Author Note: Here you go, I shall put you out of your misery a little. This chapter is all about what Padme does with Obi-Wan.
Oh and by the way, I love reading you reviews and listening to you trying to guess what's gonna happen, I won't say who's right and who's wrong, because you'll just have to wait and see. Besides, I keep changing my mind anyway, so nothing is definate yet and I'm just making it up as I go along. However, one thing I will say is that you can expect many more twists to the story, some expected, some unexpected! ha ha ha!
Thanks for all your reviews by the way.
A little while later, Obi-Wan felt the ship make a leap into hyperspace.
"What's going on?" one of the guards asked the other as they both adjusted to the change. Obi-Wan's ears had popped and everything sounded strangely distant for a few seconds before returning to normal again.
"I don't know. Lord Sidious ordered us to stay on Coruscant. We were supposed to be taking him..." the second guard nodded his head towards Obi-Wan who was slumped in a corner "...to his Coruscant prison system for interrogation."
What is she doing? Where are we going? Obi-Wan wondered, equally as confused as the guards.
"Perhaps she is taking him to another location for the time being," the first guard suggested.
I don't think so. She wouldn't dare go against her Master's orders without good reason. Obi-Wan thought. I know Padme. She obeys orders, even if she doesn't like them.
They didn't have long to wait for the answer. The door leading to the main part of the ship opened up and Padme walked in, using the force to open the metal gate that closed the cell off from the rest of the cargo hold.
"My Lady." the two guards bowed low, but neither rose back up, for a blood red blade was plunged deep into the first guard's back and then into the chest of the second guard as he tried to protect himself with his staff. The staff fell to the floor, neatly cleaved in two.
The two red masses dropped to the floor and for a few moments there was a sickening smell of burning flesh. Obi-Wan looked up into Padme's eyes and saw the same hatred and anger that he had seen in Anakin's eyes during the council meeting when they had refused to grant him the rank of Jedi Master.
The red blade swung towards him and Obi-Wan closed his eyes, waiting for the final blow that would end his life too.
But it never came.
He had expected her to jam the blade through his heart, like she had with the two guards, but instead he felt the bindings fall free from his wrists and feet.
Opening his eyes, he saw Padme de-activate the saber and clip it back on to her belt. She said nothing, but held out her pale hand, which was surprisingly steady. Obi-Wan paused for a moment, suspecting a trick, but then he decided to trust her and reached out with his own hand, feeling her soft smooth skin under his fingertips.
She pulled him to his feet, then turned on her heel and walked out, leaving him standing there, thoroughly confused at the strange turn of events.
A Sith had just saved his life!
There's no doubt that she is a Sith. She's full of anger and hate...and she has a Sith's blade...but why did she save me? The Sith and the Jedi are mortal enemies, yet she freed me and is allowing me to roam freely about her ship. Obi-Wan pondered on Padme's actions. Then he realised. She's lost. She needs guidance.
Padme slumped back down in the pilot's chair, checking the controls. Then when she was satisfied that everything was alright, she sat back and closed her eyes, trying to get her head around everything. Trying to sort it out in her mind.
She hated the Jedi. It was their fault that Anakin had turned to the dark side in the first place. They had tried to keep him away from her with their stupid rules...and they had taken away the one thing that he longed for...freedom.
All his life, Anakin had been a slave. When he was very young, he was passed around on Tatooine like a commodity, being sold as if he were no more human that the clothes on his back. Then when Master Qui-Gonn had come along and freed him from slavery on Tatooine, he had become a Jedi, only to spend the next decade going 'Yes Master, No Master'. He had thought the Jedi would give him freedom, but instead it enslaved him even more than the slave owners on Tatooine.
However she also hated Palpatine for all the things he had done, and all the things he planned to do... no, planned to make them do. He couldn't care less about restoring peace to the Galaxy like he continually preached to the Senate. He just wanted all the power he could get and Anakin and her were his minions, running around doing all the dirty work for him. He had created a trap, and they had fallen into it, with no hope of escape.
"I sense you are confused." Obi-Wan said, taking a seat beside her and rubbing his sore wrists.
"What can I do?" she sighed, not taking her eyes off the controls. "Anakin was right. The Jedi are evil. They were always plotting to take over, but I just wouldn't allow myself to see it."
"You can't believe that Padme. It is not the Jedi who are evil."
"Really?" she snapped, hitting her fist angrily on the arm of her chair. At that very moment in time, Obi-Wan was strongly reminded of Anakin.
"Anakin was decieved by a lie...we all were."
"I can't trust the Jedi any longer."she said, turning to him. "Who do you consider yourself as Obi-Wan, Jedi or Republic?"
"Padme, my allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy."
"Good, because if you'de said Jedi, I would have had to kill you."
"You would never have been able to do it," he stated firmly.
"Don't underestimate my power Kenobi. I have killed before and I am not afraid to kill again." her tone and attitude stunned him for a moment. This wasn't Padme Amidala talking. This was Darth Malus.
"Padme, what has gotten in to you? Where is the Padme that I know, who stood up for what was right? Where is the Padme that would give up her life in a second if it meant that her people no longer had to suffer? Where is Padme Amidala, loyal friend, respected Senator and loving wife?" Obi-Wan questioned.
I'm right here. Padme told herself, but then she realised how wrong she was. This wasn't her at all. This was the Dark Side, the Emperor, using her to get what it wanted. She hated being used, even by the most powerful man in the Galaxy. She could feel her control slipping a notch, but didn't even try to stop it.
"Padme listen to me." Obi-Wan continued, sensing the hate begin to fade away. "If the Jedi are so evil, then why have you allowed me to sit here with you now? Why are we even having this conversation. If you hate the Jedi so much then why didn't you kill me when you had the chance, or better still, let the Emperor kill me."
Padme winced and touched her chest where the bolt of lightning had struck her. It took her a long time to answer, as though she were giving his words serious thought.
"Because I couldn't," she said at last.
I knew it! Obi-Wan felt a wave of relief spread over him as she let her guard down totally and a wave of emotions hit him through the Force. She was feeling deeply angry, but not with him, with herself. She was feeling hatred, but not for the Jedi, for the Emperor, and she was feeling ashamed that she had ever gone down such an evil and twisted path.
But then he also felt love, relief and determination that he recognized so well as the old Padme whom he had once known as a strong fighter and believer in peace and justice.
"I'm sorry," she whispered and tears began to form in her eyes, blinding her. They rolled down her cheeks, and stung her eyes like a thousand bees.
"Come here," Obi-Wan said, pulling her into a comforting hug. She didn't resist, but allowed him to hold her, enjoying the comfort and warmth from the Jedi Master. She had always known he would be there for her when she needed him.
"Help me save Anakin? I love him, and I know there's good in him still," she pleaded, looking into Obi-Wan's eyes. He couldn't refuse such a pitiful look, so he nodded.
"Alright, but I will need your help," he said, sitting up again and taking the controls. Padme nodded gratefully and wiped her face dry with the sleeve of her cloak.
"Oh and by the way...welcome back," Obi-Wan added with a smile and Padme allowed herself to laugh, something she hadn't been able to do for a long time.
It was refreshing and she felt so much better afterwards.