Author's Note: Hey everyone! Sorry to leave you with a cliffie over the weekend; it was just the natural place to end it. I will be back with more by Monday at the latest. Hope you enjoy! And thanks for the reviews, I adore your comments! I'm very fortunate to have such wonderful readers.
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Padme sat next to Artoo, her legs swinging nervously as her boots made small scraping noises on the floor. Anakin, Obi-wan and Mace had been gone for nearly two hours and her com-link still sat silent. Like a tomb.
Her hands twisted in her lap, the actions mirroring the sensations that were swirling in her stomach. She gasped as an unexpected stab of fear and rage pierced her heart, the emotions so strong they pulled her out of her seat. For a few long moments, the only sounds in the cabin were her jagged breathing and the squeak of the empty pilot's chair, still swiveling violently behind her.
Her vision swam in front of her as she searched the room for a possible threat. There was nothing. She tried to tamp down the outrage that was fueling her body, but to no avail. Suddenly, she was overcome with weakness and sank to her knees.
Anakin! Oh no, something's happened!
Artoo beeped alarmingly as he sensed her distress and stretched out a mechanical arm, tangling it in the folds of her cloak. Anakin? She could hear him calling for her, but his words were garbled and thick.
I can't understand- Ani, what's wrong?
Shaking violently, she could only watch as Artoo pulled her to the emergency hatch, pushing her through the void quickly. She hit the ground hard and rested a moment, her breaths shallow and weak. Dimly, she was aware that Anakin's communication attempts had ceased. Spurred by the realization, her fingers dug into the soft ground and she slid forward, her progress slow but steady.
Once she was safely out of the way of the ship, she saw Artoo drop out of the opening and roll towards her protectively. She jerked as her com-link finally flickered to life and heard Obi-wan's weak voice.
"Our mission has failed. Padme, get out of here..." There was a long moment of silence before he cried, "Wait! Anakin - NO!" His exclamation was immediately cut short and the sudden silence echoed through her mind.
Fumbling for the button that would allow her to issue a response, Padme willed her hands to stop trembling. Finally, she activated the control and cried out in frustration as she met with thick static.
"Come in, Obi-wan," she begged. "Please, come in." But she knew she wouldn't get an answer.
Desperately, she reached out to Anakin through their Force Bond. She caught a flicker of life before a thick cloud descended and she was struck with a feeling of asphyxiation. Coughing, she pulled back quickly, already mourning the loss of Anakin's loving presence.
She lay on the grass for a few moments, relieved to feel her strength returning. A ray of hope surged in her heart as she recalled the last few moments. I could still feel him. They are alive... It is not too late. Despite the oppressive aura that blocked their Bond, she could still sense Anakin's life presence.
That was all she needed to know.
Struggling to stand, she leaned against a wide tree, not even noticing the way the rough bark dug into her back. Reaching into her cloak, she pulled out a small remote and began to whisper quietly. Seconds later, her orders were obeyed as the ships fired up and streaked for the sky. Good work, Threepio. Well done.
Turning to Artoo, she punched in a code and watched a compartment door slide open as a platform emerged. Gently, she picked up the deadly blaster, relishing the familiar weight in her hands. She clipped it to her utility belt and rustled around the brush, searching for the object she had hidden moments after the three Jedi had left.
With a grim sense of satisfaction, she located the jet-pack and slipped it over her shoulders. Sometimes being a politician had its benefits. Through her contacts, she had discovered that the Council had submitted orders that both ships be outfitted with enough equipment for four people. It took some searching on her part, but a few days into the race, she had discovered the hiding place Anakin had used to store her equipment.
Always so protective, she thought darkly. We really should have a discussion about that.
Fluidly, she once again kneeled in front of Artoo and entered a long string of codes. Rocking back on her heels, she smiled in relief as she saw a steady red dot blinking on the semi-transparent surface map the droid promptly projected - Anakin's tracking device, working perfectly on the back of his cloak, where she had pinned it discreetly during their final embrace.
Perhaps I am a bit protective too, she admitted reluctantly.
With a silent prayer, she fired up the jet pack and marveled at the quiet hum of the propulsion device. Artoo beeped admiringly and fired his own rockets, muting them considerably. Grinning at the small droid, she said, "Okay, Artoo - let's find the source of that tracking signal."
Pushing forward on the controls, she followed the droid through the trees.
OUTSIDE DIVIDED SYSTEMS HEADQUARTERS - THIRTY MINUTES LATER
She gently eased off the throttle and felt her feet touch the ground a few yards from Artoo. Slipping off the jet pack, she hid it under a large leafy plant and crept towards the edge of the forest. Spotting two sentry droids, she pulled the blaster from its resting place on her utility belt and watched silently. It didn't seem as though they sensed her presence, so she returned the weapon to her side.
Crouching low, she ran through the thick cover of trees until she came to an unguarded section of the looming fortress. Peering intently, she smiled when she found what she was looking for. Perfect! Checking around once more for any hidden guards, she turned to Artoo.
"I need you to stay here," she commanded gently. Her statement was met with a forlorn beep. "I'll be okay. Do you see that ventilation intake pipe? That's where I'm going in and it's too narrow for you." He whistled quietly as if to argue.
"No, Artoo," she explained. "I need you to act as my back-up. I'll signal you if I need help, I promise. In the meantime, review the schematics Anakin downloaded into your system and see if you can find another way in. Just in case." The faithful droid stayed silent this time, apparently in reluctant agreement with her plan.
Giving him one final pat on the head, she sprinted for the building. Not bothering to slow down, she executed a somersault and plunged into the shaft feet-first.
The sleek fabric of her cloak sped her descent and all she could do was tuck her arms into her sides as she raced down the narrow pipe. At least I'm being aerodynamic... Just like Master Windu without his hair. Her heart ached dully at the memory as she wondered about the possible fate of her friends. She wasn't nearly as connected to them as she was to Anakin and their current fate remained unknown.
She was ripped from her reverie as she was expelled from the pipe and sent tumbling into a cavernous room. In the middle, a large gemstone seemed to gleam sinisterly and she found herself stepping back from it unconsciously. Aware she was out in the open, she retreated to the back wall, pressing herself against it tightly. Feeling suitably protected, she began to prowl the perimeter of the room.
Her attention focused solely on any threats in the distance, she didn't notice the mist creeping around her ankles until it brought her down. Confused, she searched her boots for some sort of entanglement but her fingers slid right through the airy substance. Struggling desperately, she managed to drag herself forward a few feet but stopped as she heard a door open.
"Hello, sweet one," a disembodied voice greeted. Gasping, she brought up the blaster and cried out as it was torn from her fingers by an unseen hand.
"Oh no, you won't be needing that," it growled. Stepping forward, the figure finally came into view. Exceptionally tall, it was clad in a dark, shimmering cloak, the hood effectively disguising any facial features.
Finding her voice, she finally demanded, "Who are you?"
The flat reply sent chills dancing down her spine.
"Your destiny."
She was still staring helplessly when the searing bolt embedded itself in her chest.
And everything went dark.
