When Vader left, Padmé pondered their previous conversation. He stated that he would not give her his name because no one else in the Empire knew it. Padmé reasoned that Vader was hiding his former self with his new identity of Darth Vader. His master had done a similar thing by hiding his evil nature with his false identity of Palpatine. If Vader was hiding his true identity with that of an evil persona perhaps deep down there was a good person underneath the monster. Padmé decided to explore this idea further in her next meeting with Vader.
Having finished her breakfast, Padmé returned to the bedroom and pulled out an outfit to wear for the day. She then headed to the fresher to take a long hot shower. However, the door was locked. She surmised that Vader must be in there getting ready for the day. Padmé went to sit on the couch and wait for him to finish his shower.
Vader emerged from the fresher a few minutes later, fully dressed. Part of Padmé was disappointed that he was fully clothed, the other part was angry with herself for having such thoughts. Vader walked to the nearby closet to find his cloak, while Padmé walked to the fresher. She did not notice that Vader glanced at her as the door shut behind her.
As Vader walked to the bridge to begin the day's work his comlink rang. "Yes." He answered.
"My lord, our ship has reached Dantooine," the Admiral stated.
"Good, I will be there shortly." Vader replied and ended his transmission.
As Vader swept onto the bridge, he called out to the Admiral, "What is our status?"
"Our scout ships have found a rebel base on the far side of the planet. Unfortunately, it is a smaller base and we do not believe that any of the rebel leaders are in it. However, they do not seem to be aware of our presence."
"Good. Orbit the planet, but do not attack until I order it."
"As you wish my lord."
Vader looked out the view port at the planet of Dantooine. Another rebel base, but no leaders, Vader sighed to himself. Attacking this base might hurt the rebellion, but without killing its leaders, they would continue to fight the Empire. He was not having any luck in finding the leaders, however he did know someone who did know their whereabouts. Perhaps he could use the upcoming battle to his advantage.
Vader turned to a nearby lieutenant and spoke to him, "Lieutenant."
"Yes my lord." The lieutenant said with a salute.
"Go to my quarters. There is a woman there by the name of Padmé. Bring her here."
"As you wish my lord." The lieutenant replied as he exited the bridge.
After the lieutenant left, Vader returned his gaze to the planet outside the ship.
Padmé had just finished her shower and went back to the bedroom when C3P0 and R2 both entered the room.
"Miss Padmé, there is a gentleman out here who wishes to speak to you." C3P0 stated.
Puzzled, Padmé walked out into the sitting area to find a young lieutenant waiting for her.
The lieutenant greeted her and then spoke, "Milady, Lord Vader requests your presence on the bridge."
"Why?"
"He did not say. I was only instructed to escort you there."
"Fine, give me a minute to get my cloak."
Padmé went back to the bedroom to get the cloak of her handmaiden outfit. She was not wearing the outfit, but since Vader had made a big deal of her being covered up when she was taken to the ship she figured she better stay covered up on the bridge to avoid any potential unpleasantness. She wondered why Vader wanted to see her. Padmé threw the cloak over herself, brought the hood over her face, and then met up with the lieutenant in the sitting room.
"Are you ready, milady?"
"Yes, Lieutenant."
"Good, follow me."
"We are in position my Lord." The admiral said to Vader.
"Hold here."
"Yes, my Lord." The admiral stated automatically. He was puzzled as to why they were not attacking yet.
A few minutes later, Padmé and the young lieutenant Vader had sent to get her had entered the bridge.
Padmé walked up to Vader, "You asked to see me?"
Vader turned to her, "Yes I did. Do you know that planet?" He asked while pointing out the view port.
Padmé gasped. She did know that planet; they were in orbit over Dantooine, and by the looks of it directly over its rebel base.
"Based on your response, I'll assume you do know the planet. We are going to destroy the rebel base."
Padmé stared up at Vader in horror and shouted at him, "You monster! Hundreds of people will die!"
"A necessary loss to restore order and peace to the galaxy." Vader replied.
"What peace? There has been no peace since the fall of the Republic!"
"An end to the rebellion could bring peace. Tell me who the leaders are and I will spare the people down there."
"Liar! I know the ways of the Sith! If I tell you the names of the leaders you will not hesitate in destroying the base before pursuing them." Padmé shouted.
The crew onboard the bridge had turned from their duties to listen to Vader and Padmé's argument.
"I promise not to attack the base if you tell me the names of the leaders."
Padmé snorted in angry laughter, "Promises from a Sith are not worth much. Your master promised to keep the Republic intact, but then he destroyed it."
"The Republic was useless, it could not protect the people under it like the Empire can." Vader said, his own anger creeping into his voice.
"We are not safe under the Empire! We cannot exercise our freedom. As your slave, I am an excellent example of that." Padmé shouted.
Vader flinched at the slave comment before he shouted back at her, "I have never treated you as a slave! Now, will you tell me the names of the rebel leaders or will I be forced to destroy the rebel base."
"I will never tell you." Padmé stated coldly.
Vader's blue eyes shifted to yellow as he stated, "So be it!" Then he turned to his admiral. "Fire when ready."
"As you wish my lord." The admiral turned to the rest of the crew and shouted, "Battle stations! Concentrate all your firepower on the rebel base."
Padmé watched in horror as The Executor's lasers rained down on the rebel base. Tears fell from her face as she thought of all the people who would lose their lives.
Fifteen minutes after the attack, scout troopers reported that the entire base was destroyed and that there were no survivors. At this declaration, Padmé turned from the view port and walked over to Vader who was now standing near a computer console. Vader looked up into her tear-streamed face with no remorse.
"How could you?" Padmé shouted as she slapped Vader's face.
The crew stood in stunned silence as the slap sounded throughout the bridge.
Vader fixed his yellow eyes on Padmé, and then turned to the lieutenant who had brought her here earlier and coldly stated, "Lieutenant, take her back to my quarters."
Silently, the lieutenant pulled Padmé out of the bridge and escorted her back to Vader's quarters.
That night, neither Padmé nor Vader spoke to each other. Padmé was furious at Vader's heinous act and Vader was angry that Padmé had forced him to destroy the rebel base.
Vader retired to his bedroom early since he would have to be up early the next morning to file his report with his Master. He left Padmé in the kitchen, who continued to brood over the day's events.
Padmé could not believe that Vader would kill hundreds of innocent people who were working to restore freedom to the galaxy. No decent person could do that, he truly was a Sith monster. She had to do something to stop him from doing this to anybody else.
Padmé left the kitchen and entered the bedroom. She glanced over at the small table on her right and saw Vader's lightsaber hilt. An idea formed in her head at the sight, and she quickly grabbed the saber and silently crept towards Vader's sleeping form on the bed.
Vader was sound asleep, and did not notice when Padmé entered the bedroom. He did not stir as she crept nearer to him, and he did not awaken as she readied herself to take action. However his eyes opened when he heard a familiar snap hiss.