Chapter 27
Anakin was unable to sleep for the rest of the night. Padmé's nightmare had shaken him, for he felt certain that her dream was about him. She's still afraid, he reflected as he watched her sleep. She's still afraid I'm going back to the Dark Side...On one level Anakin could understand her fear, for he felt it himself. He knew that the Darkness still existed inside of him, but it no longer controlled him. He was able to master the dark impulses that still threatened, that probably always would. But you choked Watto in anger...you didn't even try and control that impulse...
Anakin got out of bed, deciding his time was better spent doing something productive. He changed into work out clothing. As he sat on the edge of the bed putting on his shoes, Padmé woke up.
"Ani what are you doing?" she asked sleepily.
"I'm going to the gym," he said. "Can't sleep."
She looked up at him, knowing that he was troubled. "Are you all right?" she asked.
Anakin stood up and looked down at her. "Yes, I'm fine," he lied. He bent and kissed her forehead. "Go back to sleep," he said.
Padmé didn't reply, but was filled with a sense of uneasiness as she watched him exit their bedroom.
The gymnasium was all but empty when Anakin arrived, and that suited him just fine. He began with cardio-vascular exercise, running on a treadmill. If felt good to push himself this way, for it was not so very long ago that his cardio-vascular system was a wreck. Being able to live without artificial breathing mechanisms was like a dream to him still, and he knew that he would never again take it for granted. However it still bothered him that half of his limbs were artificial. It bothered him a lot. Yes, they looked real. They even had some degree of sensation; but they were not real. His sense of touch was not what it was, what it should be. Making love to Padmé again was wonderful, but his artificial hands were not fully able to feel the softness of her skin. Anakin knew that he ought to feel grateful that he could make love to her at all, but it frustrated him that he knew exactly what her skin felt like, but could not experience it again.
"Good morning, sir," said Captain Rex as he entered the gym.
"Morning Rex," Anakin said as he wiped the sweat from his face. "How are things with the legion?"
Rex shrugged. "All right I suppose," he said. "To be honest, a little boring," he said. "The lads are kind of restless."
Anakin wasn't surprised. "Things are changing in the galaxy," he said. "It's a period of adjustment for a lot of people."
"I guess," Rex said. He smiled. "You ever need us, for anything, just gimme a shout. We'd be happy for the chance to see some action."
Anakin laughed. "I'll keep that in mind, thanks," he said, and then he resumed his work out.
Padmé and the twins were eating breakfast when Anakin returned to their quarters. She looked up at him as he entered the room.
"Good morning," Anakin said. He kissed the tops of his twins' heads. "Good morning, angel," he said, kissing Padmé next.
"Good morning," Padmé said. "Did you have a good work out?"
Anakin nodded. "I did," he said. "I'm going to jump in the shower before I join you . Be right back."
Padmé watched him leave, wondering briefly if she ought to join him.
"Mommy Luke touched my eggs!"
Padmé's mind was made up at once, as she was reminded once again that spontaneity no longer existed.
Anakin stepped out of the shower, somewhat disappointed that Padmé had not joined him. She's busy with the kids, he told himself as he dried himself off with a towel. She's not feeling well, he reflected. Whatever her reasons were, Anakin was disappointed and got dressed with a frown on his face.
Anakin sat down at the table, noting that his children were already finished and playing nearby. Threepio set a plate in front of him.
"Thanks, Threepio," Anakin said and picked up his fork. He looked at Padmé, who sat across from him nursing a cup of tea. She seemed distracted. "Something on your mind?" he asked.
She looked at him. "Why do you ask?"
"You seem distracted," Anakin said. "You're still thinking about that nightmare you had last night," he said.
Padmé's brow creased ever so slightly. "I'm not," she said.
"Yes you are," Anakin said, annoyed that she was lying. "It was about me, wasn't it?"
Padmé looked down at her tea and simply nodded.
Anakin frowned. "You have doubts about me," he said matter-of-factly. "Don't you?"
"Not consciously," she said.
"But on some level you must," he said.
"Ani please," she said. "I can't control my dreams. You of all people should know that."
"I know you can't," he said. "I'm just concerned. You don't need extra worries right now."
Padmé smiled. "Please don't worry about me," she said.
"You know that isn't possible," he said. "I need to get back to the surface," he said, standing up.
She looked up at him. "I thought you were staying up here with us until the mining was completed," she said.
"I need to see Watto," he said. "We have an arrangement. I need to make sure he's doing his part."
Anakin's words brought Padmé's dream back to her mind in a flash. "What do you mean?" she asked, an edge of alarm in her voice.
Anakin looked down at her. "Tell me about your dream, Padmé," he said, feeling certain that Watto somehow figured in it.
"I dreamed that you killed Watto," she told him. "You killed him in anger."
Anakin was alarmed. "You think I'm going to kill him? Is that what you're telling me?"
Padmé shook her head. "I dreamed it Anakin," she said.
"But on some level you must believe that I'm capable of such a thing," he said.
Padmé didn't know how to respond, for in truth she didn't know how she felt.
Her silence only made Anakin feel worse. "I see," he said. "I need to go. I'll be back later," he said. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek, and then went to say goodbye to Luke and Leia. Padmé wanted to say something to ease the pain she knew he was feeling, but didn't know what to say. He was right, after all. She did believe he was capable of killing Watto. She only prayed that he didn't.
Anakin arrived at the homestead amidst a flurry of activity. Extracting machines were busily removing the platinum ore from the huge holes that had been dug. A transport was set up where the unrefined ore was being loaded. It was noisy and smelly, just as Anakin had expected. He didn't stay long, however, and headed into Mos Espa to meet with Watto.
Watto was conducting some inventory when Anakin arrived. He looked up at once, growing nervous.
"Good morning," Anakin said. "I think it's time for you and me to sit down and discuss our business arrangement."
Watto nodded. "Okay, Ani," he said. "But I don't got a lot to say," he said.
"Let's go in the back and sit down," Anakin said.
Watto followed Anakin into the small office at the back of the shop and waited for Anakin to sit down at the desk before he spoke.
"Ani, you know how things work around here," Watto began. "The Hutts run everything. They own the slave trade."
Anakin nodded. "I know," he said. "But you're going to help me take that away from them. I'm going to be the owner of the slave trade."
Watto stared at Anakin in shock. "How?" he asked. "How you gonna do that?"
"With money," Anakin said. "Lots of money."
"And where you gonna get that kinda money?" Watto asked.
"I have plenty of money," Anakin said. "And right now a rather sizable vein of platinum ore is being extracted from my property outside of town. If you help me do this, I'll make you rich beyond your wildest dreams."
Watto smiled. "Rich, eh?" he said, rubbing his stubbled chin thoughtfully. "Okay Ani, you gotta deal. What's the plan?"
Later that night
It was finally quiet outside, as the mining operation had ceased for the night. Anakin had made himself a simple meal and sat at the small table eating it, the silence around him was oppressive. I miss the twins, he thought. I miss Padmé... It bothered him that he'd left her that morning under such tense circumstances. Am I being too sensitive? he pondered as he ate. I'm lucky she wants me in her life at all after the crimes that I committed, after I became a monster... Padmé had told him that she believed in him, that she trusted him. She can't control what she dreams, he told himself. She's pregnant for God's sake...she's bound to be extra sensitive these days... Feeling foolish for having been so impatient with her, he stood up from the table , leaving his meal unfinished.
On board the Devastator
Padmé and the children had already eaten dinner, and Luke and Leia were brushing their teeth. Anakin had not returned to the ship. It was getting very late, and Padmé began to wonder if he would return at all. He hadn't been very happy when he'd left that morning, and Padmé didn't blame him. I told him I trusted him, I told him I believed in him...and then a stupid dream makes me second guess all that? No wonder he's upset...
"Night night sweetheart," Padmé said as she kissed Leia goodnight. "Sweet dreams, love," she said as she kissed Luke. She turned off the light and the left the room, and was startled to see Anakin standing in the living room.