Welcome Home

Walking out of time
Looking for a better place
Something's on my mind
Always in my head space

But I know someday I'll make it out of here
Even if it takes all night or a hundred years
Need a place to hide, but I can't find one near
Wanna feel alive, outside I can't fight my fear

"What happened?" Luke asked as Padme was returned to the unit.

"Are we getting out?" Leia added. Padme could barely look at the two pairs of bright eyes peering up at her.

"Not exactly." Padme let out an exasperated sigh, feeling foolish that she let her emotions get to her instead of just bargaining for their freedom.

"But we will. I promise." She assured after seeing the disappointment on their faces, joining them on the mattress.

Just then Taul knocked on the door and let himself in. Guards followed him in, carrying plates of food and packages.

"What is all this?" Padme jumped up, observing what they laid out on the wooden table.

"Food. Water. Clothes." Taul pointed at each item.

"Clothes?" She cocked an eyebrow.

"Yes. We were sent to your apartment to pick up some stuff for you to, you know, make this place feel like home."

"You went to my apartment?" She seethed.

The guards all left, closing the door behind them.

"I'm just doing my job, milady."

Padme scoffed. "Tell me something, Taul. . .how do you sleep at night? Are you proud to work for a fascist regime? Do they pay you well . . .to sneak into people's homes – to rob them of their basic rights?"

Taul clicked his tongue and snickered to himself. "Yeah that's what the system needs. . .another privileged senator pretending things were all fine and dandy before the Empire came along. You know what my life looked like while you believed we were living in a utopian society? My father died thirteen years ago during the Clone War when I was 15. We were left with nothing. I dropped out of school, went to work to take care of my sick mother and little sister. Where was the republic then? You see, my planet wasn't even on your radar. The truth is democracy died long before the Empire rose."

"...How old's your sister?" Padme asked

"17."

"Do you think that she's protected. . .now that you work here?" She probed.

Taul remained silent.

"You see," She shook her head. "I know we failed you. We failed everyone. But you were lied to." She paused. "...One day, when you for whatever reason can no longer adhere to their rules, you too will be their prisoner. And you'll realize that giving up your freedom in exchange for security. . .isn't really safe at all."

"Lord Vader." Palpatine's scratchy voice came across the holo-projector.

"Master." Vader greeted, kneeling down.

"Senator Amidala is alive." Palpatine's words were laced with venom. "And you brought her here?"

"I will section off an area in my fortress to keep an eye on her."

"What about the offspring of Anakin Skywalker?"

"I will keep them here too."

Palpatine remained quiet for a moment, deep in thought.

"You must train the boy. Teach him to use the dark side of the force."

"Senator Amidala won't approve." Vader considered.

Palpatine's eyes were glowing with malevolence. "If she is to stand in our way then she too is an enemy of the Empire."

"Welcome home." Taul brought Padme and the children into the newly built apartment designed for the three of them.

Both Luke and Leia looked around with thinly veiled despondency. Padme could barely hear Taul giving them the tour of the kitchen and the two bedrooms. All she could think about was how were they ever going to get out.

"You can enjoy the terrace." Taul proposed. "Although it's not much of a 5 star view. . .unless you like lava covered mountains." He chuckled but one look at their desolate faces had him clearing his throat.

"Read the room, Taul." He mumbled to himself before circling around.

"And this door right here," Taul began again, pointing to his left. "–leads to Lord Vader's chamber... I suggest you avoid entering that hall without permission."

Padme glanced around before her eyes rested back on her children.

"It's okay." She assured them, understanding the turmoil they were experiencing. "I will figure something out."

She didn't know how much more she could take. Vader was hitting them with one surprise after another. She did her best to hide her own fear – the fear that they were truly stuck and no one, not even Obi-Wan, could save them.

Isn't it lovely, all alone?
Heart made of glass, my mind of stone
Tear me to pieces, skin to bone
Hello, welcome home

"We're never getting out of here!" Luke yelled, plopping himself on the couch.

"Don't say that." Padme pleaded softly, sitting beside him.

"...He wants Obi-Wan." Leia finally spoke.

And Padme's eyes shifted, unable to share the real reason they were here.

"Vader's. . .he's the man who questioned me. He wanted to get to him." Leia's voice was low, undercut with a melancholic heaviness. "He – he hurt me."

Padme's eyes glowered at the news. She was livid.

"What did he do?!"

Vader arrived to the apartment with Taul. He felt better about them being so close to him – the same man who created the most isolating castle to be left completely alone. The apartment would certainly be more comfortable than the little room they were forced into, and he did prioritize their comfort, having his staff fetch their belongings, clothes, toys, anything they found lying around that they thought would be useful.

"There you are." Padme got up from the couch to greet him, planting a kiss on his now maskless face. The familiar sweet taste of her succulent lips came rushing back to him, as did the way she used to greet him at the door whenever he came home. Her fingers ran through his golden hair strands like they used to, and his arms wrapped around her waist. The twins then ran up to him, one now on either side of him, giddy at the sight of him coming home – the same way he used to run to his mother whenever she got home safely.

"There you are!" Padme scowled – snapping Vader out of his weird day dream.

She raced over to him, glaring up at him – rage pulsing through her veins.

"Don't you ever lay a hand on my children again!" She threatened.

Vader's eyes darted from Padme to Leia, perusing the little girl's facial expression, remembering their first encounter. No one could read his. Was there remorse under the mask? Ambivalence? Or did he simply feel indifferent to their pain?

"Fine." Vader's gruff reply sickened her even more.

"Now let us go home!" She ordered.

"This. . .is your home now." He rasped.

And Padme felt her fury stir within her, her heartbeat pounding like a symphony of drums.

"You can't keep us here!" She shrieked as she raised her hand and slapped his chest.

Screaming at him, shoving him, anything to end this nightmare.

For a moment there was no reaction. Vader let her release her frustrations and took a few punches – until he didn't.

"That's enough." He warned. His voice vibrating a quiet roughness.

A frantic Padme aimed for him for once more. This time, he grabbed her wrist before she could reach him. She tried to whack him with the other but he grabbed that arm too.

She tried to wriggle out of his grasp, her body twisted in sinuous motions to escape but failed. She then attempted to attack again, trying to shove him once more – even using her legs to kick him off. Her children screaming at him to let her go.

Eventually the flicker of irritation he felt was overtaken by his anger quickening his blood – unable to tamp down his rage that was now boiling over.

He pushed her back, unknowingly tapping into the force. The strenuous push hit her hard and she fell back – almost hitting the wall until Vader used the force to stop her from smashing into it.

She fell to the floor and, after glancing at her with a heavy exhale, he walked out. Luke and Leia ran to their mother's side.

And a hand reached out to pull her up.

She peered up at Taul, and accepted his help.

"Can I ask you a question?" Taul asked in a curious tenor, once the kids were out of earshot, as he brought her a glass of water. "–a personal question."

Padme nodded as she rested her back on the couch. She didn't feel like herself anymore. She used to be good at keeping it together – controlling her emotions. Here she was a wreck.

"...What do you mean to him?"

Padme swallowed a gulp. "Why do you ask?"

"I've been here a long time." Taul shrugged.

"So?" Her voice a small, croaky sound.

"It doesn't make sense... I've never seen him show mercy to anyone."

"This is mercy?" She commented with a sarcastic scoff.

"Let's put it this way." He chuckled lightly, almost as amused as he was surprised. "If anyone else did what you just did. . .they would've been dead by now."

Thought I found a way
Thought I found a way out
But you never go away
So I guess I gotta stay now

Oh I hope someday I'll make it out of here

Billie Eilish - Lovely