Chapter 30 Every Other One


PADME POV

Padme Naberrie Amadala glanced worriedly out the window of her senatorial apartment. In her small delicate hands she caressed a mug of hot tea, soothing and pooling warmth inside of her. She was dressed in blue nightwear gown, ready to get some rest after a tiring, but progressive, day.

With all the unusual happenings going around and the war it worried her. But she, Senator Padme Naberrie Amadala, former queen of Naboo, idol for many, wife of one, must stay strong. She was rather optimistic in these times. As optimism was something everyone needs, what everyone looks for. With that strong hope in her bosom for a bright future for the republic and for her one and only love, her Annie, who had grown so much from whence she had first encountered him on that fateful day, she glanced once again at the dark sky, the unusual storm receding.

ANAKIN POV

He had recently boarded the red and white Venator class Republic Attack Cruiser, also known as a Jedi Cruiser, not too long ago with Obi Wan. Now headed to some unknown destination on some planet in which he hadn't even bothered to study or learn about. Seriously though, Obi just loves to cuddle up with the locals doesn't he? It's quite meaningless and a complete waste of time to attempt to learn about every single planet we go to. No one has time for that. Must be master's age. He propped himself on the little bed in the small room he had recently become acquainted with. It was a comfy little space. But a bit too small for his liking.

Then his thoughts wandered away to someone else.

He felt good. He actually felt okay with leaving Coruscant.

As in, deep inside of him, he knew she would be safe. The force sang it as so.

She would be safe.

LUKE POV

What is the product of nightmares?

What makes it intuition that draws us to believe them at times?

He had heard nothing more. The dripping of fresh black rain had faded long ago. Talon's warmth had mixed with his until the two were indistinguishable. Everything was dark.

Safe in comfort, so never be afraid of the dark.

"Where we are"… "Where we are?"

He was gliding over the desert, walking on the surface, but not trudging, not sinking. Dunes rose and rose up against dark purple skies. Contrasting simplicity. In the distance there was a moisture farm. There was a land of ice. There was a forest. There was a vast city. There was a world of oceans. There was a sparkling lake in the most beautiful landscape he had ever seen. There was a seemingly empty field of odd grass under a bad dead moon. There was another place and another. Until they were all indistinguishable from the other. He glided past them all until… there was no essence.

He was lost. But among being among the lost he was able to utter, "I'm totally lost. I don't know what to do."

May no one ever become familiar with those words!

"Such horrid words," he deathly whispered.

PADME POV

Rain weeped down the glass panes in silent cool streams.

With only hope, can we succeed. With only hope, there will be those left to believe. In these uncertain times, with these uncertain desperate please, can we only hope, then it will be possible to prevail. For it will be the reality, eventually. To stay steady on one's own two feet. To never give up, nor to stray.

Placing the mug on the counter she strode, graceful in all steps, in all movements, to the veranda overlooking the soft glistening ways of the city and all the lights produced from them. Recent unusual rain shone them all watery clear colors. Painting a glassy sky.

ANAKIN POV

He yawned, then sat up, then lay back down, then sat up, then moved positions, then roughly fluffed the pillow, then plopped down, then turned sideways, then turned the other way around, then almost fell off the bed, with the world upside down. He squinted as a sudden spear of yellow light flooded though as the crack in the door was swung open. A pair of much too familiar brown boots walked into his vision.

"Anakin, you should really get some rest," came that voice he had come to know ever since he was small.

His hand twitched.

"I'm not tired," he grumbled.

"If you do not rest now, you will be," Obi Wan chided lightly, looking down at the sprawled out figure.

Yes master, oh great one, whatever you wish is my command you highness he inwardly joked. But outwardly he gruffly responded with, "Not right now, I'm thinking."

"Padme," he quietly sighed.

"What did you say," inquired the observant master.

"N-nothing," he quipped

Obi Wan gave a small smile, shook his head, and headed out.

"Hey! Master," he whined. "You forgot to close the door!"

The yellow light streaming though bothered him so much so. He preferred darkness right now.

Obi wan backtracked and with parting words of goodnight, shut the door, leaving him alone in the dark. The only possible light spilled dimly from the small rectangular window ahead of him.

LUKE POV

He ran. Tried to run. But not being able to move.

He was struck with a sudden realization. I'm in a dream. That's it, isn't it? I'm in a dream.

But still he gasped out, sides hurting, and ran out of the darkness that surrounded him. Desperately ran from the things that chased him. The things that lurked unseen.

Wide blue eyes, crazed eyes, he tripped over his own feet, again and again.

In the distance he could see it: warm golden yellow light, towards the center almost shone white. Pure. Comfort. Safety. All dreams. Achievements. Unfulfilled wishes of all. It was there. He fled there.

To that place.

With wide yellow eyes, crazed eyes, he tumbled over his own feet, again and again and again.

A stupid hopeful smile plastered on his face, like a mask of insanity. A mask that only stayed when there were hopes and dreams that were still believed. Believed to be achieved.

With green eyes wide and crazed, a stupid smile plastered on his face, hair wild and unruly. He hastened after that white warm yellow light. So clear it was to me now. Ever faltering in his gait. Almost there, he was almost there! Arm outstretched to touch, to reach, that glorious bright yellow warm light, it was everything perfect this world.

Hand outstretch reached for it.

He fell.

He was all alone now. In the dark, it seemed. No, it was.

Forced to look up at those clear dirty blue skies he forced the shovel into the soil, digging the grave.

Atop buildings, atop cities.

Horror clawed at his chest.

Warm brown hair, everything kind and wonderful in those chocolaty comforting eyes. Dressed in white. "Are you an angel?" He reached desperately out to grab the two of them.

They were gone.

Sunk on his knees. Head held in hands for despair.

Distorted perverted darkness enclosed. In it he felt horror clutching at his heart. Horror for her. Something was not right. Something is not right! Something was wrong. Something is wrong! Help!

PAMDE POV

Soft brown eyes turning skyward; she searched with just those luminescent eyes.

Oh Anakin. Be Safe.

Be strong, my Annie, as I know you are.

Leaning against one of the statues that decorated her veranda she whispered it once again, voice full with caring emotion...

ANAKIN POV

Stars; faraway galaxies; faraway places shone through that small rectangular space.

He glanced longingly out the window and sighed that one name once more...

LUKE POV

"I need to go," he sobbed.

Desperately, to his horror, he wrenched at her draping white cloak, its horrible head slowly creaked, and instead of the lovely pale face and hair of warm wonderful brown hair, instead of the warm right lightful brightful brown eyes, it was-

PADME POV

"Anakin," she voiced out.

ANAKIN POV

"Padme," he sighed.

LUKE POV

"Mother!" he shrieked.

OTHER POV

"Senator," it stated.

TALON POV

"Luke?"

PADME POV

She whipped around to the sound of that cold voice. In the dark recesses of the doorway there lay a shadow. It watched her. Then dipped forward. Something shown silver in its dreadful claw.

LUKE POV

He woke up screaming. No, screeching, drenched in sweat and shivering violent.

"What was that!?"

He hugged himself tightly. Sinking more deeper to his knees on the hard floor. Despair.

Why?! His heart wrenched.

But he couldn't remember no matter how hard he tried as the dream- No, a nightmare, faded rapidly from his mind's memory! All he was left with now was a horrible feeling of apprehension. He felt Talon rise from slumber and attempt to comfort him.

"That face," he breathed. "That horrible face!" he moaned out, clawing at his own.

MOTHER! He screamed out into the force, clutching the throbbing sides of his head.

Something was happening. No- something is going to happen!

PADME! MOTHER! She was in trouble.

"Luke." Talon's voice broke through his panicked state. "What's wrong?"

"Talon," he pleaded. "Padme's in trouble. Mother's in danger!"

"Do you know where she is," Talon's calm voice soothed.

The terror bird tried to hug him close but he jumped up. Pacing he realized in horror, "No. No! I don't know where she is!"

He reached out for her, the nonexistent mother of his. "I can't find her," he half whimpered, sinking back down to his knees in despair. "How could I! How could I! She's not force sensitive!" he moaned looking up at Talon with that heartbroken gaze. I can't lose her.

That horrible feeling grew stronger, deeper, it clawed at his heart.

A force cry born from his soul burst forth in the call one made to the one who birthed them.

"Luke. Luke," Talon wrapped around him, shushing him. "Calm down."

He couldn't stop breathing. So much breathing. Hyperventilating! Don't panic. Don't panic! Calm down! "Calm down. Calm down…," he breathed out.

Rain blew down out there, mocking his cries.

PADME POV

She was thrown back.

Pain exploded in her shoulder.

Grimacing she clutched it, finding an elongated blade pinning her to the side of a statue that sat heavily upon the veranda. The shadow fell closer to its prey.

Blood seeped out of the wound, falling, dripping like the rain to the floor, staining it red in pretty ruby puddles.

The shadow lunged at her.

She gripped the blade. Ripped it out of herself. Gasping she ducked as another blade pierced the pillar where her heart had been.

Suddenly slipping between her assailants legs she made a dash for it, tumbling up the stairs.

Reaching under a hidden space in the furniture on the veranda, a black blaster flashed in her small hands against the city's dazzling lights.

She fired.

LUKE POV

"Luke. Luke," Talon voiced strongly.

He shivered, and glanced up. The terror bird burned deep into him with those red apple eyes.

"Concentrate Luke," the voice soothed.

"Concentrate. You can find her. I know you can."

"B-but she's not force s-sensitive. I can't do it," he whimpered amidst the deep cold that had settled in around them. Talon quickly swatted it away and drenched them with his warmth of presence.

"Yes you can. It doesn't matter if she's force sensitive or not. Only you can find her, and that is through the deep connection you share. The connection ingrained in the very force itself between a mother and her force sensitive offspring, her son, only plausible because you and your father are so powerful. And you inherited such great power. Now concentrate. You can do it. You can find her."

He blinked, then shakily nodded.

"O-okay," he hiccupped.

"Allow me to lend you some of my power and with that that you wield you will find her."

He sniffled, then shut his eyes, and searched, calming and becoming more confident now. He searched out, far and wide. The expanse of the city was huge. All beings were threatening to overwhelm him with their own voices in life. Talon's light presence surged into him and he in turn surged that power and his own power out into a connection. A deeply ingrained connection. Into the force he sought for Padme. He sought for his mother.

To defy all odds.

Show me my mother. Please. Help me find my mother. With a cry born from his very soul he accompanied the force, the light of the force, a companion now to him as it embraced him and helped him, together with that lightness, he weaved through the folds and past all visible and non-real entities to the one who he sought that dreary dreadful night.

The storm fled.

The sky bled.

Lights became blurs.

Blue nightgown flowed in the breeze.

Chocolate brown hair rolled past dainty shoulders.

Small body of stature fought with visible distress.

Soft brown eyes looked up.

And sparkled with the unconscious knowledge that…

Determined blue eyes shot open.

He found her.