Part III
She was only present because she had to be. All Imperial Senators were required to attend the Emperor's grand unveiling of "the ultimate defense system that would forever banish war from the galaxy".
Banish war.
And opposition.
And liberty.
"Peace" ensured by absolute terror.
It was a sham shrouded by a shameless celebration.
But freedom was a lifelong friend of hers, so mandatory as her presence was, not attending its funeral was unthinkable.
Besides, she would never leave Anakin to face this abhorrent public propaganda alone.
Up on center stage, standing stiffly on Palpatine's right, he stares out across the attending guests, billowing black robes the only movement to betray the human when all the galaxy sees is a formidable and fearsome statue.
Billowing black robes and blue eyes screaming for her.
"Senator Skywalker," Bail greets in polite acknowledgement, coming to a stand on her left. The Senator from Alderaan is one of the only beings who speaks her name without snark.
As grateful as she is, Padmé still doesn't take her eyes off her husband.
"Are you sure I shouldn't be called something else?"
In her peripheral vision, she sees Bail trace the invisible string tautly pulled between their locked gazes and fail to suppress his grin.
"Would you prefer the alternative, milady?"
His amused undertone shocks her, as does the brazenness of his implied joke on the overly formal enunciation he uses to stress her simple title.
Lady Vader.
Bail's brown gaze twinkles at the quick, narrowed side-eye Padmé spares him before she turns back to Anakin's watchful stare. Almost imperceptibly, her husband's head tilts questioningly, sensing her growing disquiet.
No one mocks the wife of a Sith Lord and gets away with it.
Infinitesimally, Padmé shakes him off.
"We are running out of time," Bail presses. The camaraderie and light tone paling under the dark intonations casting empty promises across a bewitched audience.
"He's doing what he can, Senator." Her voice is low, sharp. "It's not even operational. He's stalled the engineering project..." Padmé trails off when she notices the Senator from Dallomir's uninvited and sudden interest in their whispers. Politely, demurely, she smiles back at him, and he quickly averts his wandering eyes.
No one ogles the wife of a Sith Lord and...
"It was never even supposed to reach this point," Bail hisses. "We need another person on the inside if we have any chance of stopping this monstrosity."
He's frustrated. Not at her, not really. Not even at Anakin. She knows because frustration simmers angrily in her blood too. But rallying the opposition who were willing to whisper would be impossible if whole systems could be wiped out with the barest flick of a switch.
"Someone on the inside, you say?" Padmé asks, purposefully dangling the question until Bail takes the bait.
"That would be ideal. Yes."
As if he can hear their rebellious conversation across the plaza, Anakin's piercing blue eyes lock into hers once more. Her heart flutters into gear simply by the look that makes their enemies cower. Vexation looks dashing on him, she thinks with another smile.
"Any chance one of the engineers would like to meet Lady Vader?"