Chapter 23: The Sith
The was sun was setting amongst the many skyscrapers of Coruscant now the seat of the Imperial Throne. The Empire had finally risen from the ashes of the Republic two months ago. Peace was finally coming to the galaxy. Yet Darth Vader had a war raging inside of him. He paced the veranda of Padmé's apartment. He wore a black tunic and robes, still similar to that of a Jedi. Yet he was no longer a Jedi, but a Sith.
He still recalled the price he paid for proving his worth and loyalty to the dark side. What was it all for? He had casted away everything in his life for Padmé. So she and their child could live, and yet . . . she was gone. Two months now. Surely by now she had given birth. Had Vader's visions come to past? Had she died in childbirth as he had forseen? What had happened to his wife and their child?
These questions were consuming Vader. His emotions violently swung from one to the next. One minute he was stricken by grief. The next by uncontrollable anger. Why had she left? Had she left him? Betrayed him? After all he had done for her?
Sidious, the man Vader onced called Palpatine, claimed Padmé had run off with Obi-Wan. The two were having a secret affair behind Vader's back. Jealousy and possessiveness clawed at Vader. He had watched the security holos. He saw Padmé board her skiff. He saw Obi-Wan sneak aboard. Surely if the two were together, they would have boarded together. Why did Obi-Wan sneak aboard if he was invited?
Obi-Wan hadn't been invited, Vader was sure. Obi-Wan had taken Padmé. Taken her and her child, Vader's child. The betrayal inside Vader ran deep. Already he placed a significant bounty on Obi-Wan's head. Currently the highest in the galaxy. It was only a matter of time before Vader found either Obi-Wan or Padmé.
Not that Vader was idly sitting by. He had searched for his wife. He had gone to Naboo. Her family had not seen her in months. Didn't even know she pregnant. Every where Vader looked, he couldn't find a trace of his missing wife. So he often came here, to her apartment. Each time he hoped she would be there waiting for him with a small bundle. Each time the cold emptiness only fueled Vader's grief and anger.
Padmé's once beautiful apartment was trashed. Torn apart by violent shock waves of the Force that erupted from Vader. The furniture had been blown into the walls. Cracks ripped at the floors, walls, ceilings, and windows. The place was far from the one tranquil home of a young couple. It was no place for a new family with a baby.
A beeping noise came from a pocket. Vader pulled out his commlink. It was his old Jedi one. He had yet to throw it away as it would be the only com that Padmé would know to call him on. Vader saw Padmé's frequency number displayed on the com. He clicked the com on. It was a voice-only call.
"Padmé?" Vader desperately called out. His whole body was tense while he waited anxiously for an answer. The seconds dragged on. "Padmé?" he called again. His voice more desperate. Why wouldn't she answer him?
"This isn't Padmé," came a very familiar voice.
"Obi-Wan," Vader growled. "Where is she? Where is Padmé? Where is my wife?"
Again another silence stretched. Vader's anger only grew. So Padmé was with Obi-Wan. Why? Was she with him willingly? Unwillingly? "Anakin . . ." Obi-Wan said sadly. Vader clenched his fist of his free hand at hearing that name. "Padmé is . . . dying . . ."
Instantly cold rushed through him. He felt like he was being dragged down from the inside. "What . . .?" was all he managed to gasp out.
"When she went into labor . . . something went wrong. She . . . she hasn't recovered . . ."
Images of Vader's dreams flashed before his eyes. He saw Padmé on the birthing table in pain calling out his name or Obi-Wan's. No, thought to himself. No! He had given up everything for Padmé. Everything so that she could live.
"Anakin I can't . . . I've tried. The doctors have tried . . . Anakin. I've kept her alive for two months. But I can't do it anymore."
"Where is she?" Vader asked. He had to get to her. He had to save her. Only he could do it.
"You must come alone," Obi-Wan said.
Vader hesitated only a minute. "Very well," he said through clenched teeth. Vader knew it could be a trap. He couldn't trust Obi-Wan. He couldn't trust any Jedi any more.
"I will jump to hyperspace if you aren't alone," Obi-Wan warned. "I'm sending you some coordinates. Meet me there in twelve hours."
"That's a short amount of time," Vader growled.
"That's the amount of time Padmé has," Obi-Wan said softly.
Twelve hours was indeed cutting it short. The meetup was in some empty space out in the outer rim. It wasn't near even in a system. Vader assumed that was the point. When Vader's ship exited hyperspace after eight hours of travel, he first saw nothing but the blackness of space. He turned the ship around and was surprised to find a lone Venator-class Star Destroyer. It still bore the red coloring and marks of the Galactic Republic. Vader had come alone, but he had ordered a battlecruiser to come to his location in six hours if he didn't report to them.
Vader reached out into the Force and found only one life force signature. It was bright in the Force, and Vader instantly recognized it as Obi-Wan. He reached out to see if he could feel Padmé, but came up empty. Obi-Wan could be shielding her. Vader had no choice but to pilot his ship towards the cruiser. The large top-side hangar doors were open, allowing Vader to pilot his ship into the hangar.
He at once set out for the med bay of the ship. He noted as he left the hangar, that there was only one other ship there. Most likely Obi-Wan's. It looked like this ship at one point had been abandoned out here in empty space. There were a hundred different reasons to abandon ship, but Vader had a hard time believing it would simply be left out here. A whole working ship was a complete waste. But unless someone knew where to look for it, it was very possible it had simply been forgotten in the bustle of the war.
Vader turned the corner that would lead him to the med bay. He snarled as he was met with the sight of his former master. Obi-Wan Kenobi was unchanged. He still wore his Jedi tunic and robes. His brown outer robe was pulled around him. His arms tucked into the fabric. The two stood staring at each other. Vader's anger pooled around him. Obi-Wan just looked on sadly, before he turned and disappeared into the med bay.
Vader only paused a minute before he stalked after the Jedi. Vader was mentally preparing himself. He had come here to get his wife and bring her back home. Where she belonged. Vader would also need to find out what had happened to his child. Obi-Wan had mentioned Padmé had gone into labor. Yet everything went out of his mind the moment he saw Padmé laying on the cold medical table.
Her skin was pale. Too pale. It had an unhealthy tint to it. Pale blue and gray in some parts. Parts of the skin was transparent and he could see her veins in places. Her skin had sunken in. Her eyes had deep bags under it. It barely looked like she was breathing. Vader reached out in the Force and could barely feel her life force. It was but a mere whisper flickering between life and death. Obi-Wan hadn't lied. Padmé was dying.
"Pad-Padmé," Vader croaked out as he approached the table. His eyes lingered to the flat stomach. The baby was gone. "The baby?" Vader asked. His voice was small. Obi-Wan was silent. Vader snapped his head up at him. "The baby?" Vader growled this time. "What happened?"
"Survived," Obi-Wan said. "Alive. Healthy. Safe." And away from you.
Despite Obi-Wan not telling Vader any more about his child, Vader let out a small sigh of relief knowing that the child lived. Once Padmé was safe and secure, then Vader could deal with securing his child as well. Vader looked down at Padmé. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and fully submerged himself into the Force. He quickly found his anger and rage. He anger at the Jedi. At Obi-Wan, especially Obi-Wan for taking Padmé and his child.
The dark side swirled and lashed out, but Vader reached out and tightly grasped it. He demanded it to listen to him. To follow his orders. The Force fought back a little, but Vader's rage only tightened. Eventually the Force listened allowing Vader to bring his focus to Padmé's body. He carefully examined the failing body.
The organs were in various states of failure, but it all seemed to link back to the heart. Padmé's heart was too large. During pregnancy, the mother's heart was flooded with extra blood to nourish both mother and child. Perhaps it had been too much. Padmé's heart had become enlarged and weakened, most likely during childbirth. Now the heart was failing, or had been failing for two months. Vader could feel Obi-Wan's Force signature trying to help the dying heart. Vader ripped Obi-Wan's work away.
At once the heart started to beat erratically. Vader reached out to it. Felt the midichlorians inside of Padmé, inside of her heart. Vader willed them to heal the heart. To bring it back to its right size. But the work was slow. The midichlorians fought against Vader. It was time to die, the Force seemed to say.
No, Vader thought. He would not lose her. A small part of Vader wondered why Obi-Wan had kept Padmé alive. He recalled Yoda's words when he had confronted the Jedi about saving Padmé. Death was a natural thing and should be celebrated. Why would Obi-Wan go against that? But this was not the time or place for Vader to muse on such things.
Still Padmé's body fought to be healed.
"It's because you're too weak."
Vader's head snapped to the side where he heard the voice. It was not the voice of Obi-Wan. Vader was no longer in the med room. Instead he stood in a barren red landscape. In front of him stood himself. A mirror image. The other Vader wore the black tunic and robe. His eyes were gold with a red edge.
"You're still clinging on to the Light Side," the other Vader said. "Still the weak Jedi Anakin Skywalker."
"No," Vader growled.
"Who are you trying to fool, Anakin?" the other Vader said as he walked over. "With those blue eyes of yours?"
Anakin blinked. For some reason he knew this other Vader- no this was Vader- was right. He was Anakin. The other was Vader.
"You want to save her?" Vader asked. A devilish smile grew across his lips.
"Yes," Anakin replied. "I can't live without her."
"Good," Vader said still smiling. "But only I can do that. Not you. Not Anakin, but Vader."
"Then do it!" Anakin shouted at his other half. "Save her!"
"It's not that simple, Anakin," Vader said as he once again stepped closer. "You're still clinging on to the Light Side. You're afraid. Afraid she won't accept you, me, for what we've done. You still cling to the weak Light Side as a way out. A way back, as if you could."
"No," Anakin replied weakly but he knew it was a lie. Vader was speaking the truth. He hadn't completely banished all of the Light Side inside of him.
"Shall we make a bargain?" Vader said with a slight tilt of his head.
"A bargain?"
"I shall save Padmé. Heal her completely, and you . . ." Vader said drawing out the last words.
"And me?"
"Will be destroyed," Vader said. His smile grew bigger and once again he took another step closer. The two were but a step apart now. Anakin said nothing. "This is the only way, Anakin, to save Padmé." Again Anakin didn't answer. "You are weak!" Vader hissed. "Only the Dark Side can save her. There cannot be a fraction of the Light Side lingering about. I can save Padmé. I will find our child. I will make sure we have everything we've ever wanted and deserved. Everything you failed to do."
Anakin closed his eyes. It shouldn't be a difficult choice. He already knew the answer. But still he hesitated. He would be destroying a part of himself. The old part. The weak part. Yet it was the part that had been a child on Tatooine with his mother. The part that had met Padmé and fallen in love with her.
You couldn't save her, Vader's voice sounded in Anakin's head. Your mother. She died in your arms. Just like Padmé is about to do.
Anakin could feel Vader growing impatient and angry. He could feel Vader's greed and desire. Too long had this side been pushed and smothered down, especially when trying to be the perfect Jedi. Where had that gotten Anakin? Nowhere. The Jedi Council doubted him, questioned him, undermined him almost at every step. No longer would he be humiliated and disgraced. He would be respected and feared.
Yet it would all be at the price of Anakin Skywalker.
Anakin took a deep breath and opened his eyes. His blue eyes met with the burning yellow eyes of Vader. Vader was frowning. Anakin took a step forward, closing the distance between the two. He grabbed Vader's arm.
"You better keep up your end of this bargain," Anakin said.
Vader smiled. "Do you accept?"
"Yes," Anakin said.
"Good," Vader said. Anakin gasped as he looked down to see a red lightsaber stabbing him in the heart. Vader held the hilt. He twisted it slightly and pushed it in deeper. Slowly, coming out of the wound caused by the saber, a black darkness started to crawl across Anakin.
Anakin was frozen. He couldn't move. Couldn't fight it off. The blackness now completely enveloped his body and was growing down to his limbs. Finally all that was left was his head, and soon that was completely covered in blackness as well. Vader pulled the red saber out. With that movement, the form of Anakin Skywalker started to flake apart into ashes and float into the red landscape. Vader only smiled as he watched the flakes float away.
He turned his attention back to the body which was now his. Completely his. He re-established his connection with the Force. This time it easily bent to his will since there was no longer any conflicting notions about which side of the Force he should wield. This time he was completely using the Dark Side. This time it completely accepted Vader's control. Vader could feel the power swelling in him. More power than Anakin had ever wielded.
He pushed out in the Force back to Padmé's failing body. He once again reached out to the midichlorians in her heart and other dying organs. Heal, he demanded. Live. The midichlorians fought back. They didn't want to. They wanted to die. Heal, he demanded again infusing the Dark Side into his command.
Slowly the midichlorians started to react. The fed off Vader's dark energy. They started to heal the heart. The swollen tissues started to go back to normal. The heart was able to pump blood more easily. With better blood flow through the body, the rest of the organs started to mend themselves as well.
When Vader opened his ember eyes, there was a significant change in Padmé. Her breathing was more even. There was a red color to her skin now. Most importantly was her Force signature. It was still weak, but it no longer flickered. She would live.
Vader took a shaky breath. The soft sound of cloth moving, brought Vader's attention to the other inhabitant in the room, Kenobi. The Jedi had moved closer while Vader was healing Padmé. Kenobi was looking down at Padmé.
"You . . . you did it . . ." Kenobi said softly. He looked up at Vader. "But how? What price did you pay, Anakin?"
"That is no longer my name," Vader growled. "Anakin has been destroyed. I am Darth Vader."
Kenobi examined Vader closely. Vader could feel Kenobi reaching out with the Force as well.
"I see," Kenobi said slowly. "So you are truly a Sith."
"Now then, Jedi" Vader hissed. "Tell me where is my child?"
Kenobi straightened up. "You will not get it."
Vader glanced down at Padmé. Her breathing was still even. It looked like now she was just sleeping. Deep inside Vader he felt the small leftover fragments of Anakin stir in anger. Even the weak side of him was angry at Kenobi for keeping the child. Vader straightened up and slowly made his way around the table. He unclipped his lightsaber from his belt.
"This is not a choice you get to make, old man," Vader said as he ignited his blade. A red blade sprang to life.
"I will not hand over innocent lives for you to twist into your darkness," Obi-Wan said as he too brought out his lightsaber and ignited it.
"One way or another, Obi-Wan," Vader said, "You will tell me."
Vader dashed forward, using the Force to enhance his speed. But Kenobi was waiting. Their blades hissed as they crashed into each other. Vader took a step back, allowing his black robe to fall to the floor. Obi-Wan shed his brown robe. The two sized each other up. Then Vader was once again bringing his saber down fast and hard on Obi-Wan.
Vader knew this would be a hard duel. The two knew each other's moves. They knew how the other fought with great intimacy. Yet Vader had the advantage. Obi-Wan knew Anakin, and Vader was no longer Anakin. He pressed hard and fast. It made Obi-Wan go on the defensive. He was slowly being pushed back out of the med bay. More importantly away from Padmé.
Sparks flew from when a saber scraped into a metal wall or floor. The two sabers clashed and clashed. Obi-Wan ducked low and then shot up and forward. He came in close to Vader. Vader barely had time to bring his saber up. He could feel the heat of the two sabers against his chest and face. Vader kicked at Obi-Wan, who somersaulted away.
Not letting Obi-Wan collect himself, Vader charged forward. He brought his saber down low and then up in a strong swipe. Obi-Wan deflected the blade to the side and then brought his own blade into a stab at Vader's open body. Vader used the Force to push himself out of the way of the beam. But then he felt the Force come from Obi-Wan's open hand. He was Force pushed into the wall.
Obi-Wan at once was bringing his saber high and down to strike at Vader. But Vader was able to collect himself fast enough. He brought up his own hand use the Force to blow Obi-Wan back. Vader jumped up. The Force enhanced jump launched him in the air and landed with a satisfying crunch on Obi-Wan's non-saber arm. Obi-Wan let out a pained scream. Vader brought his red blade low to Obi-Wan's throat.
"Now," Vader growled. "Where is the child?"
"I will never tell you where they are," Obi-Wan spat back.
"Fine. We'll do this the hard way."
Vader reached out with his free hand and grabbed Obi-Wan's face. At once Vader was slamming into Obi-Wan's mental shields. The Jedi was desperately trying to keep them up, but he was no match for Vader. Vader used his rage to fuel his power. He smashed through Obi-Wan's shields. Vader savored the fear that blossomed in Obi-Wan.
Vader tore through Obi-Wan's mind to locate his memories. He saw flashes of Padmé on a medical table. Then he saw flashes of a baby. His baby! This only enraged Vader further. The first time he was seeing his child was through Obi-Wan's memories. Suddenly a memory came into sharp focus.
Two small babies were wrapped in soft grey blankets. One had small tufts of brown hair. The other had blonde. They were both sleeping side by side in a crib.
There were two . . . There were two babies. Twins. Vader recalled Obi-Wan's words. I will never tell you where they are. I will not hand over innocent lives for you to twist into your darkness. Obi-Wan knew. Of course he knew! Obi-Wan was planning on keeping this from Vader! This Jedi would die-
Pain exploded in Vader's mind. All he saw was white. He gasped. He couldn't breath. It felt like his whole body was on fire. He was aware his body was on the floor, thrashing in pain.
"I loved you!" Vader heard Obi-Wan say. "You were my brother!"
"Obi . . . Obi-Wan!" Vader managed to spit out. He still couldn't see. The blinding white was consuming him. Burning his body and his mind. Slowly the whiteness dimmed into grey and into black.
Vader awoke to hands shaking him.
"Sir?" came a voice through a vocoder.
Vader's yellow eyes snapped opened. A clone trooper was kneeling on the ground next to him. A few other clones looked down at him as well. Vader quickly sat up, but at once was met with a wave of dizziness.
"Take it easy, sir," the clone trooper said as he put an arm on Vader's back for support.
"Where . . .," Vader said. His mouth was dry. His voice came out as a croaking noise. "Where is Kenobi?"
"There is no one else here," one of the standing clone troopers responded.
Vader swung his head up to that trooper. His armor marked him as the leader of this squad. "No one?" Vader asked.
"No sir. This ship is empty. We only found you," the trooper explained.
Kenobi was gone. He had mentally attacked Vader with the Force. A dirty trick for a Jedi. Then the coward had fled and took Padmé with him.
Padmé!
His heart hurt and ached. She was gone. Taken from him. Again. Their children were also kept from him.
Kenobi, Vader's thoughts hissed. Even the small fragments of Anakin cursed that name. I will find them, Vader promised. I will find my wife and my children. I will have them all. We will be a family. It was after all the bargain he had made with himself.
Anakin's eyes looked at the white and cyrstal world of the moon he had brought his family to. Padmé stood quietly next to him as she processed what he had just told her.
"Was there really no other way to save me?" Padmé asked. Her voice soft. She turned to face him.
"No," Anakin replied. He took a deep sigh. "At least not right then. You were dying Padmé."
"Then you should have let me die," she said in a soft whisper.
The deep anger and darkness flared up inside Anakin. He pushed it down. "I . . . I couldn't," Anakin said.
Tears were filling her eyes. "Yes you could have!"
Anakin placed his hands on her shoulders. "Would have let me die if the roles were reverse?" Anakin asked. She didn't answer, but Anakin already knew the truth. She would have done everything to save him.
"Why . . ." Padmé started. "Why doesn't Vader want anyone to see the children?"
Anakin sighed. "He hasn't made it public that he has a family. He's waiting for when he returns to Imperial Center. He's hoping by then you'd be more . . . open to accept your proper title as Empress. It would be a blow to the Rebellion to see one of their most public faces now at the side of the Emperor. And until he has made it public, he doesn't want it known he has a family especially children. The Emperor has a lot of enemies."
"I'm aware of that," Padmé huffed.
Anakin smiled. "You may be aware of all the Rebellious enemies, but there are plenty within the Empire as well. They wouldn't pause to harm or kill Vader's children."
"I just wish . . . " she said as tears fell down her face. Anakin brought his flesh hand up and gently wiped away the tears. "I just want us to be a family," she said. "A normal family."
"I know," Anakin said softly. "I do too."
"Then leave this all behind! Run away from it all with me and the children!" she pleaded as she grabbed his shirt.
The anger was bubbling inside of him. He pulled himself away from Padmé. "No," Anakin said harshly. "I can't."
"Yes you can!" Padmé pleaded. "You can fight Vader! You can be Anakin. Be with me. With the children. We can all be happy!"
"No!" Anakin said. The darkness was at the tipping point. "Do not ask this of me. It cannot be done."
"Why?" Padmé asked. "Why do you act like you've lost? You're better than this. The Anakin Skywalker I know would never back down."
"I'm not Anakin," he replied. She looked at him like she didn't believe him. He took a steadying breath. "I already told you. There is no fight to be won."
"Then who are you? Who are you right now?"
Anakin stepped away from Padmé and looked back out the window. "Does it matter?" he finally asked. "Who I am? I've told you there is no difference. I'm Vader. Anakin. We're the same."
"I just don't believe that. I don't believe the same person who played so kindly with his children is the same one who threatened them. Anakin is not gone."
"He is!" Anakin barked. "That was the deal!"
"What deal?"
"The bargain I made with the Dark Side," Anakin explained. "I was . . . Anakin was too weak to save you. Only the Dark Side could save you."
She was quiet for a while. Neither spoke. "Which one is it?" she finally asked. Anakin just looked over at her. "Which one is it? You've contradicted yourself. You've said there is no difference between Anakin and Vader. You're one and the same. Yet you also said Anakin was destroyed, which would imply that Anakin and Vader are different. So which one is it?"
Anakin could only stare at her for a moment. There was a small part of pride for her inside of him. "Or perhaps," Anakin said with a slight smile, "Anakin was destroyed and became part of Vader." Padmé let out an irritated huff.
"Regardless I'm not giving up on you, Anakin Skywalker," she said determinedly. "The answer to your earlier question of would I let you die is no. I will not let you die."
Anakin just looked sadly at her. "You should just give up on that fight," Anakin said. "You should just give up on fighting Vader all together. He'll eventually get what he wants. And he wants you . . . and the twins . . ."
"Kriff Vader," Padmé grumbled. "That monster will never have me or my children."
"Please Padmé," Anakin said. He again stepped up to her put a hand on her shoulder. "Do not push him. You do not know the extent to which he'll go to get what he wants. Don't fight him on this. It'll only get worse." He squeezed her shoulder.
She looked at him. Her brown eyes meeting his blue. There was a fire in her. A burning determination. "I will, but only if you make a deal with me," Padmé said. "A bargain," she added with a smile. Anakin slightly nodded his head for her to continue. "I will stop fighting Vader if you start fighting him."
Anakin frowned deeply. "Padmé, we've already gone over this . . . "
"Yes, yes, I know," Padmé said. "But that's my condition. Vader wants a family? Fine. I want a family too. My real family with you."
"And how are we going to be a real family?" Anakin asked. "After everything I've done? How can you be so forgiving?" Padmé was quiet. "Are you just going to skip over the fact I hacked up your old lover? Or killed your rebel crew in front of you? Or bombed Naboo? Amongst all the other things I have done to you? To the children?"
"I don't forgive any of it," Padmé said in serious whisper. "But I know that wasn't you. It was Vader. I can't forgive him. I won't."
"You shouldn't," Anakin grumbled. "He's doesn't regret any of it."
"And yet you ask me not to fight him?" she asked softly.
Anakin closed his eyes. "I know," he whispered softly. "But I ask it of you so he doesn't do more. So you're not hurt any more."
"And the best way to stop him is for you to fight him!" Padmé said. Anakin let out a small groan as once again they circled back to this. "I'm willing to forgive you, Anakin. If that's the price I have to pay to have you back, to have Vader gone, then I will pay it."
Anakin wrapped his arms around her and brought her into an embrace. "I don't deserve you," Anakin said. She wrapped his arms around him. The two stayed like that for a while.
Then Padmé whispered, "Do we have a deal?"
Another stretch of silence followed. "I . . . I will try . . ." Anakin finally said. "It's all I can offer you."
"It's all I ask. Just please don't give up," Padmé said. "I miss you. I need you."
"And you'll stop fighting Vader?" Anakin asked. Padmé reluctantly nodded. "You'll have to get the children to accept him as well." Padmé let out a small growl.
"I will try," she said mimicking Anakin's own words.
"It's all I ask," Anakin said back with a smile. He squeezed her tight for a moment. "I have to go."
Anakin pulled away and smiled at her. Padmé smiled back. Both smiles were sad ones. Ones made from broken hearts that had been attempted to be put back together. Anakin nodded to her and left. He made his way through the hallways. He passed the red guards which were stationed there to protect his family. His passed several stormtroopers on patrol. Each saluted as he passed. He finally made it to the hangar where his shuttle waited.
He said nothing as he boarded. He went straight to the command cabin. Luckily his crew didn't to be told what to do. He felt the vibrations of the engine starting. He sat down in a chair and leaned his head back. His mind went over the conversation with Padmé. He smiled.
"Well that went far better than I expected," he said to himself.
Vader took a deep breath. He knew his eyes were returning back to their proper gold color. Padmé should have listened. He had warned her. He had never lied to her. There was no difference between Anakin and Vader. He had made a deal with her where he had to do nothing on his part. He had told her repeatedly there was no fight to win.
Fear was a wonderful thing. It was something Vader come to learn how to manipulate very well. Yet too much fear didn't work either. That was where Sidious was wrong. He believed that fear alone would keep his empire in line. Fear went hand and hand with hope. You either gave people hope or they would find it themselves. It worked a lot better when you gave it to them. They were always so eager for it.
For example Vader had created fear with a virus. Then he offered hope with the antidote. People were so willing to sell their freedoms for safety. For hope. Padmé was no different. She wanted Anakin Skywalker. She hoped for his return, so Vader had given her that hope. All he had to do was play the role of Anakin. She had completely bought it. Hopefully this would bring her and the twins properly in line. Let them get to love Anakin.
For Anakin was Vader. There was no difference. There was no battle between them. Anakin Skywalker had been destroyed five years ago. The small fragments of that pathetic weakling had long since been consumed by the fires of Vader.
At least that's what Vader thought.