The Deep End: Chapter 3
By aznJEDI13
Baby you're so beautiful and when I'm near you I can't breathe
"Anakin..."
He heard it, there was that voice. The voice that endlessly haunted his dreams, twisted his thoughts, and crippled his emotions.
"Anakin..."
Like music to his ears, he would never forget a word she said. He would never forget the way she said his name. It was like an ocean of love broadcast towards him.
"Anakin..."
His feet flew down the stairs; the voice was calling him. He must obey. He came to her door and stopped.
"Anakin..."
He opened the door.
He was overwhelmed with her beautiful.
He stopped breathing, his voice caught in his throat. He was nine years old again. She was so perfect. She was an angel.
Her chocolate brown hair running endless oceans down her frame. The dark tresses begging him to run his fingers through them. Her opal eyes refused to look at him.
How he loved those eyes, eyes that held his soul, his heart, and his flesh.
And he saw her tears. Could those tears have been his fault?
He drank in her beauty. Her passionate complexion, her lovely opal eyes, her chocolate brown tresses, and oceans of curled hair. Tiny hands waiting to entwine in his…
"Anakin..."
And a voice that moved mountains…
Then baby blue met opal, for a second his body couldn't move. He moved towards her-hoping, waiting. Her arms encircled him. Her touch sent shivers through his body.
"Anakin..."
She held his head on her shoulder, her hand pressed against his neck. And he had never felt safer. She kissed his ear.
He was sure he had died and gone to heaven.
He turned to kiss her.
"Oh, Anakin..."
And she disappeared.
Tried to fight it but it can't be denied
Anakin Skywalker awoke suddenly. His sheets violently thrust in several directions and twisted in many other ways. Sweat beaded his face and soaked his brow; his face flushed a bright red embarrassed slightly, but more importantly frustrated. His toned chest embellished with muscles of all kind was wet with sweat. His ears were even flushed a reddish color. His eyes were squinted against the darkness. They were dancing around the room, searching for a possible answer. Yet he could find none.
Except that it was she.
The woman who had haunted his very dreams since he was a child, the very reason for his existence.
The very reason for his problems, the very reason why he had rather not see her, he wanted to run, but he could not leave her. Even if he couldn't stand to be in the same room as her.
His quarters on the transport were fairly large, but he had neglected to put anything up. He figured, if he put something of his girlfriend up, then he would have to put something of Padme up too.
He unwound the sheets, cuddling back in them. He closed his eyes.
All he could see was she.
Her beautiful opal eyes staring straight at him, her lips hungrily, feverishly waiting for his, her hair unbound spiraling down her playfully. All she needed was a set of wings.
And she would truly be an angel.
He opened his eyes, trying to run, to hide, and to get away. Yet he couldn't, no matter how hard he tried. He couldn't run.
"Anakin."
There was her voice.
Devouring his insecurities, relinquishing his fears, hiding his remorse; she broke his cores, she shook his heart.
She held his soul.
And with a voice that could move mountains, she could move his soul and change his heart. And her opal eyes, could see his core, could break him down, could read his mind and his heart.
"Anakin."
But he couldn't take it anymore. Yet he couldn't run. There was no where to go.
Then there was pain.
His hands gripped his head. The ringing in his ears got louder. He could hear voices calling to him, beseeching him. Embellishing him with fear and with power. The ringing wouldn't stop.
Her voice was gone.
His eyes squint shut, trying to block the pain and the voices.
Like a million minds had just been destroyed.
He screamed in agony, in fear, in consternation. The ringing would not stop and the voices would not stop flowing.
Then the million minds were gone.
There was utter silence.
"Anakin…" And her voice a mere memory of a dream.
She was the catalyst of so much and she was also depressant of so much. When she called out to him it only made him relax so much more.
In all his dreams, she had never finished a single sentence.
"Anakin…I…"
I have a bad feeling about this…
I'm not denying her ethereal beauty Owen, I just want nothing to do with her. I know she's an angel. Anakin's words echoed through his mind. Obviously the boy was confused about his feelings. It was just that Anakin didn't realize his confusion yet.
He had been dwelling on everything, trying to figure out what exactly was wrong with Anakin's angel. Anakin hadn't really told him the reason behind his avoidance.
He knew, he, Owen Lars, would never avoid such a beauty like Padme Namberrie. The fact that she was a Queen didn't help at all.
He knew she was Anakin's and she would always be.
But her voice interrupted his thoughts, "Teach me how to fly the ship Owen?"
He turned around to look at her. She was dressed in a white jump suit, her arms crossed in front of her chest. Her opal eyes staring straight into his blue eyes.
He laughed, "I'm sure ya already kno how your Highness…"
"Please," she took a breath in, "Padme…"
"Well Padme, ya wouldn't wanna fly one of these-"
A long insistent beep cut his off.
"Bastards," he finished awkwardly, his brows creased when he turned to look at a certain monitor, "Oh blast."
"What is it?" she asked, peering over his shoulder instantly.
He moved so she could see the vessels approaching. "Oh, my," she said in her soft voice.
"Wut up with dat, it's suppose ta be a planet, not a…crap." Breathing in, he spoke into the comm, "Cap'tan Skywalker, ya betta get ova' here A SAP."
I don't need this to remember you by…
"Capt?" Owen's voice echoed through the cockpit, "Capt?"
But there was no answer.
"Capt?"
Suddenly she felt a deep wave of pain. The pain was so strong her knees broke and she fell to the floor. This pain was far worst than any physical pain. There was a ringing in her ear that just wouldn't stop. She gripped her head in fear it might explode; she had never felt some thing so strong before. She heard voices echoing her in ears, a million voices…or a million minds.
It was like they had suddenly been destroyed. Or erased, or wiped out of the universe.
Who was capably of such murder, of such an atrocity?
Then the voices were gone, the pain had ceased, and the ringing had stopped. By now Owen was by her side, his hands on her back, steadying her.
"Are ya alright?" he asked, worry evident in his voice.
"I think so," she took a deep breath standing up, trying to regain her bearings, "What was that?"
"What was wut?" he asked, his blue eyes now confused.
She shook her head, mumbling to herself, "That…that was…stronger, more painful…then any physical pain…and you didn't feel it?"
Owen shook his head, "No ma'am."
The ship shook hard.
"Oh blast," he muttered to himself and then spoke into the comm, "Anakin ya betta get ya arse ova' here."
Silence.
He spoke once more into the comm, "Anakin?"
He turned and looked at her worriedly, "Would ya go and see wuts up with'm?"
She nodded and trudged down the corridor. She came to his door and knocked.
No answer.
"Jedi Skywalker?"
Again no answer.
She opened the door. She found him on the floor, his hands gripping his head in agony and his eyes squinted in pain.
She was at his side as soon as she saw him. She put her hand on his back and felt something electrify through him. It shot through her body. It was a strange sensation, but it felt vaguely familiar.
Anakin was cold, ice cold.
You come from a warm planet, Ani. A little too warm for my taste, but space is cold.
Owen came running in. "Blast it, Skywalker dey got us caught'n a tractor beam!"
He looked at Anakin, who was still on the floor, shook his head, "Snap out of it, Capt…we got company…"
She saw it took almost all of the Jedi's Knight strength to stand. He opened his eyes slowly, in fear that the pain would come back. His shaggy spiked hair ruffled in several different directions. His back was hunched over, but he was still a good foot taller than she was. He had certainly grown up. And then he looked at her, as if ashamed, nervous, and afraid.
He had intense baby blue eyes – familiar baby blue eyes.
"We can't run, Owen."
She knew that voice.
The pattern itself reminds me of you.
She was speechless. Looking Anakin in the eye angrily, the words seemed to burn on her tongue.
"You didn't tell me."
What a wicked game you played to make me feel this way
The tension between them was quite obvious. Owen hated it. He felt like they both would explode if he said a single word. Padme's eyes were flowing with anger and confusion. While with Anakin's body language it was clear he was waiting to deck someone.
Being trapped with them in a cell didn't help either.
It was the most boring thing that had happened to him all day. Since they refused to participate in even a casual conversation, he was forced to entertain himself.
Padme was seated in a small corner; her knees brought up against her chest. Her arms wrapped around her, hugging her knees, she was staring, pondering over what had just occurred.
Anakin was on the other side of the cell; his back leaned up against the wall and arms crossed in front of his chest. He was staring at anything and everything but her. This was one situation he couldn't use his charm to get out of.
"I'm sorry your highness." He had begun more than once.
And she had just ignored him.
They had things to sort out and Owen was in the middle, he spoke, "If ya don't mind, I think ya both should talk it ova'."
"It's none of your business Owen." Anakin was the first to answer.
"No, no, he's right Anakin…there are things that need to be said."
He liked Padme – she saw his uneasiness. Rather that or she felt just as uneasy as he did.
Anakin finally turned his attention to Padme.
"What is there to say your highness?"
She pointed at him, "You didn't tell me Anakin." She paused, her voice now barely a whisper, "Were you just going to play me for a while?" She paused again, her voice even lower then before, "How could you do such a thing?"
He was about to answer, to voice his reasons, but the cell door opened.
One man, dressed in blue, pointed to Owen, "Get him out of here."
The other man, dressed in gray, nodded, seizing Owen, chaining his hands, he took him out of the cell at gunpoint.
The man dressed in blue pointed to Anakin and Amidala; "His Lordship will be here to see you soon."
Anakin slumped to the floor, "Sith." He shook his head and spoke in a whisper; "We've got to get out of here."
The door opened once more to reveal a cloaked figure. His eyes were hidden under the darkness of his cloak. His figure was small and petite compared to Anakin. But it made him no less scary; in fact, upon first glance Amidala was instantly scared of him.
His skin was pale and there was a large scar across his cheek. He wore one black glove to match his all black outfit. She could see the shiny hilt of a lightsaber on his belt.
Suddenly she understood; they had to put their differences away for the moment.
His voice was commanding and fearfully dark, "We meet finally, Anakin."
Anakin stood, his eyes intensely staring at the man before him, "Master."
"Padawan."
When shadows paint the scenes,
Where spotlights used to fall
And I'm left wondering is it really worth it all
"You never fit with Lords and Ladies, Master." Anakin was a foot taller than the cloaked man was but that did not make the shorter figure anymore evil.
She had never seen something so evil in her entire life. This man was completely covered with coldness and darkness. It seemed like he had a heart of stone. "I am not your master, young Skywalker. You will address me properly."
"You will always be my master."
The man threw back his hood, pointing his finger at Anakin, "I have a new master. One far better than Qui-Gon could ever be and far better than I could have ever been to you."
She knew that voice. She knew that man.
Love him like I love you.
She gasped – it was Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan was a Sith, the man thought to be dead was alive – as a Sith.
Staring back at the man, Anakin's brow creased as he spoke softly, "Perhaps,"
"Do not under estimate the power of the darkside, Skywalker."
Obi-Wan's features were delicate, but his eyes were harsh. It was hard to tell she had once loved him and he had once loved her. He seemed so cold now it was impossible for her to imagine this monster capable of love. He had not changed with the exception of his voice that seemed flat, dull, and emotionless and his eyes were cold, cruel, and incompetent.
His eyes were a reflection of his heart.
Turning his attention from Anakin to her, he smiled wickedly, "Would you love me now Padme? Would you?" he was walking toward her. She was frightened, her knees were buckling and her fingers shaking uncontrollably.
"Would you love me now Padme? I am the most powerful man in the galaxy! Would you love me now?"
He had her backed up against a wall. She choked back words; she bit back thoughts. She could not answer him.
After all she did not love him.
He smiled at her; a twisted, evil looking smile, whispering in her ear, "I could give you the universe Padme…"
His voice sent a tingle through her body. Sending signals over her as his warmth enveloped her.
"The universe Padme, can you imagine?"
But she could not answer. She could not find words; she had lost what to say somewhere.
When she did not answer him, he yelled at her, "Answer me Padme!"
Tears were pouring out from her eyes. Tears of what he had become; what he was offering her, and what she was turning down.
Yet these tears were not for her, these tears were for him. She had no tears for herself because she had no one to cry over.
"Stop it Obi-wan, you're hurting her." Anakin interrupted.
Obi-Wan turned around, angered clearly. "Me? Hurt her? I do not think so."
He pointed his finger at Anakin; "You are the one that hurt her! You! You didn't want to tell who you were and now you're blaming me – when I'm offering her the universe!"
"I do not want the universe." Both turned to see Padme, now composed. Her eyes had the spark of a regal Queen. Her voice was flat and monotone. She had assumed Queen Amidala; the warmth of Padme burned away. Padme was hurting; Amidala was not.
"I do not want the stars." Her voice was trembling now. Her lip was quivering, she fighting herself to regain control.
"Where is Owen?"
Obi-Wan had seemed in a trance. He was amazed at how well she carried herself. He was amazed she had turned him down.
"Milord where is our pilot?" she asked once more.
Obi-Wan came back to reality almost unwillingly, "He is gone."
Silence.
"I'm sorry Obi-Wan I cannot stay with you."
Silence.
"I know."
"You knew?"
More silence.
"Yes."
She put her hand on his cheek and spoke softly. "I'm sorry."
A cold silence now enveloped them.
"So am I."
Suddenly a man came running in, he was out of breath, "Milord, the Jedi has escaped!"
Obi-wan turned around, his eyes searching the small cell. Anakin was no where to be seen. He was mad now. He had let his emotions get the best of him. Anakin and Amidala had found a way to control him by controlling his desire to have her.
"Find him! Do not let him leave this ship!" he demanded, "The Emperor wants his head!"
Turning on his heel, he walked out, and then turned back, "Bring her with me."
----------------------------------
Despite the fact that she was feet behind Obi-Wan she was still frightened. Someone reached out from behind and clasped a hand on her mouth. She tried to scream, but she couldn't. She was led to a corridor where she was released.
She was staring straight into the intense eyes of Anakin Skywalker.
But before she could say anything they were on the run. His hand gripped hers tightly as if he was hanging on for dear life.
At first it had hurt, but then it had began to feel unexpectedly comfortable. She could feel his emotions; she knew his thoughts. She didn't know why but she could see inside of him.
They had managed to loose the men that had followed them. They had taken shelter in a small hidden area. She thought they were hidden hard enough that they could just stay there. And then she remembered that they were on the run from a Sith. She had been breathing hard, she could barely think. She didn't know what to think.
And then she remembered she had turned down the galaxy.
"Do you trust me?"
She creased her eyebrows and she spoke in a confused whisper, "What?"
"Do you trust me?" his voice was gentle and kind yet smooth and deep. Mature and yet immature, it was the voice of a man with the slightest sound of the young boy still very much alive in him.
She wanted to laugh, but the last time she had laughed at him – he had taken her seriously.
I'm going to marry you.
"Yes," She hesitated, "I trust you," then she paused, a confused look growing on her potent face, "Why?"
Anakin didn't look at her; his eyes focused somewhere else, "Do you see that fighter?"
She nodded.
"You're going to have to jump in there and start the engine," His eyes narrowed, "I'll give you some cover."
She nodded once more. He looked down at her. His voice quiet and robust, reminding her of the man he had become, "Remember, I trust you Padme. My life is in your hands."
How could he do this to her? How could he put her on the spot? None of it mattered.
She was going to get them out of here.
Turning to him, she kissed his cheek and whispered, "For luck."
What a wicked thing to do to make me dream of you
To Obi-Wan's anger, they had escaped and stole away on a fighter. She had never been so relieved to see the stars.
The universe Padme, can you imagine?
She was still shivering from her encounter with Obi-Wan or whoever Obi-Wan was now.
She and Anakin hadn't said a word to each other since they had boarded the plan. It would probably stay that way for the entire flight back to Naboo.
He certainly had changed.
Nothing could describe the feelings she had felt when she had discovered who that mysterious knight had been. She had felt betrayed, back stabbed, a number of emotions that were impossible to describe.
Seeing Obi-wan wasn't half the reason for her anger. He was just icing on the cake. How long had Anakin planned on playing her?
She was angry with him, but it was hard to stay angry with such a man. He was handsome; everywhere he had muscles bulging from his tunic. His intense icy-blue eyes, eyes that with one look could capture any girl's heart. He was a ladies man that was for sure – one of those men with a girl in every system.
She wasn't sure about anything anymore.
She thought she had loved Obi-Wan, but it was clear she didn't anymore. She had never loved him. She had just had the mindset that she did to make him feel better and to make herself feel better.
She got these feelings and these emotions when near Anakin. Yet how could a boy make her feel a way only a man could?
But he wasn't a boy.
She could see inside Anakin for some reason. She knew what he was thinking, and what he was feeling. She couldn't find an answer as to why there was some kind of connection between them. And she didn't want to think of what it meant.
It was long time before she decided to turn in. Anakin had long before gone to do something and she had wanted to leave him alone.
She didn't know if she was avoiding him self-consciously or consciously.
Either way she had a good reason not to associate with him. He had played her after all; he had played with her heart.
Are you an angel...
"I'm going to miss you Padme."
She grasped his hand tighter, "And I, you."
They walked along the corridor of the palace, fingers entwined. She gripped his hand for dear life afraid that if she let go one of them would meet their doom.
They walked in the quiet. Trying to a find peace.
The world around them was coming down.
His pace was slow and regretful. He was trying to savor the moment. Soon all he would have were moments.
He stopped, "What is it love?" she asked turning around to face him.
"Your beautiful," he replied.
She smiled, "Stop flattering me."
"I live to please you." His voice was deep and soft.
She hit him playfully. He grabbed her hand before she could pull it away; he pulled her towards him. Leaning down he kissed her lips softly, when they stopped, he whispered, "You're an angel, you know."
Suddenly everything began to shake. Images changed before her eyes. "Amidala."
Another man appeared. His breathing was inconsistent and his eyes were pure evil. Cloaked in black, he approached her.
"Amidala."
He was coming after her. She screamed. His hand was outstretched towards her, but she ran.
"Amidala."
Someone was shaking her now.
"Amidala."
The man grabbed her. Unable to think, she swung her fist at anything and everything. She screamed once more.
Suddenly she felt pressure on her neck. Before she could react, she collapsed.
The dark man lingering in her dreams.
Go on to Chapter 4.