"My mistake," Padmé growled, genuinely meaning her words. It was her fault, one she would never forget. She would do anything to make it right. "I did what I had to do to protect my people."
"And how wonderfully you've accomplished that," Palpatine said, clasping his hands and leaning in closer. "Even now, you continue to do the same! The Empire safeguards everyone... Unlike the absurd Rebellion, don't you agree?"
Padmé clenched her teeth, sensing his amusement. He was baiting her, but she refused to bite. Instead, she focused on his words, raising an eyebrow. He was up to something; he wouldn't be toying with her if he weren't. He would simply get rid of her.
"I suppose," Padmé replied, managing a strained smile.
Palpatine laughed, clearly unconvinced by her, yet he continued pressing on.
"I must tell you," he said, suddenly sounding solemn, "I was distressed to hear about your attack last night."
Padmé paused, her demeanor slightly shaken. She hadn't anticipated that the conversation would take this turn.
She wondered how he knew. Had Vader told him? That seemed the most plausible. But why?
A bad feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.
She maintained a tight smile, but her words came out a bit shaken. "It was hardly an attackmore of an ambush." He nodded, his golden eyes twisting with feigned distress. "Still," he whispered, ensuring his words carried weight. "To leave you in such a state- naked and withering in the cold. So shameless."
His lips twitched slightly at the corners, the only break in his mask.
She suppressed a shiver, instinctively aware that he had seen her. She could only assume it was because of Vader, which twisted her stomach. Not that he owed her anything or had any moral compass, but it felt intrusive and revolting, especially since it was Palpatine who had seen her.
"This is how I came to realize that you need protection, Senator," Palpatine continued when she remained silent. "As a founding member of my Galactic Empire, it is only fitting that it protects you." "Emperor Palpatine, that is unnecessary," she tried to say, but he waved her off.
"I must disagree," he said sternly, folding his hands on his desk while preserving his façade of concern for her. "You require protection until a comprehensive investigation is completed."
She surrendered simply because she believed she had no other option. "If you think that is necessary."
"I do." Palpatine nodded. "And I have just the solution."
Palpatine glanced over her shoulder, beyond her, at the red guards who had shown up at the entrance of the room. "Send him in," he commanded, and the guards disappeared to fetch whoever was awaiting in the adjacent room. "Am I to be assigned a bodyguard to watch over me, then?" she said, unable to hide her disgust. "To monitor my every move?"
She felt a wave of confidence now that she knew Palpatine hadn't brought her here to kill her. She was free to express her annoyance. Just like the troopers who took her from her home, she would comply because her life depended on it, but she didn't have to be happy about it.
He brought her here to tie someone to her- one of his loyal stooges in his Empire: a person to monitor her every move and relay all her conversations. A spy capable of reporting on her every action.
"Not quite." Palpatine smiled, and suddenly, the room grew cold.
"Ah," Palpatine smiled wider. "There you are, Lord Vader."
Padmé felt herself grow rigid, frozen in place with wide eyes. She heard Vader's footsteps approaching, sensing the room chill and darken as she watched the towering shadow pass her to kneel before his master.
"Rise, my friend. Rise!" Palpatine laughed, watching his apprentice rise yet remain motionless. "You remember Senator Amidala, don't you?"
Vader remained silent, ignoring her presence in the room altogether.
Padmé also tried to avoid looking at him. Too many emotions were warring within her, making it difficult to make sense of anything. She no longer felt the curiosity she had experienced the night before. Instead, she could only linger in her embarrassment and dread.
He had killed Rush last night and her peers this morning.
He had consistently demonstrated that he was a monster, and at last, her mind seemed to grasp that hint. Her curiosity be damned. And yet, a part of her – the irrational part - felt safer with him here. However, she chose to ignore that, believing it was a side effect of the alcohol still lingering in her system. This part of her still regarded him as a savior after his actions last night. The rational part of her mind argued, and she forced herself not to resist.
Moreover, Palpatine was manipulating her, using Vader as a threat, although she remained unaware of the reasons behind it. This situation appeared to extend well beyond the surface level, reaching far beyond her ties to the Rebellion.
He had to be a threat. Palpatine would never remove his most lethal soldier from the battlefield- not long-term. He couldn't afford such a loss. He wouldn't make the Sith waste valuable time on something as trivial as babysitting her. But something told her he just might. After all, wasn't that what he had made Vader do last night?
She glanced between the towering darkness beside her and the man seated at the desk.
"I'm afraid I don't understand," she finally managed to say, hating how small she sounded.
"You deserve the best, Amidala," Palpatine said, gesturing toward Vader as if that explained his emergence. "I am giving you the best."
Padmé still refused to believe it.
"Lord Vader has agreed to care for you. Protect you." Palpatine continued, sounding as if it were a sincere gesture, which she very much doubted. He was likely commanded and had no more desire to be near her than she did to him at that very moment. "You will stay with him until we can ensure your safety." The words brought her pause… and more dread.
Stay with him?
.
.
.
👓☕️Consider supporting me and enhance your reading experience with the ready-to-read PDFs I have on my Ko-fi.☕️👓
🎯https://ko-fi.com/bstories🎯