Chapter 8

Padme stood before Vader in the cabin of the ship. A planet floated in the background among the various other stars and blackness that was space. She knew that planet, she had flown there before. She couldn't tear her eyes from it and the people she knew who lived there.

Degobah.

A million thoughts swarmed through her mind. First and foremost, she imagined that Vader meant to destroy the planet. But surely he wouldn't, would he? He wouldn't kill Leia and Master Yoda when he was the one who had sent her there? But Padme felt trapped in uncertainty. Vader was capable of anything, any terror, no matter how sick. He might just kill his own child daughter. Yet Padme hoped it wasn't so. That this show was for some other purpose.

"Before your eyes is Degobah," Vader began to those troops gathered. "On it lives the last Jedi Master, Yoda, and his newest apprentice, my daughter, Leia."

No, no, no, no, no, Padme kept thinking in her head. Her brow had begun to bead sweat.

"These Jedi cannot be allowed to live."

No, no, no, no, no. Her eyes frantically flicked between Vader and Degobah.

"I will destroy this planet," said Vader, "unless my wife, Padme, sees fit to cease all physical contact with my heir, Luke."

So this was it, Padme thought dreadfully to herself. Her world felt like it was collapsing around her. This is how he defeats me, by threatening my two only loves.

Padme knew there was no way out of this. She had to comply. Vader wasn't bluffing; she could see it in is triumphant, glowing eyes. He had won. She would have to give up on Luke, give him over to the dark side, in order to save Leia's life. In Leia rested her only hope of success. Leia was the only one who could ever hope for defeating the Sith Lord that was her father, and maybe even her brother. Leia knew the kind of boy Luke was now. Perhaps he would stay that way. Yet Padme felt a terrible tearing in her gut. That by saving one child she was abandoning the other to certain darkness. How could Luke ever hope to survive as he was with the monster Vader as his only role model? Such hope felt foolish. All of Padme's hope rested with Leia.

Unless…

Could Luke ever hope to defeat his father? To surpass him in skill and still see the light? Padme knew her greatest hope was with Master Yoda training her daughter. That power and light ought to be enough; for Luke, most certainly. Vader… well, Padme still considered Vader her responsibility. Without Leia, there would be no one to stand against Luke should he ever go to the dark side fully.

Padme knew her choice.

She always had.

"Spare Leia. I will do anything you ask."

And so it was. Vader's smirk spread across his face and Padme felt her gut tighten. Yet she knew she had to do it. She had to forget all thoughts of Luke. Otherwise, it would terrorize her forever, knowing the choice she made.

Vader knew he had won before even asking Padme the question. She loved her children and that was her weakness. Love made one forget about oneself and think about others. A person would sacrifice so much for a person he or she loved.

Vader knew so because he had once been the same. Had once loved.

Now, though, he knew how to work it to his advantage, how easily manipulated people were by the ones they loved. All anyone ever had to do was threaten the loved ones, and a person would do whatever was commanded of them in order to keep the others safe. How entirely foolish, how entirely useless, and how entirely selfless. Selflessness was an entirely wasted human endeavor, for without one's self, one would not even be alive. Even if you saw a loved one die, at least you knew you would live on.

That was what mattered, and that was why he looked down upon Padme so much now. She had allowed herself to be disgustingly manipulated and puppeteered by him. A weak creature that he hoped his son would never resemble. Now that she had promised to stay away from Luke, Vader felt very pleased. Now his son could develop into the great Sith he knew he could be. Nothing could be greater.

Ummm did I just update something after... FIVE YEARS? I am probably irrelevant, but oh well. Hi hi hiiii again! Leave me some love... if you dare.