Chapter 11 A Final Tragedy
They rushed out to find Padme lying senseless on the ground near a strange ship.
Jesse looked around. "Let's get her on board. Then we'll decide what to do next."
"Right. Jesse…" Kimmy suddenly realized what Jesse had noticed back on Coruscant: Padme was expecting.
"She can't be that much heavier." Jesse hoisted up one end.
"No, it's not that. Anakin must be the father."
"Must be." Jesse agreed as they carried her up the ramp.
They laid her gently on a bed in the small cabin and turned around to see two droids watching them.
"Oh, thank heavens, Miss Padme." Threepio said, leaning over her as best he could.
"Was she alone, threepio?" Jesse asked.
"We thought she was, but apparently, Master Kenobi had snuck on board."
"Obi-Wan!" Jesse and Kimmy said at the same time.
"Yes, I will go watch for him." Threepio left.
Jesse stood. "I'm going look for him. Kimmy, go get the baby off of our ship and put him on this one."
Kimmy stood and left. The second she was gone Padme began regain consciousness. She groped for Jesse's hand and held it.
"Anakin. Where…?"
"I don't know." Jesse said, holding her hand tightly.
Tears began to softly trickle down Padme's cheeks. Jesse wiped them away with his thumb.
"It's ok." He said softly. He was definitely going to have to get a job in the art of comforting females.
Jesse looked up when Threepio, Kimmy, and Obi-Wan entered, the latter of which immediately walked over and checked on Padme.
"Obi-Wan? Is Anakin all right?" Padme asked in a mournful tone that held almost no hope.
Obi-Wan looked at her sadly and does not answer. He brushed her hair back, and Padme dropped back into unconsciousness.
Obi-Wan stood and walked to the cockpit. No one said anything, but they all shared the mutual feeling of gratefulness that they had survived this far, sadness over what had happened, and anxiety over the future.
> > > >
"Where are we going?" Jesse asked.
"Polis Massa. That's where master Yoda and Bail Organa are." Obi-Wan said neutrally.
"Mater Yoda?" Jesse perked up.
"You didn't know he survived?"
"I didn't know that anyone did." After a moment of silence, he continued, "I'd imagine quite a few other Jedi escaped too. Not all of them were working with clones."
"We can only hope."
> > > >
On Polis Massa, Obi-Wan landed the Naboo Cruiser, and Yoda and Bail Organa, along with a few of the ground crew, waited as the ramp lowered and they emerged, carrying the unconscious Padme in Obi-Wan's arms.
"We'll take her to the medical center, quickly." Bail Organa was the first to break the silence.
Kimmy and Jesse watched Obi-Wan follow the senator before leaving to tend to their own ward. Kimmy laid him gently on a bed.
"I was going to name him Kitch, but that didn't seem right." She said, speaking softly so as not to wake him.
Jesse nodded, knowing what she meant.
Kimmy looked up. "You should get some rest."
Jesse shook his head, still not saying anything. The day- days actually- had taken their toll on him, leaving him dropping, but he didn't want to sleep. He knew when he got the chance, he'd be out for days, and there was too much happening right now.
Kimmy stroked his hair. "Take a nap."
"No." Jesse said. "I'm going see how Padme's doing. You get some sleep."
Kimmy almost laughed. "You expect me to sleep when you won't?"
The youngling suddenly woke up, crying with hunger.
"I'll find something for him; you go check in Padme." Kimmy said.
"Deal." Jesse turned to the door, wishing he could just go to sleep and wake up, finding that everything had been a dream.
Jesse went to where Yoda and Organa were watching Padme being examined. Something didn't seem right, but it took Jesse a minute to realize what it was.
"Why are they operating?'
For a moment no one answered. Then Senator Organa said in a hollow voice, "She's dying. They're trying to save the twins."
"Twins?" This was too much. Jesse didn't know what had happened on Mustufar, but it must have been bad for it to impact Padme this way.
"Delivered already, a boy was." Yoda added softly.
Jesse watched as another baby was removed.
"And a girl." The medical droid could barely be heard.
Padme's voice was even softer. "Leia."
Obi-Wan leaned over and began speaking to Padme, but Jesse couldn't hear. He stepped closer to the glass.
"…hang on."
"I can't . . ." Padme's voice was weak as she took Obi-Wan's hand.
"Save your energy." Obi-Wan said.
"Obi-Wan . . . there . . . is good in him. I know there is ... still . . ." Padme gasped and then became still.
Jesse closed his eyes as memories and tears flowed freely. When he opened them, Kimmy was standing next to him, hand on his arm, sending him waves of comfort through the Force. He thanked her silently and wrapped his arm around her.
So much for resolving never to write unhappy endings.