Author's note: And here is another chapter. Thank you all so much for your reviews :) If the flashback moments don't make sense now, it will all be explained as the story progresses. And as for all 'Red Knight' readers, another chapter is on the way.
"YOU'RE DEAD! YOU HEAR ME?! YOU ARE DEAD!"
"Anakin, stop it. It's over, sweetheart."
"NO, THEY NEED TO DIE. THEY WILL NOT DO THIS TO ANYONE ELSE EVER AGAIN. THEY NEED TO DIE!"
"Killing them in hatred makes you as bad they are. Don't become a monster, my son," Shmi said soothingly as she wrapped her arms around her son while he struggled against her. Anakin trashed about, hots tears running down his cheeks as he stared at the bodies sprawled around them. He yelled in rage again and pointed his blaster into the distance, aimed at the retreating figures.
"Don't do it, my son. Shh, there's nothing that we can do now. Shh," Shmi coaxed as she ran her fingers through Anakin's hair. Anakin dropped the blaster pathetically on the sand beneath his knees and sobbed as he collapsed against his mother.
"I couldn't do anything for them. I-I couldn't," Anakin sobbed as he buried his face in his mother's chest.
"Shh, you can't change who people are sometimes. I'm so sorry, sweetheart. Sometimes there is nothing that we can do," Shmi said and rubbed her poor boy's back. Anakin's knuckles were as pale as a sheet as he deathly gripped his mother's desert garbs. Slowly, he peered to the side and his eyes met the cold dead pair of another. Unable to bare it, he turned back and buried his face in his mother's neck once more.
Anakin gasped as shot up in his bed, sweat drenching his bare chest and matting his hair to his forehead. Looking around, he squinted as beams of sunlight entered his room through the curtains. Taking a moment to study his small apartment room, he shook off the heady effects of sleep and rubbed his eyes tiredly. He looked down at his hands as they shook violently. He felt like screaming but no sound escaped his mouth as a lone tear ran down his cheek. He pulled his knees up to his chest and buried his face between them as the morning light continued to fill the room.
Padme slowly sipped at another spoon full of her Shaak stew as she tried to ignore the piercing stare of the man sitting opposite her. Ovar Gallus, Senator of Malastre, was a decent but forgettable looking man with dark hair and dull grey eyes.
"You're looking very beautiful this afternoon, Padme," Gallus said.
"Thank you, Senator," Padme replied, opting to adress him professionally. Hoping to convince more senators to vote for an upcoming bill, Padme reluctantly agreed to have lunch with Gallus. But alas, she was not blind to his obvious attraction to her and his obvious attempts to woo her. Avoiding his gaze, her eyes wandered to the stores outside through the window of their booth and immediately caught the view of a tall blond, blue eyed man.
"Excuse me, I need to use the fresher," Padme lied, as she quickly stood up before Gallus could open his mouth. Sneakily, she slipped pass the fresher and outside the restaurant.
"Anakin."
Looking up from the speeder engine, Anakin smiled as Padme approached him.
"Padme, what are doing here?" Anakin asked as he wiped his greasy hands on rag, "how did you find my shop?"
"I just happen to see you when I was having lunch," Padme responded, pointing to the restaurant across the street.
"With anyone is particular?" Anakin asked curiously as he closed the hood of the speeder. Turning back, he spotted a rather bored man leaning on an elbow, drumming his fingers on the table.
"I wish I wasn't," Padme sighed as she followed his gaze.
"Oh, so not a boy...friend of some kind?" Anakin teased as he sat on the hood of the speeder.
"Acquaintance," Padme corrected and shrugged her shoulders, wrapping her arms around herself, "I need some votes and Senator Gallus brings in votes."
"That's Senator Gallus?" Anakin immediately asked, his voice subtly underlined with darkness, as he turned to the other Senator across the street, "interesting."
"What about you? Do you have any female acquaintances wandering around?" Padme asked. Anakin shrugged as he pushed the speeder further into the shop.
"There have been some ladies here and there. I'm not proud of it but I haven't found anyone to really spend some time with," Anakin responded quietly. Padme found herself frowning as she listened to him address his previous female companions.
"This looks nice," Padme commented as she looked around his mechanics shop, changing the conversation topic.
"You're definitely running a popular business already."
"Thank you very much," Anakin said with a smile.
"I think the people of Coruscant would much rather send their broken down machinery here than get ripped off at the local repair shops run by droids," Anakin said and leaned closer to Padme, "personally between you and me, those repair droids are programmed to fix something so that they can be broken again easier."
Padme laughed as he pulled back and gave her a smirk.
"Then I shall be ready to bring my mechanic problems to you ," Padme said and paused for a moment. With a small laugh, she shook her head.
"What?" Anakin asked as he smiled again, tilting his head slightly. Padme just smiled at him, studying his handsome face.
"You've just...grown so much," Padme replied. Anakin looked down sheepishly and ran a hand through his hair.
"Ten years, Padme, ten years."
The rest of the day ran smoothly for Padme. After reluctantly leaving Anakin, with a promise to see him later, Padme returned to quickly finish her lunch with Gallus. The late evening had set as the Sun was about to and Padme was getting ready to visit Anakin again.
"Senator," Obi-Wan greeted as he entered her apartment.
"Hello Obi-Wan," Padme said as she pulled on her cloak.
"May I ask where you are heading to at this hour? For safety precautions."
"Obi-Wan, Anakin has returned," Padme simply replied, "isn't that wonderful."
"Anakin Skywalker? Are you sure?" Obi-Wan asked as Padme walked to the door.
"I am a hundred and twenty percent positive it's him. You wouldn't believe it Obi-Wan, he's grown so much, it's unbelievable. I'm afraid that if I don't see him every once in a while, he'll disappear again."
"That is indeed unexpected," Obi-Wan replied, "may I follow you to greet him?"
"Of course you can. I'm sure he'd be thrilled."
"Okay Threepio, I'm closing down for the night," Anakin called as he turned off the lights.
"Very good, Master Ani. I have already prepared supper for your guest this evening," Threepio responded, "I believe you also told me to remind you to take the pills before dinner."
"Thanks Threepio," Anakin said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small packet of bright orange pills. Taking a deep breath, he popped one into his mouth and swallowed it. Immediately, Anakin groaned in pain as the medication took its effect. Breathing heavily, Anakin gripped the counter with iron grips.
"Are you all right, Master Ani?" Threepio asked worriedly as Anakin groaned and bowed his head as it began to spin.
"M'fine," Anakin whispered through clenched teeth, tension in his back muscles building as he pushed through the pain, "just some side-effects."
"Oh dear, I'd best get you a hot drink Master Ani," Threepio said, wandering off to the kitchen upstairs.
Crying out in pain, Anakin's legs nearly collapsed underneath him.
"Anakin? Anakin!"
"Ani, are you okay?" Padme asked concerned as she ran over and supported him.
"Hey, Padme," Anakin whispered as she wrapped an arm around his waist, "I'm fine."
"What happened?"
"I accidentally shocked myself during work today," Anakin quickly replied as he recovered.
"Are you sure? That's pretty severe," Padme pointed out.
"That was a small aftershock of some nerve endings, nothing more," Anakin said as he pulled away.
"So are you ready for dinner?" he asked with a smile.
"Well look at you."
Looking at the door, Anakin's eyes widened as Obi-Wan stepped through the door.
"Obi-Wan, is that you?"
"Indeed it is, young one. It's good to see you, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, holding out his hand.
"Yeah, it's good to see you too," Anakin replied, accepting his hand and shook it, "I almost didn't recognise you."
"Nor I, you," Obi-Wan replied.
"Yeah, it's just...umm...well you grew a mullet."
"I hope you don't mind, Ani but can Obi-Wan join us for dinner?" Padme asked with a small giggle at his comment. Anakin nodded.
"Sure, what's another to the table."
"So Padme tells me, you're acting as her temporary bodyguard," Anakin states as he cut his Shaak steak.
"The Chancellor requested it due to the upcoming threats by the masked vigilante," Obi-Wan replied, "it's impressive how skilled he is."
Without Obi-Wan noticing, Anakin smirked as he sipped at his drink.
"Did you not hear about him, Anakin?" Padme asked. Anakin shook his head.
"Can't say that I have. Starting a new business on Coruscant can be quite hectic so I didn't catch up on the news," Anakin said coolly as he lied.
"Which reminds me, Anakin, I didn't even know you came to Coruscant," Obi-Wan pointed out. Anakin shrugged.
"No one did," he simply replied.
"No, I mean I didn't even sense you," Obi-Wan corrected. Padme frowned.
"What do you mean, Obi-Wan?"
"Well all this time, Anakin must have been travelling a long distance from Coruscant or else the Jedi would have sensed his incredibly strong presence in the Force. Even though you never joined the Jedi your midichlrorian count is still exceptionally strong. I'm just surprised that you're presence is not as strong as it was when you were younger," Obi-Wan explained. Padme glanced worriedly at Anakin who remained silent the entire time.
"Anakin, do you know what he is talking about?" Padme asked quietly. Anakin paused for a moment.
"I'm afraid not," he replied finally, "I do not know anything about this Jedi Force stuff and did not want to know since I have been trying to get my life sorted out. My reflexes are better than ever, if that's what you are wondering, but maybe because I haven't used the Force by any other means, my presence in it has diminished."
"That can't be-"
"Excuse the intrusion Master Ani but someone is calling you on your comlink," Threepio interupted. Anakin inwardly sighed in relief.
"I'll be right back," Anakin excused himself and left the room.
"Anakin, what is it?" Jango asked.
"I'm running out of those pills, Jango and I need time to get my targets," Anakin replied, glancing nervously at the door where his guests continue to eat behind.
"Anakin, those pills are dangerous. You shouldn't take as much as you are doing now," Jango warned. Anakin sighed.
"But I need them, Jango. Without them, the Jedi will sense me if they chase me down when I'm on a night run," Anakin replied, "I hate them but I need them."
"Anakin," Jango sighed, "those drugs are experimental. The Kaminoans haven't tested them fully yet."
"Please, Jango," Anakin pleaded," I have to get this mission done."
Anakin waited patiently as Jango kept silent on his side.
"All right, I'll get you a couple more but lower dosage. I will not hold responsibility for getting you hurt."
"Thank you," Anakin whispered and cut the line.
"I'm sorry about earlier," Padme apologize as she hugged him. It was late at night and Obi-Wan was waiting patiently outside.
"Don't worry about it," Anakin said, "Obi-Wan was just curious."
"I'll see you tomorrow," Padme said and being a little bold, stood on her toes and gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek. Anakin flustered slightly and hugger her back.
"Goodnight, Padme."
"Goodnight, Ani," Padme said and waved at him as she climbed into her speeder with Obi-Wan.
Breathing heavily, Gallus ran down the dark alley ways of down town Coruscant. Pushing past a couple of trash cans, he ran into a dead end. Frantically turning around with no where to turn, Gallus stood pressed against the wall, his eyes searching around in the darkness of Coruscant night.
"I swear I didn't do anything," Gallus cried out. Stalking out of the shadows, Anakin growled under his mask as he approached his prey.
"Your lies only get you so far," Anakin sneered. Gallus cried out as Anakin pushed him against the wall, his hand on his throat.
"You saw what I did to Xixor and yet you continue to trade people off like objects," Anakin growled and threw him to the ground, "scum like you don't deserve to live!"
"Wait! Wait!" Gallus pleaded as Anakin pulled out his blaster, "I am a Senator."
"You think I care," Anakin nearly laughed, "you have disgraced your planet and your people with the vile things that you do. Never again will I allow scum like you to take pleasure in other's pain. How you came to be a Senator is beneath me but consider your time as Senator shortly lived."
"Want do you want? I'll give you anything you want! Money! Fame! Anything-"
"SHUT UP!" Anakin yelled and stamped his foot on the bumbling Senator's throat. Once again, he raised his blaster.
"Anakin."
"Argh, I'm busy," Anakin said.
"ANAKIN!"
Anakin winced as Jango's voice filled his helmet through the comm. Slamming his foot down in Gallus' face, Anakin rendered him unconscious.
"I had it under control, Jango," Anakin said.
"I know you did but you might need him to be free," Jango said.
"And why is that?" Anakin grumbled.
"He'll go run off to his trader pals once they know you are on to him. It will lead you to the boss of this terrible ordeal."
"I will be able to find them eventually. You know I can't stand scum like him," Anakin replied.
"I know," Jango said softly, "but it will quicker if you do it my way. At least for now."
"Why are you defending him?" Anakin asked, perplexed.
"I am not defending him," Jango said hotly," I am protecting you. Come on, Anakin, there are better ways to do this."
"Very well," Anakin sighed and stepped over Gallus' limp body. Without a second look, he turned back into the darkness and left for the night.
