Hey guys, I'm back! Sorry for the long delay, but my mainboard saw it fit to die on me in the middle of a World of Warcraft session and I had to go get it fixed. Boy, when it comes to hardware, I have incredibly bad luck! The trouble was pretty serious and the guys at the shop had to replace a few components. I swear, if it causes me any kind trouble again, I'm liable to chuck it out the window!
Lordwindwalker: Thank you for the review. No, I haven't read Cestus Deception for a simple reason: before they are released on the market in Romania, foreign books are translated, a very slow process that can take up to a year per book! Seeing as there are dozens of Star Wars novels, I don't even want to think about the time necessary to translate them all! Shatterpoint is one of the few that can be found in shops. There is the alternative of ordering the English versions via the Internet, but that is out of the question, since I don't have the pleasure of owning a credit card and my Father's is off limits ever since I tried to use it to order a Halloween Darth Vader costume, worth about 100$. :)
BGTom: Yes, they will arrive before the Clones, since Palpatine hasn't even given Order Sixty Six yet. This and the next chapter will show the preparations for the siege of the Temple.
Elessar-Lover: Thank you for the kind review! Though I'll probably never have enough guts to challenge the Episode III script for supremacy, it makes me very happy to see that people are enjoying my writings!
Stephanie C: No, Anakin could not destroy Palpatine, even if he tried with all of his might. That brief glimpse of power was just that – a glimpse, a heralding of what is to come. Although he managed to slow down Palpatine, he was very weak from the battle (not to mention the loss of a second arm!) and would have ended up dead if he hadn't left with Obi-Wan. Maybe in the future, when he becomes stronger and begins to realize his true potential . . . Besides, if I killed Palpy now, I would be left without a bad guy to hug and cuddle /spots audience and throws away Palpatine doll, smiling innocently/
This time, it is Padme's turn to be guided by the Force in her darkest hour, to recover her shattered faith. Hope and Despair weave themselves together, to form the complexity of human nature.
Chapter XIV – The Sun Shall Rise Again
(The Irony of Life)
Who saw no Sunrise cannot say
The Countenance 'twould be.
Who guess at seeing, guess at loss
Of the Ability.
The emigrant of Light, it is
Afflicted for the Day.
The Blindness that beheld and blest -
And could not find its Eye.
Emily Dickinson – Who Saw No Sunrise Cannot Say
As a harsh contrast to their emptiness in the eventful might that had passed, at the first hours of early morning, the Senate halls were filled with a motley mix of denizens from almost every corner of the civilized Galaxy. Looking at the army of Senators, diplomats, aides, valets, various beaurocrats and protocol droids, a casual observer would instantly assume that this was a typical morning in the institution that had lead the Republic for the past 25.000 years.
And he would be sorely mistaken.
A heavy cloud of anticipation seemed to float in the air, brimming and boiling constantly. If said observer were to be Force-sensitive, he would feel the tingling of thousands of little needles on their consciousness, created by the countless agitated minds in the Senate. No one seemed to have missed the feeling of intense restlessness, as gossip was traded at corners with unthinkable speed and a rumor could pass through the entire infrastructure in just a short hour.
Everyone felt, deep down inside themselves, that something monumental would happen soon. That an entity which had stood unchallenged for thousands of years would be changed forever.
Amid the hustle and bustle in the main hallway, Senator Padme Amidala slowly made her way through. Gazing at her, everyone saw a very determined woman, clad in an ample, dark purple gown, her hair intricately twisted around a metal headpiece, shaped as a half-moon. But no one had such a keen eye to spot the small signs that betrayed her calm demeanor to be just a pretense. No one saw the dark circles, hidden deep beneath layers of make-up, the paleness of her skin or the almost extinguished spark in her once joyful eyes. She carried herself with the pride and dignity that was expected of someone of her stature, keeping her inner anxieties hidden. The rumors reached her ears and she did her best to ignore them. Many of her colleagues bid her a good morning and she answered them, her lips twisting into a forced smile.
Where is Anakin?
The question had assailed her for the entire night, keeping her awake. She had tried to comm her husband several times, but his personal comm frequency was closed. She had contacted the Jedi Temple for information, but all that she was told was that Knight Skywalker was not there.
Where is my husband?
Later, she had tried to reach the Chancellor's office, knowing all too well that Anakin spent most of his free time with Palpatine. But no answer came.
As she lay awake on the verandah, watching the pale stars on the Coruscanti skyline, she could not stop the dark thoughts that assailed her mind. She felt as though a massive weight was hanging on her shoulders, the pressure increasing constantly. Her husband's obsession, the failed petition, Palpatine's now unveiled lust for power were all wearing the young Senator down, making her doubt even the values and principles that had been instilled in her as a child.
How I miss the fields of Naboo, she sighed mentally, as she started to ascend the steps to the Senate's main chamber. The sun shining through the leaves, the birds chirping and playing on the tree branches.
All around her, a massive flow of sentients was slowly making its way to the large rotunda. The Chancellor had called an emergency session and presence was mandatory for all Senate members.
As she settled into her pod's seat, Padme couldn't help but feel a shiver of fear pass through her body. Something was very wrong.
"Milady, are you alright?" asked Motee, the handmaiden that accompanied her. "You look very pale. Is it because of the . . . situation?"
"No, Motee" Padme answered, smiling weakly. Her handmaidens were among the very few people who knew of her pregnancy and were sworn to secrecy. "I didn't get much sleep last night. It will pass."
"If you say so, Milady" Motee nodded, looking none too convinced.
Padme leaned forward, to get a view of the entire chamber. The other pods were being filled with representatives from all sides of the Republic. Soon, the Senate was filled to its maximum capacity. The young Senator had never seen the gigantic rotunda seem so full of energy and exuberance. Almost everyone was speaking at the same time, raising their voices in a vain attempt to drown out everyone else. A cocktail of languages reverberated across the room, from Huttesse, Bith, Shyriiwook etc. The sentients that could not communicate through sound used their diverse tentacles, appendices and limbs to have their part in the general pandemonium.
What was everyone saying?
Change is in the air. The war is finally over. But what direction will the Republic take?
It was this delicate subject that caused the commotion among the delegates. Many shared different views and opinions as to the Galactic Republic's future development and had no qualms about making themselves heard loud and clear.
"This is supposed to be the model institution for the citizens of the Galaxy" Padme whispered, forlornly, as she quietly surveyed those around her. "What is this world coming to?"
The noise was too great and her ominously prophetic queries went unheard.
Suddenly, the entire room went quiet in a single second, as, from the center of the floor, Palpatine's pod began to rise slowly. Compared with the earlier ruckus, this silence was almost deafening, as all of the delegates seemed to be holding their breaths. Never had the Supreme Chancellor's entrance been expected with such tense anticipation.
As the pod rose to its fixed position, in the chamber's center, Padme's eyes widened, as their gaze landed on the Chancellor. Flanked by his aide, Sly Moore and the Chairman Mass Amedda, Palpatine was almost completely covered by a dark-red cloak, the hood pulled over his face, obscuring his features. The very small portion pf his face that could be see made Padme shudder with shock and revulsion: his skin was of a grayish color and it appeared withered and melted on his bones. His blackened lips were slightly twisted, revealing yellow, decaying teeth.
What has happened? The woman asked herself, her mind reeling.
"Fellow members of the Galactic Senate" Palpatine's voice rasped, spreading in the entire room, as many delegates involuntarily flinched. "I have called for this emergency meeting of Congress to address a very urgent matter that has arisen."
The entire chamber watched and waited, the air almost boiling with anticipation.
"In a brazen move, the Jedi Order has decoded to undermine the authority of the Galactic Republic" Palpatine went on, as many eyebrows were cocked in surprise and puzzlement.
"The Jedi Knights, during the past night, carried out an assassination attempt, I being its target."
The quietness that gripped the chamber in its clutches was almost suffocating. No one dared utter a single word. The shock sweeping across the pods was indescribable in any galactic language.
Padme felt as if she had been punched in the stomach, as the breath that she was unconsciously holding came out slowly. The Jedi. traitors?
It cannot be!
"Still, I am pleased to announce that the Order's coup has been foiled!" the Chancellor continued, as small pockets of Senators began to applaud.
Padme nearly jumped out of her seat, as Bail Organa entered the pod, seating himself next to her.
"What's happening?" he asked, frowning slightly toward Palpatine.
"The Chancellor has been elaborating on a plot by the Jedi to overthrow the Senate" she answered him, her own words making her scream in her own mind:
It's not true! It's not true!
"The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated!" Palpatine announced, his voice rising, as more and more Senators started applauding.
Padme struggled to quell the urge to cry out in horror. She knew all too well what would follow: genocide. The entire Order would be hunted down and destroyed, at the Chancellor's orders. Obi-Wan, Yoda, Plo Koon, they would all die under the iron heel of the dictator.
Anakin!
Her slim fingers curl around the chair's armrests. It was not possible! Her husband could not be a target!
And still the truth stood in front of her eyes, in the form of a gnarled, cloaked man, whose malicious gaze seemed to hold the entire room in check.
"The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed" Palpatine continued, in his hollow voice, touching his cheek with a pair of bony fingers "but, I assure you that my resolve has never been stronger!"
The Senators applauded with even more enthusiasm, many of them calling out to Palpatine, expressing either their sympathy, or their hatred toward the Jedi.
Padme felt Bail's hand pat hers lightly. Turning her head, she saw the warm gleam in the man's dark eyes. He was there for her, offering her his support. Padme struggled to smile, as her attention returned to the central pod.
"In order to ensure the security and continuing stability, the Republic will be organized into the first Galactic Empire . . . "
Padme cringed, as Bail's fingers tightened painfully around hers. Ignoring the pain, she did the same, seeking her lifelong friend's strength and confidence.
". . . for a safer and securer society!"
This time, the majority of the gigantic rotunda's occupants rose to their feet, applauding, shouting, cheering and causing so much noise that they could almost deafen each other.
Padme slumped into her chair, her grip around Bail's hand weakening.
"So this is how liberty dies" the young woman whispered, her voice dripping with the inner pain that she felt. "To thunderous applause."
Bail could only nod, as he placed his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"How ironic" Padme said, on a hollow tone, her eyes meeting Bail's, as she strained to make herself heard over the din. "that the sun finally decides to set over the Republic on such a fine morning!"
Her words were true, as small rays could be seen in the central hallway, entering the building through the small windows. The sun was rising over Coruscant, but the metropolis was no longer the capital of freedom and justice that it had once been.
"The irony of life can sometimes be very baffling" Bail agreed, as he watched the jubilant Senators with an expression of contempt. "A lesson that they will soon learn as well."
Padme wanted to speak again, but no words came out. Her heart hammered in her chest, as she realized that she could not move at all from her chair! The uproar of the celebration slowly faded around her, as if she were gradually losing her hearing. Then her eyesight started to blur, as the entire room was gradually coated in a thick mist, making it impossible to distinguish anyone. She couldn't even see Bail, who was sitting right next to her!
Padme wanted to scream with all of her might, but her body refused to listen to her.
Will this nightmare ever be over? She asked herself, with increasing despair.
She felt two hot tears fall from her eyes and pouring down her cheeks. All her life, she had been strong and had never dishonored herself by crying in public. But now, she didn't care anymore. As she saw everything that she had ever cared for be shattered in front of her, her resolve had been permanently broken.
Is there a reason to fight? Is there a reason to die for an impossible dream?
She received no answer, which only served to increase the flow of bitter tears on her face. It was hopeless!
The sun had set and all that lay ahead of her was a road twisting in the impenetrable Darkness of Night.
"The Night is not as deep as one might think."
The young Senator would have flinched, if she could move. Who had spoken? In the now blissfully quiet chamber, she had distinctly heard a voice.
Her eyes started darting desperately around the room, to locate the source of the voice. All that she saw was a blurry veil, hiding everything behind it.
And then her eyes found it! There, on a pod, in the exact opposite side of the room from her, she saw a tall woman.
The lady's silhouette stood out from everyone else, for her lines were sharp and clear, seemingly not affected by the veil of mist. Padme watched her in awe, for she seemed to attract her gaze like a magnet. The woman seemed very young, no more than eighteen years, but her stance spoke of undying determination and the light that shone in her eyes showed her to possess wisdom beyond her age. She was tall and slim, dressed in a long, flowing white dress. The only ornaments that decorated the simple garment were a large, golden Phoenix, with its wings outstretched, embroidered on the dress' front and a golden sash running around the middle. The lady's dark brown hair was done in an elaborate style, braided and twisted in a bun at the top of her head, resembling a crown.
Padme's eyes landed on the young woman's waist and she had to do a double take to ensure that she had not been mistaken! Surely enough, attached to the golden sash was a long, elegant silver cylinder, which she instantly recognized. A lightsaber hilt!
The young lady was a Jedi!
Padme fought with her unresponsive body, struggling to call out to the other woman, to tell her that she was in mortal danger, in a room full of sentients that hated the Order with a passion.
But she could not move an inch and, as she watched on, she had a revelation: she was the only one that could see the young Jedi lady!
Taking deep, calming breaths, Padme studied the other even closer. Her gaze stopped on the young woman's face, noting her features: the smooth, marmoreal skin, the delicate nose, the full lips and the eyes. Padme's heart almost jumped out of her chest, as she saw the color of the other's eyes: they were a deep blue, like the heart of an ocean before the storm, or the sky on a summer night on Naboo.
Anakin's eyes. Her husband's eyes.
As she continued to recognize traits from both her and her spouse in the other, said lady raised her hands with an elegant gesture, toward the entire room.
"My fellow delegates" she spoke, in a deep voice, a little too deep for a woman "I am honored to stand before you on this day, as an equal and not a Learner. For the past ten years, it has been my dream to be a member of the Senate, to do my own part, however small or insignificant it may be, to make this Galaxy a better place!"
Padme listened to her, transfixed. She had never heard a voice such as this, deep, husky, but sweet and soft as well, like smoke and honey mixed together.
"We have endured many hardships, from wars to coups and revolutions. And yet, we have managed to survive and emerge out of the storm, stronger than before. Many have said that peace is an impossible goal, an unnatural state of the Universe, but I disagree. Fighting to maintain peace is what kept the world united through the past crisis and it will continue to be our binding factor in the future. Fighting for our common goal is what made us stand strong."
She talks like a veteran of the political arena at such a young age! Padme though, trying to piece together the bits of the puzzle laid out in front of her by the Force.
"My father has always told me that, to reach one's goal, one must be determined and focused. One must learn to use his inner strength to do battle with the obstacles that Destiny puts in his way. And the true prize is not the treasure at the end of the tunnel, but the fact that said individual knows himself better than before and can control his power to its full extent."
Straightening her posture, the woman swept her piercing gaze through the entire rotunda, as if to assure herself that everyone was listening.
"There have been numerous times when it seemed that pain and bloodshed would control the Galaxy forever. Times when the Light died and Darkness rose, threatening to cover everything."
It's as if she were talking about the present moment, Padme rationalized, looking at the lady's upright, military-like posture, similar to her husband's, at an official ceremony.
"But know this!" the young woman announced, her voice thundering through the chamber, echoing off the walls. "We must never give in to Despair, even in our darkest moments! We must never give up and resign ourselves to Fate's whims! For if we let go of the will to fight, then our battle will already be lost from the outset!"
Padme could almost see the immortal current of the Force swirling around the young politician, coating her in a swirling cyclone of power. She had seen the Force do this to only one other . . .
"Wake up, Senators!" she yelled, her blue eyes burning with an inner fire. "Wake up and look around you! The night does not last forever! When the dawn comes, the shadows retreat, making way for the brightness of Morning! Night is only relative! So is the Darkness that, on occasion, surrounds the world. It never lasts forever, for, at a predetermined time, Light shines once again! The Darkness runs away, as the Sun rises once more, bringing with it hope and a new beginning!"
Raising her arms even higher, in a gesture full of significance, she pointed to the rays of light that entered into the dark building.
"Darkness is always temporary! It will never reign supreme, as long as there will be those to oppose it! The Sun shall rise again!"
Letting her hands fall limply at her sides, the woman bowed her head. Padme though that she could hear the uproar of applause and approval, dim as an echo, sounding as if it came from somewhere very far. She was sure that the sound did not come from the Present.
The lady straightened herself once more, gazing around the room. And her eyes met Padme's, on the other side. Her lips parted in shock, as sje used a hand to steady herself on the side of her pod.
Padme was not faring much better. She felt her body shake and tremble uncontrollably, for no reason.
I can move again! She realized with elation, flexing the fingers of her right hand to make sure. Smiling, she looked at the other woman, whose blue eyes were aglow and full of unshed tears. Her delicate hand was gripping something tied around her neck. Padme imitated her motion, only to feel a small lump under the fabric of her gown.
The japor snippet.
The precious first gift that Anakin had given her.
And the other had it as well, that much was clear. Padme felt tears cover her eyes as well, as she extended her hand, as if wishing to reach out across the chamber and touch the other.
The young Senator's cheeks were glistening because of the flow of tears. She unsuccessfully tried to wipe her eyes with one hand, as she reached with the other toward Padme.
The two women stood still, their arms outstretched, gazing at each other through Time. A myriad of emotions, from joy, to sorrow, longing and many others that cannot be described in any language passed between them, through an invisible bond.
And then the miracle was over. Padme felt her senses return to her, as the noise and ruckus impacted on her ears once more and the veil of mist was raised from her eyes. Searching desperately with her eyes, she found the pod across from her. But it was empty, with no sign of a previous occupant.
"Padme?" Bail asked gently. "Padme, what is it?"
The Senator of Naboo pulled herself out of her ruminations, to look at her friend. Bail looked very worried, as he eyed her closely.
"What happened earlier? I was talking and you were staring and not moving at all."
"Something wonderful" Padme answered, feeling the fresh tears on her cheeks.
"Why are you crying?"
"Because I have realized what a fool I have been" Padme said, her hand instinctively moving to her belly, where her unborn child was kicking vigorously. "Because I was contemplating defeat in a time when we must fight for what we believe!"
Bail looked stumped, as he gazed at her, furrowing his brow.
"Darkness rises around the world" Padme said, stopping herself from grunting, after a particularly strong kick. "But it will not last forever, as long as we fight it. Hope will come back to us, Bail. The Sun shall rise again! All that we have to do is fight for it!"
Bail could only nod dumbly, shocked by the transformation that his friend had undergone through the last thirty seconds. Padme's features were hard, her face set in determination and a flame blazed in her dark brown eyes. He thought that he was deluding himself, but he could swear that he had almost seen a spark of blue shine in their depths, for a second.
"If you will excuse me" the Senator bowed graciously in front of the Viceroy and exited the pod with determined steps, leaving a befuddled Bail Organa staring after her, wondering what in Sith Hell had just happened.
Motee, on the other hand, watched everything in silence, noting the way that Padme held her hands on her rounded belly. The child was definitely going to arrive soon, she thought, with a twinge of worry.
x x x
Vague, hazy images floated around him, softly caressing his face and retreating just as he reached out to touch them. His lips parted and he groaned in annoyance, as one of the shades prodded him with one arm.
"Wake up, Anakin" a voice from afar called out to him.
"What . . . ?" Anakin asked drowsily, his muddled brain barely reacting.
"Come on Anakin, give me a sign! Don't die on me!"
The speaker seemed to be near panic now.
Anakin groaned once more, as he attempted to pull himself from the thick mist that surrounded him. He could hear several drowned out whispers, begging him to stay where he was, that fighting wouldn't accomplish anything. Truth be told, he felt good, almost as if he were inside of a warm, protective cocoon. He had no reason at all to struggle . . .
"Don't die, do you hear me?" the first voice roared, but now it was so faint that he could barely hear it. "What has that Sith Lord done to you?"
Sith Lord . . . That name sounded suspiciously familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had heard it last.
You're the Sith Lord that we have been searching for all these years!
That name brought a face in his memory, but in his dazed state, he couldn't figure out to whom it belonged.
Together, we can end this nightmare, Anakin!
Nightmare . . . he remembered pain, both physical and emotional . . . a heavy burden, hanging like a block of permacrete on his shoulders . . .
Where does the truth lie?
A choice he had made . . .
I will not become that which I am sworn to destroy!
Palpatine was smiling down at him, but the smile swiftly turned into a snarl, as the Chancellor's skin began to rot and putrefy on his face. His eyes burned yellow, fixing Anakin with a hungry gaze.
I need to get out of here, Anakin thought, as the warmness around him became freezing and the Light faded into Darkness.
He started to struggle, fighting with the blackness that surrounded, to quickly discover that he was wasting his strength. He was caught in a death trap.
"Hold on, Anakin!" the voice urged him. "This is not your time to go!"
Focusing on the thick matter swirling around him, Anakin started searching for a way out. The voice was right, he could not die! His mind was almost blank and he couldn't remember what had happened to him or how he had gotten to find himself where he was now.
One thing was certain, however: he could not give up.
Plunging deep into the all-encompassing flow of the Force, Anakin projected his feelings into one single desire: to live.
To survive.
And, surely enough, he saw the dark matter part before him, as if it was afraid of the intensity of his halo, forming a tunnel.
"Anakin, hear my voice. Come to it"
The young Knight heeded the voice's advice and started to ascend through the shaft, toward a speck of light that grew more intense as he approached it.
"Good. You're almost there . . . "
When he reached the end of the tunnel, the light was so intense that it almost blinded him. Gritting his teeth, he felt his body wracked by a new dose of pain. He writheled, but he felt multiple restraints keeping him immobilized.
"Stand still or you'll rip off the IV's!"
Anakin settled down, as he felt the pain slowly fade away. His eyes were closed tightly, blocking out the intense light.
"Where am I?" he whispered hoarsely, feeling an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose.
"The Jedi Temple. The medical center, to be more precise."
All of these words were alien to him. He knew that he had heard them somewhere, but when he tried to search his memories, he felt his head throb painfully.
"Open your eyes, I want to check them" the voice ordered.
Anakin obeyed, opening one eye at a time, slowly. A room came into focus around him. The walls were a pristine white, simple, without any type of decorations. The sun's light entered through two large glass doors that seemed to lead out, to a balcony.
Finally he saw the person that had spoken to him, but he could not determine if it was a he or a she. The being had beige colored skin, with a wet appearance, two bulbous, yellow eyes, on either side of its head and a rather round-shaped skull. A fine webbing united the fingers of its hands.
"Who are you?" he asked, puzzled.
The being chuckled lightly, as it checked the IV drips connected to his arms.
"You don't remember me, Anakin? I am Bant, one of the Temple's Healers" the sentient answered, on a soft voice. It definitely was a female.
"And what are you?"
The Healer's smile only seemed to grow wider at Anakin's impudent question.
"Your head must be pretty messed up if you don't recognize a Mon Calamari when you see one."
The young Jedi frowned, trying once more to sort through his jumbled memories, but all he got for his efforts was a sharp pain and a feeling of dizziness, as the room seemed to spin around him.
"Stop trying" the Mon Calamari advised him, kindly. "Among the effects of Force Lightning, one of the most noticeable is the temporary loss of short-term memory. You'll remember everything in due time. For now I want you to relax and forget your troubles."
"Was I close to death?" Anakin asked, noting the various electronic equipments and monitoring devices around him.
"Very close" Bant answered, in a whisper. "When Obi-Wan came here, with you unconscious in his arms, everyone thought that you were a goner. I stayed for twelve hours at your side, keeping you from falling into a coma."
Anakin shivered slightly, as a feeling of freezing cold washed over him. He could still see, blurry as it was, the image of a gnarled, old man, laughing feverishly, as devastating bolts of energy came out of his fingertips, searing everything around him. That image was enough to make him shiver again.
"Now you stay right in bed" Bant warned him, as she removed his oxygen mask. "I'll go and tell Obi-Wan that you have regained consciousness. The poor man has stayed up all night, pacing the corridors and asking me to report on your condition every five minutes!"
Anakin nodded, but as she exited the room, Bant spared him one more glance, that clearly said: "Don't you dare move from that bed, or your condition will get even worse!"
With the Healer gone, the med center fell deathly silent. Anakin shifted, moving to a more comfortable position, but try as he might, he could not heed the Mon Calamari's words and relax. He kept having the deep feeling that, somehow, he was missing something very important. Although the room was very warm, he felt as though his whole body was submerged in icy water.
He saw the sun's light shine in the room through a curtain draped over the glass doors, making the rays diffused and shaded. It was causing a mosaic of lights and shades on the white walls and they seemed to dance as the curtain's fabric swayed in the morning breeze.
Light and Darkness can exist together, in one single entity.
Someone . . . for whom he cared very much had told him that. Someone who had risked his life to help him make the right decision.
There are other ways to trick Destiny. Ways that do not pass under the shroud of the Darkside!
Darkside. That very name made him feel an ominous presence, like a black cloud on a clear sky, growing and expanding, until it covered everything. Another shiver passed through him, making him grip the edges of the bed with his hands. He could not sit still, try as he might!
Slowly, he stood up, fighting the drowsiness that seemed to overcome him. Gently, he pulled out the two IV drips from his wrists, trying not to imagine Bant's reaction. Swinging his legs on the left side of the bed, he gripped the wall with one hand, to steady himself. Breathing deeply, to quell his nausea, he rose, holding firmly onto the wall.
His first steps were shaky, as he tried not to lose his precarious balance and fall. Slowly but surely, his feet carried him to the opened glass doors. Pulling the curtain aside, he stepped in the balcony. The sun's light was so intense here, that he had to shield his eyes with one of his lands. Fumbling around blindly, he found the metal railing and used it to maintain his balance.
Anakin's eyes adjusted to the light, as he began to make out the elegant outlines of the Coruscanti skyscrapers. Very far ahead, coated in morning mists, he could barely see the white peaks of the Menarai Mountains, the small area on the planet's surface which was not covered with buildings. Their snow caps glittered under the morning sun's light.
The young Jedi's eyes wandered to his hands holding tightly onto the metal railing and he gasped in shock at what he saw.
He remembered having his right hand a prosthetic, as a result from the duel with Count Dooku, but now both of his arms were made of metal, instead of flesh!
His mind raced, processing this gruesome new information. Snippets of conversations and images flew in front of his eyes: an old man, dressed in ornate robes, fallen on the floor and begging for mercy, a dark-skinned man, his eyes burning with anger behind a purple blade, a man with deep eyes, like a misty blue sea, smiling kindly at him, offering his help.
The same man, slumped against a wall, hands pressed on his chest, to contain the heavy bleeding. His eyes were almost pleading, as he watched helplessly.
If you don't trust me, have faith in the Force!
He remembered the searing, unimaginable pain of a lightsaber severing off his left arm, from under the elbow joint.
The pair of malevolent, yellow eyes, boring into his Soul.
And the wise man once more, holding tightly onto him, as they fell through the chilly night air.
My brother.
Obi-Wan!
The events of the past night slammed into Anakin with such a force that he had to increase the strength of his grip on the railing to keep himself from falling over the balcony's edge. Palpatine's wicked games and manipulations, Obi-Wan's determination, Mace Windu's faith all came back to him in a flood of emotion.
"Anakin?"
He didn't move when he heard his Master's voice coming from inside the med center. The curtains parted with a swishing sound and Obi-Wan Kenobi stepped through.
"I should have known that you wouldn't stay in bed" he said on an amused tone. "I don't want to be in your shoes when Bant comes back thought!"
Noting his pupil's very tense stance, Obi-Wan approached him.
"What is the matter, Anakin?"
Anakin remained silent, as his thoughts ran wildly in his head and his hands steadily increased their pressure on the railing. The feeling of coldness seemed to abate somewhat under the sunrise's warmth, but he still felt himself shiver slightly.
"What happened after I passed out?" he finally asked, surprised at his own voice's gruffness.
"Well" Obi-Wan said, "we managed to land safely on the ground. By then you were already unconscious. I urgently commed the Temple and a Knight came and took us with a speeder. You had been severely wounded by Palpatine's attacks and had to be placed under Bant's care for the night. For a few hours, we thought that we might lose you."
Anakin looked at Obi-Wan quickly. The older Jedi appeared to be very tired. His skin was very pale and he had dark circles under his eyes. In addition, Anakin could see heavy bandages wrapped around the lightsaber burn on his chest, under the tunic.
"And what about you?" he once again surprised himself by the coldness of his tone. The shock of all that had happened made everything seem almost surreal, like a mid-day dream, from which he expected to himself to wake up to a more normal world.
A world in which the Chancellor was his friend and not a blood thirsty monster.
In which everything that he had known wasn't thrown in utter chaos.
"Me? I'm fine; you don't need to worry about me. Bant said that with proper treatment, the wound will heal nicely."
"You fool" Anakin whispered, the railing starting to buckle under his grip, with an ominous sound.
"What?" Obi-Wan asked, surprised.
"You are the Galaxy's biggest fool, Obi-Wan" Anakin continued. "Meddling in affairs that are none of your business!"
The expression on the Master's face showed shock and bafflement.
"Why am I a fool, Anakin? Because I wanted to help you? Because I didn't want to see you throw your life away?"
"Because you almost died for it!" Anakin roared, as he managed to pull the railing out of its permacrete foundation and toss it over the edge, sending it tumbling in the dark abyss below. "Because you just don't know when to give up!"
Obi-Wan could only stare, as Anakin lost his balance and fell to his knees on the floor.
"Why do you waste your time with me, Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked, his voice nearly cracking.
The older man knelt besides his former Padawan, pacing a comforting hand on his back.
"Because my life would be meaningless without you, my brother" he answered softly, trying to comfort his younger friend. "Because you are the son that I never had and I would gladly give my life, knowing that you will be safe."
Anakin kept his eyes fixed on the ground, struggling to hide the tears that flowed down his cheeks from Obi-Wan.
"You fool" he whispered once more, but this time, the deep affection that the two men shared for each other could be heard in his tone. "One of these days you will wish that you never said that!"
"Who's more foolish?" Obi-Wan smiled, "the fool or the fool who follows him?"
Putting his hand around Anakin's shoulders, he helped the Knight rise to his feet.
"Bant isn't going to like this" he said wryly, pointing to the destroyed balcony. "Knowing her, you probably won't be able to leave the med center for a whole month!"
Anakin allowed Obi-Wan to guide him back inside and help him climb back in bed. When he managed to settle down once more, he looked at his Master, who was most certainly busy thinking of an explanation that wouldn't send Bant off the deep end.
"Out of the two of us, I am the biggest fool" Anakin said, avoiding Obi-Wan's gaze. "How could I let myself be lied to for so many years? How could I have stayed blind to the truth for so long?"
"We all make mistakes" Obi-Wan spoke, taking a seat next to Anakin. "As I said before, we are Mortals, prone to error, not Gods or droids. It is impossible for many people, no matter how attentive they may be, to see past the lies of a master manipulator such as Palpatine. You need not blame yourself, Anakin, for he has managed to trick the entire Galaxy."
"What do you mean?" Anakin asked, a part of himself silently dreading the answer.
"Two hours ago" Obi-Wan spoke, slowly, as if what he was about to say had shaken him, "Palpatine has declared himself Emperor in front of the entire Senate and proclaimed the birth of the Galactic Empire."
Anakin swallowed hard, fighting his body's urge to throw up. The wonderful dream of a wise man leading the Galaxy, in peace and harmony was being torn to shreds in front of him.
"And that is not all of it" Obi-Wan continued. "In the same session of Congress, he outlawed the Jedi Order, accused its members of High Treason and condemned as all to death."
"That's not possible!" Anakin gaped, astonished. "He couldn't have done such a thing!"
"Anakin, you saw him last night, for what he truly is. Surely a being as vile as him would stop at nothing to secure its hold over the world!"
"I know" the young man said, slowly. "It's just that I didn't expect him to be like this . . . And what of the Senators? The population? Don't they support us?"
Obi-Wan sighed, slumping in his chair. The paleness of his skin and the signs of a hard night seemed to age him considerably, making him look a lot older than he really was.
"As I said before, Palpatine has them in his grasp. He has portrayed himself as a savior, a protector of the weak and innocent. As for the Jedi, we are spoken of as betrayers and power-hungry tyrants.
"So this was his plan all along" Anakin realized, to his horror. "One elaborate act to fool everyone, including myself, until he managed to ensnare the entire world in his grip."
"Exactly." Obi-Wan agreed. "But we must not lose hope! We may have lost this battle, but the war is far from over. As long as Palpatine is Emperor, no Jedi will give up the fight!"
"But what can we do?" the young Knight asked, looking deep into his teacher's eyes. "The Order has been weakened by the war and we stand no chance of survival if the entire Galaxy is united against us!"
"Here, you are wrong. Not everyone is against us. A small group of Senators has remained loyal to the ideals of the Republic and is firmly opposing Palpatine. It is their wish to form an autonomous, military and political organization, with the goal of restoring the Republic. And they seek the support of the Jedi to do so."
"So, our only chance of survival is with them?"
"It would seem so. Masters Yoda and Luminara Unduli have arrived from Kashyyyk a few hours ago and a Council session is held, to determine the Order's next course of action."
At this, Anakin looked at Obi-Wan quizzically.
"If the Council is in session, then why are you wasting your time with me?"
Obi-Wan smiled, at his friend's usual bluntness, which he had grown to miss for the past days.
"Because I wanted to see how you were recovering from your injuries and take you to attend the session. After all, you are a Council Member as well."
Anakin shook, his head, as he placed both of his arms under his head.
"My place is not on the Council, Obi-Wan. That is an honor reserved to Masters with far more experience than myself. Palpatine used my arrogance to almost turn me against the Order and I will never wish for that which I do not merit."
Obi-Wan was truly surprised by his friend's words. He looked more closely at Anakin, noting the serious set of his features and the sadness and new found wisdom that glowed in his eyes.
"Very well, if that is your wish" he said, patting Anakin on the shoulder as he rose from his seat. "I'll return in a few hours to check up on you."
Anakin nodded in agreement, as Obi-Wan left the room. Staring blankly at the high ceiling, the young Knight began a few breathing and meditation techniques to pass the time and clear his chaotic mind.
x x x
Palpatine stood at his desk, surveying the holographic image of a clone commander.
"C/704" he said, on his raspy voice "pass this command to all units across the Galaxy: time has come to fulfill Order 66."
"At once, Milord" the commander acknowledged, showing no sign of distress over the order's grim meaning.
The extermination of every single member of the treasonous Jedi Order is to begin immediately.
"As for the Jedi Temple" he went on, not hiding his sinister smirk, "I want it destroyed by sundown. Gather your best units and see to this task personally, Commander!"
"It shall be so, Milord" the clone agreed, bowing slightly, before the connection was closed.
Palpatine leaned in his chair, his twisted smile growing even wider. At last, all that he had fought to accomplish over many decades was coming true! Soon, all of the Jedi would be extinct and there would be no one left to oppose his just rule.
Sly Moore entered the room, making the Emperor quickly snap out of his thoughts.
"Milord" she said, on her usual, flat tone, "Senator Amidala is here and she requests a meeting with you. In private."
Palpatine frowned. What could Padme Amidala hope to accomplish by addressing him again. Although, he had to agree that the woman was persistent in her goals. She would have made a most suitable Empress, if she weren't so intoxicated with the run-down values of democracy.
"Send her in" he finally decided.
I wonder why she doesn't simply recognize the fact that she has lost the battle and keeps helping those secessionists with their Rebellion! Surely, a woman as intelligent as she must know when it is time to choose between one's life and one's values.
The large doors parted, to make room for Padme Amidala's stately form. The Senator walked with dignity and poise, her shoulders straight and her gaze firmly set on Palpatine.
"Senator Amidala" Palpatine greeted her with false cordiality. "To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from a distinguished lady such as yourself?"
Padme almost flinched when she heard the Emperor's raspy voice and saw his gnarled face up close, but she controlled herself.
"Do not play coy with me, Palpatine" she said coldly, dropping all pretenses. "I want you to abdicate from this position that you clearly do not deserve and give yourself to be judged by the Senate Courts for your crimes against democracy!"
At this, the monarch started laughing, his features twisting into a feral rictus.
"Do you honestly think that I will renounce all that I have achieved?" he asked, his eyes blazing a sickly yellow.
"Yes, I do" she answered, not breaking eyes contact. "You are a fool, Palpatine, to think that the entire Galaxy supports you! There still are those who will fight to you, who have not ceased to believe in the Republic!"
The Emperor could only look on, transfixed. His trained gaze saw an aura of will and determination flow around the young woman, as her brown eyes burned with unbridled intensity. Although she wasn't Force Sensitive, the life-energy was clearly giving her strength.
"As long as there will be those to oppose it, the Light shall never die! You believe yourself to be invincible, but you are only a foolish old man! Sometime, in the future, the Sun shall rise again and you will be cast into the Hell where you belong!"
Her anger was written clearly on her face, as she looked at the dictator with a withering stare.
Palpatine's rotten teeth showed himself, as his cracked lips twisted into a snarl, all traces of amusement vanishing from his face.
"It is you who are a fool, woman!" he growled. "And you will pay for your impudence. Seize her!"
Immediately, two Redguards who were flanking the doors entered and gripped Padme's arms, immobilizing her.
"Now you will se what happens to those who defy the ruler of the Galaxy" Palpatine sneered, as he watched the Senator struggle against the guards.
"Even if kill me, the Rebel Alliance will live on!" the young woman said fearlessly, hitting her captors hard.
"Oh, my dear" Palpatine demurred softly, caressing her cheek with a bony finger, making her pull back in revulsion, "who says that I want to kill you. For you are much more useful to me alive. Or rather, your unborn baby is!"
His fingers trailed down to Padme's belly, feeling the embryo inside and its distinctive Force signature.
"Indeed, the Chosen One's child will be very powerful" he smirked wickedly. "It will be a pleasure to train it in the Dark Arts."
You leave my child alone!" Padme screamed, managing to punch one of the guards in the face, making him fall backward. The other guard pulled out his electrostaff and jabbed in into Padme's back. The woman cried out in pain, before she slumped to the floor, unconscious.
Palpatine watched her crumpled form, before he turned to the guards.
"Take her to my citadel. Hide her and make sure that no one follows you. I have a few matters to finish here."
"As you command, Milord" the Redguards bowed. Gripping Padme by the arms, they hauled the unconscious woman out the doors and out of Palpatine's sight.
The Emperor watched them leave, as his mind added the new implications to his master plan. Still, a part of himself felt slightly disgruntled by what he had seen in the woman's eyes: for a second, before she had been stunned, as she was fighting to get free and telling him to leave her baby alone, he had seen, somewhere in the depths of her eyes, a very quick blaze of color. For just a moment, her eyes had shined dark blue.
x x x
Anakin's eyes snapped open, as an intense jolt of pain pulled him out of his meditation. It took only a moment for him to understand that the pain had not been his own. Calming his frantic heart, he extended his senses into the Force, searching for the source of the disturbance.
When he reached his destination, his breath caught in his throat. He had felt Padme's pain! Projecting his mind along the link that they shared, he sought out the familiar presence at the other end.
Only to be greeted with emptiness.
Oh, Force, no!
There were only two explanations for an empty link at one end of a Force bond: the sentient was unconscious.
Or dead.
Please no!
Frantic, Anakin scrambled out of bed. Still exhausted from the previous night's duel, he tangled his legs in the sheet, tripped and fell on the hard floor, grazing his cheek.
"What in the name of the Force happened here?" an angry voice cried out, nearly drowning the ringing that assailed his ears. "Anakin, what have you done?"
The Knight extracted himself from the mass of tangled sheets, only to come face to face with a very irritated Bant.
"Anakin, I want an explanation this instant! What possessed you to wreck the balcony?"
"I'm sorry Master Bant" he apologized quickly "I just remembered what happened last night and I was distraught."
"And that gives you an excuse to devastate the temple? Anakin, the Council is right, you need to learn to control your emotions better!"
"I apologize" he said, hoping to somehow appease the Healer. Frankly, he couldn't care less about what he had done. All he wanted to do was dash madly out of the med center and start looking for his wife.
Before it was too late.
He didn't even get to finish his train of thought, as another wave of pain assaulted him, this time much stronger.
Screaming in agony, he collapsed, hitting the marble floor hard. The room around him had started spinning once more and somewhere in the background, he could faintly hear Bant desperately call out his name.
But none of that had any importance now, when the agony wracked his mind, making him desperately want for it to end. He recognized the source of the pain: a very strong conscience was clashing against his shields, trying to get access to his mind.
A very dark presence, as he knew no other. Palpatine.
When the pain reached unbearable level and he felt as though he were being slowly pulled apart, he lowered his shields, allowing the dark conscience to enter his own.
I am glad that you know when to submit to my will, Anakin, Palpatine's voice resonated in his mind. I am far too strong to be bested by your weak Jedi powers.
What have you done with Padme? Anakin sent back, furiously. He was sure that only the Emperor would have the audacity to harm his wife.
You truly wound me, Anakin. I haven't done anything to her. She is here with me on her own free will, as my guest.
Liar! I don't believe you!
Come now, Anakin, do you really believe that I would lie to you?
Yes! For the past thirteen years it is the only thing that you ever did! I ask again: what have you done with Padme?
She is in my possession, if you wish to know. Do not worry, she is unharmed, but that may soon chance, depending on your cooperation.
You monster!
Mane calling won't get you anywhere, Anakin, Palpatine said, with a satisfied chuckle. If you wish to find your wife alive, you will have to look for her. That is all I will tell you.
Anakin felt the despair within himself rise another notch as Palpatine's presence began to retreat from his thoughts.
Palpatine, wait! Where are you? Where can I find her?
Use your instincts, boy. Isn't life ironic? The mighty Chosen One, revered by the Jedi, who bested Count Dooku and the Separatists on the battlefield can't even find his wife? How pathetic.
The Emperor pulled himself out of the young Jedi's mind, but not before he left an ominous warning:
Ten hours is your deadline.
Author's Note: Pleasedrop me a review and tell me what you think! It will give an idea if the direction in which I am taking the story is a good one.