Come Undone
Chapter 21
When he reached the apartment, he felt fear coil itself in the pit of his stomach. Almost reluctantly, he dismissed the transport and went inside. The room was eerily quiet and he instinctively drew his light saber.
"Padmé?" he called softly. He searched inwardly trying to find her presence through the force. He tapped into their bond gently and realized with a sinking feeling she wasn't there. He turned to leave, unsure exactly where he was going when a voice broke the stillness.
"Master Ani!" C-3po exclaimed joyously. "So good of you to come!"
R2-D2 beeped and whistled urgently and Threepio snapped at him. "Oh of course he will want to see the message... just give him a few moments"
Anakin leaned heavily against the wall, barely noticing the young woman in the hallway.
She gasped when she saw him and out of reflex he ignited his saber, its blue glow illuminating the gloomy room.
"Dormé?" he asked, incredulous. "Where's Padmé?" his voice rose as panic crept in. "Is she all right? Oh force! I shouldn't have left her! But I had no choice! None what so ever!"
"Master Anakin!" she cried. "It is you! Oh the mistress was so worried!"
"Dormé! Where is she?" Anakin cut her off.
"Back on Coruscant..."
"What? Dormé? Why in blazes are you here in her stead? Tell me from the beginning. What happened? Is she alright?" He stood up to his full height, blazing with anger. Dormé, who had spent her entire adult life training and working as a body guard, was not intimidated and she pulled herself up to match him.
"Master Anakin!" She started, keeping her tone level. "If you will sit down and listen for a moment, I will explain everything that I know to you, but if you insist on acting like a wild Bantha in a glass shop you won't accomplish anything!" She stared at him hard, refusing to back down. At long last, seeing no alternative, Anakin sat down fuming.
"Alright," he said at last, exhaling. "I concede that if Padmé were in any real danger that you would not be here. Dormé, please tell me where she is? At least put my mind at rest on that front."
Dormé nodded. "She's at the Jedi Temple with Master Kenobi."
Anakin hissed angrily but allowed Dormé to continue.
"Right, the day she received your LAST message, she went into labor," ignoring his vulgar outburst, Dormé continued. "Master Kenobi took her to the temple and the next day the soldiers came. I went in her stead because the Jedi had decided that it would be safer that way, that as far as they were concerned, Padmé Skywalker, nee' Amidala, would be escorted to Naboo with her droid servants and that would be that."
Anakin spat angrily. Once this matter was taken care of, he would take personal pride in court marshalling the soldiers responsible. Every last one of them to a man.
"Master Obi-wan said that if you were to try to contact her that I should direct you to him personally. He has taken care of her, and is keeping her safe."
Anakin gritted his teeth. "3PO said R2 has a message?"
"Yes, of course," Dormé agreed. "It's a rather personal message, and it's short but I think you'll enjoy it. I'll leave you alone to view it as it IS really meant for you... Please understand Master Anakin, with Miss Padmé being in such a vulnerable state, we all thought it was for the best."
Anakin bit his lip hard; it was a habit that he'd been unable to break despite numerous attempts. "Yes, of course," he shook his head. "I apologize..."
"No need Master Anakin, if you need me, I'll be packing for the return to Coruscant."
He dismissed her absently and motioned for R2 to begin playing the message. For once, he was grateful to be sitting as the initial scene before him almost brought him to tears. A small, blurry figure appeared in the hologram and when he realized what it was, tears spilled down his cheeks.
"Hello beloved," Padmé began. "I have someone who wants to meet you..." the image faded in and out then held for a moment. "Luke, meet your father. Ani, meet your son; Luke Skywalker..."
The Holo moved in closer to the babe in her arms and although Padmé was still speaking, the sound was distorted and fading. He got one last glimpse of his son before the picture disappeared entirely.
His voice choked with emotion, Anakin had R2 play back the message three more times before he stopped, speechless.
"Oh Force," he gasped. "Oh beloved..."
He had to compose himself. It would not do for Obi-wan to see him like this, despite the fact that this was obviously a life changing moment. He just couldn't bring himself to show weakness. Not to Obi-wan, and not now. He asked R2 to open the line of communication. Obi-wan, safe on Coruscant, with his wife! Anakin found himself filled with a growing black, fury.
Obi-wan appeared as a hologram in front of him, looking tired and disheveled. At the sight of his old master, Anakin took a long deep breath, trying to maintain control, turning away from the holo projector shaking with rage. An uncomfortable silence permeated the room, both men unsure where or how to begin.
"He wants me to plead!" thought Anakin angrily. "Grovel like a whipped dog as if I were his Padawan still! He's holding MY WIFE and SON hostage! If I give in now, he'll try to run my life, OUR LIVES, forever! I won't have it!"
"Anakin..." came Obi-wan's voice came from behind and Anakin wheeled around to face him.
"WHERE IS SHE??!" he demanded, furious now. "TELL ME!"
Obi-wan's hologram took a step back, shocked at the intensity of Anakin's rage.
"What's wrong my young Pada...." he cut himself off suddenly, aware of his mistake.
"WHERE?!" Anakin shrieked picking up a small vase and throwing it at the hologram where it shattered on the floor. "What have you DONE WITH THEM?"
"For the love of the Force Anakin, calm DOWN!"
Padmé is FINE as is your...your son, the little boy, your SON Anakin... Luke, and your… Padmé, they're fine. They're BOTH FINE! They are safe..."
Obi-wan's soothing voice had the desired effect and Anakin's formidable temper cooled a little.
"Where?" Anakin demanded again, a little less agitated but still seething. "This is the last time I will ask, I warn you in earnest Obi-wan. Where ARE THEY?"
"Here," Obi-wan admitted. "At the temple. As I said, they are safe; you have nothing to fear for them."
"I am NOT afraid!" snapped Anakin. "You have my WIFE! MY WIFE!"
Obi-wan maintained his composure. "Anakin, what in blazes has come over you? You know that of all places in the galaxy, the Jedi Temple is the best place for her to be at this time! You've lost all ability to reason..."
"Reason?!" Anakin began, as if to start on a fresh tirade, but Obi-wan waved him off.
"Poor choice of words, I admit and I apologize. The point is, she and the babe are well protected and will remain in OUR care until the council deems it safe to release them..."
Anakin snarled, "I should have you ARRESTED for this! How dare you!"
"I have no control in this matter Anakin," Obi-wan afforded him a sad look. "Please believe me..."
Anakin glared at him, but said nothing, conceding the point.
"We need to discuss things, my old friend." Obi-wan said slowly. "There are... rumors. Some of the Masters say you have been... using, testing the Dark side of the force. That you have been sampling its power..."
"What of it?"
"Anakin, that is dangerous, and unacceptable, you know this."
"There is an old saying, Obi-wan," Anakin interrupted. "A friend told it to me... would you like to hear it?"
Obi-wan only nodded his consent.
Anakin smiled wryly. "A wise man once said, 'Whoever does not want to die of thirst among men must learn to drink out of all cups.' I have been… sampling… some of them… Do you understand?"
Obi-wan was shocked into silence. Horrified. This was something he could not, would not believe. Not without seeing his former student with his own eyes. He thought for a moment, and at long last began again.
"Anakin, we MUST talk about this, face to face. Man to man. There is a small station on Hesperidium. Can you be there in a week? Coruscant is too dangerous for you now. If you set foot on the planet..."
"I AM aware of the supposed danger to myself and the place of which you speak, GENERAL Kenobi," Anakin's voice grew cold. "I am flattered that your concern for my WIFE'S well being also seems to extend to myself as well." Anakin paused, considering and his voice took on a harder edge, and his words were clipped. "I am tired of these delaying tactics Obi-wan. You have two days. I expect a current Holo of my wife and son at that time. We also will make arrangements for myself and Padmé to be reunited as well. 'The Jedi Council' will be dealing with a fate far worse than the threat of the dissolution of the Republic if there are ANY set backs. ANY, setbacks whatsoever. I promise you...
Skywalker OUT!"
