Chapter 8 - Coruscant
DISCLAIMER: We do not own Star Wars or any of the characters in it, though we wish we did. We only own Aniya Skywalker and Jaufre (pronounced Jaw-Free) Naberrie. =)
Aniya Skywalker
The green lightsaber clanks to the floor as the red blade stabs through Qui-Gon's chest. Obi-Wan's horrified cry somehow manages to shatter my heart further.
Then, I sense someone touching my arm, and I lash out instinctively without even thinking. "Aniya! Ani, it's me!" hisses my brother's voice, grabbing my wrist. I open my eyes, seeing a blurred form of my brother crouching over me, his own eyes moist with tears.
I blink a few times before registering that we're on the ship – which is still in hyperspace – with everyone safely aboard. Jar Jar is snoring in the corner, and Artoo sits silently in the center of the room. And I nearly hit my brother in the face. Oops.
I pull him onto a hug, burying my face against his shoulder. Neither of us say anything for many long moments, just holding each other in silence. We pull back from each other, and Anakin sits down next to me, leaning against the wall. I shift to sit next to him, resting my head on his shoulder.
"Did you see it again?" he inquires.
I nod, tears stinging my eyes. "It means something. We hafta do something about it."
What can we do? It's the unspoken question hovering in the air. Whatever happens, I can't lose Anakin. Not him too. Not after we just lost our mother. The only one I have left now is my brother. Even now, when we have nothing else, at least we have each other.
As we hold onto each other, a silent promise passes between us, one understood enough that it doesn't need to be spoken. Whatever comes, light or dark, fire or ice, we'll always be together.
We scoot forwards and lie down again, trying to fall asleep. The images keep dancing before my eyes, tempting me to stay awake out of the fear of seeing it all over again. The temperature has dropped significantly since we boarded the ship, making me shiver and move closer to my brother for warmth as well as comfort. The tangible silence that's settled over the ship is making me increasingly uncomfortable as I'm being left to my own thoughts.
The decision to leave Tatooine and the consequences of our choice have finally caught up with me. The only life I've ever known, everything and everyone I've ever known are in the past now, except my twin. We're facing an unknown future with no idea what life will be like. But most of all I miss Mom. I have no idea if we're ever going to see her again, and even if we do, when. I've never spent even a day without her. And now, we won't see her again for who knows how long. Years maybe? I can't even think about it.
Besides, she's still a slave. What could happen to her while we're gone? Watto might be a better owner than some, but he's definitely not nice. She deserves better than that. She deserves to be free. Besides, what if since we're gone, he decides to get more slaves? Often, slaves don't care much for one another either. What's the point of forming attachments only to be sold again? Tatooine is such a dangerous planet as is. I can't help but wonder if we really made the right decision, even though I know there's no going back now.
I close my eyes tighter, trying to stop the tears from falling. I can feel my brother's pain just as distinctly as my own, and it's making everything hurt so much worse. At least now, in the darkest moments, we're together. Suddenly, I hear a soft sound from across the room. Footsteps. Someone's coming. Who could be up at this time? I open my eyes just enough to see what's happening.
It's… Padme. She's wearing her handmaiden outfit instead of the one we met her in. Jaufre – like always – is shadowing her a few feet behind. She turns on a hologram, and a recording of something starts playing. The sound is so quiet I can't really make out the words. Once it stops, the pair stand there for a while in solemn silence. Whatever it was, it must have been serious. I expect it must've had something to do with the situation on Naboo.
Something draws her attention in our direction, so I quickly close my eyes again. I don't want to talk to anyone right now. I just want to crawl into some far corner of the ship and just… be. I doubt there's anyone who understands how we feel enough to comfort us. My silent wish to be left alone is promptly ignored as Padme approaches us.
"Are you alright?" she asks quietly. Her concern is quite touching, but something about her tone just reminds me again of our loss. I want to be with Mom again. We need her. But she's gone. She's not here, and I don't know how we can continue without her.
"It's very cold," murmurs Anakin, shivering slightly, even though he's right next to me. Padme spreads her over-jacket over both of us, and I sigh contentedly at the sudden warmth before kicking myself mentally. I don't want to talk, but maybe their presences will be enough to comfort me. At least hearing her voice is a reminder that we're not alone.
"You're from a warm planet, Ani. Too warm for my taste." Same here.
"Space is cold," adds Jaufre. Tell me about it. I'm freezing too!
"You seem sad," observes Anakin, shifting slightly beside me. The current direction of the conversation is obviously making him as uncomfortable as it is me, and he wants to redirect it to something else.
I open my eyes finally, deciding to stop pretending to be sleeping. It's quite pointless. They must know I'm awake, or they wouldn't be talking right beside me like this. "Don't worry, I was awake even before you came in," I mumble, looking at the siblings. Both have concerned expressions, which are nearly identical. Jaufre is clearly doing his best to hide his worry, though he's failing spectacularly. Or maybe he's not. Maybe it's just that I can almost feel it.
"I could tell," Jaufre smirks at me for a moment before his gaze shifts back to my twin.
"The Queen is worried," sighs Padme, "Her people are suffering… dying. She must convince the Senate to intervene, or I'm not sure what will happen."
"If they don't decide quickly, we'll be on our own," her brother adds, "And the Senate, well… let's just say it can take months to decide on simple topics."
"I'm… I'm not sure what's going to happen to us. I dunno if we'll ever see you again." Anakin moves slightly, pulling something out of a pocket and holding it out to Padme. "I made this for you. So, you'd remember me. I carved it out of a japor snippet. It will bring you good fortune."
"It's beautiful, but I don't need this to remember you." Padme puts the japor snippet around her neck. Jaufre smiles faintly as he eyes it.
"It's really nice. You two never cease to surprise me." He pauses a moment, then crouches in front of us. "We'll never forget you, Ani. You were willing to risk your lives for us when we hardly knew each other. How could we ever forget that?" Good point.
Silence falls over the four of us for a long time, our minds drifting from the conversation we had to the possibilities of the future. Everything is so uncertain now, and there's no way to know what could happen. "Many things will change when we reach the capital, Ani, but my caring for you will always remain," Padme assures us at last.
"Thanks," I whisper, choking up with emotion. The compassion that the siblings have is far greater than I've ever seen in anyone else.
"I care for you too," Anakin murmurs before his voice grows quieter. "Only… I… miss…"
"You miss your mother," Padme states softly. It's a realization, not a question. Neither Anakin nor I can say a word.
Jaufre watches us sympathetically. He looks like he wants to say something – anything – but words fail him. Padme hesitates only a moment before wrapping her arms around us both. I instantly reach out from beneath the jacket and hug her back, suddenly feeling better than I did moments ago. I hope that we can be around them for a while longer. If nothing else, it will allow me to get used to being apart from my mother.
I don't know how they do it, but they somehow managed to make me feel better about everything. A little more hopeful too. It's moments like these where I need someone to be able to comfort us both, people who I know will never forget us, whether it's because of… well, us alone, or because we helped them get the hyperdrive to leave Tatooine. Somehow, I suddenly don't regret leaving anymore. I only regret leaving Mom alone and a slave. But we promised we'd come back to free her... and we will.
"We should go to bed," Jaufre interjects finally. Like I've had much luck with that so far tonight. Maybe they'll do better.
I sigh softly. "Yes, we probably should."
"Goodnight, Ani," Padme smiles, before her and her brother leave the room. I watch them disappear from sight, the door sliding closed behind them, before we lay back down again, curling up next to each other and try to sleep.
I don't actually register falling asleep, just our names being called what is assumedly the next morning. "Anakin, Aniya, wake up. We're going to be landing soon," Obi-Wan calls.
I open my eyes to see the Jedi standing in the doorway. Oh, right. The memories of the last few days crash down around me, and I push myself up into a sitting position. We're almost to Coruscant. "What's Coruscant like?" I ask sleepily, rubbing my eyes. Anakin sits up, glancing at me with an overprotective worried expression. He's wondering if I had another nightmare. I shake my head in response to his unspoken question.
"The entire planet is one city," Obi-Wan answers, motioning for us to come with him, "We'll be coming out of hyperspace any minute. Do you want to see?"
"Sure!" Anakin practically squeals, scrambling to his feet far faster than I would have thought him capable of. He offers a hand to me, pulling me up as well.
We follow Obi-Wan to the cockpit. I glance around, but don't see any sign of Qui-Gon, Padme, or Jaufre. As we enter, the ship jolts, exiting hyperspace to reveal the darkness of outer space, with a copper colored planet looming in front of us. Multiple shades of copper swirl across the world, and several small moons orbit nearby. A bright sun beyond shines light onto it. So, this is the capital of the Republic.
"There's really nothing but buildings there?" I ask, awed.
"No, there isn't," confirms the pilot.
We slowly descend closer to the surface, soon entering the atmosphere. The only thing I can see everywhere are buildings with long lines of traffic flying between them.
The ship flies closer to the surface, approaching a landing platform. "There's Chancellor Valorum's shuttle," the pilot adds when another spacecraft comes into view. "And look over there. Senator Palpatine is waiting for us."
My eyes scan the shuttle, and I spot one figure standing alone. Probably the aforementioned senator. It's not surprising the senator of Naboo is awaiting the queen's arrival. Another person – Chancellor Valorum, I think – is heading out to the landing area surrounded by several other people – guards maybe? At long last, the ship lands.
I let out a sigh of relief to feel my feet on solid ground again. Not that I mind outer space, but it's going to take some getting used to. I can't believe that we're finally here, at our destination. The place all the Jedi are, the place from which the Republic operates.
We hurry back to the main hold of the ship as everyone prepares to exit. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan walk down the ramp first, with Anakin, Jar Jar, and I right behind them. I clasp my brother's hand in a mixture of nervousness and excitement. The Jedi pause a distance away from the waiting group and bow. I do so as well after a moment of hesitation. This isn't something done on Tatooine. The entire world out here is completely different from everything I've ever known. I know it will be hard for us to adjust.
Jar Jar bows so low that he looks as though he might faceplant because of it. Queen Amidala along with her entourage approach next, and we all move aside. I spot the familiar figures of Padme and Jaufre among the group.
Qui-Gon reaches over to pull Anakin and I in front of him. Good thing, I suppose, because I'm feeling nervous enough that I'm seriously considering finding a place to hide. It's not every day we're standing in front of the leader of the galaxy, a senator, and a queen all at once. Giving this is the first time in my life, I suppose it's only fair for me to be nervous.
"It is a great gift to see you alive, Your Majesty," Senator Palpatine speaks first, "With the communication breakdown we've been very concerned. I'm anxious to hear your report on the situation. May I present Supreme Chancellor Valorum." If he's really so anxious, why is he smiling? I cast a sideways glance at Anakin. His expression implies the same thought.
Padme gives us an encouraging smile, one I take to mean that we have nothing to worry about. I smile when I catch sight of Jaufre, who is giving us a reassuring look. I'm so glad we met the siblings. Even if we don't see them again, I'll always remember them and their kindness.
Scanning the assembled, I can't tear my eyes from Palpatine. Looking at him, I get the strangest feeling that I can't explain. For the briefest second, while we were on our way over here, I felt like there was a being of complete darkness nearby. Sort of like what I felt around that creature that attacked Qui-Gon.
This darkness, however, somehow felt a lot more hidden, but at the same time, so much stronger. I try to conceal a shudder as the nightmare of Qui-Gon's death, which I haven't thought about much since we left Tatooine, floats through my mind. I think my concern is simply paranoia. Seeing Palpatine wouldn't have caused a reaction like that, right? He looks completely harmless. Maybe I'm just too paranoid after the nightmare and being in a new place. I need to stop being so jumpy.
"Welcome, Your Highness. It is an honor to finally meet you in person. I must relay to you how distressed everyone is over the current situation. I've called for a special session of the Senate to hear your position," Chancellor Valorum informs her.
"I am grateful for your concern, Chancellor," Queen Amidala replies.
"There is a question of procedure, but I feel confident we can overcome it," declares Palpatine as the two begin walking off. Everyone follows them, Anakin and I in the back, until we simultaneously realize that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan aren't coming with us. I glance over my shoulder to see them talking to the Chancellor.
We both stop, looking uncertainly at the Jedi. "Come, Ani," urges Padme.
"You'll be fine," Jaufre assures us.
Qui-Gon motions for us to go, so we reluctantly follow after Jar Jar. I want to stay with Qui-Gon. For some reason, it makes me feel a lot more comfortable. In a strange new place, I definitely would rather be around him. I can't figure out why I'm so on edge. I need to calm myself. Anakin doesn't seem nearly as stressed as I am.
The three of us – Jar Jar, my brother, and I – climb into the waiting taxi with the others. "Da Queens- a bein grossly nice, mesa tinks," Jar Jar tells us, then looks around, wiping at his head, "Pitty hot!" Hot? Seriously? I'm shivering from cold that doesn't seem entirely physical. The taxi takes off, and we start flying in between the towering buildings.
It's a breathtaking sight, flying through the city with the ground so far below. How many stories are these buildings, anyway? Back on Tatooine, it's uncommon to have houses more than one level. But here… I turn my full attention to my surroundings, trying to catch everything I can.
"Aniya, you alright?" my brother queries in concern.
"I just felt this… cold. I'll be fine," I insist, trying to be optimistic.
He gives me a concerned look but doesn't say anything.