Vader sat quietly in his personal chambers contemplating the day's events. His discussion with Padmé had proven to be rather fruitful, and his test of the memory wiper was beyond a success. Organa didn't even remember his own name. It was therefore quite simple to manipulate him into sending a message to the rebels that it was time for construction of the base to begin. Vader proceeded to station a hundred troopers on Dantooine to await their arrival. The rebels would never see it coming.
As for the amnesiac Organa himself, he commanded one of his captains to take a short detour to Tatooine. The rebel scum would fit right in with the scumbags of that wretched planet.
Just as he was about to remove his helmet and rest for a bit, his communicator beeped.
The Emperor.
Vader placed the device on a small table and a hologram of the hooded figure appeared. He could've sworn the old man's nose had gotten larger.
Vader knelt and bowed his head in forced respect. "What is thy bidding, my Master?"
"Rise, Lord Vader," the Emperor ordered. "I would like a report on the latest rebel activity."
Vader internally sighed with relief that he had good news to deliver. "Due to a successful interrogation of a couple important prisoners, construction of a new rebel base on Dantooine has been thwarted."
"Very good," the Emperor replied in a deep, slithery tone. "I take it that these important leaders have been disposed of?"
Vader gulped, but did not hesitate. "Yes, Master."
"Excellent," the Emperor responded. "Perhaps the rebels will take a hint from the deaths of not one, but two superiors. They only grow weaker by the day. Soon, they must abandon their cause or they will all be subjected to the power of the Dark Side. I expect another report in two weeks."
"Yes, my Master," Vader answered as the hologram of Darth Sidious faded.
He quickly grabbed the communicator and threw it violently to the far side of the room. If Sidious were to find out that he had let the prisoners live, the consequences would surely be severe…
But his overarching struggle was the simple question: Why? Why had he lied to his Master in favor of two powerless rebels?
Vader removed his helmet and mask and stripped down to the black shirt and sweatpants he wore beneath the heavy suit. He ran his flesh hand through his hair and had the brilliant idea to cut some of it and have it transplanted to the bare half of his scalp.
Rebels, Vader. Focus on the rebels.
But the more he focused on the rebels, the more frustrated he grew. His head ached from trying to come up with a solution to this conflict.
Vader lay back on his rock-solid mattress, hoping that sleep would give his mind a break, but he found himself just staring at the gray ceiling that matched the gray walls surrounding him. He sat up, deciding that in order to solve this, he would need to face the source directly.
"Are you an Angel?"
She looked at the little blonde-haired boy, a bit startled. "What?"
"An angel," the boy elaborated. "I've heard the deep space pilots talk about them. They're the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They live on the moon of Iego, I think."
She smiled, a bit flattered. "You're a funny little boy. How do you know so much?"
"I listen to all the traders and star pilots who came through here," he explained. "I'm a
pilot, you know, and someday I'm going to fly away from this place."
"You're a pilot?" she asked, admiring the young boy's sense of adventure.
"Mhm. All my life."
"How long have you been here?" she replied, suddenly curious.
"Since I was very little, three, I think," the boy answered casually. "My Mom and I were sold to Gardulla the Hutt, but he lost us betting on the pod races."
"You're a slave?" she asked in horror.
"I'm a person and my name is Anakin..."
Padmé was suddenly pulled from the first peaceful sleep she'd gotten since being aboard The Executor by the dreaded sound of the sliding door. It took her a moment to come to her senses- the dream had been so vivid, as if its events had taken place only yesterday. She found herself subconsciously grabbing the Japor snippet as if it would somehow save her from whatever was coming next.
She sat up and found herself facing Vader himself yet again. He was holding a tray of something that looked barely edible.
"I brought you some food," he said. Padmé noted that he was fond of very direct greetings.
"What time is it?" she half-grumbled.
"3AM in standard hours, I believe," Vader replied, shutting the door.
3 AM? Why the hell did Vader wake her at 3 AM?
"What do you want?" Padmé asked, determined to follow his pattern of bluntness.
"For you to eat something," Vader replied, holding out the tray.
"That looks disgusting," she said.
"It is," said Vader, "but unfortunately we do not serve gourmet meals here, Padmé."
"Don't call me that," Padmé snapped.
"What would you prefer then?" Vader asked.
Padmé frowned. How did she want Vader to address her?
"Senator," she decided. "Or perhaps 'woman I'm holding against her will'."
"I like Senator," Vader responded, ignoring her snarky comment. "Eat."
Padmé was surprised at his next actions. Darth Vader sank to the ground and sat across from her at her level, placing the tray of mush between them. She could no longer deny her hunger and gave in.
"Do you hand-deliver this crap to all your prisoners?" she asked, a bit surprised at her confidence.
"No," said Vader.
A few moments of silence ensued before Padmé decided to break the awkwardness.
"What did you do with Bail?" she asked.
"I didn't torture or kill him," Vader replied.
Padmé could tell he was being honest and did not press for further details. She spit out a small piece of something oddly crunchy. "Want some?" she said to Vader.
"I'll pass," he replied, initiating another uncomfortable staring session. Padmé was determined not to look away this time.
"Is it because you don't want to take your mask off?" she inquired.
"It's because I just ate some of that shit and don't really want any more," Vader answered.
Padmé almost smiled, but caught herself. I can't smile at Darth Vader!
She had to admit that his honesty was starting to freak her out a bit. And she still hadn't figured out why he was here. As she continued to stare at the mask, imagining what horrible creature could possibly be hiding behind it, Padmé realized that she was neutralized to his presence. Though she didn't enjoy it, she was no longer afraid of the Sith Lord. He wasn't going to hurt her. Why, she was unsure. But she knew she was safe.
Vader watched intently as the woman before him slowly devoured her meal, her long brown curls messy from a few days without brushing. How he longed to run his fingers through them, tending to each strand of hair with absolute care…
He had thought this visit would clarify things for him, but his thoughts and feelings were growing more complicated with each passing second. His hunger for the power of the Dark Side was no match for the sheer presence of this woman. He craved it, needed it.
She was calming. When he was around her, he could forget his duties and the Emperor and everything that made up the half-man, half-machine that was Vader. This was dangerous, though. A great threat to all he had accomplished.
"You still haven't told me what you want," the angelic voice stated, interrupting his revelations.
You. I want you.
"Just…some company," Vader replied, immediately regretting it.
"So you're keeping me around…because you're lonely?" Padmé replied, setting down her spoon.
"Padmé…uh, Senator," he began before she interrupted again.
"Lord Vader, you should know that you and I can never be acquaintances," Padmé stated, assuming a stiff senatorial tone. "Everything we stand for and believe in is different and I am disgusted by your very existence!" She paused and looked away, lowering her voice. "I would like to go home, please. If you really do have any decency, you'll allow me this."
Vader looked away, as well. Her harsh words had prompted a sudden turn in his current state.
"You're disgusted by me?!" he shouted, rising to his feet and not caring if the troopers outside the cell could hear. The walls shook, small cracks forming here and there. "Why? WHY?! Do you not understand?"
Vader watched as Padmé trembled, trying to get as far away from him as possible while still maintaining her balance. She clutched the tray white-knuckled as if preparing to use it in self-defense. Oh, how he wanted to hurt her. No one, NO ONE, was permitted to speak to Lord Vader as she had. Did she not sense how much he cared about her?
"Please, stop," she pleaded, but her voice was distant to him. "JUST STOP!"
Vader was brought back to reality and the room ceased to shake. He looked down at Padmé, not in tears like the last time he had lost control, but simply maintaining an unreadable expression. He tried to reach out to the Force to see what she was feeling, but he was unable to get through.
At a loss for words, he stormed out of the cell with no "goodbye" or "good night" or "sleep well" as he'd intended their conversation to end. She would pay for this.
Thanks to all my new and returning followers and reviewers. Hope you all enjoyed the new movie!
