A/N: Thank you very much for the wonderful reviews and follows! I read every review and it inspires me to write even more. That being said, I hope you enjoy the latest chapter in this drama.
Relaying information to the other senators involved with the Rebellion was no easy task. It required Padmé to have a legitimate purpose in communicating with them, often making the exchange of information in a public area or even during a meeting where no one else would suspect them of communicating in such a fashion. More seldomly, such as today, she would meet a senator in their office to transfer the information, which was the most perilous method that was only used when no other option was available. Each time she pushed herself to do any of it, she fully understood the risks of her being caught and imprisoned by the Imperial forces that roamed the Senate halls. It was frightening yet exhilarating work, and Padmé found herself fitting into the role quite naturally, making the entire ordeal absolutely worth it in the end.
What was also promising was that she had not seen or heard from the ghoulish Darth Vader since their last encounter at the gala several weeks ago. She prayed that his attention in her had merely been a perverse notion that had long passed and that she no longer had to look over her shoulder or wonder what his cryptic messages to her really meant. It was unnerving to the Senator that Vader had been so certain that he knew that she and her friends were conspiring against the Empire with little to no evidence, at least from what she could tell. If they had information that could lead to arrests, they would have made them by now as crucial information had been passed through the complex network that was being crafted, and several operations were now in the works.
No matter, she couldn't allow herself to think of the beast or his threats now, she had a job to do.
"Mon, good to see you again", Padmé said as she embraced her friend. "I haven't seen you since that moronic gala a few weeks back. How are you?"
"Padmé, I'm doing well but yes, that gala was rather pompous for the Emperor to throw when he wasn't even in attendance. I didn't even see his leashed animal present, which makes me wonder why we were all practically threatened to go in the first place", Mon said as she shook her head in contempt.
Padmé nervously kept her mouth shut. She hadn't even disclosed the last chance encounter with the fiend to her handmaiden, much less anyone else. It would make her impossible to work with if other senators knew that they were all potentially being surveilled, especially if Padmé just so happened to be the one to receive an advanced warning by none other than Darth Vader, though it did make her wonder why no one else seemed to have noticed the black ghost at the celebration.
After she had returned home from the gala that night, she had been incredibly flustered from Vader's blatant overtures that not even an ice cold shower had been able to take her mind off his touch or his intoxicating voice.
"Right", she said, snapping herself back to the present so she could get on with her task. "I doubt I'll ever feel the same way about a formal event again if we're all demanded to attend them in such a way, but that's probably just another cost of living under Imperial rule." She smoothly passed a data disk to Mon before stepping away from her to sit at her desk.
Mon palmed the disk into a hidden compartment underneath her desk without looking after she sat down. Now they needed to sell the visit. "So, tell me Padmé, what brings you here for a visit?"
Padmé braced herself. The harmless topic of the day would be one that caused a particular amount of angst, but it was necessary. "Well, Mon, as you know I've had a terrible time in the area of love since my time here at the Senate began years ago. I'm at my wits end trying to find an eligible bachelor, and must embarrassingly ask if you know of anyone that would be a good fit."
Mon's eyebrows shot up. The topic of the day had been undisclosed to elicit a genuine reaction from the Chandrilan senator. She sat back in her chair with a hint of a smile on her lips, indicating she was surprised at Padmé's request. "Padmé, you surprise me. You've never been one to seek aid in your personal affairs before, what makes you do so now?"
Because her prospects were and always have been shit. "I'm just ready for a new adventure with someone that is likeminded", she said with a brilliant smile. "I'm not entirely picky about anything, as long as they're tall, attractive, kind, full of adventure, and trustable."
"Darling, you've just named qualities that women across the galaxy are looking for in a man, I would be remiss if I didn't say those asks will considerably narrow your search", Mon said with a smirk, causing Padmé to feel her cheeks flush with embarrassment. Was she really that picky? Had Anakin ruined her so completely for other men that she looked for qualities that mirrored his own?
"I realize that they may seem like fairly specific asks, but the galaxy is so vast, there has to be someone that you know of, given that you have the uncanny ability to have a hand in everyone's personal affairs", Padmé said in defense of herself. "Besides, a girl can dream, even if those dreams don't come true."
Mon's expression softened. "Padmé, I'd be delighted to try and find you someone, don't lose hope. You're only twenty four years old, that's still plenty young enough to catch the eye of a man that you'd least suspect.", she said.
Well, that was the kriffing truth. She had caught the eye of Vader, much to her dismay.
"I suppose you're right, Mon. I should be a little more kind to myself", Padmé admitted. "But enough of that. I'll await word from you if you are able to think of someone that fits the bill. On a separate topic, we do need to figure out some time to spend with one another. It seems that the only times we interact are at work or work related social functions. What happened to the days where we'd go to some posh bar and close it down in the early hours of the morning?" She knew the answer, it was the damned Empire that had changed everything. It threw the senators for such a loop that it made their heads spin, forgetting that there once was a sense of normalcy in life.
"I know what you mean, Padmé. I tell you what, how about you look at your schedule and maybe we can go out sometime later this week and reminisce about simpler times", Mon said.
That perked Padmé up. She hadn't expected Mon to commit to a social event. "That sounds like a splendid idea, Mon", she said as she rose to her feet. "I'll let you get back to it, but you call and let me know if you're able to think of anyone that meets my ridiculous expectations."
"I'll certainly do that, Padmé", Mon said as she waived goodbye.
Padmé walked down the corridor, lost in her thoughts. What if Mon was actually able to find her a man that met her list of desirable traits? Would she still stick to her guns about keeping things lust free for the initial period and be courted like the damned holofilms always showed? If she was lucky, then yes, if not then she was kriffed. Why was it that many of her peers were able to meet nice men that understood the art of wining and dining a woman until the time for intimacy was just right?
She shook her head to clear her thoughts as she reminded herself to pay attention to her surroundings. She froze in place as she saw none other than Darth Vader walk down an intersecting corridor at a blinding pace. Wherever he was going, he was in a rush to get there.
A strange sense of curiosity that some would consider to be a sign of mental instability overtook her. She was curious as to where the hell Vader was going in such a hurry. Would it be to arrest a senator, or did the beast normally walk that quickly when he wasn't in the mood to frighten the living shit out of someone?
Making her decision, she picked up her pace and turned right down the corridor in direction of Vader and saw his retreating form. He passed several other senators and their staffers, who all had a look of fear on them as he bolted past without stopping to harass them. This was damned peculiar.
Trying her best to keep up with him without drawing attention to herself, she quickened her pace to where she was nearly breathless and managed to catch a glimpse of him as he turned down another path. Once she made it to the intersection, she carefully peered around to see him enter a room to the left that was guarded by two Stormtroopers. Interesting, she had never seen Stormtroopers be posted outside of a room before. Granted, she admittingly didn't go to this area of the Senate building very often, so it could be a perfectly normal thing, but something still felt amiss. The corridor had a dead end, so Vader would have to come back the way he came once he was finished with whatever the hell he was doing.
Mustering up her courage, Padmé proceeded down the hallway and when she was halfway to the Stormtroopers, she saw a vacant office to duck into. She quickly doused the lights and pressed her back to the wall, waiting for Vader's form to walk past.
As she stood waiting, she began to realize what a foolhardy endeavor she was undertaking. What in the hell was her problem? She was supposed to be avoiding Vader like a damned plague, not stalking him like she was a damned hunter on Naboo, hoping to shoot a wild shaak for dinner. But she was already committed. If she left the office too soon, Vader could see her walking away and become suspicious. She would have to wait for him to walk past in order to be able to make her escape, and once she was free, she could give herself a tongue lashing for being so daft.
As she waited, her mind traveled back to Kashyyyk. She had wanted to go off the beaten path, which led her to meet Anakin and thus experience one of the most frightening nights of her life. If she hadn't been that daring, she wouldn't have those memories, as painful as they may be. Force she missed him terribly, even though it was only one damned night.
The sound of boots snapping together at attention rousted her from her thoughts. Was Vader leaving? She pressed herself to the wall as flat as she could, hiding behind the door frame and waited for the haunting man to walk past her. After a few moments, he did. She breathed a sigh of relief. In a minute or so, she could make her escape and head back to her office to finish out the day, free of any unnecessary drama.
Once Padmé figured she waited the appropriate time, she stepped out of the door frame and turned left, straight into Vader's looming form. With a squeak, she felt his hands upon her shoulders as he spun her about and roughly pushed her back into the vacant office, closing the door behind him. She spun around and he was standing in front of the door with his arms folded in front of him.
"And what the fuck do you think you're doing, Senator?", he snapped.
"M-Milord", she stammered. "I-I was merely…" Shit, she didn't know what to say, there wasn't any plausible explanation for her to have been stalking him.
He started taking slow steps towards her and she felt herself backing up deeper into the office, deeper into the pits of hell.
"You were merely doing what?", he asked menacingly. She was so terrified; she couldn't think straight. "I'm waiting for an answer, Senator."
Padmé didn't realize how deep into the office that she was, so was shocked when her back ran into a wall, ending her retreat. She was trapped and completely fucked.
There had to be a way to take control of the situation, but the only way she could begin her verbal maneuver would be to start with the truth. "Milord", she began. "I saw you walk past me and was merely curious to where you were going in such a hurry that you didn't notice me." This was a rather clumsy way to attempt to inflate his ego enough to make him think that he occupied her thoughts so much to have embarked in a foolhardy endeavor, but she supposed that it was the truth. Why had she been so stupid to think try and follow him?
Then something unexpected happened. Vader let loose a brief laugh that boomed throughout the office. "Senator, I knew that you desired me, but I didn't realize to what extent", he hissed. He boldly walked up to her and placed the palms of his hands beside her shoulders, locking her into place. He bent his head enough for her to see his yellow eyes flashing like supernovas amongst the blackness that sheltered his face from view.
Padmé felt her mouth open, and a cry of terror escape her lips. There was no telling what the man would do to her, not this time. The other times she'd encountered him there were always people within a certain distance, but now, she was trapped in an office with him, and no one would hear her cries, no matter how loudly she screamed.
"Please, Milord. You're terrifying me", she begged. "I was merely curious as to your purpose, nothing more."
She heard Vader click his tongue against the roof of his mouth as if in thought of what to do next. "I don't believe that you're as terrified as you say, Senator. If you were, you wouldn't have done something so moronic as stalk me to my location, and then wait for me to leave so you could foolishly try and escape."
He slowly moved his left hand to her shoulder and ran his gloved hand down her side until he firmly grasped her hip. The tingling warmth returned to her senses in a flash. No longer was she simply afraid, she was aroused and afraid.
"I can sense your pulse quickening every time I touch you", he hummed as he bent himself down closer to her head, his breath ever hot like an open fire. She let out a soft mewl as his lips grazed her forehead. They weren't rough and scarred like she imagined them to be, they were full and soft, causing an electric spark to crackle through her body. She was quickly inebriated with desire, with lust.
"See, just now with a mere touch of my lips and you're aching for me, aren't you?", he whispered. Oh, gods, his voice wasn't rough, it was smooth and warm.
"You may be right", she whispered in response. "But I still hate you. I still am terrified of you. You revolt me in ways that I never thought possible until I first knew of you." She didn't know what possessed her to speak the truth in such a way, but she couldn't simply let his remark go unanswered.
Vader chuckled as his lips traveled down her temple to her ear. "I know you hate me, you're right to hate me. I'm a monster after all, one that finds pleasure in the suffering of others." The hand on her hip tightened and he bent her body to him, causing her to moan. He planted a kiss underneath her ear before nipping at the sensitive flesh, and she whimpered out of fear and pleasure. She felt her hand reach out and grasp his robes, needing to pull him closer to her. "You taste refreshing, like a man who's been dying of thirst, just to finally have had a drop of water to sooth his tongue."
"P-Please, Milord", she begged.
He paused. "Please what?", he hissed.
"Please don't stop", she said before her mind caught on to what she just said. She couldn't do this; she wouldn't do this.
He chucked and roughly kept attacking her neck. Nipping the flesh hard, undoubtedly marking her skin with bruises. How the hell would she explain this to Dormé, to anyone?
"Do I occupy your thoughts, Milord?", she asked suddenly, her brain overwhelmed with dopamine. "Even though I hate you, do you think of me?"
"You occupy my thoughts for several reasons, Senator", he began as he moved his left hand from her hip to the small of her back, just above her buttocks, and she wished that his hand would travel lower. Her body ached for his touch. "You're a desirable woman after all. But a sad reality is that we both know that you're a traitor."
Alarm bells went off in her head, but before she could vocalize her stark terror, he quickly moved his lips to her mouth and kissed her roughly. She moaned loudly into the kiss as her body shook. She didn't fight him but didn't embrace him either. She merely clung to his robes, trying to hang on for dear life as she shook.
The kiss continued for what felt like was an eternity. It was hot; so hot that her entire body felt like it was on fire. She was in a form of heaven and hell at the same time, unable to break free from his grasp.
Vader finally pulled back and she had the clarity of mind to notice that they were both panting they looked into each other's eyes. The glow of his was still there, but it had dimmed slightly before it returned to it's usual scorching state.
"So, how does it feel to be a traitor to the Empire, Senator?" Gone was the softness from his voice, replaced by anger and roughness.
"I-I don't know what you mean, Milord. I –"
"You know exactly what I mean!", he yelled, and she shook in cowardice.
"Milord, please, I don't know what you mean", Padmé gasped. "If you could please tell me, maybe I could clear this up." It was worth a shot, if she was able to try and convince him, she might just make it out alive.
Vader laughed like a maniac. "Your actions speak from themselves, Senator. I will give you one more chance, just one, to make things right. I never give anyone a second chance, I kill them where they stand, and I've killed countless beings, each one begging for their lives before I deny their screams. Do you believe that?"
This wasn't surprising. He was a self admitted monster anyway. There wasn't a thing that she could do to prevent it. She was dead. "I, I think I understand what you mean, Milord."
"Then you admit being a traitor?", he asked smugly. His attitude since she met him was entirely too familiar, but she couldn't recognize it.
She raised her chin in defiance. "I'm not a traitor, I am a senator of the Empire and have loyalty to the ones I represent."
"How charming", he growled. "You have your chance, but don't consider my actions as mercy, I'm not merciful. You please me, and I please you. That's why you're not dead right now. That's why instead of killing you, I proved my passion for you. Go now, but don't ever follow me again, or I'll be forced show you what I was doing, Senator."
"Y-Yes, Milord", she said as her eyes welled up in tears.
Vader stepped away from her and gestured to the door. She hurried out, unable to look back. She had to get out of there before her body betrayed her any further. The effect that he had over her was hideous.
Padmé had to keep wiping her eyes as she walked shakenly to Bail's office. She had a decision to make and owed him the courtesy of telling him what happened, and her decision about her actions. It wouldn't do for Vader to have continue to accuse her of being a traitor when he obviously kept warning her.
After keying in the door, she saw Bail's staffer sitting at her desk, and Bail sitting at his, obviously in the middle of work. Padmé couldn't help but wonder if he scheming something about his plans for the Rebellion. She prayed he wasn't.
"What can I do for you, Senator Amidala", Bail's staffer asked. Bail's head shot up and he grimaced. "Tera, why don't you give the Senator and I some privacy. Please take a break and be back here within the hour. Padmé, please come sit", he said.
"Thank you, Bail, Padmé said as she glided to his desk and took a seat, trying to appear as tranquil as possible.
After Bail's staffer left, he sat and turned his full attention to her. "Padmé, this isn't our regularly scheduled meeting time, I thought that we had agreed not to see each other unless it had something to do with the Rebellion."
Padmé shook her head. "Bail, it does. There's something very important that I must tell you about the security of the operatives that work here, and there won't be an easy way to explain it."
Bail folded his hands together and appeared lost in a moment of self reflection. "Gon on", he said as he tried to maintain his calm. Oh no, he was on the defensive and wouldn't likely take what she said seriously.
"Bail, I've stumbled upon none other than Darth Vader three times in the last few weeks, she began as she wiped her eyes again. "There's no way to say it, but every time that I've seen him, he's alluded to me that my friends, possibly even you, are committing treason against the Empire", she said. "Not even twenty minutes ago, he confronted me again, and promised me that I have one last chance to cease my activities, or I would face the consequences."
She paused, letting what she said sink in. Bail's face was turning as white as a ghost.
"I don't know how much he knows, but the first two times he said that true friends could lead to true disappointment. I believe that he was referring to at least you. I don't know why he hasn't told me of how much he knows, or why, I just know that he's onto me, and that we're all in an incredible trouble", she finished.
"Padmé", Bail began with a pause. "Have you considered that he's just trying to frighten you? That he's manipulating you?"
Padmé shook her head violently. "If that were the case, he wouldn't have promised to kill me, he simply would've done it. Vader doesn't seem to be the type of person that makes empty threats. I came here as a courtesy to you to let you know that for the time being at least, I can't continue to aid the Rebellion. It's too risky, and I believe that you and the rest of the senators that are involved should stop too, at least for the time being."
Bail scoffed. "What we're doing is too important. We're preparing to strike at several military targets. The plans have already been put in motion thanks for the information that you've obtained and from the information that you've relayed. Hell, you've even managed to set up several supply lines to the Rebellion by misdirecting funds from the Empire that could…" He stopped as a look of realization appeared on his face. "That's how he knows. You were sloppy enough to have been caught!"
"Bail, please listen to me. I organized those funds after the two confrontations that he's had with me, nothing more. I don't' believe that what you're saying is true. He must have agents or bugs planted that we cannot detect. He may very well be listening in right now", she implored. "I wouldn't come to you if I wasn't certain of this. Please take my warning seriously, or we're all dead."
"No!", he barked. "I cannot let myself become disinterested because of what you told me. If we're to stop our activities, many will suffer. I'll let you have your respite, but know this, if you stop doing as I have asked, then it will be incredibly difficult for you to continue to be trusted with future assignments, so consider this carefully. You may be my friend, but this is a dangerous job, and it requires fortitude. Fortitude that you may not have.
True friends can lead to true disappointment, echoed through her mind. Bail wasn't listening to her warning, wanting her to continue her work, and if she didn't, she would possibly be closed off from the Rebellion forever.
"Bail, that's just a risk I'll have to take", she proclaimed as she thrusted her chest out in indignation. "I will hope that you'll let me back in once the danger has past, but as of right now, it isn't safe for any of us. I hope you heed my warning, as things will become unpleasant if you don't." She shot to her feet and walked out of the office, not waiting for Bail to respond.
She made it to the alcove where she had previously broken down. With a trembling hand, she braced herself against the wall and fought to think of what she had done. It wasn't something that she'd ever thought she would do, not at in the slightest. Her defiance to do what she believed was just had disappeared, and she knew that she was no longer the same woman she thought she was.
…
After the end of the terrible day, Padmé was walking to her speeder looking forward to a hot bath when something unexpected happened. She saw several Stormtroopers walking towards her menacingly, blocking her path to her speeder.
"Ma'am, you're going to need to come with us", one of the troopers said. His blaster rifle was held tightly across his chest, waiting to be used against her in a moment's notice.
"First, I'm not a ma'am, I'm a Senator. I would appreciate if you addressed me by my tittle, trooper", she said with anger. "Second, I'm not going anywhere with you until you tell me what this is about."
The trooper that spoke looked at his comrade. "Cuff her", he said before he turned his attention back to her. "Senator, please do not make a scene of this. Lord Vader has requested your presence immediately. You are not under arrest, but you are being detained for the moment.
This couldn't be happening. She had told Bail that she no longer wished to be a part of the Rebellion. She had ceased her endeavors to rebel against the Empire once and for all.
The other trooper swiftly moved behind her and placed her arms behind her back to cuff her. Padmé was too stunned to resist, and after a moment, she was restrained against her will. The trooper who restrained her as if she were a common criminal took her arm firmly, but not roughly. They led her back into the building, uncaring if the other senators walking to their speeders saw her as they whispered voices of shock at seeing a now seasoned senator being accosted.
They marched her inside and down several flights of stairs where there were additional Stormtroopers standing post. Padmé had never seen so many Stormtroopers inside of the building, not understanding as to why they were in the bowels of the Senate building as she had been there numerous times in the last month during her committee meetings.
They led her to a room with bright lights and a table with two chairs. They removed her restraints and instructed her to have a seat in the chair that faced away from the door. Whatever this was, it appeared to be an interrogation of sorts.
After what seemed like an eternity, the door behind her opened and she felt a familiar presence that chilled her to the bone. It was Darth Vader. He silently stalked to the chair opposite of her and sat, glaring at her.
It took him a while to speak, making her tremble with stark terror as her mind went over every scenario as to what would happen.
"First", Vader said, "I want to commend you for ending your ties with the Rebellion. That was the correct action that you took, but you did it in the wrong way. Instead of simply ceasing your activities, you informed Bail Organa of your encounters with me. This will complicate my task of bringing the other senators to damnation as the Rebellion can still operate with impunity. My wishes were that you would simply cease your actions with them, not warm them. All of the treasonous senators aside from one have managed to escape the planet in the wink of an eye because of you.
He paused, letting his message sink into her, letting her know how fucked she was.
"Second, I would normally kill you for such actions, but because you please me, you will be incarcerated at my estate, unable to communicate with the outside in case you decide to reconsider your erroneous ways. Do you understand the consequences of your actions now?"
Padmé's brain spun. All she had tried to do was tell Bail that he was in trouble, she hadn't meant to have him disappear, nor did she think he would. They didn't even give her a warning of what their actions would be, they just left without letting her know that she would need escape as well. She was abandoned, betrayed.
"How…Why am I not being placed into a cell, versus your estate?", she asked.
Vader gave a dry chuckle. "I told you, I find you pleasing."
Oh, gods. She realized his true intentions and they frightened her.
"I can hear your thoughts, Senator. They flow from your brain like a waterfall, crashing into my mind. Fear not, I am not a rapist.", Vader spat. "I will keep you there until your desire is too much to bear, that you'll eventually give into it. Do you understand me?"
"W-What about my handmaiden?", Padmé asked. "She'll be concerned about me. She hasn't been involved in any of my activities. She doesn't even know that I've committed them."
Vader leaned back and folded his arms contemplating his next words. "Your handmaiden will be brought with you, if you so choose, but she will have limited access to the outside world, under heavy guard. Is that acceptable, Senator?"
Was Vader was giving her a choice in the matter? No, it couldn't be. This had to be a manipulation, but she would take advantage of it while she could. "Yes, Lord Vader", she said meekly.
"Good", Vader replied. "Your clothing and belongings will be brought from your residence and you'll be treated well. You'll be a prisoner, but not one that will be damned for all eternity, unless you do not heed the instructions that I've given you."
He rose and slowly rounded the table until he bent down to the side of her head. "I look forward to the day that your desire will overcome your hate, Senator." His voice made her shiver as her body betrayed her again. She felt mesmerized, turned on, and hatred towards him.
"Yes, Milord", whispered, unable to think of anything else.
"Guards!", he barked as he stood up and stepped away from her. The two Stormtroopers with strange raven armor marched in with wicked looking weapons.
"Stand up, Senator", one said in a strangely modulated voice that sounded demonic.
Padmé immediately complied with the trooper's demand, still in complete shock over the events that had just transpired. She numbly walked to the trooper who firmly placed his hand around her arm, the one that Vader had bruised in his outrage at the gala and led her away. The last thought that she had as she was placed into an armored speeder was that her life as she knew it was over forever.
…
Becoming a prisoner is always a shock to the system. It strips away your individuality and forces you to become something your worst nightmares could never have believed. It was akin to death, except instead of the release from the world, there was still life in your body. An unbearable life. A form of the most heinous purgatory that made you believe that you were never in control of your destiny, always meant to be doomed to hell.
Padmé's hell was just beginning. She didn't know how else to describe it. Her personal hell meant that she was trapped with a man that she detested. A devil that was so cold and iniquitous, one that expected her to eventually succumb to his every wish, no matter how perverse. Her body craved him, needed him, but her mind would always be revolted by him.
The strangely armored soldiers escorted her to Vader's estate. It was surprisingly posh on the outside, with fountains and trees decorating the landscape. It was located far from the chaos of the of the heart of the Imperial Capital and overlooked one of the few oceans on the planet, with gentle breezes that made the trees sway almost musically. Padmé hadn't heard such sounds in the last two years, not since she had been home to Naboo.
The residence itself was massive, spanning five stories, with many long and tall windows, signifying how tall the ceilings must be. It was made of polished smoky stone, which seemed dark yet bright at the same time. Elegant statues of angelic women lined the path into the residence, shocking Padmé at Vader's taste for the softer things in life. She had expected monsters with fangs and brutal claws, which would match his personality more than these women. Who was this beast, this ghoul? The first encounter of the day, he was rough, possessive, and overwhelmingly sensual. During the interrogation, he wasn't sensual, he was angry, possessed by his darkness. It reminded her of their first meeting in the hallway at the Senate, quite unlike the nearly caring creature that had caressed her back and face at the gala.
Another striking feature was the number of guards that swarmed the residence with heavy weaponry, which would undoubtedly be able to repel whoever was daft enough to try and assault Vader's sanctuary. Assault, or escape. This was more akin to his personality of being overtly dangerous and his lust for control.
Padmé was led to a massive set of eloquently carved wooden double doors under a stone archway. The trooper keyed in an access code, and opened one of the ominous doors and led her into the residence. The foyer was a great hall, with tapistries adorning the walls, and rugs mad from the finest textiles adorning hardwood floors. There was a massive staircase that led to the upper levels on the left, with wooden balustrades that appeared to be a singular piece, never ending. Whatever tree that had been used to make the curved railing must have been massive. To the right appeared to be a form of lift that could whisk occupants to whatever floor they desired.
"Lord Vader has instructed us that you are free to roam the premises", the trooper said in his modulated voice. "However, the third floor is off limits, no exceptions. You are allowed outside in the center courtyard, but if you're caught trying to exit to the exterior gardens, you'll be immediately escorted back inside. Do you understand?"
Well, as depressing as it was that she was a prisoner, at least she wasn't being locked into a room, forced to stair at a wall for eternity. How touching.
"And what of my handmaiden and my personal belongings?", she asked.
She swore she could've heard the trooper sigh. "Your handmaiden is currently being informed of the developments, and your belongings are in the process of being packed as we speak. They will arrive within the next hour", the trooper said. "A word of advice, Senator, it will be much easier here if you just cooperate."
Padmé's mouth fell open, shocked at what the trooper said. She wasn't one to just cooperate, she had been a gods damned Queen. A Senator who had the respect of millions. This was so unlike any other experience she ever had in her life.
"If there's nothing else, Senator, I must attend to my duties", the trooper said. She swore that she heard a bit of apprehensiveness through the modulator.
Padmé frowned. Her prison guards seemed to not want to be near her presence, which meant that only Lord Vader and her handmaiden would be keeping her company for all eternity. She would die without any further contact with others.
"I'm fine, trooper", she said in a demurred voice. "Thank you for your assistance."
The trooper clicked his heals and exited the residence, the sound of the door closing echoing throughout the building. What the hell was she to do now? Explore the massive structure like she was on some kriffing adventure, waiting for her tormentor to attempt to force himself on her?
She was reminded that there was a courtyard and gloomily walked her way down the central hall looking for an exit. Then she saw a set of glass double doors at the end of the hallway, and quickened her pace, eager to find her way out of the prison and into the outside air. When she reached them, she could see that the courtyard was splayed with a variety of trees, plants and flowers. She opened the door and was immediately relieved by the sweet scent of nature. How Vader had managed to construct such a garden was truly baffling. He was obsessed with death and destruction, it felt wrong to have such a peaceful place as the focal point of the massive estate.
Taking her time, she began to walk to the different collections of plants and trees, admiring their delicate beauty. Some of the trees surprisingly bore fruits, some that she was familiar with, others that she wasn't. The flowers consisted of a variety of all shades of colors. They added a variety of elegance to the garden that reminded her of the botanical gardens in the royal palace of Theed, but even those gardens weren't as elaborately designed. Another shocking revelation was that a sizable space in the never ending courtyard were vegetable plants of all varieties. Some looked like they were recently harvested, while others were in full production, ready to be consumed.
Although she probably needed to eat, her appetite was suppressed by melancholy of being forced to be locked away like some damsel in a holofilm, eventually falling in love with her captor. She most certainly would never fall in love with Vader, not even if her body betrayed her into giving into her lust.
A cluster of benches surrounded a large fountain in the center of the garden, and Padmé sullenly walked to it, eager to rest her feet. She sat on the bench, which was surprisingly comfortable given that it was made from solid stone. Giving into her depressed state, she stared into the fountain, watching the water cascade down like tears. After a time, she felt her own tears seep from her eyes, just as the fountain. Dropping to her knees as she hunched over in agony and her perilous predicament.
"Life here will be what you make of it, Senator."
Padmé stiffened at the sound of her tormentor's voice as it boomed into her ears. The Dark Lord of the Sith walked around and slowly sat down next to her.
"This is a mere consequence of your actions, nothing more. You will not be mistreated; you will be given freedom within the compound to do as you wish. It will be a bleak existence, but you are alive, not dead", Vader said gruffly.
"And if I would rather be dead than toil away here for the rest of my life?", Padmé asked. It was a fair question in her mind, she did not want to waste the rest of her life staring longingly out windows or sitting in a beautiful courtyard. She still craved adventure and excitement, but none of those things would come to her hear.
"That can still be arranged, Senator", Vader hissed. He slapped his knee in aggravation. "As I've said before, if I wanted you dead, I would merely kill you and cherish your screams of agony. But I do not want that, not now at least."
Not now at least. That gave her a perverse hope for the future. Maybe one day, he would eventually grow tired of her presence and execute her. Even if he did it in the most brutal fashion, it would still be worth living in this hell.
"What is to become of my life while I'm living? Are you expecting me to become your harlot, ready for you to bed me at a moment's notice?", she inquired.
Then something unexpected happened. "You're no one's harlot!", he snarled. "I may possess you within these walls, but if you ever do give into my advances, it will be willingly. As I've said, I'm no rapist."
Padmé let out a depressed laugh. "What's the difference between rape and the brutal ways you end lives, Lord Vader?" It was a fair question. She had to understand how his mind could separate both heinous acts as if one was reprehensible and the other was not. The double standards of this man were infuriating.
Vader let out an angry sigh, which made Padmé flinch in fear that he would lash out at her. "I can't answer that, Senator. You don't understand what I do, but maybe someday you will", he growled.
He stood and Padmé felt a since of loss yet joy that he would leave her alone. Instead, he circled around the bench and began massaging her tense shoulders. She stiffened up at first, but then felt her body capitulate to his gloved hands as they kneaded the knots from her. Who the hell was this man? Her body began responding in a dreadful yet wonderful way. She felt herself approach a state of arousal again as his hands traveled from her shoulders to in between her shoulder blades, slowly working the muscles.
She let out a soft moan as he touched her in a rough but gentle fashion. "Are you enjoying this?", he asked as he bent down to her ear.
"What… What do you think, Milord?", she barely managed to say.
"Now, now, I'll stop if you don't be honest to me", Vader said as his hands traveled up to her neck. His thumbs massaged the base of her spine, working out muscles that he never thought existed. His gloved hands and fingers slowly wrapped around her delicate neck, interlacing across her throat.
Padmé unsuccessfully tried to stifle a soft whimper at his possessive touch. "My body was hoping for this", she gasped, "But my mind is hoping to be set free."
Vader gave a dry chuckle that was oh so familiar. "Your mind and body are one, Senator. I can feel your inner conflict, well, most of your inner conflict. There happens to be something shielding me from the deep recesses of your mind. One that you probably are not aware of in the slightest. We'll have to eventually overcome this barrier if you're to be happy here." He applied pressure to the sides of her neck, and Padmé felt an odd sense of euphoria as oxygen was cut off from her brain temporarily.
The bastard ceased his massage, making her wrap her arms around herself as she tried to get warm from the lack of his touch. By the Sith, whenever he stopped touching her, she felt cold. Freezing even. He slowly stalked in front of her. The heels of his boots clicking on the marble floor.
He pulled her up by her arms and to his chest. Was he embracing her? He folded his robes over her, and she stopped shivering. Her body needing to feel his warmth.
"You don't remember me, do you?", he murmured. She could hear a mixture of sadness and anger in his voice.
"Milord", she pleaded. "I've never met you until recently." She felt a new wave of terror wash over her. Was he confusing her for someone else? He had to be. She certainly would've remembered meeting the Dark Lord himself, no matter what her age was. In fact, she didn't even know how old he was. From the taste of his lips, she knew that he wasn't a lecherous old man, but he could easily be ten years or slightly older than her.
Suddenly, he shoved her away from him as if he was disgusted by her response. She let loose a yelp and watched him spin on his feet as he marched back inside of the residence, leaving her by herself yet again.
…
Padmé finally sulked inside as the sun set. She was surprised to see Dormé standing nervously in the foyer, unsure as to what she was doing there. When she saw Padmé her eyes lit up and she let out a cry as she ran towards her friend.
They embraced fiercely, seeking solace in each other's arms as they let out cries of despair at their situation and relief that they were with one another.
"Dormé, please forgive me for dragging you into this predicament", Padmé pleaded. "I didn't want to be alone." She felt horrid for dooming her friend to a similar fate as she.
"Padmé", Dormé said in between sobs. "I cannot imagine a life without you. I'll follow you to wherever you go, be it good or bad. We have each other and we will survive this."
What did she ever do to deserve such a friend? It was unconscionable due to her conduct of involving herself in an organization of insurrection that abandoned her the moment she tried to warn them that Vader was at their very doorsteps. She still had hatred for the Empire and wished that she had been able to do more to cause it harm, but those goals seemed unobtainable now.
"Thank you, my friend. We'll survive", she agreed.
When they were done crying, they parted and looked around nervously.
"Do you have any idea of where we are to go?", Dormé asked. "I saw them take our belongings upstairs, but I was too frightened to follow them."
Padmé shook her head. "No, I –"
"I beg your pardon mistresses, but I believe that I might be able to help."
Both women jumped at the sudden interruption and looked behind them. Standing before them was a golden droid, that seemed rather out of place in this tastefully decorated manor.
"Excuse me for startling you", the droid said. "I am See Threepio, human and cyborg relations. I will be your humble servant during your stay at Master Vader's residence. If you'll follow me, I'll show you to your rooms. They are both on the fifth floor, where Master's bedchambers are."
The droid shuffled to the lift and motioned for them to follow once he saw that they hesitantly stood in the same place.
The two women briefly looked at each other and held one another's hands as they followed the droid into the lift. Once they were whisked up to the fifth floor, they were shown down the west wing.
"Master's bedchambers are on the east wing, but you must never go there unless invited", Threepio cautioned. "As you may know, the third floor of the residence is also off limits. But you will find that there are many amenities that you are free to enjoy. There are saunas, a pool, a recreation room, several gyms, and the rooftop as the most amazing jacuzzies with many plants to provide privacy. The bottom floor has an exquisite kitchen where you are welcome in at any time of the day, and meals are served in the grand dining room, unless of course, you would rather have your meals brought to your rooms."
It was difficult to keep up with the droids long winded descriptions of the manor, so much that Padmé felt a slight sense of anxiety due to being overwhelmed. They were shown to their rooms. Fortunately, they both were residing next to one another and they each gave breathed in deeply before they let go of their hands and ventured into their quarters.
Padmé was floored at the size of her room. It had everything that a woman would possibly need from vanities, wardrobes, dressing areas and more. The bed was massive and had a canopy for privacy. There was a holoprojector on the chest of drawers immediately in front of the bed, and near the large window, there was a desk and terminal, though Padmé doubted that it would provide much access to the outside world.
The fresher was grand, featuring a large walk in shower with multiple shower heads and a tub that could easily fit three people. There was a spacious walk in closet, and Padmé was surprised that all of her dresses and other garments were hanging as they were in her apartment at Five Hundred Republica. A sense of embarrassment overwhelmed her and she darted to the bedroom and pulled upon the chest of drawers to find her undergarments also folded and arranged. The troopers that were assigned as their wardens had seen everything that she had, and it made her blush purple.
After she was done looking through her bedroom, she wondered back into the hallway where she was surprised that the droid was still there as if he was waiting for her.
"Is there something else you needed to show me, Threepio?", Padmé asked expectantly.
"Oh no, not really show. I was merely wondering if you and Mistress Dormé would like some dinner. Everything has been prepared and kept warming", Threepio said.
By this time Dormé had poked her head out of her room. "I am a little hungry to be honest", she said.
"I guess it'd probably be a good idea if I ate as well", Padmé said reluctantly.
"Splendid! If you both will just follow me back downstairs, I will serve dinner", the droid said.
The group ventured back to the lift and went back to the first floor where they were led to the grand dining room. It was massive, with a long table that could easily seat fifty. Padmé wondered if the Sith Lord actually had that many people over for dinner parties or if it was for show like the rest of his manor.
The two women were seated at the end of the table closest to the kitchen where they heard Threepio hustle and bustle around the kitchen retrieving their meals.
"It's very surprising that Vader would live in such a place", Dormé said in a hushed tone in case they were being listened to. That was the understatement of the year.
"I know, it doesn't match his wretched personality at all", Padmé muttered. She wasn't about to sit in awe of the so called man who doomed her to an eternity as his prisoner.
Threepio came out with two plates of some odd form of roasted poultry with root sautéed mixed greens. The aroma from the meal did tantalize Padmé's taste buds, and she suddenly felt quite puckish. Both women daintily picked up their forks and began dining on their meal. It was rather delectable, and Padmé wondered if the droid had actually prepared the meal given the precise amount of seasoning used.
After a few minutes, Threepio came back out to check on them. "I hope everything is to your liking, Mistresses."
"It's fine, Threepio", Padmé muttered.
"Will Lord Vader be joining us?", Dormé asked nervously.
That would be just great. Having to eat in front of the most repulsive man in the galaxy. Padmé suddenly felt the urge to gag.
"No, Master usually dines by himself in his bedchambers. You are actually the first ones to use this room, which is quite nice for a change", Threepio said.
So, Padmé was right. This room was for show, but for who? Was it merely to play up to the Sith Lord's ego, or was it for something that she couldn't quite imagine? Either way, it was strange, just like Vader.
The droid left them alone again so they could finish their meal in relative peace.
"So, what do you think of our predicament, Dormé?", Padmé asked. "Now that we've seen the supposed generosity of the madman."
"I suppose it will be better than being locked up in a dark cell for eternity. Not that this place isn't a cell, it's just a more comfortable one. At least I will have privileges to leave under the presence of those macabre guards that brought us here. I suppose they're some form of special forces or something, as they act a little differently than the run of the mill Stormtroopers", Dormé said as she took a sip of her white wine.
"Yeah, the one who escorted me in told me that my time here would be much easier if I just cooperated. I wonder what they hell he meant by that, but it was unusual to say the least", Padmé remarked.
Dormé frowned but didn't say anything further. The pair merely finished their meal in silence before they trekked back upstairs.
"I suppose this is goodnight then", Dormé said sullenly.
"I suppose it is", Padmé replied. "Goodnight."
They embraced and went into their rooms.
Feeling the strong need to unwind from such a horrid day, Padmé went into the fresher and stripped out of her dress, casting it and her undergarments in the walk in closet for Threepio to presumably retrieve later on.
She stepped into the shower and turned on all three of the shower heads until they were hot enough to produce a copious amount of steam for her to breath in. She just stood, allowing the hot water to cascade down her lithe body, just needing to relax for a moment. After she felt the knots in her shoulders melt away, she picked up her shampoo and began lathering her long hair, enjoying the scent. After which, she washed her body with her soap and ensured that every inch of her was covered in sudds, washing away the filth she felt from such a horrid day.
Once she finished rinsing, she dried herself off and slipped a nightgown over her head and began combing out her hair while staring sullenly in the mirror. Images of her prior life began flashing in her mind as if she were in mourning, which she supposed she was. The old Padmé, the one with hopes and dreams was dead, and this new Padmé was left with melancholy. Lost in the depths of a psychotic maniac.
After she had finished combing her hair, she returned to the bedroom and was about to lay down on the bed when she heard a knock at her door. Anxiety washed over her as she had a good inclination as to who it was. She dutifully padded to the door and opened it, looking at exactly who she suspected it would be. Darth Vader in full regalia. Seriously, did he ever take that gods awful attire off or did he sleep in the darkly pompous things.
"Milord?", she asked sullenly. She would've angled her face to the floor, but she remembered that it would be unkind if she didn't look at Vader while he was speaking to her.
"I merely wanted to see how you were settling in", he said gruffly as if he were asking his troops to give a report on a battle.
"I'm fine, Milord", she replied.
"May I come in?", he asked, obviously struggling to simply ask for permission to enter a room in his own domicile.
Padmé stepped back and opened the door wider so his massive frame could fit through. She closed the door and walked to her bed where she sat, waiting for the Sith Lord to speak. There was an awkward silence for what Padmé figured was over a minute.
"Did you need something, Milord?", she inquired, hoping he would just get to the point of whatever he wanted to say.
"About earlier, it wasn't my intention to be unkind when I shoved you away", Vader said, struggling to say the words. Gods dammit, could the man not show a shred of humanity without making it seem like he was being tortured? It was driving her insane.
Padmé let out a dark chuckle. "To be honest, Milord, I have come to the realization that you always are like that." What was he going to do for her saying that? Kill her? She could only hope.
Vader growled. "I'm not trying to start an argument, Senator. I'm merely voicing that my conduct was not intended."
Padmé stood and walked in front of him. "Then what are your intentions, Milord?", she asked heatedly. "Whatever you're wanting, just go ahead and say it, because I'm tired of guessing. I may have been a so called traitor to an Empire that banished the Republic, and twisted it into something that I couldn't stand, but I was acting out of principle. Out of belief in the Republic. Out of true belief, but I suppose that being a true believer leads to true disappointment." Gods, where had she fucking heard that before?
Vader flinched visibly at the last as if she stabbed him with a dagger. "My intentions remain to be seen, Senator", he rasped as if he was choking. He grabbed her roughly and bent down to ferociously kiss her.
Her anger melted into pure euphoria as he slipped his tongue into her mouth. She wrapped her arms around his hood covered neck, pulling him into the kiss. His hands roamed her sides and back possessively as if he hadn't done so in years. But his touches weren't overt, they were gentle and hesitant. These weren't the actions of a sex crazed monster; these were the actions of a man that was in need. But why her? Why did he need her?
He broke the kiss and pushed her back, grasping her shoulders. Padmé shivered as he brushed his two fingers down her arms. When he brushed them back up, he gripped her left arm to spin her around, making her cry out in shock. Was he about to force himself onto her? As much as her body felt like she needed it, it felt like her worst fears were coming true.
But instead of forcing her over the bed to take her savagely, she felt his lips at on her shoulder, kissing and nipping gently. A soft moan escaped her lips as he moved her hair aside to nip at the nape of her neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him.
"I could kill you", he whispered, "But I won't."
What the fuck did that mean? She understood nothing about his actions, they made no sense to her.
"I don't know what to make of that", Padmé said as she placed her hands on his gloves. "I don't know what to make of any of this."
"You'll find out in due time, if you continue to please me. You want to please me, don't you?", he asked.
"Yes", she breathed. "But I don't know how. I'm not an experienced woman." She didn't understand why she would admit such a thing to this monster. He had no right to know about her past, or about anything. He was a sick and twisted man that she knew she would always hate.
"I know", he murmured.
She could feel his breathing slow against her back. It was as if his internal rage was subsiding for the moment at least. Was this the way to please him? By just being there? Or was he expecting to use her body to break her down so he could eventually fuck her like an animal?
"I hate you", she whispered. "I hate everything about you."
"I know that as well", he said with another dry chuckle. "Like I said, I'm a monster."
Vader let go of her and she twirled around and stepped back, paranoid about what he was about to do next.
"Why don't you take off that hood and show me what kind of monster you are", she breathed. "Show me the man that I hate."
He laughed darkly. "When I do, and I will, you'll hate me even more, Senator."
With that, he turned and left without looking back. Padmé felt hot tears running down her face. This was all so confusing. She didn't know whether or not to flinch at his touch or shred her clothes off to let him take her. It was confounding, it was wrong, but something, just a little something inside of her told her it was right.
Damn him.
A/N: If you liked what you've read, consider dropping a review and following!