Disclaimer: I don't own SW. It all belongs to George.
AN: Here's chapter 17! Enjoy and let me know what you think!
Never Gone
Chapter 17: A New Bounty
Padme steeled herself against the angry stares from the loyalists in the large meeting room.
"Senator, I realize that you do not wish to support this war. But calling for me to release emergency powers at a time when the war has escalated hardly makes sense," Chancellor Palpatine said.
"I believe this war can still be solved diplomatically. I cannot see where taking power away from the Senate and liberties away from the people will help us win the war," Padme replied adamantly.
"Forgive me Senator Amidala, but I don't believe you have the experience necessary to make such a decision," Senator Turles glared at her.
"I'm afraid that I just cannot justify giving up my Emergency powers at this time Senator," Palpatine said.
"Chancellor, as representative of the delegation of 2000, I implore you to explore diplomatic solutions to the war," Padme insisted.
"And I am doing so Senator. But there is little room for diplomacy in a war zone my dear. Now, if you'll excuse me," Palpatine said, as he rose and exited the room. Padme rose and looped her arm in Anakin's, as they left.
"He didn't even listen to me. He had already decided to ignore my petition even before the meeting!" Padme ranted angrily, as they walked through the large Senate building. After fighting their way through the Holonet reporters, they were shuttled home in their speeder by Captain Typho.
Padme entered her apartment and went straight to her bedroom.
"I take it things didn't go well," Sola said.
"Not well at all," Anakin replied. Sola smiled.
"Well, I'll go talk to her. I might have something that could cheer her up," Sola said, as she took a data pad with her and went to see her little sister.
"Hey mom, can you help me with something?" Anakin asked.
"Of course darling, what is it?" Shmi asked.
"Well, I want to do something to make Padme feel better. They really treated her terribly mom. I was thinking maybe of having a romantic dinner on the veranda, but..." Anakin trailed off.
"Say no more sweetheart, Jobal and I will take care of everything," Shmi said. Jobal smiled and the two women went to work.
Padme heard a knock at her door. She had already changed out of her senatorial gown and into a flattering lavender dress that was light, airy and much more comfortable.
"Come in," Padme called.
"Hey little sister," Sola said. Padme smiled lightly.
"Hi Sola," she replied.
"I thought you could use something to cheer you up, so I brought the catalog from that bridal shop in Theed. I thought you might want to look at some dresses," Sola replied.
"That sounds wonderful. Anything to get my mind off the Senate," Padme replied. Padme sat down on the sofa with Sola and they began scrolling through the dresses.
"Some of these are so beautiful," Padme said.
"What exactly are you looking for?" Sola asked
"I'll know the perfect one when I see it," Padme replied. Padme flipped through the dresses and suddenly came onto the perfect one.
"This one. I want this one," Padme said.
"I'll contact the shop and tell them to hold that dress, because Senator Amidala will be coming to try it on in a few months," Sola said.
"Thanks Sola," Padme replied. Thinking about her wedding to Anakin had made her feel a lot better. She smiled and sat back with another data pad, going through more wedding details.
Tatooine
Well know bounty hunter, Aurra Sing entered the cantina she usually frequented and went up the bar.
"The usual," the bald human female said. The bartender nodded and poured her a shot of Corellian whiskey. She sat down and gulped the strong drink down.
"Here, this was sent here for you," the bartender said, as he handed her the datachip.
"You can use the holo recorder in the back room," the bartender said.
"Thanks, put the drink on my tab," she replied, as she went into the back room. She slipped the data chip in the recorder and switched it on. A hologram of a Neimodian came into view.
"Greetings Aurra Sing. I am Viceroy Nute Gunray of the Trade Federation. I have an interesting business proposition for you. With that, the image of a beautiful woman came into view, while Gunray's voice continued.
"This is Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo. She has been a thorn in my side for over ten years and I want her eliminated! The bounty for her death is one million credits. However, if you manage to capture her alive, I will pay you double if you turn her over to me, as I would very much like to witness her suffer before she is killed. Take care though, she is heavily guarded by her security, including a Jedi Knight,"
Aurra watched curiously, as the image of Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi came into view, which was followed by another image of a young, handsome man with shaggy blonde hair.
"This is Anakin Skywalker, the senator's soon to be husband. He is not to be underestimated, for he is responsible for the death of Jango Fett. If you're up for the challenge, contact me immediately for more details," Gunray said, as the transmission ended. Aurra Sing smirked greedily.
One million credits to kill a Senator...two million to capture her alive. She smirked again and pressed the reply button...
When Padme finally came out later in the evening, she found the living area dark and only lit with the light of many candles. She looked around at the vacant apartment.
"Anakin?" she called.
"Out here," she heard him call. She followed his voice out onto the veranda, which was also lit by soft candlelight.
"Ani, did you do this?" she asked in amazement, as she looked at the waiting dinner table.
"Well, our mom's helped me quite a bit," he replied shyly. She closed the distance between them and kissed him softly.
"Where is everyone?" she asked, as he pulled her chair out for her.
"Well, your mom mentioned going to see the holo opera. My mom has never seen one and got really excited, so Captain Typho escorted our mothers and your sister to tonight's showing," Anakin replied, as he scooted her in and then reached for the bottle of red wine. He poured it into their glasses and then sat down across from her.
"So we're all alone?" she asked.
"Yep, Obi-Wan and Lea are making themselves scarce, so it's just you and me angel," he replied. She smiled and clinked her glass to his, as they sipped together. Anakin dished up the food and they began to eat, talking and enjoying the company of each other.
Lea sat at her vanity table and brushed out her long hair. Obi-Wan came behind her and began massaging her shoulders.
"Oooh...that feels amazing Obi-Wan," Lea said.
"Well, then perhaps I can give you the full back massage," Obi-Wan replied.
"Now, that sounds like heaven," Lea replied, as she laid down on the bed on her stomach. Obi-Wan climbed on the bed and over legs, before reaching around to undo the cord on her robe. He lowered it to her waist, leaving her back exposed to him. He began by needing his hands in a circular motion at the small of her back.
"Oooh, wow...your hands are amazing, my love," Lea moaned. Obi-Wan smirked and began working his hands higher. He continued his sensual massage until every knot in her back was gone...
They started out sitting across from each other, as they ate dinner. Then, when it came time for dessert, Padme had scooted her chair next to his. That idea was soon abandoned though, as she soon found herself sitting in Anakin's lap.
Padme giggled, as she fed the shurra fruit topped with whipped cream. She purposely smeared it all over his lips.
"You plan on cleaning that off milady?" he asked. She giggled.
"Of course Ani, that's all part of my fun," she replied, as she sensually moved her lips over his, while licking the cream off his lips. Padme broke the kiss and took a remote of some kind in her hand. She pressed a button and a soft, romantic tune filled the air around them. She stood up and took his hands.
"Will you dance with me Ani?" she asked. He smiled.
"Of course angel," he replied, as he stood up and swept her into his arms. She linked her arms around his neck, while his rested around her waist. Slowly, they swayed together, losing themselves in the depths of each other's eyes. Anakin smiled and twirled her around and then brought her back, so that her back was resting against him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck, while they continued to sway to the music. He twirled her again and swept her back into his arms, resting his hands firmly on her beautiful hips. Padme reached up and caressed his face with her hands and ran her fingers through his shaggy curls. Anakin tilted his head and brought his lips to hers in a soft kiss. Padme parted her lips, allowing his tongue inside her mouth, deepening the kiss. Anakin's velvety tongue slid along her own, tasting her. She felt her knees go weak, as he plundered her mouth and she felt a taste of his unbridled passion for her that he was carefully restraining. He released her kiss swollen lips and his own traveled down her neck. She felt a warmth begin to spread through her core, as his hands began to roam over her body.
"Ani," she breathed, as he grasped her hips possessively. She hooked her arms around his neck, as he lifted her into his arms and carried her to their bedroom...
Much later...
Padme rested herself atop his chest, sated, with a satisfied smile on her face. She playfully traced the lines on his bare chest and he smiled, before kissing her forehead. The next few hours were spent lying in each others arms, just talking with occasional tender kisses and soft caresses. After those hours passed by, passion took them once again, before they finally fell asleep entwined so thoroughly with each other that it would have been impossible to tell where one began and the other ended...
The next day, Padme felt renewed after her passionate night with her soon to be husband. She was ready to fight for her petition's way for vote on the Senate floor. On the arm of her love and flanked by heavy security, Padme was escorted into the Senate building. Obi-Wan, Lea, and representative Binks sat in the pod next to Padme's where she stood making her speech. Anakin sat in her pod with her, refusing to leave her side, for which she was grateful. Her petition was not being well received and he could see the disdain on Chancellor Palpatine's face. He narrowed his eyes at the Chancellor. He didn't know what it was, but something just didn't feel right about the Chancellor. His eyes darted around to the different Senators who were spouting threatening things and denying Padme's words. Suddenly, something felt very wrong and his senses were tingling. Obi-Wan was suddenly on his feet as well, trying to pinpoint the source of the uneasiness. But it was elusive and whoever it was, knew how to mask their presence in the Force. He was surprised that Anakin was even picking up on it. Suddenly, above them, Anakin and Obi-Wan spotted a bald, human female pulling out a concealed blaster. Obi-Wan pushed Lea and Jar Jar down in the pod.
"Stay down!" Obi-Wan called. Anakin pulled Padme down, just as a blaster bolt grazed past them. Screams and panic exploded through the Senate rotunda. Anakin drew his blaster and shot at the assassin. She dodged and shot at their pod, killing the hover engines. Padme screamed, and clung to Anakin, as their pod began to plummet toward the Senate floor. Lea screamed, as she watched them fall. Obi-Wan was hoping through the room from pod to pod to try and reach the assassin when he saw Anakin and Padme falling. Obi-Wan reached out with the Force to try and stop them, but they were falling fast. Anakin grappled at his belt for his extending cable. Padme clung to his waist, as he swung the cable up to hook onto the railing. He grasped the cable tightly with one hand, while the other arm wrapped around Padme's waist tightly. He swung them out of the pod and onto he held them tightly, as they were suspended in the air with only the cable holding them. Aurra Sing glared at them and smirked, as she saw Kenobi working way closer to her. Gunray had been right. This assignment was going to be harder than she thought, but she was willing to take on the challenge. She would collect the two million credits that the viceroy had placed on Amidala's head. She looked over her shoulder, seeing several Jedi enter, with sabers blazing. She smirked again. But it wouldn't be today. She fled the Senate building, masking herself with the dark side and disappeared right under the noses of the foolish Jedi chasing her...
Lea maneuvered her pod over to Anakin and Padme and they dropped into it. Padme still clung to Anakin, as she broke down sobbing in his arms.
"Shh...I've got you angel," he whispered to her. Lea docked their pod and they departed quickly. Obi-Wan and Captain Typho, along with his security flanked them. They helped Anakin and Padme shove a path through the swarming holonet reporters and into the speeder, which took off for Padme's apartment...