Author's Notes: Thanks for the reviews and comments. darthchunky, I normally don't take long to finish a story so hopefully, it goes no different with this one. Stefymoon, thanks for the compliment. Gizzi1213, yeah the title was meant to convey a certain level of intrigue that I don't know if I accomplished. lol Thanks SAGA123 for the kind words. I hopeI don't disappoint. Li-Li-ThePinkbook. You're my first reviewer. Thanks for wishing me luck, I just may need it.
Chapter 2
Tears fell from her eyes as she watched the holo-screen display all the awful catastrophe's that the Emperor have committed throughout the galaxy. Her heart leapt out to her fallen friends and comrades. Living the life of a public figure, this was one area she wasn't trained for. There was a part of her that thought that if she worked hard enough, she wouldn't have to.
Unfortunately, life had other plans.
If she were to survive this, she had to be strong. If not for her, but for her people, and that was something she had to consciously remind herself of. It was about the only thing keeping her sane in this sterile prison.
Whenanger grew inside of her, there was little to take it out on, so she grabbed the nearest thing next to her, a vase, and tossed it across the wall. Ithit the hard surface with such force that pieces flew all across the room, one in particular hit her temple, wounding her flesh. A stream of blood began to fall as she knelt on the floor trying to control herself.
She was a prisoner here.
A slave.
No one could ever tell her differently.
"What have you done?"
Padme gasped as she realized who had entered her room. Darth Vader stood commandingly by the door; his very presence freezes her still.
"Leave me alone," she said, her voice back to its common monotone sound. "I will clean this up."
She starts to stand up…
"Stop," he said huskily.
Padme swallowed hard, falling back down on the cold metallic floor. She was suddenly afraid that her one infraction could cause her the only thing she had left...
Her body.
She watched him walk in and out of the refresher in a matter of seconds; he held a medical kit in his hands. With a raised eyebrow, she looked at him curiously as he knelt down in front of her, one knee resting on the ground.
"What are you doing?"
"You're bleeding," he answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. His movements were slow and careful. His mechanical gloved hands did little to affect his performance as he starts to clean her cut.
"Why are you doing this?"
He remained silent, a common occurence with him that left her annoyed to no end.
Amoment passed, and he was done. "I'll have a medical droid come in here and check to see if nothing else is wrong." He stood up, towering over herand exited without another word, leaving Padme speechless and confused. That monstrosity was an enigma she wished she didn't care for, but his actions just now could not be ignored.
On her way to bed, she wondered just who it was that resided under that black mask.
Six months into her prison, and to her everlasting surprise, nothing has changed. Vader remained at a distance, never once making an attempt to claim her. The incident in her room did nothing to change his habits. He remained constant and it was but the only thing about living in this nightmare that made 'living' at all bearable.
Two months earlier, she had stopped listening to the reports of the galaxy. The Jedi Purges left nothing but a sinking whole in her heart, and she knew that the monster she had forced herself to marry was responsible. She's watched him just as much as he watches her, and he remains cold.
Heartless.
As if the death of thousands meant nothing to him.
"How could you do it?" she spoke out boldly just as Vader walked into her room. She tightened the sheets around her body as she faced Vader. "How could you stand to murder innocent beings?"
And again, like always, he said nothing.
"Or are you just his puppet? Doing his every bidding? You are just as much a slave as I am," she said to him with a new sense of vigor. Months trapped in this metallic cage have released something that she's been aching to for so long. "But you're not just a slave to him, aren't you – you're nothing."
Vader stepped forward, the mere action making Padme shudder back. She has overstepped her bounds and now she may just finally pay for it.
If that is the case, then so be it.
She was tired of this.
"You are not my slave," he said taking Padme Amidala off guard.
It took a few seconds to recover from what she had just heard.
"Excuse me?"
He did not repeat himself, but instead, "It won't be long until we land on Coruscant. The droids will be here to help you pack whatever you feel is needed. We'll be there in two hours."
That was it?
He didn't even hit her.
Padmeknew better than anybody of his lack of remorse or conscience. She's seen him in all his anger, killing subordinates with ease and without much of a second thought. But now, she didn't know. He was a dichotomy she wished never to have met.
She must be going crazy to think there was some shred of humanity in that monster.
And that is where the biggest threat lies.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked wearily.
Lord Vader had picked her up in her room and led her out of the ship. Six months out in space can leave a mark on a person, especially when confined to such a small space throughout the entire time. She had her room, of course, and the refresher. A droid would come in with her meals throughout the day so she never went hungry. The biggestrestriction she had wasnot venturing out of her quarters, but that didn't matter to her much because they hadit lockedat all times.Only when Vader calls for her presence is the only time she ever leaves.
Once they exited the ship, Coruscant isn't how she last saw it. There were no reporters in sight, and it was probably due to Vader. He's been known to take out those annoyances without a single glance, and they were right to heed that rumor because it was true.
Despite the fear his armour clearly exudes, he is calm and quick with his executions. No one would ever get in the way of that unless they wanted to commit suicide.
Soon, they made their wayto one of the tallest most luxurious complexes on the planet. Padme found herself in unfamiliar surroundings. The apartment, which she originally thought was going to have Vader's personality, or lack thereof, held a certain level of warmth she had not expected.
"The Emperor wishes that we stay together," he said, startling her.
"What exactly does he mean by that?"
He didn't hesitate to answer. "It means that we'll be sharing this space."
She gulped nervously. "And where do I sleep?"
"With me."
That was the answer she dreaded the most. And now, the only thing she had of herself will soon be gone, she didn't have a doubt in her mind.
"Very well then," she said, holding face. She refuses to break apart and give him or Palpatine the pleasure of seeing her defeat.
She clutched tightly onto the covers, hoping against all hope that Vader would sleep elsewhere. When she first reluctantly agreed to this marriage seven months ago, she was prepared for this, but not now. Not when he's kept himself away from her all this time.
Exhaustion from the past couple of day's events left her body weak and tired, and against her own will, she falls asleep.
Lord Vader stepped in the room, his body suit and mask still on. He stands there for a moment before taking a seat in the corner. He sat quietly, watching intently as her chest rise and fall from every breath she took.
She looked so peaceful.
Every night for the next three weeks, he sat there just watching her, and she never knew. Until one morning that is.
"Don't be afraid."
"Coming from you, Darth Vader, that doesn't quite assure me."
She pulled the covers closer to her. "How long have you been sitting there?"
"Since late last night," he answered. She had actually expected him to leave instead, so this sudden conversation they were having came as a surprise.
"What do you want from me, Lord Vader?"
"Nothing."
"I may not be a practicing politician, but I am a politician. I don't believe you."
"Whether or not you believe me, Senator, is none of my concern."
He called her Senator. A title she hasn't heard uttered from anybody's mouth let alone from her monstrous husband in many months.
"Just like the lives of all those innocent people you slaughtered."
"I do as I'm told," he explained automatically.
"Just like a slave."
"If that is what you wish I be called, then so be it."
Padme flushed red. Did nothing penetrate this man or was he born stubborn? She sometimes wondered if he was really just a machine created to do his master's bidding, and to falsely give the impression that something else existed behind that black armor. It would certainly explain a lot.
"Vader."
"Yes Master," he answered faithfully.
"Have you made any progress with the former senator?"
"No, Master."
"Why?" the Dark Lord of the Sith asked in disdain.
"She has a strong mind; I am unable to penetrate through her mental defenses."
A mischievous smirk graced the dark lord's lips. "And what of her physical defenses?"
"I have not, Master," he answered simply.
The Emperor rose angrily. "You will do as you are expected to. She is your wife, Vader. It is time you make point of it. Do I make myself clear?"
"As you wish, Master."
Vader left his master's presence and headed straight back totheapartment he shared with Lady Vader. Heavy thoughts plagued his mind. He may kill for the Emperor but he will not rape for the name of it. And if he must, he'll suffer the consequence. In many ways, she was right. He was nothing but a slave, and if he could have any choice, this would be it.
On his way there, he felt a movement in the force all of the sudden.
He sprints forth, gripping his lightsabre tight in his hands as he barges into Lady Vader's room.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi," he said through his breathing mask.
"Darth," the Jedi answered.
"Taking another man's wife is not befitting for a Jedi."
"She's not your wife by choice, Vader. I am here to set her free."
In the corner, Vader could see her trembling with fear. Waves of compassion emanated from her towards this Jedi and for a brief moment, he was taken back to a hidden memory when that very same compassion was directed towards himself so many years ago.
Kenobi lighted his blade, the sound of it taking Vader from his thoughts. He does the same with his own as his red blade prepares to duel with the Jedi's green.
"If you want to live, you will relinquish your weapon."
"Just as you offered my other comrades before you killed them, Vader," Kenobi shot back, holding his guard up and preparing to battle with the black machine.
"Please. No," Padme softly uttered. She noticed a flicker of reaction from Vader by her words before he brought his full attention back to the waiting Jedi.
Jedi Kenobi held his lightsabre forward.
Before either opponents realized, they were battling one another through a whirlwind of colors. It startled Kenobi that Vader was holding back until one fluid movement, Vader snatched his lightsabre away and held his red sabre by the side of his cheek, the heat coming of it so strongly that if Kenobi hadn't been focusing his force powers, he would've been burned.
"NO!" Padme dashed to Vader's side and Kenobi's horror-filled-eyes hope the Sith wouldn't strike her down. "Please," she pleaded to the dark lord. "Don't kill him," she whispered. "Please."
Beneath Vader's mask, his eyes changed from red to blue and back to red again. Through the force, Kenobi felt a tiny shift he couldn't explain. And when he closed his eyes to meditate, he could see the force surround this dark being so fully thatit left his mouth almost gaping open. He didn't know what it all meant.
"Leave now or I will have the guards arrest you," Vader said, taking everyone by surprise.
Kenobi didn't want to leave the Senator alone, but perhaps he was underestimating her obvious influence over him. Reluctantly, he moves out of the way and leaves the way he came.
Padme stared at Vader with a mixture of fear, confusion and gratitude.
"Thank You."
Vader spoke aloud in harsh words.
"It'll never happen again."
In an underground fall-out shelter in Coruscant, Kenobi makes his way through a series of tunnels that only a being gifted in the force could fine their way around. Once he turned a corner, he is met with friendly faces.
"I'm sorry Master Yoda." Kenobi turns to another. "Senator Organa. I've failed to free Senator Amidala from Vader." He let the feeling of disappointment and failure flow through the force. He knew better than anyone thata clear head is what is needed if they were to ever win this battle against the Empire.
"You did your best, my friend. That's all we can hope for," Senator Organa assured.
Obi-Wan nods appreciatively.
"Dark times ahead, we have," Master Yoda speaks out softly to the two men.
"Yes, Master, but there's something I think you should know," Kenobi said. Master Yoda nods in acknowledgement and waits for him to continue. "It's about Lord Vader."
"What about him?" asked Bail.
"It's hard to describe, but there was something... elusive about him," Kenobi replied as the three began to walk. "He was far stronger than I, and his swordsmanship is at a level that far succeeds my own. I should be dead, but he... he didn't kill me."
"Wonder why, your mind questions," Master Yoda said knowingly.
"Yes, Master. I do wonder why he let me go free."
"Clouds everything, the dark side does. A mystery, Lord Vader is."
"Do you know if he's harmed Senator Amidala?" Bail questioned worriedly about his long-time friend and colleague.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "When I reached her, she looked completely fine, healthy even. I felt her fear, but I believe she's physically unharmed. I felt no tremor in the force as far as her physical well-being is concerned."
"How much do we know about Lord Vader?"
"Very little," Obi-Wan answered. "This was our first duel. But I sensed a life force behind the suit."
Bail's eyes go wide. "Are you saying that there's actually a living being underneath all that armor? I've read many accounts of his deeds, Lord Vader is as dangerous as Palpatine himself. We have to thread lightly if we could ever hope for democracy to be restored."
"Agree with Senator Organa, I do. But meditate on Vader, I will," Master Yoda finally said. Both Obiwan and the senator bowed their heads before the small yet powerful master disappeared into one of the long dark tunnels.
To be Continued...