Chapter 14: Declaring War
Three and a half months later, Padmé was walking down the hall wearing one of her usual gorgeous Senatorial gowns. It was a dark purple with black trimming around her collar, sleeves, and hem. Around her waist was a black belt with the Naboo crest on the front. Her hair was tied up in a tight bun with a head dress that had dark purple beads flowing around her head and the Naboo crest hung above her brow.
Letting out a deep breath she looked over at Typho. "Are you ready milady?" he asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be, Captain," she answered.
Placing her hand on her stomach briefly, she lifted her head high as usual as she entered her seat. "The chair recognizes Senator Amidala, you have told us you have a Bill you would like to propose?" Palpatine asked.
"Yes Chancellor. Over thirteen years ago when I had gone into hiding as Queen, I had landed on the remote planet of Tatooine. While I was there, I had come across a slave boy and his mother. It surprised and horrified me that there was still slavery in the galaxy. While we are here worrying about our own supplies to get to our own planets, we still have our freedom," she explained.
She heard the shouts of good and bad thrown at her. "Order, we will have order," Mas Amedda called out. Padmé cleared her throat.
"While we still have our freedom, there are hundreds even thousands of people who have no freedom at all. Children are being torn from their parents, never to see them again. The few lucky children who are able to stay with families are being negotiated for prices like we negotiate for food and supplies for our people," she explained.
Padmé glanced around at all the arguing senators in the room. "I am proposing the Republic finally does something and step in for the planets that we haven't gone before. We must abolish slavery, it is cruel to buy and use people like they are property. We are not property, it must be stopped," she concluded. Through her whole speech, all Padmé could do was think about Anakin and Shmi. How their living conditions were, how Anakin described Gardulla the Hutt.
"Senator Amidala as noble your actions are, I do believe you have too much of a personal attachment to this certain situation," Palpatine informed the young woman.
Padmé was silent. "I have to apologize Senator, but a simple Abolish Bill isn't as important as the situation of the war is for now. Your request for your bill to be put into vote is denied," Palpatine informed. The young woman felt her heart drop to the pit of her stomach before the Chancellor went to the next proposal. Sitting down, she suddenly felt like she had failed her husband. For the last four years she was working on this bill only to have it rejected. She lowered her head dejectedly with a sad sigh.
On Tatooine, Anakin was walking through Mos Espa to talk to Watto about a part for his father's broken down speeder when he heard a child crying out in pain. "Stoopa pidunki!" someone snarled in Huttese. (Stupid boy!) Turning around, Anakin saw a boy get thrown to the dirt grown, obviously trying to back away from his owner's next blow. "Dampa nay kanuta!" he snapped again, kicking the boy. (Waste of money!)
"Don't!" the boy exclaimed, curling up further.
Seeing the terrified look in the child's eyes and the fact no one was helping made Anakin's blood boil. Walking up behind the slave owner, he grabbed the creature around the throat, yanking it back. "Ripu ya pidunki enki," he hissed. (Leave the boy be.)
"Ma shag! Uva Riu!" the slave owner snapped. (My slave! You leave!)
Anakin pulled out his blade. "Ya pidunki na kispa," he hissed before stabbing the blade through the slave owner. (The boy is free.) Walking over to the injured boy, Anakin easily lifted him up and carried him away.
Walking to his and Bastila's old hovel, he placed the boy down. "Alright, let's have a look," he commented.
"Go away!" the boy snapped, pushing him back.
Shaking his head slowly, Anakin went into the fresher and brought out some bacta. "I'm here to help, not to hurt," he assured the boy. The boy looked at him curiously.
"Why?" he asked.
"I was once a slave, I've gotten some beatings in my time," he commented as he placed bacta on the cut on the boy's chin, "yea that might scar a little."
The boy stared at the scar over Anakin's eye. "What's your name?" Anakin asked.
"Han," the boy replied, "Han Solo."
"Well Han, my name is Anakin. You have nothing to worry about. Do you know where your parents are?" he asked.
Han shook his head slowly. "I haven't seen them since I was sold to that human size slug," he replied, making Anakin chuckle.
"Well, while I search for your parents, how about you come to Coruscant with me?" he asked.
Han raised his eyebrow. "What's the catch?" he asked.
"No catch," Anakin replied.
The boy stared at him curiously. "Sure…I'd like to get off this dust ball," he answered, making Anakin laugh a little more.
"Yeah, I was never so fond of this planet either, but I have family here. That's the only reason why I come back," he commented.
The boy just stared at him quizzically. "How did you get freed from slavery then?" he asked curiously.
"Long story, come on, you should rest. You've had a rough day," he commented.
Han let out a sigh, but nodded his head slowly. Anakin had the boy sleep in his old room and sat down to watch the Holonet. "Today during the Senate meeting. Senator Amidala made a motion for slavery to be abolished on planets where the Republic doesn't exist," the reporter explained, making Anakin's heart sink.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he let out a frustrated sigh. "Blast the Senate, blast the Republic!" he hissed angrily. Standing up, Anakin let out a frustrated breath before he stormed to his ship that sat outside.
Pulling on his armor, Anakin walked over to Artoo who was checking the ship for any sort of damages. "Artoo, I need you to connect me to the Holonet," he told the droid.
"Beep, blip, beep whorl," Artoo answered.
"Just do it Artoo," he ordered the droid.
Artoo let out another series of beeps before he did what Anakin had asked him. When he knew he hacked into the Holonet's system, he stood straight with his shoulders squared. "Good evening everyone, if you are unsure of who I am. I am Justice, the rogue you have heard about over the last three years," he spoke. Anakin stood there in his full armor, mask and all making sure no one could ever recognize him. "I have heard of Senator Amidala's noble request for abolishing slavery, something only someone with such courage and bravery to even think about others. It disgusts me that the Senate denied such a motion, something that could show that the Republic cares for more than just their own planets, their own means than wanting to help the planets that are practically begging for the help," he informed everyone who was watching.
Anakin closed his eyes for a second to keep his anger back. "I am disgusted with the Republic as I always have, just as I have been disgusted with the Separatists. I hold no alliance to either side, for I do what I believe is right by others and myself. As of this day, I am declaring war on slavery and all those who either support it or choose not to help abolish it," he explained. After making his declaration, he had Artoo cut the transmission before removing his helmet.
Sitting down, he closed his eyes with a heavy sigh.
Back on Coruscant, Padmé was standing in hers and Anakin's apartment with wide eyes, having seen Anakin's broadcast. She let out a gasp as she placed her hand over her stomach and slowly sat down in disbelief. "Milady, are you alright?" Cordé asked.
"I'm fine Cordé," she answered softly as she stared at the now blank screen, "I'd just like to be alone please."
"Yes, milady," she answered before leaving.
Once she was alone, Padmé swallowed hard when she held her comlink up. "Ani?" she called on the other end, hoping he would pick up.
"I'm here Padmé," she told him softly.
Rubbing her forehead, she let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry," she said softly.
"Why? It was nothing you did," he answered.
"I failed to fight harder to pass the Bill," she told him.
"You did your part, even though you didn't have to do it. You really didn't have to even create it," he answered.
"I wanted to, after hearing what you and your mother went for, I felt that something should've been done," she said softly.
She heard him sigh on his end. "Padmé, you did nothing wrong. It was the Republic, it was always the Republic and the Jedi. They have done nothing to help me," he answered. Forcing the tears from her eyes, she let out a deep breath, but he could hear her sniffling. "Padmé, don't cry Angel. Everything will be alright," he assured her.
"I know, I know it will be," she answered.
She cleared her throat. "I miss you," she told him.
"I miss you, I'll be home soon," he assured her.
Padmé smiled a little. "I have to go now, Padmé. I'll see you soon," he told her.
"I'll see you soon. I love you," she said softly.
"I love you," he answered before they cut transmission.
Sitting back in her chair, Padmé smiled a little as she continued to caress her stomach. "Wait until your daddy finds out about you little one," she said softly, smiling a little more. She couldn't wait to tell Anakin she was pregnant. Even though she could've told him over the comlink, she felt this was something to tell him face to face. She wanted to see his reaction over the news.
When she found out about she was pregnant, she was overjoyed. She was smiling and crying at the same time, especially when she heard her baby's heartbeat for the first time. It was the most magical moment of her life, knowing that she and Anakin created life together.
Finally able to relax, she reached over beside her and turned on her music player, listening to the music that was filling the room. As she closed her eyes, a mental image filled her mind. She pictured a beautiful boy with blond hair and blue eyes, an image of his father. Feeling exhaustion take over her, she kept her hands over her barely there baby bump as she fell asleep in her chair.
A month later, back on Tatooine, Anakin was in the den area meditating to try to calm his nerves. Except, as he opened his mind to the Force as Bastila taught him, a disturbing vision appeared in his mind.
Obi-Wan was locked in a deadlock with Dooku on a ship he didn't recognize. He watched as the Sith Lord suddenly used the Force choke on his friend. "Obi-Wan!" he called out to his friend, but alas his call couldn't be heard. Anakin watched in horror as Obi-Wan was crushed under a platform and Dooku stood over the Jedi Master. "And this is the end of Obi-Wan Kenobi," he commented as he raised his lightsaber.
Anakin's eyes snapped open. "No!" he exclaimed. Jumping to his feet, he hurried into the room to wake Han. He had to get to Obi-Wan before it was too late. After sending a message to his mother that he wouldn't be able to return to their hovel, he got Han onto the ship before they left Tatooine to go to Coruscant to save his friend from a horrible death at the hands of Dooku.