Disclaimer: It's George's sandbox. I just play here, cause it's fun!
AN: Here's chapter 11! Enjoy and thanks for all the great reviews!
Never Gone
Chapter 11: Captive
The next morning, the sun shone brightly through the trees. Anakin and Padme dressed in their still slightly damp clothes and then set off through the wilderness. After they had been walking for about an hour, Anakin stopped suddenly, and pulled her behind a tree. They both watched, as three search droids walked by. They stopped and scanned the area, before moving on.
"This forest is crawling with them. We've got to find some help soon," Anakin said, as they continued on.
Soon after the storm had cleared, Obi-Wan flew the ship to a new clearing to keep from being discovered. Then, he began his search in earnest with the morning sunlight to help guide him. Obi-Wan bent down to take a look at the tracks in the dirt. Both sets were definitely human and were side by side. One set was small and the other larger, like a man and a woman. Obi-Wan was convinced that it had to be Anakin and Padme. He quickly stood up and began following the footprints. Suddenly, he heard the whine of a blaster behind him. He expected a droid, but was surprised to hear a female voice.
"Don't move, federation scum!" she spat.
"Federation? She thinks I'm with the trade federation?" Obi-Wan thought to himself, as he slowly turned around. He was met with the sight of a beautiful woman with tattered clothes. She had long sandy brown hair that fell around her in ringlets. She had a slender, toned frame and looked as though she had been living in the jungle for some time.
"I assure you that I'm not with the federation maim. I'm a Jedi and I'm searching for my friends who crash landed her. I must find them before the Trade Federation does," Obi-Wan said. She spotted his light saber and lowered her blaster.
"What would the trade federation want with your friends?" she asked suspiciously.
"One of them happens to be the Senator from Naboo and they want her dead. Her fiance is with her, so I know that she is safe. But I must find them before Viceroy Gunray does," Obi-Wan said.
"Did you say the Senator from Naboo! As in Padme Amidala of Naboo?" the woman asked curiously.
"Yes, do you know her?" Obi-Wan asked.
"She's my cousin. I was on my way back from Chandrilla after a meeting with Senator Mon Mothma a year ago, when my ship crashed here. I suppose the Naboo government assumed I didn't survive the crash. So, I've been trying to survive here, hoping that someone would find me someday. Then that blasted Trade Federation showed up and started producing their droids here. It seems that Gunray is still holding a grudge against Padme," the woman said.
"Forgive me, but you haven't introduced yourself," Obi-Wan said. The woman smiled.
"Neither have you Jedi," she replied.
"I'm Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi," he told her.
"It's nice to meet you Obi-Wan. I'm Lea Naberrie," she replied, as they continued walking. Suddenly, they heard a woman scream. It was faint, but they were both sure it was Padme.
"That sounded like Padme!" Lea said, as she and Obi-Wan began running...
Anakin and Padme stopped and sucked air into their starved lungs.
"I think we lost those damn droids," Anakin said. A branch snapped under Padme's foot. She screamed, as the an animal trap sprang up, clamping her ankle in it.
"Padme!" he yelled, as he tried to pry the metal jaws from her ankle.
"Oh Ani, it hurts!" she cried. Anakin gritted his teeth, as he pulled the metal apart.
"I know angel, I know, but I need you to pull your foot out, as soon as I have this open," Anakin said. He pulled with all his might and opened the trap enough for Padme to pull her foot out. Anakin tossed the trap away and then cradled a crying Padme in his arms. He carried her and sat her against a tree, while he inspected her wound. It was bleeding bad and he would have to get her some bacta soon, or it would get infected.
"It'll be all right angel," Anakin said, as he took his shirt off and tore it into strips. He wrapped them tightly around her wound and secured them there with a knot.
"Anakin!" Obi-Wan called, as he finally found them.
"Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked in disbelief.
"Thank goodness your both safe," Obi-Wan said.
"We are, but Padme needs bacta. She caught her foot in an animal trap. How did you find us?" Anakin asked.
"Fortunately, I was able to attach a tracking device to the hull of Jango's ship. I've been searching for you both for a day," Obi-Wan replied. Padme's eyes were fixated on the woman standing next to Obi-Wan in disbelief.
"Lea? This is impossible," Padme said.
"You know her angel?" Anakin asked.
"She's my cousin Ani, but they told me her ship crashed a year ago and that she was dead," Padme replied.
"I survived the crash and I've been stuck in this jungle ever since. It seems that you caught your foot in one of those filthy Neimodians traps. They've been setting them to catch food. Instead of shooting the animals and giving them a humane death, those blasted Neimodians use these to capture them. They usually leave the poor things to suffer for hours before they finally come and kill them," Lea said in disgust.
"Your ship is not far from here Padme. Let's go and get that ankle taken care of," Obi-Wan said. Padme nodded, as Anakin lifted her into his arms.
"Aren't you going to introduce me Padme?" Lea asked.
"Sorry Lea, this is my fiancé Anakin Skywalker. Anakin, this is my cousin, Lea Naberrie," Padme introduced them.
"Little Ani Skywalker? The boy that destroyed the federation control ship?" Lea asked in disbelief. Anakin blushed.
"Yes Lea, that's him," Padme replied.
"Well, you certainly have grown Anakin," she replied. They reached Padme's ship and Anakin set her down on the bench. He began unwrapping her wound, but Lea stopped him.
"I can take care of her Anakin, it'll give us a chance to catch up," Lea said, noticing that Obi-Wan had went into the cockpit to try and contact the Jedi.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Positive," she replied. Anakin leaned in and gave her a tender kiss.
"I'm going to go clean up then," he replied, as he left for the cabin area to use the fresher. As soon as he left, Lea turned to Padme.
"Wow!" she said. Padme blushed.
"He is handsome, isn't he?" she asked shyly.
"Oh he is, but I think the term sex on legs would better describe him," Lea replied. Padme's mouth dropped open.
"LEA!" Padme scolded.
"You don't agree?" Lea asked. Padme looked down, blushing madly.
"Oh, so you do agree," Lea replied mischievously. Padme grinned and nodded her head.
"Definitely, but hands off, because he's mine," she giggled.
"Don't worry, I'll only look. Besides, he's a little young for me. What is he, eighteen?" Lea asked. Padme blushed.
"Nineteen, almost twenty," Padme replied.
"Mmm...he certainly is something. But that Jedi is more my type," Lea said.
"Well, unfortunately, Jedi aren't allowed to form attachments," Padme replied.
"Yes, such a waste. I haven't seen a man in over a year, but I must say these two are the finest specimens I think I've ever seen," Lea said. Padme hugged her. Lea hadn't changed a bit.
"I've missed you so much. I'm so glad you're all right. We were all devastated when we heard about the crash," Padme replied.
"I've missed you too Padme. I thought I would never see you or anyone else again," Lea replied.
An hour later, both Lea and Padme had cleaned up. Luckily, the Naberrie women were usually all about the same size so Lea fit into Padme's clothes without a problem. The bacta had helped Padme's ankle immensely and she wasn't having too much difficulty walking on it. Padme had donned a white jumpsuit with silver arm cuffs, signifying her high office. Lea dressed in a similar outfit, only hers was dark green.
"As soon as the sun sets, it should be safe for you to take off without them noticing anyone leaving the atmosphere. I'll stay here and wait for the other Jedi," Obi-Wan announced.
"By yourself? I'm not sure I like that idea," Anakin replied.
"Me either," Padme told him.
"I will be fine. You must get off this planet Senator," Obi-Wan replied. Suddenly, Artoo began clicking and beeping wildly, while stomping his droid feet on the floor.
"What's he so upset about?" Lea asked, as Anakin pulled the translator from his belt.
"He says that we're being surrounded," Anakin said. Suddenly, they heard a regal voice speak.
"Senator Amidala, you are surrounded. It would be wise for you and your accomplices to come out now," Count Dooku spoke.
"If you do not come out, then I will be forced to kill your friends. Come out quietly and we can avoid that," Dooku said. Padme stepped bravely to the door, but Anakin stopped her.
"I won't let you go out there," he told her.
"Ani, I couldn't bare it if anything happened to any of you because of me," she said.
"I'm going out there with you. I will not let those monsters kill you! They'll have to kill me first," Anakin said, as he clutched her hands in his own.
"I love you Anakin," Padme said, tears shining in her eyes.
"I love you too Padme," he said, as he leaned down and kissed her passionately. With their hands linked, Anakin and Padme exited the ship, followed by Obi-Wan and Lea.
Nute Gunray sneered evilly, as he set his sights on Amidala.
"At last, you are in my possession Senator. I will enjoy watching your execution," Gunray said, as he traced his grubby finger along her jaw line, making Padme shrug away in disgust.
"Don't touch her," Gunray heard the young man next to her growl.
"Ah...you must be the boy responsible for killing Jango. He was our best assassin and you will pay dearly for that. You will die alongside your beloved Senator," Gunray said.
"Take them away!" the viceroy spat. The four were shackled and led into a transport to be taken back to the trade federation compound...