Jedi Master Arie Skywalker – Oh, I'm afraid you're going to hate me after this chapter! Yikes! What if I give you a huge helping of virtual chocolate?
QueenNaberrie – Well, Padmé will find Obi-wan, but I'm afraid that's where the good news stops. Thanks for sticking with me though!
BabaBiP – Oh wow, thank you so much!
DarthGladiator45 – Unfortunately, it's a risk Palpatine is all to willing to take, now that Vader has completely turned against the Jedi. Thanks for the kind words of support!
Haydenfan89 – Ta-da! The latest chapter – and I'm already hard at work on the next one so it should be posted in the not too distant future.
Avschick33 – Unfortunately, you're right… things are not going to work out well for our heroes. I'm trying to set up for "A New Hope" so tragedy's the name of the game. Bear with me!
Eriks leadinglady – Boy, you are right – chocolate with Anakin on top. Two things I can't refuse. You've found my weakness! Hope you don't want to kill me after this chapter. Things are about to get very dark around here. Yikes! You might want to get out the flashlight! Thanks for sticking with me all this time. I really appreciate your support – and your wonderful replies! They're wonderful!
ALL – Well, we have a bit of a bummer factor rearing its ugly head in the next post. This is where the story takes a bit of a dramatic turn. Hope you'll bear with me. We're actually nearing the home stretch! Hard to believe, huh? On a brighter note – Happy New Year, ya'll!
MUSTAFAR, DOCKING BAY HALLWAY
Sprinting through the maze of corridors, Padmé tried to ignore the fact that every step caused her stitches to tear and ooze blood. Nevertheless, she pressed onward, letting out a sigh of relief when the lobby doors became visible in the distance. Only a little further and she'd be able to warn Obi-wan.
She could only hope someone would do the same for her husband.
His handsome face flashed through her mind, each feature as clear as if he were standing beside her: tousled blonde hair, sky-blue eyes that sparkled when he laughed. Would she ever see him that way again?
Yes, she told herself sternly. Anakin's destiny was tied to the Jedi; he was their brightest ally against the dark. If there was any way to save the Order from this treachery, he would find it.
And then they could finally be a family.
She was still wearing the remnants of the hopeful smile when a door opened up ahead, voices spilling into the hallway. Obi-wan's cultured tones were easily identifiable and remarkably calm given that Cody's had dissolved into seething anger. Any remaining doubts she may have held were effectively silenced then and there. Force help them all… Barriss was right.
Steeling herself for the grisly task ahead, Padmé pressed her back against the wall and silently disengaged the safety mechanism on the blaster. The element of surprise would be on her side, but only for a split-second – a split-second in which she had to take out a top-notch clone commander while trying not to wound her dear friend in the process.
Yes, it was certainly a tall order for a woman who had been neglecting her blaster practice.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady her shaking hands. Please, please let this work. Don't make me tell Anakin that I stood by while his Master was murdered.
She shifted her grip on the blaster one last time, leapt into the doorway...
...and nearly screamed in frustration when her intended target turned out to be Obi-wan himself. Their positions were reversed so Cody was blocked by the Jedi Master's body… completely out of her direct line of fire.
She froze.
It cost her.
QUARTERS OF OBI-WAN KENOBI – A FEW MOMENTS EARLIER
Allowing his eyes to flutter open, Obi-wan rocked back on his heels and tried to work some blood back into his tingling fingers.
Unfortunately, his most recent attempt to enter a meditative trance had been as unsuccessful as the others. The darkness seemed to take pleasure in toying with him, letting him know it was growing closer with every passing breath... that it was coming for him.
But it wouldn't let him know why.
The sudden buzzing of his visitor's chime had his entire body tensing in surprise. The aggravating sound was quickly repeated again... and then again.
"What the-?"
Swallowing the oath, he consulted a bedside chrono and ran a simple calculation through his brain. Yes, as he suspected, the Tantive should have taken off several minutes ago. Who would be harassing him on this Force-forsaken planet?
The answer was obvious, of course.
Padmé. Soft-hearted, stubborn-as-a-bantha, I-won't-leave-without-you Padmé.
Getting to his feet, he raised a hand and deactivated the locks. "If you have returned to try to talk me into coming with you yet again, I am going to-"
The door slid open before he could finish his sentence. Cody???
"Hello, General Kenobi."
"Commander?" he finally managed. "I must say I'm astonished to find you still within the facility. Aren't you supposed to escort the Senators?"
The clone pushed past him and surveyed the room suspiciously. "I have been given new orders."
"By whom?"
"That is not your concern. I am looking for Senator Amidala; do you know where she is?"
The alarm bells that had been going off in Obi-wan's head morphed into full-blown klaxons. "Technically, I cannot say for sure."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, she's in the vast outreaches of space by now." He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning casually against the inner doorframe. "I'm afraid her exact position is unknown, even to me."
"Give me the coordinates for her destination."
"And if I refuse?"
Cody pressed the blaster into his stomach. "Then you die."
"You would really execute an officer of the Republic?" As he spoke, Obi-wan slowly started to reach for his light saber.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, sir. Nothing will stand in the way of my orders; not even you."
There was a sudden flash of movement as Padmé darted into view, her blaster primed and prepared to fire. Cody turned towards the new threat and Obi-wan took advantage, slicing his saber across the clone's neck. Cody slumped to the ground, setting off a wild spray of blaster fire as his fingers clenched around the trigger before going slack.
In the silence that followed, Obi-wan could do nothing more than stare at the headless body of a man he had considered a friend. His mind reeled, attempting to process everything that had happened and the possible implications.
"I can't believe he would turn on us that way, Padmé," he murmured. "I've worked with him on a countless number of missions and he never gave me a single reason to distrust him. Has this happened elsewhere?"
Her reply came out as a gurgle.
Even as he spun, terror washed over him. He found her lying in the hallway, blinking up at him through a haze of pain.
"Padmé!" he choked. "You were hit? Where?"
She took a ragged breath and he noticed the way her fist was pressed against her chest.
Oh no.
She began to tremble, a lone tear tracking down her cheek. "Hurts."
"I know, my friend," he whispered. "I know. We need to get you to the ship, so I'm going to pick you up now, okay?"
Moving carefully, he eased his arms underneath her shivering form, the action bringing him level with the swell of her abdomen shield. A part of him wanted to weep at the visual reminder of their teasing arguments. Had it really only been earlier that day?
He lifted her slowly, but that didn't stop her from crying out in agony. Overcome by a wave of guilt, he settled her gently on his sleep couch.
"Rest a moment - I'll find a hoverchair or a gurney…" Panic was welling up within him, gripping his throat until he could barely swallow. "Just hold on."
"It's all… right," she managed. "Just… need a… minute. Don't… don't go."
The sight of her ashen face brought a flood of memories, bringing him back to that horrible afternoon on Naboo, when he had lost his beloved Master.
Qui-gon, help me. Please… don't make me go through this again.
"You must… contact An- Anakin." Her voice started to fade and he had to lean close. "Make sure he's… okay."
"We'll do that as soon as we get to the ship," he promised. "Do you think you can make it now? I just need you to stay strong for a little while longer. We'll go to Polis Massa, get some help."
She squeezed her eyes shut and nodded though it seemed to take every ounce of her remaining strength. Brushing a hand over her brow, he was just about to heave her into his arms when a familiar voice rang out:
"Obi-wan?"
And then, "Padmé!"