A/N- in the beginning I
forgot to add the disclaimer- it all belongs to the man in flannel- Lucas. Also- thank you for the wonderful
reviews. Here is the chapter everyone's
been waiting for!
Anakin returned to his room
tired and bruised. His dueling partice
had gone well, except when he tried to do a back flip and landed flat on his
face. Anakin was usually good at flips
but today he found it hard to concentrate. A thought came to him during his lesson and he had been contemplating
it. Could the mysterious woman from the
night before be…no. She wouldn't be in
a bar, even if it was the last place in the galaxy. But then again, there was something familiar about her. Something he hadn't felt since he was a
kid. Shake it off Skywalker, he
told himself. Maybe he should tell
Obi-wan about it. What would he
say? Anakin knew exactly what he would
say, he would tell him that his thoughts were clouded and that it wasn't
her. No, telling Obi-wan might not be
the best idea.
Anakin looked out his
window. The sun was still up, but it
would be dark soon. Bars and clubs
would open in a few hours, ready for costumers. His head kept saying it probably wasn't her, but in his heart he
wished it was.
Amidala needed to get
out. No news from the Chancellor had
come. Everything was the same, troubled
and confused. She took a walk around
the Senate building, so Sabe would stop nagging her. The walk was short but at least it got her out of her
quarters. Now she was alone, and it was
driving her crazy. Silence was always
good for Amidala because it helped her think, now she wanted to get away from
it all. She didn't want to think of the
Senate and all it's problems, and she certainly didn't want to think of
home. There was only one other
solution.
Sabe, Eirate, and Rabe were
all sitting and talking in the next room. Sabe had told them of her adventures in the city.
"Obi-wan Kenobi was so
handsome," Rabe said dreamily. Sabe and
Eirate both shook their heads.
"He was too serious," Sabe
disagreed.
"So, all Jedi are like
that. It's part of their training,"
Rabe said.
"And how do you know about
Jedi training?" Sabe asked.
"I read a book about it, it
was very interesting."
"Now was that before or
after you saw Obi-wan?" Sabe teased.
Rabe just gave her a dirty
look and continued daydreaming.
"What was Anakin like?"
Eirate said changing the subject.
Before Sabe could speak a
buzz came from under her robes. It was
her comlink.
"Sabe, come into my room
please," the queen's voice said.
"Yes your highness."
Sabe left the other two
handmaidens and entered Amidala's room. She was standing by the window. She looked very sad, but that could be the make-up. Amidala always looked sad.
"What's up?" Sabe asked.
"I need to get out of here,"
was her reply.
"Okay, I'll tell Rabe and
Eirate we're…"
"No," Amidala cut in. "I need to go out of this building, but not
as queen. I need you to take my place."
"But it will be
dangerous. Obi-wan warned me not to
travel alone at night, and the sun will set in an hour or so," Sabe explained.
"I need this
Sabe. Please? I don't want to make this an order," Amidala said turning towards
her friend.
"What if there is news from
the Chancellor, what if he wants to see you?"
"Tell him you are not
feeling well and are resting. Besides
nothing new has happened all day. Come
on please?"
Sabe stood there
thinking. After a few minutes she
agreed. Sabe put on Amidala's purple
dress as 'Padme' slipped into Sabe's green robes. Padme then helped Sabe with her hair and make-up until it was
absolutely perfect. The sun was about
to set when they were saying their good-bye's.
"How do I look?" Padme asked
pulling the hood over her eyes and standing humbly to herself.
"Like a handmaiden. How do I look?" Sabe said trying to imitate
Amidala.
"Like a queen. Thanks Sabe," Padme said as she gave her one
last hug.
"Just be careful," Sabe
said.
"I will, mother,"
Padme laughed.
"I'm serious!"
"So am I." Padme waved and left her quarters leaving
Sabe a nervous wreck.
Anakin was still in his
room. He had taken a shower, put on a
fresh tunic and was meditating. He was
perfectly calm until he had a vision. He was back on Tattooine, back in his home. It was a mess. Everthing
was thrown of the shelves and onto the floor, a broken droid leaned against a
wall, and then he heard it. "Anakin?" His mother was calling
out to him, her voice was weak. He
walked towards the back of their little house. His room was still filled with junk, just as he left it. More junk was on the floor in the
hallway. "Ani," she called again. This time in pain. He stopped in front of his mother's room. His heartbeating faster with every second,
it was hard to breathe. The door was
half closed…and there was…blood…blood everywhere.
Obi-Wan knocked on his
Padawan's door but no one answered. He
quietly let himself in and saw Anakin on the floor. His face was horrified…and pale. "Padawan?" he said putting a hand on his shoulder. There was no reply. He was breathing fast, his face grew even
paler. "Anakin!" Obi-wan said again,
this time louder but still there was no reply.
::Padawan? Are you alright:: he called throught the
force.
::Master she's hurt:: Anakin
sent back.
::Who's hurt?::
::There's b-blood…blood all
over the door::
::Anakin what's happening,
tell me what you're seeing:: Obi-wan said calmly. Anakin was having a vision, he sensed it.
::I'm afraid, help me
Master! She's calling for me, she's in
pain::
::Padawan, you have to open
you're eyes::
::No!!! I have to help her::
::Anakin listen to me, it's
not real, it's a vision. Open you're
eyes::
::No…No!!::
::Anakin do as I say. If you open you're eyes it'll be over::
The vision had ended but
Anakin was still reacting from it. Obi-wan sat next to Anakin, he was shaking violently and gasping for
breath. Obi-wan sent calming waves
through the force. After ten minutes
Anakin's breathing was almost normal and the shakes had stopped, but his face
was still pale. He just sat there, next
his master. Finally he opened his
eyes. They were full of fear. He opened his mouth to speak but there were
no words.
"It's all right Padawan,
relax. You're back in your room. It's over," Obi-wan whispered. "You need rest. Can you get up?"
Anakin nodded. He slowly got up from the floor. He started to walk to his bed but he was
still shaky from the vision. Obi-wan
took Anakin's arm and helped him lay down. "I have a meeting in a few minutes will you be fine alone?" Obi-wan
asked. Anakin nodded again. Obi-wan slowly left the room still unsure
about leaving his padawan.
::Go ahead:: Anakin sent.
::I'll be back in half an
hour:: Obi-Wan sent back.
Anakin was alone in his
bed. He would try not to go to
sleep. He was too afraid.
Sabe paced around Amidala's
room, glancing at the door every few minutes hoping Padme would come rushing
through it. The sun was setting; Sabe
looked at the door, she wasn't coming. She had only been gone for about forty-five minutes, but Sabe wished she
would come back. Remembering her
experience of roaming Coruscant she paced even faster. I hope she's okay. I don't know if this was such a good idea,
what if she gets hurt and is never found and they blame me for it?! Sabe, get a hold of yourself! Don't lose your head! Padme'll be fine, she's always fine. She has her pistol with her. Sabe looked out the window; it was dark
outside. The remains of the sun were
now at the horizon and slowly fading away. Stars were slowly appearing and there was a soft glow coming from the
surroundin buildings. Sabe stopped her
pacing before she wore a circle into the carpet and sat down on a chair faraway
from the window. She didn't want to
watch the night get darker knowing her friend was out there alone.
Jedi Kenobi was walking
through the Jedi Temple hallways. The
meeting had ended, but as the council members left Obi-wan requested an
audience with Yoda, the Jedi Master. Obi-wan had to kneel to be eye-to-eye with the extremely short Jedi.
"Master Obi-wan, troubled
you are?" asked Yoda.
"Master Yoda, Anakin had
another vision this afternoon. This was
the third one and it was much worse than the others," Obi-wan explained.
"Hmm. Playing with his emotions they are. Afraid is he."
"He seems afraid only during
the vision, when it's over he's shaking, gasping for breath. I'm afraid one of these times it may
seriously hurt him."
"Talk about them he does
not?"
"No. He acts like they were just a bad dream,
like nothing happened."
"He refuses to face
them? Hmm. Not wise," Yoda replied, shaking his head.
"Can we do anything to stop
them? To reach him I had to use the
force. He wouldn't calm down either, it
took a good few minutes until he was almost normal again. I'm afraid next time it will be more
difficult."
"Visions must run their
course. Help young Skywalker, we
cannot."
"Thank you Master," Obi-wan
bowed.
Obi-wan stopped in front of
the door to their living quarters. Should he make Anakin talk? Maybe Yoda had a point, letting the visions run their course. There was the possibility that they would
stop in a few days…or maybe not. All he
could do was watch Anakin very closely and wait.
Anakin walked into the
common room and saw his master walking through the door. "Hi Master."
"Hello Padawan. How are you feeling?" Obi-wan replied while
taking off his cloak and haging it on the wall.
"Oh, I'm feeling much
better. I was waiting for you to come
back before I left."
"Left?"
"I was thinking of going out
to get some fresh air. I think some of
the other Padawans were going out too," Anakin explained. His master gave him a skeptical look. "After all weren't you saying that I needed
to go out a few times instead of hanging around the temple all day?"
"Yes, but that was
before. I don't think it's such a great
idea after…this afternoon," Obi-wan said quietly.
"I know you're worried, but
I'm fine now. I just need to get out,
to think."
"All right," Obi-wan agreed
hesitantly.
Anakin pulled on his cloak
and said good-bye to his master. "I'll
be home later."
"Be careful Padawan, be
mindful," Obi-wan warned. Anakin gave
him a funny look.
"What?" Obi-wan asked.
"Nothing, it's just you
sounded exactly like Qui-gon. Well see
you later Master," Anakin smiled and left.
Padme had been wandering
around the Coruscant's streets with awe. Out of all the time's she had been to Coruscant she had never seen
anything except the Senate. Here with
the regulars she was looking at shops, the exceedingly tall buildings, and most
of all, the strange people passing by her. Naboo seemed dull and peaceful compared to the busy, exciting city
streets. When the sun had set she was
very close to the Senate Building and was thinking of whether to go back. She was sure Sabe was looking out the
window, waiting impatiently for her return. But Padme wanted to see city life to it's fullest, because she was probably never going to have this chance
again. After looking at some shops she
saw a bar similar to the one Sabe had described. Padme walked to it. She
looked up at the neon pink sign above the door. It was written in a strange alien language. Thinking she had nothing better to do she
went in. It was exactly like Sabe had
said, dimly lit, band in the far side corner, and every creature known and
unknown. She sat down at the smallest
and closest table she found and watched her surroundings. The band was taking a break, waiters walked
back and forth to different tables and people just seemed to have a good
time.
Anakin stood in front of the
bar he had been to the night before. He
paced back and forth, thinking to himself. Well, I have two choices. Go
in and try my luck or stand here like an idiot, he thought as he saw two
women staring at him. Go in. It took about three seconds for his eyes
to adjust to the darkened room. He
looked over a few tables, but no one he knew was there. He scanned the left side of the room and
still had no luck. Anakin, you're an
idiot. She won't… his thoughts
trailed off. He looked at the table
next to him and saw her. She was
wearing emerald green robes. He didn't
know what to say. How do you say to a
complete stranger…are you a queen? She
was starting to look towards him. Look
the other way! his head screamed, but it was too late she had spotted him.
"What are you looking at?"
she asked. Her voice, it was different
from last night. "Hello?"
"Um…hi. I…uh…" Anakin stammered.
Padme looked at him
curiously. She wondered who he was.
"Do y-you mind if I sit with
you?"
"No, go ahead." Padme looked back at the band but was
watching him from the corner of her eye. He must have come from the Jedi Temple because he was wearing the tunic
and brown cloak. "So what's your name?"
she asked.
"Anakin," he replied.
Padme stared at him. "Excuse me? Did you say Anakin?"
"Yes, Anakin Skywalker."
Padme stared at him with
disbelief. "Anakin Skywalker, from
Tattooine?"
"Yes, how did you know I was
from Tattooine? Who are you?"
Padme reached under her
robes and pulled out a necklace for him to see. "I'm…Padme." Anakin's
mouth dropped open as he looked at the japor snippet in her hand. It was her. It was his angel!
