Thanks for the feedback everyone! And sorry for the wait-but here is the long-awaited climax of the story. It's a long one, I hope you all like it!


Revelation, part 2

Silence. Darkness. Distant pain.

Padmé slowly felt herself returning from the dark abyss of unconsciousness, and for a moment she wanted to stay in the warm folds of unawareness. But her instinct for survival caused Padmé to open her eyes. She cringed against the bright lights above, her head pounding in time with her pulse, each beat of her heart punctuated by a stab of dull pain in the growing lump on her temple.

She was lying on a hard bunk, her hands and feet loosely bound. Padmé raised her throbbing head and saw the man in the black cloak standing in the doorway of what appeared to be a room on Padmé's Naboo Cruiser. The man's back was to her and his hood was down. The back of his head was as white as the omnipresent clouds above Coruscant and there were large shining scars, even brighter white, criss-crossing his bald scalp.

As the bunk creaked under Padmé's movement, the man in the doorway turned to her. Padmé felt herself draw back with shock at his appearance. He was horribly scarred on his face; and his eyes…Padme shuddered to look at them. They were black and vacant of any glint of life.

Padmé laid her head back down, hoping to forget the man's eyes. She focused on where she was and how she got here. She remembered being in her apartment, packing for her trip to Corellia. Then he'd shown up-Davad Hoiy. Padme's face flushed hot with emotion at the thought of the Jedi, Yennaj, and all that had happened the day before.

Padmé, distracted by her thoughts, started as Davad's face appeared over her. He was smiling and Padmé became anxious and confused over his behavior.

"What is going on? What do you want? Why are you here?" Padmé asked him, finally finding her voice. "Why am I here? I don't understand you-"

"We're leaving," Davad interrupted her, continuing to smile down on Padmé, obviously very proud of himself for something.

Padmé just looked back at him. Leaving? The idea that he was leaving Corsucant with her and on her ship was something Padmé couldn't really comprehend. It was too ridiculous, too obvious.

"We're on your ship. You're scheduled to leave for Corellia within the hour. My man and I will just disappear with you, and none will be the wiser. If you play the part and don't alert anyone to our plan, we'll leave you on Corellia and you'll never hear from me again. Well, that is until you realize you're all wrong, and the Senate is no longer a fair and unbiased democratic body," Davad's smile faded. "But by then it'll be too late for you all, so even if you wanted my help, I couldn't give it."

"What happened to you?" Padmé found herself asking, disgust in her voice. "The man that Yennaj told me about, the man she was in love with, has no resemblance to you now."

Davad's face hardened. "You can blame yourself and your Jedi friends for that. Everything would have worked out fine if you all hadn't gotten involved. If you hadn't shown up at Yennaj's yesterday, then my man wouldn't have been forced to try to kill you, killing Yennaj instead of you and those annoying Jedi. But he can't be blamed. He's programmed for my protection. A special bodyguard, provided for me by Count Dooku. He couldn't differentiate between the one who loved me and those who would stop me in my quest for peace." Davad paused, shaking his head, "But now that my deceit has been uncovered, I must flee. I'm just glad I am able to accompany you."

Davad smiled wide again, and turning he left Padme lying on the bunk, speechless with disbelief. This man is truly insane, Padmé thought to herself.

At the door, he paused. He turned his head slightly, speaking over his shoulder. "And don't try anything. My man here will be watching. He obviously has no qualms about killing. Like I said-he's my bodyguard."


Padmé's apartment was silent. Anakin led as he and Obi-Wan slowly entered, their hands hovering over their belted lightsabers. Anakin motioned for Obi-Wan to look in the small kitchen area, while Anakin moved towards the bedroom. As he walked in the doorway of the room, at once he felt the negative force energy, and when he saw Padmé's half-packed traveling case on the floor of the closet, he knew something was terribly wrong. He stared at the soft, flowing fabric of the gowns of his wife, his mind replaying various scenarios, horrible scenarios, in his head.

"I found that protocol droid deactivated in the refresher. There's no one else here," Obi-Wan came into the bedroom, eyes surveying the scene before they fell on Anakin. He was facing away from him, but Obi-Wan could sense his fear. Anakin was slowly losing control. "Anakin?"

"I think I might know where they are," Anakin said slowly as he turned and faced Obi-Wan. The walls were back up, and Obi-Wan could sense nothing more from the stone-faced, younger Jedi.

"Padmé was planning to accompany Yennaj's body back to Corellia. She was to leave today. If Davad is planning to escape Coruscant he could easily stowaway, or hijack Padmé's ship. We need to get to the landing platform."


Every Senate delegation had, for their convenience, a landing platform for use by the senators. The Naboo Senators had one of the larger platforms, with several large Naboo Cruisers and a few smaller Naboo fighters set down on various leaves of the platform. Padmé had, at her disposal, two Naboo Cruisers. With several attempts made on her life over the course of the years, Padmé had gotten into the habit of using a decoy every time she left the capital city. One ship had Padmé traveling to her intended destination and the other had her decoy traveling to a false location.

When Anakin and Obi-Wan arrived at the Naboo landing platform it was deserted and the Jedi were unsure of which ship Padmé and Davad might actually be on. Both reached out with The Force, but each ship registered life signs and neither Jedi could determine who they belonged to. Anakin was too upset over Padme to focus clearly, and Obi-Wan was worried and distracted by the now unblocked waves of emotion rolling off Anakin.

"I think we'll need to split up." Anakin stated, starting towards the glistening Naboo Cruiser to the right of him and Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan reached out and stopped Anakin by the elbow. "Anakin, if you find them don't do anything until I get there. We need to be sure to take Davad alive."

"Anakin?" Obi-Wan spoke more forcefully when Anakin didn't answer him.

"Yes, Master, I heard you," Anakin said after a short silence, still looking towards the ship that was his destination.

Obi-Wan released Anakin's arm and watched him walk towards the cruiser on the right before he started towards the one on the left.

Anakin had heard Obi-Wan, but he hadn't really listened. His mind was focused on Padmé. On getting to her, on making sure she was safe, and on making sure that Davad Hoiy paid for all the pain he'd caused them all, especially Padmé and Yennaj.

Anakin approached the cruiser from the rear, avoiding the cockpit windows. The ramp was still down, which Anakin was glad for. He silently jogged up the ramp, his lightsaber in hand, deactivated but ready. Anakin paused at the top of the ramp, listening for any sounds. Now that he was in the ship, he was able to control his emotions and he knew this was the right one. They were here. He could feel Davad's presence, and a little fainter was Padmé. She was hurt. Anakin locked his jaw and slowly walked forward towards the front of the ship.

The murmur of voices caused Anakin pause. Anakin started forward towards the voices when he felt the unmistakable jab of a blaster in his back. Anakin paused, stiffening under the threat of the blaster. A black gloved hand reached forward and took Anakin's lightsaber from his hand. The pressure of the blaster increased and Anakin, getting the message, walked forward. The blaster was still flush with Anakin's back as he and his unknown attacker moved through the ship.

"You are making a grave mistake," Anakin said, trying to sound menacing. At the same time he reached out through The Force to Obi-Wan for help.

Anakin was pushed forward to one of the quarters in the Cruiser. As he was directed into the room he saw Padmé lying on a bunk, her feet and hands bound together.

"Anakin!" Padmé exclaimed, the relief of seeing him evident in her voice. But Anakin couldn't hear it. All he saw were the ropes, and the large, red welt on her forehead. Anakin stopped walking, the pressure of the blaster at his back increasing.

It was as if a heavy black curtain fell and blocked his view. Anakin lost all conscious thought except that of making those who hurt Padmé pay for it. With all the speed Anakin possessed as a Jedi, he spun and with the Force he called his lightsaber back to him. Before his captor (the black-cloaked man, Anakin noticed fleetingly) could fire one shot off his blaster, Anakin had ignited his lightsaber and had struck the man down.

Just as quickly as the blackness fell, it lifted. Anakin surveyed the crumpled form of the albino man on the floor of the doorway. The cloak had fallen off his head and had exposed the dead black eyes. He stared at the empty eyes with an uneasy sense of familiarity. Anakin moved fast and rolled the man out into the corridor, covering his awful face and those eyes…

"Anakin?" Padmé's soft questioning voice brought Anakin back to the moment.

Anakin turned and quickly crossed the room. "Are you alright?" he whispered as he knelt before her and stroked her face. She nodded as Anakin loosened the ropes on her wrists and ankles. She sat up on the bunk, rubbing her wrists. Anakin stayed kneeling before her watching her. Padmé wrapped her arms around his neck in a fierce embrace. Anakin stiffened as he heard the familiar sound of a lightsaber igniting behind him.

"Davad…" Padmé whispered into Anakin's ear as she slowly released him and sat back her eyes wide. Anakin looked at her, and smiling he gave her a small wink. Padmé tried to smile back but faltered.

"Stay here, and lock the door. Do not come out until I come back for you. And I will come back for you," Anakin pressed his finger gently to her lips as she started to protest. Padmé nodded reluctantly and Anakin stood and turned.

Davad Hoiy stood in the doorway, smiling. The glow from his green-bladed lightsaber colored his skin, making him almost Rodan in appearance.

"I knew I was right. I couldn't be the only Jedi involved with a Senator," he said threateningly, but with a hint of amusement. "How have you managed to keep it a secret? I guess I should have asked you for advice before I became involved with Yennaj," Davad offered a sarcastic smile.

Anakin didn't answer. He knew Davad was trying to get a rise out of him. Anakin fought his desire to leap forward and drive his own lightsaber through this man's chest. The only thing holding him back was that Anakin couldn't bring himself to slay another Jedi. And though he wasn't behaving as one of late, Anakin still considered Davad one of the brethren.

Anakin lighted his own blue-bladed saber, prepared to duel, and slowly advanced on Davad. The smile on Davad's face faded as he backed out of the doorway and readied himself for the attack. As Anakin passed through the doorway he vaguely heard the door slide shut and lock behind him.

The two Jedi circled each other in the narrow corridor, each stepping over the body of the cloaked man as they stepped around, and around. Anakin flicked his wrist, his lightsaber moving towards Davad. Davad reacting by reaching up and deflect the jabs with his own weapon.

"Is that all you have? The mighty Anakin Skywalker? The most famous Jedi of The Clone Wars?" Davad jeered at Anakin. Anakin, keeping his head for probably the first time in a fight, simply smiled at Davad.

"Be careful what you ask for, Davad," Anakin said flatly. The two Jedi circled each other again when suddenly Anakin lunged forward, driving Davad back in a flashing fury of blue on green. Both Jedi blocking and attacking in a massive swirl of light. A spectator might have mistaken the duel for an exercise in battle technique. While Anakin was driving Davad back, he wasn't gaining any ground. Both Jedi were fighting on the same level.

As the hall opened up to the cargo bay, Davad moved quickly putting several meters of space between himself and Anakin. The two Jedi stared at each other, lightsabers raised.

Davad smiled condescendingly, "I'm slightly impressed," he tilted his head sideways. "I see the influence of the teachings of Obi-Wan, and even Qui-Gon."

Anakin didn't offer a response. He gripped his lightsaber with a tighter hand and locked his jaw.

"So, it's going to be a silent duel. I can handle that," Davad said as he made the next move, lunging towards Anakin with a feint to the left. But Anakin was already ahead of the move, calling on the Force and flipping over the head of Davad Hoiy. Davad found himself attacking thin air.

"Too much talk, Davad," Anakin said from right behind Davad. Davad whirled around and found himself with the glowing blue-blade of Anakin's lightsaber once again at his throat.

"I find this scene eerily familiar," Anakin said softly, his eyes drilling deep into Davad's. Davad smiled, but only half-heartedly. Anakin could sense the growing fear.

"I guess I should have planned better. I thought that Senator Amidala was important to you, but I had no idea it was this serious," Davad's fear faded as he seemed to find confidence in what he was saying. "So you and Padmé, hunh? How are, things, you know?" Davad winked at Anakin.

"Be quiet," Anakin said softly, with an angry undertone.

"Oh, so I've touched a nerve have I?" Davad laughed. "You really are attached to this one, aren't you?"

Anakin's eyes clouded over as he tried to tell himself to calm down. He knew he was reacting exactly as Davad wanted him too. He was losing his control of the situation.

"If only my man had not missed. You would be mourning Padmé like I am mourning Yennaj."

"Never," Anakin said, through clenched teeth and in such a deep, threatening voice that he'd never heard himself speak before.

"Well, all I needed was a chance to distract you, and here it is!" Davad Force pushed Anakin across the cargo bay, than came after him fast and furious, his green blade out ahead of him. Anakin, who had crashed against the far wall, smashing a computer console, picked himself up off the ground just at Davad brought his lightsaber down in the very spot Anakin had just been.

"Your feelings for that woman weaken you Skywalker. It's a nasty flaw-you really should work on that…"

Anakin lunged at Davad, but the other Jedi met his every move, parrying to meet Anakin's every attack. The battle would have continued indefinitely; crashing and breaking cargo, the sparking and sizzling of severed electrical wires, the sounds of crunching glass under their dancing feet. But Davad was right about one thing, Anakin was out of control. He had allowed Davad's taunts to cloud his mind, and he now couldn't focus, his thoughts dwelling on Padmé.

Anakin was slowly losing ground. The fear that was always present in his heart was starting to gain strength, weakening his Jedi skills that usually kept the ever present fear at bay. Anakin began to feel desperate, and he knew he would never defeat Davad if he let the fear and desperation take hold.

That was when it happened. Davad forced Anakin into a corner of the cargo bay-the two lightsabers, green on blue, clashing, throwing quick flashes of blinding light on the walls and on the two Jedi's faces, and then Davad tripped.

A piece of a cargo container had been spliced open and a large chunk lay between Anakin and Davad. Anakin, by chance, had stepped over it. Davad, not so lucky, caught his toe under the corner and tripped, losing his momentum and giving Anakin just enough time to recover.

Anakin straightened up and as Davad regained his balance Anakin saw his chance. Tossing his lightsaber from his left hand to his right hand, he swung it sideways, slicing Davad's lightsaber hilt in half. As the green-blade disappeared, Davad looked down in shock, his mouth hanging open in true disbelief. As he lifted his eyes to Anakin, he was even more shocked to find himself thrown against the wall of the cargo bay, with Anakin Skywalker's mechanical right hand at his throat. Davad looked at the face of the younger Jedi, twisted in anger. Anakin bared his teeth as he tried to extinguish the life of Davad Hoiy.

"Anakin! No!" The voice of Obi-Wan, his mentor and friend broke through the shield of rage that had enveloped Anakin. He paused, for the first time actually seeing what he was about to do. His mechanical hand gripping the throat of Davad, squeezing. Anakin could hear the wheezing breathe of Davad as his face grew purple from lack of oxygen.

Anakin's eyes widened as he released Davad. The other Jedi fell to his knees gasping for breath and holding his neck with his hands. Anakin stared at his gloved hand; cold, unfeeling metal beneath smooth, black leather. He shook his head almost imperceptivity and raised his head, looking around the small cargo bay. There were broken pieces of shipping containers and wires sparking electrically on all four walls. The floor was littered with chunks of metal from crushed display panels, and Davad's lightsaber was cleaved in half at Anakin's feet.

"I don't really remember what happened," Anakin said softly, almost pleading with Obi-Wan. Anakin looked to his former master with a longing for forgiveness and understanding.

Before Obi-Wan could respond there was more commotion from just outside the ship as several Republic Guards along with Master Yoda and Master Windu walked up the still open ramp.

Anakin backed to the wall, still a little taken aback at his brutal behavior. Anakin barely heard Obi-Wan relaying the tale to the Jedi Masters, about Davad and his attempted kidnapping of Padmé. Padmé! Anakin suddenly remembered she was still back in the belly of the ship. Quietly sneaking out of the cargo bay, he made his way down to the locked door behind which Padmé was waiting.

"Padmé," Anakin knocked and called her name. The door immediately slid open and Padmé launched herself into Anakin's arms.

"I have been going crazy in there worrying for you!" she cried into his shoulder. Then suddenly releasing him she stepped back and looked up and down the hall of the Cruiser. Anakin followed her example and looked himself. Except for the dead body of the cloaked man lying in the corridor, they were alone.

"What happened? Where's Davad? Did the Senate Guard arrive? I contacted them from inside," Padmé rambled.

Anakin smiled, starting to feel somewhat normal again, now that he was with Padmé. "Yes, the Guard, Master Yoda, Master Windu, and Obi-Wan are all in the cargo bay with Davad." Anakin's thoughts briefly turned to his actions in the cargo bay. He would have killed Davad if Obi-Wan had not shown up. Anakin felt momentarily ashamed and was glad Padmé had not been there to witness the duel.

"So this is finally over?" Padmé asked, her relief undisguised.

Anakin nodded, "Looks to be." He smiled at her, gently brushing her hair back from the large red bump on her forehead.