Author: valsolo
Rating: This part is closer to PG-13.
Special note: If you've read Shadows of the Empire, then you have an idea of what the Falleen are like. If you haven't read it--- DO! It's enjoyable. :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Here we are," Lord Raveneau announced as he and Padme came to a solitary room in a remote hall of the palace. A dim light was seeping out from underneath the door. Padme's mind pleaded with her to run, but her body was refusing to cooperate. It was almost as if she had been drugged, but she knew that wasn't the case. No, it was something else... something unexplainable that had come over her tonight.
"We'll be safe in here," Raveneau assured her as he swung open the door. He motioned for her to enter first, so she did, albeit with a bit of trepidation in her steps. Once inside she couldn't believe her eyes. Hundreds of candles lit the room creating a rather mystical ambiance, and the room was decorated with a violet so deep that it was almost black. In the middle of the room was a small table set with a variety of native delicacies and two glasses of what appeared to be some kind of sparkling beverage.
Padme turned immediately to the Falleen who had already shut and locked the door behind him. He now wore a grin that could melt any female's resolve, and the look in his eyes was quite easy to read, even for a young queen inexperienced at romantic games.
"What... what are you doing?" She finally asked as anxiety began to build within her. He slowly walked closer, never losing her gaze, and as he moved, he unhooked his cape and tossed it onto the nearby bed. For the first time, Padme saw what lay under that cloak. Raveneau wore a simple black sheer vest that showcased every muscular line of his upper body and a form-fitting pair of black pants which showed off all the rest. As he continued towards her, his whole body began to change from green to blush red. Padme suddenly felt light headed as if she might faint. Raveneau quickly caught her as she began to slip.
"Sorry about that, my dear. I guess I poured it on a little too strong." Padme had no idea what he was talking about and tried to regain her composure by standing back from the Falleen.
"What is going on here? I demand to know!" she declared, finally feeling a little more in control. "What about this 'information' you have for me about the queen?"
An amused look came to Raveneau's face as he chuckled arrogantly. "Oh, I can't wait for you.... Padme," he grinned. "I must admit I have a confession to make." He took her hand and continued to speak with that enchanting baritone voice. "Ever since I first saw you.... Padme..... I have known that I had to have you for my own, if only for a while. You are the most beautiful human I have ever seen... Padme."
What was he saying? Padme's mind was reeling trying to grasp his words. Why did he keep saying her name that way? What would Ani think of her being here with this man? She continued to struggle within herself until Raveneau's nearness made it impossible to think of anything but him.
Raveneau was now so close to Padme that she could feel his heart beating and feel the immense heat generated by his body that was now pressed firmly up against hers. Again she felt herself slip out of control. Every nerve in her body suddenly sprung to life, and she could feel her heartbeat quicken. He leaned his face down to hers and gently began placing tiny kisses on her cheek, working his way back to her ear. Padme groaned with delight.
Raveneau could feel her losing the battle against his attack on her senses. He could tell that it wouldn't take much to get her to surrender since she had most likely never tasted of the pleasures that he could feed her. However, part of the joy in this game was in making the prey want to be devoured so badly that she would practically beg for it. So he stopped. No need to hurry.
He stepped back from Padme and took in her exquisite form... so young and untainted.... his favorite kind. It took her a moment to open her eyes and realize he had ceased his tender assault. 'What am I doing?!' she suddenly screamed inside. 'I don't even know this man!' With a burst of clarity, she moved toward the door.
"Look! I don't who you are or where you came from, but I'm leaving!" Before she could reach the door, however, Raveneau was there to block her way. He so liked it when they played hard to get.
"No, please! I didn't mean to frighten you. I just find you so utterly captivating. Please stay and at least have something to drink with me." He flashed an innocent pleading look at Padme, and she felt her clarity begin to cloud over again. Raveneau reached out and tenderly stroked her cheek. "I do in fact have some information regarding the queen that I would like to share with you.... honestly, I do."
Wrapping her arms tightly around herself, Padme let slip a little smile. Pushing against her hip was the tiny palm-sized blaster issued to all her handmaidens. She had stuffed it in her pocket when getting ready for bed in the refresher and had forgotten to take it back out. She suddenly felt much better.
Against her better judgment, Padme agreed to stay just long enough to get the information. She was feeling more herself, from moment to moment, and knew that she was well-trained enough to defend any straight attacks he might venture. Of course, she wasn't sure about fending off any other advances by Raveneau, but yet something was keeping her there.
Raveneau led her to the table where he chivalrously pulled out a chair for her to sit on. Before sitting down, he pushed her hair back and placed a warm and very sensual kiss on her bare neck. Chills of ecstasy ran up and down her spine, but she quickly forced herself to concentrate on their business.
"So, Lord Raveneau, what is this information you have about Queen Amidala?" she asked with a sure voice. Raveneau took a sip of his drink before answering.
"Ah, I see you are a very disciplined woman, Padme, thinking first of your queen and not.... yourself." He spoke as if he knew something she didn't, and she shifted uneasily in her seat.
"I happen to know that there is someone who has his sights set on controlling our young queen. He has even sent someone here to ...... speak with her about his proposition." A wicked grin spread across the Falleen's face that sent a different kind of chill down Padme's spine... one of fear.
"What.... what kind of 'proposition'?," she asked weakly, straightening in her chair. "And how do you know all of this? How do I know you're telling me the truth?"
Raveneau slowly got up out of his seat and moved behind her. Placing his hands firmly on her shoulders, he leaned back down to her ear and whispered.
"I know because I am his messenger."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anakin ran from room to room and down hall after hall searching desperately for Padme. All clarity was gone as fear and anger began to overcome him. He could feel hot tears begin to burn his eyes, and he stopped to wipe them away. Leaning against a nearby wall, he moaned in defeat.
"What's wrong with you?!" he yelled at himself. Closing his eyes, he made one last effort to calm his inner turmoil---- for Padme's sake, he had to. Surprisingly, a soothing peace filled him within moments, so he stood up straight and let the corners of his mouth turn into a smile. He knew which way to go.
__________________________________________________________________________
Obi-Wan had briefly stayed behind to ensure the safety of the handmaidens, Sabe and Rabe. He moved them into his quarters, made sure they had charged blasters and a comm link, and then took off to find Governor Ember. Surely the man would gladly spill his guts when faced with the lit end of Obi-Wan's lightsaber. In a short time, Obi-Wan would have the location of the queen and would hopefully beat his padawan to her. He was all too aware of the massive well of power locked deep within his padawan and of the passion Anakin felt for the girl. A mixing of the two might prove disastrous.
__________________________________________________________________________
"I know because I am his messenger."
Padme was frozen in horror, her deepest fear now a reality. 'Why didn't I listen to my instincts?' she screamed inside herself. Knowing she was backed into a corner, she decided she must act now.
"Oh....," she swallowed hard as she tried to inconspicuously slip her hand into her robe. If only she could reach her blaster. Trying to draw his attention away from her movement, she continued to talk. "And who is it that sent you exactly?" she said looking straight ahead while he was still leaning behind her.
Ah, there it was! She had her hand right on it.
Suddenly, Raveneau grabbed her arm and yanked her up out of her seat causing the tiny blaster to skid across the floor and out of sight. A maniacal laugh erupted from the Falleen as he pulled her towards him, his hand still painfully tight around her arm.
"Do you think I'm an imbecile? I knew what your pitiful little plan was, just like I know that you're not who you claim to be..... Padme." An evil grin twisted on his mouth as he gloated in the look of terror on her face. "Yes.... I know that you are indeed Queen Amidala, my dear, and not a lowly handmaiden." Still speechless, Padme struggled in vain to break free from his grasp.
"Let me go!" she demanded. Raveneau began to force her toward the bed while she kicked and screamed the whole way unwilling to give up.
"Sit down and shut up!" he ordered, pushing her down onto the bed. He pulled out a pair of restraining bolts and began to put them onto her wrists. "I was so hoping that I wouldn't have to do this.... that you would cooperate and make this enjoyable for both of us." As he was jerking her around, something on his belt caught Padme's eye. It was a lightsaber, but he was certainly no Jedi, which left only one explanation--- he was a Sith. Tears began to form and a sense of doom invaded her heart. What had she done? What was going to happen to her? And Ani?--- She hadn't even told him that she loved him yet. Now she would never have the chance.
Raveneau finished applying the restraints and noticed her silent tears. Seeing her sitting there helpless and vulnerable stirred his manhood once again. He sat down next to her on the bed and gently wiped away her tears with his thumb.
"There, there now. You're much too pretty to cry." He leaned over and kissed her lightly where her tears had just been, and she closed her eyes trying to brace herself against the feeling of disgust at his touch.
"Don't touch me," she stated firmly, and he leaned back in surprise.
"Well, now, I thought all of the fight was gone from you, my dear. However, it makes it so much better when you're a bit feisty." A hungry gleam twinkled in his eye making his meaning perfectly clear to Padme. "I told you before that I had to have you, and I meant it. I will have you----- willingly or not." Then he stood and slowly began removing his vest. Padme saw his whole chest become red and felt her senses spin wildly out of control.
__________________________________________________________________________
The Force now guiding his steps, Anakin moved quickly through the maze of hallways toward his destination. He tried to beat it down, but anger kept seeping back into his mind as the thought of Padme at-- or rather in-- the alien's hands filled him with rage. This man would not escape.
Rounding another corner, he came to an abrupt halt in front of a lone door. This was it. This was where she was. Summoning the great power of the Force, he raised his hand and issued an unstoppable Force blow, ripping the door from its frame.