Chapter Twenty-Four: The Festival of Light Gone Wrong
The sun had set by the time the Festival was to begin. Ahsoka stood by the entourage, shifting from foot to foot and failing to stay still while Master Windu spoke to security. Stay by the stands. Check. Make sure the acting queen, Chancellor, and Senator were the first to get inside should the attack happen. Make sure Viceroy Organa had a gun to defend himself - ha. Like that would happen. Lead them to the throne room, where they would be safe. Keep the guards out of blaster range. Only allow Madame Sabé or Captain Panaka near.
Anakin put a hand on her shoulder. "Relax, Snips. You're making me nervous."
"There are too many people. I can't focus with all these Force presences outside on the stands. It's like constant white noise."
"Close your eyes, take a deep breath. Focus on one presence - everyone else should fade into the background."
Ahsoka nodded, choosing Senator Amidala to focus on. It was easiest to focus on her - she was the one Anakin was truly worried about. The jittery feeling gradually disappeared while she breathed in and out a few times.
"Better?" Anakin asked when she opened her eyes.
"Mmm hmm."
He cracked a smile. "I wouldn't be Obi-Wan's apprentice if I didn't pick up a few mediation techniques."
"You wouldn't be Obi-Wan's apprentice if you didn't have a flair for the dramatics," Master Windu countered while he strolled up to them. The corners of his lips twitched while Anakin rolled his eyes.
From outside, the sound of the opening fireworks began and the crowd started to cheer.
"Twenty minutes until we head out," Captain Panaka yelled into the hallway.
"I always get so nervous before these events," Chancellor Palpatine murmured to the queen and the senators. He made a show of fanning himself.
"Here." Mace held out two ear pieces. "These are connected to a private channel. Only myself, Master Yoda, and Obi-Wan have had access to it these past weeks. We agree you two should have access to Obi-Wan tonight, should anything happen."
Anakin didn't move to take one. "How kind of you to trust us."
"Thank you, Master Windu." Ahsoka took the ear pieces and shoved one into her master's hand. She glared at him until he muttered his thanks.
"I want you to be vigilant. The safety of the Chancellor and the queen are of the utmost important."
"And the senators? Senator Amidala?" Anakin asked, fitting his own earpiece in and wincing. "The former queens? Are their safeties not important?"
"Skywalker. You know what I mean." Mace checked his comlink when it beeped. "I will join Captain Panaka outside. I will see you shortly."
Ahsoka knew her master should have answered May the Force be with you.
He didn't, staring levelly at Master Windu until the latter turned and departed.
She sighed, and resigned herself to waiting with the chattering politicians until it was time to head outside.
"Hey." Padmé nudged her arm while they walked out, smiling gently. "Try to enjoy the show, Ahsoka. It only comes once a year."
They stepped onto the platform. Hundreds of people cheered at their appearance, the noise echoing around them. Ahsoka took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and watched the politicians she was in charge of take their seats.
Padmé resisted the urge to grasp the japor snippet when the cheering died down. She watched her husband speak into a wrist-comm, and a ray shield come up over their platform, isolating them from the people of Naboo. The Chancellor stood to give his speech, smiling and waving.
"Have your blaster?" Queen Neyutnee murmured beside her. "You know how these types of things go."
She glanced at the queen, surprised and amused. "Two, actually. And a knife."
"You keep weapons on you during a festival?" Bail asked quietly, his face revealing his alarm. His only response was a few snickers from the Nubians around him.
Palpatine began to speak. "It is an honor to be here for this momentous occasion. The pride I feel for this planet cannot be put into words. Eight-hundred and forty seven years ago, Naboo joined the Republic - and tonight we celebrate that union!"
"I believe that was your speech ten years ago, was it not Senator Amidala?" Captain Typho whispered while the Chancellor continued to speak.
Padmé nodded, watching her husband hold a hand to his ear and say something. She felt anger bubble inside her when he grimaced. Doesn't the Council know earpieces interfere with the inhibitor chip wavelengths? That Anakin never had the inhibitor chip removed when he left Tatooine - that it was only deactivated?
"Take a moment and look around this glorious city of yours. It wasn't long ago this was all plasma mines. Naboo has indeed come a long way. But as we chart a bold course for the future, let us never forget our past!" Chancellor Palpatine spread his arms wide while fireworks burst into the sky. His face glowed in the light, making him look pale and sickly and...not quite right.
She found herself not caring about the lightshow. She didn't want to look up and watch the ancient wars between the Gungans and the Nubians, the myths of Nubian trickster gods, the battle against the Trade Federation, the coronation of the first queen.
She did, however, because holo-cams were floating around, and she didn't really wish to be dragged through the mud by the media because she chose not to look at the light show.
"Skywalker! The shield generator!" Master Windu was suddenly shouting.
Padmé watched while Anakin darted over to the shield generator to stop the Parwan from tampering with it.
He didn't get there fast enough.
The shield generator exploded. Through the haze of smoke she watched Anakin get knocked down, the Chancellor disappear, and heard her people screaming.
Over the din, Ahsoka was shouting, "This way, Your Majesty. Hurry!"
Had the circumstances been different, Padmé would have ignored the padawan and leaped into the fray. Her captain must have sensed her itch, because he gripped her elbow and didn't let go until everyone had scrambled down the stand and into the palace, away from the chaos and shouting.
Sabé was running in the opposite direction they were, followed by a group of women.
Handmaidens. Crowd control.
"Avoid the stairs," Captain Panaka was shouting over the comms. "I want everything secured! Through the hallways, to the throne room! I'll meet you there!"
She stopped before the entourage turned the corner, staring down the hall and to the platform. Her heart was hammering hard. She didn't know how much running she could do.
"Senator Amidala!" Captain Typho was at her side again, meeting her wild-eyed gaze. He kept his voice low. "Anakin will be fine - come on!"
Padmé shook her head, then grasped her captain's outstretched hand. Together they moved through the hall, running at a hobble. She could feel her body giving out, her breath giving out.
Everything was a blur when the door of the throne room slammed closed.
Sabé was suddenly there, easing her to the ground. Her hands were firm but gentle. "Calm on, sit down - Gregor, you fucking idiot."
"You're welcome."
"Head in knees, Mé-Mé." Sabé rubbed her arms. "We don't need you heading to the hospital tonight of all nights."
"What's wrong with her?" The Queen asked nervously.
Padmé gulped in air, squeezing her eyes shut, trying to remember meditative breaths. Her heart was pounding so fast and so hard. Everything was swirling, even with her eyes closed. Everything hurt.
She was aware of everyone staring at her, out of it though she was.
"Gregor, do you have - "
"No...no." Padmé grimaced with pure effort from talking. "Don't give me anything. I'll be fine."
Time stretched endlessly while they waited for news about the attack. Ahsoka had lost her earpiece during the run to the throne room, and quite frankly didn't care. She milled about, anxious and unnerved as the rest of them.
Queen Neyutnee sat on the throne, drafting a statement and never quite finishing it. Viceroy Organa sat on the steps, nursing a glass of bourbon with Captain Typho and the queen's advisor. No one was in the mood to talk.
Padmé was alone, recovered and perched on a window seat, looking out the window and not speaking to anyone. She had her blaster tossed on the window ledge, toying with some kind of necklace. Bits of her hair were falling out of her bun, and her eyeliner was smudged. Worry radiated off of her….worry and anger and fear.
Ahsoka approached her cautiously, and put a hand on the elder woman's tense shoulder. "They'll be okay, Padmé."
Padmé pressed her lips together, staring down at the necklace. A japor snippet. "Yes...but at what cost?"
"Huh?"
"It's been an hour - where are they?"
"Ma'am." Captain Typho stood, holding up a hand for attention. He held the comlink at arms length, and answered the incoming transmission. A hologram of a tired and bedraggled Jedi knight appeared. "Anakin - good news?"
"We have the Chancellor - he's unhurt. Bane and Eval are in custody."
"And Master Kenobi?" Bail Organa asked while he rose.
"Here, my friend." The body of Rako Hardeen stepped into the frame and smiled.
"Well...that face is certainly different."
Master Kenobi laughed, though his eyes were a bit sad. "We're about twenty minutes the palace. Anakin will escort the the prisoners to the Republic outpost a parsec away, and be back by morning. Mace and I will come back here with the Chancellor."
Padmé bowed her head, turning back to the window.
The transmission clicked off.
"We should probably release a statement," Queen Neyutnee murmured.
"Allow Master Windu to help," Senator Organa said. "He knows the whole story."
"Are you okay?" Ahsoka whispered the the Senator.
Padmé nodded, though she didn't say anything.
Ahsoka couldn't help herself when the entourage came back. The moment she saw them, she tackled Master Kenobi in a hug. He was stiff for all of two seconds before enfolding her in his arms, sighing in relief.
Distantly, she was aware of Senator Amidala requesting a medic to ensure everyone's well-being. Somewhere the Chancellor was speaking, saying that a statement about the night's events must be released - Master Kenobi was alive, after all. That was certainly newsworthy in itself.
"Thank the Force you're okay," he murmured when they finally parted. Rako Hardeen's face smiled at her, but it was definitely Obi-Wan Kenobi speaking to her. "I feared you would be dragged into this debacle and wind up getting hurt."
"Alive and well, Master Kenobi. You can stop worrying about me."
He shook his head and smiled - though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I do not believe I will ever stop worrying over Anakin and you."
Satine clicked the Holonet off, too disgusted about the media's reaction. She wanted to hide, to field every question about if she knew what happened, her thoughts, if they were stay together.
No, she didn't agree with the Council's decision. She had made that clear to Mace Windu nearly three, four weeks ago.
It was funny, how every big event was marred by tragedythis year.
The wedding on Alderaan, the Festival of Te Taylir Mand'alor the Festival of Light…
Satine leaned back on her couch, then bit her lip when her back twinged.
"Momma!" Pooja yelled from the sitting room. "Aunt Mé-Mé is on the holo!"
"I'll be there in a moment, baby!"
"Uncle Ani too!" Ryoo added gleefully.
"Anakin?" Sola muttered, thinking of the sweet boy she had met over dinner two years ago. The sweet boy she had learned during the Blue Shdow Virus ordeal was her brother-in-law. Her girls were still clueless of the marriage - she didn't know how long that could be kept up. What type of good friends share a bed when they visit?
"Hey Sola," Darred appeared in the doorway, looking a little shaken. "You might want to come see this."
Sola frowned, taking her hands out of the five-blossom dough and wiping her hands on a dishtowel. "What is it? Did those two announce - "
"General Kenobi is alive."
"What?"
Aayla woke to yelling in the sitting room. She groaned, pushing fingers to her temple when she sat up. Last night's migraine had yet to disappear - and the flood of emotions she was hit with was certainly not helping in the slightest. "Kit - Kit?"
The bed was empty of her lover. A bit uneasy, she rose from the bed, pulling a robe from the wardrobe. She stepped into the sitting room, surprised to find Bant and Kit yelling at each other, slipping between Basic and their Mother tongues. The Holo was on mute, showing a very pretty Twi-Lekki host.
The holo was showing a triple split screen: one of Obi-Wan at a formal event, one of Rako Hardeen, and one of a young man - wait, that was Obi-Wan Kenobi, shaved and walking around the Naboo palace with Master Windu.
She braced herself on the couch, eyes wide while she stared at the screen. Kit had noticed her, putting a warm hand on her shoulder.
"Aayla?"
"Would you like to tell your girlfriend what has occurred, Master Fisto?" Bant was practically snarling, though her eyes were glistening with tears. "Or would you like the media too?"
"Love?" Aayla asked warily, stepping away from him when he grimaced. "What's going on?"
"Korkie - Korks."
Korkie glanced upwards at his uncle Jared, whom was sliding into the seat ahead of him. He raised his eyebrows, wondering why he was so quiet. "What?"
Jared took a sip of his cafeteria-bought caf, keeping his voice low. "Do you think Sati'ika knew about the whole Obi-Wan thing?"
"Oh God, not you too. You're the seventh person to ask me and we haven't even had our first class."
"Satine's my sister - she's your aunt. It's a little different nephew." Jared knew other people in the classroom were watching them curiously - damn it. "Come on, there's no way she couldn't have known."
"I don't know...I'm worried about her though. Even before this whole ordeal she wasn't acting right - and neither was General Kenobi."
The bell rang, signaling the start of class. Jared shook his head, a silent agreement to talk about this later passing between them. He stood, moving to his usual seat in the back of the classroom.
Korkie sighed, rubbing at his temples before pulling out his textbook from his bag - and then frowned when he saw his professor speaking to the receptionist of the school outside the classroom. He turned to look at his uncle, whom shrugged.
His professor nodded, coming in after the receptionist.
The room quieted down.
"Class," Professor McGregor muttered. "Excuse the interruption - but is Cadet Kryze here?"
Both Korkie and Jared stood.
The receptionist - Ms. Rey - wrinkled her nose in confusion.
Professor McGregor explained, heading to his desk. "Prince Kryze is the one in the middle row - Ser Kryze is the back row, the Duchess' youngest brother. You'll probably want both of them. I don't want the Kryze clan cutting funding in an act of passive aggressiveness."
That got a few giggles from the class. Korkie kept his face impassive while he gathered his things. He waited for his uncle at the entrance to the classroom, much to the annoyance of Ms. Rey.
"Come on. The headmaster wants to see you." Ms. Rey stalked out of the room and down the hall, causing the boys to walk after her swiftly.
"Do you think something happened?" Jared asked quietly while they passed busy classrooms. "Why wouldn't her staff contact us personally? Or any of our aunts or uncles or my siblings contact us?"
"I... don't know. I don't know. I just...have a bad feeling about it."
"Korkie, Jared. Thanks for being here."
They bowed their heads at the headmaster, trying not to glance at each other. The room looked like something out of a Holomovie - old antiques, dusty portraits, a fireplace crackling beside a large desk.
They stood in the center of the room, waiting for the Headmaster to finish talking to the receptionist.
"Is something the matter Headmaster?" Korkie asked, trying to keep a straight face.
"Did something happen to my sister?"
The Headmaster - an ancient woman with long white hair and too many wrinkles - sighed while she sat. "We don't know. We just received word that Duchess Kryze is in the hospital and wants you two pulled out of classes for the time being."
"What?" Korkie practically screeched.
Jared frowned, stepping forward. "Headmaster - it makes sense why Korkie needs to be out...he's the head of the government in a scenario. But why me?"
"That I cannot answer, Cadet Kryze. You have an escort outside waiting for you - it will take you both to the hospital." The Headmaster sighed and folded her hands on her desk. "I may not always agree with Her Grace's politics, but I certainly do not wish her any I'll will. Send her my best boys."
Author's note: hellooooooo! I deciding to post this story over the next few weeks - this story should be done by the end of January :D
Enjoy!
ii Digestive Reader ii