Chapter Nine: The Outfit
It had been two weeks she had been taken prisoner by her husband, Vader. Padmé awoke and found he was gone. This was per the norm. He often left in the early hours of the morning cycle. She glanced over at the chrono on the bedside table. A slight bubble of frustration came up. She was still annoyed she had to ask him for it. She had no doubt he took pleasure from her having to ask him for anything.
She sighed as got out of bed and walked over the large viewport. Another star destroyer floated nearby. It was part of the fleet that was escorting the Devastator. Her eyes moved pass the large ship onto the stars. She was always trying to figure out her location. It was easier when she could see the core of the galaxy and its bright cluster of stars stretching out in space. She could then make out easily identifiable systems. Yet like now, when her view was not at the core, it was hard to tell where she was.
She turned from the viewport and for the first time noticed a large white box on the dresser with a red ribbon. Her blood turned to ice water and the small box that had held the finger in it came to mind. Her thoughts raced. She hadn't stepped out of line at all. What could be in a box that large?
Could this be it? She asked herself. Was he finally going after that deep secret Padmé held?
She didn't want to open it, but felt compelled to do so. She found her chest tight and her breaths small and shallow as she stepped up to the dresser. The red satin bow easily came apart with a small tug. Her hands shook slightly as she pulled the lid up.
She thanked her gods and the Force there were no human body parts. A giant wave of relief flowed through her. Inside was a black garment with a small holoprojector nestled on top. She put the lid to the side and turned the projector on. A small blue holo of Vader appeared.
"Good morning, my love," his voice said. "I have considered your request about new clothes. I hope you find my gift to your satisfaction. Perhaps you should wear it today. I have freed up my schedule. I thought as a reward for your loyalty to your husband and excellent performance of your duties, you might enjoy a walk beyond your chambers. I'll be waiting."
The holo flickered off. Her emotions were all over the place from the message. On one hand she was greatly annoyed by that arrogant cocky smug bastard. She scoffed as she recalled his words of "loyalty" and "excellent performance." Yet she was also a bit happy he had actually listened to her. Then again she was annoyed he always played it out as if he was doing her favor. It was by being in his good graces was she allowed anything.
The request for new clothes had from a conversation a two days ago. It was the day after she had witnessed the battle in space.
"Why do you always wear nightgowns?" he asked her. He had come to join her for the evening meal. "Not that I mind, but you do have a closet of other clothes."
She bit down an irritated sigh and the response she wanted to give to him. Instead she said, "Why bother? I have nowhere to go and no one to see me, except you."
"I would enjoy seeing you dressed up," he said smiling at her.
Padmé rolled her eyes. "Why go through all that effort, just so you could rip it off of me five minutes later?"
He laughed. "I suppose that's true."
"There is nothing practical and comfortable in there for me to wear. It is nothing but gowns. So I just opt to wear the night clothes for now."
They were quiet for a while before Vader spoke up again. "Would you like some new clothes? Practical, comfortable ones as you call it?"
She paused eating and looked at him. He had that horrible smile across his lips. The one he always wore when he was playing his games with her. She debated on answering, not knowing on what she might be bringing upon herself if she agreed.
"Yes," she said softly and braced herself with whatever price he would throw at her for such a request.
"I will consider it," he said and returned to his meal.
Padmé moved the holoprojector to the side and examined the contents of the box. She then got dressed in the outfit. She was torn. Part of her didn't want to do anything he said, but yet part of her desperately wanted to leave her rooms. She reasoned with herself that perhaps she could formulate an escape plan. Anything that brought her closer to getting away from Vader was worth it. She hoped.
The outfit consisted of three pieces: a top, pants, and a jacket. The top was a simple flowing silk black button up. The pants were tight black leather, and also simple. Clearly the main focus was the jacket. Like the other two pieces it was also black. It featured a large turned-down collar and a leather belt. It fell down to her mid-thighs. There was delicate embroidery along the collar, cuffs, and belt. It featured curling vine motifs. However it was done in a black shimmering thread, so one only caught brief glimpses of the pattern when the light hit it.
Padmé doubted it would be anything she might personally pick out, but it was far better than the lavish untouched gowns in the closet. At least in this she could move with ease. She put her hair into a single braid, and then looped it up into a bun. She was not in the mood do anything else to make herself look good, especially for him.
Done getting dressed, she made her way into the living area. Vader was laying on a couch. He was stretched out, his arms folded behind his head. His eyes clothes. Padmé let a small snort of air out in frustration as she walked over to him. Yet he didn't move. She paused, crossing her arms across her chest, waiting for him to wake up. She knew he wasn't really sleeping.
It was all just another game to him. She was going to have to wake him up. She debated on it. What she wanted to do was attack him. Grab a pillow from the bed and smother him. Tighten her hands around his throat. To be finally free of him, but alas. She knew it would never work. Instead she bent over and pinched his nose shut.
He immediately opened his eyes and let out a small laugh. "That's how your wake up your husband?" he said as he looked up at her. She responded by glaring at him. His hands came and grabbed at her waist and then pulled her down. She fell on top of him and his hands were quickly pulling her so her upper body was against his. His hands came up to her cheeks as he brought her face up to his.
"I was hoping for something a bit more intimate," he said in a deep husky voice.
She knew where this was going, and she let it. His lips met hers and started to kiss her. She kissed back. It was like flipping a switch. She let her body run in autopilot. She was just going through the motions that he wanted. But deep down inside of her, her real self, her core, she kept locked away. It was the only she had kept herself sane. It was the only way she was able to go through this day after day.
When he was done he pulled her close and just held her. They stayed like for a long time. She tried to stay as relaxed as she could. She made herself take deep even breaths. Eventually he stirred and said, "I do believe I said we'd go for a walk. Shall we get going?"
She untangled herself from him, and the two stood up. He smoothed down his expensive well-tailored black clothes. Padmé noticed for the first his lightsaber was clipped to his belt. She hadn't seen him wear it once inside these rooms. The last time she'd seen it was back in the cell. He offered his arm to her, she took it.
He led her to the back door, the one by the kitchen. Once through the door they were in a small short corridor. They paused as the door behind them open. Only then did the door in front open. Padem frowned to herself. If she had to guess, both doors couldn't be open at the same time.
Once pass the next door they were in a gray corridor. It was featureless. She glanced up and down the hallway before Vader lead her down to the left. He lead her to a turbolift, and then once out down a few more featureless hallways. She saw no one else. No troopers or officers or even cleaning droids. Had he cleared the hallways? Did he not want anyone to see her?
It wasn't the first time her mind thought to what was happening out in the galaxy. Had Vader announced her capture? Closed off her bounty? Had he used her defeat in a new wave of Imperial propaganda? She didn't know.
Her mind went back to her crew and rebel cell. She often found herself questioning what happened on the junker ship. She had clearly been captured, but how had Rion been captured? He had been on the Helios Eclipse. Had he taken a small ship over to the junkers when she didn't report back? What happened to the others who were also on the junker ship?
They made a turn through two large double doors. She noticed at once this appeared to be the detention block. She sucked in a breath as her insides started go cold. Again there was no one here. Not even at the front desk. Vader lead her forward down a hall of cells. He finally stopped at door, which opened with a soft swishing noise.
Inside the cell was a metal table with a figure strapped on to it. A few life support machines stood nearby keeping the individual alive. Padmé felt a lump in her throat as she slowly approached the table. She knew what she would see. It was Rion. She instantly sought out the missing hand, foot, and finger. Of course she couldn't see the tongue.
Slowly anger and grief started to swirl and bubble up inside of her. She looked at Rion's face, now thin and sunken. His skin was pale, almost translucent in places where his blue veins showed through. He looked like a corpse.
Padmé spun. Vader was right behind her. His face a bit emotionless. As if he was bored.
"What- what is this?" she demanded. "This isn't what I agreed upon!"
"Are you accusing me of not keeping up my end of the bargain?" he said as he raised one eyebrow. "I said I would let him live." Vader paused as he glanced over at the figure on the table unphased. "And he's alive."
"You call this living? He's not even conscious!"
He sighed as if irritated. "I feel you're being a bit ungrateful."
"Ungrateful?" She was taken aback. "What is there to be grateful about?"
"He's alive. He's also generally pain free."
"He's in a coma!"
Vader stepped forward placing his hands on her shoulders. "Padmé, his fate rests on you. You're still adjusting to your proper role." She bit her tongue and clenched her teeth from the retort that died in her mouth. "If you continue as you have," he said as he leaned forward bringing his face closer to hers, "I will continue to reward you. But in case there is ever a need for more . . . Shall we say reminders? I can always make this situation worse. As you can see I am expressing a great deal of kindness to this man."
He straightened up and took his hands off her shoulders. He walked towards the corner of the room where a metal cabinet stood.
"But perhaps you need a bit of proof to show you I'm genuine in my promises?" he said with his back still towards her. Which promises was he thinking of? She asked herself. He had just promised to make his life worse or better depending on how she continued to put on her act of the wife. He opened the cabinet and then moved off to the side so she could see what sat on the shelves. She could clearly make out a prosthetic foot and hand.
"You can make his life much more comfortable. Perhaps even bring it back to something normal?" Vader said as he picked up the prosthetic foot. He walked back over to the medical table and placed the foot next to the stump on Rion's leg.
Padmé just stared. She clenched her teeth, accidentally biting the inside of her cheek. She could taste blood, but she didn't release the muscles in her jaw. She didn't know what to say. She was afraid that whatever she said Vader would twist it against her. She would play more into his games, as this surely was. So for now she opted to stay silent.
Vader just watched her for a moment. Padmé could tell out of her peripheral vision that he was watching her, but her eyes weren't on him. Instead she was looking at Rion.
"Perhaps we should discuss this elsewhere?" Vader said finally breaking the silence. He moved and stood in front of her, blocking her view of the man on the table. He gently brought his hand up to her face and tilted her head so that she looked at him. "Shall we talk over lunch?" he offered with a warm voice and warm eyes, which only made Padmé shiver with cold.