Jared's head was throbbing, he had been at this tunnel for nearly ten hours now. Every minute was starting to get excruciating, if it was not for the force he determined he would have been dead within the first few months. Certain metal's were starting to become scarce within the empire's shipyards. It was not that they were not out there, just the demand for them were too high that the worker's themselves were not able to keep up. Labor shortage, who would of guessed? Instead of cells, where society would pay to house these prisoners they were now working for the empire, to mine out the metal that would later be responsible for the next great star destroyer. Lifting his spike one more time he slammed it hard down upon the rock. The guards themselves had stationed themselves within a few meters from the prisoners, never to get close enough to be attacked but close enough to shoot them if the need arise. Feeling sweat start to pour down over his eyes, he pulled his shirt that was covered in dirt and wiped his forehead.
Today they receive there shipment of new help. It was always the same, a new shipment filled with the empire's prisoners docked and replenished the work force inside this horrible asteroid. Within a few months time they were back to square one, most succumb to the lack of food, infection or just killed by the guards for rioting. He would be lying to himself if he said he did not think of escape, for the fact of the matter is that everyone did. The problem was that if you could over power the guards or simply sneak by, you better hope they do not bring down the air tight doors, which they did all to often. The only time those doors were not down was during shift changes, crew or guards. If you could get passed the doors you would then have to fight your way through the corridors to the docking station up top. Needless to say, the Empires guards were anything but weak. All of them were sent to a mandatory two year boot camp to learn different fighting styles and to master them. To fight one in hand to hand combat for a normal being, would be all but suicide.
Truth be told Jared knew he could escape if he really wanted to. Even though he has been imprisoned he still had held on to his Jedi beliefs firmly. Often times he would meditate in his cell, or what would be a poor excuse for a cell. During these meditations he could still feel the force burning inside of him, telling him what to do next. Even the might of the galactic empire could never stop him from being a servant of the force. Though he hated the poor conditions of the asteroid, he stayed. Jared stayed because it was demanded of him, there was a reason for his imprisonment, perhaps that would even explain Anara. During a deep state of mediation he would see a woman appear to him, soft spoken she would attempt to keep her self isolated. Though the face of her would never show, even in the premonitions he could feel her force presence, not strong like a Jedi but close too. She would ultimately die in these caves on this barren rock, which the force was yelling at Jared to prevent. Ever since Dantooine, his sole purpose of existence has been assigned to protect this woman, something in which he was determined to do.
The doors came open in a sound of the metal mechanics, the new recruits have arrived, and instantly he felt her. The same force waves he had felt in his premonitions were finally here, after months of going through his torment, the force had finally delivered. Most of the old crew had crowded around the door, some hoping to see someone they knew, others trying to find there new target. Jared had to be careful, granted he was a Jedi and could easily handle himself against anyone in these caves in hand to hand combat, but he knew that during the entrance of the new recruits was the most dangerous for them. Many of the old prisoners would find one who they thought looked weak and instantly go for the kill, looking for clothes that would help keep them warm during the long shifts. The guards never gave anyone enough, keeping an eye on the young woman he mentally noted to himself to get her some extra clothing to keep her warm. The other thing was the fact that she was a woman, woman were not suppose to be in these caves. Over two thousand prisoner's were stationed on this rock, and none of them were women until now. How lonely a man would get during the long era's of the night, Jared would have to tread carefully hoping that no one would challenge her yet. To his surprise she had done well in shielding her face from the rest of the crowd. Weaving in and out on the out skirts of the crowd he followed the woman, and quickly noticed two men that were doing the same.
Padme allowed her self a quick view of what would most likely be the end of her. The barren rock was filled with men who was covered in dirt and ash, many of them looked hungry and carried a deep void in there eyes.
She wore a scarf around her lower part of her face, only leaving here nose out to breathe out of. Wearing only a light sweater with a hood already pulled up to cover her freezing ears. Taking a look around she noticed no woman, only men. Surely this had to be a mistake? The emperors doing no doubt, she decided. Almost immediately she darted off to the right side of the entrance, she was told there was empty rooms to be had. The prison didn't seem to operate like one in her mind. They worked when they were told but other than that the place was ran like society's slums. They do not assign cells? That could be a blessing, or a curse.
Walking down a narrow but jagged hallway she noticed towards the end what seemed to be crew quarters, or cells would be the better use of the word. Some were filled with seemed like rather random objects, but yet again what was random in prison? The room that the cells were placed in was rather large, enough to easily fill the occupants that were present, with many rooms to spare. Finding one that was empty was of no hassle, but to get the three men following her didn't seem like it would be easy. How she missed having Typho at her side, his fighting skills bar-none, these three would be easily persuaded otherwise than to follow her. Even though his days at her side are long gone, she felt relieved that he had shown her some self defense to go on top of the courses that she was required to take with her handmaidens.
Turning her head around she noticed two of the men rushing up to her, almost sprinting now, the other just stayed back with a calm eye, just watching. Knowing what Typho had trained her, she could not allow these men the advantage to circle her and quickly opted for an empty room and charged in. The two men approached cautiously, one was of a large stature, mainly of being over weight. The other was tall and skinny, at about 6'3. Reaching her hands up towards her scarf she started to gently pull it down.
Don't you do it! Jared screamed in his head, realizing that she was going to unveil herself. Taking a quick glance around he noticed no one else was paying attention to this little gathering. Silently he thanked the force.
Padme dropped the scarf on the floor and pulled the hood back revealing her delicate features of her face. The men just grinned as they eye there pray.
"Hey, Lo when is the last time you been with a woman?" The skinnier one of the two asked, looking back towards him the short fatter one just grunted before replying.
"Oh, bout 6 months and you?" which laughter soon followed suit. Padme was now utterly frightened was letting waves of fear roll off of her. She had not been this scared since the assassination attempt on her life, but then again Anakin was there to quell her worries. Pulling her left leg in front of her body she put up both of her hands and ready to defend her self.
The two men just looked towards each other letting there blackened and malnourished teeth show. A moment passed and they both approached.
I suppose now would be a good time to jump in for the rescue. Jared sighed, and took a step forward.
"Gentlemen, I'm going to have to ask you both to step away from the lady, she's mine." He stated loud and very firmly. He could feel her fear rushing off from her, taking a breath he let the force rush around him, coming to his aide. The two men heard this loud statement and just turned around to see there advisory.
The fat one who Jared learned moments before was a man named Lo came charging first. Pulling his arm back he planned on nailing him with a running fist. Jared need not the force for the man, as his simple basic training kicked in from the days before he was even a padawan. Side stepping this move he grabbed the mans wrist and yanked upwards causing his arm to swing around his own shoulder causing the top part of the arm bone to snap, breaking skin. The man let out a loud, pain-stricken scream, Jared nonchalantly reached up his hand and grabbed his head and slammed it into the wall that was made out of jagged rock. Instantly he dropped to the floor, his force presence was gone, even though even a non Jedi could tell he was unlikely to survive that from the large gash to the side of the head.
The other one just looked in shocked before taking a couple of steps, this time not charging and trying not to make the same mistake his friend did. It was in vain. The first punch was aimed for his eye, he just simple weaved out of the way, grabbed his wrist and used his left arm to hit the mans elbow as had Jared could snapping it clean. The man did not even realize his arm was broken before he pulled up his leg and kicked his knee cap in causing his leg to break as well. While falling to the ground, Jared spun his body around his, wrapped his arm around the mans neck and gave a tight tug. His neck cracked instantly.
Looking up towards the woman, fear had filled her eyes. Obviously how he handled the two men must of frightened her considerably, especially since the first words she heard him say included the words "shes mine."
"I'm sorry milady you need not of seen that."
This time Padme's eyes filled with wonder towards the man, her arms wrapped around her body as she pulled her hood over her head again and picked up her scarf. Jared went down towards the men and started to take off there thin layers of clothing, she just looked on in disgust.
"What are you doing?"
Jared just looked at her noticing her shivering almost uncontrollably, her breath freezing almost as soon as it leaves her mouth.
"Its for you." Taking a moment he noticed the clothes were covered in the two men's blood. Looking back up towards her just let out a small laugh.
"Yeah, there kind of inadequate right now. Here take this." Pulling off the two sweat shirts he was wearing he handed them to her. Unwilling she did not reach for it at first, after a moment she finally grabbed them and put them on.
"What about you?" She asked, but just as soon mentally kicked her self. Though she was curious, she wasn't exactly wanting to find out what the "catch" was. Jared looked down and noticed all he was wearing was a pair of black pants and a light t-shirt that had a few holes spreading over it.
"I'll be fine till i get these cleaned." He responded and proceeded to take the mens clothes off, after wards he stepped up to her.
"Your hands are going to be incredibly hard to keep warm, a pair of gloves would help but unfortunately we don't have that luxury." Reaching up he grabbed her hands which were eyes cold and placed them on his neck, fighting instantly she tried to pull away but noticed his vice grip was not going to let go.
"To be frank, If I wanted to deflower you, I would of done so already. Your neck is the warmest part of your body, any time they start to get so cold it hurts, place them there. It doesn't take long to warm up, to at least a semi partial tolerable temperature."
"Why are you helping me?"
"Ah, no questions, not yet. First lets get settled in my cell, there you can ask." Still Padme was not convince. Granted she was glad he came to her rescue, but she wasn't exactly bout ready to play house with a prisoner just because of a simple act of compassion.
"Why should I trust you?" Jared was in disbelief, did he not just save this woman from being raped?
"There are a lot of lonely men on this barren rock, many of them have not been woman what seems like centuries to these men. I took out these two men in a ten second span, trust me when I say I did not feel challenged in the least. I did not even try to kill those men."
"Well I promise I wont allow them to rape you, now answer the question."
"Woman! You are by far the most stubborn person I have ever been assigned to protect!"
"You were assigned to protect me? By whom?" Jared wrapped his arms around his body trying to conserve his body heat. At these temperatures the force could only do so much.
"I'm freezing my ass off, if you want answer then lets talk in my cell so I can warm up a bit. You can decide there if you want to stay there or go elsewhere." Jared said, clearly having enough. With the bloody clothes in his hands he walked off towards his cell, Padme realizing she really had no other options followed suit.
She walked into his so called cell, which was more like a middle sized two bedroom apartment. It was obvious that there used to be two single cells instead of one large one. There was a bedroom on each side, both had rock walls with a hole carved out a couple feet wide and length wise, for to be obviously used as a door. Then there was the large room that connected the two. Very basic but even in this slum like society it took a lot of effort to build. Jared noticed her gaze at the apartment.
"Took me eight months, I don't remember how I ever got any sleep." He spoke wrapping himself around a huge cloth like blanket, In his hands he held another one which he handed to her.
"Who assigned you to protect me?" Padme asked now,after wrapping her self with the overly large blanket.
"I'll ask the questions first, then I'll answer everything that I can."
"You said that you will answer mine in your cell, if you can call it that."
"And I will, but first answer mine. Trust me theres a meaning to it."
"Okay, what is it you wish to know?"
"The republic, how did it fall?"
This brought an obvious painful memory to her face as he saw her face wince. Taking a deep breath.
"The Sith took control of the senate." Everything came to a stop, the Sith...He knew of the one Obi-wan Kenobi slayed a Sith years ago. There was no way the Sith could take control, the Jedi were to much in number. Mace Windu, Kenobi, Yoda, Fisto,Skywalker, Turris...All of these were excellent swordsmen, he could go on and on if needed. Surely they would not fall to the Sith.
"And the Jedi?" He asked, letting fear start to grip him. Just as soon he desperately tried to release it into the force, though it was to no avail.
"The Sith Lord ordered the destruction of the Jedi Order. Only a few escaped the purges." Sadness seemed to loom over the room, Jared was almost in complete shock. Still he had to find out the rest, and so he continued.
"Do you know of any that survived?"
"Yes."
"Who?" He asked in a hurry, hoping to hear some familiar names.
"Obi-wan Kenobi survived, so did the Grandmaster Yoda. Both of whom are still being hunted down by the empire."
"Do you know of a master Turris? Did he perhaps live?"
"I'm sorry that name does not ring a bell."
"What about Kit-Fisto?" Jared asked, he could of sworn he felt his danger sense strike up one night, but soon all he felt was pain and massive death. Fisto had been like a second master to Jared, helping him with things that Turris did not know how to explain. He was a rouge and a model Jedi all into one. To both of there surprise they had formed a bond, almost resembling a master and padawan bond. Fisto always took special interest in Jared and with out his guidance or training Jared figured he would be dead long before the clone wars.
"Fisto was sent along Saesee Tiin, Agen Kolar and Mace Windu to arrest the Sith Lord Chancellor Palpatine, none of them survived." Jared grabbed a firm control of his bed that he was sitting on, depression swept over him, consuming him like a plague. Taking a deep breath he released as much as he could into the force, regaining his composure.
"I'm sorry." Jared, wishing he could say something could not get the words to come over the lump forming in his throat. Instead he just swallowed and nodded his head.
"Anything else you might want to ask me?" Padme asked, hoping to ask questions of her own. Looking under neath his bed she saw something strikingly familiar. Noticing its round shape and its metallic color.
"Your name?" Jared managed to say.
"Padme Amidala, or just Padme." She spoke still not being able to take her eyes at what she was seeing, finally she spoke up about it.
"And your a Jedi."