"Loss of Humanity"
Obi-Wan awoke from his Jedi trance to the alarm that told him to come out of hyperspace. He was to bring Padme to Naboo to collect her things and then immediately escort her to Alderaan. Upon coming out of hyperspace, the planet he saw was not what he'd expected. It was surrounded by armored transports and battleships all with an insignia on them that he did not recognize. Only then did he realize that Padme was standing next to him looking sad and weary.
"So, it's begun." she said as though she's expected it. "Take me down there" she requested adamantly.
"M'Lady, it is not safe. You could be in serious danger." He looked up at her then and saw a strength and determination he knew he could not fight.
The ship dropped slowly through the atmosphere wearing a cloaking device to hide it from enemy eyes. It touched down even more softly allowing Padme to exit the ship and go inside her secret home. Obi-Wan followed close behind as Padme rushed about filling several suitcases with clothing and belongings. She stopped suddenly as Obi-Wan stood completely still. His hand went to his lightsaber pulling the weapon from his belt.
"I'll be right back," he said mysteriously and left her room.
She resumed packing and turned to leave only to be stopped by a familiar face she'd hoped to forget.
"Dooku. I thought you were still on Mon Calamari," she said trying to hide the tremble in her voice. She was still very weak and didn't think she could run past him.
"I was asked to visit Naboo on a," he paused and smiled cruelly, "special assignment."
He drew his lightsaber then and took a step towards her with a menacing look on his face. She backed up into the wall trembling violently. She was painfully aware of the fact that she had no weapons in this room and even if she had, she had no strength to wield them. She knew that screaming for help would be to no avail, so she did the next best thing. Someone please help me! she cried out in her mind hoping Obi-Wan would sense it. When he did not appear at her door, she knew that all was lost, but she would not die like a sniveling child. She drew herself up tall and gathered together the fragments of her courage. "Even with my death, you will not win. My strength will live on through others after me." She stifled the tears that threatened to fall and prayed quietly that her end would be swift.
"M'Lady, your courage surprises me. It makes this assignment all the more interesting." He switched on his lightsaber producing a wicked-looking crimson blade. He held it above her head flicking it side to side as if toying with her rapidly fraying emotions. She closed her eyes only to have them snap open again at the sound of a very familiar voice.
"Padme!" Anakin cried in a tone so full of loss that she knew he would not be able to rescue her. With a gasp, she looked down to see the lightsaber smoke through her ribcage and retract again. She was only dimly aware of the gut-wrenching cry of anguish that spilled from Anakin's lips as she fell to the floor.
What have I done?! he screamed inwardly as he leapt forward, lightsaber in hand. His rage and despair drove him forward as he viciously attacked the man who'd brought about his love's demise. The fight was quick and Anakin jumped away from Dooku's lifeless corpse to hold the woman he loved for the last time.
"Padme? Padme? Can you hear me? I'm so sorry. Oh God, I'm so sorry." He let loose the torrent of tears that he'd been trying unsuccessfully to hold back.
She could only look up at him with love in her eyes. She tried to speak, but spots of blood tainted her lips. Suddenly, her eyes locked onto something far away, something he could not see, and he felt a wrenching tear in his very being. The loss in the Force, screamed through his bones, but the loss in his heart threatened to make him collapse. That last part of himself that kept him human was gone. The tears slowly spent themselves and he released his hold on Padme's lifeless form. He gently reached down and closed her eyes, then tenderly kissed her forehead. He rose to his feet, put his lightsaber back in its place on his left hip, then left behind his humanity in the form of the woman he loved.