Oct 2002
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, all the characters (Except for Tasha) are property of Lucasfilm etc etc.
Hide Your Love Away
Chapter 21
Padmé slid from the tube into a large tub of salted water. Like a waterslide, she was slowed by the water and carefully brought to a halt. pushing herself from the water, she tossed her head and inhaled sharply. "ANAKIN!"
She winced as she realized she was in a small room, her own voice sounding un-naturally loud. Blaster bolts. She pushed herself from the tub, glad to have the strange, liquid removed. Whatever it was, it was sure slick. Shaking the water from her hair, she squeezed as much as she could from her clothing. The white and blue jumpsuit had already been skintight. Now it was indecent... at least to anyone except Anakin. She fought the thought and brought her mind back to the business at hand. Her blaster was still in its place, snug against her forearm. Her backup blaster fell out of her boot as she removed it to empty the water. Damn thing anyway. Who wanted to take a ride like that into water fully clothed. She froze. If people used this to get here, shouldn't there be dry clothes?
Quickly replacing her boots, she began to search the small, dark room. Her only illumination was a glow rod someone had left and that was almost dead. The found a small drawer under the tub and yanked. It was stuck. Grumbling about inefficient house keeping, Padmé carefully tugged it to one side and then the other, forcing it out. It hit the floor with a metallic bang and she grimaced. The room was sound proof, or so it seemed, from the way the sound seemed muffled.
Inside the drawer were several bodysuits, three sturdy sets of boots, a utility belt and an extra package of glow rods. She cracked those first, replenishing the light in the room and taking a good look around. It was a small room, as she'd guessed, the door looking flimsy from this distance. Turning back to the pile of clothing, she pulled out a black bodysuit and held it up. Too small. She rummaged around for a few minutes and finally found a jumpsuit that was too big, but could be tucked in the appropriate places to fit. Shedding her wet clothes she quickly slipped into the dry ones, her teeth beginning to chatter. It was several more minutes before she was completely dressed, her blasters safely tucked away. A blaster carbine she'd found in a false bottom of the drawer was now attached to her hip.
Feeling much better, she collected the two sets of men's clothing in the drawer and packed them into tight bundles. The utility belts came in handy when she found herself without synth rope. Hooking both clothing bundles, one in front and one in back, so they'd be out of the way she tested her maneuverability. She was able to bend some, but the bulky bundles restricted her from bending at the waist. Couldn't be helped, she supposed.
Padmé moved to the door and listened closely. Nothing. Carefully she tried the door and it slid open silently. She peaked out, checking her surroundings with the light spilling from the room. She grimaced. She'd forgotten to shield the glow rod. She retrieved it and shielded it in her palms before stepping into the hall. It was dark in both directions, lit only by her light source. Which way?
Padmé listened carefully, cocking her head to the side and standing perfectly still. Nothing. No clue other than a slight humming coming from over her head. Figuring any way was better than here, she turned to her left and began walking.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, all the characters (Except for Tasha) are property of Lucasfilm etc etc.
Hide Your Love Away
Chapter 21
Padmé slid from the tube into a large tub of salted water. Like a waterslide, she was slowed by the water and carefully brought to a halt. pushing herself from the water, she tossed her head and inhaled sharply. "ANAKIN!"
She winced as she realized she was in a small room, her own voice sounding un-naturally loud. Blaster bolts. She pushed herself from the tub, glad to have the strange, liquid removed. Whatever it was, it was sure slick. Shaking the water from her hair, she squeezed as much as she could from her clothing. The white and blue jumpsuit had already been skintight. Now it was indecent... at least to anyone except Anakin. She fought the thought and brought her mind back to the business at hand. Her blaster was still in its place, snug against her forearm. Her backup blaster fell out of her boot as she removed it to empty the water. Damn thing anyway. Who wanted to take a ride like that into water fully clothed. She froze. If people used this to get here, shouldn't there be dry clothes?
Quickly replacing her boots, she began to search the small, dark room. Her only illumination was a glow rod someone had left and that was almost dead. The found a small drawer under the tub and yanked. It was stuck. Grumbling about inefficient house keeping, Padmé carefully tugged it to one side and then the other, forcing it out. It hit the floor with a metallic bang and she grimaced. The room was sound proof, or so it seemed, from the way the sound seemed muffled.
Inside the drawer were several bodysuits, three sturdy sets of boots, a utility belt and an extra package of glow rods. She cracked those first, replenishing the light in the room and taking a good look around. It was a small room, as she'd guessed, the door looking flimsy from this distance. Turning back to the pile of clothing, she pulled out a black bodysuit and held it up. Too small. She rummaged around for a few minutes and finally found a jumpsuit that was too big, but could be tucked in the appropriate places to fit. Shedding her wet clothes she quickly slipped into the dry ones, her teeth beginning to chatter. It was several more minutes before she was completely dressed, her blasters safely tucked away. A blaster carbine she'd found in a false bottom of the drawer was now attached to her hip.
Feeling much better, she collected the two sets of men's clothing in the drawer and packed them into tight bundles. The utility belts came in handy when she found herself without synth rope. Hooking both clothing bundles, one in front and one in back, so they'd be out of the way she tested her maneuverability. She was able to bend some, but the bulky bundles restricted her from bending at the waist. Couldn't be helped, she supposed.
Padmé moved to the door and listened closely. Nothing. Carefully she tried the door and it slid open silently. She peaked out, checking her surroundings with the light spilling from the room. She grimaced. She'd forgotten to shield the glow rod. She retrieved it and shielded it in her palms before stepping into the hall. It was dark in both directions, lit only by her light source. Which way?
Padmé listened carefully, cocking her head to the side and standing perfectly still. Nothing. No clue other than a slight humming coming from over her head. Figuring any way was better than here, she turned to her left and began walking.