A/N: Hello everyone! Two hundred reviews. Yay! Thank you so much to everyone who read, followed, faved, and generally made this happen. I love you all!
Shoutout to the people that pointed out my mistake in canon. Apologies about giving you all heart attacks last chapter, that scene has since been deleted. Maul is working on evil plans, but Ezra is happily three/four months old, asleep at home with his family. So sorry. I will try not to let a mistake like this happen again. So… crisis over. You can put away your pitchforks Disney Syndulla and DawnDayrider. *Whispers* At least for now…
Kittybee1904: I need to get caught up too. I only saw season 1 this past weekend. But, yes, I love (well, hate) Maul, and with Sidious dead he is our primary Sith. So… yes. No Ezra, but he does have the "mysterious" pyramid (some of you may recognize it so quotes) and lots of plans. Stay tuned! teganlola9: I'm glad you liked it! Keep reading… caripr94: I hope you are satisfied with my solution to the canon problem, and thank you for pointing it out to me. Technically, I think in this fic there is a little bit more of an age difference, maybe a week or two more? The twins were born a little later… oh well; I'll figure it out. I think I'll let the chapter answer the rest of your review… Thanks! Guest: I'll let you in on a secret: Ahsoka already has been in this fic. Not telling you where, but anyway, rest assured, I have lots of plans for her. Thanks for reviewing!
I do not own Star Wars or its characters.
Chapter 29
Anakin lay in a bunk some hours later, staring at the ceiling, bored out of his mind. When would they get there? At least when they reached their destination there would be things to do. Here he was stuck inside this stupid room, with dire threats should he dare to get up.
He turned his head as the door opened, admitting a brown-haired youngling. She smiled on seeing him, "Oh good; you're back. I thought you were. Hey, what are you doing in here?"
"Obeying orders," He motioned to the girl and she approached, "Sola, is the package safe?"
It took her a moment to realize what he was talking about, then she smiled, "Yes. I hid it."
He nodded, "Good girl. Could you bring it to me? They won't let me out of this stupid bunk."
"Sure."
Sola gasped in wondrous adoration as the twins entered, carried by their mother. Padme spoke, "All right, we're under way." She paused, "Two of the clones are flying the ship. The other… Rex, is nowhere to be found."
Anakin shrugged dismissively, "I'm sure he's doing something important."
Sola was standing at Padme's elbow, grinning at the three-month-olds, "Awww! They're so cute! Who are they?"
Padme spoke, "That one's Luke, and that's Leia."
"Well, hello Luke and Leia." The latter, perceiving her target to be within range, clumsily reached out to clutch the girl's hair.
Padme grabbed her chubby fingers, trying to pry then from the brown locks, "Ah, ah! No, Leia. Come on, come on; let go."
It took some coaxing and persuasion, but the baby finally released Sola, pouting at her in frustrated desire.
Padme sighed, looking around, "Here, Ani, could you hold him a minute?" She spoke as she awkwardly handed off the baby boy, "I sort of have my arms full."
The man took him, "What are you doing?"
"I'm working on getting some of our things unpacked. Not much, just essentials… for the babies and such."
Anakin gave a nod and started to rise with a groan, "Right. Here, I'll help you."
Padme shook her head, "Oh, no. No. You're staying here."
"Oh, come on; I've been cooped up in here for ages," Anakin complained.
"Yes. And you will stay here until we reach Odessan. You shouldn't be working, not with a wound like that."
Sola stared at him, looking frightened and worried, "You were wounded?"
"Yeah, a bit. Look, Padme-"
The girl cut in, "Then she's right. You need to stay in bed. You shouldn't take any chances."
The man gave her a hurt look, "Whose side are you on?"
Padme spoke, "Finally, someone sensible. Anakin, please, if you won't listen to me, at least listen to the youngling."
He sighed, "Fine… Whatever." He lay back, assuming a comically theatrical voice, "I'll just stay in my cell until I perish from boredom and inactivity."
Padme rolled her eyes, "Perish from an overdose of drama, maybe." She turned to the preteen, "What's your name?"
"I'm Sola. Master Skywalker helped me get off Coruscant." She glanced at the man, "Well, all of us really. Without him we'd all be dead right now."
The woman smiled, "Sola, really?" The girl nodded. "That's my sister's name."
"Huh. What about you?"
"My name's Padme. Padme Skywalker, nice to meet you."
Sola's smile faded, "Padme… Skywalker." She paused, breathing, "You'll be her then."
The woman looked puzzled, "Excuse me?"
"The one… Master Skywalker married. That woman." Her gaze dropped to the children, "And those are yours." She swallowed, "I heard you were pregnant." Her expression was disillusioned and sad, "The rumors are true, aren't they? You- you gave birth; you were hiding them from the Order."
Anakin raised his head and tried to sound soothing, slowly sitting up, "Sola…"
She turned to him, betrayed tears in her eyes, "Why? Why would you do this? How could you?"
"Sola, there are many things that you don't yet understand-"
Her manner was growing increasingly agitated and confrontational, "Understand what?! You stole them! It's a Jedi's duty to help train the next generation. They should be with the rest of us. They are meant to be Jedi; why would you rob them of their family?"
The man finally snapped, yelling, "STOP IT! YOU ARE JUST. A CHILD. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THE WORLD IS LIKE!"
Silence. Sola stared at him for a moment, then ran from the room in tears. Anakin turned away, glaring at the floor in brooding silence.
Finally Padme tentatively spoke, "What was that about?"
"Nothing."
She moved over to sit next to him, "No. Don't give me 'nothing.' There's something going on. Let me help you."
"It's nothing, I promise. I'm just… worried about someone. It doesn't matter."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." He said shortly.
There was a long pause, then Padme spoke, "Go apologize."
He looked at her, "What?"
"Apologize. You hurt her deeply. She is just a child, she can't handle being talked to like that, especially by someone she admires."
He looked confused, "What?"
"You're her hero, you just have to look at her to see it."
Anakin scoffed, "She should find some better heroes." He looked down again, "It's not her fault. She doesn't understand. She's been raised in the Order, at her age she probably hasn't ever even seen a normal person. To her, it's everything, it's the entire galaxy, and she doesn't understand how it could have faults."
"Then go talk to her," Padme urged, "She's had a few minutes to calm down. Go explain why you feel this way, why you did what you did, so that she can understand." She paused, "She feels betrayed, and that's natural. We always feel betrayed when our heroes disappoint us. Go talk to her."
"She doesn't want to see me right now."
Padme paused, frustrated, "This has to stop."
"What has to stop?"
"You're angry at the rest of the universe so you yell at someone and brood. Well, that's all very well when it's Obi-Wan or me, we know that it's just air, but you can not do this."
He sighed, shaking his head slightly, "I'm not angry. Just… it's been a rough few days."
"I know it has. That doesn't change it." She stood back up, moving around the small room and placing some things around from a box in the hall. There were a few minutes of silence.
Anakin's eyes sparkled and his lips twitched in an impish smirk as he leaned back and put his arms behind his head, "So, you didn't answer my question."
Padme glanced at him confusedly, "What?"
"Do you like your surprise?" Obviously he was trying to change the subject.
Her expression turned amused, "You know, we're already married. You don't have to try to impress me.
He shrugged, "I know." Anakin lay quiet for a few moments, his smile slowly fading, "I hope Ahsoka's all right."
Padme looked down, "I'm sure she's fine." So this was what that outburst had been about.
He paused, "I just- So many Jedi have died. What if- What if she was one of them?"
His wife tried to look reassuring, "Ahsoka is a very smart girl," She smiled slightly, "She had a good teacher."
The man huffed doubtfully.
Padme paused, then spoke tentatively, "You know, I've heard about the bond between a master and his apprentice. Can't you… feel her? Tell if she's alive through the Force?"
He sighed, "No. I… haven't felt her in a very long time. After a certain distance it gets… difficult. I don't know where she is, or… anything."
Padme eyed him worriedly, "Anakin…"
He rolled away from her. "No, you're right, it doesn't matter."
Padme's expression turned to one of irritated frustration. Why would he never let her help? Shutting her out wouldn't solve anything. She opened her mouth to express an angry retort.
The door opened, cutting her off as Rex walked in.
"Sir, I need to speak with you."
Anakin rolled back, sitting up, "Sure. What is it, Rex?" He seemed relieved at the interruption.
The clone eyed Padme awkwardly, "Well, sir. It's not really… I rather wanted to tell you alone."
Padme sighed, "I'll go see if I can find Sola."
With her gone, Anakin swung his legs out to sit on the edge of the bunk, "What's going on, Rex?"
"It's about Fives, sir. About what happened."
"My Lord."
Emperor Aquillar didn't look up as Tarkin's voice came from the doorway, instead continuing to look over the paperwork he had been working on, "Yes?"
Tarkin glanced warily at the imperial guards, stationed on either side of the door, "It is rather confidential."
Gaen looked up at him, lowering his paper onto the desk frustratedly. He sighed, "Very well, leave us."
The pair bowed, then the door closed behind them as they left.
The Grand Admiral approached, stepping up onto the raised platform that held the desk, "My Lord, we have news from our spies in Theed."
"Well?"
Tarkin paused, straightening to a military stance and clasping his hands behind him, "Amidala is there. She contacted the capitol yesterday, requesting a doctor."
Aquillar stood, moving over to the window. He spoke, his voice hard with a quiet fury, "I warned the Queen not to lie to me." His brow furrowed slightly, "Why did she want a doctor?"
Tarkin looked down, "It would seem that Skywalker is with her."
Gaen thought he vaguely recognized the name, "Skywalker?"
"A Jedi, sir. I served with him in the recent war, a formidable soldier. Apparently he was injured escaping the Temple."
"Ah, yes. I recall. He's been in the news lately, hasn't he? In those stupid tabloids. Some sex scandal or something… involving Amidala…"
"Yes. That is why we think it's Skywalker."
Gaen paused, "And where are they now?"
"Our intelligence spotted a shuttle leaving the atmosphere late yesterday. It escaped into hyperspace before we could follow."
The shorter, dark-haired man cocked his head, "So, not only did you lose Amidala, but you allowed a dangerous Jedi to escape your grasp as well." He turned around and shook his head, tsking, "Not good, Admiral. Not good at all." He sighed, "Oh well, what's done is done. No point wallowing in your failure. You'll have other opportunities. Amidala is too much of a meddler, she won't be able to resist exposing herself."
"And the Jedi?"
"Let him rot in hiding with the others, why should we care? The Order is weak, decimated. They have been dealt too hard a blow to recover quickly." He scrunched up his face, "No… now our focus must be on Naboo. They have rebelled, and must be punished. The civil war that has plagued this galaxy for the past several years will never return." Aquillar paused, "I want any system that even thinks of rebelling to remember what happened to the Naboo and cower in fear. They will be crushed." He moved over to the desk, taking his short velvet cape from the chair and walking toward the door, "Now, I think I'll go get some lunch." He stopped, staring up into the other man's face, his eyes fixed dangerously on those of the other, "You know what to do." He continued toward the door, muttering about the various nearby restaurants.
Tarkin turned to face him, "My Lord, are you certain we can do this? Is it legal?"
Gaen spoke, his face maintaining the same dangerous expression, "They have refused my authority, and therefore my protection. I will make it legal." He paused, "I am the Emperor, and my word is law. The Empire needs money, and this will generate lots of it, while solidifying my authority so no world will ever dare oppose it again." He paused, "Naboo has always been more trouble than it's worth. Do it, Admiral."
Tarkin nodded a sharp assent, "Very well, My Lord. It will be done."
"Good. See to it." He spoke once more as he disappeared through the door, his tone casual and dismissive, "You might try contacting Zygerria if you need any help."
Tarkin watched after him as he left, then turned on his communicator to start making arrangements.
