5

The door slid open with a hiss, allowing Anakin to enter a world of comfort. Unlike the spiritual center of the Jedi Order that was the Temple, Padme's apartment filled his soul with a sense of release. His emotions were evoked at the mere sound of the door sliding open, for he knew what lay within. His beloved.

He saw her staring out one of the large windows at the city as it went through its daily meanderings. Her face was illuminated by the sunlight, creating an angelic presence that made his mind swim. The only thing he could do was stand and watch. She lacked the ability to sense his presence which made the experience all the more special.

After what seemed like an eternity, he forced himself down the small stairway into the living quarters, heading for the center of his universe. He stopped short, gazing at her. His heart ached, knowing that his "sabbatical" would result in his absence from her.

"Why, it's master Anakin!" A synthetic voice called from behind him. Padme turned quickly and jumped in shock.

"Thanks, 3po," Anakin said, rolling his eyes. His expression of disappointment shifted quickly into a deep smile.

"Why, Annie, I do believe you're stalking me!"

He wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her petite form hard enough to cause discomfort. Padme didn't show any signs of caring. His embrace, however tight, was more than enough to warm her soul.

"I was, until C-3PO ruined it." He turned and gave a faux expression of anger toward the droid. Apparently the golden machine didn't have the programming to understand the depth of sarcasm, and huffed away, piddling among the living area.

Padme pulled away from Anakin's embrace. "I want to apologize for not being able to see you recently. Since Palpatine was found to be a Sith, the Senate has been overloaded with work on finding a new Chancellor."

"I understand," Anakin replied with a brisk smile. It slowly faded. "I have some bad news."

"How bad?"

"I wouldn't say that it's horrible, but I have to go away for an extended amount of time."

She frowned. "I suppose it's for the best though, distractions aren't good when deciding on something as important as the election of a new Supreme Chancellor." She turned once again to the window, staring out into the world. "Are you still having nightmares?"

Anakin's head dropped. "Yes, but I'm going to find how to save you. Obi-Wan is going to help."

She jerked around faster than Anakin's eyes could register. "He knows?"

He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Everything is fine. It's a secret kept between the three of us."

The evening winds caught the two Jedi's cloaks, throwing them into the air like rag dolls. Obi-Wan had surmised that he hated Coruscant's wind. He had known it since the earliest years of his life, and had never truly become accustomed to it. He realized also that Ilum had winds far worse than Coruscant, and it brought a nearly silent groan. Though he hated the winds of Coruscant, he absolutely relished the skyline. The jagged superstructures jutting out into the highest altitudes of the world, the frequent sounds of ships and speeders making their way about the planet-spanning city. He adored it.

The evening brought an orange glow that almost seemed to penetrate objects rather than reflecting upon them. It ran along the landing pad, shining up the brown cloaks of the Jedi, warming them from the cold wind. Both Jedi enjoyed the sensation of gentle warmth. It would be the last the two would see for a long time.

"Remind me again why we're going all the way to Ilum?" Anakin said grumpily.

Obi-Wan didn't turn around to reply. "To establish a deeper connection to the force. Ilum has always been the center of the Jedi's strength. I thought you wanted to do whatever it took to save Padme?"

"I did, but the last place in the galaxy that I thought I'd be heading was Ilum."

The two began loading up their Jedi Starfighters. Both vehicles were brand new, with the crimson paint barely dry on the hull. "I sure do miss the white and blue of my Starfighter," Anakin grumbled. It was obvious he wasn't in the greatest of moods.

"Well, in about a year, I'm sure your new one will look exactly like the old," Obi-Wan said, tossing his food supplies into the cargo hatch. "You've always had an eye for perfection."

Obi-Wan closed the hatch and made his way onto the port wing of the ship. He took a few moments to plug in his new astromech droid, R7. "I miss R4."

The droid beeped indignantly, hoping that the aging Jedi Master could sense his frustration via simple beeps and whistles.

"I'm sure you're going to do fine, R7. Especially with R2 to teach you."

The blue and white droid rolled across the landing pad, coming to a stop under the wing of Anakin's fighter. If bragging could be detected among droids, it was certainly present with R2-D2.

"Alright," Anakin grunted, closing the hatch and hopping onto the wing. "We're set. Is everything settle with you and the Council, Master?"

Obi-Wan acted as though he didn't hear the young man, and continued thumbing through the pre-flight manual. After a short pause, he answered. "Yes, how about you with Padme?"

"I think she's almost glad to see me go, considering what's going on with the Senate."

Obi-Wan's lips squeezed together in concentration as he began to start the fighters engines. "Hopefully by the time we return, we'll be blessed with a new Supreme Chancellor."

The hatches of the fighters closed almost simultaneously, and the gentle whine of the repulsors could be heard.

"Alright, are you ready?" Obi-Wan asked through his commlink.

It crackled back. "My hopes are as high as they could be."

"Alright then, let's get into orbit."

Within the base on Mustafar, two beings were present. The final members of the Separatist movement had been slaughtered. There was one other than Sidious, and he was a Jedi.

He cowered in a corner, no weapon about his member, watching as an evil shadow moved up a gang way into the a prison sector. Two red eyes peered from underneath the silhouette. They sized the young Jedi Knight from head to toe before speaking.

"Welcome, Jedi. I am lord-"

"Sidious," the Jedi replied with anger and fear in his voice. "I know your name well."

The red eyes were joined with the thin glow of jagged, rotten teeth. It was a sick and twisted smile upon the Sith Lord's face.

"Yes, and you will soon relate my name with the name of your new master."

The Jedi could only watch as the hoarse laughter filled his jail cell, coarsing through his body, creating a sick sensation within his soul. He was trapped beneath the might of a Sith Lord, waiting for the darkness to envelope him as well.