Vader strolled down one of the hallways of the Executor on his way to the bridge. As he walked he pondered what he had just heard from Padmé. She had asked for his help in something, but he did not know what that was. As he neared the bridge, he recalled that she had called him Anakin, and his heart swelled at the thought. However, he realized that his thoughts had drifted back to her and he tried to clear his head as he walked onto the bridge.
"What is the status of your search?" Vader asked his admiral. For some reason, Vader felt reluctant to hear the news.
"We have had no leads in locating the Tantive IV, my lord. It is impossible to know where it went upon entering hyperspace. We are currently scanning communications channels and scouring intelligence reports for any idea as to where they went." The admiral replied.
"Very well, continue your search and bring me the latest intelligence report." Vader replied.
"As you wish, my lord." The admiral said as he bowed to Vader and left his side.
Vader walked to a nearby view port and gazed out at the stars around him. He had to find the rebels, the fate of the Empire stood in the balance. He could not fail his master again. However, Vader also knew that if he found the rebels and destroyed them, Padmé would never forgive him and he felt a great deal of sadness at this prospect.
Vader closed his eyes and exhaled a deep breath. The kiss with Padmé was haunting his thoughts and taking his mind off the mission. He should not be concerned with how she would feel once his finds the rebels. She was a traitor for supporting them.
Vader's musings were interrupted when his admiral returned to his side and handed him a stack of papers, "Here are the intelligence reports you requested, my lord."
"Very good Admiral, continue your search and contact me immediately if you find anything." Vader stated. With this last statement, he took the reports and left the bridge to find a quiet place to review them.
Vader entered the vacant strategy room and spread the intelligence report across a table. He then sat in a nearby chair. As he settled in to begin reading the report, he propped his legs up on top of the table and leaned back in his chair.
He read that the rebels had been cutting off Imperial supply lines to various Imperial posts. However, there was not a set pattern, so he could not determine where the rebels were launching these attacks. This news angered Vader because these supply lines did not just service Imperial troops, but also provided goods to planetary systems within the Empire. He could not understand why rebels, like Padmé, could not see that their actions were hurting innocent civilians.
Vader sighed as his thoughts strayed back to Padmé. She claimed that the rebels were trying to save the galaxy from tyranny. She had told him that the Emperor was only interested in power, but Vader knew that she was blinded by her rebel ideals.
When he looked at the Emperor, he saw a visionary who cared greatly about the galaxy. He cared so much about people that he had saved a young slave boy from a harsh life on Tatooine. In addition, he had worked to change the government structure from a bureaucratic Republic, to a well-organized Empire. Unlike the Republic, the Empire was bringing peace to the galaxy in order to maintain the freedom of citizens. Vader could not understand why Padmé could not see that.
The Emperor was not power hungry; he was looking out for the best interest of the galaxy. Or was he? Vader's memory traveled back to the day he had been punished. When his master had heard that Vader had failed in capturing Senator Organa, he had angrily claimed, "I would have total control over the galaxy if it had not been for you."
This statement seemed to align with Padmé's logic, but Vader would not believe it. His master was just angry at Vader's failure to end the rebellion. That statement had no real meaning, it had been said in anger, Vader mused. However, then Vader recalled a previous conversation with Padmé.
"Why did you not want a slave?" Padmé had asked.
"Because I do not need one." Vader had responded.
"Yes, you said that, but your Master has slaves and he does not need them. So what is your problem with them?"
"The Emperor is a busy man, I am sure he has uses for his slaves."
"Like you?" Padmé had questioned.
In response to this memory, Vader slammed his fist down on the table and a large crack formed on the surface. As his eyes turned yellow, Vader roared in anger, "I am not a slave!"
Vader stood up from his chair and started pacing with his hands behind his back. He had chosen to serve the Emperor in his cause to bring peace to the galaxy. He was not being forced to do anything, but as Vader thought this, another of Padmé's statements came to mind.
"And what would happen if you chose to disobey him?"
Vader paused his pacing and involuntarily shivered. He had been punished for failure; he hated the prospect of what would happen if he disobeyed his master. Vader stood silent in quiet contemplation of this thought for a moment. Then Vader realized that he was letting the comments of a traitorous rebel get to him. He would never disobey his master, the person who had saved him from a life in bondage. Vader realized that Padmé had been trying to turn him against his master since day one.
Unfortunately for her, she had failed. That whole kiss must have been concocted by her as a last ditch effort to turn him. Vader seethed in anger as he imagined Padmé plotting against him. As his anger grew, his memories of that kiss warped, and now instead of him drawing her into his arms, all he could see was a rebel seductress trying to charm him with her beauty.
As Vader's rage grew from this perceived deception, he Force flung chairs from around the cracked table and crashed them into nearby walls. Soon all that was left in the room was the cracked table, Vader's chair, and a pile of debris from Vader's Force tantrum.
Vader turned back to the table, his yellow eyes looked down at his rebel report. Padmé would not turn him against his master, and she would learn her place. He sat back in his chair and determinedly read through the intelligence report, looking for clues to the rebels' whereabouts. They would pay for their leader's treachery.