Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. It all belongs to George.
AN: Here's chapter 26! Thanks for all the great reviews!
Never Gone
Chapter 26: Anakin vs. Grevious
Anakin and Padme had arrived home a while ago. Anakin sat by the holocom in the living area talking to Obi-Wan. He had just received the call and now was receiving several jabs from Obi-Wan on his attire. He had a roaring fire going and the wine all ready. He had drawn a bubble bath for Padme to try and get her to relax a little, before donning just a pair of sleep pants and going to ready the wine. Lea had proceeded to chide Obi-Wan for his teasing, before telling Anakin how glad she was that he was okay and then asking about Padme.
"How is she?" Lea asked.
"Worried. More worried then I think I've ever seen her. Palpatine has her backed into a corner. She has to support him, or he'll offer no military support if Cato-Neimodia declares war," Anakin said, distraught at the whole situation.
"It is likely you will both have to testify against Gunray," Obi-Wan replied.
"Is it even safe for me to bring Padme anywhere near Coruscant?" Anakin asked.
"No, but without Padme's testimony, the jury may not find enough to convict," Obi-Wan replied.
"Not enough to convict? But what about the blockade and all the assassination attempts!" Anakin asked in disbelief.
"Gunray is not on trial for the blockade this time. He has already been tried and found innocent and we cannot try him again for the same crime. That would be double jeopardy. No, he's on trial this time for attempted murder and if Padme doesn't testify, then he will likely go free again," Obi-Wan replied.
"It's a lose, lose situation. If Gunray is convicted, it's likely that they'll declare war on Naboo. If he's not, he'll never stop trying to kill Padme," Anakin replied. Obi-Wan gave him a sympathetic look.
"I'm sorry Anakin, I wish I had better news," Obi-Wan replied. Anakin gave him a half smile.
"You've been great Obi-Wan, I don't know what we'd do without either of you. Just watch out for Panaka, he might be gunning for you too," Anakin replied. Obi-Wan nodded.
"We'll talk to you both sometime tomorrow," Lea said, as the transmission blinked out. Anakin turned, when he heard soft footsteps. Padme descended the stairs in a long, blue silk nightgown and her hair fell around her in chestnut ringlets. He smiled at her.
"You seem a lot more relaxed," he said. She smiled back.
"I am. That bubble bath was exactly what I needed. But I started to miss you, so I decided to come find you. Looks like you've been busy too," she said, as she eyed the fire and the wine. He lifted her hand and kissed it, before leading her to the floor by the fire, where he had blankets and cushions out for them. They sat down by the fire and drank a glass of red wine together. Padme put her glass down and took Anakin's hand in her own.
"I think this is where I told you that I loved you for the very fist time," he said. She smiled.
"Yes, I'll never forget that. It's also where you asked me to marry you too," she replied. He smile back at her.
"Ani, there's something I want to talk about," Padme replied. He gave her a half smile.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I...I know this might not be the best time with everything that's been happening, but I feel like I'm ready. I don't know if it was watching you play with Ryoo and Pooja or what, but I'm ready for that. I want to have a baby Anakin. I didn't get my injection this week yet and I don't think I'm going to if you're ready too," she told him honestly, but a bit timidly. He smiled at her.
"Really, you want to have a baby?" he asked, with a smile. She smiled back and nodded.
"I want that too Padme, more than anything," he caressed her face and smiled at her.
"You're so beautiful. Any baby we have is going to be just as beautiful as you," he told her tenderly. She smiled shyly, as his hands caressed her through her nightgown.
"Well, if we have a little boy, then I hope for his sake that he's handsome like you," Padme replied playfully.
"A little boy would be nice. But so would a beautiful little girl too. Let's have both angel," Anakin replied. Padme giggled.
"That sounds wonderful Ani, but usually babies come one at a time," Padme giggled.
"Well then, we better get busy then my love," he said, gazing at her with that look that always made her melt. She smiled, as she fell back against the cushions and his lips descended on hers...
Obi-Wan Kenobi entered the Chancellor's office.
"Ah, master Kenobi, come in, come in," the Chancellor greeted. Obi-Wan bowed respectfully.
"Hello Chancellor," he replied.
"I understand that jury selection was completed today," Palpatine said.
"Yes your excellency. I'm confident that this group of jurors will try the case fairly," Obi-Wan replied.
"Good, good. Now perhaps Nute Gunray will be put in prison where he belongs. I do regret that Senator Amidala and her husband will likely have to testify. It certainly is not safe here for them," Palpatine said.
"I know Chancellor, but the prosecuting attorney says that it will be almost impossible for the charges to stick if Anakin and Padme do not testify," Obi-Wan replied.
"Well, we'll just have to make sure they are well guarded. I heard about that awful assassination attempt on Anakin yesterday at the palace. It is simply dreadful that someone would want to hurt them," Palpatine said.
"I agree Chancellor. They are like family to me," Obi-Wan replied.
"Yes. Well, thank you for your hard work Obi-Wan. I have a good feeling that justice will be served," Palpatine replied. Obi-Wan nodded and bowed, before leaving.
The next morning, after Obi-Wan had left, Lea called Padme to see how she was doing. The woman that answered the comm call was surprisingly different than the one she had expected. Padme wore a bright smile and had a rosy tint to her cheeks.
"Well, you certainly seem happy this morning," Lea said. Padme giggled.
"Sorry, I didn't talk to you last night. I was really stressed," Padme replied.
"Yes, well you certainly seem fine this morning," Lea replied. Padme giggled again.
"You can thank Ani for that," she replied.
"I think I just might do that. So, do you want all the grizzly news?" Lea asked. Padme sipped at her caf.
"You know I do," she replied.
"Jury selection is complete. The trail is set to begin in two days," Lea said.
"That soon?" Padme asked.
"Yes, the prosecution isn't wasting any time. Obi-Wan seems to think you could be called to testify by the end of the week," Lea replied. Padme nodded.
"Well, I suppose Ani and I should make arrangements to return in a couple days then," Padme replied. Lea nodded.
"I better go get cleaned up for my daily meeting with Tarkin," Padme said, as she finished her caf.
"I'll talk to you soon Padme, take care," Lea said.
"You too Lea," Padme replied, as the transmission blinked out.
Later that day, Padme gazed out into the meadow fondly, as she watched Anakin meditate. It wasn't something he particularly cared for doing, but he had promised Obi-Wan that he would. She checked her chrono and realized that it was time for her meeting with Bail and Mon Mothma. She left the veranda and went back inside. Upon entering the sitting room, she screamed in terror...
Anakin's head shot up, as Padme horrified scream broke his concentration. He couldn't sense any danger at all in the Force, but that didn't stop him from using his abilities to carry him into the air and over the veranda. He ran inside once his feet were on the ground and stopped dead in his tracks. He now knew why he didn't sense anything, because the thing holding his beloved unconscious wife was a machine.
"Who are you!" Anakin demanded.
"They call me General Grevious. You must be Anakin Skywalker. I've been sent to dispose of you and your wife," Grevious rasped.
"Let her go then and deal with me first!" Anakin demanded.
"Not so fast boy. If you want you precious wife back, then you'll stay where you are," Grevious said, as he threw Padme's unconscious form over his metal shoulder. He drew a light saber, making sure Anakin didn't move. The mechanical monster leapt over the veranda and began running for the beach with Padme in tow. Anakin wasted no time and followed after him.
Grevious scanned the beach for transportation and spotted a nearby tour yacht full of people.
"Perfect. Plenty of hostages!" Grevious said, as he boarded the ship. The occupants on the ship began to scream, as Grevious tore his way aboard, carrying an unconscious woman over his shoulder. He made his way to the frightened captain of the yacht.
"Get moving!" Grevious ordered, as he ignited his saber. The frightened man obeyed and fired up the engines.
Anakin watched, as the yacht began to leave the dock. Reaching deeply into the Force, he jumped as far as he could and landed on the retreating ship, again startling many of the passengers. Grevious looked back in surprise.
"Well, you certainly are persistent," Grevious said, as he tossed Padme to the side like a rag doll. Anakin looked at her worriedly, but the Force was telling him that she was all right. Anakin ignited his saber and circled Grevious, causing the people to back away as far as they could. Grevious' two arms separated into two more, making a total of four. He drew four light sabers and ignited them all at once. Anakin's eyes widened, as the general began to spin the sabers violently. Anakin brought his saber up to block, as Grevious brought all four sabers down on his at once. Anakin held out strongly and pushed him back up. Meanwhile, Padme began to stir and slowly woke up. Her first images were her beloved Anakin fighting the monstrosity that had invaded their home.
"Senator Amidala, are you all right?" a woman asked, as she and a man helped her up. Padme took a deep breath and nodded.
"Yes, thank you," Padme replied, unable to tear her eyes away from her husband. Anakin was successful in disarming the General of two of his sabers, but Grevious still came at him furiously. He backed Anakin dangerously close to the back of the ship. Anakin felt himself begin to fall, as Grevious continued to swipe at him.
"Ani!" Padme screamed. Anakin caught himself with the Force and used it to bring himself back from the edge. He clashed sabers again with Grevious, and tried kicking the general in his center. But Anakin's foot painfully met metal and he cried out in pain. The general chuckled and punched Anakin the gut. Anakin yelped in pain and the general swiped him across the face. A piece of metal caught Anakin near his right eye, reopening the old wound that Jango had given him. That scar had barely been visible, but this time it probably would leave a deeper scar. Grevious swept Anakin's feet out from under him and he landed hard on his back. Anakin saw something peculiar glowing from behind the general's chest plate. Thinking quickly, he reached up, trying to pry open the chest plate. Inside, Anakin could see an organ of some sort, like a beating heart. Grevious growled, and hit Anakin across the face again, knocking him away and onto his stomach. Anakin saber fell out of his hand and deactivated. The General picked up the saber.
"Another light saber for my collection," Grevious said, as he ignited the saber, preparing to skewer Anakin with it.
"Anakin!" Padme screamed.
"Don't worry Senator, you'll soon join your husband," Grevious rasped. Lying on the deck nearby, Anakin spotted a blaster. Using the Force, Anakin called the blaster to his hand. Just as Grevious prepared to bring the saber down, Anakin leapt up and fired the blaster right at the living organ inside the General. Anakin spent several blaster bolts, causing the general to catch fire and explode. Anakin breathed a sigh of relief and the people on the ship applauded in relief and thanks for having been saved. Anakin called his saber back to his hand and clipped it to his belt.
"You shouldn't take things that don't belong to you," Anakin told the dead general. Padme leapt into his arms and kissed him passionately, not caring about the spectators around them. Anakin smiled down at her and held her close, as the captain of the yacht reversed their course and returned them to Varykino. Anakin and Padme sighed, as they spotted a holo reporter taking film of them. It seemed that there had been one on the yacht that captured the whole thing. The reporter had obviously been visiting Varykino in hopes of capturing a glimpse of the Senator and her husband in hiding. The reporter had no idea that she would be capturing the biggest scoop of the week...
Grevious is dead and Palpatine grows angrier. Padme testifies against Gunray and Neimodian war ships head for Naboo...