The Next Morning at Padme's Apartment
Coruscant was truly the city that never
slept. Despite the early hour and the dimly let streets, the highways
were still full of life. For this, Jordana was truly grateful. It
provided her with enough cover while she devised a plan of action.
She sat inside her carefully hidden speeder, just outside Padme's
apartment, surveying the area and trying to keep her heart from
leaping out of her throat. What was she going to say to this woman?
How was she even supposed to approach her. A combination of
cowardice, fear, and regret crawled up her spine, and the thought of
running back to the Temple to console Anakin was an extremely
tempting. Before she could contemplate the notion any further, she
saw a black speeder pull up. When Obi-Wan Kenobi stepped out, her
mind raced with confusion. When she saw him being inspected by the
guards, she knew this wouldn't be easy and she'd have to take
care of this with a little bit of old fashioned sneakiness and
stealth. Instincts carried her up the sides of the building until she
reached a balcony that her heart told her belonged to Padme. She
flipped herself over the railing and was about to enter when she felt
Padme's presence approaching. Balancing herself on the railing, she
climbed onto the overhang above the glass door. And not a moment too
soon, because moments after she perched herself upon the overhang,
the doors opened and Padme stepped out onto the balcony.
Now's
my chance to talk to her. she thought, about to jump off. However,
Captain Typho appeared before she could make any move.
"Senator,
Master Kenobi just called. He'll be here shortly, he's already on
his way."
"Thank you Captain."
Master Kenobi? Why the
hell would he be coming here? Unless... Her heart sank when she
realized all the possible reasons why he would be coming. Had Anakin
told Obi-Wan about his marriage, or was Padme about to tell him
herself? Was Anakin already in serious trouble? She debated whether
or not she should jump down now, or wait until she had spoken with
Obi-Wan. She decided on the latter, since she didn't want her
presence to add any undue influence on their conversation. Several
minutes passed and Padme was still standing on her balcony, leaning
against her railing. Jordana wished she would just go inside. Her
heart was pounding so loudly, she was certain Padme could her it as
well.
"Senator," she heard Typho call, and she breathed a sigh
of relief. Right after Padme walked through the glass door, she swung
herself from the overhang through the glass doors before they could
close. She thanked the Force for the stealth perfected during the
war. She hid herself in a closet, leaving a small crack between the
doors so she could see. Obi-Wan and Padme walked into the living room
where he sat across from her.
"Is everything all right, Milady?"
he asked.
"I'm afraid not, and please call me Padme." Her
voice was shaking and even from several feet away, Jordana could see
she looked pale. "I have a confession to make."
"Go
on."
"During the time Anakin was protecting me, we fell in
love. When he escorted me back to Naboo, we were married."
Obi-Wan
was silent for a few moments, "So, you two are...married?"
"We
were. Yesterday, I filed for divorce, and last night I told him we
were through."
"As wrong as the whole situation is, Senator,
why would you do that?"
"He's just changed so much, he's
barely even the man I married anymore. If I disagreed with Palpatine
during the war, I was a Separatist. He always thought I was cheating
on him."
"Anakin's been through a lot, Padme."
"Obi-Wan
I'm scared to death of him!" she cried, "I was always afraid
he'd turn on me at any moment and kill me...and my unborn
child!"
"Your what?"
She calmed down slightly, a few
tears falling down her cheeks, "I'm pregnant, with Anakin's
child."
Jordana nearly fainted. When her head stopped spinning,
she clenched her fists in anger and had to force herself from busting
out of the closet and killing Padme.
"How far along?"
"About
a month."
"Does Anakin know?"
"No, not yet."
"If
he comes to you, don't tell him."
"all right."
"Who
else knows about the wedding?"
"Just the droids, my handmaiden
Dorme, and Jordana."
"Jordana? How would she know about
this?"
"She was there, at the wedding. Anakin wanted her
there, he was insistent upon it. I didn't think it was a good idea.
Now I know I was right."
"What do you mean."
"Before
the wedding, Jordana threatened me. She said that if I broke his
heart, she would kill me."
Padme broke down crying and Obi-Wan
sat down next to her, trying to console her.
"Don't worry
Padme, I won't let any harm come to you."
"Thank you Master
Kenobi." she replied, kissing him on the cheek.
Jordana felt her
stomach lurch forward and she nearly vomited on the floor. She
watched as Obi-Wan left to return to the Temple and Padme went to her
room. She thought about trying to talk to her now, but figured it be
best if she just went back to the Temple right now. Anakin would need
her most right now. Carefully she removed herself from the closet and
tried to sneak back out the way she came. But Lady Luck was no longer
on her side and just as she was about to exit, Padme walked out of
her room.
As Obi-Wan was leaving Padme's room when he heard her
terrified scream. He and Captain Typho ran back to her room, where he
found Padme against a wall and Jordana running towards the balcony.
Captain Typho and Dorme took care of Padme while he followed
Jordana.
"Jordana, what in the blazes are you doing here?" he
demanded.
She was backed against the balcony, her hands behind her
back.
"I only wanted to talk to her." she said quickly.
"Then
why'd you run?"
"I heard all I needed to hear." she
replied.
"Jordana, you can't tell Anakin anything you heard
today."
"Maybe I will, maybe I won't, it all depends on my
mood." She looked over the balcony behind her. "But as of right
now, I'm needed elsewhere. Later." She bent backwards and fell
from the balcony, head first.
"No, Jordana!" he ran to the
balcony and saw her falling rapidly towards the ground.
Cold air
rushed up past Jordana as she free fell from the balcony. She quickly
flipped so she was falling feet first and used her cloak in her hands
as a makeshift parachute. But it didn't provide as much lift as she
hoped, and she still found herself falling a dangerous rate. She felt
herself panic when she felt herself slam into the passenger seat of a
passing speeder. After recovering from the initial shock, she looked
up and found herself staring straight at Tahira.
"Nice of you to
drop in."
