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 6: A New Evil
RATING: T
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything that was created by George Lucas.
NOTE: Again, thanks to all of my reviewers. I love hearing what everyone has to say. I truly appreciate it.
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Anakin felt himself floating, eerily suspended in the river of time. Even though time itself had moved on without him, he was stuck in one place, his body and mind held in an indeterminate state. And when one finds themselves in a state of unconsciousness such as this, their mind often retreats into the dark recesses of memory, seeking solace while the body nurses itself back to health. For Anakin, he found comfort in the memory of Padme. Their early days, when their unspoken love hung about them so fervently. Every word that left their lips had a multitude of meanings...and every smile meant so much more than a general feeling of companionship. Those days at the Naboo Lake Retreat, where he had so openly professed his love to her for the first time...Padme reacted only as he thought she would. Her practical ways were reflected in the words that she had said to him...
But it wasn't long until Padme gave into the emotions she felt for Anakin. Even though he had his doubts, Anakin seemed to know all along how she felt about him. Maybe it was in the way her face flushed with a deep crimson when he was near her, or maybe it was through that penetrating look she had in her eyes when she spoke softly to him. Whatever it was, Anakin felt it pulsing deep within his heart and he wasn't surprised that day of the Geonosian Battle when she confirmed his every doubt.
Soft and blurred images continued to fill him as he lay there, his mind unknowingly awakening from his injuries. Time passed slowly, if it were even passing at all. Then, his fingers gently moved. The motion was so small and discreet that it wouldn't have been noticeable at all. But then his eyes fluttered open, straining under the heaviness of his eyelids. More time passed and then his eyes opened again, this time wide and alert. Something was wrong...he could feel stirring deep within his bones. And then a heavy throbbing of his head proceeded, forcing him to shut his eyes again, wincing at the pain. His body slowly awoke, each limb stretching and returning to its normal function.
As he sat up, he opened his eyes again. But still, all he could see was a thick darkness. As his eyes adjusted, small shadows began to form, allowing him to gather where he was. It appeared to be a small room. As he felt around him, he realized that he was on a Medical Bed. It further explained why the throbbing pain in his head had occurred as well. What materialized to be a small machine began to beep, its monotonous and repetitive tone devoid of any soothing or comforting feeling.
Anakin gently rubbed at his forehead, noticing that he was wearing his Jedi Robes. He struggled to gather what had happened, and why he had woken up inside a Medical Center. And then it hit him. The impact was so powerful when it struck him, that he fell backwards slightly. His breathing increased at a rapid pace, his heartbeat pulsating faster and faster. The images flashed by in his mind, and with each agonizing picture, his growing feelings split into two definite yet opposite emotions. Immense sorrow pulled at his heart when he saw Padme's pained face once again. He had never meant to hurt her...but why couldn't she understand? Everything that he had sacrificed was for her, yet she was unwilling to see it.
The lingering anger returned, and he was reminded of Obi-Wan. The hate welled up once more, even overpowering the painful pounding in his head. His hands numbly gripped at the white sheets that covered his sweating body. After everything that Anakin had fought for...Obi-Wan still stood in the way...an obstacle in the way of all that he had struggled to give up for the sake of Padme's life.
Anakin could smell the smoke...it had singed his robes and his skin felt dusted with a light layer of ash. It took every ounce of willpower he had to keep himself from thinking about Padme. Instead, he shut his eyes...trying to find her unique wavelength in the tightly formed web of the Force. His mind searched endlessly, twisting and turning until he was purely exhausted. But then he found it...her pattern so small that it was barely distinguishable. His whole entire body sighed with relief. But where could she be? Did she actually leave him there to die? To expire in that hellish inferno?
His conflicting thoughts were suddenly diverted to the opening of a door across the room. The sudden light penetrated his eyes, forcing Anakin to squint as he sat up once more, his hand instinctively reaching down towards his saber...which wasn't there.
"There's no need to protect yourself...it is only your Master." Anakin automatically felt Darth Siddious' presence, as soon as he opened the door. His Master stalked in through the door, allowing the light of the hallway to be his guide. Siddious stopped once he reached the side of Anakin's bed, placing his wrinkled and shriveled hands upon the steel railing as he paused, allowing the room to fill with a tense silence.
"What happened?" Anakin finally asked, his voice low and distant as his eyes continued to adjust to the dark figure that towered above him. Siddious began to laugh, a deep rumble that started in his throat. His yellow eyes glared down upon him, like two shining orbs of a dark night.
"My droids were able to save you from the Jedi Temple before your body perished in the fire..." Siddious said stiffly, his voice croaking with the strains of evil. Anakin's hands clenched the sheets more tightly, waiting for any mention of Padme's health.
"And...Padme...?" he asked slowly, her present state still unclear and uncertain in his mind, despite his attempts to reach out to her through the Force. His Master's demeanor changed, as his mouth dropped into a deep frown. He seemed to hesitate, as if he were choosing his words carefully.
"She left with Jedi Master Kenobi..." he hissed, his words having a powerful taunting affect on Anakin's already tormented soul. Anakin released the sheets, his fingers stretching out against the warm fabric. His head lowered slightly in anguish, his teeth gritting against each other in anger. "I can feel your hate..." Siddious added, a smirk appearing on his face. "Do you realize that it makes you stronger?" Anakin turned up to look at his Master, his eyes scanning the dark shadows that fell upon Siddious' cloaked face.
"Where did he take her?" Anakin seethed, ignoring his Master's sly comment. Yet, Anakin couldn't help but agree when realizing how much stronger the Force flowed through his veins at the slight mention of Padme's betrayal.
"That does not concern you now, for your task remains unfinished. The Separatist leaders are still waiting on the planet Mustafar. We must act with haste, if we are to ensure their destruction..." Siddious said firmly, his mouth twitching with the accent of each word. Anakin nodded in acceptance, his head still hanging low in spite.
"I will leave now..." he said painstakingly, his eyes glancing at the open door.
"Good," Siddious replied, as he turned to leave the room. He paused with his back to Anakin, his hand resting against the door frame. "A speeder is waiting for you in the hangar of the Medical Center. Do not return until you have finished your task," he added slowly, not turning behind him. "And do not let anyone get in the way..." With those final words, Darth Siddious left the room, the powerful energy that flowed around him still lingering in the empty room.
Anakin didn't waste anytime as he swung his legs over the bed and quickly stood up. He knew that if he were to stop and allow himself to think, it would be impossible for him to carry on with his mission. Instead, he let himself focus inwardly on his growing hate...feeding it as he procured his own images of Padme with Obi-Wan. He rapidly stepped towards the still open door, but paused and looked behind him. There, sitting on a small table, was a light saber. Its polished steel reflected brightly from the fluorescent light of the hallway. He turned around and rushed towards it. Lightly, he picked it up in his hand, letting his fingers trace over the slight indentations on its handle. With a small motion, he activated it.
The flaming red sheen illuminated the room like a combusting fire. Its crimson glare reflected onto Anakin's face, accentuating his fiery gaze. His eyes were fixated on the weapon, allowing himself to slice its flame through the thick air. The weapon hummed with a sound reminiscent to the day when he had built his first light saber. But this moment was different...it gave every action leading up till now finality...a sense of absolution. The Sith weapon felt powerful in his hands, as he struck at the empty air. He let the weapon rest in front of his face and then deactivated it. With haste, he placed it inside the holster of his belt and vanished from the room, his mind focused and at one with the rage inside his soul...
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Obi-Wan quickly glanced up when he heard Padme stirring from within the Medical Capsule. After an hour of inspecting and testing, the droid aboard his ship confirmed that she simply had lost her state of consciousness, and should be awake soon. Other than that, she had suffered no other injuries except for a few minor burns and bruises. Satisfied with the droid's diagnosis, Obi-Wan felt it was best to place her in the Medical Capsule, so that her breathing would be guided when she first awoke. He also knew that she would have many questions, and he feared the time when he would have to answer them.
The droid also informed Obi-Wan that Padme's child appeared to be stable. On board the ship, Obi-Wan didn't have the required equipment to confirm the droid's opinion, so he felt compelled to do so himself, through the Force. After several moments of calming meditation, Obi-Wan felt focused enough to try and read the child. But he was completely stunned when his mind found two globes of life within Padme's womb. It could only mean that she was carrying twins...a boy and a girl to be exact. What also amazed him was how strong each child was with the Force. This was not surprising, considering Anakin's high Midi-Chlorian count. But what would happen when they are born? How would Padme be able to raise these two children...alone? Obi-Wan didn't even want to think about it. Instead, he forced himself to sit down next to the capsule, easily overcome by exhaustion and mental stress.
He'd already been pounded by clouds of guilt that began to form above his head. That awful image of Anakin's cataleptic body, lying there in the smoldering flames of the blaze. Obi-Wan was thankful that Padme would not be burdened by those final images of Anakin...it was going to truly break her heart alone just hearing what had already transpired. It didn't require a Jedi Master of Obi-Wan's rank to realize the secret relationship that was happening between the two of them. And even though he was strongly against any affectionate ties when it came to the Jedi, he knew that expressing this idea to either Padme or Anakin would be simply pointless.
Once again, Padme's arm moved, sliding up towards her throat where her fingers slightly rested against her jaw line. Lightly, her eyes fluttered open, softly scanning the room around her. "Anakin?" she mouthed, the words barely reaching Obi-Wan's alert ears. He slowly walked over to the capsule, allowing the nearby droid to lift the glass lid open. Padme's widened eyes peered up at him.
"Where's Anakin?" she asked again, her voice filling with alarm and concern. Obi-Wan looked down on her sympathetically. Padme was such a strong woman...and after everything she had just gone through, her personality was still enduring and steadfast. Her large eyes continued to stare deeply into his, her pale face so fragile and innocent...Obi-Wan struggled to find the words...the right words rather that could fully explain why Anakin wouldn't be coming back...ever...
