Thanks to my reviewers angie236, Hermya Dawson, fangirlsdontdocalm99, PegaSus2008, AbnormalMind777, HeavenlyMonster, , Murlily, regnae478, and especially Lecordonbleu28, Reyofsunshine06xx, LynaHaber, JustStellar, and all the seriously amazing guests who have been reviewing every update- I freaking love you people, and you are the reason this is out even with the stress of having classes start up again. If I missed anyone, please let me know.
A brilliant mind like Obi-Wan Kenobi's did not have to ponder long to figure out where Vader might have taken his wife and children.
Especially knowing Anakin Skywalker like the brother he had been.
Vader was possessive, jealous in his love for Padme. He would not imprison her - well, the locking up element was a different story - in some obscure part of the galaxy, some random planet on the Outer Rim.
No, she would be right where Vader felt she belonged: with him.
And there lay Vader's greatest weakness.
As brilliant as a military strategic he was, he was irrational when it came to his wife. The only issue now was finding Vader's location . . . and managing to infiltrate said location.
Obi-Wan reached for a button on the console of his ship, activating the holoprojector.
"Senator Organa," he greeted respectfully.
Bail Organa was still in prime condition, a middle aged man of supreme health and fitness- yet it was obvious from his appearance what an effect the birth of the Empire had had on him. Though his hair was still a jet black, wrinkles on his olive skin yet to be truly formed, his features were haggard, tired. A heaviness seemed to weigh on his broad shoulders, making him appear older than he was, deep stress creases ingrained on his forehead mimicking age lines. But the most noticeable were his eyes, drawn with a grim sadness of a struggling hope banished and close to death. No, the time had not been kind to Bail Organa- especially as one of the founding leaders of the Rebel Alliance.
At the sound of Obi-Wan's voice, however, a warm light diffused over the his gaze, his shoulders settling back almost in relief. Bail gave a discreet nod, in confirmation that the call was indeed blocked from listeners. "Obi-Wan," he said, his expression much eased. "Breha and I were beginning to be worried, after you and Padme had not been in contact for over six months. Vader seems to be on a mad rampage, going after whole cities and planets, wiping out quite a few of our allies and supporters. Of course, with the propaganda - in the Senate, especially - we could not be sure it was not a hunt for the two of you."
"I am sorry about that. We switched locations and dropped all communication when the major raids and attacks started, in an attempt to keep a low profile with Vader everywhere on his little excursions. I figured it would be best to keep Padme from her work and contact with the Rebellion, as an extra precaution with Vader so attentive to its activity. Still, Vader . . . " he rubbed a hand over his eyes, his head lowered in guilty defeat. "Vader found her, and-"
"No!" Bail stared, horrified. "Padme has fallen into Vader's clutches?"
"She- and the children. That's why I need your help, Bail, the Alliance's help. I believe Padme to be with Vader, but I cannot be sure of his exact whereab-"
"You need his location," Bail supplied, smiling slightly. "I can give you that." He pulled a datapad from his vest, scrolling quickly, a slow frown of bemusement coming to his features as he read on. "Yes, I do believe she is with him- she must be keeping him busy or he would not be so unusually dormant." He raised a slow eyebrow. "The Alliance has tracked his last known activity as on Tatooine, a few days ago. He must be in the Imperial Palace on Coruscant, or on his personal flagship."
Obi-Wan shook his head promptly. "He would not bring Padme to Palpatine; the latter would undoubtedly kill her, as her presence with Vader would intefere with the Emperor's control over his apprentice."
Bail scoffed. "You cannot believe there is any weakness left in that monster. Surely he only took her for the purpose of punishment and possession of what he believes belongs to him. Even she would not be able to sway him; he has nothing left inside him to be able to feel anything for her anymore."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Obi-Wan said quietly.
"There is no humanity left!" Bail said bitterly, rising as if angered. "He's murdered thousands, possibly millions! Innocents not even involved in the Rebellion!" He pounded his fist on the desk. "How could there possibly be anything left? You cannot stay in this mindset, Obi-Wan! He is gone and thinking otherwise is dangerous!"
Obi-Wan flinched slightly. "I understand that he is gone, Bail. I am merely thinking logically about the situation."
"Well, if you're thinking logically," Bail said sarcastically, "if Vader really is still human, he is surely involved with other women. You know of all those simpletons trying to get into Vader's good graces, as the supposed heir of the Empire. You cannot believe he is still clinging to her with all of those wh-" he stopped, correctly himself, "fools throwing themselves at him."
"If I am sure about one thing, it is that Vader will not sleep with another besides Padme."
"Did you hear the Emperor on the Holonet the other day? When asked about Vader's presence for interviews, he himself merely stated that as a popular and good looking man, his second-in-command needed a break from duties to unwind. We all know what that means."
"And do you really believe the Emperor?" Obi-Wan asked slowly. "If you typically do not believe anything he says - know his words to be ridden with falsehoods and utter propaganda - why is it that you believe him in this instance?"
Bail was silent. Finally, he removed the hand from his chin, as if reluctantly conceding to Obi-Wan's logic. "I see your point," he admitted reluctantly. "But do you see mine, Obi-Wan? We cannot afford to have weakness for Vader when he's slaughtering half the galaxy and ruthlessly hunting our people."
There was a pause. "No," Obi-Wan said softly. "We cannot. I understand, Bail, I do."
At the lack of opposition, Bail's resistance seemed to suddenly dissipate, the weariness making itself prominent on his dignified features. He leaned back, the lines of his forehead seeming to be etched deeper into his skin, adding years in just moments. "You wanted Vader's location." He did not glance up for Obi-Wan's confirmation, knowing what the latter needed. "The Executor has been tracked to the Kwenn system. It is not actively engaged- only at an apparent standstill, so it is likely Padme and the children would be there."
The Jedi Master nodded. "Thank you, Bail."
"And Obi-Wan?" Bail's voice was somber. "I would send you with some backup, if I could . . . " He shook his head, his tone becoming tired. "But you know Mon; even with it being Padme, she- well, she has other interests, and would not support this mission, thinking it's too risky-"
"Of course," Obi-Wan cut in gently, not wishing to make the Senator feel worse than he already did. "I wouldn't expect you to. Naturally she would be worried about men falling into Vader's hands, giving him information and leading him straight to the Rebellion."
Bail inclined his head, regretful but relieved. "Yes."
"Thank you for your help, Senator. I greatly appreciate it."
Bail smiled joylessly. "Get Padme to safety, will you?"
"I will. Take care of yourself, and Breha. May the Force be with you."
There was only a quiet sigh. "I am afraid I do not have much faith in the Force any longer, Obi-Wan . . . if this is what it has planned for the galaxy."
The hologram flickered off, Obi-Wan closing his eyes sadly.
Vader paced his office floor, the darkness for once unable to fully cleanse him of his thoughts and offer his peace. It was suffocating, held hostage under the weight of feelings rampant, clawing for freedom yet powerless to take control.
He found he did not the newfound shift at all.
Why was Padme so . . . complicated? Why couldn't she just accept him as he was, without her probing, her mistrust of him?
Why couldn't she just accept that he was Vader, yet still loved her?
It wasn't like he could say that to her now; not when she would probably slap him in the face and retort with cutting words that would tear the rest of his dead heart to ruins. The weakness and vulnerability for her had to remain locked within lest he bleed from the torture of her vicious hatred.
He could not handle more of her rejection.
Vader abruptly came to a stop in his pacing, strange tinkle in the back of his neck yanking him out of his furious ruminations. His yellow eyes narrowed, his gloved hand waving to the door to open. Something was wrong- very wrong.
The lights flickered off, seemingly of their own accord, the dark shadow passing soundlessly through the long hallways headed for the main living room. Quick but noiseless steps, empty rooms devoid of life, and then-
Eyes so attuned to the blackness could make out the form of a man easily, the gray of the Imperial uniform outlined just barely in the dark as a hand emerged from its sleeve to press at a switch for which the door was unknown. Vader had not the time to dart forward or even breathe a warning before there was the familiar, quiet hiss and the white wall was withdrawing to reveal a terrible sight.
It was the twins' room; but not just the twins were there, exposed and in likely danger.
Vader sucked in a dangerous breath.
Kriffing hell, she was supposed to go back to his chamber!
Padme lay sprawled out on the floor between the two beds, brown curls tumbling down a back half slumped onto Luke's bed, fingers stretching across the gap to intertwine themselves lightly in Leia's. Her breathing was deeper than usual, as if she had finally reached an state of something long unreachable and was sinking into every ounce of it she could get. Two little bodies curled unconsciously towards their mother, hands gripping for her even if they could not reach.
The man's eyes widened, glowing with some triumphant delight, still unaware of Vader's presence behind him. Enraged, the latter took a furious step towards him, nearly overtaking him in his rage even as the former moved eagerly forward-
Both men were abruptly ceased in their advances as Padme shifted, the tranquility vanishing as her features contorted in plain agony. She stilled, as if to fall back into her deep unconsciousness- and then the sound of her voice came, wafting through the heavy air like the whisper of a lover in the night, quiet and forlorn. Suddenly the intruder was forgotten and Vader's breath became bated- there was only him and her, him and his angel . . . him and the angel that was for some reason still calling for him.
"Ani," she mumbled into the mattress, her face stricken and tortured, reaching out for an invisible unknown. "Ani, no . . . Ani, come back . . . "
Something clenched painfully in him at the sight, her soft distress pulling at him like it had a mind and spirit of its own- speaking to him, urging him to . . . what?He did not know, only that the use of his old name did not make even the monster angry as it might have, the demon slinking back in defeat as the protectiveness rose in a wild storm.
This was his family's room- his family was in danger- his family needed him . . .
And he realized he would do anything to help them.
Vader was unable to keep back the low, feral snarl that ripped from his gritted teeth before he was pressing the figure to the doorway, gloved fingers tightening around a writhing neck. The man let out a cry, but Vader pushed his other hand to his twitching mouth to muffle the sound, leaning menacingly close to the other with yellow eyes bright with fury.
"They stir, Lieutenant Rodren," he hissed threateningly, "and your death will be an immeasurably painful one."
Lieutenant Rodren's strangled voice died, his eyes pulsing with terror as waves of fear permeated the air between them. "Lord Vader-"
Vader clenched his jaw irately, dropping the man with a quiet thump. Grabbing him painfully by the leg, he mercilessly dragged the lieutenant across the floor, the man mouthing his agony pitifully as his head knocked painfully on the hard wood. When he reached a place out of earshot of the room, he kicked him to the wall, standing over the cowering form like a looming demon come to take him to hell.
"I should have known Moff Rodren would promote his son to my ranks for the Emperor's dirty business," Vader snarled. "The Emperor practically dictates the lives of you sniveling politician maggots."
The lieutenant was shaking visibly now, pressing himself up against the wall as if hoping it would somehow give way so that an escape could materialize. "L-Lord Vader, please-"
"Spare you?" Vader finished, scoffing darkly. "I don't think so. Now why are you here?"
"I-I just-"
"Answer the question!" the Sith roared in a hard whisper. "The only reason I'm holding back from torture is the sleeping people in the other room you so foolishly decided to risk waking!"
Sweat beads were emerging beneath the black hairline. "I-I was sent by the Emperor to investigate," he muttered reluctantly, his frightened gaze darting around anywhere but to the piercing fire of the livid yellow eyes. "He thought something seemed off and wanted to know what was wrong-" the man hesitated, wiping at his brow as his gaze now flickered in the direction of the twins' room.
"So he sent you to spy on your commander," Vader said slowly, the poison lacing every word. "And you found what you were looking for."
"Please, my Lord, you know I was only following ord-!"
A snap and he was dead, his head hanging at an unnatural angle and eyes still glazed over with fear. Vader snarled in satisfaction, withdrawing his outstretched hand and turning- only to see Padme standing at the end of the room, her big brown eyes staring unseeingly at the man on the floor.
Vader blanched at her sudden appearance, unwittingly stepping to the side as if to block the man from her view. "Padme-"
"Who did you murder this time?" she asked lifelessly. "A hero come to save us from this hell?"
He crossed his arms, his nostrils flaring. "A spy of the Empire," he said stiffly, "come to find you all, report your presence to the Emperor, and get you killed."
Padme scoffed, rolling them wearily. "Right. As if you haven't already told him about us, like the good little Sith you are."
"I haven't."
Though she tried to hide it, he knew her well enough to see the bewilderment pass over her features. She shook her head slightly, as if to clear it, finally looking up from the dead man to meet his eyes. "You haven't?" she asked slowly.
Vader strode towards her, stopping only inches from her form with his arms raised angrily, the frustration coming off him in waves. "Why can't you trust me to keep my family safe, Padme?"
She was silent for a long moment, her gaze moving past him to the dark wood of the floor. "I-" she said finally, her voice a whisper barely audible, "I-I am afraid my trust in you is rather lacking."
Something snapped in the recesses of his being at her words, but before he could even open his mouth to respond she was walking away, back to the room she had come with only the slowness of her steps contradicting the coldness of her move. Vader could not walk, each echoing footfall a pang in his chest. He wanted to go after her, be with the rest of his family; he would even sleep on the floor, for it would not feel hard if he could be with Padme, it would not be unbearable like the ache inside, it would be nothing if he could only be together with all of them . . .
But he let the footsteps recede into nothingness, let the door hiss shut as he turned dully for the long trek back to his room.
They did not want him there.
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100 reviews to the next chapter, and more Vádme, I promise . . . the introduction of a new complication in their relationship . . .
