Author's Note: Hi everyone! Hope you all had a nice weekend. I'm sorry I left you with a cliffhanger – hopefully this chapter will make up for it. We are starting to draw to a close – I think there will only be one or two more chapters. Please let me know what you think – every review is appreciated so very much! Thanks for reading!
"Padme!" Anakin shouted, his entire being filled with fear. Without hesitation, he tore through the room, leaping for the conveyor belt. Feeling the unstable machine beneath his feet, he let the Force run through him, guiding his every step as he dashed towards his wife. Sensing his presence, she turned to face him and reached out a shaking hand. He felt their fingers brush against each other before she let out a cry of horror as the clamps released and sent her plummeting over the edge.
In one fluid motion, he pulled out his grappling hook, throwing it towards the pipes above them as he dove after her, pressing his arms to his side to speed up his descent. Seconds later he drew even, tangling a fist in her cloak just as the wire stretched taut, stopping their fall and swinging them in a wide arc. Finally, their feet came to rest on a platform, not far from the conveyer belt.
Slowly, he lowered her feet to the ground and her eyes opened, tears sparkling on her lashes.
"Ani?" she said, a trace of disbelief in her voice.
His voice failing him, he simply nodded. Reaching up, she laid a soft hand on his cheek.
And their world fell away.
Flashes of Anakin's life flew before her eyes. She saw him as a child, felt the humiliation and fear that came from being a slave, the horror he experienced over losing his mother - first in distance and then in death. She sensed his pride at being a Jedi, his love for his Master and the Order they served. She was there for the agonizing training sessions, the contentment of success, the sights of battle. And finally - she was surrounded by his all encompassing love for her.
Anakin was similarly reeling as flashes of Padme's life streaked across his mind. He was struck by her nervousness on that first day in the Legislative program, her deep dedication to the bright light of democracy already evident. He sensed the responsibility she felt towards her people, her fear and inherent bravery during the Battle of Naboo. He saw her devotion to her parents, to her sister, to her nieces. And most of all, he felt her total love for him.
Opening their eyes, it felt like years had passed when in reality it had only been a fraction of a second. Staring at each other, their eyes communicated everything they ever needed to say. They may have stayed that way forever if not for the sound of a battle entering the cavernous room.
Turning, they saw that the Jedi had spilled into the area, incredibly outnumbered against the relentless legion of droid assassins. Pulling the hood of her cloak up to conceal her identity, Anakin instructed, "Stay here. You'll be safe," before leaping to the platform below and rushing headlong into the fray, slicing droids in half as he headed towards Obi-wan.
Waiting until he disappeared into the midst, Padme followed cautiously, searching for a weapon. Reaching for a discarded blaster, she was distracted by a Jedi tossing her a lightsaber.
Anakin's cloak! she realized. They think I'm a Jedi.
Feeling the weight of the weapon in her hands, she was mildly entranced by how familiar it felt, like she had used it thousands of times. Quickly, she activated it and felt the Force begin to whisper to her. Letting the sensation guide her movements, she suddenly brought the blade down in a slashing motion, easily deflecting an incoming blaster bolt and sending it back at her attacker. As the Force began to run through her body, she moved more quickly, wielding the weapon in a smooth, continuous motion, easily cutting down droids as they filed towards her. Gradually, her mind became one with the feeling as she gave herself over to the Force.
FAR SIDE OF MAIN REACTOR ROOM, SAME TIME
Obi-wan swung his light saber in a wide arc, smiling with grim satisfaction as he saw the bodies of two droids collapse at his feet. Suddenly, he felt a familiar presence at his back - Anakin.
"Glad to see you could make it," the Jedi Master joked, sending another droid flying with a Force shove.
"You know me, Master," Anakin replied, hesitating a moment as he sent a droid crashing to the floor. "Better late than never."
Moving simultaneously, the two Jedi fought back-to-back as they slowly made their way towards their remaining companions. Catching a glimpse of a flashing lightsaber, Obi-wan felt his breath catch in his throat. A Jedi, cloaked in dark robes, fought with deadly yet familiar precision. Piles of mangled droids littered the area around him.
That Jedi moves just like Anakin, he thought, absently noting the dwindling number of droids. But how is that possible? He is standing right next to me.
Anakin could sense Obi-wan's confusion and followed his gaze to the whirling Jedi. Feeling a flash of recognition, he pushed it to the back of his mind and resumed his fighting. Sidestepping quickly, he cut down another droid before his attention was drawn back to the figure, fighting in a style so familiar it was like looking into a mirror.
Suddenly, the Jedi cringed as a shrill alarm sounded throughout the room. All the droids paused as their midsections glowed red: Mission Failed - Self Destruction Imminent...
A feeling of resignation flooded the Jedi as they realized they would never escape the impending explosion. Padme felt her knees buckle as the sensation flooded the Force. Steadying herself, she realized the droids were implementing their final measures because they thought she had escaped. Mission failed. Mission failed. Mission failed.
No! she cried silently, the word never leaving her lips. She refused to let these Jedi die for her - because of her.
With a grace that underscored her new abilities, she leapt onto the main control console. She could feel the confusion radiating from her Jedi protectors. Preparing for the onslaught that was sure to follow, she kept her lightsaber activated, its green blade humming. Feeling all eyes on her - droid and Jedi - she reached up and lowered the hood of the cloak.
"What in the name of-" Obi-wan's oath was cut off as he reached out to grab Anakin before he could rush towards Padme and take the hundreds of blaster shots in his own back. "Anakin!"
Struggling desperately, Anakin could only watch as the droids reversed their self destruct protocol and started advancing towards their target. Recovering from their shock, the Jedi sprang to life, once again cutting down as many droids as possible, trying to aid Padme in her quest.
Her blade swirling in a never ending blur of light, Padme deflected shot after shot as she slowly inched towards the edge of the electrified pit. As she felt her heels reach out into nothingness, she glanced at Anakin, her eyes luminous with love. With a peaceful smile, she stepped back and let herself fall, her hair curling about her face and tangling into the folds of her cloak. With a rush of sudden silence, she disappeared from sight.
"No!" Anakin cried, collapsing against Obi-wan. Tears in his eyes, the Jedi Master could only watch as the rows of droid assassins blindly followed their target, tumbling end-over-end into the abyss. The explosions as they hit the electrified core below could be felt as they rocked the building. Each noise caused his apprentice to flinch as if Anakin himself had fallen into the core.
Now alone in the huge room, the Jedi turned to each other in shocked silence.
"Young Skywalker," Yoda said, sincerely. "Very sorry, I am. Much courage, Senator Amidala had. A Jedi in form and spirit, she certainly was."
Obi-wan squeezed Anakin's shoulder as he spoke softly, "Anakin, Padme sacrificed her life to save ours. She is one with the Force now, and will always be with you. You two were joined in a way I could never imagine. That doesn't simply disappear."
Anakin's hands shook as he tried to turn away, desperate to understand what had just happened. Another tremor rocked the building and chunks of the ceiling started to fall.
"Go, we must," Yoda said, urgently. But Anakin couldn't bear to leave. Not without Padme. How can I do that - how can I EVER do that? he thought, a pain slicing through his heart.
Anakin... her soft voice gently entered his mind.
No, he thought, running his hands savagely through his hair. Not yet. I can't take it. Please. Not yet.
Anakin, the voice repeated, this time sounding more urgent. Ani, help me.
His head snapped up as he pulled away from Obi-wan's supportive grip and ran back to the pit. Steeling himself for bitter disappointment, he glanced down into the darkness.
And found the most beautiful pair of brown eyes staring up at him.
A wild laugh escaped from his throat as he saw his wife, clinging to an old rusted pipe. Leaning down, he extended his arm and relished the feel of her warm hand in his.
"Didn't I already rescue you from this situation earlier?" he asked, a wide grin splitting his cheeks. Biting back a stiff retort, she simply settled for a mild glare.
As she finally came up and over the edge, she fell into his arms and he was squeezing her so tight she thought he might never let go. "I thought I lost you," he whispered over and over again.
Another boom rattled the building, sending a fresh shower of debris to the ground. The noise caused them to step back and they turned to find several relieved Jedi staring at them. Anakin noted that even Master Windu seemed pleased.
"Come," the Jedi Master said. "We must leave this place."
Reaching out his hand, Anakin suppressed a smile as he saw Padme hesitate. "Hold on," she promised. Bringing her other hand from the folds of his cloak, she clippedthe borrowed light saber to her tattered ball gown. "Just in case," she explained shyly. Hand in hand, they followed the Jedi, leaving the destruction behind them.