Episode VI: The Golden Age of the Empire
Chapter 3: Suspicion Arises
Instead of calling ahead to inform the emperor of the rather cruel turn of events concerning his grandchildren, Vader simply left Mustafar without explanation to anyone. The Executor arrived back at Coruscant in a record breaking six hours, which was nearly impossible for traveling from a system so far in the Outer Rim. But Vader made it possible through his anger. He'd spent the entire journey seething in rage, plotting possible deaths for the Jedi, and killing anyone whom dared cross his path. Taking a shuttle down onto the capital planet, only than did Vader send word ahead that he was arriving. It was now a little after 0600, but Vader didn't care about the earliness of the hour. This was important.
When the young Sith arrived at the emperor's office in the former New Republic Executive Building, now the Imperial Executive Building (IEB), a short while later he was disgusted to find not only the emperor as he'd asked, but Padme – he refused to address her as empress – as well. As he approached, he sensed an air of irritation around them both. The pair was obviously ticked about the earliness of the hour. He shot a glare over in Padme's direction, who hissed in reply, and knelt before his master.
Before he could speak however, the empress spoke in an angered tone. "This better be good Vader," she spat out. "I should be sleeping at this hour."
"Than by all means go to bed and sleep," Vader snapped, looking up at her in pure hatred and snarling, "I didn't ask for your presence here."
But before the empress could spit out another vicious retort, the emperor began to cackle. Both Sith turned to their master in mild surprise, wondering what was so funny.
"I sensed a great disturbance in the Force a few hours ago," he said smoothly. "Could what you have to say, Lord Vader, be about that?"
"Yes my master." Vader bowed once more. "At 2400, while aboard the Executor sound asleep, along with most of my crew, Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda snuck aboard and kidnapped Luke and Leila."
"WHAT?!?!"
This was exclaimed by both Imperial rulers, though in different ways. The emperor hissed it in rage, while his daughter said it in genuine surprise.
"Yes my master. Here is the note Kenobi left me." He handed it to his master and the emperor accepted it. While reading it, his eyes flashed in even more rage. Padme leaned over his shoulder to read it also. She was angry as well, but for a different reason as Vader soon found out. While her father continued to seethe, Padme balled her hands into fists and banged one of them on the desk. "Jedi scum!" She turned to her father. "You see! This is what I was telling you. As long as these Jedi are allowed to exist, they will continue to bring treachery among our empire. Not that I care about the brats-"
"Luke and Leila are not brats," Vader hissed out. "They're your children just as much as they are mine. Rather you want to admit to it or not."
"-but these Jedi," Padme continued as if she hadn't even heard Vader, "need to be eliminated now!" She banged her fist down again for emphasis. "Not eventually. Now, I tell you! Now!"
"Silence!" the emperor hissed at her and than turned back to Vader. "I take it the Jedi escaped then?"
Vader hung his head in shame. "Sadly yes. They escaped on board an Alderaanian star cruiser. My crew, being the pathetic idiots they are, did not activate the tractor beam in time."
"Organa," Padme hissed.
The emperor smirked. "Very likely. After all, he is one of the possible leaders of this alliance against the empire. Of course, we have no way of proving this. The word of the empress, sadly, will not do anything in the courts. What we need is evidence."
With that he pressed a button on his desk, obviously signaling someone. Soon enough, a moment later, a tired looking Human male aid came running into the room. After bowing briefly to Vader and the empress, he turned to the emperor. "You called your majesty."
"Yes," he drawled. "Contact both Antellica and Arica Grievous at once with the instruction to return to the capital immediately."
The aid bowed. "It will be done your majesty." And with another bow to Vader and the empress, he left the room.
"You are dismissed Lord Vader," the emperor said immediately afterwards. "Return back here at 1700 sharp this evening."
"Yes my master." Vader again bowed and took his leave.
Since Anakin never really had a home on Coruscant to call his own – the Jedi Temple was never his home, even if he did once stay there, as the Jedi had never accepted him; they rejected and betrayed him. Padme's mansion was never really his home either as he never stayed there often – to fill up his time until the Grievous sisters arrived back, he bought a suite at the Holiday Towers Hotel in Galactic City's Entertainment District, not too far from its sister establishment, the Holiday Lakes Hotel and Resort. Because of the Separatist's attack on Crouscant six months ago, at the end of the Clone Wars, a lot of the hotel had to be renovated and rebuilt to take care of the damage. By now though, all destruction had been fixed. After occupying the suite, he simply sat within it, silent and all alone with no one but himself. He was filled with anguish once more that again something he loved and grew close to was taken from him.
Maybe that's why I won't let myself fall in love with Arica, he mused. I'm be too afraid to lose her.
Until Antellica arrived at 1200, Anakin spent the spare time he was given in his suite doing not much of anything, simply staring into space in the sitting room. He could've used this time to sleep of course, but had convinced himself that he wasn't tired. He was too full of grief to sleep. How he knew when Antellica was returning was by stretching out with the Force and sensing her signature approaching the planet. She was obviously aboard her ship with someone else for Anakin sensed another presence with Antellica.
Perhaps it's a possible rebel.
Arica's signature wasn't approaching as rapidly. It was still a good distance off. He figured she was still in hyperspace. So since he didn't have anything else better to do, Anakin went to go meet Antellica as she landed. He strolled down the road to the Holiday Lakes Hotel, as he knew she had a suite there. And since Padme had kicked her former handmaiden from her Naboo home, and Antellica proceeded to blow it up in revenge, she certainly wasn't going to let her back into her Coruscant home. She had nowhere else to go but here.
Her ship, Flying Angel, touched down onto one of the private landing strips that belonged to only anyone who occupied a suite at the hotel. The ramp lowered and Antellica strolled down it, oblivious to Anakin's presence not far away. He was confused. Anakin was sure he'd sensed two presences, but there was Antellica walking by herself.
"Antellica!" he called.
Antellica stopped in surprise when she heard her name called and quickly cloaked her pregnancy. She didn't really have to, being as she was wearing a loose fitting orange flowered dress that showed not a hint of her secret. But she cloaked it anyway to be safe. The person who called her turned out to be Anakin. She gave a sigh of relief. "Anakin, hi. What are you doing here?"
He rolled his eyes. "What do you think I'm doing here?" he asked with a smile. "To meet you of course, silly girl."
He gave a laugh but then stopped. Something wasn't right. It seemed more then ever that Antellica was hiding something. "Uh, are you alright Antellica?"
"I'm great," she replied with a smile. "Why do you ask?"
Anakin looked at her a moment and than glanced back to the ship. The other presence he'd sensed a moment ago had suddenly disappeared, as if it'd cloaked itself.
I wonder. He started to make for the ship, but Antellica followed. "Anakin, what are you doing?"
"I sensed something."
"Sensed something? What are you talking about?"
"Was there anyone else aboard your ship with you as you arrived?" he asked. "And you had them stay on board?"
"No."
He stopped to look at her. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. I don't sense anyone aboard the ship."
"Neither do I. But are you sure that someone couldn't have snuck on board and simply cloaked their presence?"
"You're talking nonsense Anakin." Antellica desperately wanted to get off these shaking waters. "If you must assure yourself, go on board and have a look see. But as for me, I'm going to report to the emperor on my mission."
"Was it successful?" Anakin turned his back on the ship and began to walk with her.
"No, sadly it was a waste. The rebels aren't on any desolate planets in the outer rim that I'm aware of. That Senator was probably just barking nonsense."
Anakin chuckled lightly. "Hopefully Arica will have had better fortune. You don't mind me coming with you, do you?" And without waiting for a response, he chuckled. "Of course you don't."
"Um...well after I report to the emperor I have some other things to do so, uh-no."
Anakin's entire face fell. "Oh. Okay. I guess I'll see ya than."
Antellica gave him a nod and walked off. That had been too close. It's not that she didn't want to spend time with him. It's just that she knew he suspected something was up. And the continued close proximity between the two might actually have him discover the truth. Before she got too far away though, he called after her.
"You know Antellica, if you didn't want to be bothered with, all you had to do was say so. You didn't have to lie."
Anakin saw Antellica stop briefly before continuing on. He sighed sadly and went back to his apartment. He was slightly hurt that Antellica would lie and say she had things to do as an excuse for not wanting to be around him. There was something wrong with her. She was hiding something. He just knew it. But as before, he did not want to push the issue.
Antellica arrived at the Imperial Executive Building not long after she left Anakin at Holiday Lakes via public shuttle. She proceeded up to the Emperor's office, and after entering was pleased to see only him there, for she had no wish or desire to cross paths with a certain empress. She bowed low before her master, who nodded in greeting, and plunged head first into her report. She basically told him the same things she'd told Anakin, but added a few things.
"After I was done on Murkhana, I checked ten other desolate planets in the outer rim and found nothing. I was just on my way to checking Dagabah also when I received your message to return to Coruscant."
The emperor sniffed. "Believe me child, the rebels will not be on Dagabah. It's a swamp-infested planet of waste. No." He nodded to himself and studied her a few moments. There was something she wasn't saying. The child was most definitely hiding something.
He continued to study her expressionless, yet slightly puzzled face before speaking again. "Is something wrong, child?"
Antellica blinked in confusion. "Wrong? No emperor, nothing is wrong. Why would anything be wrong?"
"Well I don't know." He rose from his chair and approached her. "Why would anything be wrong?"
"Begging your pardon emperor, but I have no idea as to what you're talking about."
He rose an eyebrow – A lie – but choose not to press the issue just yet.
"Very well Lady Veradisia. Report back here at 1700 sharp this evening. You will find out the reason you've been summoned back than."
"Good day than master," she said with a bow and left.
About an hour after returning to his suite, Anakin sensed the presence of Arica rapidly Coruscant so decided to meet her and perhaps talk to her about Antellica.
Hopefully, I'll get a warmer welcome from her.
Being as Arica had no residence on Coruscant, Anakin wasn't entirely sure where she'd land or go at first. His intuition however told him the Imperial Executive Building, for after she arrived she'd have to report to the emperor as well, so he went there and waited on the domed building's multi-level landing dock. He only had to wait a few minutes as he soon saw Arica's newly acquired ship, Jeweled Dolphin – she still obtained Crystaliner, but didn't use it much anymore as Dolphin was much larger – fastly approaching.
It landed several meters away from him and Arica stepped out, catching sight of Anakin almost instantly. Her entire face lit up. "Anakin!" she cried, running down the ramp with open arms towards him. Anakin smiled back and raced to meet her halfway, pulling her into his arms at their meeting and lifting her off the ground to twirl in his embrace. Placing her back down, they simply held one another a long moment and broke apart. Arica looked up and gazed into the beautiful blue eyes she loved so much about him. A strain of dirty blonde hair had fallen down in front of one of them so she lifted her hand and brushed it out of the way. The two smiled at one another and she threw herself back into his arms, resting her head on his shoulder. Anakin sighed in content as he continued to hold Arica and began stroking her hair. Arica finally pulled herself from Anakin's arms to beam up at him, but than looked around.
"Where's Luke and Leila?" And without waiting for a response, she continued. "Which reminds me, I bought some things for them."
She darted back to Jeweled Dolphin without even looking to see if Anakin was following. He watched her go mournfully as she skipped back to her ship. Arica loved Luke and Leila like they were her own children. She was bound to be as upset, if not more, about their kidnapping as he was. A few moments later, she returned, skipping back off the ship with two bags of recent purchases.
"I made a pit stop on Corellia to fill up on fuel and decided to buy the twins a few things."
She put the bags down happily in front of Anakin and began to dig through them, taking things out and showing them to him. Anakin smiled sadly at the things she'd bought for the twins as she explained what they were. He was sure they would've loved them.
"These stuffed animals are toy wookies. They have blonde hair, as you can see, and they're twins too! Just like Luke and Leila! Well okay, so maybe they're not twins; just two of the same toy but they don't have to know that. I also got some cute little dresses for Leila once she gets older, as I doubt she'll fit into them now, but maybe. And I got Luke these cute little starship toys. They came in a collection, as you can see. There's a Star Destroyer, gunship, and two star fighters. They even give you two toy men to put inside the star fighters. I was a tad ticked they didn't give you any women to put into them too, but you know how toy companies are when it comes to these type of things. They're sexist. But anyway, the stuff is pretty cute, huh?" She laughed briefly but stopped at the look of sadness and sense of loose coming from Anakin. "What's wrong?"
She put the starship toy collection box back in the bag and walked the few paces to Anakin, who was presently looking sadly down at the ground. She lifted his face with her hand to see slight tears falling from his eyes. "Anakin! Anakin, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Was it something I said?"
Anakin simply gazed mournfully at her a moment, but than took her right hand into his flesh left hand. "Come with me," he said softly.
"What?"
Anakin sighed and looked into her confused face. He repeated himself. "Come with me Arica. There's something you need to know."
"Why can't you tell me here?" she wanted to know. "Anakin, I have to pay for this spot. It's not free. Besides I need to report to the emperor."
Just at that moment, one of the docking hand droids came rolling over. "Miss, I expect to be paid for the spot you're occupying."
However, before Arica could answer, Anakin waved his hand suggestively in front of the droid. It stood motionless a moment, but its voice soon took on a cheerier tone. "On second thought, it's on the house." It rolled away as noiselessly as it rolled over.
Arica laughed dryly, but soon stopped when she saw Anakin still remaining silent and somber, his eyes aimed sadly at the ground.
"Anakin, what's wrong?" she once again asked desperately. "Please tell me what's wrong."
He lifted his gaze from the ground and looked back up at her with pleading eyes. "Please Arica, just come with me. This is really important. I'd feel much more comfortable talking about this at home, not out here. Can't you report to the emperor later?"
Arica sighed in defeat. Something was obviously wrong. The emperor wouldn't be too pleased about this but...Anakin needed her. She could see it in his pleading, and slightly tearing eyes.
"All right, Anakin. Let's go."
Anakin smiled gratefully and took her hand into his own once more.
They walked to Holiday Towers in silence and entered Anakin's suite. It was a pretty nice and elegant place, but Arica wasn't really paying attention to its interior. Anakin sat down on the sofa in the living room and patted the place next to him. She sat there and hooked her arm around his neck.
"Anakin, what's wrong?" she asked for what seemed the thousandth time. She than suddenly looked around. "And where's Luke and Leila? Where are they Anakin?"
Anakin looked at her a moment but was soon falling into her arms and crying into her shoulder. Arica was confused by his tears and sad mood, and didn't understand why she didn't sense the young glowing Force signatures of Luke and Leila in the suite. She patted his head in comfort a few minutes, but he soon broke away from her and poured his heart out, telling her everything of the events of the night before. By the time he was finished, Arica was livid.
"How dare they?!" she boomed, rising from the chair and throwing her fists around at imaginary enemies. "How dare they!"
She turned back to Anakin, who was still sobbing, and ran over to hold him again. "Oh Anakin."
"Why?!" he cried in agony. "Why is it that everything I grow close to is always stolen away from me?!"
"Oh Anakin," Arica said soothingly. "Don't give up hope. We'll find them, and when we do we'll slaughter those Jedi beasts and anyone else who had any part in the kidnapping."
This seemed to calm him down a bit, for he stopped crying and seemed to get a handle on his emotions. "You're right Arica. We will find them. And I will personally cause Kenobi and that frog the same pain and anguish they've caused me."
He said this in a bitter voice, causing Arica to pat him encouragingly on the head. "That's the spirit. Just remember Anakin, we will find them. No matter how long it takes, we'll find them. The Jedi can't keep them hidden forever."
Anakin nodded and smiled at her. "Thank you Arica."
"No problem, but I really think you should get some rest."
"I'm not tired," he said defiantly.
"Than why are there bags under your eyes?" Arica asked with an amused raised eyebrow. Anakin simply looked at her a moment before sighing in defeat and putting his head down. He than smirked up at her and placed a kiss on her brow. Arica giggled but was than using the Force to pick him up off the sofa and float him towards what she assumed to be his bedroom. Anakin laughed as she did this. He could've stopped her of course, but choose not to. Besides, he was actually enjoying his float in the air. Arica placed him down softly onto the bed and than suddenly jumped up next to him, attacking him with tickles. A tickle/pillow fight broke out. After a few minutes of this however, the two reluctant lovers fell onto the bed in exhaustion and fell asleep – fully clothed – in each other's arms.
The empress spent her day, after being woken by Lord Vader's surprise news, at both the Imperial Senate Building and IEB with her father. He was addressing the kidnapping of Luke and Leila to the Senate, raving even more about the Jedi's treachery and how they were "vile beasts that must be hunted down and destroyed." Afterwards, she had scheduled meetings with certain Senators who were still unsure about the new Galactic Empire and its regional governors assigned to each planet. Padme would've given anything to simply blast them each into oblivion instead for their ignorance and doubt, but of course was forced to be nice and simply assure them that the Empire was created to help, not hurt or take from them.
At 1645, after showing the door to the Humbarine Sector's Senator Bana Breemu, who insisted upon not joining the alliance against the empire, but still not being so sure about the empire either – "You're talking out of two sides of your mouth Bana," the empress heatedly said. "And I don't have time for this. Now take you stupid tooke and leave." For she'd brought her tiny pet tooke, (a small, cute, hopping rodent native to the swamps of Naboo), Fluff-fluff she called it, with her to the meeting – she left her office and went up to the topmost level of the building where the emperor's own office was located. He was currently receiving a report from Clone Commander Cody about the building of the Imperial Palace, as the clone commander was in charge of its construction.
"The building is going quite wonderfully my lord," he was saying as Padme entered the room. "I estimate we should be done in six months time."
"Good," the Emperor cooed. "Though I would prefer it to be done sooner..." He trailed off a moment. "Very well Cody, you are dismissed."
Commander Cody saluted. "Sir." He than gave a bow to Padme and exited the room.
Padme gave a nod to her father and seated herself down next to him at his desk. In the Imperial Palace, they'd have a throne room where he and she would sit side by side, but in the meantime they would have to make due with sitting at the Emperor's desk.
While waiting for the others to arrive, she informed her father of her various meetings with different Senators that day. Though most of them were reasonable and vague, she was easily able to figure out which ones were actually sincere about their curiosity and which ones were plotting treason. They would be eliminated of course but the Emperor said they'd be interrogated for information first, tortured next, and terminated later.
Antellica was the first to arrive at 5 minutes till 1700. She entered the room with a bow and seated herself in the long chair before the desk. Padme studied the girl with a sniff. Indeed she was hiding something. Though as to what she knew not. The emperor had told her earlier via telepathy that something was up with the girl, and ordered that when she came to the meeting that evening to study her evasively. Padme didn't think it had anything to do with the kidnapping, for Antellica didn't know about it yet. A quick sweep of her mind showed her that. The Empress' Hand had no idea as to why she was here. Before Padme could do any further investigation though, Anakin and Arica walked in, bowed in unison towards the emperor and sat down next to Antellica, each giving her a hug before doing so on either side of her.
Padme looked briefly at the time and scowled. It read 1700 on the dot. Too bad, she would've loved to have yelled at them had they'd been late, if only by a minute.
"Ah Lady Zenevieva," the emperor said instantly gazing at her. "Did you not arrive on Coruscant four hours previous to the current time?"
She seemed unfazed by his irritation. "Yes master."
"Than why did you not come here to give your report earlier?"
"I was comforting Lord Vader."
"Comforting Lord Vader," Padme repeated in a mocking tone. "How sweet."
Arica hissed at her softly while Anakin glared her daggers and mouthed a profanity. Antellica, however, looked genuinely confused.
"Now as you're finished comforting Lord Vader," the emperor said. "Report!"
"The mission wasn't an absolute waste. I did find the remains of some type of base there but when I started to interrogate the Senator, he said he'd never tell where they were now. He'd take their secrets to the grave. And before I could do anything else to make him talk, he whipped out a blaster and shot himself to death. Too bad. I would've loved to have done it myself, after getting some type of information out of him of course."
The emperor nodded. "Very good Lady Zenevieva, but do not worry about the rebels. They can not stay hidden forever, and what with the recent turn of events, we may find them and their Jedi allies sooner then expected."
"I suppose you're talking about the search for Luke and Leila?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied while Padme noticed Antellica looking even more confused than ever. He obviously noticed this as well for he turned to her. "I take it you don't know that Luke and Leila were kidnapped by Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda last night, Lady Veradisia?"
She blinked in shocked surprise. "No. Lord Vader didn't tell me when I saw him earlier."
"You didn't really give me much of a chance, did you?" Despite his better judgment, his tone was angry. "I was going to you for comfort, and you just pushed me away."
"Anakin-" she started, but he cut her off.
"My name is Darth Vader," he snarled. "Lord Vader to you."
Antellica looked on the verge of tears. "Lord Vader, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I'm sorry."
Padme smirked at the whole exchange while the emperor lightly cackled.
"So tell me Lady Veradisia," he asked, "what do you think of the Jedi kidnapping Luke and Leila?"
"I think it's horrible," she said. "They're such sweet little babies."
Padme coughed while Arica looked at her sister in disbelief. "That's it?! That's all you think and have to say?! I was furious when I found out. And you're just sitting there like it's no big deal."
"I didn't say that Arica. What do you want me to do? Get up and start shouting with rage, perhaps? That's unnecessary and uncalled for. The only thing we need to be concerned about is how we're going to get them back from the Jedi, and why they took them to begin with?"
The emperor cackled again before Arica could respond. "Well said Lady Veradisia. Well said, though we can successfully answer the second question. The Jedi took them to train in their ways. I guess as a way to get back at us, or mainly Vader, for ridding the galaxy of their scum."
Padme snorted while Antellica merely nodded. She wasn't angry about the twins being kidnapped, just surprised and confused that Obi-Wan and Yoda would do such a thing. Jedi do not know revenge. That's something Obi-Wan had told her long ago.
Why Obi-Wan? Why would you do such a thing?
Padme raised her eyebrows briefly at Antellica's thoughts but said nothing.
"You were good friends with Kenobi, Lady Veradisia, were you not?" the emperor abruptly asked.
Antellica appeared confused to the emperor. "Yes, I suppose I was. But then so was Vader and Padme-"
"Empress to you girl," Padme spat. Arica flipped her off, but Antellica simply continued as though there had been no interruption.
"-for that matter. That's fact, not fiction."
The emperor slowly nodded his head, still gazing at her unblinkingly, as if daring her to look away. She did not however. She fiercely held his gaze, her eyes set to a challenge.
"Well than Lady Veradisia," he said after a moment. "I am assigning you to hunt Kenobi down."
"With all due respect my master," Vader said before Antellica could reply. "But I think it would be better if I looked for him."
Padme coughed in disgust.
"Do you now?" The emperor smirked. "Well Lord Vader, it is up to me to make the decision. And I say Lady Veradisia tracks him down. Not you."
He let this information sink in a moment before continuing. Vader bowed his head, nodding in defeat.
"You, Veradisia will continue your search of the Outer Rim." He than turned to Vader. "You, on the other hand, will search the entire Mid Rim for that green troll Yoda."
Both Vader and Veradisia bowed their heads to the Sith Master, and said in unison, "As you wish my lord."
"That than leaves you Lady Zenevieva. I have a special mission for you. You will go to Alderaan and confront Senator Organa. Interrogate him. Make him tell you where they are. I know he had something to do with the kidnapping, as I also know he has something to do with the rebel alliance. He is one of the leaders. Of course I have no proof of this, but that is where you come in Zenevieva. You will find proof."
"But what of the other Core worlds besides Alderaan?" she asked. "Shouldn't they be searched as well?"
"No. The Jedi would not be stupid enough to hide the twins in the Core," the emperor replied. "No, they are some where in the Mid or Outer Rims. Of that I know."
"And after I find proof of Bail's treason, I get to kill him?" Arica eagerly asked.
The emperor smirked at her excitement to eliminate the Senator. "Not just yet. I'd prefer him to be discredited first before he's later killed. We'll present the information you find to the Senate and he'll stand trial. After he is sentenced to prison, than you may kill him. But just not now."
"Very well master," she said with a nod.
"If I may ask my master," Vader said. "But what of the Unknown Regions of space beyond the Outer Rim? Should they not be searched too?"
He shook his head. "The rebels won't be hiding there. These are people within the Senate and Empire. There's not much out in the Unknown Regions of space. All who venture out there never return. That's why it's called the Unknown Regions. No one really does know what's out there."
Vader briefly nodded.
"Any more questions?" he asked.
Everyone shook their head in reply.
"Very well. Meeting adjourned. I except each of you gone by tomorrow morning."
All three rose from the long chair and bowed. "Yes master," they said unison and exited the room.
Antellica was the first to leave that night. She left not a half-hour after the meeting. She wasn't sure where to look for Obi-Wan and didn't even know if he was in the Outer Rim. She just hoped to find him within the remaining three months of her pregnancy. How would he react to the news? She didn't know, but knew she had to tell him. He had a right to know. Besides, why would she hide it from him? She loved him. As much as she tried to push Obi-Wan out of her mind, he always popped back up. Memories of their night together still fresh in her mind.
She was so lost in these thoughts as she was about to board her ship that she didn't hear or sense Anakin sneak up behind her until he hugged her from behind, catching her off guard.
"Didn't think you were gonna leave with out saying goodbye, did you?" he asked into her mane of blond hair. He knew he'd caught her off guard. He sensed she'd been in deep thought about something and almost had half a mind to tap into them as he snuck up behind her but quickly banished these thoughts. He was Antellica's friend, and friends don't spy on each other. As he hugged her though, wrapping his arms around her front, he felt a slight bulge to her stomach. Antellica quickly broke away from him and cloaked her pregnancy, hoping against hope that Anakin hadn't figured it out. Anakin looked at Antellica in pure confusion and reached out his metallic hand, making for her now seemingly flat belly. She quickly jumped back as if burned.
"How dare you?" she hissed. "You think you can just go around touching women?"
"I'm sorry Antellica," he quickly said. "I didn't mean it that way. Not the way you're thinking, I just-"
"Oh shut up Lord Vader," she snapped cutting across him.
Anakin was slightly taken aback. "You know, you don't have to call me that. The only reason I said that was because of the Emperor and Padme."
Antellica sniffed. "Whatever." She then made to board Flying Angel.
"Aren't you at least going to say goodbye?" Anakin asked from behind her.
She stopped at the middle of the boarding ramp and turned to look at him, her face void of emotion. Anakin slowly approached her as he spoke. "Antellica, I don't know what your problem is but you're changing. And you're hiding something. I know you are."
"You have no proof of that," she was quick to counter.
"Antellica, you haven't been yourself lately. You distant yourself from people. You refuse to draw an annoying amount of attention to yourself. You were never like that before. What happened to make you change all of a sudden? Antellica listen to me." He gripped her shoulders as he continued for it looked as she was going to turn away. "I'm your friend, and I just want to help you."
"I don't need any of your help."
"So you admit that something's wrong?" he asked triumphantly.
Antellica sighed deeply, looking to the ground and than gazing out at the city world of Coruscant; looking at it for what she assumed to be the last time in her life. She turned back to Anakin, looking into the eyes of a friend that she knew truly wanted to help her. She looked away again. She couldn't tell him. She wouldn't risk it.
"No," she finally said. "No one can help me...besides myself."
Anakin defiantly shook his head. "I don't accept that. Antellica please-" He made to hold her again, but she jumped back in defiance.
"Get away from me!" she cried. "Just go away!" And before Anakin could stop her, she ran up the boarding ramp, closed it behind her so Anakin couldn't follow, and took off into the sky.
Anakin sighed sadly as he watched Flying Angel go. Arica suddenly ran up next to him, looking sadly up after it as well.
I didn't even get to say goodbye, she thought sadly but than decided to do so telepathically.
"Antellica?"
No response. She tried again.
"Antellica?"
Still no response.
"Antellica?"
By now she was starting to panic.
"Antellica?! Why aren't you answering me?!"
She still got no response, but abruptly felt a wall in her mind, blocking hers from her twin's. Arica didn't understand. Why would Antellica block her mind from her?
"Arica?"
She turned to find Anakin looking at her inquisitively, yet concerned.
"Anakin." Her eyes started to tear slightly and she moved herself into his arms, resting her head on his shoulder. Anakin held her a few moments, stroking her hair gently. When she broke apart from him, he softly kissed her cheek and wiped away the few tears that had fallen from her eyes. She smiled and moved into his arms again. He kissed the side of her brow and simply held her. After another moment, they officially broke apart.
"Did you get to say goodbye to her?" Arica asked.
"Yes. In a manner of speaking, I suppose." He told her of the conversation he had with Antellica, and this only added to Arica's previous worry.
"Arica, there's something wrong with her," Anakin said desperately. "She needs help, but she refuses to accept any."
Arica nodded. "I know. I tried talking to her telepathically just now but...she blocked her mind from me." She sighed. "Do you think we should say something to the emperor about this?"
Anakin shrugged. "I don't know. But I guess it wouldn't hurt."
Taking Arica's flesh left hand into his metallic right one, he smiled at her. She smiled mischievously back at him and placed a peek on his cheek. They walked hand-in-hand from the Holiday Lakes Hotel to the IEB. It was around 1830 when they arrived. Brushing by the Royal Guard standing alert outside the office they went inside. They found the emperor browsing through some paperwork, obviously busy. To much gladness, Padme was no where to be seen. She'd left for Naboo about an hour after their meeting to resume her duties as Queen. Anakin and Arica had no way of knowing this however. They were just glad she wasn't there to interrupt. The emperor looked up from his papers and gave them a mockery of a smile.
"Lord Vader and Lady Zenevieva. I'm surprised to see you two again so soon."
"Master." Vader bowed. "We're sorry to interrupt, but we have something we wish to address to you."
The Emperor nodded and gestured towards the long seat they'd sat in not long before. They compiled and sat down. "What is it that upsets you both?"
Anakin looked to Arica and nodded, implying that she should go first. She took a deep breath and did so. She began to explain how around two months ago, Antellica began acting quite odd for her standards: Being quite, and refusing to draw attention to herself at the length of annoyance as she usually always did.
"She also started being very secretive," Anakin added. "As if she's hiding something. And I know she is. She just as much said so herself." He than spoke of the events of before Antellica left and Arica explained how she tried contacting her telepathically, yet she wouldn't respond and put a block on her mind.
"We just want to help her," Anakin concluded. "That's all. I have no intention of getting into her personal business. We're just concerned because I know something's bothering her."
"As do I," Arica added. "We brought this before you in hopes of help. Surely you've noticed something's amiss with her as well."
The Emperor nodded. "Oh yes, I've had my suspicions. And I did try to offer my help to her before, but as you yourselves said, she pushed it away."
He allowed a moment of silence to pass, in which time Anakin and Arica mournfully nodded their heads, before continuing. "I do however think it has something to do with her mission, and perhaps a certain Jedi named Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Both Anakin and Arica blinked in shocked confusion. "Kenobi?" Anakin asked in confusion and a hint of anger. Obviously his hatred for his ex-teacher had grown since he'd abducted his children. "What does he have to do with this?"
"Do you not find it suspicious that Antellica is the one who found out that Kenobi supposedly escaped first? She says she sensed something wasn't right and went to see if Kenobi escaped or not. Why is that the first thought that would supposedly come to her mind? And better yet, why did the rest of us not sense anything, or me for that matter?"
"What are you trying to say?" Arica growled, becoming very irritated with what her master was implying.
He simply smiled evilly as if to say, 'You know what I'm saying. Don't play dumb.'
"Are you trying to say, are you trying to imply that Antellica had something to do with Kenobi's escape?" Anakin scoffed. "I don't believe that. With all due respect master, but I think you're head needs examining."
"As do I," Arica added but the emperor simply chuckled. "You're losing your touch. Antellica wouldn't help Kenobi escape. Why would she? She hates him. The mere thought-"
"Well I don't know," he cut across her. "Why would she?"
"I refuse to believe what I'm hearing," Arica cried in exasperation.
"If you supposedly feel this way master," Anakin spat out the word in mockery as the emperor continued to smirk, "Why did you send her out to look for him?"
"Indeed, why did I?" he repeated. "We shall see if Veradisia brings Kenobi back or not. We shall see."
"Yes master," Anakin hissed angrily. "We shall see. And she will bring him back. I have faith that she will."
"And I will not have you trashing my sister when she is not here to defend herself," Arica added in a snarl.
The empire's supreme ruler merely continued to cackle at them as they got up and stalked out of his office. "How dare he accuse Antellica of such treason," Arica roared in the hallway that led to the elevator.
"Some help he was," Anakin muttered angrily.
The two decided to meet each other at the downtown Central Transport Center before they left for their separate missions. A half-hour later they did so. As soon as Arica exited her ship, she ran to Anakin and hugged him tightly. Anakin sighed into her hair.
"Be safe Arica," he whispered.
She broke away from him and stroked a lock of hair out of his face. "I will Anakin. I promise." She then smirked and playfully punched his chest. "Don't worry about me. Heck, I survived the Clone Wars. I'm quite capable of dealing with a few politicians."
Anakin smirked slightly. "I know." His voice was soft.
They gazed at each other a few moments before Arica leaned forward slightly and whispered. "I'm not a little girl anymore Anakin. Remember that."
Anakin shook his head and smirked. "Oh no no no Arica. You'll always be a little girl in my eyes."
Arica laughed lightly and Anakin did the same, but soon stopped as he gazed deep into her eyes. He wanted to kiss her so badly, and made to before than stopping himself just as their lips were about to touch. He abruptly broke away from her and sighed, directing his gaze to the ground. Arica was disappointed, but tried not to show it as Anakin looked back up at her and smiled softly. He gently brushed his lips against her brow and smirked. "See ya chicka."
He than strolled off towards the Executor and Arica boarded her ship. They exited Coruscant together a few minutes later, their ships side by side along with a large amount of the Imperial fleet. Before either of them entered hyperspace they both, unbeknown to the other at first, gazed outside their ship's frontal viewports to look at one another. Their eyes locked and they both smiled. Anakin sighed as he was about to order Commander Doriana to push forward the hyperspace lever, but then stopped and looked over at Arica, who was in the process of doing the same thing. He had no idea as to when they'd see each other again, and what the situation would be when they did so. He wanted to tell her something before they officially parted for who knows how long.
I love you Arica, he sent to her through the Force.
Arica's eyes widened and she took her hand off the hyperspace lever as she heard Anakin's voice inside her head tell her the three simple words she'd so longed to hear him say. She smiled and looked back over to him, but her smile instantly vanished. He was already gone.
"Oh Anakin, I love you too. So, so much."
Anakin sighed as he heard these words and ventured back to his quarters to meditate.
