Chapter Three- A Feeling Not Lost

With the quiet creak, the oak door swung open and revealed Padme's back facing towards Lord Vader.  I've got her exactly where I want her, thought Vader.  All those days of anger, rage...and sadness, he finally had his angel back.  She will come back to him, willingly or not.

"My love...it's so nice of you to drop by," Vader said in an icy cold voice.  He didn't mean to frighten her, but he wanted her to know how much he suffered. What she made him go through.

He saw her body stiffen and tense up.  And then, just like that, it dissolved and she resumed a political stance once more.  She made it seem as if he was of no importance and treated him as any other political figure. Alright, I'll play your game, he thought.  I'll give you more then you asked for.

"Has the accommodations fit to your taste, Milady?  Or will you see that it has no more value and leave it as you did me?" said Vader with a slight smirk.

With her back still turned, "Vader..." She said with a hint of disgust...and fear. 

"What have you done, Vader, to all of these people? They were innocent! What have you done with Obi- Wan?!" She turned sharply and Vader could see the hatred burning within her eyes, within her soul. 

"You should no more then I, Senator.  If only you hadn't left and just stayed there like a proper wife, those innocent people would have still been alive.  And Obi- Wan? Why do I always hear his name? You are mine," snarled Vader.  Why must she always mention that man's name?  He never approved of Vader in the beginning because he was jealous! He was jealous that I was better, far more advanced!  Even with just the thought of him made Vader's blood boil. 

"I am no one's property, and if only you had been the proper husband, these things wouldn't have happened!" She said it with such emotion that he knew she meant every word.

But one look at his wife and how she was passionate in saving those lives made his darkened eyes flash that piercing blue again, but just for a moment, and it was gone within a second.  He met her gaze and held it.  He let her search his soul, but he did not let her see much.  Anakin was gone, and there is, and always will be, Lord Vader.  Anakin was there, Vader could feel it.  But he was locked up in a box when "Ani" lost his mother... when he lost Qui-Gon.  Darkness invited him and he accepted it.  One with the Force? Never. There can only be a Master and he was it.

------------------------

She felt his presence even before he came into the room.  She tensed with just the voice of her beloved.  It had no trace of the man she fell in love with, only of the man that struck fear in everyone's hearts and souls.  Even with him just a couple feet away, she kept up her image.  She didn't falter or bow to him.  He didn't deserve it.

A pang of anger raced through her veins as he started to taunt her.  As she turned, she met his gaze.  For a moment, she thought she saw Anakin. The true and gentle Anakin.  The Ani that loved her with every waking moment, and the Anakin that was the Chosen One.  Just as fast as it was there, it was gone.  It turned back into portals to darkness.  Not dreamy, not charming...just there.

How dare he say that she was his property, or even anyone's property!  He drew her gaze and silently they stared at each other.  She saw something, but it was almost as if he was trying to keep her away from it.  She stared deeper and deeper into his soul, but that secret was far away from her.  But she would personally see to that that box will open up and secrets will no longer be an obstacle between her and Anakin. 

He suddenly broke eye contact, and said, "Go out to them. Help them." And with that, he left without a single word exchanged.

She heard the door slam, but she just stood there. What just happened, she wondered.  But with a shake of her head, she left the thought and rushed out of the room.  She had to find out what happened to everyone.

----------------------

With a Force thought, he sent a message to the pilot of ship.  He had to get out of here before anything else happened.  He had almost lost control there.  It would never happen again...

As I looked into her eyes, all I saw were endless rivers of emotion, emotions that were of grief, sadness, and of love.  I saw straight into her soul and it was almost as if the old Anakin fought up into the surface for control.  She saw it though, she saw my expression soften.  What did she see when she looked at me? A man that had no feelings and expressions? A man that had hardened into stone over the past few months?

As the ship flew out into space, he saw her running out into the field.  Even now, she was helping someone.  What happened to him?  He must always be in control and not let his feelings get the best of him. 

-------------------

As she ran over each little hill, thoughts overflowed her mind.  What happened to Obi- Wan?  What happened to Sabe and Dorme?  What just happened in the manor?  Am I actually able to reach out to Anakin now?

When she found Dorme and Sabe calling out her name, she was relieved.  She could see that they were fine, but what about the rest of the crew?

"Dorme, Sabe! I'm right here!" yelled Padme.

"Milady!" they chorused. 

"We are so glad that you are well, Padme! We were worried out of our minds! But we can't find anyone else that survived the wreckage," said Sabe sadly.

Padme looked around with glazed eyes, "This is all my fault.  If only I hadn't run away, this would have never happened."

All she saw before her was smoking rubble that she recently occupied.  These innocent people had forfeited their lives for hers, but what can she do in return?  How can she avenge the lives that would do anything for her?  Her eyes suddenly shone with confidence.  She knew what she had to do, whatever the cost was. 

"There is no more time to mourn of those lost.  Let's start to clean this rubble and see if we can find Obi- Wan and the master of this house," said Padme, taking charge. 

-------------------

Obi- Wan finally roused from his deep slumber with a groan.  He felt as if his head was about to explode.  Bloody hell... What Anakin did to him had some after effects that weren't so pleasant.

When he heard the voice, he froze.  He knew that voice so well, yet it had turned cold as ice.  As he was about to lift his hand, he suddenly felt very dizzy and the ground came up to meet him.  That was all he really remembered.  Then he looked around at his surroundings.  An ordinary study room furnished with the essentials.  But then he saw a slumped figure in the leather chair.  This must be the master of the manor!  I don't even know his name, thought Obi- Wan, embarrassed. 

Quickly, he rose out of his own chair and gently shook the man.  Eyes fluttered open and a look of bewilderment came over his expression. 

"Wh..what happened?" said the man.

"My name is Obi- Wan Kenobi and I was sent here with Senator Amidala in look of a hide-out for her," said Obi- Wan, politely.

"Oh dear...I remember now.  I was out in front waiting for your arrival when I felt something and then the next I knew, I was here.  Well, save that for later.  Where is the Senator?   We must get her safety.  And oh, I don't believe I ever introduced myself.  I am Baloma Enigna," said Baloma.

Padme, thought the Jedi with a sudden realization, "We must go now and find the Senator! I fear that she is in grave danger."

Suddenly, they both heard a piercing scream.  Time's run out.

TBC

----------------

A/N: I wanted this chapter to be longer, but 1) I was lazy 2) I wanted to cut it off somewhere. =D Evil me...haha! And a great HI to all those people that LOVES cliffies! LOL JOKING! =D *agh* I don't like how this chapter turned out! HEHE *REVIEW* plz? lolz