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Chapter 36

Location: Imperial Center, Courscant

Imperial Federal Prison, Interrogation Cell

Day 6 Month 3 Year 23 BBY

1100 Hours

Padme' yanks at the chains on her hands and feet. She sits on the gray concrete cell floor. Her eyes stare up at the barred door where a slit hole for food is served and the only source of light appears. Her eyes have adjusted to the darkened room. The metal walls are plain and no sources of amusement grace her eyes. All she has to ponder is what evidence did Maul have against her?

She had always tried to be careful of any data Bail gave to her. She usually destroyed the data pads as soon as she had studied and memorized the layout of a building or itinerary of a mark's daily plans. She never wore a on her to record the information. What could he have found on her?

The slight tingle of her senses makes her think that perhaps it is not a something rather than a someone. Has someone been following her? Did they know of Anakin's plans as well? Fear encases her thinking of her husband- were they going to kill him too? Tears blink to the front of her eyelids and fall at this fear. She has to admit to herself she cares more for her husband than she let on. This isn't because he acknowledged his own feelings either. She can't say she loves him, but she knows there are feelings under the surface that are far more romantic than she ever let on.

She has to be strong through this. If Anakin has been implicated she cannot reveal any source of details to those Imperial scum bags. If he hasn't, she must maintain that he's loyal to the Empire even if it means shouting at him and pretending that he turned her in.

What if he did?

That little nagging voices whispers into the back of her mind. What if Anakin is the someone? Could he pretend to be in love with her? Padme' didn't think he could- he wasn't the best liar when he came to his feelings. Other topics he can lie all say about but he admitted to her his love for her. He couldn't fake those feelings... He isn't Rush... and she knows this.

The sound of the swish of her cell opens and her eyes scream in pain as the light glares into them. She covers her eyes to shield them from the brightness coming from the corridor. She blinks attempting to readjust her eyesight. Someone enters the cell and bends down to pick her up. The laughter is sickening to her ears and the man- or who she thinks is a man, begins to drag her out of her cell by her hair. She winces at the pain shooting through the tips, and she tries to stop him with her hands. The jailer stops and slams his fist into her face, twice. She winces and lets go of her hair. He picks her up and lifts her over his shoulder. Her eyesight is bleary and she cannot see anything but shadows at first.

The man moves not very far from her original cell and takes her into a larger cell with chairs and torture devices. This time the room is illuminated so anyone can make out the appearance of her jailer, which is Maul.

Padme' stares up at the Darthomian and murmurs, " Is this the part where you tell me what evidence you have against me?

Captain Maul's dark soulless eyes glare down at her as he responds, " No, this is where you tell me the identity of Raven."

Padme' glares up at him and says, " Do you really think you'll get that information out of me? I won't give up her identity."

Maul smirks and mutters, " I figured as much, so I'll let in Inquisitor deal with you."

Padme's eyes narrow at his statement. He can't mean- no- Anakin wouldn't betray her trust.

Padme's blinks twice as she observes her husband enter the room. His eyes glance down onto her and there is not warmth- they are frozen in ice. He kneels down and states, " Why don't you tell Maul what you know, hmm?"

Padme shakes her head and whispers, " What have they done to you?"

Anakin's smooth smile sends chills down her spine. He whispers back, " The Emperor offered me the throne."

Padme's heart freezes at the mention of the Emperor. Had he really turned Anakin against her? She counters back, " Your lying. You said you would never betray me."

Anakin stands to his feet and eyes Maul and says slyly, " Women believe anything, won't they?"

Padme attempts to stop the tears from rising. She cannot believe her ears. Anakin had turned against the rebel? Why didn't he just give her identity away? Was everything the last few days a ploy for her to provide information to the Emperor? She wipes away the tears fierce and attempts to stand to her feet. She feels the wave of the force upon her body as she falls like a tree trunk back to the floor. Anakin encircles her as she hisses out, " Why did you betray me?"

She felt debilitated by his betrayal. Her eyes shine with fury and hurt. He circles her, starring her down and replying, " My dear it was simple. You fell right into my trap. It's a shame I couldn't get anymore information out of her head when we were in bed."

Padme's heart thumps against her chest- this hurt. No it was more than hurting- her soul is being torn apart. She cannot hold back the angry tears as they fall down her face. He had played her well. She snaps back, " Bastard, you will rot in hell for this."

Maul chuckles behind them and Anakin waves his hand as a shot full of a liquid unknown to her shoots through the air and right into her shoulder blade. She winces at the sharp needle in her skin. She yelps as her body is lifted off the ground via the force. Anakin holds her there and his tone has gone cold, " Now, tell us Raven's identity."

Padme' counters as she hangs helplessly in the air, " You already know the identity of Raven- I told you, so why do you need me?"

Anakin laughs and scoffs, " Did you really think I would believe your lie? I know your covering for her."

Maul's eyes lift at the mention that Anakin knows the truth of Raven's identity. He asks him, " Who did she suggest was the bounty-hunter?"

Anakin rolls his eyes as he mutters, " A dead woman."

Padme's eyes turn to her husband's and he lies to Maul. Why is he lying to Maul if he's betrayed me?

The truth sinks in, he's playing Maul. He is lying and playing along. He has to be. So she decides to play along as well, countering, " No, Dorme' is very much alive."

Anakin's eyes dart to hers. She is picking up on their game of lies. He desperately needed for her to know he isn't betraying her trust. Anakin scoffs, " Exactly, she died three years ago. How can a dead woman who you helped bury be alive?"

Padme' smirks and continues, " She is. Bail, her husband helped her fake her death, so she could take the identity of the bounty-hunter, Raven."

Maul rubs his chin interest. The woman has no reason to lie to her husband. He answers, " Skywallker perhaps she told you the truth why you bedded her? Why don't you make it easy on us and tell us her location?"

Anakin's eyes stay harden as he comments, " Yes why don't you tell us her location?"

Padme' lies, " I don't know where she is. I only contact her through a droid who's memory is wiped each time he is returned to me. There is no way for you to track her."

Anakin grimaces as suggests, " Then I have no use of you any longer."

Padme' snaps at him, " Then go ahead- kill me."

His cold eyes meet hers. If she didn't see through his game of lies, she would have thought he was dead serious as he hisses out with a smirk, " I already did a few moments ago."

Her eyes widen as her pulses quickens. She knows her facial expression shows her emotions of shock. Anakin's hand returns to the shot vile he had given her not long ago. He says simply, " You see poison is the quickest and less dirty route to your death. You should be feeling the effects by now."

Padme' knows he isn't lying about the poison any longer. Her breathing has become shallows and her eyes sight bleary than before. She grips her chest and feels her heart slowing down as well. If he wasn't suspending her into mid-air, she would have collapsed on the floor by now. She breathes hard as it is getting harder and harder to attempt. Her world starts to darken and the last thing she sees is her husband's icy stare as she blacks out.

To Be Continued.