Ch 26

Anakin

After I dropped off Padme at home I headed straight for the Emperor's palace. I felt odd, leaving her. I felt like I was missing an important part of myself, I felt… lonely.

Even though we had just confessed our love a few days ago, I couldn't bear to imagine how I lived without her before.

She had saved me, and I hadn't even realized it.

My mind kept going back to her, the way she smiled, the way she blushed when I said something that would embarrass her.

The way she would moan my name whe-

"Lord Vader we have arrived at the Palace Milord." Said a Clone while saluting. My first instinct was to become angry, furious. He just interrupted the thoughts of my wife. My wife!

But another part of me, something deep inside, whispered Don't do it… What would Padme think…?

So I breathed in and out for a few seconds.

"Uh… Sir? Are you alright…?" I felt the terror grow within the Clone, I tried to not get so irritated.

V:"I'm fine, I'll be on my way to see the Emperor. You know the protocol"

The clone merely nodded and walked out of my sight. I had replaced my top commanders with the first clones I could find, my best I had decided to leave behind to watch over Padme.

I had my mental shields up as soon as I had entered the atmosphere of the planet, not wanting to risk the Emperor reading any of my thoughts. Now I had to concentrate even more on what I felt, what I thought even the way I breathed, more than ever.

Things had changed so much in the last couple of days, everything had become so much more difficult.

Yet I could see now, they were for the best. I wouldn't trade Padme's love for anything or anyone.

I had made my way to the Emperor's office, his aide began to address me but I didn't bother to even look at him. I wanted to get out of here as fast as I possibly could and go back to her.

The Emperor was already waiting for me by the time I made my way into his office. He was standing by the wall that faced out into the city.

I kneeled, something he enjoyed. Something he had always used to toy with us, a way to show us he was in control of our lives, and he could take that with just a snap of his fingers.

S:"Ah… Lord Vader! I appreciate you coming back on such short notice. I do apologize for interrupting your honeymoon." He said with a low chuckle.

I looked up and felt rage course through me, I let it flow freely so he could see I was still every bit submerged in the Darkness.

V:"It's not a problem Master. I thank you for calling back and ending the dreadful ordeal. I was getting rather tired of being around the Senator for so many consecutive days. She can be quite… vexatious for lack of a better word"

S:"I see… well we received a report recently from some of our spies. It appears someone has been smuggling slaves from many of our coal mines. One of them being Utapau, they suspect it is one of the remaining Jedi that lives perhaps siding with some rebels. I don't know nor do I care for the reason, I need you to head there immediately and figure out this whole mess. I trust you will not fail me Lord Vader, You know the consequences…."

I felt my throat tighten and realized he was starting to choke me, yet after years of such torture I had practically become immune to all this.

V:"Of course Master… I will not fail you. However, while I am away I think it would be wise to leave some of my finest Clones behind to watch over the Senator. She can be quite cunning, and we cannot risk her escaping My Lord."

I felt my breath slowly return to normal, I let out a slow gasp. The Emperor seemed to be considering my proposal.

S:"Hmmm you are right Lord Vader, she may still be useful. Have you had any luck with her? Or are you going to fail me once again?"

I felt the invisible grip tighten once more.

V:"No Master… I will not fail you. I have found a way to almost break her. I am close. While she sleeps her mind weakens, and I begin to search her mind for anything I may find useful. I have not found anything yet."

S:"Very well. You are dismissed, do keep me updated on whatever happens on your mission Vader. Don't disappoint me."

And with that he waved his hand in dismissal and I got up and walked off.

I made my way to my ship and ordered the clones to take us back to my Star Destroyer, the Exactor.

Once I arrived I set the coordinates for Utapau and left the bridge to my General, I had given him orders to not disturb me unless it was an emergency.

I needed some time alone, I wanted to check on Padme in private. Maybe I would be able to contact her if she was still awake.

Once I made it to my quarters, I sat at my comm. Station and dialed a private and secure number. One only accessible to me and her.

After what felt like an eternity, I felt like she wouldn't answer, but as soon as I was ready to end the transmission her face appeared and I could swear my heart felt like it had wings.

P:"Ani…" she said with a tired smile, I could see I had woken her up and I felt slightly guilty.

A:"Angel… I'm sorry I woke you. I just missed you… I can call back another ti-"

P:"No! No it's alright. I couldn't sleep anyway. Even though we've only been married a few days, I grew accustomed to sleeping with you." I saw her cheeks darken a little and I could only imagine she was blushing after that statement. "How was your meeting with the emperor?"

I sighed, a little exasperated and at a loss at how to explain to her what happened.

A:"Angel I may be gone for a while… the Emperor has decided to send me off on a mission to Utapau. I am not sure how long I'll be away. Are the clones with you?"

P:"Yes they are, but what do you mean? How long? What kind of mission…?" she asked, I could see in her eyes she almost knew the answer. I was scared, what would she think? What would she say? How could I explain my job to her?

A:" Well I'm not sure… I hope not too long… All the Emperor said was that there were some problems in our mines on Utapau. Someone's been stealing some valuable goods and he sent me there to personally investigate. I promise I'll try and take care of it fast my love so I can come back to you…"

I saw she was still troubled, and I could feel her distress even though now we were lightyears away. Yet she seemed appeased by my answers, for now that's all I could tell her.

P:"Very well Ani… Just come back to me in one piece, I can't bear the thought of losing you after all this…"

I knew exactly how she felt, but it was strange having another person care so much about me. It terrified me. I didn't deserve her, and yet by some miracle she was mine forever.

A:" I promise I'll be back as soon as I can. I must go now; I don't want to risk someone monitoring our conversations Angel. I'll contact you as soon as I can. I love you Padme…"

P:"I love you too Ani. Please be safe." She said with a sad smile, through the Force I gave her a kiss on the cheek and she instantly touched it. She smiled yet again and I ended the transmission.

I sat there contemplating, I needed to find a way so we could freely be together. It would be harder than I realized of course, but she was worth all of it.

After a while I decided to try and get some sleep. Now I understood what Padme felt, it was hard to sleep without her small, warm and soft body next to mine. I loved burying my face in her soft curls, feeling every part of her next to me.

Probably a few hours later I fell asleep, and the dreams I had that night tormented me with the screams of my mother calling for help.