Chapter 34 'Mystery Date Part II – Fifty Sith Dates'
Prom Night number 2
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'The Boss Wants a Few Words With You'
'Monday Night's Alright For Fighting'
'A Little Less Conversation'
'Daddy's Little Girl'
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Anakin receives the 500 messages from Palpatine. Gladys dutifully filters through them to so Anakin doesn't have to look at the duplicates.
He leaves a message for Isabel telling her to meet him at the Coruscant Galaxies Opera House in the lobby.
After returning from a meeting and taking a shower in his private Executive refresher suite, he gets dressed to meet Isabel at the Opera House.
Anakin is walking down the corridor when he hears the Emperor summoning him into his office. He felt something was up. He grumbled to himself as he stops and turns towards The Emperor's chambers.
Palpatine looks up from his desk and smiles.
"Lord Vader, I'm glad I finally caught you. I left several messages with your secretary. She told me you were away on business."
"Yes. I got the messages, Master. I apologize but I have been very busy."
"Your secretary is quite efficient in taking messages, Lord Vader. I am disappointed that you don't follow her lead in responding to the messages she left on my behalf."
"What is it, Master?"
"I wanted to talk to you concerning the recent trip you took to Geonosis. You were able to close down the droid manufacturing plant. How is this possible?"
"There was no need to keep it operating, Master. Keeping it open was draining our resources. We are not in a war situation at the moment."
Anakin is tapping his foot nervously and grating his finger against his lightsaber.
"You're dressed quite elegantly this evening. Dinner engagement?"
"Actually, I am going out tonight, Master."
"Please, sit down, Lord Vader. I won't keep you too long. I know you don't want to keep your beautiful lady friend waiting."
He didn't bother to ask how the Emperor knew this.
"Actually, Master, I must leave shortly."
"In due time. Let's discuss the Geonosis report you submitted this morning."
Anakin knows he is being kept on purpose. As predicted, the Emperor is trying to undermine his management of the various outposts throughout the galaxy. Anakin has other reasons for the closings but he has managed to keep his motivations hidden from the Emperor. The emperors' powers were slowly diminishing. Anakin would bide his time until the right moment. He had to be patient. But his detainment tonight was making Anakin anxious. He did not want to be late meeting Isabel.
"What about the report, Master?"
"Well, I want to make sure your thinking is clear on these recommendations and findings. You closed down an entire division. It could have ramifications to our future readiness to respond in the event of an attack."
"If you don't trust me, Master, you're within your right to select someone more capable of executing your wishes."
"Now, Lord Vader, you must not take offense. I was only trying to understand the logic in this but if you believe these recommendations are in the best interest of the Empire, then I have no reason to question your actions. Do I?" He leans over his desk and gives Anakin that creepy smile.
After an hour Anakin storms out to the parking bay to retrieve his rental speeder. He was unable to borrow Luke's speeder. The new vehicle was still at the factory being customized. Anakin locates the rental speeder and backs out of the parking bay. He is in a hurry.
Anakin arrives just in time to find Isabel walking away from the Opera House. He leaps out of the speeder and calls her. She sees him but continues to walk. He runs and grabs her arm.
"Isabel, don't be angry with me. It wasn't my fault and I'm sorry I'm late."
"You couldn't call?"
"I was in a meeting with my boss. It was an unexpected emergency. It couldn't have been avoided. Let's go inside."
"We've already missed over an hour of the performance. I'm going to grab a taxi and go home."
"I'll take you home."
They arrive at her apartment. Anakin opens the door for her. He force closes it then takes her in his arms and kisses her.
"I am so sorry. It seems that's all I have been doing for the past couple of weeks is apologizing since you came back into my life. Have I told you that I love you?"
"No."
"Well, I do. Where's that bottle of wine you were going to offer me last night?"
"On the counter in the kitchen."
"What's going on in that room over there?" He nods his head in the direction of the bedroom.
"Nothing."
"Pity. Why don't you get in there? I'll be back with two glasses." He winks.
Isabel smiles. She's starting to like his bossiness.
"Okay" She stumbles backwards into the bedroom door like a giddy schoolgirl.
"You stumbling already? I haven't gotten you drunk yet." He removes her shoes then leaves to get the wine.
A few minutes later he returns to the bedroom. She is still dressed but lying on the bed. Anakin hands her a glass of wine. He makes her drink it all. She giggles.
"This is expensive wine. It should be enjoyed"
"I am enjoying it." He takes her glass and sets it on the night table. They are both on the bed kissing. The comm. unit rings. "Don't answer. It's not important."
"It might be." She is giggling as he holds her in his arms. She turns on her stomach and reaches for the comm. unit as he kisses the back of her neck."
"'Bel, don't pick it up."
"Hello? Oh, hi, Daddy! How are you? Yes? Yes?..." She gently pushes Anakin away. She sits up on the bed. Anakin sits beside her trying to urge her to end the call. He stokes her hair and continues to kiss her but she continues her conversation. "Okay…where's mum? I see…what? Oh…no one's here. No. it was the plasma…" She looks at Anakin who is not happy, in fact, he is downright angry. Anakin storms out of the bedroom and force-slams the door. Isabel is trying to explain the loud noise to her father. To him it is so loud it sounds like an explosion. She tells him it is a gust of air.
Isabel ends the call with her father. She opens the bedroom door. Anakin is standing at the window. He turns his head but does not look directly at her.
"You haven't told your family you're seeing me, have you?"
"I need a little time, Anakin. It's not as if we've been together for a long time. This is new for me. You don't understand my father. I can't tell him yet."
"Or ever? You know he hates me. I remember the look in his face the moment he realized who I was. It was filled with contempt. You want to be 'Daddy's little girl' forever? I don't want anymore secrets in my life, Isabel. Not when it involves people I love. Goodnight"
Anakin leaves the apartment.
Isabel makes a call.
"Mum, I want to talk. To both of you..."
Back at the Skywalker house –
Leia is standing at the door when Anakin returns home. She gives him a big hug.
"Daddy, it's not as bad as you think it is. Everything will be better tomorrow. I promise."
"Thanks, Leia. It just feels really bad right now."
"Dads are the same all over. They hate the men their daughters bring home. I know you're a good person."
"Thanks. I needed to hear that. Goodnight"
Meanwhile Luke is having a little problem of his own in the kitchen:
"Take this tablet now before I beat the stuffing out of you!"
"Nooo! Tickle me!"
"Damnit, Elmo! It's late! I need to go to training tomorrow! "
"Ooooooh, you used a naughty word. I'm telling Leia!"
Leia walks in and grabs a spoon. She crushes a Ritalin tablet in applesauce and shoves it in Elmo's mouth while he is talking. "You're not telling anyone anything. Go to sleep you little hyperactive bag of foam!"
To be continued…Next chapter: 'Tea For Three'
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Attention Readers: It might take 24 hours or more for the next chapter. In the meantime, I hope you're enjoying this heart wrenching story of rebirth and forgiveness.
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