. "And the troops aren't clones, they are independent problem solvers, they don't need to be ordered around for every little task, they can improvise and overcome any unforeseen challenge."
"I see why Lord Maul calls you Master now." Jango said with a smile as he looked around the street we walked up as everyone looked at me in fear or respect, I don't kill anyone for nothing... usually, especially not on Tatooine.
"I am his teacher, mentor and that is why he calls me Master, it also has to do with respect since we're Sith and well it is the same with the pathetic Jedi except I am a true Master and not an old blind man who doesn't know what is right in front of them." I said disgustedly, just that four letter word, the opposite of Sith makes me want to vomit. "The thing about me though is that no one is stronger than me in the Force. Not even the strongest Jedi, Grand Master Yoda. I have the most midichlorians by almost nine thousand and I learned from one of the best Sith that could've lived had I not ended his life when I did but even he didn't have the same amount of midichlorians that I have within me. I learned in a few years what took him decades to learn, the Force just works with me without me having to ask for it to work with me, it yearns for me to cooperate and it yearns to please me. The midichlorians, the Force itself is my father, literally."
"What do you mean by that?" Jango asked curiously as I divulged more than I wanted too but I know that I could trust him not to disclose anything not even to his clone son, Boba and I know he won't remember most of what I say anyways.
"I mean my father is the Force, they brought me into existence through my mother." I simply explained, no need for a long explanation that even I don't understand other than the Force works in mysterious ways and has a mind of its own. "I have no physical father."
"Are you sure about that? I mean, are you sure your mother just never told you because she was-" I cut him off right there with a violent Force choke that lasted just a few seconds and probably felt like getting hit with a ton of durasteel.
"You don't speak of my deceased mother with disrespect." I warned him as he was on his knees reaching for his neck as he gasped for air. I never choked anyone that violently and definitely not that fast. "Remember your place, Jango. No one is above reproach, no one."
"I... I'm... sorry." He said between the gasped breaths. "I meant no disrespect."
"I hope not and what I told you is true. I have no father, being a non-Force sensitive person you don't understand the Force. I do and I was told by more than one person, Jedi and Sith alike that told me that I was the Chosen One, and the Chosen One was said to be brought into existence by the midichlorians themselves which I was. My mother wasn't one who lied to me and she wasn't the type to sleep around." I said in a tone that made it clear that I wanted to change the subject, she is still a sore topic for me as it was my fault she was killed and it happened right in front of me.
It still haunts me at night, in the little sleep I get because of it.
I could kill thousands of people but only her death haunts me, none of the others do.
Jango and I continued our walk and talk as he remembered his place and we changed the topic back to the reason that he and is men and women are here. I pretty much told them where to go and that I only want them to stand still and look threatening, I said. The uniforms and armor and helmets already do the trick and especially the blaster rifle, it should do the trick. We are not the same Outer Rim they believe we are. We are not unorganized, we are not criminals, we are not stupid, like my predecessors were. Nope, we are smart, geniuses even and we do not cave in to anybody especially not to any Republic or Jedi scum.
The Reserve Army is meant to be just that, along with an elite fighting force to protect the Outer Rim if there is an incursion from anyone. When I establish my Empire, the Reserve Army will be the elite fighting force that everyone wants to be in since they will be the special operations forces doing all of the fun work, the dangerous work. The clones will be a part of it as well and they will answer to those in my Reserve Army but they can't lead on their own, they are meant to take orders not think for themselves, or rather they can but they can't think outside of certain parameters that a normal person can.
The end of the day came and I went back to my suite to get some rest. But before doing so, I was hungry and decided to make myself something to eat. Bantha steak along with Zucca Fruit Pastry, that sounded good enough. It didn't take long to make and eat and I was off to the shower and then to bed. I had a busy day tomorrow and I had to be up bright and early to brief the troops. Within minutes it was nothing but blackness as I fell asleep.
It was a pleasant dreamless sleep, the only sleep I like although it was surprising I wasn't plagued by my normal recurring nightmare which was that day. I didn't question it though as I woke up and began my day. I took another shower like I always do as it woke me up and I made some caf and breakfast and got dressed wearing the same clothes as I always do. I am Lord Vader still and Anakin isn't making an appearance for another six hours or so.
I made my way out of the house as the twin suns, Tatoo 1 and Tatoo 2 as they're called made their way over the horizon as the heat was already bearing down on us all, just the way I like it. I can't sleep in anything under eighty degrees, and anything under that I need to wear long sleeves although I always do anyways. Lord Vader wears the body armor suit and cloak all the time and with the hood raised even though it is so hot in the desert that is known as Tatooine.
It was a short walk from my Palace to the location I met them at yesterday, the same place where the briefing will happen. Everyone was already there and already in formation as the filed in twenty five rows of ten troops each.
"Good morning." I said happily, well as happily as Lord Vader ever speaks. "It is nice to see everyone here, I was sure that some of you would be drunk or hung over, of course I may be right but those helmets do miracles, don't they?"
I believe I heard some laughter but they were muffled by the helmets, I know some of them are drunk but I also hope they know better than to do something like that when they are working right under my nose.
"Let's get right to it. The Republic ship will land in Hangar Seven, you and your fellow troops will line up between Hangar Seven and the Palace. You are mostly there for show but should something happen, you know what to do. You've been trained by the best, I chose Jango to train you all because I know how skilled he is and how good he is at his job. I was also told that you all went through Elite training to get to where you are now and that makes you the best of the best in the Outer Rim, maybe even the galaxy.
"Well, the Republic thinks that we are weak and lack discipline and organization, you're here to show them that they're wrong. You are here as a show of force, I just want you there to look threatening, let me tell you, you all look threatening. Maybe not to me but I am not most people, I have no doubt the Republic Senator's will be put on edge and maybe even the Jedi accompanying them. From what Jango told me, you are all trained to fight and kill Jedi, since the chance is if anyone invaded our territory it would be a Jedi. If that is the case and if Lord Maul and myself are busy, you and your men will be dispatched to handle the incursion and handle it with extreme prejudice. They were already warned to stay away and when war happens, which it will soon enough, it will be the Jedi who start it and we will be the ones to end it. Now I could go on and bore you but I won't. Go back into the city and go eat some breakfast. I want everyone to report to their positions in five hours, they should be here within eight hours." I said and walked around looking at each line formation. "Company, dismissed!"
I watched as they walked off back into the city and I followed behind as I walked around the city as I thought about the day ahead. I knew Padme would be here since that was the deal, I will not have any meetings without Senator Amidala present and if they try to pull her from it then they won't even leave the hangar as they will be pushed back onto their shuttle and go back home without any more meetings. But I put that out of my head as I doubt they'd be stupid enough but the Jedi may try to have her pulled because of our relationship being what it is. I only hope that if they did try that Bail Organa has a spine and doesn't take orders from the Jedi Order.
Time flew by and I went back to the Palace to change, access to the Palace was limited by the Reserve Army and certain locations in the Palace were off limits mostly the corridor leading to my suite, the conference room and a few other rooms that were considered sensitive that have guards guarding them to ensure the Republic Officials don't try any espionage while they're here.
I lock my clothes up in my hidden room where I keep all of my Lord Vader apparel and equipment along with sensitive information and classified technology that I have been working on that isn't on the open market. It really is a beautiful dark room, just the way I like it. I leave the room and lock the door as it blends in with the wall and I walk to the visible closet and get dressed in normal Tatooine clothes with a brown cloak, the same one Anakin wore on Mandalore.
I walked the path to the hangar as the shuttle entered our atmosphere and by the time I reached the hangar the shuttle was touching down. I entered the hangar and the rear hatch lowered and the three representatives walked down the ramp along with a pilot.
"Guard, take care of the pilot. Show him around." I tell one of the nearby soldiers as I look to Senator Amidala, Senator Mothma and Jedi Master Windu. "Senator Amidala, welcome back. Senator Mothma and Master Windu, welcome to Tatooine."
"You know me?" Mace asked surprised, it was a dumb question, I am the Sith Lord of course I know my enemies.
"Of course, I know most of the important Jedi especially those on the Council." I informed him, he didn't like it but I did. "I am Anakin Skywalker, the Chancellor of the Outer Rim Territories. Please follow me."
I said as I led the way out of the hangar and up the path towards the Palace.
"Thank you for the invitation, Chancellor." Padme said with a smile as we walked side by side on our way to the Palace.
"Who are these men in uniforms?" Senator Mothma asked looking at my Reserve Soldiers.
"They are the Military Force of the Outer Rim Territories." I simply replied with a smile, it is true but they are a Reserve Military Force, not the real force that'd be used in battle. "They're not all men either, they are men and women. They just happen to wear the same uniforms and carry the same equipment."
"I see, why weren't they on Mandalore?" She asked and I was beginning to enjoy this, they were clearly gather intelligence and I was eager to let them know what I want them to know.
"Well Mandalore had their own military and security force, therefore I just used them. But here on Tatooine, this is basically the Capital of the Outer Rim. We had it renovated and had a lot of work done to suit that but it still has some time before it is anything like Coruscant. But we don't want that since we travel to many worlds, we don't really have a capital this is just where I reside since I grew up here." I replied while looking ahead at my troops and at the path ahead as the Palace was getting closer.
"Makes sense." She concluded.
"Indeed, Tatooine normally doesn't have a standing force however since I decided to have this meeting here, I called in a Company to provide security but normally I don't need a force here. Tatooine isn't the same as it was under the Hutt's rule. I made many changes and a lot of the criminals before are hard working honest people now. They were given opportunities to live honest hard working lives and most of them gladly took it. Not all people in the Outer Rim are scum, some are granted, but most aren't they just didn't have the opportunity to do anything else." I said rubbing that in their face, take that Republic! Always taking the easy way out and only admitting certain planets into your precious little Republic and forcing them to follow your rules. Well we don't give them the choice, they are choice-less, this isn't a democracy. But of course, I didn't say any of that out loud.
"I can see the change compared to nine years ago." Padme said looking around and then at me.
"I agree, when I took over nine years ago, I was only a kid and only in charge for a little while before being abducted. Then when I returned it was a hellhole and was overrun with the Hutt's again and control was regained by the mysterious figures whom I've known for some time and they left me here to take over leadership then I became the public face of the Outer Rim. The mysterious figures prefer their anonymity and that is how it will remain." Mace, that goes for you. I said with a look.
"Speaking about them, a few Jedi have been killed on a couple of different planets in the Republic." Mace said not taking my hint or ignoring it like most Jedi do, well I will get the last laugh when I destroy you and your whole pathetic Order!
"Maybe you should tell them to mind their own business, then." I replied without looking at the man, instead I looked around the corridor as we entered the Palace and made our way to the conference room. "The Jedi Order is hunting them and hunts work both ways. So long as you try to hunt them down and kill them they will continue to do the same."
"Don't you mean we, not they." Mace replied with a look as he tried to get into my head but my mental shield was in place and was impenetrable.
"Nope, I know you believe that I am a Sith and that since the Sith helped me escape that it makes me a Sith but lets just say you don't know a lot about them or me. I mean you don't even know what they look like, so if you want to accuse me on my home turf and risk serious injury or death, please continue." I said with a glare as we entered the conference room and took our seats.
"This isn't a meeting about the Jedi and Sith. That is between the Jedi and Sith, this is a meeting between the Galactic Republic and the Outer Rim Territories." Senator Mothma said with a look to the Jedi Master as she sat down in the middle of the trio.
"Yes, it is." I replied as I took a sip of ice cold water as I looked around the table as it was full of snacks and drinks, some even alcoholic. "Where would you like to begin?"
"What is the status of your government?" Senator Mothma asked as I took a moment to think of an answer.
"We are still a work in progress but we have our military forces, trade authority, labor authority, we have our diplomats and merchants, we are getting there." I admit even though most of what I said was over exaggerated. "We mostly are a confederation, we have a central government which I oversee but mostly the planets retain their sovereignty and handle their problems on their own. Most of the planets are independent and that has been how it was for centuries and now with the criminal organizations being destroyed, we are beginning to unify them into the Outer Rim Territories, that is our unofficial government name, we don't have an official name. Most planets aren't as developed as those in the Republic but some are and this one will be expanding rapidly in the coming years."
"Well, so far you are doing a good job." Padme complimented me and I smiled at the compliment. It was always nice but it wasn't Anakin who did it, it was Lord Vader and they don't know that and they won't until the Jedi Order is extinct and forgotten about.
"Thanks, it's definitely not easy but I enjoy challenges and I am looking forward to seeing this through and making the Outer Rim a place that people actually want to visit without being afraid too or to conduct illegal business activities." I replied with something that would make them happy to hear, I did mean it but I rule with an iron fist and people live the way I tell them to live if they step across the line. If they are good hard working honest people then, by all means they can live as they choose too but if they are scum and causing me or my Empire problems, they will be eliminated.
The meeting continued with the state of affairs of the Outer Rim and we talked about an alliance, of course nothing was signed or promised but negotiations take time and something like this with the Republic, well that takes longer. I could decide anything by myself for the Outer Rim and the people have no say in the matter, they know I have their best interests at heart as I have proved. The Republic however has their Senate and has countless Senators that have their own interest at heart and not their people, some however are the opposite and truly care about their people but they are fewer than the former.
We adjourned the meeting and decided to continue after some lunch or early dinner as Padme left with me and Mace and Mothma went their separate way as I led Padme to my secret lair... also known as my suite.
"So, this Palace has been heavily renovated, it no longer has that smell." Padme observed and I couldn't help but laugh, that was the reason why I had it heavily renovated, well one of the many reasons.
"Indeed, that is one reason why it was renovated." I replied with a smile. "The Hutt's kind of stunk up the planet with their oversized bellies and atrocious eating habits. I had to pretty much fumigate the whole planet to get rid of the stench."
"It definitely looks different, more advanced and elegant." Padme said as we entered the more exclusive section of the massive Palace that is bigger now than it was before. "I like what you did with the place."
"You haven't seen anything yet." I said with a devious smile as I opened the door that led to my suite, I then typed in a code into the numeric pad and placed my eye in the retinal scanner and the door to my suite slid open to reveal my hidden fortress, evil lair, bunker, whatever you want to call it, it is legendary.
"Wow..." She said with wide eyes and her mouth open wide as she looked around at my technological marvel known as my suite as we enter the dark entryway of my suite.
It has more technology in it than a starship with computers all over the sides of the room, viewscreens, circular holotable in the middle of the room and other gadgets that are portable. That is just my foyer or entryway, as I call it then we entered my kitchen which had just as much technology with the newest appliances on the market, I showed her my dining room which was just a table with chairs, a server droid and a viewscreen on all four walls. We moved to my bedroom which was more like a bridge of a starship mixed with an office with more computers, datapads, another holotable, more holographic equipment and a lot more technology, I could literally live in my bedroom and never have to leave and conduct all of my business from there.
I have more secret rooms than that but most people, well so far no one has seen inside my suite except for Padme Amidala, I have droids do the work that I need done, but as most people know I handle things on my own. I am a man of action and I am good with my hands, I don't want to become reliant on others, therefore I learned a lot on my own to become fully self sufficient from cooking, cleaning, fixing anything, making anything and anything else that I should've learned growing up but didn't due to my unique circumstances. I had a lot to make up for and this was some of those things, but I am a confident and self reliant man and I can do anything that I put my mind too and with the Force on my side and guiding me and helping me, I could accomplish anything and everything.
"Welcome to my Command and Control Center, also known as my suite. I could live here forever without ever having to leave and I can communicate with people all over the galaxy from the Republic, Wild Space, Unknown Regions and beyond." I informed her as she was no doubt surprised by what she saw, so surprised she was speechless and for a politician to be speechless, that is saying a lot...
"I see that..." Was all she could muster as I led her back out to my living room and we took a seat on my sofa facing the holotable as I mentally activated it and checked the latest news and saw a report from Mindy, whom I sent to Naboo to keep tracks on Padme's family, I ignored that message since I had no need to pull that card yet but if necessary I will but now we're together and no one can eavesdrop on our conversation since my security equipment is the best available, I made the necessary modifications myself.
"Now, we're alone." I said looking at her as she looked, I don't know how she looked, maybe scared or surprised or not sure how to feel... I couldn't tell. "I heard you had a meeting with the Jedi Council." I figured why not get that out of the way as I entered her mind and she had a mental barrier, I could break it but saw no need too and in order to go undetected I just grazed it, without forcing my way in, it could be quite painful.
"How did you know?" She asked deflecting the question, I detected her trying to think of an answer and if it wasn't satisfactory, I would have to pull out my card which would ruin things and I would have to force her hand and I don't want to do that, but being a Sith, it is what we do.
"Is that confirmation?" I asked while glaring at her like I was locked onto her eyes like a missile lock. "There is no point in denying it, I saw the holorecording, we have people all over the galaxy in every region and quadrant. I am the Chancellor of the Outer Rim, I have a lot of influence and I have to look out for my own interests and the Jedi trying to get you to spy on me is of interest to me. So why not tell me what they asked or told you to do."
"They wanted me to get close to you and find out if you are the Sith Lord, one of the mysterious figures." She said honestly, I wasn't sure if that was good or bad. "I didn't believe them when they said it and the only thing they have against you is that you are a very strong Force sensitive user and you were off the grid for over seven years and then mysteriously showed up and eliminated the Hutt's first and then within just a couple of years the whole Outer Rim was transformed by only two people, that is their suspicions. Of course, if you are then it is just two or going by your story it is three."
"What do you believe and what they did tell you about these so called Sith Lords?" I asked wanting to flip their own agent against them making her a double agent, we are getting into unknown space and it is dangerous but that is where I live, dangerously...
"Not much, they told me the history of the Sith and the differences which is basically what you told me before but they made it clear that the Sith are dangerous and evil but looking at you I don't see that." She said honestly. "I don't know if you are a Sith or not and I don't care. Maybe that is foolish of me but I don't believe that you are evil, you may be dangerous but living on Tatooine like you did, you wouldn't be alive if you weren't a little dangerous or crazy, even."
"I am dangerous and I was always dangerous as you know what I did when I was nine, I killed dozens well hundreds of so called sentients in the name of freedom. That is something you also did when you went against the Trade Federation, something that shouldn't have happened and wouldn't happen in the Outer Rim but I have these Guilds and Corporations operating in the Outer Rim on a tight leash and they abide by my authority." I said with a smile, no one would cross me but I find it weird that she doesn't care if I am a Sith or not, maybe she doesn't comprehend how dangerous or evil I could be... "We don't have democracy out here, my people trust me and know that I will make the right decisions and everything I do is for the better. If it means letting the Sith step on some throats to get that done, so be it. I will not however allow them to put you in the cross hairs between the Sith and the Jedi. They are putting you in danger."
"I believe I can take care of myself which is why I carry these with me." She said as she opened her jacket a little bit to reveal a holster with a blaster in it and then she bent over and raised her right pant leg and revealed another blaster in its holster.
"I do the same, but I left them here since Tatooine is heavily defended and I don't need protection against the Jedi or Republic Senator's." I said raising my eyebrows as she turned me on, a woman like her is rare, Mindy is like her but nope Padme is mine and her fate is sealed. She was claimed by the Sith Lord and the only way to be unclaimed is to die or to kill me and that is impossible.
"I wouldn't imagine you need protection, you can just use your Force powers." She said sneakily, is she trying to get me to admit to being a Sith or just assume I know the ways of the Force because of my midichlorian count.
"Is that a trick question?" I decide to ask.
"I am not accusing you of being one of the two Sith but I do know you have some Force tricks up your sleeve." She said as if she was expecting me to do something magical, so I did.
She started to scream as she rose from the sofa and was a foot above the sofa as I pulled her closer to me and set her down on my lap with her looking at me at about eye level.
"Like that?" I asked with my infamous devious smile.
"You Skywalker, are a Sith behind this facade." She said as if she isn't talking about the mysterious figures but rather something else and my suspicions are confirmed. "You look innocent but behind those blue eyes and your looks you are a devil, aren't you?"
"I have no idea, what you're talking about." I said slowly as I placed my hand on the back of her head and pulled her to me as our lips met again.
"I'm sure." She said as our lips were still pressing against the others and just like the first time it was like fireworks going off. It was like a volcanic eruption on Mustafar, it was incredible and I can't help but wonder if she felt the same way and while her mental shield was lowered, I browsed her mind and she did feel the same way, that made it even better. Our bodies pressed together as our chests met and our kiss went even dipper than just our lips colliding, our tongues clashed like a lightsaber duel as the sparks flew and red met red. She was no Jedi, she was definitely a Sith on the inside very much like myself.
"And you call me a Sith..." I commented as the temperature definitely increased in the room as I had that feeling again, the feeling I only have when I am with my future Empress. The feeling of love, but its more than that as I am still... V word but that is because I couldn't afford distractions, Sith Lords don't have time for that but now they do. Sith Lords only do things that further their goals through whatever avenue they choose but Amidala could be an obstacle but if she feels this way about me when the times comes and we face each other, Republic vs Outer Rim Territories, I don't know where her loyalty will lie and Naboo is very close the border. Just because of our relationship doesn't mean that I will leave Naboo alone unless they joined us or unless I had to pull the Sith card, if only I could get her out of the Senate, have her help me here...
"I have no idea, what you're talking about." She replied with my same response from a moment ago, I couldn't help but smile. I chose well. Things were about to escalate when the comlink chirps away.
"You have to be kidding me." I muttered against Padme's lips as hers begins to go off as well. "We should blow this meeting."
"Don't worry Skywalker, we can do this again." Skywalker? I thought it was Ani?
"Well, Naboo isn't far away..." I said trying to get to finish my sentence.
"Is that an invitation...?" She asked pretending to be surprised.
"Well, I am a busy man but for you... I could always move my schedule around... as long as it just you and I..." I spaced the word out to continue the little game we're playing, playing hard to get is common but Sith Lord's don't have time for that and neither do Chancellor's. I decided to take her datapad from her purse and type in my Comm frequency and added me to her contact list.
"I see," she said with her eyebrows raised.
"Indeed." What did she? I wasn't sure but had my suspicions and instead I pulled her in for another kiss before our comlinks went off again and I pulled away leaving her wanting more, leave with a bang, so to speak. "I guess we should get back. I don't think I need to ask you to keep this to yourself along with that frequency, do I?"
"I have no idea, what you're talking about." She said mischievously with a smile as we exited my suite and went back to the meeting as she fixed her hair and clothes as we made our way down the corridor.
"Hmm... neither do I." I replied as we reached the meeting with the Senator and Jedi looking at us suspiciously. I cleared my throat as sat down and finished the meeting.
The meeting didn't last much longer as we set up a new meeting a month away back on Tatooine and I escorted them back to their ship. They took off and reported back to Coruscant. I commed Mindy and had her divert to Coruscant to continue to investigate Padme and see what we could find out. I also had Padme's datapad and comlink bugged while I kept her... occupied. You could never be too careful around a Sith Lord.
Remember that.
My Reserve Troops filed out as well as they reported back to their ships and flew back to their various training ground and garrisoned locations around the Outer Rim. They aren't on every planet, they are mostly on secluded and mostly uninhabited planets where they could do as they please and train and train without being watched or having civilians stumble in the middle of their war games.
All in all, I was satisfied. It couldn't have gone any better and I learned more about Padme as I had her whole conversation recorded courtesy of comlink which recorded everything even without comming someone, the miracle of technology, Vader edition.
Chapter 9 is a bit jumbled and adds a bit more background to the Outer Rim Territories and the Government as well as paints Amidala as a bit different than we see in cannon but her love for the Sith Lord is real just like it was with Anakin except she has a bit of an evil side in her, a Sith side as Skywalker calls it.
Please review or PM if you liked it, hated it or have any ideas or suggestions for future chapters! Thanks!
