Note 1: This is my first fanfiction work. Please read and review. I hope you guys enjoy this venture into this Verse.
Note 2: This takes place during ROTS, right after Anakin and Obi-Wan return from rescuing Chancellor Palpatine from General Grievous.
Note 3: Star Wars and its affiliates do not belong to me only the contents of this Verse.
Note 4: Thank you to my beta, TACAitsH. You are amazing.
Chosen: Restoration
Chapter 2: Message
By WrittinInStone
"Anakin Skywalker…"
"No contact…no word from Jedi Council…"
"Sickness…"
"Dying…"
Padmé Naberrie-Skywalker shut off the HoloNet screen, silencing the speculative drone of the news reports. She rested her head in her hands as she tried to block out the words that she had heard.
Dying…
Padmé inhaled deeply, trying to achieve the calm that had so far proven elusive. Her Ani was not dead; he could not be. She shook her head as her mind shied away from the very possibility. It was too much to even contemplate.
"No," Padmé declared aloud, "Anakin is not dead. I would know, I would have felt him die." Padmé stood up and began to walk the length of her bedroom slowly, as though it took all her strength to do this small task.
Why wasn't anyone giving them any information on his condition? Ever since Anakin's arrival back on Coruscant three days ago, the HoloNet had had a field day with the news that the 'Hero With No Fear' could be brought low with something as mundane as a virus. The Jedi Council had neither denied nor confirmed any of the conjecture running nonstop on the HoloNet, deeming it a matter that was better kept from the vast network of HoloNet news lines littering the galaxy. It was even being kept from the Senate. This sat well with few of the Senators, Padmé being the one it sat well with the least.
"Milady."
Startled, Padmé turned quickly to see who had entered her chambers.
"Oh, Sabé, it's you." Padmé took a moment to compose herself before she stood to greet her handmaiden. "What is it?"
"I heard about Knight Skywalker on the Holonet. I know you two are close." Sabé watched Padmé closely, "Are you okay, Mistress?"
"Honestly?" Padmé shook her head. "No Sabé, I'm not okay. There's no need to lie to you and act as though I'm perfectly fine with the fact that it has been broadcasted all over the Holonet for the past three days that Knight Skywalker is either severely sick or dead. I'm not okay that no one has given any accurate information confirming or denying these reports. I'm not okay; I'm feeling as though I'm losing my mind. I'm not okay Sabé. I'm not okay at all." Padmé paused in her outburst and looked away, certain that Sabé could see the tears in her eyes. "I need to know the truth about him Sabé. I have to."
Padmé took yet another breath, hoping that it would calm her. She felt as fragile as Numonian glass, fearing that if someone blew on her, she would fracture. Never in her life had she felt so close to breaking down. She had always been strong; had always been able to withstand the many tragedies that inevitably came with being a Senator. But knowing that Anakin was in trouble, being unable to see him? It was destroying her. She was his wife, and she could not take care of her husband. She could not even exercise her right to know what was wrong with him.
Sabé moved toward Padmé, concern lining her features at the waves of despair coming from Padmé. She had known for some time that Padmé cared deeply for Anakin Skywalker, yet this reaction to the news about him once again made Sabé wonder if there was something more than mere friendship between her mistress and the Jedi Knight.
"Milady—" She began.
"Mistress Padmé, Mistress Padmé!" Padmé started at the sound of 3PO's voice. At once she felt a rush of anxiety. She had known that 3PO was at the Jedi temple and had hoped that he would hear news of Anakin and report back to her. And although she was eager to know about Anakin, news of him had the power to make or break her. She suddenly did not know if she was strong enough to hear it.
"Sabé," Padmé said, "May I have a moment?"
"Certainly, Milady." Sabé bowed and exited the room as 3PO entered the chambers with R2 in tow.
"Mistress Padmé, I am so pleased to see you. I have a message for you from Master Ani."
Padmé's heart lurched, did that mean that he was alive? She closed her eyes. She was strong. She could do this.
"Okay." She said, her voice a whisper, "Please, I would like to hear it."
"Very well, Mistress Padmé." 3PO turned to R2. "R2?"
R2 moved forward and after a slight buzzing sound, a hologram of Anakin appeared. She moved closer to R2 as though getting closer to the droid would bring her closer to Anakin. The message began to play.
Padmé, I know by now that you have probably heard any number of things about what has happened to me. Do not worry, my love. I am okay; I live.
Padmé almost fainted with relief at the proof that her husband was alive. She felt tears come to her eyes and her heart thundered in her chest.
I was injured on my last mission when I landed the airship. Someone saw me bleeding and decided to spread the rumor that I was deathly ill. My injury is somewhat severe which is why I have yet to come to you. But fret not, Padmé, I love you, and I will be home soon.
The image of Anakin lingered a moment longer before the message ended with a small pop. Padmé stood up, feeling as though the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. Anakin was alive. Her Ani lived. Padmé gazed hungrily at the spot where the hologram had disappeared. Anakin had looked gaunt and tired, but otherwise okay. The sight of him had lifted her heart as nothing for the past few months of his absence had been able to.
"R2," She said, feeling foolish at her impending request, but caring little at the moment, "Can you please play the message again?" She just wanted to see him again and if the hologram was the only way to do it, then so be it.
R2 beeped noises of compliance and then rolled over to her and once again played the message. As Padmé looked upon her husband's image a smile graced her lips and shown in her eyes. Anakin would soon be home. She could not wait for him to hold her in his arms again. Suddenly she paused and frowned. "R2, hold on a moment. Can you please back it up a few seconds?"
Padmé cocked her head as R2 rewound the message. "Pause it right…there." She leaned forward. "What…" She murmured. It was Anakin's expression when he said that he was okay. He looked…guilty. Padmé frowned as an uneasy feeling began to creep up her spine. She turned to 3PO who was quietly trying to exit the room.
"3PO." The droid stopped in his tracks. If 3PO could have shown an expression, it would have been fear at the look on Padmé's face. "3PO, why does Anakin look that way?"
"Now, Mistress Padmé," 3PO began.
"3PO, tell me the truth. Now." Padmé's eyes blazed as she moved slowly and deliberately toward the droid. "He's lying to me isn't he? He isn't okay."
"Master Ani is very sick!" 3PO blurted out, never able to stand pressure. "Oh, Mistress Padmé, he told me not to tell you! The Jedi Council has ordered that Master Ani be isolated on a ship in space because he has contracted an unknown virus. R2 and I are to accompany him. He's to leave tomorrow morning on the ship Twilight's Rain. He will be escorted to the ship in a very public place so that everyone will know that he's gone. He asked the Jedi Council to escort him at a time when he knew you would be in the Senate. He was hoping that you would not find out until it was too late." Silence descended when 3PO finished his confession. Padmé stood rooted to her spot, a cold chill in her body.
"Why would he lie to me 3PO?" She asked quietly breaking the heavy silence in the room after a long moment. "Why did he send this message at all if he wasn't going to tell me the truth?"
"He was quite concerned about you, Mistress, he did not want you to worry about him. According to the doctors, this virus is the worst that they've ever seen, biologically speaking. They have no idea what additional symptoms will appear or how sick Master Ani will become. It may even be infectious which is why R2 and I are the only beings allowed to accompany him. We are immune to the effects of the virus. Master Ani simply did not want to risk your safety, Mistress Padmé." 3PO hesitated, wary of finishing the rest, "And he also feared you would do something quite rash."
Padmé said nothing for a moment as she considered 3PO's words, then she turned and walked toward the veranda of 500 Republica. Although she preferred her home planet of Naboo, she had to admit that the view of Coruscant at night was nothing short of spectacular. The lights of the never-ending city gleamed bright, making it seem as though the stars were on the ground instead of in the sky.
Padmé sat down on one of the comfortable seats that lay in artful array on the balcony and looked out onto the city. Anakin would often come here to hold her. They would sit in this place and they would not speak. They would simply bask in the knowledge that for that moment, they did not have to hide that they were married, they did not have to shield their minds, they did not have to avoid one another; for that special time, they were together and it was enough.
Padmé stood up from where she was and made a complete turn, taking in the luxury around her. This is where her life had taken her. From the palace on Naboo as Queen Amidala, to her life on Coruscant as Senator Amidala of Naboo, Padmé Naberrie had spent her life living for the people. She had lived selflessly, sacrificing her own needs faithfully for the good of Naboo and was now rewarded for her efforts with a nice view and an empty home. She had worked so hard for this, all of her life she had worked…for this.
"He feared that I would do something rash…" Padmé finally repeated. She gazed at her surroundings a moment more before turning back to 3PO.
"He was right," She said simply.
Without another word, Padmé turned away from the droids and left the room. There was much preparation to be done before the morrow.
3rd Chapter: Boarding - Anakin boards Twilight's Rain.
((***If you simply LOVED this, please check out my other story: Soul's Scars.))