Thank you all for your comments - I enjoy the feedback. Finals week is here, so I've been mad crazy busy! Thus I'm going to put the next chapter up tonight - is the perfect excuse to take a break from studying. ;-)

16

…Anakin…come find me…

The thought jolted Anakin awake. He started, wondering where the voice came from. It was right there –

…find me…

– a glimmer of intent from the Force.

"Obi-Wan," he muttered to himself. He glanced around to see if anyone could hear him, but of course no one was there.

Except for the dark one who shared his mind.

It took Anakin a second to realize that this was one of the fleeting moments where he was in control. Instantly his hands flew over the instrument panel of his starfighter, powering it up.

He was going after Obi-Wan.

And it was because he wanted to, not because of the dark one.

Heart racing, he gently guided the starfighter up into the atmosphere. The planet below him fell away and he felt himself giving over to the exhilaration that always flooded him when he flew. With it he felt something he'd not had in a long time – hope.

Obi-Wan.

Padmé.

The thought of her name was enough to stomp out any lurking thoughts from the dark one in the back of his mind. Finally, at long last he would see her again, and he could even lay eyes on his child for the first time. That idea made his hands shake and his heart fluttered. Calling on the Force, he made himself calm down enough so he could pilot the small craft.

When he cleared the atmosphere and made the jump to hyperspace, Anakin opened himself up to all he felt – the relief that this would all soon be over almost brought him to tears. Padmé, sweet Padmé. Her soft curls, beautiful smile, gentle touch.

This was the light. Starved of it so long, he never wanted to let it go again. Everything would be fine now. After this, the dark one would be silenced forever.

"Padmé?" Barriss Offee called out. She could hear the other woman moving about in the other room; steady determination roiled off her through the Force. After receiving no answer she got out of her chair, where she sat skimming the Holonet for news, and made her way to the back room in the suite.

The first thing she noticed was that the room was completely torn apart. Barriss's mouth dropped open at the sight of the mess. A couple suitcases lay open on the bed, items haphazardly tossed into them. From across the room, the little girl watched everything with her bright brown eyes.

"Are you alright…?" Barriss stammered, not sure what to make of the scene before her.

Padmé turned around, startled by the other woman's appearance. "I can't stay here anymore. I have to find Anakin."

She went back to packing.

"Padmé, I don't think that's such a good idea."

"I don't care. I know he's out there, and I know that he can't be as bad as the Jedi say he is. I'll find Anakin, and then we can go get our son. We can all be a family together."

The Jedi Knight gaped at her. Has she gone completely nuts? Anakin would probably kill her – simply because he's just that unstable! Not to mention he's in league with the Empire!

"And I don't care who he's allied with," Padmé said as she stuffed some clothing for her daughter into the suitcase. It was nearly full however, and she struggled for a second before getting it to fit.

That made Barriss' jaw drop even more. She glanced at the little girl, sitting in the elegant crib that Bail Organa had provided. Something about the child made a slight chill go down her spine – it was almost as if the small girl could read Barriss' intent as she studied the Jedi intently with her large eyes. Turning away from her, she focused her attention back on Padmé.

"But what of the Imperials? The only reason they tolerate him is because he's hunting down Jedi for them. Eventually they'll turn on him, and what are you going to do then? They'll be hunting for you too."

Padmé did not stop packing and replied. "I know people on Naboo. They'll keep us safe – they helped me once and they'll do it again."

Barriss snorted, doubting this. Based on what the holonet news reported, the Empire was quick to squash any rebellion.

"Padmé, there probably isn't anything left of the movement that helped you get off Naboo when the Cloners tried to take it over. They'd have been stopped by the Empire. Most of them have probably been killed in the time since you left; it's been over a year since you were there.

"And even if you were to find some place to hide, the Imperials would find you. It's pretty hard not to notice a rogue Jedi running around with a woman and two kids. Once they found you, they'd kill Anakin and the kids. And you simply because you were with them."

Her gaze traveled to the girl, who was still staring at her. She was really starting to creep Barriss out.

Padmé stopped her packing and glared at Barris, who was thankful that she finally managed to illicit a reaction from the former Queen.

"And what's the difference between that and now? I'm in hiding with a Jedi. Surely they'd kill me for that."

Barriss sighed. Arguing with a politician was difficult. Trying to convince a mother of something she did not want to agree with was next to impossible. Combine mother and politician – then it was like trying to thaw Hoth. It was not going to happen.

"Fine. If you want to tear around the galaxy on some bantha chase suit yourself. At least here you're protected," Barriss snapped.

"By what?"

"A Jedi."

"I thought Anakin was supposed to be the strongest of the Jedi. Surely I'd be safer with him than any other."

"You won't be safe while you're trying to find him. Where are you even going to start?"

Padmé shrugged.

"If you had a Jedi with you, you'd be able to find him easily. Not to mention you'd be a lot safer."

"So are you offering to come with me?"

"What!"

"You just said that I'd be safer if there was a Jedi with me, and that a Jedi could find Anakin. It seemed you were volunteering yourself for the job," Padmé shot back in return for Barriss' stubbornness. "Plus, I'd think you'd have some interest in finding Anakin, since you claim he's a friend of yours."

As far as she was concerned, Barriss had not said any such thing. Padmé had grossly misunderstood her words. Then again, she was a politician and politicians loved to mince words, just look at Emperor Palpatine.

Knowing that she could not let Padmé leave unprotected with the child, but that leaving was a disastrous idea, she gave in.

"I suppose I did," she muttered through gritted teeth. Never before had she been so easily bested by someone who was incapable of using the Force. "Just let me know what you want to leave."

Barriss went back into the other room. She sat back down in the chair, feeling that somehow she had been cheated. The fact that Padmé had used her friendship with Anakin against her was especially irritating. On the other hand, Barriss had used the children against Padmé.

Women – even if they were Jedi – could be so nasty to each other.

As she sat, the idea of leaving Alderaan nagged at her. Getting up, she told Padmé that she would be gone for just a bit and then made her way out of the suite. She was off to find Bail Organa.

Someone should know they were leaving.

Anakin's resolve wavered when the ship came into view. He only needed one look at it to know that Obi-Wan had piloted it. Scanning the local area, he saw no other sign of his former master.

Obi-Wan was on that ship.

Guiding the small fighter to the surface, a trill went through Anakin. Much time had passed since he saw Obi-Wan last.

A little too much time, the dark one whispered in the back of his mind.

Anakin ignored it.

He doesn't think of you as his ickle widdle apprentice anymore. He thinks you're a monster.

Shut up, Anakin rebutted like he was talking down to an annoying sibling. He thinks you're the monster.

The voice fell silent, but the damage was done. Nervously Anakin undid his crash webbing and unlocked the cockpit hatch. With a sharp inhale he hopped out.

The first thing he noticed was the heat.

There was no doubt about it – this place was hot.

Anakin shook his head as he walked over to the sleek shuttle. Already his body was starting to sweat, and he felt like he was back on Tatooine.

Tatooine was definitely something he did not want to think about.

You can't run from it. The Jedi took her away from you. You know it was Obi-Wan's fault.

Go away, Anakin willed, squeezing his eyes shut so hard it hurt.

"Anakin?"

Anakin whipped his eyes open to see Obi-Wan standing a few feet in front of him. The sight of him shocked Anakin; the last months had not worn well on Obi-Wan. His eyes looked slightly haunted and something fundamental seemed to be missing from him.

"Mast…Obi-Wan," he croaked, not sure of what to call the other Jedi.

For a minute they regarded each other. Neither of them spoke, said nothing of what brought them together.

Well, get on with it. You're boring me, the darkness mocked Anakin.

You wanted to come here too, remember? Anakin shot back, with a shake of his head.

"Anakin? Are you alright?" Obi-Wan asked, concerned.

Yes, Anakin. Why don't you tell him what's been going on the past few months? I'm sure Obi-Wan would love it. Or better yet, why don't you let me tell him?

"I'm…I'm alright…" Anakin responded after a second with another shake of his head. The voice would not be quiet. He needed to focus; he could not carry on two conversations at once.

Obi-Wan's eyebrows went up further from doubt.

"I just want to know where you took Padmé," Anakin said, looking straight at Obi-Wan.

"She's," Obi-Wan paused, "safe. We've kept her away from the Empire. No harm has come to her."

"Where is she? I just want to see her!" Anakin stepped closer to him, pleading. He was so close to her, finally after all these months. Reaching out to the Force, he could sense her presence. It seemed to be coming closer. "Please, tell me where she is."

Obi-Wan shook his head. Anakin stiffened. What he failed to notice was the slight hesitance Obi-Wan had in denying him the information he wanted.

"I can't yet, Anakin. All I can tell you is that she's in hiding and she's safe."

"No." Anakin stepped to the side. "No," he muttered again and started to pace with small, hurried steps.

The heat was making everything heavy. The dark voice would not be quiet. He came all this way for nothing.

All of it pressed down on Anakin and he shut his eyes again, wishing everything would go away. His throat constricted. In his chest, his heart hammered so that he could feel each seperate chamber contracting to make a quadruple beat. Not even the Force would calm it down.

Reaching out to the Force, he strained to find something to hold onto. And there was Padmé's bright light. Anakin latched on to it, letting himself be washed away in her. He could even feel her attachment to the child, his child.

See? The Jedi just want to keep you away from those you love.

He put his hands on the side of his head, muttering to himself.

Obi-Wan looked Anakin over, shaken at the sight of his former apprentice. He had his hands pressed over his ears. Muttering to himself, his lips moved swiftly. The Jedi Master did not need the Force to know that something was terribly wrong.

Something wild rested in Anakin's eyes, something he had never seen before. The sight of it scared him – he heard stories of Jedi who got that look, it never ended well.

"Anakin, are you alright?" Obi-Wan called out, knowing that the younger man was not paying attention to him. "I don't care what you've done – I only want to help you! Everything can be fixed, you can come back to the Order, you can end all of this right now."

"Anakin listen to me!" Obi-Wan grimaced, his patience starting to chafe. This was just like the old times; Anakin was a child that refused to obey. "I've only wanted to see you become the best Jedi you could be. I only wanted to you to be happy!"

"I know you're lying to me. You took her from me – you can't stand the thought of me loving her!"

What Obi-Wan failed to realize that Anakin's words were not directed at him – they were meant for the darkness that plagued Anakin inside his mind. Anakin looked at Obi-Wan. The whites of his eyes were red from the heat, months of little sleep, and the terror inside him that he lived with.

Suddenly Obi-Wan understood what was wrong.

Anakin was fighting himself. Something damaged him so badly that it unleashed the monster he now faced. It never reached Obi-Wan until now because only Anakin could understand how to find him – and he would not let the monster get near him.

"Anakin…" Obi-Wan trailed off. Words raced through his mind but they fell silent when he opened his mouth to speak. "I'm only here to help you."

"If you want to help me, then tell me where she is!"

"I can't yet. I have to help you first."

Obi-Wan won't tell you where she is. You know he won't. Ever.

"No…"

Anakin pushed his hands over his ears once more. His fingers clenched and dug into his scalp. Eight points of acute pain broke out on his head. He shut his mouth so tightly that his molars ground against each other. One of them felt like it was about to crack from the pressure.

Repeatedly he mouthed "No, no," to himself. He was screaming it inside his mind.

But it wouldn't stop. The dark one would not be quiet.

Obi-Wan's very presence in the Force made Anakin's heart pound. His right hand dropped near his lightsaber, it balled into a fist repeatedly. He knew that any minute now he would loose control.

The dark one would try to strike down Obi-Wan. He could not let that happen. In vain he fought to keep his minds' eye on Padmé, reaching out for that one bright spot of comfort.

The ephemeral world of hyperspace surrounded the small ship. Padmé held her daughter, swaying back and forth gently. When the child was calm she set her back in the trunk where she kept her for the journey. Padmé brought it on board, using it as a crib for the girl. And, in the case that they should run into any Imperial entanglements, it could double as a hiding place. With the child sleeping, Padmé made her way back to the cockpit of the ship.

Barriss sat there, in the pilot's seat, staring out the transparisteel viewport. One of her fingers repeated tapped the armrest in impatience.

"Is everything alright?" she asked softly.

Barriss whirled around to face her. "You startled me!" She put a hand to her face.

"I'm sorry…I didn't know it was possible to sneak up on a Jedi."

In return, Barriss gave her a half-hearted smile. "Unfortunately, it is possible. That, and a lot more."

She let the sentence hang.

"So do you have any idea where we're going?"

"Not really…I just tried to find Anakin through the Force and punched in some coordinates that will take us in that direction. After that, I ran them through the computer to see where we're headed to."

A hologram of a planet floated into view after Barriss pushed a few buttons and entered a few commands into the computer systems.

"Mustafar," Padmé read outloud. "Huh."

"I've never heard of it. Apparently it's just a backwater mining planet."

"What do they mine?"

"The computer says the main product is minerals found in the planet's lava. There aren't many habitants, just a few sentients making a rough living by mining the lava."

"Did you just say 'lava'?"

"Sure did."

Padmé shook her head. "Sounds like a wonderfully charming place. Where is it?"

"It's your average dream vacation destination out on the outer rim, near the Senex sector."

"The Senex sector? That's not far from Naboo." Or Tatooine, she thought to herself. "I wonder what Anakin is doing way out here."

"Who knows. Whatever it is, I think Obi-Wan's with him."

"That makes sense. He said he was going after Anakin," Padmé said, biting her lip. She studied the display a second more and let out a sigh. "This whole thing is giving me a bad feeling."

"Me too."

"And I thought Jedi didn't get bad feelings."

Barriss rolled her eyes at her, stepping past her to head back to the living quarters of the ship. It was a comfortable cabin, small but still spacious for the three occupants.

On Alderaan, they had slipped past the docking bay tech with the help of Barriss' mind trick abilities, courtesy of the Force. The first ship they came to suited their plans – a beautiful Alderaanian yacht, not unlike the one Padmé had owned back on Naboo. After they made it into hyperspace, they realized that the food generator was nothing to shake a lightsaber at.

"I'm starving. I'm going to try and coax something decent out of the cooking unit again. You want anything?" she called back to Padmé.

"Sure. Not like there's anything else to do," Padmé answered.

In the back she found Barriss attempting to concoct something resembling soup. But the foul odor of the mix staved off any appetite both the women might have had.

"What in the blazes died back here?" Padmé exclaimed, wrinkling her nose in disgust and waving her hand in front of her face to ward off the smell.

"I have no idea, but it seems our food generator has gotten worse. I give up." Barriss took the pot and dumped it out. "Uh, stuff still smells foul even when it's down the drain."

Suddenly a warning bell started ringing from the cockpit. Both women looked at each other and made their way back to the front of the ship. Barriss sat back in the pilot's seat, hands flying over the control panel.

"There's some kind of gravatic anomaly nearby."

"What?"

Barriss cursed. "It's one of those new ships they have – the ones that got us stuck at KAshyyyk."

In perfect timing with her words, the blue world of hyperspace dragged into starlines that streaked into distinct pinpoints of light as they returned to real space.

"Unknown ship, this is the Imperial Star Destroyer Evicerator! Please identify yourself immediately!"

"Uh...Imperial Destroyer this is the…" Barriss answered, trying to think of a name for their ship. Then suddenly a name she remembered from the Temple hangar flashed into her mind. "…Lucky Star. How can we help you today?"

"Lucky Star?" The Imperial commander asked them.

"Yes, that would be correct."

"Lucky Star,please hold."

The comm clicked at the Imperial officer cut the connection. Barriss glanced at Padmé while they waited for a response. Padmé bit her lower lip.

"Lucky Star, please prepare to be boarded."

"What?" Barriss exclaimed into the comm.

"Nothing to worry about, Lucky Star. Standard Imperial procedure. We've been having lots of unusual traffic in regards to the Jedi rebellion in this area. You've nothing to worry about."

The commander shut off the communications link.

Barriss swore. "I've never heard of anyone not having to worry when they got boarded by Imperials. This is about to get nasty."

Padmé gulped. At that second, she ran back to her daughter, making sure she was still asleep. Seeing that she was, Padmé closed the lid to the trunk carefully, making sure that the child would be safe inside. Done, she went back up to the cockpit when the deck jolted out from under her.

"What are you doing?" she shouted to Barriss.

"I'm trying to get us out of here! You might want to strap yourself in!"

Padmé dropped herself in the copilot's chair. As quickly as she could, she secured the crash webbing around her. Outside, roaring towards them, was a guard of the now-familiar TIE fighters with their central cockpits and parrallel wings.

"They've got a tractor beam on us! We're dead in the water now."

Padmé muttered something that may have been a curse.

"It's just getting good," Barriss sarcastically replied. "Save your words."

With that, she got out of her seat.

"Where are you going?"

"Someone's got to stop that boarding party from getting on this ship. You coming?"

Seeing that she had no choice, Padmé went after her. She found Barriss standing by the entrance to the ship, her lightsaber in hand and at the ready. The Jedi tossed her a blaster pistol and Padmé caught it.

"Are you nuts?" Padmé hissed. "You're going to fight off the whole lot of them?"

"The times have all made us do things differently," was the reply. It made Padmé stop for a second.

How true. A year ago, Padmé would never have dreamed of trying to fend off an entire Imperial boarding party, plus whatever else the Empire had to throw at them. She never even dreamed there would be an Empire in the first place.

The times certainly have changed. And they've changed us.

She thought about her relationship with Anakin. Two years ago, she never would have dreamed that would happen.

Three years ago she never would have dreamed that her family would be assassinated.

And here she was, a fugitive with an illegitimate child – two illegitimate children, counting the other the Jedi whisked away – trying to fight alongside a Jedi she just barely met.

Times were crazy.

Barriss ignited her lightsaber with a snap-hiss, breaking Padmé's concentration.

"Uh, are you so sure that using that thing is a good idea? They'll definitely know you're a Jedi." Padmé did not have to imply what that would mean for them.

"I'm open for suggestions if you have a better idea. You have the only blaster on board, remember?"

Padmé looked down at the small pistol in her hands. Barriss was right; she was much more accustomed to using a blaster than the Jedi. Not to mention, trying to watch Padmé wield a lightsaber and look competent at it would be a comical spectacle.

"Besides, at this point…" the Jedi trailed off. A distant look took over her eyes. She shrugged and turned her attention back to the present. "They're almost here."

Padmé nodded and aimed the blaster at where the Imperials would come through.

Perhaps they made the right choice in making a stand against the Empire, regardless of how futile it was. Perhaps they were completely insane, driven to their wit's end by the Clone Wars and the tyranny that replaced the Republic. Perhaps they were just ready to give up after having been on the run for so long. Whatever it was, the two women were ready to face whatever fate had in store for them.

Their one mistake, however, was not noticing the other ship that came out of hyperspace just behind them. Hailing it would have saved them all the trouble of having to deal with the Imperials.

But Padmé did not think about any of the what-ifs, for suddenly the seal on the ship's door was broken – Barriss' lightsaber hummed – someone shouted "Jedi!" –

Blaster fire filled the air. Through the smoke created by badly aimed shots hitting the interior of the ship, Padmé could barely make out the shapes of the Imperials in their white body armor. Time seemed to slow down for her. The sound of Barriss' lightsaber hummed faintly in the background. Imperials were shouting. Barriss was yelling. Even her cries were added into the melee.

Before her eyes, she saw not the ship, but the fields of Naboo. The rebels were yelling; her family was huddled close around her. Blaster fire and screams were all she could make out.

A bolt hit her.

Then another.

She cried out in pain, slumping to the ground. The humming of the lightsaber grew even fainter, and after a few minutes Padmé could not hear it anymore. Imperial boots sounded on the deck, the only thing she could clearly hear.

A new voice was yelling – Bail Organa. The sound of his voice booming through the ship brought her closer to consciousness.

The soft green plains of Naboo were replaced by the cold reality of the ship. Bail Organa was kneeling next to her, in the background she could hear her daughter crying. Just before she passed into unconsciousness, she muttered her daughter's name…trying to soothe the child's fear…

Everything went black.

"Padmé!" Anakin screamed. She was in great danger – he had to go help her –

"Where is she?" he demanded of Obi-Wan. "Where is she?"

"I told you. She's safe. We have her in hiding."

"You're lying!"

How he can stand there and lie to me, he thought to himself.

I told you so, the dark one replied. He's always been lying to you. All the Jedi have.

"You've always lied to me!" he accused, fury in his voice.

"Anakin, listen to yourself! Do you really believe what you're saying?"

"I don't believe what you're saying! I should have known you were lying to me all along! I should have known you never wanted to train me, I was just an annoyance to you!"

The words hung bitterly in the air. Obi-Wan was visibly taken aback, a verbal turbohammer having just slammed him in the chest. He took a step away from Anakin.

Dread for Padmé flooded Anakin. He could feel the danger around her growing. He had to save her. Obi-Wan was keeping him here, delaying him.

He wants to take her away from you.

The dark one did not understand the love Anakin had for Padmé, but it understood that the easiest way to take over was to make Anakin fear for her.

But it didn't have to make Anakin fear losing her anymore.

Anakin screamed.

He sank to his knees. An anguished wail escaped his lungs and echoed off the hardened lava. Without realizing what he was doing he pulled his hood over his head in a futile attempt to make the universe disappear. Nothing could make it go away – he was connected to it through the Force.

Padmé was his strongest link to the galaxy, to the Force. And with her death the galaxy burned as a black desert devoid of all emotion.

Except pain.

Reaching out, through the darkness, he tried one more time to sense her presence. He needed her more than anything at this moment.

She was gone.

He could not even feel the child anymore.

Another howl pierced the air and Anakin inhaled sharply. Choking back a sob, Anakin froze as memories flooded his vision. Leaving his mother. The elation at going to find her. Dinner with Obi-Wan at his favorite diner.

Falling in love with Padmé.

And now all he had was the pain of losing her. Anakin locked onto the pain, understanding one thing. This was the fault of the Jedi. Slowly he turned his head to look at Obi-Wan.

He and the darkness were one.

They always had been.

Slowly Anakin stood up. With his eyes on Obi-Wan his head slowly tilted up, and his hand hovered near his lightsaber.

The Jedi killed her.

They never wanted me to be happy – they lied to me.

They were always against me.

Obi-Wan froze in place as he watched his former apprentice sink to the ground.

Padmé's death rang out through the Force.

Even he had to choke back tears, having gotten to know her well and having seen her through so much. Watching Anakin, he willed himself to go comfort the younger man but his body did not obey. He tried to say something. Nothing came out. There were no words to come out.

Anakin's cries slowly subsided. For a second he merely remained silent on the ground. Then he started to get up.

Eyeing him, Obi-Wan knew something had changed. The Anakin he knew was gone. For the first time, Obi-Wan felt truly afraid. His hand went to his side instinctively, waiting to draw his lightsaber. Keeping control over himself, he struggled to not draw the weapon.

He took one last look at Anakin. Something imperceptible had changed in the blue eyes. It was not merely the hatred, shutting Obi-Wan out, but something ringing the edges of the irises. The sight of it made Obi-Wan doubt everything he had been taught as a Jedi and everything he taught to Anakin. He was given no more time to reflect on the matter.

With a howl, Anakin attacked.

To be conitnued...