Disclaimer – all original Star Wars characters in this fanfic (excluding my OC's) are the property of Lucasfilm and Disney.
Chapter 28 "The Motherly Love – part 2"
Planet Alderaan, Aldera - Capital of Alderaan, Aldera Universal Medcenter.
Aldera Universal Medcenter was a twelve-building hospital complex located in Aldera, the capital city of Alderaan. The complex was equipped with the most up-to-date facilities for treating almost every known species. Known for its compassion of its patients as much as for its medical advances, no patient admitted to Aldera Universal was turned away if they could not pay.
Aldera Universal Medcenter also included a medical school and a medical droid research-and-development facility. For a fee, people could study and train under the staff of Aldera Universal and become staff members themselves.
"Let me make one thing straight," Darth Plagueis said gravely, looking at the Organas. "If the Jedi will manage to escape after we try to kill them and notify the Jedi Council on Coruscant about our little cooperation, they will surely pass this information to the Senate. And then, the Senate will likely think that you allied yourself with the Sith against the Republic."
"They will brand you as traitors and in all likelihood will separate Alderaan from the Galactic Republic," added Darth Enigma. "But there is a possibility that some of your friends in the Senate, will be against that."
"So what are you proposing?" asked Bail Organa, who stood beside his wife, which was fully concentrated on her little baby girl. Still lying in a hospital bed, she was like a wounded animal protecting her young. She even looked suspiciously at nurses and medical droids, who were checking her state. The whole situation made her paranoid, which was exactly what Darth Plagueis aimed for.
"If I understand well..." begun Darth Plagueis. "...in order to become the Senator you were forced to abandon your viceroyship, delegating your powers to a regent, correct ?"
"Yes," replied Bail, "Why do you ask?"
"Then, after we will help you save your daughter," the Muun continued. "You will choose to retire as a Senator, reclaim your title, and officially introduce the situation that took place here, to the Senate."
"But, if you'll kill the Jedi, the Republic will declare war against Alderaan. I don't think that's a good idea Lord Plagueis," Bail said tentatively.
"If you explain everything as it was, a declaration of war from the Republic would be recognized as an act of aggression in the eyes of the rest of the galaxy," stated Darth Plagueis. "And just like my apprentice said, your friends in the Senate will be against it because of your great help for the Republic in the past, and that will cause chaos along with a discord."
"Can I... can I talk to the Jedi first in order to try to resolve this peacefully?" asked Bail, who was not looking forward to violence in the hospital between wounded and sick.
"By all means," replied Darth Plagueis. "But just in case something goes wrong, my apprentice and I are going to prepare for battle."
Both Sith left the room, heading for the elevator. "So how are we going to do this?" asked Darth Enigma.
"I presume that you already memorized the layout of the floors?" asked Darth Plagueis.
"Of course," Darth Enigma replied confidently. "They are all the same, so it's was no big deal. The ground floor would be the best place to fight, lots of pillars, and places to hide for a sneak attack. Of course, everything depends on the situation, a number of opponents, and their abilities."
"They won't send weak Padawans to fight Sith Lords, so you can at least expect Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters. Don't underestimate them, apprentice," warned Darth Plagueis.
"I never underestimated an opponent master," stated Darth Enigma with a smirk. "That's why I'm still alive."
Coruscant, Republic Executive Building, Supreme Chancellor's Office.
"Senator Bail Organa is working with the Sith?" asked Chancellor Palpatine, sitting on his chair, shocked and pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is hard to believe, it has to be some kind of mistake, Master Jedi."
"We think that the Sith are threatening him somehow, but we can not rule out the possibility that he is willingly helping them due to his desire to have a child," said Master Windu, who sat next to Grand Master Yoda. Both of them had serious looks on their faces.
"He has done so much for the Republic," the older human stood up from his desk and walked do the double-glazed transparisteel panoramic window. He didn't instruct his apprentice or the assassin to travel to Alderaan, and he doubted that they would do something without his approval. "Do we know the identity of the Sith?" he asked, facing the window and staring at the city below.
"Certain of this, we are not," replied Yoda.
"The message we received was unclear, but the were mentions of a human and a Muun," added Windu.
When the Jedi Master spoke the word 'Muun,' Palpatine's eyes widened, and a cold shiver ran down his spine. Personally, he knew only one Muun Sith Lord, and his name was Darth Plagueis, whom he killed and cremated his body. Palpatine didn't believe it was him. There was no chance. Whoever those Sith were, they needed to be destroyed.
"Is everything okay, Chancellor?" asked Windu, sensing Palpatine's unrest.
"Oh, my!" Palpatine responded with faked anxiety and turned around. "I've just remembered that Senator Padmé Amidala is on her way to Alderaan, she is a close friend of Queen Breha Organa and she wanted to congratulate her in person."
"Hmmm... troubling that is," said Yoda. "Caught in between the conflict, she will be."
The Chancellor walked to his desk and pushed one of the buttons on the console. After a few seconds, a holographic image of Senator Padmé Amidala from Naboo appeared on the desk. "Yes, Chancellor?"
"Padmé, my dear, are you already on Alderaan?" asked Chancellor with concern.
"I'm about to land at the spaceport," said the young Nabooian female. "Is there something wrong?"
"For your own safety, stay in the spaceport, Senator Amidala," suggested Windu. "We have Jedi on their way to the Alderaan as we speak."
"But what's going on?" Padmé asked, confused.
"The Jedi think Senator Bail Organa and his wife are cooperating with the Sith," answered Palpatine. "So before the Jedi will get there, do not do anything stupid, my dear. I know Queen Breha is your friend, but please wait for the Jedi to arrive."
"What?! They would never do that!" "Padmé said decisively. "This has to be a mistake!"
"I've said that to and I sure everything will turn up fine," reassured her Palpatine. "But just for your safety, wait in the spaceport."
Padmé sighed and nodded. "Okay, I will Chancellor."
"Good," Palpatine smiled and ended the call.
"Worry yourself, Chancellor, you should not," said Grand Master Yoda.
"It's hard not to Master Yoda," said Palpatine. "Please, inform me on a regular basis, my friends."
"We will Chancellor," said Windu rising from the chair. When he and Yoda left the Chancellor office, the older human narrowed his eyes and clutched his fists. He had to wait for the outcome of this whole incident to know what to do next. For the first time in his life, Darth Sidious truly wanted the Jedi to succeed and slain the Sith Lords.
Some time later – Planet Alderaan, Aldera - Capital of Alderaan, Aldera Spaceport.
"Finally!" exclaimed Anakin Skywalker walking down the ramp of the Eta-class shuttle.
"He really is an impatient Padawan," stated Eeth Koth, a Zabrak Jedi Master, who walked right beside Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi
"Sometimes, I feel like training him is beyond my abilities," Obi-Wan sighed and shook his head, making the Zabrak chuckle. Master Koth placed his hand on the human's shoulder. "No one said that training the chosen one is going to be easy Obi-Wan, but think of this as personal training for you as well."
"His abilities are making him arrogant, Master Koth, but I will give my best," Obi-Wan smiled and nodded.
"Padmé?!" Both Jedi looked at Anakin, who stared at the young former Queen of Naboo, running towards them. They were also surprised to see her here.
"Senator Amidala," Master Eeth Koth and Obi-Wan bowed their heads. "What are you doing here?" Anakin asked, surprised, but clearly happy to see her for the first time since the Invasion of Naboo.
At first, the female Senator looked at Anakin surprised by how much he had grown over the past years, but it was no time for small talk. "I was on my way here to congratulate Queen Breha," Padmé replied. "But the Chancellor warned me of what happened here, and I want to help you."
"You can't, that's too dangerous, Padmé," argued Anakin. "We're going to face Sith Lords."
"The Organas are my friends, Anakin," Padmé said with a frown and folding her arms. "I will go with you whenever you like it or not."
"Of course, you can come with us, Senator," Master Koth said calmly.
Anakin looked at the Zabrak Jedi Master with a shocked expression. Seeing that, Obi-Wan placed his hand on his Padawan's shoulder. "Anakin... Senator Amidala will go to them with or without us. Don't you think she will be safer with us rather than alone?" he asked with a soft smile.
Anakin was half-hearted about this, but he had to agree with his master. "You're right, Master," he responded concededly, stroking his hair and looking at the Senator, who smiled and nodded gratefully to the Jedi.
"Let's not waste any more time," said Master Koth.
When the four of them headed towards their destinations, one of the guards, that watched them from hiding, reached for his comlink and activated it. "Inform the Medcenter and Prince Bail Organa that the Jedi and Senator Padmé Amidala have arrived."
Planet Alderaan, Aldera - Capital of Alderaan, Aldera Universal Medcenter.
"Thank you for the information," said Bail Organa ending the holo-call and walking over to the Darth Plagueis and Darth Enigma, who stood by the reception. Only they were present on the ground floor. With cooperation from the medical staff, the floor was emptied for the upcoming battle.
"They have landed," said Bail. "Jedi Master Eeth Koth, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, and his Padawan, Anakin..."
"...Skywalker," said Darth Plagueis finishing the sentence with a sinister smile.
"Yes," Bail confirmed. "You know him since you... made him."
"Heh, you could say that," Darth Plagueis replied with a smirk. "Now then... we'll do it this way. Prince Bail, you will wait for the Jedi outside of the Medcenter. If you manage to convince them to leave this planet, then there will be no bloodshed. Plain and simple. However, if they've just as much set a foot inside, that's a signal for us to attack and kill them. Do we understand each other?"
"Yes..." Bail replied with a deep sigh. Turning on his heel, he exited the Medcenter, hoping that he will manage to resolve this peacefully.
"What if they will try to burst in through the windows on one of the upper floors?" asked Darth Enigma.
"This is the only floor where they could fight without risking innocent lives, they won't risk the battle on one of the upper floors," stated Darth Plagueis. "And even if they'll try, you'll be guarding the Queen in the first place."
Darth Enigma nodded with a grin. "Who would have thought that helping the innocent will give us the advantage."
Darth Plagueis chuckled in response. "Indeed... their Jedi code will be their bane."
After a few minutes, two speeders arrived in front of the Aldera Universal Medcenter. On one sat Anakin with Padmé, on the second Master Eeth Koth and Obi-Wan Kenobi. While dismounting the speeders, they noticed Bail Organa, who stood near the entrance. All four of them started to walk towards him at a steady pace.
"I feel cold, and it is not the temperature," Anakin said with a grim expression.
"It's the dark side of the Force," stated Master Koth. "Surely we are at the right place, don't lose focus."
Obi-Wan could feel Bail's strong emotions, and he knew that he's been through a lot lately. The Alderaanian looked like he hadn't a good night's sleep in a few days and could collapse any minute now.
Prince Bail smiled softly at the sight of Senator Amidala. "It's good to see you, Padmé," he said with a tired voice.
The young female approached him and smiled. "Congratulations on the birth of a daughter, Senator Bail, thank the heavens that it finally happened."
"The ones who should have our thanks, are the Sith," Bail pointed out. "They helped my wife to finally give birth to a child."
"Care to explain that, Senator Organa?" Master Eeth Koth folded his arms over his chest with a curious look.
Bail told the Jedi whole story about Darth Enigma, who 'visited' them, how his Master used the midi-chlorian manipulation to create life inside his wide, and how Darth Enigma visited her regularly in order to check her state. He explained the situation with the paranoid doctor and that they asked the Sith to help them. The three Jedi and the young Senator were looking at Bail like he was crazy, but Obi-Wan Kenobi and Eeth Koth didn't sense a single lie in his whole story.
"...and that's why if you enter the Medcenter, the Sith will attack you," Bail finished with a deep sigh, feeling a little tired.
Obi-Wan stroked his chin, contemplating this. "This is unheard of," he said. "The Sith helping someone and not wanting anything in return."
"They're up to something," Anakin said distrustfully. "The Sith are evil, there is no way that there are doing this without some gain."
"Despite it all, we need to take a look at the girl," insisted Master Eeth Koth. "If the Sith were involved in her 'creation,' then we need to take her to the Jedi temple on Coruscant for examination and make sure she's alright. She could be a weapon of the Sith for all we know. You have to understand our situation, Senator Bail."
"And you have to understand my wife and me!" Bail replied, raising his voice. "We have longed for a child for many years, you cannot imagine the pain and sorrow we have been through. So you will understand that I cannot let you take my child. Regardless if the Sith were involved or not!"
"Senator, you need to calm down. We just want to help you," said Jedi Master Eeth Koth, feeling the Senator's rising hatred. "You're being manipulated by the Sith. Deception is their bread and butter."
"No!" Bail yelled and reached for a blaster that was attached to his belt. "We don't want your help, just leave... please!"
Anakin instinctively reached for his lightsaber hilt. Obi-Wan, on the other hand, just raised his hands in a peaceful gesture. "Please, we don't want to steal your daughter, Senator Organa. The Sith will take her, and she will become their tool for destruction, she will be safer with the Jedi."
Before Bail Organa could fire his blaster, an invisible force grabbed him and pulled him towards the Mecenter's entrance. The Jedi and Padmé didn't even have a chance to react. The glass door opened, and the human flew into the reception, stopping just under the Darth Plagueis's feet, looking shocked and scared. He quickly rose to his feet and looked at the Muun.
"We need you alive, and you're trying to get yourself killed!" Darth Plagueis scolded the Senator, who looked at the floor downcasted.
"Take him to his wife and guard them, apprentice," he ordered. "I will play with the Jedi."
"Yes, Master," Darth Enigma replied, grabbing Bail's arm and pulling him towards the elevator.
"We need to act quickly," suggested Anakin.
"Padawan Skywalker, go around and try to find a way onto the third floor. If Senator Organa was telling the truth, then there you will find Queen Breha with her daughter," ordered Eeth Koth. "Obi-Wan and I will go through the front entrance. We will engage the Sith, use that distraction to rescue them."
"I will go with Padawan Skywalker," said Padmé. "Maybe my presence will calm the Queen, and make your work easier."
Anakin nodded and headed to the side of the building with Padmé by his side. Both Master Koth and Obi-Wan Kenobi draw their lightsabers and started walking towards the entrance door. The closer they were to the entrance, the dark presence was getting stronger and stronger. When they walked through the door, they saw a tall, hooded figure from which emanated sinister, dark energy.
"You must be Darth Plagueis of which Bail Organa spoke," Master Koth stated and prepared his lightsaber while Obi-Wan assumed a defensive Soresu stance.
The Lord of the Sith looked at the two Jedi with glowing yellow eyes and spoke. "There is absolutely no reasoning with you, Jedi," he said with a voice full of hatred. "You could have ended this peacefully, but you decided to act violently."
"Spare us the innocent act and give up, Sith," demanded Master Koth. "You will never win against the guardians of the light."
"I have already won," Darth Plagueis stated with a smirk. "You think that I've not anticipated your distraction so that the brave, young Padawan could attempt to kidnap the girl?"
Obi-Wan raised his arm with comlink in order to warn his Padawan, but before he could pronounce even a single word, he was pulled by the Force towards the Muun, who already ignited his crimson blade. The Zabrak quickly lunged a the Sith, who had to jump aside and desist from impaling the human on his lightsaber in order to not get cut.
"Obi-Wan, do not lose your focus," reminded Master Eeth Koth without taking his eyes off the Sith. "Your Padawan can handle himself."
"Your right, Master Koth," agreed Obi-Wan. He once again assumed the stance. Just one second of deconcentration was enough to almost get him killed. The human knew that this Sith was very dangerous.
Master Koth recognized the earlier attack. It was a form six maneuver called the 'draw closer,' after which the Zabrak assumed that the Sith had to be a Niman specialist. With an evil laugh, Darth Plagueis lunged at the two Jedi, who prepared themselves for the fight of their lives.
"There!" Anakin stood behind the building and pointed at the balcony on the third floor. "I can use the Force to enhance my jump and get us on the balcony."
"Okay," Padmé agreed and allowed Anakin to grab her around her waist with one arm. Tapping into the Force, the Padawan jumped high, landing safely on the balcony. Opening the door, they've both entered the third-floor corridor. "Now to find the Queen," Anakin said, looking around.
"I think the visiting hours are over," suddenly, a voice came from around the corner. Anakin quickly activated his lightsaber and pointed the blu blade in the direction of the voice. From around the corner emerged a grey-skinned human with green-colored eyes and long, black hair.
"Sith!" Anakin snarled, narrowing his eyes and pulling Padmé behind him.
Darth Enigma chuckled, activating his crimson lightsaber. "So now the Sith are protecting the innocent while the Jedi are planning to kidnap a baby girl," he said with a smirk.
"Padmé, go find the Queen!" ordered Anakin. "I'll deal with him."
"You will die here," said Darth Enigma. "And your friends below will join you. All because you didn't want to end this peacefully."
Anakin dashed at the Sith, giving the young female a chance to escape and look for the Queen. Darth Enigma, however, wasn't interested in chasing the Senator. He wanted to fight the famous Padawan. The young Sith quickly recognized the form five Shien variant, which was more adept at blocking blaster bolts than for blade-to-blade combat. Not to mention that the style worked the best when countering attacks from multiple opponents, and was typically less effective against a single adversary. The fact that Anakin only attacked, instead of waiting for an opportunity to counterattack, made the matter even worse.
Darth Enigma felt the strength behind the blows, so instead of blocking them, he effortlessly began to redirect and dodge all of Anakin's attacks, which made the young human even more irritated. Every time Anakin missed, the Sith punched or kicked him. The blows were painful, but Anakin didn't relent.
He began to swing even faster, but nothing changed. Darth Enigma continued to hit Anakin, who began to grow more tired with each minute. He noticed that something was wrong. Usually, he was able to last much longer, even when he fought at the Temple with more ferocity. "Wha-what's...?"
"Took you long enough to notice, you amateur," mocked the Sith. "Every time I hit you, you felt a slight pain. In that exact moment, when you focused on it, I used Force drain on you. With each hit, I slightly drained a part of your energy. I thought you were a big deal, but you're just an incompetent Padawan."
Anakin got angry and slashed wildly at the Sith, who pretended to block the strike. At the last second, the Sith deactivated and immediately reactivated his lightsaber. Anakin's blue blade missed the red blade, which nicked his left shoulder.
Anakin screamed in pain, dropping his lightsaber, but instinctively he released a strong Force push with his right hand, sending Darth Enigma flying backward. The Sith hit the corridor wall, surprised by the raw power of his opponent. However, he quickly regained his composure. "Lots of raw power, but nothing more," he stated with a sinister smile. Thanks to Deiven's Mind Time Peregrination, he fought hundreds of such opponents. For him, Anakin wasn't anything special.
The Padawan frowned, clenching his teeth from the pain. Using the Force, he called his lightsaber, and again, he lunged at the Sith with an angry scream.
In the meantime, Padmé continuously looked for the Queen and finally found her in one of the hospital rooms. Breha laid in the medical bed, holding the girl in her arms while Bail Organa paced nervously, stopping at the sight of Padmé.
"Padmé," Breha said with a soft smile. "It's good to see you."
"Breha, you have to stop this!" Padmé pleaded, breathing heavily from the running. "The Sith are manipulating you for their personal gains!"
"The Sith helped us, and the Jedi want to kidnap my girl," stated Queen Breha. "For me, everything is clear, Padmé. In this fight, they are our allies."
"This is wrong, Breha!" Padmé said forcefully. "We have known each other for a long time, this isn't you!"
"Padmé, when in the future you will have kids of your own..." she looked gravely at the young Senator. "...then you will know what it means to be a mother. I will do anything in order to protect my baby girl, even if it means to leave the Republic and join... the Sith."
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