CHAPTER 23: CONSILIUM
CORUSCANT: IMPERIAL PALACE
One by one, white Imperial Shuttles departed the palace, taking to the hectic Coruscanti sky-lanes. Vader stood guard in the hangar flanked by a platoon of his elite troopers, keeping a watchful eye as they evacuated the premises.
"That's the last of them, My Lord," Commander Appo said, moving in to stand beside the brooding Sith.
"And the lab?"
"Decommissioned as per your orders Sir."
Vader nodded to the trooper. "Good work Commander. Take your team and escort the doctor and my wife. I will be in my starfighter, in-case we encounter any resistance."
"Yes Sir," Appo acknowledged, saluting the dark lord and ascending the boarding ramp with his men.
Waiting until the ramp clamped shut, the Sith watched as the final shuttle engaged its thrusters and began its take-off sequence. When the main fuselage was clear of the deck he charged to his starfighter and climbed into the cabin. Without a moment's hesitation, Vader ignited the thrusters and screamed from the hangar, shooting past the lumbering shuttle and into the sky.
Driving the craft into a barrel-roll, he held it steady until the shuttle approached, then flanked it starboard. He escorted them into the city traffic, leaving the Imperial Palace to disappear into the distance.
CORUSCANT SENATE OFFICE BUILDING: THE EMPEROR'S OFFICE
Darth Sidious could feel his apprentice's anger rippling through their bond, the malevolent energy swirling between him and the young Sith. He clicked his tongue and sat at his desk, activating his comm.
The image of a red and white clad trooper rezzed into life, materializing above the obsidian surface.
"Commander Fox, what is the situation?" Sidious sneered, clasping his fingers together.
"One doctor is deceased and the other is missing My Lord. We have scoured the level and there is no sign of Lord Vader or his battalion," Fox said.
The Emperor bared his teeth beneath the cowl of his robe. "And what of the facilities? Are they intact?"
"No My Lord. The Theatre and Research Lab have both been destroyed, along with all of their contents. It's like a warzone in there."
So, he was right; his apprentice had left the palace. And apparently he'd killed the poor unsuspecting doctor in the process. Pity, she was just beginning to show such promise. Rapping his fingers upon the desk, he stared at the image glittering before him. "Very well Commander, take your men to the hangar and inform me at once if Lord Vader returns."
Fox nodded. "Yes Sir."
He terminated the transmission and swung his throne around to gaze out the window. Vader's sudden decision to leave the palace was hardly unexpected, just a little sooner than he'd originally planned. Not that it mattered – as confused and angry as the boy was – he could still sense his unwavering loyalty to him through their bond. Perhaps some space was just what he needed. After all, they did say that absence made the heart grow fonder. Still, he wanted to try and make contact with him, just to be certain.
Spinning back to his desk, he activated the comm once again.
CORUSCANT: CITY AIRSPACE
Traffic was heavy. The late afternoon sun painting the city with the same amber hue of his master's eyes. Speeders and transports littered the lanes, darting back-and-forth between each other, making the convoy a challenge to keep together. Constant tracking contact was needed to ensure that no-one ventured off course. So far, so good.
The red comm beacon flashed and beeped on the Interceptor's instrument panel. Vader knew it was his master without needing to check. He'd felt him probing around in his mind since the minute he'd disposed of that insufferable doctor. He'd actually taken longer to raise him than he'd first expected.
Punching the controls he focused on flying until his master materialized above the holo-transmitter.
"Lord Vader ..."
He gritted his teeth, and clenched his hands tighter on the steering yoke. "Yes, My Master."
"So you have decided to go out on your own my friend. But did you need to punish the good doctor?"
The 'good doctor' indeed. Celeste was good, now. Good and dead. Vader choked back a growl, composing himself. "Her usefulness had reached its end Master."
"Ah, I see. And what of your decision to leave?"
The lead shuttle began its descent, reducing in speed as it neared their destination. Adjusting the controls, Vader slowed his approach.
"The palace is rife with echoes of dead Jedi. I have no interest in remaining there."
It wasn't a lie, the haunting echoes of the once Jedi Temple tormented him constantly, whispering of his betrayal, reminding him of his failure to resist the seduction of the dark side. All that aside, it wasn't his primary motivation for up and leaving. It was clear to Vader now that Padmè was not safe there and that all it would take is one mission, one call away and she would be at his master's mercy. He'd die fighting before allowing for that to happen.
Static filled the transmission, and his master's probing grew stronger. After a moment, the dark tendrils retreated and he finally broke the silence.
"Very well my apprentice. You have tonight. But I expect to see both you and your wife at the Senate in the morning. Do not keep me waiting."
The transmission hissed out before Vader could answer. He didn't have time to think on their conversation at present, far too much needed to be controlled with his legion's relocation. Shuttle after shuttle were now descending into the underground hangar, all filled with his loyal troopers. He needed to get down there and keep them in order, until he could reassign them to their new barracks.
Glancing up at the towering skyscraper, a sudden melancholy chewed away at his insides. 500 Republica had now been transformed into his very own personal fortress, but how was Padmè going to react to its renovation? Sure her apartment was still untouched, save for a few intercoms embedded in the rooms, but every single other floor had been stripped and refitted to suit his needs. It was a debate he was not looking forward to.
Confident that his master was not about to try anything for the time being, he shot passed the shuttles and headed for the hangar at breakneck speed.
• • •
"Making our final approach Sir," Captain Antilles announced from the helm, guiding the Tantive III through the chaotic city sky lanes.
"Take us in slow and steady Captain. We don't want to attract unwanted attention," Bail replied, turning his cruiser seat to face the view port.
"Yes Sir."
Ferus and Caleb stared through the view port window, watching the convoy of white shuttles cross in traffic before them.
"That's something you don't see everyday," Caleb said, glancing sideways at his master seated beside him. "Is it normal to have that many shuttles travelling together here Senator?"
Bail stroked his chin. "Not particularly normal Caleb, no. It looks as though the army is on the move."
The older Jedi's face went ghostly white, his eyes fixed on the ships up ahead. "Caleb," he whispered, "shield your force presence at once."
"Master?"
Ferus turned to him, his eyes lost in thought. "Remember what I taught you. Now shield yourself, quickly."
"Yes Master."
A jet black Actis-class Interceptor suddenly darted through the convoy and hurtled past the front of their Corvette. Caleb shivered, feeling the chilling sensation swirl through the force. "That was him, wasn't it Master?" he asked.
"I'm not entirely certain my young padawan. But we must remain vigilant, the dark side surrounds this place."
"Maybe it would be best if the two of you changed into something a little less 'conspicuous'," Bail suggested, eyeing the Jedi over. "There are spare officer's uniforms in the cargo hold. I'm sure you can find some that fit."
Ferus agreed, rising from his seat. "Yes, perhaps that would be wise. We don't blend in very well anymore."
The Viceroy nodded and turned back to his datapad. "No, I'm afraid not."
• • •
Following Commander Appo down the shuttle ramp, Padmè paused to stare at the spectacle. The private underground hangar was filled with hundreds if not thousands of clone troopers all marching together in squad formation. They split into two groups at the head, slowly disappearing around the back of the central spire entrance.
Positioned between the two ivory masses was Vader, directing the squad leaders and their men. It was a sight to behold. The tall armoured black knight surrounded by his white army, commanding them with expert precision. His deep baritone voice thundered above the rolling roar of their boots striking the duracrete platform, barking out orders and directing them from the sector.
He must have sensed her presence. Whirling to face the shuttle, he strode between his men almost as if in slow motion, his midnight cloak billowing behind him as he headed straight for her. His presence was one of omnipotence, his powerful aura eclipsing everything and everyone around him.
"Impressive, isn't he my lady?" Appo said, leaning toward her.
"In a spine chilling sort of way. You have a lot of respect for my husband, don't you Commander?" Padmè replied, not taking her eyes off the approaching Sith Lord.
He nodded. "Yes, we all do. He fights beside us, afraid of nothing. Every trooper in this battalion would willingly lay down his own life for our Supreme Commander."
Afraid of nothing. Only she knew that was never the case, definitely not with Anakin. He'd always lived with fear, everyday, for as long as she could remember. He'd just managed to conceal it better than others. Fear of loss was his biggest downfall, pushing him to strive for greater power in an effort to protect the ones he loved. Lost in the premise of the 'Chosen One', consumed by the belief that one day he would be powerful enough to save people from death. She wondered if he could see the irony in his actions now.
Vader stopped at the end of the ramp, his helmeted head inclined in her direction. Holding his gloved hand out, he silently beckoned for her to join him. Closing the distance, Padmè wondered if fear was what had driven him to finally make the decision to leave the palace, or whether it was something else entirely.
Taking his hand she allowed him to help her down, keeping her gaze fixed on the lenses of his mask. As usual they gave nothing away, concealing his face and expression from everyone including her. But still, there was something off about him. A certain knife's edge lingering within his normally icy demeanour – he wasn't just angry – he was enraged. She could feel his emotions rippling through him, cascading between their touch, amplified by their emotional connection. Trying to search out his eyes, she whispered to him. "Are you alright?"
He didn't respond, leaving the uneven rasp of his respirator to answer for him. After a moment he turned his head away and gently tugged on her hand, urging her forward; a simple rumbling command the only word leaving his obscured mouth: "Come."
Fighting back the automatic shiver that quaked through her body in his aggravated presence, she fell into step beside him, walking between the parted sea of troopers. Commander Appo broke away from them when they reached the center spire, moving to assist his squad leaders in their men's relocation. Aleria on the other hand remained close, following them into the turbo-lift when the doors opened.
Vader moved to the back, bringing Padmè around to stand right in front of him. The redhead doctor then stood to the side, giving him as much distance as could be afforded in such a confined space. The doors closed and they began their ascent in complete silence, the only sound being the steady hiss in and out of the Sith's breathing apparatus.
Floor after floor after floor they ascended, the green lights on the turbo-lift flickering from symbol to symbol. It finally came to rest three levels from her own, the durasteel platform grinding to a halt with a thump. The doors whooshed open and they exited into a barren hallway, marked with grey walls and no decor. Padmè and Aleria stopped just outside, waiting for the Dark Lord to guide them on.
Vader strode to the front, simply waving his hand to summon the two women to follow. Walking down the passage they neared a set of grey blast doors positioned directly opposite to each other, the Sith moved to the one on the left and activated the security panel opening the door. "Your accommodations, Doctor," he said flatly. "I trust you'll find them to be satisfactory."
Glancing between Vader and his wife, Aleria nodded in acceptance. "Thank you, My Lord," she said, stepping into the room.
The Sith didn't move, his mask facing the empty passageway up ahead, as if lost in thought. "The opposing door leads to a med-bay. You will find everything you require to fulfil your duties inside. External communications are forbidden without my expressed consent."
His voice was cold and detached, but hidden beneath his words was one sincere concealed threat. Betray me and you will suffer the consequences. Padmè raised a brow at her husband's chilling manner, folding her own arms and watching as the obedient doctor simply nodded at her before disappearing into the room. He closed the door and briefly looked to her before turning back to face the passage.
"Come, Padmè," he said, waiting for her to join him. "I will take you to your apartment."
She sighed, staring at his cloaked back. Moving to walk beside him, she glanced up at his covered face trying to figure out what to say. They were finally alone and she intended to broach her concerns. "Anakin, what's wrong?" she asked.
He looked down to her before turning his head back to stare straight ahead, his heaving stride thumping heavily on the ground as they approached the turbo-lift. "I find the fact that you need to ask me that disturbing Padmè."
"Why?"
He waved his gloved hand to open the lift and stepped to the side, gesturing for her to get in. "I would've thought that after everything we have been through, you would be able to feel when I'm in pain. Clearly I overestimated our connection."
She stopped by the door, staring up at his crimson lenses in shock. "Feel your pain? I'm not a Jedi Anakin, I don't feel the force as you do. What happened to you? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?"
He turned his head away, gently ushering her into the lift. "It only seems suddento you Padmè." Joining her, Vader stood alongside and selected the top level, then dropped his hands to rest on his belt.
The silence was deafening and Padmè's mind was going crazy with what could possibly have happened to him to make him behave in this way. As the lift thumped to a halt, she took a deep breath and slowly exhaled trying to compose her growing anxiety. He was right in a sense, she could feel ... something. But besides the icy chill crackling in the air between them, she had no idea what it was. It felt like a dull ache radiating through every fibre of her body, as if she were about to fall sick with fever or something.
The doors opened and she gazed out upon the familiar surroundings of their old apartment. It looked the same, the furniture, the artwork, the homely nick-nacks from Naboo. Everything was precisely as it was only a few days earlier.
"The service droids will bring your things up shortly," Vader said, returning his arms to his chest. "I won't be joining you for a while, I have other matters to attend to."
"What do you mean?" she asked, surprised that he was leaving her alone. "Where will you be?"
"On the floor below this one. I have my own chambers, one better equipped to support my needs."
He went to close the door and she threw her hand across the sensors preventing it from closing. The move attracted his undivided attention, his mask snapping from the lift sensor and beating down on her shocked face. "We need to talk Anakin, now. I don't understand what's going on or what has happened to you or what made you murder Celeste back at the palace. I want answers, and I think I deserve them."
An irritated rumble escaped his mask. "You will understand soon enough. There's an intercom in every room and the one in your bedroom connects directly through to me, you may use it if you feel it necessary. As of right now, I need time. When I come back we can talk."
"Anakin!" she said, fighting back the building angry tears and slowly removing her hand from the door jamb.
"Not now, Padmè," he growled, turning his head away and waving the door closed. "I will return shortly."
The doors sealed shut, taking her Sith Lord husband away once again. Padmè repeatedly pounded on the door, venting her frustrations at his refusal to open up to her. "Aargh! You are so unbelievable!" she yelled. Turning around, she leant back against the durasteel and slid down to the ground balling her hands into fists. She thumped the floor, cursing out loud in an effort to let go some of her anguish. "Why won't you just talk to me?" she cried through clenched teeth. "Why won't you let me in!" Dropping her head into her hands, she wept, the racking sobs violently shaking her shoulders.
• • •
Vader could feel the waves of emotion spiralling from his wife as he left her in the apartment. It was for the best, he knew this. He needed to settle himself, to quell the raging fury surging through him. Being near her or talking with her as he was presently was not going to do anything for their already strained relationship, he had no patience and the serum pumping through every vein in his body was affecting his mental stability. He was dangerous and unpredictable and she was too adept at pushing him to the very brink of his limits.
Removing his cape he hung it up on the purpose-made hook secured to the wall and thudded into his new living quarters. It was going to take a bit of adjusting to, but he had no intention of staying here for too long.
He missed the Exactor, missed the comfort of being out in the wide expanse of space, traversing the hyper lanes and routinely taking his new TIE-fighter out on test flights. The confines of Coruscant were becoming as claustrophobic as the mask on his face, slowly suffocating him the longer he remained here.
Then there was the knowledge of his children. Knowing, that out there, somewhere, he had two force-sensitive babies with insurmountable potential possibly in the hands of his former master. The very thought of Kenobi raising his offspring made him sick to the stomach.
He walked into the kitchenette and hit the control panel embedded in the black synth-marble countertop, activating the pressurizing system. A loud whirring noise filled the room as the oxygen-rich air rushed in through the overhead vents.
Looking around at the sparsely furnished apartment, he headed over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and drew the heavy ebony drapes closed, not wanting to be disturbed. Feeling satisfied that no-one could see him, he removed his head gear and placed it down on the counter. Grabbing a glass from the cupboard, he turned on the tap and filled it with water.
His bacta-tank was calling him. It had been ages since he'd felt comfortable enough to sink into its soothing embrace. He couldn't do it at the palace once he'd brought Padmè there, he was too nervous to leave her unprotected for long periods of time, especially with the way his master had been acting. Gulping down the cool water, he placed the glass back on the sink and headed down the rear corridor.
His recovery and maintenance room was securely located in the middle of his quarters, hidden between the main living area and his bed-chamber. Stepping inside the room, he waved his hand and activated the four med-droids waiting on standby. Their red singular photo-receptors lit up and their black bodies clunked and whirred into life. The empty bacta tank sat in the centre, beckoning him, whispering promises of relief. With both entrances to the chamber now sealed shut, the Dark Lord made his way to his workbench and started to strip down.
Completely naked, he thudded over to the support struts and stood on the elevated platform, resting his upper arms upon the durasteel braces. Immediately the droids clanked to him, going about removing his cybernetics in preparation for his treatment. Every poke and prod of their metallic limbs made him wince, the pinching and stabbing of his inflamed flesh where it met the alloy bringing tears to his golden eyes.
After a few agonizing moments, what remained of his human body was freed from the artificial prosthetics and the merciless droids carried them over to place them down on his workbench.
The fourth droid attached the breathing mask to his face and secured it into position, then clunked away to retreat back into its corner.
"Ready and awaiting your signal, Lord Vader," the last droid announced, manning the control terminal.
"Engage," he rasped, the words muffled by the respirator.
"Yes Sir."
The duraglass chamber sealed shut and the bright green liquid began to bubble up from the base, slowly encompassing the Sith's damaged body. He took one last glance at his surroundings before closing his eyes, gently slipping into a meditative trance as the bacta rose over his head.
Finally, some relief at last.
• • •
Several hours had passed since Anakin had left her alone. The service droids had delivered her belongings and she'd spent the time since unpacking her things and putting them away. Everything had become so complicated – Anakin had become so complicated. His moods were unstable and difficult to judge; one minute he was her loving husband and the next he wasn't. The constant back and forth was starting to make her dizzy.
Something had to have happened in that theatre. From what Aleria had said, it must've been something severe. She was right in the end, Celeste didn't survive the aftermath. And whatever it was, was damaging enough for Anakin to suddenly decide to up and leave the palace, something she thought was never going to happen.
But he wouldn't talk to her about it. Even when she had asked him if he was alright, he'd shut her out refusing to discuss it. Hopefully them both being away from Palpatine would finally give her a chance to get through to him. She'd contemplated trying to go to his chamber to see him, but each time she convinced herself not to. He was isolating himself on purpose, perhaps because he knew he was in one of his moods and didn't want to upset her. If that was the case then her forcing herself on him would only make matters worse.
She sat down on the sofa and grabbed her datapad, deciding to try and catch up on whatever was going on in that farce of a Senate before she arrived in the morning. Flicking through the feed, she found the meeting agenda and scrolled through it half-heartedly. Darth Vader was listed as a special guest which she found surprising, Anakin never was one for going to the Senate meetings. But it was probably so he could keep an eye out, making sure that nothing happened to her.
The door to her apartment slid open. She heard the thud of his boots and respirator echoing in the silence. At least his breathing seemed more steady than it was earlier.
"I was wondering when you were coming back," she said, slowly turning in her seat to watch him saunter in.
"I needed a chance to regroup," he grumbled, moving around and dropping into the seat beside her. "It has been a rather trying day."
She turned back to the datapad. "Yes, I suppose it has."
"There's too many memories in here," Vader groaned, folding his arms.
Padmè cocked her brow and stared at his mask guardedly. "Don't you want to remember what we used to have anymore?" she asked choking down the lump that suddenly formed in her throat.
He looked back at her. "And what did we used to have, Padmè?"
She held back the cry trying to leap out of her mouth. Had he truly changed that much that he'd forgotten the love they had for each other? "Each other, Anakin. We had each other."
"Did we?" he asked, rising to his feet and adopting his parade stance in front of the window. "From what I remember, we barely spent any time together, and the time we had was more often than not spent discussing things other than us."
"We both had roles to play, but that never changed how I felt about you – how I still feel about you."
"Perhaps. Maybe now it can be different."
She got up and moved to stand beside him, gently stroking his arm. "What's going on in that mind of yours?" she asked.
A strangled sigh escaped his mask, and he turned his head to look down at her. "I'm afraid, Padmè."
"Afraid of what Anakin?"
He pulled out of her touch and started to pace. "Of everything. Sidious, the Senate, our future ..." he let his words trail off and stood staring at the wall. "He told me something in the theatre that made me question everything." Spinning back to face her, he folded his arms. "I need to get you away from here for a while, sooner rather than later. I miss my ship and I want to find our children."
"Do you have a plan in mind?"
He started to pace again, thumping around the sitting room. "I have a few theories, but nothing I'm sure about. The force isn't helping me find them. Plus it won't be long before my Master sends me out on another mission."
"Is that what's bothering you?"
He stopped again, staring into the air. "Yes and no. I am hoping to discover something at the Senate meeting tomorrow, especially since Bail Organa is going to be there."
He spat out the Viceroy's name, pouring every bit of hate and angst he was feeling into it. As much as she wanted to find her children, the thought of Anakin threatening her old friend into submission was not something she was overly keen on. "He may know nothing about their whereabouts, Anakin. Then what will you do?"
He growled, clenching his fists at his thighs. "Then I shall take whatever information I can get out of him and use it to start my search."
"I don't want you hurting him. If he hasn't got Luke and Leia then he has done nothing wrong."
He whirled to face her, his breathing shifting into an erratic rhythm. She could feel the anger rippling from him, charging the air between them with an icy chill.
"Then what do you suggest I do Padmè?" he snarled, locking his arms over his chest. "He's not going to just tell me where Kenobi is. I'm going to have to drag it out of him."
"Can't you find Obi-wan through the force?" she asked, almost yelling now. "He used to be your closest friend Anakin, surely you still have some sort of force-like connection with him."
"If I try to find him that way Padmè ... and yes there is still a connection as you put it, then it will let him know that I'm looking for him. That will give him a chance to escape and I'm sure I don't need to explain the risk of that happening to you."
"Let's just see what tomorrow brings then shall we? Maybe you'll pick up on something."
"We'll see."
Padmè crossed the distance between them and stopped directly in front of him, staring wistfully up into the forbidding lenses of his mask. She wanted to be able to see him, to see what was hidden behind those emotive eyes of his. Reaching out to grab both gloved hands, she pulled them to his waist and stared. "Ani, are you able to stay with me tonight? I was hoping we could get dinner or something and just talk, like we used to."
His breathing rasped in and out several times before he responded. "I can't take my mask off in here Padmè," he said, the icy chill in the air warming slightly.
"Well, what about your chamber? Can I come there and stay with you instead?"
He dipped his head. "If you still want to."
She squeezed his hands tight, trying to get him to feel her commitment to him. "Of course I still want to. I want us to get through this and the only way that is going to happen is if we stick together. No distance between us, no secrets and no shutting each other out."
"Very well, Padmè. If that is what you want. I have none of your clothes in my suite, so you will need to get some before we leave."
She smiled up at him, pulling him into her arms and holding him tight. "Just give me a minute and we can go."
• • •
Vader startled awake as usual, another wave of nightmarish memories haunting his dreams. This time it was of him being burnt alive on Mustafar. His chest ached, the strain of trying to sleep without his mask next to Padmè in a bed again was proving difficult to ignore. He gazed down at her sleeping form, seeing the peaceful expression on her face.
I don't deserve you, Angel. I hope one day I can make it all up to you, starting with finding our children. Tucking a loose curl behind her exposed ear, he sighed, an overwhelming sense of guilt playing on his mind. He bent over and placed a tiny kiss on her forehead then rose from the bed.
Picking up his suit, he carried it into his maintenance chamber and sat down at his workbench to adjust some of the controls. The medicator-unit was either malfunctioning or had been dialed-up while he was unconscious going by the number of injections he was receiving. Instead of one shot of serum every two hours he was getting two per hour and it needed to be fixed.
He couldn't be himself under that sort of stimulation. Every thought in his mind was jumbled and confused, fuelling his frustration and pent up anger, and now he felt as though he was coming down off something, his skin clammy, his head pounding and his muscles quaking.
Finding the control box tucked inside, he turned off the unit all together, deciding to run without its assistance for the time being. Closing it back up, he retracted the needles so they wouldn't stick him and proceeded to check over the rest of the suit. Everything else appeared to be in working order with no other modifications he wasn't aware of. He took it back into the bedroom and laid it over a chair by the wall, before taking a seat on the bed beside Padmè.
He glanced at the chrono by the bed. It was getting late and she still showed no signs of waking. For all the years he'd known her, she was always an early riser, especially when she had a meeting to attend to. This was most unusual behaviour, she only ever slept in when they managed to get some much needed time off together, and in reality not much of that time was ever actually spent sleeping anyway.
He leant down to gently stir her. "Padmè, it's time to get up now," he whispered.
Her eyelids fluttered and she made the most adorable little grunt as she rolled over onto her other side.
"Angel, come on. We have a meeting to go to this morning and you need to get ready."
She yawned and stretched her arms across the bed searching for him, patting his pillow and then his sheet. He chuckled, dropping down to rest his chin on the curve of her waist. "Good morning Angel," he said staring at her.
Padmè rubbed her eyes and met his gaze. His eyes were the colour of the Naboo sky on a clear mid-summer's morning, sparkling sapphire blue irises staring back at her. She nearly cried for joy at seeing them again. "Anakin," she croaked, as a small tear slipped down her cheek.
He chuckled again. "Good morning sleepy-head. You do remember that we have a meeting at the Senate this morning?"
Her eyes darted around the room in a daze. "What time is it?"
Taking her hand, he gently pulled her up to sit on the bed, smiling. "It's just after seven. We have to be there before nine."
"Oh my stars, why didn't you wake me?" She started to panic, rolling off of the bed and tugging on her hair, looking dazedly around the bedroom. "Why aren't you at the temple? Won't you get in trouble?"
Vader laughed, gently gripping her shoulders. "Oh Angel, I think you're still asleep. Aleria will be here shortly, she's bringing breakfast up. Go have a shower and I'll help you get dressed."
She rubbed her eyes again and tried to shake off the haze of sleep. "Aleria?" she asked. Then realization dawned on her and she finally remembered where she was. She looked up at Anakin, seeing his now hairless head and scarred skin. "Oh, I'm sorry Ani, I must've been dreaming."
His heart sank, seeing the sadness wash over her face when she came back to reality. Pulling her against his battle scarred and disfigured chest, he held her close and whispered into her ear. "It's alright my love. But we do need to get ready, he's expecting us."
"Yes, right Palpatine. I'll go have a shower."
CORUSCANT: SENATE BUILDING: MAIN FOYER
Vader rested his hands in his belt and watched as Commander Appo and six of his troopers escorted Padmè down the corridor. He didn't like this, she was too far away from him. But the only way he and his Master's plan was going to work, was if she was away from him and open to the other Senators. But he still didn't like it.
His comm-unit chirped, pulling him from his musings. His Master was summoning him. It was time. With a flick of his wrist, he whirled on his heel and thundered down the corridor to the Emperor's ready-room with his troopers in-tow.
Entering the lavish chamber he strode to the doorway to the dais entrance where his Master was waiting and dropped to his knee.
Sidious turned to him, his hooded cloak drawn up over his pasty face leaving only his sneering mouth exposed. The probing in his mind began, prodding around at his mental shields in exploration. He clamped his teeth.
"Rise my friend," he purred, retreating from his mind.
Vader did as commanded, slowly bringing himself back to his full height and silently towering over his master.
"You seem at ease," he said.
"Yes My Master."
Sidious turned away from him and pulled the corner of the red drapes askew, gazing out into the caucus. "Good, I need you to be focused."
"I am focused, My Master," Vader said, resting his hands back in his belt.
"I want you to listen out for whatever you can find during the meeting. Any whispers of treason or rebellious behaviour need to be reported back to me at the meeting's end."
"As you wish."
• • •
Padmè lingered nervously inside the ready-room by her old dais, waiting for the call to podium to sound. Her corseted dress suddenly felt suffocating, the cascading black fabric weighing heavily on her heart. Commander Appo stood diligently beside her while the rest of his men guarded the door. There was a shuffling of feet from the entrance and her eyes darted over her shoulder to see who it was.
"Do my eyes deceive me?" a familiar man's voice called out from the distance.
She spun around in shock. "Bail!"
He rushed over to her, flanked by two peculiar officers that she didn't recognize. "Padmè, I thought you were dead. Where have you been?"
She swallowed down the sudden wave of anger rising inside her. "I was on Naboo until only recently being brought back to Coruscant."
His deep brown eyes stared at her questioningly. "What happened? How come you're back?" he whispered.
She sighed, glancing back at the trooper standing protectively behind her. Appo nodded and began surveying the room. She kept her voice low, not certain as to who could hear her. "I'm staying here on Coruscant. Palpatine asked me to return to the Senate after the death of Queen Apailana, naturally I didn't have much of a choice."
He nodded. "Understandably." He looked around nervously, the presence of the Trooper Commander not escaping his attention. "Are you alright?" he whispered.
"Yes and no, Bail. I have a lot of questions as you probably expect."
He frowned, calling his two officers to stand beside him. The taller one cleared his throat. There was something oddly familiar about him; something in his eyes.
"Mrs Skywalker, I am so glad to see you again. We have all been extremely concerned for your welfare," Ferus said, dipping his head.
Bail shot him a questioning glance before returning his attention to Padmè. "I'm so sorry Padmè, I didn't realise you were still alive. That's something my friends here may have forgotten to mention."
Padmè's face hardened and she stood rigidly tall, folding her arms. "Ferus, Caleb? You shouldn't be here." Taking a deep breath, she composed herself. "Where is Sabè and did you find him?" she asked, adopting her Senator voice.
"Yes we did, she is with him at present," Ferus confirmed, folding his arms.
Another flash of anger surged through her. So her handmaiden was now with Obi-wan and possibly her children. "Where are they? I need to see them," she almost snarled.
The two Jedi looked briefly to each other before Bail interjected. "Padmè, are you safe? Do you need help?" he whispered.
She shot him a cold glare, strangling the wave of fury rising in her chest. "That's a question for another time and place, Senator Organa."
The alarm call beeped over the PA system, alerting them all that the meeting was about to commence. Padmè glanced between her party and then looked to Commander Appo moving in from the rear. "Commander, it is time," she said moving for the curtains.
"Yes, my lady," he acknowledged, following her to the dais.
The Viceroy and the two Jedi exchanged curious glances before following Padmè and the trooper out onto the podium. Bail sat one side of Padmè while Appo sat on the other.
"You know I can help you," the Viceroy whispered leaning toward her.
The Emperor's dais slowly lowered into the centre of the caucus, complete with his Senatorial entourage and Darth Vader.
She glanced to the Alderaanian from the corner of her eye. "I hope so Bail, I really hope so," she whispered turning her eyes back to her husband and his Master.
The first half of the meeting was uneventful. Palpatine had introduced her husband to the Senators as his Supreme Commander and second-in-charge of the Empire. As usual the crowd cheered and crowed in accordance. She'd spent most of the time straining to watch her husband's body language on the dais, seeing the awkward manner in which he held himself, slowly panning his mask left and right around the room.
Moments before Palpatine announced that they would adjourn for their midday meal, Anakin's voice whispered in her head, catching her off guard.
"Meet me in the conservatory."
As the alarm sounded over the speakers, Padmè excused herself and disappeared to the conservatory to meet with her husband. He was standing in the shadows with his arms tightly locked over his chest, the only thing giving his presence away being the red and green flashing diodes on his chest panel.
"Anakin, have you learned anything?" she asked, looking around.
"Nothing noteworthy," he groaned, disheartened. "And you? I see the Viceroy joined you, how touching."
She shot him a condescending glare and folded her arms. "I think he knows where Obi-wan is."
A low growl rumbled from his vocoder. "I bet he does."
"He offered to help me Ani, and I have an idea, although you may not like it."
He started to pace. "I don't like it already," he hissed.
"Just hear me out, it could be our only chance at finding them," she stated, grabbing his arm and spinning him around to look at her.
His breathing grew ragged. "Alright, I'm listening."
• • •
Bail was waiting in the dais when she finally returned, looking quite perplexed. "I was wondering where you had gotten to," he said, as she took her seat beside him.
Deep hazel eyes met brown as she stared at him pleadingly. "Does that offer for help still stand?" she whispered, wiping a stray tear from her cheek.
His brows furrowed heavily. Leaning into her shoulder, he kept his voice to a bare whisper. "What can I do?"
She couldn't believe what she was about to say but she had to. She needed to do something. "I'm being held prisoner, I'm begging you, please help me. I can't escape on my own and I'm afraid I may not survive the next few weeks."
"Who's holding you prisoner?"
She swallowed and wiped another tear from her eye. "Darth Vader."
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Sorry for the long wait everyone, I have been flat out with work for the last few weeks and haven't had the ability to write.
The characters are starting to converge now and it gets pretty intense from here on in. There's probably another 8 to 10 chapters left at most and I will try to get them out a bit quicker, but we'll see how we go. I may end up releasing lower word count chapters just to keep it updating quicker, as the long ones can take quite a while to complete, especially when Vader and friends decide to go on hiatus for a while and don't talk to me.
Thanks for the reviews and the follows/favourites, it makes the whole process even more enjoyable.
Happy Star Wars Day and as always...
MTFBWY