Chapter Two: Threatened

Doctor Vindi is now in Republic custody after nearly succeeding in his plans to release an airborne version of deadly Blue Shadow Virus. Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker discuss with the Jedi Council in the Royal Theed Hospital what to do next. Meanwhile, while Padawan Ahsoka Tano and her clone command recover slowly from their brush with death, a different fate awaits Senator Amidala...

The door whooshed open, and Obi-Wan turned around in surprise. "Captain Typho - this is a private - "

The captain ignored him, walking into the briefing room - which was filled with the holographic figures of the High Council - and handed a datapad to Anakin.

No one spoke while Anakin studied the datapad, watching his frown deepen while he read. It was impossible to sense his emotions - he put an emotional, impenetrable wall up the moment Obi-Wan tried to poke.

Anakin glanced at the captain, and then to the council. "It appears Senator Amidala must undergo additional testing in order to leave Naboo's atmosphere - she is requesting I stay behind to answer any questions the authorities or the scientists might have."

Obi-Wan felt his eyebrows climb into his hair. He knew there was something going on between the pair, but frankly, he really didn't care right then. He wanted to get off the damn planet that had taken his master from him, and so he kept his mouth shut, letting the rest of the High Council glance at each other and come to a decision. It was hard to deny a request from any Senator - especially Padmé Amidala.

"For how long?" Mace Windu eventually asked.

"The Senator does not know," Captain Typho answered, his tone even and his stare challenging. "She requests that the Jedi does not ask for her medical records once this ordeal is over - even if it's for research purposes."

"How will we study the Blue -" Adi Gallia began, but Anakin cut her off.

"You will deny the right to privacy, Master?" Anakin wasn't usually so tense and mouthy to the Council - only if Senator Amidala was threatened in some way.

"Anakin - " Obi-Wan began, knowing his padawan - not padawan, not anymore - was in danger of losing the mission.

Master Yoda banged his cane on his chair, silencing everyone. He stared at them for some time, then finally shook his head and murmured, "Request granted, young Skywalker. Protect the Senator's privacy, we shall."

Anakin didn't relax his posture, but he did bow his head to the masters. "Thank you, Masters."

"Sir." Captain Typho touched Anakin's elbow. "Now."

Obi-Wan watched them leave, brow furrowing when Anakin and the Captain begin to sprint down the hall the moment they were away from the room - and towards the emergency surgery ward.

"Obi-Wan."

"Yes Mace?"

"Find out if the Senator's health is being threatened in any way. We cannot have her decline, especially now."

"I hardly...of course Master Windu." Obi-Wan forced a small smile, and nodded his head. "Whatever you say."

The transmission cut, and Obi-Wan leaned against the gently whirring holoprojector, letting out a heavy sigh.

"We never do get a break, do we?"

Obi-Wan gave a rough laugh, turning around and facing his Clone Commander, whom was walking into the projection room. "No...no, unfortunately."

Cody pulled a wry smile, folding his arms over his chest. "Tano is awake - and Rex keeps asking if we can sneak some liquor to him."

"Liquor sounds nice right about now," Obi-Wan muttered, pushing off the holoprojector. "I've been sober for too long to deal with this shit."

It was one thing to learn that his wife - his world, his Angel, his everything - was the victim of a long eradicated disease. Fine. No ideal, but the cure -

Ha, fuck the cure. That's exactly what he wanted to do - yell at the sky, curse every deity he could think of, head back to the moons of Iego and throttle that brat for giving him the wrong cure…

Because it wasn't enough, it wasn't enough.

"What happened again?" Anakin whispered, not having the energy to yelp or raise his voice. He feared if he moved he would collapse in shock and that's not what anyone needed right now.

The doctor - a Twi'lek female named Jaina - grimaced. If she was shocked to learn that General Skywalker and Senator Amidala were actually married, she did not show it, and instead squared her shoulders while she spoke. "Senator Amidala - she suffered sudden respiratory distress - heart palpitations, blurry vision, loss of consciousness - she cannot breathe without oxygen, she cannot regulate her temperature, she has a drip and a feeding tube, her liver and heart are barely functioning - "

"But the Reeksa root - "

Captain Typho - whom had been leaning against the wall of the private waiting room they had been ushered into - suddenly spoke. "Sir - doesn't the Senator have an allergy to tubers?"

"Nightshades," Anakin muttered, then groaned and paced away. Tears were burning hot down his face. "Reeksa root is a nightshade isn't it?"

"It's a possibility…we've never encountered - "

"I poisoned my own wife?" Anakin shouted, whirling on the doctor. The glass on the two-way windows cracked. He felt a small smile threaten when he watched her flinch away.

"Sir," Captain Typho growled, stepping forward and putting a claw-like hand on the General's shoulder, yanking the young man back. "Enough."

Dr. Jaina swallowed, though she tilted her chin and glared. "Sir - I will ask you to stay away from your wife's room until you learn to control yourself."

"What aren't you telling me?" Anakin demanded.

"General Skywalker," Dr. Jaina started, looking somewhere past his shoulder.

"What's wrong with my wife?" Anakin heard his voice crack while he studied the doctor's hesitation. "Oh god...you don't know do you?"

"...no...we'll do everything in our power but we know so little about the Blue Shadow Virus

"Then find out more!"

"...General...you might want to consider arranging her affairs."

"...what?" Anakin whispered, barely aware he had sunk in the nearest chair.

General Typho's hand tightened on Anakin's shoulder.

"We're not sure if she'll make it."

Author's Note: I don't know whom I relate more to right now: Anakin or Padmé. Probably Padmé. Welp, no one can deny that I can understand the fear that comes with scary medical situations.

(Am I using fanfiction to cope? Yes, yes I am. Bite me.)

As usual, I'll edit this at a later date.

Bye for now my dears

ii Digestive Reader ii