When Darkness Falls (Part Two) ✔️

Chapter 8: The Final Encounter

- Theed: The Royal Palace -

What is taking so long?! Vader was pacing impatiently around the throne room of the Royal Theed Palace. They should be here already!

"Emperor Vader, sir?" said Captain Rex, who, with his men, had returned from hunting down the Jedi several hours ago and now cautiously entered the room. "The Jedi has returned, with the women."

Finally!! Vader thought. "Send them in immediately!"

"Yes my lord." Rex turned and left to carry out his order.

After a short moment, Captain Rex led Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala Skywalker into the throne room. Vader stopped his pacing and marched up to Padmé, pulling her into a deep hug. Padmé immediately pushed away, her face full of fury.

"What do you think you're doing?" Padmé demanded, glaring as she stepped back.

"I'm hugging my wife who was supposed to be dead but now is apparently alive." Vader was furious, why would Padmé even question this? "What does it look like I'm doing?!"

"I don't know what you are talking about! My husband is dead. He was killed and taken over by a monster who calls himself emperor of the galaxy."

"You..!"

"Emperor, please calm down. We are not here to bicker. You wanted to speak with Padmé. So please, do it civilly." Obi-Wan stepped between the squabbling couple, raising a hand to calm them down.

"Very well..." Vader replied. He looked away from his old master, irritated once again by the older man's distaste for aggressive negotiations. Vader then turned back to his wife as Obi-Wan stepped out from in between them. "Padmé, if you are ready to listen, I have a serious question to ask of you."

"I'm ready and listening. But I cannot promise you an answer that you will like. I can only promise a truthful one." Padmé replied confidently, looking Vader straight in the eye.

"Of course." Vader nodded in what seemed to be understanding. "Would you, along with our children, join me finally uniting the galaxy under one empire?"

When Obi-Wan heard this question, he looked down and shook his head. It seemed as if Vader was no different than Anakin when it came to common sense. Padmé had already turned him down on this offer once, what made Vader think she would accept this time? Especially since Padmé was quite a bit angrier with him than she had been on Mustafar.

"You want me to what?!" Padmé shouted, her face turning red with anger. "You want me to rule the galaxy with you under this tyranny that you have created?? You asked me on Mustafar to join you on this treacherous decision and what did I tell you then?"

Vader started to speak, but Padmé cut him off; she had moved in closer to him, her finger flying dangerously close to Vader's face. She continued on because she was not done with her rant for she was furious at the genocidal idiot her husband had become.

"I told you no! So what makes you think I will join you now on your journey for genocidal conquest?! Much less with my children too!!"

"Padmé please, wait," Vader shouted and cut in before she could insult him anymore. "I am not asking you to commit mass murder! I am asking you to rule beside me as queen so that we can bring peace to the galaxy once and for all!"

"Peace...peace. You think peace will come under a dictatorship!" Padmé pulled her hand back and spoke in a more dignified manner. "If that is what you think, then I'm afraid you do not understand what real peace is nor do you understand how to achieve it."