(Video)

[politicallyinclined]

(Since she has been made aware of her prior stay, Padmé decides to use her tablet to send out a message. She is pale, but strangely resolved to this new plight. Her hair is ornately braided, but her clothing is plain. She's just happy to have clothes and to be rid of that white gown!)

Greetings, everyone. Some of you might recognize me; I want to speak to you if that is the case.

(The faster she is up to speed, the better.)

For those I am encountering for the first time, hello. I'm Padmé. Some of my family is present and -

I would like very much to protect them. I'm sure you can understand the feeling.

Comments

[nouskaiananki]

[ He knows as he's paying close attention. Still. ]

I always will.

[ In this world or any other. ]

No it wasn't. He wanted you dead.

[ Vader picked up her hand a he says it. He had been warned and Palpatine had plans. ]

[politicallyinclined]

I went against his plans for you...for everything. I didn't see what he was capable of either.

(She grips his hand and closes her eyes.)

You will be free of him, Ani.

[nouskaiananki]

He is good at that. Deceit is his nature and he wields it better than almost any I've ever heard of.

[ Well. Maybe. He'd heard of two Sith who could run circles around Palpatine but at least one would be the worse of the two to face. ]

He's not here.

[ No he won't. He doesn't think he'll ever be free of him, really. ]

[politicallyinclined]

You are more powerful than him. He fears the Light; that's why he has to kill it. But he can't kill all of it.

(Siths. Padmé has a hard time giving any of them credit. Except one.

The only one who remembers what a heart feels like.)

Good. I get to have you to myself.

[nouskaiananki]

He fears me, he always has. That is why he wouldn't allow you to be with me.

[ He wouldn't say aloud what he believed to be true. Palpatine killed her. ]

You. Our son. Our grandson. His [ pause. ] bonded.

[politicallyinclined]

He doesn't get to decide. I haven't left you; I won't. However the Force works, whatever the afterlife looks like, I will stay near you and our children.

(Even if she can't be seen or heard.)

I don't see that as sharing. They are our family. (The pause is interesting.) Would that be Rey?

[nouskaiananki]

Don't underestimate him. Too many did, and none have survived.

[ He's not even including himself in the survivors. ]

Yes. Explaining them is not intuitive.

[ For him anyway. ]

[politicallyinclined]

He isn't more powerful than my love for you.

(Sorry, Palpatine, you will always pale in comparison.)

Do they need to be explained?

[nouskaiananki]

Nor mine for you. It's why you frighten him.

[ He's sure of it. ]

A little. They have an innate Force Bond - an incredibly strong one, possibly one of the strongest I've ever seen - but they don't know each other well. Not that it's stopped either of them from caring about the other in the slightest.

[politicallyinclined]

He has hurt you and confused you. Ani, you should know... When I came to you on Mustafar, I thought I was alone. I didn't know about Obi-Wan.

(She would have never led someone harmful to him - and she knew, then, that Obi-Wan sought his death.)

They should get to know one another. A bond like that shouldn't be neglected.

[nouskaiananki]

I know. I've known. He had me convinced there was...it no longer matters. I should have known.

[ He should have. But Obi-Wan had also explained it and he'd deal with that later. ]

They are trying now. Rey has had a difficult path - they both have.

[politicallyinclined]

(She perks up at the unfinished sentence. He had me convinced there was... what?)

You were already upset. I felt that you needed me.

(And even being so pregnant she could barely walk or stand wouldn't stop her.)

Then we should help them.

[nouskaiananki]

[ He sees that, but shakes his head before answering quietly. ]

In private. But yes, I was-upset I was devastated. At myself mostly.

[ He's sure that his eyes were red-rimmed and swollen and his face tear-streaked on Mustafar hadn't escaped her. Her's hadn't escaped him. ]

I am trying. But they could use your guidance as well.

[politicallyinclined]

Later. (She understands that they are probably being watched. It's a normal problem for them.) I know. I should have found a way to help you much sooner.

(But she had been busy with her Senatorial duties - the death of democracy had left her desperate - and she had let herself be deluded about him. Looking back, she sees the red flags. They should have worked together; not been forced apart.)

I will do anything I can for them.

[nouskaiananki]

Nothing was your fault. [ He couldn't blame her, no matter the circumstances. ]

I haven't any doubt. I am doing what I can as well.

[politicallyinclined]

That's going too far. (She appreciates the sentiment if nothing else.) I closed my eyes too much. For that, I'm sorry.

I know you are.

[nouskaiananki]

You were trying to win a war with a little losses as possible. We all were, save a few.

[ Palpatine and Dooku. Maul. A few others. ]

He's ours. She is too, in a way.

[politicallyinclined]

I focused too much on it and too little on you. I am your wife first, Anakin. (She forgot to show him that.)

I believe that. We have been blessed with two more, Ani.

[nouskaiananki]

You didn't. You knew, and tried to warm me, what our lives would be. How we'd have to live. We didn't choose to love but to act on it and we went in for the free-fall and danger, eyes open.

[ But had they? Did either of them really understand then what they have lived now? ]

I know you wanted more.

[ He did too. ]

[politicallyinclined]

Even so, there isn't a day I regret marrying you. (For all the ill it brought them, all the pain, their marriage still led to Luke and Leia.) I love being with you; I loved being pregnant. I would have sacrificed more for our babies and not thought twice about it.

[nouskaiananki]

Nor I you.

[ Marrying her was probably the only truly good thing he'd ever done. ]

I did. For you, them, to attempt to save you.

[ His voice had gone very quiet. ]