A/N: This will be a satisfying chapter that will hopefully make up for some of the angst from the last. The ending is very graphic, so if you have a weak stomach, you might want to skip to the very end. Regardless, please enjoy.
Vader stood silently staring out the window of the enclosed veranda on the second floor of his estate, mindlessly watching speeders fly below in the chaotic sky of Coruscant. It had been two days since Alysia had died, taking the son he would never know with her. Darkness flowed through him and his heart was filled with a fire that was unextinguishable. Nothing could save him from himself, not even the undying love that Padmé had shown him. His fists were clenched behind him as he pondered on how to exact his desire for revenge against Clovis. Though, it was rather fitting for him to be experiencing such rage at a loss from the hands of another. He had taken so many lives with his own hands, that the thoughts that he deserved this were smothering.
Sidious must have detected Vader's rage and had requested his presence in just a few short hours away. How could he explain his quenching desire for revenge to the madman who had commanded him to be the monster that he was? There was almost no way to explain it without lying about the entire series of events. Vader wasn't personally connected to Clovis, so there wouldn't be a reasonable explanation to why he assassinated Alysia. Damn Sidious to hell for having such a tight leash on him. No, he had to protect Padmé. There had to be some way to through Sidious off the scent.
Regardless of that, Vader was still conflicted on the next course of action. Should he kill Clovis in his office at the Senate, or at his private residence? He didn't know how he should do it either. Part of him wanted to kill Clovis quickly, eager to snuff his life out. The other part of him wanted to do it agonizingly slow, ensuring that Clovis felt every ounce of pain that he was currently feeling.
The thought that he was to have had a son ripped his heart to shreds, making him feel a loss that he hadn't felt before. Of course, Alysia may never have told him about his child, but he figured that he would've found out eventually. He doubted how he would've handled the news, how Padmé would've been able to cope with the fact that she didn't possess his heart entirely, and that was enough to threaten to destroy his soul as well. While he had never thought much about the possibility of becoming a father until recently, he had known that he wanted Padmé to have the exclusive privilege of sharing that joy with him. Alysia's pregnancy would've complicated their lives in a way that would've been unimaginable, threatening to tear them apart.
But none of that mattered now. Padmé had taken the news of his offspring as well as could be expected. She cried with him, but he could still feel the jealousy within her heart. Jealousy that she was entitled to feel. The woman didn't vocalize her thoughts on the matter, she just tried to keep him from falling into a blind rage. He supposed it worked, but just barely.
"Ani", he heard Padmé say as she walked in behind him.
"Padmé", he replied. He turned around to see his lover dressed in one of the more beautiful dresses that she had. Silken threads of purple clung to her lithe frame, accenting her best features. They hadn't been with one another since the incident, and it made Vader feel even more weak. It wasn't fair, none of this was fair. "What's on your mind?"
She leaned against the doorway and folded her arms in front of her. "You", she replied gently.
Vader chuckled at the simplicity of her statement. "What about me, Padmé?", he asked. He wasn't in the mood for a deep conversation, but they hadn't spoke at length with one another since the incident.
Padmé let her eyes wonder out the curved window, obviously trying to gather her thoughts. She looked back into his eyes and frowned. "I'm just worried about you", she said. "I'm worried about what you're thinking, I'm worried about what the Emperor wants from you, and mostly I'm just worried about how you're doing. While I can feel your emotions through our bond, I know it isn't the same. I never want to experience what your loss. It's something that terrifies me for you. But even with that terror, I'm wondering if there's something that I haven't done that could comfort you."
Vader clicked his tongue on the roof of his moth while he began to pace back and forth. Padmé's thoughts were far from being unjustified, but he didn't know how to answer any of her questions. "I don't think there's anything that you could do to make me feel comforted, Padmé. I don't know what will make me feel better aside from murdering Clovis."
"I think I know what you mean, Ani. I want him dead as well. Maybe not as much as you do, but I still want him dead." She paused and took a deep breath, letting air fill her lungs as she pondered what to say next. "When do you think you'll kill him? I thought you would've done so by now, so you'll understand if I'm curious."
"I suppose that's a fair question", Vader said as he leaned back against one of the metal support beams. "To be honest, I'm not sure when I'll kill him or how. He will die, Padmé, of that you can be certain. I need to figure out what to say to the Emperor before I do it. Having our relationship be compromised isn't something I'm willing to do, no matter how much I desire to see Clovis dead."
Padmé surprisingly shook her head. "I'm not certain I want to maintain the lie that we've been telling others since we started this relationship, Ani. Especially not if you're unable to do something that you're entitled to. Rush needs to die. He's taken so much from us in such a small amount of time that he deserves no pity for who he's become or for whatever you might do to him. If we can't exact our revenge, then what's the point of us doing this?"
Pain shot through Vader's heart as he considered her words. "Padmé, are you trying to say that you no longer wish to be with me?" It couldn't be so; he couldn't lose the one woman who loved him more than anything else. The one who he had declared his love for, his commitment to being with her no matter what. If he lost her, he would lose himself, maybe even permanently.
"Ani, that's not what I'm saying at all", she replied as she took a several steps towards him, stopping a few feet away. "I'm not going to leave you; I just think that we need to reconsider what we're doing. Looking back, I would still choose to be with you over everything else, but we can't live like this forever. It will tear us apart and I won't have that. We need to figure out a way to disclose to the Emperor that we're in a relationship, so things don't continue to be difficult on us. I can't believe that I'm about to say this, but I would be immensely heart broken if we maintained our secrecy."
This floored the Sith Lord. He didn't know how to respond other than to close his eyes and breathe. Padmé was right, of course. They couldn't maintain their subterfuge much longer, and had to consider divulging the truth, no matter how dire the cost. "I don't know how to respond to that, Padmé, other than that's what I was afraid you would say."
"Ani look at me please. I'm just trying to figure out how we'll make this work", she said.
Vader's eyes snapped open as he felt his anger swell. "You're not the only one that's thinking of that Padmé", he hissed. "I've been trying to think of that as well for some time now. You don't hold exclusivity in that regard, not in the slightest. I'm not trying to become inundated in those thoughts right now. My main purpose is to figure out how to murder the man that used to be your lover. I despise his very existence, and I despise that you at one time thought he was worthy of you! I want to hurt him; I want to destroy him! I want to stamp out whatever memories that you have of him in your mind, so you'll never think of him again, even if it is hatred that you feel towards the man."
Padmé's mouth fell open, shocked at his outburst. "Do you think that I want those thoughts in my mind? Is that what you truly believe? Well, Darth Vader, you're far from the truth. I am revolted that I once called him a lover. I hate the fact that I used to let him touch my body or that he would say that he loved me. He knows nothing of love, and if you're not going to acknowledge that, then maybe I should reconsider how you really feel about me!"
That stung. She hadn't called him Darth Vader in private since she first figured out who he was.
"Reconsider… are you serious?", Vader shouted. "I've done nothing but try and prove my love for you. I've given you my heart, my soul. Fuck, woman is there nothing that will satisfy you enough that you'll know how I feel? I've given you everything that I have!" How many times did he have to prove his love for her?
"You can't give me a child!", Padmé screeched. "You gave one to Alysia, but you can't give one to me! I'm sorry that they're both dead, believe me I am. But we'll never be able to have that, not if we aren't honest to the entire galaxy about how we feel for one another. Don't you see? I'm so much in love with you that I don't care what danger we're in, or how everyone would view us! I just want you, nothing but you. You can't tell me that you don't want that too."
Fuck, the woman was right. He did want her that badly, he did want the ability to tell everyone and anyone that they were together. But he was afraid, afraid for what might happen because of that. None of this was right, nothing was right.
He whirled around and returned to his spot to stare out at the sprawling cityscape.
"Anakin! Don't you face away from me, you can't shut me out, not after everything that's happened. I've poured my heart out to you", Padmé pleaded. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said what I did about you not being able to give me a child. That was so selfish of me."
Vader closed his eyes and tried to concentrate, haunted by what Padmé admitted to him. After a moment, he felt her arms circle around his waist and her head resting on his back.
"I just want you, gods dammit. Fuck the galaxy and everyone that's in it. I just want you", she whispered.
Vader growled and twisted free from her embrace, forcing her against the support beam so hard she let out a sharp gasp. "I want you too, but I'm afraid", he snapped. His fingers dug into her shoulders and he could see her face contort into pain.
"Ani", she managed to say. "Ani, please, you're hurting me." Her eyes were wide with fear, and Vader knew that he had crossed the line.
He immediately released her, recoiling from her like he'd just touched an open fire. Force, he hadn't meant to be violent to her. His rage was uncontrollable at this point, making him unable to keep from inflicting pain to the person who meant more to him than anyone. Hell, in a way, she meant more to him than his beloved mother.
"I'm sorry, Angel", he cried as he fell to his knees. "I'm sorry about everything. There's no excuse to hurt you, not even in my most uncontrollable moments." He closed his eyes, unable to look at her and silently prayed that she wouldn't run away, terrified. Instead, he felt her take his head in her arms and press his face into her breasts. His body trembled as he tried to find solace in her embrace. What kind of woman would still be comforting to him after he hurt her? He didn't deserve her, not one bit.
"It's alright, Ani", she sobbed. "Everything will be alright. We just have to focus on one thing at a time, and the first thing is you going to speak to the Emperor. Then, you'll kill Rush, and I'll be there when you do it."
Vader wrapped his arms around her. His own chest heaved from the painful emotions that were racing through his mind. He realized that for the first time in over a decade, he couldn't find his center in the Force.
…
Going to see Sidious was always a gamble. Vader's master was unpredictable and erratic towards him. In public, he was stable and collected, but never with his apprentice. He seemed to take pride in inflicting torture upon him like it brought him comfort, the sick bastard. After taking a deep breath, Vader strode into the Emperor's throne room, his back ramrod straight and his heels clicking against the floor. His mind was still on fire with uncontrollable rage, which concerned him over being able to control what he said to his master. He stopped ten paces away from the monster who created him and knelt, bowing his head in servitude.
"What is thy bidding, my master?", he asked, his voice barely able to restrain the contempt he felt for the man. His right hand twitched, ready to go to his lightsaber in a flash if needed. This would be one of the most terrifying encounters with Sidious to the point where he couldn't even begin to think of how he would respond.
"Rise Lord Vader", Sidious commanded in a sickening throaty tone.
"As you wish", Vader replied as he rose, placing his feet should width apart with his left foot slightly forward in a combat stance, ready to leap into action if needed. Oh, he longed for the day that he could destroy Sidious. He checked his mental barriers to make certain that they were firmly in place. Sidious had trained him too well on how to erect them, so well that even he could only break down the first few layers if he was truly attempting to torture him.
"My apprentice", Sidious began. "I've recently felt the dark side course through your veins in such a way that has made me quite pleased, though I'm wondering what brought about such hatred from you. Perhaps you could enlighten me as to the reason so I can better understand. I must warn you, however, do not lie to me or you'll suffer more than you've ever known."
Vader curled his lips into a scowl, knowing full well what Sidious would do if he caught him in a lie. He desperately tried to find his center but was still unable. "It was recently brought to my attention that the woman I had been routinely having relations with was pregnant, master."
"What!", Sidious bellowed. He raised his hand and shot a brief bolt of lightning at Vader, knocking him back. "You dare to conceive a child with a harlot without my approval!"
"Master", Vader choked out. "The child is dead." He braced himself for another attack, but it never came. Sidious was silent for a change, but Vader didn't dare to rise until he was commanded.
"Stand up", Sidious said. Vader shakily rose to his feet, gasping for breath. "What do you mean the child is dead?" Vader could sense anger yet also curiosity from his master, there may be a way to survive this yet.
"The woman was killed by a man which I believe was working for Senator Clovis", Vader said. "I cannot prove it, but I intend to exact my revenge against him." He could envision killing Clovis, hurting him in a way more profound than he had ever hurt anyone before.
"I know of the idiot. What would cause him to take action against a woman you've been fucking, Lord Vader", Sidious sneered. "That's entirely too personal for it to have been a coincidence."
Well, no shit. Vader closed his eyes and tried to summon anything that would help him maintain his temper, but he failed. "There is much to explain, master."
"Then explain it", Sidious hissed. Force, this would not end well for anyone involved.
"Senator Clovis' actions have been fueled by revenge against Senator Amidala for leaving him", Vader said with no small amount of acid in his voice. "The man is unstable, acting impulsively, and causing damage to all of those involved." There it was, he had crossed the point of no return. The next words out of his mouth would be the ones he had been trying to prevent for some time now.
"I see", Sidious replied. "I'm still trying to determine how this connects to you, Lord Vader."
Vader clenched his fists so tightly that his leather gloves squelched under the strain. "That's because Senator Amidala and I are in a relationship, master." It was done. Sidious knew the truth, and Vader prayed that his decision wouldn't cost the one he loved. He expected to be thrown across the room by a relentless barrage of lightning but wasn't. Instead, he heard his master laughing.
"Good, Lord Vader. Very good. I'm glad to see that you've finally grown the stones to admit this to me", Sidious said. Oh, shit, did that mean…
"How did you know?", Vader asked as his hand moved closer to his lightsaber.
Sidious' laughter died. "Do you take me for a fool, my apprentice? I doubted your sincerity when you told me that you had no attraction towards the Senator and had you both followed for days by my spies. They easily confirmed my suspicions as the two of you were too arrogant to think that you wouldn't be followed."
Fuck. Vader didn't know how to respond to that. If he lied, he was dead. If he admitted that he didn't consider Sidious to be intelligent enough to verify what he had said, then he was also dead. There wasn't a middle ground.
"I wanted to keep our relationship hidden from the galaxy, master. If the press found out, there would be pandemonium with every outlet reporting on the affair as far as the outer rim. Such distraction wouldn't have been useful at the time", he replied. It was the best line he could come up with, but it was a flimsy excuse, nonetheless. The room became so silent that the two men were deafened by each other's breathing.
"The press is of no concern to me, Lord Vader. What is a concern is that you lied to me, betrayed me and your oaths to the Empire. I should inflict such an amount of pain upon you that you never forget the lesson, but I'm curious as to what you will do with Senator Clovis", Sidious said. "I don't see that killing him would be unreasonable, he did after all kill your offspring. You have my blessing to do so, but that being said, I believe that a discussion about your future plans with Senator Amidala are warranted, Lord Vader."
"My future plans?", Vader echoed. He couldn't very well tell Sidious of his true intentions, that Padmé was more than some glorified object to fulfill his lust, or that he loved her more than anyone else in the galaxy. A Sith didn't love, a Sith controlled. Possessed. Owned. None of those things applied to his relationship with the woman, none of those things had ever applied to his very thoughts of her.
"Yes, you fool! What do you intend to accomplish by engaging in this relationship with Amidala? Marriage perhaps? Children even?" Of course, he wanted to marry her and have her bear his children. But it not while Sidious was alive, he couldn't risk it.
"I'm currently assessing the merits of the relationship before I make such decisions, master. Speculating at this point would be foolish", Vader lied. He could see through the disgusting creature's intentions and it made him feel even more enraged. There was no doubt that his master wanted him to produce offspring with Padmé, but he would never let the old fool get his hands on them, even if he had to die to protect them. It was an odd feeling being so protective of children he didn't even conceive yet, but the feeling still remained. It was pure paternal instinct and a desire to reproduce with the woman he loved., but it was also an instinctive thought because he couldn't protect the son he had lost.
"Do you love her my young apprentice?", Sidious asked menacingly. There was a chill in the air as both Sith were contemplating their next move. It was like two beasts were circling one another, waiting for the other to flinch so they could attack.
"Loving her is not the Sith way my master. She is mine to possess, to own, that is what I feel", he lied. Of course, he possessed her heart, but only because she gave it to him.
"My dear boy", Sidious began, "Have I truly extinguished all the good from your heart? Is there no room in it to have feelings for a woman?"
"There is no room for feelings, master. There is only hate", Vader said as his hand was now a mere two inches away from his lightsaber, ready to spring into action and attempt to kill his master and the guards that protected him.
Sidious frowned. "I suppose that's acceptable Lord Vader. Go now, exact your revenge against that conniving man, but make certain that you take Amidala with you so she can bear witness to the execution, and the cost of daring to affront you."
"Yes master", Vader said as he deeply bowed.
…
Obi-Wan took in the madness of Coruscant. The capital planet hadn't changed very much since the rise of the Empire, nor did he figure it would. The populace was a machine that would keep moving forward regardless of who was in control of it. Spinning relentlessly and controlled only by time.
There were two places that Obi-Wan figured that he would be able to catch a glimpse of Darth Vader. The Senate and the Imperial Place. Both were heavily guarded, and after his last infiltration of the Palace's military subcomplex, he figured that they would be on high alert, so actually going inside either place was out of the question. Then, there was the possibility that Vader wasn't even on Coruscant at the moment. He could be with his endless fleets, trying to figure out the next world to conquer or populace to oppress. That was Darth Vader. There was no shred of humanity or decency within him, of that Obi-Wan was convinced.
Still, there was a chance that he could catch the macabre fiend at one of the locations. But where? It would be inefficient to set up two perches for observation as it would be impossible to catch him if he was at another location. Maybe it would have to be the Senate building. That's where the ghoul was spotted at the collapsing bridge, so that's where Obi-Wan would catch him.
What then? Follow him to his lair? What if he lived at a military installation, or if he lived underground in some bunker? No, Obi-Wan had a feeling that Vader wasn't one to live in a bunker. He had an aura of pomposity about him when he walked. He had an inclination that the Dark Lord would live in a place of luxury where he could gaze out at the city that he possessed with his cruel master.
If he could figure out exactly where, maybe he would catch him at his weakest moments. Be able to learn more about his habits, what evil needs he had to indulge in to keep himself connected to the darkness. There he would be able to see his weakness and devise a plan to lure him off world into a trap.
The solution to his problems was closer now than it ever was before, and he could almost taste victory.
Obi-Wan secured a speeder and made his way to the Senate. He eyed a building with a direct line of sight to the rear access where the senators would gain entrance. The building had a public landing area for speeders and there didn't appear to be any guards present, which was a nice surprise. He angled his speeder to where he would have an unobstructed view and settled in, waiting for a glimpse Lord Vader.
This was going to take longer than he originally thought.
…
"Are you nervous?", Padmé asked Vader as he silently piloted the speeder to Clovis' apartment. Hell, she was nervous. She hadn't seen the Sith Lord kill before, especially a person that she once was a lover to. It was like something out of a good dream and a nightmare at the same time. How would he do it? Would he be quick and merciful, or would he make it slow and painful? She didn't know how she felt about either option.
"No", Vader replied curtly. Padmé wanted to reach over and slap him for daring to communicate with her in such a lackluster way but figured his response did indicate that he was nervous. That he was uncertain of how he would kill the Senator or what the repercussions would mean.
"Well, we'll just see how it goes. You never elaborated on what the Emperor said about our relationship. Would you care to share?", she asked. "Obviously if you don't want to tell me, that's fine, but I would appreciate some insight." Damn him for not telling her the most perilous thing that their relationship would ever withstand. She knew he was troubled, but she simply had to know, she couldn't live in ignorance. What the shit.
Vader sighed irritably and banked the speeder towards the left. "He only was curious as to what our intentions are. If we would marry, if we would have children, or if we loved one another. I had to tread carefully in my response as there would be nothing more than the man would want than to have to break me if I said that I loved you. I have a feeling he does want us to marry and produce children."
"Oh? Marriage wouldn't be a bad thing, Ani. At least we'd be able to live publicly", Padmé replied. "As I've said, I no longer wish for us to be a secret." How many times did she have to reiterate it? He was becoming impossible. They once were able to communicate their feelings and needs to one another with ease, but now it seemed like such a struggle.
"What about your parents?", Vader asked. "They only met me not even a week ago. If you were to announce that you're marrying Darth Vader, they would be shocked and angered at us both. Do you really want that to happen?" Padmé felt anxiety from him, which she rarely felt. This was a legitimate concern, but a trifling one at this point.
"I would commit to it. Sure, my family would likely cut me off for a while for lying, but I don't believe they would completely disown me. Anything would be worth it to live freely", she said softly as she gazed out the window of the speeder. Anything that she could give to him would be a price that she was completely willing to pay.
"Well", Vader said gruffly. "I suppose it's settled then, but you can't expect me to propose in a damned speeder especially not when we're on our way to kill Clovis. You'll have to give me some time to actually think of a decent way to ask for your hand, but it is good to have had this discussion."
Padmé took his hand and beamed a smile at him. He didn't say no, and that was enough for her. Maybe his eyes would soften from the burning yellow to his lightly colored azure eyes again. Oh, don't push him anymore. He's got a job to do now, one that they both wanted to see through until the end.
"Over there", Padmé indicated to a landing pad. "It looks like he's home, his speeder is right there." Her voice shook slightly as she tried to gather her nerves. Part of her wanted Vader to do this alone so she wouldn't have to see it, but the other part of her needed to see Rush dead at the same time. He had a price to pay for inflicting harm against them both.
They landed and Padmé took the lead, guiding Vader to their target. They approached the door and they heard music and the sound of people talking inside. "Oh, shit", Padmé said. "He's having a party. People will see us together, maybe we should do this another time, if you're not quite ready for others to know about us." She had to force down her own panic, but a wicked thought entered her head. She would be seen as Vader's lady, and no one in the senate would dare to try and manipulate her ever again.
"No", Vader said darkly. They can see us together; they'll be too shocked when they're told to leave us anyway." Padmé looked up at his eyes briefly before he placed his hood over his head. They were red again, signaling his rage. She took a deep breath and rang the chime as Vader stood to the side of the door.
It only took a few moments until Rush opened the door. His face went slack with shock at seeing Padmé. "My dear", the man breathed. His eyes lit up and his face twisted into a genuine smile. "I had no clue that you'd be stopping by. Are you alright? Did the madman harm you? I'm having a little party, but of course you're invited in. I'm sure that we'll have much to discuss."
The fool thought that she had come to reconcile with him. The thought made Padmé want to gag in disgust. "No, Rush", Padmé said softly. "I'm just here to get you to open the door." She stepped back and Vader's massive presence slid in front of her like the aberration he was.
"My Lord!", Rush exclaimed. "I didn't know that you'd be here either." His voice shook with fear at the sight of her lover. Padmé was curious to see how Rush would try and talk his way out of this. Would he be honest like a man or lie like the coward she knew him to be? This would be one of the most empowering things that she would ever see. Her tormentor was about to receive his dues.
"Are you going to invite us in?", Vader asked flippantly as he raised his hand as if he was annoyed by a waiter giving him the wrong order.
Padmé peered around Vader's form and could see Rush visibly shaking. He knew what was going to happen. "O-Of course, My Lord. Please, w-won't the both of you join us. I-I'm sure that the other senators w-would love to see you and Padmé."
This was going to be so wonderful. Padmé took a deep breath and followed the Sith Lord in. There was no turning back now, the entire galaxy would soon know the truth. It made her terribly nervous but thrilled at the same time. They were no longer going to be living the lie that they had created some time ago.
They stepped through the door and the party was in full swing. Senators and their spouses were indulging in the finest foods and drinks, not even paying attention to them. They stood to the side and Padmé gawked at their sheer stupidity of not even paying attention to who the fuck just walked through the door. Her icy persona made its full return, and she was as cold as Vader, feeding off his desire to end Rush in the most barbaric fashion.
"Aren't you going to announce us?", Vader asked amused. "It's horrendously rude not to inform your guests when someone new enters a party."
"Of course, My Lord", Rush said after he cleared his throat, trying to regain his pathetic confidence. What an absolute moron he was to think he could charm himself out of the situation. "Everyone, if I could please get your attention." He paused, waiting for the conversations to die down and for everyone to look towards them. "We have two very special guests. I present to your Lord Vader and his… date for the evening, Senator Amidala."
Gasps rippled through the crowd followed by silence, enough to hear a needle fall to the ground. Padmé smiled acidly at her fellow senators, the ones that had always attempted to manipulate her while she was stuck in her depressed state. No longer were they the predators, now they felt as they should, like prey.
"Leave us", Vader commanded as he gestured towards the door. It didn't take long for Rush's guests to comply. Suddenly there was a frenzy to set down wine glasses and plates as the senators mumbled at their surprise to see the one and only Darth fucking Vader and Padmé Amidala together.
The senators filed out of the apartment, not daring to give the couple a side glance as they feared that they would become the targets of Vader's wrath. They didn't even look at Rush who was still visibly trembling, especially given that he knew that he would soon be alone with the Dark Lord and the woman that he had attempted to cause much harm.
As soon as the guests left, Vader pulled down his hood, staring at Rush menacingly. Rush let out a slight yelp at seeing Vader's face. "My Lord, I don't deserve to see you unveiled", he began. "I'm just a mere servant of the Empire, I'm not worthy." That was laughable, he wasn't worthy of anything, much less seeing Vader's handsome face.
Vader growled and picked Rush up with a wave of his hand and threw him towards the arched glass windows, stunning him. Rush let out a cry of pain before he rose to his feet. "My Lord if you could just tell me what I've done to earn your wrath. I don't see how you're using your powers against me is justified."
"My powers are completely justified on this occasion, Senator. I'm here to collect a debt from you. One that I will be quite pleased in exacting", Vader said menacingly.
Padmé sucked in a breath in genuine surprise when Rush rose to his full height and thrusted out his chest "I don't owe you anything, My Lord. But if you insist on fighting me, I would hope that you do so like a man and forgo the use of your Sith powers. Those tricks are beneath us both at this point." What the hell possessed this man to utter such words against the Sith Lord? It wasn't bravery, it was stupidity. "I assume that you're here because you hold some form of grudge against me for at one time being Padmé's lover." He had to be insane. No one would be able to best Vader in hand to hand combat. The Sith Lord was strong and fast, a true warrior.
"That and many other things, Clovis!", Vader hissed as he dropped his cloak to the ground and charged at Rush, eager for the fight to begin. Rush shifted into a weak combat stance and attempted to block the first blow, but the counter was poor, rand Vader sent him flying to the ground as his fist connected with Rush's jaw. Vader leapt onto him and began mercilessly pounding him with his fists until Rush was finally able to land a blow to Vader's face, stunning him momentarily. Rush shoved him away, causing Vader to lose his balance and briefly step back. Rush sprung to his feet, launching his attack and Vader began blocking punches, barely using any effort.
He's utterly toying with him, Padmé thought. It was a rather frightening spectacle. A punch got through and landed on Vader's temple, causing the Sith to let out a low growl. Rush threw a hard punch and Vader's fist met it in midair, causing a sickening crunch to reverberate through the apartment. Rush screamed in pain and held his broken hand, stumbling back. Vader lifted his foot and delivered a sharp kick to Rush's knee, causing another crunch as the bones snapped under the pressure. Before Rush could hit the ground, Vader picked him up with the Force and sent him flying towards a glass table, shattering it.
Padmé ran to the fight, eager to see it up close and personal. Her lust for vengeance against the man who had tormented her relentlessly over nearly the past three months taking over completely. Rush withered on the ground, trying to catch his breath from the utter beating that he had endured. Vader stalked up to him slowly, not even having broken a sweat. The room smelled of testosterone and fear.
"Lord Vader", Rush gasped. "You can't tell me that all of this is because at one time I was fucking Padmé. That petty jealousy should be beneath you. There has to be an explanation for your rage against me."
Vader laughed. "Oh, I believe that you're fully aware of what this is truly about, Senator. You know exactly why you're in this position and you know that you are truly fucked."
Rush tried to stand, but his broken knee caused him to drop back to the floor, where he belonged.
"Let me help you up", Vader said as he lifted his hand. Rush's feet hovered inches over the floor, his arms pinned to his side.
"That's it Ani", Padmé coxed. "Don't let this weasel of a man speak any more of his lies. Fucking eviscerate him." She could almost taste the fact that Rush was about to die, and it was marvelous. Divine.
"Do you hear the lady, Clovis? She wants to see you suffer for all the pain that you've inflicted against her", Vader said with an evil laugh.
"I've done nothing", Rush managed to get out. "I've only been the victim here, she's a gods damned succubus. She's angry because she admitted that she loved me to the point where it has driven her mad, especially since she is with a man like you!"
"You liar!", Padmé screeched. "You fucking liar!" How dare he? Any reservations she had completely left her, replaced only with the desire to see him bleed.
"Now, now, Padmé", Vader said in an eerily calm voice. "Let's educate the man before we continue." He stood in front of Rush with his hands curled tightly into fists. "We all know that you forced Padmé to say that you loved her. We all know that you tried to have her handmaiden killed in a fit of rage. Finally, we know that you tried to have her raped. Are you with me so far, Clovis?"
Rush's eyes bulged from their sockets. "I-I don't know what you mean, Lord Vader." What a piece of shit. What a fucking lying piece of shit.
"Lies will not help you, Clovis. It's best to clear your conscience before the inevitable occurs." He casually drew a dagger from its scabbard. "You might as well admit your crimes, before you meet your end."
"I admit it!", Rush snarled. "I needed to make the bitch suffer for what she did. She deserved every bit of pain that I inflicted. She deserved to be raped like the whore that she is, but even that was taken from me. She's too much of a coward to do this herself. She has to have her dark knight step in on her behalf so she wouldn't get her hands dirty." What. The. Fuck.
"You are scum, Rush!", Padmé shouted. "I never loved you and I am enjoying the sight of you being tortured. You tried to ruin my life because I didn't love you." She suddenly realized that seeing Rush die wouldn't be enough. "Do your worst, my sweet. Take him to the edge of death but leave him there."
Vader looked at her, knowing her intent. He smiled darkly and turned back to Rush. "She's more enraged at you then I believed she'd be, Clovis. She's ready to see what your pathetic life ultimately means. By the way, there is one more crime that you need to admit. Do you remember ordering the assassination of Lieutenant Alysia?"
Rush's face contorted into an utter look of confusion. "The intelligence bitch? Why the fuck would you be enraged about her, unless you were fucking her too." Oh, how sweet this revelation would be.
Vader growled in rage. "I wasn't just fucking her, Clovis." His voice was at a bare whisper. "She was carrying my son." Padmé had to bite down on her lip, fighting back a mixture of jealously and rage that her lover had to have been forced to experience such a loss.
"Vader", Rush pleaded. "I had no idea that she was carrying your son. I didn't kno –"
"Silence!", Vader roared. "You not knowing that she was pregnant isn't a defense, Clovis. It is a sign that you were caught up in your lust for blood. A sign that you didn't think of the potential ramifications of your actions. Now you will pay the price for your impudence."
Without a warning, Vader plunged the dagger into Rush's stomach causing the man to screech in agony. Vader held up his right hand, choking Rush with the Force to cease the noise from his throat. Padmé could hear muscle and flesh ripping open as Vader cut horizontally through Rush's abdomen. After a few seconds, his guts were protruding from his belly. Vader sheathed his dagger and reached into Rush's abdomen and pulled his intestines out. Padmé fought off the urge to gag as they landed with a plop on the floor.
"I'm staunching your bleeding with the Force, Clovis. You wont die, not yet anyway", he said. Good, make the bastard suffer. Make him hurt as much as possible.
Vader cocked his head to the side as if he was lost in thought. He walked to Padmé and unsheathed his dagger again, pressing the cold steel in her hand. "The honor belongs to you, Angel", he said with conviction. "Take your revenge against the madman who affronted you if you so choose."
A million thoughts raced through Padmé's mind. Could she do this? Could she take Rush's life in such a cold fashion? Sure, his actions against her were evil, but she never imagined that she would be the one to land the death blow against the man. That she would have the power to end this plight against her existence.
She mutely nodded to Vader and stepped before Rush, the foul stench of death already filling the air. She thought of Naboo, the smell of the flowers. They were so sweet and helped extinguish the wretched smell wafting off her former lover.
"I hate you", she whispered to him. "I hate everything about you. You deserve so much more than this, but I'll take the vengeance I've been offered against you, just as you took your vengeance against me. Except, I won't fail where you have. I'll actually be able to see this through."
"Padmé, please", Rush rasped as his face contorted in pain. "Don't kill me."
"You're already dead, Rush", Padmé growled. In a flash, she dug the dagger into his neck and slit his throat. Blood spewed onto her and she stepped back in shock. Vader released his grip on him, and Rush fell to the floor, clenching his throat as he fought for breath, his throat gurgling from the blood mixing with the air from his lungs.
Vader called his cloak to his hand and went to Padmé, offering it to her to wipe the blood from her face. Padmé accepted the garment but didn't wipe herself clean just yet. She watched Rush in his final death throes. Watched his mangled body release its last bit of energy. Then, after a few moments, it was all over. The gurgling ceased as did his movements. Rush was finally dead, and she felt free.
Padmé turned her head to Vader. "I love you, Ani. Thank you for this."
Vader drew a deep breath and nodded. "I love you too, Angel. I'd do anything for you."
A/N: Rush is finally dead. His character was difficult to write as I had a hard time thinking of the twisted ways that he would inflict harm against Padmé, so it was satisfying for him to meet his doom in such a grotesque way. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. If you liked what you've read, consider dropping a review and following. It's difficult to pump out this much content in a short amount of time, so any feedback would be much appreciated.