George Lucas owns everything Star Wars
Message from author: I've made some minor grammatical revisions to this chapter. -I hope you'll enjoy!
"When evil rules all, a hero will rise, driven by justice... But driven more by love, he will bring balance to the world."
Chapter VII
"Sit", Anakin said to Padmé as he led her over to a couch. She looked over at her husband, and for a brief moment he could see that glimmer in her eyes that told him Padmé was still there, trapped somewhere inside. She looked up at her husband softly. Anakin couldn't help but return her glance. He became her prisoner whenever she looked at him like that.
She leaned up and closed her eyes, their two lips met, and Anakin began to tenderly caress her soft lips with his. Padmé returned his sweet soft caresses, and slipped her arms around his neck, bringing her husband closer. She opened her mouth, inviting her husband to taste her. Anakin slipped his tongue inside her mouth, tasting, and feeling inside the soft crevices of his wife's mouth. Padmé tilted her head, and deepened their kiss; gently caressing her husband's tongue with hers, and sucking tenderly on it with her mouth.
Anakin felt like his knees would give out and would totally collapse onto the carpet where their feet lay. He clung onto his wife's shoulders for balance, and began to softly rub them, feeling her through the soft velvety fabric of her dress. If there was one thing that could bring Anakin to his knees, it was one of Padmé's soft kisses.
It felt as if this moment was almost too good to be true - and it was; before he could do anything else, Padmé bit Anakin hard on his lip. He flinched in pain and pulled away from his wife. Anakin grabbed his bleeding mouth and looked over at Padmé, an evil grin forming over her features. Anakin felt like his heart had just been gutted out with a spoon and handed to him. He knew by her smirk, that she had deliberately teased him, she had briefly let Padmé come out and kiss her husband, letting him feel her love. She was dangling Padmé over Anakin on strings, and she was the puppeteer.
Well that's going to end right now, Anakin thought as he wiped the blood from his mouth.
"Miss your wife, hmm?" She said, raising an eyebrow. "Maybe if you go talk to Palpatine I'll let you see her again," she added, widening her grin. Anakin walked over to her defiantly. Anakin was a Jedi Knight, and he would be damned if he would lose his wife to the dark side.
"I'll deal with him personally, after I deal with you," Anakin spat coldly. Grabbing her by the shoulders, and forcibly pushed her down onto the couch as gently as he could. The last thing Anakin wanted was to hurt Padmé, or their unborn child. Anakin placed a hand on her forehead. Padmé naturally resisted. Anakin with his robotic hand pinned Padmé against the couch, and held her down as carefully as he could with his weight. Anakin closed his eyes, and concentrated. Padmé and Anakin shared a unique bond, if he could just concentrate on that bond, and reach deep into her mind, he might be able to reach Padmé.
He could faintly hear her calling out to him; "Anakin, I'm here! Help me!" She faintly said to him through her mind. Anakin concentrated harder, onto Padmé's voice, until it got louder. He was letting himself be pulled into her mind, using her voice as a guide. He could feel himself being pulled in deeper... And deeper...
Anakin was now standing in a dark dreary room. He looked around, carefully examining his surroundings. There was nothing there... Except Padmé, chained to a wall, she was wearing a dirty torn nightgown, and her hair was tangled, dirty, and unkept. She looked horrible. Anakin ran up to her. "Padmé!" He yelled, kneeling down to her level, and gently taking her by the shoulders. "Padmé, say something," he pleaded. She slowly cocked her head up. And she looked the worst he had ever seen her. Her eyes no longer had that glimmer of life inside them that he adored, bags hung down from her eyes, registering her fatigue.
"Ani... I don't know if I can fight anymore... The dark side..." she said hoarsely.
"Don't you dare give up on me, now Padmé. I need you! Our child needs you!" He stated matter-of-factly, undoing her chains. And Padmé knew it. Their children needed a mother, and Anakin needed her. She wasn't about to give up when she had come so far, and accomplished so much, she couldn't. She would just have to fight a little while longer, and with her husband and Jedi protector with her, she knew she could do it.
"I'm getting you out of here," Anakin said, helping Padmé to her feet. She clutched onto her husband for balance, and stood up.
"I can walk," Padmé said, letting go of her husband.
Before either of them had a chance to go anywhere, the sound of a lightsaber igniting caught their attention. They both turned to see a small woman barring their path. She was holding a crimson Sith lightsaber, and dressed in a black ankle-length flowy strapless dress, with black Sith boots. She raised her lightsaber, which illuminated her face. It was Padmé Amidala, or rather the knew persona Palpatine had created to replace Padmé.
Anakin stood in front of his wife and ignited his lightsaber; a bright Jedi blue blade extended out as Anakin gripped his weapon.
"Anakin, you can't fight my battles for me," Padmé said softly. "I will protect you Padmé," Anakin replied, determined, and looking over at Palpatine's sidious creation.
"It ends right here, whoever you are.." Anakin said to Sith Padmé. She smirked and gripped her lightsaber with both hands.
"I look forward to killing you and your wife Skywalker," she said moving to strike with her lightsaber, Anakin quickly blocked her attack with his weapon, and with all his might pushed Sith Padmé away from him. Anakin had to admit, even though she was evil, she was a spitting image of his wife. It was hard to work up the courage to fight her, and Anakin knew she would no doubt use this to her advantage.
"Skywalker, you disappoint me," she said moving in to attack again, Anakin quickly blocked her strike and in turn struck back, which she easily blocked as well.
Sith Padmé scoffed. "No wonder you're not a master Jedi yet,"
"You'll find I'm full of surprises," said Anakin as he performed a forward summersault, attempting to catch Sith Padmé off guard and decapitating her. He swung his lightsaber at her, but Sith Padmé seemed to anticipate every move Anakin made; she dodged and kicked Anakin in the chest as he landed, sending him flying against the wall hard.
Anakin's lightsaber flew out of his hand as he hit the wall and slumped down. He had been hit hard, and he didn't know if she broke, or cracked any of his ribs. It hurt to even move, or even breathe. Anakin knew he couldn't fight like this. Sith Padmé shook her head and walked over to Anakin, her lightsaber humming menacingly.
"Skywalker... I guess this means you've failed everyone you've ever loved in your life... I'm going to enjoy this," she said, smiling evilly and raising her lightsaber, the bright red blade illuminating her, and the Jedi she was about to kill. However, she had made the mistake of leaving herself open for a frontal attack; Anakin concentrated on the force and tried to pull his lightsaber into his hand, only to find out it was no longer on the ground. And right then he knew he was going to die.
Sith Padmé brought her lightsaber down in a swift vertical strike, which would slice Anakin in half, only instead to hear the sound of a lightsaber igniting and having her Sith blade crash against that of a Jedi's. The wielder was none other than Padmé Amidala. Protecting her wounded husband. A determined look played across her face. Their two lightsaber's locked and humming powerfully.
Sith Padmé grinned. "Brave of you woman, but foolish," she said, swinging her blade over at the fallen Jedi's wife. Padmé barely managed to block it. She was clumsy, and had never wielded this type of weapon before. Though she secretly always wanted to.
Padmé's swift action though had saved her husband's life, and that's all she cared about right now, that and avenging herself from Palpatine. She knew very well the outcome of this battle would not only determine her husband's fate, but that of control of her body as well.
Padmé swung the Jedi lightsaber back at her evil persona, which was in turned easily blocked. Padmé retreated a little from her persona and kept her lightsaber raised in a defensive position. Sith Padmé approached her and unleashed a few simple slashes from her lightsaber. Padmé, obviously toying with, and testing her abilities. While a bit clumsy, Padmé was able to block all of her attacks. Padmé launched a single strike of her own, this time her form was a little more balanced and better executed then her previous strikes. Padmé had seen Anakin practice with his lightsaber many times before, so she had a basic idea on how to hold the weapon, and stand with it. But attacking and defending was still way over her head. Padmé was simply relying on her instincts, and the moves she saw her husband perform in training to survive. And to be honest, Padmé thought she was probably going to die. But that didn't matter right now, all that mattered was simply protecting her husband from this evil creature bestowed on them by Chancellor Palpatine.
Padmé quickly launched another strike towards her opponent, it was blocked, and Sith Padmé pushed with all her might against Padmé's lightsaber with her own, and was successful in shoving Padmé back. Padmé lost her balance, and fell to the floor. Her persona took advantage of her weakness and unleashed a downward vertical thrust with her lightsaber at Padmé, whom quickly rolled out of the way, and swung with her husband's lightsaber, attempting to connect with an attack. And it worked; her blade lightly connected with Sith Padmé's wrist, and succeeded in severing her right hand.
Sith Padmé groaned, and doubled back in pain and horror, as she saw her right hand, with lightsaber still in its grip fall to the floor. "You bitch!" She cried out, holding the stump on her right arm, and attempting to steady herself. Padmé rose up and grinned, and walked over to her persona, she rested her lightsaber mere centimeters from her chest. Sith Padmé froze in terror.
"Oh, you have no idea," Padmé said, running her lightsaber through her persona's heart. Not giving Palpatine's insidious creation a chance to recoup. Sith Padmé croaked in pain, and her whole body went into spasms as the life began fleeting from her. Padmé then ran her lightsaber all the way through so that her hilt struck against Sith Padmé's chest.
Padmé leaned in close, so that she was face to face with her dying persona. "I can be a total bitch," Padmé said softly, and unremorsefully, withdrawing the Jedi weapon from Sith Padmé's heart. She instantly dropped to the floor, eyes open, and staring blankly out, a trickle blood dripped down from her lip. She was clearly dead.
Padmé looked down at her dead persona, as her lifeless body began to fade into oblivion. Padmé disengaged her lightsaber and ran over to her wounded husband. Anakin seemed to be on the verge of unconsciousness. He was clutching his chest in pain, and his breathing labored.
"W..Where did you learn to fight like that?" He said softly. Padmé placed a hand on her husband's cheek and smiled. "I watched you practice. And besides, after seeing me use my 'aggressive negotiations' on Geonosis, you should have known I was a capable fighter," she said, trying not to sound worried in her voice. A smile formed across Anakin's face as he reached out and placed his good hand on Padmé's cheek as well. "If you were force sensitive you would have made a wonderful Jedi..." Anakin said as their dreary black world began to fade and dissolve into oblivion.
Anakin opened his eyes looked upon his wife, she blinked her eyes open and smiled at him sweetly. That beautiful glimmer in her chocolate eyes had once again returned. And Anakin knew that this indeed Padmé looking at him. He could feel a fleeting pain in his chest as his body re-adjusted to reality. Anakin smiled at his wife, and at that moment he knew everything would be just fine.
Anakin cushioned his wife in his arms, and was almost in tears. "I knew you would save me," she said softly, brushing away a few stray hairs from her husband's face. He shook his head. "No... You did that yourself Padmé. I was merely a guide. I... I owe you my life Padmé..."
Padmé looked into his deep blue eyes and smiled sweetly, her mind thinking back to the time he saved her from being killed by poisonous worms in her stateroom on Coruscant three years ago.
"I guess we'll call it even," she said, leaning in and kissing her husband passionately; caressing her husband's lips, and slipping her tongue into his mouth; using it to skillfully explore every part of it. Anakin collapsed against the couch right then and there. A soft sound escaped the back of his throat as he slipped his arms around his wife.
Padmé could feel Anakin's hands against her body, feeling her up. This sent a shudder up Padmé's spine. She could then feel that needful sensation from in between her legs... However, as much as she wanted to go further, she couldn't, however her body said otherwise as Anakin gently caressed one of her breasts lovingly through her dress. She blushed from embarrassment.
"Anakin... Anakin... Stop, this isn't the right place," she said breathlessly. Placing her little hand over his, which was caressing her breast. Anakin reluctantly stopped. A look of disappointment playing across his face. However, he knew she was right. He had to remind himself where he was. After all, Obi-Wan, Yoda, or even worse, Mace Windu could walk in at any given moment. And no doubt they could probably sense their passions rippling through the force right now. And yet, Anakin didn't care anymore. But, he was inside the Jedi Temple after all. however, the thought of making love in the Jedi Temple did trigger that famous libido of his.
Padmé stood up, and adjusted her dress, which Anakin had messed up. "We should go back in there and inform the Jedi Council I'm all right... And that Palpatine is indeed the Sith Lord..." Padmé lowered her head, instantly thinking back to the other night when Palpatine had his way with her. Dreadful memories came washing over her.
Anakin could sense her apprehension. He stood up and walked over to his wife, placing his hands on her arms, as a sign of his presence and love.
"Oh Ani..." Padmé said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you have any idea how it felt? To be a prisoner in your own body... I could see everything going on, but I was powerless to do anything about it. I was just an observer, trapped in my body. It was only when my body was sleeping was I able to communicate with you... P..Palpatine, he's betrayed the Republic... He's betrayed-"
"-Your trust... And mine," Anakin finished for her, and gritting his teeth in anger. "Angel, it's all right. I swear to you, I won't let his crimes go unpunished. I promise he'll pay for what he's done to you," Anakin said as warmly, and gently as he could, doing his best to contain his anger. Inside though, Anakin was furious. Palpatine had assaulted his wife, betrayed their trust in him, and used his Sith abilities to falsify a persona, which took over his wife's body, making her his loyal puppet. But the two had shoved it back in his face, showing him that love was greater than darkness. Love was actually in essence the light, which penetrated the darkness, bringing balance to the universe, which would otherwise be lifeless, and in chaos. The Jedi knew this to be true, but they didn't use it to its fullest potential. Anakin hoped to change that.
Anakin gave Padmé a hug before walking back into the council chambers. As the two walked in, they could see various council members scurrying about, Obi-Wan was engaged in a conversation with Mace Windu, and Master Yoda was nowhere to be seen.
"Master Windu?" Anakin called out. "What's going on?" He asked, as the two Jedi Masters gave them their undivided attention.
"There's been a Separatist droid army landing on the planet Kashyyyk," said Master Windu.
"The Wookie planet?" Anakin asked.
Obi-Wan nodded. "Master Yoda has gone with a couple of legions of clone troopers to put a stop to it. General Grievous has also been located on Utapau. We were about to dispatch someone to deal with him, and finally bring an end to the war," he said looking over at Padmé. "Milady! It's so good to see you safe and sound," Obi-Wan said, smiling with relief.
"Its good to see you too Master Kenobi, I'm glad to hear the war will finally be over soon," Padmé said, sighing with relief. Thank the force this will all be over soon. She thought, as Mace Windu turned his attention to her.
"Are you all right Senator Amidala?" Master Windu asked.
"Yes, I am. Thanks to my husband, Anakin," Padmé said, looking over at him, and approaching the two Jedi masters. "Masters Windu, Kenobi. Anakin is such a gifted Jedi. No one else could have saved me from the clutches of the Sith Lord but him. There's no doubt in my mind, that he is the chosen one spoken of in the Jedi prophecy. And it would be, in my opinion, a terrible mistake expelling such a gifted hero permanently from the Jedi Order. And its also because of him, we know the identity of the Sith Lord," Padmé stated, matter-of-factly in Anakin's defense. Obi-Wan smiled, Padmé was a master speaker, and knew exactly what to say, in any given situation. Rather than criticize Padmé, Master Windu nodded in agreement. However, little did he know that it was Padmé who did most of the work, with Anakin's help on destroying her persona. She turned and winked at her husband before turning back to the two Jedi Masters.
"Well much of the council completely feels as you do Senator Amidala... Though not all of us do.. But, in light on Anakin's recent display in his unique abilities of the force.. I'm sure that will change. Who is the Sith Lord? Is it Chancellor Palpatine? As we've begun to suspect," Windu asked.
Padmé nodded. "Indeed, he is... He... He sexually assaulted me, and used it to directly corrupt my mind with the dark side... That's how he gained control over me.."
Shock sprung from Master Windu's face. He couldn't believe Palpatine had done that to Padmé. But, he was a Sith, and no crime was beyond them. "I'm so sorry Senator Amidala... Our worst fears are confirmed... Obi-Wan... Anakin, I want you to accompany me to the Chancellor's office. We'll deal with him personally Milady. And please stay here, and wait for us to return. Your life could still be in danger, the Jedi here will protect you," Mace Windu said, reassuringly to Padmé. He knew however it would be difficult to prove Chancellor Palpatine's crime against Senator Amidala, but it might be easier to prove he was indeed the Sith Lord they've been searching for. Either way, The Jedi weren't going to sit back and let a thousand generations of democracy go up in flames.
Padmé watched with worry, and reassurance as the trio departed from the council chambers, and over towards Palpatine's office, and prayed to the powers that be that her husband would return alive...
Inside his office, Chancellor Palpatine, or by his Sith name, Darth Sidious paced in his office. His connection with Padmé Amidala had been severed abruptly not long ago. Without a shadow of a doubt, he knew now his secret was out, for he could sense three Jedi were inside the main Senate building on their way up to see him. So this is it... Took them long enough to finally figure it out. I've only been operating under their noses for the past 13 years! He thought, reaching into his desk and pulling out his Sith lightsaber. Let them come. Sidious thought as he carefully concealed his lightsaber inside the sleeve of his robe as he sat down in his chair. His lightsaber was extremely old, and he had not used it in what seemed forever. In fact, the last he could remember using it was when he killed his master, Darth Plagueis in his sleep.
Sidious was more than confident in his abilities in the dark side to defeat three Jedi masters. However, he wasn't taking any chances. He still had one final trump card to play against the Jedi. Sidious hit his comm. button on his desk. Soon afterwards a holographic image of Clone Trooper commander Bacarra displayed in front of him.
"Commander Bacarra, execute order sixty-six," Darth Sidious said in his nasally voice.
"It will be done my Lord," Bacarra replied, as Sidious ended the transmission.
Order Sixty-Six, was Darth Sidious' final step in taking over full control of the Republic, and reorganizing it into his empire. It was simple; Upon receiving order, all clone troopers were to begin exterminating all Jedi in the known universe, beginning with the Jedi generals who were their commanders in the field. The Kaminoans had engineered the clone troopers a little too well; they were all trained and raised to be completely obedient to the Republic Chancellor. Taking any order without question.
Although Sidious would have preferred to execute the order once he had a new apprentice, it didn't seem like he had a choice at the moment. He didn't want to risk losing in a fight with the Jedi, and not having his revenge. A crooked smile now formed over his ugly features, for he knew any moment now, legions of clone troopers would begin storming the Jedi Temple, and exterminating the Jedi one by one. Now, even if the three Jedi masters succeeded in killing him, he would take as much Jedi with him as possible, as one sick, last twisted act of revenge by the Sith, who had been long thought to be extinct by the Jedi.
Darth Sidious could sense the presence of the presence of the Jedi getting stronger, the footsteps becoming louder, echoing through his hallway. His office doors swooshed open. Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker stepped in. Sidious couldn't say he was surprised to see Anakin among them, not after him discovering what he had done to his beloved wife. Sidious grinned, he could sense Anakin's anger literally beaming forth through the force, and Sidious found it almost intoxicating. It was no wonder he wanted Anakin as his young apprentice.
Sidious tried to act surprised by the sudden presence of the three Jedi. "Anakin! And Masters Windu, Kenobi, what pleasure do I have of your company at this hour?" Sidious, asked, trying to maintain his cheery, humble Chancellor tone.
"Chancellor, you're under arrest ," Mace Windu replied, in a not-so cheery tone.
"Arrest? Under what charge? Serving the Republic?" Sidious remarked.
"For the rape of Senator Padmé Amidala, and endangering her unborn child," replied Master Windu.
Sidious simply scoffed at the Jedi Master's remark. "Those are serious accusations Master Windu. What proof do you have to support this?"
Anakin nearly came unglued at the Chancellor's lie, and uncaring remark about his wife. He wanted nothing more than to kill the Sith Lord where he sat. And it took all his concentration to not give into the Chancellor's provoking. He knew that's exactly what he wanted, and he wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Anakin simply glared at him instead with immense hatred. Darth Sidious acknowledged Anakin's rage and smiled evilly at him.
"We have all the proof we need Chancellor, we know more about you than you think," said, Mace Windu.
"Well, I'll take that as you don't have real proof. And without physical evidence, there's nothing you can do. So I am ordering you, to stand down Master Windu. Lest you forget, the Jedi fall under my jurisdiction now,"
"The Jedi.. Will not continue to be your personal pawns in your political game. Your days of dictating are finished." Answered, Mace Windu.
Undaunted by the Jedi Master's words, Darth Sidious stood up from his chair defiantly. He carefully let his concealed lightsaber slide out from behind the sleeve of his robe behind his back, and gripped it in his hand.
"Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?"