Author's Notes: More to come soon… bear with me! ^______^
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"ECLIPSE"
Part 22
"Murderers!"
In mere minutes, Obi-Wan and Mace were torn from their apartments, arms shackled behind their backs, and paraded mercilessly down the wide, metallic tunnels of the underground city. Sullustans, aroused by the pandemonium, word spreading quickly, gathered down the streets, and pointed and jeered. Yet, in all this chaos, the two Jedi had no idea what was going on…
"Would someone please explain everything to us?" Mace protested, fuelled by the injustice of it all more than anything, "Someone, please!"
Yet still the crowds only cried, "Murderers!", "Devils!", and "Hypocrites!"
Obi-Wan couldn't help but feel this a repetition of what had gone before, on Geonosis - he had then, at least, been conscious of why he'd been taken prisoner; this time, he simply had no idea, only an unnerving feeling that his Padawan had been near by… a feeling that grew into a nauseating worry and, eventually, an undoubted truth...
"No, Anakin," was all the dispirited Jedi could mumble, "Please, no…"
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Serenn inhaled sharply, and Padmé, curious, quickly turned to look at him. The old Separatist had a distant look in his eyes, one of slight shock and uncertainty… Slowly, and gradually, he came back to himself, and his chest fell once more, his respiration retaking pace. He looked to Padmé, only too aware that she was staring at him...
"What?" she asked, almost certain that he'd sensed something.
He smiled at her, "Nothing…" he said.
She narrowed her gaze, "I'm sure," she mockingly replied.
Dooku threw her a brief glare - she'd seemed to echo Sidious all too closely then, and the more he was reminded of the Sith Master and his wealth of power, the more uneasy he felt himself become.
The two were, by now, on planet, and awaiting an escort from the landing plaza, beyond the palace grounds, where they'd effortlessly docked their ship. The sun was at its peak and many different kinds of ships - freighters, passenger cruisers, star fighters - came to-and-fro from the various surrounding landing platforms of the square. Many people went about their day-to-day business, completely oblivious to the fact that two of the war's greatest figureheads were now standing idly in their capital city. It had been a brash, risky and quite arrogant move, on Dooku's part, but he knew that a low profile visit was often the more effective than a fully publicised and broadcast visit, with a full entourage in tow.
Besides, he thrived on surprising people.
Padmé bowed her head in shame, a feeling of nausea in her gut - she didn't know what she was going to say, what she was going to do, how she should conduct herself or, worst of all, what her people would say, but she was definitely both scared and mortified.
The two raised their heads promptly as they heard footfalls coming down the metal walkway - a Nubian soldier was approaching, clad in his burgundy and terracotta uniform, with his helmet shining in the sunlight. He stopped before them, a slightly shaken look on his face as though he had drawn the short straw for the task. Padmé felt so guilty at this, knowing that she was the cause for part of this loyal soldier's discomfort, a soldier who may have been but a boy when the Battle of Naboo took place, and who would remember well whose side she had originally been on…
"Senator Amidala," he bowed, then, turning to the tall Separatist, he nodded, "Count Dooku."
Serenn nodded steadily back, his relaxed smile ever present on his face and his hands clasped behind his back.
"Would you please follow me," the soldier continued, turning about and marching away down the landing platform. Amidala exchanged glances with Dooku, before they both broke into a swift walk and followed the young man.
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Passel Argente's lips were tightly pursed, his hands tensing - this had not been foreseen at all. Steely eyes glaring, he watched the mayor of the Sullustan capital approach him, clad in ceremonial robes, and walking briskly down the centre of the cavernous town hall.
Argente tapped his foot hard, displeasure emanating from his form like a thick fog. Hiding in the shadows behind him were his mauve-skinned aide and the young Fett, whose boyish features were soiled by an iniquitous little grin.
"What is the meaning of this, your lordship?" Passel hissed before the mayor had even quite reached him, "Is this the homage with which you repay your guests? Is this how those who seek to give you a better future are treated?"
"Be not hasty, magistrate," the mayor rejoined, "This is not our doing!"
"It may as well have been," Argente went on, folding his arms and standing up to his full height, "You were foolish enough to allow those Jedi access to this planet… now look where it has gotten you!"
"The Jedi assured us of peaceful negotiations… this is not the nature of the Jedi."
"No - but my friend and colleague was killed by a lightsabre… I know no others who wield blades of laser except the Jedi…"
"And the Sith," the mayor whispered.
Argente scoffed, "Ah, yes, the Sith! A myth created by the Jedi to excuse those of their kin who have committed wrong. A myth used to scare the Republic into a belief that they still need a Jedi corps… A myth, nothing more…"
The lord mayor looked dubious, but turned his black eyes onto the doors at the far end of the hall where he heard a commotion breaking loose. The two mighty doors swung open and a crowd bustled in, shouting and jeering; at the head of this mob were the two Jedi ambassadors, marched forward like common criminals with their hands held behind their backs.
Argente's gaze only hardened the more, "So they dare to show their faces, do they? These 'Keepers of the Peace'!"
A chorus of support rang from the crowd in response to the magistrate's sneering words, and the two Jedi were planted before the mayor and him on their knees, their heads pulled back to look up at the two. Windu gritted his teeth in distaste whilst Obi-Wan remained forlorn and still, knowing that a struggle never seemed to get him anywhere.
"Have you come to explain yourselves, Jedi?" Argente continued, the small, Sullustan mayor quite put in the background by the towering, overpowering Separatist.
"We have nothing to explain! We've committed no crime!" Mace returned vociferously.
The crowds shouted against Windu in response, certain of he and Kenobi's guilt.
"A Jedi killed San Hill," Passel stated, "And there are but two Jedi on this entire planet, with two lightsabres between them - which one of you committed the deed? And how could you sink so low? Is this the desperation of the Republic now? Is the secessionist cause so great a threat now that you have to stoop to murder?"
"Murderers! Killers!" the crowds shouted and cried about them.
Obi-Wan's brow furrowed and he shook his head inconspicuously. Windu continued with his protestations of innocence, "We've done no wrong! Nothing! If this Separatist is dead, then look to other causes, look to other possibilities! We were in our chambers all night!"
His words fell on deaf ears, as Obi-Wan knew they would.
"There was another Jedi here."
All attention turned suddenly on the small boy, who spoke up from behind the lord mayor and Argente. He looked smug, calm and relaxed, his arms folded as he leant into the wall. Kenobi's gaze hardened on the child, a dark air about him.
"What?" Argente hissed, himself mistrustful of the cloned-child.
Boba stepped forward a little, hard eyes set onto the two Jedi, before they looked up to Passel and the mayor, "There was another Jedi here. I came across him last night. He threatened me, and wanted to know where to find Count Dooku. I told him he wasn't here, so he said that he'd settle for seeing San Hill instead. I had no choice but to tell him where he'd be."
"And you didn't speak up until now?" Argente growled.
"I was scared!" Boba protested in feigned innocence, his eyes emitting everything you would expect from a fearful child, his heart, however, just full of vengeful malice, and loving every minute of it; besides, his father's killer was one of those who stood accused before him.
"Give the boy a chance," the mayor added, rallying behind the child, and placing a supportive hand on his shoulder.
"He had a metal arm," Boba went on, "And he said his name was…" He paused in thought, the crowd about him silent, hanging on his every revealing word.
"Yes…?" Passel pushed on.
"Skywalker," Fett finally recalled
The crowd murmured to one-another;
"The Chosen one?"
"No, it can't be…"
"That wondrous boy who saved the Naboo…? The same one?"
"What's going on here?"
"Are there any other Skywalkers in the Jedi Order? It could be a mistake"
"How many Skywalkers do you hear of with metal arms…?"
"Silence," the mayor commanded the throng before turning back onto Boba, "You are certain?"
"Yes," he nodded, "He came through the ventilation shafts - that's how he got about."
There was more talking.
The mayor nodded and looked to Passel Argente, "We will investigate this claim - keep the Jedi hostage for the meantime. We will soon talk to their Republic about this most atrocious act."
Kenobi was shaking his head, mouth gaping, whilst Windu was haunted constantly by Obi-Wan's qualms of leaving his protégé alone, and how he'd dismissed them. Fett gave the two a quick, satisfied glance - the score was now even.
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Padmé's heart was again in her throat, and she felt so alone, naked in the void… As she and the Count - who seemed wholly impervious to everything - walked across the plaza from the landing platforms to the palace, led by the youthful soldier, people stared; Gungans and Nubians alike recognised her - and many recognised the tall Count, too - though most without belief, as they passed through the beautifully crafted square. Conversations silenced, glares intensified… Padmé had never felt so isolated and unwanted in all of her life. She'd never wanted this to happen, for her to come back to her home world and be treated like this… It was all so wrong.
"Friendly lot, aren't they?" Serenn quipped as they entered the corridor which led to the main palace building.
"How can you be so insensitive?" she hissed back, uncaring whether or not the soldier in front heard.
He just smirked, as normal, and she wanted to smack him, just to hit him as hard as she could so that it drew blood and bruised flesh! She'd like that… it'd make her feel so much better, it would-
"Senator Amidala?"
She jumped, the nasty daydream shattering, and halted, Dooku stopping by her side, as the guard presented them into the main hall; "The queen awaits your audience," he said, bowing low. The large doors to the throne room opened, and, after but a brief pause, the Senator and the Separatist walked in in-sync.
At the head of the table, central to the room, Queen Jamilla sat, surrounded both sides by her body of advisors. On the two stepped, though Padmé felt her feet grow heavy with every step, as though they were made of metal, and her pace seemed to slow. It was by a force unknown that she managed to keep going, a force that seemed to inaugurate itself with a fleet glance from Serenn's eyes.
They stopped before the Queen, and the Count bowed whilst Padmé - trying not to fall weak on her knees - managed a small curtsy.
/Stay strong, for crying out loud…/
Her eyes widened, and she shot Dooku a rapid glance, though his eyes did not look back.
"Count Dooku, Senator Amidala, we are pleased to finally have you here to speak with face-to-face concerning these most confusing political situations of late," the Queen began, her bearing everything as noble and wondrous as Padmé's once had been.
/Stop shaking/
"We would like to remind you that you are on Republican territory, however, and that we are, as of yet, unaware as to any alterations to our stance."
"Forgive me for correcting you, madam, but we areinfact on Separatist territory."
Padmé wanted to sink down into her shoes and disappear - the insolence of the man!
The Queen gave him a subtle glance of 'Really? Are you quite sure?', and all of her surrounding aides seemed to share her disposition.
Dooku's hidden grimace was there once again, hiding beneath his lips; he placed a hand on his hip, and pulled from the folds of his cloak with the other a piece of parchment, one that made Padmé's heart fall from her throat and plonk down into her stomach. Walking forward, all eyes on him, he placed the paper flat out on the Queen's desk; "Here is your proof," he added.
The Queen seemed to glance to her aides quickly before she looked down at the parchment, read it through, and saw the signatures across the bottom, signatures assigning the party or following of the signatory to the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Padmé's was the first on there. The Queen looked to Senator Amidala uncertainly, gazing at her for a long while before she threw a glance back to the Count, "You regard Naboo as one of your 'conquests' on the mere word of a senator, be that word without council from both her planet and her people?"
Padmé cringed, the bitter words stinging her within.
"I will, " Serenn replied unwaveringly, "A senator does, after all, have higher authority in the Republic, and a firmer familiarity of its workings, than a domicile queen…"
The council murmured and the queen eyed Dooku carefully, more than aware of his ability to play with words; "Then let us hear from the senator," she asked cautiously, looking again to Padmé.
Padmé felt every gaze in the chamber shift onto her, gazes she had once felt so comfortable with, but gazes which were now cold and tentative, even disappointed…
"Senator Amidala, what gave you such conviction as to believe we'd want to make this move?" the Queen questioned, voice steady yet intimidating, "Why have you, without correspondence or council, assigned Naboo to the cause of the secession?"
Padmé hesitated, exchanging a brief glance with Dooku, before she answered shakily, "The Republic is broken within… it cannot be fixed, and… well, we have to look to drive out this vice and start over."
The Nubians all looked completely confused; this wasn't the senator they remembered, nor had this ever been her outlook. Dooku seemed reasonably impressed by her statement however, giving her a nod of approval.
"What corruption do you speak of?" Jamilla continued.
Padmé shifted uneasily, "A hidden corruption… the Sith."
"It's just all rumour!" Sio Bibble burst out in disbelief, "We all know that. And the Jedi would know within a heartbeat if one of those creatures were in the Republic! How can you believe such folly, senator?"
"Because it's true," Dooku rejoined, giving the elder Nubian councillor a glare, "I assure you, it is true. And I ask that you escape this evil before it is too late - agree to Padmé's actions, say yes to a place in the Confederacy. Believe me, it'll make your lives a lot easier…"
"Are you threatening us, Count Dooku?" the Queen posed.
"I would do no such thing…"
"I was going to say that I didn't think you were that daft - we can have a message sent to the Republic fleets within minutes, and they would be here promptly to assist us against you. You've taken a great risk coming here, both alone and unaided."
"I must ask you to swallow your words, madam," Serenn countered confidently, "For part of my own fleet rests in the orbit of Umgul and could be here much swifter than your Republic allies, who seem to be ever the more occupied elsewhere… I have a contract here legally binding you to my movement" - he snapped up the parchment and pointed it blatantly out to her - "And if you decide to refuse me what is already mine, I will take it by force."
The queen's gaze hardened on him as she strove to keep herself composed.
"I hate to be unoriginal, your majesty, but I can have this planet blockaded within the hour, your people held at my ransom, your planet all but mine. And I'm sure your citizens would find all that most wearisome… blockades always are second time round."
"You can't do that."
"I can, and I will if I must…"
"All for our little planet?"
"Your 'little planet' has become rather influential this past decade, an influence I could use. The Republic would go reeling without you counted amongst their allies."
"We support the Republic."
"I implore you not to… it'll bring you no good."
"You have no proof of this Sith influence in the senate, and neither has Senator Amidala… and if you've coerced her into belief of it, then you must truly have cast some spell of words onto her."
Padmé desperately wanted to disappear now…
Dooku continued with the rally; "I only tell you the truth and I offer you salvation."
"And our refusal and further martyrdom would only bring you more trouble," Jamilla reminded him.
"I beg to differ."
The two stared at one another once more and the council hung onto this silence with baited breath.
"Do you have anything furthermore to add, Count?" the Queen finally queried.
"No, my dear."
"Do not patronise me," she snapped, before turning to Padmé, still cynical about her changed stance, "And you, senator?"
Padmé dithered again, shaking her head, "I'm sorry," was all she murmured.
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"You could have given them more than twenty-four hours to think about it…" Padmé griped as they marched away from the palace throne room.
"Yes, because I do have all the time in the universe!" Serenn rejoined.
Padmé threw the sarcastic separatist a dark glare.
"And you, madam, could have been more convincing…" he reproved her in return, "You certainly weren't helping me at all."
"You didn't have to bring me with you…"
"And you would have but claimed injustice on your part if I hadn't…"
"You therefore put me between a rock and a hard place."
"I know."
"Neither option was good for me."
"In your opinion…"
"I've never felt so low, so dishonourable in all my life! And you…" Padmé stopped in her tracks and stared at him, "You were so damn rude!"
He smirked, "The aristocracy thrive on rudeness."
"You may have been born an aristocrat but you were raised a Jedi - you shouldn't be that way."
"Life shapes one - don't blame me."
"I'll blame you as I see fit."
"Enough."
Padmé glared at him, "You can't tell me to shut up."
He glared back provocatively, "I'm under the impression I just did."
Again, Padmé scowled, but she left it at that.
Serenn stepped on ahead, "I must admit, your Queen is most courteous letting us stay here at the palace…"
" 'As long as we keep a low profile', she said," Padmé reminded him.
Dooku wafted away her concern, "Of course… so, while we now have a little free time on our hands, what would you like to do?"
She looked at him for a moment, before she folded her arms and paced to a window on the far side of the corridor, one which overlooked the gorgeous waterfalls and green hills of the Theed outskirts; "I'd like to see my family, and get some of my things together…"
"A wise decision," Serenn concurred, though Padmé dare not ask him why; "They live in Theed?" he went on.
"Yes," Padmé nodded, "But in the quieter suburbs."
" 'Quieter'?" Dooku scoffed, "It's quiet here compared to the bustle of most core worlds, and this is the planet's capital…can it get much quieter?"
She sighed, only half listening; Naboo was so soothing to her - she only wished she were here under less rigorous circumstances.
"How will you reach your family?" Serenn continued to question.
She closed her eyes and tightened her folded arms, "I don't know… speeders go about that way often, but -" She hesitated, thinking things over.
"But?" the Count pushed, stepping by her side.
The line drawing of earlier came back to Padmé; "I used to like to ride there," she disclosed, "Round the outskirts, on gualara-back. It takes longer, but I love it."
He smiled, "Oh, those equine-like things, like what you were drawing as of late?" He looked out across the scenery, "Capital… I would like to ride with you."
" 'Ride'?"
"You want to ride…?"
"Well, yes…"
"You just didn't expect me to?"
"Well, no.. and to my paren- ?"
"I've no intention of travelling all the way with you," he interrupted, "I just need some time to myself, and I must admit, it has been some time since I last rode…"
She rose a wary eyebrow this time, but shrugged, drained by all the time and energy that she had so-far wasted fighting with him, "Fine, do as you please…"
"I will, believe me," he added, giving her a bright yet fearsome glance, "I will."
TBC…