CHAPTER III
Padme slept peacefully knowing her beloved Anakin was nearby. Side by side they laid in their bed, post coital, a tangled mesh of two people very much in love. But Anakin didn't sleep. He'd been called for another mission, one that would keep him away for only a short time if he were lucky. Anakin didn't want to leave Padme. His wife of only two years... how much time had they really spent together? Perhaps when he attained full power as the Chosen One, he would alter the rules so they could be together. So he never had to leave her side. So that they'd never have to keep another secret again... They'd become adept at lying, and neither were comfortable with it.
Anakin contemplated what life would be like if he ever told the truth. Certain expulsion from the Order, certain peace. But Padme loved being a senator. If Anakin ever confessed their secret marriage, the scandal would ruin her career.
As if sensing his eyes boring into her, Padme turned over. She had an uncanny ability of sensing when something was wrong with him. They were of one soul.
"Anakin? You're still awake. What's wrong?" she said, chills rolling up and down her spine.
"I got a call from the council. I can't stay," Anakin said, trying to swallow the emotions stirring within him.
"But Anakin, you just got back..."
Padme sat up, almost fully awake. She threw her arms around him. "I'll be glad when this awful war is over. I feel so sad and lonely when you leave."
"I may be on the other side of the galaxy, but my heart will be here with you."
"When do you leave?"
"Right away."
Anakin slid out of bed and dressed quickly, with Padme looking on. She slipped out of bed and threw on her bathrobe.
They said little as he strapped his lightsaber into his belt. Talking only made it worse.
Padme followed him to his ship, tears collecting in her eyes. "Come back to me, my love," she whispered. They hugged each other tightly, neither of them wanting to let go.
As they parted Anakin looked into her eyes... her beautiful eyes and wondered if she loved him as much as he loved her. She'd resisted his affections at first, but ultimately relented. Anakin didn't know why. He knew what he saw in her: she was beautiful and smart. But what did she see in him?
Was it fate? Or had he used the influence of the force, a Jedi Mind trick to make her fall in love with him? It was unlikely but not impossible. The Jedi Mind trick only worked on the weak minded. But who knew how strongly the force ran within him? Someday he would be even stronger than Yoda, Count Dooku, his Master Obi-Wan, and certainly any Lord of the dark side.
What if Padme tried to leave? What if... she ended their marriage to save her pathetic seat in the senate? Her career? Anakin scoffed. It would be a very unfortunate situation... came the answer… from a darker, more sinister voice from within… a voice from the shadows of his soul. Master Obi-Wan would tell him errant thoughts like these were dangerous and possessive. But what did he know? Obi-Wan had never been in love. He didn't understand. He couldn't understand.
Anakin climbed into his ship and flew towards the spire atop of the Jedi Temple. He hoped to clear his thoughts of Padme before meeting with Obi-Wan and Master Windu. They were bloodhounds. They could smell fear, anger, and jealousy in him before he even opened his mouth. But they were wrong. They the distrustful ones, they were filled with fear and pride, and they were jealous—jealous of him and his power. The only reason they sent him on these stupid two day missions was to keep him away from Padme and to make his life miserable.
Obi-Wan and Master Windu waited near the top of the Jedi Temple on a landing dock next to amoderately sized command ship. Anakin docked his starfighter nearby, in order to join the Jedi Masters.
Obi-Wan greeted Anakin with a slight frown on his face, and pointed towards the command ship with his chin.
"I'm surprised we were able to find you. You seem to have gotten lost again."
"Sorry Master."
"You must stay in contact with me, if another important mission arises, we must be able to locate you."
"Yes, Master."
"I trust your vacation was an enjoyable one?" Master Windu interrupted, in an effort to lighten the mood.
"My vacation wasn't long enough to enjoy, Master." Anakin stared ahead, trying to keep the anger boiling inside him from showing on his face.
"I agree..." Obi-Wan said, sensing strong feelings from his former pupil. "Hopefully our mission will be brief and we'll have time to relax before our mission in the Outer Rim."
"We can only hope, Master."
Anakin suddenly felt himself relax as they fell into their usual routine. It was like wearing a pair of old comfortable shoes. Master, apprentice, and now, Master Windu joined them. If there was any consolation at all, perhaps, this would be a true adventure.
The three Jedi boarded the cruiser with Anakin sitting as pilot, Obi-Wan as co-pilot, and Master Windu taking a third seat, looking on. They strapped themselves in.
"I haven't been briefed on the mission, Master..."
Perhaps if I had been able to find you, a briefing would have been possible, Obi-Wan thought. "We're going to Runei. It seems, a very important device is missing. Our mission is to retrieve it, and turn it over the council so that its contents may be decoded."
"I know you Master. You're hiding something." Anakin said, turning to look at him.
"I'm not hiding anything Anakin, and please keep your eyes on what you are doing before we hit something."
Anakin turned and looked out the window. He nearly collided with an asteroid. The ship jolted, throwing Master Windu from his seat. But Anakin barely noticed.
He steered the ship through the stars, trying hard not to think of Padme. But their bond was strong. She was thinking of him at that very moment. He could feel her. "I will return soon, my love," he said, using only his mind, sensing she could still hear him despite their respective places in the galaxy.
But little did he know, Obi-Wan heard it too, and suddenly felt unwavering disappointment. Emotion swelled in the newly anointed Jedi. It seemed Anakin was not only unable to keep his mind on the mission, but was unable to keep his mind on the task at hand.
"Anakin, the trip to Runei is a short one. Do try to keep your mind on what you're doing, and not on matters that have nothing to do with our mission."
"I'll try, Master," Anakin said, then corrected himself. "I will."
"Good," Obi-Wan said. This was the Anakin he wanted traveling with him on missions; a focused, dedicated Jedi.
THE RESCUE:
CHAPTER IV
"Watch it buddy!" A foreigner with antlers over his ears said just before punching a tall humanoid male of muscular build and sharp teeth. The pair pushed their way through the door past the three Jedi and nearly crashed dead-smack into Anakin, who briefly considered pulling his light saber and striking them down.
"Easy, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, sensing the young Jedi's frustration. "We have a job to do. We musn't allow ourselves to become tangled in other battles. We are here to arrest Dooku and retrieve the device."
"Listen to Obi-Wan. He's right." Mace said. "Besides, these men are no match for us. Slaughtering them would be pointless."
"But Master, this place is filled with chaos," Anakin scowled.
A man sitting at the bar smashed a bottle of alcohol against the side of his own head.
"The people of Runei are free to do whatever they like. Even if their will is to live in chaos. That's what freedom and democracy means. Choice," Obi-Wan answered.
"If this is democracy, then I want no part of it."
Obi-Wan decided to ignore Anakin and his sharp tongue in favor of continuing the mission, they could readdress the importance of democracy later.
"You still have much to learn Young Jedi," Master Windu said, catching a glimpse of Anakin from the side of his eye.
Anakin scoured the room for Dooku or any one his droids. They call this a planetary coup?
A small, apprehensive band of musicians played instruments from a pit below the stage. Above them, Can-Can dancers pranced, but moved nervously before an audience of five rogues and their appallingly hideous looking leader, a warlord named Manchu. One of the men aimed a blaster at a dancer's foot and fired. She jumped over the blue-white bolt. "Keep going!" the man heckled. The others fired more blasts and the other dancers jumped, sweat rolling from their brows. Suddenly, the gaggle of girls parted, paving the way for the lead singer to appear. She wore a grass hula dress, an unabashed grin spread across her face, and a huge red Orchid in her hair.
Despite the utter chaos that enveloped the lounge, the singer sang without fear or apprehension. Obi-Wan knew that voice. He knew it well. But the men watched, mouths agape as she walked down the stairs, eyes focused on Manchu. Obi-Wan couldn't enjoy the seductive curl of her lips, and the come-hither look in her eyes, particularly, because her eyes were on someone else and not him.
Manchu, he observed, was a horrible sight, with lips that hung to the floor, and two antenna-like eyes that stretched as high as the ceiling – he was an alien invader, and an under-lord who took advantage of the Runei's laid back resort-like atmosphere and lack of security.
The ladies followed Christa as she stepped down the stairs and all formed a circle around Manchu. The ladies preened and fawned over the alien, but ignored the guards – to their chagrin; for it was only moments earlier they had tried blasting the girl's feet from their legs.
Manchu was clearly man of power. In fact, the last remaining stand against Dooku's hostile take over, for whatever that was worth; the stand wouldn't last long.
Obi-Wan watched as Christa offered the man a red orchid, a rare, invaluable flower, originally thought not to be in existence until she introduced it as the highlight of her show.
But there was a secret her audience wasn't aware of. The orchid came from a galaxy so far away, that no man would dare travel this distance for fear of dying of old age before he ever arrived. Those who traveled from this far away galaxy and actually made it to the Republic, were born on the ships that carried them, and still did not come close to a planet like Runei, or even the Outer Rim until they were adult men or women.
"Smell it, delight in its wonderful scent," Christa whispered in Manchu's ear.
Manchu sniffed the orchid and the petals opened, sending an invisible dust into his nostrils. The man's head dropped. But no one saw, the women had already surrounded him and playfully pulled him backstage before the envious lustful, intrusive eyes of his men.
But at the other end of the lounge stood three Jedi, hands poised over lightsabers –
"Count Dooku-" Anakin said.
There he was. Strikingly tall, fearless, murderous…and making his grandest most aristocratic entrance ever, clapping his hands in mock appreciation as the gaggle of dancers pulled Manchu backstage. Not too far behind, a swarm of battle droids entered the arena after him. The fearless singer on the stage froze and covered her ears.
"You're invitation to stay on Runei has expired," Dooku said. And without further ado, the droids opened fire on Manchu's guards – one of which disintegrated into a big blob of green ooze. The fearless singer on the stage screamed.
Anakin ignited his lightsaber. "I can take him, Master."
Mace held him back.
"Runei is immersed in the dark side, and acts as a cloak that not only dim our senses, but Count Dooku's as well. He hasn't sensed our presence. We can take the girl without Dooku knowing. We will arrest him later. For now, I have decided the device is more important."
"Good thinking, Master Windu," Obi-Wan said.
The nightclub was a battleground where men were soon outnumbered by droids and on top of that, Count Dooku's lightsaber. Fiery red bolts ricocheted from one side of the room to the other, and wooden tables, in tact only moments earlier, were crushed beneath the feet of the murderous robots. The menacing mechanized hum of the merciless droid army muffled the screams of their victims whose lives were quickly claimed in the contest.
The three Jedi rushed the stage. Obi-Wan dropped to his knee and threw his shoulder into Christa's legs and lifted her over his shoulder. Christa was surprised, but not more surprised than Mace Windu.
"What are you doing here?" Christa yelled, just as a bolt from a droid's blaster zipped past her head. She dreamed of Obi-Wan holding her in his arms again, and for a moment, found herself wishing the embrace had come under better circumstances.
Obi-Wan scanned the room, searching for the easiest escape route. But a Class two droid quickly disrupted the search with a fiery red bolt, which came dangerously close to striking Christa dead. Obi-Wan spun her quickly, his Jedi senses forewarning him of the coming blast.
"We're rescuing you," Anakin said, igniting his lightsaber and striking down an approaching droid.
"Not you. Him-" She said, pointing at Master Windu.
"You know each other?" Anakin asked, surprise widening his eyes.
"Yes…" Mace relented. "She's my cousin. Moira Windu."
The woman nearly fell from Obi-Wan's arms—Moira?It was impossible. Moira Windu was dead, it couldn't be…
The lounge was like a dam broken, except it was droids that flooded the room instead of water.
Obi-Wan raced off the stage with Christa-- or was it Moira? hanging over his shoulder.
"Put me down." Christa yelled. "I'm more than capable of running on my own. My feet aren't broken." Christa bit Obi-Wan on the back of his leg, causing his knee to buckle. But Obi-Wan continued, his mind focused on completing the mission.
"Give us the device and we'll let you go. Then you'll be free to die here in the chaos with your friends." Anakin struck several droids with his lightsaber, leaving flittering limbs and spare parts in his wake.
"Oh shut up! You- thimble-headed peon-"
"Spoken like a true lady..." Anakin, remarked while simultaneously thrashing another droid.
Obi-Wan sighed. Together, Christa and Anakin were already like fuel and fire. The trip to Coruscant he decided, would be a long one. Too long if he had to spend it with the both of them. Regardless, he couldn't get over hearing that name – Moira Windu. Maybe he heard wrong, perhaps something in his subconscious was rising to the surface – guilt, come back all these years to take its rightful place in his heart. Perhaps Christa reminded him so much of Moira that his subconscious merely whispered her name… Nevertheless, "Will the two of you be quiet already? You can argue to your heart's content once we get out of this place," Obi-Wan said, hoping to squash the anger burgeoning between Anakin and Christa—Moira.
"I'd feel more content standing on my own two feet!"
Obi-Wan ignited his lightsaber once again, and thrashed another droid. The heat from its blade reached Christa's tail causing her to wriggle in his arms more forcefully to get herself free.
"He'll let set you down, but no tricks. We're going to save you whether you want us to or not," Mace replied.
"What do you care? I've managed quite well on my own."
"Who said I cared?" Mace replied, with one swipe, decimating three – two droids and Christa in one full sweep.
It would have been less painful if he'd taken his purple lightsaber and smashed it through her heart. A bitter memory suddenly met her in the present. It wasn't the first time Mace hardened himself to her. She was a little girl the last time she saw him. But Mace wouldn't acknowledge her, preferring the Jedi as family.
"We're here because the council requested your presence. Rescuing you has nothing to do with my feelings," he continued, as if to sort through some misunderstanding.
"What feelings?" Christa answered bitterly.
They made it, but not without some resistance, to the ship. Christa still hung from Obi-Wan's shoulder despite Mace's promise to set her down, and Anakin boarded behind them.
Inside, the four settled into the cabin with Christa sitting uncomfortably next to Mace Windu.
"Buckle up," Anakin said, motioning with his head to Christa.
"Buckle up? Is that all you have to say?"
"Frankly, it's all I want to say," Anakin pulled a lever on the control panel and the ship lifted. "At least until we're away from this terrible place."
"Try to remain calm. I'll explain as soon as we get you to safety," Obi-Wan interrupted
"You mean, as soon as you get what you want."
"We heard you were Dooku's prisoner and came to rescue you."
"How is being his prisoner any worse than being yours?"
"We aren't taking you prisoner, Christa. We're trying to keep you safe."
"If you don't let me off of this blasted ship, I will kill all of you. I don't need your help. And I certainly didn't ask for it."
"Settle down," Anakin said. "Besides, it would take an army of you to kill even one of us."
"You're a Gundark. And if it weren't for Obi-Wan's leash, you'd bite everyone around you."
"I can't take it anymore, Master. Perhaps, she'd be happier flying on the outside of the ship."
"Enough," Master Windu interrupted. He was already tired of their endless bickering. "Moira, go to the deck and settle down. Anakin, please...use your patience. She's had a difficult time."
"I don't know, Master. Sounds to me like she enjoyed being Count Dooku's prisoner, or else, she'd show us appreciation, not contempt."
"Try not to speculate. It's dangerous. We don't know what happened. But I'm sure we'll find out," Obi-Wan replied, secretly resenting Anakin's accusation.
Christa stormed off to the deck, and once out of earshot, Mace Windu leaned forward.
"Moira isn't a Jedi. She hasn't learned to control anger as we have. You must be patient with her."
"She can't be Moira Windu," Obi-Wan said. "How can that be?"
"I'm afraid it's the truth. I can 't explain it, but she's alive."
"I don't understand. Wouldn't this be good news? Who is Moira Windu?" Anakin asked.
"She's my cousin. It seems, my father had a brother. His name was Kent. After my father's death, my uncle married a beautiful Corellian woman and eventually had a daughter. He named her Moira. When Moira was nine, my uncle and his wife were murdered by the same space pirates who killed my parents. Moira was with them, but survived.
After years of searching, Moira learned more about me, and my clan, then took the Windu name. She came to me years later and asked me to avenge my aunt and uncle's death. I rejected the idea and Moira felt as though I had rejected her. When that didn't work, she asked me to train her, and said that she wanted to be a Jedi. The force was indeed strong with her, that's why she survived the battle that killed her parents. But I knew she would use her skills for vengeance and evil, so I turned her away. By then, she was too old begin training, and it was too late to unlearn her vengeful ways. She had too much anger, aggression… little compassion for others. And now, the dark side of the force surrounds her. There's evil in her. I can sense it.