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Topic:
Lest Ye Be Judged--Vader war crimes trial--Voted Best All-Around, thanks!
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DarthIshtar
Title: Former CR
Registered:
Mar '01
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Date Posted:
7/4/05 11:26pm
Subject:
RE: Lest Ye Be Judged--post-ROTJ AU--post-Ep3 rewrite--7/? on 7/4
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There's a humorfic challenge--write about the Ewok that might have been President and Wes' ongoing campaign to give him a position of power.
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"I feel like a more down-to-earth Pink 5 when I'm writing Leah. Same attitude, less lip gloss." ~Me on how to get in the right mindset for Twilight fanfic.
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Sethathoryunet
Registered:
May '04
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Date Posted:
7/6/05 12:24am
Subject:
RE: Lest Ye Be Judged--post-ROTJ AU--post-Ep3 rewrite--7/? on 7/4
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You are kidding, right? 
If you're not, please gimmie the link!!!!! 
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http://spaces.msn.com/members/sethathoryunet/ My last name's really cool and foreign . . . I'm dating a Smith  
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DarthIshtar
Title: Former CR
Registered:
Mar '01
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Date Posted:
7/6/05 6:40am
Subject:
RE: Lest Ye Be Judged--post-ROTJ AU--post-Ep3 rewrite--7/? on 7/4
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No, that SHOULD be a humorfic challenge, but alas it's not. Please do it if not.
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"I feel like a more down-to-earth Pink 5 when I'm writing Leah. Same attitude, less lip gloss." ~Me on how to get in the right mindset for Twilight fanfic.
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amidalachick
Registered:
Aug '03
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Date Posted:
7/6/05 7:40am
Subject:
RE: Lest Ye Be Judged--post-ROTJ AU--post-Ep3 rewrite--7/? on 7/4
- Date Edited:
7/6/05 7:41am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
amidalachick
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That version of Padme's story, if you didn't know, is from In Sickness and In Health.
I didn't know. I'll have to check it out. 
Anyway, great post! It would have been interesting, to say the least, if the Ewok won. I liked Leia and Mon Mothma's interaction. You're really good at characterization.
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"We figured if it wasn't skimming off the top, tax evasion, or unwed mother death sports, it had to be insurance fraud."
"No! It was for someone who needed it!"
"You were serious about that?"
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DarthIshtar
Title: Former CR
Registered:
Mar '01
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Date Posted:
7/6/05 8:02am
Subject:
RE: Lest Ye Be Judged--post-ROTJ AU--post-Ep3 rewrite--7/? on 7/4
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amidalachick posted:
That version of Padme's story, if you didn't know, is from In Sickness and In Health.
I didn't know. I'll have to check it out.
Anyway, great post! It would have been interesting, to say the least, if the Ewok won. I liked Leia and Mon Mothma's interaction. You're really good at characterization.
Great, now I'm seriously going to write the Ewok winning in a humorfic. I'm glad you liked the L/MM stuff. ISAIH is on the Saga and near the top today because one of my writer friends finally got through it.
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"I feel like a more down-to-earth Pink 5 when I'm writing Leah. Same attitude, less lip gloss." ~Me on how to get in the right mindset for Twilight fanfic.
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DarthIshtar
Title: Former CR
Registered:
Mar '01
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Date Posted:
7/6/05 9:17am
Subject:
RE: Lest Ye Be Judged--post-ROTJ AU--post-Ep3 rewrite--7/? on 7/4
- Date Edited:
7/6/05 9:17am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
DarthIshtar
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Check this out. Had me laughing out loud in public.
And a post is coming this afternoon.
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"I feel like a more down-to-earth Pink 5 when I'm writing Leah. Same attitude, less lip gloss." ~Me on how to get in the right mindset for Twilight fanfic.
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DarthIshtar
Title: Former CR
Registered:
Mar '01
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Date Posted:
7/6/05 9:02pm
Subject:
RE: Lest Ye Be Judged--post-ROTJ AU--post-Ep3 rewrite--7/? on 7/4
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Or evening.
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"I feel like a more down-to-earth Pink 5 when I'm writing Leah. Same attitude, less lip gloss." ~Me on how to get in the right mindset for Twilight fanfic.
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DarthIshtar
Title: Former CR
Registered:
Mar '01
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Date Posted:
7/6/05 9:59pm
Subject:
RE: Lest Ye Be Judged--post-ROTJ AU--post-Ep3 rewrite--7/? on 7/4
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Anakin awoke to find slender fingers running along the skin just above his eyes. Since there were no injuries to speak of there, this aroused his curiosity, but the moment that he though to identify his ministering angel, his heart did the work for him.
"Are you an angel?" he queried hoarsely, voice straining to inflect some kind of emotion into the first words they had spoken to each other in a decade.
He half expected her to recoil violently as if she had mistakenly brushed her hand against a hot surface, but her ministrations did not cease.
"Hardly, my Lord," Padme said stiffly. "If I were one, I'd be a cruel savior because I have no intention of letting you die."
His brow furrowed and in that moment, he recognized why she had been probing that area with her fingertips. It was not a medical examination, but a tentatively familiar gesture of affection.
Had he forgotten her so forcefully that he couldn't remember the evenings when she wouldn't let him crawl into bed with her until she had smoothed the worry lines from his brow?
"I didn't marry a grouch, so if the grouch wants to get any sleep tonight, he'll go away and let my husband come for a visit."
He'd laughed and marked the same furrow between her eyebrows. "What about this grouch?" he teased.
"Someone will have to be the sensible one when we're parents," she explained. "It might as well be the disgruntled politician instead of the doting father."
"You haven't changed a bit."
He hadn't heard her laugh in so long that the burst of bitter amusement that escaped from her throat was almost entirely alien to him.
"I've spent a decade hiding behind this profession," she admitted. "I've forgotten how to trust and relearned the basics with great difficulty. I've done this to avoid the possibility that you might someday recognize the woman you once loved in me and it has been for nothing."
Part of him was still a young man who was dismayed that she had distrusted him so strongly, but the more sensible side of him found smug satisfaction in the fact that her efforts were as futile as they were fearful.
"Not for nothing," he insisted. "You're here, aren't you?"
"Exactly."
His mind immediately supplied the acute self-consciousness that he had experienced upon finding himself without the armor. He had not thought on the physical marring since then, but facing a woman who, though the furrows had deepened in her brow and her hair was beginning to go grey at the temples, was a perfect beauty, his subconscious was only too willing to condemn him.
Instead, when he probed her mind to confirm his suspicions, he was assaulted by thoughts of laughter that could not be contained in their small apartment and the quiet murmur of his voice in her ear as they held each other in the moonlight. He could almost feel the swell of their child beneath his mechanical hands, could hear the quiet celebration in the words "You're going to be a father, Anakin."
"Do you remember?" she whispered.
Before he could respond, the same hands that could remember the shape of his baby girl remembered the feel of her cracked jaw, the power of the shove that had left her crumpled against the wall as he turned his back on her for the last time. Roared threats and hissed betrayals rung in his ears with as much force as though they were being spoken in the same room.
"Do you remember?" she repeated.
Both were equally powerful accusations.
"Yes," he admitted quietly.
"Then, you know why."
"I know why you revile me," he shot back, "but I do not know why you insist on keeping me alive."
Her smile was tight, her eyes dead. "I am not you, Lord Vader," she explained flatly. "I would keep Palpatine alive because I know why I chose the path of a healer."
I seriously doubt that, but if it lets you sleep at night...
No, you might just do that because it provides more opportunity for torture than a quick death. I remember the logical diplomat, the compassionate Senator, but I also remember what you wished on those who crossed you too often.
His eyes traveled along the stark outline of her collarbones to a golden chain from which hung a familiar pendant.
"If you were so concerned with hiding yourself, you should have forgotten a boy who made his angel a carving of a japor snippet."
"Indeed," she agreed stiffly, but did not move to conceal the ornament.
She looked away for a long moment, as if to clear her head, but it must have been a more monumental task than she had anticipated because she remained in that position, back stiff and chin lowered, for a long time before turning back to him.
Her eyes were no longer dead, but he did not prefer the alternative.
"You are obviously on a respirator because of the respiratory distress that you suffered," she recited coldly. "We will be carefully monitoring your progress and transferring you to your previous life support once you are strong enough. Your blaster wounds are healing nicely and we have been able to avoid infections..."
"Padme..."
"Because of your injuries in the explosion," she continued casually, even as her cheeks paled under the influence of that name, "we have deemed it necessary for you to undergo rehabilitation. The Emperor has been informed of this and we will not proceed until his approval is given or we are instructed on your next destination for further treatment. Do you understand the treatment as I have explained it to you?"
She regarded him openly, mouth pinched and eyes blazing, but not daring to express any of the thoughts that fueled that expression.
"Yes," he said reluctantly.
She pushed to her feet, turning her back on him with surprising ease.
Wait, sithit, his mind screamed. I have a few thousand questions for you.
"What became of the child?"
Finally, something that broke through her composure. He did not have to see her face to understand the reason why her shoulders heaved and her head lowered.
May the Force damn you as I do, was the thought that his eager probing gleaned from her mind as he sought the answer in her vulnerability.
His mind recalled again the last he'd seen of her, when she lay in a quivering heap, arms wrapped protectively around the bulk of their unborn child as she howled in grief and pain.
And then, her memory took over and followed her through blood, sweat and tears to the moment when his child would be born...
And then, nothing but an empty space in her heart.
"You intended to kill me," she hissed. "Did you think that you had spared his life as well?"
Since there was still a part of Anakin in his mind, his mouth had the strange compulsion to form the words "I'm sorry," but Vader mocked both their futility and falsehood.
Before the two could reconcile their differences, she had gone, but the shadow of her reasons for hating him remained behind as tangibly as if she had been standing there for the rest of eternity.
*****
"Sir, can you hear me?"
It was the third time this person had asked the same question, but she didn't seem to be satisfied with the idea that he was wholly too exhausted to answer the question. Still, the person seemed to be genuinely concerned, so he forced his eyes open and willed his mouth to move.
"Where's my son?"
"Commander Skywalker is resting," the woman's voice assured him. "He suffered the same sort of damage that kept you here in the medcenter, but not at close range. He will suffer no...permanent damage."
"He is no good to me dead."
"He will not be permanently damaged."
"You treated him well?" he asked unnecessarily.
Of course they did. The Alliance is not as well-equipped as the Empire, but they haven't forgotten the meaning of 'compassion' or 'quality care.'
"To the best of our ability," she answered. "It's the same courtesy we afford all of our patients, even you."
There was a wry tone in her voice, as if she found the irony of providing him with quality care priceless.
He had only heard that tone once before and it had come from Padme, so this yet unseen caretaker was one of his survivors.
"You know, then, who I am," he guessed.
Finally, she leaned over him, providing him with a clear view of a woman in her late twenties with thick hair so red that it might have been born of fire and solemn brown eyes. He did not recognize her at all until his eyes noted the scar that started near her right collarbone and wrapped around the right side of her slender neck.
And then, he remembered it too clearly. He remembered the night that reeked already of blood when he added the flames of vengeance to the mix. It had been one of the first missions he took on as Lord Vader and had ended in unnecessary disaster.
"Ruen Mea's daughter. Aitlen."
Her eyelids dropped immediately drooped and she turned her head so she could avoid meeting his gaze. Instead, she left the scar that he had given her in full sight.
"I'm surprised you even remembered the world," she said quietly, "much less our names."
"In the early days," he responded, "I could name each one."
Her jaw clenched, but she at least returned her gaze to him. "That's not much comfort," she admitted, "but I'll take it anyway."
He nodded, not sure how to broach the subject further. Instead, he sighed heavily. "What is the damage, Dr. Mea?"
Back to formalities, to the comfort zone.
She grimaced. "Burn damage, as is expected," she explained, "but we took care of the superficial wounds with bacta. You suffered a cardiac arrest because of the electrical charge, but we were able to resuscitate you, obviously. You will have residual weakness and the expected limited mobility until we can do further treatment..."
She quirked an unexpected smile. "You probably didn't want a recitation," she said almost apologetically.
I gave you that scar when I tried to shoot past you to kill your mother, then sent you into the night to die. Why in the name of the Force are you not finding ways to kill me?
She's another Luke. It's surprising to feel relieved by that.
"Who else knows?"
"Other than the men who arrested you, the Chief of State, I am the only one who knew your name by experience. If anyone else knows that the Anakin Skywalker on the register is an enemy, they haven't said so. It's not our secret to tell until we know what is to be done, as it is."
"Thank you," he responded genuinely.
-----signature-----
"I feel like a more down-to-earth Pink 5 when I'm writing Leah. Same attitude, less lip gloss." ~Me on how to get in the right mindset for Twilight fanfic.
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RebelPrincess
Registered:
Jan '01
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Date Posted:
7/6/05 10:53pm
Subject:
RE: Lest Ye Be Judged--post-ROTJ AU--post-Ep3 rewrite--8/? on 7/6
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Oooh, do I get the first response? 
Very cool post
I love the references from In Sickness and In Health.
Sorry I can't formulate more of a response...very tired right now.
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ROTS: Best. Movie. Ever.
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DarthIshtar
Title: Former CR
Registered:
Mar '01
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Date Posted:
7/6/05 10:57pm
Subject:
RE: Lest Ye Be Judged--post-ROTJ AU--post-Ep3 rewrite--8/? on 7/6
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LOL. I was going to rewrite the scene, but I really liked the way it turned out in ISAIH and it's from the same perspective. I'm glad you liked the post. Mea is definitely my brainchild.
-----signature-----
"I feel like a more down-to-earth Pink 5 when I'm writing Leah. Same attitude, less lip gloss." ~Me on how to get in the right mindset for Twilight fanfic.
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Siaynoqsbride
Registered:
May '05
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Date Posted:
7/6/05 11:23pm
Subject:
RE: Lest Ye Be Judged--post-ROTJ AU--post-Ep3 rewrite--8/? on 7/6
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Ooh, great post Ish. Those scenes from ISaiH work really well for this story. They are ever more poignant and moving when you realize what Anakin is going through. Hmm... this new character should prove interesting.
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DarthIshtar
Title: Former CR
Registered:
Mar '01
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Date Posted:
7/6/05 11:37pm
Subject:
RE: Lest Ye Be Judged--post-ROTJ AU--post-Ep3 rewrite--8/? on 7/6
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Yes, she'll be very interesting. If you've read the old version, you'll know why, but the line about her being like Luke is very important.
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"I feel like a more down-to-earth Pink 5 when I'm writing Leah. Same attitude, less lip gloss." ~Me on how to get in the right mindset for Twilight fanfic.
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Laura_Anu
Registered:
Jun '02
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Date Posted:
7/7/05 8:30am
Subject:
RE: Lest Ye Be Judged--post-ROTJ AU--post-Ep3 rewrite--8/? on 7/6
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Hold up, I'm confuddled - blame it on me not stopping by ISANH yet! So...was Padme pregnat again??? Or am I just really confused??? I know I should go read the other one, but it's soooooooo long...hehehehehe.
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"It is true that speed kills. In distance running, it kills anyone who does not have it." - Brooks Johnson
Currently taking time off from the boards while I get all of my school/track stuff in order
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DarthIshtar
Title: Former CR
Registered:
Mar '01
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Date Posted:
7/7/05 8:35am
Subject:
RE: Lest Ye Be Judged--post-ROTJ AU--post-Ep3 rewrite--8/? on 7/6
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She was pregnant with the twins when he left her, then that scene I put in is from 10 years later, as mentioned when Anakin's telling Leia how she reminds him of Padme.
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"I feel like a more down-to-earth Pink 5 when I'm writing Leah. Same attitude, less lip gloss." ~Me on how to get in the right mindset for Twilight fanfic.
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Sethathoryunet
Registered:
May '04
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Date Posted:
7/9/05 8:28pm
Subject:
RE: Lest Ye Be Judged--post-ROTJ AU--post-Ep3 rewrite--8/? on 7/6
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Tried the link to the very funny thing, but it didn't work. 
I'll believe you when you say it had you laughing out loud in the street. 
Uh, I think I better go read ISANH because that post didn't make much sense at all! 
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http://spaces.msn.com/members/sethathoryunet/ My last name's really cool and foreign . . . I'm dating a Smith
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