Chapter Edited 21/03/2013
A/N : Hey guys ! 100 reviews and 33k+ hits ! Thank you all! Many of you liked the idea of Harry/Aayla/Padmé, and it being quite tempting, the paring will be Harry/Padmé only. Padmé's greatest challenge is to get her hands on our Harry before Aayla .^^ And with that, I say enjoy !
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Chapter 6 : Second Chances
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After Harry received a warning and a kiss on the cheek from Aayla, the two Blacks flew away from the Jedi Temple. Harry was still surprised by her confession. She had really expressed her interest in him. But how he succeeded in making her fall for him in such a short time was still a mystery for the young Black. Sirius had talked about a woman magnet thing, but he was being...well...Sirius. But the main question was about something else...What will he do now that he knew about Aayla's feelings?
Sure, she was a very beautiful woman; she was a Jedi Master, a big plus, but...was he really ready for a relationship? He wasn't that sure...
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Padmé had just finished her communication with her Nabooian friend. Jar Jar Binks had agreed to go to the Private meeting in her stead in two days. Now that she had no more political matters to think about for one week until the main meeting, she should think about important things, like repairing her relationship with Anakin.
Before, she considered him a good friend, he had saved her planet after all, but now that she met him after so many years, she had to admit he was attractive. He wasn't the excited little boy anymore. He was a Jedi, a powerful Jedi, if what people say was true. And she was dear to him.
Yes…she knew that he was attracted by her. And she would lie, if she said that she wasn't attracted by him, too. And now, her feelings for him had only strengthened. She had a complete faith in him, and would do everything in her power to make their relationship work.
She was smiling, when someone knocked on the door. Padmé stood up and opened it. There stood her handmaiden.
"Cordé, enter."
"Thank you, Senator."
"Ohh, how many times do I have to say, to call me Padmé? We are not in the Senate, nor in the presence of other people." Amidala said with a sigh.
"I'm sorry; it's just a question of habit." Cordé said. "So how are you?"
"Good." Padmé answered with a smile.
"Good?" the incredulous handmaiden asked. "I thought that after all that happened, you would be furious!"
"But I'm not Cordé, is it a crime to feel good?"
"What did Anakin want?" the handmaiden asked not deeming it necessary to answer the rhetorical question.
"Just came to say sorry and to give me some advice, and to say the truth, I do think he has valid points. He is right to be suspicious about the two Blacks. We know close to nothing about them. I shouldn't have trusted them and accepted their offer."
"But they saved us all!" Cordé exclaimed. "Without them we would be dead!"
"Anakin thinks that they were the ones that put the bomb under the ship. To make us believe them, once they 'Save' us."
Cordé's mouth was opened in a small 'o'. She couldn't believe what she was hearing! Padmé taking advices from Anakin?! The same young man that was the reason of her anger only a few hours ago? And she didn't believe the Blacks? What was going on? Padmé was behaving strangely.
"What about Anakin?" Cordé asked, already guessing the answer.
"I think that, I am in love..." the Senator said in a whisper.
"In-In lov...I think that I should go, Mister Harry Black should be back by now, I...I will delay him until you find a...a way to deal with them." Cordé said, and not waiting for an answer, left the room. She had to talk to Knight Obi-Wan, or the Blacks, if they were back; something was really strange with Padmé...
After the door closed, Amidala began thinking of ways to deal with the Blacks, but suddenly her mind got blank and she blinked for several seconds...Where was she? What had happened? She was lost, something wasn't... And as sudden as it came, she returned to her previous state of mind, like the little lapse hadn't happened at all. Ah, yes, the Black matter...
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Sirius and Harry had just left their Starfighter and were approaching the high blue building where resided the Senator, when the younger Black stopped on his tracks and a frown appeared on his face.
"What is it?" Sirius asked.
"I sensed someone in the vicinity."
"Well, that's normal, people are everywhere on this planet."
"No, someone was spying on us." Harry said with a frown. He turned his head to the right and narrowed his eyes. "Go ahead and stay with the Senator, I think I will investigate."
"Harry…" Sirius began.
"There!" his godson cried out, and pointing his hand forward, unleashed a wave of Force. And not a second later, a silhouette was launched ten yards back. Sirius eyes widened. There was someone invisible spying on them!
"Go to the Senator and protect her!" Harry cried out and dashed toward the spy, without waiting for an answer.
Sirius, not wanting it to be said twice, rapidly entered the building and ran toward Amidala's quarters on one of the highest levels.
The young Black, for his part dashed behind the intruder. The person was in a complete black body suit, and judging by its curves was a female. And she was running very fast! Harry raised his right hand forward and sent a Force mind manipulation toward her. But nothing happened. It was like she didn't have a conscious mind...ah...a droid then. He closed his eyes and concentrated with his Far-sight. He sensed the rapidly escaping robot, and focused more on its body. It was like he was seeing every fiber of the electronic and metallic structure. And with a thought, Harry crushed all the circuits in its limbs, making the human looking droid fall flat on the ground. Using the Force again, he made the body fly toward him. A shape-shifting spy droid then. He should show it to Obi-Wan; he would know what to do with it.
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Sirius rapidly knocked on Amidala's quarter's door. Obi-Wan opened the said door and smiled a little.
"So, how was it?" he asked not seeing the serious face on the older Black face.
"How is the Senator?" Sirius hurriedly asked.
"Fine, what's the matter?"
"Someone was spying on us. Harry detected and is now surely interrogating him. He sent me here to make sure that she was alright."
"Come in then, we'll wait for him."
Sirius nodded and walked through the door.
They entered the living-room, and not a second later, Cordé ran into them.
"Knight Kenobi! Mister Black! You've returned." she exclaimed.
"Cordé? What is it?" Sirius asked.
"Nothing...s-so...how was the meeting?"
"Not very good. They didn't believe us. They said something about deliberating and then making us know, through Knight Kenobi. How is the Senator?"
"Oh!..Eum..Good!"
Sirius frowned, something was going on. But right now, more important matters were at hand. And like reading his mind, the matter itself walked through the door. And he wasn't alone. A woman's body was floating behind Harry.
"Harry, who is..."
"The spy." his godson interrupted him with a monotonous voice.
"What is she doing...-"
"She...is a droid." Harry said. "With invisibility powers."
"The RT4-H Spy droid." Obi-Wan stated after hearing the young Black's explanation.
"Can you examine it and find who sent it to spy on us?" Harry asked him. "I think we should strike them before they try another method to assassinate the Senator."
"I will do what I can." the Knight answered.
"Alright, I think I will go rest for a bit. Those fights tore me a little." Harry said, and after putting the droid to the ground, walked toward an unused room.
"What fights?" the older Jedi asked, rising an eyebrow.
"That gorgeous Twi'lek, Aayla Secura, was so over him, that she requested a little fight, that he won by the way." Sirius explained with a smirk. "And I think he impressed her big deal, if the kiss she gave him was any indication." he continued, and laughed at the shocked expression on the Jedi's face.
Aayla had kissed him? And she was interested in him? Sure she loved to break rules, but to actually show affection was...well...forbidden. He would talk to her later. Now, he would examine the droid. And with that, he walked toward the room he shared with Anakin.
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Only seconds after Harry entered the room, he heard a knock on the door. Rolling his eyes as he lied on a bed, he gave a wave of his hand opened the door.
There stood the Senator's Handmaiden, with a worried look on her face. She entered and the door closed behind her.
"Hello Cordé. What is the matter?"
"Mister Black…" she began.
"Call me Harry, I'm not a politician." he said with a smile.
"Alright, Harry. I came here because I think that something is wrong with Senator Amidala."
"What exactly makes you think that?"
"I don't know...she is behaving strangely."
"Like what?" Harry asked.
"She isn't angry with Anakin anymore; she is even listening to his advices..."
"What advices?"
"Like not trusting you." she answered. "And she...she said that...that..."
"What, Cordé?"
"She is in love with Anakin."
They stayed in silence.
"She had feelings for him, hadn't she?" Harry asked.
"Yes...she was more or less attracted to him. But to love him...after so little time. It's a little strange for the Senator."
Harry frowned. 'Looks like a Force mind trick to me' he thought. But better keep that a secret for now.
"Alright, I will go see her." the younger Black said, and stood up.
"Be cautious. She may react a little aggressive toward you." Cordé advised.
"Don't worry about me." he said with a charming smile, and left the room.
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Harry knocked on the Senator's room door. A few seconds later, she stood before him with narrowed eyes.
"What do you want, Mister Black?" she asked.
"I need to talk to you." the Force user said, and not waiting for permission, walked in her room and sat down on a sofa.
"Don't you think your actions are out of place?" an indignant Amidala asked.
"You are too stressed, Padmé." Harry said.
"Padmé!? I don't remember allowing you to call me by my name!"
"Sit down." Harry said, and with a wave of his hand, she was launched next to him on the sofa.
"How dare you!?"
"Calm down, I'm here to help you."
"I don't need help, and surely not yours!"
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Why do you hate me so much out of a sudden?"
"Because...because…" Padmé began, but words couldn't come.
"Strange, isn't it? You have so much hate and distrust for me, but you can't find a reason."
"I...I…just know that you can't be trusted!"
"Your mind thinks that, but your heart says otherwise." Harry calmly said.
"You don't know what you're talking about!"
"You are being manipulated. You have to fight it."
"Nonsense!" the Senator cried out, standing. "And now leave my room!"
Harry stood up and with a thought, froze her. Very slowly he approached Amidala and looked her in the eyes. She had some sort of power; he could sense the Force around her and hoped that she could fight the mind trick.
"Fight it." he said.
"Let me go!"
"Fight it! Break the influence in your mind!"
"Let me go!" Padmé cried out, and tried again to free herself, but she was still frozen and couldn't move.
"Listen to you heart, Padmé." Harry whispered to her.
She was really angry. Being in such a position, restrained, was more than humiliating. But the last sentence awoke something in her. Something strong...something powerful...
The Senator's eyes glazed over. Her face became blank for a second and finally she awoke.
She was lost; the surprise was obvious on her face. She looked around and observed that Harry was standing only inches from her.
'What had happened? She couldn't remember anything! Why was she alone with the young Black, and why was he so close to her? Had she done something inappropriate? Oh God!'
Seeing the distressed expression on the Senator, Harry finally decided to speak.
"I don't think that having a date now would be safe a thing, Senator." Harry said with a smile. "Maybe sometime later, when all that 'vote' danger is behind us?"
"Date? What date?" a surprised Padmé asked.
"Well the Date, that just a minute ago you asked me for." Harry explained. "Aayla wouldn't like that, though." he continued, like talking to himself. "But I can't refuse, you were quite...persuasive." he finished with a smirk. "Don't say you forgot what you said a minute ago!"
Horror was evident on her face.
"No! No…I...didn't forget. My mind was elsewhere." she said.
Harry raised an eyebrow. Oh how right she was.
"Well, I will go then." the young Force user said. "Goodbye."
Padmé was still shocked. What was that about? She should talk to Cordé.
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Harry left the room and his smile disappeared. At the last second he had decided to keep that mind manipulation a secret, for now. Starting a conflict wouldn't be a good thing. But he would have to talk to Anakin and shake him a little. 'He may hate me, but that little stunt of his was completely out of place.'
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Anakin was helping Obi-Wan to examine the droid, when suddenly he couldn't sense his slight connection with Padmé anymore. What had happened? She couldn't have broken the connection by herself, could she? No, that was unlikely. Something was really off, and he should better go and verify.
"It's like that Black said. That droid is a modified version of RT4-H, with upgraded spying abilities." he said to his master. "They are mainly used by the Coruscant security agents."
"Why would they spy on them?" Obi-Wan asked. "Maybe the Blacks weren't actually the real target? Maybe it was spying on Padmé?"
"It's a possibility." his padawan said. "I will go. I have to talk to her." he opened the door and was going to walk away, when the Knight stopped him.
"Anakin,...don't do anything stupid like your little stunt on the spaceship." he said, talking about the young padawan's try to mind trick him. "One day, because of your reckless moves, you would cause a great conflict, and even your incredible power won't save you."
Anakin nodded and left the room. He was walking toward Padmé's quarters, when suddenly he was thrown into a room by a wave of the Force. What the hell? He hadn't even sensed the arriving attack!
He quickly stood up and taking a hold of his lightsaber, looked around the room. At the door stood Harry Black. His eyes narrowed.
"What is the meaning of this?" the young Jedi asked.
"You are an idiot." Harry coldly answered. "Don't you ever think of your actions beforehand?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You can hate me all you want, I don't really mind, but think, before doing stupid things that could lead to a conflict or even a war!"
"I didn't do anything stupid!"
"Oh, really? Then what do you call a Force mind manipulation you've done on the Senator? A friendly gesture?"
Anakin's eyes widened. How did he know? Had the Black discovered that the mind trick he had put on Padmé was overpowered by the one Anakin made? Well, that's even better then. That way he would know not to mess with him.
"I only countered your own mind trick!" the Jedi retorted.
"My mind trick? What nonsense."
"You know very well what I'm talking about! You manipulated Padmé to make her trust you! I don't know what you were planning to do, but I sure as Hell will not let you harm my loved ones!" Anakin cried out.
"You think that I used the Force to make her trust me? Oh come on! The only thing that's left is that you accuse me of being the one that put the bomb under her ship!" Harry exclaimed not really believing his ears. But seeing Anakin's expression, his face became grim. "You do think I was the one that put the bomb under the ship." the young Black stated.
Anakin reminded quiet. Harry sighed and his expression changed, it became more relaxed.
"I don't blame you from being suspicious of me, and your desire to protect your loved ones is noble, but for God's sake, don't do such reckless things." Harry simply said.
The young Force user was surprised and it could be easily seen on his face.
"You've made a big mistake by trying to mind trick the senator. Haven't you thought that if discovered, such an act could lead to a war between Naboo and the Jedi, or even your execution?" the young Black continued. "Couldn't you find a better solution? Like confronting me, or spying on me to find if I was really a threat?"
Anakin couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"I will answer that question for you."-Harry said. "You were jealous...jealous that a perfect stranger had gained so much trust in such a short time. Jealous that the Senator would be more interested in me because 'I' saved her and not you. You have feelings for her, and her trust in another man was making you furious. That's very simple. Feelings lead to love, love to obsession, obsession to jealousy, jealousy to anger, and anger leads you to the Dark side of the Force."
The young Black stared at Anakin and continued. "Your obsession with Amidala leaded you to jealousy and that blinded you. You weren't thinking straight. That jealousy pushed you to do a dangerous thing. To mind trick the woman you love...A human can go very far when he thinks that his actions are for the better. I'm not your enemy, Anakin. We are brothers by the Force. And I'm here to protect the Senator. Don't make an enemy out of me."
The young Jedi was at loss of words. But finally he spoke.
"Yes,...I agree that my actions were horrible. I...don't know what got into me..."
"You are too driven by your emotions. You are a Jedi; they shouldn't lead your actions." Harry stated. Anakin wanted to protest but stopped himself.
"I don't agree with the Jedi Code; everyone needs emotions, but they are right about one thing: they lead you to the Dark side." the Black said. "I don't ask you to throw away your emotions for the Senator, but get them in check, or you will regret it dearly later."
Anakin wasn't very sure of himself. The Black wasn't behaving like he thought he would. He seemed really sincere about Padmé's protection.
"I haven't revealed your mind trick to the Senator. She knows nothing about what happened." Harry said and made the Jedi's eyes go wide. "You owe me a big one." he continued with a dangerous smirk. "I will go now. Be careful..."
"The spy-droid was sent by the Coruscant security agents." Anakin said.
Harry nodded and with that left the room. Anakin for his part was still surprised. This Harry Black was really a strange one. But he would give him a chance, after all, he himself was given a second chance.
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Harry was walking back toward the room he was using, when he crossed Cordé on his path. Another little problem...
"I'm sorry." he said and without letting her a chance to do anything, he waived his hand before her face, while saying 'Forget the discussions you had with Padmé and myself'.
The handmaiden blinked several times and looked around.
"Mister Black? I heard that your meeting with the Jedi Council wasn't a very good one." she said after a while.
"Indeed Cordé. But don't worry about that, and you can call me Harry." he said with a smile. "I will go lie down, need a bit of rest."
And with that, the young Force user walked away. It was better to erase any memories of her discussion with the Senator. It wouldn't be a good thing if Padmé got suspicious of Anakin. Or worse, that someone discovered Anakin's stunt…
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The Chancellor Palpatine was more than intrigued. What his agent had informed him about was very interesting. So, the one that saved the Senator Amidala was some Harry Black. And after seeing with his own eyes the video transmission that the spy droid sent before being destroyed was, quite frankly remarkable. The boy had a very good grasp of the Force, without speaking of his strong Force awareness. He had, after all spotted the invisible droid that was spying on him. That one could become a threat to his plans, and was already becoming one by protecting Amidala. He should maybe try to bring him to the Dark side along with the young Skywalker. Yes, that could be very beneficial. A maniacal grin formed on his old fleshed face. Hmhmhm...
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Two days had passed since the spy incident. The first private meeting had ended only a few hours ago. And to say the truth, Padmé wasn't really happy about it. She wasn't at the meeting, but Jar Jar told her all that happened. Nearly all but Binks and Organa of the present people had agreed to create a Clone army. Not a very good thing for the Peace-keeping Senator Amidala. On the one side, if the army was created, a war would break in the Republic, and the peaceful times would be over. But on the other hand, if the Republic refused to create an army, they were doomed to the Separatist's attacks. A hard decision to take.
Padmé's thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind her.
"Senator Amidala."
"Mister Black." she responded, surprised by his sudden arrival.
"How are you doing? You seem quite concerned." the young Force user asked, taking a step toward the balcony on which she was standing.
"Nothing to worry about." she lied.
"The creation of the Clone Army is an unimportant matter then?" he asked with sarcasm.
"What...No! It's just...Why you are even asking?"
"I'm here to protect and help you. If something is bothering you, you could talk to me, and I can try to be of any use." he explained.
"A body-guard becoming a consultant? Excuse me for my bluntness Mister Black, but you don't look like someone that knows politics." Padmé said.
Harry laughed at her and turned toward the horizon, leaning on the metallic bar of the balcony.
"Appearances can be misleading." he said. "I do know politics. And to say the truth, I think that my whole life was made of politics."
"How so?" an intrigued Senator asked.
"Maybe a story for another time." Harry answered.
"I do think that the time is perfect. If you want me to trust you, you should trust me too."
The young Black glanced at her with a raised eyebrow, but smiled after a few seconds.
"Right." he said, and returned to watching the horizon. Neither of them spoke for a moment and they stayed in silence. Finally Harry decided to begin.
"Back on the planet I came from, I was some sort of celebrity. Everyone knew me. My status of...well...Hero…followed me everywhere. People wanted to befriend me because of my wealth and fame, or wanted to curse me because of it. Anyway, since I was a little kid, politicians always tried to use me and my image for their own good." Harry explained.
"A Hero?" asked the Senator. "What had you done?"
"To say the truth, I never liked that title...but the reason I received it, was because I...sort of stopped a... Dark Lord." the young Black answered, saying the last part bitterly.
"A Dark Lord? Like the Sith?"
"Yes." Harry answered. "But don't get too impressed, my actions weren't like some heroic battle against the Dark Side. I was an infant at the time and my parents were killed that same night."
The Senator's eyes widened.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! ...What happened?"
"Voldemort, the Dark Lord, came to kill my family. My parents were ones of those that were fighting him back. He wanted do dominate our world." Harry said, with a half-truth. "Anyway, he killed them, and when he came to kill me, something happened and his attack was redirected toward him. He died, and I was proclaimed a Hero, the Boy-Who-Lived." Harry finished with distaste. "And my life was a living hell after that."
"But…but why didn't the Jedi help you? If there was a Dark Lord, they should have stopped him, shouldn't they?" asked the Senator.
"My planet isn't in this Galaxy. It's not even in this realm. Never mind that. Anyway, I've told you my story. I've trusted you with very secret information, now it's your turn to trust me."
Padmé nodded and began speaking. "You were right earlier; it is the Clone Army matter that is on my mind for a while now. I...I just can't decide which choice is better."
"I understand that you want to keep peace in the Republic, but if you refuse to create a Clone Army, Separatists will strike and there would be many deaths on our side. I think that a war is unavoidable."
"You may be right, and I agree with you on certain points, but there is always a choice without blood spiting, we only have to find it." Amidala stated.
"Sometimes, violence is the only choice. Back on my planet, the resistant never killed the Dark Lord's followers. Therefore when they were released or escaped from prison, they continued to wreak havoc. But if since the beginning we've thought to dispose of them, many lives could have been spared, and the war would have stopped sooner." the young Black explained.
Padmé stayed silent for a while. He had very good points and she couldn't disagree with his logic.
Maybe she should accept the Army after all. And if she was honest with herself, times of peace were over. A war was approaching, and she hasn't to be a seer to see the incoming conflict. To prepare for it was their best bet.
"I think that I will follow your advice and vote for the Clone Army, even if I hope against hope that a more peaceful way will be revealed to us in the future." Padmé said to her guardian.
"I will go then. Have a nice day, Senator." Harry said, and with a mock salute left the balcony.
'A very mysterious person this one.' she thought and continued to watch the giant buildings on the horizon of the most powerful of worlds.
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The Chancellor Palpatine was in his quarters, doing some boring paperwork, when he heard a knock on the door.
"Enter." he said, and in walked his assistant.
"Chancellor Palpatine, you have an urgent call from the Senator Amidala." he informed.
"Urgent you say? Transfer the call in here." said the older man.
"Yes sir!"
And a few seconds later, a miniature silhouette of the Senator Amidala appeared before him.
"Padmé, how are you? Nothing bad happened I hope? Your call was said to be urgent."
"I'm fine Chancellor, nothing bad happened, thank you for the concern. But it's true that the call is urgent." she said. "I would like to advance the date of the Clone Army vote to tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Why?"
"I think that it would be in our interests to create the army. Peace is no more an option. We should do everything in our power to protect our people." said Padmé.
"I must agree with you on this one. A wise decision Senator. I will do as you asked and advance the vote to tomorrow. You can count on me." said the older Nabooian.
"Thank you Chancellor."
"Nothing to thank me for, my dear. Well, until tomorrow then."
"Good bye."
And with that the communication was ended. And a maniacal grin formed on the Chancellor's face, making his facade slip a little and showing the monster that was hiding in the dark, Darth Sidious.
"Hn...Perfect..."
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"And who is for the creation of the Clone Army?" the Chancellor Palpatine asked in his microphone. Nearly every Senator in the Council Chamber pushed the green button, and their platforms shined a strong green color, they were all for.
"The majority of the Senate vote for the Creation of the Clone Army. Our decision is taken then. I will begin the preparations immediately." Palpatine said. "I know we've made the right decision, my friends. Our main duty is to protect the people of our Republic."
His announcement was met with an acclamation. "I will leave you then, no time to waste. The meeting is over."
And with that, the Chancellor turned around and exited the Chamber.
All was going according to plan. The Republic was in his hands...
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Senator Padmé Amidala left the Chamber and walked toward her little security group. But they were one man short. She frowned. "Where is Harry Black?" she asked.
"He said something about investigating. He will come back by himself." answered Sirius. "We should go now."
Everyone nodded and the group walked toward the Nabooian ship and flew back to the Senator's quarters.
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Harry skillfully walked through the Senate Hall. Something wasn't right here. He had a tingling sensation that said to be wary of something, or someone. And right now he was doing his little investigation, beginning by the Senate.
He had completely hidden his presence, and even a Jedi Master wouldn't be able to sense him. The young Black rapidly crossed the Hall and arriving at a window, jumped out with a Force enhanced jump. In seconds he was standing on another window three floors higher. Watching through, he saw a few Guards talking between them. Strengthening his senses with the Force he heard their discussion a little:
"Hey Deno, have you seen that new Senate Guard?" asked one of them.
"The new girl? Yeah! Really hot that one!" Deno answered.
"Oh shut up you two." said another one, with a frown.
"Come on Claire! You are just jealous that you aren't the prettiest girl anymore!" said the first, and received a smack to his head.
Harry rolled his eyes and with another Force jump he entered an opened window some floors higher. He silently entered the office and made some steps before a sudden rush of information invaded his head. He was seeing places, faces, explosions...all was blurry...his head was hurting badly...and finally it stopped.
He sighed and observed that he was on his knees. The pain had completely numbed his senses. What was that about? A vision? A premonition maybe? The only problem was that, he couldn't really discern what he saw. All had been very blurry and it lasted only seconds...but now that he thought about it, something was familiar. A face...Padmé's face...
His eyes widened. Another assassination attempt!
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Sirius sat down on the couch in the living room of the Senator's quarters. They came back from the Vote an hour ago, and there were still no sign of Harry. What was he doing, and most importantly, why hadn't he called? It wasn't like him to be silent...well actually it was, but never-mind that. Something strange was happening, he could feel it. He sighed and looked in the window. Coruscant was an impressive City-Planet, but he didn't really like it in here. Something...foul was poisoning the air. He couldn't really describe the feeling but it was like...the City was contaminated. But by what, was a good question.
A voice brought him out of his thoughts. "Mister Black, haven't you received a message from Harry?"
"No Cordé. And you know, if you call Harry by his name, you should do the same for me. 'Mister' makes me feel old, and I'm not old, am I?" Sirius asked with a charming grin.
"No, Mister Black..euh..Sirius." a blushing Handmaiden stuttered.
"How is the Senator doing?"
"Fine, she is talking with the Jedi, about her protection, and future actions."
"Well, if all is good, we can rest calmly." the Black said.
After a little silence, Cordé spoke again. "Can...can you tell me your story? I'm a little intrigued."
"Hmm...I don't really see a problem with revealing some personal info about us." Sirius said. "Well, where to begin? Back on our planet, I was working as an Auror. It's some sort of Bounty Hunter but working for the State, anyway I was..."
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Harry was running with all his might, pushing all the Force he could in his muscles. To a normal being he was just a black blur, passing at an extremely rapid pace. He had to arrive in time, because he was sure that the new attempt on the Senator's life would be very soon. Damn it! Why hadn't he used Bade's Starfighter instead of coming with the Nabooian ship? And now because of that he was forced to run across Coruscant, and Amidala's quarters weren't very close to the Senate. He closed his eyes, and bringing the dormant power inside him, pushed harder, making him run even faster. No normal being would see him run now, only the path of destruction he left showed that he passed here.
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Obi-Wan was making a security check, when he sensed a light modification in the Force. He frowned and concentrated more, widening his senses. Something was approaching them, and approaching very quickly. The Jedi Knight rapidly walked toward the living room and stared through the window. By the force! A missile was flying in their direction, and was only a hundred yards away.
"Anakin!" he cried out. "Anakin!"
Not a second later his padawan stormed the room with his lightsaber in hand.
"What's going on?"
"Make sure to protect Padmé! A missile is approaching." his Master answered.
Anakin's eyes widened and he ran toward the Senator's room. Obi-Wan ran toward the balcony and just in time stopped the missile with the Force. It hovered in the air, 20 yards away and finally ran out of power.
Throwing it away wasn't an option; they were in a city after all. The only choice was to slowly make it land to the ground, hoping that it wouldn't explode. Therefore, guarding an eye on the bomb and another on the horizon, he levitated the weapon down.
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Harry stopped. He had finally arrived before the high blue Hotel where the senator resided. With a slightly ragged breath he looked up, toward the higher floors. And seeing a missile slowly descending to the ground, he was surprised. Watching closely he saw Obi-Wan on the balcony. What was going on? He began walking rapidly toward the entrance, when he sensed something approaching at a rapid pace. He looked to his right and saw...at last six missiles heading toward the blue building.
With his quick reflexes, he stopped all of them with the Force, and with a thought, destroyed all the circuits in the missiles. With a frown he levitated them towards the ground. This new attempt on Padmé's life was more than daring. To launch missiles in the middle of Coruscant was too crazy. Innocent people's lives were at stake; and to sacrifice so many lives to destroy only one was an over-kill. It wasn't about killing a noisy Senator anymore. No, there was something grater behind it all. And he would discover that.
Once the now useless weapons were on the ground, Harry blurred toward the blue building with the use of the Force. He rapidly opened the main door with a wave of his hand and ran toward the stairs, a much quicker way than the lift. In only seconds he was on the tenth floor, only seventy to go. He pushed more Force into his muscles and speeded up, when suddenly his instincts kicked in, but a bit too late, because not a millisecond later, the flat he was passing by exploded, creating a massive chock-wave that sent him through the hall...and out of the window.
He was in a stunned state...the explosion had completely took him by surprise, and only the feeling of falling brought him back to his senses. Harry rapidly swirled in the air to a standing position and with the help of the Force landed unharmed on the hard ground. He looked toward the blue building and what he saw shocked him to the core...beginning from the tenth floor and up, each one was destroyed after another in a chain of explosions. That of course could only lead to one end...the destroyed floors were crushed under the weight of the ones still intact, and the higher half of the big blue building, the Hotel Gerino, the one with the Nabooian Senator, began falling to the side...
The eyes of the young Black widened. It couldn't be! He was supposed to protect Amidala! And Sirius! No...NO!
He immersed in his Far-sight and searched every sentient being in the vicinity...
Harry sensed them...all of them...everyone in the big Hotel...the unscathed ones...the hurt ones...the dying...and finally Padmé, Sirius, the Jedi and the Nabooian delegation. All that happened in milliseconds...
There were people in that building which had nothing to do with the Senator, but they were still paying the price... He had to help them!
And with a new indestructible resolve, he raised his hands toward the falling Hotel, and using an impossible amount of Force, stopped the building. The sudden pressure took his breath away and he stumbled, crating cracks on the floor beneath him. He was actually surprised that he was able to stop it. But making hover a giant piece of building was taking a lot, even from him.
His hand and legs were shaking; his muscles were strained from the massive Force flow. His body wouldn't take it for too long...
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When Anakin stormed in her room and announced that a missile was heading toward her quarters, she was surprised. When Obi-Wan stopped the first and cried out, that six others were coming, she was horrified. Someone was really after her! And whoever it was, was endangering innocent people...
"Harry! He had stopped them!" Sirius exclaimed, pointing to the little figure, eighty floors down.
A little smile appeared on the Senator's face. It was the second time he had saved her life and the lives of her people.
"We have to evacuate the building, quickly!" the Jedi Knight said hurriedly. Everyone agreed and began rapidly leaving the compartments when suddenly an explosion shook the building.
"What the hell?" Sirius cried out, surprised. And as if to answer his question, the first explosion was followed by many others, making the Hotel tremble immensely.
Suddenly, their floor, as well as all the building began to fall to the side and everyone with it...
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The pressure was unbearable. He was nearly on his knees. The massive amount of Force was ripping his muscles. His body was coming to its limits. But he couldn't stop now. Not now...He had to hold for all those people in there. But they wouldn't be able to evacuate the building... He had to help them...
Finally with a war cry of pain, he stood up and absorbing all the Force in the vicinity, pushed the Hotel back with one hand. His eyes were glowing a strong white color, little stones where floating around him, the floor under him was crackled even more, and little Force lightnings were flowing through his body. Using his Force-sight he destroyed all the doors and windows in the building and grasping all the sentient beings in the Hotel... in a trance like state, levitated all of them outside.
Hundreds and hundreds of peoples were flying next to the destroyed Hotel, all of them levitated by a lone man...
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Obi-Wan couldn't believe what was happening... First the building was falling to the ground, and suddenly it was stopped, and all of them were levitated out of the Hotel with the Force. Once they were outside, he saw the incredible number of people hovering in the air. Slowly, all of them were landed to the ground. No one really understanding what was happening, but one thing was clear...the young man with dark hair and with glowing eyes had saved them all. And he was still stopping the destroyed Hotel from falling.
Suddenly, Obi-Wan sensed a presence in his head. "Leave this place! Get away from here quickly!" And seeing that his surprised expression was mirrored by everyone around him, he understood that it was Harry.
The Jedi Knight couldn't believe what he was seeing. Harry Black had stopped the Hotel from falling, he had evacuated everyone out from there...all that, alone. Such a thing shouldn't be possible. A lone man wasn't supposed to levitate a one hundred store Hotel. It was against any beliefs and knowledge he had. Harry Black wasn't human; that alone was certain.
Again, he sensed the mind manipulation in his head. Looking around he understood why. Nearly everyone was still here, and Harry wasn't very happy about it. Finally, the mind trick took on a completely another level. It was like being struck by a lightning bolt. His mind got blank and the only thing that mattered was to get out of here, to safety.
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Harry trembled...his breath was ragged, his muscles ached and his head was on the verge of explosion. Finally all those people had evacuated the vicinity...finally he could release his hold on the Hotel...
He closed his eyes...his hands slid to his sides...he fell to his knees and took a big breath of oxygen. He was losing consciousness under the sound of the crumbling Hotel...he could sense it, but with the consciousness he was losing something else...control.
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Review please !
Daistaf