DISCLAIMER: I own nothing apart from my own work. I do not own Star Wars, LucasFilms, Disney, Anakin Skywalker - fml - and if this work of fiction is similar to any that have been done before, I apologise in advance. I can assure you, this was created from my mind with Star Wars as the basis and my own insanity commingled in.
Author's Note: I wrote this for the 10 year anniversary for Revenge of the Sith. Being my favourite film, and also being like so many other Star Wars worshippers, I am completely fascinated in the 'what ifs' of the universe. One of which, what if Padmé was able to make Anakin see the light before it was too late? Happy 10 years to such an amazing film and to the decease of my sanity!
Agony. It was all-consuming and more pure than anything.
The regret that branched out into unknown crevices of the body, gripping tightly and constricting the life there. The torment that darkened even the brightest of points that loomed and suffocated every life form present. And the disgrace; oh the disgrace was deadly as it made the stomach convulse in disgust. It was all too much and it woke her quicker than any nightmare ever could.
Padmé looked around, brown eyes consumed with alarm and seeing sharply despite the darkness of the unlit bedroom. A delicate hand was placed on the hard roundness of her stomach, the movements inside as uneasy as her heart felt. Instinctively, she looked sideways, already knowing she would be met with an empty surface beside her as she had grown accustomed to but this time, it was the person who should be there asleep beside her that sent dark thoughts into her mind. At least, what Padmé perceived as a thought. It was more of a sensation - a knowing - than anything else.
Something was wrong, and not just something. Someone. Her someone.
The gasps began to dwindle into sharp intakes of air as Padmé looked to the Force to calm herself. Her hand that was placed on her stomach now going to her chest, forcing the heartbeat to steady itself from her heinous awakening. A scowl had been etched into her brow since the sensation woke her and it made no advancements to wipe itself from its location.
What had happened? Was there a disturbance in the Force or even worse, was it Anakin? Of course it was Anakin. Not other sentient being could produce such an effect on her. Since she could remember, they had been connected by an invisible tether. The impression she felt had overwhelmed her before. It was a preternatural connection between them that neither had spoken of but already knew. Something connected their beings as one, and it wasn't their marriage or love for one another - it was something else.
But Anakin producing such darkness? It was blasphemous to even think.
After what seemed like hours but what she knew to only be two minutes at most, Padmé unwillingly lowered herself onto the comfort of the down pillows surrounding her. Her left hand falling into place on the side of the bed her husband slept on with her right hand resting soundly on the lightly kicking infant inside of her. Whatever darkness that had chosen to awaken her from her slumber had dispersed enough and she was left with only the scowl to physically show for it. Within seconds, though, it attacked her again, this time, Padmé retching into the waste bin beside her bed for times of morning sickness. This wasn't morning sickness.
She gasped for air. Coughing in between her heaves from choking on the acidic bile that threatened its way out of her in the most menacing way. Her stomach was rolling in waves, but not from the child inside. It was more than that, more than any emotion she had ever felt. It was passion, anger, fear… Hatred. Just the thought alone made her vomit again and the baby inside kicking in protest making the upheaval even worse. Once the nausea subsided, leaving dark spots in the corners of her vision, Padmé attempted to push her way off the bed, gravity defying her as she fell back onto the silver silk that felt rough to the touch. Sensitivity was the reigning sensation along with confusion. A vertigo that one would feel as they were being sucked into a black hole, if anyone could survive it that is.
The lights in the room came on much to her relief and the familiar shuffling from the golden droid shining its way into the recently lit room. Brown eyes squinted at the sudden light but quickly became accustomed as Padmé continued to lean over the bin filled with the rejections of her body.
"Oh, milady! Is there anything I can do for you?" Threepio sounded in the most alarmed of tones he could deposit.
Padmé held up a hand, grabbing hold of the droid to assist her while she stood. Her free hand wiped gently at the corners of her mouth, clearing it of the residual liquids that were there before turning to the golden face. "Something's happened, Threepio," she informed the droid, her soft voice cracking from the acid that burned the walls of her throat. Anguish infiltrated every point of her face and even her neck was strained. C-3PO cocked his head to the side, taking in the overall demeanor of his Mistress and the sickly pallor of her skin.
"Whatever is it, milady?" he questioned. His metallic arm continued to allow the Senator to hold onto it, finding it absolutely necessary to offer solace in something so miniscule since his probing wasn't doing him any justice.
Eyelids closed once more as the uneasy turmoil continued to sprout inside of her. It also didn't help that the baby was the most active it had been with double the impact of movement Padmé had felt from it throughout her pregnancy. As she forced herself to take deep breaths, calling out to the Force to give her some form of strength and serene for both herself and her child, she was given something else in return. A location, or the sense of a location at that.
She gave Threepio one last squeeze knowing full well that he wouldn't feel it - done more so for herself rather than for a reassurance to the droid - and lifted her chin to reinstate her strength between them.
"I need you to prep transport to the Jedi Temple, and quickly," Padmé instructed sternly.
She let go of the cold arm and made her way into the fresher, brushing her teeth to get the vile taste from her mouth before stepping out into the room to go into her closet. C-3PO was still perched in the spot she had left him seconds prior and a sense of irritation radiated from her small but bulbous being.
"That is an order, C-3PO. Please. Be as fast as you can." Her order came as near to a shout as her voice could get and any other time, Padmé would have felt guilty at raising her voice to her droid, but now was not the time. Whatever was drawing her to go to the Jedi Temple was growing stronger. Instructing her that time was of sparse availability for leisure and ease.
Something was terribly and utterly wrong, and any other time, she would not act upon her instincts in such a manner. Instead, she would always reach for her personal comm. link that held only one number she knew by heart that would lead to the appearance of Anakin's stature in holographic form. Tall in height despite the small, blue display given to her. But that same consistent niggling was there, clawing and breaking her skin that he wouldn't answer. Whatever was filling her with dread, as much as Padmé tried to deny it, the source of it was him. And she couldn't stop reminding herself that.
Within the course of five minutes, the metallic satin nightgown she had been wearing was replaced with a dark, loose-fitted tunic that partially concealed the mound threatening to give away her and Anakin's secret to the public. A leather belt in the form of an X embraced her chest, giving her upper body support while the tight, black pants fit snuggly to her thin legs. The knee-high boots she wore were laced firmly to her calves and it was all concealed by a black cloak that matched that of a Jedi's - per her husband's request. To visit the Jedi Temple at this time of post-midnight was peculiar in itself to Padmé and she knew that for anyone else on the grounds it would only seem unnatural. With two of her blasters firmly placed in their respective carriers, the short woman made her way out of the metallically decorated room, leaving the lights on in her wake.
"Milady, are you sure it is smart to travel in your condition at such a late hour? I do believe Master Anakin will not be much pleased to-"
"Not now, Threepio," Padmé cut the droid off, walking up the ramp to the chrome star skiff awaiting on the Republica's hanger. "Was this the only ship available?" She looked over at C-3PO, her brow even more furrowed than before.
He leaned sideways, hesitance in his form, "Yes, Mistress Padmé. I'm afraid so. It is of highest performance, though, and will-"
With the lift of a small hand, she silenced the robotic voice leading only the sound of wind caused from the passing ships and the liveliness of the city around to play before entering the silence of their ship. It was one from Naboo and she couldn't help but feel somewhat at ease from the familiarity it granted her.
After perfectly starting and maneuvering the ship off of the hanger and into the direction of the Jedi Temple, another wave of needles pricked their way throughout her body. The tight grip Padmé had on the steering handle loosened as she nearly fell out of her chair. If it weren't for the straps holding her into place on the seat, she would have surely fallen but within a minute, she had acquired control over her senses.
"Milady, I beg your pardon, but you don't look of highest accord," Threepio said worriedly.
Padmé rose a hand to her head, feeling the cold sweat that had begun to fall down her smooth forehead. The lines delved like caverns on the skin though, and she forced herself to focus on the passing influx of lights - that is, after she had rolled her eyes at the droid. Of course she didn't look 'of highest accord.' Something was wrong with Anakin and it was doing damage to her both physically and mentally. She quickly shook the negativity from her mind, calling to the Force to calm her as Anakin showed her.
Coruscant was brightly lit even during the night - an eternal day refusing to allow the darkness to consume it. Brown eyes traveled as downward as the ship's front would allow and just below, the Undercity bustled with the true darkness of Coruscant. She wondered if the darkness ever lightened without the help of the artificial lighting that had been implanted, but Padmé had a feeling it never did. There were good and bad beings in the world, but below watchful eyes, the bad tended to take over.
The curls that had been pulled back and away from her face now felt too tight, but when she brought her thin fingers to loosen the hair, the skin only proved to be as sensitive as she felt everywhere else. It was a discomfort she had never felt, stronger than she had ever felt and all Padmé wanted to do was get to the Jedi Temple. The Force was strong in pulling her towards the structure and even the baby could sense the urgency for she hadn't felt a strong movement from it since leaving the Republica. A consoling hand went down to the swell, deftly drawing circles in a maternal way as if to tell her baby that everything would be all right.
It had to be. She would ensure it.
Landing the ship with skilled grace, Padmé did a once over of the bridge. Fingers busied themselves with the hook of the cloak as she walked circles along with confined space.
"I want you to stay in here, Threepio. I will inform you if I need any help, but stay in here until I give you word of anything else." The woman turned, facing the droid with sheer panic written all over. Now that she had arrived at the Temple, something was holding her back. There was a dark energy there, a very dark energy and it made her more on edge than she was in her home.
"Of course, milady. If necessary, am I to contact Master Anakin?" he questioned, standing in an attempt to calm his mistress. In return, though, she only held up a hand as she stopped her movements for just a second. Swiping her fingers over his metallic features.
"No… No. He is here," she whispered, looking downwards. "I feel him here."
With the bite of her lip and a curt nod, her arm retracted. Padmé leaned in to kiss C-3PO, his gold self ceasing all movement at the gesture and eyes lit in their light-yellow nature watched as she exited the control room in as quick of a pace that her legs could take her.
Author's End Note: Again, happy 10 year and tell me what you think in the comments below. I'll post accordingly, so no worries. I need to get this sucker out :)