I don't own Star Wars, Anakin, Padme or other characters
Rated: M….so much Sex… because we didn't get enough from George Lukas
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This story takes place long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away ...
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Sentinel , Chapter 3
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Coruscant 26 bby – 23bby
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Anakin was never interested in politics, but he'd always followed the daily holonews. He wanted to be informed about all important happenings. For example, a few weeks before the arrival of the new Senator from Naboo, the news was spread about who the person would be and Anakin was in a state of excitement when he heard the name: Count Ruwee Naberrie. He could hardly wait for the announced arrival to be broadcast on the first day of the seventh month of Standard Time, thinking he would see whole family Naberrie. Unfortunately it turned out very differently. The family landed first on the landing platform of their villa, the Count changed and was flown to the Senate where he faced the holopress, then he went up the stairs to the Senate. Anakin was disappointed ... ..but it was about politics, not Senator's personal life. Maybe a another time.
Fall semester began on the first day of the ninth month of Standard Time. Anakin decided to study informatics and mathematics. Galactic University Coruscant, GUC, was a large university with five hundred thousand students, which was little when you consider how many people lived in the galaxy. Not everyone could study at the GUC, only the best of best… ..and still which ones, it is known how it works, but Anakin Skywalker was not one of them, he was one of the best. He was a Jedi Knight and a Captain of the Fleet, an exceptional talent and a powerful Jedi. He took his studies seriously, he wanted to deal with the development of weapon systems later. Anakin never had many friends, seldom went out, precisely because he was so good-looking and all the girls followed him downright and he was not interested in them ... except when he had to meet certain needs, but there was professional service for that.
He kept thinking about how he could get in touch with Padmé, she's definitely on Coruscant too. He often sat in front of his large 3D monitor in the evenings and rummaged in the holonet, he was alone, he had not been assigned a Padawan because he was a student. Yes, he was alone ... and lonely. One evening, annoyed by the popups although he had already blocked them, he saw a popup that was an unusual color and blinked. He clicked on, what he normally never did, a window opened and a female droid voice greeted him at the Lonely Hearts Club. Well, it can't hurt and he had time as well. He clicked through the virtual club, read the terms of use and created his avatar. He thought himself, what a nonsense is he doing. It was a pilot's helmet through the visor you could see blue eyes, username was Sentinel. He introduced himself in the shared chat room and waited.
The terms of use were that you were not allowed to write about yourself, which would easily lead to identification of your person. You also had to be careful in the chat room, too much self-description was automatically deleted, it was practically like a delayed live chat. Even the time of conversation with a user was limited. He rummaged in the chat room, read what the others had posted and enjoyed. He's never done something that before...and then he got a PM. : * Hi, I'm Sadnes, come to Chet room 44 *
Sadness: Hi, why are you here?
Sentinel: I'm ... lonely, it's the Lonely Hearts Club, isn't it, and you?
Sadness: I'm lonely too ... and sad.
Sentinel: Is that why you chose that name?
Sadness: Yes, it's obvious, and you?
Sentinel: With my mind's eye, I'm watching over someone I like
Sadness: Do you like or do you love that someone?
Sentinel: Hard to say, it was a long time ago
Sadness: are you so old?
Sentinel: No, I'm only twe…..
A droid voice warned him not to give any more concrete statements
Sentinel: I'm sorry, I'm not allowed to say anything exactely, so no, I'm not old
Sadness: Fine, neither do I am ... hello droid voice, may I at least ask for the gender?
Yes.
Sadness: are you female or male?
Sentinel: Very manly, ha ha
Sadness: Ooooh, nice to meet you Mister Sentinel
Sentinel: And how should I address you, or rather write you?
Sadness: Miss
Sentinel: It's even better to meet you, Miss Sadness
Sadness: Do you come from afar?
Sentinel: Yeah, pretty much ... but Mid Rim, how about you?
Sadness: Exactly like that.
Anakin stopped writing and considered; if from quite a distance, but Mid Rim, then she could sit on Coruscant. He decided on a trick question, hoping the droid voice was stupid.
Sadness: are you still here?
Sentinel: Yes I am. Tell me, how do you like the capital?
The droid's voice was silent. Good.
Sadness: It's different from where I'm from.
Sentinel: I could repeat your sentence.
The droid voice answered again: your time is up, please say goodbye
Sadness: Good night Mister Sentinel
Sentinel: Good night Miss Sadness and sweet dreams
Chat ended.
Anakin was a little bit ... confused. It was so strange and interesting and enjoyable, but he shouldn't spend too much time in this spiritual club. He had tasks: meditating, sparing, showering, university, Jedi library where he helped Master Nu whenever he could. With his old Master he went on missions when necessary.
Padme was in a good mood for the first time since she moved to Coruscant. This young man lifted the mood even though they weren't in the chat room for long ... and then, was he really young like he was writing? But there was something about him that was so pleasant. Well, she shouldn't stay so long in this virtual club, she had promised her father that she would be the best of the year and then she still has the fencing. Not just fencing, she wants to win some important tournaments and qualify for the Summer Galactic Games. Much to do. Going to GUC was not as arduous as going to TRA. There weren't any bad girls, but she still didn't have any friends, she didn't want any either, she mistrusted everyone. The boys were very interested in her, but she weren't in them. Now she had someone to talk with, if only to a limited extent. But it was fun.
Her daily routine was not as strictly regulated as Anakin's, but she still had a lot to do: getting up, daily workout for the condition she needed as an athlete, showering, going to the GUC, lessons, almost the whole day on a few days, training in the afternoon at the Galactica Fencing Club, shower, go through class notes. She had to go to her parents' villa every evening to have dinner with them. Then she came back to Republica 500 and indulged in her sadness. Sometimes she rummaged through the holonet, looked at young men of public life, single young aristocrats, and wondered which of them her husband would be. There were some who looked good, but ... is it enough? There is no point in dealing with it, when the parents have decided she will have to obey. *Noblesse Oblige* ... for everything. She could only try to influence her father ... when the time comes, she first studies and chats ... she smiled. She wasn't at Lonely Hearts Club every night, depending on what her day was like. When she came home tired after an intensive workout and dinner, she went straight to bed ... and dreamed of her not so beautiful childhood. She just wanted to remember beautiful moments when she was in Varykino with Anakin ... where is he now, what is he doing, has he already become a Jedi Knight, how is he and above all ... how does he look now? He was always a beautiful boy, now he must be a beautiful young man. Butterflies in the stomach? In love with the past or a possibility in the present?
Anakin would check out the Lonely Hearts Club almost every night, and read the list of users who were online. After a week she was back online. PM. : * Hi, come to the Chet room 44 *
Sentinel: Hi, I missed you, Miss Sadness. "
Sadness: I was very busy this week, had a lot to learn and a lot to train. My trainer has made corrections to my style. He's not like the old coach who was satisfied with me.
Sentinel: You still go to school?
Sadness: No, I'm studying, and you?
Sentinel: Me too, but I've already had an apprenticeship behind ... actually two ... ha ha
Sadness: Then why are you studying?
Sentinel: I want to do something different later, not just have to save the galaxy….
Droidistimme answered: You are slowly becoming concrete, don't do that, otherwise it will be deleted.
Sentinel: OK.
Padmé tried to put two and two together: Have to save the galaxy? Two apprenticeships behind him? … a Jedi Knight? How could she find out, maybe ask a trick question later, and hope the droid voice stays silent.
Sadness: Un what do you want to do later?
Sentinel: I want to work on the development of the systems that serve to keep the peace. And you?
Sadness: I want to go into politics ... if I'm allowed
Aha, thought Anakin, she must either belong to the aristocraty or the money aristocraty. He collected clues, wrote them down to his list.
-She is young, sad, lonely
-Probably sitting on Coruscant
-Come from Mid Rim, but far away from Coruscant
-Belongs to the aristocraty or money aristocraty
-Practices a sport
Sentinel: Oh, it's sad that you can't choose your luck yourself.
Sadness: Are you allowed to choose your own happiness?
Sentinel: Basically not, but I don't want luck if I ... if I remember what I had, but I was a kid back then.
Padme put together a list, she really wanted to find out who the Sentinel is.
-He's young
-Come from Mid Rim, but far from Coruscant
-Belongs to the aristicraty or money aristocraty
-Had someone he liked when he was a kid
-Studying computer science ? Mechanical engineering?
-Two training courses behind
-Need to save Galaxy ... a Jedi Knight?
Sadness: I wish that those who decide your happiness ... decide wisely
Sentinel: I wish you that too. Oh yes, we always meet in chat room 44, does the number have any meaning for you? ... and what did you say, what do you practice, the sport?
Sadness: Not a big deal, but it means something. Well, the sport is fencing ... the ancient art
Droid voice: end your chat, your time is up.
Sentinel: Then good night, Miss Sadness, sweet dreams.
Sadness: I wish you the same Mister Sentinel.
Chat ended.
Padmé as well as Anakin, both wanted to know who the other is, but you couldn't ask directly in this virtual club. Both often renewed their lists and something pointed to … no, both thought, that was a coincidence of coincidences. They will slowly touch each other, which took time, but both had time enough .
Padmé decided to evade video surveillance as often as possible, to watch the entrance of the Jedi Temple… ..would she recognize him? He still lived in the temple because he was studying now, but if he is a Jedi Knight now, then he is in the Temple. She spent months in front of the Temple, chatting to find out when he was in the there or when he would come back from university. Her list got longer and clearer.
Anakin also decided to seek and observe. He kept to note fencing. The stupid thing was that there were exactly eight thousand five hundred fencing clubs on Coruscant. Anakin was smart and if he read his list, he came to the conclusion that he would have to start at the club where the richest and aristocrates fought, where the fees were the most expensive, so: Fencing Club Galactica. He proceeded systematically: when did the women train, according to what age and performance. Of course he could hack into the fencing club's data, but it would be dangerous even for him, he could lose everything if caught. The training schedule was complicated and there was no regularity. If he wanted to discover her in one evening, it could take months ... but it was worth it to him.
They continued to talk in chat room 44 ... for two years now, each time a little more clue.
Padmé was tied to her parents, she had to go to the villa every evening, had to listen to her parents' speeches, mostly those of her mother. She enjoyed talking to her father about politics; after all, she studied political science. Occasionally she went to the opera or the theater with them. She rarely attended public events; she always found an excuse. There were many balls used by the aristocraty and money aristocraty to bring their offspring together and to amuse themselves ... and something else ...
It was similar with Anakin. His mother came to Coruscant more often, but no longer lived on Naboo but on Alderaan because she had married in the meantime. Cliegg Lars was one of the richest landowner from Alderaan. Anakin spent more and more time with Palpatine, they went to the opera and theater together, but fate didn't want him to meet Padmé there…. Or had Palpatine seen the booking list beforehand ?
Since he was no longer so closely connected to Obi-Wan, he only went on missions with his former Master during the holidays: Tatooine, Dantooine even Dathomir. Within three years Anakin had advanced his military career with great strides, mainly through his skills and courage, he rose to Colonel. There was no chat between the two them during the holiday season. Anakin wondered if Sadness would suspect why he was absent for the holiday season.
After the third year of her studies, in the summer of 26bby, the Summer Galactic Games took place. The venue was Coruscant.
As expected, Anakin took part in aerobatics as a representative of Naboo. Padmé had qualified and started in the Sebel fencing discipline as a representative of Naboo. When you consider how big the galaxy was, a hundred thousand athletes were not so much. They started in one hundred and fifty disciplines. The games lasted all summer.
Anakin was busy with his flying and didn't think Sadness could be good enough to compete in the Summer Galactic Games. Furthermore, the athletes were only registered with numbers. This consisted of the start number, a six-digit number, a letter as the first letter of the planet and a rather unmistakable six-digit number after it, the date of birth. One evening, after about a month at camp, Anakin went to the virtual club to check who was online in the Lonely Hearts Club. She was there. PM. * Chet room 44 *, PM * busy *, PM * then N *
Sentinel: Hi, Miss Sadness, I missed you. Why N this time?
Sadness: First letter of the planet where I come from.
Sentinel: I could say that too, but there are so much planets whose names start with the letter N.
Sadness: That's right, but no one is as beautiful as my home planet.
Sentinel: I have to disagree with you. My home planet is certainly more beautiful, the most beautiful planet in the galaxy.
Sadness: Then we're talking about the same planet
Droid voice: don't be specific, otherwise it will be deleted
Sentinel: You're a irritated droid voice
Sadness: OK. where have you been for so long, i missed you
Sentinel: For a short time on a Miss ...
Droid voice: don't be specific, otherwise it will be deleted
Sentinel: Are there chat rooms here where you can talk freely?
Droid voice: No.
Sentinel: OK. , what are you doing right now?
Sadness: I rest. I had to start four times today
Sentinel: Oh, are you also at the Summer Galactic Games?
Sadness: Also?
Sentinel: Yeah.
Sadness: Discipline?
Sentinel: aerobatics.
Sadness: Oh, are you a pilot?
Sentinel: The best in the galaxy, ha ha ha
Padme thought: I have you now. Many people talked about the best pilot in the galaxy. It was said he is a high ranking officer, a Colonel and a Jedi Knight as well. He's supposed to look devilishly good ... ... she heard. The Jedis guarded him and shielded him, supposedly he is a very withdrawn young man.
Sadness: I'll watch the broadcast tomorrow.
Sentinel: And I'll watch the fencing duels when I'm not flying
Sadness: Only the representatives of the planet teams that are fencing are allowed to enter the hall.
Sentinel: I'll see what can be done
Droid voice: end your chat, your time is up.
Sentinel: Have a good rest and good luck tomorrow. Sleep well, Miss Sadness. Good night.
Padme thought, now I have to try ... now or never ...
Sadness: I also wish you good night Mister Sentinel. Good luck tomorrow and be careful. May the force be with you.
Anakin winced and wondered if is it said too much when he call her by name and decided for her title ... which was actually the same
Sentinel: May the Force be with you too… .. Countess
The chat ended.
So, he is it... her Anakin. Padmé wept ... with happiness that she found him again and with despair because she knew that she would never be able to have her Sentinel, her good guardian. She was in love with the past and impossible future. She thought she might meet him tomorrow, she was afraid of it but wanted to see him and yet she didn't. What can she tell him? Hello Anakin, or nice to see you again, or nice is my memory of you. They can no longer play in the sand, everything has changed and turned, turned against them. She didn't know what to tell him ... better not to look for him at all. She was nervous. How will this revelation affect your performance tomorrow? Let it come as it comes. One more look at the database of the Naboo team, aviators…. yes, here a 031929N04/19/44, that's it…. Sure, the date of birth is correct.
Anakin called the athletes' details, their number, and looked for representatives from Naboo. He was in there too. He kept looking ... Fencers ... 031999N06/09/44 the date of birth was correct. She lived in the camp, Block D, Building 5, Room 1099. Should he go to her? No, it's too late. He looked at the schedule and saw that she had to compete five times tomorrow, the last time at 1800. By then he will have finished flying and will go into the hall, as a member of the Naboo team he can do that ... but whatever did he tell her? So much time has passed, eleven years ... and every single one worked against them. They can only remain friends, what else. They were children, now they are no longer… .but does he have feelings for her? He thought of her often, yes, but was that ... is that ... love? He did not know. Tomorrow, yes, tomorrow when he sees her, he will know it.
Padmé got up, showered, had breakfast, talked to her mother and father, but she said nothing about Anakin. She made her way into the hall where she had to compete five times that day and hoped that Anakin would come, feared that he would come. Despite the clutter in her head, she made a mental note to concentrate on fencing. She won one fight after another. At 1630 she had the fourth fight and won. The last one around 1800 ... will be the most difficult. As first, she was tired and, as second, the opponent was a Corellian champion who gave her grief at every tournament, heavy fights. During the fight, many of the Naboo team were there to cheer her on. She put on her helmet and ran towards onto the strip. Through the dense grid she couldn't see who was sitting in the audience. She concentrated on the opponent, gave everything she could and … .won. The whole Naboo team cheered, everyone got up and walked towards her, it was the last fight of the evening. She put her saber on the bench, took off her helmet and … a young man was standing in front of her, tall, blond and… .. she would recognize those blue eyes even after a hundred years. He looked like an ancient god born again, she couldn't take her eyes of him. Not a single word was said about him was a lie. Everyone around her jumped and congratulated her, squeezed her but she was hypnotized, she just looked at Anakin.
"Hello Padmé. You were ... great, congratulations. "
"Thanks Ani. I'll take a quick shower and then we can sit outside and ... if you want and if you have time ... I mean ... "
"Yes, of course, I'll be waiting for you in front of the entrance to the hall."
…and he was waiting, standing there with hundred different feelings…
Padmé showered in record time, picked up her bag and went out. She wore a dark blue uniform with a green stripe on either side, like all Naboo athletes. Anakin too.
" We should take seat somewhere?" said Padmé
"Maybe in a coffee?"
"No, so many ears."
"Then somewhere on the lakeshore, a hundred meters down here," he suggested
"Yes Perfect"
They went down to the water and sat on the gras.
"Like in Varykino, do you remember?"
"I remember everything Padmé"
"We have much to catch up on. Tell me what you've been doing over the past eleven years "
"Well, in the first year of training I practically had to get used to life as a Jedi, not that I lived sparingly with mom, it was just these strict rules and obedience to the Master. I learned a lot. In the second year the lessons were more complex, hardly any time for anything else, then I was allowed to go with my Master, his name was Obi-Wan …. "
"Obi Wan Kenobi?"
"Do you know him ?"
"Uh, actually yes, he took part in negotiations with my father a few times, he's a very intelligent man, always looks so balanced and is always very polite. I am fascinated by his personality "
"Oh yes, he is it ... .. as I said, I was allowed to accompany him on missions, but only observe. In the third year I already had everything under control, my Master despaired of me ... "
Anakin laughed, remembering his puberty.
"How come?"
"Well, I was in the middle of puberty and made it very difficult for him ... especially because I knew he was having a relationship with Siri Tachi, and Siri had a Padawan. In the fourth year, I was fourteen and he was sixteen, the situation escalated. This Padawan, in love with his Master and jealous of my Master, didn't like me either, especially because I was better in every way. Well, all Padawans of my age were interested in girls, I wasn't ... "
"Why not?"
"I've thought of you …..a lot " Anakin looked at the floor.
"Of me?"
"Yes of you… .and then he would tell people that I was gay. I wanted to argue and on a good opportunity I thanked Siri for the cakes, hugged her and kissed her lightly on her lips. He freaked out and knocked me down. It had consequences. "
"You, at fourteen?" she laughed
"Yes, I was already taller than my Master. I finished middle school with summa cum laude… .not that I am showing off. "He laughed
"WOW. Go on. "
"High school wasn't really difficult, I didn't have much time because I was attending the military academy at the same time, but I managed. I graduated from the military academy as best of the year and with the rank of lieutenant. When I graduated from high school I was raised to the rank of Jedi Knight. "
"A pretty impressive, successful career."
"That's not all. I always went on missions with my Master during the holidays, learned from him, and now we still go and do missions together. That's how I rose to the rank of Colonel. Only the rank of General is above me. "
"I am happy for you. Are you satisfied, are you happy Ani? "
"Satisfied with what I have achieved? Yes ... but happy? ... No. Something is still missing. "
"What is wrong with you Ani?"
"Someone is missing who loves me, someone I love and I have no one, I'm lonely ... Lonely Hearts Club, does that mean something?" he smiled sadly "... To love and be loved, that means being happy Padmé"
"I'm here now, I'm the one who likes you ... like before."
"Yes, like when we were children. "
"Oh Ani, the way you look, I'm sure all women are raving about you. You will surely find one. "
"You can only find when you are looking for"
"And you are not looking for?"
"No"
Padmé was silent, so was he. The hints were ... clear but nobody wanted the statement to be even clearer.
"And now you tell me what I didn't find out from the chat."
"Oh yes, chat ... well, when you left me ...uh .. when you left, that was a disaster. I thought I won't get through this. I was attacked verbally and physically, I was a single bruise. The worst part was that nobody believed me, not even my parents. Without you I was lost Ani "
Anakin reached out, hugged her, and pulled her close. She leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Four long years were hell, but I've learned a lot. In high school it was better because I started fencing and was in good shape, but here and there I forgot to eat, I wasn't hungry. I've lost a lot of weight, I've grown, puberty, hormonal changes and that's how I've become like I am now. "
"….Yes…. beautiful, you are beautiful Padmé. I've never seen such a beautiful woman. "
"Anakin!"
"That's the truth, I swear."
"Well, and then my father became a senator of Naboo and we moved to Coruscant. At the GUC I have my peace and quiet ... from the girls. "
"Are you studying at GUC?"
"Yes, and you?"
"Me too."
"Great, then we'll see and often."
"I really hope so. You said have the girls quiet and what about the boys? "
"Oh, they run after me," she laughed
"I'll drive them all out. No one should run after you. "
"Enough if there is one left."
"Who?" He looked serious.
"You" she laughed
"But I won't run after you."
"Don't run after, stay."
"Do you want me to stay?"
"Yes, Ani ... ..like before"
"But it can never be the same again, we are not like before, we are adults."
"But we can like each other just as much as before."
"Yes."
He didn't want to disappoint her and say no, but he knew that there is a huge difference between liking and loving. The time will show it.
"We go to bed now. We both have to start tomorrow. "
He accompanied her to the block where she had her room. Anakin hugged her, hugged her tightly, and felt something hard against his chest.
"Padmé, what do you have there, something hard?"
"Yes"
She pulled out the chain with Japor pendant he had carved and showed him.
"I always wore that and I always wear it, that's how I can have you close to my heart."
"Oh Padme, if I had known ..."
"Shhhhh, just don't leave me again Mister Sentinel, my good guardian."
"Never again."
He kissed her lightly on the lips without deepening the kiss, hugged her, then pressed her against him and whispered in her ear:
"Good night and let the sadness never come back, I am here now. See you tomorrow. Sleep well and sweet dreams."
"I wish you too. Good night."
That night, Padmé slept very restlessly and dreamed about her past, holidays on Varykino and Anakin's kiss on the cheek.
Anakin also slept restlessly, but he dreamed about the future and it was anything but beautiful. It was full of fear, agony and suffering.
