CH75

Vader stood unmoving. "You know his true meaning as much as I."

Padme gritted her teeth, her eyes flickering to the floor. "So, you're choosing to skip the bantha shit," Padmé muttered with a scowl. "I wouldn't phrase it as elegantly," Vader said, mocking her. "However, that is correct, Sentor."

Padmé laughed, overwhelmed by the sheer number of emotions she was experiencing. "Won't Palpatine be upset that you aren't playing along in his game?"

"I'm not a politician, Senator," Vader replied honestly. "I act according to my own principles. There's no benefit in deceiving one another when we both understand the reality."

Padmé recalled her conversation with Bail Organa, feeling as if it had been ages instead of just earlier this week. Bail had remarked that Vader was not a politician and did not deceive like Palpatine.

Vader had just validated this claim.

While Padmé would never confess to it, she refused to live a lie. Embracing the reality of Vader felt better than creating a false narrative in her mind. It was undoubtedly a more favorable choice than succumbing to Palpatine's fabrications, despite her awareness of his dishonesty. She knew that if she did not find a means to escape, it would lead to her end, no matter the lies he attempted to impose upon her.

Nonetheless, the reality was harsh.

Padmé suppressed the emotions that threatened to surface. She refused to cry in front of Darth Vader, unwilling to reveal how deeply this affected her.

She couldn't tell if Vader sensed her emotional turmoil and chose to withdraw or if he simply wished to end the conversation. For the second time, he turned to leave the room, but once more, Padmé stopped him.

"How long will I be here?" she asked softly, already aware of the answer but needing to hear the words spoken aloud. "Truly." She included the final word to clarify her request. If he was prepared to get to the heart of the reason for her visit, she hoped he would address the length of time as well. She needed to hear him say "forever" to come to terms with it.

Vader stopped and turned to meet her gaze. Padmé sensed his rising annoyance, quickening temper, and diminishing patience.

"As long as the Emperor deems appropriate," Vader responded coldly.

Padmé scoffed. It wasn't the response she wanted, but it irritated her nonetheless, aware of the underlying meaning in his words. "So, until I'm no longer of use."

Vader maintained a relaxed posture, but it reflected his annoyance with her, their conversation, and the new situation they faced. "If that is your perspective," he replied with indifference. Padmé felt a sharp pain in her jaw from how tightly she clenched it. "So, Vader, what purpose do I serve for the Emperor?"

"You already know that answer, as do I," he said simply.

Padmé nodded. She understood he referred to her connection to the Rebellion. However, she did not yet know how this situation would impact that fact or how Palpatine intended to use her. It seemed far more effective to simply take her to the nearest torture chamber and extract the words from her. Not that she would say anything.

She sensed that Vader shared her feelings, although she couldn't pinpoint how she knew. She simply felt it. Continuing this way was merely wasting their time and delaying the inevitable.

This was merely another of Palpatine's schemes, and both she and Vader were just two of the pieces to play with. She wondered if Vader was aware of his master's schemes or if she was just as clueless. It didn't truly matter. She needed to wait to assess the layout. Once again, she was a pawn on the board in his games, but this time, she refused to be used as a tool.

"And then he will kill me."

It was a statement, not a question. She didn't need confirmation for what she knew was true, but Vader laughed as if it were amusing.

"Please," he said darkly. "He won't kill you."

She understood his implication. Emperor Palpatine wouldn't dirty his hands; that's why he had Vader. That was why Vader had laughed at her comment- because he would be her murderer. His words echoed in her mind: "I am your judge, jury, jailer, and executioner." He had truly meant every word. If she were to die, Vader would be the one to take her life. Darth Vader would be her death. It didn't really make a difference.

Padmé's expression grew resolute as she faced the Sith before her. "I can't stay here forever. Sooner or later, people will ask questions."

"I doubt it," Vader said, sounding remarkably confident.

She didn't argue, even though she knew it wasn't true. She had friends and family out there who would ask questions. Supporters who wouldn't give up. She decided to switch tactics. "You don't want me here," she stated bluntly, staring into the shadows of the hood as if she could see the face concealed within. "You don't want me here as much as I do."

His irritation was palpable. "Your point?"

"I can torment you just as much as you can torment me," Padmé said, vowing to make this unpleasant. Vader merely chuckled at her. "I doubt that as well."

Out of nowhere, Padmé became as irritable as Vader was.

"Didn't you hear me?" she asked, abruptly rising, as if anger had empowered her. She swiftly crossed the room to confront him. "I can't be here forever."

Vader's laugh sent a shiver down Padmé's spine. "Don't worry; you won't."

She understood his meaning. Death was her only escape.

"So, how long?" she inquired, turning her back on Vader to emphasize her argument. "When you realize you can't get a single word from me? When you fail to uncover anything? How much longer until we end this charade? When will we put an end to this game?"

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