Both senators paused at the sound of the elder voice, turning toward the pair approaching them. Immediately, Bail composed himself, faking a smile and bowing his head in false respect. "Emperor Palpatine, an honor."
Ignoring Bail's comment, the Emperor turned to Padmé, a large, unsettling smile on his face. "And," he breathed, "Senator Amidala."
Padmé followed Bail's lead, suppressing her sickness due to his proximity, before faking a smile as she bowed. "Your Majesty." "It's so great to see you," he continued, pushing the conversation forward despite Padmé's clear disinterest and evident bitterness. "It's been sometime since I've had the chance to talk to you outside the Senate's walls. I always enjoy speaking with someone from home—especially someone like you, who has been so significant to my career's endeavors."
"I feel exactly the same," she replied, the words burning her lips as she tried to control her anger, knowing he was trying to provoke her. "I do apologize for my lack of socialization. I'm afraid I've been quite busy."
His smile vanished, yet he let out a cackle, his eyes darkening. "I have no doubt." He then turned to the Sith behind him. "Vader," he beckoned the still Sith, making both Bail and Padmé go pale. "Were you aware of Senator Amidala's significance in my ascent to power? That without her, neither of us would be in the position we are today?" She ignored the fire burning through her body from the harsh reminder, using the opportunity to forget about the Emperor and shift her attention to the vast darkness looming behind the older man. Vader didn't respond to Palpatine's comment, yet her heart began to race more quickly and forcefully against her chest as she finally realized she was in the presence of the monstrous Ghost of the Empire, Darth Vader. He didn't acknowledge them, as expected, remaining still and almost lurking, silent as a dead man. His proximity made her breath hitch, as she truly took in how massive he was for the first time, feeling firsthand the true strength of the darkness surrounding him. Silently yet curiously, she glanced at his face, seeing nothing but darkness beneath the black hood. Instead of terror, a different emotion coursed through her veins—a warmth even. Though she knew she shouldn't, she spoke to him. "Lord Vader," she said respectfully, her voice surprisingly smooth as she bowed her head. "I believe I've been deprived of the pleasure. It's an honor."
She didn't expect him to respond, and even more, she didn't understand why she had greeted him at all. The strange feeling came and went before she could even explain it. It had surprised her, but even more so when Vader actually responded.
After her comment, Darth Vader moved for the first time during the entire night, his head rising as if in surprise—or perhaps out of sheer bewilderment. It was an automatic response, she could tell. She had said his name, and he had reacted to it. She could only guess that it was a matter of him not expecting her greeting, having received no acknowledgment the whole night, unlike the others who feared and dreaded his presence but hadn't recognized him directly. His head dropped almost instantaneously; the moment lasted only half a second, and everyone around missed it—everyone except Padmé. A second was all she needed. In that brief moment, Vader had turned his head, and Padmé hadn't overlooked it… unlike the conversation unfolding between Emperor Palpatine and Senator Bail Organa.
"… of course, we will both keep our ears open for you, my Lord," Bail concluded, bowing slightly to the Emperor, bringing an end to a conversation that Padmé had entirely missed.
Realizing she had missed an entire conversation with the Emperor made her heart drop. If she missed an entire conversation, how long had she been watching Vader? No. How long had she been staring at Darth Vader? And more importantly, had anyone noticed? Looking around, thankfully, it didn't seem like it.
"You have our deepest gratitude," Emperor Palpatine replied, masking his words with a feigned expression of sincerity. "It's always a pleasure, Senator Organa." He paused, casting a sinister glance toward Padmé with a wicked smile. "Senator Amidala."
The Emperor slowly turned and started to walk away, with Vader following closely behind. It was a pleasing sight, even more enjoyable knowing that the conversation had come to an end. Silently, she thanked her lucky stars for having managed to get through the brief meeting with the Emperor and Vader, although she wasn't mentally present for most of it. Still, she rejoiced. It seemed that the night would conclude without a single person getting hurt…
Or so it seemed.
The thought came far too soon, causing an absolute jinx, as everyone shared the sentiment of being safe from Vader's wrath. A young man, likely in his early thirties, had too much to drink and stumbled into the Dark Lord. He had been laughing and was too intoxicated to realize the direction he was going until it was too late, colliding into the Sith's back and spilling his glass of dark wine down the Dark Lord's black cloak. As it happened, the whole room froze; the music fell silent, and gasps echoed through the air as their eyes widened at the scene. Palpatine paused, barely throwing a glance over his shoulder, while Vader remained still for a long moment, the anticipation choking everyone in the room until he slowly turned to face the man.
Realizing who he had bumped into, the man took a quick, large step back, even in his drunken state, knowing he was looking death in the face. "L– Lord Vader, I a–am terribly sorry," he mumbled, bowing his head unsteadily. "I didn't mean… I didn't see… I–"
"Are you blind, or simply as unintelligent as you appear?" Vader's voice growled.
The sound of his menacing voice roared throughout the room and would have caused every guest to hush, if they hadn't already been silent. Every pair of eyes moved to the Sith, mesmerized by fear, waiting for Vader's next move, knowing that if any of the stories were true, the young man would not see another light of day.
"N–no! I mean yes," the drunken man stumbled, confused and frightened. "I didn't mean to—I'm—I'm sorry. You just were in my–"
"So now you're blaming me?" Vader hissed, stepping closer to the man, who had to look up at the Sith to account for Vader's towering height.
"No, no, no!" the man exclaimed, swinging his arms and spilling more wine onto Vader's already damp and stained cloak.
Abruptly, Vader's gloved hand clamped down on the man's neck, effortlessly lifting him into the air. The act appeared like an optical illusion, making the man seem as light as a feather in Vader's firm grasp. Suspended in the air, the man dangled helplessly, his feet above the ground as his airway constricted, and he gasped for breath, clawing at Vader's gloved hand in a desperate attempt to escape. The sight elicited a dark chuckle from Vader, echoing through the room as onlookers watched helplessly.