Please let this work.
She spotted Vader immediately as she walked into the main living area. He sat on the couch watching some sort of race on the holoscreen in front of him. At the sight of him, her heart began to race, and a feeling came over her that she couldn't explain. She watched him for a long moment, surprised at how almost utterly normal he looked; lounging on the couch, watching a show on his holoscreen. Certainly not the Darth Vader image, Emperor Palpatine would want floating around the galaxy.
When her heartbeat and breathing became somewhat normal, Padme knew it was time, and she readied herself for whatever was about to happen. Taking a deep breath, she steped out of the halloway and into the darkness of the room.
"Hi." She said sheepishly.
He did not reply.
"Vader?" She asked softly.
Still nothing. Great. He was in one of those moods, ignoring her again. Padme sighed, feeling utterly upset and stupid. Obviously, she had misread last night. Nothing had changed between them… or had it? She couldn't be too sure. After all, Vader was not a man of words, but of actions. Still, she knew she couldn't concentrate on her feelings right now. Not when he was like this. She would have to switch things up, talk about more important matters. He would probably respond better towards business matters anyways.
"So," Padme said walking towards the couch that he resided on; a new couch she quickly noted, "I believe we have to talk?"
Still, Vader did not acknowledge her.
Watching him motionless and silent on the couch, made Padme's mind begin to play images of the night before, of him unconscious in that very room. Last night he had not spoken to her, no matter how hard she tried to make him. Now she was in the same position, at least figuratively, with a very conscious Vader that would still not speak to her.
Trying her best to look professional, Padme squared her shoulders and put on her politician mask. "Lord Vader," She said in her best commanding voice, "I believe what I have to discuss with you is more important than any race."
"Jee bauh siw fa." He said harshly.
Padme frowned, comepletely confused, "Excuse me?"
Vader said nothing, but he turned his hooded face toward her direction. She could feel his annoyance through the air, but she didn't care, she just hoped he could feel hers as well.
Padme fought the urge to roll her eyes as he continued to stare at her. "Didn't I say it wasn't nice to ignore people?" She scolded, hoping to lighten the mood. It didn't. If anything, it seemed to heighten his annoyance, but Padme refused to back down. She stood her ground, starring at the Sith Lord, challenging him once again. After sometime, Vader turned his face back towards the screen as a loud explosion sounded in the race.
"What do you want?" He finally growled, his tone screaming of his annoyance.
"To talk." Padme responded professionally.
"Then talk."
Padme ignored his tone of voice and the bitterness she felt when he had spoken. She had come out to enact a plan, but now it had turned strictly to business. "Lord Vader," She began with a small frown, "I am troubled to why I am being kept here again without being able to do my job. The Senate itself signed a petition for me to do just that. I have done nothing wrong. I also have not done anything that would be treason to the Empir–" "Senator." Vader snapped, "You and I both know that is a lie–"
"The communication died, Lord Vader. Nothing else." Padme insisted, ignoring the way his head had snapped in her direction when she dared to interrupt him.
"Do not lie to me, Senator." Vader replied coldly, his message clear. He was growing sick of her games.
Padme shook her head, ignoring his threat, "I'm not lying. "
Vader looked at her for a long moment, before turning his head back towards the race, "We will see."
"Is that a threat?" Padme asked, raising an eyebrow even though she wasn't sure he could see it. "It's a promise." He replied darkly, sending chills up Padme's spine, but still, she pressed on.
"You have to allow me to return to the Senate." She stated, taking a strong stance from where she stood.
"I do not. " Vader snapped, his head turning towards her, "You must accept responsibility for your actions."
"Except I have done nothing wrong." Padme challenged, "I am a member of the Imperial Senate. I have done nothing wrong and so, I must be allowed–"
"Koochoo." Vader interrupted, and Padme noticed that he had turned his gaze back towards the screen as another explosion occurred. He wasn't even listening to her.
"Lord Vader." She growled annoyed, "Are you listening to me?" "Unfortunately."
"Well," She said, crossing her arms over her chest again, "I would appreciate your undivided attention."
"I would appreciate– "
"Vader." She snapped, sounding like a wife scolding a husband. The thought chilled her to her very soul, and she tried to forget the thought even crossed her mind.
He did not look towards her, but slowly raised his hand, changing the channel.
Thank the Force. I might actually get somewhere with him.
She unfolded her arms, relaxing just a little bit, "Thank you, now as –"
"And Lord Vader has continued to put ease within the Empire." A news reporter's voice echoed, halting Padme right in her tracks as her eyes snapped towards the holoscreen. "This morning, he wiped out more traitorous spies that were within our very own Senate. More than ten spies have been exterminated, while three more remain in custody to be questioned by Lord Vader –"
Padme froze, unable to peel her eyes away from the lies on the screen. She watched the breaking news cast video stream in front of her; of more people that lost her lives because of her. Vader had killed more of them.
"You –You did this?" She whispered, the tears already threatening to escape.
"Did what, Senator?" Vader asked arrogantly, acting as if he had not heard the news broadcast.
Padme pulled herself away from the screen, her anger seething. "You murdered those people." She snapped, taking a step towards the Dark Lord. "I exterminated pests." He corrected uncaringly, still not looking in her direction.
"Exterminated pests?" Padme exclaimed, still not believing what she had just witnessed, "Those are people, Vader! With lives and families! You can't just –"
"I believe we already had that conversation, Senator." Vader growled, not allowing her to finish.
Anger exploded within Padme as she watched more images flash across the holoscreen.
How could I be such a fool?
This had gone on for too long, and it would not continue. She wouldn't let it. She was no longer going to be useless. She was no longer going to be silent. She was no longer going to be weak. She was not a fool, and she would make sure to make Vader remember that.
.
.
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