His meditation time was over. Vader's helmet and legs were put back on his body. The top of the chamber opened up, and he stepped out. He knew what he had to do to make Padme his. He needed to deal with the Obi Wan problem.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on Vader's door. The sound woke Padme up from her nap. She looked up and saw Vader bring a tray of food in her direction.
"Pull up a chair to the table and eat," he told her as he placed the tray on the table. She did as he commanded, her stomach growling. Because of the incident with the Stormtrooper, she did not have lunch.
Padme looked at the food, then giggled to herself when she saw a slice of chocolate cake. It looked too good to not have a bite of it first before her food. She took her fork and was about to take a piece, but the cake and the plate it was on floated away. She turned around and saw Vader in possession of it.
"Eat your dinner first. Then you can have cake," the Emperor told the girl. Padme scowled at him.
"You sound just like Leia," she thought to herself, before putting her fork in her food.
"Please do not compare me to her." Padme dropped her fork in shock.
"Why are you surprised, Padme?" Vader quizzed her. "I am Emperor of the entire galaxy. But I was young once like you. My mother did teach me manners, And she taught me dessert comes after dinner."
"Fine." Padme surrendered, grateful for being able to eat dinner.
As she ate, Vader wondered how to start talking to her about Obi Wan. The girl had to stop speaking to him, but Vader could not threaten a Force ghost. He could threaten Padme, but this was not the time to have her quake in fear of him.
"You can your birthday cake after you finish your food," he added, levitating the plate so that it floated a couple of inches from his hand.
Padme dropped her fork again. How did Vader know it was her birthday?
"How did you know it was my birthday? Did you find out when you probed my mind?" she questioned him. What other memories could he have pulled out of her head?
"No. You screamed this is the worst birthday ever when you were in the medical ward," Vader replied, a smile hidden from Padme.
"I did? Oh. I was scared!"
"Obviously. But you should not be scared of needles. Not from a doctor, anyway."
Padme resumed eating her dinner. She wondered what her mother was doing. Had she escaped the house? Did she contact Han Solo or anyone else in the Rebellion to help rescue her? Padme worried for their safety. She did not want anyone to die trying to rescue her.
She finished her dinner, and Padme saw the plate with the cake on it float back to her. She took a bite of it, and it was delicious! It wasn't as good as Leia's cakes, but she could see why people would want to join the Empire!
"Emperor, may I ask you a question?" the girl asked, before having the last bite of her cake.
"When we are alone, you may call me Lord Vader," he smoothly said. Padme was unsure of what to make of what he said, but she continued anyway.
"Lord Vader, why is it that you hate Obi Wan Kenobi so much?"
An evil grin came upon Vader's face. This was the perfect opportunity to deal with the Obi Wan problem.
"Remember I told you I had injuries that requited I sleep in this meditation chamber?" Padme nodded her head. "Obi Wan caused the injuries. I am imprisoned in this suit of armor because of him."
Her eyes widened. Obi Wan was responsible for hurting Vader?
"He cut off my legs and one of my arms. Then he left me to die, screaming in agonizing pain."
Vader rose from his chair and walked over to Padme. She had retreated to the couch after she finished her cake. He sat down next to her and cleared his throat.
"Tomorrow, we will go to the place where he left me to die. Then you will understand the pain and suffering he has caused me. Actually, you see with your own eyes the suffering he has caused the galaxy," Vader continued. He was telling Padme the truth, from a certain point of view.
"I don't understand," a puzzled look came across Padme's face.
"Padme, I was planning on assassinating Emperor Palpatine."
"Assassinating? But I thought..."
Vader raised his hand to silence the girl. Padme was shocked. This was certainly not part of her history lessons!
"I told Pad... Senator Amidala of my plans. But she was frightened by the thought of anyone trying to kill Palpatine. They were both senators from Naboo. I was about to convince her to go along with my plan, but then Obi Wan stepped out of her ship. We started arguing, then fighting."
Padme could feel the wave of anger coming from Vader. She almost jumped when he placed his hand in hers.
"I don't want you to get hurt by him, like he hurt me. You are too young to be suffering like I am now," Vader mentioned, feigning concern for her.
"Why are you worried about me being hurt by a 'dead Jedi'?" Padme argued. The Emperor had to think quick. The girl was very smart.
"Who was there to stop the blaster bolts from killing you this morning?" he asked, now squeezing her hand.
"You were," Padme uttered, now worried by the intensity of Vader's anger.
"Who was there to kill the Stormtrooper who wanted to rape you?"
"You were." she whispered. Padme closed her eyes, wishing she was someplace else.
"Where was Obi Wan?" Vader demanded. She did not want to respond.
"Where was he?" he screamed. Padme forced herself away from the couch. She turned her back on Vader, trying her best to calm her nerves down.
"If Obi Wan is such a horrible person," Padme snapped, turning back to face Vader. "Then why would he tell me to go downstairs and face you? To do as you say, to answer your questions?"
"That is a question I would like answered myself. Because if I was in his position..." Vader drew closer to Padme. "I would never have put you in danger."
Padme would have responded back in Obi Wan's defense, but a knock came on the door. As Vader went to open it, she was glad for the break in their heated conversation.
"There is a matter I must address. You may use my library and the Holonet to entertain yourself. I will bring you a change of clothes so that so you can shower and get ready for bed." Vader stormed out of the room, and Padme breathed a sigh of relief.
"I don't know how much more of this I can take," Padme muttered to herself.