Title: STAR WARS: Episode 3 AU: Walk a Mile


Well, I decided to post another chapter. Thanks for those reviews. I could never find a Star Wars story where Anakin and Padme's roles are switched, so I made one.


The first couple of hours after Padme departed the apartment at 500 Republica -which was his, apparently- he had moved to stand in front of the window, gazing out at the Coruscanti traffic with his hands clasped behind his back. Repeatedly, he'd tried to reach out with the force, but it would not answer his call. As if he was suddenly unworthy of it's attention.

And then there was Padme.

He could have sworn she'd waved the door closed as she left...

Everything was all wrong.

His face had scrunched up in frustrated anger at this line of thinking, but encouraged himself to calm down. It was more difficult and didn't feel as natural, as he couldn't release his frustration into the force. He had to just ignore it somewhat, which left him feeling only more frustrated. But he took a breath and released it. He looked away from the window, unclasping his hands. He needed to find out what exactly was going on. The obvious first step should be to seek advice from a Jedi Master. Perhaps Yoda could help him understand what was going on?

Anakin began to pace back and forth, his increasingly frantic steps mirroring his state of mind. A stream of consciousness brainstorming new suggestions then shooting them down just as quickly.

Yoda would probably not be a good first idea. He was certain that he wouldn't be allowed inside the temple. What if the cause of the force being silent was due to him somehow not even being Force Sensitive..?

That line of thought was valid but terrifying nonetheless. For a Jedi to suddenly be blind to the force was like losing an arm. One lost an integral part of what made them...them.

Maybe he could confide in the chancellor? Palpatine hadn't proven to be at all force sensitive, but he was almost like a father he never had. Perhaps he could offer some advice.

It was with this conclusion that he decided to look for the landing pad to take a speeder towards the Chanellor's Office.

After closing the door behind him, he was was caught off guard by a voice from behind him. Apparently, he and Padme weren't the only occupants of the apartment. He turned to see a woman in muted red garbs that greatly reminded him of Padme's handmaidens. In fact, the woman had a passing resemblance to his wife.

"Sir?" she repeated, drawing his attention back to her. "You usually don't leave the building without your security escort."

I have a security escort? was Anakin's first thought.

"I need an escort?" he asked instead, so as not to betray the fact that he had no idea how his life suddenly functioned on a daily basis. Belatedly, he realized he had handmaidens working for him. Did this mean his life was now a mirror of Padme's back in reality? He was still unsure if this was all some sort of elaborate vision from the force. His musing was cut short with the woman's almost lilting laughter. She merely shook her head.

"Just wait for Captain Typho," she suggested sternly.

Anakin nodded dumbly, a bit unused to speaking so casually with Padme's, or rather his, handmaidens.

"Are you feeling well?"

Anakin returned his attention to the handmaiden. What was her name? Dorme, was it? "I'm fine, thank you," he assured her with a single nod of his head. It must not have been a very convincing display. She watched him skeptically a moment, before nodding and heading towards the commons room.

Anakin exhaled through his nose, unconsciously beginning to pace back and forth. During one of his short lulls in pacing, there was a knock at the door. Anakin opened the door, noticing that it was the aforementioned Captain. Once the door had opened, Typho stood at a relaxed military posture, his hands folded in front of him at the waist.

"Where will you be headed, sir?"

"Chancellor's office, please," he replied, heading for the landing pad once again. This time he wasn't stopped by anyone, yet Typho and a small detail of his officers created a loose border around him. The thought that he was the one needing protecting left a bitter taste in his mouth, but he ignored the feeling, focusing on his self appointed task. After exiting the lift and onto the landing pad, he quickly slipped into the passenger seat to at least use the opportunity to meditate. Perhaps not a force assisted one, but to rest his eyes for a few moments while the trip was made.

He let his mind wander as the speeder continued on it's route. What exactly should he tell the Chancellor? What should he ask him? First, he would need to know how different this...reality...was from his own. Perhaps if he just dialogued with him as if requesting an update on the war situation? That could work.

He let himself waver between alertness and unconsciousness until his Chauffer notified him that they had reached their destination.

Disembarking from the speeder, Anakin strode quickly into the building housing the chancellor's office, much to the chagrin of his security escort, who quickly followed after him.

Before he was transported to this backwards reality, he was just beginning to experience dreams of Padme dying in childbirth. The thought tugged at his heart and he sincerely hoped that Padme would be safe until he returned.

If he ever found a way how to.

But he forced himself not to think about the factors not under his control. Exhaling after a deep breath, he stopped at the receptionist desk just short of the Chancellor's office, noticing a Twi'lek seated there typing away at a datascreen.

He cleared his throat as politely as possible to draw her attention. The receptionist looked up, suppressing a smile once recognizing him.

"Oh, Senator Skywalker, nice to see you," she greeted, her gaze lingering on him just long enough to be almost uncomfortable. He coughed self-consciously.

"I'm here to see the Chancellor", he replied.

"One moment please," the woman said before turning to her comlink. Anakin took a seat behind him, resting his elbows on his knees as he waited.

And waited.

...

The receptionist spoke up, nearly startling Anakin, as absorbed in his thoughts he was.

"I'm so sorry for the extended wait," she said, raising her hand in what seemed to be a placating gesture. "The Chancellor is awfully busy today. You wouldn't mind returning tomorrow?" Her expression was almost apologetic.

Anakin sighed softly, quietly enough that the woman before her wouldn't notice. He nodded deliberately, indicating his acknowledgement. As he slowly stood up, he stretched his back, not realizing how long he'd been seated.

A spike of frustration surged through him, uninvited, though he squashed it as soon as it appeared.

This had never happened before. The chancellor always made time for him. He was one of two people in his whole life that was like a father to him. He always made time. But...

This wasn't his reality. Perhaps he was being naïve to think that things would be the same here. However, something about the concept didn't sit right with him.

He just didn't know what it was.

He nodded again, uttering a thanks, before stepping back out of the door. Expectedly, Typho and the rest of the detail had been waiting at the side of the door, effortlessly recreating the loose border of men around Skywalker just like earlier.

As he stepped into the speeder, he had a feeling that he was actively being avoided by the good Chancellor, as ridiculous as the notion was. This was only his first attempt, after all. He was indeed a busy man.

Besides, it's not as if his feeling could be verified by the Force. It continued to ignore him.

As the speeder headed back towards the 500 Republica district, his thoughts began to wander towards Padme. Both the Padme he knew and the one here. This Jedi Padme. He swallowed and leaned his head against the window, a pang of loneliness seeming to seep through his heart and to the rest of his body.