Chapter 8 - Click Goes the Hammer (TPM)
Author's Note: Arriving on Coruscant. :)
~ Amina Gila
"Ashla!" Anakin's voice finally pulls me out of my dreams, bitter-sweet images of Shmi floating through my mind. I'd seen another flash of Ahsoka again, though it instantly vanishes from memory as my eyes open. I blink in confusion for a few moments before the memories of yesterday crash down around me. Right. We're not on Tatooine anymore. We left... I hastily force away the memories associated with it and instead sit up, pushing our makeshift blanket aside. "Obi-Wan brought us something to eat," he tells me, passing me a small bowl. I don't recognize the stuff in it, which isn't at all surprising considering it's from a different planet.
"We should be landing within an hour," Obi-Wan's sudden voice makes me jump slightly, drawing my attention to where he sits a distance off. I hadn't even realized he was there. Right. And we're going to be on Coruscant, the capital of the Republic and home of the Jedi within an hour. I can't even believe it. The excitement that floods me momentarily suppresses the tinge of depression still lingering.
Once I finish eating – the only reason I managed to finish instead of deciding it's time to run around the ship again was because Anakin threatened to feed me if I didn't do it willingly – we head to the cockpit to watch the landing.
The blue and white streaks of hyperspace disappear, replaced by the darkness of outer space. Millions of stars shine brightly, but the sun of the capital city shines brightest of all. Coruscant stands out in front of us, a few small moons hovering nearby it. The planet itself looks like a maze of light and dark shades of copper.
"Why it look like that?" I ask, eyes fixed on the windows outside. The starship is flying down towards the planet, and as it swerves around – I marvel at the pilot's ability to know exactly what part of the planet to go to, since it all looks the same to me – letting the brilliant glow of the sun fall across the ship.
"Coruscant, the capital of the Republic. The entire planet is one big city," the pilot explains.
"It's so huge!" Anakin breathes in awe.
The ship dives downwards, entering the atmosphere to reveal a clear blue sky. A strange sensation of 'someday this will be the only place I call home' hits me as I scan the endless city. Countless silver buildings rise up against the background, standing out against the brilliant blue sky. Speeders and other vehicles of sorts roar by as people rush around through their everyday lives. It's the polar opposite of what I'm used to, but it still doesn't feel completely unwelcoming. I've spent my entire life on out-of-the-way unimportant planets, and now...
"Wow," I breathe, unable to say anything else.
As the ship skims above the buildings, a landing platform finally comes into view. "There's Chancellor Valorum's shuttle," the pilot remarks. My eyes turn to the large platform the ship is heading towards. Sure enough. There's another ship there and a group of people waiting for our arrival. Wait. The Chancellor? The Chancellor himself will be here to greet us? "And look over there, Senator Palpatine is waiting for us," the pilot continues in the background, but I barely even hear.
I'm feeling almost giddy, a mixture of excitement and dread running through me. New things are always exciting, but I still don't really know what it is we'll be going into. I'm being hit by two strange sensations at once, and I can't figure out which is accurate. A sensation of something good, and something dark and tragic mixed together. That doesn't make any sense though, does it? How could both good and bad come from this?
I suddenly notice now tense Anakin is, almost like the only thing he feels is the dark sensation I do. "You 'kay?" I ask, poking his arm.
"I dunno... I just got this really dark feeling suddenly. 's nothing." He shakes it off, but I can tell it's still bothering him. Confused, I raise a questioning gaze to Obi-Wan.
"Come, we don't want to keep the others waiting," he says instead of answering the question. He probably doesn't know the answer any more than either of us do. We follow the Jedi out to the main hall of the ship where everyone else is hastily gathering. I'm struggling to believe this is really happening. Finally, the ship touches down. After flying for so long, it takes a few moments for me to get readjusted to the sensation of not being in constant motion or the sudden lack of vibration beneath my feet. I can't say I mind flying, but I hope I won't have to do it too often. At least not until I get used to it.
The ramp lowers, casting the brilliant rays of sun across us. I blink a few times as my eyes readjust to the sudden change of lighting, then follow Anakin and the others off the ship. The Jedi lead the way, with Anakin and I slightly behind. I want to hide behind their robes the entire time. To say I'm nervous would be by far and understatement. I'm standing in front of the Chancellor of the Republic, and to think I was stranded as a slave on Tatooine for so long, only to be here the next day... I'm not even sure how to act, but I can only hope I'm too small for anyone to really see me.
The Jedi bow in greeting, and I awkwardly follow their example, though it probably hardly matters considering I'm almost completely hidden behind them. I straighten almost immediately, the custom being completely unusual to me. And I don't like what it makes me think about, either. The Queen and her handmaids along with the other people on board gather in a group behind us.
"It is a great gift to see you alive, Your Majesty," one of the people – I think it might be Senator Palpatine judging from what the pilot had told us earlier – says, "Since the communications broke down, we've been very concerned. I'm very anxious to hear your report on the situation. May I present Supreme Chancellor Valorum?"
As he talks, I let my gaze wonder across the group. There's a group of people who I don't think are terribly important. Then there's the Senator, and the white-haired Chancellor. Anakin is shifting slightly uneasily beside me, and I wonder what it is he's thinking.
"Welcome, Your Highness," the Chancellor says, "It's an honor to finally meet you in person." And it's creepy for me to see everyone here in person. Honestly, it is.
I'm practically squirming next to Anakin and am relieved when he takes my hand in his. I squeeze it back, holding onto him as if he's my sole anchor to sanity. He is, come to think of it. "Don't worry," he whispers to me, giving me an encouraging smile.
"Thank you, Chancellor," she replies. With that, the group turns to start heading for a large speeder across the platform. I follow next to Jar Jar and my best friend, still hardly certain how to act here. I don't really know what's going on.
As we walk, I notice a faint ache in the back of my head that I try to ignore. Headaches are... uncommon, but I have had them before, a few times. I despise them, because unlike most things, it's very hard to work when your head is throbbing.
"I must speak with the Jedi Council immediately," I clearly hear Qui-Gon saying behind us. "We believe the situation has become much more complicated." The statement instantly catches my attention, and I swivel around, wanting an answer. I expect it has to do with the person who attacked us back on Tatooine, but I want to know for certain.
"Ani, Ashla," Padme calls quietly, motioning for us to come with her. Our gazes remain on the two Jedi, anyway, awaiting their approval. We know better than to assume these things. We can't run off, without getting our master's permission, first. I know no other way.
Qui-Gon shakes his head, motioning to us to keep moving. Anakin turns back, reluctantly, but pulls me along as he hurries to catch up with Padme and Jar Jar. I can't help but stare over my shoulder at the Jedi even as we climb into the back of the speeder with Jar Jar. I don't know the other people, really. I trust the Jedi, and I want to stay with them. I feel safe around them. Elsewhere, though... I don't really like the feel of the planet. It's different, and I'm not used to it. It'd take a while for me to start calling such a busy city my home.
I catch sight of Senator Palpatine eyeing Anakin and I, but I don't think anything of it. He's probably just wondering what us – and Jar Jar – are doing with the queen of his planet.
"Da Queens, a bein grossly nice mesa thinks," Jar Jar states, though I have absolutely no idea what that even was supposed to mean, or even if it actually was supposed to mean anything. "Pitty hot!"
Quite frankly, I agree, but that doesn't stop the shiver that runs down my spine. I can't stop thinking something's wrong. Something seems cold, even though the air is warm. Not nearly as much as Tatooine, but still. I scoot closer to Anakin, leaning against him. barely aware of what I'm doing, I reach out mentally, trying to sense a presence which I can latch onto to draw comfort from. I usually did it to Shmi, but now that she's gone... the only other people I feel safe with is the two Jedi, and they're heading off elsewhere.
Somehow, the attempt just makes my head throb even worse.
As the speeder takes off, wind whips around us. I lean back against the seat, slightly uncomfortable with the sudden motion again. I gaze out across the city, watching the passing scenery. The sun reflects off some of the silver-colored buildings spotting the distance. It's a very noisy place, speeders roaring everywhere. There's so much for me to take in which I've never seen before.
Still, I can't seem to shake the dark, foreboding feeling hovering over me. I squirm uncomfortably, shooting a glance at Anakin. "Feel strange."
"Me too," he agrees. "I feel... cold. Like something's not quite right." He frowns slightly, considering. "It's the feeling I get when something bad is going to happen." I nod my agreement, gaze skirting away back to the scenery. But I still somehow hear his underlying thoughts which he doesn't voice. But it's something more than that.
I look over at the others with wide eyes, suddenly feeling trapped. I don't know them, and I hate being near people I don't know for so long. I never know when they could try to hurt us.
I don't know how I know it, but I instinctively can't shake the feeling that something isn't quite right with Anakin. He's leaning back in his seat, head tipped back, eyes closed. "You okay?" I whisper, nudging him.
"It feels like something's tryna split my skull," he mutters.
I wince in sympathy, patting his arm. "Me too." There's nothing else we can do, and for as accustomed I am to my best friend being hurt, I hate it, every time.
We lapse into a comfortable silence then, me curled against his side. Jar Jar seems to have noticed our discomfort, seeing as he (overdramatically) pats Anakin's head.
Thankfully, the ride doesn't last much longer. I'm glad, because for some reason, the longer we fly, the stronger the feeling gets. I don't know why, but I'm on the verge of wondering if there's someone here I wouldn't get along with because I typically start getting dark and cranky vibes whenever I'm close to someone I don't like. I can only breathe a sigh of relief when the speeder finally lands, then freeze and stare in awe up at the towering building in front of us. "It huge!" I exclaim.
"How can buildings get that tall?" Anakin wonders right before we enter the building, soon arriving at an apartment-like area. The entire place is so huge and fancy, I find myself marveling at how someone could ever get used to it. Nothing on Tatooine looks like this. I don't even think Jabba's palace looks anything remotely as expensive as this.
"Mesa don't know," Jar Jar mumbles. I wonder if this is his first time here, too, because he seems as curious as Anakin and I are.
The queen and her handmaids leave to get ready or something, leaving us alone... and very bored. At least, until Senator Palpatine stops to ask Anakin something. I think it was something polite about what he's doing here and to see if he's alright, but I hide behind Anakin the whole time. I hate strangers. Okay, most of the time. Obi-Wan wasn't so bad.
The two of us find ourselves next to Jar Jar, standing outside the room where the Queen went into to talk to Senator Palpatine. The door is partly glass so I can see through, but I have no idea what they're talking about. I'm curious, but it's probably too complicated for me to understand. All I know is that they seem to be having a rather serious, worried conversation. The tense, grim atmosphere is beginning to make me feel increasingly uncomfortable.
"Dissen all pitty odd to me," mumbles Jar Jar.
"Don't look at me. I don't know what's going on," Anakin replies.
Finally, I turn to my best friend. "Where Padme?" I'm still worried about the whole preference thing, but right now, I'm unbelievably bored. I'm used to having to rush hither and thither in non-stop action, but now I have nothing to do, and I simply don't know what to do with myself. I hate sitting still. I can't, because holding still always means bad things happen.
Anakin instantly frowns. "I don't know. I haven't seen her since after we got off the transport."
"Maybe wesa look around?" suggests Jar Jar. "Dissen strange place to mesa." He can say that again. I'm beginning to get a little used to his form of talk, though it still confuses me.
"Sure!" Anakin agrees, jumping up and hurrying out of the room, pulling the Gungan behind. I run after, finally glad to have found something to do. It feels invasive to be running around a place like this, but I can only hope no one will mind it. If we stay out of sight, we'll be fine. I'm just glad we have something to do. My head is still hurting, though it's almost non-existent if I focus on something, fading to nothing but a dull ache in the back of my skull.
We spend the next half hour running from place to place, trying to stay out of everyone's way as much as possible. "Still not see Padme," I worry finally. I haven't been able to so much as catch a glimpse of her anywhere since we came here.
"Neither have I," Anakin frowns, glancing around. I don't really know what's going on, and I'd rather be with someone who does. I can only hope that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan will be back from meeting the Jedi Council or whatever they called it soon. I really want to know what's going to be decided. There's a small part of me – more than I care to admit, even to myself – that's afraid they won't accept us. To be fair, beyond the Skywalkers, no one has ever accepted me. Besides, when I think about it... I don't have the most positive feeling about it.
"Ashla..." Anakin says suddenly. I glance up at him from where my hand is starting to drift to my necklace. He looks like he just realized something, something... bad. "We're not going to see her again after this, and..."
Oh. Oh. Of course... I should have realized. We've already lost so much, and now Anakin is about to lose another friend. "We still have Qui-Gon," I offer, though it does little to replace the sudden heaviness settling over me. "... and Obi-Wan." It's a lame attempt at comfort I know, but I try anyway.
"And we weren't even able to say goodbye to her... and they should be here to get us soon..." The rest remains unsaid. And we're probably never going to have a chance to.
"We ask someone where..." I trail off, sighing. If she's a handmaiden, she should be with the queen. I don't really want to disturb them, but at the same time... "She be with Queen..." Hopefully.
Anakin's eyes brighten instantly. "We can try looking there for her." Hopefully, we'll be able to find her there.
Slightly hesitantly, we work our way through the halls with him in the lead, finally finding ourselves at the room I'm fairly certain the Queen is in. Given the two guards outside, I'm pretty sure it's the right place.
"May I help you?" one of them asks politely. I find the entire situation annoyingly awkward, but if we're going to see Padme one last time, I guess it's worth it. I can only hope they won't get angry. Bad things happen when people are angry.
"We're looking for the handmaiden Padme," Anakin explains nervously.
The guard withdraws a commlink. "The children are here to see Padme," he says.
"Hope this works," I mutter to Anakin.
"Send them in," someone says from the other side of the comm. It's one of the other handmaidens, whose name I don't know.
The door opens, and the two of us slip inside into the queen's quarters. One of the handmaidens is standing there, and I spot two others disappearing into the next room. None of them are Padme, which again makes me wonder where she is. Maybe she's with the queen...? "I'd like to speak with Padme, if we could," Anakin explains.
"I'm sorry, Ani. Padme is not here right now," she apologizes.
"Who is it?" asks a voice from the next room, making me jump slightly. It's the queen. I'm still having a hard time believing that we're actually here. It all feels so unreal.
"Anakin Skywalker and Ashla, to see Padme, Your Highness," the handmaiden answers her.
I jump slightly as the figure of the queen appears in the doorway. We bow in greeting, and I divert my gaze to the ground, suddenly feeling smaller than my size.
"I've sent Padme on an errand," the queen says, and I glance up briefly. She's dressed in dark clothes as opposed to the orange of the handmaidens, and for whatever reason, her face is painted white. I can't help but feel a swell of disappointment at her words. We're probably never going to see Padme again. Even if we did, it wouldn't be for a while. I have to admit through it all that I am going to miss her.
"We're going to the Jedi Temple to start our training, I hope," Anakin says, drawing a blank look from the Queen. "We may not see her again..." he tries to explain.
"We want say goodbye," I offer.
"We will tell her for you," the queen replies kindly. "We're sure her heart goes with you."
Anakin bows again, seeing our conversation is drawing to an end. "Thank you, Your Highness. I'm sorry to have disturbed you." The queen nods, disappearing back into the other room. My best friend takes my arm, guiding me back outside her quarters. I can't help but feel a sense of heaviness, though part of me wonders if it's not partly Anakin's emotions. We tend to get strange, crossed over feelings sometimes.
"Anakin! Ashla!" Obi-Wan's voice catches our attention. That was faster than I thought. He's already back to collect us and bring us back to the Temple. I thought Qui-Gon was the one supposed to be coming, but I'm not complaining. Obi-Wan stands in a hall a short distance off, waiting. "Come. The Council decided to test you both."
"Test?" Anakin asks immediately as Obi-Wan leads us outside.
"When Force-sensitives are brought to the Temple, the Council will sometimes test them to decide if they can become Jedi," he answers shortly. Which means there's still a possibility – despite however unlikely it is – that the Council might decide against it. I don't like that thought.
We get in a speeder, and it takes off. I again find myself staring in awe out at the towering buildings as they zip past. Meanwhile, Anakin is asking a long series of questions practically non-stop. Finally, I hear Obi-Wan attempting to explain something about the tests the Council will be giving us, which is admittedly difficult since he's attempting to fly the speeder at the same time, Qui-Gon apparently having stayed at the Temple.
"... they'll just ask some questions, and have you do something to determine if your connection to the Force is still functional and active."
"What that mean?" I ask instantly, leaning forwards.
"Force-sensitives children often use the Force from an early age," he answers, "If they don't, if they closed it off for whatever reason, it can be very hard to train them out of it."
"What do you think they'll have us do?" Anakin inquires, slightly warily.
"That is a decision the Council will make. I don't know. Normally the Jedi who find them will give them something to see if they can move it."
"Move it," Anakin repeats, dubiously.
"Yes. With their mind."
"How that work?" I ask instantly. How's that even possible? And – wait, can I do that? Can we do that?!
"Anything is possible with the Force," he replies, mysteriously. "But... I am going to be in the room when they test Ashla."
"Why?" I ask, surprised and relieved at once. If he wasn't flying, I just might have climbed over Anakin's seat to hug him.
He smiles a little at my elated expression. "Master Qui-Gon thought you might feel better if there was someone else you know present. He said you were shy." He seemed so indifferent to us at first, I'm honestly surprised when I see a flicker of fondness in his eyes before he looks ahead again. "Remember that Jedi can see with more than just their eyes; try to stay calm, and everything will be fine." Well, if he's going to be there, maybe I can believe it.
I glance out across the city, vaguely registering Obi-Wan saying something about asking Qui-Gon about it because he could probably explain better.
I turn back to him.
"I think you're doing fine," Anakin offers.
"You are," I confirm cheerfully, grinning at him. If my dream that night meant anything, he's going to be important to us both, and I'm perfectly happy about it. I don't know much about him, but I almost consider him a friend.
Suddenly, out of all the buildings in the city, a much larger one stands out. It's the largest building around, four towers on top in different places. It's breathtaking, and the pure beauty of the building is stunning. It doesn't really look like it was built to be that way, but it doesn't stop the awe gripping me. "The Jedi Temple," Obi-Wan tells us, seeing our stunned expressions.
"It's beautiful," I breathe, staring transfixed at the structure.
"It is," he agrees. Finally, we're there. We're really there.
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