"They are prepared," Sidious snapped again, making his words final as he sat down behind his desk. "We need information, Lord Vader, not just the location."
"I can handle them," Vader said confidently, striding across the room in an attempt to change the crazy old man's mind. "They are no match for me."
The Emperor merely smiled, flashing his yellow teeth and pointing a pale, wrinkled finger at Vader. "You think yourself indestructible, Lord Vader," he commented. "But let's not forget what will happen to you in the not-too-distant future."
Instantly, thoughts of lava and fire swirled in Vader's mind, engulfing his train of thought. He could practically feel his skin burning and his lungs hurting. It was enough to make him hesitate—to make him yield.
"I haven't forgotten," he stated clearly, clearly backing down. His master's smile widened profoundly, always relishing Vader's pain and submission. "They," he pointed a pale finger, gesturing toward the door where the senators had just fled his office, "are not the weakest links. They are too dedicated to break, to reveal anything… even to you."
Vader disagreed yet remained silent, knowing his place.
"I have foreseen their future," Sidious continued. "I have foreseen our future. A glorious plan to ensure the stability and preservation of the Empire." The old man smiled, inhaling deeply and reveling in the vision before turning back to Vader. "We must wait," he commanded, raising his pale finger again. "I have sensed a significant internal complication within this foolish group- one that will work to our advantage. We will break them from afar, and we will watch as they continue to break themselves. The precise opportunity to finish the job will present itself, but for now, my plan must commence here."
Vader did his utmost to avoid sounding bitter. "And what might that be?"
"We will break the weakest link," Sidious stated clearly. His plan was clearly on his mind, but not one that Vader was able to penetrate. His master was safely guarding it in his mind.
"How?" Vader asked, his eyes drifting back to the closed doorway as he sensed through the Force that the senators' presences were beginning to weaken the farther they moved away. "They are all going to flee."
"Not all of them," Sidious frowned and shook his head, correcting the comment. "We still possess the weakest link."
"Who?" Vader pressed, turning back to his master and watching as an evil grin curled onto the old man's features. "Senator Amidala."
When Padmé woke, the sun shone on her face, its bright light bleeding through the slightly parted curtains of her room. Sighing contentedly, she snuggled into her pillow, the warmth of the sun giving a whole new meaning to comfort. The sunshine made her feel relaxed– peaceful. It was a feeling of tranquility she hadn't experienced in a very long time, and she welcomed it with open arms.
She closed her eyes and nearly drifted back to sleep, cocooned in the sunlight, until she noticed something unusual about her situation. However, with her mind caught in that half-state between slumber and wakefulness, she couldn't precisely identify what it was.
Was she too warm? Too relaxed? Had she forgotten something?
She wondered for a few moments before it hit her. There shouldn't be sunshine in her apartment, not at this hour anyway.
Slowly, she sat up, rubbing her bleary eyes and squinting against the light as she realized her mistake: the day had already begun without her, and it was late morning.
"Sith!" she cursed under her breath. Turning away from the sunlight, she glanced at the clock, horrified to see that it was almost ten. I should have been at the Senate building hours ago!
Padmé was very, very late. She hadn't woken up at this hour in so long that she couldn't even remember the last time she had– if she ever had. She had always been an early riser, waking up before the sun. Even as a child, she had been trained to awaken before dawn. She had never been allowed to sleep past early morning. Padmé had to bear responsibility from a young age, leaving her no time to sleep in like many who were her age had done. Queen Amidala was expected to be up before her people, so by tradition, Senator Amidala was usually awake before the sun, not after it.
It was something she had envied for a small part of her life, and sometimes she still found herself daydreaming about it- not just the sleep, but the meaning behind it: ordinary. It was a happy and seemingly unrealistic thought, yet one that broke through her walls time and time again. It was strange. She couldn't clearly picture her life without her title or politics, both of which were too important as key factors in who she had become. Still, she couldn't help but ask, what if? She had no regrets about the direction her life had taken, but oftentimes she wondered how different her life would have been if she had had a normal childhood– a normal life.
She groaned as she pushed herself out of bed, knowing this was not the time to lament her childhood or life. She was a senator and a leader of the Rebellion, both of which she cherished deeply. The past was a closed book, one she had no intention of mourning or repeating. Her only focus was on the future and the improvement of herself and society. Rubbing her temples, she swung her legs over the side of the bed, feeling slightly unsteady as she did. Swaying unsteadily, she realized that the party must have put more stress on her than she had recognized; it was the only factor that could have caused her unusual behavior.
Pushing her thoughts aside, Padmé hurried around her room, preparing herself and trying to look as professional as possible in the shortest time. She chose a simple up-do, basic makeup, and a classic Nubian dress. It wasn't her usual attire, but she knew it would suffice. Unsatisfied yet unable to do any more, Padmé dashed out of her room, passing her astromech droid, R2-D2, a gift from her time as Queen of Naboo. R2-D2, or R2 as she called him, beeped at her anxiously as she hurried by, almost seeming worried. Padmé patted his head as she sprinted past, not understanding and not having the time to figure out his particular outburst.
"Calm down! I know I'm late!" Padmé replied as she headed toward the door. "I'll be back later! Bye, Artoo!"
As she exited, the sound of R2's beeps echoed through the closed door, but Padmé paid them no mind, her gaze fixed on the person waiting for her in the hall. Captain Gregar Typho, the captain of the Royal Naboo Security Forces, greeted Padmé as she left her chambers. "Milady," he bowed as she approached the lift. "Good morning. I regret to inform–"