The Sith came to a dead stop, frozen in the middle of the hall as a thought passed through his mind. Did Palpatine know?Vader was sure he shielded his thoughts and actions. After all, when Palpatine said to get close to the girl, he hardly meant lay in bed with her every night. Vader reached out through their bond, looking for the reason of his Master's need for him. Immediately, he felt his Master's weariness and suspicious. Sidious mistrusted him, more than usual. Usually, his Master's mistrust was due to his fear of Vader overthrowing him; something they both knew was coming. This, however, felt different.
After a few moments Vader reached the communication center, he made sure to mentally prepare himself before he contacted his Master. He couldn't risk Sidious entering into his mind; his thoughts were too preoccupied. He would have to block the old man out completely; give nothing away. Blocking his Master out completely would cause even more mistrust between them, but it was something he had to do. After all, even though his Master had instructed him to get information from the Senator by any means necessary, he highly doubted his present method would be approved of.
When Vader was satisfied with his mental wall, he turned to a gray droid that stood silently at the far edge of the room. "Contact Emperor Palpatine." Vader instructed as he dropped to a knee, in a false sign of respect. The droid nodded towards his Master before it turned to the computer to fulfill its order. Within seconds a large imagine of a displeased Sidious formed in front of Vader.
"What is thy bidding, my Master?"
Darth Sidious did not respond, he only inspected the young Sith before him with dark, questioning eyes. Vader felt Sidious try to penetrate his mental wall; but continue to fail. Vader, however, did not fail. While Sidious was preoccupied trying to enter Vader's mind, Vader slipped easily pass Sidious's mental defenses and got his answers. Vader almost laughed. Sidious was suspicious of him; fearful of him, and afraid he was planning to overthrow him. Usually, those would be common things to fear about Vader, but now Palpatine was suspicious for the wrong reason.
"Rise." Palpatine spit distastefully, deciding to ask his questions then try to dig through Vader to their answers.
Vader did as he was commanded and rose slowly from the ground. He felt his Master's anger and annoyance begin to cover the traces of the mistrust that lingered inside the old man's shell.
"You have made progress with Senator Amidala." Sidious stated; making sure his apprentice knew it was a statement, not a question. Vader caught on, making sure to give facts and not a simple answer. "I have broken through the first smaller layers of her mind–"
"The first few?!" Sidious questioned, "Why have you not made more progress than the first few? I expect more than that out of you, Vader! I would have thought you to be almost finished by now."
Vader's anger began to boil. His Master was questioning his abilities. How dare he expect more out of him. "As I have stated before, the Senator is well trained in blocking her mind." Vader explained, "She keeps her mind well blocked and filed, I could break them very easily; but it would cause insanity. Something I thought you did not want, my Master."
The Emperor's face turned disgusted but he allowed Vader to continue, "What were you able to figure out?" "Nothing, besides personal issues and small insignificant information." the younger Sith reported. "This information, however, could be some use to us. Within this information, I have discovered her weaknesses and so I shall use them against her. When I begin to use them against her, her walls will begin to crumble by her own doing.
Darth Sidious was nodding along. "Where in her mind is the information about the Rebellion?"
Vader crossed his arms arrogantly, shifting to become steadier under his Master's gaze. "I have no doubt that she keeps the information about the Rebellion within the deepest wall within her mind." Vader replied, "When her walls crumble, I will be able to extract the information effortlessly."
"No." the Emperor said slowly, catching Vader off guard. "No?"
"I have received the most distasteful news." Sidious sneered, narrowing his eyes in disgust. "I'm afraid we must put our plan on hold, Vader. That is why I had hoped you had made more progress."
"Our plan on hold."
Vader crossed his arms tightly over his chest, trying to control the anger that threatened to break his shell. He knew what those words meant. If he was no longer breaking down the Senator's wall, than he was no longer making progress. Which meant he would have to deal with her longer than he thought. She would live longer than he wanted. He was stuck with her.
"Naboo has signed a petition for the Senator to return to work." Palpatine continued displeased, "This entire situation has created an uproar in the Senate. I'm afraid she must be released." A smile almost formed itself on Vader's face. Released? Perhaps he wouldn't have to be stuck with the Senator.
"The Senator will be released, Master?" Vader asked hopefully.
"No." Palpatine replied with a frown. "She will stay under your care and under your watchful eye until I see necessary."
Immediately Vader was reminded of why he was never hopeful. It got him nowhere. He was stuck with the ridiculous girl… forever. The thought worsened Vader's already fowl mood. He listened silently as his Master rattled off his new plan about allowing the Senator to return to work, but having her under constant watch. He wanted her to feel isolated and alone. He wanted to see her break gradually as she witnessed the terrors that were happening throughout the galaxy, the terrors that were happening within the Imperial Senate walls. They both knew it would destroy her. "When does she return to the Senate?" Vader asked once Palpatine's briefing was finished.
"Today." Palpatine growled, "That is why I have contacted you at such an hour. We need her back immediately before we begin to lose the support of numerous systems within the Senate." Palpatine paused, before chuckling darkly. "She is just a naïve young girl, I have no idea why the Imperial Senate is creating such an uproar–"
A knock resonated from Palpatine's office causing the old man to turn away from Vader. "What is it?" He growled angrily.
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