Chapter 12

Their travel days proved uneventful, where as their nights were passionate explorations.

Padmé was delighted to find Anakin an enthusiastic and adventurous lover, whose skill equaled his confidence. He drew responses from her she'd never imagined. To her surprise, their encounters did little beyond whet her appetite for him and that hunger grew instead of receding.

It was a refreshing change from the previous men in her life.

Anakin for his part, once released from her restrictions, was able to focus himself once more. Attentive and devoted during the night, his senses spread wide to look for Danger, he focused himself solely on business during the daylight hours.

Padmé surprised herself by following his lead, keeping her hands to herself even though she continued to bait him. He seemed to enjoy it as much as she did, throwing double entendre back and forth like a high velocity game of grav ball.

It passed the time, and, when there was little more to do than sit together on the back of the suubatar - they'd never bothered to waste the time to find and catch a second one - they simply enjoyed the silence of each other's company. A silence that was as charged as their conversations, so the silences rarely lasted longer than a few minutes.

On the second night they camped near the place of the shan's attack and Padmé knew Anakin was thinking about that night by the look he gave her. She deliberately taunted him once camp was set up, enjoying a good laugh at his expense before he finally drowned her little rebellion in kisses. They finished what they started by the light of the moons, ending up in the stream at the end to wash one another and begin the process all over again.

The shan were mercifully absent during the night and Padmé slept soundly in Anakin's arms. She wasn't aware of his hyper-charged reactions, nor of the way he left her sleeping several times through the darkest hours to check their camp and for pursuit.

She was well rested when she work the following morning and, upon finding him still sleeping, proceeded to wake him in her own unique way. He didn't protest, simply gave in to her ministrations and allowed her to take the lead. Which she did whole heartedly.

It wasn't until they had finished packing up camp and were back on the suubatar, only several hours from the city's perimeter, that Padmé broached the subject they'd mostly avoided in the interest of exploring one another.

"I don't suppose you have a backup plan in the event my ship's been impounded without cause, Master Jedi?"

"You're the tactician," was his easy response. "I decided to leave the planning up to you."

"An improviser, are you?"

The look he short her was heated. "You seem to have enjoyed it thus far."

"If you expect me to blush like a school girl, Skywalker, you're going to be sadly disappointed."

"Ah, but I do know how to get you to blush, Padmé; and I now know you blush all over."

She smirked. "Nice try, Jedi. Besides, I'm not the only one who blushes from ear tips to..." her eyes slid downward suggestively, "to toes. And you blush far more easily than I."

"Touché, Captain."

"Maybe later." She turned back to the matter fast approaching them. "For now we should concentrate on how we're going to get inside the walls and to the space port without being spotted, arrested or killed. Any tricks left in your bag, Skywalker?"

"A few. I was thinking a Force disguise."

"Force disguise?" Padmé couldn't keep the skeptical note from her voice. "You jest."

"It's relatively simple for one with my training. Only it's difficult to maintain when the person looking at you is possibly aware of the deception."

"Vetoed on that score. The last thing I need is someone I believe doesn't recognize me to grab me unawares." She shook her head. "Neat trick, but let's move on. Anything else?"

"I could use the trick from back in the canyon."

"When we're in closer, it might come in handy. Any ideas for getting us into the city?"

"You're the native, Padmé. Don't you have any ideas?"

She smirked. "Admitting us Smugglers have our uses, Master Jedi?"

"I always knew you had your uses, Captain," he told her pointedly. "I just never expected them to be so diverse."

She snickered. "You never had me pegged, lover boy; admit it, I'm still a mystery to you."

"One I'm enjoying thoroughly."

She grinned at his veiled compliment. "Thank you. Likewise. Alright, I'll get us into the city; I've got contacts I've used for this sort of thing before that will come in handy."

"This sort of thing?" Anakin echoed her statement amused. "You've been chased by clones following the orders of a corrupt leader before, have you?"

"A similar situation with the native tribes. Just trust me."

"If I haven't proven I do by now, Padmé, nothing I do ever will."

---------

Anakin's words refused to leave her be as she planned their entrance into the city and tried to keep her mind focused.

But they echoed softly no matter what she was doing or who she spoke with. If she was looking through her macro binoculars, she saw his hurt expression. If she was listening for sounds of pursuit, she heard the pain in the words. If she closed her eyes, she could feel the words ricocheting through her system like a blaster bolt.

She'd hurt him with a casual phrase, one she used more than she cared to admit and mean it, and not done it deliberately.

"Anything yet?"

"Nothing." She settled back against the rise of the hill behind which they'd hidden, throwing her macro binoculars towards him in disgust.

"You seem distracted."

She slanted him a sour look. "If I am, it's your fault."

"You picked a lousy time to become riveted on me, Captain," he teased. "Three weeks ago would have saved us all this trouble."

"And become fairly awkward once you learned about Karrin." She tilted her head back to look at the sky, letting the perpetual breeze tease the blush of warmth from her cheeks. "It's what you said, Skywalker."

"Which part?"

"About trusting me and needing to prove it." She didn't look at him, but she could feel the intensity of his gaze like a physical thing. "You don't have to, you know. I know you trust me."

"Do you now?"

She cracked one eye. "I trust you just like you trust me - as far as I can throw you."

He smirked. "That's pretty far with the Force as my ally."

"Exactly." She finally turned her head to face him once more and met his gaze head on. "Back in the canyon I let you toss me about like the feed bag for the suubatar and didn't object for a moment."

"I was saving our lives; I didn't think you'd mind."

"I didn't and I don't. That's the point."

"That you like being man handled," he grinned smugly. "In more ways than one?"

"That I didn't complain." Her look was pointedly serious. "I'm attempting to have a serious discussion with you, Master Jedi."

"Novelty number one today." He schooled his expression into what she called his 'Jedi' mask and gave her his full attention. "My apologies, Padmé."

She searched his features for a long minute before deciding he was serious. "You don't find it just a little odd that this backwater Smuggler who trusts no one because of her history doesn't have a problem trusting her life to a Jedi?"

"Not really. We're very trustworthy."

"Most Jedi are." She poked him in the chest with a half-smile. "You're not one of them. Karrin proved that; and despite the revelation I find myself willing to trust you anyway. How strange is that?"

"Not strange. Maybe you've just realized how much you want to keep me in your life."

"Or maybe I just don't want to hurt you." She looked back towards the suubatar before looking into the sky to judge the time. "Look, Skywalker, I'm just trying to say I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you by my off comment. If I did, it was nothing personal, alright?"

"Just keeping your guard up, Captain?"

She shrugged, pulling a datapad and uplink connector from her pocket, but didn't answer. She didn't have any guards left when it came to him. He just didn't know it yet.

---------

Their entry into the city was as unsanitary as Padmé had warned him it would be.

Neck deep in waste, they'd waded through the underground treatment lines and into the plant, the outside grate having been lifted by someone she knew on the inside.

Anakin had watched her make remote deposits to her contacts for several hours after silently accepting her apology. He hadn't asked questions, though his nose had wrinkled with distaste when she described where they'd have to enter the city.

The sewage routes, primitive but effective, leading to the main treatment plant outside the city would provide them with both cover and safe passage. No Evil Emperor who'd been a Jedi would believe a Jedi Master, especially one as fastidious as Master Skywalker, would even consider using the sewage routes. Not even as a last resort.

But Padmé wasn't betting on it. She kept her blaster clear of the muck, knowing from experience that if she dunked it, the smell would linger for weeks. Anakin followed her lead, keeping his lightsaber just out of it, and they made good time.

Their suubatar and remaining supplies had been sheltered in a valley near the city where Padmé would have Hulgar - if he was still alive - retrieve the animal to sell for his own profits. Despite its double load, it had made better time back to the city than expected and Padmé was hoping it meant things would go in their favor.

Thus far, as they slid deeper into the sludge and rounded one of the bends against the flow. A ledge, shadowed in the nearly non-existent light, appeared around one corner and Padmé nodded towards it. Anakin veered off, making the ledge first and looking about cautiously. Then, with barely a whisper and a soft sucking sound, he pulled himself from the stream of waste. Padmé followed, accepting one of his hands and linking hers around his wrist before hauling herself free. She flashed him a smile of thanks before crouching next to the wall.

She peered cautiously around the corner and waved the barrel of her blaster once she was sure the way was clear. Anakin moved forward silently, not even the soles of his boots making the soft squishing sounds that usually accompanied a dive into the sewage tanks. She felt her lips kick into an admiring grin. The man had skills.

She waited until Anakin was in place next to the grate that led from this level into the next, and then darted down to join him. She slid to her knees beside him, leaving trails of brown and black goo where her legs touched the ground, and peered up into the darkness. She nodded after a minute, satisfied and then moved back against the wall.

She leaned in close, keeping an eye out for dangers, almost putting her lips right against his ear to avoid having the noise travel. "This is one of the vents for drain water - no sewage. If we're lucky, we'll get a shower before we reach street level."

His grin when she pulled away was all the appreciate she needed for her thought out plan. She'd initially intended to bribe her way deeper into the facility, but the exits were few and far between - and the last time she'd had no choice. A Jedi with a lightsaber - especially a Jedi Master - increased ones choices exponentially. She motioned for him to ignite it, making a slashing motion at the grate.

Anakin did so, cutting the pieces free at an angle so they could be replaced once they were through.

Padmé untied a synth rope from her belt, one of the only pieces of equipment she'd opted to keep, and tied it first around her own waist and then ducked in first. She clung to the inside of the grate with agility she could see surprised him. She grinned, motioning him to come through.

He did, replacing the grate before looking up to see where they were.

Padmé didn't bother. She knew the lay out; they were three levels down from the surface in a series of twists and turns that'd have to navigate before making their way to freedom. Climbing the grate, she paused at the top and looked pointedly to him.

Anakin followed her lead and then, with an agility she hadn't thought possible, gracefully lifted his lightsaber into the air and nicked hand hold sized slots in the wall. He continued to do so until the lightsaber reached the first of the tunnels before deactivating it and calling it back to his hand. He hooked it back to his belt and then confidently began scaling the side.

Padmé was right behind him, wondering just how far the sound of a lightsaber would travel in the open tunnels.

She was pleasantly surprised to find no one waiting for them when they reached the first cross section, hauling themselves up onto a slightly sloped walkway. Anakin had to hunch to avoid hitting his head and she flashed him a smile before starting off, once again in the lead. She felt, more than heard, him follow as she planted her feet carefully on the slightly slick surface.

They made good time up the sloped waterway, Padmé feeling the hairs on the back of her neck beginning to stand on end as she moved. Not from the sensation of being watched, but the feeling that their time was running out. A dull roar was building ahead of them and she quickened her pace, keeping her eyes on the lip of the tunnel ahead and the grate that sprang upwards from it.

She was barely feet away when the torrent she'd been expecting and dreading crashed into her and sent her hurtling back into the tunnel.

Water was all around her, tossing her like a leaf in the wind as the torrential forces dragged her backwards and downwards. The sudden, sharp tug about her waist pushed what little air was left in her lungs from them and she inhaled water on reflex. Sputtering, gagging, blinded by the water threatening to tear her from her life line, she flailed for any kind of purchase. Something, anything that would give her a way out.

Suddenly a hand grabbed her by the back of the belt, hauling her from the downpour. She coughed, sputtering as she gagged and spat up water. A gentle hand on her back rubbed circles as her body heaved against the invasion and she gasped in gulps of air to burning lungs.

"I knew you wanted a shower, Padmé. I just hadn't expected you to go so far to get one."

She laughed weakly, coughing up more water. "There are worse things to take a swim in Skywalker. At least I'm clean."

"Inside and out. Feel better?"

She nodded, closing her eyes as she struggled to find strength. That had been close. If she hadn't been wearing the rope, she'd have been cast to the bottom and out of the city into the underground rivers. She shuddered; too close.

"Padmé?"

"I'm fine." She opened her eyes and forced herself to meet his gaze, going so far as to accept the hand he offered her to stand. "Just a little breathless."

"I have that effect."

He winked at her, but she could see the concern lurking in his blue eyes despite the dim light. "Where are we?"

Anakin nodded behind her and she turned, grinning when she saw the grate and the water now slowing to a trickle on the other side. "It's good to be a Jedi."

"Sometimes." He agreed. "I figure we've got enough time to make it to the next grate if we hurry - without repeating the last part where you go for a swim."

"I'm clean; I think one dousing is enough for one day."

He squeezed her shoulder before ducking back into the grate and sending his lightsaber upwards to begin cutting handholds for them.

Seeing him distracted, she leaned wearily against the grate, just out of his direct line of sight and exhaled a shaky breath. Too close; much too close. She slammed one fist backwards into the wall, silently cursing herself. She'd been showing off for him, trying to prove she could outdo him in certain areas and forgotten about the set times between water ejections. Some were worse than others, but unless you were holding onto a grate you could easily be swept into the depths.

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

She pushed away from the wall, silently resolving to be more careful. Showing off to Anakin would produce few benefits if they were dead.