{ .03 - something to prove - action post!

[chosen_to_fall]

[ Garage - Morning ]

[ Vader is at work today, filling the time with, well... actual work. Though it isn't unusual for him to not be talkative, his coworkers might notice he seems unfocused and distracted. More than once he's jammed a finger, walloped himself on the head or dropped a tool in an engine and had to fish it out, muttering vituperous imprecations in Huttese while he felt around for the wrench he'd been handling. He won't ask for help- his pride is a heavy, almost suffocating weight.

At the moment he's at it again, reaching deep into the engine of a Buick out front, the sun beating on his back. He minds the latter very little, Earth's single sun not a patch on Tattoine's twin stars. Metal bites against his knuckles, but he's not to be deterred, frowning in concentration. It would be so much easier if he had the Force at his beck and call. ]

[ 1127 Taylor - Afternoon ]

[ He nearly trips over himself going up the steps, pausing at the front door and ready to ring the bell. But...he finds himself drawing up short, uncertain. Despite his sudden excitement, his thoughts keep returning to the words of his former master, delivered from his wife. That was a day he wasn't soon to let himself forget. ]

[ Diner - Early Evening ]

[ Quite honestly he's not all that hungry, so he spends a great deal of time hemming and hawwing over what to order, ignoring anyone who might be behind him in line.

Darth Vader is not a great customer. Who knew. ]

[ 3474 Erwin - Late Evening ]

[ Neighbors might see a figure climbing his way out onto the roof from an upper window, before carefully scooching his way up to a spot where he can sit comfortably.

Vader's doing what he does best, brooding. Folding his arms over the knees he's pulled to his chest, he watches the moon rise, bright and shiny like a silver dollar hanging in the sky. ]

Comments

[chosen_to_fall]

[ Whoa hey what's going on here? Any and all thoughts of Obi-Wan, Luke or anything besides A strange man is leaving my wife's residence vanish. He responds in kind, almost at the same time, ]

Who are you?

[ And then, after a beat and a serious moment of internal struggle, drawing himself up to his full height, ]

Anakin. Anakin Skywalker.

[parsecs]

[Han doesn't bother thinking about it. The name registers and his fist shoots out, hard and fast, and aimed at Vader's face. It's kind of nice not having all that hard plastic and machinery in his way. Makes for a much more satisfying crunch of fist meeting flesh, and a lot less hand injury.

His other hand immediately goes for his blast-- his gun, but he doesn't shoot yet. For one thing, he's not nearly as good with projectiles as he is with his blaster. The weight's all different, and he's not used to it yet. Still, at least he can point it.]

[chosen_to_fall]

[ Even absent the Force, he's still trained. Han telegraphs his move like a neon sign, but Vader isn't fast enough with his retreat. Pain erupts white hot between his eyes, jerking his head back against the blow, so sudden and fierce that it almost drops the younger man right then and there.

Anger erupts, pressing him to retaliate swiftly and savagely, but as his mouth twists into a snarl, blood staining his teeth as it streams freely from his nose, Vader freezes at the sight of the firearm. A blaster's a blaster, no matter how you slice it. ]

What was that for?!

And... cue thread-jack!

[nodifferentfate]

[Padmé was making her way home from work, walking slowly up the pathway leading to her house with an open book in one hand while the other fiddles absentmindedly with her japor snippet. She's been wearing it ever since it came in the mail.

There's a frown on her face; a look of tiredness that can either be from her long day at work, or from the weight of everything that's been going on.

Looking up the pages of her book to take the steps, Padmé stops when she notices the tall frame of her husband. Her real husband. And her false husband as well. They're facing off, blood staining Anakin's face, and a blaster of sorts in Han's grip.

Her stomach clenches, and Padme dashes up the stairs to throw herself between the two.]

Stop this!

double thread-jack

[of_alderaan]

[And someone else was coming to visit.....you have got to be kidding her. Leia marches over, hand close to where her blaster is concelled.]

What's going on?

[parsecs]

[Oh not much. Just punching your dad and holding a gun on him. How're you?

...damn. Han's not nearly confident enough to use his gun on Vader when Padmé's in the way. He's not going to lower his gun, though. No way.

He glances over at Leia for a moment as she approaches, but his eyes quickly go back to Vader and Padmé.]

Out of the way. You're blocking my shot. [Which, of course, would be the point, but....]

[chosen_to_fall]

NO! [ Vader won't have a weapon pointed at his wife, and he moves to grab her by the shoulder, ignoring the pain in his face for now. He's felt far worse. ]

Get out of here Padmé, go!

[nodifferentfate]

[Padmé turns to face Anakin...Vader...Anakin, eyes flashing.] No, I won't leave you!

[She then faces Han once more, her tone commanding. The kind of tone only one who had been known as the Warrior Queen could muster.] Lower your weapon.

[Her gaze darts over in Leia's direction before returning to Han.]

[of_alderaan]

Han.

[Leia simply walks over to him and places a hand on his shoulder. Voice calm.]

Please.

[parsecs]

[Oh look, the one person who might actually get Han to calm down. MIGHT. He looks over at her, gun still raised because he's developed an immunity to royalty voice.]

Please what? I ain't Luke. I don't go around trying to convert my enemies when I can just kill 'em. It keeps my life a lot simpler. [Though his reluctance to shoot Padmé is making it a lot more complicated. He knows plenty of bounty hunters that would have taken the shot anyway. Han's glad he's never been one of those.]

[chosen_to_fall]

[ Vader's gaze has darted between all of them. Swiping his sleeve over his face, he watches Han closely. The thought occurs to rush him while the man is distracted, but the risk of Padme possibly getting caught in any potential fire is too great.

The thought, so small and insidious, is also there to leave things as they are, to continue letting her stand between them as a shield for the Sith. Dismayed by it, he shoulders his way around his wife, putting a hand back on her hip. ]

I don't know what you're talking about. Why were you in my wife's home? How do you know Luke?

[ He's not in any position to ask questions, but this is a Skywalker we're talking about. It's said rather low and muffled, his hand over his mouth and nose to try and stem some of the bleeding. ]

[nodifferentfate]

[When Han speaks of killing, Padmé immediately tenses, fully prepared to use her combat training to wrestle the gun out of the Coreillian's grip. It's Anakin's questions, the reassuring weight of his hand on her hip that pulls her back to a relative state of reason. Placing a hand on his arm, she tries to draw his attention towards her.]

Anakin. Just come with me, and I'll explain everything.

[She hardly doubts reasoning will work at a time like this, but she's always willing to try.

Her gaze continues to dart toward Han and Leia. Although Leia wasn't threatening with weapons, her words of hatred against Anakin were still fresh in Padmé's memory.]

[of_alderaan]

[Leia keeps her hand on his shoulder.]

Han, remember where we are.

Put the gun down. It's not going to solve anything.

[Wait...wait wait. At Vader's words she turns sharply towards Padme.]

You told him about Luke?

[parsecs]

[Han finally lowers the gun, but he doesn't drop it. It's not a good location for a battle, and he doesn't want to hurt anyone in the process.

But he still feels better with it in his hand.

He also doesn't like the sound of Vader knowing about Luke. Especially since he clearly doesn't know Han's connection to Luke. He doesn't say anything, though, just keeps a wary eye on Vader.]

[chosen_to_fall]

[ Oh excellent, another surprise for a seriously furious Sith Lord. Leia's question draws his mouth into a tight line and sends a sharp glance at Padmé. No one's telling him the whole story, and if there's something Vader and Anakin both can't stand, it's being kept in the dark. ]

You knew about our son?

[nodifferentfate]

[Her gaze flying to Leia to Anakin, then back again, Padmé shakes her head. She tightens her grip on Anakin's arm, her knuckles turning white with the effort.]

No! [She pauses, trying to pull the correct words together.] I mean... Yes, I knew about Luke- I met him when I was still fairly new here.

[Her gaze desperately searches Anakin's face.] I was going to tell you, when the time was right. You have to understand, back at home the last thing I remember was Naboo... our wedding. I never realized we would have children, it was a lot to take in!

[of_alderaan]

[Leia remains silent, watching both her "parents". Keeping her hand on Han's shoulder.]

[parsecs]

[Han covers Leia's hand with his, still glowering at Vader. And a little at Padmé, but mostly at Vader. At least Padmé wasn't evil. Just... married to an evil guy.]

[chosen_to_fall]

[ Really, all they need now is for Obi-Wan to stroll up and they've got the makings of a repeat of Mustafar. The differences are few and mean little to Vader- she's still keeping things from him, holding onto secrets and protecting people, as if... as if he might do exactly what he did at the Temple, and to the leaders of the Confederacy. What he did because he thought he must, for her.

Vader's anger is wearing him out. There's no Force for him to draw on, to be filled up with as his fury mounts. No power, no advantage, nothing. There's only the sense of betrayal, again, and unmitigated grief.

Vader takes her tightly by her upper arms. ]

What did you think I would do if I knew, Padmé? What? He's our son!

[parsecs]

[AND I'M GOING OUT OF ORDER NOW BECAUSE I'M A REBEL and also Han's been quiet for too long, so he'll just... butt in. Without moving forward this time, though he shift his grip on the gun, ready to lift it again if it looks like he's going to hurt Padmé.]

I don't know, cut off his hand?

[nodifferentfate]

[With questions and accusations flying all around, Padmé isn't entirely certain how to react. Though she tries to call upon her political strength of taking control of situations, words seem to fail her. Instead, she fights to wrench herself from Anakin's grasp.]

I don't know! After everything I've heard... [Her voice raises in pitch.] Anakin, you're not the man I remember!

[of_alderaan]

[Well this is going well. Well she's still a politician]

I think we all need to calm down. If there is to be any discussion it can be done in a calm and civilized manner.

[Keeping her hand on Han's shoulder. Don't say anything Solo.]

[chosen_to_fall]

[ At Han's accusation he starts, and then Padmé's hits him like a slap across the face. Vader lets her go without a fight.

He looks between all three of them, outnumbered, quite literally outgunned and on his reserves. You don't win wars with vainglorious last charges, Ahsoka, he remembers telling his Padawan, with shocking clarity. Time to disengage. ]

Everything has already been said, Senator Organa.

[ Vader can't bring himself to look at his wife when he turns to leave. ]

[parsecs]

[YEAH, YOU BETTER RUN. But he just looks back at Leia and keeps quiet. Finally relaxing his hold on his gun a little bit.]

[nodifferentfate]

[Padmé watches Anakin leave with an expression of extreme sadness upon her face. She takes a few steps foward, stumbling down the porch steps as she went to follow him, before coming to a halt.

A few shuddering breaths escape her lips, making her shoulders shake. And Padmé wheels around to hurry back inside the house, only pausing for a moment to look upon Han and Leia with an unreadable expression, before slamming the door.]