Washed Away
AUTHOR: Abigail
SUMMARY: What if Padme was so worried about Anakin that she went looking for him at the Jedi Temple? The night of Anakin's turn to the Dark Side?
TIMELINE: During RotS, alternate universe.
CHAPTER 5: The Nightmare
RATING: T
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything that was created by George Lucas.
NOTE: Thanks for all of your support and care. I hope you like this next chapter. I tried my best to keep it from getting confusing. If not, it will all be explained in the next chapter.
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The Force was powerful...In so many ways it could affect the actions and thoughts of others. And in a physical sense, it could create such a sum of energy that would be powerful enough to kill a person instantly. But the Jedi only used it's will for good...thus allowing the Force to be even more influential. That is what separated the Jedi from the Sith.
They were two different groups...each falling on opposite sides of the scale that dealt with 'good' versus 'evil'. Each had their own separate paths and purposes, and yet both wished to destroy the other. However, what the Galaxy never fully understood was how similar they both were. Together, the Jedi and the Sith both held the values of justice in the same light and they equally pursued the quest for greater strength.
This thought crossed Obi-Wan's mind as he lifted his hands high in the air, the Force freely surging through him. Anakin struggled under the tight grip of the Force, as he was totally caught unaware by Obi-Wan. But his former Master had overpowered him in his moment of weakness. Obi-Wan winced, shutting his eyes tightly, as he allowed himself to throw Anakin against the opposite wall. His body slammed against the wall, and with a sickening thud he slumped to the floor, immediately falling unconscious. Padme's shrill scream rang through the room, causing Obi-Wan to quickly run to her.
Padme watched Obi-Wan come to her, his arms wrapping around her as she almost fell to the floor in shock. But she couldn't feel it. All she could feel was the fire...slowly crawling back up her legs...then her arms...and then her entire body. It burnt through her skin until it charred its way through to her very bones. She screamed again, as the shock of what was happening came to her. Obi-Wan continued his attempts to subdue her, but Padme was beyond the point of being controlled. She scratched at his gripping embrace, trying to tear herself from his arms.
"Let me go!" she cried out fiercely, as she thrashed herself about, straining to release herself from the trap he had set. "ANAKIN!" she screamed, her mind beyond any thought of self-control and restraint. She desperately wanted to run to her love, to throw herself upon his lifeless body...to weep over the wounds that were imparted upon him by Obi-Wan.
But suddenly the entire ceiling gave way, and the tiles that held it in place crashed to the floor. Flames erupted and ignited, as the upper level was exposed. The fire licked at the adjacent walls, crawling down like snakes as they greedily made their way to the floor. Obi-Wan immediately dragged Padme to the center of the room that still remained unmarred by the emergent fire. Thick smoke enveloped them like a blanket, seeking its way into every crevice. It poured into Padme's lungs, as much as her body struggled to cough. Soon the large front window shattered, sending millions of shards of glass flying through the room. Padme covered her head and knelt to the floor, crying out once more as the chaos that had erupted in the room ensued. Her eyes continued to gaze at Anakin's limp body, her hands weakly reaching out toward him. She opened her mouth, but only a small cry left it. The room was crumbling around her, yet she continued to reach for him.
"We have to leave now!" Obi-Wan yelled, trying to yank her up from the floor. But his efforts were futile, as she continued to drag herself back down to the ground.
"Anakin!" she wept, as tears spilled from her eyes. Obi-Wan quickly knelt down, trying to scoop her up in his arms. The fiery inferno had now consumed the walls, forcing a hot trickling sweat to glide down his forehead. As he knelt down, he took Padme's pained face into his hands, forcing her to look at him.
"Listen..." he said loudly, his eyes searching deep into her tear-filled ones. She gradually calmed herself, her breathing slowing into a consistent rhythm. Padme's wide eyes stared back up at Obi-Wan's, her brown orbs frantically darting back and forth across his vexed face. "We need to leave...now. There's no time for Anakin...it's too late for him..." he said calmly. Padme's eyes widened again, her breathing thrown back into an erratic pattern.
"No..." she whispered. "No!" Obi-Wan struggled to keep her trembling body from loosing control again. "There's still good in him...I can see it!" she cried, her hands gripping at his shoulders. Obi-Wan slowly shook his head, running his hand across his sweaty brow. The heat was incinerating his focus, causing his thoughts to melt and mix into one massive puddle of confusion.
"Padme...you have to understand. He's too much of a threat...you must think of the baby!" Obi-Wan said passionately. Padme was suddenly stilled by his words. Her body ceased to shake and her hands froze on Obi-Wan's shoulders. The fire continued to crackle around them, the flames spontaneously erupting and igniting into a supernova of sparks. Silently, Padme's hands left his shoulders and drifted down to her swollen stomach. Her brown eyes gazed down at her hands, and her face was suddenly filled with apprehension. The look on her face was so peculiar that Obi-Wan almost felt as if she was surprised that there was still life beneath the swell under her trembling hands.
Padme gasped lightly as her eyes lightly shut, closing out the pandemonium on the fire. Once again, she began to relive the nightmare in her mind, if only for a second. But its memory was so fresh in her head that every sense was awakened and every detail about that awful dream sprung to life all at once...
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The whole world was on fire. Padme aimlessly walked the barren landscape that she found herself on. For as far as the eye could see, the flat plain was billowing with plumes of smoke and fire, a land akin to hell itself. She continued to walk, her quick footsteps avoiding the large cracks spattered about the ground that hissed with smoke. Suddenly, she stopped. She got the peculiar feeling that she was looking for someone...something...her eyes then caught something bright on the horizon. Even though it was far away, she felt that she could reach it, if she hurried. Its bright light continued to shine in front of her...giving her a hope that she might be able to leave this awful place behind her. But then she heard a noise. Padme whirled around, the length of her white nightgown flowing about her ankles as she turned her body to look behind her. She was then face to face with whom she was looking for.
"Anakin!" she cried out with relief. She stepped towards him, but quickly froze in fear, realizing too late that the man before her was not her husband. The dark figure was cloaked in black, and he towered above her by at least several inches. But what was most menacing of all, was that his hooded head held no face...not even a mouth, or eyes. She recoiled in fear, her feet stumbling over each other as she tried to back away. But the figure advanced upon her and grabbed her by the arm, his grip painful and strong. Padme struggled to rid herself of this evil creature, but he was too powerful. Then, she heard a voice...it was faint at first, but then it grew with intensity.
With a growing fear, she suddenly gathered that his monster that clenched at her arm was speaking to her, but through some other way...as if he were inside her mind. As she stared at his blank face, the voice suddenly became clear and intelligible.
"I'm here to save you Padme..." it said to her, its evil and twisted voice seeming so contradictory to the words it spoke. Padme was overcome with horror and confusion, but it continued to speak. "Come with me..." it beckoned, as it began to pull her away from the spot that she felt rooted to.
"No!" she cried out suddenly, resisting its power. She twisted her head behind her to find the small beam of light that she had seen before, and noticed that it seemed more distant and farther away. It continued to vanish, until its glittering hope was barely a speck in the distance. "Where's Anakin? What have you done with him?" she cried out suddenly, as she felt his presence nearby. Padme frantically looked about her, but he wasn't in sight. But she could sense him...just as she could sense him always when he would sneak up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and placing soft kisses on her bare shoulders.
She allowed her gaze to turn back to the hideous and faceless figure that continued to grip onto her arm. Its intimidating voice crept back into her mind again, speaking to her softly... "Anakin is gone, Padme. I'm the only one strong enough to save you..." She was revolted by his words, and began to thrash her body wildly, trying to resist his death like grip on her arm. The intense feeling of pain and dread began to grow, along with Anakin's presence. Her mind was racing, searching for a solution...an escape...
"You're wrong," she said firmly, as she stared impassively into the nothingness that the stranger had for a face. "Anakin will save me...not you," she whispered passionately, her eyes fixated on the small light that steadily maintained its flicker. Padme was surprised as she could almost feel the anger of the stranger intensify, trickling through her body like her own boiling blood. Its grip on her arm tightened, like a vice that had no limits. She winced in pain and clenched her teeth tightly. "You're a monster..." she muttered, her eyes darting up to meet its non-existent gaze. As soon as the words left her mouth, its grip lessened, until its frail hand released her arm. Surprised by the breaking of the bond, she stumbled backward, struggling to keep herself from falling into the developing river of lava that was flowing beneath the crest on which she was standing.
She looked up at the dark figure, his body now hovering above her, yet farther away. Her eyes squinted against the thick smoke that began to freely circle around her body, its sulfuric smell singeing her nose. Confusion enveloped her mind, as she tried to contemplate why the man had suddenly let her go. Her body was compelled to run, as far away from the mysterious stranger as she could...seeking the light in the distance. But a greater presence forced her to stay, propelling her to take a step towards the man. As she looked up at him, she then noticed that it was carrying something in his skeleton-like arms.
At that moment, a chilling terror gripped her...like the icy grip of the Nubian Lake in the wintertime. It swept through her body quickly, freezing her blood and forcing her eyes to widen in utter terror. The startling fear clasped her lungs, catching her breath with a frozen grip. Her hands began to tremble violently, the cold continuing to spread through her body. The faceless apparition floated above her, watching her expressionlessly as she fell to her knees upon the crumbling ground. Before she could even think, her shaking hands crept towards her stomach until they barely touched the fringes of her gown's fabric. As soon as her hands were placed onto her abdomen, she exhaled loudly, a harsh cry accompanying that awaited breath. Angry tears stung at her cheek as they slowly flowed down her sweating face. She began to sob loudly as her hands continued to clutch at her collapsed stomach, violently pressing inward as she searched in vain for the very life that had so abruptly disappeared from inside her.
Her head tore up towards the suspended menace that held her child. "What have you done?" she cried out, her bitter tears spilling from her face. Her hands continued to cradle her empty stomach as her face twisted with vexation and grief. "Give me my baby!" she screamed, her hands reaching up towards the man. But the cloaked figure gradually drifted away from her, carrying away her unborn child. "No!" she wailed...her strength dwindling as emotions racked her body. Once more, she fell to the ground, overcome as the faceless stranger was gone...along with her child...her precious babe. Painful moans left her parched lips as she sobbed, tears pouring from her swollen eyes. The domes of lava continued to spew their hellish fire, unleashing evil into the crimson horizon.
Numb with emotion and unable to move, Padme laid there unconsciously, her moaning sobs dying away into a feeble whimper. Even as the flows of lava slithered over her motionless body, not a word or cry left her lips. The fire consumed her, painfully charring away her skin to the bone, melting away every part of her physical being. Meanwhile, her heart and soul were dissolving into a mass of nothing. Finally, all emotion and feeling left her body and the last thought that lay frozen in the remnants of Padme's mind was that face...that horrible and twisted face of the stranger that was finally revealed to her. And even though Padme would have said that it resembled Anakin Skywalker, the little boy from Tatooine that stole her heart...she knew too well that it belonged to a different man...
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The reminder of the nightmare weakened her defense, as its hellish moments were vividly relived inside the depths of her mind. Obi-Wan watched helplessly as she faded into a limp and unconscious form in his arms. Her eyes fluttered shut and her thin hands fell to her side. Quickly, he scooped her up into his embrace once more, clutching her to his chest and standing up. More tiles fell from the ceiling, plummeting to the ground as they brought the licking flames down with them. They gave Obi-Wan a threatening warning, telling him that he needed to leave before the entire Temple caved in on them.
But before he could even allow himself to move, his eyes were frozen on Anakin's still and unconscious body. The strong connection between Anakin and him remained, unbroken by Anakin's turn to the dark side. It took Obi-Wan several moments as he struggled to ignore his own personal feelings for Anakin. It seemed just yesterday that Anakin was that little boy he and Qui-Gon discovered on Tatooine, his radiant talent and spirit shining through. Since then, the bond they had created went far beyond the common bond of a Jedi Master and his Apprentice. Obi-Wan had trained Anakin as though he was his own son...and his feelings for him didn't differ.
But with a heavy heart, he tore his eyes away from Anakin's crumpled body, before his emotions would overcome him. He lowered his head down as he quickly activated the door. It hissed open, and he was met by another wave of thick, black smoke. As a precaution, he nimbly held Padme with one hand, allowing his other hand to rest against his saber. Without glancing behind him, Obi-Wan ran down the hallway, disrupting the dense layer of smoke that had settled in the empty corridors of the degenerating Jedi Temple...
