I leave Padmé, reluctantly of course, and head for the security sector. Manned mostly by clones, the area is a hive of activity as they move about in their typical efficient manner. Many of them are without their helmets, and the familiar face of Jango Fett is everywhere. At the back of my mind I wonder about Padmé's theory: did Palpatine see to it that the DNA was engrained with unquestioning loyalty to him? Or is it to whoever rules the Empire? I must find out before I do anything drastic. In the mean time, I have a task for these clones to ensure my own security, not to mention that of my wife.
"How can I help you, Sir?" asks a clone who I can tell by the color markings on his armour is the squadron leader.
"I want a listening device planted in Admiral Kastellan's quarters," I tell him.
"At once, sir," the commander responds. "Anything else?"
"Yes," I respond. "I want him watched, closely but surreptitiously."
"I will assign someone right away," he replies.
I wave my hand in front of the rugged visage of the clone, bending his generic mind easily. "You will have no memory of this conversation, nor will you be aware of the device in Kastellan's quarters."
The clone stares at me blankly, and I realize that his mind has accepted my suggestion. I walk away, confident that my bidding will be done. Clones truly are amazing things…
Next I return to my own quarters. Padmé is in the shower, I can hear the water running. I sit down at the comm. station and replay the message received earlier from Newmann. I sit for a moment as I decide upon an appropriate and effective course of action. Finally I hail the Aggressor. Immediately a face appears on the comm. screen.
"Aggressor here," the officer says. His face registers some surprise when he beholds the mask of Darth Vader on his own screen.
"Lord Vader! This is Lieutenant Piett. How may I serve you?"
Piett? "Did you say Piett?" I ask.
"Yes, my lord," he replies, somewhat taken aback by my response. "Kirkland Piett. My uncle, Firmus, served you on board the Executor, I believe."
"Yes he did," I concur. "A good man, your uncle."
Piett smiles. "Thank you, Lord Vader. I think so too."
"You have one of my men on board," I tell him, getting right down to business. "Captain Newmann."
"Yes he is here, Lord Vader," Piett responds. "Do you wish to speak with him?"
"No, that won't be necessary," I tell him. "Inform your commander that I am on my way and will rendezvous with the Aggressor within the next 24 hours."
"I shall inform him at once," Piett replies promptly.
I switch off the comm., musing over the serendipity that has brought the nephew of Firmus Piett across my life's journey. If he's half as valuable as his uncle, then I would do well do acquire him for our cause...
I stand up, briefly consider surprising Padmé, but push the thought of it from my mind. My need of her has already made me blunder once; I can't let it happen again. I leave the room and head for the bridge.
"Lord Vader," Kastellan greets me as I enter the bridge. "We have received confirmation from the last two admirals," he tells me. "They will be here in 48 hours."
"Good," I tell him. "No word from the Endeavour?"
"Not yet, my lord," He responds. "Wherever they are, they are lying low."
I nod. "That is why we must go to them."
"But my lord," he begins carefully, almost condescendingly, "we already tried that. You saw the message from Newmann yourself."
"I did," I reply. "I now need to see to it personally."
"My lord?" he asks, not understanding.
"Prepare a shuttle," I tell him. "I'm going to the Aggressor. I plan to bring Malz to heel."
"I'm going with you."
Kastellan and I turn to see Padmé standing on the bridge.
"You are not," I tell her, not even having to pretend to be annoyed. "You will stay here."
Kastellan looks from me back to Padmé. "Perhaps I should go, my lord," he suggests awkwardly. I silence him with a sharp turn of my head. You'd like that wouldn't you? A chance to plot with your ally up close and personal...
Padmé walks up to me, ignoring the looks of shock from the men around her.
"And I thought you said I wasn't a prisoner," she says, looking up at me defiantly.
"You aren't," I reply. "What has that to do with…"
"If I'm not, then you can't tell me not to go," she retorts.
I make no reply, feeling the eyes of every one upon us.
"You are not coming," I repeat, my voice raised every so slightly. "You will not question me on this!"
She opens her mouth to reply, but I prevent her from doing so by putting a gloved hand over her mouth, my other hand grabbing her arm.
"Let's discuss this in private, shall we my lady?" I say, escorting her off the bridge.
"You are driving me crazy do you know that?" I tell her in a low voice.
She looks at me triumphantly. "That's the whole idea, isn't it?" she replies.
I shake my head, emitting a low growl as my only response.
"Is that a yes?" She laughs as the lift doors close behind us.
I turn to her. "You aren't serious about this," I tell her.
She stops laughing, and the smile fades from her face. "Yes, I am," she replies. "I don't want to be left here alone."
I sigh. "This won't be a pleasure trip, Padmé," I tell her. "I have work to do."
She scowls. "Is that why you think I want to come?" she demands. "Just to warm your bed?"
I scowl. "Of course not!" I reply. "You are placing yourself in danger unnecessarily!"
"How am I in any more danger if I'm with you than here alone?" she retorts. "With that nexu Kastellan?"
Our discussion ends as we leave the lift. I walk ahead of her, my mind working frantically to come up with a reason why she must stay here. But she does make a point; leaving her here alone with Kastellan is most disquieting, almost as disquieting as bringing her with me.
We reach out quarters and I turn to her.
"Listen to me, Padmé," I tell her, taking off the cumbersome head gear.
"No you listen," she interjects. "We agreed that we would stick together, Anakin," she informs me, hands on hips. "I'm here to help you, remember? How can I do that if I'm here?"
"By watching, listening and keeping tabs on Kastellan," I reply, grasping at straws.
"Don't you have men doing that?" she counters.
I begin to reply, becoming exasperated by this point, but she continues. "You can either take me with you or else I will take a shuttle myself. In either case, I won't be left behind."
"You are so damn stubborn!" I reply hotly. "Why are you being so difficult about this?"
"I'm being difficult?" she replies in amazement. "You're the one who's being difficult! What makes you think you can order me around?"
I clench my fists, my frustration level skyrocketing. "Padmé..." I stop, simply making a noise of exasperation. "You are impossible!"
She smiles, a triumphant smile, and walks over to me. "Does that mean you finally admit that I'm right?"
"No!" I return.
"No?" she says, running her hands up my arms. "You're still prepared to make this difficult, aren't you?"
"There is nothing difficult about this," I reply in exasperation. "It's you who are making it so with your reckless, foolhardy notions!"
"Oh!" she responds, dropping her hands. "I'm foolhardy?" she returns. "I'm reckless?"
I try not to laugh at the incredulous look on her face.
"Yes, completely," I say, managing to keep a straight face. I fold my arms over my chest for emphasis.
She lifts her eyebrows. "Is that so?" she asks in a tone of disbelief.
I simply nod.
"Well I'm beginning to think that the outfit you're wearing is going to your head," she counters.
It is now my turn to be astonished. "You can't be serious!"
She nods. "Completely."
I study her, my eyes narrowing, trying to determine how serious she truly is. She cannot keep a straight face and I see a hint of a smile on her face. She recovers quickly.
"Are you teasing me?" I ask, walking over to her.
"Me?" she asks innocently, backing away. "Oh no, I'd be much too frightened to tease Darth Vader."
I stop in my tracks as she covers her mouth to suppress a giggle. I take the opportunity and take her by the arms.
"You little…" I say, lifting her up. She starts to laugh, as do I.
"I'm sorry, Ani," she says. "I'm just having too much fun with this. You know I don't mean that."
"No?"
"No," she relies. "You are difficult though," she says, continuing to tease me.
I nod. "And you are stubborn," I counters, putting her down but not releasing her.
"Well maybe so," she admits with a smile. "But it's only because you're so difficult."
I nod. "I am, I know," I say, allowing my hands to follow the length of her arms. "I don't know how you put up with me," I add, bringing one of her hands to my lips.
She smiles, warmth radiating from her eyes. "I don't know either," she replies. "Must be your animal magnetism," she adds, watching me as I kiss each of her fingers in succession.
I raise my eyes to hers, and smile at her between kisses.
"Is that it?" I ask.
"Yes," she replies. "No doubt of it."
I turn her hand over and press my lips to her wrist, feeling her pulse racing as I do so, my eyes holding hers.
"Well, the thing about," I stop and plant a kiss halfway up the underside of her forearm, "animal magnetism," I stop and move my lips up a few centimeters, "is that it is very," another kiss, this one in the hollow of her elbow, "very," another centimeters higher, "hard to resist." By this point I have reached her shoulder, and punctuate my sentence with a kiss on her neck.
"Ani," she sighs, "if this is your way of talking me out of coming with you, it won't work."
I pull way and look down at her, my eyes widened in surprise. "You are really something, you know that?"
She nods. "Yes, I know," she replies with a grin. "So when do we leave?"
I laugh. "As soon as you're ready."
