Where are they? What happened? What if something is wrong? Where are they? What happened? What if something is wrong? Where are they? What happened? What if something is wrong? Where are they? What happened? What if something is wrong? Where are they? What happened? What if something is wrong? Where are they? What happened? What if something is wrong?
STOP. She screamed at herself. Calm down. You can't lose your mind… not yet.
Padme tried to not over think anything. There were thousands of probable explanations for why none of her staff was in her office… but still; she couldn't ignore the bad feeling in the pit of her stomach telling her that something was wrong. She couldn't ignore the fact, but she could not dwell on it either. There is nothing I can do. Padme told herself. Not at the moment anyways, I just have to wait. I can ask Vader when he returns, but I don't even know if anything is wrong yet. I'm sure someone will show up with answers.
So, it was with a heavy heart that Padme closed her office doors and filed through the many datapads that laid on her desk, trying to get her mind away from the subject of her missing staff. That was until her com went off. Glancing at it, she immediately groaned. She knew she should have contacted the Queen the second Vader had left, but she lacked the time or courage to make such a call. Contacting the Queen had actually been the farthest thing from her mind. Over the past few weeks she had been too concerned with herself, Vader or now her staff to even think about anything else. Her mind seemed to be turning into mush.
Taking a calming breath, Padme calmed her nerves. She knew that it was likely that the Empire was now tracking every little thing she did, and no doubt this very communication. She had to be calm and not give anything away. If she did, she had no doubt she would met the real power of Darth Vader's wrath.
Trying to look as normal as possible, Padme answered, making sure her senator's mask was perfectly in place. The image of the Queen formed itself before her, and she quickly bowed her head in respect for her Queen. "Your highness."
Queen Jamillia sat upon her throne, staring at her with a similar mask upon her face, but unlike Padme's, her mask was not flawless. There was slight concern in her eyes that she was not able to hide, but the Queen still acted as if nothing was wrong. "Senator Amidala," she greeted, "It is wonderful to see you back to work and looking so well." Padme forced a smile over her features, gesturing to the woman on the screen. "Yes, and I believe I must thank you for that."
"There is no need." Queen Jamillia spoke sternly, "It is not right for the Empire to hold you…" The Queen paused as her face became slightly harder, "After all, Naboo has never and will never support the Rebellion. Our allegiance is and always will be with the Empire."
The Senator gritted her teeth before once again forcing a fake smile. "Emperor Palpatine was only trying to protect me, your highness." Padme lied, knowing that her and the Queen both knew the truth. "He made that much clear when I was first taken into custody. He was even kind enough to appoint Lord Vader as my protector.
"You have been with Lord Vader?" Those words together made Padme's heart race. She hated those words together, but also was strangely… No. No. No. Don't even go there, Padme. She has been living with Lord Vader, but she has not been with Lord Vader. Nevertheless, Padme nodded. "Lord Vader has been every so kind to take care of me for these past few weeks."
The other woman nodded and Padme saw something flash in her eyes. More concern? Pity? Fear? The emotion was somewhat unreadable. "And I take it, Lord Vader was…" The Queen paused, looking over Padme suspiciously before continuing, "Appropriate?"
Padme frowned at the Queen's question, not understanding what her highness could possibly be asking… when suddenly, it clicked. She too, thought Vader had raped her and instantly Padme flushed. "No!" Padme answered too quickly. Followed by her blush deepening, after she realized her mistake. "I mean yes! I mean…" At that moment Padme wanted to crawl under her desk and never be seen again. The embarrassment! She took a deep breath trying not to stumble over her words. "I am sorry, your highness," she said, forming her mask back into place. "I… I just have had much to deal with over the past few weeks, but Lord Vader has been a perfect gentleman and a fine protector. Always appropriate."
It wasn't a total lie.
The Queen was silent a moment, clearly disbelieving what she was hearing, before she nodded anyway. "I see."
"I should have contacted you sooner with my whereabouts." Padme began, before the Queen could ask her further questions. "I owe you a great deal of apologies and-"
The hologram before Padme began to flicker, before forming perfectly back into place and man's voice echoed from the throne room behind the Queen. "Your Majesty, we have successfully blocked the Empire. The communication is clear for 60 seconds."
Padme couldn't help but allow her mask to break as he eyes widened in disbelief. Had she heard them right? Had Naboo really blocked the Empire from their communication?
The Queen replied her thanks before turning back to Padme. "We don't have much time." The Queen stated quickly, "We have blocked the Empire out, but only for a few seconds. We must act quickly or there will be hell to pay. What is happening? What can you tell us?"
"I'm not sure." Padme admitted breathlessly still in complete shock. She couldn't believe any of this was real. "I am Vader's prisoner, but he does not torture or touch me. I have hardly even seen him during my time with him." Again, it wasn't a total lie, but she surely wasn't going to tell the Queen the truth.
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