CHAPTER NINE

Palpatine, hearing the news, did not waver in his plans. His apprentice had failed, and been destroyed, but he was not going to stop now. Perhaps this was just a sacrifice that had to happen. This is why he didn't try it himself, he was too important. He still had the galaxy to rule, and nothing was going to get in his way, even now.He knew not all the Jedi were gone, and his clones would continue to hunt them down. A final battle between them and his own minions was possible if he didn't achieve this goal.

Padme, who had only been in a very deep coma undetected by the inhuman droids, and unfelt by the distraught Jedi, awoke on the burning funeral pyre boat! Everyone had expected her to drift out to sea and burn where they wouldn't have to witness it, to join the horizon. She awoke, and as weak as she was, suddenly got a very strong will to live. Almost instictively, like any wild animal, she fought the flames. Screaming, she struggled to get past them, even though she knew that going into the ocean was not a way to sure survival, it was better than this fire! By the time she managed to roll off into the water, her hair and clothing had burned almost off.Submerging herself in the water, the fire was put out. She rose up out of it, her short, straggly, charred hair askew on her head, her body almost naked, and fortunate not to have any more burns than she did. The ones she did have hurt terribly, but for the moment, the water soothed them.

She was amazed to have found the strength to do this, and to tread water. There must be something urging her on from somewhere. She didn't understand the force as Anakin had, but seeing it in him she believed in it. Now maybe this mystical energy force she felt but could not control would have in its will to save her? She realized her stomach was now slim again, and wondered what had happened to her baby. She didn't feel that they were dead, she had a strong desire to get back to them, to bond with them. But how? Here she was in the middle of the sea with no land in sight. She couldn't tread water forever. Luck would have it that a large piece of the pyre boat floated toward her, broken off by the fire, but not on fire itself. Shivering, she crawled onto it, lay down, and paddled, having no idea what direction was back to shore. At last, exhausted, she fell asleep. Staying balanced, the board floated on.

Qui-Gon stood next to Obi-Wan at Anakin's funeral. They had watched several other Jedi be lit ablaze on their pyres, late into the night, but Anakin, the Chosen One, was saved for last. His severed limbs were layed where they should have been on his body, and he was dressed in Jedi robes despite his betrayal. Yoda and Mace Windu presided over the service, though Obi-Wan had wanted to speak. Yoda and Mace in their robes lit the flame. They watched Anakin's body go up in flames until they could see it no more.

"I didn't think he was the Chosen One." Mace commented as they walked away,

"Restudy the prophecy we must. Perhaps there is another."

When they were gone, Obi-Wan asked Qui-Gon: "Do you think one of the babies is the Chosen One?"

"Perhaps. I have never stopped believing it was Anakin.

"I believed it too, Master, but now Anakin is gone and he didn't fulfill the prophecy."

"Obi-Wan, I cannot stop feeling the cry for help from Anakin."

"I know how you feel, you waited so long, then it was too late. May the force bring you peace."

"No, Obi-Wan, I don't think Anakin is really dead."

"But, master, you saw him die before your eyes. We just witnessed him burning. I cannot believe he is gone, either, but he is."

"It could be his spirit in the force I sense. While I was in my solitude, I communed with the Shaman of the Whills. He had passed into the force, but was able to maintain his individual identity there as a spirit."

"That's fascinating. Can we all attain immortaility?"

"Yes, you and I can. I was told the Sith cannot. So either Anakin was not really a Sith or he is not really dead. I can still feel him."

"I have been feeling the same way. It is probably only because we were so close to him."

"Master, what is to become of Anakin's children?" Obi-wan asked.

"I will take them to Tatooine. They will be safe there."

"In the old cave you were vegitating in the last few years?"

"No. To his aunt and uncle. To Anakin's brother, Owen and his wife Beru. I watched them from afar while I was there. They are not such bad folk as Owen seemed when we were there. They are saddened not to be able to have children of their own. They can raise Anakin's children quietly and safely anonymously until the time is right to begin their training."

"Are you out of this galaxy? You saw the way Owen treated Anakin, he hates force users. He'd never allow them to be trained."

"Then we will have to wait until they are old enough to decide for themselves."

"THAT long? Besides, you must consider, being raised by him they may grow up prejudice against the Jedi. Let's take them ourselves."

"We know nothing of child rearing, especially very small infants. They need a real family. Trust me. It will all work out."

"I hope you're right."

When the sun rose, Padme squinted at the light and awoke. She could hardly believe all that had happened. She was given up for dead and floated away on a burning pyre. Anakin turned evil and killed by his best friend. The babies, where? Palpatine a Sith Lord, democracy in peril. She cried from all her sadness, yet found the strength to go on. In the distance, she saw land! It wasn't the populated city she had been floated out of, or anything on Naboo she had recognized as having seen before, even in books. It was a small, craggy island, rocks all around, and one large, dark stone dwelling atop it all. It was far in the distance, but as she paddled closer, she saw it was real. and she had not imagined it. Time seemed to drag on forever until she made her way to the shore and was able to crawl off her board. Her burned, practically nude body was in much pain as she drug herself up the rocks, groaning the whole time. She had to keep stopping and regaining her strength. She hoped there would be food and clothing, as well as food, inside that foreboding castle on top of the rocks. When she finally reached its door, out of breath, shivering, she got no answer from the knock at the door. She tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge. Finally, mysteriously, it opened! There before her stood a creature like she had never seen. He was very tall, covered in black, his face concealed behind a sinister mask. She was frightened.

"Do come in. I've been lonely." It spoke in a mechanical voice.

"Who are you?"

"I cannot reveal who I am. It is much too dangerous to myself and everyone who sees me. Who are you?"

She was surprised he didn't recognize her, the former Queen and senator, then she realized that the way she looked now, hair and clothes burned off, sooty face, burns on her limbs, she was not the picture of Padme Amidala that people were used to seeing. Also, in his seclusion, he may not have known of her. "You don't know me?"

"Should I?"

"I am someone I thought, you might have seen before."

"Excuse me, it's very hard for me to distinguish faces and voices through this mask I must wear. You look and sound so distorted to me."

In a way, she was relieved, for she looked so horrible, and she wanted to keep her identity a secret for her own safety for now. "Can you take the mask off?"

"No, I can never take it off. If I do, I'll die. My lungs were damaged when I was sprayed with a chemical, and now I must use this to breathe with. Besides, there is someone out there who has banished me here and demands my face never be seen again. I have only been here a few days, but I am told I may never leave."

"How terrible! What have you done?"

"It's not what I did but rather what I refused to do. I cannot say more. Only that someone will kill me if I reveal myself. I'm surprised he hasn't killed me already, he must still have plans for me, plans I do not want to go through with. I feared you were he when you arrived." The being-droid turned its frightening countenance toward her, straining to make out her features. "Where did you come from?"

"I cannot say. It is too dangerous."

"I understand. This life is full of bad beings wanting to hurt others. You will be safe with me. Here, let me help you." He took off his black cape and wrapped it around her. He held her close to help warm her body, and though she thought she should struggle to get away, she felt somehow safe in his arms. In fact, so safe she was almost uncomfortable. She started to pull away, sobbing.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so- forward. I am in mourning, I have lost my husband. He was killed- in the Clone wars. I will not make advances toward you."

"I did not think you were." The mechanical voice said. "Somewhere, I have a wife. I keep trying to sense her, but something is blocking me from this."

"Sense her? Do you have that, force or something?"

"No, no, I mean just by love, you know."

"My husband had the force. It cost him his life."

"He was a Jedi? I thought Jedi were not allowed to marry?"

"Yes, he was. He was..lost in the Clone wars." She didn't want to give away too much information just yet. "We were married in secret."

"I am sorry. What a waste the war is. Too many lost."

:"I agree." She wanted to say more, but again didn't want to reveal too much about herself that might identify her.It was too late. She had already said enough to spark his interest, and even in his weakend state of mind, he started to wonder about her.

The being summoned a droid, the only other 'person' in the dark castle, to draw her a bath. Afterward, Padme fashioned the cape into a robe of sorts that would sufficiently cover her. The wounds were dressed and she was given small rations of what little food was available. He was unable to eat with her, for he could only remove his mask in a special pod with the lid closed. He was starving, and for some reason had suddenly regained his appetite, which he had lost since being here the last few days. With the mask off, he breathed deeply of the pod's air. He seemed to have no problem breathing, and wondered if he might try to breathe outside the pod. He did consider this could make him die, as the droid had told him. He did not look forward to his life in prison here, both in the mask and suit and in the hidden away castle. For a time thought he would try it and risk death rather than live that way. Then he reconsidered. He was probably being watched somehow and he couldn't show his face. He couldn't put the wounded traveler who was now his guest at risk.

It was so good to be free of the mask, and get to see and hear normally again, and to hear his own voice. He leaned back and wiped the sweat from his face and ran his fingers through his hair. He stared ahead at his reflection, his curly golden hair, his blue eyes, the face that could never be seen again. The face sealed inside the metal mask, because he looked too much like another. The other, his clone, made from his own severed finger at the order of an evil Sith Lord, and grown at a rapid rate over the last 3 years, just in case the original plan of turning him failed to work out. The other, who had replaced him when he refused to turn and serve the dark side.His rejection of the demands of Chancellor Palpatine had gotten him gassed in the fight he was about to win, he had almost destroyed the sith as the prophecy had foretold he would. Now he was hidden away, told he could never show his face again, told he could never breathe again without this horrible mask. What life is this? Why was he even being allowed to live? Why didn't he destroy him? He must still have plans for him. He feared what these plans might be. He wanted to escape before the evil master returned. Perhaps this new visitor could help him? He needed to get back home and see what all damage had been done by his replacement clone. He was not aware that the clone was dead, killed by Obi-Wan, who was saddened by it all. He had no idea Qui-Gon had returned, or anything else that had happened. He felt a great need to find out. He also felt something else- a strong connection to the wounded woman in the other room. He would have to medidate on this, now.