Love never dies

Chapter 13

"Rise, Lord Vader." Emperor Palpatine's haunting, cold voice declared.

Darth Vader rose from his position on one knee. "What is thy bidding, my master?"

The hologram of the Emperor spoke once more. "I have felt a great disturbance in the force, unlike I have felt before. I have traced it back to...Senator Amidala."

Darth Vader tensed for a moment, before relaxing "And would you have me hunt her down, alongside all the surviving Jedi?"

Palpatine smirked at this remark "Don't play dumb with me old friend. I know that you have her in your custody on Naboo. Now you ask, however, I do have a job for you."

Vader nodded slowly. It was futile to try and shield Padme from his Master's gaze. If she was as weak in the force as before, then maybe, yes. But since her midichlorian count had suddenly gone up, which was totally unprecedented, Vader could not protect her any longer.

Palpatine continued "It's quite a simple task really. I want you to bring Padme Amidala to me as soon as we have adjoined this conversation."

Vader did not respond, but he wasn't shocked. Honestly, he was expecting something like this.

"And Vader, remember that if you are to fail in this task, know that the consequences will be most severe. For both of you."

Vader nodded slowly "I understand...completely."

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My eyes flick open as the first dawn rays slide through the curtains. The room is bathed in a dappled golden light, the room I have been imprisoned in for two weeks. The table still hasn't been replaced, the crack down the middle of it a brutal reminder of that night.

"You're...you're...no, its not true. YOU'RE LYING!" I gasp, emotions flooding in. Force, I haven't been this emotional since my pregnancy mood swings.

"Padme, believe me, please. Its me!" Anakin/Vader pleads.

"WELL PROVE IT THEN!" I yell.

"Fine." he says, a lump on his forehead where his eyebrows have been singed off raising. What happened to him?
"You're favourite colour is green. We shared our first kiss in Varykino Villa when I was protecting you as a padawan. Our baby names were Luke and Leia. We both like to describe fighting as aggressive negotiations. Is that enough?"
'It is him' I think. No one else knows all of those things.
"I-I believe you..." I mutter, still in denial that he is, in fact, Anakin Skywalker.
Anakin sighs in relief "Thank the force. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to put my mask back on."
"Um...why?" I ask., watching him'transform' into Vader again.
"Padme, I can't breathe properly without the mask." Vader's bass tones vibrate throughout the room. "No thanks to Kenobi." Another glass shatters. Force, where does he get all these glasses from?
I sigh and sit down. Anakin can't breathe AND has a scarred and burnt face? What has happened to him? "Anakin..." I ask tentatively "What happened in Mustafar, you know, after...I got...um...force choked...."
Anakin inhales, then exhales exasperatedly "After, well, me and Kenobi engaged in a lightsaber duel. It was pretty equal, and at a point I had the upper hand, but then..." He hesitates for a moment before continuing. "Kenobi cut off my left arm, both my legs and left me for dead, burning at the side of a lake. And if my Master hadn't found me, that's where I'd be now. Dead."

I sigh shakily "Huh. Did you notice that without Palpatine, you wouldn't have been in that situation? At all?" I yell, getting so worked up that I rise from my seat. "Without Palpatine, thousands of Jedi would still be alive! Without Palpatine, you wouldn't be trapped in that force saken suit!"
"PADME! STOP!" Vader yells.
Too late. I'm on a roll now. "WITHOUT THAT ASSHOLE, THE GALAXY WOULD STILL BE AT PEACE! WITHOUT PALPATINE, I WOULDN'T HAVE ALMOST DIED! WITHOUT PALPATINE, I WOULD STILL BE WITH MY CHILD!"
In frustration, I slam my fist down onto the table. I don't know how, but a large crack sprouts from my fist and runs the length of the table.