Chapter Three

The ship broke through the atmosphere and its occupants were shocked to see that the space around Coruscant was secured by the enemy. Enormous triangular ships and smaller fighters formed a net preventing ships from escaping. However, judging from the random explosions of light, some were trying anyway.

Padmé wanted to jump up and run to the cockpit but she knew that she would only get in the way if she did. Her sharp ears did pick up Obi-Wan's worried tones as he spoke with the pilots, but she could only hear up a few words here and there. She leaned forward, but Sabé stopped her movement with a gentle touch on her hand.

"Sit back, Senator," she said quietly. "You must not make yourself anxious. Master Kenobi and the pilots will handle this."

"You know how hard it is for me to simply sit here and do nothing, Sabé," Padmé said. "But you're right. The cockpit is not my place."

Obi-Wan emerged from the cockpit then and made a straight line for the Senator. He knelt at her feet, his blue eyes intense. Brow furrowed, she leaned forward to hear what he had to say.

"I want you to keep your mind as quiet as possible, Padmé," he said. "I know Anakin taught you some Jedi mind tricks and I need you to draw on those now because I'm going to have to remove the mental protection I have on you for a few moments. The pilot needs my help in navigating through this mess."

A thousand questions leapt into Padmé's mind but she did not say them. She only nodded and closed her eyes, remembering the few lessons Anakin had taught her in the short time they had together. Obi-Wan did not move from his position and she could feel his mind touch hers, giving her some strength as she built her wall. He moved away when he was satisfied and she was not distracted by it. Giving her one last glance, he ran back to the cockpit.

"I'm ready. Head for that formation," he said to the pilot, pointing at the viewscreen.

"Yes, Sir."

Reaching out with the Force, Obi-Wan touched the minds of the pilots only to immediately recoil at the feeling.

"What's wrong?" the pilot asked.

Obi-Wan frowned. "Clones…they're clones."

"Can you still control them?'

"Yes. I was just...nevermind."

With more caution, Obi-Wan reached out again and easily distracted the enemy pilots as the ship flew cleanly between them to safety.

"Making the jump to lightspeed. Excellent job, Master Kenobi."

But Obi-Wan was not listening. He turned around and retreated to the cargo hold to meditate.

Padmé's robes swished quietly as she entered the cargo hold. Sabé had hesitantly informed her that this was were Obi-Wan was hiding, and although, she did not want to disturb him, she had questions that only he could answer.

"Over here," his voice called out to her in the semi-darkness.

Behind a wall of crates, Obi-Wan sat with his legs crossed. He looked up at her with a serene expression and for a moment, she envied him his ability to clear his head. Her body ached with tension and she wanted nothing more than to sleep, but could not quiet her mind enough to do so.

"I can help you sleep," Obi-Wan said.

"Not now," she said. "Tell me...am I really pregnant?"

He gestured for her to sit next to him and she saw that he was sitting on his brown cloak. She hugged her knees to her chest and turned her head to face him. His eyes met hers and seemed to look into her soul--it was the same kind of look that Anakin used to give her. With her husband, she'd felt a thrill, an excitement, when he had all his attention on her. But with Obi-Wan, she wanted to hide. She didn't want him to see what was in her soul, afraid that he would find something there he wouldn't like.

"Yes, you are pregnant," he said with a sigh. "With twins, no less. Both strong in the Force."

She let out a surprised sound and put a hand on her belly. "Twins. Anakin said once that he wanted twins."

Obi-Wan looked away from her, the calm he felt dissipating. "He was there."

Padmé stilled. "Where?"

"On Coruscant. He was in the hangar as we were taking off. I felt him." He hesitated. "And I saw him."

"He fell into the lava pit. How can he still be alive?" she demanded, her eyes sparking.

In his mind's eye, Obi-Wan saw the monstrosity that Anakin had become, the shining black armor with the terrible helmet that he would never be able to forget. Anakin had been a handsome young man and his golden looks had drawn many admirers. Obi-Wan could only wonder what he looked like now, underneath the helmet.

"I don't know," he answered. "There are many things about the Darkside we do not understand, but its power is something that is to be feared. Whatever came out of that pit is no longer the Anakin we loved, I do know that." He faced Padmé, knowing that despite the impossibility of it, she was still hoping that Anakin could be saved. "I'm sorry."

Padmé's expression faltered for a moment but she quickly put a wall up. "Is there a chance he knows about our children?"

"No. I only sensed their presence when I touched you and he was too far away to sense them as well, regardless of how powerful he has become. Still…I believe we need to hide until their birth."

"Then, what?" Padmé asked. "Wouldn't it be harder to hide them from him after they are born?"

"Only if he knows that they exist which we can fix easily. Only you and I know about this, am I right?"

"Yes."

"We will keep it that way," Obi-Wan said, a gleam coming into his eyes. "We must find a planet as far away from the action as possible where they will be born."

"Then either we stay where we are or we keep running," Padmé said matter-of-factly, unable to keep her thoughts from the future of her unborn offspring. "My children will grow up as fugitives, whether or not Anakin knows about them. They wouldn't have had a normal childhood if none of this had happened anyway-but this isn't the alternative I was hoping for."

"If they are as strong in the Force as Anakin is, he will know about them. Deep down, he'll know."

"I will protect them with my life. He will not drag them down to the place he's gone to."

Obi-Wan stood. "We must move now. Take one of your handmaidens and meet me in the escape shuttle in two hours. Tell no one of where you're going. We will leave quietly." He offered her his hand. "Let's go."

She looked at his hand then at him, sliding her hand into his. "Yes, let's," she said simply.