Many thanks to my readers & reviewers, including: bLuEyEs716

Chapter 6: The Arrangement

Padmé's breath caught in her throat.

Blood pounded in her ears. The phrase caressed her as well as sent a cold frisson of apprehension up her spine. He continued to stare at her in that infuriatingly inscrutable manner. That, coupled with his proposal, was making her very uneasy.

He could sense it.

But that was all he could sense. Padmé immediately but up a mental barrier to hide her feelings from him. He was about to deeply probe her thoughts, when he thought better of it. She was far too intelligent not to sense it if he tried to break down her shields and that was counterproductive to his objective.

She turned away in silence. Although her face was serene, a reflex due to her former life and years of being in the public eye, her emotions were churning. There was no question that she would remain with Anakin, especially if it meant Luke would go free.

My son.

But could this bargain mean more? Could it mean that Anakin really was still there under that mask? Or was Anakin, really dead?

No, he's there;I can feel it.

And, if he was still there, what would the future hold for them? She frowned almost imperceptibly. This would be far from easy. He had betrayed and murdered all that they had believed in. Nothing could ever be the same between them.

Too much has happened, Anakin.

She turned to face the unwavering glare of Vader's mask. She looked piercingly into what she thought were his eyes. Her face was cold, unreadable. She could easily curse him and reject his offer. Vader's breathing seemed to stop.

"I will stay."

Vader closed his eyes and the mask let out a harsh breath. Relief washed over him. Soon, he thought. They stood in an uncomfortable silence for a few moments until Vader spoke.

"There is a matter I must attend to." With that, he swept out of the room, his cape flaring out in his wake.

Padmé took a deep breath and looked out the viewing window at the stars. So endless; so cold. She felt very tired and decided to lie down for a few moments. She held a blanket tightly around her, trying to stave off the deep chill inside her. Her thoughts taunted her.

Was it really just for Luke?

The door opened. Padmé was surprised when a droid unit entered. She thought it would be Anakin. Was she relieved or disappointed? The droid quickly explained its purpose.

"Milady, I have brought you sustenance and some changes of clothes. Lord Vader bids you to rest yourself," the tinny voice piped up. It set the bundle of clothing on the bed and placed a tray on the nearest table.

Lord Vader, she thought, with loathing.

She needed a distraction.

"Would you bring me a portable HoloNet projector and a datapad? I can not just sit here doing nothing. I don't feel like sleeping right now."

"Yes, milady, right away." The droid sped off to do her bidding.

x x x x

Luke had awoken feeling surprisingly rested and noticed that his arm had had some preliminary medical attention. He was in no physical pain at the moment, but still felt much distress. He needed to calm himself and formulate a plan of action.

He wanted to see his Mother. He wanted to take her away from here and to the Rebel Alliance. She had to meet Leia and help them win this war against the Empire. But first, he had to figure out how not to get tortured and executed…by his own Father.

The door slid open.

Luke assumed another medical droid would enter to check up on him or sedate him. After no movement from the doorway, Luke jumped off his cot to cautiously go exploring.

Silently cursing, he noticed that he no longer had his light saber

I can almost hear Ben or Yoda lecturing me about that, he thought with a sad smile.

He had to be careful if he was going to get his Mother out of here safely.

Luke heard footsteps approaching.

Stormtroopers.

He had to act quickly. He leaned his weight on the nearest hatch to find a place to hide and avoid a confrontation. It opened outward quickly, taking him by surprise. He fell through the opening and into the unknown.

Luke slid down, down, down the narrow passageway and was rapidly picking up speed. Lights flashed past his eyes and he could not find a handhold to stop or slow his descent. His body thudded solidly against the end of the tunnel.

Suddenly, an aperture swung open and Luke felt himself drop outside into the thin atmosphere surrounding Cloud City. His legs caught on a metal beam and his body swung precariously. He tried to hoist himself up back through the opening above him with his left hand. The wind lashed around him and the hatch closed shut with a deep echo. He fell backward and cried out in fear and frustration.

Nice, job, Luke, he thought angrily, you've managed to escape, only to fall to your death.

The thin air whipped around him and Luke began to feel faint with panic and a lack of oxygen. Calm swept over him as he reached out with the Force for comfort. He took a long breath and let the Force surround him and guide him. He shut his eyes and his face relaxed. The Force directed his next action.

He called out silently through the Force.

Leia…

x x x x

Luke, now safe on the Millennium Falcon, found no respite. Leia had tried to speak with him but he pled fatigue. He could not bear to look into her eyes, those eyes filled with concern and sadness.

Could she even imagine?

He closed his own eyes to block out all sensation, but his mind would not rest. He felt like a fool. He had not completed his training with Master Yoda and had instead fallen into a trap set by Vader. His farsee vision of his friends in peril had caused him to leave Dagobah abruptly. Instead of rescuing his friends, he had needed rescuing, himself.

He was not yet a Jedi. He was reckless and making grave mistakes. And he had failed her, too.

I have even failed in trying to rescue Mother from…Father.

His stomach clinched. He agonized about telling anyone about what he had found out about his connection to Vader. But he desperately needed someone to confide in. It was like a sin he needed to confess and cleanse himself of.

But who would understand?

Suddenly, a strange sensation enveloped him. It was a dark, suffocating presence that filled him with a cold dread. It was horrifyingly all too familiar.

"Luke…Luke…." Vader called out to him through the Force. Luke's eyes opened with recognition.

"Father,"Luke whispered, badly shaken. Hot, bitter tears slipped out of his eyes.

"My son…it is your Destiny to join the Dark Side of the Force…"

Luke, terrified and in anguish, called out to Ben through the Force.

"Ben…Ben, why didn't you TELL me?"

Ben Kenobi remained silent as Luke slipped into unconsciousness.

x x x x

Padmé was seated facing away from the door looking at the HoloNet when Vader entered. She switched off the handheld unit and stood up to greet him. Her face was, once again, placid and unreadable. She was also carefully guarding her thoughts and feelings.

He noted with satisfaction the she was wearing the deep green dressing gown he had provided her and that her hair was loose, just the way he liked it. He could see the thin silk of her night gown peeping out at the neckline.

Still so very beautiful…

"It is done."

He could feel Padmé's relief and happiness as she closed her eyes and turned back to the porthole as if to somehow catch a glimpse of her son speeding off to safety. Hope rose in her chest. She was grateful. He could feel it as she gazed silently out the porthole and into the long purple shadows of dusk.

I do not want your gratitude, Padmé, he thought with irritation. I want your love.

He watched her for a few moments, noting her regal bearing.

You are mine.

Soon you will surrender completely to me.

He turned and left her quarters.