Blinded By Love
By Serena
A/N: OK, there's really no excuse for my delay. But I promise you, this story is not on hiatus, and I WILL finish it. This chapter is extra long because it's so overdue, and I'll try not to take so long next time.
Over the next week, my concern morphed into panic. Although I tried to keep my feelings in check, remember the meditation techniques Obi-Wan had taught me a long time ago, and try not to think about Vader too much, none of them helped very well. The only thing that calmed me down was the thought of my children being on Yag'Dul. I was tempted to ask Captain Raler if I could somehow get to where Luke and Leia were, but after listening to Raler talk about the drop-off, I realized with a sinking heart that I wouldn't be able to get to the assembly.
"Listen up, boys," he said after calling us all to the central cargo hold, "here's out it's gonna play out. Mo, you and I are gonna make the drop-off. Ty, you follow us in case there's trouble."
"This is Granger we're talkin' about, Cap'n," Moin said dryly. "There's bound to be trouble on his end."
"Right. That's why we're bringing on an extra man," said Raler.
There was an awkward silence. Finally, Moin said hesitantly, "Uh, you don't mean Padme, do ya?"
I blinked, halted my sewing of Raler's shirt. "What?" I said blankly.
Raler let out a burst of laughter. "No, no, you idiot!" he chuckled. "Don't worry, little lady, of course I'm not gonna put you in harm's way. I'm talkin' about an old friend of ours, Rendar. He'll be in town, and he's decided to help us out on this one."
"Oh, good," said Moin, relieved. "For a minute there I thought you were asking Padme to help."
I couldn't help but frown. "I'm blind, gentlemen," I said wryly, "not helpless."
If you only knew what I've gone through…
"I didn't mean it like that, beautiful," Moin said defensively. "I just… you know… I mean…"
Ty and Raler started laughing, and I couldn't help but smile. "Don't worry about it, Moin. But really, if there's anything I can do, Captain," I added, turning my face to where the Captain stood, "please, let me know."
"Well, I don't know," Raler said thoughtfully. I heard a scratching noise and knew he was rubbing his beard. "I don't want to put you though anythin' else…"
"I can handle myself, Captain, I assure you," I replied.
A pause. "Can you speak Rodian?" he finally asked.
I nodded. "Yes, some."
"See," continued Raler, "Granger's a Rodian, but I don't speak it all that well. And if he talks to his goonies in his own language, which he always does, we don't know what he's sayin'. How much do you know?"
"Enough," I said. "I was a Queen, an ambassador, and a Senator. If I didn't know the basics of most languages, then I wouldn't be very good at my job." I leaned forward and placed the repaired shirt on the table in front of me and brushed a stray hair out of my face.
Ty instantly objected to this idea. "No, Captain," he protested. "You know Granger – there's bound to be a showdown and shooting. Padme's already been through enough, not to mention that incident on Corellia."
I frowned and said, "Ty, I'm a grown woman, older than you, as you know. Actually, I'm older than all of you, as odd as that is, and I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. My blindness does not make me an invalid."
"Padme," Ty started.
"No, Ty," I interrupted firmly. "I know you just want to protect me, but I'm not going to stay shut up in this ship for the rest of my life. I still need to find my children, and no matter what you say, I will do what I have to. Please try to understand."
"I'm not going to be responsible for you being in danger again," Ty said. "Captain, c'mon. We can't take her."
"That's my decision," I said quietly.
Another awkward silence followed.
"You know she's right, Ty," Moin put in.
"Well, I don't know," Raler said, "Seein' as how I'm the Captain, I could order you to stay."
"Technically, I'm not part of the crew. I'm just a passenger. Please, Captain. Let me do this. I'm eventually going to have to go my own way in any case," I told him, "to find my children. I'm a perfectly capable grown woman. You know I'm right on this."
"Doesn't mean I like it," Ty grumbled.
I smiled and reached for his hand. When he put it in mine, I squeezed it. "You'll be right by my side the whole time, I know," I said. "I'll be fine."
And right next to the assembly where my children will be. Force, I need to get there.
Ty sighed and squeezed my hand in what I took to be a reluctant consent. "Fine, you win."
"Good!" boomed Raler, and he reached down and squeezed my shoulder warmly. "We'll be on planet in roughly four hours. We have to get ready before then. Guys, c'mon. Let's get the packages ready."
As they left the room to ready the cargo, I felt a flutter in my chest. But I could do this. I had to. I'd do anything that brought me one step closer to finding my children. I'd gotten this far. I wasn't going to give up now.
Four hours later, I sat next to Ty in the speeder, feeling the wind rushing past my face as we sped towards the drop-off point on Yag'Dul. Ty had given me a blaster just in case, and I also carried a small knife in my boot. I wore a thick, zip-up jacket, a slim-fitting shirt underneath, a pair of leggings, and tall boots over those. At my belt was the blaster. I'd kept my hair up in a loose bun, but I could feel the wispy tendrils on my face and neck, loosened by the wind.
But my heart was pounding too heavily for me to notice the chilly weather, my thoughts too focused elsewhere. I wasn't even nervous about the drop-off, though I probably should have been.
How can I get to the assembly? I wondered, twisting my hands together. I can't just waltz in there without an invitation…
When the speeder slowed to a halt, I turned my head and heard a distant murmur of voices.
"The assembly," Ty murmured in my ear. "It's already started."
I felt a shadow pass over my face, but I quickly pulled my face into the senatorial mask that Anakin had hated so much and took Ty's hand as he helped me out of the speeder.
"Just stick by me," he said, taking my arm. "We have to walk a little bit."
I nodded wordlessly and followed him.
"Is Dash in place?" Ty muttered to Raler.
"Yep. He'll take a sniper position and hold until something goes wrong."
I raised an eyebrow. "You sound as if you expect something to go wrong, Captain," I observed.
"Little lady, trust me. I've been dealin' with this guy one too many times. He ain't a stand-up guy, if ya know what I mean."
Thinking back to the Viceroy Gunray and his slimy colleagues, I nodded and sighed, "Yes, I'm afraid I do."
The rest of the walk was spent in silence until heard another set of footsteps in front of us, and a rough voice said, "You're late."
"Actually, we're right on time," Raler said coolly.
"It'll cost you extra."
"What will? Bein' on time?" Raler sounded more irritated. "Just shut it and take us to your boss before I crack your head open, Kess."
The man – or alien, I wasn't sure which – Kess just growled under his breath and muttered, "Follow."
We walked slowly a little longer, but when we halted, I heard a whiney, slimy voice a few yards in front of us.
"So, Raler," said the voice, which I presumed was Granger, "you have brought the cargo?"
"Yep. Here, packaged, and ready to go."
"Hmm…" I felt that the Rodian was pausing for a reason. Then, I sensed two large eyes on me. "And it looks like you have brought me another piece of cargo as well."
Oh, no, you didn't.
I felt Ty tense; and Raler snapped, "She ain't cargo, you green bean, she's part of my crew, and you'll treat her with respect that a lady deserves."
"So sorry," purred the Rodian. I heard him draw closer and smelled an unpleasant odor of grease, smoke, and musky filth. "I would never wish to offend a lady." He was close now, maybe only a few feet in front of me.
"Don't even think it," barked Ty. I felt him go for his blaster.
"I think you should let the lady speak for herself, Tyros," Granger said silkily. "Unless she does not speak. She obviously cannot see. What a shame."
"Actually," I spoke up smoothly, "it's a blessing that I'm blind. That means I won't have to see your miserable face."
Ty and Moin stifled laughter.
"Hmm," Granger said, not sounding much offended by my insult. "What an interesting lady. I look forward to entertaining you in our guest chambers."
"Actually, we're on a tight schedule," Raler broke in. "So thanks, but no thanks."
"You are refusing my hospitality, Captain?" Granger said edgily. Tyros put his hand on his blaster.
"No, we just gotta go. Sorry. Got another pick-up that can't wait. Really appreciate the offer, though. C'mon, guys, let's go."
"I'm afraid not," Granger said, and suddenly said to his men in Rodian, "Surround them and cut them off in the back!"
"He's going to cut us off and surround us!" I shouted.
"What?" demanded Granger, shocked.
"Go!" Raler roared, and Ty whipped out his blaster and started shooting. He shoved me ahead of him, and I raced forward, not knowing where I was going; but another man, Moin took my arm and pulled me towards the exit, shouting, "Let's go!"
I heard a pained cry, but it sounded like the Rodian. I didn't stop running, but I pulled out my blaster just in case. Moin tugged me along down the street; and it seemed like we were getting away.
"What's going on?" I shouted over the noise.
"They brought in backup!" Moin yelled. "C'mon, to the speeder!"
I simply followed him; but when he abruptly yanked me back, I stumbled, nearly loosing my footing, and demanded, "What are you - "
An explosion rocked my feet, sending me tumbling to the ground. I felt the white-hot fire heat my face, and several shards of metal scraped my cheeks and forehead. "What is going on?" I screamed.
Moin groaned and pulled himself up to his feet.
"Moin? Moin, are you all right?" I demanded.
"Yeah," he moaned. "Fine. But the damn Rodian just blew our speeder. We gotta find cover."
"Padme!" I heard Ty roar. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine! But Moin's hurt!" I said as strong arms pulled me to my feet.
"Damn it!" Ty snarled. He took my arm and yanked me. "C'mon, guys, this way!" We rushed down a street, ducking when we heard the sound of blaster fire, and suddenly I stumbled over a step. "C'mon, we got stairs!" Ty yelled.
I hurried up the stairs, tripping several times, but when I heard the murmur of people growing louder, I felt my gut clench.
Oh Force… we're going into the assembly.
"Wait!" said a deep voice in front of us. "You can't enter without an invitation!"
"Watch me!" Ty snarled, and shoved the guard out of the way.
"Ty! What are you doing?" I demanded as we raced through crowds of people.
"Saving your life! C'mon, Granger can't try anything in here!"
"But - " A scream of blaster fire near us caused the crowd to cry out, and when Ty swore and dragged me faster, I knew Granger was coming after us.
"Just keep going!" Raler shouted somewhere from behind me. "We'll cover you!"
I didn't know how long we ran. I didn't know where we were. But when the murmur of voices grew louder, I could tell we were in a large ballroom or hall. Ty abruptly shouted, "Get down!" and pushed me to the ground, covering me with his body. Blaster fire screamed past us, and Ty jumped to his feet and returned fire. I heard his footsteps run away from me, leaving me alone on the floor. After a short while, I couldn't hear them anymore, blocked out by the shocked gasps and murmurs of the crowd.
Curled up on the floor on my hands and knees, staring sightlessly at the floor only inches away, I paused, feeling my body shaking ever so slightly. "Ty?" I managed to get out.
No response. I lifted my head up a bit tentatively… but suddenly froze.
An ominous, raspy breathing filled my ears.
TBC...
Yes, I know it's a cliffee. That's why I'm going to try to update sooner. :)
- Serena
