Seven:
Anakin raced through traffic lanes and around obstacles. He could just make out the taillights on her speeder and began to hope that he would catch her. He couldn't deny the trepidation was mounting as he calculated how much time he had left to reach her before she made it to the landing dock. Something terrible was about to happen and Padme, his beloved wife, was in the thick of it. Above all else, he would see to it that no harm came to her, he must. He opened a channel to her speeder and was met with interference. He couldn't get a signal, which was something that happened from time to time in this district, but the timing couldn't be worse. The closer his ship came to her the more obstructions seemed to get in the way. A traffic signal halted movement pinning him behind in one lane and her speeder proceeding down another. Anakin pulled out the lane and barreled through the intersecting traffic. He turned into a tunnel and pushed through the traffic at top speed. Several traffic droids started to give chance but was unable to keep up. He passed through the bends in the tunnel and nearly collided with standing traffic. It looked to him like a sea of speeders and ships. He attempted to touch Padme's mind with the force, but his anxiety made it difficult and her unsual silence made it impossible. Frustrated and panicked, he yelled out at the top his lungs and slammed his head against the piloting controls. He moaned Padme's name and raised his head to see black smoke billowing above the vehicles ahead and detected the acrid scent of an electrical fire. His breath caught in his chest briefly before he sensing her presence in the force and that she was okay. Anakin looked around for a way out and immediately pulled the nose of the ship toward the ceiling and turned the ship upside down, skimming the narrow space between the tunnel ceiling and the top of the traffic. On passing the source of the smoke, he saw a minor rear-end collision and the respective drivers shaking their fists and arguing. He cleared the tunnel twisting his ship rightside up and searched for Padme's speeder. After several seconds, it was clear that she was long gone. He had to admit finally that he would never catch her. So Anakin gave up and quickly turned aside. He decided to take a short cut.
The probability of reaching the docking port before her was practically nil, but he pressed on, begging the force to be merciful.
It was only moments later that the docking port came into view with the sleek elegant silver Nubian skiff perched upon it. Still so far away, he could just make out Padme's speeder parked several feet away from the bird. Fear began to subside and he began to hope that he could stop her, bring her home and avoid disaster. Drawing nearer, he could see her walking toward the extended ramp of the ship. Anakin quickly docked his ship at the edge of the docking port. Midway up the ramp, Padme caught sight of his ship and paused as her pilots, her security officer and her assistant moved passed and boarded.
Anakin raised the cockpit dome and hoisted his legs over the side of the ship. Moving toward her, he called out, "Padme, don't get on that ship!"
Padme cast hurt brown eyes upon him, causing his heart to clench. He could sense that she was fighting her emotions, willing her tears from blurring her vision. He could feel the pain his words inflicted. In that instant, Anakin realized that it would take more than an apology to make up for what he said. He could see how deeply his words hurt. Their eyes locked for only seconds, before she was reminded by one of the crew of the time for takeoff. Strangely he sensed that she was hesitating, conflicted between dealing with their marital issues and her duty.
"Please" Anakin pleaded, slowly shaking his head.
After a few more seconds and without uttering a word, Padme turned away and continued onto the ship. It was an unexpected move. It seemed as if she would turn back and give him a moment. Padme had always been open to communication. She never allowed silence a place between them. But this was not like her. For the first time, she actually turned her back on him. Did his stinging words hold truth? Was it made painfully clear that her actions were affecting her family? Was it shame in herself that caused her to turn her back? Or her disgust of him? Fear suddenly enveloping him, Anakin began running toward the ship as the entryway began to shrink.
The red light on the holotransmitter blinked incessantly and emitted a simple tri-tone. Snapping out of the unwelcomed memory, Anakin glanced at it from the droid innards spread out across the workbench. He had been working undauntedly for several days in his workshop, which was located across from Padme's office. The workshop was a stark contrast to every other room and area in the apartment. It was the one place that was truly his own. It was a large room with high ceilings and tall windows offering a lateral perspective of the verandah and the cityscape. There were various tools hanging from the textured walls, commonly used pieces and parts were stacked up on shelves along another wall. There were welding equipment, consoles for calibration and research, datapads for schematic checks, holoviewers and scanners, everything he would or could need to repair or investigate anything mechanical. The holotransmitter rang again.
With Obi-wan working with Artoo's scans of the ship, Anakin was free to focus on the droid remains. Barely eating or sleeping, he spent the better part of the last two weeks taking apart what was left of the droid and examining every minute bit and piece. The investigation was beginning to unfold leaving several questions unanswered.
Who wanted Padme dead? Was it the Neimoidians? Why did they kill her? Why was the freighter moving so unusually fast? Why did it veer away from impacting anything until Padme's ship came into its path? Where did the pilot come from? Was he part of it?
Anakin hoped to find some of these answers in the droid laid before him. Finally the holotransmitter stopped ringing.
He sighed and looked over at the droids schematics he was able to pull up on the datapad. It was the third time he was looking through it to find some alteration, a clue that something may have been altered. The code was beginning to dance before his eyes. He was getting annoyed and the headache was coming back. Sitting back in his chair, he threw the stylus down on the table and squeezed the bridge of his nose. He needed a drink…he wanted it so much it was hard to concentrate.
Anakin stood from his seat and walked over to the window on his left. Looking out he could see a lateral view of the neighboring buildings nearby and those far off into the distance. It had been alittle more than two weeks since his last drink. Quitting had proven to be more difficult than he thought. Anakin used meditation when the urge was at its greatest, but it was barely enough.
He had gained the clarity he needed to do the task before him, but it was the withdrawal that was debilitating at times. Drinking dulled the pain of her loss while he was conscious and often times allowed him to be with her again while he was passed out. Anakin realized how much drinking held him back in conducting the investigation and how much he needed to be in full control and coherent for whatever Padme believed to be coming down the pike. Still, the urge was there and ever present. The need started to mount. He wanted more than anything to feel the soothing elixir fill his mouth, slide down his throat and warm his belly. He wanted so much to feel it disorient his equilibrium, and dull his senses. The unsolicited memories were always intrusive and sudden and were always accompanied by the burden and pain of his guilt. He wanted to ignore the pain that crept up every now and then and completely disconnect from reality.
And so, Anakin started to reason with himself, in an attempt to justify indulging the urge. He considered cutting back on how much he drank. Perhaps, drinking at a bar instead of at home…this way the bartender and help him adhere to a limit and a frequency of visits. Maybe, he could program Threepio to pick up a certain amount of bottles a week. He considered maybe a bottle a day. He considered all kinds of ways he could keep liquor in his life and maintain the quality of the investigation. But deep down he knew this was impossible. And so continued the battle between his urge and his will power.
The holotransmitter sounded again. Anakin looked around and realized that he was already at the door of the workshop with his jacket in hand. While he considered justifications for a relapse, he had subconsciously prepared to leave…likely for the nearest bar. The realization shook him slightly giving him pause, making him realize he wasn't completely in control yet. The battle with his addiction was still ongoing and it was clearly a fight not easily won. The holotransmitter sounded again.
Anakin realized that it could have been Obi-wan reporting on his findings on the scan. Thankful for the distraction, Anakin tossed his jacket back on the nail in the wall and headed back to his seat to activate the holotransmitter.
A bluish white image of Padme's father materialized before him. Wise old eyes brightened at seeing Anakin. "Greetings, Anakin." Ruwee smiled.
"Ruwee, It's good to see you again."
"Same here, son." He smiled warmly. Ruwee always thought of Anakin as a son. Since the loss of his daughter, they had grown closer. "How have you been?"
"I'm managing, sir." Anakin attempting a reassuring smirk.
Ruwee wasn't convinced, but he continued, "And the investigation?"
"Ongoing." Anakin responded with a sigh, glancing at the droid parts. "How are Luke and Leia?"
Ruwee smiled wide, sitting in his easy chair. "They are doing very well. They have been busy making the most of their hiatus, spending time by the water in the lake country, visiting relatives and going into town with us. They have been practicing their lessons daily. I must say they are quite good."
"I am not surprised." Anakin dropped his gaze. The thought of his children's enjoying themselves despite the horrific loss of their mother, brought a warm feeling that felt foreign to him.
"Jobal has just received an invitation from the queen inviting the children for a tour and lunch. Leia is so excited, she hasn't stopped talking about it. The timing couldn't have been more suitable. They are scheduled to meet the queen next week, a few days before they return to Coruscant. It's usually impossible to reschedule these things."
"So when will the children return to Coruscant?" Anakin leaned forward in his seat. His anxiety was beginning to rise.
"We thought we'd bring them back a week before term resumes. It would give you three a chance to bond. Is there something wrong, Anakin?"
Anakin hesitated. Not wanting the alarm him nor keeping him ignorant of a possible dangerous situation, he had to figure out a way to postpone their return.
"I-it's going to be hard for me to find the time for them. I'm up to my eyeballs in the case. I think it might be better if they stayed with you and Jobal until term begins."
"Anakin, that doesn't leave room for you to spend time with them. Do you realize how this is going to look? It's going to affect the children. Luke and Leia will not understand."
"I know…and I wish I could be with them, Ruwee. I honestly do. But there are reasons why I cannot."
His voice was laced with disappointment. "Then please…enlighten me."
Anakin choose his words carefully. "I don't want them exposed to this investigation." He made sure he put it in a way Ruwee would understand there could be a danger. "I need them to stay far away from this as possible." Instantly Anakin caught himself. These were the exact words Padme said to him the day they argued.
"Anakin, what's going on that you're not telling me."
He didn't want to make the same mistake Padme did by keeping things to himself. "Ruwee, this investigation appears to be more involved than previously believed."
"What does that mean?" He said with narrowed eyes.
"I can't say anymore than that, Ruwee. I need time to collect more data before I say exactly what."
There was a moment of silence before the older man spoke. He cast his eyes downward considering what Anakin was implying. Raising his eyes to meet him, he nodded slowly. "I-I'm sure you will do your best to get to the bottom of this, Anakin. You have always disagreed with the local security force findings…and so have I."
Anakin nodded.
Ruwee was guarded. "Is there a need to fear for their safety?" It seemed he was holding his breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Sensing his rising trepidation, Anakin shook his head. "Not that I know of. They are in the best place right now. When they return to Coruscant they will stay at the temple. I have already arranged it."
"Very well then." Ruwee cleared his throat. "The children will not return until the day before term resumes. But Anakin, nothing should keep a father from his child. Luke and Leia have overcome the difficulty and pain of losing one parent. Do not make them go through this again."
"I won't. I promise." Anakin suddenly remembered the moments when he'd stand on the edge of the verandah, wanting to make his nightly alcohol induced meetings with Padme permanent.
"The 1st anniversary of Padme's passing is only days away. You should not spend it alone."
Anakin didn't realize that so much time had passed since her death. He remembered their tears when they discovered their mother was gone. Just above a whisper, Anakin answered solemnly, "I know."
"Good." The old man offered a smile. "Now if I am not mistaken…I believe there is someone here who would like to speak with you."
Anakin held his breath. It had been so long since he last heard their voices.
Would they even remember me? Are they upset about my absence? Do they know I love them?
An image of his daughter appeared on the screen. She had grown since he last saw her and she was the image of her mother. She smiled and said, "Daddy?"
Anakin blinked away the tears that had already threatened to blur his vision. He smiled. It was first time he did so in many months. "Leia, how are you sweetheart?"
"I'm fine daddy." Her bright brown eyes seemed to explore his face. He could sense her happiness and the brightest of hope and innocence in her heart.
Another small voice was heard before the image was seen. "Daddy?"
"Luke? Is that you?"
Leia reached out of the view of the holotransmitter and gently pulled another hand, then an arm and then a body of a little boy into view. His hair was slightly longer this time and he too had grown taller since the last time Anakin saw him. They were five years old now and taking in the sight of his two children, Anakin realized how much he was missing out. Though he believed the distance between them was necessary to protect them from his failures, he found it was impossible considering a danger may be looming ever closer to them.
"How have you been buddy?" Anakin asked with another rare smile.
"Okay." Luke smiled back.
"I've missed you both so very much." Anakin tried to keep his voice from shaking.
Leia responded first. "I miss you too."
Luke added, "me too, Daddy."
Leia 's eyes seemed to bore into her father's image. "When are we going to see you?"
"Soon." Anakin nodded. "I promise."
TBC...