Author's Notes: I know it's probably something you don't want to hear, but I'd appreciate any reviews and opinions people reading this may have. Without your voices, I have no idea how this story is being perceived. It's not a requirement, but like every story I read here on this site, I try toalways leave feedback whether it was a random comment or an actually review. Any encouragement from readers always helps to fuel the fire. Seriously.
Chapter 5: Disturbance
Almost Twenty Years Ago
They were still in zero-gravity, Shmi and her son, Anakin Skywalker sat strapped into their seats, his mother's outstretched hand resting on Anakin's arm. At just five-years-old, little Ani saw the world with innocent wide-eyes, not understanding exactly what was going on around them.
When the ship shook, he held clutched to his mother as the cargo ship descended the planet Tatooine's atmosphere. She gave him a warm and reassuring smile before he loosened his grip.
"Are we there yet?" he asked, smiling up at his mom.
"Almost, Ani," she replied, brushing some of his hair out of his face. She held him close to her, hoping that her embrace will let go some of the fear she knew her son was feeling. "Everything's going to be all right."
"Are we staying here?"
His mother nodded, holding the sadness inside.
"Yes, I think we are," she said but she knew her dear son felt otherwise. Anakin had always displayed a keen sense of intuitiveness towards other people's feelings. Hers, she had no doubt, was no different.
Anakin looked out of the small window he and his mother had sat against oblivious to the cramped space of beings from various worlds all around them. The sun shown so brightly outside that to Anakin, it was blinding.
"The sun feels hot," he pointed out.
Shmismiled. In addition to her son's intuitiveness, he was also a quick learner and a well-spoken child. Regardless of her station in life, the force granted her this gift and she loved him all the more for it.
"Tatooine has more than one sun, Ani."
His eyes go wide in astonishment.
"Really?"
Shmi let out a low chuckle when suddenly, turbulence hit the craft. She grabbed Ani and held him tightly while her other hand held onto a part of the ship. There were a lot of whispers, grumbles and panic in the air that she can even feel her son's heart beat pound faster.
"Everything's going to be all right," she whispered by her son's ear, hoping that her voice was soothing enough to relax him a bit.
"I'm scared."
"I know," she said. "I am too."
In a matter of seconds, the ship that held them shook uncontrollably, red lights blinking all around them as they spun out of control across the skies. She didn't know how they survived, but after they crashed landed, the cargo hold opened, and the last sight Shmi Skywalker saw was the lifeless body of her only son in her arms and a hot red blade that hissed in the air.
Soon her eyes fell and then she saw nothing.
Present
Padme walked into his quarters to find Lord Vader still asleep. Throughout her captivity, this would be the first time she had seen him stay under for this long. She had rarely seen him sleep at all and it made him appear more human to her than she cared to admit.
While his eyes remained closed, his movements betrayed a nightmare.
It was almost unfathomable to think that such a being even dreamt, let alone have nightmares, but that is what she was witnessing. He was shaking, almost as if he was trying to will himself to wake up.
She feared what would happen if she touched him awake. For a man as powerful as he, she didn't know if he could harm her in such a vulnerable state.
His breathing became uneven again, and it worried her. She reached out and placed a hand by the side of his cold face, and to her complete and utter surprise, his convulsions began to slow down to a halt.
Odd, she thought.
"Who are you, Darth Vader?" she whispered to his sleeping form as she let one hand brush through his short blonde hair.
She told herself that what she was doing was wrong, and that she should have let him bleed to death, but that is not her. It is not how she was raised. She believes in peace and justice, not war and revenge.
He relaxed against her touch and Padme felt a strange sense of thrill for having that kind of influence on him, even if he was unaware of it.
But life as Vader's wife is not what it seems. Long days without any contact with the outside world left her ostracized. If it hadn't been for the books he had delivered to their quarters, she would be going mad and crazy with boredom.
The one other thing that's kept her mind at ease was the knowledge that Vader will not force himself on her.
That is the one thing that left her more surprised than anything else.
Surely, he has been ordered to by his master.
Shaking those awful thoughts from her mind, she looked back down on her patient. She removed her hand from his face when he started shaking again.
"Shhh… you're safe here," she said, not believing it herself, but it seemed the only thing she could think of saying.
When he didn't respond to her words, it became apparent and uncomfortable about what she had to do. Slowly, she moved to the opposite side of the bed and lifted the covers so she could slide in.
She knew the moment the thought crossed her mind that it was going to be a mistake, but if she was ever going to get through this and win back her freedom, compromises had to be made.
For both their sakes.
So for the remainder of the night, she lay besides him and held his hand as the events of the past night claimed her to sleep.
If he wakes up and she is still there, she feared what would happen next.
In the Emperor's newly built throne room of what used to be the Jedi Temple's highest tower, the Emperor's eyes snapped open while he was in heavy meditation. An evil smirk appeared around his lips as he pieced together the meaning of the disturbance in the force.
"It's finally begun"
To be continued…
Author's End Note: This chapter was short but I'm trying to pace it well enough that it doesn't get too cluttered with information. I believe in pacing. I don't like rushing, unless I absolutely have to.