Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or anything Star Wars related.

PART EIGHT

A Walk In The Dark

Pulling her overcoat securely around her petite frame, Padme switched her flashlight on and craned her neck to look up at the topmost point of the Sith Temple. A part of her told her that she was foolish to enter it alone; that she would be wise to turn back and return in the morning; but another part of her urged her to continue on her way. That part of her won. A shiver ran down her spine as a chill wind swept by. Brushing her disheveled hair out of her face, she took a deep breath and cautiously started into the massive structure. The darkness of night made the temple much more unnerving, and Padme unconsciously clutched her flashlight tighter as she pressed on. Making her way towards the staircase that led down to the Black Knight's crypt, she fought to control her fear and forced herself to start down the steps. Even with her light, the black nothingness before her seemed to be impenetrable. Her pace increased as she descended the stairs and she found herself surrounded by the Sith tombs before she knew it. Without delay, she slowly walked down the catacombs to investigate the Black Knight's gravesite once more.

Just as they had left it, the coffins lid laid on the ground beside it; the black suit of armor resting inside. However, Padme noticed that something wasn't quite right…this Darth Vader appeared to have been tampered with. No longer lying with his arms crossed across his chest, they were now at either side of his body. Perhaps the droids had done it, she thought; though, she hadn't seen them touch him while she was present. His unsettling helmet was also misplaced. No longer staring up at the ceiling, it now lay off to one side in such a way that he looked as if he had stirred in his sleep. Shaking her head, Padme did her best to ignore her wandering imagination. She was being ridiculous.

After several minutes of studying the deceased Knight, Padme finally decided it was time to get back to the ship. She had nearly reached the tombs exit when a sudden sound stopped her dead in her tracks. It sounded like…breathing. Almost mechanical. Spinning around, she searched the room with her flashlight, but found nothing. Not even aware that the light shook in her hand, she turned back around, only to be stopped again by the same noise. This time, she whipped around and prepared to face an intruder. Still, there was nothing.

"Hello?" she asked, her voice cracking. "Who's there?"

Silence.

Sighing, she started back out of the room. That was when she heard it…

"What are you doing here?"

Padme froze in place before shakily turning back around. Her eyes searched the room until they found a dim blue light glimmering in the far corner. Shining her flashlight in its direction, she found nothing but the stone corner itself. Then, nervously lowering the handheld device, she could see the indistinguishable figure once again.

"Who are you?" it asked.

"I…I'm a historian," Padme answered lamely. "My name is Padme Naberrie. I'm not here to cause any trouble." She hesitated before asking her next question. "Who are you?"

"I was a Jedi…once," the figure replied. "You can call me Anakin."

"Anakin," Padme repeated. "What are you doing here?"

"I am the guardian," he said, still not moving from where he stood. "I am here to watch over Vader."

"Watch over him?" Padme questioned. "I don't understand."

"It is better that you don't," he stated simply.

Padme silently regarded the figure for a long moment before speaking again. "How long have you been here?"

"Since the Black Knight fell," he replied.

"Wh—why are you here?" she asked. "Why must you watch over him?"

"It is the will of the Force."

With that, the apparition vanished and Padme was left alone. She remained where she was for a long time, not moving an inch. She couldn't believe what had just occurred. Had she just made contact with an ancient spirit, or was it just a hallucination? Perhaps a dream? She blinked several times before concluding that she was indeed awake.

"Are you still there?" she called out.

She frowned when there was no response. Reluctantly, she eventually resumed her previous course and started for the surface. She would have quite a story to tell once she had made it topside.