meandmysharpie – Oh dear, I think your Palpatine hate may be off the radar after this chapter. He is in all his slimy, creepy glory. I hope you enjoy anyway! How's your ankle doing? Better, I hope. Thanks for reading – you are always so supportive!
Jedi Master Arie Skywalker – Yes, it is fun to imagine Palpatine's face when he gets some not-so-good-news. Unfortunately, the tide will be turning back in his direction sooner than we would like. Boo! But I do hope you continue to enjoy the story, angstiness aside!
BabaBip – Woohoo! Thank you very much!
Avschick – Well, we are nearing the home stretch but there's still a good amount of story left. I hope you'll stick with it – the um, stuff, is about to hit the fan. Yikes! Hold onto your your hat!
The Elvish Jedi – Oh, thank you for the kind words – they mean so much to me. This story has been bugging me for years so I appreciate the encouragement.
ThoseWereTheDays – Sorry the update didn't come as quickly as either of us would have liked – real life is getting a little too crazy for my liking. But I promise I will continue to chip away whenever I can. Thanks for bearing with me.
The Last Guardian – Aw, yeah it is good to root for someone. Unfortunately, I don't know how much further our wishes are going to carry Anakin. This chapter isn't too kind to him. Thanks for reading!
Ann Jinn – It's great to see you again! I'm glad you like the way I'm writing Palpatine. I'm trying to show how manipulative he is – it's definitely what he does best, in my opinion. Hope you'll continue to drop in whenever you can.
ALL – I'm sorry my update wasn't as quick as anticipated but unfortunately, that may be the way of things until after the holidays. I promise to keep plugging along at any available opportunity though. Thanks for reading. I appreciate each and every one of you so much!
Bail watched the fiery planet draw closer, suddenly feeling extremely vulnerable with only a viewport to separate him from the extreme conditions. He imagined he wasn't the only person to ever feel that way – actually, it was probably that very trait that had drawn the Jedi to such a place. After all, no sane traveler would consider coming any closer. Death appeared to lurk around every turn.
"Obi-wan," he murmured quietly. "I hope you know what you're doing."
Suddenly, the nearby communication console lit up, sensors blazing as it attempted to digest the heavy encryption. With a deep breath and a prayer, Bail accepted the hail.
"This is the Tantive IV. We request permission to land – as well as any assistance you can offer us in that area."
The response came in a stilted voice that could only belong to a droid: "Your request is granted. Coordinates are now being uploaded into your system to guide the landing process. Do not deviate or your destruction may result."
The Senator cleared his throat nervously. "Affirmative. Tantive out."
As the communication clicked off, Bail turned to the clone commander who continued to maintain his post. "I trust you would like to remain onboard during our brief stay?"
"Actually, if it is all right with you, sir, I would prefer to examine the facility." Cody grinned sheepishly. "And on a more personal note, I wouldn't mind saying hello to General Kenobi. As you know, I have served under him many times in the past few years. It is always a pleasure to see him."
"That it is." The Senator flicked his gaze to his other companion. "Captain Antilles, I will leave it to you to ensure the ship is prepared for our return. I do not wish to be away from Coruscant for more than a couple days. In the wake of the news about Senator Amidala, a prolonged absence may raise an undue amount of concern among the people."
"Understood, Senator."
The main controls pinged loudly, indicating the landing sequence had been relayed and initiated. The three men returned to their seats, fastening their safety harnesses as the alarm klaxons began to shriek.
"Sir, are you certain the ship can withstand the-"
The rest of Cody's inquiry was cut off by a particularly hard jolt, and Bail was glad he didn't have to answer. Deep down he knew Obi-wan Kenobi would never knowingly place them in danger, of course, yet that was going to be hard to prove if the hull ended up buckling.
Thankfully, there was movement in the distance as a large disk slid aside, revealing a massive hole within the acrid ground. The ship immediately dove towards it, slipping inside a split-second before metal doors closed behind them with a deafening clang. The alarms quieted almost instantly and Bail started to reach for the clasp of his harness.
But it seemed their journey was not yet over.
The passageway twisted and turned for what seemed like an eternity, finally dumping them in the middle of a cavernous room. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see another shuttle, one that was clearly showing its age. Ah, so this was the ship that had replaced the Coruscanti transport.
Bail smiled as the Tantive docked beside it, imagining what the citizens of the Republic would say if they knew their beloved Amidala was traveling in such a heap. Yet Padmé probably hadn't given it a second thought - just one of the many characteristics that made her so unique.
The ramp screeched along the duracrete floor, allowing warm, sticky air to rush into the previously-comfortable cabin. Bail quickly shed his cloak and draped it over his arm, starting for the exit. He was only a couple yards away when Cody blocked his path.
"Commander?" he inquired sharply. "What is the meaning of this?"
"My apologies, sir, but I have been ordered to follow protocol. And that involves conducting a sweep of the landing pad before you disembark."
Bail opened his mouth to protest but closed it when he saw the flinty determination in the eyes of the clone soldier. "Very well," he acquiesced. "I appreciate your diligence."
"Merely doing my duty, sir."
He eyed the soldier's retreating back suspiciously. And where does your 'duty' stop? he wondered.
Palpatine's decree regarding Senatorial guardianship had troubled him from the start. Unfortunately, the time he had spent with Cody had not done much towards assuaging that opinion. It wasn't his dedication that was the problem - it was the extreme rigidity that came with it.
But Obi-wan trusted the clone and that had to count for something.
"All clear, sir!"
Exchanging a knowing glance with Antilles, Bail finally exited the ship and made his way to the surface where a familiar brown-robed figure was waiting.
"Senator Organa!" Obi-wan exclaimed. "It is very good to see you again. I hope your trip was uneventful."
"It was. At least until our landing attempt! What an interesting planet you have chosen here."
The Jedi chuckled and began to walk, a sweep of his hand indicating his wish for Bail to follow. "It is a small price to pay for the safety of my former Padawan's family."
"Yes, how is Padmé faring?" Even as he made the earnest inquiry, the Senator felt a pang. He couldn't help but remember the many times he had been asked that very same question about Breha. While he still wanted a child more than anything, he was beginning to associate the entire process with sadness. And he hated that.
"I was thinking I would let you see for yourself. She is waiting for us in her quarters, which is through the reception area right up here."
"This place has a reception area?" Bail repeated dubiously.
"Yes, of course." Spotting the Senator's confusion, Obi-wan quickly added, "This is not the way formal visitors entered the facility. This area was strictly traversed by employees who dealt with inventory transportation. It's quite brilliant, really. As you saw, the entryway is disguised so one needs to know how to access it in order to gain entrance. And the exit tunnel takes the ships several miles away."
"A way for the inventory to get in and out without being seen by any pirates lurking in orbit." Bail shook his head in admiration. "I have to admit, Master Kenobi, it seems you have thought of everything."
"Well, the previous tenants thought of everything. I'm just trying to avoid any careless mistakes."
"And I give you my word that we will exercise the same amount of caution."
"Senator Amidala and I thank you for that."
The conversation lulled as they strolled through what had once been an ornate lobby. Sofas, sagging and torn, were sprawled throughout while cracks ran through the tiled floor beneath. The walls were framed with carved expanses of molding, drawing the eyes upward to the only object that had not been touched by time: a hand painted mural of the heavens.
Bail exhaled appreciatively. Obviously, this planet had once been the place of great wealth.
"They used to mine precious gems here," Obi-wan explained. "Unfortunately for them, but lucky for us, the supply was exhausted years ago."
Bail followed him through a pair of opaque glass doors, taken aback by the immediate contrast. While the public area had been all about image and first impressions, the employee area was an example of functionality and comfort. The colors were soothing, a perfect blend of dark wood and cheerful paint.
Skimming a fingertip across the surface of a side table, he noted that this area was completly free of any dust. Evidently, Padmé's droids had been hard at work. In spite of their somewhat cantankerous relationship, he couldn't deny that Threepio and Artoo made quite a team - and an amusing one at that.
Bail was so engrossed in his musings that he nearly ran head-first into Obi-wan, who had paused outside a sealed doorway. The Jedi's hand was halfway to the visitor's chime when the door slid open to reveal his charge, clad in flowing purple robes.
"Bail!" Padmé started to reach for him, but winced and had to settle for clasping his hand. "You made it!"
"I came as soon as I received your message. It was clear that this was a matter of great importance-" Bail's voice trailed off as he noticed Obi-wan's disapproving frown. "Is everything all right?"
Padmé nodded, chestnut curls spilling over her right shoulder. "It's fine."
"It's not fine," Obi-wan argued, crossing his arms over his chest "She had major surgery yesterday and is under strict orders not to leave the bed."
"You had surgery?" His wife's history had Bail fearing the worst. "Oh, Padmé..."
"No, no, it's not as dramatic as our Master Jedi makes it sound," she insisted. "After all, the twins were born in perfect health. Leia had just gotten a little too comfortable so the med droid had to perform a procedure to get her out."
Obi-wan tried to interrupt, but Padmé ignored him. "Unfortunately, sometime during the aftermath, Eight-Bee made the mistake of mentioning that I might want to wear an abdomen shield for a few days. Well, Master Kenobi jumped on that idea so here I am, still looking as though I swallowed a baby bantha-"
"There is nothing wrong with taking extra precautions, even at the expense of vanity." Obi-wan quirked his eyebrow as Padmé sputtered in mock outrage.
"Vanity?!"
Wisely, the politician chose that moment to step in with a change of subject. "I can't believe you had twins, Milady! That's extraordinary! May I see them?"
She gave him a proud smile that could only belong to a new mother. "Of course! They're right in here; please come in."
Bail started forward but Obi-wan threw an arm out, effective blocking his passage. The Senator found himself fighting the urge to roll his eyes - this was happening far more often than he would like.
"No visitors until you get back in bed, Milady," the Jedi announced.
Even though he was still positioned well outside the room, Padmé's exaggerated huff of annoyance could be heard loud and clear... yet a moment later, Bail could also hear the sounds of sheets being rustled and the squeaks of compressed bedding. Nodding in satisfaction, Obi-wan finally stepped aside, sweeping his arm in a gesture brimming with gallantry.
"I hope you realize when she gets back to Coruscant, she will propose a law banning Jedi from acting as bodyguards," Bail murmured.
Obi-wan chuckled, nodding ruefully.
ABOARD CHANCELLOR'S PERSONAL SHUTTLE
Anakin sat on the floor of the elegant shuttle, his head in his hands. The machines around him beeped and hissed but he didn't hear any of it. He was too focused, too intent on finding his wife's familiar presence.
But there was nothing.
A scream of rage erupted from somewhere deep inside him and he slammed his metallic fist into the wall. How could this be happening? He had already lived his worst nightmare once - what cruel twist of fate would have him do it again?
No, not again. Never again.
"She was alive," he whispered. "I felt her."
As he shoved off the floor, he finally glanced up and saw his destination hovering in front of him. Naboo, his wife's home planet, resplendent even from afar. He had been so engrossed in his meditations that he hadn't noticed the approach! How much time had he wasted?
"Stupid fool!" he spat angrily.
He flung himself at the controls, fingers flying as he engaged the landing sequence. Much to his relief, the ship was equally quick to respond and soon it was slicing through the atmosphere, the clouds giving way to reveal the domed buildings of Theed.
Anakin squinted, wondering at the origin of the tiny lights that seemed to dance in the distance. He grasped the main controls, intending to pilot the shuttle closer for a better look, but the levers wouldn't budge. He tried again. Nothing.
A low buzz suddenly filled the cockpit and a message popped up on the main screen: "No Fly-Zone Breach in 30 Seconds. You must divert immediately." The warning continued on to list alternative routes, but he ignored the suggestions. All took him miles away and that was unacceptable.
It seemed his only choice was to land on the very outskirts of town - something that would not be well received by the citizenry. Their beautiful countryside was revered and his shuttle engines would damage the landscape beyond repair.
But he didn't care.
The landing itself was incredibly smooth, a feat that would have impressed him had he not been half-mad with worry. Settling his cloak around his shoulders, he ran his fingers over the light saber on his hip, missing the familiar hilt of his own. But he supposed it was better than nothing.
Just in case.
The ramp wasn't fully lowered when he strode onto it but it didn't matter - he simply jumped off the side and sprinted to a nearby overhang.
He had never seen the Theed streets so crowded. It seemed every inch was occupied by a Naboo citizen. The flickering he had noticed during his approach belonged to candles - thousands and thousands of candles. The waterfalls drowned out any noise but he had a sinking feeling that there wasn't much to hear. These were a people in mourning.
"No," he whispered. "Please, no."
He watched as the crowd turned in one single motion, facing the city entrance. Flag bearers came first, regally bearing the state colors, then the dignitaries, lined up in order of rank... the way Padmé once explained as funeral tradition.
No.
It had to be some sort of trick, a ploy to save her from her enemies. But why wouldn't she have told him?
Or had she?
His haste made him clumsy and he tripped several times on his way back to the ship. Nevertheless, he was connected to the Chancellor in a matter of moments.
"Anakin?" The politician sounded bewildered. "I see Senator Amidala's funeral has started - you ran out of here so quickly – is that where you are? Are you all right?"
Anakin tried to keep his voice calm. "Sir, I need you to do something for me. Please."
"Anything for you, my boy. Now, what is it you need?"
"Padmé and I have been using your encrypted communications channel while she's been away. It was the only device I felt I could trust."
"I understand."
"I need you to check it for me now, to see if there are any messages."
"Certainly." The rapid click of Palpatine's boots could be heard as the politician rushed to the console. "Just let me know what to do."
"Go into the system as if you were retrieving your own messages, but this time you need to enter the administrator screen. The password is japor."
The seconds that passed seemed like an eternity. With every breath he took, hope and anguish waged a battle for his soul.
In the end, anguish won.
"I'm sorry, Anakin. It says you have no new messages."
His heart was shattered. He couldn't breathe. "Are you sure? Did you enter the password correctly?"
"Yes, I believe so. Japor is spelled j-a-p-o-r?"
Anakin's throat closed and he could only muster a grunt in response.
"Oh… oh dear. That's not what you were hoping to hear, is it?"
There was a burst of static as the communication ended and the Jedi stared at his hands, not even realizing he had been the one to disconnect. Stumbling out of the shuttle, he returned to his spot on the overlook.
And he saw the coffin.
He froze, a part of him still refusing to acknowledge what it meant... that what he was seeing wasn't real. Looking back, he realized he might have stayed like that forever were it not for the candlelight casting its somber glow over the interior. It was a moment he would remember for the rest of his life, the moment he cast away the last remnants of his denial.
For spilling out of the wooden confines was blue shimmersilk fabric, as radiant as the lakes of Varykino… the same dress Dormé had so kindly altered to fit Padmé's growing figure.
The Chancellor spoke the truth.
His wife was gone.