Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.

AN: Here's part 3! Thanks for all the great reviews! Enjoy and let me know what you think:)

Disturbing Enigma: A Forever Destined Vignette

Part 3/?

Mustafar. From the vantage point outside his Star Fighter, it looked very mean and angry. His wife and son were down on the molten planet, in the clutches of the endless string of villains who sought to prey on his family in order to get to him.

"Anakin...come in. This is Obi-Wan. What's your position?"

"I'm in orbit of Mustafar. I can see why the Imperial Underground likes this planet. It's very strong in the dark side," Anakin answered.

"Be extremely careful,"

"I will. How far away are you and the others?" he asked.

"About an hour,"

"Okay, I'm going in," Anakin said.

"May the Force be with you, brother,"

"And you as well, brother," Anakin answered, as ship began its decent.


The minute they were pulled off the ship, Sylo and the android loaded them into a speeder. While Sylo took them up, the android sat in back, watching them. It was a scary ride, for beneath them was an angry lava river that seemed to flow through the entire planet. Padme held Jayden close, as he clung to her. He didn't like it at all and neither did Padme.

"Mommy...I'm scared," her little boy sniffed. Padme kissed his hair, as she combed her fingers through his hair in a soothing manner.

"I know baby, but mommy's here. I won't let anything happen to you. Daddy's coming for us, I promise," she soothed him.

"He's going to beat the bad men, isn't he?" Jayden asked. She kissed his hair.

"That's right, my sweet boy. He's going to make the bad men pay," Padme said, glaring at her captors.

"Do be quiet, Senator. You'll find I am much more tolerant than Admiral Pestage. He will not put up with your nonsense," Sylo threatened.

"And my husband won't put up with his family being taken from him. He's not a man you want to cross," Padme retorted. Sylo landed the speeder on the platform and hopped out. He came around to her side and she yelped, as he backhanded her across the face.

"Any more outbursts from you, milady, and the brat will suffer next time," Sylo spat, as he dragged her out of the speeder roughly. They had landed on a platform, high up on a mountain, well above the lava river. Built into this hardened, molten mountain, was a fortress. Padme only guessed that this was currently a base of operations for the Imperial Underground.

"Stay here and greet Skywalker upon his arrival. Come along, Senator," he said, pulling her along.

"Admiral Pestage is very anxious to meet you," the Neimodian hissed, as they entered the vast fortress and onto the lift, which took them up several levels.


Serra cradled her son, as they sat in the cold, dark cell. She kept him warm, by huddling him against her chest. Sate Pestage entered her cell with a cold smirk. He was a portly, balding man. What hair he had was dark brown, graced with gray on his head and in the form of a mustache.

"Well, Miss Keto. It seems we will not have use for you much longer. Coincidentally, the diary surfaced and somehow ended up in Senator Skywalker's hands. She's here now and Skywalker is on the way. The Master is leaving her secure dwelling to come here, in order to see to the demise of the Chosen One. She has asked for a blood sample from your brat to determine if he is of any use to her. If not, he will be terminated along with you at dawn tomorrow," Sate said, as he approached her with a syringe.

"No...please don't poke him with that. He's just a baby," Serra cried. Sate ignored her and Marcus began wailing, as he was stuck with the needle. He extracted the syringe and capped it, before handing it to Lady Ziya

"Enjoy your last evening alive, Xana," Ziya hissed, as they left her. Serra sobbed, as she rocked her son, who continued to cry uncontrollably.


Sylo dragged Padme and her son into what looked like a very comfortable sitting room. There was plush furniture, marble pillars, a fireplace, tables and chairs, as well as a shelf full of expensive liquor.

"Sit," Sylo barked. Padme sat in a chair and shifted Jayden in her lap. The door slid open and a man in the uniform she had heard her husband describe, walked in, followed by a terrifying looking woman, garbed from head to toe in black. She wore black makeup all around her already dark eyes and the black makeup also stained her lips. She clutched Jayden tightly, as the man gave her a predatory stare.

"You may both leave us," Pestage ordered. Sylo and Ziya obeyed and the door closed on their retreating forms. Sate stepped to his liquor shelf and selected his favorite brandy.

"Can I pour you a drink, Senator?" he asked.

"No thank you. However, your Neimodian lap dog and the brute he had with him refused to let my son have any water," Padme said sharply. Pestage chuckled.

"Water for the little tyke it is then," Sate said, as he held out a cup to Jayden.

"Here you go," he said. Jayden looked at his mother.

"It's okay baby," she told him, having watched to make sure the man had not put any drugs or poisons in it. He took the cup in his tiny hands and sipped at the cool water. Sate watched the young mother and child with avid interest, as he tapped his hands on the leather bound diary, sitting on the table. His Master was very pleased with their capture. He downed his first glass of brandy and set it down, before pulling a sterile syringe from his pocket.

"What's that?" Padme asked.

"Oh, I just need a little blood sample from the boy. The Master wishes to know...how much potential he has and if he is of any use to her. And...from the look on your face, I'd say that the Master is going to be quite pleased with the results of his test," Pestage smirked evilly. Padme clutched her son close. She couldn't allow them to acquire Jayden's blood sample. If they knew that his midichlorian count was the second highest of any Jedi, he would never be safe. Her children's midichlorian counts were safe guarded information, known only to the Council, just as Anakin's had been for most of his life. Anakin's midichlorian count was an incredible thirty-one thousand, the most remarkable wonder in Jedi history. Luke and Leia had an identical count of just over fifteen thousand each, together totaling their father's count. Kimberly's was the lowest at only eleven thousand, still significantly higher than Padme's count of four-thousand, which in itself was more than most average humans. She was borderline for training at the Temple, but since she was a Skywalker, there was no question that she would at least be trained in the arts, unless she chose to pursue something else when she was older. Jenna and Jayden had astounded them all. Jenna's midichlorian count was twenty-one thousand, significantly higher than Master Yoda's. But Jayden's was only a few thousand under Anakin's, at twenty seven thousand. He would never be safe if they knew.

"Hurry Anakin..." she called to him through their bond.


Anakin's Star Fighter soured over the flowing lava river. He spotted the large fortress structure built into the mountain in the distance. He saw a figure waiting for him on the landing platform. He touched down and hopped out of his Fighter, igniting his azure blade. The sound of the rushing lava below roared in his ears.

"Where is my wife and son," Anakin demanded. The android smirked and produced his weapon. Two crimson blades extended from the light saber on either side, the model having obviously been adapted form Darth Maul's.

"You should be more concerned about yourself, Chosen One. The Master has ordered your capture. The Master wishes to deal with you personally and I am here to see to it," the android sneered.

"You're just another lap dog. But if you want a fight, then you'll have one," Anakin said, as he dropped into a ready stance, sinking deeply into Soresu. The android charged at him and Anakin did an aerial flip over its head, landing behind him. The android stopped and turned, his crimson blade crashing down on Anakin's. The Chosen One's muscles burned under the pressure of the android's oppressive strength. Sweat poured down Anakin's face, as he summoned the power of the Force. A white aura whipped around him and his sapphire blade blazed white. With his Force enhanced strength, he released flails of white energy, forcing the android to stumble back. He elbowed the android in the face, hardly making a dent and then slammed his glowing blade down on the android's red one, expecting it to shatter. He was shocked when it didn't even crack in the slightest. The mechanical monstrosity chuckled in amusement.

"My creators have made significant improvements. I am far more advanced than my predecessors," the android laughed, as their blades met again and again at a lightning fast speed. Anakin ducked under a lethal jab and whipped around to meet the android's saber again. This time, he didn't evade the thing's massive fist in time and felt it smash into the space between his shoulder blades on his back, sending him into the ground. The android grabbed him by the cloak and Anakin shrugged out of it, sinking back into fighting stance, as he leapt up. His eyes darkened to almost a midnight blue and the aura around him intensified.

"Your powers aren't a match for me," the android smirked.

"Your overconfidence in your creators will be your undoing," Anakin replied, as he fell deeply into Vaapad, before launching at the android again. Anakin swiped his blade through the android's shoulder, severing the whole right arm. The android roared in anger, as it threw all its oppressive weight into Anakin, toppling him to the ground. Anakin started choking, as the android wrapped his remaining hand around his neck and stood up, lifting him into the air. He slammed the Chosen One into the rock wall behind them and Anakin felt a sharp pain in his back, indicating the possibility of a few cracked ribs. Anakin doubled over in pain, as the android embedded his knee into his abdomen. Anakin outstretched his palm and emitted a flail of searing white energy in the android's face, melting away its skin, leaving the metal wiring on his face visible. It stumbled back and then lunged at Anakin again. But the Jedi was ready and flipped out fo the way. The android slammed his fists into the rock wall, causing it to crumble into molten chunks of debris. The android roared and charged at Anakin again, crimson saber blazing. He topple the Jedi to the ground and they went rolling down the mountain and onto the lava river bank. Anakin cried out, as his tunic was torn open and he sustained several angry cuts along his torso from the sharp molten rocks.

"Anakin...hurry..." he heard Padme called to him through the Force. He shoved his feet into the android's chest, throwing him off. The menace leapt up, but Anakin was ready and swept his searing white blade through the android's legs, sending him rolling toward the lava river.

"My family needs me. You won't stop me from reaching them," Anakin stated calmly, as he used another flail of white energy to thrust the android into the lava river, incinerating it immediately. Anakin extinguished his saber and quickly trekked back up the mountain and entered the fortress.


"Now Senator, I promise it will be just a tiny prick," Sate's evil smile bled a sick sarcasm.

"Just please leave him alone. He's been through enough. Do what you want with me, but leave him alone," Padme pleaded. Pestage grabbed her arm and shoved her to the ground.

"Oh believe me, I'll deal with you in a moment," he said, as he jabbed the needle into Jayden's arm.

"Owww!" Jayden cried. He extracted the needle and capped it, before putting it in his pocket. He pushed the little boy into the chair and turned his attention back to Padme, who was pulling herself to her feet. Sate Pestage looked upon her with a predatory gaze.

"You said you would do anything to protect your son. Shall we test that theory, Senator?" he goaded, as he reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her against him.

"No..." Padme cried.

"You're a very beautiful woman, Senator. You shouldn't tempt a man, especially one like me, who always gets what he wants," Pestage growled, as he pulled her against him, as his disgusting lips tackled her neck and shoulder.

"Get off me!" Padme screamed, as she kneed him in the groin. He cried out and doubled over in pain. Padme plucked Jayden from the chair and ran to the door, hoping it would open. She pounded on it, but it was not use. The panel would only activate with a passkey. Padme turned and saw Pestage approaching with a murderous glint in his eyes.

"That was a very bad mistake, Senator. Now come quietly and I'll leave the brat alone," he threatened. Padme put her son down, hoping beyond all hopes that Anakin got there in time.

"I need you to stay here baby. Can you do that for mommy?" she asked. Jayden nodded, as he watched his mother stand up. She yelped, as Sate pulled her to him and sniffed her hair.

"As I told you before, Senator. I always get what I want," Sate hissed, as her captor's hands traveled all over her body. He chuckled evilly.

"The wife of the Chosen One. My men will certainly be jealous when I tell them," Pestage goaded, as his hands found the zipper on the back of her dress.

"Please...not in front of my son," Padme pleaded, now sobbing at the realization that she was going to be raped.

"Shut up about the brat," Pestage growled, as he backhanded her, before throwing her down on the sofa. Jayden gasped, as he saw the man hit her again. He could hear his mother crying and he could feel how scared she was.

"Mommy!" Jayden called.

"Tell the brat to shut up or I'll take my frustration out on him...with my belt," Pestage growled.

"Mommy...will be okay, baby," Padme sobbed.

"Good girl," Pestage sneered, as he started to undo his belt, while hovering over her.

"Don't worry beautiful. It will only hurt for a few minutes," Pestage laughed.

"At least until tonight, when you're entertaining me in my bedroom again..." he hissed.

"Mommy..." Jayden cried, as he stood by the marbled table where she had told him to stay. He looked at the table and then back at the man.

"Mommy's really scared..." Jayden whispered, as the table shook.

"He's a bad man," Jayden whispered again, as the table hovered just above the floor.

"The bad man is hurting my mommy," Jayden cried in a whisper. The marble table went sailing through the air.

Pestage laughed with glee at the thought of having the beautiful woman he held captive, willing to not fight him in order to protect her son. She was sobbing and terrified, making him feel powerful. He couldn't wait to take her, the thought that she was the wife of the Chosen One, thrilling him even more. He undid his pants and reached down, preparing to rip her dress off.

"No...please..." Padme sobbed. Pestage opened his mouth to retort, but a scream came out instead, as he was hit by the table. There was a very loud crash, as the table and Pestage hit the wall. Padme sat up with a start and looked around, expecting to find her husband there. But he wasn't. She looked at the gruesome scene by the far wall. Pestage was dead, crushed between the wall and the table. She looked to Jayden and realized in astonishment that he had done that.

"Jayden...baby, come here," she called. Jayden ran to her and she picked him up, hugging him tightly.

"He was a bad man and he was hurting you," Jayden whimpered.

"Did you do that sweetheart?" she asked. He just shrugged. Padme believed he did, yet didn't really understand what he did or how incredible what he had done really was. The marble table probably weighed a couple hundred pounds. They needed to get out of there fast. She put Jayden down and crept over to Sate's body. She found his passkey and Jayden's blood sample.

"Rot in Sith hell, you bastard," she spat, before grabbing the diary on the table and lifting Jayden into her arms. Using Pestage's passkey, she opened the door and they quietly began trekking their way through the labyrinth of corridors...


Ziya and Sylo entered Admiral Pestage's lavish quarters, having heard a loud crash. Ziya snarled, as she spotted his body.

"He's dead," she spat.

"But how?! That weak woman couldn't have done this. Nor could her little brat," Sylo replied.

"Skywalker is here in the complex then. Our android must have failed. Put the base on red alert. They must all be captured," Ziya said.

"What will you be doing? I don't take orders from you!" Sylo spat. Ziya glared at him and he felt his throat constrict.

"You do now, Neimodian filth. Remember, you are easily replaced. I must greet the Master up arrival. Follow my orders or die..." Ziya growled, as she released her choke hold.

"Yes my Lady," he coughed, gasping for air. Ziya exited and took the lift down to the docking bay, where the Master would be arriving any moment...


Obi-Wan landed his Star Fighter next to what he assumed was Sylo's ship, being that it was a Class A Neimodian cruiser. A larger, Syrian cruiser landed behind him. His father, grandfather, and Ferus disembarked, the three of them unloading a speeder from the cruiser's holding bay. The four Jedi boarded it and Dooku took them up, sailing over the lava river.

"Lovely planet," Obi-Wan said sarcastically.

"I sense the dark presence we are feeling getting stronger," Qui-Gon stated.

"There!" Ferus called, spotting a mountain fortress in the distance.

"Good work Ferus," Dooku said, as he steered the speeder and landed it next to Anakin's Star Fighter. The four Jedi hopped out and filed inside the fortress...


Padme and Jayden had taken the lift to the bottom level. Unfortunately, the bottom level was crawling with droids. She guessed that they had learned of her escape and that she had the diary. She held her son close, as she peeked around the corner. Droids were swarming the corridors.

"Hey...hands up!" Padme heard a mechanical voice order. She began running in the other direction, holding Jayden close. All droids in the vicinity were quickly alerted to her presence. She ran to a door on the far wall and swiped Pestage's passkey. She ran into the room, but was thrown off balance by the inclined slope. She and Jayden fell onto a moving platform. Before her was a massive droid factory, floating on a lake of lava. She yelped and stood up, holding Jayden close, as the platform floated into the lava lake.

"Mommy..." Jayden cried, scared of the smoldering lava below them.

"It'll be okay baby. Hold on tight to mommy," Padme told him. Padme looked up above them, seeing a column that extended up through the entire complex, acting as a steam vent. There were several levels and platforms, all with blast doors that led to other levels in the complex.

"Daddy!" she heard Jayden call. Padme looked up in his direction and saw her husband's blazing white light saber melting through a blast door effortlessly, two levels above them.

"Anakin!" Padme cried.

"Hang on Padme!" he called, as he extinguished his saber and took out his grappling cable. He attached it to a high beam well above his head and secured it. He swung down and swept his wife and son into his arms, before landing on the platform on the other side. Padme collapsed against his chest.

"Oh Anakin..." she cried in relief.

"It's okay angel. I've got you now," he assured her.

"Mommy said you'd come, Daddy!" Jayden said. He smiled, as he ruffled his son's hair and kissed his forehead. Padme wiped her tears and tossed Jayden's blood sample into the lava to incinerate it.

"What was that?" he asked.

"When we got here, Sylo took us to Admiral Pestage. He wanted a blood sample from Jayden," Padme began.

"They want to know his midichlorian count," Anakin concluded. Padme nodded and sniffed.

"I begged him not to hurt Jayden...and he attacked me. He said if he got what he wanted from me, he'd leave Jayden alone," Padme said, choking back a sob.

"He...was going to rape me. I was crying and Jayden must have sensed how scared I was. Ani...he killed Admiral Pestage," Padme whispered to him. Anakin's eyes widened.

"What?" he asked in shock.

"I don't think he even realizes what he did. He lifted a marble table and hit Pestage with it. I grabbed the diary and the blood sample and then we escaped before his subordinates could get there," she said, taking a breath.

"Oh Ani...what if they find out what Jayden did?" Padme cried. Anakin kissed her forehead and looked at his son, who's head was laying against his chest. His eyes opened and closed, as he fought sleep.

"It'll be okay angel. I'll make sure of it. I'm so sorry I couldn't stop that man from hurting you," he said.

"I'm fine. He didn't get the chance to hurt me and I'll not have you blaming yourself," Padme said, as she pressed her lips to his in a sweet, loving kiss.

"Let's get you and Jayden out of here," he said, as she swiped Pestage's passkey and the door opened, allowing them to enter the corridor, headed for the lift.

"I haven't seen Serra. They must have her somewhere else in the compound," Padme mentioned.

"I sense that grandfather and the others, including Ferus have arrived. They'll find her and then we'll all get out of this hell hole," he said, as they reached the lift. Waiting for them was Lady Ziya, wearing a cruel smirk. Anakin handed Jayden back to Padme and ushered her off to the side.

"I've been waiting a long time for this, Chosen One," she said, igniting her crimson blade.

"Stay back angel," he said, as he ignited his own sapphire blade, falling into defensive stance in front of his wife and son...