Chapter Four : A Bad Feeling

Warm, delicious scents wafted in from the kitchen as soon as Anakin and Obi-Wan appeared in the doorway of Anakin's home. The whole suite smelled sweetly of thick, rich sauce and something very familiar...

"Are you making Alderaanian pasta, Honey?" Anakin called, his stomach already beginning to growl. Obi-wan chuckled. "You're always hungry, Anakin. We just had a late lunch nearly an hour ago."

Anakin turned around to him, smirking. "A Jedi's gotta eat, Ben."

Padmé came out of the kitchen, rubbing her hands in a dishtowel. "Hello, Obi-Wan. How have you been doing?" she asked brightly.

"Fine, Padmé. You seem to be doing rather well, too. You're cooking has improved over the past few years," he said, glancing over at Anakin rubbing his stomach and headed toward the kitchen.

Anakin called back. "I'll say. You should have seen the first thing she cooked for us together." He squinched up his nose as if remembering how bad the smell and taste was. Padmé caught up to him and nudged his arm. "I don't hear anymore complaints now, do I?"

He smiled and reached down to kiss her on the cheek. "Of course not, Baby."

Luke came running in, but then caught sight of Obi-Wan and immediately stopped and bowed, nearly toppling over from the rush. Anakin and Padmé both chuckled, with Obi-Wan bowing deeply to Luke, keep a smile all the while. "Hello, young Skywalker. I trust your sparring practices have gone better since last week?"

Luke's face reddened as he nodded slowly. "Yes, Master Kenobi. That technique you showed me last week helped alot. Dad's been a great master to learn from," he said, looking over at his father. "but I guess I just needed a little extra help."

That made Obi-Wan and Padmé both laughed as Anakin stared down Luke and playfully began to tickle him. Luke laughed and giggled until his father stopped when he complained his sides hurt. Padmé went back into the kitchen when Anakin looked up suddenly, his eyes closing tightly and he doubled over. Luke scrambled to his feet and placed his hand on his father's back. "Dad, what's wrong?"

Obi-Wan realized something was wrong. He must be feeling something through the Force. "Anakin," he asked quietly. "What is it?"

Anakin slowly looked to his son. "Luke, I'm fine. Just a headache. Go help your Mother in the kitchen."

Luke smiled slowly, shook his head, and walked into the kitchen. Anakin looked over at Obi-Wan. "Something's terribly wrong." He stood up, but stumbled and Obi-Wan helped steady him over to the sofa. "Something has happened to Leia. I felt her presence and she was afraid. Very scared and afraid."

Obi-Wan's face frowned. He was afraid something might happen to her. She had been seen with Anakin too many times for people not to guess who she was. Whose daughter she was.

"You know her transport is to be here within the hour. The hangar would be contacted if something had happened."

"Yes, but I still have this feeling that something..." his throat constricting. Obi-Wan placed a reassuring hand on his old padawan's shoulder.

"Anakin, I'm sure that she will be fine. But, if you want," he said with a half-smile, "we'll contact the ship and see how she is doing. Just to be safe."

Anakin nodded. He informed Padmé of the situation and she stayed with Luke until him and Obi-Wan got back from the contact center at the hangar.

--------

The room was cold, dark and dank. Artificial light filtered through a small opening at the far end of the room, making it appear as if it were the only light in the universe. The form of a young girl sat huddled, trying to keep warmth in her body as long as possible. Streaks on her face showed the telltale signs of long hours of crying, though she didn't know how long she had been crying. She knew it really didn't help, crying like she was lost, but she couldn't help it. The past year had been such a strain on her, especially her being a girl so young, it was the only thing she could do at a time like this. The girl felt the constriction of Force binders on her wrists, biting into her hands. They were tight; too tight to wriggle out of and too strong to break easily. She struggled to stop herself from crying any longer when she heard her father's voice, making her recall her training she had.

"Don't cry over what has happened, Leia," Anakin said, scooping her up into his arms, soothing her tears with a gentle kiss. "The Force is strong with you and it will be with you, always..."

Yes, Dad, she said silently. She slowly centered herself, closing her eyes and breathing in deeply. I'm going to get out of here. I must trust in the Force, just like Daddy said to do.

A warmth covered her body, as she centered and meditated in the Force. She soon sensed what was it was telling her. To trust in her own instincts and let it guide her. She breathed in again, but her concentration was broken by a door behind her opening, letting precious light pour in, causing Leia to squint her eyes tightly.

"Okay, Skywalker. Looks like it's time to talk to dear, old daddy..."

--------

Obi-Wan stood talking to the dock master, questioning about a refugee ship scheduled to arrive in less than an hour. Anakin stood to the side, still sensing that his little girl was in danger. He didn't understand why, but by now, he had learned to trust his instincts and the leading of the Force. It hadn't steered him wrong before and now wasn't the time to be second-guessing it, either. They had just came into the docking bay when Anakin's commlink buzzed.

"Skywalker here."

"Master Anakin, there is an important message that has just appeared on the holoviewer. Mistress Padmé sent me to contact you," came Threepio's mechanical voice through the commlink.

"Alright, I'll be right there."

He closed it and tucked it inside his robe. "Who was that?" asked Obi-Wan.

"Threepio. He says Padmé just recieved a message," he replied, turning around to go to the elevator. "It might be from Leia."

"Do you think she would risk contacting you on such an open frequency?"

"Maybe. If she really thought something was wrong."

Obi-Wan and Anakin walked briskly to the elevator. It wouldn't be the first time plans had failed, but then again, he wouldn't believe who was behind the whole matter even if he had seen it for himself. But he sure was going to find out soon enough.

--------

Padmé sat with Luke in her arms on the sofa near the holoviewer. Artoo and Threepio stood near them, waiting for the men to arrive. The door slid open and the two Jedi Masters walked in. Luke ran to his father, latching on to him like he would never let go. "Dad, I think it's Leia. I feel like she's in trouble."

Anakin just patted his son's head and smiled, grimly, as he gave a look to Obi-Wan and walked into the suite. Padmé got up and hugged him tightly.

It's Leia, Ani. I just know something has gone wrong! she said silently to his heart.

Anakin hugged her tightly. Everything will be fine, Padmé. I promise you.

"Luke," Anakin said. "Will you take Threepio into another room to charge him?" Luke nodded his head, but walked slowly, holding Threepio's golden hand and walking him into the next room.

The group then sat on the sofa. "Artoo? Will you please play the message?" Artoo whistled lowly and started the message. The room fell dark as the brightness of a screen flickered to life and a small, brown-haired girl appeared on the screen. She appeared to be in good health, but all in the room were holding their breath. At last the girl spoke.

"Father," said the girl. "I am not in immient danger and I am speaking of my own free will. I am being held under close surrveillance by a woman."

Anakin and Obi-Wan exchanged glances, then looked to Padmé. Her eyes were on the brink of tears, but she held it in.

"She has asked, for my safety and well-being, for you and Master Kenobi to travel to Yavin and meet her there." Leia's brown eyes began to quiver, but her demeanor remained. "If you contact anyone about this, she will find out and I will be immediately terminated."

She couldn't hold it in any longer and began to sob, grabbing Anakin's hand. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her on her cheek. Her tear-streaked face just nodded, slowly, but this danger that Leia was in, whatever or whoever it was, she couldn't let it happen. She had had such a bad feeling about the whole situation since her daughter informed her of wanting to come home during one of the biggest upsets in the war to date.

Padmé had conversed with the queen of Naboo on a number of occasions, but the only information she would be privileged to was the whereabouts of her daughter on the palace grounds. No more, no less. How she would give anything to hold her and protect her, to steal her away from the person that had captured her. Her mind gave way to a thousand reeling ideas, as her grip tightened on her husband's hand.

At long last, with the holoviewer blank, Artoo turned it off. Obi-Wan looked at Anakin and shook his head. "It seems that we have some enemies to reckon with, my Padawan."

Anakin nodded his head in reply and looked into Padmé's face. "We'll go to Yavin and bring back Leia, safe and sound."

"Anakin, I want to go with you--" But he shook his head. "I'm not going to put anyone in more danger than I can possibly help it."

Obi-Wan popped up, agreeing with him. "He's right Padmé. You can fight for Naboo and Leia here on Coruscant, in the Senate. Besides, Luke needs you right now, as well."

Padmé's demeanor changed. "I'm not going to just sit here while my baby girl is in danger, taken captive by some lunatic!" she stated, standing up now and facing the Jedi and the astrodroid.

"Besides, Luke can stay with Master Yoda at the Temple and the Senate won't be in session for another few weeks." She looked at them, waiting for an answer, but when she didn't hear a sound. "And I'll be damned if some bastard is going to hurt my daughter."

Anakin and Obi-Wan both looked at each other. Padmé didn't really say such harsh words, but she must have meant everything she said. "Okay. We'll leave for Yavin tomorrow morning."