Fade Away

Chapter 4

Hanelle, a dark-haired woman was thrown against a wall.

"Where's the boy?" a deep voice asked as she slid down the wall, blood dripping onto the floor beneath her.

She whiped the blood from her lip and whispered something beneath her breath.

"What's that?" the voice asked, taking a step closer.

"His name is Maddik," she shot at the man before her, "And you're the one who lost him, Sidious!"

His hand shot up and Hanelle grabbed at her neck, gasping for air.

"Do not speak to me in that manner..." he released her and she dropped to the ground.

He began to walk toward the door but stopped.

"You will tell me...in time," he added.

She looked up at him with hatred in her eyes, "I'd sooner die than hand him over to you to be turned into a monster..."

"You might get that request," he replied and the door slid shut, leaving her in darkness.

"Master Anakin?" a voice came from behind the Jedi as he tried to meditate.

His eyes opened and a look of frustration fell onto his face almost immediately.

"...Yes?" he sighed.

"What is it that you wish for me to do?" Maddik asked from the chair he had been occupying for about ten minutes.

"You should be attempting to meditate," Anakin turned to Maddik.

"Should I not be learning something more difficult, Master?" Maddik stood and took a few steps toward him.

"Do not forget," Anakin said crossing over to him, "You are still just a young padawan...You will learn your place."

Anakin was taken-aback as he remembered Obi-Wan telling him the same thing.

"But-" Maddik sighed in defeat, "...Yes, Master."

Maddik fell into the chair behind him and closed his eyes.

"You're exhausting..." Anakin sighed, returning to his meditation.

Maddik cracked an eye to make sure Anakin wasn't looking and slowly began to sneak toward the door.

"If you leave now I won't let you back in later," Anakin stated simply without turning to look at the boy who was frozen in his tracks.

"How did you..." Maddik started but then just flopped back into his chair, knowing he wouldn't get any straight answers, "Oh, nevermind..."

Obi-Wan sat in a chair, his head in his hands, wearing a look of complete frustration and helplessness.

"Master Kenobi..?" Padme's voice came causing him to stand quickly.

"Senator Amidala," he spoke, wearing a fake smile, "How are you?"

"Is everything okay?" she asked in concern, "You seem...worried..."

"I'm fine, it's just..." he trailed off, looking down.

"Come with me..." Padme said, taking him by the arm and pulling him over behind some collumns, "...Tell me...What is it?"

"Well..." he hesitated, "I've had this feeling that something big is going to happen...and it has to do with the boy, Maddik...only, I haven't been able to understand what it is...or if it's good or bad...It's all I have been able to think about lately..."

"It's probably nothing...Just clear your mind, meditate on it, and I'm sure the answers will reveal themselves to you..." she assured him with a gentle smile, "Now, I must be going...Good bye, Obi-Wan."

She turned and with a look back at him, began to walk away.

"Padme..." he called to her and she turned to look back at him, "...Thank you..."

She smiled and continued on her way.

Maddik sat with an expression of pure boredom, his eyes dead-looking and drooping. Anakin opened one eye to see the same boredom he'd felt when he had first began his training.

"Hey, kid..." he said, turning to him with a grin, "How'd you like to do something fun?"

Maddik's face lit up and Anakin nodded toward the door.

The two hurried out the door and into the area where all the ships were kept.

"...wow," was all Maddik could say.

"I think this one will work..." Anakin stated with a grin.

"We're gonna fly it?" Maddik looked up at the Jedi with a look of disbelief.

"Let's go," Anakin nodded and jumped in, followed by Maddik.

"Have you ever flown before?" Anakin asked once they were settled in.

Maddik shook his head, his eyes wide and full of excitement.

"Hold on..." Anakin added, looking at his expression with amusement, "This can get kinda rough..."

Anakin started up the the ship and checked everything before taking off.

Hanelle covered her eyes as light came streaming into the room.

"Are you ready to talk yet?" Sidious's voice came from the doorway.

Hanelle tried to speak but only a few sounds came out. She put her hand around her neck at the throbbing pain in her throat.

The man known as Darth Sidious approached and kneeled before her. She looked up slowly at him and as he leaned in to her her answer, she spit into his face. The droids that were standing in the doorway rushed toward them.

"Leave her..." Sidious stood, staring down at her, "A few more days in the dark without food will change her mind..."

The droids and Sidious walked out and the doors slid shut, leaving her alone in the darkness again.