Heart of Vader

The words were like a punch straight to her gut. She was sure she had misheard him.

"Excuse me?"

"Hmm?"

"Stay with him?"

"Of course," Palpatine said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. "You will stay with Lord Vader. Be his houseguest for a while until we can assure you that no harm will come to you." It felt as though something inside her snapped, like a dam breaking and water overwhelming everything in its path, or a volcano building pressure until it erupted. She burst forth, no longer able to maintain her facade. She lunged at him, with horror and anger vividly displayed on her face.

"You can't do this, Palpatine!" she screamed, and the red guards immediately rushed to her side, restraining her. She struggled against their hold, refusing to yield.

Palpatine stood, unfazed by her reaction. "You misunderstand, Senator. I'm doing this for your protection."

"You're imprisoning me without even the decency to call it a prison," she snapped. "You're locking me away and throwing away the key."

Palpatine remained unfazed. "I'm sorry you feel that way." He walked around his desk until he stood directly before her. "It would certainly be easier if you would just cooperate."

She froze, dangling in the guards' arms, and glared at him. "Cooperate?" she laughed. "You mean go silently?"

"No." Palpatine sighed. "I told you. I fear for you, Padmé. I truly do. Losing you would be horrific. I believe this attack is only the first of many, and I dread to think what might occur if you remain in the public eye and the public turns against you."

Padmé frowned, her confusion deepening. "Against me?" she exclaimed. "For what reason?"

"Of course, for your involvement with the Rebel Alliance..."

Padmé's heart froze in her chest, and her blood ran cold as Palpatine smiled. "I have no idea what you're talking about," Padmé said, masking any emotion in her voice. "I am a loyal member of the Galactic Empire. I have no connection to the Rebellion."

"Well, of course, you don't," Palpatine replied, shaking his head. "You know that, and I know it, but the people have no idea. There have been rumors, terrible rumors, which I know to be untrue, but I'm terrified they will turn against you. I fear what they might do. I am certain the attack from last night was a result of this. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you. To protect you and demonstrate my complete confidence in your innocence, I've made this decision."

"To imprison me and make Vader my jailer," she translated.

Palpatine dismissed her. "Lord Vader will serve as your personal guard to ensure your protection until we can guarantee your safety." "A guard?" Padmé laughed at the suggestion. "While I'm his prisoner."

"A guest," Palpatine corrected, but Padmé had had enough of his games.

She surged toward him once more. "You can't do this!" she screamed, struggling against the hands restraining her. "You have no right! I've done nothing wrong!"

Palpatine's eyes were on her once more, gleaming with feigned concern. "Well, of course you haven't. Isn't that obvious? I'm simply doing what I must to protect you."

"Or spy on me," she growled, turning to Vader and regarding the dark knight, who stayed unusually silent.

"Why does that concern you? Do you have something to hide?" The Emperor raised an eyebrow, using the Force to draw the Senator's gaze back to his own, as if his fingers had physically touched her chin. Padmé shivered and submitted, instantly lowering her gaze in acknowledgment of her defeat. She couldn't say anything without condemning herself. "No. Of course not."

She immediately felt Palpatine's amusement. The bastard.

"Good. Then you have nothing to fear," Palpatine smiled before circling his desk and taking a seat in his large chair. He looked down at a datapad on his desk and said, suddenly losing interest, "You may go now, Senator, and pack your things. I'll send Vader to collect you shortly."

Padmé was silent as she packed away, only pausing when Palpatine spoke again.

"Don't look so glum, Senator," Palpatine suddenly said, still basking in amusement. "This is only temporary- only until we can assure your safety."

"And my innocence," she added, turning back. Palpatine met her gaze and smiled. "Yes, that too." His eyes glinted with deceit. "When we can guarantee both these conditions, you will return safely to the Senate."

It was a promise of death if she had ever heard one, but she held her tongue. Her eyes glared at Palpatine before flickering to Vader. She absorbed his motionless, silent form, knowing that despite his odd tranquility, he was just as displeased with this predicament as she was—or so she assumed.

Padmé was silently escorted from the office by the guards. She yielded to their will, knowing there was no point in fighting; it would only drain her energy. There was simply no way to talk her way out of this situation. She submitted when the battle was lost but refused to concede the war.

She needed to be smart about this. Her mind was frazzled by everything that had happened and hindered by her panic, along with the lingering effects of the hangover. She needed a place to stop and think, but the moment she stepped outside, a clone trooper flanked her side and seized her arm, pulling her toward the hangar bay where they had entered.

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