The imperial officers cleared the way for a pacing Prince Maul, obviously agitated at the events that had recently occurred. Kenobi's ship was almost within range and was damaged. His scans revealed the ship's deflectors had suffered a significant power decrease. If only he could catch up with him, he could disable the ship and take the princess back.
He stopped cold in his tracks, his yellow eyes darting back and forth. Did he actually want to take her back after what she had done? She had shot at him! Clearly, she had been brainwashed by those pirates, or possibly was even being blackmailed. He understood the power of blackmail. It was how he arranged their marriage in the first place. He knew her well enough to know that she would never risk the lives of her own people. He would get her back. He had to. Besides, the Emperor would not be pleased if he didn't. The man was less forgiving than he was, and Maul was not known as the forgiving type.
"They are heading into the nebula sir."
"If they reach that cloud, I will hold you personally responsible."
The young navigational officer's hand tremored slightly in response to the threat, beads of sweat quickly forming on his forehead.
Moments later, two imperial guards were dragging the lifeless officer's body away from the navigational controls while Maul was spewing obscenities and pacing back and forth across the bridge. Kenobi's ship had entered the cloud and they had been forced to follow in pursuit. They now couldn't see anything but swirling purple and red gases and all scanning attempts were bounced back. He could be anywhere.
"Keep searching! I want that ship!"
The volume and tone of his voice caused a shudder amongst the entire flight command. "Sargent! Take over navigation!"
The middle-aged officer gulped. "Y..yes sir."
Several hours later, the boiling of Maul's blood finally reduced down to a simmer and he took a seat in the commander's chair, still staring out the viewscreen at the swirling nebula.
"My prince! Assault ship detected exiting the cloud at 0.34 parsecs starboard."
"Pursue before they go to hyperspeed!" Maul was immediately on his feet.
Just a bit closer and they would be within range once more. Suddenly the alarms blared.
"Two seismic charges directly ahead sir!"
"Take evasive!"
The ship did an abrupt turn and dove just as the charges erupted, resulting in a massive explosion that ignited the nebula gases, catching just the tail end of Maul's retreating craft, but catching two other fighters that had not reacted as quickly, exploding them upon impact.
Returning as quickly as possible to the previous location of Kenobi's ship, they were just in time to see the blur of its exhaust through the ripple of the distorted gases as it leapt into hyperspeed.
"Track their hyperdrive signal and plot course!"
The new navigational officer squeezed his eyes tightly before turning to face his impending doom in the yellow glare of Prince Maul. "We can't sir. The seismic charges have disrupted the energy field and it is impossible to trace the signal."
Two more guards were soon dragging away the middle-aged headless body of the new navigational officer as Maul disengaged the red glow of his lightsaber, seating himself in the navigational chair. Damn! All he could do now was wait.
"That bought us some time, Captain."
"For now." Kenobi smiled warily at his first officer, whose gaze had fallen down to his injured shoulder.
"You'd better get back to your quarters Captain. You're bleeding again."
Turning to the navigational commander, he issued his orders before leaving the bridge. "Alert me when we reach the Correlia sector, before coming out of lightspeed."
"Aye, Captain."
A somewhat pale Obi-wan re-appeared in his quarters, quickly met by comforting, soft hands. He allowed himself to be laid back on the bed as Padmé hovered over him, removing the drying bacta patch and replacing it with a fresh one. Smoothing the edges of the patch to attach to his skin, her hands' motions were abruptly halted by his own. Her eyes slowly moved from his wound to his face and the depth of emotion she saw in those gray-green depths caused her body to tremble.
"Why?"
"What?" His hand was now caressing her cheek and tracing a tortuous path down her neck and she was surprised she had the ability to say that one word.
"Why did you shoot Maul back at the dock? Why did you save me?" He was hoping he knew the reason, but needed to hear it from her own lips.
"You were hurt. I don't like to see people suffering."
It was a reason, but not exactly the one he had been wanting to hear. But he found that it really didn't matter what her lips had said. What was more important was what they were doing, and right now they were moving across his chest, searing his skin with light kisses, sending an ache to his groin and a groan through his throat. His hand came up to entwine in her dark curls, gently urging her mouth up to his own. Without hesitation, her mouth moved upon his and he was taken aback somewhat by the urgent thrust of her tongue, meeting its probing movements with his own. The next groan that escaped them came from her and it nearly undid him. He wanted so much to roll over and take her then and there, but his plan all along had been for her to be the aggresor, and so far, it seemed to be working. For now, he would wait and see what she did. He found out, much to his surprise, he didn't have to wait long.
Her body shifted over his and she straddled him, her mouth now moving back down onto his chest. His eyes rolled back into his head as she bit gently on a dark nipple, casting aside the long braid that hung across his chest. Her hands then moved to his groin and he let out a gasp as he felt her small fingers grasping him outside of his trousers. Plan be damned! He couldn't take it any more.
He flipped her over onto her back and buried his tongue in her mouth while his own hands explored the curves of her body.
"Too...much...clothes." It was her sweet, quiet voice that murmured between the onslaught of his kisses.
"Easily remedied." He was surprised as the huskiness of his own reply.
Clothing cast aside, their bodies tightly pressed together, demanding union.
Surprised that she could think any rational thought, Padmé mumbled. "Are you sure your shoulder will be all right?"
Leaning down to whisper in her ear, his body thrust forward into her warm and willing embrace. "Trust me, I feel no pain."
They moved together in perfect harmony, hands mapping and memorizing each other's bodies. Mid way through their lovemaking, her strength surprised him as she flipped him over and resumed the role of the aggressor. Their coincided cries of fulfillment were muffled by their mouths coming quickly together, his hands pulling her tightly to him.
They were both sweaty from exertion, but the moisture he felt on his chest now could only be one thing. She was crying. He pulled her gently to the side and dropped light kisses to her eyes and mouth, attempting to banish her tears. "Tell me what's wrong."
"I...I can't."
"Padmé, you can tell me anything."
"I know that." Her eyes were shut, but the obvious inner torment was written on her face. "That's not what I meant."
Obi-Wan's brow furrowed and he waited, quite worriedly, for her explanation.
"You have to let me go back to him."
"What?" After what they had just experienced? Was she crazy? Never in his life had making love to a woman felt like it had with her. It was the difference that love made, he supposed. He loved her. He had to tell her. Now.
"Padmé. Look at me."
Her long lashes fluttered open to reveal a pain-filled gaze.
"I love you."
"Don't say that!"
Before he could stop her, she was up and off the bed, grabbing the top blanket and wrapping it around her petite form. She stood for a moment with her back to him and turned slowly, tears streaming down her face. "Don't you understand? I shot him!" Her hand flew to her mouth as she stifled a gasp. "I shot him and now he'll think I'm not going to marry him."
"You're not! Are you?" Obi-Wan was sitting up on the bed staring at the frantic look on her face, a look of total disbelief on his own.
"I have to! Don't you see? If I don't go back, the Empire will invade Naboo. Everything we've worked for -- democracy, freedom, our very way of life will be destroyed. I can't allow that to happen."
Obi-Wan understood all too well. If he had a chance to change his past and alter the future for his own family, his own planet, would he do the same? Of course he would. That was the rational side of his thinking. But now, looking at the beautiful creature wrapped in the red velvet cloth from his bed, the sated feeling of making love to her just moments before, all rational thought was flung out of the window and he was standing in front of her, gripping her arms tightly. "I won't let you go back to him! I love you Padmé!"
Her head was shaking slowly as fresh tears fell from her eyelids. "That won't save my people Obi-Wan. You have to let me go."
She was right. He knew it, and it was breaking his heart. He embraced her once more before turning to grab his clothes and crossed the room, exiting it without looking back. Padmé slumped to the floor, her sobs wracking her small body.