A/N: Sorry people. Here's a long chapter to make up for my absence. It's been a bit crazy here, what with losing the Internet and going on holiday for a week. Now my server's back up, hopefully for good.
I have a slight warning for this chapter only in that writing it depressed me. I'm sorry if I depress anyone, but the next chapter will be happier. Also I recommend chocolate to fend off bouts of depression : )
Chapter Fifty-Seven – Departure
The corridor was long and dark, filled with the echoing footsteps of a running woman. It took several seconds for Sabé to realise the steps were her own. She felt cold, like there was something following her progress. But it wasn't simply something. It was something loathsome and foul, something evil.
She began running again, holding her skirt up with both hands. She was wearing heavy black robes. Lifting a hand to her head she felt something vaguely familiar; black feathers. So she was back in her decoy dress. She wondered why.
Life is a circle. Everything returns to where it began.
The teachings of the old gods came back to her as she ran. At the back of her mind she knew this was a dream, but she could not fathom what it was telling her.
Everything has its time and everything ends.
The dark shape, the evil following her, suddenly surged forward, swamping her completely. It passed directly through her body, leaving her feeling like she had been drenched in icy cold water. As it moved on, Sabé couldn't help feeling as if it had taken her soul with it.
She screamed and sat up in bed.
In the temporary sleep couch next to her bed, Saché leapt up with a jolt, asking her what was wrong. Sabé tried to still her rapid breathing, taking a few moments to get her bearings. She was at home, Maré's house on Naboo. Saché and Mara were there with her. She was safe.
Seeing as her mother hadn't come in to see what was going on, Sabé concluded that her scream had occurred in the dream only and that it was her movement of sitting up that had woken Saché.
"It's okay," she said at last, placing a hand over her wildly thumping heart. "It was just a dream."
Saché nodded, but still looked at her with concern. "I've never known you to have bad dreams like that. Not since the Jabiim incident."
"Well, that was pretty rough." Sabé swung her legs out of bed and padded over to check on Mara. The baby girl was peaceful, for once sleeping the whole night through, unlike her mother. Sabé lightly stroked her hair before ensuring her blankets were covering her properly. Then she headed back to her own bed.
"Everything alright?" Saché asked.
"I need to get back to Tatooine tomorrow," Sabé whispered. "I don't like this distance with Obi-Wan. It doesn't feel right."
"You've always coped before."
"I know. That's what's worrying me. I don't feel safe away from him anymore."
Saché studied her friend's expression and got up to sit at the console in the corner of the room. She typed swiftly but quietly, bringing up information about flights out of Naboo. After a while she noted several things down on a sheet of flimsi and returned to the sleep couch. "We can get on a refugee ship which will take us to a spaceport near Corellia. Then you can get a lift with the Hapan fabric traders to Mos Espa. I've also sent word to Obi-Wan, via your friend Beru, to let him know you're coming."
"Thank you. What about you?"
"There's a freighter going to Alderaan the following day. I'll just hang around the port for a while."
"Will you be alright? Those ports can be dodgy."
"Sab, please." Saché pointed a finger at herself. "Former bodyguard, remember?"
"I should," Sabé said with a brief smile. "I was one too."
"As if I could forget. Do you remember that time we stole Panaka's socks and replaced them with pink fluffy ones?"
Sabé held back a loud giggle. "I seem to remember that was one of your spectacular ideas."
"Perhaps we should send him a pair. You know, a nice reminder."
Sabé's face lost its smile as she thought. "Actually, that might be a good idea. No, I'm serious. It would let him know we were alright."
"But can you imagine him having to explain it to the Queen?" Saché grinned.
The two laughed softly and settled down to attempt sleep again. Sabé was pleased to note that her first thought upon waking was not about dark shadows, but of Panaka in pink socks.
She lay on her pillows for a while, watching the patterns that sun shining through leaves made on the ceiling. Her dream came back to her in flashes and she inwardly shuddered. She had always hated bad dreams, ever since she was a child. It was an aspect that she herself had no control over and she thought that this was the reason why they scared her so much.
Taking care not to wake Saché, Sabé made her way over to the console to double check the ships that her friend had looked up. She found a message there from Obi-Wan, explaining that he would meet them at the spaceport. Somehow, knowing this made her feel much better and she began to plan what she was going to tell her mother.
When Saché had woken up, they set about packing their small sets of belongings. Leaving Mara in Saché's care, Sabé disappeared into the refresher for a hot shower. The soothing jets of water cleansed her, washing away the remnants of the nightmare. She rubbed the dye out of her hair and skin, letting the Alderaanian disguise vanish down the drain.
Saché was continuing with her guise, having made the colour changes permanent. Seeing as she was posing as Bail's cousin, it seemed natural that she would be of the same complexion as he. The Organa family originated in the south of Alderaan, whose inhabitants favoured dark hair and skin. Now, of course, they lived in the palace, which was situated in the mountain ranges of the north. Alderaanians from the north tended to be much paler, their complexion not unlike that of Nabooians. Therefore Sabé, who was reverting back to her nun disguise, would not look out of place walking with Alderaanian 'Sara'. Mara was dressed in an outfit with a hood, which would cover her red hair and allow her to pass as Saché's child. Sabé, of course, couldn't hold her herself, as a nun with a child would create great scandal and attention she didn't want.
Breakfast was a solemn affair, with Maré saddened but understanding. Later that afternoon, Sabé slipped her nun's robe over her dress and hid her hair beneath the veil. As an afterthought she moved the fabric so that it covered all of her face. Better to be safe than sorry.
They all said their goodbyes, Maré ensuring that Sabé had packed enough food for Mara. She was taking her role as grandmother very seriously, reminding Sabé of important things like food and warm garments as often as she could. She could not resist calling after them as they exited the house. "And don't forget about–"
"The cake you packed for us," Sabé finished for her. "We won't!"
Saché smiled and shifted Mara's weight to the opposite arm. The little girl was able to take a few tottering steps and had developed an uncanny talent for hauling herself up to a standing position by clutching hold of furniture. Despite these positive developments, for proper journeys it was easier just to carry her.
They waved and turned the corner, leaving Maré behind once again. The walk to the hangar was surprisingly pleasant. Nobody bothered them or even looked twice at them. Saché had once been a very striking woman, but the years of heartache and worry had left their mark on her. Sabé too bore scars of a similar nature, her once-beautiful face looking permanently haggard. But she didn't mind it if Obi-Wan didn't and he always thought she looked lovely, so she never bothered herself with worrying about it.
They reached the hangar, which had become much busier since the days of Amidala's reign. Part of this was due to Imperial rule, as Theed had developed into a bustling trade town. Clearly the Empire had some appreciation for the talented market traders and their wares. Sabé had theorised that part of it was due to Palpatine's Nabooian origins. Worlds that had willingly joined the Empire seemed to be of the opinion that purchasing Nabooian goods would put them in the Emperor's favour. Speaking as someone who had been unfortunate enough to meet face to face with Palpatine on more than one occasion, Sabé was convinced that this kind of fickle display would do nothing to impress the dangerous leader.
But ironically it worked in their favour. More people meant less attention on them. They hurriedly found their ship and got on it as quickly as possible. It was crowded, as they had expected, with people sitting where they could find space. Sabé and Saché found a spot in a corner where they could lean against the bulkhead. Mara was happily occupied with a fabric picture book, which she seemed to enjoy chewing rather than reading. Unlike some of the other children they were sharing the ship with, she was quiet throughout the journey. She had never been a noisy child, which had been rather unusual, but Obi-Wan had ensured Sabé that she was quiet because she could sense things through the Force. She could understand quite a lot for her age, but couldn't express it, as she had yet to speak a comprehensible word. But sometimes Sabé could see her staring at people with a knowing look in her young eyes, which made her exceedingly curious as to what her daughter was thinking.
It took several hours to reach the spaceport, as the refugee ship stopped at a number of planets. Eventually, however, they landed and Sabé shook Saché awake. She had abandoned her veil, considering the temperature inside the ship and it had now disappeared. Sabé strongly suspected that somebody had taken a fancy to it and stolen it while she was dozing. Luckily, Mara still held onto her fabric book.
Saché bent down to scoop up her goddaughter while Sabé carried their two sets of luggage. Trudging along with everybody else, they exited the ship. Mara managed to drop her precious book on the entry ramp and Sabé had to hurry back for it before it too was stolen.
The spaceport was bustling, much more so than Naboo's hangar. The last time Sabé had set foot on it, she'd been hooded and cloaked in her handmaiden garb, marching graciously behind Senator Amidala. Now she was walking cautiously, watching everything with a suspicious eye. The spaceport was laced with stormtroopers, a fact that made Sabé and Saché incredibly nervous.
"When do you think Ben will get here?" Saché asked.
"I have no idea. He might be here already. Keep an eye out though, it would be easy to miss him in this crowd."
"He's too cryptic for his own good," Saché grumbled. "Must be a side-effect of his regimented upbringing."
"Criticise my…friend in your own time," Sabé replied, checking herself.
They stepped off the entry ramp and began searching for any sign of Obi-Wan. They spent an hour or so wandering around, occasionally stopping for food or the fresher. Sabé and Saché took it in turns to hold Mara, as she proved a heavy burden. Everyone was so preoccupied with their own business that they paid no attention to the trio.
The more time they spent at the spaceport, the more its population increased. Sabé could not help but mention it to Saché. "Is it me or are there more troopers here than there were half an hour ago?"
Saché nodded, not taking her eyes off the latest squadron disembarking from their ship. "I wonder what's going on. Do you think some high-ranking Imperial will be coming through here or something?"
"Looks like it. Obviously someone who has a problem with assassination attempts, judging by the security." Sabé frowned, watching the familiar white-armoured clones lining up. "The sooner we can leave here the better. Are you sure you'll be okay waiting here for a whole night?"
Saché shrugged off her concern. "I've handled worse. I probably won't sleep anyway. The important thing is that you get home. You're wanted more than me."
"Don't remind me. Sometimes I worry about what sort of life I've brought my daughter into."
"Hey, you can't worry about that. If she's anything like you and Ben she's strong enough to handle herself."
Sabé glanced at her friend. "I hope you're right." She turned her attention to her daughter, tucking a strand of red hair inside the hood.
Then Saché clutched her arm. "Look! A shuttle!"
Sabé glanced up, recognising the Imperial insignia. "Oh, not good."
Several other people had stopped what they were doing to watch the shuttle. Stormtroopers were lining up to keep the crowd back, creating a path for the dignitary aboard. Sabé and Saché were pushed forward as people behind them hurried to look. Saché grabbed Sabé's arm in a vice-like grip, not wanting to lose her. Steadily they made their way along to stand behind a large Hutt, ready to use him as cover to duck behind if necessary. He was so preoccupied with nosing at the shuttle, however, that he failed to notice them.
"Is this fate?" Sabé asked. "Or do we just have incredibly bad timing?"
"It's not yours or anyone else's fault," Saché pacified. "These things happen. Besides, this is the third most busy port in the galaxy, Imperials come through here every day."
"Yes, but this doesn't look like a normal procedure. Not with all this fuss."
Saché could find no argument to make to that, as she too was dreading seeing whoever may emerge from the shuttle. Although neither of them said so, they both had a feeling that it was going to be somebody they very much wanted to avoid. Sabé was scanning the faces of the crowd on the opposite side of the makeshift path, searching for a familiar one. Her attention was caught by a figure in a black hooded cloak. She could not see his features but instinct prevented her from looking away from him. She pointed him out to Saché.
"Which one?" she immediately asked. "There are about twenty people in black cloaks over there."
"There, standing in between the red Twi'lek and the woman with the purple tattoo."
Saché squinted. "Oh there. It's hard to say. I can't see his face. It could be anyone, Sab."
Sabé sighed. "I know. I've just got this feeling." In her arms, Mara turned to look at her with a beaming smile. "What?" Sabé asked her gently. "Do you sense something, little one?"
"If you're right," Saché said, "then she could be sensing Ben."
"Good point." Sabé once again glanced over at the cloaked man. He made a slight movement, reaching up to scratch his head through the hood. As he did so, he moved his fingers to form a sign. "Look," Sabé observed. "The Nabooian symbolic greeting."
Saché nodded. "Must be Ben then. Good, I was starting to worry."
"You were starting to worry, how do you think I feel?" Sabé returned.
All eyes turned to the shuttle as a squadron of troops marched from it. They were followed by guards swathed in scarlet. Saché reached for Sabé's arm, her usual calm expression tainted by apprehension. Both recognised them all too well. Without realising it they had ducked behind the Hutt, as far as they could go without losing their view.
A hush fell over the crowd. It was not quite silence, but the volume of noise had certainly dropped somewhat. A steady thump of footsteps resonated from within the shuttle followed by heavy, mechanical breathing. Sabé and Saché quailed, hoping that Obi-Wan was managing to hide himself.
Although dreading it, the two women had been expecting Darth Vader's appearance from the shuttle. It was even more of an unpleasant shock to see the Emperor with him too. Sabé sank to the floor, still holding Mara, hoping to make herself as small as possible. Saché remained standing. She was afraid, more than she could fathom, but she had to see what was going on.
It seemed that everyone gathered was afraid. The two Sith Lords had that power, the ability to turn normal, happy people going about their business into a fearful, quiet crowd. Sabé remained in her crouched position until the two had walked slowly by. Saché saw them disappear into an office. Frowning, she joined Sabé on the floor. "We need to get away, now. I don't know how long they'll be in there for."
"Where's Ben?" Sabé asked.
The women stood up, searching the gathered people for the black-cloaked figure. "There," Saché said simply.
Sabé looked but couldn't find him. Just as she spotted him, the stormtroopers began shooing people away. Caught up in the crowd, she felt herself dragged further and further away from her husband. Saché too was similarly trapped, desperately struggling to get back to Sabé and Mara.
A fist fight broke out between two of the nearby people. It seemed an Aqualish bounty hunter and a Bothan trader had a disagreement over some mediocre issue, which had resulted in a full-blown mêlée. Sabé was caught beside them as a ring of observers surrounded the two. Protecting Mara from the shouting array of species, she turned to try and find a way through the crowd. But no-one would let her out. All attention was focussed on the fight.
"Excuse me," she tried, calling in someone's ear. The woman either didn't hear or was ignoring her. "Please move. Excuse me!" Raising her voice made no difference. She could see that the fight was attracting Imperial attention and did not intend to be there when they came over. "Shift!" she yelled, all attempts at politeness going out the viewport. That seemed to work and the people near her let her out. She battled her way to the back of the crowd and came face to mask with Darth Vader.
Sabé halted, too shocked to move. She glanced quickly around for Obi-Wan and Saché but could see neither. The Dark Lord made a few motions with a gloved finger and squadrons of stormtroopers trotted to do his bidding. One group moved in to break up the fight. Another surrounded Sabé, forcefully marching her away in through a nondescript doorway.
Palpatine was inside the room beyond, sitting silently in a large black chair. He signalled and the troops disappeared. The ever-present red guards remained.
"I thought we might meet again one day, Sabé," Vader began.
"Did you?" she managed to say.
He reached out a hand to tug down Mara's hood, turning her face towards him. She began to cry. "Not my son," he stated.
"No."
"Where is he?"
"I don't know," Sabé said at once.
He jabbed a finger in her chest. "You're lying."
Palpatine chuckled. "Of course she is, my apprentice. You can't expect her to tell the truth, not first time anyway."
"If I did, would you know it was the truth? Or would you assume it was a lie?" Sabé asked.
"Don't play games with me, Sabé," Vader said. "I know you're lying. Tell me where my son is."
"I will not."
"You will pay for your silence."
"I imagine so," she replied bitterly. "But you have no reason to hurt Mara. Let her go."
Vader glanced at the child. "She is your daughter, isn't she? That taints her."
Mara wrinkled her little nose at him. The Force was telling her not to trust him, so she fought back in the only way she knew how; she frowned. Palpatine noticed the expression and looked pensive, reaching out to the Force for answers. What he learned stuck him with an idea and he studied the child again.
"Don't make me torture your child, Sabé, because believe me, I will if it will help me get answers," Vader snarled.
"Wait. Do not be so hasty, my young apprentice." Palpatine slowly rose from his chair, his eyes looking eerily yellow under his velvet hood.
Vader turned to look at his master and Sabé held Mara close to her.
"I have use for the child."
Sabé's eyes widened and she looked at the Emperor in disbelief. "Don't hurt her!"
"Perish the thought." Palpatine smiled, but it was far from pleasant. "Give her to me."
"No!" Glancing quickly around, Sabé ran for the nearest door. It opened out onto a corridor and she pelted down it as fast as she could. Mara was truly wailing now, which was doing nothing to help her concentration. She darted into the room at the end of the corridor and hurried to the door on the opposite wall. It was locked. She turned to look for another way, but the thudding footsteps of Vader had caught up with her.
"There's no escape, Sabé."
Sabé bit her lip, silent tears making a glistening path on her cheeks. Palpatine appeared in the doorway, clearly having made his way there at a more sedate pace. He was flanked by two of the scarlet-clad guards, who now made their way over to hold Sabé still. She fought them as best she could, but it was not long before she was overcome. Palpatine walked forward and picked Mara up, pulling her away from the desperate arms of her despairing mother. Sabé shouted, struggled and cried but it did no good. Palpatine merely turned on his heel and stalked out of the room, nodding once to Vader as he passed him. The red guards tossed Sabé in a corner before following their master, leaving her alone with the being that had once been her best friend's husband.
Vader ignited his lightsabre, its ruby blade casting shadows on the walls and floor. He twirled it once, almost lazily, asking, "Where is my son?"
Heartbroken at having her daughter stolen from her, Sabé looked up at him with cold eyes. "You will never learn it from me."
There came the sound of running feet and Saché appeared. "Sabé! Oh gods!"
Vader whipped round at the disturbance and shot out a hand, gripping Saché's neck with the Force. The former handmaiden felt herself lifted up by a violent invisible hand. Short of breath, she began to see spots in front of her eyes and tried her best not to panic.
"Stop it!" Sabé screamed.
"Tell me his location or she dies," Vader growled.
Saché met Sabé's eyes, a clear message visible in her brown orbs. Sabé clenched her teeth together and took a deep breath before answering one word that was painfully hard to say. "Never."
In anger, Vader closed his fist and waved his hand. There came a sickening snapping sound before Saché hit the wall and sank to the floor. There was no life in her eyes.
Sabé swallowed a lump in her throat. Vader approached her. "You are determined to be stubborn?"
She nodded and got unsteadily to her feet. "Absolutely."
More footsteps echoed in the long corridor outside. Vader and Sabé simply stared at each other for a split second. Then Vader jerked his arm forward.
A sharp pain caused Sabé to suck in her breath. Glancing down she saw the hilt of Vader's lightsabre pressed against her stomach. Instinctively she knew that the blade was visible behind her. The footsteps in the corridor were getting increasingly louder and Vader retrieved his sabre blade. As he stepped away, Sabé dropped to her knees and then sank to the floor. Vader switched his lightsabre off and made a hasty exit, opening the locked door with the Force.
Sabé lay still, feeling nothing, not even the pain in her midriff. She was cold and swiftly going numb. So this is how it ends, she thought. At least I did my duty. The footsteps now seemed impossibly loud.
Obi-Wan appeared in the doorway. He quickly took in the scene and hurried to Sabé's side, cradling her head and shoulders. "Sabé!" He glanced once at her wound, the skin black and charred. It was fatal.
She looked up at his kind, handsome face. "I…didn't tell him…Obi-Wan…Luke is…safe," she said, her breaths growing short.
"My love," he murmured, stroking her cheek with one hand. His eyes shone with tears.
"I…love…you," she whispered. "So…much."
"I love you too. I always will." Something occurred to him and he asked. "Where's Mara?"
Sabé's face contorted with pain. "Gone," was all she could manage.
"Where? Please, my love, you must try. Tell me. Is she…" He could not bring himself to say the word 'dead'.
Sabé tried to answer, but the task proved too difficult. She reached up a hand, resting her icy fingertips on Obi-Wan's cheek. He kissed her forehead, leaving it damp with tears. She managed three more words. "Be…strong…love." Then she gave a sharp intake of breath before slumping limp in his arms.
Obi-Wan sat there holding her for an indistinguishable amount of time. He grieved, not as a Jedi, but as a man suffering a great loss. He had lost both his wife and daughter in an hour and he could not fathom how he was supposed to go on alone. When eventually he moved, he wrapped Sabé's body in his cloak and picked her up. She deserved a proper burial. Saché regrettably had to be left behind and Mara's body was missing. The Imperials had departed the spaceport by the time he emerged from the room. Those who saw him return to his ship were polite enough to give him sympathetic looks. He did not acknowledge them.
When he was safely alone in the depths of hyperspace, he turned to look at the black-wrapped figure. "I should never have left you alone."
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A/N: Although it may not seem like it now, please believe me that this story will have a happy ending. If you're wondering how I'm going to manage that, just trust me : )