EIGHTSucks to be Anakin

Since the day he lost his mother, Anakin needed her more now than ever. It was a desperate reach for his anchor to keep him grounded. Despite her obvious deceptions, despite her distant behavior toward him, he was ready to push all of that aside and lean on her. He needed her support, her wisdom, her kind and comforting words. He was confused and hurting from the insult the council delivered him. Obi wan couldn't understand what he felt. Padme was the only one who could give him what he needed and help him heel.

He didn't realize how fast he had arrived at the senatorial office building until he was walking along the corridor toward her office. Anakin dipped and dodged through the lanes of traffic to get here. At times he had to remind himself he was amongst civilians not battle droids trying to maneuver for a better shot. He didn't care how it would look for him to be seeing her at this hour. He already devised an excuse if any asked questions. The pounding sensation in his mind begged for her to make it better. Padme was the source of his strength and there was no better time for her to help him than now. She could make sense of all this.

Just before her office door, he slowed his pace and leaned against the wall. Filled with disappointment and outrage, he attempted to compose himself enough not to alarm anyone that may be there. He took several deep breathes and shut his eyes tight. He thought of Padme's brown eyes that were as deep as the chasms of Utapau. He thought of her long brown tendrils that smelled of Nubian jasmine in the morning. He thought of her lips that reminded him where he belonged. He loved her kiss. He thought of holding her and found his center. Anakin opened his eyes and approached the door.

The door immediately lifted revealing a large reception area. It was dark save for a patch of light over a desk in the center of the room. A woman of the same size and shape of his wife stood with her back turned fumbling with the things on the desk. Dorme turned around and smiled as he approached her. "Good Evening, Knight Skywalker. You've been away a long time. I am glad to see you've returned safe and sound."

"Thank you, Dorme. It's good to be back. I missed a lot, I'll enjoy catching up." He looked around the room sensing that Padme was not there. "It seems I've come too late."

"I'm just straightening up before I leave." She asked pleasantly. "Are you looking for Padme?"

"Yes, I knew Padme would be working late tonight. I thought I'd drop in and check on her since I was nearby." Anakin smirked. "I guess I should've come earlier."

"Oh! I'm sorry. She didn't come in today."

He furled his brow. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. She wasn't scheduled to come in today. There's really nothing here that needs her immediate attention." She down in her chair and activated a virtual screen that appeared over her desk. It was a large event planner fully equipped with a switchboard. She pressed a button in on her lower left. The screen shifted from the days of the month to the hours in the day. She narrowed her eyes and quickly read the small writing in designated time slots. "She's had two meetings today. The last one should have ended about 2 standard hours ago." She looked at him through the screen.

"Who was she meeting with?" The question was uttered before Anakin could consider how strange it was for him to ask that. He took several steps closer.

Pulling the corner of her mouth to one side, she said thoughtfully, "I shouldn't say, but since it's you…" Dorme lightly tapped the hour where the meeting in question was written. She furled her brow, "Hmmm."

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry. It doesn't say who she met with." She shrugged her shoulders. "It just says she has a meeting."

His furled brow suddenly disappeared and his mouth opened slightly. Immediately Anakin thought of reasons for her deception, but none of them made any sense. It felt like frustration and his anger would blow a hole in his chest. He took a deep breath and turned his shoulder toward her. He rubbed his temples with a gloved hand and exhaled.

"Are you alright? You don't look so good."

He dropped his hand and shook his head. "I'm fine thanks." He looked out of the window to the offered view of Coruscant.

Dorme remained silent as she continued to watch him through the screen

"A meeting, huh?" Anakin said breaking the brief silence. He smiled politely and said, "Thank you, Dorme." He turned on his heels and walked toward the door.

"You're welcome." She replied slowly.

Several paces from the door, Anakin stopped and looked at her over his shoulder, "One more thing…"

"Yes?" Her eyebrows raised.

"I'm curious. Did you call her last night?" He already knew the answer, but he had to hear it from her mouth. He didn't want to believe his suspicion.

Dorme looked at him curiously and answered as if waiting for his questions to make sense.

"No, I-I didn't."

He dropped his gaze to the floor and clenched his teeth. His worse fears were confirmed. Padme lied to his face. He knew that before he came by the office. He just didn't want to believe it. Anakin remembered all her talk about honesty and trust. Unbidden, a soft whisper in his mind uttered a horrible thing that strangely made sense to him.

She is nothing but a hypocrite and a liar. She's just as treacherous as the council. Padme cannot be trusted.

He continued toward the door. "You have a good night, Dorme."

He heard her quickly stand. "Is she in any trouble?" There was fear in her voice.

She didn't hear the answer he muttered as he walked out. "She's about to be."


The torrential downpour beat savagely against the cockpit dome as the starfighter remained perched on the drenched landing platform. He looked up and saw a bluish white crooked line reach across the sky in a flash and disappear. The ground seemed to shake with it as the characteristic cracking and rolling sound accompanied. Water cascaded down the cockpit dome blurring the world outside. He began punching buttons and waited for a sign that his transmission was being received. Finally, a small bluish white image of Darth Sidious appeared on the communications console.

"What is it, Avaryce?"

Revently Avaryce bowed at the neck and said, "Master, she has delivered to me the documents you requested."

"Excellent." The dark lord said, "After the location of General Grievous has been made known to the council, you will give them to Windu."

"Yes, my lord."

"This is beginning of the end for Skywalker. Prepare yourself."

"Of course, my lord." Avaryce said as the transmission ended. He chuckled maliciously adding, "you know I will." He raised his eyes from the console to the gates of Tipoca City. The water blurred the view but his gaze never wavered. He was certain of the success of this plan. He believed his destiny was on the other side of that door and all he needed to do was walk through it.


The doors pulled away from each other with a hiss unleashing a bright light against the bitter dark, cold and wetness of Kamino. At first, all Avaryce could see was just the bright light, but it waned as a tall thin silhouette grew into view.

Long arms and legs extended from a slender torso. Atop of an elongated neck was the head baring a double clefted nose and two large black orb-like eyes. With no visible expression on the face, a soft voice graceful and pleasant sailed out. "Greetings, Master Lindo, you've arrived right on time. My name is Taun We. I am the assistant to the prime minister. He is expecting you." She extended her long arm gesturing him to enter. Please, follow me."

He followed the sylphic being through the corridors of Tipoca City, through winding bright corridors and great halls. Everything about the city seemed to be bathed in white light and gave the appearance sterility. He followed Taun We through a door to what appeared to be a sitting room. Tear drop shaped chairs hung from the ceiling and was illuminated as well. He moved further into the room to see an even taller being standing to greet him.

Taun We began the introductions. "May I present to you the Prime Minister of Kamino, Lama Su…" She glanced toward Avaryce and said, "And this is Jedi Master Avaryce Lindo. He has requested to meet with you regarding a service he would like us to provide."

Avaryce bowed at the mention of his name.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Lindo. Please be seated." Lama Su said taking his seat.

"Can I get you anything?" Taun We offered.

"No, thank you." Avaryce said with a smile and sat down.

"If you'll excuse me." Taun We turned and exited the room.

Avaryce watched her leave, and turned to Lama Su. "Thank you giving me your time, prime minister."

"I am sure your journey was long. Would you like us to provide you with accommodations?"

"No, thank you. That will not be necessary." Avaryce shook his head.

"I am pleased to know that word of our skill has reached your ears and peaked your interest, Master Lindo." Lama Su leaned back in the seat. "So as policy dictates, I must inform you up front that the fee for our services will be substantial. Our standards for excellence are very high, which is why we remain the best in our field."

"I assure you, prime minister, resource is not an issue." Avaryce smiled slightly.

"Very good." He said with a slight nod. "I am certain you will be more than satisfied with the finished product. The quality of our clones is surpassed by none."

"I have seen your work myself actually. I believe its quite compelling…astonishing. But—um ..." He raised an eyebrow, "cloning is not why I am here."

"Oh?" Lama Su leaned forward, intrigued.

"Kaminoans possess a skill other than cloning that I am interested in." Avaryce rubbed his chin as he spoke. "During the process of cloning, isolating and removing certain elements or genetic coding deemed undesirable is performed. Am I right?" He asked with a lift of his brow.

"Why, yes. The ability to alter genetic coding is essential to the cloning process. Any cloner can duplicate a being. The key lies in the ability to make a wide range of modifications to it, from the simplest to the most complex."

"Is it possible to transfer these elements into a new host?" Avaryce asked with narrowed eyes.

"In most cases, yes." Lama Su paused, tilting his head slightly to one side. He blinked his black orbs and asked, "What exactly is the service you require?"

Avaryce leaned back in his seat and neatly knitted his fingers together. He sighed and said, "Before I answer that, I must request that this entire matter, even this discussion, be kept a closely guarded secret."

"We have served many satisfied clients, Master Jedi. Rest assured confidentiality is always guaranteed."

Avaryce nodded his acceptance. He paused before asking, "How much do you know about midichlorians?"

"Midichlorians are symbiotes that require a host to survive. They are a necessity for the existence of all life. A large concentration of these symbiotes would offer certain benefits for the host. The Jedi are proof of this."

"Prime Minister, I want to extract the midichlorians from one donor and integrate them into my own cellular structure."

Lama Su straightened and said, "Well, I must say you are the first to request such a service from us. The procedure is not completely unheard of. There have been many attempts to accomplish this feat and many failures to go with them. Genetic manipulation is a skill not anyone can perform." He tented his long fingers together and said, "Yes, we are willing and fully capable of performing this procedure for you, Master Jedi, and I am certain you will be very much pleased with the results. However, there are several conditions you must consider."

Avaryce raised his chin in anticipation.

"In symbiosis, bonding occurs instantly. However, once bonded, separation is very difficult and extremely excruciating. "

"Pain is a price I am willing to pay, prime minister."

"Oh no, though there will be some discomfort for you as the recipient, the actual pain is reserved for the original host. Since life and midichlorians form a symbiotic relationship, extracting a large amount will certainly kill the original host."

"The host's survival is irrelevant to me." Avaryce said nonchalantly. "But I am curious, prime minister, if a large extraction will kill the host, what will prevent the midichlorians from dying as well? How can they survive at all outside a host?"

"We have technology that will allow them to survive a short while outside of their habitat. Therefore the extraction and transmission process must be performed quickly."

"And the chances of success?"

"Chances?" Lama Su was surprised at the question. "Master Lindo with this procedure there are no chances only certainties. We will succeed where others have failed. Success of such a procedure is certain depending on the midichlorian count and the age of the host."

Avaryce furled his brow. "Depending on the count and the age of the host?"

"The midichlorian count must be no less than ten thousand and the minimum age requirement is one standard year. If the count and the age were any lower, success would no longer be guaranteed."

This presented a wrinkle in Avaryce's plans. He considered the outcome of pushing ahead with a donor who did not meet one of the requirements. "If this procedure failed, can I have it repeated?"

"Yes, but it would be against our advisement. Assimilating from more than one donor can destabilize your molecular structure and will begin to degrade. This procedure should be done only once."

Avaryce dropped his gaze. It annoyed him greatly that this would cause such a delay. It pushed him dangerously close to repeating Count Dooku's mistake in waiting too long to take action. As his mind stretched in all directions for alternatives, he realized there was no other donor more suitable than the one he had chosen. Finally he resigned to having no other choice but to wait. If he learned anything from Sidious, it was not to be too meticulous. This was just the beginning stages of his plan. If it were to work, he would have to adapt to whatever twists and turns that lie ahead.

Lama Su asked, "Do you have a donor with a large midichlorian count?"

Still thinking about the age requirement, he responded without looking up. "Yes, a count with a potential to be over twenty thousand."

"Oh my! Well that is indeed considerable. May I ask the age of your donor?"

Avaryce sighed, "My donor is not yet born." He turned his lavender gaze toward him and asked, "Why must it be at least a year old?"

"The host must be old enough to withstand the procedure and survive long enough to allow a significant extraction. Otherwise, the midichlorians will expire with the host."

At that moment, it had occurred to Avaryce that he would need to keep a close eye on his prey. When the time was right, he would find her and pluck the offspring from her as soon as it was born. The child would be the perfect instrument for his rise to power. He rubbed his chin in thought. His chosen donor was worth the wait.

Avaryce asked with keen interest, "I'm also aware that various types of weaponry and tactical equipment are produced here."

"That's right—some of the best, might I add. Are you interested in something?"

"Yes, I require something very small, particularly for galactic positioning."


It wasn't too long after Anakin arrived home that she walked through the front door. She paused in the foyer, not caring to turn on the lights yet and immediately removed her shoes. She sighed with pleasure, and a smile started to form from relief. But it was short lived when a cold and irritated voice startled her.

"You've had a long day, Padme."

Brown eyes hastily searched in the direction it came from and saw nothing. Slowly, he emerged from the shadows in the room, and stepped into the moonlight cascading in through the verandah. He leaned against the wall near the entrance, watching her intently.

A broad smile slowly stretched across an angelic visage. She turned on the lights and crossed the living room toward him. "A long day if spent without you." She kissed him on the check. "And it was very busy one too."

She unfastened the clasp around her neck and removed her cloak. Her curved abdomen was barely visible beneath the gown she wore. She turned and walked toward the closet.

It came as no surprise to Anakin that her words and actions were without sincerity. The words—proof of her improvisational prowess. The kiss—given unwillingly. A forced effort. Anakin was growing more distressed with every breath she took. Padme consistently failed to notice that she was at the epicenter of the dense fog in Anakin's mind. She hummed a familiar tune as she moved about the couches fixing and adjusting the throw pillows. She didn't seem to have a care in the world, while he brooded about the growing expanse between them. Annoyed at her continued assault on his emotions and intelligence, Anakin decided to confront her. "I came by your office today to see you." His voice was unusually calm.

She picked up a water sprayer and walked toward the plants along the wall. She replied sweetly, "You-you did? I am sorry I missed you." She started spraying the leaves of one plant. Even though she excelled at hiding her emotions and intentions, he could sense that this was a calculated effort to make him believe she was completely at ease and free of a guilty conscious.

Anakin narrowed his eyes. He said, "I spoke to Dorme just before she left for the day. She said you never came in. I thought you had a lot of work to do." He took several steps toward her.

"I do." She said chuckling and glanced at him. "The conference was early in the morning, and there was one or two meetings that were short notice. I couldn't get out of them." She moved to two steps away from Anakin to another plant. "This is how my work gets backed up. It can't be helped, Ani."

"Meetings." He repeated the word grimly, realizing there was more to that than what she was saying. "I see."

She smiled, attempting to soften the mood. "Were you worried?" She lowered her chin and met his gaze through her eyelashes.

He ignored her attempt and folded his arms. "I haven't known you to conduct senatorial duties so late in the night."

"You know how it is. When duty calls, I must answer." She said casually.

He recognized the advent of political coyness, and it angered him to know she'd use it on him. It was an unspoken understanding between them. He would never use the force to manipulate her. Anakin expected she would show the same respect. Like chattering teeth, whispers reverberated off the walls of his mind, manifesting in the fog.

Perhaps she thinks me too dull to see her for what she really is. She's a politician, and all politicians lie without prejudice or discretion. She is no different. It's her nature.

The thought hurt, partly because a growing measure of himself believed it. He reacted immediately as if it were a reflex to sudden injury. He closed the distance between them with one step. "Why are you home so late?" With a hardened cerulean gaze fixed on her, he demanded an answer.

Padme was visibly startled by his sudden menacing tone. She looked up at him agape with widened eyes. Despite her effort to disguise her apprehension with shock, Anakin could sense the chill going down her spine. She carefully put the water spray down on the plant stand.

Anakin raised his voice, "The last meeting was over almost three standard hours ago. Why did it take you all this time to come home?" His lips were pressed into a thin line a as he waited for her answer.

Finally able to find her resolve, she responded slowly as if filling with righteous indignation, "I stopped to see a friend…What is going on?! Am I under investigation?" She placed a hand over her abdomen. It was a strategic move.

It was enough to Anakin give him pause to re-evaluate his approach. He remembered the way he handled things his first night came back home. Anakin checked himself and swallowed. There were too many inconsistencies with her. He didn't imagine her strange behavior and he knew for a fact that Padme lied to him. She has been distant with him on several occasions, not wanting to be too close or kiss him like she used to. He considered himself as a reason. Did I do something to make her behave this way?

Frustrated, he ran his gloved hand through his tawny locks. "Forgive me, I-I was a little worried. That's all."

Anakin realized losing his temper would not reveal or solve anything. He questioned whether he could trust anything that came out of her mouth. Suddenly a thought that Anakin recently rebuked, returned. It made more sense this time.

It's all her fault. She continues to insult me with her lies. She is making a fool me. I can't allow her to hold me back.

Before he could banish the thought, he glanced at her hand that remained over her abdomen. There on her wrist was a bracelet, simply made with wooden beads, each embedded with a small jewel. It was the first time he saw her wear it. It didn't look like anything she would choose if it were amongst many. It just wasn't Padme's style. He remembered the conversation he walked in on last night and suddenly felt his heart quiver with fear. He was almost too afraid to ask, but he couldn't help it. He had to know.

He furled his brow, asking softly, "What's that?" He looked up at her.

"What?"

"That bracelet." He said glancing at it again.

"Oh, this is just something I saw in a merchant's shop."

Anakin swallowed hard and closed his eyes. He felt it stirring again. Another tremor rippled through him like a pebble disturbing placid waters. The affect of her provocation gave Anakin alarm. Something was banging against the walls of his mind, begging to be set free, promising to take it all away if given a chance. An angry whisper insisted she was betraying him with another man and it demanded that she answer for it.

"Ani?" Her soft concerned voice chimed in.

Part of him couldn't accept that she'd betray him. Not Padme. She has been there from the beginning. She loved him and remained his despite his absences, despite the chance that he could have been killed at war. Padme is a good woman and he knew that she'd honor her wedding vow. He couldn't allow himself to believe it.

She loves me. She always has.

However, the fact is undeniable—he could not sense sincerity in her nor could he sense that she loved him. He opened his eyes.

She was different tonight. She was cold, hard, and calculating. The woman I wake up next to is completely different from the woman I see during the day. She's changed.

"Anakin? Are you alright?" She raised a cautious hand to his cheek.

He nodded and stepped just out of her reach. "I have a headache." Angry, frustrated and confused, he didn't want her touching him.

"Can I get you anything?"

"No. I just need to rest…that's all." Anakin turned way from her without a word and walked toward the stairs leading to the bedroom.

"I love you, Ani and I am worried about you."

He paused momentarily on the steps and narrowed his eyes. Liar. He sensed nothing remotely close to the woman he loved.

Make her pay for her deception. Make her pay for her contempt.

The shadow inside was harder to suppress this time. He realized how easy it would be to give in. However, the Jedi in him wouldn't allow it. He kept his reserve. But a halting and startling thought came to his mind…The more he suppressed his feelings, the harder it will be do it. How long would he be able to fight against the darkness that loomed beneath the façade that was Anakin Skywalker?

Padme always advocated diplomacy. Tomorrow he will confront—no—discuss the matter with her and try to get her to open up. As he ascended the steps, he prayed to the force that it would be enough.

TBC…

NEXT: Nine - The Prelude

Communication is the key to a happy marriage, Anakin vs. Avaryce, Obi-Wan talks to Anakin, the Annual ball.