Futures Past
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Chapter 7- Safety
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A.N: OMG! So many reviews I can't believe you guys you are amazing! I can tell that you are all dying for the Obi/Padmé bits to creep in and I'm sorry I've kept you waiting so long, and have had to endure a lot of Anakin/Padmé but there is much more coming, it will start creeping in from about chapter 8 or 9 and there will be major breakthrough in chapter 10, but trust me you wanna wait for chapter 17! I know I'm evil and cruel making you wait so long and tormenting you so, but be patient it is coming! Don't think I'll give them an easy ride though, I am evil mwahaha! Ahem, thank you all again for being so patient with me and for giving me such support I really appreciate it! Thanks!
Enjoy
xXx
*
"Chancellor why did you request my presence when you disagree with everything I say? I thought you were against a war?"
"I have to go with the masses Ma'am, they want a war. They think it will solve the Republic's problems."
"Your job as chancellor is to do what is right not what the crowd wants! You are meant to represent justice and rationality, not a rushed decision to strike at all who oppose you, that isn't democracy. They are making you do what they want, that sounds like a dictatorship to me."
"Your position atop the senator pile is most… tenuous ma'am, I wouldn't test its strength much more. Stay on the right side of me and maybe you will retain it."
"Are you threatening me?" Padmé gasped.
"No Senator, it's not a threat. It's a promise." Palpatine growled, casting one last look over her and stalking out. Padmé stared after him in disbelief. She was left alone in the chamber her faith in democracy waning.
She pulled the intricate knots in her hair out, letting it cascade over her shoulders, and pulled away the senatorial badge. She sat on a nearby chair and put her head in her hands. The prospect of war terrified her especially that the Jedi would have to get involved and that would put Anakin and Obi Wan in danger, all of the Jedi in fact. She faced the prospect of war ten years ago when the Trade Federation blockaded Naboo. The senate hadn't resolved her problem, she had, and now the senate had failed her again. She didn't want to risk her people's lives, Pooja or Ryoo, her nieces, her sister Sola. Her parents… or Anakin. Innocents would be lost just so those pawns could have their war! It wasn't right, it wasn't fair.
She would solve this herself, and set Palpatine straight.
*
"Master, what exactly are we looking for?"
"This is your trial Anakin, you have to think about what needs to be done, give us a plan."
Anakin looked around him. They were in a deep wood, with steaming pools of murky water everywhere. It looked exactly the opposite of rocky Geonosis but that didn't mean it looked appealing.
"We should make our way to the nearest signs of civilisation, the species here from what we can ascertain are weak minded, so it should be easy to use the force to see what's inside them or control them. We'll see if anyone has sighted Master Unduli and make our way to her last known whereabouts."
"Good." Obi Wan nodded pleased.
"This way." Anakin pointed making his way left.
~
"We're lost…" Obi Wan sighed.
"Not lost Master just misplaced…" Anakin looked around with heightening worry.
"Let go of your fears, let the Force guide you. Concentrate!" Obi Wan commanded.
Anakin closed his eyes and focused on his surroundings with the Force. The sounds of the forest sounded deafening, the tiny flicker of bugs in the pools and trees, the birds swooping, the creature creeping up behind them…
Anakin snapped his eyes open swinging round, activating his lightsabre and bringing it up just in front of the creatures neck in one swift movement.
"EEP!" The creature fell backwards in shock. It was a dark green colour and stood about up to Anakin's shoulder. It was a plump little creature with slimy looking skin, large yellow eyes, a wide nose, and webbed hands. It looked like an overgrown frog with little stumps for ears and a large mouth, fur covered its back, arms and legs.
Obi Wan nodded in approval of Anakin's reaction and stared down at the creature drawing his own lightsabre.
"It's a Rishian." Obi Wan said.
"Trustworthy?" Anakin asked.
"That's your job to tell."
"What do you know about the Geonosians?" Anakin growled pointing his lightsabre at the creature.
The Rishian blinked up at him in fear.
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW!? TELL US!" He demanded.
Obi Wan looked strangely at his Padawan. These outbursts concerned him, the unbridled anger in Anakin's eyes was a worrying sight.
"Anakin. Maybe he can't speak our language?"
"You're wrong Master, he's just hiding something from us!"
The frightened creature let out two clicking noises and a slurpy gulp.
"Well how are we gonna find out anything here then?" Anakin frowned.
"Use the Force to communicate to him. See into his mind."
Anakin concentrated.
"He's afraid."
"Maybe if you took that lightsabre from his neck he might be more at ease?"
Anakin reluctantly withdrew his blade.
"Now Anakin. See if he works for the Geonosians and if he's seen Luminari."
"He is afraid of them, they killed his family and enslaved his town. He and a few others escaped. They are running away from them. They want to launch a full attack on the planet with the droids, to test their firepower on the Rishians before they attack…us." Anakin gasped.
"Good, my young apprentice. Reassure him that we mean him no harm."
The creature relaxed slightly.
"Now ask him if he has seen a woman in similar dress to us, in the past month?"
The creature clicked excitedly for a minute.
"He says she tried to defend the Rishians during the last strike but she was taken too, she sustained grievous injuries from what I can see from his memories. They would've placed her in the arena to battle the beasts like we fought, he thinks that with her injuries, there is no way she survived."
Obi Wan sighed deeply.
"We will have to go there and see if we can recover anything."
"But Master, after the attack won't their security be heightened? They wont take any risks and will be expecting infiltration wont they?"
"They will not expect two Jedi to sneak in on recon. They would be expecting a mass attack, they probably won't even notice us."
"They noticed you last time! We had to come and rescue you, I'm sure they won't rule it out again master."
Obi Wan grinned, "True my young Padawan, how astute of you." He rolled his eyes. "Very well, what would you have us do?"
"We should report in to Master Yoda and tell him there is not much chance of Luminari's survival, then we should go and try and free some Rishians from the slave camps set up near here, perhaps then we will get some more warriors to our cause, Chancellor Palpatine will be pleased for any new soldiers to add to the Republic's army."
"Palpatine can do his own recruitments. We have a job to do Anakin, a Jedi must listen to his orders carefully and not do any more than is asked of him. We are given missions for a reason, we could make a situation worse if we do more than required. Unless told to take our own actions we stick to what is asked."
"I understand Master."
"Good. Now holo-message Master Yoda and he will give us our orders."
"Yes Master." Anakin pulled out his holo-recorder and switched it on.
"Master Yoda?"
"Young Anakin, in contact already?"
"Yes Master, we have talked to a Rishian who said that Master Unduli tried valiantly to free the Rishians here, but was injured in the process, she was taken back to Geonosis if she survived the trip she would've been put in the same arena as we were and she would've had to fight the beasts there and been terminated if she survived that."
"Grim news that is, strong Luminari was."
"What would you have us do Master?"
"Free as many Rishians as possible then back make your way. Little there is we can do now, except prepare for war."
"War, but didn't Padmé object Master?"
"Overruled she was, vastly outnumbered too. Pity it is, many will die."
Anakin's face fell, he knew Padmé must be feeling crushed but he had a mission to do.
"Alright Master. We'll see you soon."
"May the Force be with you young one." Yoda's hologram blipped off.
"Can you take us to the nearest camp?" Obi Wan asked the creature.
The Rishian nodded and clicked then dashed off through the trees.
"I guess that's where we're going." Anakin sighed running after it.
"I don't think this is a good idea." Obi Wan muttered.
*
"Chancellor!" Padmé stormed through Palpatine's office doors.
"Ah, Senator Amidala, feeling more mature now, finished your temper tantrum?"
Padmé fought to maintain her composure.
"You have changed Chancellor, you are not who I thought you were."
"I'm sorry Senator but I don't quite follow."
"You used to be loyal to your people, want what was good for the Republic, understand peoples needs and realise the corruption of the Senate, not be a party to it!"
"What are you implying Senator?"
"That you have turned into everything that you are meant to be against, everything I hate and you used to."
"You hate me Milady?"
"I'm beginning to, when you threaten me, and insult my integrity and intelligence."
Palpatine rose from his desk and strode towards her.
"How can I remedy that?"
Padmé took a step back, unnerved by his mood.
"You can stop pretending that this war is good for the republic… th…that you are doing what you think is right… no-one should consider war a good thing." She stammered.
"Sometimes we do what is required of us, whether we like it or not milady, you'll understand, being a former Queen." He whispered, stopping in front of her.
"Well, that doesn't make it right, you don't have to do what others want. What do you want?"
"What do I want?" He repeated, his voice little more than a whisper.
Padmé stepped back, aware of a wall behind her.
"Shall I tell u what I want, Senator?" He stopped barely an inch from her face.
"Chancellor, you are not yourself, you need to relax…"
"I'm perfectly relaxed Senator, but I think I know what would put me in a…better mood." He placed a hand on her hip.
"Sir, you don't know what you are doing… please, take your hand off me."
"I need some company during the long nights Senator, I would be more than pleased if you joined me, power is a great ally…" He whispered, his breath brushing her neck, making her skin crawl, she was aware of his hand snaking down her leg. His lips made contact with the skin on her neck and she pushed him away as hard as she could, she had considerable strength when she needed it.
She heard the fabric of her skirt tear in his grip as she pulled away.
"Chancellor Palpatine, I don't know what frame of mind you are in but it is not your right one, I insist you stop this inappropriate behaviour or I'll…"
"You'll what Senator? You have no friends, no protection, even your precious Jedi can't help you now. You are alone Senator."
"Please Chancellor, you are scaring me…"
"You should be scared Senator… but don't worry, I'll make you forget all about it…" Padmé was aware he was backing her into a corner. She gave him a sharp kick in the leg and pushed him away, running to the door and smashing on the open button. She cast one more terrified look at the Chancellor and flew from the room.
"Soon you won't run my dear, soon." Palpatine smiled.
*
Padmé ran blindly down the hallway tears in her eyes.
"Padmé!" Sabé called as she ran past her handmaiden down the hall, but Padmé didn't answer she was too upset.
She bashed into someone hard and fell to the floor, still sobbing.
"Senator Amidala?" Yoda frowned looking at her.
"Here Ma'am let me help you." Mace Windu offered his hand to pull her up.
"I'm sorry Masters." Padmé sniffled apologetically.
"What is the matter? Nothing serious I hope." Yoda asked concerned.
"Maybe Master Yoda, I've lost my faith in democracy and mans integrity."
"Why is that?"
Padmé sniffed again.
"Senator?"
"Chancellor Palpatine… he…tried to kiss me, or worse." She moaned. "What would Ani say…?"
"Pardon Senator?" Mace Windu scrutinized her.
"Nothing, I'm… a little upset that's all."
"Appalling behaviour that is, for any man, let alone a Chancellor." Yoda shook his head.
"Tell me about it." Padmé sighed. "I wish I knew what to do, this has confused me."
"Your own integrity keep Senator, do not fall to the others' level. If you hold firm to your beliefs better you will be for it." Yoda smiled.
"I don't feel safe here, the thought of him makes me sick."
"Hmm." Yoda wrinkled his brow in thought.
"Unheard of it is for non users of the Force to be allowed deep into the Temple." Yoda murmured to Mace Windu.
"But we protect the innocent."
"An exception we shall make, especially for such a woman as this."
"Masters?"
"Come with us to the Temple Senator, we will protect you from harm there, as we cannot spare any Jedi to protect you out here."
Padmé didn't want to run and hide from her problems, she wanted Anakin's comfort. But she knew the Jedi would protect her and treat her like a human at least, so she nodded, smiling gratefully.
"An exception you are Senator, but a welcome one. A great pity it is, that others in the senate do not share your views, a better world it would be."
Padmé smiled at the kindly old Jedi and followed the pair down the hallway, feeling safer at least.
*
R&R please
