Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.
AN: Here's chapter 16! Enjoy and thanks for all the great reviews!
Forever Destined
Chapter 16: Taking Control
As she laid comfortably in Anakin's arms, she had nearly forgotten where they really were. As she began to wake up, that harsh reality returned, as she felt someone staring down at them. She timidly opened her eyes, only to find Garret staring down at them. She shivered under his icy gaze and began shaking Anakin.
"Anakin...Ani, wake up," she pleaded. He woke up to her frightened brown eyes and quickly gained his bearings.
"I hope you enjoyed your little nap...Skywalker," Garret said. Anakin winced.
"That's right, I know everything about you. You're not Siri Tach's brother...you're much more valuable than that," Garret said.
"What do you want?" Anakin asked.
"We'll be coming out of hyperspace soon and then we'll be contacting your grandfather. I'm willing to bet he's ready to negotiate a hefty ransom for your release," Garret said.
"So, money is what you're after?" Anakin asked.
"Not at first, no. Revenge against Tachi was my original goal, but ransom from one of the wealthiest men in the galaxy sounds even better. They'll be other opportunities to kill that bloody wench for her treachery," Garret replied, as he stabbed another needled into Anakin's arm. Anakin winced, as the serum burned going in.
"Once we drop out of hyperspace, my men will come for you and then you can say hi to dear old grandfather. If he wants to see either of you again, then he'll pay me ten million credits. With those kind of resources, my operation will be back to full strength in no time at all," Garret said, as he left.
"Oh Ani, are you okay?" Padme asked. Anakin looked at her and gave her a loving smile. She felt like melting under his heated gaze. He pulled her into a passionate kiss. Their bond flourished open completely and Padme suddenly realized that the serum that he had just used on Anakin had been completely ineffective. Her Ani was immune to it now. Her heart soared with hope, as he plundered her mouth with his own, letting her taste just a bit of the unbridled passion and desire held in his heart only for her.
"Angel, we're probably being watched and they may be listening, so we need to talk through our bond," Anakin said.
"The serum...it's not working anymore," she replied.
"No, I guess the sleep allowed my body the time and rest needed for my midichlorians to produce enough antibodies to kill the serum. Now that my body knows what it is, it kills the serum the moment it enters my blood," Anakin said.
"This is wonderful Ani," she replied.
"I have a plan to get us out of this Padme," he said.
"How?" she asked.
"There going to take us to the bridge when we drop out of hyperspace. Garret has my saber on his belt, carrying it around like some kind of trophy. I'm going to take control of the ship," Anakin replied.
"I know you can and I have every amount of confidence in you, but please be careful," Padme said.
"I will. During this, I need you to stay as close to me as possible, okay?" he questioned.
"Don't worry. This Garret person scares me Ani," she replied.
"I'll protect you angel," he replied.
"I know you will," she said.
"Just stay close and follow my lead," he replied, before he broke their long kiss.
Padme rested her head on his chest, as they waited for the moment where they would escape and reclaim their lives...
Obi-Wan woke up with a start and a smile broke out on his face. He nearly leapt out of bed and threw his pants on. Aayla woke up, due to the commotion he was causing.
"Ben, what is it?" she asked.
"I can feel him! As strong as ever! He did it, he broke through the serum's hold!" Obi-Wan said, as he headed for the fresher for a quick shower. Once he was done, he dressed quickly and headed for the temple. Aayla was not far behind him.
Anakin and Padme sat cuddled together against the wall, Padme rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beating of his heart.
"I can't wait until we're back home," she whispered.
"Me either my love," he replied, as he kissed her forehead.
"They must be worried sick about us back home," Padme said.
"They are, but they're also relieved now that they can feel us again," Anakin whispered. Padme spoke her next words through their bond.
"Do you think they can sense where we are?" Padme asked.
"No, we're too far away and I have no idea where we are either. But that's about to change really soon," Anakin replied. She shivered from the cold air in the drafty cell and Anakin pulled his cloak up over her shoulders. She was still wearing the black dress she had been wearing the night they were taken. The skirt was torn slightly and one of the delicate straps had been completely ripped. It offered no warmth, yet she was more worried about Anakin. Garret hadn't bothered to give him a new shirt after he'd cut through the one Anakin had been wearing. He smiled, as he read her thoughts.
"I'm fine," he assured her, as he brushed her fingers through her disheveled curls. Padme kissed him softly, but he abruptly broke the kiss, as he sensed someone coming.
"He's coming for us," Anakin said, as he stood up and helped her up. Padme clung to him, as Garret approached the cell. He entered with two of his men and he motioned to them. They roughly pulled Anakin away from Padme and shackled his wrists. Padme tried to go to him, but she was stopped by Garret. He grabbed her arm and pulled her along roughly. His men followed, shoving Anakin along, as they headed for the bridge.
Padme whimpered, as Garret pulled her along roughly.
"Let go of her!" Anakin yelled. Garret turned around and backhanded Anakin across the face.
"Shut up!" Garret said angrily. Anakin glared at him, as they entered onto the bridge. Garret released Padme and shoved her toward Anakin. He caught her and knew this was their chance. Garret turned his back and began walking toward the comm station.
Suddenly, he felt something fly off his belt and then he heard a snap hiss. As he whirled around, he saw the young Jedi dispose of the two men who had been holding his arms. Anakin used the Force to pull the blaster from his belt, sending it into Padme's hands. She blasted the lock on his shackles, releasing his wrists. Padme pressed her back against his, as they stood ready for Garret's men.
"You picked the wrong Jedi to mess with," Anakin said, as he Force pushed Garret against the wall. He landed with a hard thud, dazing him. Garret's men began firing at them. Anakin shielded Padme, as he began blocking each and every blast. While he was blocking, Padme was firing at them, shooting several down. Anakin sensed more of Garret's crew coming to the bridge. He raised two fingers and motioned the door shut.
"Blast the lock Padme," he called. She aimed and did as he asked, locking them out.
"Stop them!" Garret cried to his men. Suddenly, a burly man grabbed Padme from behind and put his large arm around her neck, yanking the blaster from her hand.
"Drop the light saber kid or I'll snap her pretty little neck," the man growled. Anakin extinguished his saber and the man laughed evilly. Before he knew what was happening, Anakin had used the Force to pull a blaster from one of the dead men on the floor. A blaster bolt grazed by Padme's head, landing point blank in the center of the man's forehead. The man fell dead, leaving a stunned Padme. She had known Anakin was fast, but he still amazed her with his abilities at times. He wrapped his around her stiffened body and pulled her close.
"Angel...next time, duck," he told her, before planting a quick kiss on her lips. The only man left alive in the room was Garret. Anakin pulled Garret up by his shirt and slammed him against the wall.
"You're under arrest, Mr. Wells," Anakin said, as he shoved the man into a chair and proceeded to bind him with some of the chains that he had used on himself. He wielded the ends together with his saber, securing him in the chair, and assuring him that he would not be going anywhere. Padme hugged him tightly and he picked her up, spinning her around.
"Let's contact the temple and figure out where we are," he said, as they sat down at the ship controls.
"This is a complicated design. You probably won't even be able to fly it," Garret said. Anakin smirked at him.
"Like I said before; you picked the wrong Jedi to mess with. This ship's controls are child's play to me," Anakin replied, as his fingers flew over the console.
"Where are we?" Padme asked. Anakin glared at Garret.
"We're in orbit of Cato-Neimodia. Doesn't surprise me that scum like you would have operations there," Anakin replied.
"We're getting low on fuel, but fortunately we've got just enough to make it to Serenno. It's the closest and safest option," Anakin replied, as he opened a comm channel to the temple, using his personal encryption code.
Obi-Wan paced a hole in the floor, as they all waited in the situation room. A few moments ago, they had felt Anakin's Force signature spike powerfully. The comm station began flashing, as they received a new transmission. Obi-Wan glanced over his father's shoulder and recognized the encryption code immediately.
"That's Anakin's encryption code!" he exclaimed. Qui-Gon opened the channel and a holo of Anakin and Padme appeared. Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief.
"We are so glad you are both okay," Qui-Gon sighed in relief. Anakin and Padme smiled.
"We're fine dad and we captured Garret. The ship is getting low on fuel, but fortunately our closest and safest option is Serenno, so I'm setting a course for there," Anakin replied. Dooku smiled.
"I shall let them know you are coming at the palace. Your grandmother has just returned from her trip to Chandrilla and she'll be thrilled to see you," Dooku said, with a smile.
"We'll be leaving for Serenno shortly son and we'll see you there in the morning," Qui-Gon said.
"We've missed you baby brother," Obi-Wan said. Anakin smiled.
"We've missed you too Ben," Anakin replied, as he put his arm around Padme's waist. The transmission ended and they heard a fierce banging on the door, realizing it was more of the crew.
"We forgot about them," Padme said nervously. Anakin closed his eyes and reached deeply into the Force. The banging ceased a few moments later.
"What did you do?" Padme asked.
"I just suggested that they all take a nice long nap," he replied. She smiled slyly at him and leaned in close.
"Is there anything you can't do handsome Jedi?" she asked playfully.
"I'm full of surprises, angel," he replied, as he tightened her belt and took the controls. He set the course and jumped them into hyperspace...
Countess Elana Dooku, wife of Count Yan Dooku, stared out the expansive panoramic window overlooking the palace's lovely gardens. A small smile graced her lips, as she remembered how Anakin used to play for hours in the gardens. When Anakin was abducted, she'd been on a business trip to Chandrilla. While she was not a Jedi, she was every bit a business woman, as he husband was a business man. She traveled quite a bit to their allied planets. While her husband preferred to be out in the field, she preferred the political arena and diplomacy. Even at her age, she was still a beautiful woman with long red hair, graced by time with silvery strands throughout. She had a pair of lively green eyes that held experience and wisdom. The lines of aging on her face and around her eyes did not subtract from her beauty, but rather added an elegance that only came with age. When Yan had contacted her on Chandrilla and told her everything, she'd wanted to head straight for Coruscant. But he told her to come home first until they heard more and she would be glad that she had stayed on Serenno, as she would soon learn.
"Milady, you have an urgent transmission from the Jedi Temple," one of her handmaidens informed her.
"Thank you Lara," Elana replied, as she followed the young woman to her office. She accepted the transmission and the image of her husband appeared.
"Yan, have you found him?" she asked. He smiled softly at her.
"Yes darling, both Anakin and Padme are all right. Anakin was able to over power the men on the ship once he overcame the effects of the ysalamir serum. His closest and safest option is Serenno right now, so he should be landing within the hour. The rest of us are leaving Coruscant now and should arrive by morning," Dooku said.
"Thank the Force he's all right. And now finally get to meet this girl he's so crazy about. Safe trip, I love you," she told him.
"And I you, my love," he replied, as the transmission went blank.
Elana Dooku waited on the expansive landing pad, as Anakin brought the ship down. Members of the Serenno guard were standing by to take the criminals into custody. Anakin lowered the ramp and a few of the men went up. Not much later, they came down with the arrested criminals in tow. Elana watched, as her grandson shoved what she assumed as the leader down the ramp and to one of the officers. Then she watched, as he extended his hand and helped a beautiful young woman down the ramp. Elana waited no longer and jogged toward them. She hugged her grandson tightly.
"Oh, I was so worried about you," Elana said.
"I'm fine grandma," he replied, as she pulled back, so she could look him over.
"After you introduce me, I'll have the healers check you both over and then we'll get you cleaned up and settled," Elana said.
"Grandma, this is Padme. Padme, this is my grandmother," Anakin introduced them.
"It's wonderful to meet you maim," Padme replied politely.
"Oh please, maim is much too formal sweetheart. You can call me Elana...or grandma if you want to. It is wonderful to finally meet the young woman who's captured my Ani's heart," Padme blushed.
"Come along to the med bay and we'll get you checked out," Elana said.
"Lara, see if you can find a few things in Padme's size and put them in Anakin's room for her," Elana said.
"Yes milady," the young blonde, who was a couple years younger than Anakin, answered.
"How are they?" Elana asked the healer.
"They are healthy. We put more bacta on your grandson's whip burns and cleaned any minor cuts that they had sustained," the healer reported.
"Whip burns?" Elana asked in concern.
"Your grandson sustained five lashes caused by an electro whip and several cuts on his face probably caused by a leather belt of some kind," the healer reported
"I'm fine grandma," Anakin assured her.
"The cuts are almost completely healed and they are both going to fine," the healer assured her.
"I'm fine grandma. I had to protect Padme from him and I'd do it again if I had to. Though I do have a few choice words for Siri the next time I see her," he replied.
"So do I," Padme replied, as she wrapped her arms around his waist. Elana smiled.
"Why don't you two go shower and change. Then you can join me for dinner. I'm sure you're both famished," Elana said. Anakin and Padme smiled.
"We are," Anakin replied.
"Good, then I'll see you both in the dining hall in an hour," Elana said. Anakin nodded and led Padme to his room that was always kept for him in the palace.
Anakin led her into the large bedroom.
"Well, here it is. I used to spend a lot of summer's here on Serenno," Anakin said.
"It's great and I'm so glad we're safe now," Padme replied. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionately
"Me too and I plan on keeping you safe from now on," Anakin replied. Padme smiled and kissed him again.
"We should get cleaned up," Padme said, as she unzipped her dress and let it fall to the floor. Anakin watched , as her undergarments followed and she sauntered toward the fresher. She turned to look at him, beckoning for him to follow. He did so and shut the fresher door behind him...
More family moments and romance to follow in the next chapter:)