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Almost at the end. So much happens in this chapter.
This chapter starts off with Padmé's perspective on Palpatine's death. It also contains a few cameos from Legends. Enjoy!
Chapter Fifty Five
Fireworks
A few moments earlier...
The lightning in the chamber ceased.
Padmé tried to lift her head. To see what was happening.
She looked over to her left, Rex had passed out. She hoped he was okay. She'd hate to lose someone else on this day.
Padmé stopped breathing.
She realized Palpatine wasn't breathing.
He was...
Vader was...
Her mouth nearly dropped open.
Vader was stabbing him in the back with his lightsaber.
Padmé could not move.
Vader opened his lips, "Everything that you were...everything that you are...is now mine. Rest easy in your grave, my Master." He pulled the blade out of Palpatine's chest.
Sidious made a gasping noise.
Moments passed, Padmé watched Palpatine sink into Vader's arms. She watched the life leave his eyes.
Padmé could not—did not believe what she was seeing.
It felt so...so sudden.
She did not blink. Mouth gapped.
Was she dreaming? This was usually the part where she woke up.
Padmé blinked and looked around. Some dust and debris had gotten in her eyes.
Which truly had, but was it also tears?
Yes, she was crying. They were the furthest thing from tears of sadness, but they were not tears of joy.
Was that it?
Was this really it?
Padmé always thought that when Palpatine died she would be so happy. That she would feel ecstatic. Relieved.
She did not.
Why not?
Again, was it because it was so sudden?
Because she could not deliver the killing blow herself? That Vader had to do it.
Possibly, yes.
Padmé wondered...her eyes lit up as Vader reignited his lightsaber. He swung it again and again. Cutting off Palpatine's head, arms, and feet.
She still did not feel quite satisfied, but she felt a little better.
Standing there, watching Vader slice Palpatine to ribbons. Piece by piece.
It was altogether disgusting and glorious.
Finally, Vader shut down his lightsaber and fell to his knees.
Moments passed, Padmé suddenly became worried.
He did not move.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Padmé was about to move closer. Was he alright? Maybe Vader was injured.
Then Vader started to laugh.
"Haahahahahehehahaha!"
Padmé also thought maybe she saw tears stream down his face, but she could be wrong.
She then wiped something, probably dust off her face.
Though Padmé could see his eyes glowing brightly yellow. More brightly than she had ever seen them. That did not reassure her.
"Just come back." Padmé remembered pleading with him. "Come back...and don't come back...as something...someone worse than him."
Those eyes reminded her more of Palpatine's yellow bloodshot eyes rather than the eyes of the man that was her husband and father to her children.
Her thoughts naturally went back to Luke and Leia.
She wondered where they were. Where they could be? They had to be off planet. Hopefully halfway across the stars by now.
Padmé grabbed a blaster off the ground. She looked it for a moment then back up Vader.
At least Luke and Leia would be safe.
They would have a chance.
She took several steps forward then pointed the blaster at him as he pointed his lightsaber at her.
Now..
At first, Vader was angry. Then he was confused.
What in Sith hells was she doing?
Why was she doing this?
Was she not grateful?
He just killed the man that tormented her—both of them for most their entire lives.
She should be on her knees, thanking him!
But no, the Senator still was not happy. Now here she was, pointing a blaster at him.
And what was she planning to do? Kill him?
While Vader was sore and tired, he could still move quick enough to kill her if need arose.
But Vader did not...well, that wasn't entirely true. The thought made Vader's eyes glow more brightly. He was probably still high off his kill and newfound victory. And oh, how easy it would be. To finally be rid of her.
As calmly as he could, Vader asked, "What-what are you doing?" It sounded more like growl.
Padmé did not flinch, "Stopping you." While her finger did not fire the trigger, but remained even closer to it. "If you have truly fallen...I lived with one monster all my life. I will not live another. Not anymore!" She was free at last. "Nor will Luke and Leia, especially Luke and Leia!"
Now Vader understood.
She was afraid he was turning into Palpatine.
Yes, Vader supposed he shouldn't be surprised. Yes, she had talked about this earlier. How he had to promise to come back and so fourth. But he hadn't really done anything. It wasn't like he had attacked her. Maybe it was how he had cut up Palpatine. Though Vader thought she might have enjoyed that.
Or maybe it was how Vader had laughed or his eyes. They were probably glowing brightly. Was that what convinced her to do this? He almost raised his flesh hand to touch his face, but decided against it. Fearing it might scare Padmé.
That made him smirk.
In a way it was pathetic. However, here was the same fearless, strong, cunning woman he had married and even come to admire and care for. She knew that she had no chance against him, and here she was anyway.
His hands were shaking. Again, how easy it would be to do this. To kill her.
Hell, it was what Palpatine wanted him to do.
Damn him, Vader thought.
He would make this decision for himself. He was no longer a slave to that man. He was free.
Free to make his own decisions.
He needed to decide here and now, what did he want?
Vader wanted to be his own man. He would have that now. Palpatine was no more.
He wanted the Throne. He wanted power. He never wanted to feel powerless again.
Vader looked at Padmé again, the question was did he want to share it? Did he love her enough? Or did he want it all for himself? Did he love the power more?
He thought back to his vision from a year ago.
"I loved you...but I love the Dark Side more...I'm so sorry..."
...no.
No, he wouldn't.
Couldn't.
He deactivated his lightsaber.
Padmé gave him a quizzical look.
"Enough," Vader said, then he threw his lightsaber across the room. "...can't...I won't do this."
Padmé did not move. What was he doing? Was this a trick? This did not seem like Vader. Padmé could not wrap her brain around what he was doing. "Come on!" Padmé screamed. "COME ON! Let's finish this." Deep down they both knew this had been coming.
"You want it for yourself, take it." Vader locked eyes with her. "I want it too, but I also want you...and I believe you want me too." If she did not truly care for him then she already fired the trigger.
Though his mind could not help but fill with doubts, what if she did not want him? Because she wanted the Throne for all for herself or because she could not move past his actions all those months ago
What would he do? Could he kill her?
Padmé lowered her head.
She did want the Throne. She had wanted for a long time. She wanted to never feel powerless again like she had felt for so long.
But Padmé also longed to no longer be...alone.
She had long considered making Vader her partner. After all, he would make a powerful asset, but she now realized that wasn't the only reason she wanted him.
Tears began streaming down her face, her sleeves, and onto the floor.
Her mask coming off in public after all these years.
Did he really say just say that? That he wanted her? Even after all they had been through together? After everything she had done?
Even after everything he had done to her, she wanted him. Was that wrong?
If it was, then so what? Damn anyone who said it was.
Padmé wanted him to and she wanted to be happy.
She dropped the blaster to the side.
Vader reached out and took her into his arms.
Padmé wrapped her arms him. "I love you...love you!" She said again. It was almost a moan.
"Love you too," Vader kissed her cheek.
Padmé continued to cry, moan, and cling onto him. Wrapping her legs around Vader's waist.
With one hand on her back and the other on her butt, Vader began walking over to the nearest wall or was it a pillar? Vader stopped, screw that, he had a much better idea.
He looked at the Throne.
Yes...
While he wanted to sit in the Throne, he decided to let Padmé sit in it first. He already had the great victory and after all, marriage was supposed to be about compromise.
"No," She quietly said. "Switch."
Vader was surprised, but said nothing. He wasn't going to argue. He certainly didn't mind sitting here.
She climbed onto his lap. Her left hand remained behind his neck while her right ran down his chest.
Oh, yes.
This would work much better.
They began to exchange feverish kisses. Running their hands in each other's hair and down their backs.
Padmé's hands then made her way down to Vader's belt.
Yes, whatever was left of he who would not be named was steps away, but at the moment, she did not care.
Nor did Vader, who was clawing at the back of her shawl and jumpsuit.
It had been so long...
They did not even hear the approaching boot-steps.
A man cleared his throat, "Uh...Lady Vader?"
Padmé's face reddened. Thank Shiraya they came in when they did and not five minutes later. Regardless, she was still mortified.
She looked to the man in front of her who looked equally mortified. Wondering and suspecting what he was going to do.
"...L-Lord Vader?" Was that really him? From the shoulders and down, it was him. But none of the Imperials recognized this scarred, but young man before them.
They did not even recognize the Throne Room. Each of the bewildered men continued to look around. It looked like a windstorm had gone through here.
"My Lord, what happ—?"
Eyes glowing, Vader made an iron fist.
A dozen men were flung into the air. Eyes bulging. Shock and panic soaring throughout their bodies. Sounds coming from their mouths. Gasps...then nothing.
Vader let their limp bodies fall to the floor.
While Padmé wondered if there was something wrong with her. Her husband had just killed twelve men and she didn't even flinch. She wondered how many more she would witness. As she made herself presentable, she asked, "I don't want to start something, but was that necessary?" They had done nothing wrong. "I don't think they can even see the body." There was a pile of debris between the men and what was left of Palpatine.
"I'm taking no risks." Vader fastened his pants and belt. "We were never here."
Padmé almost paused, but nodded. She understood his reasoning. The public would not like it if they knew the current ruler had murdered its predecessor. Granted, many would suspect, but suspecting was one thing. Knowing was another. Though how would they explain this. "What are you planning to say? Assassination? By Rebel terrorists?" That worked for her. Though could they get away with it? They wanted a smooth transition onto the Throne. Nothing long and messy like a trial.
Vader shrugged, "Possibly." He had not quite decided. He did not really care. As long as the story worked and the public bought it.
"Are beings really going to buy that we were never here?" Padmé asked.
Vader did not know. "We need to get away from here." As quickly and discreetly as possible. "We need..." Vader smiled. He thought back to Sate Pestage, "A bomb."
Padmé smirked. She knew where to get one. In fact, she had been saving one for two certain Senators, but between her pregnancy and everything else that had happened she never had the chance to use it. Until now...
A few hours later...
Somewhere deep in the Palace, members of Imperial Ruling Council gathered in their secret meeting room. A room so secret most did not know it even existed.
One by one and in no particular order they came crawling into a large, windowless room that only contained a long table and some chairs.
The first to arrive was the Royal Guard officer and aspirant Sith Lord, Carnor Jax.
Followed by his apprentice, Hand Sarcev Quest.
A moment later came Palpatine's longtime aide and associate, Janus Greejatus. He wore his usual flimsy hat and matching, outlandish outfit.
Next was Ars Dangor, he was often seen with Greejatus. Wearing the nearly same outlandish hat and outfit
The newcomer, Verge. He was a human male, barely twenty years old, and rumored to be one of Palpatine's illegitimate offspring.
Heads turned to see the next attendee.
Eyes grew.
"Oh my," Said one of the beings in the room.
"Woah!"
Here was a surprise.
Jax did not know who said it, but suspected it was Dangor and Greejatus. He could understand how Palpatine made them members of the Ruling Council. They were nothing more than a couple of school boys, dressed in the most ridiculous attire. Still he looked to see who was the latest attendee.
The Umbaran Force adept and Palpatine's Senior Administrative Aide during the final decades of the Galactic Republic, Sly Moore. She was so rarely seen in the public anymore. Even at these meetings. Despite being so rarely seen, some referred to as the her the Queen of the Empire. Since rumor had it, she and Palpatine had were an item. Another rumor had circulated that she was the mother of Palpatine's banished illegitimate three-eyed mutant son, Triclops.
Which would explain the brief look between her and Verge.
No one dared say anything more.
Several blocks away...
Senator and secret Rebel Mon Mothma was sitting in the back of an air taxi on its way to the Imperial Palace. To her right, sat her bodyguard and new aid, also rebel sympathizers.
Mon did not like any of this one bit. Why had Emperor Palpatine summoned her like this? Did he know?
Mon could not see how. Besides if he did, his guards would have already arrested her. She would probably be awaiting her execution right now.
Or was she walking into her own?
Stop it! Mon thought she stared back out the window at the passing air speeders.
Really though, even if wasn't an execution, it had to be some sort of trap. And here she was, heading right into it, but it wasn't like she could say no to the Emperor.
How Mon wished Bail was here, but he was unable to attend. He had flown back to Alderaan. He and Breha had just adopted a baby girl named Winter.
The driver stopped, they were now at the landing platform.
Mon, her bodyguard, and aid got out of the air taxi.
Mon stared up at the Palace for a moment.
She had a bad feeling about this.
The Imperial Ruling Council Room
In silence and awkwardness, the group waited.
And waited.
Where was Lady Vader? As Grand Vizier, she should be here.
Janus kept looking around. Expecting her to pop in any moment.
He and Ars Dangor exchanged looks.
This was so unlike her. In the very few meetings that had been held in her time since her Viziership began, she was often the first one here and the last to leave.
And if she could not attend, then Lord Vader—gods forbid should be here.
Again, this made no sense.
More importantly, where was the Emperor?
He was often the last here, he always liked to make an impression, but he should be by now.
The message said to be here by 1600 hours.
It was ten minutes past.
Strange.
"Any idea on what this all about?" Janus Greejatus whispered. He could no longer take the silence. It was too quiet. It was grating on his nerves.
He felt as if they were a bunch of schooling younglings that had been called into the headmaster's office.
The Imperial Ruling Council had not met in months. Those months that were growing closer to a year.
Many shrugged.
Quest looked...nervous. Hands on his head.
Carnor Jax who stood in the corned, arms crossed finally answered, "No one knows anything." Jax said a calm but harsh voice. "Koochu!" He cursed under his breathe. Hopefully the Emperor would show up soon. They get down to business, get this miserable meeting over with, and then back to their regular duties. He had far more important things to do than stand here all day with these beings!
Quest shook his head. "Lord...Master, something is wrong." He was beginning to sway back and forth in his chair.
"What is it?" Jax huffed. He was in no mood for his pupil's nonsense.
"None of this makes sense." Quest closed his eyes again. "I see...smoke."
Ars and Janus looked around. As if thinking he meant in the present and in a physical form.
Verge and Moore closed their eyes. Trying to see if they could peak past the curtain that was the future.
Jax raised a brow. He pulled his communicator out of his pocket.
He studied the footage as the Emperor greeted him on the message.
Ars Dangor got up to take a better look. "Is that the message?" He had only listened to it. He hadn't actually seen on a screen. He narrowed his eyes and raised an accusing finger. "That footage is from last week."
"What?" Jax exclaimed in a deep, almost annoyed voice. What was he saying?
"Play it back," Janus stood up to take a closer look.
Jax did not argue and did so with haste.
"An Imperial Council Meeting will take place this afternoon," The screen flickered, "At 1600 standard hours." The screen flickered again. "Do not be late." The Emperor said coldly.
Ars looked to Janus who nodded, "Yes, I recognize parts of it from three or four standard months ago." Sometime before the Vader twins were born. "Yes...yes," he remembered. "I edited the speech myself."
Beings around the table exchanged looks.
Sly Moore stood. Looking uneasy. Even paler than usual.
Some slicer had scrambled together some footage?
Someone must have.
Clearly not Emperor Palpatine.
But who? Why?
Was this some game designed by the Emperor?
Confused faces were exchanged around the room.
Again, why?
It made no sense.
Should they keep waiting?
"What's going on?"
Carnor Jax made his way for the door, "We need to—"
But it was too late.
BOOOOOOOOOM!
Somewhere below...
Mon could not what she just heard. "You didn't have to do that." She wouldn't leave her new baby.
Bail shook his head. "I think it's necessary." Yes, he hated leaving Alderaan. More importantly he hated leaving Breha and their new daughter, Winter.
"It might be nothing," Mon said in an almost hopeful tone.
"The Emperor summoning us out of the blue is hardly nothing, Mon. I'll be there as soon as I can." Granted it would hours before he made it back to Coruscant, but he was doing what he could.
Loud noises began to echo.
"I..." Mon Mothma looked up. Wondering what and where the noise was coming from.
"Mon?" Bail said. What was wrong?
She looked to her aid and bodyguard. The latter grabbed her by the shoulder. "Run...RUN!"
The floors were toppling. Crumbling.
"Mon, what's happening?" Bail asked frantically.
"It's a trap!" She cried. "The Palace! It—it's collapsing."
Bail made a puzzled face. "The Emperor?" That didn't make any sense.
"I don't know." Mon panted as she ran. "I don't—" The transmission made a loud noise then cut off.
"MON!" Bail Organa screamed into the static.
Now...
Wrapped in a white sheet, Padmé drank her last sip of wine. Smiling.
Now she felt happy.
The fireworks.
Maybe that was just the sex talking.
Then again, maybe it was the literal fireworks a few blocks away.
So many of Palpatine's cronies—known as the Imperial Ruling Council was now dead.
Dead.
And the icing on top, Mon Mothma and Bail Organa were buried somewhere underneath!
Oh, it was a happy day!
She beamed under her glass.
All that remained of them was smoke and rubble.
He walked up behind her. Lowered his head near her shoulder. Watching the magnificent view.
She could not remember the last time she saw him this happy either.
"Beautiful," Vader kissed her cheek. "Isn't it?" He only wore a pair of black pants. He wrapped one of his hands around her bare waist.
It was...or was it?
Padmé's smile turned into a frown.
Perhaps their celebrations were premature.
"What if some of them didn't show up?" Padmé looked to Vader. "Or they figured it out and left in time?" They might accuse them.
"Then I'll kill them," Vader shrugged as he drank his third glass of wine or was it his fourth?
If only it were that simple. They would need reasons— legal reasons to kill them. Perhaps they could make some up—frame them. For now, they were going to say that Palpatine and his cronies all died in a tragic accident. They were still considering setting up Rebel terrorists, but since Mon and Bail were hopefully there, they could not say terrorism.
She turned, seeing Vader working on more wine. Was he just that happy? Or was he nervous? "Hm, no more wine. We need clear heads for this evening."
Vader scowled as he put the glass down.
"Have you some idea on what you'll say?" She had written some sentences down. She the ideas in the back of her head, but she had not been quite able to get them out.
Vader shrugged again. Did it matter? "We could just blow up the Senate too." He was joking, but not entirely.
They could truly say it was another tragic accident or even the work of a malicious terrorist group like the Rebel Alliance. Yes, some would not believe them, but no matter. At this rate, who could stop them? Palpatine and the Jedi were no more. The Rebels had just suffered two major losses.
Padmé paused for a moment. It was tempting, but no. "We need the Senate." She paused again. "Perhaps one day we could dismiss them." When they had finally gone too far. "Until more qualified representatives are elected to replace them." For now, they needed them in order to maintain stability and order. Even Palpatine understood that much. "For now we will need them during the early days of our reign. We want the public to like and support us...or at least tolerate us." She didn't really care if they liked her though she preferred it to being disliked. That was how Rebels terrorists grew.
"I suppose." Vader huffed.
"Are you nervous?" Padmé asked plainly.
"Yes," Vader had never made a speech in public. "I haven't exactly given many speeches." He had given plenty of orders to the Imperials. Let alone in front of the entire Galaxy. He wondered they would say? Would they mock him? Simply fear him? What would happen? He had no clue on how this would go and he did not like one bit. He would rather fight the Emperor again. "Are you?" He wondered. Maybe she could give him advice.
"...yeah," Padmé had made plenty of speeches in her time as a politician. First as Princess of the Theed, Queen, and Senator of Naboo, but this was the most important one yet. She would probably have to make many more before in her lifetime. So many things could go wrong. Like a wardrobe malfunction or what her makeup was all wrong? Nevermind that, what if the Senate rebelled against them? Yes, it was unlikely, they had the legal means. Vader and she through her marriage were next in line. Not to mention the fear they all had towards Vader. It was highly unlikely they would say no to him. Still, she could help but worry.
Speaking of worry, "When will Luke and Leia be home?" Vader asked as he scrolled through his brief notes.
After they returned to the Palace, they were examined by the medical droids. Padmé then informed Vader of what she had done with Luke and Leia. He said very little, but was clearly not pleased. However, he was too tired to fight nor did he really want to. He and Padmé then proceeded to her bed chamber to finish what they started.
Twice.
"We should know by tomorrow." At the latest. "Dormé should leave me a message after our declaration tonight." Though if they were far away enough it might be hours before such news reached some the systems outside the Core. Though Padmé prayed the HoloNet did their job tonight.
Vader scowled. He did not like any of it. His wife was far to trusting towards the handmaiden. What if the public transport they took crashed or was raided by Outer Rim pirates? What if some random being killed Dorme and took them? They might never see their children again.
Padmé could see him scowling. "Are you angry with me?" He had said very little regarding Luke and Leia. She paused, waiting for an answer, she received none so took that as a yes. "I want us to be open and honest with one another." Especially if they were going to do this—rule the Empire.
"I'm not very happy about it." Vader said plainly. "I understand why you did it and if the worst came to fruition..." They would have been safe from Palpatine...maybe. There was still a chance that Palpatine or something far worse could have found them. "But I don't want us to fight." Not on such an important day.
"Me either." And she was so thankful he felt the same way. "Here, I've done plenty of speeches." She pointed out some of his simpler grammar mistakes. She switched out and around some of his phrases.
"How's this?"
Vader put the holopad off the side. "I'm sure it's great."
"What are you doing?"
They still had plenty of time. The plan was to call an emergency Senate session within another hour or two at most. Then they could get ready and go to the Senate.
Padmé nearly began protesting, but they disappeared along with the sheet she wore.
Later that evening...
Senate Building
Inside the Grand Convocation Chamber of the Senate Building, almost every single member and their aids sat on the edges of their seats. Talking amongst themselves. Eager and hungry for news.
Emperor Palpatine was dead.
Dead.
Some were relieved.
The evil, power hungry tyrant was no more.
Maybe things could back to the way they were a few years ago. Less laws, restrictions, slavery, and taxation.
Yes, things during the time of the Republic were far from perfect, but things were not this bad.
Others were disappointed. Sad. Worried.
Not because they necessarily cared for the man, but because they had received great power and wealth because of Emperor Palpatine. Or were at least promised.
They were also worried because what did this mean?
Darth Vader was now Emperor.
What would happen? What was he going to do?
What would happen to his wife, consort Vizier Padmé Amidala-Vader?
Suddenly they heard a noise.
The central podium slowly rose out from the ground below.
As expected, Lord Vader and Lady Padmé Amidala-Vader were standing in the pod.
All beings sat on the edge of their seats. Mostly quiet, despite a few whispers. They starving for news.
Lady Vader looked up to make eye contact with being throughout the Rotunda, "Good evening, ladies and gentle beings."
They greeted her back.
"A few hours ago, there was an explosion at the Imperial Palace." Lady Vader stated what they all knew. "Emperor Palpatine is among the casualties."
Padmé let a moment pass before speaking again.
"His remains were discovered within the last hour."
She and Vader were making certain that no autopsy would be performed.
Preparations for a Galactic funeral were already underway. While Padmé and Vader dreaded such a thing, celebrating the life of the man they despised and had controlled for most of their lives, they agreed it was a necessary thing to go through. It might look even more suspicious if they skipped over such a thing.
As were the bodies of fifteen other beings who worked at the Palace." Most of which had yet to be identified. "If you have any information regarding their identities please come forward and contact the Imperial Coronor's Office. Dozens more are also missing and at this point assumed dead." It would probably be days before all the bodies were found. The fire brigade was still putting out the fires and would probably spend at least another week battling the flames.
"Senator Mon Mothma is also among the missing. She was also at the Palace."
"Bail?" Padmé said quietly.
He was a-alive?
For a moment, she couldn't breathe.
"It's alright," Vader said into her ear. Trying to keep her calm. "We'll deal with him another time. Just breathe."
Padmé did her best to regain her composure. She cleared her throat before speaking turning the speaker back on. "As for the cause of the explosion," the investigation is still underway, but according to the fire chief, it appears to be a malfunctioning old gas-line."
It looked like Bail wanted to cut in and say something.
And he did.
He wanted nothing more to say—to scream his suspicions. That the Vaders' arranged the explosion at the Palace, but it wasn't like he had evidence.
For a brief moment, Bail thought Vader might kill him with his Force powers.
Vader locked eyes with him. Waiting to pounce on him. He couldn't kill him here...or could he? He could slowly suffocate him using the Force? It would be quieter. He had never done it before, but it was possible.
Bail sat back down. There was nothing he could do, if he said anything, he would gain nothing. Only death. The Rebel Alliance had already lost one leader today, it did not need to lose another.
Vader then lowered his hood. It was Padmé's idea, to make him appear more human.
Lowering his hood caused a many in the Rotunda to gasp and quietly whisper.
It would also serve as the mark of a new beginning.
Padmé also suggested he take off his respirator now that he didn't need to hide under the respirator, but Vader felt it was too soon. If he had, he feared the media would only focus on revealing his face. Not what he was about to say. Another time.
"According to the Imperial Constitution, the line of succession begins with the Grand Vizier. As you all know, the office legally became mine upon the death of Vizier Pestage, but upon our marriage, Lady Vader has served as my consort so I could continue my duties as Supreme Commander. However, in the face of this tragedy, I am now legally Emperor of Galactic Empire."
The expression on Vader's face said, does anyone have a problem with that?
Between the Clone Troopers surrounding the large chamber and Vader's legendary powers, they would die if the did.
Vader turned to look at Padmé, taking her hand into his own so everyone and HoloNet could see. "And my wife, Lady Vader not as my consort, but as my equal, as Empress."
Several long, quiet moments passed, Vader and Padmé began to grow uneasy.
Finally, someone began clapping. It originated from the former Old Republic Vice Chair, the Chagrian, Mas Amedda.
Then the single clap began to grow throughout the Rotunda.
They started chanting, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"
"LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR! LONG LIVE THE EMPRESS!"
*Applause!* Yay!
Don't worry, Luke and Leia will be home. We won't see them, they're just mentioned in the epilogue, but they will be perfectly fine. Sleeping safe and sound in their crib. However when it comes to the sequel I make no promises. Hehehe!
Trivia: Verge is a character from the new canon. The rest are from old canon, though some have made their way into new canon.
This was originally going to be the last chapter. I considered killing both Mon and Bail, but nope, I wanted one to live.
Last chapter: There will be an Epilogue, but for now I'm marking it as complete.
** Sequel: Yes, there will be a sequel. Now it won't be quite like this or anything else I've done. It will be series of one shots and short stories spanning over the years of the Vaders' (yes, that's plural) reign, their children, and other descendants. Originally, I was going to call it, The Emperor and the Empress, The Emperor and the Empress: The Golden Age, then I considered calling it The Vader Dynasty. Now I think I've finally decided on combining the titles, The Emperor and the Empress: The Vader Dynasty, or TEATE for short. I know it is kind of a mouth full, but I like it.
I can't believe I'm nearly finished. It has taken me longer than expected between writer's block and real life, but I'm nearly there and I'll get it done.
The Last Jedi: What did everyone think? I'm still digesting some of it. I like some it and then some of it, not so much. No spoilers in case someone hasn't seen it.
Thank you everyone for reading and reviewing this story.
