The Power to Save Her
Chapter 7
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.
Important Note: I will not follow comics/legends characters or concepts closely, if at all. My knowledge is strictly on the that of the movies and a more mainstream knowledge of Star Wars. Though I may reference events and things outside of the movies, I do not claim to know the material on a deeper level.
He was in Varykino, the beautiful lake country stretching beyond the nearby islands. Both his palms rested on the tan colored stone, its warmth from exposure to the sun, rising up into his bare hands. He was dressed simply, as in times away from the public allowed them to do so. He breathed the air in, fully this time, as the summer breeze teased his hair. All around him, he heard nature and felt the Force teeming with life.
For a moment he felt pure contentment.
Then there was a shriek of laughter that broke the tranquility, but only caused him to feel something he hadn't felt in a long time. An overwhelming sense of happiness. One that transcended all else. With a warm smile, he turned to its source, seeing a blonde haired and blue-eyed boy running down the stone pathway towards him. In one motion, he lifted the boy above him with both hands above him and the child giggled with joy.
"Don't go running off on me Luke.", called a voice, and Anakin turned to see Padmé descending the stairs, her brown hair like a halo in the sunlight. Her pale blue was dress flowing in the breeze.
"But dad's home!", the boy replied, clinging his arms around Anakin's neck. Anakin, held the child there, watching the playful scolding in Padmé's eyes turn into a warm smile.
"I'm sorry I've been gone so long.", he said, reaching a hand to her and she leaned in to kiss him. For several long moments he held her, as well as the boy in his arms. Then there was cold feeling in the Force. She leaned away; her expression changed into that of sadness. Anakin instinctively held the child close, somehow knowing what she was about to say.
"This… is what could've been.", she uttered, and the world around them faded to black. While she stood there, Luke vanished in his arms. He cried out, turning to her, just as she too faded from view.
The same sorrowful gaze was the last he saw of her.
Vader woke with a start to the cold hum of the hyperbaric chamber. The white room mercilessly filled his vision and the warm summer air of his dream was now cold and processed within the chamber. His heart was racing, and a tight feeling at the back of his throat was forming. His arms felt empty. It had felt so real, which made his current reality bleaker. For several minutes, he sat there trying to cling to the first moments of that vivid dream, hoping that it wouldn't disappear as easily as they did.
Even as he was urgently called the bridge, he stayed numb in this state.
The mess hall was once again crowded, though Padmé was significantly less alone. A group of officers circled around her table as she played against the officer that'd wanted to gamble the day before. Her face was blank, hiding any hints as to what she'd been dealt. The officer across from her was having a harder time at being so subtle.
Perhaps politics trained her for more than one talent.
"You can't tell me you've not played this before!", whined Dannen as he threw down his cards. Padmé only smiled and gathered the Imperial credits. Normally she wouldn't gamble but seeing as she was in need of some entertainment, she accepted the game when he'd approached her table with the cards. What these officers didn't know was she'd been tutored by a master Sabacc player the evening prior.
"Well I haven't played before yesterday.", she admitted with a smirk.
"You only need one day to master this?", Dannen huffed but smiled. "That's Bantha poodoo."
"Say what you will," she shrugged, before leaning forward with a challenging expression. "You're more than welcome to try again."
"Nah, I'm all out of credits.", the officer declared, throwing his hands up.
"Well if that's the case.", she replied before shoving the credits back to the officer. "I don't need it anyway."
"You don't want your winnings?"
"I was only after the entertainment, which was provided.", she shrugged, stacking her cards. She pushed them towards the officer. "And perhaps this'll teach you not to gamble too much."
"Fair enough.", he replied, pocketing the credits. The officers around her congratulated her on the win and then dispersed back to their tables. Satisfied, she stood to the leave, but the officer stood as well, his gaze even with hers. "Wait, what're you doing later?"
"I've got the shift on the bridge.", Padmé stated, regarding the young man with a guarded expression. She knew what this young man was really asking. Thankfully, he lost his courage.
"Right… well don't work yourself too hard and steer clear of Vader.", he stumbled before giving an easy smile. "I'd like another chance to win against you."
"Vader?", she asked titling her head.
"Oh yeah, ran into him recently. He nearly had Officer Thanewulf and me executed the other day.", replied Dannen easily, almost as if this was a common occurrence. Padmé saw him tug at his uniform's collar. "Must be in a bad mood after losing the Rebel ship."
"Thank you for the warning.", Padmé replied, voice coming out sharper than intended. Inwardly she scolded herself, continuing in a calmer tone, "I'll keep it in mind."
Then she turned, giving the officer a half-smile, and left the mess hall with purpose. Once away, she lost the smile seeing one of her shadows follow her out of the hall from the corner of her eye. She sighed, curling her hands into fists, once again, growing frustrated. She tried to ignore the impatience she felt welling within, but these spies were making it difficult.
She'd barely spoken to Anakin in the past two days, and she could tell it was wearing on him. Every moment she spent on the bridge, he watched her closely and even when not in his presence he had people following her. She had a private room now, but it was just down the hall from Anakin's. Though this was more freedom than what she was originally given, it wasn't enough. If only games and time spent in good company were enough to keep her troubles at bay.
Her mind was plagued by thoughts of her children, wondering what the next best step would be to be protecting them. With her current status of being a prisoner, she wasn't sure, but she knew as long as she was with Anakin on his hunt for their son, she'd do everything in her power to stop him from doing something he regretted.
After having lost the Millennium Falcon, it seemed that they'd not picked up on the trail of the Rebellion. She counted that as a victory, for wherever the Rebels were, her son was surely nearby. If they ever did pick up the trail, she'd do her best to stay informed.
She was getting close, as the way to the bridge was starting to become second nature by now. She barely had to use cognitive abilities to find it. Though still recovering, she'd gained some strength back, thanks to the nutrients and walking she'd been getting. Though eternally exhausted, she began feeling a bit more like herself every day. Hopefully, the shift with Piett would be relaxing.
The bridge was utter chaos.
The looming Sith, who was also her husband, was there ordering the men to change lightspeed coordinates. Piett and the officers moved quickly to obey, and once more the fleet started a journey towards a destination with purpose. She observed as officers communicated with the other ships of the fleet and stations within their star destroyer. Once done with the preliminaries of lightspeed, Piett caught her eye. Vader noticed her as well, seeing her standing by the entrance. While the admiral approached her, Vader turned away ignoring them.
"What's going on?", she asked quietly as the admiral approached.
"Boba Fett has contacted us regarding the location of the Millennium Falcon.", Piett relayed, keeping his voice low. "We're headed for Bespin."
"Bespin? The gas giant?", she asked.
"With a colony.", nodded Piett. "It's an ideal place for repairs. The bounty hunter informed us of their damaged hyperdrive."
Padmé felt her stomach drop, hoping that these people would be able to get away. Piett noticed her silence and tactfully didn't mention it. The admiral said nothing, but she could see the quiet empathy he offered, even though he clearly didn't support her pro-rebel stance. Though an odd alliance, they at least understand one another.
The hyperspace swirled in the viewport and Padmé watched Anakin's rigid form, facing away from her with purpose. It'd been a first that he was ignoring her and not the other way around. He must know that she'd be upset with him. Shaking her head, she turned to the task at hand, which was helping Piett with his duties.
"Did you win?", Piett asked, keeping his eyes on a datapad, his voice low.
"Yes, though not by much.", she replied with a smile. "Thank you for the lessons."
"I only gave you the rules. The rest was all you.", Piett replied with a subtle quirk of the lips. He continued to work with the datapad. "I hope you taught them not to gamble."
"I think so… ", she replied good naturedly, though felt a sense of unease at what Officer Caltrel had implied about Vader.
"What is it?", Piett asked, catching on to her mood change.
"It's something that was said.", she muttered, before gazing at the intimidating form by the viewport. "How often does he kill his own men?"
Piett's face grew pale.
"It's hard to put a number to it.", was all he said, keeping his voice low.
"That's all I needed to know.", she replied, releasing him from the subject. "I wish I were separate from all this. To be alone."
"I can't grant you leave but this is the best thing I can do."
Here Piett took a few moments working with his datapad before he looked up at her again.
"Officer Navaro, please get this message to the hanger.", Piett instructed handing her a datapad with instructions as to how a boarding party was to be prepared. She felt gratitude towards the man.
"Should this message be delivered in person?", she asked, feeling a smile coming over her, and Piett nodded in confirmation.
"Yes."
"Right away sir.", she nodded, taking a bow before leaving.
A sense of relief overcame her at being able to have time away from Anakin's presence. She was thankful for an ally in Piett. That relief was short-lived however as the Sith trailed behind her. She could hear him approach from behind as she pressed the turbolift button. Inwardly she sighed, getting into the lift and watched Anakin stand beside her. The air was tense after the doors closed.
"What is it Anakin?", she asked, clenching the datapad close.
"We haven't spoken in some time.", he replied, but said nothing else. It was quiet and the respirator filled the silence. Padmé shifted on her feet.
"Have you thought about what I said?", she finally asked watching as he kept his mask faced forward.
"I have.", he responded, surprising her.
"Then why am I still being followed by your spies?", she asked, quirking an eyebrow. "Afraid I'll cheat at Sabacc?"
"Why is it you engage with them?", Vader asked, a tense edge to his voice. She noticed that he didn't deny the spies, which she appreciated.
"They're nice people, despite aligning themselves with the Empire.", she responded, watching as his stance remained rigid.
"You know what they're saying about you?", asked Vader, barely hiding his frustration.
"I couldn't care less Anakin.", Padmé sighed, holding the datapad close. "I'm just looking to find some escape, and if its playing card games with people who think poorly of me, so be it."
"They hardly think of you in a bad light.", Vader responded darkly.
"Jealousy is a little below you isn't it?", she responded, arching an eyebrow, though growing tired. She thought to their wedding on Varykino, long ago. "I'm married, remember? Until death do us part."
"You've died.", Vader replied bluntly, which was followed by silence.
At first Padmé wanted to be horrified by this callous remark but strangely enough amusement filled her.
She laughed.
"What's so funny?", Vader demanded harshly.
"Your unintentional humor. Even after all this time, you're still the same in this regard.", she replied, giving him a bittersweet smile. "I just wish the rest of you came back."
Vader didn't know what to say, so he kept silent.
"Piett says you're doing well.", Vader remarked, arms crossed.
"I suppose he would know.", she uttered noncommittally, noticing the intentional subject change.
The turbolift arrived at the right level and the doors opened. She stepped out while Vader remained within. The hallway was devoid of soldiers for the moment. She turned to him, expectantly, wondering at his reasons for following her.
"If I had gone with you, instead of listening to Palpatine, we would've been a family.", Vader spoke, and Padmé could hear the pain in his voice. She drew her eyebrows together and nodded.
"Yes.", she said simply. "But things have changed. We can't focus on what was, only what is."
"Then why can't we all be together?", asked Vader, not hiding the emotion in his voice.
"Because you actively serve the man who's poisoning your life.", she replied simply, the distance between them palpable now.
"Once he's gone?", Vader asked, large frame filling the turbolift doors.
"You still have to decide.", she replied, standing her ground. "What do you love more? Power or your family."
"Why can't it be both?"
"No one who desires power should have it.", Padmé said confidently, thinking of countless others who'd vied for it in history. "Only those who see themselves as servants. But even then, those people can be corrupted."
"You'd sooner see a system, proven to fail, reinstated once more?", the Sith demanded, but didn't approach.
"If it's a system that gives voices to the will of the people… yes.", she said, believing every word. Vader stared her down for a moment, before speaking.
"You haven't changed."
"In that regard yes, though I do hope I've grown a little wiser.", she remarked looking away from the broken man.
"Yet you still love me.", Vader stated, it no longer being a question. Padmé had said so before, though she decided to articulate why.
"I fell in love with Anakin Skywalker, he's there deep down… so I do."
"What if he's dead?"
"I don't believe that, and I dare say, neither do you.", Padmé retorted, turning away towards the hanger. "Why else would the Force bring us back together?"
"To torment me?", replied Vader pessimistically, then grew saddened. "To show I never deserved you."
"It's not about what you deserve.", Padmé replied, looking over her shoulder. "It's about what you with this chance."
There was silence.
"I must go.", she continued saddened. "Vader needs a boarding party prepared."
She turned completely, leaving him behind.
A/N: And here's another chapter! Things are getting closer to bigger events I have planned ahead. (I hope it's not dragging for anyone, but I do want a well-paced story) I hope my version of Vader/Anakin comes off as genuine and true to the character. His change has got to come from within and I'm working to reflect that well in my writing.
Also, that line about her loving Anakin Skywalker was actually inspired by a review left by RyanSquad who said, "Vader needs know she married Anakin Skywalker, not Darth Vader" and I thought that just summarized it neatly! I wanted to give credit where credit was due.
Special shoutout to RyanSquad, Pink ranger 13, Jeda31, and searth05 for reviewing my last chapter! I appreciate your feedback and LOVE the conversations we're having in PMs. Thank you to those who've favorited/followed my story! If you have any thoughts, let me know! I enjoy hearing from you all. As always, thank you for reading :)