Chapter 16

The two figures entered the Naberrie house just as the rain began to fall. Quietly, they crept down the hallway to the guest room.

The taller of the two was a male with chocolate brown hair and eyes. His skin was light brown, and he wore a dark green tunic along with a blaster, which was held by a light green belt. The other one, a few inches shorter than the male, was a female with a long, blonde braid. Her eyes were dark blue, and she wore the same colored tunic as her companion.

Entering the guestroom, the female turned the lights on dim so that they would be able to see, while the male walked over to the bed.

Lying in a deep sleep, Drengin was unaware of his night visitors.

"Wake him up – we don't have much time," the female instructed her companion.

The male nodded his head and gently shook Drengin's right shoulder. "Wake up, little one."

Drengin mumbled something unintelligible and turned over onto his left shoulder.

The male looked over at his companion, whose only response was a raised eyebrow. He shook his head and spoke louder this time. "You need to wake up, now!"

A few seconds passed and nothing happened, and then, slowly but surely, Drengin began to open his eyes. As soon as he sensed the unfamiliar presences in the room, Drengin flipped his covers off, leapt out of the left side of the bed and had his lightsaber in his hand in a few seconds flat.

The male visitor stepped backwards in surprise at the young boy's sudden response, and gradually began to calm himself.

His companion said something under her breath and then walked up to her partner. "And you wanted to go wake Anakin up first?"

Her companion looked down at his feet so she wouldn't see the embarrassment that was creeping up his cheeks.

She walked around the bed to where Drengin was standing in a defensive stance, his lightsaber unlit. "Sorry about the intrusion but we're in kind of a hurry."

Drengin sensed no hostile intent from them yet he kept himself alert for possible trouble. "Who are you?"

She smiled at him and made a small hand gesture to her companion. "My friend's name is Kitster, and I am Maya. Kitster is a friend of Anakin's."

"If Kitster is Anakin's friend, then why are you guys sneaking around?" Drengin asked, looking towards Kitster.

Kitster scratched the back of his head and smoothed his hair out. "I wouldn't exactly call it that."

"Oh? Then what do you call it?" Drengin asked.

"Well----I----" Kitster sighed and plopped down on the bed. "Fine, yes, we were sneaking."

Maya chuckled softly and glanced at Kitster. "Perhaps I should do the explaining." She looked back at Drengin, who had relaxed his stance a little bit. "The reason for the sneaking around is that since Queen Amidala's assassination there have been several other attacks by the same assassin. We believe that the assassin may be after Kitster, since the attacks come whenever Kitster is nearby. Either this assassin is very sloppy, or they are trying to place blame for the Queen's death on Kitster."

Drengin looked at her skeptically and then at Kitster. "So you think Anakin can help you?"

"Anakin is my friend, why would he not help?" Kitster remarked.

"Sith do not help people," Drengin answered in a voice that sent shivers down Kitster's spine.

Swallowing a rising lump in his throat, Kitster tried to keep his cool. "Anakin will help, I know he will."

"You're afraid of him," Drengin stated, sensing a stray thought from Kitster's mind.

"I'm not afraid," Kitster responded defensively.

Drengin cocked his head sideways and then looked at Maya. "Is Kitster afraid?"

Maya nodded, ignoring Kitster's sharp glare. "To a certain extent. He knows that Anakin must have changed a lot since he last saw him ten years ago. Kitster and Queen Amidala talked a lot about Anakin, trading info, but it was not the same. He wants to believe that Anakin is still his friend, but his fear of the Sith is strong."

Satisfied with the answer, Drengin put his lightsaber down on the bed and headed for the door. "I'll go inform him that you are here, Kitster."

Kitster nodded, relieved that Drengin believed them. At least he hoped that was the case as the door shut behind Drengin.

Drengin quietly went up the stairs and to the room in which Anakin was sleeping. Opening the door a crack, he peered inside and softly called for Anakin. Drengin frowned when he reached out for Anakin's presence and sensed that the room was empty.

Turning on the light, he saw the covers thrown to the side of the bed, and Anakin's cloak still lying on the floor at the foot of the bed. Anakin's lightsabers lay forgotten on the nightstand, which was unusual since Anakin always kept his lightsabers close by.

He stretched out with the Force and felt the Naberries sleeping presences; everyone was there except Anakin. Closing his eyes, Drengin concentrated on widening his focus even more. After several minutes, he stopped trying, mentally tired. Before he left the room, Drengin picked up Anakin's cloak and lightsabers, and hurried back to the guestroom.

Kitster and Maya were sitting on the bed talking when Drengin reentered the room.

"He's not here," Drengin told them, placing Anakin's cloak and lightsabers on the bed before heading for the refresher to get washed and changed.

"What do you mean, he's not here?" Maya asked, clearly startled at this sudden change of events.

Drengin came out of the refresher minutes later and hooked the lightsabers to his belt – his on the right and Anakin's two lightsabers on the left. "The correct question is why. Something must be wrong."

"We have a speeder hidden not far from here. I'll go get it and pick you guys up," Kitster said, suddenly all action as he headed for the door.

"Quietly," Maya reminded him. "It won't be good if the Naberries wake up and discover us in their house."

Drengin put on his own cloak, pulled the hood up and then grabbed Anakin's cape. "We need to hurry."

Maya nodded and followed right behind Drengin. Opening the front door, they saw that it was still pouring outside, and shut the door.

"Here," Drengin said, handing Maya Anakin's cloak. "It won't help to keep you from getting wet for long but at least it should help a bit until we get to the speeder."

"Thanks," Maya said gratefully, putting Anakin's cloak on and pulling the hood up.

Ten minutes later, Kitster pulled up with the speeder, and Drengin and Maya climbed inside.

"Can you sense Anakin yet?" Maya asked for the fifteenth time in the past hour.

Drengin let out a sigh of frustration and kept looking straight ahead. "I can feel him but I'm having trouble locating where he is exactly. His presence is distorted, making him difficult to pinpoint."

Silence reigned once again in the speeder for an hour before it was broken by Drengin's voice.

"Turn the speeder a few inches to the right; we're getting close to him," Drengin told Kitster.

A few minutes later, when he saw Anakin lying on the ground, Kitster slowed the speeder to a stop.

Drengin and Maya jumped out of the speeder and rushed over to Anakin. Seeing that he was face down on the ground, they rolled Anakin over onto his back. Maya put her hand on Anakin's forehead and then looked at Drengin. "He's running a fever."

Drengin drew in a deep breath as he made a decision. "Our ship is about two miles north of Theed. I'm going to need some help getting him there."

Maya nodded her agreement and looked to the side where she heard Kitster approach. "Kitster, help me get Anakin into the back seat. Drengin, see if you can find a blanket in the storage compartment."

Drengin hurriedly complied and managed to find a worn blanket.

"Here's one," Drengin said after Kitster and Maya lay Anakin down in the back seat.

Maya took the brown blanket and wrapped Anakin up in it. "Okay, let's get going."

Kitster started the engine and soon they were off.

"Padme?"

Her soft right hand gently caressed his cheek as he lay on a patch of sweet smelling grass. She smiled warmly at him as he sat up. "Yes, it's me."

Anakin grasped Padme's hand, feeling its warmth as her life-giving blood pulsed through her veins. "You're alive."

"Of course I am. I'm right here, aren't I?" Padme answered, lightly kissing Anakin's cheek.

Warmth filled Anakin and joy burst from his heart. "I thought----I had heard---"

Padme placed a finger on his lips, silencing him before he could complete his sentence. "None of that matters now. We're both here, safe."

"Padme, why do you love me?"

Her brown hair was swept to the side as a small breeze came up from behind. "Isn't it enough to know that I love you?"

Her answer took Anakin by surprise, clearly not expecting this type of response. "I suppose." He hesitated as he saw hurt flicker quickly across her features. "Yes, it is enough," he instantly amended.

"Good." She inched closer to him and placed her head on his shoulder.

He laid his head against hers and closed his eyes. "I love you, too."

"Have you left the Sith for good?" Padme asked softly.

"Yes. There is nothing there for me."

Padme sighed in contentment and closed her eyes. "I'm glad."

Anakin opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her. "Why?"

Padme lifted her head and gazed into Anakin's eyes. "If you had stayed then we might not be together right now."

"Perhaps." He looked away from her and saw the sun as it set in the horizon. "I still can't help but wonder---"

"Wonder about what, Daddy?" a young girl asked.

Anakin looked back to where Padme had been, only to see a young girl, around seven years old, looking up at him with her brown eyes. He blinked twice to see if his eyes were deceiving him, but still there sat a girl who was a miniature replica of Padme. "How you look so much like your mother."

She grinned and gave him a hug, kissing him on the cheek as she let go. "Maybe I can be queen someday, just like she was."

"You never know," Anakin answered as she stood up.

"Mara's here!" she shouted and ran to go meet up with the red-headed girl who was approaching them.

Anakin stared, transfixed, as the two children began to pick pink petaled flowers and run around in the field. "What could have been," he spoke quietly to himself as he once again remembered that Padme was gone and this was just a dream.

Closing his eyes, a lone tear trickled down his cheek and chin. He heard a high pitched wail and his eyes snapped back open to where the children were playing. Like a picture in a frame, he saw them continue to dart around picking flowers.

The crying continued and Anakin moved his head toward the sound and saw a basket that had been converted into a makeshift bed and saw a baby with its fists flailing in the air. Gingerly he picked the baby up, carefully supporting its neck and head.

The baby's cries died down to a whimper and one hand now clung to Anakin's tunic. Holding a baby felt oddly natural to him, and he gazed in wonder at the now sleeping child.

Feeling led to look up, he saw a boy about ten years old looking at him. He noted the absence of weight on his arms and realized that the dream was shifting again. The boy's lips moved, yet no sound came out of his mouth. His blue eyes had a haunted look to them and his blonde hair was wild.

The boy reached out a shaking hand before falling to the ground, withering in pain.

Anakin went to go to him but as soon as he stood up the boy disappeared and everything around him began to fade.

Anakin woke up to feel a cold cloth being placed on his head. Opening his eyes, he saw Maya place the cloth that she had removed into a metal basin of water. He felt chilly, regardless of how many blankets lay on top of him, and stuffy. He opened his mouth to speak, only to begin coughing.

Maya turned back to him, now with a cup in her hand. She helped lift his head and brought the cup to his lips. "Drink this. It'll help soothe your throat."

The warm liquid trickled into his mouth and he swallowed, ignoring the bitter taste. "Tastes awful," he managed to croak out.

Maya smiled and let him rest his head back on the pillow. "It's supposed to. Medicine is not supposed to be sweet."

Anakin had to admit that his throat was beginning to feel better as he closed his eyes.

The same boy with the haunted blue eyes appeared before him again. This time Anakin watched as the boy grew older until the boy reached his late teens.

No longer was there a haunted look in the child's eyes; instead he saw a deep coldness and sinister expression. No longer did the young man reach out his hand for Anakin, but a blood red lightsaber was being pointed at him.

Anakin took a step back, unease filling every fiber of his being.

The blonde haired youth stepped forward, held his saber up and swung its deadly beam at Anakin's side.

Anakin had his lightsaber in his hand and ignited just in time to block the incoming blow. He stared at his lightsaber in shock at seeing not a red blade but a blue one.

Seeing that Anakin was distracted, the youth pulled his saber back and Force-pushed Anakin backwards. His eyes darkened as malice and anger coursed through him, energizing him, preparing him.

Anakin regained his footing and looked at the youth. "Who are you?"

"You may address me as Darth Lux. Not that it matters, seeing as how you'll be dead in a few minutes," Lux scoffed.

"Why do you fight me? I'm no longer a Sith nor am I Jedi. I'm no threat to you," Anakin responded.

Lux laughed, bringing tears to his eyes until he stopped and glared angrily at Anakin. "Then what is that that you hold in your hand? It's a Jedi blade, do not try to deny it."

Anakin shook his head and went to drop it but found his hand unresponsive. "No, I'm not!"

"You are a fool to deny it. Regardless, you will still be killed by my blade," Lux sneered, walking slowly up to Anakin. "A fitting end for the blind and weak. You hold a Jedi weapon, therefore you claim to hold true to the Jedi ways. Ha!"

Anakin went to step back but felt his movement prohibited as if he was trying to move through quicksand.

"The so-called Jedi ways are false. They blind people from the truth of what you really are," Lux lashed out angrily.

Lux pointed the tip of his lightsaber centimeters away from Anakin's throat. "I will kill you but I won't stop there, no. I will hunt down the Jedi one by one till they are extinguished from the face of the galaxy, forever!"

Anakin felt the blade pierce him, and he cried out as darkness overtook him.