Over the Edge

Chapter 2

By aznJEDI13

Disclaimer: George Lucas owns all, no doubt about that. This story belongs to me.

Note: I've finally decided on a time frame. We last saw our beloved couple when Anakin was 18 and Amidala was 23, almost 24. Now, three years later, our heroes meet again. Fate has brought them together once more. It is suggested that you read the "The Deep End" first.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

To Jessica, when I lost your friendship, I lost the best thing I ever had.


'…I've got to get away from here,
And it couldn't be too soon,
Cause I see the stars are here with me,
Like rockets to the moon…'

"Master Jedi."

He turned at the sound of name. The phonemics still accompanying his beating heart, still warming his eardrums, still sending shivers down his back. That could not be his master.

But it was.

"Yes?"

A stocky woman, mid-fifties, approached him and soberly stopped in front of him, "We've been expecting you."

He nodded, placing his hands behind his back and entwining his fingers, "I know," He paused, "I'm sorry. I would've been here sooner, but I had some unexpected business to attend to."

She smiled at him, "I hope all is well Master Skywalker."

He smiled, "All is well," He turned his attention to the body before him, "What happened?"

The stocky and short woman sighed, her hand coming to brush a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Another hand reached out to check his Master's pulse.

"A group of reconnaissance Jedi found him on the outskirts of Genosis, battered, bloody, unconscious and half dead." She paused and glanced up at him, "We were lucky to recessitate him."

He shook his head in dismay; "You should've let him die." He knew such a statement was expected from a Jedi, but he said it anyway.

Immediately the healer took a deep look at him, "Surely you don't mean that Master Jedi."

Pulling the cap tighter over his head and checking to see if his lightsaber was still intact, he looked at Obi-wan and then back at the healer, "He's killed thousands of us." His lip flared in angry for a brief second, "Why would you want to save a mass murder?"

She shook her head, "If you could save a life, any life, wouldn't you?"

He decided he had been defeated and thus nodded in recognition. "I'm sorry, Ulsa, I was out of line."

She smiled warmly again, as if the aura of anger and resentment had suddenly disappeared, "It's all right, Anakin, we all understand how hard this must be."

"I just don't understand," He paused, looking her in the eye, "He's responsible for so much. He's a still for crying out loud and the Jedi still want him bandaged and repaired." He shook his head in disgust, "I hope we're not setting ourselves up."

She shrugged, "One must trust in the will of the force, Master Jedi."

He nodded, glancing at the Jedi at the door; "I want security doubled."

The knight bowed, "Yes, master Jedi."

He turned to look at the healer; "I'll stay with him for a few minutes." He leaned forward and planted a kiss on her cheek, "Take care, Ulsa."

She embraced him, "Thank you, Anakin."

He watched her leave before he took a seat next to the body. The steady phonemics still warming his ears and at times sending shivers done his spine.

He took hold of Obi-wan's hand and noticed he was missing several fingers. He sighed and clasp the hand with his own mechanical hand.

He didn't want to touch him.

He focused on his master. Wires and tubes were connected to places he didn't know could be connected. There was a steady beep that accompanied the respirator. A few mechanisms covering places were limbs were missing. Those mechanisms would prepare the skin for mechanical attachments and would make his master a machine.

"Oh, dear maker, what have you done Master?" He asked, knowing very well that his master could not hear him. "You killed them all." He stated simply, "I'm ashamed to call you my master."

He watched, as the respirator helped his chest rise and fall and compensated for the injured lung. He had been to the ends of the earth, been a slave on Tatoonie, battled mangled Sith Lords, but never had he seen something so horrible.

The door hissed open, but he ignored it. The door hissed shut, but he ignored it. He unconsciously just pulled the lid of his baseball looking cap down farther on his head.

A figure approached the body; "It's so terrible." The voice stated. The person ran its fingers up Obi-wan's arm and sighed, "So terrible."

He nodded, not looking up, "What was your relation to him?"

By the sound of her voice, he could tell she had smiled briefly, "He was my friend, one of my dearest friends." She paused, "He was also…" Her voice trailed off.

He nodded, too depressed to realize her words, too depressed to even care.

She asked in return, "What was your relations to him?"

He glanced at the body; "He was my master."

There was a sudden silence that instilled upon them. He didn't think much of the silence; after all she was just a stranger. He took comfort in the silence because it was better than conversation.

My beautiful Ani...


"Anakin?" Suddenly the voice called his name.

He turned to look at the figure beside him and was pierced by her presence. Such a vessel of beauty did not belong in such a filthy place.

His eyes met her and he was stunned speechless, stunned beyond comprehension.

"Anakin Skywalker?" the figure asked again.

He gulped, pulling up the tip of his cap slightly. It took all the willpower in his body to speak, "Yes, it is I," He paused, his voice breaking in uncertainty, "Padme."

The urge to bury her in a hug and cover her with kisses ran through his body, but he rejected it. Knowing very well that it was not the place, nor the time, to do so. Nor were they the people to do so.

"I mean," He stuttered humiliatingly, "Senator Amidala."

She nodded in recognition, "Master Jedi."

He tried to suppress the grin and the tears that threatened his features.

Finally, he spoke, "How are you, Senator?"

She turned, not expecting to hear his voice, "I believe the question is how is he doing?"

"You've seen him before?"

"I was here when they brought him in." She paused, "I was visiting an old friend."

He nodded, "Still how are you?"

She didn't smile, "As expected under the current diplomatic circumstances and my own personal trials and tribulations."

"I heard," He paused, "I'm sorry to hear about everything."

She nodded, "Life is a tragedy."

He chuckled, "Is that your new slogan?"

She shook her head; "It's been my slogan for a very long time."

"Now that's a morbid statement, don't you think?"

"I don't think anyone asked for your opinion," She concluded bitterly, "Master Jedi."

He knew that tone of voice and decided not to broach the subject again. He turned back to his master and meditated – he didn't want to leave her in the room, alone, with this man.

"Can I asked you a question?" She asked finally.

He turned surprise and apprehension apparent in his handsome features; "I suppose so."

"What made you do it?"

His brows creased in consternation, "Do what?"

"Leave me," she paused, "No contact, no communication, no visits, nothing for three years – what made you do it?"

He shook his head, "I don't understand, Padme," He reached for her hand, which she promptly pulled away, "Padme…"

"Don't touch me, Anakin," She paused, sighing in aggravation, "I don't understand how you could've just left me in the dark for so long with no communication or anything." She turned on her heel, toward the door, "And because of that, I don't want to talk to you," She came towards him suddenly. "Because obviously you didn't seem to care," She paused briefly, her eyes narrowing, "Why should you now?"

"Padme..." He had started to say, but it was too late.

She had already left.



To be continued....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please, please, please!!!

Tell me what you thought about this post.

I always look forward to reading reviews and I would be direly disappointed if you didn't review!!!