Warning: this chapter will touch on rape. You have been warned.

Chapter 4

The young woman exited the cruiser that had landed on Coruscant, her body trembling. Her husband had managed to scrape up the Tatooine credits for her passage, and her passage only. He would work the moisture farm for the remainder of the season, tie up loose ends, and then join her on Coruscant.

From the port, she caught a speeder bus that would take her to the Jedi temple. It was there that Beru Whitesun-Lars was seeking sanctuary. It was where she knew her mother-in-law, Shmi Skywalker-Lars, lived. She'll be so disappointed in me when she learns what happened to me, she thought sadly as she exited the speeder bus.

As she walked up the stairs leading into the Jedi temple, she found herself wondering how she'd fallen into such a horrible trap. I know how to defend myself, she berated herself for probably the hundredth time since the incident. How could I let it happen?

She scanned the foyer, looking for any familiar face, Anakin, Padme, anyone. Suddenly, she was approached by an imposing looking dark-skinned human man.

"Welcome to the Jedi temple," the man said, bowing to her. Beru sensed she needed to do the same and followed suit. "Are you here seeking sanctuary?"

"Y-yes," she stammered, trying to keep her space from this man. "My brother-in-law and his mother live here I've been told."

"And their names are?" the man prompted.

"An-Anakin Skywalker and Shmi Skywalker-Lars," she stammered back. "I'm Beru Lars."

"Of course, Anakin and Mistress Skywalker-Lars have talked about you and your husband some." The man smiled and offered her his hand. "I'm Jedi Master Mace Windu. If you'll come with me, I'll escort you to your mother-in-law's apartment."

"Thank you, Master Windu." Beru fell in step with the Jedi Master, all the while kicking herself for letting her fears get out of control. But then again, her mind taunted her, you don't know if he won't hurt you. At this point, she was gun-shy around all men.

Obi-Wan had finished his meditations, leaving his wife to her nap, when he felt it, sudden terror, and then shame and humiliation. He didn't know where it was coming from, but he decided to meditate on it more. He stretched and opened the door to his apartment when he saw Master Windu escorting a young blonde woman to Shmi's apartment. The thing was that he recognized the woman.

"Beru!" he called out, hurrying over to greet her with a hug, but stopped short when she recoiled in terror. That's when he knew something was terribly wrong. He and Beru had always been on friendly terms, so her reaction to him wanting to hug her was quite unusual and alarming.

"Is Mistress Skywalker-Lars here?" Mace asked. "Her daughter-in-law is here seeking sanctuary."

"She should be home, Master," Obi-Wan replied. "She's been holed up in there for days, putting the finishing touches on Lara's wedding gown." He hurried away to find Anakin.

Sure enough, he found his former apprentice in one of the many meditation rooms. His friend looked troubled.

"I've been having nightmares again, Master," he said. "Only they're of pain, terror, humiliation."

"Is Lara in your dreams?" Obi-Wan asked, wondering if his friend had picked up on whatever happened to Beru.

"No, not Lara, it's someone else, a woman on Tatooine."

"I think it might be Beru." Obi-Wan paused. "She's here."

"On Coruscant?"

"Not only that, but here in the Jedi Temple. She came here seeking sanctuary with your mother. I just saw her with Master Windu." The older Jedi master paused, taking a deep breath. "Anakin when I saw her, I went over to give her a hug, but she recoiled in fear. I knew then that something was terribly wrong. And right before I saw her, I was meditating, and I felt the same terror you probably felt in your dreams, along with the humiliation. I don't think she realizes it, but she was broadcasting."

"So, the Masters will know what's going on with her before we can figure it out," Anakin guessed.

"Not if she's in your mother's apartment. The apartment complex wing in the temple dampens the Force signatures of those Jedi Knights and Masters who live there, and the allies, for privacy purposes." Obi-Wan sighed. "She'll talk to us when she's ready, Anakin."

Beru entered the spare bedroom in Shmi's apartment. Slowly, she began to unpack her small bag that only held a few changes of clothes. She would take a long hot shower, and then she wanted nothing more than to lie down and let sleep blot everything out.

"Beru," Shmi said, standing in the doorway. "You want to talk about it?"

"I probably should," she said softly. "This is pretty heavy. You're going to be so disappointed in me."

"No, why would you think that?"

The young woman took a deep breath and began to speak.

"After Cliegg died, Kent took over the moisture farm, but you knew that. After you left, he would come over frequently, wanting to check on the progress of the farm. He was always…looking at me…staring at me the way Master Kenobi looks at his wife. You must know I never encouraged him in any way. I made it clear I was not interested and that I was devoted and committed to Owen, my husband."

She sighed. "It started while Owen was out at the vaporators. A touch here, a pinch there. I fought him off the best I could. Finally, he seemed to back off after a couple of days. I breathed easier. And then, a week later…" Her voice trailed off. She composed herself and went on.

"I had just gotten the soup started for Owen's lunch when he grabbed me from behind. He…he…raped me. I tried…to fight him, but he was…stronger than me…" She began to cry fresh tears of humiliation. Suddenly she felt herself being pulled into a gentle motherly embrace.

"Oh Beru," Shmi whispered, hugging her daughter-in-law close to her. "It wasn't your fault. You kept telling him no, but he didn't care. He raped you. You didn't ask for it; you made it clear, but he forced you. It wasn't your fault." She started to rock her the way she used to rock Anakin when he was little, whenever he was scared or sad.

"He told me that if I tried to tell anyone, he'd sell me to Jabba the Hutt as a sex slave, and then Owen would never want me again," Beru whispered. "But if I let him take me whenever he wanted, he wouldn't sell me. What he hadn't counted on was Owen coming in early from working on the vaporators and overhearing his threat. Later when we were alone, Owen and I talked about it. He knows Kent raped me. In fact, he was the one who suggested I come here for sanctuary."

"I'm glad of that. You will be safe here. Kent would never think to look for you here, and even if he did, the Jedi would never let him take you away from here." Shmi smiled. "And I know just the thing to take your mind off it."

Beru smiled for the first time since arriving at the apartment. "What's that?"

"Helping me get Lara ready for her wedding."

Jessamyn had been meditating when she heard the voice in her head, the voice of her father.

"Jessie, they need you."

"Father, what do you mean?"

"Something terrible has happened. Your cousin-in-law is in pain, terrible pain."

"Beru? She's on Coruscant?"

"Yes, she's at the Jedi Temple and asked for sanctuary. Hurry, and go see her. She needs you. You're the only one who knows the wrath of Kent Lars."

"Force help him if he's hurt her."

"Now is not the time to let your anger get out of control," he admonished her gently, but firmly. "That will do her no good. Just be there for her now. That's the best you can do."

"I will, Father. Thank you."

Jessamyn went out to her speeder, hopping in and heading to the Jedi Temple. She needed to get to Beru, make sure she was safe in the place of sanctuary. If Kent Lars hurt her once, he could come after her again. I will kill him before he hurts her again, she vowed silently.