Futures Past
Chapter 33-Attack
A.N: Yay, thanks for all the nice reviews, I quite enjoyed writing last chapter, Han is so fun to write hehe! Anyway, this chapter is the long awaited OBIDALANESS dumdadada!
You have all been very patient during the quiet spells during the fic so far, and for that I think you muchly. From here on in it will get a lot more exciting (I hope) and in a couple chapters time I will either skip forward a few months or I will speed things up and make the transition to the last part of the story, this lot of chapters is about the middle of my saga, but soon we'll be coming to the end, (sighs of relief anyone?) anyway, thanks for being patient, I hope y'all enjoy this chappy!
*
Padmé made her way through the halls of the Royal Palace warily, Versé, Sabé and Dormé close behind. Padmé had thought it unnecessary to swap places with Sabé, as they were only visiting the Queen and other representatives of Naboo, she had also thought it unnecessary for her handmaidens to even come, but Sabé had certainly not agreed with that Senatorial decision, and had insisted that all three of Padmé's guards accompanied her. Padmé supposed that her well meaning bodyguards were worried, since she had once again had a splitting headache and dizzy spell before they left and had to take a heavy dose of Hypnocane before she was deemed well enough to leave the house.
When she stepped through the double doors she was Senator Amidala, she was determined to be taken seriously and not let Chancellor Palpatine undermine her in front of the Queen.
"Your Majesty, it's a pleasure to see you again." She inclined her head to Queen Jamilla and the other nobility that were seated around the room, finally catching sight of Palpatine, who had made his way towards her and shook her hand.
"And the pleasure is all mine." He smiled cheerily and Padmé fought the urge to be sick, whether that was due to her earlier headache or to him, she could not tell. She guessed it was the latter.
"Thank you." She mumbled, trying to hold her composure, and went to take her seat, only Dormé seeming to notice her discomfort, as Sabé was discussing something with one of the Chancellor's aides and Versé was admiring the new decorations in the meeting room.
"Let's begin then shall we?" Palpatine said, and just from his expression, Padmé could tell it would be a very long meeting.
*
"Master Windu, do you expect this meeting to have any effect on the Trandoshan-Wookiee problem? I don't see how a sit-down get together will resolve anything, if the Trandoshans don't respect the Wookiees now, why do you think they ever will?" Anakin looked around the ship uneasily. The meeting was to take place on the Jedi One placed between the neighbouring planets as neutral ground. The Jedi were here to oversee the meeting, and to hopefully mediate a peaceful solution to the two races' hatred.
"We are Jedi Anakin, our cause may not always seem attainable, but we will strive to achieve it nonetheless and help those in need, whenever they need it."
"I know Master, but it seems so pointless. Can't we just go blow up Trandosha, no-one likes them any-" He trailed off when he saw Master Windu's disapproving expression.
"Yes Master, I'll be quiet now." Anakin sighed and looked out of the window, waiting for the Trandoshan ambassador to arrive.
"Remember to be courteous, don't show any favouritism to Senator Yarua simply because you believe the Wookiees to be right, that will not alleviate the hostilities at all."
"Of course Master… what's taking so long?"
"Patience Anakin, one of the greatest virtues a Jedi can have."
"Aren't you at all worried Master Windu, what if they don't turn up, or try and attack?"
"Then we will deal with the situation as it arises, keep your thoughts here, not in the future and move with the Force as it goes, not against it. You must learn these things Anakin, to truly be one with the Force."
"Yes master." Anakin said sombrely, these lectures always put a damper on his good moods as they showed him his inadequacies, which he hated to be made aware of.
"Ah, here they are now." Mace commented as he saw the small Trandoshan transport dock at the side of Jedi One.
"Let us go and greet our guests. And remember-"
"Yes Master Windu, to be courteous." Anakin sighed and pushed himself up and after the Jedi Master.
"Senator Hadocrassk, we are pleased you were able to come." Mace bowed solemnly to the Trandoshan visitor and his two aides behind him. Anakin was always amazed at Master Windu's ability to be so polite, so emotionless and humble and yet so powerful and commanding at the same time.
"Thank you for your hospitality Master Windu," The Trandoshan Senator hissed, beady red eyes glinting as he surveyed the interior of the Jedi's craft, "Which is more than can be said for those stinking Wookiees." He glanced around, as if suspecting a thousand Wookiees to leap out from behind one of the doors and attack him. Anakin thought that the Senator seemed most deserving of that fate, angry at the way he insulted such a peaceful race.
"Well maybe if you respected them more they wouldn't be so inhospitable!" He snapped, before realising what he'd said. Mace Windu's face showed a rare trace of dumbfounded shock and then reproachful anger. Senator Hadocrassk looked as if he wanted to skin Anakin alive, and Master Windu seemed to look likewise.
"Please forgive my headstrong young colleague, Jedi Knight Skywalker is unused to this sort of meeting and rarely thinks before he speaks." Mace ended the sentence with a harsh reprimanding tone directed at Anakin.
"I'm terribly sorry Senator Hadocrassk, I meant no disrespect, I… simply meant that… uh, well hopefully this peace talk can resolve your problems with the Wookiees so perhaps your two races can live together peacefully, without hostilities." Anakin winced at the slip up he'd made, thinking Mace would demote him back to a Padawan once this mission was over.
"Shall we begin, I'm sure you want this disagreement to be dealt with swiftly so you can get back to your home." Mace said, his tone quiet but with hidden persuasion behind it, hoping to draw attention away from Anakin's remark and back on track.
"Of course, let's get this over with." The Trandoshan said, totally unaware of the Jedi mind trick Mace had used, with the precision and effect that only he could pull off so perfectly.
"Anakin." Mace said, and the Jedi Knight followed in behind the procession.
"Keep remarks like that to yourself in future young Skywalker, or this will be a very short peace talk indeed." He heard Master Windu's voice resound sternly in his head.
"Sorry Master, it just slipped out."
"See that you make no more slip ups then, or your value on these sorts of missions will be called into serious doubt. Concentrate on the Force, not on your own views."
"I will master. Sorry." Anakin hoped that Master Windu could sort this disagreement out, before he made another mess up and ruined it all.
*
The meeting was finally adjourned and Padmé hoped she could slip away, but was caught by Palpatine before she could excuse herself.
"Ah, Senator Amidala, could I have a brief word in the corridor?"
"I'm terribly sorry Chancellor, I have a pressing engagement back at my home, I really have no time."
"Don't be foolish milady, your parents wont be home for a good few hours yet, I'm sure we can tell the transport to hold for a few minutes so you can speak to the Chancellor." Sabé chided, thinking that Padmé really was worried about time.
"If you can't make time for the Chancellor of the Galaxy who can you make time for?" She murmured to Dormé and Versé.
"Your guard is right Milady, it is of pressing importance, it won't take a moment." And with that, Palpatine strode to the door and held it open for Padmé to go through. She shot a pleading look at her handmaidens, but they didn't seem to be paying attention and were conversing with other aides and Versé seemed to know one of Queen Jamilla's own handmaidens. With a sigh and a hammering heart Padmé walked out into the private corridor, which was deserted save for the sound of the Palace fountains trickling from the gardens nearby.
"Alone at last Milady. I had hoped for a more private location, but beggars can't be choosers now can they? Why Senator Amidala, you seem to be shaking, are you cold?"
"What do you want, you treacherous snake? Tell me this whole meeting was not just a ruse to get me alone was it?"
"Why my dear Senator, why ever would you think that, it isn't like the whole galaxy revolves round you is it? Why would the Chancellor come halfway around the galaxy just on your account? Have I affected you that deeply milady? It's flattering to say the least." (A.N: Chapter 32- that's all the clues I'm giving you!)
"I- I'm leaving now, I will not have my time wasted by some disgusting twisted mockery of a man, the very mention of you repulses me."
"Oh Senator, you're all on your own again, there is no way you can escape me unless I wish it so."
"I think you'll find that there is Chancellor!" A voice echoed along the corridor, followed by the resonant footsteps and shadow of a man from around the corner of the marble hall.
"Obi Wan! I- Master Kenobi!" Thank the force. She sighed in relief as Obi Wan reached the pair and placed himself in between the two.
"Master Kenobi, what a pleasant surprise, shouldn't you be halfway across the galaxy fighting a war?" The last word was snarled but Obi Wan stood his ground.
"I found myself on leave this morning, and had an errand to run here in Theed, I thought I would pass by and visit Senator Amidala, just for old times' sake."
"Be gone Jedi, this does not concern you. I would hate for Master Yoda to hear that you were disobeying direct orders from your Supreme Chancellor, and were absent from Dantooine without leave." Palpatine hissed threateningly.
"I have Viceroy Organa's leave, and you are certainly not my Supreme Chancellor, you have not earned your position, the only orders I take are from the Jedi Council and through the will of the Force, and I am here to escort Senator Amidala home. I will leave if she wishes it, and only then." Obi Wan drew up to his full height, and fixed the Chancellor with a cold, unwavering cerulean glare.
"Obi Wan." Padmé whispered and placed a hand on the Jedi's tensed arm, he glanced down at her and understood her wish to leave.
"Goodbye Chancellor." Padmé said coldly and turned on her heel, Obi Wan turning to follow her. He felt a grip of steel on his arm and turned to look into Palpatine's furious gaze.
"You cannot always be here to protect her Master Kenobi, if I cannot have her, no-one will. Especially not you." He hissed, suddenly seeming much more menacing, Obi Wan thought he felt a shift in the balance of the Force and an unseen pain lashed at him through the bond. He pulled his arm away from Palpatine's grasp and turned away, retreating after Padmé.
"Farewell Chancellor Palpatine." He called dismissively, but felt the sting of the unseen attack that had come from nowhere, radiating through his body with a throb.
~
"I missed you." Padmé said softly, as soon as they were alone walking back down the marble corridor.
"And I you." The Knight murmured, his hand finding her own delicate one and holding it reassuringly. No more words were said, none were needed, just him being there, radiating love and strength was all she needed. Her fear had subsided instantly at the sound of his voice, but she knew it would end soon.
"How long do we have?" She said softly, not wanting to hear the answer.
"Until the end of the day, then I must be back. You gave me quite a scare, I had to travel through hyperspace to get here so quickly."
"I was so frightened… I wish I wasn't, but every time I'm near him it's like this cold grip just seizes my heart and it wont let go, I can't even control it." She felt the corners of her eyes begin to moisten, but fought the tears back and held her chin up high.
"You are stronger than him, he knows he can't control you like he can with the rest of the galaxy, and it scares him. He doesn't like feeling weaker than people, he likes to feel in control, that's why it's so important to him to make you afraid and affect you like he does, it makes him feel powerful. But don't give into it Padmé, you're better than him and you don't need to be afraid, you don't need me to protect you, you know you're stronger." Obi Wan said softly, stopping for a moment and looking sincerely into her eyes.
"Don't be afraid, you'll never be alone, remember?" She nodded and gave him a determined smile, before putting a hand on each of his rough cheeks and kissing him passionately, all her anxieties pouring out into one tumultuous gesture. She gripped his tunic with her hands trying to pull him as close as possible to her shaking body.
He put a hand on the small of her back and it reassured her somewhat, her fervent kisses subsiding into a gentle flutter against his lips. She didn't even notice her tears of relief had finally spilled over, making silvery trails down her cheeks and dripping off her chin. As Obi Wan pulled away he gave her an affectionate smile and wiped away her tears with his thumb, before any more could drop to the ground.
"Come, we'll have to go and find my handmaidens, they are probably worried sick about where I've disappeared to. You wont' leave yet will you?" Padmé said, trying not to sound too apprehensive.
"Of course not, I don't recall ever seeing your home before, only your Senatorial apartments."
"Well we'll have to remedy that then." Padmé took Obi Wan's hand again and led him down the hallway into the main hall of the Palace.
"Still know your way around here I see." Obi Wan commented.
"Yep, being a Queen isn't all bad, you get to run around a palace all day." Padmé smiled but it soon faded as she saw the stern expression on Sabé's face as she, Dormé and Versé stood waiting in the foyer.
"And where have you been milady! Just running off without telling us for ten minutes, Chancellor Palpatine said you disappeared off with Master Kenobi and- so it's true!" She rounded on Obi Wan now.
"Master Kenobi, you should be ashamed, going off and distracting the Senator from important duties and meetings with the Chancellor. Milady, we thought you'd been kidnapped by a rogue Jedi or something!"
"Not this time." Padmé said dryly. "I was with Master Kenobi Sabé I was perfectly safe!"
"We didn't know that. How are we supposed to protect you if you go running off without telling us?"
"I'm afraid that was my fault Ma'am, I had to speak to the Senator about private matters, it was rather important but I should have known better, you have my deepest apologies for disrupting your day, this isn't Padmé's fault." Obi Wan said charmingly, adding a prod of persuasion from the Force, which turned Sabé's frown into a good natured smile.
"This isn't Padmé's fault." Sabé repeated with a nod. "Well then Master Kenobi, would you like to join us for a rather late lunch?"
"I'd love to, thank you." He nodded and shot Padmé a roguish smirk causing her to giggle just as mischievously.
"After lunch we can catch up properly." She grinned at him, her eyes sparkling once more.
"I can't wait."
*
"All that we ask is for our 215 bodies to be returned to Kashyyyk for proper ceremonial burial, the solution to your problem is very simple Senator Hadocrassk." Senator Yarua grunted in his native tongue, there was a protocol droid translating what was being said as the Trandoshan Senator did not wish to translate Wookiee language for himself.
"Do not think Senator Yarua, that because we are neighbours we will afford you any courtesy. You stopped the tourism trade to Kashyyyk and robbed us of thousands of credits worth of trade because of it, just because you beasts can live on practically nothing don't think that all races are the same. You get preferential treatment in the Senate, to the very detriment of the Trandoshan people, you and all Wookiees deserve nothing but loathing." Hadocrassk hissed maliciously, and Senator Yarua stood up in offence, grunting insults in his native tongue.
"Please, Senators, compose yourselves. There must be a peaceful way to resolve this problem." Mace Windu interjected, using all his skill with Jedi mind tricks to try and dissuade the pair from coming to blows.
"There is no point Master Windu, they will blame anyone but themselves for their shortcomings, there is no way to negotiate with such a closed-minded, venomous, moronic race." Senator Yarua growled, and Master Windu held up a hand to silence the droid from repeating the choice words to Hadocrassk.
"We shall not give the bodies back until the blockade of our trade routes is ended, and we are reimbursed the credits that their blockade and their cuts on tourism robbed us of." Hadocrassk snarled, banging his fist down on the table the two were seated at.
"Why should we reimburse you, when you knowingly invade Kashyyyk and destroy our homes and villages, burn our forests and kill our people for sport? You are asking for us to pay you for destroying our land and murdering our innocent citizens, you have no right to anything Kashyyyk owns and you will not get a single credit from the Wookiee people. The Galactic Senate has ordered you to leave our people alone but still you murder us for game and skin us for our pelts as if we were nothing but common animals."
This having been translated Hadocrassk leapt up and snarled, "You are common animals! Mindless, wretched, stinking, thieving animals, you will never get those bodies back, they died over Trandosha's moon and they are our property, you will get nothing back from us, and you will be destroyed, I will see to that! This talk is over!" He snapped at Mace and stood, he and his aides almost running from the Jedi One and into their craft, speeding off to Trandosha as if they had a Hyperdrive stuck on their back end.
Senator Yarua put his head in his furry paws and grunted mournfully.
"What am I to tell the families of those who were killed on that ship above Trandosha? Their loved ones will never receive a proper burial, so they can never become one with the earth and join the Tree of Life living forever as we believe. This is a dark day indeed." Yarua lamented and Anakin covered the Wookiee's paw with his own slender hand to try and comfort him.
"Some people have too many differences to ever be able to live in harmony, but that isn't your fault, you just have to worry about looking after your people well, like you always have." The Jedi Knight said reassuringly.
"Thank you Master Skywalker, I'm sure you will become a Jedi of Legend someday." Senator Yarua grunted appreciatively.
"We are sorry we could not help solve your problem Senator but rest assured the Jedi will continue to help in your struggle for peace, as will the Senate I'm su-" He was cut off as an explosion rocked the ship and the three were thrown to the floor.
"Damage report?!" Mace demanded, getting back to his feet and speaking into his comm. link.
"I-I don't know Master Windu…something just flew past the ship…we…only caught the tail end of the blast." The pilot said, his voice distorted by radio interference.
Just then, Senator Yarua grunted in alarm, and the two Jedi felt a ripple of disturbance in the Force. Joining Yarua in looking out of the window Anakin saw a green glow shoot towards Kashyyyk's forested surface.
"That looks like a shot from an Ion Bomb!" Anakin whispered in horror.
"Can't you stop it?!" Senator Yarua roared fearfully.
"There is no way we could, even if we were near enough to reach it." Mace said, his eyes never leaving the path of the blast.
With a boom, the blast flew into the planet's surface, creating a bright yellow explosion that could be seen from space, there was a ripple effect over the planets surface, like a visible wind. Senator Yarua grunted and doubled over in what seemed to be pain.
"There is no way Trandosha could have that kind of firepower on their own, especially with them complaining about their finances so vocally." Anakin shook his head, watching as the ripple spread over half the surface of Kashyyyk.
"It must have been the Separatists, there's no-one else with that kind of power and resource in the Galaxy…" Mace trailed off, helping the Senator up. There was a sombre silence for a few seconds before Mace's comm. link went off.
"Windu here."
"Master Windu, terrible news have I, their first attack the Separatists have launched." Master Yoda's weary voice was unmistakable.
"What? Where?!" Mace frowned in disbelief.
"Dantooine…where the Republics Grand Army is."
*
Okay, slightly action packed, the Obi/Ami bit was a bit cheesy and very short, but there will be more next chapter. I thought that the last part of this chapter was slightly inappropriate given the current world situation so I hope I didn't offend anyone, I certainly didn't mean to, I've had this chapter in planning for a long time so its really just bad timing, I hope nobody minds. What did you think of the Obidala, too fluffy, or not enough? As I said there will be more next chapter, probably along with some action, and then we'll probably skip ahead a couple of months. Also next chapter, Obi Wan and Palpy will have a heart to heart, and Anakin will be returning from Kashyyyk. I hope to see you all next chapter, and I hope this wasn't too long for ya!
Thanks for reading, please, pwetty pwease review!
