Disclaimer – all original Star Wars characters in this fanfic (excluding my OC's) are the property of Lucasfilm and Disney.
Chapter 9 "The Motherly Love – part 2"
Planet Alderaan, Aldera Universal Medcenter.
Aldera Universal Medcenter was a twelve-building hospital complex located in Aldera, the capital city of Alderaan. The was equipped with the most up-to-date facilities for treating almost every known species. Known for its compassion of its patients as much as for its medical advances, no patient admitted to Aldera Universal was turned away if they could not pay.
Aldera Universal Medcenter also included a medical school and a medical droid research-and-development facility. For a fee, people could study and train under the staff of Aldera Universal and become staff members themselves.
"Let me make one thing straight," Darth Plagueis said gravely, looking at the Organas. "If the Jedi will manage to escape after we try to kill them and notify the Jedi Council on Coruscant about our little cooperation, they will surely pass this information to the Senate. And then, the Senate will likely think that you allied yourself with the Sith against the Republic."
"They will brand you as traitors and in all likelihood will separate Alderaan from the Galactic Republic," added Darth Enigma. "But there is a possibility that some of your friends in the Senate, will be against that."
"So what are you proposing ?" Asked Bail Organa, standing beside his wife, which was fully concentrated on her little baby boy. Still lying in hospital bed, she was like a wounded animal protecting her young. She even looked suspiciously at nurses and medical droids, who were checking her state.
"If I understand well," begun Darth Plagueis, "in order to become the Senator you were forced to abandon your viceroyship, delegating your powers to a Regent, correct ?"
"Yes," replied Bail.
"Then after we will help you save your child," the Muun continued, "you will choose to retire as a Senator, reclaim your title and officially introduce the situation that took place here, to the Senate."
"But, if you'll kill the Jedi, the Republic will declare a war against Alderaan. I don't think that's a good idea Lord Plagueis," Bail said tentatively.
"If you explain everything as it was," said Darth Plagueis. "Then a declaration of war from the Republic would be recognized as an act of aggression in the eyes of the rest of the galaxy. And just like my apprentice said, your friends in the Senate will be against it because of your great help for the Republic in the past, and that will cause chaos along with a discord."
"Can I... can I talk to the Jedi first in order to try to resolve this peacefully ?" Asked Bail, who was not looking forward to violence in the hospital between wounded and sick.
"By all means," replied Darth Plagueis, "but just in case something goes wrong, me and my apprentice are going to prepare for battle."
Both Sith left the room, heading for the elevator. "So how are going to do this ?" Asked Darth Enigma.
"I presume that you already memorized the layout of the floors ?" Asked Darth Plagueis.
"Of course," replied Darth Enigma, "they are all the same so it's was no big deal. The ground floor would be the best place to fight, lots of pillars and places to hide for a sneak attack. Of course, everything depends on the situation, a number of opponents and their abilities."
"They won't send weak padawans to fight a Sith lords, so you can at least expect Jedi knights and council members. Don't underestimate them, apprentice," warned Darth Plagueis.
"I never underestimated an opponent master," stated Darth Enigma with a smirk, "thats why I'm still alive."
Coruscant, Supreme Chancellors Office.
"Senator Bail Organa is working with the Sith ?" Asked Chancellor Palpatine sitting on his chair shocked and pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is hard to believe, it has to be some kind of mistake Master Jedi."
"We think that the Sith are manipulating him or threatening him, but we can not rule out the possibility that he is willingly helping them," said Master Windu sitting next to Grand Master Yoda, who had a serious look on his face.
"He has done so much for the Republic," the older human stood up and walked do the glass window. "Do we know the identity of the Sith ?" he asked still facing the window.
"Certain of this, we are not," replied Yoda.
"The message we received was unclear but the were mentions of the Anzat and the Muun," added Windu.
When the Jedi battle master spoke the word 'Muun', Palpatine's eyes widened and a cold shiver ran down his spine. Personally, he knew only one Muun Sith, and that Sith was his master Darth Plagueis, whom he killed or... apparently tried to kill at the night before his election. Palpatine, aka Darth Sidious knew, that if his former master really was alive, then all his plans were in danger.
"Is everything okay Chancellor ?" Asked Windu, sensing Palpatine's unrest.
"Oh, my !" Palpatine responded with faked anxiety, "I've just remembered that Senator Padmé Amidala is on her way to Alderaan, she is a close friend of Queen Braha Organa and she wanted to congratulate her birth to a healthy son."
"Hmmm... troubling that is," said Yoda. "Caught in between the conflict she will be."
The Chancellor walked to his desk and pushed one of the buttons on the console. After a few seconds, a holographic image of Padmé Amidala appeared on the desk. "Yes, Chancellor ?"
"Padmé my dear, are you already on Alderaan ?" Asked Chancellor with concern.
"I'm just starting to land," said the young Nabooian female. "Is there something wrong ?"
"For your own safety, stay in the spaceport senator," suggested Windu. "We have Jedi on their way to the Alderaan as we speak."
"But what's going on ?" Asked Padmé.
"Probably Bail Organa and his wife Breha Organa are cooperating with the Sith," answered Palpatine. "So before the Jedi get there, do not do anything stupid, my dear. I know Queen Breha is your friend, but please wait for the Jedi."
"What ?! They would never do that !" "Padmé said forcefully. "This has to be a mistake."
"I've said that to and I sure everything will turn up fine," reassured her Palpatine, "but just for the sake of your and theirs, wait in the spaceport."
Padmé sighed and nodded, "I will Chancellor."
"Good," Palpatine smiled and ended the call.
"Worry yourself, Chancellor, you should not," said Grand Master Yoda.
"It's hard not to Master Yoda," said Palpatine. "Inform me on a regular basis, my friends."
"We will Chancellor," said Windu rising from the chair. When he and Yoda left the Chancellor office, the older human narrowed his eyes and clutched his fists. He had to wait for the outcome of this whole incident in order to know, what to do next.
For the first time, Darth Sidious truly wanted the Jedi to succeed and slain the Sith, but deep withing he knew, that if this Muun really was his former master, then the Jedi had no chance of defeating him.
Some time later – Planet Alderaan, Alderaan Spaceport.
"Finally !" exclaimed Anakin Skywalker walking down the ramp.
"He really is an impatient padawan," stated Eeth Koth, a Zabrak Jedi Master.
"Sometimes I feel like training him is beyond my abilities," said Obi-Wan shaking his head, making the Zabrak chuckle and placing his hand on the human shoulder. "No one said that training the chosen one is going to be easy Obi-Wan, but think of this as a personal training for you."
"His abilities are making him arrogant Master Eeth Koth, but I will give my best," Obi-Wan smiled and nodded.
"Padmé ?!" Both Jedi looked at Anakin, who was gazing at the young senator of Naboo, running towards them. They were also surprised to see her here.
"Senator Amidala," Eeth Koth and Obi-Wan bowed their heads. "What are doing here ?" Asked Anakin, surprised but clearly happy to see her.
"I was on a way here to congratulate Queen Breha," replied Padmé, "but the Chancellor warned me of what happened here and I want to help you."
"You can't, that's too dangerous Padmé," argued Anakin.
"They are my friend's padawan Skywalker," Padmé said with a frown and folding her arms, "I will go with you whenever you like it or not."
"Of course, you can come with us senator," said Eeth Koth.
Anakin looked at the Zabrak Jedi master with a shocked expression. Seeing that, Obi-Wan put his hand on his padawan's shoulder, "Anakin... Senator Padmé will go to them with or without us. Don't you think she will be safer with us rather than alone ?" He asked with a soft smile.
Anakin was half-hearted about this, but he had to agree with his master. "You're right master," he responded concededly, stroking his hair and looking at the senator, who smiled and nodded gratefully to the Jedi.
"Let's not waste any more time," said Eeth Koth.
When the four of them headed towards their destinations, one of the guards, that was watching them, reached for his comlink, activating it. "Inform the medcenter and Prince Bail Organa. The Jedi have arrived."
Planet Alderaan, Aldera Universal Medcenter.
"Thank you for the information," said Bail Organa ending the holo-call and walking over to the Darth Plagueis and Darth Enigma, who stood by the reception. Only they were present on the ground floor. With the cooperation from the medical staff, the floor was emptied for the upcoming battle.
"They've landed," said Bail. "Jedi Master Eeth Koth, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, and his padawan, Anakin..."
"...Skywalker," said Darth Plagueis finishing the sentence.
"You know him ?" Asked Bail.
"You could say that," replied Darth Plagueis. "Now then... we'll do it this way. Prince Bail, you will wait for the Jedi outside of the medcenter. If you will manage to convince them to leave this planet, then there will be no bloodshed. However if they'll just as much set a foot inside... that's a signal for us to kill them. Are we understand each other ?"
"Yes..." Bail replied with a deep sigh. Turning on heel he exited the medcenter, hoping that he will manage to resolve this peacefully.
"What if they will try to burst in through the windows on the upper floor ?" Asked Darth Enigma.
"This is the only floor where they could fight without risking innocent lives, they won't risk the battle on one of the upper floors," stated Darth Plagueis. "And even if, then you'll be guarding the Queen in the first place."
Darth Enigma nodded with a grin. "Who would have thought that helping the innocent will give us the advantage."
Darth Plagueis chuckled in response. "Indeed... their Jedi code will be their bane."
After a few minutes, two speeders arrived in front of the Aldera Universal Medcenter. On one sat Anakin with Padmé, on the second Master Eeth Koth and Obi-Wan Kenobi. While dismounting, they've noticed Bail Organa who was standing near the entrance. All four of them started to walk towards him at a steady pace.
"I feel cold, and it is not the temperature," said Anakin with a grim expression.
"It's the dark side of the force," stated Eeth Koth. "Surely we are at the right place, don't lose focus."
Obi-Wan could feel Bail's strong emotion's and knew that his been through a lot lately. The Alderaanian looked like he hadn't a good night sleep in a few days and could collapse any minute now.
Prince Bail smiled softly at the sight of Senator Padmé. "It's good to see you Padmé," he said with a tired voice.
The young female approached him and smiled, "Congratulations on the birth of a son Senator Bail, thank the heavens that it finally happened."
"The ones who should have our thanks, are the Sith," Bail stated, "they've helped my wife to finally give birth to a child."
"Care to explain that, Senator ?" Asked Eeth Koth folding his arms with a curious look.
Bail told the Jedi whole story about Darth Enigma, how he'd proposed to help his wife with her pregnancy with the necklace and how he visited her regularly in order to check her state. He explained the situation with the paranoid Doctor and that they've asked the Sith to help them. The three Jedi and the young Senator were looking at Bail like he was crazy, but Obi-Wan Kenobi and Eeth Koth didn't sense a single lie in his whole story.
"...and that's why if you enter the medcenter, the Sith will attack you," Bail finished with a deep sigh, feeling a little tired.
Obi-Wan stroked his chin contemplating about this. "This is unheard of," he said. "The Sith helping someone and not wanting anything in return."
"They're up to something," said Anakin. "The Sith are evil, there is no way that there are doing this without some gain."
"Despite it all we need to take a look at the boy," insisted Eeth Koth. "If the Sith are able to make force-sensitive children, then we need to take the boy to the Jedi temple on Coruscant. You have to understand our situation, Senator Bail."
"And you have to understand me and my wife !" said Bail raising his voice. "We have longed for a child for many years, you cannot imagine the pain and sorrow we have been through. So you will understand that I cannot let you take my child. Whether it's a force-sensitive or not."
"Senator you need to calm down, we just want to help you," said Jedi Master Eeth Koth feeling the rising hatred in the senator.
"No !" yelled Bail reaching for a blaster attached to his belt. "We don't want your help, just leave... please."
Anakin instinctively reached for his lightsaber, Obi-Wan on the other hand just raised his hands in a peaceful gesture. "Please, we don't want to kidnap your son senator Bail. The Sith will take him and he will become their tool for destruction, he will be safer with the Jedi."
Before Bail Organa could fire his blaster, an invisible force grabbed him and pulled him towards the mecenter's entrance. The Jedi and Padmé didn't even have a chance to react. The glass door opened and the human flew into the reception, stopping just under the Darth Plagueis's feet looking shocked and scared. He quickly rose to his feet and looked at the Muun.
"We need you alive, are trying to get yourself killed ?" Darth Plagueis scolded the senator, who looked at the floor downcasted.
"Take him to his wife and guard them, apprentice," he ordered. "I will play with the Jedi."
"Yes master," Darth Enigma replied grabbing Bail's arm and pulling him towards the elevator.
"We need to act quickly," suggested Anakin.
"Padawan Skywalker, go around and try to find a way onto the third floor. If Organa was telling the truth, then there you will find Queen Breha with her son," ordered Eeth Koth. "Obi-Wan and I will go through the front entrance. We will engage the Sith, use that distraction to rescue them."
"I will go with padawan Skywalker," said Padmé. "Maybe my presence will calm the Queen, and make your work easier."
Anakin nodded and headed to the side of the building with Padmé by his side. Both Eeth Koth and Obi-Wan Kenobi draw their lightsabers and started walking towards the entrance door. The closer they were to the entrance, the dark presence was getting stronger and stronger. When they've walked through the door, they saw a tall, hooded figure from which emanated a sinister energy.
"Darth Plagueis I presume ?" Asked Eeth Koth, readying his lightsaber, standing next to Obi-Wan who assumed defensive Soresu stance.
The Lord of the Sith looked at the two Jedi with yellow glowing eyes and spoke. "There is absolutely no reasoning with you Jedi," he said with a voice full of hatred. "You could've ended this peacefully, but you've chosen the hard way of pain."
"Spare us the act and give up Sith," demanded Eeth Koth. "You will never win."
"I have already won," Darth Plagueis stated with a smirk. "You think that I've not anticipated your distraction so that the brave padawan could attempt to kidnap the boy ?" he chuckled.
Obi-Wan raised his arm with comlink in order to warn his padawan, but before he could pronounce one word, he was pulled towards the Muun, who already had his lightsaber ready. The Zabrak quickly lunged a the Sith, who had to jump aside and desist impaling the human on his lightsaber in order to not get cut.
"Obi-Wan, do not lose your focus," reminded Master Eeth Koth without taking his eyes off the Sith. "Your padawan can handle himself."
"Your right Master Koth," admitted Obi-Wan, once again assuming the stance. Just one second of deconcentration was enough to almost get him killed. The human knew that this Sith was very dangerous.
Eeth Koth recognized the earlier attack. It was a Form VI maneuver called the 'draw closer' after which the Zabrak assumed that the Sith had to be a Niman specialist.
With an evil laugh, Darth Plagueis lunged at the two Jedi, who prepared themselves for the fight of their lives.
"There !" Standing behind the building, Anakin pointed at the balcony on the third floor. "I can use the force to enhance my jump and get us on the balcony."
"Okay," Padmé agreed and allowed Anakin to grab her waist. Tapping into the force the Padawan jumped high, landing safely on the balcony. Opening the door they've both entered the third-floor corridor. "Now to find the Queen," Anakin said, looking around.
"I think the visiting hours are over," said a voice coming around the corner. Anakin quickly activated his blue lightsaber and pointed it in the direction of the voice. From around the corner emerged a pale skinned Anzati with yellow eyes.
"Sith !" Anakin snarled narrowing his eyes and pulling Padmé behind him.
Darth Enigma chuckled activating his crimson lightsaber. "So now the Sith are protecting the innocent while the Jedi are planning to kidnap a boy," he said with a smirk.
"Padmé, go find the Queen," ordered Anakin. "I'll deal with him."
"You will die here," said Darth Enigma, "and your friends below will join you. All because you didn't want to end this peacefully."
Anakin dashed at the Sith, giving the young female a chance to escape and look for the Queen. Darth Enigma, however, wasn't interested in chasing the senator. He wanted to fight the Padawan. The young Sith quickly recognized the Form V Shien variant which was more adept at blocking blaster bolts than for blade-to-blade combat. Not to mention that the style worked best when countering attacks from multiple opponents, and was typically less effective against a single adversary. The fact that Anakin was only attacking, instead of waiting for an opportunity to counterattack made the matter even worse.
Darth Enigma was effortlessly avoiding and blocking all of his attacks, which made the young human even more irritated. Anakin also didn't understand the strange, unorthodox style of the Sith.
When one of Anakin's blows was about to hit Darth Enigma's block, the Sith deactivated and immediately reactivated his lightsaber, nicking the Padawan's left shoulder.
Anakin screamed dropping his lightsaber, but instinctively he released a strong force-push with his right hand, sending Darth Enigma backward. The Sith hit the corridor wall, surprised by the raw power of his opponent. Quickly regaining his composure, he chuckled with a smile. "Lots of raw power, but nothing more," he stated.
Anakin frowned at him, clenching his teeth from the pain. Using the force, he called his lightsaber and again, he lunged at the Sith.
In the meantime Padmé was continuously looking for the Queen, finally founding her in one of the hospital rooms. Breha was lying in the bed, holding the boy in her arms while Bail Organa was pacing nervously, stopping at the sight of Padmé.
"Padmé," Breha said with a soft smile. "It's good to see you."
"Breha you have to stop this," Padmé pleaded, breathing heavily from the running. "The Sith are manipulating you for their personal gain."
"The Sith helped us, and the Jedi want to kidnap my boy," stated Queen Breha. "For me, everything is clear Padmé. In this fight, the Sith are our allies."
"This is wrong Breha," Padmé said forcefully. "We've known each other for a long time, this isn't you."
"Padmé, when in the future you will have kids of your own," she looked gravely at the young Senator, "then you will know what it means to be a mother. I will do anything in order to protect my boy, even if it means to leave the Republic and join... the Sith."
Please R&R ;)
