The Power to Save Her
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.
Within the massive ship known as the Executor, Vader watched contemplatively as the med bay workers attended to a woman dressed in all white. Shortly after finding that the woman he loved was alive, he ordered her immediate transportation to the Executor and went with her to the flagship. He had the witnesses of her resurrection dealt with shortly. There was no doubt in his mind they'd report this to the Emperor, which he knew could not happen. The Emperor was full of guile and deceit. He'd no doubt use Padmé against Vader.
Vader refused to think of what would happen to her should Palpatine know she lived and vowed he'd protect her at all costs. She wasn't even in the med bay, rather placed in a room connected to his private quarters, and only two med bay workers with top security clearance were allowed. He'd ensured their silence by thoroughly researching their personal lives, selecting only the ones who'd take this secret to the grave if it meant protecting their loved ones. Even now, he could feel one of the med bay workers panicking at the implications of failing Vader. The medic adjacent to him, was calm on the surface, though Vader could feel the fear below the surface. The two medics finished their assessments with all devices and approached him carefully.
"What is her status?", demanded Vader, arms crossed. One of the two medics, who appeared braver than he felt, stepped forward.
"She's in a coma, due to signs of a significant time with little oxygen in the brain. Though we asses that she'll awaken soon, it appears she's suffered significant muscle weakness, and slight abrasions to her hands.", reported the medic. Vader looked to the woman propped up and attached to many machines. Her eyes were sunken in as well as her cheeks. She looked like Padmé, though had the appearance closer to that of a corpse.
"Very good. See to it that she's well looked after. I would speak to her as soon as she wakes.", replied Vader, implying an interrogation of some sort. "Report to me if her condition changes."
Then he promptly turned a heel and left, though he felt deeply reluctant to leave her side. It had to be this way for now. Unfortunately, he'd neglected the search for the Rebel Alliance for over twelve standard hours. Their search for the Rebels included the pilot who'd blown up the Death Star. Vader's probes, dispatched by the Death Squadron, had been searching the galaxy for many months now, only to turn up with nothing. Now he needed to keep up appearances. If he didn't keep up with the Admiral Ozzel and demand updates for the officers, he knew that any spies aboard the Executor would report his change in habits to the Emperor. Nothing could get past his master.
He made quite a menacing form as he marched down the halls, cloak flowing in his wake. Troopers immediately moved out of the way, allowing him passage, and he stormed on by without acknowledging them. His mind returned to the woman safely held in the private rooms, still utterly in shock at the turn of events. From the surface of Naboo, he himself had carried her to his flagship. He reluctantly left the ship with her, ordering the two medics to follow him, once he landed in his private hanger. The halls were made empty during her escort to the chambers as well. She'd been so fragile in his arms, and even after the supplements given to her in the following hours, quite lifeless. The thought of losing her again brought on a wave of despair, so he resolved to keep her close. He felt her presence in the Force even now, and that alone comforted him.
The blast doors to the bridge opened wide to admit him and he could feel several of the officers stiffen at the sight of him. Stormily, he approached Admiral Ozzel, who'd been speaking with his First Officer Piett. The Admiral was never happy to see him, though he masked it well with a cold exterior of professionalism.
"Lord Vader.", he greeted evenly, though Vader could feel his uneasiness.
"What are the updates on probes sent to the Outer Rim and Western Reaches?", demanded Vader without greeting. Ozzel paid no heed to this.
"My lord, it's too soon to tell, though if sources are correct, we shouldn't find them anywhere near the Western Reaches.", replied Ozzel confidently, almost derisively.
"Do not pretend to know Ozzel. The Rebels have evaded the Empire for far too long. One miscalculation will cost you dearly.", Vader replied, pointing a finger at the overconfident Admiral. "You will be certain of their location before we attack."
"As you wish my lord.", bowed Ozzel though Vader could feel the disdain coming off of the man in waves.
"Captain Piett, you're tasked with collecting and analyzing data from the probes.", commanded Vader, despite the silent protests of Ozzel. Vader turned on Ozzel. "I will have the location of the Rebel Alliance despite your previous failings."
Then Vader left the bridge, having properly insulted the Admiral's mental capacity and put the officers of the bridge on edge. He marched his way back to his private quarters, eager to see her again, though he still felt that she'd not awoken from the coma. The medics were still there, though they were able to do little else than monitor her vitals. At this, Vader dismissed them until he chose to call for them again. Alone with her now, he reached out a gloved hand to one of the bacta-wrapped hands at her side.
She was breathing slowly and peacefully, very still but alive. She looked almost exactly as she did all those years ago and Vader wondered at this. Though the very occurrence of her being alive before him now as a mystery, the fact that she'd retained a semblance of her younger self was puzzling. She was alive, breathing the processed air of the ship. Vader watched her in wonderment, for hours, holding her hand in his, almost forgetting the years he'd suffered as a slave to the Emperor. His search for the Rebel Alliance was all but forgotten while he was here. Though it'd consumed him for almost three years since the destruction of the Death Star, all he could think of now was the miracle of her being alive.
Her bandaged hand twitched in his and Vader glanced up at her form. Her eyelids fluttered and winced at the light of the room, but her breathing became slightly faster as her body gradually began shaking the effects of the coma. Her eyes opened again, staring up at the ceiling, some confusion in her eyes. She blinked and stared up at it for some time, before tilting her head to the side to lock eyes with Vader. The Sith Lord himself was watching with bated breath. She said nothing, just a bewildered expression was set in her gaze, though she made no attempt to pull her hand away from his. She probably wasn't aware of it, Vader realized, knowing that the fog in her mind would take days, if not weeks to lift.
"You're safe Padmé.", was all he said, and she sighed, her grip in his hand loosening. Her eyes fluttered closed again, and Vader kept watch over her, neglecting his own rest.
Over the next several days, she passed in and out of consciousness and the two medics continued to reassure him that this was normal. While she was sleeping, Vader continued to monitor the events of the bridge regularly, making sure Ozzel didn't mess up. The Admiral for his part, kept himself in line, knowing he was walking on very thin ice with Vader.
Four days later, while he was interrogating an officer about the destruction of a probe in the Western Hemisphere, another officer approached him from behind.
"Lord Vader, the Emperor has made contact."
"I will be there shortly.", replied Vader, before leaving the bridge, much to the relief of the officer he'd been questioning. Vader felt a sense of dread overcome him, though he hid it with the Force quickly. There could be no hint of treachery in his thoughts and certainly none of his beloved wife. Vader swept into the room, receiving the summons of the Emperor. He knelt before the hooded figure, who watched him with his careful yellow gaze.
"What is thy bidding my master?", spoke Vader, genuinely curious as to what the Emperor wished of him. There was a moment of silence before he spoke.
"There was a great disturbance in the Force four days ago. Have you felt it?", asked Palpatine carefully.
"I have my master.", replied Vader, seeing no point in denying it.
"I believed it to have come from somewhere in the Mid Rim.", spoke the Emperor, whom Vader could feel was probing the edge of his mind. "Not far from where you're stationed?"
"Yes master."
"This is the work of that pilot who destroyed the Death Star. He's powerful in the Force.", declared the Emperor. "Be sure to pick up on his trail Lord Vader. He will lead you directly to the Rebellion."
"It will be done, my master.", replied Vader, feeling relieved all at once, though he dared not project his feelings into the Force.
"Be sure that it is. I sense there's more to this boy than meets the eye.", revealed Palpatine before he cut the transmission. Vader wondered what he meant by that, slightly disturbed by the interest the Emperor was showing before the transmissions cut. Shaking himself, Vader rose and left the room, making haste towards the bridge to tell the officers to double their efforts.
Something in the Force halted him on his way. There rose a feeling of fear before it turned to confusion from the source, and Vader instantly knew from whom it came. His angel was finally conscious. Trying to hide his urgency, he marched his usual purposeful stride towards his private quarters. At long last, the door to this room hissed open and he whisked into the room before it sealed shut behind him. The medics had their backs to him, simply facing the woman in question. It seems he had happened upon a conversation, for she was awake, gazed fixed on the words one of the medics was saying.
"The Empire, it's been around for 22 years now.", came the voice of one medic.
"I cannot believe that.", she spoke, brows furrowed despite her weariness. "The Republic stood only a few days ago, I'm sure of it."
"I'm afraid it is true.", spoke Vader, making his presence in the room known. She gasped when she saw him, and instantly Vader flinched, thankful for the mask for once. She looked on him with some horror, though he sensed her curiosity in the force as well. "The Imperial Senate had ruled the Galaxy for many years."
"Who are you?", she asked, eyes searching him.
"This is Lord Vader, the Emperor's right-hand.", announced the braver medic, probably thinking he was doing Vader a favor. The Sith however, didn't appreciate the gesture for Padmé looked upon him with a coldness he'd never before seen in her eyes.
"You're both dismissed.", declared Vader, watching the two exit the room after a hasty bow. He didn't watch them leave; his eyes were fixed on her as she returned him with the same look.
"The Emperor is Palpatine isn't he? He used his emergency powers to dismantle the Senate.", spoke Padmé, her gaze careful.
"Yes, though few would dare call him by his old name.", replied Vader, wishing that the subject would change to anything but his hated master. He spoke the next words without giving them much thought. "You've been dead a long time."
She flinched at his words; gaze cast aside pensively. Her eyes found her hands, wrapped in bacta patches, and she lifted them before her face. Some confusion was in her eyes, before it turned to horror. She looked back to Vader.
"I was buried.", she nearly whispered, her mind racing, knowing she'd forgotten something. She thought carefully, but the memories evaded her. Even though she'd realized his words before, it was only now that she truly understood. "I died."
"Yes.", replied Vader, not knowing how to proceed.
"How did I die?", she asked.
"I wasn't there.", lied Vader, even as the memories of him choking her came to mind. There was a double meaning to his words and they both knew it. There was moment of silence. Something in her clicked into place, her eyes shifting to him.
"W-who are you, really?", she asked once again, a shimmer in her eyes. Vader didn't answer at first, thinking of being a coward and leaving that unanswered, but he couldn't do that to her. Especially now, as a look of slow understanding crossed her features.
"I believe you know Padmé.", Vader replied quietly, a strange feeling overcoming him.
"Anakin?", she asked, her face turning mournful. Vader heard the name, though he didn't acknowledge it at first. That name no longer held any meaning for him. She spoke it with some longing. As though it meant something to her, he mused. As the silence stretched on, he began to experience an uncomfortable feeling. The walls in the room were too close, even with the huge viewport that showed the stars in all their beauty.
"Yes.", was all he said, and he watched as she gazed at him, an indiscernible expression upon her face.
"What happened to you?", she asked, a certain reservation in her tone.
"Kenobi happened.", spat out Vader, regretting it after seeing her flinch. Then softer, he continued. "It happened on Mustafar."
"Mustafar…", she whispered, a hurt look on her face. Silently, she raised a hand to her throat, never once breaking eye contact. Vader bowed his head in shame, no longer able to meet her gaze.
"I'm so sorry, Padmé, I… I'm sorry.", replied Vader, his voice quiet, not knowing what else to say. She looked on him, an anguished expression on her face. "I never meant to hurt you."
"But you did.", spoke Padmé, jaw trembling, even though her gaze held steady with his. Even though he could see the tracks tracing down from her eyes. "You did, Anakin."
"I promise, I'll never hurt you again." Vader stated fervently almost angry, though at who he wasn't sure. Then his voice became distant. "The Dark side is strong, yet I let it blind me to what I was doing."
"And it isn't blinding you now?", she asked, giving him a hard gaze.
"I've mastered it.", was his reply, though she looked on him with doubt. Vader didn't back down from his declaration, even as her eyes pleaded with him silently. Before she could speak again, his com unit came to life.
"Lord Vader, Captain Piett has found a lead on the Rebels."
A/N: After much deliberation, I decided that this story takes place after A New Hope. After doing some research on when Ozzel became an Admiral, I realized that it was a bit early to have the Executor commanded by him, since he didn't get promoted until after the first Death Star's destruction. Also, I personally love Empire Strikes Back, and would be eager to match up the timeline with that. I've made the adjustments in the first chapter to reflect that it's been 22 years instead of 19 years.
I hope you can bear with me as I make small adjustments as we go.
Also, thank you so much for the favorites and follows! I've been watching the numbers for how many have read this and I'm astonished! Thank you so much for taking the time to read, and I hope you enjoy the story as it continues! By the way, don't forget to leave a review if you liked it!