Built Upon Lies

A/N: This is a new story I've been writing since the pandemic came and dashed all hopes of having a 'normal' year.

This story is AU so throughout the story you'll notice discrepancies in the personalities/ages of the canon characters, changes in timelines, etc… (This story is not canon compliant)

NEED TO KNOW background info:

Vader/Anakin - was abducted when he was six by Darth Sidious, he is NOT in his life support suit. Padmé Amidala - She was twelve when she became queen and is two years younger than Vader (I made this change because I liked the idea of Padmé being younger, not much deeper than that). The Empire in this story is 4 years old which means Padmé became a Senator at age 18 and the Empire was created shortly after she joined the Senate.

One major thing I would like to note before you dive into this story is that my writing style shifts a bit around Chapter 5(?) and chapters will become MUCH longer as story continues. I've been trying to alter my writing style but it's pretty challenging for me to write fiction when I write scientific papers in my day-to-day life. So please be kind when critiquing

WARNING: This story is rated MATURE for a reason! There are adult themes throughout this story so please my 'young padawans' do not read if you are under the age of 18! I already have 100K+ words for this story & it contains MA content. CONTAINS: Smut, Explicit Language, Violence, Sexual assault, Manipulation, Unhealthy behavior & conduct

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: I do not own Star Wars or any of these characters, I just wanted to write a fanfic about them

Built Upon Lies

The early years of the GALACTIC EMPIRE have sent

the galaxy into a period of reconstruction.

Under the tyrannical rule of Darth Sidious,

the Galactic Senate's power wanes.

But where there is subjugation,

there will always be those who stand in defiance.

In hopes of bringing peace back to the galaxy,

a clandestine coalition of Senators and scattered Jedi orchestrate a Rebellion.

With the secret construction of the DEATH STAR nearing completion,

the Emperor sets his final plans into motion of securing the galaxy for himself.

As the insurrection grows stronger,

the Emperor's enforcer, Darth Vader is directed to unearth

the treasonous behavior in the Senate to crush the Rebellion from its source...

Chapter 1: A New Galaxy

The Naboo Senator scanned the text displayed across her holoscreen still not able to accept what she was reading, 'Victorious! The Galactic Empire Defeats Rebel Forces on Almas!' Padmé Amidala cringed at the headline engulfing the HoloNet. With fingers moving fast as lightning, her digits swept across the glass keyboard trying to rid her screen of the appalling news. Even when the headline was gone, a deep ache broke across her chest as her hands went to console her forehead. Another loss, she internally whispered thinking of all she'd done in effort to ensure a Rebellion victory. With large chocolate eyes, she stared down at the glass of her desk while a hollow sensation swarmed into her chest. Democracy was gone. Tyranny was the new normal. Every headline of a Rebel loss would bring her back to that day. Where democracy perished to the darkness with thunderous applause.

"Are you alright milady?" Padmé's handmaiden, Dormé questioned inching closing to the desk.

"Yes, Dormé. I'm fine," The Senator sighed as she attempted to return to her usual routine.

Four grueling years had passed since the fall of the Galactic Republic. However to Padmé Amidala Naberrie, it seemed much longer than that. She was no longer that eighteen year old Senator who sobbed for weeks because of that day. No longer was her energy spent on worthless feelings of self-loathing and pity, it was now all deliberately spent on one thing. Assisting the Rebellion at all costs and by all means necessary. With the Rebellion loss on Almas, Padmé knew she'd hear from Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan and Mon Mothma of Chandrila within the following week.

Trying to stow her thoughts on the matter for a moment, she still had work for the Empire to complete today. The formulation of a new galactic budget was in the works and would be brought to the Senate floor for a vote within six months. But, it was not like the vote would mean much. Every Senator was required to vote in favor of what the Emperor desired. There was no true discussion of where to allocate funds just the illusion of the action. The power of the Senate was null, the Emperor could change the budget bill however he deemed fit after the collection of Senators brought it to his doorstep. Padmé found herself wondering what the point was in keeping the Senate around at all? The only rational reason that came to mind was to make his editing process easier and to remain in control the thousands of star systems. Trying to juggle the galaxy and a brewing war was not an easy task, but with the help of thousands of willing puppets to follow his bidding made it feasible. Padmé felt secure with the fact Palpatine still saw her as a loyal protégé. She'd follow his command in public in order to sustain her life because if she were gone, the Rebellion would be damaged. To hide in plain sight was her best option right now. Though, she knew her time in the Senate was fleeting. The war against the Rebellion would mean infiltrating loyal systems, an end of the representation of planets within the Senate. Through whispers she heard the Rebellion had put up quite the fight on Almas against the Empire. Even with this defeat, they were growing stronger. If the Rebellion was growing stronger, Bail, Mon, and Padmé's time on Coruscant was waning.

Checking the time, Padmé sighed as she stood from her desk. Immediately, she began mentally preparing herself for the upcoming Senate session where Palpatine would address them for an hour before dismissal. The sessions were hardly debates anymore, they were instructions as to what he wanted. There was no arguing- everyone just had to shut up and do as told. Just like any other day, she left her office behind heading down the hall towards her pod with Dormé in tow. She felt her eyes lingering on a shadow in the hall before turning and stepping onto the platform. Graciously, she took her usual seat and waited for the Emperor to make his appearance.

Ten minutes passed before the Emperor's pod ascended from the bowels of the Senate chamber. Padmé stood automatically as a false show of respect, but when her eyes rested on his pod there was a change in her heart rate. It was standard to see two of the Empire's imperial guards surrounding him with Mas Amedda to his left but today there were no red armored guards. A shadowed monster stood at Palpatine's right instead, why is he here? Padmé breathed internally before swallowing hard. Darth Vader usually never made such a known appearance in the Senate. Once the session began, Padmé took her seat trying not to think too much into why the Emperor's enforcer would be at a Senate hearing. The Naboo Senator found herself zoning out staring at the black shrouded figure. She'd seen him lurking around the Senate before always hiding in the shadows and truly acting like a ghost most of the time. She would be reading files in the common area one minute and catch him in the corner of her eye but by the time she actually got enough courage to look- he'd be gone. While she watched him, Padmé found herself almost impressed by the fact he didn't move a single muscle. He was a statue. Maybe what people had said about him was true- maybe he was a machine? A machine can't use the Force, Padmé's thoughts corrected.

Once the session was over and done with, Padmé didn't hesitate escaping the pod to head back towards her office. Tossing her heels to the side, she sauntered back towards her desk snagging the flats she stored in the drawer. Once more comfortable, she forced herself to focus on the documents presented on her holoscreen.

After a few hours of work, she was completely engulfed in the objectives of the day. She had even managed to get ahead. However, the identifiable sound of her office door sliding open, tore her from concentration as her head snapped up to see Dormé with a familiar man standing to her left. Padmé forced a professional smile to cross her features, "Senator Clovis, what can I do for you?"

"May I have a word in private with you, Senator?" Rush smiled warmly with a gleam of mischief in his eyes. Padmé tensed under his gaze, what did he not understand about the word- over? She wanted a professional relationship with him again. The gleam was a familiar seduction tactic- his overwhelming dream to having her begging for him sprawled across her own desk. Which he would never have the pleasure of doing so… Padmé internally sighed.

"Rush, I'm actually quite busy. Perhaps we can get lunch tomorrow?" The young Senator smiled lightly trying to make the man leave her office with a lure of false promises. She was beginning to become annoyed with his constant unscheduled appearances. She found it fine if he stopped by for work related purposes but even if they were on the same committees, they had differing goals- they didn't have much in common.

"That would be great," he smiled, stepping into her office before taking a seat across from her. Padmé sighed knowing it wasn't going to be easy to get rid of him.

"Clovis," she pouted purposefully, "I have so much work to do."

"I know… I just wanted to discuss something with you that is a matter of urgency," he whispered as his eyes flickered towards the open door to the hallway.

Padmé snapped to attention at his tone, he was dead serious about something. "Dormé would you mind giving us a few minutes?" The Naboo Senator smiled and her handmaiden nodded shutting the door as she left. "What is going on Clovis? You seem on edge."

"That specter is here," He glowered, his features immediately becoming hardened.

"Hmm… Yes indeed, Lord Vader's presence is hard to overlook," Padmé shrugged, however deep in her body there was a twinge of fear that hit her slightly.

"My fear is that within the next year he will dissolve the Senate," he whispered almost inaudibly.

The young Senator avoided her colleague's eyes, knowing that to some effect he was right. It was only a matter of time… a matter of time until Palpatine would no longer need the Senators to control the numerous star systems. He would have enough military power to use generals to control the systems- there would be no need for diplomats. Padmé's fingers drummed against the desk, nails clicking as she did. "I know," she whispered connecting with his gaze.

"Do you think he brought that monstrosity of a creature here to intimidate us?" Clovis asked sitting back in his seat.

Padmé sighed, following his lead by leaning back in her seat, "If you haven't seen the headlines, the Rebellion lost the Battle of Almas. You know how Palpatine likes to flaunt his little pet around after victories." Her voice was sharp, cruel as the words left her lips.

"Yes but in the Senate?" He speculated, "It's unusual."

"I see Lord Vader from time-to-time slithering around the halls. But you're right the last time Palpatine used him as a symbol of fear in a session was when he first announced the birth of The Empire," Padmé whispered. Clovis is right… he may soon disband the Senate. The young Senator frowned, there would be significant backlash from Mid Rim planets if unwanted Imperial military presence was snooping about. That would gain a lot of attention with the media especially if any of the planets decided not to bend-the-knee to such blatant tyranny. It didn't make sense… currently he needed the Senate.

"Yes… Which is why I find Darth Vader's public presence unnerving," Clovis agreed.

Padmé stared at him for a moment and smiled to herself. Seeing how Clovis was at that moment, made her come to realize why she had wanted something more with him in the first place. When he wanted to be- he was observant, sometimes noticing things Padmé herself did not realize. "All of us should tread carefully these next few months. I do have the same unsettling feeling as you- believe me," she sighed.

Even though Clovis had no connection to the Rebellion, every Senator needed to be careful- try not to draw attention to themselves or maybe fabricated evidence against them would be uncovered and immediate torture then execution would follow. The Emperor would slander every planet that had even potential ties to the Rebellion, making it all the more easy to justify a military presence. The more she racked her brain on this issue, the more apprehension and uncertainly stirred in her stomach.

After another hour of conversation, Padmé's eyes bolted to the chrono realizing it was two hours over the time when she could have left. She didn't mind speaking with Clovis, actually she found it almost nice? Padmé hadn't spoken to him like that in so long, it was refreshing to connect with him on some level again. With a wave of her hand, she sent Clovis on his way as she leaned against the doorframe watching him disappear down the hall. The corridors were all but barren now, many Senators had fled hours ago. Padmé didn't mind staying a bit longer than she needed- usually if she got her work done early in the week and no emergencies came up she could have a real weekend. The Senator's gaze lingered on the carpeting day dreaming to herself for a moment until a deep chill ran up her spine and a gasp left her lips. Her eyes snapped up from the ground immediately, searching the halls for the set of eyes that she felt across her skin. However, the moment the chills swept back down the disconcerting feeling had vanished.

Swiftly she made her way back into her office where Dormé was already beginning to pack her things, "My lady you seem pale, are you alright?" her handmaiden frowned.

"Yeah, let's be going home. I'm sure Captain Typho will be wondering what we are doing here so late," Padmé sighed. The lights flickered off in her office as both women exited the room, Padmé was shocked to see it so dark already. The sun had fallen below the horizon and only the exit lights were on in the Senate. She really must have stayed longer than she figured. With some haste both the Senator and her handmaiden rushed to the secure lot of the building before heading back to her apartment.

Once home, Padmé sauntered into her apartment, flicking off her heels as she headed into the kitchen. Warm dim lights created a relaxing ambiance as she shuffled through the fridge, foraging the chilled space for a snack. Settling on berries and yogurt, she planted herself at the breakfast bar flipping through documents on her datapad. She frowned, holding the back of her neck as she found herself re-reading lines of text- unable to focus. What was that feeling earlier? The young woman wondered to herself, the chill that stretched across her skin was unnerving but warm? She couldn't understand it. Pushing the unusual feeling aside, her commlink sounded from her purse and without a moment's hesitation- she stared over the frequency, Rush Clovis.

Padmé bit her lip with deliberation, there was no way he would be calling so late for a professional conversation. Should she answer? Would it be wrong of her not to considering their conversation earlier? Taking a moment to collect herself, she answered in a strictly professional tone, "Senator Amidala speaking."

"Padmé, I understand that it is late… my apologies to disturb you."

"No, it's quite alright," she replied casually, juggling the commlink and bowl of yogurt in her hands as she wondered towards her bedroom, "What is the purpose for your transmission?"

"There's no need to be so professional with me Padmé. After today, my hope was that perhaps you would attend the Emperor's gala with me in three weeks' time."

"Clovis, you know we can't-"

"You don't need to give an answer to me now, please just consider it-"

"I've already told you. I want us to return to a strictly professional relationship," Padmé breathed setting the food on her vanity before she started to pull the pins from her hair. "After our conversation, I thought we both came to the conclusion that it is important to remain professional and aware. Adding a personal relationship would be an unwanted risk and liability for both of us-"

"Is that the only reason you do not wish to be with me anymore? For protection?"

Padmé pulled the commlink away as she let out a deep sigh. The woman wasn't certain what she wanted anymore, Clovis had always been a gentleman. However, there was also a possessiveness when it came to their relationship before- he'd become agitated when she'd spend too much time with other male Senators, such as Bail even though he was already happily married. Placing the commlink closer to her face she finally constructed a reply, "I just believe that it is better if we keep things between us professional. My thoughts revolving that topic have not changed."

"Padmé please-"

"Rush, don't… you're right it is late I need to prepare for bed. Goodnight," Padmé said sternly cutting him off, ending the transmission. With a deep sigh, Padmé tossed her commlink onto her bed before striding into the fresher. Stripping off her uncomfortable Senate gown, she switched on the sonic shower hoping to completely forget the conversation with Rush. As she stepped under the warm water, she couldn't help but wonder whether she'd somehow led him on today? Or whether he had misinterpreted their professional discussion for a personal one. Maybe he was worried about her- did he know about her connection with the Rebellion? -No… he couldn't. She'd been too careful.

After cleaning herself, she slipped from the shower, drying herself before slipping her silk robe over her body. Twirling her hair into a towel, she sauntered towards the sink starting her nightly routine that consisted of washing her face and brushing her teeth. Staring at her reflection she couldn't help but frown, she'd pushed everyone out of her life at this point. She hardly spoke to her family, she had no friends to speak of anymore… though she found herself not wanting any with her current status. If anyone found out of her connection with the Rebellion, everyone she ever loved would be at risk.

"I look awful," she frowned pushing at the hollowness of her pale cheeks, what she'd give to have a few days on Naboo to get a tan… to feel the sensation of her home planet's sun. Tearing away from her miserable complexion, she wondered into her room strolling towards her closet searching for a nightgown. Slipping out of her robe, she hung the material in her closet quickly tossing on the lacy fabric. She found herself wondering why she owned such garments considering she never really wore them for anyone. The silky light blue slip reached down just above her mid thigh with white lace covering the space of her navel, just enough to shield her breasts. Staring at her reflection again, she sighed noticing how skinny she looked- taking a mental note to start eating more. When she finally trekked back into the bedroom, she glanced at the chrono slipping into her silk sheets, seeking sleep. After what seemed like hours, her mind finally silenced just enough to allow sleep to overtake her consciousness.