Yes, I've been sleeping with Lord Vader. Not sex, just sleeping. You know, nightmares? He helps. Kriff, she could imagine their faces.
"So it was not a lie that he has treated you well?" The Queen asked, drawing her back to the conversation.
She shrugged. "As well as Darth Vader can."
The Queen nodded, knowing that there was not enough time to push for further information, "We will conducting a rescue mission as soon"
"You can't risk anymore troops!" Padme yelled. "The Rebellion is already crumbling as it is!"
"No troops." The Queen replied shaking her head, "We have Master Jedi that have come to help, but we must know where they are keeping you incase they do not allow you to return to work permanently."
"I'm not exactly sure." Padme whispered. She hoped the sounds outside her door were only her imagination. "I've just been told its Vader's establishments."
"Any clue is good enough." The Queen responded quickly, "I have had numerous files sent to your datapad; the one that was given to you yesterday. They are all in the Naboo Queen secret code that we have all learned during our time as Queen. The Empire will not suspect a thing. I'm also requesting that your astromech droid be returned to you immediately. I have had Dorme equip him with –"
At the sound of her best friend's name, Padme couldn't help but to interrupt her Queen. "Dorme?" She screamed, "She is alright?" The Queen nodded. "Yes. Jar Jar and Dorme have been sent back to Theed. We are working on returning them."
Oh, thank the Force! Padme breathed a sigh of relief, "Is that where the rest of the Naboo staff and delegates are?
The Queen paused, a bewildered look upon her face. It was a look that made Padme's heart drop. "Th–they didn't tell you?" The Queen asked in disbelief.
"Tell me what?" Padme asked softly, unsure if she wanted to know the answer.
"Padme…" The Queen whispered softly before she breathed in sharply, "They're dead."
A gasp escaped the young Senator as her hands flew to her face. No.
"The Empire has extinguished them." The Queen continued, "I received the documents yesterday about them being traitors to the Empire. There is nothing I can do. I have news that Vader himself has made it his personal duty to kill every name on the petition list. Naboo delegates were at the top."
"Everyone?" Said in disbelief, "Everyone is dead."
This couldn't be happening.
"It's complicated." The Queen explained, "But all Naboo personnel with the exception of Jar Jar and Dorme are all but gone."
Why? Why had he spared them? Why did he spare me? They are all dead!
Padme couldn't help the tears that began to fall down her face. "Oh Sith…." She cried, "They're dead."
"We don't have time." The Queen growled, "We will grieve their loss when this war is over!" "They're dead because they helped me!" Padme snapped back. Even in her time as Queen of Naboo she had a hard time accepting the death of others. Whenever anyone died for her, she felt responsible, just as she did now.
"They are dead because Palpatine and Vader are in charge!" The Queen screamed, "Don't lose your mind, Padme. We need you."
Padme tried to control herself and eventually succeeded, but her mind unlike her tears, wouldn't stop. "Is my family alright?" She questioned frantically. "Are they alive?"
The Queen nodded, "Your family is fine, only worried for you."
Thank the Force. They are fine…. but for how long? They must have signed the petition! He will go after them too!
The sound of footsteps nearing Padme's office door caused both women to freeze. "They're coming." The Queen announced in a lowered voice, "I will try to contact you soon. Act as if the communication went dead."
Padme did not have time to respond before a dozen clone troopers burst through her office doors just in time to see…
Nothing.
To them, she was alone, standing in the middle of her office. Padme glanced from trooper to trooper just as they did the same to her; but she had only one thought on her mind.
Where the kriffing hell is he?
She didn't want to see him. She didn't want to be near him. But she wanted him here. She wanted to scream at him. She wanted to beat him. She wanted– Where was he? How could she be breaking the rules and Vader not be there to punish her? It didn't make sense. He was the one that was supposed to be watching her, but yet, he had left her alone. There should be consequences, but yet, her punisher was nowhere to be seen. That was not like Vader.
The clone troopers surrounded her, asking questions that she did not catch. Her mind was too far-gone. Just like everyone she had ever worked with within the Senate… gone. It took the troopers a few more minutes to realize she was not going to answer. She was too far-gone as well. Gone.
One of the troopers began to push her towards her desk and she complied without hesitation. She needed to sit. The world seemed to be spinning. Nothing seemed to be real. Her mind seemed to be gone. Just like everything else. She couldn't think. She couldn't breath. She couldn't comprehend what was going on around her.
.
.
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