Chapter 19: Suffocant Lux

TATOOINE: OBI-WAN'S RESIDENCE

Another broken night's sleep. Instead of just Anakin's golden eyes haunting him, he was now seeing Jaina's as well. How much damage had her visions actually done? Had they harmed her, mentally if not physically?

Obi-wan sighed, stepping out of the sonic shower and ruffling his hair. He stared into the mirror, seeing the sunburnt skin forming loose crow's feet around the corners of his eyes. The Tatooine suns had done nothing for his appearance, making him look almost as old as he felt. It felt as though years had passed, when in reality it had only been a matter of months.

With a huff, he left the fresher and got dressed.

"Good morning Master Kenobi," Ferus greeted, stepping out from the cellar door with Caleb behind him.

"Morning Ferus, morning Caleb," he replied, lifting the kettle off the stove and preparing some tea. "I trust you slept well?"

"As well as one can expect, Obi-wan," Ferus answered.

Obi-wan prepared an extra three cups, expecting Jaina to emerge from the cellar soon after the others. Offering the drinks to the two younger Jedi, he glanced around them before picking up his own and taking a sip. Closing his eyes, he relished in it's comforting taste, feeling the healing herbs wash through his body. "I thought Jaina would be joining us," he stated, cradling his cup.

"We assumed she was with you Obi-wan," Ferus replied.

"With me? Oh no, she left to retire after our ... conversation last night."

Caleb grunted, dropping his cup down onto the kitchenette. "Well, where is she then? Because she's not downstairs."

Obi-wan cocked his brow and regarded the young man. Oh wonderful, another padawan forming attachments, he mused. He drew on the force, feeling for her presence and startled when he discovered her location. Without saying a word, he turned and left for the front door.

Jaina was standing out front, with her hands locked at her lower back, facing the distant sand-dunes. A gentle breeze agitated the fabric of her robe and carried the silken locks of golden hair away from her head.

"Rough night?" he asked, walking up to stand alongside her.

"I've had better," she whispered.

"Did you want to talk about it?"

She let out a deep sigh. "He's in my head now, I can't shake him."

"Who, Anakin?" he asked.

"Yes, well ... more his memories, his pain. I ... I can still feel it," she replied, lifting her hand to cover her heart. "In here."

Obi-wan looked to her and sighed, his gaze falling to the horizon. "I'm sorry young one, I should never have-"

"No Obi-wan, there is no need to apologize. I needed to know, I only wish I knew why the force insisted on showing me this." She turned to look him square in the eyes. "Why me? What can I do with it? It's not like I can fix anything."

He put his hand comfortingly upon her shoulder. "Its intentions, as confusing as they are, will become clear in time."

Her crystal eyes sparkled in the rising suns' radiance, staring into the darkest depths of his once peaceful soul. "You haven't asked me what I saw. Are you afraid, Obi-wan?" she asked him.

He turned his eyes away, watching the heatwaves slowly ripple along the sand-dunes. "You might say that," he muttered.

She followed his gaze to the horizon and folded her arms. "I'm not surprised he turned. I think anyone would have in his position."

What did she just say? His inner voice cried in disbelief. He calmed himself taking careful steady breaths. "What makes you say that?" he inquired.

She shrugged out of his touch and spun to face him, her face taught with stress. "He was betrayed, used and mistrusted by those he believed were his closest, most loyal companions. Combine that with the pain of knowing his wife was going to die with him being powerless to stop it and with no-one to turn to."

Her voice was accusatory and angry, and it caught him by surprise. "He had me to talk to, I was always there for him. He knew that."

"That's the thing, isn't it?" she stated, turning away. "He didn't know it, and because he was uncertain as to whether you would give him up to the council or not, he didn't believe he could trust you."

"He broke the Jedi Code, Jaina. The council would've had every right to know."

She went quiet, as if his words had suddenly confirmed something. "And that, Obi-wan ... that statement right there ... is why he didn't trust you."

"Wait so you're saying that somehow this is all my fault?" he argued, battling to keep his emotions in check.

"You should never have left for Utupau, Obi-wan. Or at least, stood up for your beliefs against the high council. You knew leaving him there was the wrong thing to do. You'd sensed his internal war. How uncomfortable he was with his assignment. Yet still, you allowed them to silence your concerns with their arrogance. Convincing yourself that he wouldn't let you down."

The older Jedi looked away, turning back to face the entrance to his hovel. "Up until that day, he never had," he grumbled taking a step for the door.

Jaina spun to stare at the weary master's back as he went to leave. "Perhaps, if you had told him that yourself, we would all still be in the temple right now."

Obi-wan swallowed down the almighty lump that suddenly lodged itself in his throat. She was attacking him, and winning. Whatever the visions had shown her, had made her angry, incredibly angry and hurt. The pain he felt surging from her through the force was reminiscent of his, almost as if he was standing in her place. "Anakin was my brother, Jaina. I loved him," he choked.

"So he wasn't the only one who broke the code then, was he?"

Taking another deep breath, Obi-wan glanced over his shoulder. "I guess not. Now, come inside and gather your things, we are leaving for the homestead shortly."

TATOOINE: JUNDLAND WASTES: LARS HOMESTEAD

Obi-wan held back and watched as Beru welcomed his companions into her home, following them down the narrow steps to the sitting room. Jaina's words played on his mind, dredging up all the pain from his not so distant past.

"You have forgotten yourself Obi-wan, and in-turn, have also forgotten me," a distant accented voice whispered in the back of his mind.

Swaying in place the weary Jedi froze at the familiar sound of his master's voice, resting on the synstone doorframe. "Qui-gon!" he exclaimed through the force. "I'm sorry, I failed you master. I failed to guide him, I lost him."

The ethereal Jedi materialized beside him, an older man with a trimmed beard, moustache and long flowing hair that ran right down his back. His translucent blue image glittered in the doorway, ghostly eyes fixed upon the infant boy calling out to his weary adoptive uncle. "You lost him because you put your faith in the Jedi council, instead of listening to the will of the force like I taught you, Obi-wan."

"I did only what I thought was best for him, Qui-gon. Apparently I was wrong."

Obi-wan stepped away from the doorframe and went over to Luke, picking him up and cradling him to his chest, a salty tear slipping down over his cheek. Beru offered him a drink and he nodded to her silently, his eyes drifting across the room to the others all deep in conversation. He had a hunch as to what they were talking about; how they were going to save Padmè. Pulling Luke tight against his chest, he returned his attention to his late master.

"He will come for him. You cannot protect him anymore than you could protect his father."

He knew this, and still the harsh reality of coming face to face with Anakin again was terrifying. He didn't want to fight him, didn't want to see first hand the monster his former padawan had evolved into. He sighed.

"I have to try Qui-gon, there must be something I can do. I've failed once I can't fail again. The continued existence of the Jedi depends on it."

"You can not keep him from his destiny."

But what was his future exactly? He refused to believe that Luke had been brought into this world simply to follow in his father's doomed footsteps, fated to serve the Emperor and help him erase the Jedi from the galaxy. "Luke is innocent, I will not allow him to fall to the dark side like his father. I couldn't bear it."

"Allow the force to guide his hand, Obi-wan. Luke will choose his own path. Support him, guide him and step away when called for. Anakin will respect that."

Qui-gon spoke of Anakin as if he still existed. He knew the truth, he had seen it himself, his hate-filled gold eyes, his all-consuming rage. No, his former padawan and brother-in-arms was long gone. Dead. Swallowed by the icy clutches of evil itself. "Anakin is gone Qui-gon, now only Darth Vader remains."

"They are two parts of the same whole, my old padawan."

Luke cooed in his arms, staring at Qui-gon beside him. He must've been able to see the apparition, because the expression on his infantile face was one of complete calmness and serenity. Running his free hand through the child's short blonde hair he stood silently, trying to process what Qui-gon was saying. He still refused to believe it. "I guess we'll see if you're right soon enough, master. Although, I must say, I have my doubts."

"Trust in the force Obi-wan."

Qui-gon's image dissolved into the hot Tatooine air. He'd always trusted in the force, for as long as he remembered. But how could the answer now be to simply hand over the Jedi Order's final hope of ever defeating the Sith, to his Sith father? The premise made no sense. Yoda would never have agreed with his master on this, just as he hadn't agreed on his insistence in training Anakin, and look how that turned out.

"Do you think that could work Obi-wan?"

His stormy eyes glanced around the room, suddenly aware that everyone was now staring expectantly up at him, waiting for some wise, all-knowing answer. "I'm sorry, my mind was elsewhere. Could what work, Sabè?"

"Caleb and Ferus thought that if they created a scene of some description, exposing themselves as Jedi to the greater population, possibly Mos Espa, that it might be enough to lure Vader from Coruscant, getting him away from Padmè. It could give us an opportunity to rescue her without needing to try and confront him as well."

Obi-wan shook his head. "No, that won't work," he dismissed.

"Why not?" Ferus asked, folding his arms. "Surely it's worth a try, Master Kenobi."

"Now that he has her, he will not allow them to be separated Ferus. You don't know him like I do. Nothing ... not even two Jedi, will be enough to pull him away from her. He would just bring Padmè with him and hunt you two down, possibly discovering both Luke and myself in the process. I'm sorry, but it's just too risky."

Caleb shot to his feet and glared at him in frustration. "What do you suggest we do then, Master Kenobi?" he snapped. "Since you know the Dark Lord so intimately."

"Caleb!" Jaina scolded.

"No Jaina, all he does is dismiss every idea we come up with, never offering one of his own," Caleb retorted. "I'm tired of it."

Obi-wan sighed and lowered Luke down to the floor. His continuous wriggling around in his arms was distracting, and he needed to be able to think. Watching the infant crawl away, he stroked his beard. "The force will tell us when the time is right. Until then we sit tight and monitor the Holonet for information."

Ferus placed his hand on Caleb's shoulder, gently squeezing his fingers into the taught muscles. The young boy's dark blue eyes turned to stare at him. "Master Kenobi is right, my young padawan. We need to lay low and wait for the right moment. Any rash action could lead to our capture, if not death, and that won't help our purpose nor give any benefit to the still building rebellion."

Caleb settled, sheepishly averting his gaze to the floor. "I'm sorry master. I just don't like waiting. The longer we delay her rescue, the more likely her demise."

"He won't kill her, Caleb," Jaina stated, sitting down on the sofa next to Sabè. "She means too much to him."

"He's a Sith, Jaina. The only thing they care about is killing," Caleb retorted, giving her a condescending glare.

Obi-wan rose to his feet, tired of the conversation. "Ferus perhaps, it would be best if you and Caleb went to Alderaan and assisted Bail with the rebellion. There is nothing more the pair of you can do here."

"Yes, I feel you may be right Master Kenobi. Plus my young padawan here does seem to be getting a little anxious. What about you Jaina, will you be coming with us?" Ferus asked.

Jaina's gaze shifted to Obi-wan standing beside her and she gently shook her head. "No master, I feel as though I am needed here. You and Caleb go, I'm sure we will meet up again somewhere along the way."

"Very well," Obi-wan concluded. "I will contact him and make the arrangements."

CORUSCANT: IMPERIAL PALACE: DARTH VADER'S CHAMBERS

Vader awoke from his strangely peaceful slumber, his hazy blue eyes drifting over his wife's body entwined with his on his lap. Her face was peaceful, relaxed and strikingly beautiful. He carefully pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, suddenly overcome by the depth of his love for her. Her presence was soothing, and he found himself drifting aimlessly between the two sides of the force; one foot in the dark and the other in the light.

He couldn't think. He'd gone too far to ever return to the light, he knew this. Yet, his mind was broken, still haunted by the traumatic events of his past. And if his master even suspected that he was conflicted he would end Padmè's life, he'd already stated as much.

Darth Malgus was right, he needed to heal. His focus had become muddled of late, confused as to his purpose. He needed to get out of his chamber, away from Coruscant for a while. But where could he go, that his master wouldn't suspect his confliction? Where could he take Padmè to ensure his master couldn't reach her while he found himself again?

The small tripodal holocron called to him from his desk. Its crimson aura beckoning him to open it. He looked down at Padmè and sighed, admiring her thick black eyelashes gently resting atop her blushed cheeks. "I'm sorry my love," he whispered, gradually moving to extract himself from beneath her. Holding her still sleeping body in his arms, he gently laid her back in the recliner, taking care not to wake her.

She murmured softly, before curling her legs up and drifting back off to sleep. He could stand there and watch her sleep for an eternity, not wanting to imagine being apart from her ever again. Dragging his eyes away, he turned and quietly stumbled over to his desk, slowly lowering his hulking body down into the chair. Taking the holocron in both gloved hands, he drew on the force, willing it to open.

It resisted, shuddering in his grip before dropping lifelessly into his palms. Vader cursed inwardly. The light was stifling him, suppressing his connection to the dark, which he now needed to open the device. Squeezing his eyes shut, he gritted his teeth and focused, pushing at the light like it was a blast door preventing his entry.

The tiny candle flickered out, surrendering to his sudden push of aggression. The holocron levitated in the air once more, spinning around above his hands. He opened his burning eyes and stared into it, allowing the dark side to flow through him. "Parod nun tave ipros," he hissed. Show me the way.

It was Malgus again, speaking of other ancients and how they'd betrayed him. Another two Sith, whose names he spat in distaste, Darths Angral and Adraas. He spoke of the siege on the Jedi Temple and his ensuing disgust when the City bombing never took place. The then Emperor had used and deceived him, using his victory over the Jedi as a political weapon to fuel peace talks with the Old Republic.

Malgus's standpoint was clear, he wanted to watch the city burn around him, so he could stand victoriously upon its ashes and stake his claim for the Sith. Only it wasn't to be. Adraas had gotten to the Senate chambers and betrayed him to Angral, claiming that his obsession with his Twi'lek slave girl, Eleena, had distracted him in the heat of battle. Branding her as Malgus's 'mongrel harlot' or whore for all intents, labelling her as his weakness.

"Anakin?"

Vader quickly shut down the holocron at the sound of Padmè's voice calling to him. He took a brief moment to collect himself before responding. "Yes, Padmè," he replied, keeping his eyes firmly planted on his tightly clenched fists on his desk.

"Is everything alright?" she asked.

What a question. How could he answer that? She wouldn't want to hear the truth, it would undoubtedly scare her. How he was now frustrated by the lingering presence of the light that she had ignited inside him. How he was currently searching for a way to extinguish it for good. The way he desperately needed to return to his star destroyer to try and gain some semblance of normality once more. None of that was going to be what she wanted to hear. He rasped in a deep breath and gritted his teeth. "Everything is fine," he said.

"You always were a terrible liar," she said.

"Well, I never was one for politics." The words left his scarred lips before he could stop them, and he immediately berated himself for his venom. He knew she'd take the statement exactly how he'd meant it. He heard her get up from the recliner behind him, the creak of the wooden supports, the shift of her dress as she moved and the gentle thud of her feet on the durasteel. She padded closer, and he could feel her presence draw near.

"Not all politicians lie Anakin," she said from his back.

He could hear the hurt in her voice, the subtle squeak in her inflection. "Just all the ones I know," he replied, digging his fingers into the palms of his leather gloves.

"Are you intentionally trying to push me away?"

"No. Just stating facts Padmè."

"Not everything I said was a lie. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the petition, Anakin. But surely you can understand why I couldn't, especially with how close you and the chancellor were and still are."

"None of that matters anymore. Besides, he lied to me just the same as everyone else did. Worse in fact."

She moved around to lean against his desk, staring down at his face. He stared up at her, his smouldering eyes dissecting her expression.

"Don't shut me out," she whispered. "Tell me what is troubling you."

He turned his gaze away, focusing on the holocron on his desk. "Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answers to Padmè," he growled. "They will only upset you."

She reached for him, gently grabbing his arm. "I think that time has both been and gone Ani. I'm under no misconception about who and what you have become, nor do I wish to pretend otherwise."

His eyes flamed with his sudden wave of anger bursting inside his chest. Snapping his head around, he glared up at her, his lips thin and his teeth locked. "I hate what your presence is doing to me Padmè. It needs to stop, now, for the both of us."

She pulled her hand away and stared at him in shock. "What are you saying?" she choked.

He pushed himself up from the chair and towered over her, his hairless brow furrowing heavily. "You are becoming a weakness," he said grabbing her biceps tight. "I can feel it, simmering away inside me, threatening my balance. I can't embrace it, so instead I ignore it, praying to the force that the insufferable sparkle will disappear."

Tears glittered in her eyes as she stared up at him, speechless.

"If he even suspects that I am conflicted, he will kill you. Do you understand what I am saying?"

"Why don't we leave then? Can't we run away so you can be who you want to be?" she cried.

"This is who I want to be, Padmè. I was meant to be a Sith. I was born of it and will eventually die of it. If you want to stay with me you must accept it, along with everything that entails."

"I already said that I accept it Anakin. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. If there was even the slightest chance of you turning back to the light, I would encourage it whole heartedly."

He let her arms go and spun away, charging across the chamber until he was as far from her as possible. "So when I find your Jedi friends, what are you going to do Padmè?" he growled, folding his arms with his back to her.

"If you find them," she corrected.

"No, when I find them," he said, whirling to face her, his golden eyes blazing. "I will kill them Padmè. What will you do then?"

"I ... I don't know."

"Exactly." He jabbed his finger angrily at her. "You say you accept it, when really you don't. And when you try and stop me, I will be caught. Not wanting to hurt you but also not wanting to give him any reason to kill you. Either way I have lost. So I ask you once more ... what will you do?"

"I hope that I won't be there to see it Anakin," she whispered, dropping her eyes to the floor. "I've already seen you execute an unarmed civilian in the street, order your troopers to slaughter his companions and murder Queen Apailana in cold-blood."

Her admission brought him up short, suddenly aware of just how much she had actually been witness to. "And yet here you are," he hissed, his tone slightly softer than before, returning his arms to his chest.

"Yes, here I am. Still standing beside you, still offering my support."

"What am I going to do with you, milady?" he asked, his voice almost teasing. "I can't bear the thought of losing you, yet I can't exist the way I need to, around you."

Her eyes lifted from the floor to gaze up at him. He tilted his head slightly to the side, a gentle smirk gracing his softened face.

Padmè smiled, the defiant sparkle returning to her eyes. "I love you Anakin, in both this life and the next. And if that means I have to try and give up some of my values in order to remain your wife, then so be it." She stalked toward him, keeping her gaze locked on his semi-rigid stance. "In return for my support, I ask only one thing," she stated, stopping just before him.

"And that is?" he asked.

"Find our children before they grow old enough to come after you."

He cocked his brow, sensing something from her. There was an edge to her voice, like a distant promise. She wasn't telling him something, but he wasn't sure what. "Padmè what aren't you telling me?" he growled, leaning in closer.

She folded her arms and stood tall. "Promise me Anakin," she said.

"There's nothing I want more Padmè, but-"

"-No buts Anakin. Promise me. I want to hear you say it."

"It would be easier if you gave me something to-"

"-Promise me Anakin, right now. Promise me that you will find our children before Obi-wan has the chance to train them," she insisted.

"I promise Padmè. But as I was trying to say before you kept cutting me off ... it would be a lot easier if I had something to work with." He launched into a pace, shaking his head. "I've asked several times for you to tell me where they were taking you. And each time you denied me. Refusing to give up anything." He spun to face her, his cape drifting in the air. "Did it ever occur to you that I might have wanted to find our children? That perhaps wherever they were taking you was where the twins are?"

She rolled her eyes and huffed. "You only wanted to kill the Jedi. You didn't even know the twins existed until I told you."

Vader squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Look, I do not wish to argue. If you don't want to tell me, then fine. But don't hold it against me when I can't kriffing find them." He stormed over to his desk and dropped into his chair with a huff, suddenly frustrated by everything.

Padmè stood in silence for a moment, watching as he focused on his breathing. She looked down to the floor, then up at him. "Alderaan," she whispered.

"What?" he barked, spinning his chair around to face her, his amber eyes wide.

She fumbled with her fingers, staring at them as if they'd just said something offensive. "That's where they were taking me." Lifting her eyes to meet his she repeated. "We were going to Alderaan."

Clenching his fists tight on his knees he spun back around to his command console, shoving the holocron off to the side. "Bail Organa ... I should've known," he hissed, turning on his data terminal and plugging in the coordinates.

Seconds after the image of the peaceful green planet appeared on the holo-screen, his comm-unit alarmed. Snatching it from his desk, he activated it, his anger swelling inside him.

"Lord Vader, meet me in my chambers at once," Sidious purred over the transmission.

"Yes master," he replied, switching it back off. He rose from his seat and retrieved his head gear, sparing Padmè a brief apologetic glance. "I have to go," he stated.

"I know. Here, let me help you with that," she replied, moving toward him and reaching for his mask.

"You don't need to help me, Padmè."

"I know, but I want to." She carefully took the mask from his hands.

He eyed her for a moment, before cautiously lowering down onto one knee, his cybernetic leg thumping as it touched the ground. Staring up at her from the corners of his eyes, he took two shallow breaths before turning his gaze to the floor and closing them. He waited submissively, his breathing coming in short rapid bursts and his master's words echoing inside his mind. Allowing her to continue to dominate you. He was right, but as of this very moment, he found that ... he just didn't care.

"Padmè, wait," he whispered, opening his eyes and staring up at her.

"Yes Anakin?"

"Kiss me."

Padmè stared at him kneeling before her, his hazy eyes swirling between amber and clouded blue, and she was powerless to deny him. Dropping down to her knees, she rested his mask on the floor and cupped his face with both hands, leaning in to kiss him.

She pulled back and he gasped, his eyes a bright crystal blue when they reopened. She could see what he meant by the effect she had over him. It was as if the darkness couldn't survive in her presence, and now she finally understood. "Stay very still, I don't want to hurt you," she whispered, lifting the mask back up and carefully guiding it over his face.

His hands went up to help her, attaching the clasps to the hermetic collar of his suit. She picked up the helmet, momentarily stunned by how heavy it was.

"Just lower it down over my head, Padmè. The seal holds it in place," his distorted voice crackled through the mask.

She did as he instructed, gently assisting it down until the hiss and click sounded. KHOOSH PUUHR ... KHOOSH PUUHR. "I hate that thing," she choked, wiping a tear from her eye.

"Imagine wearing it," his deep robotic voice rumbled. Rising to his feet, he adjusted his cape and stared down at her nervously watching him preparing to leave. He walked over to the sofa and grabbed his belt and cod-piece, replacing them, before committing her face to memory.

She stumbled over to him, suddenly fearful for his safety. "Please, be careful Ani, and hurry back," she said.

He trailed his gloved finger along the length of her jaw, gently pushing a lock of her chestnut hair over her ear. "Are you worried about me?" he asked, teasingly.

All she could do was nod.

He chuckled. "Everything will be alright, you'll see. I won't be gone long."

With a flourish of his cape, he left the hyperbaric chamber and exited through the double doors, leaving her alone in his chamber once more.

• • •

Vader lowered to one knee, bowing submissively before the stairs. "What is thy bidding, my master?" he rumbled.

Sidious slithered down the staircase, his withered hands swaying with each step. "Rise my friend," he said pausing before him.

He did as instructed, slowly lifting his body to his full height. Hooking his hands in his belt he patiently waited, focussing on the rhythm of his breathing.

"I take it you have sorted things out with your wife?" he asked, not wasting any time.

"Yes, my master."

"Good." He stepped forward and rested his hand upon his shoulder armour, staring sceptically into the lenses of his mask. "I am pleased for you. And now I have something else that I wish for us to discuss," he purred.

Vader tilted his head slightly so he could see his master's face better.

"Your wife, I said before that I had foreseen her being a great asset."

"Yes, master," Vader replied, shifting his footing.

He paused for a moment, guiding his apprentice toward the staircase and gesturing for him to walk with him. "How do you feel she would go back in the Senate?" he asked.

"What?" Vader barked in shock. "Why? To what means?"

The two of them ascended the stairs until they reached the landing. The master guiding his apprentice over to the viewing window overlooking the cityscape.

"She played an integral part opposing the formation of our Empire, my apprentice," the Emperor sneered, resting his hand once more upon the glossy black shoulder armour.

Vader swallowed. "The declaration of 2000," he rumbled.

"Ah, so you remember that day."

"Yes, my master."

"Then you also remember how she was one of the main spokespeople for this ... alliance." He emphasized the word alliance, his tongue clicking over the word.

"Yes master." He didn't like this, it felt all kinds of wrong. As if he was suddenly going to have Padmè assassinated right under his nose for her involvement. His heart started to race.

"If she were to re-join the Senate, then perhaps some of her old friends may appear from hiding." He spun to face him, his eyes aflame beneath the cowl of his hood. "You don't agree?"

Vader folded his arms and stood tall, staring at his manipulative master before him. "Perhaps," he snarled. "But she would be at great risk."

Sidious turned back to face the window, steepling his fingers together. "Yes, you're right. Of course that would mean that your relationship with her would have to remain secret." He glanced over his shoulder. "But of course, you two are accustomed to such restrictions, aren't you?"

"Yes ... my master," he answered, dipping his head. His heart sank. Even now, as a Sith Lord, the second in line for the Imperial Throne, he would still have to keep his marriage a secret.

"Good. Now go and report back with her answer, if she asks, the seat is for Naboo, as before. I believe it is currently unoccupied," he sneered, waving his hand dismissively.

"As you wish," Vader replied with a curt bow, whirling on his heels and descending the steps. If nothing else, this would at least give him the perfect opportunity to get closer to Senator Organa, and perhaps even his offspring.

If she agreed to it.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Sorry this chapter took two weeks to be updated, I was on holiday for a week in a lovely tropical island. Bali in Indonesia and didn't want to spend my time there with my eyes buried in my phone.

A few of you have been asking if this is going to turn into a redemption fic. The answer is no. It isn't but at the same time I am not going to turn him into a strange blood-thirsty psychopath hell bent on severing limbs as some fics do. I just don't believe that is true to his character.

There are many other traits that make a character dark, and those I will be exploring. So rest assured there will be no magical cloning of lost limbs or organs and no fantastical cure for his mentality. When Malgus spoke of his needing to "heal" he was referring to his mental focus and his deteriorated body structure, not his loss of limbs per se.

The language Vader spoke when he was talking to the holocron was Sith, it is said that both him and Sidious spoke it from time to time, often when they were discussing things around others that they did not wish to be overheard. When he uses it I will put the translation in afterwards as I did in this chapter.

Special thanks to Sfloresf, Selenese, LittleMelly, Ryuushadow and serenity87 for your reviews.

The next chapter won't take as long to update, I promise. No holidays planned for this week .

I hope you enjoyed this last chapter, and as always, please read and review.

MTFBWY