What had started as promising avenues soon turned into dead end after dead end. Sitting in her office, Padme is face to face with a representative from Huldamun. It's a small somewhat industrialized backwater planet that sits far out in the Outer Rim and happens to have a hyperspace route that leads to Geonosis. Padme had hoped that speaking to its representative and other worlds that share a hyperspace route to Geonosis could yield some sort of united front pact. Deals that would have outmaneuvered the Emperor's efforts to blockade these worlds and ultimately rid them of the Empire's presence with some well-tendered terms. Things were not going as she had hoped.

As she sits there wearily listening to the dull representative drone on his endless gripes with what he surmises as the real problems facing Huldamun, none of which he thinks have anything to do with the Empire, which she just finds incredibly aggravating and short-sighted, she quickly realizes that he also has little authority over any decisions that concern the system - as happens to systems that are so firmly taken over by the Empire. Relinquishing to the obvious conclusion that this will lead nowhere, her gaze wanders in her boredom and her eyes keep flickering towards the dress hanging beside the door on a coat hook - the dress she will wear tonight. Sabe had commissioned it right before she'd left for Naboo and it had arrived just in time - right before this very meeting, in fact.

Finally, the representative leaves and he's escorted out of the wing by a couple of Vader's stormtroopers. At the very least there's that little benefit, with Vader's security there is no need to spend any more time than necessary with people like the Huldamun representative - and for that she is grateful. What a boorish man. Any more listening to him rattle on about how amazing the Empire is and she'd be likely to pull her hair out.

Padme gets to work looking over her various notes and wondering and hoping she missed something critical. Frustration swells within her - it can't be possible that everyone with a Geonosis hyperlane is in the Emperor's pocket... he can't be this admired, she ruminates despairingly. The problem is that most of the systems she's interacting with are in the Outer Rim and the Outer Rim is actually very supportive of the Emperor. Palpatine's immense need for resources and the Outer Rim's ability to provide them means he's found purpose for them and brought a lot of jobs to a section of the galaxy that until recently, lived a very meager existence under the Republic. A very unhappy and underrepresented existence where lawlessness and famine flourished and which she admits the Republic had done little to nothing to intervene and rectify - its attention focused and consumed by the Core and Mid Rim systems whose voices and power overrun the Senate.

Sabe peeks in and enters when she sees Padme is alone. Padme eyes all the designer shopping bags that are practically spilling off of her handmaiden's arms and grins in amusement.

"Busy day?" Padme asks with a chuckle.

Sabe gives her a look that reveals just how exhausting it must have been. "Practically got into a brawl with some elitist Rodian debutante over these. They clashed with her green skin anyways, and would have ruined her outfit - it took a while, but she finally realized I was right." She holds up a golden bag beaming as she shows it to Padme. Although, she doesn't reveal the contents as she was too busy organizing the rest of the purchases onto Padme's desk. "Any luck, m'lady?" Sabe asks as she peeks through some of the boxes she's taken out.

"No," Padme sighs as she walks over to the dress, admiring the flowing fabric as she passes her hand along the dress's accompanying cape. "Huldamun and Pii are firmly aligned with the Empire. The Emperor blocked the hyperlane to Geonosis long ago, and they aren't suffering for it, at least not in their eyes. They seem to think occupation is a badge of honor. The entire Arkanis sector does." As she speaks, Padme lifts the hem of the dress where there's a secret pocket and opens it - a brilliant last minute addition that solves a problem she's been stressing about since she got here.

"But you said Pii was sold to a Corulag entrepreneur - and isn't Corulag a part of the Bormea sector? Surely Senator Mon Mothma can get involved?"

"Unfortunately for us, Corulag is an independent world." From her own pocket, she takes out the datastick she'd riskily managed to swipe from Vader's Fortress and carefully inserts it into the hidden compartment of the dress. Today will be the day that she finally gets an opportunity to get the datastick to the Rebels, she hopes the hectic nature of tonight's event will provide her enough cover to do so. "Unfortunately, Mon Mothma has as much influence over the system as she does Tatooine. Not to mention, Corulag is the Emperor's exemplary standard of a perfectly loyal system to the Empire," Padme complains as she thinks back on Corulag's orbital research stations she raided with the rebels. You don't get to host a top-secret research facility without the full faith of the emperor as a loyal world.

"What's wrong with Tatooine?"

"Hutt controlled." Padme pauses, walking back to her desk. "Actually… most of the systems with hyperlanes to Geonosis are in Hutt space." Padme's gears start to spin as she speaks and she starts to fiddle with her datapad distractedly.

"I'm sure they aren't happy to have the Empire poking their noses in their business," Sabe points out offhandedly - but she's onto something, Padme is starting to realize.

Thinking it over, she realizes it's true. They can't be happy. The Hutts must be jumping through all sorts of hurdles with the all-too-intrusive Empire that is surely breathing down their necks - could this be her in? An idea starts to form that would help her circumvent the Senate's grating propensity to avoid unnecessary conflict with the Emperor. "Reach out to the Hutts and see if they'll send a representative to meet with me. Maybe we've been going about this the wrong way."

"Are you sure that's wise, m'lady? The Hutts are crimelords and are just as bad as the Empire."

"They're awful," Padme acknowledges, but blows it off. "But no one is as awful as the Empire and the Hutts aren't the ones that want to occupy Naboo… and if we're being honest, we're out of options."

Her handmaiden looks uneasy, but she keeps her mouth shut and agrees to set up a meeting. Before she leaves to do so, she sets the rest of the shopping bags on Padme's desk and finishes unpacking them, showing Padme several heels and slipper options that she might like and jewelry that would pair well.

Hours tick by and when she returns from lunch Dorme pulls her into the holocomm room where she's managed to set up a meeting with Jabba the Hutt himself. Padme looks at her, impressed that she had pulled this off.

"They've offered to send an emissary, but it would take too long. I managed to set up a holo-meeting with their Hutt Clan ruler instead though, I thought you would prefer that, m'lady," Dorme beams.

"That's perfect, Dorme," Padme approves of her handmaiden's initiative, once again thoroughly impressed she had managed to pull this off. There was a reason she had this shrewd woman as her handmaiden.

Dorme activates the holocomm and they don't wait long before Jabba's grotesquely large holo fills up the room and they exchange pleasantries before the Hutt cuts to the matter at hand.

"Your handmaiden tells me Naboo needs my help, why would I want to get involved?" He asks in Huttese.

"I think we are facing a common problem and helping Naboo would be helping the Hutts," Padme tries to leverage.

"We're doing alright," the Hutt gloats, not willing to give in too easily.

"Are you, though? I'm sure the Empire's activity has proven to have its number of obstructions to your operations," Padme postures vaguely, even though they both know she's talking about his less-than-legal criminal activities.

"The Empire and I have a tentative agreement, I give into some of their demands and they stay out of my business."

"But you're still dealing with restrictions, isn't that right? And with restrictions comes loss of profit, I imagine. How would you like to get rid of some of those restrictions?" It's a low hanging fruit she offers Jabba, surely an intriguing offer to the crime lord.

Jabba shifts uncomfortably, and Padme is now more hopeful that he'll be receptive to her offer. "I'm listening," the Hutt allows.

That's a promising start - Padme takes her small window and lays down her cards hoping her transparency will lead to his cooperation. "Naboo is facing occupation by the Empire all to shut down hyperlanes to one specific system. If I give you the name to this system - I'm sure you have people that could destroy this hyperlane and any of them that lead to Hutt space. The Empire won't be happy, but you'll find you'll have a bit more freedom without them needing to guard their entrances."

"And face backlash from the Empire for doing so? I don't think this is a very good deal for the Hutts."

It's not unexpected, of course Jabba would play hard-to-get. Knowing how far a little fawning will go with the Hutts. "Don't pretend this isn't a good deal - I'm sure the Hutts are more than clever and cunning enough to pull this off without enough hard evidence to incriminate yourselves with the Empire," Padme appeals to his pride - and is it just her, or does the Hutt seem to be standing up a little straighter? Then she proceeds to play hardball digging into their history hoping to corner the Hutt into helping her. "You owe me Jabba, don't forget who saved your position as ruler of the Hutt Clan when your uncle Ziro tried to usurp you." She's referring to a diplomatic intervention she had achieved on behalf of the Republic years ago, a family matter she imagines will hit close to home.

"And I signed a treaty with the Republic as your reward. That debt has been paid," Jabba asserts staunchly.

"I also saved your son, Rotta…"

Jabba swears colorfully enough that Padme blushes a little, and she waits with bated breath. "What is this system?" he finally asks.

Padme's heart jumps in excitement, but she manages to keep the smile off her face - she knows she has him now. "Geonosis."

"I'll see what I can do." And Jabba ends the transmission abruptly.

She's surprised she was able to appeal to the Hutt's sense of honor, something she expects is in short supply among the Hutts. But, who knows, with all the illegal activity they conduct and the amount of smugglers they commission into their service - if they don't have a sense of honor, it might be harder to get these people to work for them in the long term, and a good smuggler is something to hold on to. Sometimes, a code of honor is important within the criminal world, especially the higher up you go - and for this, she is grateful. Although, she also wagers it was all posturing anyways and he wanted to do this regardless, but wasn't willing to look like he was jumping to her rescue - pride among the Hutts is a very real thing as well.

Either way, the Hutts will benefit from this arrangement, and in the end… Padme gets what she wants. She looks at Sabe in glee. "I think we just solved one of our problems, Sabe."

"I think so, m'lady," Sabe agrees just as happily.

"Now, the Galactic Bank." Padme dials the Galactic Banking Clan and after being transferred several times, she is met with a Muun representative - the same one who had met with her and the Queen and her counsel on Naboo.

"Ah, Senator Padme, what can we do for you?"

"I'd like to continue negotiations on the relief loan for Naboo."

The Muun is careful to stay expressionless, but try as he might - he still looks like a cat who ate the family's pet convor. "So you've decided to accept the thirty percent interest rate?"

"I had questions about that, the thirty percent is based on the threat associated with rebel activity, right?" It's a sly question, and a trap she hopes the Muun will fall into.

"Correct."

So far, so good. "So if the Empire agrees the Rebels are not a problem on Naboo, then you'd be willing to go lower with the interest rate?"

"This seems to be a dead-end you're exploring."

"Humor me," Padme solicits.

"Fine," the Muun relents rather exasperatingly. "There would have to be absolutely no Empire presence in or around Naboo for us to believe the rebels are no longer a threat." Bingo, that's what she wanted to hear. "While the Empire deems your threat credible, so do we. Anything less than that and the thirty percent holds."

"You should know Naboo will never accept an interest rate of thirty percent, as it stands you will never get our business if this is your only offer," Padme levels, hoping maybe another offer will arise if her plans don't pan out.

"Thirty percent is non-negotiable - not with the risk the Rebels pose. We estimate that in time you'll realize this will be your best option. As we expected, the Senate has voted against the relief bill you brought to the floor and I don't see any reasonable solution to your Rebel predicament." The Galactic Bank's greed is sizable and it annoys Padme how they hide behind the Empire's fake assessment.

"And if the Empire deems the rebel activity isn't a threat anymore - what would the interest rate be then?" Padme starts to zero in on her quarry.

"On the off-chance you manage to do this - then we'd be looking at an interest rate of eight percent."

Eight percent isn't bad, but she wants better. "Getting rid of the Rebels would push Naboo into considerable debt and we'd be teetering on the brink of bankruptcy ...if we gambled what limited resources we have left in that direction we would require a considerable relief loan." Padme chooses to let him think that removing the Rebels would be a hard endeavor and that it would result in more money to collect on. Maybe then, a lower interest rate would be agreeable. Little does he know, she doesn't have to get rid of the fake 'Rebel problem' to remove the Empire's presence… not if everything goes as planned with the Hutts.

"Indeed it would. So what are you proposing - exactly?"

"That a considerable loan would warrant a lower interest rate than the one you're offering if we manage to fix the Rebel situation."

"What do you think is fair?" He's forcing her to make the first move, it's a savvy tactic from a business perspective, and she's fine leaning into it.

"Three percent."

He laughs, it's a cold and strange sound coming from the Muun as he shakes his head. "If you can get rid of your Rebels, then I'm willing to go as low as five."

Padme nods her head in agreement. "That isn't ideal, but we'd be willing to lock in at that rate if you send the contract - contingent on the Empire leaving, of course, which would prove Naboo no longer has risky Rebel activity. Thirty percent is just never going to happen."

"Very well, Senator Amidala. I'll have the contract sent to you. And - if you do change your mind and your endeavors to remove the Rebel-risk fail, our other offer remains."

"Understood. Thank you."

They exchange very cordial farewells and Padme ends the transmission and is immediately grinning.

Thrilled that everything is going as intended, she turns to Dorme. "When the Hutts destroy the hyperlane to Geonosis the Empire will leave Naboo. Then we can take out a moderate loan and recover from the collateral damage that has been done to Naboo," she shares with Dorme.

"It's a perfect plan, m'lady." Dorme looks at the holoclock and frowns. "It's getting late, we should start getting you ready," Dorme suggests.

Dorme finds Sabe and they meet in Padme's room where they start to change her and braid her hair into a low chinon where they embellish the loose braids on each side with delicate off-white flowers, pearls, and golden laurel leaves that look almost crown-like. After several footwear changes that they make her parade about in, they decide on some open-toe silk heels with ribbons around her ankles.

Her dress is magnificent and fit for an empress. It's form-fitting and flows to the floor, off-white, and has a bunch of delicately laced circular flowers with bits of tully to make them pop. On top she wears a floor-length cape of a stiff and crisp lighter colored thick fabric, but still off-white, and it wraps seamlessly around the front cropped just below her breasts with wide sleeves that reach just above her elbows. She's the picture of elegance and will be a beacon of light amongst the sea of the usual black and dark grey uniformed Empire.

Before she leaves, she goes to her desk and retrieves a jewelry box from a drawer. Opening it, she removes a gilded phoenix with beautiful wings raised as if it's getting ready to take flight, a symbol of hope and a nod to the rebels she hopes still trust her. Tonight, she will appear on Vader's arm and she'd be lying if she'd say it doesn't concern her what the galaxy will think of her. Will Mon Mothma know she is still loyal to their cause? She hopes so, because she has very important intel to pass along and she might only have one chance to do it, and that's tonight. She takes the shiny golden brooch and pins it over her heart. There, she's ready.

Her handmaidens escort her outside the Senate where Vader's shuttle waits perched, eclipsing the grounds with its massive frame. Padme's heart skips a beat seeing Vader stand at the top of the boarding ramp as he observes her approach, his gaze from behind those steely lenses never wavering until she reaches him. He wraps a steadying gloved hand possessively around her waist and her stomach does a somersault before he orders the pilot to take flight.

They're far enough from the pilot that they are out of earshot and Padme hazards to approach a subject she's been milling over since he came back into her life. "What happened to you, Ani?" She's thinking about last night when he brandished his lit lightsaber and held it up against her, an inexcusable loss of control that would have never occurred with her Anakin. Was she making too many excuses for him? Padme blushes as she thinks about how she had so easily and immediately jumped right back into his arms and rationalized his behavior, senselessly separating Anakin from the Vader she saw the night before.

He shifts uncomfortably. Maybe it's the awkward question or that she called him Ani, but either way he lets the endearing name of a past life slide and humors her. "What do you mean?" he asks, pushing her to say what's on her mind explicitly.

"You were a Jedi - a hero… and we were happy. Why did you throw it all away?"

"The Jedi were weak and corrupt, Padme."

It's not much of an explanation, and it's not the answer she wanted. Corrupt Jedi? Unwilling to get sidetracked on that topic again, she focuses on what's really bugging her. "You would have been a great Jedi… Palpatine promised you power, didn't he? That becoming a Sith Lord would make you stronger than you could have ever been as a Jedi. I just don't understand why you wanted more at the cost of so much. We lost each other, and our family, so many died…" Padme looks away, unable to hold his gaze as she remembers the breaking point where he sold his soul to the Dark Side and her voice trails. "I know about the younglings." Padme looks up at him with watery eyes, once again trying to rationalize how the man she loved could have fallen so far. Part of her hopes it was a lie, and that it wasn't really him, but she knows better - and that part hates herself for holding onto hope. "You've fallen to the Dark Side when you were once so full of Light and yet did terrible unforgivable things. Did they have to die? The Anakin I knew would never have done those things... What happened?" She repeats.

"I did it for you, to keep you safe." Even with the voice modulator, he sounds tired. Does he feel guilt? Does he regret what he's done?

"But I am safe, you don't have to follow this path. Come back to me, Ani," she pleads.

"That is not an option. Anakin was weak, and I killed him. I will never allow his weakness to endanger you again. The power of the Dark Side gives me strength Anakin could have only dreamed of."

"I cannot follow you down this path, you know that." Padme tells him sadly as she watches the Palace come into view where she can see the carefully orchestrated display Palpatine has cooked up, and it makes her shiver. She looks up at Vader, knowing her time is short before they land. "Defy him! You can save the galaxy, you can save us," she blurts out, in a poor last ditch effort to sway him.

"I have already saved the galaxy. My power alone and the choices I made ensured that. Without me, it would have continued to fall under the rule of the corrupted Senate."

She can see he really does believe he is doing what's best, but Padme shakes her head defiantly. "You are nothing more than Palpatine's puppet."

She listens to him cycle through his respirator a few times before he finally responds ominously. "Not for long."

She cocks her head at him. Does that mean - ? "You're planning on overthrowing him, aren't you?" Does she dare to hope?

Silence.

"You'll renounce the Sith?" And be done with this Darth Vader terror he's become?

Vader finally turns to her and holds her shoulders in his hands and levels with her, and what he says next is something she does not want to hear and refuses to believe. "The Anakin you knew is gone forever, he was weak, I will never be him again. I will never be so weak as to risk losing you again. It will never happen."

But doesn't he see? By being Darth Vader, he's already done that. "You will lose me - again. I've already told you, I cannot follow you down this path - leave this behind… and come back to me," she pleads with him.

"If that must be how it is, then so shall it be. But you will live, as will our children. I will make sure of that." Padme's shoulders drop, but she can see how he holds a world - no - galaxy of responsibility on his shoulders. In a weird twisted way he believes Darth Vader is the only way he can save her, their children, and the galaxy - and it makes Padme sick.

There's nothing more that she can say to him, even if the words came to her - there is no more time. They've arrived.


They set down in front of the Imperial Palace where a formidable and striking display of the Empire's might greets the arriving guests. Hulking AT-STs and AT-ATs line the path along with a couple battalions of stormtroopers and flashy crimson Imperial Guards. It's an impressive display, one he knows his Master purposefully orchestrated to intimidate the Empire's opposition. On either side of the path looming behind the battalions of stormtroopers are a couple of the Empire's most advanced and largest Star Destroyers casting their cold shadows ominously over the procession - and the Sith Lord and Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet, the feared and lethal Darth Vader, is the star of the show.

Vader forces Padme to walk beside him. He's bringing her front and center, and for everyone watching the message is clear: Padme is under his protection. But she doesn't know what he's doing, and her discomfort is radiating off of her - he doesn't need to be Force sensitive to sense it when her body language is screaming it. Hoping to provide her some comfort, he reaches for her hand and clasps it firmly within his own as their capes swell behind them. From the corner of his vision, he notices how she manages to keep her shoulders straight and her head held high, but nothing could force her to fake a smile.

The guests that had been walking towards the entrance step aside and let them pass and there's a mix of awe, respect, distrust, and even carefully veiled eneminity from some of them. That last one surprises him, because although he understands why people who are still loyal to the fallen Republic would look at them this way - some of the guests that are looking at Padme have venom in their eyes and he recognizes them hailing from worlds he knows are a hundred percent loyal to the Empire… and none other than women. Could they be jealous? Sure, he's run across it a few times in his interactions with power-hungry women that he's had to deal with on the job, but it's flattering that there were more than he'd imagined, and that they felt strongly enough to fixate on Padme and her obvious position next to him. And... is he just imagining it, or did he spot a flicker of a smile creep onto Padme's face?

They enter the Palace and Vader leads her past more incoming guests down a short hallway and outside again into a large inner courtyard. Padme looks around her in awe at all of the festivities that surround them, and he follows her gaze as she spots several more Star Destroyers looming above them. Memories from long ago when he was just a padawan surface as he scans their surroundings. How many hours had Obi-Wan and himself spent training in this very courtyard? The old training yard is almost unrecognizable from those foregone days, Palpatine had spent a tremendous effort redecorating, wiping as much of its Jedi history as he could. Outdoor seating areas were thoughtfully dispersed along the courtyard with concrete knee-level tables holding abnormal ruby-red flames licking out of them from beds of black lava rocks. Here and there, he spots lit-up ornate ice sculpture fountains with what he surmises to be blood-red wine pumping from them.

Scattered throughout are gazebos with small groups of stringed musicians playing soothing background music as Twi-lek opera singers intone eerily with them, their voices harmonizing across the courtyard.

Everywhere one looks there is more to see - butlers and well dressed servants expertly weaving through the crowd with beverages and hors'devours, suspended candles levitate in the air above them that bring an almost magical quality to the darkening skies that pairs well with the eerie music, Twi-lek aerial acrobats perform on silk fabric strips anchored from long wooden beams that span the width of the courtyard, and many large banners framed by angry red torches with the Imperial logo brazenly stamped on them drape boldly from the courtyard walls. And the crowd… Vader can't imagine many more guests fitting comfortably within the courtyard, already it feels rather claustrophobic. And the guests… some of the women's outfits seem more like costumes to him than formal party attire, much like what Padme would have worn as Queen of Naboo or as a harlot, he muses.

"I thought we were on time," Padme whispers to him as she eyes one of these scantily yet somehow at the same time overdressed women walk by them - how is that even possible? Be both overdressed and underdressed at the same time? He watches Padme narrow her eyes at the woman when she notices her giving Vader a once-over. Her face says it all 'seriously?' and Vader almost chuckles.

"We are."

Padme arches a brow at him realizing he had purposefully arrived late.

"Do you notice how these women look at you?" She asks him casually as she spots another woman trying to make her way towards him, no doubt trying to catch his eye. She's trying to play it down, but he feels bouts of jealousy roll off her and it intrigues him.

"Nothing more than Palpatine's sycophants looking to gain favor," he rumbles low enough for only her to hear.

"And power…" Padme adds.

"Indeed."

"I suppose it wouldn't matter if they knew you were married?" Padme looks up at Vader with a twinkle in her eyes.

Does she want them to know? His chest tightens at the prospect. "Perhaps."

"Have you ever taken any of them home?" Padme asks, trying to sound as offhanded as she can as she watches one of the aerial acrobats tumble down her silk gracefully.

This catches Vader's interest and he turns his gaze on her, "jealous?" For a moment, it feels like they're back to themselves, their exchanges flowing easily between them, teasing almost, and nostalgia hits him hard.

Somehow she must hear the smile he hides behind his mask and she shoots him an icy glare, folding her arms indignantly. He should have just said no… especially since he knows that she knows he's fully capable of taking one of them home to his pressurized apartment - so it's not a crazy thing to consider. Honestly, the thought had never crossed his mind in all these years. He'd been lonely, yes, but his duties had been plentiful - and when they weren't enough to hold back his loneliness, the thought of crossing the barrier between life and death to bring her back to him consumed him.

Even though she won't say it, he can tell it bothers her that he didn't deny it. He feels bad for teasing her, "no one but you, Padme." Does he believe her? He looks over at her and finds her frowning still. Maybe not, because her mood sours even more than before.

The night rolls on with various dignitaries, ambassadors, and high ranking officials coming to them, or more specifically to Vader, paying their respects and doubtlessly wondering what the former ambassador of Naboo is doing hanging on the arm of the fearsome Dark Lord of the Sith. Although, hanging on his arm is a bit of an exaggeration as Padme actively tries her best to stand in his shadow and make herself as small and innocuous as possible - but to those who see them together, which at this point must have been everyone… the opinion is universal - she's his willing date.

This becomes a problem when he notices she catches sight of Senator Mon Mothma who casts her a disapproving frown to which Padme just bows her head in shame. He feels worry roll off of her in waves, he knows of Senator Mon Mothma's role in the fledgling Rebellion - he allows it because he hasn't been able to actually catch her red handed. Everything always seems to happen around Mon Mothma, and although in that sense it helps him keep tabs on the activity of the Rebels unbeknownst to the Alliance, she's never actually had any active involvement in any of the strikes and somehow manages to cover her steps or keep her hands clean. Clean enough, anyways.

Vader's mood grows darker as Padme becomes more restless, undoubtedly she's troubled by the message she's sending to her Rebel friends by standing by him. Does she fear her friends think she's complicit? As he watches her scan the crowd, Vader starts to grow suspicious. Who is she looking for? His guard goes up, sensing a plot.

The music stops and the room goes silent, even the candles overhead dim. Holonet news cameras zoom overhead and Padme looks at Vader questioningly and follows his gaze, noticing the crowd's attention has centered on the overly-large and ornate wooden doors that lead deeper into the palace - doors that have just now opened. Crimson Royal Guards start to file from them and the stringed musicians turn into an orchestra, filling the large outdoor area with overly dramatic music fit for an opera to welcome the Emperor.

Palpatine enters the courtyard in all his Dark glory, his black hooded cloak resting low over his face, his twisted features obscured as he glides in a slow procession to an obsidian stone throne resting on a dais of the same material.

Vader grabs her hand and the crowd parts once again for them and this time Vader leads them to the foot of Palpatine's throne where he lowers himself onto a knee and bows his head in submission. Her hand is still firmly within his own so when he goes down, Padme has no choice but to follow his lead. He's aware of how she grits her teeth in irritation, but luckily and to Vader's relief, she dares not defy the Emperor and the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet and right hand man to the Emperor publicly… not yet anyways, Vader surmises warily.

"Rise Lord Vader." The Emperor commands his apprentice, before directing his attention to her. "How good to see you by Lord Vader's side, Senator Amidala."

Padme lowers her head obediently, but more so to hide the eye-roll she can't help but pass than out of any respect for the Emperor, luckily only Vader sees. Vader uses the Force to shield Padme's feelings of disgust and fear from reaching the Emperor. She may have mental shields from Yoda that guard her thoughts, but her feelings are free for all Force sensitives to eavesdrop on and when it comes to the Emperor - it's better that he protects her from his prying Master. Unfortunately, nothing can stop her from saying something stupid and he prays to the Force she won't.

The Emperor delves into a crowd pleasing speech, at least for the loyalists in the crowd, and Padme does a good job keeping a straight face doubtlessly only able to do so by ignoring most of what he says. Palpatine forces Vader to deliver his own speech, and he keeps it short and sweet, not one for many words. But one sentence stuns his dear Padme into dropping her neutral expression.

"My wife, Senator Padme Amidala."

Why did he do it? For three simple reasons. For one, he's hopeful it will disrupt whatever plot she's orchestrating - he's no fool, he knows his ostentatiously virtuous wife can't help but do what she thinks is right, afterall that's how he found her. But he's worried that this time he will not be able to protect her if she goes through with it - and even worse, he'll have to respond harshly if she does, the Emperor will expect nothing less. Secondly, the Rebels will have a hard time trusting her now which will also help him keep her out of trouble. And finally, he's just tired of hiding their relationship, it ends now.

Now, for the first time, the galaxy knows about who they really are to each other.