Chapter XVI: Imperial Senate
Queen Amidala couldn't be bullied, not even by the Emperor himself.
So in spite of his many requests, civilized and uncivilized, she went to the Capital City. Of course, there was only so much freedom she could obtain; and to her regret, she couldn't go alone.
Unlike when princess Leia left, the queen wasn't to be accompanied by only stormtroopers and royal guards.
Vader himself took her to Coruscant, no matter how much she protested that it wasn't necessary.
Padmé thought it very suspicious.
After a year in which he never left Naboo, no matter how much he was requested to, now all of the sudden he insists on going? Strange behavior no doubt. Could it be the Civil War? Or Luke and Leia's long absence? Whatever it was, there clearly was something he was hiding from her, and she was determinate to finding out.
She thought she could get rid of him in the senate building, after all, Anakin still hated politics.
"Do you want to meet for dinner at the castle, Anakin? Or will you still be occupied?" Padmé asked while they were still in Vader's ship.
"No. We can go together after we're done in the Imperial Senate," he answered.
She looked shocked.
We? He said?
"You're coming?"
"Yes. Why do you look so displeased?" he asked, lowering his voice, giving way to Vader's dark voice.
"I—I'm just surprised, that's all," she muttered, nervously. "You never go to the Senate."
"Well, today I'm going," and his tone said deal with it.
He noticed his rough treatment of his wife and tried to be kinder.
"Would you prefer to spend the day without me?" he asked, taking her human hand and bringing it close to his chest.
She also got closer.
"Ani… it's not that."
He smiled at that old nickname. After so long, and she still uses it? Anakin found it very sweet no matter how ridiculous the name felt on the Emperor.
"Then there's no problem? Great."
"Anakin, why can't I go alone?" she made him let go of her hand, carefully keeping a soft and loving voice, trying to not sound too political. "This isn't a family trip we're doing. And you never go to the senate… why—I mean why can't I go alone?"
"I said I'll be there and I will be—I'm sorry, darling. I don't want to disagree with you, and I don't want to fight or be so cross with you. So please, just…"
"Just agree with everything you want?" she sighed. That was the way of Vader. He couldn't accept any opinion that wasn't his own.
He seemed to read into her thoughts.
But he had to stay his ground, no matter how much that could upset her.
He was doing it for her own sake, he told himself.
In the Capital, perhaps Padmé could be more vulnerable to the attacks of the rebels. And he also didn't want for her to know too much about the state of the Galaxy. That could definitely create some issues between them…
Grey and metallic walls made the Imperial Senate Building.
Unlike the place in which Padmé worked as a senator during the times of the Republic, the work environment here was difficult and oftentimes uncomfortable.
As the Emperor walked the hallways, dressed in all black and leather, with a Sith lightsaber hanging from his belt, heads bowed and backs bent in reverence, more for fear than respect.
Next to him, his still beautiful wife almost appeared the opposite to Darth Vader. His garments were simple for his rank. Hers were the lavish excellence of a queen. Her long black gown swept the cold floors, and her exquisite jewelry shined like the stars of the Galaxy.
That day her makeup was somewhat simple, letting her sweet features be on display to be admired.
Royal guards walked a few steps from them.
As it had been so long since Padmé left the senate to occupy herself only with her home planet, and as Vader never cared to talk to the senators, they had no office to use.
So they went to Bail Organa's one. He was gracious enough to welcome them under such a short notice.
"Your Majesties," Bail bowed to the Emperor and Empress. "It is my honor, to be graced by your presence."
Padmé felt strange.
She could never get used to someone who was once her equal to address her in such a fashion.
She still thought of Bail as a friend. So she addressed him as such.
"Bail, please," she said, coming closer to him and giving him her hand. "Let's leave formalities for another time! It's so great to see you again! And it's been so long, too. Tell me, how have you been?"
The senator of Alderaan never lost his respectful glance and tone. "Fine, my lady. Just fine."
"At what time will everyone be ready?" the Emperor asked, taking his wife's hand, and bringing her closer to him.
Bail felt the hostility of Vader but couldn't do anything about it. Except pretend he was okay with it.
"As soon as you say, Your Majesty," Bail said, sounding unafraid of the Emperor's dry tone, while maintaining a formal countenance.
"Get them ready, now," Vader ordered.
"As you wish."
And after excusing himself, Bail left that powerful couple to themselves.
Padmé tried one last time, "I assure you I can inform you of everything I learn at that meeting, Anakin. I know you can't stand senators. You don't have to be here."
"We have already discussed this, Padmé!"
She had to bite her lips. No, you talked while I listened! She thought annoyed.
Anakin and Padmé shared their podium at the center of the senate.
Hundreds of senators watched and answered as Padmé made her political questions; while Anakin looked bored out of his mind.
Hour after hour seemed to drag, and Anakin was beginning to wish he hadn't come. After all, they hardly touched troublesome subjects for him. As long as they don't mention the rebellion, he thought, we'll be fine.
If anyone dared, though… the Emperor wasn't feeling very forgiving.
At one point, Anakin wasn't even listening anymore. He just entertained himself by watching the beautiful queen as she looked so in earnest and in such a passion, discussing with the rest of the senate. Or more than discussing, speaking, since no one dared disagree with anything she said.
The queen was as feared as Vader by that time.
There is an incredible and deadly silence when she speaks. And a loud and savage noise when it's the others turn.
Then, there are no voices.
No words.
No discussion.
Is it over? Anakin wondered.
As a new person comes in, all eyes watched him.
It is a wealthy and high ranking man in the Skywalker Empire.
An officer who only a few days ago had been dining with Darth Vader and Queen Amidala.
Krennic? Anakin is confused.
He requests to be heard, and Mon Mothma lets him into her podium.
"Your Majesties," Orson Krennic begins. "I was informed of Lady Amidala's visit at the senate. I wasn't aware of our Emperor's presence, so I direct to you both now. My dearest respect to both…"
Always a sycophant to my wife, that Krennic … Anakin sighed while annoyance was growing into anger.
"…The piece of information that I just learned, I regret to say, is of the worst the Galaxy could receive at a time like this."
Anakin stood up and felt his heart beat like crazy, waiting for whatever stupidity Krennic was about to commit.
"The Rebels…"
Vader heard and almost pulled out his lightsaber and jumped over that man.
"The Rebels have made a public announcement…" his face seemed to have more wrinkles, Padmé thought and listened attentively. "The Rebel Alliance has captured princess Leia…!"
The noise that followed unable Anakin and Padmé from hearing the rest.
In a matter of seconds, Padmé's eyes exploded with violent and bitter tears, she gasped for air and she almost collapsed into the ground.
Anakin wasn't sure of what hurt him more, if Krennic's words or the sight of his broken-hearted wife.
"Krennic!" Vader's loud cry ringed throughout the senate.
He didn't even look at Padmé or tried to make her be seated. He just jumped from their pod and ran towards Orson Krennic.
The man almost fainted in fear as he saw that black shadow of a man approaching.
"My lord!" he cried. "I came immediately to let you know… I assure you! We have people looking for the rebel base, more than ever!"
"Liar!" Vader roared. "You come in with this information and you drive everybody crazy! Who's to say that's even true?"
"It has to be!" a desperate female voice cries. "Oh, my poor Leia! What have they done with her? Krennic, speak! What exactly have you heard? What did they…? Ugh! SHUT UP!" she cries as the loud voices prevent her from expressing coherently. She makes her way towards where Krennic and Vader are standing, but before reaching them, the Enperor declares once more of the "falsehood" Officer Krennic just pronounced.
"Your Majesty!" the desperate man cries, voice trembling and legs shaking. "I assure you that my intelligence is very reliable…!"
He can't say anything else.
Darth Vader's metal hand grabs Krennic's neck, clenching in fury and dragging him without using the Force.
Orson Krennic sees all black and barely manages to breathe enough to not die. Then, he founds himself in a fancy but cold office. It is Bail Organa's one.
And he is there alone with the cruel Emperor.
"Who gives you the authority to make such an announcement without my permission?" Vader says as he lifts Krennic from the floor.
And now, the man does feel like his life is running out.
"Where did you hear such a lie!?" Vader shouted.
Krennic is incapable of answering with such a tight grip on his throat.
His silence infuriates the Emperor even further.
"Anakin!" he suddenly hears.
Who could dare scream at Darth Vader?
He turns around slightly—without freeing Krennic—, and sees Padmé, who's watching, looking terrified.
"Stop!" she cried. "I want to talk to him! Stop it please! Leave him!"
Why must she care so much about what happens to him? Anakin's clouded mind makes him jealous.
He lets go of his victim.
On the floor, the poor man looks on the verge of death.
Padmé rushes to him and puts her hands on him, helping him sit. She also helps him unbutton his shirt, so he can breathe sooner and easier.
The Emperor immediately approaches them, he grabs Padmé's arm and throws her away.
As she landed at the other side of the room, she hits her head and almost passes out.
She tries with all of her strength to remain conscious, and as she battles her eyes to keep them open, she sees:
A vibrant red.
Yellow eyes.
A splash of blood.
Fallen limbs.
A dead man.
"Anakin…" she mutters, she cleans blood from her head, and amidst a thousand tears and in supreme fear, she cries, "What are you doing…? Why? My love, you're breaking my heart!"
She finally passes out, and with that, she is released from seeing the rest of atrocities committed by Darth Vader that awful day.
A/N: I know it doesn't make much sense for Orson Krennic to be the one who brings in the news at the Imperial Senate, but I just really hate/love that character and I didn't think there was any other way of bringing him into the story.