Chapter8
Obi Wan and Yoda arrived at Padme's apartment. They had never made it to the Temple because they had sensed a disturbance in the Force at Padme's apartment. When they arrived, they saw her being beaten by clone troopers. Obi Wan and Yoda quickly killed them, but Padme was lying on the floor, bloodied and broken.
"It hurts," she cried, hugging her swollen tummy.
"I know, be brave, we'll get you to a Bails ship quickly," Obi Wan said, gently picking her up. It would be too dangerous to take her to one of the local hospitals, they needed to get her off world and there were plenty of medics on the ship.
"The baby," she said in a choked voice.
"It's fine, come on, we need to get you out of here," Obi Wan said as he followed Yoda out of the room.
"Ani..?" she asked desperately, knowing that he could be dead.
"He'll be joining us soon," Obi Wan said, trying to be reassuring.
"Leave a message for him I will," Yoda said, quickly writing something down before leaving.
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Anakin and Palpatine fought. It was fast and furious. Anakin though was not at full strength, he had needed a longer rest after killing all those clones. The moves were quick and Anakin and Palpatine were equally matched. Palpatine with energy and experience. Anakin with skill and strength. Palpatine then threw one of the pods towards Anakin's back, but Anakin easily deflected it. Palpatine threw another, and Anakin deflected that as well. All the while fighting.
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Padme lay on the cot Obi Wan had put her in on the ship as they flew to Polis Massa.
"Obi-Wan? Is Anakin all right?" she asked, very concerned. Padme had been their first priority. Bail had already said that Anakin didn't want them to wait around. Obi Wan looked at Padme sadly and brushed her hair back. Padme dropped back into unconsciousness. R2 came and watched over her as they continued to fly onward.
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Palpatine then threw Force lightning at Anakin, which Anakin deflected sending it off to the side, destroying a pod. Palpatine then sent some to Anakin's pod. Anakin flipped off the pod in time, landing on another in the distance. Continually sending lightning towards Anakin, some hit him, some what he was standing on. Anakin continually moving. Palpatine then flipped off his podium to the floors. With a couple broken ribs, burns and scaring, Anakin attempted to follow, but quickly lost Palpatine as he got into a speeder and sped off. Anakin couldn't follow, but Palpatine had lost that battle.
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Obi Wan stood by Padme in the med centre at Polis Massa. She had finally come round, and didn't seem to be in as much pain.
"What's happened?" she asked.
"Palpatine was a Sith, and rules the Senate," Obi Wan said honestly. "There is no more democracy."
"It's hard to believe everything to which we've dedicated our lives is gone," Padme said in shock.
"I believe we have been part of a plot hundreds of years in the making," Obi Wan said.
"The Senate is still intact, there is some hope," Padme said.
Obi Wan only frowned.
"Where's Ani?" she asked, looking around.
"I don't know," Obi Wan said, worried. Anakin hadn't contacted them yet. It was most likely he was dead, even though they hadn't felt it.
"Is he dead?" she asked. Her whole body was trembling at the thought. She started to frown again. The drugs were warring off.
"I hope not." he said, stoking her forehead.
"It hurts," she moaned.
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Alone in the observation dome on the asteroid on Polis Massa, Yoda communed with Qui gon Jinn. "Failed to see the Sith Lord, I did. Still much to learn, there is …"
"Patience." Qui gon's voice said, "You will have time. I did not. When I became one with the Force I made a great discovery. With my training, you will be able to merge with the Force at will. Your physical self will fade away, but you will still retain your consciousness. You will become more powerful than any Sith."
"Eternal consciousness," Yoda said in wonder.
"The ability to defy oblivion can be achieved, but only for oneself. It was accomplished by a Shaman of the Whills. It is a state acquired through compassion, not greed."
". . . to become one with the Force, and influence still have . . . A power greater than all, it is."
"You will learn to let go of everything. No attachment, no thought of self. No physical self."
"A great Jedi Master, you have become, Qui-Gon Jinn. Your apprentice I gratefully become." Yoda started to think as Bail entered the room.
"Excuse me, Master Yoda. Anakin Skywalker has made contact."
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Anakin lay on the floor of the apartment he and Padme had shared for so long. He was covered in blood. Some his own, and some was from others. He closed his eyes, trying to block out the pain he felt from Padme. A tear fell down his face. He was alone, and help would be too late in coming.