I get a lot of reads on this story. More than I do reviews coming in. I would love to know who all of my readers are, if you can review or comment, please do. And always, thanks for reading - CG!
Cobra Sien sat behind a desk in his spacious gold and black colored Coruscant office. Behind him was a magnificient view of the city, and directly across only a few blocks away, was the balcony to Padme Amidala's apartment. Over the past year he had watched, and even video taped the comings and goings of her secret husband, Anakin Skywalker. It was only a matter of time before he got rid of the Jedi for good. Unbeknownst to Chancellor Palpatine, Cobra was plotting to have Anakin assassinated with hopes that Padme Amidala would turn to him in her grief. He didn't care about the Chancellor or his wishes. His no-bid contract was as good as approved already. Blackmailing Senator Amidala worked better than expected. They made it so easy for him.
Cobra spun around in his chair, smiling to himself, the room becoming one big blur. He stopped, then drummed his fingernails on the top of his desk. How long til he left this awful metropolis? How long til he was on the lush green planet of Endor again? "Not long..." he mumbled to himself. He would leave when his knew wife was ready to leave. After she quit the senate. There was only room for one breadwinner in his family. Money meant power. So why let her have any?
Suddenly the door opened. One of Cobra's guards walked in. He wore a black jacket with gold detail. He carried a blaster strapped to his waist and walked very stiffly to his boss' desk.
"Sir, a message from Endor!" The guard saluted, turned on his heels, and walked out of the door.
Cobra leaned his chair back, index finger pressed thoughtfully under his nose. A letter from his home planet. A shipment he had been waiting for was in. Only, the space pirate who delivered it, refused to give it to Cobra's men. He wanted to see the Senator in person... perhaps to collect a higher pay. The cargo was definitely "sensitive". Illegal as far as the Republic was concerned. Cobra was in the business of mining spices on the side. Something the twi-leks used to get some type of high.
Cobra pressed a button on his desk and two guards entered the office. "Prepare my ship for a flight to Endor," he said in a hurried voice. Billions of credits were on the line.
Cobra strode down the hall past the Chancellor's office, ignoring the redguard outside of the door. With guards flanked by his side, he pressed the up button to the elevator and took it to the landing dock. Chancellor Palpatine gave his redrobes a suspicious look then spoke in his Sidious voice, "Take me to the landing dock, we're going to Endor..." then in a whisper, he spoke to himself... "I sense my plans are in danger..."
Cobra had the aura. The aura of a man of means. He was, indeed very successful so this depiction of him would not be far off. Thanks in part to the inheritance his grandfather gave him. He also managed to amass a large fortune on his own through the same illegal activities that brought him to Endor. Cobra grunted. This "pirate" was going to pay dearly, for having forced him to travel to the planet so late and on such short notice. Cobra understood greed better than anybody, but to hold his cargo hostage -- well, that was crossing the line. And nobody crossed Cobra... nobody!
Cobra's ship landed in a clearing deep within the forest with only the moon for light. The landing platform descended from the ship. Two guards stepped out, with Cobra just behind them. He stood with his hands on his hip, his feet meters apart. He looked around, his gaze finally settling on a shadow between the trees.
"What in the hell do you think you're doing? Where's my cargo?" Cobra yelled.
A cloaked figure raised a hand, then pointed deep into the darkened forest. Cobra's shoulders dropped, he looked around, suddenly feeling a little nervous.
"Who are you? You the guy I hired?"
The man spoke, but it sounded as though he used a voculator. "Yes..." it said.
"Get out of the shadows. You're acting real suspicous, buddy. And I don't like it. Come out or the deal's off."
Cobra's guards fixed their hands on their blasters, aiming at darkness. The shadow stepped forth. His foot cracked a branch in half and one of the guards, too nervous for his own good, fired a shot. A blue lightsaber flashed, deflecting the bolt back to him. And suddenly, the shadow was upon them. Down the first guard went in a whirl of blue light. Then the second with a blow of the force, knocked some feet away, into unconsciousness.
Cobra tried to run aboard the ship, but the shadow, now a cloaked man beneath the moonlight, was right behind him. A foot struck the Senator on the back of the leg and he went tumbling over the side of the platform. The shadow pulled the hood of the cloak from his face and threw the voculator aside. Anakin Skywalker stood over him. Cobra clamored away, practically walking on his ass.
Anakin activated his lightsaber.
"What are you doing?" Cobra yelled. "You're nothing but a Jedi! You work for me! You can't do this-"
"Oh, but I can... and I will, Senator."
Cobra whimpered, seeing the futility of the situation. Anakin raised the lightsaber, fully prepared to feed him a ray of blue plasma.
"Wait!" Cobra screamed. "I can tell you who did this...it wasn't me. Someone made me do it. Someone is trying to destroy you and Senator Amidala."
Anakin's weapon dropped to his side. "You're lying. You're the only o ne who knows-"
"No... I'm not the only one."
Anakin raised the lightsaber again. "You told someone? Who? Tell me, and I'll make your death quick and easy." It was ugly, but it needed to be done. Anakin decided to deal with the guilt later. This went against everything he learned from the Order. But what else was there to do? He had no other choice. Anakin grimaced.
"I don't understand... you're a Jedi. Jedi are honorable and peace loving. A Jedi wouldn't do this-"
"I'm not like the other Jedi," Anakin replied. "Not where Padme is concerned."
"Okay, I'll tell the truth. I was told to ruin your relationship with the Senator Amidala. I was only doing what I was told. Following orders..." Cobra whimpered. "You understand, don't you?"
Anakin smirked. He sensed Cobra was telling the truth. But it wasn't enough to save him. "If what you say is true, then who ordered you to sabotage my relationship with Senator Amidala?"
"Cha-" was all he could get out. A bolt from a blaster ripped through the darkness and cut the Senator down. Anakin had already sensed the coming assault and had whirled around to deflect any further attack. But none came.
He turned and looked down at Cobra. There was a hole burned through his chest and blood spilled from his mouth.
Anakin backed away. Somehow, he was relieved to have been spared the dirty task of killing an unarmed man. He would leave, his honor still in tact. Too bad for Cobra, though. Perhaps he had crossed one person too many. Or someone... didn't want Anakin to learn the truth.
Anakin landed his starfighter on Padme Amidala's veranda. The hatch popped open and Anakin jumped out and ran inside. Padme walked toward him, and he grabbed her around the waist, sweeping her off of her feet. He looked happier than she had seen him in a long time.
"It's over now," Anakin said.
Padme smiled. "What's over? What are you talking about?"
"Cobra Sien is dead. He won't bother us anymore."
Padme looked taken aback. He set her down. "Dead? You didn't..."
He cut her off. "No," Anakin answered. "Someone else... what's strange is that Cobra was ordered to sabotage our relationship. I think I sensed it - this darkness. Only, I didn't know what I was sensing. All I know is that, for the past few months this darkness had overcome me. It felt as though someone had set their will to disrupting the positive flow of energy from the force - against me. I couldn't feel it for a long time. But the curse has lifted, Padme. Everything can go back to the way it was, when we were happy." Anakin beamed.
"But what about this assassin? What if he tries to sabotage us again?"
"Doesn't matter. We know what he's trying to do. So it won't work. Though, something tells me he won't be bothering us again. He had the opportunity to come out and fight me man to man. But he didn't. I heard leaves rustling as he ran away."
Padme wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm so happy, Ani. I'm so glad it's over."
"If only the war were over, then there'd be reason to celebrate."
"Is Obi Wan better? Are you to leave soon?"
Anakin looked solemn. "Yes, but I'm coming back," he added cheerfully. "I'm gonna end this war once and for all. Then I can finally leave the order and we can be together."
"I'll leave the Senate. We'll run away and no one will know where to find us."
He gazed at Padme, a warm feeling overcoming him. There was something different about her.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I should leave now. Or I might not leave at all." He smiled, but it didn't hide the hurt look in his eyes.
Padme followed him to the veranda. "Goodbye, my love. Come back soon..." she said.
Anakin kissed her on the lips then climbed into his starfighter. Padme watched as it lifted and disappeared into the night sky. She then walked into the house, thinking about her day and where she spent it. There was something she neglected to tell Anakin. But he was so happy that she didn't want to ruin it or cause him to start worrying again.
Padme sat on the sofa and started sewing her pillow. How was she going to tell him that she's pregnant?