Chapter 7 – Vengeance

Anakin and Padmé had landed safely on Naboo. They were now standing outside Padmé's parents' home. Her mother, Jobal Naberrie, opened the door. She had on an apron with flecks of dough on it.

"Padmé," Jobal's face spread into an delighted smile. "Anakin! We weren't expecting you."

"Would you rather us go to a hotel?" Anakin asked.

Jobal rolled her eyes and smirked. "Of course not. Come on in! You're just in time for our evening meal. I'll set two more plates. Ruwee! Sola! Padmé's home."

Ruwee Naberrie, Padmé's father bumbled down the staircase. "My daughter and son-in-law. How glad I am that you are safe!"

Following him was Padmé's sister, Sola. She shared her sister's long, dark locks, but her face showed that she was a few years older. "Padmé!" She ran to her sister and they embraced.

"Father, Sola, how wonderful to see you! Where are Ryoo and Pooja?" Padmé always loved to see her nieces when she visited home. She loved children in general.

"They are eating at a friend's home tonight. But they will be overjoyed to see you," replied Sola. "We heard that Chancellor Palpatine has died! The whole planet is in mourning. We are glad you two were not involved."

Anakin swallowed hard. He awkwardly shifted his eyes to the side. "Actually, his death is what brings us back here," he explained. "His data pad contains information vital to the fate of the Republic."

Sola gasped and they all sat down. Padmé caught them up on the story and told them about the Chancellor's true identity.

"A Sith Lord?" Ruwee whistled. "I don't believe it. Well, of course I believe my daughter, but I never would have thought it."

"Yes. It all seems very unlikely," Jobal added as she set the table. "I shudder knowing that the man was once in this very room having dinner with us."

Anakin more than shuddered at Palpatine having any kind of relationship with Padmé's family. He had never asked his wife how long she had known him when he was Senator. The topic had never come up, although it probably would have been helpful to the mission. He was determined to complete this mission as soon as possible so everything could return to normal. He inwardly laughed at himself. Nothing would ever return to normal with the arrival of the babies.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Naberrie, but I'm afraid I'll have to miss it. I must retrieve the Chancellor's data pad as soon as possible. If you could direct me the whereabouts of his old office, I would be grateful."

"Are you sure you don't want me to come? Remember, I'm quite familiar with the layout of the Senatorial building," Padmé offered.

Mr. and Mrs. Naberrie gave their daughter surprised looks. Sola smirked. Her sister was still her usual energetic, adventurous self. "In your condition?" Jobal exclaimed.

"Yes, it's far too dangerous. You need to rest, my love," said Anakin, as he caressed her cheek.

"All right," Padmé conceded. "But it will be difficult for you to enter the chancellor's office, as it is now occupied by another Senator. His data pad may not even be there. I would recommend that you visit his home instead."

"His home?" Anakin said quizzically.

"Yes," said Sola. "It is not far from here. An hour's walk, at most. I will give you directions."

Anakin and Padmé shared an embrace as Anakin left on his journey. He had to move as quietly as possibly and attract little attention. Instead of taking mass transportation, he decided to walk. He tried to concentrate on gathering the Force around him. He would definitely need it, as he was about to enter the home of a Sith. Who knew what kinds of traps would await him?

Less than forty minutes later, he arrived at the house. Rather, he should call it a mansion. The large estate overlooked the lake, and was at least a mile away from any other building. This arrangement was very clever of Palpatine, thought Anakin. A grand villa was the expected home of a powerful chancellor. It was also far removed, leaving him to plan the demise of the Jedi in solitude.

Before Anakin entered, he reached out to the Force. A deep sense of foreboding enveloped the house. This would not have been surprising, considering whose house it was. But the dark side of the Force was living here, floating through the property like a looming cloud. He stepped inside with caution.

Anakin resolved that he would not fail. The weight of the entire galaxy was on his shoulders, but it did not daunt him. Instead, it propelled him forward. He wanted to ransack the place, but his training prevented him. He was more mindful of his Jedi training now. Now that he knew Palpatine's words had all been lies. Think about the person, Obi-Wan used to say. Based on his personality, where would he hide the data pad?

Just then, a red flash of light descended from the spiral staircase above. A form somersaulted through the air and effortlessly landed in front of Anakin. The being's mechanical legs dented the solid floor. Anakin barely had time to think, but he drew his lightsaber on instinct. He took in the sight before him, and stifled a gasp. Although he hadn't seen him in 13 years, Anakin instantly recognized the Dathomirian standing before him. It was Darth Maul.

"So, we meet again, Chosen One." Darth Maul scowled.

"It was your starfighter trailing me, wasn't it?" Anakin seethed.

"How easy a target you make. Blasting you would have been too painless a death for the likes of you, Skywalker." Maul looked amused, looked confident that he could slice Anakin to pieces with his double-bladed lightsaber.

"What do you want?" Anakin demanded, matching Maul's arrogance.

"You Jedi killed my master. I have come to avenge his death." Vengeance. That was what every Sith wanted. Anakin had wanted vengeance, too, at a few different moments in his life. He had never wanted it more than against the sand people. Memories rapidly flooded his mind. Shmi's last breath hitting his face. The cowering horror of the Tusken Raider children. Palpatine's face when he revealed his identity. Another memory appeared to Anakin. This one was strange. It was not Anakin's memory. He saw a lightsaber piece Qui-Gon Jinn. The lightsaber's owner glowed red and black.

With Anakin lost in thought, Maul seized the opportunity to lash out on the offensive. He spun his lightsaber and hurled it close to Anakin. At the last moment, Anakin deflected it and retaliated. He stared into the same eyes from the memory. Soon, Palpatine's mansion became a battleground. He fine things shattered to the floor. The rooms flashed red and blue light.

Anakin was at a standstill. He knew why. He was fighting out of anger. He tried to let go of it. Maul's strong blows were depleting his strength. His painful memories would not help him now. He reached out to the Force for help. The split second required to do this was the perfect opening for Maul, who kicked out at Anakin's stomach with his metal leg. The blow sent the Jedi Master careening back into a desk.

Dazed, Anakin felt a strange sensation come over him. It was as if time stopped. His hear stopped beating. He was having a vision, the same recurring nightmare that haunted him. Padmé was on the birthing table. She was in pain, but she delivered the babies. She swaddled them and rocked them.

Anakin snapped out of his vision, willing his heart to beat again. Maul ran toward him, twirling his lightsaber above his head. Perfect, thought Anakin. A voice came to him, saying, "Feel, don't think. Trust your instincts." The first advice that Qui-Gon ever gave him. It was good advice, Anakin knew, but he needed to think now. Just allow me one thought, Qui-Gon.

Anakin leapt from the floor. It only took one thought for Anakin to drive the saber through Maul's heart: the thought of the Sith escaping and possible getting to Padmé. As the Dathomirian fell, something dropped out of his cloak: Palpatine's data pad.

Anakin ran back to the Naberrie home in record time. He made sure that no one followed him on the dark roads. He had no idea how long he had been fighting Maul, but the sky was now pitch black, lit only by stars.

When he walked into the house, all was quiet. He walked towards the sitting room, and saw Padmé snuggled on the couch. She had one arm draped around each of her two nieces. Anakin took in her tranquility and beauty. This was exactly how she had looked in his vision, with one arm nestling each twin. He knew she would master the role of mother with ease.

He walked into Padmé's room and closed the door, so as not to disturb anyone. He signaled Obi-Wan on his comlink.

Finally, the Jedi Master picked up. "Yes?" The grogginess in Obi-Wan's voice struck Anakin as uncharacteristic and a bit comical.

"I've retrieved the data pad, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan perked up. "Excellent! Send me all of the files, and Siri and I will investigate. Did you run into any trouble?"

"Just a little." Anakin pondered whether or not to tell Obi-Wan about Maul. It was a sensitive topic to him. His Master had withheld from sharing information with Anakin in the past. But he had to tell someone. "Maul was guarding Palpatine's home. He attacked."

Obi wan remained silent.

"He is no more." Anakin informed him.

"I see," said Obi-Wan impassively. "You get some rest, Anakin. We'll contact you with our findings tomorrow."

They disconnected, and Anakin climbed into Padmé's bed. He feared sleep, feared his vivid nightmare would return once again. But he could not prevent his exhaustion from overtaking him.

He did not dream of Padmé, but only heard a voice during his slumber. "You are the Chosen One," bellowed the voice. Immediately Anakin recognized it as Qui-Gon's. It continued, "Your life will matter. But perhaps not for the reasons you once thought."

Why had the Jedi Master been on his mind lately? Why had he been contacting him? Anakin welcomed his presence, but found it puzzling. It was as if Qui-Gon could communicate directly with him.

A/N: Hi, everyone! Thanks a lot for reading. What did you think?