Distraction: Chapter Twelve

I had bummed a ride from a smuggler heading back to the Core. Inside a pocket in my vest were several credits Master Yoda had loaned me, but why pay for something you can get for free? The only catch was, he wouldn't be going on in to Coruscant. His destination was Byss, a few planets out from the capital. It wasn't much of an issue for me. There were a few humanoids there who owed me a favor or two. I was sure I'd be able to catch another ride into Galactic City. Hopefully, I could still fool them into believing I was on their side; the Dark Side.

Little by little the darker influence of the Force was leaving me – like a dying soldier bleeding out. My grip upon it was slim. And I was okay with that. Ever since meeting with Yoda, I had begun feeling a power filling me that was warm and surprisingly comfortable. No more was I filled with a cacophony of screams, agony, and hatred, but a beautiful melody was playing. I could easily get used to this.

But could I hide it? As I contemplated that question, I dared to poke at it and study it more. I wondered if others could see or possibly sense it. Surely, I was glowing.

I glanced around the relatively cramped transport. Apparently, I wasn't the only one in need of a lift off Tatooine. However, nobody was paying any attention to me. Most often than not, those who were trying to hide, minded their own business. I was safe. At least for now.

I reached again inside my vest to touch the credits Yoda had given me. If my luck ran out, I probably had enough for a transport off Byss. Whatever got me home the quickest was best. I was eager to find Padme. Not just for her sake but for mine as well. Only then would I feel complete.

But would she accept me for who I was? Would she understand? Or would she be appalled and cast me from her sight? I wasn't sure I'd even come to terms with it yet. How could I ask her to?

The possibility of her not wanting anything to do with me hadn't crossed my mind. I didn't want to think about it.

"Padme Amidala. Senator Amidala. Padme….Padme." I repeated, drawing a few strange looks from others. Oops. I hadn't meant to say all that out loud. I smiled at a particular young female, who was the cutest little palliduvan I'd ever seen. In response, she blushed and hid behind her mother's skirt.

And suddenly, I was filled with joy. It came on without warning and spilled over until it transformed me into a raving lunatic. I started laughing and couldn't stop. I bent at the waist and tried to catch my breath, until finally the giggling tapered off and stopped. Still, I couldn't help but smile – a big, toothy smile, unlike any I could remember revealing. To anyone! Needless to say, the other passengers shied away from me the rest of the trip and gave me a wide berth when I exited the transport.

And yet, I'd discovered another way to avoid large crowds. The Light side apparently had its merits.

I found an old comrade of mine and talked him into letting me borrow his own personal corvette. Soon, I was off Byss and on my way to Coruscant.

By the time I reached Galactic City, the skies were growing dark. I carefully crept around to the back gates of what used to be the Jedi Temple gardens and opened them with ease. There was a stone path that led to a lower level entrance not too many used these days. I imagined perhaps this was the way the Jedi padawans snuck back into the Temple when they were out past curfew. I quickly deactivated the locking mechanism and entered into a dark hallway. This corridor would lead directly to a bank of elevators which would take me further down where I needed to be.

I selected basement level where I had visited before and waited. Once the lift started moving, I felt a cold chill run across my skin. I recognized it immediately. Someone was searching for me. Immediately, I strengthened my mental shields. I wasn't sure who it had been, but it was either Sidious or Anakin who had recognized my return. I needed to be careful.

I had reached the doors where the guards had been only to find the posts were abandoned. I had a bad feeling about this. Almost as if I'd been expected.

When I heard the sound of a lightsaber come to life behind me, I wasn't surprised - just disappointed.

"We knew you'd come back. You always do."

I recognized Anakin's voice and slowly rotated.

"You've known all along, haven't you?" I questioned him, knowing full well he was too cocky and confident not to reply. He was enjoying this.

"Of course we did. This isn't the first time, you know. What is it now? Twenty-two? Three? Something like that. I've lost count."

"I'm not like the others," I told him, bolstering my courage while wishing I could call for my lightsaber. I'd left it at the bottom of a trunk at the end of my bed.

"That's what they've all said. Oh, this?" Anakin answered me before I had even asked and pulled my favored weapon from the folds of his cloak. "I wouldn't want to fight you unfairly. Of course, you can have it."

The second the 'saber was in my grasp, Anakin lunged at me. I had battled the young man on many occasions in the past; during training sessions, in front of our Master who often got his kicks watching one of us get injured, or when the boy simply had lost his temper and wished to kill me. This was different. I was an intruder and Master Sidious expected him to deal with me as he saw fit.

Another difference was me. I no longer was filled anger or hatred. I was fighting for what was right. I was fighting for her. For the first time in my life, I had something to fight for and so much to gain.

I blocked swing after swing of his, relying on my natural athleticism to avoid many others. I knew Anakin well and realized he was getting frustrated. Quite soon, he would taunt me in an attempt to make me lose my focus. That particular ploy had worked once or twice, but it wouldn't today. Today, I was being bolstered by all that was good in the galaxy. I was filled with the Light.

I smiled at his numerous techniques meant to disarm me. There were a couple of maneuvers he executed flawlessly. I should know, because I taught them to him myself.

"She's not going anywhere," he hissed when our 'sabers met between us, drawing our faces closer. "She's right where she belongs. With me."

I didn't reply, knowing my silence would annoy him far worse than any verbal response I could muster.

"Even if you defeat me, you won't win. The Emperor will make sure of that."

My grin grew wider. Where I was taking her, not even the Emperor or his goons would discover. The plan was for me to retrieve the senator and then meet up with Master Yoda on Dagobah. I questioned his choice, but only because I knew very little about it. The place basically was a swamp floating around in a system named after it. It was strong with the Light however and ignored by the Empire. For those two reasons alone, it was a wise choice. Thick with vegetation, ship scans resulted in nothing but static. We would be well hidden.

I cleared my mind just in case my thoughts had escaped me.

"So, Dagobah it is then."

Dammit. I was too late. Yoda was right. I needed to work on my shielding. I never had to worry about it before. These days, it seemed I had much more to hide.

I refocused my attention and showed Anakin a few maneuvers I'd never bothered teaching him. All his attention was now zeroed in on defense. Good. At least it would shut him up.

As we continued to fight, I realized my energy level was being renewed incrementally. It seemed someone was helping me. I suspected Master Yoda. Even though my strength had returned, I realized it wouldn't last forever. I needed to end this now.

I intentionally mentally forecasted a flip over Anakin's head, something he probably expected from me. Only I didn't perform it. When the boy swiped behind him hoping to amputate my legs on my way down, I landed in front of him instead.

His surprise was evident and immediate. I didn't waste the opportunity and arced my 'saber horizontally, neatly and precisely through his neck.

I stared down at the head which rolled toward my feet, eyes still open and glowing yellow and red as they did whenever one was tuned in to the Dark Side. The colors quickly faded, however, back to their original blue and only then did it occur to me what I'd done.

A voice inside me reminded me I'd had no choice. Even though it was my own fault for revealing my destination, I couldn't allow him to live and track us down. It was my duty to protect her; but first, I had to find her. I had no choice but to hurry now. Surely, the Emperor would discover his favorite's fall soon, which limited my time as well as my chances.

Damn. This wasn't going as I'd hoped.