Chapter 20
From the distance, through the Force and not his eyes, the Dark Lord can see Jedi rushing to the building. Oh, how so easily he can kill them all if that didn't leave a trail on him, and how the Jedi has undoubtedly discovered the truth that Hego Damask is also a Sith Lord and no doubt would hunt him down.
Plagueis hates to admit it, but he knows that killing Sidious has only brought about a further wound with the Grand Plan and his way to rise to power in the Republic. He is nowhere as influential as his former traitorous apprentice was, meaning that he would have to destroy the Republic by other means without rising to power, especially since the Jedi already frown at his darker nature in the eyes of the public.
Plagueis wanted everything involving the Grand Plan to be by sneaking in the Republic - except that he wanted Sidious to name him, as Hego Damask, co-chancellor. Then they could rule the galaxy together as equal Sith Lords and end Darth Bane's Rule of Two- which all but required the apprentice to eventually kill the master. Plagueis envisioned them both living forever, using what he had learned about midichlorians through decades of research.
But Sidious realized that once he's Chancellor, then he doesn't really need Plagueis anymore and it would undoubtedly be politically cumbersome to elevate someone widely seen as a washed up banker to that position anyway so he had planned to kill him while they were celebrating his election.
Why couldn't he hadn't sensed it earlier - it would have certainly stopped the Grand Plan from receiving much damage - is beyond him, but not all hope is lost. For while Sidious is dead, the Sith under the name of Darth Plagueis still lives. Indeed, he would have to hide like in the original version of the Grand Plan like Sidious would have regardless, but he would be able to unleash his powers in the opening at least until he is powerful enough.
Him ever being voted in at this point would be not only extremely unlikely but impossible, for his powers would not only be disrespected by the locals but he would already have the Jedi that would suspect him.
Not only would he be defeated should there be a confrontation by the Jedi but many would ask questions about his missing limbs and all of the injuries that he had just received in his fight with Sidious. Even a Jedi Knight could defeat him in the state he is in, meaning he would have to wait for a due time while allowing the Viceroy of the Trade Federation to be prosecuted and allowed to spend time in prison which was another plan that has gone into flames the moment Sidious had betrayed him.
While he healed his wounds with the dark side and allowed himself to meditate to regain much energy that he has lost in his recent battle and healed some of the wounds that have been acquired, he can at last move, though there is a noticeable limp within each of his movements which is not helping him in the slightest.
There are Sith Holocrons which he is currently leaving behind but given that the Jedi would be alerted to the dark side's sudden announcement within the galaxy ringing stronger than they have ever thought, them finding the ancient Holocrons would not be a likely outcome. When Plagueis does come into contact with them, he knows he would have to reteach himself using past knowledge of the Sith.
The Holocrons aside, the Muun knows there are many elements that he is ignoring that are present on Coruscant, but it is his priority to gain an individual who can lend their assistance, and he had an idea of doing so. There are many Jedi who has disillusioned involving the Order and the Republic, but one stands above them all who would be able to recruit the rest easily if Plagueis can recruit him to his side.
So Plagueis, under the pose of Hego Damask, hides his stump beneath the dark cloak - while applying a mind trick on the security guards.
"Lead me to a ship."
The guards, under the influence of the Force by Darth Plagueis, enter the hangar where a ship is waiting for him. Now that their use is concluded, Plagueis smirks.
"You'll forget about my presence."
Those are the last words before Plagueis enters the ship, thinking about somewhere that shall take him to a secure location where he would be able to heal and tend to as well as conceal the Sith Holocrons. He has learned from the lessons with Sidious and that means he would be able to teach them to not be failures like Sidious was.
He knows that him immediately leaving Coruscant a day after the death of the Supreme Chancellor would only warrant suspicions by the people but remaining here would not solve his personal predicaments. Questions would be raised about what happened to his limbs and the fact that cameras showed them last together, meaning people would demand for his arrest.
He must move now before he is hunted down.
He slumps into his chair before setting coordinates. While receiving healing on Coruscant is certainly supremacy in his thoughts, he knows that the Jedi could haunt him down while he is unconscious and while him blinding himself to the Force is no longer an impossibility, meaning that finding a healing base of his own on a different planet would have to be preferable.
He needs more time to meditate on the recent change to the Grand Plan.
"You know Anakin would have flown off and just allowed him to do so?!" Padmé shouts, an exasperated expression across her face. "Vader, I'm not certain if I should outrage with you or laugh at the absurdity you have just committed!"
"In technicality, Skywalker is to be praised for the deactivation of the Droid Army as they originated from the Droid Control Ship. As far as they know, he is the one who stopped the entire army. Many will admire him. He would be talked about in history books. Children would wish to be like him. He should receive the honor." Vader replies, crossing his arms across his chest all the while feeling deep tints of amusement at what his wife is feeling as of now.
"You are willing to deny fame for someone else..." Yané states in shock.
"He is the one who piloted men and women into battle," Vader replies. "Whereas I played a vital role in the defeat of the Federation, Skywalker was the deciding factor ultimately."
Padmé nods slightly.
"To address your statement from earlier, Queen, I have neglected to mention that if Nute Gunray discovered me deactivating his army, he would have likely evacuated. At this rate, I stimulated onto his arrogant and incompetent ego, and also ameliorated your awareness and the battle in your veins, improving your instincts drastically." Vader responds, smirking at their surprise through the Force.
"...You were testing us," Saché says in realization.
"You each are incredibly skilled in terms of marksmanship, but talent without training is nothing," Vader replies, answering without answering at all, folding both gloved hands over one another behind his cape.
She pinches the bridge of her nose before asking with irritation, "Can you at least answer with a proper explanation?"
"You challenged my views and I decided to show you what it's like to be in the midst of a battle. This is the definition of being a warrior, to lead men and women into battle and mowing down any enemy that crosses your path while learning each time. Experience outranks everything. Now, you will be able to exploit your potential in future battles that are to come. Your instincts have been sharpened to the point where you may be able to combat and defeat Jedi with your bare hands. Unquestionably, you have witnessed the death of friends and people you know, but now you will be able to perceive your senses as well as the Jedi." Vader's eyes alter gazes from Saché to Sabé. "Tell me, Sabé, what was it like to be in command of the battle?"
Sabé closes her eyes, replying leisurely, remembering as much as she can from the battle. "Noise, confusion, smoke, adrenaline, reflexes - and training - all come together with an intensity that is difficult to describe to anyone who has not experienced this. Missing from the mix, until it is over, is reflection. It's scary too. You constantly are nervous that everyone and everything around you want to kill you. Your hearing is either so sensitive that a second hand on a watch sounds like lightning, or so muffled that everything sounds like you are under water. You wonder what everyone back home is doing, you wonder if you will see them again."
"In that, you have learned what I have intended to teach you. You have called me a warlord and I gave you a taste of battle and being a warlord as one tastes food." Vader retorts. "This is what the Jedi fail to understand, in forfeiting their warrior past, they have become shortsighted, inconvenient, and discourteous. War carries a terrible price few can return from, but war also have their refinements in not losing sight and to have stronger senses."
"At first I thought pacifism was the way," Padmé admits slowly, chewing her lower lip, something she does when she's anxious. "However, due to pure pacifism, I lost friends throughout the last week and we nearly lost our home." Her eyes lock onto Vader. "Why did you want to teach us this?"
"Simply because I have seen the potential within you all. It's a demanding lesson but you each see what I see. You learn that pacifism is not always the path." Vader responds. "I attempted to warn you but could sense there was no persuading you so I allowed events to occur. You each thought the Republic would aid you, and as terrible as the cost of learning this lesson, you now learned what it's like to live in the Outer Rim. You each have a taste of nearly losing your homeworld."
They should be angry with him about how he made them lose all who they love a lesson, but they cannot find it within themselves for some reason.
"Warriors aren't as terrible as the Republic and other foundations make them out to be," Eirtaé replies, realizing her whole life along with countless others about warriors haven't been explained entirely. "Being called a warrior doesn't mean you are a horrible person. It means you are capable of going into battle and defending yourself. One is capable of being a warrior but remaining a good person just as long as lust for battle doesn't blind their judgment."
They will be quite useful allies to Vader in eliminating Sidious. For now, they are his only allies. He just requires to have a substantial amount of influence over them much as Palpatine had over him-wait. Is he practically manipulating them? Is he becoming like...
No! He will never exploit their loyalty to him, forcing them to commit atrocities, and have them be mere puppets that will be cast aside like garbage! He is not like Sidious! Not anymore nor will ever be like him!
Calming his thoughts with the light side of the Force, Vader sighs mentally until he feels those such thoughts no longer disturbing him. He cannot wait until he will be able to behead Palpatine's head from his shoulders.
"Precisely, and now you will intensify in strength," Vader affirms, eyes glistening, pleased they are now getting it and that he can persuade them one day to his side which will be beneficial in the long run since getting Padmé away from Palpatine's scopes since all he needs is the taxing challenge to acquire a greater influence on her. "The more you go into battle, the more your view alters the galaxy. You each see the galaxy differently now from your former view."
And thus, Padmé and the rest of the ladies are now swayed completely. Their only comparable quality is their personality, but their pacifism has been limited drastically. Undoubtedly, Padmé will still loathe the creation of the clone army in 10 years and would still fight against it but she will take drastic actions against drastic measures.
"Are you all going to retire soon?" he inquires. "You are still in your army clothes."
"We wish a word with Ani to thank him," Eirtaé replies this time with an amused grin now directed at Padmé. "We hope he is somewhere in the Theed Temple and that Jinn will send him here."
Vader is stunned. So, they wanted-want to thank Skywalker? Why didn't they in the original timeline? Is it because Obi-Wan took him off Naboo immediately after the celebration, for he had lost his Master and crave not to be on such a planet any longer? Or perhaps they didn't receive the chance to do so because Kenobi was urgent to leave? He can't find it within himself to blame Kenobi. It's something anyone would have wanted to do after witnessing their father in all but title perish in the battle.
"Additionally, Padmé has a bone to pick with him about getting in a starfighter, demolishing a Droid Control Ship, and we wish front rows seats at such a display." Sabé adds with a knowing smirk.
Vader arches his right eyebrow at the Queen. So, she is overprotective of him, even as a teenager? Soul mates for certain.
"Don't believe I'm not thankful," Padmé declares, scowling. "It-it is just Jinn told him to stay in the blasted cockpit, and the next thing I hear is that he's leading an army of men against a kriffing Droid Control Ship! He literally was just freed from slavery and could have gotten hurt! What possessed him not to keep himself safe?!"
"You are too overprotective," Vader says in amusement, taking no small amount of pleasure in this, along with a brief moment of curiosity. He remembers when Padmé flashed him a smirk and didn't appear to be angry with him in a starfighter. Then again, the handmaidens probably calmed her down and told her not to trivial herself on the negative, advice given to him by his own Master during his adolescent years and even as an adult. The two are more like each other, and he can imagine Sabé being put in many situations like he and his former Master from another timeline. Getting on the nerves of the older siblings is engaging after all.
"I think Vader is right, that you are just overprotective," Yané argues, teasingly grinning from ear to ear, "don't want your little friend and future Knight in shining armor to get hurt."
Sabé grins. "It is traditional for older females and younger males, Padmé. I won't be surprised if you two are married."
Vader coughs mutely.
'Damn, she's so fraking perceptive.'
"Weren't you blushing in the presence of Kenobi just several days ago, Sabé? Gushing at such a dazzling man."
Sabé blushes madly, earning an arched eyebrow by Vader and chuckles from her Queen and her fellow handmaidens. Is it possible that the handmaiden had a deep crush on Obi-Wan in the other timeline? If so, why hadn't he noticed it?
"Take it back."
"Never."
"You wait, Padmé, you're getting a wedgie later."
"Try me."
Why does the bantering of Padmé and Sabé leave him with a sense of longing? It reminds him much of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi from another time. Even without understanding a Force Bond, Padmé and Sabé do have a bond, a bond stronger than the one between Padmé and Sola and even Padmé and Skywalker. He can sense it will never be undone, just like his bond with Obi-Wan, even deeply buried, was never truly destroyed until he eliminated him on the Death Star and that has been rebuilt.
"We all have to have a serious conversation," Saché says with a smirk.
Throughout their conversation when they begin to speak about something else, Vader's vision begins to contort. Sounds of ringing... along with the world shifting around him... he hears the sounds of blaster shots followed by flames...
Reality returns, and he gasps, facing the forms of seven handmaidens who are blissfully unaware of Vader's trivial emotions, that being evident by them now laughing at a joke of sorts that Rabé makes.
Vader is about to speak when suddenly he clutches his hooded head; something is wrong almost as if a rotating dagger is impaling through his head. A disturbance through the Force, and Vader pays close attention to it. The Force suddenly becomes charged in the palace, warning the Master of the Force there is something wrong.
He knows the safest and shielded place should be the palace itself with the guards, a few chosen Jedi by the Council that may or may not have just been assigned here for his presence.
But something is not right.
Suddenly, a shockwave is sent through the Force, a similar shockwave compares to the execution of Order 66 though less violent but still making him jolt back slightly as it has done to him briefly even after his turn. He isn't certain if the Jedi in the palace felt it, but given the Jedi's alarm, he knows they can as well. He can sense the Jedi are wishing to detect the threat instead of attempting to warn everyone in the palace and evacuate them likely believing they will discover it quickly.
The room falls into silence, and Vader clenches his hands up into fists.
And that is when the floor under him begins to crater, surprising each of them as they have never witnessed such an ability before.
"Duck..."
"Vad-"
"Duck!"
A tremor in the Force hits Vader like a title wave similar to the way Order 66 hit the likes of Yoda and other Jedi who were fortunate enough to counter the betrayal.
Vader seizes them and throws the women down onto the ground before the threats enter from the corridor behind - individuals wearing uniforms of both guards and handmaidens but obviously are not - attempting to fire in the direction of the women, their information about the Queen's appearance short but willing to kill them all under the final command of Darth Sidious.
Vader activates his lightsaber and steps in front of the women protectively, blocking all of the shots and causing them to crash against their chest, not even hesitating in cutting them down from afar, his defensive impressive, and proving himself as unbeatable with only several swings of his lightsaber which brings them down.
Ceasing the door shut with a thought as he had done when attempting to gain the Death Star plans from the Rebellion, Vader raises the remaining ones into the air and cracks their windpipe without issue. At that moment, a bomb ignites from within the palace. By now, Padmé and the rest of the teenagers recover, but explosions vibrate the palace which nearly causes them to stagger under the might but they manage to keep themselves standing.
Yells from all around them, flames suddenly clouding the former throne room, coming unmerciful and prepared to swallow them all if Vader didn't use the Force to keep the flames at bay. Most within the palace, namely the guards and the other handmaidens, didn't know what hit them, for the explosions killed them instantly. This has been due to Sidious who have always been powerful politically, now dispatching bounty hunters after them and wishing to kill the Queen greater than in the original timeline. Even in death, the bastard is still striking against them.
Padmé's eyes widen at the dead bodies that have suddenly filled the room, the apparent guards who have been killed by Vader, and she now regards the figure who stands above them all. Vader who could kill them all-
"Vader-"
"Take a good look, Amidala," Vader says, bringing over a dead corpse for them all to see.
They are surprised to see a creature that they have never seen before - a Weequay - and someone who mustn't have been on their security detail or else they would have been informed. This means that the Trade Federation - in their minds - is still striking against them, yet Vader knows the truth, for there have always been backup plans from his old Master, and that is one reason why his Empire has been successful.
"Sidious-" the almost inaudible words come out of his mouth enough for each of the participants to hear.
"Sidious?" Padmé asks, standing back up as she grasps hold of her blaster, prepared for the battle that is coming.
Vader stares at her, blinking before realizing his slip up. He has just admitted to them the name of the Sith Lord unintentionally, but this may be a beneficial thing given Padmé was too trusting in the Republic and now she knows that she should be wearier of people.
"What if I told you that Palpatine was behind the Battle of Naboo?" Vader queries, knowing that they do not yet know of the Sith Lord who has been behind much of their pain in the original timeline.
"Senator Palpatine was a traitor?" Sabé murmurs, surprised at what Vader is saying but having gained much trust in him to not doubt him at this point, even with the Senator of Naboo concerned who she only trusted because Naboo trusted unconditionally and the many services he has done for the Republic.
"A Sith Lord, the one who has dispatched the Zabrak after us earlier, with the intent of bringing you back to Naboo before killing you, Amidala," Vader replies, knowing that this news would only shock his future wife but no longer would she falsely believe that the Republic can be saved which led to the Galactic Empire. "He was the one who have planned all of this. He has been manipulating you all along, and would have brought about the Empire with this battle, a terrible war against the Trade Federation and subverting the role of puppeteer that none of us would have been able to stop, including the Jedi."
The Queen is not taking it well, her knees buckling at the realization that the seemingly innocent Senator wanted her dead and pretending to be an ally when he is nothing worse than Nute Gunray and his lackeys.
"That's not true, that's impossible!"
"Search your feelings. You know it to be true." Vader didn't miss how this sounds like his confrontation with Luke on Bespin city, where his son was unable to believe the truth due to seeing his father as a Jedi Knight who was the brightest light of the galaxy, but it appears that all he does is tear apart the ones who he loves galaxy into pieces. "I know because I was brought here to kill Darth Sidious who was in reality, Chancellor Palpatine, but against my expectations, it was the Sith Master who has emerged victorious and now has his own plans to take over the galaxy, but there have always been contingencies that I wasn't aware of when he perished. The Jedi as blind prats too inflexible and honor-bound to oppose him, the Trade Federation too stupid and under his sway as well as believing that the Sith do little nothing else but manipulate they were going to be thrown under, those who would have followed him too grandiose in their visions to see how expendable they are, and you, Queen of Naboo, in the middle, a puppet ambitious, altruistic and loud enough in her convictions to stand up and shout."
"He used me," the Queen says slowly, her head bowing as tears leave her eyes. "I trusted him."
"You still have loved ones, Padmé, do not allow yourself to believe all within the galaxy would betray you and is a traitor like Sidious was," Vader responds soothingly, knowing that this news would have long time damaged Padmé in many ways.
"He's right, Padmé, I serve you and you alone. You can ask everyone here and they would say the same." Sabé replies without hesitation, speaking for the rest of the persona.
That's when the door blows off, firing in the direction of those who are present in the room, surrounding them and overwhelming them. Vader can kill them all easily, but he knows that this would lead to the death of the non Force Users shortly if he refuses to get Padmé and her handmaidens out of this palace...
That foolish belief.
Vader begins batting away the shots with little effort, and Padmé and the handmaidens are flanking him, firing their own bolts at them without missing a single shot and connecting with the threats' heads. Smoke due to the intensity of the bolts is beginning to surround the throne room.
The bolts are only getting closer to the young women, showing it is only a matter of time before the Assassins would be able to kill the women. Vader's anger rises, a Force Blast erupting from his hand and crashing against the bounty hunters, sending them onto the ground and providing them a clear opportunity to escape.
He seizes all of the teenagers with the Force at exactly the same time with only his left hand, before leaping backward unlike expected, pushing passed the flames and coming into the other room, knowing that the flames would prevent those who are firing at them from entering.
Vader releases the women onto their legs, parrying each of the bolts that come at him, and sends them back to their owners, noticing that the palace was now rapidly slipping off the platform. This time, he is not killing droids, but rather hired guns and assassins of Sidious, allowing him to sense the calls of death that the dark side can only bathe in. How long has it been in control around him without amusement of those who are falling?
Within his essence, he calls on deeply with the Force, outstretching his right hand and calling off not the light nor dark but the Force itself, electricity blasting against the individuals, crashing into the doors, knocking the hinges off the doors and exploding down the halls, the glass on the doors scattering all over.
Vader walks down, keeping the flames at bay, and chops the one who is standing at the right down, before crushing the left's throat, knowing that he would never make it down to the palace in time no matter of his power as he is meant to protect Padmé and those who she calls her sisters and avoid her from suffering a terrible fate or loss. Luckily Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and his younger self are elsewhere, at the Theed Temple not far from here, so that means he wouldn't have to search frantically for them before whatever is about to happen occurs.
The palace is beginning to become unstable, causing Vader to cling to the wall's edge while holding the ladies with the Force, doing so with little complication.
"The palace! It's tearing apart!" Rabé cries.
To make the matter worse, the blaster bolts are getting closer to connecting with their desired targets which are the ladies. Vader can easily take care of them, but he knows that this palace would explode any second, and the last of Sidious's assassins would die with it but they believe they would die with some of Sidious's enemies also following.
Vader closes his eyes and reaches into the Force to keep the palace stabilized, knowing that even the Force would not be able to stop the inevitable explosions, but he still has extra seconds that he can save their lives.
'Seconds!'
Vader propels his lightsaber towards the window while throwing the shots to the side with the Force without any concern, whilst allowing the women to get their own fair of shots against those who are struggling to keep control. Wind tears into the palace seconds later, crashing against all of them and demonstrating to them all that the palace is at last reaching its tipping point no matter what they would do.
'A second!'
Swiftly, Vader pulls the young woman towards him...
'Now!'
Explosions...
And the Force itself wavers...
Many lifeforms are fading both allies and foes...
Just as the palace falls off of the platform, Vader carries himself and each of the women, not wishing to allow them to die by an accident of all things, thus ruining the possibility of his children ever being born and his presence here being all but meaningless. They are saved half a second too early with the flames pursuing them, a muted explosion seconds later coming after them, prepared to swallow but missing others it can claim.
As they scream, he is the only one who remains calm despite the situation, closes his eyes, and reaches into the Force, wrapping a blanket around them before allowing each of them to be carried onto the surface of where the entrance of the palace has once been, releasing them without even sparing a breath. That has only required minimal use of the Force and there is no possible way Vader would grow weary with merely carrying himself and the several others, not when he has accomplished his full potential now and the decades of being a Jedi and Sith, that his mastery in the Force can do wonders that even the Force itself may start to fear him.
The women are still floating around him when he allows them to drop gently onto the ground on their backs, while Vader lands on his feet, his cape billowing in the air behind him and around him, the flames appearing to create the sight of a demon about him.
Now, Vader is reflecting on what has just occurred on this planet which has once been one of the most peaceful planets in the galaxy but is now replaced by nothing but violence and death. Scars would always be there as would the failed Sith of this timeline. Vader couldn't even be successful enough to counter this one because he has been leading from the front lines and allowed the Assassins to enter the palace and that is the failure of his and his alone.
A time traveler can certainly cause new realities as that is the consequence of time travel that no fate is absolute even if in a past timeline different outcomes happened or different choices were made. Without Vader, everything would have been the same as they were in his timeline, but both galaxies would be different as an entire, for better and far worse.
"No..."
A harsh whisper catches Vader's attention, reminding him that this Padmé is still innocent and pure despite her new views. In due time, she would be able to accept death as it is but now with the tears in her eyes and the trauma that has been inflicted on her, Vader knows he would have to proceed carefully.
Vader is feeling an emotion that he hasn't felt for so long, an emotion that many even his own daughter believes he is capable of feeling. Empathy. Empathy since he has lost many people in his family in worse fashions, thus making him the superior person in the situation to be able to understand the perils of emotions that are within his wife.
In spite of disliking Panaka, he has people who he acknowledged before that survived inside of the palace such as Ric Olie and Jerus Jannick, two good men along with many others who would still be alive had he never gotten involved.
Positively, he managed to save his younger version of his future wife and her sisters' figures. He knows that the Queen and handmaidens do not know yet of Panaka's deeds so they still consider him a friend, relying on him for protection and trusting him. They didn't time travel from the future with the valuable knowledge he possesses. To them, Panaka's a friend who they can trust to no end, which is why it is a personal blow to them.
Whereas others hated him before; for Force's Sake, Sabé and the other handmaidens hate him in the other timeline with the Amidalans Rebel Cell they led. His own daughter even hates his guts, but he cannot bear the fact that he is hated by these girls for some reason. There is also Padmé there and her hating him would wound him to no end.
He is prepared to be repelled with angry scowls, prepared to be lashing out at, looked at like a vague monster, and forced to leave, full of remorse at even screwing this time up in just hardly a week of being here. His future galaxy hates him so it appears that this timeline will follow the same. What's new?
"Let us depart," Vader declares after a moment, now speaking as gentle as they have never heard from him before.
"Surely we can go inside the palace. You have the power to wipe away from the flames, right?" Yané asks hopefully, causing a small ounce of regret to form in his eyes though it quick washes away.
"No," Vader replies, watching as the hope in their eyes dies as quickly as a star fades, "you cannot save everyone. You will only place yourself in unnecessary danger."
"But our friends-" Sabé says weakly.
Vader holds up a hand, "My condolences about your friends, but we have to leave before it's too late."
Eirtaé snaps her head at him, "You are willing to leave potential survivors to die-!"
"I'm willing to leave delusions behind and accept that this is reality. Whereas the Jedi would say "Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not. Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed that is." The emotions you feel is not greed; it is a natural living being trait. You mustn't those of the dead. Unfortunately, your friends could not be saved." Vader replies, crossing his arms across his chest. "You are to live, but the Force have deemed it that your friends must die. You could stay here and dwell where nothing would change or you can attempt to accept that you will not get what you always receive what you want. Be remorseful if you must but do not allow these emotions to be contain within you. Apathy is counterproductive most of the time, because it prevents you from being sufficiently involved in a situation to be able to have some control over its outcome; it removes you from decision-making, and therefore from control. Take this as a life lesson that worse outcomes will come. It is all that is left unsaid upon which tragedies are built. Don't allow delusions to blind your vision from reality."
The ladies want to argue but can they go against Vader's logic? He is not entirely wrong. Them running inside would only lead to their untimely demise.
But Padmé does not.
"Do you care about no one but yourself?!" Padmé yells, locking eyes with Vader.
Vader doesn't respond, crossing his arms across his chest, even as a dangerous glint flash across Padmé's eyes.
"Frak you, Vader! Ever since you arrived, you have been full of clues and leaves unwanted riddles and treachery! Just damn you! Damn you!"
Vader remains frozen, a steely coldness flashing across his face as the next few minutes pass and the handmaidens wait, uncomfortable. Truthfully, her saying she hates him did strike a core with him, but Vader did not allow his emotions to fall, unbidden. He can tell she is in a moment of grief so he would not allow himself to be truly affected to the core.
"Done?" Vader inquires, glaring at her eyes with stronger authority, making Padmé feel little underneath his sight. "I did warn you about pacifism yet you each failed to listen and this is precisely what happens. Pacifism is morally wrong because they think that patriotism or justice requires fighting or at least supporting the war effort. This objection would hold that if a war is justified, then conscientious objectors are wrong to reject it."
Padmé cease her arguing with Vader, feeling the urge to stare at her feet like a daughter about to be reprimanded by a father, her hands trembling.
"Now, let's get going, your Highness, or I will drag you. The same applies for the rest of you. Let's set some ground rules; you each will not run into that palace, you each will not talk that way at me again or I will punish you in my own methods, and you will not toy with my patience. Do not test me." Vader commands roughly, sounding like a father, a strict disciplinarian type of father that everyone knows to be cautious of.
The ladies look like they want to argue but they follow, their feet immediately following Darth Vader - that harsh voice thoroughly sucking the defiance out of them as if they are about to earn a paddling, knowing that Vader is not someone who is to be taken lightly, while deep down knowing that the palace is a lost cause now. At this rate, they would have each other.
"Wait," Vader replies before turning to face the palace, outstretching his hands towards the palace, pushing it off along with the rocks that maintained the building for decades, followed by a swift explosion, waves of flame detect in the air. He senses their mourning and emotions of failure, but he chooses not to comment.
There is still a slight fire where the palace once stood but it will not be as complicated as to sniff out the flames.
"Did you have to do that?" Padmé asks tightly, seconds away from yelling his head off but intimidated again with Vader as she has been several days prior
"Yes, or should I allow citizens to die?" Vader replies. "You have much to learn, Padmé, it's ridiculous at this point."
Flashlights are on them in seconds. Vader senses that Padmé's guards are circling them and quickly tending towards the ladies and walks away without another word, going unnoticed.
Right now, he requires an uninterrupted meditation, less he will storm to Coruscant and slay all in his path to kill Darth Sidious before he is able to get the public completely on his side.
Instead of the celebration that occurred in the former timeline during the following days; celebrating that the Trade Federation has been liberated, Naboo freed from their terrorism, and the Queen saved, there is just absolute mourning as the corpses under white sheets and caskets are carried through the streets for people to show their respects for those so close to survival but ultimately dying at the end, and Padmé and the handmaidens cloud in black robes stare at each body being moved along respectfully, Vader walking to their side, crossing his arms across his chest.
Kriff, why does this resemble his defeat after Mustafar, the death and funeral of Padmé, and the construction of the Death Star?
Instead of the cold plastered face as there was on the face of Sidious and the satisfaction surrounding his old Master, there is just absolute terror, heartbreak, and solemn in their expressions.
While the ladies sobs as the bodies of many of their friends are carried on, he probes the Force, staring at the girls and finding out the truth that he has been suspecting since they arrived on Naboo. There is a bond between them. It can rely on their Force Sensitivity or it can be due to the Force choosing not to blindly trust him in not risking to turn back to the dark side. Vader thinks about severing it since this bond will position them in great danger in the future, but the Force nudges him as if warning him there will be consequences if he cuts it.
Vader knows this would be the darkest moments of their lives and permanently would scar them.
He will love the day when it will be time to obliterate Sidious's throat, for he knows his former Sith Master is behind this.
At least, this gives Darth Vader another reason to hate Sidious and himself, Sidious for commanding this massacre, whereas himself for supporting the old man all those years ago.
For Force's sake, it's only been a little more than a week and he already ruined the timeline.
Whereas he wished he would have been given a chance, Sidious was murdered undoubtedly by Darth Plagueis, and on top of this, the palace belonged to that of Naboo, their victories being all but for nothing. Sidious's last command has surely been effective, and the old bastard knows what he has been doing before he perished.
Plagueis being the primary threat was unexpected suffice to say, but Vader would have to assure that the Sith Lord doesn't attempt to break Skywalker over to the dark side as of this time.
Plagueis could create problems, and although he wouldn't be the ultimate puppeteer like Sidious was, the damage he could do to the galaxy could be sufficient.
Vader knows it is only a matter of time before his memories from the past would be all but inconsequential. He would have to control events still, but he would not be the ultimate one who start this war. He would have to make sure that Plagueis's control of power is not underestimated.
Padmé has been more shocked and horrified when the weight of the war presses onto her, when most of her friends that she had gained in the last few years had been inside that palace when it exploded. How could this have happened?! They were winning! They were supposed to win!
Is that what all the Legends make out all these tales to be?! Those stories which had a happily ever after where the good guys would defeat the bad guys and emerge without any casualties, but those stories have proven to be all but fairytales and stories told to children to help them sleep at night.
Padmé has clarity about what happened, unlike those naive children who believe the galaxy works that way. Panaka-Ric Olie-all of them gone, personal friends who have suffered a painful death. She has failed them because she wanted a peaceful ending to this entire conflict because she was too arrogant in believing that only through the ways of the peace she would be able to end this adventure that they have been on.
Padmé hears footsteps behind her, turning to see that Vader is approaching her, the expression within his eyes unreadable but something bright clutched in his hands.
"Va-Vader, um..."
Vader doesn't come to a stop despite her attempting to provide some space, instead of producing the Queen of Naboo's crown and lending it to her. While usually, it would be insulting to the likes of Naboo that outsiders who are either aren't the closest Queen's personal or the Queen herself, that isn't a matter that shouldn't be dwelled on, especially since Vader has proven to be of great assistance to the point where she believed in him more than anyone else, even her closest guards and handmaidens.
That was when she believed Vader would have saved them.
"Padmé, this was all that was left."
While she had held this crown many times before and had worn it just as much, its burned and deformed form feels extremely heavy in her hands, as if its short weight was going to drop from her grip. Despite her slender form, she always is someone who has always been strong in terms of muscle mass, though now this tiny crown appears to be nothing but insignificant.
The crown shines in her hands, making her eyes go wide that while it was damaged it is easily repairable. How could it have survived such an explosion in the palace and been left in the manner it still is? No matter the explanation, Padmé knows that she is unworthy of possessing such an honor that Naboo deserves. She is no Queen, but a tremendous failure and someone who is undeserving of leading the people who she has saved but also failed all at once.
Too many families would have to be informed of the deaths of their families.
The object trembles in her grasp, and she drops it onto the ground, watching as it shatters into pieces, another one of her mistakes, another one of her transgressions that she has just committed. She is not worthy of holding such a crown nor having it within her possession. The Queen of Naboo would have been successful in saving her people, her confidence being all but squashed.
Padmé's eyes are cloud with waterfall, leaning forward and wrapping her arms around Vader who just stands frozen, his eyes closed, full of disappointment at what has happened to his wife from another timeline. It isn't worth it of returning the embrace that he has longed for decades. He isn't deserving of such gratitude.
"How could you just have allowed this to happen?! Allow them all to die! You could have saved them all! Damn it; you could have-!" Vader remembers the day when he was mourning the death of his mother, the memories causing him to grimace at the pain that he felt in watching his mother be murdered by the Tuskens and burying her corpse a day after on the Lars farm.
She pounds her fists against Vader's armored body, not requiring his pity but a source of release from the strain that has been placed onto her, the endless nights that she would be incapable of being able to sleep, those white sheet dead bodies that have been collected from the palace still hunting her dream.
Vader has to remember that this is not the Padmé who was matured through the arts of watching the treachery that was being spread from the Republic that she was brainwashed into believing existed, remaining true to her morals despite the entire system that she has fought for.
But a child who hardly has any experience in the galaxy, a girl who severely lacks the maturity that came with her years of service as a Senator.
"Vader! Vader! I had faith that you would save them! I believed in you! I believed in you!"
She collapses onto her knees and breaks down while Vader, only wishing he could do something, allows her to mourn, unable to blame her, especially in her time of grief. He has failed her again. Is that all he does - fail people? First in the past timeline and now this one.
Despite the temptations to embrace her and hold her until she is done, Vader reminds himself that it would not help anyone, most of all the innocent child whose confidence in him was broken the moment those within the palace perished, and now that means it is only appropriate that he would have to just stand there and do nothing.
At the very least, he would not fail her on that front.
Vader can only stand motionless, but through the gaze, one tear falls out of his eyes. He was nothing but a failure to those who he loves, even in an alternative timeline where he promised to be better and allowed for better outcomes.
Even with the bastard dead, Sidious's legacy would continue onto Naboo, always marking the place where the Queen of Naboo have once resigned, the shadows of war never being lifted from the planet no matter how much rebuilding is done, and that is something that not even Vader can control. Yes, his Empire would never rise despite how much Plagueis's Empire would not be any better, but Sidious still would continue to live on into the hearts of many that are not Sith.
For this has been Sidious's final command, his last order which has been carried on without issue.
The final hour of the Bane's Order...
A new era for a new Sith Order...
But that does not lift the regret he feels as of now, as Padmé is still sobbing beneath him.
Vader has failed her in both timelines, her irate emotions toward him are justifiable and understandable now. Allow her to vent until she can move elsewhere. Allow her to regard him with disgust about the mistakes that he has committed in his life.
Though three words come from Vader's mouth:
"I'm sorry, Padmé."
Arthur's note: To those who say Vader is OP, he is not. I'm not going to depict him like that. The truth is Vader can't save everybody and that is the horrible consequence of time travel, for anything can happen. I'm not going to rely on the past timeline as I have made with the original Chronicles but rather doing a difference as well as establishing a villain who I have thought was.
People may think Padmé is immature in this one, but in times of grieving, people cannot think straight and do remember Padmé is still a child. Trust me, when my first dog died, I blamed my entire family. I was 6 at the time. It hurts to lose individuals who you love.
May the Force be with you all always.