Chapter 25

Vader returned to his wife, excited to tell her that Leia was close by. Padmé was taking a shower when he arrived, and he sat down to wait for her. He remembered many times in the past when finding his wife in the shower lead to many pleasant things; she was never unhappy to have him join her. But those days are gone forever, he reflected grimly. You will never be able to make love to her again …you will never be able to kiss her again…never. The injuries Vader had learned to live with over the past twenty years had always been something he regarded as punishment for what he had done to Padmé. Living in nearly constant discomfort, pain and isolation seemed a fitting punishment. But now that he knew the truth, Vader had begun to question the necessity of it all. He remembered very well the day he'd awoken in the mask, the horror he felt upon realizing he'd lost so much of his humanity; he had nearly gone mad with claustrophobia and pain. But his master had assured him that he was lucky to be alive, and that he owed his very life to his master who had so mercifully saved him from the fires of Mustafar. There had been many times when Vader had thought he would have been better off had he died. To live the remainder of his life in this manner seemed to be unimaginable. And now, twenty years later, he still existed. But things were different now. He had a family now, two children and the wife he'd long believed dead. Somehow knowing they were alive made Vader feel human again. But how can I be truly human living in this? How can I be alive if I cannot make even the smallest human contact? As much as he'd tried, Vader could not help but consider the possibility that his injuries were not beyond repair, as the emperor had told him. Given the multitude and the magnitude of the lies Palpatine had told him, was it so far from the realm of possibility that he had lied about that too? Vader was no fool; he knew that in his present state he had no chance of surviving a confrontation with his master. Was that the reason Palpatine had allowed him to believe there was no recourse? Was he afraid of the possibility of a fully whole Darth Vader? Surely Palpatine knew that the powers Vader possessed before his accident were twice his own; had it been simply a convenient lie to prevent Vader from ever regaining those powers? If there is a way, I must find it, Vader told himself, looking up as he heard the water turn off. If I am ever to be human again, I have no choice.

Padmé entered the room at this point, an Imperial issue bathroom cinched around her. She was startled when she saw Vader.

"Oh, sorry," she said, seeming rather embarrassed. "I didn't know you were here."

"I haven't been here long," he told her, standing up. He looked at the drab garment she wore. "Have you ordered some new clothes?" he asked her.

Padmé glanced down at the robe. "No, not yet," she said. "I found this in the fresher," she told him. "It seemed unused," she added.

"Yes, but it's hardly your style," he told her. "I seem to remember you being a very well dressed, fashionable woman," he added, trying to lighten the tension between them.

Padmé shrugged, feeling rather self conscious. "That was a long time ago," she told him. "I haven't been able to wear anything but prison garb for twenty years," she reminded him. "Fashion seems rather….excessive to me now."

Vader was beginning to regret his comment. She's so different, he though sadly. She's so …broken.

"Regardless," he went on. "You deserve to wear only the finest, so order whatever you want," he told her. "Money is no object."

Padmé nodded. "You have money now?" she asked.

"I do," he replied. "Far too much for my needs," he added.

Padmé wanted to ask him how it was he had come into so much wealth, but decided that she'd rather not know. "You came to give me news?" she asked, sitting down.

"Yes," he replied, sitting across from her. "My men have located the Millennium Falcon," he told her. "Leia will be on board very soon."

Padmé nodded. She could see how happy this made her husband, how excited; but she couldn't summon those feelings within herself. "Leia won't be happy to be captured like a prisoner," she commented. "You must know that."

"She will not be treated like a prisoner," he countered, a little offended. "She's my child; I intend to treat her as such."

"And Han?" she asked, knowing the role Han had played in Leia's disappearance from Vader's home. "How will you treat him?"

The thought of Han Solo still angered Vader, and he'd be lying if he said he hadn't entertained thoughts of torturing him. "I will treat him like the pirate that he is," he said finally. "He deserves no more."

Padmé frowned. "And you think that will endear you to Leia?" she asked. "The girl has feelings for Han," she added.

Vader was not happy to hear that. "Feelings? What do you mean feelings?" he demanded.

"I think you can guess," Padmé replied. "You do remember being nineteen, don't you?" she asked.

"Of course I remember," he countered. "I married you when I was nineteen," he added.

"So you understand," she said, knowing full well that he did not.

"Understand?" he asked. "No, I do not understand how a girl like Leia can have any interest in a criminal like Han Solo," he stated. "I'm sure it's simply infatuation," he added. "As soon as she is separated from him, Leia will forget all about him, I'm sure."

"What is it you're planning, Anakin?" she asked.

Vader wasn't sure she wanted to hear it, but was saved from replying to her question by his comlink.

"What is it, Admiral?" he asked.

"Lord Vader, the emperor is demanding that you make contact," Piett reported.

Vader looked up at his wife, whose face before a look of abject fear. "Understood," he replied. He closed the transmission.

"What does that monster want?" she asked. "He knows, doesn't he?" she asked, her fear increasing. "He knows I'm here with you!"

"He does not know," Vader assured her, taking her by the shoulders. "I have shielded you, Padmé, he won't know."

She frowned, not feeling terribly reassured by his words.

"I'll be back," he told her, turning to leave.

Padmé sat down again, fear and trepidation filling her.

Vader made his way to the audience chamber, preparing himself mentally for the impending meeting with the emperor. He knew that Padmé was afraid, and did not blame her at all for it. He was better acquainted with the sadistic nature of the emperor than anyone. And what if he knows she's here with you? What will you do then?

"What is thy bidding, my master?" Vader asked as he knelt before the huge hologram of the emperor.

"There is a great disturbance in the Force," Palpatine began.

"I have felt it," Vader responded.

"Something…unexpected has happened," Palpatine went on. "I have no doubt that the young rebel who destroyed the Death Star is the offspring of Anakin Skywalker."

Vader was startled that the emperor knew, but was smart enough to hide it. "How is that possible?" he asked, feigning shock.

"Search your feelings, Lord Vader," Palpatine replied in a tone of condescension. "You will know it to be true. The boy must be destroyed."

"He's very young," Vader countered. "Surely he could not be a threat."

Palpatine frowned. "The son of Skywalker must not become a Jedi," he replied.

"If he could be turned, he would become a powerful ally," Vader suggested.

Palpatine nodded. "Yes, he would make a great asset," he agreed, pleased that Vader was seeing things his way. "Can it be done?" he asked.

"He will join us or die, Master," Vader replied, bowing low.

Palpatine smiled, and then ended the transmission. He will join us, but you will be the one to die, my friend, he mused. Did you really think you could hide your treachery from me? You'll pay for your insolence, Vader. You won't even see it coming.

Elsewhere on the Executor

Padmé had spent close to an hour looking through the online stores to purchase some clothing and personal items, deciding that she didn't want to live in Imperial issue clothing for the rest of her life. She missed Luke and Leia, and was torn between wanting to see them again and keeping them as far from their father as possible. Vader had not explained exactly what his plans were where the twins were concerned, but Padmé had a pretty good idea what he was planning. He will turn them to the Dark Side, she thought grimly; I'm almost certain of it. I can't let that happen, she thought. But how do I stop it? How do I keep him away from them?

Padmé stood up, starting to grow restless as she waited for Vader to return. It had occurred to her that she was once again in a prison of sort. Albeit this one was comfortable and well appointed, and she was very well treated; but the lack of freedom made it a prison all the same. Padmé knew that her husband meant well; all he wanted was to keep her safe. But given his present state of being, his immersion in the Dark Side, Vader's perspective could not help but be distorted. I have to lead him out of the darkness he has been trapped in for so long, she thought. I have to save him. Padmé did not doubt that there was still good in Vader; she'd believed in even after his attack upon her on Mustafar. Palpatine was the truly evil one, and the very reason why she'd lost Anakin in the first place. So how do I do it? She reflected. How do I bring back the Anakin I know is deep inside of Vader? Perhaps it was too much for one person. Perhaps Padmé would need the help of Luke and Leia. She knew that Leia loved her father and believed in his humanity; but Luke was another matter. He hates him…how will I ever make him understand the truth now?

Rebel Rendezvous

Obi-Wan Kenobi stood looking out the window, his hands clasped behind his back. It had been several days now since the evacuation from the Hoth System, and there was still no word from Padmé or Leia. Kenobi could see how anxious Luke was becoming, and didn't blame him for it. The two had used the down time to do some training, something that Luke had always enjoyed. Only now that his sister wasn't there to spar with, he found it a hollow pursuit. Kenobi sensed this, and had begun to grow concern. Was he fooling himself? Now that Padmé was in the picture, was it only a matter of time before Luke learned the truth? And then how will you explain yourself? How will you justify lying to the boy the way you did?

"Hey General? You got a minute?"

Obi-Wan turned around at the sound of the voice to see Urru standing there. "Of course," he said with a smile. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, I had a kind of weird conversation with Luke," Urru explained.

"Oh? Weird in what way?" Obi-Wan asked.

"He seems to think that Darth Vader killed his father," Urru told him with a frown. "And I know that Vader is the twins' father," he added. "Padmé told me all about what happened back in the day."

"Oh she did, did she?" Obi-Wan asked, growing uncomfortable.

"Yeah she did," Urru replied.

"Did you set the boy straight?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Hell no," Urru replied. "I didn't think it was my place to," he added. "But I have to wonder why he thinks that," he continued. "I mean, that's pretty out there, considering what the truth is."
"I suppose so," Kenobi nodded.

Urru couldn't help but notice how uncomfortable the old Jedi had become, and grew more curious. "Any idea where Luke got that crazy idea?"

Obi-Wan looked away. "Yes, I know exactly where he got it from," he said quietly.

"Where?" Urru pressed. He knew it wasn't really his business, but at this point he was simply too intrigued to let it go.

"I told him," Obi-Wan admitted finally, looking back at Urru. "I told him that to protect the boy," he added.

Urru frowned. "You told the kid that his father killed his father?" he asked. "That's kind of …twisted, isn't it?"

Obi-Wan grew defensive. "I don't really think that's your concern now, it is?" he replied coolly. "I did what I thought was best."
"Best for whom?" Urru asked. He received no reply, and could see that Obi-Wan wasn't going to give him any more answers. "Forget it," he muttered, and left Obi-Wan alone to continue his solitary musings.

Star Destroyer Executor

"Apology accepted, Captain Needa," Vader said sarcastically as the hapless captain slumped to the deck, dead. Vader walked away, his impatience growing. No sooner had the Avenger reported that they had the Falcon on their screen, they had lost it again. And that was unacceptable.

"Lord Vader, if the Millennium Falcon went into light speed it will be on the other side of the galaxy by now," Piett informed Vader. That did nothing to improve his mood.

"Alert all commands," Vader commanded. "Calculate every possible destination along their last known trajectory," he added.

"Don't worry my lord," Piett replied confidently. "We'll find them."

Vader found his smugness irritating, and took a step towards him. "Don't fail me again," he said, pointing a finger at Piett threateningly. "Admiral," he added.

Piett nodded, swallowing rather nervously. He turned to his underlings to give them their orders, suddenly feeling rather sympathetic towards the late Admiral Ozzel.