Futures Past
Chapter 28- Nightmare
A.N: Hey you guys, thanks for the support, it really means a lot to me, especially after the flames the earlier chaps got, this story would never have got this far without your support! To the reviews:
REALbluelightsabre: Yep, Anakin will be going to see the Wookies, but who says he'll be away from Palpy! Dum dum duuum! :D
History: Thanks for being my voice of reason, what you said was true and I thank you muchly for getting my thoughts back on track lol, sometimes I forget that a chapter doesn't have to be all action or kissing to be important to the plot lol. I'm glad you grasp the storyline so well and recognise the need for the groundwork, it's almost like you know the story better than I do tee hee! Thanks for your support.
Fran: Thanks to you also for the support, I'm glad you liked the scene setting part too, thanks for reviewing!
Kathryn Riddle: Hope you had fun in Geneva! I'm glad you liked the chaps, and I understand completely about turning the romance on and off, I don't even realise I'm doing it most of the time, I didn't think I was pulling off the romance parts too well, but there you go, if you guys like it then I'm doing something right! I will definitely be writing in some Chewie (as I love him muchly) but as Han Solo is only seven at the time of this fic (I do my research ^.^) it wouldn't be the Han we know and love so much, but it would be a cool inclusion huh, I may be able to write him into it, I would definitely like to (as I love him muchly too!) what do y'all think, Han Solo included? In any case, we'll see how it goes, I just follow my evil muse when she returns from Jamaica once in a while. I am thinking of skipping a few months to move the plot along, but it wont be for another couple chaps yet, which may mean more Anakin, Mace and the Wookies, sorry folks! Anyway, we'll see! Thanks for reviewing!
LuckyPanda13: Wow, you are like… my hero! Anyone who can sit and read 27 chapters of one of my fics in one sitting certainly deserves a prize of some sort, *blush* I'm honoured you would read it all, I love it when people do that, it makes me feel all storyteller like, as if I'm awesome?! Mwaha, anyway, thankys! I am very honoured. I hope you enjoy the rest!
Thanks also to Heather Wan, yumyumkittysnax and VTEEN. I love you all! The question remains, Han or no Han…YOU DEICDE! Hehe, I feel like a TV show! Enjoy!
*
As Padmé reached her home, wearily after hours of talks with the nobility of Naboo and the Queen, she was thankful that dinner was already prepared, she was too exhausted to do much else but sit in silence and listen to her family and handmaidens converse, with a smile on her face.
"What are you smiling at?" Her sister Sola asked, noticing her faraway look.
"Just thinking how lucky I am, some people's homes and countries are torn by war, and some people have no families to eat and talk with, I am counting all my blessings, we all must have something good to hold on to in dark days." Padmé replied.
"What's that?" Ruwee Naberrie, Padmé's father frowned.
"Nothing father, Padmé is just being philosophical again." Sola answered for her.
"Oh that reminds me, Padmé, a letter came for you this morning, here you go dear." Jobal, Padmé's mother handed her daughter the letter as she went round collecting the plates.
"Now who could that be from?" Sabé teased.
"Not that dashing young Skywalker boy you brought with you when last you were here?" Sola gasped, feigning shock.
"Oh be quiet." Padmé chided them good naturedly, as Versé and Dormé giggled from behind their hands.
"What does it say then? Is it a love letter?" Sabé winked.
"I'm not telling you what it says, what is said between two friends in a letter is no-one else's business." Padmé stuck her tongue out at Sabé and excused herself, to freshen up and read the letter, inscribed with Obi Wan's neat script, though none of the others would have guessed it.
Dear Padmé, it may have been only a little while since you got my last note, but there were a few things- in the throes of my poetic passion!- that I left out.
I wrote this letter just before I got on the transport, and gave it straight to the postal droid to ensure it would not be intercepted, but as I am now off-world, security will be an issue. In order for us to maintain our hidden location from the Separatists, I suggest we use false names, to ensure both my and your own safety. Also, when you send a letter to me, send it via the Jedi Temple, they will be able to get it to me with no trouble, and it will not endanger us. So when you write to me, call me Ben, don't ask me why for in truth I do not know, but I am sure you have called me it once before, do you ever get the feeling when something is so real that you know it must be true, but you don't know where you got that something from? I may be getting too philosophical here, the point is, call me Ben, and write back to me with your own false name accordingly, then we will just seem like two normal lovers, writing letters to each other while we are apart. It may seem quite clandestine, rather romantic don't you agree?
If only we were two such normal lovers, and were not so far apart, not bound by duty or fate or destiny, if we were only free, everything would be so different for us. But dreams and 'if onlys' will not help us now, so we will focus on what we do have. At least we know we are fighting for the freedom of others, even if the two of us can never be free ourselves. It is a cause worth fighting for, or that is what I believe. I miss you so much already it is untrue, I doubt I will be able to get you off my mind while away from you, but if time or opportunity allows, perhaps I will be able to visit you on occasion, or at least holo-message you, so I can see your face again, even if it is blue, fuzzy and coming from a million parsecs away, that won't matter, because I love you. That sounded rather corny didn't it? Blast my romanticism, I could be more conventional and avoid you as much as possible and not care how your day was if you prefer? But if you ever need a white knight to burst through your window, lightsabre blazing to rescue you from whatever hell fiend that is trying to dispute your virtue, I am your man I assure you. Enough of my banter, I'll end up missing my transport which- although it would be a good thing for us- would be a bad thing for me. Don't forget me Padmé, for I assure you all of my thoughts will be on you. Take care and stay safe, and keep me posted with everything that is happening while I'm away.
Much love, forever
Obi Wan (becoming Ben, as of a trip on my transport)
x
Padmé smiled. She was glad he had sent another note to remind her of a name change or she would have forgotten completely, now she had only to think of a name for herself.
She tucked the letter under her pillow where the other was also safely concealed and checked herself over in her mirror. It was then that a flash of pain shot through her head as a furious headache ensnared her senses, and she fell to the ground, unconscious.
*
Padmé's eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the darkness that filled her room. There was a tall male figure standing by her bed, but she couldn't make out his features.
"Padmé?" A voice said and Padmé squinted, as the figure came closer and by the flickering light provided by the Fire Crystal held on a stand on her bedside table, she could make out his face.
"Anakin? What are you do-"
"Shh, don't worry Padmé, I'm here now, there's nothing to worry about." Anakin said quietly, putting a finger to her lips.
"But why are you-" Padmé started again but was once again cut off by Anakin.
"There's no time to explain, I'm here to protect you, come on." He grabbed her hand- pulling her up- and led her through the darkness.
"Protect me from what?"
"They're coming for you, they cannot find you here, I have to get you away or they'll take you."
"Who?"
"Them."
"Anakin stop! You're not making any sense." Padmé halted as they reached the back exit to her house.
"There's no time right now Padmé. Trust me."
"But where are my family, and my handmaidens? What's going on Anakin tell me this instant!"
Anakin turned from her to look out to the water surrounding them. "I have to take you to see my Master." He said, tonelessly.
"Who? Master Yoda?"
"No."
"Master Windu then?" Padmé frowned, "Anakin, you're scaring me."
"Be quiet Padmé." Anakin snapped forcefully and Padmé closed her mouth in shock.
"Did you really think you could hide it from me Padmé?" Anakin's voice became hard and threatening.
"W-What?" Padmé stammered.
"Did you think you could hide it? Hide them? I am unstoppable! There's nothing you can keep from me, nowhere to hide, nothing you can do anymore!"
"Anakin please, you're frightening me." Padmé said, her voice a terrified whisper.
"You have to see my Master." Anakin said, turning to face her. He was smiling, but it was not a smile of love and care, it was a knowing, taunting, malicious grin.
"Come on, he'll be expecting us." He grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward, Padmé struggling against him.
"Anakin stop, you're hurting me, let go."
"Not far now." He said, and led them into a pitch black space, permeated only by bursts of glowing lava bursting from the nothingness and then disappearing after shooting into the air around them.
Anakin turned to Padmé still grinning. Then, horrifyingly his skin suddenly began to peel and burn, contorting and charring for no obvious reason. Padmé stepped back gasping in horror, but Anakin laughed, a high pitched giggle.
"See what you've done to me? Hehehe! Look Padmé, look at what I've become! I'm greater than you, greater than Obi Wan, greater even than Yoda! You will all fear me, all hide from me, all run from me, and cower before me! Look!" He commanded, grabbing Padmé's wrist and pulling her closer to him once more, grabbing her face with his scarred hand so that she was forced to look at him.
"Anakin please-" Padmé began, her voice shaking with fear.
"Oh no, the begging will come later, hehehe! But look, you must meet my Master, come!" He grabbed her again and led her a little further on, to a lighter area where there was a person lying on the floor. His clothes were light beige, a tunic and trousers, with brown boots too. Jedi attire. Anakin kicked the figure, and it rolled from lying on its side to on its back with a moan.
Padmé gasped. "Obi Wan." She whispered, tears filling her eyes. He lay there, his storm coloured eyes becoming glassy and unfocused, a lightsabre hole through his stomach and a slash over his chest, the tunic burnt away where the lightsabre had sliced.
Anakin let out another giggle.
"Oh don't mind him, he won't be bothering us any more. Come on, meet my true Master!" Anakin sounded like an excited child and dragged Padmé forward, she stumbled, her eyes still fixed on her lover's dead body, tears running down her face at the sight of Obi Wan and her breath coming out in short, shaking gasps. She paid no attention to her surroundings and her tears obscured her vision.
Soon Anakin came to a stop in a completely white room, circular in shape, with a window looking out at the stars at the far end, with a large white chair-which rather resembled a throne- facing out to the stars set raised on a platform in front.
"My lord." Anakin said, his scarred and deformed face twisting into an expression of awed respect as the chair slowly turned, as if the person inside it was either very old, or wanting to appear more intimidating. Padmé cried silently, trying to pull away from Anakin's iron strong grip.
As the chair faced the couple, Padmé tensed in fear, the familiar black cloak, the cold eyes staring out at her- now bloodshot and almost red, two clawed hands gripping the arms of the seat-which were now almost grey in colour, and the familiar smooth voice-though sounding older and harsher- greeted her in that same way.
"Senator Amidala, what a pleasure."
Padmé screamed, her eyes snapping open, greeted by the sight of her concerned handmaidens and sister. Looking around she realised she was still in her room, in her bed with a cold compress on her forehead.
"Padmé, are you alright?!" Sola asked in concern, her eyes fearful.
"Milady, how do you feel?" Sabé frowned, bending over to look closer at Padmé.
"What- what's going on?" Padmé asked weakly, squinting at her audience.
"You collapsed sweetheart, while you were in your room. When Sabé came to find you, you were unconscious on the floor, what happened?" Sola asked, taking the compress off and replacing it with a fresh one.
Padmé frowned and sat up, taking off the compress in annoyance. "I don't know. I came in here to read my letter, then checked myself in the mirror, then I got…a headache I think, or at least that's what it felt like, and now I'm in bed with a cold compress and you all fussing, doesn't Darred ever wonder why you don't come home for hours, and you stay fussing over me?"
"He is working tonight, and he knew I was over here to greet you, he would have been here too if he could. In any case little sister, we are worried about you. Father went to get a doctor and some medi-droids." Sola said, checking Padmé's temperature.
"Don't fuss." Padmé tutted, batting her sister's hand away, but in truth she was worried. Her dream was so frighteningly vivid and real, it was almost like a memory of something that had happened, not a nightmare, thought up in the throes of fever.
"Well you are getting checked over anyway, we don't want you to catch anything, especially when we are in the middle of war negotiations." Sabé said sternly, but Padmé knew she was scared too, she could sense it.
Dormé knelt by the bed and squeezed Padmé's hand in reassurance, and then went to get her some water, on Sabé's command.
Padmé was further fussed on for another hour or so when he father and mother returned with medi droids and the doctor, and she kept assuring them she was fine. But in her heart, she was very afraid.
*
Obi Wan woke from his nap with a burning pain flashing through his chest. He had just arrived at the Training Base an hour or so ago, and was taking a short rest to relieve the discomfort of the early start and uncomfortable journey he had encountered, when now he was in pain again. Feeling as if he had been run through with a lightsabre, he stumbled to his small bathroom and emptied his stomach of its meagre contents. Whatever had caused his sudden burning pain, it vanished almost as quickly as it had come. Sitting on the bare floor he fought to regain his composure. He was almost thankful for the unpleasant wake-up call, his dream beforehand had definitely been more of a nightmare. One of many recently. He just wished he could be next to Padmé once more, that night with her in his arms had banished all unpleasant dreams the entire night, he could only seem to find serenity with her.
Unfortunately for him, that serenity would not come easily for the next few months.
*
Anakin had just returned from his meeting with Chancellor Palpatine, feeling invigorated, when he ran into Mace Windu.
"Anakin, good. There has been a change of plan, we leave tonight."
"Why Master Windu? Is there a problem?"
"Yes, the Trandoshans have changed the rules. Gather your essentials, we must be gone in one standard hour at most, hopefully before, the Wookies cannot wait much longer."
Anakin rushed to his quarters to gather his belongings. He had wanted to holo-message Padmé, but he supposed he would do that on the transport.
My first real mission as a Jedi Knight, yes! Now I can prove myself to everyone! He grinned, dashing out of the door, hardly being able to wait for his opportunity to prove his worth to the Jedi.
I'll be the greatest Jedi there ever was!
*
Ah, that was also an icky fragmented chapter, a little longer than usual, I was trying to make up for how boring the last chapter seemed, did it work? I hope you liked it anyway, Padmé's visions are so fun! Next chapter, Anakin meets the Wookies, Obi Wan meets a challenge, and Padmé meets a nightmare come true!
Han or no Han?
Review pretty please? No flames!
xXx
