Thank you to the wonderful .5 and KrautYank who have helped me develop some more wonderful ideas for the story, as well as convincing me into adding the characters from The Force Unleashed.
Now we get to see exactly what Palpatine's intentions are behind announcing Padmé's "death". Strap yourselves in, this is a long one.
Love Lives On
A Re-Write of the She Lived? Series
Chapter Four
The Martyr of the Empire
Ahsoka Tano slid carefully through the crowd. Her eyes scanned her surroundings as she pulled the hood of her mud brown cloak tighter over her head. Ever since she had been jumped by that squadron of Clones on Felucia, she had been fully on alert.
She couldn't even name what planet she was on; some small, Outer Rim, backwater a few parsecs from Tatooine. It had been just one of many she had seen since she had left the Jedi Temple seven months ago. But it was the ideal place to hide; a few credits here, a mindtrick there and no one asked any questions of the former Jedi.
Although she was no longer with the Order, Ahsoka still practised the Force. She had relied on it her whole life and it was not something one quit easily. Besides, she still carried her twin lightsabers as her weapon of choice. Truth be told, she still believed in the Jedi way of life, but she no longer found herself willing to a follow a Code that told her that she could not fall in love, or take orders from a Council who would turn on her so easily.
Not that it mattered. The Jedi were done now, turned on by the Clones who they had trusted for the past three years. Ahsoka could help but wonder what would have happened if she had stayed. Would Rex have turned on her? Did he turn on Anakin? Did Cody turn on Obi-Wan? Were the two Jedi she had so loved and admired, even alive?
Suddenly, she felt a disturbance in the Force. Someone in the crowd was mirroring her every move.
Quickly, Ahsoka ducked into the nearest alley and waited. She held her breath, timing the Shadow's movements, igniting one of her lightsabers with a familiar snap-hiss.
The Shadow reached the entrance of the alley, and with catlike speed, Ahsoka pinned him to the wall and raised her lightsaber to his throat.
"Whoa! Wait, Ahsoka, it's me!" the Shadow cried out.
Moving the hand that had pinned his shoulder to the wall, though still keeping the lightsaber in the other, raised to his throat, Ahsoka pulled back her hood for a clearer view of the man.
"Lux!" Ahsoka groaned, lowering her lightsaber from the young Senator Bonteri's throat. "I told you to stop sneaking up on me!"
"I'm sorry," Lux threw up his hands in defense. "Next time I'll make sure you're unarmed."
"Or how about no next time at all?" Ahsoka snapped, deactivating her emerald lightsaber and replacing it on her belt.
"I'll do my best," Lux promised. He took her hand and began to lead her out of the alley, "Now come, I've found us a place to stay."
Weaving through the busy streets, Ahsoka and Lux looked like any other young lovers, but their history was far more complicated. One was a Jedi Padawan who left the Order after false accusations, the other, a Separatist turned Rebel turned Republican Senator, but it was so much more than that.
Ahsoka didn't know why, but when she found herself walking away from Anakin on the steps of the Jedi Temple, she also found herself walking into the office of Lux Bonteri in the Senate building.
It had been a year since Steela died, and Ahsoka had only seen Lux a handful of times in passing. She knew it wasn't her fault that Steela died; she still would have fallen off that ledge if Ahsoka hadn't tried to help, and then Ahsoka would have been to blame because she had the ability to try to help, but wouldn't.
Still, there were nights Ahsoka lay awake wondering if Lux blamed her. So she had been utterly shocked when she found herself in his office, standing before him.
"Ahsoka," Lux had looked at her in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I left the Jedi," was all Ahsoka could say.
"Oh," Lux had looked baffled. "I'm sorry. Is it because of the trial?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Ahsoka had replied.
"Alright," Lux knew better than to push her. "What do you want?"
"I don't know. But I think I need to go away for a while."
"And you came to say goodbye?"
"No," Ahsoka had frowned, suddenly realising why she had come to Lux's office. "I want you to come with me."
She had expected Lux to politely refuse, citing his responsibilities to his duties, but he had just smiled at her, "I think I can arrange something."
They soon developed a system for Ahsoka's exile. Lux still had his duties of being a Senator, so sometimes they would be together on Coruscant, careful to hide Ahsoka. Sometimes they would have more privacy, staying on Onderon, but most of the time they bounced from Inn to Inn on planets in the middle of nowhere, where they wouldn't be recognized.
It was a month before Ahsoka admitted her fears about Steela, to Lux.
"I don't blame you, Ahsoka," Lux assured his companion. "It wasn't your fault."
"But," Ahsoka frowned, looking away, "you loved her."
She didn't see the look that passed over Lux's eyes.
"Yes," Lux softly said, "I did love her. But ever since Steela… died, I've come to realise something."
"What?" Ahsoka looked back to her friend.
"I can fall in love more than once." Lux looked down, he couldn't meet Ahsoka's eyes, "I have fallen in love more than once."
It would be a month before Ahsoka realised that Lux had meant her.
It would be another month before Ahsoka could admit that she loved him too.
Going against everything she had ever been taught had been hard at first. Attachment was still something forbidden to her, worthy of expulsion and discipline, but as she spent more time with Lux, she realised that she couldn't bear to part from him. She had never forgotten how that kiss on Carlac had felt, nor could she push away the pangs of longing when she had watched Lux hold, kiss, and love Steela.
It was in their fourth month together that she finally gave in to her feelings and kissed Lux. Now she was his, and he hers.
She could never go back to the Jedi.
She only hoped Anakin would understand, but what she had with Lux, what she felt for him, it was something she would die for.
"So what fake names are we using this time?" Ahsoka asked Lux as they made their way through the crowd.
"I was thinking Saw and Mina Quell," Lux suggested. "You know, for my mother, my friend, and Quell is an alias you told me that your Master once used."
"Yes, when he used me as a slave present for the Zygerrian Queen," Ahsoka pointed out. "Besides, I don't think Saw likes me very much, so I doubt he would like you to use his name to sneak around with me."
"Yeah, he does sort of blame you for his sister, a little bit."
"Besides, do you really want to be calling me by your mother's name?"
"Alright, point made. What do you suggest?"
"How about Rako and Kalifa Antilles?" Ahsoka suggested. "Rako is the name Obi-Wan used when he faked his death and Kalifa was a… friend of mine."
"Alright," Lux agreed, "but why Antilles?"
"Because everyone's name is Antilles," Ahsoka smirked.
"Alright then," Lux laughed.
He stopped in front of a small, shabby Inn, and still holding Ahsoka's hand, lead her into the decrepit Inn. Entering it, it looked like a very questionable pub; there were a few HoloNet screens mounted upon the walls, along with a bounty directory. There was some smoke in the air that Ahsoka questioned the legality of, and the smell of alcohol assailed her nostrils. She felt many leering eyes follow her, but she was unphased. She could probably hold her own to any troublemaker in the bar but she could sense Lux's uneasiness.
"We'll just head straight up to the room once we've got one," Lux muttered, slipping an arm protectively around her waist, making his claim on the former Jedi clear to the lusty outlaws seated at the bar. He knew she could take care of herself, that didn't mean he wanted any trouble to start with.
Reaching what appeared to be the check-in desk, Ahsoka raised her eyebrow at the sight. There was some sort of humanoid creature with six arms at the desk. He sported worn out, mismatched clothes: a Tatooine tunic, pants belonging to a Corellian military officer, a Wookiee ammo belt, a single fingerless glove on one of his left hands, a boot on his right foot, a sandal on his left, the sash of an Alderaanian noble, what appeared to be a Jedi cloak, and a black bowler hat that was lowered over his eyes, as he sat slumped over his desk, sleeping.
"Perfect find, Lux," Ahsoka muttered.
"I thought I was Rako," Lux whispered back. Then, Lux loudly cleared his throat, "Excuse me?"
The creature grunted, groaning in annoyance as he yanked back the hat to peer up at the duo with a pair of brown eyes that were overshadowed by a pair of bushy black eyebrows.
"Whadaya want?" the creature grumbled angrily.
"A room, if we could," Lux eyed Ahsoka nervously.
The creature grunted and sat up. As one of his left arm scratched his face, another grabbed a datapad and one of his right hands grabbed a stylus.
"'Ow many cycles?" the creature acted as if they were being a nuisance rather than bringing in what appeared to be much needed income from the deteriorating furniture."
"Uh," Lux glanced over at Ahsoka.
"Five, with the potential of more," Ahsoka answered.
"Gonna be five 'undred," the creature glared at them, one of his right hands taping wildly at a calculator, will the other brought a cup of caff to his mouth.
"500?" Ahsoka exclaimed. "For this place?"
"Either take it or get out," the creature replied. "Don matter either way."
"We'll take it," Lux said, ignoring the glare Ahsoka was giving him. "It's better than nothing."
"Needs to be all upfront," the creature glared at the pair.
"I'll get it," Lux dug his credit chip out of his pocket. Lux had been financially supporting Ahsoka since her exile, as the Jedi weren't paid, and her fame of being The Hero with No Fear's Apprentice had made it unwise to attempt to get her a job, especially now that there was a rather large bounty on her head.
"Alright, names?" the creature asked.
"Rako and Kalifa Antilles," Ahsoka answered.
The creature raised one of his bushy eyebrows at her, "Word of advice, 'un. If yer givin out there fake names, don't go wif Antilles. Too generic fer a non-'uman."
"Hey, wait, how do you know she didn't take my name?" Lux objected.
The creature let out a hearty laugh, "Yer a mite young ter be marryun, don ya think? Take it from ol Gromm Thont, been seein a lot ov kids like you fer decades. Room's upstair, first room on yer right."
"But," Lux started.
"Come on you," Ahsoka yanked her… whatever Lux was, by the arm, dragging him towards the stairs.
Reaching their room, they had to admit, it wasn't as bad as they expected it to be. In fact, that Gromm Thont fellow had pretty decent rooms, albeit somewhat bare.
"You like it?" Lux asked as Ahsoka threw the small bag of belongings she carried with her, on the bed. There was a bed in the corner of the room, a small bedside table with a lamp, a window with a pull down shade, a sofa chair in the corner at the foot end of the bed, a small dresser on the wall opposite the bed, and a simple rug thrown casually across the floor.
"Reminds me a lot of the quarters I shared with Anakin at the Temple," Ahsoka replied with a shrug. "Not that he was there much."
"Well, where did he sleep then?" Lux questioned the former Jedi Padawan.
"Now isn't that that thousand credit mystery?" Ahsoka smirked. "There were rumors around the Temple, but no one knew for sure. No one but Obi-Wan, and he always told me to leave it alone. Personally I think Anakin liked to go out to the bar, would get in the fight with the wrong people, and then wake up in an alley the next morning. He did always complain that his muscles were sore after his disappearances."
With that Ahsoka's smile slipped off her face. Lux frowned sympathetically; he knew what she was thinking about.
"Hey," he took her hand. "I'm sure Anakin's fine. It takes more than a couple Clones to defeat him."
"I know," Ahsoka sighed. "I'm just worried."
Lux smiled and opened his mouth to say something when suddenly a beeping came from his pant pocket: it was his Senatorial comlink. Taking her signal, Ahsoka backed away out of the line of sight of the com to prevent her image from being projected to the Capitol.
"Senator Bonteri," Lux answered, his diplomatic voice taking over. A small blue hologram of Mas Amedda, the Emperor's former Vice Chancellor, popped up on the comlink. Palpatine had yet to assign Mas Amedda a new official role, and continued acting his old position until a new official title came.
"Senator Bonteri," Mas Amedda addressed the young man. "The Emperor is giving an address on his homeplanet of Naboo. It is required for all Senators to view it. Do you have the ability to receive a recording?"
"Yes, Vice Chancellor," Lux replied. "My people should be able to connect you to my device."
"Prepare to receive the transmission," and with that Mas Amedda's image disappeared.
"Sorry," Lux smiled at his companion, "Senate duties."
"That's alright," Ahsoka responded. "But if you're going to be busy, I think I'm going to try to meditate for a while."
"You want the chair?" Lux nodded to the sofa chair in the corner.
"You take it," Ahsoka offered. "I'll take the floor. I find it easier to meditate on hard floors."
"And sleep on," Lux muttered. Ahsoka had insisted that whenever they got a room with a single bed, that he take it, while she slept on the floor. He had long given up on trying to win that argument. A beep emitted from the HoloPad in Ahsoka's bag. Digging it out, he said to her, "I'll be watching Palpatine's speech if you need me."
Ahsoka meditated quietly as Lux took a seat in the chair and turned on the Holo. She struggled to shut up the sound of Palpatine's speech, but when she did, what she saw was horrible. Screaming, dying, fear betrayal. Ahsoka whimpered slightly; the Force had been thrown out of balance. Were her friends safe? Were they even alive?
"Obi-Wan Kenobi."
At the sound of Palpatine's voice, Ahsoka's eyes snapped open.
"What did he just say?" Ahsoka asked Lux.
"Nothing," Lux wore a hesitant frown, he really didn't want to tell her.
"Come on, Lux!" Ahsoka urged still cross legged on the floor.
Lux sighed heavily and replayed the Holo.
"Henceforth any persons who are found to be practising Jedi and other Force centered powers, will be immediately sentenced to death on charges of treason,"the Holo of Palpatine announced. "This includes any Jedi, former Jedi, Dark Jedi, Jedi Sentinels, Padawans, Younglings, or Dark Side users. As such, the Clone Troops have been instructed to hunt down anyone found to practice The Force illegally. Some of these individuals include Asajj Ventress, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Crovan Dane, Ferus Olin, Serifa Altunen, and Ahsoka Tano. Any information provided that leads to the capture of these, or any other illegal Force users will be met with substantial financial award."
"Did you hear that?" Ahsoka grinned at Lux, waves of joy overtaking her. "Obi-Wan's still alive!
Lux raised a brow at the Togruta, "Did you also hear that you've been sentenced to death?"
Ahsoka just waved it off, "Nothing I can't handle. I just can't believe it! He's alive! Do you think that means Anakin's alive?"
Lux shrugged, "Probably."
"Oh we have to find them! How are we going to do it?"
"Why don't you try meditation?" Lux laughed kindly. "Meanwhile, I've got a Holo to finish."
Ahsoka just shook her head, and closed her eyes, returning to her meditation.
She could see things, horrible things. The Darkness of the Force pushed at her mind, showing all those she loved and their suffering. Plo Koon being shot down, Mace Windu thrown from a window, Yoda falling down the endless bottom of the Senate. There were screams, cries and horror everywhere.
Bail Organa screamed as a Jedi Padawan was shot down by a multitude of Clones. Padmé Amidala couldn't stop crying as she stared at the burning Jedi Temple. Fives watched as his squad fired shot after shot into the back of Aayla Secura, his own finger stalled on the trigger. Cody watched Obi-Wan, making his way through the battlefield.
Cody ordered his troops to fire.
She saw Anakin. She saw him so many times.
She saw him enter the Council room where a bunch of younglings were gathered in fear. One of them asked Anakin what they were going to do.
She couldn't see what happened next.
Obi-Wan and Yoda were crouched among the bodies littering the Temple. Ahsoka saw the tears in their eyes, and hear their voices break.
"Who could have done this?" Obi-Wan barely managed out.
She saw Anakin on an ashen hill, relieving of all limbs but him mechanical one. He could barely hold himself up and out of the molten fire that whispered out of the riverbank.
"I HATE YOU!" he screamed.
She saw Padmé clutch at her throat, gasping for breath, her eyes begging for something.
"Anakin," she whispered.
Ahsoka watched as Anakin's leg caught fire, and he let out the most terrible screams Ahsoka had ever heard in her life as flame engulfed her Master's body.
Coo pah.
Ahsoka kept her eyes closed, she was so consumed in the pain of the Force that she found herself physically incapable to open them and see what had made the noise. But she listened to the Holo; she couldn't not.
"I introduce to you all, my second in command and right hand, Lord Vader," the Holo of Palpatine spoke.
Lux watched Ahsoka in concern. He wanted to help her, but she was so consumed in her meditation that she wouldn't even realise he was there or be able to let him help her. It had been happening every time she meditated even since Order 66 had been given. What once was a relaxing exercise to Ahsoka was now her worst nightmare.
He wondered if Ahsoka even realized that she was crying.
"My Apprentice was a Jedi who stood by the Empire," Palpatine continued. "Lord Vader did not allow himself to be deluded by the lies of the Jedi. He helped the Clone Legions carry out Executive Order 66, the extermination of the Jedi for the protection of the Empire. As a result, Vader was engaged by a vengeful Jedi. Vader was unfortunately unable to overcome the Jedi had tapped into the powers of the Dark Side. The Jedi cut off all of my Apprentice's natural limbs, and left him to die, burning alive in the fires of Mustafar. Fortunately, a squadron of Clones soon found and eliminated the Jedi, but Lord Vader was left mortally wounded. It is by this suit alone that my young Apprentice survives, and for the remainder of his life, Lord Vader must wear it as a mobile life support system. This is the evil of the Jedi way."
Image after image swept through Ahsoka's head.
Death, it was all she could see. All her friends dying in a million terrible ways. Anakin shot, Obi-Wan stabbed, Padmé strangled, Rex burnt alive. She no longer could tell what was real and what was not.
Dead, dead, dead.
Padmé.
Anakin.
Lux.
Obi-Wan.
Artoo.
Rex.
Yoda.
Plo Koon.
Cody.
Fives.
Anakin.
Padmé.
Anakin.
Dead.
"NO!" Ahsoka screamed breaking herself out of her reverence. She couldn't see anything, all she understood was that she was in Lux's arms, she was screaming, and she could not stop shaking.
"It's alright," Lux had jumped from the chair the moment he had heard Ahsoka's last scream. The HoloPad was still playing, but neither paid attention to it. All that mattered was that he was holding her tight, and he wouldn't let her go. "It's alright."
"No," Ahsoka tried to calm herself. She was feeling dizzy and the colour hid drained from her face. She looked about a second away from passing out. "No it's not. Lux, I feel sick. They're dead, I saw them. I saw everyone. You. Obi-Wan. Padmé-"
"Hey," Lux cupped her face between his hands holding her gaze to his, "it's not true. They're fine. I'm fine. It was just your imagination. It's fine. I'm alive. Obi-Wan's alive. Senator Amidala's-"
"But the birth of the Empire did not come without its costs," Palpatine's voice suddenly broke through to the couple. "Today I bring you the news I so painfully had to deliver to a grieving family earlier today. Our beloved Senator Padmé Amidala is dead."
There was a moment of stunned silence between the couple, and suddenly Ahsoka saw black.
"I'm dead?" Padmé stared at the Holo in shock. "I'm dead! Why is he saying I'm dead?"
"Fear the Emperor's plans, I do," Yoda replied calmly, though there was sadness in his eyes. "Greater purpose, this announcement has."
"What greater purposes?" Obi-Wan frowned.
"Continue to watch the recording, we must," Yoda gestured to the Holo.
"Citizens of the Galactic Empire," Palpatine continued his address, "Padmé Amidala was a dear colleague and friend of mine. For years she worked to end this terrible war, and it is to her I owe all the thanks. It was she who made the first movement to outset Chancellor Valorum that allowed me to lead the Senate. But how I most will remember her is as a fiercely passionate woman who did not allow herself to be deceived by the lies of the Jedi Order."
"I did what now?" Padmé sat up a little straighter.
"What is Palpatine doing?" Bail stared at the Holo intently.
"There is another name that should not be forgotten today. That name is Anakin Skywalker," Palpatine carefully spun his deception. Obi-Wan could swear that Vader stood a little straighter at the Emperor's mention of his former name. "Anakin Skywalker, the Hero with No Fear was truly that. An innovative genius, a clever tactician, a superb mechanic, a cunning warrior, and a great leader. Anakin too did not allow the Jedi to cloud his mind with their evil ways, and when it came time for the lines to be drawn between Republic and Jedi, he made sure he was on the right side. A dear friend of mine, when I told Anakin of the Jedi's treachery, he worked with Lord Vader to eliminate the Jedi for the safety of the Republic. He was a Jedi who was fiercely loyal to the Republic. But above all, a Jedi fiercely loyal to his heart. You see, Anakin Skywalker had a secret; he could not abide by the Code of the Jedi that refused him the ability to form attachment and he could not deny the feelings in his heart. Recent investigation has uncovered that three years ago, when Anakin Skywalker escorted Senator Padmé Amidala home after the Battle of Geonosis, they went to the lake country the Senator had been staying at for her protection, and they secretly wed."
Padmé stared at the Holo with open mouth shock.
"Did-" she stuttered in horror. "Did he just announce to the entire galaxy that Anakin and I are married?"
"It would appear so," Obi-Wan stared at the Holo with equal shock.
"And Anakin just stood there?" Padmé asked in disbelief, watching the small, nonreactive form of her husband.
"It appears so," Bail simply said.
"Alright, Dark Side or Light Side, next time I see Anakin, there will be hell to pay!" Padmé seethed through gritted teeth. "I can't believe he just let Palpatine tell the world about our marriage."
"I think the real question here is why?" Obi-Wan frowned, stroking his beard. "What is the purpose in glorifying your relationship to the public?"
"Maybe sympathy to Vader?" Bail suggested.
"No," Obi-Wan shook his head, "it seems Palpatine is making out Anakin and Vader to be two separate people in the public's eyes."
"Fear the repercussions of this, I do," Yoda carefully watched the Holo. "Watch more, we must."
"Padmé Amidala," Palpatine sighed heavily. "My heart feels heavy with the thought of our loss. Padmé was a pivotal step towards the formation of the Galactic Empire. In addition to tirelessly working toward the end of the Clone Wars, it was she who put me into the seat of Chancellor with her vote of no confidence in my predecessor, Valorum's, government."
"Worst mistake of my life," Padmé muttered, crossing her arms.
"But with so horrific a loss, I find that it is my duty to report how she came to such an end," Palpatine continued.
"Oh this should be interesting," Obi-Wan perked up. "I wonder how he's going to explain this, and more importantly, the lack of a body."
Palpatine took a deep breath.
"Our beloved Senator Amidala was murdered by Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"You killed me?" Padmé shouted, sitting up and looking over at the ginger Jedi.
"This is the first I've heard of it," Obi-Wan shrugged, staring at the Holo in shock. "I wonder what possibly my reasons could be."
"Accusing you of murder?" Bail frowned. "I think this might be why Palpatine declared Padmé dead."
The crowd was quite outraged, anger seething through the crowd at such an accusation.
"Master Kenobi was her friend, he would never harm her!" a voice shouted out from the crowd.
"He loved Naboo!" shouted another. "He fought hard to protect her!"
"And us!" the crowd cheered at the third voice.
"Mesa no believin it!" a clearly Gungan voice came. Obi-Wan was particularly revered by the Gungan community.
"It is a tragic tale I must report," Palpatine answered trying to control the crowd. It would be a lot harder than he had thought to turn the people of Naboo on Kenobi. "But it is a true one. You see, over the past eight months, there was something that Senator Amidala kept hidden from everyone. She was pregnant."
"Oh Force!" Padmé gasped, throwing her hands to cover her mouth. There were tears beginning in her eyes as she shook her head, "This is not happening! Tell me he did not just tell the universe I was pregnant!"
The only sympathy the men could offer was Bail gently rubbing his friend's back.
"Skywalker was, of course the father," Palpatine continued his web of lies. "This all has been confirmed by Senator Amidala's handmaiden, Dormé who was one of the few who knew the secret so that she may assist her Mistress with such things as sneaking Skywalker into Amidala's residence, and ordering Amidala's adjusted wardrobe."
What Palpatine didn't notice was that behind him, Vader had lost some of the strength in his posture. If one was looking for it, it looked like Vader was hanging his head mournfully, the energy voiding his body as he slumped forward.
"Attachment was forbidden by the Jedi, however," Palpatine went on. "So our young Skywalker never told his former Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Anakin knew that he couldn't trust Kenobi, nor any of the Jedi. So, to protect his wife and unborn child's lives, as well as to follow his duty to the former Republic, when the Jedi made their move against my life, Anakin bravely led the retaliation with my new Apprentice, Lord Vader. Kenobi, unfortunately, escaped the mass execution. He soon discovered Anakin's involvement and letting his anger and lust for revenge, sent forth to find young Skywalker. Anakin had visited his wife after the attack, and told her where he was to go next, as I had given him a special, confidential assignment to ensure the peace of the Galaxy. For the safety of all those involved, that assignment should remain anonymous, as well to honour the memories of Senator Amidala, Master Skywalker, and their unborn child."
"The scariest thing about is?" Obi-Wan grimaced at the accusations levied against him. "Enough of this is truth, only slightly manipulated."
"Even tracking down Skywalker in anger?" Bail asked.
"Unfortunately, yes," Obi-Wan sadly nodded. "But if you had seen those younglings cut down, and by lightsaber-"
"I understand," Bail assured the Jedi who seemed to be aging rapidly from the stress. Padmé wasn't entirely wrong about Obi-Wan having grey hairs. "I saw a young boy, about the age of a Padawan. He was shot down by Clones in front of my eyes."
"True, all is," Yoda nodded, "from a certain point of view."
"From a certain point of view?" Obi-Wan raised a brow at the Grandmaster.
"Learn the importance of giving information while concealing all the facts, by telling through a certain point of view, you must," Yoda instructed.
Padmé didn't comment on Anakin's crimes, merely watching the small Holo image of her husband. No one else knew him like she did, and she could see the grief in Vader, even if she couldn't see his face.
"Kenobi knew that Skywalker had been close with Amidala," the story went on, "so he went to the Senator to see what information he could find. It was true, Senator Amidala was friends with Kenobi, so when she saw Master Kenobi show up at her door, she fondly embraced him. We have come to the conclusion that initially she thought Kenobi had not turned on the Republic, but that would not last long. Soon after Kenobi arrived, he started inquiring about young Skywalker and his location. Kenobi had not seen Senator Amidala in months, not since the trial of former Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, after which he and Anakin had been sent to the Outer Rim sieges for six months. It has been determined that Amidala was approximately one month pregnant at the time her husband was sent away with Kenobi. Kenobi had not been on Coruscant to be fooled by Amidala's gradual increase in size, so when Kenobi faced Amidala seven months later, there could be no doubt, Senator Amidala was pregnant. Knowing Skywalker's closeness with the Senator, the next conclusion was not difficult, the child was Anakin's."
"Well," Obi-Wan glanced over at Padmé, "he's not wrong about that."
"It is here things start to become unclear," Palpatine frowned; this is where he would begin to deviate from the story he had told Vader, though his Apprentice was well aware of that. "Rage overtook Kenobi, anger that Anakin had turned on the Jedi, and above all, anger that Skywalker had allowed himself attachment to such a high degree, something Kenobi had been denied despite his strong feelings towards the late Duchess of Mandalore."
"Oh," Obi-Wan glared at the Holo, "apparently he's dragging out everything we've done wrong."
Padmé patted Obi-Wan's arm sympathetically, "What you felt for Satine was not wrong. You shouldn't be ashamed of any secret Palpatine can reveal to the public."
Obi-Wan smirked, "Even your marriage and pregnancy."
"Okay, there is a line," Padmé admitted.
Obi-Wan just smiled.
"At first when Kenobi pushed Senator Amidala for an answer as to Skywalker's location, she refused," Palpatine's image went on. "But then something happened. We are not quite sure what Kenobi did next, for Senator Amidala had the habit of tampering with her security tapes to prevent anyone finding out about her relationship with young Skywalker. The next part we leave up to conjecture. Realising that Amidala would not reveal her husband's secrets, Kenobi formulated a plan for his revenge. We can't say for certain, but either Amidala refused to give Kenobi answers and made him leave her residence, or something more sinister happened. We believe Kenobi threatened Senator Amidala, more the likely seduced the Senator into giving him the information."
Bail had never seen Obi-Wan or Padmé's eyes go so wide, and the colour drained from the woman's face.
"I think I might be sick," Padmé glanced at the man she considered to be more brother than anything else.
"Anakin is going to kill me," Obi-Wan whispered, staring at Vader's small image.
"After Senator Amidala's encounter with Kenobi, she decided to go to her husband," Palpatine went on telling his horrible, yet not totally inaccurate, lies. "If Kenobi had seduced or threatened Amidala, she decided to willingly allow Kenobi on board, likely having fallen for the lies of the Jedi. If she hadn't, then somehow Kenobi sunk aboard her ship and hid himself. Either way, this was the last time anyone but Kenobi or her husband saw Senator Amidala. Reaching the location of Anakin, Skywalker fondly greeted his wife, and then the horrible thing happened. Kenobi revealed himself and Padmé's treachery to Skywalker, and before the couple could do anything, Kenobi allowed his rage to overtake him, and murdered Anakin Skywalker. He did so in such a graphic, torturous way that I cannot bare to speak of it, but one thing was certain, Kenobi had done it in such a way that there would be no way to retrieve Skywalker's body to give him a proper burial. It is not known if Amidala knew that Kenobi had killed her husband, but upon returning to the Senator, Kenobi turned on everything he ever believed in. Seeing Anakin's attachment standing before him, carrying the child of Skywalker, Kenobi became overcome in an intense rage. Kenobi turned on Senator Amidala and used the Force to strangle the expectant mother. Kenobi held Senator Amidala in his gripped until she ceased to function, killing both her and Skywalker's family."
Suddenly, something exploded to Palpatine's right. As gasps emitted from the crowd, Padmé noticed that Vader fist was clenched tightly by his side, enraged by the story using the Force to release his anger.
"We know of Amidala's death by security Holo footage," Palpatine went on, giving his Apprentice a look. "But it seems that Kenobi took Senator Amidala's body to dispose of elsewhere. Anyone who wishes to view the footage of Senator Amidala's death may contact their local Senator, but we will not show it here and now for the sake of Senator's Amidala's family. As for the whereabouts of Amidala's body, if anyone has any information in regards to it, we urge you to please contact the Empire. All we wish is for her family is bury their daughter and her people to pay their respects. And the murderous Kenobi? Any information that leads to his capture will be rewarded most handsomely. All we wish is for justice to be dealt to this reprehensible murderer, and I assure you, when we do capture Kenobi, his execution will be the most public this Galaxy has ever seen. Kenobi will not be allowed to get away with taking two of the Galaxy's most beloved individuals nor that of an innocent child."
As Palpatine spoke, Bail pondered over each and every word, his brain racing to process all the information and looking for anyway it might benefit the group.
Suddenly, it hit him. No one in the room noticed as he signalled Captain Antilles to bring him a Datapad, nor that he began to type furiously on it.
"Alright, so he made me the grand enemy of the Empire," Obi-Wan rubbed his temples, "but as a Jedi I was already that. Why make it worse?"
"Turn Skywalker against you further, he did," Yoda said. "Plus reward for your capture, he set. Harder to hide, it will be."
"But what about me?" Padmé frowned. "Why say I'm dead?"
"Maybe to throw Vader off your trail?" Obi-Wan suggested. "Make everyone you care about stop looking for you? It would make it easier for him to hunt you down then."
"But why make it public?" Padmé pointed out. "There has to be something more."
"But this is not my final word on our beloved Senator," Palpatine's voice drawled on.
"There it is," Padmé said.
"You see, a person like Padmé Amidala will not be forgotten," Palpatine smiled to himself, now was the time to spring the trap. "Nor should she be allowed to be forgotten. Esteemed Senator, beloved daughter, dear wife, hallowed Queen, and certain to have been a mother unlike any other. Padmé Amidala was someone who fought to protect what they loved, and if there was anything she loved in this world, it was her treasured husband, and the principles of the Republic. Her belief in democracy was one that affected countless citizens, and her name instills the sense of patriotic pride. The ideals she fought for are the very foundations upon which our Empire is built. I have heard that upon announcement of our new Empire she said to her companions 'So this is how liberty thrives, with thunderous applause.'"
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"
"And most of all, it is for this Empire that Senator Amidala died," Palpatine paused as if the thought injured him greatly, but on the inside joy was racking his body as he readied to take the greatest strike at Padmé's memory. "So this is how we must remember our beloved Senator. A woman who fought and died for the creation of the Empire. It is in her name that we shall carry this government. The name of not Amidala, for which will die with the Republic it represented, but rather her true name, her real name, her chosen name, the name of the man she loved, who too died for the birth of the Empire. From this day forward I ask the Galaxy to remember the name of Padmé Skywalker, the Martyr of the Empire."
As great cheers came from the crowd, Padmé's blood ran cold.
"The Martyr of the Empire?" Padmé whispered, horror freezing her body in shock. "I'm the Martyr of the Empire?"
"That's why he needs you dead," Obi-Wan's voice too was quiet. "Not only are you out of the way, but now you're the symbol of his Empire. It's the final insult to your memory."
"A way of control for Skywalker, it is also," Yoda added. "Thinks Palpatine honours his wife, Vader does. A compliment and gift, Palpatine has given his Apprentice. Follow the instructions of his ally, Vader will. Serve in the name of his wife, Vader will. Controls Vader, fully, the Emperor does. Which this announcement, more dangerous our situation becomes."
"I can't do it," Padmé shook her head, passion lighting up her eyes. "I can't just sit here and let him defile everything I've ever stood for! To run that farce in my name! I can't do it!"
"But you must," Yoda replied. "Too week to fight the Emperor, we've proven. Hide me must, until the time is right. Strong is his Empire, wait until it has weakened. Let him use your memory, we must, so that when return to the public, you do, break the strength and image of the Empire, you will. Better for the Republic, in the long run it is. Disappear you must, Senator. Protect your children now, you must. Protect your memory, later you will."
Obi-Wan frowned at the Holo; so many people had turned on his based on the lies of the Emperor's word alone. But that wasn't the worst thing, what hurt the most was the thought of Anakin, his best friend having turned on him, left his to burn to death, being stuck in some cruel mechanical suit to live, only to be told that his wife and child were dead at the hands of the man who did this to him.
It killed him to think of the pain Anakin was enduring.
He had to tell himself that it wasn't Anakin anymore.
He wasn't sure he believed it.
"Anakin can't know that Padmé or the children survived," Obi-Wan stated with heavy finality. "He turned against Padmé once, I fear what might happen if he found out the truth."
"But he will one day," Padmé pointed out, stubbornness edging her voice. "The entire purpose of my survival was to help Anakin become the man he used to be, before it's too late. It's not something I can take lightly. I held on when I couldn't any longer, so that we all had a better chance. I know there's a lot of pain I've chosen to undertake, but I did so, so that there would be less pain for the people I love. My family is safer if I'm dead. They can't be used against me, or tortured for information they don't have. And if that means I have to pretend, even for a little while, that I've died, if it means I have to hurt them, hurt my husband, my friends, even lie to my children. If it means I'll be protecting them, then I'll do it. I'll do anything."
Obi-Wan couldn't meet Padmé's eyes; there was one more thing that they needed Padmé to do, and he wasn't sure if she was willing to go that far.
"But how do we convince the Galaxy that Padmé is really dead?" Obi-Wan did his best to prolong the inevitable. "Until Padmé is found and buried, people are going to be looking for her and there will be a faint hope that she's still alive. How do we convince everyone that she's dead?"
"Easy," Bail held up his Datapad, revealing what he had been so frantically searching up.
It was an article dated from over a year ago, there was a picture of Obi-Wan heading the article and plastered across the screen was the headline Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, Murdered.
Bail smiled at Padmé, "We give them a body."
Sorry that Ahsoka's first appearance involves her passing out. I'm trying to not make her seem weak, but she has just gone through a very serious emotional trauma. Plus, I'll admit it, it's an easy way to end a scene.
As for Lux Bonteri, for any of you who haven't watched The Clone Wars, I'll briefly explain who he is. Lux Bonteri is a complicated fellow that is Ahsoka's sort of love interest. Originally a Separatist, Padmé introduced Lux to Ahsoka when Ahsoka didn't understand that the Separatists weren't evil and Padmé took it upon herself to teach Ahsoka about politics after Anakin epically failed at explaining the whole thing to Ahsoka (his exact words were "War's complicated Ahsoka. Let me simplify it. The Separatists believe the Republic is corrupt, but they're wrong, and we have to restore order). Lux later left the Separatists after Count Dooku killed his mother for trying to negotiate the Clone War's end. There was this brief stint where he kind of temporarily joined a Terrorist watch group who promised him revenge, and then Artoo and Ahsoka had to save him when he realised he was wrong. Then he joined a group of freedom fighters led by a guy named Saw and his sister Steela, who Lux was involved with. Then there was an incident where she almost fell off a cliff, and Ahsoka used her Force powers to lift up Steela with the intention of bringing her to safety, but Ahsoka got shot in the arm and accidentally dropped her, leaving Steela to fall to her death. Lux and Saw forgave Ahsoka and Lux then officially joined the Republic and became a Senator.
There's also the issue of my reference of Obi-Wan faking his death at one point. This took place over a number of episodes in The Clone Wars where Obi-Wan faked his death with the help of Yoda and Mace Windu and disguised himself as a bounty hunter (who was also his apparent killer) to take down an assassination plot against Palpatine. Only those three Masters knew of the plot, using Anakin's belief in his Master's death as a selling point that it really happened. Later Anakin and Ahsoka figured out/were told the truth, which caused a minor rift between Anakin and Obi-Wan.
What do you guys think about Gromm Thont? He was meant to be a one off nameless character, but as I wrote more of him, I started really liking him. Would you guys like to see him again?
And I'd love to hear some more from you guys, so please don't be afraid to drop a review. It doesn't take a lot of time, and I light up every time I get one. So to encourage you guys to give me some feedback, I'm going to pose this question:
What element in the original version of She Lived? would you like to be more explored in the rewrite? (For example, Anakin being Han's boyhood hero, Mayla and Luke's relationship, the Han/Padmé parental relationship, etc.)
