Part Two: The Abduction

The nightmare began, arguably, on the moment that the Jedi Temple had been attacked by Republic Clone Troopers. The flames were visible for miles…and my husband was missing. I had no idea what was going on, or if he was dead or alive…

The subsequent hours were filled with revelation after revelation. The Supreme Chancellor, newly disfigured following a confrontation with four Jedi Master, had revealed a Jedi plan to take over the Republic in the wake of the defeat of General Grievous and the end of the Clone Wars. Chancellor Palpatine had vowed to not only hunt down the remaining Jedi and destroy them, but he had also announced the creation of the New Order and declared himself Emperor.

Liberty died that day…with thunderous applause.

I was then faced with a revelation that rocked me to my core and would ultimately destroy me.

Obi-Wan Kenobi, a fugitive in the wake of the newly self-appointed Emperor's New Order, came to me with shocking news…not only was the Emperor responsible for the Confederacy of Independent Systems and therefore the war, but he also knew now who had led the attack on the Jedi Temple that left none alive…not even the Younglings. Defenceless children…

It was Anakin. My husband had turned to evil…
He was now the Emperor's apprentice in the wake of Count Dooku's death.

I didn't know what to believe-my husband could not possibly be responsible for these monstrous deeds, could he? I had to hear the truth for myself, so I took my ship to where I knew he was going…the volcanic nightmare world Mustafar.

Mustafar was where my entire life, and all that I valued, died.

Anakin had indeed turned to the Dark Side. He had become corrupted by Palpatine's lust for power and was even willing to turn on him so that we could rule the galaxy together! He was going too far down the dark path, and I could no longer recognise him.

He responded by force choking me…his wife and lover, the mother of his unborn child!

I was only saved by Obi-Wan's timely intervention. He and Anakin duelled, while I lapsed into unconsciousness as my body attempted to heal from the damage done. My heart was the area in need of healing, however…well and truly broken.

Obi-Wan emerged from the duel, and I could tell from the way that he walked and the ashen look on his face that the worst had indeed come to the worst for him. Two went down, one came up…And I felt my heart break at that moment…no words passed between us, but the mere sight of Obi-Wan and the look on his ashen face told the whole story. He had indeed been forced to defeat, and possibly kill, Anakin. He used a Jedi healing trick on me, before taking me to a medical facility of Polis Massa, a hospital on a far-out asteroid-far from the Emperor's reach…or so I thought.

Obi-Wan met with Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan and Jedi Master Yoda at Polis Massa, to discuss future actions. Obi-Wan's calculations had deduced that my child was due soon, and I was astonished to learn that I was carrying twins. The three were meeting in secret, so were able to keep my presence there a secret.

On Polis Massa, I gave birth to Anakin's children. A boy and a girl. Luke and Leia.

I'm trying to keep that fact secret from Palpatine, and I try not to think about it too much in case he tries to read my thoughts through the Force. He's very perceptive that way-and loves being in control. Obsessed with power…and very paranoid about any potential threat to his precious Empire…real or imagined. He would not think twice about slaying either Luke or Leia…he would see both of them as a threat, and all three of my allies knew it.

Obi-Wan walked in first, his face ashen and strained. Bail Organa walked in next, followed by Master Yoda, who was hovering on a platform to help the ancient Jedi Master get around easier. They all sat around my bed, with my children asleep in my arms. I was alive…yet heartbroken.

"Padme', we have to talk about the children…" Organa began with a diplomatic tone.
"I think I know what you are about to say, Seator Organa…" I began.
"Bail, please…I think we can both dispense with formalities, just as the Senate will be dispensed with over time as the Empire gains in power." Organa told me sadly.
"Bail…you all intend to separate me from my children." My tone was wracked with pain and heartache, but I knew that there was no other way to proceed.
"If Learn of your children the Emperor does, kill them both he will.." Yoda summed it up simply.
"The Emperor will see any of Anakin's offspring as a threat. Especially when he learns that they are Force sensitive…they are Anakin's children-how can they not be?" Obi-Wan pointed out.

I looked deep into his eyes, and knew that he was right. The purges had already begun…Obi-Wan and Yoda had been able to survive their attempted murders, but many Jedi had fallen into the trap of Order 66. Even Senator Organa had been dismissed from Coruscant and targeted for assassination by the Emperor, as a potential opposition to him.

"Where do we go from here?" I asked.
"There is only one way we can proceed…" Organa began.
"Rebellion." I finished his thought for him. He nodded silently.
"There are some senators, such as Garm Bel Iblis and Mon Mothma, who are going underground because of attacks on themselves or their families. There is an insurgency building, and we need to take steps to ensure that it is not finished before it gets a chance to start. I therefore need to return to Alderaan, to start laying the groundwork."
I looked at the two Jedi. "And what of you two?"
"Exile" Yoda simply said.
"The Emperor will hunt us down. If we go into exile, we can return to aid the Rebellion when the time is right. Until then, we must play it very carefully…" Obi-Wan answered.
"So what of my children-where will they go?" I asked.
"If you will agree to it, I will take the girl to Alderaan and raise her as my own. My wife and I have often talked of adopting a baby girl. She will be loved, and raised with the values that we both hold dear I assure you Padme'." Organa looked deep into my eyes as he told me this.
"At least she is going to a close friend…" I murmured. "Thank you…"
I looked at my son, the elder child-Luke.
"And what of the boy?"
"He has family on Tatooine." Obi-Wan replied calmly.
"The Lars family…I remember visiting them when Anakin went looking for his mother." Pain wrenched my heart as I remembered. His mother's death and his rage at the Tusken Raiders who had effectively kidnapped and killed her had been arguably the start of Anakin's descent into darkness. I could see it now…with the benefit of hindsight.
"I will take Luke there. I will stay nearby, and watch over him Padme'…"
"Take them…" I said quietly, closing my eyes.

Dwelling on Anakin, I had to know…what had happened to him?
"Obi-Wan…did you kill him?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "Just barely alive when I left him. Still, his hate was strong…"
"Powerful, the Dark Side is. Keep him alive, his hate might…" Yoda mused.
"There is still good in him…I felt it even when he was…" I couldn't finish the sentence.
Obi-Wan did not reply. Neither, for that matter, did Yoda.

Organa spoke up.
"We've wiped the memory cores of the droids who tended you. As far as all who work here are concerned, you are here following an incident with your ship, healing your injuries. I will send for you in a few days, but we have to get the children into safety first. I'm sorry Padme'…"
His tone was gentle, but firm. There was no other way though…

I looked at my twins, wondering when-if-I would-ever get to see them again.
"Goodbye, my children…may the Force be with you both."
I then kissed them on the forehead each, before nodding to the others.
Obi-Wan left with Luke, accompanied by Yoda. Bail Organa took Leia in his arms.
"Bail…take R2-D2 and C-3PO with you. They will serve your house well…" I suggested.
Organa nodded. "I will…thank you. Until we meet again…"
He then left the room, taking my daughter with him.

I spent the next few days in Polis Massa, healing from my injuries and keeping to my cover story. I had heard nothing from Organa, Kenobi or Yoda-which was good news, as it meant that they had successfully achieved their aims. My heart felt empty at being separated from my children, but I knew that it had been done for the right reasons. Now my mind turned to my future…

I vowed that I would avenge Anakin's fall to the Dark Side, and would help to destroy the Empire that Palpatine had built for himself. And I knew how it could be done…I knew that a counter-insurgency was building against Emperor Palpatine, and I had helped some of the main figures planning this to keep their secret. I knew that Bail Organa would need me for his Rebel Alliance. I knew Mon Mothma, the Chandrila senator, and also Garm Bel Iblis, the Corellian senator. I knew that I could contribute to this alliance-both in diplomatic and combat terms. Once my injuries were healed, Organa had vowed to find me and aid me in joining the Rebellion.

Unfortunately, it seems that you cannot do anything on Coruscant without Palpatine knowing about it. Palpatine had accounted for the possibility of me rebelling as well. And measures had indeed been taken to prevent this potential threat from becoming reality…

A human doctor walked into the room. I put my guard up, as I did not recognise the man.
"Senator Amidala…how are you feeling?"
"Still a little wounded, but I'm fine otherwise. I replied, playing my role. "I don't recognise you, doctor…"
He smiled. "I'm here to transfer you to a better hospital, to get your injuries proper treatment…worthy of our new Empire." He then pulled out a syringe.

I realised what was happening. This doctor was an agent of Palpatine!
I tried to fight him off, but he jammed the syringe into my neck.
"A hospital was never going to work as a hiding place, Senator…"

He didn't seem to know about the children. That was the one good thought I had as I was worn down by the cocktail of sedatives and eased into unconsciousness. They were safe…I had been able to take leave to conceal my pregnancy-nobody knew that I had been pregnant. With any luck, Palpatine would never know that I was now a mother and that Anakin had offspring…

While I was unconscious, the agent took me to a secret ship and kidnapped me from Polis Massa. He had snatched me under the nose of Bail Organa's aide, who was literally a day away from liberating me from the hospital. I was taken to Coruscant and brought before his master. The new Emperor Palpatine…

And at that point, my nightmare truly began…