Darth Vader: Hero of Naboo

Chapter 10

Only to be stopped by Windu stepping halfway in front of him. 'How predictable,' Vader thought to himself

"We're not finished," Windu stated firmly as he stared up into the tinted lenses.

All parties stopped to watch the exchange, the senatorial guards once more on alert in their dark robes.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Obi-Wan murmured to himself as Qui-Gon shook his head in exasperation while the other Jedi surrounding them took subtle steps forward. Padme nodded to herself at his barely-heard words, watching the exchange closely.

"Master Windu, this is not the time or place for this," the maverick Jedi quietly cautioned in warning as he stood next to the Shatterpoint user.

But the man did not back down as he gazed in challenge at the Sith Lord, as if daring him to make the first move.

'The fool doesn't even realize the trap he created for himself,' Vader noted, almost disappointed, but...he was the first true exposure to the Sith the Jedi had experienced in ages. Catching them off guard had apparently alarmed them even more than he anticipated. Vader wasn't sure if that counted as an overestimation or underestimation, but he supposed it didn't matter. They expected him to jump straight to lashing out with his lightsaber and throwing the weight of the Dark Side at them.

If only Qui-Gon had a chance to warn them.

"I have no business with the Jedi, let alone the Master of the Order," Vader stated without interest or alarm as he moved past Windu, the Dark Side leering through him at the Vaapad user with disdain and mockery.

Windu turned, never taking his eyes off his target while the surrounding Jedi all moved to block Vader's path between him and the Naboo party. "I believe otherwise, My Lord," Mace Windu pointed out with obvious disdain felt in how the title left his lips.

"Mom, what's going on?" Anakin asked quietly to his mother.

"I'm not sure, Ani," Shmi answered softly and honestly as they watched the confrontation.

"Master Jedi, what is the meaning of this?" the Queen of Naboo called with a slight frown to her ever neutral expression.

"Your Highness, please, this is Jedi business," one of the Jedi urged from near the body-double. Luminara Unduli, Vader believed. She was wearing a different, brighter shade of robes and headdress though. He didn't recall really meeting her early on, so he didn't doubt she might have changed preferred clothing in a few years, but it could just be a master from the same species that he didn't recall.

"Jedi business?" the queen repeated coldly as she looked at the female master, seeing Padme nod subtly out of the corner of her eye.

"Chancellor," Vader spoke before anyone else could, not even looking at the man while he stared down the assembled Jedi that grew uneasy as the Dark Side added a literal weight to his gaze. "Are the Jedi acting on your orders?"

Valorum rose an eyebrow at the question but he was becoming displeased with the situation himself. "No, though, Master Windu has been less than forthcoming about the meaning of this gathering of Jedi."

"It is because I am a Sith."

The most skilled Defels couldn't sneak through this crowd by the sheer sound vacuum that formed in wake of that admission. One Jedi almost dropped his lightsaber at the sheer casualness with which this Sith gave his affiliation.

"A...Sith?" Valorum repeated in confusion as the word echoed in his head. "As in..?"

"Yes, Chancellor, as in the group that is constantly at violent odds with the Jedi. Given my reception here, you can imagine why," Vader answered calmly.