Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.
AN: Here's chapter 48! Thanks for all the incredible reviews!
Forever Destined
Chapter 48: Deception
Zia Jade entered the Council Room. Only Dooku, Yoda, Mace and Qui-Gon were present.
"Zia, you said you had an urgent finding," Dooku said.
"Yes, I found the man who performed the autopsy on Palo. It seems that he was paid by an unknown source to omit this piece of evidence from his report," Zia said, as she handed the holo to Dooku. He looked at it in disbelief.
"This is...the sign of the Sith," he said.
"It was burned onto the back of Palo's neck. I'd say it more than proves that Anakin didn't kill him," Zia replied.
"This is excellent. This is the proof we need!" Dooku said.
"Go, divulge this information to the Chancellor, you should," Yoda said.
"Yes, he will have no choice but to pardon Anakin," Qui-Gon said, as he and Dooku left quickly.
The morning sun shone brightly through the blinds of their room at the small resort where they'd found a moment of peace. And what an incredible night of love and renewal it had been for them. They had lain surrendered in each other's arms. Padme's body had trembled against her husband's own trembling form above her. His ragged, impassioned breathing on her neck made her skin tingle in desire. The need and desperation to be with each other overtook them until they were lost in their love and passion. An emotional storm took a hold of them, as they at first relived the fear of being ripped apart that had plagued them the last several weeks. But, as their minds, bodies, and souls had come together in an expression of love as old as time, the fear melted away until their love, pure and true, was all the remained. It was a night neither would ever forget and they would cling to the memory in the darker times that they both knew was inevitably coming. But both were more certain than ever that their love could weather whatever storm was ahead of them. And as Anakin awoke with a beautiful angel in his arms, he knew he could face anything as long as he had her love. He knew that she truly had no idea about the power she wielded over him. Sith Lords and bounty hunters could not stop him, but one look from her beautiful, amber specked brown eyes and he surrendered to her. Force lightning and deadly weapons could not bend him to the will of evil, but her angelic touch willed him to her every whim. He was never more positive that the Force had simply plucked her from the heavens and put her here for him to love and protect. She loved him in return and her light guided him through life. Without her, he would be in the darkness, where he knew the blackness would consume him. He pulled her closer and softly kissed the nape of her neck, as the memories of last night remained fresh in his mind.
Anakin pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder and she sighed, as she turned in his arms, now facing him. She gazed sleepily at him and they shared a blissful smile.
"Good morning," he said.
"It always is when I wake up in your arms," she replied. He smiled and caressed her cheek softly. They lay there, gazing into each others eyes for several moments, before they heard babbling and a gibberish of words coming from the cribs. Padme sat up and looked around for her robe. Anakin used the Force to float it to her, as he slipped his sleep pants on.
"Thanks, baby," she replied, as she wrapped herself in her robe.
"Mommy!" the twins called, as she approached the cribs.
"Good morning, my little angels," Padme cooed to them. Anakin opened the door to their room and Artoo rolled in, after having been there on guard all night.
"Anything suspicious, Artoo?" Anakin asked.
"Whirl, whorl," Artoo chirped in the negative. They changed and dressed the twins and then let them play. Anakin watched them while Padme showered and then switched with him so he could clean up as well. Once they were finished, they went down to get breakfast.
"Well, good morning," Neela greeted cheerfully, as they came down the stairs.
"Good morning, Neela," Padme greeted.
"Oh, I still can't get over how cute they are," Neela gushed over the children. They sat down and put the twins in their high chairs, as breakfast was served to them.
"Master Dooku, Master Jinn, please come in," Palpatine greeted.
"I was just leaving, gentlemen. My business with the Chancellor has concluded," Senator Danae stated.
"Oh please stay, Senator. What we have to say will be of as much interest to you, as it will to the Chancellor," Dooku said. The newly instated Senator kept his seat.
"What business have you come to discuss gentlemen?" Palpatine asked.
"We have proof that Anakin did not kill Palo," Qui-Gon stated. Palpatine was silent for a moment.
"Then by all means, please share this information," Palpatine replied. Dooku handed the holo to Palpatine.
"And what exactly am I looking at, gentlemen?" he asked.
"You are looking at a holo the medical examiner took the night of Palo's death. That symbol on the back of his neck proves that Palo was killed by the Sith and not Anakin. The sign on the Sith is burned into his skin," Dooku stated.
"I am sorry, Master Dooku, but this is hardly proof," Palpatine replied.
"Chancellor, this is undeniable proof!" Qui-Gon exclaimed.
"Holo photos are easily fabricated and manipulated. Holonet gossip publications do it all the time. Your son and his lovely wife are on the covers of those publications in fabricated and manipulated photos all the time, yet you expect me to trust this one photo?" Palpatine asked.
"This is the real thing, I assure you, Chancellor. The Medical Examiner is in Jedi protective custody, because he was originally paid to omit this finding from the autopsy report," Dooku replied.
"I am sorry, but this is not sufficient proof," Palpatine replied.
"Then we will call for an excavation of the grave and prove it that way!" Qui-Gon said.
"You will not dig up my son's grave! We will let him rest in peace!" Senator Danae exclaimed.
"Senator Danae is correct. I cannot grand such a request. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have more important things to discuss," Palpatine said. Qui-Gon and Dooku glared at the two men and turned to leave.
"Oh Master Jinn, one thing," Senator Danae said, as Qui-Gon turned back.
"When you speak to your fugitive son, since I know you will, please have him tell Padme that she'll soon be back in my possession where she belongs," the Senator goaded.
"You'll never lay a hand on her. My son and the rest of us will die before we let you harm her or the children," Qui-Gon replied fiercely, as they stormed out.
"Do not worry, Senator. I will have a guard placed at your son's grave to ensure his place of rest is not disturbed," Palpatine said. Danae stood up to leave.
"I am grateful for that, your excellency. I shall take my leave now," he replied.
"Good day, Senator," Palpatine replied. Once he was gone, Palpatine's expression became one of fury and his eyes bled yellow. He went down into his secret lair and summoned his charge.
"What is thy bidding, my Master?" Darth Xana answered over the comm system.
"The Jedi are getting too close to the truth. It is time to move forward with our final plans. As promised, you may seek out Skywalker and capture him for your own. I warn you Xana, he must be controlled and must not interfere with my plans. I would prefer you kill him, but as long as he is kept in imprisonment, he will not be able to disrupt my plans," Sidious said.
"I assure you...he will be controlled, my Master," Xana replied.
"Good. Begin your search at once," Sidious replied.
"What of General Grievous, my Master?" Xana asked.
"The General is no longer of any use to me. Kill him," Sidious ordered. Xana smiled evilly.
"With pleasure..." she answered.
Luke and Leia laughed and splashed their hands in the water, as Anakin waded through the water, pulling them along, as they sat in two child's flotation devices that were shaped to look like Dantooinian felines. Neela had dug them out and inflated them for the twins to play in. Anakin glanced up at his wife, who was lying on the beach, sunbathing in her bikini.
"Angel, come in the water with us. It's perfect!" Anakin called.
"Maybe in a bit sweetheart," she called back.
"All right guys, I guess mommy's being a spoil sport and won't come play with us," Anakin said, loud enough for her to hear. Padme smirked and sat up on her elbows.
"Babies, is daddy whining again?" she called back.
"Touche, my love. Seriously Padme, come in the water," he called.
"Or how about I stay here until after the twins go down for a nap. Then, while Threepio is watching them, I can come in and...play with you," she responded. Anakin smirked.
"Deal," he answered, as he resumed playing with the twins. She was getting rather thirsty and smiled, as she watched her husband play with their children. She slipped on her shorts over her bikini bottom and called out to him again.
"I'm going to go get some juice for us, baby. I'll be right back," she called to him, before walking back to the open air resort. As Padme approached the bar, Neela smiled.
"You're looking very relaxed," she said.
"There is nothing I love more than lying in the sun. Could I get a pitcher of juice and some cups?" Padme asked.
"Sure. I'll grab a couple of lidded ones for the babies too," Neela replied, as she went in back to the kitchen.
"Thanks," Padme called, as she suddenly noticed the penetrating stare of a man sitting at the bar. She could tell the creep was undressing her with his eyes and suddenly wished she had covered up more. Neela returned with the juice and cups and Padme headed back to the beach. The man at the bar finished his drink and then slipped into a quiet corner, where he raised his comlink to his lips.
"What is it?" the voice asked from the other end.
"I found her. Him and the brats too," the man said.
"Good work. Keep an eye on them. I'm leaving immediately. The credits will be wired to your account as soon as I have her in my possession," the voice said. The man smirked.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Senator Danae," he responded, before he pocketed the comlink.
The twins sat on the blanket in the sand, drinking juice from their lidded cups. Padme and Anakin watched them with a smile, as they lost interest in the juice and started crawling around in the sand. Anakin kissed her and went to play with them. Padme rolled onto her stomach and watched, as Anakin started helping them build a sand castle...at least until Luke crawled over it and smashed it. Padme smiled, as she watched her husband tickle them. They laughed and squealed in delight, as their daddy played with them. Padme felt her heart melt when she looked at the three of them and she had never felt so happy; even with the danger they faced. She rolled onto her back again and closed her eyes, letting the sun warm her. She was startled suddenly, as she felt water dripping on her...cold water. She opened her eyes and saw her smirking husband looming above her. He had purposely went into the water and come back with the sole purpose of getting her wet.
"Ani...stop that!" she playfully smacked his leg.
"Watch kids. Daddy's going to dunk mommy," Anakin said. Padme gasped and tried to run, but her husband threw her petite form over his shoulder.
"Anakin, let me down right now," Padme demanded.
"Hmm...okay, if you say so, my love," he replied. Padme gasped, as she realized they were now in the water.
"Oh no...wait!" she cried, as he tossed her in. When she surfaced, soaked to the bone, she glared at her husband. He smiled triumphantly and crossed his arms over his chest.
"You better run, Anakin Skywalker, because you are so dead!" she called. Anakin laughed and started running, as his very wet wife chased him through the sand. Luke and Leia sat playing in the sand, staring at their parents as if they had gone completely mad. Padme caught up to him and threw all her weight into him, tackling him. Anakin laughed, as he lost his balance and they went falling into the sand. Padme straddled him, wearing a victorious smirk.
"You've been caught, Jedi," she said playfully.
"And what will you do with me, my beautiful captor?" he asked, playing her game.
"You have committed a series offense and must be punished," she declared. He smirked.
"And what will my...punishment be?" he asked, as he rested his hands on her gorgeous hips. She smiled.
"Your punishment...will be decided at a later time," she smirked. He smiled back.
"Good, thank means I can still do this," Anakin replied, as he flipped her over and began tickling her mercilessly. Padme laughed and begged him to stop.
"Oh Ani...stop...please!" she laughed.
"Do you surrender?" he asked.
"Never!" she called. He laughed and tickled harder, until she could take no more.
"Okay...okay...I surrender!" she cried. She squealed, as he stood up and threw her over his shoulder again.
"Ani...let me down! And NOT in the water this time!" she called. He chuckled and shifted her, so he was carrying her bridal style.
"Better?" he asked.
"Much, but I'm still mad at you for throwing me in the water," she pouted playfully. He laughed.
"You can get me back later. Right now, I say we get the ankle biters and go clean up for dinner. I'm starved," he said.
"Me too," she replied, as she kissed him.
"I thought you were mad at me?" he asked. She gave him a deep, passionate kiss in response.
"I can't stay mad at you. But...I will get you back, that's a promise, my Jedi hero," she replied. He chuckled and put her down. They gathered their things and the twins, before heading back to the resort...
Darth Xana, formerly Serra Keto, walked calmly into the control room of the separatist base on Mustafar. Grievous looked up from the control panel and snarled at her.
"What do you want, wench?!" he spat at her.
"I just wanted to inform you that I'll be leaving soon to seek out Skywalker," Xana answered. Grievous snorted in disgust.
"You won't be going anywhere without my approval, you insolent child. Get out of my sight," Grievous spat.
"I do not need your approval any longer, Master Sidious says your services are no longer needed and that I should...kill you," Xana said, as she ignited her crimson saber. Grievous snarled and his arms split into two more arms for a total of four, each with a light saber.
"Foolish whelp...you are the only one that will die today!" Grievous snarled, as he ignited all four blades. Grievous hopped up on the console and brought all four sabers down on her. She caught them all with one and struggled to keep him at bay. Grievous laughed at her.
"Foolish girl, did you really think you could go up against me?" Grievous laughed evilly.
"You are a gifted swordsman, General. But it is no match...for the true power of the dark side of the Force!" Xana screamed, as blue lightning erupted from her fingertips. All four sabers fell from Grievous' hands, as she electrocuted him mercilessly.
"You tortured me and now I will make you suffer like I did!" Xana screamed, as she kicked him to the floor where he writhed in agony. Xana stepped on his chest and swung her saber around, severing his legs. She brought it around and then severed his arms. She outstretched her hand and used the Force to pry open his chest plate.
"You will suffer before I kill you!" Xana said, her eyes bleeding yellow. Grievous screamed in excruciating pain, as the female Sith poured Force lightning into the only organic part of him left. The tiny organ could not take the brutal attack and soon burst into flames, squelching out the last bit of life in him. The flames quickly spread and Xana watched him burn until nothing but ashes remained.
"You should have known never to cross a Sith...especially a woman," Xana said, as she stomped on the ashes and left for the hanger, where her ship awaited her...