Shadows in shades of dark gray. A soft white light. An eerie blue glow.
Padmé felt the sensation of floating and commanded her eyes to open.
Just ahead of her was the white light she had heard people speak of. It was not shocking or blinding here in this abyss of darkness, but comforting, and seemingly drawing her to it. She did not hesitate to move forward -- answering its siren's call.
The blue glow that had appeared to her side increased in intensity until a voice suddenly emanated from within it.
/Padmé Amidala./
At first, she did not recognize the voice and it was not enough to stop her advance toward the Force that beckoned her to become one with it.
/You are stronger than this. The baby. Think about your baby. He needs you./
Her momentum slowed a bit but did not cease. That's right. She had just had a baby. But he was taken from her by someone she knew. Or at least thought she knew. But she had been powerless to stop them. And she was so tired. All she wanted to do was sleep. The light before her promised her that. Peace. Rest. Once more she headed for it.
/Obi-Wan./
That name. There was something about that name that stopped her completely. Her body seemed to hover in mid air as she turned toward the source of that voice, and watched as the blue glow took the shape of someone she once knew. Long hair hung over his shoulders, his beard neatly trimmed. He was tall, regal appearing. But she could not remember his name.
/If not for the baby, then Obi-Wan. It is not his time. If you die, he will as well. You must go back Padmé./
Go back. She had heard those words before in a similar existence such as this, but the presence she had been with then wasn't the blue image of the one she beheld now. It had been Obi-Wan. /Obi-Wan./ She murmured against the blue haze.
Her focus returned to the white light that issued forth its soothing welcome and then back to the ethereal image standing next to her. /I don't know how to go back./
/Within you is the power. There is still the bond. It is a part of you, as is the Force. Reach for it. It will protect you. It will guide you back./
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Mace Windu crept along the dark city streets of Coruscant, close enough to keep his eye on the Jedi he was following, but not close enough to be detected.
He had been watching Obi-Wan Kenobi ever since the death of Ki-Adi-Mundi. Yoda had been worried about the young man and he had to admit, he had been as well. They had been concerned thatKenobi might actually take his own life.
And then Yoda had a premonition. The baby was being born. Obi-Wan would certainly feel that, and they had both hoped that the baby would lead the young knight to his location. He thanked the Force as he ran, his booted feet stamping lightly through the puddles on the street. Yoda must have been right.
His feet hesitated however and he gasped in shock as he discovered Obi-Wan was not only leading him to the Galactic Senate Building, but inside it as well. He had a bad feeling about this. Mace quickly drew his lightsaber and held the comforting and familiar coolness of it within his hand.
Once inside the building, he could barely make out Kenobi's image as it fled up a flight of stairs. The evening glow lights in the large domed building cast a red hue to the shadowed hallways.
He sped up in order not to lose sight of the rapid-moving knight, only to stutter to a stop as Obi-Wan stood before a partitioned wall surrounded by white marble sculptures. He felt a surge in the Force and knew that Obi-Wan was calling for its assistance and then watched in amazement as the young knight placed his hand on one of the statues and the wall slid open in front of him. Obi-Wan stepped through the wall and the opening slid shut.
Mace waited a brief moment and followed.
The hallways here were stagnant, white and blue, and had the medicinal smell of bacta and disinfectant. He had not been aware that such a place as this existed in the Senate building, and he doubted if anyone else was aware of it either.
He passed several closed doors and headed up another flight of stairs that led out onto what apparently was a landing pad. He immediately ignited his lightsaber and ran to Obi-Wan's assistance.
Hovering just above the landing platform was a ship and it was firing down upon the young knight. He deflected a few of the laser blasts of his own before the craft retreated, turned and sped away.
The knight to his side, deactivated his lightsaber and slumped to the durasteel platform.
"Kenobi? Are you injured?"
Obi-Wan shook his head, fighting back tears of frustration and anger. "My son...my son was on that ship."