As Anakin offered his hand to help her climb inside the Hedsard's estate once more, Padme tried to decide what to say to him. More than once, she opened and then closed her mouth again as any skill she had gained from years in politics failed her. This was ridiculous! They were moments away from making love in that filthy shack and now she couldn't spin together a simple sentence to break the heavy silence which had fallen over them.
Maybe he was more concerned about this witness Vader had found, Padme knew she should be concentrating on that too, but it felt impossible when the tingle of Anakin's touch lingered across her body. She felt his hands and mouth everywhere as if he were still lavishing such thorough attention over her skin now. Shuddering, the Senator smiled at the Prince as she climbed inside the small staffing window his brother had left open for them.
Inside the room, Prince Vader stood leaning against the wall as Typho and another Nubian guard tightly bound a man dressed in the formal Hedsard security uniform to a chair. The blossoming shine of a bruise around his eye told her he hadn't come here easily and she pursed her lips. There had been more than enough violence this night already.
The moment her feet landed inside, Dorme rushed past the men in hurried steps to throw her arms around Padme's body. "Are you okay? I was so worried about you both out there!" Her handmaiden's eyes weren't suspicious and yet her stomach still clenched nervously beneath her friend's gaze. What if she figured out something happened in the gardens? What if they all did? The Senator felt herself flush deeply to imagine Typho and Prince Vader knowing what happened in the shed. No, she was being silly! How could anyone know?
Nodding shallowly, Padme dared to cast a glance over her shoulder at Anakin through her lashes. Their eyes met for a moment and the flash of lingering lust raging within his darkened irises stole her breath. No, bad idea, she chided herself, looking away.
"You two took your time," Vader glanced between them haughtily, "I was beginning to think we would be forced to start without you."
At that, the blonde Prince laughed, striding past Padme and toward his twin as the prisoner struggled, tugging desperately at the stuncuffs around his ankles and wrists fruitlessly. Panicked sounds bled through the gag they had tied in his mouth though the words were muffled and impossible to make out. She wanted to feel sympathy for him, truly, she did, but if he knew something that could exonerate Anakin and herself then they had to force him to share.
"You never did know patience, Vader," Anakin slotted himself beside his brother and crossed his arms. Together, the Princes were exquisite to behold as they always had been. The two sons of Skywalker, darkness and light personified… that's what the holonet always liked to say, at least. After what Anakin had shared with her tonight, Padme suspected that matters were far more complicated than she or anyone else could imagine. It was true, however, that the brothers were beautiful. Sharing all the same features save for the differences in hair and eye colour, she had never seen twins like them. She hadn't thought identical twins could have differences. Perhaps it was something in the mysterious royal blood?
"There is a manhunt searching for you both right now," the guard Typho had brought along nodded his respect to Padme, "I'll rejoin the group and buy as much time as I can for you, Senator."
As the door closed behind him, the blonde Prince glared at the Hedsard guard bound in his seat. "It won't take them long to work out that Padme and I are inside the estate again. Has he said anything?"
"Not a word," Dorme shook her head, "well, not a word we are interested in, at least."
Vader rolled his eyes and walked to stand before the guard who ceased his fruitless struggles at the sight of the future Emperor scowling down at him. Any determination faded from his wide eyes as cold fear took light within his pupils instead. The Prince slowly tugged down the man's gag and he sucked in a panicked breath as Vader bent at the knee so their faces were closer. "You seem like a smart man to me, friend," the dark-haired Skywalker said, "You have a good job. You seem loyal to your employer, that's a good thing, I can respect that. However, you're not making smart choices right now. What you are doing is placing one of my father's esteemed Senators in danger of wrongful incarceration and you're endangering not only my brother but the reputation of my House. I'm sure you can understand how that might make a man angry?"
"I, uh… Sir – your highness, I don't…"
"Shhh," Vader shook his head and moved his arm so suddenly that it seemed to be lost within the instant of her blinking and grabbed at the guard's chin, forcing his gaze to turn to where Padme stood with her handmaiden in the corner of the room. "Don't talk to me. Don't even look at me. Look at her. Look at Senator Amidala and tell her everything. Otherwise, you'll have to look at me instead… and I'm not nearly as pretty as she is." She felt Dorme's sidelong glance as vividly as if the other woman had touched her but Padme forced herself not to meet her friend's eye. Distantly, she heard Vader continue, "Is there anything you would like to ask this man, Senator?"
"What…" her voice cracked dryly. Standing so still allowed the events of the night to roll over her body and she felt tiredness tugging at her every limb, every nerve and vein. All the fire from inside the shed with Anakin faded as the fear and anger and humiliation returned. All she wanted in the galaxy was to sink into her own bed and sleep for a week, but sadly, that wasn't an option right now. She steeled herself. The sooner they got the truth out of this guard, the better. "We know who was in that room after Prince Anakin and I were taken away. What we want to know is what exactly happened in there. Senator Hedsard was with his nephew when he died and there were no stab wounds when we left."
"You… you don't understand…" The guard bit his lip as tears began streaming down his cheeks. "I – I'm just part of the security detail!"
Releasing the man's chin, Vader's scowl deepened. "That doesn't answer the Senator's question."
"What is this?" The guard tried to scoff, to scowl as if his blatant fear was not shining in the wideness of his gaze. "Is she your lover or something? Your brother I get but all this for a woman? Come on!"
Padme felt herself flush as all eyes in the room turned upon her at once. A nervous breath caught deep in her throat, escaping as a half-choked sound as she shook her head, avoiding Anakin's amused eyes even as she felt them upon her reddening face. Of all the things for the guard to say, why this? "That – that isn't true!" She muttered, folding her arms over her chest.
A slow, half-smirk lifted the corner of Vader's full lips as his golden eyes found hers over the curve of his shoulder. Their gazes caught and held and despite her embarrassment, she felt her breath grow shallow all over again. "How quickly you dismiss our love," he lifted a hand to his heart for a moment and shook his head, flicking those brilliant, gleaming eyes to his brother who rolled his own azure pupils and shook his head.
"I'm not even a professional!" The prisoner began to weep, "I – this is my friend's gig! He just got me in for a few extra credits – I've got a kid on the way, y'know? I lied about my experience and I – I shouldn't even have been here. Hedsard doesn't care who we are, we're just nameless muscle to make sure things didn't get too rowdy. I didn't expect to be asked to attend to the Senator, why would I? It was supposed to be an easy, do-nothing job not… not what it's turned into."
Slowly, Anakin stepped out of the deep shadows of the room and stopped at the opposite side of the guard as he trembled and spluttered over his words, resting a hand threateningly on the back of the chair. "Whatever it turned into, you didn't think to stop it? Didn't think to tell anyone? When you heard Padme and I were being blamed, you didn't think for a moment to clear the names of two innocent people?"
"I couldn't!" He hissed, "Hedsard is powerful! Imagine what he'd do to me if I ratted him out?"
"What's your name?" Vader narrowed his eyes just as Anakin made to speak again, "hm? Your Prince is asking your name…"
"Bido," the guard whimpered, shrinking beneath the great weight of both brothers' furious gazes. "Bido Durron."
"Well, Bido," the dark-haired twin shook his head slowly, drawing out his words as if he were a disappointed parent reprimanding their child. "Here you are not making smart choices once again… You're afraid of what Senator Hedsard can do to you, but not me? Not the crown Prince of the Empire, its future Emperor? Don't you see I can send a hundred bounty hunters to your door every single day, friend? I can make it so not one corner of this force-forsaken galaxy will ever be safe for you or whatever spawn you've created… If you don't tell us the truth, I'll have you hunted and tormented until the day that putrid thing inside your chest you mistake for a heart finally gives out from the fear… but then again, if you believe Hedsard poses the larger threat, go ahead… take your chance."
The room grew gravely silent. No one dared so much as breathe too loudly lest Vader's storming eyes turned to them. Living a public life as she did working in the Senate, Padme was no stranger to threats, she usually brushed them off and forgot about them no matter how much Dorme, Typho and her family fussed, but the Prince's words sent a cold shudder of fear along her spine. Those were not idle threats but promises he intended to deliver upon if Bido did not comply. She had never seen someone so calmly dangerous in all her life. Of course, understanding the influence of Imperial royalty was a difficult concept to completely grasp but the sheer power radiating from the dark Prince shook the Senator to her very core.
More tears poured from Bido's eyes and his quiet whimpers grew into frantic sobs as he shook his head over and over again as if to wake himself from the terror of this nightmare. Padme knew that feeling. Part of her wished to intervene and stop this before it went too far but… how could she? This was to save her and Anakin's lives? Bido had to talk before it was too late! He had to.
Instead, she shut her eyes and prayed for it all to be over quickly.
"O – okay, I'll tell you what you want to know!" Bido sniffled, "Just – just please, please leave my family alone!" He sucked in a long breath, bracing himself for the confession to come and Padme opened her eyes once more as the guard shook his head weakly. "After the Senator and your Highness were taken away," he flicked his eyes toward Anakin who nodded shallowly, "Senator Hedsard was brought in to be with his nephew while the police droids and a medic were called for. Vinnis got down close to Varlo, I didn't hear what was said between them but Vinnis stabbed the boy over and over and over…" Bido gave a soft sob, "he tossed the vibroblade and said… he said if anyone found out, he'd have my whole family sold off to the Hutts. Please, please, you can't let him!"
So they were right… Vinnis Hedsard murdered his own nephew and planned to blame it on Anakin. Padme's stomach clenched nervously as she and Dorme exchanged a worried glance. Why would a high-ranking Senator wish to harm the boy he raised? Even if that boy was someone as heinous as Varlo, they were still family…? Anakin and Vader shared a long glance, each giving the other a subtle nod before moving away from the begging guard as if they didn't hear his desperate pleas.
"What happens now?" Padme looked at Anakin as he stormed to the window they'd climbed inside not long ago. The blonde Skywalker cast a glance over his shoulder, his body tight and tense as he seethed with obvious anger from Bido's admissions, but his bright blue eyes were warm as he looked at her and he turned, laying a hand on her shoulder gently. Even now, through the glove, his touch made the Senator burn. A thousand ghost touches and kisses tingled all over her body. If she wanted to, it would be so easy to close her eyes and pretend to be back in the shed with him, lost to lust and adrenaline as the galaxy ceased to exist around them.
"Vader is going to have a little chat with our gracious host," he said quietly, "and our names are going to be cleared before this goes any further. Don't worry, this will all be over soon, Padme, I promise you."
"Shouldn't we call the police in here to take Bido's statement?" She stepped closer to him, forgetting for a moment the eyes of the room watching them. "Isn't that the best way to see justice done?"
If Vader spoke to Vinnis, it was would be a murky case of conflicting stories and evidence which didn't support their case but if they involved the police droids, then they would have a witness! Granted, Bido would have to be freed before they arrived but it was their best chance!
Anakin shook his head and trailed his hand down to Padme's elbow softly. "These things are… don't worry, Vader and I will deal with it. Stay here with your friends. I'll see you at the end of it all."
Before she had a chance to respond, the Prince slipped through the window and disappeared into the night.
Senator Vinnis wheezed and had to pause midway along the long corridor to place his trembling, withered palm against the wall and pant until his breath steadied once more. He couldn't believe this! The utter incompetence of his staff was infuriating on a normal day but tonight of all nights? Allowing the imprisoned Prince to best them and break free with that whore from Naboo? The common, mindless scum – he would have been better off importing slaves!
Would have been cheaper too!
Sweat clung to the man's brow as his heart hammered mercilessly in his chest. With Anakin free somewhere in this house, how long would it be before they found out the truth? Sheev's bastards were infamously difficult to defeat – it was why the missing Emperor still clung to his power without being seen in years. How was Vinnis supposed to handle this? No amount of credits would do, they were royals, they didn't need any. Not to mention the damned police droids sniffing around…
Gods damn it, this was a mess! How had it all gone so wrong?
The opportunity to rid his House of Varlo's poison had been too splendid to resist. Vinnis had worked too hard and sacrificed too much to allow his legacy and good name to be tarnished because the boy thought with his cock and was exhilarated in the pain of others! Why should he? He should have sent the boy away after his brother died, Vinnis had known it even then. He should have sent him to some servant's family to be raised and forgotten about it, all his friends had said so!
Why… why had he gone to taunt Anakin earlier? What had he been thinking? If the boy hadn't been quaking with rage with Vinnis before, he had certainly lit the flame then and there. He had been so sure it was a done deal, that the case was closed, it had felt safe to poke at the boy just a little. If only he could turn back time! He would have paid a servant to kill his nephew for him or that useless guard. Then the crime would have been theirs, not his to worry about. Who would believe the staff over the word of a Senator, after all?
Ah hindsight, she was a beautiful and torturous thing.
Security and police droids were searching every room of the house to find the Prince and Senator. Maybe if they were caught before they got to him, things would still work out well enough. He would still be forced to resign from office to avoid the rage of Prince Vader and the Emperor but that was survivable. Yes, yes, there was still hope of making it through his night as a free and alive man. It couldn't take too long to track down one man and one woman, could it?
Forcing himself forward, Vinnis dragged himself to his bedroom and slammed on the receiver to lock the door behind him. The sooner this blasted night was over, the better. There was enough to deal with come morning without the added stress of –
Wait a moment…
The bedroom was cold. Vinnis never kept the room cold, it didn't suit his joints these days. A cool breeze blasted through the opened window and the Senator's heart leapt up into his throat at the sight. That window was never opened! He wouldn't allow it unless the droids responsible for cleaning were inside. It had been closed when he left just a few hours ago…
"Ah, Senator," a calm voice shattered through the silence of the night and a small cry of fear slipped out of the man's tightening throat. Vinnis leapt and threw himself against his bedpost as the bedroom lights flickered on all by themselves. "I'm glad we were able to arrange this little sit down together." Vader Skywalker sat in his favourite armchair casually sipping from a glass of his best whiskey as if the Prince had been invited to help himself.
Vinnis laid a hand over his chest as his heart somehow managed to thunder even harder, making him feel weak from the fright of it all. "Your Highness! I didn't expect to find you in my private rooms… I – I'm a busy man and there is much I must attend to, given the events of this evening, I'm sure you'll understand if I ask you to – "
"No," Vader shook his head, his sickly yellow eyes seemed to glow unlike any other being he had ever seen before. "We're going to speak and we're going to speak right now, Senator." The Prince squared his sharp jaw warningly, "We have much to discuss."
"But – "
"My brother and I had the most enlightening conversation with one of your guards this evening, one going by the name of Bido Durron. But I don't suppose you recognise the name, do you?"
Smug bastard, Vinnis wished with everything he had that he could through the boy out of his home. Crown or no crown, he had certain rights! Even if the Emperor's whelp had figured it all out, where was the proof? "I have many staff in my employ," he shrugged, "most of which I do not personally hire. There are agencies for such things."
"Hmm," Vader took a long sip of Vinnis' whiskey and smiled. "Well, he knows a lot about you, or more specifically, what you did to your nephew tonight. I don't blame you, truly, from what I hear he was a beast. The galaxy is a better place without him in it, without a doubt. And with what all the accusations against him would do to you?" The Prince gave a low, mocking whistle, "That kind of damage simply cannot be repaired. I understand, I do. You were alone with a security detail you didn't know and were presented an opportunity to rid yourself of Varlo once and for all without any personal consequences. I don't believe many people in your position would have acted differently."
Well, what was the point in any denial now?
"This conversation proves nothing. It will be your word against mine."
"Of course," the younger man nodded, "So what do you have to lose by telling me the truth? The police droids found Senator Amidala already, it won't be long before she breaks and tells them where Anakin has gone. You've won, Senator. So if I'm going to lose my brother over this, I at least have the right to know what really happened."
Sighing, Vinnis lowered himself down onto the edge of the bed and rubbed a hand over his face. Thank the Gods! Ah, thank the damned Gods! In the face of imprisonment, Amidala would sing like a pretty little bird and rat Skywalker out, her lawyers would advise it if they had any sense. And if Anakin had fled then he'd condemned himself. Innocent men did not run, at least in the eyes of the law and the public, that was.
"Varlo was nothing but a drain on this family. He spent as if my credits were endless, drank and whored himself into states even I couldn't turn a blind eye to. Then there were the women saying he hurt them or forced them… I would pay them off and keep his name clear, but the last one, the damned actress, I don't know what he was thinking. He was going to ruin me. I couldn't have it. When I saw him laying there, barely conscious I knew this was my chance to free myself from him. I made the guard watch the door and took Varlo's life before any help could come. I figured it was an easy sell. The Prince, your brother, flew into a jealous rage at seeing the woman he wanted heading upstairs with another man… There have been whispers about the two of them for longer than I care to remember. Everyone sees how he snivels around her in the Senate, pushing his influence behind whatever new cause she desires… with all that, who wouldn't believe it after Amidala was in Varlo's arms all evening? Besides, you're first in line, not Anakin. His arrest won't shake things up too much. I'm sure your father will make his son's incarceration an easy one."
Who really lost out here? The Emperor still had his heir, the police had their arrest and Vinnis kept his family name in good repute. Everybody won… well, of course, not Anakin or Amidala but they were only two people! Naboo would have another Senator within the week – hopefully one less… vocal. Maybe the new Senator might be interested in making some damn credits instead of pursuing one charity case after another.
The cost of it all was worth the stability Vinnis' plan offered! Even if Vader and his good-for-nothing father didn't see it this way right now, in time they would thank him. He was sure of it. And in the meantime, he and his family had the shield of the public eye protecting them from any royal retribution. Something terrible befalling him or anyone carrying his name so soon after Prince Anakin was locked away for Vinnis' nephew's murder? Well, that was a rebellion waiting to happen.
It was genius.
"For only having a few moments to piece your plan together, you really thought this through, haven't you?" Vader nodded slowly, a glint of impression finding life within those terrible golden eyes of his. In the dim light, his dark features blended into the night so that the Prince was no man in Vinnis' chair but a demon come to reap his soul away. Knowing who the boy came from, he wouldn't be surprised… "You have made quite the mess for me to clean up."
"Yes well," Gods, he could use a drink of his own right now… "Nothing personal, your Highness. It's just business."
"Granted, my brother beat your nephew to a pulp," the Prince hummed, reflecting deeply as he stared at the liquor in his hand, "Anakin committed a crime tonight, that's undeniable. But Senator Amidala? She was attacked by Varlo. She suffered by his hand and did nothing but attempt to stop my brother from killing him in response and yet you're happy to see her lose everything? I'm not judging, Senator, only curious as to how you can justify this in your heart - in your soul?"
Rolling his eyes, Vinnis stifled a yawn. "As I said, it's nothing personal."
And then, something unexpected. The Prince began to laugh. He still did not meet his eye as the Senator baulked. What the hell was he laughing at? What in the galaxy could possibly be so damned funny?
"You… you can't prove anything!" He rasped. Like they'd said, it would be a game of who said what – impossible to prove anything one way or another. Vader rose in his seat slowly, regal in every movement and loomed over Vinnis haughtily. Gods, he had never taken notice of how tall the boy was until now. Why hadn't he kept his damned trap shut?!
Vader lifted his wrist and waved two fingers slowly before Vinnis' eyes. A magnetic pull captured his gaze as his eyes glazed over, forcing them to follow the deliberate movement as yellow eyes bored into him. "You have played quite the game against my family this evening, Senator… but now, you and I are going to have a chat with the police."
"We… we're going to have a chat with the police…" Vinnis murmured.
"You're going to tell them exactly what I instruct." Vader's voice was hard and suddenly the command made all the sense in the galaxy. His mind was open and ready to take heed of the Prince's words… whatever he wanted, Vinnis would say, no questions asked. Yes, this was the right thing to do…
"I'll tell them exactly what you instruct."
"Good," Vader smiled, "let me make a few comms."
Vader enjoyed yet another whiskey as several police droids filed into Senator Hedsard's private chambers, the liquor was that much sweeter having been poured by the man himself. A well-placed mind trick or two truly did work wonders from time to time. As everybody filed into the extravagant rooms, the Prince threw an arm over the back of the chair and allowed his body to relax. This mayhem ought to be wrapped neatly within the hour and Anakin and his pretty Senator would be free to go.
On the bed, Senator Hedsard sat still as a statue and awaited his cue. His wrinkled skin had paled with the exertions of the evening – it had probably been too much for the old man's heart to take, but still, they had gone over the events of the night as history would know them in painstaking detail. It would all be over soon. Vader would share one last drink with his brother and they would take what little sleep they could before departing this planet in a few hours.
And then he would have the displeasure of consulting with Ameda about this business. At least he would be plicated with the leverage Vader had collected should the Hedsard's ever so much as sneeze without royal dispensation going forward…
Father would be proud.
"Your Highness," the lead detective droid whizzed forward and Vader fought not to grimace. "I was led to believe you had an important reason for requesting our presence. I should like to hope this is not a stalling tactic to allow your brother and the Senator to escape justice."
Force, he would love to make every bolt and wire inside that thing implode within itself… but no, calmness was the key now. Vader held all the cards and it was time to collect his winnings.
"You do not need to worry," his voice boomed in the quiet chamber, "I believe we shall see this matter put to rest for good. There is no need for further investigation, officers, I have done your job for you." Shame droids couldn't simply be mind-tricked with the other weak-minded fools. It would make this far easier to resolve and put behind him. Force, Anakin owed him more than he knew for this…
"The job of pursuing justice can only be done by those burdened to serve and protect. Your highness has no place – "
"Prince Anakin Skywalker and Senator Padme Amidala Naberrie have resisted arrest," another droid forced himself into the conversation, "This is a crime that must be dealt with. All of the evidence points to his Highness taking the life of Varlo Hedsard in a brutal assault, I do not see how this meeting can change these facts."
Ignoring the droid, Vader lifted his private comm to his lips and spoke whispered words into the device and a moment later, the bedroom doors shifted open to allow Senator Amidala, her guard and her handmaiden entry. "As you can see, Padme has not fled, she is right here and willing to clear her name, gentlemen. She stands here in place for my brother also."
The growing bruise on Padme's grim face almost tugged a gentle wince from Vader. That brute Varlo deserved a slow, agonising death for what he'd done – and not just to her. He was sure he would not be alone in the galaxy believing this once the news broke. The police droids' mechanical eyes took in the Senator's rumpled appearance and with a flash, one captured her in a holo-cam for evidence most likely. Padme glared at the droid but was tugged backwards by a step or two by her loyal Captain.
"Senator Amidala," Vader offered the woman a small smile, "I know you haven't had an opportunity to tell your side of events to the police quite yet. Please, inform them of where that lovely bruise you're wearing came from."
The tiny woman squared her shoulders and held her chin high despite all the eyes of the room watching her. Years of practice in the Senate, Vader supposed. Yes, if Anakin ever got his act together, she would be a perfect addition to the family. In another life, she might have made for an excellent Empress… The errant thought surprised him and he quickly shook it away.
"Varlo Hedsard attacked me," Padme said evenly, "he tried to force himself on me and when I fought him off, he hit me in an attempt to incapacitate me further. I wanted nothing further to do with him. When I went to his rooms, I was under the impression that I was meeting Prince Anakin there to talk… we… we'd had a disagreement earlier which I wanted to clear up."
A disagreement? Vader hadn't heard anything about that… interesting… The young Prince noted the heated flush that painted Padme's pale cheeks and the delectable way it spread to her neck and chest. Force, it was no wonder Anakin wanted her so desperately, she was a vision even after taking such a beating. He was no fool, something had clearly happened between those two out in the gardens. Vader could sense the unspent lust pouring out of them like a stench filling his nose. Whatever they had started, his comm had likely stopped it…
Maybe Anakin didn't owe him quite so much after all.
"This disagreement you mentioned," the head police droid hovered forward, "is it why Prince Anakin was so angry? Did it fuel his attack?"
"No!" Padme shook her head, "Look, Anakin – Prince Anakin hit Varlo, he did, I'm not denying that, but he only did it to help me! Varlo isn't the victim here! He was a monster and Anakin…" Whatever she wished to say died in her throat as her gaze fell to the carpeted floor dejectedly. "He didn't kill anyone. He would never."
"And what evidence of this do you have?" The droid questioned.
Ah, now this was his own cue. Time to point the detective's eyes in the right direction and be done with this once and for all. Force, he needed another drink. "We have a witness, actually. If he could be brought inside, please?" The Prince gestured to Padme's Nubian guard who nodded solemnly and rushed outside the bedroom to fetch Bido.
Shame about what was to come, really.
A moment later, the Captain and Bido filed into the room together, the Hedsard guard walking freely without his restraints. The snivelling man avoided Vader's hard gaze as they entered, instead watching his boots as they carried him reluctantly into the centre of the room.
"Go on," Padme's guard urged him, "introduce yourself."
Bido swallowed and slowly lifted his unwilling eyes to glance around the room at the crowd of police droids and Senator Hedsard sitting silently on the foot of his bed. Vader sensed the ice-cold fear swelling inside the man and he fed on it, letting it fill him with energy to get through this. Who needed a drink when he had this? It was almost enough to make him smile. Almost.
"I, uh… My name is Bido Durron. I – I – I was hired for extra security for the party tonight, it was a one-night gig. My friend faked some information about me on a datapad so I could get in. I would never have passed the background checks, you see… I made some mistakes in the past, got into fights in bars and the like, but I'm over that now. I'm a good man." He sniffled loudly and wiped his nose on his sleeve, making the Prince wince softly at such a display. "I have a baby on the way. Kids are expensive and my wife, she, uh… never mind," his big, wet eyes dared to look at Vader for a moment before falling away again. As if he believed not speaking about his family somehow shielded them from his influence. Well, it was far too late for that. "After Prince Anakin was taken away by the others, Lord Vinnis came into the room to see Varlo while you were called for."
"Lord Vinnis," the police-droid in charge spoke as Bido sucked in a desperate breath, "Can you corroborate this man's statement thus far?"
The Senator gave a shallow nod, "Yes, for the most part… I spoke with Varlo and promised to have the very best medical care brought to him. I was going to seek help for his… urges. My nephew was not a well man, officer, his crimes against women had only just been brought to my attention, you see. I was going to see that justice was done for all and I told him that. Varlo wanted to get better, he did."
Beautifully done, Vader wanted to smile again. Instead, he held his composure and masked his face into mere intrigue, even as Padme scoffed and rolled her eyes. Wasn't her fault, she had no idea what was to come and with her famed righteousness, perhaps that was for the best.
"What I didn't know," Vinnis continued, just as they had practised, "is that Mr Durron's wife, she is among those who have accused my nephew of assault…"
"Wait, what?" Bido startled so suddenly that Padme's Captain was forced to grasp his arm to keep him in place. "That's not true! She's never even met him – how could she? That's not true – he never touched her!"
"Hush now, boy," Vinnis gestured vaguely at the flailing guard, "there is no point in denying it now. The truth must come out."
Before the old man could continue, Vader cleared his throat, "I think that for the sake of the details about to be shared next, Senator Amidala and her handmaiden should leave the room. She has shared her portion of the truth."
"Wait, no," Padme frowned, glancing with narrowed eyes between Bido and Vader. Clever girl, he smirked, and that's why you need to go. "I'm sure there are still some details I could – "
"I agree with his Highness," the head droid hummed, "You will be contacted should we need further information. One of my officers will escort you back to the quarters you were previously assigned to for now. Thank you for your cooperation."
Giving gentle protest the entire way, Padme was led out of the chamber by her guard, handmaiden and a police droid. As the door slid shut behind the Nubian party, Vader could have whooped in victory. One step closer to the finish line.
Two police droids clutched at Bido's arms as he struggled in vain to free himself, howling about his wife never having met Varlo Hedsard but no one, not even the droids seemed to pay him any mind. When Sabe had told him about Bido's past, it had all come together so easily. Who was going to believe a criminal over a high-ranking Senator?
"Officers," Vinnis shook his head, "I made a terrible mistake… I left my nephew alone to ensure the doctors and yourselves were on the way, I thought he would be safe with this gentleman – we have background checks in place, after all. How was I to know what pain my nephew had caused this man?"
"Stop it!" Bido cried, "You're lying! He's lying! Your Highness please, he's lying!"
Vader did not even look at him.
"When I came back…" The Senator gave a heartbroken cry that would have fooled anyone, truly, perhaps the man should pursue acting in his forthcoming retirement. "Varlo was gone. There was so much blood… Bido was leaning over him but I saw no weapon and he said… he told me that Prince Anakin had escaped and stabbed my nephew in a vicious rage. He said that the Prince had threatened him to stay out of the way or he would be hurt too. I believed him – after the assault, who wouldn't have? But – but I now believe, knowing what I know now, that Bido saw an opportunity to avenge the suffering of his wife and killed my Varlo."
Beautifully done! In his mind, Vader gave the Senator applause for such a performance. It was marvellous! Even while mind-tricking the man into submission, he hadn't envisioned such a successful production! Truly, he was impressed and that did not happen easily.
"No!" Bido cried, "No! I didn't touch him! I had nothing to do with this! I was just here for a job, you've gotta believe me! Please, please, I didn't do anything!" The screaming pleas went on and the man jerked and flailed in desperation but the damage had been done. "Tell them! Senator tell them the truth! I didn't do anything!"
Now it was time to play his part. "Why would a supposedly reformed criminal have documentation altered for a one-time job? I don't believe it. It's simply too big of a risk to earn some credits, not when there are other methods of making money so easily accessible. But risking it all to avenge his wife? Now that makes more sense to me."
"No!" Bido wept, "Please – "
"Do not speak you murdering degenerate! You killed my nephew! The very last piece I had of my brother and you took him from me!" Vinnis shook his head, "Understandable as your actions were, I can never forgive you."
"No! Bido spat, "You're not pawning this off on me, I won't let you! You killed him! You know you did!"
Rolling his eyes, Vader shook his head as if disappointed. "Don't insult our intelligence with such slanderous lies, Bido. You have been caught, you would do well to cooperate going forward. I'm sure the judge will take it into account."
"This isn't right…" Bido's hysterics twisted into fury and abject hate as he looked between Vinnis and Vader, snarling and bearing his teeth. "You're liars! You're setting me up to take the fall! Bastards! You pair of bastards! The rich protecting the rich, I should have known!"
"I think you will find the security tapes from the holo-cams in the hallways corroborate Senator Hedsard's word." Vader lowered himself back into his seat once more. "Mr Durron here was alone with the victim. He had ample opportunity to carry out Varlo's murder. And I can't imagine it will be difficult to find the protocol droid Varlo sent to summon Senator Amidala under the guise of meeting Prince Anakin. The evidence lines up."
A beat passed and the head-droid turned to Bido, withdrawing a pair of stun cuffs to clasp around the poor bastard's struggling wrists. Vader glanced out of the open window as the droids attempted to drone out the guard's legal rights per his arrest. The man screamed and begged for a mercy which would not come his way and he almost felt sorry for him.
Almost. Someone had to take the fall for Varlo's murder and the evidence against Vinnis simply didn't exist, the police would never have believed Bido's word against his employer and Vader would never have allowed Anakin to go down for this. Never! Unfortunately, fate was not a kind mistress for people like Bido. Who knew, maybe his wife would wait for him? Maybe he could be a father from prison? He couldn't do a worse job than Vader's own father had freely.
"I think that under the circumstances," the Prince called out as the police droids made to leave with their new prisoner, "all charges against Prince Anakin and Senator Amidala can be dropped, yes? Of course, you are free to arrest my brother for the assault but does your force truly need that kind of media attention? Arresting the handsome young Prince, beloved by the public for saving the even more beloved Senator of Naboo from an attempted rape?" He gave a low whistle, "I don't see it going well for you. Not to mention the hell my father will bring upon you all when he hears of this."
And right on schedule, Senator Hedsard spoke up, "If my word means anything at all, I would not like to pursue charges against Prince Anakin. My nephew's murderer has been found and with that, I am content."
The police were silent, awaiting orders from their leader as it padded back inside of the chamber to face Vader and Vinnis once more. "It seems, with the gathered evidence, Prince Anakin was merely acting in self-defence of Senator Amidala. There will be no further charges on either. We willbe in touch."
"Thank you, officers," Vinnis nodded, "Thank you for ensuring my Varlo has justice and can rest in peace."
Ah, perhaps he was laying it on a little too thick with that one. Regardless, as the chamber doors slid shut once more, Vader released a breathless peel of laughter. They'd done it! They really pulled it off! Of course, he hadn't doubted his plan for a moment but the thrill of victory was intense. Like a well played name of Dejarik, the pride of outwitting his opponents – a roomful of opponents – coursed through the young Prince addictively.
"Well, by now the stragglers will be filing their way out of my house as we speak if you wish to gather your people and leave." Senator Hedsard had the audacity to glare at Vader as he wiped the sweat from his brow, "I would like to finally see the end of this evening."
Pushing himself up, out of his chair, Vader didn't bother stifling his smile. "Yes, I think that's a good idea, but before I go, there is one more thing I would like to discuss, Vinnis."
"And what's that?"
"First thing in the morning, you will resign from your seat in my father's Senate in order to mourn your nephew. You will pay reparations amounting to three-million credits a year to Mr Durron's wife for the rest of your life through a trust handled by the banking clan. And most importantly, you will lead a private life going forward with nothing to say about my family or the throne, do we understand each other?"
The Senator baulked, spluttering and glaring at Vader furiously. "Three million? Without my seat in the Senate? Are you mad? I won't do it. I don't even know the woman, why should I – "
With a little aid from the force, Vader rushed at the older man, grasping him by the collar and lifting his frail body into the air so his feet dangled uselessly in the air, kicking for purchase the Prince would not allow. "You will do as I say! And it will be verified every year to ensure payments are made, do you understand? I have insurance you see. Insurance you do not wish to come into public knowledge."
When the old man quivered and choked with fear, the Prince threw him onto the plush bed with a grunt of exertion. "What – what possible insurance could you have which would make me follow these ridiculous commands?"
Smirking, Vader leant heavily against one of the wooden carved bedposts as Vinnis struggled to gather himself together. "What insurance do I have…? Anakin, care to explain?"
Hedsard's eyes all but popped out of his pathetically stunned face as the door to the closet shifted open and Anakin stepped out of the shadows wearing a matching smile to his own. Still dressed in the guard's uniform from before, his brother held a small holo-disk in his palm which shot up a blue image of the Senator confessing his crimes to Vader. "Imagine what would happen if this footage went live?" Anakin raised an eyebrow, "I can only see you here, Senator, not my brother. Who knows who you're speaking to… there's certainly no way to prove it was Vader."
Vinnis whimpered, opening and then closing his mouth as he sputtered nonsense into the air. "But that's… I didn't know…"
"If you ever threaten my brother or his throne," Anakin crept further toward the bed, shutting off the holodisk as Vinnis attempted to shift backwards away from him, "or default on a single payment to that woman, not only will this footage leak publicly but I will personally come here and crack every single bone in your body until you beg for the release of death." His brother's blue eyes flashed dangerously, "And then? That's when the real fun begins… but you don't want to know about that. Do we have an agreement?"
"We do," Vinnis nodded stiffly, "fine, fine! I'll do whatever you want just leave my house!"
"Of course," Vader tipped his head toward the door to his brother, "thank you for your gracious hosting this evening, Senator. It has truly been a night to remember."
The two sons of Skywalker strode through the empty hallways of the Hedsard estate with matching grins neither could hold back. Somehow, they'd done it. They'd gotten out of that mess unscathed for the most part. It was nothing short of a damned miracle, Anakin thought as he glanced at his brother. "I can't believe it…" He laughed, "How did you manage to put that plan together in no time at all?"
"We all have our gifts, Anakin," Vader spared him a smile as they reached the elevator, "You are the strength and I am the mind. We're the perfect team, you and I."
Tugging down on the vest of his stolen uniform, Anakin laughed again as the brothers entered the elevator to make their way out of the Hedsard estate once and for all. "You know who I really feel sorry for is Sabe. She's going to be up all night for the rest of the week putting out statements about what went on tonight… We don't exactly make her job easy on her."
Vader brightened at the mention of their friend and chuckled lightly. "Well, that's what she gets for telling us what to do all the time, I suppose."
They were quiet for a few moments as they dropped floor after floor. Anakin glanced sidelong at his twin for a moment and forced his dry throat to swallow as his mind searched for the right words. "I wanted to… You put yourself on the line for me tonight. If Amedda found out any of this, you could lose everything so… thank you, Vader. The force couldn't have given me a better brother."
His twin turned, raising a curious eyebrow as Anakin spoke and then smiled. People often asked him if he found it strange to see his own face with different colouring, Vader was dark where he was light. Black where Anakin was gold. Their eyes were the sea and the sun, blue and yellow, not similar at all for otherwise identical twins. Was it odd to see another version of his face looking at him? He had never thought so. He and Vader were two halves of one piece. They were born of one womb, they were meant to be together, close to each other, making decisions together for all their lives. How could that ever be strange?
"You're my other half," Vader's eyes were soft, "I need you by my side if I'm going to rule, Anakin. I meant what I said before, there is no glorious purpose if you aren't with me." They clasped each other by the forearm and pressed their heads together, the most comforting act he had ever known in his life, even now as an adult man in his prime.
The brother's pulled apart just a moment later with only three floors to go and Anakin felt his shoulders slump as he thought about Hedsard upstairs in his bedroom. Varlo deserved to die, that was indisputable. He brought nothing but suffering to the galaxy and the only thing wrong with his end was that it'd been far too quick for the likes of him. And yet still… knowing his uncle, his murderer would live a life of freedom while an innocent man rotted his life away in prison? It pulled at him, heavily. It didn't feel right.
"I know," Vader murmured, sensing his thoughts, "I feel it too. But Hedsard is losing his seat in the Senate, his public lifestyle and Bido's wife and child will want for nothing with three-million credits a year. It was the best possible outcome for everyone."
"Everyone except Bido," he sighed, "I don't know what I'm going to tell Padme."
She would never accept it. Never. Her sense of right and wrong was unparalleled. Anakin knew that she would never accept an innocent man in prison for a crime he did not commit. As wise as she was, she was also naive, she was pure, she didn't know how the galaxy worked outside of the upper classes and that wasn't her fault, but the fact remained. Anakin rubbed a hand over his face as the very thought of telling her the truth exhausted him.
He knew Vader had done the right thing, Anakin was a great strategist but his brother saw a further twenty steps ahead of every plan he ever created. Even if they had taken the footage they captured of the Senator to the police, it still left Anakin with the charges of assault. Padme would still face losing her career. There was no way to truly clear their names unless someone else took the fall, he understood that… it just wasn't easy to swallow.
Vader had done what he did to protect him and Anakin loved him for it. He loved him. It was as powerful as what he felt for Padme, though directed with different energy toward a different purpose. But love was love.
"Tell her…" his brother began, "tell her the truth but to an extent. Tell her Bido volunteered to take the fall to see his wife and child provided for so richly. Tell her it was Bido's choice. She can't hold that against you."
Shaking his head as the elevator reached the ground floor, Anakin sighed once more. "I don't like the thought of lying to her. It doesn't feel right, Vader."
Stepping out and into the thinning crowd of people heading out of the estate, his brother patted Anakin on the shoulder with an understanding grimace. "Don't think of it as lying, exactly. You're merely protecting her from the truth. Now, care to tell me what in the name of the force happened between you two out in the gardens?"
The moment the Princes' stepped outside, the blonde aide all but leapt before them, babbling about transports in the morning, statements, pictures and hiding away from the public for the next little while. While his brother nodded along, carefully considering every word of advice Sabe offered, Anakin's mind was a thousand parsecs away… Every inch of his body was aflame from being tucked up so tightly against Padme in that shed. He could still hear her moans, her gasps, his name on those lips he had finally gotten to taste… Force, it was torture. It was everything he had ever wanted and fantasised about since their paths crossed for the first time in the Senate and now he'd been teased with a taste, Anakin's mind reeled with the desire to hunt down his Senator and finish what they had started.
But of course, he and Padme had a few conversations ahead of them, talks he wasn't entirely sure how to have. Part of the Prince wished that things hadn't gone so far out there because how was he supposed to turn his back on her now? How could he tell her there was no future for them – or at least, she would never want a future with him when she learned the cost. Anakin would never be worth losing a lifetime of dedicated work and fantastic achievements and he knew that, he didn't begrudge it. The galaxy Vader wanted to build needed Senators like Padme to bring his dreams to fruition. She was one of the few politicians actually interested in the well-being of the people! It would be selfish of him to ask her to walk away from that.
Not to mention, if by some strange miracle of the force, Padme did find him worthy of losing her title, Anakin had no doubts that, in time, she would resent him for it. He wasn't Vader, he was the spare heir, the backup. Unlike his brother, he couldn't hand his bride the galaxy as a devotion gift on their wedding day and what else did she deserve? What would a life by his side look like for Padme? A ceremonial royal figure? Charity work and gala planning? She would be mindless with boredom… Not to mention how a relationship would struggle with his military commitments. He was off planet more often than not tackling rebel skirmishes that threatened the Empire's stability, it would be selfish to ask her to wait for him through such dangerous separations.
No, Anakin decided with a grimace, though he ached for her more than mere words could ever hope to capture, for Padme's sake, he had to walk away. She might hate him, but eventually, she would be glad after she met someone else, the right someone who could give her the life she truly deserved. She would live a long, happy life without sacrifice and he would help his brother rule his Empire.
Anakin could be content with that.
Or he would learn to be, at least.
Through the thinning mass of a crowd, the Prince spotted Padme as her people escorted her toward a waiting silver cruiser. Mercifully, the paparazzi-droids had been ushered away by the police upon their arrival so nobody could capture the rumpled state she was leaving in. There would be whispers enough about this evening, images as a reminder weren't necessary. The handmaiden exchanged words with the driver before peeling open the door and sliding inside first and Anakin's stomach tightened. If he was to go into mandatory public hiding with Vader in the palace, this might be his only chance to see her for a while. The talk they needed had to be in person, he couldn't do this over comms… and he wasn't sure his resolve would last beyond tonight.
The Prince didn't feel himself moving until Sabe cried his name and people tripped over themselves to bow down and shuffle out of his path. He had to do this now. Rip off the bacta patch and get it over with. It would be better for Padme this way – for both of them. The faster it was over, the faster she would come to see it as the mistake that it was. He made it to the Senator's private cruiser just as her guard held out a hand to help her climb inside, his sudden arrival giving each of them pause as Anakin cleared his throat. Force give me the strength for this, he prayed silently.
"Your Highness," the Nubian guard bowed obediently, "Quite the night we've all had. I must say, I'm glad it's all behind us now."
"Likewise," he smiled tightly, though the small action pained the Prince to his very soul. His eyes found Padme's then and the galaxy was no more for one blissful heartbeat. There was only her gaze, her sweetly intense hues connecting with his own so warmly, so intimately, Anakin could have died there and then and embraced the force happily. Unfortunately, as Padme blinked his fantasy shattered around his ears and the dread seeped once more into his blood. "Senator, I know you must be desperate to leave, but could we speak for a moment?"
Her brow creased slightly at such formalities, but Padme tipped her head and shared a whispered word with her guard. The man narrowed his own eyes at Anakin before slipping inside the hooded cruiser with the handmaiden. It wasn't the total privacy she deserved but it would have to be enough. He swallowed down the roaring dismay at what he was about to do as best he could but Anakin felt his shoulders slump and his face harden regardless. He was never like Vader, he had never been able to hide his emotions, even if it cost him a burst of force lighting every now and again.
But tonight, for Padme's sake, he would do his best.
"I'm sorry for keeping you," he winced, "I just felt… After what happened back there in the gardens I was… I wanted to apologise to you." Every word stumbled out of the Prince's lips and into the cool night air and Anakin watched Padme's confusion deepen with every butchered syllable. Force, he had to get a grip! "It was unprofessional. What happened between us, I mean. I shouldn't have let it happen – I'm sure there are rules against this sort of thing. Besides, you've been through a trauma tonight – I – I shouldn't have taken advantage. I should have… I'm sorry, Padme."
More sorry than she could ever know. Now he would have to live his life knowing her taste, her touch, the sound of his name falling out of those lips… An entire lifetime of torture now his every fantasy had been torn to shreds by the reality of her hands on his body. But more than that, he was afraid… would she still wish to speak to him? Would their secretive laughs and quiet conversations cease altogether? Anakin could live longing for her from afar, he could, but force, he would miss her.
"I…" Padme's mouth opened and then sealed shut once more, trapping whatever she wished to say inside her throat. Anakin sensed the turbulence within her, the bewilderment, the dismay and the utter pain his rejection provoked inside her and let his eyes fall shut for a moment as the storming emotions washed over him. He wished he could shut it off but instead, it only amplified his own, worsening his agony. "I… Anakin, I don't understand. Everything was fine – we were fine… What's happened to make you believe this all of a sudden?"
She made to touch him and every inch of the Prince's body leapt in hope because if she just touched him, his willpower would crumble, his heart would open to her and he would be far too weak to fight it. Weak! He was so damned weak! Vader would have had it done by now! "It's not fine, Senator!" He jerked backwards and the hurt which flashed in her wide eyes burned worse than any flame ever could. "I'm a Prince and I have duties I'm bound to as do you. What did you think was going to happen, Padme?" His father's influence poured out of Anakin now, the darkness within him thrived at the opportunity to lash out and cause harm wherever it could. It was better this way. Let her hate him. She would move on quicker. "That we were going to fall in love? Get married? If you're that naive then perhaps my father should seek another Senator to represent Naboo."
Padme held his gaze and he saw the sheen of tears fill her eyes though she was stone before him. Anakin watched as her jaw clenched tightly and then she shook her head softly. "You are a coward, Anakin," she whispered.
It was as if she had slapped him, the words made their mark so violently that the Prince reeled, unable to speak or move as she turned and climbed into her transport and slammed the door shut behind her. He hadn't expected her to see through him so utterly… it should have been freeing or even a relief but to know Padme understood his lies, that he had given her an excuse as a reason not to be with her, but it only made him wish to scream. It wasn't fair! It wasn't fair! Why was he born as he was? Why couldn't he be a normal man allowed to pursue the woman he loved?
He ran a hand through his hair as Padme's transport lifted into the air and shot off into the night. At the very least, the worst of it was done now… In time, she would be fine, Anakin truly believed so. The bruises on her body would fade and her heart would heal and eventually, he would mean nothing to her. There would be a man who could give her everything she ever wanted and deserved and he could hold onto the memories of that little shed. That was how it had to be.
What other choice was there?
