Chapter 17

Naboo

It was the middle of the night as Padmé sat in her rocking chair, a sleeping infant on her shoulder. It had been more than a week since she'd seen Anakin, and had no idea where he was, or even if he was alive. She'd told herself that Anakin was the greatest warrior, the greatest Jedi in the galaxy. He had fought in more battles than she could count, and had managed to defeat the odds time and time again. But this was different; this time those who he'd led, who he'd called friend, were now his enemy. And there are so many clones…she reflected with a frown. How can he possibly survive against such odds?

Padmé stood up and walked over to Luke's crib and gently placed the sleeping baby down. She covered him with a blanket and stood watching him sleep for a moment. Padmé smiled as she recalled how happy Anakin had been to meet Luke and Leia, how nervous he'd been when he'd changed his first diaper. Tears filled her eyes as thought of him filled her mind. I miss you, Ani, she thought.

Leaving the nursery, Padmé headed down the corridor towards her bedroom, where she knew she'd spend another restless night. As she passed the small room she'd been using as an office, Padmé heard the sound of a message coming. Heart racing, she ran to the computer, hoping that it would be Anakin who was contacting her in the dead of night. Sitting down in front of the screen, she opened the message. But the message was not from Anakin; it was from her solicitor on Coruscant.

Good evening, Senator Amidala. I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to let you know that your divorce is settled, and your marriage to Anakin Skywalker is now dissolved. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to serve you….

Padmé didn't read the rest of the message and simply sat numbly at the computer. With all that had been happening, she had forgotten that the motion for divorce had been started. And now it was finalized – she and Anakin were divorced. This was what you wanted, remember? She reflected. Remember what he did to Clovis? Remember how frightening that was? She did remember; but that was a different Anakin. He wasn't like that anymore, was he? He was a loving father, a faithful husband, an honest and good man. And Padmé loved him with every fibre of her being. What have I done? She thought as she covered her face with her trembling hands. What have I done?

Kamino

It had been hours since Dr. Se had begun her search into the vast data network. There was a great deal of information about the clones, but not about the chip. At least, not in the unclassified files. Once she gained access to the classified section, thanks to her clearance code and some help from her Jedi custodians, more information was found.

"It says here that the Order can only be revoked by the Chancellor," she said after poring over a page of information, "or a majority vote in the Senate."

Anakin scoffed. "He undoubtedly planned to scrap the Senate," he said. "That would have given him and him alone the power to stop this."

Obi-Wan nodded. "But the Chancellor, Chancellor Organa, has revoked it," he pointed out. "So logically, the clones should be neutralized."

Anakin looked at him. "Should be, yes," he said. He looked at Se. "But there's no way of knowing for sure, is there?"
She shook her head. "I'm afraid not," she said.

"And with clones in every sector, and only a handful of Jedi left…" Anakin began. He frowned when he realized what that meant.

"We need to ensure that every clone has been neutralized before we dare call the remaining Jedi back to Coruscant," Obi-Wan said.

"That could take months," Anakin said.

Obi-Wan nodded. "Indeed," he said. "Years even. But there's no other way. It would be handy if there was simply a switch that could be activated to end this, but there is none. And from what I understand, the Order won't stop until every Jedi is dead."

"But Chancellor Organa has given the order," Se pointed out. "Surely that has ended it!"

"Perhaps," Obi-Wan said. "But with so few Jedi left, that's not something I want to leave to chance."

"Neither do I," Anakin said, realizing that he would not see his family for a very long time. But like Obi-Wan said, there was no other way. "Rex will help," he said. "The whole 501st will help."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Let's go brief them now."

En route to Florrum

With the 501st deployed across the galaxy, tasked with the mission of making contact with each and every clone commander, Anakin and Obi-Wan had decided that Florrum would be the best place to lay low. It was a remote world, and Hondo and his men had become allies. They would be safe there, which was paramount. Ahsoka had arranged to meet them there, informed by Rex of the plan.

"I'm going to contact Padmé and let her know I'm alive," Anakin told Obi-Wan as they made their way to Florrum. "I'm sure she must be worried. I haven't spoken to her in over a week."

Obi-Wan nodded. "No doubt," he said. "Be sure to use a secure channel."

"I will," Anakin replied. He headed to the quarters he and Obi-Wan had been assigned and sat down at the computer screen. After securing the channel, he entered the code for Padmé's commlink. He figured that it was the middle of night on Naboo, but he was hoping that she'd answer nonetheless. Anakin knew that he would not be able to contact her once he was virtually exiled on Florrum, and he was desperate to speak to her. But there was no response, and he was forced to leave her a message. He sighed, disappointed and frustrated, but did his best to hide this from his wife. "Hi Padmé," he began, "I just wanted to let you know that I'm okay. I don't know when I'll be able to talk to you again, I need to lay low for a while. I will miss you all so much. I love you angel, so much…I hate the thought of not seeing you and the babies, but I know you understand why it has to be this way. Please take care and don't worry – we'll see each other soon." He ended the message, fight his tears as he did so. Before leaving the computer, he took the opportunity to check his messages, hoping that perhaps there was one from his wife. But there wasn't; instead, there was a message from someone whose name he didn't recognize. He opened the message and felt the warmth drain from his body as he read its contents.

Good evening, General Skywalker. I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to let you know that your divorce is settled, and your marriage to Senator Amidala is now dissolved. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to serve you….

Anakin didn't even read the concluding pleasantries. He sat at the screen, his heart thumping in his chest. Surely this is a mistake…surely this can't be true…

The door opened and Obi-Wan entered. "Good Lord I'm exhausted," he said with a yawn. He looked at Anakin, frowning when he saw his friend's face. "Is everything all right, Anakin?"

Anakin turned to his friend.

"Is Padmé okay?" Obi-Wan asked in alarm.

"I…I didn't talk to her," Anakin said.

Obi-Wan frowned. "What is wrong?" he asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Anakin felt his throat tighten. "I got a message from her lawyer," he said.

"Lawyer? What lawyer?" Obi-Wan asked.

"The one she'd hired to divorce me," Anakin said.

Obi-Wan's eyes widened. "I thought that had been dropped. What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that it's over," Anakin said as the tears started to fall. "My marriage is over."

"Anakin…I…I'm so sorry..." Obi-Wan said. "I don't understand though- I thought things were better between you and Padmé."

Anakin stood up, wiping the tears from his face angrily. "They were," he said. "They've been wonderful. We've been intimate, totally connected…I don't understand this at all! After the hell I've been through, she does this to me?"

Obi-Wan sighed, having no idea what to say. "I'm sorry," he said. "I don't understand this at all. I wish I knew what to say."

Anakin frowned. "What is there to say?" he said bitterly. "She doesn't love me anymore. She doesn't want me anymore. I guess I just have to accept it, don't I?"

Obi-Wan nodded, wishing he had the words to help his friend. But he didn't, all he could do was be there for him and support him in whatever way he could.