written by Heather

It had been too long since he had seen his reflection. His true reflection. Not these buttons and switches that let him live, not this monstrous mask or the ebony helmet, but his face.   The one with the blue eyes and gold hair.   The confident grin that drew people to him. That drew her.

He couldn’t help the anger that coursed through him every time he thought about the situation.   It was Obi-Wan’s fault that he now had to live like this. Obi-Wan’s fault that she had rejected him. Oh yes, she told him that she would always love him, but he was no fool.   He didn’t miss her look of disgust, or how she recoiled when she first saw him after the lava incident.  

If Obi-Wan hadn’t done this, he would have been able to convince her that her place was by his side. But all she did was look at him with those eyes and tell him how she was afraid of this – how the blackness of his soul consumed him. How she couldn’t stay with him because he was weak. She said he had no power.

Only his memory of her prevented him from striking out. Even now, she was still blind while everything was all so clear to him now.   This was power, true power.   He no longer had to endure that drivel that Obi-Wan constantly spouted. He was free. Free from their constraints, their words and, finally, free from their deception.   Free to ensure that there was order in the galaxy

They had been afraid of his power. They had feared his potential. They had good reason.   Look what he could accomplish now, what he had accomplished! He had done what no other could do, destroyed the Jedi Council and eliminated that simpering Republic. Now everyone would realize what true governance was.

Now she would realize what true governance was.

Padmé Amidala had been a part of Anakin Skywalker. She had completed Anakin. But time stole her away from him. She had time for the Senate, she had time for righteous causes, she had time for her people, but when did she have time for him? At first, yes, there were the joyous times of newlyweds but then Obi-Wan got to her, talking about rules and consequences. The smiles were never as bright after that, the love never quite shining forth, after the Jedi Council realized what had occurred.  

She was always boasting about her changes and how she was making things better for the Galaxy.   She had chided him about his occasional ‘excessive violence’, saying weapons could never carve out peace.   Where was she now?   Now, when there was order and a purpose for things.   Now, when there was no one to criticize him or his decisions.

No matter.   She was gone, fled like the others.   Fled like his teacher, Obi-Wan, who didn’t even have the courage to face him. But then, he was no Darth Maul, able to be deceived by a simple floating trick and hand gesture. No, he was much, much better.

She didn’t weep.   No, Padmé Amidala never openly wept.   But there had been tears glistening in those huge brown eyes, her mouth had trembled in an effort to remain firm.   Asking him why he chose this, why he was doing this. How it wasn’t too late to turn back, to fight with her – not against her.

But it was.   Because her way was wrong, and Palpatine finally showed him that.

Had she stayed with him, she could have had whatever she desired.   Peace on every planet, the criminals always punished.   No longer could someone influence a member of the Senate to look the other way or ‘forget’ about this-and-that.   She would have influence, and power!   Together, they could create that galaxy that should exist, that would exist now that the Republic had fallen.   The galaxy that she wanted to exist.

After all, hadn’t some part of him done this for her? After all those nights, watching her scream and cry about the injustices out there and the corruption in the Senate. How the Trade Federation still attacked her home.   Then, all he could do was hold her and promise things would be better.   Now, he could make things better, such as exterminating that little Federation.

You know that silence is loud when all
You hear is your heart
And I wanted so badly just to be a part of
Something strong and true
But I was scared and left it all behind.

She once told him how he never left that little boy behind; everything he did was out of a desire to prove that he was the best, that he wasn’t some simple slave from Tatooine. She said she could always see it in his face and in his eyes. He never thought himself worthy of her.   Worthy of her ideals.

She once asked him what he was afraid of and he scoffed at that.   He feared nothing, not now, not ever.   No one could ever deny him again.   He controlled things now.   He would make things better, now that the power was where it belonged – in his hands.

And if there were times when he was alone that he heard her voice whispering to him, pleading with him to come back and be with her – they would fade in time.   He could banish her just as easily as he had banished Anakin Skywalker. She was tied to a past that Darth Vader had no part of.

I never will forget that look upon
Your face
How you turned away and left
Without a trace
But I understand that you did what you had to do
And I thank you

She always had been an idealist. Someone confident that she could overcome any obstacle. But she never realized that she was now the obstacle by clinging to outdated notions. Her Republic fell apart a long time ago and he could bring it back for her, if only she didn’t insist that everyone should have a voice. People no longer knew what was good for them.

But she didn’t agree.   And the horror when she realized …"I can’t follow you anymore, Ani. Nor can you come with me," she said. "Our paths are too different now and I want no part of yours. "   She reached up an arm as though to touch his face, and turned and left.

And he stood there, watching her go. Stood there with his rejected power.

He should follow her and take her prisoner. If she decided to fight against the Empire, she would be a formidable opponent.   But her face, when she left him … something dead sat in her eyes when she looked at him.   The spark had drained away. The fire hadn’t burned in her voice.

Something had broken within her and while she would never join him, she would also not join anything else. And while the Emperor would rage about her freedom, Vader would do nothing.   Padmé’s crushed spirit would keep her prisoner better than any steel walls could. She no longer had the heart to rebel and Vader doubted that she would ever regain it.  

It really was for the best. There would no longer be any distractions and Vader could focus on his mastery of the Dark Side and bringing order to the galaxy. There were several sections in the Senate who grumbled about this new Empire and Vader would have to ensure that those members did not do anything unwise.   And if he did have to resort to . . . unfortunate but necessary measures – well, the Senate now only contained fools and he could retaliate without any repercussions.   After all, Senator Amidala was no longer a driving force within the Senate.

She wasn’t a driving force anywhere.

And never would be again.