SIX MONTHS LATER
"Damn."
Padme Amidala was not one for profane language; but the sudden sparking of her comm unit and the prickling of the small flames against her bare skin was enough cause for a small lapse in her carefully guarded tongue. Well, formerly carefully guarded. Most of her strict moral rules had managed to slip between her fingers over the past six months. And who could blame her? Certainly not Obi-Wan Kenobi, who looked up with an amused smirk despite the heavy clouding of his gray eyes. They held that strain in them permanently now. The both of them had dimmed considerably, and those that knew what had taken place over the course of the past few months understood, and left the pair alone.
Slender fingers began playing with the wooden japor snippet that hung on the its precious chain. It still held that ashy feel to it, even after all this time. Finally deeming her comlink worthless, she threw the trashed device onto the muddy ground, crushing it with her heel for good measure. Above, thunder rolled angrily, sending lashing torrents of rain on the two.
Obi-Wan grumbled something from where he was working on the engine, and then sat up straight, running his hand through auburn locks of hair and only remembering they were stained with oil after his usually clean mop was soaked with the ghastly fluid. "Blast it," he grumbled as he leaned back down to continue working on the busted motor.
Somewhere inside the small shuttle, the radio blared various news factors and reports. At least something still works, Padme thought, moving over to the ramp and sitting down so that she was sheltered somewhat from the storm. Of course we had to crash land on the Force-forsaken planet during one of the worst electric storms known to the inhabitants here.
Shili was known for its famous red canyons, it's fascinating rock formations, and, of course, its thunder storms. Padme shivered, even beneath the thick wool shawl, and brought her knees to her chest as the mechanical radio announcer began focusing on off-planet news.
/ "And this just in – Republic forces have managed to push the Imperial armies on Christophsis back, and have contained the battles to the southern region of the planet. A full scale evacuation of the civilians is in play now as Generals Windu and Fisto attempt to keep the damage levels to a low; but since when is that ever an option?" /
There was another clap of thunder, and then static filled her ears. Frowning, Padme looked over her shoulder to see the radio's bright green light fade, and then go out completely.
"Crap."
"Maybe you should watch what you say, Padme," Obi-Wan remarked nonchalantly from where he was continuing to bang on the engine.
"And maybe you should take some mechanics classes," she shot back, leaning her chin on one fist. "How's it going?"
Obi-Wan peeked up at her, oil now covering his beard as well. "Rocks and engines don't make good friends," he said, attempting to joke but sounding grave instead. "I think we're grounded. We'll have to wait out this storm that try to find a town for parts. Or a new ship, which would be much better."
The Jedi Master set down his tools and climbed up onto the broken loading ramp, taking a seat next to the young woman. For a few minutes, both sat in complete silence, surrounded by darkness except for the occasional flashes of lightening. At least they were stranded on the top of a canyon – Padme would hate to see what would have happened had they crashed in a flood zone.
Obi-Wan and she hadn't even been heading for Shili. Instead, their ship had been shot down by a stray Imperial TIE fighter. The War between the Jedi and the Sith had started almost immediately after the 'execution' on Geonosis. Darth Sidious himself was said to suffer from fatal injuries, but his death was not confirmed. The Jedi had arrived to take her and Obi-Wan to safety, summoned by a trooper named Captain Rex, who had turned against the Emperor upon the request of… him.
Anakin Skywalker, aka Darth Vader, had disappeared after the initial fighting had died down. Now wanted by both parties of the War, Padme and Obi-Wan caught various snippets that he was being chased down on Tatooine, or spotted on Endor, etc. Last she heard, he was across the galaxy, hiding out on Mon Calamari. How he managed to pull off living on an oceanic planet, she would never know.
He never went near Mustafar. Or Coruscant. Or Naboo.
Anakin Skywalker. The one that linked her and the Jedi next to her together. He'd been his best friend, his Master, his mentor. She'd been his… what? Love interest? Girlfriend? Crush? Or had she just been an object of satisfaction to him, like the prostitutes in Sidious's service?
Stop it. Stop it. She built back up the walls around her mind, keeping out any memories of 'him' and his lies. His betrayal. It hurt too much to remember. Remember how he had played with her feelings, both her and Obi-Wan's, to aid their mortal enemy. Everything had been faked from the very start.
But had it all been?
Stop it.
Her eyes drifted to the Jedi sitting beside her. For a brief second, their eyes met, brown against blue/gray – and with the glance was shared a thousand emotions, thoughts, and similar condolences.
They didn't need words anymore. Their friendship was strengthened through that one man, Anakin Skywalker, and the twisted plot that had made up his life. They had both felt the fury and pain at his deception, the grief at losing someone who had managed to get so close to their lives…
What she wouldn't give to just know what had been going through his mind in that arena. He'd betrayed them, yes; but then he'd saved them. Saved them both, and nearly wiped the Emperor of the Sith off the face of the universe forever.
Who are you? That's what she wanted to ask. Maybe he had been Vader before, but… But Anakin Skywalker had been so believable. So likeable… Lovable. She refused to believe he had all been a mask, with a dirty, corrupt monster lurking behind. A brief recollection flashed through her mind, Anakin backing up, eyes shimmering with what she assumed were possibly tears. "I'm sorry," he had said, just before they had been ambushed.
Who are you, Anakin?
The question weighed heavy on her mind as she huddled closer to Obi-Wan, both of them shivering the in the rain while war raged across the galaxy.
xXx
FOUR DAYS LATER
xXx
"Please, just a few pa… Augh! Alright, I'm leaving!"
Obi-Wan Kenobi nearly face-planted on the hard-packed dirt road he was harshly thrown onto. The Togruta shop keeper scowled at the Jedi before snorting and re-entering his warehouse.
Dusting off his tattered Jedi robes, the Master sulked back over to where Padme was waiting, the barest of smiles gracing her features. "Still can't get any parts, huh?" she asked, trying to stifle a small giggle.
"I'm afraid we'll be stranded here until I get a job and save up the credits," Obi-Wan replied, voice grave. "We don't have enough for even a communication device."
"I suppose a loan would be out of the question?"
"What with the Republic now engaged in a full-scale war, the people here don't trust us to be able to repay anything we might borrow."
Padme pulled her now grimy shawl higher up on her shoulders as a young Togruta male passed her by with a gleam in his eye. "Well, do we have enough to get a room to stay in? That way, maybe we can both find some work."
Obi-Wan ran a calloused hand through tangled copper locks of hair. "I can't believe we're in the situation." He huffed in an attempt at an amused laugh. "A Jedi and Republic senator, begging for jobs all because one stupid TIE fighter managed to identify our shuttle as Republican."
Padme gave her own smirk. "Welcome to a peasant's life, Master Kenobi."
"You say that as if you believed the Jedi were wealthy." Obi-Wan put on a mock-serious expression. "We aren't. We only receive caviar five times a week."
An exchange of chuckles were shared between the two, and then Obi-Wan threw an arm around the smaller figure's shoulders and squeezed affectionately. "Let's go find that room," he said, mood lightened considerably.
The motel they could afford was in a sleazier part of the town. The man at the desk was human – the only other human Padme had seen so far on this planet, besides Obi-Wan. He gave the pair a critical eye, and she couldn't blame him. A girl in a muddy white jumpsuit and greasy hair, and then a middle-aged man with a tangled beard and rough hands, both of them coated in grime… what wasn't suspicious about the way they looked?
Still, when Obi-Wan presented the last of the precious credits they had, all judgment left the clerk's face, and he handed them a key. "I need names," he deadpanned, taking a swig out of the bottle underneath the desk.
"Ben Kenobi," Obi-Wan replied simply. "And this is my step-sister, Ami Naberrie." The lie slid easily over his tongue – probably because that's how he was beginning to see gentle, sweet Padme. She was a little sister to him now, just as Anakin had almost been like a little brother… He shook his head, ridding his mind of that thought. He also threw the rule of no attachments out the window, at least for the time being. He'd loosened quite a bit ever since this whole charade started, possibly one of the few good things to come out of Anakin entering his life. Not only had he become a brother to Padme, but his relationship with Satine Kryze was much more… relaxed, now that he learned to not push away anyone that threatened to get close.
You got close to Anakin, and look at what happened.
Shut up.
He took the key and led her up the dingy staircase up to the second floor.
The room was nothing to admire – two beds, cots really. One large dresser, a closet, a bathroom…
"Home sweet home," she muttered under her breath, choosing the bed near the window. She pushed aside the curtains and opened the dirty glass, letting a cool breeze flow through.
Obi-Wan came up behind her, and nodded. "At least the view is nice," he remarked.
It was true. Rolling red hills stretched towards the pink sky in the distance, while the beautiful, twisting buildings of a nearby city gleamed in the sunlight. The town they were staying in was far from such majesty – red clay huts and dirt roads – but it was quiet, a place for them to lay low. Oh Qui-Gon, he thought, a small stab of sadness catching him by surprise. You would've loved this place.
But then, thoughts of Qui-Gon led to thoughts of Anakin, so he tucked those away as well.
"What's that?" Padme's sudden voice broke into his thoughts, and he looked to where she was pointing.
Several silhouettes covered the top of a nearby mountain, the sun behind them making it impossible for Obi-Wan to confirm what, or who, they were. They began to descend down the hillside, and Obi-Wan was caught off guard by the instant wave of dread he felt wash over him.
Padme noticed him jerk, and turned around worriedly. "What is it…?"
"There's a disturbance in the Force," he said quickly, acting on instinct and pushing her away from the window, sealing it back up and drawing the curtains. "Stay away."
Padme moved over to the opposite wall, frowning deeply. "What is it?" she repeated. "What were those things?"
From outside came a fearful screech that caused both to jump. Then, more screams followed, along with the sound of blaster shots.
Obi-Wan's eyes widened, and he moved the curtain with one finger, just big enough so he could use one eye to look outside.
The sight of the white clad soldiers moving swiftly through the town made his breath hitch.
He spun around, face paled considerably against the dark cloth of his robes. "Imperials," he whispered through clenched teeth.
Padme shuddered, but kept a cool head, immediately moving over to grab her blaster; but Obi-Wan grabbed her wrist and kept her from doing so.
"No weapons," he ordered urgently. "We have to get out of here, now. They can't know that you're a Republic senator, and they certainly can't know that I'm a Jedi. If we don't carry any weapons, maybe they won't arrest us. Come on!"
They tore down the hallway stairs, the screams of the terrified Togrutas becoming louder and more prominent. A quick look around showed the motel was already emptied, the clerk nowhere in sight. Obi-Wan used the Force to search for any danger, and finding none, practically dragged Padme into the back of the building.
He slowly opened the back door, wincing at the loud creaking of the hinges, but then sighing in relief when no stormtrooper came racing from the alley's to shoot them on sight. A few citizens ran past, but no soldiers so far. The Jedi took a deep breath, and tightened his grip of Padme's wrist.
"Run!"
They sprinted out the door, immediately heading deep into a large crowd of fleeing Togruta natives, hoping to get lost in the fast moving wave. It didn't help that they were two pale humans among all the red-skins; but Obi-Wan flung his Jedi robe over Padme's head and shoulders, making her seem even more small, if possible. Both were considerably short against the tall aliens, so height was in their favor.
Red lasers began raining overhead, and the screams clouded the air now. A massacre, Obi-Wan thought nauseously. They just run in here and start gunning down innocents. Bloodbaths were now a common occurrence because of the war. Obi-Wan felt his stomach do backflips.
Suddenly, a large Imperial tank came barreling directly down the center of the street. Biting back a cry of surprise, Obi-Wan shoved Padme as hard as he could to the left, while he jumped right, narrowly missing being run down.
Padme was slammed hard against the ground, and stifled a pained yelp as she felt her shoulder connect with a devilishly placed stone. She lay there a few minutes, too stunned to move, but also quickly realizing the possibility of her being trampled to death was rising.
Suddenly, two thin arms wrapped around her own and hauled her to her feet with some difficulty. Padme swayed dangerously for a minute before gaining her balance; and she stared with surprise at the teenaged Togruta girl that had stopped to help her. "T-Thank you," she managed to stammer.
The girl nodded. "No problem." Then, a voice from somewhere up ahead called out, "Ahsoka, hurry!" and the girl left Padme and disappeared.
Padme remained standing for a moment before she was once again grabbed by the arm. This time, it was Obi-Wan's familiar tug pulling her forward, away from the advancing stormtroopers that were gaining on them from behind. "We have to be quick." The man's voice was breathless and strained, but Padme got the message.
They darted down an alleyway, jumping over a fallen trash bin, and splashing through puddles of Force-knows-what when it happened.
It was a single shot, and Padme only registered it after she heard Obi-Wan gasp in pain. One second after, and the Jedi was lying paralyzed on the ground, body slightly twitching from the stun blast.
Padme shrieked and turned only to find herself face to face with a single stormtrooper who had followed them. He didn't hesitate at all before he pulled the trigger a second time.
Padme felt a bitter cold wash over her body as the blast hit her in the chest. Knees stopped responding to her mental commands, and she collapsed, conscious but temporarily paralyzed. She lay on the ground, helpless, as the stormtrooper advanced. He knelt near her, and then cocked his head, as if studying her.
Then, a gloved hand touched her face, and she found herself trembling despite the paralysis. The cold fingers danced on her cheek before roaming down and caressing her neck. Padme desperately wanted to close her eyes, but couldn't. Oh Force, please help me…
And then it seemed an answering angel came flying out of nowhere. Padme only had to blink once, and then the stormtrooper was away from her and lying on the ground some distance away, groaning.
A second figure, in a black hoodie with red patterns, flew over her in a single jump, and then attacked the trooper with such ferocity. It was less than a minute before the trooper lay crumbled on the ground, blood leaking from under the helmet as the hooded stranger turned to look at her. The shirt was a bit too large for the man, but not so much that it could hide those beautiful, vibrant eyes that locked onto her, a shade of blue that put Nubian skies to shame.
No.
It was impossible, she told herself. She was dreaming, had a concussion, hallucinating…
But then soft, tender lips touched her own in the lightest, gentlest, most feathered kiss she had ever experienced, and shock replaced the doubt.
She wanted so desperately to kiss him back, despite everything, because he had that effect. He could keep her spellbound with a single glance; that, and she was still under the stun gun's influence. She could only blink as Anakin pulled away from her after the brief kiss, and stared at her. The sadness, the pain, the grief in his eyes… she was sure the same thing was mirrored in her own expression. Still not quite believing he was there in front of her, she felt tears wet her eyes as he pulled back and bit his lower lip, bowing his head.
His fingers met her forehead for just the quickest of touches. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, so quietly she wasn't sure she heard him. She fought so hard to reply, nod her head, anything to give him a response. Damn the stupid, stupid, guns!
He looked at her one last time, then glanced at Obi-Wan. "I never meant to…" His voice trailed off. Never meant to hurt them? Never meant to know them in the first place? She would never know what he wanted to say, because after a strained second of silence, he was on his feet.
And then he was gone, having disappeared once again.
