Chapter 18

Padmé moved through the Death Star corridors, hoping no one would question her disguise. Impossible at her height to be a storm trooper, and with the empire's negative stance towards women or non-humanoids employed in the highest levels of the imperium, she had begged R2D2 for help. Cannibalizing parts from droids, he had made a comfortable, slightly larger scale, shell for her to hide in. Thus, pretending to be an extra droid, she had smuggled herself onto Obi Wan's ship, and tagged along as once again he chased after her husband.

It wasn't the smartest plan. But as the wheels of her conveyance rolled her through the corridors of this abhorrent battle station, she knew she had to try. More than try. She had to succeed.

Artoo had fitted her out with an array of stunners and lasers. She had her blaster clutched tightly in her hand in the event she needed to leave the disguise behind.

No one took much notice of a droid. Strange and unfair and oh how she would work to make C3PO and R2D2 and all the other good friends more accepted. There was so much in the galaxy they needed to fix. Would Anakin want to still want to free the slaves and fight for justice? Was it unfair to ask him?

She thought of the quick message she had left for her children, the psychological and emotional damage she was no doubt propagating by leaving them again. Not that she had meant to leave anyone by dying. But Leia had only just accepted her and even Luke had deep hurts from a childhood of secrets and refusals. They were her children but they were adults. They had managed so far to do what she had not – strengthening the rebellion she and Bail, oh poor Bail, and Mon Mothma had started.

It was cruel to leave and possibly stupid as well but Obi Wan would never have let her follow him. In a way, it served him right for sneaking aboard her ship to Mustafar. Only please let her be able to save Anakin this time.

"You shouldn't have come Obi Wan."

"Why not?" the older Jedi asked, one eye on Anakin and the other watching the emperor's unpleasant smile.

"Oh, what a cold greeting for Obi Wan. Has he come to welcome you back to the alliance? Let us think of the wonderful life in store for you - until those righteous traitors execute you for your hard work keeping the galaxy together."

"I wasn't sent by the alliance, Anakin."

"Even worse," tsked Palpatine his evil glee noisome. "Obi Wan is here once again on behalf of the jedi. Even if you forgive him for the pain you've lived in, can he ever truly forgive you? And why should you ask forgiveness for wanting to be strong? For wanting to be unafraid? For wanting to be heard?"

Obi Wan's heart sank. This was the emperor at his most dangerous, corrupting everything. "You must listen to me."

"Did you listen to him Obi Wan? I was his friend, too. And oh how you jedi misused him. You lost your little Ashoka with your inability to see the truth."

It was true. He knew this master of lies wielded the truth with precision. If only he could see Anakin's face. But he had created the creature in the mask and he had helped to sever the master-padawan bond.

Suddenly, rage filled Obi Wan. Anger he rarely experienced such as during the death of Qui-Gon or watching a holo of Anakin slaughtering the younglings. His light saber was in his hand. He had leaped to Sidious' seat. His green blade swung down.

Until it was blocked by the red blade of a sith's lightsaber.

"Anakin," Obi Wan thought in despair as he prepared to face Vader.