Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.
AN: Here's chapter 42! Thanks for all the great reviews!
Forever Destined
Chapter 42: Trial By Fire
Morning came all too soon for Anakin and Padme. Before they knew it, they were back in the courtroom. Despite Tarkin's obvious blunder by putting Ruwee on the stand, he had been relentless the last five days, trying everything he could to portray Anakin as an arrogant, jealous husband who hated Palo and killed the man after beating him to a pulp. Still, they felt the case was going in their favor, much thanks to Luminara's skills at practicing law and Anakin's reputation as a hero. Even though he was not supposed to, Dooku would carefully feel out each juror's emotions during the trial. He kept the results to himself, but he liked what he was feeling from them. Most felt disgust for Palo, while their feelings toward Anakin were admiration and understanding. They liked Anakin and Padme too from what he sensed. And that was a good sign.
"We are now in session. Master Unduli, you may call your first witness," the judge said.
"Thank you, your honor. The defense calls Master Mace Windu to the stand," Luminara said. Mace took a seat on the witness stand and Luminara began her questioning.
"Master Windu, how long have you known Anakin?" Luminara asked.
"Since the day he was born," Mace answered.
"So, you know him well," she continued.
"Yes, very well," he answered.
"In fact, you have helped train Anakin over the years, haven't you?" Luminara said.
"Yes, I have. In fact, I still spar with him on a regular basis" Mace replied.
"Then you, along with his other Masters, have taught him what acceptable conduct for a Jedi is," Luminara said.
"Yes, Anakin has always been very gifted. Thus, we adamantly made sure in his training that he learned control. Because he is powerful, I began teaching him how to channel that anger. Anger is something we all must deal with and for powerful people like Anakin, they must learn to channel it. That is why I taught Anakin how to do this through a technique of my own development that I use as well to channel anger into a positive and effective fighting and saber style," Mace said.
"And what do you call this technique?" Luminara asked.
"It is called Vaapad and it channels anger positively. And, as any husband would be, Anakin was obviously angry that this man attacked his wife," Mace said.
"Master Windu, when you look at the injuries that Palo sustained, can these be inflicted with Vaapad? Luminara asked.
"Yes, you see Vaapad fighting techniques are designed to create the most amount of damage with the least amount of force. Contrary to what General Tarkin would want you to believe, Anakin inflicted these injuries with only one punch. It would take a normal man many more than that to do this kind of damage. Anakin used Vaapad to subdue his wife's rapist and secure him for arrest," Mace said.
"And what about a Force choke, Master Windu?" Luminara asked.
"It is of the dark side and commonly used by the Sith. And we all know that Anakin Skywalker is not a Sith," Mace concluded.
"According to your testimony, Palo Danae could not have been killed by Anakin, because he is not a Sith. Is this correct?" Luminara asked.
"Absolutely," Mace replied.
"Thank you Master Windu. No further questions," she said, as she took her seat. Tarkin stood and approached the bench.
"How can you be so certain that Skywalker did not crush Palo's windpipe?" Tarkin asked.
"Anakin was taught better than that," Mace replied simply.
"You expect us to believe that he didn't do it, because he was taught better? That is a weak defense," Tarkin said.
"As I said earlier, Anakin was engaged in Vaapad at the time, which put him in complete control of his anger," Mace stated.
"Master Windu is it possible to lose control, even when engaged in this Vaapad technique?" Tarkin asked.
"It is highly unlikely," Mace answered.
"But it is possible," Tarkin stated.
"I suppose so, if you want to grasp at straws," Mace answered.
"Skywalker was angry that night, completely livid. I would say it is highly possible that he lost control, wouldn't you?" Tarkin asked.
"No," Mace refuted.
"But it is possible, yes?" Tarkin questioned.
"Possible...yes. Likely...no," Mace replied.
"No further questions for this witness," Tarkin said.
"You may step down. The defense may call its next witness," the judge said.
"The defense calls Senator Padme Skywalker to the stand," Luminara said. Anakin squeezed her hand and she took a deep breath, before slowly rising. She took her seat on the witness stand, as Luminara approached.
"Padme, I know some of my questions will be difficult for you, so I apologize in advance," Luminara said gently. Padme nodded.
"Now Padme, I need you to tell the jury everything that happened the night of the attack," Luminara explained. Padme nodded and began.
"It started after I dropped a report off to Senator Organa's office. An aide ran up to me and said that I had a important call from Senator Mothma on Chandrilla. I left my babies with my sister to go answer the call in my office," Padme began.
"What happened when you got there?" Luminara asked.
"I entered the reception area and did not see Motee, my receptionist, anywhere. I went into my office...and she was there lying on the floor. I...I checked her pulse, but there was none," Padme said.
"She was dead?" Luminara asked.
"Y...yes. They told me later that night that she'd been strangled with the same rope Palo used to bind my hands," Padme said.
"Was Motee your friend?" Luminara asked.
"Yes, I had known her for a long time," Padme replied.
"What did you do after you did not get a pulse from Motee?" Luminara asked.
"I went to the comm station to call for help, but I couldn't, because someone had cute the wires," Padme said.
"What happened after that?" Luminara asked.
"I felt someone watching me and I knew it was him. Suddenly, I could feel him right behind me...breathing on my neck. I...I knew I had to get away, so I elbowed him in the gut and ran. I...I started throwing things at him from my desk, before I ran for the door. But...he caught me first," Padme paused, composing herself.
"I know this is hard Padme, but please tell the jury the details of your attack," Luminara said gently. Padme nodded.
Flashback...
He caught up to her and grabbed her by the hair.
"Help me!" Padme screamed. The man whipped her around and she was face to face with her tormentor.
"Palo...please don't do this," Padme pleaded.
"I didn't want to hurt you Padme...but you've left me no choice," Palo taunted.
"Palo..." but she was cut off, as he backhanded her. She yelped painfully.
"You've made a fool out of me! And now it's time to teach you a lesson," Palo said dangerously, as he backhanded her on the other side of her face, splitting her lip open. She fell painfully to the floor, sobbing by now.
"Ani...please help me!" she pleaded through their bond. She began to panic, as she felt Palo stuff a piece of cloth between her teeth and tie it at the back of her head. He grabbed her arms and tied her wrists together with some twine, before flipping her over so he could look at the fear in her eyes.
"This is what happens when you cross me, Padme," he threatened. Padme screamed through the gag, as he ripped her dress off, stripping her down to her undergarments. Padme sobbed and kicked at him with her feet. Palo growled and shoved her legs down and straddled her, holding them in place.
"You really thought I'd let you get away with humiliating me?! It's time you pay for your disobedience. It's time I put you in your place," Palo said, as he tried to pry her legs apart. Padme resisted him and he slapped her angrily, before he began unbuckling his pants. He grabbed her hips and held them in place, as he prepared to rip her undergarments off.
"Stop fighting me, you little whore," he growled. Suddenly, there was a loud banging sound, as the door to her office flew off it's hinges and was flung against the wall. Palo looked up, only to see the murderous glare of Anakin Skywalker staring back at him. Palo felt himself be lifted into the air and hurled toward the Jedi, who caught him and slammed him against the wall.
"How dare you touch her!" Anakin screamed.
"Screw off, Skywalker. I was just teaching your little whore about what happens when you cross me," Palo sneered. Anakin's fist connected with Palo's nose, breaking it. Palo screamed in pain, as he held his face, blood pouring from his nose.
"Don't you EVER call her that again, you sick bastard!" Anakin yelled.
"Whaddya gonna do now, Jedi boy? Kill me?" Palo taunted. Anakin smirked at him.
"Death is too good for a sicko like you. You're going to prison and you'll never hurt her again. Do you know what they do to rapists in prison?" Anakin taunted and Palo was silent.
"I give you six months maximum, before they find your worthless carcass in a bleeding heap, because the other inmates grew sick of you," Anakin taunted, as he kneed him in the groin and dropped him to the floor in a painful heap.
"Enjoy prison and hell you scumbag. I suggest you don't move, because a couple Officers will be in to deal with you in a minute," Anakin said, as he knelt down beside his sobbing wife. He pulled her hands free and untied the gag. Padme threw her arms around his neck and sobbed in relief, soaking his tunic with her tears. Anakin shrugged his long black cloak off and wrapped it around her nearly bare form.
End Flashback...
"So, when Anakin carried you from the office, Palo was alive?" Luminara asked.
"Very much alive," Padme replied.
"Padme...was this Palo's first attack on you?" Luminara asked.
"No..." Padme answered.
"The first time was almost five years ago when he was my boyfriend. The day before we had a huge fight, because Palpatine had Chosen me to replace him, as Senator and not Palo. The next night, he attempted to convince me that he was not angry anymore. But...it was really an attempt to get me into bed. He turned violent when I tried to stop his advances...
Flashback
Padme couldn't breathe, as he smothered her lips with his own, as his hands undressed her.
"Palo no...this is too fast," Padme said. But he only resumed kissing her hard.
"You know you want this, Padme. It will feel good...I promise," he said, as he yanked her dress down to a puddle at her feet.
"No Palo...I'm not ready," she begged. She felt him grip her arms painfully.
"You're ready, because I say you're ready. Remember Padme...you belong to me," he said menacingly, as he pushed her to the bed.
"No...I'm not ready," she repeated desperately, as she tried to get up. But he grabbed her and tossed her back to the bed, this time straddling her and holding her arms down.
"Palo...please don't do this," Padme cried, as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"You may have been selected as Senator, but this will remind you who's really in control," Palo growled.
"If you fight me again, then you'll regret it,"
End Flashback...
"If you fight me again, you'll regret it. Did he make good on this threat?" Luminara asked. Padme wiped a couple tears away.
"Yes...the next evening, I...I told him I never wanted to see him again," Padme said.
"What happened them?" Luminara asked. Padme took a deep breath, as she flashed back to that horrible night.
Flashback...
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Palo roared.
"I'm breaking up with you! You raped me last night and I never want to see you again!" Padme screamed.
"I own you Padme. I can do whatever the hell I want with you. Remember, my father paid yours good money for you," he growled.
"I don't belong to anyone! Get out!" she screamed. Palo growled and grabbed her arms.
"Let go of me, you bastard!" she yelled. She screamed, as he shoved her to the floor. Before she could get up, he was on her, pinning her face down to the floor.
"Get off!" Padme cried.
"No!!!!" Padme screamed in agony, as he raped her again.
End Flashback...
"He raped you again in an angry rage?" Luminara asked.
"Yes. He left after that and came back half drunk a few hours later. He would have probably raped me again if I had not informed Captain Typho that he was a security threat. Typho escorted him out and that was the last time I saw him until just a few nights after I met Anakin," Padme explained.
"So, as you can hear from Lady Skywalker's testimony, Palo Danae was a violent man who had raped her before. And as you heard in her testimony, Palo was alive when her husband carried her out of the office that night. Thank you Padme, no further questions," Luminara said. Tarkin stood and approached the bench, fixing an icy glare on Padme. She steeled herself against it and let Anakin's comforting words through their bond soothe her.
"So, you have claimed that Palo raped you. Why didn't you report it?" Tarkin asked.
"Because I didn't want to become a target for other attacks. I was in the public eye and I could have set myself up for more attacks," Padme stated.
"Or maybe because these alleged rapes never happened," Tarkin accused.
"Objection!" Luminara called.
"Withdrawn," Tarkin said.
"So, we're supposed to believe that you were raped and then never told anyone about it?" Tarkin asked.
"Yes, because it's the truth!" Padme insisted.
"So you say. Unfortunately, Palo is not here to defend himself, but you're not at all sad about his death, are you Senator?" he asked.
"No, I'm not," Padme answered honestly.
"Yes, I think you're so glad that he's dead that you asked your husband to kill him on the night you were attacked, isn't that correct, Senator?" he questioned. Padme's eyes widened in horror.
"Objection! He is badgering the witness!" Luminara yelled.
"Sustained. Change your line of questioning, General Tarkin," the judge ordered.
"I was barely conscious after Palo's attack. All I was aware of is that I was being beaten and about to be raped when my husband rescued me from that monster!" Padme yelled.
"Yes...you were barely conscious, so how do you know he was not choking the life out of Palo, while he was comforting you!" Tarkin yelled.
"Because I know him! And he did not kill Palo!" Padme screamed.
"Or maybe he did and your just covering up for him!" Tarkin yelled.
"Objection!" Luminara called.
"Withdrawn. No further questions," Tarkin said, as he retreated.
"The witness may step down. We will break for an hour," the judge said. Anakin stood up and pulled Padme into his arms.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that," he said.
"It's okay. I'm fine," she replied.
"You did beautifully sweetheart. From what I can tell, the jury seem very sympathetic to you," Dooku said.
"Father, are you reading their minds again? Qui-Gon asked.
"Of course I am. Would you expect any less of me?" Dooku asked.
"Of course not, grandfather. If there is a rule to break, then you'll break it," Obi-Wan joked, as they found a table in the cafeteria and ate lunch.
"So am I next on the stand?" Anakin asked.
"No, you father is and then you. After that, there will be closing arguments and then it will go to the jury. Tarkin spent five days drudging up anyone he could find to say good things about Palo. I only needed today to prove who he really was," Luminara said. Anakin smiled. Within the hour, they were back in the courtroom and began again.
"The defense calls Master Qui-Gon Jinn to the stand," Luminara said. Qui-Gon took the stand and Luminara approached.
"Master Jinn, please tell the court your relation to the defendant," Luminara said.
"I am his father," Qui-Gon answered proudly.
"Then you also had a hand in Anakin's training?" Luminara asked.
"Yes, very much so. We were aware from a very early age that he was a prodigy," Qui-Gon said.
"Can you back up the earlier statements that Master Windu stated?" Luminara asked.
"Yes I can. There is no way my son killed Palo," Qui-Gon replied.
"You yourself were in the vicinity the night Palo died, weren't you?" Luminara asked.
"Yes, I arrived just after Anakin carried Padme out of her office," Qui-Gon answered.
"Master Jinn, you know your son well, correct?" Luminara asked.
"Yes, very well. I share a special bond with both my boys," Qui-Gon answered.
"So, you would have most certainly know it if your son touched the dark side," Luminara stated.
"Most definitely," Qui-Gon answered.
"What does this lead you to conclude about Palo's murder?" she asked.
"That is was done by a dark side Force user from a considerable distance so that it was not clear or distinguishable. This person was strong enough to kill Palo from a considerable distance and use that distance to mask himself. Dark side energy is very hard to make sense of and very elusive," Qui-Gon stated.
"So, there is no way the dark energy could have possibly come from Anakin Skywalker, for he was much too close. Thank you Master Jinn. No further questions," Luminara said. Tarkin stood up and approached.
"You love your son, don't you Master Jinn?" Tarkin asked. Qui-Gon looked at him strangely.
"Of course I do," Qui-Gon replied.
"Then you must understand Governor Danae's pain at losing his," Tarkin stated.
"It is sad and unfortunate, but my son is not responsible," Qui-Gon replied.
"You'd do anything for your son, wouldn't you, Master Jinn?" he asked.
"Of course," Qui-Gon replied.
"So, is it possible that you're covering for him, because you fear losing him, even though he committed murder?!" Tarkin said.
"My son is innocent and I have told nothing but the truth today," Qui-Gon answered.
"So you say. But the fact remains that your son's fingerprints are all over the body. No further questions," Tarkin said.
"You may step down, Master Jinn," the judge said.
"The defense calls Anakin Skywalker to the stand," Luminara said. Anakin took his seat on the stand and Luminara began.
"Anakin, please tell us in your own words about the night Padme was attacked," Luminara said.
"I was at the Temple, sparring with my father and my brother when I sensed Padme was in danger through our bond. We got to the Senate building as fast as we could and I ran to Padme's office," Anakin began.
"What was happening when you arrived in her office?" Luminara asked.
"He was pinning her to the floor, getting ready to rape her. He'd torn her dress off and I could tell he'd been hitting her. She had marks on her face and a split lip," Anakin explained.
"What did you do?" she asked.
"I used the Force and pulled him from her. I slammed him against the wall and punched him, breaking his nose and jaw. We exchanged words. He cursed me and I told him he was under arrest. I left him and tended to my wife. When we left the office, he was still alive," Anakin explained.
"Thank you Anakin. Your testimony complies with what we've heard so far. No further questions," Luminara replied.
"Knight Skywalker, would you describe yourself as a jealous person?" Tarkin asked.
"No, I have no reason to be jealous," he replied.
"So, it did not bother you that there was a man lusting afer your wife?" Tarkin asked.
"Of course it bothered me, but it didn't make me jealous," Anakin replied.
"But it made you angry?" Tarkin asked.
"Of course it did. He was scaring her and making threats," Anakin answered.
"So, you decided to silence him permanently," Tarkin accused.
"No, I intended for him to be arrested and let the justice system deal with him. But obviously someone else decided to kill him. But it was not me," Anakin answered.
"So everyone says. We are left to believe that there is some anonymous monster out there doing all this. It is simply preposterous. No further questions for 'The Hero With no Fear,'" Tarkin spat.
"You may step down, Knight Skywalker. Call your next witness," the judge said.
"The Defense rests, your honor," Luminara said.
"Very well. We will hear closing arguments in one hour. We are dismissed until them," the judge said.
Anakin, Padme, and their family found a table outside to relax, while Luminara began preparing her closing argument.
A red headed woman approached and Dooku stood to greet her.
"Everyone, this is Zia Jade, one of the galaxy's best Private Investigator's," Dooku introduced. Zia shook Anakin and Padme's hands.
"I've heard much about you both," she said.
"Are you the one who dug up the dirt on my father?" Padme asked.
"Yes, that took some doing too. Governor Danae is good at concealing information," she replied.
"We both thank you. That information discredited them both and Palo," Anakin said.
"You both are very welcome," she replied. Padme noticed a small swell to her stomach.
"Are you expecting?" Padme asked. Zia smiled.
"Yes, I am five months along with a little girl," she replied.
"That's wonderful. We have one-year-old twins," Padme mentioned.
"Yes, I was a little scared at first, since she is the result of a one night stand and the father wants nothing to do with her. But I am actually looking forward to having a child, even if I am going to raise her on my own," Zia replied.
"Zia, have you found anything else of use?" Dooku asked.
"Not as much as I would like. Whoever has disposed of any evidence has done a very good job of it. I tried to find the Medical Examiner that performed the autopsy...but he has mysteriously disappeared," Zia said.
"Naturally," Dooku commented.
"I did find out something else that's interesting," she said.
"What's that?" Dooku asked.
"It would seem that Tarkin and Palpatine go way back. They've been friends and business associates for years," Zia replied.
"Figures. Good work, Zia," Dooku said.
"I wish I had more, but I'll keep digging," she replied.
"Thank you. We had better get back to the courtroom," Dooku said.
"It was nice meeting you all," Zia said, as she left and they returned to the courtroom.
"We will now hear closing arguments and then this matter will be in the hands of the jury," the judge said. Closing arguments were fairly quick. General Tarkin reiterated the belief that Anakin had killed Palo and everyone else was covering for their beloved hero. He encouraged to the jury to find Anakin guilty and thus punish him for the crime of murder. Luminara refuted the claims that Anakin was a murderer and referred to the testimony that said it was impossible for Anakin to be the killer. She reiterated Palo's violent nature and very brutal attacks against Senator Skywalker. She encouraged the jury to find Anakin not guilty and to not punish him for a crime that he did not commit. After closing arguments were finished, the jury was escorted to a private transport and taken to an offsite location where they would begin deliberation. The court was dismissed and Anakin and his family returned to the Jedi Temple where they would wait for the jury's decision...