Chapter 10: A Mothers Heartache
Anakin was sitting in his room with his eyes closed. For the last four hours he had been meditating, trying to search for his son's Force signature. Padmé was walking down the hall when she saw her husband deep into his meditation. Leia stood beside her mother. "I'm going to go help him," she said quietly. Padmé watched as her daughter walked over and sat next to Anakin, letting her body relax and the meditation came over her.
Padmé sighed as walked down the hall as her mind began to drift. Remembering that precious baby she held in her arms the moment he was born. So beautiful, so perfect, so small, and he was all hers.
Padmé smiled as she walked into the nursery that Owen and Beru made for the twins. Walking over to Leia's crib, she watched as her daughter slept peacefully. Stroking her cheek gently, she walked over to Luke's crib. Luke was wide awake, staring up at the mobile above his head. "What are you doing up?" she asked smiling.
Reaching into the crib, she lifted her son up into her arms as she cradled him close. Luke let out a little noise as he reached up grasping the Japor snippet into his tiny hand. "Your father made that," she told the infant smiling softly. Holding the necklace up, she smiled as Luke let out a gurgle as he kept reaching for it. "You're so precious Luke," she whispered, kissing his forehead.
Coming out of her memories, Padmé found herself sitting in her and Anakin's room. Lying down on the bed she couldn't help but wonder what kind of pain her son was going through. She didn't want to imagine it, but she couldn't keep herself from thinking about it. Forcing herself to think of something else, her memories of Luke growing up entered her mind.
Padmé was sitting on the ground watching her twins toddle around laughing and giggling. "Mama!" Luke called. "Mama's here," Padmé answered. The little boy toddled over and plopped himself down in her lap. "Hello precious," she cooed softly, kissing the top of his head. The little boy pointed to the sky. "Dar!" he exclaimed. "Yep stars," she answered smiling.
His blue eyes sparkled as he just clapped his hands together before snuggling up in his mother's arms. Leia toddled over and sat down next to her mother. Padmé smiled as she pulled her daughter in her free arm. "My precious ones," she cooed softly hugging them close to her.
Padmé opened her eyes when she heard a door open. She didn't make a move to acknowledge who was at the door. Anakin removed his robe, placing it on the chair. He lied down behind her, hugging her close. "We'll find him Padmé, I won't stop until I find him," he told her softly.
"I know," she answered with tears in her eyes.
Anakin closed his eyes as he held onto her. Padmé placed her hands over his as the tears fell down her face.
Padmé walked out of the house to see Luke practicing with Anakin. "You're getting better, just don't think Luke," he told his son. Anakin smiled as he grabbed the helmet from behind him. "Now put this on," he instructed.
"How am I supposed to fight with this on?" Six-year-old Luke asked.
"You're supposed to use the Force, son," Anakin answered.
"Boys, dinner is about ready so you should come in after this training lesson," she told them.
"Yes mom," Luke answered.
Anakin nodded with a smile before he continued with his son's training.
Anakin kissed the back of Padmé's shoulder as he tried to calm her. The tears continued to fall down her face. "I want our son back Anakin," she told him.
"I know," he answered.
He continued to hold his wife as she began to drift off to sleep. Leia hurried into the room. "Mother! Father!" she called to her parents, making them sit up.
"What is it?" Anakin asked.
"I know where Luke is," she replied.
"Where? Where is he?" Padmé asked standing up.
"A planet called Korriban," Leia replied making Anakin stop dead in his tracks when he went to leave the room.
"Korriban are you sure?" Anakin asked.
Leia nodded her head slowly. "Is it dangerous?" Padmé asked standing up from the bed.
"Korriban is in the Sith territory, its very dangerous," he replied.
"What do you suggest we do?" Padmé asked.
Anakin held onto her hand. "We keep our guards up. Leia, stay with your mother do not, I repeat, do not run off as soon as you feel your brother's Force signature, they're probably expecting that," he explained. Leia nodded her head slowly. "Padmé…" he started.
"I'll be alright," she assured him.
"Then we will set a course for Korriban," Obi-Wan commented.
Padmé held onto Anakin's hand, closing her eyes with a deep breath. "How did you find out where he was?" Anakin asked his daughter.
"Luke told me," she replied.
Anakin rubbed the back of his neck. "They might be expecting us, if it's not the soldiers it's what else lives on that planet," he told them.
"Like what?" Padmé asked.
"Hssiss and Kath Hounds, so everyone be careful," he replied.
"What is this a planet or feeding grounds?" Padmé asked.
"Both," Anakin replied as they went to the bridge.
He put in the coordinates. "There's more but we're not even going to worry about those unless we absolutely need to," he added.
"Father…" Leia started.
"This planet is filled with creatures that are dangerous, we have the Hississ, Kath Hounds, and Shyracks," he told them.
"Scourge sure knew where he was going," Leia commented shuddering.
"That is why you stick with us, understand?" Anakin asked looking at her.
The young girl nodded and Padmé rested her hand on her daughter's shoulder.
When they arrived at Korriban, Anakin looked out the window. "There is no landing platform," he informed.
"Where do we land?" Padmé asked.
"Valley of the Dark Lords," was his only answer.
Landing the ship, Anakin threw off his robe again. "Leave anything here that can either get caught on anything just in case a quick retreat is needed," he instructed. Pulling off their robes, they made sure their weapons were on their sides before leaving. Leia stood next to Padmé as they looked at all the tombs.
"These hold all Sith Lords?" Leia asked.
"Only the Greatest Sith Lords. Each tomb is created before their death so when they die they are buried here," Anakin replied.
Padmé looked over at Anakin to see his eyes glancing at a large tomb. Following his eyes she saw what he was looking at. "That would've been mine," he muttered. Padmé held onto his hand.
"Now it won't be," Obi-Wan told him resting his hand on his shoulder.
Anakin nodded before they continued on their journey toward the Academy.
What looked to be a short walk, it felt like an eternity to get there. Anakin to stop and look around, his blue eyes narrowing a little. "Anakin…" Padmé started. He held his hand up, gesturing for her to be quiet.
"We're being followed," he told them quietly.
"I felt it too," Obi-Wan agreed quietly.
Leia felt it as well and her eyes began to scan around the area when she suddenly felt something standing right behind her. Turning around her eyes widened in horror when she saw a large lizard like creature standing only feet from her. Before she and her mother could reach for their weapons the beast knocked them off their feet and onto the ground. Anakin, seeing that the Hssiss attacked his family, drew out his light saber going after the creature. He aimed his weapon at the creatures head, but before he could bring it down, the creature disappeared. "Where did it go?" Leia asked. Anakin and Obi-Wan helped them off the ground.
"We have to go, now," he told them.
They started running toward the academy. "This just keeps getting better!" Obi-Wan commented.
"What is that?" Padmé asked.
"A Hssiss," Anakin replied.
The creature suddenly appeared before them. Anakin ducked and rolled when the gigantic lizard took a swipe at his head. "Don't let it scratch you!" he called out. Leia pulled out her saber and ignited it as the creature went to scratch at her. The creature let out a roar of pain as she struck it in the leg with her weapon.
"LEIA!" Anakin shouted using his hand to force her back with the creature aimed at her head with it's other claw.
Padmé pulled out her blaster firing several shots at the Hssiss. The creature hissed before disappearing again. "Let's go before it decides to show itself again," Anakin told them as they continued their run toward the academy.
When they finally arrived, they looked around. "It feels so…dark here," Leia said quietly. Padmé gestured for her to be quiet. Anakin and Obi-Wan kept their light sabers drawn, their eyes scanning all around the room. They suddenly heard chuckling echoing off the walls.
"How wonderful, you did make it here," Scourge's voice cackled off the walls.
Obi-Wan's head scanned around the room. "And you brought your friend, Obi-Wan, how wonderful," Scourge commented.
"Show yourself, Scourge, you coward," Anakin told him.
"Now, now, no need for name calling," Scourge commented as he came out from his hiding place in the shadows.
All four of them drew out their light sabers. "I really don't think your sabers will be able to save you from my army," he commented. Hundreds of Stormtroops came out of several doors surrounding them. Scourge grinned as all four of them reluctantly surrendered. "I knew you would see it my way," he commented.
"Where's my son?" Padmé demanded.
"Patience Senator patience," Scourge answered.
His smile went toward Leia. "Hello Leia my dear, so lovely to see you again," he commented. Anakin grabbed his daughter by her arm, pulling her behind him.
"Where is he Scourge?" Anakin demanded.
Scourge chuckled a little. "All in good time," he answered. His yellow eyes falling upon Anakin. "You were a wonderful Sith Lord Vader, such a waste of talent," he commented.
"I'm still full of surprises," Anakin answered.
Scourge chuckled evilly before looking toward Obi-Wan. "I saw your family once, Obi-Wan, beautiful family, especially that daughter of yours," he commented.
"You will leave my daughter alone," Obi-Wan answered.
Scourge's eyes scanned the room when the door at the top of the stairs opened. "Oh…I don't believe you have met my new apprentice," he commented. They looked up and Padmé let out a gasp.
"No!" she exclaimed.
Anakin felt his heart plummet to the pit of his stomach and felt Leia grip the back of his vest. "Luke…" Leia whispered.