chapter six Precautionary Measures
You guys are in for a treat! For all those who have been reading, we are caught up in the mysterious dream Anakin had about Siv. He told this dream to Obi-Wan, recounted the details. What will happen, on this day, as we find out more on Anakin Skywalker and his padawan, Siv Miraluka?
Anakin bounded off to the Medic Lab to see his angel. He spoke with a droid at the door that he was here to see the Senator. The droid guard let him in and he walked to her bed. She was sitting upright, munching happily on a piece of tropical fruit, her favorite.
"Having a good breakfast, Angel?" Anakin laughed. She wiped her lips with a napkin and stood up to hug him. They embraced and he helped her back into the chair.
"Yes, I am, actually. They kept me overnight to keep watch," she said, looking up at him. "You know; for precautionary measures."
"Yea, I know," he said, grimly.
"Anakin," she began. "Do you know what happened last night?"
"No, I don't. I do know there was a fire and you were in it. I went in after you, but the clone guard, Leuitant Buushan, said you were safe."
He looked deeply into her eyes. "I'm not quite sure what I'd do if I lost you."
She smiled sadly and said, "I do. You would continue to be the great and powerful Jedi that you are."
They both were silent for a moment. Anakin broke the silence with a kiss and handed her glass of water to her. "This isn't what I had in mind when I asked you out for breakfast," he said, chuckling.
They both laughed at that. After the laughter subsided, Padmé began with what she had really wanted to say. "Anakin, I need to tell you something about last night." She placed the glass on the side table and looked him straight in th eye.
"When I was getting ready for bed, a guard came in and told me that Master Skywalker's padawan was there to see me."
Anakin's gaze narrowed and he leaned back, resting his leg on his knee.
"When Siv came in without you, I assumed she was bearing a message. Unfortunately, that was message was something I didn't want to hear. She began to tell me how sorry she had acted toward me the last time I came in from Naboo. She apologized and wanted to make amends and start anew. She offered a toast."
Anakin leaned forward, a lump forming in his throat.
"Anakin, she poisoned me. She meant to kill me!" Padmé said, standing up quickly, dropping the white sheet from her lap, spilling it onto the floor.
"She placed a poison in my drink and somehow started a fire in that suite! I have already lost Sabé! I didn't want to have to lose anymore friends!" she said, her voice becoming shrill and louder by the second. "I managed to get out and that's when the first explosion went off. I looked for her, but she had already dissappeared before I could talk to her."
Anakin stood up and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned into his chest, heaving a bit.
I don't want to lose you, Ani.
Anakin had read her thoughts and thought back to her, knowing she could hear him.
You won't.
Anakin kissed Padmé on her forehead. He then told her he would be back soon enough; he had to go and explain his actions to the Council.
"I should come with you. We are in this together, now," she said.
Anakin looked at her for a moment, but remembering the dream, he told her he didn't think it was best.
"Why not?" she asked, a little annoyed.
"Because, Angel," he swallowed. "I had a dream through the Force that Siv would try to harm you. And she would kill Obi-Wan."
Padmé's hand flew to her mouth and she gasped. "Siv is going to kill Obi-Wan?"
Anakin nodded his head, hardly believing what he was hearing either.
"I am afraid she would do that. I am also fearful for your well-being, too," he said, a lump forming in his throat. He remembered eveything they had accomplished throughout the the years. Even their love. Today was the cultimation of nearly ten years in the making. After hiding, covering and dousing the flames, their love had yet grown stronger. He remembered that day when he was just an ambitious, young padawan learner. That night when he professed his love for her.
Anakin and Padmé retired to the sitting room. The fires blazed quietly, much like their own within them. They looked at each other nervously before Anakin began.
"From the moment I met you, all those years ago, not a day has gone by when I haven't thought of you," Anakin said, staring intently at her, watching for any sign in her eyes.
He looked down and sighed. "And now that I'm with you again, I'm in agony."
"The closer I get to you, the worse it gets."
Padmé shifted uneasily toward the edge of the sofa, glancing around the room; anything to avert her eyes from his.
"The though of not being with you, I can't breathe. I am haunted by the kiss you should have never given me. My heart is beating," he said. "Hoping that that kiss will not become a scar."
Again, Padmé shifted farther from him. Her own senses ablaze with what her heart was telling her, too.
"You are in my very soul, tormenting me. What can I do?" he said. He faced the floor. "I will do anything that you ask."
He looked back up to her, seeing if there was any sign or message telling him how she felt.
Padmé was taken aback. She felt these feelings, too but could not run the risk of both their positions and duties that they must carry.
Anakin huffed, angrily." If you are suffering as much as I am, please, tell me."
"I can't," she said, simply.
"We can't. It's... just not possible." she said, again.
"Anything is possible, Padmé. Listen to me," he said.
"No, you listen," she said, frustrated. She got up from the sofa and stood in front of the hearth. "We live in a real world. Come back to it. You're studying to become a Jedi. I'm... I'm a senator."
Anakin looked dismayed and lowered his head.
"If you follow your thoughts through to conclusion, it'll take us to a place we cannot go, regardless of the way we feel about each other."
"Then you do feel something," he retorted, his heart skipping a beat.
"I will not let you give up your future for me," Padmé replied, holding her ground.
"You are asking me to be rational," he said, getting up from the sofa to come closer to her. "That is something I know I cannot do. Believe me, I wish I could just wish away my feelings, but I can't."
"I will not give in to this."
Anakin backed away from her, averting his eyes around the room and taking a few steps away, thinking.
"Well, you know, it wouldn't have to be that way. We could keep it a secret," he spoke, hushing his last word, as if the walls could hear.
"We'd be living a lie," Padmé announced. "One we couldn't keep even if we wanted to. I couldn't do that. Could you, Anakin? Could you live like that?"
Anakin, shamefaced, lowered his gaze again. "No. You're right. It would destroy us."
They both agreed to abide by that law. The infernal Code of the Jedi. Obi-Wan Kenobi called him back two days later, telling him that he could leave on the next transport home. He had captured a bounty hunter named Jango Fett at Kamino and was bringing him in for questioning to the Council. Anakin left withoutsomuch as a word to his angel and that was the last he saw of her for five years.
Those years went by, with the Clone Wars unceasing. More and more Jedi were being sent to the outlying systems, and the order was being stretched thin. Anakin would travel to many systems and see many things with his master. He would be granted Master and raised to the rank of Council Member. His love for the senator, though hidden, grew. It was after five years that he saw her again. She was the still serving as senator. And still very much pining for him, too.
Now, they both had decided that ten years was enough. Playful bantering wasn't getting it. He loved her and she loved him. They both felt they were meant to be together. Anakin was going to tell the Council he was retiring and then he would wed her and start a family. Something he had wanted to do for a long time.
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Obi-Wan was growing tense waiting for his former padawan. Anakin, we're going to be late, he thought, sending his telepathic message to him.
Don't worry, Master. I'm almost there, came the telepathic reply. Anakin appeared near a column and jogged toward his master.
"Sorry, Master, but I was caught up in some personal matters."
Obi-Wan chuckled. "You must save your 'personal matters' for later. You know how the Council can be when called to a meeting and the one whom called it doesn't show up or is late."
Anakin laughed. "Yes! I remember the time Master Halcyon asked to meet with the Council and was caught in a bad hail storm on the way back from Malastare. He kept the Council waiting for an hour and one even left!"
The two went to step through the door when the sound of boots came click-clack around the east column and a brown-haired girl appeared less than fifty meters from them. "Masters! Wait for me!" she shouted, running toward them with all her might. Obi-Wan gave a warning glance to Anakin and headed inside. Anakin stood to wait on his padawan.
"Why are you going to Council so early, Master?" she asked, flashing her signature grin. When he didn't smile back, she slowly dropped the smile from her face.
"Siv, there are going to be some serious changes between you and I," he began. "Some serious accusations have been brought to mine and Master Obi-Wan's attention.
Uh-oh! Does he know? Siv thought.
"Know what?" Anakin asked, reading her thoughts, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Oh, just about a prank I heard was pulled on Master Ti last week," she lied.
Anakin shook his head and told her that she had to accompany him anyway to the meeting. He was going to come back for her, but since she was already here, she would stay with him throughout the meeting. Siv nodded and walked with him into the Council room. She hadn't been in it before, besides when Anakin took her on as his apprentice. Anakin had taught her to bow to the Masters as she walked in and stood behind her own as the rest of the Council seated.
Yoda was the first to take notice to Siv's presence. "A visitor we have. His padawan, Master Skywalker, has brought with him today."
Anakin nodded. "Yes, Master. It is of upmost importance that she hear this also."
"What is it you have convened this special meeting for?" inquired Mace Windu, whom sat to the right of Yoda.
Anakin stood up and walked to the center of the room. He instructed Siv to follow suit and stand in front of him, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I come to you today with the burden of a request."
"Go on," said Ki-Adi-Mundi, whom sat adjacent from Yoda.
Anakin swallowed nervously. "I have been contemplating this for some time now, and, because of personal reasons, I wish to invoke the Miraluka Admendment on my part."
Looks of perplexion filled the room. At last, Mace answered. "It is a hard and irreversible decision, Anakin. You have been the youngest council member and one of the youngest Master." He eyed him curiously. "Why is it you wish to invoke this right?"
Anakin smiled, but kept his composure. "A very special woman, Masters. Senator Amidala, to be exact."
The members looked and talked amongst themselves before Obi-Wan stood up and addressed them. "Masters, it is true what he says. I believe that this isn't a foolhardy decision, as you can see from his progress of many years since his knighthood."
Siv's eyes grew large. She hadn't killed her! She didn't die! And, to be it all, her master was leaving the Order to be with her!
She spun around, staring at her master, looking at him as if he was a traitor. "You can't do this to me!" she yelled, without thinking.
Anakin looked down at Siv's stormy eyes. She was furious, he could tell. He felt through the Force, but found only darkness; a veil surrounding her.
"Siv, I know everything. She told me. I can't believe you would do such a thing! This is going to be the best for all of us, I believe."
"Master Obi-Wan Kenobi will be your new Master upon my departure."
Siv shook her head violently. She clasped her hands tightly about her head. This wasn't happening! It couldn't be happening! She reached for her lightsaber, when Obi-Wan jumped from his seat and ignited his own blue blade. "No, Siv. You will not do this!" he shouted.
Siv jumped back and ignited her own. With a flick of her wrist, she powered up her blade on full and growled at both her traitors.
"You!" she yelled, pointing her green saber at Obi-Wan. "You were the one to tell him these things! To fill his head with these ideas!"
The other masters ignited their own sabers, but Anakin told them it was between him and Siv only. "Siv," he calmly and quietly spoke. "I know you feel hurt, but you musn't let your emotions control your actions."
Siv turned to him. "But, Master," she said, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "What exactly are you doing then? Following the Order?" She exchanged glances between the two Jedi. Letting that be their chance, Obi-Wan ran toward her and tried to grab the saber from her hand. She wriggled away long enough to make a neat slice of his arm, watching the limb fall to the ground and Obi-Wan stumbled backward, grasping at his arm socket.
Anakin stared at Siv. He watched her slice his mentor's arm off and then watched as she came toward him, her blade waving high above her head. the same technique he used so often. He could see her eyes. No longer the bright brown they were, but of red and yellow. The colors of a Sith's eyes. She had been playing with the Dark Side!
Anakin Force-pushed her against the wall, allowing Master Windu to hold her and place magnetizing cuffs about her wrists. He grabbed her lightsaber and Master Yoda called on his commlink for the Detention Center. Anakin rushed over to Obi-Wan, helping his friend down into the chair. His Life Force was weakening from the lost limb and loss of blood.
"It's not.. as bad... as it looks... Anakin," he said, trying to smile, but failing miserably.
Anakin smirked, but quickly tore the hem of his robe and wrapped it about his friend's shoulder, making a tourniquet. Mace walked over with his lightsaber in one hand and one in the other. "I think you should have this, Anakin. It's hers."
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Siv's scowl filled the room as she was brought to the Detention Center.
"Name, please," said the clone guard.
"Her name is Siv Miraluka."
The guard looked incredulously at the Jedi behind the girl. "THE Siv Miraluka? Master Skywalker's padawan?" he asked, clearly disbelieving.
"Yes, I am!" Siv yelled. "Now shut up! Both of you!"
The guard and Jedi exchanged glances and both huffed. "I will process her. Place her in the single containment cell at the end of the row. From there, we will wait for orders on what to do with her." The Jedi nodded and he handed Siv to a clone guard to take her to her cell. She took her chance and was off like a rocket booster. She thought she was gaining speed, heading for the door, when she head a smack against her legs and felt her lower half go numb. She fell to the floor and squirmed about, trying to claw her way to the door.
"That will keep her from running away for awhile," said the clone guard, dropping his weapon that he had set from kill to stun.
Siv closed her eyes and screamed inside. She had lost the one she loved, lost her future as a Jedi and was now sentenced to the hellhole they called the Detention Center. She didn't know how much worse things could get. Where is my lord when I need him? He promised me he would free me should I get into trouble for killing Obi-Wan Kenobi.
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Anakin went with Obi-Wan to the Medic Lab. It would give him yet another reason to visit Padmé.
Padmé, he thought. If I hadn't told her I loved her, then maybe none of this would have happened. Siv wouldn't be evil. Siv would be the bright and eager learner I always knew.
Obi-Wan interrupted Anakin's thoughts with one of his own. Don't blame yourself. It was Siv's choice to make. You did the best anyone could do. He hoped that had reassured his old padawan.
"Master, I'm not so sure."
Obi-Wan talked to one of the droids and they then set up to sterilize. He took a seat, near the table which contained numerous utensils for repairing skin and small vials of bacta for cleaning wounds. Waiting until he got settled, Anakin then asked to be let in to see the senator.
"She has already left, sir. Two people escorted her to her suite. They were her handmaiden and bodyguard, I presume," said the protocol droid.
"Thank you," he said. Anakin walked back to where Obi-Wan was to find that he was almost finished mending. "I see you and I am becoming more alike," he said, watching the droid test each finger of the mechanical arm that was replacing Obi-wan's lost limb.
Obi-Wan nodded slowly, and watched the droid then place a synthetic hand over the mechanical one, making it appear life-like. "How's Padmé?" he asked.
"She's fine. She's been taken to her an apartment near the Senate." Anakin studied the utensils on the table before talking again. He felt like he had been on a wild bantha ride these two days. Any sense of normalcy would do him good.
"What is going to happen to my padawan? How could she have done this... this... travesty?" he asked himself, more than his mentor.
"The call of the Dark Side is strong, Anakin. You, of all people, should know that," Obi-Wan said, looking at him, then turning back to his new arm.
"Though it doesn't excuse her behavior, it wasn't completely her fault. She was too young to fully understand the Dark Side's lies and contempt."
"How do you think she learned of this?" Anakin asked.
"I don't know. I'll need to meditate on this before answering any of our questions," Obi-Wan said, holding his forearm and testing his fingers mobility in the air in front of him, then making a clenched fist.
"I will ask Master Yoda about these things. Surely he would know what to do," said Anakin.