Title: A New Order
Author: Jedikma
A/N: Once again thanks for the reviews. Sith Lord Darth Revan, lets just say I share your sentiments about Sabewan stories and couldn't help myself with turning Sabe into a trouble maker. Hasn't anyone else wondered why she wasn't in ep. II? Maybe that's why. ;)
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Chapter 10
Siri and Padme raced behind the men to the lake, but it was very hard for Siri to keep up even with the use of the Force. The condition of her body slowed her. Padme stayed by her side, aware of her struggle.
"Siri, if you aren't careful, you'll hurt yourself."
"I have to get there!" Siri replied sharply, as she was slowing down.
"And you will. But you will be of no use if you don't make it there in one piece." Padme tried to reason with her. She noticed the fear in Siri's eyes. "We'll get there, Siri. We will."
As the lake came into view, the women saw both Obi-Wan and Anakin simultaneously diving into the water. They had managed to shed their utility belts and outer tunics along the way, but there was no time for removing anything else. They were both deep under the water by the time Siri and Padme reached the lakeshore.
Padme looked curiously at Siri as they were trying to catch their breath. "Is there more than one?"
Siri stretched out through the Force. "Yes. Yes there is another presence down there." She hesitated as she saw a worried expression cross Padme's face. "But I have no idea who."
Padme looked around anxiously as they waited for one of the men to surface. "Where is everyone? Why would the children be out here with no one watching them?"
Siri didn't have time to answer her question as she saw Obi-Wan surface with a little body in the crook of one arm. Obi-Wan threw his head back, sending a stream of water in a high arc, as he took in a huge gulp of air. He started to tow the little one towards the shore and Siri.
Then Anakin surfaced. He also threw his head back, but he didn't have a body with him. He filled his lungs with air and went under the surface once again.
"Oh gods!" Padme uttered as she watched her husband disappear again. "I'm going to find a healer." Padme gave Siri's hand a squeeze as she turned to leave the area and find a comlink to contact the med clinic.
"Siri," Obi-Wan beaconed as he swam closer towards her. It was then that Siri recognized the fair head of her younger son, but she only felt a faint presence through the Force. When Obi-Wan was close enough he lifted up the child towards his mother. Siri was kneeling on the shore and couldn't quite reach him, but managed to float the toddler to her using the Force.
Once she had the child in her arms, she laid him carefully on his side on the soft ground over one arm. She took care to angle his face downward and she ran her hand along his back sensing through the Force his condition. She could tell that his lungs were filled with water.
As Siri was drawing on her basic knowledge of life saving, Obi-Wan got out of the water and came to kneel beside her. Gently using the Force she attempted to push the water out of the little boy's lungs and up through his mouth again running her hand from the base of his spine up to his shoulders.
There was a gurgling sound followed by a retching and coughing. Siri felt the wet little body convulse across her arm and then both parents cringed as a high wailing pitch of a child's scream pierced their ears. They also let out a long breath and smiled in relief.
Siri lifted the boy to her chest and wrapped her arms around him as he continued to cry uncontrollably, his little hands grabbing tightly onto his mother's clothes. She sent waves of comfort to Reeft through the Force, as she caressed his small head with one hand, and Obi-Wan, too, laid his hands on his son's back in an attempt to calm him.
But the relief of the parents turned to concern once again when Anakin surfaced and announced to the others that he had retrieved the second child. As he swam closer to the shore, they could see the youngling was Dresselian. "That's Dru. That's Rella's child." Siri informed Obi-Wan as she looked to him with concern.
When Anakin was close enough, Obi-Wan reached forward and took the child from him. Obi-Wan followed the same procedure that Siri had done on Reeft. He supported the child over his arm and attempted to push the water out of her lungs using the Force. There was gurgling and retching, but only a slight cough as they realized the little girl was not going to regain consciousness.
Siri looked on as Reeft sobbed into her neck and finally found his thumb for self-comforting. Padme came running towards the Jedi at the lakeshore with Healer Barriss in tow and soon others, having sensed the disturbance in the Force, began to gather around and ask if they could help.
Barriss took the limp Dresselian in her arms and quickly assessed she was still alive. "We need to get her back to the med clinic."
"I'll carry her," Anakin, trying to wring some of the lake water out of his clothes, offered and he took the child.
Barriss turned to Siri and Obi-Wan. "Bring Reeft along, too. I should examine him before he returns to the nursery.
Siri nodded in assent and then caught Padme's eye. "Dru's mother should be called. She should be here for her daughter."
Padme nodded. "I'll see that she is contacted, right away."
As Barriss, Anakin and Padme left for the med clinic, Obi-Wan, still dripping wet, stood and leaned down to help Siri to her feet. Obi-Wan then tried to take Reeft from Siri's arms and though his sobs were beginning to subside, the little boy clung tightly to his mother.
"It's all right, Obi-Wan. I have him."
"Please, Siri, let me take him. You can't carry him all the way to the med clinic. This whole ordeal has already put enough strain on you."
Siri rubbed her son's back and spoke gently to him. "Reeft, you have to go to Papa. Papa will carry you. It's too hard for Mama to carry you, but I will come with you, too."
Reeft lifted his head up and looked towards Obi-Wan. A little smile spread across his cherubic face as he held his arms out to his father. Obi-Wan took Reeft and held him firmly with one arm as the boy laid his head on his shoulder. Then Obi-Wan put his free arm around Siri, and in a rare display of public affection he planted a soft kiss on her forehead as he ushered her away from the lake and towards the med clinic.