Chapter 3 - A New Nightmare

When Padme left the room, Anakin went into deep meditation. He had the feeling that there was something more to the nightmares, something he was missing. A warning like the visions he had of Padme's death, or when he mother died. Did the nightmares mean that he would turn to the Dark Side after all? That he was still in danger of it? If so, then he would be extra mindful of his actions. He had promised himself that he would never allow himself to come that close to turning again. He thought deep meditation opened his mind up to the images in the nightmare. But when he tried to focus on those images, they were not there. They had been replaced by something else, only Zak remained as the constant between his old nightmare and this new vision. In this vision, he was not in the Temple, in fact, he was not actually in this vision at all; only watching it like some bizarre play. It looked like a transport; there was smoke and chaos. It had been boarded and the intruders were searching for something or someone. Then he saw Zak, and Zak seemed to be able to see him. No one else could, only Zak. He turned to Anakin, "Help us." He pleaded. Anakin tried, but could not reach him, he could not even move. The vision faded, and the last thing Anakin heard was Zak, "Why?" he said.

Padme went to the communicator as soon as she left Anakin. Once she had made contact with the Temple, she asked to speak with Yoda. While she was waiting, she gathered her thoughts. She needed to be calm, as she did not wish to sound like a hysterical wife.

"Senator Amidala, good it is to see you." Yoda said as his hologram appeared before her.

"Master Yoda, there is a matter of some importance that I need to speak to you about." Padme said calmly.

"Wish to hear it, I do." Yoda answered.

"As you know, Obi-Wan and his apprentice came to see us several days ago…." She began, and was quickly interrupted by Yoda.

"Yes, anxious to meet Obi-Wan's new Padawan, young Skywalker was." He said thoughtfully.

"That may be true, Master Yoda, but it has caused Anakin a great deal of pain." Padme replied.

"Pain? Pain, you say? How could this be?" Yoda asked.

"Anakin has begun to have his nightmares again." Padme answered.

"Young Zak's fault this is?" Yoda surmised.

"Yes, Anakin is dreaming about killing Zak. He dreams this each time he falls asleep." Padme explained.

"Disturbing this is. Obi-Wan you blame for this?" Yoda asked.

"Yes, Master Yoda. Anakin was fine before he met this Zak, and now he is…" Padme began.

"What would you have Obi-Wan do, Senator? Wish him not to see Skywalker? This I can not forbid." Yoda told her firmly.

"But why not, Master Yoda?" Padme asked," It is clear that Obi-Wan and Zak have caused Anakin to have these dreams again. I don't want Obi-Wan or Zak near him again."

"Censure Obi-Wan I will not. Anakin's visions these are. Anakin's choice it must be to see Obi-Wan or not." Yoda informed her.

"I am pleading with you, Master Yoda, you must do something." Padme begged.

"PADME! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Anakin cried out from behind her.

"Go, I must, Senator; other things I must attend to. Be mindful of Anakin's feeling on this matter." Yoda said as his image faded.

"Padme, what have you done? If I had wanted to consult Master Yoda at this time, I would have gone to Coruscant with Zak and Obi-Wan." Anakin said angrily.

Padme looked down at the floor. How much had Anakin heard? Did he hear that she had tried to forbid Obi-Wan to see Anakin? She could think of nothing to say except "I'm sorry, Anakin. I was concerned for you. I was hoping that Master Yoda had some advice for you."

"Liar! I heard the whole thing. You tried to prevent Obi-Wan from seeing me. I told you, Obi-Wan is my friend, Padme; you had no right to interfere." Anakin told her.

"I am your wife, I have every right to help you in any way I can. If that means separating you for Obi-Wan, then that is what I must do. Zak has brought you nothing but pain, Anakin; and Obi-Wan brought him here. If he were your friend, would he, could he do that?" Padme asked.

"The nightmares bring me that pain, Padme, not Zak. The nightmares are not his fault. And if Obi-Wan had known about Zak, he would have been more careful before bringing him here." Anakin answered.

"I am sorry if you disagreed with what I have done, but I was thinking only of you, Anakin." Padme replied.

"Were you? If that's true, than how can you think that ending my friendship with Obi-Wan would help me? Tell me, I really want to know." Anakin demanded; again, he felt his temper flair.

Padme was now at a loss for words. Her anger at Obi-Wan was still present, but she had no idea how she could explain her feeling to Anakin, "I don't know what to tell you, Anakin. I was thinking only of your best interests. Not seeing Obi-Wan for awhile would be to your benefit." She finally told him.

"Then you know nothing, Padme. The worst thing I could do would be to isolate myself from the closest friend and advisor I have." Anakin answered," The visions and nightmares have resurfaced for a reason. I don't know what that is yet, but I am working on it."

"But they are hurting you, Anakin; and seeing you in such pain hurts me too." Padme replied.

"I am sorry for that, but stop blaming Obi-Wan. He has done nothing to deserve this anger you hold for him." Anakin said quietly. His temper was cooling as he began to understand how Padme felt. He reached for her then and pulled her to him.

Padme did not resist. Perhaps Anakin was right. But still she could not let her anger go. Illogical anger it might be, but she could not let it go.

"There is something more I must tell you. A new vision that I had when I was meditating." He told her.

"A new vision? About the Temple? Tell me, love." She said as she looked up at him.

Anakin took a deep breath and closed his eyes to bring the vision closer to him, "It is not of the Temple, but Zak is there…" He began.

"Zak? Zak, again?" She said with disgust, cutting him off.

"Let me finish, darling." He answered gently.

"I'm sorry, Anakin." Padme apologized.

"There was a transport of some sort. I was there, but no one could see me. No one except Zak. I think it had been boarded by raiders and they were looking for…for someone or something. Then, Zak turned to me and asked for my help. I tried, but I couldn't move. There was no more after that, except just before the vision faded, Zak asks 'Why', just as he did in the nightmare." Anakin tightened his hold on Padme as if he were trying to draw some comfort from her.

"But what does it mean?" She asked as she put her arms around his back.

"I don't know; at least not yet. I was about to contact Master Yoda when I heard your conversation with him." He told her.

"Then you should talk to him. It could be important." She urged him.

"No." He sighed. "Maybe tomorrow. I think I just need to sleep on it. I may be able to figure it out in the morning. If I can't then I will speak with him."

The rest of the afternoon passed uneventfully and Anakin retired early. He was completely exhausted and he hoped that the meditation he had performed earlier would help him to sleep. It did…but only for a short time. His afternoon vision replaced the old nightmare.

The transport was thick with smoke and the passengers were panicking. The raiders were looking for someone; they were walking down the aisle searching every seat. When they got to the front, two of the seats were empty.

"Where are these passengers?" One of the raiders demanded.

No one spoke for a moment.

"Tell me, now and no one will be harmed." He demanded again.

"In the cockpit, they went that way." A passenger across the aisle said.

Without saying another word, the raider walked forward.

Anakin was then in the escape pod launch area. Zak turned to him, "Help us." He said. Again, as in the earlier vision, Anakin tried to move and could not. Someone else was there, but Anakin could not see him clearly. He was helping Zak into one of the escape pods. "Why?" Zak asked…..

Anakin sat bolt upright in bed, shaking so badly that he woke Padme sleeping next to him.

"Anakin, the nightmare, again?" She asked.

"No, not the nightmare, the vision." He told her as he tried to steady his breathing.