Chapter 33: The Dark Side

Padmé laid on the medical table. The doctor had just finished pouring the cold jelly on her stomach to help the ultrasound machine's probe slide against her skin. The door to the medical examination room slid open. Both Padmé and the doctor jumped. Neither one expecting someone to enter, especially without knocking. The only one unphased was Padmé's guard. A woman with blonde hair that she kept in a tight bun. She wore the dark red uniform of the royal guard, but no cape or helmet.

Emperor Darth Vader walked into the room. His cloak snapping behind him as he came to a stop in the middle of the room. A raise of his hand was all it took to dismiss the guard. Then his gold eyes settled on Padmé, which only caused her to shiver.

"Continue," he ordered.

Padmé noticed the doctor swallow hard and nod her head. The doctor was an older female human woman. Her hair was grey and short. She wore thick glasses.

"Your- your majesty," she said nervously as Vader walked over to the med table. However, he ignored her. His eyes were on his wife. His gloved hand reached down and grabbed Padmé's hand. It was odd he was here. He had attended perhaps one or two of these check-ups when she first came to his palace, right after . . . the incident on the crystal moon. But since then, he received a report from the doctor about each appointment.

Padmé was startled as the probe was pressed against her swollen stomach. Her attention at once turned to the screen. She almost completely forgot Vader was there. She watched as the unmistakable form of the baby came into view. She hadn't gone to any appointments with her previous pregnancy with the twins. She had been too scared. Too worried about protecting herself and Anakin. Too concerned in keeping their marriage a secret. She should have . . .

She lightly shook her head to clear her thoughts. There was no use in dwelling on the past. She could only do better with this baby. She had been amazed to watch and see how it grew with each check up. At first it had been just a small blob. Then a blob with smaller blobs coming off it. Now it looked like a real baby.

A soft sound reminded her of her husband. She looked up at him, but his attention was completely on the screen. A small soft smile spread across his face. His eyes had changed to blue. She couldn't help at smiling at him. There was no doubt that he was happy and cared for this baby.

Vader stayed for the rest of the appointment. The doctor confidentiality told the expecting parents the baby girl was doing fine. There were no concerns. Vader walked with Padmé out of the small med wing of his palace. His hand rested on her back as he kept the slow pace she was forced now to keep with her ever growing belly.

It was him who broke the silence first. "I am glad everything is going well."

"Me too," she replied softly. "I'm just . . . It's just . . ."

Without warning tears formed in her eyes and started to fall. Vader stopped. His face instantly scrunched up in concern, and luckily his eyes were still blue.

"Padmé?" he asked. His hands gently wove into her hair behind her head. He leaned over and kissed her cheeks. Kissed at her tears. "Everything is fine," he said as he looked into her brown eyes.

"I . . . I know," she said between small sobs. "It's- it's just hormones. But I'm just gla-glad that everything is fine-fine."

Vader pulled her to him. His arms wrapped around her. He kissed the top of her head. "Nothing will happen," he whispered into her hair. "I will make sure of it. Everything will be fine. You and the baby will be fine."

He kept his arm around her while he led her through the palace hallways back to their room. Once there he led her to the bed. She protested. She didn't need to rest. She was fine. But he insisted. He helped her take her shoes off and lay down.

"Just take a moment," he said. "Calm down. Rest."

"I don't need to rest," she said. He brought his hand up to her shoulder and squeezed it.

"Just enjoy being off your feet. Five minutes."

"Fine," she reluctantly agreed. Vader nodded and smile. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before he left the room. She sighed as she let her head fall back against the pillow. Her eyes were still puffy from her outburst earlier. Perhaps Vader was . . . right in that she should take a quick moment.

Closing her eyes felt really good. She allowed her thoughts to wander. She wondered about the baby. What she would like. Luke mostly took after his father while Leia took after her mother. Would this child also strongly take after one of the parents, or would she be more of a mix? She was curious to see how Luke and Leia would handle being older siblings. They seemed excited about the baby and were eager to be big siblings.

Distant shouting brought her out of dozing. She could hear Leia arguing. The children's playroom was next to their bedrooms. Padmé pushed herself out of bed and made her way down the hall. The shouting was getting louder and angrier.

"No! I don't want to! I don't want to!" Leia's voice carried down the hall.

Padmé took a deep breath as she came to the playroom door. She turned into the room. Leia was standing next to a pile of toys. One of the nannies stood with a stern disapproving face. Padmé wasn't a big fan of having nannies, but understood they were needed especially when she had to attend to doctor appointments.

"Leia," Padmé said at the same time the nanny said something. Padmé didn't catch what had been said.

"No!" Leia screamed.

And that was when the room exploded. Padmé was knocked off her feet. She hit the far hallway wall with a thud. The windows shattered and blasted out into the garden. Toys flew everywhere. Out the broken windows. Into the playroom walls. Into the hallway. A few slammed into Padmé.The nanny was blown through the window. Leia stood with her hands tight fists at her side in the epicenter of it all.

Then it was over. The storm suddenly ended as fast as it had started. Padmé could see the tenseness leave Leia's small form. She blinked as she took in the devastation of the room. She slowly turned, her eyes wide, her mouth slightly opened. Then she saw her mother slumped against the wall.

"Mother!" she cried as she ran over. "Mother!"

Heavy feet came running down the hall. By the time Leia was crouched by Padmé's side, the hall was filled with the dark red of the royal guards' uniforms. Leia knelt by Padmé's side tightly clinging on to her arm. A red guard knelt down by Padmé's other side. She was aware the guard was asking her something. But her head was filled with a high pitched buzzing sound.

It was only when hands cupped her face, one gloved and one flesh, that she realized Vader was there. "Padmé," he said softly over and over again. He helped her up and into a waiting hover chair the guards had brought. Vader stayed behind with Leia as the guards took her back to the med wing. Though being there just an hour earlier, Padmé and the baby underwent a full check up.

She wasn't even sure how much time had passed. Hours. But when they brought her back to her room in the hover chair, it was night time. Vader was waiting in their room and dismissed the guards. He helped her out of the chair, into fresh pajamas, and into bed.

"What . . . what happened?" Padmé asked. No one had given her answer back it the med wing. They only said that Leia was fine and not to worry about anything. "Leia is she . . .?"

"Leia is fine," Vader said softly as he pulled the covers up to her chest.

"But . . . I saw . . . the whole room exploded . . ."

"Yes. I watched the security holo." He said it so matter-of-factly. So unconcerned.

"But what . . . how . . ."

"Leia got angry at the nanny. Her anger created a powerful . . . explosion in the Force."

Of course it had been the Force. What else could it have been? But Padmé had never seen the Force used like that before. She knew Force users could do amazing things. She had seen some fantastical feats performed by the Jedi. But she never knew it could do that.

"Her anger?" Padmé asked softly.

"It is something I will need to work with her to control better." He paused as he eyes seemed to travel to the wall that their room shared with Leia's. A slight smile formed on his lips. "What amazing power she already has . . ." He said it a soft voice. More to himself than to her.

"Is this . . . Is this the Dark Side?" Padmé asked.

Vader's gold eyes focused back on his wife. "Of course," he said with an odd cheerful tone. "She's unlocking her rightful power. One day she will be a force to be reckoned with as a powerful Sith."

Padmé didn't respond. Vader turned out the lights and left her alone. But her mind kept replaying the scene from the playroom earlier. The explosion that had come off Leia. The toys and furniture flying away from her. Padmé and the nanny being knocked off their feet.

This was everything Padmé had feared. She would lose her children to the darkness. This had been an accident. Leia had lost control. But this was already the beginning. Already her anger that Vader cultivated was growing stronger to the point where it was hurting others. What would the girl be able to do once she managed to control it? What would she do? What Vader asked her to do? Encouraged her to do?

What would Leia be like as a Sith?

Padmé had feared losing her children to the cruelness of the Dark Side, but she had to admit she didn't know much about the Force. She knew that it had changed the man she loved. Suddenly Anakin had become Vader. Would the same be true for Leia or Luke?

"We'll just have to make sure she can't run away." It was from an old dream, but not a forgotten one. It was right after Vader had killed her rebel crew in front of her eyes. She dreamed of shadow children with glowing yellow eyes and small red lightsabers. They had sliced her legs off, and then one child whispered, "You can't run now."

Padmé awoke in a cold sweat. Pale light of early morning came in through the window. Vader was not in bed beside her. He probably never went to bed last night. She threw the covers off of her and quickly pulled on a robe on for warmth. Her guard didn't stop her or say anything as she hurried from the room. She didn't go far. Just to the next room over.

The door slid open silently, and she walked quietly in. She saw Leia's brown hair in a mess of curls on her pillow. Her blankets were pulled up to her chin. The girl was sound asleep. Padmé quietly approached and looked down at her daughter. The girl looked fine. Peaceful. Slowly and gently Padmé reached down and touched Leia's forehead. Her fingers gently slid into the girl's hair.

Small brown eyes blinked a few times and then looked up at Padmé. It took a few seconds for Leia to register her mother, but once she did she jumped up.

"Mother!" she cried. Small arms wrapped around Padmé's neck. Padmé allowed herself to be dragged down to the bed where Leia fiercely and tightly hugged her mother. "I'm so sorry!" Leia said. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you or the baby!"

"I'm fine," Padmé said softly. "So is the baby. We're both fine."

A small sob bubbled up out of Leia, and Padmé pulled the girl in tighter. The two held each other for a while. Eventually Luke walked in and crawled into the bed. Padmé pulled him into their hug. She then just held both of them tightly. How she wished she could take on whatever darkness was brewing inside them inside of herself. This was what they should be like. Young sweet children hugging their family.

Eventually Padmé led her children to breakfast. By that time the two seemed to be back to normal. There were giggles and smiles as they ate and joked with each other. Then it was time for them to get dressed and go to their lessons. Padmé found herself standing in the doorway of the playroom. The mess had already been cleaned up. The room was completely empty. A few cleaning droids buzzed around as they polished the walls and floors. New windows had already been put in.

Yet Padmé easily recalled the sound of the windows breaking. The sensation of hitting the very wall behind her. A shiver ran through her. She decided to warm up in the sun and made her way out in to the garden, but of course she was drawn to the window of the playroom. The bushes that had been at the base of the windows were now gone. There was fresh grass planted near the window. Any sign of what had happened yesterday had been taken away and replaced.

Padmé sighed. She walked along the perimeter of the garden, hugging close to the palace walls. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know how to battle against this. She thought she was making progress. She thought she was going to win this. She wasn't going to lose her children the way she had lost her husband.

Was she just blinded? Is that how she had missed the signs with Anakin? She thought her love was enough? It could fix him? Was she being naive? All she wanted was Anakin, his love, and the children. She didn't need anything else. They could run away from it all. Go into the unknown regions of space and find a place to live. Leave it all behind except each other. That was all she wanted. But it wasn't what Anakin or Vader or perhaps even her children wanted.

What did they want? Power? Power to do what? If Padmé had power she would want to rid the galaxy of Vader so she could have Anakin back. Vader claimed he had sought power to protect and save Padmé . . . But yet he kept a hold of the power and appeared to be seeking more. He wanted his children powerful as well. Was it because he wanted them to be able to protect themselves? He was afraid of losing them?

Then what of Leia? The girl had been through so much in the last few months. Perhaps all the changes made her feel like she wasn't in control. The lure of the Dark Side's power brought back a sense of control. That she could protect the ones she loved . . . the same as Vader. Padmé sighed. Her head was spinning. She walked over to the palace wall and placed a hand against it. It grounded her back into the real world. She closed her eyes took a few deep breaths to recenter herself.

How could she fight against that lure of power? The quest to protect yourself and your loved ones? Especially in this galaxy? Especially with the experiences Vader and the children carried? Padmé couldn't even say that they were being over cautious. That bad things wouldn't happen. That they would all be fine. They all had experienced horrible things.

Somehow Padmé had to give her family strength and power, but not in the ways of the Dark Side. So what to do?

She opened eyes and she looked into the window closest to her. They were tall large windows. They peered into the training room. Inside she saw Vader with Leia. Padmé frowned. The children were supposed to be in their lessons. Leia wasn't dressed in her training outfit. It appeared the two were just talking, but Vader was doing most of the talking. Leia looked a bit uncomfortable. Her eyes shifted to the ground. She gently kicked her foot. Vader's expression was stern but also soft.

Were they talking about yesterday?

Both of their heads came up, and they looked towards the interior door. A red guard escorted the nanny from yesterday in. She looked disheveled. She still wore her black uniform dress, but it was torn and tattered. Her hair was messy and frizzy. There were still a few raw red scratches on her face, arms, and legs. But there were also a few bacta patches as well. She had recieved aid, but why did she still look like she had just been thrown out of a window? It was now the next day. Surely the nanny should have been allowed to rest and clean up with some fresh clothes.

Leia's small body tensed up at seeing the nanny walk in. Vader waved his hand sharply dismissing the guard, but the nanny remained. Vader gestured and the nanny followed the command to come forward. Vader was talking and looking from the nanny to Leia. Padmé moved closer to the window. She pressed her hand against the cool transparisteel.

Leia pursed her lips and looked down at the ground guilty. Was Vader talking with his daughter about her actions yesterday? That didn't seem quite like him, but perhaps he was. The nanny seemed to be explaining what had happened. Her brows were furrowed in a mix of concern and fear. Her eyes darted from Vader to Leia. Leia had crossed her arms tightly across her chest and only looked more and more upset.

Vader walked over to Leia and placed a hand on her shoulder. He was talking to her. From the looks of it, he was talking to her calmly. But Leia wasn't calming down. She only became more and more unsettled. Her body shifted under her father's hand. Padmé noticed the nanny had gone pale. She was slowly stepping backwards.

A cold hand was squeezing Padmé's heart. This wasn't right. This was wrong. She noticed Vader's eyes. They were yellow. Not blue. His face was growing darker. He seemed to be growling or snarling his words now. He kept throwing dark glances at the nanny.

No, Padmé thought in her head. She needed to stop this. Whatever it was, it needed to stop. What could she do? Bang against the glass? Would that stop this? Padmé pushed away from the window and hurried along the building towards the nearest door. She had to be in there to stop this. She could calm both Vader and Leia down and get the nanny out of there.

Once inside she kept a brisk pace down the hallway. She couldn't quite run with her pregnant belly. Two red guards stood in the hallway next to the door to the training room. They didn't stop Padmé as she pressed the door panel button. The door slid open and she rushed in. She only took two steps in before she halted.

She was too late.

The nanny was levitating off the ground. She grasped at her neck. Her face was completely white. Her mouth hung open. Her eyes were wide with terror. Padmé felt like she was mirroring the nanny. She felt the blood rush from her face. Her mouth open and her eyes wide.

"She made you hurt your mother," Vader's voice hissed.

Slowly Padmé's eyes saw Vader standing next to Leia. His hand on her shoulder. The two hadn't noticed Padmé. They were both focused on the nanny. Leia's hand was outstretched and her fingers were curled. They looked like claws.

"Kill her," Vader whispered.

Padmé opened her mouth. She had taken in the air and was ready to speak. To stop this. But again she was too late. There was a snapping sound. Leia's small hand was now a fist. Her eyes were yellow. The nanny fell to the ground, and Padmé knew she was dead. She stared at the lifeless heap on the floor.

"Padmé?" Vader asked. She didn't look at him, but heard his boots clicking on the floor as took large steps. "What are you doing here?" His hands came to rest on her shoulders.

"I . . . I . . . was . . ." Vader's gloved hand came under her chin and moved her face away from the nanny to look at him. "Leia . . ." Padmé said breathlessly. "She wasn't in her lessons."

The sharpness in Vader's expression lessened. He nodded. Padmé felt small arms wrap around her swollen stomach. She looked down to see Leia hugging her. Her eyes were now back to their normal warm brown. Padmé place her hand on Leia's head and laced her fingers into the girls hair.

"Well now young one," Vader said. "I believe it is time we get you back to your lessons. We've worried your mother enough. I'm sure your brother misses you too."

Leia nodded and gave Padmé a tight hug. Padmé's head was spinning. What was happening? Why were they both acting so normal? As if a six year old hadn't just killed her nanny? The body still laid mere feet away.

"Come," Vader said as he wrapped his arm around Padmé's shoulders and started to lead her from the room. Leia stayed close to her mother's side. Padmé didn't know what to say. She just let herself be led out of the room. No one said anything as they walked down the hall towards the lesson room.

No. This wasn't right. Padmé stopped, and Vader and Leia stopped as well. They both looked at her. Leia's brows were furrowed deep in concern. Vader's head tilted slightly as he wondered what was wrong. How did they not know? How were they not affected? Someone had just died. Vader had . . . Vader had coached . . . taught his daughter how to kill someone using the Force. Now they were both walking down the hall mere minutes later like it was nothing. Just a regular lesson. But it wasn't! This wasn't right!

There was a sharp pain. Padmé became acutely aware of her womb and uterus. It was tightening. The pain started off minor. It felt like something she might feel during a normal menstrual period, but the pain didn't dull. It kept growing. She let out a gasp and her knees gave out on her. But Vader was right there. His warm, large arms caught her and gently lowered her to the ground.

"Padmé!"

"Mother!"

"I'm- I'm . . . alright," she gasped.

"Guards!" Vader shouted.

Padmé tightly gripped Vader's sleeve. "No. No guards. I'm fine. It's fine."

"I'm getting the doctor," Vader said sternly.

"This is normal. It's just contractions," she said.

"This strong this early?" Vader asked. He was right. It was still too early. The baby wasn't due for another four weeks. The pain hit again. This couldn't be . . . She couldn't be going into labor. It was too early. Tears formed into her eyes.

"Moth-mother!" Leia cried.

"Don't worry, Leia," Padmé said giving her daughter a weak smile. "It's just the baby."

"Is it ok?" Leia asked.

"Yes-yes. She's just moving around. Getting ready to come out."

"Does it hurt?"

Padmé gave another weak smile. She could feel a cold sweat start to form on her skin. "Sweetheart, there is a baby kicking and pushing on my insides. Yes, it does hurt. But every mother feels this way when it comes close to give birth."

"Oh," Leia said. But there was a relief in her eyes as she came to understand the situation. "So the baby is going to come out right now?"

No. It couldn't come. Not yet. Padmé squeezed her eyes as another contraction tightened. From her chest to her knees, her body ached and stretched and burned. A wave came over her and suddenly she was back on her silver yacht. The blue whorls of hyperspace had just died away. The glowing red planet of Mustafar loomed large out of her viewport.

Anakin was down there. She had to go see him after everything Obi-Wan had told her. Surely what he had said wasn't true. Anakin wouldn't . . . He wouldn't. He was a good man. A good Jedi. She leaned over to press a button on the control board, but sharp pain went shooting up her spine. Her hand grabbed her back as she gasped out in pain. It took a few seconds, but the pain died away. Her breathing was heavy. Her body trembled. Again she reached forward towards the buttons. She needed to get down to the surface. She needed to be with Anakin.

But the pain came back. It was worse. Ten times worse. A hundred times worse. Each nerve felt like it was on fire. She grabbed at her stomach. The baby! She had to protect the baby. It was her last thought as her eyes closed and her body fell into darkness.

She realized she had fallen over. But she wasn't on her ship. Mustafar was far away. And Anakin was right here. He was shouting her name. Shouting for a doctor. For the guards. Leia was holding Padmé's hand. The girl was crying. But Padmé couldn't speak. She couldn't even open her mouth. It was happening again! She was slipping away.

Anakin . . . You promised everything would be fine.

The darkness claimed her again and everything went black.