Disclaimer: It's George's sandbox. I just play here, because it's fun!
AN: Here's chapter 5! Thanks for all the great reviews!
This story is very AU, so if seems like some characters are out of character, it is completely intentional. You'll understand why as you read. The M version of this story is located at my group. You can find the link, but please be 18 to read that version. Here at you will find the T version. :)
Forever Destined
Chapter 5: Return of the Sith
Siri sat in the passenger seat of the two person star fighter that she and Aayla were traveling in. She thought back to earlier that night, when she and Obi-Wan made...no, what they had done wasn't love making. It was just sex. Incredible, mind-blowing sex, but just sex. He had lived up to his promise to leave after he had screwed her. When she had awakened to the sound of her beeping comlink, he had already left her.
"Okay, what's going on? You're projecting your emotions," Aayla said, interrupting her thoughts.
"Aayla, am I really the reason that Obi-Wan is the way he is?" she asked.
"Oh no, tell me you didn't sleep with him," Aayla replied.
"Well I did. He warned me too, but I believed I could change his mind about me," Siri replied.
"Siri, I'm not going to lie. You hurt him really bad when you left. You destroyed any faith that he had in love when you left him," Aayla replied.
"So, tonight was payback. He knew that I wanted him and after he got laid, he left me," Siri replied, understanding Obi-Wan's line of thinking.
"Probably. Ben is quite bitter and cynical when it comes to love," Aayla replied.
"That's the understatement of the millennium," Siri mumbled.
Qui-Gon glanced over at his eldest son, who was extremely distant.
"Is there something you want to talk about?" Qui-Gon asked.
"No," Obi-Wan replied, quickly. Qui-Gon was silent for a moment, before continuing.
"You were with Siri earlier tonight, weren't you?" he asked.
'Blast!' Obi-Wan thought.
"So what if I was?" he replied, nonchalantly.
"So what? This is the woman that practically destroyed you," Qui-Gon replied.
"I was at the club and she showed up trying to play nice. We hooked up and fooled around a bit and I left. I made it very clear to her that I don't want a relationship and that I can't stand the sight of her," Obi-Wan replied.
"Ben, your life style if very unhealthy," Qui-Gon said. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes.
"I'm thirty-five dad, I don't need one of your lectures," Obi-Wan replied. Qui-Gon sighed in frustration and decided that it was best to calm himself with some meditation.
Anakin smiled, as he watched her sleep. They had been in hyperspace for a few hours now and she had fallen asleep against him. He was captivated by her, as she lay sleeping in his arms. These feelings he was having were new and different to him. He felt the need to protect her from all harm and to love her with his whole being. If this is what love felt like, then he wanted to feel it forever. He brushed the curls away from her face, staring at her beautiful, peaceful face.
"I think I'm in love with you. I just hope that I can get the courage to tell you when you're awake," he said, as he leaned down and kissed her hair. She truly had to be an angel. Carefully, he got up and laid her down, covering her with his cloak. He went to the cockpit to check on their course, but not before giving her a light kiss on the lips.
Qui-Gon opened his eyes from meditation and sighed.
"Obi-Wan, you know that I don't try to lecture you for the fun of it," Qui-Gon began.
"Really? I was under the impression that you enjoyed it immensely. At least, for me anyway. You don't seem to lecture our little golden boy too often," Obi-Wan replied.
"Is that what this is about? You think I favor Anakin over you?" Qui-Gon asked.
"You don't? He's set to be the youngest Knight ever. And he'll probably be the first to give you and mom the grandchildren you desperately want, even if it has to be with that blasted Senator," Obi-Wan replied.
"Obi-Wan, you're my first born. I love you both equally, but I do wish that you would think about settling down someday. Love is not the terrible thing you make it out to be. It does not always end like it ended for you and Siri and I'd prefer it if you'd just stay away from her," Qui-Gon replied.
"Don't worry, I taught her the lesson she won't forget," Obi-Wan replied, with a smirk.
"Revenge is not the Jedi way, my son," Qui-Gon warned.
"But it certainly is sweet," Obi-Wan replied. Qui-Gon sighed.
"And I do wish you would be a little more supportive of Anakin and Padme," Qui-Gon said.
"My baby brother has gone and fallen in love with a politician. That will take some getting used to," Obi-Wan replied. Qui-Gon shook his head.
"He looks up to you Obi-Wan, even if you don't think so. And it is easy to sense that Padme is a good woman. She'll be good for our little Ani," Qui-Gon said, with a smile a knowing smile. He wasn't sure if anyone else, but he and Anakin's grandfather sensed it, but he was well aware that Anakin was also on his way to Naboo with Padme. He knew that the Senator would insist on returning to her home planet and that his youngest son would never let her travel alone. On Naboo, Anakin's skills would be put to the truest test.
'Your trials have begun, my son. May the Force be with you,' Qui-Gon said, silently.
Artoo booped and clicked, as he sat next to Anakin. He read the translator and smiled.
"I'll go wake Padme," Anakin said. But as he turned, he saw her come into the cockpit. She had gone and changed clothes. She was now dressed in a white body suit that hugged her every curve. He knew he was staring, but he couldn't help himself. She blushed under his gaze.
"Um...I was just about the come wake you. We'll be coming out of hyperspace in about twenty minutes," he finally said, finding his voice. She smiled and sat down across his lap, as he urged her to.
"Thank you again for coming with me. Your risking a lot and I can't help but feel a little guilty since it's because of me," Padme said.
"Don't. There's no where else I want to be. Besides, my father and grandfather have always bent the rules a bit here and there. I guess I just take after them," he replied, with a smile. She giggled.
"Are we a bit of a rebel?" she asked, teasingly. He smirked.
"I don't know, maybe. Why, do you like that?" he asked, in a husky tone. She bit her bottom lip playfully.
"I happen to think it's incredibly sexy," she replied.
"Really?" he asked playfully.
Mmmhmm...," she replied, as she lowered her lips to his. Anakin moved his lips over hers sensually, slowly deepening the kiss. A pleasured hum escaped Padme's throat and Anakin loved how he could coax such a sound from her. Padme kissed him back intensely, sliding her tongue into his mouth. Her actions caused a low, husky sound coming from the back of his throat. She slowly broke the kiss and gazed into his piercing blue eyes.
"Padme...I," he began, but was cut off by a beeping.
"Um...looks like we're ready to come out of hyperspace," he said.
"Wait, what were you going to tell me?" she asked. He smiled.
"It can wait till later," he replied. She nodded and moved to the passenger seat, strapping in, as Anakin took the controls.
The sight that met their eyes, as they came out of hyperspace shocked them both. Large Neimodian warships loomed near the blue-green planet of Naboo. Anakin reached over and squeezed her hand, knowing that this had to be hard for her. She squeezed back, thankful for his support.
"We won't be able to land in Theed without attracting attention," Anakin mentioned. Padme thought for a moment.
"Take us around to the other side of the planet. We can land in the country fields and then acquire an underwater ship at one of the rural marinas. Then, we can travel to Theed through the core," Padme replied.
"Through the core?" Anakin asked, puzzled.
"That is one unique thing about Naboo. The core of the planet is not solid and made of water. There is a labyrinth passages that allow you to travel across the planet in much less time than it would take in the air," Padme explained. Anakin nodded, as he veered the ship around to the other side of the planet.
Anakin landed the ship in the grassy fields of Naboo near three massive waterfalls. In the distance, blaster fire could be seen in the sky, indicating the battle that was being waged between the droids and the Gungans, which were an amphibian based civilization that lived in the waters of Naboo. Padme looked around the vast lake country, glad that it seemed to be untouched.
"We're not far from my lake home. There we can take an underwater ship from the marina," Padme said, as she took his hand. They began walking through the grassy fields toward the vast lake retreat and the small marina that rested nearby. After a lengthy trip through the core of planet, Anakin and Padme surfaced in the Theed harbor. Quietly and thanks to the stealth Anakin provided for them with the Force, they quickly made their way through Theed and to the palace. It had taken longer to take the round about way that they had, but they had avoided the attention of the droids going the way they had.
Anakin pulled her along behind him, as they silently crept through the deserted hallways of the palace. A couple guard droids wandered into their vicinity and Anakin pulled himself and Padme into a crevice, as they passed by.
"Do you have any idea where they'd be holding the queen?" Anakin asked.
"Probably in the Throne room. We'll never be able to get past the droids without attracting attention. There's so many of them. I can't figure out where they could be controlling so many from," Padme replied. Then it dawned on Anakin.
"Of course. They didn't have the time to build the massive control station needed here on the planet. They're operating the droids from space. The large ship we saw as we came out of hyperspace. I'd bet that's a control ship," Anakin replied.
"I'm willing to bet that's a lot safer than stationing it here on the planet. It would be easier to keep out attackers," Padme replied.
"Easier to keep everyone out...except me," Anakin said, with a broad grin.
"What are you thinking?" Padme asked. Anakin pointed up.
"Could you lead us to one of the hangers through the vents?" Anakin asked.
"I think so. Are we really going up there to try and destroy that thing?" Padme asked.
"Trust me Padme, piloting is a specialty for me. I was born with an innate Force ability for piloting and relating to machines," Anakin said, as he unhooked the cover over the vent.
"I've heard your grandfather boast that you're the best pilot in the order to other Senators. I guess he's not just boasting," Padme replied, with a smile.
"Well, grandfather has been known to be a bit prideful, but what he says about my piloting is true," Anakin replied, as he hoisted her up so she could pull herself into the vent. He used the Force to carry himself up and began crawling behind her, as she led them in the necessary direction.
Anakin and Padme peered through the vent in one of the hangers. Most of the smaller star fighters were gone, but a few remained. And better yet, only a few droids loomed about.
"We should be able to take them out. But we'll have to find a ship quickly, before more droids come," Anakin said. Padme nodded. Anakin kicked the vent cover off and it went clattering to the floor. He flipped out of the vent and his saber blazed to life. He started blocking the droid fire and slashing at the oncoming droids. Padme jumped down after him and began firing her blaster. Together, they disposed of the droids. Anakin took her hand and led her to one of the two-person, yellow star fighters.
"Come on, we better go before more droids come," Anakin said, as he helped her into the co-pilot seat, before he hopped into the seat in front of her. They each put on the headset and Anakin started the engine. He fired the thrusters and jammed the throttle down, taking them sailing out of the hanger and blasting into the sky.
After fighting their way through the driods in Theed, the five Jedi finally made their way to the palace. Dooku sent Siri and Aayla to deal with the liberation of the prison camps in which the Neimodians were running. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan followed him into the palace where they made their way to the throne room.
"Now my queen, you will sign my treaty," Gunray ordered. Queen Jamilla's hands were released from the shackles.
"I will not sign your treat that supports this illegal blockade against my planet. You are killing my people, Viceroy. Senator Amidala has already sought help from the Jedi. You will not be allowed to get away with this," Jamilla said harshly.
"You will sign the treaty or you will die! And those pitiful Jedi won't get past my droid armies," Gunray said confidently. Suddenly, the doors to the throne room were flung open. Three light sabers hummed to life. Nute Gunray cowered away, as the Jedi cut down his droids and minions, before freeing Queen Jamilla and her cabinet.
"You and your accomplices are under arrest, Viceroy," Dooku said, as he placed Gunray's wrists in a pair of stun cuffs. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were seeing that Queen Jamilla and her entourage filed out of the throne room and into Captain Panaka's protection. As his grandfather was rounding up the Neimodians, Obi-Wan turned and saw a cloaked figure enter the room. The being radiated the dark side.
"Father," Obi-Wan said, bringing Qui-Gon's attention to the source of the dark energy they were both sensing. The figure tossed his hood back, revealing a Zabrak male with elaborate red and black tattooing.
"So, after a millennium, the Sith have finally returned," Dooku said.
"Yes, the question that remains: is he the master or the apprentice?" Qui-Gon asked.
"I will see to the incarceration of our Neimodian friends and to the protection of the Queen. May the Force be with you both," Dooku said, as he left with the prisoners and to provide the Queen with Jedi protection. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan shed their cloaks and ignited their sabers. The Zabrak Sith snarled, as he stepped into a defensive stance, holding a black cylinder horizontally. He pressed the igniter switch and two crimson blades extended from each end. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon readied themselves as the Sith leapt at them and the battle began.
Anakin flew them out of the atmosphere and into the darkness of space. He wove around other fighters who seemed to have the same idea as them. Currently, they were engaged in a space battle with vulture droids that were sent out to protect the control ship. Anakin wove expertly around the nasty things and headed for the control ship. He flew around it, looking for a hanger.
"There Anakin!" Padme said, as she pointed to the open hanger. Anakin looped them around.
"Great, now we just have to figure out how to get the shields down and get inside," Anakin replied. Padme took the canons and blasted along the side of the door, destroying the shields.
"Well, that's certainly effective," he replied, with a smirk.
"I take it you approve of my methods, my Jedi hero?" she asked coyly. He smiled.
"That I do, my beautiful angel. Hang on, cause we're going in," Anakin said, as he flew them into the hanger, just as the blast door slid shut behind them...