Chapter Three
Padme sits up and stretches. She gets up and opens the curtains to the balcony; she goes over to the bench beside the rail. She sits down and curls up to watch the sunrise. She smiles.
"Milady?"
She turns and looks at the door. "Come in Nadia."
The handmaid comes in, "Milady?"
"Any word from Coruscant?"
"I'm afraid not."
"I hope he's alright."
"I'm sure he's fine Milady. He's probably just busy."
"He's never been to busy to contact me." She stands up. "I'm going to Coruscant."
"But Milady….."
"They'll be fine with out me."
"Milady, you can't go alone."
"You're right. I'll take Aria with me."
"But Milady she's only 12."
"True. Perhaps Arian. I'm sure she'd like to go."
"Milady she's your decoy."
"And I suppose Dael and Skyla are also to young."
"Yes Milady."
"I guess that leaves you then. You'd better get ready we leave as soon as Artoo gets back."
"Yes Milady." She heads to her quarters to pack her things.
Anakin looks up as Luke comes into the room. Anakin stands as his master approaches.
"Master."
"Anakin I need you to go to Naboo. We've lost contact with them."
"Padme……"
"We don't know what has happened. It was probably just a malfunction of some sort. I know Padme likes to keep in touch with you so I thought you might like to go."
"Yes Master." He starts to leave.
"Don't forget your Padawan."
He turns and looks at Luke. "Padawan?"
"The council has decided to give you a Padawan. She's with Chai-Lyn."
"Yes Master."
"Take Ben with you."
"Master? She said she wouldn't train him."
"She will train him."
"But Master you know how stubborn Padme is."
"I do. And I also know she will train him."
"Yes Master."
He goes back to his flat. "Chai-Lyn?"
"In here sir."
He goes into the living area. "Chai I'm going to Naboo."
"Yes Sir. I've already packed….."
"I won't be gone very long and while I'm there Padme will take care of me."
"What would you like me to do sir?"
"You can stay here or with Uncle Luke. I have to take Ben and Echo with me."
"I'll be alone?"
"Not if you stay with Luke. Come on you two." He ushers them into the speeder. "We'll have to take the Falcon. I hope dad doesn't mind." Anakin, Ben, and Echo head to the landing platform.
He runs onto the ship and into the cockpit. "Buckle up kids."
Ben and Echo sit behind him. "Where are we going master?"
"Naboo. To see my sister."
"Mistress Padme."
"Threepio sit down. And watch the kids."
"Have you ever met her?"
"Who? Padme? No I've never met her."
Padme and Nadia hurry onto the ship. Padme starts the engines and flies out of the hangar. "Did anyone see us?"
"I don't think so milady. You think he'll look for us?"
"Yes and when he can't find us he'll tell Than."
Merric goes to Than's quarters. "Master?"
"What is it Merric?"
"I can't find the Queen."
"I'll try and contact Luke. She'll be on her way to Coruscant."
"How do you know Master?"
"She's not heard from her brother for quite a while."
"Are communications down?"
"It's possible. Follow the Queen and try to contact Luke from there."
"Yes Master." He bows and heads to the Hangar.
Nadia falls asleep and wakes when she hears Padme scream. She looks around and sees that she is chained to the wall. There is a man standing in front of Padme. Padme looks at the man. His face is in shadow so she can't see him. "Who are you?"
"I am the Sith."
Anakin arrives in Naboo. He lands near the palace he lowers the ramp and sees Merric coming out of the palace towards him.
"Anakin what are you doing here? Did Luke send you?"
"He did. Communications are down. The council was worried something had happened to you."
"No wonder we hadn't heard from you. Everything is fine here."
"Where's Padme?"
"She's on her way to Coruscant. She was worried when she didn't hear from you."
"Why didn't you go with her?"
"She left and didn't tell me. I was just going to go after her when I saw you."
"I'm going after her. I……………She's in trouble!"
He runs back on the ship and starts the engine. Merric sits down beside him.
"I'm going with you."
Anakin nods and takes off.
"Where is she?"
"I'll know when we get close."
"The Sith were destroyed."
"A new Sith has risen."
"It's not possible."
"Oh but it is. Take them to one of the camps. Tell the traders to do what they want with her. Tell them she is from an important family."
"Yes Master."
He unchains the girls and takes them to one of the traders' camps. Padme looks around as they go. 'He will come for you.' Nadia looks at Padme.
"Did you say something?"
Padme shakes her head. She notices a couple of men in cloaks one nods to her the other bows. She smiles to herself. Once the servant leaves them Padme takes Nadia aside.
"We are not alone."