Distraction: Chapter Thirteen
Expediency was key as I flew down the stairwell that had previously led me to the datachip. Anakin's words confirmed my initial feeling that Padme was down here somewhere, even though that somewhere could be any one of a few dozen rooms - each locked up tight. One hallway led to another which crossed with yet another. It was a maddening maze and I didn't have time to check every one of these rooms!
Quiet your mind, you should. Be still. Listen. Only then, hear the Force, you will.
I hadn't been certain if the voice had been in my head or if it had actually been audible, but I listened and followed its advice. When my mind told me to hurry, I stopped, closed my eyes, and took a couple of deep breaths. When I opened my eyes again, I felt more at peace and glanced again down the next corridor. And there it was. Like a beacon piercing deep shadows, one doorway stood out from the rest. Surrounding it was a glow as bright as any sun. I hurried to it and opened it with trembling hands.
Immediately, the light dissipated and I found myself standing in a large, sterile, white room with a single bed in the middle of it. A woman dressed as a medic was startled by my appearance. Before she could alert anyone, I knocked her unconscious with the butt of my lightsaber. I carefully lay her down on the floor and approached the single patient she was caring for.
The woman lying before me was lovelier than any of her appearances in my dreams.
"Padme?" My voice was unsteady with emotion, so I reached out and touched her face to try and stir her. No luck. Her skin was as soft as silk and warm. Just as I'd imagined it would be. I could've stood there admiring her for hours, but an alarm was going off in my head. We needed to move.
There were a number of wires and tubes hooked to her body, and I carefully removed them all before lifting her over my shoulder. When I carried her out into the hallway, I decided not to return the way I'd arrived. I sensed danger coming from that direction. Instead, I would find another exit.
Deeper into the building I hurried as fast as I could, the weight of her body slowing my steps. As long as I remained calm and focused, the Force guided me. Finally reaching the lowest level, we made our way around a variety of foundation pillars, crumbled stone, and rows, and rows of cables. An inner voice urged me forward to an outer wall where there was a rusted grate. When I pulled hard with one hand and it broke away, causing the surrounding stone to fall out with it. There was no choice now but to head in first and pull her along behind me. This would be a lot easier if she'd wake up.
Our escape was cramped, musty, and it smelled awful, but at least we were free. Almost.
I emerged first, once again sending my senses out into the night. I could scarcely believe it, but no one was even close to where we were. They were still searching through the rooms above. I pulled Padme out with me. Her lovely dark blue gown was torn and soiled, but she was alive and she was with me.
It was easier to carry her in both arms I discovered, as we hustled across the back lawn toward the street. In Galactic City, the traffic never ceased, and in the evening hours it was even more congested. For that reason and another, I made my way south, using the Force to destroy the glowlamps we passed. I knew exactly where I was going and who would help us. We were making good time, having to stop only a couple of times when a speeder or transport drew too close. Never before would the thought have ever crossed my mind, but CocoTown was a welcome sight. Just a few more blocks and we will have made it, which was a relief because my legs were starting to give out.
We burst into the diner without bothering to knock, and I deposited my burden carefully down on a table.
"Obi-Wan! What's the matter?" Dex walked out from the back to greet me. "Why that's Senator Amidala!" he rumbled in surprise. "What's wrong with her?"
"I was hoping you could tell me," I managed while trying to catch my breath. "She was being held prisoner in the palace. There was a medic there with her, so I suspect she's been drugged."
"I see," Dex replied while hovering over her. With one huge finger, he pried open an eye. The pupil was pinpoint, but all her vital signs were good. "Your suspicions are correct, my old friend. I may have something that will help. Wait here."
While he retrieved whatever he had in mind, I took the opportunity to reach for Padme's hand. There was still no response as I'd hoped, but it felt nice nonetheless.
"Listen," I whispered to her. "I'm not the one you've been waiting for, but I'm willing to be whatever you need. I'll..."
My oath was cut short by Dex's return. In his grip, he held a steaming mug.
"Is that some special tonic or something?" I asked.
"This? No. Just caff. Here, help me sit her up."
Together, we managed to get some of the liquid caffeine into her system before laying her back down. Now, all we could do was wait.
"You look like you've been drug through a swamp behind a herd of bantha," he noted. "Get some rest. I'll watch over her."
Reluctantly, I did as Dex suggested, though stayed within sight. My muscles were aching, but before finally closing my eyes, I took one last look at her.
"Obi-Wan? Can you hear me? It's me. Padme."
It was good to hear her voice again, if only if it was just in my dreams. "Padme," I murmured still half asleep.
When a hand gently shook my shoulder, I immediately woke up and came to a crouching, defensive position. It was an involuntary reaction resulting from a life of mistrust and danger.
"It's okay," she was saying to me with a soothing voice and loving gaze. "I knew you'd come."
I couldn't match her kindness or appreciation. The look on my face was probably something closer to dread.
"What's wrong?" Her face changed to show her concern. "You never could hide anything from me, so just spit it out and get it over with."
Where to begin? I'd gone over this a thousand times in my mind. What would I say to her if I ever got to face her? What would I do? Now that it was actually happening, my tongue was tied. I had to be truthful, and yet I was afraid of what her response would be.
"I'm…" I began, before licking my lips. Why was my mouth suddenly so dry? "I'm..." I tried again, "not who you think I am."
At first, she looked confused and then grinned lopsidedly. "Stop pulling my leg. Why is my gown so wet? Is it raining?"
"Padme, this is serious," I told her, reaching for her hand.
She gripped the digits tightly this time and gazed at me with sad eyes. "I know. That's what worries me."
"Dex, you might as well listen too," I said nervously. "You both need to hear this."
My audience of two listened attentively as I spun my tragic tale. I didn't leave out any details and when it was completed, Padme didn't bat an eye.
"I see," she responded with very little emotion.
What did that mean? Did she believe me? I couldn't read her reaction to the news either on her face or through the Force. What was she thinking?
Without any more hesitation, I plowed on. "Master Yoda wants me to bring you to Dagobah. He's already there waiting for us. We'll be safe there and you…"
"No," she interrupted me.
Again, I didn't understand what she meant. She wasn't going? Or she didn't wish to go with me? Maybe she disliked Yoda for some reason. What I needed to do was silence my troubled mind and wait for an explanation. This whole patience thing was new to me.
"We aren't going to Dagobah. We're going to Kamino," she told me decisively as if I didn't have a say in the matter.
"Hold on," I argued, standing up to face her.
Padme continued, though her attention was directed at Dex, not me. "The only ones with such advanced cloning technology - the only ones I know who can create a clone this perfect would be the Kaminoans, wouldn't you agree?"
"Why yes, Senator," Dex rumbled in agreement. "Their scientists would be more than adept to handle something like that."
"We're not going to Kamino," I cut in, trying my best to sound authoritative, though was resolutely ignored. That alone should've upset me were it not for the fact she had just called me perfect.
"That's what I thought," Padme continued. "When you're trying to rid yourself of an ant infestation, you don't stomp them randomly…"
"You destroy the colony," Dex completed the ancient philosophy.
I couldn't argue the wisdom in it, but she had another thing coming if she thought I was going to allow her to go to Kamino.
But then her dark eyes looked at me in a way that proved she was absolutely serious, and I began to understand why Kenobi had fallen in love with her in the first place. She certainly had a mind of her own.
"I'm going to Kamino to destroy the cloning facility," she told me rather matter-of-factly. "Are you coming with me?"
At that moment, I realized nothing I said would change her mind, although I had to wonder: Why was it the beautiful ones were always the most stubborn?