Approaching the Palace

The shuttle ride to Imperial Center was eerily reminiscent of a similar journey he'd made years ago. It was not that the trip or sights were new or unfamiliar, but that he was nervous. Vader was never nervous. Only on that trip, and on this one, could he remember experiencing such acute feelings of distress.

That had been when he'd returned from Alderaan. He could remember the time clearly -- he had been sent on a mission there to uncover a group of radical Loyalists, and had found and eliminated them in record time -- because it was the same time that he'd found Amidala and Leia, and that they'd agreed to come with him to Coruscant. Amidala had forced him to promise never to allow the Emperor to touch her daughter, and he had agreed. He needed his wife more than anything else.

The problem was getting Palpatine to see things in the same way.

So he had placed a barrier over Leia's mind, and then gone to see his master. He had been exceptionally agitated, though he'd attempted to hide his feelings. His master had noticed them anyway. You seem edgy, Lord Vader, Palpatine had said. Vader had stood mute for several moments before being able to speak. To his surprise, his master had been barely affected by the news of Amidala's return, and was only interested in whether or not Leia was force sensitive. Vader had told him that she wasn't -- which was not an entire lie, as Leia's powers had been obstructed and muted -- and the questioning had ended then. Life had slipped quietly back to normal. The Emperor did not exhibit any further interest in Vader's family at all.

Until now.

The picnic coverage had thrown things off balance, as had the blasted business with Zedlav. Vader had barely told Amidala or Leia of his evening encounter with Palpatine, but he thought it better for them not to know of it. His master had been furious. I would not have expected your family to have such a powerful effect on you, Lord Vader, he had said, very cold. Realize that you are my servant, and any idiocy on your part disreputes my own name. Vader had given carefully phrased replies and ardently promised never to make such mistakes again, but it had not been enough for his master. The Emperor had subsequently demanded to see the Dark Lord's family. That worried Vader. Either his master suspected Leia's sensitivity and wanted to test her (thinking Vader had ridded of Zedlav so he could teach his daughter himself, a theory Vader thought ludicrous) or he wanted to do something nasty to them. Considering the way Amidala was presenting herself, Vader wasn't certain he would not attempt both.

The shuttle shuddered in turbulence. Leia, not wearing a chest restraint (why hadn't he or Amidala reminded her to?), tumbled forward onto the floor. He reached down automatically to aid her up.

She dusted herself off. she asked curiously, as his hand withdrew from hers. He jerked -- surprisingly, as he knew Leia loved to ask questions. He suspected she might have fallen simply to get his attention. Will there be any tabloid reporters at the palace?

he said, giving Amidala (who was ignoring him) a swift glance. Vader knew Amidala wouldn't have minded being a public spectacle. I called in as you were changing. The landing party will include no reporters. He did not bother to include the unspoken, And if so, they will meet an especially gruesome end --

Leia's eyes stayed on his. He thought that when she grew older, her gaze would be unnerving. Why does he want to see me, Father? she asked. Is it because of Master Zedlav?

Zedlav was a mistake, as I told you.

Leia, look! Amidala said loudly, gesturing broadly to her daughter. Leia shot Vader a suspicious glance before joining her mother at a viewport. He was grateful for his wife's distraction.

Amidala pointed. See that? There's the Senate dome.

Leia said, her interest immediately caught. I've never been this close before.

This did not surprise Vader. His family usually stayed in the old city, where the house was. It was more secluded there. The house was also more spacious -- it could have a landing pad, which was a luxury unheard of in the Palace District.

What are those towers for, Mother?

Vader turned away. He had enough memories plaguing at him as it was. He could not afford weakness in front of his master. He could not afford to seem affected by Anakin Skywalker and his past, no matter how much Amidala's presence seemed to bring about such flaws in his perfectly composed shell.

Amidala's response to Leia was careful, well phrased: Those towers once were used by a religious order. They've been long abandoned.



There was a pause before Amidala spoke again. Her tone was sanguine, overly cheerful, and yet perfectly and gloriously posh. She hid her fear well. There's the palace, Leia. See? That landing pad with all the red and white?

Are the persons in red the Emperor's guards?



And the ones in white are Stormtroopers.

Exactly, darling.

He closed his eyes behind the mask, and worked on suppressing his own admitted fear. Masks did little good as shields when dealing with his master. It was good that Leia knew nothing. She would not have held up well if she did. Amidala and himself, however, who knew everything. . .

The shuttle dipped and shuddered. He felt the slight shake of a distending set of landing gear in his feet and the floorpanels; it meant the landing cycle had commenced. He opened his eyes and stared at his wife, who looked suddenly gray, and felt just as jumpy as he did, and stood as the shuttle settled onto solid duracrete. He extended her a hand. She took it gratefully.

They entered the palace as three: Vader ahead with his wife, Leia trailing behind. Guards followed on their sides. His master's presence reeked plainly in the halls. For the second time in his life, he felt a flutter of fear.

He hoped they would be strong.

***