Chapter 2: On the Run
The Next Day
Padme woke up early in the morning. She stood up and saw Anakin was passed out next to Artoo with his lightsaber by his side.This made her smile because of how innocent he looked even though he was the chosen one.
Padme walked out to the balcony and felt that to honor the death of her fallen master that she should practice Aayla's form IV lightsaber technique and Padme vowed to be as powerful as she was. Padme ignited her lightsaber and began practicing by using the force to calm her down and focus.
Moments later
Anakin awoke to Artoo nudging him slightly.
"What is it Artoo", Anakin says wiping his tired eyes.
Artoo beeped happily "Just wanted to wake you up master."
"Thanks Artoo, I shouldn't be sleeping in too much, we are on the run from the empire, I have to always be on alert", says Anakin as he stands up and pats Artoo.
Artoo then went over to Padme who was practicing. Anakin looked at Artoo then he laid his eyes on Padme who looked gorgeous than ever swinging her lightsaber around. He began feeling butterflies in his stomach and he felt something through the force which was love and affection.
Right as Anakin felt that he quickly dismissed it, he remembered the code that attachements were forbidden and knew that love would get in the way of his mission. To rebuild the order and take out Palpatine.
Palpatine was sitting in his office when Mas Amedda entered the emperor's office.
Mas Amedda *bows*
"Emperor I have news for you", says Mas Amedda.
"Good, what is it", says Palpatine.
"The female jedi escaped", says Mas.
"How did this happen", says Palpatine getting angry.
"Officer Poe said that it was Anakin Skywalker the chosen one."
Palpatine grew tense "Foolish Skywalker who does he think he is. Bring me officer poe this instant", says Palpatine.
Mas Amedda *bows* once again and leaves.
A few minutes later he returns to Palpatine's office with Officer Poe.
"Officer Poe how good it is to see you", says Palpatine with a evil smile.
Officer Poe *bowed*
He began trembling at the sight of the emperor.
"I'm sorry Emperor, the jedi got away she teamed up with that traitor who slaughtered through my man", says the officer nervously.
"It's ok Officer it wasn't your fault how were you supposed to know the chosen one would arrived", Palpatine said instilling false hope in the officer.
The officer felt relieved and calmy said "Thank you empero..." but immediately fell to the ground screaming in agony.
"You thought I would let you live, you failed me officer, now you will die", says Palpatine shooting force lightning from both of his hands.
A few seconds later Officer Poe was dead, his whole body was burnt to a crisp. Palpatine sat down and looked at Mas Amedda.
"Clean this up", he says.
Mas Amedda *bows* calling the royal red guards to pick up the officer and take him out of the office.
Palpatine then called his apprentice.
Count Dooku's holo figure appeared in front of Palpatine.
"Yes Master what is it", says Dooku.
"The jedi on Naboo fled our grasp, with the help from Skywalker", says Palpatine.
Dooku's face turned more serious.
"I want you Darth Tyrannus to head to Naboo and kill them both, I sense through the force they are still there", says Palpatine.
"Understood, I will not fail you master", says Dooku about to leave, but Palpatine stops him.
"Apprentice one more thing", says Palpatine.
Dooku turns around with his lightsaber in his hand ready to head to Naboo "Yes what is it Master".
"Do what must be done, do not hesitate, show no mercy, we can't have Skywalker alive he will try to fulfill the prophecy", says Palpatine with a devilish smile.
"Yes Master then won't escape my grasp", says Dooku determined.
Palpatine then ends the hologram and stands up to look out the bustling streets of Coruscant.
"Oh Skywalker, I wish you could be my apprentice, but now you will die", says Palpatine laughing.
Anakin was eating some soup and bread that was found in the kitchen cabinets. Padme walked over to him "Did you save some for me", she says wiping the sweat from her face.
"Yes it's in the kitchen", he says pointing to the counter.
Padme smiled and grabbed the food. She then returned and sat across from Anakin.
"Padme there is something I have to tell", says Anakin.
At this moment Padme thought to herself "Is he going to confess his love to me, No the code, but the jedi are gone this is no more code." Padme sat there for a few seconds staring at Anakin with eyes wide open.
Anakin waved a hand in front of her face "Are you Alright Padme".
Padme quickly snaps back to reality. Her cheeks start turning red in embarrassment.
"Sorry, I just feel exhausted from training", she says nervously. She begins eating her food to avoid eye contact with Anakin.
"Ok, Padme I wanted to talk to you about a plan to escape this planet", Anakin says.
"Yeah what did you have in mind", says Padme.
"I don't really know yet, but do you have any ideas because I'm pretty unfamiliar about this planet", says Anakin rubbing the back of his neck.
Padme's mind sparked with an idea.
"I have an idea, it may be risky but it is the only way we can escape", she says.
Anakin looked at her curiously.
"Okay, what is the plan that you are proposing."
"Well we have to sneak into the royal palace and make our way to the hangars and hijack one of the starfighters", says Padme.
"Are you insane, Padme the empire has a shit ton of troops guarding the palace how do you think we could get in", says Anakin utterly confused at the idea.
"Well I know the place inside and out, I lived on Naboo my whole life before I became a jedi", says Padme.
"That still doesn't count for the fact that we are heading straight into danger", says Anakin.
"Aren't you the chosen one, why are you so scared, you don't trust me do you because I am a young jedi is that it", says Padme feeling frustrated at Anakin's refusal to the plan.
"No Padme it's not that I don't trust you, it's tha..."
Anakin pauses for a moment.
"It's what", says Padme in a aggressive tone.
"It's because I don't want to fail, I don't want to fail you, the jedi, the galaxy, the force, this burden of being the chosen one is really hard", says Anakin releasing all his emotions.
Padme sits there silent feeling sorry for getting mad at Anakin, she didn't know how much being the chosen one affected him.
"I'm sorry", she says in a soft tone.
"It's not your fault", says Anakin placing a hand on her lap. Padme began to blush and started gazing at Anakin. She tried to stop but her heart kept forcing her to look at his deep blue eyes.
Anakin didn't show the same emotion back, he stood up and walked to the balcony to meditate. Padme sat there with Artoo feeling sad.
"God I wish they never forbidden attachments because I love him, and I want to tell him but I can't because he is invested into the code and fulfilling the prophecy" Padme says talking to herself.
Dooku exited hyperspace and entered Naboo's atmosphere. He landed a minute later in the Naboo palace hangar.
An Imperial officer walks up and greets Dooku as he steps out of his starfighter.
"We've been expecting you, the emperor told us you have some business on Naboo", says the officer.
"Indeed, now prepare a platoon of your most elite stormtroopers, we have word that there are two jedi hiding in the forests and my orders are to eliminate them", says Dooku in a monotone voice.
"Yes my lord", says the officer as he bows and tells the lieutenant to prepare a platoon.
Dooku then began walking around the palace admiring the architecture. He thought to himself "Skywalker is foolish, he will probably run at the sight of me. He must know how dangerous I am, but him and the female jedi shall not escape, never. They will die to my lightsaber." Dooku began smiling at the thought of killing the chosen one "the hero without fear".
As he made his way to the entrance of the palace, an officer walked up to him.
"Your platoon is ready my lord, we grabbed the best of the best for this operation", says the officer.
Dooku looks at the officer and says "Good, in 1 hour we will begin our search for the traitorous jedi and eliminate them."
The officer *nodded* and returned back to the barracks.
Anakin began meditating to clear his mind and focus. During his meditation he felt something in the force, it felt dark and slowly approaching. He focused even more and realized "Dooku, he's here." Anakin's face turned to utter shock. "How could this happen. How did he find us", Anakin tells himself.
Padme who was sitting with Artoo noticed Anakin's weird behavior. She decided to go up and investigate.
'What's wrong", says Padme standing in front of Anakin. Anakin looked up to see worry on Padme's face.
"It's nothing Padme, you can go back to what you are doing", Anakin says.
Padme felt neglected and angry that Anakin wasn't telling her what was going on. "Anakin you can't keep hiding things from me, we are a team, I feel like you don't care about me. It sounds like you want me gone", says Padme growing tense.
Anakin stood up and began comforting Padme. "I'm sorry Padme you're right, we are in this together, it's just I don't want to make you worry that's all."
"What is there to worry about, I'm with the chosen one aren't I", she says. Her heart was racing at the feeling of Anakin's warm, soft hands touching her.
Anakin's face turned red and he chuckled. "Haha", he says.
For a moment Anakin felt like everything that was happening around him was suddenly banished and the only other thing there was Padme. He felt his feelings of attachment start kicking in but he rejected it and broke away from Padme.
He then looked at her with a serious face. "Dooku, he is here. He is looking for us I can feel it through the force."
Padme looked at Anakin, she can see the worry in his eyes but also the power that was flowing through him.
"What are we going to do", Padme says.
"Run, we have to run, your plan of going to the palace is now in effect. This is our only chance and we can't fail. The future of the jedi and the galaxy rests in our hands. We have to get off this planet we can't die to his lightsaber", Anakin says turning his head looking at the lake glistening in the sun.
Padme looked at Anakin and said "Well we should get going then". She then grabs Anakin's hand signaling him to prepare to leave. He obeys and grabs his lightsaber and some supplies that they will need.
Anakin then walked over to Artoo who was giving Anakin confused beeps.
"Artoo we are leaving the empire will be coming pretty soon, we are going to head to the royal palace. I need you to hastily make it to the palace hangar and prepare me and Padme a ship to escape in."
Artoo beeps in agreement and follows Anakin and Padme outside of the house. As they were leaving Anakin stopped Padme for a second. Padme gave Anakin a look of confusion.
"Padme I need you to understand what I'm about to say", Anakin says looking straight into her warm chocolate eyes.
"Yes", she says.
"If we get to the palace and we are surrounded. I want you and Artoo to hop in a starfighter and escape. I will set up a diversion for you too", Anakin says.
Padme then shouts "No Anakin, they will kill you what about your prophe..."
Anakin places his finger on her mouth cutting her off.
"Padme forget the prophecy that is my own mission, not yours. Your mission is to escape, find the rest of scattered jedi and rebuild the order."
Padme stood there in disagreement. "Anakin I will not let you die, no way."
Anakin used the force and felt Padme's affection towards him. He felt shocked because Anakin felt the same but dismissed those feelings. Padme however accepted those feelings ignoring the code.
He then looks back at her. "Padme you have to let go of your attachments, it will only slow you down. If you stay with me then we will both die. The galaxy will then have no hope of ending Palpatine's rule of tyranny. Do you understand", Anakin says in a serious tone.
Padme slowly *nods* in agreement.
"You're right Anakin, I can't let my attachments get the best of me", she says.
Anakin stood there and pondered to himself. "Did she just admit she has feelings for me? This can't be true. She has to learn not to be attached because if she loves me deeply and sees me die. Then she will lose the will to live."
He then looked at Padme and sensed her sadness. He then comforted her.
"Padme don't worry, that is only the worst case scenario, trust me we will get off this planet together, I promise."
This made Padme feel a whole lot better.
"Alright enough of the chit chat, we should get a move on", Padme says.
"Agree, cmon Artoo we are leaving", Anakin says looking at Artoo.
Artoo beeps and begins hovering right behind Anakin and Padme.
An hour has past. Dooku and his platoon of stormtroopers began their search through the forest.After 5 minutes of searching a trooper yelled "I found something." Dooku and the platoon leader ran to the stormtrooper.
"What is it", says the Platoon leader.
"Lakehouse 12 o clock. They are probably hiding in there", says the stormtrooper.
Dooku looks at the house and then back to the troops.
"Alright, I want you all to search the house and if you see the jedi shoot on sight."
The platoon leader yelled "You heard the Count, let's go." 40 stormtroopers approached the lakehouse and destroyed everything inside. The sergeant returned to the Platoon leader and Dooku who were sitting behind.
"Sir the house, is clear but we found fresh traces which meant they left not to long ago", says the sergeant.
"Good work", says the Platoon leader. Then he looked at Dooku who had a blank expression.
"Where do you think they ran to. There can't escape we have everything on lockdown, it would be impossible for them to leave", says the Platoon leader.
Dooku stood there and thought for a few moments. Then he received a comm from the royal palace.
"What is it", says Dooku.
The officer shouted "THE JEDI ARE HERE, THE JEDI ARE HERE, they are trying to escape", says the officer.
Dooku quickly turned to the platoon leader and said get your men back to the palace immediately the jedi are trying to escape. We will not let them."
"Affirmative", says the Platoon leader calling the stormtroopers into the troop transport.
Dooku then hopped on his personal speeder and made his way back to the palace. "You shall not escape my grasp Skywalker" he says laughing."
Padme, Anakin, and Artoo made their way into the palace. Suddenly they hear multiple stormtroopers raise their guns behind them.
"Identify yourself", says the stormtrooper.
Anakin turns around and says "Didn't say please." As he ingites his lightsaber. Padme does the same.
The stormtroopers yell "jedi" and unleased a hail fire of blaster bolts. Anakin easily deflected the bolts redirecting them back to the stormtroopers, fatally killing them.
"Let's keep moving" says Anakin touching Padme's shoulder. She started running with side by side while Artoo was spilling oil to slow down the pursuing stormtroopers.
They ran down the long hallway but began taking fire from multiple stormtroopers. Anakin and Padme jumped behind a few crates for cover.
He shouts at her over the intensive fire whizzing past their heads "Is there another way out of here."
"Yes, up there", she says pointing to the ventiliation shaft.
Anakin then used the force to break open the shaft and jumped into it. Padme and Artoo then followed right behind him.
Dooku arrived moments later to see dozens of stormtroopers laying dead all over the palace.
"Where do you think they went", says the Platoon leader.
Dooku thought for a second then sensed Anakin and the female jedi.
"They are going to the royal hangar, send all troops there we will corner them", Dooku says.
"Roger that", says the platoon leader radioing all available troops to the palace hangars.
As Anakin, Padme, and Artoo approached the hangars, Anakin used the force to break the hatch open.
Artoo quickly ran through a hole into the hangar and into a starfighter preparing it for their escape.
As Padme and Anakin were making their way through the hallway to the hangar they started taking heavy fire from the entrance to the hangar.
"Shit, we're surrounded", Anakin says deflecting blaster bolts left and right.
Padme turned to Anakin and said "What are we going to do."
Anakin dropped down behind cover and looked at the worry in her eyes.
"I will create a diversion, then you go through the other hallway and you will a door that leads to the hangar", Anakin says.
Padme looked at him with defiance "No Anakin, I am not leaving you."
"Padme we don't have time for this", he then force pushes her back and closes the door.
She screams "ANAKIN NO" banging heavily on the blast door.
Suddenly stormtroopers came up behind her and said "die jedi scum."
Padme then turned around and quickly cut the stormtroopers down. She then made her way into the hangar and hopped in the starfighter Artoo was in.
Artoo beeped to Padme saying "Where is Anakin."
Padme began to sob uncontrollably "He told me to leave him, he is distracting the stormtroopers."
Artoo beeped sadly but listened to what Anakin told him earlier and obeyed his orders. He lifted the starfighter up and flew out of the hangar.
Padme sat there weeping, tears were flowing down her face making her jedi robe a little wet. She couldn't believe that Anakin was gone like that. He forced pushed he so she can live. Now the only thing she can do is hope that he made it out alive too.
"Please in the name of the force, Anakin please don't die I love you", she says.
End of Chapter 2
Thanks for reading Chapter 2. I'm actually feel great writing something that is not modern AU. I hope you guys enjoyed this one, I will try to release the next chapter as fast as I can. Thank you once again and May the Force Be With You.