A dictatorship. An Empire. Those words made her sick. They weren't right. "How is that right? People still don't agree, because they have freewill." Padme pressed on, refusing to quit, "They never agree, they are just forced to quiet–"
"Wrong." Vader snapped, his voice much deeper than before. "It is politicians that cause the process to become slow. People can agree. People want to live. That is a instinct that thrives within every living creature, but yet politicians sit in a box pretending they know every thought of their planet when all their planet wants is help and a solution." Padme paused, highly offended. She should have known. Vader was a man of action. He was not a politician, nor was he civilized. He would never see it from her point of view.
"Living?" Padme laughed, trying to turn the subject back on him, "A man that takes so many lives; speaks about living like he knows so much."
"I've seen many beings moments before their death." Vader responded without missing a beat. "Only then does your true instinct for survival awaken."
Padme rolled her eyes, knowing she could not win against him, so she decided to return to her original question. "So it doesn't matter if the rule is Empire or Republic, you still don't like the Senate?"
"I despise politicians." Vader growled, "All of them." "Palpatine is a politician." Padme retorted, trying to prove a point.
A low growled resonated from beside her that caused every single hair on her body to rise. "Did. I. Stutter. Senator." Vader said slow and darkly. "I despise politicians. Him included. I hate them all." He paused for a moment before leaning to close the gap between them. Padme could feel his face near her side and it sent chills down her spine. "Especially you, Senator."
His voice was dark and icy, in a way it had not been at his establishments. It frightened Padme and hurt her. She could feel the speeder begin its plummet and with that, Vader's mood. She could feel the cold darkness returning, surrounding its Master. Darth Vader was truly again sitting beside her.
She felt the speeder touch the ground and without warning; the blindfold was ripped from her face. She was gazed for a moment, caught off guard by the bright life, before she caught sight of Vader's fleeing form outside the speeder.
What the hell? He can't do that to me! Padme thought as a series of questions formed within her mind. What just happened? How does he move so fast? Is just going to leave me? What is wrong with him?
Jumping out of the parked speeder, Padme began to chase after him, trying to look as regal as possible while doing so. Thankfully for the small girl, Vader was moving slower than usual.
"Where are you going?" She asked as she settled into a jog beside him.
He did not answer. He just continued walking, acting as if he was alone.
Padme couldn't help but frown. He's ignoring me! "Lord Vader," two troopers saluted as he walked by, but the Sith didn't bother with them either and Padme's frown immediately disappeared.
He's ignoring everyone.
"Aren't you afraid I'm going to run away?" Padme cried, losing her breath as she tried to keep up with his long strides.
"Even I don't think you're that stupid." Vader responded without turning towards her.
Padme wasn't sure why, but she continued to pursue him. "So you're just going to leave me? You can't just walk away without saying anything!"
Vader paused and Padme had to jump back to avoid smashing into him. He turned to her and remained silent. Once again, Padme felt naked under his hidden gaze and was forced to look at the floor like a child that was being scolded by a parent for breaking the rules. In a way, she felt, that's exactly what he was doing.
"Have a nice day… somewhere else." Vader said finally breaking the silence. It was a rude comment, but immediately Padme couldn't help but smile. That was her Vader, the cocky, arrogant, annoying Vader… not the angry, dark, cold Lord of the Sith.
My Vader? Did I really just think that? No. No, I didn't.
Padme raised her face from the floor to see that Vader had not moved, but was once again watching her. It seemed like hours passed before either of them moved again. It was Vader that broke first, slightly shaking his hood before turning away from her. "Now go to work, Senator." He commanded. "I trust you know the way." Without another word, he quickened his gait, making it impossible for Padme to follow and within moments, Padme was left alone.
What the hell just happened?
She didn't know, nor did she want to. She only knew that she had to stop this. Vader was the enemy and she had to stop acting like such a naïve girl. She wanted to make Bail proud, wherever he was. She was the last leader of the Rebel Alliance left within the Imperial Senate and she might as well try to do something about that.
A few minutes later, Padme arrived at her office. Only, no one was there. Not a single soul. No troopers. No guards. No delegates. No representatives. No Dorme. No Jar Jar. She was alone… and instantly her mind became frazzled.
.
.
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